Seeing From A Distance

0:00:00.680 --> 0:00:03.600 Hi, this is joelan Victorium. Thanks so much for listening 0:00:03.600 --> 0:00:05.600 to the podcast and thanks for. 0:00:05.559 --> 0:00:08.160 Supporting the ministry. We believe you're going to have. 0:00:08.119 --> 0:00:12.480 An awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, and favor filled. 0:00:12.800 --> 0:00:16.159 God bless you today and enjoy the message. God bless you. 0:00:16.360 --> 0:00:18.040 And it's great to be with you today. 0:00:18.120 --> 0:00:20.680 And I hope you'll stay connected with us during the 0:00:20.680 --> 0:00:24.680 week to our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, 0:00:25.120 --> 0:00:27.840 and you can come visit us in person. We'd love 0:00:27.880 --> 0:00:30.280 to have you be a part of one of our services. 0:00:30.640 --> 0:00:32.920 And I'd like to start with something funny. And I 0:00:32.960 --> 0:00:36.000 heard about this pastor. He was raising funds for a 0:00:36.040 --> 0:00:39.920 new auditorium center the congregation. Anyone who will give a 0:00:40.000 --> 0:00:42.200 thousand dollars can pick out the. 0:00:42.159 --> 0:00:45.560 Next three hymns. Little old lady in the back, raise 0:00:45.600 --> 0:00:48.840 your hand, Pastor, I'll do it. He was so excited. 0:00:49.120 --> 0:00:51.920 He said, thank you so much. Now, which three hymns 0:00:51.960 --> 0:00:55.200 would you like? She looked over the congregation said I'll 0:00:55.240 --> 0:00:58.160 take him and him and him. 0:00:58.200 --> 0:01:01.040 All right, Joe, say it like you mean, this is 0:01:01.080 --> 0:01:01.720 my Bible. 0:01:02.120 --> 0:01:04.480 I am what it says, I am, I have what 0:01:04.560 --> 0:01:06.960 it says I have, I can do what It says 0:01:07.000 --> 0:01:08.360 I can do today. 0:01:08.440 --> 0:01:10.279 I will be taught the word of God. 0:01:10.720 --> 0:01:15.000 I boldly confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:01:15.319 --> 0:01:19.119 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:01:19.160 --> 0:01:19.760 bless you. 0:01:20.959 --> 0:01:23.160 I want to talk to you today about. 0:01:22.720 --> 0:01:24.039 Seeing from a distance. 0:01:24.840 --> 0:01:27.880 We all have promises in our heart and dreams we're 0:01:27.880 --> 0:01:31.760 believing for, but sometimes they seem so far off and 0:01:32.000 --> 0:01:35.199 so unlikely. We don't see how we could get well, 0:01:35.319 --> 0:01:38.399 or how we'll meet the right person. Doesn't look like 0:01:38.440 --> 0:01:41.520 our child will ever get back on course. It's such 0:01:41.560 --> 0:01:44.959 a long way off that it's easy to get discouraged 0:01:45.000 --> 0:01:48.640 and think that it's never going to happen. Hebrews eleven 0:01:48.800 --> 0:01:52.240 talks about the heroes of faith and all the amazing 0:01:52.360 --> 0:01:55.680 things they accomplished, and how God showed up and did 0:01:55.720 --> 0:01:58.600 what only he could do. Parted the Red Sea for 0:01:58.760 --> 0:02:03.240 mosesm down, the walls of Jeriko for Joshua, was closed, 0:02:03.240 --> 0:02:06.440 the mouths of lions for Daniel. They were all in 0:02:06.520 --> 0:02:12.240 situations that looked impossible, no way out. Verse thirteen gives 0:02:12.320 --> 0:02:15.200 us a secret of how they saw the promises come 0:02:15.280 --> 0:02:19.200 to pass. It says they had not yet received what 0:02:19.240 --> 0:02:23.240 God promised, but They saw it from a distance and 0:02:23.320 --> 0:02:27.760 welcomed the promises of God when every circumstance said it's 0:02:27.760 --> 0:02:30.680 never going to happen. It's been too long, the our 0:02:30.720 --> 0:02:34.760 phosition's too big. They just kept seeing it in the distance. 0:02:35.480 --> 0:02:38.560 Their attitude was, may be a long way off, but 0:02:38.639 --> 0:02:42.000 I still believe what God promised. I still believe what 0:02:42.080 --> 0:02:45.200 he started he'll finish. I still believe he can make 0:02:45.200 --> 0:02:46.960 a way where I don't see away. 0:02:47.800 --> 0:02:49.440 They welcomed it by faith. 0:02:50.160 --> 0:02:53.160 When the promise is far off, doubt will try to 0:02:53.160 --> 0:02:56.600 fill your mind. You can't have the baby you saw 0:02:56.680 --> 0:03:00.280 the report. You'll always have this addiction. Every one in 0:03:00.320 --> 0:03:03.600 your family struggles with it. You can't start your business, 0:03:03.680 --> 0:03:06.680 you can barely pay your own bills. If you agree 0:03:06.720 --> 0:03:09.640 with the doubt, it's going to push the promise away. 0:03:10.360 --> 0:03:12.200 You have to welcome it by faith. 0:03:12.840 --> 0:03:15.720 Lord, I thank you that my healing is on the way. 0:03:15.840 --> 0:03:18.400 Thank you that freedom is coming. Thank you that my 0:03:18.520 --> 0:03:21.760 child is turning around. Thank you that abundance is in 0:03:21.840 --> 0:03:26.520 my future. Maybe way off in the distance, but you're saying. 0:03:26.440 --> 0:03:28.280 Come on in healing. 0:03:28.360 --> 0:03:32.040 You'll welcome here, Abundance, You'll welcome here Freedom. 0:03:32.120 --> 0:03:33.400 You're welcome in my house. 0:03:34.280 --> 0:03:37.280 The more you welcome it, the more you thank God 0:03:37.400 --> 0:03:40.800 and believe it's going to happen, the closer it's getting 0:03:41.600 --> 0:03:45.720 the message. Translation of verse thirteen says, each of these 0:03:45.800 --> 0:03:49.280 heroes of faith did not yet have what was promised. 0:03:49.720 --> 0:03:50.560 How did they do it? 0:03:51.000 --> 0:03:54.840 They saw it way off in the distance, waive their greeting, 0:03:55.320 --> 0:03:56.760 and accepted it. 0:03:56.640 --> 0:03:59.720 Was going to happen. When it was way off, they 0:03:59.720 --> 0:04:00.560 weighed at it. 0:04:01.160 --> 0:04:05.640 They were welcoming it, expecting it, giving it permission to come. 0:04:06.480 --> 0:04:09.120 I was at the airport one time waiting for some 0:04:09.240 --> 0:04:12.600 friends who were coming in from overseas, and we hadn't 0:04:12.600 --> 0:04:15.560 seen him in a long time, and we were so excited, 0:04:15.600 --> 0:04:19.120 and we were standing in the lobby in this restricted 0:04:19.200 --> 0:04:21.680 area they had to come through customs. 0:04:21.960 --> 0:04:24.560 There was a glass wall and you could see. 0:04:24.400 --> 0:04:28.040 The people through the jetway about fifty yards away, and 0:04:28.080 --> 0:04:29.080 we were hoping. 0:04:28.800 --> 0:04:29.800 To get a glimpse of them. 0:04:30.400 --> 0:04:33.440 Hundreds of people were coming through and we kept looking 0:04:33.480 --> 0:04:35.559 and looking, straining. 0:04:34.960 --> 0:04:37.119 And at one point we saw them. 0:04:37.480 --> 0:04:40.040 Of course, we all started waving and waving, trying to 0:04:40.080 --> 0:04:43.719 get their attention. They finally saw us and started waving 0:04:43.800 --> 0:04:45.120 back and blowing kisses. 0:04:46.160 --> 0:04:47.960 We wanted to make sure they. 0:04:47.839 --> 0:04:51.000 Felt welcoming, that they knew how glad we were to 0:04:51.080 --> 0:04:55.080 have them. Most of the promises God puts in our 0:04:55.120 --> 0:04:56.800 heart start far off. 0:04:57.560 --> 0:05:01.520 The dreams, the healing, the breakthroughs. They start in the distance. 0:05:02.120 --> 0:05:06.080 Seems unlikely. We don't have the resources, We don't know 0:05:06.120 --> 0:05:06.920 the right people. 0:05:07.480 --> 0:05:11.400 The opposition has more influence, more equipment. That's the way 0:05:11.440 --> 0:05:15.000 it was with the heroes of faith. Every thought said, 0:05:15.400 --> 0:05:18.799 the giant is too big, David, the fire too hot, 0:05:18.880 --> 0:05:23.039 shadrack Niejak of Bendigunde, you've been sick twelve years. 0:05:23.360 --> 0:05:24.800 Woman with the issue of blood. 0:05:25.760 --> 0:05:29.159 They had every reason to get discouraged, think that it 0:05:29.160 --> 0:05:30.080 could never happen. 0:05:30.560 --> 0:05:32.480 But they understood this principle. 0:05:32.960 --> 0:05:36.480 They saw it in the distance and welcomed it by faith. 0:05:37.520 --> 0:05:41.800 Your healing may look far away, Your freedom, your abundance, 0:05:42.080 --> 0:05:43.760 meeting the right person may. 0:05:43.640 --> 0:05:46.320 Look a long way off. What am I saying? 0:05:46.680 --> 0:05:50.480 Don't get discouraged by the distance. Get up every morning 0:05:50.520 --> 0:05:54.280 and wave at your healing, Wave at your family's salvation, 0:05:55.000 --> 0:05:58.360 wave at your freedom, wave at that spouse. You've been 0:05:58.440 --> 0:06:02.600 dreaming about your abundance. You have to give it permission 0:06:02.880 --> 0:06:04.080 to become a reality. 0:06:04.760 --> 0:06:07.680 Let it know that it's welcome when you. 0:06:07.720 --> 0:06:13.280 Believe, expect, Thank God, it's getting closer. You're drawing it in. 0:06:14.360 --> 0:06:17.479 But too often we let the distance cause. 0:06:17.360 --> 0:06:18.360 Us to quit believing. 0:06:18.720 --> 0:06:21.000 There's no way I can get well, Joel, you should 0:06:21.040 --> 0:06:24.120 see the reporter. My family can't be restored. There's so 0:06:24.240 --> 0:06:29.040 much strife. The distance is a test. How you respond 0:06:29.160 --> 0:06:32.640 when things are far away will determine whether or not 0:06:32.880 --> 0:06:37.040 you see them become a reality. Maybe a long way off, 0:06:37.240 --> 0:06:40.680 but that doesn't mean it's not going to happen. Promises 0:06:40.800 --> 0:06:45.480 start in the distance. Healing starts in the distance. Dreams 0:06:45.520 --> 0:06:48.520 start in the distance. The enemy would love for you 0:06:48.600 --> 0:06:52.440 to let the distance talk you out of what God put. 0:06:52.320 --> 0:06:56.120 In your spirits. He'll whisper it's too far away, it's 0:06:56.160 --> 0:07:00.000 not possible. What have happened by now? Don't believe those lives. 0:07:00.800 --> 0:07:03.240 God wouldn't have put that in your heart if he 0:07:03.320 --> 0:07:05.640 wasn't going to bring it to pass. You have to 0:07:05.720 --> 0:07:09.680 keep seeing it in the distance, calling it in by faith, 0:07:10.120 --> 0:07:13.680 thanking God that is coming, expecting things to change in 0:07:13.760 --> 0:07:16.760 your favor. Just like I waved at my friends at 0:07:16.800 --> 0:07:20.040 the airport that were far away. Wave it to healing, 0:07:20.600 --> 0:07:23.800 wave it your new business, Wave it your dream, make 0:07:23.840 --> 0:07:27.680 it feel welcome, give it permission to become a reality. 0:07:28.240 --> 0:07:31.559 That's when God will step in and take what looks 0:07:31.640 --> 0:07:36.040 far away, what's unlikely, what no one saw coming, and 0:07:36.160 --> 0:07:37.520 make it a reality. 0:07:38.600 --> 0:07:41.000 This is what Abraham had to do. He didn't have 0:07:41.120 --> 0:07:42.440 any children. 0:07:42.360 --> 0:07:45.320 No way to carry on his legacy, and he was 0:07:45.440 --> 0:07:49.120 very discouraged. He said, God, you blessed me in great ways, 0:07:49.160 --> 0:07:52.080 but I don't have a child. I'm gonna have to 0:07:52.160 --> 0:07:56.160 leave my inheritance to my staff. And God said, no, Abraham, 0:07:56.480 --> 0:07:57.920 I'm going to give you a son. 0:07:58.640 --> 0:08:02.560 You will become the father of many nations. The problem 0:08:02.760 --> 0:08:04.080 was Abraham and. 0:08:04.000 --> 0:08:07.680 His wife Sarah were way too old. Sarah was seventy, 0:08:08.160 --> 0:08:11.040 she had already gone through the change of life. On 0:08:11.080 --> 0:08:14.800 top of that, she was barren, never able to have children. 0:08:15.400 --> 0:08:18.880 You talk about the promise in the distance, far away, 0:08:19.600 --> 0:08:21.320 this one was in another universe. 0:08:21.880 --> 0:08:24.520 No one had ever had a baby at that age. 0:08:25.080 --> 0:08:28.440 When Sarah first heard it, she laughed. She said, how 0:08:28.480 --> 0:08:31.600 can an old woman like me and a worn out 0:08:31.720 --> 0:08:32.240 man like. 0:08:32.240 --> 0:08:35.960 Abraham ever have a baby? She told it like it was. 0:08:36.800 --> 0:08:39.840 Abraham was in his tent at night, and God told 0:08:39.920 --> 0:08:43.600 him to go outside look up at the stars as 0:08:43.679 --> 0:08:46.680 many as he could see. That's how many children he 0:08:46.800 --> 0:08:50.120 was going to have. God wanted him to have this picture. 0:08:50.640 --> 0:08:53.800 But think about the stars, they're a long way off, 0:08:54.440 --> 0:08:58.120 millions of miles far in the distance. God could have 0:08:58.160 --> 0:09:02.680 had Abraham go to the marketplace in the city square 0:09:02.760 --> 0:09:05.960 and see all the people up close, right there where 0:09:05.960 --> 0:09:09.640 you could touch them. But on purpose, he gave him 0:09:09.679 --> 0:09:14.000 this image of a promise far away. When God puts 0:09:14.040 --> 0:09:16.720 things in your heart that seem a long way off, 0:09:17.320 --> 0:09:19.840 that's when you have to show God what you're made of. 0:09:20.800 --> 0:09:22.480 You'll either dismiss. 0:09:21.960 --> 0:09:25.960 It is never gonna happen, or you'll wave at it. God, 0:09:26.000 --> 0:09:28.320 I thank you that it's on the way. I believe 0:09:28.400 --> 0:09:29.120 what you promise. 0:09:30.000 --> 0:09:30.959 You'll either push it. 0:09:30.920 --> 0:09:35.000 Away with doubt and discouragement, or you'll welcome it with 0:09:35.120 --> 0:09:36.720 faith and expectancy. 0:09:37.760 --> 0:09:39.439 Sarah laughed in unbelief. 0:09:40.160 --> 0:09:43.239 She just looked at it in the natural, but Abraham 0:09:43.280 --> 0:09:48.160 knew God is supernatural. Romans Force says, even though this 0:09:48.360 --> 0:09:54.000 promise seemed utterly impossible, Abraham was fully convinced God was 0:09:54.040 --> 0:09:57.079 able to do what he promised. Goes on to say, 0:09:57.360 --> 0:10:01.000 he did not waver in his faith, but grew stronger 0:10:01.240 --> 0:10:05.360 by giving praise to God. I can imagine Abraham at 0:10:05.480 --> 0:10:09.880 night looking up at the stars and waving at them. Father, 0:10:10.000 --> 0:10:12.760 I know you are faithful to what you promised. I 0:10:12.880 --> 0:10:15.640 thank you that my son is on the way. He 0:10:15.760 --> 0:10:19.920 stayed strong in faith by continuing to thank God that 0:10:20.000 --> 0:10:20.680 it was coming. 0:10:21.679 --> 0:10:23.040 When the promise is in the. 0:10:23.040 --> 0:10:27.240 Distance, far away, you're going to have plenty of opportunities 0:10:27.280 --> 0:10:31.800 to get discouraged, grow weary. Thoughts will tell you it's 0:10:31.800 --> 0:10:34.840 not going to work out. You heard the reports, it's 0:10:34.880 --> 0:10:38.280 too late. Tune all that out and keep seeing it 0:10:38.320 --> 0:10:42.280 from a distance. The distance doesn't mean God is not 0:10:42.320 --> 0:10:46.840 going to do it. Most of his promises start far away. 0:10:47.760 --> 0:10:51.720 If it was close practical, you could figure it out. 0:10:52.240 --> 0:10:55.400 You have everything you need, then it wouldn't taint faith. 0:10:56.320 --> 0:10:58.880 God is going to put things in your heart that 0:10:58.960 --> 0:11:02.320 seem unlikely, never happened in your family. 0:11:02.760 --> 0:11:04.560 All your reasoning says no way. 0:11:05.200 --> 0:11:08.400 That's when you have to do like Abraham, against all hope, 0:11:08.600 --> 0:11:12.160 hope on in faith, keep waving at it, keep thanking 0:11:12.160 --> 0:11:15.120 God that he's working, keep believing that it is coming. 0:11:16.160 --> 0:11:20.760 Abraham had this promise a year no baby. Two years 0:11:20.800 --> 0:11:26.280 nothing happened, Five years still nothing. It already seemed impossible. 0:11:26.800 --> 0:11:29.240 Now with each year that goes by, it. 0:11:29.120 --> 0:11:30.400 Becomes more unlikely. 0:11:31.440 --> 0:11:33.760 What do you do when you're doing the right thing 0:11:34.080 --> 0:11:38.880 but nothing's improving, It's not getting any closer. That doesn't 0:11:38.960 --> 0:11:41.680 mean that God is not working. You have to keep 0:11:41.800 --> 0:11:46.160 seeing it by faith, keep waving it in, keep talking 0:11:46.280 --> 0:11:50.360 like it's coming, keep expecting things to change, not move 0:11:50.440 --> 0:11:51.000 by how. 0:11:50.840 --> 0:11:54.600 Far off it is, but fully persuaded that God will 0:11:54.640 --> 0:11:55.600 do what he promised. 0:11:56.320 --> 0:12:00.480 Twenty years later, Sarah conceived and gave birth to a. 0:12:00.200 --> 0:12:02.000 Son at ninety one years old. 0:12:02.800 --> 0:12:05.880 There may be things you're believing for that seem far off, 0:12:06.640 --> 0:12:09.520 no sign of it in the natural, thoughts telling you 0:12:09.559 --> 0:12:13.400 it's never gonna work out. But like Abraham, you keep 0:12:13.480 --> 0:12:17.960 seeing it from a distance, trusting that God's working, welcoming 0:12:18.000 --> 0:12:18.720 that promise. 0:12:19.400 --> 0:12:21.640 God is going to do for you what he did 0:12:21.679 --> 0:12:25.200 for him. It may have been years, but get ready. 0:12:25.400 --> 0:12:29.720 Breakthroughs are coming, healing is coming, that baby is coming, 0:12:30.080 --> 0:12:34.200 Your promotion is coming. Suddenly things are gonna change. You 0:12:34.240 --> 0:12:35.720 can't explain it. 0:12:35.720 --> 0:12:38.520 It seems like he is far away. Here's the key. 0:12:39.080 --> 0:12:42.719 God knows how to accelerate things. He can speed up 0:12:42.800 --> 0:12:46.520 what should take years. One touch of his favor and 0:12:46.559 --> 0:12:50.559 what you see in the distance will suddenly become a reality. 0:12:51.520 --> 0:12:54.800 If Abraham were here today, he would tell you, don't 0:12:54.840 --> 0:12:56.320 get discouraged by the distance. 0:12:56.920 --> 0:13:00.280 Don't quit believing because it seems far away. You are 0:13:00.320 --> 0:13:03.240 closer than you think. You are, on the verge of 0:13:03.280 --> 0:13:05.760 seeing God do something you've never seen. 0:13:06.679 --> 0:13:08.800 When I was growing up, there were five of us 0:13:08.880 --> 0:13:11.400 kids in the house and we lived on an acre 0:13:11.440 --> 0:13:14.320 lot out in the country, and we had two dogs. 0:13:14.920 --> 0:13:17.840 At one time, we had some chickens and roosters in 0:13:17.880 --> 0:13:21.240 a pen in our backyard and they were always getting out. 0:13:21.880 --> 0:13:24.160 We'd have to go to the neighbors and round up 0:13:24.200 --> 0:13:28.800 our runaway chickens. Our dog, Scooter, a big German shepherd. 0:13:29.280 --> 0:13:32.920 He was constantly in other people's business. Neighbors would call, 0:13:33.000 --> 0:13:36.400 please come get your dogs. Bottom line, my father was 0:13:36.520 --> 0:13:39.840 tired of dealing with all the headaches that come with 0:13:39.920 --> 0:13:42.839 a bunch of animals. But when I was seven years old, 0:13:43.360 --> 0:13:46.959 my sister Tamra, she's eighteen months older than I am, 0:13:47.320 --> 0:13:52.400 she decided that she wanted some rabbits. She asked my father, well, Daddy, 0:13:52.440 --> 0:13:53.760 didn't have to think twice. 0:13:53.880 --> 0:13:54.719 He said, not a. 0:13:54.760 --> 0:13:58.280 Chance in the world. Tamra, we are not getting any rabbit. 0:13:58.600 --> 0:14:01.000 Well that when in one ear and out the other. 0:14:01.720 --> 0:14:04.520 It didn't phasee Tamra. She was stubborn. I mean she 0:14:04.679 --> 0:14:05.400 was determined. 0:14:05.760 --> 0:14:09.320 A few hours later, Daddy, can we please get some rabbits. 0:14:09.800 --> 0:14:12.320 I'll take care of them. You won't have to do anything. 0:14:13.040 --> 0:14:16.240 She kept asking and asking. We kept a week, month 0:14:16.280 --> 0:14:20.320 after month. She finally wore my father down. He said, Tamra, 0:14:20.480 --> 0:14:23.160 even if we wanted to get rabbits, we don't know 0:14:23.160 --> 0:14:26.240 where to buy them. Tamar said, yes I do, Daddy, 0:14:26.440 --> 0:14:27.840 I know exactly where to get them. 0:14:28.200 --> 0:14:30.840 He said where. She said, Let's get in the car 0:14:30.920 --> 0:14:31.720 and I'll show you. 0:14:32.360 --> 0:14:35.280 We all got in. She asked my father to drive 0:14:35.320 --> 0:14:37.720 toward the church we lived in Humble. We got on 0:14:37.800 --> 0:14:42.160 Highway fifty nine started driving. About ten minutes in she said, 0:14:42.200 --> 0:14:43.680 slow down, slow down. 0:14:44.200 --> 0:14:46.640 Then she pointed over to the right and said, there. 0:14:46.680 --> 0:14:50.160 It is about a quarter of a mile off the freeway, 0:14:50.800 --> 0:14:54.840 past the feeder, past the shopping center, down a side 0:14:54.920 --> 0:14:56.479 street of this neighborhood. 0:14:57.080 --> 0:14:57.560 One of the. 0:14:57.560 --> 0:15:01.720 Houses had a little sign on the out front about 0:15:01.720 --> 0:15:06.320 two feet wide with handwritten letters that said rabbits for sales. 0:15:07.320 --> 0:15:10.000 To see that sign from the freeway, you would have 0:15:10.080 --> 0:15:11.600 to have supernatural vision. 0:15:12.560 --> 0:15:16.960 How she saw that driving sixty miles an hour down 0:15:17.000 --> 0:15:18.960 the highway had to be a miracle. 0:15:19.960 --> 0:15:24.280 But faith sees what other people can't see. We had 0:15:24.400 --> 0:15:30.080 driven down that freeway hundreds of times, maybe thousands of times, 0:15:30.120 --> 0:15:34.000 coming to church, but none of us saw anything about rabbits. 0:15:34.600 --> 0:15:37.000 But Tamra knew how to see from a distance. 0:15:37.800 --> 0:15:40.520 My father said, okay, Tamra, but even if we did 0:15:40.560 --> 0:15:42.000 get some rabbits, we. 0:15:41.960 --> 0:15:43.560 Don't have any place to put them. 0:15:44.040 --> 0:15:47.040 She said, Oh, yes we do, Daddy, I already had Paul. 0:15:46.920 --> 0:15:49.160 Make them a cage. And it's perfect. 0:15:50.120 --> 0:15:53.280 Faith not only sees from a distance, but it makes 0:15:53.360 --> 0:15:58.360 plans for what God promised. Don't just see it. Take 0:15:58.400 --> 0:16:02.640 it a step further and start building your cage. Start 0:16:02.720 --> 0:16:06.360 making plans to get well, plans to get out of debt, 0:16:06.400 --> 0:16:10.080 plans to meet the right person. Not if it ever happens, 0:16:10.360 --> 0:16:12.880 but when I start my new business, when I meet 0:16:12.920 --> 0:16:15.800 my spouse, when I'm able to run again, when my 0:16:15.960 --> 0:16:17.280 child comes back home. 0:16:17.720 --> 0:16:20.720 That's what allows the most High God to go to work. 0:16:21.360 --> 0:16:25.520 Seeing what others can't see, declaring it, believing it will happen, 0:16:25.840 --> 0:16:29.360 making plans for what God put in your heart. We 0:16:29.440 --> 0:16:33.120 had those rabbits about three days before they escaped from 0:16:33.120 --> 0:16:38.880 Paul's amazing cage. He's a surgeon, not a builder. One King, 0:16:39.000 --> 0:16:42.320 Chapter eighteen. The people of Samaria were in a drought 0:16:42.400 --> 0:16:45.680 for three and a half years, and they were barely surviving. 0:16:45.760 --> 0:16:49.800 And God gave a promise to Elijah that there was 0:16:49.840 --> 0:16:52.520 going to be an abundance of rain. He was so 0:16:52.640 --> 0:16:57.040 confident that he told King Ahab, the man that ruled 0:16:57.040 --> 0:16:58.240 that area, that. 0:16:58.200 --> 0:16:59.800 The drought was coming to an end. 0:17:00.480 --> 0:17:03.360 He didn't just hear the promise, but he declared what 0:17:03.520 --> 0:17:07.199 God said. He talked like it was gonna happen. Now, 0:17:07.200 --> 0:17:10.840 I'm sure Ahab thought Elijah, not a cloud in the sky, 0:17:11.320 --> 0:17:12.560 there's no sign of rain. 0:17:12.880 --> 0:17:13.919 That doesn't make sense. 0:17:14.680 --> 0:17:19.040 But faith sees what other people cannot see. Elijah went 0:17:19.080 --> 0:17:22.119 on top of Mount Carmel and began to thank God 0:17:22.240 --> 0:17:25.679 that the rain was coming, thanking him for something that 0:17:25.760 --> 0:17:29.520 seemed far away. He asked his assistant to go to 0:17:29.600 --> 0:17:31.680 the other side of the mountain to see if there's 0:17:31.720 --> 0:17:32.720 any sign of rain. 0:17:33.320 --> 0:17:35.080 It's hoping to get a little encouragement. 0:17:35.600 --> 0:17:38.360 God, I'm seeing it by faith, but at least let 0:17:38.400 --> 0:17:38.960 me see. 0:17:38.720 --> 0:17:41.199 A few clouds, let me see a little change. 0:17:42.080 --> 0:17:46.080 The assistant came back and said, Elijah, nothing, it's perfectly clear. 0:17:46.440 --> 0:17:47.400 It's not going to rain. 0:17:48.280 --> 0:17:51.880 The assistant didn't mean anything wrong, he was just reporting 0:17:51.920 --> 0:17:55.240 the facts. But to stay in faith, you have to 0:17:55.359 --> 0:18:00.200 ignore the negative reports. Everyone can't see what you see. 0:18:00.440 --> 0:18:03.240 They didn't hear what you heard. It's too far in 0:18:03.320 --> 0:18:06.040 the distance for them to see it. They'll tell you 0:18:06.080 --> 0:18:09.640 it's not gonna rain. You're never gonna get well. Never 0:18:09.680 --> 0:18:12.760 break that addiction. Let it go in one ear and 0:18:12.840 --> 0:18:16.520 out the other. They don't determine your destiny. God does 0:18:17.640 --> 0:18:21.639 Nowliya ask the assistant to go look again, and he 0:18:21.680 --> 0:18:24.640 came back and said the same thing. Nothing, no wind, 0:18:24.840 --> 0:18:29.520 no clouds, not any different. This happened six times, the. 0:18:29.520 --> 0:18:30.960 Same negative report. 0:18:31.760 --> 0:18:35.240 And sometimes when you're looking for what God promised, it's 0:18:35.240 --> 0:18:38.439 so far in the distance you can't see anything with 0:18:38.520 --> 0:18:39.520 your natural eyes. 0:18:40.080 --> 0:18:42.800 It's not visible yet. This is when you have to 0:18:42.920 --> 0:18:44.200 use your eyes of faith. 0:18:45.080 --> 0:18:47.960 I don't feel any better yet, but by faith I 0:18:48.000 --> 0:18:51.400 see my healing. No doors have opened yet, but by 0:18:51.480 --> 0:18:54.720 faith I see my dream coming to pass. My child 0:18:54.800 --> 0:18:57.760 is still off course, but by faith I see him 0:18:58.000 --> 0:18:59.200 fulfilling his purpose. 0:19:00.080 --> 0:19:02.240 The seventh time, the assistant came back. 0:19:02.560 --> 0:19:06.679 He said, this time I saw a small cloud about 0:19:06.680 --> 0:19:07.680 the size. 0:19:07.359 --> 0:19:09.119 Of a man's hand in the sky. 0:19:10.280 --> 0:19:13.480 It's significant that God could have had a big bank 0:19:13.560 --> 0:19:17.400 of clouds roll in all the sky get dark where 0:19:17.400 --> 0:19:20.600 it was obvious it was going to rain. But notice 0:19:20.800 --> 0:19:23.840 how this came about in stages nothing. 0:19:23.520 --> 0:19:24.520 For six times. 0:19:25.040 --> 0:19:28.640 Now just a little cloud, Elijah could have gotten discouraged. 0:19:29.080 --> 0:19:31.320 God, I must have heard you wrong. Maybe it's not 0:19:31.359 --> 0:19:32.840 going to rain now. 0:19:32.880 --> 0:19:35.840 When he saw that small cloud, he came off the 0:19:35.880 --> 0:19:39.359 mountain told King Ahab to get in his chariot and 0:19:39.480 --> 0:19:42.399 hurry to another city, or he would be stopped by 0:19:42.440 --> 0:19:46.160 the rain. He didn't just see it. He made plans 0:19:46.200 --> 0:19:49.080 like it was going to happen. It wasn't long till 0:19:49.080 --> 0:19:52.040 the heavens opened up and the draft came to an end. 0:19:53.160 --> 0:19:55.720 There may be promises God has spoken to you, but 0:19:56.320 --> 0:19:58.000 they too seem so far off. 0:19:58.680 --> 0:20:02.560 It's tempting to quit believe. Like Elijah, you have. 0:20:02.480 --> 0:20:05.560 To keep seeing it in the distance, waving at what 0:20:05.720 --> 0:20:09.400 God promised expecting things to change in your favor. 0:20:10.040 --> 0:20:13.240 When you welcome it, you give it permission to come. 0:20:14.080 --> 0:20:18.080 If Elijah would have doubted and talk defeat, let that 0:20:18.160 --> 0:20:21.000 assistant convince him that it wasn't going to happen, we 0:20:21.040 --> 0:20:24.360 wouldn't be talking about it. There are levels of your 0:20:24.400 --> 0:20:29.560 destiny you cannot reach without seeing in the distance, believing 0:20:29.600 --> 0:20:33.080 when it's far away doesn't seem possible. This is what 0:20:33.280 --> 0:20:38.439 separates ordinary people from heroes of faith. Where God is 0:20:38.520 --> 0:20:43.120 taking you is much bigger than you've imagined, with more influence, 0:20:43.520 --> 0:20:48.360 more resources, more anointing. But for that to happen, there 0:20:48.359 --> 0:20:51.760 will be things that seem over your head, out of 0:20:51.760 --> 0:20:56.359 your control, not possible. You can't have a baby, Abraham, 0:20:56.560 --> 0:21:00.760 you're too old. It's not going to reign. Elijah drought, 0:21:01.400 --> 0:21:04.480 you can't take the throne, David King. Saul's chasing you. 0:21:05.359 --> 0:21:09.040 When it seems far away, that's okay. Just keep seeing 0:21:09.080 --> 0:21:13.400 it by faith, believing when every circumstance says there's no way. 0:21:14.440 --> 0:21:17.520 Like with Elijah, that little cloud way off in the 0:21:17.600 --> 0:21:22.080 distance will suddenly turn into a downpour, an abundance of rain, 0:21:22.160 --> 0:21:26.399 and you will see what God promised. My nephew Matt 0:21:26.680 --> 0:21:29.399 is my brother, Paul's son, and when he was twelve 0:21:29.480 --> 0:21:30.440 years old. 0:21:30.720 --> 0:21:33.040 Matt started struggling with depressions. 0:21:33.280 --> 0:21:36.960 He lost interest in school and wouldn't engage socially with 0:21:37.080 --> 0:21:40.720 other students or hardly even his own family. And the 0:21:40.800 --> 0:21:43.480 depression became so bad that he had to drop out 0:21:43.480 --> 0:21:46.399 of school. And this, of course, was breaking Paul's heart. 0:21:46.960 --> 0:21:52.680 Paul prayed, believed quoted scriptures. Nothing improved. Year after year 0:21:52.760 --> 0:21:55.960 went by and no sign of change. Paul could have 0:21:55.960 --> 0:21:59.320 given up. Maybe it's not meant to be, but he 0:21:59.400 --> 0:22:02.439 did what I'm asking us to do. He kept seeing 0:22:02.440 --> 0:22:06.159 it from a distance, looked far away from Matt to 0:22:06.160 --> 0:22:10.639 fulfill his destiny. That promise that as for being my house, 0:22:10.680 --> 0:22:14.680 we will serve the Lord didn't seem possible at that point. 0:22:15.200 --> 0:22:18.800 Paul heard abundance in effect, but there wasn't a cloud 0:22:18.840 --> 0:22:19.320 in the sky. 0:22:20.280 --> 0:22:22.520 Like Elijah. Paul kept looking. 0:22:22.760 --> 0:22:25.600 God, I don't see a sign, but I know you're working, 0:22:25.920 --> 0:22:29.359 You're doing things behind the scenes. He didn't have to 0:22:29.400 --> 0:22:31.639 have it right in front of him to believe. He 0:22:31.760 --> 0:22:35.560 believed from a distance when there were no clouds, no sign, 0:22:36.080 --> 0:22:40.520 nothing improving. When Jesus rose from the grave, he appeared 0:22:40.520 --> 0:22:45.040 to his disciples, and Thomas wasn't there that day. Thomas said, 0:22:45.080 --> 0:22:47.919 I'm not going to believe unless I see Jesus up close, 0:22:48.520 --> 0:22:50.919 unless I feel the nail prints in his hand and 0:22:51.119 --> 0:22:55.159 see the scars on his side. Jesus appeared to him later, 0:22:55.680 --> 0:22:59.440 said Thomas, you had believed because you have seen, but 0:22:59.520 --> 0:23:01.080 blessed those who will. 0:23:00.880 --> 0:23:04.760 Believe and have not seen. Don't be a Thomas. 0:23:05.440 --> 0:23:07.719 I have to see it up close, Joel when it's 0:23:07.800 --> 0:23:11.199 right here, then I'll believe. No be in Elijah, be 0:23:11.320 --> 0:23:14.680 a pall. See it from a distance, believe when it's 0:23:14.720 --> 0:23:18.480 far away, when there's no sign it looks unlikely. 0:23:18.880 --> 0:23:21.440 That's what it takes to become a hero of faith. 0:23:22.080 --> 0:23:24.520 That's when you'll see God show out in your life 0:23:24.560 --> 0:23:28.159 and do more than you can imagine. Matt spent years 0:23:28.200 --> 0:23:31.560 struggling with that depression. But when you have people praying 0:23:31.640 --> 0:23:36.240 for you and declaring freedom and speaking victory, forces of 0:23:36.320 --> 0:23:39.840 darkness cannot stay. There will come a point where God 0:23:39.920 --> 0:23:43.640 says enough is enough. Your time in this famine is over. 0:23:44.400 --> 0:23:46.720 And that's what happened with Matt. It was like those 0:23:46.840 --> 0:23:50.840 changes of depression were broken suddenly off of him. Got 0:23:50.880 --> 0:23:54.199 his passion back, got his joy back. He went and 0:23:54.200 --> 0:23:58.359 finished high school, went on to college, got his bachelor's degree, 0:23:58.760 --> 0:23:59.960 went on to law school. 0:24:00.000 --> 0:24:02.760 Oh God, his law degree, and now. 0:24:03.080 --> 0:24:06.600 Mad right here on the front road. Now he's an 0:24:06.640 --> 0:24:09.600 attorney with us, working here at Lakewood. He runs our 0:24:09.680 --> 0:24:14.480 humanitarian outreaches, helping people all over the world. What Paul 0:24:14.640 --> 0:24:18.800 used to see from a distance, his son blessed Mighty 0:24:18.840 --> 0:24:22.719 in the land, fulfilling his purpose, has now become a reality. 0:24:23.200 --> 0:24:24.399 He sees it up close. 0:24:25.680 --> 0:24:28.600 Is there something God promised you that seems far away? 0:24:29.440 --> 0:24:32.359 Had dreamed to write a book, to get healthy again, 0:24:32.800 --> 0:24:35.800 to be free from the addiction. There's no sign of 0:24:35.840 --> 0:24:39.240 it happening. Now you're right where Paul was, right where 0:24:39.240 --> 0:24:42.679 Abraham was. Don't let the distance discourage you. 0:24:43.000 --> 0:24:44.399 Dare to see it by faith. 0:24:45.200 --> 0:24:48.119 When the prodigal son left home and wasted all of 0:24:48.160 --> 0:24:52.160 his money partying and living wild, he got so desperate 0:24:52.359 --> 0:24:55.720 that he decided to go back home. The scripture says, 0:24:55.960 --> 0:24:59.520 when the father saw him a long way off, he 0:24:59.640 --> 0:25:03.800 ran out to greet him. This father represents God. What 0:25:03.960 --> 0:25:06.879 is God doing when things are a long way off? 0:25:07.600 --> 0:25:10.439 When this father hadn't heard from his son for months. 0:25:10.920 --> 0:25:14.520 I can imagine him telling his staff, get the best robout, 0:25:15.080 --> 0:25:17.960 make sure it's washed and ironed. I'm gonna need it 0:25:18.000 --> 0:25:21.280 when my son returns. Get the family ring and make 0:25:21.280 --> 0:25:24.359 sure it's polished. Feed the cattle. I'm gonna need a 0:25:24.400 --> 0:25:28.040 fatted calf here real soon. While the sun was a 0:25:28.080 --> 0:25:31.800 long way off, the father was working behind the scenes 0:25:32.320 --> 0:25:36.159 making plans for him to come home in victory. You 0:25:36.240 --> 0:25:38.760 may have promises that seem a long way off and 0:25:39.400 --> 0:25:42.760 kind of feels like God's forgotten about you, gone on vacation. 0:25:43.200 --> 0:25:43.320 Now. 0:25:43.400 --> 0:25:46.560 Can I tell you God is working right now, making 0:25:46.640 --> 0:25:51.520 plans for your victory, arranging things in your favor, lining. 0:25:51.240 --> 0:25:52.240 Up the right people. 0:25:53.320 --> 0:25:56.639 Even though it's in the distance, believe that it's on 0:25:56.760 --> 0:25:57.120 the way. 0:25:57.880 --> 0:25:58.600 Get up each. 0:25:58.520 --> 0:26:01.679 Morning and wave to your heath, Wave to your freedom, 0:26:01.720 --> 0:26:02.919 wave to your abundance. 0:26:03.359 --> 0:26:06.440 You have to welcome it, give it permission to come. 0:26:07.160 --> 0:26:09.679 Doubt, We'll try to talk you out of it. Come on, 0:26:09.760 --> 0:26:12.320 there are no clouds in the sky. You're too old 0:26:12.359 --> 0:26:15.520 to have that child. The expert say it's not gonna happen. 0:26:15.920 --> 0:26:19.680 Look beyond all that, do like Tamra and see what 0:26:19.720 --> 0:26:23.040 other people can't see. Make plans for what God put 0:26:23.119 --> 0:26:25.959 in your heart may not happen for them, but it 0:26:26.000 --> 0:26:29.520 can happen for you. You're not ordinary, You're a hero 0:26:29.640 --> 0:26:33.080 of faith. There is greatness in you. You know this 0:26:33.240 --> 0:26:36.879 secret to see it from a distance. Now know many 0:26:36.920 --> 0:26:40.399 of you have been doing this faithfully, believing when you 0:26:40.440 --> 0:26:43.800 don't see any sign looks far away. But can I 0:26:43.880 --> 0:26:47.720 encourage you? You are closer than you think. Now believe 0:26:47.920 --> 0:26:52.560 and declare. Like Elijah, there's about to be a downpour 0:26:52.600 --> 0:26:56.800 a favor, a downpour, a healing, a downpour of freedom, 0:26:57.320 --> 0:27:01.160 like Sarah and Abraham. That baby promise is on the way, 0:27:01.680 --> 0:27:05.240 like my brother Paul. A turnaround in your family members 0:27:05.600 --> 0:27:08.000 in Jesus' name, and if. 0:27:07.840 --> 0:27:09.600 You receive it, can you say amen? 0:27:11.720 --> 0:27:14.440 I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 0:27:14.480 --> 0:27:16.840 the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:27:17.640 --> 0:27:21.760 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 0:27:21.800 --> 0:27:25.160 into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:27:25.880 --> 0:27:28.360 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:27:28.400 --> 0:27:31.440 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:27:31.680 --> 0:27:33.040 on your new walk with the Lord. 0:27:33.400 --> 0:27:35.639 You can text the number on the screen or go 0:27:35.680 --> 0:27:36.000 to the. 0:27:35.960 --> 0:27:39.040 Website, but I hope you'll get into a good Bible 0:27:39.080 --> 0:27:41.960 based church and keep God first place. 0:27:44.000 --> 0:27:47.360 It's a new year, an opportunity for a fresh start. 0:27:47.840 --> 0:27:50.840 It's a new year, time to forget the struggles of 0:27:50.880 --> 0:27:54.040 the past and make room for new blessings. It's a 0:27:54.160 --> 0:27:57.919 new year, the perfect time to build expectation and faith 0:27:58.160 --> 0:27:59.680 for an amazing new season. 0:28:00.520 --> 0:28:02.720 The beginning of the year is a great time to 0:28:02.760 --> 0:28:06.040 start afresh and anew, to let go of negative things 0:28:06.080 --> 0:28:08.200 of the past and to get ready for the new 0:28:08.240 --> 0:28:12.119 things God has in store. Every January we create a 0:28:12.160 --> 0:28:16.119 new devotional calendar. When you start off each day in faith, 0:28:16.480 --> 0:28:20.560 grateful for what God has done, making positive declarations over 0:28:20.600 --> 0:28:23.680 your future, you're setting the tone for a blessed day 0:28:23.920 --> 0:28:27.800 and a victorious year. This devotional calendar will help you 0:28:27.840 --> 0:28:30.679 get your mind going in the right direction so you 0:28:30.720 --> 0:28:33.679 can live in faith expecting the goodness of God. 0:28:34.359 --> 0:28:36.800 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:28:36.840 --> 0:28:39.400 of any amount this first month of the year, we 0:28:39.400 --> 0:28:41.600 would like to send you a copy of our brand 0:28:41.680 --> 0:28:44.760 new twenty twenty five three hundred and sixty five day 0:28:44.840 --> 0:28:50.040 devotional calendar. Using this devotional calendar is as easy as one, two, 0:28:50.160 --> 0:28:54.440 three One Wake up with an expectancy in your heart. 0:28:54.760 --> 0:28:58.600 Two reflect on the daily scripture, verse and devotional from Joel. 0:28:58.840 --> 0:29:02.880 Three the Lord's promises to you on journaling lines for 0:29:02.960 --> 0:29:04.080 writing and reflection. 0:29:04.880 --> 0:29:06.960 This is going to be one of your best years. 0:29:07.240 --> 0:29:10.240 Our twenty twenty five devotional calendar is going to help 0:29:10.280 --> 0:29:12.760 you stay in faith and see the goodness of God 0:29:13.000 --> 0:29:16.200 in ways you've never seen. Victoria and I pray for 0:29:16.280 --> 0:29:18.880 you and your family every day, and thank you so 0:29:19.000 --> 0:29:23.040 much for your prayer and support. Your generosity is impacting 0:29:23.120 --> 0:29:24.360 lives around the world. 0:29:24.680 --> 0:29:27.000 And a special thank you to our Champion of Hope 0:29:27.040 --> 0:29:28.920 partners for your monthly gifts. 0:29:29.200 --> 0:29:32.080 If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 0:29:32.440 --> 0:29:36.480 Remember you can watch the services online live every Sunday morning, 0:29:36.920 --> 0:29:40.840 download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube now the new 0:29:40.920 --> 0:29:43.720 joel Osteine Network twenty four hours a day, and of 0:29:43.720 --> 0:29:47.120 course listen live on Serious XM as well. But until 0:29:47.160 --> 0:29:50.200 we meet again, met the Lord bless you and keep you, 0:29:50.440 --> 0:29:52.920 may show you His favor and watch over you. 0:29:53.680 --> 0:29:56.400 Be sure to request your copy of the twenty twenty 0:29:56.400 --> 0:30:01.000 five devotional calendar today. Visit Joelostein dot Palm or cull 0:30:01.120 --> 0:30:06.040 us to all freem