Stronger Than You Think

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Now you 0:01:16.520 --> 0:01:19.480 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:01:19.520 --> 0:01:24.120 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:01:24.160 --> 0:01:26.080 This add a sponsored by Facet. Facet Wealth in Corporated 0:01:26.200 --> 0:01:28.040 is an SEC registered investment advisor. This is not an 0:01:28.040 --> 0:01:30.080 offer to buy yourself securities snor is it investment, legal 0:01:30.200 --> 0:01:30.800 or tax advice. 0:01:30.880 --> 0:01:34.200 Don't let feelings have the final say. Don't let your 0:01:34.240 --> 0:01:36.800 feelings run you a lie. You have to go by 0:01:36.880 --> 0:01:40.679 what you know, not about what you feel. When you're weak, 0:01:40.920 --> 0:01:45.520 you need to say I am strong. When you feel overwhelmed, 0:01:45.680 --> 0:01:48.600 you need to say I can do all things through Christ. 0:01:49.120 --> 0:01:52.240 When you feel intimidated, you need to say I am 0:01:52.280 --> 0:01:56.120 a mighty hero. When the pressure feels too much, you 0:01:56.200 --> 0:01:59.480 need to say I am well able, I can handle it. 0:02:00.080 --> 0:02:00.160 Hi. 0:02:00.280 --> 0:02:02.920 This is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to our 0:02:03.000 --> 0:02:05.560 podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:02:05.680 --> 0:02:08.040 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:02:08.040 --> 0:02:09.000 blessing and share it? 0:02:09.040 --> 0:02:11.840 With a friend. We appreciate you and pray for God's 0:02:11.960 --> 0:02:18.400 very best in your life. God bless you. It's great 0:02:18.440 --> 0:02:20.959 to be with you today, and I hope you'll stay 0:02:20.960 --> 0:02:23.760 connected with us throughout the week. We have a daily 0:02:23.919 --> 0:02:26.720 podcast that you can download. You can go to our 0:02:26.760 --> 0:02:29.960 YouTube channel and watch the messages anytime, or you can 0:02:30.000 --> 0:02:33.000 follow us on social media. I promise you we'll keep 0:02:33.040 --> 0:02:36.200 it encouraged and inspired. But thanks for tuning in. Thanks 0:02:36.240 --> 0:02:38.880 again for coming out today. I like to start with 0:02:38.919 --> 0:02:42.440 something funny, and I heard about this kindergarten teacher. She 0:02:42.600 --> 0:02:45.600 was trying to explain to her students about self esteem. 0:02:46.160 --> 0:02:49.640 She said to her class, anyone who feels like you're dumb, 0:02:50.000 --> 0:02:53.200 please stand up. She didn't think anyone would stand, and 0:02:53.320 --> 0:02:55.359 she would make the point how no one is dumb. 0:02:55.880 --> 0:02:59.320 About that time, little Johnny stood up, she thought, oh no, 0:02:59.440 --> 0:03:02.040 what am I going to She said, Now, Johnny, do 0:03:02.120 --> 0:03:05.040 you really feel like you're dumb? He said no, ma'am. 0:03:05.320 --> 0:03:08.000 I just hate to see you standing there all by yourself. 0:03:09.240 --> 0:03:11.840 Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:03:12.240 --> 0:03:14.640 I am what it says, I am, I have what 0:03:14.680 --> 0:03:17.080 it says I have, I can do what it says 0:03:17.120 --> 0:03:19.880 I can do today. I will be taught the word 0:03:19.919 --> 0:03:24.120 of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert, my 0:03:24.240 --> 0:03:28.560 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 0:03:28.960 --> 0:03:32.320 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:03:32.360 --> 0:03:36.440 about stronger than you think. We all face pressure in 0:03:36.560 --> 0:03:40.480 life and times where we could feel overwhelmed. The obstacle 0:03:40.520 --> 0:03:43.400 looks too big. We never dream we'd be dealing with 0:03:43.440 --> 0:03:46.280 this sickness. We thought this trouble at work would be 0:03:46.320 --> 0:03:49.440 over by now. It's easy to feel like it's too much, 0:03:49.720 --> 0:03:53.640 we can't take it anymore. But the scripture says God 0:03:53.680 --> 0:03:56.920 will never let us face more than we can handle, 0:03:57.440 --> 0:04:00.440 but he will make a way of escape so you 0:04:00.480 --> 0:04:03.920 will be able to bear it. When God designs you, 0:04:04.160 --> 0:04:08.080 he took into account everything you would face, every struggle, 0:04:08.400 --> 0:04:12.240 every unfair situation, every setback, and he put in you 0:04:12.520 --> 0:04:17.200 the strength, the courage, the determination to withstand it. When 0:04:17.240 --> 0:04:20.800 you feel overwhelmed, like the pressure is too much, it's 0:04:20.800 --> 0:04:25.440 because you're stronger than you think. You haven't discovered all 0:04:25.480 --> 0:04:28.960 that's in you. You'll never know how strong you really 0:04:29.000 --> 0:04:33.160 are until you face pressure that you've never faced. It 0:04:33.200 --> 0:04:36.760 may seem unbearable. But the fact that God allowed it 0:04:36.880 --> 0:04:39.839 means that you can handle it. He didn't say he 0:04:39.880 --> 0:04:42.159 would make a way of escape so you could run 0:04:42.200 --> 0:04:45.400 from it, so you can avoid it. He said, so 0:04:45.480 --> 0:04:48.800 you can bear it. You can look back at times, well, 0:04:48.839 --> 0:04:52.200 you didn't think you could go on. The pressure seemed unbearable, 0:04:52.600 --> 0:04:55.880 but somehow it didn't defeat you. You had the strength 0:04:55.920 --> 0:04:58.760 to get up another day. You kept going when you 0:04:58.800 --> 0:05:01.800 didn't feel like you had any left. Why didn't it 0:05:01.839 --> 0:05:05.479 break you? Because you were stronger than you thought. God 0:05:05.560 --> 0:05:09.039 designs you to handle that pressure. He wouldn't have allowed 0:05:09.040 --> 0:05:11.840 you to get in it if He hadn't already put 0:05:11.880 --> 0:05:14.640 in you what you needed to handle it. You will 0:05:14.680 --> 0:05:18.719 always be able to bear whatever comes your way. I 0:05:18.760 --> 0:05:22.480 read about a little fish. It's called the Mariana snailfish. 0:05:22.960 --> 0:05:26.160 It lives at the very bottom of the ocean, almost 0:05:26.200 --> 0:05:30.840 five miles underwater. No other fish can survive at that depth. 0:05:31.360 --> 0:05:34.160 The pressure is more than a thousand times than at 0:05:34.200 --> 0:05:37.719 the surface. It would crush any other fish. But when 0:05:37.760 --> 0:05:41.919 God designed this small fish, he made its bones flexible 0:05:42.320 --> 0:05:46.000 so they can withstand the pressure. They have special cells 0:05:46.120 --> 0:05:50.760 and a unique digestive system. Most fish have one gene 0:05:50.760 --> 0:05:55.440 to stabilize proteins, but this fish has five. Because they're 0:05:55.440 --> 0:05:59.520 designed to handle the pressure. They don't live burdened, struggling, 0:05:59.839 --> 0:06:04.040 or whelm. They thrive in the same way. When God 0:06:04.120 --> 0:06:08.320 designs you, he knew what pressures you would face. Financial pressure, 0:06:08.839 --> 0:06:13.880 relationship pressure, pressure, raising children, pressure, dealing with an illness. 0:06:14.360 --> 0:06:17.240 If that pressure was going to crush you, if it 0:06:17.279 --> 0:06:20.080 was going to be unbearable, then God wouldn't have put 0:06:20.120 --> 0:06:24.440 you there. He doesn't make mistakes. Anything you face. You 0:06:24.560 --> 0:06:27.760 have to remind yourself you can handle it. You've been 0:06:27.800 --> 0:06:30.880 designed for it. You wouldn't be at that depth if 0:06:30.920 --> 0:06:33.760 the pressure was going to defeat you. Now you have 0:06:33.880 --> 0:06:36.840 to get in agreement with God. If you go around 0:06:36.880 --> 0:06:40.600 thinking this is too much, I can't raise these kids. 0:06:40.960 --> 0:06:44.480 This pressure at work is overwhelming. That's going to defeat you. 0:06:45.240 --> 0:06:48.279 The scripture talks about how you are full of can 0:06:48.400 --> 0:06:53.039 do power. You are well able to overcome opposition, to 0:06:53.160 --> 0:06:58.240 outlast adversity. But I've learned can do power doesn't do 0:06:58.320 --> 0:07:02.360 you any good. If you have can't do mentality. Quit 0:07:02.440 --> 0:07:04.640 looking at all the things you can't do. Have a 0:07:04.680 --> 0:07:07.840 new perspective. I can do all things. Through Christ, who 0:07:07.920 --> 0:07:11.480 strengthens me. This obstacle may be big, but I can 0:07:11.560 --> 0:07:15.080 overcome it. This trouble is taken longer than I thought, 0:07:15.320 --> 0:07:19.520 but I can outlast it. This situation feels overwhelming, but 0:07:19.600 --> 0:07:23.160 I can handle it. I've been designed for it. I'm strong, 0:07:23.480 --> 0:07:28.080 I'm anointed, I'm equipped. Don't have a weak mentality. You 0:07:28.120 --> 0:07:31.800 weren't created to fall apart when pressure comes. You are 0:07:31.880 --> 0:07:35.720 stronger than you think. You are more favored than you think. 0:07:36.120 --> 0:07:40.320 You are more anointed than you think. Like God designed 0:07:40.320 --> 0:07:45.160 that small fish with special cells bones to withstand the pressure, 0:07:45.800 --> 0:07:49.760 how much more has God designed you with special strength, 0:07:50.240 --> 0:07:54.480 with courage, with fortitude, with stamina. When you start seeing 0:07:54.520 --> 0:07:59.840 yourself as strong, empowered, well able, you won't be overwhelmed. 0:08:00.040 --> 0:08:03.640 You'll discover strength that you didn't know you had. This 0:08:03.720 --> 0:08:06.640 is what happened to Gideon. He was hiding in the 0:08:06.680 --> 0:08:11.280 wine press, afraid of the Midianites. They had surrounded his city. 0:08:11.800 --> 0:08:14.480 You can imagine the pressure he was under him, how 0:08:14.520 --> 0:08:18.640 he felt overwhelmed, wondering what was going to happen. Just 0:08:18.720 --> 0:08:21.960 when it seemed like he couldn't bear it anymore, an 0:08:22.000 --> 0:08:26.040 angel showed up and said, mighty Hero, the Lord is 0:08:26.080 --> 0:08:31.800 with you. When translation says valiant man of fearless courage, 0:08:31.840 --> 0:08:34.960 Gideon didn't feel like a mighty hero. He was hiding. 0:08:35.360 --> 0:08:40.400 He didn't feel courageous. He was weak, intimidated. The angel 0:08:40.559 --> 0:08:44.360 was saying, in effect, Gideon, you are stronger than you think. 0:08:44.960 --> 0:08:49.120 You're letting the situation overwhelm you. You think it's unbearable. 0:08:49.400 --> 0:08:52.000 But I'm here to tell you you've got what it takes. 0:08:52.440 --> 0:08:57.360 You're courageous, your talented, your favor You're well able. Gideon 0:08:57.400 --> 0:09:00.720 didn't know what was in him. He saw what was 0:09:00.760 --> 0:09:05.800 around him, enemies that looked too big, opposition that seemed insurmountable. 0:09:06.360 --> 0:09:09.480 The Angel showed up to remind him of what was 0:09:09.559 --> 0:09:12.960 in him. The angel went on to say, Gideon, you 0:09:13.000 --> 0:09:16.679 are to lead the people of Israel against the Midianites. 0:09:17.440 --> 0:09:20.679 Even though he saw an angel, he still wasn't convinced. 0:09:21.120 --> 0:09:24.360 He said, are you kidding? I come from the poorest family. 0:09:24.840 --> 0:09:28.320 I'm the least one in my father's house. He was saying, 0:09:28.640 --> 0:09:32.080 you're calling me strong, You're calling me a hero. Do 0:09:32.160 --> 0:09:35.120 you know my background? Do you know where I come from? 0:09:35.280 --> 0:09:39.239 Do you see what I'm up against? Gideon didn't understand 0:09:39.559 --> 0:09:42.760 that God won't let you get in a situation if 0:09:42.800 --> 0:09:45.960 He hasn't already equipped you for it. If it was 0:09:46.000 --> 0:09:48.920 going to be too much to bear, too big to defeat, 0:09:49.240 --> 0:09:51.960 God wouldn't have allowed it. The fact that you're in 0:09:52.040 --> 0:09:56.000 it means you can handle it now. Like Gideon. You 0:09:56.080 --> 0:09:59.040 may not think so. The odds are against you. It 0:09:59.080 --> 0:10:03.320 feels overwhelmed. You are stronger than you think. You are 0:10:03.320 --> 0:10:07.240 more powerful than you think. The most High God is 0:10:07.320 --> 0:10:11.559 breathing on your life. He's saying to you today, mighty hero, 0:10:12.120 --> 0:10:17.000 Rise up, mighty hero, Stand strong, mighty hero. You are 0:10:17.080 --> 0:10:21.679 well able. You would think after the Angel called him 0:10:21.720 --> 0:10:25.320 a hero, Gideon would be full of faith, ready to 0:10:25.360 --> 0:10:29.320 take new Graham. He still wasn't convinced. God could have thought, 0:10:29.320 --> 0:10:31.839 get in forget about it. If you don't know what 0:10:31.880 --> 0:10:34.720 you have, if you see yourself as weak, I'll go 0:10:34.800 --> 0:10:38.280 find somebody else. But God never gives up on us. 0:10:38.920 --> 0:10:41.720 You may think all the reasons why you can't overcome, 0:10:42.320 --> 0:10:46.079 why that problem's too big, how it's unbearable. But God 0:10:46.240 --> 0:10:48.960 is going to keep calling you a mighty hero. He's 0:10:48.960 --> 0:10:51.600 going to keep telling you that you're stronger than you think. 0:10:52.120 --> 0:10:55.280 He's going to keep pushing you forward, showing you signs 0:10:55.320 --> 0:10:59.360 of his favor. Gideon and one of his men snuck 0:10:59.480 --> 0:11:02.160 down to the enemy's camp to see what was going on. 0:11:02.880 --> 0:11:06.960 Several armies had united to fight the Israelites. Gideon only 0:11:07.000 --> 0:11:11.000 had three hundred men. Seemed impossible. But just as they 0:11:11.040 --> 0:11:14.880 crept up, they overheard one of the Midianites telling about 0:11:14.880 --> 0:11:18.160 a dream that he had. The other Midianites said, I 0:11:18.280 --> 0:11:22.120 know exactly what that dream means. God has given Gideon 0:11:22.480 --> 0:11:26.520 and the Israelites victory over all of us. When Gideon 0:11:26.559 --> 0:11:30.480 heard that something came alive on the inside, he returned 0:11:30.480 --> 0:11:33.760 to camp shouted to his men, get up. God has 0:11:33.800 --> 0:11:38.880 given us the victory. He no longer felt weak, overwhelmed, intimidated. 0:11:39.080 --> 0:11:43.040 He knew he was well able. At midnight, they attacked 0:11:43.080 --> 0:11:47.360 the enemy's army, even though they were greatly outnumbered. Gideon 0:11:47.520 --> 0:11:51.080 and the Israelites won the victory. But I don't think 0:11:51.200 --> 0:11:54.400 we would be talking about Gideon if the angel had 0:11:54.440 --> 0:11:57.160 not told him that he was stronger than he thought, 0:11:57.840 --> 0:12:00.320 If the Angel had not called him a mighty hero, 0:12:00.960 --> 0:12:04.079 if he had not challenged him to see himself differently, 0:12:04.559 --> 0:12:08.200 Gideon would have missed his destiny you're not hearing this 0:12:08.320 --> 0:12:12.319 by accident. God is saying to you you're stronger than 0:12:12.360 --> 0:12:15.720 you think. You're bigger than what you're up against. You 0:12:15.760 --> 0:12:19.560 were created to overcome, born with what you need to 0:12:19.679 --> 0:12:25.400 defeat what's trying to stop you. You may feel weak, intimidated, overwhelmed. 0:12:25.480 --> 0:12:29.319 That's okay. God made us with feelings. I'm not saying 0:12:29.360 --> 0:12:33.080 don't feel things. I'm saying, don't let feelings have the 0:12:33.120 --> 0:12:36.839 final say. Don't let your feelings run your life. You 0:12:36.880 --> 0:12:39.240 have to go by what you know, not by what 0:12:39.320 --> 0:12:43.040 you feel. When you're weak, you need to say I 0:12:43.080 --> 0:12:47.240 am strong. When you feel overwhelmed, you need to say 0:12:47.640 --> 0:12:51.280 I can do all things through Christ. When you feel intimidated, 0:12:51.600 --> 0:12:54.719 you need to say I am a mighty hero. When 0:12:54.800 --> 0:12:57.800 the pressure feels too much, you need to say I 0:12:57.840 --> 0:13:02.360 am well able, I can handle it. It's significant that 0:13:02.440 --> 0:13:06.200 Gideon heard what the enemy was saying about him. That's 0:13:06.240 --> 0:13:09.839 what convinced him to see himself the right way. If 0:13:09.840 --> 0:13:13.520 you could hear the enemy talking about you, he'd be saying, 0:13:13.840 --> 0:13:17.319 that's William, don't mess with him. He serves the most 0:13:17.360 --> 0:13:21.600 High God. That's Maria, that's Susie. You better be careful. 0:13:21.720 --> 0:13:27.400 They're powerful, they're favored, they're strong. Sometimes the enemy knows 0:13:27.440 --> 0:13:30.000 who we are more than we know who we are. 0:13:31.000 --> 0:13:34.480 God is not only saying you are stronger than you think, 0:13:34.920 --> 0:13:38.200 but even the enemy is saying, if they find out 0:13:38.240 --> 0:13:41.679 who they are, surely they will defeat us. If they 0:13:41.760 --> 0:13:44.440 realize they are a mighty hero, then we are no 0:13:44.600 --> 0:13:48.840 match for them. Are you seeing yourself the right way? 0:13:48.880 --> 0:13:53.439 Have you discovered what's in you? That situation that seems overwhelming, 0:13:53.920 --> 0:13:57.800 that pressure that feels unbearable. It's not there to defeat you, 0:13:58.320 --> 0:14:01.200 but to help you discover I think that you didn't 0:14:01.280 --> 0:14:05.520 know you had. You're not weak, You're not at a disadvantage. 0:14:05.760 --> 0:14:09.080 You're a mighty hero. You are a man, a woman 0:14:09.320 --> 0:14:14.000 of fearless courage. The pressure on the outside may be great. 0:14:14.640 --> 0:14:17.480 Other people may not be able to take it, but 0:14:17.600 --> 0:14:20.440 God knew you would face it. That's why, like that 0:14:20.520 --> 0:14:24.080 little fish, He's already given you what you need. Not 0:14:24.280 --> 0:14:28.080 just to survive. That's one thing we make it through life, 0:14:28.280 --> 0:14:33.440 burden down, feeling unbearable. You weren't created to survive, but 0:14:33.520 --> 0:14:37.920 to thrive when things that should be unbearable. You've tapped 0:14:37.920 --> 0:14:41.000 into strength that you didn't know you had. You still 0:14:41.040 --> 0:14:44.280 give God praise. You still shine at work, You still 0:14:44.280 --> 0:14:48.640 accomplish great dreams. Don't go your whole life and never 0:14:48.720 --> 0:14:51.960 discover what's in you. You are stronger than you think. 0:14:53.000 --> 0:14:55.760 Think about a little seed, just a quarter of an 0:14:55.760 --> 0:14:59.440 inch long, doesn't look like much. You put that seed 0:14:59.520 --> 0:15:02.680 in the ground. The dirt that's on top of it 0:15:02.720 --> 0:15:06.720 is thousands of times heavier and more powerful. The little 0:15:06.760 --> 0:15:10.160 seed could think, just my luck. I was doing fine. 0:15:10.320 --> 0:15:13.240 Then someone put me in this dirt. Someone buried me. 0:15:14.000 --> 0:15:17.320 But what that seed doesn't know is God already took 0:15:17.320 --> 0:15:20.720 into account that one day it would be buried. One 0:15:20.800 --> 0:15:24.560 day it would feel overwhelmed, be surrounded by pressure and 0:15:24.640 --> 0:15:27.960 forces that were much greater. So God put in that 0:15:28.080 --> 0:15:35.080 seed supernatural life, supernatural strength, supernatural ability. After it's buried, 0:15:35.520 --> 0:15:38.440 been in the dark, looks like it's over, the seed 0:15:38.640 --> 0:15:42.640 will germinate, It will open up somehow begin to push 0:15:42.720 --> 0:15:46.040 the dirt out of the way. That seed didn't realize 0:15:46.240 --> 0:15:49.320 it was designed to be buried. It was designed to 0:15:49.400 --> 0:15:52.520 have dirt put on it. God knew it would face 0:15:52.600 --> 0:15:56.200 opposition that looked much bigger. That's why he put in 0:15:56.280 --> 0:15:59.840 it strength to push up dirt strength to move some 0:16:00.120 --> 0:16:04.600 than many times stronger. God was showing us. It's not 0:16:04.720 --> 0:16:08.240 the size of what you're up against. What matters is 0:16:08.280 --> 0:16:09.880 what the Creator put in. 0:16:09.920 --> 0:16:10.000 You. 0:16:10.880 --> 0:16:14.720 Don't be intimidated by how big the opposition is, by 0:16:14.760 --> 0:16:18.120 how bad the medical report looks, by how powerful the 0:16:18.200 --> 0:16:21.960 people are against you. Like that little seed, you have 0:16:22.080 --> 0:16:25.600 the life of Almighty God. You have the favor of God, 0:16:26.360 --> 0:16:30.640 can do power. You are stronger than you think. When 0:16:30.640 --> 0:16:33.600 that seed is buried, I can hear the dirt laughing, 0:16:33.840 --> 0:16:36.840 saying you're done now. You don't have a chance. I'm 0:16:36.840 --> 0:16:40.200 so much more powerful than you. The seed could panic, 0:16:40.680 --> 0:16:43.480 live overwhelmed. What am I going to do? But this 0:16:43.640 --> 0:16:46.920 seed knows the secret. It says, Hey, mister dirt, I 0:16:47.000 --> 0:16:50.520 may look small. I know I'm at a disadvantage right now. 0:16:50.960 --> 0:16:54.560 I know you're much bigger, but I'm not worried. I'm 0:16:54.600 --> 0:16:58.000 stronger than I look. I'm more powerful than I appear. 0:16:58.600 --> 0:17:02.320 I have something in me. It's not ordinary, it's not common. 0:17:02.640 --> 0:17:06.400 I have the life of Almighty God. The dirt says, 0:17:06.440 --> 0:17:10.679 big deal, I'm still hundreds of times more powerful. But 0:17:10.800 --> 0:17:13.760 in a few weeks, the little seed opens up. It 0:17:13.840 --> 0:17:17.040 begins to push the dirt back, push it back, push 0:17:17.080 --> 0:17:19.680 it back. Before long, the seed has come up out 0:17:19.680 --> 0:17:23.280 of the ground. Now it's a beautiful bush with blooming flowers. 0:17:24.040 --> 0:17:27.160 In the same way, things that look like they're going 0:17:27.200 --> 0:17:30.240 to overwhelm you looks like it's too much to bear. 0:17:30.800 --> 0:17:35.280 Remember this phrase, you are stronger than you think. God 0:17:35.359 --> 0:17:38.399 knew it was coming. He's already put things on the 0:17:38.440 --> 0:17:41.679 inside that you can't see right now. But at the 0:17:41.720 --> 0:17:45.360 appointed time, you're going to push back the dirt. You're 0:17:45.400 --> 0:17:48.000 going to come out of what's holding you back. Not 0:17:48.240 --> 0:17:51.080 like you were, but you're going to bloom. You're going 0:17:51.119 --> 0:17:55.800 to blossom, go to new levels, accomplish greater goals. Don't 0:17:55.800 --> 0:17:58.760 be fooled by the dirt. The dirt is getting you 0:17:58.880 --> 0:18:02.960 ready to flourish. There are things in your destiny that 0:18:03.040 --> 0:18:06.800 can only happen with the dirt. If you weren't buried, 0:18:06.880 --> 0:18:10.080 so to speak, you would never see what's in your seed. 0:18:10.560 --> 0:18:14.120 You wouldn't reach your potential. You can keep a seed 0:18:14.200 --> 0:18:17.720 on a shelf for years that's nice, doesn't have to 0:18:17.760 --> 0:18:21.160 get dirty, doesn't have to be uncomfortable, but that seed 0:18:21.200 --> 0:18:24.439 would never become what it was created to be. It 0:18:24.480 --> 0:18:28.000 may be an apple seed. There are apple orchards in 0:18:28.080 --> 0:18:31.360 that one seed, but it will never produce a single 0:18:31.440 --> 0:18:35.800 apple without the dirt. The challenge is when we get 0:18:35.840 --> 0:18:39.120 dirt on us, when we face things we don't understand, 0:18:39.320 --> 0:18:43.320 it feels overwhelming. It's easy to get discouraged, give up 0:18:43.320 --> 0:18:46.920 on our dreams. God, why is this happening that's going 0:18:47.000 --> 0:18:50.960 to keep the seed from germinating. The right attitude is 0:18:51.359 --> 0:18:55.080 this dirt is not stopping my destiny. It's taking me 0:18:55.280 --> 0:18:59.400 into my destiny. God wouldn't have allowed the dirt if 0:18:59.440 --> 0:19:02.439 it was going to keep you from your purpose. The 0:19:02.520 --> 0:19:05.960 problem may look too big, The sickness looks too great. 0:19:06.200 --> 0:19:09.240 The trouble is not turning around. Can I tell you 0:19:09.240 --> 0:19:12.760 you are stronger than you think. You can endure more 0:19:12.840 --> 0:19:16.000 than you think. That dirt is not going to defeat you. 0:19:16.280 --> 0:19:21.920 It's going to promote you. Numbers Chapter eleven, Moses felt overwhelmed. 0:19:22.440 --> 0:19:25.520 He was leading the Israelites through the desert, some two 0:19:25.560 --> 0:19:29.960 million people, toward the Promised Land. They were complaining, we're 0:19:30.040 --> 0:19:32.879 tired of eating this same food. We liked it better 0:19:32.920 --> 0:19:35.199 in Egypt. Why did you bring us out here in 0:19:35.240 --> 0:19:39.840 the desert? Moses said in verse eleven, God, why did 0:19:39.880 --> 0:19:42.199 you lay the burdens of all these people on me? 0:19:42.760 --> 0:19:45.560 They're not my children. I'm not able to bear this 0:19:45.720 --> 0:19:49.359 on my own. It's too heavy for me. He felt 0:19:49.400 --> 0:19:53.080 so pressured and so stressed. He said, God, I would 0:19:53.160 --> 0:19:56.280 rather you kill me than have me carry this heavy load. 0:19:56.680 --> 0:20:00.560 Felt unbearable, like he couldn't take it anymore. God had 0:20:00.640 --> 0:20:04.959 him call seventy elders, seventy men that could help him. 0:20:05.320 --> 0:20:08.600 In Verse seventeen, God said, I will take some of 0:20:08.640 --> 0:20:11.760 the spirit that's on you, and I will put it 0:20:11.840 --> 0:20:15.040 on these men. They will help you carry the burden. 0:20:15.680 --> 0:20:18.480 One principle, of course, is you have to delegate. You 0:20:18.520 --> 0:20:22.040 can't do everything by yourself. But it's interesting that God 0:20:22.080 --> 0:20:24.920 didn't say, I'm going to take some of my spirit 0:20:25.200 --> 0:20:28.080 and put it on these men. He said, Moses, I'm 0:20:28.119 --> 0:20:30.719 going to take some of your spirit and put it 0:20:30.760 --> 0:20:35.000 on them. Do you see how strong Moses was, even 0:20:35.040 --> 0:20:38.160 though he couldn't do the work of all seventy God said, 0:20:38.400 --> 0:20:41.159 you have so much potential. You have so much you 0:20:41.240 --> 0:20:44.439 haven't tapped into. I'm going to take from you and 0:20:44.520 --> 0:20:48.640 give it to them. Imagine God taking from what's in 0:20:48.680 --> 0:20:52.560 you and giving it to seventy people and you still 0:20:52.600 --> 0:20:55.800 being able to do great things. That's how strong you are. 0:20:56.200 --> 0:20:59.360 That's how powerful you are, that's how anointed you are. 0:21:00.200 --> 0:21:02.920 I want you to see yourself as a mighty hero, 0:21:03.640 --> 0:21:07.040 as someone that's well able. The reason you face big 0:21:07.119 --> 0:21:10.760 challenges is because you have a big destiny. The reason 0:21:10.840 --> 0:21:14.439 you have great obstacles is because you have greatness in you. 0:21:15.200 --> 0:21:19.439 The reason the pressure feels overwhelming is because you're stronger 0:21:19.480 --> 0:21:24.040 than you think. That difficulty is an opportunity to discover 0:21:24.240 --> 0:21:28.480 what's in you. This won't happen though, if you're weak, defeated, 0:21:28.800 --> 0:21:31.680 can't take it anymore. It's too much for me. If 0:21:31.680 --> 0:21:34.639 that was true, then God made a mistake when he 0:21:34.720 --> 0:21:38.320 designs you, he accidentally put you in an environment that 0:21:38.400 --> 0:21:42.680 you couldn't handle. No, God doesn't make mistakes. The pressure 0:21:42.800 --> 0:21:46.199 is showing you how strong you are, how much you 0:21:46.240 --> 0:21:49.480 can handle. That's getting you ready for how high God 0:21:49.560 --> 0:21:52.879 is going to take you, for new levels, for greater influence, 0:21:53.119 --> 0:21:57.320 for unprecedented favor. We had a dog growing up by 0:21:57.320 --> 0:22:00.320 the name of Scooter. My father used to write his 0:22:00.359 --> 0:22:04.200 bike through the neighborhood and Scooter would follow alongside him. 0:22:04.320 --> 0:22:07.120 Daddy was so proud of Scooter. He was a big 0:22:07.240 --> 0:22:11.280 german shepherd, strong and powerful. He would take off ahead 0:22:11.280 --> 0:22:14.920 of my father, run through the neighbor's yards check everything 0:22:14.960 --> 0:22:18.240 out like he was the king of the road. One day, 0:22:18.280 --> 0:22:22.439 as they were riding, this little chihuahua little bitty dog 0:22:22.800 --> 0:22:26.840 saw Scooter down the road and started barking and barking. 0:22:27.400 --> 0:22:30.800 Scooter didn't think twice. He took off toward that dog 0:22:31.080 --> 0:22:34.440 full speed, like he was saying, how dare you bark 0:22:34.480 --> 0:22:37.840 at me? My father thought, oh no, Scooter's gonna tear 0:22:37.880 --> 0:22:40.600 into that dog. One paw on him and that little 0:22:40.600 --> 0:22:43.119 dog will be done. He sped up to try to 0:22:43.160 --> 0:22:46.879 calm Scooter down. The closer Scooter got, the louder that 0:22:47.040 --> 0:22:50.560 dog bark. Finally, Scooter got right up to him this 0:22:50.640 --> 0:22:54.280 big showdown. My father was waiting for Scooter to show 0:22:54.359 --> 0:22:57.960 him who was boss. But Scooter rolled over on his back, 0:22:58.320 --> 0:23:00.960 put all four legs up in the air like he 0:23:01.080 --> 0:23:04.640 was saying, I give up, don't hurt me. My father said, 0:23:04.640 --> 0:23:08.160 I wanted to kick Scooter all the way home. Scooter 0:23:08.480 --> 0:23:11.280 was a lot bigger on the outside than he was 0:23:11.320 --> 0:23:15.000 on the inside. That little chihuahuah. He may have been 0:23:15.040 --> 0:23:18.119 small in size, but he was stronger than he looked. 0:23:18.320 --> 0:23:22.440 He was more powerful than he looked. I've learned it's 0:23:22.480 --> 0:23:25.119 not the size of the problem, it's the size of 0:23:25.160 --> 0:23:29.480 the person. My father was ashamed of Scooter. But I 0:23:29.560 --> 0:23:33.399 wonder how many times our heavenly Father looks down at 0:23:33.480 --> 0:23:36.560 us and thinks, why are you putting up all fours? 0:23:37.160 --> 0:23:41.000 Why are you giving up overwhelmed thinking you can't handle it. 0:23:41.359 --> 0:23:44.280 When I've called you a mighty hero, when I've given 0:23:44.320 --> 0:23:47.560 you can do power, when I've surrounded you with favor, 0:23:47.800 --> 0:23:50.400 when I've armed you with strength for every battle. When 0:23:50.440 --> 0:23:53.680 I'm going before you making crooked places straight, when I've 0:23:53.680 --> 0:23:58.640 designed you to withstand any pressure that comes against you. 0:23:58.640 --> 0:24:03.280 You want to make God proud, gold stand strong, be courageous, 0:24:03.720 --> 0:24:07.640 Think like a champion, talk like an overcomer. Praise when 0:24:07.640 --> 0:24:10.760 you could be complaining. Declare victory when all you see 0:24:10.800 --> 0:24:15.680 is defeat. Expect favor when it seems impossible. God has 0:24:15.800 --> 0:24:18.960 awesome things in your future. Let me keep it real, 0:24:19.680 --> 0:24:23.199 there will be some awesome challenges in your future. To 0:24:23.240 --> 0:24:27.159 reach your destiny, you have to discover what's in you. 0:24:27.359 --> 0:24:31.320 Every time you realize you're stronger than you think. You overcome, 0:24:31.720 --> 0:24:35.439 you outlast, you endure. That strength is going to be 0:24:35.520 --> 0:24:39.160 instrumental for the next challenge, for the next dream. That's 0:24:39.240 --> 0:24:42.760 preparing you for the amazing things God has in store. 0:24:43.880 --> 0:24:47.679 David was a teenager out working in the shepherd's fields, 0:24:47.720 --> 0:24:50.880 taking care of his father's sheep. One day, he took 0:24:50.960 --> 0:24:54.040 lunch to his brothers who were in the army. He 0:24:54.040 --> 0:24:57.920 heard Goliath toning the Israelites. Something rose up in him. 0:24:58.320 --> 0:25:00.800 He told King Saul that he wanted to fight Golia. 0:25:01.440 --> 0:25:03.520 They all tried to talk him out of it, told 0:25:03.560 --> 0:25:07.040 him he was too small, not qualified, no experience, But 0:25:07.200 --> 0:25:11.560 David was determined. When Goliath saw how small David was, 0:25:11.960 --> 0:25:14.840 he began to laugh. He said, Am I a dog 0:25:15.040 --> 0:25:17.679 that you'd come at me with a stick? He was saying, 0:25:18.160 --> 0:25:21.679 is this the best you got? David looked at Goliath 0:25:21.800 --> 0:25:25.160 said in effect, I may be small, but I'm stronger 0:25:25.200 --> 0:25:28.080 than I look. I'm more powerful than I look. I'm 0:25:28.119 --> 0:25:31.879 more experienced than I look. David took a slingshot with 0:25:32.000 --> 0:25:35.960 that one stone brought down Goliath. You may have some 0:25:36.080 --> 0:25:39.919 Golias telling you what you can't do. You're not strong enough. 0:25:40.359 --> 0:25:43.480 You can't break the addiction, you can't beat the sickness. 0:25:43.800 --> 0:25:47.359 You'll never accomplish that dream. You're not big enough. You 0:25:47.480 --> 0:25:50.960 have to do like David and tell Goliath. I may 0:25:51.000 --> 0:25:54.439 look small, but I'm stronger than you think. You haven't 0:25:54.440 --> 0:25:57.480 seen the best of me. You haven't seen the courage, 0:25:57.640 --> 0:26:01.159 the fortitude, the greatness. Just see a get in. What 0:26:01.280 --> 0:26:04.120 you don't realize is you're looking at a mighty hero. 0:26:05.080 --> 0:26:08.440 That problem is not going to defeat you. That trouble 0:26:08.520 --> 0:26:11.600 is not how your story ends. That loss is not 0:26:11.720 --> 0:26:14.840 going to define you. You're going to discover things in 0:26:14.880 --> 0:26:18.760 you that you didn't know you had. I believe even now, 0:26:18.920 --> 0:26:22.719 strength is rising up, Courage is rising up. Dreams are 0:26:22.760 --> 0:26:25.560 coming back to life. You're about to see God do 0:26:25.720 --> 0:26:29.440 things you couldn't do. Turn situations around that look permanent, 0:26:29.760 --> 0:26:33.399 open doors that no person can shut. When I was 0:26:33.440 --> 0:26:36.280 ten years old, I was playing Little league baseball and 0:26:36.680 --> 0:26:40.240 I was very small growing up, always the shortest one 0:26:40.280 --> 0:26:43.359 on the team. I got up to bat. The coach 0:26:43.440 --> 0:26:46.080 on the other team came out of the dugout and 0:26:46.160 --> 0:26:50.879 started waving his arms, shouting to the outfielders, come in closer, 0:26:51.280 --> 0:26:54.600 come in closer. It was like he was saying, this 0:26:54.640 --> 0:26:57.479 guy up to bat is a loser. Look how small 0:26:57.480 --> 0:27:01.200 he is. He can't hit. It's making this big. Everyone 0:27:01.240 --> 0:27:04.600 in the stands was watching him. Something rose up in me. 0:27:05.000 --> 0:27:07.760 I thought, you don't know who you're talking about. You 0:27:07.840 --> 0:27:11.959 don't know what I'm capable of. The pitcher throw the ball. 0:27:12.320 --> 0:27:15.560 The first pitch, I swung as hard as I could. 0:27:16.000 --> 0:27:19.960 The ball went over everyone's head one bounce and hit 0:27:20.040 --> 0:27:24.080 the fence. I felt like Jose Altuve. I was fast. 0:27:24.359 --> 0:27:26.600 I ran to the basis for an inside the park 0:27:26.640 --> 0:27:29.560 home run. Next time I got up to bat, the 0:27:29.640 --> 0:27:32.719 same coach came out, but this time he was waving 0:27:32.760 --> 0:27:36.280 his arms the other way, shouting back up, back up, 0:27:36.480 --> 0:27:40.560 back up. What happened? I was stronger than he thought. 0:27:41.400 --> 0:27:45.520 I believe the enemy has misjudged you. He thinks you're 0:27:45.560 --> 0:27:50.040 a lightweight. You're too small, at a disadvantage, overwhelmed. Life's 0:27:50.080 --> 0:27:53.200 been tough. Why don't you step up and show what's 0:27:53.200 --> 0:27:56.440 in you? Why don't you shake off the negative voices, 0:27:56.800 --> 0:28:00.320 Quit listening to the golias taunting you, Quit believe the 0:28:00.359 --> 0:28:04.000 obstacle is too big, and show the world who you 0:28:04.080 --> 0:28:08.000 really are. There's a mighty hero waiting to come out. 0:28:08.440 --> 0:28:12.600 There's a giant killer, there's a history maker, there's an overcomer. 0:28:13.359 --> 0:28:15.840 You may have some dirt on you, you're going through 0:28:15.840 --> 0:28:19.399 some challenges. That dirt can't hold you down. You have 0:28:19.480 --> 0:28:23.520 the life of Almighty God. You've been designed for this time, 0:28:23.920 --> 0:28:28.840 equipped for what you're facing. Empower to fulfill your destiny. Now. 0:28:28.880 --> 0:28:32.560 Don't live with a can't do mentality. When you can 0:28:32.680 --> 0:28:36.440 do power, get in agreement with God. If you'll do this, 0:28:36.800 --> 0:28:41.480 I believe and declare, you're about to discover strength, courage 0:28:41.680 --> 0:28:45.400 ability like you've never seen. You're not just going to survive. 0:28:45.640 --> 0:28:50.160 You're going to thrive, overcoming every obstacle, defeating every enemy, 0:28:50.440 --> 0:28:55.080 accomplishing every dream in Jesus' name, And if you receive it, 0:28:55.200 --> 0:28:58.920 can you say men? Today, I'd like to give you 0:28:58.960 --> 0:29:02.160 an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. 0:29:02.560 --> 0:29:06.400 Would you pray with me? Just say Lord, Jesus, I'll 0:29:06.480 --> 0:29:11.200 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 0:29:11.280 --> 0:29:15.520 you my Lord and savior. If you've prayed that simple prayer, 0:29:15.600 --> 0:29:18.280 we believe you got born again. We love to give 0:29:18.320 --> 0:29:20.680 you some information on your new walk with the Lord. 0:29:20.920 --> 0:29:22.760 Just text the number on the screen or go to 0:29:22.840 --> 0:29:26.200 the website. I hope you'll get into a good Bible 0:29:26.280 --> 0:29:30.120 based church and keep God first place. Thanks so much 0:29:30.160 --> 0:29:33.480 for listening to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe so 0:29:33.600 --> 0:29:36.760 you can receive the latest podcast to keep you encouraged 0:29:36.760 --> 0:29:38.360 and inspired all through the week. 0:29:38.520 --> 0:29:40.760 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:29:40.760 --> 0:29:42.240 with those all around the world. 0:29:42.560 --> 0:29:45.320 Visit Joelosting dot com or click the link in the 0:29:45.360 --> 0:29:47.520 description to partner with us today. 0:29:47.760 --> 0:29:50.240 WE hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:29:50.320 --> 0:29:53.120 be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 0:29:53.200 --> 0:29:56.280 for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 0:29:56.320 --> 0:29:57.160 see you next time. 0:29:59.280 --> 0:30:01.280 Somewheer is here and our sleep is just as important 0:30:01.280 --> 0:30:03.440 as our weekend plans. So get the sleep you deserve 0:30:03.480 --> 0:30:05.600 with Lisa. 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