The Power Of Believing

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See terms and conditions at 0:01:29.360 --> 0:01:30.080 UNEs dot co. 0:01:31.200 --> 0:01:33.959 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:34.000 --> 0:01:37.120 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:01:37.240 --> 0:01:39.840 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:01:39.880 --> 0:01:42.520 share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 0:01:42.600 --> 0:01:54.080 for God's very best in your life. 0:01:55.800 --> 0:01:58.520 He God bless you. It's a joy to come into 0:01:58.560 --> 0:01:59.280 your homes. 0:01:59.480 --> 0:02:02.200 We love you, and we know God has great things 0:02:02.200 --> 0:02:04.080 in store for each one of you. If you're ever 0:02:04.160 --> 0:02:06.240 in our area, stop buying be a part of one 0:02:06.280 --> 0:02:08.720 of our services. I promise you we'll make you feel 0:02:08.760 --> 0:02:11.360 right at home. But thanks for tuning into day. Thank 0:02:11.360 --> 0:02:13.640 you again for coming out. I like to start with 0:02:13.720 --> 0:02:16.399 something funny, and I heard about this group of children. 0:02:16.840 --> 0:02:20.920 They were in the cafeteria line at their Catholic elementary school. 0:02:21.400 --> 0:02:23.520 At the beginning of the line, there was this big 0:02:23.560 --> 0:02:27.239 bowl of apples. Now none had written a note that said, 0:02:27.600 --> 0:02:28.600 take only one. 0:02:29.040 --> 0:02:29.960 God is watching. 0:02:30.840 --> 0:02:32.519 At the end of the line there was a big 0:02:32.600 --> 0:02:35.680 batch of chocolate chip cookies. One of the children had 0:02:35.680 --> 0:02:37.880 written a note that said, take all you want. 0:02:38.120 --> 0:02:39.399 God's watching. The apples. 0:02:41.520 --> 0:02:43.880 Hold up your bibles. Say it like you mean it. 0:02:44.320 --> 0:02:46.880 This is my Bible. I am what it says. 0:02:46.960 --> 0:02:47.280 I am. 0:02:47.760 --> 0:02:50.240 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:02:50.320 --> 0:02:52.880 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:02:52.919 --> 0:02:56.760 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:02:56.840 --> 0:02:59.920 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:03:00.120 --> 0:03:04.679 the same. In Jesus's name, God bless you. I want 0:03:04.680 --> 0:03:07.760 to talk to you today about the power of believing. 0:03:08.800 --> 0:03:11.600 One of the greatest abilities God's given each one of 0:03:11.680 --> 0:03:13.639 us is our ability to believe. 0:03:14.600 --> 0:03:18.480 If you believe, you can be successful. If you believe 0:03:18.760 --> 0:03:19.960 you can overcome. 0:03:19.600 --> 0:03:23.320 Mistakes of the past, if you believe you can fulfill 0:03:23.560 --> 0:03:28.560 your God given destiny. There's incredible power in what we believe. 0:03:29.639 --> 0:03:33.200 What you believe is greater than what the medical report says. 0:03:33.840 --> 0:03:36.880 Of course, we respect medical science, but God has. 0:03:36.720 --> 0:03:37.480 The final say. 0:03:38.040 --> 0:03:40.840 When you get in agreement with God and believe what 0:03:40.920 --> 0:03:45.200 He says about you, then what you believe can supersede 0:03:45.480 --> 0:03:49.760 any natural law. What you believe is greater than what's 0:03:49.760 --> 0:03:52.760 in your bank account. I have a friend that came 0:03:52.800 --> 0:03:55.520 to this country with nothing but the clothes on his back. 0:03:56.080 --> 0:04:00.480 Today he runs a fortune five hundred company. Against all odds. 0:04:00.680 --> 0:04:03.760 He believed he could do what God put in his heart. 0:04:04.400 --> 0:04:08.680 Paul prayed in Ephesians one nineteen that we would understand 0:04:09.000 --> 0:04:12.480 the incredible greatness of God's power. 0:04:12.640 --> 0:04:14.080 For those who believe. 0:04:15.160 --> 0:04:19.560 Notice, the power is only activated when we believe. That 0:04:19.640 --> 0:04:23.120 means right now, the creator of the universe is just 0:04:23.240 --> 0:04:29.120 waiting to release healing, restoration, favor, promotion, abundance. The only 0:04:29.240 --> 0:04:32.840 catch is we have to believe now. I think about Mary, 0:04:32.960 --> 0:04:36.400 the Mother of Christ. When she was a teenager, the 0:04:36.440 --> 0:04:39.080 angel came to her and said, you're going to have 0:04:39.120 --> 0:04:43.000 a child without knowing a man. Her first thought was, 0:04:43.240 --> 0:04:47.839 that's impossible. That's never happened before. That defies the laws 0:04:47.839 --> 0:04:51.279 of nature. She said to the angel, how can this be? 0:04:52.000 --> 0:04:55.039 He answered back, the spirit of the Lord will come 0:04:55.040 --> 0:04:57.000 on you and cause it to happen. 0:04:57.760 --> 0:05:00.559 Now, Love. The way Mary responded. 0:05:00.480 --> 0:05:03.080 She didn't argue with him, She didn't try to talk 0:05:03.120 --> 0:05:07.159 herself out of it. She simply said, be it under me, 0:05:07.800 --> 0:05:11.800 even as you have said, in other words, let it happen. 0:05:12.360 --> 0:05:16.480 I'm a believer. I'm in agreement with God. Sometimes just 0:05:16.560 --> 0:05:17.440 life with Mary. 0:05:18.080 --> 0:05:21.720 God will put a promise in your heart that seems impossible. 0:05:22.400 --> 0:05:25.599 A promise that says you're going to be well, You're 0:05:25.600 --> 0:05:28.039 going to start a business, You're going to meet the 0:05:28.120 --> 0:05:31.159 right person and get married. He he did a think 0:05:31.480 --> 0:05:34.159 siver gonna happen to me. Joel, I've been this way 0:05:34.200 --> 0:05:38.160 too long. I've made too many mistakes. The medical report 0:05:38.200 --> 0:05:41.159 is too bad. Nobody in my family's been successful. 0:05:41.880 --> 0:05:42.400 On and on. 0:05:42.480 --> 0:05:45.800 We could all come up with excuses, but I'm asking 0:05:45.920 --> 0:05:49.840 us to do like Mary. Instead of talking yourself out 0:05:49.880 --> 0:05:54.760 of it, just respond with three simple words. Lord, I 0:05:54.920 --> 0:06:00.359 believe God says your children will be mighty in the land. Lord, 0:06:00.560 --> 0:06:04.840 I believe God says he's going to restore the years 0:06:04.880 --> 0:06:07.480 that were stolen. He's going to bring you to a 0:06:07.560 --> 0:06:12.279 flourishing finish. Lord, I believe God says, whatever you touch 0:06:12.360 --> 0:06:16.120 will prosper and succeed. You will lend and not borrow 0:06:16.200 --> 0:06:19.440 the head and never the tale. Now, don't come up 0:06:19.480 --> 0:06:22.360 with five reasons why that's not going to happen. Your 0:06:22.400 --> 0:06:26.400 response should be, Lord, I believe when you get in 0:06:26.560 --> 0:06:31.599 agreement with God, the incredible greatness of his power is activated. 0:06:32.600 --> 0:06:35.120 In the scripture, a man came to Jesus and said, 0:06:35.160 --> 0:06:38.599 my little daughter's very sick. She's close to death. Will 0:06:38.640 --> 0:06:42.120 you come to my home and pray for her. Jesus agreed, 0:06:42.560 --> 0:06:45.479 but on along the way he kept getting stopped, one 0:06:45.520 --> 0:06:49.520 interruption after another. Finally, word came back to him, saying, 0:06:49.800 --> 0:06:52.839 no need to come. You've waited too late. The little 0:06:52.880 --> 0:06:57.760 girl has died. The people were upset, very distraught, but 0:06:57.920 --> 0:06:59.680 Jesus said to them, Luke eight. 0:06:59.680 --> 0:07:01.760 Fifty, don't be afraid. 0:07:02.440 --> 0:07:05.960 If you will only believe, the little girl will be well. 0:07:07.040 --> 0:07:09.279 Notice the phrase, only believe. 0:07:10.120 --> 0:07:12.520 Jesus went to the home, prayed for the little girl, 0:07:12.560 --> 0:07:15.920 and she came back to life. But you too may 0:07:15.960 --> 0:07:20.360 be facing situations that seem impossible in the natural. You 0:07:20.400 --> 0:07:23.480 don't see how you could get well, how you could 0:07:23.520 --> 0:07:27.000 overcome the addiction, how your family could ever be restored. 0:07:27.720 --> 0:07:30.640 But God is saying to you what he said to them. 0:07:31.240 --> 0:07:32.080 If you will. 0:07:31.920 --> 0:07:37.000 Only believe, I'll turn the situation around. If you only believe, 0:07:37.440 --> 0:07:42.440 breakthroughs are hitted your way. Friends, it's not complicated. God 0:07:42.480 --> 0:07:45.920 didn't say, if you'll pray twenty hours a day, if 0:07:45.960 --> 0:07:46.680 you'll quote. 0:07:46.480 --> 0:07:49.120 Twelve chapters in the scripture, then I'll do it for you. 0:07:49.120 --> 0:07:52.480 No, he said, if you'll only believe, In other words, 0:07:52.560 --> 0:07:55.120 if you'll just get your mind going in the right 0:07:55.160 --> 0:07:59.560 direction and believe you can rise higher, Believe you can 0:07:59.600 --> 0:08:02.120 overcome the obstacle, Believe. 0:08:01.840 --> 0:08:03.480 Your family can be restored. 0:08:04.200 --> 0:08:07.880 Believe you can do something great and make your mark 0:08:08.040 --> 0:08:13.200 in this generation. When you believe the surpassing greatness of 0:08:13.240 --> 0:08:16.960 God's power is released in your life, some of you 0:08:16.960 --> 0:08:20.080 you're going to have to develop new habits. If you've 0:08:20.120 --> 0:08:23.320 been negative for a long time, You've got to retrain 0:08:23.480 --> 0:08:27.920 your thinking from I can't to I can from it 0:08:27.960 --> 0:08:31.400 won't happen to it will happen from I'll never get 0:08:31.440 --> 0:08:34.960 well to God is restoring health under me from I 0:08:35.040 --> 0:08:38.040 never get any good breaks to. God's favor surrounds me 0:08:38.200 --> 0:08:41.199 like a shield from I made too many mistakes. I'm 0:08:41.240 --> 0:08:44.600 all washed up to I'm redeemed, I'm forgiven. My best 0:08:44.679 --> 0:08:47.040 days are still out in front of me. You've got 0:08:47.080 --> 0:08:52.040 to reprogram your computer, load in some new software. It 0:08:52.080 --> 0:08:56.000 may look impossible, like it's over and done. But if 0:08:56.040 --> 0:08:58.920 you'll be a believer, God will do for you what 0:08:59.040 --> 0:09:02.840 he did for this family. God will resurrect dead dreams. 0:09:03.080 --> 0:09:07.120 He'll resurrect a dead relationship. God can resurrect what you 0:09:07.240 --> 0:09:11.120 thought was dead, bring those things back to life. I'm 0:09:11.160 --> 0:09:13.920 trying to talk you in today to being a believer 0:09:14.400 --> 0:09:17.560 and not a doubter. Does it matter how bad it looks, 0:09:18.160 --> 0:09:20.960 how many people have told you, no, how long it's 0:09:21.000 --> 0:09:24.520 been that way. Listen, God has the final say it's 0:09:24.559 --> 0:09:26.400 not over Till God says it's over. 0:09:26.640 --> 0:09:28.480 He controls the whole universe. 0:09:30.520 --> 0:09:33.600 Nothing that's happened to you is a surprise to God. 0:09:34.200 --> 0:09:39.520 No disappointment, no injustice, no failure. God saw it, and 0:09:39.600 --> 0:09:42.080 he wants to take what was meant for your harm 0:09:42.400 --> 0:09:44.760 and use it to your advantage. Now you've got to 0:09:44.800 --> 0:09:49.160 shake off the self pity, shake off the disappointment, let 0:09:49.200 --> 0:09:52.640 go of what didn't work out, and press forward into 0:09:52.640 --> 0:09:56.240 the new beginning God has in store. Friends, God has 0:09:56.280 --> 0:10:00.000 you in the palm of his hand. His plans for you. 0:10:00.000 --> 0:10:03.679 You are for good, to promote you, to heal you, 0:10:04.000 --> 0:10:07.559 to restore you, to show you His favor. You may 0:10:07.600 --> 0:10:10.800 not see how it can happen, but lean not to 0:10:10.880 --> 0:10:14.520 your own understanding. The scripture says that means just because 0:10:14.559 --> 0:10:17.360 you don't see away, doesn't mean God doesn't have a way. 0:10:18.040 --> 0:10:18.960 But here's the whole key. 0:10:18.960 --> 0:10:23.920 Today, nothing will happen unless you believe God has this 0:10:24.000 --> 0:10:29.600 incredible power favor, healing, promotion, restoration. But it's only activated 0:10:29.720 --> 0:10:33.480 when we believe. I'm asking you to believe that this 0:10:33.600 --> 0:10:38.160 is your year. Believe that every negative situation God's turning 0:10:38.200 --> 0:10:41.319 it in your favor. Believe that good breaks are headed 0:10:41.360 --> 0:10:45.480 your way. Believe that your future will be brighter than 0:10:45.520 --> 0:10:49.840 your past. First Chronicles twenty eight twenty says, don't be 0:10:49.960 --> 0:10:52.680 discouraged by the size of the task. 0:10:53.240 --> 0:10:55.360 For the Lord your God is with you. 0:10:56.000 --> 0:10:58.920 He will see to it that it is finished completely. 0:11:00.360 --> 0:11:03.400 When you believe God will see to it that has 0:11:03.480 --> 0:11:07.240 taken care of. When you believe, you have the creator 0:11:07.320 --> 0:11:11.440 of the universe, fighting your battles, arranging things in your favor, 0:11:11.800 --> 0:11:14.200 going before you, moving the wrong people. 0:11:14.040 --> 0:11:14.640 Out of the way. 0:11:15.200 --> 0:11:17.480 You couldn't have made it happen in your own strength, 0:11:17.720 --> 0:11:21.960 but because you're a believer, the surpassing greatness of God's 0:11:22.000 --> 0:11:25.640 power is at work in your life. Now, don't be 0:11:25.880 --> 0:11:29.920 intimidated by the size of the problem, the size of 0:11:29.960 --> 0:11:34.720 your dream. Don't let that convince you to stop believing. Well, Joeli, 0:11:34.720 --> 0:11:37.160 I got laid off and you just don't know my 0:11:37.280 --> 0:11:41.959 financial situation. No, but I do know Jehovah Jirah, the Lord, 0:11:42.000 --> 0:11:43.240 our provider. 0:11:42.960 --> 0:11:44.880 He's still on the throne. 0:11:45.320 --> 0:11:48.480 One touch of God's favor and you'll go from barely 0:11:48.520 --> 0:11:51.600 making it to heaven more than enough. Well, you just 0:11:51.640 --> 0:11:55.080 don't know. My medical situation doesn't look good. No, but 0:11:55.160 --> 0:11:58.600 I do know Jehovah Raphah, the Lord, our healer, has 0:11:58.640 --> 0:11:59.760 not lost his power. 0:12:00.520 --> 0:12:02.440 He has done it in the past, he can do 0:12:02.520 --> 0:12:04.960 it in the future. Well, Joel, I've. 0:12:04.840 --> 0:12:07.600 Got big dreams, but I don't know the right people. 0:12:07.760 --> 0:12:11.800 I don't have the connections. That's okay, God, does you 0:12:11.920 --> 0:12:15.880 have friends in high places. When you believe God will 0:12:15.880 --> 0:12:19.760 bring the right people across your path. Don't be intimidated 0:12:19.800 --> 0:12:21.520 by the size of what you're facing. 0:12:22.440 --> 0:12:23.400 Here's what I've learned. 0:12:23.760 --> 0:12:27.640 The bigger the problem, the bigger your destiny. The enemy 0:12:27.640 --> 0:12:30.600 would not be fighting you so hard unless he knew 0:12:30.840 --> 0:12:34.240 God had something amazing in your future. On the other 0:12:34.360 --> 0:12:37.199 side of that challenge is a new level of your destiny. 0:12:37.880 --> 0:12:41.839 The good news is when you believe God promises he 0:12:41.880 --> 0:12:45.120 will bring it to pass. Let me assure you nothing 0:12:45.200 --> 0:12:50.880 can stand against our God. No disappointment, no setback, no injustice, 0:12:50.920 --> 0:12:53.520 no person, no hater, no jealousy. 0:12:53.640 --> 0:12:56.200 When you believe, all the forces. 0:12:55.760 --> 0:12:59.040 Of darkness cannot stop God from taking you where He 0:12:59.120 --> 0:13:01.160 wants you to go. Be a believer and not a 0:13:01.200 --> 0:13:05.680 Douver says in the Book of Hebrews. When we come 0:13:05.720 --> 0:13:10.160 to God, we must believe that he is. It's interesting, 0:13:10.280 --> 0:13:13.360 it doesn't really finish the scripture. Believe that he is 0:13:13.440 --> 0:13:17.360 what It leaves it open ended. This is saying when 0:13:17.400 --> 0:13:21.280 you believe God becomes whatever you need him to be. 0:13:22.120 --> 0:13:26.280 He is strength when you're weak, He is healing when 0:13:26.320 --> 0:13:29.880 you're sick. He is favor when you need a good break. 0:13:30.320 --> 0:13:33.559 He is a way maker when you don't see a way. 0:13:33.640 --> 0:13:39.160 He is restoration when something's been stolen. He is vindication 0:13:39.559 --> 0:13:41.160 when you've been falsely accused. 0:13:41.679 --> 0:13:45.240 He is whatever you need him to be. Many of 0:13:45.280 --> 0:13:47.440 you know God by one name. 0:13:48.040 --> 0:13:50.760 You know him as a savior, and that's great, that's 0:13:50.800 --> 0:13:53.760 the most important way. But you need to find out 0:13:53.960 --> 0:13:57.240 what else he is. Do you know him as a 0:13:57.320 --> 0:14:00.839 resurrection god? A god that can bring back to life 0:14:00.880 --> 0:14:04.160 what you thought was dead. Do you know him as 0:14:04.200 --> 0:14:07.120 an Ephesian's three twenty god, a god who can do 0:14:07.200 --> 0:14:10.880 exceedingly abundantly above and beyond. Do you know him as 0:14:10.880 --> 0:14:15.080 a healer, a restorer, a god who gives beauty for ashes. 0:14:15.840 --> 0:14:17.040 You may have gone through. 0:14:17.080 --> 0:14:20.680 Hurts and disappointments and people did you wrong, but you 0:14:20.720 --> 0:14:25.720 don't have to live defeated, depressed in self pity. No 0:14:25.840 --> 0:14:29.280 God wants to heal the hurts, give you a new beginning, 0:14:29.640 --> 0:14:32.160 bring you out better off than you were before. But 0:14:32.200 --> 0:14:34.680 you've got to know him as a god who gives 0:14:34.720 --> 0:14:39.120 beauty for ashes. Friends, There's so much more to our God. 0:14:39.640 --> 0:14:42.760 Don't keep him in a little box. Discover what else 0:14:42.800 --> 0:14:46.560 he is. I know this couple that attends Lakewood, and 0:14:46.880 --> 0:14:48.720 for the last year and a half or so, they've 0:14:48.760 --> 0:14:52.680 heard me talking about believing for Ephesians three twenty and 0:14:52.720 --> 0:14:56.680 how God wants to show us his unprecedented favor, and 0:14:56.720 --> 0:14:58.000 they dared to believe. 0:14:58.080 --> 0:14:59.640 They let that seed take root. 0:15:00.320 --> 0:15:03.080 And for the last ten years they'd been working very hard, 0:15:03.200 --> 0:15:07.040 saving their funds so they could hopefully purchase their first home. 0:15:07.560 --> 0:15:10.840 And at one point everything came together. They found the 0:15:10.880 --> 0:15:13.720 house they liked, It was a good price, and they 0:15:13.760 --> 0:15:15.720 knew it was God's favor. They had the money for 0:15:15.760 --> 0:15:19.120 the down payment. They were so excited. But when they 0:15:19.160 --> 0:15:22.000 went to close on the home, the young lady was 0:15:22.040 --> 0:15:25.640 at the realtor's office finalizing the details, she got a 0:15:25.680 --> 0:15:28.880 call from her husband saying that he had just been 0:15:29.000 --> 0:15:31.800 let go from his job. He had worked for that 0:15:31.840 --> 0:15:36.120 company for over six years, always did his best, had 0:15:36.120 --> 0:15:39.640 a good attitude, but his supervisor never. 0:15:39.440 --> 0:15:41.000 Particularly liked him. 0:15:41.360 --> 0:15:44.240 Over the years, his wife just kept encouraging him, you're 0:15:44.280 --> 0:15:47.520 not working under people, You're working under God. He did 0:15:47.560 --> 0:15:49.680 his best to stay on the high road, but it 0:15:49.760 --> 0:15:53.760 seemed like at the worst possible time he got let go. 0:15:54.680 --> 0:15:57.920 To make matters worse. This all happened on his birthday. 0:15:58.520 --> 0:16:01.840 He lost his job and the house of their dreams 0:16:01.880 --> 0:16:05.720 on the same day. Naturally, they were disappointed. But the 0:16:05.760 --> 0:16:09.480 good news is this young couple didn't just know God 0:16:09.560 --> 0:16:13.880 as a savior. They knew him as a God of restoration. 0:16:14.360 --> 0:16:16.880 They knew him as a God of justice, a God 0:16:16.960 --> 0:16:20.680 who will make your wrongs right. They could easily gotten 0:16:20.720 --> 0:16:24.600 better dropped out of church, but they understood this principle, 0:16:24.880 --> 0:16:28.400 if you only believe, you will see the goodness of God. 0:16:29.240 --> 0:16:33.040 Instead of sitting at home every day depressed in self pity, 0:16:33.560 --> 0:16:35.920 any time he wasn't out looking for a new job, 0:16:36.120 --> 0:16:39.160 he would come up to the church and volunteer week 0:16:39.200 --> 0:16:42.080 apt a week, month after month, as faithful as can 0:16:42.120 --> 0:16:45.840 be in the natural. Didn't look like anything was happening, 0:16:46.280 --> 0:16:49.480 but they weren't discouraged by the size of their problem. 0:16:49.920 --> 0:16:50.920 They knew as. 0:16:50.800 --> 0:16:54.480 Long as they believed the Lord, their God, would see 0:16:54.520 --> 0:16:57.960 to it that they were taken care of. Five months later, 0:16:58.080 --> 0:17:00.640 he got a call from his old company. Hadn't talked 0:17:00.680 --> 0:17:03.200 to them since he had been let go. It was 0:17:03.240 --> 0:17:07.560 an executive from the corporate headquarters. He explained how he 0:17:07.600 --> 0:17:10.400 had let go of the whole management team, and this 0:17:10.480 --> 0:17:13.320 executive wanted him to come back and work for the company. 0:17:13.600 --> 0:17:14.440 He not only. 0:17:14.240 --> 0:17:17.040 Restored his job, but he restored all of his benefits, 0:17:17.359 --> 0:17:21.080 all of his retirement, all of his seniority. The house 0:17:21.119 --> 0:17:24.080 they wanted to buy it already sold, but they went 0:17:24.119 --> 0:17:27.119 out looking and found a better house in a better 0:17:27.200 --> 0:17:30.480 neighborhood for a better price. Today, not only has his 0:17:30.640 --> 0:17:33.240 job back, but they're living in their dream homes. God's 0:17:33.280 --> 0:17:38.199 a faithful god, Isaiah three to ten says, say to 0:17:38.240 --> 0:17:41.920 the righteous, it shall be well with you. 0:17:41.920 --> 0:17:43.600 You may go through some difficulties. 0:17:43.640 --> 0:17:46.600 People may do you wrong, but because you're a believer, 0:17:47.000 --> 0:17:48.160 it shall. 0:17:47.760 --> 0:17:49.479 Be well with you. 0:17:49.480 --> 0:17:52.679 You lost your job, yes, but another job is coming. 0:17:52.800 --> 0:17:56.040 It shall be well with you. The medical report doesn't 0:17:56.040 --> 0:17:58.360 look good, yes, but we have another report. 0:17:58.560 --> 0:17:59.840 It shall be well with you. 0:18:00.000 --> 0:18:03.879 Here, you say, Joel, I've been praying, believing for this 0:18:04.000 --> 0:18:06.880 situation to change for a long time, but I don't 0:18:06.920 --> 0:18:10.520 see anything happening now. Just like with this couple, God 0:18:10.640 --> 0:18:14.320 is working behind the scenes right now, arranging things in 0:18:14.400 --> 0:18:15.000 your favor. 0:18:15.320 --> 0:18:17.520 The answer is already on the way. 0:18:17.840 --> 0:18:20.440 It's just a matter of time before it shows up. 0:18:20.720 --> 0:18:23.840 It shall be well with you. I like to think 0:18:23.880 --> 0:18:27.720 of it like setting the temperature on a thermostat. You 0:18:27.800 --> 0:18:31.200 set the temperature to seventy two degrees. Now it may 0:18:31.240 --> 0:18:34.720 be ninety six degrees in the room far off from 0:18:34.720 --> 0:18:37.399 where you set it. You could go to the thermostat 0:18:37.440 --> 0:18:40.080 and think, this isn't working, it's not matching up. 0:18:40.560 --> 0:18:42.960 No, you don't worry about it. You know, it's just 0:18:43.040 --> 0:18:44.280 a matter of time. 0:18:44.320 --> 0:18:47.919 Before the temperature in the room matches the temperature that 0:18:47.960 --> 0:18:51.920 you set. In the same way, we should set our 0:18:52.000 --> 0:18:56.399 thermostats on what God says about us. God says you 0:18:56.440 --> 0:18:59.960 will lend and not borrow. I'm setting my thermostat right there. 0:19:00.400 --> 0:19:03.560 That's what I'm choosing to believe now, right now, I 0:19:03.640 --> 0:19:07.320 may be far from that. I may be far in debt, 0:19:07.640 --> 0:19:10.400 but that's okay. I'm not worried as long as I've 0:19:10.400 --> 0:19:13.960 got my thermostats set. As long as I keep believing, 0:19:14.080 --> 0:19:17.720 keep honoring God, keep being my best. I know it's 0:19:17.800 --> 0:19:20.879 just a matter of time before the conditions in my 0:19:21.040 --> 0:19:24.160 life match up to the conditions in my thinking. 0:19:24.400 --> 0:19:25.800 God is a faithful God. 0:19:27.200 --> 0:19:30.639 Now we should set our thermostats. As for me and 0:19:30.720 --> 0:19:33.679 my house, we will serve the Lord. You may have 0:19:33.720 --> 0:19:36.919 a child that's thirty two degrees, a son that's one 0:19:37.000 --> 0:19:39.960 hundred and forty degrees out there living wild, doesn't matter. 0:19:40.200 --> 0:19:43.600 As long as your thermostat is set. You're not worried, 0:19:43.880 --> 0:19:46.600 you're not frustrated. You don't have to live wondering if 0:19:46.640 --> 0:19:49.520 it's going to change. You know, God is in complete 0:19:49.520 --> 0:19:52.960 control when he sees you have a made up mind 0:19:53.119 --> 0:19:56.960 that your thermostat, your thinking is set on his promises, 0:19:57.320 --> 0:20:01.240 on faith, on restoration, he on victory. 0:20:01.359 --> 0:20:02.919 That's when God goes to work. 0:20:03.480 --> 0:20:06.800 It may not happen overnight, but God is faithful. 0:20:07.040 --> 0:20:08.600 He will do what he promised. 0:20:09.440 --> 0:20:12.840 Some of you today you need to readjust your thermostat. 0:20:13.800 --> 0:20:16.919 At one time, you believe to do something great. 0:20:17.520 --> 0:20:20.920 You believe to start that business. You believe you'd beat 0:20:20.920 --> 0:20:21.480 that addiction. 0:20:21.960 --> 0:20:24.680 But it didn't happen on your timetable, and you got 0:20:24.680 --> 0:20:28.119 discouraged and you ended up giving up. God is saying, 0:20:28.680 --> 0:20:34.240 reset the thermostat. Start believing once again. Believe you can 0:20:34.280 --> 0:20:37.439 live free from pain. Believe you can move into that 0:20:37.560 --> 0:20:41.359 nicer home. Believe God's bringing the right people across your path. 0:20:41.960 --> 0:20:45.679 Keep the thermostat set, have a made up mind. 0:20:46.160 --> 0:20:50.159 When it gets cold, When it gets hot, stay in faith. 0:20:50.560 --> 0:20:53.240 This is what God says about me. I am blessed. 0:20:53.760 --> 0:20:56.520 I will live and not die. My children will be 0:20:56.600 --> 0:20:59.600 mighty in the land. My latter days will be greater 0:20:59.680 --> 0:21:03.119 than my former days. Now you may not see anything 0:21:03.160 --> 0:21:06.760 happening week after week, month after month, maybe even year 0:21:06.800 --> 0:21:07.320 after year. 0:21:07.520 --> 0:21:08.240 Does it matter. 0:21:08.680 --> 0:21:12.560 Our attitude is my thermostat is set. I'm not moved 0:21:12.560 --> 0:21:15.320 by what I see, by what I feel, by what 0:21:15.359 --> 0:21:18.879 people tell me. I'm moved by what I know, And 0:21:18.960 --> 0:21:22.919 I know when I believe the incredible greatness of God's 0:21:22.960 --> 0:21:27.320 power is activated. I know when I believe strongholds are 0:21:27.320 --> 0:21:33.560 broken favor healing, promotion, restoration, They're coming my way. In 0:21:33.600 --> 0:21:36.840 the Scripture, a man by the name of Ezekiel was 0:21:36.880 --> 0:21:41.399 facing an impossible situation. There were these dead bones in 0:21:41.440 --> 0:21:45.160 a valley that God had promised would come back to life. 0:21:45.200 --> 0:21:48.680 Dead bones represent dreams and goals that we don't think 0:21:48.720 --> 0:21:52.119 will come to pass, and God had the power to 0:21:52.200 --> 0:21:55.600 bring these dead bones to life. But God needed a 0:21:55.800 --> 0:22:00.359 person who believed so he could work through them. God 0:22:00.440 --> 0:22:04.480 said to Ezekiel, do you believe that these dead bones 0:22:04.520 --> 0:22:04.960 can live? 0:22:05.880 --> 0:22:10.120 Isn't it interesting? God wanted to know what Ezekiel believed. 0:22:10.960 --> 0:22:13.119 Ezekiel could have reasoned it out and said, God, the 0:22:13.160 --> 0:22:15.399 bones are dead. I don't see how that's going to happen. 0:22:15.800 --> 0:22:18.480 In other words, the medical report doesn't look good. 0:22:18.480 --> 0:22:20.200 God, business is slow. 0:22:20.560 --> 0:22:24.720 This is a big problem I can imagine. God said Ezekiel. 0:22:25.000 --> 0:22:27.600 I'm not asking you all of that. All I want 0:22:27.640 --> 0:22:28.840 to know is do. 0:22:28.840 --> 0:22:32.719 You believe all? At once, Ezekiel. 0:22:32.200 --> 0:22:35.200 Shook off the doubt and he said, in effect, Lord, 0:22:35.480 --> 0:22:38.560 I believe the spirit of God came on him. He 0:22:38.640 --> 0:22:42.400 started prophesying, and somehow, some way, those dead bones came 0:22:42.440 --> 0:22:43.080 back to life. 0:22:43.960 --> 0:22:46.399 But God is asking us what He asked. 0:22:46.119 --> 0:22:50.840 Ezekiel, do you believe you can live a blessed, prosperous, 0:22:51.000 --> 0:22:54.400 successful life. I've got the power. I'm just looking for 0:22:54.480 --> 0:22:58.479 someone who believes. Do you believe God can turn that 0:22:58.560 --> 0:23:02.600 situation around? Do you believe you can overcome mistakes of 0:23:02.640 --> 0:23:03.119 the past. 0:23:03.760 --> 0:23:05.800 Friends, when you get in agreement. 0:23:05.400 --> 0:23:09.679 With God and believe, that allows God to release the 0:23:09.680 --> 0:23:14.480 incredible greatness of his power. When Lazarus was very sick, 0:23:14.880 --> 0:23:18.399 his two sisters Mary and Martha sent word for Jesus 0:23:18.480 --> 0:23:22.480 to come to their hometown and pray for Lazarus, but Jesus. 0:23:22.119 --> 0:23:23.119 Waited too long. 0:23:23.520 --> 0:23:28.520 He waited four days Lazarus had already died. When Jesus 0:23:28.560 --> 0:23:32.880 finally showed up, Martha was very upset. She said, Jesus, 0:23:33.200 --> 0:23:35.760 if you would have been here sooner, my brother would 0:23:35.800 --> 0:23:39.720 still be alive. Have you ever felt like God showed 0:23:39.800 --> 0:23:43.360 up too late? You prayed, you believe, but you still 0:23:43.400 --> 0:23:46.159 didn't get the promotion. You worked hard, you had a 0:23:46.160 --> 0:23:48.679 good attitude, like the young man I talked about, but 0:23:49.040 --> 0:23:52.560 the company still let you go. You stood on God's promises, 0:23:52.600 --> 0:23:56.080 you quoted the scriptures, but your prayers didn't get answered. 0:23:56.760 --> 0:24:01.359 That's the way Mary and Martha felt. They were discover depressed, 0:24:01.440 --> 0:24:04.840 probably a little bit bitter. Jesus looked at them and said, 0:24:05.320 --> 0:24:08.879 take me to the place where you have laid in. 0:24:08.880 --> 0:24:11.600 In other words, take me to the place where you 0:24:11.680 --> 0:24:15.600 stop believing. Take me to the place where you decided 0:24:15.760 --> 0:24:18.359 it was over. You got to go to that place 0:24:18.440 --> 0:24:22.040 and ask yourself, is my God still on the throne? 0:24:22.880 --> 0:24:24.840 Is my God still all powerful? 0:24:25.480 --> 0:24:28.359 Is my God still el shadday, the God who is 0:24:28.400 --> 0:24:32.000 more than enough? You got to stir your faith God, 0:24:32.000 --> 0:24:35.200 said Mary Martha. It looks bad, but it's not over. 0:24:35.840 --> 0:24:39.520 If you'll start believing once again, I'll show you my 0:24:39.680 --> 0:24:40.680 power in. 0:24:40.600 --> 0:24:41.359 A greater way. 0:24:42.160 --> 0:24:45.840 Faith began to rise in their hearts. Martha said, Jesus, 0:24:46.000 --> 0:24:48.800 if you'd have been here, my brother would still be alive. 0:24:49.520 --> 0:24:50.840 But I believe. 0:24:51.040 --> 0:24:55.720 Even now you can raise him from the dead. Sometimes 0:24:55.840 --> 0:24:59.520 you have to have even now faith where you say, God, 0:24:59.640 --> 0:25:03.280 it wi impossible, it looks like it's over and done. 0:25:03.760 --> 0:25:07.240 But I know you're a supernatural God, and I believe 0:25:07.680 --> 0:25:11.639 even now you can turn my finances around it. Even now, 0:25:11.680 --> 0:25:15.640 you can heal my body. Even now you can restore 0:25:15.680 --> 0:25:20.639 this relationship. Mary and Martha shook off the doubt and 0:25:20.680 --> 0:25:22.600 they started believing once again. 0:25:23.240 --> 0:25:26.280 You know the story Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. 0:25:26.960 --> 0:25:31.040 What's interesting is back in those days, the Sadducees, these 0:25:31.040 --> 0:25:33.760 were some of the people that were against Jesus. They 0:25:33.800 --> 0:25:37.879 believed that the spirit left the body on the third 0:25:38.000 --> 0:25:42.840 day after a person died. It wasn't a coincidence that 0:25:42.920 --> 0:25:46.600 God waited for the fourth day to show up. Jesus 0:25:46.640 --> 0:25:50.719 waited on purpose so that when he raised Lazarus there 0:25:50.760 --> 0:25:52.320 wouldn't be any doubt about it. 0:25:52.440 --> 0:25:54.680 They would know that it was a great miracle. 0:25:56.320 --> 0:26:01.080 Sometimes God will wait on purpose, not only so you 0:26:01.160 --> 0:26:04.320 will know that it's his power, but so your doubters, 0:26:04.520 --> 0:26:08.720 so you're naysayers, so your unbelieving relatives won't be able 0:26:08.760 --> 0:26:12.520 to deny that God has done something amazing in your life. 0:26:13.960 --> 0:26:17.800 At first, Mary and Martha were disappointed because Jesus didn't 0:26:17.840 --> 0:26:21.399 show up in time to heal Lazarus. They were disappointed 0:26:21.560 --> 0:26:24.719 that their prayers didn't get answered in the way they wanted. 0:26:25.160 --> 0:26:29.119 But all along God knew what he was doing. God 0:26:29.280 --> 0:26:33.440 wasn't planning a healing. He was planning something better. He 0:26:33.520 --> 0:26:37.960 was planning a resurrection. Just because you believed and it 0:26:38.000 --> 0:26:42.160 didn't work out your way on your timetable doesn't mean 0:26:42.240 --> 0:26:45.520 that it's over. It means just the opposite. God's planning 0:26:45.520 --> 0:26:48.800 something better. You believed, and you didn't get the promotion 0:26:49.000 --> 0:26:51.400 you believed, and you didn't qualify for the new home. 0:26:51.760 --> 0:26:55.600 Keep believing God has something better coming. You believe, but 0:26:55.680 --> 0:26:59.200 your child hasn't turned around. Keep believing God's going to 0:26:59.320 --> 0:27:02.359 use your child in a great way. You believe, but 0:27:02.400 --> 0:27:05.600 twenty eleven hadn't been that great so far. Keep believing 0:27:05.880 --> 0:27:09.280 it's not over. God's still on the throne. Even now, 0:27:09.480 --> 0:27:13.880 God can still turn it around. After Jesus raised Lazarus, 0:27:14.200 --> 0:27:17.359 he said to Mary and Martha, did I not tell 0:27:17.440 --> 0:27:20.919 you if you would believe, you would see the glory 0:27:20.960 --> 0:27:27.040 of God. You may have plenty of reasons to be discouraged, depressed, negative, 0:27:27.359 --> 0:27:31.000 But God is saying, if you will only believe, you 0:27:31.040 --> 0:27:35.000 will see My power in new ways. Make up your mind. 0:27:35.240 --> 0:27:37.480 You're going to be a believer and not a doubter. 0:27:38.040 --> 0:27:39.640 Keep the thermostat set. 0:27:40.320 --> 0:27:42.440 You may not see how it can happen, but that's 0:27:42.520 --> 0:27:45.760 not your job. Your job is to believe. Know this 0:27:46.000 --> 0:27:46.600 right now. 0:27:46.800 --> 0:27:50.800 Behind the scenes, God's working in your life, arranging things 0:27:50.840 --> 0:27:55.919 in your favor. Don't be intimidated by the size of 0:27:56.000 --> 0:27:59.880 what you're facing. Stay in faith and the Lord you'll 0:27:59.880 --> 0:28:02.919 go God will make sure that it comes to pass. 0:28:03.760 --> 0:28:06.760 Get this down in your spirit because you're a believer. 0:28:07.320 --> 0:28:08.720 All will be well with you. 0:28:09.560 --> 0:28:12.520 All will be well with your family, All will be 0:28:12.600 --> 0:28:16.360 well with your finances, all will be well in your health, 0:28:17.040 --> 0:28:20.080 all will be well with your career. You need to 0:28:20.119 --> 0:28:22.560 get ready because God's promises are about to come to 0:28:22.600 --> 0:28:25.960 pass in your life. It may not have happened in 0:28:25.960 --> 0:28:29.800 the past, on your timetable. That's because God's not planning 0:28:29.840 --> 0:28:34.000 a healing, He's planning a resurrection. It's gonna be better, bigger, 0:28:34.200 --> 0:28:37.560 greater than you've ever imagined. Be a believer, take the 0:28:37.600 --> 0:28:40.000 limits off of God, keep your face stirred up, and 0:28:40.600 --> 0:28:42.960 I believe in declare You're gonna see God's goodness in 0:28:43.000 --> 0:28:43.600 amazing ways. 0:28:43.640 --> 0:28:45.400 Amen. Come on, give the Lord one more shout of 0:28:45.400 --> 0:28:47.000 praise to that. Ohmen. 0:28:48.400 --> 0:28:51.080 We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 0:28:51.160 --> 0:28:53.920 an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:54.080 --> 0:28:55.040 Would you pray with me? 0:28:55.640 --> 0:28:59.080 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. 0:29:00.280 --> 0:29:03.840 Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:29:04.680 --> 0:29:07.040 Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 0:29:07.120 --> 0:29:10.120 got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. 0:29:10.480 --> 0:29:11.680 Keep God first place. 0:29:11.960 --> 0:29:14.200 He's gonna take your places you've never dreamed of. 0:29:14.840 --> 0:29:18.280 Thank you for listening to the Joel Oustine podcast. Help 0:29:18.360 --> 0:29:21.080 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:29:21.200 --> 0:29:25.080 all over the world. Visit joelostin dot com slash give 0:29:25.160 --> 0:29:26.840 hope to give a gift today. 0:29:28.120 --> 0:29:30.560 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:29:30.680 --> 0:29:33.440 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:29:33.480 --> 0:29:34.880 podcast to keep you. 0:29:34.960 --> 0:29:38.000 Inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. I 0:29:38.040 --> 0:29:40.920 know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you next time.