This Is Your Best Age

0:00:00.440 --> 0:00:03.160 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:00:03.200 --> 0:00:06.360 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:00:06.440 --> 0:00:09.040 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:00:09.080 --> 0:00:11.760 share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 0:00:11.800 --> 0:00:14.560 for God's very best in your life. Well, God bless 0:00:14.600 --> 0:00:17.640 you gat to be with you today, and hope you'll 0:00:17.640 --> 0:00:20.120 stay connected with us during the week through our daily 0:00:20.200 --> 0:00:24.120 podcast or YouTube channel, social media, and you can come 0:00:24.200 --> 0:00:26.639 visit us in person. We'd love to have you be 0:00:26.680 --> 0:00:29.040 a part of one of our services. Now, I let 0:00:29.080 --> 0:00:31.319 you start with something funny. And I heard about this 0:00:31.480 --> 0:00:35.280 husband and wife. They'd been arguing and fussing for years. 0:00:35.880 --> 0:00:38.519 The wife finally got so fed up she packed up 0:00:38.520 --> 0:00:41.440 her husband's belongings and sent him out the front door. 0:00:42.159 --> 0:00:44.839 As he was leaving, she said, I hope you have 0:00:44.920 --> 0:00:50.120 a miserable, depressing, frustrating life. The husband turned around, his 0:00:50.240 --> 0:00:52.800 face brightened up. He said, you mean you want me 0:00:52.840 --> 0:00:57.480 to stay? All right? Y'all say it like you mean it. 0:00:58.080 --> 0:01:01.680 This is my Bible. What it says I am. I 0:01:01.760 --> 0:01:04.160 have what it says I have. I can do what 0:01:04.280 --> 0:01:07.240 it says I can do. Today I will be taught 0:01:07.280 --> 0:01:11.440 the word of God. I've boldly confess my mind is alert, 0:01:11.800 --> 0:01:14.919 my heart is receptive. I will never be the same. 0:01:15.400 --> 0:01:19.800 In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to talk 0:01:19.840 --> 0:01:23.759 to you today about this is your best age. It's 0:01:23.840 --> 0:01:27.479 easy to discount ourselves because we're too young or too old, 0:01:28.080 --> 0:01:31.319 we don't have enough experience, or we're past our prime. 0:01:32.080 --> 0:01:35.920 We make excuses as to why we can excel. Joel, 0:01:35.959 --> 0:01:38.759 I'm over the hill now. I'm not as sharp as 0:01:38.760 --> 0:01:41.640 I used to be, not as agile. You have to 0:01:41.680 --> 0:01:44.760 recognize there are great things on the other side of 0:01:44.800 --> 0:01:48.919 the hill. You never age out with God, you age 0:01:48.960 --> 0:01:53.360 into your purpose. Abraham became a father at one hundred 0:01:53.440 --> 0:01:57.480 years old. John wrote the Book of Revelation in his nineties. 0:01:58.120 --> 0:02:00.680 Noah built the Arc when he was over five hundred 0:02:00.760 --> 0:02:04.880 years old. And you think you're done at sixty, at seventy, 0:02:05.000 --> 0:02:08.520 at eighty, you're just getting started. The scripture says, your 0:02:08.600 --> 0:02:12.600 latter days will be better than your former days. Moses 0:02:12.720 --> 0:02:15.919 was eighty years old, living in the desert and thinking 0:02:15.960 --> 0:02:19.160 he was washed up, and he'd made mistakes and had 0:02:19.200 --> 0:02:22.079 to hide from his enemies. He'd been out there forty 0:02:22.160 --> 0:02:24.840 years in what we would call the prime of his 0:02:24.960 --> 0:02:29.960 life forties fifties, when he had all this passion, strength, endurance. 0:02:30.520 --> 0:02:34.720 But now he's passed his prime. He's coasting, thinking he 0:02:34.800 --> 0:02:38.040 missed his chance. That's when God came to him in 0:02:38.080 --> 0:02:41.480 a burning bush and said, now is the time to 0:02:41.560 --> 0:02:45.120 go deliver my people. You would think God would want 0:02:45.160 --> 0:02:50.080 someone younger. God get Joshua. He's in his thirties, he 0:02:50.160 --> 0:02:54.400 has more endurance, more followers on social media. He's in 0:02:54.480 --> 0:02:58.519 the in crowd. God Moses has washed up. No, God 0:02:58.600 --> 0:03:02.079 has an assignment for you at every age. You are 0:03:02.080 --> 0:03:05.720 not too old. This world needs what you have. We 0:03:05.760 --> 0:03:09.640 need your wisdom, your talent, your experience, we need your love. 0:03:10.440 --> 0:03:14.279 At eighty years old, after Moses thought he was done, 0:03:14.400 --> 0:03:18.280 he went to the Pharaoh and delivered the Israelites. He 0:03:18.320 --> 0:03:21.000 saw the Red Sea part and water come out of 0:03:21.000 --> 0:03:24.720 a rock, manna in the desert. He received the Ten 0:03:24.800 --> 0:03:29.680 Commandments and became one of the most influential leaders in history. 0:03:29.800 --> 0:03:34.200 His greatest impact came as a senior citizen after he 0:03:34.240 --> 0:03:37.720 had quote passed his prime. Don't believe those lies that 0:03:37.760 --> 0:03:40.920 you're too old, you don't have much to offer, You're 0:03:40.960 --> 0:03:44.520 not valuable. God doesn't look at your age. He looks 0:03:44.560 --> 0:03:49.480 at your availability. His purpose didn't stop when you turned sixty. 0:03:50.200 --> 0:03:54.120 Your assignment didn't go away at seventy. Your value didn't 0:03:54.160 --> 0:04:00.760 decrease at eighty. If anything, it increased. You have wisdom, experience. 0:04:01.120 --> 0:04:04.760 You've gone through highs and lows and seen the faithfulness 0:04:04.760 --> 0:04:09.640 of God. Age hasn't lessened you, it's prepared you. Now 0:04:09.640 --> 0:04:13.200 here's the key. Quit telling yourself that you're old. Well, 0:04:13.280 --> 0:04:16.640 I can't move like I used to, I can't remember 0:04:16.720 --> 0:04:19.760 things very good, and my knees are about to give out. 0:04:20.440 --> 0:04:24.720 You're talking yourself into being old. You're prophesying aches and 0:04:24.800 --> 0:04:28.479 pains and going downhill. Now I know our body ages. 0:04:29.000 --> 0:04:32.400 I'm not saying to deny reality, but how about saying 0:04:32.440 --> 0:04:35.720 what God says about you. My youth is being renewed 0:04:35.839 --> 0:04:38.480 like the eagles. I will run and not be weary, 0:04:38.520 --> 0:04:41.760 oh walk and not faint. The more you talk about 0:04:41.800 --> 0:04:45.120 getting old, the older you get. The more you think 0:04:45.120 --> 0:04:48.560 about your stiffness, your memory not is good, your tiredness, 0:04:48.880 --> 0:04:52.160 the more it's going to increase. Do yourself a favor. 0:04:52.400 --> 0:04:58.880 Think young thoughts, Think freshness, Think vitality, energetic, strong, creative, 0:05:00.000 --> 0:05:02.920 another important thing is you need to have some friends 0:05:02.960 --> 0:05:06.760 that are younger than you. Don't hang around everyone your age, 0:05:07.040 --> 0:05:09.920 especially if they're talking about their ailments and what they 0:05:09.960 --> 0:05:13.039 can't do and how they couldn't. Hear the announcer at 0:05:13.080 --> 0:05:17.320 Bingo last week, I know they're good people, but you 0:05:17.400 --> 0:05:20.200 need to be around people that are moving and dreaming, 0:05:20.320 --> 0:05:25.440 accomplishing living a vibrant life because getting old starts in 0:05:25.480 --> 0:05:30.599 our mind. Your spirit never ages. This body does the 0:05:30.640 --> 0:05:33.400 house we live in. But the real you, the one 0:05:33.480 --> 0:05:37.880 God made in his image, is eternal. It's timeless, it's 0:05:37.960 --> 0:05:42.000 not aging. I don't feel any different today at thirty 0:05:42.120 --> 0:05:46.440 nine than I did when I was a teenager. I 0:05:46.480 --> 0:05:49.560 can't believe I'm this age. I feel just like I 0:05:49.600 --> 0:05:52.400 did when I was in high school. Now my body 0:05:52.440 --> 0:05:56.520 has aged. When I go to jump playing basketball, my 0:05:56.680 --> 0:05:59.440 mind says to jump, but my body doesn't do what 0:05:59.480 --> 0:06:02.520 it used to do. I jump like a white man now. 0:06:02.600 --> 0:06:05.520 I used to be able to jump. But what's always 0:06:05.560 --> 0:06:08.120 funny to me is in my mind, I can do it. 0:06:08.720 --> 0:06:10.920 In my mind, I can run just as fast, jump 0:06:11.040 --> 0:06:14.840 just as high. Your body may age, but your spirit 0:06:14.920 --> 0:06:18.600 is ageless, the real you that lives on the inside 0:06:18.720 --> 0:06:22.880 doesn't have to get old. Aging is inevitable, but getting 0:06:22.920 --> 0:06:28.600 old is optional. Paul said it this way. Outwardly, this 0:06:28.720 --> 0:06:33.320 house that I live in is perishing, but inwardly, I'm 0:06:33.360 --> 0:06:37.360 being renewed day by day. He was saying, things may 0:06:37.360 --> 0:06:41.880 be aging on the outside, but inwardly I'm refreshed. I'm renewed. 0:06:42.600 --> 0:06:45.679 It's talking about your thoughts. If you go around thinking 0:06:45.720 --> 0:06:48.919 old faults and my knees are so stiff, and my 0:06:49.040 --> 0:06:53.400 hearing's going, I can't concentrate anymore. At my age is 0:06:53.440 --> 0:06:57.400 to be expected. The problem with that mindset is you're 0:06:57.440 --> 0:07:02.480 letting yourself get old. Attitude determines your age more than 0:07:02.480 --> 0:07:06.480 your birthday. I've seen eighty year old people with a 0:07:06.520 --> 0:07:10.880 twenty year old attitude. They're fun, sharp, positive, a joy 0:07:10.920 --> 0:07:14.000 to be around. End I've seen thirty year old people 0:07:14.360 --> 0:07:18.040 with an eighty year old attitude. We're all gonna age. 0:07:18.600 --> 0:07:21.400 You can't stop the clock from ticking. But you don't 0:07:21.440 --> 0:07:24.360 have to get old. It's in our mind now. I 0:07:24.400 --> 0:07:27.640 love that phrase I heard. Don't let the old man in. 0:07:28.480 --> 0:07:31.320 That old man, that old woman is gonna come knocking 0:07:31.400 --> 0:07:34.400 at your door. You're tired. You can't do what you 0:07:34.560 --> 0:07:38.400 used to. Look at those wrinkles. Nobody needs you anymore. 0:07:39.200 --> 0:07:42.040 Some people answer the door, Come on in, get a 0:07:42.040 --> 0:07:45.680 cup of coffee, Tell me more. No, keep that door closed. 0:07:46.240 --> 0:07:49.120 Tell the old man, no thanks. Tell the old woman 0:07:49.440 --> 0:07:53.720 you're not welcome here. You stay young by being renewed 0:07:53.800 --> 0:07:57.320 in the spirit of your mind. The scripture says Moses 0:07:57.440 --> 0:08:00.000 was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, 0:08:00.960 --> 0:08:04.400 yet his eyesight was perfectly clear, and he was as 0:08:04.400 --> 0:08:07.480 strong as ever. Now. I know our bodies are aging. 0:08:07.960 --> 0:08:11.120 There's a natural progression, But why don't we believe for 0:08:11.200 --> 0:08:15.240 that moses anointing that we will pass at an old age, 0:08:15.480 --> 0:08:19.520 and when we go, we won't be weak, frail, spending 0:08:19.600 --> 0:08:25.040 years immobile, can't function, but we go still strong, sound mind, 0:08:25.200 --> 0:08:28.840 clear vision, joy in our heart, walk and moving being 0:08:28.920 --> 0:08:32.600 a blessing. Think about my mother. She lived till she 0:08:32.720 --> 0:08:36.320 was almost ninety two, and she had polio as a child, 0:08:36.400 --> 0:08:39.560 and she went through cancer and broken her hip, but 0:08:39.840 --> 0:08:44.240 she came through all that strong, healthy, energetic. Her body 0:08:44.280 --> 0:08:47.079 had gotten weaker, but in her mind she was still 0:08:47.160 --> 0:08:51.200 young and sharp and funny. After she broke her hip 0:08:51.679 --> 0:08:55.160 in her late eighties, she needed a walker to help 0:08:55.200 --> 0:08:58.840 her walk. So as kids met and we decided that 0:08:58.920 --> 0:09:01.280 Paul and Lisa would tell tell her that she shouldn't 0:09:01.360 --> 0:09:04.240 drive anymore because she couldn't get the walker in and 0:09:04.280 --> 0:09:06.680 out of the car. Well, that was like World War Three. 0:09:07.280 --> 0:09:09.640 She did not like that. She said, Joel, I am 0:09:09.679 --> 0:09:13.400 not impaired. I am strong. I'm ninety years old. I 0:09:13.440 --> 0:09:16.280 can do what I want to. I tell her. Yeah, 0:09:16.320 --> 0:09:18.120 I don't know what's wrong with Paul and Lisa. They 0:09:18.160 --> 0:09:21.800 don't have any faith. I took my mother to dinner 0:09:22.200 --> 0:09:26.400 every Monday night after my serious XM radio program the 0:09:26.480 --> 0:09:29.319 last five years of her life. And we were walking 0:09:29.360 --> 0:09:32.840 into cafeteria one day and she was ninety and this 0:09:33.360 --> 0:09:35.880 man walked in a little bent over, a little frail, 0:09:36.240 --> 0:09:39.480 probably in his early eighties. My mother leaned over to Joel, 0:09:39.520 --> 0:09:44.440 look at that old man. She didn't see herself as old. 0:09:45.040 --> 0:09:49.000 Don't get old in your mind. Stay active, stay connected, 0:09:49.120 --> 0:09:53.560 stay curious. As long as you're alive, God has something 0:09:53.600 --> 0:09:56.720 for you to do. It's not just take up space, 0:09:57.440 --> 0:10:01.000 watch others your secondary. Man, You're I ask your prime. 0:10:01.520 --> 0:10:05.560 Every age is your prime. Every age you have a purpose. 0:10:06.320 --> 0:10:09.120 Two days before my mother passed, she was right here 0:10:09.120 --> 0:10:12.839 at this altar, praying for people like Moses. Her eye 0:10:12.960 --> 0:10:16.360 was not dimmed, her strength was not abated. She went 0:10:16.400 --> 0:10:20.719 to Heaven strong, healthy, still fulfilling her purpose. We may 0:10:20.760 --> 0:10:23.280 not make it to one hundred and twenty like Moses, 0:10:24.040 --> 0:10:28.200 but let's believe we're not gonna go frail and washed up. 0:10:28.840 --> 0:10:32.040 I have nothing to offer. Quit believe in those lies. 0:10:32.640 --> 0:10:35.520 Your body may age, but you don't have to get old. 0:10:35.840 --> 0:10:40.679 Your spirit is alive and fresh and energetic. Keep declaring 0:10:40.760 --> 0:10:44.480 what God promised. My youth is being renewed. Lord. I 0:10:44.559 --> 0:10:47.679 think you like Moses, I'll stay strong and healthy. I 0:10:47.720 --> 0:10:51.520 will shine at every age of my life. This is 0:10:51.520 --> 0:10:54.440 what Caleb did. He was one of the twelve men 0:10:54.960 --> 0:10:57.440 that Moses sent to spy out the Promised Land, and 0:10:57.960 --> 0:11:00.839 ten of them came back with a negative said the 0:11:00.880 --> 0:11:05.240 people were too big. But Caleb came back with Joshua said, 0:11:05.240 --> 0:11:07.839 we are well able. The giants are big, but our 0:11:07.880 --> 0:11:11.640 God is bigger. He had this report of faith, but 0:11:11.720 --> 0:11:16.160 the negative report spread throughout the camp. The people became discouraged, 0:11:16.480 --> 0:11:20.840 turned around, never did go into the Promised Land. Caleb 0:11:20.960 --> 0:11:23.959 was forty five years old at that time. We call 0:11:24.040 --> 0:11:28.880 that the prime of life, has strength, experience, courage. This 0:11:29.040 --> 0:11:32.679 was the perfect age to do something significant, but other 0:11:32.760 --> 0:11:36.719 people's doubt, their lack of vision, closed the door. Well 0:11:36.800 --> 0:11:41.760 fast forward forty years now, Caleb is eighty five years old. 0:11:42.440 --> 0:11:46.120 He should be in retirement talking about the good old days. 0:11:46.679 --> 0:11:49.760 What could have happened if only those people had believed. 0:11:50.360 --> 0:11:53.959 Now he's aged out, he's over the hill. But Caleb 0:11:54.000 --> 0:11:57.000 didn't let the old man in. He knew what God 0:11:57.120 --> 0:12:01.120 started he would finish. Is Israelites had come into the 0:12:01.120 --> 0:12:05.760 Promised Land. The new generation. Joshua was dividing up the territory, 0:12:06.360 --> 0:12:09.960 giving different sections for people to conquer. Caleb went to 0:12:10.040 --> 0:12:13.720 him and said, Joshua, I want that mountain. It was 0:12:13.760 --> 0:12:16.719 a mountain that had three giants on it. They were 0:12:16.720 --> 0:12:20.040 descendants of Goliath. It was the same mountain he had 0:12:20.080 --> 0:12:24.720 seen four decades earlier. Caleb could have picked an easy place, 0:12:25.240 --> 0:12:28.760 someone that had no opposition. Or he could have said, Joshua, 0:12:28.840 --> 0:12:31.560 come on, I'm an old man. Let someone else do 0:12:31.640 --> 0:12:34.560 it and just give me what's left over. But Caleb 0:12:34.640 --> 0:12:37.840 still had this fire in his spirit, this passion for 0:12:37.960 --> 0:12:41.839 his purpose. He said in Joshua fourteen, I am as 0:12:41.880 --> 0:12:45.880 strong today at eighty five as I was when Moses 0:12:45.880 --> 0:12:50.000 first sent me out, this was forty years later. When 0:12:50.040 --> 0:12:53.280 you stay young in your mind and fresh in your attitude, 0:12:53.600 --> 0:12:56.720 you're going to accomplish great things. Caleb went out at 0:12:56.760 --> 0:13:00.320 eighty five and defeated those giants and took the land. 0:13:00.800 --> 0:13:03.800 It wasn't just a victory for him, but his family 0:13:03.920 --> 0:13:08.960 inherited that land. Generations later. They lived in abundance because 0:13:08.960 --> 0:13:12.440 of his faith. That's what happens when you stay young 0:13:12.520 --> 0:13:15.920 in your spirit, when you don't let these old thoughts in. 0:13:16.920 --> 0:13:19.960 I think I'm past my prime, Joey, I missed a 0:13:19.960 --> 0:13:23.040 good opportunity. It wasn't my fault. They closed the door. 0:13:23.840 --> 0:13:26.680 How do you know, like with Caleb, that it's not 0:13:26.800 --> 0:13:29.880 coming back again. How do you know that what God 0:13:29.920 --> 0:13:33.480 promised you is not still on the schedule. Get your 0:13:33.520 --> 0:13:37.559 passion back, get your vision back, start thinking young thoughts, 0:13:38.120 --> 0:13:43.000 fresh thoughts. I love how Caleb didn't retire. He refired. 0:13:43.679 --> 0:13:45.760 He said, in effect, I don't want a rocking chair, 0:13:46.040 --> 0:13:50.120 Give me that mountain. You haven't aged out of your purpose. 0:13:50.400 --> 0:13:53.800 You are aging into your purpose. This is your best 0:13:53.840 --> 0:13:58.760 age right now. Well, Joel, this all sounds good but 0:13:59.240 --> 0:14:02.400 I think I'm too young. When I get more training, 0:14:02.800 --> 0:14:06.000 more experienced, then I'll feel valuable. Then I'll take steps 0:14:06.000 --> 0:14:09.560 of faith. God used a little boy with five loaves 0:14:09.600 --> 0:14:12.680 and two fish. He was willing to give what he had. 0:14:13.240 --> 0:14:18.400 God multiplied the food, fed thousands. Samuel anointed David King 0:14:18.720 --> 0:14:23.160 as a teenager. Imagine what everybody thought. He doesn't have experience, 0:14:23.880 --> 0:14:29.280 no military training. He's never proven himself. God doesn't judge 0:14:29.280 --> 0:14:33.160 the way we judge. Esther was a teenager when she 0:14:33.240 --> 0:14:37.320 went before the king and saved the Jewish people. Timothy 0:14:37.520 --> 0:14:40.640 led great churches in his youth. He had all this 0:14:40.880 --> 0:14:44.440 influence in favor as a young man. Some people didn't 0:14:44.520 --> 0:14:49.280 understand begin to question his leadership. Paul said to him, Timothy, 0:14:49.760 --> 0:14:53.160 don't let anyone look down on you because you're young. 0:14:54.120 --> 0:14:59.040 Every age is your best age. Too often we're discounting 0:14:59.080 --> 0:15:03.560 ourselves to get older or wishing we were younger. I 0:15:03.600 --> 0:15:06.560 wish I could be twenty again. That was so much fun. 0:15:07.280 --> 0:15:09.480 I wish I could be in my forties. I had 0:15:09.520 --> 0:15:12.920 so much opportunity. You know what you're gonna say twenty 0:15:13.000 --> 0:15:15.960 years from now, that you wish you could be at 0:15:15.960 --> 0:15:19.920 the age you are right now, step in to who 0:15:19.920 --> 0:15:23.600 you are today. In junior high we look at the 0:15:23.680 --> 0:15:26.080 high schoolers and think, man, those are the cool kids. 0:15:26.640 --> 0:15:29.440 Can't wait to get there high school. We see the 0:15:29.480 --> 0:15:32.080 college students, think, man, that's gonna be fun. That's what 0:15:32.160 --> 0:15:36.320 I'll excel in our twenties. It turns we look at 0:15:36.320 --> 0:15:39.520 people in the forties and think they're old. We get 0:15:39.520 --> 0:15:42.200 to forty, look at people in sixty, they're old. Get 0:15:42.240 --> 0:15:46.040 to sixties, people in their eighties, they're old. The definition 0:15:46.120 --> 0:15:49.840 of old keeps changing. The enemy would love for us 0:15:49.880 --> 0:15:53.560 to always have a reason to feel too old, too young, 0:15:54.280 --> 0:15:57.920 not the right time, miss my chance, need more experience. 0:15:58.360 --> 0:16:01.680 Don't believe those lives. You are at the right age, 0:16:02.040 --> 0:16:05.200 right now, for the season you're in. You don't have 0:16:05.280 --> 0:16:08.280 to wait to get in your prime. This is your prime. 0:16:09.640 --> 0:16:14.800 God has graced you at this age with his wisdom, protection, favor, 0:16:15.000 --> 0:16:18.160 so you can shine where you are. One time, the 0:16:18.200 --> 0:16:21.720 apostle Paul was in prison. He'd been arrested for sharing 0:16:21.760 --> 0:16:24.640 his faith, and a group of forty men made a 0:16:24.760 --> 0:16:27.680 vow that they wouldn't eat or drink until they had 0:16:27.760 --> 0:16:31.400 killed Paul. They went to the leading priest and said, 0:16:31.400 --> 0:16:34.480 you need to bring Paul back to council, Pretend like 0:16:34.520 --> 0:16:36.600 you want to ask you more questions, and on the 0:16:36.600 --> 0:16:41.920 way will ambush him. Well, Paul's nephew, a teenager, happened 0:16:41.920 --> 0:16:45.240 to overhear this secret planning. He rushed to Paul and 0:16:45.480 --> 0:16:48.440 told him what he'd heard. Paul told the main officer, 0:16:48.680 --> 0:16:51.960 take this young man to the commander, and he explained 0:16:52.000 --> 0:16:56.160 about this secret plan. And the commander ordered two hundred 0:16:56.200 --> 0:16:59.720 soldiers to get ready to leave. At nine o'clock that night, 0:17:00.400 --> 0:17:04.440 they snuck Paul out of the city, seventy horses, two 0:17:04.560 --> 0:17:08.960 hundred officers guarding him, this huge escort. His life was spared. 0:17:09.880 --> 0:17:14.160 But had that nephew, that teenager not had this boldness, 0:17:14.680 --> 0:17:17.840 this courage to say something, Paul would have been killed. 0:17:18.720 --> 0:17:22.359 God didn't use an angel, he didn't use another disciple 0:17:22.560 --> 0:17:26.520 or a city leader. He used this teenager. He said 0:17:26.520 --> 0:17:30.480 in motion, the largest military escort in the New Testament. 0:17:31.280 --> 0:17:34.600 If it wasn't for Paul's nephew, believing that he was 0:17:34.640 --> 0:17:37.720 empowered to make a difference, even though he was young, 0:17:38.320 --> 0:17:42.160 we wouldn't have the books of Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians. Those 0:17:42.240 --> 0:17:45.760 were all written after this event. Don't ever say you're 0:17:45.800 --> 0:17:50.000 too young, too experienced, think that your opinion doesn't matter. 0:17:50.440 --> 0:17:54.200 God uses every age, he said in the Book of Joel, 0:17:54.520 --> 0:17:58.080 I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, not 0:17:58.280 --> 0:18:02.240 just the young, the old, the middle aged, the boomers, 0:18:02.280 --> 0:18:05.400 but not the millennials, not gen Z. They got issues. 0:18:06.000 --> 0:18:09.680 God's spirit is poured out on every age. He went 0:18:09.720 --> 0:18:13.679 on to say, your old men will dream dreams, and 0:18:13.760 --> 0:18:17.879 your young men will see visions. I'm seeing visions. My 0:18:17.920 --> 0:18:22.120 brother Paul is dreaming dreams. But God was showing us 0:18:22.359 --> 0:18:26.760 how the young and the old are not competing, not 0:18:26.880 --> 0:18:29.440 trying to outdo each other. Oh, the holds more important, 0:18:29.640 --> 0:18:32.359 the youngs more with it. No, we need each other. 0:18:32.920 --> 0:18:37.480 We will accomplish more together than we will apart. There 0:18:37.560 --> 0:18:40.520 was a lady in the scripture named Hannah. She had 0:18:40.520 --> 0:18:43.600 been bearing for many years, and she told God if 0:18:43.640 --> 0:18:45.960 he would give her a son, she would give him 0:18:45.960 --> 0:18:49.640 back to him. She finally conceived and had a son 0:18:49.720 --> 0:18:52.480 named Samuel. It's a little boy. She took him to 0:18:52.520 --> 0:18:55.720 the temple and kept her promise, and he lived there 0:18:55.760 --> 0:18:59.280 and served the prophet Eli. He was an older man 0:18:59.400 --> 0:19:02.639 in his scene your years. One night Samuel was in 0:19:02.680 --> 0:19:06.240 bed about eight years old, and he heard this voice 0:19:06.680 --> 0:19:10.280 called in his name, Samuel. Samuel jumped out of bed, 0:19:10.720 --> 0:19:13.320 ran to Eli's room, said yes, sir, what do you want? 0:19:14.000 --> 0:19:16.520 Eli said, I didn't call you. I don't need anything. 0:19:16.560 --> 0:19:19.800 Go back to bed, went back, laid down, heard the 0:19:19.880 --> 0:19:23.600 voice again. Samuel ran back in here. I am sir, 0:19:23.680 --> 0:19:26.919 what do you need? Eli was a little confused, but 0:19:27.040 --> 0:19:28.840 I told you I didn't call you. You can go 0:19:28.880 --> 0:19:32.159 back to bed. Went back a third time, heard it 0:19:32.200 --> 0:19:35.600 again and came to Eli. This time Eli realized what 0:19:35.640 --> 0:19:39.720 was happening. He said, Samuel, next time you hear that voice, 0:19:39.960 --> 0:19:42.879 just lay there in bed and say this. Speak Lord, 0:19:43.200 --> 0:19:47.240 for your servant is listening. Samuel did that, and God 0:19:47.359 --> 0:19:50.199 spoke to him as a boy and told him he 0:19:50.280 --> 0:19:52.400 was about to do a new thing and to get 0:19:52.440 --> 0:19:56.640 ready for the changes. This story shows us how different 0:19:56.720 --> 0:20:00.960 generations are designed to work together. We're not supposed to 0:20:01.000 --> 0:20:04.520 be independent. All the young people do your thing. Middle 0:20:04.560 --> 0:20:07.919 aged you're over here. Seniors, you got this area to 0:20:08.040 --> 0:20:12.320 reach your potential. You need different generations. Samuel was a 0:20:12.359 --> 0:20:16.520 young boy. He had passion and energy. He loved God. 0:20:16.760 --> 0:20:19.280 His heart was pure, but he didn't know how to 0:20:19.320 --> 0:20:23.240 recognize God's boys. You never heard it. The scripture says, 0:20:23.440 --> 0:20:26.040 the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed 0:20:26.080 --> 0:20:29.399 to Samuel. He's eight years old. He needs someone in 0:20:29.440 --> 0:20:33.040 his life that has more wisdom, more experience, that can 0:20:33.080 --> 0:20:36.800 help him discern what's happening. Eli. On the other hand, 0:20:36.960 --> 0:20:40.600 he's a senior citizen, way up there in years. His 0:20:40.960 --> 0:20:43.520 life is winding down. He didn't have the strength he 0:20:43.600 --> 0:20:47.320 used to have. His eyesight was not clear. He could 0:20:47.359 --> 0:20:50.880 have thought, I'm done. I've had a good run. God's 0:20:50.880 --> 0:20:54.040 blessed me, but now I've aged out. I have nothing 0:20:54.080 --> 0:20:58.119 more to offer. No. Eli had something that Samuel didn't have. 0:20:58.560 --> 0:21:03.880 He had experience, wisdom, discernment. He couldn't run like Samuel. 0:21:04.560 --> 0:21:07.760 He didn't have the strength, the energy, the looks, but 0:21:07.840 --> 0:21:10.920 he knew how to hear from God. He was experienced 0:21:10.960 --> 0:21:15.240 in discerning the voice of the Lord. Without Eli, Samuel 0:21:15.240 --> 0:21:18.000 would have missed what God was saying. He wouldn't have 0:21:18.000 --> 0:21:22.680 fulfilled his purpose. Without Samuel, Eli would not have seen 0:21:22.720 --> 0:21:27.960 his legacy continue. Generations are not competing. We need each other. 0:21:28.760 --> 0:21:34.000 The young bring passion, energy, innovation. The older bring perspective, 0:21:34.480 --> 0:21:38.879 experience and wisdom. But The mistake we can make is 0:21:38.920 --> 0:21:44.080 we discount people based on their age. Eli's old, he's outdated. 0:21:44.840 --> 0:21:49.280 He doesn't understand, he has nothing to benefit me or Samuel. 0:21:49.320 --> 0:21:53.320 He's too young, inexperience, too far out there. Look what 0:21:53.320 --> 0:21:57.440 he's wearing. His genes have holes in them. When you're older, 0:21:57.600 --> 0:22:00.760 it's easy to discount the young. It's not how you 0:22:00.800 --> 0:22:03.680 were raised. They're not doing it the way you did. 0:22:04.080 --> 0:22:09.000 But God is progressive. He does new things, same message, 0:22:09.280 --> 0:22:13.600 but sometimes different methods. If you're older, there was a 0:22:13.640 --> 0:22:16.240 time when you were young, when you were far out 0:22:16.800 --> 0:22:19.600 Your elders were complaining about how you dress, what you 0:22:19.720 --> 0:22:22.480 listen to. Why do you have to be that way? 0:22:22.640 --> 0:22:26.439 Eli had the grace to realize Samuel is not going 0:22:26.520 --> 0:22:29.120 to do it just like I did. But that's okay. 0:22:29.280 --> 0:22:33.439 He's a different generation, and Samuel had the insight to know. 0:22:34.000 --> 0:22:37.200 I need Eli. He may be older, but I need 0:22:37.240 --> 0:22:41.840 his wisdom, his experience, his insight. But we live in 0:22:41.840 --> 0:22:45.840 a culture that tends to glorify the young and discount 0:22:45.880 --> 0:22:51.080 the old. We celebrate youth, beauty, trendiness. Seems like it's 0:22:51.119 --> 0:22:54.200 getting younger and younger. You can hit thirty five and 0:22:54.280 --> 0:22:58.159 man you're a has been. That's whole school. Friend of 0:22:58.200 --> 0:23:01.000 mine is fifty five years old. He's an newscaster, but 0:23:01.359 --> 0:23:05.440 he got bumped out and looking for somebody younger, more appealing, 0:23:05.520 --> 0:23:09.719 more attractive. It's easy to write people off because they're older. 0:23:10.440 --> 0:23:13.840 They can't teach me anything. They're way past their prime. 0:23:14.320 --> 0:23:17.119 They don't know how to work the iPhone. But gray 0:23:17.200 --> 0:23:21.520 hair is not a liability, it's an asset. The scripture says, 0:23:21.800 --> 0:23:25.639 gray hair is a crown of glory. They may not 0:23:25.800 --> 0:23:29.040 know technology or the latest trends, but some of the 0:23:29.080 --> 0:23:32.920 best advice you'll ever hear will come from senior citizens, 0:23:33.320 --> 0:23:36.760 from those who are battle tested, that have fought life through, 0:23:37.240 --> 0:23:40.960 that have kept the faith and raised their children compass dreams. 0:23:41.880 --> 0:23:46.560 When we dismiss older people, we're throwing away treasure. We're 0:23:46.600 --> 0:23:49.880 ignoring some of the most valuable voices in our lives. 0:23:50.560 --> 0:23:53.040 Make it a point to be good to the seniors 0:23:53.080 --> 0:23:55.679 in your life. Make them feel loved, Let them know 0:23:56.040 --> 0:23:59.840 you see their crown of glory. In the old test, 0:24:00.520 --> 0:24:02.720 when the father was getting up there in years and 0:24:02.760 --> 0:24:05.560 about to pass, he would call his children in and 0:24:06.000 --> 0:24:09.439 speak the blessing over them. These words of faith and 0:24:09.560 --> 0:24:12.480 victory would help set the tone for their lives, and 0:24:13.160 --> 0:24:16.760 children long for this blessing. They understood the power of 0:24:16.800 --> 0:24:20.840 those words and the influence that their elders carry. Had 0:24:20.840 --> 0:24:24.119 they discounted and thought, oh, their old school, they're washed up. 0:24:24.320 --> 0:24:27.800 I don't need anything from them, they wouldn't have fulfilled 0:24:27.840 --> 0:24:32.600 their purpose. Maybe today you're in your senior years, don't 0:24:32.600 --> 0:24:35.359 believe those lives that you don't have anything to offer. 0:24:35.800 --> 0:24:39.200 Your gray hair is a crown of glory. You've run 0:24:39.280 --> 0:24:43.359 further than us. You have wisdom and experience that we need. 0:24:43.680 --> 0:24:48.639 You carry treasure. You can push someone into their destiny, 0:24:48.760 --> 0:24:51.159 and it doesn't have to be some great lesson. Just 0:24:51.240 --> 0:24:55.639 your love, your smile, hugging your grandchildren, being kind to 0:24:55.680 --> 0:25:01.160 that young person that's bringing vision, hope and healing. Generations 0:25:01.200 --> 0:25:04.120 are not supposed to be independent. We need each other. 0:25:04.920 --> 0:25:07.600 It's not is this age better or that age. Every 0:25:07.720 --> 0:25:11.360 age is the best age. Whether you're a Samuel eight 0:25:11.440 --> 0:25:15.800 years old, a David at seventeen, a Peter a James 0:25:16.000 --> 0:25:19.959 forties and thirties, or a Moses at eighty, a Caleb 0:25:20.000 --> 0:25:23.440 at eighty five, and Abraham at one hundred, you're at 0:25:23.440 --> 0:25:27.560 the best age. This is your age to shine. No 0:25:27.600 --> 0:25:30.720 more waiting when I get older, no more wishing if 0:25:30.760 --> 0:25:34.640 I was younger. You are grace for this age. God's 0:25:34.640 --> 0:25:38.439 hand to favor and blessing is on you right now. 0:25:38.440 --> 0:25:41.560 As the years passed, we can't stop the clock. But 0:25:41.600 --> 0:25:44.560 don't let the old man in. Don't go around thinking 0:25:44.600 --> 0:25:48.320 old thoughts about how you're past your prime. Keep that 0:25:48.440 --> 0:25:52.040 door closed. You are in your prime. If you'll do this, 0:25:52.400 --> 0:25:55.720 I believe and declare You're gonna see God's favor at 0:25:55.760 --> 0:25:59.120 every stage of your life. Even though the outward man 0:25:59.160 --> 0:26:03.040 may be perishing, your inner man is getting stronger, Your 0:26:03.040 --> 0:26:06.680 youth is being renewed. You will live a long, productive, 0:26:07.040 --> 0:26:10.960 blessed life in Jesus' name, And if you receive it, 0:26:11.080 --> 0:26:14.919 can you say amen? I'd like to give you an 0:26:14.920 --> 0:26:18.320 opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. Won't 0:26:18.359 --> 0:26:22.119 you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent 0:26:22.160 --> 0:26:25.760 of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you 0:26:25.880 --> 0:26:29.200 my Lord and savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, 0:26:29.280 --> 0:26:31.679 we believe you got born again and we'd love to 0:26:31.720 --> 0:26:34.080 send you some free information on your new walk with 0:26:34.160 --> 0:26:36.479 the Lord. You can text the number on the screen 0:26:36.600 --> 0:26:39.239 or go to the website. But I hope you'll get 0:26:39.280 --> 0:26:43.320 into a good Bible based church and keep God first place. 0:26:45.240 --> 0:26:47.960 It's easy to feel stuck in life, wondering why things 0:26:48.000 --> 0:26:51.440 aren't changing and worrying if it'll ever happen. But there's 0:26:51.480 --> 0:26:53.679 a better way to wait. I'd love to send you 0:26:53.720 --> 0:26:57.119 my new resource called Pray It Forward. This book is 0:26:57.119 --> 0:27:00.280 a collection of prayers and promises from the Scripture to 0:27:00.359 --> 0:27:04.359 help you pray boldly to strengthen your faith while you're waiting. 0:27:04.480 --> 0:27:07.040 It's important to keep your mind filled with hope and 0:27:07.160 --> 0:27:11.520 expectancy when you pray in faith, believe in what God promised. 0:27:11.720 --> 0:27:14.080 That's what moves the hands of God, and that's when 0:27:14.119 --> 0:27:17.720 you'll see doors open, healing begins to come, breakthroughs in 0:27:17.760 --> 0:27:20.240 your family. Don't let doubt hold you back. 0:27:20.520 --> 0:27:23.480 Pray it Forward as our way of saying thank you 0:27:23.600 --> 0:27:26.360 for your gift of any amount, we'd love to send 0:27:26.440 --> 0:27:29.399 you a copy of Pray It Forward. Guided prayers for 0:27:29.560 --> 0:27:33.639 faith and break through, inspired by real life answered prayers. 0:27:33.800 --> 0:27:37.040 Pray It Forward will help you speak God's promises over 0:27:37.080 --> 0:27:40.520 your life and over the people you love, trusting that 0:27:40.600 --> 0:27:43.880 when you ask in faith, God is already at work 0:27:44.080 --> 0:27:47.600 preparing victory ahead of you. You can take these prayers 0:27:47.640 --> 0:27:51.200 and scriptures and pray them forward. They'll build a momentum 0:27:51.200 --> 0:27:54.720 of faith that carries you past obstacles and into the 0:27:54.800 --> 0:27:58.840 promises God has spoken over your life. As you meditate 0:27:58.920 --> 0:28:02.000 on these truths, you won't be tossed back and forth 0:28:02.080 --> 0:28:07.359 by finances, health challenges, or relationship struggles. Instead, you'll be 0:28:07.440 --> 0:28:11.400 able to boldly pray with faith that is immovable and strong, 0:28:11.920 --> 0:28:16.320 and you'll be filled with peace, assurance, and joy. Don't 0:28:16.359 --> 0:28:20.479 let circumstances control your future. Pray the truth of God's 0:28:20.520 --> 0:28:23.800 word forward and faith, and watch the mountains in your 0:28:23.880 --> 0:28:25.560 life begin to move. 0:28:26.000 --> 0:28:29.000 When you pray the promises what God has spoken over 0:28:29.040 --> 0:28:32.200 your life. Those are powerful prayers, and that's when God 0:28:32.280 --> 0:28:35.160 shows up and does what only he can do. Thanks 0:28:35.240 --> 0:28:37.840 so much for being with us, Betory. I pray for 0:28:37.920 --> 0:28:41.080 you and your family every day and we appreciate your 0:28:41.120 --> 0:28:44.960 prayer and support. Your generosity helps us take this message 0:28:44.960 --> 0:28:47.760 of hope to people around the world. And a special 0:28:47.800 --> 0:28:50.400 thank you to our champion of Hope partners for all 0:28:50.440 --> 0:28:53.040 you do to make the ministry possible. If you're not 0:28:53.080 --> 0:28:56.240 a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. But until 0:28:56.240 --> 0:28:59.000 we meet again, met the Lord bless you and keep you. 0:29:00.000 --> 0:29:02.800 Be sure to request your copy of Pray It Forward 0:29:03.040 --> 0:29:07.000 Guided Prayers for faith and Breakthrough, available this month by 0:29:07.040 --> 0:29:10.960 simply visiting us at Joelostein dot com or call eight 0:29:11.000 --> 0:29:14.760 eight eight five six seven Joel. You can also receive 0:29:14.840 --> 0:29:18.480 the Pray It Forward Companion prayer journal design to help 0:29:18.520 --> 0:29:22.600 you engage in scripture, personalize faith filled prayers, and put 0:29:22.680 --> 0:29:26.520 God's promises into action. With an additional gift, you can 0:29:26.560 --> 0:29:30.440 receive the Pray It Forward Prayers Essential Collection that centers 0:29:30.480 --> 0:29:34.000 around a prayer bowl with scripture cards design to help 0:29:34.080 --> 0:29:37.240 you physically release what's been weighing on your heart. This 0:29:37.400 --> 0:29:41.400 collection creates a powerful prayer rhythm for your life, helping 0:29:41.440 --> 0:29:45.480 you focus your thoughts, speak God's word boldly, and stay 0:29:45.560 --> 0:29:49.280 anchored in hope when circumstances try to shake you. You 0:29:49.360 --> 0:29:53.240 can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight eight 0:29:53.520 --> 0:29:57.440 five six seven Joel or logging on to Joelostein dot 0:29:57.480 --> 0:30:01.280 com today call or click any time twenty four hours 0:30:01.320 --> 0:30:01.640 a day,