Trusting God's Ways

0:00:00.680 --> 0:00:03.600 Hi, this is Joelan Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 0:00:03.600 --> 0:00:05.680 to the podcast and thanks. 0:00:05.360 --> 0:00:06.800 For supporting the ministry. 0:00:07.120 --> 0:00:11.160 We believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 0:00:11.320 --> 0:00:12.520 and favor filled. 0:00:12.800 --> 0:00:16.239 God bless you today and enjoy the message. God Bless you. 0:00:16.480 --> 0:00:19.200 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:00:19.239 --> 0:00:21.599 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:00:21.680 --> 0:00:25.439 daily podcast, our YouTube channel, and social media, and you 0:00:25.520 --> 0:00:28.000 can come visit us in person. We love to have 0:00:28.080 --> 0:00:30.520 you be a part of one of our services. I 0:00:30.680 --> 0:00:32.840 like to start with something funny, and I heard about 0:00:32.840 --> 0:00:36.000 this couple that had been married for sixty years and 0:00:36.120 --> 0:00:39.559 never had an argument, never had a crossword, and they 0:00:39.560 --> 0:00:41.800 were at a church function, and someone asked them the 0:00:41.840 --> 0:00:44.479 secret of their success, and the man told how he 0:00:44.760 --> 0:00:47.639 always treated his wife with respect, and how he took 0:00:47.720 --> 0:00:50.600 her on trips around the world. He said, in fact, 0:00:50.720 --> 0:00:54.600 for our twenty fifth wedding anniversary, I took her to Beijing, China. 0:00:55.160 --> 0:00:58.360 Everyone politely applauded, and someone asked, what'd you do for 0:00:58.400 --> 0:00:59.680 your fiftieth anniversary? 0:01:00.040 --> 0:01:03.880 He said, I went back and picked her up. All right, 0:01:03.960 --> 0:01:05.520 y'all say it like you mean it. 0:01:06.000 --> 0:01:08.959 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:01:09.400 --> 0:01:11.840 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:01:11.920 --> 0:01:14.520 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:01:14.600 --> 0:01:18.479 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:01:18.560 --> 0:01:21.920 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:01:22.040 --> 0:01:27.280 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:01:27.319 --> 0:01:31.120 to talk to you today about trusting God's ways. We're 0:01:31.120 --> 0:01:34.880 not going to understand everything that happens in life. There 0:01:34.920 --> 0:01:38.600 will be detours, delays, and even dead ends and. 0:01:38.800 --> 0:01:40.560 Times where it looks like we're stuck. 0:01:41.120 --> 0:01:44.160 It's easy to get discouraged when our plans don't work out, 0:01:44.240 --> 0:01:48.080 and frustrated when a door closes, or upset over that 0:01:48.120 --> 0:01:50.720 person that did us wrong. It's like we went one 0:01:50.720 --> 0:01:54.520 step forward, then two steps backwards. But God doesn't always 0:01:54.640 --> 0:01:58.360 take us in a straight line. The scripture says everything 0:01:58.520 --> 0:02:02.200 serves his plan, not just the good breaks, times you're 0:02:02.240 --> 0:02:05.640 promoted and see in favor, but even the closed doors, 0:02:06.040 --> 0:02:08.959 the person that walked away, the promotion you didn't get 0:02:09.680 --> 0:02:11.240 doesn't make sense to us. 0:02:11.720 --> 0:02:14.919 But God has a master plan. He can see things 0:02:14.919 --> 0:02:16.119 that we can't see. 0:02:16.639 --> 0:02:20.040 Sometimes he'll take you backwards so he can move you forward, 0:02:20.760 --> 0:02:21.359 or he'll. 0:02:21.160 --> 0:02:23.840 Close a door to force us to change. 0:02:24.280 --> 0:02:27.400 We were comfortable where we were, We were satisfied. 0:02:28.040 --> 0:02:29.680 But God wasn't satisfied. 0:02:30.160 --> 0:02:34.440 He has something greater, something that we've never imagined. He 0:02:34.560 --> 0:02:39.400 uses trouble as transportation. We don't like it, feels like 0:02:39.440 --> 0:02:43.120 a setback. The truth is it's a set up. The 0:02:43.160 --> 0:02:44.959 trouble is not there to stop you. 0:02:45.240 --> 0:02:46.639 It's there to propel you. 0:02:47.280 --> 0:02:49.680 On the other side of that challenge is a new 0:02:49.760 --> 0:02:51.600 level of your destiny. 0:02:51.720 --> 0:02:55.000 The question is will you trust him in the trouble? 0:02:55.720 --> 0:02:58.480 Will you stay in peace when things are happening. You 0:02:58.520 --> 0:03:02.640 don't understand. You worked hard, but you didn't get the promotion. 0:03:03.240 --> 0:03:06.040 You were good to that person, but they walked away. 0:03:06.680 --> 0:03:10.720 It's tempting to get bitter, complain God, where were you? 0:03:10.800 --> 0:03:14.280 This isn't fair? You know the right attitude is God. 0:03:14.320 --> 0:03:17.240 I don't like it, but I trust you. I know 0:03:17.320 --> 0:03:21.040 you're in control. You wouldn't have allowed this storm if 0:03:21.040 --> 0:03:22.280 you weren't going to use it. 0:03:22.200 --> 0:03:25.239 To my advantage. So I'm going to stay in faith. 0:03:25.600 --> 0:03:28.480 I'm going to keep a good attitude knowing that something 0:03:28.520 --> 0:03:32.600 greater is coming. March chapter six, Jesus had been teaching 0:03:32.639 --> 0:03:35.040 the people and was late in the day, and he 0:03:35.120 --> 0:03:37.680 told his disciples to get them something to eat. 0:03:38.240 --> 0:03:39.880 Well, they were in this remote area. 0:03:40.480 --> 0:03:43.480 There weren't any grocery stores, and even if there were, 0:03:43.760 --> 0:03:46.240 they didn't have the funds to feed thousands of people. 0:03:46.840 --> 0:03:48.800 He said, Jesus, that's impossible. 0:03:49.080 --> 0:03:50.240 We can't feed everyone. 0:03:51.080 --> 0:03:53.480 He asked them what they had, and they came back 0:03:53.480 --> 0:03:55.920 and said all we could find were five bloves of 0:03:55.920 --> 0:03:57.480 bread and two fish. 0:03:57.760 --> 0:03:59.920 Jesus prayed over it and multiplied. 0:04:00.600 --> 0:04:03.720 They fed the first group of fifty, then the second group, 0:04:03.760 --> 0:04:07.760 and on and on. After five thousand men plus the 0:04:07.800 --> 0:04:11.640 women and children all had plenty to eat, they gathered 0:04:11.720 --> 0:04:15.800 up twelve baskets full left over. Disciples couldn't believe it. 0:04:16.320 --> 0:04:19.600 They were so excited they'd just seen this amazing miracle. 0:04:20.200 --> 0:04:23.039 I can see them giving high fives, hugging each other. 0:04:23.400 --> 0:04:26.640 There was all this joy and victory. But while they 0:04:26.680 --> 0:04:30.560 were still celebrating, Jesus came over and said, I want 0:04:30.560 --> 0:04:33.360 you to get in the boat, leave here and go 0:04:33.440 --> 0:04:35.240 across the lake to Besada. 0:04:36.160 --> 0:04:38.760 I can imagine them thinking, we don't want to leave. 0:04:39.520 --> 0:04:42.359 This is a place of favor and blessing. We've just 0:04:42.400 --> 0:04:46.000 seen you perform a great miracle. But the scripture says 0:04:46.120 --> 0:04:50.560 immediately after they gathered the twelve baskets, Jesus made the 0:04:50.640 --> 0:04:54.640 disciples get in the boat and head toward Bessada. One 0:04:54.680 --> 0:04:57.400 translation says he constrained them to. 0:04:57.360 --> 0:05:00.599 Get in the boat. That implies they didn't want to. 0:05:01.320 --> 0:05:03.960 They wanted to stay in that place of blessing, but 0:05:04.080 --> 0:05:05.280 Jesus forced. 0:05:04.920 --> 0:05:05.520 Them to leave. 0:05:06.520 --> 0:05:09.280 He went up to the mountains to pray, and that night, 0:05:09.480 --> 0:05:12.880 as the disciples were traveling across the Sea of Galilee, 0:05:12.920 --> 0:05:17.000 there was a great storm, winds and waves so strong. 0:05:17.320 --> 0:05:21.000 Verse forty eight says they were in serious trouble. And 0:05:21.040 --> 0:05:23.960 some of them were experienced fishermen. They knew how to 0:05:24.080 --> 0:05:27.200 navigate on the sea. They had dealt with storms, but 0:05:27.800 --> 0:05:30.760 this situation was very dangerous. They didn't know if they 0:05:30.800 --> 0:05:35.120 were going to make it through. What's significant is Jesus 0:05:35.160 --> 0:05:36.640 sent them into this storm. 0:05:37.360 --> 0:05:40.080 He knew there was going to be trouble. He knew 0:05:40.120 --> 0:05:43.159 they'd have to deal with fear and uncertainty and doubt. 0:05:43.920 --> 0:05:46.440 But he wouldn't have sent them if he didn't know 0:05:46.839 --> 0:05:50.240 they were going to make it. And sometimes God will 0:05:50.279 --> 0:05:53.599 take you out of a comfortable situation out of a 0:05:53.640 --> 0:05:57.480 place of blessing where you're seeing favor, and it'll force 0:05:57.560 --> 0:06:00.919 you into your boat, so to speak, doesn't make sense. 0:06:01.560 --> 0:06:03.839 You know God's order in your steps. You've seen his 0:06:03.920 --> 0:06:07.880 blessing for now, the winds, the waves. God, I never 0:06:07.920 --> 0:06:11.680 thought I'd be dealing with this trouble, this medical issue, 0:06:11.960 --> 0:06:13.320 this child that's off course. 0:06:13.760 --> 0:06:16.760 You find yourself in a storm. Can I encourage you. 0:06:17.279 --> 0:06:20.280 God wouldn't have allowed the storm if you weren't going 0:06:20.320 --> 0:06:23.360 to make it to the other side. If that storm 0:06:23.480 --> 0:06:26.040 was going to stop your purpose, he would have never 0:06:26.120 --> 0:06:29.200 forced you to get in the boat. That trouble was 0:06:29.240 --> 0:06:31.600 going to take you out. He would have never had 0:06:31.600 --> 0:06:35.200 you leave that place of blessing. The reason God sent 0:06:35.279 --> 0:06:37.880 you across the lake is because He has. 0:06:37.839 --> 0:06:41.760 Greater things in your future. Yes, you saw a miracle 0:06:41.920 --> 0:06:44.640 like the feeding of the five thousand. God's been good 0:06:44.640 --> 0:06:44.880 to you. 0:06:45.400 --> 0:06:50.160 He's provided, he protected, He's made ways you could be satisfied, 0:06:50.800 --> 0:06:54.120 But you haven't seen anything yet. God loves you too 0:06:54.240 --> 0:06:56.760 much to let you miss the fullness of what He 0:06:56.800 --> 0:07:00.080 has in store. And the disciples were out there in 0:07:00.120 --> 0:07:02.440 the middle of the storm trying to keep. 0:07:02.279 --> 0:07:04.000 The boat afloating. Here. 0:07:04.040 --> 0:07:07.000 A few hours earlier, they were celebrating a great victory, 0:07:07.520 --> 0:07:10.880 having the time of their lives. Now they were fighting 0:07:10.880 --> 0:07:14.600 for their lives. Can hear them saying, what was Jesus thinking? 0:07:15.240 --> 0:07:16.960 Why did he tell us to get in the boat 0:07:17.000 --> 0:07:19.040 and cross the lake? He knew there was going to 0:07:19.080 --> 0:07:23.360 be a storm. They were confused and frustrated. But you're 0:07:23.400 --> 0:07:27.320 not going to understand everything God does. The scripture says, 0:07:27.360 --> 0:07:30.720 His ways are not our ways. This is what faith 0:07:30.800 --> 0:07:35.080 is all about. Trusting when it doesn't make sense. Trusting 0:07:35.280 --> 0:07:37.960 when God takes you out of a blessed place and 0:07:38.000 --> 0:07:40.640 you come into a storm that looks like it's going 0:07:40.680 --> 0:07:44.600 to defeat you. As the disciples were out there struggling 0:07:44.640 --> 0:07:47.720 to survive, hour after hour went by, worried. 0:07:48.280 --> 0:07:49.920 Three o'clock in the morning. 0:07:49.960 --> 0:07:53.480 Jesus came walking on the water about to pass them by. 0:07:54.280 --> 0:07:57.000 They thought he was a ghost. They screamed in terror. 0:07:57.720 --> 0:07:58.880 He said, don't be afraid. 0:07:59.080 --> 0:08:02.600 I am here. It's going to be all right. You 0:08:02.720 --> 0:08:04.080 may be in a storm today. 0:08:04.880 --> 0:08:08.120 Things have come against you in your health, finances, maybe 0:08:08.160 --> 0:08:09.000 a relationship. 0:08:09.520 --> 0:08:11.640 You could live worried and upset. 0:08:12.280 --> 0:08:14.720 No God is saying it's going to be all right. 0:08:15.560 --> 0:08:18.440 I'm right there with you in that storm. I wouldn't 0:08:18.480 --> 0:08:20.560 have let you get in it if you were going 0:08:20.640 --> 0:08:24.480 to make it through. Now, be still and know that 0:08:24.520 --> 0:08:27.680 he is God. He has not failed you in the past. 0:08:27.880 --> 0:08:31.120 He's not going to start now. When you're in peace, 0:08:31.400 --> 0:08:34.840 that's a place of power. When you trust in the trouble, 0:08:35.160 --> 0:08:38.360 you're going to feel a strength and a resilience to 0:08:38.440 --> 0:08:42.600 outlast the opposition, to overcome what's trying to stop you. 0:08:43.760 --> 0:08:46.559 Jesus walked over and got in the boat with the disciples. 0:08:47.120 --> 0:08:51.079 It's interesting that he didn't stop this storm. He didn't 0:08:51.120 --> 0:08:53.559 speak to the winds and the waves like he did 0:08:53.600 --> 0:08:57.200 another time. He didn't say peace, be still, and everything 0:08:57.240 --> 0:09:01.720 calmed down. This storm had to run its course. The 0:09:01.800 --> 0:09:05.960 Disciples were headed toward Beseda, but the winds were so 0:09:06.000 --> 0:09:09.400 strong it blew them to another city. Verse fifty three 0:09:09.520 --> 0:09:14.160 says when they arrived in Genesarray, on the other side 0:09:14.240 --> 0:09:17.760 of the lake. It wasn't a mistake that the winds 0:09:17.760 --> 0:09:19.080 blew them somewhere else. 0:09:19.720 --> 0:09:22.760 But Seda was called a desert place. 0:09:23.480 --> 0:09:27.880 It was barren land that wasn't desirable, wasn't fertile. But 0:09:27.920 --> 0:09:31.520 the storm blew them to genesarray. It was called a 0:09:31.640 --> 0:09:36.040 garden of abundance. It was a flourishing place, a paradise, 0:09:36.400 --> 0:09:38.600 the most beautiful area in Galilee. 0:09:39.480 --> 0:09:41.040 When they arrived, people of. 0:09:41.000 --> 0:09:44.480 Course recognized Jesus, and they began to bring the sick 0:09:44.520 --> 0:09:47.800 to them from all over the villages and surrounding cities. 0:09:48.360 --> 0:09:51.200 They laid them on the sidewalks and in the marketplace. 0:09:52.000 --> 0:09:56.480 Jesus went through and healed them. All. The disciples were disappointed. 0:09:56.840 --> 0:09:59.520 They had to leave the place where they saw Jesus 0:09:59.640 --> 0:10:00.720 multip applied the food. 0:10:01.200 --> 0:10:02.680 They saw that great miracle. 0:10:03.400 --> 0:10:07.240 They didn't realize the reason Jesus forced them into the boat, 0:10:07.920 --> 0:10:11.240 had them cross the lake and even go through a storm, 0:10:11.600 --> 0:10:14.160 was so they could come to the land of miracles, 0:10:14.880 --> 0:10:16.680 not just one blessing. 0:10:16.600 --> 0:10:18.360 But an abundance of blessings. 0:10:18.840 --> 0:10:22.080 They thought they were going to Bethsada, a barren place. 0:10:22.760 --> 0:10:25.480 But notice what the storm did. It blew them to 0:10:25.559 --> 0:10:29.760 a place of abundance. If the storm is not stopping 0:10:29.840 --> 0:10:33.760 in your life, then it hasn't fulfilled its purpose. You 0:10:33.840 --> 0:10:36.960 have to trust that God is in control, that he 0:10:37.080 --> 0:10:40.200 has your best interest at heart, and that those winds 0:10:40.240 --> 0:10:40.559 are not. 0:10:40.559 --> 0:10:43.720 Going to blow you to Besada. To a barn place. 0:10:44.040 --> 0:10:47.160 They're going to blow you to Genesrae, an abundant place. 0:10:47.760 --> 0:10:51.920 The storm is a set up, the closed door, the delay, 0:10:52.520 --> 0:10:56.320 the person that walked away. It's moving you into something greater. 0:10:57.280 --> 0:11:00.000 Now the enemy will whisper. Now, man, you were blessed, 0:11:00.160 --> 0:11:03.600 but look at you. Now, you got forced into this storm. 0:11:03.800 --> 0:11:08.319 You're headed to a barren place, defeated, broke, lonely, overwhelmed. 0:11:09.000 --> 0:11:11.880 Don't believe those lies. He wouldn't be telling you that 0:11:12.280 --> 0:11:14.800 if he didn't know you were headed to jennessa ray. 0:11:15.360 --> 0:11:18.120 You wouldn't be in that storm, if you weren't headed 0:11:18.120 --> 0:11:22.000 to something greater. You're gonna come out to an abundant place, 0:11:22.400 --> 0:11:27.840 great favor, great health, great resources. Not just blessed, but 0:11:27.920 --> 0:11:31.800 an abundance of blessings, something you could have never seen 0:11:32.400 --> 0:11:36.120 without being forced into the boat, leaving the comfortable place, 0:11:36.559 --> 0:11:40.200 going through the storm. The Psalmist said, we went through 0:11:40.200 --> 0:11:44.360 the fire, through the flood to a place of great abundance. 0:11:45.320 --> 0:11:48.800 You won't see the great abundance without going through some fires, 0:11:49.160 --> 0:11:51.079 through some floods, through some storms. 0:11:51.640 --> 0:11:53.199 It's tempting to get discouraged. 0:11:53.880 --> 0:11:56.360 Men said to me last week, Joel, I was loyal 0:11:56.440 --> 0:11:59.280 to my company for over thirty years. I gave them 0:11:59.280 --> 0:12:02.400 my best, but they weren't loyal to me. When time's 0:12:02.440 --> 0:12:05.920 got tough, they let me go. That's not a surprise 0:12:06.040 --> 0:12:08.640 to God. That's a sign that he's up to something. 0:12:09.240 --> 0:12:12.200 You got pushed out into the boat. Looks like your 0:12:12.240 --> 0:12:15.000 boss is in control. The truth is he's. 0:12:14.840 --> 0:12:16.520 A pawn in the hands of God. 0:12:17.160 --> 0:12:19.280 Nothing happens without God's permission. 0:12:20.240 --> 0:12:22.480 But it takes maturity to not get bitter. 0:12:23.280 --> 0:12:25.760 And why they treat me badly? Why do I come 0:12:25.800 --> 0:12:28.960 down with this illness? Why did I lose that contract? 0:12:29.040 --> 0:12:32.400 What if you knew that had to happen so you 0:12:32.440 --> 0:12:35.880 could get to gennesa rain a place of abundance. That 0:12:35.960 --> 0:12:40.040 the storm wasn't random, it was necessary, that the trouble 0:12:40.480 --> 0:12:44.640 was transportation, that it was moving you into the fullness 0:12:44.760 --> 0:12:48.000 of what God has in store. And sure you may 0:12:48.040 --> 0:12:51.120 go through the fire, through the flood, through the famine, 0:12:51.200 --> 0:12:54.280 but there's one more if this coming, and that's favor. 0:12:54.920 --> 0:12:57.760 The favor of God is going to defeat enemies you 0:12:57.760 --> 0:13:01.120 couldn't defeat. The favor of God is going to open 0:13:01.160 --> 0:13:04.640 doors you couldn't open. The favor of God is going 0:13:04.679 --> 0:13:07.200 to cause you to come through the storm to a 0:13:07.240 --> 0:13:11.720 place of great abundance. My friend, coach Tony Dungee, played 0:13:11.720 --> 0:13:15.880 professional football for many years and after a successful career, 0:13:16.640 --> 0:13:19.920 in nineteen ninety six he landed his first job as 0:13:19.920 --> 0:13:22.880 a head coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he 0:13:22.960 --> 0:13:25.200 knew it was the hand of God opening the door, 0:13:25.520 --> 0:13:29.600 a dream come true. For six years, everything was going great. 0:13:30.200 --> 0:13:34.040 They were winning more games, making more progress, and he 0:13:34.080 --> 0:13:37.800 was feeling good about the future. Out of nowhere, he 0:13:37.920 --> 0:13:38.480 was let go. 0:13:39.160 --> 0:13:40.359 They fired him. 0:13:40.600 --> 0:13:43.439 He thought, God, I know you gave me this job. 0:13:44.120 --> 0:13:46.760 I know you opened this door, and I was doing 0:13:46.800 --> 0:13:48.640 my best. I don't understand. 0:13:48.280 --> 0:13:49.120 Why this happened. 0:13:49.840 --> 0:13:53.000 But God never closes a door unless he's going to 0:13:53.040 --> 0:13:54.640 open a bigger and better door. 0:13:55.440 --> 0:13:58.120 It may not make sense at the time we can't 0:13:58.160 --> 0:14:00.720 see what God's up to. This is when you have 0:14:00.800 --> 0:14:01.600 to trust him. 0:14:02.400 --> 0:14:04.839 Like the Disciples, we think, God, we don't want to 0:14:04.880 --> 0:14:07.440 get in the boat and cross the lake. We want 0:14:07.440 --> 0:14:10.640 to stay here where you blessed us. What God has 0:14:10.720 --> 0:14:13.880 in store is something greater than what you have in mind. 0:14:14.760 --> 0:14:17.360 You may have seen a blessing, but He's taken you 0:14:17.440 --> 0:14:21.480 to Gennesaray a place of abundant blessings, and of course 0:14:21.520 --> 0:14:26.000 coach Dungee was disappointed, but he didn't go around discouraged sour. 0:14:26.840 --> 0:14:29.920 He knew the same God that opened the door closed 0:14:29.960 --> 0:14:33.800 the door. The scripture talks about how God is our doorkeeper. 0:14:34.400 --> 0:14:37.880 He's in control of the doors in our line. We 0:14:37.960 --> 0:14:41.960 celebrate when he opens doors and brings opportunity, but in 0:14:42.080 --> 0:14:45.880 order to move us into something greater, sometimes he has 0:14:45.960 --> 0:14:49.360 to close a door. If you don't realize that God 0:14:49.480 --> 0:14:52.280 is your doorkeeper, if you don't trust him with your 0:14:52.320 --> 0:14:56.280 open and closed doors, then you'll be frustrated when plans 0:14:56.280 --> 0:14:59.440 don't work out, upset when he tells you to get 0:14:59.440 --> 0:15:03.040 in the boat, bitter over that person that walked away. 0:15:03.440 --> 0:15:05.800 I used to just thank God for my open doors, 0:15:06.200 --> 0:15:08.640 but now I've learned to thank him from a closed door. 0:15:09.280 --> 0:15:13.840 God closing a door is not only protecting you, but 0:15:13.960 --> 0:15:18.040 it's setting you up for something greater. Not long after 0:15:18.240 --> 0:15:21.400 coach Dungee was let go, he received a phone call 0:15:21.400 --> 0:15:25.320 from the Indianapolis Colts football team asking if he'd be 0:15:25.400 --> 0:15:28.960 interested in their head coaching job. He got the position, 0:15:29.120 --> 0:15:32.600 and three years later they won the Super Bowl. He 0:15:32.720 --> 0:15:36.120 told me, if I had not gotten fired, I would 0:15:36.160 --> 0:15:39.520 have never won it. What you could be upset about 0:15:40.000 --> 0:15:42.480 the door that closed, the person that did you wrong, 0:15:42.760 --> 0:15:44.040 the trouble in your family. 0:15:44.400 --> 0:15:45.240 It's a setup. 0:15:46.040 --> 0:15:48.880 God wouldn't have allowed it if it wasn't taking you 0:15:48.960 --> 0:15:52.560 to a new level of your destiny. That storm is 0:15:52.640 --> 0:15:55.480 blowing you from a place of blessing to an. 0:15:55.400 --> 0:15:56.800 Abundance of blessings. 0:15:57.440 --> 0:16:00.920 The disciples were excited over Jesus more applying the food 0:16:01.160 --> 0:16:04.320 that one miracle, but the storm took them to where they. 0:16:04.200 --> 0:16:06.200 Saw many miracles. 0:16:06.720 --> 0:16:10.320 Don't fight the closed doors, the delays, the detours. 0:16:10.840 --> 0:16:12.320 The storm feels like it's. 0:16:12.160 --> 0:16:16.320 Taken you to the sata, a barren place, a dry place, 0:16:16.400 --> 0:16:17.280 a lonely place. 0:16:18.040 --> 0:16:19.920 But God controls the winds. 0:16:20.600 --> 0:16:23.160 You can't see it right now, but they're blowing you 0:16:23.240 --> 0:16:26.960 to an abundant place, a land of healing, a land 0:16:27.000 --> 0:16:31.320 of miracles, a land of favor. I worked seventeen years 0:16:31.360 --> 0:16:35.280 behind the scenes here at Lakewood doing the television production. 0:16:35.000 --> 0:16:38.280 And I was blessed, beautiful wife. 0:16:38.240 --> 0:16:41.880 Two beautiful children, got to work with my father every day. 0:16:42.560 --> 0:16:45.400 We were the best of friends, traveled the world together. 0:16:46.320 --> 0:16:50.400 Life was good. Then my father unexpectedly went to be 0:16:50.520 --> 0:16:51.120 with the Lord. 0:16:51.920 --> 0:16:54.920 Seventy seven years old, died from a heart attacking. 0:16:55.360 --> 0:16:58.640 I didn't see that coming. Suddenly I found myself in 0:16:58.680 --> 0:17:02.720 a storm. Like the Disciples. I didn't choose to get 0:17:02.720 --> 0:17:04.840 on this boat. I was forced on it. 0:17:05.760 --> 0:17:08.760 Sometimes God will close a door and you don't have 0:17:08.800 --> 0:17:12.680 a choice. I was comfortable where I was. I didn't 0:17:12.680 --> 0:17:14.760 want to get up in front of people. I didn't 0:17:14.800 --> 0:17:15.840 know that this was in me. 0:17:16.600 --> 0:17:19.399 I thought I'd do television production the rest of my life. 0:17:19.840 --> 0:17:23.520 I was satisfied. But God knows what he put in you. 0:17:24.480 --> 0:17:27.600 There are gifts and talents that you haven't discovered yet, 0:17:28.040 --> 0:17:29.800 potential that's lying dormant. 0:17:30.280 --> 0:17:34.000 The scripture says, as an eagle stirs the nest and 0:17:34.040 --> 0:17:35.560 gets the baby eglists out. 0:17:36.240 --> 0:17:39.359 At times, God will stir your nest to get you 0:17:39.400 --> 0:17:42.560 out of a comfortable place, a place where you're familiar, 0:17:43.040 --> 0:17:45.600 where you don't have to stretch and believe and take 0:17:45.680 --> 0:17:46.560 steps of faith. 0:17:47.040 --> 0:17:48.800 It's not going to let you get stagnant. 0:17:49.640 --> 0:17:52.840 I thought losing my father would be the darkest time 0:17:52.920 --> 0:17:56.119 of my life, and yes, I missed my father, But 0:17:56.200 --> 0:17:59.639 it was that difficulty that launched me into the brightest 0:17:59.680 --> 0:18:02.120 time of my life into what I'm doing now. 0:18:03.119 --> 0:18:05.760 My father was still here, I wouldn't be up here. 0:18:06.600 --> 0:18:09.360 Sometimes God has to push us into our purpose. 0:18:10.320 --> 0:18:11.240 But I thought that. 0:18:11.160 --> 0:18:15.960 Storm would take me to Besada, to a barren place, discourage, 0:18:15.960 --> 0:18:16.360 old man. 0:18:16.440 --> 0:18:17.560 My father's gone. 0:18:18.119 --> 0:18:21.280 But God directed the winds of that storm that blew 0:18:21.359 --> 0:18:25.320 me to Genesrae, a place of abundance and favor and 0:18:25.400 --> 0:18:29.480 opportunity and influence. This would have never happened if I'd 0:18:29.520 --> 0:18:34.160 stayed on the shore, in the comfortable place, rejoicing over. 0:18:34.000 --> 0:18:38.320 The multiplied food. That's good, but that's just a season 0:18:39.440 --> 0:18:42.280 where God is taking you. You're gonna have to get 0:18:42.280 --> 0:18:44.639 in the boat and cross to the other side. 0:18:45.640 --> 0:18:49.000 Yes, there will be winds and waves, thoughts telling you 0:18:49.080 --> 0:18:51.879 you're not gonna make it. It'll never be like it 0:18:52.040 --> 0:18:56.560 used to, losing that loved one. It's all downhill from here. No, 0:18:56.680 --> 0:18:59.639 you're not going to Besada. There's been a change in 0:18:59.680 --> 0:19:02.840 your eye, Tenerary. You can't see it yet, but you're 0:19:02.920 --> 0:19:06.960 headed to Genessa Ray. Those winds you thought would stop you, 0:19:07.359 --> 0:19:10.520 they're gonna blow you to a place of abundance where 0:19:10.560 --> 0:19:14.280 you see beauty for ashes, talent coming out that you 0:19:14.280 --> 0:19:19.879 didn't know you had influence, opportunity, favor, and sure. At times, 0:19:19.920 --> 0:19:23.159 it feels like the winds are too strong, the loss 0:19:23.200 --> 0:19:27.439 too painful, the sickness too great, the child that's breaking 0:19:27.480 --> 0:19:30.440 your heart. You don't think you can make it. God 0:19:30.520 --> 0:19:33.240 is saying to you what he said to them, I'm 0:19:33.320 --> 0:19:36.880 right here with you in this storm is gonna be okay. 0:19:37.359 --> 0:19:40.200 You can relax. You're in good hands. 0:19:41.160 --> 0:19:44.120 God is in control of the winds of that storm. 0:19:44.600 --> 0:19:48.359 Those winds Blue Coach Dungee from being fired to winning 0:19:48.359 --> 0:19:51.800 the Super Bowl. They blew me from behind the scenes, 0:19:52.040 --> 0:19:55.160 quiet and reserved, to speaking in front of people all 0:19:55.200 --> 0:19:58.800 over the world. They blew the Disciples from celebrating one 0:19:58.880 --> 0:20:03.479 miracle to seeing an abundance of miracles. You don't know 0:20:03.760 --> 0:20:07.520 where those winds are blowing you. The enemy will whisper man. 0:20:07.560 --> 0:20:11.600 You're going to Besada, a barren place. You'll never meet 0:20:11.600 --> 0:20:15.160 the right person, never get well, never see. 0:20:14.920 --> 0:20:17.080 Your business blessed. Look what all you've been through. 0:20:17.480 --> 0:20:20.399 Just say no thanks. I've had a change in my destination. 0:20:20.960 --> 0:20:25.120 There's been a route update. We're no longer going to Besada. 0:20:25.480 --> 0:20:29.480 Our new arrival is Genesaray, a place of abundance, a 0:20:29.560 --> 0:20:31.359 place of victory. 0:20:31.600 --> 0:20:34.160 Someone walked out of your life, broke your heart. 0:20:34.400 --> 0:20:38.080 The good news is in Genesaray, someone awesome is. 0:20:38.040 --> 0:20:39.160 Already waiting for you. 0:20:39.520 --> 0:20:42.360 God has already lined up your divine connections. 0:20:43.240 --> 0:20:45.760 Or you lost that loved one, that's painful. 0:20:46.280 --> 0:20:49.560 But when you get to Genesray, there are new beginnings. 0:20:50.000 --> 0:20:53.200 There are doors that are going to open fresh visions. 0:20:53.840 --> 0:20:55.280 That sickness, the. 0:20:55.320 --> 0:20:58.639 Depression seems like it's going to hinder you your whole life. 0:20:59.160 --> 0:20:59.760 You've been in this. 0:20:59.720 --> 0:21:03.520 Storm for a long time, struggling, wondering how it's gonna 0:21:03.560 --> 0:21:04.000 work out. 0:21:04.640 --> 0:21:06.040 Your time is coming. 0:21:06.760 --> 0:21:10.119 That's not how your story ends. The storm looks like 0:21:10.560 --> 0:21:14.359 it's gonna stop you. But God is shifting the winds. 0:21:14.760 --> 0:21:18.680 No more Besedah, no more that barn place. You're about 0:21:18.720 --> 0:21:23.560 to come into victory, to abundance, to joy unspeakable, to 0:21:23.680 --> 0:21:25.159 favor that you've never seen. 0:21:25.560 --> 0:21:28.000 You're gonna come out of that storm and say, like me, 0:21:28.680 --> 0:21:31.160 look what the Lord has done. Who would have ever 0:21:31.240 --> 0:21:32.760 thought I would be where I am? 0:21:33.680 --> 0:21:36.960 I believe even now, dreams are coming back to life. 0:21:37.720 --> 0:21:41.280 Hope is rising. You're gonna feel a fresh wind in 0:21:41.359 --> 0:21:42.000 your spirit. 0:21:42.320 --> 0:21:46.399 That's the most high God breathing on your life. But 0:21:46.480 --> 0:21:50.320 akey to all of this is trusting when you don't understand. 0:21:50.880 --> 0:21:51.640 We prayed for. 0:21:51.680 --> 0:21:54.600 God to heal my father just as much as we 0:21:54.680 --> 0:21:57.560 did to heal my mother. She's still here at ninety 0:21:57.600 --> 0:22:01.400 years young. But my father didn't get healed that way. 0:22:02.440 --> 0:22:04.760 This is when you have to say, God, I trust 0:22:04.800 --> 0:22:07.840 your ways. I may not like it, but I know 0:22:07.920 --> 0:22:11.240 you're good. I know you're for me, and you wouldn't 0:22:11.280 --> 0:22:13.920 have allowed it if it was going to stop my destiny. 0:22:14.920 --> 0:22:17.600 In the Book of Acts, the disciples were seeing. 0:22:17.280 --> 0:22:19.560 Great favor in the Upper Room. 0:22:20.000 --> 0:22:23.040 The Holy Spirit came like a rushing, mighty wind, and 0:22:23.080 --> 0:22:25.720 they were all filled with the spirit. And they went 0:22:25.840 --> 0:22:29.439 throughout Jerusalem praying for people. The sick were healed, the 0:22:29.520 --> 0:22:32.560 lame walked, and they spoke to great crowds, and. 0:22:32.760 --> 0:22:34.359 Many people became believers. 0:22:34.600 --> 0:22:38.359 It's an amazing time of blessing and favor. But in 0:22:38.400 --> 0:22:41.720 next chapter eight it says a great wave of persecution 0:22:41.880 --> 0:22:46.560 arose and all the disciples in Jerusalem fled to Judea 0:22:46.760 --> 0:22:50.600 in Samaria. It doesn't say that they decided to leave. 0:22:51.280 --> 0:22:53.080 They all agreed it was a good time to go 0:22:53.160 --> 0:22:53.800 somewhere else. 0:22:54.400 --> 0:22:56.960 They didn't have a choice. They were forced out. 0:22:57.680 --> 0:23:00.639 The opposition was so strong they had to flee for 0:23:00.680 --> 0:23:04.560 their lives. Saul and his group had already killed Stephen. 0:23:05.119 --> 0:23:08.720 Now they were looking for the other believers. It's significant 0:23:08.920 --> 0:23:10.919 that God could have stopped the persecution. 0:23:11.600 --> 0:23:12.960 He could have shut down Saul. 0:23:13.320 --> 0:23:16.080 God parted the red Sea, he shut the mouths of 0:23:16.119 --> 0:23:20.520 hungry lions. He protected teenagers in a fiery furnace. But 0:23:20.720 --> 0:23:25.440 sometimes God is using the storm as transportation to move 0:23:25.520 --> 0:23:29.240 you to a new level of your destiny. I'm sure 0:23:29.280 --> 0:23:31.840 some of them thought, God, what did we do wrong? 0:23:32.600 --> 0:23:35.879 We felt the rushing, mighty wind, we saw the tongues 0:23:35.880 --> 0:23:39.600 of fire, but now we're on the wrong. They felt forsaken, 0:23:40.160 --> 0:23:43.480 like they had been forgotten. But if God is closing 0:23:43.520 --> 0:23:46.400 a door, if he's allowing you to be pushed out, 0:23:46.760 --> 0:23:50.760 that means he's up to something. Trust him in the trouble. 0:23:51.480 --> 0:23:54.880 Don't fight the winds of the storm. You can't override 0:23:54.960 --> 0:23:58.520 what God has purpose. Let those winds blow you to 0:23:58.600 --> 0:24:02.680 where God is taking you. The Disciples didn't like this storm, 0:24:02.880 --> 0:24:06.480 but it was a setup. They were forced out of Jerusalem, 0:24:06.800 --> 0:24:10.399 so they went to Judea and Samaria and begin to 0:24:10.440 --> 0:24:15.560 share their faith. Had they not left Jerusalem, Christianity wouldn't 0:24:15.600 --> 0:24:18.280 have spread. They would have just kept it to the 0:24:18.359 --> 0:24:21.639 Jewish people. God had to get them out of their nest. 0:24:22.320 --> 0:24:25.840 They were satisfied in Jerusalem, But what God had in 0:24:25.880 --> 0:24:27.160 mind was much bigger. 0:24:28.160 --> 0:24:29.000 Because of that. 0:24:28.920 --> 0:24:33.000 Storm, that opposition, You and I are people of faith today. 0:24:33.359 --> 0:24:37.199 We're believers because they got pushed out and has spread 0:24:37.240 --> 0:24:38.159 all over the world. 0:24:39.280 --> 0:24:43.240 You don't know what God is up to in real time. 0:24:43.320 --> 0:24:44.119 We can't see it. 0:24:44.760 --> 0:24:46.720 All we know is we're in a storm that we 0:24:46.760 --> 0:24:51.280 didn't choose. Persecution pushed us out. A friend walked away. 0:24:51.960 --> 0:24:56.560 The medical report hasn't improved. God is saying, I'm still 0:24:56.600 --> 0:25:00.639 in control. I'm still ordering your steps. All going to 0:25:00.680 --> 0:25:01.320 turn out. 0:25:01.200 --> 0:25:05.520 Fine for you. Everything is serving his plan. Now. 0:25:05.600 --> 0:25:09.399 Trust him when you don't understand, Trust him when it 0:25:09.440 --> 0:25:13.720 doesn't make sense. Thoughts will whisper. You're going to Besayda, 0:25:14.280 --> 0:25:17.360 a barren place. It's always going to be a struggle. 0:25:17.880 --> 0:25:21.480 You'll always have to deal with this sickness. Always be lonely. 0:25:22.080 --> 0:25:24.960 Now what you can't see right now, or those winds 0:25:25.200 --> 0:25:28.280 are blowing you to gennesa rain, to a garden of 0:25:28.320 --> 0:25:33.840 abundance to a bountiful place, a healthy place, a victorious place. 0:25:34.840 --> 0:25:37.480 God didn't bring you this far to leave you where 0:25:37.520 --> 0:25:41.120 you are. Get your fire back, get your passion back. 0:25:41.480 --> 0:25:43.800 The best part of your life is still in front 0:25:43.800 --> 0:25:48.200 of you. That loss didn't stop your destiny. What looks 0:25:48.280 --> 0:25:51.520 like your darkest hour, like God did for me. It's 0:25:51.560 --> 0:25:54.879 going to launch you into your brightest hour. The people 0:25:54.920 --> 0:25:57.800 that walked away, they didn't stop your purpose. 0:25:58.160 --> 0:26:01.119 They had to leave so you can meet someone better, 0:26:01.440 --> 0:26:02.560 a divine connection. 0:26:03.560 --> 0:26:06.720 That door that closed you got pushed out of Jerusalem. 0:26:07.160 --> 0:26:10.600 It had to close so you could step into greater things. 0:26:11.000 --> 0:26:14.440 The storm feels like a setback, but really it's a setup. 0:26:14.920 --> 0:26:18.560 God is working behind the scenes, getting you in position 0:26:19.160 --> 0:26:23.040 to go places you've never dreamed. You haven't seen, heard 0:26:23.240 --> 0:26:26.720 or imagined what God has in store for you. Now 0:26:26.800 --> 0:26:31.080 trust His ways. If you'll do this, I believe and declare. 0:26:31.640 --> 0:26:35.120 Those winds that should have defeated you, God is shifting 0:26:35.160 --> 0:26:40.560 them right now. They're about to blow you into favor, healing, breakthroughs, 0:26:40.680 --> 0:26:43.959 new levels. You're going to come into an abundant place, 0:26:44.320 --> 0:26:47.919 an abundance of health, an abundance of joy, and abundance 0:26:47.920 --> 0:26:52.880 of resources, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus's name, 0:26:53.480 --> 0:26:58.600 and if you receive it, can you say amen? I'd 0:26:58.640 --> 0:27:01.199 like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the 0:27:01.240 --> 0:27:02.159 Lord of your life. 0:27:02.680 --> 0:27:06.320 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 0:27:06.440 --> 0:27:10.240 repent of my sins, Come into my heart. I make 0:27:10.280 --> 0:27:11.800 you my Lord and savior. 0:27:12.520 --> 0:27:14.920 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:27:14.960 --> 0:27:17.960 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:27:18.160 --> 0:27:20.280 on your new walk with the Lord. You can text 0:27:20.320 --> 0:27:22.800 the number on the screen or go to the website. 0:27:23.040 --> 0:27:25.399 But I hope you'll get into a good Bible based 0:27:25.480 --> 0:27:27.840 church and keep God first place. 0:27:28.920 --> 0:27:32.040 Three minutes can such a small amount of time make 0:27:32.080 --> 0:27:35.639 a big difference to your day to turn worry into confidence, 0:27:35.960 --> 0:27:40.760 frustration to hope, defeat to victory. Maybe you just need 0:27:40.800 --> 0:27:41.800 a boost of faith. 0:27:42.320 --> 0:27:45.280 When we put God first place and get our thinking 0:27:45.359 --> 0:27:48.320 in line with his, even a small seed of time 0:27:48.520 --> 0:27:51.320 can make a huge difference. We have a new resource 0:27:51.359 --> 0:27:54.680 called three minute Mornings. Start your day the blessed way. 0:27:55.400 --> 0:27:58.240 My challenge is when you wake up, before you leave 0:27:58.280 --> 0:28:01.560 the house, take three minutes to speak blessings over your 0:28:01.600 --> 0:28:05.000 life and to declare God's favor, get your mind going 0:28:05.119 --> 0:28:08.240 in the right direction. When you do that, you're setting 0:28:08.280 --> 0:28:11.000 yourself up for a blessed, victorious day. 0:28:11.720 --> 0:28:14.000 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:28:14.040 --> 0:28:16.720 of any size to the ministry this month, Joel and 0:28:16.840 --> 0:28:20.200 Victoria would like to send you this just released life 0:28:20.200 --> 0:28:24.120 giving new daily devotional. Before your feet hit the ground 0:28:24.320 --> 0:28:27.119 or go out the door, have your hard experience a 0:28:27.160 --> 0:28:30.040 bit of heaven. Set your mind on the things above 0:28:30.320 --> 0:28:33.720 with our new three Minute Mornings devotional. With this new 0:28:33.920 --> 0:28:37.400 three hundred and sixty five day devotional, Three Minute Mornings, 0:28:37.640 --> 0:28:41.640 You'll experience God showering down his favor like never before. 0:28:42.240 --> 0:28:45.000 You'll focus on the better that is coming and fully 0:28:45.080 --> 0:28:48.200 realize the freedom of not worrying about tomorrow. 0:28:48.800 --> 0:28:51.720 Victorian, I pray for you and your family every day. 0:28:52.240 --> 0:28:55.120 Thank you so much for your prayer and support. You'll 0:28:55.160 --> 0:28:58.040 make it a difference all over the world. Remember you 0:28:58.080 --> 0:29:03.040 can watch the services online Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, 0:29:03.360 --> 0:29:05.320 listen on Sirius XM. 0:29:05.360 --> 0:29:08.000 But until we meet again, met the Lord bless you 0:29:08.120 --> 0:29:08.800 and keep you. 0:29:09.320 --> 0:29:12.480 Be sure to request your copy of Three Minute Mornings today. 0:29:12.840 --> 0:29:16.480 Visit joelostein dot com or call eight eight eight five 0:29:16.600 --> 0:29:17.160 six seven. 0:29:17.360 --> 0:29:17.680 Joel