Trusting While You're Waiting

0:00:00.480 --> 0:00:03.240 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:00:03.279 --> 0:00:06.400 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:00:06.480 --> 0:00:09.080 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:00:09.160 --> 0:00:11.799 share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 0:00:11.840 --> 0:00:16.160 for God's very best in your life. God bless you. 0:00:16.480 --> 0:00:19.160 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:00:19.160 --> 0:00:21.800 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:00:21.840 --> 0:00:25.880 daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can 0:00:25.920 --> 0:00:28.479 come visit us in person. We'd love to have you 0:00:28.560 --> 0:00:31.000 be a part of one of our services. But I 0:00:31.160 --> 0:00:33.560 like to start with something funny. And I heard about 0:00:33.560 --> 0:00:36.320 this minister that was driving down the road when he 0:00:36.440 --> 0:00:39.559 was pulled over by policeman. The officer came to the 0:00:39.600 --> 0:00:43.520 window and smelled alcohol. He saw a thermist and said, sir, 0:00:43.760 --> 0:00:47.199 what are you drinking. The minister said, just water. Officer, 0:00:47.800 --> 0:00:50.680 he asked to see the thermos. He took one sniff 0:00:50.800 --> 0:00:54.560 and said, smells like wine to me. The minister said, 0:00:54.560 --> 0:00:59.160 what do you know, Jesus did it again? Say it 0:00:59.240 --> 0:01:02.200 like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am 0:01:02.240 --> 0:01:04.720 what it says, I am, I have what it says 0:01:04.720 --> 0:01:07.200 I have, I can do what it says I can 0:01:07.240 --> 0:01:10.280 do today. I will be taught the word of God. 0:01:10.680 --> 0:01:15.199 I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:01:15.560 --> 0:01:19.240 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:01:19.280 --> 0:01:23.560 bless you. I want to talk to you today about trusting. 0:01:23.840 --> 0:01:28.120 While you're waiting. We all have times where we feel stuck, 0:01:28.760 --> 0:01:32.480 not making progress in our career, haven't met the right person, 0:01:33.040 --> 0:01:37.039 problem is not turning around. It's easy to live frustrated, 0:01:37.360 --> 0:01:41.680 wondering why we can't move forward, and stress because we're stagnant. 0:01:42.280 --> 0:01:45.880 But there are seasons where God will on purpose put 0:01:45.920 --> 0:01:49.880 you on hold where you feel restricted no matter how 0:01:49.920 --> 0:01:52.560 hard you try. So like there are forces that have 0:01:52.680 --> 0:01:56.560 you tied up. We don't understand it, but it's all 0:01:56.600 --> 0:02:00.600 a part of God's plan. He's getting everything lying for 0:02:00.680 --> 0:02:06.600 your destiny, the right people, the good breaks, amazing relationships, 0:02:07.200 --> 0:02:10.079 and some things. If they happen right now, it would 0:02:10.160 --> 0:02:13.880 keep us from his best. God has a perfect time 0:02:14.320 --> 0:02:18.720 where everything will come into alignment. He's already written every 0:02:18.800 --> 0:02:22.400 day of your life in his book. He knows exactly 0:02:22.600 --> 0:02:25.600 what you need, when you need it, and where you 0:02:25.680 --> 0:02:28.880 need to be. If you get there too soon or 0:02:28.919 --> 0:02:32.000 too late, it's not going to work. The good news 0:02:32.160 --> 0:02:35.480 is God is ordering your steps. He's not going to 0:02:35.600 --> 0:02:38.520 let you miss your purpose. But when we're in a 0:02:38.560 --> 0:02:43.320 growing season, seeing good breaks and new relationships, it's easy 0:02:43.400 --> 0:02:46.639 to trust him. That doesn't take much faith. But when 0:02:46.680 --> 0:02:51.040 you're in a holding season where you're restricted, it's tempting 0:02:51.080 --> 0:02:55.919 to feel forgotten. Overlook like God went on vacation, Joel, 0:02:55.960 --> 0:02:59.000 I've been stuck at this same level. God is getting 0:02:59.000 --> 0:03:04.680 you in position for blessings, opportunities, divine connections that you've 0:03:04.680 --> 0:03:08.720 never seen. You have to trust him while you're waiting. 0:03:09.400 --> 0:03:12.880 Trust him when you feel stagnant. If you'll keep the 0:03:12.960 --> 0:03:16.600 right attitude in the restricted times, you'll come to a 0:03:16.639 --> 0:03:19.880 point where God will loose you from what's holding your back. 0:03:20.760 --> 0:03:24.000 The reason He has you restricted is because what He 0:03:24.040 --> 0:03:28.320 has planned is much better than you've imagined. Instead of 0:03:28.400 --> 0:03:34.680 resisting the restriction, living sour rest in the restriction, say 0:03:34.760 --> 0:03:38.720 like David, God, my times are in your hands. I'm 0:03:38.720 --> 0:03:41.280 going to be my best each day and trust you 0:03:41.480 --> 0:03:44.400 to get me to where I'm supposed to be. See, 0:03:44.400 --> 0:03:47.280 I've learned you can't open a door that God has shut. 0:03:48.160 --> 0:03:51.240 You can't move forward when God has put you on hold. 0:03:51.960 --> 0:03:54.240 He loves you too much to let you get ahead 0:03:54.240 --> 0:03:57.960 of his plan or behind his plan. If you don't 0:03:58.040 --> 0:04:01.520 understand that God has holdings, that it is a part 0:04:01.520 --> 0:04:05.360 of what He's ordained, then you'll live frustrated trying to 0:04:05.400 --> 0:04:08.720 force things to happen, when in fact God is the 0:04:08.720 --> 0:04:12.240 one not letting you move forward because it would keep 0:04:12.280 --> 0:04:15.960 you from the greater things he has in store. March 0:04:16.040 --> 0:04:20.479 chapter eleven, Jesus was returning to Jerusalem with his disciples. 0:04:20.800 --> 0:04:23.279 He said to two of them in verse two, go 0:04:23.400 --> 0:04:26.279 into that village ahead of us. As soon as you 0:04:26.440 --> 0:04:29.599 enter it, you'll see a colt tied up that's never 0:04:29.640 --> 0:04:33.719 been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone 0:04:33.760 --> 0:04:36.680 ask what you're doing, tell them the Lord has need 0:04:36.720 --> 0:04:40.080 of it. The disciples went to the village, and just 0:04:40.160 --> 0:04:43.680 like Jesus said, they saw this baby donkey, a colt 0:04:43.720 --> 0:04:47.400 that was tied up. They went to untie it. Someone 0:04:47.440 --> 0:04:49.440 came over and said, what are you doing. It's not 0:04:49.560 --> 0:04:52.520 your colt. You can't take it. They said, the Lord 0:04:52.600 --> 0:04:56.240 has need of it. These people had never seen the disciples, 0:04:56.600 --> 0:05:01.760 complete strangers. Suddenly they changed their mind. They took it back. 0:05:02.200 --> 0:05:06.119 This was the cult that Jesus came riding on into 0:05:06.120 --> 0:05:10.600 the city of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, this triumphant event 0:05:11.120 --> 0:05:15.200 where people put branches down and celebrated Jesus as their king. 0:05:16.000 --> 0:05:18.600 But think about this colt. It's been tied up his 0:05:18.760 --> 0:05:23.159 whole life. It wants to run, play, go have fun. 0:05:23.800 --> 0:05:29.400 Sees other animals out free, going places, carrying things. But 0:05:29.520 --> 0:05:33.720 this colt is restricted. It's never been ridden. I'm sure 0:05:33.800 --> 0:05:36.760 the colt thought, why did I get tied up? Why 0:05:36.760 --> 0:05:39.839 can't I go to different villages? Why won't anybody ride me? 0:05:40.880 --> 0:05:44.360 It looked like it was forgotten. But what the colt 0:05:44.440 --> 0:05:47.560 could have never known is he was tied up for 0:05:47.640 --> 0:05:53.640 a divine purpose. Zachariah prophesied hundreds of years before Jesus' 0:05:53.680 --> 0:05:57.880 birth that the Messiah would come riding into Jerusalem on 0:05:57.960 --> 0:06:02.720 a colt. This colt thought he was restricted, but really 0:06:03.040 --> 0:06:07.960 he was reserved. God had set him apart, kept anyone 0:06:08.000 --> 0:06:11.400 from riding on him, so at the right time, God 0:06:11.440 --> 0:06:15.160 could use him for a purpose greater than he ever imagined. 0:06:15.920 --> 0:06:19.480 It's the same principle with us. There are times God 0:06:19.520 --> 0:06:23.640 has us tied up. We don't understand it. Friends are 0:06:23.680 --> 0:06:27.440 being promoted and co workers seeing dreams come to pass 0:06:27.480 --> 0:06:31.640 and had relative moved into a nice house. We're working 0:06:31.720 --> 0:06:36.320 hard keeping God first place, but doors aren't opening, things 0:06:36.360 --> 0:06:39.760 aren't falling into place. Every time we try to move forward, 0:06:39.960 --> 0:06:43.800 it's like there are forces pulling us back. We always 0:06:43.920 --> 0:06:47.839 think that's the enemy, but sometimes God has us in 0:06:47.880 --> 0:06:51.560 a holding season. He's keeping us from what we want 0:06:52.120 --> 0:06:56.679 only because he has something so much better. You think 0:06:56.680 --> 0:07:01.440 you're restricted, have a new perspective. You're resus. God has 0:07:01.520 --> 0:07:05.200 set you apart for a higher purpose, something you can't 0:07:05.240 --> 0:07:09.720 see that you've never planned. Now, trust him in the 0:07:09.760 --> 0:07:15.440 waiting seasons. Don't live frustrated when you feel stagnant, upset 0:07:15.560 --> 0:07:19.000 because the door hasn't opened. What if you knew God 0:07:19.120 --> 0:07:22.760 was holding you back because his plan is so much better, 0:07:23.640 --> 0:07:26.440 you would stay in peace. You would go through the 0:07:26.440 --> 0:07:30.880 waiting seasons not sour. Why am I stuck? But in 0:07:31.000 --> 0:07:35.560 faith God, I trust your timing. I know I'm not restricted. 0:07:35.720 --> 0:07:39.680 I'm reserved that You've set me apart for something amazing, 0:07:40.040 --> 0:07:44.440 for your divine purpose. It's interesting that Jesus told the 0:07:44.480 --> 0:07:48.280 disciples where the colt was and how it was tied up, 0:07:48.840 --> 0:07:51.560 what the people were going to say how to respond. 0:07:52.560 --> 0:07:56.520 The whole time, the Colt felt forgotten. But God knew 0:07:56.560 --> 0:08:00.600 every detail about the colt. God had already lies the 0:08:00.680 --> 0:08:03.920 right people to untie him. He'd already arranged for the 0:08:04.000 --> 0:08:06.680 owners to let him go, and made sure it was 0:08:06.720 --> 0:08:09.080 tied up at the right house, that it had never 0:08:09.160 --> 0:08:13.440 been ridden. All these details had to come into alignment. 0:08:14.200 --> 0:08:16.840 When we're in a stag that season, it's easy to 0:08:16.880 --> 0:08:20.880 feel forgotten, Joel, I'm at a disadvantage. I can't get 0:08:20.880 --> 0:08:23.440 a good break. I'd take one step forward and two 0:08:23.520 --> 0:08:27.680 steps backwards. But like this cult, God knows exactly where 0:08:27.760 --> 0:08:31.800 you are. He knows what's tied you up, the doors 0:08:31.800 --> 0:08:35.480 that have closed, the people that have overlooked you. Don't 0:08:35.520 --> 0:08:39.480 believe the lies that you're forgotten. God knows every detail 0:08:39.600 --> 0:08:43.160 of your life. And the good news is your story 0:08:43.240 --> 0:08:48.520 doesn't end in restriction, being held back, tied up. There's 0:08:48.559 --> 0:08:53.160 a time coming where God will say, loose him, untie him. 0:08:53.480 --> 0:08:57.120 I have need of him. Notice these owners didn't say no, no, 0:08:57.320 --> 0:09:00.800 this is our cult. They didn't fight, they didn't debate, 0:09:01.280 --> 0:09:04.240 they didn't call nine to one one. Because what God 0:09:04.360 --> 0:09:08.520 has for you, no person can stop, no bad break 0:09:08.760 --> 0:09:12.960 no sickness, no force of darkness. You may be tied 0:09:13.040 --> 0:09:17.120 up now, but it's only temporary. When you come into 0:09:17.160 --> 0:09:21.839 your appointed time, God will release every restriction. He'll loose 0:09:21.920 --> 0:09:25.800 you from what's held you back. When the owners asked 0:09:25.960 --> 0:09:29.240 what the disciples were doing, Jesus told them to say, 0:09:29.280 --> 0:09:33.120 the Lord has need of him. It's significant that this 0:09:33.240 --> 0:09:37.000 cult was needed. It had a specific role to play 0:09:37.120 --> 0:09:41.080 in the plan of God, was already prophesied hundreds of 0:09:41.120 --> 0:09:45.160 years earlier, before you were formed in your mother's womb. 0:09:45.679 --> 0:09:49.920 God lined up specific things for you to accomplish. He's 0:09:49.960 --> 0:09:55.079 already planned out these times where you will step into favor, opportunity, 0:09:55.120 --> 0:09:58.600 and talent that you didn't see coming. And sure, you 0:09:58.640 --> 0:10:02.840 may go through some holdings, seasons, times where you feel stagnant, 0:10:03.360 --> 0:10:06.520 But like Jesus with this cult, there will be a 0:10:06.600 --> 0:10:10.360 time where God says, I have need of you. I 0:10:10.440 --> 0:10:13.679 need that cult to carry me into the city. I 0:10:13.760 --> 0:10:16.880 need you for this promotion to take your family to 0:10:16.960 --> 0:10:20.160 a new level. I need you for this spouse I 0:10:20.200 --> 0:10:23.280 have lined up. I need you for this healing that 0:10:23.320 --> 0:10:26.200 I've ordained for you. I need you to pastor to 0:10:26.240 --> 0:10:29.000 the church, Joel. When your father passed to come out 0:10:29.040 --> 0:10:34.760 of obscurity into influence. God has these destiny moments where 0:10:34.760 --> 0:10:38.559 he needs you to fulfill the divine purpose that he's 0:10:38.600 --> 0:10:44.160 already established. You're not here by accident. You're here on assignment. 0:10:44.760 --> 0:10:48.719 The creator of the universe has plans for you. When 0:10:48.760 --> 0:10:53.040 you feel restricted, like you're in a holding season, lies 0:10:53.080 --> 0:10:56.720 will whisper You're not important, you don't have anything to offer. 0:10:57.320 --> 0:11:01.800 That's what this cult represents. Tied up up, never been ridden, 0:11:02.200 --> 0:11:06.920 nor your time is coming. Keep reminding yourself you're not restricted, 0:11:07.200 --> 0:11:11.679 You're reserved. God has set you apart. There are destiny 0:11:11.720 --> 0:11:15.120 moments where he will call your name and say, I 0:11:15.120 --> 0:11:18.560 have need of Robert, I have need of Linda, I 0:11:18.559 --> 0:11:22.160 have need of Jose. Your name has been written into 0:11:22.200 --> 0:11:26.120 the story that Almighty God penned before you got here. 0:11:27.240 --> 0:11:31.480 When the enemy tries to make you feel insignificant, not worthy, 0:11:31.840 --> 0:11:35.400 nothing to offer, just answer back, no, No. The Lord 0:11:35.440 --> 0:11:38.280 has need of me, the most highed. God has an 0:11:38.320 --> 0:11:42.480 assignment for me to accomplish. I'm on his radar. He's 0:11:42.520 --> 0:11:46.560 already planned by days. This cult was hidden in a 0:11:46.600 --> 0:11:50.600 small village, tied up in this little neighborhood, not in 0:11:50.640 --> 0:11:54.800 the big city where there was opportunity, many people. Surely 0:11:54.840 --> 0:11:58.880 someone will notice. It was tied up in an obscure place, 0:11:59.400 --> 0:12:03.040 out of the way. All the circumstances said it was stuck, 0:12:03.679 --> 0:12:07.880 that it never be ridden, never reach its potential. One 0:12:07.960 --> 0:12:11.439 day these two disciples showed up to this little village, 0:12:11.960 --> 0:12:14.360 this out of the way place, came right to the 0:12:14.400 --> 0:12:19.040 cult and untied it. You may feel overlooked. You don't 0:12:19.040 --> 0:12:22.400 see how you could get free, how you could get ahead, 0:12:22.679 --> 0:12:26.120 how you'll meet the right person. You're in an obscure place, 0:12:26.760 --> 0:12:30.600 not a lot of recognition. God has the right people 0:12:30.840 --> 0:12:34.320 already lined up to come to you. You don't have 0:12:34.400 --> 0:12:37.040 to go after it. The blessing will come to you, 0:12:37.280 --> 0:12:42.400 the freedom, the spouse, the healing. It's gonna show up unexpectedly, 0:12:43.080 --> 0:12:48.800 a divine connection, a supernatural breakthrough where suddenly you're untied. 0:12:49.480 --> 0:12:53.400 God does what you couldn't do. He releases the restriction. 0:12:54.400 --> 0:12:57.600 And this colt would have been happy just to be freeing, 0:12:58.320 --> 0:13:01.960 not tied up anymore. But watch how God works. It 0:13:02.040 --> 0:13:05.720 went from the little village, never been ridden. Now it 0:13:05.760 --> 0:13:10.640 has Jesus the Messiah on its back, walking through Jerusalem 0:13:10.960 --> 0:13:15.840 with thousands of people, all around from obscurity to notoriety, 0:13:16.559 --> 0:13:20.160 from the background to the foreground, from no one paying 0:13:20.200 --> 0:13:24.000 attention to all eyes on it. God knows how to 0:13:24.040 --> 0:13:29.199 not only untie you, but to release you into favor, opportunity, 0:13:29.640 --> 0:13:34.560 influence that you've never seen. When you're in these holding seasons, 0:13:35.040 --> 0:13:38.439 you feel restricted. The key is to keep being your 0:13:38.480 --> 0:13:41.480 best where you are. It's not up to you to 0:13:41.520 --> 0:13:45.640 bring yourself out force doors to open. That's going to 0:13:45.679 --> 0:13:49.199 cause you to get frustrated. At the right time, God 0:13:49.240 --> 0:13:52.400 will make it happen. He'll bring the right people, He'll 0:13:52.440 --> 0:13:56.640 open the doors. In the meantime, stay faithful where you are. 0:13:57.640 --> 0:14:00.440 Maybe it's doing a small thing. You know you have 0:14:00.559 --> 0:14:03.960 so much more in you, working in a position where 0:14:03.960 --> 0:14:08.319 you're way overqualified, but the doors haven't opened. You don't 0:14:08.360 --> 0:14:11.360 know what God is up to pass the test where 0:14:11.360 --> 0:14:15.760 you are. Maybe it's believing for a child that's not improving. 0:14:16.400 --> 0:14:20.520 You're praying, standing in a faith seems like they're getting worse. 0:14:21.200 --> 0:14:24.840 Can I encourage you? God has need of your child. 0:14:25.160 --> 0:14:28.640 You in a holding season. Now, God's already lined up 0:14:28.680 --> 0:14:32.640 the time to untie him, to release him into his purpose. 0:14:33.440 --> 0:14:36.920 In the meantime, keep honoring God, keep being your best 0:14:36.960 --> 0:14:40.280 each day, You're going to come into these destiny moments 0:14:40.640 --> 0:14:44.840 where things suddenly change in your favor. Friend of mine 0:14:44.920 --> 0:14:48.120 had a dream to play professional football. He was a 0:14:48.200 --> 0:14:51.720 quarterback in high school, but he didn't start. There were 0:14:51.760 --> 0:14:55.400 other players better than him. His senior year, he finally 0:14:55.480 --> 0:14:58.880 got to play, and he did okay, but not good 0:14:58.960 --> 0:15:03.440 enough to receive any offers from major colleges. The only 0:15:03.480 --> 0:15:06.760 one that was interested in was a smaller school. He 0:15:06.840 --> 0:15:09.880 played there, and again he was the backup until his 0:15:09.960 --> 0:15:13.480 senior year. He finished college and was hoping to get 0:15:13.480 --> 0:15:17.920 to the NFL, but nobody drafted him. Later, he was 0:15:17.920 --> 0:15:21.080 given a chance to try out for the Green Bay Packers, 0:15:21.600 --> 0:15:24.800 hoping he'd make the team. This door opened, but three 0:15:24.840 --> 0:15:28.000 weeks later he was cut. He went back home and 0:15:28.040 --> 0:15:32.000 got a job at the local grocery store stocking shelves, 0:15:32.400 --> 0:15:35.880 making five dollars and fifty cents an hour. He could 0:15:35.920 --> 0:15:40.160 have slacked off, been bitter, but he stocked those shelves 0:15:40.160 --> 0:15:44.640 with excellence, making sure all the product was perfectly placed, 0:15:45.120 --> 0:15:49.640 everything lined up week after week, month after month. He 0:15:49.680 --> 0:15:52.760 had bigger dreams in his heart. He believed he could 0:15:52.760 --> 0:15:57.200 play in the NFL. But he's restricted every time he tried. 0:15:57.200 --> 0:16:00.720 The door closed. But the scripture says God has an 0:16:00.760 --> 0:16:05.000 appointed time to bring the dream to pass. When things 0:16:05.040 --> 0:16:07.320 aren't going your way. In you're in one of these 0:16:07.400 --> 0:16:11.240 holding seasons, you have to trust that God knows what 0:16:11.320 --> 0:16:15.160 he's doing. Trust him while you're waiting. You don't have 0:16:15.240 --> 0:16:20.560 to force doors to open, manipulate, strive strength, just keep 0:16:20.560 --> 0:16:24.200 being your best where you are. God is ordering your steps. 0:16:24.960 --> 0:16:29.320 Sure there'll be things we don't understand. Don't seem fair, Joel. 0:16:29.400 --> 0:16:32.280 If my steps are ordered, why am I still tied up? 0:16:33.000 --> 0:16:35.480 Why am I in this holding season? Why can't I 0:16:35.520 --> 0:16:40.360 make any progress? Maybe it's because, like that cult, God 0:16:40.440 --> 0:16:43.840 has something planning for you that you don't see coming. 0:16:44.440 --> 0:16:49.040 You're thinking ordinary, but God is thinking extraordinary. You think 0:16:49.080 --> 0:16:53.760 you're restricted, when in fact you're reserved. God has closed 0:16:53.800 --> 0:16:58.920 doors and stopped relationships. Not let things work out because 0:16:59.000 --> 0:17:03.200 what He has planned and is exceeding abundantly above and 0:17:03.280 --> 0:17:07.720 beyond what you can imagine. Now, don't get sour over 0:17:07.840 --> 0:17:12.040 the stagnant seasons. Trust him while you're waiting. Stay in 0:17:12.200 --> 0:17:16.159 peace when you're not making progress. Now I'm not saying 0:17:16.240 --> 0:17:21.159 to accept mediocrites settle there. But every closed door is 0:17:21.200 --> 0:17:25.880 not the enemy, every delay is not the opposition. God 0:17:25.960 --> 0:17:30.600 has holding seasons times where we feel restricted, but it's 0:17:30.680 --> 0:17:34.639 all serving his plan. If you don't understand this, you'll 0:17:34.720 --> 0:17:38.200 fight everything that doesn't go your way in get discouraged 0:17:38.240 --> 0:17:43.280 because you're stagnant, sour because things aren't changing. Come back 0:17:43.280 --> 0:17:46.520 to a place of peace. God knows what he's doing. 0:17:47.040 --> 0:17:50.000 His plans for you are for good, but some of 0:17:50.040 --> 0:17:54.919 those plans will feel like delays and holding seasons, times 0:17:54.960 --> 0:17:58.040 where you're doing the right thing but not making progress. 0:17:58.880 --> 0:18:01.320 Working at this grocery store store, my friend got a 0:18:01.359 --> 0:18:05.000 call to play for a new football league, not the NFL, 0:18:05.080 --> 0:18:08.639 but a much smaller league they were starting. He played 0:18:08.640 --> 0:18:12.200 there and did very well. The next season, the Saint 0:18:12.280 --> 0:18:16.639 Louis Rams and NFL team invited him to play. He 0:18:16.680 --> 0:18:20.359 made the team, but was the third string quarterback again. 0:18:20.440 --> 0:18:23.080 Two players in front of him didn't look like he'd 0:18:23.080 --> 0:18:26.280 get to play, but the first string quarterback got hurt. 0:18:26.720 --> 0:18:30.680 Then the second string quarterback was injured. Much to his surprise, 0:18:30.880 --> 0:18:34.840 he was the starting quarterback. His dream had come true, 0:18:35.320 --> 0:18:39.000 made it to the NFL. But what God has planned 0:18:39.240 --> 0:18:44.240 will exceed your expectations. That next season, my friend Kurt 0:18:44.320 --> 0:18:49.200 Warner threw over forty touchdown passes and led his team 0:18:49.280 --> 0:18:52.920 to the Super Bowl in the biggest game of the year. 0:18:53.119 --> 0:18:56.720 The last second, he threw another touchdown pass and they 0:18:56.760 --> 0:19:00.080 won the Super Bowl. He broke the record for the 0:19:00.200 --> 0:19:04.320 most passing yards and was awarded the Most Valuable Player 0:19:04.640 --> 0:19:08.080 of the Super Bowl. Who would have ever thought stocking 0:19:08.200 --> 0:19:11.439 shelves at a grocery store that a few years later 0:19:12.080 --> 0:19:15.640 he would be the MVP of the Super Bowl. That's 0:19:15.720 --> 0:19:18.520 like that Colt tied up all those years, then all 0:19:18.560 --> 0:19:22.760 of a sudden, it's carrying Jesus through Jerusalem. He went 0:19:22.840 --> 0:19:25.679 from making five dollars and fifty cents an hour to 0:19:25.800 --> 0:19:30.320 making forty million a year playing football. Some of you 0:19:30.320 --> 0:19:34.040 are thanking God. I'll go stock some shelves. But all 0:19:34.040 --> 0:19:38.600 these holding seasons delays. We feel stuck, Joel, I'm not 0:19:38.680 --> 0:19:42.280 making any progress. You can't see what God is doing. 0:19:43.000 --> 0:19:45.200 You don't know what He's already lined up for you. 0:19:46.040 --> 0:19:49.080 Sometimes he has to close doors to keep us in 0:19:49.119 --> 0:19:52.320 his perfect will. He has to hold us back so 0:19:52.440 --> 0:19:54.879 we don't miss the greater things He has in store. 0:19:55.720 --> 0:19:59.120 Don't fight the stagnant seasons, times where you can't seem 0:19:59.160 --> 0:20:03.200 to get ahead. Others being promoted, you're being left out. 0:20:03.920 --> 0:20:07.760 God has already set the time where he'll say, untie them, 0:20:08.520 --> 0:20:11.679 loose them, and let them go. You are coming into 0:20:11.720 --> 0:20:15.440 a time of release where like Kurt, God's going to 0:20:15.560 --> 0:20:20.200 release you into uncommon favor, release you into uncommon abundance, 0:20:20.760 --> 0:20:25.280 uncommon influence. Look like you were stuck that sickness, had 0:20:25.320 --> 0:20:28.440 you tied up. God's about to release you into healing. 0:20:29.119 --> 0:20:33.440 Look like that child would be always off course, tied up, compromising, 0:20:33.520 --> 0:20:37.320 tied up in addictions. God's about to untie some things. 0:20:37.600 --> 0:20:42.000 He's about to release them into freedom, into purpose, into victory. 0:20:43.240 --> 0:20:46.200 This is what happened to David in the scripture. He 0:20:46.240 --> 0:20:49.520 was a teenager out in the shepherd's fields, taking care 0:20:49.560 --> 0:20:56.440 of his father's sheep. Looked like he was stuck, no opportunity, alone, boring, 0:20:56.640 --> 0:20:59.959 same thing every day, Feed the sheep, clean up their ways, 0:21:00.359 --> 0:21:03.159 make sure they're not harmed. What could that lead to? 0:21:04.000 --> 0:21:06.760 David had big things in his heart, He could feel 0:21:06.880 --> 0:21:10.320 seeds of greatness, but he was in a holding season. 0:21:10.920 --> 0:21:15.840 Nothing changing, no sign of doors opening. Thoughts whispered God's 0:21:15.840 --> 0:21:18.720 forgotten about you. This is as good as it gets. 0:21:19.400 --> 0:21:24.000 David didn't get bitter, he didn't slack off. He trusted God. 0:21:24.119 --> 0:21:27.560 In the waiting seasons, he kept being his best, even 0:21:27.600 --> 0:21:31.640 though nothing was changing. One day, the prophet Samuel came 0:21:31.680 --> 0:21:35.120 to his house and anointed him as the next king 0:21:35.160 --> 0:21:38.879 of Israel. David didn't go after that. It came to 0:21:39.000 --> 0:21:42.879 him it looked like he was restricted. The truth is 0:21:43.320 --> 0:21:46.760 he was reserved. God had him on hold for a 0:21:46.840 --> 0:21:51.040 purpose these times that you feel stuck. If you'll just 0:21:51.160 --> 0:21:55.040 keep doing the right thing, like with David, like with 0:21:55.160 --> 0:21:59.040 that colt, at the appointed time, God will send someone 0:21:59.119 --> 0:22:03.159 to untie you. David was anointed, but he didn't go 0:22:03.240 --> 0:22:06.440 to the palace. He went back to the shepherd's fields. 0:22:06.960 --> 0:22:11.080 You can be anointed but not appointed yet. You know 0:22:11.200 --> 0:22:15.080 God gave you the dream, but you're in a holding season. Well. 0:22:15.119 --> 0:22:18.600 David eventually went to the palace, but King Saul was 0:22:18.720 --> 0:22:21.679 jealous of him tried to kill him. He had to 0:22:21.680 --> 0:22:24.600 flee for his life, and he spent years in the 0:22:24.640 --> 0:22:28.880 desert on the run, hiding from Saul, stuck in the caves, 0:22:29.359 --> 0:22:34.160 another holding season, not making any progress. The scripture says 0:22:34.160 --> 0:22:38.400 in Psalms. The Israelites did not wait for God's plan 0:22:38.480 --> 0:22:43.400 to unfold. They were impatient. They complained about the delays, 0:22:43.480 --> 0:22:48.359 and God discouraged because doors weren't opening, when in reality, 0:22:48.600 --> 0:22:52.640 God was protecting them. He was keeping them from opposition 0:22:53.160 --> 0:22:55.919 that was too big for them to handle at the time. 0:22:56.880 --> 0:22:59.080 If you're going to see the fullness of what God 0:22:59.200 --> 0:23:02.719 has for you, you have to go through these waiting seasons, 0:23:03.119 --> 0:23:06.920 these times where you feel restricted. It's not working out 0:23:07.520 --> 0:23:10.520 thoughts telling you it's always going to be like this. No, 0:23:10.640 --> 0:23:14.879 you're not restricted, your reserved. God is working out his 0:23:15.080 --> 0:23:18.480 plan for your life. At the right time, he'll say 0:23:18.920 --> 0:23:22.200 I have need of you. He'll release you into new 0:23:22.280 --> 0:23:26.119 levels of your purpose. I look back over my life 0:23:26.119 --> 0:23:29.600 and I can see these holding seasons, times where I 0:23:29.640 --> 0:23:33.360 felt restricted. I worked behind the scenes at Lakewood many 0:23:33.440 --> 0:23:38.000 years doing the television production. We would put on concerts 0:23:38.080 --> 0:23:42.200 and conferences, all these live events, and I love doing that. 0:23:42.920 --> 0:23:45.800 But over time, my father didn't want to do it anymore. 0:23:46.480 --> 0:23:49.359 At one point, I lined up all these radio stations 0:23:49.480 --> 0:23:52.720 to carry his messages. Ask my father if he'd come 0:23:52.760 --> 0:23:55.960 down to the church once a month, just for thirty 0:23:56.000 --> 0:23:59.640 minutes and make the openings and closings for the program. 0:24:00.040 --> 0:24:03.960 I was so excited, another great outreach. But I'll never 0:24:04.000 --> 0:24:07.240 forget what he told me. He said, Joel, I'm seventy 0:24:07.280 --> 0:24:10.280 five years old. I don't want to do any more work. 0:24:10.520 --> 0:24:13.720 I just want to relax and pasture the church. And 0:24:13.760 --> 0:24:17.520 I was so disappointed. I thought, God, I'm young. I 0:24:17.560 --> 0:24:19.520 don't want to shrink back. I want to do more. 0:24:20.080 --> 0:24:22.840 I thought, maybe it's time to go work somewhere else. 0:24:23.480 --> 0:24:27.320 Had an opportunity at a big sports network, Another large 0:24:27.359 --> 0:24:31.200 ministry wanted me to come. But when I searched my heart, 0:24:31.280 --> 0:24:34.200 I could hear a still small voice and Joel, stay 0:24:34.200 --> 0:24:37.959 where you are. This is your father's vision. Honor what 0:24:38.040 --> 0:24:41.199 he wants to do. Now. I made the decision to 0:24:41.320 --> 0:24:45.000 not just stay, but to stay with a good attitude. 0:24:45.160 --> 0:24:49.240 It's one thing to go through a holding season, bitter, sour, 0:24:49.640 --> 0:24:54.320 poisoning people. How you go through these stagnant times will 0:24:54.400 --> 0:24:57.359 determine how long you stay there. Now, I did my 0:24:57.480 --> 0:25:01.359 best to make my father look good, everything I could 0:25:01.359 --> 0:25:05.040 to cause him to shine. What I didn't know was 0:25:05.080 --> 0:25:08.160 two years later my father would have a heart attack, 0:25:08.680 --> 0:25:11.080 go to be with the Lord, and I would become 0:25:11.119 --> 0:25:15.000 the pastor. That was never on my radar. I never 0:25:15.119 --> 0:25:17.840 dreamed I would be a minister, that I'd be able 0:25:17.880 --> 0:25:21.960 to do this. I realize now God put those big 0:25:22.000 --> 0:25:25.000 things in my heart, but it wasn't the right time. 0:25:25.480 --> 0:25:29.320 He had me in a holding season where I felt restricted. 0:25:30.000 --> 0:25:33.000 I knew there were bigger things in me, but God 0:25:33.080 --> 0:25:37.320 knows the right time. Had I gone off to another job, 0:25:37.560 --> 0:25:40.480 I would have missed this had I stayed here, sour, 0:25:41.240 --> 0:25:44.160 this isn't fair. Why can't we do more? I don't 0:25:44.200 --> 0:25:47.160 think I would be up here. You have to trust 0:25:47.440 --> 0:25:50.479 in the waiting seasons. You have to be still and 0:25:50.560 --> 0:25:54.120 know that He is God. You may feel restricted today 0:25:54.520 --> 0:25:57.160 in some area of your life. You're being held back. 0:25:57.760 --> 0:26:01.280 You wonder why things aren't changing, why our doors opening. 0:26:01.520 --> 0:26:05.159 It's easy to get frustrated. But God can see things 0:26:05.200 --> 0:26:08.520 we can't see. He has plans for you you've never 0:26:08.600 --> 0:26:11.720 thought of. If you knew what He has in store, 0:26:11.960 --> 0:26:15.640 you would wait for his plan to unfold. I'm asking 0:26:15.680 --> 0:26:18.480 you to be your best when you're not getting your way. 0:26:19.240 --> 0:26:23.480 Stay in faith when you seem stagnant, things aren't improving, 0:26:23.960 --> 0:26:28.760 Keep reminding yourself you're not restricted your reserve. God has 0:26:28.760 --> 0:26:32.320 you set apart for something greater. We're like that cold 0:26:32.520 --> 0:26:36.359 he says, I have need of you. There are destiny 0:26:36.440 --> 0:26:40.600 moments already lined up for you from before you were born, 0:26:41.119 --> 0:26:43.720 where God is going to release you in the levels 0:26:43.760 --> 0:26:48.640 you've never imagined. Now, keep trusting when you don't understand, 0:26:48.800 --> 0:26:52.560 stay faithful in the holding seasons. If you'll do this, 0:26:52.800 --> 0:26:57.119 I believe and declare God is about to untie you. 0:26:57.119 --> 0:27:00.480 You're going to see a supernatural release in the favor, 0:27:01.080 --> 0:27:07.600 release into freedom, release into amazing relationships, abundance, healing the 0:27:07.640 --> 0:27:11.960 fullness of your destiny in Jesus's name, And if you 0:27:12.000 --> 0:27:16.240 receive it, can you say amen? I'd like to give 0:27:16.240 --> 0:27:19.359 you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your lie. 0:27:19.880 --> 0:27:23.680 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I'll 0:27:23.680 --> 0:27:27.720 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 0:27:27.800 --> 0:27:31.399 you my Lord and savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, 0:27:31.440 --> 0:27:34.280 we believe you got born again. We'd love to send 0:27:34.280 --> 0:27:36.760 you some free information on your new walk with the Lord. 0:27:37.040 --> 0:27:39.159 You can text the number on the screen or go 0:27:39.200 --> 0:27:41.720 to the website. But I hope you'll get into a 0:27:41.760 --> 0:27:47.040 good Bible based church and keep God first place. When 0:27:47.119 --> 0:27:49.440 was the last time you asked God to do something 0:27:49.520 --> 0:27:54.040 that seemed impossible? If you only pray small, ordinary prayers, 0:27:54.200 --> 0:27:57.199 you live a small, ordinary lie. I have a new 0:27:57.240 --> 0:28:00.919 book called Pray Bold. I'll challenge you your faith and 0:28:01.000 --> 0:28:03.800 believe for the big things God puts in your heart. 0:28:04.160 --> 0:28:06.680 Victoria and I used to have seasoned tickets to watch 0:28:06.720 --> 0:28:10.040 the Rockets play basketball here. We never dreamed it could 0:28:10.040 --> 0:28:13.280 be ours when they moved out. Somehow we had the 0:28:13.280 --> 0:28:16.480 faith to pray a bold prayer. God made things happen 0:28:16.680 --> 0:28:19.360 that we could never make happen. It's the same for you, 0:28:19.880 --> 0:28:22.280 who knows what God will do in your life. If 0:28:22.320 --> 0:28:25.440 you'll dare to pray bold, ask him for your dreams, 0:28:25.720 --> 0:28:28.680 ask for your healing, as for your freedom. That's when 0:28:28.720 --> 0:28:31.120 God will show up and do more than you could 0:28:31.160 --> 0:28:32.200 ever imagine. 0:28:32.600 --> 0:28:34.880 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:28:34.920 --> 0:28:37.520 of any amount this month, we would like to send 0:28:37.600 --> 0:28:41.080 you a copy of Jeel's brand new book, Pray Bold. 0:28:41.440 --> 0:28:45.800 Dare to ask and Believe Big. Joel shares that when 0:28:45.840 --> 0:28:49.880 we pray, we can tap into God's creative, awesome power, 0:28:50.400 --> 0:28:54.080 something bigger than we have ever imagined. God doesn't want 0:28:54.200 --> 0:28:57.600 us to just pray in our comfort zones. No, God 0:28:57.680 --> 0:29:02.000 loves when we pray big big, expect him to do 0:29:02.200 --> 0:29:07.040 the unexpected. There are inspiring stories from the Bible, from history, 0:29:07.280 --> 0:29:10.760 and personal testimonies of people who dared to believe God 0:29:10.880 --> 0:29:14.960 in extraordinary ways. You'll learn how to practically expand your 0:29:14.960 --> 0:29:18.400 prayers and watch your life move from the common to 0:29:18.520 --> 0:29:23.240 the extraordinary, from less than to overflowing. Be sure to 0:29:23.320 --> 0:29:27.640 request your copy of prey Bold today, visit Joeloustein dot 0:29:27.680 --> 0:29:29.600 com or call us tool free. 0:29:30.080 --> 0:29:33.320 God has put dreams in your heart, things He's whispered 0:29:33.320 --> 0:29:36.280 in the night that seem impossible. But as you pray 0:29:36.360 --> 0:29:38.800 these bold prayers, you're going to see the goodness of 0:29:38.840 --> 0:29:42.320 God in ways you've never seen victor in our belief, 0:29:42.360 --> 0:29:45.120 and you're gonna have a great twenty twenty five. We 0:29:45.240 --> 0:29:47.920 pray for you and your family every day for God's 0:29:48.040 --> 0:29:50.760 very best. We want to thank you for your prayer 0:29:50.800 --> 0:29:53.959 and your support. You're impacting people all over the world. 0:29:54.280 --> 0:29:57.320 Be sure to request your copy of prey Bold today, 0:29:57.880 --> 0:30:02.040 visit Joeloustein dot com or call us tool free. Finally, 0:30:02.360 --> 0:30:05.880 elevates your personal time with God by requesting the My 0:30:06.040 --> 0:30:10.400 Time with God collection. This beautiful collection contains the pre 0:30:10.560 --> 0:30:14.560 Bold new release, plus the new Living Translation, one year 0:30:14.640 --> 0:30:18.360 Chronological Study Bible, and a beautiful glass mug and throw 0:30:18.400 --> 0:30:22.360 blanket based around the inspiring scripture from Psalm forty six 0:30:22.400 --> 0:30:25.560 to ten Be Still and Know that I Am God. 0:30:26.120 --> 0:30:28.880 You can learn more about this unique new gift collection 0:30:29.120 --> 0:30:32.440 by calling eight eight eight five six seven Joel or 0:30:32.520 --> 0:30:35.280 logging onto Joelostein dot com today. 0:30:36.320 --> 0:30:39.720 Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 0:30:40.120 --> 0:30:44.640 download our daily podcast Misten on Sirius XM, watch on YouTube, 0:30:45.000 --> 0:30:48.200 and now the new Joel Ostein Network streaming on television 0:30:48.240 --> 0:30:51.560 twenty four hours a day. If you've never been to Lakewood, 0:30:51.720 --> 0:30:55.680 we have a great opportunity. We called it Homecoming Weekend. 0:30:56.200 --> 0:30:59.080 We'd love to meet you and your family. You can 0:30:59.280 --> 0:31:02.120 see the bill and attend one of the services. It's 0:31:02.160 --> 0:31:05.000 a great time to be a part of the Lakewood family. 0:31:05.080 --> 0:31:07.640 Looking forward to seeing your Homecoming Weekend.