Unquestionably Free

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That's code iHeart fifty when you 0:01:24.360 --> 0:01:27.920 sign up at unest dot co for a fifty dollars bonus. 0:01:28.000 --> 0:01:30.080 See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 0:01:32.880 --> 0:01:35.600 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:35.640 --> 0:01:38.399 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:01:38.520 --> 0:01:40.880 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:40.880 --> 0:01:42.440 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:01:42.760 --> 0:01:45.480 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:01:45.520 --> 0:01:49.360 your life. Oh God, bless you. It's great to be 0:01:49.480 --> 0:01:52.120 with you today, and I hope you'll stay connected with 0:01:52.240 --> 0:01:55.840 us during the week through our daily podcast or YouTube channel, 0:01:55.960 --> 0:01:59.200 social media, and you can come visit us in person. 0:01:59.360 --> 0:02:01.160 We'd love to have you be a part of one 0:02:01.200 --> 0:02:04.000 of our services, but I'd like to start with something funny. 0:02:04.040 --> 0:02:07.160 And I heard about this pasture. He bought a new horse. 0:02:07.760 --> 0:02:10.720 He trained it to respond to praise the Lord meaning 0:02:10.760 --> 0:02:14.840 giddy up, and Hallelujah meaning woe. Every time he said 0:02:14.840 --> 0:02:17.240 praise the Lord, the horse took off running when he 0:02:17.240 --> 0:02:21.080 said hallelujah, it would quickly stop. One day he's out riding, 0:02:21.320 --> 0:02:24.800 the horse got spooked took off running straight toward the cliff, 0:02:25.000 --> 0:02:28.600 going full blast. In the panic, he couldn't remember what 0:02:28.680 --> 0:02:32.160 he had taught the horse. He said, Bless God, Glory, Amen. 0:02:32.280 --> 0:02:35.560 Nothing happened. At the last moment, he shouted Hallelujah, and 0:02:35.600 --> 0:02:38.560 the horse came to a screeching halt just inches before 0:02:38.600 --> 0:02:40.920 the edge of the cliff. He breathed a sigh of 0:02:40.919 --> 0:02:45.680 relief and said, Praise the Lord, saying like you mean it. 0:02:46.080 --> 0:02:49.080 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:02:49.480 --> 0:02:51.720 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:02:51.840 --> 0:02:54.440 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:02:54.520 --> 0:02:58.519 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:02:58.639 --> 0:03:02.120 is alert, heart he's receptive. I will never be the 0:03:02.200 --> 0:03:07.040 same in Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to 0:03:07.080 --> 0:03:11.639 talk to you today about unquestionably free. When we've struggled 0:03:11.680 --> 0:03:14.320 in an area for a long time, it's easy to 0:03:14.360 --> 0:03:16.520 accept that that's the way it's always going to be. 0:03:17.200 --> 0:03:20.840 We did everything we could, we prayed, we stood in faith, 0:03:21.040 --> 0:03:25.320 but nothing changed. Now we think I'll always have this sickness, 0:03:25.800 --> 0:03:29.240 I'll always struggle in my finances. I'll always have to 0:03:29.280 --> 0:03:32.520 deal with this depression, this anxiety, this trouble at were 0:03:33.240 --> 0:03:37.200 we're functioning. We're making it, but it's restricting our joy 0:03:37.240 --> 0:03:41.520 and limiting our growth. Men told me recently how he's 0:03:41.600 --> 0:03:44.840 tried to forgive the people that hurt him. He has 0:03:44.920 --> 0:03:48.520 good intentions, but he can't get past it. He still 0:03:48.560 --> 0:03:52.160 has this bitterness, this anger toward then. Now it's keeping 0:03:52.240 --> 0:03:55.800 him from moving forward. But God didn't create us to 0:03:55.880 --> 0:03:59.720 be partially free, to be almost free, to be better 0:03:59.720 --> 0:04:02.720 than we used to be. The scripture says whom the 0:04:02.760 --> 0:04:07.520 sun sets free is unquestionably free. The things that are 0:04:07.600 --> 0:04:10.960 hindering you, that are keeping you from your potential, they 0:04:11.000 --> 0:04:15.320 are not permanent. That sickness is not how your story ends. 0:04:16.000 --> 0:04:19.360 That depression, the addiction you think you just have to 0:04:19.360 --> 0:04:22.520 live with it. Now, just as the calendar has turned 0:04:22.560 --> 0:04:25.320 to a new year, God is about to do something 0:04:25.360 --> 0:04:30.040 new in your life. You're coming into a shift, a breakthrough. 0:04:30.600 --> 0:04:33.240 What you couldn't do on your own, God is going 0:04:33.279 --> 0:04:37.039 to step in and do for you. Your destiny is 0:04:37.080 --> 0:04:40.480 too great, your time too valuable for you to go 0:04:40.560 --> 0:04:44.279 another year restricted. You're about to see the God of 0:04:44.320 --> 0:04:48.239 the breakthrough, the God who suddenly shows up and puts 0:04:48.279 --> 0:04:51.120 an end to what's holding you back. He wants you 0:04:51.160 --> 0:04:56.000 to be unquestionably free. That means there's nothing draining your joy, 0:04:56.560 --> 0:05:01.479 nothing hindering your potential, nothing limiting your elation. Ships. Yes, 0:05:01.560 --> 0:05:04.080 I know there are seasons we have to endure and 0:05:04.080 --> 0:05:06.719 fight the good fight of faith. But there comes a 0:05:06.800 --> 0:05:10.480 time where God says, enough is enough. Now I'm gonna 0:05:10.520 --> 0:05:13.640 step in and free you, and heal you, promote you, 0:05:13.920 --> 0:05:17.680 favor you. This is what happened to the Israelites. They 0:05:17.680 --> 0:05:21.200 had been in slavery four hundred and thirty years, ten 0:05:21.279 --> 0:05:26.080 generations of being mistreated. Taking advantage of it wasn't fair. 0:05:26.720 --> 0:05:30.040 Most of them were born into lack and hardship. They 0:05:30.040 --> 0:05:33.839 didn't choose it. They inherited all these struggles and defeat. 0:05:34.520 --> 0:05:38.479 You can imagine their mindset. We're just slaves, We're just poor, 0:05:38.520 --> 0:05:42.159 defeated people. It's never gonna change. We just have to 0:05:42.200 --> 0:05:46.159 suffer through it, just endure. They didn't see any sign 0:05:46.400 --> 0:05:50.839 of things improving. Pharaoh in his army, who was holding 0:05:50.880 --> 0:05:53.880 them captive, they had all these weapons and resources. The 0:05:53.960 --> 0:05:57.919 Israelites had nothing. But God said in Exodus, I have 0:05:58.080 --> 0:06:01.960 seen the affliction of my people. I have heard their cries, 0:06:02.440 --> 0:06:06.640 and I am coming down to deliver them. God was saying, 0:06:06.880 --> 0:06:10.160 this is a new day. I didn't create my children 0:06:10.320 --> 0:06:15.039 to live in bondage, oppressed at a disadvantage. I created 0:06:15.080 --> 0:06:17.800 them to be the head and not the tale, to 0:06:17.880 --> 0:06:22.680 be above and not beneath, not bound by worry, depression, 0:06:23.000 --> 0:06:28.600 being mistreated. God created you to be unquestionably free. When 0:06:28.640 --> 0:06:31.680 the Israelites couldn't do anything about it, the odds were 0:06:31.720 --> 0:06:34.680 against them, Pharaoh in that army, that was one of 0:06:34.680 --> 0:06:38.359 the most powerful forces of that day. Yet God stepped 0:06:38.400 --> 0:06:42.200 in and broke the chains, parted the red seas, drowned 0:06:42.240 --> 0:06:46.159 their enemies. When God says it's your time to be free, 0:06:46.600 --> 0:06:50.760 all the forces of darkness cannot stop him. Now you 0:06:50.839 --> 0:06:54.320 may not see away. The medical report doesn't look good. 0:06:54.839 --> 0:06:57.560 Your business looks like it's not gonna make it. You've 0:06:57.600 --> 0:07:00.919 been to rehab, you tried, you could break the addiction. 0:07:01.440 --> 0:07:04.840 It's been so long. The opposition is too big. You're 0:07:04.920 --> 0:07:08.160 right where the Israelites were. God is saying to you 0:07:08.480 --> 0:07:12.200 what he said to them. I've seen your affliction. I've 0:07:12.240 --> 0:07:15.440 seen what you've struggled with. I've seen those that have 0:07:15.480 --> 0:07:19.120 broke your heart. I've seen the worry, the heaviness that 0:07:19.160 --> 0:07:23.200 follows you around. I've seen the lonely nights, the tears, 0:07:23.360 --> 0:07:26.520 the suffering, and I am coming down to put an 0:07:26.640 --> 0:07:29.960 end to it. Now. Just make it better, not just 0:07:30.040 --> 0:07:34.200 help you get through it. You're going to be unquestionably free. 0:07:34.520 --> 0:07:37.720 There's about to be a shift, a shift in your health, 0:07:38.120 --> 0:07:40.880 a shift in your finances, a shift in your children, 0:07:41.040 --> 0:07:45.920 a shift in your attitude. No more living depressed, defeated, negative. 0:07:46.200 --> 0:07:48.800 You're going to see the hand of God doing what 0:07:48.840 --> 0:07:52.400 you couldn't do on your own. It's going to be supernatural, 0:07:53.000 --> 0:08:00.480 supernatural healing, supernatural freedom, supernatural provision, supernatural favor. Man that 0:08:00.600 --> 0:08:04.000 was diagnosed with incurable cancer and he would come to 0:08:04.080 --> 0:08:08.040 Houston for several months every year for treatment. The doctors 0:08:08.080 --> 0:08:09.840 told him he would have to do this for the 0:08:09.880 --> 0:08:12.360 rest of his life. That was the only way they 0:08:12.360 --> 0:08:15.680 could control the cancer. He would attend here at Lakewood 0:08:15.720 --> 0:08:19.600 and he never complained. He had a good attitude and 0:08:19.640 --> 0:08:22.320 he was grateful that at least they had treatment. But 0:08:22.400 --> 0:08:25.240 it was very hard on him. The chemo would make 0:08:25.280 --> 0:08:27.920 him nauseous. And his wife told how it was such 0:08:27.920 --> 0:08:31.400 a struggle, how he didn't have the energy. She wondered 0:08:31.560 --> 0:08:34.439 if he could keep going like that. I told him 0:08:34.440 --> 0:08:37.640 what I'm telling you, that God sees what you're dealing with. 0:08:38.360 --> 0:08:41.600 He sees what's causing your heartache, how you're doing the 0:08:41.679 --> 0:08:44.440 right thing when it's hard, how you're being your best 0:08:44.480 --> 0:08:48.160 when nothing is improving. You can't change it. It's out 0:08:48.160 --> 0:08:51.600 of your control. That's when God, in his mercy will 0:08:51.679 --> 0:08:54.840 step in and say, enough is enough. Let me do 0:08:55.280 --> 0:08:58.680 what only I can do. Medicine may not be able 0:08:58.720 --> 0:09:02.240 to do it, may not be able to help you. 0:09:02.240 --> 0:09:05.240 You've done what you can in the natural, But God 0:09:05.320 --> 0:09:09.960 is supernatural. One touch of his favor everything will change. 0:09:10.120 --> 0:09:13.040 One touch of his healing, one touch of his provision, 0:09:13.520 --> 0:09:16.800 one touch of his goodness, Like the Israelites. You'll be 0:09:17.120 --> 0:09:21.240 unquestionably free. The third year, this man came back to 0:09:21.240 --> 0:09:24.640 town for treatment. He went to have all the tests run, 0:09:24.679 --> 0:09:27.000 and he was prepared to do what he had done 0:09:27.040 --> 0:09:29.839 the other year, is just endure and suffer through it. 0:09:30.520 --> 0:09:34.040 The main doctor came back in scratching his head. He said, 0:09:34.040 --> 0:09:37.040 have you done anything different? Have you changed your diet, 0:09:37.679 --> 0:09:41.280 taken other medicine, found other treatment. The man said, no. 0:09:41.480 --> 0:09:44.560 All I've been doing is praying and believing that God 0:09:44.600 --> 0:09:47.360 will heal me, that he will make a way where 0:09:47.400 --> 0:09:50.880 I don't see away. This doctor said it must be 0:09:51.000 --> 0:09:54.600 working because we can't find any sign of cancer in 0:09:54.640 --> 0:09:58.160 your body. That man came back the next year for 0:09:58.240 --> 0:10:01.560 his checkup. Still no cancer. They said, there's no need 0:10:01.600 --> 0:10:05.280 to come back anymore. You are perfectly healthy. What am 0:10:05.320 --> 0:10:08.760 I saying? God has the final say. He can do 0:10:08.840 --> 0:10:13.400 what medicine cannot do, and whatever's been hindering you, he 0:10:13.440 --> 0:10:18.600 can't seem to get past it. Negative attitude, unforgiveness, and addiction. 0:10:19.320 --> 0:10:22.400 Maybe you can't get ahead. You take one step forward 0:10:22.400 --> 0:10:25.360 and two steps backwards, like that spirit of lack follows 0:10:25.400 --> 0:10:28.720 you around. That's how it's been, But there's about to 0:10:28.760 --> 0:10:32.760 be a shift, a breakthrough, a turnaround, not to where 0:10:32.800 --> 0:10:36.360 you're a little better. Parsonally free, Joe, I have no complaints. 0:10:36.679 --> 0:10:42.520 Oh how about unquestionably free, abundantly free, totally free. That 0:10:42.679 --> 0:10:46.520 means free from that spirit of worry, always seeing the negative, 0:10:47.120 --> 0:10:50.880 Free from that hot temper, that anger that's been passed down. 0:10:51.120 --> 0:10:54.719 It's going to stop with you. Free from the bitterness 0:10:55.120 --> 0:10:58.720 holding that grudge you've tried to forgive, you couldn't let 0:10:58.800 --> 0:11:02.480 it go. God's to breathe in your direction. There's going 0:11:02.520 --> 0:11:05.040 to be strength to do what you couldn't do before, 0:11:05.960 --> 0:11:10.080 or maybe free from the guilt, living in regrets, beating 0:11:10.120 --> 0:11:13.840 yourself up, not thinking you deserve to be blessed. That 0:11:14.000 --> 0:11:19.200 stronghold is coming down. Chains are being broken, limitations are 0:11:19.240 --> 0:11:22.280 being lifted. What's hindered you in the past is not 0:11:22.360 --> 0:11:25.560 going to hinder you anymore now. This is not going 0:11:25.600 --> 0:11:29.760 to just happen by your mind, by your power. Maybe 0:11:29.800 --> 0:11:33.520 you tried, hasn't worked out. You feel like you're limited, 0:11:34.080 --> 0:11:37.240 at a disadvantage at the mercy of what you're up against, 0:11:37.360 --> 0:11:40.520 But that's okay. It's going to happen by the spirit 0:11:40.679 --> 0:11:44.520 of the Most High God in his mercy is going 0:11:44.559 --> 0:11:48.760 to release you from every bondage, free you from every restriction. 0:11:49.400 --> 0:11:55.640 You're about to step in to a new level of freedom, peace, productivity, fulfillment. 0:11:56.320 --> 0:11:59.800 Things that were slowing you down, draining your joy, taking 0:11:59.800 --> 0:12:04.600 your creativity, those forces have been broken. Now you have 0:12:04.679 --> 0:12:07.560 to do your part and get in agreement with God. 0:12:07.880 --> 0:12:11.160 Here's the key. Don't go into a new year with 0:12:11.280 --> 0:12:15.760 an old mindset. I don't know, Joel, I've struggled with 0:12:15.840 --> 0:12:20.040 this depression, this loneliness, this compromise a long time. I 0:12:20.040 --> 0:12:23.520 think it's always going to limit me. No, turn it around. Father, 0:12:23.679 --> 0:12:26.000 Thank you that I am free. Think you that this 0:12:26.080 --> 0:12:28.480 is a new day. Think you that things have shifted 0:12:28.520 --> 0:12:32.000 in my favor. Lord, Thank you that you're releasing me 0:12:32.120 --> 0:12:37.640 into increase, into abundance, into good hell, into great relationships, 0:12:37.679 --> 0:12:41.800 into the fullness of my destiny. You weren't created to 0:12:41.920 --> 0:12:49.120 struggle through life restricted by negative thinking, constrained by bad temper, insecurity, lack. 0:12:49.840 --> 0:12:53.360 Those are bondages the enemy uses to try to keep 0:12:53.400 --> 0:12:57.040 you from your destiny. The good news is the enemy 0:12:57.200 --> 0:13:00.440 is not in control of your life. God is. He's 0:13:00.480 --> 0:13:05.079 the chain breaker, he's the burden remover, He's the yoke destroyer. 0:13:05.520 --> 0:13:08.199 He said, I'm coming down to take off of you 0:13:08.520 --> 0:13:12.400 what the enemy put on you. Now, victory starts in 0:13:12.440 --> 0:13:16.320 our mind, starts in our thinking. The right attitude is 0:13:16.600 --> 0:13:20.160 I'm supposed to be free, I'm supposed to be healthy, 0:13:20.400 --> 0:13:24.319 I'm supposed to be blessed. I'm supposed to be victorious. 0:13:25.280 --> 0:13:28.400 John Chapter five. There was a man that had been 0:13:28.400 --> 0:13:32.680 crippled for thirty eight years. Every morning, his family would 0:13:32.760 --> 0:13:36.000 carry him to the Pool of Bethesda. It was known 0:13:36.040 --> 0:13:39.760 for having healing waters. Once a year, when the angel 0:13:39.800 --> 0:13:42.760 troubled the water, the first person in would be healed. 0:13:43.440 --> 0:13:47.720 There were all kinds of sick people there, blind, crippled, paralyzed. 0:13:48.200 --> 0:13:51.520 They would wait eagerly every day, carefully watching the water, 0:13:51.920 --> 0:13:55.280 hoping they would be the one to be healed. One afternoon, 0:13:55.360 --> 0:13:58.480 Jesus was passing by. He saw this man that had 0:13:58.520 --> 0:14:02.160 been there for thirty eight years. This scripture says this 0:14:02.240 --> 0:14:06.960 man had a deep seated lingering disorder. Was it like 0:14:07.040 --> 0:14:09.280 he had been sick for a week or had trouble 0:14:09.320 --> 0:14:13.440 for a month. This was a problem that lingered thirty 0:14:13.480 --> 0:14:17.600 eight years. You can imagine his mindset. This is my 0:14:17.720 --> 0:14:20.600 lot in life. It's never going to change. Out of 0:14:20.680 --> 0:14:23.520 all the people there, Jesus came over to the man 0:14:23.720 --> 0:14:27.080 and asked, do you want to get well? Seemed like 0:14:27.160 --> 0:14:30.000 an odd question. It's obvious he wanted to get well. 0:14:30.000 --> 0:14:32.960 He was at the pool, That's why he went every day. 0:14:33.120 --> 0:14:35.800 But the man answered back, how can I get well? 0:14:36.360 --> 0:14:38.560 I don't have anyone to help me get in the water. 0:14:38.840 --> 0:14:42.880 I'm crippled. Someone always gets in ahead of me. And 0:14:42.960 --> 0:14:45.280 I don't fault the man. He was only looking at 0:14:45.360 --> 0:14:48.360 it in the natural, thinking I've had this sickness thirty 0:14:48.400 --> 0:14:52.080 eight years. This problem's been with me most of my life. 0:14:52.160 --> 0:14:55.880 How can I get well now? Sometimes we see this 0:14:55.960 --> 0:15:00.000 man as negative, doubting, But the truth is he was faithful. 0:15:00.680 --> 0:15:04.160 He got up each morning, he got dressed, He had 0:15:04.200 --> 0:15:06.800 his family take him to the pool. He sat there 0:15:06.840 --> 0:15:10.240 hoping that somehow it could happen. Was it like he 0:15:10.320 --> 0:15:14.960 was complacent, sitting around at home complaining. He did all 0:15:15.160 --> 0:15:17.840 he knew how to do, but he couldn't get rid 0:15:18.160 --> 0:15:21.840 of this lingering disorder. How many of us are like 0:15:21.920 --> 0:15:26.240 this man. We're dealing with the lingering disorder problem that 0:15:26.280 --> 0:15:30.120 won't go away, the anxiety, the trouble in our marriage, 0:15:30.200 --> 0:15:34.360 the addiction, the sickness. We've done our best. God knows. 0:15:34.440 --> 0:15:37.960 We prayed, we stood in faith, We said we weren't 0:15:37.960 --> 0:15:40.520 going to give in to the temptation. But we weren't 0:15:40.560 --> 0:15:44.600 strong enough. We weren't complacent. We still showed up at work, 0:15:45.040 --> 0:15:48.120 we still came to church, we still volunteered, we were 0:15:48.160 --> 0:15:51.760 still good to others, all the while dealing with this 0:15:51.960 --> 0:15:57.040 lingering disorder. Maybe nobody can see it. It's the loneliness 0:15:57.080 --> 0:15:59.880 we face in the night. It's the hurt, the pain 0:16:00.520 --> 0:16:03.240 from the trauma of the past. It's those feelings of 0:16:03.280 --> 0:16:07.160 insecurity that won't go away. Jesus could have looked at 0:16:07.200 --> 0:16:10.200 the man, said well, if you'd only had more faith, 0:16:10.440 --> 0:16:13.000 I would have healed you. If it'd only answered, yes, 0:16:13.040 --> 0:16:15.680 I want to get well. If you hadn't made excuses, 0:16:16.040 --> 0:16:17.920 if you hadn't just looked at it in the natural, 0:16:18.160 --> 0:16:21.280 I would have freed you from this sickness. But our 0:16:21.320 --> 0:16:25.000 God is full of mercy. He knows the weight of 0:16:25.040 --> 0:16:29.120 what you're carrying. He knows the struggle, the sacrifice, how 0:16:29.160 --> 0:16:32.120 you're doing your best to keep it all together while 0:16:32.120 --> 0:16:36.040 you're dealing with a lingering disorder. Child This off course 0:16:36.640 --> 0:16:40.200 a loveless marriage an addiction. That's control in your life. 0:16:40.680 --> 0:16:44.240 God sees you at the pool. He sees you praising 0:16:44.320 --> 0:16:48.000 through the pain, smiling when you feel discouraged, carrying the 0:16:48.040 --> 0:16:51.520 load of others when you need to be carried. It's 0:16:51.560 --> 0:16:55.840 interesting that Jesus never addressed what the man said. He 0:16:55.920 --> 0:16:59.000 never commented on his lack of faith. He simply looked 0:16:59.000 --> 0:17:02.520 at him and said, rise, take up your bed, and walk. 0:17:03.040 --> 0:17:06.480 Instantly the man was healed. He got up and walked 0:17:06.480 --> 0:17:10.359 out of there first time thirty eight years. Can you 0:17:10.400 --> 0:17:13.439 imagine when his family came to pick him up like 0:17:13.520 --> 0:17:16.360 they had done year after year. Instead they see him 0:17:16.640 --> 0:17:20.400 running toward them. They nearly passed out. They didn't see 0:17:20.400 --> 0:17:25.720 that coming. That's what it means to be unquestionably free. 0:17:25.880 --> 0:17:28.720 No one is going to doubt the blessing of God 0:17:28.800 --> 0:17:31.560 on your life. You're not only going to see it, 0:17:31.800 --> 0:17:35.160 but other people are going to see it. One thing 0:17:35.240 --> 0:17:39.640 this story shows us is how nothing is permanent. It's 0:17:39.760 --> 0:17:43.439 never too late for God to turn it around. You 0:17:43.520 --> 0:17:46.879 may be dealing with a lingering disorder in the natural. 0:17:46.920 --> 0:17:50.240 It could never work out. Medical reports not good. You 0:17:50.280 --> 0:17:54.400 don't have the funds. The addictions too strong thoughts tell 0:17:54.440 --> 0:17:57.800 you you'll always struggle with your self image. You're always 0:17:57.840 --> 0:18:02.080 going to feel inferior, not filure. Don't believe those lies. 0:18:02.400 --> 0:18:06.360 Your time is coming. God has not forgotten about you. 0:18:06.960 --> 0:18:10.640 He's already headed your way. You wouldn't be hearing this 0:18:11.080 --> 0:18:13.399 if he wasn't about to put an end to that 0:18:13.600 --> 0:18:17.760 lingering disorder. That problem that's hindered you so long is 0:18:17.800 --> 0:18:23.360 about to suddenly turn around, the addiction, the financial difficulty, 0:18:23.640 --> 0:18:27.639 the relationship issue. God is about to show up and 0:18:27.720 --> 0:18:31.400 do what you never saw coming, something that amazes you, 0:18:31.760 --> 0:18:35.480 something that catapults you to a new level of your destiny, 0:18:35.680 --> 0:18:38.280 to where you can do what you never thought you 0:18:38.280 --> 0:18:41.960 could do. This man never dreamed he'd be able to walk, 0:18:42.560 --> 0:18:46.200 play ball with his children, dance with his wife, take 0:18:46.240 --> 0:18:50.640 a stroll on the beach. That's the mercy of our God. Well, Joe, 0:18:50.760 --> 0:18:52.919 this sounds good, But I don't know if I have 0:18:53.040 --> 0:18:55.800 enough faith. I don't know if I can believe for this. 0:18:56.480 --> 0:18:59.879 Neither did this man. This shows us how good our 0:18:59.880 --> 0:19:03.520 God is even when we don't have the faith, even 0:19:03.560 --> 0:19:06.600 when we don't believe like we should, he still steps 0:19:06.640 --> 0:19:11.840 in and frees us, heals us, favors us. What could 0:19:11.880 --> 0:19:15.919 you become if you didn't have that lingering disorder, that 0:19:15.960 --> 0:19:19.440 little voice that's convinced you that you're not talented enoughten 0:19:19.640 --> 0:19:22.719 you don't have what it takes. You made too many mistakes. 0:19:23.400 --> 0:19:25.919 How far could you go if you didn't have that 0:19:26.000 --> 0:19:29.880 temper to hold you back, giving into compromise, not being 0:19:29.920 --> 0:19:33.919 able to forgive. Or maybe it's things you were born into, 0:19:34.640 --> 0:19:39.080 lack addictions, liveing with guilt and shame. The good news 0:19:39.200 --> 0:19:41.840 is God is not going to leave you with that 0:19:41.960 --> 0:19:46.520 lingering disorder. It's lingered long enough. This is your year 0:19:46.840 --> 0:19:51.520 to be unquestionably free, not better. I'm making it okay. 0:19:51.800 --> 0:19:54.399 I don't have as many issues. Don't get ready for 0:19:54.560 --> 0:19:59.440 total freedom to rise, take up your bed and walk. See. 0:19:59.520 --> 0:20:01.720 Jesus could have said to the man, I'm gonna get 0:20:01.720 --> 0:20:04.600 you a better mat to lay on. I'm gonna get 0:20:04.640 --> 0:20:09.600 you some more help, better friends, better transportation. But God's 0:20:09.640 --> 0:20:13.200 idea of freedom is to not make you more comfortable 0:20:13.359 --> 0:20:17.480 in dysfunction. It's to free you from the dysfunction. It's 0:20:17.480 --> 0:20:20.359 to set you in a whole new path to where 0:20:20.400 --> 0:20:24.040 you look back and say that lingering disorder is no 0:20:24.119 --> 0:20:29.840 longer lingering. It's gone. I'm free, I'm healed, I'm competent. 0:20:30.160 --> 0:20:33.760 My marriage is healthy, my children are blessed, my career 0:20:33.880 --> 0:20:37.000 is flourishing, my mind is at peace. I'm full of 0:20:37.119 --> 0:20:41.720 joy fulfilling my purpose. Friends, life is too short to 0:20:41.800 --> 0:20:45.480 have things lingering that are holding you back. Sometimes we 0:20:45.520 --> 0:20:49.880 don't realize how restricted we are, how constrained we become. 0:20:50.480 --> 0:20:53.639 We've gotten so used to going to the pool, hanging 0:20:53.640 --> 0:20:58.680 out with other people that have lingering disorders. Misery loves company. 0:20:58.920 --> 0:21:02.800 Don't get comfortable in dysfunction. You have to stir yourself up. 0:21:03.200 --> 0:21:06.800 You have greatness in you. You were created to shine, 0:21:07.320 --> 0:21:09.879 to leave your mark, to take your family to a 0:21:09.920 --> 0:21:14.480 new level. Yes, I know there are seasons of struggling, enduring, 0:21:14.760 --> 0:21:18.600 being faithful, but that season is not supposed to last 0:21:18.640 --> 0:21:23.200 a lifetime. There's about to be a shift. Strongholds are 0:21:23.240 --> 0:21:27.560 being broken, negative mindsets are coming down, Healing is on 0:21:27.640 --> 0:21:31.240 the way, Promotion is coming. You're not going to go 0:21:31.359 --> 0:21:36.080 through another year being confined, restricted, limited. God is doing 0:21:36.119 --> 0:21:39.400 a new thing. You're about to rise, take up your 0:21:39.440 --> 0:21:45.439 bed and walk now. Sometimes these lingering disorders, it's just 0:21:45.640 --> 0:21:51.040 underlying pressure, always thinking something is wrong. These worries. We 0:21:51.080 --> 0:21:54.719 don't realize how much of our joy and creativity that takes. 0:21:55.600 --> 0:21:59.040 When I first started ministering, it was difficult, but God 0:21:59.080 --> 0:22:01.920 gave me the grace. The church begin to grow, and 0:22:02.080 --> 0:22:06.040 our media outreaches increased. TV stations started putting us on 0:22:06.080 --> 0:22:08.760 all over the country. My books were taken off, we 0:22:08.880 --> 0:22:11.600 got the Compact Center. It was more than I could 0:22:11.640 --> 0:22:16.040 ever imagine. But despite all the growth, all the favor, 0:22:16.520 --> 0:22:19.719 deep down there was this feeling that something could go wrong. 0:22:20.440 --> 0:22:24.240 As we gained more influence, there was more opposition. People 0:22:24.359 --> 0:22:27.360 didn't like what we were doing. And practically every week 0:22:27.400 --> 0:22:29.280 out here, so and so is talking about you and 0:22:29.480 --> 0:22:32.960 this group, this minister. And I knew God was in control. 0:22:33.320 --> 0:22:35.879 I knew he was fighting our battles, but there was 0:22:35.920 --> 0:22:39.919 still this pressure, this uneasiness, to where I would have 0:22:40.000 --> 0:22:42.680 to fight being worried and thinking what if it doesn't 0:22:42.760 --> 0:22:44.560 work out, or what if I don't know what to 0:22:44.560 --> 0:22:46.880 speak on next week? Or what if the funds don't 0:22:46.880 --> 0:22:50.120 come in, What's going to happen. Eleven years went by 0:22:50.280 --> 0:22:52.439 like that, and I just learned to deal with that 0:22:52.560 --> 0:22:55.920 pressure and not give in to those thoughts. But one 0:22:56.040 --> 0:23:00.920 morning in twenty ten. I woke up and noticed distinctly 0:23:01.320 --> 0:23:05.159 that that pressure wasn't there, that sense of worry that 0:23:05.280 --> 0:23:08.640 something could go wrong. I didn't feel it at all. 0:23:08.760 --> 0:23:11.080 It was like this weight was lifted off of me. 0:23:11.920 --> 0:23:14.960 I felt like God said, Joel, what I have blessed 0:23:15.040 --> 0:23:19.080 no person can curse. I have put you in this position, 0:23:19.480 --> 0:23:22.520 and I'm going to keep you in this position. I 0:23:22.560 --> 0:23:25.080 didn't know how to get rid of that pressure, but 0:23:25.160 --> 0:23:28.600 the Most High God stepped in and said, this lingering 0:23:28.720 --> 0:23:32.600 disorder is coming to an end. What I'm saying is 0:23:32.640 --> 0:23:35.719 You're going to see some of these shifts. God's going 0:23:35.800 --> 0:23:39.280 to put an end to things that are draining your joy, 0:23:39.400 --> 0:23:43.240 stealing your creativity, keeping you from walking in the fullness 0:23:43.280 --> 0:23:46.200 of the blessing. Because it's one thing to be blessed, 0:23:46.600 --> 0:23:49.080 but then to have something where you can't really enjoy 0:23:49.119 --> 0:23:53.480 the blessing. There's family trouble, an addiction, a worried mindset, 0:23:53.520 --> 0:23:57.000 regrets from the past. It may be there now, but 0:23:57.080 --> 0:24:00.520 that's not how your story ends. God knows it exactly 0:24:00.560 --> 0:24:04.480 what's hindering you. He's coming down to do something about it. 0:24:05.400 --> 0:24:08.720 Deuteronomy chapter fifteen. There was a law that God gave 0:24:08.840 --> 0:24:13.800 Moses that said every seventh year, any Hebrew slave had 0:24:13.840 --> 0:24:17.320 to be released. If you were Hebrew and you owed 0:24:17.320 --> 0:24:20.560 a person money but you couldn't pay, that person could 0:24:20.640 --> 0:24:23.399 take you as a slave and make you work until 0:24:23.400 --> 0:24:27.040 you paid them back. But every seventh year, if you 0:24:27.119 --> 0:24:30.720 were a part of God's chosen people, you had an advantage. 0:24:30.840 --> 0:24:34.239 You were released, no matter how much you owed, no 0:24:34.280 --> 0:24:37.199 matter how much in debt you were. In the seventh 0:24:37.280 --> 0:24:41.320 year there was freedom. All this pain, suffering, heartache, and 0:24:41.359 --> 0:24:44.960 one day it was all gone. This shows us how 0:24:45.040 --> 0:24:48.680 God never intended for his people to be a permanent 0:24:48.760 --> 0:24:52.840 slave to anything. He had Moses right this law so 0:24:52.880 --> 0:24:57.119 they wouldn't live with a lingering disorder, a slave to death, 0:24:57.480 --> 0:25:01.280 a slave to addiction, a slave to worry. You may 0:25:01.320 --> 0:25:04.320 be dealing with some negative things now, but I believe 0:25:04.640 --> 0:25:08.159 you're coming in to one of your seventh years, a 0:25:08.280 --> 0:25:12.280 year where you're going to see God break limitations, free 0:25:12.359 --> 0:25:15.560 you from what's holding your back, lift the load of 0:25:15.600 --> 0:25:18.880 what's been burning in you down In this seventh year, 0:25:19.280 --> 0:25:21.800 what you used to struggle with is not going to 0:25:21.840 --> 0:25:25.560 be a struggle anymore. Like God did for me when 0:25:25.600 --> 0:25:28.720 I felt that weight suddenly lift off. God's about to 0:25:28.800 --> 0:25:32.040 lighten your load. You're going to see an anointing of ease, 0:25:32.359 --> 0:25:37.600 God breathing in your direction. That's spear to worry insecurity, 0:25:37.840 --> 0:25:40.840 can't sleep at night. Things are about to shift. There's 0:25:40.840 --> 0:25:43.800 going to be a peace, a rest, a new sense 0:25:43.840 --> 0:25:47.840 of joy from being stressed over those children, to enjoy 0:25:47.840 --> 0:25:51.280 in your children, from worrying about that sickness to having 0:25:51.320 --> 0:25:55.040 great hell, from struggling to get by, not having enough, 0:25:55.280 --> 0:25:58.520 to abundance to overflow to where you can be a 0:25:58.560 --> 0:26:02.679 blessing to others. Two thousand and three, we signed a 0:26:02.760 --> 0:26:06.320 sixty year lease with the City of Houston for this facility, 0:26:06.480 --> 0:26:10.160 the former Compact Center. We always wanted to own the building, 0:26:10.480 --> 0:26:12.679 but the lease was the best way to acquire it 0:26:12.720 --> 0:26:16.080 at the time. But it always bothered me that in 0:26:16.200 --> 0:26:18.639 sixty years the building would go back to the city. 0:26:19.200 --> 0:26:21.360 When I'm one hundred and twenty years old, I don't 0:26:21.359 --> 0:26:24.960 want to have to go down and renegotiate. But in 0:26:25.040 --> 0:26:29.240 twenty ten, seven years later, the city was running low 0:26:29.280 --> 0:26:32.280 on tax revenue and decided to sell off some of 0:26:32.320 --> 0:26:36.040 their properties. They asked if we wanted to purchase the building. 0:26:36.480 --> 0:26:39.080 I was so excited, but at the same time kind 0:26:39.080 --> 0:26:41.600 of hesitant because I didn't know what it would cost 0:26:42.320 --> 0:26:44.480 a building like this To Bill New would be five 0:26:44.560 --> 0:26:47.639 hundred million dollars. We told them we were interested, but 0:26:47.880 --> 0:26:50.000 we had to see if it worked for us financially. 0:26:50.480 --> 0:26:53.080 They said they were doing appraisal. Get back with us. 0:26:53.680 --> 0:26:56.400 They had to appraise the building based on the fact 0:26:56.440 --> 0:26:59.440 that we had the sixty year lease. We had already 0:26:59.480 --> 0:27:02.879 prepaid the lease, so whoever bought it wouldn't get the 0:27:02.880 --> 0:27:06.320 building for fifty three years and they wouldn't get any funds. 0:27:06.840 --> 0:27:08.639 The city came back and said, we'll sell it to you. 0:27:08.840 --> 0:27:12.600 Not for one hundred million, not fifty million, not twenty million. 0:27:12.800 --> 0:27:17.120 We'll sell it to you for seven million dollars. Today 0:27:17.359 --> 0:27:20.320 we no longer lease the property. We own the property. 0:27:22.000 --> 0:27:26.720 But isn't it interesting our seventh year for seven million? 0:27:27.600 --> 0:27:32.560 Only God could orchestrate that. Where you are may look permanent, 0:27:32.960 --> 0:27:36.080 but when you come into your seventh year, God's going 0:27:36.160 --> 0:27:39.840 to do things that boggle your mind, from leasing to owning, 0:27:40.400 --> 0:27:44.880 from borrowing to lending, from sickness to hell, from addiction 0:27:45.000 --> 0:27:49.680 to freedom, from opposition, Bigger and stronger to Red Sea's parting, 0:27:50.119 --> 0:27:54.040 from lingering disorders, things that won't go away, to rising, 0:27:54.440 --> 0:27:57.639 taking up your bed and walking get ready for a 0:27:57.720 --> 0:28:01.280 seventh year. Not partial freek them a little bit better, 0:28:01.560 --> 0:28:06.479 but unquestionably free. I believe and declare that you are 0:28:06.480 --> 0:28:10.360 stepping into a new season, that every limitation that's been 0:28:10.359 --> 0:28:14.560 holding you back is being broken right now. Things are shifting, 0:28:15.000 --> 0:28:19.760 strongholds are coming down, favor is being released, Lingering disorders 0:28:19.800 --> 0:28:22.639 are coming to an end. You're going to rise higher, 0:28:22.920 --> 0:28:26.399 accomplish dreams, and become all you were created to be. 0:28:27.000 --> 0:28:30.359 In Jesus' name, if you receive it, can you say amen, 0:28:32.240 --> 0:28:34.800 I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 0:28:34.840 --> 0:28:37.240 the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:28:37.920 --> 0:28:42.000 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins, Come 0:28:42.040 --> 0:28:45.240 into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:28:45.880 --> 0:28:48.440 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:28:48.440 --> 0:28:51.440 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:28:51.560 --> 0:28:53.800 on your new walk with the Lord. You can text 0:28:53.840 --> 0:28:56.360 the number on the screen or go to the website. 0:28:56.720 --> 0:28:59.200 But I hope you'll get into a good Bible based 0:28:59.320 --> 0:29:03.080 church and keep God first place. Thanks so much for 0:29:03.200 --> 0:29:06.520 listening to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe so you 0:29:06.560 --> 0:29:09.720 can receive the latest podcast to keep you encouraged and 0:29:09.800 --> 0:29:11.200 inspired all through the week. 0:29:11.360 --> 0:29:13.600 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:29:13.600 --> 0:29:17.080 with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 0:29:17.160 --> 0:29:19.800 or click the link in the description to partner with 0:29:19.880 --> 0:29:20.400 us today. 0:29:20.640 --> 0:29:23.080 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:29:23.200 --> 0:29:26.000 be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 0:29:26.040 --> 0:29:29.160 for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 0:29:29.160 --> 0:29:30.000 see you next time. 0:29:33.600 --> 0:29:36.120 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:29:36.160 --> 0:29:39.720 for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 0:29:39.760 --> 0:29:42.880 been ill equipped to help. That is until now. Join 0:29:42.960 --> 0:29:45.960 nearly fifty thousand people just like you who've enrolled in 0:29:46.000 --> 0:29:48.880 the Mental Health Coach training program and become equipped to 0:29:49.000 --> 0:29:51.360 help for a limited time. Apply for a full tuition 0:29:51.480 --> 0:29:53.760 scholarship and only pay a one time tech fee of 0:29:53.800 --> 0:29:57.800 fifty four dollars if accepted. Apply now at mentalhealth coach 0:29:58.000 --> 0:30:04.640 dot org. 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