Upstream Blessings

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The unit stap 0:00:41.760 --> 0:00:44.280 makes it easy for grandparents and family friends to give 0:00:44.320 --> 0:00:47.040 funds to a child's investment account for a limited time. 0:00:47.159 --> 0:00:49.279 Download the uns stap and use the code I heeart 0:00:49.360 --> 0:00:51.640 fifty at sign up to receive a fifty dollars bonus 0:00:51.640 --> 0:00:54.200 when you fund your account. That's code iHeart fifty when 0:00:54.200 --> 0:00:57.200 you sign up at unest dot co for a fifty 0:00:57.240 --> 0:00:59.960 dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at uns dots. 0:01:00.880 --> 0:01:03.600 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:01:03.680 --> 0:01:05.760 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much? 0:01:05.760 --> 0:01:08.480 In taxes, Will I be able to retire? What if 0:01:08.520 --> 0:01:11.080 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:01:11.120 --> 0:01:13.600 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:01:13.600 --> 0:01:16.399 today and where your money can work harder. Now you 0:01:16.520 --> 0:01:19.480 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:01:19.520 --> 0:01:24.120 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:01:24.160 --> 0:01:26.080 This at a sponsored by Facet. Facet Wealth in Corporated 0:01:26.200 --> 0:01:28.040 is an SEC registered investment advisor. This is not an 0:01:28.040 --> 0:01:30.080 offer to buy yourself security snoor. Is it investment, legal 0:01:30.200 --> 0:01:30.800 or tax advice. 0:01:32.440 --> 0:01:35.160 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:35.200 --> 0:01:37.959 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:01:38.120 --> 0:01:40.440 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:40.480 --> 0:01:42.000 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:01:42.319 --> 0:01:45.080 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:01:45.120 --> 0:01:45.880 your life. 0:01:46.640 --> 0:01:47.640 Well, God bless you. 0:01:47.880 --> 0:01:50.360 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:01:50.360 --> 0:01:52.840 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:01:52.920 --> 0:01:57.240 daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can. 0:01:57.040 --> 0:01:58.360 Come visit us in person. 0:01:58.640 --> 0:02:00.480 We'd love to have you be a part of one 0:02:00.520 --> 0:02:03.560 of our services. I like to sart with something funny 0:02:03.560 --> 0:02:06.680 and I heard about this man. He was quietly reading 0:02:06.720 --> 0:02:10.240 the newspaper when his wife snuck up behind him hit 0:02:10.320 --> 0:02:11.800 him on the head with a frying pan. 0:02:12.480 --> 0:02:13.639 He said, what was that for? 0:02:14.120 --> 0:02:16.200 She said, that was for that piece of paper I 0:02:16.240 --> 0:02:18.959 found in your pocket with the name Mary Low on it. 0:02:19.400 --> 0:02:21.880 He said, oh, honey, that's just one of the horses 0:02:21.960 --> 0:02:25.560 that I bet on at the racetrack last week. She apologized, 0:02:25.600 --> 0:02:28.520 went about her business. Two days later, she hit him 0:02:28.520 --> 0:02:31.360 on the head with a bigger frying pan. After he 0:02:31.440 --> 0:02:33.720 woke up, he said, what in the world was that for? 0:02:34.200 --> 0:02:38.919 She said, your horse just called. All right, y'all, there's 0:02:38.960 --> 0:02:43.040 no spiritual value. But anyway, here we go. Ready, this 0:02:43.280 --> 0:02:45.799 is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:02:46.240 --> 0:02:48.639 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:02:48.720 --> 0:02:51.320 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:02:51.400 --> 0:02:55.239 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:02:55.360 --> 0:02:58.600 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:02:58.720 --> 0:03:03.680 the same. In g Us name, God bless you. I 0:03:03.720 --> 0:03:07.720 want to talk to you today about upstream blessings. We 0:03:07.760 --> 0:03:11.480 all have situations where we're praying and believing, but we 0:03:11.520 --> 0:03:15.720 don't see anything happening. Our health isn't improving, our child 0:03:15.760 --> 0:03:16.800 isn't turning around. 0:03:17.080 --> 0:03:19.040 We haven't met the right person. 0:03:19.240 --> 0:03:21.840 And it's easy to get discouraged and think that God 0:03:21.880 --> 0:03:22.679 didn't hear us. 0:03:23.040 --> 0:03:24.200 Maybe it's not meant to be. 0:03:25.160 --> 0:03:29.040 But what you can't see is God is working upstream. 0:03:29.440 --> 0:03:32.080 He said in Isaiah, I will go ahead. 0:03:31.720 --> 0:03:35.720 Of you and make crooked places straight. There are things 0:03:35.920 --> 0:03:39.680 He's already done. The moment you prayed, he set the 0:03:39.760 --> 0:03:43.920 miracle into motion. He lined up the healing, the right people, 0:03:44.200 --> 0:03:45.240 the breaks you need. 0:03:45.800 --> 0:03:46.000 Now. 0:03:46.040 --> 0:03:49.080 The key is you have to stay in faith until 0:03:49.120 --> 0:03:53.200 those upstream blessings make it down to you. Of course, 0:03:53.200 --> 0:03:56.760 thoughts will tell you it's never going to happen, nothing's changing. 0:03:57.200 --> 0:03:59.960 Don't get your hopes up or don't get talked out 0:04:00.120 --> 0:04:00.320 of it. 0:04:00.760 --> 0:04:03.800 If you're going to see upstream blessings, you have to 0:04:03.880 --> 0:04:05.200 have upstream faith. 0:04:05.960 --> 0:04:08.520 I'm not moved by what I see. I know God 0:04:08.600 --> 0:04:11.640 is working. I know things have changed in my favor. 0:04:11.920 --> 0:04:14.520 I know this answer is on the way. 0:04:14.720 --> 0:04:17.160 When you have that kind of attitude, it's just a 0:04:17.200 --> 0:04:21.960 matter of time before you see what God has done upstream. 0:04:22.480 --> 0:04:25.560 And this is what Joshua had to do. Moses had 0:04:25.640 --> 0:04:29.760 just died. Now Joshua was leading the Israelites toward the 0:04:29.800 --> 0:04:33.960 promised land. They were camped at the Jordan River. They 0:04:34.000 --> 0:04:37.799 needed to cross, but it was harvest season. The Jordan 0:04:38.000 --> 0:04:41.359 was overflowing. Its banks was nearly a mile across. 0:04:41.839 --> 0:04:45.960 The current was so strong, so forceful, there was no way. 0:04:46.120 --> 0:04:49.560 But God told Joshua to tell the priest to take 0:04:49.600 --> 0:04:53.000 the ark of the Covenant that represented the presence. 0:04:52.600 --> 0:04:56.800 Of God and to walk into the Jordan River. This 0:04:56.960 --> 0:05:01.200 was the first test of Joshua's leadership. Two million Israelites 0:05:01.240 --> 0:05:05.640 were watching with great anticipation, believing that the waters were 0:05:05.680 --> 0:05:09.160 going to part like the Red Sea. The priests were 0:05:09.200 --> 0:05:14.440 slowly walking toward those banks, people praying, believing, God let 0:05:14.480 --> 0:05:18.479 it happen. As they got closer and closer, was more 0:05:18.520 --> 0:05:23.680 and more intense, this incredible drama. Finally their feet touched 0:05:23.680 --> 0:05:27.120 the water, this big moment, and nothing happened. 0:05:27.760 --> 0:05:31.240 Everything looked just the same. They went in ankle. 0:05:31.000 --> 0:05:35.680 Deep, nothing, knee deep. Still nothing. What do you do 0:05:35.920 --> 0:05:36.800 when you've done the. 0:05:36.760 --> 0:05:38.839 Right thing but it doesn't work out. 0:05:39.600 --> 0:05:42.680 You took steps of faith, you prayed, you went the 0:05:42.720 --> 0:05:46.440 extra mile, but the waters didn't part, You didn't get 0:05:46.440 --> 0:05:48.719 the contract, your health didn't improve. 0:05:49.000 --> 0:05:52.520 The problem hasn't resolved. That's right where Joshua was. 0:05:53.120 --> 0:05:55.960 He could have thought, God, where are you, Why isn't 0:05:56.000 --> 0:05:56.640 it parting. 0:05:57.040 --> 0:05:59.000 I did what you told me to. I put the 0:05:59.000 --> 0:05:59.880 priest out front. 0:06:00.760 --> 0:06:03.520 I can hear people whispering, We're never going to cross 0:06:03.520 --> 0:06:06.719 this river. Joshua was sure, not like Moses, he doesn't 0:06:06.760 --> 0:06:10.320 have it. They didn't see any sign of things changing. 0:06:10.880 --> 0:06:15.640 Nothing looked any different, Rivers still swollen, current just as strong. 0:06:16.400 --> 0:06:19.520 But the scripture says the moment the feet of the 0:06:19.560 --> 0:06:23.640 priest touched the water at the river's edge, the water 0:06:23.760 --> 0:06:29.280 began piling up at a town upstream called Adam. Adam 0:06:29.400 --> 0:06:33.400 was twenty miles from where they were. The miracle had happened, 0:06:33.760 --> 0:06:38.040 they just couldn't see it yet. Twenty miles upstream, God 0:06:38.040 --> 0:06:39.360 had damned up the waters. 0:06:39.720 --> 0:06:40.760 He stopped the flow. 0:06:41.320 --> 0:06:44.400 It was just a matter of time before the Israelites 0:06:44.760 --> 0:06:48.720 would see the effects of what God had already done upstream. 0:06:49.920 --> 0:06:53.159 The priest stood in the water and waited and waited. 0:06:53.880 --> 0:06:57.240 I can imagine in a couple of hours, as all 0:06:57.279 --> 0:07:01.520 the Israelites were standing there kind of disappointed, thinking they 0:07:01.560 --> 0:07:05.080 were stuck, one of them said, is it my imagination 0:07:05.880 --> 0:07:07.360 or is the current not as strong? 0:07:08.000 --> 0:07:09.800 Doesn't look like it's flowing as fast. 0:07:10.360 --> 0:07:12.240 Now. This spoke up and said, I think you're right. 0:07:12.680 --> 0:07:15.120 Doesn't look like it's as swollen as it was. I 0:07:15.160 --> 0:07:18.440 think it's gone down a little. It kept getting slower 0:07:18.600 --> 0:07:22.800 and slower, less and less water, until finally the whole 0:07:22.880 --> 0:07:26.360 river bed was dry. The Israelites were able to walk 0:07:26.400 --> 0:07:30.520 across like with them. There are things God has done 0:07:30.520 --> 0:07:34.960 in your life upstream. He's already taken care of what 0:07:35.040 --> 0:07:39.000 you're worried about. He's already dammed up those waters. Stop, 0:07:39.080 --> 0:07:42.840 the sickness broken, the addiction lined up the right person. 0:07:43.640 --> 0:07:45.480 Now you may not be able to see it, yet 0:07:46.240 --> 0:07:47.720 all the circumstances look. 0:07:47.720 --> 0:07:48.280 Just the same. 0:07:48.800 --> 0:07:52.160 The river's still swollen, your business is still struggling. 0:07:52.560 --> 0:07:56.200 The medical report hasn't changed. Your loved one still off course. 0:07:57.000 --> 0:08:00.800 Don't let what's happening downstream talk you out of what 0:08:00.840 --> 0:08:03.600 God has done upstream. If you're going to see that 0:08:03.800 --> 0:08:08.800 upstream blessing, you have to keep believing, keep praising, keep expecting. 0:08:09.280 --> 0:08:12.800 Walk by faith and not by sight. I don't see 0:08:12.800 --> 0:08:14.920 any sign of it. Nothing's improving. 0:08:15.160 --> 0:08:16.040 But God, I know. 0:08:16.120 --> 0:08:19.440 You're working, I know you're faithful. I know what you 0:08:19.600 --> 0:08:24.160 promised me is already on the way. What's significant is 0:08:24.200 --> 0:08:27.000 the priest stayed in the water with the ark of 0:08:27.040 --> 0:08:29.440 the Covenant until the water's receded. 0:08:30.200 --> 0:08:32.880 They could have waited five minutes and thought, well, we 0:08:32.920 --> 0:08:35.800 did what we were told to do. Nothing happened, let's 0:08:35.840 --> 0:08:36.520 go back home. 0:08:37.280 --> 0:08:40.000 After ten minutes, they could have thought we're wasting our time. 0:08:40.679 --> 0:08:43.560 Thirty minutes. Come on, man, we look like fools out here. 0:08:44.240 --> 0:08:46.959 Joshua didn't hear from God. He had too much pizza 0:08:47.040 --> 0:08:51.200 last night. After an hour, I'm tired. My feet are freezing. 0:08:51.240 --> 0:08:52.040 It's not meant to be. 0:08:52.920 --> 0:08:56.520 No, these priests stayed there in faith, as they were 0:08:56.559 --> 0:09:01.720 standing in these waters that didn't partircumstances, that weren't changing 0:09:02.160 --> 0:09:05.040 every thought saying it's not going to happen. I can 0:09:05.120 --> 0:09:08.720 hear them declaring the Lord is good and his mercy 0:09:08.840 --> 0:09:14.000 endures for generations. I can hear them singing, Waymaker, promise keeper, 0:09:14.240 --> 0:09:16.719 you're the light in the darkness. I can hear one 0:09:16.720 --> 0:09:19.080 of them saying, God, you've done it in the past. 0:09:19.400 --> 0:09:22.080 We know you're doing it this time. You being forced 0:09:22.200 --> 0:09:25.000 is more than what's against us. We will make it 0:09:25.040 --> 0:09:26.360 into our promised land. 0:09:27.240 --> 0:09:30.760 They stood there in faith. They stood there knowing God 0:09:30.880 --> 0:09:34.920 was working. They stood there expecting things to change. They 0:09:34.920 --> 0:09:38.360 didn't see how, they didn't know when. But one thing 0:09:38.440 --> 0:09:41.760 they knew was that God was faithful, that he was 0:09:41.800 --> 0:09:45.360 in control, that what he purposed would come to pass. 0:09:46.200 --> 0:09:50.439 When you're standing in those waters believing for things to change, 0:09:50.800 --> 0:09:53.840 waiting for what God promised, the way you're going to 0:09:53.880 --> 0:09:57.079 stay in the water and not give up is by 0:09:57.160 --> 0:10:00.840 keeping the presence of God on your life, by praising 0:10:00.920 --> 0:10:04.640 Him when you don't see anything changing, by thanking him 0:10:04.679 --> 0:10:06.960 that it's on the way when there's no sign of it, 0:10:07.440 --> 0:10:10.959 by declaring his promises in the middle of water. 0:10:11.000 --> 0:10:11.880 That's not moving. 0:10:12.640 --> 0:10:15.200 This medical report says I'm not going to get well, 0:10:15.480 --> 0:10:18.360 But God, I believe you're restoring health back into me. 0:10:19.240 --> 0:10:21.680 My child's off course, But Lord, I want to thank 0:10:21.720 --> 0:10:23.920 you that. As for me and my house, we will 0:10:24.000 --> 0:10:24.640 serve the Lord. 0:10:25.640 --> 0:10:26.560 Business is low. 0:10:27.120 --> 0:10:30.720 I lost that contract, But God, you said even in famine, 0:10:30.840 --> 0:10:33.680 the righteous would have more than enough. Lord, I think 0:10:33.800 --> 0:10:36.080 I will lend and not borrow that I will have 0:10:36.120 --> 0:10:37.240 a bountiful year. 0:10:38.040 --> 0:10:39.240 Don't come out of that water. 0:10:40.040 --> 0:10:44.520 Your obedience, stepping into the water is what activated the miracle, 0:10:45.120 --> 0:10:47.840 and it's going to be your obedience of staying in 0:10:47.920 --> 0:10:51.080 the water that will cause you to see what God's 0:10:51.120 --> 0:10:52.520 done upstream. 0:10:53.040 --> 0:10:55.480 The miracle will set in motion when you pray. 0:10:56.240 --> 0:11:00.520 God dispatched the angels with the healing, the favor, the freedom. 0:11:00.760 --> 0:11:03.760 But you may not see it right away. The waters 0:11:03.800 --> 0:11:07.440 may not part immediately. This is a test of your faith. 0:11:08.080 --> 0:11:10.560 A lot of people get out of the water. You'r 0:11:10.679 --> 0:11:14.000 nothing happened. This doesn't work for me. No, the upstream 0:11:14.080 --> 0:11:17.520 blessing is there, but you have to have upstream faith, 0:11:18.320 --> 0:11:19.839 know one that is coming. 0:11:19.640 --> 0:11:22.840 For it to get to you. Daniel, Chapter ten. 0:11:23.360 --> 0:11:27.640 Daniel had been praying and fasting, asking God to help him. 0:11:28.080 --> 0:11:31.880 Didn't seem like anything was happening. Nothing was changing. He 0:11:32.000 --> 0:11:35.239 was tempted to come out of the water, get discourage, 0:11:35.240 --> 0:11:38.200 and give up on what he was believing for. But 0:11:38.240 --> 0:11:40.880 one morning he was out by the river and he 0:11:40.920 --> 0:11:44.760 had a vision. An angel appeared unto him and said 0:11:44.800 --> 0:11:49.520 in verse twelve, Daniel, from the first day you prayed, your. 0:11:49.400 --> 0:11:51.080 Request was heard in heaven. 0:11:52.160 --> 0:11:54.880 When we don't see anything happening, we can think God 0:11:55.000 --> 0:11:58.400 must not have heard us. Nothing's changing. No, the moment 0:11:58.520 --> 0:12:02.120 you prayed God heard your request. The angel went on 0:12:02.240 --> 0:12:05.680 to say, God sent me with the answer, but for 0:12:05.800 --> 0:12:09.840 twenty one days, the Prince of Persia blocked me. Then Michael, 0:12:09.880 --> 0:12:13.440 the archangel came and helped me break through the opposition. 0:12:14.559 --> 0:12:19.040 Notice the first day he prayed, something happened upstream. God 0:12:19.120 --> 0:12:22.600 set the miracle into motion, but for twenty one days 0:12:23.080 --> 0:12:27.040 the waters didn't recede. So to speak, for twenty one days, 0:12:27.440 --> 0:12:29.360 every thought told Daniel. 0:12:29.240 --> 0:12:31.840 Would have happened. By now, it's not meant to be. 0:12:32.880 --> 0:12:35.280 Daniel could have been talked out of it, but he 0:12:35.440 --> 0:12:39.520 had upstream faith. His attitude was, I know there are 0:12:39.600 --> 0:12:43.080 things God has already done that I can't see right now. 0:12:43.559 --> 0:12:47.480 I'm gonna keep believing, expecting, praying, knowing that it's on 0:12:47.559 --> 0:12:52.120 the way. Like with Daniel, the moment you prayed according 0:12:52.120 --> 0:12:57.200 to God's word, he did something upstream. He dispatched the angel. 0:12:57.720 --> 0:13:01.240 He set things into motion. I can't see it right now, 0:13:01.679 --> 0:13:03.480 but upstream things have. 0:13:03.520 --> 0:13:05.920 Changed in your favor. Upstream. 0:13:06.120 --> 0:13:09.920 Healing has been released upstream, the right people have been 0:13:09.960 --> 0:13:14.520 lined up upstream. The breaks you need, the restoration, the 0:13:14.640 --> 0:13:16.840 vindication has been put in place. 0:13:17.240 --> 0:13:18.240 It's in your future. 0:13:18.920 --> 0:13:22.320 Don't let what's happening downstream? Talk you out of the 0:13:22.320 --> 0:13:26.640 blessings that are upstream. Angels have been dispatched with your 0:13:26.720 --> 0:13:31.640 name on them, bringing healing, favor abundance. Now do your 0:13:31.720 --> 0:13:35.840 part and have upstream faith God. I believe the moment 0:13:35.880 --> 0:13:39.240 I prayed, you not only heard me, but you answered 0:13:39.240 --> 0:13:42.280 my prayer. I'm not moved by what I don't see. 0:13:42.480 --> 0:13:45.079 I'm moved by what I know. I know you're faithful. 0:13:45.480 --> 0:13:48.200 I know I'm healed. I know I'm blessed. I know 0:13:48.360 --> 0:13:49.880 my children are mighty. 0:13:49.559 --> 0:13:50.120 In the land. 0:13:50.720 --> 0:13:53.280 I know my latter days will be better than. 0:13:53.120 --> 0:13:54.000 My former days. 0:13:55.200 --> 0:13:58.440 When Joshua was standing at the Jordan River, I'm sure 0:13:58.480 --> 0:14:01.080 his mind went back to a time when he was 0:14:01.160 --> 0:14:04.480 much younger. He and the Israelites had just come out 0:14:04.480 --> 0:14:07.800 of slavery. They were at the Red Sea, but the 0:14:07.840 --> 0:14:11.439 Pharaoh changed his mind and came chasing after them. It 0:14:11.480 --> 0:14:14.320 was a dead end, the sea on one side, the 0:14:14.360 --> 0:14:18.080 Pharaoh and the other armies on the other side. He 0:14:18.160 --> 0:14:22.440 saw his mentor, Moses hold up his rod. There was 0:14:22.480 --> 0:14:26.040 this great wind with such force that it pushed back 0:14:26.080 --> 0:14:30.880 the water. Instantly it parted. Those two million people walked 0:14:30.880 --> 0:14:34.800 through this dry path with walls of water twenty feet 0:14:34.840 --> 0:14:38.960 high on each side, the hand of God supernaturally making 0:14:39.040 --> 0:14:39.760 a way. 0:14:40.080 --> 0:14:42.720 Well. Fast forward many years later, when. 0:14:42.640 --> 0:14:45.920 Joshua was at the Jordan he sent these priests into 0:14:45.960 --> 0:14:46.400 the water. 0:14:47.040 --> 0:14:49.160 I'm sure he was expecting this. 0:14:49.160 --> 0:14:54.040 Huge wind, something supernatural, to instantly push the water back, 0:14:54.680 --> 0:14:56.520 make walls where they could pass through. 0:14:57.280 --> 0:14:58.880 This time, nothing happened. 0:14:59.400 --> 0:15:03.120 They didn't feel any wind, see any water moving, hear 0:15:03.160 --> 0:15:07.120 anything different. But just because God did it one way 0:15:07.560 --> 0:15:10.480 doesn't mean he's going to do it that way every time. 0:15:11.280 --> 0:15:14.640 Sometimes the miracle is going to take place, but it's 0:15:14.680 --> 0:15:18.520 going to be upstream. It was no less of a miracle. 0:15:18.880 --> 0:15:21.760 It just didn't happen where they could see it right there. 0:15:22.640 --> 0:15:26.040 If they would have had cell phones, someone would have called, Hey, 0:15:26.080 --> 0:15:28.480 it happened, the Jordan quin flowing. 0:15:29.320 --> 0:15:29.520 See. 0:15:29.560 --> 0:15:32.080 It's easy to have faith when you have a red 0:15:32.160 --> 0:15:36.000 sea miracle, when God instantly turns it around, you can 0:15:36.080 --> 0:15:37.480 see it, feel. 0:15:37.200 --> 0:15:38.520 It, touch it. 0:15:38.520 --> 0:15:40.960 It's easy to say God, you're good, thank you for 0:15:41.040 --> 0:15:44.640 what you've done. But real faith is when you don't 0:15:44.640 --> 0:15:48.880 see anything happening, nothing's improving, but you thank God that 0:15:48.920 --> 0:15:52.960 he's working upstream. You know the moment you prayed, things 0:15:52.960 --> 0:15:56.560 shifted in your favor. You say, God, I don't see it, 0:15:56.960 --> 0:15:59.960 but I believe you're working. I don't feel any better, 0:16:00.160 --> 0:16:03.480 but I know I'm healed. The Angel hasn't shown up yet, 0:16:03.680 --> 0:16:07.120 but I know my breakthrough is on the way. See 0:16:07.200 --> 0:16:11.400 downstream faith says, I'll believe when I see things changing, 0:16:11.960 --> 0:16:14.960 when my health starts to improve, when I get that promotion, 0:16:15.560 --> 0:16:18.120 when my boss begins to treat me better, Joe, then 0:16:18.160 --> 0:16:18.840 I'll thank God. 0:16:19.080 --> 0:16:21.840 Then I'll have a good attitude. Here's the problem. 0:16:22.280 --> 0:16:27.120 You won't see upstream blessings if you only have downstream faith. 0:16:27.960 --> 0:16:29.000 And yes, God is good. 0:16:29.040 --> 0:16:31.680 I know sometimes you'll see a red sea park. God 0:16:31.720 --> 0:16:35.520 does it instantly begins to turn it around. But there 0:16:35.560 --> 0:16:38.320 will be times that you come to a Jordan river. 0:16:39.080 --> 0:16:42.680 You prayed, you stood in faith, you declare his promises, 0:16:43.160 --> 0:16:46.320 but the waters didn't part, the wind didn't blow, the 0:16:46.360 --> 0:16:50.520 angel didn't show up. Are you gonna get discouraged, give 0:16:50.600 --> 0:16:54.240 up on what you're believing for only have downstream faith? 0:16:54.880 --> 0:16:57.360 Or are you gonna dig your heels in and say, 0:16:57.400 --> 0:17:00.240 I'm not moved by what I don't see, and I 0:17:00.280 --> 0:17:04.560 know upstream you've already changed things you've already damned up 0:17:04.600 --> 0:17:08.879 those waters. Stop this sickness, lined up the promotion, set 0:17:08.920 --> 0:17:09.760 the right people. 0:17:09.960 --> 0:17:13.200 Lord, I thank you that it is on the way. 0:17:13.440 --> 0:17:17.600 God has upstream blessings for you, things that you're believing for. 0:17:17.960 --> 0:17:22.240 He's already set in motion, but he's looking for upstream faith. 0:17:23.000 --> 0:17:23.920 Don't get talked. 0:17:23.720 --> 0:17:24.160 Out of it. 0:17:24.800 --> 0:17:28.360 Don't let what hasn't happened, how long it's been, how 0:17:28.480 --> 0:17:29.240 unlikely it. 0:17:29.280 --> 0:17:31.480 Looks, convince you to quit believing. 0:17:32.359 --> 0:17:35.520 Stay in those waters and keep the ark of the 0:17:35.560 --> 0:17:38.280 covenant with you, keep the presence of God. 0:17:38.640 --> 0:17:38.920 Lord. 0:17:38.960 --> 0:17:41.679 I thank you that you're fighting my battles. Thank you 0:17:41.720 --> 0:17:44.239 that what you've promised me is on the way. I 0:17:44.280 --> 0:17:48.359 know your favor surrounds me. Goodness and mercy are following me. 0:17:48.840 --> 0:17:52.000 What you have purpose for my life will come to pass. 0:17:53.000 --> 0:17:56.720 When my mother was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer back 0:17:56.720 --> 0:17:59.720 in nineteen eighty one, the doctors gave. 0:17:59.560 --> 0:18:02.280 Her own a few weeks to live. There was no 0:18:02.359 --> 0:18:03.960 treatment that they could give her. 0:18:04.480 --> 0:18:08.040 They sent her home at forty six years old, basically 0:18:08.080 --> 0:18:12.359 to die. On December eleventh, she and my father laid 0:18:12.400 --> 0:18:15.760 on the ground in their bedroom and asked God for 0:18:15.840 --> 0:18:16.480 a miracle. 0:18:17.280 --> 0:18:20.560 They prayed the prayer of faith, not God. Why did 0:18:20.600 --> 0:18:21.920 this happen? God? 0:18:22.040 --> 0:18:24.359 Just let her die in peace. It must be her 0:18:24.400 --> 0:18:27.560 time to go. No, they said, God, we know you're 0:18:27.600 --> 0:18:31.840 the healer. We know you can do what medicine cannot do. God, 0:18:31.920 --> 0:18:35.480 were asking you to give her more years to restore 0:18:35.560 --> 0:18:38.880 health back to her. God, you said, with long life, 0:18:38.960 --> 0:18:43.920 you would satisfy us. They prayed a bold prayer like Moses. 0:18:43.960 --> 0:18:47.120 They held up that staff. But the waters didn't part. 0:18:48.000 --> 0:18:50.359 She wasn't at a red sea, she was at a 0:18:50.440 --> 0:18:55.120 Jordan river. Nothing happened. She didn't feel any better, look 0:18:55.160 --> 0:18:59.520 any better. The medical report didn't change. My mother could 0:18:59.520 --> 0:19:03.400 have been Thoughts were telling her, you're done. You heard 0:19:03.440 --> 0:19:05.600 what the doctor said, a few weeks to live, just 0:19:05.720 --> 0:19:09.720 accept it. But my mother believed that when they prayed, 0:19:10.119 --> 0:19:13.960 God did something upstream, that the tide began to turn, 0:19:14.320 --> 0:19:14.720 that the. 0:19:14.640 --> 0:19:16.080 Miracle was set into motion. 0:19:17.200 --> 0:19:20.560 Like those priests, my mother never got out of the water. 0:19:21.400 --> 0:19:25.280 She didn't see anything improving, but that didn't change her mindset. 0:19:25.960 --> 0:19:27.280 I would hear her going through the. 0:19:27.240 --> 0:19:30.399 House, I will live and not die, and declare the 0:19:30.440 --> 0:19:31.240 works of the Lord. 0:19:31.600 --> 0:19:34.800 God is restoring health back into me. What he started 0:19:34.840 --> 0:19:38.720 in my life, he will finish. She had upstream faith. 0:19:39.280 --> 0:19:42.120 I don't see it, feel it, no sign of it, 0:19:42.400 --> 0:19:46.439 but I believe it's already done. I believe upstream things 0:19:46.440 --> 0:19:51.240 have changed, that the angel has been dispatched. Months went 0:19:51.320 --> 0:19:55.639 by and nothing really happened, no sign of improvement. But 0:19:55.680 --> 0:19:59.000 we begin to realize she's still here. They said a 0:19:59.040 --> 0:20:02.080 few weeks, and it's been six months. She's not any worse. 0:20:02.200 --> 0:20:03.240 It's been nine months. 0:20:03.320 --> 0:20:04.560 She hadn't gone downhill. 0:20:04.960 --> 0:20:09.800 We realized the waters were receding, the healing was coming. 0:20:10.320 --> 0:20:14.720 Little by little, she got better and better, until one day, 0:20:15.000 --> 0:20:19.680 a few years later, she was back to normal, completely healthy. 0:20:20.240 --> 0:20:24.639 No medical explanation, no logical solution. Was the hand of God. 0:20:25.280 --> 0:20:28.080 But here's my point. It was upstream. 0:20:28.560 --> 0:20:31.800 The miracle had taken place, but it hadn't flowed down 0:20:31.800 --> 0:20:32.520 to her yet. 0:20:33.160 --> 0:20:35.480 If you only have downstream. 0:20:34.800 --> 0:20:37.680 Faith, Joel, I believe it when I see it, that's 0:20:37.720 --> 0:20:41.160 going to keep you from upstream blessings. The things you're 0:20:41.200 --> 0:20:45.600 concerned about now, dreams, you want to accomplish, situations you 0:20:45.680 --> 0:20:49.040 need to turn around. You'll be tempted to get discouraged. 0:20:49.520 --> 0:20:52.720 Think that God hasn't heard you. Why hasn't it happened? 0:20:52.880 --> 0:20:55.440 Can I encourage you? It's upstream. 0:20:56.040 --> 0:20:59.000 God has already taken care of it. Now, stay in 0:20:59.040 --> 0:21:01.600 faith while that flows downstream. 0:21:02.080 --> 0:21:04.840 Don't get talked out of it while you're waiting for 0:21:04.960 --> 0:21:06.480 things to change. 0:21:06.800 --> 0:21:09.639 When Moses was one hundred and twenty years old, he 0:21:09.760 --> 0:21:13.360 was about to die, he told the Israelites that he 0:21:13.440 --> 0:21:15.960 wasn't going to cross the Jordan River and go into 0:21:16.000 --> 0:21:19.600 the Promised Land, but that Joshua was their new leader 0:21:19.640 --> 0:21:22.680 and they were to follow him. He said in Deuteronomy 0:21:22.720 --> 0:21:26.600 thirty one, the Lord himself will cross over. 0:21:26.480 --> 0:21:27.159 Ahead of you. 0:21:27.920 --> 0:21:30.800 He will destroy the nations and give you the land. 0:21:31.840 --> 0:21:35.000 He was saying, you're going to face situations. Well, you 0:21:35.000 --> 0:21:36.119 don't think you can make it. 0:21:36.560 --> 0:21:39.640 The people are too big, the opposition too strong. 0:21:40.000 --> 0:21:43.760 But don't worry. God is going ahead of you. He's 0:21:43.800 --> 0:21:46.760 going to cross over and do what you can't do. 0:21:47.640 --> 0:21:50.600 He was telling them they are going to be upstream 0:21:50.720 --> 0:21:55.560 blessings waiting for you, things that you can't see right now. Favor, 0:21:56.040 --> 0:21:59.960 influence resources. The Lord, your God is going ahead of you. 0:22:01.240 --> 0:22:04.560 He was getting them prepared in their thinking to not 0:22:04.760 --> 0:22:07.440 let the circumstances talk them out. 0:22:07.520 --> 0:22:10.480 Of what God had already done. He said in. 0:22:10.560 --> 0:22:14.560 Verse eight, do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord, 0:22:14.640 --> 0:22:16.920 your God is the one who. 0:22:16.760 --> 0:22:20.960 Goes before you. He will never fail you or forsake you. 0:22:22.160 --> 0:22:25.679 Three times in six verses he said, God will go 0:22:25.760 --> 0:22:29.240 ahead of you. God is saying to you what he 0:22:29.280 --> 0:22:30.520 said to the Israelites. 0:22:30.760 --> 0:22:32.639 You're going to come in. 0:22:32.119 --> 0:22:39.680 To some upstream blessings, things that God has already made happen, Opportunity, healing, abundance. 0:22:40.080 --> 0:22:43.720 God is going before you right now. Here's the key. 0:22:44.320 --> 0:22:49.440 Don't let downstream doubt keep you from upstream blessings. Instead 0:22:49.440 --> 0:22:52.520 of thinking about how big the obstacle is, how you 0:22:52.640 --> 0:22:55.439 never pay your house off, never meet the right person. 0:22:55.840 --> 0:22:58.480 Why don't you have upstream faith? God? 0:22:58.520 --> 0:23:01.640 I thank you that you go ahead of me, opening 0:23:01.680 --> 0:23:05.439 doors that no person can shut, doing what medicine cannot do, 0:23:05.920 --> 0:23:06.840 taking me where. 0:23:06.640 --> 0:23:08.080 I cannot go on my own. 0:23:08.320 --> 0:23:12.240 Father, I thank you for your upstream blessings. A few 0:23:12.320 --> 0:23:15.680 years ago, my brother Paul was in Haiti right after 0:23:15.720 --> 0:23:18.840 a big earthquake, and he and a team of surgeons 0:23:19.080 --> 0:23:22.800 were operating on all the injured people. At one point, 0:23:22.840 --> 0:23:26.720 the main monitor they were using during surgery to see 0:23:26.760 --> 0:23:31.199 the patient's blood pressure and vital signs went out. Without 0:23:31.200 --> 0:23:34.760 that monitor, they couldn't do any more surgeries. The men 0:23:34.800 --> 0:23:39.040 in charge started searching the hospital. They looked everywhere, couldn't 0:23:39.080 --> 0:23:42.360 find one. Paul and his team started making calls, but 0:23:42.640 --> 0:23:45.679 nothing was available. It would take several days to have 0:23:45.800 --> 0:23:48.080 one flown in from the States, and. 0:23:48.040 --> 0:23:49.880 Look like they were at a standstill. 0:23:50.680 --> 0:23:56.080 A few hours later, the hospital administrator, a local Haitian man, 0:23:56.400 --> 0:24:01.040 came in carrying a brand new monitor still in the 0:24:01.040 --> 0:24:03.920 They opened it and it was exactly what they needed, 0:24:04.200 --> 0:24:07.640 had all the right connections. Paul and the other surgeons 0:24:07.680 --> 0:24:10.920 were so surprised that he would have that exact monitor. 0:24:11.640 --> 0:24:14.600 He told how two years earlier he was at a 0:24:14.640 --> 0:24:19.960 hospital administrator's conference in the States. Everyone that attended was 0:24:20.119 --> 0:24:23.359 entered into a contest for a door prize. Out of 0:24:23.440 --> 0:24:27.240 several thousand people. It just so happened that he won 0:24:27.320 --> 0:24:30.399 this monitor. He had no need for it at the time. 0:24:30.920 --> 0:24:34.240 It was still in storage. But God is going ahead 0:24:34.240 --> 0:24:36.919 of you. He knows what you're going to need in 0:24:36.960 --> 0:24:42.240 the future. That was an upstreme blessing. God had the 0:24:42.320 --> 0:24:46.280 solution before they had the problem, he said in Isaiah, 0:24:46.560 --> 0:24:48.720 Before you call, I will answer you. 0:24:49.800 --> 0:24:50.720 That's why we can. 0:24:50.600 --> 0:24:54.520 Live in peace, not worried about our children, stressed over 0:24:54.520 --> 0:24:57.400 our health, losing sleep over our finances. 0:24:57.840 --> 0:25:00.000 God is going to ahead of you. 0:25:00.040 --> 0:25:02.680 There are things he's doing right now that you can't see. 0:25:03.440 --> 0:25:06.400 Maybe the waters are not parting. You don't see any 0:25:06.440 --> 0:25:07.760 sign of things changing. 0:25:08.000 --> 0:25:12.120 That's okay. Have upstream faith. God is working. 0:25:12.640 --> 0:25:16.440 He's taking care of what you're concerned about. The Angel 0:25:16.520 --> 0:25:20.240 has already been dispatched with the answer, there are upstream 0:25:20.359 --> 0:25:25.560 blessings coming your way. Genesis twenty four, Abraham was living 0:25:25.600 --> 0:25:28.840 in the land of Canaan. He told his main assistant 0:25:29.119 --> 0:25:32.480 to go back to his original hometown, which was four 0:25:32.560 --> 0:25:36.120 hundred miles away, and find a wife for his son. 0:25:36.320 --> 0:25:36.800 Isaac. 0:25:37.520 --> 0:25:40.720 You can imagine the pressure on this man. You want 0:25:40.800 --> 0:25:43.720 me to find a wife for your son, he said 0:25:43.720 --> 0:25:46.480 in verse five. What if I can't find a young 0:25:46.520 --> 0:25:50.600 woman that will travel that far from home? Abraham said, 0:25:50.960 --> 0:25:54.520 the Lord, my God, will send his angel ahead of you, 0:25:55.040 --> 0:25:57.359 and he will see to it that you find the 0:25:57.480 --> 0:26:01.919 right wife for my son. Notice how Abraham believed in 0:26:02.080 --> 0:26:03.399 upstream blessings. 0:26:04.040 --> 0:26:06.440 He could have thought, you're right, man, good luck. 0:26:06.520 --> 0:26:09.239 Just do the best you can know. His attitude was, 0:26:09.640 --> 0:26:13.320 God is going before me. He's already arranged what I need. 0:26:13.480 --> 0:26:16.680 I know the right person is on the way. This 0:26:16.760 --> 0:26:20.240 man arrived at Abraham's hometown and he was waiting out 0:26:20.280 --> 0:26:23.760 at the stream. He prayed, God, let the right girl 0:26:23.800 --> 0:26:27.320 for Isaac not only give me a drink of water 0:26:27.400 --> 0:26:30.399 when I ask, but let her ask to water my 0:26:30.520 --> 0:26:34.280 camels as well. That way I'll know she's the one. 0:26:34.359 --> 0:26:37.720 This beautiful young woman came to the stream. He said, 0:26:37.720 --> 0:26:40.840 I'm traveling through town. Would you mind getting me a drink? 0:26:41.320 --> 0:26:43.760 She said sure, and let me get water for. 0:26:43.760 --> 0:26:47.359 Your camels too. The first girl that showed up was 0:26:47.359 --> 0:26:48.400 a divine connection. 0:26:48.880 --> 0:26:53.359 Her name was Rebecca. She became Isaac's wife. It's easy 0:26:53.400 --> 0:26:56.120 to go through life. Worry how's it going to work out? 0:26:56.520 --> 0:26:58.880 I don't see anything happening. What if I don't meet 0:26:58.920 --> 0:27:03.360 the right person? Stay in peace. God has upstream blessings 0:27:03.400 --> 0:27:04.160 waiting for you. 0:27:04.760 --> 0:27:06.520 He's going before you right now. 0:27:07.000 --> 0:27:10.359 He's already sent the angel ahead of you, lining up 0:27:10.400 --> 0:27:13.720 the right people, the good breaks, the healing. Now do 0:27:13.800 --> 0:27:17.920 your part and have upstream faith. The Jordan River may 0:27:17.960 --> 0:27:20.840 not be partying. You don't see anything changing. 0:27:21.280 --> 0:27:25.520 But upstream the miracle has already taken place. God has 0:27:25.560 --> 0:27:26.359 stopped the water. 0:27:27.080 --> 0:27:30.160 Just a matter of time before you see things change 0:27:30.200 --> 0:27:33.800 in your favor. Don't let what you can't see talk 0:27:33.840 --> 0:27:36.959 you out of what has already happened. Walk by faith 0:27:37.080 --> 0:27:40.920 and not by sight. Keep believing, keep expecting. 0:27:40.560 --> 0:27:41.359 Keep praising. 0:27:42.160 --> 0:27:45.720 If you'll do this, I believe and declare, you're about 0:27:45.760 --> 0:27:50.280 to see upstream blessings. Like the Israelites, those waters are 0:27:50.320 --> 0:27:53.520 about to receive. What you've been praying about is on 0:27:53.640 --> 0:27:57.239 the way. Like with Abraham, the right people are going 0:27:57.320 --> 0:28:01.440 to be waiting for you. Breakthroughs are coming, promotion, healing, 0:28:01.760 --> 0:28:06.199 the fullness of your destiny in Jesus's name, And if you. 0:28:06.240 --> 0:28:08.040 Receive it, can you say amen? 0:28:10.040 --> 0:28:12.720 I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 0:28:12.760 --> 0:28:15.320 the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:28:16.080 --> 0:28:20.120 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 0:28:20.119 --> 0:28:21.320 into my heart. 0:28:21.560 --> 0:28:23.600 I make you my Lord and savior. 0:28:24.400 --> 0:28:26.680 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:28:26.720 --> 0:28:29.800 born again. We'd love to send you some information on 0:28:29.840 --> 0:28:31.840 your new walk with the Lord. You can text the 0:28:31.920 --> 0:28:34.800 number on the screen or go to the website but 0:28:34.840 --> 0:28:37.480 I hope you'll get into a good Bible based church 0:28:37.720 --> 0:28:39.520 and keep God first place. 0:28:40.240 --> 0:28:42.760 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:28:42.880 --> 0:28:45.680 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:28:45.720 --> 0:28:49.200 podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. 0:28:49.360 --> 0:28:51.600 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:28:51.600 --> 0:28:53.080 with those all around the world. 0:28:53.400 --> 0:28:56.200 Visit Joelosting dot com or click the link in the 0:28:56.200 --> 0:28:58.400 description to partner with us today. 0:28:58.640 --> 0:29:01.080 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:29:01.160 --> 0:29:03.320 be sure to follow us on social media. 0:29:03.400 --> 0:29:06.720 We're praying for you. 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