Windows Of Grace

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Download the uness stap and use the 0:01:18.800 --> 0:01:20.840 code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 0:01:20.880 --> 0:01:23.400 fifty dollars bonus when you find your account. That's code 0:01:23.400 --> 0:01:26.400 iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 0:01:26.760 --> 0:01:29.319 for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 0:01:29.440 --> 0:01:30.120 UNEs dot co. 0:01:30.959 --> 0:01:34.759 Start declaring, this is my time. The favor of God 0:01:34.840 --> 0:01:37.600 is on my life in a new way. I have 0:01:37.760 --> 0:01:42.080 the grace to rise higher, the grace to forgive this person, 0:01:42.480 --> 0:01:46.039 the grace to accomplish my dream, the grace to break 0:01:46.080 --> 0:01:50.120 this addiction. Be bold, be strong. The Lord your God 0:01:50.280 --> 0:01:54.240 is with you. Hi. This is Joel and Victoria. Thanks 0:01:54.240 --> 0:01:58.040 for downloading our podcast. We enjoy spending this time with you. 0:01:58.360 --> 0:02:00.880 I know you're going to lead, encourage, and inspire. 0:02:01.200 --> 0:02:04.160 Make sure you subscribe to get new messages every week 0:02:04.280 --> 0:02:06.920 and follow us on social media to stay connected. 0:02:07.120 --> 0:02:10.520 We appreciate your support. It helps keep the ministry going. 0:02:10.960 --> 0:02:18.880 Enjoy the message for God bless you. It's a joy 0:02:18.960 --> 0:02:21.200 to come into your homes. And if you're ever in 0:02:21.280 --> 0:02:24.160 our area, please stop buying. Be a part of one 0:02:24.200 --> 0:02:26.920 of our services. I promise you we will make you 0:02:27.000 --> 0:02:30.200 feel right at home. I like to start with something funny, 0:02:30.240 --> 0:02:32.799 and I heard about this ninety two year old man. 0:02:33.280 --> 0:02:35.520 He wasn't feeling up to par so he went to 0:02:35.600 --> 0:02:38.560 the doctor. A few days later. The doctor saw him 0:02:38.600 --> 0:02:41.560 out in the park with this beautiful young lady by 0:02:41.600 --> 0:02:44.080 his side, and he seemed as happy as can be. 0:02:44.520 --> 0:02:47.040 The doctor said, Wow, you sure are feeling a lot better, 0:02:47.120 --> 0:02:50.680 aren't you. He said, yes, Doctor, I'm just following your orders. 0:02:50.960 --> 0:02:54.720 You said, get a hot mama and stay cheerful. The 0:02:54.800 --> 0:02:56.880 doctor said, I didn't say that. I said you got 0:02:56.880 --> 0:03:01.440 a heart murmur, be careful. He heard what he wanted 0:03:01.440 --> 0:03:04.360 to hear. But here we go. This is my Bible. 0:03:04.680 --> 0:03:07.120 I am what it says I am. I have what 0:03:07.160 --> 0:03:09.640 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:03:09.639 --> 0:03:12.400 I can do. Today I will be taught the word 0:03:12.440 --> 0:03:16.640 of God. I'll boldly confess my mind is alert, my 0:03:16.800 --> 0:03:21.040 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 0:03:21.480 --> 0:03:24.760 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:03:24.800 --> 0:03:29.320 about windows of grace. There are times we're going along 0:03:29.440 --> 0:03:33.680 and minding our own business, and suddenly we know something 0:03:33.800 --> 0:03:37.360 we're supposed to do. We feel it so strongly in 0:03:37.400 --> 0:03:41.680 our spirit, this urging telling us to forgive the person 0:03:41.720 --> 0:03:45.600 that hurt us. Or we've struggled with an addiction for years, 0:03:46.040 --> 0:03:48.960 but suddenly we have a new desire to get free. 0:03:49.640 --> 0:03:53.280 We've been dreaming about starting our own business, writing that book. 0:03:53.600 --> 0:03:57.040 All of a sudden, we know it's our time. Those 0:03:57.120 --> 0:04:00.920 are not just nice thoughts. That's God's speaking to us. 0:04:01.680 --> 0:04:04.840 He doesn't ask us to do something and then doesn't 0:04:04.880 --> 0:04:08.560 give us the ability to do it. With that urging, 0:04:08.920 --> 0:04:13.560 you'll feel faith rising up. You'll have the favor, the determination, 0:04:13.720 --> 0:04:17.000 the strength to do what you couldn't do before. But 0:04:17.080 --> 0:04:21.000 here's the key. It's a window of grace. It's not 0:04:21.080 --> 0:04:24.880 going to last forever. Too often we hear the still 0:04:24.920 --> 0:04:28.120 small voice, but we put it off. I know I 0:04:28.160 --> 0:04:31.520 need to forgive, but I'll do it later. I know 0:04:31.640 --> 0:04:34.240 I need to get in shape, take care of my health. 0:04:34.520 --> 0:04:38.040 I'll do it soon. I feel this new passion, new 0:04:38.040 --> 0:04:41.080 confidence to step up and lead my department. One day 0:04:41.120 --> 0:04:44.560 I'm going to do it. The problem is that window 0:04:44.839 --> 0:04:48.640 is going to close. Don't take the grace for granted. 0:04:49.080 --> 0:04:52.400 That is a destiny moment where God is making a 0:04:52.440 --> 0:04:55.760 way where you can come up higher. When you feel 0:04:55.760 --> 0:04:59.640 that faith, you have to step into it. That's God saying, 0:05:00.040 --> 0:05:03.560 this is your time, this is your moment. The scripture 0:05:03.600 --> 0:05:08.359 says today, if you hear his voice, harden not your heart. 0:05:09.040 --> 0:05:12.600 That's not just talking about salvation. When you hear his 0:05:12.720 --> 0:05:16.560 voice telling you to have a better attitude, to treat 0:05:16.600 --> 0:05:21.120 your spouse more respectfully, to tithe your income. The reason 0:05:21.200 --> 0:05:24.920 it's so strong is God is opening a window of grace. 0:05:25.640 --> 0:05:29.560 That's the time to obey. Not tomorrow, not next week, 0:05:29.760 --> 0:05:34.200 but right then. When that window opens, you'll feel a 0:05:34.279 --> 0:05:38.720 divine empowerment God breathing on you in a new way. 0:05:39.440 --> 0:05:42.599 You will have the grace to forgive, the confidence to 0:05:42.640 --> 0:05:46.600 step up, the favor to succeed. A friend of mine 0:05:46.640 --> 0:05:49.840 struggled with smoking since high schooling. He was in his 0:05:49.960 --> 0:05:53.040 forties and he didn't like to smoke. He had tried 0:05:53.080 --> 0:05:56.719 to stop many times but wasn't able to. He finally 0:05:56.760 --> 0:06:00.159 had accepted it that was his lot in life. But 0:06:00.200 --> 0:06:04.039 one morning he woke up and felt so strongly that 0:06:04.160 --> 0:06:07.280 this was his time to stop smoking. He had a 0:06:07.320 --> 0:06:11.799 new determination, a new passion. He said, I've never felt 0:06:11.800 --> 0:06:14.920 faith like this. He knew he was going to break it. 0:06:15.520 --> 0:06:19.599 The problem is he kept putting it off, saying tomorrow, 0:06:19.680 --> 0:06:23.360 I'm going to get started. Tomorrow would come. He felt 0:06:23.360 --> 0:06:26.719 it just as strongly. Later, I'm going to get serious. 0:06:27.440 --> 0:06:30.000 First week went by, he didn't feel it quite as much. 0:06:30.440 --> 0:06:33.760 Then a month went by, still hadn't done anything. Now 0:06:33.800 --> 0:06:36.760 he barely had the desire to stop. A couple of 0:06:36.760 --> 0:06:39.280 months later, he was back to thinking that he could 0:06:39.320 --> 0:06:42.760 never break it. He said, I know I could have stopped. 0:06:43.200 --> 0:06:46.159 I know God was talking to me, but I missed 0:06:46.200 --> 0:06:51.560 my season. That window doesn't last forever. There is a 0:06:51.640 --> 0:06:55.240 limited time. God gives you an opportunity to come up 0:06:55.320 --> 0:06:58.800 higher when you have the faith for it. That's the 0:06:58.839 --> 0:07:03.159 time to act. Don't make excuses, don't put it off. 0:07:03.720 --> 0:07:07.080 Later I'll get serious. You're not always going to feel 0:07:07.400 --> 0:07:10.720 what you're feeling. That grace is on you for a 0:07:10.840 --> 0:07:14.480 season to help you accomplish what God is asking you 0:07:14.560 --> 0:07:19.120 to do. Today. When you hear his voice, obey, step 0:07:19.160 --> 0:07:22.880 into that grace. Take advantage of what God is offering you. 0:07:23.760 --> 0:07:27.920 And if the window closes, yes, God will open another window. 0:07:28.280 --> 0:07:32.000 He's merciful, But you don't know how long it's going 0:07:32.080 --> 0:07:35.360 to be. You don't have time to waste going around 0:07:35.400 --> 0:07:39.760 the mountain again and again. Like the Israelites, they turned 0:07:39.880 --> 0:07:44.160 an eleven day journey to the Promised Land into forty 0:07:44.320 --> 0:07:48.560 years because they kept complaining, talking about how big the 0:07:48.640 --> 0:07:52.880 obstacles were. When God brings something to light that you 0:07:53.000 --> 0:07:57.320 need to deal with a bad attitude, jealousy, saying hurtful things, 0:07:57.960 --> 0:08:02.320 you wouldn't feel that conviction unless the window was opening 0:08:02.400 --> 0:08:06.360 to change. God doesn't ask you to do better and 0:08:06.400 --> 0:08:09.200 then not give you the ability to do it. But 0:08:09.240 --> 0:08:12.760 you have to step into it, dig down deep and 0:08:12.880 --> 0:08:16.240 be more disciplined. Bite your tongue when you feel like 0:08:16.320 --> 0:08:20.040 being disrespectful, keep a smile when you could be sour. 0:08:20.680 --> 0:08:24.200 The grace is there. As you tap into it, you 0:08:24.240 --> 0:08:28.640 will feel a force enabling you, empowering you. What is 0:08:28.680 --> 0:08:33.000 that You're in a window of grace? In the Scripture, 0:08:33.200 --> 0:08:37.319 there's two Greek words used for time. One is chronos. 0:08:37.600 --> 0:08:41.000 It's where we get our word chronological. It deals with 0:08:41.240 --> 0:08:46.240 ordinary time, minutes, hours and days. The second Greek word 0:08:46.600 --> 0:08:52.480 is chiros. It's defined as an opportune moment, a passing 0:08:52.720 --> 0:08:57.200 instant where an opening appears. It has to do with 0:08:57.320 --> 0:09:02.480 an appointed time, with a sea of favor. Now, God 0:09:02.520 --> 0:09:07.439 has already ordained these chiros moments for you. You're going 0:09:07.480 --> 0:09:11.440 to come into opportunity that seems over your head. You'll 0:09:11.480 --> 0:09:14.840 be tempted to shrink back. But God wouldn't have put 0:09:14.920 --> 0:09:18.760 you there if you couldn't do it. It's a chiros moment. 0:09:19.120 --> 0:09:22.880 It's a season of favor. All of a sudden, you 0:09:23.040 --> 0:09:26.360 know you can beat the depression. You know lack and 0:09:26.400 --> 0:09:29.920 struggle is not your destiny. You feel faith rising up. 0:09:30.640 --> 0:09:35.680 Those are not just encouraging feelings. That is a chiros moment, 0:09:36.400 --> 0:09:41.520 a season of favor that God has specifically designed for you. 0:09:42.240 --> 0:09:45.400 If you will step into it, doors will open that 0:09:45.480 --> 0:09:49.360 you couldn't open. Bad habits, addictions that have held you 0:09:49.480 --> 0:09:53.960 back will be broken. Now get ready for some chiros moments, 0:09:54.160 --> 0:09:56.920 moments that are going to thrust you ahead. And when 0:09:57.000 --> 0:10:01.280 they come, don't be intimidated that all most may be big, 0:10:01.480 --> 0:10:04.640 but our God is much bigger. He would not have 0:10:04.800 --> 0:10:07.840 opened that door if you didn't have the favor to 0:10:07.920 --> 0:10:11.840 walk through it. But it is a window of grace. 0:10:12.360 --> 0:10:15.520 It is not going to last forever. You can't keep 0:10:15.559 --> 0:10:18.400 putting it off and expect it to be there in 0:10:18.480 --> 0:10:21.560 a year. When you feel it, you have to stir 0:10:21.720 --> 0:10:24.400 your faith up. Father, thank you that this is a 0:10:24.440 --> 0:10:32.960 new day, that I am stepping into new levels of favor, discipline, anointing, creativity, strength, energy, 0:10:33.240 --> 0:10:35.640 and that every force is trying to stop me is 0:10:35.679 --> 0:10:39.880 being broken. Get in agreement with God. He will open 0:10:39.920 --> 0:10:42.640 the window, but you have to take advantage of it. 0:10:43.480 --> 0:10:46.240 This is where the Israelites missed it. They had been 0:10:46.240 --> 0:10:49.840 in slavery for many years. God brought them out and 0:10:49.840 --> 0:10:53.160 they were headed toward the Promised Land. They made it 0:10:53.200 --> 0:10:57.040 through the desert, fought off enemies along the way. They 0:10:57.080 --> 0:11:00.440 finally came to the land flowing with milk and honey. 0:11:00.800 --> 0:11:04.319 They were camped next door to the Promised Land. This 0:11:04.400 --> 0:11:07.319 is what they had been dreaming about. All they had 0:11:07.360 --> 0:11:10.160 to do was go in and take the land. God 0:11:10.200 --> 0:11:13.640 had already promised them the victory. This was one of 0:11:13.679 --> 0:11:18.080 their Chiros moments. An incredible door was about to open, 0:11:18.440 --> 0:11:22.840 an opportunity of a lifetime. And with those chiros moments 0:11:23.080 --> 0:11:27.320 comes the favor to accomplish, the power to overcome, the 0:11:27.400 --> 0:11:32.199 strength to defeat the opposition. The problem is the Israelites 0:11:32.240 --> 0:11:35.760 didn't recognize that they were in a window of grace. 0:11:36.440 --> 0:11:40.320 They said, Moses, these people are too big, will never 0:11:40.440 --> 0:11:44.720 defeat them. We feel like grasshoppers compared to them. Let's 0:11:44.760 --> 0:11:48.560 go back to Egypt. Even though God promised to take 0:11:48.600 --> 0:11:51.320 them into the land, even though they were in this 0:11:51.480 --> 0:11:54.920 Chiro's moment where they had the favor, the power, the strength, 0:11:55.400 --> 0:11:59.120 they turned around and headed back into the desert. They 0:11:59.120 --> 0:12:02.880 didn't understand and that God doesn't give you the opportunity 0:12:03.480 --> 0:12:05.679 and then not give you the grace to do it. 0:12:06.520 --> 0:12:09.760 You may be facing big giants, but the favor on 0:12:09.840 --> 0:12:13.040 your life is bigger than whatever's trying to stop you. 0:12:13.920 --> 0:12:17.319 God was so put out with the Israelites he told 0:12:17.360 --> 0:12:20.360 Moses that they were never going to enter into the 0:12:20.360 --> 0:12:25.040 Promised Land. Moses told the people what God said, how 0:12:25.080 --> 0:12:29.600 they were limiting their destiny. Being weak and intimidated. The 0:12:29.640 --> 0:12:33.200 scripture says, they turned around and headed back toward the 0:12:33.200 --> 0:12:38.000 Promised Land. They said, Moses, we realize we've made a mistake. 0:12:38.679 --> 0:12:41.560 Now we are ready to go into the land. God 0:12:41.640 --> 0:12:45.560 promised you would think. Moses would say, good, you finally 0:12:45.640 --> 0:12:49.000 changed your mind. Let's go in. Moses said to them, 0:12:49.360 --> 0:12:52.200 do not enter the land now, or you will be 0:12:52.280 --> 0:12:57.640 crushed by your enemies. What happened That window of grace closed, 0:12:58.080 --> 0:13:02.960 that Chiros moment passed. Moses knew if they tried to 0:13:03.040 --> 0:13:07.320 go in outside of God's timing, when that window of 0:13:07.360 --> 0:13:11.640 favor wasn't open, they would be defeated. That's why it's 0:13:11.679 --> 0:13:15.680 so important to not put off what you know. God 0:13:15.800 --> 0:13:18.440 is telling you to do when you feel the urging, 0:13:18.920 --> 0:13:22.760 the knowing, whether it's to break a bad habit or 0:13:22.800 --> 0:13:26.160 to step into something that feels over your head. If 0:13:26.200 --> 0:13:30.760 you keep delaying, the window is going to close. You 0:13:30.840 --> 0:13:33.800 may feel afraid. Your thoughts will tell you all the 0:13:33.840 --> 0:13:36.679 reasons it's not going to work out. You can't accomplish 0:13:36.760 --> 0:13:40.480 that dream. It's too big. You can't forgive that person. 0:13:40.520 --> 0:13:44.439 They hurt you too badly. You've always been negative, critical, 0:13:44.520 --> 0:13:47.320 better that's just who you are. That is not who 0:13:47.400 --> 0:13:50.000 you are. That's why you're hearing this. There is a 0:13:50.120 --> 0:13:54.360 Chiros moment coming. There is a window of grace about 0:13:54.400 --> 0:13:58.720 to open. Now, don't do like them. Put your shoulders back, 0:13:59.360 --> 0:14:03.640 hold your head pie and step into it. God is 0:14:03.679 --> 0:14:06.760 about to take you to a new level. Things that 0:14:06.760 --> 0:14:10.440 have held you back are being defeated. New doors are 0:14:10.520 --> 0:14:15.000 about to open. Giants are about to be defeated. Talent 0:14:15.160 --> 0:14:17.160 is about to come out of you that you didn't 0:14:17.200 --> 0:14:20.600 know you had. You are coming into a season of 0:14:20.760 --> 0:14:24.640 special favor. Yes, you always have favor, but there are 0:14:24.680 --> 0:14:28.680 moments when that favor stands out. You're going to see 0:14:28.720 --> 0:14:33.600 an opportune moment where God thrusts you ahead. Now do 0:14:33.760 --> 0:14:38.640 your part. Start believing that you're favored. Start praying bold prayers. 0:14:39.000 --> 0:14:43.080 Start speaking victory over your life. Don't go around talking 0:14:43.080 --> 0:14:45.720 about how big the giants are and how you'll never 0:14:45.760 --> 0:14:49.040 get weund never meet the right person. Never start your 0:14:49.080 --> 0:14:53.960 own business. Zip that up. Start declaring, this is my time. 0:14:54.320 --> 0:14:56.360 The favor of God is on my life in a 0:14:56.400 --> 0:15:00.800 new way. I have the grace to rise higher, the 0:15:00.880 --> 0:15:05.240 grace to forgive this person, the grace to accomplish my dream, 0:15:05.560 --> 0:15:09.480 the grace to break this addiction. Be bold, be strong. 0:15:09.640 --> 0:15:12.800 The Lord your God is with you. This is what 0:15:12.840 --> 0:15:15.520 I had to do. When my father was seventy seven 0:15:15.600 --> 0:15:19.360 years old, he was at my sister Lisa's house one 0:15:19.440 --> 0:15:22.840 Monday evening to have dinner with Lisa and my mother. 0:15:23.400 --> 0:15:26.800 Lisa had just finished cooking her favorite dish, and right 0:15:26.840 --> 0:15:30.960 before she put those TV dinners on the table, my 0:15:31.040 --> 0:15:34.360 father said to them, I'm going to call Joel and 0:15:34.400 --> 0:15:38.560 see if he'll speak for me this Sunday. My mother laughed, said, John, 0:15:38.640 --> 0:15:41.640 you are wasting your time. Joel is not a minister. 0:15:42.680 --> 0:15:45.800 I had worked seventeen years behind the scenes here at 0:15:45.840 --> 0:15:49.800 Lakewood doing the television production. My father tried to get 0:15:49.800 --> 0:15:53.200 me up to speak many times, but always told him no. 0:15:54.080 --> 0:15:57.480 I didn't have any desire to be in front of people. Plus, 0:15:57.560 --> 0:16:00.240 my father was a great minister, thought, who want to 0:16:00.240 --> 0:16:02.120 listen to me? I don't know what to say. I've 0:16:02.160 --> 0:16:05.080 not been trained in this. I was eating dinner that 0:16:05.160 --> 0:16:07.920 Monday night when my father called. He said, Joel, I 0:16:08.000 --> 0:16:10.000 just wanted to see if you would speak for me 0:16:10.160 --> 0:16:14.240 this Sunday. I had told him no dozens of times. 0:16:14.720 --> 0:16:18.000 I said, Daddy, I'm always honored that you ask, that 0:16:18.120 --> 0:16:20.720 you have that much confidence in me, but I'm just 0:16:20.800 --> 0:16:25.240 not a minister. He never pressured me. He encouraged us 0:16:25.360 --> 0:16:28.240 kids to follow our own dreams. We hung up the 0:16:28.280 --> 0:16:31.400 phone and I sat down to finish eating dinner. A 0:16:31.440 --> 0:16:35.360 couple of minutes later, I felt something so strongly on 0:16:35.440 --> 0:16:38.840 the inside telling me that I needed to do it. 0:16:39.560 --> 0:16:41.680 I don't know how to explain it. I just knew 0:16:41.760 --> 0:16:43.960 that I knew that, I knew I was supposed to do. 0:16:44.040 --> 0:16:47.360 It didn't make sense to my mind. But God doesn't 0:16:47.400 --> 0:16:51.280 speak to our mind. He speaks to our spirit, not 0:16:51.440 --> 0:16:55.120 out loud, but down in here. It's a knowing, it's 0:16:55.160 --> 0:16:58.240 an urging. You don't have to hear words. You just 0:16:58.480 --> 0:17:03.000 know what to do. Many times we don't recognize that's 0:17:03.040 --> 0:17:06.399 God talking to us. You know, you're supposed to break 0:17:06.400 --> 0:17:09.040 away from a friend that's holding your back, you know, 0:17:09.320 --> 0:17:12.480 to go back to school and improve your skills. But 0:17:12.600 --> 0:17:15.640 we think, oh, that's just me. Maybe I will, maybe 0:17:15.720 --> 0:17:18.840 I want, no big deal. That's not just you. That's 0:17:18.880 --> 0:17:22.919 God talking to you. That's God opening a window of grace. 0:17:23.680 --> 0:17:28.280 You're coming into a chiros moment, a special season of favor, 0:17:28.560 --> 0:17:31.639 to do what you couldn't do, to go where you 0:17:31.680 --> 0:17:35.199 couldn't go. The question is will you step into it 0:17:35.920 --> 0:17:38.800 or will you put it off and let the window close. 0:17:39.720 --> 0:17:44.000 Time is of the essence, the longer you wait, the 0:17:44.119 --> 0:17:47.679 less passionate you'll feel, and the less likely you'll be 0:17:47.800 --> 0:17:52.080 to do it. Don't put it off. It's an opportune moment. 0:17:52.720 --> 0:17:56.800 It's not months, it's not years. It's a passing opportunity. 0:17:57.480 --> 0:18:00.840 Unless you grab hold of it, stretch your faith, make 0:18:00.880 --> 0:18:05.040 the changes, you'll miss your moment. Five minutes later, I 0:18:05.080 --> 0:18:07.840 called my father back and told him that I'd changed 0:18:07.840 --> 0:18:10.440 my mind and I would speak for him that Sunday. 0:18:11.000 --> 0:18:14.200 Lisa and my mother nearly passed out. I was going 0:18:14.240 --> 0:18:17.679 to speak my first sermon in thirty six years. I 0:18:17.720 --> 0:18:20.119 didn't want to do it, but I knew I was 0:18:20.160 --> 0:18:23.239 supposed to do it. The truth is that was the 0:18:23.280 --> 0:18:27.480 most miserable week of my life. I so dreaded having 0:18:27.480 --> 0:18:29.760 to get up in front of people, no offense, but 0:18:29.840 --> 0:18:34.040 y'all were very scary. I told Victoria, please don't talk 0:18:34.080 --> 0:18:37.880 to me until Sunday afternoon at one o'clock. I'm gonna 0:18:37.880 --> 0:18:40.639 do this one time, make my father proud, and then 0:18:40.680 --> 0:18:44.080 I'm done. You've heard that saying, if you want to 0:18:44.080 --> 0:18:49.200 make God laugh, tell him your plans. I spoke that Sunday, 0:18:50.080 --> 0:18:52.879 never dreaming it would be the last Sunday of my 0:18:53.000 --> 0:18:57.719 father's life. Now, I often wonder where I would be 0:18:58.000 --> 0:19:01.000 if I would have said no. I would have ignored 0:19:01.040 --> 0:19:05.879 that feeling. That was a Chiros moment, something God ordained 0:19:05.920 --> 0:19:09.439 to thrust me into my destiny. It's not like I 0:19:09.480 --> 0:19:13.000 could have done it a month later. My father would 0:19:13.000 --> 0:19:16.240 have been gone. It wouldn't have had the same impact. 0:19:17.080 --> 0:19:19.960 One reason I was able to step up and pasture 0:19:20.040 --> 0:19:23.679 the church is I thought, what are the chances of 0:19:23.720 --> 0:19:27.280 me speaking on the last Sunday of his life. I 0:19:27.320 --> 0:19:30.399 had told him no for thirty six years, but it 0:19:30.560 --> 0:19:34.920 just so happened that last time I said yes. That's 0:19:34.960 --> 0:19:38.399 why I felt it so strongly. I knew I was 0:19:38.440 --> 0:19:41.320 supposed to do it. But here's my point. I could 0:19:41.359 --> 0:19:44.880 have said no, I could have ignored it. I could 0:19:44.920 --> 0:19:48.040 have said I'll do it later. I don't feel qualified. 0:19:48.520 --> 0:19:51.400 Asked me again at the same time next year. But 0:19:51.480 --> 0:19:55.560 by the grace of God, I stepped into it. Don't 0:19:55.680 --> 0:20:01.119 miss your Chiros moments. You don't know where there it's you. 0:20:01.119 --> 0:20:04.040 You don't know what doors are going to open, You 0:20:04.080 --> 0:20:07.879 don't know what One good decision, one step of faith, 0:20:08.600 --> 0:20:11.920 one getting out of your comfort zone and obeying that 0:20:12.000 --> 0:20:15.800 still small voice how that's going to cause a domino 0:20:16.000 --> 0:20:20.200 effect of awesome things in your life. If I had 0:20:20.240 --> 0:20:24.720 not said yes to that one speaking invitation, I don't 0:20:24.720 --> 0:20:27.840 believe that I would be a pastor. We probably wouldn't 0:20:27.880 --> 0:20:31.360 have the Compact Center, the books, Nights of Hope, serious 0:20:31.400 --> 0:20:37.480 exem those things all followed one act of obedience. Well, Joel, 0:20:37.640 --> 0:20:40.520 that's exciting for you, but it's kind of depressing for 0:20:40.680 --> 0:20:44.000 me because I think I've already missed my window. You 0:20:44.040 --> 0:20:47.000 wouldn't be hearing this if God wasn't about to open 0:20:47.080 --> 0:20:54.240 another window. There is a Piros moment coming for you, 0:20:55.200 --> 0:20:59.120 something that's going to thrust you ahead, a power that's 0:20:59.160 --> 0:21:02.760 going to free you from every addiction, a force that's 0:21:02.800 --> 0:21:05.560 going to break every chain that's held you back and 0:21:05.640 --> 0:21:09.440 release you into a future greater than you've ever imagined. 0:21:10.200 --> 0:21:14.880 When it comes, Step into it, stretch your faith, pursue 0:21:14.880 --> 0:21:19.440 that dream, make the necessary changes, don't let it pass 0:21:19.520 --> 0:21:24.040 you by Acts Chapter twenty four, the apostle Paul was 0:21:24.080 --> 0:21:27.720 brought to Cessarea to go on trial for sharing his faith. 0:21:28.280 --> 0:21:31.800 He was standing before the governor, a man named Felix, 0:21:32.040 --> 0:21:36.119 presenting his case, and Felix was very intrigued with Paul. 0:21:36.760 --> 0:21:39.680 The main trial was going to take place later, so 0:21:39.720 --> 0:21:43.120 he had Paul taken into custody. In a few days, 0:21:43.280 --> 0:21:46.600 Felix and his wife sent for Paul to come visit 0:21:46.680 --> 0:21:50.679 with them. Paul discussed his faith and the importance of 0:21:50.720 --> 0:21:55.280 living a godly life and having self control. Felix began 0:21:55.400 --> 0:21:59.720 to feel convicted. He had lived compromising, giving in to 0:21:59.800 --> 0:22:03.679 his carnal desires. He knew he needed to change. This 0:22:03.840 --> 0:22:07.439 was one of his chirost moments, a window of grace. 0:22:08.160 --> 0:22:11.400 But he said to Paul in verse twenty five, go 0:22:11.480 --> 0:22:15.840 away for now. When a more convenient time comes, I'll 0:22:15.840 --> 0:22:19.360 call for you. He put it off, he didn't want 0:22:19.400 --> 0:22:22.960 to deal with the conviction. Two years later he was 0:22:23.000 --> 0:22:27.159 out of office. We never read anymore about Felix. I 0:22:27.200 --> 0:22:31.160 don't know if the more convenient time ever came. That's 0:22:31.200 --> 0:22:35.320 why the scripture says today, when you hear his voice, obey, 0:22:36.280 --> 0:22:39.560 are you waiting for a more convenient time? Are you 0:22:39.680 --> 0:22:43.399 ignoring the still small voice talking yourself out and taking 0:22:43.400 --> 0:22:47.400 that step of faith? You don't know how long that 0:22:47.520 --> 0:22:50.960 window is going to be open. Don't do like Felix, 0:22:51.359 --> 0:22:55.400 keep making excuses. This is an opportunity to come up higher, 0:22:55.840 --> 0:22:59.440 to see God's favor in a greater way. My friend 0:22:59.480 --> 0:23:03.520 de von Franklin is a movie producer in Hollywood. As 0:23:03.560 --> 0:23:06.080 a young man, he had a dream to own his 0:23:06.119 --> 0:23:10.199 own company making films. He went to Los Angeles and 0:23:10.280 --> 0:23:14.480 became an intern at a big movie studio, but instead 0:23:14.480 --> 0:23:18.440 of producing films, he was running errands, getting the executive's 0:23:18.480 --> 0:23:22.280 coffee in bringing them their lunches. He stayed faithful in 0:23:22.400 --> 0:23:26.080 one door after another opened. He got a position helping 0:23:26.160 --> 0:23:30.159 produce Will Smith's movies. He ended up as the vice 0:23:30.240 --> 0:23:34.879 president at Sony Pictures, a great position, but he always 0:23:34.960 --> 0:23:38.600 dreamed of his own company. He produced the movie Heaven 0:23:38.760 --> 0:23:42.560 Is for Real. It made thirty million dollars the first weekend, 0:23:42.760 --> 0:23:47.040 a huge success. Nobody predicted those kinds of numbers. His 0:23:47.119 --> 0:23:50.880 boss called and congratulated him and said she was going 0:23:50.920 --> 0:23:54.960 to give him a promotion and increase his salary. As 0:23:54.960 --> 0:23:57.600 he was going to meet with her, he felt God 0:23:57.720 --> 0:24:01.040 saying to him, this is the time to leave Sony 0:24:01.480 --> 0:24:05.040 and start your own company. He said, God, that doesn't 0:24:05.080 --> 0:24:08.720 make sense. I'm about to get this big promotion. These 0:24:08.760 --> 0:24:12.640 people love me deep down. He couldn't get away from it. 0:24:12.920 --> 0:24:15.760 He knew he was supposed to make a change. He 0:24:15.880 --> 0:24:18.679 told his boss that he was leaving and that he 0:24:18.760 --> 0:24:22.840 wanted Sony to fund his new company. She looked at 0:24:22.920 --> 0:24:26.399 him and said, yes, we will do that. He nearly 0:24:26.440 --> 0:24:29.840 passed out. This was more than he could imagine. He'd 0:24:29.880 --> 0:24:32.720 not only have his own company, but his old company 0:24:32.760 --> 0:24:36.199 would fund it. They signed all the paperwork. In a 0:24:36.240 --> 0:24:40.199 few weeks, this boss that liked him so much was 0:24:40.240 --> 0:24:44.440 involved in an email controversy and suddenly she lost her job. 0:24:45.280 --> 0:24:47.439 If he would have waited a couple of months to 0:24:47.480 --> 0:24:50.639 start the company, he wouldn't have had the funding. That 0:24:50.800 --> 0:24:55.040 was a Chirost moment, a window of grace. You can 0:24:55.080 --> 0:24:58.359 do the right thing at the wrong time and miss 0:24:58.359 --> 0:25:04.280 your destiny. Is critical When God says do something, just 0:25:04.440 --> 0:25:07.879 do it. It may not make sense now, but God 0:25:07.960 --> 0:25:11.720 knows things that we don't know. When he says forgive, 0:25:12.560 --> 0:25:14.960 you may come up with a thousand reasons not to 0:25:15.640 --> 0:25:19.120 just do it. God knows what's best for you. When 0:25:19.119 --> 0:25:22.080 he says take that step of faith. Your mind may 0:25:22.119 --> 0:25:24.480 tell you what if it doesn't work, What if you 0:25:24.480 --> 0:25:27.280 don't get the contract, What if the economy goes down, 0:25:27.760 --> 0:25:31.359 if there's no risk. It doesn't take any faith. If 0:25:31.400 --> 0:25:34.840 there's no chance you can fail, you don't need God's help. 0:25:35.359 --> 0:25:38.360 But where God is taking you, you can't get there 0:25:38.480 --> 0:25:42.439 on your own. You may be talented, but your talent 0:25:42.600 --> 0:25:46.439 alone is not enough. You may be connected, but you 0:25:46.480 --> 0:25:50.280 don't have enough connections. The future God has for you 0:25:50.600 --> 0:25:53.720 is much bigger than you've ever imagined. You're going to 0:25:53.840 --> 0:25:58.199 need these windows of grace, these Chirost moments. When we 0:25:58.280 --> 0:26:02.159 acquired this place, I'm a compact center. I was told 0:26:02.280 --> 0:26:05.160 it was going to cost one hundred million dollars to renovate. 0:26:05.920 --> 0:26:10.440 Three years earlier, I was running camera, editing my father's sermons, 0:26:10.640 --> 0:26:14.960 doing the production. Do you know how much fundraising experience 0:26:15.000 --> 0:26:18.800 I had at that time? Zero? I thought, God, I 0:26:18.840 --> 0:26:21.760 am so far over my head. But Lord, thank you 0:26:21.880 --> 0:26:25.400 that this is not over your head. I had the faith, 0:26:25.760 --> 0:26:29.760 the courage, the confidence to do something that didn't make sense. 0:26:30.359 --> 0:26:33.480 That was one of my Chirost moments. What am I saying? 0:26:33.680 --> 0:26:36.480 When God asked you to do something, he will give 0:26:36.520 --> 0:26:39.920 you the faith and the favor to do it. The 0:26:39.960 --> 0:26:44.360 Scripture talks about having the faith of God. Sometimes it's 0:26:44.400 --> 0:26:47.840 not even our faith, it's God putting his faith in us. 0:26:48.520 --> 0:26:51.680 But you have to stay in the window. You can't 0:26:51.720 --> 0:26:54.680 think about it for six years and get forty seven 0:26:54.720 --> 0:26:58.800 different opinions. First off, you're going to be confused because 0:26:58.880 --> 0:27:02.840 people can't hear what God's telling you. They can't feel 0:27:02.880 --> 0:27:06.800 what you feel on the inside. And secondly, that window 0:27:07.040 --> 0:27:10.320 is not going to last forever if you keep putting 0:27:10.359 --> 0:27:13.760 it all. At some point it's going to close. In 0:27:13.840 --> 0:27:17.119 the scripture, God told Jonah to go to the city 0:27:17.160 --> 0:27:20.800 of Nineveh and tell the people they had forty days 0:27:20.840 --> 0:27:23.800 to repent or God was going to destroy the city. 0:27:24.440 --> 0:27:27.240 It's interesting that God put a time period on it. 0:27:27.840 --> 0:27:31.560 He didn't just say repent sometime whenever you feel like it. 0:27:31.600 --> 0:27:34.200 As long as you do it, no big deal. He said, 0:27:34.480 --> 0:27:38.280 you have forty days to make things right. When Jonah 0:27:38.280 --> 0:27:41.600 told the people, the first thing they did was fall 0:27:41.640 --> 0:27:44.760 on their knees. The king took off his royal robe, 0:27:44.960 --> 0:27:48.480 put ashes on his head, and declared a city wide fast. 0:27:48.920 --> 0:27:51.720 They didn't wait a week, they didn't wait twenty days. 0:27:52.000 --> 0:27:55.640 Immediately they said God, we're sorry for the way we've 0:27:55.680 --> 0:27:59.600 been living, and God spared the city. I wonder if 0:27:59.640 --> 0:28:03.200 they're something you could change in the next forty days 0:28:03.680 --> 0:28:06.040 and you would see God's favor in a new way. 0:28:07.160 --> 0:28:10.520 Maybe God is saying to you, you have forty days 0:28:10.560 --> 0:28:13.920 to get your priorities in order. You have forty days 0:28:13.960 --> 0:28:17.159 to forgive that person. You have forty days to pursue 0:28:17.160 --> 0:28:20.679 that dream. You have forty days to get serious in 0:28:20.720 --> 0:28:24.199 your relationship with God. There is a window of grace. 0:28:24.680 --> 0:28:27.520 It was forty days for the people of Nineveh. I 0:28:27.560 --> 0:28:30.159 don't know what it is for you, but I do 0:28:30.320 --> 0:28:34.840 know when these chirost moments come, they have a time limitation. 0:28:35.440 --> 0:28:39.040 They are not going to last forever. Don't miss your moment. 0:28:39.680 --> 0:28:43.560 Listen to that still small voice, that knowing on the inside. 0:28:43.720 --> 0:28:47.080 That's when you're going to feel a divine empowerment, the 0:28:47.200 --> 0:28:50.560 favor to do what God's asking you to do. If 0:28:50.600 --> 0:28:54.000 you'll do this, I believe and declare, you're about to 0:28:54.080 --> 0:28:58.000 see some of these chirost moments. New doors are about 0:28:58.040 --> 0:29:05.520 to open. Freedom from a days, restoration in relationships, promotion, healing, breakthroughs, 0:29:05.760 --> 0:29:09.760 the fullness of your destiny in Jesus's name, And if 0:29:09.800 --> 0:29:13.360 you receive it, can you say am in today? Well, 0:29:13.400 --> 0:29:16.480 I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus, 0:29:16.560 --> 0:29:19.200 the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:29:19.880 --> 0:29:25.600 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins, Come 0:29:25.640 --> 0:29:29.560 into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:29:31.040 --> 0:29:33.520 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:29:33.520 --> 0:29:36.720 born again. Get in a good Bible based church, and 0:29:36.840 --> 0:29:40.200 keep God first place, Victor, and I'll be right back 0:29:40.280 --> 0:29:43.200 to speak a blessing over you. Thanks so much for 0:29:43.320 --> 0:29:46.640 listening to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe so you 0:29:46.680 --> 0:29:49.840 can receive the latest podcast to keep you encouraged and 0:29:49.920 --> 0:29:51.320 inspired all through the week. 0:29:51.480 --> 0:29:53.720 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:29:53.720 --> 0:29:57.160 with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 0:29:57.280 --> 0:29:59.800 or click the link in the description to partner with 0:29:59.840 --> 0:30:00.520 that today. 0:30:00.760 --> 0:30:03.200 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:30:03.280 --> 0:30:06.120 be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 0:30:06.160 --> 0:30:08.840 for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 0:30:09.240 --> 0:30:11.720 More than ever before, people are turning to the Church 0:30:11.800 --> 0:30:15.520 for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 0:30:15.560 --> 0:30:18.840 been ill equipped to help. That is until now. Join 0:30:18.880 --> 0:30:21.960 nearly fifty thousand people just like you who've enrolled in 0:30:22.000 --> 0:30:25.120 the Mental Health Coach Training program and become equipped to 0:30:25.200 --> 0:30:28.080 health for a limited time. 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