Your Faith

0:00:00.760 --> 0:00:04.120 Hi, this is Joel. Thanks so much for downloading the podcast. 0:00:04.360 --> 0:00:07.040 I believe you'll be inspired and challenged. I hope you 0:00:07.160 --> 0:00:24.280 enjoy the message. Well, God bless you. It's a joy 0:00:24.360 --> 0:00:26.639 to come into your homes. And if you're ever in 0:00:26.720 --> 0:00:29.320 our area, please stop buying. Be a part of one 0:00:29.360 --> 0:00:32.159 of our services. I promise you we'll make you feel 0:00:32.240 --> 0:00:35.080 right at home. I like to start with something funny, 0:00:35.120 --> 0:00:38.440 and I heard about this reporter. He was visiting churches 0:00:38.479 --> 0:00:42.000 across the nation. While in the Northeast, he saw this 0:00:42.200 --> 0:00:45.479 gold phone on the wall with a sign that said 0:00:45.479 --> 0:00:49.559 calls ten thousand dollars per minute. He asked the pastor 0:00:49.600 --> 0:00:52.080 what it meant. The pastor explained that that was a 0:00:52.120 --> 0:00:54.920 direct line to Heaven. If you were willing to pay 0:00:54.960 --> 0:00:58.480 the price, you could talk directly to God. He continued 0:00:58.560 --> 0:01:02.080 visiting different churches, the same gold phone, the same sign. 0:01:02.560 --> 0:01:03.720 When he finally made. 0:01:03.520 --> 0:01:06.800 It to Texas, he saw the phone, but the sign 0:01:06.840 --> 0:01:11.039 said calls twenty five cents per minute. Intrigued, he asked 0:01:11.080 --> 0:01:14.119 the pastor why it was so much cheaper. The pastor said, 0:01:14.200 --> 0:01:15.919 you're in Texas now, it's. 0:01:15.800 --> 0:01:16.559 A local call. 0:01:19.080 --> 0:01:22.000 Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:01:22.400 --> 0:01:24.840 I am what it says I am. I have what 0:01:24.920 --> 0:01:27.280 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:01:27.319 --> 0:01:30.080 I can do. Today I will be taught the word 0:01:30.120 --> 0:01:34.080 of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 0:01:34.160 --> 0:01:38.440 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 0:01:38.840 --> 0:01:42.000 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:01:42.040 --> 0:01:46.040 about your faith. In Mark chapter five, there was a 0:01:46.120 --> 0:01:49.760 lady that had a bleeding disorder for twelve years. She'd 0:01:49.800 --> 0:01:53.280 gone to many doctors, spent all of her money, tried 0:01:53.360 --> 0:01:56.480 everything she could to get well, but nothing help. 0:01:56.840 --> 0:01:58.480 She continued to go downhill. 0:01:59.120 --> 0:02:01.720 One day there was all this commotion in her town. 0:02:02.280 --> 0:02:05.880 She found out that Jesus was passing through. She had 0:02:05.920 --> 0:02:08.960 heard the stories of how he had healed a crippled man, 0:02:09.240 --> 0:02:12.960 how he'd opened blind eyes, how he'd cured someone with leprosy. 0:02:13.520 --> 0:02:17.560 Something came alive on the inside. She thought, he did 0:02:17.639 --> 0:02:20.640 it for others, he can do it for me. She 0:02:20.760 --> 0:02:25.000 could have been discouraged, complaining life is not fair, why 0:02:25.000 --> 0:02:29.640 did this happen? Instead, she said to herself, if I 0:02:29.680 --> 0:02:33.080 can get to Jesus and just touch the fringe of 0:02:33.160 --> 0:02:36.960 his robe, I know I will be healed. The problem 0:02:37.120 --> 0:02:41.200 was there was a great crowd surrounding Jesus. Thousands of 0:02:41.240 --> 0:02:45.880 people all packed in seemed impossible. Most people would have 0:02:45.880 --> 0:02:47.880 given up, thought, Hey, it's not meant to be. 0:02:48.280 --> 0:02:49.160 Not this lady. 0:02:49.520 --> 0:02:53.240 She started making her way through the crowd. Excuse me, 0:02:53.480 --> 0:02:56.320 I need to get by. Pardon me, I have to 0:02:56.360 --> 0:02:58.760 get up front. I don't mean to be rude, but 0:02:58.840 --> 0:03:01.160 move out of my way. People looked at her like, 0:03:01.200 --> 0:03:02.519 what's this lady's problem. 0:03:02.960 --> 0:03:05.919 She was on a mission, she had a made up mind. 0:03:06.480 --> 0:03:09.800 I'm sure she was weak, she had lost blood for years. 0:03:10.280 --> 0:03:11.840 She didn't feel like it, but. 0:03:11.919 --> 0:03:15.600 She fought her way through the crowd. One version said 0:03:15.960 --> 0:03:19.760 she kept saying to herself, when I get to Jesus, 0:03:20.000 --> 0:03:23.440 I know I will be well. She was saying, I 0:03:23.520 --> 0:03:26.880 know healing is coming. I know things are turning in 0:03:27.000 --> 0:03:30.520 my favor. It's tough now, I'm tired, I'm weak, but 0:03:30.600 --> 0:03:32.800 I know I'm close to my breakthrough. 0:03:33.639 --> 0:03:34.560 The reason she. 0:03:34.440 --> 0:03:37.840 Could keep going is she kept the right thoughts playing 0:03:37.920 --> 0:03:40.840 in her mind. Now I can imagine she was so 0:03:41.000 --> 0:03:44.680 exhausted she finally fell to the ground and had to 0:03:44.760 --> 0:03:48.200 crawl the last few feet. Just at the right time, 0:03:48.480 --> 0:03:52.160 she reached out and touched the edge of Jesus Road. 0:03:52.480 --> 0:03:56.160 All of a sudden, Jesus stopped, said to his disciples, 0:03:56.400 --> 0:03:59.360 who just touched me? They said, what do you mean 0:04:00.160 --> 0:04:00.880 crowded out here? 0:04:00.920 --> 0:04:02.119 Everybody's touching you? 0:04:02.440 --> 0:04:05.720 He said, in a fact, no, everyone may be bumping 0:04:05.840 --> 0:04:10.160 into me, but somebody just touched me. Somebody drew the 0:04:10.280 --> 0:04:14.640 miracle working power out of me. They believed healing was coming. 0:04:15.120 --> 0:04:17.880 They believed their child was going to turn around. They 0:04:17.920 --> 0:04:20.919 believe new doors were going to open. They touched me 0:04:21.320 --> 0:04:25.960 with expectancy. About that time, Jesus looked at this woman. 0:04:26.480 --> 0:04:27.440 Their eyes met. 0:04:28.040 --> 0:04:31.800 She was afraid, thought she'd done something wrong. Jesus smiled 0:04:31.839 --> 0:04:35.680 and said, daughter, your faith has made you whole. Go 0:04:35.760 --> 0:04:36.320 in peace. 0:04:36.560 --> 0:04:40.440 You were healed. Notice the key was her faith. 0:04:40.880 --> 0:04:43.719 It was great that her parents were praying, her friends 0:04:43.760 --> 0:04:46.600 were encouraging her, her neighbors were cheering her on. That's 0:04:46.640 --> 0:04:51.160 all good, But there's nothing more powerful than your faith. 0:04:51.800 --> 0:04:56.080 When you believe, when you expect things to change, when 0:04:56.120 --> 0:04:59.920 you keep saying to yourself, I know the breakthrough is coming, 0:05:00.440 --> 0:05:02.960 I know healing is on the way. I know the 0:05:03.040 --> 0:05:06.279 right person is in my future. I know what God started. 0:05:06.400 --> 0:05:10.200 He's going to finish your faith can stop the creator 0:05:10.240 --> 0:05:11.080 of the universe. 0:05:11.320 --> 0:05:13.320 That's what activates his power. 0:05:14.200 --> 0:05:16.840 There were other people in the crowd that day that 0:05:16.880 --> 0:05:20.880 were sick, many people that had needs, no doubt, they 0:05:20.960 --> 0:05:25.000 bumped into Jesus. Nothing happened, but this lady touched him. 0:05:25.880 --> 0:05:29.240 Are you brushing up against him or are you touching him? 0:05:30.040 --> 0:05:33.480 Are you living with expectancy knowing that He's bigger than 0:05:33.520 --> 0:05:37.839 those problems, greater than that sickness, more powerful than that opposition. 0:05:38.640 --> 0:05:42.599 Or have you become discouraged thinking it's never going to change. 0:05:42.960 --> 0:05:46.360 God is passing by. He has all power. 0:05:46.960 --> 0:05:48.720 Don't just brush up against him. 0:05:49.279 --> 0:05:53.200 Don't be passive and think you could never accomplish your dreams. 0:05:53.320 --> 0:05:56.320 Never meet the right person, never start your business. 0:05:56.560 --> 0:05:58.440 Do like this lady, reach. 0:05:58.200 --> 0:05:59.279 Out and touch him. 0:06:00.000 --> 0:06:00.680 He's fame. 0:06:01.040 --> 0:06:04.800 Believe that it will happen. This lady was closest to 0:06:04.880 --> 0:06:08.080 her miracle when she faced the greatest opposition. 0:06:08.760 --> 0:06:11.200 Would have been easy if Jesus would have come. 0:06:11.480 --> 0:06:14.279 Just a few disciples, she could have gone out and 0:06:14.360 --> 0:06:18.200 touched him without the struggle, without all the people. 0:06:17.920 --> 0:06:18.480 In the way. 0:06:18.920 --> 0:06:22.400 But she had to fight through the crowd. The crowd 0:06:22.520 --> 0:06:27.359 represents broken dreams, things that didn't work out, Thoughts telling 0:06:27.360 --> 0:06:29.960 you it's never going to get better, you'll never get well, 0:06:30.320 --> 0:06:34.280 never break the addiction. The crowd can be negative words 0:06:34.400 --> 0:06:38.080 people have spoken over us. You're not that talented. You 0:06:38.120 --> 0:06:42.039 can't accomplish your dreams. If you're going to reach your potential, 0:06:42.480 --> 0:06:45.520 you have to fight through some things. You can't have 0:06:45.680 --> 0:06:49.520 a week give up. This is too hard. Spirit. You 0:06:49.640 --> 0:06:53.600 have to be more determined than what's trying to stop you. 0:06:53.600 --> 0:06:55.920 You may get knocked down, but you have to get 0:06:55.960 --> 0:06:59.920 back up again. You need to have a made up mind. This. 0:07:00.000 --> 0:07:03.320 His disappointment is not going to stop me. I'm not 0:07:03.400 --> 0:07:06.320 going to let the mistakes I've made, the guilt, the 0:07:06.440 --> 0:07:08.440 regrets caused me to shrink back. 0:07:09.000 --> 0:07:10.960 I'm not going to allow the bad. 0:07:10.800 --> 0:07:14.000 Breaks, the people that did me wrong, the rejection, the 0:07:14.040 --> 0:07:17.960 betrayal caused me to get bitter and stay where I am. 0:07:18.160 --> 0:07:19.840 I'm going to fight through the crowd. 0:07:21.040 --> 0:07:24.880 Many of the miracles Jesus performed, he laid his hands 0:07:24.920 --> 0:07:28.200 on people and they were healed. But in this case, 0:07:28.760 --> 0:07:32.680 Jesus didn't lay hands on the woman. The woman laid 0:07:32.720 --> 0:07:36.520 hands on Jesus. Are you waiting for God to lay 0:07:36.560 --> 0:07:39.400 hands on you, so to speak, God, this problem is 0:07:39.480 --> 0:07:42.160 so big. When are you gonna do something about it? 0:07:42.400 --> 0:07:45.960 Why don't you lay hands on him? Instead of complaining 0:07:46.040 --> 0:07:48.800 about the problem. Lord, I want to thank you that 0:07:48.840 --> 0:07:51.480 things are turning in my favor. Thank you that no 0:07:51.560 --> 0:07:54.760 weapon formed against me will prosper. Lord, thank you that 0:07:54.840 --> 0:07:57.880 you hold victory in store for the upright. I don't 0:07:57.880 --> 0:08:00.000 see a way, but Lord, I want to thank you. 0:08:00.160 --> 0:08:01.040 No, you have a way. 0:08:01.920 --> 0:08:05.200 When you do that, you're laying hands on God. Your 0:08:05.320 --> 0:08:08.800 faith can initiate the healing. Your faith can be the 0:08:08.840 --> 0:08:13.240 catalyst for God to do amazing things. Acts Chapter fourteen, 0:08:13.560 --> 0:08:17.680 the apostle Paul was teaching people. He noticed a crippled 0:08:17.680 --> 0:08:20.680 man in the crowd. He'd been that way since birth 0:08:20.720 --> 0:08:25.480 and never walked. Verse nine says Paul realized the man 0:08:25.560 --> 0:08:29.120 had faith to be healed. Here the man was just 0:08:29.200 --> 0:08:32.920 sitting in the audience listening to Paul, But he must 0:08:33.000 --> 0:08:37.400 have had such anticipation on his face. Paul must have 0:08:37.480 --> 0:08:42.480 seen something in his expression and expectancy that something good 0:08:42.720 --> 0:08:45.280 was going to happen, like a little child at a 0:08:45.320 --> 0:08:49.760 candy store. Paul was so impressed he stopped his message 0:08:50.120 --> 0:08:53.400 and said sir, I can see you're ready for your miracles. 0:08:53.400 --> 0:08:54.040 Stand up. 0:08:54.720 --> 0:08:57.760 The man stood up and instantly he was healed, began 0:08:57.880 --> 0:09:01.679 to walk for the first time. Like that man, we 0:09:01.720 --> 0:09:06.000 should live with this anticipation that something good is going 0:09:06.040 --> 0:09:09.960 to happen. Yes, we've all had difficulties, we all have 0:09:10.000 --> 0:09:13.280 a reason to be sour. Don't let that talk you 0:09:13.400 --> 0:09:16.440 out of what God has in store. You wouldn't be 0:09:16.480 --> 0:09:19.760 alive if there wasn't something amazing in your future. 0:09:20.640 --> 0:09:22.080 Can your faith be seen? 0:09:22.840 --> 0:09:25.920 Can anyone notice that you're expecting to go to a 0:09:25.960 --> 0:09:28.520 new level? Are you talking like it's going to happen, 0:09:28.840 --> 0:09:31.679 thinking like it's going to happen, believing like it's going 0:09:31.720 --> 0:09:35.960 to happen. God is passing by. But if you're negative, 0:09:36.520 --> 0:09:39.000 I don't see how to work out. I never get 0:09:39.040 --> 0:09:41.840 any good breaks. I've been in this way a long time. 0:09:42.600 --> 0:09:45.360 You may brush up against him, but you're not going 0:09:45.400 --> 0:09:49.200 to touch him. You have to show God you're ready 0:09:49.400 --> 0:09:53.040 to be healed, ready to be free, ready to be blessed. 0:09:53.160 --> 0:09:57.280 There should be an expectancy it could happen today. You 0:09:57.320 --> 0:10:01.000 could meet the person of your dreams this week, you 0:10:01.040 --> 0:10:05.040 could see your health turn around this month, this year 0:10:05.400 --> 0:10:07.920 could be your year to go to a new level 0:10:08.200 --> 0:10:12.480 where things fall into place, good breaks find you. Promises 0:10:12.520 --> 0:10:14.760 you've been believing for suddenly come to pass. 0:10:15.640 --> 0:10:16.360 Well, Joel, what. 0:10:16.320 --> 0:10:18.920 If I believe for it and it doesn't happen. What 0:10:19.040 --> 0:10:22.600 if you believe for it and it does happen. When 0:10:22.640 --> 0:10:26.880 you live with expectancy, where your faith can be seen 0:10:27.240 --> 0:10:30.439 in your expressions, in your attitude and how you talk, 0:10:31.040 --> 0:10:33.440 that's going to cause God to notice you in a 0:10:33.480 --> 0:10:37.200 new way. God is always with us, he has us 0:10:37.200 --> 0:10:40.120 in the palm of his hand, but faith is what 0:10:40.200 --> 0:10:44.840 gets his attention. The scripture says it is impossible to 0:10:44.960 --> 0:10:46.880 please God without faith. 0:10:47.520 --> 0:10:48.880 That's a powerful statement. 0:10:49.400 --> 0:10:52.800 That means you can be obedient and have a sour 0:10:52.880 --> 0:10:58.680 attitude and limited vision and not please God. You can give, serve, 0:10:59.000 --> 0:11:01.119 feed the poor, and that's all important. 0:11:01.160 --> 0:11:02.040 We should do that. 0:11:02.679 --> 0:11:06.040 But if you're not believing for things bigger than you 0:11:06.040 --> 0:11:10.000 can accomplish on your own, if you're not expecting difficulties 0:11:10.040 --> 0:11:14.640 to turn around, if you're not anticipating new levels, thanking 0:11:14.720 --> 0:11:18.120 God that he's bringing promises to pass, then you're not 0:11:18.320 --> 0:11:22.280 releasing your faith. You have to stir up what God 0:11:22.320 --> 0:11:24.520 put in you he's passing by. 0:11:25.200 --> 0:11:26.920 Don't just sit back and watch. Well. 0:11:27.400 --> 0:11:29.800 I wish I could break the addiction. I wish I 0:11:29.800 --> 0:11:32.560 could accomplish my dreams. Why don't you reach out and 0:11:32.600 --> 0:11:35.400 touch him? Lord, I want to thank you that you're 0:11:35.440 --> 0:11:38.320 opening doors no man can shut. Thank you that you're 0:11:38.320 --> 0:11:40.280 taking me where I could not go on my own. 0:11:40.640 --> 0:11:40.960 Lord. 0:11:41.200 --> 0:11:44.160 I believe healing is on the way. Freedom is on 0:11:44.200 --> 0:11:47.040 the way, the right person is on the way, Abundance 0:11:47.120 --> 0:11:50.319 is on the way. That's how we touch God today 0:11:50.880 --> 0:11:54.160 with our faith. Well, Joel, I'm waiting for God to 0:11:54.240 --> 0:11:58.600 do something. Maybe God is waiting on you. This lady 0:11:58.640 --> 0:12:01.880 didn't wait for Jesus lay hands on her. She laid 0:12:01.920 --> 0:12:06.439 hands on him. And I realize God has a perfect time. 0:12:06.640 --> 0:12:11.439 But the scripture says now faith is faith is always 0:12:11.559 --> 0:12:15.640 in the present, and things may not instantly change. We 0:12:15.679 --> 0:12:20.000 all have waiting periods, but our faith should stay active. 0:12:20.600 --> 0:12:24.640 Our normal attitude should be Lord, I'm looking for your goodness, 0:12:24.679 --> 0:12:27.520 not next week, not next month, not next year. 0:12:27.760 --> 0:12:29.160 I'm looking for it today. 0:12:29.760 --> 0:12:33.200 Stay in the now, live with the anticipation that it 0:12:33.240 --> 0:12:37.719 could happen today. For several years, there's been something I've 0:12:37.760 --> 0:12:41.040 been believing for ways that we can expand the ministry. 0:12:41.520 --> 0:12:44.160 Every day I did what I'm asking you to do. Lord, 0:12:44.200 --> 0:12:46.400 I thank you that it's on the way. I think 0:12:46.440 --> 0:12:49.320 you that you're making things happen that I couldn't make happen. 0:12:49.840 --> 0:12:50.959 Didn't see any. 0:12:50.760 --> 0:12:54.280 Sign of it, but each morning I went out with expectancy, 0:12:54.679 --> 0:12:56.400 looking for God's goodness. 0:12:56.000 --> 0:12:57.680 Knowing it could happen at any moment. 0:12:58.280 --> 0:13:01.560 This went on month after month, even year after year, 0:13:01.760 --> 0:13:02.400 no sign. 0:13:03.240 --> 0:13:04.839 How badly do you want it? 0:13:05.360 --> 0:13:09.000 The lady in the scripture waited twelve years, but she 0:13:09.120 --> 0:13:13.280 wanted it so badly she fought through the crowd. Every 0:13:13.360 --> 0:13:16.280 voice said to her, stay home. It's too much trouble, 0:13:16.960 --> 0:13:20.880 so much opposition. Her attitude was, I've come too far 0:13:20.960 --> 0:13:24.920 to stop now. I may be tired, i may be uncomfortable, 0:13:25.040 --> 0:13:28.559 but I'm gonna get to Jesus. When God sees you 0:13:28.720 --> 0:13:33.439 doing what you can, believing when there's no sign, thanking 0:13:33.520 --> 0:13:38.000 Him when you're weak, taking steps of faith when you're uncomfortable, 0:13:38.360 --> 0:13:42.280 God will give you strength that goes beyond your natural ability. 0:13:42.480 --> 0:13:45.120 He'll help you do what you couldn't do on your own. 0:13:46.000 --> 0:13:50.480 I just kept believing, day after day, thanking God. Last 0:13:50.559 --> 0:13:55.160 week On Monday, something happened that I've been believing. 0:13:54.720 --> 0:13:57.680 For for over three years. I was so grateful. 0:13:58.240 --> 0:14:02.360 Then Tuesday morning, something even more amazing happened. 0:14:02.520 --> 0:14:04.920 I couldn't believe it. If that wasn't enough. 0:14:05.040 --> 0:14:09.920 Tuesday evening, something bigger than the first two combine, more 0:14:10.040 --> 0:14:14.839 than I can imagine, happened. It was like rapid fire, 0:14:14.920 --> 0:14:18.760 boom boom, boom, a flood of God's favor. That's the 0:14:18.800 --> 0:14:22.440 way God is. When you stay in faith, you consistently 0:14:23.000 --> 0:14:26.200 thank Him even when there's no sign. You will come 0:14:26.240 --> 0:14:30.920 into these suddenlies where God not only surprises you you 0:14:30.960 --> 0:14:34.520 didn't see it coming, but it will exceed your expectation. 0:14:35.200 --> 0:14:37.920 The scripture talks about how God will do things that 0:14:37.960 --> 0:14:41.080 will cause our head to spin. My head was spinning 0:14:41.160 --> 0:14:45.680 that night. Maybe you've been praying, believing, expecting for a 0:14:45.720 --> 0:14:46.440 long time. 0:14:46.840 --> 0:14:51.080 Stay encouraged. It's on the way. You are closer than 0:14:51.080 --> 0:14:51.640 you think. 0:14:52.240 --> 0:14:55.440 It's going to happen sooner than it looks. There's no 0:14:55.600 --> 0:14:59.440 sign of things improving. Everything looks the same. Get ready. 0:14:59.680 --> 0:15:04.520 God is full of surprises. He doesn't always do things 0:15:04.680 --> 0:15:07.480 in a normal way where it gradually gets better. 0:15:07.600 --> 0:15:08.400 He'll do them. 0:15:08.400 --> 0:15:11.840 Suddenly out of the ordinary. You didn't see it coming. 0:15:12.520 --> 0:15:16.760 It's because day after day, week after week, you kept 0:15:16.800 --> 0:15:19.440 touching him, you kept expecting him. 0:15:19.560 --> 0:15:21.520 You kept thanking him. It was on the way. 0:15:21.760 --> 0:15:24.800 You kept talking like it was going to happen. Your 0:15:24.840 --> 0:15:27.920 faith is going to make you whole. Your faith is 0:15:27.920 --> 0:15:30.720 going to break the addiction. Your faith is going to 0:15:30.760 --> 0:15:33.360 bring you out of debt. Your faith is going to 0:15:33.400 --> 0:15:37.120 help you accomplish your God given dreams. Talked to a 0:15:37.200 --> 0:15:41.440 lady that started having problems with her legs. Her muscles 0:15:41.480 --> 0:15:45.120 and joints were causing her such pain got to the 0:15:45.160 --> 0:15:48.280 point where she couldn't walk. All the doctors could do 0:15:48.480 --> 0:15:51.960 was give her medicine for the pain. For several months, 0:15:51.960 --> 0:15:54.720 she couldn't go to work, she couldn't stand up. She 0:15:54.760 --> 0:15:57.120 had to stay at home off of her feet. The 0:15:57.200 --> 0:16:00.000 prognosis didn't look good. She didn't know if she would 0:16:00.120 --> 0:16:04.440 ever walk again. One Saturday evening, she and her husband 0:16:04.680 --> 0:16:08.360 were watching our services online. At the end, I always 0:16:08.400 --> 0:16:12.680 ask people to stand to receive Christ. Well, her husband 0:16:12.720 --> 0:16:16.240 stood up right there in the living room. She smiled 0:16:16.240 --> 0:16:19.000 and was pleasantly surprised. He looked at her and said, 0:16:19.000 --> 0:16:20.840 come on, honey, stand up. With me. 0:16:21.480 --> 0:16:23.360 She was kind of confused, said, what do you mean? 0:16:23.400 --> 0:16:25.840 You know I can't stand. He said, sure you can. 0:16:26.240 --> 0:16:28.360 Took her by the hands and he helped her up. 0:16:28.720 --> 0:16:32.680 He held her while we were praying. I can imagine 0:16:32.840 --> 0:16:37.120 God seeing her there standing in great pain, being held 0:16:37.120 --> 0:16:40.920 by her husband, but determined to take a step of faith. 0:16:42.200 --> 0:16:45.480 I said, at the end, write this day down. It's 0:16:45.520 --> 0:16:48.720 going to be a new day of victory. That seed 0:16:48.840 --> 0:16:51.760 took root in her heart. She believed it was a 0:16:51.800 --> 0:16:54.960 new day. In a few minutes, while she was sitting 0:16:55.000 --> 0:16:58.200 on the couch, she felt the bones in her legs 0:16:58.240 --> 0:17:00.520 begin to pomp and crack, her. 0:17:00.440 --> 0:17:01.720 Muscles begin to move. 0:17:02.040 --> 0:17:05.760 She said, I can't explain it, but something unusual. What's happening? 0:17:06.240 --> 0:17:09.720 Strength began to come back into her legs. Suddenly all 0:17:09.760 --> 0:17:15.359 that pain was gone. Her husband had fallen asleep. She 0:17:15.560 --> 0:17:19.560 stood up and walked into the bedroom. He couldn't believe it. 0:17:19.800 --> 0:17:22.480 The next morning, they both got up and went to church. 0:17:22.920 --> 0:17:25.280 She said, George, I don't know what happened, but I've 0:17:25.320 --> 0:17:30.760 been walking normal ever since then. What was that? Her 0:17:30.840 --> 0:17:34.840 faith made her home Just like that lady fought her 0:17:34.880 --> 0:17:38.919 way through the crowd. When God sees you releasing your faith. 0:17:39.359 --> 0:17:43.280 It gets his attention. That's what activates his power. She 0:17:43.359 --> 0:17:46.320 could have been discouraged, told her husband, don't bother me. 0:17:46.400 --> 0:17:49.200 You know, I can't stand up, But as an act 0:17:49.240 --> 0:17:52.480 of faith, even though he had to hold her, she 0:17:52.600 --> 0:17:56.840 stood up. Can God see your faith? Are you doing 0:17:56.920 --> 0:18:00.560 anything that says I want to be well, be free, 0:18:00.800 --> 0:18:03.439 I want to go to the next level. That's what 0:18:03.480 --> 0:18:07.120 a man did in March chapter ten. His name was Bartimaeus. 0:18:07.600 --> 0:18:10.320 He was a blind beggar sitting on the side of 0:18:10.400 --> 0:18:14.040 the road. Jesus was leaving Jericho and about to pass 0:18:14.080 --> 0:18:14.840 in front of him. 0:18:15.440 --> 0:18:16.920 When he found out it was. 0:18:16.960 --> 0:18:22.160 Jesus, he started shouting, Jesus, son of David, have mercy 0:18:22.240 --> 0:18:26.879 on me. Well, Jesus technically wasn't the son of David. 0:18:27.280 --> 0:18:30.800 He was the son of Joseph. Why did Bartimaeus call 0:18:30.920 --> 0:18:34.800 him son of David? He recognized he was the Messiah. 0:18:35.520 --> 0:18:39.960 A few chapters earlier, the religious leaders didn't recognize Jesus. 0:18:40.280 --> 0:18:43.800 They thought he was a fraud. They were jealous, intimidated. 0:18:44.480 --> 0:18:48.080 It's interesting that this blind man, a man that didn't 0:18:48.119 --> 0:18:51.359 have physical sight, was one of the first ones to 0:18:51.480 --> 0:18:56.560 recognize Jesus as the Messiah. When he cried out Jesus, 0:18:57.119 --> 0:19:02.879 son of David, he was saying, Messiah, Healer, deliverer, most 0:19:02.960 --> 0:19:07.720 High God. Jesus stopped in his tracks. I can imagine 0:19:07.760 --> 0:19:10.120 Jesus thinking, here's someone that. 0:19:10.200 --> 0:19:11.480 Knows who I am. 0:19:11.760 --> 0:19:15.960 He knows I am all powerful. He's expecting my goodness. 0:19:17.000 --> 0:19:21.960 When Bartimaeus started shouting, people around him said, Bartimaeus, be quiet. 0:19:22.359 --> 0:19:25.360 You're causing the scene. He's gonna get upset with you. 0:19:25.440 --> 0:19:28.160 People will try to talk you out of your miracle. 0:19:28.880 --> 0:19:31.720 They'll tell you all the reasons why you can't get wound, 0:19:32.000 --> 0:19:34.280 why you won't break the addiction, why you won't meet 0:19:34.320 --> 0:19:38.240 the right person. It's because they don't know what God. 0:19:38.080 --> 0:19:38.600 Put in you. 0:19:39.280 --> 0:19:43.600 They can't hear what you hear. Negative voices will try 0:19:43.640 --> 0:19:47.240 to discourage you. But when you get quiet, you'll hear 0:19:47.280 --> 0:19:50.800 that still small voice saying, this addiction. 0:19:50.840 --> 0:19:53.240 Is not your destiny. You're better than this. 0:19:54.320 --> 0:19:57.679 Living in lack, not able to get ahead, is not 0:19:57.800 --> 0:20:02.360 your lot in life. Abundance is on away. Being depressed 0:20:02.960 --> 0:20:07.520 no passion. That is not who you are. Freedom is coming, 0:20:07.760 --> 0:20:12.760 Joy is coming, Breakthroughs are coming. God whispers in your spirit. 0:20:13.359 --> 0:20:17.880 Dreams and promises what you can become. The enemy will 0:20:17.880 --> 0:20:21.520 do his best to drown that out, no matter how 0:20:21.600 --> 0:20:23.160 loud those other voices are. 0:20:23.800 --> 0:20:24.920 Don't let them. 0:20:24.840 --> 0:20:28.119 Talk you out of what God has whispered in your spirit. 0:20:28.880 --> 0:20:32.719 The scripture talks about the secret petitions of our hearts. 0:20:33.400 --> 0:20:36.280 That's the dreams God gave you at night. 0:20:36.400 --> 0:20:40.240 The promises you haven't told anyone about. It seems too 0:20:40.280 --> 0:20:42.159 far out, like it could never happen. 0:20:42.400 --> 0:20:43.840 That's God speaking to you. 0:20:44.280 --> 0:20:47.560 His dream for your life is much bigger than your own. 0:20:48.400 --> 0:20:52.480 But these people saw Bartimaeus as insignificant, unimportant. 0:20:52.480 --> 0:20:53.800 He's just a blind beggar. 0:20:54.280 --> 0:20:58.320 He told him to be quiet, but Bartimaeus shouted even louder. 0:20:59.040 --> 0:21:02.720 When Jesus heard, he stopped and said, let him come 0:21:02.760 --> 0:21:07.679 to me. Verse fifty says Bartimaeus threw off his coat. 0:21:08.600 --> 0:21:12.840 This was significant in those days. Scholars tell us when 0:21:12.880 --> 0:21:17.320 a person had a legitimate disability, they were given an 0:21:17.320 --> 0:21:21.160 official coat from the government that gave them the right 0:21:21.320 --> 0:21:25.600 to beg The beggar's coat was very valuable. That's how 0:21:25.680 --> 0:21:29.120 they made their living. On the other hand, it labeled 0:21:29.160 --> 0:21:32.960 you as a beggar, just as we recognize people by 0:21:32.960 --> 0:21:37.840 their uniforms, police officer, firefighter, a doctor. When you wore 0:21:37.920 --> 0:21:42.000 the beggar's coat, everywhere you went, people knew you're at 0:21:42.000 --> 0:21:42.919 a disadvantage. 0:21:43.280 --> 0:21:44.240 You're not up to par. 0:21:45.080 --> 0:21:47.760 In a sense, that coat gave you the right to 0:21:47.800 --> 0:21:51.199 feel sorry for yourself, the right to be depressed, the 0:21:51.280 --> 0:21:55.320 right to sit around in self pity. When Bartimaeus heard 0:21:55.400 --> 0:21:57.880 Jesus say come, the first thing. 0:21:57.760 --> 0:21:59.800 He did was throw off his coat. 0:22:00.400 --> 0:22:04.080 His attitude was, this is a new day. I am 0:22:04.240 --> 0:22:08.760 done feeling sorry for myself. I'm done wearing this label 0:22:08.840 --> 0:22:12.760 that says disadvantage. I'm done begging. I don't need this 0:22:12.880 --> 0:22:17.560 coat anymore. He changed his mindset. I am not a victim. 0:22:17.640 --> 0:22:20.920 I am a victor. God is on the throne. He's 0:22:20.920 --> 0:22:23.600 bigger than this problem. He has beauty for these ashes. 0:22:24.400 --> 0:22:28.199 He got rid of the excuses. As long as you 0:22:28.480 --> 0:22:32.719 justify where you are, making excuses as to why you 0:22:32.760 --> 0:22:36.639 can't rise higher, why you're at a disadvantage, why you're bitter, 0:22:37.119 --> 0:22:40.840 then you'll get stuck. I wonder how many of us 0:22:40.960 --> 0:22:42.359 are wearing that beggar's coat. 0:22:43.080 --> 0:22:45.600 Joel, I had a bad childhood. I've got a good 0:22:45.640 --> 0:22:46.560 reason to be bitter. 0:22:47.240 --> 0:22:50.680 Somebody walked out of a relationship, I lost a loved one, 0:22:50.760 --> 0:22:52.920 I came down with an illness. That's why I'm negative, 0:22:53.160 --> 0:22:56.879 That's why I'm sour. Before you can get well, you 0:22:56.960 --> 0:22:57.360 have to. 0:22:57.320 --> 0:23:00.000 Take off the beggar's coat. Can I tell you? 0:23:00.720 --> 0:23:03.879 We all have a reason to feel sorry for ourselves. 0:23:04.160 --> 0:23:09.240 Everybody's been hurt, everybody's made mistakes, everybody's had disappointments. 0:23:09.480 --> 0:23:11.200 Get rid of the excuses. 0:23:11.840 --> 0:23:12.960 It may not have been. 0:23:12.800 --> 0:23:16.919 Fair, but God is fair. He's a god of justice. 0:23:17.200 --> 0:23:19.880 He wouldn't have allowed it if it was going to keep. 0:23:19.720 --> 0:23:20.720 You from your purpose. 0:23:21.840 --> 0:23:25.280 And I'm all for being compassionate, loving kind, But I 0:23:25.320 --> 0:23:27.640 don't believe in giving people. 0:23:27.359 --> 0:23:29.960 The right to feel sorry for themselves. 0:23:30.560 --> 0:23:33.960 Not because it wasn't fair, not because life didn't throw 0:23:34.040 --> 0:23:36.960 you a curve, but because it will keep. 0:23:36.800 --> 0:23:39.320 You from seeing the beauty for ashes. 0:23:39.720 --> 0:23:43.840 It will keep you from being restored, healed, vindicated, promoted. 0:23:44.880 --> 0:23:48.600 God wants to make the enemy pay. He wants to bring. 0:23:48.400 --> 0:23:50.520 You out better. Do your part. 0:23:50.960 --> 0:23:53.880 Take off the self pity, take off the hurts. 0:23:53.880 --> 0:23:55.280 Take off the disappointments. 0:23:55.480 --> 0:24:00.200 You can't reach your destiny making excuses as long as 0:24:00.200 --> 0:24:03.439 you're wearing the beggar's coat. Giving yourself a reason to 0:24:03.480 --> 0:24:07.399 be bitter, feel disadvantaged, feel less than it will keep 0:24:07.440 --> 0:24:11.080 you from the new levels God has in store. When 0:24:11.080 --> 0:24:15.159 Bartimbaeus took off that coat, he was not only leaving 0:24:15.200 --> 0:24:16.160 his livelihood. 0:24:16.400 --> 0:24:17.480 He was leaving the. 0:24:17.400 --> 0:24:20.679 Negative things of the past. It was symbolic. He was 0:24:20.800 --> 0:24:24.320 leaving the dysfunction, the bad breaks. You have to be 0:24:24.440 --> 0:24:27.359 willing to leave some things. If you're going to become 0:24:27.520 --> 0:24:29.879 all you were created to be, you may need to 0:24:29.960 --> 0:24:34.680 leave bitterness, leave a bad attitude, leave compromise. Jesus told 0:24:34.680 --> 0:24:35.840 Bartimaeus to come. 0:24:36.280 --> 0:24:37.800 He couldn't see. 0:24:37.560 --> 0:24:41.840 But he started walking toward Jesus based solely on what 0:24:41.960 --> 0:24:45.800 he heard. You may not see healing yet, but you 0:24:45.920 --> 0:24:48.919 have to go by what you've heard. By his stripes, 0:24:48.960 --> 0:24:53.120 I am healing. You don't see increase yet. Business is slow. 0:24:53.240 --> 0:24:56.320 Go by what you've heard. I will lend and not borrow. 0:24:57.280 --> 0:25:01.199 Your child's off course, no sign of hiven. As for 0:25:01.280 --> 0:25:04.800 me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Walk 0:25:04.880 --> 0:25:09.679 by faith and not by sight. Jesus asked Bartimaeus, what 0:25:09.920 --> 0:25:11.840 is it that you want me to do for you? 0:25:12.440 --> 0:25:14.000 He said, Lord, I want. 0:25:13.840 --> 0:25:18.160 To see Jesus said your faith has made you whole. 0:25:18.480 --> 0:25:21.360 Go in peace. You were healed instantly. He could see. 0:25:22.200 --> 0:25:25.640 God is saying to us what he said to him. 0:25:25.920 --> 0:25:29.920 Your faith is going to turn things around. Your faith 0:25:30.200 --> 0:25:33.199 is going to open the right doors. Your faith is 0:25:33.240 --> 0:25:37.760 going to bring unusual favor. It's going to happen sooner 0:25:37.800 --> 0:25:42.040 than it looks. Keep expecting it, Keep talking like it's 0:25:42.080 --> 0:25:45.320 going to happen. Go out each morning looking for God's 0:25:45.320 --> 0:25:49.160 goodness he's passing by. Don't just brush up against him. 0:25:49.480 --> 0:25:52.719 Do like this lady, reach out and touch him. If 0:25:52.760 --> 0:25:57.560 you'll do this, I believe and declare, like Bartimaeus, your 0:25:57.640 --> 0:26:00.680 faith is going to make things happen that you could 0:26:00.720 --> 0:26:05.000 never make happen. God is about to open supernatural doors, 0:26:05.280 --> 0:26:09.359 turn impossible situations around, and take you to the fullness 0:26:09.400 --> 0:26:13.199 of your destiny. In Jesus's name, if you receive it, 0:26:13.320 --> 0:26:17.080 can you say him in today? I'd like to give 0:26:17.080 --> 0:26:20.399 you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:26:20.840 --> 0:26:21.879 Would you pray with me? 0:26:22.560 --> 0:26:28.240 Just say, Lord Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. Come 0:26:28.280 --> 0:26:33.720 into my heart. I'll make you my lord and savior. Friends, 0:26:33.720 --> 0:26:36.240 if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:26:36.280 --> 0:26:39.800 born again, get in a good Bible based church, keep 0:26:39.840 --> 0:26:41.760 God first place, Victorian. 0:26:41.800 --> 0:26:44.320 I'll be right back to speak a blessing over you. 0:26:45.680 --> 0:26:49.360 Thank you for listening to the Jolustine podcast. Help us 0:26:49.359 --> 0:26:52.240 continue to share the message of hope with those all 0:26:52.280 --> 0:26:56.320 over the world. Visit jolusteine dot com slash give Hope 0:26:56.520 --> 0:26:57.679 to give a gift today. 0:26:58.960 --> 0:27:01.639 Thanks so much for listen seen to today's message. I 0:27:01.680 --> 0:27:04.960 hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast 0:27:05.200 --> 0:27:08.199 to keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying 0:27:08.280 --> 0:27:10.880 for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 0:27:10.880 --> 0:27:11.720 see you next time.