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00:00Victoria and I believe in you're going to have a blessed summer, praying for you guys
00:04every day, and thanks for being with us today.
00:07Hey, I'm excited.
00:08Victoria's got a new book out.
00:09It's called Grace to Go, and I know it's going to bless you.
00:13I'm excited because in this book, you will see how you are strengthened, that you are
00:18prepared, and you are ready for anything that's in front of you.
00:22You are Grace to Go.
00:24Enjoy today's message.
00:26God bless you.
00:27It's a joy to come into your homes.
00:29We love you, and we know God has great things in store for each one of you.
00:34If you're ever in our area, stop by and be a part of one of our services.
00:37I promise you, we'll make you feel right at home.
00:39But thanks for tuning in today, and thank you again for coming out.
00:43I like to start with something funny, and I heard about this group of children.
00:46They were in the cafeteria line at their Catholic elementary school.
00:51At the beginning of the line, there was this big bowl of apples.
00:55Now, none had written a note that said, take only one.
00:59God is watching.
01:00At the end of the line, there was a big batch of chocolate chip cookies.
01:05One of the children had written a note that said, take all you want.
01:08God's watching the apples.
01:11Hold up your Bibles.
01:13Say it like you mean it.
01:14This is my Bible.
01:16I am what it says I am.
01:17I have what it says I have.
01:19I can do what it says I can do.
01:22Today, I will be taught the Word of God.
01:24I boldly confess my mind is alert.
01:27My heart is receptive.
01:29I will never be the same.
01:31In Jesus' name, God bless you.
01:33I want to talk to you today about the power of believing.
01:38One of the greatest abilities God's given each one of us is our ability to believe.
01:44If you believe, you can be successful.
01:47If you believe, you can overcome mistakes of the past.
01:51If you believe, you can fulfill your God-given destiny.
01:55There's incredible power in what we believe.
01:59What you believe is greater than what the medical report says.
02:03Of course, we respect medical science, but God has the final say.
02:08When you get in agreement with God and believe what He says about you,
02:12then what you believe can supersede any natural law.
02:17What you believe is greater than what's in your bank account.
02:21I have a friend that came to this country with nothing but the clothes on his back.
02:26Today, he runs a Fortune 500 company.
02:29Against all odds, he believed he could do what God put in his heart.
02:34Paul prayed in Ephesians 119 that we would understand the incredible greatness of God's power for those who believe.
02:45Notice the power is only activated when we believe.
02:48That means right now, the creator of the universe is just waiting to release healing, restoration, favor, promotion, abundance.
02:59The only catch is we have to believe.
03:01Now think about Mary, the mother of Christ.
03:04When she was a teenager, the angel came to her and said,
03:08You're going to have a child without knowing a man.
03:11Her first thought was, that's impossible.
03:14That's never happened before.
03:16That defies the laws of nature.
03:19She said to the angel,
03:20How can this be?
03:22He answered back,
03:23The Spirit of the Lord will come on you and cause it to happen.
03:27Now, I love the way Mary responded.
03:30She didn't argue with him.
03:32She didn't try to talk herself out of it.
03:34She simply said,
03:36Be it unto me, even as you have said.
03:39In other words, let it happen.
03:42I'm a believer.
03:43I'm in agreement with God.
03:45God, sometimes just like with Mary, God will put a promise in your heart that seems impossible.
03:52A promise that says, you're going to be well.
03:55You're going to start a business.
03:57You're going to meet the right person and get married.
04:00See, you didn't think, it's never going to happen to me, Joel.
04:03I've been this way too long.
04:05I've made too many mistakes.
04:07The medical report is too bad.
04:09Nobody in my family has been successful.
04:11On and on.
04:12We could all come up with excuses.
04:14But I'm asking us to do like Mary.
04:18Instead of talking yourself out of it,
04:20just respond with three simple words.
04:24Lord, I believe.
04:26God says,
04:27Your children will be mighty in the land.
04:30Lord, I believe.
04:32God says,
04:33He's going to restore the years that were stolen.
04:36He's going to bring you to a flourishing finish.
04:39Lord, I believe.
04:40God says,
04:41Whatever you touch will prosper and succeed.
04:44You will lend and not borrow.
04:46The head and never the tail.
04:48Now, don't come up with five reasons why that's not going to happen.
04:52Your response should be,
04:54Lord, I believe.
04:55When you get in agreement with God,
04:58the incredible greatness of His power is activated.
05:02In the scripture,
05:03a man came to Jesus and said,
05:05My little daughter's very sick.
05:07She's close to death.
05:08Will you come to my home and pray for her?
05:11Jesus agreed.
05:12But along the way,
05:14he kept getting stopped.
05:15One interruption after another.
05:17Finally, word came back to him saying,
05:20No need to come.
05:21You've waited too late.
05:22The little girl has died.
05:24The people were upset.
05:26Very distraught.
05:27But Jesus said to them,
05:29Luke 8 50,
05:30Don't be afraid.
05:32If you will only believe,
05:34the little girl will be well.
05:37Notice the phrase,
05:38Only believe.
05:40Jesus went to the home,
05:41prayed for the little girl,
05:43and she came back to life.
05:44But you too may be facing situations
05:47that seem impossible.
05:49In the natural,
05:50you don't see how you could get well.
05:52How you could overcome the addiction.
05:55How your family could ever be restored.
05:57But God is saying to you
05:59what he said to them.
06:01If you will only believe,
06:03I'll turn the situation around.
06:05If you only believe,
06:07breakthroughs are headed your way.
06:10Friends, it's not complicated.
06:12God didn't say,
06:13If you'll pray 20 hours a day.
06:15If you'll quote 12 chapters in the scripture,
06:18then I'll do it for you.
06:19No, he said,
06:20If you'll only believe.
06:22In other words,
06:22if you'll just get your mind going
06:24in the right direction
06:26and believe you can rise higher,
06:28believe you can overcome the obstacle,
06:31believe your family can be restored,
06:34believe you can do something great
06:36and make your mark in this generation.
06:39When you believe the surpassing greatness
06:43of God's power is released in your life.
06:45Some of you,
06:47you're going to have to develop new habits.
06:49If you've been negative for a long time,
06:52you've got to retrain your thinking
06:54from I can't to I can.
06:57From it won't happen to it will happen.
07:00From I'll never get well
07:02to God is restoring health unto me.
07:04From I never get any good breaks
07:06to God's favor surrounds me like a shield.
07:09From I made too many mistakes,
07:11I'm all washed up
07:12to I'm redeemed,
07:13I'm forgiven,
07:14my best days are still out in front of me.
07:16You've got to reprogram your computer.
07:19Load in some new software.
07:21It may look impossible,
07:23like it's over and done,
07:25but if you'll be a believer,
07:28God will do for you
07:29what he did for this family.
07:30God will resurrect dead dreams.
07:33He'll resurrect a dead relationship.
07:35God can resurrect
07:36what you thought was dead.
07:38Bring those things back to life.
07:41I'm trying to talk you in today
07:42to being a believer
07:44and not a doubter.
07:45Does it matter how bad it looks?
07:48How many people have told you no?
07:50How long it's been that way?
07:52Listen,
07:52God has the final say.
07:54It's not over
07:55till God says it's over.
07:56He controls the whole universe.
08:00Nothing that's happened to you
08:02is a surprise to God.
08:04No disappointment,
08:05no injustice,
08:07no failure.
08:07God saw it
08:09and he wants to take
08:10what was meant for your harm
08:12and use it to your advantage.
08:14Now you've got to shake off
08:15the self-pity,
08:17shake off the disappointment,
08:19let go of what didn't work out
08:21and press forward
08:22into the new beginning
08:23God has in store.
08:25Friends,
08:26God has you
08:26in the palm of his hand.
08:28His plans for you
08:30are for good,
08:31to promote you,
08:33to heal you,
08:34to restore you,
08:35to show you his favor.
08:37You may not see
08:38how it can happen,
08:39but lean not
08:40to your own understanding.
08:42The scripture says
08:43that means
08:43just because you don't see a way
08:46doesn't mean
08:46God doesn't have a way.
08:48But here's the whole key today.
08:50Nothing will happen
08:51unless you believe.
08:53God has this incredible power,
08:55favor,
08:56healing,
08:57promotion,
08:57restoration,
08:58but it's only activated
08:59when we believe.
09:01I'm asking you
09:02to believe
09:03that this is your year,
09:04believe
09:05that every negative situation,
09:08God's turning it
09:08in your favor.
09:09Believe
09:10that good breaks
09:11are headed your way.
09:12Believe
09:13that your future
09:14will be brighter
09:15than your past.
09:17First Chronicles 28,
09:1820 says,
09:19don't be discouraged
09:20by the size
09:22of the task.
09:23For the Lord,
09:24your God
09:24is with you.
09:26He will see to it
09:27that it is finished
09:28completely.
09:29Notice,
09:30when you believe,
09:31God will see to it
09:33that it's taken care of.
09:34When you believe,
09:36you have the creator
09:37of the universe
09:38fighting your battles,
09:40arranging things
09:41in your favor,
09:42going before you,
09:43moving the wrong people
09:44out of the way.
09:45You couldn't have made it
09:46happen in your own strength,
09:47but because you're a believer,
09:50the surpassing greatness
09:51of God's power
09:52is at work in your life.
09:54Now,
09:55don't be intimidated
09:56by the size
09:58of the problem,
09:59the size of your dream.
10:00Don't let that convince you
10:02to stop believing.
10:04Well,
10:04Joel,
10:05I got laid off
10:06and you just don't know
10:07my financial situation.
10:08No,
10:09but I do know
10:10Jehovah Jireh,
10:12the Lord,
10:12our provider,
10:13he's still on the throne.
10:15One touch
10:16of God's favor
10:17and you'll go
10:18from barely making it
10:19to having more than enough.
10:21You just don't know
10:22my medical situation.
10:24Doesn't look good.
10:25No,
10:25but I do know
10:26Jehovah Rapha,
10:27the Lord,
10:28our healer,
10:28has not lost his power.
10:30He has done it
10:31in the past.
10:32He can do it
10:33in the future.
10:34Well,
10:34Joel,
10:35I've got big dreams,
10:36but I don't know
10:37the right people.
10:38I don't have
10:38the connections.
10:39That's okay.
10:40God does.
10:41You have friends
10:42in high places.
10:44When you believe,
10:45God will bring
10:46the right people
10:47across your path.
10:48Don't be intimidated
10:49by the size
10:50of what you're facing.
10:52Here's what I've learned.
10:54The bigger the problem,
10:55the bigger your destiny.
10:56The enemy
10:57would not be
10:58fighting you so hard
11:00unless he knew
11:01God had something
11:01amazing in your future.
11:03On the other side
11:05of that challenge
11:05is a new level
11:06of your destiny.
11:07The good news is
11:09when you believe,
11:10God promises,
11:11he will bring it to pass.
11:13Let me assure you,
11:15nothing can stand
11:16against our God.
11:17No disappointment,
11:18no setback,
11:20no injustice,
11:21no person,
11:22no hater,
11:23no jealousy.
11:23When you believe,
11:25all the forces
11:26of darkness
11:26cannot stop God
11:28from taking you
11:29where he wants you to go.
11:30Be a believer
11:31and not a doubter.
11:33It says in the book
11:34of Hebrews,
11:35when we come to God,
11:36we must believe
11:37that he is.
11:39It's interesting,
11:40it doesn't really
11:41finish the scripture.
11:42Believe that he is what?
11:44It leaves it open-ended.
11:45This is saying,
11:47when you believe,
11:48God becomes
11:50whatever you need
11:51him to be.
11:51He is strength
11:53when you're weak.
11:55He is healing
11:56when you're sick.
11:57He is favor
11:58when you need
11:59a good break.
12:00He is a way maker
12:02when you don't see a way.
12:03He is restoration
12:05when something's
12:06been stolen.
12:07He is vindication
12:09when you've been
12:10falsely accused.
12:11He is whatever
12:13you need him to be.
12:14Many of you
12:15know God
12:16by one name.
12:18You know him
12:19as a savior
12:19and that's great.
12:20That's the most
12:21important way.
12:22But you need
12:23to find out
12:24what else he is.
12:25Do you know him
12:27as a resurrection God?
12:29A God that can
12:30bring back to life
12:31what you thought
12:31was dead?
12:33Do you know him
12:34as an Ephesians
12:35320 God?
12:36A God who can do
12:37exceedingly,
12:38abundantly,
12:38above and beyond.
12:40Do you know him
12:41as a healer,
12:42a restorer,
12:43a God who gives
12:44beauty for ashes?
12:45You may have gone
12:46through hurts
12:47and disappointments
12:49and people did
12:49you wrong
12:50but you don't
12:51have to live
12:52defeated,
12:53depressed,
12:54in self-pity.
12:56No, God wants
12:56to heal the hurts,
12:58give you a new
12:59beginning,
13:00bring you out
13:00better off
13:01than you were
13:01before,
13:02but you've got
13:02to know him
13:03as a God
13:04who gives beauty
13:05for ashes.
13:07Friends,
13:07there's so much
13:08more to our God.
13:09Don't keep him
13:10in a little box.
13:12Discover
13:12what else he is.
13:14I know this
13:15couple that
13:15attends Lakewood
13:16and for the last
13:17year and a half
13:18or so,
13:18they've heard me
13:19talking about
13:20believing for
13:21Ephesians 320
13:22and how God
13:23wants to show us
13:24his unprecedented
13:25favor.
13:26And they dared
13:27to believe.
13:28They let that
13:29seed take root.
13:30And for the last
13:3110 years,
13:32they've been working
13:32very hard,
13:33saving their funds
13:34so they could
13:35hopefully purchase
13:36their first home.
13:37And at one point,
13:38everything came
13:39together.
13:40They found the
13:41house they liked.
13:42It was a good price.
13:43They knew it was
13:44God's favor.
13:45They had the money
13:45for the down payment.
13:47They were so excited.
13:48But when they went
13:49to close on the home,
13:51the young lady
13:52was at the
13:52realtor's office
13:53finalizing the details.
13:55She got a call
13:56from her husband
13:57saying that he had
13:58just been let go
13:59from his job.
14:01He had worked
14:01for that company
14:02for over six years,
14:04always did his best,
14:06had a good attitude,
14:07but his supervisor
14:09never particularly
14:10liked him.
14:11Over the years,
14:12his wife just kept
14:13encouraging him,
14:14you're not working
14:15under people,
14:16you're working
14:16under God.
14:17He did his best
14:18to stay on the high road,
14:19but it seemed like
14:20at the worst possible time,
14:23he got let go.
14:24To make matters worse,
14:26this all happened
14:27on his birthday.
14:28He lost his job
14:30and the house
14:31of their dreams
14:32on the same day.
14:33Naturally,
14:34they were disappointed,
14:35but the good news is
14:37this young couple
14:38didn't just know God
14:39as a savior,
14:40they knew him
14:42as a God
14:43of restoration.
14:44They knew him
14:45as a God of justice,
14:46a God who will make
14:47your wrongs right.
14:49They could have easily
14:50gotten bitter,
14:51dropped out of church,
14:52but they understood
14:54this principle.
14:55If you only believe,
14:56you will see
14:57the goodness of God.
14:59Instead of sitting
15:00at home every day,
15:01depressed,
15:02in self-pity,
15:04anytime he wasn't out
15:05looking for a new job,
15:06he would come up
15:07to the church
15:07and volunteer
15:09week after week,
15:10month after month,
15:11as faithful as can be.
15:13In the natural,
15:14didn't look like
15:15anything was happening,
15:16but they weren't
15:17discouraged by the size
15:18of their problem.
15:20They knew as long
15:21as they believed
15:22the Lord their God
15:24would see to it
15:25that they were
15:25taken care of.
15:27Five months later,
15:28he got a call
15:29from his old company.
15:30Hadn't talked to them
15:31since he had been let go.
15:33It was an executive
15:34from the corporate headquarters.
15:36He explained
15:37how he had let go
15:38of the whole management team
15:40and this executive
15:41wanted him to come back
15:42and work for the company.
15:43He not only
15:44restored his job,
15:45but he restored
15:46all of his benefits,
15:47all of his retirement,
15:49all of his seniority.
15:50The house they wanted
15:51to buy,
15:52it already sold,
15:53but they went out
15:54looking and found
15:55a better house
15:56in a better neighborhood
15:58for a better price.
15:59Today,
16:00he not only has
16:00his job back,
16:01but they're living
16:02in their dream home.
16:03God's a faithful God.
16:06Isaiah 310 says,
16:08say to the righteous,
16:09it shall be well with you.
16:11You may go through
16:13some difficulties.
16:14People may do you wrong,
16:15but because you're a believer,
16:17it shall be well with you.
16:19You lost your job,
16:20yes,
16:21but another job is coming.
16:23It shall be well with you.
16:24The medical report
16:26doesn't look good,
16:26yes,
16:27but we have another report.
16:28It shall be well with you.
16:31You say,
16:31Joel,
16:32I've been praying,
16:33believing for this situation
16:34to change for a long time,
16:36but I don't see
16:37anything happening.
16:38No,
16:39just like with this couple,
16:40God is working
16:41behind the scenes
16:42right now,
16:43arranging things
16:44in your favor.
16:45The answer is already
16:47on the way.
16:47It's just a matter of time
16:49before it shows up.
16:50It shall be well with you.
16:53I like to think of it
16:54like setting the temperature
16:56on a thermostat.
16:57You set the temperature
16:58to 72 degrees.
17:00Now,
17:01it may be 96 degrees
17:03in the room,
17:03far off from where you set it.
17:06You could go to the thermostat
17:07and think,
17:08this isn't working.
17:09It's not matching up.
17:10No,
17:11you don't worry about it.
17:12You know,
17:12it's just a matter of time
17:14before the temperature
17:15in the room
17:16matches the temperature
17:18that you set.
17:19In the same way,
17:20we should set our thermostats
17:23on what God says about us.
17:25God says,
17:26you will lend
17:27and not borrow.
17:28I'm setting my thermostat
17:29right there.
17:30That's what I'm choosing
17:31to believe.
17:32Now,
17:33right now,
17:33I may be far from that.
17:35I may be far in debt,
17:37but that's okay.
17:38I'm not worried.
17:39As long as I've got
17:40my thermostat set,
17:42as long as I keep believing,
17:44keep honoring God,
17:45keep being my best,
17:47I know it's just
17:48a matter of time
17:49before the conditions
17:50in my life
17:51match up
17:52to the conditions
17:53in my thinking.
17:54God is a faithful God.
17:57Now,
17:57we should set our thermostats
18:00as for me and my house,
18:01we will serve the Lord.
18:03You may have a child
18:04that's 32 degrees,
18:06a son that's 140 degrees,
18:08out there living wild,
18:09doesn't matter.
18:10As long as your thermostat
18:12is set,
18:12you're not worried,
18:14you're not frustrated,
18:15you don't have to live
18:16wondering if it's going
18:17to change,
18:18you know God
18:19is in complete control.
18:20When he sees
18:21you have a made-up mind,
18:23that your thermostat,
18:24your thinking
18:25is set on his promises,
18:27on faith,
18:28on restoration,
18:29on healing,
18:30on victory,
18:31that's when God
18:32goes to work.
18:33It may not happen
18:34overnight,
18:35but God is faithful,
18:37he will do
18:38what he promised.
18:39And some of you today,
18:40you need to readjust
18:41your thermostat.
18:43At one time,
18:45you believed
18:45to do something great.
18:47You believed
18:48to start that business.
18:49You believed
18:50you'd beat that addiction,
18:51but it didn't happen
18:53on your timetable.
18:54You got discouraged
18:55and you ended up
18:56giving up.
18:57God is saying,
18:58reset the thermostat.
19:00Start believing
19:02once again.
19:03Believe
19:03you can live
19:04free from pain.
19:06Believe
19:06you can move
19:07into that nicer home.
19:09Believe
19:09God's bringing
19:10the right people
19:10across your path.
19:11Keep the thermostat set.
19:14Have a made-up mind.
19:16When it gets cold,
19:17when it gets hot,
19:19stay in faith.
19:20This is what God
19:21says about me.
19:22I am blessed.
19:23I will live
19:24and not die.
19:25My children
19:26will be mighty
19:27in the land.
19:28My latter days
19:29will be greater
19:30than my former days.
19:31Now,
19:32you may not see
19:33anything happening
19:33week after week,
19:35month after month,
19:36maybe even year after year.
19:37Doesn't matter.
19:38Our attitude
19:39is my thermostat
19:41is set.
19:42I'm not moved
19:42by what I see,
19:44by what I feel,
19:45by what people tell me.
19:46I'm moved
19:47by what I know.
19:48And I know
19:49when I believe
19:50the incredible greatness
19:52of God's power
19:53is activated.
19:54I know
19:55when I believe
19:56strongholds
19:57are broken,
19:58favor,
19:59healing,
19:59promotion,
20:00restoration,
20:01they're coming my way.
20:03In the scripture,
20:04a man by the name
20:06of Ezekiel
20:06was facing
20:07an impossible situation.
20:09There were these
20:10dead bones
20:11in a valley
20:12that God had promised
20:13would come back
20:14to life.
20:15Dead bones
20:16represent
20:16dreams
20:17and goals
20:18that we don't think
20:19will come to pass.
20:20God had the power
20:22to bring these
20:23dead bones
20:23to life,
20:24but God
20:25needed a person
20:26who believed
20:27so he could work
20:29through them.
20:30God said to Ezekiel,
20:32do you believe
20:33that these dead bones
20:34can live?
20:35Isn't it interesting?
20:37God wanted to know
20:38what Ezekiel believed.
20:41Ezekiel could have
20:42reasoned it out
20:42and said,
20:43God,
20:43the bones are dead.
20:44I don't see
20:44how that's going
20:45to happen.
20:45In other words,
20:47the medical report
20:48doesn't look good,
20:48God.
20:49Business is slow.
20:50This is a big problem.
20:53I can imagine
20:54God said,
20:54Ezekiel,
20:55I'm not asking
20:56you all of that.
20:57All I want to know
20:58is do you believe?
21:00All at once,
21:02Ezekiel shook off
21:03the doubt
21:03and he said in effect,
21:05Lord,
21:05I believe.
21:06The spirit of God
21:08came on him.
21:08He started prophesying
21:10and somehow,
21:11someway,
21:11those dead bones
21:12came back to life.
21:13But God is asking us
21:15what he asked Ezekiel.
21:17Do you believe
21:18you can live a blessed,
21:20prosperous,
21:21successful life?
21:22I've got the power.
21:23I'm just looking
21:24for someone
21:25who believes.
21:26Do you believe
21:27God can turn
21:28that situation around?
21:30Do you believe
21:31you can overcome
21:32mistakes of the past?
21:33Friends,
21:34when you get
21:35in agreement with God
21:36and believe
21:37that allows God
21:38to release
21:39the incredible greatness
21:41of his power.
21:42When Lazarus
21:44was very sick,
21:45his two sisters,
21:46Mary and Martha,
21:47sent word for Jesus
21:48to come to their hometown
21:49and pray for Lazarus.
21:51But Jesus waited too long.
21:53He waited four days.
21:55Lazarus had already died.
21:57When Jesus finally showed up,
22:00Martha was very upset.
22:01She said,
22:02Jesus,
22:03if you would have been here sooner,
22:04my brother would still be alive.
22:07Have you ever felt like
22:09God showed up too late?
22:11You prayed,
22:12you believed,
22:13but you still didn't
22:14get the promotion.
22:15You worked hard,
22:16you had a good attitude,
22:17like the young man
22:18I talked about,
22:18but the company
22:19still let you go.
22:21You stood on God's promises.
22:22You quoted the scriptures,
22:24but your prayers
22:25didn't get answered.
22:26That's the way
22:27Mary and Martha felt.
22:29They were discouraged,
22:31depressed,
22:31probably a little bit bitter.
22:33Jesus looked at them
22:34and said,
22:35take me to the place
22:37where you have laid in.
22:38In other words,
22:40take me to the place
22:41where you stopped believing.
22:43Take me to the place
22:45where you decided
22:45it was over.
22:47You got to go to that place
22:48and ask yourself,
22:49is my God
22:51still on the throne?
22:52Is my God
22:54still all powerful?
22:55Is my God
22:56still El Shaddai,
22:57the God who is more
22:59than enough?
22:59You got to stir
23:00your faith up.
23:02God said,
23:02Mary, Martha,
23:03it looks bad,
23:04but it's not over.
23:05If you'll start
23:07believing once again,
23:08I'll show you
23:09my power
23:10in a greater way.
23:12Faith began to rise
23:13in their hearts.
23:15Martha said,
23:15Jesus,
23:16if you'd have been here,
23:17my brother
23:18would still be alive,
23:19but I believe
23:20even now
23:22you can raise him
23:23from the dead.
23:25Sometimes
23:25you have to have
23:27even now faith
23:28where you say,
23:29God,
23:30it looks impossible.
23:31It looks like
23:32it's over and done,
23:33but I know
23:34you're a supernatural God
23:36and I believe
23:37even now
23:38you can turn
23:39my finances around.
23:41Even now
23:42you can heal my body.
23:43Even now
23:44you can restore
23:45this relationship.
23:47Mary and Martha
23:49shook off the doubt
23:50and they started
23:51believing once again.
23:53You know the story.
23:54Jesus raised Lazarus
23:55from the dead.
23:56What's interesting
23:58is back in those days,
23:59the Sadducees,
24:01these were some of the people
24:02that were against Jesus.
24:03They believed
24:04that the spirit
24:05left the body
24:07on the third day
24:08after a person died.
24:10It wasn't a coincidence
24:12that God waited
24:13for the fourth day
24:15to show up.
24:16Jesus waited
24:17on purpose
24:18so that when he raised
24:19Lazarus,
24:20there wouldn't be
24:21any doubt about it.
24:22They would know
24:23that it was
24:24a great miracle.
24:26sometimes
24:27God will wait
24:28on purpose.
24:30Not only
24:31so you will know
24:32that it's his power
24:33but so your doubters,
24:35so your naysayers,
24:36so your unbelieving
24:37relatives
24:37won't be able
24:39to deny
24:39that God has done
24:40something amazing
24:41in your life.
24:43At first,
24:45Mary and Martha
24:46were disappointed
24:46because Jesus
24:47didn't show up
24:48in time
24:49to heal Lazarus.
24:50They were disappointed
24:51that their prayers
24:52didn't get answered
24:53in the way
24:54they wanted.
24:55But all along,
24:57God knew
24:57what he was doing.
24:58God wasn't planning
25:00a healing.
25:01He was planning
25:02something better.
25:03He was planning
25:04a resurrection.
25:05Just because
25:07you believed
25:07and it didn't work
25:08out your way
25:09on your timetable
25:11doesn't mean
25:12that it's over.
25:13It means just
25:14the opposite.
25:15God's planning
25:15something better.
25:16You believed
25:17and you didn't
25:18get the promotion.
25:19You believed
25:19and you didn't qualify
25:20for the new home.
25:21Keep believing
25:22God has something
25:23better coming.
25:24You believe
25:25but your child
25:26hasn't turned around.
25:27Keep believing
25:28God's going to use
25:29your child
25:30in a great way.
25:31You believe
25:32but 2011
25:33hadn't been that great
25:34so far.
25:35Keep believing.
25:36It's not over.
25:37God's still on the throne.
25:38Even now,
25:39God can still
25:40turn it around.
25:42After Jesus
25:43raised Lazarus,
25:44he said to Mary
25:45and Martha,
25:46did I not tell you
25:48if you would believe
25:49you would see
25:50the glory of God?
25:52You may have
25:53plenty of reasons
25:54to be discouraged,
25:55depressed,
25:56negative
25:57but God is saying
25:58if you will only believe
26:00you will see
26:01my power
26:02in new ways.
26:04Make up your mind.
26:05You're going to be
26:06a believer
26:06and not a doubter.
26:08Keep the thermostat set.
26:10You may not see
26:11how it can happen
26:12but that's not your job.
26:13Your job
26:14is to believe.
26:15Know this,
26:16right now
26:16behind the scenes
26:18God's working
26:19in your life,
26:20arranging things
26:21in your favor.
26:23Don't be intimidated
26:24by the size
26:26of what you're facing.
26:27Stay in faith
26:29and the Lord,
26:30your God,
26:31will make sure
26:31that it comes to pass.
26:33Get this down
26:34in your spirit.
26:35Because you're a believer,
26:37all will be well
26:38with you.
26:39All will be well
26:40with your family.
26:42All will be well
26:43with your finances.
26:44All will be well
26:45in your health.
26:47All will be well
26:48with your career.
26:49You need to get ready
26:50because God's promises
26:52are about to come
26:52to pass in your life.
26:54It may not have happened
26:56in the past
26:56on your timetable.
26:58That's because
26:59God's not planning
27:00a healing.
27:00He's planning
27:01a resurrection.
27:02It's going to be better,
27:03bigger,
27:04greater than you've
27:05ever imagined.
27:06Be a believer.
27:07Take the limits
27:08off of God.
27:09Keep your faith
27:09stirred up.
27:10And I believe
27:11and declare
27:11you're going to see
27:12God's goodness
27:13in amazing ways.
27:14Amen.
27:14Come on,
27:14give the Lord
27:15one more shout
27:15of praise today.
27:16Amen.
27:18We never like
27:19to close our broadcast
27:20without giving you
27:21an opportunity
27:22to make Jesus
27:23the Lord of your life.
27:24Would you pray with me?
27:25Just say,
27:26Lord Jesus,
27:28I repent of my sins.
27:30Come into my heart.
27:32I make you
27:33my Lord and Savior.
27:34Friends,
27:35if you prayed
27:35that simple prayer,
27:36we believe you got
27:37born again.
27:38Get in a good
27:39Bible-based church.
27:40Keep God first place.
27:42He's going to take
27:42you places you've
27:43never dreamed of.
27:45Sometimes in life,
27:47people don't choose us.
27:48We've all felt
27:49overlooked,
27:50like we're not
27:51good enough.
27:51It's easy to live
27:52inferior thinking
27:54we don't measure up.
27:55People may have
27:56left you out.
27:57The good news is
27:58God has chosen you.
28:00He's the one
28:00that matters.
28:01In my new book,
28:02Chosen,
28:03your life is marked
28:04for distinction.
28:05You'll discover
28:06before you were born,
28:08God not only knew you,
28:09but He handpicked you
28:11and placed a calling
28:12on your life.
28:13You are equipped
28:14and empowered
28:15to fulfill your destiny.
28:17When you understand
28:18that you're chosen,
28:19fear and doubt
28:20can't stay.
28:21You'll live with a boldness
28:23to step into the greatness
28:24God put in you.
28:25I'd love to send you
28:26my new book,
28:27Chosen,
28:28plus the Chosen t-shirt
28:29from our friends
28:30at Copperfed.
28:31As our way of saying
28:33thank you for your gift
28:34of any amount this month,
28:36we would like to send you
28:37a copy of Joel's book,
28:39Chosen.
28:40Your life is marked
28:41for distinction.
28:42In the scriptures,
28:44Jesus encouraged us
28:45by saying,
28:46you didn't choose me,
28:47I chose you.
28:49This powerful guide
28:50will help you discover
28:52the abundant life
28:53you were designed to live.
28:54As a child of God,
28:56you have a calling,
28:58a purpose,
28:59a destiny still
29:00to be fulfilled.
29:01When you request your copy,
29:03we also want to send you
29:04our exclusive Chosen t-shirt
29:06from Copperfit
29:07that will remind you
29:08that you've been chosen
29:10by Almighty God
29:11every time you wear it.
29:13Please request these gifts today
29:15and discover that God
29:17is moving on your behalf.
29:19Your next days
29:20are going to be
29:21your best days.
29:22You're not average.
29:23You're not ordinary.
29:24You've been chosen
29:25by Almighty God.
29:27Victoria and I want you to know
29:28how much we love you.
29:30We pray for you
29:31and your family
29:31every day.
29:33Thanks so much
29:33for your prayer
29:34and support.
29:35Your generosity
29:36is helping people
29:37all over the world.
29:39A special thank you
29:40to our Champion of Hope partners
29:41for your monthly gifts.
29:43If you're not a partner,
29:44I hope you'll consider
29:45becoming one.
29:46Remember,
29:47you can watch the services
29:48online,
29:49live,
29:50every Sunday morning.
29:51Download our daily podcast.
29:53Watch on YouTube,
29:55the new Joel Osteen Network,
29:56social media,
29:57listen on SiriusXM.
29:59We'll keep you encouraged
30:00and inspired.
30:01Until we see you next time,
30:03may the Lord bless you
30:04and keep you.
30:06Be sure to request
30:07your copy of Chosen.
30:09Your life is marked
30:10for distinction.
30:11Plus,
30:12our exclusive Chosen
30:13t-shirt from CopperFit.
30:15Visit joelosteen.com
30:16or call
30:17888-567-JOEL.
30:20For an additional donation
30:22this month,
30:23we are also offering
30:24the NLT,
30:25Large Print,
30:25Thin Line Reference Bible.
30:27This Bible also enables you
30:29to connect
30:30through your smartphone
30:31or tablet
30:31to a vast,
30:33power-packed array
30:34of study notes,
30:35devotionals,
30:36interactive maps,
30:37videos,
30:38and worship music.
30:39You can request
30:40these inspiring resources
30:42by calling
30:43888-567-JOEL
30:45or logging on
30:46to joelosteen.com
30:48today.
30:49Call or click
30:50anytime,
30:5124 hours a day.
30:52Yes,
30:54God has chosen you
30:55for a reason,
30:56for a purpose.
30:57Request your copies today.
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