JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU.
IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU
TODAY. I HOPE YOU'LL STAY
CONNECTED WITH US DURING
THE WEEK, THROUGH OUR DAILY
PODCAST, OUR YOUTUBE
CHANNEL, SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND YOU CAN COME VISIT
US IN PERSON. WE'D LOVE
TO HAVE YOU BE A PART
OF ONE OF OUR SERVICES.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THIS LADY.
SHE WAS SITTING ON AN
AIRPLANE READING HER BIBLE.
THE GUY NEXT TO HER SAID,
“YOU DON'T BELIEVE ALL THE
STUFF IN THERE DO YOU?” SHE
SAID, “OF COURSE I DO, IT'S
THE BIBLE.” HE SAID, “WELL
WHAT ABOUT THAT GUY THAT
GOT SWALLOWED BY A WHALE?”
SHE SAID, “YOU MEAN JONAH,
YES I BELIEVE THAT TOO.”
HE SAID, “WELL, HOW COULD
HE POSSIBLY SURVIVE ALL
THAT TIME INSIDE OF
A WHALE.” SHE THOUGHT
ABOUT IT A MOMENT AND
SAID, “I DON'T KNOW. WHEN
I GET TO HEAVEN, I'LL
HAVE TO ASK HIM.”
HE LAUGHED AND SAID,
“WHAT IF HE'S NOT IN
HEAVEN?” SHE SAID, “THEN
YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK HIM.”
SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT.
THIS IS MY BIBLE. I AM
WHAT IT SAYS I AM.
I HAVE WHAT IT SAYS
I HAVE. I CAN DO WHAT
IT SAYS I CAN DO.
TODAY, I WILL BE TAUGHT
THE WORD OF GOD.
I BOLDLY CONFESS: MY MIND
IS ALERT. MY HEART IS
RECEPTIVE. I WILL NEVER
BE THE SAME IN JESUS'
NAME. GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT EXPECTING A FAVOR
FILLED FUTURE.
IT'S EASY TO LOSE OUR
PASSION IN LIFE.
WHEN WE'VE BEEN THROUGH
DISAPPOINTMENTS, DREAMS ARE
TAKING LONGER THAN WE
THOUGHT, WE'RE DEALING WITH
A CHALLENGE. IF WE'RE NOT
CAREFUL, WE'LL BECOME
COMPLACENT, WHERE WE'RE
NOT BELIEVING FOR THINGS
TO TURN AROUND, NOT
EXPECTING GOOD BREAKS.
BUT PAUL SAID IN ROMANS,
“BE GLAD FOR ALL GOD IS
PLANNING FOR YOU.” IF YOU
COULD SEE WHAT GOD HAS
PLANNED FOR YOU, IF YOU
KNEW THE DOORS HE'S GOING
TO OPEN, THE PEOPLE YOU'RE
GOING TO MEET, THE GIANTS
YOU'RE GOING TO DEFEAT,
THEN YOU WOULD GO OUT EACH
DAY WITH A SPRING IN YOUR
STEP, EXCITED ABOUT YOUR
FUTURE, EXPECTING GOD TO
SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
THAT EXPECTANCY IS WHAT
ALLOWS GOD TO DO GREAT
THINGS. THAT'S YOUR FAITH
AT WORK. YOU MAY BE IN A
DIFFICULT TIME. THOUGHTS
WILL WHISPER, “IT'S NEVER
GOING TO CHANGE. YOU'VE
SEEN YOUR BEST DAYS.”
DON'T BELIEVE THOSE LIES.
GOD HAS A COMEBACK FOR
EVERY SETBACK, A NEW
BEGINNING FOR EVERY LOSS,
MERCY FOR EVERY MISTAKE.
HE'S ALREADY PLANNED TO
BRING YOU OUT BETTER, TO
PROMOTE YOU IN FRONT OF
THOSE THAT DID YOU WRONG,
TO HEAL YOU DESPITE THAT
DIAGNOSIS.
THERE ARE GOOD BREAKS IN
YOUR FUTURE THAT WILL
CATAPULT YOU AHEAD.
WHEN YOU REALIZE THIS, IT
CHANGES YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
YOU WON'T GET DISCOURAGED
OVER PROBLEMS, THINKING A
DREAM IS TOO BIG, THESE
PEOPLE ARE TOO POWERFUL.
THERE'LL BE A PASSION, AN
EXPECTANCY. YOU KNOW GOD
IS ON THE THRONE.
YOU KNOW HIS PLANS FOR YOU
ARE FOR GOOD.
THAT HE'S ALREADY LINED UP
THE RIGHT PEOPLE, THE
BREAKS YOU NEED, THE FAVOR.
THERE'S NOT A PROBLEM
YOU'LL FACE THAT GOD HASN'T
ALREADY LINED UP A SOLUTION.
THERE'S NOT A GOLIATH THAT
WILL TRY TO STOP YOU THAT
GOD HASN'T ALREADY LINED UP
A SLING SHOT AND A SMOOTH
STONE.
THERE'S NOT A DREAM IN YOUR
HEART THAT GOD HASN'T
ALREADY ARRANGED THE
WISDOM, THE CREATIVITY, THE
FUNDING.
WHEN YOU KNOW GOD HAS GOOD
PLANS, YOU'LL LIVE OUT OF A
PLACE OF REST. NOT UPTIGHT,
WONDERING HOW IT'S GOING TO
WORK OUT.
YOU KNOW IT'S ALREADY BEEN
PLANNED; THE SCHEDULE HAS
ALREADY BEEN SET, NOT BY
PEOPLE, NOT BY OPPOSITION,
NOT BY THE ENEMY.
THE MOST-HIGH GOD HAS
PLANNED OUT YOUR DAYS.
PSALM 30 SAYS THAT “GOD'S
FAVOR IS NOT FOR A SEASON,
IT'S FOR A LIFETIME.” IT'S
NOT FOR A FEW YEARS, MAYBE
IN YOUR TWENTIES, YOUR
THIRTIES. “YOU'LL HAVE
A FEW GOOD BREAKS.”
NO, AS LONG AS YOU'RE
BREATHING, THERE'S FAVOR
ON YOUR LIFE. WE CAN ALL
LOOK BACK AND SEE THESE
MOMENTS OF FAVOR WHERE
GOD OPENED A DOOR WE
COULD HAVE NEVER OPENED.
HE HAD YOU AT THE RIGHT
PLACE AND YOU MET THAT
PERSON AND FELL IN LOVE.
HE PROMOTED YOU WHEN YOU
WEREN'T NEXT IN LINE.
HE HEALED YOU WHEN THE
EXPERTS SAID THERE WAS
NO WAY.
YOU'VE SEEN GOD'S FAVOR IN
THE PAST. THE GOOD NEWS IS
GOD NEVER DOES HIS GREATEST
FEATS IN YOUR YESTERDAYS,
THEY'RE ALWAYS IN YOUR
TOMORROWS. GOD DOESN'T
WANT US TO LIVE OFF OLD
VICTORIES. YES, WE CAN
CELEBRATE; YES, WE SHOULD
BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT GOD
HAS DONE. BUT HE HAS SOME
NEW VICTORIES. HE'S TAKING
YOU FROM GLORY TO GLORY.
WHAT'S IN YOUR FUTURE IS
GOING TO SUPERSEDE ANYTHING
YOU'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.
THAT'S WHY WE CAN LIVE
WITH EXPECTANCY.
EXCITED WHEN OTHERS ARE
DOWN, HOPEFUL WHEN OTHERS
ARE DISCOURAGED, PRAISING
WHEN OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING.
WE KNOW HIS FAVOR IS FOR A
LIFETIME, THAT WE HAVEN'T
SEEN OUR BEST DAYS.
I'M SURE YOU CAN SAY LIKE
ME, THAT GOD'S BEEN GOOD
TO YOU. YOU'VE BEEN
BLESSED. BUT THE SCRIPTURE
SAYS, “YOU HAVEN'T SEEN,
HEARD OR IMAGINED WHAT
GOD HAS IN STORE FOR
THOSE THAT LOVE HIM.”
YOU'VE SEEN FAVOR BUT YOU
HAVEN'T SEEN THE FAVOR
THAT'S COMING. YOU'VE
SEEN BREAKTHROUGHS, GOD
TURN AROUND THINGS, BUT
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE
BREAKTHROUGHS THAT ARE
COMING. YOU'VE SEEN
PROMOTION, BUT YOU HAVEN'T
SEEN THE LEVELS GOD IS
ABOUT TO TAKE YOU TO. PAUL
SAID TO BE GLAD FOR ALL
GOD IS PLANNING FOR YOU.
HE'S INFERRING, IF YOU'RE
NOT GLAD, IF YOU'RE NOT
HOPEFUL, NOT EXPECTING,
THEN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
SEE IT. YOU'LL MISS THE
FAVOR, THE BLESSING THAT
BELONGS TO YOU.
“JOEL, I'VE SEEN GOD'S
GOODNESS IN THE PAST, BUT
THIS PROBLEM WITH MY
HEALTH, THIS CHILD, MY
FINANCES, I DON'T SEE HOW
IT CAN WORK OUT.” DON'T
TALK YOURSELF OUT OF IT.
IF YOU COULD SEE WHAT GOD
HAS PLANNED, IF YOU COULD
SEE WHAT HE IS ABOUT TO DO,
YOU WOULD GET YOUR PASSION
BACK.
GOD SENT ME TO RELIGHT THAT
FIRE.
YES, HE'S BEEN GOOD TO YOU
IN THE PAST, BUT THERE ARE
NEW VICTORIES COMING.
JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T
SEEN ANYTHING IN A LONG
TIME DOESN'T MEAN GOD IS
NOT GOING TO DO IT.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THERE'S
A SET TIME FOR GOD TO FAVOR
YOU.
THERE ARE MARKED MOMENTS
WHERE GOD HAS ALREADY
PLANNED TO SUDDENLY PROMOTE
YOU, SUDDENLY TURN IT
AROUND, SUDDENLY OPEN THE
DOOR.
DAVID SAID, “WHAT WOULD
HAVE HAPPENED TO ME, IF I
HAD NOT BELIEVED I WOULD
SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD.”
HE WAS SAYING, “I WOULDN'T
BE WHERE I AM. I WOULDN'T
HAVE DEFEATED GOLIATH.
I WOULDN'T HAVE OUTLASTED
KING SAUL.
I WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THE
THRONE, IF I HAD NOT
BELIEVED THAT THE FAVOR OF
GOD WAS ON MY LIFE, THAT HE
HAD ALREADY LINED UP THE
BREAKS, THE PROTECTION, THE
PROMOTION THAT WOULD TAKE
ME INTO MY DESTINY.”
WHEN DAVID WAS A TEENAGER,
HE WAS OUT IN THE
SHEPHERD'S FIELDS, TAKING
CARE OF HIS FATHER'S SHEEP.
HE HAD A BIG DREAM FOR HIS
LIFE, BUT NOBODY PAID
ATTENTION TO HIM. HE WAS
STUCK OUT THERE CLEANING UP
AFTER THE SHEEP, PROTECTING
THEM, FEEDING THEM. HIS
BROTHERS WERE IN THE ARMY.
THEY HAD A PRESTIGIOUS
POSITION.
IT SEEMED LIKE DAVID HAD
BEEN LEFT OUT, THAT HE WAS
AT A DISADVANTAGE, ALMOST
LIKE GOD HAD FORGOTTEN
ABOUT HIM. HE COULD HAVE
BEEN DISCOURAGED, “THIS
ISN'T FAIR.
WHY DID I GET STUCK OUT
HERE?” BUT OUT THERE IN THE
LONELY SHEPHERD'S FIELDS,
WHEN HE COULD HAVE BEEN
COMPLAINING, MAYBE THAT'S
WHERE HE WROTE, “SURELY
GOODNESS AND MERCY WILL
FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF
MY LIFE.” HE WAS SAYING,
“THE ODDS MAY BE AGAINST
ME, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE I
CAN ACCOMPLISH MY DREAM,
BUT SURELY GOODNESS IS
COMING, SURELY NEW DOORS
ARE GOING TO OPEN, SURELY
THE RIGHT PEOPLE WILL SHOW
UP.” HE HAD SUCH A
CONFIDENCE IN GOD.
HE BELIEVED DESPITE THE
CIRCUMSTANCES, DESPITE HOW
LONG IT HAD BEEN, DESPITE
WHO DIDN'T BELIEVE IN HIM,
THAT HE WOULD LEAVE HIS
MARK.
ONE DAY, UNEXPECTEDLY, THE
PROPHET SAMUEL CAME TO HIS
FATHER'S HOUSE TO ANOINT
ONE OF THE SONS AS THE NEXT
KING OF ISRAEL.
HIS FATHER, JESSE, DIDN'T
EVEN BOTHER TO CALL DAVID
IN FROM THE SHEPHERD'S
FIELDS.
HE THOUGHT, “DAVID IS TOO
YOUNG, TOO SMALL.
HE'S NOT THAT TALENTED.
HE'LL NEVER DO ANYTHING
GREAT.” PEOPLE MAY OVERLOOK
YOU, BUT GOD SEES YOU.
THEY MAY JUDGE YOU,
DISCOUNT YOU, LEAVE YOU OUT.
THEY CAN'T SEE THE
GREATNESS GOD PUT IN YOU.
HE LOVES TO TAKE WHAT SOME
CONSIDER WEAK AND CAUSE
THEM TO CONFOUND THE WISE.
SAMUEL SAID TO JESSE, “IT'S
NONE OF THESE SONS, DO YOU
HAVE ANY OTHER?” HE SAID,
“YES, I HAVE A SON NAMED
DAVID BUT I'M SURE IT'S NOT
HIM.” THEY BROUGHT DAVID
IN. SAMUEL TOOK ONE LOOK AT
HIM AND SAID, “THAT'S THE
ONE.” GOD HAD ALREADY
PLANNED FOR DAVID TO BE THE
KING.
WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR
YOU, PEOPLE CANNOT STOP,
BETRAYALS CAN'T STOP,
REJECTION CAN'T STOP.
GOD'S PLAN WILL OVERRIDE
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WANT.
HIS PLAN WILL SUPERSEDE
THOSE THAT TRY TO PUSH YOU
DOWN, LEAVE YOU OUT, TELL
YOU YOU'RE NOT QUALIFIED.
IT'S SIGNIFICANT THAT DAVID
DIDN'T GO AFTER SAMUEL,
SAMUEL CAME TO HIM. DAVID
DIDN'T HAVE TO CAMPAIGN,
TRY TO CONVINCE SAMUEL TO
BE FOR HIM, PLAY UP TO HIM.
SAMUEL CAME KNOCKING ON HIS
DOOR.
THERE ARE BLESSINGS IN YOUR
FUTURE, GOOD BREAKS, THE
RIGHT PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING
TO COME LOOKING FOR YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO AFTER
THEM, GOD'S GOING TO CAUSE
THEM TO FIND YOU.
THESE MOMENTS OF FAVOR THAT
GOD HAS ALREADY LINED UP TO
THRUST YOU INTO YOUR
DESTINY.
I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN SOME IN
THE PAST. THE GOOD NEWS IS
HIS FAVOR IS FOR A LIFETIME.
THERE ARE MORE FAVOR
MOMENTS COMING YOUR WAY.
THERE ARE MORE SAMUEL'S,
BLESSINGS, PROMOTION,
HEALING, STILL ON YOUR
SCHEDULE.
NOW DO YOUR PART AND BE
GLAD FOR ALL GOD HAS
PLANNED FOR YOU.
LIVE WITH EXPECTANCY,
EXCITED ABOUT YOUR FUTURE,
THANKING GOD FOR WHAT'S IN
STORE.
A PASTOR FRIEND OF MINE
WANTED TO BUILD A NEW
SANCTUARY.
HE HAD TRIED FOR SEVERAL
YEARS BUT COULDN'T FIND ANY
PROPERTY.
A COUPLE OF TIMES, HE FOUND
A PLACE, BUT IT WAS WAY TOO
EXPENSIVE.
HE DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS.
NOTHING WAS COMING TOGETHER.
HE COULD HAVE BEEN
DISCOURAGED, THOUGHT, “IT'S
NOT MEANT TO BE.” BUT HIS
ATTITUDE WAS, “GOD, I KNOW
YOU ALREADY HAVE THE RIGHT
PLACE FOR US.
GOD, I TRUST YOU.” ONE DAY,
THE MAYOR OF HIS CITY,
UNEXPECTEDLY CALLED.
HE HAD NEVER MET THIS
PASTOR, BUT HE HAD HEARD
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A
BUILDING.
HE TOLD ABOUT THIS GROUP
THAT BUILT A HUGE BUILDING
FOR A CASINO.
IT WAS JUST A FEW MILES
FROM HIS CHURCH.
BEFORE THEY MOVED IN, THEY
WENT BANKRUPT.
IT HAD OVER FORTY ACRES OF
PARKING.
THE BUILDING COULD FIT FOUR
FOOTBALL FIELDS INSIDE.
THE MAYOR ASKED THE PASTOR
IF HE WAS INTERESTED IN
PURCHASING THE BUILDING.
THE PASTOR THOUGHT IT WOULD
COST FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS.
THEY COULDN'T AFFORD THAT.
THE MAYOR SAID, “NO, WE CAN
SELL IT TO YOU FOR UNDER
TWO MILLION DOLLARS.” THE
PASTOR NEVER DREAMED HE
WOULD HAVE A FACILITY LIKE
THAT.
THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE FAVOR
MOMENTS THAT GOD HAD
ALREADY PLANNED.
GOD HAS SOME OF THESE
EXPLOSIVE BLESSINGS IN YOUR
FUTURE, MOMENTS THAT WILL
CATAPULT YOU FURTHER.
YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT
HAPPEN, YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES, THE FUNDING, THE
CONNECTIONS, BUT THE FAVOR
OF GOD WILL OPEN THE DOOR,
THE FAVOR OF GOD WILL BRING
THE RIGHT PEOPLE, THE FAVOR
OF GOD WILL TURN THAT
PROBLEM AROUND.
INSTEAD OF LIVING WORRIED,
FRUSTRATED, DO LIKE DAVID,
“SURELY GOODNESS IS
COMING.” HE DIDN'T SAY, “I
HOPE IT COMES, MAYBE IT
COMES.
THERE'S A CHANCE IT MAY
SHOW UP.” HE SAID, “SURELY
IT'S COMING.” OUR ATTITUDE
SHOULD BE, “SURELY
BREAKTHROUGHS ARE COMING.
SURELY PROMOTION IS ON THE
WAY.
SURELY HEALING,
RESTORATION, NEW LEVELS ARE
IN FRONT OF ME.” DAVID SAID
IN PSALM 27, “I AM
CONFIDENT I WILL SEE THE
GOODNESS OF GOD.” LOOK AT
HIS ATTITUDE.
IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE,
PEOPLE COMING AGAINST HIM,
LEFT OUT IN THE SHEPHERD'S
FIELDS, YOU WOULD THINK HE
WOULD BE DISCOURAGED, GIVEN
UP ON HIS DREAMS. YET HE
SAID, “I AM CONFIDENT GOD
WILL TURN THIS AROUND.
I AM CONFIDENT GOOD THINGS
ARE AHEAD OF ME.
I AM CONFIDENT MY LATTER
DAYS WILL BE BETTER THAN MY
FORMER DAYS.” HE WAS
CONVINCED THAT GOD HAD GOOD
THINGS PLANNED FOR HIM.
THAT HE WASN'T AT THE MERCY
OF OTHER PEOPLE, HIS
ENVIRONMENT, WHAT HE DIDN'T
GET.
HE KNEW GOD HAD THE FINAL
SAY.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE
WOULD LIVE WITH THAT SAME
ATTITUDE, “I AM CONFIDENT I
WILL SEE GOD'S GOODNESS.”
HOW MUCH FURTHER WILL WE
GO, IF WE HAD THIS MINDSET,
“SURELY GOOD THINGS ARE IN
MY FUTURE.” “YES, BUSINESS
MAY BE SLOW.
I'M STRUGGLING WITH MY
FINANCES, BUT I AM
CONFIDENT, JEHOVAH JIREH,
THE LORD MY PROVIDER WILL
BRING INCREASE, PROMOTION,
NEW CLIENTS, ABUNDANCE.”
“I'M STILL SINGLE, HAVEN'T
MET ANYONE YET, BUT I AM
CONFIDENT THE RIGHT PERSON
IS ON THE WAY.” “I'M STILL
FIGHTING THIS BATTLE IN MY
HEALTH, BUT I AM CONFIDENT
JEHOVAH RAPHA, THE LORD MY
HEALER IS RESTORING HEALTH
BACK UNTO ME.
I AM CONFIDENT I WILL LIVE
AND NOT DIE.” OR MAYBE,
“THIS ADDICTION HAS BEEN IN
MY FAMILY FOR YEARS, BUT I
AM CONFIDENT FREEDOM IS
COMING.
THIS IS NOT HOW MY STORY
ENDS.
I AM CONFIDENT THIS
GENERATIONAL CURSE IS BEING
BROKEN, AND A GENERATIONAL
BLESSING IS BEGINNING.”
PROVERBS 13 PUTS IT THIS
WAY, “TROUBLE CHASES THE
WICKED, BUT BLESSINGS CHASE
THE RIGHTEOUS.” WHEN YOU
HONOR GOD WITH YOUR LIFE,
YOU KEEP HIM FIRST PLACE,
SOMETHING IS CHASING YOU.
NOT DEFEAT, BAD BREAKS,
SICKNESS, DEPRESSION.
NO, YOU'RE THE RIGHTEOUS,
BLESSINGS ARE CHASING YOU,
HEALING, PROMOTION, THE
RIGHT PEOPLE, BREAKTHROUGHS.
WHEN YOU LOOK IN YOUR
REARVIEW MIRROR, YOU HAVE A
TAILGATER, FAVOR IS ABOUT
TO OVERTAKE YOU, SAMUEL IS
ABOUT TO SHOW UP, THAT BABY
YOU'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT
IS HEADED YOUR WAY, HEALING
IS TRACKING YOU DOWN RIGHT
NOW, FREEDOM HAS ALMOST
CAUGHT UP WITH YOU.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE YOU SEE THE GOODNESS
OF GOD.
NOW, DO YOUR PART AND BE
GLAD FOR WHAT GOD IS
PLANNING FOR YOU.
EVERYDAY LIVE WITH
EXPECTANCY, “LORD, I
BELIEVE SOMETHING GOOD IS
GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME.
FATHER THANK YOU THAT MY
BEST DAYS ARE NOT BEHIND ME
BUT THEY'RE STILL OUT IN
FRONT OF ME.”
ISAIAH SAID, “GOD IS
LONGING TO BE GOOD TO
THOSE, WHO LOOK FOR, WHO
EXPECT HIS GOODNESS, HIS
FAVOR AND HIS BLESSING.”
NOTICE GOD WANTS TO BE GOOD
TO YOU, HE WANTS TO SHOW
YOU HIS FAVOR BUT THERE'S A
CONDITION.
HE'S LOOKING FOR PEOPLE
THAT ARE EXPECTING HIS
GOODNESS, EXPECTING HIS
FAVOR.
PEOPLE WHO WILL BELIEVE
THAT HEALING IS COMING,
THAT BREAKTHROUGHS ARE ON
THE WAY, THAT THEIR FUTURE
WILL BE BRIGHTER THAN THEIR
PAST. COULD IT BE THAT GOD
IS LONGING TO BE GOOD TO
YOU BUT YOU'RE NOT SEEING
IT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
LOOKING FOR HIS GOODNESS.
YOU'VE BECOME PASSIVE,
COMPLACENT, “JOEL, IT'S
BEEN THIS WAY A LONG TIME.
I THINK I'M STUCK OUT HERE
IN THE SHEPHERD'S FIELDS.
THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T TREAT
ME RIGHT EITHER.” NO, GOD
HAS AN AWESOME FUTURE
PLANNED FOR YOU.
HIS FAVOR IS FOR A LIFETIME.
HERE'S THE WHOLE KEY, YOU
HAVE TO BE LOOKING FOR IT.
YOU HAVE TO BE EXPECTING
THINGS TO TURN AROUND,
BELIEVING THAT GOOD BREAKS
ARE COMING, THANKING HIM
THAT THE BEST IS STILL
AHEAD.
A PASSIVE ATTITUDE WILL
KEEP YOU FROM THE FULLNESS
OF YOUR DESTINY.
IT'S EASY TO BECOME
COMPLACENT.
“I'VE SEEN GOD'S GOODNESS,
I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS, I'VE
BEEN BLESSED.” DON'T PUT
YOUR FAITH ON AUTOPILOT.
GOD DIDN'T CREATE YOU TO
REACH A CERTAIN LEVEL AND
GET STUCK.
HE SAID YOUR PATH WILL GET
BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER.
THAT YOUR LATTER DAYS WILL
BE BETTER THAN YOUR FORMER
DAYS.
YOU MAY HAVE HAD SOME GREAT
FORMER DAYS, THAT'S
AWESOME, BUT GOD HAS SOME
GREATER DAYS UP AHEAD.
THERE ARE SOME MOMENTS OF
FAVOR YOU'RE ABOUT TO COME
INTO THAT ARE GOING TO
CATAPULT YOU AHEAD.
SOMETHING YOU CAN'T
EXPLAIN. YOU DIDN'T WORK
FOR IT.
YOU WEREN'T QUALIFIED.
IT'S NEVER HAPPENED IN YOUR
FAMILY.
IT'S JUST THE GOODNESS OF
GOD.
IT'S SAMUEL SHOWING UP.
IT'S THE MAYOR CALLING.
IT'S THE BUILDING FINDING
YOU.
IT'S FAVOR ON THAT SLING
SHOT TO WHERE GOD THRUSTS
YOU INTO INFLUENCE,
RESOURCES, LEADERSHIP THAT
YOU'VE NEVER IMAGINED.
PAUL PRAYED IN EPHESIANS,
“THAT THE EYES OF OUR HEART
WOULD BE FLOODED WITH LIGHT
SO WE WOULD KNOW THE
AWESOME FUTURE GOD HAS IN
STORE.” PAUL KNEW OUR MIND
WOULD TRY TO TALK US OUT OF
IT.
THAT WE WOULD GET PASSIVE,
LET DISAPPOINTMENTS,
SETBACKS, CAUSE US TO QUIT
BELIEVING, SETTLE WHERE WE
ARE.
THAT'S WHY HE PRAYED THAT
WE WOULD BE FLOODED WITH
LIGHT.
FLOODED MEANS OVERWHELMED.
NOT OVERWHELMED WITH DOUBT,
TROUBLE.
“LOOK WHAT I'M UP AGAINST.
I'VE REACHED MY LIMITS.” NO
FLOODED WITH LIGHT, FLOODED
WITH HOPE, FLOODED WITH
FAITH, FLOODED WITH
EXPECTANCY.
LIKE DAVID, “I AM CONFIDENT
I WILL SEE THE GOODNESS OF
GOD.”
WHEN MOSES WAS AT THE END
OF HIS LIFE, A HUNDRED AND
TWENTY YEARS OLD, HE WAS
ABOUT TO PASS.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “HIS
EYE WAS NOT DIM, AND HIS
NATURAL FORCE WAS NOT
ABATED.” THIS WAS TALKING
ABOUT HIS PHYSICAL EYES,
BUT I BELIEVE IT'S SYMBOLIC.
HIS EYES OF FAITH, THE EYES
OF HIS HEART WERE STILL
FLOODED WITH LIGHT.
A HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS
OLD AND HE WAS STILL
EXPECTING GOD'S GOODNESS.
THIS WAS SIGNIFICANT
BECAUSE MOSES AS A BABY HAD
SEEN GOD'S FAVOR.
THE KING HAD ISSUED A
DECREE THAT ALL THE MALE
HEBREW BOYS TWO YEARS OLD
AND UNDER WERE TO BE
KILLED, BUT MOSES' MOTHER
PUT HIM IN THAT BASKET AND
SENT HIM DOWN THE NILE
RIVER.
IT JUST SO HAPPENED THE
PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER WAS
TAKING A BATH.
SHE SAW HIM AND TOOK HIM
IN. SHE RAISED MOSES AS HER
OWN CHILD.
MOSES KNEW HE WAS SUPPOSED
TO DELIVER THE ISRAELITES
OUT OF SLAVERY, BUT HE GOT
OUT OF GOD'S TIMING.
HE SAW AN EGYPTIAN FOREMAN
MISTREATING A HEBREW SLAVE.
HE DIDN'T THINK ANYONE WAS
WATCHING AND HE KILLED THAT
FOREMAN.
HE HAD TO FLEE FOR HIS LIFE.
HE SPENT FORTY YEARS HIDING
IN THE DESERT. I'M SURE HE
FELT FORGOTTEN, ALONE, LIKE
HE HAS MISSED GOD'S PLAN.
IT WAS HIS OWN FAULT. HE
BLEW IT.
BUT GOD'S FAVOR IS NOT FOR
A SEASON.
IT'S FOR A LIFETIME.
GOD HAS MERCY FOR EVERY
MISTAKE.
HE'S ALREADY PLANNED A
COMEBACK.
FORTY YEARS LATER, AT
EIGHTY YEARS OLD, GOD
SHOWED UP IN A BURNING BUSH
AND SAID, “MOSES, NOW I
WANT YOU TO GO DELIVER THE
ISRAELITES.” AFTER HIS
MISTAKE, AFTER HE THOUGHT
HE WAS DONE, HE WENT ON TO
PART THE RED SEA, TO BRING
WATER OUT OF A ROCK, TO SEE
ALL THESE SUPERNATURAL
SIGNS.
NOW AT A HUNDRED AND TWENTY
YEARS OLD, HIS EYE WAS NOT
DIM. HE WAS STILL CONFIDENT
HE WOULD SEE THE GOODNESS
OF GOD.
IF MOSES WERE HERE TODAY,
HE WOULD TELL YOU, GOD'S
FAVOR IS NOT FOR A SEASON,
IT'S FOR YOUR LIFETIME.
YOU HAVEN'T MADE TOO MANY
MISTAKES, THE OBSTACLES ARE
NOT TOO BIG, WHAT GOD
PROMISED YOU, HE'S STILL
GOING TO BRING TO PASS.
NOW GET YOUR FIRE BACK.
START EXPECTING HIS FAVOR.
HE'S LONGING TO BE GOOD TO
YOU, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE
LOOKING FOR HIS GOODNESS.
I TALKED TO A YOUNG LADY
AFTER THE SERVICE.
SHE HAD LOST HER ARM IN AN
ACCIDENT.
SHE BECAME VERY DEPRESSED,
WOULDN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE.
MANY DAYS SHE WOULDN'T GET
OUT OF BED.
HER MOTHER GOT HER
LISTENING TO OUR MESSAGES.
SHE HEARD ME TALKING ABOUT
HOW GOD HAS GOOD THINGS IN
STORE, HOW WHAT WAS MEANT
FOR HARM, HE CAN TURN TO
YOUR ADVANTAGE.
LITTLE BY LITTLE SHE GOT
HER PASSION BACK.
SHE TOLD ME HOW SHE SAID,
“GOD, I'M DISAPPOINTED, I
DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS FOR MY
LIFE, BUT GOD I KNOW YOU
HAVE GOOD PLANS FOR ME.”
YOU MAY NOT SEE ANYTHING
GOOD IN YOUR FUTURE.
THAT'S OKAY.
LIKE HER, YOU CAN THANK GOD
FOR WHAT HE HAS PLANNED FOR
YOU.
HIS PLANS ARE BIGGER,
BETTER, MORE REWARDING THAN
YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE.
PROVERBS SAYS, “HOPE
DEFERRED MAKES THE HEART
SICK.” ONE DEFINITION OF
HOPE IS “HAPPY ANTICIPATION
OF SOMETHING GOOD”.
IF YOU'RE ANTICIPATING
SOMETHING GOOD, IT BRINGS
YOU JOY, IT GIVES YOU
PASSION.
WHEN YOU BELIEVE THE BEST
IS IN FRONT OF YOU, THAT
GOD IS ARRANGING THINGS IN
YOUR FAVOR, LINING UP THE
SAMUEL'S, THE PROPERTY, THE
SOLUTION, YOU BELIEVE HE
HAS EXPLOSIVE BLESSING ON
YOUR SCHEDULE, THEN YOU'RE
GOING TO BE EXCITED ABOUT
LIFE.
IT WILL AFFECT YOUR
ATTITUDE, YOUR
RELATIONSHIPS, YOUR
PRODUCTIVITY.
BUT IF YOU'RE NOT
ANTICIPATING ANYTHING GOOD,
IF YOU THINK YOU'RE STUCK,
THE PROBLEM IS PERMANENT,
YOU'VE REACHED YOUR LIMITS,
THAT WILL DRAIN YOUR
ENERGY, STIFLE YOUR
CREATIVITY, TAKE YOUR JOY.
YOU'LL JUST DRAG THROUGH
THE DAY, ENDURE LIFE.
NO, GOD CREATED YOU TO HAVE
SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD
TO.
THIS IS WHAT FAITH IS ALL
ABOUT, “GOD, I BELIEVE YOU
HAVE GOOD PLANS FOR ME,
THAT YOU'RE TAKING ME WHERE
I'VE NEVER BEEN.
THAT THE BEST DAYS IN MY
HEALTH, MY FAMILY, MY
RELATIONSHIPS ARE STILL IN
FRONT OF ME.” THAT'S NOT
JUST BEING POSITIVE, THAT'S
GETTING IN AGREEMENT WITH
GOD.
THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS HIM TO
DO AMAZING THINGS.
MY PRAYER IS THAT YOU WILL
BE LIKE MOSES.
THAT YOUR EYES WILL NOT
BECOME DIM. THAT YOU WILL
NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE
AWESOME FUTURE GOD HAS IN
STORE.
THAT YOU WILL KEEP YOUR
FAITH STIRRED UP, THAT YOU
WILL LIVE WITH EXPECTANCY,
LOOKING FOR GOD'S GOODNESS.
PAUL SAID, BE GLAD FOR ALL
GOD HAS PLANNED FOR YOU.
THE NEXT PART OF THAT SAME
VERSE SAYS, “BE PATIENT IN
TROUBLE.” IT'S NOT A
COINCIDENCE THAT GOD
CONNECTED THE TWO.
BECAUSE IN TROUBLE, IN
DIFFICULTIES, YOU'LL BE
TEMPTED TO GET DISCOURAGED,
THINK, “IT'S NEVER GOING TO
WORK OUT, THE MEDICAL
REPORT IS TOO BAD, I HAD
THIS SETBACK IN MY CAREER.”
NONE OF THAT IS A SURPRISE
TO GOD.
HE'S ALREADY PLANNED THE
SOLUTION.
BE PATIENT IN TROUBLE.
THE TROUBLE IS NOT
PERMANENT.
THE TROUBLE IS NOT HOW YOUR
STORY ENDS.
GOD WOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED
THE DIFFICULTY IF HE WASN'T
GOING TO BRING YOU OUT
BETTER.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “GOD
MAKES ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL
IN ITS TIME.” GIVE GOD TIME
TO WORK IT OUT.
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE
ANYTHING HAPPENING DOESN'T
MEAN GOD'S NOT WORKING.
BEHIND THE SCENES RIGHT
NOW, HE'S LINING UP
EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED.
HE'S NOT GOING TO BRING YOU
OUT THE SAME, HE'S GOING TO
BRING YOU OUT BETTER.
BUT WHILE YOU'RE WAITING,
NEGATIVE THOUGHTS WILL
COME, TRY TO TALK YOU OUT
OF IT.
THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE TO DIG
DOWN DEEP AND SAY LIKE
DAVID, “I AM CONFIDENT I
WILL SEE THE GOODNESS OF
GOD.
SURELY FAVOR IS COMING,
SURELY HEALING IS COMING,
SURELY BREAKTHROUGHS ARE ON
THE WAY.” INSTEAD OF
DWELLING ON ALL THE REASONS
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK OUT,
START THANKING GOD THAT
HE'S TURNING IT AROUND.
“LORD, YOU SAID MANY ARE
THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE
RIGHTEOUS BUT YOU DELIVER
ME OUT OF THEM ALL.
YOU SAID YOU WILL LIFT ME
OUT OF THIS PIT, SET MY
FEET ON A ROCK AND PUT A
NEW SONG IN MY HEART. LORD,
I THANK YOU THAT I'M COMING
OUT BETTER, PROMOTED, AT A
NEW LEVEL OF MY DESTINY.”
IN THE SCRIPTURE, RUTH WENT
THROUGH A GREAT
DISAPPOINTMENT.
HER HUSBAND UNEXPECTEDLY
PASSED.
SHE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN.
SHE NEVER DREAMED SHE WOULD
BE A WIDOW AT THIS AGE.
HER WHOLE LIFE WAS TURNED
UPSIDE DOWN.
IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE GOD HAD
GOOD PLANS FOR HER, WITH
ALL THAT HEARTACHE AND
PAIN. BUT BEING A BELIEVER
DOESN'T EXEMPT US FROM
DIFFICULTIES.
THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT
ARE NOT FAIR, THAT WE DON'T
UNDERSTAND BUT THIS IS WHEN
YOU HAVE TO TRUST THAT GOD
IS STILL IN CONTROL.
IF YOU'LL BE PATIENT, NOT
GET BITTER, GOD WILL GIVE
YOU BEAUTY FOR THE ASHES.
RUTH AND HER MOTHER-IN-LAW,
NAOMI, MOVED BACK TO
NAOMI'S HOMETOWN.
THEY WERE BOTH WIDOWS, VERY
POOR, HEARTBROKEN.
RUTH WOULD GO OUT IN THE
FIELDS EACH MORNING AND
PICK UP LEFTOVER WHEAT.
ONE DAY THE OWNER OF THAT
FIELD NOTICED RUTH, A MAN
NAMED BOAZ.
LONG STORY SHORT, THEY
ENDED UP FALLING IN LOVE
AND GETTING MARRIED.
THEY HAD A LITTLE BABY BOY.
I CAN SEE RUTH HOLDING THAT
BABY, NEVER IMAGINING SHE
WOULD BE THAT HAPPY, THAT
FULFILLED.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK IN
THE FIELDS ANYMORE, NOW SHE
OWNED THE FIELDS.
THEY NAMED THEIR SON OBED,
OBED HAD A SON NAMED JESSE,
JESSE HAD A SON NAMED DAVID.
NOW RUTH WAS IN THE FAMILY
LINE OF JESUS.
BE PATIENT IN TROUBLE.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD HAS
PLANNED.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE HE'S
TAKING YOU.
THE ENEMY WOULD LOVE FOR
YOUR EYES TO BECOME DIM,
WHERE YOU LIVE DISCOURAGED,
“LOOK AT ALL THESE BAD
BREAKS.” NO, THERE ARE
BOAZ'S OUT THERE FOR YOU.
THERE IS RESTORATION,
HEALING, ABUNDANCE.
GOD HAS THINGS IN YOUR
FUTURE THAT YOU CAN'T
CONCEIVE RIGHT NOW.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THE DISAPPOINTMENT,
THROUGH THE HARDSHIP BUT ON
THE OTHER SIDE YOU'RE GOING
SEE FAVOR THAT YOU WOULD
HAVE NEVER SEEN.
MY QUESTION FOR YOU TODAY
IS ARE YOU EXPECTING A
FAVOR FILLED FUTURE?
ARE YOU ANTICIPATING
ANYTHING GOOD?
ARE THE EYES OF YOUR HEART
FLOODED WITH LIGHT, OR HAVE
THEY BECOME DIM, YOU THINK
YOU'VE SEEN YOUR BEST DAYS?
THE ONLY THING THAT'S
STOPPING SOME PEOPLE IS
WHAT THEY'RE EXPECTING.
I'M ASKING YOU TO BE A
DAVID.
HAVE THAT ATTITUDE, “I AM
CONFIDENT I WILL SEE THE
GOODNESS OF GOD.
SURELY FAVOR IS COMING MY
WAY.” IF YOU'LL DO THIS, I
BELIEVE AND DECLARE, YOU'RE
ABOUT TO STEP IN TO ONE OF
THOSE MOMENTS OF FAVOR.
GOD IS ABOUT TO DO
SOMETHING UNUSUAL.
BLESSINGS CHASING YOU DOWN,
HEALING ABOUT TO OVERTAKE
YOU, SAMUEL IS ABOUT TO
SHOW UP, GOOD BREAKS THAT
CATAPULT YOU AHEAD, A NEW
LEVEL OF YOUR DESTINY, IN
JESUS' NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, WILL YOU
SAY AMEN?
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS
THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?
JUST SAY, “LORD JESUS, I
REPENT OF MY SINS.
COME INTO MY HEART. I MAKE
YOU MY LORD AND SAVIOR.”
IF YOU PRAYED THAT SIMPLE
PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU GOT
BORN AGAIN. WE'D LOVE TO
SEND YOU SOME INFORMATION
ON YOUR WALK WITH THE LORD.
YOU CAN TEXT THE NUMBER OR
GO TO THE WEBSITE.
I HOPE YOU'LL GET INTO A
GOOD BIBLE-BASED CHURCH AND
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
VICTORIA AND I WILL BE
RIGHT BACK TO SPEAK A
BLESSING OVER YOU.
