JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU,
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU
WITH US TODAY.
I HOPE YOU'LL STAY
CONNECTED WITH US ALL
THROUGH THE WEEK.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD OUR DAILY
PODCAST, LISTEN TO THE
MESSAGES ANY TIME.
OR YOU CAN GO TO OUR
YOUTUBE CHANNEL,
FOLLOW US ON
INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK
BUT THANKS FOR TUNING IN.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THIS PASTOR.
HE FOUND A DEAD MULE ON THE
CHURCH GROUNDS.
HE CALLED THE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT, THEY SAID THEY
COULDN'T PICK IT UP WITHOUT
AUTHORIZATION FROM THE
MAYOR. WELL THE MAYOR WAS
KNOWN TO BE RUDE AND HARD
TO GET ALONG WITH.
WHEN THE PASTOR CALLED,
THE MAYOR DIDN'T
DISAPPOINT. HE STARTED
RANTING AND RAVING.
FINALLY, HE SAID, "WHY DID
YOU EVEN CALL ME, ISN'T IT
YOUR JOB TO BURY THE DEAD?"
THE PASTOR ASKED GOD FOR
THE RIGHT RESPONSE.
HE SAID, "YES, MAYOR, IT
IS MY JOB TO BURY THE DEAD,
BUT I ALWAYS LIKE TO NOTIFY
THE NEXT OF KIN FIRST."
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 KEEP ON WALKING.
WE ALL HAVE THINGS WE'RE
BELIEVING FOR, DREAMS TO
COME TO PASS, PROBLEMS TO
TURN AROUND, WE HAVE THE
PROMISE IN OUR HEART, BUT
NOTHING IS HAPPENING.
WE'VE PRAYED, WE'VE BELIEVED
BUT WE DON'T SEE ANY SIGNS
OF THINGS IMPROVING.
IT'S EASY TO GET DISCOURAGED
AND THINK IT'S NEVER GOING
TO WORK OUT.
BUT MOST OF THE TIME GOD
DOESN'T DO THINGS INSTANTLY.
THERE WILL BE A WAITING
PERIOD.
THOUGHTS WILL TELL YOU,
"IT'S TOO LATE.
IF IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN,
IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED BY
NOW."
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE
ANYTHING DOESN'T MEAN THAT
GOD IS NOT WORKING.
AS YOU KEEP BELIEVING, KEEP
PRAISING, KEEP DOING THE
RIGHT THING, YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE THINGS BEGIN TO CHANGE.
MANY TIMES, THE MIRACLE IS
IN THE PROCESS.
IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU KEEP
BEING OBEDIENT.
DON'T BE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE
YOU'RE NOT SEEING IMMEDIATE
RESULTS.
WHAT YOU'RE BELIEVING FOR IS
STILL ON THE WAY.
IN LUKE 17, THERE WERE TEN
LEPERS SITTING BY THE SIDE
OF THE ROAD.
AS JESUS CAME PASSING
THROUGH ON HIS WAY TO
JERUSALEM, THEY BEGAN TO
SHOUT, "JESUS HAVE MERCY ON
US AND HEAL US."
JESUS COULD HAVE GONE OVER
AND HEALED THEM RIGHT THERE.
HE COULD HAVE SPOKEN TO THEM
AND CAUSED THAT LEPROSY TO
SUDDENLY DISAPPEAR.
BUT HE DID SOMETHING
INTERESTING.
HE SAID, "GO SHOW YOURSELVES
TO THE PRIEST."
LEPROSY WAS CONTAGIOUS.
THEY WERE FORBIDDEN TO BE
AROUND PEOPLE.
THEY HAD TO LIVE IN
COLONIES, ISOLATED FROM
SOCIETY.
JESUS ASKED THEM TO DO
SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T MAKE
SENSE, SOMETHING OUT OF THE
ORDINARY.
THEY COULD HAVE THOUGHT,
"ONCE I'M HEALED, ONCE I SEE
MY SKIN CLEAR UP, THEN I'LL
GO SEE THE PRIEST."
BUT FAITH SAYS YOU HAVE TO
BELIEVE IT BEFORE YOU SEE
IT.
YOU HAVE TO ACT LIKE IT'S ON
THE WAY WHEN YOU DON'T SEE
ANY SIGN OF IT.
THESE LEPERS STARTED WALKING
TOWARD THE PRIEST.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERAL
MILES, MAYBE TAKEN THEM MOST
OF THE DAY.
I CAN HEAR PEOPLE SAYING,
"WHY ARE YOU GOING TO THE
PRIEST? YOU'RE NOT WELL.
YOU LOOK JUST THE SAME."
THE FIRST COUPLE OF HOURS
THEY LOOKED AT THEIR SKIN,
DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING
DIFFERENT.
THOUGHTS SAID, "YOU MIGHT AS
WELL TURN AROUND, GO BACK
HOME. YOU'RE JUST WASTING
YOUR TIME."
BUT THESE LEPERS JUST KEPT
ON WALKING.
NO SIGN OF THINGS IMPROVING,
NO CHANGES IN THEIR SKIN,
BUT HOUR AFTER HOUR THEY
KEPT WALKING.
I CAN IMAGINE AT ONE POINT,
ONE OF THEM LOOKED AT THEIR
SKIN AND THOUGHT, "IT LOOKS
LIKE IT'S GETTING BETTER."
ANOTHER BEGAN TO MOVE HIS
HAND SAID, "MY FINGERS ARE
STARTING TO FUNCTION."
ANOTHER, "MY SKIN IS
STARTING TO CLEAR UP."
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "AS THEY
WENT, THEY WERE HEALED."
IF THEY WOULD HAVE STAYED
WHERE THEY WERE, WAITED FOR
THINGS TO CHANGE, THEY WOULD
HAVE NEVER SEEN THE MIRACLE.
THE HEALING WAS IN THE
OBEDIENCE, IN THE GOING.
BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO THE
PRIEST, THEY WERE ALL
PERFECTLY WELL.
GOD HAS PUT PROMISES IN YOUR
HEART.
HE'S TOLD YOU THAT HE'S
RESTORING HEALTH BACK UNTO
YOU, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
LEND AND NOT BORROW, THAT AS
FOR YOU AND YOUR HOUSE YOU
WILL SERVE THE LORD.
BUT MAYBE LIKE THESE LEPERS
NOTHING LOOKS ANY DIFFERENT,
THE MEDICAL REPORT HASN'T
CHANGED, YOUR CHILD IS STILL
OFF COURSE, YOUR BUSINESS
HASN'T IMPROVED.
YOU COULD GET DISCOURAGED;
THINK IT'S NEVER GOING TO
HAPPEN.
NO JUST KEEP WALKING, KEEP
BEING OBEDIENT, KEEP
PRAISING, KEEP THANKING.
THAT'S WHEN THE MIRACLE IS
GOING TO TAKE PLACE.
YOU CAN'T GO BY WHAT YOU SEE
OR BY WHAT YOU DON'T SEE.
GO BY WHAT GOD PROMISED YOU.
"JOEL, I STILL HAVE THESE
SYMPTOMS."
KEEP ON WALKING.
"MY BUSINESS IS STILL SLOW."
KEEP ON WALKING.
"THESE PEOPLE AT WORK ARE
STILL NOT TREATING ME
RIGHT."
KEEP ON WALKING.
GOD SEES YOUR OBEDIENCE.
HE SEES YOU BELIEVING WHEN
YOU COULD BE DISCOURAGED, HE
HEARS YOU PRAISING WHEN YOU
COULD BE COMPLAINING, HE
SEES YOU STRETCHING WHEN YOU
COULD BE SHRINKING BACK.
I BELIEVE FOR MANY OF YOU,
YOU'RE ABOUT TO WALK INTO
YOUR HEALING, WALK INTO YOUR
FREEDOM, WALK INTO A GREAT
SPOUSE, WALK INTO ABUNDANCE.
AS YOU KEEP WALKING, YOU'RE
GOING TO SEE GOD SHOW OUT IN
YOUR LIFE.
MANY OF THE MIRACLES JESUS
PERFORMED REQUIRED AN ACT OF
OBEDIENCE.
HIS FIRST MIRACLE, TURNING
WATER INTO WINE, HE TOLD THE
STAFF AT THE WEDDING TO GO
FILL UP THESE LARGE POTS
WITH WATER.
THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING
THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
THEY COULD HAVE SAID, "JESUS
WE NEED WINE NOT WATER.
WHAT GOOD IS THIS GOING TO
DO?"
THE OBEDIENCE IS WHAT
BROUGHT THE MIRACLE.
WITHOUT THEM FILLING THE
WATER POTS, THERE WOULD BE
NO WINE.
IS GOD ASKING YOU TO DO
SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE?
TO STEP OUT IN FAITH WHEN
YOU DON'T HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE, TO FORGIVE THAT
PERSON THAT DID YOU WRONG,
TO PRAY FOR OTHERS THAT NEED
HEALING WHEN YOU'RE STILL
NOT FEELING WELL?
IS HE ASKING YOU TO BRING
HIM FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH
WHEN YOU NEED TO FEED
THOUSANDS?
IT'S NOT SO MUCH WHAT YOU'RE
DOING, IT'S THE OBEDIENCE.
WHEN YOU PROVE TO GOD THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT
THING EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD,
EVEN WHEN IT DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE GOD DO AWESOME THINGS IN
YOUR LIFE.
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, THERE
WAS A WIDOW, HER HUSBAND HAD
DIED AND LEFT HER IN GREAT
DEBT.
SHE FINALLY RAN OUT OF
FUNDS.
NOW THE CREDITORS WERE
COMING TO TAKE HER TWO SONS
AS PAYMENT.
THE PROPHET ELISHA SHOWED UP
AND ASKED HER WHAT SHE HAD
IN HER HOUSE.
SHE SAID, "I DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING EXCEPT A SMALL JAR
OF OIL."
HE TOLD HER TO GO OUT AND
BORROW AS MANY EMPTY
CONTAINERS AS SHE COULD
FIND.
THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
WHAT GOOD WAS IT GOING TO DO
TO BORROW EMPTY CONTAINERS?
SHE COULD HAVE SAID, "ELISHA
I NEED FULL CONTAINERS.
I NEED PROVISION, I NEED
FUNDS."
WHAT GOD ASKS US TO DO,
DOESN'T ALWAYS MAKE SENSE.
HIS WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS.
MANY TIMES, IT'S SIMPLY A
TEST.
IF YOU'LL OBEY, THE MIRACLE
WILL FOLLOW.
DON'T TALK YOURSELF OUT OF
WHAT YOU KNOW GOD IS TELLING
YOU TO DO.
SOMETIMES IT SEEMS ORDINARY.
YOU'RE ASKING GOD TO PROMOTE
YOU.
HE'S SAYING, "GET TO WORK ON
TIME, PRODUCE MORE THAN YOU
HAVE TO."
YOU'RE ASKING GOD FOR
HEALING.
HE'S SAYING, "EAT HEALTHIER,
EXERCISE, GET MORE SLEEP."
YOU'RE BELIEVING FOR YOUR
CHILD TO GET ON COURSE.
GOD IS SAYING, "HELP THAT
NEIGHBOR'S CHILD, INVEST
INTO THAT YOUNG MAN."
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO MAKE
SENSE.
THAT'S WHAT FAITH IS ALL
ABOUT.
THIS WIDOW WENT OUT AND
BORROWED ALL THESE EMPTY
CONTAINERS.
I CAN SEE HER KNOCKING ON
DOOR AFTER DOOR.
THE NEIGHBORS THINKING,
"WHAT DOES SHE NEED MY
CONTAINER FOR?
SHE DOESN'T HAVE ANY FOOD.
NO REASON FOR IT."
BUT FAITH MAKES ROOM FOR
PROVISION.
YOU CAN'T WAIT TILL IT
HAPPENS; YOU HAVE TO MAKE
ROOM FOR IT WHEN YOU DON'T
SEE ANY SIGN OF IT.
YOU HAVE TO TALK LIKE IT'S
ON THE WAY, PLAN LIKE IT'S
ON THE WAY, THINK LIKE IT'S
ON THE WAY.
AFTER WORKING ALL DAY, SHE
CAME BACK TO HER HOUSE, NOW
SHE HAD A COUPLE DOZEN EMPTY
CONTAINERS.
ELISHA TOLD HER TO POUR THE
LITTLE OIL THAT SHE HAD INTO
ONE OF THE EMPTY CONTAINERS.
SHE COULD HAVE SAID, "ELISHA
THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
WHAT GOOD IS THAT GOING TO
DO, TO JUST TRANSFER THE OIL
FROM ONE CONTAINER TO THE
OTHER?"
BUT INSTEAD OF TALKING
HERSELF OUT OF IT, SHE
POURED THAT LITTLE BIT OF
OIL AND KEPT POURING AND
POURING AND POURING.
SHE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
SHE FILLED UP THE FIRST
EMPTY CONTAINER, THEN
ANOTHER AND ANOTHER.
THE OIL NEVER RAN OUT UNTIL
ALL THE CONTAINERS WERE
FULL.
SHE SOLD THE OIL AND NOT
ONLY HAD ENOUGH TO PAY THE
CREDITORS, BUT SHE HAD
PLENTY LEFT OVER TO LIVE OFF
OF.
BUT NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE
HAPPENED IF SHE HAD NOT BEEN
WILLING TO DO SOMETHING THAT
DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
ARE YOU MISSING YOUR MIRACLE
BECAUSE YOU'RE REASONING
EVERYTHING OUT?
YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT ALL IN
THE NATURAL.
GOD IS SUPERNATURAL.
HE'LL ASK YOU TO DO THINGS
THAT YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.
AFTER MOSES DIED, GOD
RAISED UP JOSHUA TO LEAD THE
ISRAELITES.
THE EARLIER GENERATION NEVER
MADE IT INTO THE PROMISED
LAND.
BECAUSE THEY COMPLAINED AND
DOUBTED, THEY WANDERED IN
THE DESERT FOR FORTY YEARS.
NOW THE CHILDREN OF THAT
GENERATION HAD GROWN UP.
JOSHUA WAS THEIR NEW LEADER.
THEY WERE HEADED TO THE
PROMISED LAND, BUT THEY HAD
TO CROSS THE JORDAN RIVER.
THERE WERE NO BRIDGES IN
THAT DAY.
THE PROBLEM WAS IT WAS THE
RAINY SEASON AND THE JORDAN
WAS IN FLOOD STAGE.
IT WAS OVER A HUNDRED AND
FIFTY FEET WIDE, WITH
VIOLENT CURRENTS RUSHING
DOWN FROM THE MELTING SNOW.
JOSHUA WAS FAMILIAR WITH
THIS TYPE OF SCENE.
AS A YOUNG MAN, HE WAS THERE
WHEN MOSES HELD UP HIS STAFF
AND THE RED SEA PARTED.
HE HAD SEEN GOD MAKE A WAY.
WHEN THESE TWO MILLION
PEOPLE CAME TO THE JORDAN
RIVER AND SAW HOW SWOLLEN IT
WAS AND HOW STRONG THE
CURRENTS WERE, THEY DIDN'T
WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH IT.
I CAN IMAGINE JOSHUA DID
LIKE HIS MENTOR MOSES.
HE HELD UP HIS ROD AND SAID,
"LORD, PLEASE LET THESE
WATERS PART."
EVERYONE WAS WATCHING WITH
GREAT ANTICIPATION, BUT
NOTHING HAPPENED.
JOSHUA THOUGHT, "GOD THIS IS
MY FIRST TEST TO SHOW THESE
PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE REALLY
WITH ME.
DON'T LEAVE ME HANGING
HERE."
GOD PROMISED JOSHUA, "AS I
WAS WITH MOSES, I WILL BE
WITH YOU."
HE DIDN'T SAY, "I'M GOING TO
DO FOR YOU EVERYTHING I DID
FOR MOSES."
GOD DOES THINGS DIFFERENT
WAYS.
YOU HAVE A UNIQUE ANOINTING,
THERE'S A DISTINCT CALLING
ON YOUR LIFE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO COPY
SOMEONE ELSE AND TRY TO BE
WHAT THEY ARE, PROVE YOUR
WORTH; PROVE THAT YOU
MEASURE UP.
WALK IN YOUR OWN ANOINTING,
WALK IN YOUR OWN CALLING.
THE JORDAN RIVER DIDN'T
PART.
JOSHUA HAD TO MAKE A
DECISION.
"ARE WE GOING TO TURN AROUND
AND GO BACK, WANDER MORE IN
THE DESERT, OR ARE WE GOING
TO KEEP WALKING?"
JOSHUA'S ATTITUDE WAS,
"WE'VE COME TOO FAR TO STOP
NOW.
GOD, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE
PROMISED US THIS LAND IF YOU
WEREN'T GOING TO GIVE US THE
VICTORY."
INSTEAD OF TURNING BACK,
JOSHUA PUT THE PRIEST OUT IN
FRONT, HE TOLD ALL THE
PEOPLE, "LET'S KEEP
WALKING."
I CAN HEAR THEM SAY, "EXCUSE
ME JOSHUA, DO YOU NOT SEE,
THERE'S A VIOLENT RAGING
RIVER A FEW HUNDRED FEET IN
FRONT OF US.
THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO."
JOSHUA ACTED LIKE HE DIDN'T
HEAR THEM.
HIS INSTRUCTIONS WERE, KEEP
ON WALKING.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PEOPLE
THAT TRY TO CONVINCE YOU TO
TURN BACK.
"YOUR DREAM IS TOO BIG, THE
OPPOSITION TOO STRONG,
NOTHING IS WORKING OUT.
JUST ACCEPT IT."
YOU HAVE TO DO LIKE JOSHUA,
HAVE A MADE-UP MIND.
"I'M GOING TO KEEP WALKING.
I'M GOING TO BECOME ALL I
WAS CREATED TO BE."
THE PRIEST GOT RIGHT UP TO
THE WATER.
IT WAS DO OR DIE, NOW OR
NEVER, BUT THE WATERS STILL
DIDN'T PART.
THEY LOOKED BACK AT JOSHUA
ONE LAST TIME, THINKING,
"SURELY HE'S GOING TO
RETREAT NOW, SURELY HE'LL
COME TO HIS SENSES."
JOSHUA ANSWERED WITH THREE
SIMPLE WORDS.
KEEP ON WALKING.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "WHEN
THE PRIESTS GOT IN THE
WATER, WHEN THEIR FEET GOT
WET, SUDDENLY THE WATERS
BEGAN TO PUSH BACK."
ALL TWO MILLION PEOPLE WENT
THROUGH ON DRY GROUND.
MIRACLES HAPPEN WHEN THERE'S
OBEDIENCE.
GOD DOESN'T GIVE US ALL THE
DETAILS.
HE DOESN'T SHOW YOU HOW IT'S
GOING TO WORK OUT.
IT MAY NOT HAPPEN LIKE
YOU'VE SEEN HAPPEN WITH YOUR
FAMILY.
THERE MAY NOT BE ANY SIGN OF
THINGS CHANGING.
LIKE JOSHUA EVERY
CIRCUMSTANCE MAY SAY, "IT'S
NOT GOING TO TURN AROUND, GO
BACK, NO USE BELIEVING FOR
YOUR DREAMS IT'S TOO LATE.
YOU'LL NEVER GET WELL; IT
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED BY NOW."
DON'T BELIEVE THOSE LIES.
KEEP WALKING.
GOD IS NOT MOVED BY WHAT'S
NOT MOVING.
HE'S NOT INTIMIDATED BY
WATERS THAT AREN'T PARTING,
BY HOW BIG THE OBSTACLE IS,
BY HOW IMPOSSIBLE IT LOOKS.
IN FACT, MANY TIMES GOD WILL
WAIT ON PURPOSE TILL THE
RIVER IS IN FLOOD STAGE.
HE'LL WAIT TILL THE EXPERTS
SAY THERE'S NO WAY, THE ODDS
ARE AGAINST YOU.
SO, WHEN HE TURNS IT AROUND
EVERYONE WILL KNOW IT WAS
HIS FAVOR, HIS POWER, HIS
GOODNESS IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU MAY HAVE SITUATIONS
WHERE YOU DON'T SEE HOW IT
CAN WORK OUT, IN YOUR
HEALTH, YOUR FINANCES, YOUR
RELATIONSHIPS.
YOU'RE TEMPTED TO QUIT
BELIEVING.
IF JOSHUA WERE HERE TODAY,
HE WOULD TELL YOU, "KEEP
WALKING.
YOU'RE ON THE VERGE OF A
MIRACLE.
THOSE WATERS ARE ABOUT TO
OPEN UP."
NOW YOU MAY HAVE TO GET YOUR
FEET WET.
IT MAY NOT HAPPEN LIKE WITH
MOSES, WHERE THE WATERS PART
FIRST, YOU CAN SEE YOUR WAY
CLEARLY.
YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW IT'S
GOING TO WORK OUT.
SOMETIMES GOD WAITS TO SEE
IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRUST HIM
WHEN THE WATERS HAVEN'T
PARTED.
ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE
WHEN YOU DON'T SEE ANY SIGN
OF THINGS CHANGING?
YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE
THE STRENGTH, THE COURAGE,
THE ABILITY.
IF YOU'LL JUST KEEP WALKING,
PRAYING, EXPECTING, DOORS
ARE GOING TO OPEN THAT YOU
COULDN'T OPEN, HEALING THAT
DEFIES THE ODDS, FREEDOM
FROM THINGS THAT HAVE HELD
YOU BACK.
SOME JORDAN RIVERS ARE ABOUT
TO PART.
THINGS YOU'VE BEEN STANDING
IN FAITH FOR, FOR A LONG
TIME, IT'S ABOUT TO COME TO
PASS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
ORDINARY; IT'S GOING TO BE
THE HAND OF GOD.
WHEN GOD PARTED THE RED SEA
FOR MOSES, THE WATERS OPENED
BEFORE THE PEOPLE WENT
THROUGH.
THEY COULD SEE THEIR WAY
CLEARLY.
IT WAS A GREAT MIRACLE, BUT
THAT DOESN'T TAKE AS MUCH
FAITH, WHEN YOU KNOW WHERE
THE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM,
THE MEDICAL REPORT IS GOOD,
YOUR CHILD IS EXCELLING.
THOSE PEOPLE WANDERED IN THE
DESERT FOR FORTY YEARS.
BUT WHEN GOD PARTED THE
JORDAN RIVER FOR JOSHUA,
WHEN THE PEOPLE HAD TO GET
THEIR FEET WET AND KEEP
WALKING WHEN IT DIDN'T LOOK
LIKE IT WAS WORKING, THAT
GROUP OF PEOPLE MADE IT INTO
THEIR PROMISED LAND.
I BELIEVE IT'S SIGNIFICANT.
WHEN YOU DON'T SEE HOW IT
CAN WORK OUT, BUT YOU KEEP
WALKING, YOU KEEP BELIEVING,
KEEP BEING GOOD TO PEOPLE,
THAT MEANS YOU'RE ABOUT TO
ENTER YOUR PROMISED LAND.
GOD IS SETTING YOU UP TO GO
WHERE YOU'VE NEVER BEEN, TO
SEE FAVOR YOU'VE NEVER SEEN.
NOW DON'T COMPLAIN BECAUSE
THE WATER IS NOT PARTING.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN GOD IS NOT
GOING TO DO IT.
THAT'S A SIGN THAT WHAT HE'S
UP TO IS BIGGER THAN YOU'VE
IMAGINED.
YOU MAY BE AT THE JORDAN
RIVER RIGHT NOW.
NOTHING IS CHANGING.
GOD IS WAITING TO SEE ARE
YOU GOING TO TURN AROUND AND
GO BACK?
"JOEL, I PRAYED, I BELIEVED
BUT MY DREAM DIDN'T COME TO
PASS, THESE PEOPLE AT WORK
STOPPED ME, I COULDN'T BREAK
THE ADDICTION, THE WATERS
DIDN'T PART."
YOU'RE RIGHT WHERE JOSHUA
WAS.
IT DIDN'T WORK THE FIRST
TIME.
THE OBSTACLE LOOKS
IMPASSABLE.
THE RIVER IS SWOLLEN, THE
PROBLEM IS BIGGER THAN IT'S
EVER BEEN.
THAT'S A TEST.
YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR FEET
WET.
IF YOU'LL KEEP WALKING,
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE GOD OPEN
UP THINGS YOU NEVER DREAMED
WOULD OPEN, TURN PROBLEMS
AROUND YOU NEVER DREAMED
WOULD TURN AROUND.
THAT JORDAN RIVER IS SETTING
YOU UP FOR YOUR PROMISED
LAND.
DAVID SAID, "I WAS YOUNG AND
NOW I'M OLD AND I'VE NEVER
SEEN THE RIGHTEOUS
FORSAKEN."
HE WAS SAYING IN EFFECT,
"I'VE NEVER SEEN A JORDAN
RIVER GOD WON'T PART.
I'VE NEVER SEEN A SICKNESS
THAT HE WON'T HEAL.
I'VE NEVER SEEN A DREAM HE
WON'T BRING TO PASS."
WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO
ACQUIRE THE COMPAQ CENTER,
GOD GAVE US FAVOR AND THE
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED
FOR US TO HAVE THE BUILDING.
IT WAS A YEAR AND A HALF
PROCESS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE
AGAINST US SUDDENLY CHANGED
THEIR MIND AND THE FACILITY
WAS OURS.
LIKE MOSES, WE PRAYED, WE
BELIEVED, AND GOD PARTED THE
RED SEA.
WE WERE GRATEFUL, WE KNEW IT
WAS THE HAND OF GOD.
BUT A FEW DAYS LATER, A
COMPANY FILED A LAWSUIT TO
TRY TO KEEP US FROM MOVING
IN.
THEY SAID THAT WE VIOLATED
THE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
OUR ATTORNEYS TOLD US IT
COULD BE TIED UP IN THE
COURTS FOR TEN YEARS.
IT WAS LIKE A ROLLER
COASTER.
WE WENT FROM THIS GREAT
CELEBRATION TO THE REALITY
THAT IT MAY NOT EVER WORK
OUT.
IT'S TIMES LIKE THESE, WHERE
YOU DON'T SEE A WAY, THE
OPPOSITION IS BIGGER AND
STRONGER, THAT YOU SEE WHAT
YOU'RE MADE OF.
IT'S EASY TO BELIEVE WHEN
GOD PARTS RED SEAS, BUT WHAT
DO YOU DO WHEN YOU COME TO
THE JORDAN RIVER?
YOU PRAYED, YOU BELIEVED,
BUT IT DIDN'T PART.
YOU HELD UP YOUR ROD LIKE
YOUR MENTOR, YOU DID WHAT
YOUR PARENTS DID, BUT
NOTHING HAPPENED.
ARE YOU GOING TO GET YOUR
FEET WET?
ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP
WALKING EVEN THOUGH THOUGHTS
TELL YOU, "IT'S NOT GOING TO
WORK OUT, YOU MIGHT AS WELL
TURN AROUND.
AFTER ALL GOD'S BEEN GOOD TO
YOU.
BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU
HAVE."
DON'T LET THE ENEMY TALK YOU
OUT OF YOUR PROMISED LAND.
GOD HAS BIGGER THINGS IN
YOUR FUTURE.
HE HAS NEW MOUNTAINS FOR YOU
TO CLIMB.
KEEP WALKING WHEN THE WATERS
AREN'T PARTING.
KEEP WALKING WHEN YOU'RE NOT
BEING PROMOTED.
KEEP WALKING WHEN YOUR
HEALTH ISN'T IMPROVING, WHEN
THE PANDEMIC SEEMS LIKE IT'S
STOPPED YOUR DREAMS.
THE REASON YOU'RE FACING A
JORDAN RIVER AT FLOOD STAGE,
NOT JUST A NORMAL RIVER BUT
THE OBSTACLE IS BIGGER, MORE
STUBBORN, IS BECAUSE YOUR
PROMISED LAND IS ON THE
OTHER SIDE.
YOU DON'T COME TO JORDAN
RIVERS, RIVERS THAT YOU HAVE
TO GET YOUR FEET WET, IF
IT'S JUST ANOTHER ORDINARY
VICTORY, SOMETHING COMMON.
THE JORDAN MEANS GOD IS
ABOUT THRUST YOU TO A NEW
LEVEL.
I WOKE UP MANY TIMES IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN WE
WERE IN THAT LAWSUIT WITH
THOUGHTS TELLING ME, "YOU
BETTER TURN AROUND.
YOU'VE TOLD PEOPLE THAT IT'S
YOUR BUILDING, YOU'RE
RAISING FUNDS FOR IT.
WHEN YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT
BACK, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK
LIKE A FOOL.
NOBODY IS GOING TO LISTEN TO
YOU."
ALL THESE VOICES SAYING,
"RETREAT, IT DIDN'T PART.
IF GOD WAS FOR YOU, YOU
WOULDN'T HAVE THIS
OPPOSITION.
IF IT WAS GOING TO WORK OUT,
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THIS
LAWSUIT."
NO, GOD BEING FOR YOU
DOESN'T MEAN YOU WON'T HAVE
OPPOSITION.
THE ENEMY WOULDN'T BE TRYING
TO STOP YOU IF YOU WEREN'T A
THREAT TO HIM.
HE DOESN'T COME AGAINST
PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE GREAT
DESTINIES.
THE REASON YOU'RE FACING BIG
GIANTS IS BECAUSE YOU'RE AT
THE JORDAN RIVER.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO COME INTO
YOUR PROMISED LAND.
I DIDN'T SEE HOW THIS
LAWSUIT COULD EVER RESOLVE.
THE OTHER SIDE WAS STUBBORN
BUT I DID WHAT I'M ASKING US
TO DO, I KEPT ON WALKING.
WHEN THOUGHTS TOLD ME IT
WOULD NEVER WORK OUT.
"THIS COMPANY IS BIGGER,
STRONGER, MORE INFLUENTIAL."
"FATHER, THANK YOU THAT
YOU'RE FIGHTING OUR BATTLES.
THANK YOU THAT YOU BEING FOR
US IS MORE THAN THE WORLD
BEING AGAINST US."
OUR ATTORNEYS TOLD US THE
OTHER SIDE WOULD PROBABLY
PAY US A LARGE SUM OF
MONEY FOR US TO GO AWAY.
THEY THREW OUT NUMBERS THAT
WE COULD PRACTICALLY BUILD
ANOTHER FACILITY, BUT WE
DIDN'T WANT THE MONEY, WE
WANTED THE BUILDING.
THIS BUILDING IS ONE OF THE
MAIN LANDMARKS IN THE CITY
OF HOUSTON.
TWO MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR
CAME THROUGH IT.
IT'S ON THE MAIN FREEWAY,
HAS GREAT ACCESS.
WE COULD HAVE THOUGHT,
"LET'S JUST BE SAFE, WE MAY
NOT WIN, LET'S TAKE THE
FUNDS AND GO DO SOMETHING
ELSE."
BUT GOD DOESN'T WANT YOU TO
WATER DOWN YOUR DREAM, TO
TAKE LESS THAN WHAT YOU KNOW
IS IN YOUR HEART.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PEOPLE
TRYING TO CONVINCE YOU TO
SETTLE, "JUST ACCEPT IT.
YOU'LL NEVER GET WELL, NEVER
BREAK THE ADDICTION, NEVER
GET OUT OF THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD."
NO, DON'T WATER DOWN YOUR
DREAM.
YOU MAY BE AT THE JORDAN,
YOUR FEET ARE WET, BUT
NOTHING IS PARTING.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU COULD
DROWN.
GOD HAS NOT FAILED IN THE
PAST; HE'S NOT GOING TO
START WITH YOU.
KEEP ON WALKING, BELIEVING,
PRAYING, DOING THE RIGHT
THING.
WATERS ARE ABOUT TO PART,
DOORS ARE ABOUT TO OPEN,
PROBLEMS ARE ABOUT TO TURN
AROUND.
INSTEAD OF YOU RETREATING,
THE OPPOSITION IS GOING TO
RETREAT, THE WATERS ARE
GOING TO PUSH BACK, THE
SICKNESS, THE DEBT, THE
TROUBLE IS ABOUT TO PUSH
BACK.
GOD IS GOING TO MAKE A WAY
WHERE YOU DON'T SEE A WAY.
THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO
PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD.
IT TALKS ABOUT THE HELMET OF
SALVATION, THE BREASTPLATE
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE BELT
OF TRUTH, THE SHOES OF
PEACE, THE SHIELD OF FAITH.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THERE
IS NO ARMOR FOR YOUR BACK
SIDE.
THERE'S NOTHING TO COVER YOU
FROM THE REAR.
THAT'S BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T
CREATED TO RETREAT, YOU
WEREN'T CREATED TO RUN FROM
OPPOSITION.
YOU HAVE ARMOR FOR ONE
DIRECTION-TO KEEP MOVING
FORWARD.
WHEN YOU STAND STRONG AND
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF
FAITH, OPPOSITION WILL RUN
FROM YOU.
PSALM 114 SAYS, "THE RED SEA
SAW THE ISRAELITES AND
HURRIED OUT OF THEIR WAY."
GOD IS GOING TO PART SOME
WATERS QUICKLY.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO
TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET
WELL, A LONG TIME TO
ACCOMPLISH THE DREAM, A LONG
TIME TO GET OUT OF DEBT.
NO, GET READY, IT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN SOONER THAN YOU
THINK.
GOD IS GOING TO CAUSE THOSE
WATERS, THAT OPPOSITION,
THAT DEPRESSION TO HURRY OUT
OF YOUR WAY.
ONE DAY OUT OF THE BLUE,
THE OTHER SIDE CALLED AND
SAID THEY WANTED TO MEET.
WE HADN'T SPOKEN TO THEM IN
MONTHS, EVERYTHING WAS AT A
STALEMATE.
THEY SHOWED UP AND IN THAT
ONE MEETING CHANGED THEIR
MIND AND SAID WE COULD HAVE
THE BUILDING.
THEY NOT ONLY DROPPED THE
LAWSUIT, BUT THEY LEASED US
NINE THOUSAND COVERED
PARKING SPACES.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BUILD OUR
OWN PARKING STRUCTURE.
WHAT HAPPENED?
WE CAME INTO OUR PROMISED
LAND.
I WONDER WHAT AWAITS YOU IF
YOU'LL JUST KEEP WALKING.
"WELL, JOEL, I HAVE SOME BIG
OBSTACLES."
CAN I TELL YOU?
WE SERVE A BIG GOD.
HE FLUNG STARS INTO SPACE;
HE SPOKE WORLDS INTO
EXISTENCE.
HE CAN GET YOU TO WHERE
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
"THE MEDICAL REPORT SAYS I'M
NOT GOING TO GET WELL."
GOD CAN DO WHAT MEDICINE
CANNOT DO.
THERE'S NOT A JORDAN RIVER
HE CAN'T PART.
THAT CHILD MAY BE OFF
COURSE, MAKING BAD CHOICES.
IT LOOKS PERMANENT, BUT THAT
IS NOT HIS DESTINY.
WHAT GOD STARTED HE'S GOING
TO FINISH.
YOU CAN STAND IN THE GAP FOR
YOUR CHILDREN.
YES, THEY MAKE THEIR OWN
DECISIONS BUT AS PARENTS,
YOU HAVE A GOD-GIVEN
AUTHORITY.
WHEN YOU PRAY, WHEN YOU
SPEAK LIFE, WHEN YOU THANK
GOD THAT FORCES OF DARKNESS
ARE BROKEN, ANGELS GO TO
WORK.
JORDAN RIVERS ARE PUSHED
BACK.
GOD HEARS YOUR PRAYERS.
HE SEES YOUR FAITHFULNESS.
HE SEES YOU BELIEVING WHEN
YOU DON'T SEE THINGS
CHANGING, THANKING HIM WHEN
YOU COULD BE COMPLAINING.
YOUR TIME IS COMING.
SOME WATERS ARE ABOUT TO
PART.
YOU WOULDN'T BE HEARING THIS
IF GOD DIDN'T HAVE
BREAKTHROUGHS COMING YOUR
WAY.
JUST BECAUSE YOUR FEET ARE
WET, JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T
SEE ANYTHING IMPROVING, IT
DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN.
GOD IS WATCHING YOU AND AT
THE RIGHT TIME, THINGS ARE
GOING TO CHANGE.
THE MIRACLE IS A PROCESS, IT
TAKES TIME BUT WHEN YOU COME
INTO YOUR MOMENT, SUDDENLY
THINGS WILL TURN AROUND.
MY CHALLENGE IS STAY IN
FAITH UNTIL YOU SEE THE
SUDDENLY.
KEEP ON WALKING.
THE ENEMY ALWAYS TALKS THE
LOUDEST WHEN YOU'RE CLOSE TO
THE WATERS PARTING.
TUNE OUT ALL THE NEGATIVE
VOICES AND TUNE IN TO WHAT
GOD PROMISED.
HE HAS SPOKEN IT AND HE WILL
BRING IT TO PASS.
HE WOULDN'T LET YOU FACE A
JORDAN RIVER, WHERE YOUR
PROMISED LAND IS ON THE
OTHER SIDE IF THAT WAS GOING
TO KEEP YOU FROM YOUR
PURPOSE.
THE REASON YOU CAN'T SEE A
WAY IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN NATURALLY.
GOD IS GOING TO DO IT
SUPERNATURALLY, THINGS THAT
YOU COULDN'T MAKE HAPPEN.
DON'T TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT
JUST KEEP BELIEVING, KEEP
EXPECTING, KEEP DOING THE
RIGHT THING.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE, AS
YOU KEEP ON WALKING, LIKE
THESE LEPERS YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE HEALING, FAVOR,
PROMOTION.
LIKE JOSHUA WATERS ARE ABOUT
TO PART, NEW DOORS ARE ABOUT
TO OPEN, OBSTACLES ARE ABOUT
TO COME DOWN.
YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT INTO
YOUR PROMISED LAND, IN JESUS
NAME.
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 GIVE YOU SOME
FREE INFORMATION ON YOUR NEW
WALK WITH THE LORD.
JUST TEXT THE NUMBER ON THE
SCREEN.
I HOPE YOU'LL GET INTO A
GOOD BIBLE-BASED CHURCH.
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
> JOEL: THANKS FOR
WATCHING THIS
MESSAGE. I HOPE
YOU ENJOYED IT.
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> VICTORIA: LET US
KNOW IN THE
COMMENTS BELOW HOW
THIS MESSAGE HAS
ENCOURAGED YOU.
WE WOULD LOVE TO
HEAR FROM YOU.
WE'RE PRAYING FOR
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
WE'LL SEE YOU
NEXT TIME!
