JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU!
IT'S A JOY TO COME INTO
YOUR HOMES. WE'RE PRAYING
FOR YOU GUYS.
I HOPE YOU'LL STAY CONNECTED
WITH US ALL THROUGHOUT THE
WEEK. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD OUR
DAILY PODCASTS OR GO TO
OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL,
WATCH THE MESSAGES ANYTIME;
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE WANT TO KEEP YOU
ENCOURAGED AND INSPIRED,
BUT THANKS FOR TUNING IN.
THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING OUT.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THESE ELDERLY
LADIES, WAY UP IN THEIR
EIGHTIES.
THEY WERE DRIVING DOWN THE
FREEWAY TOGETHER WHEN THEY
WERE PULLED OVER BY A
POLICEMAN. THE OFFICER
ASKED THE DRIVER, "MA'AM
DO YOU REALIZE YOU'RE
ONLY GOING 35 MPH?"
SHE SAID, "YES, OFFICER,
I REALIZE THAT."
HE SAID, "WHY ARE YOU
GOING SO SLOW?"
SHE SAID, "BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT THE SIGN SAYS."
HE KIND OF LAUGHED AND SAID,
"NO MA'AM THAT'S THE NUMBER
OF THE FREEWAY.
THIS IS HIGHWAY 35.
AND BY THE WAY, WHY DO THESE
OTHER PASSENGERS LOOK SO
TERRIFIED?"
SHE SMILED AND SAID,
"BECAUSE WE JUST GO OFF
HIGHWAY 95."
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 LETTING GO OF CONTROL.
GOD PUTS PROMISES AND DREAMS
IN ALL OF OUR HEARTS.
WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET
WELL; WE KNOW OUR BUSINESS
IS GOING TO SUCCEED, WE KNOW
WE'RE GOING TO MEET THE
RIGHT PERSON.
BUT GOD DOESN'T TELL US HOW
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR WHEN
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
TOO OFTEN IF IT'S NOT
HAPPENING THE WAY WE THOUGHT
OR ON OUR TIMETABLE WE GET
FRUSTRATED.
"GOD WHEN IS THIS GOING
TO TURN THIS AROUND? WHEN
IS MY HEALTH GOING TO
IMPROVE? HOW COME THIS
SITUATION AT WORK IS NOT
GETTING BETTER?"
WE PUT GOD IN A BOX AND
TELL HIM HOW TO DO IT,
WHEN IT SHOULD HAPPEN AND
WHO TO USE.
IF IT'S NOT WORKING OUT THE
WAY WE THINK, WE CAN GET
DISCOURAGED.
ONCE YOU PRAY, ONCE YOU
BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO LEAVE
HOW GOD DOES IT AND WHEN
HE DOES IT UP TO HIM.
IF YOU PUT A TIME FRAME ON
IT AND A METHOD OF HOW IT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN, YOU'RE
GOING TO BE FRUSTRATED.
BECAUSE GOD'S WAYS ARE NOT
OUR WAYS.
HE'S WORKING WHEN WE CAN'T
SEE IT.
SOMETIMES IT'S TAKING LONGER
BECAUSE HE HAS SOMETHING
BETTER IN STORE.
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I'VE
LEARNED IS TO TRUST GOD'S
TIMING AND TRUST HIS WAYS.
WHAT GOD PROMISED WILL COME
TO PASS BUT IT MAY NOT
HAPPEN THE WAY YOU THINK,
IT MAY NOT BE WHEN YOU HAD
PLANNED.
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO CONTROL
THE OUTCOME AND CONTROL THE
TIMEFRAME, YOU'RE GOING TO
LIVE WORRIED.
YOU HAVE TO RELEASE CONTROL.
RELEASE HAVING TO HAVE IT
HAPPEN YOUR WAY.
GOD ALREADY HAS IT FIGURED
OUT. HE KNOWS THE END FROM
THE BEGINNING.
BUT HERE'S THE KEY, HE
DOESN'T GIVE US THE DETAILS.
IF YOU KNEW HOW EVERYTHING
WAS GOING TO WORK OUT, IT
WOULDN'T TAKE FAITH.
IF HE TOLD YOU, THREE MONTHS
FROM NOW A BIG DOOR IS GOING
OPEN, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE
GOING BACKWARDS BUT THERE'S
A SHORTCUT THAT'S GOING TO
PUT YOU AHEAD."
YOU WOULD RELAX AND SAY,
"OKAY, IT'S ALL GOING TO
WORK OUT."
WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT NOW?
GOD HAS IT ALL PLANNED OUT.
HE'S DOING THINGS YOU CAN'T
SEE.
THERE ARE GOOD BREAKS
COMING, HEALING, FAVOR,
THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
THEY'RE ALREADY ON YOUR
SCHEDULE.
IF YOU'LL RELEASE CONTROL,
THEN YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR
LIFE WHILE YOU'RE WAITING
FOR THINGS TO CHANGE.
WHAT'S UPSETTING YOU, WHAT'S
KEEPING YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT?
GOD IS SAYING, "RELEASE IT
TO ME. I'M IN CONTROL.
I'M ORDERING YOUR STEPS; I'M
WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES.
IT MAY NOT BE GOOD BUT I'M
GOING TO TURN IT FOR YOUR
GOOD."
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "THOSE
WHO HAVE BELIEVED ENTER IN
TO REST."
ONCE YOU'VE BELIEVED, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO FIGURE
EVERYTHING OUT.
YOU MAY NOT SEE ANYTHING
CHANGING, YOU'LL BE TEMPTED
TO WORRY, STAY AT REST.
WHEN YOU'RE AT REST YOU'RE
SHOWING GOD THAT YOU TRUST
HIM.
MAYBE YOU'RE BELIEVING FOR
YOUR HEALTH TO IMPROVE, BUT
THE MEDICAL REPORT IS NOT
GETTING BETTER.
YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE
HAPPENED BY NOW.
YOU COULD BE WORRIED,
COMPLAINING, BUT INSTEAD
YOU'RE THANKING GOD, YOU'RE
DECLARING HIS PROMISES,
YOU'RE BEING YOUR BEST EACH
DAY.
WHEN YOU'RE AT REST, YOU'RE
IN FAITH.
THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS GOD TO
WORK.
BUT IF YOU'RE UPSET OVER
WHAT'S NOT CHANGING, WORRIED
ABOUT YOUR FINANCES AND
CAN'T SLEEP BECAUSE THAT
CHILD IS OFF COURSE,
THAT'S A SIGN THAT YOU'VE
STOPPED BELIEVING.
YOU NEED TO ENTER IN TO
REST. COME BACK TO A PLACE
OF PEACE.
YOU CAN'T TRUST GOD AND BE
WORRIED AT THE SAME TIME.
WHEN YOU'RE AT REST, YOU
KNOW GOD'S IN CONTROL, YOU
KNOW ALL THINGS ARE GOING TO
WORK FOR YOUR GOOD, YOU KNOW
WHAT HE STARTED HE'S GOING
TO FINISH.
"JOEL, I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY
FINANCES, I'M UPSET ABOUT
THE MEDICAL REPORT, WHEN IS
THIS PANDEMIC GOING TO BE
OVER."
IT'S NOT A SURPRISE TO GOD.
HE HASN'T BROUGHT YOU THIS
FAR TO LEAVE YOU.
RELEASE THE WORRY, RELEASE
THE FRUSTRATION, RELEASE
HAVING TO KNOW ALL THE
DETAILS.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
SITUATIONS THAT WE DON'T
UNDERSTAND, PROBLEMS THAT
LOOK TOO BIG, OBSTACLES THAT
SEEM PERMANENT.
THAT'S A TEST.
WILL YOU GO THROUGH LIFE
WORRIED, WONDERING IF IT'S
GOING WORK OUT, DISCOURAGED
BECAUSE IT'S TAKING SO LONG,
OR WILL YOU ENTER INTO REST?
WILL YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS
IN CONTROL AND THAT HE WILL
GET YOU TO WHERE YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE?
MY SISTER LISA AND HER
HUSBAND KEVIN TRIED TO HAVE
A BABY FOR MANY YEARS WITH
NO SUCCESS.
LISA TOOK ALL THE FERTILITY
TREATMENTS, HAD A COUPLE OF
SURGERIES, BUT STILL
COULDN'T CONCEIVE.
FINALLY, THE DOCTORS TOLD
HER THAT SHE WOULDN'T BE
ABLE TO HAVE A BABY.
LISA KEPT PRAYING,
BELIEVING, YEAR AFTER YEAR,
SHE KNEW THAT GOD HAS THE
FINAL SAY.
BUT AT ONE POINT SHE
REALIZED SHE WAS CONSUMED
WITH HAVING THAT BABY.
THAT WAS HER MAIN FOCUS.
SOMETIMES WE WANT SOMETHING
SO BADLY, IT CAN GET OUT OF
BALANCE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY
UNLESS GOD DOES IT OUR WAY.
YOU HAVE TO PUT IT ON THE
ALTAR.
DON'T RELEASE THE DREAM,
DON'T GIVE UP ON THE
PROMISE, BUT RELEASE CONTROL
OF HOW GOD IS GOING TO BRING
IT TO PASS.
HE MAY NOT DO IT A
TRADITIONAL WAY, WHAT YOU
WERE EXPECTING.
ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO
BE HAPPY, THE ENEMY CAN USE
AGAINST YOU.
BUT WHEN YOU CAN SAY, "GOD
THIS IS WHAT I WANT BUT EVEN
IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT MY
WAY, I'M STILL GOING TO BE
HAPPY, I'M STILL GOING TO
GIVE YOU PRAISE."
THAT TAKES AWAY THE POWER
OF THE ENEMY.
HOLD TIGHTLY TO YOUR DREAMS
BUT HOLD LOOSELY TO HOW GOD
IS GOING TO DO IT.
A FEW MONTHS AFTER LISA
RELEASED CONTROL, SHE
RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A
FRIEND OF OURS IN ANOTHER
STATE THAT HAS A HOME FOR
TEENAGE GIRLS.
ONE OF THE YOUNG LADIES WAS
ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH TO TWINS
AND SHE ASKED LISA AND KEVIN
IF THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED
IN ADOPTING THEM.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO THINK
TWICE, THEY KNEW THAT WAS
AN ANSWERED PRAYER.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER
THEY WERE AT THE HOSPITAL
WHEN THE BABIES WERE BORN.
TODAY, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL
YOUNG LADIES IN THEIR
TWENTIES.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO BRING
PROMISES TO PASS BUT YOU
HAVE TO STAY OPEN TO HOW
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
IF YOU'RE SET IN HAVING IT
ONE WAY, YOU CAN BE
FRUSTRATED.
GOD DOES THINGS OUT OF THE
ORDINARY, UNUSUAL.
HE MAY NOT BRING YOUR DREAM
TO PASS A TRADITIONAL WAY.
IT SEEMED LIKE LISA WAS
FALLING BEHIND BUT THEN ONE
PHONE CALL AND SHE HAD NOT
ONE BUT TWO BABIES.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO GET
PREGNANT; SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO
CARRY THE BABY NINE MONTHS.
GOD DID IT AN UNUSUAL WAY.
ARE YOU UPSET ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT'S THE HAND
OF GOD?
IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET
BECAUSE GOD IS GOING TO DO
SOMETHING BETTER THAN YOU
THINK.
THE DELAY, THE
DISAPPOINTMENT, THE SETBACK,
IT'S NOT WORKING AGAINST
YOU, IT'S WORKING FOR YOU.
RELEASE CONTROL OF HOW IT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN.
GOD IS ABOUT TO DO UNUSUAL
THINGS, OUT OF THE ORDINARY,
UNPRECEDENTED.
YOU'RE NOT FALLING BEHIND,
YOU'RE ABOUT TO RECEIVE
A PHONE CALL, A GOOD BREAK,
A PROMOTION, YOUR HEALTH
SUDDENLY TURNS AROUND.
I'VE LEARNED GOD DOESN'T
ALWAYS TAKE US DOWN
A STRAIGHT PATH.
THERE WILL BE DETOURS,
DELAYS, CURVES, THESE TIMES
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE
GOING THE WRONG WAY.
"GOD I'M BELIEVING TO GO
THIS DIRECTION, FOR
PROMOTION, HEALING, FREEDOM,
BUT I'M GOING THE OTHER
DIRECTION.
I'M IN A PANDEMIC, I'M
SEEING JUST THE OPPOSITE."
DON'T GET SET ON THE METHOD.
THE WAY YOU THINK IT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN MAY NOT BE THE WAY
GOD'S GOING TO DO IT.
WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE IS ON
THAT PATH THAT'S GOING THE
WRONG WAY, THERE'S ANOTHER
TURN, IT LEADS TO A SHORT
CUT THAT WILL CATAPULT YOU
AHEAD.
LISA WAS BELIEVING FOR ONE
CHILD AND CAME OUT WITH TWO.
THAT'S THE WAY OUR GOD IS.
WHERE HE'S LEADING YOU IS
GOING TO BE BETTER THAN
YOU'VE IMAGINED.
THE REASON IT'S TAKING
LONGER IS BECAUSE IT'S GOING
TO BE BIGGER THAN YOU
THOUGHT, MORE REWARDING,
MORE FULFILLING.
DOORS AREN'T OPENING YET?
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD IS
UP TO.
YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT HE'S
DOING BEHIND THE SCENES.
PEOPLE ARE AGAINST YOU, THE
TROUBLE HASN'T TURNED
AROUND, YOUR FAMILY MEMBER
IS STILL OFF COURSE.
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED BY
WHAT'S NOT CHANGING.
YOUR TIME IS COMING.
THE SCRIPTURE TALKS ABOUT
HOW THERE IS A SET TIME FOR
GOD TO FAVOR YOU, A SET TIME
TO HEAL YOU, A SET TIME TO
TURN THE PROBLEM AROUND.
IF THERE'S A RIGHT TIME,
THAT MEANS THERE'S A WRONG
TIME.
IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET,
THEN IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE.
INSTEAD OF FIGHTING WHERE
YOU ARE, WHY DON'T YOU
EMBRACE WHERE YOU ARE?
"GOD, I KNOW YOU'RE ORDERING
MY STEPS, I'M RIGHT WHERE I'M
SUPPOSED TO BE.
LORD I WANT TO THANK YOU
THAT MY SET TIMES ARE
COMING."
I CAN PROMISE YOU THIS, GOD
IS NOT GOING TO BE ONE
SECOND LATE.
HE'S NOT GOING TO ACCIDENTLY
MISS YOUR SET TIME.
IT'S GOOD TO BE PASSIONATE
ABOUT OUR DREAMS, PASSIONATE
ABOUT HEALING, FREEDOM,
PROMOTION.
BUT DON'T BE SO CONSUMED
THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE
HAPPY WHILE YOU'RE WAITING
FOR GOD TO BRING IT TO PASS.
DON'T PUT YOUR HAPPINESS ON
HOLD UNTIL EVERYTHING WORKS
OUT.
THIS DAY IS A GIFT.
ENJOY YOUR LIFE WHILE GOD IS
WORKING.
ENTER INTO REST, NOT
UPTIGHT, STRESSED OUT, "WHEN
IS IT GOING TO CHANGE?"
YOU HAVE TO PASS THE TEST OF
BEING HAPPY WHERE YOU ARE
BEFORE GOD WILL GET YOU TO
WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.
IF YOU CAN ONLY BE HAPPY
WHEN THE PROBLEM TURNS
AROUND, WHEN YOU HAVE THE
BABY, WHEN YOUR BUSINESS
GROWS, THAT'S GOING TO DELAY
WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO.
YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR FOOT
DOWN AND SAY, "I AM GOING TO
ENJOY THIS DAY.
THIS PANDEMIC IS NOT GOING
TO STOP ME, THESE
CHALLENGES, THIS BAD BREAK.
GOD, I KNOW YOU'RE ON THE
THRONE.
I TRUST YOUR TIMING AND I
TRUST YOUR WAYS.
IN THE MEANTIME, I'M GOING
TO LIVE MY LIFE HAPPY."
IMAGINE IF JOSEPH HAD NOT
LEARNED HOW TO RELEASE
CONTROL.
GOD GAVE HIM A DREAM AS A
TEENAGER THAT HE WOULD BE IN
LEADERSHIP AND THAT PEOPLE
WOULD BOW DOWN BEFORE HIM.
WHAT IF HE HAD A
PRECONCEIVED IDEA OF HOW IT
WAS GOING TO HAPPEN?
"SURELY, SOMEONE IS GOING TO
SHOW UP AT MY HOUSE, LIKE THEY
DID FOR DAVID AND ANOINT ME
KING, PICK ME OUT OF A LINEUP,
SHOW ME FAVOR AND I'LL STEP
INTO LEADERSHIP."
BUT GOD DOES THINGS UNUSUAL
WAYS.
HE USES ADVERSITIES, BAD
BREAKS, DISAPPOINTMENTS TO
MOVE US INTO OUR DESTINY.
THE TROUBLE LOOKS LIKE A
SETBACK BUT REALLY TROUBLE
IS TRANSPORTATION.
GOD USES TROUBLE TO MOVE YOU
TO WHERE HE WANTS YOU TO BE.
WE THINK GOD ONLY USES
FAVOR, GOOD BREAKS, OPEN
DOORS.
WE KNOW IT'S HIS BLESSING,
WE THANK HIM WHEN THAT
HAPPENS, BUT I'VE LEARNED
GOD USES CLOSED DOORS JUST
AS MUCH AS OPEN DOORS.
HE USES PEOPLE THAT ARE
AGAINST US, JUST AS MUCH AS
PEOPLE THAT ARE FOR US.
HE USES REJECTION,
BETRAYALS, DELAYS TO
POSITION US FOR PROMOTION.
WE CAN'T SEE IT AT THE TIME,
WE DON'T LIKE IT, IT'S
UNCOMFORTABLE BUT IT'S THE
HAND OF GOD ORDERING OUR
STEPS.
JOSEPH HAD THIS DREAM; HE
KNEW GOD'S FAVOR WAS ON HIM.
WHAT HAPPENED?
HE WAS BETRAYED BY HIS
BROTHERS, THROWN INTO A PIT,
SOLD INTO SLAVERY, FALSELY
ACCUSED, PUT IN PRISON.
ONE BAD BREAK AFTER ANOTHER.
BUT JOSEPH UNDERSTOOD THIS
PRINCIPLE.
HE NEVER COMPLAINED.
HE NEVER GOT BITTER.
I'M SURE THERE WERE MANY
LONELY NIGHTS, TIMES WHERE
HE FELT FORGOTTEN,
ABANDONED, BUT DEEP DOWN HE
COULD HEAR THAT STILL SMALL
VOICE TELLING HIM, "I'M
STILL IN CONTROL, I'VE GOT
YOU IN THE PALM OF MY HAND.
THIS IS ALL A PART OF YOUR
DESTINY."
IF HE WOULD HAVE TRIED TO
CONTROL IT, TRIED TO MAKE IT
HAPPEN HIS WAY, HE WOULD
HAVE LIVED BITTER,
FRUSTRATED, ANGRY.
EVERY DAY HE HAD TO RELEASE
THE WORRY, RELEASE THE
FRUSTRATION, RELEASE HOW HE
THOUGHT IT WOULD HAPPEN.
THIRTEEN YEARS LATER, HE
BECAME THE PRIME MINISTER OF
EGYPT.
HE SAW THAT DREAM COME TO
PASS.
BUT WHEN YOU STUDY HIS
JOURNEY, YOU SEE TWISTS AND
TURNS, DELAYS, DETOURS,
DISAPPOINTMENTS.
PROVERBS SAYS, "SINCE THE
LORD IS DIRECTING YOUR
STEPS, WHY TRY TO UNDERSTAND
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS
ALONG THE WAY."
ARE YOU FRUSTRATED BECAUSE
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENED TO
YOU, UPSET OVER A BAD BREAK,
WORRIED BECAUSE OF A DELAY?
HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S NOT THE
HAND OF GOD LEADING YOU TO
YOUR THRONE?
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE
NOT A JOSEPH?
THAT YOU'RE NOT RIGHT ON
COURSE, ON SCHEDULE TO SEE
WHAT GOD PROMISED YOU?
IT MAY NOT HAPPEN LIKE YOU
THINK.
GOD USES DIFFICULTIES TO
POSITION US FOR DESTINY.
WHAT YOU'RE UPSET ABOUT IS A
NECESSARY STEP.
THAT CLOSED DOOR, THE DELAY,
IT'S INSTRUMENTAL IN YOU
REACHING YOUR PURPOSE.
DON'T TRY TO UNDERSTAND
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS
ALONG THE WAY.
GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS
WAYS.
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE
EVERYTHING OUT, YOU'RE GOING
TO GET CONFUSED.
THERE ARE THINGS YOU'RE NOT
SUPPOSED TO UNDERSTAND,
THAT'S WHAT FAITH IS ALL
ABOUT.
IF THAT ADVERSITY WAS GOING
TO STOP YOUR DESTINY, GOD
WOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED IT.
IF THAT DISAPPOINTMENT WAS
GOING TO KEEP YOU FROM YOUR
PURPOSE, IT WOULDN'T HAVE
HAPPENED.
GOD IS SEEING WHAT YOU'RE
MADE OF.
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SAY
LIKE JOSEPH, "GOD, I TRUST
YOU EVEN WHEN I DON'T
UNDERSTAND IT.
I'M GOING TO KEEP BEING MY
BEST EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT
FAIR.
I'M GOING TO KEEP GIVING YOU
PRAISE WHEN I COULD BE
COMPLAINING.
I'M GOING TO KEEP MOVING
FORWARD WHEN I FEEL LIKE
GOING BACKWARDS."
IN LUKE 22, JESUS WAS ABOUT
TO CRUCIFIED.
HE WAS ON THE MOUNT OF
OLIVES PRAYING.
JUDAS CAME UP WITH A GROUP
OF SOLDIERS AND KISSED
JESUS.
THAT'S HOW THEY KNEW WHO TO
ARREST.
WHEN THEY WENT TO TAKE
JESUS, PETER PULLED OUT HIS
SWORD AND CUT OFF ONE OF THE
SOLDIER'S EARS.
HE WAS READY TO FIGHT.
HE WASN'T ABOUT TO LET THIS
GO DOWN WITHOUT OPPOSITION.
THE OTHER DISCIPLES SAID,
"LORD SHOULD WE FIGHT?
WE BROUGHT OUR SWORDS."
JESUS SAID IN VERSE 52,
"DON'T RESIST ANYMORE."
HE WAS SAYING, "THIS IS ALL
A PART OF MY PLAN.
I CAN'T REACH MY DESTINY
WITHOUT JUDAS KISSING ME,
WITHOUT THIS BETRAYAL.
I CAN'T RISE FROM THE DEAD,
I CAN'T BRING SALVATION,
WITHOUT THESE SOLDIER'S
ARRESTING ME, WITHOUT ME
BEING CRUCIFIED."
IT LOOKED LIKE THE ENEMY WAS
IN CONTROL, THE SOLDIERS
WERE GETTING THE UPPER HAND,
TAKING JESUS AWAY.
THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THEY
WERE TAKING HIM INTO HIS
DESTINY.
WHEN WE FACE HARDSHIPS, THE
BAD BREAKS, THE
DISAPPOINTMENTS, IT SEEMS
LIKE THE ENEMY IS IN
CONTROL.
THAT'S WHEN WE WANT TO
FIGHT, RESIST, GET UPSET,
LIVE WORRIED, BUT GOD IS
SAYING, "DON'T RESIST
ANYMORE.
DON'T FIGHT IT, DON'T LIVE
BITTER, DON'T TRY TO GET
EVEN.
TRUST ME.
I'M IN CONTROL.
I'M STILL DIRECTING YOUR
STEPS."
YES, RESIST THE SICKNESS,
RESIST THE ADDICTION, BUT
YOU SHOULDN'T FIGHT
EVERYTHING THAT COMES YOUR
WAY.
LIVE UPSET; CAN'T SLEEP AT
NIGHT.
THE ENEMY DIDN'T GET THE
UPPER HAND; HE DIDN'T
SOMEHOW GET CONTROL OF YOUR
LIFE.
GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE.
THE BETRAYAL WASN'T FAIR,
GOD DIDN'T STOP IT BECAUSE
IT'S LEADING YOU TO YOUR
DESTINY.
YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE
DISAPPOINTMENT.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE ENEMY IS
PREVAILING, LIKE THE
OPPOSITION IS HOLDING YOU
BACK BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
GOD IS UP TO.
WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE IS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THAT
CRUCIFIXION, SO TO SPEAK, IS
A RESURRECTION.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
BETRAYAL, THE SICKNESS, THE
DISAPPOINTMENT IS A NEW
LEVEL OF YOUR DESTINY.
STOP RESISTING AND START
RESTING.
SOMETIMES WE'RE TRYING TO
PLAY GOD.
WE STRAIGHTEN EVERYBODY OUT,
VINDICATE OURSELVES, FIX
THIS SITUATION AT WORK.
WHY DON'T YOU RELEASE
CONTROL?
GOD DOESN'T NEED OUR HELP.
HE'S NOT LOOKING FOR SOME
ADVICE, HOPING YOU'LL STOP
THOSE BETRAYALS AND KEEP
THOSE BAD BREAKS FROM
HAPPENING.
NO DON'T RESIST ANYMORE.
LET HIM BE GOD.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT
EVERYTHING THAT COMES YOUR
WAY.
YOU CAN'T REACH YOUR DESTINY
WITHOUT A JUDAS KISS.
DON'T FIGHT JUDAS, KISS HIM
BACK AND MOVE ON.
YOU CAN'T BECOME WHO YOU
WERE CREATED TO BE WITHOUT A
SAUL BEING JEALOUS, LIKE
WITH DAVID.
WITHOUT A POTIPHAR'S WIFE
FALSELY ACCUSING YOU, LIKE
WITH JOSEPH.
WITHOUT A KING
NEBUCHADNEZZAR THROWING YOU
INTO A FIERY FURNACE, LIKE
THE THREE HEBREW CHILDREN.
WITHOUT A PHARAOH TRYING TO
HOLD YOU CAPTIVE, LIKE THE
ISRAELITES.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THE
OPPOSITION IS NOT IN
CONTROL, THEY ARE PAWNS IN
THE HANDS OF THE MOST HIGH
GOD.
HE IS ORDERING YOUR STEPS,
NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT HIS
PERMISSION.
IN 1959, MY FATHER WAS
PASTORING A SUCCESSFUL
CHURCH.
THEY HAD JUST BUILT A NEW
AUDITORIUM; HE WAS ON THE
STATE BOARD FOR HIS
DENOMINATION.
LIFE WAS GOOD.
IT LOOKED LIKE HE HAD A
BRIGHT FUTURE.
BUT MY SISTER WAS BORN WITH
SOMETHING LIKE CEREBRAL
PALSY.
MY FATHER WENT TO A HOTEL
DOWNTOWN TO BE ALONE FOR A
FEW DAYS.
HE READ THE BIBLE LIKE IT
WAS THE FIRST TIME HE EVER
READ IT.
HE SAW HOW GOD IS A HEALER;
HOW HE WANTS US TO LIVE A
VICTORIOUS, BLESSED LIFE.
HE CAME BACK AND STARTED
SHARING HIS NEW MESSAGE OF
FAITH AND VICTORY WITH HIS
CONGREGATION.
MUCH TO HIS SURPRISE, SOME
OF THEM DIDN'T LIKE IT.
IT DIDN'T FIT INTO THEIR
TRADITION.
THEY ENDED UP ASKING HIM TO
LEAVE.
HE WAS SO DISAPPOINTED.
HE HAD SPENT YEARS POURING
HIS HEART AND SOUL INTO
THOSE PEOPLE.
MY FATHER COULD HAVE FOUGHT
IT, MADE A BIG FUSS, SHOWED
THEM HE WAS RIGHT AND THEY
WERE WRONG, INSTEAD HE
DIDN'T RESIST.
HE RECOGNIZED THAT CLOSED
DOOR WAS THE HAND OF GOD.
HE AND MY MOTHER WENT OUT
AND STARTED LAKEWOOD IN AN
ABANDONED FEED STORE WITH
NINETY PEOPLE.
CRITICS SAID IT WOULD NEVER
LAST, BUT SIXTY-ONE YEARS
LATER HERE WE ARE STILL
GOING STRONG.
GOD KNEW MY FATHER COULDN'T
REACH HIS DESTINY STAYING IN
THAT LIMITED ENVIRONMENT.
THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE
AGAINST HIM, THEY COULDN'T
HELP IT, THEY WEREN'T BAD
PEOPLE, THEY WERE PAWNS IN
THE HANDS OF GOD.
YOU HAVE TO BE MATURE ENOUGH
TO KNOW WHEN TO RESIST AND
WHEN NOT TO RESIST.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO FIGHT
EVERY BATTLE.
GOD USES BETRAYALS, CLOSED
DOORS, DISAPPOINTMENTS TO
MOVE YOU INTO YOUR PURPOSE.
WHAT IF MY FATHER WOULD HAVE
BEEN BITTER, STUBBORN, NOT
WILLING TO MOVE, "GOD I KNOW
YOU WANT ME TO PASTOR HERE."
HE WOULD HAVE MISSED HIS
DESTINY; DON'T RESIST, REST.
DON'T TRY TO CONTROL HOW
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN,
RELEASE CONTROL.
BE OPEN TO WHAT GOD IS GOING
TO DO.
IN ACTS 27, PAUL WAS A
PRISONER ON A SHIP SAILING
TOWARD ROME.
AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM AND
SAID HE WAS GOING TO STAND
BEFORE CAESAR.
ON THE JOURNEY THEY
ENCOUNTERED A HUGE STORM,
WITH HURRICANE FORCE WINDS.
FOR FOURTEEN DAYS THEY
DIDN'T SEE THE SUN NOR THE
STARS.
THEY TRIED THEIR BEST TO
STEER THE SHIP, TO TRY TO
KEEP SOME KIND OF CONTROL
BUT THE WINDS WERE TOO MUCH.
INSTEAD OF FIGHTING IT,
TRYING TO FORCE WHERE THEY
WANTED IT TO GO, THE
SCRIPTURE SAYS, "THEY TOOK
DOWN THE SAILS AND LET THE
WINDS BLOW THE SHIP WHEREVER
THE STORM WANTED IT TO GO."
WHEN YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING
YOU CAN, YOU'VE PRAYED,
YOU'VE BELIEVED, YOU'VE
STOOD IN FAITH, THERE COMES
A TIME WHERE YOU HAVE TO DO
LIKE THEM.
QUIT FIGHTING IT, QUIT
TRYING TO FORCE IT TO WORK
OUT, QUIT LOSING SLEEP AND
RELEASE CONTROL.
GOD WILL NOT TAKE YOU
SOMEPLACE WHERE HE WON'T
SUSTAIN YOU.
HOW DO YOU RELEASE CONTROL?
QUIT WORRYING ABOUT, QUIT
LOSING SLEEP, QUIT TRYING TO
MAKE IT HAPPEN YOUR WAY AND
SAY, "GOD, I TRUST YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE IN CONTROL OF
THESE WINDS.
THEY CAN BLOW ME FORWARD,
BACKWARD, LEFT, RIGHT, BUT
ONE THING I'M CERTAIN OF,
WHERE YOU TAKE ME IS EXACTLY
WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE."
THAT'S WHAT MY FATHER DID,
THOSE WINDS BLEW HIM TO
LAKEWOOD.
THE SAME WINDS THAT WERE
MEANT TO STOP YOU, IF YOU'LL
STAY IN FAITH, GOD WILL
SHIFT THE WINDS, AND INSTEAD
OF BLOWING YOU BACKWARDS
THEY WILL BLOW YOU FORWARD.
THAT'S WHAT THE SCRIPTURE
SAYS, WHAT'S MEANT FOR HARM
GOD WILL TURN TO YOUR
ADVANTAGE.
ARE YOU RESISTING OR ARE YOU
RESTING?
ARE YOU TRYING TO CONTROL
EVERYTHING, UPSET BECAUSE
IT'S NOT HAPPENING YOUR WAY,
TRYING TO FORCE IT?
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE DOWN THE
SAILS AND TRUST WHAT GOD IS
DOING?
YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND IT
NOW, IT MAY NOT MAKE SENSE
YET, BUT ONE DAY YOU'LL SEE
IT WAS A NECESSARY STEP TO
REACH YOUR DESTINY.
IT LOOKED LIKE A SETBACK BUT
REALLY IT WAS A SETUP.
I TALKED TO A YOUNG LADY;
LIFE WAS GOING GREAT UNTIL
SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
TUBERCULOSIS.
SHE WAS OUT OF WORK SO LONG
THAT SHE LOST HER JOB.
SHE COULDN'T AFFORD HER
APARTMENT; A FRIEND GAVE HER
A PLACE TO STAY.
SHE ENDED UP GETTING A JOB
WITH A MAJOR AIRLINE.
SHE WAS SO EXCITED, FINALLY
GETTING BACK ON HER FEET,
THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.
THE AIRLINE CUT HER WORK
BACK TO ONLY A FEW HOURS A
WEEK.
SHE HAD TO GET AN ADDITIONAL
JOB WORKING WITH A SECURITY
COMPANY.
ONE NIGHT, HER CAR WAS
STOLEN AT WORK.
IT WAS ONE BAD BREAK AFTER
ANOTHER.
SHE GOT HER RENTAL CAR AND
IT HAD SIRIUS XM.
SHE WAS SO DISCOURAGED, SHE
SAID SHE NEEDED TO LAUGH, SO
SHE STARTED FLIPPING THROUGH
THE CHANNELS LOOKING FOR A
COMEDIAN.
SHE CAME ACROSS OUR STATION,
CHANNEL 128, AND THOUGHT
THAT I WAS A COMEDIAN.
SHE STARTED LISTENING, FOUND
OUT THAT I WASN'T BUT SHE
COULDN'T TURN IT OFF.
HOPE BEGAN TO FILL HER
HEART, DREAMS STARTED COMING
BACK TO LIFE, FRESH VISION.
SHE ENDED UP GIVING HER LIFE
TO CHRIST.
RECENTLY HER COMPANY OFFERED
HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TRANSFER TO HAWAII.
SHE'D ALWAYS DREAMED OF
LIVING THERE.
IT WAS A MANAGEMENT
POSITION.
BECAUSE SHE WORKED FOR THE
AIRLINE, SHE CAN TRAVEL BACK
AND FORTH AT NO CHARGE.
SHE SAID, "I LOOK BACK NOW
AT ALL THE THINGS THAT
HAPPENED TO ME AND I REALIZE
IT WAS ALL WORKING FOR MY
GOOD.
IF MY TRUCK HADN'T OF BEEN
STOLEN, I WOULDN'T HAVE COME
TO KNOW THE LORD.
IF I DIDN'T WORK FOR THE
AIRLINE, I WOULDN'T HAVE THE
FREE FLIGHTS.
IF THEY HADN'T CUT MY HOURS
BACK, I WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN
THIS JOB; I WOULDN'T HAVE
HAD THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY TO
MOVE TO HAWAII."
SHE COULDN'T SEE IT AT THE
TIME BUT THE WINDS OF THAT
STORM WERE BLOWING HER TO
WHERE GOD WANTED HER TO BE.
THAT DIFFICULTY YOU'RE
FACING, THAT TROUBLE, IT'S
NOT GOING TO STOP YOU, THE
TROUBLE IS TRANSPORTATION.
DON'T FIGHT EVERYTHING,
WORRIED, "WHY DID THIS
HAPPEN?"
GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
HE HAS YOU IN THE PALM OF
HIS HAND.
HE MAY NOT DO IT THE WAY YOU
HAD PLANNED, BUT WHERE HE'S
TAKING YOU IS BETTER THAN
YOU'VE IMAGINED.
PSALM 55 SAYS, "CAST YOUR
BURDENS ON THE LORD, RELEASE
THE WEIGHT OF THEM, AND HE
WILL SUSTAIN YOU."
HOW MANY WEIGHTS ARE YOU
CARRYING AROUND?
THE WEIGHT OF WORRY, THE
WEIGHT OF WHAT YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND, THE WEIGHT OF
HOW AM I GOING TO MAKE IT
THROUGH THIS TOUGH SEASON?
THERE'S SOMETHING YOU HAVE
TO DO.
GOD IS NOT GOING TO TAKE THE
BURDEN AWAY.
YOU HAVE TO RELEASE THE
WORRY, RELEASE THE
FRUSTRATION, RELEASE HAVING
TO FIGURE IT OUT.
COME BACK TO A PLACE OF
PEACE.
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IS, "GOD,
MY LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS.
I COMMIT MY DREAMS, MY
FAMILY, MY FINANCES, MY
HEALTH TO YOU.
I'M NOT GOING TO FIGHT
EVERYTHING I DON'T LIKE.
I'M NOT GOING TO LIVE UPSET
WHEN IT DOESN'T GO MY WAY.
I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ALL
THINGS FOR MY GOOD.
I TRUST YOUR TIMING.
I TRUST YOUR WAYS."
WHEN YOU HAVE BELIEVED, YOU
ENTER IN TO REST.
I'M ASKING YOU TO STOP
RESISTING AND START RESTING.
IF YOU'LL RELEASE CONTROL, I
BELIEVE AND DECLARE, WEIGHTS
THAT HAVE BURDENED YOU DOWN,
ARE LIFTING OFF OF YOU RIGHT
NOW.
GOD IS ABOUT TO SHIFT THE
WINDS OF THAT STORM.
INSTEAD OF BLOWING YOU
BACKWARDS, IT'S GOING TO
BLOW YOU FORWARD.
PROMOTION IS COMING, HEALING
IS COMING, FREEDOM, THE
FULLNESS OF YOUR DESTINY, IN
JESUS' NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY AMEN TODAY?
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
FREE INFORMATION.
JUST TEXT THE NUMBER ON THE
SCREEN OR GO TO THE WEBSITE.
I HOPE YOU'LL GET PLANTED
INTO A GOOD BIBLE-BASED
CHURCH AND KEEP GOD FIRST
PLACE.
VICTORIA AND I WILL BE RIGHT
BACK TO SPEAK A BLESSING
OVER YOU.
