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.
WE'LL KEEP YOU ENCOURAGED
AND INSPIRED.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
ONE DAY IN HEAVEN, GOD SAID
TO THE MEN, “I WANT YOU TO
FORM TWO LINES. ONE LINE
IS FOR THE MEN WHO WERE
THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE.
THE OTHER LINE IS FOR THE
MEN WHO LET THE WOMAN BE
THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE.”
THE LINE WHERE THE WOMAN
RAN THE HOUSE WAS A HUNDRED
MILES LONG. THE OTHER LINE
ONLY HAD ONE MAN IN IT.
GOD SAID, “MEN, I'M ASHAMED
OF YOU. I CREATED YOU TO BE
THE HEAD BUT ONLY ONE MAN
STOOD UP TO MAKE ME PROUD.”
HE LOOKED AT THE MAN AND
SAID, “SON, TELL THEM HOW
DID YOU MANAGE TO BE THE
ONLY ONE IN THIS LINE?”
THE MAN LOOKED CONFUSED
AND SAID, “I DON'T KNOW.
MY WIFE TOLD ME TO STAND
HERE.”
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 SEEING BEYOND THE
LOGICAL.
ON THE WAY TO YOUR DESTINY,
YOU WILL FACE DREAMS THAT
YOU CAN'T ACCOMPLISH ON
YOUR OWN, OBSTACLES THAT
ARE TOO BIG FOR YOU, PEOPLE
THAT COME AGAINST YOU THAT
ARE MORE POWERFUL.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
SITUATION IN THE NATURAL,
YOU REASON IT OUT, THERE'S
NO WAY.
THE MEDICAL REPORT SAYS YOU
CAN'T GET WELL.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING
FOR YOUR DREAMS. YOU'VE HAD
THE ADDICTION FOR YEARS,
YOU TRIED BUT COULDN'T
BREAK IT.
ALL OF YOUR LOGIC SAYS,
“JUST ACCEPT IT, IT'S NOT
MEANT TO BE.” THIS IS WHAT
FAITH IS ALL ABOUT.
GOD WILL PUT YOU IN
SITUATIONS ON PURPOSE WHERE
THERE IS NO SOLUTION IN THE
NATURAL.
THAT'S A TEST. ARE YOU
GOING TO GET DISCOURAGED
AND GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS,
OR ARE YOU GOING TO WALK BY
FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT?
JESUS SAID TO PETER IN
MATTHEW 16, “YOU ARE A
DANGEROUS TRAP TO ME.
FOR YOU ARE SEEING THINGS
ONLY FROM A HUMAN POINT OF
VIEW, AND NOT FROM GOD'S.”
IT'S SIGNIFICANT THAT HE
USED SUCH A STRONG WORD. HE
SAID, “PETER, IT'S
DANGEROUS TO LOOK AT IT
ONLY FROM THE LOGICAL.” HE
COULD HAVE SAID, “PETER,
YOU NEED TO HAVE MORE FAITH.
YOU NEED TO THINK BETTER,
BE A LITTLE MORE POSITIVE.”
THE REASON HE SAID
DANGEROUS IS YOU CAN MISS
YOUR DESTINY IF YOU ONLY
LOOK AT THINGS FROM A
NATURAL PERSPECTIVE.
GOD IS SUPERNATURAL.
WHEN YOU GET IN AGREEMENT
WITH HIM, THERE IS A FORCE
BEHIND YOU THAT WILL MAKE
THINGS HAPPEN THAT YOU
CAN'T MAKE HAPPEN.
HE WILL OPEN DOORS THAT NO
PERSON CAN SHUT.
HE WILL DO WHAT MEDICINE
CANNOT DO.
YOU WILL DEFEAT GIANTS THAT
ARE MUCH BIGGER.
YOU'RE NOT DOING LIFE ON
YOUR OWN.
THE MOST HIGH GOD IS
BREATHING IN YOUR DIRECTION.
ALL HE NEEDS IS A LITTLE
FAITH.
“GOD, I DON'T SEE A WAY,
ALL MY REASONING SAYS IT'S
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT I
KNOW YOU HAVE A WAY.
I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING
FOR MY DREAMS, BUT GOD, I
KNOW YOU OWN IT ALL.
MY CHILD IS OFF COURSE, IT
DOESN'T LOOK GOOD BUT I
BELIEVE AS FOR ME AND MY
HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE
LORD.” DON'T BE LIMITED BY
YOUR LOGIC.
LOGIC CAN BE A DREAM
STEALER.
IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR
SITUATION ONLY FROM A HUMAN
POINT OF VIEW, WHAT YOU CAN
DO, YOUR RESOURCES, YOUR
CONNECTIONS, YOUR
EXPERIENCE, THEN YOU'RE
GOING TO MISS THE GREATNESS
GOD PUT IN YOU.
THE BOOK OF GENESIS TELLS
ABOUT HOW GOD CREATED THE
HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.
ON THE FIRST DAY, HE SAID
LET THERE BE LIGHT AND
LIGHT CAME.
THE SECOND DAY, HE
SEPARATED THE WATERS FROM
THE SKY.
THIRD DAY, HE CREATED
PLANTS AND TREES.
THE FOURTH DAY, HE MADE THE
SUN AND THE MOON.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THERE
WAS LIGHT ON THE FIRST DAY,
BUT HE DIDN'T MAKE THE SUN
UNTIL THE FOURTH DAY.
HOW CAN YOU HAVE LIGHT
WITHOUT THE SUN?
GOD WAS SHOWING US, HE'S
NOT LOGICAL.
HE'S SUPERNATURAL.
HE'S GOING TO DO THINGS IN
YOUR LIFE THAT ARE
UNEXPLAINABLE, THINGS THAT
DON'T MAKE SENSE.
HOW COULD MY MOTHER BE
ALIVE FORTY-ONE YEARS AFTER
BEING DIAGNOSED WITH
TERMINAL CANCER?
THAT'S NOT LOGICAL.
THAT DEFIES THE ODDS.
THAT'S THE GOD WE SERVE.
HOW COULD I BE UP HERE
TODAY?
I DIDN'T HAVE THE TRAINING,
THE EXPERIENCE, I'VE NEVER
BEEN TO SEMINARY.
BUT GOD DOESN'T CHOOSE THE
WAY WE CHOOSE.
HE DOES THINGS THAT ARE
UNCOMMON, UNUSUAL, OUT OF
THE ORDINARY.
HOW COULD WE BE HAVING
CHURCH IN THE FORMER COMPAQ
CENTER, A BASKETBALL ARENA?
THE COMPANY THAT WAS
AGAINST US TRYING TO GET
THE FACILITY WAS THE
LARGEST TAXPAYER IN TEXAS,
A HUGE REAL ESTATE COMPANY.
IT WAS DAVID VERSE GOLIATH.
THEY HAD MORE CONNECTIONS,
MORE FUNDS, MORE EXPERIENCE.
BUT GOD IS NOT INTIMIDATED
BY THE SIZE OF YOUR
PROBLEM. HE'S NOT LOSING
SLEEP OVER WHO'S AGAINST
YOU.
ONE ANGEL IN THE OLD
TESTAMENT DEFEATED 185,000
OF THE ENEMIES OF ISRAEL.
GOD BEING FOR YOU IS MORE
THAN THE WORLD BEING
AGAINST YOU.
YOU MAY HAVE SOME BIG
OBSTACLES BUT YOU HAVE TO
REMIND YOURSELF WE SERVE A
BIG GOD.
SOMETIMES HE'LL LET THE
ODDS BE AGAINST YOU ON
PURPOSE SO WHEN HE TURNS IT
AROUND IT WILL BE A BIGGER
MIRACLE.
WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO
ACQUIRE THE COMPAQ CENTER,
A VERY INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS
LEADER IN OUR CITY WAS AT A
BANQUET WITH A GOOD FRIEND
OF MINE.
HE DIDN'T KNOW MY FRIEND
KNEW ME, HE LAUGHED AND
SAID VERY SARCASTICALLY,
“IT WILL BE A COLD DAY IN
HELL BEFORE LAKEWOOD GETS
THE COMPAQ CENTER.” EVERY
TIME I DRIVE UP TO OUR
BUILDING AND SEE THAT
LAKEWOOD SIGN, I THINK IT
MUST BE A COLD DAY IN HELL
BECAUSE HERE WE ARE.
THE PROMISES GOD PUT IN
YOUR HEART, WHAT HE'S
WHISPERED TO YOU IN THE
NIGHT, MAY NOT SEEM
POSSIBLE, IT'S TOO BIG,
IT'S NEVER HAPPENED FOR
YOUR FAMILY, YOU DON'T HAVE
THE EXPERIENCE.
ALL YOUR LOGIC SAYS THERE'S
NO WAY.
THAT'S OKAY.
JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 19,
“HUMANLY SPEAKING IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE, BUT WITH GOD
ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.”
HERE'S THE QUESTION, ARE
YOU GOING TO LET YOUR HUMAN
REASONING, WHAT YOU CAN
SEE, WHAT'S NATURAL, SET
THE LIMITS FOR YOUR LIFE?
OR ARE YOU GOING TO SEE
BEYOND THE LOGICAL, ARE YOU
GOING TO BELIEVE THE
ALL-POWERFUL CREATOR OF THE
UNIVERSE, THE GOD WHO FLUNG
STARS INTO SPACE, THE GOD
WHO PARTS RED SEAS, THE GOD
WHO BRINGS LIGHT WITHOUT
THE SUN, WILL MAKE A WAY
WHERE YOU DON'T SEE A WAY.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU AN
EXAMPLE.
I HAVE THESE ROMAN NUMERALS
UP HERE.
THE LETTER “I” AND THE
LETTER “X”.
“I” IN ROMAN NUMERALS IS
ONE.
“X” IS TEN.
WHEN THE SMALLER NUMBER IS
IN FRONT OF THE LARGER
NUMBER THEN YOU SUBTRACT
THE SMALLER.
SO, TEN MINUS ONE, THIS IS
NINE.
MY QUESTION IS WITH ONE
STROKE OF THE PEN, CAN YOU
MAKE THIS SIX?
IF I PUT ANOTHER “I” THAT
WOULD BE EIGHT.
YOU CAN'T PUT TWO, JUST ONE
STROKE.
“V” IN ROMAN NUMERALS IS
FIVE.
IF YOU PUT THAT, THAT WOULD
MAKE IT FOUR.
THERE ARE NO MORE OPTIONS.
HOW DO YOU MAKE IT SIX?
HERE'S HOW.
I'M GOING TO ADD━I'M GOING
TO ADD THE “S”.
SIX.
IT SPELLS SIX.
I HAD YOU THINKING ROMAN
NUMERALS.
YOU WERE LIMITED TO ONE WAY.
THAT'S THE WAY IT IS WITH
GOD.
WE LOOK AT THINGS IN THE
NATURAL━WE LOOK AT THINGS
IN THE NATURAL.
WE DON'T SEE A WAY.
GOD STEPS IN AND SAYS, “I'M
SUPERNATURAL.
MY WAYS ARE NOT YOUR WAYS.”
WE COME TO A DEAD END AT
THE RED SEA AND THINK,
“OKAY, GOD, WE'RE STUCK,
WE'RE DONE.” GOD SAYS,
“YOU'RE NOT DONE.
I PART RED SEAS.
I BRING WATER OUT OF A ROCK.
I OPEN BLIND EYES; I MAKE
YOU FIREPROOF IN A
FURNACE.” DON'T BE LIMITED
BY YOUR LOGIC.
GOD DEFIES LOGIC.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH
MARY.
SHE WAS A TEENAGER LIVING
IN NAZARETH, ENGAGED TO A
YOUNG MAN NAMED JOSEPH.
AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HER
AND SAID, “MARY, YOU WILL
GIVE BIRTH TO A SON WITHOUT
KNOWING A MAN.
YOU ARE TO NAME HIM JESUS.”
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS MARY WAS
CONFUSED AND DISTURBED.
I CAN UNDERSTAND.
GOD JUST GAVE HER A PROMISE
THAT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A BABY
WITHOUT A MAN.
THAT DEFIES THE LAWS OF
NATURE.
MARY SAID TO THE ANGEL.
“HOW CAN I HAVE A CHILD?
I'M A VIRGIN.” THE ANGEL
SAID, “THE SPIRIT OF THE
MOST HIGH WILL COME UPON
YOU AND CAUSE YOU TO
CONCEIVE.” THE ANGEL DIDN'T
GET UPSET BECAUSE SHE
DIDN'T BELIEVE.
HE DIDN'T SAY, “TOO BAD,
MARY, YOU BLEW IT.
GOD PROMISED IT BUT YOU
DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FAITH.”
HE SIMPLY HELPED HER HAVE A
NEW PERSPECTIVE.
HE WAS SAYING IN EFFECT,
“MARY YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT
IN THE NATURAL, AND YOU'RE
RIGHT, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
IN YOUR OWN ABILITY, IT
WON'T HAPPEN.
BUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD WILL
MAKE IT HAPPEN.” I BELIEVE
GOD SENT ME, LIKE THIS
ANGEL, TO HELP YOU HAVE THE
RIGHT PERSPECTIVE.
THERE IS A FORCE THAT YOU
CAN'T SEE, A POWER THAT
WILL CAUSE THE IMPOSSIBLE
TO BECOME POSSIBLE.
MARY WAS AT A CRITICAL
POINT.
WHAT SHE DID NEXT WOULD
DETERMINE WHETHER SHE'D
HAVE THE BABY.
SHE COULD HAVE SAID TO THE
ANGEL, “I DON'T THINK SO.
YOU NEED TO GO BACK AND
TAKE BIOLOGY.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A BABY
WITHOUT A MAN.” BUT MARY
DID WHAT WE ALL HAVE TO DO.
SHE LOOKED BEYOND THE
LOGICAL.
SHE DIDN'T LET HER HUMAN
REASONING TALK HER OUT OF
IT.
SHE SAID TO THE ANGEL, “BE
IT UNTO ME EVEN AS YOU HAVE
SAID.” SHE WAS SAYING, “I
DON'T SEE HOW.
IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT
GOD I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH
YOU. LET IT HAPPEN.”
LIKE WITH MARY, GOD IS
GOING TO PUT PROMISES IN
YOUR HEART THAT DON'T MAKE
SENSE.
THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN GET
WELL, NO WAY YOU CAN GET
YOUR BUSINESS OFF THE
GROUND, NO WAY YOU CAN HAVE
A BABY.
YOU'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THE
FERTILITY TREATMENTS.
YOU'VE BEEN TOLD NO AGAIN
AND AGAIN. YOU'RE RIGHT
WHERE MARY WAS.
ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP
SEEING IT ONLY FROM A HUMAN
POINT OF VIEW OR ARE YOU
GOING TO GET IN AGREEMENT
WITH GOD AND BELIEVE WHAT
THE ANGEL SAID?
HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN?
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE YOUR
OWN STRENGTH, YOUR OWN
INTELLECT, YOUR OWN HARD
WORK, THE SPIRIT OF THE
LIVING GOD WILL MAKE IT
HAPPEN.
IT'S GOING TO BE
SUPERNATURAL, SOMETHING YOU
CAN'T EXPLAIN, YOU CAN'T
TAKE CREDIT FOR IT.
EVERYONE WILL KNOW, IT'S
THE HAND OF GOD.
I TALKED TO A MAN THAT HAD
CANCER ON HIS VOCAL CORDS.
HE WAS IN TOWN FOR SURGERY
AT MD ANDERSON.
HE STOPPED BY THE CHURCH
AND ASKED US TO PRAY FOR
HIM. THE DOCTORS WERE GOING
TO REMOVE MOST OF HIS VOCAL
CORDS.
HE WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD
BE ABLE TO MAKE SOUNDS, BUT
HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TALK.
FROM A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE,
IT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD, THE
ODDS WERE AGAINST HIM. I
TOLD HIM WHAT I'M TELLING
YOU, GOD HAS THE FINAL SAY.
HE CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE.
WHEN YOU BELIEVE, ALL
THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, HE
WAS BACK AT CHURCH.
HE CAME UP TO ME, TALKING
AS CLEARLY AS I'M TALKING
TO YOU.
I SAID, “WHAT HAPPENED?
YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE
SURGERY?” HE SMILED REAL
BIG, SAID, “YES, I HAD THE
SURGERY BUT I CAN STILL
TALK LIKE I COULD BEFORE.”
NINETY PERCENT OF HIS VOCAL
CORDS WERE REMOVED AND HE
CAN STILL TALK NORMALLY.
THE DOCTORS CAN'T EXPLAIN
IT.
THE SURGEON SAID, IN ALL OF
HIS YEARS PRACTICING, HE'S
NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF THIS.
THAT'S GOD BRINGING LIGHT
WITHOUT A SUN, BRINGING A
BABY WITHOUT A MAN.
JESUS SAID TO THE PHARISEES
IN JOHN 8, “YOU JUDGE ME
WITH ALL YOUR HUMAN
LIMITATIONS.” DON'T PUT
YOUR HUMAN LIMITATIONS ON
THE GOD WHO SPOKE WORLDS
INTO EXISTENCE.
GOD IS NOT LIMITED BY THE
LAWS OF MEDICINE, THE LAWS
OF ECONOMICS, THE LAWS OF
NATURE, THE LAWS OF SCIENCE.
WHEN HE IS READY TO BLESS
YOU, HE DOESN'T CHECK WITH
YOUR BOSS, HE DOESN'T LOOK
AT YOUR 401K.
HE DOESN'T GOOGLE THE STOCK
MARKET REPORT, HE DOESN'T
SEE WHAT FRIENDS YOU HAVE,
WHAT FAMILY YOU COME FROM.
HE'S NOT MOVED BY THE
NATURAL.
HE'S SUPERNATURAL.
WHEN THE ISRAELITES WERE IN
THE DESERT, THEY COMPLAINED
TO MOSES THAT THEY DIDN'T
HAVE ANY MEAT TO EAT.
THEY WERE TIRED OF EATING
THE MANNA EVERY DAY.
MOSES WENT TO GOD AND SAID,
“GOD, THESE PEOPLE WANT
MEAT.
YOU KNOW I CAN'T GET THAT
OUT IN THE DESERT.” GOD
SAID, “MOSES THAT'S NO
PROBLEM FOR ME.
I'LL GIVE YOU MEAT FOR A
WHOLE MONTH.” MOSES SAID,
“GOD, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
DO YOU SEE WHERE WE ARE?
IF WE BUTCHERED ALL OF OUR
FLOCKS, ALL OF OUR HERDS,
WE WOULDN'T HAVE ENOUGH
MEAT FOR THESE TWO MILLION
PEOPLE FOR EVEN ONE MEAL.”
THERE WERE NO GROCERY
STORES OUT THERE, WHERE
THEY COULD BUY THE FOOD, NO
UBER EATS, NO DOMINO'S
DELIVERY.
FROM A LOGICAL PERSPECTIVE,
MOSES WAS RIGHT.
BUT GOD DEFIES LOGIC.
HE'S NOT LIMITED BY WHAT
LIMITS US.
ONE TOUCH OF HIS FAVOR AND
THE IMPOSSIBLE BECOMES
POSSIBLE.
GOD SHIFTED THE WINDS AND
MILLIONS OF QUAIL FLEW INTO
THEIR CAMP.
THEY WERE THREE OR FOUR
FEET OFF THE GROUND, PEOPLE
GRABBED ALL THEY WANTED.
FOR A MONTH, THEY HAD STEAK
DINNERS OUT IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE DESERT.
WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT IS QUAIL
DON'T NORMALLY FLY THAT FAR
AWAY FROM WATER.
YOU'D NEVER FIND A QUAIL IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT,
BUT GOD CONTROLS THE
UNIVERSE.
IF YOU'LL TAKE THE LIMITS
OFF OF HIM, HE'LL CAUSE
OPPORTUNITY TO FIND YOU.
GOOD BREAKS WILL CHASE YOU
DOWN.
THE RIGHT PEOPLE WILL COME
KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR.
DON'T DO LIKE MOSES AND
TELL GOD ALL THE REASONS
YOU CAN'T BE BLESSED, YOU
CAN'T GET WELL, YOU CAN'T
ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAM.
YOU'RE STUDYING THE FACTS,
THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WHAT
PEOPLE SAY, WHAT NORMALLY
HAPPENS.
THE PROBLEM IS YOU'RE BEING
LIMITED BY YOUR LOGIC.
YOU'RE SEEING IT ONLY FROM
A HUMAN POINT OF VIEW.
GOD SAYS THAT'S DANGEROUS.
YOU CAN MISS YOUR QUAIL,
YOU CAN MISS YOUR COMPAQ
CENTER, YOU CAN MISS YOUR
HEALING.
HAVE A NEW PERSPECTIVE,
“GOD, I'M IN THE DESERT, IT
SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO ME BUT
I KNOW YOU CAN DO THE
IMPOSSIBLE.
YOU MAKE RIVERS IN THE
DESERT, YOU TURN SHEPHERDS
INTO KINGS, YOU BRING
BABIES OUT OF BARREN WOMBS,
YOU OPEN DOORS THAT ARE
DEADBOLTED.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “IS
THERE ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR
THE LORD?”
I WAS OUT RIDING MY BIKE
THE OTHER DAY DOWN THIS
LONG PATH TOWARD DOWNTOWN.
I SAW A YOUNG MAN ON A
SKATEBOARD A COUPLE HUNDRED
YARDS IN FRONT OF ME.
I RODE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES
AND NOTICED THAT I WASN'T
GAINING ON HIM. I THOUGHT,
“THAT'S STRANGE.
I'M ON THIS LARGE BIKE WITH
BIG WHEELS.
I'M PEDALING FAST. HE'S ON
THAT LITTLE SKATEBOARD,
WITH LITTLE THREE-INCH
WHEELS, YET HE'S OUTPACING
ME.” AT ONE POINT, WE WERE
BOTH GOING UP THIS LARGE
HILL, HE WAS JUST SCOOTING
ALONG, NO PROBLEM. I WAS
HUFFING AND PUFFING, TRYING
TO GET UP THE HILL.
HE WAS DOING IT WITH SUCH
EASE.
IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
WE WENT OUR SEPARATE WAYS.
ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES, I SAW
HIM SITTING ON A PARK BENCH.
HE HAD HIS SKATEBOARD
TURNED OVER ON THE SIDE.
WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE IS
HIS SKATEBOARD HAD A MOTOR
ON IT.
HE HAD THE REMOTE CONTROL
IN HIS HAND.
THE REASON HE WAS GOING
FASTER, FURTHER, WITH LESS
EFFORT IS HE HAD AN
ADVANTAGE.
HE HAD SOMETHING I COULDN'T
SEE.
IN THE SAME WAY, AS A CHILD
OF THE MOST HIGH, YOU HAVE
AN ADVANTAGE.
THERE IS A FORCE BREATHING
IN YOUR DIRECTION THAT'S
GOING TO CAUSE YOU TO DEFY
THE ODDS.
YOU'RE GOING TO GO FURTHER,
FASTER, WITH LESS STRUGGLE.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT
YOU AND NOT UNDERSTAND IT.
THINK, “HOW COULD YOU GET
OUT OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, I
SAW HOW YOU WERE RAISED.”
THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM
A HUMAN POINT OF VIEW.
WHAT THEY CAN'T SEE IS YOU
HAVE A MOTOR, AN ANOINTING,
A FAVOR, A BLESSING ON YOUR
LIFE.
“HOW COULD YOU LEAD YOUR
COMPANY IN SALES?
YOU DON'T HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE.” LOGICALLY
SPEAKING THEY'RE CORRECT,
BUT WHAT GOD IS DOING IN
YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO DEFY
LOGIC.
“HOW COULD YOU BEAT THAT
SICKNESS?
THE MEDICAL REPORT SAID NO
WAY.” YES, BUT THERE'S
ANOTHER REPORT YOU CAN'T
SEE.
JEHOVAH RAPHA, THE LORD MY
HEALER IS BREATHING ON MY
LIFE.
DON'T JUDGE YOUR FUTURE BY
YOUR HUMAN LIMITATIONS.
WHAT GOD IS ABOUT TO DO IN
YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO AMAZE
YOU, THE DOORS HE'S ABOUT
TO OPEN, THE INFLUENCE HE'S
GOING TO GIVE YOU, THE
RESOURCES, THE IDEAS, THE
CREATIVITY, THE DIVINE
CONNECTIONS.
THE ENEMY WOULD LOVE TO
KEEP YOU STUCK, WITH A
LIMITED MINDSET, FOCUSED
ONLY ON THE LOGICAL.
“JOEL, I DON'T HAVE THE
FUNDS, MY BACKS BEEN
HURTING FOR YEARS, MY CHILD
IS ACTING UP, MY BOSS
DOESN'T TREAT ME RIGHT, I
DON'T COME FROM AN
INFLUENTIAL FAMILY.” DO YOU
THINK THAT CAN STOP YOUR
DESTINY, THAT THE GOD WHO
BREATHED LIFE INTO YOU, WHO
CHOSE YOU BEFORE YOU COULD
CHOOSE HIM, IS SOMEHOW AT A
LOSS OF HOW TO BRING YOU
INTO YOUR PURPOSE?
OR COULD IT BE THAT YOU'RE
SEEING THINGS ONLY FROM A
HUMAN PERSPECTIVE.
MY PRAYER IS GOD OPEN OUR
EYES.
HELP US TO SEE WHAT YOU
SEE, NOT JUST A LOGICAL
POINT OF VIEW BUT A
HEAVENLY PERSPECTIVE, HELP
US TO REALIZE THAT YOU ARE
ALL POWERFUL, THAT YOU ARE
IN CONTROL, THAT YOU ARE
FOR US.”
IN ACTS 27, THE APOSTLE
PAUL HAD BEEN ON A BOAT
HEADED TO ROM FOR FOURTEEN
DAYS WHEN IT WAS
SHIPWRECKED.
THEY ALL SWAM TO THE SHORE
ON THIS SMALL ISLAND.
PAUL WENT OVER TO PICK UP
SOME STICKS TO MAKE A FIRE
AND A POISONOUS SNAKE BIT
HIS WRIST, LATCHED ON AND
WOULDN'T LET GO.
THE TEETH WERE PENETRATING
THE SKIN, THE VENOM GOING
IN. THE NATIVES ON THE
ISLAND KNEW EXACTLY WHAT
WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
THEY HAD SEEN IT TIME AND
TIME AGAIN. WHEN SOMEONE
WAS BITTEN, THE SCRIPTURE
SAYS THEY WOULD SWELL UP,
GET SICK AND DIE.
THE NATIVES WAITED AND
WAITED AND WAITED.
THE PROBLEM WAS NOBODY TOLD
PAUL HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE.
SOMETIMES WHAT YOU DON'T
KNOW IS GOOD FOR YOU.
IF YOU GET A NEGATIVE
REPORT AND YOU OVERANALYZE
IT, REASON IT OUT, STUDY IT
ALL DAY, THAT'S GOING TO
TAKE YOUR FAITH.
THAT'S WHY THE SCRIPTURE
SAYS, “LEAN NOT TO YOUR OWN
UNDERSTANDING.” TAKE THIS
IN THE RIGHT SENSE, BUT
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TURN
YOUR MIND OFF.
FAITH IS NOT OF THE MIND;
FAITH IS OF THE HEART. YES,
WE SHOULD USE COMMON SENSE,
MAKE GOOD DECISIONS BUT
DON'T LET YOUR LOGIC TALK
YOU OUT OF WHAT GOD PUT IN
YOUR HEART.
GOD TOLD PAUL THAT HE WAS
GOING TO STAND BEFORE
CAESAR.
PAUL SIMPLY SHOOK THE SNAKE
OFF AND WENT ABOUT HIS
BUSINESS.
IT NEVER DID AFFECT HIM.
THE PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND
WERE SO AMAZED, THEY
THOUGHT HE WAS A GOD.
BUT IF PAUL WOULD HAVE MADE
THE MISTAKE OF SEEING IT
ONLY FROM A LOGICAL, HUMAN
POINT OF VIEW, KNOWING THAT
HE HAD JUST BEEN BITTEN BY
A POISONOUS SNAKE, HE WOULD
HAVE BEEN WORRIED, AFRAID,
“WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?”
MAYBE THE VENOM WOULD HAVE
HARMED HIM, MAYBE HE WOULD
HAVE GOTTEN SICK.
WHEN THINGS COME AGAINST
YOU, IT'S EASY TO LOOK AT
IT ONLY IN THE NATURAL,
“LOOK AT THIS MEDICAL
REPORT, WHAT ARE WE GOING
TO DO?
MY BUSINESS HAD A SETBACK;
MY CHILD GOT IN TROUBLE.”
BUT YOU HAVE TO REMIND
YOURSELF GOD IS STILL ON
THE THRONE.
NOTHING CAN SNATCH YOU OUT
OF HIS HANDS.
HE WOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED
IT, IF HE DIDN'T ALREADY
HAVE A SOLUTION.
WE KNEW A MAN GROWING UP
NAMED CASEY.
HE OWNED A COMPANY THAT
MOVED HOUSES.
ONE DAY THEY HAD TRAVELED
SEVERAL HOURS DOWN THESE
COUNTRY ROADS, MOVING THIS
HOUSE, HAVING TO RAISE THE
POWERLINES, MOVE THE
SIGNAGE TO CLEAR THE WAY.
THEY FINALLY MADE IT TO
THEIR DESTINATION.
CASEY REALIZED THEY HAD
FORGOTTEN THEIR MAIN CHAIN
THAT THEY NEEDED TO UNLOAD
THE HOUSE.
IT WAS SEVERAL HOURS BACK
TO THE CITY.
IT WAS LATE IN THE DAY.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THE
HOUSE ON THE SIDE OF THE
ROAD.
HE TOLD HIS MEN THAT HE WAS
GOING TO PRAY AND ASK GOD
TO GIVE HIM A CHAIN. THEY
KIND OF SNICKERED AND SAID
SARCASTICALLY, “WHAT ARE
YOU GOING TO DO, PRAY THAT
GOD RAINS DOWN A CHAIN FROM
HEAVEN?” THEY ALL LAUGHED,
MADE FUN.
CASEY SAID, “GOD, I KNOW
THERE'S NOTHING TOO HARD
FOR YOU.
I DON'T SEE HOW IN THE
NATURAL, NOTHING IN MY
LOGIC SAYS THIS MAKES SENSE
BUT I KNOW YOU'RE
SUPERNATURAL.
YOU HAVE WAYS THAT I'VE
NEVER THOUGHT OF, SO I'M
ASKING YOU TO GIVE ME A
CHAIN.” ALL OF HIS MEN WERE
ROLLING THEIR EYES.
BUT JESUS SAID, “DON'T
JUDGE ME WITH YOUR HUMAN
LIMITATIONS.
DON'T PUT ME IN THE SAME
CATEGORY OF WHAT YOU CAN DO.
I AM ALL POWERFUL.” WHEN
YOU'RE NOT LIMITED BY YOUR
LOGIC, YOU'LL PRAY BOLD
PRAYERS.
YOU'LL SHAKE OFF A SNAKE
LIKE PAUL, A BAD BREAK AND
GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.
YOU'LL BELIEVE FOR YOUR
COMPAQ CENTERS, FOR YOUR
DREAMS, FOR WHAT LOOKS
UNLIKELY.
CASEY AND HIS MEN WERE
STANDING ON THE SIDE OF THE
ROAD.
THERE WAS A BIG CURVE RIGHT
IN FRONT OF THEM. THEY WERE
OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF
NOWHERE, TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO
DO.
ABOUT THAT TIME THIS OLD
BEAT-UP PICK-UP TRUCK CAME
BARRELING DOWN THE ROAD
GOING WAY TOO FAST. IT HAD
ITS TAIL GATE OPEN.
WHEN IT TOOK THAT SHARP
CURVE, A CHAIN SLUNG OUT OF
THE BACK OF THE BED, SLID
ACROSS THE ROAD AND CURLED
UP AT CASEY'S FEET.
HE PICKED IT UP AND SAID,
“HERE'S MY CHAIN BOYS.
LET'S GO TO WORK.” IS THERE
ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE
LORD?
ARE YOU BASING YOUR PRAYERS
ON YOUR ABILITY, YOUR
CONNECTIONS, YOUR FINANCES,
FROM A NATURAL, LOGICAL
POINT OF VIEW?
YOU'RE GOING TO MISS THE
FULLNESS OF WHAT GOD HAS IN
STORE.
IT'S DANGEROUS TO LIMIT HIM
TO ONLY WHAT YOU THINK CAN
HAPPEN.
TAKE THE LIMITS OFF.
PRAY SOME BOLD PRAYERS.
DREAM SOME BIG DREAMS. IF
YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH YOUR
DREAM IN YOUR OWN ABILITY,
WITH YOUR CONNECTIONS, YOUR
FINANCES, THEN YOUR DREAM
IS TOO SMALL.
GOD HAS THINGS IN YOUR
FUTURE THAT YOU HAVEN'T
SEEN, LEVELS THAT YOU
HAVEN'T IMAGINED.
WHEN YOU DON'T LIMIT HIM BY
THE LOGICAL, WHEN YOU
BELIEVE EVEN WHEN YOUR MIND
SAYS, “THAT'S TOO FAR OUT,
YOU'LL NEVER GET WELL,
NEVER START YOUR BUSINESS,
NEVER SEE YOUR FAMILY
RESTORED.” ALL THE ODDS ARE
AGAINST YOU, THEN YOU'RE IN
PERFECT POSITION FOR GOD TO
SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE, TO
DO SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE
NEVER SEEN.
GOD TOLD ABRAHAM AND SARAH
THAT THEY WERE GOING TO
HAVE A BABY.
THEY WERE BOTH WAY TOO OLD.
WHEN SARAH HEARD IT, THE
SCRIPTURE SAYS, SHE LAUGHED
AND SAID, “HOW COULD A
WORN-OUT WOMAN LIKE ME HAVE
A BABY?” SHE THOUGHT,
“THAT'S SO FAR OUT, IT'S
FUNNY, IT'S COMICAL, ME
HAVE A CHILD?” SARAH DID
WHAT MANY OF US DO.
SHE LOOKED AT IT ONLY IN
THE NATURAL.
IN HER HUMAN REASONING, SHE
WAS RIGHT.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A BABY AT
EIGHTY YEARS OLD.
BUT WHEN GOD PUTS A PROMISE
IN YOUR HEART, WHEN HE
WHISPERS SOMETHING TO YOU
IN YOUR SPIRIT, IT MAY SEEM
FAR OUT, UNLIKELY, YOU
COULD EASILY DISMISS IT.
TRY A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
DO LIKE MARY, “GOD LET IT
HAPPEN.
I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU.
I DON'T SEE HOW, BUT I'M
NOT GOING TO LIMIT YOU TO
MY HUMAN POINT OF VIEW.”
WHEN SARAH WAS NINETY YEARS
OLD, AGAINST ALL ODDS, SHE
GAVE BIRTH TO A CHILD.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, SHE
LAUGHED AGAIN, AND SAID,
“GOD HAS BROUGHT ME
LAUGHTER AND ALL WHO HEAR
ABOUT THIS WILL LAUGH WITH
ME.” SHE EVEN NAMED HER SON
ISAAC WHICH MEANS LAUGHTER.
THE FIRST TIME SHE LAUGHED
IN UNBELIEF, THINKING,
“THERE'S NO WAY.” THE
SECOND TIME SHE LAUGHED IN
AMAZEMENT, THINKING, “LOOK
WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE.” IN
THE PAST, YOU MAY HAVE
LAUGHED IN UNBELIEF,
THINKING WHAT GOD PROMISED
YOU COULD NEVER COME TO
PASS.
YOU DISCOUNTED IT, “IT'S
TOO LATE, JOEL, IT'S TOO
BIG, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.” THE
GOOD NEWS IS THAT DIDN'T
STOP THE PROMISE.
I BELIEVE YOUR SECOND LAUGH
IS COMING.
GOD IS ABOUT TO DO
SOMETHING SO AWESOME, SO
BIG, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
LAUGH IN AMAZEMENT.
THE SECOND LAUGH IS GOING
TO SURPRISE YOU.
IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING
OUT OF THE ORDINARY,
SOMETHING YOU CAN'T
EXPLAIN, SOMETHING THAT
CATAPULTS YOU TO A NEW
LEVEL.
GET READY, GOD IS ABOUT TO
DEFY THE ODDS, HE'S ABOUT
TO SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN, HEARD OR
IMAGINED WHAT HE'S ABOUT TO
DO.
LIKE SARAH, YOU'RE GOING TO
STAND IN AWE AT THE
GREATNESS OF OUR GOD.
YOU WOULDN'T BE HEARING
THIS IF THAT SECOND LAUGH
WASN'T ON THE WAY.
NOW DO YOUR PART. DON'T SEE
THINGS ONLY FROM A HUMAN
POINT OF VIEW.
DON'T LET YOUR LOGIC LIMIT
WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO.
I'M NOT SAYING DENY THE
FACTS, ACT LIKE THEY DON'T
EXIST, I'M SAYING SEE
BEYOND THE LOGICAL.
GET A HEAVENLY PERSPECTIVE.
THE MOST-HIGH GOD IS ON
YOUR SIDE.
HE HASN'TT FORGOTTEN WHAT
HE PROMISED YOU.
HE HAS THE RIGHT PEOPLE,
THE RIGHT BREAKS, THE
SOLUTIONS ALREADY IN ROUTE.
IF YOU'LL DO THIS I BELIEVE
AND DECLARE, NEW DOORS ARE
ABOUT TO OPEN, SICKNESSES
ARE TURNING AROUND,
ADDICTIONS ARE BEING
BROKEN, HEALING, WHOLENESS,
ABUNDANCE, THE FULLNESS OF
YOUR DESTINY, IN JESUS'
NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN 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 FREE
INFORMATION ON YOUR NEW
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.
