JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU!
IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH
YOU TODAY.
IF YOU'RE EVER IN OUR AREA,
PLEASE STOP BY AND BE A PART
OF ONE OF OUR SERVICES.
WE'LL MAKE YOU FEEL RIGHT
AT HOME. I HOPE YOU'LL
STAY CONNECTED WITH US
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
WE HAVE A DAILY PODCAST,
A YOUTUBE CHANNEL, FOLLOW
US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE'LL KEEP YOU ENCOURAGED
AND INSPIRED.
THANKS FOR AGAIN TUNING IN.
THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TODAY.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THIS AIRPLANE
THAT WAS ABOUT TO CRASH.
THERE WERE FOUR PASSENGERS
BUT ONLY THREE PARACHUTES.
THE FIRST PASSENGER SAID,
"I'M A LEADING HEART
SURGEON, MY PATIENTS NEED
ME." HE TOOK THE FIRST
PARACHUTE AND JUMPED.
THE SECOND PASSENGER SAID,
"I'M A ROCKET SCIENTIST, ONE
OF THE SMARTEST MEN ALIVE.
MY COUNTRY NEEDS ME."
HE TOOK THE SECOND
PARACHUTE AND JUMPED.
THE THIRD PASSENGER,
POPE JOHN PAUL, SAID TO
THE FOURTH PASSENGER,
A TEN-YEAR-OLD BOY SCOUT.
"SON, I'M OLD AND FRAIL.
I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT.
YOU CAN HAVE THE LAST
PARACHUTE."
THE BOY SCOUT SAID, "SIR,
DON'T WORRY. THERE ARE
STILL TWO PARACHUTES LEFT.
YOU SEE, THE SMARTEST MAN
ALIVE, HE JUST JUMPED OUT
WITH MY BACKPACK."
(LAUGHTER)
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 SOMETHING
NEW IS COMING.
IT'S EASY TO GET STUCK
IN LIFE. WHEN WE'VE GONE
THROUGH DISAPPOINTMENTS,
HAD A SETBACK, TRIED AND
OUR DREAM DIDN'T WORK OUT,
WE CAN SETTLE WHERE WE ARE
AND THINK THIS IS AS GOOD
AS IT GETS.
BUT GOD SAID IN ISAIAH,
"I AM DOING A NEW THING,
EVEN NOW IT SPRINGS FORTH,
CAN YOU NOT PERCEIVE IT?"
GOD IS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING
NEW IN YOUR LIFE.
HE DIDN'T CREATE YOU TO GET
STUCK AT ONE LEVEL AND STAY
THERE.
HE HAS NEW OPPORTUNITIES,
NEW RELATIONSHIPS, NEW
FAVOR.
IT MAY LOOK LIKE YOU'LL
ALWAYS STRUGGLE IN YOUR
FINANCES.
NO, GET READY, SOMETHING
NEW IS COMING.
PROMOTION, OPPORTUNITY,
DOORS OPENING THAT YOU
NEVER DREAMED WOULD OPEN.
THE MEDICAL REPORT SAYS
YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT
SICKNESS, IT'S BEEN A LONG
TIME. GOD IS SAYING,
"I'M DOING A NEW THING.
I'M RESTORING HEALTH.
I'M BREATHING ENERGY,
VITALITY, FRESHNESS INTO
YOUR BODY.
THAT CHILD HAS BEEN OFF
COURSE FOR YEARS. YOU'VE
ACCEPTED THAT HE'LL NEVER
CHANGE. THAT WOULD BE TRUE,
BUT GOD IS DOING A NEW
THING. FORCES OF DARKNESS
ARE BEING BROKEN.
PURPOSE AND DESTINY ARE
RISING UP. YOU'RE ABOUT
TO SEE A TURN AROUND.
MAYBE THAT ADDICTION HAS
HINDERED YOU YOUR WHOLE
LIFE. YOU'VE TRIED TO
STOP, GONE TO COUNSELING,
NOTHING HELPED. THIS IS
A NEW DAY. CHAINS THAT
HAVE HELD YOU BACK ARE
BEING LOOSED. WHAT'S KEPT
YOU IN CAPTIVITY IS
COMING TO AN END.
NOW YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR PART
AND RECEIVE THE PROPHECY.
YOU CAN'T GO AROUND THINKING
YOU'RE STUCK, THE PROBLEM IS
TOO BIG, IT'S BEEN THIS WAY
TOO LONG.
TURN IT AROUND.
"LORD, I BELIEVE WHAT YOU
PROMISED, THANK YOU THAT
YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING NEW
IN MY LIFE."
WHEN ISAIAH PROPHESIED THIS
THE ISRAELITES WERE IN
CAPTIVITY IN BABYLON.
THEY HAD BEEN THERE A LONG
TIME, YEAR AFTER YEAR,
NOTHING CHANGING.
I'M SURE THEY THOUGHT,
"WE'LL ALWAYS STRUGGLE,
WE'LL ALWAYS BE OPPRESSED."
THEN ISAIAH SHOWED UP AND
SAID, "GET READY, GOD IS
DOING A NEW THING."
THEY COULD HAVE THOUGHT,
"YEAH RIGHT, HAVE YOU SEEN
THESE ENEMIES, LOOK HOW
POWERFUL THEY ARE?
ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES SAY
WE'RE STUCK, WE'LL NEVER
LIVE AN ABUNDANT LIFE, WE'LL
NEVER OWN OUR OWN HOMES, OUR
CHILDREN WILL NEVER BE
FREE."
DON'T TALK YOURSELF OUT OF
THE NEW THING GOD WANTS TO
DO.
THE ODDS MAY BE AGAINST YOU
BUT THE MOST HIGH GOD IS FOR
YOU.
THE ISRAELITES HAD BEEN
THROUGH MANY STRUGGLES, HAD
UNFAIR THINGS HAPPEN.
THEY MADE MISTAKES, BROUGHT
THE TROUBLE ON THEMSELVES.
THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SITTING
IN SELF-PITY, DISCOURAGED.
BUT ISAIAH SAID, "FORGET THE
FORMER THINGS, DO NOT DWELL
ON THE PAST.
BEHOLD GOD IS DOING A NEW
THING."
THE PRINCIPLE IS, IF YOU'RE
DWELLING ON THE PAST, YOU
WON'T SEE THE NEW THING.
IF YOU'RE FOCUSED ON WHO
HURT YOU AND WHAT WASN'T
FAIR, WHY DID THIS FRIEND
WALK AWAY, THEN YOU'LL MISS
YOUR DESTINY.
GOD IS SAYING, FORGET THE
FORMER THINGS, QUIT DWELLING
ON YOUR MISTAKES.
THIS IS A NEW DAY.
LIVING IN REGRETS WILL KEEP
YOU FROM NEW OPPORTUNITIES,
RELIVING YOUR MISTAKES WILL
STOP THE NEW FAVOR.
AS LONG AS YOU'RE LOOKING
BACK AT THE OLD, YOU WON'T
SEE THE NEW.
WHEN YOU DRIVE HOME TODAY,
THERE'S A BIG WINDSHIELD IN
FRONT OF YOU AND A VERY
SMALL REARVIEW MIRROR.
THE REASON IT'S SO SMALL IS
BECAUSE WHAT'S BEHIND YOU IS
NOT NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS
WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.
WHERE YOU'RE GOING IS WHAT
MATTERS, NOT WHERE YOU'VE
BEEN.
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU NEED
TO FORGET, SO YOU CAN SEE
THE NEW THING, SOMETHING YOU
NEED TO QUIT DWELLING ON, SO
YOU CAN STEP INTO THE FAVOR
AND ABUNDANCE THAT GOD HAS
FOR YOU?
WHEN SOMEONE HURTS YOU, THEY
DO YOU WRONG, IF YOU KEEP
THINKING ABOUT IT THEN
YOU'RE LETTING THEM CONTINUE
TO HURT YOU.
DON'T GIVE THEM YOUR POWER.
YOU HAVE TO LET IT GO.
GIVE IT TO GOD.
HE SAW WHAT THEY DID.
HE SAW YOUR TEARS, YOUR
HEARTACHE.
HE HAS BEAUTY FOR THOSE
ASHES.
BUT HERE'S THE KEY YOU HAVE
TO LET GO OF THE ASHES,
BEFORE YOU CAN SEE THE
BEAUTY.
IT'S AN EXCHANGE.
GOD SAYS, "YOU GIVE ME THE
ASHES, YOU QUIT DWELLING ON
THE HURTS, IT, YOU FORGIVE
THEM, YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH
YOUR LIFE AND I'LL GIVE YOU
THE BEAUTY.
I'LL DO SOMETHING SO GREAT,
SO REWARDING THAT YOU DON'T
EVEN THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU
LOST."
THE NEW THING GOD HAS FOR
YOU, THE NEW PEOPLE, THE NEW
OPPORTUNITIES, THE
PROMOTION, HEALING,
INFLUENCE, WILL BE BETTER
THAN YOU EVER DREAMED.
THE ISRAELITES WERE IN
CAPTIVITY.
NOT ONLY WERE THE
BABYLONIANS HOLDING THEM,
BUT ALL AROUND THEM WAS THE
DESERT.
EVEN IF THEY ESCAPED, THEY
COULDN'T SURVIVE.
BUT ISAIAH EXPLAINED WHAT
THE NEW THING WAS.
HE SAID, "GOD WILL MAKE
RIVERS IN THE DESERT.
WHAT LOOKS LIKE BARREN
GROUND WILL BE TURNED INTO
FERTILE LAND."
GOD WAS SAYING, "THIS NEW
THING I'M ABOUT TO DO, IT'S
NOT GOING TO BE NATURAL,
IT'S GOING TO BE
SUPERNATURAL."
THAT'S WHY YOU CAN'T FIGURE
IT OUT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
LOGICAL.
WHAT GOD IS ABOUT TO DO IS
GOING TO BE UNUSUAL,
UNCOMMON, OUT OF THE
ORDINARY.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE RIVERS
WHERE THERE SHOULD BE DRY
PLACES.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "EVEN IN
FAMINE THE RIGHTEOUS WILL
HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH."
IT SEEMS LIKE IN FAMINE YOU
WOULD BARELY GET BY.
BUT GOD DOES THINGS THAT
DEFIES THE ODDS.
DON'T LIMIT THIS NEW THING
TO WHAT YOU THINK CAN
HAPPEN.
"IF I CAN JUST LEARN TO LIVE
WITH THIS SICKNESS."
NO, GOD IS GOING TO FREE YOU
FROM THE SICKNESS.
"IF I CAN JUST PAY MY BILLS,
JOEL, I'LL BE HAPPY."
GOD'S GOING TO BRING YOU
INTO OVERFLOW.
"IF MY CHILD WILL JUST STAY
OUT OF TROUBLE."
THAT CHILD IS DOING TO DO
GREAT THINGS.
YOU MAY NOT SEE HOW.
THAT'S OKAY.
IT'S NOT UP TO YOU.
IT'S UP TO GOD.
HE'S THE ONE THAT MAKES
RIVERS IN THE DESERT.
HE'S THE ONE THAT PARTS RED
SEAS, CURES THE LEPERS,
MULTIPLIES THE FOOD TO FEED
THOUSANDS.
A LADY TOLD ME HOW HER
RELATIVE HAD PASSED AWAY AND
LEFT HER A SMALL
INHERITANCE.
SHE DECIDED TO INVEST IT IN
REAL ESTATE.
SHE BOUGHT ANOTHER HOUSE AND
WAS GOING TO RENT IT OUT.
THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT CAME
ALONG SEEMED LIKE FINE
PEOPLE.
THEY WORKED FOR A NON-PROFIT
THAT HELPED CHILDREN.
SHE THOUGHT THIS COUPLE
WOULD BE PERFECT.
SHE DIDN'T DO ALL THE
BACKGROUND CHECKS THAT SHE
SHOULD HAVE.
IT TURNED OUT THEY WERE
DISHONEST.
THREE MONTHS INTO THE LEASE
THEY STOPPED PAYING RENT AND
DIDN'T TELL HER.
SHE HAD IT SET UP TO GO TO
THE BANK, SHE THOUGHT
EVERYTHING WAS FINE.
THEY KEPT HER FROM GETTING
THE NOTICES.
SEVERAL YEARS WENT BY AND
EVENTUALLY THE HOUSE WAS
FORECLOSED ON, SHE LOST ALL
OF HER MONEY.
SHE COULD HAVE BEEN BITTER,
UPSET, TRIED TO GET REVENGE.
BUT SHE SAID, "I DIDN'T MAKE
A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT."
THAT TAKES MATURITY.
IT'S EASY TO MAKE A BIG DEAL
WHEN WE'RE HURT, BETRAYED.
"WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?
I'M GOING TO GET EVEN."
YOU HAVE TO FORGET THE
FORMER THINGS, DO NOT DWELL
ON THE PAST.
THAT MEANS DON'T LET THE
HURTS, THE BAD BREAKS, THE
TIMES YOU WERE TAKEN
ADVANTAGE OF SOUR THE REST
OF YOUR LIFE, CAUSE YOU TO
LIVE WITH A CHIP ON YOUR
SHOULDER.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO VINDICATE
YOU.
HE KNOWS HOW TO PAY YOU
BACK.
YEAR AFTER YEAR SHE KEPT
BEING HER BEST.
NOBODY EVEN KNEW SHE WENT
THROUGH THE BAD BREAK.
SHE DIDN'T GO AROUND
COMPLAINING, DISCOURAGED.
SHE HAD A SONG OF PRAISE.
GOD SEES WHEN YOU'RE IN THE
DESERT.
HE'S WATCHING YOU IN THE
LONELY NIGHTS, THE TIMES YOU
WERE BETRAYED, YOU FELT LIKE
GIVING UP BUT YOU KEPT
GOING.
YOU COULD HAVE HELD A
GRUDGE, BUT YOU FORGAVE; YOU
KEPT MOVING FORWARD.
IT WASN'T EASY, YOU WERE
HURTING, THE PAIN WAS REAL,
BUT YOU DIDN'T LET IT STOP
YOU.
SIX YEARS LATER, THIS LADY
GOT A CHECK IN THE MAIL
UNEXPECTEDLY FROM THE BANK,
FOR A HUNDRED AND
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND
DOLLARS.
THEY SAID, "WE SOLD THE
PROPERTY, AND THIS MONEY
BELONGS TO YOU."
SHE DIDN'T EVEN PAY THAT
MUCH FOR IT.
SHE MADE A PROFIT.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO MAKE RIVERS
IN THE DESERT.
HE KNOWS HOW TO PAY YOU BACK
FOR THE WRONGS.
THIS NEW THING HE'S GOING TO
DO IS GOING TO BE
SUPERNATURAL.
HE'S GOING TO TURN BARREN
GROUND, INTO FERTILE GROUND.
WHAT LOOKS LIKE A LOSS IS
GOING TO TURN IN TO A GAIN.
IT SEEMS LIKE A SETBACK, BUT
REALLY, IT'S A SETUP FOR GOD
TO SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
THE DESERT REPRESENTS
BARRENNESS, NO GROWTH.
YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT
THING, BUT YOUR BUSINESS IS
NOT INCREASING, YOUR
MARRIAGE NOT GETTING BETTER,
YOUR HEALTH NOT IMPROVING,
YOU WERE PASSED OVER FOR
ANOTHER PROMOTION.
YOU'RE IN THE DESERT.
IN THOSE DRY PLACES, YOU
COULD BE DISCOURAGED, THINK
IT WILL NEVER CHANGE.
NO, GET READY.
GOD IS ABOUT TO MAKE RIVERS
IN THAT DESERT.
HE'S ABOUT TO TURN THAT
BARREN LAND INTO FERTILE
GROUND.
LIKE THIS LADY, YOU'RE GOING
TO SEE INCREASE THAT YOU
CAN'T EXPLAIN, FAVOR THAT
YOU DIDN'T DESERVE, HEALING
THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE,
FREEDOM FROM THINGS THAT
HAVE HELD YOU BACK.
WHEN ISAIAH PROPHESIED THIS,
THE PEOPLE COULD HAVE SAID,
"THANKS ISAIAH, BUT WE'VE
HAD TOO MANY BAD BREAKS,
THIS OPPOSITION IS TOO BIG,
WE'LL NEVER GET OUT."
YOU CAN STOP THE PROPHECY
FROM COMING TO PASS.
THE PSALMIST SAID, "THEY
LIMITED THE HOLY ONE OF
ISRAEL."
YOU CAN LIMIT WHAT GOD WANTS
TO DO IN YOUR LIFE BY DOUBT,
NEGATIVITY, SPEAKING DEFEAT.
"MY BUSINESS IS NEVER GOING
TO GROW.
I'LL NEVER MEET THE RIGHT
PERSON.
I HAVEN'T HAD A DATE IN
YEARS.
HAVE YOU SEEN ALL THAT I'VE
BEEN THROUGH?"
YOU ARE CANCELING OUT THE
PROPHECY.
YOU MAY HAVE OBSTACLES THAT
LOOK TOO BIG, YOU DON'T SEE
HOW YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT
DREAM.
IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE STUCK,
YOU'RE IN CAPTIVITY,
RESTRICTED BY YOUR
ENVIRONMENT.
GOD IS SAYING TO YOU WHAT HE
SAID TO THEM.
"I AM DOING A NEW THING.
I'M MAKING RIVERS IN THOSE
DESERTS.
I'M TURNING THE BARREN
PLACES INTO FERTILE GROUND."
NOW GET IN AGREEMENT WITH
GOD.
"YES, LORD THIS IS FOR ME
TODAY.
I RECEIVE IT INTO MY SPIRIT.
I'M GETTING READY FOR
SOMETHING NEW.
LORD, AMAZE ME WITH YOUR
GOODNESS.
TURN THIS PROBLEM AROUND.
GOD SHOW OUT IN MY LIFE."
IT'S SIGNIFICANT THAT THIS
PROMISE IS IN THE PRESENT
TENSE.
GOD DIDN'T SAY, "I'M ABOUT
TO DO A NEW THING.
ONE DAY I'M GOING TO WORK IN
YOUR LIFE.
SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE I'M
GOING TO SHOW YOU MY
GOODNESS."
GOD SAID, I AM DOING A NEW
THING.
IT'S ALREADY STARTED.
WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU IS
ALREADY SET IN MOTION.
THIS NEW THING IS ALREADY IN
PROCESS.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "NOW IT
SPRINGS FORTH."
SPRING FORTH IS USED WHEN A
SEED IS PLANTED IN THE
GROUND.
YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING
HAPPENING, BUT THE SEED HAS
OPENED UP, IT'S SPRINGING
FORTH EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT
BECOME VISIBLE FOR SOME
TIME.
THERE ARE PROMOTIONS,
HEALINGS, BREAKTHROUGHS,
DIVINE CONNECTIONS THAT HAVE
ALREADY SPRUNG FORTH.
THEY'RE ALREADY IN ROUTE.
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE
IT, DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT
COMING.
THIS IS WHERE YOUR FAITH HAS
TO KICK IN.
THERE SHOULD BE AN
EXPECTANCY.
NOT LOOKING BACK, "THIS
PANDEMIC IS SO HARD, MY
BACK'S BEEN HURTING, THIS
COMPANY DID ME WRONG.
I'M IN THE DESERT JOEL,
THAT'S WHY I'M DISCOURAGED."
AS LONG AS YOU'RE LOOKING
BACK, YOU'RE GOING TO MISS
THE NEW THING.
YOU HAVE TO GET PREPARED IN
YOUR THINKING.
"BY FAITH, I CAN SEE THE
HEALING THAT'S COMING.
I CAN SEE PROMOTION ON ITS
WAY.
I CAN SEE MY CHILD TURNING
AROUND.
I CAN SEE MYSELF FREE FROM
THIS ADDICTION."
NOW IT SPRINGS FORTH, NOT
ONE DAY, NOT IN THE SWEET BY
AND BY; TODAY, GOD IS DOING
A NEW THING.
TODAY, GOD IS MAKING RIVERS
IN YOUR DESERT.
TODAY, GOD IS TURNING YOUR
DRY PLACES INTO ABUNDANT
PLACES.
IF YOU'LL STAY IN FAITH,
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE NEW
THING.
LIKE GOD DID FOR THE
ISRAELITES, HE'S GOING TO
BRING YOU OUT OF CAPTIVITY.
HE'S GOING TO FREE YOU FROM
LIMITATIONS AND NEGATIVE
THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED
DOWN IN YOUR FAMILY LINE.
IN THIS NEW THING, GOD IS
GOING TO BREAK GENERATIONAL
CURSES, ADDICTIONS, POVERTY,
DEPRESSION, WILL NO LONGER
HOLD YOU BACK.
THERE'S ABOUT TO BE STREAMS
IN THAT DESERT.
THAT BARREN LAND IS ABOUT TO
BE TURNED INTO FERTILE LAND,
AN ABUNDANT LAND, DREAMS
COMING TO PASS.
HE'S GOING TO CATAPULT YOU
TO WHERE NO ONE IN YOUR
FAMILY HAS GONE.
I TALKED TO A LADY, SHE'S A
SINGLE PARENT LIVING IN
COMPTON, CALIFORNIA.
THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT
PEOPLE IN COMPTON BUT, OF
COURSE, IT'S KNOWN FOR BEING
A ROUGH ENVIRONMENT, GANGS
AND DRUGS.
HER HUSBAND WAS IN THE
FEDERAL PENITENTIARY.
SHE'S A SCHOOLTEACHER; FOR
THIRTEEN YEARS SHE RAISED
HER SON BY HERSELF.
THERE WERE A LOT OF NEGATIVE
INFLUENCES, OPPORTUNITIES
FOR HIM TO GET OFF COURSE
BUT SHE'S A PRAYING MOTHER.
EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS IN A DRY
PLACE, SHE KNEW GOD COULD
MAKE STREAMS IN THE DESERT.
IT SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE
HELD CAPTIVE BY THEIR
ENVIRONMENT, A VICTIM OF
THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.
HER SON COULD HAVE BECOME A
STATISTIC, ANOTHER CHILD
STRUGGLING, OFF COURSE, ON
DRUGS, BUT SHE BELIEVED GOD
WAS DOING A NEW THING, THAT
HE WAS WORKING BEHIND THE
SCENES.
EVERY MORNING BEFORE THEY
WENT TO SCHOOL, THEY WOULD
LISTEN TO OUR MESSAGES, GET
THE DAY STARTED OFF IN FAITH
AND HOPE AND VICTORY.
HER DREAM WAS FOR HER SON TO
GO TO COLLEGE.
ALL THE ODDS WERE AGAINST
HIM.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS.
HIS FATHER IN PRISON.
HIS SENIOR YEAR, THEY
APPLIED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT
COLLEGES AND WERE WAITING TO
HEAR BACK.
ONE MORNING ON THEIR WAY TO
SCHOOL, THEY HEARD ME
TALKING ABOUT HOW GOD HAS
UNPRECEDENTED FAVOR, HOW HE
CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN THAT
WE CAN'T MAKE HAPPEN, HOW HE
WANTS TO DO A NEW THING.
SHE HEARD THAT PROMISE, AND
SOMETHING CAME ALIVE ON THE
INSIDE.
SHE KNEW THAT WAS FOR THEM.
LATER THAT DAY, HE RECEIVED
A HANDWRITTEN LETTER IN THE
MAIL, IT SAID,
"CONGRATULATIONS YOU'VE BEEN
ACCEPTED INTO HARVARD
UNIVERSITY."
HE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN
AMERICAN STUDENT EVER
ACCEPTED FROM COMPTON.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO MAKE RIVERS
IN THE DESERT.
HE KNOWS HOW TO BRING YOU
OUT OF CAPTIVITY.
OUT OF STRUGGLE, LACK,
ADDICTIONS, DEPRESSION,
CAN'T GET A GOOD BREAK.
GET READY, YOUR TIME IS
COMING.
GOD IS DOING A NEW THING.
YOU MAY BE IN A DRY PLACE,
BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STAY
THERE.
WATER IS COMING, FAVOR IS
COMING, PROMOTION, HEALING,
FREEDOM IS COMING.
GET YOUR HOPES UP.
START EXPECTING GOD'S FAVOR,
START BELIEVING FOR THE
UNUSUAL.
GOD WANTS TO MAKE YOU AN
EXAMPLE OF HIS GOODNESS.
HE'S ALREADY SET IN MOTION
SOMETHING BETTER THAN YOU
CAN IMAGINE.
YOU CAN'T SEE IT YET BUT
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT
IN ROUTE.
KEEP BELIEVING, KEEP TALKING
LIKE IT'S ON THE WAY, KEEP
DOING THE RIGHT THING.
LIKE WITH THEM, YOU'RE GOING
TO SEE GOD EXCEED YOUR
EXPECTATIONS.
TODAY, THIS YOUNG MAN IS A
SENIOR AT HARVARD.
RECENTLY, HE WAS CHOSEN AS A
RHODES SCHOLAR, ONE OF ONLY
THIRTY-TWO FROM AMERICA.
NOT LONG AGO, HE WAS
ACCEPTED INTO YALE LAW
SCHOOL.
IF YOU COULD SEE WHAT GOD IS
DOING BEHIND THE SCENES IN
YOUR LIFE, YOU WOULD BE
AMAZED.
HE'S ALREADY LINED UP THE
GOOD BREAKS, THE RIGHT
PEOPLE, SOLUTIONS TO
PROBLEMS.
THE NEW THING IS NOT GOING
TO BE ORDINARY.
IT'S GOING TO CATAPULT YOU
AHEAD.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STAY IN
ANY KIND OF CAPTIVITY.
DON'T BELIEVE THOSE LIES
THAT YOU'RE STUCK.
"LOOK AT MY ENVIRONMENT,
LOOK AT HOW I WAS RAISED, I
DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS FOR MY
DREAMS.
I'LL ALWAYS BE RESTRICTED BY
THESE LIMITATIONS."
THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE
FOR THIS YOUNG MAN, THAT'S
HOW IT LOOKED FOR THE
ISRAELITES.
BUT GOD SHOWED UP AND SAID,
"I'M DOING A NEW THING.
I'M GOING TO MAKE RIVERS IN
THOSE DESERTS."
GOD IS SAYING THAT TO YOU.
WHERE YOU ARE IS NOT YOUR
DESTINY.
YOU HAVEN'T REACHED YOUR
LIMITS.
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR BEST
DAYS.
THIS NEW THING IS GOING TO
BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE
NEVER SEEN.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "CAN YOU
NOT PERCEIVE IT?"
IT IMPLIES THAT GOD CAN BE
DOING IT BUT THERE'S NO SIGN
OF IT.
"JOEL, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING
NEW HAPPENING IN MY LIFE.
I'M STILL STRUGGLING, STILL
LONELY, STILL SICK; I STILL
HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT WORK."
YES, BUT WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE
IS THE NEW THING HAS ALREADY
SPRUNG FORTH.
IT'S ALREADY IN MOTION.
THIS MOTHER COULD HAVE
THOUGHT NOTHING WAS
HAPPENING FOR MANY YEARS.
WHEN HER SON WAS THIRTEEN,
SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS
FOR COLLEGE; FOURTEEN, NO
FUNDS; FIFTEEN, NOTHING
BETTER.
SHE WAS IN THE DESERT,
DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGN OF
RIVERS.
NO SIGN THAT THINGS WERE
GOING TO CHANGE.
BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T
SEE ANYTHING DOESN'T MEAN
IT'S NOT ON THE WAY.
AT THE RIGHT TIME, IT'S
GOING TO SHOW UP.
YOU COULD SEE YOUR NEW THING
TOMORROW, YOU COULD SEE YOUR
BREAKTHROUGH THIS WEEK, YOU
COULD GET THAT SCHOLARSHIP
THIS MONTH, YOU COULD SEE
YOUR HEALING, YOUR
PROMOTION, YOUR ABUNDANCE
THIS YEAR.
WHEN GOD SAYS HE'S GOING TO
DO A NEW THING, THAT MEANS
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LIKE
THE OLD THING.
IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.
THE NEW THING MAY NOT BE
WHAT YOU WERE EXPECTING.
IT MAY NOT HAPPEN THE WAY
YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD.
THE ISRAELITES COULD HAVE
THOUGHT, "GOD, JUST DEFEAT
THESE BABYLONIANS AND WE'LL
LIVE HERE."
THEY DIDN'T THINK GOD WOULD
TAKE THEM INTO THE DESERT,
HOW COULD THEY SURVIVE OUT
THERE.
GOD WAS GOING TO DO IT A
DIFFERENT WAY.
HE WAS GOING TO MAKE STREAMS
IN THE DESERT.
STAY OPEN FOR HOW GOD IS
GOING TO DO IT.
DON'T PUT HIM IN A BOX AND
LIMIT HIM TO ONE WAY.
MOST OF THE TIME, THE WAY WE
WANT IT DONE IS LESS THAN
WHAT GOD HAS IN MIND.
WHAT HE HAS PLANNED WILL BE
MUCH BIGGER, MUCH BETTER.
TRUST HIM TO DO IT HIS WAY.
IF WE'RE SET IN HOW WE WANT
IT TO HAPPEN, WE CAN MISS
THE NEW THING.
I WAS IN ANOTHER CITY
DRIVING A RENTAL CAR
RECENTLY.
VICTORIA RAN INTO THE STORE
TO SHOP FOR A MINUTE.
I WAITED IN THE CAR AND WAS
GOING TO MAKE SOME CALLS.
SHE SAID IT WOULD BE ABOUT
FIFTEEN MINUTES.
AFTER AN HOUR MY PHONE
BATTERY DIED.
I USUALLY BRING MY PHONE
CHARGER TO PLUG IN TO THE
CAR, BUT I FORGOT IT.
I LOOKED IN THE GLOVE
COMPARTMENT FOR ONE, LOOKED
IN VICTORIA'S BAG, MAYBE SHE
HAD ONE, BUT NOTHING.
I SAT THERE AND WAITED AND
WAITED, THINKING ABOUT ALL
THE WORK I COULD BE DOING.
AT ONE POINT, I LOOKED DOWN
BY THE GEAR SHIFT AND I SAW
THIS RUBBER PAD, ABOUT THE
SIZE OF A PHONE.
I THOUGHT THAT'S
INTERESTING, AND I SAT MY
PHONE THERE.
I HEARD MY PHONE BUZZ, IT
STARTED CHARGING.
I HAD A CHARGER THE WHOLE
TIME, BUT IT WASN'T WHAT I
WAS USED TO.
I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A
CORD AND I WOULD HAVE TO
PLUG IT IN.
CAN I TELL YOU?
SOME OF THE NEW THINGS GOD
IS GOING TO DO IN YOUR LIFE
IS NOT GOING TO BE WHAT
YOU'RE EXPECTING.
HE'S GOING TO DO IT A
DIFFERENT WAY, WITH
DIFFERENT PEOPLE, IN
DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
COULD IT BE THAT GOD IS
DOING A NEW THING NOW AND
YOU DON'T PERCEIVE IT?
HE'S OPENING A DOOR, BUT YOU
DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH IT,
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT
WOULD LOOK LIKE.
HE'S BRINGING PEOPLE ACROSS
YOUR PATH THAT ARE DIVINE
CONNECTIONS BUT THEY'RE NOT
WHAT YOU WERE EXPECTING.
DON'T GET SET IN YOUR WAY.
THE NEW THING MAY NOT LOOK
LIKE WHAT YOU HAD IN MIND.
A FEW YEARS AFTER I STARTED
MINISTERING THE CHURCH BEGAN
TO GROW.
I THOUGHT WE WOULD BUILD A
NEW AUDITORIUM.
THAT'S THE WAY I HAD SEEN MY
FATHER DO IT GROWING UP.
HE HAD BUILT SANCTUARY AFTER
SANCTUARY.
WE FOUND SOME PROPERTY RIGHT
OFF THE FREEWAY, BY THE
OTHER LOCATION.
IT SEEMED PERFECT TO ME BUT
WHEN WE WENT TO CLOSE ON IT,
THE OWNER SOLD IT OUT FROM
UNDER US.
HE DIDN'T KEEP HIS WORD.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED.
I KNEW THAT PROPERTY WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE OURS.
WE FOUND ANOTHER
HUNDRED-ACRE TRACT NOT FAR
AWAY, AND THE SAME THING
HAPPENED.
I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY
THESE DOORS KEPT CLOSING.
THERE WERE NO MORE LARGE
TRACTS OF LAND TO BUILD ON
BY THE OTHER LOCATION.
MY FATHER ALWAYS SAID THAT
HE WOULD NEVER MOVE THE
CHURCH.
MY MIND WASN'T OPEN FOR THE
NEW THING GOD HAD IN STORE.
ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER, THE
COMPAQ CENTER CAME
AVAILABLE.
I NEVER DREAMED WE COULD
HAVE THIS BUILDING.
THIS WAS SO MUCH BIGGER,
BETTER THAN I EVER IMAGINED.
IT WAS A THREE-YEAR BATTLE,
BUT WE SAW THE HAND OF GOD
MAKE RIVERS IN THE DESERT,
MOVE GIANTS OUT OF THE WAY,
BRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO
HELP US.
WE HAD A CONSULTANT THAT WAS
VERY INFLUENTIAL, KNEW ALL
THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE
CITY.
HE HAD NEVER BEEN TO CHURCH,
DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH GOD OR FAITH.
HE PARTIED, USED BAD
LANGUAGE, CURSED PEOPLE OUT.
BUT HE SAID, "JOEL, I LIKE
YOU AND I'M GOING TO HELP
YOU GET THIS BUILDING."
GOD HAS ALREADY LINED UP THE
PEOPLE YOU NEED FOR THE NEW
THING.
STAY OPEN.
IT MAY NOT HAPPEN THE WAY
YOU'RE EXPECTING, BUT CAN I
ENCOURAGE YOU, GOD'S WAY
WILL BE BETTER, BIGGER, MORE
REWARDING, MORE FULFILLING.
DON'T LIMIT WHAT YOU'VE SEEN
IN THE PAST TO WHAT GOD IS
GOING TO DO IN YOUR FUTURE.
GOD NEVER DOES HIS GREATEST
FEATS IN YOUR YESTERDAYS;
THEY ARE ALWAYS IN YOUR
TOMORROWS.
GOD SAID IN ISAIAH, "I AM
THE ONE THAT OPENED A WAY
THROUGH THE WATERS, MAKING A
DRY PATH THROUGH THE SEA.
I CALLED FORTH THE MIGHTY
ARMIES OF PHARAOH AND
DROWNED THEM IN THE WATERS.
BUT FORGET ABOUT ALL OF
THAT, IT'S NOTHING COMPARED
TO WHAT I'M ABOUT TO DO.
FOR I AM DOING A BRAND-NEW
THING."
THIS BRAND-NEW THING GOD IS
ABOUT TO DO, IS NOT GOING TO
BE LIKE ANYTHING YOU'VE SEEN
IN THE PAST.
WE ALL CAN LOOK BACK AND SEE
WHERE GOD HAS PARTED RED
SEAS IN OUR LIVES.
WHERE HE OPENED UP A DOOR
THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE OPENED,
HAD US IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT
THE RIGHT TIME, WE GOT THE
JOB, WE MET THAT PERSON AND
FELL IN LOVE, HE TURNED OUR
HEALTH AROUND WHEN IT DIDN'T
LOOK GOOD.
WE'RE GRATEFUL.
WE KNOW IT WAS THE HAND OF
GOD.
BUT GOD IS SAYING, "YOU
HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET.
FORGET ABOUT ALL THAT AND
GET READY FOR SOMETHING
AWESOME, SOMETHING THAT YOU
HAVEN'T SEEN, SOMETHING THAT
PROPELS YOU TO A NEW LEVEL."
WHEN YOU SEE THIS NEW THING,
YOU'RE GOING TO STAND IN
AMAZEMENT AND SAY, "WOW,
LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS
DONE."
I BELIEVE THE REASON GOD
TOLD THEM TO FORGET ABOUT
THE RED SEA BEING PARTED AND
FORGET ABOUT HOW HE BROUGHT
THEM OUT OF SLAVERY IS
BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE
THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DO
IT THE SAME WAY.
AFTER ALL THAT WAS A GREAT
MIRACLE.
BUT GOD WAS SAYING, "I HAVE
SOMETHING BETTER.
INSTEAD OF PARTING THE
WATERS, I'M GOING TO CREATE
THE WATERS.
I'M GOING TO MAKE RIVERS IN
THE DESERT, POOLS TO REFRESH
YOU, I'M GOING TO TURN
BARREN LAND INTO FERTILE
LAND."
THE NEW THING GOD HAS FOR
YOU IS GOING TO SUPERSEDE
WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THE
PAST.
THE GOOD NEWS IS IT'S
ALREADY IN MOTION, THE
PROCESS HAS ALREADY BEGUN.
EVEN NOW IT'S SPRINGING
FORTH.
UNDERGROUND, BEHIND THE
SCENES, YOU CAN'T SEE IT,
BUT THE RIVER IS FORMING,
THE WATER IS COMING, THE
BARREN LAND IS BEING
FERTILIZED.
YES, THE DOORS MAY HAVE
CLOSED, DON'T WORRY, YOUR
COMPAQ CENTER IS ALREADY
BUILT, THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE
ALREADY IN ROUTE.
THE RED SEAS PARTINGS WERE
GREAT BUT IT'S NOTHING
COMPARED TO WHAT'S COMING.
HERE'S THE QUESTION, CAN YOU
PERCEIVE IT?
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD'S UP
TO SOMETHIING NEW? SOMETHING
AMAZING, OR ARE YOU LOOKING
BACK AT WHAT USED TO BE,
WHAT DIDN'T WORK OUT?
CHANGE YOUR FOCUS.
NO MORE LOOKING IN THE
REARVIEW MIRROR, START
LOOKING FORWARD, START
EXPECTING HIS GOODNESS.
THIS IS A NEW DAY.
GOD IS DOING A NEW THING IN
YOUR LIFE.
IF YOU'LL RECEIVE ISAIAH'S
PROPHECY, I BELIEVE AND
DECLARE YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE
UNUSUAL FAVOR, UNCOMMON
INCREASE.
RIVERS IN YOUR DESERT, WATER
IN THE DRY PLACES.
LIKE THE ISRAELITES, FREEDOM
FROM CAPTIVITY, FROM LACK,
ADDICTIONS, SICKNESSES.
YOU'RE GOING TO RISE HIGHER,
OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND
BECOME ALL YOU WERE CREATED
TO BE. 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 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 AND
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
VICTORIA AND I WILL BE RIGHT
BACK TO SPEAK A BLESSING
OVER YOU.
