JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU, GREAT
TO HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY.
WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY.
I HOPE YOU'LL STAY CONNECTED
WITH US DURING THE WEEK.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD OUR PODCAST
AND LISTEN TO THE MESSAGES
ANYTIME. OR GO TO OUR YOUTUBE
CHANNEL; BUT THANKS FOR
TUNING IN TODAY.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THIS CAT AND
MOUSE THAT DIED ON THE SAME
DAY AND WENT TO HEAVEN.
AFTER A FEW WEEKS, PETER SAW
THE MOUSE AND ASKED HOW HE
LIKED IT.
HE SAID, "OH IT'S GREAT, BUT
IT'S SO BIG. I WISH I COULD
GET A PAIR OF ROLLER SKATES."
PETER SAID, "NO PROBLEM,"
GOT HIM SOME SKATES.
A FEW WEEKS LATER, PETER SAW
THE CAT AND ASKED HIM HOW HE
LIKED IT.
HE SAID, "OH IT'S FANTASTIC,
AND JUST WHEN I THOUGHT IT
COULDN'T GET ANY BETTER, I
DISCOVERED THE MEALS ON
WHEELS."
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 SPECIAL STRENGTH IS
COMING.
WE ALL HAVE TIMES IN LIFE
THAT WE FEEL TIRED.
WE'VE BEEN DOING OUR BEST,
STANDING STRONG BUT IT'S
BEEN SO LONG, NOTHING HAS
CHANGED, NOW WE'RE FATIGUED.
WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE HAVE
THE STRENGTH TO RAISE THE
CHILDREN, THE STRENGTH TO
FIGHT THE ILLNESS, THE
STRENGTH TO PURSUE OUR
DREAMS.
A WOMAN I KNOW HAS STRUGGLED
WITH DEPRESSION FOR MANY
YEARS.
SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN SO STRONG,
SO DETERMINED, BUT I SAW HER
RECENTLY AND SHE WAS VERY
DISCOURAGED.
SHE SAID, "I DON'T HAVE ANY
FIGHT LEFT IN ME.
I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE."
SOMETIMES WE SEE THAT AS A
LACK OF FAITH.
BUT GOD DOESN'T EXPECT YOU
TO BE STRONG ALL THE TIME.
HE UNDERSTANDS THERE WILL BE
TIMES THAT WE GET WEARY.
WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE CAN GO
ON.
WE'VE PRAYED, WE'VE BELIEVED
BUT NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
NOW THE WEIGHT OF WHAT WE'RE
FACING HAS LEFT US
EXHAUSTED.
THE GOOD NEWS IS GOD DOESN'T
FAULT US FOR FEELING WEAK.
HE DOESN'T SAY, "WHAT'S
WRONG WITH YOU?
YOU NEED TO HAVE MORE
FAITH."
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "WHEN
YOU ARE WEAK, HE IS STRONG."
WHEN YOU FEEL OVERWHELMED,
LIKE YOU CAN'T GO ON HE
COMES IN AND GIVES YOU
SPECIAL STRENGTH.
STRENGTH THAT YOU DIDN'T GET
ON YOUR OWN.
STRENGTH TO MOVE FORWARD
WHEN YOU SHOULD BE STUCK,
STRENGTH TO OVERCOME THE
ADDICTION, STRENGTH TO
OUTLAST THE OPPOSITION.
YOU MAY FEEL WEAK TODAY,
FATIGUED, THAT IS NOT YOUR
DESTINY.
YOU ARE GOING TO RUN AND NOT
BE WEARY, YOU'RE GOING TO
WALK AND NOT FAINT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A
STRENGTH THAT'S NOT NATURAL,
BUT SUPERNATURAL.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH
ELIJAH.
THERE HAD BEEN A
THREE-AND-A-HALF-YEAR
DROUGHT IN SAMARIA.
WITHOUT RAIN, THE ISRAELITES
WERE GOING TO PERISH.
THERE WAS NO FOOD, NO WAY TO
GROW CROPS.
ELIJAH WENT ON TOP OF MOUNT
CARMEL AND BEGAN TO PRAY FOR
RAIN, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED.
HE PRAYED AGAIN AND AGAIN,
HAD HIS ASSISTANT GO OUT AND
CHECK THE WEATHER, LOOK FOR
CLOUDS; STILL NOTHING.
FINALLY, ON THE SEVENTH
TIME, THEY SAW A SMALL CLOUD
START TO FORM IN THE SKY.
ELIJAH TOLD KING AHAB THAT
HE BETTER GET IN HIS CHARIOT
AND QUICKLY LEAVE BECAUSE
THERE WAS ABOUT TO BE A HUGE
DOWNPOUR.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "THE
LORD GAVE ELIJAH SPECIAL
STRENGTH AND HE OUTRAN THE
KING'S CHARIOT TO JEZREEL."
JEZREEL WASN'T JUST NEXT
DOOR, IT WAS A TWENTY-MILE
JOURNEY.
A HORSE CAN RUN TWICE AS
FAST AS AN AVERAGE MAN.
A MAN CAN ONLY SUSTAIN THAT
TOP SPEED FOR A SHORT
DISTANCE.
ON TOP OF THIS I'M SURE
ELIJAH WAS TIRED, BEING IN
THE FAMINE, NOT HAVING THE
PROPER FOOD.
HOW COULD HE OUTRUN A
CHARIOT?
THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
GOD GAVE HIM SPECIAL
STRENGTH.
YOU MAY LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE
UP AGAINST AND THINK, "I
DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH, THE
STAMINA, THE ENDURANCE, THE
FORTITUDE.
MAYBE YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS
AT THE TOP OF MY GAME BUT
NOW, I'M TIRED."
NO GET READY, SPECIAL
STRENGTH IS HEADED YOUR WAY.
WHEN YOU HAVE SPECIAL
STRENGTH, YOU'RE GOING TO
OUTRUN SOME CHARIOTS.
YOU'RE GOING TO OVERCOME
WHAT LOOKS IMPOSSIBLE,
YOU'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH
DREAMS THAT SEEM TOO FAR
GONE.
JEZREEL WAS KNOWN AS THE
CITY OF CHARIOTS.
IT HAD A VAST FLEET OF THESE
POWERFUL VEHICLES.
THEY COULD MOVE SWIFTLY INTO
BATTLE.
THEY GAVE THE PEOPLE OF
JEZREEL AN INCREDIBLE
ADVANTAGE.
ENEMIES KNEW NOT TO COME
AGAINST JEZREEL.
IT'S SIGNIFICANT THAT ELIJAH
OUTRAN A CHARIOT.
THESE CHARIOTS REPRESENTED
POWER, SPEED, THE ABILITY TO
DOMINATE WITH FORCE.
I CAN IMAGINE ELIJAH
STANDING BEFORE KING AHAB,
AS AHAB SAT IN HIS BIG,
IMPRESSIVE, STATE OF THE ART
CHARIOT.
AHAB HAD HIS DRIVERS UP
FRONT, HIS STAFF IN THE
BACK.
ELIJAH LOOKED UP TO KING
AHAB AND SAID IN EFFECT,
"YOU HAVE THIS POWERFUL
ARMY, YOU COMMAND A VAST
FLEET OF CHARIOTS PULLED BY
THESE FAST, STRONG HORSES.
I DON'T HAVE YOUR EQUIPMENT,
I DON'T HAVE YOUR HORSES, I
DON'T EVEN HAVE A CHARIOT,
BUT I'M NOT WORRIED, I DON'T
NEED WHAT YOU HAVE.
I'M GOING TO OUTRUN YOU TO
JEZREEL."
I CAN HEAR AHAB LAUGHING,
SAYING, "WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT ELIJAH, THESE
ARE THE FASTEST HORSES OF
OUR DAY, THESE ARE THE MOST
SKILLED DRIVERS, THIS
CHARIOT JUST WON THE JD
POWERS CHARIOT OF THE YEAR.
YOU CAN'T OUTRUN ME."
THEY TOOK OFF, THE SCRIPTURE
SAYS, THE WHOLE WAY, TWENTY
MILES, ELIJAH RAN AHEAD OF
THE CHARIOT.
WHEN AHAB GOT TO JEZREEL, I
CAN SEE ELIJAH WITH HIS FEET
UP, DRINKING A GLASS OF TEA,
SAYING, "AHAB WHAT TOOK YOU
SO LONG?"
WHEN GOD GIVES YOU SPECIAL
STRENGTH, YOU'RE GOING TO
ACCOMPLISH THINGS YOU NEVER
DREAMED YOU COULD
ACCOMPLISH.
YOU'RE GOING TO OVERCOME
OPPOSITION THAT'S MORE
POWERFUL, THAT HAS MORE
RESOURCES.
YOU MAY NOT BE UP AGAINST A
CHARIOT, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THAT CANCER, IT SEEMS SO
MUCH BIGGER.
THAT ADDICTION, THE TROUBLE
AT WORK, THE SLOWDOWN IN
YOUR BUSINESS, YOU DON'T SEE
HOW YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT.
THE DIFFICULTY IS
DISCOURAGING ENOUGH BUT ON
TOP OF THAT YOU'RE TIRED.
YOU'VE BEEN STANDING STRONG
BUT THE FAMINE, THE LACK OF
THINGS CHANGING HAS WORN YOU
DOWN.
THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN
OUTRUN THIS CHARIOT.
IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH YOU
CAN'T, BUT RIGHT NOW GOD IS
BREATHING SPECIAL STRENGTH
INTO YOU.
LIKE ELIJAH YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE THE ENDURANCE, THE
STAMINA, THE FORTITUDE TO DO
WHAT YOU CAN'T DO ON YOUR
OWN.
YOU MAY THINK, "HOW CAN I
RAISE THESE CHILDREN AND
TAKE CARE OF MY ELDERLY
PARENTS AT THE SAME TIME?
HOW CAN I MAKE IT THROUGH
THIS TREATMENT?
HOW CAN I OVERCOME THIS
ANXIETY?"
WHEN YOU ARE WEAK, HE IS
STRONG.
NOW GET READY TO OUTRUN SOME
CHARIOTS.
GOD HAS NOT BROUGHT YOU THIS
FAR TO LEAVE YOU.
ISAIAH SAID, "GOD GIVES
STRENGTH TO THE WEARY, HE
INCREASES THE POWER OF THE
WEAK."
YOU MAY BE WEARY TODAY; THE
GOOD NEWS IS STRENGTH IS
COMING.
MAYBE YOU FEEL WEAK, YOU'RE
WORN DOWN BY EVERYTHING
THAT'S GOING ON, THE
PANDEMIC, THE UNREST, THE
UNCERTAINTY.
GOD IS SAYING, "I'M ABOUT TO
INCREASE YOUR POWER.
I'M ABOUT TO MAKE YOU
STRONGER."
IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE
TO MUSTER UP, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
IT'S THE HAND OF GOD LIFTING
YOU, EMPOWERING YOU,
REENERGIZING YOU, CAUSING
YOU TO OUTRUN CHARIOTS.
GIVING YOU SPECIAL STRENGTH;
THAT MEANS STRENGTH TO
OUTLAST, STRENGTH TO TRY
AGAIN, STRENGTH TO STEP UP
TO A NEW LEVEL.
WHEN I LOOK BACK OVER MY
LIFE, I CAN SEE THESE TIMES
WHERE GOD GAVE ME SPECIAL
STRENGTH.
WHEN MY FATHER WENT TO BE
WITH THE LORD THAT SHOULD
HAVE OVERWHELMED ME, CAUSED
ME TO LOSE MY PASSION, NOT
BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
BUT I FELT A POWER RISING UP
IN ME THAT I HAD NEVER FELT,
A STRENGTH, A COURAGE,
A DETERMINATION, A STAMINA.
THAT WASN'T JUST ME BEING
STRONG, THAT WAS GOD GIVING
ME SPECIAL STRENGTH.
GOD IS NOT GOING TO LET YOU
MISS YOUR DESTINY.
HE'S NOT GOING TO LET YOU
STAY OVERWHELMED.
YOU MAY FEEL THAT WAY AT
TIMES BUT THAT IS NOT HOW
YOUR STORY ENDS.
YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL A
STRENGTH THAT PUSHES YOU
FORWARD, A POWER TO DO WHAT
YOU COULDN'T DO BEFORE.
WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO
ACQUIRE THE COMPAQ CENTER,
IT WAS A THREE-YEAR PROCESS.
AFTER WE WON THE CITY
COUNCIL VOTE, A COMPANY
FILED A LAWSUIT TO TRY TO
KEEP US FROM MOVING IN.
THEY WERE THE LARGEST
TAXPAYER IN TEXAS, A HUGE
REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.
IT WAS DAVID VERSE GOLIATH.
AT FIRST, I WAS PASSIONATE,
I PRAYED, I BELIEVED, I
STOOD STRONG, BUT WEEK AFTER
WEEK WENT BY, MONTH AFTER
MONTH, NOTHING CHANGED, ONE
YEAR, TWO YEARS.
I STARTED TO GET WEARY.
BATTLE FATIGUE BEGAN TO SET
IN.
NOT THAT WE AREN'T STRONG,
WE JUST GET TIRED OF
FIGHTING.
I THOUGHT, "THEY'RE SO MUCH
BIGGER THAN US, THEY HAVE
MANY MORE RESOURCES, THEY
CAN DRAG THIS OUT FOR
YEARS."
GOD UNDERSTANDS THAT WE CAN
GET TIRED, HE UNDERSTANDS
THAT LIFE CAN WEAR US DOWN.
THAT'S WHY HE SAID, "I WILL
GIVE STRENGTH TO THE WEARY.
I WILL INCREASE THE POWER OF
THE WEAK."
DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP FOR
FEELING WEARY.
DON'T BE DOWN ON YOURSELF
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT STRONG
ALL THE TIME.
YOU'RE HUMAN.
GOD'S NOT FAULTING YOU.
HE'S SAYING, "WHEN YOU'RE
WEAK, I'M GOING TO STEP IN.
I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU
STRONG.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU POWER
TO OUTRUN THE CHARIOT."
"WELL JOEL, I'VE BEEN WEARY
A LONG TIME, I'VE BEEN
EXHAUSTED, I DON'T SEE
ANYTHING CHANGING."
YOUR TIME IS COMING.
YOU WOULDN'T BE HEARING THIS
IF SPECIAL STRENGTH WASN'T
ON THE WAY.
GOD HASN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT
YOU.
HE SEES WHAT YOU'RE GOING
THROUGH.
HE SEES THE LONELY NIGHTS,
THE STRUGGLES, ALL THOSE
TIMES YOU'VE GONE THE EXTRA
MILE.
HE'S ABOUT TO INCREASE YOUR
STRENGTH.
THE OPPOSITION MAY NOT
CHANGE YET, BUT YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE A NEW PASSION, A NEW
FIRE, TO STAND STRONG AND
OUTLAST WHAT'S TRYING TO
STOP YOU.
AT ONE POINT WHEN I DIDN'T
THINK I COULD GO ON, IT
LOOKED LIKE THE LAWSUIT
WOULD NEVER RESOLVE, ALL OF
THE SUDDEN IT WAS LIKE GOD
GAVE ME A SECOND WIND.
I HAD A DETERMINATION THAT I
DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
IT WASN'T SOMETHING I DID,
IT WAS GOD GIVING STRENGTH
TO THE WEARY.
IT WASN'T LONG AFTER THAT
THE COMPANY SUDDENLY DROPPED
THE LAWSUIT AND THE BUILDING
WAS OURS.
LIKE ELIJAH, WE OUTRAN THE
CHARIOT, WE DEFEATED
SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER, MUCH
MORE POWERFUL.
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
GOD GAVE US SPECIAL
STRENGTH.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "SOME
TRUST IN CHARIOTS, SOME
TRUST IN HORSES, BUT WE
TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE
LORD OUR GOD."
GOD IS GOING TO GET YOU TO
WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
THE NIGHT BEFORE JESUS WAS
TO BE CRUCIFIED, HE WENT TO
THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE TO
PRAY.
HE KNEW THE PAIN AND THE
SUFFERING HE WOULD FACE.
EVEN THOUGH HE'S GOD, HE WAS
ALSO HUMAN.
HE COULD FEEL WHAT WE FELT.
HE GOT TIRED.
THERE WERE TIMES HE WAS
WEARY, FATIGUED, AND FELT
LONELY.
IN THAT GARDEN, HE WAS SO
DISCOURAGED AND SO OVERCOME
WITH EMOTION THAT HE SWEAT
DROPS OF BLOOD.
HE TOLD THE DISCIPLES, "MY
SOUL IS OVERWHELMED WITH
SORROW."
HERE JESUS IS THE SON OF
GOD, YET HE FELT
OVERWHELMED, LIKE HE
COULDN'T GO ON.
YOU WOULD THINK GOD WOULD
SAY, "COME ON, YOU NEED TO
BE STRONGER, YOU NEED TO
TOUGHEN UP."
BUT GOD UNDERSTANDS LIFE CAN
BE OVERWHELMING.
THERE ARE TIMES WE FEEL
WEARY, TIRED, DISTRESSED.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FAITH.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE
NOT STRONG ENOUGH.
WHEN JESUS FELT SO
OVERWHELMED, WHEN IT LOOKED
LIKE HE WASN'T GOING TO
FULFILL HIS DESTINY, THE
SCRIPTURE SAYS, "GOD SENT AN
ANGEL TO STRENGTHEN HIM."
YOU MAY BE TIRED TODAY,
TIRED OF BELIEVING FOR YOUR
DREAMS, TIRED OF TRYING TO
MAKE YOUR MARRIAGE WORK,
TIRED OF RAISING THOSE
CHILDREN.
GOD SEES WHAT YOU'RE GOING
THROUGH.
HE FEELS THE WEIGHT OF WHAT
YOU'RE CARRYING.
HE'S NOT GOING TO LEAVE YOU
THERE.
HE HAS ANGELS COMING YOUR
WAY, TO STRENGTHEN YOU, TO
ENCOURAGE YOU, TO LIFT YOU.
THOUGHTS WILL TRY TO
CONVINCE YOU THAT YOU'RE NOT
STRONG ENOUGH, YOU NEED MORE
FAITH.
"LOOK AT YOU TIRED,
DISCOURAGED, LETTING THAT
PROBLEM OVERCOME YOU."
DON'T BELIEVE THOSE LIES.
JESUS IN HIS HUMAN BODY FELT
WEAK, HE FELT DISCOURAGED,
HE DIDN'T KNOW IF HE COULD
GO ON.
GOD SEES YOU BEING YOUR BEST
RAISING THE CHILDREN,
FIGHTING THAT ADDICTION,
FACING THAT ILLNESS.
WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF
STRENGTH, DON'T WORRY,
ANGELS ARE COMING.
HELP IS ON THE WAY.
YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL
STRENGTH THAT YOU DIDN'T
HAVE, JOY WHEN YOU COULD BE
DISCOURAGED, HOPE WHEN YOU
SHOULD BE DEPRESSED.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE
POWER TO ENDURE, THE FAVOR
TO OVERCOME, THE
DETERMINATION TO OUTLAST.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF YOUR OWN
EFFORTS, IT'S THE ANGELS
MINISTERING TO YOU.
BEFORE ELIJAH OUTRAN THE
CHARIOT, HE CALLED DOWN FIRE
FROM HEAVEN AND DEFEATED
FOUR HUNDRED OF THE FALSE
PROPHETS THAT WORSHIPED THE
GOD BAAL.
WHEN KING AHAB'S WIFE,
JEZEBEL HEARD ABOUT IT, SHE
WAS FURIOUS.
SHE SENT WORD TO ELIJAH
SAYING, "IF I DON'T KILL YOU
BY THIS TIME TOMORROW, I
WILL TAKE MY OWN LIFE."
ELIJAH WAS SO AFRAID THAT HE
TOOK OFF RUNNING INTO THE
DESERT.
HE ENDED UP SITTING UNDER A
TREE SO EXHAUSTED, SO
OVERWHELMED THAT HE DIDN'T
WANT TO LIVE.
HE SAID, "GOD I'VE HAD
ENOUGH, I'M DONE, TAKE ME
HOME."
HERE HE HAD JUST CALLED DOWN
FIRE FROM HEAVEN, HE HAD
JUST OUTRAN A CHARIOT, HE
HAD SEEN GOD'S GOODNESS AND
FAVOR BUT HE GOT TIRED.
WHEN WE'RE TIRED WE CAN LOSE
OUR PERSPECTIVE.
PROBLEMS GET MAGNIFIED, THE
SICKNESS LOOKS BIGGER, WE
THINK THE TROUBLE AT WORK
WILL NEVER RESOLVE.
WE FEEL OVERWHELMED LIKE WE
CAN'T GO ON.
BUT THE BEAUTY OF OUR GOD IS
HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE
GOING THROUGH.
HE KNOWS LIFE CAN BE
OVERWHELMING.
HE KNOWS IT'S DIFFICULT TO
GET OUT OF THE GARDEN OF
GETHSEMANE ON YOUR OWN.
ELIJAH WAS UNDER THIS TREE
IN THE DESERT, DEPRESSED NOT
WANTING TO LIVE.
THIS COULD BE THE END OF HIS
STORY.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED?
AN ANGEL SHOWED UP.
JUST LIKE IN THE GARDEN.
WHILE ELIJAH WAS SLEEPING
THIS ANGEL COOKED HIM FOOD.
HE WOKE ELIJAH UP AND TOLD
HIM TO EAT.
ELIJAH LOOKED UP AND SAW
FRESHLY BAKED BREAD, HE
THOUGHT HE WAS DREAMING.
HE ATE AND WENT BACK TO
SLEEP.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THE ANGEL
WOKE HIM UP A SECOND TIME
AND SAID EAT SOME MORE.
ELIJAH ATE THE FOOD.
NOW HE HAD THE STRENGTH TO
MAKE A FORTY-DAY JOURNEY.
HIS WHOLE ATTITUDE CHANGED.
HE GOT HIS FIRE BACK.
HE GOT HIS PASSION BACK.
HE REALIZED GOD WAS STILL ON
THE THRONE AND THAT HE WAS
BIGGER THAN WHAT HE WAS
FACING.
ELIJAH WENT ON TO FULFILL
HIS DESTINY.
WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE IS
WHEN YOU ARE WEAK, GOD IS
GOING TO STRENGTHEN YOU.
WHEN YOU CAN'T GO ON, ANGELS
ARE GOING TO SHOW UP AND
MAKE THINGS HAPPEN THAT YOU
COULDN'T MAKE HAPPEN.
I LOVE HOW THE ANGEL DIDN'T
JUST HELP ELIJAH FIND FOOD,
HE DIDN'T JUST LEAD HIM TO
AN ANIMAL, WHERE HE COULD
HUNT, LEAD HIM TO WATER.
THE ANGEL NOT ONLY BROUGHT
THE FOOD TO ELIJAH BUT HE
COOKED THE FOOD.
GOD IS NOT GOING TO JUST
HELP YOU GET STRONGER, BUT
HE'S GOING TO COOK SOME FOOD
FOR YOU.
HE'S GOING TO BRING
BLESSINGS, INCREASE, FAVOR,
HEALING, THAT HE'S ALREADY
PREPARED.
IT'S GOING TO BE EASIER THAN
YOU THOUGHT AND IT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN QUICKER THAN YOU
THINK.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. TOLD
HOW IN THE HEIGHT OF THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, WHEN
SO MUCH WAS COMING AGAINST
HIM, HE FELT OVERWHELMED.
HE DIDN'T KNOW IF HE COULD
GO ON.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, ONE
EVENING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT THE PHONE RANG.
WHEN HE ANSWERED, THERE WAS
AN ANGRY VOICE TELLING HIM
HOW HE WASN'T WANTED IN THAT
TOWN AND HOW HE WAS GOING TO
BE HARMED IF HE DIDN'T
LEAVE.
KING WAS SO DISTRESSED THAT
HE COULDN'T GO BACK TO
SLEEP.
HE BEGAN TO PACE THE FLOOR,
EXHAUSTED.
HE TRIED TO THINK OF A WAY
HE COULD QUIETLY BOW OUT OF
LEADING THE MOVEMENT WITHOUT
APPEARING TO BE A COWARD.
FEELING OVERWHELMED, ALL OF
HIS COURAGE GONE, HE SAID,
"GOD, I'M HERE TAKING A
STAND FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IS
RIGHT, BUT I'M AFRAID.
I'M AT THE END OF MY
ABILITY.
I HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE.
I CANNOT CONTINUE ON."
MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID AT
THAT MOMENT, HE FELT THE
HAND OF GOD, A DIVINE
PRESENCE.
SOMETHING THAT HE HAD NEVER
FELT BEFORE, STRENGTHENING
HIM, ENCOURAGING HIM,
BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO HIS
SPIRIT.
WHAT WAS THAT?
A MINISTERING ANGEL.
GOD IS NOT GOING TO LET YOU
GIVE UP.
HE'S NOT GOING TO LET YOU
GET SO DISCOURAGED THAT YOU
CAN'T BECOME WHO YOU WERE
CREATED TO BE.
YOU MAY FEEL THAT WAY AT
TIMES, THE TASK LOOKS TOO
BIG, THE OPPOSITION TOO
STRONG, THE DREAM IS TAKING
TOO LONG.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH.
DON'T WORRY, ANGELS ARE ON
THE WAY.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO FEEL A
STRENGTH THAT YOU'VE NEVER
FELT, POWER THAT YOU'VE
NEVER HAD.
GOD IS ABOUT TO LIFT YOU.
HE'S BREATHING VICTORY INTO
YOUR SPIRIT, ENCOURAGEMENT,
HOPE.
NOT JUST STRENGTH BUT
SPECIAL STRENGTH.
STRENGTH THAT CAUSES YOU TO
OUTRUN A CHARIOT, STRENGTH
TO OVERCOME THE SICKNESS,
STRENGTH TO OUTLAST WHAT'S
TRYING TO STOP YOU, STRENGTH
TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT GOD PUT
IN YOUR HEART.
WHEN JESUS WAS ABOUT TO BE
CRUCIFIED, THE CUSTOM IN
THAT DAY WAS THE PERSON HAD
TO CARRY THEIR OWN CROSS.
JESUS WAS SO EXHAUSTED.
HE HAD NOT SLEPT THE NIGHT
BEFORE.
HE'D GONE THROUGH MUCH
SUFFERING AND PAIN.
HE DID HIS BEST, HE WAS AS
STRONG AS HE COULD, BUT HE
FELL DOWN UNDER THE WEIGHT
OF THE CROSS.
GOD COULD HAVE GIVEN HIM THE
STRENGTH TO CARRY IT THE
WHOLE WAY.
HE COULD HAVE GIVEN HIM A
SECOND WIND TO FINISH THE
JOURNEY AND NOT LOOK WEAK
AND NOT FALL DOWN.
BUT GOD WAS SENDING THIS
MESSAGE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE STRONG
ALL THE TIME.
IT'S OKAY TO FEEL
OVERWHELMED.
IT'S OKAY TO SAY LIKE MARTIN
LUTHER KING, "GOD, I DON'T
THINK I CAN DO THIS."
SOMETIMES THE WEIGHT OF WHAT
WE'RE CARRYING GETS HEAVY.
WE THINK, "THIS CHILD IS TOO
HARD TO RAISE, I CAN'T STAY
IN THIS MARRIAGE, I CAN'T
DEAL WITH THIS SICKNESS, I'M
LONELY, I'M HURTING."
VOICES WILL TRY TO CONDEMN
US.
"YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
FAITH.
YOU NEED TO BE STRONGER,
GOD'S NOT GOING TO HELP YOU.
YOU'RE TOO WEAK."
DON'T BELIEVE THOSE LIES.
EVEN JESUS COULDN'T CARRY
THE WEIGHT OF HIS OWN CROSS.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WHEN
HE FELL DOWN GOD DIDN'T
LEAVE HIM THERE.
HE SENT A MAN BY THE NAME OF
SIMON TO COME ACROSS HIS
PATH AND CARRY THE CROSS FOR
JESUS.
WHEN YOU'RE DOWN, WHEN
YOU'RE DISCOURAGED, GOD IS
NOT GOING TO LEAVE YOU
THERE.
HE'LL ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE TO
HELP LIFT YOU BACK UP,
SOMEONE TO ENCOURAGE YOU,
SOMEONE TO HELP YOU CARRY
THE LOAD THAT YOU CAN'T
CARRY.
IF IT'S NOT AN ANGEL, GOD
WILL SEND A PERSON.
THERE WILL BE A SIMON THERE
FOR YOU.
ONE TIME, MOSES WAS UP ON A
HILL.
JOSHUA AND THE ISRAELITES
WERE IN THE VALLEY BELOW
FIGHTING THE AMALEKITES.
MOSES HELD HIS ROD UP IN THE
AIR.
AS LONG AS HIS ROD WAS UP
THE ISRAELITES WERE WINNING.
WHEN HE PUT IT DOWN THE
AMALEKITES WOULD PREVAIL.
THE BATTLE KEPT GOING LONGER
AND LONGER.
THE PROBLEM WAS MOSES GOT
TIRED.
HE COULDN'T HOLD HIS HANDS
UP THAT LONG.
GOD DIDN'T SAY, "MOSES YOU
SHOULD BE STRONGER, YOU
SHOULD HAVE MORE ENDURANCE,
MORE STAMINA."
GOD SENT TWO MEN, AARON AND
HUR.
THEY STOOD ON EACH SIDE OF
MOSES AND HELD HIS HANDS UP
FOR HIM.
GOD HAS THE RIGHT PEOPLE
THAT WILL BE THERE TO HELP
HOLD UP YOUR HANDS.
GOD KNOWS WE'RE GOING TO GET
TIRED.
HE KNOWS THERE WILL BE TIMES
THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE
STRENGTH ON OUR OWN TO DO
WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
HE DOESN'T FAULT US, HE
DOESN'T CANCEL OUR DESTINY,
HE SENDS THE RIGHT PEOPLE,
AN AARON AND A HUR TO LIFT
OUR HANDS.
A FEW YEARS AFTER I BECAME
PASTOR, EVERYTHING WAS
GROWING.
WE WERE SEEING GREAT FAVOR
AND GOD'S BLESSING, BUT AT
THE SAME TIME THERE WERE
PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND US.
AT ONE POINT, IT SEEMED LIKE
THINGS WERE COMING AGAINST
US FROM THE LEFT AND THE
RIGHT.
I HAD NEVER HAD ANY
OPPOSITION.
I THOUGHT ALL WE'RE DOING IS
GIVING PEOPLE HOPE AND
LETTING THEM KNOW THAT GOD
IS GOOD.
IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME
WHY PEOPLE WOULD BE AGAINST
THAT.
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW IT
WAS GOING TO WORK OUT.
THOUGHTS TOLD ME THAT WE
WEREN'T GOING TO LAST, AND
THESE OTHER VOICES WERE TOO
STRONG.
I WAS TEMPTED TO LIVE
WORRIED, DISCOURAGED,
AFRAID.
ONE AFTERNOON, I WAS WALKING
THROUGH THE LOBBY OF THE
CHURCH ABOUT TO GET ON THE
ELEVATOR.
WHEN THE DOORS OPENED, AN
OLDER LADY STEPPED OUT THAT
I'VE KNOWN ALL MY LIFE.
SHE USED TO TAKE CARE OF ME
IN THE NURSERY.
I HADN'T SEEN HER IN YEARS,
BUT I ALWAYS KNEW THAT SHE
PRAYED FOR ME.
EVERY TIME I WOULD SEE HER
GROWING UP, SHE WOULD SMILE
AND SAY, "JOEL YOU KNOW I'M
PRAYING FOR YOU."
I THOUGHT, "YES I KNOW,
YOU'VE TOLD ME FOUR HUNDRED
TIMES."
I GAVE HER A BIG HUG.
SHE SAID, "JOEL, I CAN'T
BELIEVE I RAN INTO YOU.
I WAS GOING TO SEND YOU A
NOTE.
WHEN I WAS PRAYING FOR YOU
THIS MORNING, I HEARD GOD
SAYING, 'WHATEVER YOU'RE
WORRIED ABOUT IS GOING TO BE
FINE.
THE PEOPLE, THE OPPOSITION
IS NOT GOING TO LAST.'" WHEN
SHE SAID THAT IT WAS LIKE A
WEIGHT WAS LIFTED OFF OF ME.
I WALKED AWAY FROM THERE
STRONG, CONFIDENT,
REENERGIZED.
TWO MINUTES EARLIER AND I
WOULD HAVE MISSED HER; TWO
MINUTES LATER, SHE'D HAVE
BEEN GONE.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO BRING THE
SIMONS ACROSS YOUR PATH.
PEOPLE THAT WILL ENCOURAGE
YOU AND HELP LIFT YOU BACK
UP.
BEFORE JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED,
HE WENT UP A HIGH MOUNTAIN
WITH PETER, JAMES AND JOHN.
JESUS' APPEARANCE CHANGED,
HIS FACE SHINED LIKE THE
SUN, HIS CLOTHING BECAME
DAZZLING WHITE.
IT'S KNOWN AS THE MOUNT OF
TRANSFIGURATION.
SUDDENLY MOSES AND ELIJAH
APPEARED AND STARTED TALKING
WITH JESUS.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT THOSE
TWO WERE CHOSEN.
THERE WERE OTHER GREAT
HEROES OF FAITH-ABRAHAM,
DAVID, JOSEPH.
JESUS WAS ABOUT TO FACE ALL
THIS HARDSHIP AND SUFFERING,
GO THROUGH THINGS THAT WERE
VERY DIFFICULT, THINGS THAT
COULD BE OVERWHELMING AND
EXHAUSTING.
MAYBE ELIJAH WAS THERE
BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH HE HAD
PERFORMED GREAT MIRACLES,
EVEN THOUGH HE'D CALLED DOWN
FIRE FROM HEAVEN, RAISED A
LITTLE BOY FROM THE DEAD, AT
ONE POINT HE WAS TOO
EXHAUSTED TO CARRY ON, TOO
WEARY TO MOVE FORWARD; THEN
GOD SENT ANGELS TO
STRENGTHEN HIM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
CONVERSATION WAS BUT MAYBE
ELIJAH ENCOURAGED JESUS THAT
GOD WOULD GIVE HIM SPECIAL
STRENGTH TO MAKE IT THROUGH.
THAT ANGELS WOULD BE THERE
TO MINISTER TO HIM.
MAYBE MOSES REMINDED JESUS
HOW WHEN HE WAS TOO TIRED TO
HOLD UP HIS HANDS, WHEN HE
WAS FATIGUED AND COULDN'T DO
IT ANY LONGER, GOD SENT
PEOPLE TO HOLD HIS HANDS UP
FOR HIM, TO LIFT HIM WHEN HE
FELL, TO HELP HIM CARRY THE
WEIGHT OF THE CROSS.
MAYBE GOD HAS YOU HEARING
THIS, TO REMIND YOU WHEN YOU
FACE THESE TIMES WHERE YOU
FEEL FATIGUED, OVERWHELMED,
LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE THE
STRENGTH TO GO ON, THAT'S
OKAY, JESUS FELT
OVERWHELMED.
MOSES, ELIJAH THEY DIDN'T
THINK THEY COULD GO ON.
GOD IS GOING TO HAVE ANGELS
TO STRENGTHEN YOU, THE RIGHT
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SHOW UP.
GOD IS NOT GOING TO LET YOU
MISS YOUR DESTINY.
HE GIVES STRENGTH TO THE
WEARY, NOT CONDEMNATION.
NOT WHY AREN'T YOU STRONGER.
TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF.
EVEN JESUS FELL DOWN UNDER
THE WEIGHT OF THE CROSS.
SOMETIMES YOUR CROSS IS TOO
HEAVY TO CARRY BY YOURSELF.
LIKE JESUS YOU MAY FALL
DOWN, BUT GOD WILL ALWAYS
HAVE A SIMON THERE, SOMEONE
TO HELP YOU CARRY IT.
PERHAPS TODAY YOU DON'T FEEL
LIKE YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH
TO MOVE FORWARD, THE
STRENGTH TO FIGHT THE
ILLNESS, THE STRENGTH TO
RAISE YOUR CHILDREN.
REMEMBER WHEN YOU ARE WEAK,
HE IS STRONG.
I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW GOD IS
BREATHING SPECIAL STRENGTH
INTO YOU.
THAT BURDEN THAT'S WEIGHED
YOU DOWN IS BEING LIFTED.
THIS IS A TURNING POINT.
GOD IS REENERGIZING YOU,
WITH FRESH PASSION, FRESH
VISION.
YOU WILL RUN AND NOT BE
WEARY, YOU WILL WALK AND NOT
FAINT.
LIKE ELIJAH, YOU'RE ABOUT TO
OUTRUN SOME CHARIOTS.
YOU'RE GOING TO THINK,
"WHERE DID I GET THIS
ENERGY, THIS POWER, THIS
ABILITY?"
IT'S GOD GIVING YOU SPECIAL
STRENGTH.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE, YOU
ARE STRONG, YOU ARE
VICTORIOUS, YOU ARE WELL
ABLE.
YOU'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH
DREAMS BIGGER THAN YOU
IMAGINED, OVERCOME OBSTACLES
THAT LOOKED INSURMOUNTABLE,
AND REACH THE FULLNESS OF
YOUR DESTINY, 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 SEND YOU SOME
FREE INFORMATION ON YOUR NEW
WALK WITH THE LORD.
JUST TEXT THE NUMBER ON THE
SCREEN; WE'LL GET IT TO YOU.
I HOPE YOU'LL GET INTO A
GOOD BIBLE-BASED CHURCH AND
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
> JOEL: THANKS FOR
WATCHING THIS
MESSAGE. I HOPE
YOU ENJOYED IT.
WE UPLOAD NEW
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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!
