JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU,
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU
WITH US TODAY.
I KNOW GOD HAS AMAZING
THINGS IN YOUR FUTURE.
I HOPE YOU'LL STAY
CONNECTED WITH US ALL
THROUGH THE WEEK.
WE HAVE A DAILY PODCAST
THAT YOU CAN DOWNLOAD, OR
GO TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL,
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE WANT TO KEEP YOU INSPIRED
AND ENCOURAGED, BUT THANKS
FOR TUNING IN.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
ONE SUNDAY MORNING THIS
PASTOR WAS IN THE PULPIT
PREACHING AWAY, WHEN HE
NOTICED A MAN ON THE FRONT
ROW SOUND ASLEEP. THAT
MADE HIM SO AGGRAVATED.
HE STARTED PREACHING
LOUDER AND HARDER, BUT
IT SEEMED LIKE THE LOUDER
HE GOT THE SOUNDER THE
MAN SLEPT. FINALLY, HE
STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE
OF HIS MESSAGE, SAID TO
THE MAN SITTING NEXT TO
HIM, "WOULD YOU PLEASE
WAKE THAT MAN UP."
THE MAN SAID, "WAKE HIM
UP YOURSELF, YOU PUT HIM
TO SLEEP."
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 THE HOT WINDS OF
TESTING.
WE ALL GO THROUGH SEASONS
IN LIFE THAT ARE DIFFICULT.
WE'RE GOING ALONG FINE AND
THEN AN UNEXPECTED CHALLENGE
COMES.
WE'RE DIAGNOSED WITH AN
ILLNESS, OUR CHILD IS IN
TROUBLE, THE PANDEMIC HITS,
OUR BUSINESS SLOWS DOWN.
IT'S EASY TO GET DISCOURAGED
AND WONDER WHY IT HAPPENED.
BUT GOD DOESN'T STOP EVERY
DIFFICULTY.
HE WILL ALLOW CHALLENGES TO
MOVE US INTO OUR PURPOSE.
IF YOU'LL PASS THE TEST,
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT
DIFFICULTY IS A NEW LEVEL
OF YOUR DESTINY.
JESUS TOLD A PARABLE IN
LUKE 8 ABOUT A FARMER
THAT SOWED SEED IN HIS
LAND. SOME FELL ON GOOD
GROUND; SOME FELL ON
HARD GROUND.
WHEN HE EXPLAINED THE
MEANING, HE SAID IN
VERSE 13.
"THE ROCKY SOIL IS LIKE
YOUNG PLANTS; THEIR ROOTS
DON'T GO DOWN VERY DEEP.
THEY BELIEVE FOR A WHILE,
THEN THEY WILT WHEN THE HOT
WINDS OF TESTING COME."
YOU CAN'T BECOME WHO YOU
WERE CREATED TO BE WITHOUT
GOING THROUGH HOT WINDS OF
TESTING.
HOW YOU RESPOND IN THESE
DIFFICULT TIMES WILL
DETERMINE WHETHER YOU COME
OUT BITTER OR YOU COME OUT
BETTER.
TIMES WHEN YOU FEEL
OVERWHELMED, YOU'RE DOING
THE RIGHT THING BUT IT'S NOT
IMPROVING, YOU'RE PRAYING
BUT IT FEELS LIKE GOD WENT
ON VACATION, YOU LOST THAT
LOVED ONE, YOU DON'T SEE HOW
YOU CAN MAKE IT.
THAT'S NOT JUST A RANDOM
CHALLENGE, IT'S NOT JUST BAD
LUCK, YOU'RE IN THE HOT
WINDS OF TESTING.
GOD IS SEEING WHAT YOU'RE
MADE OF.
HOW DEEP DO YOUR ROOTS GO
DOWN?
ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE SOUR,
DISCOURAGED, OR ARE YOU
GOING TO DIG DOWN DEEP AND
SAY, "I MAY NOT UNDERSTAND
IT BUT GOD I TRUST YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE BIGGER THAN
WHAT I'M FACING.
YOUR PLANS FOR ME ARE
FOR GOOD.
SO, LORD I THANK YOU THAT
YOU'LL GET ME TO WHERE I'M
SUPPOSED TO BE."
YOU HAVE TO BE DETERMINED.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE MOVED
BY WHAT'S NOT FAIR, YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO GET BITTER OVER
WHO DID YOU WRONG, YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO LIVE
DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF
A BAD BREAK, A DELAY,
AN UNEXPECTED CHALLENGE.
YOU MAY BE IN THE HOT WINDS
OF TESTING NOW, YOU'RE
DEALING WITH AN ISSUE IN
YOUR FAMILY, OR AT THE
OFFICE THAT COWORKER IS
LEAVING YOU OUT, GETTING
ON YOUR NERVES.
NOT ONCE BUT THIS HAS GONE
ON MONTH AFTER MONTH.
IF YOUR ROOTS DON'T GO DOWN
DEEP, IF YOU LIVE SHALLOW,
LET IT FRUSTRATE YOU,
TRY TO PAY THEM BACK,
THEN YOU'LL GET STUCK
WHERE YOU ARE.
THAT DIFFICULTY IS NOT
THERE TO DEFEAT YOU,
IT'S THERE TO PROMOTE YOU.
IF YOU'LL PASS THE TEST,
KEEP DOING THE RIGHT THING,
KEEP BEING GOOD TO PEOPLE,
KEEP LETTING GOD FIGHT YOUR
BATTLES, BECAUSE YOUR ROOTS
GO DOWN DEEP, GOD WILL NOT
ONLY TURN IT AROUND, BUT
HE'LL BRING YOU OUT BETTER.
DON'T LET THE HOT WINDS OF
TESTING CAUSE YOU TO FALL
APART.
IT MAY BE TAKING LONGER
THAN YOU THOUGHT.
YOU WERE DETERMINED AT
FIRST, YOU STOOD STRONG BUT
NOW IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME,
YOU'RE TIRED.
THOUGHTS ARE TELLING YOU,
"IT'S NEVER GOING TO WORK
OUT. YOU'LL NEVER GET WELL,
NEVER SEE YOUR FAMILY
RESTORED."
DON'T BELIEVE THOSE LIES.
THAT TEST IS NOT PERMANENT.
GOD HAS ALREADY SET AN END
TO THE DIFFICULTY. YOU
HAVE TO GET YOUR SECOND
WIND.
GOD DIDN'T BRING YOU THIS
FAR TO LEAVE YOU.
WHAT HE STARTED HE'S GOING
TO FINISH.
DIG DOWN DEEP AND KEEP
PASSING THE TEST.
KEEP THANKING HIM THAT IT'S
ON THE WAY, KEEP DECLARING
WHAT HE PROMISED.
KEEP BELIEVING WHEN YOU
DON'T SEE ANY SIGN OF IT.
STAY IN THIS ATTITUDE OF
FAITH.
"WELL JOEL I DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHY THIS
HAPPENED. I WAS BEING
MY BEST, WHY DID I HAVE
THIS BAD BREAK, WHY DID
I COME DOWN WITH THIS
ILLNESS, WHY DID THESE
PEOPLE TURN ON ME."
IT'S JUST LIFE.
BEING A PERSON OF FAITH
DOESN'T EXEMPT US FROM
DIFFICULTY, THESE TESTS
COME TO US ALL.
PAUL SAID IN EPHESIANS,
"PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR
OF GOD, SO IN THE EVIL
DAY, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
STAND, AND HAVING DONE ALL,
TO STAND."
HE DIDN'T SAY IN CASE YOU
HAVE AN EVIL DAY, MAYBE
YOU'LL HAVE SOME TROUBLE, HE
SAID PUT THE ARMOR ON SO IN
THE EVIL DAY.
HE WAS SAYING, THERE'S GOING
TO BE SOME HOT WINDS OF
TESTING.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THINGS
IN LIFE THAT CAN KNOCK THE
WIND OUT OF YOU, TAKE YOUR
JOY AND CAUSE YOU TO GIVE UP
ON YOUR DREAMS.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO PASS THE
TEST, YOUR ROOTS HAVE TO GO
DOWN DEEP.
YOU CAN'T BE WEAK, COMPLAIN,
"GOD WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?"
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MADE-UP
MIND, "I KNOW GOD IS STILL
ON THE THRONE.
I KNOW HIM BEING FOR ME IS
MORE THAN THE WORLD BEING
AGAINST ME. I'M NOT MOVED
BY WHAT'S NOT IMPROVING.
I'M NOT MOVED BY HOW UNFAIR
IT IS. I'M NOT MOVED BY
WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I KNOW WHAT WAS MEANT FOR
HARM, GOD IS TURNING TO MY
ADVANTAGE."
PAUL SAID WHEN YOU'VE DONE
EVERYTHING YOU KNOW TO DO
JUST STAND.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIGURE IT
OUT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE
THINGS HAPPEN, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO WORRY.
JUST STAND IN THE FACE OF
THE OPPOSITION, STAND WHEN
EVERY VOICE SAYS IT'S NOT
GOING TO WORK OUT, STAND
WHEN THE MEDICAL REPORT IS
NOT CHANGING, STAND WHEN
YOUR FINANCES AREN'T
IMPROVING, STAND WHEN YOUR
CHILD IS NOT MAKING GOOD
DECISIONS.
TO STAND MEANS YOU'RE NOT
MOVED BY WHAT'S NOT
CHANGING. YOU'RE NOT
COMPLAINING BECAUSE IT'S
TAKING SO LONG, YOU'RE
NOT BITTER BECAUSE YOU
HAD THE SETBACK, YOU'RE
NOT FRUSTRATED BECAUSE YOUR
PLANS DIDN'T WORK OUT.
YOU ARE STEADFAST,
IMMOVABLE, UNSHAKEABLE.
YOUR ROOTS GO DOWN DEEP.
YOU HAVE A REPORT OF
VICTORY WHEN YOU COULD
BE COMPLAINING.
YOU TALK ABOUT HEALTH WHEN
YOU'RE FIGHTING THE ILLNESS,
YOU TALK ABOUT ABUNDANCE
WHEN YOUR BUSINESS IS DOWN,
YOU TALK ABOUT OVERCOMING
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE
OVERCOME.
THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO
STAND.
YOU STAND BELIEVING, STAND
TRUSTING, STAND HOPING,
STAND EXPECTING.
IF YOU'LL STAND IMMOVABLE,
UNSHAKABLE, THEN YOU WILL
BE UNSTOPPABLE.
THOSE HOT WINDS OF TESTING
WILL NOT KEEP YOU FROM YOUR
DESTINY, THEY WILL LAUNCH
YOU INTO YOUR DESTINY.
GOD IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE,
NOT NECESSARILY THAT HAVE
GREAT FAITH BUT PEOPLE
THAT WILL SIMPLY STAND.
STAND IN THE MIDDLE OF
A PANDEMIC. NOT BITTER,
NOT DISCOURAGED BUT STAND
WITH AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH.
STAND WHEN THE PROBLEM IS
NOT TURNING AROUND, STAND
WHEN IT'S TAKING LONGER THAN
YOU THOUGHT, STAND WHEN YOUR
HEART IS BREAKING, STAND
WHEN THE BOTTOM FELL OUT.
GOD NEVER SAID WE WOULDN'T
HAVE AN EVIL DAY, A TIME
OF TROUBLE. BUT HE DID
PROMISE, IF YOU'LL JUST
STAND, HE'LL BRING YOU
OUT. IF YOU'LL STAND,
HE'LL DEFEAT YOUR ENEMIES.
IF YOU'LL STAND, HE'LL GIVE
YOU BEAUTY FOR ASHES.
IF YOU'LL STAND, JOY IS
COMING IN THE MORNING.
IF YOU'LL STAND,
THE ENEMIES YOU SEE TODAY
YOU WILL SEE NO MORE.
DON'T LET THOSE HOT WINDS
OF TESTING CAUSE YOU TO
WILT, THINK THAT GOD IS
NOT FOR YOU, "I MUST HAVE
DONE SOMETHING WRONG."
NO, YOU PROBABLY DID
SOMETHING RIGHT.
THAT'S WHY THE ENEMY IS
TRYING TO STOP YOU.
HE THOUGHT YOU WOULD FALL
APART, GET BITTER, BLAME
GOD, WHAT HE DIDN'T REALIZE
IS YOU KNOW HOW TO STAND.
YOU'RE NOT MOVED BY THE HOT
WINDS, YOU'RE NOT WORRIED
ABOUT THE MEDICAL REPORT,
YOU'RE NOT FRUSTRATED OVER
HOW LONG IT'S BEEN.
YOU'RE STEADFAST.
YOU'RE IMMOVABLE.
CAN I TELL YOU, THE ENEMY
CANNOT DEFEAT A STANDER?
HE CAN'T DEFEAT YOU WHEN YOU
STAND IN PRAISE, YOU THANK
GOD EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT
WORKING OUT.
YOU STAND IN EXCELLENCE.
YOU KEEP BEING YOUR BEST IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE TROUBLE.
YOU STAND IN FAITH.
YOU COULD BE NEGATIVE,
SOUR, BUT YOU STILL
BELIEVE GOD IS WORKING,
YOU STILL EXPECT THINGS
TO CHANGE.
YOU STILL HAVE YOUR HOPES
UP, KNOWING THAT IT COULD
TURN AROUND TODAY.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO HAVE
GREAT FAITH, I'M NOT ASKING
YOU TO FIGURE OUT A
SOLUTION, I'M SIMPLY ASKING
YOU TO STAND.
STAND UNMOVED BY WHAT YOU'RE
UP AGAINST, STAND WITH YOUR
EYES ON THE GOD WHO CREATED
THE UNIVERSE, KNOWING THAT
HE HAS THE FINAL SAY, THAT
HE'S WORKING BEHIND THE
SCENES, THAT WHAT HE
PROMISED YOU WILL COME TO
PASS.
ARE YOU IN THOSE HOT WINDS,
FACING DIFFICULTIES THAT
SEEM TOO BIG?
YOU NEVER DREAMED YOU WOULD
BE UP AGAINST THIS SICKNESS,
NEVER THOUGHT YOUR MARRIAGE
WOULD BE IN TROUBLE, NEVER
THOUGHT THAT COMPANY
WOULDN'T NEED YOU.
GOD IS SAYING, "STAND.
I'M STILL IN CONTROL.
IT'S NOT A SURPRISE TO ME."
HE ALREADY HAS THE SOLUTION.
HE'S ALREADY LINED UP THE
RIGHT PEOPLE.
THE HEALING, THE PROMOTION,
THE BREAKTHROUGHS, THEY
ARE ALREADY IN ROUTE.
HERE'S WHAT I'VE LEARNED.
I KNOW GOD IS ON MY SIDE NOT
BY THE STORMS HE'S STOPPED
BUT BY THE STORMS THAT
DIDN'T STOP ME.
YOU CAN'T JUDGE GOD'S FAVOR
BY THE STORMS HE KEPT YOU
OUT OF, BUT BY THE STORMS
HE BROUGHT YOU THROUGH.
DAVID SAID, "BY THIS I KNOW
THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE,
BECAUSE MY ENEMIES COULD
NOT TRIUMPH OVER ME."
HE WAS SAYING, "I KNOW GOD
IS ON MY SIDE BECAUSE IN
THOSE HOT WINDS OF TESTING
I JUST KEPT STANDING, DOING
THE RIGHT THING AND GOD
DEFEATED MY ENEMIES FOR ME."
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "YOU
WILL GO THROUGH THE FIRE AND
NOT BE BURNED, YOU WILL GO
THROUGH THE WATERS AND NOT
DROWN, YOU WILL GO THROUGH
THE FAMINE AND NOT GO
HUNGRY."
DON'T GET DISCOURAGED OVER
WHAT GOD IS BRINGING YOU
THROUGH. HE WON'T ALLOW
YOU TO GET IN A DIFFICULTY
THAT HE CAN'T BRING YOU
OUT OF.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, THREE
HEBREW TEENAGERS WOULDN'T
BOW DOWN TO THE KING'S
GOLDEN IDOL.
HE WAS SO UPSET HE WAS
GOING TO HAVE THEM THROWN
INTO A FIERY FURNACE.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE HOT
WINDS OF TESTING.
WHAT THEY WERE UP AGAINST
SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE.
THEY COULD HAVE PANICKED,
FALLEN APART, "GOD WE WERE
BEING OUR BEST, DOING THE
RIGHT THING, WHY DID THIS
HAPPEN?"
IT'S A TEST.
GOD ALLOWED THE DIFFICULTY
NOT TO DEFEAT THEM BUT TO
ESTABLISH THEM.
THEY SAID, "KING WE'RE NOT
GOING TO BOW DOWN, WE KNOW
OUR GOD WILL DELIVER US."
IF THEY WOULD HAVE STOPPED
THERE, WE WOULD THINK,
"THAT'S GREAT, THEY HAD
FAITH, THEY BELIEVED."
BUT WHAT THEY SAID NEXT
SHOWS US THEIR REAL
ATTITUDE. THEY SAID,
"WE KNOW GOD WILL DELIVER
US, BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN'T,
WE'RE STILL NOT GOING TO
BOW DOWN."
THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO
STAND.
YOU HAVE A MADE-UP MIND.
YOU'RE GOING TO STAY IN
FAITH WHETHER IT WORKS OUT
YOUR WAY OR NOT.
YOU'RE GOING TO TRUST GOD
WHETHER THE DOOR OPENS OR
CLOSES.
YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE HIM
PRAISE WHETHER HE TURNS IT
AROUND IN FIVE DAYS OR
FIVE YEARS.
YOUR ROOTS GO DOWN DEEP.
YOU'RE NOT MOVED BY
PEOPLE TRYING TO TALK
YOU OUT OF IT.
"I DON'T THINK YOU'LL EVER
GET WELL. MY COUSIN DIED
OF THAT SAME THING."
WHEN YOU KNOW HOW TO STAND,
YOU LET THAT GO IN ONE EAR
AND OUT THE OTHER.
YOU'RE NOT MOVED BY
OPPOSITION, BY BAD BREAKS,
BY PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT FOR
YOU.
YOU HAVE AN ATTITUDE LIKE
THESE TEENAGERS, "I KNOW GOD
IS GOING TO TURN IT AROUND
BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN'T, I'M
NOT GOING TO LIVE SOUR.
I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON
LIFE, I'M NOT GOING TO QUIT
BELIEVING."
WHEN YOU HAVE THESE DEEP
ROOTS, THE HOT WINDS OF
TESTING DON'T AFFECT YOU.
YOU'RE STABLE, CONSISTENT,
UNMOVED.
YOU KNOW NO WEAPON FORMED
AGAINST YOU IS GOING TO
PROSPER.
YOU KNOW ALL THINGS ARE
WORKING TOGETHER FOR YOUR
GOOD.
THIS KING HAD THE TEENAGERS
THROWN INTO THE FURNACE;
IT WAS SO HOT THE GUARDS
THAT THREW THEM IN WERE
INSTANTLY KILLED. THEY
SHOULD HAVE BEEN GONE,
SHOULD HAVE ENDED THEIR
LIFE, BUT GOD HAS THE
FINAL SAY.
NO PERSON CAN TAKE YOUR
LIFE, NO BAD BREAK CAN
STOP YOUR PURPOSE,
NO SICKNESS, NO ADDICTION,
NO DISAPPOINTMENT.
A LITTLE LATER THE KING
CAME TO CHECK ON THEM.
HE LOOKED THROUGH THE
FURNACE WINDOW AND SAW THAT
THEY WERE ALL STILL ALIVE.
HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
HE SAID, "DIDN'T WE THROW
THREE MEN IN BOUND?
I SEE FOUR MEN LOOSED; ONE
LOOKS LIKE THE SON OF GOD."
THOSE TEENAGERS CAME OUT
UNHARMED, WITHOUT THE SMELL
OF SMOKE.
SOMETIMES GOD WILL KEEP
YOU OUT OF THE FIRE.
OTHER TIMES HE'LL MAKE
YOU FIREPROOF AND SEND
YOU INTO THE FURNACE.
YOU MAY BE IN THE FIRE
NOW, YOU FEEL THOSE HOT
WINDS OF TESTING.
YOU NEED TO REMIND YOURSELF
LIKE THESE TEENAGERS, THOSE
FLAMES CAN'T HARM YOU, THAT
TROUBLE CAN'T TAKE YOU OUT,
THOSE PEOPLE CAN'T STOP WHAT
GOD HAS ORDAINED.
IT'S A TEST.
ARE YOU GOING TO STAND
DESPITE THE OPPOSITION, ARE
YOU GOING TO STAY IN FAITH
DESPITE THINGS NOT WORKING
OUT, ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP
BELIEVING EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE
HAD SETBACKS?
WHEN YOU CAN SAY LIKE THEM,
"EVEN IF GOD DOESN'T DO IT
MY WAY, I'M STILL NOT GOING
TO BOW DOWN.
I'M STILL NOT GOING TO LIVE
DEFEATED, I'M STILL NOT
GOING TO GIVE UP ON MY
DREAMS."
WHEN YOUR ROOTS GO DOWN
DEEP, GOD WILL MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN THAT YOU COULDN'T
MAKE HAPPEN.
YOU'LL DEFEAT GIANTS THAT
ARE MUCH BIGGER, ACCOMPLISH
DREAMS THAT SEEM IMPOSSIBLE.
THERE ARE TIMES IN LIFE
THAT WE ALL GET THROWN INTO
THE FURNACE, SO TO SPEAK.
WE'RE PRAYING, "GOD KEEP
US OUT, KEEP ME FROM THE
TROUBLE, KEEP ME FROM THE
SICKNESS."
BUT HERE'S THE KEY.
GOD CONTROLS THE THERMOSTAT.
HE WON'T LET THE FIRE GET
TOO HOT FOR YOU.
HE KNOWS HOW MUCH YOU CAN
HANDLE.
IF IT FEELS LIKE TOO MUCH
THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE
STRONGER THAN YOU THINK.
IT'S BECAUSE YOUR DESTINY
IS GREATER THAN YOU THINK.
HE'S GETTING YOU PREPARED
FOR THINGS MUCH BIGGER IN
YOUR FUTURE.
FOR FAVOR, INFLUENCE,
OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU'VE
NEVER SEEN.
DON'T WILT IN THE TROUBLE,
DIG DOWN DEEP.
IT'S NOT TOO MUCH FOR YOU.
YOU CAN HANDLE IT.
YOU'VE BEEN ARMED WITH
STRENGTH FOR THIS BATTLE.
YOU ARE FULL OF CAN-DO
POWER.
THE FORCES THAT ARE FOR YOU
ARE GREATER THAN THE FORCES
THAT ARE AGAINST YOU.
BUT NONE OF US LIKE THE
HOT WINDS OF TESTING.
IT WOULD BE MUCH EASIER IF
THINGS FELL INTO PLACE AND
WE NEVER HAD OPPOSITION,
PEOPLE WERE ALWAYS FOR US.
BUT WITHOUT THESE TIMES OF
TESTING, WHEN YOU HAVE TO
RESIST THE URGE TO QUIT,
YOU HAVE TO STRETCH YOUR
FAITH AND BELIEVE THAT
GOD IS IN CONTROL,
THEN WE WOULDN'T BECOME
WHO WE WERE CREATED TO BE.
I READ ABOUT THESE
SCIENTISTS THAT CREATED A
MINIATURE VERSION OF OUR
PLANET, IT'S CALLED THE
BIOSPHERE 2 PROJECT.
IT'S A BIG DOME THAT COST
150 MILLION DOLLARS.
THEY MADE IT TO STUDY HOW
THE EARTH FUNCTIONS AND
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW
WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
IT HAS 3,800 SPECIES OF
PLANTS AND ANIMALS INCLUDING
A RAINFOREST, A SAVANNA,
AND A DESERT.
THEY DISCOVERED THAT IN THIS
BIOSPHERE TREES GREW MUCH
FASTER THAN TREES OUTSIDE
THE DOME. THEY WERE TAKEN
ABACK AT HOW RAPIDLY THEY
GREW BUT BEFORE THE TREES
REACHED THEIR FULL HEIGHT
THEY FELL OVER;
THEY COULDN'T WITHSTAND
THEIR OWN WEIGHT.
THEY REALIZED IN THIS
BIOSPHERE THEY HADN'T
REPLICATED THE WIND.
IT WAS ALWAYS CALM AND
PEACEFUL.
NEVER ANY STRONG WINDS,
NEVER ANY STORMS.
BECAUSE THE TREES DIDN'T
HAVE TO WITHSTAND ANY WIND,
THEIR ROOTS DIDN'T DEVELOP
PROPERLY, AND THEY HAD A
DEFICIENCY IN WHAT THEY
CALL STRESS WOOD.
STRESS WOOD HELPS THE TREE
GROW STRONGER AND MORE
SOLIDLY.
WITHOUT IT, THE TREES CAN
GROW FAST, BUT THEY CAN'T
SURVIVE.
THE WIND IS ESSENTIAL FOR
THE TREE TO FLOURISH AND
BECOME WHAT IT WAS CREATED
TO BE.
IN THE SAME WAY, WITHOUT
THESE HOT WINDS OF TESTING,
WITHOUT STORMS, WITHOUT
DIFFICULTIES, OUR LIFE WOULD
BE EASIER, BUT WE WOULDN'T
DEVELOP PROPERLY.
WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CARRY
THE WEIGHT OF WHAT GOD HAS
IN STORE.
DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE
WIND, IT'S STRENGTHENING
YOU. THOSE HOT WINDS
OF TESTING CAN BE
UNCOMFORTABLE, WE DON'T
LIKE IT, BUT YOUR ROOTS
ARE GOING DOWN DEEPER.
YOU'RE DEVELOPING COURAGE,
STRENGTH, FORTITUDE.
THOSE WINDS ARE NOT THERE
TO BREAK YOU, THEY'RE
THERE TO MAKE YOU.
THEY'RE HELPING YOU BECOME
WHO YOU WERE CREATED TO BE.
WHEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
PERSPECTIVE, YOU DON'T GET
DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU FACE
CHALLENGES.
GOD COULD HAVE LEFT YOU
IN THAT BIOSPHERE,
WITH NO DIFFICULTIES,
NO OPPOSITION, YOU MAY
GROW FAST BUT YOU
WOULDN'T HAVE THE STRENGTH
FOR WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
THOSE HOT WINDS OF TESTING
ARE PREPARING YOU.
EVERY DAY YOU STAND, YOUR
ROOTS ARE GETTING STRONGER.
EVERY TIME YOU PRAISE WHEN
YOU COULD COMPLAIN, YOU'RE
DEVELOPING STRESS WOOD.
WHEN YOU KEEP DOING THE
RIGHT THING WHEN THE WRONG
THING IS HAPPENING, YOUR
CORE IS GETTING STRENGTHENED
TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF
THE BLESSING, THE WEIGHT
OF THE INFLUENCE, THE
WEIGHT OF THE ANOINTING.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT
AIRPLANES DON'T TAKE OFF
WITH THE WIND, THEY TAKE
OFF AGAINST THE WIND.
THE AIRPLANE NEEDS THE
RESISTANCE OF THE WIND TO
GET LIFT.
ARE YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT
WINDS BEING AGAINST YOU,
WHEN IN FACT GOD IS GOING
TO USE THOSE WINDS TO
GIVE YOU LIFT?
THAT CHALLENGE MAY LOOK
LIKE IT'S GOING TO STOP
YOU BUT REALLY, IT'S GOING
TO PROMOTE YOU.
DON'T GET DISCOURAGED
BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THE HOT
WINDS OF TESTING,
THAT TELLS ME YOU'RE
ABOUT TO LIFT OFF.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE
THINGS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN,
GO PLACES YOU'VE NEVER
GONE. PASS THE TEST.
KEEP STANDING.
KEEP DOING THE RIGHT THING.
THIS IS WHAT DAVID DID.
AFTER HE DEFEATED GOLIATH,
KING SAUL ASKED HIM TO COME
TO THE PALACE AND BE ONE OF
HIS ARMOR BEARERS.
WHEN SAUL WASN'T FEELING
WELL, HE'D HAVE DAVID COME
IN AND PLAY THE HARP.
DAVID WAS FAITHFUL.
HE SERVED SAUL WITH
EXCELLENCE, ALWAYS GAVE IT
HIS BEST, BUT SAUL WAS
JEALOUS OF DAVID.
HE DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT
DAVID WAS GETTING ALL THIS
RECOGNITION.
ONE DAY WHILE HE WAS PLAYING
THE HARP, SAUL THREW A SPEAR
AT DAVID, TRYING TO KILL HIM
AND BARELY MISSED.
DAVID HAD TO FLEE FOR HIS
LIFE.
HE SPENT MONTHS IN THE
DESERT ON THE RUN FROM
KING SAUL.
HERE DAVID HADN'T DONE
ANYTHING WRONG.
HE COULD HAVE SAID, "GOD
THIS ISN'T FAIR.
WHERE ARE YOU?"
BUT IN THOSE HOT WINDS OF
TESTING, DAVID KEPT DOING
THE RIGHT THING.
HE HAD A CHANCE TO KILL
SAUL, TO GET REVENGE, BUT
HE WOULDN'T DO IT.
HE KNEW SAUL WAS ANOINTED TO
BE KING AND DAVID WOULDN'T
TOUCH GOD'S ANOINTED.
AS DAVID KEPT PASSING THE
TEST, HIS ROOTS WERE GOING
DOWN DEEPER, HIS CHARACTER
WAS BEING DEVELOPED, HE WAS
SHOWING GOD WHAT HE WAS MADE
OF.
THAT'S WHAT PREPARED HIM TO
TAKE THE THRONE AND DO GREAT
THINGS.
WHEN YOU STUDY THESE HEROES
OF FAITH, ONE THING YOU'LL
FIND IS THEY ALL WENT
THROUGH THESE HOT WINDS
OF TESTING.
WHEN THE ISRAELITES WERE IN
SLAVERY, GOD TOLD MOSES TO
GO TELL PHARAOH TO LET THE
PEOPLE GO.
MOSES WENT, HE OBEYED BUT
PHARAOH SAID NO.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU DO
WHAT GOD TELLS YOU BUT IT
DOESN'T WORK?
YOU PRAY, YOU BELIEVE,
YOU'RE GOOD TO PEOPLE, YOU
TAKE THE HIGH ROAD BUT
NOTHING'S IMPROVING.
MOSES COULD HAVE BEEN SOUR,
THOUGHT, "GOD I DID MY PART.
I GOT MY COURAGE UP, BUT IT
DIDN'T HAPPEN."
HE WENT BACK AND TOLD THE
PHARAOH AGAIN AND AGAIN
AND AGAIN.
HE WAS IN THE HOT WINDS
OF TESTING.
WAS HE GOING TO GET
DISCOURAGED AND GIVE UP
BECAUSE IT WASN'T HAPPENING
THE WAY HE THOUGHT?
MAYBE YOU'VE BEEN DOING THE
RIGHT THING AGAIN AND AGAIN
AND PEOPLE AREN'T CHANGING,
THE MEDICAL REPORT IS NOT
IMPROVING, YOUR BUSINESS
IS NOT GETTING BETTER.
THIS IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO
HAVE DEEP ROOTS.
"GOD, I'M NOT MOVED BY
WHAT'S NOT CHANGING.
I'M NOT DISCOURAGED BY
WHAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
I'M NOT GOING TO WILT,
START COMPLAINING, GIVE
UP ON MY DREAMS.
I'M GOING TO KEEP STANDING.
I'M GOING TO KEEP DOING THE
RIGHT THING."
WHEN YOU PASS THE TEST LIKE
THAT, INSTEAD OF THOSE WINDS
STOPPING YOU, THEY WILL LIFT
YOU, INSTEAD OF DEFEATING
YOU, THEY WILL PROMOTE YOU.
EVEN JESUS HAD TO GO THROUGH
THESE HOT WINDS OF TESTING.
YOU WOULD THINK HE WOULD
HAVE IT EASY.
GOD WOULD SURELY FAVOR HIM,
KEEP HIM FROM OPPOSITION,
FROM BAD BREAKS.
BUT HE HAD TO PASS THESE
SAME TESTS.
PEOPLE HE LOVED WALKED AWAY.
PETER DENIED HIM, THOMAS
DOUBTED HIM, THE RELIGIOUS
LEADERS MADE FUN OF HIM.
IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE,
HE WAS OVERCOME WITH DESPAIR
SO MUCH SO THAT HE SWEAT
GREAT DROPS OF BLOOD.
WHEN HE WAS CRUCIFIED, THE
SCRIPTURE SAYS, "DARKNESS
FELL ACROSS THE WHOLE LAND
FROM THE SIXTH TO THE NINTH
HOUR."
AS HE HUNG THERE, THE SUN
REFUSED TO SHINE.
IT WAS A DARK MOMENT.
JESUS COULD HAVE CALLED DOWN
ANGELS TO RESCUE HIM.
HE COULD HAVE CALLED DOWN
FIRE FROM HEAVEN, BUT IN THE
DARK MOMENT HE DIDN'T TAKE
THE EASY WAY OUT.
IN THE DARK MOMENT, HE
DIDN'T COME DOWN OFF THE
CROSS.
YES, HE'S THE SON OF GOD
BUT HE STILL FELT THE PAIN,
HE WAS IN SO MUCH AGONY,
HE CRIED OUT, "MY GOD,
MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU
FORSAKEN ME?"
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
"HE ENDURED THE PAIN OF
THE CROSS, LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE JOY THAT WAS COMING."
HE KNEW ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE DARK MOMENT WAS A
RESURRECTION.
WE WOULD NEVER HAVE
SALVATION WITHOUT A DARK
MOMENT.
JESUS WOULD HAVE NEVER SAT
AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE
FATHER WITHOUT A DARK
MOMENT.
JOSEPH WOULD HAVE NEVER
BECOME THE PRINCE OF EGYPT
WITHOUT A DARK MOMENT, HIS
FAMILY BETRAYING HIM.
PAUL WOULD HAVE NEVER
WRITTEN HALF OF THE NEW
TESTAMENT WITHOUT A DARK
MOMENT, BEING IMPRISONED
FOR SHARING HIS FAITH.
SARAH WOULD HAVE NEVER
GIVEN BIRTH TO THE
PROMISED CHILD WITHOUT
A DARK MOMENT, BEING
BARREN FOR EIGHTY YEARS.
WHEN YOU'RE IN A DARK
MOMENT, YOU HAVE TO REMIND
YOURSELF, THAT DIFFICULTY
IS NOT THE END,
IT'S LEADING YOU TO A
RESURRECTION, TO A NEW
BEGINNING, TO SOMETHING
THAT YOU'VE NEVER SEEN.
DON'T GIVE UP IN THE DARK
MOMENT.
DON'T QUIT BELIEVING IN
THE DARK MOMENT.
DON'T STOP DOING THE RIGHT
THING IN THE DARK MOMENT.
YOU MAY FEEL LIKE GOD HAS
FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU.
EVEN JESUS ASKED WHY HE
WAS FORSAKEN.
SOMETIMES IN THE TEST
THE TEACHER IS SILENT.
YOU DON'T HEAR ANYTHING.
YOU DON'T SEE ANYTHING
IMPROVING.
BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW IN THE
DARK MOMENTS GOD STILL HAS
YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.
HE KNOWS IT'S DIFFICULT.
HE KNOWS YOU FEEL
OVERWHELMED.
HE KNOWS YOU DON'T THINK
YOU CAN GO ON.
DON'T WORRY, HELP IS ON
THE WAY.
WEEPING ENDURES FOR A
NIGHT, BUT JOY IS COMING
IN THE MORNING.
NOW KEEP STANDING.
ONE DAY AT A TIME.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW.
YOU DON'T HAVE GRACE FOR
TOMORROW.
STAND TODAY AND WHEN YOU
GET TO TOMORROW, YOU'LL
HAVE GRACE FOR THAT DAY.
IT'S SIGNIFICANT THAT THE
SCRIPTURE TELLS US DARKNESS
COVERED THE EARTH FROM THE
SIXTH TO THE NINTH HOUR.
THE WRITER WASN'T JUST
GIVING US A TIME FRAME SO WE
WOULD KNOW CHRONOLOGICALLY
WHEN IT ALL HAPPENED.
GOD WAS SHOWING US JUST AS
HE SETS A TIME FOR YOU TO
COME INTO THAT DARK MOMENT,
HE SETS A TIME FOR YOU TO
COME OUT OF IT.
CAN I TELL YOU?
YOUR NINTH HOUR IS COMING.
THE DARK MOMENTS ARE NOT
PERMANENT.
THE HOT WINDS OF TESTING
DON'T LAST FOREVER.
YOU ARE CLOSE TO SEEING
THINGS TURN AROUND.
YOU ARE CLOSE TO A
BREAKTHROUGH, CLOSE TO YOUR
HEALING, CLOSE TO MEETING
THE RIGHT PERSON, CLOSE TO
VICTORY LIKE YOU'VE NEVER
SEEN.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "THE
SUFFERING OF THIS PRESENT
TIME DOESN'T COMPARE TO THE
GLORY THAT'S COMING."
IF YOU COULD SEE WHAT GOD
HAS COMING, THE PROMOTION,
THE FAVOR, THE INFLUENCE,
YOU WOULDN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT
THAT DARK TIME.
YOU WOULD DO LIKE JESUS AND
ENDURE A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
KEEP STANDING.
KEEP HONORING GOD.
KEEP BEING GOOD TO PEOPLE.
YOUR NINTH HOUR IS ON THE
WAY.
THINGS ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE
IN YOUR FAVOR.
THE LIGHT IS ABOUT TO COME
BURSTING IN.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
SUDDENLY.
JUST AS THAT CHALLENGE CAME
UNEXPECTEDLY, GOD'S FAVOR IS
GOING TO SHOW UP
UNEXPECTEDLY.
HE'S ALREADY SET AN END TO
THE DIFFICULTY.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE YOU
ARE COMING IN TO YOUR NINTH
HOUR.
THAT DARKNESS IS ABOUT TO
LIFT, THE HOT WINDS OF
TESTING ARE ABOUT TO
SUBSIDE.
I SPEAK STRENGTH INTO YOU,
HEALING, FAVOR, PROMOTION,
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 LIKE TO GIVE YOU SOME
FREE INFORMATION ON YOUR
NEW WALK WITH THE LORD.
JUST TEXT THE NUMBER ON THE
SCREEN OR GO TO THE WEBSITE.
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.
> JOEL: THANKS FOR
WATCHING THIS
MESSAGE. I HOPE
YOU ENJOYED IT.
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> VICTORIA: LET US
KNOW IN THE
COMMENTS BELOW HOW
THIS MESSAGE HAS
ENCOURAGED YOU.
WE WOULD LOVE TO
HEAR FROM YOU.
WE'RE PRAYING FOR
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
WE'LL SEE YOU
NEXT TIME!
