JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU.
IT'S A JOY TO COME INTO
YOUR HOMES.
WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY FOR GOD'S VERY
BEST.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THIS MINISTER.
HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD
WHEN HE GOT PULLED OVER BY A
POLICEMAN.
THE OFFICER CAME UP TO THE
WINDOW AND SMELLED ALCOHOL.
HE SAW A THERMOS AND SAID,
“SIR, WHAT ARE YOU
DRINKING?”
THE MINISTER SAID,
“JUST WATER, OFFICER.”
HE ASKED TO SEE THE THERMOS.
HE TOOK ONE SNIFF AND SAID,
“IT SMELLS LIKE WINE TO ME.”
THE MINISTER SAID, “WHAT
DO YOU KNOW! JESUS DID
IT AGAIN.”
COME ON, HOLD UP YOUR
BIBLE, 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 “YOU HAVE THE CURE”.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE
FACE WITH THIS CORONAVIRUS
IS THERE ARE NO ANTIBODIES.
WE'VE NEVER SEEN THIS STRAIN
OF VIRUS SO THERE IS NO
REMEDY YET.
RESEARCHERS ARE WORKING
TIRELESSLY TO DEVELOP A
VACCINE.
MOST REPORTS SAY IT'S
GOING TO TAKE A YEAR OR
MORE.
WITHOUT A CURE WE'RE AT
THE MERCY OF THE VIRUS.
A FRIEND OF MINE IS A
PHYSICIAN THAT SPECIALIZES
IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
HE SAID THERE ARE DISEASES
THAT HE TREATED THIRTY YEARS
AGO THAT HE DOESN'T SEE
TODAY.
BECAUSE WE FOUND THE
ANTIDOTE, BECAUSE VACCINES
AND ANTIBODIES WERE
DEVELOPED.
WHAT USED TO HARM US
DOESN'T HARM US ANYMORE.
ONCE YOU HAVE THE CURE YOU
DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF
THE DISEASE.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THESE
VIRUSES THAT YOU CAN'T SEE
WITH A MICROSCOPE?
GUILT, FEAR, DEPRESSION,
ADDICTIONS.
SOME VIRUSES YOU CAN'T TREAT
WITH A PHYSICAL VACCINE.
THERE ARE POISONS THAT CAN
INFECT OUR THINKING, OUR
SELF-ESTEEM.
IF WE ONLY HAD AN ANTIDOTE
TO DEAL WITH THE GUILT FROM
OUR PAST MISTAKES.
THE TIMES WE FAILED, DIDN'T
MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.
NOW WE GO AROUND IN REGRETS,
DOWN ON OURSELVES.
IF WE ONLY HAD THE CURE
FOR THE HURTS,
THE DISAPPOINTMENTS,
THE UNFAIR CHILDHOOD.
NOW WE'RE TEMPTED TO LIVE
BITTER, INSECURE,
NO PASSION.
THE GOOD NEWS IS TWO
THOUSAND YEARS AGO THE
ANTIDOTE WAS DEVELOPED FOR
EVERYTHING THAT WILL COME
AGAINST YOU.
NOT BY A LEADING SCIENTIST,
NOT BY A TEAM OF RESEARCHERS
BUT BY THE SON OF THE LIVING
GOD.
WHEN JESUS WENT TO THE
CROSS HE TOOK ON OUR GUILT,
OUR SHAME, OUR FAILURES.
HE NOT ONLY BORE OUR SINS
BUT HE TOOK OUR SICKNESSES.
BEFORE HE WAS CRUCIFIED, HE
WAS BEATEN WITH 39 STRIPES
ON HIS BACK.
STUDIES TELL US THERE ARE 39
MAJOR CATEGORIES OF DISEASE.
HE TOOK ONE STRIPE FOR EACH
ONE.
THAT'S WHY IT SAYS, “BY HIS
STRIPES YOU WERE HEALED”.
WE ARE NOT AT THE MERCY OF
FEAR, DEPRESSION,
ADDICTIONS.
WE HAVE THE CURE.
THE MOST HIGH GOD IS
BREATHING IN OUR DIRECTION.
HIM BEING FOR YOU IS MORE
THAN THE WORLD BEING AGAINST
YOU.
DON'T LET THE FEAR, THE
GUILT, THE DEPRESSION HOLD
YOU DOWN.
TAKE THE ANTIDOTE.
“FATHER THANK YOU THAT I AM
FORGIVEN, I AM REDEEMED,
I AM FREE, I AM HEALTHY AND
WHOLE.”
WHEN THOUGHTS TELL YOU,
“YOU'RE JUST AVERAGE.
THERE'S NOTHING SPECIAL
ABOUT YOU.”
IF YOU DWELL ON THAT POISON,
IT WILL INFECT YOUR
THINKING.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR
MEDICINE.
“I AM FEARFULLY AND
WONDERFULLY MADE."
"I'M WEARING A CROWN OF
FAVOR."
"I HAVE ROYAL BLOOD FLOWING
THROUGH MY VEINS.”
PROVERBS SAYS, “GOD'S WORD
IS LIKE A MEDICINE.”
WHEN YOU MEDITATE ON IT,
IT BRINGS HEALING AND
WHOLENESS.
WHEN THOUGHTS WHISPER,
“YOU'LL ALWAYS STRUGGLE
IN YOUR FINANCES.
THIS SLOW-DOWN IS GOING TO
RUIN YOUR BUSINESS.”
DON'T LET THAT VIRUS
TAKE ROOT.
“FATHER THANK YOU THAT THE
ECONOMY IS NOT MY SOURCE,
BUT YOU ARE MY SOURCE.
YOU SAID YOU WOULD PROSPER
ME EVEN IN THE DESERT.”
YOU HAVE THE CURE.
NOW MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE
TAKING YOUR MEDICINE.
ONE TIME THE ISRAELITES HAD
TURNED AGAINST GOD.
THEY STARTED WORSHIPPING
IDOLS, THEY ENDED UP EXILED
FROM THEIR OWN LAND AND
BROUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY IN
BABYLON.
IT WAS THEIR OWN FAULT,
THEY HAD BROUGHT THE
TROUBLE ON THEMSELVES.
THE PROPHET JEREMIAH WAS
VERY DISCOURAGED.
HE ASKED, “IS THERE NO BALM
IN GILEAD? IS THERE NO
PHYSICIAN THAT CAN HELP US?”
HE WAS SAYING, “GOD, IS
THERE NO CURE? IS THERE
NO REMEDY FROM THIS VIRUS
THAT WE'VE LET INFECT US?”
HE LIKENED IT TO BEING
BIT BY POISONOUS SNAKES.
THE TRUTH IS WE'VE ALL BEEN
BITTEN BY SOMETHING.
BITTEN BY GUILT, BITTEN BY
FEAR, BITTEN BY REJECTION.
HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THE
VENOM?
HOW DO WE GET RID OF THE
POISON AND NOT LET IT STOP
OUR DESTINY?
I READ ABOUT HOW THEY
DEVELOPED ANTI-VENOM FOR
SNAKE BITES.
YEARS AGO AFTER MUCH
RESEARCH, SCIENTISTS TOOK
SOME OF THE POISONOUS VENOM
FROM THE SNAKE AND INJECTED
IT INTO HORSES.
THE HORSE WOULD NATURALLY
DEVELOP ANTIBODIES THAT THEY
COULD THEN REMOVE AND USE IT
AS SERUM FOR SOMEONE THAT
WAS BITTEN BY A SNAKE.
BUT OVER TIME THEY REALIZED
THAT THE ANTI-VENOM FROM THE
BLOOD OF HORSES WASN'T
WORKING FAST ENOUGH IN
PEOPLE, MANY WERE LOSING
THEIR LIVES.
THEY NEEDED AN ANTI-VENOM
THAT WAS MORE POWERFUL,
MORE EFFECTIVE.
THEY TESTED MANY ANIMALS AND
FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT THE
BLOOD OF A LAMB PRODUCED THE
MOST EFFECTIVE ANTI-VENOM.
UNLIKE THE BLOOD OF A HORSE,
WHEN THE SHEEP WAS INJECTED
WITH THE POISONOUS VENOM,
THE ANTIBODIES IT CREATED
WORKED MUCH FASTER IN PEOPLE
AND PRODUCED A MUCH STRONGER
AND MORE POWERFUL
ANTI-VENOM.
A FEW YEARS AGO THEY
DISCOVERED SHEEP IN SOUTH
AUSTRALIA PRODUCED SOME OF
THE MOST EFFECTIVE ANTIBODY
THAN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
IT'S BECAUSE THOSE SHEEP ARE
IN A PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT
WHERE THEY ARE FREE FROM
DISEASE THAT TYPICALLY
EFFECT OTHER SHEEP.
THE FACT THAT THESE SHEEP
ARE SO HEALTHY AND HAVE SUCH
PURE BLOOD, THAT'S WHY THEY
CREATE THE MOST POWERFUL
ANTI-VENOM.
THINK BACK TO THE GARDEN OF
EDEN.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE
SEE A POISONOUS SNAKE.
THE ENEMY IS CALLED A
SERPENT.
HE BIT ADAM AND EVE, NOT
PHYSICALLY BUT IN THEIR
THINKING.
HE DECEIVED THEM AND THEY
BECAME POISONED.
THEY ATE THE FORBIDDEN
FRUIT.
THEY DID WRONG AND OPENED
THE DOOR TO TROUBLE.
ALL OF THE SUDDEN THEY WERE
AFRAID, THEY REALIZED THEY
WERE NAKED.
THEY RAN AND HID.
FEAR CAME IN, GUILT, SHAME,
HEARTACHE.
GOD HAD TO COME UP WITH A
PLAN TO DEAL WITH THE VENOM
THAT HAD POISONED MANKIND.
HE NEEDED TO CREATE AN
ANTI-VENOM BUT IT HAD TO BE
SOMETHING INCREDIBLY
POWERFUL.
THAT MEANT IT HAD TO COME
FROM THE PUREST BLOOD, THE
MOST EFFECTIVE SOURCE.
GOD DIDN'T CHOOSE THE BLOOD
OF A HORSE, HE DIDN'T CHOOSE
THE BLOOD OF A GOAT.
HE DIDN'T CHOOSE THE BLOOD
OF ANOTHER ANIMAL.
THIS TIME HE CHOSE THE BLOOD
OF HIS ONLY SON.
THE FIRST TIME JOHN THE
BAPTIST SAW JESUS, HE SAID,
“BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD
WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN
OF THE WORLD.”
JESUS WASN'T JUST ANY LAMB.
HE WAS THE SINLESS, SPOTLESS
LAMB OF GOD.
THAT'S WHY HIS ANTI-VENOM
IS MORE POWERFUL THAN ANY
POISON THAT COMES AGAINST
YOU.
THE ENEMY WILL TRY TO
POISON YOU WITH DOUBT.
“IT'S NEVER GOING TO WORK
OUT.”
POISON YOU WITH FEAR,
“WHAT IF YOU CATCH THAT
VIRUS?”
POISON YOU WITH INSECURITY,
“YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
NOBODY WANTS TO BE AROUND
YOU.”
THAT POISON CANNOT KEEP YOU
FROM YOUR DESTINY.
IT IS NO MATCH FOR THE
ANTI-VENOM CREATED BY THE
MOST HIGH GOD.
QUIT TELLING YOURSELF YOU'VE
MADE TOO MANY MISTAKES,
LIVING GUILTY AND CONDEMNED.
TAKE YOUR ANTIBODY.
“FATHER THANK YOU THAT YOUR
MERCY IS BIGGER THAN MY
MISTAKES.
THANK YOU THAT WHAT YOU
STARTED IN MY LIFE YOU WILL
FINISH.”
YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE GOD'S
MERCY AND MOVE FORWARD.
YOU CAN'T REACH YOUR DESTINY
IF YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING
BACK.
NOTHING YOU'VE DONE IS A
SURPRISE TO GOD.
HE KNEW EVERY MISTAKE YOU
WOULD MAKE, EVERY FAILURE.
YOU CAN STILL GET TO WHERE
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BUT
YOU HAVE TO SHAKE OFF THE
GUILT AND MOVE AHEAD.
WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH
FEAR, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY,
DON'T JUST ACCEPT IT AND
THINK, “I'LL ALWAYS STRUGGLE
IN THIS AREA.”
TAKE YOUR MEDICINE.
“FATHER THANK YOU THAT I AM
FREE, THAT I HAVE THE MIND
OF CHRIST, I HAVE PEACE THAT
PASSES UNDERSTANDING.”
LIES WILL TELL YOU,
“WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH
IS PERMANENT, THERE'S
NO SOLUTION. YOU'LL NEVER
GET WELL, YOU'LL NEVER
BREAK THAT ADDICTION.”
JUST SAY, “NO THANKS,
I KNOW THE BLOOD OF
THE LAMB IS MORE POWERFUL
THAN THE VENOM OF ANY
SNAKE.”
YES THERE ARE TIMES THAT
WE GET BIT, THINGS HAPPEN
WE DIDN'T SEE COMING.
YOU HAVE TO REMIND YOURSELF
GOD IS NOT UP IN HEAVEN
LOOKING FOR A CURE, HOPING
THAT VIRUS DOESN'T DEFEAT
YOU, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO.
HE'S ALREADY CREATED THE
CURE.
TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO HE
DEFEATED THE ENEMY ONCE AND
FOR ALL.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “HE
RENDERED HIM POWERLESS.”
ONE VERSION SAYS,
“HE BROUGHT HIM TO NAUGHT.”
NAUGHT MEANS ZERO.
THE ENEMY HAS NO POWER
OVER YOU.
HE CAN'T KEEP YOU FROM
YOUR PURPOSE.
THE ONLY WAY HE CAN STOP YOU
IS IF YOU START BELIEVING
HIS LIES.
“GOD'S NOT GOING TO BLESS
YOU, LOOK AT THE MISTAKES
YOU'VE MADE."
"YOU'LL NEVER ACCOMPLISH
YOUR DREAMS, YOU'VE HAD
TOO MANY BAD BREAKS.”
DON'T LET THAT POISON KEEP
YOU FROM THE AWESOME
FUTURE GOD HAS IN STORE.
START TAKING THE ANTI-VENOM.
GOD HASN'T BROUGHT YOU
THIS FAR TO LEAVE YOU.
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE
A WAY, DOESN'T MEAN GOD
DOESN'T HAVE A WAY.
RIGHT NOW HE'S WORKING
BEHIND THE SCENES IN YOUR
LIFE.
YOU WOULDN'T BE ALIVE IF
HE DIDN'T HAVE SOMETHING
AMAZING IN FRONT OF YOU.
WHY DO YOU THINK THE ENEMY'S
TRYING TO STOP YOU?
HE DOESN'T BOTHER PEOPLE
THAT ARE NOT A THREAT.
HE WOULDN'T WASTE HIS TIME
ON YOU IF HE DIDN'T KNOW YOU
WERE A WORLD CHANGER, A
HISTORY MAKER, THAT YOU HAVE
SEEDS OF GREATNESS.
HE KNOWS GOD IS ABOUT TO
OPEN DOORS BIGGER THAN
YOU'VE DREAMED.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO STEP IN TO
NEW LEVELS OF YOUR DESTINY.
DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU
GET A FEW SNAKE BITES SO
TO SPEAK.
A FRIEND WALKS AWAY, THE
COMPANY DOESN'T NEED YOU
ANYMORE, AN UNEXPECTED
ILLNESS.
THAT POISON CAN CAUSE YOU TO
GET INFECTED, LIVE WORRIED,
GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS, OR
YOU CAN TAKE THE ANTI-VENOM.
“GOD I KNOW YOU'RE STILL ON
THE THRONE."
"I KNOW NO WEAPON FORMED
AGAINST ME IS GOING TO
PROSPER."
"I'M NOT GOING TO JUST COME
OUT, I'M GOING TO COME OUT
BETTER THAN I WAS BEFORE.”
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY
THAT LOST HER FATHER TO
AN ILLNESS. THEY WERE
VERY CLOSE, SPENT A LOT
OF TIME TOGETHER.
SHE WAS SO DEVASTATED,
SO HEARTBROKEN.
SHE HAD BEEN BIT SO TO SPEAK
BY SOMETHING SHE NEVER SAW
COMING.
SHE COULD HAVE BECOME
BITTER, SOUR, LET THAT
POISON THE REST OF HER LIFE,
BUT SHE BELIEVED GOD WAS
STILL IN CONTROL.
IT WASN'T EASY BUT SHE KEPT
MOVING FORWARD.
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH LOSS AND
THINGS THAT KIND OF KNOCK
THE WIND OUT OF YOU, IT'S
TEMPTING TO GIVE UP ON LIFE,
THINK THAT YOU'VE SEEN YOUR
BEST DAYS.
THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE TO DIG
DOWN DEEP AND SAY, “FATHER
THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE
BEAUTY FOR THESE ASHES.
YOU SAID WEEPING ENDURES FOR
A NIGHT BUT JOY COMES IN THE
MORNING.
THANK YOU THAT THERE GOOD
DAYS UP AHEAD.”
EVERY DAY YOU MAKE THIS
CHOICE TO STAY IN FAITH,
TO HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE
WHEN IT'S NOT FAIR,
TO BELIEVE WHEN NOTHING IS
IMPROVING, YOU CAN'T SEE IT
BUT GOD IS WORKING BEHIND
THE SCENES.
HE'S MAKING THINGS HAPPEN
THAT YOU COULDN'T MAKE
HAPPEN.
AS A PART OF THE HEALING
PROCESS, EVERY DAY THIS
YOUNG LADY TEXTED HER
FATHER'S NUMBER AND TOLD
WHAT WENT ON THAT DAY AND
WHAT SHE WAS FEELING.
IT WAS HER WAY OF STAYING
CLOSE TO HER FATHER.
SHE TOLD HIM HOW SHE HAD
OVERCOME CANCER, HOW SHE HAD
FINISHED COLLEGE AND
GRADUATED WITH HONORS.
NOT JUST THE GOOD THINGS,
SHE TEXTED ABOUT THE
BOYFRIEND THAT BROKE HER
HEART AND SOME OF THE OTHER
CHALLENGES SHE HAD FACED.
ALL THE WHILE, SHE THOUGHT
SHE WAS DOING THIS JUST TO
HELP HER HEAL, TO HELP HER
MOVE FORWARD.
BUT ON THE FOURTH
ANNIVERSARY OF HER FATHER'S
DEATH, THE YOUNG LADY
RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THE
NUMBER SHE HAD BEEN TEXTING.
SHE THOUGHT IT WAS NO LONGER
WORKING.
BUT THE TEXT SAID, “MY NAME
IS BRAD. THREE YEARS AGO,
I LOST MY DAUGHTER IN A
CAR ACCIDENT. YOUR TEXTS
EVERYDAY HAVE BEEN WHAT'S
KEEPING ME GOING.”
HE WENT ON TO TELL HER
HOW PROUD HE WAS OF HER,
HOW PROUD HER FATHER
WOULD BE.
THE YOUNG LADY SAID THAT WAS
HER SIGN THAT EVERYTHING WAS
OKAY; THAT SHE COULD LET HER
FATHER REST IN PEACE.
TODAY SHE'S MOVING FORWARD
AND DOING GREAT THINGS.
WHEN LIFE THROWS US A CURVE
IT'S EASY TO TAKE THE VENOM,
GO AROUND POISONED, WITH A
CHIP ON OUR SHOULDER.
IF YOU KEEP MOVING FORWARD
GOD WILL GIVE YOU BEAUTY FOR
THOSE ASHES.
HE DIDN'T BRING YOU THIS FAR
TO LEAVE YOU.
THAT LOSS, THE
DISAPPOINTMENT, THE BAD
BREAK DIDN'T STOP HIS PLAN.
HE HAS YOU IN THE PALM OF
HIS HAND.
THERE ARE GREAT DAYS UP
AHEAD.
DON'T LET THAT POISON STAY
IN YOU.
TAKE THE ANTI-VENOM.
BELIEVE THAT GOD IS IN
CONTROL AND THAT YOUR LATTER
DAYS WILL BE BETTER THAN
YOUR FORMER DAYS.
IN NUMBERS 21, THE
ISRAELITES WERE IN THE
DESERT HEADED TOWARD THE
PROMISED LAND.
GOD HAD GIVEN THEM VICTORY
OVER DIFFERENT ARMIES,
PARTED THE RED SEA, FREED
THEM FROM SLAVERY, BUT THEY
GOT TIRED OF TRAVELING
THROUGH THE DESERT.
THEY BEGAN TO COMPLAIN AND
BE DISGRUNTLED.
THEY SAID, “MOSES THERE'S
NOTHING GOOD TO EAT OUT
HERE. WE CAN'T STAND THIS
MANNA ANYMORE. WHY DID YOU
BRING US TO THE DESERT
TO DIE? LET'S JUST GO
BACK TO EGYPT AND BE
SLAVES AGAIN.”
THEY STARTED TALKING BAD
ABOUT MOSES, STIRRING UP
TROUBLE.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“POISONOUS SNAKES CAME INTO
THEIR CAMP AND MANY OF THEM
WERE BITTEN AND DIED.”
AFTER ALL GOD HAS DONE
FOR US, WHEN WE'RE TEMPTED
TO COMPLAIN AND BE
DISCONTENT, THAT'S SHAKY
GROUND.
HERE GOD WAS GIVING THEM
MANNA EACH MORNING,
SUPERNATURALLY PROVIDING
FOOD IN THE DESERT BUT THEY
WERE FINDING FAULT.
THE NEXT VERSE SAYS, “THEY
CAME RUNNING BACK TO MOSES
AND SAID, “MOSES WE HAVE
SINNED.” IT'S FUNNY HOW
QUICKLY THEIR ATTITUDE
CHANGED.
TROUBLE HAS A WAY OF HELPING
US HAVE THE RIGHT
PERSPECTIVE.
THEY WENT ON TO SAY, “MOSES
PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL
TAKE AWAY THESE SNAKES.”
ONE MOMENT THEY WERE
TALKING BAD ABOUT MOSES,
THE NEXT MOMENT THEY WERE
ASKING HIM TO PRAY FOR THEM.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE A
LEADER, IF GOD IS GOING TO
TRUST YOU WITH INFLUENCE,
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PRAY
FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE
CRITICIZING YOU THE DAY
BEFORE.
YOU HAVE TO BE GOOD TO
SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T DESERVE
YOUR GOODNESS.
I'M SURE MOSES WAS TEMPTED
TO SAY, “YEAH, I WOULD LOVE
TO PRAY FOR YOU, GOD SEND
MORE SNAKES, GET RID OF THE
REST OF THEM.”
IF YOU'RE GOING TO PASS
THE TEST, YOU HAVE TO
SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE AND
DO THE RIGHT THING EVEN
THOUGH THEY DON'T DESERVE
IT.
IT'S INTERESTING WHAT GOD
TOLD MOSES TO DO.
HE SAID, “MAKE A BRONZE
SNAKE, PUT IT UP ON A POLE,
AND EVERYONE THAT LOOKS UP
AT THE SNAKE WILL BE
HEALED.”
WHY WOULD HE CHOOSE
A SNAKE? THAT'S WHAT THEY
WERE TRYING TO GET RID OF.
YOU WOULD THINK GOD WOULD
SAY MAKE BRONZE DOVE, OR
MAKE A BRONZE ARK OF THE
COVENANT.
BUT GOD TOOK THE VERY THING
THAT WAS THE PROBLEM AND
TURNED IT INTO THE SOLUTION.
THAT'S WHAT THE SCRIPTURE
SAYS, “WHAT THE ENEMY MEANT
FOR HARM, GOD WILL TURN TO
YOUR ADVANTAGE.”
THE SNAKES DIDN'T STOP
BITING THEM, THEY WEREN'T
FREE FROM TROUBLE, BUT
FROM THEN ON, ANYONE WHO
LOOKED UP AT THAT BRONZE
SNAKE WAS HEALED.
YEARS LATER, JESUS WAS
TALKING TO NICODEMUS, HE
SAID IN JOHN 3, “JUST AS
MOSES LIFTED UP THE SNAKE
ON A POLE IN THE WILDERNESS,
SO I, THE SON OF MAN WILL
BE LIFTED UP ON A POLE.
AND EVERYONE THAT LOOKS UP
AND BELIEVES IN ME WILL HAVE
ETERNAL LIFE.”
MOSES HAVING THE BRONZE
SNAKE ON A POLE, WAS
FORESHADOWING JESUS
DYING ON THE CROSS.
BUT THE SNAKE REPRESENTS
EVIL, JESUS REPRESENTS GOOD.
HOW COULD THAT BE?
PAUL SAID IN 2 CORINTHIANS,
“JESUS BECAME SIN FOR US, SO
THAT WE COULD BECOME THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.”
HE BECAME WHAT HE WASN'T,
SO WE COULD BECOME WHO
WE WERE CREATED TO BE.
ON THAT CROSS JESUS TOOK ALL
OF OUR FAILURES, ALL OF OUR
SHAME, OUR GUILT.
NOW WHOEVER LOOKS UP TO THE
SON AND BELIEVES IN HIM WILL
LIVE.
MY QUESTION IS WHAT ARE YOU
LOOKING AT?
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES?
HOW BIG THE PROBLEM IS?
“THIS VIRUS HAS ME SO
WORRIED.”
YOU NEED TO LOOK UP.
THERE'S HEALING WHEN YOU
LOOK UP.
THERE'S FREEDOM WHEN YOU
LOOK UP.
THERE'S VICTORY WHEN YOU
LOOK UP, THERE'S SALVATION
WHEN YOU LOOK UP.
DON'T GO THROUGH LIFE
LOOKING DOWN, THINKING,
“THIS PROBLEM IS TOO BIG,
IT'S NEVER GOING TO WORK
OUT, I'VE BEEN THROUGH TOO
MUCH.”
GET A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
THE FORCES THAT ARE FOR YOU
ARE GREATER THAN THE FORCES
THAT ARE AGAINST YOU.
YOU MAY HAVE BEEN BITTEN BY
MISTAKES, BITTEN BY DIVORCE,
BITTEN BY HURTS, BUT THAT IS
NOT HOW YOUR STORY ENDS.
THAT POISON DOESN'T HAVE THE
FINAL SAY.
GOD IS SAYING, “LOOK UP.”
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR BEST
DAYS.
HEALING IS COMING, PROMOTION
IS COMING, THE RIGHT PEOPLE
ARE COMING.
“WELL, JOEL, SOUNDS GOOD,
BUT I'VE MADE A LOT OF
MISTAKES.”
JOIN THE CROWD. WE ALL
HAVE.
LOOK UP, THERE'S
FORGIVENESS.
LOOK UP, THERE'S MERCY.
LOOK UP, THERE'S ANOTHER
CHANCE.
LOOK UP, THERE'S A GOD THAT
DOESN'T GIVE UP ON YOU.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “THE
CALLING ON YOUR LIFE IS
IRREVOCABLE.”
“WELL, I'VE GONE THROUGH
LOSS, I'VE HAD BAD BREAKS,
MY RELATIONSHIP DIDN'T
WORK OUT.”
LOOK UP, THERE ARE NEW
BEGINNINGS.
LOOK UP, THERE ARE DIVINE
CONNECTIONS.
LOOK UP, THERE IS BEAUTY
FOR THOSE ASHES.”
AFTER JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED,
TWO WOMEN WENT TO THE TOMB
EARLY EASTER MORNING TO
ANOINT HIS BODY.
THEY NOTICED THE HUGE STONE
TO THE ENTRANCE WAS ROLLED
AWAY.
THEY WERE PUZZLED.
THEY WENT IN AND SAW A YOUNG
MAN WEARING A BRIGHT WHITE
ROBE, SITTING NEXT TO WHERE
THE BODY SHOULD BE.
THEY DIDN'T REALIZE HE WAS
AN ANGEL.
THEY STOOD THERE IN AWE,
KNOWING SOMETHING SPECIAL
WAS HAPPENING.
THE ANGEL SAID, “DON'T BE
AMAZED. YOU ARE LOOKING
FOR JESUS, HE IS NOT HERE,
HE HAS RISEN.”
THE ANGEL WAS SAYING
IN EFFECT, “YOU HAVE GOOD
INTENTIONS, BUT YOU'RE
LOOKING TOO LOW.
YOU'RE LOOKING FROM A
NATURAL POINT OF VIEW.
YOU NEED TO LOOK UP.”
WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO
IN YOUR LIFE IS NOT GOING
TO BE ORDINARY.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
LIKE IT HAPPENED FOR YOUR
RELATIVES, THOSE THAT YOU
GREW UP WITH, YOU'RE GOING
TO STAND OUT.
YOU'RE GOING TO BREAK MOLDS,
YOU'RE GOING TO SET NEW
STANDARDS.
WHERE GOD IS TAKING YOU NO
ONE IN YOUR FAMILY HAS GONE.
NOW DON'T HAVE A SMALL
VISION.
DON'T GO AROUND LOOKING LOW,
THINKING YOU'VE REACHED YOUR
LIMITS.
GOD IS ABOUT TO DO A NEW
THING, SOMETHING THAT YOU
HAVEN'T SEEN.
HE'S GOING TO OPEN DOORS YOU
NEVER DREAMED WOULD OPEN,
TAKE YOU PLACES THAT YOU
COULDN'T GO ON YOUR OWN.
IN ACTS 28, THE APOSTLE PAUL
WAS A PRISONER IN ROUTE TO
ROME TO STAND BEFORE CAESAR.
THE BOAT HE WAS SAILING ON
ENCOUNTERED A HUGE STORM
AND BROKE APART.
HE AND THE CREW GRABBED
PIECES OF THE BOAT AND
SWAM TO THE SHORE.
THEY WERE ON A SMALL ISLAND
NAMED MALTA.
WHEN PAUL WENT TO GATHER
WOOD TO BUILD A FIRE, A
POISONOUS SNAKE BIT HIS ARM.
HERE PAUL HAD JUST SURVIVED
A SHIPWRECK, HE JUST DEFIED
THE ODDS, NOW THE FIRST
THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THIS
VENOMOUS VIPER LATCHED TO
HIS ARM AND RELEASED THE
POISON.
PAUL DIDN'T PANIC, HE DIDN'T
FALL APART, HE SIMPLY SHOOK
THE SNAKE OFF AND WENT ABOUT
HIS BUSINESS.
THE LOCAL PEOPLE KNEW
EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
THEY HAD SEEN THIS AGAIN
AND AGAIN.
PAUL WAS GOING TO SWELL UP,
GET SICK AND SUDDENLY DIE.
THEY THOUGHT, “TOO BAD,
HE'LL BE GONE IN A LITTLE
WHILE.”
AN HOUR WENT BY, HE WAS
FINE, TWO HOURS NOTHING
WRONG, EIGHT HOURS STILL
HEALTHY.
VERSE 6 SAYS, “WHEN THEY
WAITED A LONG TIME AND SAW
THAT NO HARM CAME TO HIM,
THEY DECIDED PAUL WAS A
GOD. THEY WEREN'T FAR OFF,
HE WAS A SON OF GOD.
YES THERE WILL BE TIMES THAT
WE GET BIT IN LIFE, BIT BY A
SICKNESS, BIT BY A DIVORCE,
BIT BY A LOSS.
THINGS HAPPEN WE DIDN'T SEE
COMING, BUT LIKE WITH PAUL
THAT POISON IS NOT GOING TO
HAVE ANY EFFECT ON YOU.
YOU HAVE THE ANTI-VENOM.
WHAT STOPS OTHERS IS NOT
GOING TO STOP YOU.
THE MOST HIGH GOD IS PUSHING
BACK FORCES OF DARKNESS.
HE'S ORDERING YOUR STEPS.
MAKING CROOKED PLACES
STRAIGHT. WHAT HE'S
PURPOSED FOR YOUR LIFE
WILL COME TO PASS.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “GOD
DESTROYED THE WORKS OF THE
ENEMY.”
THAT WORD DESTROYED IN THE
ORIGINAL LANGUAGE MEANS,
“TO NOT HAVE ITS INTENDED
PURPOSE.”
WHEN THE SNAKE BITES AND
RELEASES THAT VENOM,
ITS PURPOSE IS TO TAKE
YOU OUT.
YOU SHOULD SWELL UP, GET
SICK AND DIE LIKE EVERYONE
ELSE, BUT BECAUSE GOD
DESTROYED THE WORKS OF THE
ENEMY IT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE
ITS INTENDED PURPOSE.
THE SICKNESS CAME TO MY
MOTHER IN 1981, ITS PURPOSE
WAS TO END HER LIFE, BUT IT
DIDN'T HAVE ITS INTENDED
PURPOSE.
GOD HAS THE FINAL SAY.
NOTHING CAN SNATCH YOU OUT
OF HIS HANDS.
WHEN MY FATHER WENT TO BE
WITH THE LORD IN 1999, THE
ENEMY INTENDED FOR LAKEWOOD
TO GO DOWN, FADE AWAY, HAVE
NO MORE IMPACT.
BUT THAT LOSS DIDN'T HAVE
ITS INTENDED PURPOSE.
GOD HAD ANOTHER PLAN, THAT
WE WOULD EXPAND, REACH MORE
PEOPLE AND HAVE GREATER
INFLUENCE.
DON'T GET DISCOURAGED WHEN
NEGATIVE THINGS COME.
WE CAN'T PRAY AWAY ALL THE
DIFFICULTIES, BUT WHEN YOU
REALIZE IT'S NOT GOING TO
HAVE ITS INTENDED PURPOSE,
THEN YOU CAN STAY IN FAITH.
THE DIVORCE, THAT BETRAYAL,
THAT SLOWDOWN IN THE ECONOMY
SHOULD SOUR YOUR LIFE, BUT
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE WHAT
IT LOOKS LIKE.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT
YOU LIKE THEY DID PAUL, AND
THINK HOW ARE THEY THRIVING
WHEN THEY SHOULD BE
SURVIVING.
HOW IS SHE SO BLESSED AFTER
GOING THROUGH THAT ROUGH
CHILDHOOD?
HOW IS HE STILL SO STRONG,
HAPPY, SUCCESSFUL AFTER THAT
BAD BREAK IN HIS BUSINESS?
IT'S BECAUSE WHAT THE ENEMY
SENT TO STOP YOU IS NOT
GOING TO HAVE ITS INTENDED
PURPOSE.
WHEN THAT SNAKE BITES, DON'T
PANIC, DON'T FALL APART,
JUST SHAKE IT OFF AND KEEP
MOVING FORWARD.
KEEP THANKING GOD THAT HE'S
FIGHTING YOUR BATTLES.
KEEP THANKING HIM THAT WHAT
WAS MEANT FOR HARM, HE'S
TURNING TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
I READ SOMETHING INTERESTING
ABOUT A HONEY BEE.
IT'S ONE OF THE FEW BEES
THAT WHEN IT STINGS, IT
LEAVES ITS STINGER.
IT JUST HAS ONE STING AND
THEN IT'S DONE.
THE NEXT TIME IT GOES TO
STING THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
IT'S LIKE HAVING A GUN WITH
ONE BULLET, A BOXER WITH ONE
PUNCH.
YOU BETTER MAKE IT COUNT
BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR ONLY
CHANCE.
TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO, THE
ENEMY CAME AGAINST JESUS,
WHAT HE DIDN'T REALIZE, IS
LIKE THAT HONEY BEE, HE ONLY
HAD ONE CHANCE.
HE DID HIS BEST TO DEFEAT
JESUS.
HE WAS CRUCIFIED ON THE
CROSS.
JESUS BREATHED HIS LAST
BREATH AND DIED.
IT LOOKED LIKE THE STING WAS
SUCCESSFUL.
SATAN WAS REJOICING,
THINKING HE HAD WON, BUT ON
THE THIRD DAY JESUS CAME OUT
OF THE GRAVE.
HE SAID, “I WAS DEAD BUT
I'M ALIVE FOREVER MORE AND
I HAVE THE KEYS TO DEATH
AND HELL.”
THE GOOD NEWS IS THE
ENEMY DOESN'T HAVE HIS
STINGER ANYMORE.
HE TRIED HIS BEST BUT HIS
BEST WAS NOT ENOUGH.
THAT'S WHY PAUL SAID, “OH
DEATH WHERE IS YOUR STING,
OH GRAVE WHERE IS YOUR
VICTORY?”
WE CAN LIVE FROM A PLACE
OF FAITH KNOWING THAT GOD
HAS REMOVED THE STINGER
FROM THE ENEMY.
HE HAS RENDERED HIM
POWERLESS.
WHAT HE BRINGS AGAINST YOU
IS NOT GOING TO HAVE ITS
INTENDED PURPOSE.
THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB IS
GREATER THAN ANY POISON
THAT'S TRYING TO STOP YOU.
NOW, PUT YOUR SHOULDERS
BACK, HOLD YOUR HEAD UP
HIGH.
THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IN
THE UNIVERSE IS BREATHING
IN YOUR DIRECTION.
FRIENDS, YOU HAVE THE CURE.
NOW, GET UP EVERY MORNING
AND TAKE YOUR MEDICINE.
DWELL ON WHAT GOD SAYS
ABOUT YOU.
IF YOU'LL DO THIS, I BELIEVE
AND DECLARE CHAINS THAT HAVE
HELD YOU BACK ARE BEING
BROKEN, FAVOR IS COMING,
HEALING IS COMING, PROMOTION
IS COMING, THE FULLNESS OF
YOUR DESTINY, IN JESUS'
NAME.
WELL, 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 GIVE YOU SOME
INFORMATION ON YOUR NEW WALK
OF FAITH.
JUST TEXT THE NUMBER ON THE
SCREEN.
LET ME CHALLENGE YOU: GET
INTO A GOOD BIBLE-BASED
CHURCH AND KEEP GOD FIRST
PLACE.
> JOEL: THANKS FOR
WATCHING THIS
MESSAGE. I HOPE
YOU ENJOYED IT.
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> VICTORIA: LET US
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THIS MESSAGE HAS
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WE WOULD LOVE TO
HEAR FROM YOU.
WE'RE PRAYING FOR
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
WE'LL SEE YOU
NEXT TIME!
