JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU!
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU
TODAY. IF YOU'RE EVER IN
OUR AREA, PLEASE STOP BY AND
BE A PART OF ONE OF OUR
SERVICES. WE WOULD LOVE
TO HAVE YOU.
I HOPE YOU'LL STAY CONNECTED
WITH US THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD OUR DAILY
PODCAST. WE HAVE A YOUTUBE
CHANNEL; WATCH THE MESSAGES
ANYTIME. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
MEDIA. WE'LL KEEP YOU
ENCOURAGED AND INSPIRED.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR TUNING
IN. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
COMING OUT IN PERSON.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY. I HEARD
ABOUT THIS ELDERLY LADY.
SHE WAS AT THE STORE AND
ACCIDENTALLY LOCKED HER KEYS
IN THE CAR. SHE HAD A COAT
HANGER, SHE WAS TRYING AND
TRYING, BUT SHE COULDN'T GET
IT OPEN. SHE PRAYED AND ASKED
GOD TO HELP HER.
ABOUT THAT TIME, THIS GUY
PULLS UP ON A MOTORCYCLE,
ROUGH LOOKING, DRESSED IN
LEATHER, TATTOOS, A SKULL
CAP. FIFTEEN SECONDS LATER,
HE HAD THE CAR OPEN.
SHE HUGGED HIM AND SAID,
"LORD, THANK YOU FOR SENDING
ME THIS NICE MAN."
HE SAID, "LADY, I'M NOT A
NICE MAN. I JUST GOT OUT OF
PRISON FOR AUTO THEFT."
SHE HUGGED HIM AGAIN AND
SAID, "LORD, THANK YOU,
YOU EVEN SENT ME A
PROFESSIONAL."
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 YOUR DESTINY OUTWEIGHS
YOUR HISTORY.
IF YOU ADD UP THE NEGATIVE
THINGS IN YOUR PAST AND PUT
THEM ON A SCALE, AT TIMES IT
WOULD BE WAY OUT OF BALANCE.
THE NEGATIVE IS MUCH
HEAVIER.
YOU'RE DEALING WITH AN
ILLNESS, YOU WENT THROUGH A
LOSS, YOU HAD A SETBACK IN
YOUR FINANCES.
IT'S EASY TO LOOK AT WHAT
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH AND GET
DISCOURAGED, LOSE OUR
PASSION.
THE PROBLEM IS YOU'RE ONLY
WEIGHING YOUR HISTORY.
YOU'RE ONLY LOOKING AT THE
NEGATIVE THINGS THAT HAVE
HAPPENED.
WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE IS WHAT
GOD HAS IN YOUR FUTURE.
HE WOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED THE
DIFFICULTY IF IT WAS GOING
TO LEAVE YOU IN A DEFICIT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE
PROPER ASSESSMENT, YOU HAVE
TO PUT NOT JUST YOUR HISTORY
ON THE SCALES, YOU HAVE TO
PUT YOUR DESTINY.
THERE ARE THINGS IN YOUR
FUTURE, GOD HAS ALREADY
ORDAINED FOR YOU, PROMOTION,
HEALING, DIVINE CONNECTIONS.
THEY'RE NOT JUST GOING TO
TIP THE SCALE, BUT THEY'RE
GOING TO FAR OUTWEIGH THE
DISAPPOINTMENT, THE PAIN,
THE LOSS.
THIS IS WHERE FAITH HAS TO
KICK IN.
"I'M AT A DEFICIT RIGHT NOW,
I'VE GONE THROUGH THIS
STRUGGLE, I'VE HAD A
SETBACK, I'M NOT DENYING
THAT.
BUT I KNOW THIS, GOD IS
STILL ON THE THRONE, WHAT HE
HAS IN MY FUTURE IS GOING TO
FAR SURPASS WHAT I'M DEALING
WITH NOW."
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "JESUS
ENDURED THE PAIN OF THE
CROSS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
JOY THAT WAS COMING."
WHEN HE WAS BEING MOCKED BY
THE SOLDIERS, BEATEN WITH
WHIPS, NAILED ON THE CROSS.
HE WAS AT A DEFICIT.
IT LOOKED LIKE THE ENEMY GOT
THE BEST OF HIM.
PEOPLE THOUGHT IF HE IS WHO
HE REALLY SAID HE IS, HE
WOULD COME DOWN OFF THAT
CROSS.
HE WOULDN'T BE UP THERE
DEFEATED.
ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES SAID
HE WAS DONE.
BUT GOD HAS THE FINAL SAY.
HE WON'T LET YOU GET IN A
PROBLEM THAT HE CAN'T BRING
YOU OUT OF.
THE ODDS MAY BE AGAINST YOU,
BUT THE MOST HIGH GOD IS FOR
YOU.
ON THE CROSS, JESUS SAID,
"MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU
FORSAKEN ME?"
THERE WILL BE TIMES WHERE IT
FEELS LIKE GOD HAS FORGOTTEN
ABOUT YOU.
"WHY DID THIS BAD BREAK
HAPPEN, WHY DID THIS PERSON
LEAVE, WHY DID THE PANDEMIC
HIT AND SLOW MY BUSINESS
DOWN?"
IF YOU JUDGE YOUR LIFE BY
WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW,
YOU'LL GET DISCOURAGED, GIVE
UP ON DREAMS.
IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE ONLY
PUTTING YOUR HISTORY ON THE
SCALE.
YOU'RE WAY OUT OF BALANCE.
WHAT YOU'RE MISSING IS
WHAT'S COMING.
YOU HAVE TO ENDURE SOME
THINGS LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE JOY THAT'S ON THE WAY.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT GOD IS
STILL ON THE THRONE, THAT
HE'S ORDERING YOUR STEPS,
THAT WHAT HE STARTED HE'S
GOING TO FINISH.
NO BAD BREAK CAN STOP HIM,
NO PERSON, NO PANDEMIC, NO
LOSS, NO SICKNESS.
HE SEES WHAT'S NOT FAIR.
HE SEES WHAT DIDN'T WORK
OUT, THE LONELY NIGHTS, THE
TIMES YOU FEEL FORGOTTEN.
THE PSALMIST SAID, "WEEPING
MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT, BUT
JOY IS COMING IN THE
MORNING."
JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS, THE
FORCES OF DARKNESS
CELEBRATED, THOUGHT THEY HAD
FINALLY WON.
BUT ON THE THIRD DAY, GOD
SAID, "I DON'T THINK SO.
MY SON IS NOT GOING TO END
IN A DEFICIT."
HE AROSE AND IS ALIVE WITH
ALL POWER.
THE POINT IS HE HAD TO GO
THROUGH SOME THINGS TO
FULFILL HIS PURPOSE.
I'D RATHER GOD MAKE IT EASY,
JUST FLOAT THROUGH LIFE,
WITH ALL GOOD BREAKS BUT
THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
YOU CAN'T BECOME ALL YOU
WERE CREATED TO BE WITHOUT
OPPOSITION, THINGS YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND, PEOPLE THAT TURN
ON YOU, TIMES IT LOOKS LIKE
YOU'RE DONE.
THE WAY TO ENDURE IS TO KEEP
REMINDING YOURSELF THAT WHAT
GOD HAS IN YOUR FUTURE IS
NOT JUST GOING TO MAKE UP
FOR WHAT YOU'VE BEEN
THROUGH, NOT JUST BRING YOU
BACK TO EVEN, BUT GOD IS
GOING TO BRING YOU OUT
BETTER.
INCREASED, PROMOTED,
HEALTHIER, TO NEW LEVELS OF
YOUR DESTINY.
HE'S DESIGNED YOUR LIFE TO
WHERE THE GOOD THINGS IN
YOUR FUTURE WILL OUTWEIGH
THE NEGATIVE THINGS IN YOUR
PAST.
THE SCRIPTURE PUTS IT THIS
WAY, GOD IS TAKING YOU FROM
GLORY TO GLORY.
THE PATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS
GETS BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER.
HE ALREADY HAS A SOLUTION TO
THE PROBLEM THAT'S HOLDING
YOU BACK.
HE'S ALREADY ARRANGED
RESTORATION FOR THAT LOSS, A
NEW BEGINNING FOR THAT
SETBACK, PROMOTION FOR THAT
INJUSTICE.
IT'S ALREADY ON THE
SCHEDULE.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE YOU SEE THE SCALES
TIP IN YOUR FAVOR.
WHEN THOSE LIES COME SAYING,
"GOD HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT
YOU.
IT'S NEVER GOING TO WORK
OUT.
YOU'VE SEEN YOUR BEST DAYS."
JUST SAY, "NO THANKS, I KNOW
A SECRET, THIS MAY BE
DIFFICULT, IT'S NOT FAIR,
BUT THIS IS NOT HOW MY STORY
ENDS.
FAVOR IS IN MY FUTURE, GOOD
BREAKS ARE HEADED MY WAY,
THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE
TRACKING ME DOWN."
THERE'S A LADY IN THE
SCRIPTURE NAMED NAOMI.
SHE WAS MARRIED WITH TWO
SONS.
THEY LEFT HER HOMETOWN OF
BETHLEHEM BECAUSE OF A
FAMINE AND MOVED TO THE CITY
OF MOAB.
THEY FOUND FOOD AND A NICE
PLACE TO LIVE.
LIFE WAS GOOD BUT THEN
NAOMI'S HUSBAND UNEXPECTEDLY
DIED.
SHE BECAME A WIDOW.
IF THAT WASN'T HARD ENOUGH,
A FEW YEARS LATER, BOTH OF
HER SONS DIED.
SHE WAS SO HEARTBROKEN, SHE
DECIDED TO MOVE BACK HOME.
SHE TOLD HER TWO
DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW, ORPAH AND
RUTH, THAT SHE WAS LEAVING
AND THAT THEY SHOULD MOVE ON
AND FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO
MARRY.
ORPAH KISSED NAOMI GOODBYE
AND WENT HER WAY, BUT RUTH
SAID, "NO, I'M GOING
WHEREVER YOU GO.
I'M GOING TO STAY WITH YOU
AND HELP TAKE CARE OF YOU."
WE ALL FACE THESE UNEXPECTED
CHALLENGES, THINGS WE DIDN'T
SEE COMING, WHERE OUR SCALES
GET WAY OUT OF BALANCE.
IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS
PRINCIPLE THAT GOD IS GOING
TO MAKE YOUR DESTINY
OUTWEIGH YOUR HISTORY, THAT
HE'S GOING TO MAKE UP FOR
THE UNFAIR THINGS, THAT THE
LOSS, THE BAD BREAK, THE
DISAPPOINTMENT IS NOT GOING
TO STOP YOUR PURPOSE, THEN
YOU'LL GET BITTER, YOU'LL
GIVE UP ON DREAMS AND LIVE
SOUR.
THIS IS WHAT NAOMI DID.
WHEN SHE GOT BACK HOME,
PEOPLE SAID, "NAOMI, WE'RE
SO GLAD TO SEE YOU."
SHE SAID, "DON'T CALL ME
NAOMI, CALL ME MARA."
NAOMI MEANS MY JOY.
MARA MEANS BITTER.
SHE WAS SAYING, "THERE'S
NOTHING JOYFUL ABOUT MY
LIFE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN
THROUGH?"
SHE SAID IN VERSE 21,
"I LEFT BETHLEHEM FULL, BUT
I CAME HOME EMPTY."
THERE ARE TIMES THAT LIFE
DEALS US SUCH A BLOW THAT WE
FEEL EMPTY.
WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO
GIVE.
WE STARTED OUT GOOD, WE WERE
PASSIONATE, PURSUING DREAMS
BUT WE LOST A LOVED ONE, THE
BUSINESS DIDN'T MAKE IT, AN
UNEXPECTED ILLNESS.
NOW WE FEEL EMPTY.
THE BEAUTY OF OUR GOD IS
HE'S NOT GOING TO LEAVE YOU
EMPTY.
HE KNOWS WHEN LIFE HAS BEEN
UNFAIR.
HE KNOWS WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL
LIKE YOU CAN GO ON.
HE COMES TO THE EMPTY
PLACES.
HE HAS STRENGTH FOR THE
WEARY, FRESH VISION, FRESH
ANOINTING.
EVEN NOW, GOD IS BREATHING
ON YOUR LIFE.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO COME OUT OF
THAT EMPTY PLACE.
THINGS ARE SHIFTING IN YOUR
FAVOR.
NEW DOORS ARE ABOUT TO OPEN,
THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE ABOUT
TO SHOW UP.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A SIGN
OF GOD'S GOODNESS LETTING
YOU KNOW THAT HE'S ABOUT TO
TIP THE SCALES.
THEY MAY BE OUT OF BALANCE
NOW BUT HE'S NOT FINISHED.
HE HAS SOMETHING COMING
THAT'S GOING TO FAR OUTWEIGH
THE LOSS, THE HEARTACHE, THE
DISAPPOINTMENT.
NAOMI'S DAUGHTER-IN-LAW,
RUTH, WOULD GO OUT INTO THE
FIELDS EACH MORNING AND PICK
UP THE LEFTOVER WHEAT.
THAT'S HOW THEY SURVIVED.
ONE DAY, THE OWNER OF THAT
FIELD, A MAN NAMED BOAZ,
TOLD HIS WORKERS TO LEAVE
HANDFULS OF WHEAT ON THE
GROUND ON PURPOSE FOR RUTH.
NOW SHE CAME BACK IN A
FRACTION OF THE TIME WITH
MORE WHEAT THAN EVER.
I CAN HEAR NAOMI SAYING,
"RUTH, WHAT HAPPENED?
WHERE DID YOU GET ALL THIS
WHEAT?
HOW DID YOU GET HOME SO
FAST?"
RUTH SAID, "I DON'T KNOW, IT
WAS JUST LAYING THERE,
WAITING ON THE GROUND."
NAOMI HAD BEEN THROUGH GREAT
HEARTACHE, SHE WAS AT AN
EMPTY PLACE BUT NOTICE HOW
GOD BEGAN TO WORK, FAVORING
HER, CAUSING PEOPLE THAT SHE
HAD NEVER MET TO BE GOOD TO
HER.
BOAZ ENDED UP FALLING IN
LOVE WITH RUTH AND THEY GOT
MARRIED.
THEY HAD A BABY THAT THEY
NAMED OBED.
NAOMI WAS SO EXCITED.
WHEN SHE SAW THAT LITTLE
BOY, SHE FELT THIS NEW SENSE
OF PURPOSE.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "THE
WOMEN OF THE TOWN REJOICED,
AND SAID TO NAOMI, GOD HAS
GIVEN YOU ANOTHER SON.
MAY THIS CHILD RESTORE YOUR
YOUTH."
NAOMI TOOK CARE OF HIM LIKE
HE WAS HER OWN SON.
A FEW YEARS EARLIER, SHE WAS
EMPTY, SHE WAS BITTER, SHE
THOUGHT SHE'D SEEN HER BEST
DAYS, SHE NEVER DREAMED
SHE'D BE THIS HAPPY, THIS
FULFILLED.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO TIP THE
SCALES, HOW TO TAKE WHAT WAS
MEANT FOR HARM AND TURN IT
TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
YOU MAY BE AT AN EMPTY
PLACE, YOU DON'T SEE HOW YOU
COULD EVER BE HAPPY AGAIN.
IF NAOMI WERE HERE, SHE
WOULD TELL YOU THAT'S NOT
HOW YOUR STORY ENDS.
GOD HAS THINGS IN YOUR
FUTURE BETTER THAN YOU'VE
IMAGINED.
YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND IT
RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT FAIR,
TRUST HIM.
IT'S ALL A PART OF HIS PLAN.
HE'S GOING TO BRING YOU TO A
BLESSED PLACE, WHERE YOU'RE
MORE FULFILLED, MORE
REWARDED THAN YOU'VE EVER
BEEN.
WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT IS, THIS
WASN'T JUST ANY BABY.
OBED WAS THE GRANDFATHER OF
DAVID.
OUT OF DAVID'S FAMILY LINE,
CAME JESUS.
NAOMI'S DISAPPOINTMENTS,
HAVING TO MOVE BACK HOME,
THAT WAS ALL A PART OF GOD'S
PLAN.
SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR
SAVIOR BEING BORN.
AT THE TIME SHE
COULDN'T SEE IT.
SHE FELT EMPTY, SHE GOT
BITTER, BUT GOD WAS STILL IN
CONTROL.
HE WAS STILL ORDERING HER
STEPS, CAUSING BOAZ TO SEE
RUTH, HAVING NAOMI HELP
RAISE THAT LITTLE BOY.
NAOMI NEVER DREAMED
THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER WE
WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT HER.
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH
DISAPPOINTMENTS, LOSS, IF
YOU COULD ONLY SEE HOW GOD
IS GOING TO MAKE IT UP TO
YOU.
IF YOU ONLY KNEW THE DOORS
HE'S GOING TO OPEN, THE
PEOPLE HE'S GOING TO BRING,
THEN IN THOSE TIMES THAT YOU
COULD STAY BITTER, INSTEAD
YOU'D STAY IN FAITH.
YOU COULD GIVE UP ON YOUR
DREAMS, BUT YOU'LL KEEP ON
BELIEVING.
YOU COULD LIVE DEFEATED, BUT
YOU'LL LIVE PASSIONATE,
EXPECTING GOD'S FAVOR.
ONE REASON NAOMI GOT BITTER
IS SHE KEPT TELLING HERSELF
THE WRONG THING.
SHE SAID, "I'M EMPTY.
I HAVE NOTHING TO GIVE.
I'VE SEEN MY BEST DAYS."
SHE WAS FOCUSED ON WHAT SHE
LOST, WHAT DIDN'T WORK OUT,
HOW IT WASN'T FAIR.
HER OWN THOUGHTS WERE
DEFEATING HER.
WHAT YOU'RE TELLING YOURSELF
IN DIFFICULT TIMES WILL MAKE
YOU OR BREAK YOU.
YOU MAY FEEL EMPTY BUT DON'T
GO AROUND ANNOUNCING IT.
TELLING EVERYONE YOU'RE
BROKE, DEFEATED, ADDICTED,
LONELY, THAT'S NOT HELPING
YOU.
THOSE WORDS ARE GOING OUT OF
YOUR MOUTH AND RIGHT BACK
INTO YOUR OWN SPIRIT.
EVERY TIME YOU SAY IT, IT'S
BECOMING MORE OF A REALITY.
THAT'S WHY THE SCRIPTURE
SAYS, "LET THE WEAK SAY I'M
STRONG.
LET THE POOR SAY I'M WELL
OFF.
LET THE ADDICTED SAY I'M
FREE.
LET THOSE THAT HAVE GONE
THROUGH BAD BREAKS SAY GOOD
THINGS ARE IN MY FUTURE."
I'M NOT SAYING TO DENY THE
FACTS, JUST DON'T LET THE
FACTS HAVE THE LAST WORD.
SAY WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT YOU.
"I FEEL EMPTY, BUT I BELIEVE
FULLNESS IS COMING, FAVOR IS
COMING, HEALING IS COMING."
WHEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
PERSPECTIVE, YOU CAN STAY IN
FAITH EVEN WHEN LIFE IS NOT
FAIR.
YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD EVEN
WHEN YOU SHOULD BE STUCK.
OFTEN, IT'S NOT THE STORMS
THAT DEFEAT US, IT'S HOW WE
RESPOND TO THE STORMS.
THERE IS COLLATERAL DAMAGE
WE CAN AVOID, IF WE DON'T
ADD TO STORM BY GETTING
BITTER, GIVING UP ON OUR
DREAMS.
WHEN DIFFICULTIES COME YOU
HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHAT
YOU'RE TELLING YOURSELF.
IT'S EASY TO GET IN
AGREEMENT WITH THE LIES,
"IT'S ALL DOWNHILL FROM
HERE.
YOU'LL NEVER BE HAPPY, LOOK
WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH."
NAOMI KEPT REPEATING HER
PAIN, "I WENT OUT FULL BUT
NOW I'M EMPTY, I LOST MY
SONS, I LOST MY HUSBAND."
WHAT SHE WAS SAYING WAS
TRUE, BUT THIS IS WHERE
FAITH HAS TO KICK IN.
"YES, I'VE BEEN THROUGH
LOSS, BUT I KNOW GOD STILL
HAS A PURPOSE FOR ME, THAT
THERE ARE STILL GOOD THINGS
IN MY FUTURE."
PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU'RE
TELLING YOURSELF.
ONE THING NAOMI DID RIGHT IS
SHE KEPT MOVING FORWARD.
WHEN SHE LOST HER SONS SHE
SAID, "I'M GOING TO MOVE
BACK HOME."
SHE WAS SAYING IN EFFECT,
"I'M NOT STAYING IN THIS
SORROW.
I'M LETTING GO OF THE OLD
AND MOVING ON TO THE NEW."
DON'T GET STUCK IN WHAT
DIDN'T WORK OUT.
YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND IT,
BUT GOD WOULDN'T HAVE
ALLOWED IT IF IT WAS GOING
TO STOP YOUR PURPOSE.
DON'T PUT A QUESTION MARK
WHERE GOD PUT A PERIOD.
IF YOU PRAYED, YOU BELIEVED,
YOU DID YOUR BEST AND YOUR
LOVED ONE DIDN'T MAKE IT,
THE DOOR CLOSED, THE FRIEND
WALKED AWAY, ACCEPT IT AS
GOD'S WILL AND MOVE FORWARD.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "NAOMI
RETURNED TO BETHLEHEM AT THE
START OF THE BARLEY
HARVEST."
IF SHE HAD STAYED IN MOAB,
IN SELF-PITY, SHE WOULD HAVE
MISSED THE HARVEST SEASON.
IT WASN'T A COINCIDENCE THAT
SHE WAS MOVING BACK HOME IN
A TIME OF ABUNDANCE.
DON'T MISS YOUR HARVEST
BECAUSE YOU'RE STUCK ON WHO
HURT YOU, WHAT YOU DIDN'T
GET.
"MY SCALE IS WAY OUT OF
BALANCE, JOEL.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT."
MOVE FORWARD, THERE'S A
HARVEST WAITING FOR YOU.
GOD HAS ALREADY ORDAINED THE
GOOD BREAKS.
HE'S ALREADY SPOKEN TO THE
WORKERS TO LEAVE YOU
HANDFULS ON PURPOSE.
BOAZ IS ALREADY WATCHING FOR
YOU; YOU JUST HAVE TO GET
THERE.
IT MAY NOT BE PHYSICALLY
BUT, IN YOUR MIND, YOU NEED
TO PACK UP AND LEAVE.
NO MORE DWELLING ON THE
HEARTACHE, LIVING BITTER,
NOTHING GOOD IS IN FRONT OF
ME.
THE PROBLEM IS YOU'RE STILL
IN MOAB.
MOAB IS THE DEFEAT.
MOAB IS THE THINGS THAT
WEREN'T FAIR, THE THINGS YOU
DON'T UNDERSTAND.
YOU HAVE TO GET TO
BETHLEHEM.
THAT'S WHERE THE HARVEST IS.
THAT'S WHERE GOD IS NOT JUST
GOING TO MAKE IT UP TO YOU,
NOT JUST TIP THE SCALES BUT
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HIM SHOW
OUT IN YOUR LIFE, DO
SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE NEVER
SEEN.
THIS IS WHAT MY FATHER HAD
TO DO.
IN THE 1950'S, HE'D BEEN
PASTORING A CHURCH FOR MANY
YEARS.
EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT,
IT WAS GROWING, THEY HAD
JUST BUILT A BEAUTIFUL NEW
SANCTUARY.
HE WAS ON THE STATE BOARD
FOR HIS DENOMINATION.
HIS FUTURE LOOKED VERY
BRIGHT.
MY SISTER, LISA, WAS BORN
WITH SOMETHING LIKE CEREBRAL
PALSY.
THE DOCTORS TOLD MY PARENTS
SHE WOULD PROBABLY NEVER BE
ABLE TO WALK OR FEED
HERSELF.
THEY WERE DEVASTATED.
MY FATHER WENT TO A HOTEL
DOWNTOWN TO GET ALONE FOR A
FEW DAYS AND PRAY.
HE READ THE SCRIPTURE LIKE
HE WAS READING IT FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
HE SAW HOW GOD IS A HEALER
AND HOW HE WANTS US TO LIVE
AN ABUNDANT, VICTORIOUS
LIFE.
HE CAME BACK AND TOLD HIS
CONGREGATION, THOUGHT THEY
WOULD ALL BE SO EXCITED, BUT
THEY DIDN'T LIKE HIS NEW
MESSAGE OF FAITH AND
VICTORY.
IT DIDN'T FIT INTO THEIR
TRADITION.
LONG STORY SHORT, HE HAD TO
LEAVE THE CHURCH.
LIFELONG FRIENDS NEVER SPOKE
TO HIM AGAIN.
MY FATHER WAS AT AN EMPTY
PLACE.
HE CAME IN FULL, PASSIONATE;
THINGS WERE GROWING BUT NOW,
NO JOB, LITTLE GIRL NOT
WELL.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE
EMPTY?
WHEN LIFE THROWS YOU A
CURVE?
WHEN THE SCALES ARE OUT OF
BALANCE?
THOUGHTS ARE TELLING YOU,
"YOU'VE SEEN YOUR BEST
DAYS."
GOD SAYS, "WHEN YOU'RE
EMPTY, COME TO ME.
I'M STILL IN CONTROL.
I'M STILL ORDERING YOUR
STEPS.
I'M NOT GOING TO LEAVE YOU
OUT OF BALANCE."
THE PSALMIST SAID, "IN HIS
PRESENCE IS FULLNESS OF
JOY."
YOU MAY BE EMPTY NOW, BUT
FULLNESS IS COMING.
MY FATHER DIDN'T DO WHAT
NAOMI DID.
HE DIDN'T GET BITTER.
HE DIDN'T GIVE UP ON HIS
DREAMS.
HE WAS HURTING BUT HE KNEW
IT WASN'T A SURPRISE TO GOD.
HE AND MY MOTHER PRAYED FOR
GOD TO HEAL LISA, LITTLE BY
LITTLE, SHE GOT BETTER.
AT A YEAR OLD, SHE LIFTED
HER HEAD FOR THE FIRST TIME,
SOMETHING THE DOCTORS SAID
SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO.
TODAY SHE'S PERFECTLY
HEALTHY AND WHOLE.
89 YEARS OLD, STILL GOING
STRONG! (LAUGHTER)
MY FATHER DIDN'T SIT
━I'M NOT GOING TO LOOK AT
HER━MY FATHER DIDN'T SIT
AROUND IN SELF-PITY.
HE AND MY MOTHER FOUND AN
OLD RUNDOWN FEED STORE, THIS
LITTLE BUILDING.
ON MOTHER'S DAY IN 1959 THEY
STARTED LAKEWOOD WITH NINETY
PEOPLE.
THE SCALES WERE WAY OUT OF
BALANCE, REJECTED BY HIS
FORMER CHURCH, YEARS OF HARD
WORK, NOTHING TO SHOW FOR
IT, BUT GOD KNOWS HOW TO
MAKE IT UP TO YOU.
SOME OF THE DOORS THAT CLOSE
THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND,
THE PEOPLE THAT DO US WRONG,
THE CHALLENGES THAT COME OUT
OF NOWHERE, WE CAN'T SEE IT
AT THE TIME, BUT IT'S ALL A
PART OF GOD'S PLAN.
HAD MY FATHER NOT LEFT THAT
CHURCH, HE WOULD HAVE NEVER
SEEN LAKEWOOD.
HE WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN THE
FAVOR AND GROWTH THAT HE
DID.
THOSE SCALES THAT WERE WAY
OUT OF BALANCE ON THE
NEGATIVE, ON HIS HISTORY,
THEY WENT TO WAY OUT OF
BALANCE ON THE GOOD, FAVOR,
PROMOTION, INFLUENCE LIKE
HE'S NEVER DREAMED.
YOUR DESTINY IS GOING TO
OUTWEIGH YOUR HISTORY.
KEEP MOVING FORWARD, KEEP
DOING THE RIGHT THING, KEEP
HONORING GOD AND YOU'RE
GOING TO COME INTO YOUR
BETHLEHEM.
THE HARVEST SEASON IS
ALREADY IN PROGRESS.
YOU'RE GOING TO WALK INTO
BLESSINGS, RESTORATIONS, NEW
OPPORTUNITIES, HEALING THAT
GOD HAS ALREADY PREPARED.
IT'S NOT AT THE PLACE OF
SORROW, THE PLACE OF LOSS,
THE PLACE OF HEARTACHE,
LEAVE THAT PLACE AND MOVE ON
TO THE NEW THINGS GOD HAS IN
STORE.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, THE
PROPHET SAMUEL CHOSE A YOUNG
MAN NAMED SAUL TO BE THE
NEXT LEADER OF ISRAEL.
SAUL WAS TALL, STRONG, GOOD
LOOKING, HE LOOKED LIKE A
KING.
I CAN IMAGINE HOW PROUD
SAMUEL WAS OF SAUL.
THAT HE TOOK TIME TO MENTOR
HIM, TEACH HIM TO LEAD WITH
WISDOM AND EXCELLENCE.
SAUL STARTED OFF GOOD, HE
DEFEATED ARMIES, RESCUED THE
ISRAELITES.
BUT OVER TIME SAUL GOT OFF
COURSE.
HE STARTED COMPROMISING AND
NOT MAKING GOOD DECISIONS.
FINALLY, GOD TOLD SAMUEL
THAT HE WAS REJECTING SAUL
AS THE KING.
SAMUEL WAS SO DISAPPOINTED;
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THAT HE
WEPT AND WEPT.
LIKE NAOMI, HE WAS AT AN
EMPTY PLACE.
HE HAD POURED HIS HEART AND
SOUL INTO SAUL, HE HAD
PRAYED FOR HIM AND TAKEN HIM
UNDER HIS WING.
NOW IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS
ALL A WASTE OF TIME.
SAMUEL WAS SITTING AROUND
DISCOURAGED, IN SELF-PITY.
IN 1 SAMUEL 16, GOD SAID,
"SAMUEL HOW LONG ARE YOU
GOING TO MOURN OVER SAUL?"
GOD IS ASKING US, HOW LONG
ARE YOU GOING TO MOURN OVER
WHAT YOU'VE LOST?
HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO BE
DISCOURAGED OVER THE
RELATIONSHIP THAT DIDN'T
WORK OUT, THE POSITION THAT
YOU DIDN'T GET, THE LOVED
ONE THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT?
THE PROBLEM WITH CONTINUING
TO MOURN, IS IT WILL KEEP
YOU FROM GOING TO BETHLEHEM,
IT WILL KEEP YOU FROM THE
HARVEST THAT'S ALREADY IN
PROCESS, FROM THE NEW THINGS
THAT GOD HAS IN STORE.
YES, THERE'S A TIME FOR
MOURNING, BUT YOU CAN'T LET
A SEASON OF MOURNING TURN
INTO A LIFETIME OF MOURNING.
GOD TOLD SAMUEL, "FILL YOUR
HORN WITH OIL AND BE ON YOUR
WAY.
I AM SENDING YOU TO THE
HOUSE OF JESSE.
I HAVE CHOSEN ONE OF HIS
SONS TO BE THE NEXT KING."
I CAN IMAGINE SAMUEL
THINKING, "GOD, SAUL IS
STILL ON THE THRONE, HE'S
TECHNICALLY STILL IN CHARGE.
YOU'RE TELLING ME TO ANOINT
MY FUTURE, WHILE MY PAST IS
STILL ON THE THRONE?
YOU'RE TELLING ME TO START
OVER IN A FEED STORE, WITH
NINETY PEOPLE?
YOU'RE TELLING ME TO GO BACK
TO BETHLEHEM?
I JUST WANT TO STAY HERE IN
MOAB.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH TOO MUCH."
ARE YOU WAITING FOR GOD TO
CHANGE THINGS, WHILE GOD IS
WAITING FOR YOU TO ANOINT
YOUR FUTURE?
THAT MEANS, YOU'RE NOT
SEEING ANYTHING HAPPENING,
BUT YOU'RE BELIEVING, YOU'RE
DECLARING, WALKING BY FAITH
NOT BY SIGHT.
"THE MEDICAL REPORT DOESN'T
LOOK GOOD, BUT I KNOW GOD IS
RESTORING HEALTH BACK UNTO
ME.
I WENT THROUGH A LOSS, A BAD
BREAK, I KNOW WHAT WAS MEANT
FOR HARM GOD'S TURNING TO MY
ADVANTAGE.
I HAD A SETBACK IN MY
FINANCES, BUSINESS WENT
DOWN, THAT'S NOT THE END, I
KNOW I WILL LEND AND NOT
BORROW, WHAT I TOUCH WILL
PROSPER AND SUCCEED."
YOU CAN'T WAIT FOR
EVERYTHING TO CHANGE AND
THEN YOU'LL BELIEVE, THEN
YOU'LL HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE.
NO, EVEN THOUGH YOUR PAST IS
STILL ON THE THRONE, YOU
NEED TO START DECLARING
FAVOR, RESTORATION, HEALTH,
VICTORY.
GOD TOLD SAMUEL TO FILL YOUR
HORN WITH OIL.
OIL SIGNIFIES JOY, PRAISE,
EXPECTANCY.
DON'T DRAG AROUND, "LOOK
WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH, MAN,
THIS PANDEMIC WAS SO HARD,
MY BACK'S BEEN HURTING FOR
THREE YEARS, MY BOSS WON'T
GIVE ME ANY CREDIT."
FILL YOUR HORN WITH OIL, NOT
WITH COMPLAINTS.
GET YOUR PRAISE BACK, PUT A
SMILE ON YOUR FACE, HAVE A
REPORT OF VICTORY.
IF YOU'LL FILL YOUR HORN
WITH OIL AND BE ON YOUR WAY,
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE GOD TIP
THE SCALES, NOT A LITTLE
BIT, BUT HE'S GOING TO OPEN
THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN, BRING
GREAT OPPORTUNITIES, NEW
PEOPLE, TURN MOURNING INTO
DANCING.
HE'S NOT GOING TO EQUAL IT
UP, THE GOOD AND BAD, NO
YOUR DESTINY IS GOING TO FAR
OUTWEIGH YOUR HISTORY.
SAMUEL WAS DISAPPOINTED WHEN
SAUL DIDN'T WORK OUT, BUT HE
FILLED HIS HORN WITH OIL AND
ANOINTED DAVID.
DAVID WAS THE GREATEST KING
THAT EVER LIVED.
NOTICE HOW GOD DOES THINGS.
HE DOESN'T TRADE AN OKAY
KING FOR ANOTHER OKAY KING.
GOD WAS SAYING, "YOU LOST
SOMETHING THAT WAS PAINFUL,
YOU PUT TIME AND ENERGY INTO
THAT RELATIONSHIP, THAT
COMPANY, THAT DREAM; IT
DIDN'T LAST.
DON'T WORRY, I'M ABOUT TO
SEND A DAVID, I'M ABOUT TO
BRING SOMEONE OR SOMETHING
SO AWESOME, SO OUT OF THE
ORDINARY THAT IT'S GOING TO
FAR OUTWEIGH WHAT DIDN'T
WORK OUT."
THERE WAS A LADY IN THE
SCRIPTURE THAT WAS ABOUT TO
GIVE BIRTH.
SHE WAS AN ISRAELITE; SHE
HAD JUST HEARD THAT THE ARK
OF THE COVENANT HAD BEEN
STOLEN.
THAT'S WHERE GOD'S PRESENCE
WAS.
SHE WAS SO UPSET, SO
DISTRAUGHT, WHEN SHE GAVE
BIRTH, SHE NAMED HER SON,
ICHABOD.
ICHABOD MEANS THE GLORY HAS
DEPARTED.
SHE NAMED HER FUTURE BASED
ON HER PAST.
SHE COULD HAVE JUST AS
EASILY NAMED HIM THE GLORY
WILL RETURN.
SHE COULD HAVE NAMED HIM
WHAT ZECHARIAH PROPHESIED,
DOUBLE THE GLORY.
BUT SHE WAS SO CAUGHT UP IN
WHAT SHE HAD BEEN THROUGH,
THE DISAPPOINTMENT, THE
HEARTACHE, THAT IT SOURED
HER FUTURE.
I WONDER HOW MANY OF US ARE
DOING THE SAME THING.
WE'RE FOCUSED ON WHAT DIDN'T
WORK OUT, WHO HURT US, WHAT
WE LOST.
WE DON'T THINK IT'S EVER
GOING TO CHANGE.
DON'T NAME YOUR FUTURE BASED
ON YOUR PAST.
GET THAT ICHABOD SPIRIT OFF
OF YOU.
THIS IS A NEW DAY.
GOD IS DOING A NEW THING.
THE ENEMIES YOU'VE SEEN IN
THE PAST, YOU WILL SEE NO
MORE.
HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD NAME
YOUR FUTURE: BLESSED,
PROSPEROUS, VICTORIOUS,
HEALTHY, STRONG, WISE,
TALENTED.
THINGS MAY BE ROUGH RIGHT
NOW, BUT YOUR ATTITUDE
SHOULD BE, "THIS IS ONLY
TEMPORARY.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE THINGS CHANGE IN MY
FAVOR.
I'M GOING TO COME OUT BETTER
OFF THAN I WAS BEFORE."
THIS IS WHAT DAVID DID.
HE WENT THROUGH ALL KINDS OF
HEARTACHE, DISAPPOINTMENTS,
PEOPLE COMING AGAINST HIM,
BUT HE DIDN'T NAME HIS
FUTURE BASED ON HIS PAST.
HE SAID, "I AM CONFIDENT I
WILL SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD
IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING."
THAT'S MY PRAYER FOR YOU,
THAT YOU WILL BE CONFIDENT
THAT YOUR BEST DAYS ARE
STILL IN FRONT OF YOU, THAT
YOU WILL KNOW DOWN DEEP THAT
YOUR DESTINY WILL OUTWEIGH
YOUR HISTORY, THAT THE
NEGATIVE THINGS OF THE PAST
ARE NOT HOW YOUR STORY ENDS.
MY QUESTION TODAY IS ARE YOU
WEIGHING THINGS TOO EARLY?
YOU'VE HAD DISAPPOINTMENTS,
LIFE HAS THROWN YOU SOME
CURVES, NOW YOU'VE ACCEPTED
THAT YOU'RE LIMITED, YOU'RE
AT A DISADVANTAGE.
CAN I ENCOURAGE YOU?
THE BEST PART OF YOUR LIFE
IS STILL IN FRONT OF YOU.
YOU WOULDN'T BE BREATHING IT
THERE WERE NOT NEW VICTORIES
AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
GOD SAW EVERYTHING THAT
HAPPENED, THE LOSS, THE BAD
BREAKS, THOSE WEIGHED A LOT
BUT THERE IS FAVOR COMING
THAT IS GOING TO TIP THE
SCALE TO WHERE THE BLESSING
FAR OUTWEIGHS THE NEGATIVE.
NOW DO YOUR PART, ANOINT
YOUR FUTURE EVEN THOUGH THE
PAST IS STILL ON THE THRONE.
DARE TO BELIEVE, START
EXPECTING FAVOR.
THERE IS A HARVEST SEASON
GOD HAS ALREADY PREPARED,
SOMETHING ALREADY IN THE
WORKS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
STEP INTO.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE, EVEN
NOW, THINGS ARE SHIFTING.
THE WEIGHT OF THE NEGATIVE
IS GOING TO PALE IN
COMPARISON TO THE WEIGHT OF
GLORY.
LIKE WITH SAMUEL, THE
DISAPPOINTMENT WAS PAINFUL,
BUT DAVID IS ABOUT TO SHOW
UP, SOMETHING BETTER THAN
YOU'VE IMAGINED.
FAVOR IS COMING, HEALING,
RESTORATION, PROMOTION,
BREAKTHROUGHS, THE FULLNESS
OF YOUR DESTINY, IN JESUS'
NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY AMEN? (APPLAUSE)
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
INFORMATION.
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.
