IT'S A JOY TO COME INTO YOUR
HOMES AND IF YOU'RE EVER IN OUR
AREA PLEASE STOP BY AND BE A
PART OF ONE OF OUR SERVICES.
I PROMISE YOU WE'LL MAKE YOU
FEEL RIGHT AT HOME, BUT I LIKE
TO START WITH SOMETHING FUNNY,
AND I HEARD ABOUT THIS LADY.
SHE'D JUST GOT OUT OF CHOIR
PRACTICE, AND SHE WAS SO FIRED
UP SHE PUT A "HONK IF YOU LOVE
JESUS" BUMPER STICKER
ON HER CAR.
AT THE INTERSECTION SHE WAS
DIGGING IN HER PURSE AND DIDN'T
NOTICE THAT THE LIGHT CHANGED.
SHE SAID, "I WAS SO EXCITED
TO FIND OUT THE GUY BEHIND ME
LOVED JESUS.
HE STARTED HONKING, SO I ROLLED
MY WINDOW DOWN, WAVED REAL BIG,
AND TOLD HIM I LOVE JESUS,
TOO."
SHE SAID, "I FOUND OUT A WHOLE
LOT OF PEOPLE LOVE JESUS.
EVERYONE STARTED HONKING.
ONE MAN EVEN SCREAMED,
'JESUS CHRIST.'"
SHE SAID, "AFTER WE SHARED ALL
THAT LOVE TOGETHER, I WAS
THE ONLY ONE THAT MADE IT
THROUGH THE INTERSECTION."
HERE WE GO.
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 "BE COMFORTABLE NOT
KNOWING."
WE ALL FACE SITUATIONS WHERE
WE DON'T SEE HOW THEY'RE
GOING TO WORK OUT.
WE LOOK AT THE FACTS,
THE FIGURES, THE REPORTS.
THE ODDS ARE AGAINST US.
WE DO OUR BEST TO COME UP
WITH A PLAN, TO FIND
SOME KIND OF SOLUTION.
WE THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE THE
ANSWER OR IT'S NOT GOING TO
HAPPEN, BUT THERE ARE SOME
THINGS GOD DOESN'T WANT US
TO KNOW.
HE HAS THE SOLUTION, BUT IF
HE SHOWED YOU RIGHT NOW,
IT WOULDN'T TAKE ANY FAITH.
IF YOU COULD SEE HOW YOUR
CHILD IS GOING TO TURN OUT,
THE DOORS GOD'S GOING TO OPEN
FOR YOU, THE FAVOR,
THE PROVISION, THE HEALING,
IT WOULD BE EASY TO BELIEVE.
THE TEST COMES
WHEN WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER,
WHEN WE DON'T SEE HOW
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
THOUGHTS TELL US,
"HOW ARE YOU GOING
TO MAKE IT AFTER YOU RETIRE?
WHAT IF YOU DON'T GET THAT
SCHOLARSHIP?
WHAT IF YOUR HEALTH DOESN'T
IMPROVE?"
THE PROBLEM IS SOMETIMES
THERE IS NO LOGICAL SOLUTION.
THE MORE WE TRY TO REASON IT
OUT, THE MORE DISCOURAGED
WE GET, THINKING,
"WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?"
BUT THIS IS WHAT FAITH
IS ALL ABOUT.
YOU HAVE TO BE COMFORTABLE
NOT KNOWING.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIGURE IT
OUT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME UP
WITH A PLAN.
IT'S OKAY NOT TO KNOW.
WHEN MOSES LED THE 2 MILLION
ISRAELITES OUT OF SLAVERY
INTO THE DESERT, THEY WERE
HEADED TOWARD THE PROMISED
LAND.
VERY EXCITED.
GOD HAD JUST BROUGHT THEM OUT
OF YEARS OF CAPTIVITY.
I CAN IMAGINE SOMEONE ASKING
MOSES, "WHERE ARE WE GOING TO
CAMP IN THE DESERT?"
MOSES SAID, "I DON'T KNOW."
"WHERE ARE WE GOING
TO GET FOOD?"
"I DON'T KNOW."
"WHERE IS THE WATER SUPPLY?"
"I DON'T KNOW."
"MOSES, WHAT ROUTE
ARE WE GOING TO TAKE?"
"I DON'T KNOW."
THEY COULD HAVE THOUGHT,
"MOSES, WHAT KIND OF LEADER
ARE YOU?"
BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T
KNOW DOESN'T MEAN GOD DOESN'T
HAVE A PLAN.
MOSES WAS COMFORTABLE NOT
KNOWING.
HE HAD SUCH A TRUST IN GOD.
HE DIDN'T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
HOW EVERYTHING WAS GOING
TO WORK OUT.
HE DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE
ALL THE DETAILS.
HE TOOK IT ONE STEP AT A TIME
AND SOMETIMES WE THINK
IT'S A LACK OF FAITH TO SAY,
"I DON'T KNOW."
WE THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE IT
ALL FIGURED OUT.
TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW.
GOD KNOWS.
HE HAS YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS
HAND.
HE'S DIRECTING YOUR STEPS.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS GOD HAS
PLANNED OUT ALL OF YOUR DAYS.
HE HAS A BLUEPRINT FOR YOUR
LIFE.
HERE IS THE CATCH: GOD
DOESN'T GIVE US THE DETAILS.
IF HE SHOWED YOU ALL HE HAS
IN STORE YOU'D NOT ONLY BE
AMAZED, IT WOULD NOT ONLY
EXCITE YOU, BUT WHEN YOU SAW
WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET
THERE, THE GIANTS YOU'RE
GOING TO FACE, THE CLOSED
DOORS, THE TIMES YOU HAVE TO
STRETCH, YOU MIGHT SAY,
"THAT'S OKAY, GOD.
I'LL STAY WHERE I AM."
ONE REASON GOD DOESN'T SHOW
US IS, HE KNOWS WE WOULD
TALK OURSELVES OUT OF IT.
WHEN YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW
SOMETHING IS GOING TO WORK
OUT, YOU START WORRYING,
LOSING SLEEP, THAT'S A SIGN
GOD DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW.
YOU HAVE TO BE COMFORTABLE
NOT KNOWING, WHEN YOU SAY,
"GOD, I DON'T SEE HOW MY
BUSINESS IS GOING TO MAKE IT.
I DON'T SEE HOW MY FAMILY IS
GOING TO BE RESTORED.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO
RAISE THESE CHILDREN, BUT I'M
NOT GOING TO LIVE STRESSED,
WORRIED.
GOD, I TRUST YOU WHEN I DON'T
SEE A WAY.
I TRUST YOU WHEN I DON'T HAVE
THE ANSWER.
I REALIZE I DON'T HAVE TO
KNOW BECAUSE YOU KNOW AND YOU
CONTROL THE UNIVERSE."
THAT ATTITUDE OF FAITH IS
WHAT ALLOWS GOD TO DO AMAZING
THINGS.
SEE, THE TRUTH IS, GOD HAD
THE SOLUTION BEFORE
YOU HAD THE PROBLEM.
HE COULD SHOW YOU
THE DETAILS.
HE COULD SHOW YOU
HOW IT'S GOING TO RESOLVE.
IF HE'S NOT, THEN IT'S A TEST.
HE DOESN'T WANT YOU
TO KNOW RIGHT NOW.
WILL YOU TRUST HIM
EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T SEE
HOW IT COULD HAPPEN?
I'M THE TYPE OF PERSON
THAT WANTS TO KNOW.
I LIKE TO HAVE A PLAN.
I'M DETAILED, ORGANIZED.
I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO FIGURE
THINGS OUT.
WHEN I DON'T SEE A WAY I USED
TO GET STRESSED.
I WAS TEMPTED TO LIVE UPTIGHT
AND ON EDGE, AND IT'S VERY
FREEING WHEN YOU LEARN THIS
PRINCIPLE THAT THERE ARE SOME
THINGS WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO
KNOW.
IT'S OKAY TO SAY LIKE MOSES,
"I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING
TO WORK OUT, BUT I'M AT
PEACE."
THAT'S NOT A LACK OF FAITH.
IT'S JUST THE OPPOSITE.
YOU'RE TAKING YOURSELF OFF
THE THRONE AND PUTTING GOD
BACK ON THE THRONE, BUT WHEN
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE
EVERYTHING OUT, COME UP WITH
OUR PLAN, "IF I CAN MAKE THIS
HAPPEN," AND MANIPULATE THIS
SITUATION, CONVINCE THIS
PERSON TO LIKE ME, REALLY
WE'RE BEING GOD.
AS LONG AS YOU'RE ON THE
THRONE GOD WILL STEP BACK,
BUT WHEN YOU SAY, "GOD, I
DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING
TO WORK OUT, BUT I'M NOT
GOING TO WORRY.
I'M NOT GOING TO KEEP TRYING
TO FIGURE IT OUT.
GOD, I TRUST YOU.
I KNOW YOUR PLANS FOR ME ARE
FOR GOOD," WHEN YOU'RE
COMFORTABLE NOT KNOWING GOD
WILL MAKE THINGS HAPPEN THAT
YOU COULDN'T MAKE HAPPEN.
WHEN WE ACQUIRED THIS
BUILDING, THE FORMER COMPAQ
CENTER, IT WAS GOING TO COST
$100 MILLION TO RENOVATE.
WE HAD TO PUT IN OUR OWN
POWER PLANT AND
AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM.
WHEN I LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS
ON PAPER THERE WAS NO WAY
WE COULD RAISE THOSE FUNDS
IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.
WE RAN THE PROJECTIONS,
ANALYZED IT.
EVEN IN THE BEST CASE
SCENARIOS WE WERE STILL
MILLIONS SHORT.
EVERY DAY I WAS TEMPTED TO
WORRY.
EVERY DAY A THOUGHT SAID,
"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK OUT."
WE HAD ALREADY SIGNED THE
LOAN.
CONSTRUCTION HAD ALREADY
STARTED.
ON A CERTAIN DATE, RIGHT
BEFORE WE MOVED IN, WE HAD TO
MAKE THIS LARGE LUMP SUM
PAYMENT.
WE DIDN'T HAVE IT.
THERE WASN'T ANY SIGN WE
WOULD GET IT AND THE CLOSER
WE CAME TO THAT DATE THE MORE
PRESSURED I FELT, BUT WHEN
I WAS TEMPTED TO BE STRESSED
I WOULD ALWAYS COME BACK
TO THIS FACT: "GOD, I KNOW YOU
GAVE US THIS BUILDING.
I SAW YOU CHANGE A COUNCIL
MEMBER'S MIND TO VOTE FOR US
THAT HAD BEEN AGAINST US.
I KNOW IT WAS YOUR FAVOR THAT
OPENED THE DOOR, AND I KNOW
YOU DIDN'T BRING US THIS FAR
TO LEAVE US.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT I'M OKAY
NOT KNOWING HOW BECAUSE
I KNOW YOU ARE STILL
ON THE THRONE."
TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE BIG
PAYMENT WAS DUE WE
UNEXPECTEDLY SOLD A PIECE OF
PROPERTY.
WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD SELL
FOR A CERTAIN PRICE.
IT SOLD FOR ALMOST TWICE THAT
AMOUNT.
IT WAS THE HAND OF GOD
STEPPING IN AT JUST THE RIGHT
TIME, MAKING A WAY WHERE WE
DIDN'T SEE A WAY.
YOU MAY HAVE SOME THINGS YOU
DON'T UNDERSTAND.
YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT.
YOU DON'T SEE THE ANSWER.
THAT'S OKAY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE IT.
DON'T GET DISCOURAGED.
DON'T START COMPLAINING.
GOD IS WORKING BEHIND THE
SCENES.
HE'S ABOUT TO MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE
COMING.
IT'S GOING TO BE UNUSUAL,
OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW
IT'S THE GOODNESS OF GOD.
MOSES DIDN'T HAVE
ALL THE ANSWERS.
HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW THE
ISRAELITES WOULD MAKE IT
THROUGH THE DESERT, BUT GOD
GAVE THEM MANNA TO EAT EACH
MORNING, SOMETHING LIKE BREAD
THAT FORMED ON THE GROUND.
GOD BROUGHT WATER OUT
OF A ROCK.
UNUSUAL.
UNCOMMON.
GOD BROUGHT THE WALLS OF
JERICHO DOWN NOT BY THEM
FIGHTING, BUT BY THEM SIMPLY
MARCHING AROUND THEM.
SUPERNATURAL PROVISION.
SUPERNATURAL PROTECTION.
WHAT AM I SAYING?
JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE
THE ANSWERS DOESN'T MEAN GOD
IS NOT GOING TO SHOW UP
AND DO SOMETHING AMAZING
IN YOUR LIFE.
NOW, MY CHALLENGE IS TRUST
HIM WHEN YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND.
BE COMFORTABLE NOT KNOWING.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS LEAN NOT
TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.
TAKE THIS IN THE RIGHT SENSE,
BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO
TURN YOUR MIND OFF.
DON'T TRY TO FIGURE
EVERYTHING OUT.
YES, USE WISDOM, USE COMMON
SENSE, BUT WHEN YOU START
GETTING FRUSTRATED, YOU CAN'T
FIND A SOLUTION, YOU'RE
TEMPTED TO LIVE WORRIED,
THAT'S A SIGN GOD DOESN'T
WANT YOU TO KNOW.
MY FATHER PASTORED LAKEWOOD
FOR 40 YEARS.
HE NEVER RAISED UP
A SUCCESSOR LIKE
MOST CHURCHES DO.
HE DIDN'T HAVE A COMMITTEE,
"GO OUT AND FIND THE NEXT
PASTOR."
DEEP DOWN I BELIEVE HE KNEW
WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
HE ALWAYS WANTED HIS FAMILY
TO TAKE OVER, BUT THERE
WASN'T ANYTHING FORMALLY PUT
IN PLACE.
WHEN HE WAS IN HIS 70S PEOPLE
WOULD ASK HIM, "WHO'S GOING
TO TAKE LAKEWOOD?
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN
YOU'RE GONE?"
MY FATHER WOULD ALWAYS TELL
THEM, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT I KNOW
THIS: GOD IS NOT GOING TO LET
IT GO DOWN."
HE WOULD TELL PEOPLE,
"IT'S NOT MY CHURCH.
IT'S GOD'S CHURCH."
I'M ALL FOR HAVING STRUCTURE,
HAVING A PLAN, BUT GOD'S WAYS
ARE NOT OUR WAYS.
HE DOESN'T DO IT THE SAME WAY
EVERY TIME.
SOMETIMES HE DOESN'T WANT YOU
TO KNOW.
IT'S A TEST OF YOUR FAITH.
WILL YOU TRUST HIM OR WILL
YOU LIVE WORRIED, UPSET,
WONDERING IF IT'S EVER GOING
TO WORK OUT?
WHEN MY FATHER DIED, I HAD
ONLY MINISTERED ONE TIME,
THE WEEK BEFORE HE PASSED,
BUT WHEN HE WENT TO BE WITH
THE LORD I KNEW I WAS SUPPOSED
TO STEP UP AND PASTOR THE
CHURCH.
I NEVER HAD THE DESIRE
BEFORE, BUT SUDDENLY GOD PUT
THAT DESIRE IN ME.
HAD MY FATHER TRIED TO MAKE
ME THE PASTOR BEFORE HE DIED,
I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT.
WHAT MAY BE THE NORMAL WAY
MAY NOT BE THE WAY GOD DOES
IT FOR YOU.
GOD DIDN'T SHOW MY FATHER WHO
THE NEXT PASTOR WAS.
HE COULD HAVE LIVED
FRUSTRATED, TRIED TO MAKE
THINGS HAPPEN, BUT MY FATHER
WAS COMFORTABLE NOT KNOWING.
HE KNEW GOD WAS IN CONTROL.
HE TRUSTED HIS PLAN.
GOD MAY NOT BE SHOWING YOU
THE FUTURE, BUT THAT DOESN'T
MEAN IT'S NOT GOING TO TURN
OUT BETTER THAN
YOU'VE IMAGINED.
I'M SURE MY FATHER IS LOOKING
DOWN FROM HEAVEN NOW WITH A
BIG SMILE, SAYING, "LOOK WHAT
THE LORD HAS DONE."
IT'S MORE THAN
HE EVER DREAMED.
WHEN YOU'RE COMFORTABLE NOT
KNOWING IT SAVES YOU SO MUCH
STRESS, WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND
IF YOU CAN'T FIGURE SOMETHING
OUT IT'S BECAUSE GOD DOESN'T
WANT YOU TO FIGURE IT OUT
RIGHT NOW.
YOU CAN ANALYZE THE
SITUATION, REASON IT OUT,
WORRY FOR SIX MONTHS.
NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE.
IT'S MUCH BETTER TO SAY, "I
DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, BUT
I'M OKAY BECAUSE, GOD, I KNOW
YOU HAVE THE ANSWER."
PAUL SAID IN ROMANS 8:26,
"WE KNOW NOT WHAT TO PRAY."
HERE IS A MAN THAT WROTE
ALMOST HALF OF THE NEW
TESTAMENT, ONE OF THE MOST
BRILLIANT MINDS OF HIS DAY,
YET HE SAID, "WE KNOW NOT."
HE WAS COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT
HE DIDN'T KNOW.
HE DIDN'T SEE IT AS A LACK OF
FAITH TO ADMIT, "I DON'T HAVE
ALL THE ANSWERS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO PRAY.
I HAVE UNCERTAINTY, THINGS I
DON'T UNDERSTAND, THINGS I
DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING
TO WORK OUT."
THE REASON PAUL COULD SAY
THIS AND NOT BE WORRIED,
BITTER, "GOD, WHY ISN'T
HAPPENING?
WHEN IS IT GOING TO WORK
OUT?"
IS FOUND TWO VERSES LATER.
HE SAID IN VERSE 26, "WE KNOW
NOT."
BUT IN VERSE 28 HE SAID, "WE
KNOW ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER
FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE
THE LORD."
THE WAY YOU CAN SAY "WE KNOW
NOT" AND NOT BE WORRIED IS IF
YOU KNOW ALL THINGS ARE
WORKING FOR YOUR GOOD.
I KNOW NOT HOW THIS IS GOING
TO WORK OUT, BUT I DO KNOW
WHO'S ON THE THRONE.
I DO KNOW WHO'S DIRECTING
OUR STEPS.
I DO KNOW WHO'S PLANNED OUT
OUR DAYS.
ARE YOU FRUSTRATED OVER WHAT
YOU DON'T KNOW, BY WHAT YOU
CAN'T FIGURE OUT?
HAVE A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
EVEN PAUL SAID,
"I KNOW NOT."
IT'S OKAY TO NOT HAVE
THE ANSWERS.
ONE TIME, PAUL AND HIS FRIEND
SILAS WERE IN PRISON.
THEY HAD BEEN OUT SHARING THE
GOOD NEWS, HADN'T DONE
ANYTHING WRONG, BUT PEOPLE
STIRRED UP OPPOSITION.
HAD THEM ARRESTED.
THEY WERE PUT IN THE DEEPEST
PART OF THE DUNGEON,
WITH SHACKLES ON THEIR FEET.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY'D
EVER GET OUT, IF THEY'D HAVE
A FAIR TRIAL, OR IF THEY'D BE
PUT TO DEATH LIKE
THE DISCIPLE JAMES.
THEY HAD ALL THESE QUESTIONS
THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANSWERS
TO, THINGS THAT WERE
OUT OF THEIR CONTROL.
I'M SURE THOUGHTS TOLD THEM,
"IT'S NOT GOING TO TURN OUT
GOOD.
YOU'VE SEEN YOUR BEST DAYS."
THEY COULD HAVE LIVED
WORRIED, BITTER, FRUSTRATED,
BUT AT MIDNIGHT, INSTEAD OF
COMPLAINING, THEY WERE
SINGING PRAISES AND GIVING
THANKS TO GOD.
THEIR ATTITUDE WAS, "WE KNOW
NOT HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK
OUT, BUT WE KNOW THIS: GOD IS
IN CONTROL.
PEOPLE CAN'T STOP OUR
DESTINY.
HIM BEING FOR US IS MORE THAN
THE WORLD BEING AGAINST US."
WHILE THEY WERE SINGING
PRAISES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT SUDDENLY THERE WAS A
GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
PRISON DOORS FLUNG OPEN.
CHAINS FELL OFF THEIR FEET.
THEY WALKED OUT AS FREE MEN.
YOU MAY NOT SEE HOW YOUR
SITUATION CAN WORK OUT.
THE ODDS ARE AGAINST YOU.
YOU'VE COME UP WITH THE
DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
NOTHING LOOKS GOOD TO YOU.
YOU, TOO, COULD LIVE
FRUSTRATED, WORRIED.
NO, BE STILL AND KNOW
THAT HE IS GOD.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE GOD.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIGURE IT
OUT.
HE'S ON THE THRONE.
HE HAS THE SOLUTION.
THE REASON WE CAN'T SEE IT IS
BECAUSE WE THINK NATURAL, BUT
GOD IS SUPERNATURAL.
HE'S GOING TO MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN OUT OF THE ORDINARY,
THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T SEE.
IT'S VERY POWERFUL WHEN YOU
CAN SAY, "I KNOW NOT WHERE
THE FINANCES ARE COMING FROM.
I KNOW NOT HOW MY CHILD IS
GOING TO GET ON COURSE.
I KNOW NOT WHAT THE FUTURE
HOLDS, BUT I DO KNOW GOD IS
ON THE THRONE.
HE'S FIGHTING MY BATTLES.
HIS PLANS FOR ME ARE FOR
GOOD.
WHAT HE STARTED IN MY LIFE HE
WILL FINISH."
YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW HOW
AS LONG AS YOU KNOW
WHO IS IN CONTROL.
THAT'S WHEN THE CREATOR OF
THE UNIVERSE WILL OPEN DOORS
YOU COULDN'T OPEN, BREAK
CHAINS THAT HAVE HELD YOU
BACK, BRING DREAMS TO PASS
THAT SEEM IMPOSSIBLE.
WHEN YOU KNOW NOT,
DO LIKE PAUL AND SILAS.
DON'T SIT AROUND DEPRESSED.
KEEP THANKING GOD
THAT HE'S WORKING.
KEEP TALKING LIKE
IT'S ON THE WAY.
KEEP THAT SONG OF PRAISE
IN YOUR HEART.
KEEP BEING GOOD TO PEOPLE.
KEEP DOING THE RIGHT THING.
DON'T LET WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW
AND WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE
KEEP YOUR FAITH
FROM BEING RELEASED.
BUT WHEN WE FACE THESE
DIFFICULTIES, WHEN WE DON'T
SEE AN ANSWER, MANY TIMES
THERE IS A VOICE CONSTANTLY
WHISPERING, "WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO?
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?"
TRYING TO PRESSURE US, GET US
TO LIVE UPTIGHT, STRESSED
OUT.
BUT WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE
ANSWER, THAT IT'S NOT YOUR
JOB TO FIGURE IT OUT, WHEN
YOU'RE COMFORTABLE NOT
KNOWING IT TAKES THE PRESSURE
OFF.
SOMEONE SAYS TO YOU, "I HEARD
ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?"
OUR ANSWER SHOULD BE, "I
DON'T KNOW, BUT I KNOW THE
ONE WHO DOES."
IT'S OKAY NOT TO KNOW.
YOU HAVE TO BE AT PEACE WITH
WHAT YOU KNOW NOT AND IF
THERE IS SOMETHING YOU DON'T
HAVE AN ANSWER TO IN YOUR
HEALTH, YOUR FINANCES, YOUR
RELATIONSHIPS, YOU WOULD
NORMALLY SPEND WORRIED,
TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT,
TAKE THAT SAME TIME
AND START THANKING GOD
THAT HE'S WORKING.
THANK HIM THAT HE'S MAKING
YOUR CROOKED PLACES STRAIGHT.
THANK HIM THAT WHAT'S MEANT
FOR HARM HE'S TURNING
TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
THANK HIM THAT ALL THINGS ARE
WORKING FOR YOUR GOOD.
YOU WEREN'T CREATED TO LIVE
UPTIGHT, WORRIED, PRESSURED,
AND SOMETIMES WE'RE BRINGING
THIS ON OURSELVES, TRYING TO
FIGURE SOMETHING OUT THAT GOD
DOESN'T WANT US TO FIGURE OUT
RIGHT NOW.
I MET A MAN THAT HAD BEEN IN
A LEGAL BATTLE FOR OVER TEN
YEARS.
IT INVOLVED SEVERAL DIFFERENT
PARTIES AND THINGS WERE
MOVING SO SLOWLY AND IF IT
DIDN'T TURN OUT IN HIS FAVOR
HE WAS GOING TO LOSE HIS
FREEDOM.
HE WENT THROUGH EVERY
POSSIBLE SCENARIO.
FOR YEARS IF HE WASN'T AT THE
OFFICE, HE WAS AT HOME
WORKING ON HIS CASE WITH HIS
LEGAL TEAM, AND THEY DIDN'T
SEE HOW IT COULD RESOLVE IN
HIS FAVOR.
AFTER ABOUT FIVE YEARS OF
LIVING STRESSED, WORRIED, NOT
ENJOYING HIS FAMILY, HAVING
THIS HANGING OVER HIS HEAD,
HE DID WHAT
I'M ASKING US TO DO.
HE SAID, "GOD, I DON'T SEE A
SOLUTION.
I DON'T SEE A LOGICAL ANSWER,
SO I'M GOING TO QUIT TRYING
TO FIGURE IT OUT.
I'M GOING TO STOP WORRYING.
GOD, I'M TURNING THIS OVER TO
YOU."
HE TOOK HIMSELF OFF THE
THRONE AND PUT GOD BACK ON
THE THRONE.
INSTEAD OF WORRYING HE
STARTED THANKING GOD THAT HE
WAS FIGHTING HIS BATTLES AND
THANKING HIM THAT NO WEAPON
FORMED AGAINST HIM WOULD
PROSPER AND ABOUT EIGHT
MONTHS AGO HE RECEIVED WORD
OUT OF THE BLUE THAT THE
OTHER PARTIES DROPPED THE
LAWSUIT.
ALL THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST
HIM WERE DISMISSED.
HE SAID, "JOEL, I NEVER EVEN
FATHOMED THIS.
IT WASN'T EVEN ONE OF MY
OPTIONS.
I WAS JUST PRAYING THAT GOD
WOULD HELP ME WIN THE TRIAL,
THAT I'D HAVE FAVOR WITH THE
AUTHORITIES."
GOD'S WAYS ARE BETTER THAN
YOUR WAYS.
WHAT GOD HAS IN MIND
IS MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT
YOU HAVE IN MIND.
NOW DON'T BE DISCOURAGED
BY WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW,
BY WHAT YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT.
YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT GOD IS UP TO.
IT'S GOING TO SURPRISE YOU.
LIKE THIS MAN, PROBLEMS
SUDDENLY RESOLVE IN YOUR
FAVOR.
THE MEDICAL REPORT SAYS NO
WAY, BUT GOD MAKES A WAY.
YOU DON'T SEE HOW YOU COULD
GET OUT OF DEBT.
AN EXPLOSIVE BLESSING,
A CONTRACT, A PROMOTION,
SOMETHING THAT
THRUSTS YOU AHEAD.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
THAT'S WHY YOU CAN'T
SEE IT NOW.
THAT'S WHY YOU CAN'T
FIND THE ANSWER.
GOD'S GOING TO DO IT A
SUPERNATURAL WAY.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE
EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS
FAVOR, SOMETHING THAT YOU
WEREN'T EXPECTING.
GOD TOLD ABRAHAM TO LEAVE
HIS COUNTRY AND GO TO A LAND
THAT HE WOULD SHOW HIM.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT GOD
DIDN'T TELL HIM WHERE.
I CAN IMAGINE ABRAHAM TOLD
HIS WIFE, SARAH, THAT THEY
WERE MOVING.
SARAH SAID, "GREAT.
THAT'S EXCITING.
WHERE ARE WE GOING?"
ABRAHAM SAID, "I DON'T
KNOW."
"WELL, WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?"
"I DON'T KNOW."
"WHAT'S THE WEATHER GOING TO
BE LIKE?"
"I DON'T KNOW."
ABRAHAM WOULD HAVE NEVER
BECOME THE FATHER OF OUR
FAITH IF HE HAD NOT BEEN
COMFORTABLE NOT KNOWING.
WHEN YOU STUDY THE OTHER
HEROES OF FAITH YOU'LL SEE
HOW MANY TIMES THEY HAD TO
SAY, "WE KNOW NOT."
DAVID, "I KNOW NOT HOW I'M
GOING TO DEFEAT THIS GIANT.
HE'S TWICE MY SIZE, BUT I
KNOW THE LORD IS ON MY
SIDE."
JOSEPH SITTING IN A PIT
BETRAYED BY HIS FAMILY, "I
KNOW NOT HOW I'M GOING TO
LEAD A NATION LIKE THE DREAM
GOD GAVE ME, BUT, GOD,
I TRUST YOUR PLAN."
THE WAY THEY STAYED IN FAITH
IS THEY KNEW VERSE 28, SO TO
SPEAK, THAT ALL THINGS WERE
WORKING FOR THEIR GOOD.
WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE
ANSWERS THEY BELIEVED THAT
GOD WAS STILL IN CONTROL.
GOD GAVE ABRAHAM THE PROMISE
THAT HE AND HIS WIFE, SARAH,
WERE GOING TO HAVE A BABY
WHEN THEY WERE WAY TOO OLD.
YEARS PASSED WITH NO SIGN OF
A CHILD.
EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE SAID IT
WAS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT ABRAHAM
UNDERSTOOD THIS PRINCIPLE.
HE SAID, IN EFFECT, "WE KNOW
NOT HOW IT CAN HAPPEN.
THERE'S NO WAY IN THE
NATURAL, BUT, GOD, WE TRUST
YOU.
WE BELIEVE WHAT YOU PROMISED
WILL COME TO PASS."
SARAH GAVE BIRTH AT 90 YEARS
OF AGE.
GOD DID MORE THAN THEY
DREAMED.
THAT LITTLE BABY, THEY NAMED
HIM ISAAC.
HE GREW TO A YOUNG MAN.
GOD TOLD ABRAHAM TO TAKE HIM
ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN AND
SACRIFICE HIM.
THEY TRAVELED THREE DAYS.
FINALLY ARRIVED AT THE
LOCATION.
ISAAC SAID, "DAD, WE HAVE THE
FIRE, WE HAVE THE WOOD, BUT
WHERE IS THE SACRIFICE?"
ABRAHAM SAID, "THE LORD WILL
PROVIDE."
IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE THAT GOD
WOULD GIVE ABRAHAM A SON,
THIS CHILD HE WAITED SO LONG
FOR, AND THEN TELL HIM TO
TAKE HIS LIFE.
DON'T YOU KNOW ABRAHAM DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND?
NO DOUBT HE WAS CONFUSED, HE
HAD UNCERTAINTY, BUT HIS
ATTITUDE WAS, "GOD, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT I
TRUST YOU."
THIS IS THE KEY TO FAITH:
TRUSTING WHEN YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND, TRUSTING WHEN YOU
DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS,
TRUSTING WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE
JUST THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU
WERE HOPING FOR.
THIS IS WHEN IT'S EASY
TO GET NEGATIVE, CRITICAL.
"GOD, WHY ISN'T IT
WORKING OUT?"
NOT KNOWING IS A TEST.
WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU DON'T
KNOW, WHEN IT SEEMS
IMPOSSIBLE, THAT DETERMINES
WHAT GOD DOES, AND ABRAHAM
WAS ABOUT TO SACRIFICE HIS
SON WHEN AN ANGEL SUDDENLY
STOPPED HIM.
HE LOOKED OVER AND SAW A RAM
CAUGHT IN THE BUSH.
RAMS DON'T NORMALLY GO THAT
HIGH UP IN THE MOUNTAIN.
ABRAHAM SACRIFICED THE RAM
INSTEAD OF HIS SON.
HE NAMED THAT PLACE
JEHOVAH-JIREH.
THAT MEANS THE LORD OUR
PROVIDER.
GOD IS SHOWING US WHEN YOU
PASS THE TEST OF NOT KNOWING
SUPERNATURAL PROVISION
IS COMING.
NOW, YOU MAY BE
WHERE ABRAHAM WAS.
GOD'S PROMISED YOU SOMETHING,
BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
SEEMS LIKE IT'S TOO LATE.
YOU DON'T SEE HOW YOU COULD
HAVE THE BABY, HOW YOU COULD
GET WELL, OR SEE HOW YOU
COULD ACCOMPLISH THE DREAM.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE IT FOR
GOD TO DO IT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ALL
THE ANSWERS.
WHAT GOD HAS SPOKEN OVER YOUR
LIFE IS STILL ON THE WAY.
JUST LIKE THAT RAM WAS WAY UP
IN THE MOUNTAIN, GOD HAS
PROVISION COMING FOR YOU,
SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T
NORMALLY HAPPEN, SOMETHING
OUT OF THE ORDINARY: FAVOR,
PROMOTION, DIVINE
CONNECTIONS.
BECAUSE YOU TRUSTED WHEN YOU
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, GOD'S
GOING TO DO THINGS FOR YOU
THAT YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN,
PROMOTION THAT YOU DIDN'T
WORK FOR, HAVING A BABY WHEN
YOU WERE TOLD IT'S TOO LATE,
GETTING WELL WHEN THE MEDICAL
REPORT SAID YOU WERE DONE,
SEEING YOUR BUSINESS
TAKE OFF,
SEEING YOUR FAMILY RESTORED.
WHAT IS THAT?
THE RAM IN THE THICKET.
WHEN YOU OBEY WITHOUT THE
DETAILS, WHEN YOU STAY IN
FAITH WHEN YOU DON'T SEE ANY
SIGN OF THE ANSWER, WHEN YOU
BELIEVE WHEN EVERY THOUGHT
TELLS YOU THERE'S NO WAY,
LIKE WITH ABRAHAM, GOD WILL
SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
HE'LL CAUSE YOU TO DEFY THE
ODDS, TO GO PLACES YOU
COULDN'T GO ON YOUR OWN.
NOW I'M ASKING YOU TO BE
COMFORTABLE NOT KNOWING.
QUIT WORRYING ABOUT THOSE
THINGS YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT.
GOD HAS YOU
IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.
THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS YOU
HAVE TO SAY, "I KNOW NOT,"
BUT DON'T STOP THERE.
GO TWO MORE VERSES AND SAY
WITH PAUL, "I KNOW ALL THINGS
ARE WORKING FOR MY GOOD."
IF YOU'LL DO THIS I BELIEVE
AND DECLARE YOU'RE ABOUT TO
SEE THIS SUPERNATURAL
PROVISION, SUPERNATURAL
PROTECTION, FAVOR, HEALING,
DIVINE CONNECTIONS.
GOD IS NOT GOING TO JUST
BRING PROMISES TO PASS, BUT,
LIKE THAT MAN I TALKED ABOUT,
IT'S GOING TO TURN OUT BETTER
THAN YOU IMAGINED
IN JESUS' NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT CAN YOU SAY
AMEN TODAY?
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU
AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS
THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?
JUST SAY, LORD JESUS,
I REPENT OF MY SINS.
COME INTO MY HEART.
I MAKE YOU MY LORD
AND SAVIOR.
IF YOU PRAYED THAT SIMPLE
PRAYER WE BELIEVE
YOU GOT BORN AGAIN.
GET IN A GOOD
BIBLE-BASED CHURCH.
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
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