JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU!
IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU
TODAY. IF YOU'RE EVER IN
OUR AREA, PLEASE STOP BY;
BE A PART OF ONE OF OUR
SERVICES. I PROMISE YOU
WE'LL MAKE YOU FEEL RIGHT
AT HOME. I HOPE YOU'LL
STAY CONNECTED WITH US
DURING THE WEEK. WE HAVE
A DAILY PODCAST YOU CAN
DOWNLOAD. OUR YOUTUBE
CHANNEL; WATCH THE
MESSAGES ANYTIME.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE'LL KEEP YOU ENCOURAGED
AND INSPIRED.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THIS HUSBAND
AND WIFE. THEY HAD BEEN
ARGUING; NOW THEY WERE
GIVING EACH OTHER THE
SILENT TREATMENT.
THE NEXT MORNING, THE
HUSBAND HAD TO GET UP
EARLY AND CATCH A PLANE.
HE NEEDED HIS WIFE TO
WAKE HIM UP. NOT WANTING
TO BREAK THE SILENCE,
HE LEFT HER A NOTE ON
HER SIDE OF THE BED.
IT SAID, "PLEASE WAKE
ME UP AT 5 A.M."
HE GOT UP THE NEXT MORNING
AT 8 O'CLOCK, MISSED HIS
FLIGHT. HE WAS SO UPSET.
HE WENT IN TO FIND OUT WHY
SHE DIDN'T WAKE HIM UP.
THERE WAS A NOTE ON HIS
SIDE OF THE BED, IT SAID,
"WAKE UP, IT'S 5."
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 EASIER THAN YOU THINK.
WHEN WE FACE CHALLENGES AND
HAVE THINGS THAT COME
AGAINST US, IT'S EASY TO
START DREADING IT.
THINKING, "THIS IS GOING
TO BE SO HARD. HOW AM I
GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH
THIS TREATMENT? HOW CAN
I DEAL WITH THIS CHILD
THAT'S OFF COURSE?
HOW CAN I ACCOMPLISH THIS
DREAM, I DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES, THE CONNECTIONS?"
YES, THERE ARE SEASONS WHERE
WE HAVE TO ENDURE, DO THE
RIGHT THING WHEN IT'S HARD,
BUT THERE ARE ALSO TIMES
THAT GOD WILL STEP IN AND
MAKE IT EASIER THAN IT
LOOKS.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "HE GOES
BEFORE US AND MAKES THE
CROOKED PLACES STRAIGHT."
THAT MEANS WHAT SHOULD BE
OVERWHELMING, IS NO PROBLEM
AT ALL.
WHAT LOOKS COMPLICATED,
YOU DON'T SEE A SOLUTION,
SUDDENLY THINGS FALL INTO
PLACE. YOU DON'T HAVE THE
CONNECTIONS, YOU DON'T KNOW
THE RIGHT PEOPLE, BUT OUT OF
NOWHERE SOMEONE STEPS IN AND
SHOWS YOU FAVOR.
YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GOING
TO BE A LONG, DRAWN-OUT
PROCESS, BUT IT TURNED OUT
EASIER THAN IT LOOKED.
YOU MAY BE IN SITUATIONS
NOW THAT YOU'RE TEMPTED
TO DREAD.
YOU'VE ALREADY DECIDED
IT'S GOING TO BE HARD.
YOU'RE GEARING UP TO
ENDURE IT.
GOD IS SAYING, "IT'S GOING
TO BE EASIER THAN YOU THINK.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A
SUPERNATURAL GRACE, A
SUPERNATURAL FAVOR,
SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH.
HE'S WORKING BEHIND THE
SCENES, MAKING ROUGH PLACES
SMOOTH.
HE'S CHANGING PEOPLE'S
MINDS, CAUSING THEM TO BE
FOR YOU.
NOW YOU HAVE TO GET IN
AGREEMENT WITH GOD.
YOU CAN'T GO AROUND DREADING
IT, MAKING PLANS FOR IT TO
BE HARD.
YOU'RE DRAWING IN WHAT
YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT.
IF YOU'RE TELLING YOURSELF,
YOU CAN'T PASS THE COURSE,
"THIS PROBLEM IS TOO BIG,
I'LL NEVER MAKE IT THROUGH
THIS SICKNESS."
YOU'RE DEFEATING YOURSELF.
TURN IT AROUND, "YES THIS
LOOKS DIFFICULT, BUT GOD
I KNOW YOU'RE STILL ON
THE THRONE.
YOU SAID YOUR YOKE IS EASY
AND YOUR BURDEN IS LIGHT.
YOU SAID YOU'RE MAKING MY
ROUGH PLACES SMOOTH.
FATHER, THANK YOU THAT THIS
WILL BE EASIER THAN IT
LOOKS."
WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO
ACQUIRE THE COMPAQ CENTER, THISE
WE NEEDED TEN VOTES FROM
THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THERE WERE FOURTEEN OF
THEM IN ALL.
WE HAD WORKED A LONG TIME
TRYING TO CONVINCE THEM,
WE FINALLY HAD THE TEN
WE NEEDED.
BUT TWO DAYS BEFORE THE MAIN
VOTE, ONE OF THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS THAT WAS FOR US,
RECEIVED SO MUCH PRESSURE
FROM THE OTHER SIDE, HE
DECIDED TO BE OUT OF TOWN.
HIM NOT BEING THERE WAS A
VOTE AGAINST US.
WE WERE SO DISAPPOINTED.
TWO YEARS OF HARD WORK; IT
LOOKED LIKE IT WASN'T GOING
TO HAPPEN.
I WENT TO VISIT A COUNCIL
MEMBER THAT HAD BEEN AGAINST
US THE WHOLE TIME.
HE WAS A YOUNG JEWISH MAN.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS MY LAST
SHOT.
I HAD MY BEST SPEECH
PREPARED; THIS WAS GOING TO
BE MY BIGGEST, STRONGEST,
MOST PERSUASIVE TALK THAT I
HAD EVER GIVEN HIM.
I HAD HEARD ALL HIS REASONS
WHY HE WASN'T FOR US.
I WAS GOING TO GO ONE BY
ONE, AND SHOW HIM THAT
WASN'T RIGHT.
I WALKED IN ALL FIRED UP,
READY TO GO, JUST WHEN I WAS
ABOUT TO START, HE SMILED
AND SAID, "JOEL, DON'T
WORRY, I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR
YOU."
I WAS SO FOCUSED ON MY
SPEECH; IT DIDN'T FULLY
REGISTER.
I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, DID I
JUST HEAR WHAT I THOUGHT I
HEARD.
I MUST HAVE LOOKED CONFUSED
BECAUSE HE SAID IT AGAIN.
"JOEL, I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR
YOU."
I NEARLY PASSED OUT.
HE WENT ON TO TELL HOW AN
OLDER JEWISH WOMAN HAD
CALLED THE NIGHT BEFORE.
SHE WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF HIS
FAMILY, SOMEONE THAT HE
REALLY RESPECTED, BUT HE
HADN'T SPOKEN TO HER IN OVER
TWENTY YEARS.
SHE SAID IN NO UNCERTAIN
TERMS THAT HE WAS TO VOTE
FOR LAKEWOOD HAVING THE
COMPAQ CENTER.
IT WAS THAT PHONE CALL THAT
CHANGED HIS MIND.
I HAD NEVER MET THE LADY; I
DIDN'T ASK HER TO CALL.
I WENT IN THERE THINKING IT
WAS GOING TO BE HARD TO
CONVINCE HIM, I WAS GOING TO
HAVE TO GIVE IT MY ALL.
WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE WAS
GOD HAD GONE BEFORE ME AND
MADE MY CROOKED PLACES
STRAIGHT.
IT WAS EASIER THAN I
THOUGHT.
GOD HAS THE RIGHT PEOPLE
LINED UP FOR YOU, HE KNOWS
HOW TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S
MINDS, HE KNOWS HOW TO CAUSE
THEM TO BE FOR YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO
EVERYTHING IN YOUR OWN
STRENGTH, YOUR OWN TALENT,
YOUR OWN ABILITY, THE MOST
HIGH GOD IS GOING BEFORE
YOU.
HE'S FIGHTING YOUR BATTLES,
HE'S ARRANGING THE GOOD
BREAKS, THE HEALING, THE
FAVOR, THE PROMOTION.
WE HAD WORKED FOR TWO YEARS
TO TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
WE STAYED STRONG AND FOUGHT
THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH.
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT;
IT WAS A STRUGGLE.
BUT WE KEPT BELIEVING, WE
KEPT DECLARING THE PROMISES,
WE KEPT DOING THE RIGHT
THING, THEN IN THAT ONE
MOMENT, GOD SUDDENLY TURNED
IT AROUND.
IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR YEARS,
THEN SUDDENLY IT GOT EASY.
YOU MAY GO THROUGH SEASONS
OF STRUGGLE, WHERE YOU DON'T
SEE ANYTHING HAPPENING, NO
GROWTH, NO IMPROVEMENT.
THOUGHTS WILL TELL YOU,
"THIS WILL ALWAYS BE
DIFFICULT, YOU'RE ALWAYS
GOING TO STRUGGLE."
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO
BE LONG, HARD, DRAWN OUT,
BUT IF YOU'LL STAY IN FAITH,
YOU'RE GOING TO COME INTO
THESE MOMENTS OF FAVOR WHERE
SUDDENLY THINGS FALL INTO
PLACE, SUDDENLY THAT BURDEN
IS LIFTED, SUDDENLY PEOPLE
CHANGE THEIR MIND, SUDDENLY
YOUR BUSINESS TAKES OFF,
SUDDENLY YOUR HEALTH TURNS
AROUND, IT'S NOT A STRUGGLE
ANY MORE.
GOD IS GOING TO MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN THAT YOU COULDN'T
MAKE HAPPEN.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE
STRESSING YOU OUT, YOU'RE
WORRIED, THINKING OF ALL THE
REASONS IT'S NOT GOING TO
WORK OUT, LIKE WITH ME,
YOU'RE GOING TO FIND GOD HAS
ALREADY RESOLVED THE
PROBLEM.
HE'S ALREADY CHANGED THEIR
MIND, HE'S ALREADY LINE UP
THE PROMOTION, THE HEALING,
THE GOOD BREAKS.
YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO WORK FOR IT,
CONVINCE SOMEONE, EARN IT,
ENDURE, OUTLAST.
NO, IT'S GOING TO BE EASIER
THAN YOU THINK.
GOD HAS ALREADY GONE BEFORE
YOU, HE'S ALREADY WORKED OUT
WHAT YOU'RE WORRYING ABOUT.
QUIT DREADING IT, QUIT
LOSING SLEEP OVER IT.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME
STRESSED OVER HOW I WAS
GOING TO CONVINCE THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER; WHAT WAS I
GOING TO SAY?
IF I HAD KNOWN IT WAS GOING
TO BE SO EASY, I WOULD HAVE
STAYED IN PEACE.
I WOULD HAVE RELAXED AND
ENJOYED MY LIFE KNOWING THAT
GOD HAD ALREADY TAKEN CARE
OF IT.
I WONDER IF YOU'RE DREADING
THINGS THAT LATER ON, YOU'RE
GOING TO REALIZE GOD HAS
ALREADY WORKED IT OUT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS
DIFFICULT AS IT LOOKS.
YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT GOD
HAS GONE BEFORE YOU, HE'S
WORKED OUT WHAT'S STRESSING
YOU.
HE'S WORKED OUT THE PROBLEM
AT THE OFFICE.
HE'S WORKED OUT THE CONFLICT
WITH THAT RELATIVE.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOING TO
BE A BIG ORDEAL, TAKE A LONG
TIME, YOU'RE GOING TO
DISCOVER, THE ROUGH PLACES
HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE
SMOOTH.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH
THE ISRAELITES, THEY WERE
STANDING AT THE JORDAN
RIVER, CONTEMPLATING WHETHER
TO GO INTO THE PROMISED
LAND.
THEIR PARENTS AND
GRANDPARENTS STOOD AT THAT
SAME PLACE FORTY YEARS
EARLIER, BUT THEY TALKED
THEMSELVES OUT OF IT.
THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE WERE
THE ANAKITES.
THEY WERE DESCENDANTS OF
GIANTS, HUGE, STRONG,
POWERFUL PEOPLE.
THE ISRAELITES PARENTS
THOUGHT THEY WERE TOO BIG
AND TURNED AROUND AND
WANDERED IN THE DESERT FOR
FORTY YEARS.
THIS WAS A CRITICAL MOMENT
FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
WOULD THEY DO THE SAME
THING?
THINK IT WAS TOO HARD,
"WE'LL NEVER DEFEAT THESE
PEOPLE."
AS THEY WERE DEBATING WHAT
TO DO, GOD GAVE THEM A
PROMISE.
DEUTERONOMY 9 SAYS, "TODAY,
YOU ARE ABOUT TO FACE PEOPLE
THAT ARE MUCH STRONGER AND
MORE POWERFUL.
BUT THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL
CROSS OVER AHEAD OF YOU LIKE
A DEVOURING FIRE TO DESTROY
THEM.
HE WILL SUBDUE THEM SO YOU
CAN EASILY CONQUER."
WHEN THEY HEARD THAT, THEY
CHANGED THEIR MINDSET.
"THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE
DIFFICULT; THIS IS NOT GOING
TO DEFEAT US, GOD HAS GONE
BEFORE US TO TAKE CARE OF
WHAT'S TRYING TO STOP US."
THEY WENT IN WITH BOLDNESS,
WITH CONFIDENCE.
THEY DEFEATED THE ANAKITES
AND LIVED IN THE PROMISED
LAND.
IT WAS EASIER THAN THEY
THOUGHT.
YOU MAY HAVE SITUATIONS THAT
SEEM MUCH BIGGER, STRONGER,
TROUBLE AT WORK, DEALING
WITH A SICKNESS, A LEGAL
PROBLEM, THE ODDS ARE
AGAINST YOU.
YOU'RE THINKING, "HOW CAN I
DEAL WITH THIS, IT'S GOING
TO BE SO DIFFICULT."
GOD IS GOING TO DO FOR YOU
WHAT HE DID FOR THEM.
HE'S CROSSING OVER AHEAD OF
YOU RIGHT NOW SO YOU CAN
EASILY CONQUER.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE WHAT IT
LOOKS LIKE.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE FAVOR,
BREAKTHROUGHS, FREEDOM,
THINGS THAT YOU COULDN'T
MAKE HAPPEN.
IT'S THE HAND OF GOD.
NOW GET THIS DOWN IN YOUR
SPIRIT, EASILY CONQUER.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DEAL
WITH THAT DEPRESSION
FOREVER, EASILY CONQUER.
THAT CANCER IS NOT GOING TO
TAKE YOU OUT, EASILY
CONQUER.
THAT STRUGGLE AND LACK IS
NOT YOUR DESTINY, YOU WILL
EASILY CONQUER IT.
ONE TOUCH OF GOD'S FAVOR AND
SUDDENLY THINGS TURN AROUND.
SUDDENLY GIANTS COME DOWN,
SUDDENLY ADDICTIONS ARE
BROKEN, SUDDENLY DOORS OPEN,
YOU SEE INCREASE, ABUNDANCE.
WHEN YOU'RE TEMPTED TO
DREAD, WORRY, THINK IT'S TOO
MUCH, TURN IT AROUND.
"FATHER, THANK YOU THAT
YOU'RE CROSSING OVER AHEAD
OF ME, DEVOURING WHAT'S
TRYING TO STOP ME.
THANK YOU THAT I WILL EASILY
CONQUER, THAT I WILL GO INTO
MY PROMISED LAND; THAT I
WILL BECOME ALL THAT YOU'VE
CREATED ME TO BE."
GOD GAVE NEHEMIAH A DREAM TO
REBUILD THE WALLS OF
JERUSALEM.
THEY HAD BEEN DOWN FOR MANY
YEARS; THE PEOPLE WERE
LIVING THERE UNPROTECTED.
NEHEMIAH WAS A THOUSAND
MILES AWAY, WORKING AS A CUP
BEARER FOR THE KING.
HE WASN'T A BUILDER, HE
WORKED IN THE KITCHEN.
HE DIDN'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES, THE FUNDS, THE
CREW, THE EXPERIENCE.
ALL THE ODDS WERE AGAINST
HIM.
IT LOOKED LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE
SITUATION.
MANY TIMES, GOD WILL ASK YOU
TO DO THINGS THAT SEEM
BEYOND YOUR OWN ABILITY.
HE'LL PUT DREAMS IN YOUR
HEART THAT SEEM TOO BIG, YOU
DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE,
THE TALENT, THE CONNECTIONS.
IF WE LOOK AT ONLY IN OUR
ABILITY, THEN WE'LL TALK
OURSELVES OUT OF IT.
BUT GOD WOULDN'T ASK YOU TO
DO IT, IF HE HADN'T ALREADY
LINED UP WHAT YOU NEED.
IT LOOKS DIFFICULT, YOU
DON'T SEE HOW IT CAN HAPPEN,
BUT IF YOU'LL TAKE STEPS OF
FAITH, YOU'LL DISCOVER THAT
GOD HAS ALREADY GONE BEFORE
YOU.
IT'S GOING TO BE EASIER THAN
YOU THINK.
I'M NOT SAYING THERE WON'T
BE OBSTACLES, AND PEOPLE
TRYING TO STOP YOU, AND
TIMES YOU COULD FEEL
OVERWHELMED, BUT GOD IS NOT
GOING TO LEAVE YOU THERE.
THERE WILL BE THESE MOMENTS
OF FAVOR WHERE GOD MAKES
THINGS HAPPEN THAT YOU
COULDN'T MAKE HAPPEN, LIKE
CHANGING THAT COUNCIL
MEMBER'S MIND, FAVOR THAT
CATAPULTS YOU INTO YOUR
DESTINY.
FAVOR THAT OPENS DOORS YOU
CAN'T OPEN, FAVOR THAT
CAUSES YOUR BUSINESS TO TAKE
OFF.
NEHEMIAH COULD HAVE THOUGHT
OF ALL THE REASONS WHY HE
COULDN'T REBUILD THE WALL.
"GOD, THIS IS TOO HARD.
WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ME TO DO
IS NOT REASONABLE, IT'S NOT
PRACTICAL."
BUT DEEP DOWN, NEHEMIAH
UNDERSTOOD THIS PRINCIPLE.
THAT THE GOD WHO ASKS YOU TO
DO DIFFICULT THINGS, IS THE
SAME GOD THAT GOES BEFORE
YOU AND MAKES THE CROOKED
PLACES STRAIGHT.
IT'S A TEST.
IF YOU PLAY IT SAFE AND
THINK, "I CAN'T DO IT, JOEL.
THE ANAKITES ARE TOO BIG,
THE DREAM IS TOO GREAT, THE
OPPOSITION TOO STRONG."
THEN IT WILL BE TOO HARD.
THE PROBLEM IS YOU NEVER SAW
WHAT GOD WAS UP TOO.
IF YOU DON'T TAKE THE RISK,
YOU'LL NEVER SEE HOW GOD WAS
GOING TO STEP IN AND MAKE IT
EASIER THAN YOU THOUGHT.
ALL THE ODDS WERE AGAINST
NEHEMIAH, THOUGHTS TELLING
HIM HE DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE,
THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE, BUT
NEHEMIAH CHOSE TO BELIEVE.
GOD IS LOOKING FOR SOME
NEHEMIAHS, FOR SOME PEOPLE
WHO WON'T GET TALKED OUT OF
THEIR DREAMS.
PEOPLE THAT AREN'T MOVED BY
HOW BIG THE CHALLENGE IS.
PEOPLE THAT DON'T DREAD,
THINKING, "IT'S TOO HARD,
TOO MUCH, TOO LONG, TOO
GREAT.
I CAN'T DO IT."
NO, BE A NEHEMIAH.
THE REASON GOD IS ASKING YOU
TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S
BEYOND YOUR ABILITY, IS HE'S
ABOUT TO SHOW YOU HIS FAVOR
LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN.
IT LOOKS TOO HARD, BUT IF
YOU'LL TAKE THAT STEP OF
FAITH, YOU'LL DISCOVER THAT
GOD HAS GONE BEFORE YOU.
HE'S GOING TO CAUSE THINGS
TO FALL INTO PLACE.
IT'S GOING TO BE EASIER THAN
YOU THINK.
IN NEHEMIAH 1, HE PRAYED,
"GOD, GRANT ME SUCCESS AS I
GO TO THE KING AND ASK FOR A
FAVOR.
PUT IT IN HIS HEART TO HELP
ME."
NEHEMIAH PRAYED A BOLD
PRAYER, "GOD, I'M GOING TO
GO THE KING, I'M GOING TO
ASK HIM TO BE GOOD TO ME,
BUT I NEED A FAVOR, GOD, PUT
IT IN HIS HEART TO HELP ME."
WHAT A GREAT PRAYER, "GOD,
PUT IT IN PEOPLE'S HEART TO
HELP US.
GOD CAUSE US TO STAND OUT.
GOD, CAUSE PEOPLE TO WANT TO
BE GOOD TO US."
"JOEL, THAT'S KIND OF
SELFISH."
LISTEN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO
REACH YOUR DESTINY, IF
YOU'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH
YOUR GOD GIVEN DREAMS, IF
YOU'RE GOING TO GO PLACES NO
ONE IN YOUR FAMILY HAS GONE,
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BOLDNESS.
YOU CAN'T BE WEAK,
INTIMIDATED, "THIS IS TOO
MUCH."
YOU HAVE TO ASK BIG, PRAY
BIG, BELIEVE BIG.
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED OTHER
PEOPLE TO OPEN DOORS, OTHER
PEOPLE TO FUND YOUR DREAM,
OTHER PEOPLE TO USE THEIR
INFLUENCE TO PUSH YOU
FORWARD.
HAVE YOU EVER PRAYED, "GOD
PUT IT IN PEOPLE'S HEARTS TO
HELP ME?
PUT IT IN PEOPLE'S HEARTS TO
SHOW ME FAVOR."
NEHEMIAH WENT TO THE KING,
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, THE
FIRST THING THE KING SAID
WAS, "NEHEMIAH, HOW CAN I
HELP YOU?"
WHEN GOD PUTS A BIG DREAM IN
YOUR HEART, HE'S ALREADY
LINED UP THE PEOPLE TO SAY,
"HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
HOW CAN I BE GOOD TO YOU?
WHERE CAN I SHOW YOU FAVOR?"
NEHEMIAH ASKED THE KING FOR
PERMISSION TO TAKE TIME OFF
TO GO REBUILD THE WALLS.
THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE
KING TO AGREE.
THE WALLS BEING DOWN DIDN'T
AFFECT HIM.
BUT FOR SOME REASON THE KING
SAID, "FINE, NEHEMIAH, YOU
CAN GO."
NEHEMIAH SAID, "THANK YOU
BUT I NEED ANOTHER FAVOR.
I DON'T HAVE ANY MATERIALS.
I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS.
I NEED STONES, ROCKS,
MORTAR, SUPPLIES."
NOW, HE'S ASKING THE KING TO
FUND HIS DREAM.
YOU WOULD THINK THE KING
WOULD SAY, "EXCUSE ME, THIS
IS YOUR PROJECT, I'M GIVING
YOU THE TIME OFF, BUT DON'T
EXPECT ME TO PAY FOR IT."
BUT ONCE AGAIN THE KING
SAID, "YES, I'LL GIVE YOU
THE SUPPLIES."
GOD HAS ALREADY LINED UP THE
PROVISION YOU NEED.
I'VE HEARD IT SAID, WHAT GOD
ORDERS HE PAYS FOR.
YOU MAY NOT SEE HOW YOU
COULD EVER HAVE THE FUNDS,
HOW YOU COULD START THE
BUSINESS, BUILD THAT
ORPHANAGE, MOVE INTO A NICER
NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU KNOW GOD PUT THAT
PROMISE IN YOUR HEART, BUT
WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOU
HAVE, YOUR RESOURCES,
THERE'S NO WAY.
THE GOOD NEWS IS, IT'S NOT
JUST UP TO YOU.
LIKE NEHEMIAH, GOD HAS
PEOPLE THAT WILL FUND WHAT
HE PROMISED.
HE CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE.
HE KNOWS HOW TO GET TO YOU
WHAT YOU NEED.
NOT NATURAL BUT SUPERNATURAL
INCREASE, CONTRACTS COMING
TO YOU, IDEAS,
OPPORTUNITIES, PEOPLE
TRACKING YOU DOWN.
YOU HAVE TO DO LIKE
NEHEMIAH, "LORD, I BELIEVE
YOU'RE GOING TO CAUSE PEOPLE
TO BE GOOD TO ME.
YOU'RE GOING TO OPEN UP THE
WINDOWS OF HEAVEN, POUR OUT
RESOURCES, TO BRING TO PASS
WHAT YOU PROMISED."
IT HAS TO GO BEYOND THE
NATURAL, BECAUSE IF YOU JUST
FOCUS ON WHAT YOU HAVE, YOU
WON'T SEE A WAY.
GOD PUTS DREAMS IN OUR HEART
THAT ARE BIGGER THAN WHAT WE
CAN AFFORD.
THIS IS WHERE FAITH KICKS
IN.
THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE TO
PRAY BOLD PRAYERS AND
BELIEVE FOR UNCOMMON
RESOURCES, OUT OF THE
ORDINARY INCREASE.
SO, YOU CAN REBUILD THE
WALLS, SO YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH
WHAT GOD PUT IN YOUR HEART.
NEHEMIAH SAID, "KING, ONE
LAST THING, I NEED
PROTECTION AS I TRAVEL TO
JERUSALEM."
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "THE
KING GRANTED NEHEMIAH ALL
HIS REQUESTS, BECAUSE THE
GRACIOUS HAND OF GOD WAS ON
HIS LIFE."
HE WENT AND REBUILT THE
WALLS IN FIFTY-TWO DAYS, IN
RECORD TIME.
IF NEHEMIAH WERE STANDING
HERE TODAY, HE WOULD TELL
YOU, "WHEN YOU'RE FACING A
BIG OBSTACLE, A BIG DREAM,
IT MAY LOOK IMPOSSIBLE, YOU
DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES,
THOUGHTS ARE TELLING YOU IT
WILL NEVER WORK OUT, LET ME
ENCOURAGE YOU, IT'S GOING TO
BE EASIER THAN YOU THINK.
PEOPLE WILL BE THERE TO HELP
YOU, THE FUNDS WILL SHOW UP,
THE GOOD BREAKS WILL COME."
YOU HAVE AN ADVANTAGE,
YOU'RE NOT DOING LIFE BY
YOURSELF, LIKE NEHEMIAH, THE
GRACIOUS HAND OF GOD IS ON
YOUR LIFE.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BEAT
THAT CANCER?
THE GRACIOUS HAND OF GOD.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO
OVERCOME THE LOSS?
THE GRACIOUS HAND OF GOD.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT DREAM?
THE GRACIOUS HAND OF GOD.
THERE IS FAVOR ON YOUR LIFE
THAT WILL CAUSE YOU TO GO
WHERE YOU CAN'T GO ON YOUR
OWN.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT ON THE
WAY TO OUR DESTINY, THERE
WON'T BE CHALLENGES, THERE
WON'T BE SETBACKS, AND
THINGS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
BUT IF YOU STAY IN FAITH,
YOU'RE GOING TO COME IN TO
THESE MOMENTS OF FAVOR,
WHERE GOD SUDDENLY OPENS A
DOOR, CAUSES PEOPLE TO BE
GOOD TO YOU, TURNS THE
MEDICAL REPORT AROUND.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A
CONSTANT STRUGGLE.
YOU'RE GOING TO SAY LIKE
NEHEMIAH, "IT WAS EASIER
THAN I THOUGHT."
"JOEL, WHAT IF I BELIEVE
THIS AND IT DOESN'T GET
EASIER?"
WHAT IF YOU BELIEVE IT AND
IT DOES?
YOU HAVE TO RELEASE YOUR
FAITH.
I CAN TELL YOU, IF YOU'RE
DREADING THINGS, CONVINCED
THAT THE STRUGGLE IS
PERMANENT.
IT'S GOING TO BE SO HARD TO
ACCOMPLISH MY DREAM, HARD TO
RAISE MY CHILD, HARD TO GET
WELL, THEN YOUR OWN THINKING
IS LIMITING YOUR LIFE.
GET IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD.
HE'S GOING BEFORE YOU RIGHT
NOW MAKING CROOKED PLACES
STRAIGHT.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE THINGS
BEGIN TO FALL INTO PLACE,
THE RIGHT PEOPLE SHOW UP,
THE RIGHT DOORS OPEN, THE
RESOURCES, THINGS THAT YOU
USED TO STRUGGLE WITH ARE
NOT GOING TO BE A STRUGGLE
ANYMORE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE IT
HAPPEN; YOU JUST HAVE TO
BELIEVE.
"FATHER, THANK YOU THAT YOUR
GRACIOUS HAND IS ON MY LIFE.
THAT I'M COMING INTO THESE
MOMENTS OF FAVOR, THAT WHAT
I'M FACING IS GOING TO BE
EASIER THAN IT LOOKS."
DURING WORLD WAR 2, AN
AMERICAN FIGHTER PILOT WAS
FLYING A MISSION OVER THE
PACIFIC OCEAN WHEN HE RAN
OUT OF FUEL.
HE HAD TO LAND ON AN ISLAND
CONTROLLED BY THE JAPANESE.
HE AND HIS MEN KNEW THEY
WOULD SOON BE CAPTURED AND
TAKEN AS PRISONERS.
WITH THEIR PLANE SITTING ON
THE BEACH, WITH NO FUEL,
THEY HAD ALL GIVEN UP.
ALL THAT IS EXCEPT ONE MAN.
IT JUST SO HAPPENED; THIS
BOMBER WAS CARRYING A
CHAPLAIN.
HE BELIEVED THAT GOD COULD
MAKE A WAY WHERE HE DIDN'T
SEE A WAY.
HE BEGAN TO PRAY AND ASK GOD
TO PROTECT THEM AND GIVE
THEM FAVOR AND HELP THEM TO
GET BACK TO THEIR BASE.
THE OTHER MEN THOUGHT HE WAS
KIND OF FAR OUT, THEY WERE
ON A DESERTED ISLAND, NO
BOAT, NO FOOD.
IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE THEY WOULD BE FOUND.
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, ONE
OF THE MEN COULDN'T SLEEP.
HE DECIDED TO GO TO THE
BEACH AND TAKE A WALK.
HE LOOKED OUT IN THE WAVES
AND SAW SOMETHING STRANGE,
BOBBING UP AND DOWN.
THERE WAS THIS LARGE
CANISTER, ABOUT FIVE FEET
TALL, THREE FEET WIDE.
HE WENT OVER AND LOOKED
CLOSER; THE WORDS WERE
WRITTEN ON IT "AVIATION
FUEL".
HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
HE SHOUTED TO THE OTHER
AIRMEN, THEY CAME AND PULLED
IT IN OUT OF THE WATER.
THEY RUSHED TO THE PLANE,
POURED THE FUEL IN IT, IN A
FEW MINUTES THEY WERE IN THE
AIR, ON THEIR WAY TO THEIR
CAMP NOT FAR AWAY.
THEIR LIVES WERE SPARED.
LATER IT WAS DISCOVERED, THE
CANISTER ONE OF HUNDREDS
THAT WERE ON A BIG CARGO
BARGE HEADED TO THE AIRBASE.
ON THE WAY, THE BARGE WAS
DESTROYED BY THE ENEMY
FORCES.
ALL THE OTHER CANISTERS HAD
BEEN LOST, BUT THIS ONE
FLOATED OVER A THOUSAND
MILES, PAST TWENTY-FIVE
OTHER ISLANDS.
IT JUST SO HAPPENED TO WASH
UP ON THIS ISLAND RIGHT
WHERE THE PLANE HAD RUN OUT
OF FUEL.
IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT
SOLDIER WENT OUT EARLY THAT
MORNING AND SAW IT.
IT SEEMED LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE
SITUATION, DESERTED ISLAND,
ON THE ENEMY'S TERRITORY, NO
AIRPORT, NO GAS STATIONS,
BUT GOD NEVER RUNS OUT OF
OPTIONS.
HE HAD THE SOLUTION BEFORE
YOU HAD THE PROBLEM.
THAT CANISTER HAD BEEN
FLOATING IN THAT DIRECTION,
MONTHS BEFORE THE PLANE EVER
RAN OUT OF FUEL.
IT COULD HAVE SUNK, GOTTEN
LOST, WASHED UP ON ANOTHER
ISLAND, BUT WHAT GOD HAS
ORDAINED FOR YOU, IS GOING
TO FIND YOU.
IT'S GOING TO SHOW UP AT THE
RIGHT TIME.
GOD ALREADY HAS THE HEALING
IN ROUTE, THE PROMOTION IN
ROUTE, THE FREEDOM IN ROUTE,
THE ABUNDANCE IS IN ROUTE,
THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE IN
ROUTE.
IT MAY SEEM LIKE YOU COULD
NEVER GET OUT OF YOUR
SITUATION, NEVER ACCOMPLISH
THAT DREAM, YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT GOD IS UP TO.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
ALREADY IN ROUTE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS
DIFFICULT AS YOU THINK, IT'S
NOT GOING TO TAKE AS LONG AS
IT LOOKS.
GOD IS GOING BEFORE YOU,
MAKING CROOKED PLACES
STRAIGHT.
IF YOU COULD SEE WHAT HE HAS
COMING, HOW HE'S GOING TO
TURN THE TROUBLE AROUND,
RESTORE WHAT YOU'VE LOST,
THRUST YOU TO A NEW LEVEL,
YOU WOULDN'T BE DISCOURAGED,
YOU WOULDN'T COMPLAIN, YOU
WOULD THANK HIM FOR HIS
GOODNESS.
IT MAY LOOK COMPLICATED, IT
MAY SEEM STRESSFUL, YOU
DON'T SEE HOW, THE ODDS ARE
AGAINST YOU, YOU COULD LIVE
WORRIED.
YOU HAVE TO KEEP REMINDING
YOURSELF: IT'S GOING TO BE
EASIER THAN YOU THINK.
GOD IS IN CONTROL.
HE'S FIGHTING YOUR BATTLES.
HIS PLANS FOR YOU ARE FOR
GOOD.
HE'S BIGGER THAN THE
SICKNESS, GREATER THAN THE
TROUBLE, MORE POWERFUL THAN
WHAT'S TRYING TO STOP YOU.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, GIDEON AND
HIS THREE HUNDRED MEN, WERE
FACING AN ARMY OF A HUNDRED
AND TWENTY THOUSAND.
GIDEON WAS ALREADY AFRAID,
INTIMIDATED, GOD FINALLY
CONVINCED HIM TO LEAD THE
PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AGAINST THE
MIDIANITES.
I CAN HEAR HIM SAYING, "GOD,
THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE.
WE'RE SO OUTNUMBERED.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO
DEFEAT THESE PEOPLE?"
GOD PUTS YOU IN SITUATIONS
THAT ARE WAY OVER YOUR HEAD,
NUMBER ONE, TO SEE IF YOU'LL
TRUST HIM.
AND NUMBER TWO, SO HE CAN
SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
GOD SAID IN JUDGES 6,
GIDEON, YOU WILL DEFEAT THE
MIDIANITES AS IF YOU WERE
FIGHTING ONE MAN."
GOD WAS SAYING, "GIDEON, I
KNOW YOU'RE FACING A HUNDRED
AND TWENTY THOUSAND MEN.
I KNOW YOU'RE OUTNUMBERED.
I DIDN'T PUT YOU IN THIS
SITUATION BY ACCIDENT.
TRUST ME.
I'M GOING BEFORE YOU.
I'M GOING TO MAKE THE
CROOKED PLACES STRAIGHT.
IT'S GOING TO BE EASIER THAN
YOU THINK."
GIDEON AND HIS MEN BLEW
THEIR HORNS AND SHOUTED, THE
ENEMY GOT CONFUSED AND ENDED
UP DESTROYING EACH OTHER.
GIDEON DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO
FIGHT.
THEY NEVER EVEN BROKE A
SWEAT.
THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED A
"NO SWEAT ANOINTING".
THAT'S WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE
TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO STRIVE,
WORK, MANIPULATE; YOU JUST
STAY IN FAITH AND GOD DOES
IT FOR YOU.
GOD WILL CHANGE THE COUNCIL
MEMBER'S MIND.
GOD WILL CAUSE THE KING TO
GIVE YOU THE RESOURCES.
GOD WILL BRING THE CANISTER
OF FUEL TO YOU.
YOU MAY BE UP AGAINST A
CHALLENGE THAT'S MUCH
BIGGER, LIKE GIDEON YOU FEEL
OUTNUMBERED.
THE SICKNESS SEEMS STRONGER,
THE ADDICTION SEEMS
PERMANENT, THE PEOPLE
AGAINST YOU ARE MORE
POWERFUL.
GOD IS SAYING TO YOU WHAT HE
SAID TO GIDEON, "YOU'RE
GOING TO DEFEAT IT LIKE
YOU'RE FIGHTING ONE MAN.
IT'S GOING TO BE EASIER THAN
YOU THINK."
GOD IS GOING TO DO THINGS
OUT OF THE ORDINARY,
UNCOMMON, UNUSUAL.
YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN.
IT'S GOD GOING BEFORE YOU
MAKING THE CROOKED PLACES
STRAIGHT, DEFEATING GIANTS,
BRINGING PROMOTION, FAVOR,
VICTORY.
LET FAITH RISE UP TODAY.
SURE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
CHALLENGES, THERE ARE GOING
TO BE SEASONS WE HAVE TO
ENDURE, OUTLAST, STAND
STRONG.
BUT WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE
IS THERE ARE ALSO MOMENTS OF
FAVOR WHERE GOD IS GOING TO
STEP IN AND MAKE IT EASIER
THAN IT LOOKS.
DON'T GO THROUGH LIFE
DREADING, WORRIED, STRESSED
OUT.
YOU'RE NOT DOING LIFE ON
YOUR OWN, THE GRACIOUS HAND
OF GOD IS UPON YOU.
ALL THROUGH THE DAY, "FATHER
THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE GOING
BEFORE ME MAKING MY CROOKED
PLACES STRAIGHT.
THANK YOU THAT YOUR YOKE IS
EASY AND YOUR BURDEN IS
LIGHT."
IF YOU'LL DO THIS, I BELIEVE
AND DECLARE, YOU'RE ABOUT TO
SEE THE GRACIOUS HAND OF
GOD.
WHAT USED TO BE A STRUGGLE,
IS NOT GOING TO BE A
STRUGGLE ANYMORE.
NEGATIVE SITUATIONS ARE
TURNING AROUND.
HEALING IS COMING,
BREAKTHROUGHS ARE COMING,
FAVOR IS COMING.
IT'S GOING TO BE EASIER THAN
YOU THINK, IN JESUS' NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY AMEN?
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 ON YOUR NEW WALK
WITH THE LORD.
TEXT THE NUMBER ON THE
SCREEN OR YOU CAN GO TO THE
WEBSITE.
I HOPE YOU'LL GET INTO A
GOOD BIBLE-BASED CHURCH AND
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
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