JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU!
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU
WITH US TODAY. IF YOU'RE
EVER IN OUR AREA,
PLEASE STOP BY; BE A PART
OF ONE OF OUR SERVICES.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU.
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.
YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON
SOCIAL MEDIA. WE'LL KEEP
YOU ENCOURAGED AND
INSPIRED.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THIS NEW
POLICE RECRUIT. HE WAS
TAKING HIS FINAL EXAM
IN FRONT OF A LARGE
CLASSROOM. THE SERGEANT
ASKED HIM, "WHAT WOULD
YOU DO IF YOU HAD TO
ARREST YOUR OWN
MOTHER-IN-LAW?"
WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT,
HE SAID, "CALL FOR BACKUP."
(LAUGHTER)
ALL RIGHT YA'LL, I'VE GOT
A GREAT MOTHER-IN-LAW.
HERE WE GO, READY?
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 PROSPER WHERE YOU'RE
PLANTED.
IT'S EASY TO THINK,
"WHEN I GET OUT OF THIS
CHALLENGE, I'LL BE MY
BEST. WHEN THIS PANDEMIC
IS OVER, I'LL PURSUE MY
DREAMS. WHEN I DON'T HAVE
THIS TROUBLE AT WORK, THEN
I'LL GET MY PASSION BACK."
BUT WHILE YOU'RE WAITING
FOR THINGS TO CHANGE,
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO
PUT YOUR DREAMS ON HOLD.
GOD WANTS TO PROSPER YOU
IN THE DIFFICULTY.
HE WANTS TO SHOW YOU
FAVOR IN THE FAMINE.
DON'T WAIT FOR THINGS TO
TURN AROUND, THEN YOU'LL
HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE, YOU
HAVE TO BE YOUR BEST WHERE
YOU ARE.
GOD DOESN'T HAVE TO BRING
YOU OUT OF THE TROUBLE,
HE CAN CAUSE YOU TO
FLOURISH IN THE TROUBLE.
YOU MAY BE IN A SLOW SEASON,
YOU'RE WAITING FOR DOORS TO
OPEN, HOPING TO MEET THE
RIGHT PERSON, LOOKING FOR
A NEW POSITION, BUT NOTHING
IS HAPPENING.
IT'S TEMPTING TO GET
DISCOURAGED, "GOD, WHEN ARE
YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING?"
WHILE YOU'RE WAITING, YOU
NEED TO TAKE STEPS TO GROW,
DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS, BE GOOD
TO OTHERS.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING WHILE THE
SITUATION IS NOT CHANGING
WILL DETERMINE WHETHER YOU
PROSPER WHERE YOU'RE
PLANTED, OR WHETHER YOU JUST
ENDURE IT.
WHEN GOD SEES YOU GIVING
YOUR ALL WHEN THINGS AREN'T
IMPROVING, STILL PURSUING
YOUR GOALS, STILL SERVING,
GIVING, EXCELLING, HE MAY
NOT BRING YOU OUT OF THE
CHALLENGE WHEN YOU THOUGHT,
BUT HE WILL CAUSE YOU TO
PROSPER IN THE CHALLENGE.
WHAT'S A GREATER TESTIMONY,
THAT GOD BROUGHT YOU OUT OF
THE TROUBLE, OR THAT HE
CAUSED YOU TO FLOURISH IN
THE TROUBLE?
THAT GOD STOPPED THE
PANDEMIC, OR THAT YOU
PROSPERED IN THE PANDEMIC.
JEREMIAH 29:11 IS A VERY
WELL-KNOWN SCRIPTURE.
IT SAYS, "THESE ARE THE
PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, SAYS
THE LORD, PLANS TO PROSPER
YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU,
PLANS TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE
AND A HOPE."
IT'S INTERESTING THE CONTEXT
THIS WAS WRITTEN IN.
THE PEOPLE WEREN'T IN A GOOD
PLACE.
IT WASN'T AN UP TIME, A
JOYFUL MOMENT.
KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR HAD JUST
TAKEN THE ISRAELITES OUT OF
JERUSALEM AS CAPTIVES AND
SENT THEM TO BABYLON.
NOW THE ISRAELITES WERE
LIVING THERE IN EXILE, NOT
ABLE TO GO HOME.
IT WAS A GREAT
DISAPPOINTMENT.
THEIR WHOLE WORLD WAS
TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
I'M SURE THEY WERE PRAYING,
"GOD, DELIVER US, PLEASE
GET US OUT OF HERE."
BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD
CAME SAYING THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO BE THERE ANOTHER
SEVENTY YEARS.
YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW
DISCOURAGED THEY WERE.
THINKING THEY HAD SEEN
THEIR BEST DAYS.
GOD KNEW THEY WERE ABOUT
TO GIVE UP ON THEIR DREAMS,
LOSE THEIR PASSION.
THE PROPHET JEREMIAH SHOWED
UP AND TOLD THEM TO DO
SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT.
HE SAID IN VERSE 5, "BUILD
HOUSES AND LIVE IN THEM,
PLANT GARDENS AND EAT THE
PRODUCE.
GIVE YOUR DAUGHTERS IN
MARRIAGE.
INCREASE DO NOT DECREASE.
PROSPER IN THE LAND WHICH
YOU ARE IN AS EXILE."
GOD DIDN'T SAY, "I'M GOING
TO GET YOU OUT SO I CAN
PROSPER YOU.
I'M GOING TO FREE YOU FROM
THIS CAPTIVITY SO YOU CAN
BUILD, DREAM, SEE INCREASE."
HE SAID, "I'M GOING TO
PROSPER YOU WHERE YOU'RE
PLANTED. I'M GOING TO
PROSPER YOU IN EXILE.
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU
MY FAVOR WHILE YOU'RE
IN BABYLON."
BUT NOTICE THEY HAD
TO DO SOMETHING.
HE SAID, "BUILD HOUSES,
PLANT GARDENS, MARRY,
PURSUE GOALS."
THEY COULD HAVE SAID,
"GOD, THAT DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE, THIS ISN'T EVEN
OUR LAND. ONCE YOU FREE
US, THEN WE'LL GET OUR
PASSION BACK."
NO, IN CAPTIVITY, IN
DISAPPOINTMENT, DEALING
WITH A LOSS, YOU HAVE
TO TAKE STEPS OF FAITH.
YOU CAN'T SIT BACK AND
THINK ABOUT WHAT DIDN'T
WORK OUT.
"WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?"
BE PROACTIVE. LOOK FOR
OPPORTUNITIES, SHINE AT
WORK, BE A BLESSING
WHEREVER YOU GO.
GOD WAS TELLING THEM,
"I'M NOT GOING TO TURN
THIS AROUND IMMEDIATELY.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR
A WHILE, BUT WHILE YOU'RE
HERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO
LIVE DEFEATED; YOU DON'T
HAVE TO GIVE UP ON YOUR
DREAMS, MY PLANS ARE TO
PROSPER YOU, EVEN WHILE
YOU'RE IN CAPTIVITY.
I'M GOING TO PROSPER YOU
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE IN
EXILE."
WE ALL HAVE TIMES, WHERE
WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR IS
NOT HAPPENING AS FAST
AS WE WOULD LIKE.
WE'RE BELIEVING FOR A
BREAKTHROUGH, TO MEET
THE RIGHT PERSON, SEE OUR
FAMILY RESTORED BUT IT'S
BEEN A LONG TIME.
IT'S TEMPTING TO GET
SOUR, LOSE OUR PASSION.
BUT WHILE YOU'RE WAITING,
INSTEAD OF DRAGGING
THROUGH THE DAY, IF YOU'LL
START BEING PRODUCTIVE,
BUILDING HOUSES SO TO
SPEAK, PURSUING DREAMS,
USING YOUR GIFTS.
GOD WILL CAUSE YOU TO
PROSPER IN EXILE.
HE'LL PROSPER YOU ON THE
ENEMY'S TERRITORY.
HE'S NOT WAITING TO BRING
YOU OUT; HE'LL PROSPER YOU
IN THE PANDEMIC.
HE'LL SHOW YOU HIS GOODNESS
WHILE YOU'RE IN CAPTIVITY.
LIKE THE ISRAELITES, LIFE
MAY HAVE THROWN YOU A CURVE,
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN
EXILE.
YOU'VE GONE THROUGH A
DISAPPOINTMENT, A BREAKUP,
A CHILD IS OFF COURSE.
YOU COULD SETTLE WHERE YOU
ARE, ACCEPT THAT IT'S NOT
GOING TO WORK OUT.
NO, GET YOUR PASSION BACK.
YOU'RE NOT IN EXILE BY
YOURSELF, YOU'RE NOT ALONE
IN CAPTIVITY.
THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE
IS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.
YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND IT,
BUT IT'S A PART OF HIS PLAN.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO REACH
YOUR HIGHEST POTENTIAL, YOU
HAVE TO KEEP DOING THE RIGHT
THING WHEN THE WRONG THING
IS HAPPENING.
KEEP BELIEVING, KEEP
DREAMING, KEEP GROWING.
GOD DIDN'T BRING YOU THIS
FAR TO LEAVE YOU.
IT MAY NOT TURN AROUND AS
SOON AS YOU WOULD LIKE, BUT
HOW DO YOU KNOW GOD IS NOT
GOING TO PROSPER YOU IN THE
DIFFICULTY, CAUSE YOU TO
FLOURISH IN THE FIRE, TAKE
YOU TO NEW LEVELS IN THE
MIDST OF THAT CHALLENGE.
WE'VE ALL SEEN THIS WITH THE
PANDEMIC.
IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS
GETTING BETTER, THEN ANOTHER
STRAIN.
WE SEE THESE CONFLICTS IN
AFGHANISTAN, THE
EARTHQUAKES, THE HURRICANES.
IN ONE SENSE, WE COULD SAY,
WE'RE IN BABYLON.
THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES,
SITUATIONS THAT ARE NOT
CHANGING.
HERE'S THE KEY, WE'RE NOT
SUPPOSED TO SURRENDER, PUT
OUR DREAMS ON HOLD.
"IT'S TOO MUCH TO OVERCOME.
JUST ENDURE TILL HE COMES."
GOD IS SAYING TO US WHAT HE
SAID TO THE ISRAELITES,
"BUILD YOUR HOUSES, PURSUE
YOUR DREAMS, GO AFTER YOUR
DESTINY."
THE SITUATION AROUND US
DOESN'T HAVE TO CHANGE, GOD
WILL PROSPER US IN BABYLON.
HE'LL PROSPER US DESPITE
WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND US.
DON'T LIVE WITH A SURVIVOR
MENTALITY, "IF I CAN JUST
MAKE IT THROUGH.
I'M ON THE ENEMY'S
TERRITORY."
WE MAY BE ON THE ENEMY'S
TERRITORY, BUT WE ARE GOD'S
PROPERTY.
GOD CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE.
HE DOESN'T NEED PERMISSION
FROM ANYONE TO BLESS YOU.
WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME TO BE
PROMOTED, TO SEE INCREASE,
TO BUILD, TO TAKE NEW
GROUND, NO PERSON CAN STOP
HIM, NO BAD BREAK, NO LOSS,
NO PANDEMIC, ALL THE FORCES
OF DARKNESS CANNOT STOP WHAT
GOD HAS FOR YOU.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "THE
DARKER IT GETS IN THE WORLD,
THE BRIGHTER IT'S GOING TO
GET IN THE CHURCH."
YOU AND I ARE THE CHURCH.
THE CHURCH IS NOT A
BUILDING, IT'S PEOPLE.
THE DARKER IT GETS AROUND
YOU, THE MORE YOU'RE GOING
TO SHINE, THE MORE YOU'RE
GOING TO STAND OUT, THE MORE
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE FAVOR.
DON'T EXPECT GOD TO DELIVER
YOU FROM EVERY BABYLON, BUT
YOU CAN EXPECT HIM TO CAUSE
YOU TO PROSPER IN EVERY
BABYLON.
HE MAY NOT TAKE YOU OUT OF
THAT NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENT AT
WORK, BUT HE WILL PROMOTE
YOU IN THE MIDST OF IT.
IF GOD IS NOT DELIVERING YOU
FROM THE DIFFICULTY, MAYBE
THAT'S A SIGN THAT YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO SHINE IN THE
DIFFICULTY.
HIS PLANS ARE TO PROSPER
YOU.
HE DIDN'T SAY THAT WHEN
EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT.
HE SAID THAT WHEN THEY WERE
IN CAPTIVITY.
IF YOU'LL HAVE THE RIGHT
ATTITUDE, GOD IS GOING TO
CAUSE YOU TO PROSPER DESPITE
WHAT'S COMING AGAINST YOU.
HE'S GOING TO CAUSE YOU TO
FLOURISH ON THE ENEMY'S
TERRITORY.
NOT IN JERUSALEM, THAT'S
EXPECTED, BUT IN BABYLON.
THAT WAY PEOPLE WILL KNOW
THE FAVOR OF GOD IS ON YOUR
LIFE.
MY FATHER WENT THROUGH A
TIME WHEN IT FELT LIKE HE
WAS IN BABYLON.
BACK IN THE 1950'S, HE HAD
BEEN PASTORING A SUCCESSFUL
CHURCH, THEY HAD JUST BUILT
A NEW AUDITORIUM THAT HELD A
THOUSAND PEOPLE.
HIS DREAMS WERE COMING TO
PASS; BUT THEN MY SISTER
LISA WAS BORN WITH SOMETHING
LIKE CEREBRAL PALSY.
MY FATHER WENT TO A HOTEL
FOR A FEW DAYS TO BE ALONE.
HE READ THE SCRIPTURE LIKE
HE WAS READING IT FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
HE SAW HOW JESUS WENT ABOUT
HEALING PEOPLE AND
PERFORMING MIRACLES.
HE CAME BACK TO HIS CHURCH
WITH A NEW PASSION.
HE THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE
EXCITED, BUT THEY DIDN'T
LIKE HIS NEW MESSAGE OF
FAITH AND VICTORY.
IT DIDN'T FIT THEIR
TRADITION.
THERE WAS SO MUCH
CONTENTION, HE ENDED UP
HAVING TO LEAVE THE CHURCH.
HE HAD SPENT YEARS POURING
INTO THOSE PEOPLE, NOW THERE
WAS NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT.
HE WAS IN EXILE SO TO SPEAK.
BUT I'VE LEARNED, NOTHING
HAPPENS WITHOUT GOD'S
PERMISSION.
WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND IT, IT
MAY NOT SEEM FAIR, BUT GOD
KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
HE WOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED IT
IF IT WAS GOING TO KEEP YOU
FROM YOUR PURPOSE.
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN
EXILE.
YOU'VE BEEN PUSHED OUT,
HAVING TO START OVER, GONE
THROUGH A DIVORCE, BEEN
BETRAYED, DEALING WITH A
LOSS, IT'S TEMPTING TO
SETTLE, GET DISCOURAGED,
THINK YOU'VE SEEN YOUR BEST
DAYS.
THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE TO DIG
DOWN DEEP AND SAY, "GOD, I
DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, IT
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME,
BUT I TRUST YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE STILL ON THE
THRONE, YOU SAID YOUR PLANS
FOR ME ARE FOR GOOD; WHILE
I'M IN BABYLON, I'M STILL
GOING TO PRAISE YOU, I'M
STILL GOING TO BE MY BEST,
I'M STILL GOING TO PURSUE
DREAMS, I'M STILL GOING TO
BELIEVE FOR YOUR FAVOR."
MY FATHER WAS DISAPPOINTED.
IT WAS LIKE THE WIND WAS
KNOCKED OUT OF HIM, BUT HE
DIDN'T SIT AROUND IN
SELF-PITY.
HE DIDN'T GET BITTER.
"WHY AM I IN EXILE, WHY DID
I GET PUSHED OUT?"
HE AND MY MOTHER WENT OUT
AND FOUND AN OLD RUNDOWN
BUILDING, IT USED TO BE A
FEED STORE.
THEY STARTED LAKEWOOD WITH
NINETY PEOPLE.
HE HAD A THOUSAND MEMBERS
BEFORE, NOW JUST A FRACTION.
HE HAD A BEAUTIFUL BRICK
SANCTUARY, NOW THIS LITTLE
WOOD BUILDING.
SOMETIMES TO REACH YOUR
DESTINY, YOU HAVE TO GO
BACKWARDS, SO GOD CAN TAKE
YOU FURTHER FORWARD.
GOD DOESN'T ALWAYS DO THINGS
IN A STRAIGHT LINE, IN WHAT
MAKES SENSE.
THERE WILL BE CLOSED DOORS,
DISAPPOINTMENTS, PEOPLE THAT
WALK AWAY, THINGS YOU DIDN'T
SEE COMING.
YOU LOOK UP AND YOU'RE IN
BABYLON.
YOU WERE DOING GREAT IN
JERUSALEM, BUT THINGS
UNEXPECTEDLY CHANGED.
IN THESE TIMES THAT DON'T
MAKE SENSE, YOU CAME DOWN
WITH AN ILLNESS, YOU LOST A
MAIN CONTRACT, THE FRIEND
BETRAYED YOU, YOU HAVE TO
REMIND YOURSELF THAT GOD IS
STILL IN CONTROL.
BEING IN BABYLON IS NOT A
SURPRISE TO HIM.
DON'T PANIC, GOD KNOWS HOW
TO TAKE WHAT WAS MEANT FOR
HARM AND TURN IT TO YOUR
ADVANTAGE.
HE MAY NOT DELIVER YOU FROM
IT, BUT HE WILL PROSPER YOU
IN IT.
BEING IN BABYLON IS A TEST.
GOING THROUGH THINGS YOU
DON'T UNDERSTAND, THINGS
THAT ARE NOT FAIR, THAT
SHOWS WHAT YOUR CHARACTER
IS.
THAT SHOWS WHAT YOU'RE
CAPABLE OF HANDLING.
HOW MUCH GOD CAN TRUST YOU
WITH.
HOW MUCH INFLUENCE YOU CAN
CARRY, HOW MUCH
RESPONSIBILITY HE CAN GIVE
YOU.
WHAT YOU DO IN THE TOUGH
TIMES WILL DETERMINE HOW
HIGH YOU RISE.
MY FATHER COULD HAVE SLACKED
OFF, "GOD WHEN YOU GIVE ME A
BIG CHURCH, I'LL BE MY BEST
AGAIN.
WHEN I HAVE A THOUSAND
MEMBERS, THEN I'LL STUDY,
THEN I'LL PREPARE AND DO MY
BEST."
NO, MY FATHER PREACHED TO
THOSE NINETY PEOPLE LIKE HE
WAS PREACHING TO THOUSANDS.
HE NEVER MISSED A SERVICE.
WHILE HE WAS WAITING FOR
PROMOTION, WAITING FOR
GROWTH, WAITING FOR FAVOR,
HE DEVELOPED HIS GIFTS, HE
SERVED, HE VISITED PEOPLE IN
THE HOSPITAL, HE HELPED
THOSE IN NEED.
TEN YEARS WENT BY, THE
CHURCH STILL HAD LESS THAN
TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE.
THOSE WERE VERY IMPORTANT
YEARS, YEARS OF TESTING,
YEARS OF PROVING.
GOD WAS SEEING WHAT MY
FATHER WAS MADE OF.
DADDY PROVED THAT HE WOULD
DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN IT
WAS HARD.
THAT HE WOULD BE HIS BEST
WHEN THINGS WEREN'T GROWING.
THAT HE WOULD BUILD, DREAM,
PLANT EVEN THOUGH HE WAS IN
BABYLON.
IN 1972, IT WAS LIKE GOD
OPENED UP A FAUCET, PEOPLE
STARTED COMING TO THE CHURCH
FROM ALL OVER THE CITY.
IT GREW TO A THOUSAND, THEN
TWO THOUSAND, THEN FOUR,
THEN EIGHT AND HERE WE ARE
TODAY.
MY FATHER WOULD HAVE NEVER
REACHED HIS DESTINY WITHOUT
BEING PUSHED OUT OF THAT
CHURCH.
WHAT WAS INSIDE OF HIM WAS
BIGGER THAN THE DENOMINATION
HE WAS IN.
DON'T FIGHT THE CLOSED
DOORS, THE DISAPPOINTMENTS,
THE PEOPLE THAT WALK AWAY,
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD IS
UP TO.
SOMETIMES HE HAS TO MOVE YOU
AWAY FROM WHAT YOU'RE
COMFORTABLE WITH.
YOU CAN'T SEE IT, BUT HE
KNOWS SOMETHING IS LIMITING
YOU.
YOU MAY GO THROUGH THESE
SEASONS OF TESTING, SEASONS
OF PROVING.
IT'S EASY TO GET
DISCOURAGED, SLACK OFF, BUT
YOU NEED TO KEEP BEING YOUR
BEST.
NOTHING IS CHANGING, THAT'S
OKAY, KEEP DOING THE RIGHT
THING.
GOD TOLD THE ISRAELITES,
YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN
BABYLON FOR SOME YEARS, I'M
NOT GOING TO TURN THIS
AROUND OVERNIGHT, BUT WHILE
YOU'RE HERE, DON'T PUT YOUR
LIFE ON HOLD.
BUILD, PLANT, MARRY,
INCREASE.
WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE
THESE BABYLON SEASONS, WHERE
NOTHING IS IMPROVING.
LIKE MY FATHER, YOU'RE BEING
YOUR BEST BUT NOT SEEING
GROWTH.
KEEP BUILDING, KEEP
PURSUING, KEEP SERVING.
PASS THOSE TESTS.
GOD MAY NOT BRING YOU OUT OF
BABYLON, BUT AT THE RIGHT
TIME, HE WILL CAUSE YOU TO
PROSPER IN BABYLON.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH
JOSEPH IN THE SCRIPTURE.
AT SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD, GOD
GAVE HIM A DREAM THAT HE
WOULD LEAD A NATION AND HAVE
GREAT INFLUENCE.
HE WAS EXCITED, BUT HIS
BROTHERS, NOT SO MUCH.
THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT
THAT HE HAD A BIG DREAM AND
THAT THERE WAS FAVOR WAS ON
HIS LIFE.
THEY WERE TAKING CARE OF
SHEEP IN ANOTHER CITY, HIS
FATHER ASKED JOSEPH TO GO
CHECK ON THEM.
WHEN THEY SAW JOSEPH COMING,
THEY THOUGHT THIS WAS THEIR
BIG CHANCE TO GET RID OF
HIM.
THEY THREW HIM INTO A PIT.
THEY WERE GOING TO LEAVE HIM
THERE BUT A CARAVAN OF
ISHMAELITES CAME TRAVELING
THROUGH, THEY ENDED UP
SELLING HIM AS SLAVE.
JOSEPH WAS IN A FOREIGN
COUNTRY, WORKING FOR A
HIGH-RANKING MILITARY
OFFICER NAMED POTIPHAR.
HERE A FEW WEEKS EARLIER,
HIS FUTURE LOOKED SO BRIGHT.
HE WAS WEARING THE COAT OF
MANY COLORS THAT HIS FATHER
HAD GIVEN HIM, HIS FATHER'S
FAVORITE CHILD, BUT LIFE HAS
A WAY OF TAKING TWISTS AND
TURNS, THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T
SEE COMING.
NOW JOSEPH FOUND HIMSELF IN
BABYLON, SO TO SPEAK, IN
EXILE, IN CAPTIVITY, JUST
LIKE THE PEOPLE IN
JEREMIAH'S DAY.
JOSEPH HAD EVERY RIGHT TO BE
BITTER, DISCOURAGED.
HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.
BUT JOSEPH UNDERSTOOD THIS
PRINCIPLE.
THAT THERE ARE TIMES WE'RE
GOING TO FIND OURSELVES IN
EXILE.
INSTEAD OF SITTING AROUND IN
SELF-PITY, HE KEPT BEING HIS
BEST, USING HIS GIFTS AND
TALENTS.
HE SERVED WITH SUCH
EXCELLENCE THAT POTIPHAR
NOTICED HIM.
HE STOOD OUT FROM AMONG ALL
THE OTHER STAFF.
POTIPHAR PUT HIM IN CHARGE
OF HIS WHOLE HOUSE.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS JOSEPH
BECAME A FAVORITE OF
POTIPHAR.
IT'S INTERESTING HOW JOSEPH
WAS A FAVORITE OF HIS
FATHER, THAT DOOR CLOSED, HE
WENT INTO EXILE, BUT NOTICE
HOW GOD WORKS.
IF YOU KEEP USING YOUR
GIFTS, KEEP BEING YOUR BEST,
FAVOR WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO
EXILE.
HE BECAME THE FAVORITE OF
HIS BOSS.
THE FAVOR DIDN'T LEAVE HIM
JUST BECAUSE HE CHANGED
LOCATIONS, IT DIDN'T LEAVE
HIM BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE
JEALOUS, HE HAD A BAD BREAK,
HE WAS IN CAPTIVITY.
THE FAVOR ON YOUR LIFE
DIDN'T LEAVE YOU BECAUSE
YOU'RE IN A PANDEMIC,
SOMEBODY WALKED AWAY, YOU
HAD A DISAPPOINTMENT.
IT'S STILL THERE.
KEEP SHINING WHERE YOU ARE,
KEEP EXCELLING, KEEP
SERVING, KEEP GIVING.
THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO BE FOR YOU.
THE RIGHT DOORS ARE GOING TO
OPEN.
BEING IN BABYLON DID NOT
STOP THE BLESSING GOD PUT ON
YOUR LIFE.
GENESIS 39 SAYS, "THE LORD
BEGAN TO BLESS POTIPHAR
BECAUSE OF JOSEPH."
POTIPHAR WAS AN INFLUENTIAL,
SUCCESSFUL LEADER.
YOU WOULD THINK JOSEPH WOULD
BE BLESSED BECAUSE HE WORKED
FOR POTIPHAR.
BUT IT WAS THE OTHER WAY
AROUND, POTIPHAR WAS BLESSED
BECAUSE OF JOSEPH, A SLAVE,
A FOREIGNER, IN CAPTIVITY,
THAT HAD THE FAVOR OF GOD.
WHEREVER YOU GO, THERE IS
FAVOR ON YOUR LIFE.
THE LOCATION DOESN'T STOP
THE FAVOR.
JOSEPH WAS A HANDSOME YOUNG
MAN, POTIPHAR'S WIFE NOTICED
HOW ATTRACTIVE HE WAS, SHE
TRIED TO SEDUCE HIM.
JOSEPH COULD HAVE LET HIS
GUARD DOWN, THOUGHT, "BIG
DEAL, I HAVE NOTHING TO
LOSE.
I'M A SLAVE."
BUT JOSEPH HAD SO MUCH
INTEGRITY, HE WAS SO
HONORABLE, THAT HE WOULDN'T
GIVE IN.
SHE LIED ABOUT JOSEPH,
FALSELY ACCUSED HIM.
POTIPHAR WAS FURIOUS.
HE HAD JOSEPH PUT IN PRISON.
NOW HE'S NOT JUST A SLAVE,
NOT JUST IN A FOREIGN
COUNTRY BUT HE'S A PRISONER.
ON THE WAY TO YOUR DESTINY,
DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THERE
ARE TWISTS.
PEOPLE THAT LIE ABOUT YOU,
PEOPLE THAT TRY TO GET YOU
TO COMPROMISE, JEALOUS
FAMILY MEMBERS, COWORKERS
THAT PLAY POLITICS.
HOW WE HANDLE THESE TIMES
WILL DETERMINE WHETHER WE
PROSPER WHERE WE ARE, OR
WHETHER WE GET STUCK WHERE
WE ARE.
JOSEPH WAS IN PRISON, BUT HE
DIDN'T GET SOUR, HE DIDN'T
START COMPLAINING.
HE KEPT BEING HIS BEST,
STILL SERVING, STILL USING
HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
VERSE 21 SAYS, "JOSEPH HAD
FAVOR WITH THE CHIEF JAILOR.
BEFORE LONG, HE WAS PUT IN
CHARGE OF ALL THE OTHER
PRISONERS AND EVERYTHING
THAT HAPPENED IN THE
PRISON."
GOD DIDN'T DELIVER HIM OUT
OF THE TROUBLE, HE CAUSED
HIM TO FLOURISH IN THE
TROUBLE.
HE PROSPERED IN THE PRISON.
HIS ENVIRONMENT DIDN'T
CHANGE, BUT HE KEPT SEEING
FAVOR, PROMOTION, DESPITE
THE BAD BREAKS.
ONE NIGHT, ONE OF THE
PRISONERS, THE PHARAOH'S
FORMER BUTLER HAD A DREAM,
HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT
MEANT.
JOSEPH HAD A GIFT OF
INTERPRETING DREAMS.
HE COULD HAVE THOUGHT, "I'M
NOT GOING TO HELP YOU, I
HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS OF MY
OWN."
HE COULD HAVE BEEN BITTER,
BUT HE USED HIS GIFTS TO
HELP THE BUTLER.
HE INTERPRETED HIS DREAM.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT
HIS GIFT WORKED IN THE
PRISON.
YOUR GIFTS DON'T QUIT
WORKING BECAUSE YOU HAD A
BAD BREAK, YOU WENT THROUGH
A DISAPPOINTMENT, YOU LOST A
LOVED ONE, YOU'RE IN
BABYLON.
USE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU.
BE GOOD TO OTHERS.
DON'T PUT YOUR GIFTS ON HOLD
BECAUSE THINGS HAVEN'T
TURNED OUT THE WAY YOU
THOUGHT.
YOUR GIFTS ARE GOING TO MAKE
ROOM FOR YOU.
YOUR GIFTS ARE GOING TO
CAUSE DOORS TO OPEN.
YOUR GIFTS ARE A KEY TO YOU
REACHING YOUR DESTINY.
JOSEPH INTERPRETED THE
BUTLER'S DREAM, TOLD HIM
THAT IN TWO DAYS HE WAS
GOING TO GET OUT OF PRISON.
ALL JOSEPH ASKED FOR IN
RETURN WAS FOR THE BUTLER TO
PUT IN A GOOD WORD FOR HIM.
THE BUTLER AGREED.
HE GOT OUT OF PRISON AND
FORGOT ALL ABOUT JOSEPH.
TWO MORE YEARS PASSED.
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR
JOSEPH TO BE DISCOURAGED,
BUT JOSEPH WOULDN'T TAKE THE
BAIT.
HE JUST KEPT BEING HIS BEST,
BEING GOOD TO PEOPLE THAT
WERE NOT GOOD TO HIM,
SERVING IN A COUNTRY THAT HE
DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN.
WHEN YOU PASS THESE TESTS
LIKE JOSEPH, YOU'RE NOT ONLY
GOING TO PROSPER EACH STEP
OF THE WAY, BUT GOD IS GOING
TO DO SOME UNUSUAL THINGS.
HE'S PREPARING YOU TO GO
WHERE YOU'VE NEVER DREAMED.
AS YOU KEEP DOING THE RIGHT
THING, YOU'RE PROVING TO GOD
THAT HE CAN TRUST YOU.
WE ALWAYS WANT GOD TO
DELIVER US FROM THE
CHALLENGE, "I'M
UNCOMFORTABLE, I DON'T LIKE
THE OPPOSITION, THESE PEOPLE
AREN'T TREATING ME RIGHT."
BUT IF YOU WILL DO LIKE
JOSEPH, AND SAY, "GOD EVEN
IF YOU DON'T DELIVER ME
RIGHT NOW, I'M GOING TO KEEP
SHINING, I'M GOING TO KEEP
PRAISING, KEEP USING MY
GIFTS, KEEP BEING MY BEST."
THEN YOU'LL NOT ONLY SEE
GOD'S GOODNESS ALONG THE
WAY, BUT YOU'LL COME INTO
SOME EXPLOSIVE BLESSINGS,
BLESSINGS THAT CATAPULT YOU
AHEAD.
WHERE SUDDENLY YOU'RE
PROMOTED, SUDDENLY YOU GET
WELL, SUDDENLY YOU MEET THE
RIGHT PERSON, SUDDENLY
YOU'RE THRUST TO A NEW LEVEL
OF YOUR DESTINY.
ONE NIGHT THE PHARAOH HAD A
DREAM, THE LEADER OF THE
COUNTRY.
HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT WHAT
IT MEANT.
THE BUTLER SUDDENLY
REMEMBERED JOSEPH, TWO YEARS
AFTER HE INTERPRETED HIS
DREAM.
HE SAID TO THE PHARAOH,
"THERE'S A YOUNG MAN IN
PRISON, A SLAVE NAMED
JOSEPH, HE CAN INTERPRET
YOUR DREAM."
THINK ABOUT THIS, IF JOSEPH
HAD NOT USED HIS GIFT TO
INTERPRET THE BUTLER'S
DREAM, IF HE HAD BEEN UPSET,
IN SELF-PITY, WE WOULDN'T BE
TALKING ABOUT HIM.
THAT'S WHAT JEREMIAH WAS
SAYING TO THE ISRAELITES,
"WHILE YOU'RE IN BABYLON,
DON'T WASTE THESE YEARS
BEING DISCOURAGED, THINKING
OF ALL THE REASONS IT HASN'T
WORKED OUT.
NO BUILD, DREAM, PLANT,
INCREASE."
HE WAS SAYING, "USE YOUR
GIFTS, STRETCH YOUR FAITH
AND YOU'LL PROSPER IN
BABYLON.
YOU'LL SEE FAVOR IN
CAPTIVITY."
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "THE
PHARAOH SENT WORD FOR
JOSEPH, AND HE WAS QUICKLY
BROUGHT FROM THE PRISON TO
STAND BEFORE PHARAOH."
HE HAD BEEN IN CAPTIVITY
THIRTEEN YEARS.
IT SEEMED LIKE THAT WAS HIS
DESTINY, BUT GOD KNOWS HOW
TO QUICKLY TURN THINGS
AROUND.
HE CAN QUICKLY TURN YOUR
BUSINESS AROUND, QUICKLY
TURN YOUR HEALTH AROUND,
QUICKLY TURN YOUR FAMILY
AROUND.
JOSEPH INTERPRETED THE
PHARAOH'S DREAM, HE WAS SO
IMPRESSED, HE MADE IN THE
PRIME MINISTER OF EGYPT,
SECOND IN COMMAND ONLY TO
THE PHARAOH.
LOOKING BACK, WE CAN SEE HOW
ALL THOSE STEPS WERE
NECESSARY FOR JOSEPH TO GET
TO THE THRONE.
THE BAD BREAKS, BETRAYALS,
DELAYS, DISAPPOINTMENTS,
THEY WERE ALL A PART OF
GOD'S PLAN.
HAD JOSEPH NOT KEPT A GOOD
ATTITUDE, NOT USED HIS
GIFTS, NOT BEEN HIS BEST, HE
WOULD HAVE GOTTEN STUCK.
GOD IS GOING TO CONNECT THE
DOTS IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND
EVERYTHING ALONG THE WAY,
BUT YOU CAN BE SURE THAT GOD
KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
HE MAY NOT DELIVER YOU OUT
OF EVERY SITUATION ON YOUR
TIMETABLE, BUT IF YOU'LL
STAY IN FAITH, HE'LL CAUSE
YOU TO FLOURISH AT EVERY
STEP OF THE WAY.
HE'LL PROSPER YOU WHEREVER
YOU'RE PLANTED.
A FEW YEARS LATER, JOSEPH
HAD A SON THAT HE NAMED
EPHRAIM.
EPHRAIM MEANS PRODUCTIVE,
FRUITFUL.
HE SAID IN VERSE 52, "I'VE
NAMED HIM THIS BECAUSE THE
LORD HAS MADE ME PROSPEROUS
IN THE LAND OF MY
SUFFERING."
HE WAS SAYING, "I HAD BAD
BREAKS, THINGS WEREN'T FAIR,
BUT GOD CAUSED ME TO PROSPER
DESPITE WHAT TRIED TO STOP
ME."
IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN
EPHRAIM, IF YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE GOD PROSPER YOU IN THE
MIDST OF THE DIFFICULTY, YOU
HAVE TO STAY PRODUCTIVE,
KEEP USING YOUR GIFTS, KEEP
STRETCHING, KEEP BEING GOOD
TO PEOPLE.
DON'T PUT YOUR DREAMS ON
HOLD BECAUSE YOU'RE IN
BABYLON.
LIKE JOSEPH, GOD CAN MAKE
YOU PROSPEROUS IN THE
AFFLICTION.
NOT WHEN YOU GET OUT BUT, IN
THE PANDEMIC, IN THE
TROUBLE, IN THE
DISAPPOINTMENT.
YOU CAN SHINE, YOU CAN STILL
BUILD, STILL SEE GREAT
RELATIONSHIPS, STILL
ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAMS.
THIS IS WHAT THE APOSTLE
PAUL DID.
HE SPENT THE LAST YEARS OF
HIS LIFE IN PRISON.
HE COULD HAVE BEEN SOUR,
THINKING, "MAN, THIS IS HOW
IT'S GOING TO END, IN
BABYLON, IN EXILE?"
BUT PAUL KNEW THOSE PRISON
BARS COULDN'T KEEP HIS GIFTS
FROM COMING OUT.
WHILE HE WAS IN PRISON, HE
WROTE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE.
SCRIPTURES THAT WE ALL QUOTE
TODAY.
"I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH
CHRIST.
GOD WILL DO EXCEEDINGLY,
ABUNDANTLY ABOVE WHAT WE
ASK.
BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND
THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT."
HE WASN'T COMPLAINING IN THE
PRISON, HE WAS FLOURISHING
IN THE PRISON.
WHILE HE WAS IN CAPTIVITY,
HE WAS WRITING BOOKS THAT
WOULD ENCOURAGE US TWO
THOUSAND YEARS LATER.
IF PAUL WERE HERE, HE WOULD
TELL YOU, YOU CAN PROSPER
WHEREVER YOU'RE PLANTED.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TILL
EVERYTHING IS PERFECT, YOU
CAN FLOURISH IN THE TROUBLE,
SEE FAVOR IN THE FAMINE, BE
PROMOTED IN THE PANDEMIC.
MY CHALLENGE TODAY IS DO
WHAT PAUL DID, DO WHAT
JOSEPH DID, KEEP BEING YOUR
BEST WHERE YOU ARE.
I CAN'T PROMISE YOU THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO COME OUT OF
EVERY BABYLON OVERNIGHT, BUT
I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT GOD
WILL PROSPER YOU IN BABYLON.
HE'LL SHOW YOU FAVOR ON THE
ENEMY'S TERRITORY.
HIS PLANS FOR YOU ARE FOR
GOOD.
HE SEES YOUR COMMITMENT, HE
SEES YOU DOING THE RIGHT
THING WHEN IT'S HARD, HE
SEES YOU BEING YOUR BEST
WHEN YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE
CREDIT.
YOUR TIME IS COMING.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE YOU'RE
ABOUT TO SEE GOD PROSPER YOU
DESPITE WHAT'S TRYING TO
STOP YOU.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE UNCOMMON
FAVOR, FAVOR THAT CATAPULTS
YOU AHEAD, DREAMS COMING TO
PASS, NEGATIVE SITUATIONS
TURNING AROUND, NEW LEVELS
OF YOUR DESTINY, IN JESUS'
NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY AMEN, TODAY? (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 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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