JOEL: WELL, GOD BLESS
YOU! IT'S GREAT TO COME
INTO YOUR HOMES.
I HOPE YOU'LL STAY CONNECTED
WITH US THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
WE HAVE A DAILY PODCAST THAT
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD, OR YOU CAN
GO TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
AND WATCH THE MESSAGES
ANYTIME; OR, OF COURSE,
YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON
SOCIAL MEDIA.
THANKS FOR TUNING IN TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST
TO KEEP YOU INSPIRED AND
ENCOURAGED.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THESE THREE
PASTORS THAT WERE IN A BOAT
ON A LAKE FISHING TOGETHER.
ONE OF THEM SAID, "WE NEVER
GET TO LET OUR HAIR DOWN.
LET'S EACH TELL THE AREA
THAT WE STRUGGLE IN THE
MOST, OUR GREATEST SIN, SO
WE CAN PRAY FOR EACH OTHER."
THE FIRST PASTOR SAID,
"I HATE TO ADMIT THIS,
BUT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
GAMBLING. SOMETIMES I
SNEAK OUT AT NIGHT AND
GAMBLE."
THE SECOND PASTOR SAID,
"I'M ASHAMED TO ADMIT THIS,
BUT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
CHEATING, I HARDLY EVER
PAY MY TAXES."
THE THIRD PASTOR SAT THERE
SILENTLY. THEY WAITED AND
WAITED. HE WOULDN'T BUDGE.
THEY SAID, "WE ARE NOT
LEAVING UNTIL YOU TELL
US YOUR GREATEST SIN."
HE SAID, "ALRIGHT, MY
GREATEST SIN IS GOSSIPING
AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET
OFF THIS BOAT."
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 "THE BEST IS NEXT".
IT'S EASY TO GET SATISFIED
WHERE WE ARE.
WHEN WE'VE SEEN BLESSING AND
FAVOR, GOD'S PROTECTED US,
PROMOTED US, OPENED DOORS,
WE CAN START THINKING THAT
WE'VE SEEN OUR BEST DAYS.
BUT GOD NEVER DOES HIS
GREATEST FEATS IN YOUR
YESTERDAYS, THEY ARE ALWAYS
IN YOUR FUTURE.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "THE
PATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS GETS
BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER."
WHAT GOD HAS IN FRONT OF YOU
IS MORE FULFILLING, MORE
REWARDING THAN ANYTHING
YOU'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.
BUT SOMETIMES BEFORE IT GETS
BRIGHTER, IT GETS DARKER.
BEFORE WE SEE MORE THAN
ENOUGH, WE GO THROUGH A
SEASON OF NOT ENOUGH.
THERE ARE TIMES THE GOOD HAS
TO COME TO AN END, TO MAKE
ROOM FOR THE BEST.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO US.
"WHY DID MY BUSINESS SLOW
DOWN, WHY DID THIS PERSON
WALK AWAY, WHY DID THIS
DOOR CLOSE?"
IT'S ALL A PART OF GOD'S
PLAN. HE'S SHAKING THINGS
UP TO MOVE YOU OUT OF
THE GOOD INTO THE BEST.
IF HE DIDN'T CLOSE THOSE
DOORS YOU WOULDN'T SEE THE
FULLNESS OF YOUR DESTINY.
WE MAY NOT LIKE THE PROCESS,
IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE, WE'RE
DOING THE RIGHT THING,
BUT THE WRONG THING IS
HAPPENING.
WE'RE WORKING HARD BUT NOT
SEEING INCREASE.
THOUGHTS WILL TELL YOU,
"IT'S NEVER GOING TO GET
BETTER."
DON'T BELIEVE THOSE LIES.
THAT DISAPPOINTMENT, THE
BREAKUP, THE SLOW SEASON
DIDN'T STOP WHAT GOD HAS
FOR YOU. IT'S GETTING YOU
IN POSITION FOR FAVOR
THAT YOU'VE NEVER SEEN.
YOUR RELATIONSHIP DIDN'T
WORK OUT, GOD KNEW IT WAS
GOING TO HAPPEN.
THAT DIDN'T CATCH HIM OFF
GUARD, HE'S ALREADY LINED
UP SOMEONE BETTER THAN
YOU CAN IMAGINE.
YOUR BUSINESS HAS SLOWED
DOWN, THE CONTRACT DIDN'T
WORK OUT.
THAT SETBACK IS NOT STOPPING
YOU, IT'S SETTING YOU UP FOR
NEW LEVELS.
YOU'RE GOING TO COME OUT,
NOT LIKE YOU WERE BEFORE,
BUT HEALTHIER, STRONGER,
PROMOTED, INCREASED.
IN JOHN 2 JESUS WAS AT A
WEDDING IN GALILEE.
IT WAS A BIG CELEBRATION
WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT
UNTIL THEY RAN OUT OF WINE.
HIS MOTHER CAME AND TOLD
HIM ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
JESUS HAD NOT PERFORMED
ANY MIRACLES IN PUBLIC UP
TO THIS POINT, BUT SHE KNEW
SOMETHING ABOUT JESUS THAT
OTHERS DIDN'T KNOW.
SHE TOLD THE STAFF TO DO
WHATEVER HE ASKED THEM
TO DO.
THERE WERE SIX LARGE WATER
POTS OVER TO THE SIDE.
THEY HELD THIRTY GALLONS
EACH.
JESUS TOLD THE MEN TO GO
FILL THEM WITH WATER.
I CAN IMAGINE THEM THINKING,
"WHAT GOOD IS THAT GOING
TO DO?"
INSTEAD OF TALKING
THEMSELVES OUT OF IT, THEY
FILLED THE CONTAINERS AND
BROUGHT THEM BACK TO JESUS.
HE SAID, "NOW DIP SOME OUT
AND TAKE IT TO THE HOST OF
THE WEDDING, TO THE MAN
THAT'S IN CHARGE."
VERSE 9 SAYS, "WHEN THE HOST
TASTED THE WATER THAT WAS
NOW WINE, HE CALLED THE
GROOM OVER AND SAID,
"USUALLY A HOST SERVES THE
BEST WINE FIRST, THEN WHEN
EVERYONE IS FULL AND DOESN'T
KNOW ANY BETTER, HE BRINGS
OUT THE LESS EXPENSIVE
WINES, BUT YOU HAVE SAVED
THE BEST UNTIL NOW."
NOTICE HOW GOD WORKS, IF
THE WINE HAD NOT RUN OUT,
IF THEY HAD NOT COME TO
THE END OF WHAT THEY WERE
USED TO, THEY WOULD HAVE
NEVER SEEN THE BEST WINE.
GOD SAVES THE BEST FOR NEXT.
YOU MAY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE
COMING TO AN END.
YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF
OPPORTUNITY, DOORS ARE
CLOSING.
RUNNING OUT OF FAVOR, WHAT
USED TO WORK IS NOT WORKING.
RUNNING OUT OF RESOURCES,
HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING
ENDS MEET.
MAYBE YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF
STRENGTH, YOU'RE WEARY,
YOU CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
THIS MAY SOUND ODD BUT
YOU'RE IN A GOOD PLACE.
WHEN YOU COME TO THE END,
THAT'S WHEN GOD STEPS IN
AND NOT JUST HELPS YOU GET
THROUGH IT, BUT HE SAYS,
"I'VE SAVED THE BEST FOR
NEXT."
THE BEST POSITION, THE BEST
RELATIONSHIPS, THE BEST IN
YOUR FINANCES, YOU HAVE MORE
THAN YOU'VE EVER HAD.
THE BEST IN YOUR HEALTH, YOU
FEEL BETTER THAN YOU'VE EVER
FELT.
THE BEST IN YOUR FAMILY,
YOU'RE HAPPIER THAN YOU'VE
EVER BEEN.
THE FACT THAT THINGS ARE
RUNNING OUT DOESN'T MEAN GOD
HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU, YOU
MUST HAVE RUN OUT OF FAVOR,
YOU MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING
WRONG.
IT'S A SIGN THAT GOD IS
ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING THAT
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN.
ONE TRANSLATION SAYS, "SHE
SAID TO JESUS, 'WE HAVE NO
MORE WINE.'" SOMETIMES WE
FEEL LIKE WE HAVE NO MORE,
NO MORE STRENGTH, NO MORE
VISION, NO MORE HEALTH.
THAT'S OKAY.
THERE ARE SEASONS WHERE YOU
COME TO AN END, YOU RUN OUT
OF A GOOD THING.
THE FIRST WINE THE PEOPLE
HAD WAS FINE.
NOBODY COMPLAINED, THEY WERE
BLESSED, HAVING A GREAT
CELEBRATION BUT THE WINE
WAS SUPPOSED TO RUN OUT.
IT WAS A PART OF GOD'S PLAN.
IF IT DIDN'T RUN OUT, THEY
WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN THE
BEST WINE.
WHAT RUNS OUT IN YOUR LIFE
IS NOT A SURPRISE TO GOD.
THE RELATIONSHIP THAT DIDN'T
MAKE IT, THE COMPANY THAT
LET YOU GO, THE LOVED ONE
YOU LOST, THE HEALTH THAT
WENT DOWN.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'VE
SEEN YOU BEST DAYS, JUST
SIT BACK AND ENDURE IT.
IT MEANS THAT NEW LEVELS
OF FAVOR ARE COMING, NEW
LEVELS OF YOUR DESTINY.
BETTER HEALTH, BETTER
OPPORTUNITIES, BETTER
RELATIONSHIPS.
GOD DOESN'T BRING YOU
OUT THE SAME.
YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK
AND SAY LIKE THAT HOST,
"YOU'VE SAVED THE BEST
FOR NOW."
THAT PERSON THAT WALKED
AWAY, DON'T GET BITTER,
THEY HAD TO GO SO THE BEST
COULD SHOW UP.
WHEN YOU SEE WHAT GOD DOES,
WHO HE BRINGS, YOU'LL SAY,
"I'M GLAD THAT OLD WINE
RAN OUT. I'M GLAD THE
OLD GOAT LEFT; I MEAN THAT
OLD BOYFRIEND LEFT.
LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS
DONE."
THOSE COWORKERS THAT PLAYED
POLITICS AND KEPT YOU FROM
THE PROMOTION, MADE YOU
LOOK BAD.
YOU THOUGHT YOU RAN OUT
OF FAVOR, THAT GOD HAD
FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU.
THAT HAD TO HAPPEN.
WHEN YOU SEE THE NEW DOOR
GOD OPENS AND HOW HE
PROMOTES YOU IN THE PRESENCE
OF YOUR ENEMIES AND HOW HE
GIVES YOU INFLUENCE AND
FAVOR THAT YOU'VE NEVER
SEEN, YOU'LL SAY, "LORD
THANK YOU, YOU SAVED THE
BEST FOR NOW. YOU TOOK
ME WHERE I COULDN'T GO
ON MY OWN."
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED WHEN
SOMETHING DOESN'T WORK OUT,
SOMETHING RUNS OUT, YOU FEEL
LIKE YOU'RE AT THE END.
YOU'VE STUDIED YOUR
SITUATION; YOU'VE TRIED TO
COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, BUT
YOU'VE RUN OUT OF OPTIONS.
YOU DON'T SEE HOW YOUR
BUSINESS CAME MAKE IT, HOW
YOUR MARRIAGE WILL LAST, HOW
YOUR HEALTH WILL TURN
AROUND.
WHEN YOU COME TO THE END,
IT'S A GOOD PLACE.
WHEN YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT A
SOLUTION, THAT'S WHEN GOD
STEPS IN.
YOU HAD TO RUN OUT OF WINE
BEFORE YOU COULD SEE THE
BEST WINE.
YOU HAD TO COME TO AN END SO
GOD CAN TAKE YOU TO A NEW
LEVEL, SO HE CAN OPEN DOORS
BIGGER THAN YOU'VE IMAGINED,
SO HE CAN GIVE YOU HEALTH,
STRENGTH, PEACE, JOY LIKE
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN.
THE BEST IS NOT BEHIND YOU,
THE BEST IS NEXT.
NOW IT MAY LOOK JUST THE
OPPOSITE.
WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING LOW,
WHEN YOU'VE COME TO AN END,
THOUGHTS WILL TELL YOU,
"IT'S ALL DOWNHILL FROM
HERE.
YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME;
YOU CAN'T ACCOMPLISH YOUR
DREAM.
YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF FAVOR;
BUSINESS IS SLOW.
YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF
STRENGTH; THIS PANDEMIC IS
GOING TO SINK YOU."
THE ONLY REASON YOU'RE
RUNNING OUT IS BECAUSE GOD
SAVED THE BEST FOR NEXT.
KEEP THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE,
"FATHER THIS LOOKS LIKE THE
END, BUT I KNOW IT'S SIGN
THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SHOW
OUT IN MY LIFE."
WEDDINGS DURING THAT TIME
WOULD GO ON FOR SEVERAL
DAYS.
WHEN JESUS SHOWED UP, THEY
COULD HAVE BEEN THERE
ENJOYING THE FIRST WINE FOR
DAYS.
THEY WERE HAPPY, THE FIRST
WINE WAS GOOD, NO ONE WAS
COMPLAINING.
BUT IF THAT GOOD WINE HAD
NOT RUN OUT, THEY WOULDN'T
HAVE SEEN THE BEST WINE.
WHEN LIFE IS GOOD FOR US,
WE'RE HAPPY, OUR CHILDREN
ARE BLESSED, WE'RE SEEING
FAVOR, WE HAVE NO COMPLAINTS
BUT SOMETIMES THINGS CHANGE.
WE'RE FACING AN ILLNESS, A
CHILD GETS OFF COURSE, A
FRIEND WE WERE COUNTING ON
WALKS AWAY.
IT'S EASY TO LIVE
DISCOURAGED, FEEL LIKE WE'RE
GOING BACKWARDS, RUNNING OUT
OF FAVOR, RUNNING OUT OF
HEALTH, BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE
REASON YOU'RE RUNNING OUT,
THE GOOD IS ABOUT TO GIVE
WAY TO THE BEST.
GOD LOVES YOU TOO MUCH TO
LEAVE YOU JUST WITH THE GOOD
WINE.
THAT'S FINE FOR A SEASON,
BUT AT SOME POINT, YOU'LL
COME TO THE END SO HE CAN
SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE IN A
MUCH GREATER WAY.
IT'S SIGNIFICANT THAT GOD
COULD HAVE GIVEN THEM THE
SAME WINE.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT
MIRACLE.
WE WOULD BE TELLING THAT
STORY, THAT GOD CAN RESTORE,
WHEN YOU RUN OUT, HE CAN
GIVE YOU MORE.
THAT'S GOOD BUT GOD IS SO
LOVING, SO MERCIFUL HE
DOESN'T BRING YOU OUT THE
SAME.
HE GIVES YOU THE BEST WINE.
THE BEST IS SIMPLY SOMETHING
THAT YOU'VE NEVER SEEN.
FAVOR THAT YOU'VE NEVER
SEEN, HEALTH THAT YOU'VE
NEVER SEEN, OPPORTUNITY,
FINANCES, INFLUENCE.
THE BEST IS IN FRONT OF YOU.
AFTER YOU SEE THAT BEST THEN
GOD WILL GIVE YOU SOMETHING
BETTER, A NEW BEST.
THAT WHAT IT MEANS HE'S
TAKING YOU FROM GLORY TO
GLORY.
IN BETWEEN THOSE GLORY'S
THERE WILL BE THESE SEASONS
WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE
NO MORE.
NOTHING MORE TO GIVE, NO
MORE CREATIVITY, NO MORE
RESOURCES, NO MORE OPTIONS.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
SAYING, "GOD, I HAVE NO
MORE, I'M RUNNING OUT OF
WINE SO TO SPEAK."
JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 5,
"YOU ARE BLESSED WHEN YOU'RE
AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE.
WITH LESS OF YOU, THERE IS
MORE OF GOD AND HIS FAVOR."
THAT SEEMS ODD.
WE'RE BLESSED WHEN WE'RE AT
THE END.
WHY WOULD JESUS SAY, "WE'RE
BLESSED WHEN THE CONTRACT
DOESN'T GO THROUGH, WE'RE
BLESSED WHEN THAT PERSON
WALKS AWAY."
IT'S BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE AT
THE END, WHEN YOU'VE RUN OUT
OF OPTIONS, WHEN YOU DON'T
HAVE ANY MORE WINE, THAT'S
WHEN GOD SHOWS UP AND GIVES
YOU THE BEST WINE, THAT'S
WHEN HE DOES MORE THAN YOU
CAN IMAGINE.
A FRIEND OF MINE PLAYED
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL FOR
MANY YEARS.
HE WAS A GREAT PLAYER, VERY
POPULAR AND WELL LIKED.
WHEN HE RETIRED, HE WAS
HIRED BY HIS TEAM TO HELP
DEVELOP THE PLAYERS AND KEEP
THEM MOTIVATED.
FOR YEARS HE WAS VERY
SUCCESSFUL, THE TEAM, THE
COACHES, THE PLAYERS, THEY
ALL LOVED HIM.
YOU COULDN'T FIND A MORE
TALENTED, KIND, LOYAL
PERSON.
LIFE WAS GOOD.
HE WAS SEEING FAVOR,
INCREASE, BLESSING.
BUT ONE DAY THIS TEAM HIRED
A NEW MANAGER, HE DIDN'T
LIKE MY FRIEND.
HE SAW HOW POPULAR HE WAS
AND HE STARTED POISONING THE
STAFF, SPREADING THINGS THAT
WEREN'T TRUE.
EVENTUALLY HE FIRED MY
FRIEND.
IT WAS VERY UNFAIR, VERY
HURTFUL.
I CALLED HIM TO ENCOURAGE
HIM, HE WAS DISAPPOINTED,
BUT HE WASN'T DISCOURAGED.
HE UNDERSTOOD THIS
PRINCIPLE.
THAT WHEN THE OLD WINE RUNS
OUT, THAT MEANS THE BEST
WINE IS COMING, SOMETHING
THAT YOU'VE NEVER SEEN.
THAT'S WHY YOU SHOULDN'T
FIGHT EVERY CLOSED DOOR,
PEOPLE THAT DO YOU WRONG,
SEASONS THAT SLOW DOWN,
YOU'RE NOT SEEING THE FAVOR
THAT YOU ONCE DID.
THESE THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN
FOR YOU TO SEE THE BEST
WINE, FOR YOU TO SEE GREATER
FAVOR AND GREATER INFLUENCE.
AS MUCH AS WE DON'T LIKE IT,
THE PEOPLE THAT DO US WRONG,
THE BAD BREAKS, THE
BETRAYALS, THE
DISAPPOINTMENTS, THEY ARE
ALL A PART OF GOD'S PLAN.
GOD IS NOT ONLY ORDERING
YOUR STEPS, HE'S ORDERING
THE STEPS OF THOSE YOU NEED
TO FULFILL YOUR DESTINY.
WE KNOW GOD ORDERED JESUS'
STEPS, BUT HE ALSO ORDERED
JUDAS' STEPS.
WITHOUT JUDAS BETRAYING
JESUS, WE WOULDN'T HAVE
SALVATION.
WITHOUT GOLIATH COMING
AGAINST DAVID, DAVID WOULD
HAVE NEVER TAKEN THE THRONE.
WITHOUT MY FATHER GOING TO
BE WITH THE LORD, SOMETHING
THAT I DIDN'T LIKE, I WOULD
HAVE NEVER STEPPED UP TO
PASTOR THE CHURCH.
WHEN THINGS RUN OUT IN YOUR
LIFE, INSTEAD OF
COMPLAINING, BEING BITTER,
KEEP THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE.
IT HAD TO RUN OUT SO YOU CAN
SEE THE BEST WINE, SO YOU
CAN STEP UP TO WHO YOU WERE
CREATED TO BE.
MY FRIEND STAYED ON THE HIGH
ROAD.
THE WHOLE TIME HIS
SUPERVISOR WAS TRYING TO
MAKE HIM LOOK BAD, ENGAGE
HIM IN CONFLICT, HE WOULDN'T
TAKE THE BAIT.
HE MOVED SOMEONE INTO HIS
OFFICE WITHOUT ASKING HIM,
MY FRIEND DIDN'T SAY A WORD.
HE LEFT RESUMES ON MY
FRIEND'S DESK, FOR HIS SAME
POSITION, TRYING TO
INTIMIDATE HIM, MY FRIEND
IGNORED IT.
WHEN HE WAS FIRED, HE
WOULDN'T TALK TO THE PRESS.
HE DIDN'T MAKE THE MAN LOOK
BAD.
HE LET GOD FIGHT HIS
BATTLES.
HE KNEW GOD WAS HIS
VINDICATOR.
HE SENT ME A LIST OF
DECLARATIONS HE MADE EVERY
DAY.
"NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME
WILL PROSPER.
I WILL LOOK IN TRIUMPH AT
THOSE THAT HAVE HATED ME.
WHAT WAS MEANT FOR HARM, GOD
IS TURNING TO MY ADVANTAGE."
WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE
RUNNING OUT SEASONS, IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
IF YOU GO AROUND BITTER,
DISCOURAGED, TRYING TO GET
EVEN.
THAT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU
WHERE YOU ARE.
ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER HE
WAS FIRED, HE RECEIVED A
PHONE CALL FROM THE NFL
OFFERING HIM A POSITION,
DOING THE SAME THING, NOT
FOR ONE TEAM, BUT FOR
MULTIPLE TEAMS, OVER A WHOLE
REGION.
NOW THE NFL, THE BIGGEST
SPORTS LEAGUE IN THE WORLD,
IS BEHIND HIM.
HE HAS INCREDIBLE INFLUENCE
AND FAVOR.
THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER
HAPPENED IF THE OLD WINE HAD
NOT RUN OUT.
WHEN DOORS CLOSE, WHEN
THINGS SLOW DOWN, WHEN
PEOPLE TURN ON YOU, STAY IN
PEACE.
GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
YOU'RE COMING TO AN END, NOT
BECAUSE IT'S OVER, BUT
BECAUSE THE BEST IS NEXT.
FAVOR THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN,
OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU DIDN'T
EXPECT, INCREASE, STRENGTH,
CREATIVITY, GOOD HEALTH,
MORE THAN YOU'VE IMAGINED.
WHEN THE WINE RAN OUT AT THE
WEDDING, JESUS ASKED THEM TO
FILL THE POTS WITH WATER.
THAT SEEMED ODD.
THEY NEEDED WINE NOT WATER.
SOMETIMES GOD WILL ASK YOU
TO DO THINGS YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND.
HE HAS THE BEST WINE READY;
HE HAS SOMETHING THAT YOU
HAVEN'T SEEN, BUT IT'S
DEPENDENT ON YOUR OBEDIENCE.
WILL YOU DO WHAT HE'S ASKING
YOU TO DO?
IT MAY BE TO FORGIVE SOMEONE
THAT DID YOU WRONG.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
THEY HURT YOU.
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE
BITTER.
THAT WILL KEEP YOU FROM THE
BEST WINE.
IT MAY BE TO STEP OUT IN
FAITH WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL
QUALIFIED, TO TEACH THE
CLASS, TO START THE
BUSINESS, TO MENTOR THAT
YOUNG PERSON.
OR MAYBE LIKE MY FRIEND,
IT'S TO KEEP A GOOD ATTITUDE
WHEN YOU'RE NOT BEING
TREATED RIGHT.
TO STAY ON THE HIGH ROAD, TO
LET GOD FIGHT YOUR BATTLES.
IT'S EASY TO TRY TO PAY
PEOPLE BACK, MAKE THEM LOOK
BAD, DO TO THEM WHAT THEY'RE
DOING TO YOU.
TRUST GOD TO BE YOUR
VINDICATOR.
HE CAN VINDICATE YOU BETTER
THAN YOU CAN VINDICATE
YOURSELF.
THIS MAN THAT WAS SO AGAINST
MY FRIEND, SO DISHONEST, NOT
LONG AGO HE WAS FIRED BY THE
TEAM IN A VERY PUBLIC WAY.
EVERYTHING HE HAD BEEN
DOING, THE SCHEMES, THE
BACKBITING, THE JEALOUSY,
THAT ALL CAME TO LIGHT.
NOW HE'S OUT AND MY FRIEND
IS IN, NOT IN THE SAME
POSITION BUT IN SOMETHING
MUCH BETTER.
PEOPLE CAN'T STOP YOUR
DESTINY, CLOSED DOORS CAN'T
STOP YOUR PURPOSE, BAD
BREAKS CAN'T KEEP YOU FROM
WHAT GOD HAS ORDAINED.
WHEN THE WINE RUNS OUT, KEEP
DOING WHAT GOD ASKS YOU TO
DO.
KEEP BEING GOOD TO PEOPLE,
KEEP GIVING, SERVING,
EXPECTING.
THE WINE RUNNING OUT IS A
SIGN THAT THE BEST WINE IS
COMING.
THERE WAS A WIDOW IN THE OLD
TESTAMENT, HER HUSBAND HAD
DIED.
NOW SHE WAS LIVING ALONE
WITH HER SON.
THEY DID FINE FOR A WHILE,
GOING ALONG, NO PROBLEMS,
THEN A DROUGHT CAME.
THEIR CROPS DRIED UP; THEIR
INCOME WENT DOWN.
SHE USED THE FUNDS HER
HUSBAND HAD LEFT, NOW THOSE
FUNDS HAD RUN OUT.
IT WAS A PERFECT STORM.
SHE HAD NO INCOME, NO
SAVINGS, NO FOOD, NO
GROCERIES.
EVERYTHING CAME TO AN END.
SHE WAS PREPARING HER LAST
MEAL.
SHE AND HER SON WERE GOING
TO EAT IT, THEY HAD ALREADY
ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT THIS
WOULD BE IT.
THE PROPHET ELIJAH SAW HER
OUT PICKING UP STICKS TO
MAKE A FIRE.
HE SAID, "DO ME A FAVOR, I'M
HUNGRY, WILL YOU MAKE ME
SOMETHING TO EAT?"
I'M SURE SHE THOUGHT,
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING."
SHE SAID, "ELIJAH, I PROMISE
YOU ALL I HAVE IS A LITTLE
FLOUR, A LITTLE OIL, WE'VE
EXHAUSTED ALL OF OUR
RESOURCES, WE JUST HAVE JUST
ENOUGH FOR MY SON AND
MYSELF.
ONCE I COOK THIS, WE'RE
DONE."
ELIJAH ASKED HER TO DO
SOMETHING THAT SEEMED
SELFISH.
HE SAID, "GO AHEAD AND MAKE
THAT LAST MEAL BUT MAKE ME A
LITTLE LOAF OF BREAD FIRST."
SHE COULD HAVE THOUGHT,
"WE'RE ABOUT TO STARVE TO
DEATH AND YOU WANT ME TO
FEED YOU BEFORE I FEED
MYSELF AND MY SON?
I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT."
INSTEAD, SHE TOOK A STEP OF
FAITH AND COOKED HIM A MEAL
FIRST.
ELIJAH ATE THAT MEAL AND
SAID, "THE LORD GOD OF
ISRAEL SAYS, THERE WILL
ALWAYS BE PLENTY OF FLOUR
AND PLENTY OF OIL IN YOUR
CABINETS, UNTIL THE TIME THE
LORD SENDS RAIN AND THE
CROPS BEGAN TO PRODUCE
AGAIN."
FROM THAT DAY FORWARD, WEEK
AFTER WEEK, MONTH AFTER
MONTH, FOR THREE AND A HALF
YEARS, THE OIL NEVER RAN
OUT, THE FLOUR CONTAINER WAS
NEVER EMPTY.
SHE HAD SUPERNATURAL
PROVISION.
SHE WENT FROM RUNNING OUT,
TO RUNNING OVER.
THE RUNNING OUT IS A SIGN
THAT RUNNING OVER IS COMING.
YOU MAY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE
RUNNING OUT OF STRENGTH
TODAY, YOU'RE WEARY FROM
EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
GET READY, RUNNING OVER
STRENGTH IS COMING.
STRENGTH THAT YOU'VE NEVER
FELT, ENERGY LIKE YOU'VE
NEVER SEEN.
YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF
RESOURCES; BUSINESS HAS
SLOWED DOWN.
GET READY, RUNNING OVER
RESOURCES ARE HEADED YOUR
WAY.
YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF FAVOR,
NOT GETTING ANY GOOD BREAKS,
STUCK IN YOUR CAREER,
BECAUSE YOU HONOR GOD,
RUNNING OVER FAVOR IS
COMING, RUNNING OVER
BLESSING, RUNNING OVER
OPPORTUNITIES.
THAT MEANS YOU HAVE SO MANY
OPPORTUNITIES YOU CAN'T TAKE
THEM ALL.
YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE WHICH
ONES YOU WANT.
ELIJAH SAID, "MAKE ME A MEAL
FIRST."
GOD IS SAYING, "KEEP ME
FIRST PLACE IN YOUR LIFE."
WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE
MORNING, DON'T MEET WITH
ANYONE UNTIL YOU FIRST MEET
WITH GOD.
TAKE TIME TO THANK HIM FOR
THE DAY, THANK HIM FOR WHO
HE IS, THANK HIM THAT HE'S
THE GIVER OF ALL GOOD
THINGS, YOUR PROTECTOR, YOUR
PROVIDER, YOUR HEALER, YOUR
WAY MAKER.
ALL THROUGH DAY, UNDER YOUR
BREATH, YOU CAN TALK TO GOD,
"LORD, THANK YOU FOR
WATCHING OVER MY CHILDREN;
LORD, HELP ME TO DO GOOD AT
WORK TODAY; LORD, THANK YOU
FOR GIVING ME WISDOM."
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "IF
YOU'LL ACKNOWLEDGE GOD IN
ALL YOUR WAYS, HE'LL CROWN
YOUR EFFORTS WITH SUCCESS."
EVERY TIME GOD ASKS YOU TO
DO A HARD THING, THAT MEANS
THERE'S A BIG BLESSING
COMING.
IT WAS A SACRIFICE FOR THIS
LADY TO MAKE ELIJAH A MEAL
FIRST.
IT TOOK TRUST, COURAGE,
FAITH.
IT WASN'T EASY FOR THE
WORKERS TO GO FILL THE WATER
POTS WITH WATER.
THOUGHTS WERE TELLING THEM,
"YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME."
THEY HAD TO FIGHT OFF DOUBT,
FIGHT OFF NEGATIVE THOUGHTS.
BUT WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO OBEY,
WHEN YOU DO THE RIGHT THING
WHEN IT'S HARD, YOU'RE
SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR GOD
TO SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE, TO
SEE SUPERNATURAL FAVOR,
SUPERNATURAL HEALING,
SUPERNATURAL PROVISION.
A FEW YEARS AFTER I STARTED
PASTORING, THE CHURCH BEGAN
TO GROW.
WE NEEDED A LARGER
AUDITORIUM.
MY FATHER SAID HE WOULD
NEVER MOVE LAKEWOOD.
I WAS NEW, I WASN'T ABOUT TO
ROCK THE BOAT.
SO I STARTED LOOKING FOR
LAND AROUND OUR OTHER
LOCATION.
WE FOUND A HUNDRED ACRES
THAT WAS RIGHT OFF THE
FREEWAY, ABOUT TWO MILES
FROM THE OLD LOCATION.
IT SEEMED PERFECT.
A FEW MONTHS LATER WE WENT
TO CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY,
SIGN ALL THE PAPERS, THE
SECRETARY WALKED OUT AND
SAID, "I'M SORRY THE OWNER
SOLD THIS PROPERTY LAST
NIGHT."
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
HE DIDN'T KEEP HIS WORD.
I WAS SO DISCOURAGED.
I WENT HOME AND TOLD
VICTORIA.
SHE STARTED PREACHING TO ME
ONE OF MY MESSAGES.
"JOEL, THIS CLOSED DOOR
MEANS GOD HAS SOMETHING
BETTER.
WE'RE GOING TO STAY IN
FAITH."
I DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR THAT;
I WANTED THAT PROPERTY.
A COUPLE MONTHS LATER WE
FOUND ANOTHER HUNDRED ACRES.
IT SEEMED LIKE A BETTER
LOCATION, HAD BETTER ACCESS
FROM THE FREEWAY.
I KNEW THAT'S WHY GOD SHUT
THE OTHER DOOR.
WE WENT TO CLOSE ON THE
PROPERTY AND THE SAME THING
HAPPENED.
THEY SOLD IT TO SOMEONE
ELSE.
WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF
OPTIONS.
THERE WEREN'T ANY MORE LARGE
TRACKS OF LAND OFF THE
FREEWAY IN THAT AREA.
SOMETIMES, GOD WON'T STEP IN
UNTIL YOU RUN OUT OF
OPTIONS.
THAT OLD WINE HAS TO RUN
OUT.
I WAS TEMPTED TO LIVE
STRESSED AND WORRIED, BUT I
COULD HEAR THAT STILL SMALL
VOICE SAYING, "JOEL, TRUST
ME.
I'M STILL IN CONTROL."
I DIDN'T SEE HOW IT COULD
HAPPEN, BUT GOD HAS WAYS
WE'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF.
HIS PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE IS
BETTER THAN YOUR OWN.
WHAT WE THINK IS THE BEST,
MANY TIMES IS FAR LESS THAN
WHAT GOD HAS IN MIND.
I WAS HOPING TO FIND LAND TO
BUILD AN AUDITORIUM, I NEVER
DREAMED GOD WOULD GIVE US
ONE ALREADY BUILT, ON THE
BUSIEST FREEWAY, THE MOST
VISIBLE, THE MOST ATTENDED,
ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS
FACILITIES IN OUR CITY, THE
FORMER COMPAQ CENTER.
I WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT
RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS, ALL
THE WHILE GOD HAD SOMETHING
BETTER THAN I EVER DREAMED.
CAN I TELL YOU?
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR BEST
DAYS.
YOU MAY FEEL STUCK, DOORS
HAVE CLOSED, THE WINE HAS
RUN OUT.
THAT ALL HAPPENED FOR A
REASON.
IT HAD TO RUN OUT SO YOU
COULD SEE THE BEST WINE.
THE BEST PART OF YOUR LIFE
IS NOT BEHIND YOU, THE BEST
PART OF YOUR LIFE IS THE
NEXT PART OF YOUR LIFE.
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN HEARD OR
IMAGINED WHAT GOD HAS IN
STORE.
YOU WOULDN'T BE DISCOURAGED
OVER THAT DOOR THAT CLOSED,
IF YOU KNEW WHAT GOD WAS
ABOUT TO OPEN.
YOU WOULDN'T BE STRESSED
OVER THAT DEAL THAT FELL
THROUGH, IF YOU KNEW YOUR
COMPAQ CENTER WAS UP AHEAD.
YOU WOULD PUT GOD FIRST
PLACE WITH NO PROBLEM, YOU
WOULD MAKE THAT PROPHET A
MEAL, YOU WOULD OBEY, IF YOU
KNEW SUPERNATURAL PROVISION
IS COMING.
SOMETIMES WE THINK THAT
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
"IT'S TOO LATE TO ACCOMPLISH
MY DREAM, I MISSED MY
CHANCE, JOEL, I MADE TOO
MANY MISTAKES, I'M TOO OLD."
THAT'S THE WAY CALEB
PROBABLY FELT.
HE WAS ONE OF THE SPIES THAT
CAME BACK FROM THE PROMISED
LAND AND TOLD MOSES THAT
THEY WERE WELL ABLE TO TAKE
THE LAND, THAT THEY SHOULD
GO IN AT ONCE.
BUT THE NEGATIVE REPORT FROM
THE OTHER TEN SPIES CAUSED
EVERYONE TO GET DISCOURAGED,
THEY TURNED AROUND AND WENT
BACK INTO THE DESERT.
CALEB WAS FORTY YEARS OLD AT
THE TIME.
FOR FORTY YEARS, HE WANDERED
IN THE DESERT.
THE INTERESTING THING IS IT
WASN'T HIS FAULT.
HE HAD FAITH, HE WAS
COURAGEOUS, HE WAS OBEDIENT.
IT LOOKED LIKE OTHER PEOPLE
STOPPED HIS DREAM.
THEIR NEGATIVE REPORT KEPT
HIM FROM HIS DESTINY.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WHAT GOD
STARTED HE'S GOING TO
FINISH.
WHAT HE PROMISED, HE'S GOING
TO BRING TO PASS.
AT EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS OLD,
GOD SAID, "CALEB, I HAVEN'T
FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU.
I SAID YOU'D GO INTO THE
PROMISED LAND, YOU'RE STILL
GOING TO GO IN."
THERE WERE THREE GIANTS
LIVING ON THAT LAND.
CALEB COULD HAVE SAID, "GOD
GIVE ME ANOTHER PLACE, THOSE
PEOPLE ARE TOO BIG.
I'M TOO OLD NOW."
NO DON'T SETTLE FOR A
WATERED-DOWN VERSION OF YOUR
DREAM.
AT EIGHTY-FIVE, CALEB SAID,
"GOD, I STILL WANT THAT
MOUNTAIN."
HE WENT OUT AND DEFEATED
THOSE GIANTS AND MADE IT
INTO THE PROMISED LAND.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR YOU TO
BECOME ALL YOU WERE CREATED
TO BE.
GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT
THE DREAMS HE PUT IN YOUR
HEART.
YOU'RE NOT RUNNING OUT OF
TIME; YOU'RE RUNNING INTO
TIME.
GOD IS ORDERING YOUR STEPS.
OPPORTUNITIES THAT DIDN'T
HAPPEN YEARS EARLIER, YOU
DIDN'T MISS IT, IT WASN'T
THE RIGHT TIME.
THE DOOR HAD TO CLOSE, THE
PEOPLE HAD TO BE AGAINST
YOU, THE BUSINESS HAD TO NOT
MAKE IT.
IT WAS ALL SETTING YOU UP
FOR THE BEST WINE.
GOD SAVES THE BEST FOR NEXT.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE YOU'RE
ABOUT TO COME IN TO SOME
BEST, BEST OPPORTUNITY, BEST
RELATIONSHIP, BEST HEALTH,
BEST RESOURCES.
LIKE THAT WIDOW WOMAN,
BECAUSE YOU KEEP GOD FIRST
PLACE, YOU'RE GOING TO GO
FROM RUNNING OUT, TO RUNNING
OVER, FROM NOT ENOUGH TO
MORE THAN ENOUGH.
YOUR LATTER DAYS WILL BE
BETTER THAN YOUR FORMER
DAYS.
GET READY, THE BEST IS NEXT,
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
FREE INFORMATION.
JUST TEXT THE NUMBER ON THE
SCREEN OR YOU CAN GO TO OUR
WEBSITE AND TAKE THE NEW
BEGINNINGS COURSE.
I HOPE YOU'LL GET INTO A
GOOD BIBLE-BASED CHURCH AND
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
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