Dare To Believe

0:00:00.440 --> 0:00:03.160 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:00:03.200 --> 0:00:06.360 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:00:06.440 --> 0:00:09.040 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:00:09.080 --> 0:00:11.880 share it with a friend, reappreciate you, and pray for 0:00:11.920 --> 0:00:14.840 God's very best in your life. So God bless you. 0:00:15.000 --> 0:00:17.840 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:00:17.840 --> 0:00:19.960 you'll stay connected with us during the week through a 0:00:20.040 --> 0:00:23.720 daily podcast, our YouTube channel, and social media, and you 0:00:23.720 --> 0:00:26.000 can come visit us in person. We'd love to have 0:00:26.079 --> 0:00:28.640 you be a part of one of our services. I'd 0:00:28.640 --> 0:00:31.360 like to start with something funny, and someone sent me 0:00:31.400 --> 0:00:35.279 this interesting observation from the Book of Genesis goes like this. 0:00:35.880 --> 0:00:40.159 In the beginning, God created the earth, then rested. Then 0:00:40.240 --> 0:00:45.120 God created man and rested. Next God created women, and 0:00:45.200 --> 0:00:50.080 since then neither God nor Man has rested. All right, 0:00:50.159 --> 0:00:52.800 y'all say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:00:53.159 --> 0:00:55.520 I am what it says I am. I have what 0:00:55.600 --> 0:00:58.160 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:00:58.200 --> 0:01:01.000 I can do. Today I will be taught the word 0:01:01.040 --> 0:01:05.240 of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 0:01:05.360 --> 0:01:09.840 heart is receptive. I will never be the same in Jesus' name, 0:01:10.240 --> 0:01:13.639 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:01:13.680 --> 0:01:17.720 about dare to believe. There are times in life when 0:01:17.760 --> 0:01:21.080 our faith is high and we're filled with great expectation. 0:01:21.760 --> 0:01:26.679 We're pursuing dreams, seeing doors open, making progress, and then 0:01:26.760 --> 0:01:31.720 life happens. A person walks away, contract falls through, the 0:01:31.760 --> 0:01:35.720 medical report isn't good. We were so close, it's like 0:01:35.800 --> 0:01:39.000 we could grasp it, but now it doesn't seem possible. 0:01:39.560 --> 0:01:42.800 All of us face these moments when life doesn't make sense, 0:01:43.480 --> 0:01:46.800 or what we were hoping for didn't happen, our prayers 0:01:46.959 --> 0:01:51.520 weren't answered. It's easy to get discouraged. That's when doubt comes, 0:01:51.520 --> 0:01:55.040 whispers you must have heard God wrong. You'll never get well, 0:01:55.560 --> 0:01:58.720 never see your family restored. It's too late to accomplish 0:01:58.800 --> 0:02:02.520 your dreams. God wouldn't have put that dream in your heart. 0:02:02.920 --> 0:02:05.480 He wouldn't have given you that promise if he wasn't 0:02:05.520 --> 0:02:08.840 going to fulfill it. You're not going to understand the 0:02:08.919 --> 0:02:12.280 plan of God in real time. We look at what's 0:02:12.280 --> 0:02:16.920 happening now, but God knows what's coming later on. His 0:02:17.080 --> 0:02:20.600 ways are not our ways. His plans are better and 0:02:20.720 --> 0:02:24.840 bigger than our plans. If you try to understand everything 0:02:24.919 --> 0:02:27.720 that's happening in that one season. You're going to be 0:02:27.800 --> 0:02:32.360 frustrated because God is doing things now that are setting 0:02:32.400 --> 0:02:36.000 you up for something much better later on. He may 0:02:36.040 --> 0:02:38.800 have to close a door, move a person out of 0:02:38.800 --> 0:02:42.000 the way, or take you through this detour, this difficulty. 0:02:42.520 --> 0:02:45.760 I don't understand this. God, where are you? Why did 0:02:45.760 --> 0:02:50.079 this happen? Faith is all about trusting when you don't understand, 0:02:50.840 --> 0:02:54.160 doing the right thing, when you have unanswered questions, when 0:02:54.160 --> 0:02:58.520 it doesn't make sense. All your emotions will say, be disappointed, 0:02:58.960 --> 0:03:02.400 live in self pity, give up on your dream. No, 0:03:02.560 --> 0:03:05.600 come back to that place of peace, that place of trust. 0:03:05.960 --> 0:03:09.480 God is ordering your steps. He is the author of 0:03:09.520 --> 0:03:12.919 your story in He has planned your days for good 0:03:13.080 --> 0:03:15.840 and not for harm. And yes, there may be some 0:03:15.960 --> 0:03:19.960 seasons you don't understand, and seasons of struggle where what 0:03:20.160 --> 0:03:24.280 was working is not working anymore. Seasons of silence you're 0:03:24.280 --> 0:03:29.280 praying doing the right thing, nothing's changing, Seasons of closed doors, 0:03:29.880 --> 0:03:35.080 disappointments where it looks like it's canceled your dream. God 0:03:35.120 --> 0:03:37.440 wouldn't have allowed it if it was going to stop 0:03:37.480 --> 0:03:41.320 your purpose. It looks like a setback. The truth is 0:03:41.640 --> 0:03:45.400 it's setting you up for something you've never seen. Dare 0:03:45.440 --> 0:03:49.400 to believe, Dare to trust him when it doesn't make sense, 0:03:50.040 --> 0:03:54.080 when you don't understand, when doubt comes bombarding your mind 0:03:54.200 --> 0:03:57.800 telling you it's too late, it's over, it's never gonna happen. 0:03:58.040 --> 0:04:00.960 You know what God started, He's going to finish what 0:04:01.120 --> 0:04:04.840 he promised you is still on the schedule. No disappointment 0:04:04.920 --> 0:04:08.920 can stop him, no sickness, no bad break. God has 0:04:08.960 --> 0:04:11.960 the final says, he has you in the palm of 0:04:12.000 --> 0:04:15.080 his hand. He sees you doing the right thing when 0:04:15.120 --> 0:04:19.240 it's hard. He sees you're praising when you could be complaining, 0:04:19.279 --> 0:04:22.880 and staying in faith when all the circumstances say you 0:04:22.920 --> 0:04:26.640 should be discouraged. Your time is coming. You're going to 0:04:26.680 --> 0:04:30.600 see God show out in your life. Jesus told Peter, 0:04:31.040 --> 0:04:34.240 you don't realize what I'm doing now, but later on 0:04:34.680 --> 0:04:38.000 you will understand. We get frustrated because we're trying to 0:04:38.040 --> 0:04:42.000 figure out, now, why did that door close, why'd they 0:04:42.000 --> 0:04:45.239 do me wrong? Why I'm in this trouble. We stay 0:04:45.279 --> 0:04:48.560 in faith. You're later on is coming. You're going to 0:04:48.640 --> 0:04:51.599 see it was all a part of God's plan. What 0:04:51.640 --> 0:04:55.360 you thought was a disappointment was necessary for you to 0:04:55.400 --> 0:04:58.599 step in to who you were created to be. This 0:04:58.760 --> 0:05:01.080 is what Thomas had to do deal with. He left 0:05:01.160 --> 0:05:04.760 everything to follow Jesus and became one of the twelve Disciples. 0:05:05.279 --> 0:05:09.479 For three years, he saw Jesus walking in power favor, 0:05:09.760 --> 0:05:14.320 huge crowds gathering. He was there when Jesus healed the blind, 0:05:14.640 --> 0:05:18.600 cured the lepers, multiplied the food. He knew that Jesus 0:05:18.680 --> 0:05:22.480 was the Messiah, the chosen one. He'd seen it firsthand. 0:05:22.760 --> 0:05:26.240 But the Jewish people in that day believed the Messiah 0:05:26.680 --> 0:05:30.279 would overthrow the Roman government, free them from oppression, and 0:05:30.920 --> 0:05:34.080 restore Israel back to the glory days from when David 0:05:34.120 --> 0:05:37.599 sat on the throne. They expected Jesus to rule and 0:05:37.640 --> 0:05:41.080 to reign and to defeat the enemies. Things didn't turn 0:05:41.120 --> 0:05:45.479 out the way they thought. Instead of overthrowing Rome, Jesus 0:05:45.560 --> 0:05:49.279 was crucified by the Romans. Instead of sitting on a throne, 0:05:49.920 --> 0:05:53.880 he hung on across. Instead of this huge victory, they 0:05:53.920 --> 0:05:58.800 saw this great defeat. Their world was shattered. They were confused. 0:05:59.320 --> 0:06:03.320 They had questioned Thomas thought, man, did I waste my time? 0:06:03.720 --> 0:06:07.359 Did I spend three years believing a lie was a fooled. 0:06:07.560 --> 0:06:09.880 Was he not who he said he was? You can 0:06:09.960 --> 0:06:15.080 imagine how heartbroken and disappointed. But what Thomas couldn't see 0:06:15.160 --> 0:06:18.000 right then was this was all the plan of God. 0:06:18.400 --> 0:06:20.720 It had to happen. If it had worked out the 0:06:20.760 --> 0:06:25.200 way Thomas wanted, we wouldn't have salvation, we wouldn't have redemption, 0:06:25.800 --> 0:06:30.799 eternal life. Thomas wanted Jesus to change the government. God 0:06:30.839 --> 0:06:35.359 wanted Jesus to change the world. Thomas wanted freedom from Rome. 0:06:35.800 --> 0:06:40.200 God wanted freedom from sin. Thomas wanted a temporary kingdom. 0:06:40.480 --> 0:06:45.080 God wanted an eternal kingdom. Thomas wanted a throne in Jerusalem. 0:06:45.520 --> 0:06:49.080 God wanted a throne on our hearts. What looked like 0:06:49.160 --> 0:06:53.000 a set back them crucifying Jesus was really a set 0:06:53.080 --> 0:06:57.000 up for us to have an abundant, victorious life. What 0:06:57.080 --> 0:07:01.120 am I saying? You can't always see the plan of 0:07:01.160 --> 0:07:04.159 God in the present. It's not always gonna make sense. 0:07:04.560 --> 0:07:07.960 God is doing things we can't comprehend that are much 0:07:08.080 --> 0:07:11.679 better than we can imagine. We get this courage and think, man, Joel, 0:07:11.880 --> 0:07:14.280 this is not what I thought would happen. This company 0:07:14.280 --> 0:07:17.080 didn't treat me right After all these years, this friend 0:07:17.120 --> 0:07:20.200 betrayed me. My loved one didn't make it. You don't 0:07:20.240 --> 0:07:23.440 know what God is up to. Things are happening behind 0:07:23.480 --> 0:07:26.480 the scenes that you can't see right now. And they 0:07:26.480 --> 0:07:29.400 crucified Jesus on that Friday and put him in the tomb. 0:07:29.760 --> 0:07:32.480 They thought it was over all. The forces of darkness 0:07:32.520 --> 0:07:36.320 were celebrating, having a big party. But on Sunday morning, 0:07:36.480 --> 0:07:39.320 it was a different story. They got the surprise of 0:07:39.320 --> 0:07:42.040 their life. Jesus came up out of the grave and 0:07:42.440 --> 0:07:45.360 he said, I am he that lives. I was dead, 0:07:45.440 --> 0:07:48.520 but I'm alive forevermoorning by the way. I have the 0:07:48.600 --> 0:07:52.400 keys of death and hell. He rose in great victory. 0:07:52.480 --> 0:07:55.760 But the truth is Jesus didn't like going through that 0:07:55.840 --> 0:08:00.560 suffering season. When he was mocked, betrayed, and beaten. He 0:08:00.640 --> 0:08:04.120 swept great drops of blood. He said, Father, if you 0:08:04.240 --> 0:08:07.560 will take this cup from me. He knew he was 0:08:07.600 --> 0:08:10.760 going to be painful, but he trusted the plan of God. 0:08:11.440 --> 0:08:14.520 He understood that it had to happen. There are some 0:08:14.680 --> 0:08:19.120 levels you can only get to by going through difficult seasons. 0:08:19.920 --> 0:08:23.680 The key is don't focus on your crucifixion, so to speak. 0:08:23.960 --> 0:08:28.120 You have to believe that your resurrection is coming. It 0:08:28.120 --> 0:08:31.000 may be Friday in your life today and things you 0:08:31.000 --> 0:08:35.000 don't understand. You could be discouraged. Why is this happening? 0:08:35.559 --> 0:08:39.680 God is up to something. Your Sunday is coming, something 0:08:39.720 --> 0:08:42.160 that you can't see right now. It's going to launch 0:08:42.200 --> 0:08:45.960 you into a new level of your destiny. When my 0:08:46.040 --> 0:08:49.160 father went to be with the Lord seventy seven years old, 0:08:49.240 --> 0:08:52.120 he had a heart attack and suddenly passed, and I 0:08:52.160 --> 0:08:55.880 didn't understand that. I thought Daddy would live another twenty years. 0:08:56.520 --> 0:09:00.240 We were best friends, and now he was gone, like 0:09:00.920 --> 0:09:04.280 everything was upside down, like this was the end. But 0:09:04.400 --> 0:09:07.520 I soon realized it was all a part of God's plan. 0:09:08.600 --> 0:09:12.360 I never had ministered before. I'd been behind the scenes 0:09:12.400 --> 0:09:15.120 for seventeen years. My father tried to get me up 0:09:15.120 --> 0:09:17.840 here again and again. I always told him no. But 0:09:17.960 --> 0:09:21.400 when he passed, I suddenly had the desire to step 0:09:21.480 --> 0:09:24.160 up and past to the church. I didn't know any 0:09:24.160 --> 0:09:26.840 of this was in me. I didn't think I could minister. 0:09:27.320 --> 0:09:30.080 But there are gifts and talents God has put in you, 0:09:30.240 --> 0:09:33.840 and sometimes He has to push you into your destiny. 0:09:34.600 --> 0:09:39.600 The struggle, the disappointment, things you don't understand. It's going 0:09:39.679 --> 0:09:42.319 to launch you into a new level of your purpose. 0:09:43.280 --> 0:09:46.480 We see the moment, but God sees the whole story. 0:09:47.200 --> 0:09:50.640 We don't like Friday, but say in faith, Sunday is coming, 0:09:51.360 --> 0:09:55.359 and the Scripture says to lean not to your own understanding. 0:09:55.800 --> 0:09:59.120 Things are going to happen that we don't understand. It's 0:09:59.200 --> 0:10:03.760 because our our understanding is limited. We are natural. God 0:10:03.840 --> 0:10:08.319 is supernatural, he said. We haven't seen, heard, or imagined 0:10:08.559 --> 0:10:12.440 what he has in store, what he's planning. You can't 0:10:12.480 --> 0:10:16.120 see right now where he's taking you. It may not 0:10:16.320 --> 0:10:20.480 happen by traditional, ordinary ways. He's going to do things 0:10:20.600 --> 0:10:25.080 uncommon that you haven't thought of, bigger than you had planned. 0:10:25.720 --> 0:10:29.920 Had Jesus done what the disciples wanted, become that political 0:10:30.000 --> 0:10:34.480 messiah overthrown the government, we wouldn't have a savior. His 0:10:34.640 --> 0:10:38.040 ways are better than our ways. Trust him when it 0:10:38.080 --> 0:10:43.320 doesn't make sense. On that Sunday evening, after they crucified Jesus, 0:10:43.800 --> 0:10:47.560 the Disciples were in a room locked behind closed doors. 0:10:47.760 --> 0:10:50.560 They were afraid of the Jewish leaders and what would 0:10:50.559 --> 0:10:54.680 happen after the crucifixion would they be next? When Jesus 0:10:54.800 --> 0:10:58.080 suddenly appeared to them, standing right in the middle and 0:10:58.200 --> 0:11:02.440 talked with them and how they were in awe. Well 0:11:02.440 --> 0:11:06.000 Thomas wasn't there that night. They rushed out to find him. 0:11:06.040 --> 0:11:09.080 Couldn't wait to tell him the good news. They said, Thomas, 0:11:09.600 --> 0:11:13.760 we've seen the Lord. He's alive. They thought, of course 0:11:13.800 --> 0:11:17.679 he'd be excited. But Thomas was a little more analytical. 0:11:18.240 --> 0:11:23.480 He was logical, practical. He had questions. This didn't make sense. 0:11:23.720 --> 0:11:27.360 He was crucified. How could he be alive. That's not possible, 0:11:28.000 --> 0:11:31.280 he answered them back. Unless I see the nail prints 0:11:31.320 --> 0:11:35.000 in his hands, unless I touch the wounds in his side, 0:11:35.080 --> 0:11:38.720 I'm not going to believe. It wasn't so much that 0:11:38.760 --> 0:11:43.160 Thomas was lacking faith or he wasn't committed enough. It's 0:11:43.200 --> 0:11:46.760 that he didn't want to be hurt again. That disappointment, 0:11:47.240 --> 0:11:50.720 that loss was so painful he couldn't deal with anything more. 0:11:51.200 --> 0:11:54.679 And sometimes when we've been through hurts and plans haven't 0:11:54.720 --> 0:11:59.120 worked out, it's tempting to lower our expectations, don't get 0:11:59.120 --> 0:12:02.960 our hopes up. It's easier to not believe and just 0:12:03.280 --> 0:12:06.400 accept it. Joel, I doubt that I can get well now, 0:12:06.440 --> 0:12:08.960 but man, I can live with this sickness, or I 0:12:09.080 --> 0:12:11.400 doubt I'll ever be free from this addiction. This' be 0:12:11.480 --> 0:12:13.920 so long, but I can handle it. I doubt that 0:12:14.000 --> 0:12:16.320 I'll meet the right person. I doubt I'll ever see 0:12:16.360 --> 0:12:19.840 abundance the open windows of heaven. That's right where Thomas was. 0:12:20.520 --> 0:12:23.800 He thought, Man, I've grieved this loss. I've accepted it's 0:12:23.840 --> 0:12:27.760 not gonna happen, and I'm okay with the disappointment. You 0:12:27.880 --> 0:12:31.600 may be okay, but God's not okay. He loves you 0:12:31.679 --> 0:12:34.839 too much to let you miss your destiny. You may 0:12:34.840 --> 0:12:37.200 have given up on a dream, but God has not 0:12:37.360 --> 0:12:40.680 given up. When you won't go to him, he'll come 0:12:40.720 --> 0:12:44.400 to you. A week later, the disciples were in a 0:12:44.480 --> 0:12:48.319 room again. This time Thomas was there. The door was locked, 0:12:48.679 --> 0:12:52.000 dead bolted. All of a sudden, Jesus came walking through 0:12:52.040 --> 0:12:56.760 the door. They were standing there in astonishment. Jesus walked 0:12:57.000 --> 0:13:01.720 right past Peter, past John, few James, and he went 0:13:01.840 --> 0:13:05.960 straight to Thomas. He bypassed all the people who had 0:13:06.000 --> 0:13:09.000 faith and went to the one person that had doubt. 0:13:09.880 --> 0:13:12.280 He didn't speak to the believers. He went to the 0:13:12.280 --> 0:13:17.040 one man that didn't believe. He reached out his hands, said, Thomas, 0:13:17.760 --> 0:13:22.000 touch my nail, Prince. He turned his body Thomas touched 0:13:22.000 --> 0:13:25.520 the wounds in my side. God was showing us that 0:13:25.679 --> 0:13:30.360 doubt doesn't disqualify you. Jesus could have said, on fine, Thomas, 0:13:30.880 --> 0:13:34.520 I don't need you anymore. I'll find somebody else that'll believe. 0:13:34.640 --> 0:13:38.400 Good riddance. But God doesn't write you off because you 0:13:38.440 --> 0:13:42.760 don't have enough faith. You have questions, things you don't understand. 0:13:43.320 --> 0:13:47.520 The enemy will try to bring condemnation. You're not strong enough, 0:13:48.160 --> 0:13:51.559 you're not committed enough. Why are you doubting? You're doubting 0:13:51.640 --> 0:13:55.080 because you're human. It doesn't mean that you're gonna miss 0:13:55.120 --> 0:13:59.040 God's plan. You're not gonna see his goodness. God knows 0:13:59.080 --> 0:14:02.480 your heart. There may be doubt in your head, but 0:14:02.600 --> 0:14:05.800 in your heart you love God. You want to believe. 0:14:06.240 --> 0:14:09.320 You're trying to stay in faith. God will come to 0:14:09.360 --> 0:14:13.839 you even in your doubt. He knows the struggles are real. 0:14:14.800 --> 0:14:18.520 Disappointments can weigh us down, people that do us wrong. 0:14:18.679 --> 0:14:23.080 Doors closed that can be discouragement, bring questions. I must 0:14:23.080 --> 0:14:26.960 have heard God wrong. He's not saying if you're superman, 0:14:27.960 --> 0:14:30.800 if you never doubt, you never have a down moment, 0:14:30.840 --> 0:14:34.200 then I'll help you. Then I'll show you favor. No 0:14:34.400 --> 0:14:37.920 even in the doubts, God is looking for you. He's 0:14:37.920 --> 0:14:42.200 coming your way. When my mother was fighting terminal cancer, 0:14:42.560 --> 0:14:44.880 she told how she would wake up in the middle 0:14:44.920 --> 0:14:48.440 of the night and so worried and fearful, all these 0:14:48.480 --> 0:14:50.960 thoughts telling her that it was over and there was 0:14:51.000 --> 0:14:53.560 no way to get well, and she would get a 0:14:53.560 --> 0:14:58.360 little discouraged and even confused, trying to stay in faith. 0:14:58.440 --> 0:15:01.680 But doubt was so real and so so strong. She 0:15:01.800 --> 0:15:04.440 told my father John, I feel bad that I'm doubting. 0:15:05.280 --> 0:15:08.800 Trying my best, but these negative thoughts keep weighing me down. 0:15:09.680 --> 0:15:12.760 My father told her, Dody, you're doubting in your mind, 0:15:13.080 --> 0:15:16.600 but in your heart, you believe God. In your spirit, 0:15:17.080 --> 0:15:20.600 you know that healing is coming. We all know that 0:15:20.640 --> 0:15:23.440 God works when we have faith. But what I want 0:15:23.440 --> 0:15:26.480 you to see is God is so good. He'll meet 0:15:26.520 --> 0:15:30.080 you in your doubt, when you have questions, when you 0:15:30.120 --> 0:15:34.200 feel confused, when things happen that you don't understand. Now, 0:15:34.240 --> 0:15:37.920 I love how Jesus walk through a closed door. He 0:15:37.960 --> 0:15:41.080 didn't knock, he didn't go the window, he didn't try 0:15:41.080 --> 0:15:44.040 to push the door open. He simply walked through the door. 0:15:44.720 --> 0:15:47.320 You may have doors that are locked in your life. 0:15:47.400 --> 0:15:51.480 So to speak, things that seem impossible in your health, 0:15:52.000 --> 0:15:54.960 your finances, your dream, no way in the natural. The 0:15:55.000 --> 0:15:58.000 good news is there's not a door that God can't 0:15:58.040 --> 0:16:02.440 walk through. Not a sickness he can't heal, not an 0:16:02.480 --> 0:16:06.600 addiction he can't break, not a child he can't turn around. 0:16:06.920 --> 0:16:09.840 You have the most powerful force in the universe on 0:16:09.920 --> 0:16:15.160 your side. But maybe today you're like Thomas. Things haven't 0:16:15.160 --> 0:16:17.920 turned out the way you thought. You're looking at it 0:16:17.960 --> 0:16:21.480 in real time and it doesn't make sense. The medical 0:16:21.520 --> 0:16:24.680 report is not good, and now you're doubting whether you'll 0:16:24.680 --> 0:16:28.040 get well. Or you had that breakup and now you're 0:16:28.080 --> 0:16:31.320 doubting if you'll ever meet anyone, or you lost that client. 0:16:31.400 --> 0:16:34.720 You're doubting if your business can make it. You're right 0:16:34.760 --> 0:16:39.480 where Thomas was. The door is locked, dead, bolted, odds 0:16:39.480 --> 0:16:42.560 are against you. What you can't see is God is 0:16:42.600 --> 0:16:46.080 about to walk through that door. It's going to be supernatural. 0:16:46.520 --> 0:16:49.320 You couldn't make it happen. It's the hand of God 0:16:49.600 --> 0:16:53.640 doing what only he can do. You see, Resurrection Sunday 0:16:54.120 --> 0:16:57.400 is not just about Jesus rising from the dead. That's 0:16:57.440 --> 0:17:00.720 the most important thing. But if Jesus can walk out 0:17:00.720 --> 0:17:04.359 of a tomb. He can walk into your doubt. Dare 0:17:04.440 --> 0:17:08.400 to trust him, dare to believe. It may not make 0:17:08.480 --> 0:17:12.159 sense right now, but he's working behind the scenes. His 0:17:12.359 --> 0:17:16.000 plan is better than your plan. It may be Friday 0:17:16.040 --> 0:17:19.520 in your life, but Sunday is coming something that launches 0:17:19.600 --> 0:17:24.600 you into your destiny. Jesus told the disciples in John 0:17:24.680 --> 0:17:28.359 chapter sixteen, it's better for you if I go away. 0:17:29.119 --> 0:17:31.960 That way the Holy Spirit can come. Well, they couldn't 0:17:32.040 --> 0:17:35.760 understand that. In real time, nothing could be positive about 0:17:35.840 --> 0:17:40.280 Jesus leaving. He was their leader, their teacher, their messiah. 0:17:40.640 --> 0:17:42.760 They'd seen all the miracles, all the good that he 0:17:42.760 --> 0:17:46.080 had done. This made no sense that it would be 0:17:46.080 --> 0:17:49.879 better if he left. It's because they couldn't see the 0:17:49.920 --> 0:17:52.880 plan of God. They didn't know what was coming. See 0:17:52.880 --> 0:17:56.879 before Jesus rose again, the Holy Spirit only lived in 0:17:57.000 --> 0:18:00.960 certain people, the prophets and priests in the Old Testament. 0:18:01.200 --> 0:18:04.159 David would tell his men, go to the prophet and 0:18:04.240 --> 0:18:06.960 ask him what God wants us to do. When you 0:18:07.040 --> 0:18:09.480 made mistakes, you had to go find a priest to 0:18:09.560 --> 0:18:12.840 make a sacrifice for your sins. They were dependent on 0:18:13.040 --> 0:18:18.000 other people for guidance and protection. Everything in the disciples 0:18:18.080 --> 0:18:22.560 reasoning said Jesus leaving is a bad thing. This is 0:18:22.600 --> 0:18:25.960 not what we expected with him. Not here will be 0:18:26.080 --> 0:18:30.560 less effective. But it was just the opposite. When Jesus left, 0:18:30.760 --> 0:18:34.119 he sent the Holy Spirit to live on the inside 0:18:34.160 --> 0:18:36.560 of each one of us. Now we don't have to 0:18:36.600 --> 0:18:39.440 go to a prophet. We don't have to find a priest, 0:18:40.000 --> 0:18:43.960 a minister, a pastor. We are temples of the Most God. 0:18:44.359 --> 0:18:47.400 The Holy Spirit is in you right now, leading you, 0:18:47.960 --> 0:18:52.360 guiding you. He's called your counselor your advocate, your helper. 0:18:52.880 --> 0:18:56.080 That's why Jesus said it's better for you that I 0:18:56.160 --> 0:19:01.040 go away. Sometimes God will remove things we don't understand it. 0:19:01.600 --> 0:19:05.159 He'll close doors, move someone out of our life. We 0:19:05.200 --> 0:19:08.440 don't like it. Nothing in our logic can see how 0:19:08.440 --> 0:19:11.720 it's a good thing. You don't understand it now, but 0:19:11.840 --> 0:19:15.919 later on you will. God is doing things you can't see. 0:19:16.000 --> 0:19:19.359 He's going to take you where you've never been. Trust 0:19:19.440 --> 0:19:22.919 him when it doesn't make sense. Don't fight everything you 0:19:23.000 --> 0:19:27.080 don't like. God is smarter than we are. If he's 0:19:27.119 --> 0:19:31.480 closing a door, doing something you don't understand, be mature 0:19:31.600 --> 0:19:35.320 enough to say, God, I trust you. You know what's 0:19:35.400 --> 0:19:38.480 best for me. I may not like this, I may 0:19:38.520 --> 0:19:41.720 be in a crucifixion right now, but I believe my 0:19:41.880 --> 0:19:47.720 resurrection is coming. Thomas became known as Doubting Thomas. We 0:19:47.720 --> 0:19:51.600 were taughting Sunday School. Don't be like Thomas. He didn't 0:19:51.600 --> 0:19:54.480 have enough faith. He had to have proof. But do 0:19:54.560 --> 0:19:57.879 you know how long Thomas doubted? Was it for a year? 0:19:58.440 --> 0:20:02.560 Five years? Thirty years? He's got this nickname. This lasted 0:20:02.600 --> 0:20:07.760 two thousand years. No, Thomas doubted for eight days. It 0:20:07.840 --> 0:20:10.679 was eight days from the time they told and Jesus 0:20:10.760 --> 0:20:14.320 had risen into the moment Jesus walked in the room. 0:20:14.760 --> 0:20:18.359 Eight days and thousands of years later, people are still 0:20:18.400 --> 0:20:22.600 calling him doubting Thomas. What's my point. People will try 0:20:22.600 --> 0:20:26.680 to label you by one bad moment, by one failure, 0:20:27.160 --> 0:20:30.760 one tough season, one breakup. Do yourself a favor. Take 0:20:30.800 --> 0:20:38.240 off those labels. Week Thomas addicted, Thomas, divorced, Thomas, compromising Thomas. 0:20:38.640 --> 0:20:41.600 That's not who you are. That was one moment of 0:20:41.640 --> 0:20:44.560 your life. You may have failed, but you are not 0:20:44.640 --> 0:20:47.720 a failure. That's what you did. That's not who you are. 0:20:48.760 --> 0:20:51.880 You may have doubted, but you're not a doubter. Don't 0:20:51.960 --> 0:20:55.640 let that label become permanent. You may struggle with an addiction, 0:20:55.920 --> 0:20:58.280 but you are not an addict. You are a child 0:20:58.320 --> 0:21:02.320 of the most God. Don't let people label you. Let 0:21:02.359 --> 0:21:06.119 God label you. We call him doubting Thomas. You know 0:21:06.160 --> 0:21:10.840 what God calls him, believing Thomas, forgiven Thomas, bless Thomas. 0:21:11.359 --> 0:21:15.040 Now you may need to take off some labels today, unattractive, 0:21:15.560 --> 0:21:20.240 damaged her, compromise her. Don't let that define your future. 0:21:21.119 --> 0:21:24.560 Every person has had a moment of doubt, a moment 0:21:24.600 --> 0:21:28.280 of compromise that we wish we could undo. If we 0:21:28.280 --> 0:21:31.879 could go back, we do better. If Thomas had another chance, 0:21:32.119 --> 0:21:35.120 he would have believed right it first, but it happened. 0:21:35.520 --> 0:21:38.280 You can't change the past, but you don't have to 0:21:38.359 --> 0:21:42.040 let it define you now. The enemy is an expert 0:21:42.080 --> 0:21:45.400 with labels. He loved to deceive you into wearing that 0:21:45.600 --> 0:21:53.120 doubting label, inferior, shame, washed up, unworthy. Take off those labels. 0:21:53.359 --> 0:21:57.560 You are who God says you are, blessed, valuable, worthy, 0:21:57.960 --> 0:22:03.399 a masterpiece. See. People may define you by what you did, 0:22:03.920 --> 0:22:07.600 but God defines you by what Jesus did. He made 0:22:07.640 --> 0:22:10.840 you worthy, he made your righteous. He calls you his 0:22:10.880 --> 0:22:15.320 own child, his prize possession. And this is really a 0:22:15.320 --> 0:22:19.000 good lesson for all of us. Don't judge people by 0:22:19.040 --> 0:22:23.080 one event, don't label them by one bad season. I 0:22:23.119 --> 0:22:26.080 can't believe they did that. If it wasn't for the 0:22:26.119 --> 0:22:28.800 grace of God, you could have done it too. It 0:22:28.840 --> 0:22:32.280 wasn't just your discipline, your focus. It was the mercy 0:22:32.280 --> 0:22:36.840 of God helping you. Don't be self righteous holier than that. 0:22:37.160 --> 0:22:40.600 I've never done that. No, our righteousness comes from God. 0:22:41.480 --> 0:22:46.320 Walk homely, recognize it's His mercy and his grace keeping 0:22:46.440 --> 0:22:50.080 us on course. The mercy you show others is the 0:22:50.119 --> 0:22:53.159 mercy God is going to show you. This is what 0:22:53.280 --> 0:22:59.800 Lakewood is all about. People walk in here, shortcomings, addictions, compromise, doubt. 0:23:00.240 --> 0:23:02.760 But we don't call you by what you've done. We 0:23:02.840 --> 0:23:06.879 call you by who God says you are. Not doubting Thomas. 0:23:07.240 --> 0:23:12.280 That was eight days but believing Thomas, not addicted Thomas, 0:23:12.280 --> 0:23:16.440 but free Thomas. Not a shame Thomas, but worthy Thomas. 0:23:16.960 --> 0:23:21.800 Not failing Thomas, but victorious Thomas. Well, Thomas is probably 0:23:21.920 --> 0:23:24.800 most known for his doubt, but that wasn't the end 0:23:24.840 --> 0:23:27.840 of the story. That eight days got a lot of attention. 0:23:28.280 --> 0:23:31.240 But what we don't hear a lot about is Thomas 0:23:31.280 --> 0:23:35.560 took the Gospel further than any other disciple, Peter or 0:23:35.720 --> 0:23:40.400 James John. They went to Rome, Greece, JUDEA. Thomas went 0:23:40.440 --> 0:23:45.359 to India, to another continent three thousand miles away. The 0:23:45.440 --> 0:23:49.040 man who doubted God used to go the furthest I've 0:23:49.040 --> 0:23:52.440 been to India many times with my father, and everywhere 0:23:52.480 --> 0:23:56.320 you go you meet a Thomas. Churches are named after Thomas. 0:23:56.480 --> 0:23:59.840 Parents named their sons Thomas. There are groups called Saint 0:24:00.000 --> 0:24:03.879 Thomas Christians that trace their faith back to Thomas two 0:24:03.960 --> 0:24:07.720 thousand years ago. Yes, Thomas had a season of doubt, 0:24:08.320 --> 0:24:11.119 but he didn't let it define him. He went on 0:24:11.200 --> 0:24:15.000 to live a lifetime of faith. Because of that, millions 0:24:15.000 --> 0:24:19.600 of people in India generations later are still hearing about 0:24:19.600 --> 0:24:22.879 the goodness of God. The enemy loved to convince you 0:24:22.960 --> 0:24:27.240 that your doubts, your failures, what's happened in the past 0:24:27.560 --> 0:24:31.240 that's tainted your future. Men, just sit on the sidelines, 0:24:31.760 --> 0:24:35.200 don't believe those lives. God is coming to you with love, 0:24:35.520 --> 0:24:39.160 with mercy, with forgiveness. Not to just make it through 0:24:39.680 --> 0:24:43.320 the life with Thomas, to go further, to leave your mark. 0:24:44.080 --> 0:24:46.480 The best part of your life is still in front 0:24:46.520 --> 0:24:50.639 of you, Jesus said to Thomas. Because you have seen me, 0:24:51.000 --> 0:24:54.200 you have believed. But blessed are those who have not 0:24:54.359 --> 0:24:59.040 seen yet will believe. That's you and me. We haven't seen, 0:25:00.040 --> 0:25:03.320 weren't they're in person. We weren't able to touch, to feel. 0:25:04.040 --> 0:25:08.600 Yet you're here. You're honoring God. You're putting him first place. 0:25:08.920 --> 0:25:13.960 You are blessed because you believe and you haven't seen. Maybe, 0:25:14.080 --> 0:25:18.320 like Thomas, you've had some seasons of doubt, wondering questions 0:25:18.960 --> 0:25:23.360 that didn't disqualify you. If God can use Thomas, he 0:25:23.359 --> 0:25:26.760 can use you. Maybe you're in a situation now it 0:25:26.760 --> 0:25:30.320 doesn't make sense. It feels like you're going backwards. God 0:25:30.400 --> 0:25:34.160 is up to something behind the scenes. You don't understand 0:25:34.160 --> 0:25:38.320 it now, trust him. Later on you will. His plan 0:25:38.440 --> 0:25:43.240 will unfold into something better than you've ever imagined. If 0:25:43.280 --> 0:25:46.240 Thomas were here today, he would tell you take off 0:25:46.280 --> 0:25:50.720 the negative labels. Don't be defined by one event, by 0:25:50.760 --> 0:25:53.159 one bad season. Don't let that sour the rest of 0:25:53.200 --> 0:25:57.959 your life. Move forward in faith. Your destiny is waiting. 0:25:58.720 --> 0:26:02.840 Your children are count on you, Relatives in heaven, those 0:26:02.880 --> 0:26:05.159 that have gone before you, They are cheering you on 0:26:05.359 --> 0:26:08.359 right now. This is your moment, This is your time 0:26:08.440 --> 0:26:12.359 to shine. Dare to believe. If you'll do this, I 0:26:12.440 --> 0:26:16.720 believe and declare like Thomas, doubt is not gonna stop you. 0:26:16.960 --> 0:26:20.520 It's gonna launch you further and higher. It may be 0:26:20.680 --> 0:26:23.679 Friday in your life, but get ready, Sunday is coming. 0:26:23.840 --> 0:26:30.000 Healing favor, breakthroughs, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name, 0:26:30.840 --> 0:26:33.960 and if you receive it, can you say amen? Today? 0:26:35.040 --> 0:26:37.800 I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 0:26:37.840 --> 0:26:40.119 the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:26:40.840 --> 0:26:44.960 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins, Come 0:26:45.000 --> 0:26:48.280 into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:26:48.920 --> 0:26:51.160 If you pray that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:26:51.200 --> 0:26:53.480 born again, and we'd love to send you some free 0:26:53.520 --> 0:26:56.040 information on your new walk with the Lord. You can 0:26:56.040 --> 0:26:58.639 text the number on the screen or go to the website. 0:26:59.080 --> 0:27:01.679 But I hope you'll get into a good Bible based 0:27:01.760 --> 0:27:07.200 church and keep God first place. It's easy to feel 0:27:07.200 --> 0:27:10.680 stuck in life, wondering why things aren't changing and worrying 0:27:10.720 --> 0:27:13.600 if it'll ever happen. But there's a better way to wait. 0:27:14.040 --> 0:27:16.480 I'd love to send you my new resource called Pray 0:27:16.520 --> 0:27:19.480 It Forward. This book is a collection of prayers and 0:27:19.560 --> 0:27:23.000 promises from the Scripture to help you pray boldly to 0:27:23.080 --> 0:27:26.359 strengthen your faith and while you're waiting, it's important to 0:27:26.440 --> 0:27:29.879 keep your mind filled with hope and expectancy. When you 0:27:29.960 --> 0:27:33.199 pray in faith, believe in what God promised. That's what 0:27:33.320 --> 0:27:35.640 moves the hands of God, and that's when you'll see 0:27:35.640 --> 0:27:39.520 doors open, healing begins to come, breakthroughs in your family. 0:27:39.920 --> 0:27:43.600 Don't let doubt hold you back. Pray it Forward as our. 0:27:43.480 --> 0:27:46.240 Way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount, 0:27:46.480 --> 0:27:49.280 we'd love to send you a copy of Pray It Forward. 0:27:49.440 --> 0:27:53.440 Guided prayers for faith and break through, inspired by real 0:27:53.480 --> 0:27:56.879 life answered prayers. Pray It Forward will help you speak 0:27:56.920 --> 0:28:00.520 God's promises over your life and over the people you love, 0:28:00.960 --> 0:28:04.520 trusting that when you ask in faith, God is already 0:28:04.560 --> 0:28:08.040 at work preparing victory ahead of you. You can take 0:28:08.080 --> 0:28:11.639 these prayers and scriptures and pray them forward. They'll build 0:28:11.640 --> 0:28:15.280 a momentum of faith that carries you past obstacles and 0:28:15.359 --> 0:28:19.240 into the promises God has spoken over your life. As 0:28:19.240 --> 0:28:22.600 you meditate on these truths, you won't be tossed back 0:28:22.640 --> 0:28:27.800 and forth by finances, health challenges, or relationship struggles. Instead, 0:28:28.119 --> 0:28:31.159 you'll be able to boldly pray with faith that is 0:28:31.160 --> 0:28:35.800 immovable and strong, and you'll be filled with peace, assurance, 0:28:36.040 --> 0:28:40.600 and joy. Don't let circumstances control your future. Pray the 0:28:40.680 --> 0:28:44.000 truth of God's word forward in faith and watch the 0:28:44.080 --> 0:28:46.760 mountains in your life begin to move. 0:28:47.160 --> 0:28:50.080 When you pray the promises what God has spoken over 0:28:50.160 --> 0:28:53.320 your life. Those are powerful prayers, and that's when God 0:28:53.400 --> 0:28:56.240 shows up and does what only he can do. Thank 0:28:56.240 --> 0:28:58.800 you so much for being with us, Beatuy. I pray 0:28:58.880 --> 0:29:01.960 for you and your family every day and we appreciate 0:29:02.000 --> 0:29:05.560 your prayer and support. Your generosity helps us take this 0:29:05.720 --> 0:29:08.920 message of hope to people around the world. Now. Special 0:29:08.960 --> 0:29:11.520 thank you to our champion of Hope partners for all 0:29:11.560 --> 0:29:14.160 you do to make the ministry possible. If you're not 0:29:14.240 --> 0:29:17.360 a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. But until 0:29:17.360 --> 0:29:20.160 we meet again, Meid the Lord bless you and keep you. 0:29:21.040 --> 0:29:23.920 Be sure to request your copy of Pray It Forward 0:29:24.160 --> 0:29:28.120 Guided Prayers for Faith and Breakthrough, available this month by 0:29:28.160 --> 0:29:32.080 simply visiting us at Joelosteing dot com or call eight 0:29:32.120 --> 0:29:35.880 eight eight five six seven Joel. You can also receive 0:29:36.000 --> 0:29:39.600 the Pray It Forward Companion prayer journal designed to help 0:29:39.640 --> 0:29:43.760 you engage in scripture, personalize faith filled prayers, and put 0:29:43.800 --> 0:29:47.640 God's promises into action. With an additional gift, you can 0:29:47.680 --> 0:29:51.560 receive the Pray It Forward Prayers Essential Collection that centers 0:29:51.600 --> 0:29:55.160 around a prayer bowl with scripture cards designed to help 0:29:55.200 --> 0:29:58.400 you physically release what's been weighing on your heart. This 0:29:58.560 --> 0:30:01.840 collection creates a power full prayer rhythm for your life, 0:30:02.160 --> 0:30:06.200 helping you focus your thoughts, speak God's word boldly, and 0:30:06.280 --> 0:30:10.320 stay anchored in hope when circumstances try to shake you. 0:30:10.320 --> 0:30:14.080 You can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight 0:30:14.160 --> 0:30:18.200 eight five six seven Joel or logging on to Joelostein 0:30:18.320 --> 0:30:22.080 dot com today call or click any time, twenty four 0:30:22.120 --> 0:30:25.480 hours a day