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>> JOEL OSTEEN: GOD BLESS YOU,

IT’S A JOY TO COME

INTO YOUR HOMES, AND IF YOU’RE

EVER IN OUR AREA,

PLEASE STOP BY, BE A PART

OF ONE OF OUR SERVICES.

THESE ARE THE FINEST PEOPLE

IN ALL OF HOUSTON, TEXAS,

RIGHT HERE AT LAKEWOOD.

BUT THANKS FOR TUNING IN TODAY,

AND THANKS FOR COMING OUT.

I LIKE TO START WITH SOMETHING

FUNNY, AND I HEARD ABOUT THIS

MAN, HE WAS THE ONLY PROTESTANT

IN THIS LARGE CATHOLIC

NEIGHBORHOOD.

EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT, WHILE

HIS NEIGHBORS WERE EATING COLD

FISH, HE WAS IN HIS BACKYARD

GRILLING A STEAK.

THEY COULDN’T STAND

THE TEMPTATION AND DECIDED

TO TRY TO CONVERT HIM

TO CATHOLICISM.

HE FINALLY AGREED, A PRIEST CAME

OVER, SPRINKLED WATER ON HIM,

SAID YOU WERE BORN A BAPTIST,

YOU WERE RAISED A BAPTIST,

BUT NOW YOU’RE A CATHOLIC.

THE NEXT YEAR ON THE FIRST

FRIDAY OF LENT THEY SMELLED

THE SAME SMELL.

THEY RUSHED TO HIS HOUSE.

HE WAS IN HIS BACKYARD

SPRINKLING WATER OVER HIS STEAK,

SAYING YOU WERE BORN A COW, YOU

WERE RAISED A COW, BUT NOW

YOU’RE A FISH.

ALL RIGHT, 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 INVITING GOD INTO YOUR

DIFFICULTIES.

MOST OF THE TIME, WE’RE PRAYING

GOD GET ME OUT OF THIS

CHALLENGE, GET ME OUT OF THIS

TROUBLE AT WORK, GET ME

OUT OF THIS FINANCIAL SETBACK.

AND THERE’S NOTHING WRONG

WITH THAT, BUT BEFORE YOU GET

OUT, YOU HAVE TO INVITE GOD IN.

SOMETIMES THE MIRACLE IS NOT

IN GETTING OUT, IT’S IN WHAT GOD

IS GOING TO DO IN THIS

SITUATION.

INSTEAD OF JUST PRAYING GOD GET

ME OUT, WHY DON’T YOU START

PRAYING GOD COME IN TO THIS

HOSPITAL ROOM WHILE I TAKE

THE TREATMENT?

COME INTO THIS TROUBLE AT WORK

WHERE THE PEOPLE AREN’T FAIR.

COME INTO THIS ANXIETY THAT I’M

DEALING WITH.

WHAT’S MORE POWERFUL THAN GOD

BRINGING YOU OUT IS WHEN GOD

COMES IN AND BEGINS TO CHANGE

THINGS.

HE COMES IN AND GIVES YOU FAVOR

DESPITE WHO’S TRYING TO PUSH YOU

DOWN.

HE COMES IN AND GIVES YOU

STRENGTH THAT YOU CAN’T EXPLAIN,

GRACE TO OUTLAST WHAT SHOULD

STOP YOU.

AND IF YOU’RE ONLY FOCUSED

ON GOD BRINGING YOU OUT, THEN

YOU’RE GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTED,

BECAUSE GOD DOESN’T DO THINGS

ON OUR TIMETABLE.

SOMETIMES IT’S TAKING LONGER

THAN WE THOUGHT, BUT WHEN YOU

ASK GOD TO COME IN, YOU CAN BE

AT REST.

GOD, I KNOW YOU’RE RIGHT HERE

WITH ME, YOU ARE ORDERING MY

STEPS, AND AT THE RIGHT TIME,

YOU’LL GET ME TO WHERE I’M

SUPPOSED TO BE.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT

EVERYTHING, LIVE UPSET, CAN’T

SLEEP AT NIGHT.

THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU’RE ONLY

FOCUSED ON GETTING OUT.

GOD IS WAITING TO COME IN.

WHEN YOU ASK HIM IN, YOU’RE

SAYING GOD, DON’T JUST CHANGE

THE CIRCUMSTANCES, CHANGE ME.

HELP ME TO NOT JUST GO

THROUGH THIS SITUATION, HELP ME

TO GROW THROUGH IT, HELP ME

TO LEARN, INCREASE MY FAITH, LET

MY CHARACTER COME UP HIGHER.

IF GOD DELIVERED US

OUT OF EVERYTHING INSTANTLY, WE

WOULD NEVER REACH OUR HIGHEST

POTENTIAL.

GOD WORKS IN THE TROUBLE, HE

WORKS IN THE UNCOMFORTABLE

SITUATIONS, AND SOMETIMES GOD IS

NOT BRINGING YOU OUT YET BECAUSE

HE WANTS THE ODDS TO BE

AGAINST YOU IN A BIGGER WAY

SO WHEN HE BRINGS YOU OUT IT

WILL BE A GREATER MIRACLE.

NOW, VOICES WILL WHISPER GOD

DOESN’T EVEN HEAR YOUR PRAYERS,

THAT’S WHY NOTHING’S CHANGING.

THE TRUTH IS GOD IS SETTING YOU

UP TO SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE.

WHEN HE BRINGS YOU OUT, NO ONE

WILL BE ABLE TO DENY THAT HIS

FAVOR IS ON YOU.

GOD SAID IN ISAIAH, “WHEN YOU GO

THROUGH THE WATERS, I WILL BE

WITH YOU.

WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE RIVERS,

THEY WILL NOT OVERWHELM YOU.

WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE FIRE

YOU WILL NOT BE BURNED.”

IT’S INTERESTING THAT GOD DIDN’T

SAY, “I’LL KEEP YOU OUT OF EVERY

FIRE.

YOU WON’T HAVE TO FACE ANY

FLOODS.”

NO, HE SAID THE CHALLENGES WILL

COME, THERE WILL BE ADVERSITIES

AND THINGS WE DON’T UNDERSTAND,

BUT THE WHOLE KEY TO THIS VERSE

IS WHEN HE SAID, “I WILL BE

WITH YOU IN THE FIRE,

IN THE FLOOD, IN THE FAMINE.”

ARE YOU TRYING TO GET

OUT OF SOMETHING THAT GOD IS

GOING TO TAKE YOU THROUGH?

ARE YOU FIGHTING THE PROCESS?

IT’S NOT FAIR, GOD, I CAN’T TAKE

IT ANYMORE.

EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE IF YOU’LL

START INVITING GOD

INTO THE FIRE.

HE’S ALREADY PROMISED HE’LL BE

WITH YOU, MAYBE HE’S JUST

WAITING FOR YOUR INVITATION.

THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IS GOD, I

KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO BRING ME

OUT, BUT IN THE MEANTIME I’M

ASKING YOU TO COME IN TO THIS

CHALLENGE IN MY HEALTH, COME

INTO THIS LOSS I’M GOING

THROUGH, COME INTO THIS

DEPRESSION THAT’S TRYING TO STOP

ME.

WHEN YOU INVITE GOD INTO YOUR

DIFFICULTY, YOU’LL FEEL HIM

BREATHING IN YOUR DIRECTION,

EMPOWERING YOU, ENABLING YOU,

FAVORING YOU.

IS IT A GREATER TESTIMONY THAT

GOD KEPT YOU OUT OF THE FIRE,

OR THAT HE CAME WITH YOU

IN THE FIRE AND BROUGHT YOU

THROUGH IT?

DAVID SAID, “THOUGH I WALK

THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW

OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL,”

WHY?

“BECAUSE YOU ARE WITH ME.”

WHEN YOU KNOW GOD IS WITH YOU,

WHEN YOU’VE INVITED HIM

INTO YOUR SITUATION, YOU’LL HAVE

A SMILE IN THE MIDDLE

OF THE DIFFICULTY.

YOU’LL HAVE A SONG OF PRAISE

IN THE PRISON LIKE PAUL

AND SILAS.

YOU WON’T BE COMPLAINING

ABOUT THE TROUBLE, WORRIED

ABOUT WHEN IT’S GOING TO WORK

OUT, YOU’LL BE AT PEACE

IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM.

AND THE REASON DAVID DIDN’T LIVE

AFRAID EVEN THOUGH HE WENT

THROUGH VALLEYS AND ALL KINDS

OF ADVERSITIES IS HE UNDERSTOOD

THIS PRINCIPLE TO INVITE GOD

INTO THE TROUBLE.

HE WASN’T JUST WAITING TO GET

OUT, HE KNEW THAT GOD WAS RIGHT

THERE WITH HIM.

IF YOU’RE ONLY PRAYING GOD GET

ME OUT, YOU’LL BE DISCOURAGED

UNTIL IT CHANGES.

JOEL, I CAN’T ENJOY MY LIFE, I

HAVE THIS CHILD THAT’S

OFF COURSE, I’M DEALING

WITH AN ILLNESS, MY FINANCES ARE

LOW.

WHEN IT TURNS AROUND, THEN I’LL

HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE.

YOU’RE WAITING FOR GOD TO BRING

YOU OUT WHILE GOD IS WAITING

FOR YOU TO INVITE HIM IN.

YOU HAVE TO DO LIKE DAVID:

“FATHER, THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE

WITH ME RIGHT HERE IN THIS

VALLEY.

I’M NOT GOING TO LIVE AFRAID,

WORRIED, I MAY NOT SEE A WAY,

BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE A WAY.”

INSTEAD OF JUST TRYING TO GET

OUT OF THE VALLEY,

OUT OF THE TROUBLE,

OUT OF THE FIRE, IF YOU’LL START

SAYING GOD COME IN, LET ME FEEL

YOUR PRESENCE IN THE FIRE, SHOW

ME YOUR GREATNESS IN THIS

TROUBLE, THEN YOU’LL HAVE

A PEACE THAT PASSES

UNDERSTANDING, A JOY WHEN YOU

COULD BE DISCOURAGED, A HOPE

WHEN YOU SHOULD BE DISTRAUGHT.

IN THE SCRIPTURE THREE HEBREW

TEENAGERS WOULDN’T BOW

DOWN TO THE KING’S GOLDEN IDOL.

THE KING WAS SO FURIOUS HE

THREATENED TO HAVE THEM THROWN

INTO A FIERY FURNACE.

“THE TEENAGERS SAID, KING, WE’RE

NOT WORRIED, WE KNOW OUR GOD

WILL DELIVER US.”

THIS MADE THE KING EVEN

MORE ANGRY.

HE HAD THE GUARDS TURN

UP THE FURNACE SEVEN TIMES

HOTTER THAN NORMAL.

WHY DID GOD HAVE THE KING MAKE

THE FIRE EVEN HOTTER?

HE WANTED IT TO BE A BIGGER

MIRACLE.

HE WANTED THE ODDS TO BE MORE

AGAINST THEM.

THE FACT IS GOD COULD’VE KEPT

THEM OUT OF THE FIRE, HE’S GOD.

HE PARTED RED SEAS, HE OPENED

BLIND EYES, WOULD HAVE BEEN NO

PROBLEM FOR GOD TO CHANGE

THE KING’S MIND OR TO HELP THESE

TEENAGERS ESCAPE.

BUT GOD DOESN’T DELIVER US

FROM EVERY FIRE.

SOMETIMES HE’LL TAKE YOU

THROUGH THE FIRE.

THE GOOD NEWS IS GOD KNOWS HOW

TO MAKE YOU FIREPROOF.

PEOPLE DON’T DETERMINE YOUR

DESTINY, BAD BREAKS CANNOT STOP

GOD’S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE,

SICKNESS, ADDICTIONS, UNFAIR

SITUATIONS DON’T HAVE THE FINAL

SAY.

NOW, DON’T BE DISCOURAGED

BECAUSE GOD DIDN’T KEEP YOU

OUT OF THE FIRE.

GOD DOESN’T STOP EVERY NEGATIVE

SITUATION.

HE USES ADVERSITIES TO MOVE US

INTO OUR PURPOSE.

WE WOULD NEVER KNOW HIS POWER IF

WE WERE NEVER THROWN

INTO A FIRE, SO TO SPEAK.

YOU WOULDN’T KNOW HE WAS

A HEALER IF YOU NEVER HAD

AN ILLNESS.

WE WOULDN’T KNOW HE COULD MOVE

MOUNTAINS IF WE NEVER FACED BIG

OBSTACLES.

NOW, QUIT COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT

YOU’RE UP AGAINST, IT’S NOT

A SURPRISE TO GOD.

THE ENEMY MAY HAVE TURNED

UP THE FIRE SEVEN TIMES HOTTER

THAN NORMAL, THEY DIDN’T DO THAT

WITHOUT GOD’S PERMISSION.

GOD IS IN CONTROL NOT JUST

OF YOUR LIFE, HE’S IN CONTROL

OF YOUR ENEMIES.

INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING

ABOUT THE FIRE, START INVITING

HIM INTO THE FIRE.

WHEN HE’S WITH YOU, YOU CANNOT

BE DEFEATED.

YOU AND GOD ARE A MAJORITY.

HE IS A SUPERNATURAL GOD, HE’S

NOT LIMITED BY THE FIRE,

BY THE FLOODS, BY THE FAMINES.

WHAT SHOULD TAKE YOU OUT CANNOT

STOP YOUR DESTINY.

INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING

ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU DON’T

LIKE, IF YOU’LL RECOGNIZE THAT

GOD ALLOWED THE DIFFICULTY–.

I’M NOT SAYING THAT HE SENT IT,

BUT HE ALLOWED IT BECAUSE HE HAD

A PURPOSE.

AND THE PURPOSE IS NOT SO YOU

CAN LIVE MISERABLE, WORRIED,

AND AFRAID; HIS PURPOSE IS

TO SHOW HIS GLORY THROUGH YOU.

IT’S SO OTHER PEOPLE CAN SEE HIS

POWER AND FAVOR ON YOUR LIFE.

WITHOUT GREAT TEST, YOU WON’T

HAVE A GREAT TESTIMONY.

WITHOUT BIG BATTLES, WE WON’T

SEE BIG VICTORIES.

THESE TEENAGERS SAID, “WE KNOW

OUR GOD WILL DELIVER US.”

THEY MADE THIS STATEMENT

OF FAITH.

THEN THEY SAID SOMETHING EVEN

MORE POWERFUL: “BUT EVEN IF HE

DOESN’T, WE’RE STILL NOT GOING

TO BOW DOWN.”

THAT’S THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT

GIVE THE ENEMY A NERVOUS

BREAKDOWN.

WHEN YOU CAN SAY GOD, THIS IS

WHAT I’M BELIEVING FOR, THIS IS

WHAT I’M HOPING WILL HAPPEN,

BUT GOD, EVEN IF IT DOESN’T WORK

OUT MY WAY, I’M STILL GOING

TO GIVE YOU PRAISE, I’M STILL

GOING TO BE GOOD TO OTHERS, I’M

STILL GOING TO SHOW UP SUNDAY

AND USHER, I’M STILL GOING

TO PURSUE MY DREAMS.

THAT ATTITUDE GETS GOD’S

ATTENTION, YOU’RE SAYING GOD,

NOT MY WILL, BUT LET YOUR WILL

BE DONE.

BUT TOO OFTEN WE’RE PUTTING

CONDITIONS ON GOD AND CONDITIONS

ON OUR PRAYER.

GOD, I’LL BE HAPPY IF MY BOSS

MOVES TO THE BACKSIDE OF MARS.

WHEN YOU GET HIM OUT OF MY LIFE,

THEN I’LL HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE.

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT GOD MAY BE

USING THAT PERSON TO DO A WORK

IN YOU, TO GROW YOU UP,

TO DEVELOP YOUR CHARACTER,

TO TEACH YOU TO LOVE THOSE THAT

ARE NOT VERY LOVABLE?

INSTEAD OF PRAYING GOD GET ME

OUT OF THIS SITUATION, I’M

ASKING YOU TO START PRAYING GOD

COME INTO THIS SITUATION, HELP

ME TO HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE, HELP

ME TO DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN

THE WRONG THING IS HAPPENING.

IT’S VERY POWERFUL WHEN YOU CAN

SAY GOD, IF MY BOSS NEVER MOVES,

IF HE’S HERE UNTIL I GO

TO HEAVEN, I KNOW YOU HAVE GIVEN

ME THE STRENGTH TO OVERCOME,

THE POWER TO BE HAPPY

IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS

DIFFICULTY, AND I AM NOT GOING

TO LET THIS PERSON, THIS

SICKNESS, THIS INJUSTICE STEAL

MY JOY.

NOW YOU’RE GROWING, NOW YOU’RE

COMING UP HIGHER, ‘CAUSE

SOMETIMES GOD IS WAITING FOR US

TO PASS THE TEST BEFORE HE

BRINGS US OUT.

THE KING HAD THE GUARDS TIE

UP THE TEENAGERS’ HANDS AND FEET

WITH CORDS, AND THEY THREW THEM

INTO THE FURNACE.

IT WAS SO HOT THAT THE GUARDS

WERE INSTANTLY KILLED.

IT LOOKED LIKE THIS WAS THE END

FOR THE TEENAGERS, BUT PEOPLE

DON’T HAVE THE FINAL SAY.

IF IT’S NOT YOUR TIME TO GO,

YOU’RE NOT GOING TO GO.

NOTHING CAN SNATCH YOU

OUT OF GOD’S HANDS.

IN A LITTLE WHILE THE KING CAME

TO CHECK ON THEM.

HE LOOKED THROUGH THE FURNACE

WINDOW AND WAS PUZZLED.

HE SAID, “DIDN’T WE THROW THREE

MEN IN BOUND?

I SEE FOUR MEN LOOSED, AND ONE

LOOKS LIKE THE SON OF GOD.”

GOD MAY NOT KEEP YOU

OUT OF EVERY FIRE, BUT DON’T

WORRY, HE’LL COME INTO THE FIRE

WITH YOU.

HE’LL HELP YOU OVERCOME WHAT

LOOKS IMPOSSIBLE.

THAT ILLNESS SHOULD BE THE END.

THE MEDICAL REPORT SAID YOU WERE

DONE, BUT LIKE WITH MY MOTHER,

GOD CAME IN THE FIRE WITH YOU,

AND HERE YOU ARE STILL GOING

STRONG.

THAT LOVED ONE YOU LOST OR THAT

PERSON THAT WALKED AWAY, BROKE

YOUR HEART, THAT SHOULD’VE

SOURED YOUR LIFE, BUT LOOK AT YA

NOW, STILL MOVING FORWARD, DOING

GREAT THINGS, FULFILLING YOUR

PURPOSE.

HOW COULD THAT BE?

GOD CAME IN THE FIRE WITH YOU.

THE PSALMIST SAID GOD IS A VERY

PRESENT HELP IN TIMES

OF TROUBLE.

WE KNOW THAT GOD IS ALWAYS

WITH US, BUT WHEN YOU’RE

IN DIFFICULTIES AND YOU INVITE

HIM IN, YOU’RE GOING TO FEEL HIS

PRESENCE IN A GREATER WAY.

YOU’RE GOING TO BE MORE AWARE

THAT YOU’RE NOT ALONE.

AND WHEN YOU GET THROWN

INTO THE FIRE, SO TO SPEAK, YOU

WON’T BE BITTER, YOU’LL STAY

IN FAITH KNOWING THAT THE FOURTH

MAN IS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU,

THE GOD WHO CONTROLS THE FIRE,

THE GOD WHO HEALS, WHO RESTORES,

WHO PAYS YOU BACK

FOR THE INJUSTICE IS RIGHT THERE

WATCHING OVER YOU, PROTECTING

YOU, ORDERING YOUR STEPS.

MOSES WENT THROUGH A DIFFICULT

SITUATION.

HE DIDN’T KNOW HOW IT WAS GOING

TO WORK OUT.

I’M SURE HE WAS TEMPTED TO WORRY

AND THINK ABOUT HOW BIG HIS

ENEMIES WERE.

BUT GOD SAID TO HIM IN EXODUS

33, “MOSES, I WILL GO WITH YOU.

I WILL GIVE YOU REST.

EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE

FOR YOU.”

MAYBE YOU’RE FACING SOME

CHALLENGES, LIFE HASN’T TURNED

OUT THE WAY YOU THOUGHT.

YOU ASKED GOD TO KEEP YOU

OUT OF THE FIRE, BUT IT DIDN’T

HAPPEN YOUR WAY.

NOW YOU’RE WONDERING HOW YOU’RE

GOING TO BEAT THE ILLNESS, HOW

YOUR FAMILY’S GOING TO BE

RESTORED.

GOD IS SAYING TO YOU WHAT HE

SAID TO MOSES: “I’M GOING

WITH YOU.

YOU’RE NOT IN THAT FIRE

BY YOURSELF, I HAVE YOU

IN THE PALM OF MY HAND.

I’M FIGHTING YOUR BATTLES.”

THAT OBSTACLE MAY BE TOO MUCH

FOR YOU, BUT IT IS NOT TOO MUCH

FOR OUR GOD.

RIGHT NOW HE IS PUSHING BACK

FORCES OF DARKNESS, HE’S KEEPING

THE FIRE FROM BURNING YOU.

HE’S NOT LETTING THOSE WATERS

DROWN YOU.

HE’S YOUR PROTECTOR, YOUR

DELIVERER, YOUR WAYMAKER, YOUR

HEALER, YOUR PROVIDER.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THIS

ON YOUR OWN.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO FIGURE

EVERYTHING OUT.

YOU’RE NOT GOING TO KNOW ALL

THE DETAILS.

YOU HAVE TO WALK BY FAITH

AND NOT BY SIGHT KNOWING THAT

HE’S RIGHT THERE WITH YOU, THAT

HE’S PROMISED EVERYTHING IS

GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT FOR YOU.

WHEN THE KING HAD THE TEENAGERS’

HANDS AND FEET TIED UP, THEY

COULD’VE PANICKED, BEEN STRESSED

OUT, BUT THEY UNDERSTOOD THIS

PRINCIPLE THAT GOD DOESN’T KEEP

US OUT OF EVERY FIRE, BUT HE

COMES INTO THE FIRE WITH US.

THEY DIDN’T FALL APART, THEY

STAYED IN PEACE.

BUT I CAN IMAGINE HOW DIFFERENT

THIS OUTCOME COULD’VE BEEN IF

THEY WOULD’VE COMPLAINED, BEEN

BITTER, DISCOURAGED.

MAYBE WE WOULDN’T BE TALKING

ABOUT THEM.

MAYBE THE FOURTH MAN WOULD’VE

NEVER SHOWN UP.

HOW WE APPROACH OUR DIFFICULTIES

MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE WHETHER

WE’RE GOING TO COME

THROUGH THEM, NOT BURN

WITHOUT THE SMELL OF SMOKE

LIKE THE TEENAGERS, OR WHETHER

WE’RE GOING TO GET STUCK IN THEM

AND MISS GOD’S BEST.

YOU MAY BE IN THE FIRE NOW,

BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME

TO COMPLAIN, IT’S NOT THE TIME

TO JUST PRAY GOD GET ME OUT,

MORE THAN EVER YOU NEED TO START

SAYING FATHER, THANK YOU THAT

YOU ARE IN THIS FIRE WITH ME,

THANK YOU THAT NO WEAPON FORMED

AGAINST ME IS GOING TO PROSPER.

GOD, I AM NOT GOING TO WORRY, I

TRUST YOU.

I BELIEVE WHAT YOU PROMISED,

THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE

FOR ME.

HERE’S HOW AMAZING GOD IS,

THE KING SAID, “DIDN’T WE THROW

THREE MEN IN BOUND?

I SEE FOUR MEN LOOSED.”

WHEN THE TEENAGERS CAME OUT,

THE ONLY THING THE FIRE BURNED

WERE THE CORDS THAT WERE HOLDING

THEM BACK.

THEIR HAIR WAS FINE, SKIN WAS

FINE, CLOTHES WERE FINE, JUST

THE CORDS.

AND WHEN YOU COME OUT OF THAT

DIFFICULTY, THE ONLY THINGS THAT

ARE GOING TO BE GONE ARE

THE LIMITATIONS THAT ARE HOLDING

YOU BACK.

THE FIRE’S GOING TO BURN

OFF THE FEAR, BURN OFF NEGATIVE

MIND-SETS, BURNT

OFF RELATIONSHIPS THAT WERE

PULLING YOU DOWN, YOU’RE GOING

TO COME OUT FREE, BOLD,

CONFIDENT, HEALTHY, PROMOTED,

VICTORIOUS, READY TO FULFILL

YOUR DESTINY.

I KNOW THIS MAN, HE’S

AN EXECUTIVE AT A LARGE COMPANY.

THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE

IN MANAGEMENT ABOVE HIM THAT

DIDN’T LIKE HIM, HE’S VERY

TALENTED.

THEY WERE INTIMIDATED BY HIM,

THEY KEPT DOING THEIR BEST

TO KEEP HIM DOWN.

HE WAS CONCERNED AND TRYING

TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HE SHOULD DO

AND HOW IT WAS ALL GOING TO WORK

OUT.

FOR SEVERAL MONTHS HE WOULD COME

DOWN FOR PRAYER AND TELL ME HOW

IT WASN’T GETTING ANY BETTER

AND WONDERING WHEN GOD WAS GOING

TO CHANGE IT.

IT WAS PUTTING A STRAIN ON HIS

MARRIAGE, PHYSICALLY HE WAS

STARTING TO GET RUNDOWN.

I TOLD HIM WHAT I’M TELLING YOU,

YOU’RE JUST PRAYING GOD GET ME

OUT, YOU NEED TO START PRAYING

GOD COME INTO THIS DIFFICULTY,

GOD GIVE ME THE GRACE TO BLOOM

WHERE I’M PLANTED, TO HAVE

A GOOD ATTITUDE EVEN THOUGH IT’S

NOT FAIR, GOD SHOW ME YOUR FAVOR

DESPITE WHO’S TRYING TO PUSH ME

DOWN.

HE CHANGED HIS ATTITUDE AND QUIT

WORRYING ABOUT WHEN IT WAS GOING

TO IMPROVE KNOWING THAT GOD WAS

RIGHT THERE WITH HIM IN THE FIRE

FIGHTING HIS BATTLES.

I SAW HIM A COUPLE OF YEARS

LATER, HE LOOKED AS PEACEFUL AS

CAN BE, HAD A BIG SMILE

AND GREAT ATTITUDE.

I THOUGHT EVERYTHING HAD TURNED

AROUND.

HE SAID, “NO, JOEL, THE SAME

PEOPLE ARE STILL THERE DOING

THE SAME THINGS.

THEY HAVEN’T CHANGED, BUT I’VE

CHANGED.

I DON’T LET THEM UPSET ME

ANYMORE.

I DON’T LIVE STRESSED OUT.

I ENJOY MY LIFE DESPITE HOW

THEY’RE TREATING ME.

I’M DOING THE RIGHT THING EVEN

THOUGH THEY NEVER GIVE ME

CREDIT.”

THAT’S PASSING THE TEST.

THAT’S SHOWING GOD YOU’RE NOT

JUST GOING TO BE HAPPY IF HE

BRINGS YOU OUT, BUT YOU’RE GOING

TO SHINE EVEN IF IT DOESN’T

HAPPEN YOUR WAY.

YOU’RE GOING TO BE YOUR BEST

EVEN IF IT’S NOT CHANGING

ON YOUR TIMETABLE.

THAT’S INVITING GOD

INTO THE FIRE, NOT JUST GOD GET

ME OUT, BUT GOD GIVE ME

THE STRENGTH TO BE HERE

WITH A GOOD ATTITUDE.

HE WAS IN THE LOBBY ABOUT THREE

MONTHS AGO, THIS WAS THREE YEARS

AFTER HE FIRST CAME

DOWN FOR PRAYER.

HE TOLD HOW THE COMPANY HAD JUST

BEEN SOLD.

THE OWNERS GOT RID OF ALL

THE MANAGEMENT TEAM

EXCEPT FOR HIM.

HE WAS THE ONLY EXECUTIVE THEY

KEPT.

HE SAID, “JOEL, NOW I’M

IN CHARGE.

I’M RUNNING THE WHOLE COMPANY.”

GOD KNOWS HOW TO VINDICATE YOU.

HE KNOWS HOW TO BRING YOU

OUT OF THE DIFFICULTY.

THE QUESTION IS ARE YOU INVITING

HIM INTO THE DIFFICULTY?

WHEN YOU’RE IN THE FIRE, YOU

CAN’T COMPLAIN, BE DISCOURAGED,

GOD, IT’S NOT FAIR.

TRY A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

GOD COME INTO THIS FIRE WITH ME,

GOD HELP ME TO DO THE RIGHT

THING, CHANGE ME WHERE I NEED

TO CHANGE, BURN OFF THINGS THAT

ARE HOLDING ME BACK.

YOU HAVE TO SHINE WHERE YOU ARE,

HAVE A SONG OF PRAISE WHEN YOU

COULD BE COMPLAINING.

KEEP A SMILE ON YOUR FACE WHEN

YOU SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED.

I KNOW IT’S NOT EASY, BUT KEEP

REMINDING YOURSELF THE CREATOR

OF THE UNIVERSE, THE MOST HIGH

GOD IS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.

HE SEES WHAT YOU’RE UP AGAINST,

HE KNOWS WHAT’S NOT FAIR,

THE HURTS, THE DISAPPOINTMENTS,

THE LONELY NIGHTS, AND WHEN YOU

DIG YOUR HEELS IN AND DO

THE RIGHT THING, YOU WILL FEEL

A SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH, A POWER

TO DO WHAT YOU COULD NOT DO

ON YOUR OWN.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED

WITH JOSEPH IN THE SCRIPTURE.

AS A TEENAGER, HE WAS BETRAYED

BY HIS BROTHERS AND SOLD

INTO SLAVERY.

HE WORKED FOR A HIGH-RANKING

MILITARY OFFICIAL IN EGYPT NAMED

POTIPHAR.

JOSEPH IN ONE SENSE HAD EVERY

RIGHT TO BE BITTER, ANGRY.

HIS DREAMS WERE SHATTERED, HE

WAS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, HE

DIDN’T KNOW ANYONE, BUT YOU

NEVER READ WHERE JOSEPH

COMPLAINED.

HE JUST KEPT BEING HIS BEST

WHERE HE WAS.

HE WAS SO EXCEPTIONAL THAT

POTIPHAR PUT HIM IN CHARGE

OF HIS WHOLE HOUSE.

GENESIS 39 SAYS THE LORD WAS

WITH JOSEPH.

HE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN EVERYTHING

THAT HE DID.

JOSEPH DID WHAT I’M ASKING US

TO DO.

HE DIDN’T JUST PRAY GOD GET ME

OUT OF THIS TROUBLE, AND I’LL

HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE.

HE SAID GOD COME INTO THIS

TROUBLE, HELP ME TO SHINE, HELP

ME TO STAND OUT.

THE NEXT VERSE SAYS POTIPHAR SAW

THAT THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH.

CAN PEOPLE SEE THAT GOD IS

WITH YOU IN THE FIRE?

ARE YOU BEING YOUR BEST EVEN

THOUGH IT’S UNFAIR?

ARE YOU SHINING WHEN YOU COULD

BE COMPLAINING?

LATER, JOSEPH WAS FALSELY

ACCUSED AND PUT IN PRISON

FOR SOMETHING THAT HE DIDN’T DO.

VERSE 21 SAYS, “BUT THE LORD WAS

WITH JOSEPH THERE TOO,”

IN THE PRISON, IN THE BETRAYAL,

IN THE INJUSTICE.

IT’S SIGNIFICANT THAT

THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US THREE

TIMES JUST A FEW VERSES

FROM EACH OTHER THAT THE LORD

WAS WITH JOSEPH.

WE GOT IT THE FIRST TIME,

BUT GOD WANTED US TO SEE THIS

PRINCIPLE THAT WHEN YOU INVITE

HIM INTO THE FIRE YOU’RE GOING

TO HAVE A FAVOR THAT PUSHES YOU

UP WHEN LIFE TRIES TO PUSH YOU

DOWN, A STRENGTH TO EXCEL WHEN

YOU COULD BE SLACKING OFF,

A POWER TO OVERCOME WHAT SHOULD

STOP YOU.

AFTER 13 YEARS OF BEING

IN THE FIRE, GOD BROUGHT JOSEPH

OUT, MADE HIM SECOND IN COMMAND

OF EGYPT.

YOU MAY BE IN A SITUATION NOW

THAT YOU DON’T THINK IS EVER

GOING TO CHANGE, BUT WHAT GOD

STARTED IN YOUR LIFE, HE’S GOING

TO FINISH.

NOW, IT MAY NOT HAPPEN ON YOUR

TIMETABLE.

INSTEAD OF JUST PRAYING GOD GET

ME OUT, BEING FRUSTRATED BECAUSE

IT’S TAKING LONGER THAN YOU

THOUGHT, WHY DON’T YOU START

INVITING GOD IN?

FATHER, THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE

WITH ME IN THIS BATTLE

WITH CANCER, YOU ARE WITH ME

IN THIS STRUGGLE

WITH THE ADDICTION, YOU ARE

WITH ME IN THIS DIVORCE, IN THIS

BREAKUP.

WHEN YOU INVITE GOD IN, YOU WILL

FEEL HIS PRESENCE IN A NEW WAY.

MARK CHAPTER 4, JESUS SAID

TO THE DISCIPLES, “LET US CROSS

TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE.”

THEY ALL GOT IN THE BOAT, BUT AS

THEY WERE SAILING A HUGE STORM

AROSE.

THE WAVES WERE CRASHING

OVER THE BOAT, THE WIND

SO STRONG THE DISCIPLES STARTED

TO PANIC THINKING THEY WERE

ABOUT TO DIE.

JESUS WAS ASLEEP IN THE BACK

OF THE BOAT.

THEY RAN AS FAST AS THEY COULD,

“JESUS, WAKE UP.

DON’T YOU CARE THAT WE’RE

ABOUT TO DIE?”

JESUS STOOD UP AND SPOKE

TO THE STORM.

SUDDENLY EVERYTHING CALMED DOWN.

NOW, THESE DISCIPLES HAD SEEN

JESUS PERFORM GREAT MIRACLES,

HEAL THE LEPERS, RAISE A LITTLE

BOY FROM THE DEAD.

WHEN JESUS SAID, “WE’RE GOIN’

TO THE OTHER SIDE,” YOU WOULD

THINK THEY WOULD BE CONFIDENT.

NOTHING FOR US TO WORRY ABOUT,

THE SON OF GOD IS IN OUR BOAT.

HE JUST SAID WE’RE GOING ACROSS.

BUT EVEN THOUGH JESUS WAS

WITH THEM, THEY STILL PANICKED.

THEY DIDN’T REALIZE THE WINDS

AND WAVES COULDN’T STOP THE GOD

WHO CREATED THE WINDS AND WAVES,

THE CREATION COULDN’T STOP

THE CREATOR.

THEY HAD NO REASON TO BE AFRAID,

THE SON OF GOD WAS IN THE STORM

WITH THEM.

I WONDER IF YOU’RE DOING

LIKE THEM, WORRIED

ABOUT SOMETHING EVEN THOUGH GOD

IS ON YOUR BOAT.

HE’S ALREADY PROMISED YOU THAT

HE WOULD RESTORE HEALTH BACK

UNTO YOU, THAT YOU WOULD LEND

AND NOT BORROW, THAT AS FOR YOU

AND YOUR HOUSE YOU WOULD SERVE

THE LORD.

NOW, THE CIRCUMSTANCES MAY LOOK

THE OPPOSITE.

THE MEDICAL REPORT’S NOT GOOD,

YOUR LOVED ONE’S OFF COURSE.

IT’S EASY TO LIVE WORRIED,

UPSET, BUT CAN I ENCOURAGE YOU?

THE MOST HIGH GOD IS ON YOUR

BOAT.

THOSE WINDS CANNOT STOP YOU,

THE SICKNESS, THE INJUSTICE,

THE PEOPLE, THEY CANNOT KEEP YOU

FROM YOUR DESTINY.

YOU MIGHT AS WELL RELAX,

EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE FINE

FOR YOU.

SURE, THE WAVES MAY BE BIG,

BUT YOU HAVE AN ADVANTAGE,

THE GOD WHO CONTROLS

THE UNIVERSE IS RIGHT THERE

WITH YOU.

NOW, DO YOUR PART, START

THANKING HIM THAT HE’S FIGHTING

YOUR BATTLES, START SHINING

WHERE YOU ARE, BEING YOUR BEST

IN SPITE OF THE DIFFICULTIES.

DON’T WAIT TILL IT CHANGES, YOU

HAVE TO INVITE HIM IN BEFORE HE

BRINGS YOU OUT.

AND IF YOU’LL DO THIS, I BELIEVE

AND DECLARE LIKE THESE

TEENAGERS, THAT FIRE IS NOT

GOING TO BURN YOU.

YOU’RE ABOUT TO SEE THE FOURTH

MAN SHOW UP.

UNUSUAL THINGS ARE

ABOUT TO HAPPEN, UNUSUAL FAVOR,

UNUSUAL HEALINGS, UNUSUAL

BREAKTHROUGHS, UNUSUAL

PROMOTION, THE FULLNESS OF YOUR

DESTINY IN JESUS’S NAME.

AND IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU

SAY AMEN TODAY?

I’D LIKE TO GIVE YOU

THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS

THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE.

WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?

JUST SAY: LORD JESUS, I REPENT

OF MY SINS, COME INTO MY HEART,

I MAKE YOU MY LORD AND SAVIOR.

IF YOU PRAYED THAT SIMPLE

PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU GOT BORN

AGAIN.

GET IN A GOOD BIBLE-BASED

CHURCH, KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.