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> JOEL: WELL, GOD BLESS YOU.
IT’S A JOY TO COME INTO YOUR
HOMES. IF YOU’RE EVER IN
OUR AREA, PLEASE STOP BY
AND BE A PART OF ONE OF
OUR SERVICES. I PROMISE
YOU WE’LL MAKE YOU FEEL
RIGHT AT HOME.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THIS PASTOR
AND SONG LEADER THAT WEREN’T
GETTING ALONG.
IT STARTED TO SPILL OVER
INTO THE SERVICES.
ONE SUNDAY, THE PASTOR
TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF BEING A GIVER.
AFTERWARD, THE SONG LEADER
GOT UP AND LED THE SONG,
“JESUS PAID IT ALL”.
THE NEXT WEEK, THE PASTOR
TALKED ABOUT NOT GOSSIPING,
WATCHING YOUR TONGUE.
THE SONG LEADER GOT UP AND
LED, “I LOVE TO TELL THE
STORY”.
ANOTHER WEEK, HE TALKED
ABOUT BEING WILLING TO
CHANGE.
THE SONG LEADER GOT UP AND
LED, “I SHALL NOT BE MOVED”.
THE PASTOR WAS SO
FRUSTRATED, HE RESIGNED.
HE TOLD THE CONGREGATION
“JESUS BROUGHT ME HERE AND
JESUS IS TAKING ME AWAY”.
THE SONG LEADER THEN LED,
“WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE
IN JESUS”. (LAUGHTER)
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 SECRET TO SOLVING
PROBLEMS.
WE ALL FACE CHALLENGES;
THINGS WE’RE BELIEVING WILL
TURN AROUND.
A CHILD THAT’S OFF COURSE.
A SICKNESS WE’RE DEALING
WITH.
A DREAM THAT SEEMS
IMPOSSIBLE.
WE’VE BEEN PRAYING,
BELIEVING BUT NOTHING IS
CHANGING.
SOMETIMES, GOD WON’T ALLOW
YOU TO SOLVE YOUR OWN
PROBLEM.
THE SECRET IS YOU HAVE TO
HELP SOMEONE ELSE SOLVE
THEIR PROBLEM.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE FOCUS
OFF YOURSELF AND BE GOOD TO
OTHERS IN YOUR TIME OF NEED.
AS YOU SOW THAT SEED, THAT’S
WHAT’S GOING TO BRING THE
HARVEST THAT YOU’RE WAITING
FOR.
BUT YOU’LL BE TEMPTED TO
THINK, “I CAN’T HELP THEM
JOEL.
I HAVE MY OWN PROBLEMS.
I NEED TO SPEND MY ENERGY TO
TRY TO FIX MY SITUATION.”
BUT IF YOU’LL TAKE YOUR
HANDS OFF OF YOUR PROBLEM
AND BE GOOD TO SOMEONE ELSE,
GOD WILL PUT HIS HANDS ON
YOUR PROBLEM AND MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN THAT YOU COULDN’T
MAKE HAPPEN.
WHILE YOU’RE WORKING ON
THEIR SITUATION, GOD IS
WORKING ON YOUR SITUATION.
A FRIEND OF MINE STRUGGLED
FOR MANY YEARS WITH HIS
TEENAGE SON.
IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE
DIFFERENT WAVE LENGTHS.
HE TRIED HIS BEST TO BE
LOVING, KIND, UNDERSTANDING.
THEY JUST DIDN’T GET ALONG.
INVARIABLY THEY’D END UP IN
AN ARGUMENT.
EVERYTHING WAS SO
CONTENTIOUS.
HE PRAYED ABOUT IT, QUOTED
SCRIPTURE, ASKED GOD TO HELP
HIM BUT NOTHING WAS GETTING
BETTER.
HE WAS THE COACH OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD BASEBALL TEAM.
THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN ON HIS
TEAM THAT CAME FROM A
SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY.
HE WASN’T DOING GOOD IN HIS
SCHOOLWORK.
WHEN THIS FATHER LEARNED
THAT, HE TOOK THAT YOUNG
MAN UNDER HIS WING.
HE STARTED BRINGING HIM HOME
FROM BASEBALL PRACTICE WITH
HIS SON AND HE WOULD HELP
HIM DO HIS HOMEWORK.
HE TUTORED HIM, MENTORED
HIM, HE BECAME A FATHER
FIGURE IN HIS LIFE.
THAT YOUNG MAN LOOKED UP TO
HIM, ADMIRED HIM IN A GREAT
WAY.
ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER THIS
FATHER STARTED DOING THAT,
HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS
OWN SON BEGAN TO IMPROVE.
THEY GOT CLOSER, STARTED
DOING THINGS TOGETHER.
TODAY THEY’RE THE BEST OF
FRIENDS.
YOU CAN’T KEEP THEM APART.
THE SECRET TO SOLVING HIS
PROBLEM WASN’T IN PRAYING
MORE, WASN’T IN WORKING
HARDER; IT WAS IN HELPING
SOMEONE ELSE SOLVE THEIR
PROBLEM.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “WHEN
JOB PRAYED FOR HIS FRIENDS,
HIS HEALING QUICKLY CAME.”
DON’T YOU KNOW HOW MANY
TIMES JOB PRAYED FOR HIMSELF
WHEN HE WASN’T FEELING WELL?
“GOD, PLEASE RESTORE HEALTH
BACK UNTO ME.
GOD, PLEASE FREE ME FROM
THIS PAIN.”
THAT’S GOOD, THAT’S
RELEASING YOUR FAITH.
I’M SIMPLY SAYING DON’T STOP
THERE BECAUSE THERE ARE
TIMES YOUR BREAKTHROUGH IS
CONNECTED TO HELPING SOMEONE
ELSE GET THEIR BREAKTHROUGH.
NOW, MAYBE YOU’VE BEEN
PRAYING DILIGENTLY STANDING
IN FAITH SO STRONG, BUT
NOTHING IS IMPROVING.
NOW IT’S TIME TO GO BE A
BLESSING.
LOOK AROUND.
WHERE IS A NEED YOU CAN
MEET?
GO PRAY FOR THAT NEIGHBOR
THAT’S NOT FEELING WELL.
GO ENCOURAGE THAT CO-WORKER
THAT’S STRUGGLING.
GO HELP THAT FRIEND
ACCOMPLISH THEIR DREAM.
AS YOU’RE HELPING OTHERS,
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE
IT, BUT GOD IS HELPING YOU.
HE’S LINING UP THE
PROMOTION, THE
BREAKTHROUGHS, THE HEALING.
YOU CAN’T SOW A SEED WITHOUT
REAPING A HARVEST.
WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD,
LAKEWOOD WAS IN AN
AUDITORIUM THAT HELD A
THOUSAND PEOPLE.
THE CHURCH WAS GROWING.
WE NEEDED TO EXPAND THE
BUILDING.
MY FATHER ASKED THE
CONGREGATION TO BE PRAYING
ABOUT WHAT THEY COULD GIVE
TOWARD IT.
THERE WAS A SMALL
SPANISH-SPEAKING CHURCH
ABOUT SIX BLOCKS DOWN THE
ROAD FROM LAKEWOOD.
THEY HAD STARTED
CONSTRUCTION ON A NEW
BUILDING.
IT WAS AN AUDITORIUM TO HOLD
100 PEOPLE.
MY FATHER NOTICED THAT THE
CONSTRUCTION HAD STOPPED.
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, NO ONE
WAS WORKING.
HE DIDN’T KNOW ANYONE THERE.
HE’D NEVER MET THE PASTOR.
BUT ONE AFTERNOON, LEAVING
LAKEWOOD, HE PULLED IN AND
TALKED WITH SOME PEOPLE.
THEY TOLD HOW THEY STARTED
CONSTRUCTION BUT HAD
COMPLICATIONS.
IT WAS COSTING MORE THAN
THEY THOUGHT.
NOW, THEY HAD RUN OUT OF
FUNDS AND THE BUILDING WAS
JUST SITTING THERE
INDEFINITELY.
WELL, MY FATHER WAS
BELIEVING TO RAISE THE FUNDS
TO EXPAND LAKEWOOD.
WE NEEDED THE FINANCES.
BUT HE TOLD THE
CONGREGATION, INSTEAD OF
GIVING MONEY FOR OUR
BUILDING, HE WAS GOING TO
TAKE UP AN OFFERING FOR
THEIR BUILDING.
LAKEWOOD GAVE THE FINANCES.
IT WAS ENOUGH TO FINISH
THEIR AUDITORIUM.
IN THE NATURAL, IT DIDN’T
MAKE SENSE.
WE NEEDED THE FINANCES.
WE HAD THE PROBLEM.
BUT MY FATHER UNDERSTOOD
THIS PRINCIPLE: WHEN YOU
HELP SOLVE SOMEBODY ELSE’S
PROBLEM, GOD WILL HELP SOLVE
YOUR PROBLEM.
NOW, SOMETIMES, IT’S NOT
GOING TO MAKE SENSE.
PROVERBS SAYS: “IT IS
POSSIBLE TO GIVE AWAY AND
HAVE MORE.”
IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO HOLD
ON TOO TIGHTLY AND LOSE
EVERYTHING.
GOD’S WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS.
EVERYTHING IN YOU WILL SAY,
“STAY FOCUSED ON GETTING OUT
OF MY PROBLEM.
JOEL, I CAN’T HELP OTHERS
UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS
SOLVED.”
NO, HELPING OTHERS IS WHAT’S
GOING TO CAUSE THAT PROBLEM
TO TURN AROUND.
GIVING YOUR TIME, ENERGY,
RESOURCES.
THAT’S WHAT’S GOING TO OPEN
THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN AND
CAUSE YOUR DREAM TO COME TO
PASS.
YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT
GIVING AWAY THOSE FUNDS
WOULD HAVE KEPT LAKEWOOD
FROM EXPANDING THE BUILDING.
IT WAS JUST THE OPPOSITE.
THE FUNDS CAME IN FOR THE
FOUNDATION.
WE PAID IT OFF.
THE FUNDS CAME IN FOR THE
STEEL, THE LIGHTS, THE
CHAIRS, THE SOUND SYSTEM.
THE BUILDING WAS BUILT DEBT
FREE.
NO DELAYS.
NO COMPLICATIONS.
AND NOT JUST THAT BUILDING,
OVER THE YEARS, MY FATHER BUILT
BUILDING AFTER BUILDING,
EXPANSION AFTER EXPANSION.
HE PAID CASH EVERY TIME.
HE NEVER LACKED RESOURCES;
NEVER LACKED THE FUNDS.
I BELIEVE IT ALL STARTED
WHEN HE HELPED THAT SPANISH
CHURCH.
HE HAD A NEED. HE HAD A PROBLEM.
HE DIDN’T JUST PRAY ABOUT
IT.
HE DIDN’T JUST BELIEVE.
HE HELPED SOLVE SOMEONE
ELSE’S PROBLEM.
WHEN YOU MAKE SACRIFICES TO
HELP OTHER PEOPLES’ DREAM
COME TO PASS, GOD WILL MAKE
SURE YOUR DREAM COMES TO
PASS.
DON’T LIVE ONLY FOCUSED ON
YOURSELF.
MY GOALS, MY PROBLEMS, MY
TROUBLE AT WORK.
GET YOU MIND OFF YOURSELF
AND GO BE A BLESSING.
SOW A SEED.
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE
FINANCES.
YOU CAN SOW ENCOURAGEMENT.
GO VISIT THAT LOVED ONE IN
THE HOSPITAL, CHEER THEM UP.
CALL THAT FRIEND AND SPEAK
LIFE INTO THEIR DREAMS.
TAKE THAT ELDERLY NEIGHBOR
DINNER EACH NIGHT.
MAKE AN EXTRA PLATE FOR
THEM.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “WHEN
IT’S IN YOUR POWER TO DO
GOOD DON’T WITHHOLD IT FROM
OTHERS.”
THAT MEANS WHEN YOU KNOW YOU
CAN BE A BLESSING, YOU HAVE
THE RESOURCES TO HELP THAT
PERSON IN NEED, YOU CAN
TEACH THEM THE SKILLS THAT
YOU’VE LEARNED; DON’T PUT IT
OFF.
WHEN YOU HELP SOLVE THEIR
PROBLEM, YOU’RE NOT JUST
BEING GOOD TO THEM, YOU ARE
SETTING A MIRACLE IN MOTION
FOR YOURSELF.
WHEN YOU SHOW FAVOR, THE
SCRIPTURE SAYS FAVOR WILL
COME TO YOU.
HERE’S THE BEAUTY: WHEN YOU
HELP OTHERS, WHAT YOU GIVE
IS GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU
BUT NOT IN THE SAME
PROPORTION.
PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN
TOGETHER, RUNNING OVER.
MY FATHER HELPED THAT
SPANISH CHURCH THAT ONE TIME
BUT THE BLESSING FROM THAT
OBEDIENCE IS STILL COMING.
WHEN YOU’RE IN A DIFFICULT
TIME, MORE THAN EVER, YOU
NEED TO LOOK FOR
OPPORTUNITIES TO DO GOOD.
WHEN YOUR DREAM SEEMS
IMPOSSIBLE, FIND SOMEONE AND
HELP THEIR DREAM COME TO
PASS.
IT’S GOOD TO PRAY, BELIEVE,
WORK HARD; BUT SOME THINGS
ARE NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IF
YOU’RE ONLY FOCUSED ON
YOURSELF.
AS YOU BLESS OTHERS, GOD
WILL BLESS YOU.
AS YOU SHOW FAVOR, FAVOR
WILL COME TO YOU.
THE LAST SUNDAY THAT WE HAD
SERVICES AT OUR OLD
LOCATION, I WAS DRIVING DOWN
THE ROAD THAT FINAL TIME
LEAVING THE SERVICES FEELING
SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT GOD
HAD DONE.
MY MIND WAS FLOODED WITH
GOOD MEMORIES AND
OVERWHELMED WITH WHERE GOD
WAS TAKING US.
I LOOKED UP AND SAW A
BEAUTIFUL RAINBOW IN THE
SKY.
IT’S AS IF GOD WAS SMILING
ON US SAYING, “THIS CHAPTER
IS FINISHED BUT ANOTHER
GREAT CHAPTER IS BEGINNING.”
ABOUT THAT TIME, I PASSED
THAT SMALL SPANISH CHURCH
THAT MY FATHER AND LAKEWOOD
HAD HELPED OVER 40 YEARS
AGO.
THEIR LITTLE SIGN OUTSIDE
SAID, “THANK YOU LAKEWOOD
FOR GIVING US OUR BUILDING.”
MY MIND FLASHED BACK TO THAT
TIME WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY
AND I WONDERED WOULD I BE
GOING TO THE COMPAQ CENTER
IF MY FATHER HAD NOT HELPED
THEM IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.
WOULD I BE SEEING THE FAVOR,
THE GROWTH, THE INFLUENCE?
DADDY COULD HAVE THOUGHT,
“WE’VE GOT BIG PROBLEMS.
WE NEED IT MORE THAN THEY
DO.
WE HAVE ALL THESE
CHALLENGES.”
BUT HE DIDN’T WITHHOLD THE
GOOD WHEN HE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY.
MUCH OF THIS COMES DOWN TO
TRUSTING GOD.
“JOEL, I CAN’T HELP SOMEBODY
ELSE.
I GOT MY OWN PROBLEMS.
I CAN’T GIVE AWAY WHAT I
NEED FOR MY DREAMS.
I’M COUNTING ON THAT.”
WHEN YOU GIVE YOUR TIME,
YOUR ENERGY, YOUR RESOURCES,
YOUR TALENT, YOU WILL NEVER
END UP WITH LESS.
THAT IS A SEED YOU’RE SOWING
THAT’S GOING TO KEEP COMING
BACK TO YOU.
I’M REAPING A HARVEST FROM
SEEDS OF OBEDIENCE THAT MY
PARENTS SOWED 50 YEARS AGO.
WHEN YOU LIVE A LIFE OF
GENEROSITY, MAKING
SACRIFICES FOR OTHERS TO
COME UP HIGHER, THAT’S NOT
ONLY GOING TO IMPACT YOU FOR
THE GOOD, IT’S GOING TO
IMPACT YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR
GRANDCHILDREN.
THOSE SEEDS ARE GOING TO
KEEP ON PRODUCING.
SECOND KINGS 19, KING
HEZEKIAH WAS ON THE THRONE
OF ISRAEL.
HE WAS ONE OF DAVID’S
DESCENDANTS.
THE ASSYRIAN ARMY HAD
SURROUNDED THE PEOPLE OF
JUDAH AND WERE ABOUT TO
ATTACK.
THEY WERE MUCH BIGGER AND
STRONGER.
HEZEKIAH DIDN’T STAND A
CHANCE.
ISAIAH THE PROPHET TOLD HIM,
THE ASSYRIAN ARMY WILL NOT
ENTER JERUSALEM.
THEY WILL NOT SHOOT THEIR
ARROWS OVER THE CITY WALL.
BUT THEY WILL RETURN HOME
IN DEFEAT.
THAT NIGHT, THE ANGEL OF THE
LORD DESTROYED 185,000 OF
THE ENEMY TROOPS.
THE REST OF THEM WENT BACK
HOME JUST LIKE ISAIAH
PROPHESIED.
HEZEKIAH WAS SO THRILLED.
I CAN IMAGINE HE WONDERED
WHY GOD BLESSED HIM IN SUCH
A WAY, WHY HE SHOWED HIM SO
MUCH FAVOR.
ISAIAH SAID IN VERSE 34,
“HEZEKIAH, GOD DIDN’T DO
THIS BECAUSE OF ANYTHING YOU
DID.
HE PROTECTED YOU FOR THE
SAKE OF HIS SERVANT DAVID.”
THIS WAS 305 YEARS AFTER
DAVID HAD DIED YET THOSE
SEEDS OF OBEDIENCE, SEEDS OF
BEING GOOD TO PEOPLE WERE
STILL PRODUCING IN THEIR
FAMILY LINE.
EVERY TIME YOU HELP SOMEONE
IN NEED, IT’S NOT ONLY GOING
TO HELP YOU, BUT YOU ARE
STORING UP BLESSINGS FOR
YOUR CHILDREN.
EVERY TIME YOU HELP SOLVE
SOMEONE’S PROBLEM, EVERY
TIME YOU MAKE SACRIFICES TO
HELP THEM GO FURTHER, YOU’RE
SOWING A SEED NOT ONLY FOR
YOU TO GO FURTHER BUT FOR
THOSE THAT COME AFTER YOU IN
YOUR FAMILY LINE TO GO
FURTHER.
LIKE HEZEKIAH, THEY WILL SEE
BLESSINGS, FAVOR, PROTECTION
BECAUSE YOU MADE DECISIONS
THAT HONOR GOD.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, JOSEPH HAD
A BIG PROBLEM.
AS A TEENAGER, GOD GAVE HIM
A DREAM THAT HE WOULD BE IN
LEADERSHIP AND DO GREAT
THINGS.
BUT HIS BROTHERS WERE
JEALOUS OF HIM.
THEY DIDN’T LIKE HIS BIG
DREAM.
THEY THREW HIM INTO A PIT.
THEY WERE GOING TO TELL
THEIR FATHER THAT HE WAS
EATEN BY A WILD ANIMAL.
THEY ENDED UP SELLING HIM
INTO SLAVERY.
JOSEPH WORKED FOR A MAN
NAMED POTIPHAR IN EGYPT.
EVEN THOUGH JOSEPH HAD A BIG
PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH HIS
DREAMS WERE SHATTERED, WHAT
DID HE DO?
SIT AROUND IN SELF-PITY,
BLAMING GOD?
NO, IN THE MIDST OF THAT
PROBLEM, HE STARTED HELPING
POTIPHAR WITH HIS PROBLEM.
HE RAN HIS WHOLE HOUSEHOLD,
ORGANIZED ALL OF HIS STAFF,
MADE SURE THE GROUNDS WERE
CLEAN, THE PROPERTY SECURE,
THE SUPPLIES IN PLACE.
INSTEAD OF JUST FOCUSING ON
HIS PROBLEM, HE WAS BEING
GOOD TO SOMEONE ELSE.
AT ONE POINT, JOSEPH WAS
FALSELY ACCUSED AND PUT IN
PRISON.
SURELY NOW HE WOULD BE
BITTER, DISCOURAGED, BUT IN
THE PRISON TWO OF HIS
CELLMATES HAD A PROBLEM.
THEY HAD A DREAM AND DIDN’T
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANT.
JOSEPH DIDN’T SAY, “TOO BAD
FOR YOU.
I’M DEPRESSED.
I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE.
I DON’T LIKE YOU ANYWAY.”
HE SAID, “I CAN INTERPRET
DREAMS.
LET ME HELP YOU WITH YOUR
PROBLEM.”
HE INTERPRETED THEIR DREAMS.
ONE OF THE CELLMATES WAS
RELEASED FROM PRISON.
TWO YEARS LATER, THE
PHARAOH, THE LEADER OF THE
COUNTRY HAD A DREAM THAT HE
DIDN’T UNDERSTAND.
THE FORMER CELLMATE SAID,
“I KNOW SOMEONE THAT CAN
INTERPRET DREAMS.”
JOSEPH CAME BEFORE THE
PHARAOH AND TOLD HIM HOW THE
DREAM HAD TO DO WITH THE
FOOD SUPPLY AND HOW THERE
WERE YEARS OF FAMINE COMING.
HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO
STORE UP GRAIN, GET
EVERYTHING PREPARED FOR THE
DROUGHT.
PHARAOH LOOKED AT HIM AND
SAID, “JOSEPH, YOU’RE THE
RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB.
NOBODY COULD DO IT BETTER
THAN YOU.”
HE MADE JOSEPH SECOND IN
COMMAND OF EGYPT.
WHAT WAS JOSEPH DOING FOR
PHARAOH?
SOLVING A PROBLEM.
STRATEGICALLY GETTING
EVERYTHING LINED UP, USING
HIS TALENT, HIS SKILL, HIS
EXPERTISE TO HELP THE PEOPLE
THAT WERE HOLDING HIM
CAPTIVE.
HE WAS SO EXCELLENT THAT
PEOPLE FROM OTHER NATIONS
CAME TO STUDY HIS OPERATION.
I’M SURE JOSEPH WAS GRATEFUL
TO BE OUT OF PRISON, TO HAVE
THIS INFLUENTIAL POSITION;
BUT HE STILL MISSED HIS
FAMILY.
DEEP DOWN, HE THOUGHT HE
WOULD NEVER SEE HIS FATHER
AGAIN WHOM HE LOVED SO MUCH.
HE’D ALREADY ACCEPTED THAT
IT WAS TOO LATE.
BUT AS HE WAS HELPING
PHARAOH WITH HIS PROBLEM,
BACK HOME IN ISRAEL, HIS
BROTHERS WERE LOADING UP
THEIR CAMELS ABOUT TO HEAD
TO EGYPT TO LOOK FOR FOOD.
THEY HAD HEARD THE ONLY
PLACE THAT HAD SUPPLIES WAS
AT THE PALACE WHERE JOSEPH
WAS IN CHARGE.
NOTICE WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
WHILE JOSEPH WAS WORKING ON
PHARAOH’S PROBLEM, GOD WAS
WORKING ON JOSEPH’S PROBLEM.
HE COULDN’T SEE IT AT THE
TIME.
EVERYTHING LOOKED JUST THE
SAME. BUT WHAT JOSEPH DIDN’T
KNOW WAS THE CAMELS WERE
COMING. HIS BROTHERS WERE
ON THE WAY.
I CAN IMAGINE ONE EVENING
THERE WAS A KNOCK ON THE
PALACE GATES, GUARDS LOOKED
OUTSIDE AND SAW THIS CARAVAN
OF CAMELS.
THEY ASKED THE PEOPLE WHAT
THEY WANTED.
THEY SAID THEY WERE LOOKING
FOR FOOD.
ONE OF THE GUARDS WENT TO
JOSEPH AND SAID, “THERE’S A
GROUP THAT JUST ARRIVED.
THEY WANT TO PURCHASE SOME
GRAIN.”
IT WAS LATE IN THE DAY.
JOSEPH WAS TIRED.
HE WAS ABOUT TO SAY, “TELL
THEM TO LEAVE.
DON’T BOTHER US.”
BUT FOR SOME REASON, HE
CHANGED HIS MIND AND WENT
OUT TO MEET THEM.
HE COULDN’T BELIEVE IT.
IT WAS HIS BROTHERS.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT JOSEPH
WOULD WANT TO GET REVENGE.
THE TRUTH IS HE WAS SO
GRATEFUL TO SEE THEM HE WAS
OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTION.
THEY DIDN’T RECOGNIZE HIM.
EVENTUALLY HE TOLD THEM WHO
HE WAS AND THEY ALL WEPT
TOGETHER.
HE ASKED THEM IF THEIR
FATHER WAS STILL ALIVE.
THEY SAID THAT HE WAS.
ALL THOSE YEARS JOSEPH SPENT
WORKING ON OTHER PEOPLE’S
PROBLEMS, DOING THE RIGHT
THING EVEN WHEN IT WASN’T
FAIR.
THAT WHOLE TIME, GOD WAS
WATCHING.
GOD SEES YOUR FAITHFULNESS.
HE SEES YOU HELPING OTHERS
WHEN YOU NEED HELP.
HE SEES YOU ENCOURAGING THAT
FRIEND WHEN YOU NEED
ENCOURAGEMENT.
PRAYING FOR THAT NEIGHBOR
THAT’S NOT WELL WHEN YOU’RE
FIGHTING AN ILLNESS.
IT MAY SEEM LIKE NOTHING IS
HAPPENING BUT GOD IS
WORKING.
WHAT YOU CAN’T SEE IS THE
CAMELS ARE BEING LOADED UP.
WHAT YOU THOUGHT WOULD NEVER
HAPPEN IS STILL ON THE WAY.
JOSEPH’S FATHER AND WHOLE
FAMILY CAME TO EGYPT TO LIVE
WITH JOSEPH.
HIS FATHER THOUGHT THAT
JOSEPH WAS DEAD.
JOSEPH THOUGHT THAT HIS
FATHER HAD ALREADY PASSED.
NOW THE TWO OF THEM ARE
EMBRACING, WEEPING, IT’S A
DREAM COME TRUE.
JOSEPH’S PROBLEM IS FINALLY
SOLVED.
IT DIDN’T HAPPEN THE WAY
JOSEPH THOUGHT.
HE DIDN’T GO BACK HOME TO
ISRAEL.
HIS FAMILY CAME TO EGYPT AND
THEY WERE ABLE TO ENJOY ALL
THE BLESSINGS AND HONOR GOD
HAD GIVEN JOSEPH.
BUT NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE
HAPPENED IF JOSEPH WOULD
HAVE LIVED IN-GROWN.
“I’M NOT GOING TO HELP THIS
MAN, PHOTIPHAR.
I’VE GOT MY OWN PROBLEMS.”
“I’M NOT GOING TO HELP THESE
PRISONERS; THEY’VE NEVER
DONE ANYTHING FOR ME.”
“I’M NOT GOING TO INTERPRET
THE PHARAOH’S DREAM; USE MY
EXPERTISE TO RUN THE FOOD
SUPPLY.
THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING
FOR ME.”
JOSEPH UNDERSTOOD THIS
PRINCIPLE.
WHEN YOU’RE WORKING ON
SOMEONE ELSE’S PROBLEM, GOD
IS WORKING ON YOUR PROBLEM.
IT MAY SEEM LIKE YOU COULD
NEVER GET WELL, NEVER BREAK
THE ADDICTION, NEVER
ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAM.
IT’S BEEN TOO LONG.
BUT IF YOU’LL DO LIKE JOSEPH
AND JUST KEEP BEING GOOD TO
PEOPLE, KEEP HELPING SOLVE
THEIR PROBLEMS.
KEEP HELPING THEIR DREAMS
COME TO PASS.
WHAT YOU CAN’T SEE IS THE
CAMELS ARE COMING.
WHAT GOD STARTED HE’S GOING
TO FINISH.
IT’S GOING TO SURPRISE YOU.
THERE’S GOING TO BE A KNOCK
AT THE DOOR.
YOU DIDN’T SEE IT COMING.
LIKE WHEN JOSEPH’S BROTHERS
SHOWED UP UNEXPECTEDLY,
HEALING IS GOING TO COME TO
YOU UNEXPECTEDLY; FREEDOM
FROM ADDICTIONS
UNEXPECTEDLY.
SUDDENLY THE RIGHT PERSON
FINDS YOU.
SUDDENLY THAT DOOR OF
OPPORTUNITY OPENS.
YOU THOUGHT IT WAS TOO LATE.
BUT THE WHOLE TIME YOU
WERE HELPING OTHERS, THE
CAMELS WERE IN ROUTE.
GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT
YOU.
THOSE SEEDS YOU’VE SOWN HAVE
NOT GONE UNNOTICED.
THOSE TIMES YOU’VE COME TO
CHURCH AND SERVED IN THE
KID’S MINISTRY WHILE YOU HAD
PROBLEMS AT HOME.
THOSE TIMES YOU SUNG IN THE
CHOIR, USHERED, PRAYED FOR
OTHERS WHEN YOU WERE
FIGHTING AN ILLNESS; YOU
COULD HAVE STAYED HOME.
“GOD WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING
FOR ME, THEN I’LL BE MY
BEST.”
BUT YOU JUST KEPT BEING YOUR
BEST.
YOU KEPT MAKING SACRIFICES
TO HELP OTHERS.
GIVING AWAY WHAT YOU REALLY
NEEDED FOR YOUR DREAMS.
GET READY FOR SOME
SURPRISES.
GET READY FOR GOD TO SHOW
OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
GET READY FOR SOMETHING THAT
YOU HAVEN’T SEEN.
IT’S GOING TO BE UNUSUAL,
UNCOMMON, AND IT’S GOING TO
THRUST YOU INTO YOUR
DESTINY.
WHEN I WORKED WITH MY FATHER
HERE THOSE 17 YEARS DOING
THE TELEVISION PRODUCTION,
MY GOAL WAS TO MAKE MY
FATHER LOOK THE BEST THAT I
COULD.
WHEN I STARTED, I DIDN’T
HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, SO
I FOUND THE BEST LIGHTING
CONSULTANTS, THE BEST CAMERA
PEOPLE.
THE FIRST YEAR, WE HIRED AN
OLDER GENTLEMAN WHO USED TO
PRODUCE THE TODAY SHOW.
I WAS WITH HIM EVERY MINUTE.
HE TRAINED ME HOW TO PUT THE
PROGRAM TOGETHER.
I WOULD SPEND HOURS TRYING
TO IMPROVE THE LIGHTING AND
MAKING SURE THE PLATFORM
LOOKED THE BEST THAT IT
POSSIBLY COULD.
AT ONE POINT, WE WERE GOING
TO REMODEL THE PLATFORM
AREA.
WE HAD SOME TOP DESIGNERS
COME IN TO HELP US.
WE WERE GOING TO MAKE A NEW
PODIUM AS WELL.
SO I HAD THEM MOCK UP A
TEMPORARY PODIUM JUST SO WE
COULD CHECK THE SIZE AND SEE
HOW IT FIT MY FATHER.
I HAD HIM COME DOWN AND HE
STOOD BEHIND IT.
WE LOOKED AT IT ON CAMERA
AND MADE SEVERAL
ADJUSTMENTS.
I WANTED IT TO FIT HIM JUST
RIGHT.
I WANTED THE STAGE AREA TO
BE AS PERFECT AS CAN BE.
WHEN WE FINISHED THE
REMODEL, IT LOOKED SO
BEAUTIFUL ON CAMERA.
I WAS SO PROUD.
IT MADE MY FATHER SHINE.
A YEAR LATER, MY FATHER WENT
TO BE WITH THE LORD.
I NEVER DREAMED ONE DAY I
WOULD BE STANDING BEHIND THAT
PODIUM.
ONE DAY I WOULD BE THE ONE
ON THAT BEAUTIFUL PLATFORM.
I THOUGHT I WAS BUILDING IT
FOR MY FATHER; REALLY I WAS
BUILDING IT FOR ME.
WHEN YOU’RE HELPING OTHER
PEOPLE, YOU THINK YOU’RE
DOING THEM A FAVOR; REALLY
YOU’RE DOING YOURSELF A
FAVOR.
AS YOU HELP SOMEONE ELSE
SHINE, GOD IS GOING TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU SHINE.
AS YOU HELP OTHERS COME UP
HIGHER, GOD WILL CAUSE YOU
TO COME UP HIGHER.
THAT’S A SEED YOU’RE SOWING
FOR WHERE YOU’RE GOING.
MY FRIENDS, ROB AND LAURA
KOCH PASTOR A GREAT CHURCH
IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
YEARS AGO, THEIR 16 YEAR-OLD
SON WAS KILLED IN AN
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.
IT WASN’T EASY BUT THEY
DIDN’T GET BITTER, THEY
DIDN’T GIVE UP ON LIFE, THEY
KEPT MOVING FORWARD.
EVENTUALLY, THEY STARTED A
CHARITY IN HIS NAME CALLED
THE CALEB FOUNDATION.
THEY BUILT HOSPITALS,
SCHOOLS, ORPHANAGES; DONE
GREAT WORK ALL OVER THE
WORLD.
AT ONE OF THEIR ORPHANAGES IN
HAITI, CALLED “CALEB’S HOUSE”,
SOME YOUNG MEN GREW UP THERE
AND WERE ABOUT TO GRADUATE
FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY WERE GOING TO BRING A
FEW OF THEM TO AUSTIN TO BE
INTERNS AT THEIR CHURCH.
ONE OF THOSE YOUNG MEN THAT
CAME, NOTICED ROB AND
LAURA’S DAUGHTER.
THEY STARTED DATING AND
ENDED UP FALLING IN LOVE.
A FEW YEARS AGO, THEIR
DAUGHTER MARRIED THE YOUNG
MAN THAT GREW UP IN THE
ORPHANAGE THAT THEY STARTED
IN HAITI.
ALL BIRTHED OUT OF THE LOSS
OF THEIR SON.
BUT WHAT IF ROB AND LAURA
WOULDN’T HAVE REACHED OUT TO
HELP OTHERS IN THEIR TIME OF
NEED?
THEY COULD HAVE BEEN BITTER.
“WE’RE NOT GOING TO HELP
SOMEBODY.
WE LOST OUR SON.
WE’RE IN PAIN.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO HELP US.”
INSTEAD THEIR ATTITUDE WAS,
“YES, WE’RE HURTING.
BUT GOD WE KNOW WHEN WE HELP
OTHERS, YOU WILL HELP US.”
“WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE WORK
ON THEIR PROBLEMS, YOU’LL
WORK ON OUR PROBLEMS.”
THEY STARTED SOWING
ALL THESE SEEDS,
TAKING CARE OF ORPHANS,
GIVING AN EDUCATION TO THE
LESS FORTUNATE.
BEING GOOD TO PEOPLE WITHOUT
EXPECTING ANYTHING IN
RETURN.
WHEN THEY BUILT THAT
ORPHANAGE IN HAITI, THEY
NEVER DREAMED THEIR
SON-IN-LAW WOULD GROW UP
THERE.
THEY NEVER DREAMED HE WOULD
MARRY THEIR DAUGHTER AND
BECOME A PART OF THEIR
FAMILY.
WHEN YOU’RE HELPING OTHERS,
YOU THINK YOU’RE JUST DOING
GOOD FOR THEM.
BUT YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD
IS UP TO.
YOU CAN’T BE GOOD TO OTHERS
WITHOUT GOD BEING GOOD BACK
TO YOU.
YOU DON’T KNOW THE FAVOR AND
BLESSINGS THAT ARE CONNECTED
TO YOU HELPING OTHERS RISE
HIGHER.
I WONDER HOW MUCH WE MISS BY
LIVING IN-GROWN WE ONLY
FOCUS ON WHAT WE LOST AND
HOW WE’VE BEEN HURT.
“GOD, I’VE GOT THIS BIG
PROBLEM.
YOU’VE GOT TO HELP ME.”
GO BE A BLESSING.
YOUR MIRACLE IS WAITING FOR
YOU AS YOU HELP OTHERS.
SOMETIMES THE REASON YOU
CAN’T SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM IS
BECAUSE WHAT YOU NEED IS
FOUND IN SOLVING SOMEONE
ELSE’S PROBLEM.
AS YOU HELP THEM SUCCEED,
LIKE WITH ROB AND LAURA,
YOUR SON-IN-LAW WILL SHOW
UP.
THINGS WILL HAPPEN THAT YOU
WEREN’T EXPECTING.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN
DOING THIS.
YOU’VE GONE OUT OF YOUR WAY
TO BE GOOD TO OTHERS, MAKING
SACRIFICES TO HELP SOLVE
THEIR PROBLEMS.
GET READY, THE CAMELS ARE
COMING.
WHAT YOU’VE BEEN PRAYING
ABOUT IS ALREADY IN ROUTE.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE THOSE
SEEDS YOU’VE BEEN SOWING ARE
ABOUT TO COME BACK TO YOU
PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN
TOGETHER, RUNNING OVER.
IT’S GOING TO BE MORE THAN
YOU CAN IMAGINE.
PROMOTION, BREAKTHROUGHS,
HEALING, THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
THE FULLNESS OF YOUR DESTINY
IN JESUS’ NAME.
AND IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN
YOU SAY AMEN, TODAY?
WELL, 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.
GET IN A GOOD BIBLE-BASED
CHURCH AND KEEP GOD FIRST
PLACE.
> JOEL: THANKS FOR
WATCHING THIS
MESSAGE. I HOPE
YOU ENJOYED IT.
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> VICTORIA: LET US
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HEAR FROM YOU.
WE’RE PRAYING FOR
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
WE’LL SEE YOU
NEXT TIME!