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00:00Want to talk to you today about from limping to leaping
00:04All of us can find some reason to limp. We weren't raised in a good environment
00:10Relationship didn't work out. The boss doesn't give us credit now. We're at a disadvantage
00:16Sometimes a limp is passed down
00:19All we saw modeled growing up was anger
00:22Addictions people not faithful that feels normal to us
00:27We don't realize we're limping
00:29Too often we let the limp be an excuse to settle where we are
00:34Water down our dreams and not believe for greater things. I could have finished school
00:40Then I could be successful. I hadn't made these mistakes
00:44Wasted years compromising then I could be happy
00:48We're all gonna have times where we have a limp. Here's the key that limp was never supposed to be permanent
00:56God didn't create you to live insecure
00:59Lonely not having enough sure those things may come but he knows how to heal
01:05Restore and turn things around
01:08But as long as you're using the limp as an excuse, you'll get stuck
01:13You may be limping now things have happened that you don't understand that limp is not how your story ends
01:21That disappointment the betrayal the unhealthy childhood
01:26God knows how to take what was meant for harm and turn it to your advantage
01:31Now you have to get an agreement with him. You can't go around accommodating the limp making excuses to settle
01:39Joel I've been injured. I've been hurt. That's why I'm angry. That's why I compromise. That's why I can't be successful
01:46Can I tell you everyone has been injured?
01:50Everyone has had bad breaks
01:51but the people who go on to do great things and fulfill their
01:56Destinies are the people that don't let the limp become an excuse to settle
02:02The people that know the limp is only temporary that God wouldn't have allowed it if he didn't have a purpose
02:09It's the people that expect things to turn in their favor
02:14The right attitude is I may be limping now, I'm not denying that I'm disappointed
02:20Lonely, I've had a setback, but I know God is still on the throne. I wouldn't be alive unless he had something better coming
02:29You have to know healing is coming. The right person is coming
02:33Abundance is coming. God said he would turn your mourning into dancing your sorrow into joy
02:40You're limping into leaping
02:43Well, you don't just come out of that trouble you come out better stronger healthier at a new level of your destiny
02:52When I was in the ninth grade
02:53I was on the basketball team and one day during practice the coach had us go to the track and run a mile
03:00He walked into the field house
03:02Always like to have fun and make people laugh
03:05We were running in a big group together
03:08But when I saw the coach was gone I cut across the 50-yard line to the other side of the track
03:14So it looked like I was way ahead and I was running full speed almost across
03:20But there was this metal drain cover about two feet by two feet a big grate that the water went through
03:26I didn't want to step on that. So I stepped right before it
03:30What I couldn't see is there was a big hole about a foot deep where the water had drained in from the side
03:37It was covered with grass. I stepped in that hole
03:41My knee hit the metal drain cover and I broke my kneecap
03:46It didn't really hurt that bad. I turned a somersault. I got up
03:50I kept running then I looked down at my knee and nearly passed out but went to the hospital head surgery
03:56Everything came out fine, but for three months I was on crutches couldn't bend my leg
04:02Every day after school, I would go to basketball practice and sit on the sidelines and watch the team
04:09I learned the plays
04:11Studied the offense in my mind. I was out there with them like LeBron James jumping shooting defending. I
04:19Was injured but I knew it was only temporary. I knew in three months
04:25I was going to be back on the court in the game better than ever
04:30Didn't sit around at home depressed
04:32And I want to play but I got this injury or down on myself
04:36I wouldn't have made that mistake if I just stayed on the track like the rest of the guys. I wouldn't have this problem
04:44Sometimes we bring the limp on ourselves
04:47We make choices that cause pain and disappointment
04:51The good news is God doesn't hold that against you. He has mercy for every mistake
04:58When you're limping you can't sit around defeated
05:01Listening to the accusing voices making excuses that's going to cause you to get stuck
05:07You need to see yourself back on the court
05:11successful happy productive doing great things
05:15Too many times we normalize the limp all my family's depressed. That's why I'm depressed. I can't get my degree
05:23I'm not that smart
05:25This person walked out on me broke my heart. I'll never be happy again
05:30You don't realize that's a limp
05:32You're learning to live with it letting it be an excuse to not rise higher
05:38You have to know like I did with my knee you're gonna run again
05:42You're injured now, but healing is coming that person walked out on you
05:47But God has someone better on the way you're gonna love again
05:52Or you had a setback in your career a door closed God's about to open a better door
05:58Don't let that limp cause you to settle where you are give up on dreams to where you start accepting mediocrity
06:07Dysfunction learning to live with the anger and low self-esteem
06:12That's not who you are. That's a limp. It's a temporary season
06:16God created you to be free
06:19Healthy confident victorious I
06:23Was on crutches, but it was only for three months
06:26Those crutches were there for a season to help me get over the injury
06:32Sometimes we get comfortable with the crutches
06:35We were raised with a limp instead of realizing it's only temporary
06:39We think man, I always had this temper. I always have to deal with this anxiety. I can't accomplish my dreams
06:46I don't have the connections. God is saying those crutches are about to come off
06:53What you've been using as an excuse is not going to limit you anymore
06:58Chains are being broken strong holes are coming down. You're about to step up to who you were created to be
07:05Now quit believing those lies that you're stuck. You don't have the talent. You're the wrong nationality. You've made too many mistakes
07:13This is a new day
07:15God is about to turn that limping into leaping
07:18He's going to cause you to bloom to blossom greater confidence greater resources greater influence
07:27Acts chapter 3 there was a man who had been crippled since birth
07:32Every day his family would carry him to the temple so he could beg for money
07:37They would put him at the gate called beautiful
07:39This man had been doing this for years every morning same thing getting out of bed
07:45People helping him get dressed packing a lunch then setting him at the same spot
07:51When you've been in a limited situation for a long time, it can become normal
07:57I'm sure the man didn't like the bag. He didn't like to be looked down on be at the mercy of others
08:04But he had accepted this was his lot in life. It wasn't his fault
08:09He was born crippled
08:11If you've always been lame, you don't expect to walk if you've never felt good about yourself and always felt insecure
08:20Unattractive not worthy, even though it's not true. That becomes normal
08:26All you've seen is poverty anger addictions. You don't expect to have abundance peace and freedom
08:34Or when people have always carried you like this man made accommodations for those weaknesses
08:40It can become who you are to where you accept it. Hey Joel, it's not my fault
08:46I was born with this disadvantage. I can't be successful. I have a limp
08:52Yeah, I don't feel worthy. It's because of how I was raised. Nobody made me feel valuable
08:57You may have a valid explanation as to why you are that way
09:01But don't let it be an excuse to stay that way
09:05God came to take off of you what the enemy put on you
09:09There may be negative traits that you inherited things that were passed down
09:14It's made it more difficult, but God raised you up to break the negative cycle
09:19You're the one to set a new standard
09:22You wouldn't be hearing this if God wasn't about to do a new thing
09:27Limping is not your destiny
09:30Addictions low self-esteem never able to get ahead. That's not who you are
09:36But as long as you're accepting it you giving it the right to stay
09:40victory starts in our thinking
09:43Thoughts will whisper. You'll always have this crutch
09:46You'll always struggle and always be lonely always have bad breaks. Don't believe those lies
09:53The limp is only temporary
09:55It's
09:57Significant that this man was placed at a gate called beautiful
10:01The fact is there was nothing beautiful about his life
10:05Crippled poor having to bed. I'm sure he was discouraged
10:10Felt not valuable nothing good in his future
10:14He could have been placed at other gates the Southwest gate the freeway game
10:19But every day he was taken to this gate called beautiful
10:24He didn't realize God was prophesying his future
10:28Everything looked ugly in his life, but God was saying something beautiful is coming. I have beauty for the ashes
10:36joy for the morning
10:38healing for the sickness new beginnings for the loss
10:42You may be in an ugly situation
10:45Dealing with an illness child this off course fighting an addiction
10:50Like this man you getting up each day
10:53Making the most of a difficult situation going to work being good to people keeping that song of praise
11:01Nothing's changing. It's the same thing month after month
11:05What you can't see is you're at a gate called beautiful
11:09God has positioned you in his divine destiny
11:13He's prophesying over you things are not only about to change
11:18But it's gonna be better than you've imagined you're gonna come into a beautiful place
11:23abundance
11:24healing joy laughter love
11:27Not just coming out not just making it through but God exceeding your expectations
11:34And don't let the ugliness of what you're going through fool you God is still on the throne
11:40He said weeping may endure for a night, but joy is coming in the morning
11:45Another way to say it is limping may endure for a season, but leaping is on the way
11:51It may be ugly now, but you're at the gate beautiful
11:56Ecclesiastes says God will make all things beautiful in his time
12:03One day Peter and John go into the temple three o'clock in the afternoon for the daily prayer service as they were about to
12:10Enter they saw this man verse 5 says the lame man looked at them eagerly
12:18expecting a gift
12:19He'd been passed by hundreds of people that day going into the temple everyone said no ignored him
12:27But God ordained Peter and John to notice this man
12:32There are seasons where you're being overlooked
12:35Nothing is changing, but God has already lined up the right people to notice you
12:41Don't worry about those who pass you by don't give you the time of day. God has divine connections in route
12:49Your time to be noticed is coming
12:52Peter said to the man I
12:54Don't have any silver or gold, but I have something better in the name of Jesus rise and walk
13:01Sure the man thought I'd love to but I'm crippled I've been lame since birth. I'll always have these crutches
13:09Peter saw he wasn't moving. So he grabbed him by the hand and pulled the man up
13:14When he did strength went into his legs and instantly he was healed
13:19The scripture says he went walking and leaping and praising God
13:24God knows how to take you from limping to leaping. He's a supernatural God
13:30One touch of his favor. What looks impossible becomes possible
13:36One slingshot and a giant comes down one phone call and the compact center opened up
13:42One good break and your thrust into your destiny
13:46Now some of these limitations that have been with us since birth low self-esteem
13:52anger depression
13:53We've learned to live with it
13:56Accepted it as who we are
13:58Like God did for this man. He's about to turn around what looks permanent
14:03He's about to reverse a curse free you from things that you thought you would always struggle with no more limping
14:11No more can't get ahead. You stepped into abundance
14:15No more feeling unworthy. You put your shoulders back. You know, you're a masterpiece made in the image of God
14:22No more lonely
14:24Everyone else getting married a divine connection somebody better than you imagined
14:30No more being looked over not getting the credit
14:34God's going to take you from the background to the foreground from being left out to be an in-charge
14:41This man went walking and leaping
14:44If he had just been able to walk that would have been a great miracle lame since his birth
14:49We would all be shouting about that
14:52But notice how God does it not just walking but leaping
14:57Running jumping God knows how to exceed your expectations
15:02You'd be happy to just see your child back on course
15:06But God's going to cause him to become a leader a person of honor a steam doing great things
15:13You'd be happy if you can just pay your bills get through a slow season, but God has abundance coming
15:20Overflow where you lend and not borrow
15:24Blessed in such a way you can be a blessing to others
15:28Or maybe you've struggled with an addiction and you've tried to get free, but no success now
15:34You're just functioning in the dysfunction. That's not how your story ends freedom is coming
15:41Wholeness is coming where it's not a struggle anymore. You're going to be
15:46Unquestionably free so you can help others get free
15:49Not limping to just walking God's way is limping to leaping
15:55Every thought will tell you this is not for you. You've always had this limitation this disadvantage
16:03The enemy doesn't want you to hear this today. He wants us to have a defeated
16:09Limited poor old me mentality tune all that out. God is working in your life right now
16:16He's about to do for you what he did for this man
16:20Receive this into your spirit take you from struggle to abundance
16:25from brokenness to wholeness from sickness to health from insecurity to
16:31confidence from mediocrity to success from loneliness to great
16:37Relationships from no good breaks to blessings chasing you down
16:41When this man saw Peter and John
16:45There was an expectancy
16:48Something on the inside said this is a new day. This is a destiny moment
16:53Faith rose in his heart
16:55The reason I know this is because Jesus had gone into this temple many times. He had no doubt passed by the man
17:03Peter and John had gone to the temple through the same gate again and again, but this day something was different
17:11The man looked eagerly expecting a gift
17:14The expectancy is your faith being released
17:18When I went to the gym on crutches when my knee was injured, I was expecting to be back on the court
17:26Sometimes we have a disappointment or we've been born into limitations and there's no expectancy for things to improve
17:34We're satisfied with less than what we were created for
17:39But Joel if my parents hadn't told me I was never gonna amount to anything then maybe I'd have a good self-image
17:46My business partner hadn't cheated me and ruined my credit then I'd believe for more
17:52That's your explanation as to why you are that way
17:56What I'm saying is don't use it as an excuse to stay that way
18:01God is still on the throne. He's fighting your battles. He has amazing things in your future
18:08When you have this attitude of expectancy
18:11Angels go to work forces of darkness are broken miracles are set into motion
18:17The scripture says this man went walking and leaping and he entered the temple with Peter and John
18:24Think about all the years he sat at the gate
18:28The gate is the entry to something better. He saw people going in year after year, but he was stuck outside
18:36Wishing he could be on the inside
18:39How many of us see other people who were successful?
18:43Accomplish their dreams. We're happy for them, but we wonder why that can't be us
18:49We see couples laughing and enjoying each other. We wonder when we're gonna meet someone
18:55Others are healthy playing ball going on vacations, but we're dealing with this sickness this depression
19:01We're at the gate
19:03We know there are great things inside, but we're stuck outside
19:08One thing I admire about this man is he went to the gate every day
19:13He was faithful took a lot of effort to get dressed
19:17Be carried by others sit out there all day. He wasn't lazy. He wasn't complacent
19:23He wanted more for his life. He took the hand he had been dealt and made the most of it
19:29Like him many of you have done your best with what you have
19:34You've watched others go in the beautiful gate while you're dealing with ugly things in your life
19:40Child that broke your heart
19:42lonely marriage
19:44feelings of unworthiness
19:45Some of these things you didn't have anything to do with it was passed down yet
19:51You kept doing the right thing. Let me tell you your time is coming
19:54Not just limping to leaping but you're gonna go in the gate
19:59Not just see the beautiful you're gonna live in the beautiful favor
20:04healing joy
20:06great relationships
20:08The limp is not your destiny
20:11Sitting outside the gates looking in dreaming that one day that could happen for you your one day is coming
20:19God sees you at the gate
20:21He sees what you struggle with he knows who caused the limp
20:25What you didn't get who wasn't there for you he's keeping all the records
20:30He has you at the gate called beautiful for a reason. He's prophesying what's coming. I
20:37know sometimes we're limping because
20:40We've made mistakes
20:42Thoughts will tell you Joel's not talking about you today. You brought this trouble on yourself
20:48You chose to compromise you weren't faithful
20:52God knew every mistake you would ever make
20:54Every failure he's full of mercy
20:58He's not holding your mistakes against you. He's not going to keep you limping because you knew better healing is coming
21:06Restoration is coming
21:09My joy, you don't know my situation. I've been this way a long time
21:14Think about how long this man had been at that same spot some commentary said he had been there for 40 years
21:22Everything said to him. This is the way it's always gonna be don't get your hopes up
21:27One reason this story is in the scripture is so that we would know that no matter how long you've been limping and no matter
21:35How impossible it looks it's not too late for God to turn it around
21:41Limping is not your destiny
21:43Leaping is your destiny
21:46Watching people go in the beautiful gate
21:49Accomplish their dreams and never going in yourself is not what God has purpose for you
21:56There are amazing things in your future. The limp didn't stop it how you were raised didn't stop it
22:04Mistakes you've made didn't stop it
22:06You may have some crutches now and you're dealing with an injury the good news is God knows how to heal broken hearts
22:14How to turn mourning into dancing how to take the loss and give you a new beginning
22:20I'll just bring you back to normal where you're okay, but turn the limping into leaping more than you can imagine
22:28There was a young boy
22:30born in a very very rough environment to a teenage mother and
22:35She had a lot of addictions been through abuse
22:39Dysfunction five years old the mother took him and his baby sister into town
22:45She said she needed to run to the restroom and never came back
22:49She abandoned them in the city square. They were taken to foster care
22:54The young boy was so traumatized
22:56He became very angry and insecure
22:59The age of 11 he ran away from home and started living on the streets
23:04Bitter toward his mother even bitter toward God
23:08God involved in gangs and started stealing and his life was spiraling out of control
23:15He had a good explanation as to why he was that way
23:19Abandoned as a child, that's not right, but you can't use it as an excuse to stay that way
23:26One day there was a minister coming through town and he was having an outdoor meeting
23:31This young man was going to go to disrupt it
23:34Just caused trouble
23:36Brought some fireworks and other gang members as he stood in the back waiting for the right time
23:43He began to feel this love that he had never felt before
23:47He was captivated by what the minister was saying these chains of bitterness
23:53Anger and unworthiness began to break off of him
23:57That night instead of disrupting the event he walked down and gave his life to Christ a destiny moment
24:05Well, he went on to become a great minister
24:09Traveled the country and he shared his story of how God can turn any situation around
24:15Years later one night at the end of his service
24:18He invited people to the front to receive Christ just as he did as a young man
24:25There was an older woman that came down and prayed the prayer he looked over at her and suddenly realized it was his mother
24:33He hadn't seen her in over 60 years since that day. She had abandoned him, but there she was
24:40receiving a new beginning
24:42God knows how to make all things beautiful in its time even things we think are too far out
24:48You don't know what God is up to
24:51Are you limping today?
24:53Like this young man dealing with things that were passed down no fault of your own or perhaps a disappointment
25:01Mistakes you've made that's okay
25:03There's no shame in having a limp life happens to us all what I'm saying is the limp is not permanent
25:11You're not going to need those crutches your whole life
25:15Someone may be carrying you now, but you're coming to a point where you're not going to need to be carried from dependence to
25:23Independence God created you to be free
25:26He sees you like the man going to the temple each day making the most of a difficult situation
25:33Being your best despite the limp. You've watched others go in that gate
25:39Celebrated them doing great things
25:41Your time is coming. You're not just at any gate. You're at the gate called beautiful
25:47That's the prophecy God has spoken over your life. He's going to take that ugly situation and make something beautiful out of it
25:56It's interesting how Peter told the crippled man to rise and walk, but he couldn't get up by himself
26:02So Peter took him by the hand and pulled the man up
26:06You may have tried to get up by yourself you want to be free, but you haven't been able to do it
26:12God sent me today to help you pull you up. You're about to feel supernatural strength
26:19supernatural healing
26:20Supernatural favor you may be limping now, but I believe and declare leaping is coming
26:27Restoration is coming great relationships freedom abundance the fullness of your destiny
26:35In Jesus name and if you receive it, can you say amen?
26:43Let's pray together if you have five minutes stick with me, we'll just seal it in prayer Lord
26:48I thank you for what we've heard. I know it falls on great ground faithful people here at Lakewood so many watching and listening
26:56We're gonna go out of here leaving the crutches behind
26:59Lord show us areas where we're limping and making excuses and where we have settled
27:05Show us show us Lord areas that we limp where we don't even realize it
27:10But I thank you today that strongholds have been broken
27:14that we're going out of here knowing that we are free and that we're gonna walk into your freedom and live the abundant life that
27:21You died to give each one of us and Lord
27:24I just speak your blessings over your people as they go out this week and their children
27:29Thank you for watching after them and protecting them and favoring them in Jesus name
27:36With our heads bowed in prayer just a quick question
27:39If your heart stopped beating in the next few minutes, are you at peace with God?
27:46Do you know where you'd spend eternity?
27:48You died a little while from now. If not, I would love to pray with you
27:53I'm not here to condemn anybody. I'm here to help you find a new beginning. I
27:59know this comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and
28:04Just a moment if you're not at peace with the Lord, or maybe you are a Christian, but you've grown cold toward God
28:11You know, you need to rededicate your life. You need a fresh new start if that's you in just a moment
28:18I'm gonna ask you to take a step of faith and stand right where you are and we'll pray together. I
28:25Can't think of a better time to get on the road to victory than right now
28:30The good news is God is not mad at you
28:34Your sins have already been forgiven. All you have to do is accept the free gift of Christ's salvation
28:42Will you do it today?
28:44The enemy in your thoughts he'll whisper do it next week. Do it another time
28:49Listen, the Bible says today is the day of salvation
28:53Don't put it off. It's so easy
28:55Well, Joel, it's embarrassing to stand in front of everyone
28:59Listen to what Jesus said if you won't be ashamed of me before people
29:04Then I won't be ashamed of you before my father in heaven
29:09I'm going to give you a great opportunity to show God that you're not ashamed of him
29:14If you're not at peace with the Lord, or you just need to rededicate your life
29:19You just need a fresh new start a new beginning
29:22Will you take this step of faith and stand right where you are and we'll pray together
29:27Would you do that? Come on Lakewood. Let's give my hand clap as they stand
29:33All over the building
29:36Come on don't put it off
29:40I'll feel like I ought to be others your heart's beating fast
29:43That's God drawn anybody else up top
29:47Watching listening. Come on Lakewood. They're still standing anybody else
29:52Don't go home without peace anybody else
29:57Well, God bless you, please remain standing if you don't mind, let me tell you how proud we are of you
30:02I know that took courage to stand more importantly
30:06I know the angels are rejoicing in the heavens God's never going to be ashamed of you because you took this step of faith
30:13The scripture says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
30:18Let me help you to call. Do you mind all praying this after me if you would please Lord Jesus. I
30:25Repent of my sins
30:27Come into my heart. I
30:30Make you my Lord and Savior
30:33Amen or me sitting one more moment. I want to tell you how much we love you
30:37We're gonna be praying for you
30:39Also want to give you a personal invitation and a challenge to come back and be with us on a regular basis
30:46We ask new believers. Give us the next year of your life
30:50Make a commitment just like you go to work that for the next year
30:54You're gonna be here every time you can in person online on the radio. However, you do it
30:58I'll make a promise before that year is over. Your life will never be the same for the better
31:03We're gonna help you grow and become who God's created you to be
31:07We'd love to have you get plugged into one of our volunteer ministry singing a choir usher got a lot of awesome people here
31:15Your new week goes better when you take time to put God first place
31:19I know you're busy. It's probably a day off on Sunday
31:22But let me tell you you don't know what God will do when you just continue to be faithful and get around other faithful people
31:29Hey right after the service over here. There's a room called new beginnings if you need anything
31:33They'd be happy to talk with your information stop by and see me whenever you can
31:38I'm out there almost every service after I minister
31:40I'd love to meet you great programs after the service as well
31:43But know this the moment you stood up God washed away all your sins
31:48Mistakes and failures you are starting with a fresh clean slate
31:52Write it down in your Bible September 8th
31:552024 a new day of victory in your life in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Well, let's all stand together if you would, please
32:04Thanks for coming out today. How many of you going home better off than you were before? Amen. Letting hope rise
32:11Don't forget stop by and see our worship team out in the lobbies
32:14But until we meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you
32:18May the Lord have mercy on you and watch over you and may the Lord give you his peace a favor filled
32:24Bless week in Jesus name. God bless you guys. See you back real soon