Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
When Mel Gibson tried to sell the idea of his film Passion of the Christ, he could not get backing from the Hollywood studios: it was a film that nobody wanted to touch, some even thought he was crazy, for attempting such a project. So he began production on the film without securing outside funding or distribution. Gibson and his Icon Productions company provided the film’s sole financial backing. And even when he had produced the film, it became difficult for Gibson to find an American distribution company. Again he decided to distribute the movie in the United States himself, with Newmarket Films.
The Passion of the Christ was also heavily promoted by many church groups,, many of whom felt the film presented a unique opportunity to share the Gospel.
When it was released, despite initial resistance from some governments, the film enjoyed relative success in even countries with large Muslim populations, such as in Egypt, where it ranked 20th overall in its box office numbers for 2004. The Passion raked in over $600 million in worldwide box-office receipts, making it 25th on the list of highest-grossing films of all time,
The film also became the highest grossing non-English-language film of all time. And its impact extended far beyond the bottom line.. as it made an unquantifiable impact on people around the world . For instance in Dallas, a local businessman Arch Bonnema was so moved by his preview of The Passion that he purchased 6,000 tickets – $42,000 worth – to give away on the film’s opening day. The Passion was indeed a true cultural phenomenon, especially among the evangelical Christian subculture.
The phenomenal success of the film made many Hollywood producers to regret their initial rejection of the film.
If Mel Gibson had listened to these naysayers he would never had made the film. Thank God he decided to ignore them and forge ahead.
This is why you should never allow negative people or disappointments to knock you down. If one door closes another is bound to open up. Just keep trusting God and keep moving forward. The bible says they shall come against you one way and flee seven ways. The enemy trying to block your one door, as he flees he will leave behind seven open doors. That is for one closed door, expect seven open doors. It is a biblical principle that when the thief is caught he pays sevenfold. So don’t cry over one shut door, because your blessings are just about to open up. Seven doors are about to pop open before you.
What men call a setback may only be God setting you up. It doesn’t matter how bad it may look right now, you are being set up for a comeback. Maybe as they did to Joseph, they have cast you away and trodden upon you and maltreated you. Perhaps they have looked at you and concluded that there is no value to you. Don’t worry, it is only a setup. Your day is coming. The same people who mocked you just as they did to Mel Gibson will soon begin to regret their actions. They will wish they had treated you well when they had the opportunity to do so. Often it seems God allows men to mock you first before He makes you.
You may be in your night season, everything may look dark and hopeless, but then as long as you continue to trust in God and never give up, your day is coming. It may even seem as if you can’t see your way forward, as if you don’t know which way to go or what to do, never mind your joy is on the way. Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning. Keep your gaze on Jesus, keep looking unto Him. He is working it all out for your good. And no matter what it may look like right now, never forget, Jehovah alone has the final say in your life.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to keep my life focused on you.May I never regard setbacks or allow them to weigh me down., because You are indeed working out all things for my good in Jesus Name.
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God is preparing you for the season He prepared for your breakthrough WORDBITE 222.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]