1
00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,480
Speaker 1: We're believing you guys are gonna have a great February

2
00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,240
Speaker 1: and an awesome twenty twenty four. I love how you

3
00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:08,840
Speaker 1: put in God first place. He sees you taking the time.

4
00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:10,160
Speaker 1: Thanks for being with us today.

5
00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:12,399
Speaker 2: We believe this is gonna be a great year.

6
00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,040
Speaker 3: Thank you for always being a part of this podcast.

7
00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,680
Speaker 1: Well, God bless you. It's a joy to come into

8
00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,560
Speaker 1: your homes. And if you're ever in our area, please

9
00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,239
Speaker 1: stop buying be a part of one of our services.

10
00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:27,160
Speaker 1: These are the finest people in all of Houston, right

11
00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,360
Speaker 1: here at Lakewood, and we'd love to have you come

12
00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,800
Speaker 1: out whenever you can. I like to start with something funny,

13
00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:35,199
Speaker 1: and I heard about this man. He was on an

14
00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,320
Speaker 1: overnight train and he said to the conductor, I'm a

15
00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:43,440
Speaker 1: very sound sleeper. Please wake me up in Philadelphia and

16
00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,559
Speaker 1: make sure I get off. I may be groggy, I

17
00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,040
Speaker 1: may tell you no, but I have to get off.

18
00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,200
Speaker 1: The conductor said, you have my word, I'll make it happen.

19
00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,320
Speaker 1: The man woke up the next morning in New York City.

20
00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,760
Speaker 1: He had missed his stop. He was so upset he

21
00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:03,360
Speaker 1: let the conductor. A lady watching said, wow, that man

22
00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,440
Speaker 1: was so angry. The conductor said, if you think he

23
00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,640
Speaker 1: was angry, you should have seen the man.

24
00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:11,640
Speaker 2: We put off in Philadelphia.

25
00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,440
Speaker 1: Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible.

26
00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,240
Speaker 1: I am what it says I am. I have what

27
00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:19,800
Speaker 1: it says I have. I can do what it says

28
00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,560
Speaker 1: I can do. Today I will be taught the word

29
00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,640
Speaker 1: of God. I'll boldly confess. My mind is alert, my

30
00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:31,080
Speaker 1: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name,

31
00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,800
Speaker 1: God bless you. I want to talk to you today

32
00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:39,120
Speaker 1: about blessing your enemies. It's easy to be good to

33
00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,520
Speaker 1: people that are being good to us. Doesn't take much

34
00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,880
Speaker 1: faith to be kind, to show favor to someone that's

35
00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,480
Speaker 1: kind to us. But what about when people do us wrong.

36
00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,920
Speaker 1: They're talking bad about us, they weren't honest in a

37
00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:57,080
Speaker 1: business deal, they walked out of a relationship. The last

38
00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,080
Speaker 1: thing we think about is being good to them. They

39
00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:04,840
Speaker 1: don't deserve it. But Jesus said, bless those that curse you.

40
00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,120
Speaker 1: Do good to those that hurt you. Pray for those

41
00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:13,240
Speaker 1: that mistreat you. One test we all have to pass

42
00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,120
Speaker 1: is being good to people that have not.

43
00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,800
Speaker 2: Been good to us. Everything in you.

44
00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,840
Speaker 1: Will say, hold a grudge, talk about them look for

45
00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:26,040
Speaker 1: ways to get even. But your job is not to

46
00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:29,880
Speaker 1: pay people back. Your job is to bless your enemies.

47
00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:33,080
Speaker 1: You be the blesser, and God will take care of

48
00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,760
Speaker 1: your enemies. When it says to pray for those that

49
00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:40,080
Speaker 1: have done you wrong, that doesn't mean pray that they'll

50
00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,480
Speaker 1: go bankrupt, Pray that that new girl will leave, Pray

51
00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:46,239
Speaker 1: that God will bless them.

52
00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,760
Speaker 2: Joel, they don't deserve it. They hurt me. It wasn't fair.

53
00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,919
Speaker 1: You're not blessing them for their sake. You're blessing them

54
00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,919
Speaker 1: for your sake. Without you showing them kindness that they

55
00:02:57,960 --> 00:02:59,960
Speaker 1: don't deserve, you'll get stuck.

56
00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:02,520
Speaker 2: It will limit how high you can go.

57
00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:05,959
Speaker 1: That person at the office that left you out of

58
00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,119
Speaker 1: the meeting, they did it on purpose.

59
00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:09,880
Speaker 2: Don't be surprised.

60
00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,440
Speaker 1: If you're in charge of inviting people to the next meeting,

61
00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,720
Speaker 1: you'll be tempted to think, thank you Jesus, is payback time.

62
00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,160
Speaker 1: I'm going to invite everyone except them. I'm going to

63
00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:25,520
Speaker 1: invite the cleaning crew, the parking lot attendance, the weekend volunteers.

64
00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,560
Speaker 2: That's a test. They did you wrong.

65
00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:32,560
Speaker 1: Now here's your opportunity to be good to someone that

66
00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,880
Speaker 1: wasn't good to you. If you leave them out, it's

67
00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:40,720
Speaker 1: not hurting them, it's hurting you. Blessing your enemies is

68
00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:44,240
Speaker 1: a test of your character. They don't need your blessing.

69
00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,560
Speaker 1: God could have somebody else do it. But when you

70
00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:51,520
Speaker 1: prove to God that you're not bitter, you're not vindictive,

71
00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,400
Speaker 1: you're not holding a grudge, you're big enough to swallow

72
00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:59,440
Speaker 1: your pride and bless them, then God knows you're ready

73
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,400
Speaker 1: to be promoted. But the reason God can't promote some

74
00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:05,119
Speaker 1: people is they would.

75
00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:06,880
Speaker 2: Use that power to get even.

76
00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,120
Speaker 1: They would fire the six people that did them wrong,

77
00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:14,000
Speaker 1: demote the twelve people that talked about them, drive by

78
00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,599
Speaker 1: their enemy's house every night in their new car.

79
00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:17,800
Speaker 2: Look at me now.

80
00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,760
Speaker 1: Now, God is not going to promote us to pay

81
00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:26,120
Speaker 1: somebody back. The sooner you learn to bless your enemies,

82
00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:28,680
Speaker 1: to be good to those that have done you wrong,

83
00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,200
Speaker 1: the better off you're going to be. And sometimes the

84
00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,520
Speaker 1: way you bless your enemy is by not talking bad

85
00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,599
Speaker 1: about them. They may not even be in your life.

86
00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,240
Speaker 1: They've done the damage and moved on. They're in a

87
00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,000
Speaker 1: different chapter. You could bring up all.

88
00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,480
Speaker 2: The negative, tarnish their reputation.

89
00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,480
Speaker 1: Tell your friends, how they have no character, they're dishonest.

90
00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:51,359
Speaker 2: They played around.

91
00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:55,720
Speaker 1: Instead, you zip it up, you cover for them, you

92
00:04:55,800 --> 00:05:00,440
Speaker 1: protect their reputation. You just blessed your enemy. You just

93
00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:05,039
Speaker 1: showed God you're ready to go higher. There's an organization

94
00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:08,719
Speaker 1: that holds large conferences and training seminars for.

95
00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:10,159
Speaker 2: Leaders and pastors.

96
00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,400
Speaker 1: A few years ago, when I came along started doing

97
00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,320
Speaker 1: the Nights of Hope and having big events, they.

98
00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:19,039
Speaker 2: Didn't like it. They thought I was taking some of

99
00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:19,799
Speaker 2: their audience.

100
00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,440
Speaker 1: They started trying to discredit me and saying things that

101
00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:24,120
Speaker 1: weren't true.

102
00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,159
Speaker 2: I didn't know any of them and really didn't even

103
00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:28,120
Speaker 2: pay attention to it.

104
00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,760
Speaker 1: But a couple years ago, they wanted this man to

105
00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,440
Speaker 1: come speak at one of their big conferences. He's an

106
00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,400
Speaker 1: influential man. It would be a big boost to their attendants.

107
00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,359
Speaker 1: But he told them that he was my friend and

108
00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:45,960
Speaker 1: he would have to check with me to see if

109
00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:47,520
Speaker 1: I would recommend him coming.

110
00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,680
Speaker 2: Well, I was the last person they wanted him to

111
00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:51,200
Speaker 2: check with.

112
00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:55,120
Speaker 1: They knew they had been vocal against me and said

113
00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,320
Speaker 1: things that put me in a negative light. You can

114
00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,200
Speaker 1: say things that are true, but if you don't put

115
00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:03,520
Speaker 1: it in the right contexts, if you don't tell the

116
00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,560
Speaker 1: whole story, then technically it may be correct.

117
00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:09,560
Speaker 2: But it's not being honest. That's what they had done

118
00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:09,839
Speaker 2: to me.

119
00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,479
Speaker 1: And the men called and asked me if I thought

120
00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,760
Speaker 1: that he should do it. My first thought was, Lord,

121
00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:19,599
Speaker 1: you were good, and now I can show them how

122
00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:23,520
Speaker 1: it feels to have somebody trying to disrespect them, to

123
00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,839
Speaker 1: make them look bad. But deep down I could hear

124
00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:30,840
Speaker 1: the still small voice saying, Joel, be the bigger person.

125
00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,520
Speaker 1: Bless your enemies, be good to those that have done

126
00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:38,920
Speaker 1: you wrong. I didn't feel like it, they didn't deserve it,

127
00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,640
Speaker 1: But bottom line is they have a good organization. So

128
00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,400
Speaker 1: I swallowed my pride and put in a good word

129
00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:48,719
Speaker 1: for them. Didn't bring up any of the negative. When

130
00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:52,320
Speaker 1: the men told them that I recommended him to attend,

131
00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:56,240
Speaker 1: they nearly passed out. A couple of months later, I

132
00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:00,640
Speaker 1: received the letter from the head of the organization said, Joel,

133
00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,599
Speaker 1: we want to apologize. We were jealous. We knew we

134
00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,720
Speaker 1: said things about you that weren't true. We can see

135
00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:13,120
Speaker 1: you're the bigger person. Proverb says, if your enemy is hungry,

136
00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:17,560
Speaker 1: giving food to eat. If he's thirsty, give him water

137
00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:21,320
Speaker 1: to drink. In doing this, you will heap coals of

138
00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,680
Speaker 1: fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

139
00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,040
Speaker 2: When you do good to those that have done you wrong.

140
00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,560
Speaker 1: It may feel like you'll be in weak you're letting

141
00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,920
Speaker 1: them take advantage of you. The truth is that's putting

142
00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:39,160
Speaker 1: coals on their head, and that doesn't mean they're going

143
00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,160
Speaker 1: to burn up. It means some of you are thinking,

144
00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:43,120
Speaker 1: I know what to do now.

145
00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:45,440
Speaker 2: It means it.

146
00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:49,480
Speaker 1: Means that is more effective than trying to pay people back.

147
00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:54,480
Speaker 1: My brother Paul was overseas earlier this year operating on

148
00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,240
Speaker 1: people that had been injured in the war. There's a

149
00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,520
Speaker 1: group trying to harm innocent people, doing so much damage

150
00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:04,280
Speaker 1: and causing so much heartache.

151
00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,800
Speaker 2: And Paul didn't just operate on the innocent people.

152
00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,760
Speaker 1: They would bring soldiers in from the other side, the

153
00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:15,840
Speaker 1: ones causing all the trouble. After an operation, two of

154
00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:19,000
Speaker 1: these men were talking. They didn't know Paul was around

155
00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:22,160
Speaker 1: the corner with an interpreter. One said to the other,

156
00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,840
Speaker 1: why are we trying to kill these people? They love us,

157
00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:30,720
Speaker 1: They treat us with respect and kindness. What they felt

158
00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:35,760
Speaker 1: that day was more powerful than any machine gun, any explosive.

159
00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,120
Speaker 2: Love is the most powerful force that we have.

160
00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,800
Speaker 1: Will you be good to someone that's done you harm?

161
00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,560
Speaker 1: Will you let go of the anger, the bitterness, the

162
00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,400
Speaker 1: resentment and give.

163
00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,480
Speaker 2: Your enemy food when he's hungry.

164
00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:55,720
Speaker 1: When you're merciful, you're not lessening what they did. They

165
00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:59,239
Speaker 1: may have hurt you, it wasn't right. You're not excusing

166
00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:03,760
Speaker 1: their actions. But when you're the bigger person, when you're kind,

167
00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,920
Speaker 1: even though they don't deserve it, not only does that

168
00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,800
Speaker 1: have a great impact on them, but that frees you to.

169
00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,320
Speaker 2: Go to a higher level. This is what Joseph did

170
00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:15,160
Speaker 2: in the scripture.

171
00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:18,800
Speaker 1: His brothers were so jealous of him they threw him

172
00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:21,600
Speaker 1: into a pit. They were going to leave him there

173
00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:25,880
Speaker 1: to die, but this caravan of Ishmaelites came by and

174
00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,760
Speaker 1: they sold Joseph as a slave to a man named Potterford.

175
00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:33,080
Speaker 2: Joseph's whole world was turned upside down.

176
00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:37,320
Speaker 1: His dreams, his goals, seeing his family, having his freedom.

177
00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:39,800
Speaker 2: It was all because of his brothers.

178
00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:44,320
Speaker 1: He ended up spending years in prison for something that

179
00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:48,160
Speaker 1: he didn't do, going through lonely nights, times where he

180
00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:53,080
Speaker 1: felt like God had forgotten about him. Finally, thirteen years later,

181
00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,160
Speaker 1: after all the heartache and pain, he was vindicated and

182
00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:00,920
Speaker 1: put in charge of the food supply in Egypt. He

183
00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,000
Speaker 1: was second in command of the whole nation, one of

184
00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:07,720
Speaker 1: the most powerful people of that time. There came a

185
00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:12,000
Speaker 1: great famine in the land. One day, Joseph's brothers, the

186
00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,880
Speaker 1: same ones that threw him into the pit, showed up

187
00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:16,840
Speaker 1: at the palace looking for food.

188
00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:19,040
Speaker 2: They had traveled a great.

189
00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,280
Speaker 1: Distance from a foreign land, and they were right in

190
00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,760
Speaker 1: front of Joseph. It had been so long they didn't

191
00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:29,880
Speaker 1: recognize him, but Joseph knew exactly who they were. This

192
00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:33,680
Speaker 1: was his big chance to get even after all the

193
00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:38,760
Speaker 1: years of heartache pain injustice, God brought the people that

194
00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:40,040
Speaker 1: caused it right.

195
00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:40,720
Speaker 2: In front of him.

196
00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,920
Speaker 1: Most of us would be thinking about payback. But the

197
00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:49,480
Speaker 1: reason God could promote Joseph, the reason he could give

198
00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:53,920
Speaker 1: him incredible influence in favor, is God knew he could

199
00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:55,520
Speaker 1: trust Joseph.

200
00:10:55,280 --> 00:11:00,120
Speaker 2: To handle the power correctly. Joseph had proved he would.

201
00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:03,160
Speaker 1: Do the right thing and be good to people that

202
00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:04,439
Speaker 1: had done him harm.

203
00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:06,360
Speaker 2: Joseph looked at his brothers.

204
00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:10,640
Speaker 1: Instead of getting revenge, the scripture says he threw his

205
00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:15,920
Speaker 1: arms around them and wept, kissing and embracing them. He

206
00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:19,640
Speaker 1: invited them into the palace and served them dinner. He

207
00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:22,840
Speaker 1: had them go home and bring their father and the

208
00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:26,240
Speaker 1: rest of the family. He gave them land and a

209
00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,439
Speaker 1: place to live where he could watch over them. When

210
00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:32,760
Speaker 1: you can do like Joseph and be good to someone

211
00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:37,719
Speaker 1: that's caused you pain, when you can embrace someone that's betrayed,

212
00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:42,439
Speaker 1: you show kindness and respect even though they don't deserve it,

213
00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:43,360
Speaker 1: There's no.

214
00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,240
Speaker 2: Limit to how high God will take you.

215
00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:50,720
Speaker 1: Joseph being betrayed by his brothers, that was all a

216
00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:54,960
Speaker 1: part of God's plan. God knew years down the road

217
00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:57,119
Speaker 1: there was going to be a great famine.

218
00:11:57,559 --> 00:11:59,760
Speaker 2: He needed somebody on the inside of.

219
00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:03,680
Speaker 1: Eve where the food would be stored, so the Israelites

220
00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,880
Speaker 1: could survive. He had to find somebody that could handle

221
00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:09,840
Speaker 1: being mistreated and.

222
00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,599
Speaker 2: Betrayed without being vindictive.

223
00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:16,560
Speaker 1: If Joseph would have tried to get even put his

224
00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:20,920
Speaker 1: brothers in prison, then the Israelites could have perished during

225
00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:25,120
Speaker 1: the famine. Everything that happens is a part of God's plan.

226
00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:28,880
Speaker 1: We can't see it at the time. Having a family

227
00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:32,480
Speaker 1: member betray you, that doesn't make sense. A friend walk away,

228
00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,840
Speaker 1: don't be bitter, don't hold a grudge. Be a Joseph,

229
00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,800
Speaker 1: Be good to those that have done you wrong. Let

230
00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:44,199
Speaker 1: God take care of the people that have hurt you.

231
00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,120
Speaker 1: You don't have to pay them back. You're not the judge.

232
00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:51,360
Speaker 1: You're not the jury. Leave it in God's hands. Years ago,

233
00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,240
Speaker 1: there was a pastor in another state. We had been

234
00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,160
Speaker 1: friends with him our whole life, but there was this

235
00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,880
Speaker 1: political issue that he felt strong only about. It was

236
00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:03,640
Speaker 1: his new mission. He wanted me to get on board

237
00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:07,480
Speaker 1: and help him. Well, my plate was full doing what

238
00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:10,400
Speaker 1: God's called me to do. But he didn't understand it.

239
00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:14,040
Speaker 1: He got so upset it with me. They interviewed him

240
00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,559
Speaker 1: in his paper back at home, and he spent half

241
00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,360
Speaker 1: the time talking about how I wouldn't help him, and

242
00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:22,720
Speaker 1: I wouldn't be involved, on and on. It's one thing

243
00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:27,280
Speaker 1: to disagree, but another to start blasting somebody in public,

244
00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:31,440
Speaker 1: especially somebody that's been your friend for years. Of course,

245
00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:34,800
Speaker 1: I wanted to respond, set the record straight. I've learned

246
00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:36,520
Speaker 1: it's better to let.

247
00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:39,440
Speaker 2: God fight your battles. Let God be your vindicator.

248
00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,800
Speaker 1: A couple of years later, one of his staff members

249
00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:47,840
Speaker 1: sent a request asking me to make a video for

250
00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,040
Speaker 1: his twenty fifth anniversary of being at his church.

251
00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:52,720
Speaker 2: It was a surprise.

252
00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:54,880
Speaker 1: They were going to play it in front of the

253
00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:59,640
Speaker 1: whole congregation. This staff member obviously didn't know that the

254
00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:03,120
Speaker 1: man had made all these negative comments about me. My

255
00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:06,200
Speaker 1: first thought was, yes, I would love to make a video.

256
00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:09,920
Speaker 1: I have a lot to say about him, specially in

257
00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:11,120
Speaker 1: front of his congregation.

258
00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:12,760
Speaker 2: But seriously, I.

259
00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:16,880
Speaker 1: Thought, God, making a video, that's too much. I'll bless

260
00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,680
Speaker 1: him in private, but not in public. God, you didn't

261
00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,040
Speaker 1: say anything in the scripture about having to do it

262
00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:23,880
Speaker 1: in front of people.

263
00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,080
Speaker 2: He didn't deserve it. He had tried to make me

264
00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:31,200
Speaker 2: look bad. Now they wanted me to make him look good.

265
00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,920
Speaker 2: This is what Joseph faced. God, here are the brothers

266
00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,520
Speaker 2: that did me wrong. You want me to do what?

267
00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:42,160
Speaker 1: Invite them into the palace, give them a place to live,

268
00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:46,000
Speaker 1: use my influence to give them land, give them food.

269
00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:49,120
Speaker 2: Get behind me, Satan. That could not be God.

270
00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,600
Speaker 1: I didn't feel like doing it, but I knew this

271
00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:57,480
Speaker 1: was a chance to bless somebody that had done me wrong.

272
00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:01,040
Speaker 1: I made the video congratulates aiding him on twenty five

273
00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,840
Speaker 1: years and thanking him for all of his meanness, I

274
00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:05,080
Speaker 1: mean all of his faithfulness.

275
00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:09,000
Speaker 2: A friend of mine was at the event.

276
00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:12,320
Speaker 1: When the video played, he said, when I came on

277
00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:15,680
Speaker 1: this pastor put his head down and started.

278
00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:16,520
Speaker 2: Weeping and weeping.

279
00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,960
Speaker 1: Blessing your enemies not only shows God that you have

280
00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:24,920
Speaker 1: the character to go higher, but it shows people who

281
00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,200
Speaker 1: you really are. It's easy to be good to those

282
00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,280
Speaker 1: that have been good to you, But when you can

283
00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:34,720
Speaker 1: be good to people that have done you wrong, you're

284
00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:36,000
Speaker 1: an exceptional person.

285
00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:37,480
Speaker 2: You're a Joseph.

286
00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,840
Speaker 1: You're the kind of man, the kind of woman that

287
00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,960
Speaker 1: God can entrust with greatness. He can use you for

288
00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:49,640
Speaker 1: his highest purposes. We see this same quality in David.

289
00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:54,200
Speaker 1: When he defeated Goliath, King Saul loved him so much

290
00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,080
Speaker 1: so he brought him to the palace.

291
00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,480
Speaker 2: David would play the heart for Saul when he wasn't

292
00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:00,240
Speaker 2: feeling well.

293
00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:03,880
Speaker 1: But David began to get so much recognition and so

294
00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:08,680
Speaker 1: much popularity that Saul became jealous of David. And one day,

295
00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:11,320
Speaker 1: while he was playing the harp, Saul took a spear

296
00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:13,720
Speaker 1: and threw it and David barely missed him.

297
00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:15,840
Speaker 2: This happened time and time again.

298
00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:20,000
Speaker 1: Saul was wrong, he was jealous, But you will never

299
00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:24,600
Speaker 1: read where David tried to pay him back. Despite Saul

300
00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:25,560
Speaker 1: trying to kill him.

301
00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:27,880
Speaker 2: What did David do? Played the heart for him.

302
00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:32,120
Speaker 1: Tried to make his life even better. Fast forward years later,

303
00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,080
Speaker 1: Saul had been killed in a battle gone for a

304
00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:39,520
Speaker 1: long time, David had been the king, won many victories,

305
00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:44,320
Speaker 1: had incredible success. Now he was later in his life,

306
00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:48,480
Speaker 1: not out fighting battles, but enjoying the blessings in favor

307
00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:52,600
Speaker 1: that God had given him. One night, sitting around the palace,

308
00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:57,200
Speaker 1: David said to his men, is anyone still alive from

309
00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:59,880
Speaker 1: the house of Saul that I can be good to?

310
00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,440
Speaker 1: I can imagine his men saying, excuse me, David, are

311
00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:08,399
Speaker 1: you feeling okay? Do you remember Saul was trying to

312
00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:12,200
Speaker 1: kill you. He chased you through the desert, made your

313
00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:14,600
Speaker 1: life miserable, threw spears at you.

314
00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:16,880
Speaker 2: When you were being good to him.

315
00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,679
Speaker 1: David said, in effect, yes, I know who he was,

316
00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:22,760
Speaker 1: but I want to bless my enemies. I want to

317
00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:26,680
Speaker 1: do something good for his family despite what he tried

318
00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:30,320
Speaker 1: to do to me. No wonder David is called a

319
00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:34,440
Speaker 1: man after God's own heart. My prayer is God, help

320
00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:37,320
Speaker 1: us to grow to the place where we're not looking

321
00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:40,880
Speaker 1: for ways to get revenge on our enemies, but we're

322
00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,760
Speaker 1: looking for ways to bless our enemies. Well, Joe, you're

323
00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,840
Speaker 1: too nice. I believe in standing up for myself. I

324
00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:52,600
Speaker 1: believe in paying people back. The scripture says you overcome

325
00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:57,159
Speaker 1: evil with good. You don't overcome evil with more evil

326
00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,840
Speaker 1: if you do the same thing to them that they're

327
00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:03,640
Speaker 1: doing to you. They lied about you, so you lie

328
00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:07,360
Speaker 1: about them. They betrayed you, so you betray them. Not

329
00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:10,959
Speaker 1: only will you have a bigger problem, more conflict, but

330
00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,359
Speaker 1: you'll get stuck. It will keep you from rising higher.

331
00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,280
Speaker 1: David found Saul's grandson.

332
00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:18,720
Speaker 2: He was crippled.

333
00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:22,320
Speaker 1: They brought him to the palace. David gave him all

334
00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:26,160
Speaker 1: the land that belonged to his grandfather. He said to him,

335
00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,320
Speaker 1: from now on, you will sit at my table and

336
00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:34,119
Speaker 1: have dinner with me every night. You imagine having the

337
00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:37,800
Speaker 1: grandson of the men that tried to kill you eating

338
00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,680
Speaker 1: dinner with you every night. That takes a big man.

339
00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,960
Speaker 1: That takes somebody of great character. You may have had

340
00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:46,240
Speaker 1: people do you wrong.

341
00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:50,800
Speaker 2: We all have. Don't be bitter. Be a David. Overcome

342
00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:52,040
Speaker 2: the evil with good.

343
00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,320
Speaker 1: During the Korean War, a father was arrested by the

344
00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:59,920
Speaker 1: Communist when they found out he was a follower of crime.

345
00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:03,320
Speaker 1: He was ordered to be shot, But when this young

346
00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,920
Speaker 1: Communist leader that was about to carry out the execution

347
00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:11,520
Speaker 1: learned that this father with the head of an orphanage,

348
00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:15,159
Speaker 1: he decided to spare his life and instead take the

349
00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:18,120
Speaker 1: life of his son. Right on the spot, they lined

350
00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:22,600
Speaker 1: up his nineteen year old son and executed him. Years later,

351
00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:26,120
Speaker 1: when the war was over, peace was restored, this young

352
00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:30,080
Speaker 1: Communist leader was put on trial by the United Nations.

353
00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,159
Speaker 2: He was found guilty and sentenced to death.

354
00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:37,840
Speaker 1: Before the senates could be carried out, this father, whose

355
00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:42,560
Speaker 1: son was murdered, pleaded with the court to spare his life.

356
00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,000
Speaker 1: He argued that he was too young, that he didn't

357
00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:45,640
Speaker 1: really know what.

358
00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:46,240
Speaker 2: He was doing.

359
00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:50,320
Speaker 1: He told the court, I'll take him into my own home.

360
00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:54,240
Speaker 1: I'll be responsible for him. I'll make sure he lives

361
00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:59,040
Speaker 1: a productive life. Against all odds, the United Nations granted

362
00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:03,520
Speaker 1: this unbelievable request. This father took the murder of his

363
00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:07,600
Speaker 1: son into his home. He loved him, he cared for him.

364
00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:11,080
Speaker 1: That young man gave his life to Christ. He ended

365
00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:14,399
Speaker 1: up becoming the pastor of a church. But most of

366
00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:18,400
Speaker 1: us will never have to face anything that traumatic. But

367
00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:22,160
Speaker 1: you may have a coworker that's jealous tries to keep

368
00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:24,760
Speaker 1: you from a promotion. You may have a friend that

369
00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:29,119
Speaker 1: walks away, a relative that's not honest. It's easy to

370
00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,879
Speaker 1: hold on to the hurt and look for ways to

371
00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:35,200
Speaker 1: pay them back. Why don't you try a different approach

372
00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:38,200
Speaker 1: and bless your enemies, be good to.

373
00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:39,760
Speaker 2: Those that have done you wrong.

374
00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:45,800
Speaker 1: Living vindictive, angry, bitter, it only poisons your life.

375
00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:48,680
Speaker 2: I know the pain was real.

376
00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:52,560
Speaker 1: What they did hurt, it wasn't fair, but holding on

377
00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,680
Speaker 1: to it doesn't make it better. If you will let

378
00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:58,800
Speaker 1: it go and live out of a place of forgiveness

379
00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:02,320
Speaker 1: a place of home, you'll not only feel better, but

380
00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:03,760
Speaker 1: that's what allows.

381
00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,040
Speaker 2: The creator of the universe to go to work.

382
00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:08,879
Speaker 1: It may have been meant for your harm, but he

383
00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,000
Speaker 1: knows how to turn it around.

384
00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:12,480
Speaker 2: And use it to your advantage.

385
00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:17,280
Speaker 1: In the New Testament Book of Philemon, Paul was in prison.

386
00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:20,600
Speaker 1: He was an old man, his life was coming to

387
00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:22,880
Speaker 1: an end, and he wrote a letter to a man

388
00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:27,119
Speaker 1: named Philemon. He was like a son to Paul. Philemon

389
00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:30,480
Speaker 1: was a wealthy man. He owned a large estate, and

390
00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:33,439
Speaker 1: he'd come to know the Lord through Paul. Paul was

391
00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:38,359
Speaker 1: writing to him about one of his runaway slaves named Anissimus.

392
00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:42,879
Speaker 1: Anissimus didn't just run away. Commentaries tell us that he

393
00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,600
Speaker 1: stole something from Philemon, and.

394
00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:46,320
Speaker 2: Then he took off.

395
00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:51,000
Speaker 1: This runaway slave met up with Paul in prison. He

396
00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:54,280
Speaker 1: gave his life to Christ. He too, became like a

397
00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:58,600
Speaker 1: son to Paul. Paul was in a predicament. Anissimus had

398
00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:01,960
Speaker 1: done wrong to Filemon, he'd stolen from him, but.

399
00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:03,480
Speaker 2: Now he was changed.

400
00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:08,439
Speaker 1: So Paul wrote Pileman a letter on Anissimus's behalf. He

401
00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:11,439
Speaker 1: said in verse ten something like this, I appealed to

402
00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:17,040
Speaker 1: you for my son Anissimus. Formerly he was useless to you,

403
00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:20,879
Speaker 1: but you will see he has changed. I am sending

404
00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:21,800
Speaker 1: him back to you.

405
00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:26,760
Speaker 2: Not as your slave, but as your brother. Welcome him

406
00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:28,159
Speaker 2: as you would welcome me.

407
00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:32,040
Speaker 1: If he owes you anything or done you any wrong,

408
00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,080
Speaker 1: put it on my account, and I give you my word.

409
00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:36,359
Speaker 2: I will pay you back.

410
00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:41,160
Speaker 1: Paul was saying, in effect, Bileiman, I know Anissimus has

411
00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:43,000
Speaker 1: done you wrong. I know he's stolen, I know he

412
00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:46,240
Speaker 1: ran away. You have a good right to be angry,

413
00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:50,200
Speaker 1: to be vindictive when he returns. You could imprison him,

414
00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:51,680
Speaker 1: make his life miserable.

415
00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:53,520
Speaker 2: But something has changed.

416
00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:58,760
Speaker 1: He's no longer your slave, He's your brother. This was

417
00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:03,560
Speaker 1: a test. Would Filiman receive him back, would he forgive him,

418
00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:07,240
Speaker 1: be good to him, treat him like a brother, or

419
00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:10,280
Speaker 1: would he hold on to the hurt, be angry, try

420
00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:13,919
Speaker 1: to get revenge. The scripture doesn't tell us how the

421
00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:14,800
Speaker 1: story ends.

422
00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,719
Speaker 2: Did he put him in chains? Did he send him

423
00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:18,280
Speaker 2: to prison.

424
00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:24,000
Speaker 1: I believe that Filieman took Paul's advice and received him back,

425
00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:26,200
Speaker 1: not as a slave, but.

426
00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:26,800
Speaker 2: As a brother.

427
00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:31,600
Speaker 1: I believe he passed the test, that he showed him mercy.

428
00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:35,280
Speaker 1: Sooner or later, a nissimus is going to show up

429
00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:39,240
Speaker 1: at your house, somebody that hurt you, somebody that did

430
00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:40,960
Speaker 1: you wrong, somebody.

431
00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,480
Speaker 2: That betrayed you. You have a right to be angry,

432
00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:45,760
Speaker 2: to be bitter. That's a test.

433
00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:49,320
Speaker 1: Are you stuck in what used to be trying to

434
00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:51,200
Speaker 1: get revenge, vindictive?

435
00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:55,040
Speaker 2: Or have you grown? Have you come up higher?

436
00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,520
Speaker 1: Have you gotten past the hurt where you can show

437
00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:01,600
Speaker 1: them mercy, where you can be good to those that

438
00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:05,160
Speaker 1: have done you wrong, where you can even bless your enemies.

439
00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:09,960
Speaker 1: Anyssamus showing up is not a coincidence. That's God seeing

440
00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:14,160
Speaker 1: if you're ready to go to a new level. Joel,

441
00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:17,160
Speaker 1: they don't deserve it. You don't know what they've done

442
00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,480
Speaker 1: to me. I am not going to forgive them what.

443
00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:21,200
Speaker 2: They owe you.

444
00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:25,240
Speaker 1: God is saying, put it on my account what they

445
00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:26,160
Speaker 1: took from you.

446
00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:29,760
Speaker 2: I'll pay you back. They may have hurt.

447
00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:33,800
Speaker 1: You, but if you'll do your part and receive them back,

448
00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:37,280
Speaker 1: God will make it up to you. Think about the

449
00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,600
Speaker 1: mercy God has shown you when you didn't deserve it.

450
00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:44,600
Speaker 2: He forgave you when we got off course on purpose.

451
00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:48,160
Speaker 1: He protected us when we got in trouble, He rescued us.

452
00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:51,280
Speaker 1: Why don't you take some of that same mercy, that

453
00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,240
Speaker 1: same goodness, and show it to the people that have

454
00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:55,119
Speaker 1: done you wrong.

455
00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:58,320
Speaker 2: You have to give people the grace.

456
00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:02,800
Speaker 1: To change udge their whole life on one season, on

457
00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:06,600
Speaker 1: one mistake. They may have left you a slave, so

458
00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:09,240
Speaker 1: to speak. They hurt you, they made mistakes, they did

459
00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:13,240
Speaker 1: you wrong, but now they've changed. Now they're your brother.

460
00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:17,760
Speaker 1: The mercy you show them is the mercy God's going

461
00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:21,960
Speaker 1: to show you. What you do with Nissimus will determine

462
00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:22,919
Speaker 1: what God.

463
00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:23,720
Speaker 2: Is going to do with you.

464
00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:28,320
Speaker 1: If you're angry, bitter, vindictive, You'll get stuck. And now

465
00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:31,280
Speaker 1: I'm not saying you have to befriend them and allow

466
00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:35,560
Speaker 1: them all access, but you should get past the offense,

467
00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,879
Speaker 1: past the hurt, where you can treat them with kindness,

468
00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:40,240
Speaker 1: treat them with respect.

469
00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:42,560
Speaker 2: Life is too short to live.

470
00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:47,480
Speaker 1: Vindictive, angry, trying to get even Turn that over to God.

471
00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:49,040
Speaker 2: Put it on his account.

472
00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:52,320
Speaker 1: People can't pay you back, they can't make it right.

473
00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:55,600
Speaker 1: But if you'll go to God, he'll make up for.

474
00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:56,959
Speaker 2: What people cannot give you.

475
00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:02,199
Speaker 1: A Nissimus is coming, Joseph, brothers are coming. I'm asking

476
00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,760
Speaker 1: you to pass the test. Show God you can handle

477
00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:09,359
Speaker 1: a new level. Bless your enemies, Pray for those that

478
00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:11,800
Speaker 1: do your wrong, do good to the people that have

479
00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:15,160
Speaker 1: hurt you. If you'll do this, I believe and declare

480
00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,240
Speaker 1: you're going to see new levels of influence, new levels

481
00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:21,879
Speaker 1: of favor. God is going to pay you back for

482
00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,959
Speaker 1: the wrongs, heal the hurts, and take you to the

483
00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,000
Speaker 1: fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name.

484
00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:28,880
Speaker 2: And if you.

485
00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:33,080
Speaker 1: Receive it today, can you say amen, I'd like to

486
00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:36,199
Speaker 1: give you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of

487
00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:36,800
Speaker 1: your life.

488
00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:41,920
Speaker 2: Would you pray with me. Just say, Lord Jesus, I'll

489
00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:46,800
Speaker 2: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make

490
00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:48,240
Speaker 2: you my Lord and savior.

491
00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,120
Speaker 1: If you pray that simple prayer, we believe you got

492
00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:55,280
Speaker 1: born again, Get in a good Bible based church, and

493
00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:57,000
Speaker 1: keep God first place.

494
00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:01,520
Speaker 3: Breathtaking that's what you feel when you look out at

495
00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:06,760
Speaker 3: majestic mountain peaks. Yes, God's creation truly is a masterpiece,

496
00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:10,639
Speaker 3: but even as you consider his handiwork, you might also

497
00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:15,639
Speaker 3: feel bless that, not good enough or not valuable. The

498
00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:20,080
Speaker 3: image before you is incredible, but the confidence inside is lacking.

499
00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:21,680
Speaker 2: How do you overcome this?

500
00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:26,280
Speaker 1: The opinion you have of yourself is your most important opinion.

501
00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:31,320
Speaker 1: Too often we see ourselves as ordinary, not talented, unattractive.

502
00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:34,840
Speaker 1: That wrong self image is setting the limits for our lie.

503
00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:37,720
Speaker 1: The key is to get an agreement with who God

504
00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:42,800
Speaker 1: says you are. He calls you a masterpiece, strong, talented, valuable.

505
00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:45,840
Speaker 1: If you'll have the right image of your self, you'll

506
00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:48,600
Speaker 1: rise higher and become who you were created to be.

507
00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:51,119
Speaker 1: We have a new resource that will help you do

508
00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:54,800
Speaker 1: just that. It's called you are a Masterpiece. It's filled

509
00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:58,280
Speaker 1: with inspiration and encouragement that will remind you who you

510
00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:02,600
Speaker 1: really are. Gifted chosen approve. It will help you get

511
00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:05,639
Speaker 1: rid of the wrong self image and start seeing yourself

512
00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:08,240
Speaker 1: as the masterpiece God created you to be.

513
00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:11,800
Speaker 3: As our Thank you for your gift of any amount

514
00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:14,159
Speaker 3: to the ministry this month, we want to send you

515
00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:20,320
Speaker 3: jewels inspiring Newbrook. You are a masterpiece. God made you unique,

516
00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:24,240
Speaker 3: with a divine purpose and a bright future. As these

517
00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:27,879
Speaker 3: truths sink down in your spirit, the majesty of God's

518
00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:32,119
Speaker 3: glory will arise within you. Yes, God has breathed his

519
00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:37,000
Speaker 3: life into you. He approved you, equipped you, empowered you.

520
00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:40,960
Speaker 3: Stop believing the lies about you and start hearing what

521
00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:42,240
Speaker 3: God says about you.

522
00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,680
Speaker 1: Thanks so much for being a part of the ministry. Betoren.

523
00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:48,600
Speaker 1: I pray for you and your family every day. Believe

524
00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:51,360
Speaker 1: in It's going to be a favor filled twenty twenty four.

525
00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:56,120
Speaker 1: We appreciate your prayer and support. Your generosity is impacting

526
00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:59,720
Speaker 1: people around the world. Remember you can watch the services

527
00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:03,800
Speaker 1: live online Sunday mornings, see all the music and ministry

528
00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:05,920
Speaker 1: download our daily podcast.

529
00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:07,280
Speaker 2: Until we meet again.

530
00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:09,320
Speaker 1: May the Lord bless you and keep you.

531
00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:12,640
Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of that you were

532
00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:22,720
Speaker 3: a masterpiece today visit joelostein dot com,