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That's Facet dot com. 32 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,040 Speaker 4: This ad is sponsored by Facet. Facet Wealth in Corporated 33 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 4: is an SEC registered investment advisor. This is not an 34 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:29,759 Speaker 4: offer to buy your self securities, nor is it investment, 35 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 4: legal or tax advice. 36 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 3: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 37 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 5: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 38 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:36,759 Speaker 5: the ministry. 39 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 6: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 40 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 6: blessing and share it with a friend. 41 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 5: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 42 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 5: your life. 43 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 3: Oh God, bless you. 44 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 5: It's always a joy to come into your homes each week. 45 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 5: And we know God rewards the people that seek after Him, 46 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 5: and I just believe that's you, or you wouldn't be 47 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 5: watching today, So thanks for tuning in. We love you, 48 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 5: and if you're ever in our area, stop buying seas. 49 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 5: I give you a personal invitation to be a part 50 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 5: of one of our services. 51 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 3: You'll really enjoy it. 52 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 5: And I say it often, but these guys are the 53 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 5: finest people in all of Houston, so we'd love to have. 54 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 3: You be apart. 55 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 5: Thanks for coming today. I like to start with something 56 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 5: funny each week. And I heard about this group of children. 57 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 5: They were in the cafeteria line at this Catholic high 58 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 5: school during lunch, and at the head table there was 59 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 5: this tray of. 60 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 3: Apples and a nun had written a note and it said, 61 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 3: take only one. God is watching. 62 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 5: At the end of that cafeteria line, there was this 63 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 5: big batch of chocolate chip cookies and one of the 64 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 5: little children had written a note. 65 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 3: It said, take all you want. God's watching the apples. 66 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 5: All right, hold up your bibles and say it with me, 67 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 5: and you're ready. This is my Bible. I am what 68 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 5: it says I am, I have what it says I have. 69 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 5: I can do what it says I can do. Today 70 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 5: all will be talked the word of God. I boldly confess. 71 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 5: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive, I will 72 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 5: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 73 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 5: I want to talk to you today about the importance 74 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 5: of keeping a pure heart. What's going on in you 75 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 5: is really more important than what's going on around you. 76 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 3: And we all have two different lives. 77 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 5: We have our outer life that's our public life that 78 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 5: everybody can see, and then we have an inner life 79 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 5: that's only between us and God. It's made up of 80 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 5: our thoughts, our attitudes, and our motives. Nobody knows what's 81 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 5: going on down in here except us in God. And 82 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 5: too many people go around today pretending acting one way, 83 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 5: talking one way, yet on the inside they're thinking something 84 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 5: totally different. Their heart and their actions don't line up. 85 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 5: And really this is what we would consider to be 86 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 5: a phony. They play up to people trying to get things. 87 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 5: They've got ulterior motives. They can smile at you and 88 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 5: be thinking I don't really like you at the same time. 89 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 3: See, their heart is not pure. We have to understand God. 90 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,799 Speaker 5: Looks at the inside, not the outside. We can fool 91 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 5: a lot. 92 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 3: Of people, but we can't fool God. 93 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 5: And God would rather us be open and honest about 94 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 5: our shortcomings than for us to go through life pretending, 95 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,600 Speaker 5: wearing these masks and kind of being two faced all 96 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 5: the time. 97 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 3: Now, I want to challenge you today. 98 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 5: To take inventory of what's going on in you, not 99 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 5: what's going on around you, Not what's going on in 100 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 5: your circumstances or your marriage or your pocket book. Know 101 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 5: what's going on in the deep recesses of your heart. 102 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 5: Are you at peace? Are you over life offenses? Do 103 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 5: you believe the best in people? Are you positive, hopeful, 104 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,720 Speaker 5: expecting good things? Or when you look deep down in here, 105 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 5: would you have to say, Joel, I'm kind of critical, 106 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 5: I've got a problem with jealousy, I'm angry at my neighbor, 107 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 5: or I tend to manipulate people to try to get things. 108 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,840 Speaker 3: No, you've got to guard your heart. 109 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 5: If your heart is polluted, then your whole life is 110 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 5: going to be poisoned. 111 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 3: And we've got to learn to be honest with ourselves. 112 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 5: If you have a problem with jealousy, don't sweep it 113 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 5: under the rug, don't pretend like it's not there. 114 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 3: Get it out in the open and deal with it. 115 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 3: Just say, God, I'm jealous. 116 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 5: They got the promotion and I wanted it, and I 117 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 5: know I should be happy for them, but I'm not, 118 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:48,359 Speaker 5: and God, I don't want to feel this way. 119 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 3: Help me to change, God, help me to keep my 120 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 3: heart pure. 121 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 5: Let me tell you, you'll go a whole lot further if 122 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 5: you'll take it to God and ask him to help you. 123 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 5: Then if you just bury it and pretend like it 124 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 5: doesn't exist. And it's interesting. The people that Jesus got 125 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 5: the most upset with were the pretenders. He got mad 126 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 5: at the Pharisees. They were the religious people. He called 127 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 5: them hypocrites. It was because they were fakes. They put 128 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 5: on a good show on the outside. They wore their 129 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 5: fancy robes, and they went to the temple regularly. They 130 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 5: looked real holy, but the problem was on the inside. 131 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 5: They were full of greed, full of judgment, full of criticism. 132 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 5: And Jesus had some very stern words for him. They're 133 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 5: in Matthew twenty three, verse twenty seven. He said, you 134 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 5: guys are like a bunch of whitewashed tunes. You look 135 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 5: real beautiful on the outside, but on the inside you're 136 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 5: full of dead men's bones. And I don't know about you, 137 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 5: but I want to pay attention to what's going on 138 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 5: in me, because we can do the right thing. But 139 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 5: what's really important is are we doing it with the 140 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 5: right motive? Are we doing it with the right attitude. 141 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,599 Speaker 5: For instance, I can give somebody something, i can do 142 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 5: somebody a favor, but if I'm doing it just to 143 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 5: try to get something from them, if I'm doing it 144 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 5: to manipulate them, or maybe they're real important so I'm 145 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 5: trying to buy their friendship. Well, the truth is, I'm 146 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 5: not going to be blessed. What's going on in me 147 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 5: is going to affect my harvest. Some of you today, 148 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 5: you're doing the right thing, You're doing your best. 149 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 3: You don't realize it, but. 150 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 5: It's some of these inner issues that are keeping you back, 151 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 5: impure motives, being judgmental, being jealous. Now listen, if you'll 152 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 5: fix the inside, the outside will take care of itself. 153 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 5: Even when we give, we should not give because we 154 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 5: have to. We shouldn't give because we feel guilty. And 155 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,559 Speaker 5: I know people that have the attitude. Okay, God, here's 156 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 5: my ten percent, God, here's the money I owe you. 157 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:53,679 Speaker 3: Now you need to check the inside, check your heart. 158 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 3: We should give with a grateful attitude. 159 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 5: We should give with a cheerful heart, not because we 160 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 5: have to, but because we want to. Now, I don't 161 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 5: even think we should give just to try to get blessed. 162 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 5: We should give just because we love God. We should 163 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 5: give just because He's done so much for us. 164 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 3: But see, we need to check our motives. 165 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 5: If I play up to my boss and tell him 166 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 5: how great I think he is, while down in here, 167 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 5: I don't even really like the man. I'm just trying 168 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 5: to get this promotion, and so I flatter him with 169 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 5: all of these compliments that I don't mean. Then even 170 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 5: if I do get that new position, I'm gonna have 171 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 5: a tough time keeping myself there because if you put 172 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 5: yourself somewhere by pretending and playing up to people, then 173 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 5: you're gonna have to do the same thing to. 174 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 3: Keep yourself there. 175 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 5: But if you'll let God do it his way and 176 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 5: just take the higher road and keep a pure heart, 177 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 5: then when God puts you there. 178 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 3: He'll keep you there. He'll make sure that you stay. 179 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 5: The scripture says in Psalm twenty four, who will go 180 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 5: up the holy mountain, who will see God? Those with 181 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 5: clean hands and a pure heart. Notice it's not enough 182 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 5: to just have clean hands. It's not enough to just 183 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 5: do good things. We have to have a pure heart. 184 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 5: In other words, we can do good things and have 185 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,320 Speaker 5: the wrong motive. We can do the right thing and 186 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 5: have all kinds of junk on the inside, and it's 187 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 5: good that we're doing it. But unless we clean up 188 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:26,439 Speaker 5: the inside and get our hearts pure, it's going to 189 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:29,680 Speaker 5: keep us from God's best. And this is something that's 190 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 5: just between you and God. Nobody knows what you're thinking. 191 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,559 Speaker 5: Nobody knows when you're pretending. I mean, you can spend 192 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 5: your whole lifetime being nice and kind to that person 193 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 5: you work with, yet on the inside you kind of 194 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 5: look down on them, or you're kind of a little 195 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 5: judgmental because they don't do this or they don't do that. 196 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 5: Only you know if your heart is pure. Or maybe 197 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 5: you run into somebody at the. 198 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 3: Mall, Hey, how you doing? 199 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:55,839 Speaker 5: You know, so glad to see it, And yet at 200 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 5: that exact same time, you're thinking, I don't really like you, 201 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 5: and your hair doesn't look good, and I can't believe 202 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 5: you wore that outfit. And just as they're about to leave, Hey, 203 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 5: come over and see me sometime. I'd love to have 204 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 5: you for dinner down And here you're thinking, God, please 205 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 5: don't let them come over. Now that's what I'm talking about, 206 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 5: pretending being a phony. And when you do that, you're 207 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 5: not hurting them, You're only hurting yourself. 208 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 3: You're sowing the wrong kinds of seeds. 209 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 5: And I'm not saying that you go up to everybody 210 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 5: and just tell them exactly what you're thinking. Don't go 211 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 5: up to them next time and say, hey, Joel told 212 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 5: me to tell you I can't stand you. 213 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:31,679 Speaker 7: Know. 214 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 5: What I'm saying today is take that attitude to God 215 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 5: and say, God, help me to not be so critical, 216 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 5: help me to not be a fault finder. God, I 217 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:43,439 Speaker 5: know I have a problem in this area, and I'm 218 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 5: asking you to help me to change. 219 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:46,079 Speaker 3: And this is. 220 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:48,559 Speaker 5: Something we have to constantly be aware of, we need 221 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 5: to continually work on. I know i'm a minister, and 222 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 5: yet I've gone up to somebody. 223 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 3: Before said hey, how you doing. 224 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 5: You really look great today, And I hate to admit it, 225 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 5: that whole time I'm thinking, you know, that's the ugliest 226 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 5: suit I've ever seen. Maybe one day that tie will 227 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 5: come back into style. I don't know what you did 228 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 5: to your hair, but that ought to be illegal. Just 229 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 5: cutting them up and down with my thoughts and the 230 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 5: whole time I got my big smile on my face, 231 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:17,439 Speaker 5: and deep down in here, I can feel that conviction. 232 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:20,320 Speaker 5: Deep down in here, I can hear that still small 233 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 5: voice telling me, Joel, you shouldn't think about your brother. 234 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:23,719 Speaker 3: Paul like that. 235 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:33,840 Speaker 5: I'm just kidding. Don't be a pretender, don't be a phony. 236 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 5: Let's keep our hearts pure before God. And I understand 237 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 5: there are some people that we just don't particularly care for, 238 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 5: but let's always remember that person is made in the 239 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 5: image of Almighty God. When we criticize, when we judge, 240 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 5: when we find out all their faults, all we're doing 241 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:54,559 Speaker 5: is criticizing God's very own creation. It's like that lady 242 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 5: I heard about. She invited all these people over for 243 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 5: dinner one night. They sat down and we're just about 244 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 5: to eat. She turned to her little six year old 245 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 5: daughter and said, honey, why don't you say the blessing 246 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 5: for us tonight? 247 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 3: And she said, oh, mommy, I wouldn't even know what 248 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 3: to say. She said, oh, sure, you do. Just say 249 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:10,320 Speaker 3: what you hear mommy say. 250 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 5: So they all bowed their heads and this little six 251 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 5: year old girl said, oh Lord, why did I invite 252 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 5: these people for dinner? Heart Crimson, I want us to 253 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 5: be real. I don't want us to go around pretending 254 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:27,440 Speaker 5: be in two phase. 255 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:29,359 Speaker 3: Act in one way. 256 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:32,600 Speaker 5: Yet on the inside we're thinking another way. No, keep 257 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 5: your heart pure, pay attention to your inner life. That's 258 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 5: more important to God than our outer life. And one 259 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 5: of the best things we could ever do is really 260 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 5: get to know ourselves. By that, I mean, find the 261 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 5: areas you need to improve in and then be big 262 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 5: enough to call a spade a spade. If you're jealous, 263 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 5: don't go through your whole lifetime acting like it's not there, 264 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,680 Speaker 5: pretending No, get it out in the open and deal 265 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 5: with it. What a shame to allow something that's so beatable, 266 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:04,559 Speaker 5: something that you can overcome, to keep it in mediocrity. 267 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,439 Speaker 5: And if you have a problem with anger, a problem 268 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:11,079 Speaker 5: with pride, or a problem with having ulterior motives, it's 269 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 5: not going to do you any good to hide them. 270 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 5: I mean, you can hide them from a lot of others, 271 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 5: but we can't hide anything from God. And if we 272 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 5: don't have a pure heart, it's going to keep us 273 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 5: from being all that God's created us to be. And 274 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 5: I'm not saying that you're going to overcome everything instantly. 275 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 3: Some things you may have to deal with for quite 276 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 3: some time. 277 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 5: But as long as you're bringing it out in the 278 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 5: open and asking God to help you, and you're not 279 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 5: playing games and acting like it's not there, then you're 280 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 5: going to be making progress. It's when we deceive ourselves 281 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 5: into being two faced, pretending to everybody one thing while 282 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 5: we know down in here we're ignoring these issues. That's 283 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 5: when we get ourselves into trouble. In fact, the scripture 284 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 5: says in James five point sixteen, confess your faults one 285 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 5: to another so that you may be notice. You've got 286 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 5: to be honest enough with yourself to confess your faults. 287 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 5: You've got to come to the point where you say, 288 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 5: you know what, I recognize I have some issues that 289 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:13,199 Speaker 5: I need to deal with. And sometimes you're gonna have 290 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 5: to find a friend, find somebody you can trust, and 291 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 5: go to them and say I need your help. 292 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 3: I'm struggling in this. 293 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 5: Area and I really need you to stand with me 294 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 5: and don't be embarrassed. It's the truth that sets us free. 295 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 5: And I'm asking us today to examine our inner life, 296 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 5: our thoughts, our attitudes, our motives. It may just be 297 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 5: something small you say, all Joe, I got this little 298 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 5: problem with being jealous or I'm a little pride for 299 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 5: it's not hurting anything. No, it's gonna keep you from 300 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 5: being your very best. Why don't you come up higher? 301 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 5: Why don't you make a decision to change today? David said, 302 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 5: God desires truth in the inward parts. We can all 303 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 5: put on a good show on the outside, but what 304 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 5: really counts is what's going on down and here on 305 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 5: the end side. I mean, let's go deeper than that. 306 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 5: What are our motives? Why do we do what we're doing. 307 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 5: That's what's going to determine how high we're really going 308 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 5: to go in life. I love what the Psalmist said. 309 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 5: He said, God, let the words of my mouth and 310 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 5: the meditation of my heart always be acceptable in your sight. 311 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 5: One translation says, God, let the intentions of my heart 312 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 5: always be pleasing unto you. In other words, he was saying, God, 313 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 5: help me to keep my inner life right. Help me 314 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 5: to stay pure in my thoughts, pure in my motives, 315 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 5: pure in my attitudes. And that's the first prayer I 316 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 5: pray every single morning. I'd encourage you to do the 317 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 5: same thing. God, Let everything I do today bring honor 318 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 5: to your name. Let my thoughts let my actions, let 319 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 5: my motives, all. 320 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:52,479 Speaker 3: Be pleasing unto you. 321 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 5: See, I'm not really talking about some kind of great 322 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 5: sin today. I'm simply talking about the intentions of our heart. 323 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 3: Why do we do what we do. 324 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 5: The right thing is to honor God. The right reason 325 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 5: is to fulfill our destiny, to help others. The wrong 326 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 5: reason is to just one up our neighbor, to feed 327 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 5: our ego, to build my career, to make me look good. Now, 328 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 5: learn to do things with a pure heart, with the 329 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 5: right motives. 330 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 3: That's when you're going to really be blessed. 331 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 5: And the Scripture says in Proverbs four, verse twenty three 332 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 5: that we should guard our hearts with all diligence, for 333 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 5: out of our hearts flow the issues of life. And 334 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 5: I'm convinced the enemy is constantly trying to poison our hearts. 335 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 5: He's constantly trying to give us a little bitterness, a 336 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 5: little resentment, a. 337 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 3: Little jealousy, a little pride. But don't take his bait. 338 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 5: If your heart is not pure, it's going to affect 339 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 5: everything about you. And I know people that are going 340 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 5: around with all this junk on the inside, wrong motives, 341 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 5: wrong thinking, wrong attitudes, and they don't realize it, but 342 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 5: it's contaminating who they really are. Now. I like to 343 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 5: think of it like a stream. God made you to 344 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 5: be a crystal clear stream. He's created us to be happy, 345 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 5: to be peaceful, to be loving, to be merciful, to 346 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:18,400 Speaker 5: be forgiving, to enjoy our lives. But so often we've 347 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 5: allowed this junk to get in and pollute our waters. 348 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 3: Somebody offends us. 349 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 5: Instead of letting it go and moving on, we hold 350 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 5: on to it and the water gets a little bit muddy. 351 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,680 Speaker 5: A friend gets a promotion. Instead of rejoicing with them, 352 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 5: we're jealous. We don't understand it. God, I work harder 353 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 5: than they do. 354 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 3: That's not right. The water gets a little more contaminated, and. 355 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 5: Over the years, if we're not careful, we got all 356 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 5: this junk in there, and it's keeping us from being 357 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:49,439 Speaker 5: our very best. Now you've got to guard your heart. 358 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:53,200 Speaker 5: It's going to affect our whole Outlook. See, we see 359 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:57,120 Speaker 5: things the way we are, not necessarily the way they are. 360 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 5: In other words, we view things from our own stream. 361 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:04,160 Speaker 5: The Scripture says, in tite us to the purer, all 362 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 5: things are pure. When your heart is right, you're gonna 363 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 5: see the best in people. 364 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 3: And you have a pure. 365 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 5: Heart, You're not gonna be judgmental and critical. You're not 366 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 5: gonna go around complain and finding fault in everything. And 367 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 5: a good way to see what kind of heart you 368 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,919 Speaker 5: have is in how you size up other people. I 369 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:26,440 Speaker 5: found if you're a trusting person, you'll see other people 370 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 5: as being trustworthy. But if you're negative and critical, you're 371 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,160 Speaker 5: gonna view others as being negative and critical. We see 372 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 5: things not necessarily the way they are. We see them from. 373 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 3: Our own frame of reference. 374 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 5: And that means if your stream has become contaminated, then 375 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 5: everything is gonna be filtered through those murky waters, and 376 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 5: it's gonna affect you everywhere you go. I heard about 377 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 5: this grandfather that fell asleep in his living room one day, 378 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:55,920 Speaker 5: and his grandkids decided to play a little trick on him, 379 00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 5: and they got some real strong smelling cheese out of 380 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 5: the refrige was very potent, smelled really bad, and while 381 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:06,200 Speaker 5: he was sleeping, they snuck up and they just very 382 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:09,439 Speaker 5: gently rubbed some of this cheese on his mustache. And 383 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 5: so a few minutes later, his nose began to twitch 384 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 5: and he kind of tossed and turned there a little, 385 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 5: and then all of a sudden, he sat straight up 386 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 5: in that chair and he said to himself, man, something 387 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 5: really stinks. And so he left that room and went 388 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 5: into the kitchen, hoping to get some relief. 389 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 3: And he sniffed. 390 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 5: Here and sniffed there, and same thing. Man, it stinks 391 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 5: in here too. So he decided he's going to go 392 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 5: outside and get some fresh air. He thought for sure 393 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:35,440 Speaker 5: that would do it. So he went outside and took 394 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 5: a deep breath of air, and finally he said, you 395 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 5: know what, the whole world stinks. The point is, if 396 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 5: you're carrying around the stink, it's going to pollute you 397 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 5: wherever you go. You're not going to be able to 398 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:54,360 Speaker 5: get away from it. The whole key is we have 399 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 5: to change. We have to keep our own stream pure, 400 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,680 Speaker 5: and at some point we need to f the common denominator. 401 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 5: I mean, if you see everybody as being critical, that 402 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 5: means you're probably critical. And I'm asking you today to 403 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 5: not blame other people. Now put your foot down and say, 404 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,919 Speaker 5: you know what, I recognize that I may be the problem. 405 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:18,199 Speaker 5: I recognize that I have these issues. And I'm not 406 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 5: gonna bury him. I'm gonna take him to God, and 407 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 5: I'm gonna ask him to help me. 408 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 3: And again, if you get the. 409 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:27,680 Speaker 5: Inside fixed, then the outside will begin to change. And see, 410 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 5: when we have a pure heart, doesn't matter where we are, 411 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 5: it doesn't matter what's going on around us. We're gonna 412 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 5: be happy. We're gonna be positive, we're gonna be hopeful. 413 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:38,919 Speaker 5: I heard about this real wealthy family. One day, the 414 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 5: father decided he wanted to show his little seven year 415 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 5: old son how the poor people lived, and so they 416 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 5: left their big, fancy house and they drove way out 417 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,199 Speaker 5: in the country and spent the night on this little farm. 418 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 5: It was just a little frame house. These people hardly 419 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 5: had anything. And after a day and a half there, 420 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 5: they headed back home, and the father was so curious 421 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 5: to see if his son had really learned his lesson. 422 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 5: So driving back home, he asked him, son, how'd. 423 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:07,120 Speaker 3: You like our trip? He said, oh, Dad, I really 424 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 3: enjoyed it. And he said, well, did you see how 425 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 3: poor people can really be? He said, yes, Dad, I did. 426 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:14,919 Speaker 5: He said, son, will tell me what were some of 427 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,399 Speaker 5: the things that you learned. The son thought about it 428 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 5: and he said, well, Dad, I learned that we have 429 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 5: one dog at home and those people have four. 430 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 3: And Dad we've got a swimming pool that reaches. 431 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 5: Halfway out to our backyard, but they have a stream 432 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 5: with no end. And Dad, we got these fancy lanterns outside, 433 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 5: but they got the stars. Dad, we have a front 434 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:37,679 Speaker 5: porch that reaches to our front yard, but they have 435 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 5: the whole horizon. His dad was just kind of shaking 436 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 5: his head. He couldn't believe it. About that time, the 437 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:44,919 Speaker 5: little boy spoke up and said, Dad, thank you for 438 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 5: showing me how poor we really are. See, it all 439 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:53,200 Speaker 5: depends on what kind of view you're coming from. 440 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 3: It all depends on how we look at things. 441 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 5: And if you have a pure heart like that little boy, 442 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 5: you're going to see the best. When your stream hasn't 443 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 5: been contaminated, you're going to. 444 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 3: Be happy wherever you are. You're gonna bloom right where 445 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 3: you're planning. 446 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 5: And if you're not happy today, I would challenge you 447 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 5: to quit focusing on what you don't have, quit looking 448 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 5: at what's wrong in your life, and start thanking God 449 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:16,360 Speaker 5: for what's right in your life. 450 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 3: Be a grateful person. 451 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 5: I've discovered, the more I thank God for what I 452 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 5: do have, the more God gives me what I don't have. 453 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 5: If you're always complaining, always finding fault. You've got to 454 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 5: recognize your stream has become polluted. 455 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 3: You've got to get your heart pure. It's not your circumstances, 456 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 3: it's your attitude. And nobody can change this for you. 457 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 3: You've got to do it now. 458 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:43,359 Speaker 5: I know people today that are so stressed out, so 459 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:47,440 Speaker 5: run down, people that are even physically sick, and it's 460 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:50,479 Speaker 5: all because of the junk that's constantly going on on 461 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 5: the inside. You know, bitterness, resentment, playing games, manipulating people. Listen, 462 00:22:56,840 --> 00:22:58,639 Speaker 5: you know as well as I do, all that's going 463 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:01,400 Speaker 5: to do is whar you're out. It is very freeing 464 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 5: to say, God, I'm letting all that junk go. I'm 465 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,440 Speaker 5: not gonna spend my life being bitter. I'm not gonna 466 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 5: spend my life pretending playing up to people. I'm not 467 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 5: gonna ignore all these issues. God, I'm gonna start keeping 468 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:14,639 Speaker 5: my heart pure. Listen, you do that, You'll go to 469 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:17,920 Speaker 5: a whole new level. I was reading about the famous 470 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:21,439 Speaker 5: painter Leonardo da Vinci. One time, he was working on 471 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 5: this painting of Jesus, and he allowed some young school. 472 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:26,160 Speaker 3: Children to come in and watch him. 473 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 5: One of those kids accidentally bumped the canvas and knocked 474 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:33,400 Speaker 5: the painting over. He was so upset, he got so angry. 475 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 5: He had them all leave the room. And when he 476 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:39,199 Speaker 5: came back in and sat down and was ready to finish, 477 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 5: he said he tried and tried, but he could not 478 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:46,160 Speaker 5: paint the face of Jesus with that anger in his heart. 479 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 5: And that's what happens when our stream becomes polluted. No 480 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 5: matter how talented we are, no matter how many gifts 481 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 5: we have, it stifles our creativity. It keeps us from 482 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 5: rising higher and being our very best. Some of you, 483 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:02,879 Speaker 5: if you just get the junk out of the inside, 484 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 5: you'd see your productivity increase. You would see your gifts 485 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 5: and talents come to the forefront. You'd have more energy, 486 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 5: you'd get more done. 487 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 3: Friends. 488 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 5: The inner life is connected to the outer life. If 489 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 5: you can just keep the inside pure, God's blessings and 490 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 5: favor will freely flow. I think about David when he 491 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:26,199 Speaker 5: committed adultery. It took him over a year to repent. 492 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 5: He didn't deal with it, He just swept it under 493 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 5: the rug. 494 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 3: He thought it doesn't matter. 495 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 5: But the scripture says during that year he was miserable, 496 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:38,439 Speaker 5: he was weak, he was upset, he was troubled in 497 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 5: his heart. It's when he got it out in the 498 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 5: open and he made a decision to just make things 499 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,119 Speaker 5: right and ask for forgiveness. That's when his joy and 500 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 5: victory returned. I know a lot of times we kind 501 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 5: of do. 502 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 3: Like David, we just sweep it under the rug. 503 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 5: Well, Joel, I know I got these issues, but you 504 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:57,680 Speaker 5: know it's not hurting anything. I'm a little proud, I'm 505 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:00,359 Speaker 5: a little jealous, or I do manipulate people, but you 506 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 5: know I've done this all my life. 507 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,680 Speaker 3: It's no big deal now. I don't think we realize how. 508 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 5: Much it's holding us back. And I want you to 509 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 5: be all that God's created you to be. I want 510 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 5: you to come up higher today. And I know it 511 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:15,359 Speaker 5: starts with having a pure heart. I mean, it's one 512 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:17,359 Speaker 5: thing to clean up the outside and to put on 513 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:20,239 Speaker 5: a good show, but I want to honor God in 514 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 5: my inner life, in my thoughts, in my motives. 515 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:24,359 Speaker 3: In my attitude. 516 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 5: The scripture talks about in tewod Timothy, if we can 517 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 5: just keep ourselves free from these contaminating forces. In other words, 518 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 5: if we can just keep our hearts purer, then we 519 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 5: will be vessels of honor used for God's highest purposes. 520 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 5: And I'm certainly not perfect. But I can tell you 521 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:43,919 Speaker 5: one thing, and I hope you'll take this in the 522 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 5: right sense. But from the time I was a little boy, 523 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 5: I've always done my best to keep my heart purre 524 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:54,199 Speaker 5: before God. This is something that my parents instilled in me. 525 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 5: I saw it lived out in the life of my father. 526 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:00,719 Speaker 5: Daddy always believed the best in people. Didn't matter what 527 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 5: you've done, didn't matter how many mistakes you made. He 528 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:05,159 Speaker 5: would always be for you. He wouldn't judge it, he 529 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 5: wouldn't criticize you. Early on in life, my father went 530 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:10,679 Speaker 5: through some great hurts, but he didn't. 531 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 3: Let it get him better. 532 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 5: All along the way, he had opportunities to compromise, but 533 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:18,399 Speaker 5: he always took the high road. And I believe that 534 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:21,439 Speaker 5: one reason God has blessed me, one reason he's promoted me, 535 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:24,360 Speaker 5: and I say this humbly, is because I've simply done 536 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 5: my best to keep my heart pure. And I found 537 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 5: that in life it's very easy to become critical. It's 538 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:34,160 Speaker 5: easy to get a little bit sour, a little bit tainted, 539 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,880 Speaker 5: a little bit sarcastic with all life deals us, with all. 540 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 3: The negative things that are coming against us. How we've 541 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 3: got to learn to guard our hearts. 542 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:47,200 Speaker 5: I believe how high a person is going to go 543 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 5: is going to be directly related to how pure their 544 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,880 Speaker 5: heart is. How much joy, how much peace, how much 545 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,919 Speaker 5: victory you're going to have, I believe is going to 546 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 5: be in direct proportion to the purity of your heart. 547 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,600 Speaker 5: And our attitude should be God, my life is an 548 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:07,199 Speaker 5: open book. I love what David said, God, search my 549 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,720 Speaker 5: heart and point out anything in. 550 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 3: Me that makes you sad. What a great attitude he 551 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 3: was saying. God, show me where I need to change. 552 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:18,119 Speaker 3: God show me how I can come up higher. 553 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 5: Well, imagine with me today, what if our life was 554 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 5: an open book. What if our thoughts and motives were 555 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:27,159 Speaker 5: to put up on a movie screen for everybody to see. 556 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 5: What if they were made public wherever we go. A 557 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:31,120 Speaker 5: lot of times we. 558 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 3: Think, man, I wouldn't like that. 559 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:36,159 Speaker 5: We have to realize God sees it, and he's the 560 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:39,200 Speaker 5: one that brings promotion. He's the one that lifts up 561 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:42,360 Speaker 5: and brings down. And so if we're going to experience 562 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 5: his best, if we're going to really reach our full potential, 563 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 5: first and foremost, we have to make sure that our 564 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 5: hearts are pure before God. Out of our hearts, the 565 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 5: whole course of our life is being directed. And so 566 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 5: I just challenge you again, do your very best. 567 00:27:58,160 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 3: To keep your hearts pure. 568 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 5: Won't be a pretender, don't be a phony when you 569 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,760 Speaker 5: have those feelings, don't bury it, don't feel condemned. 570 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:08,879 Speaker 3: Just take it to God. God. I don't like this person. 571 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 3: I don't want to be critical. God help me to change, 572 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:14,439 Speaker 3: help me to be better than this. When you have 573 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 3: the desire, God will always help you. 574 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 5: And friends, there's no limit to what God will do 575 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 5: in your life when you have a pure heart. And 576 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,120 Speaker 5: my prayer today is that you will be more aware 577 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 5: of your inner life, make sure your motives are right, 578 00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 5: and be quick to deal with issues. 579 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:31,679 Speaker 3: If you do that, I know you'll be a vessel 580 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:32,119 Speaker 3: of honor. 581 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 5: God will use you for his high as purposes and 582 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:37,480 Speaker 5: you'll see the life of victory that He has in story. 583 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 3: Amen, do you receive it today? I know you do that? 584 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 5: Do We never like to close our broadcast without giving 585 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:48,280 Speaker 5: you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life? 586 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 5: Would you pray with me? 587 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:51,240 Speaker 3: Just say Lord. 588 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 5: Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. Come into my heart. 589 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 5: I make you my Lord and Savior. If you prayed 590 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 5: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 591 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:06,520 Speaker 5: in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 592 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 5: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 593 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 6: Thank you for listening to the joelus Deine podcast. Help 594 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 6: us continue to share the message of hope with those 595 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 6: all over the world. Visit Joelostin dot com slash give 596 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:21,959 Speaker 6: Hope to give a gift today. 597 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 598 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 5: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 599 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 5: podcast to keep you inspired all through the week. 600 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:34,719 Speaker 3: We're praying for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 601 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:36,000 Speaker 3: We'll see you next time. 602 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:45,719 Speaker 7: With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 603 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:50,080 Speaker 7: for everyone. 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