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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 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 5: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 37 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 5: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 38 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 5: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 39 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,559 Speaker 5: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 40 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 5: for God's very best in your life. 41 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 6: God bless you. 42 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 5: It is always a joy to come into your homes 43 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 5: each week, and we know that God has good things 44 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 5: in store for you. When you delight yourself from the Lord, 45 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 5: God will give you the desires of your heart. That's 46 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 5: what we're believing for each one of you. If you're 47 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 5: ever in our area, I hope you'll come out and 48 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 5: be a part of one of our services. We give 49 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 5: you a personal invitation. I promise you it will make. 50 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 6: You feel right at home. 51 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 5: But we're so glad to have you with us today. 52 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 5: I like to get started each week with something kind 53 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 5: of fun. In one day up in heaven, God told 54 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 5: the men, I want you to. 55 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 6: Form two lines. 56 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 5: One line is for all the men who were the 57 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 5: head of your house, and the other line is for 58 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 5: the men who let the woman be the head of 59 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:40,639 Speaker 5: the house. And the line where the woman ran the 60 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 5: house was one hundred miles long. The other line only 61 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 5: had one person in it, and God said, men, look 62 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 5: at you. I'm ashamed. I made you to be the head, 63 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 5: but only one man stood up. To make me proud. 64 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 5: God turned to him and said, son, tell him, how 65 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 5: did you manage to be the only one in this line. 66 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 5: The man looked confused and said, I don't know. Told 67 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 5: me to stand here. 68 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,519 Speaker 6: All right, hold up your bible. Say it like you 69 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 6: mean it. This is my Bible. 70 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 5: I am what it says, I am, I have what 71 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 5: it says I have, I can do what it says 72 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 5: I can do. Today I will be talked the word 73 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 5: of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert, my 74 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 5: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 75 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 5: God bless you. We've been talking about embracing the place 76 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,519 Speaker 5: where we are and not fighting against everything that doesn't 77 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 5: go our way. We cannot pray away every uncomfortable situation. 78 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 5: God uses the difficulties to do a work in us. 79 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 5: And some of the things that are uncomfortable in your 80 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 5: life right now, if God were to remove them, you 81 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 5: wouldn't be prepared for the promotion that he has in store. 82 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 5: God is using that to develop your character and to 83 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 5: get you prepared for greater things. Any time we're going 84 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 5: to be promoted, any time we're going to go to 85 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 5: a new level, there's. 86 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 6: Going to be a time of testing. 87 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 5: You don't get promoted without first passing the test. And 88 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 5: so if you're in a difficult situation today, things are 89 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,799 Speaker 5: not happening as fast as you would like. You're working 90 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 5: around people that get on your nerves, or you're giving 91 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 5: but not seeing any increase. You have to recognize that's 92 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 5: a test of your faith, and the way to pass 93 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 5: the test is to keep a good attitude. 94 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 3: Forgive your enemies, be kind. 95 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 5: When you feel like chewing somebody out, be patient even 96 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 5: though it's taken longer than. 97 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:39,159 Speaker 6: You would like. 98 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 5: God uses the difficulties to make us and to mold us. 99 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 5: And it always helps me to remember that God is 100 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 5: on the throne and he can remove anything anytime he 101 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 5: wants to. 102 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:55,160 Speaker 6: He's God. It's up to me to simply trust him enough. 103 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 5: To know that at the right time, when I'm ready, 104 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 5: he will change things. Bible talks about how God is 105 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 5: the potter and we are the clay, and most of 106 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 5: us we start off as an old, hard lump of clay. 107 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 5: We're impatient, selfish, self centered, we want our way all 108 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,599 Speaker 5: the time. That's just the nature that we're born with. 109 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 5: And it's up to each one of us to work 110 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 5: with God and let him refine us, let him get 111 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 5: these impurities out. We have to stay pliable and moldable. 112 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 5: And as odd as this may sound, trials are beneficial. 113 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 5: They bring delight impurities in our character. They bring delight 114 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 5: things that would normally stay hidden unless a little pressure 115 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 5: was applied. And we'll really never know what we're like 116 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,720 Speaker 5: until we go through a time of testing. You can't 117 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 5: develop patience without being in a situation where you have 118 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,359 Speaker 5: to wait. You'll never really learn to trust God without 119 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 5: being in a situation that you don't quite understand. Now, 120 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 5: I'm challenging us today to stay on the Potter's will, 121 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 5: and when things delight that you know are not right, 122 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 5: be willing to change, be willing to work with God 123 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 5: so you can come up to a higher level. I 124 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 5: think about with the Compact Center. It took us over 125 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,840 Speaker 5: three and a half years to acquire this facility. We 126 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 5: had to pray, we had to trust, We had to 127 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 5: keep a good attitude day in and day out. The 128 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 5: interesting thing is God could have given us this building 129 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 5: the first week, after all, he's God, or he could 130 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 5: have at least given. 131 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 6: It to us after a year. 132 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 5: Men. That would have been so much easier, would have 133 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,359 Speaker 5: saved me a lot of time and energy. But no, 134 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 5: God was doing a work in me. I was learning 135 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 5: to trust Him in a greater way. My character was 136 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 5: being developed. Some things you can't get overnight, Some things 137 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 5: take time. Now I was developing a trust and a 138 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 5: confidence that only comes from going through some things. We 139 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 5: can say all day long. God, I trust you, but 140 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 5: really talk is cheap. God's going to give us a 141 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 5: test to see what we're really made of. And understand, 142 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 5: God knows our future. He knows exactly what you're going 143 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:08,919 Speaker 5: to need in the days up ahead. And the scripture 144 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 5: says in Exodus thirteen that God didn't lead the children 145 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 5: of Israel the easiest way to the promised Land. He 146 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 5: took them the long way on purpose because they were 147 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 5: not prepared for war. And in the same way, sometimes 148 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 5: God's going to take us the long way on purpose 149 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 5: so he can do a work in us. That simply 150 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 5: means God's not going to answer every prayer overnight. He's 151 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 5: not going to remove every difficult person from our lives. 152 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 5: If he did, we wouldn't be prepared for what he 153 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 5: had in store. And so I'm asking you today to 154 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 5: quit complaining about how long something is taken. Quit being 155 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 5: discouraged because you're in an uncomfortable situation. Really you should 156 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 5: be encouraged, or at least you should be challenged, knowing 157 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 5: that that's a test of your faith. And when you 158 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 5: pass that test, promotion is on its way. You're going 159 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 5: to see a new level of God's blessings in favor. 160 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 6: It's kind of funny. 161 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 5: After two years, we won the final city council vote 162 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 5: that we needed and that gave us this facility for 163 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 5: the next sixty years. And I was so relieved and 164 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 5: so excited. I took a week off with my family 165 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 5: and we went away just to celebrate the victory. 166 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 6: And I'll never forget. 167 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 5: I was sitting on the beach and my brother in law, Keaven, 168 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 5: called and he said, Joel, I hate to tell you this, 169 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 5: but we just got word that a company has filed 170 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 5: a lawsuit to try to keep us from moving into 171 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 5: the Compact Center. And do you know it was another 172 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 5: year and a half before we finally settled that situation. 173 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 5: And I had to keep reminding myself even though I 174 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 5: don't like this, even though I'm uncomfortable, I know God 175 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 5: is still in control and I'm growing. 176 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 6: I'm getting stronger. God's getting me prepared for greater things. 177 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 5: And once you go through a few things like that, 178 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 5: you've got something on the inside that nobody can take away. 179 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 5: You've got a trust and a confidence that only comes 180 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 5: from experience. I don't believe that i'd be standing here 181 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 5: today if I had not allowed God to do the 182 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 5: work in me. If I'd gotten frustrated impatient God, I 183 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 5: don't understand it, then God couldn't trust me with this position. 184 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 5: He has to develop our character first. We have to 185 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 5: be willing to go through some things. Let God purify you, 186 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 5: let him refine you. When these things come to light 187 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 5: that you know are not right. Unforgiveness, bad attitudes, quick temper, self, pity, impatience, 188 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 5: just deal with it, say God, I know I'm in 189 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 5: a hurry, and I can see that you're not, so 190 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 5: I'm just gonna relax and trust you. Oh God, these 191 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 5: people didn't do me right, and I don't feel like it, 192 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 5: but I'm going to take the high road and forgive 193 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:56,199 Speaker 5: them anyway. See, quit fighting against everything in your life. 194 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 5: God is still in control, and if you allow him, 195 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 5: He'll use every single thing that comes against you to 196 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 5: do a work in you. The scripture says there in 197 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 5: one Peter four, verse twelve, don't be amazed at the 198 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 5: fiery trial that is taking place to test your quality. 199 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:20,959 Speaker 5: Notice the trial is to test your character. It's a 200 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 5: test of your quality. Nothing brings out the impurities in 201 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:29,559 Speaker 5: our character any quicker than difficulty. We can all be 202 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 5: kind to people when they're being kind to us. But 203 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 5: what about when somebody jumps down your throat for no 204 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 5: reason at all, Human nature wants to give them a 205 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 5: piece of our mind. 206 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 6: Now that's a test. 207 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 5: When you feel yourself getting angry, when you feel yourself 208 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:45,959 Speaker 5: wanting to be rude back to them, why don't you 209 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 5: dig a little deeper, stay calm, keep your cool. When 210 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,839 Speaker 5: you do that, you just pass the test in your 211 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 5: one step closer to promotion. And I found we're going 212 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 5: to be tested in the areas that we struggle with 213 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 5: the most, in the areas where we have the greatest need. 214 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 5: For instance, if you have a problem with jealousy, God's 215 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 5: going to make sure that you see everybody around you 216 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:11,559 Speaker 5: that has more than you do. He'll make sure your 217 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 5: long lost cousin calls you to tell you how they 218 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 5: just won the lottery. God will put you right there 219 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 5: in the middle of the fire to see what you're 220 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,199 Speaker 5: going to do. If you have a problem with being patient, 221 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 5: don't be surprised if you get behind every slow driver 222 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 5: in the city of Houston. You'll find every freeway that 223 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 5: has construction, every traffic light that's messed up. And understand, 224 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,680 Speaker 5: it's not a coincidence that you're ending up there. 225 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 6: That's God trying to do a work in you. 226 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 5: And if you will change, then the circumstances will change. 227 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 5: A couple of Friday nights ago, Victoria and I were 228 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 5: supposed to be somewhere at seven point thirty, and we 229 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 5: left with just enough time to make it. 230 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 6: I was in a big hurry. 231 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 5: I didn't want to be late, and I knew if 232 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 5: I could catch every light just right, we could still 233 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 5: be there on time. But wouldn't you know it, I 234 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 5: got caught by this train, and I told Victoria I 235 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 5: have never seen a train here at this time of 236 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 5: day in all of my life, and I was just 237 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,599 Speaker 5: certain that was the enemy trying to delay me. And 238 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 5: so under my breath I was praying, rebuking, resisting, binding, loosen. 239 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 5: It seemed like the more I prayed, the worse it got. 240 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 5: And we just sat there and sat there and sat there. 241 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 5: I could feel myself trying to get agitated and upset, 242 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 5: and did my best not to show it. Rolled the 243 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 5: window down, smiled, started humming, but I noticed to me 244 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 5: it looked like the train was slowing down. I said, hey, Victoria, 245 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 5: is it my imagination or is this train getting slower. 246 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 5: She said, I think you're right, it's getting slower, And 247 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 5: sure enough, it got slower and slower. Finally it came 248 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 5: to a stop. By then, it was taking everything in 249 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 5: me to not get upset, to not start complaining, And 250 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 5: just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, that 251 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 5: train started backing up. 252 00:12:56,679 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 6: I said, I rebuke you, devil Victoria. 253 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:02,559 Speaker 3: At this rate, we're not gonna be at church Sunday morning. 254 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 6: They kept backing up. 255 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 5: A few minutes later it reversed and I could finally 256 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 5: see the end of it, and I was so relieved. 257 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 5: I was so anxious to go. But about that time 258 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 5: I heard this loud horn. 259 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 3: I thought, what in the world is that? They don't 260 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:16,680 Speaker 3: usually blow the horn at the end. 261 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 5: And just as I could see the caboos, do you 262 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 5: know another train came on the other side of the track. 263 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 5: I didn't even know there were two sets the tracks there. 264 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 5: Finally I decided to just lighten up. I said, God, 265 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 5: I'm not gonna get upset. You're still in control, and 266 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:34,560 Speaker 5: I must need this or you wouldn't have me here. 267 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:36,079 Speaker 3: We have to. 268 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 5: Realize situations like that are simply tested. They bring the 269 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,439 Speaker 5: light areas that we need to work in. You can't 270 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 5: get patience by just praying for it. You get patience 271 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 5: by having to wait. 272 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 6: You laugh at me. But God's gonna tempt you and 273 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 6: test you in the same areas where you have problems. 274 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 5: If you're a touchy person, maybe you're always getting your 275 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 5: feelings hurt. Well, God's gonna put you in situations where 276 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 5: people are. 277 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 6: Gonna rub you the wrong way. 278 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:04,680 Speaker 5: He is not gonna protect you from every offense just 279 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 5: because you're touching. 280 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 6: Now I found God will do just the opposite. 281 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 5: He will keep working with you and giving you opportunities 282 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 5: to come up higher. See, God loves you too much 283 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 5: to just leave you alone. He knows your potential and 284 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 5: so he's gonna do his best to keep you. 285 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 6: On the potter's will. 286 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 5: If you have the problem with your temper, God's gonna 287 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 5: put you in situations where you're testing. The next time 288 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 5: you're tempted to get upset, you need to remind yourself, hey, 289 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 5: this is only a test. This is God giving me 290 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 5: an opportunity to come up higher. And if you'll just 291 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 5: dig your heels in and exercise a little self control, 292 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 5: that you will pass that test. And the good news 293 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 5: is the next test will be a little easier and 294 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 5: the next one a little easier. 295 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 6: What's happening. 296 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 5: God's refining you, He's making you, molding you. But some 297 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 5: of you lose your joy over the smallest things. You 298 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 5: can't find your car keys in the morning, somebody parked 299 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 5: in your ark in space, or you had to work 300 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 5: late one light. It just ruins the whole day. And 301 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 5: you're always praying that everything would go away. But if 302 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 5: you're not careful, you'll miss the very reason that God 303 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 5: allowed you to be in that situation. You need to 304 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 5: look inside, examine your heart and see if there are 305 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 5: issues that you need to deal with. And it's good 306 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 5: in situations like that to just say, God, help me 307 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 5: to learn what you want me to learn in this situation. 308 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 5: That's don't be like the children of Israel. And because 309 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 5: they wouldn't quit complaining, because they had a sour attitude, 310 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 5: they kept going around the same mountain year after year 311 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 5: after year. It took them forty years to make an 312 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 5: eleven day journey. 313 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 6: A lot of times we hear that and we think, man, 314 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 6: they were some stubborn people. 315 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 5: They were some hard headed people. But the fact is, 316 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 5: and I say it with a smile. Some of us 317 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 5: have been going around the same mountain ten years, twenty years, 318 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 5: thirty years, and by that I mean bad attitudes, negative, critical, impatient, unforgiveness. 319 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 6: No, it's time for us to go up higher. 320 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 5: Let's start passing those tests so that we can enter 321 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 5: into our promised land. And really, we should not be 322 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 5: dealing with the same issues that we dealt with five 323 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 5: years ago. We should have a better attitude than we 324 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 5: had last year. We should be more loving, more patient, 325 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 5: more kind. 326 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 6: We shouldn't get up at set as easily. 327 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 5: And if you're still getting upset every time things don't 328 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 5: go your way, it's time to grow up. If you're 329 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 5: still dealing with things that you dealt with five and 330 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 5: ten years ago, please make a decision that's starting today. 331 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 5: You're going to make some changes. Recognize what's happening. That's 332 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 5: God trying to promote you. And I believe that every 333 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 5: one of us can come up higher in some area. 334 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 5: And I'm asking us to stay on the Potter's wheel 335 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 5: so that we can become all that God has created 336 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 5: us to be. I see too many people that get stuck. Well, Joel, 337 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 5: I'm just a negative person. I can't help it. I'm 338 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 5: just critical, I'm just impatient, got these addictions. 339 00:16:57,960 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 6: I can't help it. 340 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 5: No, really, you can help it because God has promised 341 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 5: he will not allow more to come on you than 342 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:09,359 Speaker 5: you can handle. He knows just how much pressure to apply, 343 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 5: He knows just how much you can take. The scripture 344 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 5: goes on to say with every test, with every temptation, 345 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,679 Speaker 5: God will always make a way of escape. That simply 346 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 5: means God will always give you the strength to overcome. 347 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 5: So the next time you're tempted to get upset, you've 348 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 5: got to just remind yourself. 349 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:30,919 Speaker 3: No, I've got the power to keep my cool. 350 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:34,119 Speaker 5: Next time you're tempted to complain, Nope, I've got the 351 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 5: power to keep my mouth shut. 352 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 6: Next time you're. 353 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 5: Tempted to be impatient, Nope, I've got the power to 354 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 5: wait here with a good attitude. See, you got to 355 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 5: quit telling yourself you can't do it. You can do 356 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 5: all things through Christ. You have the power of the 357 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 5: most tie God on the inside of you. Why don't 358 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 5: you dig your heels in and start passing those tests. 359 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:55,199 Speaker 6: I think about David. 360 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 5: Samuel anointed him to be the next king of Israel, 361 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,160 Speaker 5: but he has to go through a time of testing 362 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 5: before any of that came to pass. King Saul was 363 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 5: so jealous of him he tried to kill him. Saul 364 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 5: chased him month after month after month, through the wilderness, 365 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:16,399 Speaker 5: through the caves, through the mountains, and one time David 366 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:18,399 Speaker 5: had a chance to put an end to it all. 367 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:20,120 Speaker 6: He saw Saul and all of his. 368 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:23,440 Speaker 5: Men over there sleeping, and he could have easily killed them. 369 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 6: But David wouldn't do it. 370 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 5: He knew he had to stay under that authority with 371 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 5: a good attitude and let God deliver him in his timetable, 372 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,160 Speaker 5: in his own way. Why did it take so long? 373 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:39,480 Speaker 5: God was doing a work in David. God was getting 374 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 5: him prepared, and David could have easily failed the test. 375 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:44,920 Speaker 5: He could have said, God just said, I was gonna 376 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 5: be king. Why is this guy giving me a hard time? No, 377 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,199 Speaker 5: he just kept doing the right thing, even though the 378 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 5: wrong thing happened to him. And sure enough, after he 379 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 5: passed the test, God promoted him and he became, of course, 380 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 5: one of the great kings in all of Israel. And 381 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 5: you may have somebody in your life right now that's 382 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 5: not treating you right, somebody that gets on your nerves, 383 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 5: somebody that's doing unfair things. You're bound and determined to 384 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:11,200 Speaker 5: get rid of them. Man, I don't have to put 385 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 5: up with this. But no, you can't just necessarily pray 386 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 5: that away. Understand that is a test of your faith. 387 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:23,919 Speaker 5: And God uses people like that as send paper to 388 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 5: rub the rough edges off of you. Sometimes we have 389 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 5: to have a saw in our life to get the 390 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 5: saw out of us. We'll never learn to love our 391 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 5: enemies without having somebody in our life that's hard to 392 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,479 Speaker 5: get along with. It may be a boss that's not 393 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 5: treating you right, he's condescending. He asks you to do 394 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 5: things that you shouldn't have to do. Well, you need 395 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 5: to view that as a test, and really you should 396 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 5: do it with a good attitude. Not necessarily for him, 397 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 5: but do it under God. Do it so you can 398 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 5: rise up higher. And instead of getting mad at him 399 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 5: and living all upset, you need to just look at 400 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 5: him and smile and say, you know what God's really 401 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 5: using you in my life. 402 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 6: You don't have to tell him. 403 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 3: What for, but you know it's probably not a good 404 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 3: idea to say you. 405 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:10,719 Speaker 6: Know what God's using you? 406 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 5: You old grouse you thing, But God will deliberately put 407 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 5: us in situations that we don't like, so that these 408 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 5: impurities can come out and hopefully we will deal with them. 409 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 5: I told you the biggest thing I struggle with is 410 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:27,880 Speaker 5: being in a hurry, not being patient enough, not wanting 411 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:32,439 Speaker 5: to wait. It's interesting, the more impatient I am, the 412 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:35,440 Speaker 5: more situations I find myself where I have to wait around. 413 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 5: If I'm in a hurry to get out of the 414 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 5: grocery store, inevitably I'm going to get in the line 415 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 5: with the slowest clerk. First day on the job, person 416 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 5: in front of me has twenty three items that don't 417 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 5: have a price tag on. It seems like the more 418 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,360 Speaker 5: in a hurry I get, the more impatient I am, 419 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,119 Speaker 5: the longer it takes Victoria to get dressed in the morning. 420 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 5: She doesn't even know it, but God's using her. And 421 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 5: now that you know it, don't do it on purpose. 422 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 6: But a lot of. 423 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 5: Times we think, man, that's just an attack of the enemy. 424 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 6: I don't have to put up with that. No, that's 425 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:09,119 Speaker 6: not an attack of the enemy. 426 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 5: That's God attacking my problem of impatience. That's God trying 427 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 5: to do a work in me so that. 428 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 6: I can come up higher. 429 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:20,879 Speaker 5: And I found that if I will change. Then my 430 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:24,880 Speaker 5: circumstances will change. But we have to recognize what's happening. 431 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,679 Speaker 5: We're on the potter's wheel. God is making us and 432 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 5: molding us. He'll spin us around and around, and maybe 433 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:34,880 Speaker 5: he comes across a lump of unforgiveness. 434 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 6: He'll stop and work with it and try to get 435 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 6: that out. 436 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 5: The way he does it is he'll put us in 437 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 5: a situation where somebody offends us. 438 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 6: Then God will step back to see what we're going 439 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 6: to do. 440 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 5: If we forgive and just let it go and keep 441 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 5: a good attitude, then we pass the test and we're 442 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,640 Speaker 5: one step closer to promotion. God will put us back 443 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 5: on the wheel and spin us around a little more, 444 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 5: and maybe he comes across a lump of anger, and 445 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,639 Speaker 5: so he'll put us in a situation to test our temper. 446 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 5: Maybe you find yourself in a crowded parking lot. You're 447 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 5: patiently waiting for this car to back out so you can. 448 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 6: Get the space. 449 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 5: You've clearly got your blinker on. You're doing your best 450 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:16,680 Speaker 5: to keep a good attitude. But the lady is taken forever. 451 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:19,560 Speaker 5: She can't find her car keys. She's got to buckle 452 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 5: in three children, put her groceries in the trunk, check 453 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 5: her tire pressure, change her own, pressing up her makeup. 454 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:28,160 Speaker 6: Five minutes later, she. 455 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 5: Decides to back out, But just as she does, somebody 456 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 5: beats you to that parking space. You're so aggravated you 457 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:35,919 Speaker 5: want to give them a piece of your mind. 458 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 6: Well that's a test. 459 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 5: Are you going to pass it and do what the 460 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:43,439 Speaker 5: Bible says, be angry and sin not? Or you're just 461 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 5: gonna do what you feel like doing and go over 462 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 5: there and let the air out of their tires. 463 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:51,919 Speaker 6: Well, you say, Joel, that's hard. Yeah. God's leading you 464 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 6: the hard way on purpose so he can get you prepared. 465 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 5: He's got great things in store for your life, but 466 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 5: he first has to get these impurities out. And the 467 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 5: way he does this is by putting us through these tests. 468 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 5: The scripture says, our faith is being tried in the 469 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 5: fire of affliction, just as fire tests and refines gold. 470 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 6: Some of you right. 471 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 3: Now you're in that refiner's fire. 472 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:21,679 Speaker 5: You're in a difficult situation. You don't like it, you 473 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 5: don't think it's fair. 474 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 6: But let me just encourage you. 475 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:27,919 Speaker 5: If you will keep the right attitude and keep pressing forward, 476 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 5: you're going to come out of that, refined, purified, stronger, 477 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 5: better off than you were before. I heard about this 478 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:39,439 Speaker 5: couple that loved to go shopping for antiques. One day, 479 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:41,880 Speaker 5: they were in this small country store and they looked 480 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,359 Speaker 5: up on the shelf and they saw the most beautiful 481 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 5: teacup that they had ever seen. They just fell in 482 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:49,199 Speaker 5: love with it. They knew they had to buy it. 483 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 5: And as they stood there admiring that beautiful piece of work, 484 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 5: the teacup began to talk. He said, you know what, 485 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 5: I didn't always look like this. There was a time 486 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 5: when nobody wanted me. There was a time when I 487 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,640 Speaker 5: wasn't attractive at all. You see, I was just an 488 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 5: old lump of clay. But one day this potter came 489 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 5: along and he began to pat me and formed me 490 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:17,920 Speaker 5: and mold me. And I said, hey, what are you doing. 491 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 5: That hurts I'm uncomfortable. Leave me alone, And the potter 492 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 5: simply smiled and said, not yet. Then he put me 493 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:30,400 Speaker 5: on this wheel and he began to spin me around 494 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 5: and around, and I'm telling. 495 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:33,160 Speaker 6: You, I didn't like it. 496 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 5: I got all dizzy, But eventually I took on a 497 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:40,919 Speaker 5: different shape. He formed me into this teacup, and I 498 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 5: thought that he was through with me, but all of 499 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:46,919 Speaker 5: a sudden he put me into a furnace and it 500 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:49,439 Speaker 5: was so hot in there I couldn't stand it. 501 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 3: I thought I was going to die. 502 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 5: And when he came to check on me, he looked 503 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 5: through the glass window of the furnace and he had 504 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 5: a certain sparkle in his eyes, and I screamed out, hey, 505 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:01,359 Speaker 5: let me out of here, and he just smiled and 506 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 5: said not yet. Finally, after a long time, he took 507 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 5: me out and put me on the shelf. I thought, 508 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 5: thank god, it's finally over. Now I can get back 509 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 5: to being my normal self. 510 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 3: But then the potter. 511 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 5: Came back over and he began to paint me with 512 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 5: this sticky paint. 513 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 3: I didn't like it. 514 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 6: It smelled terrible. 515 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 5: I thought it was gonna choke and I told him 516 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 5: to leave me alone, but again he said not yet. 517 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 5: Then he put me into a second oven that was 518 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 5: twice as hot. 519 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 6: As the first one. 520 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 5: This time I thought for sure it was all over. 521 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 5: This time, I thought it was the end of me. 522 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 5: When he came to check on me, I said, listen, 523 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 5: I'm serious, I can't take this anymore. But once again 524 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:43,160 Speaker 5: he just smiled and said not yet. 525 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 6: Finally he took me out. 526 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 5: A couple of days later, after I'd cooled off, he 527 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 5: came by and. 528 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 6: Handed me a mirror. 529 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 5: And when I looked in that mirror, I couldn't believe 530 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 5: how beautiful I was. I couldn't believe how much I 531 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:02,920 Speaker 5: had changed. I didn't look anything like that old, hard 532 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:06,119 Speaker 5: lump of clay that I started out to be. Now 533 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:10,360 Speaker 5: I'm this beautiful teacup, and everybody wants me. But always 534 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:14,199 Speaker 5: remember there was a time when nobody wanted me, but 535 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 5: now all because of the Potter, I'm valuable. He made 536 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 5: something special out of my life. And really that's the 537 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 5: way God works in every one of our lives. 538 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:33,119 Speaker 6: He is changing us little by little from glory to glory. 539 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 5: But on the way to some of these glories, there's 540 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 5: going to be some suffering that we. 541 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:38,159 Speaker 6: Have to endure. 542 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:42,239 Speaker 5: We may not like it, we may be uncomfortable. There 543 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:44,960 Speaker 5: are gonna be times we say, with that teacup, get 544 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:47,080 Speaker 5: me off of this Potters will God, I can't take 545 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 5: it anymore. But you know what God's gonna do. He's 546 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:54,639 Speaker 5: gonna smile and say not yet. See, God knows your value, 547 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:58,119 Speaker 5: he knows what he's forming you into You may not 548 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,239 Speaker 5: be able to see it right now, but God can 549 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:03,160 Speaker 5: see it. You may look at your life and think, man, Joey, 550 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 5: I've made so many mistakes. I'm so undisciplined, I'm impatient, 551 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 5: I've got bad habits. 552 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 6: But listen, God is never going to give up on you. 553 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 6: He is a god of second chances. And if you 554 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 6: will simply work. 555 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 5: With God and allow him to get some of these 556 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 5: impurities out, then he'll make more out of your life 557 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:24,960 Speaker 5: than you've ever even dreamed of. And so my challenge 558 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 5: to you today is to stay on the Potter's will 559 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:32,879 Speaker 5: with a good attitude. Recognize the test is an opportunity 560 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 5: to come up higher. God will use everything that comes 561 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 5: into your life, every person that's hard to deal with, 562 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:42,200 Speaker 5: every traffic jam, every time you don't get your way, 563 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 5: those are opportunities to be refined. Quit fighting everything, Quit 564 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 5: losing your joy, quit losing your peace. God is purifying you. 565 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:55,240 Speaker 5: He's molding you into the image of Christ. And if 566 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:58,280 Speaker 5: you will just do your part and stay pliable, and 567 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 5: when things come up, don't ignore it, be willing to change. 568 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:04,120 Speaker 5: If you do that, you won't be at the same 569 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:06,199 Speaker 5: place next year as you are right now. You'll have 570 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:09,639 Speaker 5: a better attitude, You'll be more patient, you'll be more loving, 571 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:12,639 Speaker 5: you'll be more kind. And as you continue to pass 572 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 5: these tests, God promises that he will mold you into 573 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:19,480 Speaker 5: a vessel of honor and he'll use you for his 574 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:21,040 Speaker 5: very highest purposes. 575 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:24,120 Speaker 6: Amen. Do you receive it today? And I know you do. 576 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 5: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 577 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:31,440 Speaker 5: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 578 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 5: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 579 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 5: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 580 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 5: you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you've prayed that 581 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 5: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 582 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 5: a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's 583 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 5: going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 584 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 7: Thank you for listening to the Jolus Dean podcast. Help 585 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 7: us continue to share the message of hope with those 586 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 7: all over the world. Visit Joeloustein dot com slash give 587 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 7: Hope to give a gift today. 588 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 589 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 5: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast. 590 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 3: To keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying 591 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:18,360 Speaker 3: for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 592 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 3: see you next time. 593 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:28,880 Speaker 8: With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 594 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 8: for everyone. 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