1 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 3 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:11,799 Speaker 2: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 4 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 2: blessing and share it with a friend. 5 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 6 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: your life. God bless you. It is always our joy 7 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: to come into your homes each week, and we come 8 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: with good news. We know God rewards people that seek 9 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: after Him and I believe that's you today, or you 10 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: wouldn't be tuned in. But thank you. And if you're 11 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: ever in our area, I hope that you'll stop buy 12 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: and see us. I promise you we'll make you feel 13 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: right at home. But thanks again for watching today. Now. 14 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:39,959 Speaker 1: I like to get started each week with something kind 15 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 1: of funny, so listen to this one. A man was 16 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: out walking through the woods with his friend when suddenly 17 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: they came upon a huge grizzly bear. They both frozen 18 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: their tracks as the bear stared intently at them. They 19 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: contemplated what they should do. Finally, the men said, I 20 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: think we should run. The friend replied, are you crazy? 21 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: We could never outrun a bear. The man answered back, 22 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: I know that I don't have to outrun the bear. 23 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: I just have to outrun you. All right, hold up 24 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: your bibles. Let's say it like you any ready. This 25 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 26 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 1: I have what it says I have. I can do 27 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 1: what it says I can do. Today I will be 28 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,559 Speaker 1: talked the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 29 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 30 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: the same. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, 31 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: ever living seed of the Word of God. I'll never 32 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: be the same, never, never, never, I'll never be the same. 33 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to talk 34 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: to you today about the importance of being fruitful and 35 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: productive right where you are. A lot of times we think, 36 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: as soon as I get out of this situation, then 37 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be happy. As soon as I get a 38 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: better job, then I'll start working hard. As soon as 39 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: I get over this sickness, then I'll cheer up. Then 40 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: I have a good attitude. But really, God wants us 41 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: to learn to become fruitful and productive, not when we 42 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 1: get out of all of our afflictions. He wants us 43 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: to be fruitful in the midst of our afflictions. He 44 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 1: wants us to have a good attitude and do the 45 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,679 Speaker 1: right thing even when the wrong things happening to us. 46 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 1: He wants us to keep coming to church even though 47 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: our other family members won't come. He wants us to 48 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: be a blessing to others even when no one is 49 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: being a blessing to us. See, we have to be 50 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 1: faithful in the wilderness if we're ever gonna make it 51 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: into our promised land. And human nature likes to make excuses. Well, Joel, 52 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 1: I'll do it as soon as I get out of 53 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: these problems, or as soon as my back quits hurting, 54 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: as soon as my child straightens up. Now you've got 55 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,639 Speaker 1: it backwards. If you want things to change, you've got 56 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: to sow a seed by doing the right thing. First, 57 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: you've got to pass that test. Well, this company doesn't 58 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: pay me enough. I'm not gonna work hard around here. No, 59 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: you're not working under man, You're working under God. He's 60 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: keeping the wreckers. If you'll do the right thing, even 61 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: though the wrong thing may be happening to you, then 62 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: you are sowing a seed for God to bring you 63 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: up higher. I read about this young man in his 64 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 1: mid twenties. He was born with a terminal lung disorder. 65 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: He couldn't breathe fully on his own, and so he 66 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: had to carry around this oxygen tank wherever he went. 67 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 1: He was constantly in and out of the hospitals, very 68 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: successible to any kind of germs, and so he's always 69 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:30,960 Speaker 1: developing these respiratory infections. And in the natural it seemed 70 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: like he had a good reason to live life with 71 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: a chip on his shoulder, seemed like he had a 72 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 1: good reason to be sour. But no, this young man 73 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: was different. In spite of his affliction, he was productive. 74 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 1: He never went down and got a handicapped sticker for 75 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: his car. He didn't want that kind of image in 76 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 1: front of him. He never sat around feeling sorry for himself, 77 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: saying why God me. No, he went out and got 78 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: a good job. He excelled at that position, got promotion 79 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: after promotion, would very involved in his church, active in 80 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: the youth ministry. He was a giver, a worker, and 81 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: everywhere he went he left that place better off than 82 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: they were before. See, in the middle of his affliction, 83 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: he was fruitful. In spite of that adversity, he just 84 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: kept on being productive. And do you know one day 85 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: he got a call from the hospital and they said, 86 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,239 Speaker 1: we've got good news. We've got some new lungs waiting 87 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: for you. He had that transplant, it was successful, and 88 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: today he doesn't need that oxygen tank anymore. He can 89 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 1: breathe a deep breath of air, just like you and 90 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: I can. He's living a normal, healthy life, But he 91 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: could have so easily had the attitude. As soon as 92 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 1: I get free from this disease, then I'm gonna start 93 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 1: being good to people. As soon as I get my transplant, 94 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: as soon as God heals me, then I'll get to work. 95 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 1: Then I'll start using my gifts and talents. But right 96 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: now it's just too difficult. I've just got too many obstacles. No, 97 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: he had that victor mentality and not that vic tumman, 98 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,359 Speaker 1: And no matter what comes against you, you need to 99 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: make up your mind that it's not gonna stop you 100 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: from being your very best. It's not gonna stop you 101 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: from coming to church, it's not gonna stop you from 102 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: working hard, it's not gonna stop you from enjoying your life. Friends, 103 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: we have to be determined. We need to dig our 104 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: heels in and say it doesn't matter what it looks 105 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: like I'm gonna have a good attitude. I'm gonna be fruitful. 106 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be productive right here in the middle of 107 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 1: my adversity. That's the seed we're sowing for God to 108 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: change things. See, don't fall into that trap of thinking, well, 109 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna work hard at my office because nobody 110 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: appreciates me. I don't ever get any of the credit. 111 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: But when I get that new job I'm really praying about, 112 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: then I'm gonna give it my best. Then I'm gonna 113 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: get to work on time. Then I'm gonna start developing 114 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: my skills. Now take this in the right sense, but 115 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: there's a good chance you'll never get that new position. 116 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: You have to pass the test right where you are. 117 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: If we're not faithful in the little things, how can 118 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 1: God trust us in the bigger things. If it's your 119 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 1: job to sweep the floors every day, you need to 120 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: sweep those floors with all of your might. Young people, 121 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 1: if you're making minimum wage flipping hamburgers, don't be sloppy, 122 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: don't be lazy, don't do it half hearted, do it 123 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: with excellence. If we're not faithful in what seems to 124 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: be the insignificant areas then will never rise much higher. 125 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:26,279 Speaker 1: Now I've discovered if you don't have a good attitude 126 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: making minimum wage, most likely you're not gonna have a 127 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: good attitude as the CEO of that company. You've got 128 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: to be faithful right where you are in your marriage. 129 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 1: Maybe your spouse is not everything you would want them 130 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,359 Speaker 1: to be. Maybe there's some things that are not fair. 131 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: He doesn't spend much time with you, or he doesn't 132 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: communicate very well, and you're tempted to think, well, I'm 133 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,280 Speaker 1: just gonna go do my own thing. I'm gonna give 134 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 1: him a taste of his own medicine. When he changes, 135 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 1: then I'll start treating him better. Now, why don't you 136 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: be the bigger person. Why don't you sow a seed 137 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: by being kind to him even though he doesn't deserve it. 138 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: Why don't you sow a seed by doing your best 139 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: to keep the peace in your marriage. If you'll just 140 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: keep being fruitful and productive in spite of that affliction, 141 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:16,239 Speaker 1: then God will begin to turn things around. Well, you say, Joel, 142 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: it's just not fair. You don't know what I've been through. 143 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: I've got this sickness or at work, they're just not 144 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,559 Speaker 1: treating me right now. I realize it may not be fair, 145 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: but all I'm saying is living life negative and bitter, 146 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: going around with the chip on your shoulder, always trying 147 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: to pay somebody back. All that's gonna do is poison 148 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: your own life. You may have been dealt a tough 149 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: hand to deal with, maybe you've been through some big disappointments, 150 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: or even right now, there's things in your life that 151 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: you know are just not right, and it's very tempting 152 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: to get discouraged. It's very easy to get complacent and 153 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: kind of just sit back and say, you know, what's 154 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: the use. This is never gonna change. No, my message 155 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: to you today is you have got to keep being 156 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: your very best right where you are. You have to 157 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: keep being faithful even if nobody else sees it. You 158 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: need to know God sees it. He's the one that's 159 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: in control. He's the one that brings promotion. The scripture 160 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: says God lifts up one and he brings down another. 161 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: If you can just keep a good attitude in the 162 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: middle of that adversity, if you can keep a smile 163 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: on your face and keep being good to people even 164 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: though they're not being good to you, let me tell you, 165 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: in the long run, you will always come out ahead, 166 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: no ifs ends or butts. In the long run, you're 167 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 1: gonna prosper, You're gonna be happy, You're gonna see your 168 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: dreams begin to come to pass. I think about Joseph. 169 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 1: Nobody had more unfair things happened than he did. His 170 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: brothers were so jealous of him they threw him into 171 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: that pit, and eventually they ended up selling him as 172 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: a slave in Egypt, and Joseph spent thirteen years in 173 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: prison for something that he didn't do. But really, the 174 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: lesson we can learn from Joseph's life is that he 175 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: didn't get better. He didn't get angry, and he didn't 176 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: just sit back and say, Okay, God, when you get 177 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: me out of all of this, then I'll start using 178 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: my gifts and talents. God. When I feel a little better, 179 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: then I'll show these people what I've really got. No, 180 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: right there, in the middle of his affliction, he was 181 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: productive and fruitful. He wasn't lazy. He didn't show up late, 182 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: He didn't have a what can I get by with attitude? 183 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 1: He gave it his very best, and every place they 184 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: put him he got promoted, even when he was in prison. 185 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:38,680 Speaker 1: He was so sharp, so organized, so skilled. They put 186 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 1: him in charge of that whole prison. One day he 187 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: had some interaction with Pharah. He interpreted a dream for him, 188 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 1: and finally Pharaoh said, what's this guy doing in prison. 189 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: He's smarter than anybody I've got. Bring him out here 190 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: to me. I'm gonna use him as my right hand man. 191 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 1: That's what happens when you stay fruitful and productive in 192 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: the midst of your adversity, God will promote you. You 193 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: He'll take what the enemy means for evil, and he'll 194 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: turn it around and use it to your advantage. Now, 195 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: after all this was over, Joseph had two sons. I 196 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:14,559 Speaker 1: think it's significant. He named one son Ephraim, which means 197 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,680 Speaker 1: to prosper, to be fruitful, to be productive. He gave 198 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 1: him this name because God helped him to be prosperous 199 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 1: in the middle of his affliction. He named the other 200 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: son Manassa, which means to cause, to forget, And he 201 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,680 Speaker 1: gave him this name because God helped him to forget 202 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: the painful memories of his past. And if you're ever 203 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: going to have a Manassa in your life, you have 204 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: to have an Ephraim. In other words, if you want 205 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: God to remove the pains of the past, you've got 206 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: to be fruitful and productive right where you are. You've 207 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: got to just keep passing that test. Just be faithful 208 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: day in and day out. Then God will remove those 209 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: painful memories. You may be here today, upset over a 210 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 1: relationship that didn't work out, and you're thinking, man, Joel, 211 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: I could never really be happy again. But no, listen. 212 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: God can bless you in such a way that you 213 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: don't even think about all you've been through. He can 214 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 1: bring somebody new into your life, so great, so good looking, 215 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: so godly, so fun to be around, and so rich 216 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: that you don't even think about that old goat that 217 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: walked out on you. I'm sure Joseph, after he was 218 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: put in charge of all the affairs of Egypt, he 219 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,680 Speaker 1: didn't dwell on all that he had been through. God 220 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 1: erased those painful memories. In fact, when his brothers came 221 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: back many years later, the same ones that threw him 222 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: into that pit, he wasn't mad at them. He didn't 223 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: try to get even. He said, no, I'm not worried 224 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 1: about this in the least bit. That's all over and 225 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: done I'm moving on with my life. That's what God 226 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: wants to do for each one of us. And things 227 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 1: may not be perfect in your life, but really my 228 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: message is you've got to start be in your very 229 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: best right where you are. Quit waiting for God to 230 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: change things. You've got to sow that seed. Why don't 231 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 1: you be good to the people in your life today, 232 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 1: your family, your friends, your coworkers, your neighbors. Don't wait 233 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 1: for some big break. Don't wait till you win the lottery. 234 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: Then you'll go be good to somebody. No, be good 235 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: to somebody right now now. You say, Joel, I need 236 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: the money more than they do. No, you need to 237 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 1: get some seed in the ground. Even if you don't 238 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 1: have money, you can find something else to give. Give 239 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: a smile, give an encouraging word, Give somebody a ride, 240 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: go visit somebody in the hospital, Go mow somebody's lawn. 241 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 1: Do something to be fruitful right where you are. See, 242 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: in your time of need, you've got to learn to 243 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 1: sew a seed. You got to get your mind off 244 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: of yourself. Quit thinking about your problems and how unfair 245 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 1: it was and what's wrong in your life, and instead 246 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 1: start thinking about how you can be a blessing to somebody. 247 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: There's nothing any worse than living a self sen life. 248 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: Nothing will steal our joy anymore than getting up every 249 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:08,319 Speaker 1: morning and only having ourselves on our mind, my problems, 250 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 1: my heart ache, my pain. God, when are you gonna 251 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: turn this around? God? What are you gonna start blessing me? Now? 252 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,439 Speaker 1: Quit thinking about how you can be blessed and start 253 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: thinking about how you can be a blessing. If you 254 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:23,680 Speaker 1: will make it your business to make somebody else's day, 255 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: God will always make your own. Nay, I've learned that 256 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 1: if I can just focus on meeting other people's needs, 257 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: God will always meet my own needs. And some of 258 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: you are waiting for your ship to come in, but 259 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: the problem is you haven't sent one out. You've got 260 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: to go out and start being a blessing. Start being productive, 261 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 1: start being fruitful right where you are, and don't complain 262 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: about what you don't have. Learn to thank God for 263 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: what you do have. You may have all kinds of 264 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: odds against you today. You may have been dealt one 265 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: of those unfair hands, but you've got to take what 266 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:00,439 Speaker 1: God has given you and make the very man out 267 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 1: of it. Life has dealt you a lemon. You gotta 268 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:05,439 Speaker 1: make lemonade. You may be like that young man, you 269 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: got a serious problem, But even then, don't allow that 270 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: to cause you to sit back in self pity. Do 271 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 1: what you can if you can't get out of bed, 272 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: Encourage the nurse when she comes in, pick up the phone, 273 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: and be a blessing to somebody. Sow that seed. Always 274 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 1: remember you are not a victim. You are a victor. 275 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 1: God always causes you to tryumph in your times of adversity. 276 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 1: Don't you dare sit around thinking about your problems. Get 277 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 1: your mind off of yourself. The more you think about 278 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 1: your problems, the bigger they become. I heard somebody say, 279 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: if you owned an apartment complex and you rented out 280 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: eighty percent of those apartments to drug dealers and thieves 281 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 1: and cheaters, and then you rented the other twenty percent 282 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 1: to normal law abiding citizens, well after a few months, 283 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: the drug dealers and cheaters are gonna run off all 284 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 1: the normal good people. And it's the same way in 285 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: our minds. If you spend all your time thinking about 286 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: your problems and all the disappointment you've been through and 287 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 1: how unfair your life is, well after a while, all 288 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: those negative thoughts are gonna run off any positive thoughts, 289 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: you'll go through life to feed it into pressed thinking. Man, 290 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: life's a bummer for me, nothing good ever happens. No 291 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: quit renting out space in your mind to your problems. 292 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: Quit dwelling on the negative. Only rent space to thoughts 293 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: of hope, thoughts of faith, thoughts of victory. When you're 294 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: in those tough times and you're tempted to get discouraged, 295 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: you've just got to dwell on the fact. Now all 296 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: things work together for my good because I love the 297 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: Lord God is taking this adversity, and like Joseph, he's 298 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: gonna use it to my advantage. He's gonna take this 299 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 1: stumbling block and use it as a stepping stone for 300 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: greater things. Our attitude should be, I'm excited about my future. 301 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: I know good things are in store. I know no 302 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 1: weapon formed against me. As ever, gonna prosper and then 303 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 1: go out each day and in spite of your obstacles, 304 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: be good to somebody. Be productive anyway, you say, Joel, 305 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 1: I just work in a real negative environment. These people 306 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: just don't treat me right. Will sow accede anyway, Get 307 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: there early, work hard, have a smile, on your face. 308 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: Be an encouragement to others. Well, Joel, everybody at my 309 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 1: office is always late. Everybody goofs off when the boss 310 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: is gone. Everybody's kind of lazy. No, listen, you're not everybody. 311 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: You're a cut above. Be the person of excellence. God's 312 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 1: made you to be. Learn to do what's right, whether 313 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: anybody's watching you or not. Take that high road. Treat 314 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: people with respect even though they really don't deserve it. 315 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: Be kind even though they're talking about you. If you 316 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: will stay on the high road and just be fruitful 317 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 1: even in the midst of that affliction, then God can 318 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 1: bring you out of that affliction. We have to pass 319 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 1: the test. I think it about my sister Lisa. One time. 320 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: She went through a great disappointment in her life when 321 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: she was in her early twenties. Her marriage didn't work out, 322 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: and it was a very unfair situation, very hurtful, and 323 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:05,120 Speaker 1: she was devastated. She never dreamed she'd be facing that 324 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 1: kind of challenge, and for several months, Lisa would hardly 325 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: even eat, she'd barely sleep at night. She thought she 326 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 1: is having a nervous breakdown. And of course, as our family, 327 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: we did our best to encourage her, but it seemed 328 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: like she was in this dark hole that we just 329 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:22,800 Speaker 1: couldn't get her out of it. And she told how 330 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: one day God spoke to her, not out loud, but 331 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,479 Speaker 1: rite down in here, and he said, Lisa, you can 332 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:30,919 Speaker 1: either sit around in self pity for the rest of 333 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: your life and sink deeper and deeper into this pit, 334 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,160 Speaker 1: or you can rise up and do something about it. 335 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: And she made a decision that very day that she 336 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:42,880 Speaker 1: wasn't going to waste another minute being depressed and defeated 337 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: in her time of affliction, in her time of need. 338 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: You know what she did, she's so deceed. She started 339 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: a class here every Tuesday night called the Healing Center 340 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: for Marriages. She began to encourage other people that were 341 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: struggling in their marriages, other people that were believe even 342 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,440 Speaker 1: for their mates to return. And every week she gave 343 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: it her very best. She encouraged them, she shared the scriptures, 344 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 1: and over the years they saw so many marriages restored. 345 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 1: But see, Lisa didn't sit around waiting for God to 346 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: change things in her affliction. She got productive, She got fruitful, 347 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:22,719 Speaker 1: and she used the very thing the enemy came against 348 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:25,879 Speaker 1: her with to help others. She's so deced in that 349 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: same area. And I mean she was faithful. There were 350 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: times where she would not go on vacation with us 351 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 1: as a family because she did not want to miss 352 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 1: teaching that class. See, she had her ephriom. She was 353 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: productive in spite of the affliction, and sure enough, God 354 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 1: removed the pains of her past. One day she met 355 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: a young man many years later named Kevin, and they 356 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: fell in love and got married and today they have 357 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 1: three beautiful children. They're as happy as they could possibly be. 358 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 1: But I believe a real key in Lisa's victory was 359 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 1: the fact that she got productive and fruitful in spite 360 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: of that adversity. She could still be sitting here today, negative, bitter, 361 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 1: blaming God. But no, she's sowed a seed. She did 362 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 1: the right thing even though the wrong thing happened to her. 363 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 1: She didn't rent out a bunch of space in her 364 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 1: mind to her problems. She didn't stay focused on the negative. 365 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:22,920 Speaker 1: She knew as she helped other people in need, God 366 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 1: would meet her own needs. You may be here today 367 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: and you too have been through a big disappointment, or 368 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 1: maybe you're in a situation right now that's She's not 369 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: really fair. But I challenge you to don't sit around 370 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,159 Speaker 1: feeling sorry for yourself. You've got to do like Lisa 371 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 1: and rise up out of that. And one of the 372 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: best things you can do is go help somebody else 373 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:45,239 Speaker 1: in need. The Bible says God turned the captivity of 374 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: job when he prayed for his friends. Isn't it interesting 375 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 1: Job didn't get healed when he prayed for himself. Nothing 376 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:56,120 Speaker 1: wrong with that, that's great. But if you really want 377 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: to get God's attention in your time of need, go 378 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: be a blessing to somebody else. I remember my mother 379 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 1: when she was fighting that cancer in nineteen eighty one. 380 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 1: Instead of coming home and just going to bed, depressed 381 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 1: and defeated, you know what she did. She went down 382 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 1: to the church and prayed for other people that were sick. 383 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: The truth is, my mother needed prayer more than any 384 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 1: of them, but she was sowing a seed. And so 385 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 1: often we get it backwards. We say, God, as soon 386 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: as you turn this around, then I'll start being good 387 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: to people. Then I'll get my family back in church, 388 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 1: then I'll have a good attitude. But no, if you 389 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 1: want God to intervene in your life, if you want 390 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: him to remove the pains of the past. You've got 391 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 1: to first be fruitful right where you are. I know 392 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: some of you today you have a real good reason 393 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:42,439 Speaker 1: to be unhappy. There are a lot of things in 394 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: your life that could drag you down. But I'm challenging 395 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: you to just make that decision that you're gonna be 396 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:50,440 Speaker 1: happy right where you are. You're gonna do like Joseph 397 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,880 Speaker 1: and be good to people anyway in that time of need. 398 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 1: You got to just keep sowing that seed. I think 399 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 1: about David. He was the youngest of seven brothers and 400 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: he got stuck with the job of taking care of 401 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 1: his father's sheep. Now, I'm sure it was kind of 402 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 1: lonely and kind of boring out there in the shepherd's 403 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: fields all by himself. I mean, here, he's a young man. 404 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,919 Speaker 1: He's got big dreams in his heart, and his future, 405 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:17,919 Speaker 1: as far as he can see though, is just to 406 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,440 Speaker 1: keep taking care of these sheep. But see, David possessed 407 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: the same quality that Joseph had. He didn't sit around 408 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:28,160 Speaker 1: thinking about his problems and thinking about how unfair his 409 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: life was. He just prospered where he was. He just 410 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: flourished right in that situation. He wasn't lazy. He didn't 411 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 1: do it with a half hearted effort. He gave it 412 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 1: his very best. He had that excellent spirit. Now I 413 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:45,920 Speaker 1: can imagine during the day, as his sheep were out grazing, 414 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: he'd get his slingshot and he'd practice and practice. Maybe 415 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 1: he'd set up a target down the way, and with 416 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 1: rock after rock, he'd see how many times he could 417 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:57,960 Speaker 1: hit that. He did that day after day. He became 418 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 1: more and more skilled with that slim shot. When a 419 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 1: wild animal would come along and try to get one 420 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: of his sheep, if he didn't take care of it 421 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:08,640 Speaker 1: with his bare hands, he'd get that sling shot out 422 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,400 Speaker 1: and just nail it time and time again. And think 423 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 1: about it, nobody was watching him, nobody was making him 424 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 1: do what's right. He did it because he had an 425 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: excellent spirit. He was faithful even out there in the wilderness. 426 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,919 Speaker 1: And the truth is David had plenty of opportunities to 427 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:28,919 Speaker 1: have a chip on his shoulder, had plenty of opportunities 428 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:32,640 Speaker 1: to be sour. You remember when the prophet Samuel came 429 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 1: to David's father's house and he was going to choose 430 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 1: one of the brothers to be the next king of Israel. Well, 431 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:40,480 Speaker 1: they didn't even bother to come get David out of 432 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,159 Speaker 1: the shepherd's fields. They just left him out there. In 433 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,920 Speaker 1: their mind, he wasn't even in the running. They thought, oh, 434 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 1: that's just David. He's young, he's never gone mount to anything. 435 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,439 Speaker 1: Don't even waste your time going out there. You can 436 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 1: imagine how you would feel if your own family didn't 437 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 1: respect you enough to give you a chance. But still, David, 438 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: he just kept passing the tail. He kept his head 439 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 1: held high. He knew God was in control. He knew 440 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 1: if he kept doing the right thing, his due season 441 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 1: would come. The good news is when God is ready 442 00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:13,679 Speaker 1: to promote you, no man can stop you, no person 443 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 1: can leave you out. No circumstance can keep you down. 444 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: When God says it's time, then it's time. And the 445 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: Bible says there were several hundred men from the Israeli 446 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:29,880 Speaker 1: army that could use their slingshot and hit a small 447 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: stick over one hundred meters away. But isn't it interesting 448 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 1: God didn't choose any of them. He chose a shepherd boy. 449 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 1: David wasn't trained in the elite academy with the rest 450 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: of those sharpshooters. He was trained out in the lonely 451 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 1: shepherd's fields, all those times, day after day, year after year, 452 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 1: practicing training, using that slingshot to nail those wild animals. 453 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:56,880 Speaker 1: And David never knew he was going to face Goliath 454 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 1: one day. But see, God knew what if he been lazy, 455 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: but if it had a sour attitude and thought, man, 456 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:06,119 Speaker 1: why did I get stuck out here? Life's not fair? No, 457 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 1: he just kept being productive in spite of that adversity. 458 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:13,399 Speaker 1: He kept developing his skills even though he wasn't getting 459 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: his way. And you know the story. He went out 460 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:19,119 Speaker 1: and faced Goliath. People mocked and laughed. They said, all 461 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 1: this is going to be a big joke. But really 462 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 1: David had the last laugh. You may not realize it, 463 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 1: but Goliath was wearing a full suit of body armor. 464 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 1: He only had one unprotected spot and it was on 465 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:35,760 Speaker 1: his forehead right here was the only vulnerable place on 466 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:39,119 Speaker 1: his whole body. Had David not been skilled, he wouldn't 467 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:41,680 Speaker 1: have had a chance. Had he not learned the art 468 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 1: of slinging that stone with perfection, we wouldn't be talking 469 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 1: about him today because, let me tell you, God didn't 470 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:50,479 Speaker 1: throw the rock for him. God didn't tell him, you know, 471 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: just cause it to supernaturally hit at the right spot. No, 472 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 1: David paid the price. David developed his talents, he was 473 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:01,159 Speaker 1: faithful in the wilderness, and when it came time for 474 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 1: him to come into the Promised Land, he was ready. 475 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 1: He was prepared. Let me ask you today, what are 476 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 1: you doing with what God has given you? Are you 477 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: making the most of it? Are you developing your skills? 478 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:16,399 Speaker 1: Are you faithful at the office? Are you being the 479 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:20,040 Speaker 1: best mother you can possibly be? Maybe all you have 480 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 1: is the equivalent of a few small stones. Like David, 481 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: you just feel like you're taking care of a few sheep. 482 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 1: Let me tell you. If you'll be faithful right where 483 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: you are and do it to the best of your ability, 484 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:35,440 Speaker 1: then when God is looking for someone to promote, when 485 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:38,399 Speaker 1: he's looking for someone to slay a giant, you'll be ready. 486 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:40,880 Speaker 1: And like David, God can thrust you to a whole 487 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 1: new level of victory in your life. But understand our attitudes, 488 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 1: how we respond in the tough times, how we treat 489 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: people when we're not being treated right. These are character builders. 490 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:55,719 Speaker 1: We have to pass these tests if we're ever going 491 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:58,359 Speaker 1: to come up higher. So let me challenge again today, 492 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 1: You'll never forget the pain means of the past unless 493 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:05,160 Speaker 1: you first get fruitful and productive right where you are. Well, 494 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:07,640 Speaker 1: what are you up against? Don't run from it, don't 495 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:10,959 Speaker 1: live life bitter, have a good attitude, Put a smile 496 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:13,679 Speaker 1: on your face, and make a decision with me that 497 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 1: you're going to be the best that you can possibly 498 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:18,840 Speaker 1: be right where you are. The truth is, we all 499 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 1: face disappointments, we all have unfair things happen. But don't 500 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:25,359 Speaker 1: sit back feeling sorry for yourself. Go out and be 501 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: a blessing to somebody else. Learn to sow the seed 502 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:30,879 Speaker 1: in your time of need. You can let your tests 503 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:33,639 Speaker 1: become your testimony. If you do that, I can promise 504 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:35,640 Speaker 1: you this God will take you places that you've never 505 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:39,200 Speaker 1: dreamed of. You'll rise higher and higher, You'll overcome every 506 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 1: giant in your life, and you'll experience the victorious life 507 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: God has in store for you. Amen, how many of 508 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:48,880 Speaker 1: you receive it today? I know you do. We never 509 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:52,160 Speaker 1: like the close on broadcast without giving you an opportunity 510 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: to make Jesus the lord of your life. Would you 511 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 1: pray with me? Just say Lord, Jesus, I'll repent of 512 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: my sins. Come into my heart, make you my Lord 513 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:07,920 Speaker 1: and Savior. If you've prayed that simple prayer, we believe 514 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:10,399 Speaker 1: you got born again. We love to give you some 515 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:13,120 Speaker 1: information on your new walk with the Lord. Just text 516 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 1: the number on the screen or go to the website. 517 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 1: I hope you'll get into a good Bible based church 518 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:22,719 Speaker 1: and keep God first place. Thanks so much for listening 519 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:25,880 Speaker 1: to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe so you can 520 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:29,520 Speaker 1: receive the latest podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired 521 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:30,360 Speaker 1: all through the week. 522 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 2: Help us to continue to share the message of hope 523 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 2: with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 524 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:38,959 Speaker 2: or click the link in the description to partner with 525 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 2: us today. 526 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 1: WE hope you'll share this message with a friend and 527 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,159 Speaker 1: be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 528 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 1: for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 529 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:49,160 Speaker 1: see you next time.