1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: Victoria and I are always blessed to have you join 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: us for the podcast and know that we pray for. 3 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 2: You and just speaking blessings over you and your family. 4 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 1: It is such a joy to know that you are 5 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: out there putting the word of God in you. 6 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 2: I know you're gonna love this message, so God bless you. 7 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for tuning in today. We love you, 8 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,920 Speaker 1: and we come with good news. We know that God 9 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: rewards people that seek after Him and I believe that's you, 10 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: or you wouldn't have tuned in today, so I hope 11 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: you'll stop by and see us if you're ever in 12 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: our area. 13 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 2: We give you a personal invitation. 14 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: I know you would enjoy one of our services in person, 15 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: so I hope you'll do that if you can. But 16 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: thanks for tuning in today. I like to get started 17 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: each week with something funny. I heard about this old cowboy. 18 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 1: He went to church one rainy Sunday morning. When he 19 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 1: got there, he noticed that he and the preacher were the. 20 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 2: Only ones there. The weather was so bad. 21 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: The minister asked him if he wanted him to go 22 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: ahead and preach, and he said, well, preacher, I'm not 23 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: too smart, but if I went out to feed my 24 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: cattle and only one showed up, I'd sure feed him. 25 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: And so the minister began his sermon, and two and 26 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: a half hours later he got finished, and he asked 27 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: the cowboy how he. 28 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 2: Liked it, and he said, well, Preacher, let me put 29 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 2: it this way. 30 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: If I went out to feed my cattle and only 31 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: one showed up, I sure wouldn't dump the whole load 32 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: on him. Come on to hold your bibles up and 33 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: say it like you mean, are you ready? This is 34 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: my Bible. I am what it says I am. I 35 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:25,960 Speaker 1: have what it says I have. I can do what 36 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: it says I can do. Today I will be taught 37 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, 38 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 1: my heart is receptive. I will never be the same. 39 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to talk 40 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 1: to you today about not making excuses and taking responsibility 41 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: for your actions. One of our favorite phrases today is 42 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: it's not my fault. We live in a society that 43 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: loves to pass the blame, and so many people just 44 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: live on the surface. They never really face the truth 45 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: about themselves. They're always quick to make excuses for their behavior. Well, 46 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: I'm irritable today because I'm so tired, or I'm hard 47 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: to get along with because my spouse is not treating 48 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: me right, or Joel, I'm negative because of all the 49 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: things that I've been through in life. The first step 50 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: to victory is to stop making excuses and start taking 51 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 1: responsibility for who you are. 52 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 2: If you have a bad attitude, just be big. 53 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 1: Enough to admit that it's wrong, no matter what's the reason, 54 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: or if you're critical or jealous or hot tempered, don't 55 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: make excuses for it. Just call a spade a spade 56 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: and say, you know what, this is wrong, and I'm 57 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: gonna deal with it. See, we have to be willing 58 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 1: to face the truth about ourselves. And it's not an 59 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: excuse for me to be rude to my family just 60 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: because I've had a long day at the office. It's 61 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,239 Speaker 1: not an excuse for me to live with a chip 62 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: on my shoulder just because I've had some unfair things 63 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: happen in life. And as long as we keep passing 64 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: the blame and finding some reason to justify our behavior, 65 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 1: then it's going to keep us from going higher. It's 66 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 1: when we really get honest and face these issues and 67 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: deal with. 68 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 2: Them that's when we're going to get free. 69 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 1: And we need to ask ourselves, what's really causing the 70 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: difficulties in my life? What's really causing me to be upset? 71 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: Is it really the people around me? Is it really my. 72 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 2: Circumstances, or could it be me? 73 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: Well, I wouldn't act this way if you would treat 74 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: me better, or I wouldn't be so grouchy, Joel, if 75 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: I didn't have to sit in traffic driving home from work. No, 76 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: take responsibility for your actions. Quit making excuses. If we're 77 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: ever going to be all God's created us to be, 78 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: we have to learn to stop passing the blame. And 79 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: you think about how all this got started. Way back 80 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: in the garden of Eden. God came to Adam and said, Adam, 81 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: why did you eat that fruit from the tree that 82 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: I told you not to? You remember what he said 83 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: is found there in verse twelve. He said, God, this 84 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: woman that you gave me, she made me do it. 85 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 1: Notice he didn't just blame Eve. He even blamed God 86 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: the woman you gave me. He was saying, God, it's 87 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: not my fault you gave her to me. And it's 88 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: almost comical. God turns to Eve and said, all right, Eve, 89 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: why'd you do it? Eve turned to the serpent and said, God, 90 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 1: he made me do it. And do you know, since then, 91 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 1: we've been blaming people, blaming our past, blaming how we 92 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: were raised, blaming our parents, blaming our boss, blaming our circumstances. 93 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: If we can't find anybody else, we'll blame the devil. 94 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: Like Eve, God, this serpent, he made me do it. 95 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:39,839 Speaker 1: You know, we get in an argument, throw a fit 96 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,359 Speaker 1: and rant and rave, and we come back and say, Devil, 97 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: I rebuke you. I know you're doing this to me. Well, 98 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:47,280 Speaker 1: in a sense, he may be the one that's behind it, 99 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 1: but really that's just our lack of self control. 100 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 2: We're being ruled by our emotions. 101 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: Instead of blaming this one or blaming that one, what 102 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 1: we should do is just say, God, I recognize I 103 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 1: have a weakness here. I recognize I have a problem, 104 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: and I'm asking. 105 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 2: You to help me to change. 106 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: And we will go a whole lot further if we'll 107 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: quit blaming and quit making excuses and instead start taking 108 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: responsibility for our actions. One time, my little nephew, Matthew, 109 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 1: when he was about three years old, he was out 110 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: walking through the woods with my father, His grandfather. They 111 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: were just exploring, having a good time, and they came 112 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: across this big granddaddy long leged spider, and they stopped 113 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,280 Speaker 1: and they looked at it real good, and little Matthew 114 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: was about to step on it with his heel, and 115 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: my father. 116 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 2: Said, no, Matthew, don't do that. He's not hurting anything. 117 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,359 Speaker 2: And he may have a family back at home, he 118 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 2: may have some children. Let's just let him go. And 119 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 2: so Matthew was about halfway. 120 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: Convinced, and they walked off, maybe ten or fifteen steps, 121 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: and then all of a sudden, little matt turned around. 122 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,919 Speaker 1: He ran back over there and he smashed the spider 123 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: into the ground. My father said, Matthew, why did you 124 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 1: do that? He looked up and said, Granddaddy, the devil 125 00:05:58,520 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: made me do it. 126 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 2: And you know, really, there's a lot of people like 127 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 2: that today. It's not my fault. Somebody else made me 128 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 2: do it. 129 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: No, be honest and face the truth about yourself. Look inside, 130 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 1: go beyond the surface and go a little bit deeper. 131 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 1: If you're always getting offended, going around with your feelings 132 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,279 Speaker 1: hurt all the time, be big enough to say, you 133 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:22,799 Speaker 1: know what. 134 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 2: I'm just way too sensitive. 135 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: I'm just wearing my feelings on my shoulder, and I 136 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: recognize I need to change. See, don't go your whole 137 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 1: lifetime thinking it's somebody else's fault. Well, nobody treats me right, Joe, 138 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: I just don't understand it. 139 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 2: Now. 140 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: You can change if you'll quit making excuses. But as 141 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: long as we're playing the blame game, passing the responsibility, 142 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: I can tell you we're not making any progress. If 143 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 1: you have a problem with being critical or with being jealous, 144 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: just get it out in the open and. 145 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 2: Deal with it. Don't try to justify it. 146 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: Well, Joel, I'm jealous because all these people I work with, 147 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. 148 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: Everything's given to them, and I had to work my 149 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 1: way here. And I just don't think it's right. It 150 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 1: doesn't matter how we try to rationalize. It doesn't matter 151 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: what the circumstances are. The fact is jealousy is jealousy, 152 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: and that's a bad attitude. And until you're willing to 153 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 1: own it, until you're willing to take responsibility and say, 154 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 1: all right, God, I recognize this is wrong. Until we 155 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: face the truth about ourselves, that's going to keep us back. 156 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 1: And I know people that they just can't seem to 157 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: control their temper at home, and they'll have a fit 158 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: and be rude and disrespectful to their spouse and to 159 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: their children. But what's funny is they don't have any 160 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: problem controlling their temper in front of their boss, or 161 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: in front of their pastor, or in front of somebody 162 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: they want to impress. My point is we can do 163 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: whatever we want to do. God's given us all our 164 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: own free will, and if we want to live in victory, 165 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: we have got to get honest with ourselves and start 166 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: taking some of these steps to keep our heart pure. 167 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 1: Don't go year after year with all this junk holding 168 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: you back. Change starts with you. I'm asking us today 169 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: to not make another excuse. I'm asking us not to 170 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: blame another person. They may not be right, there may 171 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: be some things that are not fair, but that doesn't 172 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: give us the right to go around with the sour attitude. 173 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: We have to take responsibility for our own behavior. Now 174 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: I realize I can't make everybody in my life do 175 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,079 Speaker 1: what's right. I can't make every traffic jim go away. 176 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 1: I can't undo all the hurts from the past. There's 177 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:40,079 Speaker 1: a lot of things in life that we can't change. 178 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: One thing I know I can change, and that's my 179 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: own self. Our attitude should be the buck stops with me. 180 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: I'm gonna take responsibility for my actions. If you're going 181 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: around today angry, addicted to things, living with a chip 182 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 1: on your shoulder, what I'm saying is, please, don't go 183 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: through life in denial thinking that somebody else is making 184 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: you be that way. 185 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 2: You need to draw that. 186 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: Line into sand and say, from this day forward, I'm 187 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 1: gonna get very honest with myself and I'm gonna start working. 188 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 2: With God to correct these things. 189 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 1: And I know some of this can be hard to swallow, 190 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 1: but friends, it's the truth that sets us free. And 191 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: it's not the truth about somebody else. It's the truth 192 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,839 Speaker 1: about us that makes us free. Don't sit there thinking, man, 193 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 1: I wish my wife would have come today. 194 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 2: She could assure use this. No, we can all use this. 195 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 2: Don't make excuses. Don't blame other people. 196 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: One time, when our son Jonathan was just a little boy, 197 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 1: i'd taken him to bed one night, and a few 198 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 1: minutes later I could hear that he was still in there, 199 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 1: talking and moving around, and so I just kind of 200 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 1: hollered out, Jonathan, You're gonna have. 201 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 2: To get quiet and go to sleep. 202 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 1: A few seconds later, I heard this little voice say, Daddy, 203 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: I am asleep. See, human nature likes to make excuses 204 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: three years old, and we're already doing it now. If 205 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:02,559 Speaker 1: we don't learn otherwise, we'll go our whole lifetime blaming 206 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: our past, blaming our parents, blaming our boss, blaming our 207 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 1: mother in law. We'll find somebody to blame. No, it's 208 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: time that we take responsibility. A little while back, I 209 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 1: was very tired one day and I had been working 210 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 1: hard and traveling, and I came home and I just 211 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: didn't really want to be bothered. And my children came 212 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 1: into the room where I was and they were playing 213 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: and singing and just basically being kids. They were very loud, 214 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:30,559 Speaker 1: but it kind of got on my nerves. It kind 215 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: of irritated me, and I thought to myself, Man, can't 216 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 1: you see I'm tired and I don't feel like playing 217 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 1: right now. And so I just very politely asked them 218 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: if they'd go out and let me have a little 219 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: time alone. And a few minutes later, Victoria came in 220 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: and she said, Joe. 221 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 2: You're all tired, You're all worn out. 222 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 1: But really it's not their fault, it's your fault. I said, 223 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: what do you mean? She said, will you make your 224 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 1: own schedule? Nobody's making you do all this stuff. I thought, 225 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,559 Speaker 1: ah men, she's been listening to one of my sermons. 226 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,720 Speaker 1: There is nothing worse than your wife quoting your own 227 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: sermon to you. She said, Joe, you're all run down 228 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 1: because you're just trying to do too much and you 229 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 1: never slow down. And I had to just swallow my 230 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: pride and say, you know what, She's right, No use 231 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: me blaming everybody else. I brought this all on myself. 232 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: And when we really get honest, and we really face 233 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 1: the truth about ourselves, that's when we can change. 234 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 2: And so I made some adjustments. 235 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: I rearranged some things to get my schedule back in balance. 236 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: And some of you today, the main reason you're not 237 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: happy is because you're trying to do too much. You're 238 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: working all the time, taking on all those projects. It's 239 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 1: causing you to be run down, worn out, and you 240 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:42,439 Speaker 1: don't have any time or energy for your own family. 241 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: I'm encouraging you to get your schedule back in balance. 242 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: You may have to prune some things out of your life. 243 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: Don't get involved in every single activity and turn loose 244 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:55,679 Speaker 1: of some of those projects at work. I'm not saying 245 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 1: that it'll all turn around overnight, but most of the time, 246 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 1: we didn't get ourself into trouble overnight. We didn't get 247 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: into trouble with one bad decision. Most of the time 248 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: it was a series of poor choices. And in the 249 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 1: same way, more often than not, we can't just make 250 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 1: one good choice to get out of trouble. 251 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 2: We need to make a series of good decisions. 252 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: I was talking to a man about a month ago, 253 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 1: and he had a lot of difficulties in his life. 254 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,679 Speaker 1: His business has gone downhill, and on top of that, 255 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 1: his wife had just told him that she was leaving. 256 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 1: He was so upset and so distraught. He'd only been 257 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: coming to the church about three weeks, and so we 258 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: prayed and we're still standing with him. But he said 259 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 1: something that really got my attention. He said, Joel, for 260 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: years and years and years, I have played around on 261 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: my wife, and now finally she just fed up with 262 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 1: it and she's leaving. And of course, we know that 263 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 1: God can turn any situation around. We know that God 264 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 1: can work supernaturally, but most of the time we're going 265 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: to reap the seeds that we've been sowing down through 266 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: the years, and you cannot so see like that day 267 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: in and day out and expect to reap a different 268 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:06,679 Speaker 1: kind of harvest. He told how these last three weeks 269 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: he's been giving in the offerings, he's been tithing his income, 270 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: and that's great. But he wanted me to tell him 271 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 1: that everything was going to turn around overnight. But the 272 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 1: fact is that business had gone down over a period 273 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 1: of years. He hadn't been making good financial decisions for 274 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: a long time. And I say this only to challenge 275 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:31,439 Speaker 1: us to take responsibility before we get into a position 276 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: like his. Let this be a wake up call. Let's 277 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: examine our hearts. What kind of seeds are we sowing? 278 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: If we will take responsibility for our actions right now 279 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: before we get into some kind of deep mess, then 280 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: little by little it'll begin to turn around. But we 281 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: have to get serious and recognize that we are controlling. 282 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 2: Our own destiny. 283 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 1: We are who we are today because of the choices 284 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: we made yesterday. We will be who were we are 285 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 1: tomorrow because of the choices we're making today. And when 286 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,640 Speaker 1: we just sweep things under the rug and act like 287 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 1: it's not hurting anything to be a workaholic, or to 288 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:13,199 Speaker 1: be unfaithful, or to go around with jealousy and anger 289 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 1: in our hearts. No, we're only deceiving ourselves. And like 290 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: my schedule, I can complain about it all day long 291 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: and live all upset and frustrated, or I can take 292 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 1: action and do something about it. And really it's the 293 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 1: same thing in our finances. I've had people come up 294 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: and say, well, Joe, I just got to have more money. 295 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: I can't live on what I'm bringing in. And I 296 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: certainly can understand what they're saying, especially if they've had 297 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: some kind of setback, But I always ask them, are 298 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: you living within your means? Are you managing the money 299 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: that you do have properly? Or are you so overstretched 300 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: and so undisciplined in your spending. No matter what amount 301 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: of money you have, you'd have this same problem. My 302 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: father used to say, sit on an apple box until 303 00:14:58,360 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: you can afford a chair. 304 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 2: In other words, live within your means. 305 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: Some people that are having financial difficulties today, if you 306 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: gave them a million dollars tomorrow, a year from now, 307 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: they'd be in that exact same predicament. I know some 308 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 1: of you are saying, why don't you try me, But 309 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 1: sometimes in order to get in balance, in order to 310 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: be responsible, you may have to sell that fancy car 311 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 1: and just get a plain, ordinary car to take some 312 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: of the pressure off. But don't go year after year struggling. 313 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 2: When you can do something about it. 314 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 1: And again, I know there can be ups and downs, 315 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: but I'm talking about people that constantly complain about their finances, 316 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: and yet they're the ones that choose to live where 317 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: they live, they choose to drive what they drive, they 318 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 1: chose to buy that extra boat, and now they have 319 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: no freedom, they have no joy because they're under all 320 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: this pressure. Now, take responsibility for your actions and do 321 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: something about it when you can. And really, we need 322 00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: to examine our lives. Let's examine our heart and find 323 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: the things that are still in our joy. Let's find 324 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: the things that are causing us. 325 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 2: To live upset and frustrated. 326 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: And I would dare say ninety nine percent of those 327 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 1: things if we would make adjustments and either our attitudes 328 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: or our actions, or our finances or our schedule, those 329 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: things would not drag. 330 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 2: Us down anymore. The first place we have to look 331 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 2: is on the inside. 332 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 1: We have to be honest enough to say I've got 333 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: some issues to deal with and not just blame it 334 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: on my schedule or blame it on my children for 335 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: being too loud, or blame it on Victoria for being 336 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: too straightforward. If none of that works, let me just 337 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: blame the devil. No, we have to own up to 338 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: what's ours. That's the only way we're really going to 339 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: be free. Just be honest enough to admit it. God, 340 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: I bought this car. I realize I can't really afford it. 341 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: Help me to change or God, I made these commitments. 342 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: I know I can't do it. Help me to adjust 343 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: my schedule. 344 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 2: Friends, it's when we admit it. It's when we. 345 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 1: Take responsibility that's when we can begin to change. I 346 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: know this can be difficult. People today don't like taking responsibility. 347 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:10,160 Speaker 2: It's like this guy heard about. His name was Bill. 348 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 1: He was a little bit overweight, and his wife was 349 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 1: always on him about working out and getting in shape 350 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: and you know, not being so overweight. But when Bill 351 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: would come home from work, he'd just get a big 352 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 1: old bag of potato chips and PLoP down in front 353 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 1: of the TV. His wife was said, come on, honey, 354 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 1: let's go out. 355 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 2: And exercise. 356 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:29,880 Speaker 1: Let's go play tennis, Let's take a walk. He said, 357 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: oh no, honey, I don't feel like it. You know, 358 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: the more he ate, you know, his belly was really 359 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 1: hanging over that belt there, and his wife finally got 360 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 1: so tired she said the you know, Bill, it is not. 361 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 2: Healthy to be that overweight. He said, oh, honey, I'm 362 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 2: not overweight. I'm just big boned. She said, Bill, don't 363 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 2: kid yourself. Look at your stomach. Without missing a beat, 364 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 2: he said, I've got big stomach bones. You know. 365 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 1: It's easy to be like Bill to not admit that 366 00:17:57,560 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 1: we need to change. We don't like to admit that 367 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 1: we have a problem. A lot of people today they 368 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: live in denial. They got a sour attitude, or they 369 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,400 Speaker 1: got a problem with pride, or maybe they're hanging onto 370 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,160 Speaker 1: these addictions and they just kind of play it down 371 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 1: and act like it's not there. But all that does 372 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,119 Speaker 1: is cause us to stay in mediocrity. We have to 373 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:20,440 Speaker 1: face the truth if we're really going to be free, 374 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: and we can make excuses all day long. 375 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:25,400 Speaker 2: We can all come up with reasons. 376 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,199 Speaker 1: To justify our behavior, but that doesn't mean that it's okay. 377 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,200 Speaker 1: I've seen people go month after month with all kinds 378 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: of resentment on the inside, all kinds of unresolved anger. 379 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:39,639 Speaker 1: Somebody did them wrong and they just wouldn't forgive them. 380 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: They didn't process it properly, didn't let it come to closure, 381 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 1: and so now it's just boiling up on the inside. 382 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 1: A lot of times they end up with digestive problems. 383 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: They can't sleep at night. Smallest thing goes wrong and 384 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,680 Speaker 1: they just blow up. They overreact, and it's because they've 385 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: got all this junk on the inside that they're not 386 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:02,719 Speaker 1: dealing with. If you've got a bunch of unforgiveness and 387 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: you're angry at this person and offended at that person 388 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: and holding a grudge over here, all you're really doing 389 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: is poisoning your own life. 390 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 2: So important that we bring closure to these issues now. 391 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 1: One time a while back, Victoria and I had had 392 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:20,160 Speaker 1: a disagreement and we went a couple of days without 393 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:23,680 Speaker 1: ever resolving it. We never brought it to closure. In 394 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: other words, we just left it out there in the open. 395 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: And that's when you have that gnawing feeling down in here. 396 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:33,119 Speaker 1: That's when little things become big things. You feel the 397 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 1: tension on the inside. Well a couple of days later, 398 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:38,200 Speaker 1: it came time for me to get up here, and 399 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 1: Minister and I knew better than to get up here 400 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 1: without making things right. And so our own purpose got 401 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 1: with Victoria and we brought closure to that issue. And 402 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 1: what I'm saying is, you can't have a bunch of 403 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: unfinished business on the inside. You can't have a bunch 404 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: of unresolved things and expect to have God's blessings in favor. 405 00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 1: We have to get it out in the open. 406 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 2: And deal with it. And the truth is I was 407 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 2: just being stubborn. 408 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:05,639 Speaker 1: I could have made things write a whole lot sooner, 409 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: but I didn't feel like doing it. But listen, we 410 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: got to get beyond what we feel and let's start 411 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 1: doing what we know. 412 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 2: And some of you have been making. 413 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: Excuse after excuse after excuse for your behavior. You know 414 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: you need to let some things go. You know you 415 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: need to forgive somebody. You know you've got some unfinished business. 416 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: I'm asking you today to take care of it. 417 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 2: Right now. 418 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: It's time to face the truth. It's time to say God, 419 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 1: I recognize this is a problem, and I don't want 420 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: these issues holding me back. Help me to change, help 421 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: me to stay in your blessings, in favor, and when 422 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: you have the desire, God will always help you. 423 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 2: But you have to be honest with yourself. That's the 424 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 2: very first step. I think of it kind of like 425 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:50,400 Speaker 2: an onion. 426 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: As we begin to peel these superficial layers away and 427 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:56,959 Speaker 1: we go deeper, and we get more and more honest 428 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:01,920 Speaker 1: with ourselves, then God can increase. Then God can promote us. 429 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 1: And sometimes it's uncomfortable, sometimes we don't feel like doing it, 430 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:09,680 Speaker 1: but I believe anytime we're going to go up higher, 431 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 1: another layer has to come off. A lot of people 432 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 1: today they don't want to go any deeper. They just 433 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 1: live on the surface, doing whatever they feel, making excuses, 434 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:23,880 Speaker 1: trying to justify their behavior. Well, Joel, I don't treat 435 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 1: my husband very well, but he never does anything good 436 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,639 Speaker 1: for me. Or I know I've got these addictions, but 437 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 1: everybody in my family has them. 438 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 2: It's nothing new. 439 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: Or Joel, I know I'm hard to get along with. 440 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 1: I know I'm not too friendly, but it's because of 441 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 1: all the abuse that I've come out of. 442 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 2: Now that may be the reason you are the way 443 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 2: you are. 444 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 1: But don't let that be an excuse to stay the 445 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: way you are, Take the hand that God has given 446 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: you and make the very most of it. I know 447 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:54,919 Speaker 1: some of you have come out of very negative environments. 448 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 1: You weren't raised in a family like mine. You came 449 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 1: out of a family where strife and arguing was the norm, 450 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 1: or maybe even drugs and alcohol or some kind of abuse. 451 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:08,440 Speaker 1: And certainly that can be the reason you struggle with things, 452 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 1: struggle with addictions, bad habits. 453 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 2: Low self esteem. 454 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 1: But what I'm saying is, don't take the easy way 455 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:16,879 Speaker 1: out and just say, well, everybody in my family is 456 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 1: like this, Joel. Everybody's negative, everybody's addicted to something, everybody 457 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:24,399 Speaker 1: gets a divorce. No, you can be the one to 458 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:26,640 Speaker 1: set a new standard for your family to live by. 459 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:28,360 Speaker 2: And the Bible says. 460 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 1: The Bible says that when you gave your life to Christ, 461 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: you became a new creature. 462 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:37,440 Speaker 2: Old things have been passed away. 463 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: You need to dig your heels in and say, I 464 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,439 Speaker 1: refuse to be bound by the bondages of the past. 465 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 2: This is a new. 466 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: Day, and I'm will face these issues and I'm overcome. 467 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 2: Them through the power of the Most High God. Every 468 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 2: one of us can do that. 469 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:56,119 Speaker 1: This is exactly what Jacob had to do. He had 470 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:58,880 Speaker 1: a lot of issues to deal with. His very name 471 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:03,159 Speaker 1: meant to see ever schemer, trickster, and that's what he 472 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:04,160 Speaker 1: did throughout his life. 473 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 2: He went around deceiving people. 474 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 1: You remember how he tricked his older brother Esau out 475 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 1: of his birthright. He took advantage of his weakness, had 476 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: no integrity. And the funny thing is, I don't even 477 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:18,640 Speaker 1: think Jacob realized he was doing this. He had been 478 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 1: this way his whole lifetime. And years later he heard 479 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 1: that his brother Esau was coming to see him, and 480 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:25,680 Speaker 1: Jacob was afraid. 481 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 2: So what did he do. 482 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:29,239 Speaker 1: He sent him a gift to try to pay him 483 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 1: back for his wrongs. Really, he was trying to bribe him, 484 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 1: still doing wrong, so he sent him some flocks and herds. 485 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:37,880 Speaker 2: And what's interesting is. 486 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 1: God had said early on that Jacob was going to 487 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: do great things, that he was going to be a 488 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:43,440 Speaker 1: great leader and. 489 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:44,880 Speaker 2: Be used to touch nations. 490 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:47,679 Speaker 1: But up to this point, he hadn't seen any of 491 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 1: it come to pass. And I believe that it's because 492 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: he wasn't willing to face the truth about himself. He 493 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:57,560 Speaker 1: wasn't willing to take responsibility for his ways. He just 494 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 1: kept sweeping things under the rug. His attitude was, this 495 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:01,920 Speaker 1: is just. 496 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,320 Speaker 2: Who I am. My name even declares it. But do 497 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:08,160 Speaker 2: you know, one day Jacob got honest with himself. 498 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 1: He sent his family away, sent his staff away, and 499 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:14,920 Speaker 1: he went down to the brook to get a loan, 500 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 1: which is him and God. And I believe that's when 501 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,119 Speaker 1: he really took a good look inside. That's when he 502 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: really searched his heart and he said, God, I don't 503 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:24,399 Speaker 1: want to. 504 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 2: Be this way. I want to change. 505 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:29,240 Speaker 1: The Angel of the Lord appeared to him and that's 506 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 1: when they wrestled all night long. Jacob wouldn't let the 507 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 1: angel go until he blessed him, and that angel finally 508 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:39,639 Speaker 1: asked him what his name was. And what's very telling 509 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:43,680 Speaker 1: is the amplified version of the Bible says that Jacob, 510 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 1: in shock of realization, whispered his name. I believe it 511 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: was at that point Jacob finally realized who he was, 512 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,440 Speaker 1: in shock of realization, and when he said his name, 513 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,920 Speaker 1: he was saying, you know what, I'm a deceiver, I'm 514 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: a cheater, dishonest. I believe right then and there, he 515 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 1: finally realized who he was. He faced the truth, and 516 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 1: all he could do is. 517 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:09,959 Speaker 2: Just whisper his name. You know, sometimes the truth can 518 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:10,640 Speaker 2: be painful. 519 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 1: But you know the great thing about our God is 520 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,479 Speaker 1: when we get honest with ourselves, when we face the 521 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 1: truth and really take responsibility, that's when God changes us. 522 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 1: And the Bible says that that day immediately God changed 523 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 1: his name from Jacob to Israel. In other words, God 524 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 1: was saying, Jacob, you took responsibility. You got serious, So 525 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna take you to a new level. I'm gonna 526 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,959 Speaker 1: help you fulfill the destiny that I've laid out. And 527 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,359 Speaker 1: he went on to do just that. But the whole 528 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 1: key was he got honest, he quit making excuses. 529 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 2: That's what I'm asking us to do today. 530 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: The Bible talks about in Ephesians how we need to put. 531 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 2: On the whole armor of God, and it says. 532 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: Specifically that we need to tighten the belt of truth. 533 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:00,959 Speaker 1: Now just you don't just put that on one time, 534 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:02,639 Speaker 1: on a regular basis. 535 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 2: We have to tighten that belt of truth. What does 536 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:05,400 Speaker 2: that mean? 537 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 1: We need to say, God, show me where I'm missing it. 538 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:11,640 Speaker 1: God show me areas in my life I need to change. 539 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:13,360 Speaker 2: I don't know about you. 540 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:16,280 Speaker 1: But I want to know the truth about myself. Our 541 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:19,639 Speaker 1: attitude should be God. If I've got a wrong attitude, 542 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 1: show me God if I'm negative, show me if I'm 543 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 1: holding on to the past, show me God if I'm 544 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 1: being a pretender, show me when God brings those things 545 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 1: to life, Let's be quick to change. Really, I'm asking 546 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 1: you today to tighten your belt of truth. Examine your heart, 547 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 1: look inside, don't make excuses. Don't blame another person, don't 548 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 1: blame your parents, don't blame your past. 549 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 2: No, get honest, face the truth, and take responsibility for 550 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:47,120 Speaker 2: who you are. 551 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:49,679 Speaker 1: And if you do this, I know God will do 552 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,040 Speaker 1: for you what he did for Jacob. He'll take you 553 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:54,639 Speaker 1: to a new level and He'll make sure that you 554 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,280 Speaker 1: fulfill the best plan that He's got laid out for 555 00:26:57,359 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 1: your life. 556 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:01,480 Speaker 2: How many of you receive it today? But we never 557 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 2: like the cloison broadcast without giving. 558 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 1: You an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 559 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:10,639 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me, just say, Lord, Jesus, I 560 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:11,840 Speaker 1: repent of my sins. 561 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 2: Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 562 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:20,399 Speaker 1: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 563 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. 564 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:26,160 Speaker 1: Keep God first place. He's going to take your places 565 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 1: that you've never dreamed of. 566 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 3: Breathtaking, that's what you feel when you look out at 567 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 3: majestic mountain peaks. Yes, God's creation truly is a masterpiece, 568 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:40,639 Speaker 3: but even as you consider his handiwork, you might also 569 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 3: feel bless that, not good enough or not valuable. The 570 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 3: image before you is incredible, but the confidence inside is lacking. 571 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:51,680 Speaker 2: How do you overcome this? 572 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:56,280 Speaker 1: The opinion you have of yourself is your most important opinion. 573 00:27:56,840 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: Too often we see ourselves as ordinary, not talent, unattractive. 574 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 2: That wrong self image is setting the limits for our life. 575 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 1: The key is to get an agreement with who God 576 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: says you are. He calls you a masterpiece, strong, talented, valuable. 577 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:16,200 Speaker 1: If you'll have the right image of yourself, you'll rise 578 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:19,439 Speaker 1: higher and become who you were created to be. We 579 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:21,600 Speaker 1: have a new resource that will help you do just that. 580 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 1: It's called you Are a Masterpiece. It's filled with inspiration 581 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 1: and encouragement that will remind you who you really are. 582 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:31,439 Speaker 2: Gifted, chosen, approved. 583 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:33,680 Speaker 1: It will help you get rid of the wrong self 584 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: image and start seeing yourself as the masterpiece God created 585 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:38,240 Speaker 1: you to be. 586 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 3: As our Thank you for your gift of any amount 587 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 3: to the ministry. This month, we want to send you 588 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 3: Joel's inspiring newbrook. You are a masterpiece. God made you unique, 589 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:54,240 Speaker 3: with a divine purpose and a bright future. As these 590 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 3: truths sink down in your spirit, the majesty of God's 591 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 3: glory will arise within you. Yes, God has breathed his 592 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 3: life into you. He approved you, equipped you, empowered you. 593 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:10,920 Speaker 3: Stop believing the lies about you and start hearing what 594 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 3: God says about you. 595 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for being a part of the ministry, Bectoren. 596 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 1: I pray for you and your family every day, believing 597 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:21,320 Speaker 1: it's going to be a favor filled twenty twenty four. 598 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 1: We appreciate your prayer and support. Your generosity is impacting 599 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 1: people around the world. Remember you can watch the services 600 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 1: live online Sunday mornings, see all the music and ministry. 601 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 1: Download our daily podcast. Until we meet again, May the 602 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 1: Lord bless you and keep you. 603 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of that You Were 604 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 3: a Masterpiece today. Visit Joelostein dot com