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Thanks for listening to 36 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,399 Speaker 6: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 37 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 5: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 38 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 5: blessing and share it with a friend. 39 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 6: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 40 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 6: your life. 41 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 4: God bless you. 42 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,559 Speaker 6: It's great to be with you today, and I hope 43 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 6: you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 44 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 6: daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can 45 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 6: come visit us in person to have you be a 46 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,559 Speaker 6: part of one of our services. I like to start 47 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 6: with something funny, and I heard about these two professional 48 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 6: baseball players. They were discussing whether or not they thought 49 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 6: there would be baseball up in heaven. They made an 50 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 6: agreement that whoever died first would come back and tell 51 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 6: if there was indeed baseball in heaven. A few months later, 52 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 6: when of the players died, just like he promised, he 53 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 6: came back said to the other player, I've got good news. 54 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 6: I got bad news. The good news is there. 55 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 4: Is baseball up in heaven. 56 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 6: The bad news is your schedule to pitch next Thursday. 57 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 6: Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 58 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 6: I am what it says I am. I have what 59 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 6: it says I have. I can do what it says 60 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 6: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 61 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 6: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 62 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 6: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 63 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 6: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 64 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 6: about taking your image. 65 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 4: Off the throne. 66 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,919 Speaker 6: It's easy to go through life making decisions based on 67 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 6: what people will think. How will this make me look? 68 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 6: Will this be impressive? Will this gain me more followers, 69 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 6: will they approve me? When we live image driven, we 70 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 6: can't be real, we can't be authentic. We have to 71 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 6: hide this weakness or they may think less of us. 72 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 6: We have to play up to this person to stay 73 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 6: in their favor. 74 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 4: We have to drive this, wear this be seen with 75 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 4: these people. 76 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 6: We spend so much energy protecting this image we've created. 77 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 6: And there's nothing wrong with looking good, being successful, carrying 78 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 6: yourself with confidence. 79 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 4: That's all healthy. 80 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 6: But where it crosses the line is when you become 81 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 6: driven by your image. 82 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 4: You run everything through. 83 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 6: The filter of how it's going to make you look. 84 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 6: Jesus said to the Pharisees, you do everything for show. 85 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 6: You wear these long robes to look better than others. 86 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 6: You give in front of people to be impressive. You 87 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 6: sit in the best seats. 88 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 4: So you'll be well thought of. And none of those 89 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 4: things in themselves are bad. 90 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 6: To wear nice clothes, to be a giver, to have 91 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 6: a good position. 92 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 4: The issue was their motives. 93 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 6: They were doing it all to be seen, to impress people, 94 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 6: to build their ego. The problem with living image driven 95 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,239 Speaker 6: is it will wear you out the pressure of trying 96 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 6: to keep up with people, impress your friends, look better 97 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 6: than your neighbor, hide how you feel, act like everything's 98 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 6: okay when it's not. 99 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:34,600 Speaker 4: That's not sustainable. 100 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 6: The reason some people are so stressed run down is 101 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 6: they have their image on the throne. They're doing everything 102 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 6: to protect how they're seen. But you need to take 103 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:48,160 Speaker 6: your image off the throne and put God back on 104 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 6: the throne. You don't have to perform, you don't have 105 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 6: to pretend. 106 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 4: You don't have to keep up with your friends. If 107 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 4: they only accept you if you. 108 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 6: Perform to their standards, they're not true friends. Such a 109 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 6: freedom when you can be real, be vulnerable, not worry 110 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 6: about what other people think. That's a treadmill that never stops. 111 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 6: To sure way to drain your energy. Stop for your creativity, 112 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 6: steal your joy, pulse it. In Romans, we should be 113 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 6: conformed to the image of Christ. I've found if you're 114 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 6: obsessed with your image, you can't be conformed to his image. 115 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 6: You're always thinking about what people think is going to 116 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 6: be impressive? 117 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 4: Will they approve me? 118 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 6: Then you're not going to become who you were created 119 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 6: to be. A friend of mine works in the entertainment industry. 120 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:42,159 Speaker 4: He's very popular. He has a dynamic personality. 121 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 6: He's seen as strong, talented, successful. 122 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 4: In the movies. He plays action heroes. He's the good. 123 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:54,679 Speaker 6: Guy save in the day, hosting television shows. He's so friendly, 124 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:56,479 Speaker 6: so likable, big smile. 125 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 4: But he told how. 126 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 6: He became obsessed with his image, what people thought about. 127 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 4: Him, how he looked. 128 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 6: He always projected this image of success, strength, being so happy. 129 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 4: The problem was it was all a facade. He was pretending. 130 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 6: In real life, he was falling apart, his wife was 131 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 6: leaving him. 132 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 4: He struggled with an addiction. 133 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 6: He didn't like who he was, but every day he 134 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 6: would put on. 135 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 4: That mask, got to made sure I look good today. 136 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 6: People would see him on the streets, Hey man, I 137 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 6: love you. 138 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 4: You're so great in that movie. He'd give them a 139 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 4: high five, thank you so much. 140 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 6: The whole time he was thinking, I'm not great, I'm depressed, 141 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 6: I'm hurting, I'm lonely. He was so obsessed with his 142 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 6: image he couldn't be real. He wouldn't let anyone see 143 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 6: who he really was. 144 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 4: And one day he did what I'm asking us to do. 145 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 4: He took off the mask. 146 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 6: He quit pretending, He got honest with himself, got the 147 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 6: help he needed. He went to a recovery program and 148 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:03,679 Speaker 6: broke the addiction. He got help in his marriage his wife, 149 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 6: who had left him. She came back home. Today, they're 150 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 6: happily married with their children. 151 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 4: He's healed, he's whole. 152 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 6: None of this would have happened if he'd kept hiding 153 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 6: behind the image he was projecting. 154 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 2: Now. 155 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 6: I'm not saying you have to tell people all your issues, 156 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 6: announce all your secrets. What I'm saying is you don't 157 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 6: have to hide. You don't have to pretend worried about 158 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 6: what people will think. 159 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 4: The ones that look like they have it all together, 160 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 4: can I tell. 161 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:36,239 Speaker 6: You they have issues too. Everyone is dealing with something. 162 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 6: There's no shame in. 163 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 4: Saying I need help. I'm not what I look like. 164 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 4: I'm struggling, I'm hurting, I'm broken. 165 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 6: It takes humility to take your image off the throne, 166 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 6: to not worry about what people think, to not live 167 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 6: trying to impress, trying to gain their approval. So much 168 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 6: better to be real, to be vulnerable. In the story 169 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 6: of the Prodigal Son, the young man asked his father 170 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 6: for his inheritance early. He left home and wasted it all, partying, 171 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 6: living wild. 172 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 4: Making poor decisions. When the money ran out. 173 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 6: The only job he could find was working in a 174 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 6: hogpen feeding hogs. 175 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 4: He got so desperate he. 176 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 6: Had to eat the hogfood to survive. The scripture says 177 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 6: when he came to himself, he said, I will arise 178 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 6: and go back to my father's house. 179 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 4: If he was. 180 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:32,079 Speaker 6: Living image driven, he would have never gone home. He 181 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 6: would have thought, I'm not going to let anyone see 182 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 6: me in this condition, down dirty, working in a hogpen. 183 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 6: I've got an image to protect. I want them to 184 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 6: think I'm happy, successful, on top of the world. But 185 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 6: as long as you're pretending, as long as you're wearing 186 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 6: a mask, you won't get the help that you need. 187 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 6: Like this young man, you have to come to yourself, 188 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 6: not who you pretend to be, not the image you've. 189 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 4: Created, who other people think you are. 190 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:07,439 Speaker 6: Second Corinthian says, with unveiled faces, we reveal the glory 191 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 6: of God. As long as your face is veiled, as 192 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 6: long as you're wearing a mask, you won't see God's glory. 193 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 6: You want see the freedom, the wholeness, the abundance. Why 194 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 6: don't you take off the mask? 195 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 4: Well, Joel, what will. 196 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 6: People think if I'm not perfect, if I still struggle 197 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 6: in this area if I need help, You know what 198 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 6: they'll think. They'll think you're real, they'll think you're brave, 199 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 6: they'll think you're honest and sure, some will judge, some 200 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 6: may look down on you. 201 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 4: But what they think. 202 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:41,719 Speaker 6: About you doesn't stop your destiny. Quit worrying about what 203 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 6: they think. 204 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 4: It's always going to be someone. 205 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 6: That doesn't understand you, that won't be for you, that 206 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 6: tries to make you feel small. But there will be 207 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,960 Speaker 6: other people God has ordained for you that will be 208 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:57,679 Speaker 6: there to help you, to bring you out of the struggle, 209 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 6: to lift you when you're down, to beat victory when 210 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:02,199 Speaker 6: you feel defeat. 211 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 4: When the young man returned home, the father. 212 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 6: Who represents God was there with open arms. 213 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 4: He hugged him, kissed him, put a. 214 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:16,559 Speaker 6: New robe on him, new shoes, gave him the family. 215 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,079 Speaker 4: Ring that represents authority. 216 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:21,199 Speaker 6: The other brother was kind of jealous of all the attention. 217 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 6: He didn't like this brother being celebrated. When you take 218 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 6: off your mask, when you get real, you're vulnerable. 219 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,199 Speaker 4: Some people may not accept you. 220 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 6: They may find fault, they like seeing you down, say 221 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 6: they look better. But your heavenly father, the one who matters, 222 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,959 Speaker 6: he accepts you he'll restore you. He'll put a new 223 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 6: robe on you. He'll help you break the addiction. He'll 224 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 6: deliver you from what's holding your back. 225 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 4: He'll give your friends that will celebrate you, friends that 226 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 4: will before you. 227 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 6: Yeah, you may have a few walk away, a few 228 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 6: that judge you, but you don't need them in your life. 229 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 4: They were just out for what you could do for them. 230 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 4: True friends, you don't have to wear a mask. You 231 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 4: don't have to pretend. You don't have to hope that 232 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 4: you can measure up. 233 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 6: They accept you for who you are, not for how 234 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 6: you look, how you perform, who you know. 235 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 4: I like this phrase I heard what you think about 236 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:23,079 Speaker 4: me is none of my business. People can think anything 237 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:23,560 Speaker 4: they want. 238 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 6: It's a free world. But your part is to make 239 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 6: it none of your business. You don't have time to 240 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 6: worry about everyone's opinion of you. You have a destiny 241 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:37,199 Speaker 6: to fulfill, you have an assignment to accomplish. 242 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 4: It's not going to happen if your image. 243 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:43,719 Speaker 6: Driven, If you're making decisions based on other people's opinions, 244 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,959 Speaker 6: how will this make me look? Truth is, no matter 245 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 6: how hard we try, someone is going to judge. Someone 246 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 6: is going to talk about you. Someone's not going to 247 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 6: like you. You can spend all your time trying to 248 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 6: win them over, performing perfectly, do whatever they please. 249 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 4: But it will never be enough. 250 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 6: Don't waste another day trying to get their approval. You 251 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 6: don't need them to validate you. Almighty God has already 252 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:15,680 Speaker 6: approved you. Pastor friend of mine has a teenage daughter 253 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 6: and she got pregnant when she was fifteen, and he 254 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,839 Speaker 6: was so upset. He felt like he had failed as 255 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 6: a parent. He's a good man, he has a great ministry. 256 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 6: He came to me with tears. 257 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 4: In his eyes tell me about it. And he was so. 258 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 6: Concerned about how I would respond and would I think 259 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 6: less of him. But I've learned to not judge people. 260 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 6: Everyone is on a journey. The mercy you show others 261 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 6: is the mercy that will be shown back to you 262 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,840 Speaker 6: when you're attempted to look down on someone. 263 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 4: I can't believe they did that. 264 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 6: I can't believe he still struggles in that area. Just remember, 265 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 6: if it was not for the grace of God that 266 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 6: could be you. It wasn't just your own strengths, just 267 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:01,680 Speaker 6: your own choices. It was the of God keeping it 268 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 6: from you. He was very appreciative of the grace that 269 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:09,320 Speaker 6: I showed him, But he was still concerned about what 270 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,839 Speaker 6: people were going to think, and how it was going 271 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 6: to look, and who was going to start talking. I 272 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 6: told him what I'm telling you. You can't control all 273 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 6: of that. If you live trying to protect your image 274 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 6: and keep everyone happy, hoping they'll understand, then you're going 275 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 6: to be frustrated. Life happens to us all. You don't 276 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 6: have to explain yourself to everyone. You don't have to 277 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 6: convince people to try to be for you. The ones 278 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 6: that are judgmental won't show you any mercy. You can 279 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 6: be sure they have issues too, They have things they're 280 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 6: dealing with that they're not telling you about. There's no 281 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 6: shame in being open and honest. The enemy would love 282 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 6: for us all to hide behind masks, go around pretending 283 00:13:55,120 --> 00:14:00,200 Speaker 6: acting like we're perfect, making sure nobody sees our flaws, projecting. 284 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 4: This image that we can't live up to. 285 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 6: Paul said in Second Corinthians, we refuse to wear masks 286 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 6: and play games. We keep everything out in the open, 287 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 6: the whole truth on display. 288 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,199 Speaker 4: Do you need to take off a mask today? 289 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 6: Do you need to quit pretending hiding what you need 290 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 6: to deal with like the Pharisees, doing things for show, 291 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 6: trying to create this image of who you are instead 292 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 6: of just being who you are. 293 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 4: How many people are living for this image? 294 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 6: This is who I want you to see be as 295 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 6: someone greater, smarter, prettier, more popular. When the truth is 296 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 6: who God made you to be is the best youth. 297 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 4: You don't need the image. Just be you. You're made 298 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 4: in the image of God. You already have the best image. 299 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 6: You don't need to pretend. You don't need to do 300 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 6: things for show. Live to please people. Having their approval 301 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 6: is overrated. Move you towards your destiny. Be confident in 302 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 6: who God made you to be. 303 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 4: This is where Saul missed it. He was the first 304 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 4: king of Israel. He was tall, handsome, he looked like 305 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 4: a king. 306 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 6: God chose him from obscurity, didn't come from a prominent family, 307 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 6: was it raised in wealth and influence. Suddenly he was 308 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 6: thrust into a position that he never dreamed possible. And 309 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 6: he started out good, doing what God asked him to do. 310 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 6: But over time he made the mistake that's easy to make. 311 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 6: He started letting what people thought how he would be accepted. 312 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 4: Influence his decisions. For Samuel sixteen. 313 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 6: God gave him specific instructions to wipe out all of 314 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 6: the Amalekites, not to. 315 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 4: Spare anyone or anything, the leaders, the. 316 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 6: Animals, the flocks, the supplies, but to destroy them all. 317 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 4: He went and attacked. 318 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 6: He obeyed that part, but instead of just join everything, 319 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 6: he spared the king, he kept the best cattle, the 320 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 6: best sheep, all the supplies. 321 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 4: The next day, the prophet Samuel showed up. 322 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 6: Saul greeted him, said, so excitedly, I did what the 323 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 6: Lord commanded. 324 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 4: We won the victory. 325 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 6: Samuel said, if you did what he commanded, why do 326 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 6: I hear those sheep? Why do I see those cattle? 327 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 6: Saul said, oh, come on, Samuel, I just kept a 328 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 6: few so our people could enjoy them. I didn't destroy 329 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 6: all the supplies. 330 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 4: We can use them in the future. 331 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 6: Besides, some of these sheep we're going to take and 332 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 6: sacrifice them to God started making all these excuses, all 333 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 6: these reasons why he didn't do it. Samuel said, Saul, 334 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 6: obedience is much better than sacrifice. 335 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 4: Verse twenty four. 336 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 6: Saul finally admitted why he didn't fully obey. 337 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 4: He said, I did not. 338 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 6: Follow God's commands, for I was afraid of the people, 339 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 6: and instead I did what they demanded. How many of 340 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 6: us are like Saul. We know God has told us 341 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 6: to do something. We feel that impression down in here, 342 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 6: but we have to please the people. Someone may not understand, 343 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:15,959 Speaker 6: they may think less of us, they may leave us 344 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 6: out of their group. 345 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 4: Saul's attitude was I have to perform for my popularity, 346 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 4: to keep my followers. 347 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 6: My friends have to do what they want, impress, pretend, hide, 348 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 6: I have to keep this image up. The problem with 349 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:35,639 Speaker 6: living image driven is you can't please God and please 350 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 6: people all of the time. Sometimes God will ask you 351 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 6: to do something that's not popular, that people don't understand, 352 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 6: that your friends don't accept. That cause coworkers to look 353 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 6: down on you. You mean you won't go party after work? 354 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,640 Speaker 4: You think you're too good for us, don't you? If 355 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 4: your image driven, you'll say no, I'll go. I don't 356 00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 4: want you to think less of me. 357 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 6: But if you're driven by your purpose, you'll say no, thanks, 358 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:03,199 Speaker 6: You'll have to go without me. 359 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:05,120 Speaker 4: I have a destiny to fulfill. 360 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 6: You'll be more interested in pleasing God than in pleasing people. 361 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:15,400 Speaker 6: Because Saul was a people pleaser, because he wouldn't fully obey, 362 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 6: he lost the kingdom. 363 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 4: What could have Saul become if he had not lived? 364 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 6: Image driven, worried about what people think, trying to impress, 365 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 6: to perform, having to pretend to win people over. 366 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 4: None of that moves you forward. Be driven by your purpose. 367 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 6: Be more concerned about how God sees you than how 368 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:39,120 Speaker 6: people see you. 369 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 4: He's the one that matters. 370 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 6: When my father went to be with the Lord and 371 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 6: I stepped up to pastor the church, there were a 372 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 6: lot of people telling me which direction to go and 373 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 6: who I should become. 374 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 4: They were good people, They loved me. 375 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 6: But one wanted me to go this way, another that way, 376 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 6: and another takes to this way. 377 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 4: There were so many voices that I was confused. I thought, 378 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 4: I don't even know who I am. 379 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 6: When you're always trying to please people, you can lose 380 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 6: who you are. My personality type is I want people 381 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 6: to accept me. 382 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 4: I want them to like me. I had to do 383 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 4: what I'm asking us to do. 384 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 6: I got quiet before God when I searched my heart. 385 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 6: I knew what he was leading me to do. The 386 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 6: problem was it was not what some of them wanted 387 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:33,120 Speaker 6: me to do. I had to decide, am I going 388 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:35,439 Speaker 6: to be who they want? Me to be or am 389 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:37,400 Speaker 6: I going to be who God wants me to be. 390 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:41,199 Speaker 6: I had to disappoint a few people in order to 391 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 6: not disappoint God. 392 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 4: Some of them looked down on me, few. 393 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:49,120 Speaker 6: Criticized, couple left the church, said I would never make it, 394 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 6: But I think it's turned out okay. 395 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 4: It's better to please God than to please people. 396 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 6: Don't let them squeeze you into their mind. Take your 397 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 6: image off the throne. What other people want you to be, 398 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 6: Having to perform to keep their friendship, Pretend to stay popular, 399 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 6: impressed to be like that's too much pressure to live under. 400 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 4: It's hard to be something you're not. It's hard to 401 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 4: keep everyone. 402 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 6: Happening, wear different masks, pretending depending on who you're with. 403 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:27,199 Speaker 4: You know what's easy being you, being real, being vulnerable. 404 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,719 Speaker 6: What makes it complicated is when we put our image 405 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,639 Speaker 6: on the throne instead of having God on the throne. 406 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,719 Speaker 6: When we're obsessed with our image, so much time and 407 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 6: energy is spent trying to please others, trying to look good, 408 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,400 Speaker 6: we end up like the pharisees, doing things for show 409 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 6: and me impress them. 410 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:48,879 Speaker 4: This will make me more popular. 411 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:52,919 Speaker 6: When the truth is doing what God's asking you to 412 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 6: do being who He made you to be. That's where 413 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 6: the blessing is, That's where the anointing is, that's where 414 00:20:59,880 --> 00:21:03,479 Speaker 6: the power is. When you take off the mask and 415 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:07,120 Speaker 6: live as the authentic you, he'll shine down his favor, 416 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 6: take your further than you've ever dreamed. Saul was rejected 417 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 6: as the king. Samuel chose a young man named David 418 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 6: to be the next king. One difference between Saul and 419 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 6: David is David wasn't image driven. He didn't spend his 420 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 6: time worried about what other people thought, trying to please everyone. 421 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 4: His focus was on fulfilling his purpose. 422 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 6: One time, the Ark of the Covenant was a large 423 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 6: box that represented where God lived. It had been taken 424 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:42,640 Speaker 6: from the Israelites. They'd been trying to get it back 425 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:46,439 Speaker 6: for months. Finally David was able to recover it. He 426 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,880 Speaker 6: brought it back to Jerusalem. There was a big celebration. 427 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:54,120 Speaker 6: The scripture says David danced before the Lord with all 428 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 6: of his might. There's great shouting, trumpets, blowing music playing. 429 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 6: Right in the middle of it all, there's David putting 430 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 6: Michael Jackson to shamee, dancing, celebrating, worshiping, praising. Now David 431 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:12,879 Speaker 6: was this respected, influential leader. He could have thought, I 432 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:16,879 Speaker 6: need to be more reserved, proper and sophisticated. I can't 433 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 6: let these people see me show an emotion, praising with 434 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:21,440 Speaker 6: all my might. 435 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 4: They may think I go to Lakewood, that. 436 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 6: I'm one of those happy, joyful, victorious people. But David 437 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:32,520 Speaker 6: didn't have his image on the throne. He didn't run 438 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 6: his worship through a filter of what people would think. 439 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 4: When he saw the goodness. 440 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 6: Of God, even though he was the king, he didn't 441 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 6: hold back. What he didn't know was his wife. This 442 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 6: was King Saul's daughter. She was watching him dancing, praising, 443 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 6: showing all this emotion, and she was offended. She looked 444 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 6: at him and scorned, disgusted. When David got home, she 445 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 6: let him have it. She said, what are you doing 446 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 6: out there dancing like a fool, showing your legs. 447 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 4: Don't you know you're the king? You have an image 448 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 4: to withhold. 449 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:12,400 Speaker 6: You're supposed to be prim proper, reserve. That was the 450 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 6: mold she was trying to put David in. David said, 451 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:19,160 Speaker 6: in effect, I love you, but I wasn't dancing under you. 452 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:21,400 Speaker 4: I was dancing under my God. 453 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 6: I was thanking him for the great mercy, the great 454 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 6: favor that he's shown me. He went on to say, 455 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 6: I'm willing to look like a fool to express. 456 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 4: The goodness of God in my life. 457 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:37,159 Speaker 6: David was saying, you may look down on me, but 458 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:37,920 Speaker 6: that's okay. 459 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:40,879 Speaker 4: My image is not on the throne. God is on 460 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 4: the throne. 461 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 6: I'm not going to be who people want me to be. 462 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 6: I'm going to be who God wants me to be. 463 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 6: Notice the difference between King Saul and King David. 464 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 4: Saul was a people pleaser. David was a God pleaser. 465 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 6: Saul had his image on the throne. David had God 466 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:02,119 Speaker 6: on the throne. Saul was driven by his image. David 467 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 6: was driven by his purpose. Don't be a Saul and 468 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 6: miss your destiny. 469 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:07,479 Speaker 4: Be a David. 470 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:10,879 Speaker 6: And like with David, sure there will be people that 471 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 6: try to put you in their box, convince you to 472 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:17,120 Speaker 6: be who they want you to be. If you're not strong, 473 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 6: if you're focused on having people approve you, you live to 474 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 6: impress them, You'll end up letting their image of you 475 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 6: become a reality. 476 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 4: Sometimes it's not our own images, it's other people's images. 477 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 6: Your friend wants you to be this, your cousin wants 478 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:35,919 Speaker 6: you to be that your neighbor wants you to be 479 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:40,960 Speaker 6: this other. Be respectful, listen to advice, but don't let 480 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:44,160 Speaker 6: anyone talk you out of what God put in your heart. 481 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 4: You have a responsibility to become who He created you 482 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:51,680 Speaker 4: to be. When you come to the end of life. 483 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 6: He's not going to say, why weren't you more like 484 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 6: your cousin, Why weren't you more like your coworker, Why 485 00:24:57,280 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 6: weren't you more. 486 00:24:57,880 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 4: Like your friend. 487 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 6: He's going to say, why weren't you who I created 488 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:02,679 Speaker 6: you to be. 489 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 4: Why did you let people squeeze you into their mold? 490 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:10,359 Speaker 6: Why did you live pretending, wearing masks, hiding when you 491 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 6: needed help, acting like everything was okay? 492 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:16,919 Speaker 4: Take the image down and step up to who you 493 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 4: were created to be. 494 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 6: A few years ago, a miniSTR I know called me, 495 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,720 Speaker 6: and he's much older than I am. He's very well 496 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 6: respected and very influential, and he's very strong and very opinionated. 497 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 6: He started telling me how to use my influence, what 498 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:36,679 Speaker 6: I needed to do, and where I needed. 499 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 4: To change, and how if. 500 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 6: I didn't do it this way, it wasn't going to 501 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 6: be right. I'm very nice, I'm very kind, but when 502 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:47,360 Speaker 6: it comes to my destiny, what I believe God has 503 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:48,200 Speaker 6: called me to do. 504 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 4: I'm very strong. 505 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:52,920 Speaker 6: As hard as he came at me, as forceful, as 506 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 6: certain as the authority, I went back at him with 507 00:25:55,920 --> 00:26:00,440 Speaker 6: that same authority. I was respectful, but I told him 508 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:02,880 Speaker 6: when I come to the end of my life, I'm 509 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 6: not going to answer to you when you're telling me, 510 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 6: does not bear witness with my spirit. 511 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 4: I know what God has called me to do. 512 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:15,159 Speaker 6: I'm going to run my race with purpose, with integrity, 513 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 6: with compassion. If my image was on the throne, I 514 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:20,240 Speaker 6: wouldn't be worried. 515 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 4: What's he going to think about me? What if he 516 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:27,040 Speaker 4: doesn't approve me? Some of these situations are tests. 517 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 6: Are you going to live to please others or are 518 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 6: you going to live to please God. I don't mean 519 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,119 Speaker 6: to never take ad bys to be disrespectful, but you 520 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 6: have to be strong when it comes to other people 521 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 6: putting their demands on you, trying to squeeze you. 522 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:43,680 Speaker 4: Into their mold. 523 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 6: You can hear from God about your life more than. 524 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:48,640 Speaker 4: Any other person. 525 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 6: God is not going to tell someone else everything about 526 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:53,400 Speaker 6: your destiny. 527 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 4: Others may confirm it, they. 528 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,360 Speaker 6: May encourage you, but the Holy Spirit lives in you 529 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 6: he's your guide, your counselor your helper. 530 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:04,719 Speaker 4: Trust what you're hearing on the inside. 531 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 6: In the Scripture three Hebrew teenagers wouldn't bow down to 532 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 6: the king's golden idoling. He's going to have them thrown 533 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 6: into a furnace. The idol is described as a golden image. 534 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:20,920 Speaker 4: It was actually an image of King Nebukazzar. It was 535 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:24,440 Speaker 4: a physical thing. But I believe there's a spiritual principle. 536 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:29,280 Speaker 6: The teenagers wouldn't bow down to an image. How many 537 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 6: of us today are bowing down to an image? The 538 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 6: image we've created, what we project, what we want people 539 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:41,440 Speaker 6: to see. Or maybe it's the image others have created squeezed. 540 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 4: Into their mold. 541 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:45,719 Speaker 6: It's time to stop bowing down to that image. Like 542 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,719 Speaker 6: Paul said, we're not playing games, we're not pretending. 543 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 4: We're taking off the mask. That's too much pressure. 544 00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:56,399 Speaker 6: The reason some people are run down, worn out, not 545 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:57,480 Speaker 6: enjoying life. 546 00:27:57,720 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 4: Is they have this image. To keep up. 547 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 6: You have to be five different people, one for your neighbor, 548 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:05,359 Speaker 6: one for your spouse, one for your friends, trying to 549 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 6: please everyone, keep them happy. Do yourself a favor, take 550 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:11,880 Speaker 6: your image off the throne and put God. 551 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:15,159 Speaker 4: Back on the throne. Quit bowing down to that image. 552 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 6: If you'll do this, I believe and declare, weights are. 553 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 4: Going to lift off of you. 554 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:24,920 Speaker 6: You're going to live freer, happier, more fulfilled, and you're 555 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:28,920 Speaker 6: going to become all you were created to be in Jesus' name. 556 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 4: If you receive it, can you say amen? 557 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 6: I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 558 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 6: the Lord of your life. 559 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 4: Would you pray with me? 560 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:44,240 Speaker 6: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins, Come 561 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 6: into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior. 562 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 4: Amen. 563 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 6: Well, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 564 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 6: got born again. We'd love to send you some free 565 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 6: literature your new walk with the Lord. You can text 566 00:28:57,560 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 6: the number on the screen or go to the website. 567 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 6: I hope you'll get into a good Bible based church 568 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:07,160 Speaker 6: and keep God first place. Thanks so much for listening 569 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 6: to today's message. 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