1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 1: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 5 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: for God's very best in your life. Will God bless you? 6 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: It's a joy to come into your homes. We love 7 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: you and we know God has good things in store. 8 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: If you're ever in our area, please stop buying and 9 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: be a part of one of our services. I promise 10 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: you we'll make you feel right at home. But thanks 11 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: for tuning in today and thanks again for coming out. 12 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 1: I like to start with something funny each week, and 13 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: I heard about this pastor. He was raising money for 14 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: a new auditorium. He said to the congregation, anyone who 15 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 1: will give a thousand dollars can pick out the next 16 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: three hymns. A little old lady in the back stood 17 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: up and said, Pastor, I'll do it. He was so excited. 18 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: He said, thank you, Now, which three hymns would you like? 19 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: She looked over the congregation said I'll take him, and 20 00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: him and him hold up your bibles, say it like 21 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 1: you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what 22 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: it says I am. I have what it says I have. 23 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do. Today 24 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,759 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 25 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 26 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 27 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about knowing what 28 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 1: to ignore. If you're going to live in victory, you 29 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: have to be very selective as to what you give 30 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 1: your time and attention to. You have to know what 31 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: thoughts to ignore, what comments to ignore. And I say 32 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:43,199 Speaker 1: this respectfully, what people to ignore. Every battle that comes 33 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,479 Speaker 1: across our path is not a battle we're supposed to fight. 34 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: Many battles are simply distractions to try to lure us 35 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: off course. If that battle is not between you and 36 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: your god given destiny, it's a battle. You should ignore. 37 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: That person the office that's always getting on your nerves 38 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: making sarcastic comments. You can either get in there and 39 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: try to fight that battle and straighten them out. If 40 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: you do, you are wasting valuable time and energy that 41 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 1: you should be using to pursue your dreams. It's a distraction. 42 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: Ignore it. That family member that never gives you any credit. 43 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: They celebrate everybody but you. You can either let that upset 44 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,399 Speaker 1: you and live frustrated, or you can dismiss it and say, 45 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: no big deal. I don't need their approval. I have 46 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: Almighty God's approval. It's very freeing when you realize you 47 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: don't have to fight every battle, you don't have to 48 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: straighten people out, you don't have to pay somebody back, 49 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: you don't have to be offended because what they said, 50 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,519 Speaker 1: you could ignore it and live life happy. Now I'm 51 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: convinced we would enjoy life a whole lot more if 52 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 1: we would get good at knowing what to ignore. A 53 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: reporter asked me not long ago, what I thought about 54 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 1: these two men? He called their name. I didn't know 55 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,399 Speaker 1: who they were. I'd never heard of them. I thought 56 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: about it. I finally said, I'm sorry, I don't know them. 57 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: He began to laugh and laugh. He thought that was 58 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: so funny. I thought I was missing out, and I said, well, 59 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: who are they? He said, Joel, they are your two 60 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: most outspoken critics. They're always talking about you. He couldn't 61 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: believe that I'd never heard of them. But see, I've 62 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: learned this principle. I don't waste time engaging in conflicts 63 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: that don't matter. I've learned the critics cannot keep you 64 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 1: from your destiny. What they say about you doesn't define 65 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: who you are. What somebody does or doesn't give you 66 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: doesn't determine your worth and value. You are a child 67 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: of the most High God, the creator of the universe, 68 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: breathed life into you. You have seeds of greatness on 69 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: the inside. You've been crowned with favor. God is already 70 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: equipped and empowered you with everything that you need. Now, 71 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: don't waste your valuable time trying to play up to people, 72 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: trying to win over all your critics, trying to prove 73 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: to someone that you're important. Though those are battles that 74 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: you're probably never going to win. You have to accept 75 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: the fact some people are never going to celebrate you. 76 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: They're never going to recognize your gifts. That's okay, don't 77 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: get distracted. God has already lined up the right people 78 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: that will celebrate you, the right people that will cheer 79 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: you own and help you fulfill your destiny. One time 80 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 1: Jesus was in the temple. It was on the Sabbath, 81 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 1: their day of rest, and he saw man with a 82 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,119 Speaker 1: withered hand, and Jesus simply said, stretch forth your hand, 83 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: and immediately the man was healed. The religious leaders, the Pharisees, 84 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: were there, and they didn't like Jesus, they didn't understand him. 85 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:57,799 Speaker 1: They got together and said, yes, Jesus did do something good. 86 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,040 Speaker 1: He did heal a man. But you know what, but 87 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,919 Speaker 1: he did it on the wrong day. He shouldn't have 88 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:06,280 Speaker 1: been working on the sabbath. Some people, no matter what 89 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,359 Speaker 1: you do, they're not going to be for you. Even 90 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: if you changed and met all their demands and did 91 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: everything they're asking, they'd still find something you're doing wrong. 92 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: You could go buy them a brand new Cadillac handing 93 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:22,359 Speaker 1: the car keys, they say, you know what I really wanted, Alexis. 94 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 1: They'll overlook the goods and find some kind of fault. 95 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: Let me give you a secret, save you a lot 96 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: of heartache and pain. Ignore it. You don't need their approval. 97 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: You don't have to have them cheering you on. They 98 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: may try to make you look bad, but if you'll 99 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: stay on the high road and let God fight your battles, 100 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: the more they talk, the more God will bless you. 101 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 1: They may try to take you down. God will use 102 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: it to take you up. The key is to not 103 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: get distracted. It's very easy to want to fight every battle, 104 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: pay every person back, and think, well, Joel, what they 105 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: said was wrong. I'm going to prove to them that 106 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 1: I'm right. I'm gonna get in there and defend myself. 107 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 1: Now you have to ask yourself. If you get involved 108 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 1: and you do win the battle, what is the prize. 109 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: Is it going to advance you further, is it towards 110 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: you and your destiny, or is it just a distraction 111 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: to steal your time and energy. I think we'd be 112 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: amazed at how many battles we get engaged in that 113 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: really don't matter. Is it really worth ruining an evening 114 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 1: with your spouse arguing over what channel to watch on 115 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: the television, or do like victory and I get two TVs? 116 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: Is it really worth getting upset because somebody cuts you 117 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: off in traffic or because the boss was rude. Life 118 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: would not only be much more enjoyable, but we would 119 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: accomplish much more if we would learn what to ignore 120 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 1: the energy we spend arguing about things that don't matter, 121 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: trying to prove to someone we're important, trying to win 122 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: over all of our critics that's energy we're not going 123 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: to have to pursue our god giving goals and dreams. 124 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: I talked to a very well known minister a while back. 125 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: He's really respected, been in the ministry for a long 126 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: long time. I ask him, if you had to do 127 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: it over again, what would you change, What would you 128 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: do differently? Give me some advice without missing a beat, 129 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: he said, I would ignore a lot more. I wouldn't 130 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: respond to every critic. I wouldn't waste time arguing about 131 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: things that didn't matter. I wouldn't spend so much energy 132 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: trying to make everybody understand me and make everybody accept me. Now, 133 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 1: I believe many of us would see our life go 134 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: to a new level if we would just start ignoring 135 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: things that weren't important. And In First Samuel chapter ten, 136 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: Saul was chosen to be the next king of Israel. 137 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 1: The prophet Samuel annointed his head and called him up 138 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: in front of all of the people and said he's 139 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: going to be our next king. Most of the people 140 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: were very excited and they congratulated Saul. But when Saul 141 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: got back home, the people that knew him the most, 142 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: some of his longtime friends, they didn't like Samuel's choice. 143 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: They begin to laugh and mock and ridicule. They said, 144 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: Saul is not our king, he's not a leader. He 145 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: doesn't have what it takes the truth be known. They 146 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: were jealous of Saw. They were so insecure, so intimidated, 147 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: they had to try to push Saul down so they 148 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: would look bigger. Remember this phrase, when people be little you, 149 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 1: they are being little. Small minded people won't celebrate you. 150 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: Small minded people will be jealous, be gossipers, and try 151 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,439 Speaker 1: to make you look bad. Here's a key. Don't ever 152 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: fight battles with small minded people. Your future is too 153 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 1: big to get distracted by somebody the small. They're not 154 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: going where God has taking you. Friends, you are called 155 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 1: to be an eagle, you are called a sword to 156 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: do great things. But in life we will all have 157 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 1: some crows crowing at us, some chickens pecking at us, 158 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 1: some hawks trying to fight with us, trying to bait 159 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 1: us into conflict. Don't get drawn into those battles. You 160 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 1: have an advantage. You're an eagle. You can fly at 161 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 1: heights that no other birds can fly. Eagles have been 162 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: spotted as high as twenty thousand feet in the air. 163 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: Now redware a crow is known to try to pester 164 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 1: the eagle, even though the eagle is much larger. The 165 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:36,079 Speaker 1: crow is much more agile. It can turn and maneuver 166 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: a lot quicker, and at times the crow will come 167 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: behind the eagle and just follow it, trying to pester it, 168 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: annoy it, aggravate it. But the eagle knows this secret. 169 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: It can fly at altitudes that the crow cannot fly, 170 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: and so instead of getting all upset and trying to 171 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: pay that crow back, the eagle simply rises higher and 172 00:09:56,320 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 1: higher and higher, and eventually the crow falls off. So 173 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 1: when someone is pestering you, when they're being jealous, when 174 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: they're trying to make you look bad, don't be a 175 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: crow get in there and fight with them, trying to 176 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 1: pay them back. No, you're an eagle, Rise above it. 177 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 1: Don't let it bother you. Don't respond to every criticism. 178 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: Don't waste your valuable energy fighting battles that are not necessary. 179 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: All you've got to do is come up higher. And 180 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 1: the crows and the chickens and the turkeys they can't 181 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 1: soar where you're able to soar. I'm asking you today 182 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: to ignore some things. Some of you have gotten all 183 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 1: worked up. Over something insignificant. You're allowing small minded people 184 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:43,679 Speaker 1: to steal your joy and keep you from what's really important. 185 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: Get your focus back. Why you say, Joe, if he 186 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: would quit talking about me, then I wouldn't be so 187 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:52,319 Speaker 1: stressed out. Now, let me give you a newsplash. If 188 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: he quits talking, somebody else will start talking. Somebody's always 189 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 1: talking about us, we just may not realize it. Don't 190 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: let it bother you. After all, God hears what they're saying, 191 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 1: and if you'll stay in faith, God will make it 192 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:10,239 Speaker 1: up to you. Quit being frustrated because somebody's not celebrating 193 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: your gifts. Use your energy to improve your skills, to 194 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 1: be the best that you can be, and as I said, 195 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: God will bring the people across your path that will 196 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: celebrate you. Saul could have easily lost his focus and 197 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: said to those people that were making fun of him, 198 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 1: what are you talking about? I am a good leader. 199 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: I do have what it takes. He could have gotten 200 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 1: distracted and spent all of his energy trying to prove 201 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: to them who he was. It says in verse twenty seven. 202 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: They despise Saul and refused to bring him gifts. What 203 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 1: did he do but Saul ignored them. One translation says 204 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: he paid them no mind. My message to you today is, 205 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 1: pay no mind to jealous people. Pay no mind to 206 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 1: people that don't celebrate you mind to people that try 207 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: to make you look small. Ignore their comments, ignore their insults. 208 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: Ignore the naysayers. They don't control your destiny. God does. 209 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: They are simply distractions to try to keep you from 210 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: God's best. Saul understood this principle. He knew not everybody 211 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: is going to be for me, but I'm not going 212 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 1: to waste my time trying to convince them. If you're 213 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 1: going to fulfill your destiny, you got to do like Saul, 214 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: instead of playing up to people, trying to win over 215 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: all your critics, trying to prove to everyone that you 216 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: are important. You know, the key is just ignore it. 217 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: Don't lose any sleep over somebody that is not for you. 218 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 1: Don't give your attention to somebody that doesn't value who 219 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 1: you are. If Saul would have gotten engaged in this 220 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: conflict of trying to win over his naysayers, he would 221 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 1: have never been who God called him to be. And friends, 222 00:12:55,920 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: your destiny is too great to get distracted by jealous, critical, 223 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,439 Speaker 1: small minded people. If you focus on what they're saying 224 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: about you and how Joel, they're doing me wrong. They're 225 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: not giving me any respect. No, that poison will get 226 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: on the inside. Before long, you'll end up fighting a 227 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 1: battle that you were never supposed to fight. Ignore their comments, 228 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: pay no attention to their insults. Set your face like 229 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:25,560 Speaker 1: a flint, and run your race. Don't look to the 230 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: left nor to the right. Just stay focused and do 231 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 1: what God's called you to do. After all, when we 232 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: come to the end of our lives, we're not going 233 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 1: to have to give an account to the critic. We're 234 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 1: not going to have to answer to the naysayer, to 235 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: the jealous person, to the person that didn't believe in you. 236 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:44,960 Speaker 1: We're going to have to give an account to Almighty God, 237 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: the creator of the universe. And when we can stand 238 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,959 Speaker 1: before Him with our head held high and say, God, 239 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: I did my best, iren my race, I finished my course. 240 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: I became who you created me to be. That's trueful film, 241 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 1: that's when you're gonna receive your reward. And this was 242 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: difficult for me because my personality type is to want 243 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: everybody to like me. Now, I used to do everything 244 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,839 Speaker 1: I could to convince people that I really am nice 245 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: and you really should be my friend. But one day 246 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: I realized that was keeping me from rising higher. I 247 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: was spending all my time and energy trying to win 248 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 1: over people, some of which were never going to be 249 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: for me. I had to ask myself, Joel, are you 250 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: going to live to please people? Or are you going 251 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: to live to please God. I had to accept the 252 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: fact that not everybody is gonna like me, not everybody's 253 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: gonna understand me. But that's okay. They didn't understand Jesus, 254 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: they didn't celebrate King Saul. I'm gonna do what he did. 255 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: I'm gonna pay them no mind. I've become a professional ignorer. 256 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: I've gotten good at it. And don't get me wrong, 257 00:14:56,440 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: I'm all for treating every person with respect, being kind 258 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: and considerate. But I'm saying, don't waste your valuable time 259 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: trying to win over people that are never going to 260 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 1: be one over. If somebody doesn't celebrate you, move on. 261 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: If they're not for you, be kind, be considerate, but 262 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: shake the dust off your feet. Don't waste one ounce 263 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: of your energy trying to convince them to like you. 264 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: When my father went to be with the Lord back 265 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 1: in nineteen ninety nine and I stepped up to pasture 266 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: the church. I was very concerned because I didn't minister 267 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: exactly like my father. My personality is more laid back, easygoing. 268 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: If you knew my father, he was a little bit 269 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: more firing. My father had been at the church for 270 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 1: forty years, and there was this underlying pressure to be 271 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 1: like my dad. At first, I tried to minister like him, 272 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: and tried to run the church like he did, and 273 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: tried to do everything the same way. I realized, I'm 274 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 1: wearing myself out trying to be something that I'm not. 275 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 1: I'm not pursuing what God put in my heart. I'm 276 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 1: too trying to keep everybody happy. After all, I didn't 277 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 1: want to lose anybody. I finally decided, I'm just going 278 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: to be myself and do it the way God's leading me. 279 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 1: Ninety nine point nine percent of the people were totally 280 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: behind me, very loyal, but there were a few that 281 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: I could tell were not for me anymore. They didn't 282 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: like the way I ministered, or maybe they didn't like 283 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: the way I was leading the church. I felt this 284 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: pressure so strongly to fit into their mold and become 285 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: who they wanted me to be. But friends, there is 286 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: an anointing on your life, not to be somebody else. 287 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 1: You are anointed to be you. When you let people 288 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: squeeze you into their mold and bow down to their 289 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 1: pressure and try to please all the critics, it takes 290 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 1: away your power, It takes away your uniqueness, It lessens 291 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: God's favor. And I stepped into my own anoying and 292 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: I made those changes. And few of the people didn't like. 293 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: Some of them had been here a long time. They 294 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 1: started talking. I did what I'm asking you to do. 295 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 1: I ignored it. They didn't celebrate me, but I paid 296 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: them no mind. I didn't lose any sleep. I didn't 297 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: try to win them over. I didn't say here, just 298 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,640 Speaker 1: hear my heart. No. I just ran my race with purpose, 299 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: with focus, with integrity. I saw God give me his 300 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: favor more and more. Eventually those people left. They didn't 301 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:28,879 Speaker 1: stick around. But can I tell you God brought me 302 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,159 Speaker 1: a lot more people, some forty thousand more. When you 303 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: do it God's way, you never lose out. When you 304 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,880 Speaker 1: stay focused and do what God's put in your heart, 305 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: you don't get distracted by the critics and the naysayers 306 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:47,879 Speaker 1: and you ignore the jealous, cynical, small minded people. Listen. 307 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: All the forces of darkness cannot keep you from where 308 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 1: God wants you to go. Some of you today you 309 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: need to break free. You're not annointed to keep everybody happy. 310 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:01,399 Speaker 1: You're annointed to run your race. You say, Joel, if 311 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 1: I do this, they may not be my friend anymore. 312 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: That's okay. God will bring you some new friends. And 313 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:09,400 Speaker 1: let me tell you, God will bring you true friends, 314 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: not people that have to manipulate you and try to 315 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: make you do it the way they want. God will 316 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:18,160 Speaker 1: bring you people that celebrates you, people that will let 317 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 1: you be who He's called you to be. If you're 318 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:25,120 Speaker 1: going to do anything great in life, there will be critics. 319 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: If you're going to be a great business person, a 320 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:31,640 Speaker 1: great coach, a great student, a great leader, there will 321 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:35,640 Speaker 1: be opposition and people that judge, and people that get jealous. 322 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 1: I've heard it said, if you get kicked in the rear, 323 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: it means that you're out in front. In other words, 324 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 1: when people come against you and they're jealous and critical, 325 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:47,879 Speaker 1: take it as a compliment. It's because you're making a 326 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,920 Speaker 1: difference in a big race. Nobody is focused on who's 327 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: in twentieth place, In twenty first and twenty second, all 328 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: the eyes are on the front runners, first place, second place, 329 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 1: third place. The majority of the attention is on the winners. 330 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,399 Speaker 1: And I know today I am looking at a group 331 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,440 Speaker 1: of winners. I am looking at people that are making 332 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: a difference. I'm looking at people that are pursuing their 333 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 1: god giving goals doing great things in life. But here's 334 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: a point. The more success you have, the more opportunities 335 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:24,680 Speaker 1: there will be for distractions. Here's why. The higher you go, 336 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,200 Speaker 1: the more haters will come out. When you start stretching 337 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:30,679 Speaker 1: to a new level and pursuing what God's put in 338 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: your heart. The jealous people, the critical people, the small 339 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: minded people, they'll come out of the woodwork and start 340 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: making negative comments, start judging you. That's when you've got 341 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 1: to dig your heels in, set your face like a flint, 342 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 1: and say I will not get distracted. I will not 343 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: get drawn into battles that don't matter. I will not 344 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: quit because somebody's talking about me. I will not give 345 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:56,199 Speaker 1: up because my good friend got jealous. I will not 346 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: get discouraged because someone's not celebrating me. No, I'm not 347 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 1: a peace pleaser. I'm a God pleaser. I'm gonna run 348 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: my race. I'm gonna finish my course. The more God 349 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 1: promotes you, the better you have to become at ignoring. 350 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:13,640 Speaker 1: You've got to get to the point where you won't 351 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 1: even think twice about getting involved in a conflict unless 352 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: you know it's between you and your God given destiny. 353 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:24,679 Speaker 1: Your time is too valuable to waste it being distracted. 354 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 1: Life is too short to be upset because somebody's talking 355 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:32,119 Speaker 1: about us, or to be offended because a jealous co 356 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:35,439 Speaker 1: worker is trying to make us look bad, or go 357 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 1: around frustrated because a family member doesn't celebrate us. Don't 358 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 1: get drawn into those battles. Do like King Saul, ignore it, 359 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: pay it no mind, run your own race. I don't 360 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: know about you, but I don't have time to sit 361 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: around and think about all the people that don't like me. 362 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 1: I realize every day is a gift from God. Now 363 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 1: our time is way too valuable to try to figure 364 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: out how we can please everybody and how we can 365 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:05,440 Speaker 1: win over every critic. Get up in the morning, search 366 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:08,199 Speaker 1: your own heart, make sure you're doing what you know 367 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 1: God wants you to do. Then go out during the 368 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 1: day and be your best and then let the chips 369 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:16,640 Speaker 1: fall where they may. But I know people they think 370 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:19,680 Speaker 1: more about what other people are saying about them than 371 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 1: they do pursuing their own goals and dreams. When I 372 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 1: first started ministering, I was very insecure, and if I 373 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: heard one negative comment, I would get discouraged. I could 374 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 1: have two hundred people come up to me after the 375 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,400 Speaker 1: service and tell me, Joel, that was a great message. 376 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:37,199 Speaker 1: I really got something out of it. But one person 377 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:40,399 Speaker 1: would say, Joel, I didn't understand that point. It just 378 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 1: wasn't for me today, and I'd drive home all depressed. 379 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 1: I so badly needed everyone's approval. Listen, I have come 380 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 1: a long way, baby. People. People can say anything they want, 381 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 1: and I drive home just as happy and free as 382 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 1: can be. In fact, when I walk off the platform 383 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:05,439 Speaker 1: each week, I go in the back and look at 384 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:09,160 Speaker 1: myself in the mirror and said, Joel, that was great. Today. 385 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 1: I've learned to encourage myself quit dwelling on the negative 386 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: things people have said about you. Don't get on the 387 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 1: internet and read something bad that somebody wrote about you. 388 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 1: All that's going to do is poison you, and before 389 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 1: long you're going to be defensive, trying to prove to 390 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:29,359 Speaker 1: everybody that you're really okay. Now, you've got to be 391 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 1: so secure in who God made you to be that 392 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: those comments bounce off of you like water off of 393 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:38,359 Speaker 1: a dust's back. You got to be so confident in 394 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: your calling that you don't have to have everybody's cheering 395 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,399 Speaker 1: you on. You don't have to have everyone's approval, You 396 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: have God's approval. I think about in the scripture when 397 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:51,959 Speaker 1: people criticize Jesus and they came against him many times, 398 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:56,359 Speaker 1: it says Jesus answered them not a word. He didn't 399 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 1: respond to his critics. He didn't try to convince them 400 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 1: to change their mind. Jesus didn't get upset because somebody 401 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:05,960 Speaker 1: was talking about him. He just ignored it. When people 402 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:08,679 Speaker 1: come against you and jealous try to make you look bad, 403 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:12,400 Speaker 1: remember you're in good company. Jesus was probably criticized more 404 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: than anyone else, and I love the fact he didn't 405 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:17,919 Speaker 1: try to explain himself. He didn't try to make everyone 406 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:21,399 Speaker 1: understand him. He just stayed focused and ran his race. 407 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 1: And some of you today, you could step into a 408 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 1: new freedom. You could see your life go to a 409 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 1: new level if you would just quit fighting battles that 410 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: don't matter. So somebody's talking about you, join the crowd. 411 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 1: Ignore it. So somebody lied about you, join the crowd, 412 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 1: ignore it. So somebody's not celebrating you, ignore it. Let 413 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:44,920 Speaker 1: me make it more practical. So somebody parked in you're 414 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:49,400 Speaker 1: parking spot, ignore it. Friends, you don't have to fight 415 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,399 Speaker 1: every battle. You don't have to respond to every critic. 416 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:55,119 Speaker 1: You don't have to be offended because what they said, 417 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 1: you can do like King Saw and ignore it. You're 418 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: not a crow, You're an e. You can rise above it. 419 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: You can soar at new heights. This is what Neamiah did. 420 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 1: God called him to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and 421 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:11,640 Speaker 1: he and his men got started. But he had two 422 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:17,439 Speaker 1: main critics, Sanballat and Tobias. They were constantly criticizing him, 423 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,879 Speaker 1: spreading rumors, trying to make him look bad. They said, 424 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: Niamiah is not a builder. He doesn't know what he's doing. 425 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:27,520 Speaker 1: If a fox runs on this wall, it's gonna fall down. 426 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 1: The whole time Neamiah and his men had to listen 427 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:34,680 Speaker 1: to these two men, belittle them, ridiculed them, making fun 428 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 1: of them. What did Neamiah do? He ignored them. He 429 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 1: let it go in one ear and out the other. 430 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:43,520 Speaker 1: When that didn't work, they went to the city leaders 431 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 1: and started spreading lives. They said, Neamiah is not building 432 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 1: this wall for our good, He's just building a kingdom 433 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 1: under himself. They started questioning his motives. Don't you know. 434 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,960 Speaker 1: Neamiah was tempted to come down off that wall and say, guys, 435 00:24:58,000 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 1: I'm gonna shut you up. I'm gonna show you who 436 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:03,320 Speaker 1: I am. Now, he was smart enough to realize they 437 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 1: were a distraction. He chose to ignore it, and he 438 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: went on to build that wall in record time. Anytime 439 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:14,160 Speaker 1: God puts a dream in your heart, you start pursuing 440 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 1: your goals, you can be sure that the sand ballots 441 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 1: and the tobiases will show up. The mark of a 442 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:25,320 Speaker 1: true champion is knowing what battles to fight, like in 443 00:25:25,359 --> 00:25:30,200 Speaker 1: this case, many battles should be ignored. Neamih knew if 444 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:33,119 Speaker 1: he came down off the wall, spend his time and energy. 445 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 1: Sure he could have defeated those two men. Sure that 446 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:37,960 Speaker 1: would have made him feel good, but that would have 447 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 1: not advanced him toward his destiny. That would have not 448 00:25:41,119 --> 00:25:44,720 Speaker 1: helped the wall get built any quicker. Bottom line, he 449 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:47,879 Speaker 1: chose to be an eagle, he chose to rise above it. 450 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:52,160 Speaker 1: I'm asking us to do the same thing. Be selective 451 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: as to what you give you attention to. Don't get 452 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: caught up in battles that don't matter. Let's learn to 453 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:02,160 Speaker 1: do like Nehemiah and ignore the same ballats and tobiases. 454 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 1: Do like King Saul. Ignore the people that are not 455 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 1: celebrating you. Do like Jesus. Don't respond to your critics. 456 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 1: Pay no mind to jealous, critical, small minded people. Friends. 457 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 1: If you'll get good at knowing what to ignore and 458 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:20,119 Speaker 1: not get distracted by things that don't matter, let me 459 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:23,679 Speaker 1: tell you God will fight your battles, just like with Nehemiah. 460 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 1: The more they talk, the more God will promote you. 461 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:30,280 Speaker 1: You'll accomplish your dreams in record time. You'll overcome every obstacle, 462 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 1: defeat every enemy, and I believe and declare you will 463 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 1: become everything God's created you to be. Amen. Do you 464 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:41,200 Speaker 1: receive it today? We never like to close our broadcast 465 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 1: without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord 466 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:48,160 Speaker 1: of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 467 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 1: I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 468 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 1: make you my lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed 469 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 470 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 471 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,159 Speaker 1: He's going to take you places that you've never dreamed of. 472 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 1: When we face challenges, it's easy to feel like God 473 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 1: has forgotten about us. We don't see anything happening. Gods 474 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:16,680 Speaker 1: tell us it's not going to work out. But God 475 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: is not called the Great I was or the Great 476 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 1: I will be. He's called the Great I Am. In 477 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:26,119 Speaker 1: my new book, he Is I Am, you'll discover that 478 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: God is with you in every area of your life. 479 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 1: I Am is always in the present, not at a 480 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: later time. God is working in your life right now. 481 00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 1: I Am means I am your healer, I am your provider. 482 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 1: I am your waymaker. Whether you're facing a challenge or 483 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 1: pursuing your dreams, stay in faith. The Great I Am 484 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:47,880 Speaker 1: is right there with you. 485 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:51,240 Speaker 2: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 486 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 2: of any amount this month, we would like to send 487 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:57,160 Speaker 2: you a copy of Joel's book, he Is I Am. 488 00:27:57,560 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 2: God is for you here and now. Are you in 489 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 2: need of protection or provision today? Jesus assures us, I 490 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 2: Am the Good Shepherd does the path ahead seem uncertain 491 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 2: or dark. Jesus declares, I Am the Light of the world. 492 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 2: Do you feel like your career, calling or marriage just 493 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:21,600 Speaker 2: beyond hope? Jesus promises, I Am the Resurrection and the Life. 494 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:26,200 Speaker 2: With every im statement, you'll discover more about who God 495 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 2: is and what He has made available for you, not someday, 496 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 2: but today. Request your copy today and watch God's promise 497 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 2: come alive. No matter what you face, He is here 498 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 2: and now for you. Be sure to request your copy 499 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 2: of He Is I Am. God is for you, here 500 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:49,240 Speaker 2: and now today. Visit joostein dot com or call eight 501 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 2: eight eight five six seven. Joel. 502 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 1: You're never alone. The Great I Am is behind the scenes, 503 00:28:56,080 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 1: making ways, opening doors, turning things in your favor. Victoria 504 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:02,320 Speaker 1: and I want you to know we love you and 505 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:05,520 Speaker 1: we pray for you every day. Thanks for your prayer 506 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 1: and support of the ministry. Your generosity is making a 507 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:12,959 Speaker 1: difference in people's lives around the world. Special thank you 508 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 1: to our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly support. 509 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 1: If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 510 00:29:19,840 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning. 511 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 1: Download our daily podcast listen on Serious XM, watch our 512 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:31,959 Speaker 1: YouTube channel and the new Joel Ostein network streaming on 513 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:35,040 Speaker 1: television twenty four hours a day. But until we see 514 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:37,920 Speaker 1: you next time, may the Lord bless you and keep you. 515 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of he Is I Am. 516 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 2: God is for you here and now today. Visit joelostein 517 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 2: dot com or call eight eight eight five six seven 518 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 2: Joel for an additional donation. This month we are offering 519 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 2: the I Am Collection. It includes a beautiful two piece 520 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 2: scripture walart plus he Is IM book bundle. The stretched 521 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:07,160 Speaker 2: canvas elegantly features IM and scripture reference John fourteen six. 522 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:11,080 Speaker 2: You can request these unique resources by calling eight eight 523 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:14,960 Speaker 2: eight five six seven Joel. For logging on to joelostein 524 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 2: dot com today, call or click anytime twenty four hours 525 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 2: a day. Yes, be reminded that the power of IM 526 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:28,000 Speaker 2: is for you each and every day