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 --> 00:00:05,920 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 2: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 2: blessing and share it with a friend. 5 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 6 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 1: your life. For God bless you so joy to come 7 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: into your homes. We love you, and if you're ever 8 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: in our area, I hope you'll stop by and be 9 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: a part of one of our services. I promise you this, 10 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: We'll make you feel right at home. Thanks so much 11 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: for tuning in and thank you again for coming out. 12 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: I like to start with something funny and I heard 13 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: about this pastor. He decided to skip church one Sunday 14 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:38,919 Speaker 1: morning and go play golf. He told his assistant he 15 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: wasn't feeling well and drove to a golf course in 16 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 1: another city where nobody would know him. He teed off 17 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: on the first hole and a huge gust of wind 18 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: caught his ball, carried it an extra one hundred yards, 19 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: and blew it right into the hole for a four 20 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: hundred and twenty yard hole in one. An angel looked 21 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: at God and said, what'd you do that for? God 22 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: smiled and said, who's he going to tell? All right, 23 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: hold up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. 24 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 25 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: I have what it says I have. I can do 26 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: what it says I can do. Today I will be 27 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 1: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 28 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 29 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 1: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 30 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 1: to talk to you today about resisting temptation. No matter 31 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: how good of a person you are, how much you 32 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: want to do what's right, temptation will come. It's important 33 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: to recognize the areas that you're tempted in. It's different 34 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: for every person. You need to take inventory of your life, 35 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 1: be honest with yourself and say, Okay, this is an 36 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: area that I struggle in. This is an area that 37 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: I need to stay in guard. What keeps many people 38 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:02,559 Speaker 1: from being free is they live in denial. I read 39 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 1: where seventy percent of alcoholics don't think they have a 40 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 1: problem with alcohol. If you're not honest with yourself, it'll 41 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,839 Speaker 1: be very difficult to be free. You need to know yourself. 42 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: If you're tempted to watch things that you shouldn't get 43 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: it out on the table, say God, here's an area 44 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: that I need to improve in. If you have a 45 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: problem with being impatient, a problem with spending money, you 46 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: don't have a problem with drugs or alcohol. The first 47 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: step to being free is to identify what's holding you back. 48 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:40,799 Speaker 1: You cannot conquer what you will not confront as long 49 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 1: as you're downplaying it, trying to hide it, act like 50 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: it's not there. It's not going to go away. Ignoring 51 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 1: the enemy doesn't make him leave you alone. He already 52 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: knows the area of your greatest weakness. You should know 53 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: it as well. Not to go around feeling bad about yourself, 54 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: but so you can stay, especially on God. The scripture 55 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: says in Hebrews, let us lay aside the weights and 56 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: the sin that does so easily beset us. Notice it 57 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: says the sin it infers that every person has one 58 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: thing they have to specifically deal with. I call it 59 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 1: a persistent temptation. Whenever you try to move forward, the 60 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: same temper, the same self pity, the same addiction, the 61 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: same compromise is there to try to hold you back. 62 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: Some people every time they're about to be promoted, the 63 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: same problem with their mouth gets them in trouble, speaking 64 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: their mind, saying things that they shouldn't. If they would 65 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: just get honest with themselves and say, God, this problem 66 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: with my mouth is so easily besetting me. I'm gonna 67 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: get serious and deal with it. When you get honest, 68 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: God will help you to come up higher. Don't go 69 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: the next twenty years letting the same bad added who, 70 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: the same temptation, the same compromise, keep you from moving forward. 71 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: I know this lady. She was hurt in a relationship. 72 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: This was more than twenty years ago. This man did 73 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: her wrong. Now, every time she's about to get serious 74 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 1: in another relationship with a good man, a loving man, 75 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: a kind man, that same fear of being hurt again 76 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: rises up. The same thoughts. You're making a big mistake. 77 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: He's going to leave you. You can't trust men. They're 78 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: all the same. Until she gets honest and deals with 79 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: that fear, she's not going to have happy relationships. What 80 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 1: is that one thing that can easily beset you? What 81 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 1: is that persistent temptation that you struggle with? Identify what 82 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: it is. Here's the good news. The enemy doesn't have 83 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 1: any new tricks. Once you recognize what that one thing 84 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 1: is and learn how to defeat it. You can overcome 85 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: it your whole life. 86 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 3: Time. 87 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: Two Peter two nineteen says you are a slave to 88 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: whatever controls you. You can be a slave to a 89 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: bad attitude, a slave to worry, a slave to lust, 90 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: a slave to food. In the scope of your destiny, 91 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: it's a small thing to let a bad temper control you. 92 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:24,839 Speaker 1: It's a small thing to let fear or worry control you. 93 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 1: Your destiny is too great, your assignment is too important, 94 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: your future is too bright to let something small hold 95 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: you back. You've got to make up your mind. This 96 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: is a new day. You're not going to keep giving 97 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: in to the same old temptations. You know what they are. 98 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: The enemy doesn't have any new tricks. It's going to 99 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: be the same thing year after year. But if you'll 100 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: dig your heels in, put your foot down, the temptation 101 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: may not go away, but God will give you the 102 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,359 Speaker 1: strength to overcome it. You don't have to be a 103 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: slave to self pity, a slave to a bad attitude, 104 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: a slave to an addiction. God created us to be free, 105 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: not partially free, but totally free. I'm asking us to 106 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: get rid of that one thing that can easily beset us. 107 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 1: I know a pastor friend. When he was twelve years old, 108 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: he started smoking, hiding in his house, not letting his 109 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:24,919 Speaker 1: parents know. By the time he was fourteen, he was 110 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: totally hooked. This young man had an incredible gift to 111 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:34,159 Speaker 1: minister from an early age. He was extremely anointed and powerful. 112 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: He could preach these amazing sermons. He would fill in 113 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: at the local church. The whole time he had to 114 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: hide the fact that he smoked. His mentor, an elderly gentleman, 115 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: was the pastor there. The pastor knew that he smoked. 116 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: He didn't condemn him, he didn't chew him out. He 117 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: simply said, son, I believe that God wants to take 118 00:06:55,760 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: you a long, long way, and that cigarette sure is 119 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: a small thing to keep you from where God wants 120 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 1: you to go. That one statement broke a stronghold in 121 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 1: his mind. He had a new perspective. His attitude was, 122 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: my destiny is too great to let something small hold 123 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: me back. He changed his mind. When you change your mind, 124 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: you can change your life. Today he has a ministry 125 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: that touches the world. But think about what he could 126 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: have missed out on if he would have let a 127 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: small thing hold him back. Whatever that one thing is, 128 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 1: maybe pride, jealousy, bad attitude, addiction. It's a small thing 129 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: to keep you from the amazing future God has in store. 130 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: How do we resist temptation? Jesus said in Matthew twenty 131 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: six forty one, pray that you don't enter into the temptation. 132 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: Notice he didn't say, pray that you'll never be tempted. God, 133 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: please don't let me have a negative thought. God, please 134 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: don't never let me have a wrong desire. That's not realistic. 135 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: He said, pray that you don't enter into the temptation. 136 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 1: The reason many people keep giving in to the same 137 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: thing year after year is because they never ask God 138 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 1: for his health. Listen, we can't overcome temptation on our own. 139 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: You can't resist that desire to compromise all by yourself. 140 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: We can't break addictions in our own strength. We need 141 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 1: God's help. When you humble yourself and say, God, I 142 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 1: don't want to be critical and sour, help me to 143 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 1: have a good attitude. God, my mouth keeps getting me 144 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: into trouble. Help me to bite my tongue and not 145 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: say things that I shouldn't. God, I don't want to 146 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: watch the wrong things. I don't want to pollute my mind. 147 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 1: God help me to resist this temptation. If you ask 148 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: God to help you, he'll give you the strength to overcome. 149 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: The scripture says, the spirit is willing, but the flesh 150 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 1: is weak. We have good intentions, we want to do 151 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,840 Speaker 1: the right thing. I have no doubt if you struggle 152 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 1: with an addiction, If you could, you would give that up. 153 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: You would give up being impatient, give up compromising. The 154 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: spirit is willing, but it's not enough to just have 155 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: the desire. You have to pray so that your spirit 156 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:27,319 Speaker 1: man will get stronger in that area. If you can 157 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: get your inner man stronger than your outer man, you 158 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 1: will resist the temptation every single time. Here's the key. 159 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 1: Don't wait till you're in the middle of the temptation 160 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 1: to ask God for his help. Pray ahead of time. 161 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: If you've got a problem with your temper when you 162 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 1: get up in the morning, before you leave the house, God, 163 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: I'm asking you to help me to control my temper today. 164 00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:53,319 Speaker 1: God help me to stay calm and not give in 165 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: to the temptation to get upset. See, don't wait till 166 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: you're in the heat of the battle. And your emotions 167 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: are high and your passions are out of control. Pray 168 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: ahead of time. Get your inner man stronger. Maybe you're 169 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 1: trying to lose weight, be more disciplined in your eating. Well, 170 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 1: you can't wait till you're at the mall and you 171 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 1: smell the cinnamon rolls in the air. Three people walk 172 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: by with an ice cream Sunday, and your two friends 173 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 1: are going to get a fudge bar. By that time, 174 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 1: it's too late. You'll think, let me just eat and 175 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 1: I'll repent later. Now, pray ahead of time when you 176 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: get up in the morning, Father, help me to be 177 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 1: disciplined in my eating today. God help me to stay focused. 178 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: You've got to get your inner man built up and 179 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: develop this reservoir of strength, so when that temptation comes, 180 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 1: you're so prayed up. You're so strong, so disciplined, so focused, 181 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: you'll be able to resist it. And when you know 182 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: something is going to be more difficult, you need to 183 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: make sure you get prayed up. If you come home 184 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 1: every Monday stressed out, irritable to your family, then you 185 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: need to start pray on Friday, on Saturday, and on Sunday. 186 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 1: God helped me to not give in to the pressure 187 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: to get stressed out on Monday. If you know your 188 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: mother in law's coming in this Christmas, you need to 189 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 1: start praying right now. And I have a great mother 190 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:18,319 Speaker 1: in law. It's the daughter I have a problem with. 191 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: If you struggle with depression, don't wait till you've been 192 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 1: depressed for three days to ask God for his health. 193 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: Now on your good days, when you're encouraged, when you're happy. 194 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 1: God help me to resist the temptation to get depressed. 195 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: God help me to control my thought life and stay happy, 196 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: hopeful and positive. Pray ahead of time. It's like this 197 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: man I heard about. He said, God, so far I've 198 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 1: done well today. I haven't lied, cheated or gossiped. I 199 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:56,559 Speaker 1: haven't lost my temper, been rude, grumpy, angry, selfish or nasty. 200 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: But God, I'm going to need your help today because 201 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:01,599 Speaker 1: I'm about to get out of bed this morning. And 202 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: pray ahead of time, and God will help you. Jesus 203 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: was about to be crucified. He knew there were difficult 204 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 1: times of ahead where he would be tempted to get 205 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: discouraged and give up. What did he do? He prayed, Father, 206 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,439 Speaker 1: if you will take this cup from me, but not 207 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: my will, Let your will be done here. He was 208 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: the son of God. Yet he was saying, Father, I 209 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: can't do this on my own. I'm tempted to not 210 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: go through with it. I need your strength. The scripture 211 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: says after he prayed, the angels came and strengthened him. 212 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 1: If you will pray and ask God to help you resist, 213 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: he will send his angels to strengthen you as well. 214 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: This is what David did twice in the Psalms. He 215 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: asked God to help him control his mouth. He was focused, disciplined, 216 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: a great leader, yet maybe this was the one thing 217 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: that could easily beset him. He said, God, put a 218 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: watch over my mouth. He asked God, and God helped 219 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: him to overcome. In that area, Jesus said to Peter, 220 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 1: I'm about to be crucified. You're going to be tempted 221 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 1: to deny me. Peter, you need to pray so you 222 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 1: don't give into this temptation. Well, it was late in 223 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: the day, Peter was tired, he didn't feel like praying. Plus, 224 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 1: Peter was proud. He thought he could do it in 225 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: his own strength. He said, in the fact, Jesus, I 226 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: don't need to pray. I'm your friend. I'm not going 227 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: to deny you. I'll be with you through thick and thin. 228 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:38,440 Speaker 1: You know the story. A few hours later, when the 229 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 1: soldiers questioned him, he denied that he knew Jesus. But 230 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: I wonder what would have happened if he would have 231 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: taken time to pray. I wonder if he'd have just 232 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 1: done like David and say God, I need your help today. 233 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 1: I believe it would have been a different story if 234 00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: Jesus thought it was necessary to pray and ask God 235 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 1: for strength. If he told us to pray so we 236 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: don't enter into temptation. That tells me this should be 237 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:10,840 Speaker 1: a part of our everyday life. Some of you, the 238 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 1: only reason you keep giving in to the same thing 239 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,839 Speaker 1: again and again is you're not asking God for his help. 240 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 1: But when you do like Peter and you think you 241 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: can do it on your own, God will just step back. 242 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: But when you humble yourself and say God, I need 243 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 1: your help today. God help me to not compromise. God 244 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: help me to not let my eyes wander. God help 245 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: me to be disciplined in my eating. When you ask 246 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: God for his help, God will send the angels to 247 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 1: strengthen you. I know this young lady. She's been addicted 248 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: to cocaine for eleven years, but the last ninety two 249 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: days she's been clean. That's the longest that she's ever stopped. 250 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: I asked her how she was doing it. She told 251 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: how she got some new friends, got rid of the 252 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: people dragging her down, got people that will pull her up, 253 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: and she quit thinking that she couldn't do it and 254 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 1: started to saying I can do all things through Christ. 255 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 1: Then she said, Joel, I get up every morning and 256 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: say God, I need you today. I need your strength, 257 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: I need your discipline, I need your grace. God, help 258 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: me to resist this temptation. When you acknowledge God as 259 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 1: the source of your strength, you will have a power 260 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: to resist that you've never felt before. Now, I wonder 261 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: how much more victory we would walk in if we 262 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: just get up every morning and say, Father, help me 263 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: to not lose my temper. God, help me to not compromise, 264 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: help me to stand strong. Pray ahead of time, get 265 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 1: your inner man built up. And then number two very important, 266 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: don't put yourself in situations where you know you're going 267 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: to be tempted. You can't pray and ask God to 268 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: help you overcome an addiction, and then go hang out 269 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 1: with people that enable you. The scripture says, run from temptation. 270 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 1: If you're trying to break that spirit of alcohol, don't 271 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: go party with your buddies after work. Well, Joel, I'm 272 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: just there for the company. I'm just there to visit. 273 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna drink. No, if you play with fire, 274 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: you're gonna get burned. If you hang around the beehive, 275 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: you're gonna get stung. If you stay at the barber 276 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 1: shop long enough, eventually you'll get a haircut. Get out 277 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: of that environment. Run from temptation. If your friends are 278 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 1: not going anywhere, find some new friends. If they're pulling 279 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: you down, causing you to compromise, you can pray all 280 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 1: day long for God to help you, but until you 281 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: separate yourself, it's not going to do any good. I 282 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: read about this young lady. She really liked this young man, 283 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: but all he wanted to do was party and compromise. 284 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 1: He wasn't going anywhere, he didn't have any goals. She 285 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: tried to get him to come to church again and again, 286 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: but he wouldn't come. Finally, she looked at him and said, listen, 287 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: if you're not going to go to heaven with me, 288 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: then I'm not going to go to hell with you. 289 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: And if you're going to get free and break loose 290 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 1: of that one thing that can hold you back, you 291 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 1: may have to take what seems like are drastic measures. 292 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 1: You may have to change friends if you're going to 293 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:23,360 Speaker 1: stay faithful in your marriage, if all your friends run 294 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 1: around on their spouse, listen, spirits are transferable. You hang 295 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 1: out with them long enough, and you too are going 296 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:32,919 Speaker 1: to be tempted to compromise. You hang out with a 297 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: jealous person long enough, and you'll end up jealous and 298 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:40,439 Speaker 1: critical and sour. Put yourself in a different environment. I 299 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: know people, the only thing that's keeping them from rising higher, 300 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 1: the only thing that's keeping them from resisting that temptation, 301 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: is the people they are choosing to associate with. I 302 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 1: learned a long time ago some people, the less time 303 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: you spend with them, the better off you're going to be. 304 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:03,119 Speaker 1: You have to ask, these people that are dragging me down, 305 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:07,439 Speaker 1: causing me to compromise, are they worth me missing my 306 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: divine destiny? Over In the scripture, Joseph worked for a 307 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 1: man by the name of Potterphar. He was in charge 308 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:18,159 Speaker 1: of his house He was being his best, minding his 309 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: own business. But Potterphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph. Day 310 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 1: after day. She kept making advances toward him and letting 311 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,119 Speaker 1: him know that she was interested. But Joseph was a 312 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,959 Speaker 1: young man of great character. He had great integrity. His 313 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 1: attitude was, this woman is not worth me missing my 314 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 1: divine destiny over. I can imagine he got up every 315 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 1: morning and prayed, God, help me to stand strong, help 316 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,680 Speaker 1: me to resist this temptation. But he not only prayed. 317 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:53,640 Speaker 1: The scripture says she kept pursuing him, but Joseph did 318 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: his best to avoid her. There's another key to resisting temptation. 319 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 1: Avoid the wrong peace, avoid the wrong places, avoid the 320 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: wrong channels. Joseph went out of his way to stay 321 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:10,639 Speaker 1: out of her path. If she came inside, he went outside. 322 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 1: If she came outside, he would go run errands. He 323 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 1: didn't think I'm so strong, I'm invincible. He knew he 324 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:21,880 Speaker 1: was fallible, so he did what he could to stay away. Well, 325 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 1: one day, just so happened. Everybody was gone, potterpher wasn't there. 326 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 1: She came into the room where Joseph was working, grabbed 327 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: him by the arm and tried to pull him to her. 328 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: But the scripture says, Joseph tore himself away. Notice the determination, 329 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 1: Notice the persistence. He tore himself away, And when he did, 330 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 1: she ripped his coat right off of him. He didn't care. 331 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: He took off running without his coat. Sometimes, in order 332 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:56,920 Speaker 1: to resist temptation, you're going to have to leave your coat. 333 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,080 Speaker 1: In other words, you may have to give up some 334 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,720 Speaker 1: to keep from compromising. You may have to give up 335 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: playing ball with the guys if you can't resist partying 336 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 1: with them after the game. You may have to give 337 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,880 Speaker 1: up working late if there's somebody there that's gonna lure 338 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: you off course, you may have to give up premium 339 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 1: cable if you can't stay off the wrong channels. You 340 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: gotta be willing to leave your coat. You can't ask 341 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 1: God to help you and go sit in the middle 342 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 1: of the temptation. You got to do like Joseph and 343 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: run from it. And I know, men, it's not very 344 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: macho to run from a woman, but you gotta do 345 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:40,400 Speaker 1: what you gotta do. Young people worrying about how popular 346 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:42,919 Speaker 1: you are or who's going to accept you, and do 347 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:46,400 Speaker 1: what you gotta do. That person at the office that's 348 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:50,159 Speaker 1: flirting with you. Run from them. Don't play with fire. 349 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:53,880 Speaker 1: If they take the elevator, you take the stairs. If 350 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:55,879 Speaker 1: they leave at five, you leave at five point thirty. 351 00:20:56,600 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: Do like Joseph and avoid temptation. If you're trying to 352 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: lose weight, stay out of the kitchen. Don't think I'm 353 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:07,160 Speaker 1: just gonna go in here and look at these freshly 354 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: baked chocolate chip cookies. After you eat half of them, 355 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 1: you'll go around condemned. Run from it. Like this lady 356 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:18,399 Speaker 1: I heard about. She was on a diet doing so well. 357 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 1: She even changed the route that she used to drive 358 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: to work so she wouldn't have to go by the 359 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: bakery that she used to always go in and buy desserts. 360 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: One day, the roads were closed and she had to 361 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:32,440 Speaker 1: go the old way. She said, Okay, God, you're gonna 362 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: have to help me today. I'm not going to stop 363 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: unless there's a parking spot right in the front of 364 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:42,640 Speaker 1: that day fruit. She came home with a big dessert, 365 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 1: told her husband I couldn't help it the eighth time 366 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 1: around the block. There the parking spot was. Avoid the temptation, 367 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,440 Speaker 1: take a different route. Do what you have to do, 368 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,919 Speaker 1: you say, Joel I'm strong, I'm mature. I can resist it. 369 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: The scripture says, take heed when you think you stand, 370 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:06,440 Speaker 1: lest you fall. The Apostle Paul was saying, no matter 371 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:10,720 Speaker 1: how strong you think you are, you are not invincible. 372 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 1: Every person, every one of us, is capable of giving 373 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 1: in to temptation. That's why we need to pray ahead 374 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 1: of time and do what we can to avoid it. 375 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: Partying with the people after work is not worth you 376 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: missing your destiny over Hanging out with the office flirt 377 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 1: is not worth you ruining your marriage. Watching things that 378 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: are questionable is not worth being sidetracked from where God 379 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 1: wants to take you. These temptations look so alluring at first, 380 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:45,400 Speaker 1: but they always end in heartache and pain. I read 381 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 1: how an Eskimo used to kill a wolf. He would 382 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,159 Speaker 1: take his knife blade and coat it with animal blood 383 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:55,160 Speaker 1: and let it freeze. Once it froze, he would put 384 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: another layer, and another and another until it was about 385 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:01,919 Speaker 1: an inch thick of froz animal blood, sort of like 386 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:05,400 Speaker 1: a popsicle. Then he would take that knife into the woods, 387 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: put it in the ground, handle first, with the blades 388 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 1: sticking up in the night. The wolf, with its sensitive 389 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:16,639 Speaker 1: nose would come by and start licking the frozen animal blood. 390 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 1: The more he licked it, the more he liked it, 391 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: and he'd start licking faster and faster, so feverishly that 392 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:27,919 Speaker 1: he couldn't even feel the sting of the knife slicing 393 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:31,679 Speaker 1: his own tongue. He would get so passionate in the 394 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:35,360 Speaker 1: pleasure of the moment he wouldn't realize the point at 395 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:40,200 Speaker 1: which his own blood was now satisfying his insatiable thirst. 396 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:42,919 Speaker 1: By morning time, the wolf would be lying dead in 397 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,640 Speaker 1: the snow. And many times, these temptations that come to us, 398 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: they look so appealing, so inviting. We think all men 399 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 1: only live once. It's not hurting anything. Everybody else is 400 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 1: doing it now. Don't be deceived. Behind that pleasure, there 401 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:01,439 Speaker 1: is a hidden razor blade. You may not feel it 402 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 1: in the beginning. You know, going out and getting high 403 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: with some friends at first may feel good, but twenty 404 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 1: years later, if you're addicted and lonely and depressed, doesn't 405 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: feel good. Playing around while you're married may feel good 406 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 1: at first, but later on when the spouse and the 407 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 1: kids the homes broken up, doesn't feel good. Being dishonest, 408 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:26,639 Speaker 1: not having integrity may get your headed first, but later on. 409 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 1: When the truth comes out, and it always does, it'll 410 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: put you much further behind it. There is a temporary 411 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:37,359 Speaker 1: pleasure in giving into temptation, but I want you to 412 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:41,480 Speaker 1: know the pain in the long run will always far 413 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 1: outweigh the pleasure. I've heard it said the pain of 414 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 1: discipline is temporary, but the pain of compromise is permanent. 415 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:54,399 Speaker 1: We say, joy, it's hard, it's hard to resist. Yes, 416 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: it may be hard, but do you know what's harder? 417 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: Living in bondage, going around feeling bad about your because 418 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:05,080 Speaker 1: you know you're so far below your potential. There's nothing 419 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 1: worse than going through life with things holding you back 420 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:12,119 Speaker 1: that you know you can defeat. Some of you are 421 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 1: struggling with addictions, with wrong mindsets, with negative emotions. You're 422 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 1: allowing something so small to control you. Let me tell 423 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: you what you already know. You're better than that. You're 424 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 1: a child of the Most High God. You have royal 425 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 1: blood flowing through your veins. Don't you dare settle where 426 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 1: you are. You can overcome anything in your life, large 427 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:39,159 Speaker 1: or small, doesn't matter if it's a negative attitude or 428 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 1: you're addicted to cocaine. The power in you is greater 429 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 1: than the power that is coming against you. You got 430 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 1: to keep your minding yourself. I am better than this. 431 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:53,439 Speaker 1: I am not going to settle for mediocrity. I'm going 432 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:57,640 Speaker 1: to dig my heels in, focused, disciplined, and with God's help, 433 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to resist every temptation. I'll break every bondage. Friends, 434 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:06,119 Speaker 1: you are well able. Don't let something small keep you 435 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 1: from the big things God has in store. What is 436 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 1: that one thing that could easily beset you? Identify what 437 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 1: it is, and then start asking God to help you. Remember, 438 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 1: the enemy doesn't have any new tricks. If you'll learn 439 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: to defeat it today, you can defeat it your whole lifetime, 440 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:29,560 Speaker 1: and then avoid tempting situations. Don't put yourself in a 441 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:32,679 Speaker 1: situation where you know you're going to be tempted to compromise. 442 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 1: But my declaration today is that we are going out 443 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 1: of here free. We are not going to be controlled 444 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 1: by a temper, by a drug, by an addiction, by 445 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 1: a lust, by fear, by worry, by a person. No, 446 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:51,240 Speaker 1: every stronghold is coming down, every bondage is being broken, 447 00:26:51,359 --> 00:26:54,400 Speaker 1: every chain is being loosed. You are going to resist 448 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:58,639 Speaker 1: temptation and step into a freedom like you've never seen before. 449 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 1: I believe it, and I declared over each one of 450 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: you in Jesus' name. If you receive it, can you 451 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 1: say him in today? We never like to close our 452 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the 453 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:13,919 Speaker 1: lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just 454 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:18,880 Speaker 1: say Lord, Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. Come into 455 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:23,679 Speaker 1: my heart. I make you my Lord and save you. Friends. 456 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 457 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,880 Speaker 1: born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 458 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 1: God first place. He's going to take you places that 459 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 1: you've never dreamed of. 460 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,160 Speaker 3: It's easy to let the day get away from us 461 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:39,199 Speaker 3: before the day even starts. The first few minutes of 462 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:42,440 Speaker 3: your morning are more powerful than you might think. Life 463 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:45,439 Speaker 3: moves really fast sometimes, and it can be easy to 464 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:48,359 Speaker 3: begin each day by zeroing in on your problems. 465 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: But here's the truth. How you start the day can 466 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:54,119 Speaker 1: determine what kind of day it's going to be. And 467 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: I'd love to send you my devotional three minute mornings 468 00:27:57,359 --> 00:27:58,960 Speaker 1: start your day the Blessed Way. 469 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:01,200 Speaker 2: Three minutes says it seem like a lot of time, 470 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:03,879 Speaker 2: but when you put God first place and get your 471 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:06,680 Speaker 2: mind going in the right direction is setting the tone 472 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 2: for a blessed, productive day spilled with. 473 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,399 Speaker 1: Inspiration and encouragement to help you begin each day with 474 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:16,199 Speaker 1: a fresh attitude, grateful that you're alive. It's amazing what 475 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: happens when you take three minutes and speak blessings over 476 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 1: your life and declaring God's favor. Three Minute Mornings is 477 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 1: our gift to you. 478 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 479 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:29,520 Speaker 3: of any amount. This month, we would like to send 480 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 3: you a copy of Joel's new devotional Three Minute Mornings. 481 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 3: Start your day in faith. This powerful book will open 482 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:41,000 Speaker 3: the pathways to experience God's presence and peace in your life, 483 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 3: and there you will find renewed energy, assurance, and wisdom 484 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 3: to face your day. The Bible promises that God is 485 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 3: a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, So as 486 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:55,640 Speaker 3: you cause for only three minutes and take in his 487 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 3: wonderful promises in this book, you will be positioning yourself 488 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:02,560 Speaker 3: to receive all the amazing things that God has in 489 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:06,120 Speaker 3: store for you. Please request your copy today and watch 490 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 3: anxiety turn to divine answers, weakness to strength, problems to 491 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 3: renewed possibilities, frustrations to God's favor. Yes, only three minutes 492 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 3: will transform your entire day. 493 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:22,600 Speaker 1: From the time I was a little boy, my parents 494 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 1: taught me the value of starting the day off in faith. 495 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:29,160 Speaker 1: Three Minute Mornings will help you do just that. Victoria 496 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 1: and I pray for you every day for God's very best. 497 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:35,040 Speaker 1: We want to thank you for your prayer and support. 498 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 1: You're impacting people all over the world. A special thank 499 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 1: you to our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly support. 500 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:45,320 Speaker 1: If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 501 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 502 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:53,719 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, listen on Serious Exam, watch our 503 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 1: YouTube channel and the Joel Osting Network streaming on television 504 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:01,160 Speaker 1: twenty four hours a day. You see you again. May 505 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:02,840 Speaker 1: the Lord bless you and keep you. 506 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,720 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of three Minute Mornings 507 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 3: Start your day in faith. Visit Jolostein dot com or 508 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 3: call eight eight eight five six seven Joel for an 509 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 3: additional donation. This month, we are also offering the Faith 510 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 3: and Freedom Bundle. You'll receive an additional devotional filled with 511 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 3: daily wisdom to guide you in living with Favor, Focus 512 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 3: and Freedom also available. Our Morning Power and Peace collection 513 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:35,280 Speaker 3: includes Power, Provision and Peace beautifully bound and timeless elegance. 514 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 3: This dynamic New Testament, the Passion Translation helps you walk 515 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:44,240 Speaker 3: in God's best. You can request these inspiring resources by 516 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 3: calling eight eight eight five six seven Joel or logging 517 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 3: on to jolostein dot com today call or click any time, 518 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:57,120 Speaker 3: twenty four hours a day, be inspired every morning. Request 519 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:03,480 Speaker 3: your copies today