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