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Thanks for listening to 34 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 5: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 35 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 5: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 36 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 5: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 37 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 5: put God's very best in your life. 38 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 6: Oh God, bless you. It is always a joy that 39 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 6: coming to your homes. 40 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 5: We love you and we know that God has good 41 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 5: things in store for you. The Bible says when you 42 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 5: draw night of God, he will draw night a you. 43 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 5: I believe you're doing that today. And when you do that, 44 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 5: God talks about when we obey him, his blessings will 45 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 5: chase us down and overtake us. And that's what we're 46 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 5: believing for each one of your lives. And we're so 47 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 5: glad to have you. If you're ever in our area, 48 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 5: please stop by. We'd love to have you at a service. 49 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 5: We'll make you feel right at home. I like to 50 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 5: get started each week with something kind of funny. And 51 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,799 Speaker 5: of course these are not doctrinally correct, but I did 52 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 5: hear about this minister. He was standing in line at 53 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 5: the Pearly gates and in front of him was a 54 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 5: guy dressed in a loud T shirt, blue jeans, and sunglasses. 55 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 5: Peter came up and said, okay, who are you? He said, 56 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 5: I'm Joe Cohen, taxicab driver, New York City. Peter checked 57 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 5: his list, and he then handed him a silk robe 58 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 5: and a golden staff and said, welcome to Heaven. The 59 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 5: minister stepped up next, and he said, I'm Reverend Joseph Snow. 60 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 5: I'm the pastor of Saint Mary's Cathedral. Peter checked his 61 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 5: list and he handed him a cotton robe and a 62 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 5: wooden staff. 63 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 6: He said, hey, wait a minute. 64 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 5: The taxicab driver got a silk robe and a gold staff. 65 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 6: How could this be? 66 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 5: Peter said, well, sir, up here we work by results. 67 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 5: And when you preached, people slept, But when he drove, 68 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 5: people prayed. Hold up your bibles and say it like 69 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 5: you mean it. Are you ready? This is my Bible. 70 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 5: I am what it says I am. I have what 71 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 5: it says I have. I can do what it says 72 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 5: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 73 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 5: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 74 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 5: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 75 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 5: God bless you. I want to talk to you today 76 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 5: about the importance of staying in a healthy environment. 77 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 6: The environment that we choose to live in is. 78 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 5: Going to have a great impact on whether or not 79 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 5: we fulfill our God given destiny. And we have to 80 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 5: understand that God has created each one of us. 81 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 6: To live a life of victory. 82 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 5: He has preprogrammed us before the foundation of the world 83 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 5: to be successful, to be happy, to be fulfilled, to 84 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 5: be a blessing to others. But if this is going 85 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 5: to happen, we have to put ourselves in an environment 86 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 5: that's going to help release the productivity and release the 87 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 5: potential that's on the inside. You have seeds of greatness 88 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,479 Speaker 5: put in you by the creator of the universe. But 89 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 5: the only way those seeds are going to take root 90 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 5: and really begin to flourish is if you can stay 91 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:40,359 Speaker 5: in a healthy environment. And by our environment, I'm talking 92 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 5: about the things that influence us, what we watch, what 93 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 5: we listen to, and more specifically, our friends, the people 94 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 5: we choose to spend our free time with. I think 95 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 5: we'd be amazed at how much these things affect us. 96 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 5: And the Scripture says in Proverbs thirteen, verse twenty, if 97 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 5: you walk with wise men, you will become wise. In 98 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 5: other words, that's saying we are going to become exactly 99 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 5: like the people that we continually associate with. If you 100 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 5: want to see a picture of your future, just take 101 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 5: a good look at your friends. If you're hanging around 102 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 5: people that are negative, people that are selfish, people that compromise, 103 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 5: people that are loosing their morals, well, unfortunately, there's a 104 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 5: good chance you're going to become just like them. Our 105 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 5: environment is extremely important. I think about Sampson. He hung 106 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 5: around with the wrong people, and he thought that he 107 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 5: was strong enough to overcome. He said, hey, I'm just 108 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 5: having little fun, it's not hurting anything. 109 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,280 Speaker 6: Leave me alone, and sure. 110 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 5: He got away with it for a little while, but 111 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:47,719 Speaker 5: eventually his environment caught up to him. 112 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 6: Eventually it destroyed him. 113 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 5: See, our environment can corrupt us, and our environment can 114 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 5: confuse us. That happened to the prodigal son. He came 115 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 5: from a good family. He started making poor choices, and 116 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 5: he ended up in the hog pen feeding the hogs. 117 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 5: And as he sat in that environment, he got confused 118 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 5: as to who he was, so much so that he 119 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 5: started eating the hogfood. It's because he was in the 120 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:20,919 Speaker 5: wrong environment. Now, our environment can restrict us. If we 121 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 5: take a tree and plant it in a pot, it 122 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 5: can only grow as large as the root system grows. 123 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,559 Speaker 5: It may be a huge oak tree, but as long 124 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,719 Speaker 5: as it's being restricted by that pot, it will never 125 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 5: become what God created it to be. And some of 126 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:39,559 Speaker 5: you today you need to get out of the pot 127 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 5: that you're in. You're hanging around with small minded people, 128 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 5: people that are telling you what you can't do and 129 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,160 Speaker 5: what you're not going to become. Listen, you've got to 130 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 5: get away from that junk or that's going to restrict you. 131 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 5: Don't hang around with sloppy people, or you're going to 132 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 5: end up being sloppy. Don't hang around with lazy people 133 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:01,600 Speaker 5: and people that take the easy way out, you'll end 134 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 5: up doing the same thing and on a regular basis. 135 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 6: We need to evaluate our friendships. 136 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 5: And if you find that you're associating with people that 137 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 5: don't have any dreams, people that are not going any 138 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 5: place in life, please recognize their influence can keep you 139 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 5: from being all God's created you to be. And they 140 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 5: may be good people, they may not even realize they're 141 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 5: doing it. And I'm not saying to be rude and 142 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 5: just blow people off, but I am saying that we 143 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 5: shouldn't spend a lot. 144 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 6: Of time with them friends. Life is too short to 145 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 6: be dragged down by. 146 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 5: Other people, and we already have enough battles to fight 147 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 5: without choosing the wrong friends. 148 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 6: We need to be very. 149 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 5: Selective when it comes to who we spend our time with. 150 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 5: Be very careful with whom you eat lunch with every day. 151 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 5: Don't just take that for granted. Ask yourself, does this 152 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 5: person have the qualities that. 153 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 6: I really want? 154 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 5: Do they inspire me to rise higher, challenge me to 155 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 5: do better? Are they a person of excellence? Or do 156 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 5: they just drag me down and cause me to compromise, 157 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 5: cause me to be negative. No, Remember, they're gonna rub 158 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 5: off on you. And that means you shouldn't sit around 159 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 5: at lunch every day with a group of people that 160 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 5: complain about the company and gossip about the balls and 161 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 5: talk about this person and talk about that person. Know 162 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:26,119 Speaker 5: that junk is gonna poison you. And if you stay 163 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 5: there long enough, you're gonna end up just like them. 164 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 5: We have to understand our environment will change us before 165 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 5: we change it. That means we need to put ourselves. 166 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 6: In a different environment. 167 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 5: Now, you say, Joel, I can't help what they say. 168 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 5: I can't make them do what's right. I understand that. 169 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 5: But you can choose where you sit. You can choose 170 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 5: to drive down to the park and eat lunch. You say, Joel, 171 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 5: if I do that, I may not have any friends. 172 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 5: I may not have anybody to eat lunch with. Well, 173 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 5: let me tell you, I'd rather go through a season 174 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 5: of being lonely in my life than to allow somebody 175 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 5: to poison me and keep me from fulfilling my God 176 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 5: given destiny. And the Bible talks about one of the 177 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 5: things that God dislikes the very most is someone that 178 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 5: sows discord, someone that's always stirring something up. In other words, 179 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 5: a troublemaker. They'll take the smallest things, blow it way 180 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 5: out of proportion and end up making a big deal 181 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 5: about it. 182 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 6: That's a troublemaker. 183 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 5: If you're around somebody like that, or somebody that starts 184 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 5: to talk about a person, first thing you should do 185 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 5: is try to put a stop to it. Just say, hey, 186 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 5: instead of talking about them, why don't we pray for see, 187 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 5: take up for them, believe the best in them. And 188 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 5: if they wan't do that, if they continue to talk, 189 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 5: the next thing you should do is just find the 190 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 5: nearest exit, just walk away, and you can do it politely. 191 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 5: Just say, excuse me, something has come up that I 192 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 5: really need to take care of. Well, you say, Joel, 193 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 5: wouldn't that be lying? No, you do have something to 194 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 5: take care of. You need to take take care of yourself. 195 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 6: You are a temple of the ghost I God. 196 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 5: Let me tell you your ears are not garbage cans 197 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:11,439 Speaker 5: to fill with all kinds of gossip and who did this? 198 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:12,679 Speaker 6: And can you believe that? 199 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 5: No, don't allow other people to contaminate you, change your environment. 200 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:21,439 Speaker 5: You are controlling your own destiny. And let's not kit 201 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 5: ourselves to think that we can just sit there like 202 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 5: old Sampson and think that it's not influencing us. 203 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 6: We're being influenced, whether we realize it or not. 204 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 5: The scripture says in One Corinthians fifteen thirty three, bad 205 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 5: company corrupts good character. That means our good is not 206 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 5: going to necessarily rub off on them. They're bad is 207 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,559 Speaker 5: going to rub off on us. And again, we can 208 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 5: do it politely, but we need to learn to distance 209 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:53,199 Speaker 5: ourselves from that junk. Distance yourself from contaminating influences. One 210 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:55,439 Speaker 5: thing Victoria will tell you is I want to listen 211 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:58,199 Speaker 5: to junk. If you know something bad about somebody, I 212 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 5: don't want to hear it. Tell me I need to pray, 213 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 5: and that's enough. But I don't want to be a 214 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 5: part of gossip. And I'm asking us today to put 215 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 5: ourselves in an environment so that we can grow. This 216 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 5: may mean that you have to eliminate a few friendships. 217 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 6: It may mean that. 218 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 5: You can't play on that ball team that's always partying 219 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 5: after every game and causing you to compromise. It may 220 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 5: mean that you can't ride with that car pool, that 221 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 5: group that poisons you to work every day anymore. Well, 222 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 5: you say, Joel, they're good Christian people. They go to 223 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,199 Speaker 5: church every Sunday. Now you know what I found. Some 224 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 5: people don't want to go as high as I want 225 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 5: to go. Some people want to do just enough to 226 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:43,599 Speaker 5: barely get by. And they're good people, but they'll compromise 227 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 5: left and right, take the easy way out. 228 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,719 Speaker 6: And that's fine for them. But I'm talking. 229 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 5: About reaching your highest potential. I'm talking about experiencing God's 230 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 5: abundant life. 231 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:55,719 Speaker 6: And if this is going to happen, if I can be. 232 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 5: Real honest with you, You're gonna have to eliminate the 233 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:02,439 Speaker 5: toxic people from your life. Eliminate the people that are 234 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 5: poisoning you, Eliminate the people that are dragging you down. 235 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 6: Listen, you are a child of the Most High God. 236 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 5: You have a destiny to fulfill, you have an assignment. 237 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 5: There's something God wants you to do. Your attitude should 238 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 5: be I'm on my way somewhere. Don't poison me with 239 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 5: that junk, don't try to drag me down. I'm going 240 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 5: to fulfill my God given destiny. Well, you say, Joel, 241 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,439 Speaker 5: If I do that, I'm afraid I may hurt some feelings. 242 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 5: I'm afraid I may get some people upset at me. Well, 243 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 5: you have to ask yourself, do you want to please 244 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 5: people or do you want. 245 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 6: To please God? 246 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 5: And yes, you may ruffle a few feathers and you 247 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 5: may have to spend a few months being lonely, But 248 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 5: what if they keep you in a lifetime of mediocrity? 249 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 5: What if they keep you from fulfilling your call? Friends, 250 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,439 Speaker 5: you cannot soar with the eagles as long as you're 251 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 5: pecking around with the chickens. And some of you today, 252 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 5: if you don't make some radical decisions to put yourself 253 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 5: in a better environment and to get rid of all 254 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 5: these contaminating influences, then you're never going to become all 255 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 5: God's created you to be. And what a shame that 256 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 5: would be. That's why I'm challenging us to take the 257 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:15,559 Speaker 5: necessary steps to eliminate the negative influences in our lives. 258 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 5: Let's put ourselves in an environment so our seeds of 259 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 5: greatness can really begin to grow. And when we do this, 260 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,079 Speaker 5: at first, you know it's kind of uncomfortable. But let 261 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 5: me tell you, God seize it. And I found you 262 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 5: never give up something for God without him giving you 263 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,679 Speaker 5: so much more in return. You may have to give 264 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 5: up a few friendships and you think, man, I'm going 265 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 5: to be lonely. No, listen, God will give you new friends, 266 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 5: He'll give you better friends, He'll give you people that 267 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 5: inspire you to rise higher. 268 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 6: For one thing I've learned is you cannot help a person. 269 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:49,319 Speaker 5: That won't separate themselves from a toxic environment. And I'm 270 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 5: not saying that we shouldn't be friendly. I do my 271 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 5: best to be friendly to every person I meet. Doesn't 272 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 5: matter who they are. They can have every bad habit 273 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 5: known to man, they can compromise left and right. But 274 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 5: you know that doesn't stop me from smiling, being friendly 275 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 5: and challenging them to rise higher. 276 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 6: See. 277 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:09,719 Speaker 5: I can be friendly, but when it comes to being friends, 278 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 5: when it comes to spending time together and coming over 279 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 5: to my house and interacting with my family, that's a 280 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 5: different story. I can be friends from a distance all 281 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 5: day long. But if they run around on their spouse, 282 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 5: let me tell you, we're not gonna hang out together. 283 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 5: Or if they're not honest in their business dealings, we're 284 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 5: not gonna pow wow around. If they can't control their temper, 285 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 5: they can't control their mouth, you're not gonna see me 286 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 5: being buddy buddy with them. And it's not because I 287 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 5: think I'm too good. It's not because I'm just too 288 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 5: self righteous. No, it's simply because I understand this principle. 289 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 5: I understand no matter how strong I think I am, 290 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 5: if I hang around with them too closely, too often, 291 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 5: they have the potential to drag me down. They have 292 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 5: the potential to pollute my life. I don't even want 293 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 5: to give that junk a chance of rubbing off on me. 294 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 5: I have a destined to fulfill. I have an assignment. 295 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 5: Each one of you do as well. 296 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 6: And I'm not. 297 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 5: Saying that we should just isolate ourselves and not have 298 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 5: any contact with anyone that has a bad habit or 299 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 5: anyone that needs help. 300 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 6: Of course not. 301 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 5: The Bible talks about how Jesus was a friend of sinners. 302 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 5: He was always reaching out to help people in need. 303 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 5: He went to eat with some of the worst ones 304 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 5: of his day. But when it came to the ones 305 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 5: Jesus chose to live with day in and day out, 306 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 5: to eat with, to travel with, to sleep with, those 307 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 5: were his twelve disciples. 308 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 6: Those were his closest friends. 309 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 5: And sometimes I hear people say, well, I'm just hanging 310 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 5: around with him to try to help him, try to 311 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 5: get his. 312 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 6: Life on the right course. 313 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 3: And that's good. 314 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 5: We should mentor people, we should be good examples, but 315 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 5: please don't use that as an excuse to compromise. 316 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 6: Well, I'm just. 317 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 5: Gonna go party with everybody after work because I'm trying 318 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 5: to be a good influence on this guy. No, a 319 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 5: better influence would be to take a strong stand and say, 320 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 5: you know what, I'm not going there with you. I'll 321 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 5: meet you some other time, but I'm not gonna put 322 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 5: myself in that kind of environment. 323 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 6: And a good rule is as long as. 324 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 5: You are affecting them and they're not infecting you, then 325 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:15,359 Speaker 5: it's okay. But the moment you realize that you're compromising 326 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 5: and they're starting to rub off on you, you're gonna 327 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 5: have to make some changes. 328 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 6: And I know some of these things we don't have 329 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 6: a choice. 330 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 5: You may be married to somebody that's very negative and 331 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 5: somebody that's always dragging you down, and I'm not saying 332 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 5: to go get rid of that person. Some of you 333 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 5: have never looked so happy. You think you've got the 334 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 5: word that you needed today, Joel told me I'm gonna 335 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 5: go get rid of this old goat man. No, a 336 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 5: marriage is a different situation, or maybe you work besides 337 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 5: somebody that's a bad influence and you can't help it. 338 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 6: Man, their desk is next to yours, and this thing 339 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 6: you can do about it? 340 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 5: Well, I believe in those cases that God will give 341 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 5: you the grace that you need. If you'll have the 342 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 5: right attitude, God will keep you protected, He'll keep. 343 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 6: That junk from rubbing off on you. And if you 344 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 6: are married to. 345 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 5: Somebody that's negative and somebody that tends to pull you down, 346 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:09,120 Speaker 5: one thing you need to do is every time you 347 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 5: can put yourself in an environment that will build you up. 348 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,719 Speaker 5: When you have free time, find some friends that are happy, 349 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 5: find some people that will cheer you up. 350 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 6: You got to do something to compensate for it. 351 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:24,160 Speaker 5: But don't you dare go out and find five other 352 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 5: depressed people and sit around and sit around and talk 353 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,679 Speaker 5: about how bad your marriage is. No more than anybody. 354 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 5: You need to make especially sure every chance you get 355 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 5: to put yourself in a healthy, positive environment. I think 356 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 5: about Abraham. God made him a great promise there in 357 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 5: Genesis twelve, verse two. God said, Abraham, I'm gonna bless 358 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:49,120 Speaker 5: you and prosper you. I'm gonna pour out an abundant 359 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 5: increase of my favor, and you're gonna be a blessing 360 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 5: everywhere you go. And I believe that's God's dream for 361 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 5: every one of us. But you notice Verse one tells 362 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 5: us what Abraham had to do in order for this 363 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 5: to take place. God said, Abraham, you've got to get 364 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:10,360 Speaker 5: up and go away from where you are, leave your country, 365 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 5: leave your relatives, leave your father's house, and go into 366 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 5: the land where I'm showing you. In other words, God 367 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:19,679 Speaker 5: would say, in Abraham, if you want this great promise 368 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 5: to come to pass, then I'm gonna have to get 369 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 5: you in a different environment. 370 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 6: You're going to have to make some changes. Why was that. 371 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:32,239 Speaker 5: It's because Abraham's relatives and all the people around him 372 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 5: at that time were idol worshipers. Everywhere he looked there 373 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 5: were bad influences, and God knew as long as he 374 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 5: was in that type of environment, it would not permit 375 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 5: the growth that God had in mind. And I'm sure 376 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 5: at first Abraham thought, oh, God, just change my family. 377 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 5: Why don't you change my relatives, change the people around me. 378 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 6: But most of the time that's not the way it works. 379 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 5: God asked us to walk away from the bad influences. 380 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 5: He asked us to leave the places where we're constantly 381 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 5: being tempted, and we need to put ourselves in a 382 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 5: new environment. And some of you today, if you don't 383 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 5: make these changes, you're not gonna see the great promises 384 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,399 Speaker 5: of God come to pass in your life. And of 385 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 5: course I'm not saying to just leave your family. I'm 386 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 5: not saying to not have anything to do with your relatives. 387 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 5: But you know as well as I do, sometimes the 388 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 5: people that are closest to you can be the ones 389 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 5: that hinder you the most. Sometimes your own relatives will 390 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 5: be the first ones to try to talk you out 391 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 5: of your dreams. You mean you're gonna do what, You're 392 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 5: gonna be prosperous, You're gonna be successful. You think you 393 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:37,960 Speaker 5: have God's favor. 394 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 6: I don't think so. We've never had it. 395 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 5: And if you listen to no wonder right, and if 396 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:44,919 Speaker 5: you listen to that junk long enough, you know what, 397 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 5: it'll take root and it'll keep you from God's best. 398 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 5: And some of you today, you know God has put 399 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 5: something bigger in you than the environment you're in. Everywhere 400 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 5: you look, there's negativity, there's bad influences, there's people with 401 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:00,639 Speaker 5: small mind and to thinking. 402 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,680 Speaker 6: And if you don't make some changes, if you. 403 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 5: Don't put yourself in a different environment that will permit 404 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 5: this new growth, then unfortunately it's not going to come 405 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:14,120 Speaker 5: to pass. The problem is you're being limited. You're being 406 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,919 Speaker 5: restricted by your environment. And they may be good people, 407 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 5: but sometimes it's just a new season. It's just time 408 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,400 Speaker 5: to move on, to make some changes. Something is bigger 409 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 5: in you than the environment that you're in. This is 410 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 5: just what happened to my father way back in nineteen 411 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 5: fifty eight, before I was born. Daddy was pastor of 412 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 5: a very successful church here in town. They just built 413 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:39,399 Speaker 5: a brand new sanctuary. He was on the state board 414 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 5: for his denomination. Life was going very well. But about 415 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 5: that time, my sister Lisa was born with a birth 416 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 5: injury that was similar to cerebral palsy. The doctors told 417 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 5: my parents Lisa would never be normal, and as you 418 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 5: can imagine, it was a very dark day in their life. 419 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 6: And so my father went away and he began to search. 420 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 5: The scriptures as never before, and he saw how Jesus 421 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 5: went about healing everybody everywhere he went. He saw how 422 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 5: God was a good God that he wanted. 423 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:09,959 Speaker 6: Us to prosper and be in health. 424 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 5: He went back to his church, and he began to 425 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 5: preach with a new fire, a new enthusiasm. He told him, 426 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 5: we're going to believe for miracles. We know God's a 427 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 5: supernatural god, and you can live a life of victory. 428 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 5: He thought everybody'd be excited. He thought they'd all be thrilled. 429 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 5: But do you know most of them didn't like it. 430 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 5: They were offended by it. They were very steeped in 431 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 5: their tradition. It wasn't what they were used to. He 432 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 5: began to ruffle a few feathers and make a long 433 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:40,679 Speaker 5: story short. You know how God did heal my sister. 434 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 5: She's perfectly normal today. 435 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,360 Speaker 6: But Daddy knew one of them. Amen. 436 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 5: Daddy knew the best thing he could do in order 437 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 5: to keep the peace in that church was to just 438 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 5: walk away. And so he left there and went down 439 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 5: to an abandoned feed store, and on my Mother's Day 440 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 5: in nineteen fifty nine, they started at Lakewood Church. See 441 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 5: deep down in here, Daddy knew God had put something 442 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 5: bigger in him than that environment could handle. And they 443 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:14,200 Speaker 5: were good people, but he knew if he stayed there, 444 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 5: just like planting an oak tree, in a pot that 445 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,160 Speaker 5: was going to restrict his growth. And don't get me wrong, 446 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:22,719 Speaker 5: it was hard for my parents to leave. They had 447 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 5: just built that beautiful sanctuary, and now they were meeting 448 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 5: in a run down, dirty feed store, a place where 449 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 5: they actually had sold hay and feed. My mother told 450 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 5: how she was twenty eight years old at the time, 451 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 5: and she lost almost every one of her friends. They 452 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:40,879 Speaker 5: wouldn't have anything to do with her. They thought Daddy 453 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 5: had gone off the deep end, and here they were 454 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,919 Speaker 5: having to start from scratch, and in the natural it 455 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:49,239 Speaker 5: looked like a big mistake. The easy thing was to 456 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 5: just stay where it was safe and comfortable. 457 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:55,160 Speaker 6: The easy thing was to just conform to that environment. 458 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 5: But no, they knew they had something bigger in them 459 00:22:58,280 --> 00:22:59,640 Speaker 5: than the environment they were in. 460 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 6: They dared to take a step of faith. 461 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 5: And had they not been willing to walk away, had 462 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:08,360 Speaker 5: they not been willing to make those tough choices, I'm 463 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:11,240 Speaker 5: sure I wouldn't be standing here today. And some of 464 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:13,399 Speaker 5: you right now you know you have something bigger on 465 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 5: the inside. You know you're made for more than what 466 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 5: you're doing. But every voice all around you tells you 467 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 5: to just stay where you are. Man, this is all 468 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 5: your parents had, this is what your grandparents had. You'd 469 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:26,120 Speaker 5: better just play it safe. 470 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 2: I know. 471 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 5: Sometimes you've got to be willing to take a risk. 472 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 5: Sometimes you've got to get out of your comfort zone 473 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 5: and put yourself in a new environment. If you don't, 474 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,639 Speaker 5: it's going to limit your potential. If you don't, it 475 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:41,639 Speaker 5: can restrict your growth. And I'm not saying to be 476 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 5: foolish and just leave a city or leave a job. 477 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 5: Of course, you've got to pray, and you've got to 478 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 5: use common sense and ask God to really show you. 479 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 5: But there are some things that we can do simply 480 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 5: to change the atmosphere around us. I have these friends 481 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,760 Speaker 5: that pastor a church in another state, And when they 482 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 5: first started the church and years ago, they were totally broke. 483 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 5: They didn't have any money. They were living in a 484 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 5: tiny apartment. The men would work all week. On the weekends, 485 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 5: he would pass through the church and they met right 486 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 5: there in their apartment. Only had about fifteen or twenty 487 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:16,679 Speaker 5: people coming. This went on for years. They were so 488 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 5: tempted to get discouraged. They hardly had any furniture, didn't 489 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 5: have money to do anything extra. 490 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 6: I mean, their future didn't look very bright. 491 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 5: But deep down in here they knew God had put 492 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 5: something bigger in them than the environment they were in. 493 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 6: They knew one day they would. 494 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:36,879 Speaker 5: Be ministering to thousands of people. And so instead of 495 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 5: just sitting in their little apartment every night complaining, feeling 496 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 5: sorry for themselves, you know. 497 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:42,600 Speaker 6: What they did. 498 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 5: They would drive down to one of the big fancy 499 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:46,480 Speaker 5: hotels down the road. 500 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 6: They didn't even have money for parking. 501 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 5: They'd have to park way down the street and walk 502 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 5: the rest of the way. But they would go there 503 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:56,800 Speaker 5: night after night and just sit in the hotel lobby 504 00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 5: and do nothing more than dream. They wanted to put 505 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 5: themselves in an atmosphere of success, an environment of victory. 506 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:09,199 Speaker 5: As they looked around at all the beautiful surroundings, a 507 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:11,960 Speaker 5: new image was taken root on the inside. 508 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:13,680 Speaker 6: Night after night, they just sit. 509 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 5: There and thank God, one day you're going to bring 510 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 5: our dreams to pass. 511 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 6: One day we know we're going to be ministering to thousands. 512 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 5: See, they put themselves in an environment that would inspire growth. 513 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,200 Speaker 5: They didn't have too much, but now that new dream 514 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 5: was really taken root on the inside. They were enlarging 515 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 5: their vision. Today, many years later, they're seeing those dreams 516 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:35,959 Speaker 5: come to pass. 517 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 6: Friends. 518 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:40,400 Speaker 5: It's so important the environment we put ourselves in, from 519 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 5: the friends we choose to, even our physical surroundings. And 520 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 5: you may be at a place that's not too hot, 521 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:49,359 Speaker 5: but you can do something like this couple, Go find 522 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:53,160 Speaker 5: somewhere you can dream, Find someplace that inspires. 523 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:53,360 Speaker 6: You. 524 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:56,679 Speaker 5: Don't just sit around night after night focused on the 525 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 5: negative and focused on what you don't have. You got 526 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 5: a change your environment. You need to leave the place 527 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 5: where you are. It may not be physically, some of 528 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:08,639 Speaker 5: you just need to leave a bad attitude, leave a 529 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 5: wrong mindset, start dreaming bigger dreams. 530 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:15,679 Speaker 6: Well, God told Abraham to leave his country, leave his relatives. 531 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 5: And Abraham did leave, but he made one big mistake. 532 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:22,680 Speaker 5: He took his nephew Lot with him. God never told 533 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:25,199 Speaker 5: him to take Lot. And do you know, Lot was 534 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:29,120 Speaker 5: the one that ended up causing him problems. They got 535 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 5: into strife and eventually they had to separate. And I 536 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,440 Speaker 5: believe that Lot represents that one thing we try to 537 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:37,400 Speaker 5: hold onto. 538 00:26:37,560 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 6: Oh Joe, just this one friend. 539 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:41,679 Speaker 5: I know he's not a good influence, but we've been 540 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 5: friends a long time. Just this one bad habit, just 541 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 5: this one wrong mindset. It's interesting when God told Abraham 542 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 5: to leave, he didn't speak to him again. 543 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:55,679 Speaker 6: Until he got rid of Lot. 544 00:26:56,480 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 5: In other words, Lot was keeping Abraham from hearing god voice. 545 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:04,960 Speaker 5: Lot was keeping Abraham from fulfilling his destiny. We have 546 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:08,679 Speaker 5: to understand God will not make us do anything. He 547 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:12,439 Speaker 5: asked us to walk away from bad influences. He asked 548 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 5: us to stay in a healthy, positive environment. Then it's 549 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:18,879 Speaker 5: up to us and some of you today. I believe 550 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 5: that you would get clear direction for your life. You 551 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:25,679 Speaker 5: would see God open up new doors of opportunity if 552 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:29,520 Speaker 5: you'd simply separate yourself from the things that you know 553 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 5: are holding you back. It may be a friend, it 554 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 5: may be something you're watching, may be a wrong mindset. 555 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:39,159 Speaker 6: Whatever it is, I really believe if you just make. 556 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:42,040 Speaker 5: A clean break, you would see God's favor in a 557 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:45,479 Speaker 5: much greater and a much newer way. So I challenge 558 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 5: you again today to evaluate your friendships. Who are you 559 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:53,120 Speaker 5: spending time with, Who's influencing you? What kind of environment 560 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:54,360 Speaker 5: are you putting yourself in? 561 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 6: Is it restricting you? Is it causing you to make 562 00:27:57,119 --> 00:28:00,479 Speaker 6: poor choices? If so, why don't you make some changes? 563 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 5: Do your best to stay in a healthy, positive environment. Remember, 564 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 5: our environment is going to change us before we change it. 565 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:10,680 Speaker 5: That means we need to stay in the right culture 566 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:14,440 Speaker 5: so those seeds of greatness can take root and really 567 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,280 Speaker 5: become a reality in our lives. And I know if 568 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:19,399 Speaker 5: you do this, God will do for you what he 569 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 5: did for Abraham. 570 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 6: He will bless you and prosper you. 571 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 5: He'll pour out his goodness and you'll experience the life 572 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 5: of victory that he has in story. 573 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,399 Speaker 6: Amen. Do you receive it today? But I know you do. 574 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:35,160 Speaker 6: We never like to close our godcast without giving. 575 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:37,919 Speaker 5: You an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 576 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 6: Would you pray with me? 577 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 5: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 578 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:50,480 Speaker 5: into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, 579 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:52,840 Speaker 5: if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 580 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 5: born again. Get into good Bible based church, Keep God 581 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 5: first place. 582 00:28:57,120 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 6: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 583 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 7: Thank you for listening to the joel Ostein podcast. Help 584 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 7: us continue to share the message of hope with those 585 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 7: all over the world. Visit Jolostein dot com slash give 586 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 7: Hope to give a gift today Thanks so much. 587 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 3: For listening to today's message. 588 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 5: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 589 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:20,320 Speaker 5: podcast to keep you. 590 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:23,479 Speaker 3: Inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. I 591 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,479 Speaker 3: know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you next time. 592 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 8: With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 593 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 8: for everyone. 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