1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joelan Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 3 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. Well, 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: God bless you. It's a joy to come into your homes. 6 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,240 Speaker 1: And if you're ever in our area, please stop buying 7 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: be a part of one of our services. These are 8 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: the finest people in all of Houston, Texas, right here 9 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: at Lakewood, and we would love to have you. I 10 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: like to start with something funny, and I heard about 11 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: this husband and wife. They were celebrating their sixtieth birthdays 12 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: together when an angel suddenly appeared and said that God 13 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: was going to grant them each one special request. They 14 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: were so excited. The wife said, my request is that 15 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: we'd be able to travel all over the world. Poof, 16 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: when the smoke cleared, she had tickets in her hand. 17 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: The husband put his head down in shame, said, my 18 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: request is that I'd be married to woman thirty years 19 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: younger than me, and Poof, when the smoke cleared, he 20 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: was ninety years old, and that's what he gets. So 21 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: here we go. This is my Bible. I am what 22 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: it says I am. I have what it says I have. 23 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do. Today 24 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 25 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 1: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 26 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 27 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:33,759 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about how bad 28 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: do you want it? The dreams God has placed in 29 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: your heart, the promises He's spoken to you, are not 30 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 1: going to come to pass without opposition, without delays, without 31 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: people trying to talk you out of it. There will 32 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: be plenty of opportunities to get discouraged, to lose your 33 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: passion and think that it's not meant to be. But 34 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: if you're going to reach your destiny, you have to 35 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: have a made up mind. If you give up after 36 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: the first time, or the fifth time, or the thirtieth time, 37 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: what that really means is you didn't want it bad enough. 38 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,559 Speaker 1: There should be something you're believing for that. You are relentless. 39 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: You are not moved by how impossible it looks. You're 40 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: not discouraged by how long it's taken. You don't give 41 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,799 Speaker 1: up because people told you no. Your attitude is if 42 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: I have to believe my whole life. I am not 43 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: going to stop believing. I am not going to take 44 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: no for an answer. I'm not going to settle for mediocrity. 45 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: I'm going to keep pursuing what God put in my heart. 46 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: You can't be passive and indifferent. You have to have 47 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: a holy determination. It's more than just your will. It's 48 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: a fire on the inside, a knowing that it's supposed 49 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: to be yours. When everything says it's not going to happen, 50 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: instead of getting discouraged, you kick in to a new gear. 51 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 1: Normal people would give up, normal people would settle, but 52 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 1: you're not normal. You want it on another level. When 53 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 1: David was seventeen years old, the prophet Samuel anointed him 54 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: as the next king of Israel. But David didn't go 55 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: to the palace. He went back to the shepherd's fields, 56 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: where it was lonely. He was overlooked mistreated by his family. 57 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: When he finally did go to the palace to serve 58 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: King Saul, Saul became jealous of David and tried to 59 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: kill him. David had done no wrong, yet he had 60 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: to live on the run, hiding in caves, spending months 61 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 1: out in the desert. He could have been discouraged, thought, God, 62 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: this isn't fair. You anointed me to be king. Nothing 63 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: is working out. But David didn't have a give up spirit. 64 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: He didn't feel sorry for himself. He didn't let circumstances 65 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 1: talk him out of it. He had a warrior mentality. 66 00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: His attitude was, I am not quitting, not settling for mediocrity. 67 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 1: I know there is greatness in me. I'm going to 68 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 1: become who God says I am. One reason he took 69 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: the throne is he wanted it bad enough. How bad 70 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: do you want what God has put in your heart? 71 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: Bad enough to outlast the opposition, bad enough to overlook 72 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: some insults, bad enough to do the right thing when 73 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: the wrong thing is happening. Do you want it bad 74 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: enough to keep pursuing even when circumstances saved. It's not 75 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: going to happen. Many of the difficulties we face, the delays, 76 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 1: the times, it's not fair. That's simply a test God 77 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: is seeing how bad do you want it? This is 78 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 1: what weeds people out. If you're overcome by problems, you 79 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 1: let circumstances push you down, people talk you out of it. 80 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: You're not going to have the strength or the courage 81 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: to sustain where God that is taking you. You have 82 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: to be like David. Don't have a weak mentality, have 83 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: a warrior mentality. You have to be more determined than 84 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: the opposition. If you give up every time things don't 85 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: go your way, you didn't want it bad enough. You 86 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: have to dig your heels in and say, I am 87 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: in this for the long haul. I know what God 88 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 1: has spoken to me. I will get well, I will 89 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: accomplish my dream. I will meet the right person. You're 90 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 1: not moved by what's not working out, by how long 91 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 1: it's taking, or by who's not for you. You know 92 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: who is for you, the most High God. In March 93 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: chapter ten, Jesus was leaving Jericho. A great crowd was 94 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,679 Speaker 1: following him. There was a blind beggar on the side 95 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:53,600 Speaker 1: of the road named Bartimaeus. When he heard all the commotion, 96 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 1: he started shouting, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on 97 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 1: me around him told him to be quiet, you're creating 98 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 1: a scene. He's going to get upset. They saw Bartimaeus 99 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: as insignificant. You're just a beggar. This man, Jesus, he's 100 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: not going to be interested in you. He's the hottest 101 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: celebrity around. He's on TMZ every night. The more they 102 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: tried to quiet him, the scripture says, the louder he 103 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: shouted about that time, Jesus stopped, turned and looked at him. 104 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: Can imagine they thought, we told you you should have 105 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: been quiet. He's annoyed. He's going to let you have it. 106 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: Jesus smiled and said, tell him to come to me. 107 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 1: They were amazed, They said, Bartimaeus, he's not upset, he's 108 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: calling you. They brought him to Jesus. Jesus said to him, 109 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: what is it that you want me to do for you? 110 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 1: Bartimaeus said, I want to see. Jesus told him, go 111 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: your way. Your faith has made you whold. Instantly he 112 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: could see. Here's my point. There were other blind men 113 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: on the road that day. There were other sick people 114 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,599 Speaker 1: in the crowd. Yet Bartimaeus was the only one that 115 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 1: was healed. Why he wanted it more than they did. 116 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: He wanted it so bad he didn't let people talk 117 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: him out of it. When they tried to push him 118 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: down discourage him, he shouted even louder. If he would 119 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: have listened to them, he would have missed his miracle. 120 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: Are you letting people talk you out of what God 121 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: put in your heart? You can't get well. You saw 122 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: the report. You'll never get out of debt. You've reached 123 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: your limits. You can't start that business you want to 124 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: accomplish your dreams. You have too much opposition. Do like him. 125 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: Let that go in one ear and out the other. 126 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:47,679 Speaker 1: Ignore what they're saying. They don't determine your destiny. God does. 127 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 1: But if Bartivaeus would have been passive and indifferent, thought, hey, 128 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: i'm blind, it's just a bad break, he wouldn't have 129 00:07:56,320 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: received his sight. He had this passion, this spire on 130 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 1: the inside that said this is your day, this is 131 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: your time. He rose up and took that step of faith. 132 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: If you're going to see what you're believing for, you 133 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: have to be willing to do what other people want do. 134 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 1: Other people may not believe when it looks impossible. Other 135 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: people may settle where they are. They may get discouraged. 136 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: Tell you don't bother praying, don't bother believing, No use 137 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: getting your hopes up. You're wasting your time. You have 138 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:34,319 Speaker 1: to do like Barnabas and say God, this looks impossible, 139 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: but I know you can do the impossible. The odds 140 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: are against me, but God, I know you are for me. Well, 141 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: I put in three applications, all three companies turn me down. 142 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 1: I don't think I'll ever find a job. I say 143 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: this respectfully. You don't want it bad enough. Well, I 144 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,079 Speaker 1: dated two girls. Both of them told me I wasn't 145 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: their time. I don't think I'll ever get married. You 146 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 1: don't want it bad enough several million other girls out there. Well, 147 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: I want to get well, but the medical report says 148 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: I'm not going to make it. When the odds are 149 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: against you, you have to want it on a new level. 150 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: How bad do you want to get out of debt? 151 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 1: Bad enough to not buy things you can afford, bad 152 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: enough to not try to keep up with your friends, 153 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: bad enough to honor God by tithing your income. How 154 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: bad do you want that promotion? Bad enough to get 155 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 1: to work early, bad enough to do more than what's required, 156 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:38,319 Speaker 1: bad enough to take that online course to sharpen your skills. 157 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: I don't want to take another course. I don't want 158 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 1: more work. I just want the promotion. You don't want 159 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: it bad enough. You have to stand out in the crowd, 160 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: The scripture says Daniel distinguished himself. He was so excellent 161 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,239 Speaker 1: in his work, so sharp, had such a great attitude 162 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:00,680 Speaker 1: that he stood out among all the other young men. 163 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,959 Speaker 1: The King put him in a position of great leadership. 164 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:09,199 Speaker 1: But it doesn't say God distinguished him, God made him excel, 165 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:13,560 Speaker 1: God made him stand out. It says he distinguished himself 166 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 1: he was willing to do what the other young men 167 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 1: wouldn't do. Wasn't so much that he had more talent, 168 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,200 Speaker 1: more skilled. It was the fact that he wanted it 169 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: more than they did. How bad do you want your 170 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: children to stay on the right course? Bad enough to 171 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: bring them to church each week, bad enough to get 172 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 1: them up and dressed on your day off and have 173 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: them in children's classes. We don't think twice about having 174 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 1: to get our children up for school, have them dressed, fed, ready, 175 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: sometimes by seven in the morning. Their schooling is incredibly important, 176 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: but I could argue that their spiritual life is even 177 00:10:56,080 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: more important. When they grow up learn learning to honor 178 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:05,560 Speaker 1: God as a person of excellence and integrity, knowing that 179 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: they are fearfully and wonderfully made, knowing that they are 180 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 1: surrounded by favor, those seeds planted in them will affect 181 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 1: them for the rest of their lives. Every time you 182 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: bring them, you are showing them by example to put 183 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: God first place. How bad do you want your marriage, 184 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: your relationships to work out, bad enough to bite your 185 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: tongue when you feel like telling them off, bad enough 186 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: to clean up a mess that you didn't make. There 187 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: are new levels in front of us, but much of 188 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: it depends on how bad we want it. God is 189 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: not going to do everything for us. We have to 190 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:48,559 Speaker 1: do our part. When Lazarus died, Jesus told his family 191 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 1: roll away the stone and all raise Lazarus. Jesus could 192 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 1: have moved the stone. He's God. He wanted to see 193 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 1: how bad they wanted it. Pray, God, help me to 194 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: feel better. I don't have any energy. God, I'm always 195 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:09,079 Speaker 1: so tired. Are you eating right? Are you exercising? Are 196 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,439 Speaker 1: you getting enough sleep? Are you living stressed and worried? 197 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: If you'll roll away the stone, then God will do 198 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: what you're asking. But you can't override natural laws and 199 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 1: expect to live a blessed, healthy life. Do you want 200 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:28,719 Speaker 1: to get well bad enough to not drink forty three 201 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 1: colas a day and sleep three hours a night? Let 202 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 1: me move on. Do you want to get Do you 203 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: want to break that addiction bad enough to not hang 204 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: around those people that are pulling you down, causing you 205 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 1: to compromise. All I know these friends aren't good for me, 206 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: but I like being around them. You don't want it 207 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: bad enough. God is not going to free you until 208 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: you roll away the stone. When he sees you doing 209 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 1: all you can, then he'll make things happen that you can't. 210 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: If you're not willing to do the natural, he's not 211 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 1: going to do the supernatural. Your destiny is too important 212 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: to spend it with people that are not making you better. 213 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: Who are you allowing to influence you? Are they challenging you, 214 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 1: inspiring you, pushing you forward? You don't have time to 215 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: waste with people that bring out the worst in you. 216 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: Life is flying by. We don't get a do over. 217 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: This is it? Well? What if I hurt their feelings? 218 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: What if you miss your destiny? What if they keep 219 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:36,959 Speaker 1: you from becoming who you were created to be? They 220 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:40,319 Speaker 1: may not want it bad enough. They may be okay 221 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 1: with mediocrity, compromise, and barely getting by in life. That's 222 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 1: their choice, but that's not who you are. You have 223 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 1: seeds of greatness. You're destined to leave your mark. You 224 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: weren't created to fit in, to be average, to live 225 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: with addictions, dysfunction, lacks, struggle. You were created to stand 226 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,679 Speaker 1: out in the crowd, to be a cut above. Now 227 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 1: do your part and distinguish yourself. Be willing to do 228 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: what others want to do. Yes, it takes discipline. Yes 229 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 1: you have to say no to carnal desires. But the 230 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 1: pain of discipline is less than the pain of regret. 231 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: It's hard to bite your tongue not say what you feel, 232 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: but that pain is less than the pain of having 233 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: someone you love walk away. It's hard to lay off 234 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: the junk food, things that are not good for you. 235 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 1: That pain is less than the pain of not being healthy. 236 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: It's hard to break away from a friend that's pulling 237 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: you down, but that pain is less than not reaching 238 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 1: your dreams. One of the saddest things is to come 239 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: to the end of life and wonder what I could 240 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: have become. What if I wouldn't have let those people 241 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: taught me out of my miracle? What if I would 242 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 1: have broken away from those friends that were causing me 243 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: to compromise? Where would I be? What if I would 244 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 1: have treated my spouse with respect. What if I would 245 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: have taken that step of faith in my career and 246 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: not played it safe all the time. You don't have 247 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: to wonder. You can start right now. It is not 248 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: too late to become who God's created you to be. 249 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: The question is do you want it bad enough? Stir 250 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 1: your passion out, make this decision. I Am not going 251 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: to live complacent, accepting mediocrity passive. I'm going to pursue 252 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 1: what God put in my heart. I'm gonna take steps 253 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: to grow. I'm going to come up higher in my relationships. 254 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: There was a young man that was raised in a 255 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: small town in Pennsylvania. Nobody in his family had ever 256 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: left that area. They all stayed and worked there locally. 257 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: But this young man had a dream to go to college. 258 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: He knew he had more in him, but he came 259 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: from a limited income. He didn't have the fun or 260 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 1: the connections. But instead of giving up and accepting that 261 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: as his destiny, he went to the local phone company 262 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 1: and he got the phone directory for New York City. 263 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 1: That's where he wanted to go to school. But he 264 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: had to find a job. He found a company that 265 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 1: had three hundred and ninety three locations in the New 266 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: York area. He decided to write each one of them 267 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: a letter asking them for a job. He didn't have 268 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: a computer or a typewriter, but for the next month 269 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 1: he wrote about fifteen letters a week, telling the company 270 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: that he would do anything from sweep the floors to 271 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: clean out the warehouses. Month went by and he didn't 272 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: hear anything. Three months nothing, six months still nothing. It's 273 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: kind of discouraged. When he turned eighteen, he convinced his 274 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 1: parents to let him take the train to New York 275 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: City to follow up with that company. He arrived in Manhattan, 276 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: he went to one of their low largest locations in 277 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,919 Speaker 1: Times Square, told the person in charge who he was 278 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,439 Speaker 1: and how he had applied for a job and was 279 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: wondering if they were interested. The person informed him that 280 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: all the hiring took place at their corporate headquarters a 281 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: few blocks down the street. That's where all the applications went. 282 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:23,679 Speaker 1: He walked into this big skyscraper, this huge building. He 283 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: told the reception is his name, and asked if he 284 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:30,639 Speaker 1: could see the person in charge of hiring. She called upstairs, 285 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:34,120 Speaker 1: and much to her surprise, they said, yes, send him up. 286 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: He stepped off the elevator. They brought him to this 287 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: large executive office with big beautiful windows looking out. He 288 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: was so nervous, so out of his element. He told 289 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: the executive, my name is so and so, and I 290 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: was wondering if you received the letter I wrote asking 291 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: for a job. The executive turned to his side desk, 292 00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 1: put his hand on a big stack of papers, said, yes, 293 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 1: he received your letter, all three hundred and ninety three 294 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: of them. We knew you would be coming. You can 295 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: start tomorrow. That young man not only worked his way 296 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:16,200 Speaker 1: through college, but when he graduated, he became a manager 297 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 1: for a whole region of their stores. How bad do 298 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: you want it? Well, I put in four applications, they 299 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 1: all turned me down. You have three hundred and eighty 300 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: nine left to go. The difference between a dream and 301 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,880 Speaker 1: a wish is a wish is something you just hope 302 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:38,199 Speaker 1: it happens, but a dream you put actions behind. The 303 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 1: scripture says faith without works is dead. He could have 304 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: wished he could get a job, wish somebody would hire him, 305 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:49,199 Speaker 1: wished he could go to school. Wishing isn't going to 306 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: get you anywhere. He was willing to do what others 307 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:57,119 Speaker 1: wouldn't do. The people that succeed don't always have the 308 00:18:57,119 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 1: most talent, the most education, the most opportunity. Many times 309 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 1: they simply want it more than others. You have to 310 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:11,199 Speaker 1: pursue what God put in you. Being passive and indifferent 311 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 1: will keep you from your destiny. Jesus said, those who 312 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled. Here's the principle. 313 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: If you're not hungry after anything, you're not going to 314 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:28,399 Speaker 1: be filled. Are you hungry to get well, hungry to 315 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: accomplish the dream, hungry to meet the right person. You 316 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,920 Speaker 1: can teach people to have faith, you can encourage them 317 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:40,160 Speaker 1: to believe, but you can't make people be hungry. This 318 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: has to come from the inside. You have to know 319 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 1: you are a person of destiny, that there is something 320 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: bigger in front of you. Do you want it bad enough? 321 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 1: Or are you coasting? Have you let people talk you 322 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: out of it? Bad breaks, disappointments steal your passion cause 323 00:19:57,520 --> 00:20:00,640 Speaker 1: you to settle. Well, my business didn't make it. That's 324 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 1: why I'm down. How do you know your next business 325 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: is not going to make it? The medical report says 326 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 1: I'm not going to get well. There's another report. It 327 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 1: says God is restoring health back into you. Are you 328 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:17,880 Speaker 1: hungry for it? You may have had some setbacks, but 329 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:20,800 Speaker 1: you have to be relentless when it comes to what 330 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 1: God put in your heart. If you let people talk 331 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: you out of it delays disappointments, then you didn't want 332 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:31,400 Speaker 1: it bad enough. Sometimes we talk ourselves out of it. 333 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:34,360 Speaker 1: It's too hard. Can't write that many letters. I don't 334 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 1: have a computer. It's amazing what we'll do when we 335 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: want something bad enough. When I met Victoria, I was 336 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 1: madly in love. I thought, this girl is one of 337 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 1: a kind. I am not going to let her get away. 338 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:52,199 Speaker 1: I would do anything she wanted. I would go to 339 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 1: the mall with her, follow her around, hold her purse 340 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: while she tried things on. I don't even like the shop. 341 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: I didn't mind it. One I was with her one 342 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:05,879 Speaker 1: time when we were first dating. She asked if I 343 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 1: wanted to go work out at five thirty in the morning. 344 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:11,719 Speaker 1: I thought, no, I don't want to go work out 345 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 1: at five thirty. I want to sleep without missing a beat. 346 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: I smiled real big and said, I'd love to go 347 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 1: work out at five thirty. I'll be at your house 348 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,919 Speaker 1: at five point fifteen. I was lying, but I was 349 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:27,960 Speaker 1: in love. Here. I was driving down the road four 350 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 1: forty five in the morning, as happy as can be. 351 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,199 Speaker 1: Never complain. One time I was about to see the 352 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 1: girl of my dreams. When you want something bad enough, 353 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 1: you'll do things that you normally wouldn't do. If you 354 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:46,399 Speaker 1: think I wanted her that bad, you should have seen 355 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:53,919 Speaker 1: how bad she wanted me. I made myself laugh. I 356 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:56,120 Speaker 1: can't think of any examples, but I know she did. 357 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 1: What am I saying? Quit telling yourself it's too hard, 358 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:05,360 Speaker 1: it's too early. I've had too many setbacks. You can 359 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 1: do what you want to do. Don't miss your destiny 360 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:13,160 Speaker 1: because you didn't want it bad enough. What God put 361 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 1: in you is worth fighting for. It's worth being uncomfortable 362 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 1: for a season. It's worth having to stretch to get 363 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 1: up early, to try it again, to do what others 364 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 1: aren't willing to do. My grandmother on my father's side 365 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:32,639 Speaker 1: of the family was a very feisty woman. She was 366 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: a real character. She grew up way out in the country, 367 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 1: and she and my grandfather were very poor. They didn't 368 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 1: have much education, but there were really great people. But 369 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 1: later in life, my grandmother took up chewing tobacco. She 370 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: liked to dip snuff. You didn't know I came from 371 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: such a sophisticated background. One time someone asked my father 372 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 1: if you could chew Tobacca and go to heaven. He 373 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 1: said yes, but you'll have to go to hell to spit. 374 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 1: My grandfather couldn't stand it. He begged her and begged 375 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: her to stop. She said, Jack, I just can't do it. 376 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:14,120 Speaker 1: I've tried everything. I'm hooked. This went on year after year. 377 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: Nothing seemed to help him. My grandfather was desperate. He 378 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:21,119 Speaker 1: finally told her, Ellie May, I will give you one 379 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 1: thousand dollars if you will stop dipping snuff. Back then, 380 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:29,200 Speaker 1: in the forties, a thousand was like twenty five thousand today. 381 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 1: She wanted the money so badly she tried everything she could. 382 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 1: She still couldn't stop. Well. Eventually, my grandfather died. He 383 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 1: went to be with the Lord, but my grandmother didn't 384 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: like being single. Ellie May wanted to find herself a man. 385 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:48,920 Speaker 1: She met this man that was twelve years younger than her. 386 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 1: She was so excited. He was handsome, had a great personality, 387 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:57,400 Speaker 1: more than she could imagine. But she started thinking, if 388 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:01,120 Speaker 1: he finds out I dip snuff, he will never even 389 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 1: ask me out on a date, much less marry me. 390 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:06,840 Speaker 1: Do you know how long it took Ellie May to 391 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 1: quit dipping snuff? That long? She did it instantly. She 392 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 1: didn't go the snuff differs anonymous. She didn't have any withdraws. 393 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 1: What she couldn't do in years she did in a 394 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 1: split second, all because her want to got big enough. 395 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 1: Like my grandmother, you can do whatever you want to do. 396 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 1: The question is how big is your want to. You 397 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:38,239 Speaker 1: can break that addiction if you really want to. You 398 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 1: can forgive that person that hurts you. You can make 399 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:44,400 Speaker 1: your marriage work, you can write that book. You can 400 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:48,400 Speaker 1: accomplish your dream if you want to bad enough. Your 401 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: will is one of the most powerful things you have. 402 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:54,920 Speaker 1: When you make up your mind to do something, God 403 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:58,679 Speaker 1: will breathe on your efforts and give you strength that 404 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: goes beyond ability. It's not just willpower, it's the blessing 405 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 1: of God helping you. But it kicks in when God 406 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:10,439 Speaker 1: sees you doing all you can do, taking steps to 407 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:13,639 Speaker 1: come up higher, forgiving the person that did you wrong, 408 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 1: trying again after a disappointment. That's when you'll see God 409 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 1: make things happen that you couldn't make happen. But I 410 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:26,160 Speaker 1: wonder if you've convinced yourself you can't do something that 411 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,119 Speaker 1: you really can do. I don't have the discipline, I 412 00:25:29,119 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 1: don't have the talent. God is saying you can do it. 413 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: It's in you, but you're going to have to dig 414 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 1: down deep and put forth the effort. It may not 415 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 1: be easy, but your destiny is calling you have greatness 416 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 1: in you. Don't let people talk you out of it. 417 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 1: Don't let circumstances convince you that you can't. There are 418 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:55,240 Speaker 1: new levels in front of you. There are great relationships, healing, promotion, abundance. 419 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 1: My question is how bad do you want it? I 420 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 1: believe I'm looking and hungry people today. I'm looking at 421 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: people that have a made up mind, people that are relentless. 422 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: I believe and declare because you'll want to is big enough. 423 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 1: Like Barbibas, you're going to see God suddenly turn things around. 424 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 1: Like David, you're going to outlast the opposition and take 425 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:21,439 Speaker 1: your throne. And like my grandmother, you are going to 426 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: break barriers that have held you back and step into 427 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:28,639 Speaker 1: a new level of your destiny in Jesus' name. And 428 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:30,960 Speaker 1: if you receive it, can you say it Men. Today, 429 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:35,400 Speaker 1: I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 430 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 1: the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 431 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 1: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 432 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:49,919 Speaker 1: into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, 433 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:52,360 Speaker 1: if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 434 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:55,959 Speaker 1: born again. Get in a good Bible based church, and 435 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 1: keep God first place.