1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jorlan Victorium. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. Well, 5 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: God bless you. It is always a joy to come 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,479 Speaker 1: into your home, and we come with good news each week. 7 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 1: We know that God is on your side. When you 8 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: seek him, you know you'll find him, and God rewards 9 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: the people that seek after him. So thanks for tuning in. 10 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: If you're ever in our area, I hope you'll stop 11 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: by be a part of one of our services. I 12 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: promise you this will make you feel right at home. 13 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: But thanks so much for tuning in, Thanks for coming out. 14 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: I like to get started with something funny each week, 15 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: and of course these are just jokes. Don't be offended 16 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: by them. But I heard about this burglar that broke 17 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: into a home one night and just as he grabbed 18 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: the stereo, he heard a voice saying, Jesus is watching you. 19 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: He froze in his tracks. As he shined his flashlight 20 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: around the room, he came across a parent in theer. 21 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: He was kind of angry. He said, did you say that? 22 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: The parrot said, yes, I'm just trying to warn you. 23 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: He said, warn me, what are you talking about? Who 24 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: are you? The parrot said, my name is Moses. He laughed, 25 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: and he said, what kind of crazy people would name 26 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: a parrot Moses. The parrot replied, the same kind of 27 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: people that would name one hundred and fifty pounds rockweler Jesus, 28 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: all right, hold up your Bible. Say it like you 29 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 1: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 30 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: says I am. I have what it says I have. 31 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do. Today 32 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 33 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 34 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 35 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: We've been talking about how God is the potter and 36 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,639 Speaker 1: we are the clan. We have to work with God 37 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: and let him make us and mold us in. One 38 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: of the ways God does this is by allowing us 39 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: to be in situations where we're uncomfortable, situations where we're 40 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: going to be tested and we may not like it, 41 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: but God uses everything that comes into our lives. Every 42 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: traffic jam, every person that's hard to get along with. 43 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: Every time things don't go our way, we need to 44 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: remind ourselves this is only a test, and I wouldn't 45 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: be here unless I needed it. And if we'll just 46 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: keep the right attitude and pass that test, then promotion 47 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: is on the way. But we're not going to be 48 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 1: promoted without first passing the test. And I don't think 49 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: we realize how much of life is a test. Every 50 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: day we're put in situations where we're tempted to worry 51 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: somebody's rude to us. We're tempted to get upset, tempted 52 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 1: to be impatient, tempted to be negative, tempted to be critical. 53 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: If we could just understand, those are all tests of 54 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: our faith and every test is an opportunity to come 55 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 1: my pier. That's God trying to promote us. But sometimes 56 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: it seems like we've been dealing with the same issues 57 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: year after year, getting upset every time we don't get 58 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: our way, losing our peace when we get stuck in traffic, 59 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: arguing with our spouse over the same petty issues, and 60 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,959 Speaker 1: we're wondering when it's ever gonna change. God, why don't 61 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: you do something about it. Now. God is not going 62 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: to remove that. He's trying to do a work in us. 63 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: We have to stay pliable. We have to be willing 64 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: to change. The Next time you get stuck in traffic, 65 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: instead of getting upset, why don't you say no, I 66 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: recognize this is only a test, and I'm gonna keep 67 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: my cool and just go with the flow. When you 68 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: do that, you just pass the test. Next time your 69 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: plans don't work out, you go through a disappointment instead 70 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: of being discouraged for a month, why don't you say no, 71 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: this is only a test. I'm gonna keep my joy, 72 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: I'm gonna keep my peace. I know God's still in control. 73 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: See God told the children of Israel, you have dwelt 74 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: long enough on this mountain. I believe God's saying the 75 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: same thing to every one of us. We've been where 76 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: we are long enough. It's time to go up higher. 77 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: Get rid of bad attitudes. Quit getting upset when we 78 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: don't get our way, Quit worrying about things that we 79 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: can't change. We have to pass these tests. We've got 80 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: to grow up if we're going to become all that 81 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: God has created us to be. Now, I want to 82 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: challenge you today to be more aware of the tests 83 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: that come into your life. It's not a coincidence that 84 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: you end up where you end up. It's not a 85 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: coincidence that maybe you work around somebody that's hard to 86 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: get along with, or that you're not getting the credit 87 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: you deserve, or maybe things are taken longer than you 88 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: would like. You have to recognize that's God trying to 89 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: do a work in you. And instead of fighting it 90 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 1: and living upset all the time, why don't you just 91 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: relax and go with the flow and remind yourself, Hey, 92 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 1: this is only a test, and the scripture says there 93 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: in James one verse two, to count it all joy 94 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: when you fall into various trials. The only way we 95 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: can stay full of joy when difficulties come is to 96 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: know that that difficulty is working something in us. And 97 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 1: in the end, after we pass that test, we're going 98 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: to be better off than we were before. And that's 99 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: why we can keep a smile on our face even 100 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: though our co worker got the promotion that we wanted. 101 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: Our attitude should be I'm not worried about it. I 102 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: know this is only a test, and I'm going to 103 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:33,559 Speaker 1: stay full of joy knowing that God has something better 104 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: in store for me. Maybe we get bad news from 105 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 1: the doctor, and it's easy to live down and discourage. 106 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 1: It's easy to worry about that all the time, but 107 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,559 Speaker 1: just recognize that's a test of your faith. And really, 108 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: any of us can have a good attitude when everything's 109 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: going our way. We can all be happy when we're 110 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: on the mountaintop. But God's looking for some people that 111 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: will have a good attitude and stay full of joy 112 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: even in the difficult times, even when it looks like 113 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: the bottom's kind of falling out. I love what the 114 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 1: apostle Paul said. He went through all kinds of hardships. 115 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: He had been mistreated, shipwrecked, gone days and days without 116 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: food and water, But he said in Acts twenty twenty four, 117 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 1: none of these things move me. He was saying, in effect, 118 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: I'm not worried about it. I know this is only 119 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: a test, and no matter what comes against me, large 120 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 1: or small, I'm gonna keep my peace. I'm gonna keep 121 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: my joy. I know God's still in control and in 122 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: the end, He's gonna use this all to my advantage. Now, 123 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: I want us to learn to say with Paul, none 124 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 1: of these things move me. God stuck in traffic, No 125 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: big deal. Didn't get the promotion I wanted, not worried 126 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: about it, got a bad report from the doctor. That's okay. 127 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: God's still on the throne. See, we should not be 128 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: fighting against everything that doesn't go our way. And I 129 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: know people they fight every traffic jam, they fight every 130 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: person that's hard to get along with, every disappointment. They're 131 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: all been out of shape. That's simply a test. God 132 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 1: wouldn't have you there unless you needed it in some way. 133 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: And instead of trying to change the circumstances, why don't 134 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 1: you change the Difficulties are never going to completely go away. 135 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: It's all in how we respond to them. We can 136 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,119 Speaker 1: let our adversities drag us down and make us bitter, 137 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: or we can allow God to use them to make 138 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 1: us better, to refine us, to purify us. The question 139 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: is not do you have a problem. The real question 140 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 1: is does the problem have you? Are you worried? Are 141 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: you upset? Are you living stressed out? No, you've let 142 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: the problem get on the inside. You've got to recognize 143 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: that's only a test. Keep your joy, keep your peace, 144 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: and start passing these tests. I know some of you today, 145 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: you're in very difficult situations, maybe in your health, or 146 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: maybe something unfair has happened. And I'm not saying that 147 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: God sends the trouble, but if you can just keep 148 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: the right attitude, God will somehow, some way turn that 149 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: whole city situation around and bring you out better off 150 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: than you were before. I love how the Bible talks 151 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: about the saints of old all died in faith. I 152 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: don't know about you, but when it comes to my 153 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: time to go, I'm not gonna go negative, bitter, depressed, 154 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: blaming God. No, I'm gonna go in faith. I'm gonna 155 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 1: go with a smile on my face, with a spring 156 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: in my step, knowing that God is still in control. 157 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: And I want us to be so stable and so 158 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: consistent that we can say, with Paul, none of these 159 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 1: things move me. The enemy may have done his best, 160 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 1: but his best will never be enough. When it's all 161 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: said and done, I'm still going to be standing strong. 162 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: You've got to recognize it's only a test where you say, Joel, 163 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: my wife knows just the right buttons to push. He 164 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 1: gets me so upset, so aggravated. Let me tell you 165 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: a secret. If you will dig your heels in and 166 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: start ruling over your emotions, start exercising some self control. 167 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 1: You're gonna pass that test. And you know what, after 168 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: a while, those buttons are not gonna work anymore. They 169 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: can push you day in and day out, but it's 170 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,959 Speaker 1: not going to affect you. What's happened. God has refined you, 171 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: He's purified you, and now the things that used to 172 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: bother you won't bother you anymore. But here's the whole key. 173 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: You can't wait for her to change or for him 174 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: to change. You have to change. Quit arguing over little, 175 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 1: petty things that don't really matter. Next time you're attempting 176 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: to say something that you know you shouldn't, step back, 177 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 1: take a deep breath and listen to the voice on 178 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 1: the inside. It will always tell you take the high road, 179 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 1: keep your mouth closed. It's only a test. See, God 180 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 1: will always give us an opportunity to pass the test. 181 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: There will always be at least a split second where 182 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 1: we can choose to do the right thing. He'll never 183 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 1: let us be tested with more than we can handle. 184 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 1: But if we make the mistake of overriding the still 185 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: small voice and we ignore our conscience time after time, 186 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 1: that's when we can go ten twenty thirty years dealing 187 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: with the aim issues, arguing, fighting, making big deals out 188 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,719 Speaker 1: of things that are not big deals. And we give 189 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: up our peace too easily these days. Notice I said 190 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 1: we give it up. That's because nobody can take your 191 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 1: peace away from you. Nobody can take your joy. You 192 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:19,599 Speaker 1: have to give it away. The decision is yours, and 193 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 1: I'm asking you today to stop allowing people and circumstances 194 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,440 Speaker 1: and a car that broke down, or an unfair boss, 195 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: an unexpected bill. Quit giving away your peace for those things. 196 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:34,599 Speaker 1: It's not worth it. It's only a test. If you 197 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 1: will begin to pass that test, not only will you 198 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 1: be promoted, but you'll start enjoying your life more. Now. 199 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: I see too many people today that are just enduring life, 200 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,559 Speaker 1: and that is not God's plan. He said to count 201 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: it all joy. That means even in the difficult times, 202 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 1: even when things aren't going our way, we should have 203 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 1: a smile on our face, a spring in our step, 204 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: knowing that God still has us in the palm of 205 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: his hand. As we continue to pass the test, we're 206 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: going to be promoted. Some of you today. You have 207 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: to have the last word in every single argument. That 208 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,559 Speaker 1: thing would die down fifteen minutes earlier. But you keep 209 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: it going and going. Well, Joel, I know I'm right, 210 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: I know she's wrong. You know what I found. Sometimes 211 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: you have to let the other person be right just 212 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 1: for the sake of peace. Why don't you swallow your pride. 213 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: Why don't you be the bigger person and do whatever 214 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,959 Speaker 1: it takes to keep strife out of your home. Don't 215 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: have to have the last word, don't have to be 216 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 1: the final authority. It's not worth starting World War three over. 217 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 2: Some of you. 218 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,319 Speaker 1: God's been dealing with you about things like this, year 219 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 1: after year after year, and if you would just make 220 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: these changes, it could save you so much heartache and pain. Hey, 221 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: you say, Joel, it's hard. Yes, it may be difficult, 222 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:54,839 Speaker 1: But you know what's more difficult living in misery for 223 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: the next twenty years. It's more painful to live in 224 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: a home filled with strife and contention. And you have 225 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: to ask yourself do you want to be right or 226 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: do you want to have peace? Sometimes you can't have both. 227 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 1: I can tell you Victoria. In my relationship today, it's 228 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: better than it was nineteen years ago when we first 229 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 1: got married. But that doesn't happen automatically. We had to 230 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: be both willing to change, willing to make compromises. You 231 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: have to let God make you and mold you. I 232 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 1: found it's when we get hard headed and stubborn that 233 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: we do like the children of Israel, and we keep 234 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,440 Speaker 1: going around the same mountain year after year, and we 235 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: never make it into our promised land. Now, I want 236 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 1: each one of you to experience the good things of God. 237 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 1: And I know this happens when we grow up. It 238 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: happens as we pass the tests all along the way. Understand, 239 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: when you overlook an offense, you just passed a test. 240 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: When you bite your tongue, even when you feel like arguing, 241 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 1: you pass the test. When you let somebody else be 242 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 1: right even though you know they're wrong, you passed another test. 243 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: What's happening. God's making you in molding you. Not only 244 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:06,440 Speaker 1: are you gonna come up to a new level, but 245 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: you're gonna have more joy, more victory in your life. 246 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: And the Bible talks about how we are to take 247 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: up our cross daily. You know what part of that 248 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 1: cross is not giving in to everything our flesh wants 249 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 1: to do. Human nature wants to have the last word 250 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: in an argument. Human nature doesn't want to forgive or wrong. 251 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:30,319 Speaker 1: It's not natural for us to want to bless our enemies. 252 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 1: It's not natural to want to have a good attitude 253 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 1: when things aren't going our way. But if we can 254 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 1: just learn to go against the grain, to deny our flesh, 255 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: to keep our joy, to keep our peace. When we 256 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: do that, we're passing the test, and that's when God 257 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: can promote us. The scripture says in James one twelve, 258 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: after you have stood the test, after you have been approved, 259 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 1: you will receive the victor's crown of life. And of 260 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:59,679 Speaker 1: course we all want to be the victor. We all 261 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 1: want that crown of life. But the real question is 262 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:05,959 Speaker 1: are we willing to pass the test? And every person 263 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 1: is different. You're going to be tested in the areas 264 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: that you struggle in, in the areas where you need 265 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: to be refined. I would just encourage you the next 266 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: time you find yourself in an uncomfortable, difficult situation, look 267 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 1: inside and say, God, help me to learn out of 268 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 1: this situation what you want me to learn. A lot 269 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: of times we're trying to pray it away and resist it, 270 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: and the reason it doesn't go away is because God 271 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: is trying to do a work in us. If we 272 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: could just recognize it and be willing to change, then 273 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 1: the circumstances will change. I found that sometimes God will 274 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: put us in a situation where we're not getting any 275 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: kind of thanks, any kind of appreciation. Maybe at the 276 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: job you're doing all the work but not getting any credit, 277 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: or maybe you've been serving in our children's ministry, volunteering 278 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: out there in the nursery for a couple of years, 279 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: nobody's really thanks you. Your husband doesn't appreciate what you do. 280 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 1: Seems like people almost go out of their way to 281 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: not thank you, to not compliment you. You have to recognize 282 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: that is a test of your faith. That's God trying 283 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: to teach you to trust Him in a greater way 284 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: and to not need the approval of people. Don't get better, 285 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: don't have a chip on your shoulder, keep a good attitude, 286 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 1: knowing that God's working something in you. He's growing you up, 287 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: He's getting you prepared for greater things. Remember when I 288 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: first started ministering a little over seven years ago, I 289 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: was very insecure, and I relied real heavily on people's compliments, 290 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 1: and if enough people didn't tell me that I did good, 291 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: they enjoyed the service, and I'd go home all discouraged, 292 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: wondering if I was even called to do this. And 293 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: it's interesting. The first year or so, I got so 294 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: many compliments, and I'd go home every Sunday all fired up, 295 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: ready for the next week. And see, God knows exactly 296 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 1: what we need. He knows just how much pressure to apply. 297 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: He knows when it's going to be too much. And 298 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: he also knows when it's time for us to grow up. 299 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: And God's not going to leave you alone. You may 300 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 1: get away with being impatient for a little while, or 301 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: with having a sour attitude, or with saying things you 302 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: know you shouldn't, but eventually God's going to begin to 303 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 1: deal with you and put you in situations so you 304 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: can get rid of that. And you can either recognize 305 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: it and work with God, or you can fight it 306 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 1: and fight it and just go month after month being miserable. 307 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: Some of you today you're wondering, what's going on in 308 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 1: my life? Why are these people not treating me right? 309 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: Why am I doing all the work but not getting 310 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: any of the credit. Well, maybe it's because God's trying 311 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 1: to grow you up. He's trying to refine you, to 312 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: purify you so he can take you to a new level. 313 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: Why don't you work with God, quit fighting against everything, 314 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: and be willing to change. This is what I had 315 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: to do because a couple of years later I wasn't 316 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: getting the appreciation and the encouragement that I was used to. 317 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 1: I remember one week in particular, I preached the best 318 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: sermon that I possibly could, and I was really wanting 319 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: to get some good feedback. But do you know, not 320 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 1: one person said a word, not even Victorian. She always 321 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: says something encouraging. My point is sometimes God will have 322 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:26,160 Speaker 1: people in your own life on purpose to not give 323 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: you what you want, just so you could grow up. 324 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:33,920 Speaker 1: I mean, Victoria's whole personality is very encouraging, very complimentary. 325 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 1: For her to not do that, it had to be God, 326 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,120 Speaker 1: especially with as good as my message was that week, 327 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: And what are you laughing at? But one day I 328 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 1: realized this is just a test. This is God trying 329 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 1: to teach me to not rely on what everybody thinks, 330 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,959 Speaker 1: and not to rely on the approval of people, but 331 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: instead to just do my very best under him, knowing 332 00:17:56,080 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 1: that he is pleased. It's funny a minister friend of 333 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: mine struggled in this same area. He told me. One 334 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: day after his Sunday service, he called the men that 335 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 1: sells tapes and he asked him, did anybody buy any 336 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,159 Speaker 1: tapes of my message today? And he was hoping to 337 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:15,640 Speaker 1: get some good news, and the guy said, no, nobody 338 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,160 Speaker 1: bought any tapes today, but one lady did return one 339 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: from last week. But we have to realize those are 340 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: times of testing. And so today, if you're doing all 341 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: the work and not getting any credit, that's a test. 342 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 1: If your spouse is not complimenting you as much as 343 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: you would like, that's a test. People seem to overlook. 344 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:35,919 Speaker 2: You. 345 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:39,120 Speaker 1: Just take it in stride and pass the test. God 346 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 1: is trying to grow you up. You know how easy 347 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 1: it is to get a chip on our shoulder. The 348 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:45,919 Speaker 1: whole body appreciates me. See, if I ever do anything 349 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 1: for you, don't keep a good attitude and just say God, 350 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,640 Speaker 1: I'm gonna keep doing my best under you. And even 351 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 1: if people don't recognize it, even if I don't get 352 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:56,880 Speaker 1: the credit I deserve, I believe that you will give 353 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:59,639 Speaker 1: me everything that I need. And see God told the 354 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:03,239 Speaker 1: children of Israel I led you into the wilderness for 355 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:07,359 Speaker 1: a purpose, to test you, to prove you, and to 356 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 1: see if you'd keep my commands. Notice, there's always going 357 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: to be a time of testing, a time of proving 358 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 1: that we all have to go through. And if we 359 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: don't learn how to keep a good attitude in the wilderness, 360 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: we'll never make it into our promised land. And this 361 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,399 Speaker 1: is where so many people miss it. The wilderness is 362 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 1: when you're not getting your way, when things are slower 363 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: than you would like, when people don't appreciate you, when 364 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 1: you're doing the right thing but you're not seeing any 365 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 1: right results. Listen, you've got to just keep pressing forward. 366 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 1: When you do that, you're not only passing the test, 367 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:45,119 Speaker 1: but you're allowing God to do a deeper work in you. 368 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: He's developing your character, getting you prepared for greater things. 369 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 1: And we have to understand that most of life is routine, 370 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,919 Speaker 1: most of life is not real exciting. One of the 371 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: tests that we have to pass is to simply live 372 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 1: day in and day out with enthusiasm. We should get 373 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: up every morning excited about that day, and even though 374 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,440 Speaker 1: it's a plain old ordinary day, we should be grateful 375 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 1: that we were able to get out of bed grateful 376 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: that we have air to breathe, grateful that we have 377 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: our health. We've got to quit focusing on what we 378 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:24,639 Speaker 1: don't have and start thanking God for what you do have. 379 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: Do you know each day is a gift from God. 380 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:31,679 Speaker 1: We may not even be here tomorrow. What a shame 381 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: to live this day, negative, defeated and depressed. Now we 382 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: need to learn to say, with David, this is the 383 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: day the Lord has made. Doesn't matter what's going on 384 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 1: in my life, doesn't matter how many tests i'm on face, 385 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 1: I'm making a decision. I'm going to live this day 386 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,919 Speaker 1: happy and enjoy my life. You've got to pass that test, 387 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 1: be faithful in your wilderness so you can make it 388 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:58,159 Speaker 1: into your promised land. And we need to realize God 389 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,679 Speaker 1: is working behind the sea in our lives right now, 390 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:05,400 Speaker 1: whether we see anything happening or not, He's getting us prepared. 391 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: I think about David. He spent year after year out 392 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:12,160 Speaker 1: there in the wilderness taking care of his father's sheep. 393 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:15,879 Speaker 1: And all of his brothers were out having fun doing 394 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 1: what they liked. Their life was much more exciting. But David, 395 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 1: being the youngest, he got stuck taking care of his 396 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 1: father's sheep. Now, I'm sure it was lonely out there 397 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:30,200 Speaker 1: at times. I'm sure there were times that was very boring. Here. 398 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: David was a young man. He had big dreams in 399 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 1: his heart. He could have easily gotten sour, he could 400 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 1: have got a chip on his shoulder. God is not fair. 401 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 1: Why did I get stuck out here? You? No, he 402 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 1: didn't do that. He just kept passing the test day 403 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,439 Speaker 1: after day, being the best that he could be. And 404 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: all those years it didn't look like God was doing anything. 405 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 1: Kind of looked like David was just wasting his time. 406 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: But no, all that time, God was at work in 407 00:21:57,359 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 1: David's life, behind the scenes, getting him prepared. It was 408 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: out there in the lonely shepherd's fields that David learned 409 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,760 Speaker 1: to fight the lion and the bear. That's where he 410 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 1: learned the skill of the slingshot. That's where he developed trust, patience, endurance, confidence. 411 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:18,880 Speaker 1: God was getting him prepared. And some of you today, 412 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 1: you've lost your enthusiasm for life. Doesn't look like your 413 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: dreams are coming to pass. Nothing exciting is happening in 414 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:29,400 Speaker 1: your life. Listen, you're out there, just like David. You're 415 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 1: in a time of testing and you have to prove 416 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: to God that you're ready to go into your promised land. 417 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 1: The way you do that is by being faithful day 418 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: in and day out, even when you don't feel like it. 419 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: Keep a smile on your face, keep being good to people, 420 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:50,919 Speaker 1: keep giving, keep serving, keep coming to church, keep believing. 421 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 1: We may not like it, but it's in those wilderness 422 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:58,360 Speaker 1: times when we don't see anything happening, that's when we're 423 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: really growing. That's when we're developing a depth to our character. 424 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:05,679 Speaker 1: And so if you're here today dragging around with no joy, 425 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:09,640 Speaker 1: no enthusiasm, no victory, you have got to change your attitude. 426 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: God is at work in your life and you may 427 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: not see anything happening. In fact, you may look around 428 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 1: and just see a bunch of disappointments and conflicts and obstacles. 429 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: But you need to learn to say, with the Apostle Paul, 430 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: none of these things move me. I know God's at 431 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 1: work in my life. I know He's got a good 432 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:31,400 Speaker 1: plan for me, and I'm gonna stay faithful and keep 433 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: being the best that I can be. Let me tell you, 434 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,360 Speaker 1: when you have an attitude like that, you are passing 435 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,440 Speaker 1: the test and your day of promotion is on its way. 436 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:43,439 Speaker 1: We need to be aware of the different tests that 437 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:47,199 Speaker 1: come into our life. Maybe all your friends are getting married, 438 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:50,640 Speaker 1: but you're still single. You really haven't met anybody. Well, 439 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:53,679 Speaker 1: that's a test of your faith. Your attitude should be. 440 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:57,160 Speaker 1: That doesn't move me. I'm not gonna live negative and defeated. 441 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:00,359 Speaker 1: I know God's working behind the scenes and at the 442 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: right time, He's gonna bring the right person into my life. 443 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:06,919 Speaker 1: Pass that test, or maybe another test. You're hanging around 444 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 1: with some friends and they start to talk about somebody, 445 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 1: They start to gossip and stir up trouble. Understand, it's 446 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,919 Speaker 1: not a coincidence that you're there. That's God giving you 447 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: an opportunity to prove to him that you're gonna take 448 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: the high road and not say something to ruin their reputation. 449 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:27,959 Speaker 1: Maybe the person they're talking about has done you wrong, 450 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 1: and you've got some real juicy information that could be 451 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: the icing on the cake and really make them look bad. 452 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:36,200 Speaker 1: And you know, in our mind we can justify it. 453 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 1: We can think of a thousand reasons that I'm asking 454 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:42,400 Speaker 1: you today to take the high road. When you overlook 455 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 1: an a fence, when you cover a fault, when you 456 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 1: keep your mouth closed, you pass the test. That's when 457 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 1: God can promote you. And what I'm saying today is 458 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:52,919 Speaker 1: if we're gonna go to a higher level, we always 459 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,720 Speaker 1: have to pass some kind of test. Be aware of 460 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: the test in your life. Maybe just little things. Getting 461 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: stuck in trap, there's a test. Somebody's rude to you. 462 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 1: There's a test. Freeways closed, there's a test. Things are 463 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 1: taking longer than you would like. Those are all tests, 464 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:11,119 Speaker 1: and some of you are going to be tested before 465 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 1: you get home today. The police officer in the parking lot, 466 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:16,440 Speaker 1: he's gonna let four hundred cars go in front of you. 467 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 1: Are you gonna dare count it all joy? Keep a 468 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:23,479 Speaker 1: good attitude and think maybe I need this or are 469 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 1: you gonna say I don't care what that kid said. 470 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:29,200 Speaker 1: I'm blowing my horn. Driving home, you're in a hurry 471 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:32,680 Speaker 1: going seventy five. You get behind a car going fifty five. 472 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:36,399 Speaker 1: You boxed in. You can't get around. Recognize that's a test. 473 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:41,920 Speaker 1: You better be nice. They're probably from Lakewood. You get home, 474 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,159 Speaker 1: you want to watch the ball game. Been looking forward 475 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 1: to it. But the doorbell rings. It's the new family 476 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 1: in the neighborhood. They stop by to just spend some 477 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:51,960 Speaker 1: time to get to know you better. That's a test. 478 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 1: Are you gonna be friendly and invite them in? Are 479 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 1: you gonna say, hey, we don't live here, we're just 480 00:25:56,320 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 1: cleaning the carpet. Pass the test. God knows what we need. 481 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:06,720 Speaker 1: I want us all to be able to say with Paul, 482 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 1: none of these things move me. Make a decision with 483 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:12,200 Speaker 1: me that you're gonna keep your joy, keep your peace. 484 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:15,439 Speaker 1: When things don't go your way, remind yourself, hey, this 485 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 1: is only a test. Remember you must need it, or 486 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:22,280 Speaker 1: God wouldn't have you there. Quit fighting against everything, quit 487 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:25,439 Speaker 1: struggling with it, and look inside and allow God to 488 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 1: do the work. And I know some of you you 489 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:30,160 Speaker 1: feel like you're in those wilderness times and things are 490 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: happening in your life you don't understand. But that's when 491 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:36,479 Speaker 1: you have to trust God. Dare to count it all joy, 492 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:38,600 Speaker 1: knowing that God still got you in the palm of 493 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:41,879 Speaker 1: his hand no matter what comes against you, as long 494 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:44,880 Speaker 1: as you keep the right attitude and keep passing these tests. 495 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 1: The good news is you're not gonna stay in the wilderness. 496 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:50,439 Speaker 1: God's promised he'll promote you. He'll take you into your 497 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 1: promised land and you'll experience that life of victory that 498 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 1: He has in store. Amen, do you receive it today? 499 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 1: Or we never likes to pose. Our broadcast asked without 500 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:03,399 Speaker 1: giving you an opportunity, to make Jesus the lord of 501 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 1: your life? Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 502 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 1: I'll repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 503 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:16,639 Speaker 1: make you my Lord and savior. If you prayed that 504 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 1: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 505 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 1: a good Bible based church, Keep God first place. He's 506 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 1: going to take you places that you've never dreamed of. 507 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:30,399 Speaker 3: God has put a specific dream in your heart. Maybe 508 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:34,119 Speaker 3: it's a dream for a better career, a blessing that 509 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:37,720 Speaker 3: enables you to bless others, to be in a healthy, 510 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:42,400 Speaker 3: loving relationship, to launch your own business or ministry endeavor. 511 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 3: We all have dreams, but sometimes set backs and opposition 512 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:49,359 Speaker 3: can rob us of our dreams. So how do you 513 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 3: make your dreams a reality? 514 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 1: One way you know it's a God given dream is 515 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:57,480 Speaker 1: you can't accomplish it on your own. We never thought 516 00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:00,960 Speaker 1: we'd be having church in a former basketball, but this 517 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:03,360 Speaker 1: is what can happen when you take the limits off 518 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 1: of God. 519 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:06,520 Speaker 2: When you believe what God put in your heart. That's 520 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 2: when He steps in and makes ways where you never 521 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 2: saw ways. 522 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:12,280 Speaker 1: Now, I'd love to send you my newest book, It's 523 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:15,119 Speaker 1: Time to Dream Again. It'll help you to hold on 524 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,120 Speaker 1: to what God promised and now get discouraged by how 525 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:21,360 Speaker 1: impossible it looks or how long it's taken. You are 526 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 1: closer than you think. God's working behind the scenes right now. 527 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,119 Speaker 1: Stay in faith. You're going to see the greatness of 528 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,199 Speaker 1: God bring your dreams to pass. 529 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 530 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:36,359 Speaker 3: of any amount to the ministry this month, Joel and 531 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 3: Victoria would like to send you this dream releasing, life 532 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 3: affirming book, It's Time to Dream Again. You might sense 533 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 3: that your dreams have been buried, but with this book, 534 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 3: you'll see that they are actually a hidden treasure just 535 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:53,240 Speaker 3: waiting to be uncovered and come to life. God's plan 536 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 3: for you is significant. His dreams for you are beyond 537 00:28:56,640 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 3: what you could imagine. Don't wait another day. It's time 538 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:01,480 Speaker 3: to dream again. 539 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 2: This book will help you gain a fresh perspective for 540 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 2: your dreams and to believe for everything God has put 541 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:09,360 Speaker 2: in your heart. 542 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 1: Victoria and I pray for you and your family every day. 543 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your prayer and support. Your 544 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 1: generosity is making a difference around the world. Remember you 545 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 1: can watch the services live online every Sunday. To download 546 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:27,560 Speaker 1: the daily podcast or our YouTube channel listen on Serious XM. 547 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:31,080 Speaker 1: We will keep you encouraged and inspired, but until we 548 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 1: meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you. 549 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,200 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of It's Time to 550 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:41,600 Speaker 3: Dream Again today. Visit Joelostein dot com or call eight 551 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 3: eight eight five six seven Joel