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Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 23 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 3: He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 24 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: his birthday. 25 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa, but. 26 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 3: He'll never forget how you invest it in his future 27 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 3: with the uns stapp. 28 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 29 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 3: The unit stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 30 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 31 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 3: a limited time. Download the uns stapp and use the 32 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 3: code iHeart fifty at sign up to receive a fifty 33 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 3: dollars bonus when you fund your account. That's code iHeart 34 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 3: fifty when you sign up at unest dot co for 35 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 3: a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at UNEs 36 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 3: dot co. 37 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 4: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 38 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,759 Speaker 4: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 39 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 5: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 40 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 5: blessing and share it with. 41 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 4: A friends, reappreciate you and pray for God's very best 42 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 4: in your life. Oh God bless you. Always a joy 43 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 4: to come into your homes. You and we're believing for 44 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 4: God's very best in your life. If you're ever in 45 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 4: our area, I hope you'll come out and be a 46 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 4: part of one of our services. These are the finest 47 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 4: people in all of Houston, right here at Lakewood, So 48 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 4: come on out. We'd love to have you. But thanks 49 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 4: for tuning in. I like to get started each week 50 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 4: with something funny, and I heard about these three men 51 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 4: that were out hiking through the wilderness. They came upon 52 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 4: this very violent, raging river. They needed to get to 53 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,239 Speaker 4: the other side. The first man prayed, God, please give 54 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 4: me the strength to make it across, and poof God 55 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 4: gave him big arms and strong legs, and he was 56 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 4: able to swim across in two hours. Seeing this, the 57 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 4: next man said, God, please give me the strength and 58 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 4: the tools I need to make it across, and poof 59 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 4: God gave him a boat. He was able to row 60 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:50,079 Speaker 4: across in thirty minutes. The next man said, God, give 61 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 4: me the strength, the tools, and the intelligence to make 62 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,920 Speaker 4: it across, and poof God turned him into a woman. 63 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 4: He looked at the map heightd five minutes upstream, and 64 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 4: then walked across the bridge, and yes, that was sent 65 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 4: to me by a woman. Hold up your Bible, say 66 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 4: it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I 67 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 4: am what it says, I am. I have what it 68 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 4: says I have, I can do what it says I 69 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 4: can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. 70 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:28,519 Speaker 4: I boldly confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 71 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 4: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 72 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 4: bless you. I want to talk to you today about 73 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 4: the importance of having the right associations. Who your friends 74 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 4: are and who you choose to associate with will have 75 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 4: a great impact on whether or not you fulfill your 76 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 4: God given destiny. We become like the people we continually 77 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 4: associate with. If you associate with successful people, there's a 78 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 4: good chance you're going to be successful. If you associate 79 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 4: with people that have a big vision, people that have 80 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 4: a dream, people that are going places, they will inspire 81 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 4: you to accomplish more than you thought possible. But just 82 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 4: the opposite is true. If you hang around lazy, undisciplined people, 83 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 4: people that are negative and critical, people that are always 84 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 4: having a problem, that defeat is going to rub off 85 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 4: on you. It's so important that we choose the right 86 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 4: people to associate with, and it's good to have friends 87 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 4: that you encourage and you build up. Maybe you're helping 88 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 4: someone overcome in a certain area You're an inspiration to them. 89 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 4: We should be reaching out to others. But what I 90 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 4: want us to see today is it's equally important that 91 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 4: you have someone in your life that inspires you, someone 92 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 4: that's more successful than you are, someone that's been where 93 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 4: you're trying to go. You need a friend or a 94 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 4: mentor that you can learn from. You should study that 95 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 4: person how they treat other people, see how disciplined they are, 96 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 4: how they carry themselves, and over time, those good qualities 97 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 4: are gonna rub off on you. There's this lady I know. 98 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 4: She's in the business world, and we become friends, and 99 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 4: every time I'm around her, she inspires me. I thought 100 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 4: I was a big thinker, but I'm small compared to her. 101 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 4: She thinks on a whole different level. And the other 102 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 4: day we were discussing this project to help the needy. Now, 103 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 4: I said, well, I'm gonna call some of my minister 104 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 4: friends and see if they want to join in and help. 105 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 4: She said, that's fine, but I'm gonna call the CEO 106 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 4: of this corporation, one of the biggest in the world. 107 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 4: Then I'm gonna call my friend that runs this network 108 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:43,919 Speaker 4: and see if he wants to turn it into a 109 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 4: television special. I'll talk to him about getting sponsors to 110 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 4: underwrite the whole thing. The more she talked, the more 111 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 4: I thought, you go, girl. I like the way she thinks. 112 00:05:55,600 --> 00:06:00,279 Speaker 4: She inspires me to think bigger. You need people like 113 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 4: this in your life. If you're the smartest one in 114 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 4: your group, your group is too small. If you're the 115 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 4: one always coming up with the best ideas and giving 116 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 4: the advice and solving the problems, you've outgrown that circle. 117 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 4: You need people in your life speaking vision into you. 118 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,840 Speaker 4: There should be someone in your circle of friends that 119 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 4: has more wisdom, more experience, more insight than you do. 120 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,559 Speaker 4: If not, it's limiting your growth. Now. I know people 121 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 4: that like to feel like a big fish. The only 122 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 4: problem is they're in a little bitty tank. Their circle 123 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:38,040 Speaker 4: is too small. They've always got to be the smartest, 124 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 4: the greatest, the wisest. They're insecure if anybody's above them, 125 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 4: too proud to ask for advice. All that's doing is 126 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 4: limiting them. You take a fish, put it in a 127 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:52,720 Speaker 4: five gallon aquarium. It can only grow so big. Its 128 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 4: growth is being restricted by its environment. The circle is 129 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 4: too small. You take that same fish and put them 130 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 4: in the ocean where he belongs. He has unlimited potential, 131 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 4: and God has already ordained the right people to come 132 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 4: into your life to speak vision, to challenge you, to 133 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 4: inspire you. You need to stay open. I'm the first 134 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 4: to admit I don't know everything. One reason I am 135 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 4: where I am today is because I found people that 136 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 4: were a whole lot smarter than I am. God brought 137 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 4: them across my path, and I watch them, I study them, 138 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 4: I learn from them. They help me go to a 139 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 4: new level. You need to stay open to who God's 140 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 4: bringing across your path. I like to have people around 141 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 4: me that, just by their example, just by the way 142 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 4: they live their life, they challenge me to come up higher. 143 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 4: I have this one friend he loves to give. Every 144 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 4: time I'm around him, I'm inspired. I leave thinking I'm 145 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 4: going to be a bigger giver. I love the fact 146 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 4: he always has giving on his mind. I have another 147 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 4: friend that is so nice to his wife. He treats 148 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 4: her so good. At first, it almost made me sick. 149 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 4: I mean, he is so goody everything is. Honey, let 150 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 4: me do this for you. Hang on, honey, there may 151 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,119 Speaker 4: be a little dust on the seat. Just a second, honey, 152 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 4: you may get a little wet. I'm thinking to myself, 153 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 4: she is not going to melt. But after a month 154 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 4: or two of being around all that good, it began 155 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 4: to convict me. I thought, maybe I can come up 156 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:37,680 Speaker 4: higher in this area. And don't you say amen, Victoria. 157 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 4: We need friends like that in our lives. Not friends 158 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 4: that are running around on their spouse, friends that are disrespectful, 159 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 4: friends that compromise, friends that don't have any goals. You 160 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 4: have enough things trying to pull you down in life. 161 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 4: Surround yourself with people that are going to help you 162 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,199 Speaker 4: rise higher. People that are more respectful, people that are 163 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 4: more disciplined that I have a bigger vision than you do. 164 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 4: I've made up my mind. I'm not gonna hang out 165 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 4: with critical people. I hear somebody that always has a 166 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 4: bad report, They're always complaining, always finding fault. That's a 167 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 4: red flag. I know they're not for me. I don't 168 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 4: need that in my life. I'm not gonna hang around 169 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 4: stingy people. I'm not gonna spend a lot of time 170 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 4: with people that are never happy, people that don't have integrity, 171 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 4: knows the people, people that don't have any goals. I 172 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 4: may not have any friends, why I don't want those 173 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 4: qualities to rub off on me. And we need to 174 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 4: set these boundaries in our own thinking. You don't have 175 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 4: to announce it to anybody. Do you hear somebody that's 176 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 4: always gossiping, always stirring up trouble. Cross them off your list. 177 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 4: They're not for me. And sure you can still be 178 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 4: kind and polite, Hey, how you doing, but you shouldn't 179 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 4: let them into your inner circle. Life is too short 180 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 4: to spend it with the wrong people. Young people, this 181 00:09:59,920 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 4: is is extremely important. Choosing the wrong friends can steal 182 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 4: your destiny. Don't hang around with people at school that 183 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 4: have a bad attitude, that are always getting into trouble, 184 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 4: always bucking the system. You need to find friends that 185 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 4: are going to make something out of their life. Hang 186 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 4: around people that are disciplined, people that are focused, people 187 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 4: that are going places. Don't be concerned about fitting into 188 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 4: the right crowd and being the most popular, having the 189 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:29,959 Speaker 4: most friends. It's not the quantity of our friends that matter. 190 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 4: It's the quality of our friends that really counts. I 191 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 4: would rather have one friend that has his head on 192 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 4: straight that's going places than twenty friends that are just 193 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 4: floating downstream doing what everybody else is doing. The Scripture 194 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 4: says here in Proverbs twenty seven seventeen, as iron sharpens iron, 195 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 4: so a friend sharpens a friend. Notice, our friends should 196 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:59,079 Speaker 4: be sharpening us. Some of you today. You've outgrown your tank, 197 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 4: out grown that circle of friends. They were fine for 198 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 4: a time. You blessed them and they blessed you. But 199 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 4: now God's trying to increase you, and those friends are 200 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 4: holding you back. They were in your life for a season, 201 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 4: but you've grown, You've come up to a higher level. 202 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 4: And if you're going to continue to rise, you have 203 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 4: to break out of the rut and cultivate some new friendships. 204 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 4: I know this pastor. He started a church years ago, 205 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 4: and for a long time he was happy and growing. 206 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 4: He knew he was fulfilling his destiny. But a while 207 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 4: back he began to feel like he was stuck in 208 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 4: the rock. He had several hundred members, but he knew 209 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 4: God had put bigger things in his heart, and so 210 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,559 Speaker 4: he talked to the people that helped him start the church, 211 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 4: his inner circle of friends, about trying some new things 212 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 4: and starting some different programs. But man, they discouraged him. 213 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 4: They said, that'll never work here. We need to just 214 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 4: keep doing what we've been doing. That man knew he 215 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 4: needed to get different people speaking into his life. He 216 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 4: knew he was the biggest fish in his tank, and 217 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 4: that's never healthy. And one day he met this minister 218 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:12,320 Speaker 4: that was extremely successful. He had been where this man 219 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,199 Speaker 4: was trying to go. This minister was so kind he 220 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 4: took him under his wing, and for several years, this pastor, 221 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,080 Speaker 4: once a month flew across the country to spend just 222 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 4: a few minutes with this other minister. He studied him. 223 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 4: He watched how he led the staff, he talked to 224 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 4: different members of his church. He took in everything he could, 225 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 4: all the while his friends back in home they didn't 226 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 4: understand it. They said, you're wasting your time and your money. 227 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 4: It's so expensive, you don't need to fly out there. 228 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:46,559 Speaker 4: But no, this man understood the power of right associations. 229 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 4: He knew the more time he spent with that man, 230 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 4: the more his faith was growing, the more his vision 231 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 4: was increasing. Something was happening on the inside. And today 232 00:12:56,600 --> 00:13:00,439 Speaker 4: that pastor has a church with thousands of people. In fact, 233 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:04,319 Speaker 4: his ministry is much larger than the men that mentored 234 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 4: him all those years. But what happened He found somebody 235 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 4: that had what he wanted, He got around him, learned 236 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 4: from him, those same qualities, those same characteristics, got off 237 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 4: on him, and he not only went to his level, 238 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:21,680 Speaker 4: he took it above and beyond. And could it be 239 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 4: today that the thing that's holding you back is you 240 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 4: don't have the right people in your life. You don't 241 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:32,320 Speaker 4: have anyone inspiring you, anybody that's modeling what you want. 242 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 4: If this man would have stayed in that same group 243 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 4: of small minded thinkers, I don't mean they weren't good people, 244 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:43,319 Speaker 4: because they were, but he had outgrown that tank. If 245 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 4: he had not gotten into a bigger circle, he would 246 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 4: have those same frustrations, those same struggles. Today. He had 247 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 4: to get around somebody that had what he wanted, somebody 248 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 4: that had been where he was trying to go, so 249 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 4: he could be inspired and challenged. You need to surround 250 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 4: yourself with people that motivate you to go forward, and 251 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 4: not people that are constantly tempting you to shrink back. 252 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 4: You shouldn't sit around at work all day and let 253 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:17,320 Speaker 4: somebody fill your mind with gossip. Don't go home every 254 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 4: night and spend hours on the phone with a friend 255 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 4: that's dumping all their problems on you, singing their sad song. 256 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 4: That's fine. Once in a while we should be loving 257 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 4: and caring. You can pray for them and encourage them. 258 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 4: But what I'm saying today is if you're going to 259 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 4: become all God's created you to be, you have to 260 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 4: eliminate any kind of toxic relationships. If somebody is always 261 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 4: taking and never giving, that's not a healthy relationship. When 262 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 4: you leave, if you feel drained and tired and depressed 263 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 4: and worse than you were before, that should be a 264 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 4: red flag something is not right. Recognize they are stealing 265 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 4: your victory. Well, you say, Joel, I don't want to 266 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 4: hurt their feet. I've known them a long time. No, 267 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 4: you can be kind, you can be polite, but little 268 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 4: by little you need to spend less and less time 269 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 4: with that person. You may not want to hurt their feelings, 270 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 4: but let me ask you this, what if they keep 271 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 4: you from fulfilling your God given destiny? Now I found 272 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 4: some people don't want to come up higher. Some people 273 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 4: don't want to change. They're too comfortable where they are. 274 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 4: They want discipline themselves to make the right choices. So 275 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 4: you have to be strong and have the attitude I 276 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 4: have a destiny to fulfill You may not want to 277 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 4: come up higher, that's fine, but you're not going to 278 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 4: keep me from coming up higher. You may not want 279 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 4: to be happy, fine, but I'm gonna live my life happy. 280 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 4: We have to separate ourselves from relationships that are holding 281 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 4: us back. And I'm not talking about a marriage relationship. 282 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 4: That's a different story. Some of you are thinking you 283 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 4: got the words you needed today. I'm talking about the 284 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 4: people we choose to spend our free time with. If 285 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 4: you're spending all your time with negative, critical people, people 286 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 4: that compromise, people that always see the worst, you're not 287 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 4: going to be able to form the right friendships. You 288 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 4: have a responsibility first and foremost to keep yourself happy, 289 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 4: healthy and whole. God has entrusted you with a gift. 290 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 4: You have a treasure on the inside, something that nobody 291 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:30,479 Speaker 4: else has. But if you don't make the right connections, 292 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 4: you won't make it to the right destinations. And God 293 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 4: has already ordained the right people to come into your life, 294 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 4: but you'll never meet them if you're constantly hanging around 295 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 4: the wrong people. You need to look at your friends 296 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 4: and see if they have anything that you want. If 297 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 4: they don't have any joy, they don't have any victory, 298 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 4: and they're always complaining and they're not as far along 299 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 4: as you are. Recognize they're not adding anything to you. 300 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 4: And yes, maybe they're there. You can inspire them. Maybe 301 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 4: your job is to help them come up higher. But 302 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 4: what I'm saying is you should not spend all your 303 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 4: time with people like that, because if you're going to 304 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 4: continue to grow, if you're going to rise higher, you 305 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 4: have to have people that inspire you, people that are 306 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 4: further down the road than you are. I think about Daniel. 307 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:23,400 Speaker 4: The scripture says that he had an excellent spirit. If 308 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 4: you study is life, you'll find that Daniel chose excellent friends. 309 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 4: You know who he hung out with, Shadrack me Jack 310 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 4: a Bendigo, the three Hebrew teenagers that refuse to bow 311 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 4: down to the King's golden idol. No wonder. Daniel was 312 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 4: a person of excellence. His friends were people of courage, 313 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:47,880 Speaker 4: people of integrity, people that wouldn't compromise, people that had 314 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 4: a big dream for their life. You need to make 315 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:54,440 Speaker 4: sure the people you're choosing to spend time with have 316 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 4: qualities that you want, because whether you realize it or not, 317 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:02,360 Speaker 4: it's rubbing off on you. Don't think you can sit 318 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 4: at the lunch room every day for an hour and 319 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 4: let people fill your mind with gossip and bad mouth 320 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:11,400 Speaker 4: the company and not have it affect you. Ah, you say, Joel, 321 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 4: I just listen, I don't join in. Know that poisons 322 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 4: going into the inside. If you stay there long enough, 323 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 4: by default, more often than not, you'll become a gossiper 324 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 4: just like them. What's the solution. Find somewhere else to 325 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 4: eat lunch, sit at a different table, go outside. Yes 326 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 4: they may talk about you, Yes they may think you're odd, 327 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 4: but listen, people like that. If they're not talking about 328 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 4: you now, they're going to be talking about you later. 329 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 4: Your time's coming. You need to just rise above it. 330 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 4: You have a destiny to fulfill. You are going places. 331 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 4: Keep that poison out of your life. Psychologists tell us 332 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:53,439 Speaker 4: there's something called the law of the group. That is, 333 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 4: we associate with people the way we see ourselves. Have 334 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 4: you ever noticed how most of the time people that 335 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 4: gossip find other people that gossip. Negative people gravitate to 336 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:09,159 Speaker 4: other negative people. Complainers seem to always find the other complainers. 337 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,439 Speaker 4: That's where that saying comes from. Birds of a feather 338 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 4: flock together. We find people just like us. Knowing this, 339 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:21,880 Speaker 4: I would encourage you to evaluate your friendships. If your 340 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 4: friends are all negative, they always compromise, they're always having problems. 341 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 4: You need to get some new friends. Because victorious people 342 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 4: associate with other victorious people. That's why we're all here today. 343 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:39,680 Speaker 4: Overcomers hang out with other overcomers. Happy people gravitate toward 344 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 4: other happy people. Successful people associate with other successful people. 345 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 4: I was reading how Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harry 346 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 4: Firestone all had summer homes next door to each other 347 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 4: in Florida. They spent much of their summers together. You 348 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:01,360 Speaker 4: think about there are three of the most brilliant minds 349 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 4: that have ever lived. They helped change the course of history. 350 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 4: You notice they didn't spend a lot of time with 351 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:12,159 Speaker 4: negative can't do it people. They associated with other dreamers, 352 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 4: with other men of big vision, no wonder. They soared 353 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 4: to new heights. If you want to know what you're 354 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:20,360 Speaker 4: going to be like five years from now, just take 355 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 4: a look at your friends. That's a good indication. I 356 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 4: have a friend that just got a big promotion. God 357 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,440 Speaker 4: blessed him, and something that he had been hoping for 358 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 4: and working toward for years finally came to pass, and 359 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:35,680 Speaker 4: he was so excited about it. We have this other 360 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 4: friend that had been hoping and praying for this same 361 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:44,159 Speaker 4: type of opportunity, probably for even a longer period of time. Now, 362 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:47,639 Speaker 4: I was wondering what he was going to think. Sometimes 363 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 4: it's easy when you see somebody succeed, especially at something 364 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 4: that you want, it's easy to get jealous and critical 365 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 4: towards them. I was so happy that my friend Will 366 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,400 Speaker 4: is genuinely happy for this other man. He called him 367 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 4: and congratulated him. I could tell that he was sincere 368 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 4: about it, and I thought, that's the kind of friends 369 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:14,119 Speaker 4: we need to cultivate, people that will celebrate our victories. 370 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 4: Not people the moment God promotes you, they start talking 371 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 4: and criticize and get all jealous. It's already enough haters 372 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 4: in the world. It's already enough cynical, sarcastic, critical people. 373 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 4: Less surround ourselves with friends that are secure enough to 374 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:36,400 Speaker 4: celebrate each other's victories. When you hear people talking about somebody, 375 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 4: you know you have a responsibility to put an end 376 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 4: to it. You should say, you know what, I'm not 377 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 4: going to talk about them. I'm glad they got promoted, 378 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 4: because I know if God did it for them, He'll 379 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:51,359 Speaker 4: do it for me. One thing I found is you 380 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 4: cannot help a person that will not separate himself from 381 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 4: toxic influences. No matter how much you pray or encourage 382 00:21:59,880 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 4: or advise. They've always got that poison going into them. 383 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:05,679 Speaker 4: They've got to be willing to get rid of the source. 384 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 4: It may not be something terribly big or abusive, but 385 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 4: just hanging around somebody that's got a jealous, critical spirit 386 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 4: that's poisoning your life, or hanging around someone that's arrogant, condescending, 387 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 4: always looking down on others, that's polluting you on the inside. 388 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:25,360 Speaker 4: And I realize there are no perfect people. We all 389 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 4: have something that we're dealing with. I heard somebody say 390 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:33,199 Speaker 4: every person has a little dysfunction. But what I'm saying is, 391 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:38,360 Speaker 4: don't get around people that empower that dysfunction. Your friends 392 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:41,439 Speaker 4: should bring out the best in you and not the worst. 393 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 4: If you struggle with being impatient, don't hang around other 394 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:50,760 Speaker 4: impatient people. That's empowering the wrong things. If you tend 395 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:53,920 Speaker 4: to be a little negative and you struggle with discouragement 396 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,159 Speaker 4: and depression, don't go find five other friends that are 397 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 4: depressed so you can sit around talk about your problems. 398 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:03,439 Speaker 4: You need to find friends that are happy, friends that 399 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 4: are positive, friends that are full of faith. What you're 400 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 4: around is contagious. Do you realize faith is contagious? Joy 401 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,280 Speaker 4: is contagious, Hope is contagious. That's why when you come 402 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 4: in here and get around all these other faith filled believers, 403 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 4: these victories are not victums. You can't help but leave 404 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 4: full of more faith, full of more joy, full of 405 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:31,719 Speaker 4: more hope, full of more victory. It's contagious. What are 406 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 4: we doing. We're empowering the right thing. I know this 407 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:38,400 Speaker 4: man that struggled with his temper for years and years. 408 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 4: His father was hot tempered, and other people in his family. 409 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 4: For the longest time, it didn't look like he could overcome. 410 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:49,439 Speaker 4: But eventually, through prayer, through counseling, through right thinking, he 411 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 4: was able to change. He's a totally different person. His 412 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,399 Speaker 4: wife and family are so thrilled. And one day up 413 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 4: at the gym he met this other men playing ball 414 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 4: and they became over time good friends, and he liked 415 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:05,399 Speaker 4: everything about him. The only problem was this new friend 416 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 4: had an anger issue. On the court. At times, he'd 417 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:11,640 Speaker 4: lose his cool and get all upset, and people would 418 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 4: have to come try to calm him down. Other times 419 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 4: during the week, he saw his friend have these angry, 420 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 4: emotional outbursts, just what he was set free from, and 421 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:23,680 Speaker 4: he reached out to him, tried to get him to 422 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 4: come to church, tried to get him to see some 423 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:29,639 Speaker 4: of our counselors. But over time he realized his friend 424 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:33,880 Speaker 4: was not willing to change, and even though he enjoyed 425 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 4: his company, even though he really liked him, he made 426 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 4: the difficult decision to put an end to that relationship. 427 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:44,199 Speaker 4: He said, Joel, I couldn't take the chance. That's just 428 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 4: what I came out of and I knew if I 429 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 4: didn't get away from him, I would go right back 430 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:54,640 Speaker 4: to being hot tempered and angry myself. He recognized if 431 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:58,919 Speaker 4: he stayed in close relationship with that man, all it 432 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:04,439 Speaker 4: would do enable his dysfunction. I'm asking you today to 433 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:08,439 Speaker 4: separate yourself from people that are bringing out the worst 434 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:12,240 Speaker 4: in you. May be difficult, but here's the key. What 435 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 4: you want walk away from is where you stop growing. 436 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 4: If you want separate yourself from toxic influences, you won't 437 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:24,240 Speaker 4: rise any higher. And some of you, even two years ago, 438 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:27,879 Speaker 4: you felt an uneasiness down in here about that relationship. 439 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 4: You knew back then that was God talking to you 440 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:33,919 Speaker 4: about making a change. It was causing you to compromise, 441 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:37,440 Speaker 4: bringing out the worst. But again and again you put 442 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 4: it off until you do what you know in your 443 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 4: heart you should do. You're going to be stuck. And 444 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:46,200 Speaker 4: sometimes we think, why isn't God blessing me? Why don't 445 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 4: I see God's favor? Well? Are we doing what God 446 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 4: has asked us to do? Today is a day of decision. 447 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:56,120 Speaker 4: If you have the wrong people in your life, God 448 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:59,760 Speaker 4: can't bring the right people in. You may be thinking, well, Joe, 449 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:02,919 Speaker 4: if I make these changes, I may not have any friends. 450 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:06,359 Speaker 4: I may be lonely. No, just the opposite is true. 451 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 4: That act of obedience is what allows God to open 452 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 4: new doors to bring the people He's ordained to be 453 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 4: in your life, the right people. And yes, you may 454 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 4: go through a season of being lonely. But I'd rather 455 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:22,399 Speaker 4: be lonely for a little while knowing that I'm so 456 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 4: in a seed to come up higher, then go year 457 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 4: after year with a bunch of friends that I know 458 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 4: are keeping me from being my very best. You need 459 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:36,640 Speaker 4: to make sure you have people speaking vision into you, 460 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 4: people that have been where you're trying to go. I've 461 00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 4: been blessed my whole life to be around good mentors 462 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 4: and people that I could look up to. I grew 463 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 4: up with a great father, he was my best friend, 464 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:54,280 Speaker 4: and Daddy modeled excellence, integrity, compassion. I like to believe 465 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:57,919 Speaker 4: that rubbed off on me. Recently, I've been honored to 466 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:02,160 Speaker 4: spend time with Billy Graham, to hear his heart and 467 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:05,639 Speaker 4: see his love and just his compassion for people. That 468 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:09,679 Speaker 4: inspires me to become everything God's created me to be. 469 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:13,440 Speaker 4: You need some heroes in your life, people you can 470 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 4: look up to, people you can admire, people that will 471 00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 4: help bring the seeds of greatness out of the inside. 472 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:25,440 Speaker 4: I think about how Elisha hung around the prophet Elijah. 473 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 4: He was with him day in and day out. He 474 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:31,399 Speaker 4: served him, took care of him. In the end, Elisha 475 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:36,480 Speaker 4: received a double portion of Elijah's annoying. You become like 476 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 4: the people you hang around, even Joshua. He stayed closely 477 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:43,960 Speaker 4: with Moses. When Moses went on the mountain to receive 478 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:46,439 Speaker 4: the Ten Commandments, he couldn't go up there, but he 479 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:48,960 Speaker 4: waited at the base of the mountain. He didn't want 480 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:52,880 Speaker 4: Moses out of his sight. The scripture says Moses put 481 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,919 Speaker 4: his hands on Joshua, and he received a part of 482 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 4: Moses annoying, a part of his authority, a part of 483 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 4: his aunt. Who you associate with will have a great 484 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 4: impact on whether or not you fulfill your destiny. Now 485 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 4: I believe, and I don't mean this arrogantly, but even 486 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 4: being associated with our ministry here the favor of God's 487 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 4: put on us because of your association, that favors rubbing 488 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 4: off on you blessings, honor, promotion, integrity, joy, peace, You 489 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 4: can increase through association. So I challenge you evaluate your friendships. 490 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:35,400 Speaker 4: Make sure you have some kind of mentor someone speaking 491 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 4: vision into you. Don't be the smartest one in your group. 492 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 4: Get a bigger circle, eliminate any toxic relationships. It may 493 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 4: be difficult, but remember you're going places you have a 494 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 4: destiny to fulfill. Get around people that will bring out 495 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 4: the best, not people that enable that dysfunction. And if 496 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 4: you'll be selective about who your friends are, make sure 497 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 4: you choose people that build you up, people that inspire you. 498 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 4: Then I know you'll rise, hire and hire. God will 499 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:07,240 Speaker 4: pour out his blessings, his favor, and you'll live the 500 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 4: life of victory he has in story. Amen, do you 501 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 4: receive it today? Well, we never like to close our 502 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 4: broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the 503 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 4: lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 504 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 4: I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 505 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 4: make you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed 506 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 4: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 507 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 4: in a good Bible based church. 508 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,480 Speaker 5: Thank you for listening to the joel OUs Deine podcast. 509 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 5: Help us continue to share the message of hope with 510 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:44,520 Speaker 5: those all over the world. Visit Jolusdin dot com slash 511 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 5: give Hope to give a gift today. 512 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:50,840 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 513 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 4: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 514 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:57,480 Speaker 4: keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 515 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 4: I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 516 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:00,640 Speaker 4: next time.