1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 4 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 5 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 6 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: today and where your money can work harder. Now you 7 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 8 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 9 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 11 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 12 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: legal or tax advice. 13 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 2: Are you ready to move your career forward? Make your 14 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 2: comeback with Perdue Global and get college credit for your work, school, life, 15 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 2: or military experiences. With these credits, you may have already 16 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 2: completed up to seventy five percent of your undergraduate degree. 17 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 2: You've worked hard to get where you are. It's time 18 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 2: to get the recognition you deserve and earn a degree 19 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 2: you'll be proud of, one that employers will trust and 20 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 2: respect when you take the next step in your life 21 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 2: and career. Make it count with Perdue Global produce online 22 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 2: University for working adults start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 23 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 3: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 24 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 4: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 25 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 4: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 26 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:10,279 Speaker 4: be a blessing and share it with a friend. 27 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 5: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 28 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 5: your life. 29 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 3: So God bless you, said joy to come into your homes. 30 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 4: We love you, and we know God has great things 31 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 4: in store for each one of you. He rewards the 32 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 4: people that seek after him. I know that's you. You 33 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 4: wouldn't be watching today or you wouldn't have taken time 34 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 4: to come out. But thank you so much, and we're 35 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 4: just believing two thousand and seven, it's going to be 36 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 4: a great year in your life. 37 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:44,279 Speaker 3: Amen. 38 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 4: I like to start with something funny each week. And 39 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 4: I heard about this college professor. He was going to 40 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 4: prove to his class that God wasn't real. And so 41 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 4: he said, God, if you're real, knock me off of 42 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 4: this platform, and I'll give you fifteen minutes to do it. 43 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 4: With every minute that went by and said God, I'm 44 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 4: still waiting here. I am the last minute. A three 45 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 4: hundred pound football player walking down the hall heard what 46 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 4: he was saying. He came charging into the room, lowered 47 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 4: his shoulder with full force. He hit the professor and 48 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 4: he went flying off the platform. The professor got up, 49 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:17,679 Speaker 4: kind of dazed and confused. That what in the word 50 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 4: you do that for? The football player replied, God said 51 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 4: he was busy, so he. 52 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 3: Sent me, all right, hold up your bible. 53 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 4: Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 54 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 4: I am what it says. I am. I have what 55 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 4: it says I have. I can do what it says 56 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 4: I can do. Today I will be taught the word 57 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 4: of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 58 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 4: heart is receptive. I will never be the same. I 59 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 4: am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever living seed 60 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 4: of the Word of God. I'll never be the same, never, never, never, 61 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 4: I'll never. 62 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 3: Be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 63 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 4: I want to talk to you today about how to 64 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 4: deal with your weaknesses. Every one of us has areas 65 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,679 Speaker 4: that we struggle in. There may be a lot right 66 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 4: with us, but we all have things that are trying 67 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 4: to hold us back. 68 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 3: Things in our character, things in our. 69 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 4: Behavior that just won't go away. It's a weakness. You 70 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 4: could even call it a persistent temptation. It's something that 71 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 4: just keeps coming back. And it's different with every person. 72 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 4: It may be something seemingly small, being impatient, being jealous, 73 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 4: having to control everything, a lack of focus. 74 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 3: Or maybe it's. 75 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 4: A weakness with your temper, a weakness with alcohol, a 76 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 4: weakness with the opposite sex, a weakness with what you watch. 77 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 4: We all have things that just won't go away. You 78 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 4: can't defeat a weakness one time and then you're done. 79 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 4: It keeps coming back again and again. And this is 80 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 4: where so many people just give in and say, well, 81 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 4: I've tried, I've failed so many times. This is just 82 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 4: who I am. No, we just have to learn to 83 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 4: deal with our weaknesses in the correct way. And I 84 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 4: don't know so much that we even overcome a weakness 85 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 4: as much as we learn to control them. I know 86 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 4: one of my weaknesses is being impatient. I've dealt with 87 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 4: this practically my whole lifetime, and I'm pretty good at 88 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 4: controlling it now, but I still have the temptation. I 89 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 4: still have a tendency to want to be impatient. In fact, 90 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 4: last week, two lanes of the freeway were closed, and 91 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 4: what normally would take me five minutes took me thirty minutes. 92 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 4: I must have had a thousand negative thoughts come to 93 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 4: my mind, telling me get upset. This isn't right, You're 94 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 4: going to be late, this is ruining your day. See, 95 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 4: the temptation to be impatient still comes, and I've learned 96 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 4: that's an area where I have to stay on guard 97 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 4: and with prayer, with discipline, with the right attitude. I 98 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 4: know I can control it and not let it control me. 99 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 4: But what I want you to see is it's not 100 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 4: realistic to think I'm going to get rid of this 101 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 4: once and for all and never have to deal with 102 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 4: it again. No, most of the time, a weakness doesn't 103 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 4: totally go away. You may still have the desire, the 104 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 4: temptation may come your whole lifetime, But our attitude should 105 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 4: be I know I can control this weakness and not 106 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 4: let it control me. Now, I would encourage you to 107 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 4: know what your weaknesses are. You cannot conquer something that 108 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 4: you don't confront. You need to examine your life, know 109 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 4: the areas that you struggle in. What are the things 110 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 4: that are consistently trying to hold you back? Do you 111 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 4: have persistent temptation in a particular area. Could be with 112 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 4: your temper you're constantly tempted to lose your coup, could 113 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 4: be in your morals you're consistently tempted to be unfaithful, 114 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 4: to compromise, or maybe even in your self image. You 115 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 4: have to consistently deal with thoughts of low self esteem 116 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 4: and inferiority. 117 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 3: Well, get to know yourself. 118 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 4: Be for me with your weaknesses, not in a condemning way, 119 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 4: but so you can be aware of what you need 120 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 4: to work on. I mean, too many people today live 121 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 4: in denial. One of the main reasons why a person 122 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 4: with a drug or alcohol addiction never gets any help 123 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 4: is because they don't think they really have a problem, 124 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:23,039 Speaker 4: and we tend to overlook the obvious and to downplay things. 125 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 4: But if you really want to be your best, you 126 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 4: need to know the areas that you struggle in. Take 127 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 4: an honest look at your life and just call it 128 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 4: like it is. For instance, if every time I see 129 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 4: someone that's more successful than me, instead of being happy 130 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 4: for them, I start to find fault and to be critical, 131 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:44,159 Speaker 4: then I need to be honest enough to say, you 132 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 4: know what, I'm just jealous. 133 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 3: That's a weakness. I need to work on it. 134 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 4: If I'm always giving into pure pressure and just doing 135 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 4: what my friends want me to do, I need to 136 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 4: be honest enough to say I'm a people pleaser. I've 137 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 4: got to work on that. I know people that have 138 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 4: a weakness when it comes to sweets. If they eat 139 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 4: one chocolate, they got to eat the whole box. A 140 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 4: lady told me, Joe, I'm so undisciplined in my spending. 141 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 4: If I go to the mall and see something on sale, 142 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 4: I can't help it. 143 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 3: I just buy it. 144 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 4: We have to recognize those are all weaknesses. That's an 145 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 4: area you have to stay on guard and really fight 146 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 4: the good fight of faith and understand you are not 147 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 4: a bad person just because you struggle with something. 148 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 3: We all have things to deal with. 149 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 4: Don't sit there feeling condemned, thinking, man, if they only 150 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 4: knew what I struggled with. No, I don't know of 151 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 4: too many perfect people, just myself and Johnny, and lately. 152 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 3: I've been having my doubts about him. 153 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 4: But when I say, know what your weaknesses are, it's 154 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 4: not so you'll feel bad about yourself, but rather this 155 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 4: is an area I know I need to work on. 156 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:52,559 Speaker 4: This is an area where I have to stay on guard. 157 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 4: One of the main keys to controlling a weakness, a 158 00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 4: key to overcoming temptation is you have to learn to 159 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 4: pray ahead of time to not give in to that temptation. 160 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 4: That's what the scripture says here Matthew twenty six forty one. 161 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 4: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Pray 162 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 4: that you don't come into the temptation. Notice the spirit 163 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 4: is willing. That means we all have good intentions. 164 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 3: I have no doubt. 165 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 4: If you could, you'd give up that addiction, you give 166 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 4: up a bad attitude, you'd give. 167 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 3: Up being impatient. 168 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 4: We all want to do what's right down in here. 169 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 4: But it's not enough to just have the desire. It's 170 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 4: saying you have to pray so that your spirit man 171 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 4: will become strong in that area. You have to get 172 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 4: your inner man stronger than your outer man. And the 173 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 4: only way that's going to happen is through prayer. It's 174 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 4: through asking God to help you. This means if you 175 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 4: have a weakness with your temper, then you need to 176 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 4: pray every morning before you leave the house. God, I'm 177 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,680 Speaker 4: asking you to help me not get upset, help me 178 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 4: to not give in to the temptation to lose my coup. See, 179 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 4: don't wait until you're already in the situation. Your emotions 180 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 4: are running high, everything's out of control. The key is 181 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:13,679 Speaker 4: to pray ahead of time. You've got to get your 182 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 4: inner man built up. Maybe you struggle with depression discouragement 183 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 4: where you can't wait till you've been depressed three days 184 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:23,079 Speaker 4: before you decide to ask God to help you. Now 185 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 4: stay on the offensive on your good days, when you're happy, 186 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 4: when you're encouraged. You need to be praying God, help 187 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 4: me to control my thought life, help me to resist 188 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 4: the temptation to dwell on negative, discouraging thoughts. When you 189 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 4: do that, you're building your inner man up. For instance, 190 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 4: if you know every Monday tends to be a more 191 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 4: difficult day for you at the office, You've got more 192 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 4: to do and your traffic is worse, and normally you 193 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 4: come home more stressed out, you tend to be short 194 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 4: with your family, then you need to pray ahead of 195 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 4: time on Thursday, on Friday, on Saturday. God, I know 196 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 4: on monday's about to roll around, and that same temptation 197 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 4: to be stressed and uptight is going to come. So 198 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 4: I'm asking you right now in advance, to give me 199 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 4: the grace to resist it, give me the strength to 200 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 4: stay in peace. What's happening. You're strengthening your spirit man. Remember, 201 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 4: the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. If you 202 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,199 Speaker 4: can get your spirit man built up to where it's 203 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 4: stronger than that temptation, then you will be much more 204 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 4: likely to overcome. Now, I'm not saying the temptation won't come, 205 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 4: but because you took time to pray, because you acknowledge God, 206 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 4: he will give you the strength to not give into it. 207 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 4: This is just what Jesus did when he was about 208 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:40,959 Speaker 4: to be crucified. 209 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 3: He knew what was up ahead. He knew there were. 210 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 4: Difficult days, how he was going to be mocked and ridiculed. 211 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 3: So what did he do. 212 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 4: He took time to pray. He said, Father, if you 213 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 4: will take this cup away from me, but not my will, 214 00:10:56,320 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 4: you will be done. Notice he was asking his author 215 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 4: for his help. Here he was the son of God. 216 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 4: Yet he was saying, God, I can't do this on 217 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 4: my own. I'm tempted to give in. I'm tempted to 218 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,959 Speaker 4: not go through with it. God, I need your strength. 219 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 4: The scripture says after he prayed, an angel came and 220 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 4: strengthened him. In other words, God heard his prayer and 221 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:25,439 Speaker 4: gave him the strength and the power he needed to 222 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 4: not give in to that temptation. God will do the 223 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 4: same thing for each one of us. If you'll pray 224 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:34,680 Speaker 4: ahead of time, God will give you supernatural strength to overcome. 225 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 4: But too often we try to do things in. 226 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 3: Our own ability. 227 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 4: I've had people tell me, Jege, I'm trying to break 228 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 4: this bad habit. I'm determined, I'm persistent, but I just 229 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:49,559 Speaker 4: keep giving in no will. Power and determination alone are 230 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 4: not enough. 231 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 3: If desire was. 232 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 4: All we needed, we would all be free. You got 233 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 4: to start asking God for his help every day. Pray 234 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 4: about the areas you struggle in May about that temper, 235 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 4: Pray about a negative attitude, Pray about a critical spirit. 236 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 4: Ask God to help you not give in to that temptation. 237 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 4: Last week I was talking to a high school student. 238 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 4: She told how she does very well in school all 239 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 4: through the year. It's very smart, she makes good grades. 240 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 4: But she said, Joel, every time finals come around, it 241 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 4: seems like I just panic. I get all up tight, 242 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 4: and I can't remember the things I've studied. It's just 243 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 4: pulling my grades down. I told her what I'm telling 244 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 4: you today. You need to start praying right now, a 245 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 4: couple of months in advance. God, I'm asking you to 246 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 4: help me resist that temptation to panic, to get up tight. God, 247 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 4: I'm asking you to bring back to my memory everything 248 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,959 Speaker 4: that I've studied, give me clarity of thought. See, you've 249 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 4: got to learn to pray ahead of time, get your 250 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 4: inner man built up. I know an area that I 251 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 4: struggle in is it's easy for me to get up. 252 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 3: Tight and to feel pressured. 253 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 4: This is a persistent temptation, especially toward the end of 254 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 4: the week when I'm going to be preparing my sermon. 255 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 3: Of course, I want it to be good. I want 256 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 3: it to be helpful. 257 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 4: And so every week when Thursday or Friday rose around, 258 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 4: I can feel this same temptation to be pressured, to 259 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 4: be stressed, to not have the joy and peace that 260 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 4: I should have. And I didn't really realize it was 261 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 4: happening just the way it was. One day, Victoria said 262 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 4: something out of the blue. She said, boy Joel, toward 263 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 4: the end of the week, you sure do bring a 264 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 4: lot of pressure into the house. And that day it 265 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 4: was like a light turned on. I thought, she is 266 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 4: exactly right. I'm allowing myself to get up tight and stressed, 267 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 4: and I'm not going to live this way. And so 268 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 4: I started praying ahead of time early in the week. 269 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 4: God help me resist that temptation. Help me to not 270 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 4: get stressed and uptight. I started making plans on Monday, 271 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:53,439 Speaker 4: on Tuesday, on Wednesday to enjoy the rest of the week, to. 272 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 3: Be calm, to be relaxed. 273 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 4: Every morning, Father, thank you that your yoke is easy 274 00:13:58,600 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 4: and your. 275 00:13:58,920 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 3: Burden is light. 276 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 4: Thank you that I have a calm and relax easygoing attitude. 277 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:06,640 Speaker 4: Do you know today I hardly ever get stressed. I 278 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 4: don't even worry about it, and sure the temptation still comes. 279 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 4: This is something I've got to do on a regular basis. 280 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 4: I found some weaknesses will not go away. I believe 281 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 4: God even leaves us with certain things, so we'll always 282 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 4: have to depend on him. So I can't just say, 283 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 4: well I beat it one time, that's it. 284 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 6: No. 285 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 4: I know still every day in the morning, God helped 286 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 4: me to resist that temptation to be stressed. Something we 287 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 4: have to do on a regular basis needs to be 288 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 4: an ongoing process. 289 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 3: We've all heard the same. 290 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 4: We're only as strong as our weakest link. Normally that's 291 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 4: talking about a team, but it's also true even individually. 292 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 4: You can be a kind, loving person. You can control 293 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 4: your temper, be disciplined, be focused, and yet you struggle 294 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 4: with being jealous, or you struggle with low self esteem. 295 00:14:58,240 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 3: That's a weak link. 296 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 4: And I found most of the times it's not the 297 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 4: big things that keep people back in life, it's just 298 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 4: the small things. I would encourage you to find your 299 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 4: weakest links and start really praying and asking God to 300 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 4: help you come up higher in those areas. Many times, 301 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 4: if you'll make a small adjustment, correct a wrong attitude, 302 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 4: not hang out with a bad influence, develop better eating 303 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 4: or spending habits. Very often, if you'll make a minor 304 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 4: adjustment and correct your weak link, you'll see a major improvement. 305 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 4: Your whole life will come up higher, and some of 306 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 4: you are so close to go into a new level. 307 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 4: If you'll really get serious and start being diligent to 308 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 4: control these weaknesses and to overcome that temptation, you'll begin 309 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 4: to see great things in your life and understand we're 310 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 4: always tempted in the area of our greatest weakness. I'm 311 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 4: not tempted to be lazy. I'm not tempted with drugs 312 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 4: and alcohol. That's not a weakness for me. But I 313 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 4: am tempted to be impatient. I am tempted to live 314 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 4: stressed out. It's because that weakness is an open door 315 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 4: to the enemy. It's what the Scripture calls a foothold 316 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 4: that indicates it may not be something big, just something 317 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 4: small that we haven't been diligent to deal with and 318 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 4: get under control. 319 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 3: You need to be aware of your weak links. Any 320 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 3: area where you're. 321 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 4: Having persistent temptation, that's a weakness, that's a possible foothold. 322 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,520 Speaker 4: And again I would encourage you to really concentrate on 323 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 4: those areas because that's what's going to hold you back. 324 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 3: I know people they're very faithful. 325 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 4: In their marriage, they're excellent in their career, they're patient, 326 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 4: they're giving, They've got all these great qualities, yet they 327 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 4: can't control their mouth. They go around say negative, critical, 328 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 4: hurtful things. 329 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:52,119 Speaker 3: That's the weakness. 330 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,479 Speaker 4: They really need to focus on all these great qualities. 331 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 3: Yet we're only as strong as our weakest link. 332 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 4: The mistake we make many times is we just keep 333 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 4: strengthening our strengths and we ignore our weaknesses. We overlook 334 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:09,359 Speaker 4: the problem areas, but where in fact those are the 335 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,119 Speaker 4: things that are going to try to take us back. 336 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 4: I know in my life I don't have any problem 337 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 4: being focused, being disciplined. 338 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 3: That's easy. 339 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 4: And if I'm not careful, I'll pour all my energy 340 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 4: into improving in those areas, which is fine. But the 341 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:26,160 Speaker 4: problem is if I have this weak link that I'm 342 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 4: not dealing with. All these good qualities are trying to 343 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,360 Speaker 4: take me higher. But this weak link could be jealousy, 344 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 4: could be impatience, how I treat people, compromise, a negative attitude. 345 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 3: That weak link. 346 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 4: Is always going to hold us back. So important that 347 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 4: we deal with our weaknesses. This is what David did 348 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 4: twice in the Book of Psalms. He prayed that God 349 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 4: would help him control his mouth. 350 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 3: I don't know. 351 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 4: He must have had a problem with saying the wrong things. 352 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 4: And here David was a great leader. He was disciplined, focused, wise, 353 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 4: yet he knew this simple secret that we're only as 354 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:05,360 Speaker 4: strong as our weakest link. So he prayed in Psaw 355 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 4: one one, God set a guard over my mouth. Notice 356 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:13,159 Speaker 4: he was doing just what we're talking about, praying ahead 357 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 4: of time. He was basically saying, God, I'm not going 358 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,399 Speaker 4: to allow this weakness to keep me from your best 359 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 4: I'm asking you. 360 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 3: To help me control my tongue. 361 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 4: Help me to speak words that are loving and kind, 362 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 4: words that build up, not words. 363 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 3: That tear down. See, don't ignore your weaknesses. 364 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:34,680 Speaker 4: Stay on the offensive, and every day ask God to 365 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:38,400 Speaker 4: help you not give in in those areas. Remember we're 366 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:41,639 Speaker 4: only as strong as our weakest link. Maybe you have 367 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:44,920 Speaker 4: a problem with your weight and you have a weakness 368 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:48,159 Speaker 4: when it comes to overeating. You want to stop, You 369 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 4: know you should, but normally you just give in. 370 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:52,160 Speaker 3: Then you feel guilty. 371 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 4: Go around condemned for three days. Think of well, I've 372 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 4: already blown it, might as well eat everything in sight. No, 373 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:00,160 Speaker 4: start asking God to help you. 374 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 3: You got to get your inner man built up. 375 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 4: If you know Friday afternoon they're having a big party 376 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 4: at the office with cake and ice cream, all kinds 377 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 4: of desserts. You cannot wait until you're standing in front 378 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 4: of that feast with your mouth watering to pray, God 379 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 4: help me. 380 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 3: That's too late. You better start Monday morning. 381 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 4: God, do you know what's coming Friday afternoon. I'm asking 382 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 4: you to help me stand strong. I'm asking you to 383 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 4: help me resist that temptation. When you pray, what happens. 384 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:29,640 Speaker 4: Here comes the angel with the strength that you need. 385 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,119 Speaker 4: Sometimes when the food really looks good, you better pray. 386 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 4: God send me a big angel. This is gonna be serious. 387 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 4: This may take Gabriel. The way you keep your inner 388 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 4: man strong after you pray is all through the day. 389 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 4: Meditate on God's word. Don't go around thinking I can't 390 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:52,200 Speaker 4: do it thoughts. Learn to think power thoughts. In other words, God, 391 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 4: I pray, God, I ask you for your help. Now 392 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,680 Speaker 4: I just want to declare I can do all things 393 00:19:56,760 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 4: through Christ. I am more than a conquer I am 394 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:02,639 Speaker 4: a vict tour. Nothing's too hard for me. When you 395 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 4: do that, your inner man is getting stronger. You're preparing 396 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:09,160 Speaker 4: for victory. I found a lot of times we'll take 397 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 4: a minute to pray to overcome, but then we'll spend 398 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 4: the next. 399 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 3: Three days negative. 400 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 4: Well, I can't do this. I know I'll give in 401 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:19,199 Speaker 4: on Friday. Just can't control my appetite. No, that's just 402 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:23,399 Speaker 4: draining all your strength. That's weakening your inner man. Stay 403 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 4: in an atmosphere of faith and victory. Keep that inside 404 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 4: man strong. I think about Peter. He had weaknesses. 405 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,160 Speaker 3: He was kind of hot headed, and from. 406 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 4: Time to time he would say things that he shouldn't. 407 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 4: And one day Jesus was talking to his disciples about 408 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 4: what was going to happen in the days ahead and 409 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 4: how he's going to be crucified, and he said, you're 410 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 4: going to be tempted to deny me and tempted to 411 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 4: go the wrong way. 412 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 3: So here's what you need to do. Pray that you 413 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:51,400 Speaker 3: don't give into this temptation. 414 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 4: And you would think Peter, since he had some weaknesses, 415 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 4: would be the first one to say, you're right, Jesus, 416 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:00,439 Speaker 4: I'm going to take a few extra minutes to pray. 417 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 3: But no, Peter was proud. 418 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 4: He thought he could overcome in his own strength, and 419 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 4: he said, in effect, Jesus, what are you talking about. 420 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 4: I don't need to pray. I'm not gonna deny you. 421 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:14,639 Speaker 4: I know better than that. Jesus looked at him and said, Peter, 422 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:18,160 Speaker 4: before the rooster crows, you'll deny me three times. 423 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 3: You know the story. 424 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,159 Speaker 4: He did just that, He not only denied Christ, but 425 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 4: he started cursing, having a fit. 426 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 3: Had to lead there all guilty and condemned, and. 427 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 4: I don't know, maybe this could have been avoided if 428 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:33,880 Speaker 4: Peter would have just had a more humble attitude and said, 429 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 4: you know what, Jesus, You're right, this is going to 430 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 4: be difficult. I can't do this in my own strength. 431 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 4: I'm gonna take your advice and ask God to help me. 432 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 4: I'm gonna spend an extra few minutes in prayer. 433 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 3: Think about it. 434 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 4: If Jesus prayed for what he was facing, if he 435 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:51,680 Speaker 4: encouraged us to pray that we don't give into temptation. 436 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 4: That lets me know this should be a part of 437 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 4: our everyday life, especially in the areas that we struggle in. 438 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 4: If you struggle with the negative attitude every morning before 439 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 4: you leave the house, God help me to not dwell 440 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 4: on these negative thoughts today. Maybe somebody at works not 441 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 4: treating you right. You're getting all upset and offended well 442 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 4: before you leave the house each morning, God help me 443 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 4: resist the temptation to be offended. 444 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 3: God help me to keep my cool today. 445 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 4: When you pray, just imagine, here comes the angel with 446 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 4: the strength you need. 447 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:25,400 Speaker 3: Some of you today are not. 448 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 4: Seeing the victory that you should simply because like Peter, 449 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:32,119 Speaker 4: you're not taking time to ask God for his health. 450 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 3: I know in my life when. 451 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:36,479 Speaker 4: I consistently give in to things that I know are 452 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 4: not God's best and just lets me know I'm not 453 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:40,120 Speaker 4: staying prayed up. 454 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 3: I'm not keeping my inner man strong enough. 455 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 4: Because God has promised there's not a temptation that will 456 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 4: come to us that we cannot overcome. I was talking 457 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 4: to a gentleman last week. He had been addicted to 458 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,159 Speaker 4: cocaine for eleven years, and today he has been cleaned 459 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,440 Speaker 4: for ninety two days. This is as long as he's 460 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 4: ever stopped during this eleven year period. 461 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 3: Now, I was kind of curious. I asked him how 462 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 3: he did it. 463 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,640 Speaker 4: He said, Your first thing is I quit telling myself 464 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 4: that I couldn't and I started. 465 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 3: Saying I can do all things through Christ. 466 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 4: Second thing is I've got a group of friends to 467 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 4: support me. 468 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 3: They call me and encourage me. 469 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 4: And the third thing is every day I started praying God, 470 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 4: I need your help. 471 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:24,920 Speaker 3: God. 472 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:28,199 Speaker 4: I'm asking for your strength. God, give me the grace 473 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:32,199 Speaker 4: to resist this temptation. He said, I've been amazed at 474 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,880 Speaker 4: how I've been able to resist things that I could 475 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 4: not resist before. I started praying what he couldn't do 476 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 4: in his own strength for years. Now, all of a 477 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 4: sudden he's able to do. That's what happens when you 478 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 4: go to God with your weaknesses. That's what happens when 479 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 4: you take time to pray. Now, I'm not saying that 480 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:53,119 Speaker 4: that temptation won't come back to him. He may have 481 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 4: to face it his whole lifetime. But I know this, 482 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:58,439 Speaker 4: if he stays prayed up, if he stays on guard, 483 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 4: he will be able to resist it and live a 484 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:03,119 Speaker 4: life of victory. You can too, but you've got to 485 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:06,439 Speaker 4: keep your inner man strong, and I would encourage you 486 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 4: don't leave the house every morning without at least spending 487 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:11,680 Speaker 4: a few minutes. 488 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:12,840 Speaker 3: Of quiet time with God. 489 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:17,919 Speaker 4: Read the scriptures, meditate on his promises, thank him for 490 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 4: his goodness in your life, and then ask him for 491 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:21,920 Speaker 4: the help that you need. 492 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 3: You got to keep that inside man built up. 493 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,399 Speaker 4: Do you know your inner man is more important than 494 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 4: your outer man. Sometimes we feed our outer man three 495 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 4: hot meals a day, we only feed our inner man one. 496 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 3: Cold snack a week. 497 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,919 Speaker 4: You're not going to defeat persistent temptation. We're not going 498 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:44,480 Speaker 4: to control our weaknesses if we're not taking steps to 499 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:49,200 Speaker 4: actively keep our inner man strong. That means drive into work, 500 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 4: put on a good praise CD all through the day. 501 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:54,880 Speaker 3: Keep your mind filled with thoughts of hope. 502 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 4: Don't go around worried, go around thinking about how God 503 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 4: has you in the palm of his hand, and how 504 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 4: He has great things in store. When you're positive and hopeful, 505 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 4: your inner man is getting stronger. Then when that temptation comes, 506 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 4: you'll be much more likely to resist it. Why because 507 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 4: you're preyed up because you took time to honor God. 508 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 4: The scripture says when you acknowledge God, he will crown 509 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 4: your efforts with success. Keeping our inner man strong should 510 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 4: be a priority. That's the only way we will defeat 511 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 4: persistent temptation. Another important key is don't focus on the temptation. 512 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 4: Don't let it dominate your thoughts. What you think about 513 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:38,919 Speaker 4: you're drawn toward. If you've ever been standing at the 514 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:42,159 Speaker 4: edge of a cliff overlooking it, it's almost like a 515 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:44,960 Speaker 4: force is wanting to pull you over. Makes me want 516 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:48,160 Speaker 4: to back up, and that's not unusual. That's a law 517 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 4: in human psychology. It says we move toward what we 518 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:55,160 Speaker 4: focus on. The Other day, I was out running way 519 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 4: off in the distance. I could see a stop sign 520 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,159 Speaker 4: must have been about five hundred yards away. But at 521 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 4: this time I wasn't even tired. I still had another 522 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:05,919 Speaker 4: mile to go. But for some reason, I started really 523 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 4: focusing on the stop sign, and that word stop just 524 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 4: jumped out at me in my mind like a blinking 525 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 4: red light saying. 526 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 3: Stop, stop, stop. And it's funny. 527 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 4: The more I focused on it, the more I begin 528 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:19,719 Speaker 4: to think, I'm tired. I don't know if I can 529 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 4: keep going. 530 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 3: I'm win it. 531 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 4: I need to stop. I was drawn toward what I 532 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 4: was thinking about. Finally I realized I have to change 533 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 4: my focus. You cannot run forward with the word stop 534 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 4: blinking in your mind. 535 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 3: I heard somebody say. 536 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:36,639 Speaker 4: What gets your attention will eventually get you. That means 537 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:40,440 Speaker 4: you can't control a weakness by going around saying I'm 538 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 4: not gonna eat these donuts. God, please help me not 539 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 4: eat these donuts. 540 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 3: I confess I will not eat these donuts. 541 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:48,720 Speaker 4: So if you have donuts on your mind all day long, 542 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:50,640 Speaker 4: you'll probably down about a dozen of them. 543 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 3: Change your focus. 544 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 4: You won't control the weakness if it's dominating your thought life. Yes, 545 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 4: pray about it, ask God to help you, but then 546 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:01,920 Speaker 4: go out and positive hopeful thoughts. 547 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 3: Friends, you can control your weaknesses. You don't have to 548 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:05,840 Speaker 3: let them control. 549 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:08,920 Speaker 4: You know the areas that you struggle in, and then 550 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 4: learn to pray ahead of time for God to help you, 551 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:14,600 Speaker 4: especially when you know something difficult coming out. 552 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 3: Remember we're only. 553 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 4: As strong as our weakest link. Don't ignore your weaknesses. 554 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:22,879 Speaker 4: Be diligent to come up higher in those areas. And 555 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 4: if you'll do your part and keep your inner man 556 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 4: strong and keep asking God for his help, then I 557 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 4: know God will do his part. He'll not only help 558 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 4: you resist the temptation. He'll not only send the angel 559 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 4: with the strength you need, but God will pour out 560 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 4: his blessings his favor. You'll live the life of victory 561 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 4: he has in story. Amen, do you receive it today? 562 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:46,919 Speaker 4: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 563 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 4: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 564 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 4: Would you pray with me, just say, Lord Jesus, I'll 565 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:55,680 Speaker 4: repent of my sins. 566 00:27:56,880 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 3: Come into my heart. I make you my lord and savior. 567 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 4: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 568 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 4: got born again. Get in a good Bible based church, 569 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:09,679 Speaker 4: Keep God first place. 570 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:12,399 Speaker 3: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 571 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 7: Thank you for listening to the joelus Deine podcast. Help 572 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:18,919 Speaker 7: us continue to share the message of hope with those 573 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:22,920 Speaker 7: all over the world. Visit Joelostin dot com slash give 574 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:24,679 Speaker 7: Hope to give a gift today. 575 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 576 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 4: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 577 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 4: podcast to keep you. 578 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 3: Inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. I 579 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:38,720 Speaker 3: know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you next time. 580 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 6: With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 581 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 6: for everyone. For example, Quand's as he drifts away to 582 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:01,480 Speaker 6: Nirvana after only the first chapter is different to Maya's 583 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 6: when she discovered the narrator was in fact the Evil Twin, 584 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 6: which is also different to Noah's aw anytime the cute 585 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 6: cyberpunk is mentioned, even though in reality he'd be totally 586 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:18,360 Speaker 6: out of his lead. From two two aw Amazon books 587 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:20,040 Speaker 6: that reading feeling awaits. 588 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 2: All inclusive vacations make life easy with endless eats, bottomless drinks, 589 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:27,960 Speaker 2: and never ending fun, so booking and all inclusive vacations 590 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 2: should be easy too. 591 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 6: Write. 592 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 2: That's where Apple Vacations comes in. Book your all inclusive 593 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 2: getaway with Apple Vacations and receive exclusive perks at select resorts. 594 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:39,680 Speaker 2: You'll find the best deals to sun and sand destinations 595 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:42,400 Speaker 2: in Mexico and the Caribbean, and enjoy a selection of 596 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 2: exclusive NonStop vacation flights. Turn on Easymode at Apple vacations 597 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 2: dot com or call your local travel advisor to get started.