1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jolan Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 3 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. Well, 5 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: God bless you. It's always a joy to come into 6 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 1: your homes, and if you're ever in our area, please 7 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 1: stop by and be a part of one of our services. 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 9 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: But thanks so much for tuning in, and thank you 10 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: again for coming out. I like to start with something funny, 11 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 1: and I heard about this pastor. He found a dead 12 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: mule on the church grounds. He called the health department 13 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: and they said they couldn't pick it up without authorization 14 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: from the mayor. Well, the mayor was known to be 15 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: very rude and hard to get along with. When the 16 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 1: pastor called, the mayor didn't disappoint. He started ranting and 17 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: raving and finally said to the pastor, why are you 18 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: even calling me? Isn't it your job to bury the dead? 19 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: The pastor prayed and ask God for the right response. 20 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: He said, yes, Mayor, it is my job to bury 21 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: the dead, but I always like to notify the next 22 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: of ken. First, hold up your Bible, say it like 23 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what 24 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: it says I am. I have what it says I have. 25 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do. Today 26 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 27 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 28 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 29 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about being comfortable 30 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: with who you are. There's an underlying pressure in our 31 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: society to be number one. If we're not the best, 32 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 1: the leader, the fastest, the most talented, the most beautiful, 33 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: the most successful, then we don't feel good about ourselves. 34 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: We got to work harder, We got to run faster. 35 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: A neighbor moves into a new house. Instead of being inspired, 36 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: we're intimidated, thinking that's making me look I got to 37 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: keep up. A coworker gets a promotion, we feel like 38 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 1: we're falling behind. A friend is going to Europe on vacation. 39 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: We're going to our grandmothers twelve miles down the road. 40 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 1: If we're not careful, there's always something making us feel 41 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: like we don't measure up. We're not far enough along. 42 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 1: As long as you compare your situation to others, you 43 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: will never feel good about yourself because there will always 44 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: be somebody more talented, more beautiful, more successful. You have 45 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: to realize you're not running their race. You're running your race. 46 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 1: You have a specific assignment. God has given you exactly 47 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,960 Speaker 1: what you need for the race that's been designed for you. 48 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: A friend, a coworker, a relative may seem to have 49 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: a more significant gift. They can outrun you, outperform you. 50 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:57,639 Speaker 1: That's okay, You're not competing with them. They have what 51 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: they need for their assignment. You have what you need 52 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 1: for your assignment. And if you make the mistake of 53 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: trying to keep up with them, wondering why can't I 54 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 1: sing like that? Why can't I be the manager? When 55 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 1: am I going to reach their level? If you're not 56 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 1: content with your gift, comfortable with who God made you 57 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: to be, then you'll go through life frustrated, envious, thinking 58 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: I wish I had her looks, I wish I had 59 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 1: his talent, I wish I own their business. No, if 60 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 1: you had what they have, it wouldn't help you, it 61 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: would hinder you. They have a different assignment. Quit trying 62 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: to outperform someone, and then you're going to feel good 63 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: about yourself soon as I move into their neighborhood, soon 64 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: as my business catches up to there, soon as I 65 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: get that promotion. No. One of the best things I've 66 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: learned is to be comfortable with who God made me 67 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: to be. I don't have to outperform you to feel 68 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:58,119 Speaker 1: good about myself. I don't have to outbuild you, out 69 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: drive you, outrace you, out minister you, out produce you. 70 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: It's not about you. It's about becoming who God made 71 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: me to be. And I'm all for having goals, stretching, 72 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 1: believing big. That's important, but you have to accept the 73 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: gift that God has given you. You shouldn't feel less 74 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: than if someone seems to have a more significant gift. 75 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,479 Speaker 1: It takes a secure person to say I'm comfortable with 76 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: who I am. See, I realize I'm never going to 77 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: be able to minister like TD Jakes, But that's okay. 78 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: Maybe one day he'll get better. But I hear these ministers. 79 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: They have deep voices, they're great oratorism. They can move 80 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 1: the congregation with their words, give you chill bumps, and 81 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: I get up here with my Texas Twain. This is 82 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 1: what I've been given. I can improve it, I can 83 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 1: develop it, I can cultivate it. But my voice is 84 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: never going to sound like James Earl John. There's always 85 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 1: going to be somebody that can minister better further along 86 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: more experience. But you know what, that doesn't bother me. 87 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: I know I have the gifts I need for my assignment. 88 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: And here's the key. You don't have to have a 89 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: great gift for God to use it in a great way. 90 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: You know what the gift David had that put him 91 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 1: on the throne. It wasn't his leadership skills, wasn't his 92 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: dynamic personality, wasn't his ability to write and play music. 93 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: It was his gift to sling a rock. He was 94 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,679 Speaker 1: a sharpshooter with a slingshot. He could have thought, oh, great, 95 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: big deal, I'm good with a slingshot. This is not 96 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: gonna get me anywhere. I'm out in the shepherd's fields alone, 97 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: no people, just a bunch of sheep. But it was 98 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: that slingshot, that seemingly insignificant gift that enabled him to 99 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 1: defeat Goliath and eventually put him on the throne. Quit 100 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 1: discounting the gift that God has given you. It may 101 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: seem insignificant. I'm not as smart as my sister, not 102 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 1: as talented as my coworker, can't write the software like 103 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: my colleague. Maybe not, But there's something God's given you 104 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:18,599 Speaker 1: that's unique, something that will propel you into your destiny, 105 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 1: something that will cause you to leave your mark on 106 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 1: this generation. Don't believe the lies that your average. There's 107 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: nothing special about you. You don't have the personality like 108 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: your cousin, you don't have the talent like your friend. No, 109 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: but you've got a slingshot. It's not so much what 110 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: you have, it's the anointing that God puts on it, 111 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: that slingshot. Your gift may seem ordinary, but when God 112 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: breathes on it, you'll defeat a giant twice your size. 113 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: You'll be promoted beyond your talent. You'll go places where 114 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,479 Speaker 1: you weren't qualified, you didn't have the experience, you weren't 115 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 1: next in line. But suddenly adore opened, Suddenly you defeated 116 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: the giant. Suddenly the compact center was yours. Suddenly the 117 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: dream comes to pass. Too often we look for titles 118 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: and positions. Then we're going to feel good about ourselves 119 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: when I make it to sales manager, when I get 120 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 1: on the varsity cheerleading squad, when I'm the head usher, 121 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: the senior partner, the lead supervisor. And now that's fine, 122 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: nothing wrong with titles, But you don't need a title 123 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,120 Speaker 1: to do what God's called you to do. Don't wait 124 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: for people to approve you, affirm you, validate, you use 125 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: your gift, and the title will come. If David would 126 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: have waited for a title, we wouldn't be talking about 127 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 1: him today. When he went out to face Goliath, the 128 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: whole army was watching him. And what's interesting is David 129 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 1: wasn't a general, he wasn't a corporal, he wasn't a sergeant. 130 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: He wasn't even enlisted. He didn't have a title, a name, bad, 131 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: a uniform, any credentials. He could have said, I can't 132 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: do anything great. I don't have a position. Nobody's celebrating me, 133 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: nobody's validating my gifts. In fact, it was just the opposite. 134 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: People were telling him how he was not qualified, how 135 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: he was too small, how he was going to get hurt. 136 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: That didn't bother David. His attitude was I don't need 137 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: a title. I don't need a position. You didn't call me, 138 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 1: and you don't have to approve me. God called me, 139 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: he gave me this gift. It may seem small or 140 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: insignificant to you, but I'm not here to impress you. 141 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 1: I'm not here to please you. I'm here to fulfill 142 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: my destiny. He went out and defeated Goliath. In a 143 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: few years, they gave him a title King of Israel. 144 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: Use your gifts and the titles will come, well, Joel. 145 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: As soon as they crowned me king of the office, 146 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: then I'll start being my best. They make me the 147 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: head usher, then I'll show up early and give it 148 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: my alle No, it works the other way around. You've 149 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: got to show them what you've got, then the approval, 150 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: then the recognition, Then the reward will come. When my 151 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:16,079 Speaker 1: father was seventeen years old, he gave his life to Christ, 152 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: the first one in the family. He knew that he 153 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,559 Speaker 1: was called to preach. But the problem was they were 154 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 1: very poor. They lost everything during the Great Depression, barely 155 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: had enough food, didn't have any money. He couldn't afford 156 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: to go to college. And he didn't have a position, 157 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: no title, no denomination backing him up, no family saying, John, 158 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 1: follow your dreams, do what's in your heart. His family 159 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: told him, John, you better stay here on the farm 160 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: with us and pick cotton. You're going to get out 161 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: there and fail. Daddy could have thought, I feel this calling. 162 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: I know I have something to offer if somebody was 163 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 1: just behind me. Now. He didn't wait for a title, 164 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,839 Speaker 1: a position. He didn't wait for people to validate him. 165 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:05,959 Speaker 1: At seventeen, he started hitchhiking to different towns to minister 166 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: in the seniors' homes, in the prisons, on the street corners. 167 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,680 Speaker 1: He used what he had. It didn't seem like much 168 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: compared to other ministers that had been to seminarian, had training, 169 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 1: he would have been considered insignificant, unqualified, no experience. But 170 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: you can't wait for people's approval to do what God's 171 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: called you to do. What you have may seem small. 172 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: You could feel intimidated thinking that you don't have the qualifications, 173 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: the title, the position. That's okay, neither did David, neither 174 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 1: did my father. If you'll use what you have, God 175 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 1: will breathe on it. His anointing on that simple gift 176 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,079 Speaker 1: will cause you to step into the fullness of your 177 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: destiny In the scripture, there was a little boy. All 178 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: he had was a lunch, five loaves of bread, to fish, 179 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: nothing much, not very significant. Yet when thousands of people 180 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: were hungry, Jesus took his lunch, multiplied it fed the 181 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: whole crowd. Think about this. The little boy's mother got 182 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: up early that morning to make the lunch. She baked 183 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:22,559 Speaker 1: the bread, she cooked the fish. She went out and 184 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: picked some fruit off the tree, dug up some vegetables 185 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: out of the ground. She could have been considered insignificant. 186 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: She was a homemaker raising a child. Other people were 187 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 1: out doing more exciting things, being celebrated, making us flash. 188 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 1: If she wouldn't have been comfortable with who she was, 189 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: accepting her assignment, secure in her gifts, she would have 190 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: been out competing, trying to outperform others, thinking I'm falling behind. 191 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: They're making me look bad. I'm just making a lunch. 192 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 1: I don't have an important title. No titles don't bring fulfillment. 193 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 1: Keeping up with your neighbors doesn't bring happiness. Trying to 194 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 1: impress all your friends will make your life miserable. But 195 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: running your race, understanding your assignment, being comfortable with who 196 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: God made you to be that's what brings true fulfillment. 197 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 1: And we hear a lot about the little boy being 198 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 1: willing to give the lunch, but it all started when 199 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: his mother took time to make the lunch. She used 200 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 1: her gift. That seems small, just making a lunch, but 201 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 1: God took the lunch, multiplied it fed thousands. We're still 202 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 1: talking about it many years later. Don't discount the gift 203 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: God has given. You may seem small just making a 204 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 1: lunch for your children. You don't know how God's going 205 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: to use the child that you're making the lunch for. 206 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: You may be raising a president, a world leader, a 207 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: great scientist, an entrepreneur, a business leader. You may not 208 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: touch the world directly, but your child may change the world. 209 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:11,079 Speaker 1: Your assignment may be to help your seed go further. 210 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 1: Are you secure enough to play the role that God's 211 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 1: given you? Are you comfortable enough to not have to 212 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: be number one, to be in the front, to have 213 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: the title, the position, to keep up with others. See, 214 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 1: we put so much emphasis on rising to the top 215 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: and being the leader. And yes, I believe in excelling 216 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 1: and having big gifts and big dreams, but I also 217 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 1: know that everyone can't be the leader Everyone can't run 218 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:44,200 Speaker 1: the company. Everyone can't be on the platform. Somebody has 219 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: to open the doors, somebody has to play the music. 220 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: Somebody has to show people where to sit, where to park. 221 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: The beauty of our God is He's given us all 222 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: an assignment. Every one of us has a specific gift, 223 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:03,199 Speaker 1: a specific purpose. Think about this. Who was more important 224 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: the little boy with the lunch or the mother that 225 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: made the lunch. Without the mother, we wouldn't be talking 226 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,559 Speaker 1: about the miracle. Who's more important me being up here 227 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: in front of all of you? Or is the most 228 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 1: important person really the ones that opened the building? Without them, 229 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: we couldn't get in. Or is it the ones that 230 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 1: turned on the lights, the sound system, the cameras, or 231 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: perhaps the ones that paid the bills during the week. 232 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: Or maybe it's the ones that poured the foundation some 233 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 1: forty years ago and built the beautiful facility. Or maybe 234 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: it's the ones that have supported the ministry down through 235 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: the years many of you, The answer is obviously they're 236 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: all equally important. Without one, the whole thing wouldn't function properly, 237 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 1: be secure enough to play your role. We look at 238 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 1: who's in front, who's getting the credit, the recognition, they're 239 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: the leader. A lot of times we look up to them, 240 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: admire them. That's where we want to be. But if 241 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: that's not where we're called to be, it's not where 242 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: we're gifted, If it's not a part of our assignment, 243 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: then we're going to be frustrated because it's not happening. 244 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: If we do get there, we'll be frustrated trying to 245 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: keep ourselves there. Because if you promote yourself, manipulate your 246 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 1: way into a position, then you will have to constantly 247 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 1: work to try to stay in that position. But where 248 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: God takes you, he'll keep you. Where you force your way, 249 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: you have to keep yourself. It's much better to have 250 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 1: the attitude. I don't have to be ahead of my 251 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: friend to feel good about myself. I don't have to 252 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: be on the main stage. I'm happy being in the background. 253 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: I don't have to be the little boy with the lunch. 254 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: I'm happy to be the mom that made the lunch. 255 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: I'm happy to sing in the choir. I'm happy to 256 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: make my company look good. When you're not competing, not comparing, 257 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: not try to be something that you're not, life gets 258 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 1: a lot more free, takes all the pressure off, and yes, 259 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 1: I realize there are some positions that carry more weight 260 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: and more importance. But in God's eyes, the usher is 261 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: just as important as the pastor the people that cleaned 262 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: the building, just as important as the people that own 263 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: the building secretary, just as important as the supervisor. God 264 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: is not going to judge you based on your neighbor's 265 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 1: gift or your brother's gift, or by how high you 266 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 1: rose in the company. He's going to judge you based 267 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: on the assignment that he's given you. Did you run 268 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 1: your race? Not did you outperform your neighbor. Were you're 269 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: more successful than your cousin? Did you get more credit, 270 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: more recognition than your colleague? You're not competing with them. 271 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 1: They're running a different race. God is going to say 272 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: to Esther, did you have the courage to step up 273 00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: and save the nation? Like I gifted you too. He's 274 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: going to say to the little boy's mother, did you 275 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: get up early and make the lunch like I gifted 276 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:10,919 Speaker 1: you to? Two different assignments, two different giftings. God's not 277 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,199 Speaker 1: going to compare, Oh, Esther, I'm prouder of you. You 278 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 1: did so much more. To the mother. All you did 279 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 1: would make lunch. Lady you need to get with it. No, 280 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:23,720 Speaker 1: it's all going to be depending did you fulfill your assignment. 281 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,640 Speaker 1: I went to an indie car race not long ago, 282 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 1: and the race cars are incredibly sleek. They're load to 283 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: the ground, extremely aerodynamic. They've got these huge engines. They 284 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: can travel two hundred miles an hour on a straightaway, 285 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: take a curve at over one hundred miles an hour. 286 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 1: But in spite of their strengths, they have weaknesses. They 287 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:52,120 Speaker 1: only hold one person, the dash, the seats, it's all metal. 288 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 1: There's no luxury, no air conditioning. It's because it's designed 289 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: for a specific purpose. Victory and I have an suv 290 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:06,479 Speaker 1: at home, a suburban. It's big, holds eight people. We 291 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: can put our bikes in the back, all kinds of luggage. 292 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,120 Speaker 1: You sit up high like you're the king of the road. 293 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 1: But if we took our suburban out to the indie 294 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 1: track to race, those other cars wouldn't have a chance. 295 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,120 Speaker 1: If we took a curve one hundred miles an hour 296 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 1: in our suv, we'd be hearing the angel scene. It 297 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:30,680 Speaker 1: couldn't handle it. Why it's competing in a race it 298 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 1: was never designed to be in. On the other hand, 299 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: if we traded in our suv for the race car. 300 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:39,360 Speaker 1: It looks so sleek and so nice. We'd find out 301 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: real quickly. Doesn't work on the city streets. It's too small, 302 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 1: it's no place to put luggage, groceries, it's bumpy, load 303 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:51,119 Speaker 1: to the ground. What point is each car is designed 304 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: for a specific race. The suburban doesn't do any good 305 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: on an indie track, The race car doesn't do any 306 00:18:57,119 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: good on the city streets. The key is to keep 307 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 1: the car in the race that it was designed for. 308 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: In the same way, you have to be big enough 309 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:10,919 Speaker 1: to accept I may not be a race car. I 310 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,880 Speaker 1: may not be as fast as my coworker, or as 311 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:17,479 Speaker 1: smart as my sister, as talented as my neighbor. But 312 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:21,679 Speaker 1: that's okay, and suv is just fine. There's a place 313 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 1: where I fit perfectly, where my gifts, my talents, my skill, 314 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 1: my personality will shine. Every once in a while, you'll 315 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 1: see an SUV out on the endie track thinking, I'm 316 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,160 Speaker 1: not gonna be happy unless I am the fastest, unless 317 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: I'm out in front, unless I'm getting all the credit. 318 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: Will stay in your race. There is nothing wrong with 319 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:45,880 Speaker 1: not being a race cars, nothing wrong with not being 320 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 1: the fastest, the most beautiful, the most talented. Don't get 321 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: distracted competing in a race that you were never supposed 322 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 1: to be in, trying to outperform your cousin know they're 323 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 1: in a different race, Feeling less than because a friend 324 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 1: is being more celebrated, frustrating because your neighbor is further along. 325 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 1: Stay in your race, Be comfortable with who you are. 326 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:13,119 Speaker 1: Let me make it more practical. Ladies, you may have 327 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: a friend that's a size four. She's naturally small thin. 328 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: She doesn't have to work out, she doesn't have to 329 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:24,119 Speaker 1: watch what she eats. That's just who she is. Maybe 330 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 1: you're a size fourteen. You could work out four times 331 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: a day, not eat for three years and not get 332 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 1: down to a size four. Now you better keep your 333 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: suv off that indie track. Quit comparing yourself to her, 334 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: quit competing with her. Just run your race. Can I 335 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:47,920 Speaker 1: tell you there's nothing wrong with being a size fourteen. 336 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: You got to accept what God's given you, dress it up, 337 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: paint it, put on some new mufflers, and run your race. 338 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:02,199 Speaker 1: But a lot of times, I don't know why, but 339 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:04,959 Speaker 1: a lot of times we think, if I had their talent, 340 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: if I had their looks. If I could do what 341 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 1: they're doing, then I'd be happy. Then I'd feel good 342 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 1: about myself, Joel. Now they may be doing something that 343 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:18,160 Speaker 1: seems more exciting, more appealing. But the truth is, if 344 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: you traded places, you wouldn't be happy, you wouldn't be 345 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 1: fulfilled because their gifts, their talents, their skills, their personality 346 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:31,240 Speaker 1: has been uniquely designed for their assignment. You could try 347 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 1: to do what they're doing, but the problem is the 348 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 1: anointing on your life is for your gifts, for what 349 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: you're called to do. If you'll learn to accept your gifts, 350 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: not competing, comparing, wishing I will look different, wishing I 351 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 1: had different talents. No, just be the best that you 352 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: can be with what you have, and there will be 353 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: a fulfillment, a satisfaction. God will open up doors, He 354 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 1: will get you to where you're supposed to be. When 355 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 1: you're comfortable with who you are walking in your anointing, 356 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: it takes the pressure off you enjoy life. But when 357 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 1: you're always competing with a friend, trying to outperform a colleague, 358 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 1: trying to impress all your relatives, that is a frustrating 359 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: way to live. You're competing with someone that's not even 360 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 1: in your race. A few years ago, I was out running. 361 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:24,159 Speaker 1: There was a man in front of me about a 362 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 1: quarter of a mile, and I could tell he was 363 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: running a little slower than me, so I decided to 364 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:32,159 Speaker 1: try to catch him. I had about a mile to 365 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: go before I needed to turn off and head down 366 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,680 Speaker 1: my path. I picked up the pace and I could 367 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 1: tell every block I was gaining on him. In a 368 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,440 Speaker 1: few minutes, I was only about one hundred yards behind him, 369 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:46,639 Speaker 1: and I started really pushing it. You'd have thought I 370 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,680 Speaker 1: was in that final laugh of the Olympic Games. I 371 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:53,199 Speaker 1: finally caught up to him, passed by him. Felt so 372 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 1: good I beat him. Of course he didn't know we 373 00:22:55,880 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: were racing. But the funny thing is, when I got 374 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,119 Speaker 1: my mind back on what I was doing, I realized 375 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 1: I had missed my turn. I was so focused on 376 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 1: trying to catch him, I went about six blocks further 377 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 1: than I was supposed to had to turn around come back. 378 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: That's what happens when we're competing with someone, trying to 379 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:22,400 Speaker 1: outperform them, dress better than them, make sure we're more successful. 380 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: We end up competing in a race that we were 381 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: never supposed to be in. It takes a lot of energy, 382 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 1: physical and emotional to try to keep up with a coworker, 383 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 1: dress better than a neighbor, be more successful than your cousin. No, 384 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:41,880 Speaker 1: take the pressure off. It's very freeing to say I'm 385 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:45,680 Speaker 1: okay with you being ahead of me, getting more recognition, 386 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: doing something more exciting. I'm not going to feel bad 387 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: about myself. If you have a bigger house, a batter car, 388 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 1: more successful, you have what you need for your assignment. 389 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 1: I have what I need for my assignment. Don't have 390 00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:02,920 Speaker 1: to keep up with you. I'm not in the same race. 391 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:08,159 Speaker 1: You're not really free until you know you're not competing 392 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:11,640 Speaker 1: with anyone else. And this is one of the reasons 393 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:16,479 Speaker 1: that King Saul lost the throne. He was happy running 394 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: his race. Life was good until he heard some women 395 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: saying Saul has killed thousands and David has killed tens 396 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 1: of thousands. From that moment on, he never looked at 397 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 1: David the same way. What was his problem? He couldn't 398 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:36,159 Speaker 1: handle somebody getting ahead of him. He was fine as 399 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 1: long as he was number one, but he couldn't handle 400 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 1: being number two. He got distracted and spent months and 401 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 1: months trying to kill David. All because he wasn't comfortable 402 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:51,439 Speaker 1: with who he was. Now, maybe, like Saul, you're a 403 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 1: one thousand level person, but you have a friend that's 404 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: a ten thousand level person. The real test to see 405 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: if God can promote you you is can you celebrate 406 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 1: people that pass you by? Can you be happy for 407 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 1: them and stay focused on your race or does it 408 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:12,119 Speaker 1: frustrate you? Think? Man, I got to catch up with them. 409 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 1: Now our attitude should be I may not be a 410 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:18,159 Speaker 1: ten thousand level person. God may have made me to 411 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:20,959 Speaker 1: be a one thousand level person, but I can promise 412 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 1: you this, I'm going to be the best one thousand 413 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:26,720 Speaker 1: level person you've ever seen. I'm not gonna stop at 414 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 1: nine point fifty nine eighty nine ninety nine. I'm gonna 415 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:33,920 Speaker 1: become all God's created me to be friends. Your race 416 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: is made up of one person. You don't get distracted 417 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:43,160 Speaker 1: competing against a neighbor, a friend, a coworker. Just run 418 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:47,920 Speaker 1: your race. You have exactly what you need for your assignment. 419 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:52,919 Speaker 1: Learn to accept your gifts. There's nothing wrong with not 420 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 1: being the fastest, the most beautiful, the most talented. Here's 421 00:25:56,840 --> 00:26:02,440 Speaker 1: a phrase I like, don't compare yourself, celebrate yourself. Somebody 422 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:06,119 Speaker 1: else may have conquered ten thousand. You conquered a thousand, 423 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 1: but you know what a thousand is still good. Celebrate 424 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:13,639 Speaker 1: what you've accomplished. Very few people today can say I 425 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:18,120 Speaker 1: like myself. I'm happy with my gifts. I am satisfied 426 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 1: with who God made me to be. And remember, you 427 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 1: don't have to have a great gift for God to 428 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 1: use it in a great way. May seem small, making 429 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:29,400 Speaker 1: a lunch, slinging a rock like David, But if you'll 430 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 1: use what you have, God will breathe on it and 431 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:36,320 Speaker 1: do amazing things. If you'll learn this simple principle being 432 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 1: comfortable with who you are, you'll not only enjoy your 433 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 1: life more, but I believe and declare you will rise higher. 434 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:45,960 Speaker 1: Your gifts and talents will come out to the full. 435 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:49,160 Speaker 1: You will become everything that God's created you to be. 436 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:52,640 Speaker 1: In Jesus's name, if you receive it, can you say 437 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:57,160 Speaker 1: him in today? We never like to close our broadcast 438 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 1: without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord 439 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:04,760 Speaker 1: of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say Lord, Jesus, 440 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 441 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 1: make you my lord and Savior. Friends, if you prayed 442 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 1: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 443 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:21,080 Speaker 1: in a good Bible based church, Keep God first place. 444 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:23,919 Speaker 1: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of.