1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jorlan Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. 5 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: God bless you. It is always a joy to come 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: into your homes each week, and we know that God 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: has good things in store for you. When you delight 8 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: yourself from the Lord, God will give you the desires 9 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: of your heart. That's what we're believing for each one 10 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,160 Speaker 1: of you. If you're ever in our area, I hope 11 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: you'll come out and be a part of one of 12 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: our services. We give you a personal invitation and I 13 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: promise you it will make you feel right at home. 14 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: We're so glad to have you with us today. I 15 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: like to get started each week with something kind of funny. 16 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: In one day up in heaven, God told the men, 17 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: I want you to form two lines. One line is 18 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 1: for all the men who are the head of your house, 19 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: and the other line is for the men who let 20 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: the woman be the head of the house. And the 21 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: line where the woman ran the house was one hundred 22 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: miles long. The other line only had one person in it, 23 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 1: and God said, men, look at you. I'm ashamed. I 24 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: made you to be the head, but only one man 25 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 1: stood up to make me proud. God turned to him 26 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: and said, son, telling, how did you manage to be 27 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: the only one in this line. The man looked confused 28 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: and said, I don't know. My wife told me to 29 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 1: stand here. All right, hold up your bible. Say it 30 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am 31 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: what it says. I am. I have what it says 32 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: I have. I can do what it says I can do. 33 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: Today I will be talked the word of God. I 34 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:41,119 Speaker 1: boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 35 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:45,399 Speaker 1: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 36 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: bless you. We've been talking about embracing the place where 37 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: we are and not fighting against everything that doesn't go 38 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: our way. We cannot pray away every uncomfortable situation. God 39 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: uses the difficulties to do a work in us. And 40 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: some of the things that are uncomfortable in your life 41 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: right now, if God were to remove them, you wouldn't 42 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: be prepared for the promotion that he has in store. 43 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: God is using that to develop your character and to 44 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: get you prepared for greater things. And anytime we're going 45 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: to be promoted, anytime we're going to go to a 46 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: new level, there's going to be a time of testing. 47 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: You don't get promoted without first passing the test. And 48 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: so if you're in a difficult situation today, things are 49 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: not happening as fast as you would like. You're working 50 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: around people that get on your nerves, or you're giving 51 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: but not seeing any increase, you have to recognize that's 52 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: a test of your faith, and the way to pass 53 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: the test is to keep a good attitude forgive your enemies, 54 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: be kind when you feel like chewing somebody out, be 55 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: patient even though it's taken longer than you would like. 56 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: God uses the difficulties to make us and to mold us. 57 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: And it always helps me to remember that God is 58 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: on the throne and he can remove anything anytime he 59 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: wants to. He's God. It's up to me to simply 60 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: trust him enough to know that at the right time, 61 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: when I'm ready, he will change things. And the Bible 62 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: talks about how God is the potter and we are 63 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,359 Speaker 1: the clay, and most of us we start off as 64 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:30,239 Speaker 1: an old, hard lump of clay, We're impatient, selfish, self centered, 65 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: we want our way all the time. That's just the 66 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: nature that we're born with. And it's up to each 67 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: one of us to work with God and let him 68 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: refine us, let him get these impurities out. We have 69 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: to stay pliable and moldable. And as odd as this 70 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: may sound, trials are beneficial. They bring delight impurities in 71 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: our character. They bring delight things that would normally stay 72 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: hidden unless a little pressure was applied. And we'll really 73 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: never know what we're like until we go through a 74 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: time of testing. You can't develop patience without being in 75 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: a situation where you have to wait. You'll never really 76 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: learn to trust God without being in a situation that 77 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: you don't quite understand. Now, I'm challenging us today to 78 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: stay on the Potter's will, and when things come to 79 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 1: light that you know are not right, be willing to change, 80 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: be willing to work with God so you can come 81 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: up to a higher level. I think about with the 82 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: Compact Center. It took us over three and a half 83 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: years to acquire this facility. We had to pray, we 84 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: had to trust, We had to keep a good attitude 85 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,799 Speaker 1: day in and day out. The interesting thing is God 86 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,720 Speaker 1: could have given us this building the first week, after all, 87 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: he's God, or he could have at least given it 88 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: to us after a year. Men. That would have been 89 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 1: so much easier, would have saved me a lot of 90 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: time and energy. But no, God was doing a work 91 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: in me. I was learning to trust him in a 92 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 1: greater way. My character was being developed. Some things you 93 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: can't get overnight. Some things take time, and I was 94 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: developing a trust and a confidence that only comes from 95 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 1: going through some things. And we can say all day long, God, 96 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: I trust you, but really talk is cheap. God's going 97 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: to give us a test to see what we're really 98 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 1: made of and understand. God knows our future. He knows 99 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: exactly what you're gonna need in the days of ahead. 100 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: And the scripture says in Exodus thirteen that God didn't 101 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: lead the children of Israel the easiest way to the 102 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 1: promised land. He took them the long way on purpose, 103 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 1: because they were not prepared for war. And in the 104 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: same way, sometimes God's gonna take us the long way 105 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: on purpose so he can do a work in us. 106 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: That simply means God's not going to answer every prayer overnight. 107 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 1: He's not going to remove every difficult person from our lives. 108 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 1: If he did, we wouldn't be prepared for what he 109 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: had in store. And so I'm asking you today to 110 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 1: quit complaining about how long something is taken. Quit being 111 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:10,919 Speaker 1: discouraged because you're in an uncomfortable situation. Really, you should 112 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:14,919 Speaker 1: be encouraged, or at least you should be challenged, knowing 113 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: that that's a test of your faith. And when you 114 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: pass that test, promotion is on its way. You're going 115 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: to see a new level of God's blessings in favor. 116 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: It's kind of funny. After two years, we won the 117 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: final city council vote that we needed and that gave 118 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: us this facility for the next sixty years. And I 119 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: was so relieved and so excited. I took a week 120 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: off with my family and we went away just to 121 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 1: celebrate the victory. Now I'll never forget. I was sitting 122 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 1: on the beach and my brother in law, Kevin, called 123 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 1: and he said, Joel, I hate to tell you this, 124 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: but we just got word that a company has filed 125 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: a lawsuit to try to keep us from moving into 126 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: the Compact Center. And do you know it was another 127 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 1: year and a half before we finally settled that situation, 128 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 1: and I had to keep myself. Even though I don't 129 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: like this, even though I'm uncomfortable, I know God is 130 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: still in control and I'm growing. I'm getting stronger. God's 131 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: getting me prepared for greater things. And once you go 132 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 1: through a few things like that, you've got something on 133 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 1: the inside that nobody can take away. You've got a 134 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: trust and a confidence that only comes from experience. I 135 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: don't believe that I'd be standing here today if I 136 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: had not allowed God to do the work in me, 137 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 1: if I'd gotten frustrated impatient God, I don't understand it well, 138 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: then God couldn't trust me with this position. He has 139 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 1: to develop our character first. We have to be willing 140 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: to go through some things. Let God purify you, let 141 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: Him refine you. When these things come to light that 142 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: you know are not right. Unforgiveness, bad attitudes, quick temper, self, pity, impatience, 143 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: just deal with it. Say God, I know I'm in 144 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: a hurry, and I can see that you're not, so 145 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna relax and trust you or God. These 146 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: people didn't do me right now. I don't feel like it, 147 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: but I'm gonna take the high road. And forgive them anyway. See, 148 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: quit fighting against everything in your life. God is still 149 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: in control, and if you allow him, he'll use every 150 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: single thing that comes against you to do a work 151 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: in you. The scripture says there in one Peter four, 152 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: verse twelve, don't be amazed at the fiery trial that 153 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 1: has taking place to test your quality. Notice the trial 154 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: is to test your character. It's a test of your quality. 155 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 1: Nothing brings out the impurities in our character any quicker 156 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: than difficulty. We can all be kind to people when 157 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 1: they're being kind to us, But what about when somebody 158 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:55,839 Speaker 1: jumps down your throat for no reason at all? Human 159 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: nature wants to give them a peace of our mind. 160 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: Now that's a test. When you feel yourself getting angry, 161 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: when you feel yourself wanting to be rude back to them, 162 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 1: why don't you dig a little deeper, stay calm, keep 163 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 1: your cool. When you do that, you just pass the test, 164 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 1: and you're one step closer to promotion. And I found 165 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 1: we're going to be tested in the areas that we 166 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: struggle with the most, in the areas where we have 167 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: the greatest need. For instance, if you have a problem 168 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: with jealousy, God's going to make sure that you see 169 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: everybody around you that has more than you do. He'll 170 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: make sure your long lost cousin calls you to tell 171 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 1: you how they just won the lottery. God will put 172 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: you right there in the middle of the fire to 173 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: see what you're going to do. If you have a 174 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 1: problem with being patient, don't be surprised if you get 175 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: behind every slow driver in the city of Houston. You'll 176 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: find every freeway that has construction, every traffic light that's 177 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 1: messed up. And understand, it's not a coincidence that you're 178 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: ending up there. That's God trying to do a work 179 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: in you. And if you will change, then the circumstances 180 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: will change. A couple of Friday nights ago, Victoria and 181 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:05,680 Speaker 1: I were supposed to be somewhere at seven point thirty, 182 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 1: and we left with just enough time to make it. 183 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 1: I was in a big hurry. I didn't want to 184 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: be late, and I knew if I could catch every 185 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,439 Speaker 1: light just right, we could still be there on time. 186 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: But wouldn't you know it, I got caught by this train, 187 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: and I told Victoria, I have never seen a train 188 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,599 Speaker 1: here at this time of day in all of my life, 189 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 1: and I was just certain that was the enemy trying 190 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: to delay me, and so under my breath I was praying, rebuking, resisting, 191 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: binding loosen. It seemed like the more I prayed, the 192 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,559 Speaker 1: worse it got, and we just sat there and sat there, 193 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: and sat there. I could feel myself trying to get 194 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: agitated and upset and did my best not to show it. 195 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 1: Rolled the window down, smiled, started humming, but I noticed 196 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: to me it looked like the train was slowing down. 197 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 1: I said, hey, Victoria, is it my imagination or is 198 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: this train getting slower? She said, I think you're right, 199 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: it's getting slower, And sure enough, it got slower and slower. 200 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: Finally it came to a stop. By then, it was 201 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: taking everything in me to not get upset, to not 202 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: start complaining, and just when I thought it couldn't get 203 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 1: any worse, that train started backing up. I said, I 204 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 1: rebuke you, devil. I tell Victoria, at this rate, we're 205 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: not I'm gonna be at church Sunday morning. They kept 206 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: backing up. A few minutes later it reversed and I 207 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 1: could finally see the end of it, and I was 208 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 1: so relieved. I was so anxious to go. But about 209 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: that time I heard this loud horn. I thought, what 210 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: in the world is that they don't usually blow the 211 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: horn at the end, And just as I could see 212 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: the caboos, do you know another train came on the 213 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: other side of the track. I didn't even know there 214 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 1: were two sets of tracks there. Finally I decided to 215 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: just lighten up. I said, God, I'm not gonna get upset. 216 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:52,679 Speaker 1: You're still in control, and I must need this or 217 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:56,679 Speaker 1: you wouldn't have me here. We have to realize situations 218 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: like that are simply tested. They bring the light areas 219 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: that we need to work in. You can't get patience 220 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 1: by just praying for it. You get patience by having 221 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: to wait. You laugh at me. But God's gonna tempt 222 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 1: you and test you in the same areas where you 223 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: have problems. If you're a touchy person, maybe you're always 224 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: getting your feelings hurt. Well, God's gonna put you in 225 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:21,079 Speaker 1: situations where people are gonna rub you the wrong way. 226 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: He is not gonna protect you from every offense just 227 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: because you're touching. Now I found God will do just 228 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 1: the opposite. He will keep working with you and giving 229 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 1: you opportunities to come up higher. See, God loves you 230 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 1: too much to just leave you alone. He knows your 231 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 1: potential and so he's gonna do his best to keep 232 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: you on the potter's will. If you have a problem 233 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: with your temper, God's gonna put you in situations where 234 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 1: you're testing. The next time you're tempted to get upset, 235 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: you need to remind yourself, hey, this is only a test. 236 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: This is God giving me an opportunity to come up higher. 237 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: If you'll just dig your heels in and exercise a 238 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: little self control, that you will pass that test. And 239 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: the good news is the next test will be a 240 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: little easier and the next one a little easier. What's happening. 241 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: God's refining you. He's making you, molding you. But some 242 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 1: of you lose your joy over the smallest things. You 243 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: can't find your car keys in the morning, somebody parked 244 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: in your parking space, or you had to work late 245 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,439 Speaker 1: one light. It just ruins the whole day. And you're 246 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: always praying that everything would go away. But if you're 247 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 1: not careful, you'll miss the very reason that God allowed 248 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 1: you to be in that situation. You need to look inside, 249 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 1: examine your heart and see if there are issues that 250 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 1: you need to deal with and it's good in situations 251 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: like that to just say, God, help me to learn 252 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 1: what you want me to learn in this situation. This, 253 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 1: don't be like the children of Israel. And because they 254 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 1: wouldn't quit complaining, because they had a sour attitude, they 255 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:55,439 Speaker 1: kept going around the same mountain year after year after year. 256 00:13:55,840 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: It took them forty years to make an eleven day journey. 257 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: A lot of times we hear that and we think, man, 258 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 1: they were some stubborn people. They were some hard headed people. 259 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:08,200 Speaker 1: But the fact is, and I say it with a smile, 260 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: some of us have been going around the same mountain 261 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: ten years, twenty years, thirty years. And by that I 262 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: mean bad attitudes, negative, critical, impatient, unforgiveness. No, it's time 263 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: for us to go up higher. Let's start passing those 264 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 1: tests so that we can enter into our promised land. 265 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 1: And really, we should not be dealing with the same 266 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: issues that we dealt with five years ago. We should 267 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 1: have a better attitude than we had last year. We 268 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 1: should be more loving, more patient, more kind. We shouldn't 269 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: get up at set as easily. And if you're still 270 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: getting upset every time things don't go your way, it's 271 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: time to grow up. If you're still dealing with things 272 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: that you dealt with five and ten years ago, please 273 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: make a decision that's starting today. You're gonna make some changes. 274 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: Recognize what's happening. That's God trying to promote you. I 275 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: believe that every one of us can come up higher 276 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 1: in some area, and I'm asking us to stay on 277 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: the Potter's wheel so that we can become all that 278 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: God has created us to be. I see too many 279 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: people that get stuck. Well, Joel, I'm just a negative person. 280 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 1: I can't help it. I'm just critical, I'm just impatient, 281 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: got these addictions. I can't help it. No, really, you 282 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: can help it because God has promised he will not 283 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 1: allow more to come on you than you can handle. 284 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: He knows just how much pressure to apply, He knows 285 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: just how much you can take. The scripture goes on 286 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: to say with every test, with every temptation, God will 287 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: always make a way of escape. That simply means God 288 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: will always give you the strength to overcome. So the 289 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: next time you're tempted to get upset, you've got to 290 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: just remind yourself, no, I've got the power to keep 291 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 1: my cool. Next time you're tempted to complain. Nope, I've 292 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: got the power to keep my mouth shut. Next time 293 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 1: you're tempted to be impatient, No, I've got the power 294 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: to wait here with a good attitude to see. You 295 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 1: got to quit telling yourself you can't do it. You 296 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 1: can do all things through Christ. You have the power 297 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: of the most High God on the inside of you. 298 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 1: Why don't you dig your heels in and start passing 299 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: those tests. I think about David. Samuel anointed him to 300 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: be the next king of Israel, but he had to 301 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: go through a time of testing before any of that 302 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: came to pass. King Saul was so jealous of him 303 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: he tried to kill him. Saul chased him month after 304 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: month after month, through the wilderness, through the caves, through 305 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: the mountains, and one time David had a chance to 306 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: put an end to it all. He saw Saul and 307 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: all of his men over there sleeping, and he could 308 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 1: have easily killed them. But David wouldn't do it. He 309 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 1: knew he had to stay under that authority with a 310 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: good attitude and let God deliver him in his timetable, 311 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: in his own way. Why did it take so long? 312 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: God was doing a work in David. God was getting 313 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: him prepared, and David could have easily failed the test. 314 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 1: He could have said, God just said I was going 315 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 1: to be king, Why is this guy giving me a 316 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 1: hard time? No, he just kept doing the right thing 317 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: even though the wrong thing happened to him, And sure enough, 318 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 1: after he passed the test, God promoted him and he became, 319 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: of course, one of the great kings in all of Israel. 320 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 1: You may have somebody in your life right now that's 321 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: not treating you right, somebody that gets on your nerves, 322 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: somebody that's doing unfair things. You're bound and determined to 323 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:30,360 Speaker 1: get rid of them. Man, I don't have to put 324 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: up with this. But no, you can't just necessarily pray 325 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:38,439 Speaker 1: that away. Understand that is a test of your faith, 326 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:43,400 Speaker 1: and God uses people like that as sandpaper to rub 327 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 1: the rough edges off of you. Sometimes we have to 328 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 1: have a saw in our life to get the saw 329 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: out of us, and we'll never learn to love our 330 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 1: enemies without having somebody in our life that's hard to 331 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 1: get along with. It may be a boss that's not 332 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 1: treating you right, he's condescending. He asked you to do 333 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 1: things that you shouldn't have to do. Well, you need 334 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 1: to view that as a test, and really you should 335 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,200 Speaker 1: do it with a good attitude, not necessarily for him, 336 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 1: but do it under God. Do it so you can 337 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: rise up higher. Instead of getting mad at him and 338 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 1: living all upset. You need to just look at him 339 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 1: and smile and say, you know what God's really using 340 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 1: you in my life. You don't have to tell him 341 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,159 Speaker 1: what for. But you know it's probably not a good 342 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: idea to say, you know what God's using you, you 343 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: old grousey thing. But God will deliberately put us in 344 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 1: situations that we don't like so that these impurities can 345 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 1: come out and hopefully we will deal with them. I 346 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 1: told you the biggest thing I struggle with is being 347 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 1: in a hurry, not being patient enough, not wanting to wait. 348 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: And it's interesting, the more impatient I am, the more 349 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 1: situations I find myself where I have to wait around. 350 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: If I'm in a hurry to get out of the 351 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: grocery store, inevitably I'm going to get in the line 352 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: with the slowest clerk. First day on the job, person 353 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:05,360 Speaker 1: in front of me has twenty three items that don't 354 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 1: have a price tag on. It seems like the more 355 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: in a hurry I get, the more impatient. I am 356 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 1: the longer it takes Victoria to get dressed in the morning. 357 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: She doesn't even know it. But God's using her. And 358 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:21,120 Speaker 1: now that you know it, don't do it on purpose. 359 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 1: But a lot of times we think, man, that's just 360 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 1: an attack of the enemy. I don't have to put 361 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 1: up with that. No, that's not an attack of the enemy. 362 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:33,119 Speaker 1: That's God attacking my problem of impatience. That's God trying 363 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:35,360 Speaker 1: to do a work in me so that I can 364 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:39,360 Speaker 1: come up higher. And I found that if I will change, 365 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: then my circumstances will change. But we have to recognize 366 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 1: what's happening. We're on the Potter's wheel. God is making 367 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 1: us and molding us. He'll spin us around and around, 368 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: and maybe he comes across a lump of unforgiveness. He'll 369 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:56,920 Speaker 1: stop and work with it and try to get that out. 370 00:19:57,600 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: The way he does it is he'll put us in 371 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: a situation where somebody offends us. Then God will step 372 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: back to see what we're gonna do. If we forgive 373 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: and just let it go and keep a good attitude, 374 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,679 Speaker 1: then we pass the test and we're one step closer 375 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 1: to promotion. God will put us back on the wheel 376 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 1: and spin us around a little more, and maybe he 377 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: comes across a lump of anger, and so he'll put 378 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: us in a situation to test our temper. Maybe you 379 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: find yourself in a crowded parking lot. You're patiently waiting 380 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: for this car to back out so you can get 381 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,640 Speaker 1: the space. You've clearly got your blinker on. You're doing 382 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: your best to keep a good attitude. But the lady 383 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: is taken forever. She can't find her car keys, She's 384 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: got to buckle in three children, put her groceries in 385 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: the trunk, check her tire, pressure, change her all, pressing 386 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,399 Speaker 1: up her makeup. Five minutes later, she decides to back out, 387 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:50,959 Speaker 1: But just as she does, somebody beats you to that 388 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: parking space. You're so aggravated you want to give them 389 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 1: a piece of your mind. Well that's a test. Are 390 00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: you going to pass it and do what the Bible says, 391 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: be angry and sin not, or you're just gonna do 392 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,199 Speaker 1: what you feel like doing and go over there and 393 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 1: let the air out of their tires. Well, you say, Joel, 394 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,159 Speaker 1: that's hard. Yeah. God's leading you the hard way on 395 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 1: purpose so he can get you prepared. He's got great 396 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 1: things in store for your life. But he first has 397 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: to get these impurities out, and the way he does 398 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 1: this is by putting us through these tests. The scripture says, 399 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: our faith is being tried in the fire of affliction, 400 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:34,919 Speaker 1: just as fire tests and refines gold. Some of you 401 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: right now you're in that refiner's fire. You're in a 402 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,920 Speaker 1: difficult situation. You don't like it, you don't think it's fair. 403 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: But let me just encourage you. If you will keep 404 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 1: the right attitude and keep pressing forward, you're going to 405 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 1: come out of that refined, purified, stronger, better off than 406 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 1: you were before. I heard about this couple that love 407 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 1: to go shopping for antiques. One day they were in 408 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: this small country store. They looked up on the shelf 409 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:04,640 Speaker 1: and they saw the most beautiful teacup that they had 410 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,239 Speaker 1: ever seen. They just fell in love with it. They 411 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:09,639 Speaker 1: knew they had to buy it. And as they stood 412 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: there admiring that beautiful piece of work, the teacup began 413 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 1: to talk. He said, you know what, I didn't always 414 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:21,199 Speaker 1: look like this. There was a time when nobody wanted me. 415 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: There was a time when I wasn't attractive at all. 416 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:27,439 Speaker 1: You see, I was just an old lump of clay. 417 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: But one day this potter came along and he began 418 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:35,479 Speaker 1: to pat me and formed me and mold me, and 419 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 1: I said, hey, what are you doing? That hurts I'm uncomfortable. 420 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: Leave me alone, and the potter simply smiled and said 421 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: not yet. Then he put me on this wheel and 422 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 1: he began to spin me around and around, and I'm 423 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: telling you, I didn't like it. I got all dizzy, 424 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:57,920 Speaker 1: but eventually I took on a different shape. He formed 425 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 1: me into this teacup. I thought that he was through 426 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 1: with me, but all of a sudden he put me 427 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 1: into a furnace and it was so hot in there 428 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 1: I couldn't stand it. I thought I was gonna die. 429 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 1: And when he came to check on me, he looked 430 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,200 Speaker 1: through the glass window of the furnace and he had 431 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: a certain sparkle in his eyes, and I screamed out, hey, 432 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: let me out of here, and he just smiled and 433 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 1: said not yet. Finally, after a long time, he took 434 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:26,400 Speaker 1: me out and put me on the shell. I thought, 435 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,160 Speaker 1: thank God, it's finally over. Now I can get back 436 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 1: to being my normal self. But then the potter came 437 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,199 Speaker 1: back over and he began to paint me with this 438 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 1: sticky paint. I didn't like it. It smelled terrible. I 439 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 1: thought it was gonna choke, and I told him to 440 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: leave me alone, But again he said not yet. Then 441 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,639 Speaker 1: he put me into a second oven that was twice 442 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:51,720 Speaker 1: as hot as the first one. This time, I thought 443 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:53,480 Speaker 1: for sure it was all over. This time, I thought 444 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 1: it was the end of me. When he came to 445 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 1: check on me, I said, listen, I'm serious, I can't 446 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: take this anymore. Once again he just smiled and said 447 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,720 Speaker 1: not yet. Finally he took me out. A couple of 448 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 1: days later, after I'd cooled off, he came by and 449 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:12,840 Speaker 1: handed me a mirror. And when I looked in that mirror, 450 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:17,159 Speaker 1: I couldn't believe how beautiful I was. I couldn't believe 451 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 1: how much I had changed. I didn't look anything like 452 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 1: that old, hard lump of clay that I started out 453 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 1: to be. Now I'm this beautiful teacup and everybody wants me. 454 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:32,639 Speaker 1: But always remember there was a time when nobody wanted me, 455 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:37,160 Speaker 1: But now, all because of the Potter, I'm valuable. He 456 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 1: made something special out of my life, and really that's 457 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:43,720 Speaker 1: the way God works in every one of our lives. 458 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 1: He is changing us little by little from glory to glory. 459 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 1: But on the way to some of these glories, there's 460 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 1: going to be some suffering that we have to endure. 461 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 1: We may not like it, we may be uncomfortable. There 462 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,120 Speaker 1: are gonna be times we say, with that teacup, get 463 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 1: me off of this Potter's will. God, I can't take 464 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 1: it anymore. But you know what God's gonna do. He's 465 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: gonna smile and say not yet. See. God knows your value. 466 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 1: He knows what he's forming you into. You may not 467 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,399 Speaker 1: be able to see it right now, but God can 468 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:22,359 Speaker 1: see it. You may look at your life and think, man, Joy, 469 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 1: I've made so many mistakes. I'm so undisciplined, I'm impatient, 470 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 1: I've got bad habits. But listen, God is never going 471 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:32,119 Speaker 1: to give up on you. He is a god of 472 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 1: second chances. And if you will simply work with God 473 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:38,920 Speaker 1: and allow him to get some of these impurities out, 474 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 1: then he'll make more out of your life than you've 475 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 1: ever even dreamed of. And so my challenge to you 476 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 1: today is to stay on the Potter's will with a 477 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:52,440 Speaker 1: good attitude, recognize the test is an opportunity to come 478 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: up higher. God will use everything that comes into your life, 479 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: every person that's hard to deal with, every traffic jam, 480 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,360 Speaker 1: every time you don't get your way, those are opportunities 481 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 1: to be refined. Quit fighting everything, Quit losing your joy, 482 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:11,920 Speaker 1: quit losing your peace. God is purifying you. He's molding 483 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:14,680 Speaker 1: you into the image of Christ. And if you will 484 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 1: just do your part and stay pliable, and when things 485 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:21,120 Speaker 1: come up, don't ignore it, be willing to change. If 486 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 1: you do that, you won't be at the same place 487 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: next year as you are right now. You'll have a 488 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 1: better attitude, you'll be more patient, you'll be more loving, 489 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 1: you'll be more kind. And as you continue to pass 490 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 1: these tests, God promises that he will mold you into 491 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,679 Speaker 1: a vessel of honor, and he'll use you for his 492 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:42,640 Speaker 1: very highest purposes. Amen. Do you receive it today? Well? 493 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:45,919 Speaker 1: I know you do. We never like the close our 494 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the 495 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:53,880 Speaker 1: lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 496 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 1: I'll repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 497 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:02,679 Speaker 1: make you my life Lord and savior. Friends, if you've 498 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 1: prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. 499 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 1: Get in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. 500 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 1: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 501 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:18,159 Speaker 2: God has put a specific dream in your heart. Maybe 502 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 2: it's a dream for a better career, a blessing that 503 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 2: enables you to bless others, to be in a healthy, 504 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 2: loving relationship, to launch your own business or ministry endeavor. 505 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,640 Speaker 2: We all have dreams, but sometimes setbacks and opposition can 506 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:37,360 Speaker 2: rob us of our dreams. So how do you make 507 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:38,680 Speaker 2: your dreams a reality? 508 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 1: One way you know it's a God given dream is 509 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 1: you can't accomplish it on your own. We never thought 510 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 1: we'd be having church in a former basketball arena, But 511 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 1: this is what can happen when you take the limits 512 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 1: off of God. 513 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 3: When you believe what God put in your heart, that's 514 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 3: when He steps in and makes ways where you never 515 00:27:57,119 --> 00:27:57,720 Speaker 3: saw ways. 516 00:27:57,840 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: Now I'm love to send you my newest book, It's 517 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 1: time to dream again. It'll help you to hold on 518 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:05,840 Speaker 1: to what God promised and not get discouraged by how 519 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:09,120 Speaker 1: impossible it looks or how long it's taken. You are 520 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 1: closer than you think. God's working behind the scenes right now. 521 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,200 Speaker 1: Stay in faith. You're going to see the greatness of God. 522 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:17,919 Speaker 1: Bring your dreams to pass. 523 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 2: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 524 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 2: of any amount to the ministry. This month, Joel and 525 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:27,560 Speaker 2: Victoria would like to send you this dream releasing, life 526 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 2: affirming book, It's Time to Dream Again. You might sense 527 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 2: that your dreams have been buried, but with this book, 528 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 2: you'll see that they are actually a hidden treasure, just 529 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 2: waiting to be uncovered and come to life. God's plan 530 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 2: for you is significant. His dreams for you are beyond 531 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 2: what you could imagine. Don't wait another day. It's time 532 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:49,240 Speaker 2: to dream again. 533 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 3: This book will help you gain a fresh perspective for 534 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 3: your dreams and to believe for everything God has put 535 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 3: in your heart. 536 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: Victoria and I pray for you and your family every day. 537 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your prayer and support. Your 538 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:07,480 Speaker 1: generosity is making a difference around the world. Remember you 539 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:11,640 Speaker 1: can watch the services live online every Sunday, download the 540 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:15,880 Speaker 1: daily podcast, our YouTube channel listening on Serious XM. We 541 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 1: will keep you encouraged and inspired. But until we meet again, 542 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 1: may the Lord bless you and keep you. 543 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:24,960 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of It's Time to 544 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 2: Dream Again today. Visit Joelosdem dot com or call eight 545 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 2: eight eight five six seven, Joel