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That's Facet dot com. 32 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,040 Speaker 4: This add a sponsored by Facet. Facet Wealth in Corporated 33 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 4: is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 34 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:29,759 Speaker 4: offer to buy your self securities, nor is it investment, 35 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 4: legal or tax advice. 36 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 3: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 37 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 3: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 38 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 3: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 39 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,559 Speaker 3: share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 40 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 3: for God's very best in your life. Oh God, bless you. 41 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 3: It is always a joy to come into your home 42 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 3: and with good news each week. We know that God 43 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 3: is on your side. When you seek him, you know 44 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 3: you'll find him. And God rewards the people that seek 45 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 3: after him. So thanks for tuning in. If you're ever 46 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 3: in our area, I hope you'll stop by be a 47 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 3: part of one of our services. I promise you this 48 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 3: will make you feel right at home. But thanks so 49 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 3: much for tuning in, Thanks for coming out. I like 50 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:22,679 Speaker 3: to get started with something funny each week, and of 51 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,119 Speaker 3: course these are just jokes. Don't be offended by them. 52 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,519 Speaker 3: But I heard about this burglar that broke into a 53 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 3: home one night, and just as he grabbed the stereo, 54 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 3: he heard a voice saying, Jesus is watching you. He 55 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 3: froze in his tracks, and as he shined his flashlight 56 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 3: around the room, he came across a parent in the corner. 57 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:43,119 Speaker 3: He was kind of angry. He said, did you say that? 58 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 3: The parrot said yes, I'm just trying to warn you. 59 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 3: He said, warn me, what are you talking about? Who 60 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 3: are you? The parrot said, my name is Moses. He laughed, 61 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 3: and he said, what kind of crazy people would name 62 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 3: a parrot Moses. The parrot replied, the same kind of 63 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 3: people that would name one hundred and fifty pound rottweler. Jesus, 64 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 3: All right, hold up your Bible, say it like you 65 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 3: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it 66 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 3: says I am. I have what it says I have. 67 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 3: I can do what it says I can do. Today 68 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 3: I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 69 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 3: My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 70 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 3: never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 71 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 3: We've been talking about how God is the potter and 72 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 3: we are the clay, and we have to work with 73 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 3: God and let him make us and mold us. And 74 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 3: one of the ways God does this is by allowing 75 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 3: us to be in situations where we're uncomfortable, situations where 76 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 3: we're going to be tested, and we may not like it, 77 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 3: but God uses everything that comes into our lives, every 78 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 3: traffic jam, every person that's hard to get along with, 79 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 3: every time things don't go our way. We need to 80 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 3: remind ourselves this is only a test, and I wouldn't 81 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 3: be here unless I needed it. And if we'll just 82 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 3: keep the right attitude and pass that test, then promotion 83 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 3: is on the way. But we're not going to be 84 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 3: promoted without first passing the test. And I don't think 85 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 3: we realize how much of life is a test. Every 86 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 3: day we're put in situations where we're tempted to worry 87 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 3: somebody's rude to us. We're tempted to get upset, tempted 88 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 3: to be impatient, tempted to be negative, tempted to be critical. 89 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 3: If we could just understand, those are all tests of 90 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 3: our faith, and every test is an opportunity to come 91 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:44,360 Speaker 3: up higher. That's God trying to promote us. But sometimes 92 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 3: it seems like we've been dealing with the same issues 93 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 3: year after year, getting upset every time we don't get 94 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 3: our way, losing our peace when we get stuck in traffic, 95 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 3: arguing with our spouse over the same petty issues, and 96 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 3: we're wondering when it's ever going to change, God, Why 97 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 3: don't you do something about it now? God is not 98 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 3: going to remove that. He's trying to do a work 99 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 3: in us. We have to stay pliable, We have to 100 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 3: be willing to change. The next time you get stuck 101 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 3: in traffic, instead of getting upset, why don't you say, no, 102 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 3: I recognize this is only a test, and I'm gonna 103 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 3: keep my cool and just go with the flow. When 104 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 3: you do that, you just pass the test. Next time 105 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 3: your plans don't work out, you go through a disappointment 106 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 3: instead of being discouraged for a month, why don't you say, no, 107 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 3: this is only a test. I'm gonna keep my joy, 108 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 3: I'm gonna keep my peace. I know God's still in control. 109 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 3: See God told the children of Israel, you have dwelt 110 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 3: long enough on this mountain. I believe God's saying the 111 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 3: same thing to every one of us. We've been where 112 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,600 Speaker 3: we are long enough. It's time to go up higher. 113 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 3: Get rid of bad attitudes, Quit getting upset when we 114 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 3: don't get our way, Quit worrying about things that we 115 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 3: can't change. We have to pass these tests. We've got 116 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 3: to grow up if we're going to become all that 117 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 3: God has created us to be. Now, I want to 118 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 3: challenge you today to be more aware of the tests 119 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 3: that come into your life. It's not a coincidence that 120 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 3: you end up where you end up. It's not a 121 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 3: coincidence that maybe you work around somebody that's hard to 122 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 3: get along with, or that you're not getting the credit 123 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 3: you deserve, or maybe things are taken longer than you 124 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 3: would like. You have to recognize that's God trying to 125 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 3: do a work in you. And instead of fighting it 126 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 3: and living upset all the time, why don't you just 127 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 3: relax and go with the flow and remind yourself, hey, 128 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 3: this is only a test, and the scripture says there 129 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 3: in James one verse two, to count it all joy 130 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 3: when you fall into various trials. The only way we 131 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 3: can stay full of joy when difficulties come is to 132 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 3: know that that difficulty is working something in us, and 133 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 3: in the end, after we pass that test, we're going 134 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 3: to be better off than we were before. That's why 135 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 3: we can keep a smile on our face even though 136 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 3: our coworker got the promotion that we wanted. Our attitude 137 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 3: should be I'm not worried about it. I know this 138 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 3: is only a test, and I'm going to stay full 139 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 3: of joy knowing that God has something better in store 140 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 3: for me. Maybe we get bad news from the doctor. 141 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 3: It's easy to live down and discourage. It's easy to 142 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 3: worry about that all the time, but just recognize that's 143 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 3: a test of your faith. And really, any of us 144 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 3: can have a good attitude when everything's going our way. 145 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 3: We can all be happy when we're on the mountaintop. 146 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 3: But God's looking for some people that will have a 147 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 3: good attitude and stay full of joy even in the 148 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 3: difficult times, even when it looks like the bottom's kind 149 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 3: of falling out. I love what the apostle Paul said. 150 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 3: He went through all kinds of hardships. He had been mistreated, shipwrecked, 151 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 3: gone days and days without food and water. But he 152 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 3: said in Acts twenty twenty four, none of these things 153 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 3: move me. He was saying, in effect, I'm not worried 154 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 3: about it. I know this is only a test, and 155 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 3: no matter what comes against me, large or small, I'm 156 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 3: gonna keep my peace. I'm gonna keep my joy. I 157 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 3: know God's still in control, and in the end, He's 158 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 3: gonna use this all to my advantage. Now I want 159 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 3: us to learn to say with Paul, none of these 160 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 3: things move me. God. Stuck in traffic, no big deal, 161 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 3: didn't get the promotion I wanted, not worried about it, 162 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 3: got a bad report from the doctor. That's okay. God's 163 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 3: still on the throne. See, we should not be fighting 164 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 3: against everything that doesn't go our way. And I know people, 165 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 3: they fight every traffic jam, they fight every person that's 166 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 3: hard to get along with, every disappointment. They're all been 167 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 3: out of shape. No, that's simply a test. God wouldn't 168 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 3: have you there unless you needed it. In some way, 169 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 3: and instead of trying to change the circumstances, why don't 170 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 3: you change The difficulties are never going to completely go away. 171 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,199 Speaker 3: It's all in how we respond to them. We can 172 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 3: let our adversities drag us down and make us bitter, 173 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 3: or we can allow God God to use them to 174 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 3: make us better, to refine us, to purify us. The 175 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 3: question is not do you have a problem. The real 176 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 3: question is does the problem have you? Are you worried, 177 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,079 Speaker 3: are you upset? Are you living stressed out? No, you've 178 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 3: let the problem get on the inside. You've got to 179 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 3: recognize that's only a test. Keep your joy, keep your peace, 180 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 3: and start passing these tests. I know some of you 181 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 3: today you're in very difficult situations, maybe in your health 182 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:32,439 Speaker 3: or maybe something unfair has happened. And I'm not saying 183 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 3: that God sends the trouble, but if you can just 184 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 3: keep the right attitude, God will somehow, some way turn 185 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 3: that whole situation around and bring you out better off 186 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 3: than you were before. I love how the Bible talks 187 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 3: about the saints of old all died in faith. I 188 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:51,559 Speaker 3: don't know about you, but when it comes to my 189 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 3: time to go, I'm not gonna go negative, bitter, depressed, 190 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 3: blaming God. No, I'm gonna go in faith. I'm gonna 191 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 3: go with a smile on my face, with a spring 192 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 3: in my step, knowing that God is still in control. 193 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 3: And I want us to be so stable and so 194 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 3: consistent that we can say, with Paul, none of these 195 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 3: things move me. The enemy may have done his best, 196 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 3: but his best will never be enough. When it's all 197 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 3: said and done, I'm still going to be standing strong. 198 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 3: You gotta recognize it's only a test where you say, Joel, 199 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 3: my wife knows just the right buttons to push. She 200 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 3: gets me so upset, so aggravated. Let me tell you 201 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 3: a secret. If you will dig your heels in and 202 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:34,959 Speaker 3: start ruling over your emotions, start exercising some self control, 203 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:37,959 Speaker 3: you're gonna pass that test. And you know what, after 204 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 3: a while, those buttons are not gonna work anymore. They 205 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 3: can push you day in and day out, but it's 206 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 3: not gonna affect you. What's happened. God has refined you, 207 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 3: He's purified you, and now the things that used to 208 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 3: bother you won't bother you anymore. But here's the whole key. 209 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 3: You can't wait for her to change or for him 210 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 3: to change, you have to change. Quit arguing over little 211 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 3: any things that don't really matter. Next time you're attempted 212 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 3: to say something that you know you shouldn't, step back, 213 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 3: take a deep breath and listen to the voice on 214 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 3: the inside. It will always tell you take the high road, 215 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 3: keep your mouth closed. It's only a test. See, God 216 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 3: will always give us an opportunity to pass the test. 217 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:23,560 Speaker 3: There will always be at least a split second where 218 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 3: we can choose to do the right thing. He'll never 219 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 3: let us be tested with more than we can handle. 220 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 3: But if we make the mistake of overriding the still 221 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 3: small voice, and we ignore our conscience time after time, 222 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:39,680 Speaker 3: that's when we can go ten twenty thirty years dealing 223 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:44,199 Speaker 3: with the same issues, arguing, fighting, making big deals out 224 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,719 Speaker 3: of things that are not big deals, and we give 225 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 3: up our peace too easily these days. Notice I said 226 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,079 Speaker 3: we give it up. That's because nobody can take your 227 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 3: peace away from you. Nobody can take your joy. You 228 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 3: have to give it away. The decision is yours, and 229 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:04,439 Speaker 3: I'm mad you today to stop allowing people and circumstances 230 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 3: and a car that broke down, or an unfair boss, 231 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 3: an unexpected bill quit giving away your peace for those things. 232 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,599 Speaker 3: It's not worth it. It's only a test. If you 233 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 3: will begin to pass that test, not only will you 234 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 3: be promoted, but you'll start enjoying your life more. 235 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 2: Now. 236 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 3: I see too many people today that are just enduring life, 237 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,559 Speaker 3: and that is not God's plan. He said to count 238 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 3: it all joy. That means even in the difficult times, 239 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 3: even when things aren't going our way, we should have 240 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:38,560 Speaker 3: a smile on our face, a spring in our step, 241 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 3: knowing that God still has us in the palm of 242 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 3: his hand. As we continue to pass the test, we're 243 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 3: going to be promoted. Some of you today, you have 244 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 3: to have the last word in every single argument. That 245 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:52,559 Speaker 3: thing would die down fifteen minutes earlier, but you keep 246 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 3: it going and going. Well, Joel, I know I'm right, 247 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 3: I know she's wrong. You know what I found. Sometimes 248 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 3: you have to let the other person be right just 249 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 3: for the sake of peace. Why don't you swallow your pride. 250 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 3: Why don't you be the bigger person and do whatever 251 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,959 Speaker 3: it takes to keep strife out of your home. Don't 252 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 3: have to have the last word, don't have to be 253 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 3: the final authority. It's not worth starting World War three. 254 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 3: Over some of you. God's been dealing with you about 255 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 3: things like this, year after year after year, and if 256 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,839 Speaker 3: you would just make these changes, it could save you 257 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 3: so much heartache and pain. Hey, you say, Joel, it's hard. Yes, 258 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,559 Speaker 3: it may be difficult, But you know what's more difficult 259 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 3: living in misery for the next twenty years. It's more 260 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 3: painful to live in a home filled with strife and contention. 261 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:42,959 Speaker 3: You have to ask yourself do you want to be 262 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 3: right or do you want to have peace? Sometimes you 263 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 3: can't have both. I can tell you Victoria and my 264 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 3: relationship today it's better than it was nineteen years ago 265 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 3: when we first got married. But that doesn't happen automatically. 266 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 3: We had to be both willing to change, willing to 267 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 3: make compromise. Says, you have to let God make you 268 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 3: and mold you. I found it's when we get hard 269 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:09,079 Speaker 3: headed and stubborn that we do like the children of Israel, 270 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 3: and we keep going around the same mountain year after year, 271 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,199 Speaker 3: and we never make it into our promised land. Now, 272 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 3: I want each one of you to experience the good 273 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 3: things of God. And I know this happens when we 274 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 3: grow up. It happens as we pass the test all 275 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 3: along the way. Understand, when you overlook an offense, you 276 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 3: just pass the test. When you bite your tongue, even 277 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 3: when you feel like arguing, you pass the test. When 278 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 3: you let somebody else be right even though you know 279 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 3: they're wrong, you passed another test. What's happening. God's making 280 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 3: you and molding you. Not only are you going to 281 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 3: come up to a new level, but you're going to 282 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 3: have more joy, more victory in your life. And the 283 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 3: Bible talks about how we are to take up our 284 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 3: cross daily. You know what part of that cross is 285 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 3: not giving in to everything our flesh wants to. Human 286 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 3: nature wants to have the last word in an argument. 287 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 3: Human nature doesn't want to forgive or wrong. It's not 288 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 3: natural for us to want to bless our enemies. It's 289 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 3: not natural to want to have a good attitude when 290 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 3: things aren't going our way. But if we can just 291 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 3: learn to go against the grain, to deny our flesh, 292 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 3: to keep our joy, to keep our peace. When we 293 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 3: do that, we're passing the test. And that's when God 294 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 3: can promote us. When the Scripture says in James one 295 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 3: point twelve, after you have stood the test, after you 296 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 3: have been approved, you will receive the victor's crown of life. 297 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 3: And of course we all want to be the victor. 298 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 3: We all want that crown of life. But the real 299 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 3: question is are we willing to pass the test? And 300 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 3: every person is different. You're going to be tested in 301 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 3: the areas that you struggle in, in the areas where 302 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 3: you need to be refined. I would just encourage you 303 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 3: the next time you find yourself in an uncomfortable, difficult situation, 304 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 3: look inside and say, God, help me to learn out 305 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 3: of this situation what you want me to learn a 306 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 3: lot of times we're trying to pray it away and 307 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 3: resist it. And the reason it doesn't go away is 308 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 3: because God is trying to do a work in us. 309 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 3: If we could just recognize it and be willing to change, 310 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 3: then the circumstances will change. I found that sometimes God 311 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 3: will put us in a situation where we're not getting 312 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 3: any kind of thanks, any kind of appreciation. Maybe at 313 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 3: the job you're doing all the work but not getting 314 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 3: any credit, or maybe you've been serving in our children's ministry, 315 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 3: volunteering out there in the nursery for a couple of years, 316 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 3: nobody's really thanks you. Your husband doesn't appreciate what you do. 317 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 3: Seems like people almost go out of their way to 318 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 3: not thank you, to not compliment you. You have to recognize 319 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 3: that is a test of your faith. That's God trying 320 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 3: to teach you to trust Him in a greater way 321 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 3: and to not need the approval of people. Don't get bitter, 322 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 3: don't have a chip on your shoulder, keep a good attitude, 323 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 3: knowing that God's working something in you. He's growing you up, 324 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 3: He's getting you prepared for greater things. Remember when I 325 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 3: first started ministering a little over seven years ago, I 326 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 3: was very insecure, and I relied real heavily on people's compliments. 327 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:23,360 Speaker 3: And if enough people didn't tell me that I did 328 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 3: good they enjoyed the service, and I'd go home all discouraged, 329 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 3: wondering if I was even called to do this. And 330 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:32,919 Speaker 3: it's interesting. The first year or so, I got so 331 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 3: many compliments, and I'd go home every Sunday all fired up, 332 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:40,120 Speaker 3: ready for the next week. And see, God knows exactly 333 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 3: what we need. He knows just how much pressure to apply. 334 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:46,439 Speaker 3: He knows when it's going to be too much, and 335 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 3: he also knows when it's time for us to grow 336 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:52,439 Speaker 3: up and God's not going to leave you alone. You 337 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 3: may get away with being impatient for a little while, 338 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 3: or with having a sour attitude, or with saying things 339 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 3: you know you shouldn't, but God's going to begin to 340 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 3: deal with you and put you in situations so you 341 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 3: can get rid of that. And you can either recognize 342 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 3: it and work with God, or you can fight it 343 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 3: and fight it and just go month after month being miserable. 344 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:16,399 Speaker 3: Some of you today you're wondering, what's going on in 345 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 3: my life? Why are these people not treating me right? 346 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:21,399 Speaker 3: Why am I doing all the work but not getting 347 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,640 Speaker 3: any of the credit. Well, maybe it's because God's trying 348 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 3: to grow you up. He's trying to refine you, to 349 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 3: purify you so he can take you to a new level. 350 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 3: Why don't you work with God, quit fighting against everything, 351 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 3: and be willing to change. This is what I had 352 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:40,920 Speaker 3: to do because a couple of years later I wasn't 353 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 3: getting the appreciation and the encouragement that I was used to. 354 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,880 Speaker 3: I remember one week in particular, I preached the best 355 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 3: sermon that I possibly could, and I was really wanting 356 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,199 Speaker 3: to get some good feedback. But do you know, not 357 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:57,120 Speaker 3: one person said a word, not even Victorian, she always 358 00:18:57,119 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 3: says something encouraging. My point is sometimes God will have 359 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 3: people in your own life on purpose to not give 360 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 3: you what you want, just so you could grow up. 361 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 3: I mean, Victoria's whole personality is very encouraging, very complimentary. 362 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 3: For her to not do that, it had to be God, 363 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:19,120 Speaker 3: especially with as good as my message was that week, 364 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:24,440 Speaker 3: and what are you laughing at? But one day I realized, 365 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 3: this is just a test. This is God trying to 366 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 3: teach me to not rely on what everybody thinks, and 367 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:33,440 Speaker 3: not to rely on the approval of people, but instead 368 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 3: to just do my very best under him, knowing that 369 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 3: he is pleased. It's funny. A minister friend of mine 370 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 3: struggled in this same Arian. He told me one day 371 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 3: after his Sunday service, he called the men that sells 372 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:51,120 Speaker 3: tapes and he asked him, did anybody by any tapes 373 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:53,399 Speaker 3: of my message today? He was hoping to get some 374 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 3: good news, and the guy said, no, nobody bought any 375 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 3: tapes today, but one lady did return one from last week. 376 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 3: Come on, but we have to realize those are times of testing, 377 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 3: and so today if you're doing all the work and 378 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 3: not getting any credit, that's a test. If your spouse 379 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:13,159 Speaker 3: is not complimenting you as much as you would like, 380 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 3: that's a test people seem to overlook. 381 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:15,920 Speaker 4: You. 382 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:19,120 Speaker 3: Just take it in stride and pass the test. God 383 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,640 Speaker 3: is trying to grow you up. You know how easy 384 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 3: it is to get a chip on our shoulder. The 385 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,919 Speaker 3: whole body appreciates me. See if I ever do anything 386 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:28,880 Speaker 3: for you, don't keep a good attitude and just say, God, 387 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:31,640 Speaker 3: I'm gonna keep doing my best under you. And even 388 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 3: if people don't recognize it, even if I don't get 389 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 3: the credit I deserve, I believe that you will give 390 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 3: me everything that I need. And see God told the 391 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:43,199 Speaker 3: children of Israel I led you into the wilderness for 392 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 3: a purpose, to test you, to prove you, and to 393 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 3: see if you'd keep my commands. Notice there's always going 394 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 3: to be a time of testing, a time of proving 395 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 3: that we all have to go through. And if we 396 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:59,919 Speaker 3: don't learn how to keep a good attitude in the wilderness, 397 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 3: we'll never make it into our promised land. And this 398 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 3: is where so many people miss it. The wilderness is 399 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 3: when you're not getting your way, when things are slower 400 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 3: than you would like, when people don't appreciate you, when 401 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 3: you're doing the right thing, but you're not seeing any 402 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:19,160 Speaker 3: right results. Listen, you've got to just keep pressing forward. 403 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 3: When you do that, you're not only passing the test, 404 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 3: but you're allowing God to do a deeper work in you. 405 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 3: He's developing your character, getting you prepared for greater things. 406 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 3: And we have to understand that most of life is routine, 407 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 3: most of life is not real exciting, and one of 408 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,680 Speaker 3: the tests that we have to pass is to simply 409 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 3: live day in and day out with enthusiasm. We should 410 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:49,160 Speaker 3: get up every morning excited about that day, and even 411 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:51,919 Speaker 3: though it's a plain old ordinary day, we should be 412 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 3: grateful that we were able to get out of bed, 413 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 3: grateful that we have air to breathe, grateful that we 414 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 3: have our health. We've got to quick focusing on what 415 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 3: we don't have and start thanking God for what you 416 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 3: do have. Do you know each day is a gift 417 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 3: from God. We may not even be here tomorrow. What 418 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 3: a shame to live this day, negative, defeated and depressed. 419 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 3: Now we need to learn to say, with David, this 420 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 3: is the day the Lord has made. Doesn't matter what's 421 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 3: going on in my life, doesn't matter how many tests 422 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 3: I'm on faith. I'm making a decision. I'm going to 423 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,640 Speaker 3: live this day happy and enjoy my life. You've got 424 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 3: to pass that test, be faithful in your wilderness so 425 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 3: you can make it into your promised land. And we 426 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:40,439 Speaker 3: need to realize God is working behind the scenes in 427 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,719 Speaker 3: our lives right now, whether we see anything happening or not, 428 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 3: He's getting us prepared. I think about David. He spent 429 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:51,000 Speaker 3: year after year out there in the wilderness taking care 430 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 3: of his father's sheep. Now, all of his brothers were 431 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:57,680 Speaker 3: out having fun, doing what they liked. Their life was 432 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 3: much more exciting. In the youngest he got stuck taking 433 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 3: care of his father's sheep. And I'm sure it was 434 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 3: lonely out there at times. I'm sure there were times 435 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 3: that was very boring. Here. David was a young man, 436 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 3: He had big dreams in his heart. He could have 437 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 3: easily gotten sour, he could have got a chip on 438 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:20,160 Speaker 3: his shoulder. God is not fair. Why did I get 439 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 3: stuck out here? You No, he didn't do that. He 440 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 3: just kept passing the test day after day, being the 441 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 3: best that he could be. And all those years, it 442 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 3: didn't look like God was doing anything. Kind of looked 443 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 3: like David was just wasting his time. But no, all 444 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:38,679 Speaker 3: that time, God was at work in David's life, behind 445 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 3: the scenes, getting him prepared. It was out there in 446 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 3: the lonely shepherd's fields that David learned to fight the 447 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:48,960 Speaker 3: lion and the bear. That's where he learned the skill 448 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 3: of the sling shock. That's where he developed trust, patience, endurance, confidence. 449 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 3: God was getting him prepared. And some of you today 450 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 3: you've lost your enthusiasm for life. Does it look like 451 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 3: your dreams are coming to pass and nothing exciting is 452 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 3: happening in your life. Listen, you're out there just like David. 453 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:12,119 Speaker 3: You're in a time of testing and you have to 454 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 3: prove to God that you're ready to go into your 455 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 3: promised land. The way you do that is by being 456 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 3: faithful day in and day out, even when you don't 457 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:25,440 Speaker 3: feel like it. Keep a smile on your face, keep 458 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:29,399 Speaker 3: being good to people, keep giving, keep serving, keep coming 459 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 3: to church, keep believing. We may not like it, but 460 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:37,360 Speaker 3: it's in those wilderness times when we don't see anything happening, 461 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 3: that's when we're really growing. That's when we're developing a 462 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:44,479 Speaker 3: depth to our character. So if you're here today dragging 463 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:47,960 Speaker 3: around with no joy, no enthusiasm, no victory. You have 464 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 3: got to change your attitude. God is at work in 465 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 3: your life, and you may not see anything happening. In fact, 466 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 3: you may look around and just see a bunch of 467 00:24:56,840 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 3: disappointments and conflicts and obstacles. But you need to learn 468 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,240 Speaker 3: to say, with the Apostle Paul, none of these things 469 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:06,639 Speaker 3: move me. I know God's at work in my life. 470 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:09,159 Speaker 3: I know He's got a good plan for me, and 471 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 3: I'm gonna stay faithful and keep being the best that 472 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:15,199 Speaker 3: I can. Ben, let me tell you, when you have 473 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 3: an attitude like that, you are passing the test and 474 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:21,719 Speaker 3: your day of promotion is on its way. We need 475 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:23,880 Speaker 3: to be aware of the different tests that come into 476 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:27,479 Speaker 3: our life. Maybe all your friends are getting married, but 477 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 3: you're still single. You really haven't met anybody. Well, that's 478 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 3: a test of your faith. Your attitude should be. That 479 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:37,120 Speaker 3: doesn't move me. I'm not gonna live negative and defeated. 480 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 3: I know God's working behind the scenes and at the 481 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 3: right time, He's gonna bring the right person into my life. 482 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 3: Pass that test. Maybe another test. You're hanging around with 483 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 3: some friends and they start to talk about somebody, They 484 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 3: start to gossip and stir up trouble. Understand, it's not 485 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 3: a coincidence that you're there. That's God giving you an 486 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:01,639 Speaker 3: opportunity to prove to him that you're gonna take the 487 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 3: high road and not say something to ruin their reputation. 488 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:07,959 Speaker 3: Maybe the person they're talking about has done you wrong, 489 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 3: and you've got some real juicy information that could be 490 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 3: the icing on the cake and really make them look bad. 491 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 3: And you know, in our mind we can justify it. 492 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 3: We can think of a thousand reasons that I'm asking 493 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:22,400 Speaker 3: you today to take the high road. When you overlook 494 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 3: an a fence, when you cover a fault, when you 495 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:27,680 Speaker 3: keep your mouth closed, you pass the test. That's when 496 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 3: God can promote you. And what I'm saying today is 497 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:32,959 Speaker 3: if we're gonna go to a higher level, we always 498 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,719 Speaker 3: have to pass some kind of test. Be aware of 499 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 3: the test in your life. Maybe just little things. Getting 500 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,399 Speaker 3: stuck in traffic, there's a test. Somebody's rude to you, 501 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 3: there's a test. Freeways closed, there's a test. Things are 502 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 3: taking longer than you would like. Those are all tests, 503 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 3: and some of you are going to be tested before 504 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 3: you get home today. The police officer in the parking 505 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 3: lot he's gonna let four hundred cars go in front 506 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 3: of you. Are you gonna dare count it all joy, 507 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:02,680 Speaker 3: keep a good attitude and think maybe I need this? 508 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:04,639 Speaker 3: Or are you gonna say I don't care what that 509 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:08,800 Speaker 3: kid said. I'm blowing my horn. Driving home, you're in 510 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:11,640 Speaker 3: a hurry going seventy five. You get behind a car 511 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:14,639 Speaker 3: going fifty five. You're boxed in. You can't get around. 512 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:18,440 Speaker 3: Recognize that's a test. You better be nice. They're probably 513 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 3: from Lakewood. Minute you get home, you want to watch 514 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 3: the ball game. Been looking forward to it. But the 515 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:28,160 Speaker 3: doorbell rings. It's the new family in the neighborhood. They 516 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,439 Speaker 3: stop by to just spend some time to get to 517 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:32,960 Speaker 3: know you better. That's a test. Are you gonna be 518 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 3: friendly and invite them in? Are you gonna say, hey, 519 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:39,919 Speaker 3: we don't live here, we're just cleaning the carpet. Now 520 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 3: pass the test. God knows what we need. I want 521 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 3: us all to be able to say with Paul, none 522 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:50,080 Speaker 3: of these things move me. Make a decision with me 523 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:52,600 Speaker 3: that you're gonna keep your joy, keep your peace. When 524 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:55,639 Speaker 3: things don't go your way, Remind yourself, Hey, this is 525 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 3: only a test. Remember you must need it or God 526 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:03,040 Speaker 3: wouldn't have you. Quit fighting against everything, quit struggling with it, 527 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 3: and look inside and allow God to do the work. 528 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:08,160 Speaker 3: And I know some of you you feel like you're 529 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:10,719 Speaker 3: in those wilderness times and things are happening in your 530 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 3: life you don't understand. But that's when you have to 531 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 3: trust God. Dare to count it all joy, knowing that 532 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 3: God still got you in the palm of his hand 533 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,199 Speaker 3: no matter what comes against you, as long as you 534 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 3: keep the right attitude and keep passing these tests. The 535 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:27,560 Speaker 3: good news is you're not gonna stay in the wilderness. 536 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,439 Speaker 3: God's promise. He'll promote you. He'll take you into your 537 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:33,719 Speaker 3: promised land, and you'll experience that life of victory that 538 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,200 Speaker 3: He has in store. Amen, do you receive it today? 539 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 2: Or? 540 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 3: We never like to pose our broadcast without giving you 541 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 3: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 542 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 3: Would you pray with me, just say, Lord, Jesus, I 543 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 3: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 544 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:57,360 Speaker 3: you my Lord and savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, 545 00:28:57,440 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 3: we believe you got born again. Get in a good 546 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:02,840 Speaker 3: bye Bible based church, Keep God first place. He's going 547 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 3: to take you places that you've never dreamed of. 548 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 5: Thank you for listening to the joel Osteine podcast. Help 549 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 5: us continue to share the message of hope with those 550 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:16,040 Speaker 5: all over the world. Visit joelostein dot com slash give 551 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 5: Hope to give a gift today. 552 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 553 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:25,360 Speaker 3: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 554 00:29:25,480 --> 00:29:28,680 Speaker 3: keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 555 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 3: I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 556 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:31,840 Speaker 3: next time. 557 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 6: With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 558 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 6: for everyone. 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