1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 4 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 6 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: today and where your money can work harder. Now you 7 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 8 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 9 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 11 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 12 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: legal or tax advice. 13 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 14 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 2: can do more than take classes. You can take charge 15 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 2: of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 16 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 2: a degree you can be proud of, and get an 17 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 2: education employer's respect. It's time, your time, not just to 18 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: go back to school, but to come back and move 19 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 2: forward with Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. 20 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 21 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 3: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 22 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 4: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 23 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 4: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 24 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 4: be a blessing and share it with a friend. We 25 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 4: appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. 26 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 3: Well, God bless you. 27 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 4: It's always a joy to come into your homes. 28 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:31,839 Speaker 3: We love you and we know God has great things 29 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 3: in store. 30 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 4: And if you're ever in our area, I hope you'll 31 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 4: stop buying be a part of one of our services. 32 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 3: I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 33 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for coming out today. And I like 34 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 3: to start with something funny each week. 35 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 4: And you know these are not all doctrinately correct, especially today. 36 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 3: But I heard about this middle aged woman. 37 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 4: She had a heart attack and on the operating table 38 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 4: she asked God if this was it. 39 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 3: God said, no, you have forty more years now. 40 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 4: Upon recovery, she decided to stay in the hospital, have 41 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 4: a major face lift, a tummy tuck, life of suction, 42 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 4: and extreme makeover. Two months later, as she was leaving 43 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 4: the hospital, she got hit by a car and killed. 44 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 4: She got to heaven and said, God, I thought you 45 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 4: said I had forty more years. God said, I'm sorry 46 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 4: I didn't recognize you. 47 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 3: All right, Hold up, your bible. Say it like you 48 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 3: mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it says. 49 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:28,079 Speaker 3: I am. 50 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 4: I have what it says I have. I can do 51 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 4: what it says I can do. Today I will be 52 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 4: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 53 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 4: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 54 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 4: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 55 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 4: to talk to you today about not living for approval. 56 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 4: Too many people get their worth and value out of 57 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 4: what other people think. 58 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 3: Do they like me, do they approve me? 59 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 4: Do they think that I'm important because of their insecurity. 60 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 4: They're constantly playing up to people, trying to win their favor, 61 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 4: trying to meet every expectation. When we do this, we 62 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 4: end up being controlled and manipulated. We let people put 63 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 4: us into a box and make us into something that 64 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 4: we're not. 65 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 3: I know people. 66 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 4: Today, they're not following their dreams because they're so concerned 67 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 4: that if they don't meet the demands of all their 68 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 4: family and friends, they may fall out of their good grace, 69 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 4: they may lose their approval. 70 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 3: But listen, if their approval. 71 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 4: Is only based on you meeting all their demands and 72 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 4: you keeping them happy, they're not true friends. 73 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 3: They're manipulators, they're controllers. 74 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 4: There's a real freedom when you realize you don't need 75 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 4: other people's approval, you have Almighty God's approval. Don't spend 76 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 4: your life trying to keep everyone around you happy. 77 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 3: Some people don't even want to be happy. 78 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 4: You've got to be secure enough to say, I love you, 79 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 4: but I'm not going to let you control me. 80 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 3: You may not give me your blessing, but that's okay. 81 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 4: I have God's blessing and I'm not going to be 82 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 4: a people pleaser. I'm going to be a God pleaser. Well, 83 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 4: you say, Joel, If I do this, they may not 84 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 4: be happy. Well maybe it's time for them to not 85 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 4: be happy instead of. 86 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 3: You not being happy. 87 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 4: You got to take charge of your own life. If 88 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 4: you're being manipulated and letting somebody pressure you into being 89 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 4: something that you're not, it's not the other. 90 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 3: Person's fault, it's your own fault. 91 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 4: You control your destiny and you can be nice, you 92 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 4: can be respectful, but you have to put your foot down. 93 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 4: Quit allowing people to make you feel guilty because you 94 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 4: don't meet all their demands. Quit letting someone run your life, 95 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 4: because if you don't. They're not going to give you 96 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,919 Speaker 4: their approval. Friends, life is too short to try to 97 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 4: keep everyone happy. I have to accept the fact that 98 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 4: you cannot please every person. Everyone is not going to 99 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 4: give you their approval. If you're going to fulfill your destiny, 100 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 4: you have to stay true to your own heart and 101 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 4: not let the pressures of those around you squeeze you 102 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 4: into their mind. When my father went to be with 103 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 4: the Lord and I stepped up to pastor the church, 104 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 4: there was an older gentleman that I'd known my whole life, 105 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 4: and he got me aside and said, Joel, if this 106 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 4: is going to work, here's what you're going to have 107 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,840 Speaker 4: to do. He told me how to run the church, 108 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 4: how to minister, how to lead the staff, how to 109 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 4: move forward. 110 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 3: And I listened to his advice. 111 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 4: I was very open, but nothing he was saying to 112 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 4: me agreed with what was on the inside. 113 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 3: I prayed. 114 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 4: I searched my own heart, but nothing bore witness, and 115 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 4: I had to risk falling out of his good grace 116 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 4: to follow my own heart. It was a difficult decision, 117 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 4: but I knew it was better to have God's approval 118 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 4: than to have man's approval. I stepped out and followed 119 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 4: my heart, and God blessed it. 120 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 3: It took off. 121 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 4: But what's interesting is I did fall out of his 122 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 4: good grace. He wasn't happy that I didn't take his advice. 123 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 4: And people like that, people that get upset unless you 124 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 4: do it their way, they are not really for you. 125 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 4: They don't have your best interest at heart, because if 126 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:28,679 Speaker 4: they were for you, they would be mature enough to say, 127 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:29,679 Speaker 4: even if. 128 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 3: You don't do it my way. 129 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:34,719 Speaker 4: Even if you don't take my suggestions, I'll support you. 130 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 4: I'll be behind you because i'm your friend and I 131 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 4: want to see you succeed. That's a true friend when 132 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 4: you're honest with people and you share what's in your heart. 133 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 4: A true friend, even if they don't agree, will be 134 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 4: mature enough to say, you know what you can hear 135 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 4: from God, you have the Holy Spirit on the inside. 136 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 3: I'll be behind you. But if they just try to. 137 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 4: Make you feel bad like you have to take their advice, 138 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 4: like you're making a big mistake, that's somebody that's more 139 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 4: interested in controlling you than in helping you fulfill your 140 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 4: god given destiny. When I didn't take this man's advice, 141 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 4: he was no longer on my side. It wasn't something 142 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 4: big and obvious. 143 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 3: It's just subtle things. 144 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 4: I'd walk into a room and I could feel his 145 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 4: sense of disapproval. But thank God, I understand what I'm 146 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 4: telling you. I knew I didn't have to have his approval. 147 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 4: He wasn't God, he wasn't sitting on the throne. He 148 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 4: didn't write the plan for my life. I dug my 149 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 4: heels in and said, God, he may not before me, 150 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 4: but I know you're for me. 151 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 3: God. I may not have his approval, but I know 152 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 3: I have your approval. That's all that really matters. 153 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 4: I just kept pressing forward doing what God put in 154 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 4: my heart. God not only brought us through that transition, 155 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 4: but he brought us out bigger and better and greater 156 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 4: than we ever. 157 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 3: Had it before. God knows what he's doing. 158 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 4: But I found some people, no matter what you do, 159 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 4: they are not going to be for you. Don't spend 160 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 4: your life trying to win the approval from someone that's 161 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 4: never going to give you their approval. It may be 162 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,559 Speaker 4: a supervisor at the office. You can do your job 163 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 4: plus three others and they're still going to look down 164 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 4: on you. Don't worry about it. You don't need their approval. 165 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 4: God will fight your battles. God will get you to 166 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 4: where you're supposed to be. Maybe you have a relative 167 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 4: that compliments everyone. 168 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 3: Accept you in the family. 169 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 4: You could win the super Bowl and they'll ignore you 170 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 4: and brag on everybody else. Don't let them steal your joy. 171 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 4: You don't need their approval. They can't keep you from 172 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:46,079 Speaker 4: rising higher if you'll keep being your best, spending your 173 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:50,319 Speaker 4: energy towards your God given dreams and not toward trying 174 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 4: to get them to approve you and to think that 175 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 4: you're good enough and you're talented and you're important. 176 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 3: No, be secure in who. 177 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 4: God made you to be before you were born. God 178 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 4: stamped his approval on you. 179 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:03,679 Speaker 3: I see too many people. 180 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 4: They're playing up to other people. They're trying to win 181 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 4: their favor and trying to impress them. They're basically trying 182 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 4: to buy their friendship and buy their approval. The problem 183 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 4: with that is if you start a friendship off like that, 184 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,079 Speaker 4: that's the only way you'll be able to keep it going. 185 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 4: If you let them control you and just you have 186 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 4: to meet all their demands. Then one day when you 187 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 4: wise up and think I'm tired of being manipulated, it's 188 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 4: not worth all the effort and energy. 189 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 3: They'll simply just cut you loose. You won't have their approval. 190 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 4: After all, It's much better to trust God to bring 191 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 4: us divine connections. That men that got upset because I 192 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 4: didn't take his advice. He thought he knew what I 193 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 4: was supposed to do more than I did. But God 194 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 4: will always give you direction for your life more than 195 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 4: anybody else. Other people may have suggestions, they may have 196 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 4: ideas he is, but bottom line is God speaks directly 197 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 4: to you. The Holy Spirit lives on the inside of you. 198 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:10,199 Speaker 3: He leads you, he guides you. 199 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 4: Yes, it's good to be open and listen to parents 200 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 4: and mentors and friends, but you've got to follow your 201 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 4: own heart. There is a still small voice, a knowing 202 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 4: right down in here. That's God talking to you. Now, 203 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 4: be careful about people that always have a word. 204 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:31,559 Speaker 3: From the Lord for you. I grew up in church. 205 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,719 Speaker 4: I've heard a lot of words from the Lord, some 206 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 4: of them write on, some of them way off. But 207 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 4: anytime someone gives you a quote word from the Lord, 208 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 4: that should simply confirm what you already know on the inside. 209 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 4: When that man told me how to run the church, 210 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 4: it didn't agree with anything that I was feeling. It 211 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 4: was totally foreign. I've learned God will not tell you 212 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 4: something about my life and not tell me. God and 213 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,280 Speaker 4: I are on speaking terms. We talk every single day. 214 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 4: Some people will use the scripture, spiritual things, a word 215 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 4: from the Lord to try to manipulate and control and 216 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 4: get their way. 217 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 3: Don't fall into that trap. 218 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 4: The men tell me a few years ago after the service, 219 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 4: it's very well dressed, very successful, that if I didn't 220 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 4: let him start ministering on some Sunday mornings, the church 221 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 4: was going to go down, he said Joel. I saw 222 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 4: it so clearly. God showed me it's not going to 223 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 4: last unless I get involved. That word from the Lord 224 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 4: went in one ear and out the other, and not. 225 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 3: Because there's not anything in between either. 226 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 4: Since then, we've grown by about twenty thousand people. We're 227 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:49,679 Speaker 4: doing okay, what am I saying? Don't base any decision 228 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 4: off of what somebody told you that doesn't line up 229 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 4: what you feel on the inside. 230 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 3: You can hear from God for yourself. 231 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 4: And if I would have been a people please and 232 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 4: run the church like that man wanted and ministered like 233 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 4: he told me to, I wouldn't be where I am today. 234 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 4: I would have his approval, but what good is that 235 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 4: going to do me. I would rather have the approval 236 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 4: of the creator of the universe. 237 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 3: I would rather have. 238 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 4: The God that spoke the worlds into existence smiling down 239 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 4: on me. Sometimes, in order to please God, you're going 240 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 4: to have to displease people. 241 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 3: This was hard for me. My personality is to want 242 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 3: to please everybody. I want people to like me. 243 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 4: When you fall of what's in your heart, other people 244 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 4: may not be happy, They may not understand you, may 245 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:41,959 Speaker 4: fall out of their favor. 246 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 3: You may even lose a friendship. 247 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 4: When my mother was twenty six years old, my father 248 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 4: decided to leave the church that he had been pastoring 249 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 4: for many years. The congregation wasn't really behind his new 250 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 4: doctrine of faith and healing and miracles. My mother had 251 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 4: friends there that she had had for years since they 252 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:07,199 Speaker 4: were much younger. Those friends instead of celebrating my mother's 253 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 4: new beginning, instead of being happy for the new chapter 254 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 4: in her life, they wouldn't have anything. 255 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:13,839 Speaker 3: To do with my mother. 256 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 4: Lifelong friends walked away all because my father decided to 257 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 4: launch out on his own. 258 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:23,079 Speaker 3: I love what Jesus said in Luke eighteen. 259 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 4: He said, if anyone gives up family, friends, houses for 260 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 4: my sake in this life, they will be paid back 261 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:37,199 Speaker 4: many times over. Notice it doesn't say when you get 262 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 4: to heaven God will bless you. It says right here 263 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 4: on the earth, if you give up anything for God's sake. 264 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,079 Speaker 3: He will reward you more than you can even imagine. 265 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 4: My mother lost all of her friends, they wouldn't give 266 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 4: her their approval anymore. 267 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 3: But can I tell you God is a faithful God. 268 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 3: My mom got a. 269 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 4: Whole lot of more new friends, people, more than she 270 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 4: could even imagine. But my parents, it would have been 271 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 4: easy for them to stay in the boat and play 272 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 4: it safe and keep the approval of family and friends 273 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 4: in the community. But at some point God is going 274 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 4: to ask you to get out of the boat. It 275 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 4: wouldn't be as difficult if all of our friends and 276 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 4: family members were behind us, cheering us on, encouraging us. 277 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 4: But most of the time, a friend that you've known 278 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 4: a long time, someone that you really look up to, 279 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 4: is going to try to convince you to stay where 280 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 4: you are. Maybe even like my parents, they'll give you 281 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 4: an ultimatum stay here and will support you, don't leave, 282 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 4: and will give you our approval. 283 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 3: But if you leave, you're on your own. 284 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 4: That's when we have to say with the apostle Paul, 285 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 4: I would rather please God than be popular with people. 286 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 4: Don't let the fear of people holds you back. What 287 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 4: are they going to think? What are my friends going 288 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 4: to say? Will my relatives all support me? The truth is, 289 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 4: like with my parents, some of them may walk away. 290 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 4: But here's what I've learned. If they leave you, you 291 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 4: didn't need them. God said he would never leave us 292 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 4: nor forsake us. So if they walked away, if they 293 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 4: betrayed you, if they left and you needed them, that 294 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 4: would mean God was forsaken you. We know God can't lie, 295 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 4: so you can draw the conclusion. If they left me, 296 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 4: they weren't a part of my destiny. If they don't 297 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 4: want to be my friend, I don't need them. If 298 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 4: they won't give me their approval, no big deal. I 299 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 4: have God's approval. 300 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 3: Friends, life is. 301 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 4: Too short to go through it controlled, manipulated, trying to 302 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 4: please everybody, trying to win their approval. 303 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 3: You don't need people like that. 304 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 4: If you keep falling into that trap, letting them put 305 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 4: the guilt trip on you, making you feel bad because 306 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 4: you don't call every time on queue they're up to 307 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 4: now because you didn't take their advice. 308 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 3: You've got to go get them fixed up. That's going 309 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 3: to keep you from your destiny. 310 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 4: Some of you are allowing the fear of losing approval, 311 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 4: the fear of what somebody will think, the fear of 312 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 4: losing a friendship to keep you in a box. 313 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 3: That's not even you. 314 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 4: You're so concerned about keeping them happy and winning their 315 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 4: favor that you're missing out on the new things that 316 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 4: God wants to do. And sometimes a well meaning person 317 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 4: can try to hold us back. Jesus told Peter that 318 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 4: he was going to Jerusalem. Peter said, no, you're not, Jesus, 319 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 4: that's dangerous. 320 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 3: You're going to stay here with me. 321 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 4: Peter loved Jesus, he was concerned about him, but he 322 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 4: didn't understand his destiny. 323 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 3: What God has put in your heart. 324 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 4: Sometimes well meaning people may not understand. It doesn't mean 325 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 4: that you write them off you never speak to them again, 326 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 4: but you do have to be strong and say, this 327 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 4: is what I believe is a part of my destiny, 328 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 4: and I'm going to move toward it. You've got to 329 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 4: do it with or without their approval. That's what Jesus did. 330 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 4: He looked at Peter and said, get behind me, I'm 331 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 4: going to Jerusalem. He was strong, he was firm, but 332 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 4: he wasn't disrespectful. 333 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 3: He didn't say I'm never going to speak to you 334 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 3: because you don't agree with me. 335 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 4: Jesus simply spoke the truth in love and went on 336 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 4: to fulfill his destiny without Peter's approval. In the same way, 337 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,679 Speaker 4: you will not become everything God's created you to be 338 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 4: with the approval of everyone around you. I would love 339 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 4: to tell you that all your family and friends will 340 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,119 Speaker 4: be there to cheer you on and encourage you and 341 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 4: support you. 342 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 3: But most of the. 343 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 4: Time, somebody will get jealous. Somebody won't understand. Somebody will 344 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 4: start talking about you, trying to be little, trying to 345 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:54,160 Speaker 4: discredit you. 346 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 3: You can either get. 347 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 4: In there and fight that battle and try to prove 348 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 4: to them that you're right and they're wrong, or you 349 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 4: can take the high road. A much better approach is 350 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 4: to have the attitude I love them, but I don't 351 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:10,360 Speaker 4: have to have their approval. It's okay if they don't understand. 352 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:13,119 Speaker 4: I'm not going to get bitter if they start talking. 353 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 4: I'm not going to lose focus and try to fight 354 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 4: that battle. I know I have Almighty God's approval and 355 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:23,200 Speaker 4: he's promised if I give up anything for his sake. 356 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:24,680 Speaker 3: He will reward me greatly. 357 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:29,160 Speaker 4: That's a powerful attitude when you're secure enough in who 358 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 4: you are, You're confident enough in the destiny in front 359 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 4: of you that even when people don't celebrate you, when 360 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 4: on purpose they overlook you, ignore you, and withhold their approval, 361 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:44,879 Speaker 4: doesn't matter. You've got a smile on your face. You 362 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 4: keep moving forward, keep being your best. Let me tell 363 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 4: you you do that and nothing will be able to 364 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 4: stop you. The creator of the universe will break down 365 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,080 Speaker 4: every barrier and get you to where you're supposed to be. 366 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 3: Let me challenge you. 367 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 4: Keep a good attitude, shake off the negative voices. Don't 368 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:06,479 Speaker 4: pay any attention to the naysayers that are trying to 369 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:10,120 Speaker 4: discredit you and make you look bad. I've learned if 370 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 4: you'll stay in faith, the more they. 371 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 3: Talk, the higher God will take you. 372 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 4: And sometimes we think, you know, I gotta have this person, Joel. 373 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 4: They're so important and influential, this boss, he has so 374 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:26,479 Speaker 4: much seniority, this family member, they know so many people 375 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 4: now listen the Scripture says promotion doesn't come from people. 376 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 3: Promotion comes from the Lord. 377 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 4: You may not have the approval of someone that's quote important, influential. 378 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:43,439 Speaker 4: Don't waste your time trying to win their favor. Spend 379 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 4: your time trying to win the favor of God. 380 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 3: How do you do that. 381 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 4: By being a person of excellence, by having an attitude 382 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 4: of faith, by blessing your enemies, by being. 383 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 3: Good to people. 384 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 4: When you do that, you are currying favor with the 385 00:19:57,320 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 4: creator of the universe. 386 00:19:58,920 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 3: He will fight your battle. 387 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 4: God will bring you those divine connections, people that are 388 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 4: not jealous and critical, but people that celebrate you, people 389 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 4: that cheer your arm, and some of you. 390 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 3: Today, you need to make changes. 391 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:15,399 Speaker 4: You're spending too much time playing up to people, trying 392 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:19,360 Speaker 4: to buy their friendship, trying to win their approval. All 393 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 4: that's doing is causing you to spend your wills. 394 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 3: You're not going anywhere. 395 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 4: You need to look inside and discover what God's put 396 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:31,479 Speaker 4: in you, and then get focused and start moving toward that. 397 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 4: You don't have time to try to convince everyone to 398 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:40,159 Speaker 4: like you. Your destiny is too great to waste time 399 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 4: fighting battles that don't matter. If somebody doesn't celebrate you, 400 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 4: move on. If they walked away, you didn't need them. 401 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 4: If they didn't give you. 402 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 3: Their approval, don't worry about it. 403 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 4: You have God's approval. Now take the pressure off yourself. 404 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 4: Playing up to people takes a lot of energy. Trying 405 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 4: to keep everybody fixed and happy is very draining. 406 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 3: Wondering what everybody thinks is emotionally exhausting. 407 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 4: There's a freedom when you realize I don't have to 408 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 4: compete for anyone's approval. I can just run my race, 409 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 4: focus on my goals, be my best, and God will 410 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 4: take care of the rest. Joyce Meyer is a good 411 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 4: friend of ours, great Bible teacher. She told how when 412 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 4: she first started her ministry, she was in a small 413 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 4: classroom in a little church. Every week she'd have a 414 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 4: Bible study and about forty people would come out. Her husband, 415 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 4: Dave would sit there on the front row supporting her. 416 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,359 Speaker 4: One week after the class, the pastor called them aside 417 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 4: and said, Dave, this is out of order. You should 418 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 4: be up there teaching, and Joyce should be sitting on 419 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 4: the front row supporting you. 420 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:50,359 Speaker 3: They were young. 421 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 4: They didn't want to disappoint the pastor, didn't want to 422 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,160 Speaker 4: go against what he was saying. After all, he could 423 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 4: put them out of that church, that's where all their 424 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 4: friends were. Past He was a good man, but he 425 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 4: didn't know what God had put in Joyce's heart. 426 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 3: He didn't know she had that incredible gift to teach. 427 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 4: To not be disrespectful to the pastor. Dave got up 428 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 4: and started teaching. Joyce sat on the front row, and yes, 429 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 4: it was good that they were willing to come under authority. 430 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:20,640 Speaker 4: And I'm not, by any means saying that if it's 431 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 4: in your heart, just be rebellious and do whatever you want. 432 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 4: But I am saying this. We shouldn't let other people 433 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,400 Speaker 4: run our lives. Some people can't even run their life, 434 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 4: and they're trying to tell you how to run your life. 435 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,440 Speaker 4: Several weeks went by and Joyce was miserable. 436 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 3: Dave was miserable. He didn't like teaching. That's not what 437 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 3: he was called to do. 438 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 4: One day, Joyce finally got back up there and started 439 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,120 Speaker 4: teaching again. Sure enough, the pastor asked them to leave. 440 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:53,680 Speaker 4: He didn't accept them. They didn't have that approval anymore. 441 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 4: But thank god, Joyce knew that she had God's approval, 442 00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 4: and she's been doing pretty good ever since then. But 443 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 4: when we come to the end of our life, we're 444 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 4: not going to stand before people. We're going to stand 445 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 4: before God, and it's not going to be a good 446 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 4: excuse to say God, I didn't fulfill my destiny because. 447 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 3: My friends wanted me to do this. 448 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:16,840 Speaker 4: My co workers pressured me and put me in this 449 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 4: box God. My family wouldn't give me their approval. I 450 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 4: was just trying to keep everybody happy. No, run your race, 451 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:27,440 Speaker 4: fulfill your destiny. It's great when we have the approval 452 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,639 Speaker 4: of others, but we have to accept the fact that 453 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 4: not everyone is going to understand what you're called to do, 454 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 4: and they're going to try to put you in their box. 455 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 4: And if you're a people pleaser, you're going to miss 456 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 4: the awesome future that God has in store. A few 457 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:46,359 Speaker 4: years after my father went to be with the Lord, 458 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 4: our old sanctuary filled up. The church had really grown 459 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 4: and we needed a bigger place. My father had always 460 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 4: told how he would never move the church, he would 461 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:00,680 Speaker 4: keep it at that location, and me, being the new pastor, 462 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:03,360 Speaker 4: I wasn't about to rock the boat and change anything. 463 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:06,479 Speaker 4: We researched to see if we could build a larger 464 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:10,240 Speaker 4: facility on that same exact property. Found out the roads 465 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 4: weren't big enough, so we went out to the freeway 466 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 4: as close to that other location as possible, but both 467 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 4: times the property didn't work out. When I got the 468 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:22,960 Speaker 4: word that this place was coming available, the former Compact Center, 469 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,679 Speaker 4: it's about twenty minutes from our other location, something leaped 470 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 4: on the inside. I knew this was supposed to be ours. 471 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 4: Ninety nine point nine percent of the congregation was totally 472 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 4: behind it. 473 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 3: The vast majority was very excited. But there was one 474 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 3: man that was not behind it. 475 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 4: In fact, he was totally against it, and he made 476 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 4: sure he let me know. Every week after the service. 477 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 4: He would confine me in the visitor's reception. He would say, Joel, 478 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 4: you know your father said he would never move the church. 479 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 4: You're making a big mistake, and I just want to 480 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,159 Speaker 4: let you you know, if you move it, I'm not 481 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 4: going to come. I said, you promise. I didn't, but 482 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 4: I thought it. But everybody has a right to have 483 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 4: their opinion. But he didn't know what I was feeling 484 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:19,560 Speaker 4: on the inside. He didn't know what God was speaking 485 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 4: to me. I could have easily let him put me 486 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 4: in his box and keep us from moving forward. The 487 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 4: easy thing to do was to stay in the boat 488 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 4: and just play it safe where we were. But sometime 489 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:33,119 Speaker 4: God is going to ask you to get out of 490 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 4: the boat. 491 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 3: And what I'm saying is. 492 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 4: Don't be surprised if a friend or a family member 493 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:39,880 Speaker 4: doesn't try to convince you to stay where you are. 494 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 4: They may mean, well, but you've got to be strong 495 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 4: and follow what God has put in your heart. I 496 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,400 Speaker 4: don't like to displease people, but I've learned I may 497 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 4: have to displease a few people, so I don't displease God. Now. 498 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 4: I never like to see one person leave the church, 499 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 4: but I found if I'll stay true to my heart 500 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,440 Speaker 4: for everyone that leaves, God will send me two dozen 501 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:08,280 Speaker 4: more in return. Now, when somebody complains, when somebody threatens 502 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 4: to leave, I have a new approach. I just smile 503 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 4: and say, can I show you the door? The sooner 504 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 4: the better. I may not say it, but that's what 505 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 4: I think. Here's my point. You cannot please everybody. You 506 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 4: have to stay true to your own heart. Usually the 507 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 4: people that make the loudest noise, the people that take 508 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,920 Speaker 4: most of your time and energy. The moment you hit 509 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:33,160 Speaker 4: the smallest bump. 510 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 3: In the road. 511 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 4: They're the first ones to leave. You would be better 512 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:39,640 Speaker 4: off to not play up to them. Now, save your 513 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 4: time and energy for people that you know are behind you, 514 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:46,400 Speaker 4: people that are with you through thick and thin. I 515 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:50,919 Speaker 4: love loyal people, I love faithful people. I have people 516 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 4: in my life right now, friends, family, staff, many of 517 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 4: you that I know they will give me their approval 518 00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 4: to the day I die. 519 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:05,399 Speaker 3: I feel like it's every one of you. 520 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 4: But you know, I know God has put people in 521 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:11,840 Speaker 4: my life that celebrate me and give me the freedom 522 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:13,919 Speaker 4: to become who He's created me to be. 523 00:27:14,359 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 3: And here's what I'm saying. 524 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:18,639 Speaker 4: God has put the same type of people in your life, 525 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:22,159 Speaker 4: the right people. Now, don't waste your time trying to 526 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,360 Speaker 4: win the approval of someone that's never going to give 527 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 4: you their approval. Your destiny is too great to allow 528 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:32,920 Speaker 4: someone to manipulate you. Some of you don't realize it, 529 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:35,960 Speaker 4: but you've been addicted to approval. You've been living to 530 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:38,920 Speaker 4: please people. But thank God, today is a new day. 531 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:43,119 Speaker 4: Strongholds or being broken, I can feel a freedom in 532 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 4: this place. 533 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 3: You know today that. 534 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:50,920 Speaker 4: You don't need other people's approval. You have Almighty God's approval. 535 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:55,760 Speaker 4: If you will be strong and run your race. Stay focused, 536 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 4: not let others control you. Let me declare it. 537 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:01,159 Speaker 3: You're going to step into a new level of your destiny. 538 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:05,200 Speaker 4: You're going to see new seasons of growth, new friendships, 539 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 4: new opportunities. I believe in declare God is going to 540 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:11,239 Speaker 4: take your places that you've never even dreamed of. 541 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 3: If you receive it, can you say amen? Amen? We 542 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 3: never like to close. 543 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 4: Our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus 544 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 4: the lord of your life. 545 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 3: Would you pray with me? 546 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 4: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll repent of my sins, Come 547 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:31,439 Speaker 4: into my heart, wash me clean. 548 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:36,320 Speaker 3: I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you 549 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 3: prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. 550 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 4: Get in a good Bible based church, and stay strong. 551 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 4: God's going to do amazing things in your life. 552 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:47,880 Speaker 5: Thank you for listening to the juelos Den podcast. Help 553 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:50,720 Speaker 5: us continue to share the message of hope with those 554 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:51,760 Speaker 5: all over the world. 555 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 6: Visit joelous Dean dot com slash give Hope to give 556 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:56,479 Speaker 6: a gift today. 557 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 558 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 4: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 559 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 4: podcast to keep you inspired all through the week. 560 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 3: We're praying for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 561 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:10,520 Speaker 3: We'll see you next time. 562 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:24,719 Speaker 6: With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 563 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 6: for everyone. 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