1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joelan Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. Well, 5 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:18,439 Speaker 1: God bless you. It's a joy to come into your homes. 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: And if you're ever in our area, please stop buy 7 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:23,799 Speaker 1: be part of one of our services. I promise you 8 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: we'll make you feel right at home. I like to 9 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: start with something funny. And one day Adam said to God, 10 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: why did you make Eve so beautiful? God said, so 11 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 1: you would love her. He said, well, why did you 12 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: give her such long flowing hair? God said it again, 13 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: so you would love her? Said well, God, why'd you 14 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,840 Speaker 1: give her such a great figure? God said the same thing, 15 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: so you would love her. Adam said, all right, God, 16 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: you made her so beautiful, so attractive. Why'd you make 17 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: her so dumb? God said that's easy, Adam, so she 18 00:00:54,320 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: would love you. And all the ladies said, Amen, say 19 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I 20 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: am what it says. I am, I have what it 21 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 1: says I have, I can do what it says I 22 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 1: can do today. I will be taught the word of God. 23 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 1: I boldly confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 24 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 25 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: bless you. I want to talk to you today about 26 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: you are fully loaded. When God created you, he put 27 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:32,919 Speaker 1: in you everything you need to fulfill your destiny. God 28 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: is a strategic God. He's not random. He didn't just 29 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: create you and say, let's see what they can do. 30 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: Let's see what happens. God is precise. He's intentional down 31 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: to the smallest detail. When He laid out the plan 32 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,639 Speaker 1: for your life, he carefully studied it. He thought about 33 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: what you would need, what it would take to get 34 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: you there. Then he matched you with your world. He 35 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: gave you the talent you need, the creativity, the strength. 36 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: You're the right size you have, the right looks, the 37 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: right personality, the right family. You didn't get short changed. 38 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: You are fully loaded and completely equipped for the race 39 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: that's been designed for you. Now quit wishing you were 40 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 1: something different. If I had a better personality, then I 41 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,519 Speaker 1: could do something great. If I came from a different family, 42 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,639 Speaker 1: if I wasn't so small, Joel, have a new perspective. 43 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: If you needed to be taller, God would have made 44 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: you taller. If you needed a different personality, he would 45 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:40,639 Speaker 1: have given you one. If you needed to be another nationality, 46 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: you would be another nationality. God doesn't make mistakes. You're 47 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: not faulty. You have been fearfully and wonderfully made. When 48 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: God created the universe, when he flung stars into space, 49 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 1: he said that was good. When he created mountains, ocean sunsets, 50 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: he said that was good. When he made animals, lions, eagles, butterflies, 51 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: he said that was good. But when God created you, 52 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: when he saw how magnificent you are, how strong, how attractive, 53 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: how talented, God looked at you and said that was 54 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 1: very good. He didn't say the solar system was very good. 55 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: He didn't say the rocky mountains were very good. The 56 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,639 Speaker 1: only time he used very good is when he created you. 57 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: In Ephesians, he calls you a masterpiece. When the creator 58 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: of the universe says you are very good, that means 59 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: you are bad to the bone. Now, don't go around 60 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: feeling shortchanged, like somehow you're lacking. You didn't get enough. 61 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: You can't do what they can do. If you didn't 62 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: get what somebody else has. That means you don't need it. 63 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: Quit comparing your self and run your race. Be who 64 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: God created you to be. You are an original. You 65 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: have something to offer the world that nobody else has. 66 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: Let your gifts shine, Show your talent, your personality, your style. 67 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: We don't need an imitation, We don't need a copy. 68 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: We need the original you. But when we want what 69 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: somebody else has, we wish we had their looks, their talent, 70 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: their personality. The truth is, if you had it, it 71 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: wouldn't be a blessing. It would be a burden. It 72 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: wasn't designed for you. The reason it works for them 73 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 1: is because it fits them. They're walking in their anointing. 74 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: You are not anointed to be somebody else. As long 75 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: as you're trying to be like them, you'll be frustrated. 76 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 1: The anointing on your life is to be who God 77 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: called you to be. Be confident in what you have. 78 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: You have the right looks, the right talent, the right personality. 79 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: It may not be what somebody else has, but you're 80 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: not running their race. When my father went to be 81 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 1: with the Lord, he had pastored Lakewood for forty years. 82 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: I had been behind the scenes doing the television production 83 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: and when he died. I'd only ministered one time, but 84 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: I knew I was supposed to step up and pastor 85 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: the church. But I thought I needed to be like 86 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 1: my dad. After all, people had come to hear him 87 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 1: for years, and I knew that's what they were expecting. 88 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: In the first few months, I tried to preach like 89 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: my dad and lead like my dad, but it was 90 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: a struggle. Now. I had good intentions. I wanted to 91 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: honor my father, but there's no grace on your life 92 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: to be somebody else. One day I read a scripture. 93 00:05:56,320 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: It says an acts David fulfilled his purpose for his generation. 94 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: I heard something down in here say, Joel, your father 95 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: fulfilled his purpose. Now quit trying to be like him 96 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: and go out and fulfill your purpose. It was like 97 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: a stronghold was broken in my mind. I realized, I'm 98 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: free to be me. I quit trying to imitate my father, 99 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: and I stepped into my own annoying. That's when the 100 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: ministry began to grow. See, I've learned it's easy to 101 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: be me. I don't have to pretend, I don't have 102 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 1: to perform. Takes all the pressure off. I can relax 103 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: and just be myself. When you're comfortable with who you are. 104 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,239 Speaker 1: When you're not trying to impress people, you're not trying 105 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: to be something that you're not, then your own uniqueness 106 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 1: will come out. You'll be more creative, your talent will 107 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: come out in greater ways. The right people will show up. 108 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: Why because you've stepped into the anointing on your life. 109 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: Be you. You are powerful when you're you. Here's the key. 110 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: Nobody can beat you at being you. You can be 111 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: a better you than anybody in the world. You have 112 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: an advantage. You've been anointed to be you. When I minister, 113 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 1: I'm more conversational. I don't get real loud or real excited. 114 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: But growing up, I used to think to be an 115 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 1: effective minister you had to be loud and forceful and dynamic. 116 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: And I have minister friends that are that way, and 117 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: they are very powerful. That's who they are. But I've 118 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: learned when you're who you are, you can be quiet 119 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: and be powerful. You can be small and be powerful. 120 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: You can be behind the scenes and be powerful. The 121 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: whole key is to be you, because when you're you, 122 00:07:56,280 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: you activate your anointing. There's a favor of blessing, a 123 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 1: grace that is unique to your life. But too often, 124 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: when we see someone that's more talented, more successful, more blessed, 125 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 1: there's a tendency to be envious and think, why can't 126 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 1: I do that? I want what they have. If we're 127 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 1: not careful, before long, we'll be competing with them, trying 128 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: to outperform them, outdress them outdrive them, outwork them. The 129 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: problem is you're competing with someone that's not in your race. 130 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 1: Your race is specifically for you. You are not in 131 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: competition with your friends, your neighbors, your co workers, your siblings. 132 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: The only competition you have is with yourself to be 133 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: the best that you can be. I realize I can't 134 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: preach like Bishop Jakes, I can't sing like Steve Crawford. 135 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 1: I can't do surgery like my brother Paul. But I 136 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 1: can encourage someone. I can inspire a few people. I 137 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 1: can't smile. I'm good at that. Don't get distracted trying 138 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 1: to keep up with someone you were never supposed to 139 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: keep up with. When you understand you are fully loaded 140 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 1: for the race that's been designed for you. Instead of 141 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: competing with people, you'll celebrate them. The right attitude is 142 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:27,680 Speaker 1: they may have something that I don't, but that's okay. 143 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: I'm not running their race. I'm equipped from my destiny. 144 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: This is why King Saul lost the throne when he 145 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 1: saw David rising higher than him, gaining more influence. Instead 146 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: of celebrating David, he became jealous. People started seeing Saul 147 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: has defeated thousands. He was happy, people are celebrating me. 148 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: I've done something great. But then the song continued and 149 00:09:55,400 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: David has defeated tens of thousands. Saul couldn't hand anybody 150 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: being in front of him. He didn't realize they weren't 151 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: in the same race. He wasn't competing with David. If 152 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,200 Speaker 1: he would have been happy for him, he wouldn't have 153 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: missed his destiny. When we start competing with people, we 154 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 1: get distracted, We lose focus. Before long, we're wasting time 155 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: on things that are not moving us toward our purpose. 156 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: I heard a quote successful people are so focused on 157 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 1: their own goals they don't have time to look around 158 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: to see what everybody else is doing. Run your race, 159 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 1: and when somebody passes you by, don't be intimidated. Be inspired. 160 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: If God did it for them, he can do it 161 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:50,079 Speaker 1: for you. But if you can't celebrate people that are 162 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 1: further along than you. Then you'll never get to where 163 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 1: they are. You have to pass the test of being 164 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 1: happy for people that have passed you, because there will 165 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:06,439 Speaker 1: be the tendency to be jealous, start finding being critical. Well, 166 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 1: they don't deserve it. They're not that talented anyway. Let 167 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: me tell you some bad things I heard about them. 168 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 1: Don't fall into that trap. God's showing them favor doesn't 169 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 1: mean he's not going to show you favor. Be happy 170 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: for them. And when you see someone that's blessed, they're 171 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 1: rising higher, it's easy to think, well, they've just had 172 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,559 Speaker 1: a lot of good breaks. What you may not realize 173 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: is the favor on their life didn't come without pain. 174 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 1: The promotion didn't come without struggles, without them fighting off discouragement, 175 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:44,839 Speaker 1: without them pressing forward when they felt like giving up. 176 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 1: You don't know what it took for them to get 177 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: where they are. Sometimes we come in at the end 178 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: of the movie, we see everything working out. They're happy, blessed, successful. 179 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 1: What we didn't see was the middle years, the lonely nights, 180 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 1: the struggles. Be big enough to celebrate what God's doing 181 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: in their life. Don't be as Saul. Don't miss your 182 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: destiny because you're sour that somebody passed you up. Their 183 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: success is not stopping what God wants to do in 184 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:22,439 Speaker 1: your life. God didn't use up all of his favor 185 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 1: on them. It's a test. Are you going to compete 186 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 1: with them, spend all your energy trying to keep up, 187 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: or are you going to celebrate what God has done. 188 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 1: You can tell who your true friends are not by 189 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 1: who comes when you fall. When you make a mistake, 190 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:42,679 Speaker 1: people will feel sorry. They'll show up to help you. 191 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: Your true friends are the ones that show up when 192 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 1: you succeed. They celebrate when you're promoted. They're happy when 193 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 1: God blesses you. They're high five in you when you 194 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 1: move into that new house. You've heard the saying it's 195 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: lonely at the top. It's because not everybody can handle 196 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 1: your success, and too often people get envious, jealous, critical. 197 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: Let's pass this test. When somebody passes you by, give 198 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 1: them a high five and keep running your race. Don't 199 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,319 Speaker 1: look to the left nor to the right. Keep being 200 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: who God's made you to be. One time I was 201 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: out running through my neighborhood and I saw this man 202 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: in front of me about a quarter of a mile, 203 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 1: and he was running two and I thought, I'm going 204 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 1: to catch him. I had about a mile to go 205 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 1: before I needed to turn off and go down my path. 206 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 1: I picked up the pace and started gaining on him, 207 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,080 Speaker 1: gaining on him, and I was feeling better. Look what 208 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: I'm doing, getting closer and closer, and I finally passed 209 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: him up. I beat him. He didn't know we're racing, 210 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: but I felt good about it. About that time, I 211 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: realized I was so focused on catching him, I missed 212 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: my turn. I had to turn around and go back 213 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 1: about six blocks where I was supposed to turn. That's 214 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:06,959 Speaker 1: what happens when we start competing with people. It's a distraction. 215 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: We're running in a race. We're not supposed to be 216 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:14,559 Speaker 1: in competing with people that many times don't even know it. 217 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: If that man knew we were racing, I'd probably still 218 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: be trying to catch you in he would have sped up. 219 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 1: Don't get distracted, run your race. In the scripture, John 220 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: the Baptist was baptizing people and gaining a lot of attention. 221 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: One point, the Jewish leaders came and wondered if he 222 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: was the Christ. Without missing a beat, John said, I 223 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: am not the Messiah. It's important to know not only 224 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: who you are, but to know who you're not. If 225 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 1: you don't know this, you can spend your life trying 226 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: to be something that you're not. John had no problem 227 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: saying I am not the Messiah. He was saying, I 228 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: don't have to be the Messiah to feel good about myself. 229 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: I'm content with who God made me to be. If 230 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: you're trying to be something you're not, you'll be frustrated. 231 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: There's no grace for it. It'll be a constant struggle, 232 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 1: always like it's uphill. If Saul would have understood this, 233 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: he could have kept the throne. If he would have accepted, 234 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: I am not David. He's defeated tens of thousands. He's 235 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 1: done great things. I've defeated a thousand, God you bless me. 236 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: It would have been a different story. Most of the time, 237 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: we're happy until we start comparing. When Saul heard the 238 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: numbers David tens of thousands, I can imagine him asking 239 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: someone how many did they say, David has defeated. When 240 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: they answered tens of thousands, Saul's whole perspective changed. He 241 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: was no longer content with his success. Now he was envious, jealous. 242 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: He basically spent the rest of his life trying to 243 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,239 Speaker 1: be David. All he had had to do is realize 244 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 1: I am not David. God has blessed him in a 245 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: different way. We have to understand the sovereignty of God 246 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 1: may not seem fair to us, doesn't always make sense, 247 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 1: but God's ways are not our ways. And the scripture 248 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: talks about how God is given to every person different gifts, 249 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 1: different talents. According to our own ability, everyone doesn't get 250 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: the same. But what He gave you is what you 251 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: need to fulfill your destiny. Whether you're a Saul and 252 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: you can defeat a thousand or you're a David and 253 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 1: you can defeat ten thousand. The right attitude is I'm 254 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: going to take what God's given me and make the 255 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: most of it. Don't compete, don't compare, just run your race. 256 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: In the parable, Jesus told of the talents, the owner 257 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: gave one man one talent, another man two talents, and 258 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: another man five talents. It seems like if God was fair, 259 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:05,640 Speaker 1: he would have given them all the same number. But 260 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 1: God is sovereign. He may give you five talents and 261 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: give me two talents. He's God. I can complain about 262 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: the two, try to compete with you and outperform you, 263 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: but that doesn't change the fact that you still have 264 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: five and I still have two. A better approach is 265 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 1: to say, God, I recognize you are sovereign, and before 266 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 1: you gave me these two talents, I didn't have any. 267 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: So instead of complaining about the two and competing with 268 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:39,919 Speaker 1: the five, I'm going to take these two talents and 269 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:43,639 Speaker 1: be the best that I can be. It takes a 270 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:49,120 Speaker 1: mature person to recognize what you're not, but knowing what 271 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 1: you're not will help you stay focused on becoming who 272 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: you are because there will always be pressures to be this, 273 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:00,919 Speaker 1: to be that, to be the other. Everyone will have 274 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,199 Speaker 1: opinions about you, but down in your heart, you know 275 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: who you are. You can't let the outside pressures and 276 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 1: other people squeeze you into becoming something that you're not. 277 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: When I first started ministering, I was young and didn't 278 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 1: have much experience. I had a lot of people giving 279 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:22,359 Speaker 1: me opinions. They told me how to lead the church, 280 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: how to minister, what I should speak on, and sometimes 281 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 1: it wasn't what they said, just what they inferred. I 282 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,399 Speaker 1: could feel the pressure to be who they wanted me 283 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: to be. And they were good people. But people didn't 284 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: breathe life into you. People didn't lay out your plan 285 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:46,120 Speaker 1: and purpose. People didn't put gifts and talents on the inside. 286 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 1: And I was always respectful, but I was firm and 287 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 1: a lot of their advice. When I heard it, I 288 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 1: knew it wasn't what God put in my heart. I 289 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:57,640 Speaker 1: had to be bold and say, I am not that 290 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: I am, not that I am not that this is 291 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:04,880 Speaker 1: who I am. You have to be strong. It's your 292 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 1: destiny when you come to the end of life. You're 293 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:10,920 Speaker 1: not going to answer to people. You're going to answer 294 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,680 Speaker 1: to God. People may mean well, they may love you, 295 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 1: but if it doesn't bear witness in your spirit, you 296 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 1: have to be bold and say, like John, that is 297 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 1: not who I am. And here's the key. You don't 298 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:28,120 Speaker 1: have to have a great gift for God to use 299 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 1: you in a great way. You know what took David 300 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 1: to the throne wasn't his leadership skills, his ability to 301 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 1: write music, his personality, his size. What promoted David was 302 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: his gift of slinging a rock. He was good with 303 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 1: a slingshot. Out in the shepherd's fields. He had spent 304 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 1: hours practicing as a teenager while he was taking care 305 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:56,120 Speaker 1: of his father's sheep. He could have thought, God, why 306 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:58,719 Speaker 1: didn't you give me an impressive gift? Why didn't you 307 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: just give me one talent. I'm an expert with a slingshot. 308 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 1: Big deal. That's never going to take me any place. 309 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,199 Speaker 1: But if you'll be faithful with the gifts you have, 310 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 1: if you'll develop it, grow, learn, get better, that gift 311 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 1: will open doors to places you've never dreamed. Don't discount 312 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: your gift. It may seem small to you compared to others. 313 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: It feels insignificant, but there is nothing ordinary about you. 314 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:31,560 Speaker 1: You have the fingerprints of God all over you. God 315 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:35,160 Speaker 1: made you in his own image. He crowned you with favor. 316 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:39,399 Speaker 1: You have royal blood flowing through your veins. Don't believe 317 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: those lies. There's nothing special about you. You're not as 318 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:46,640 Speaker 1: talented as your brother. You don't have a big personality 319 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:49,879 Speaker 1: like your friend. You don't have the design skills like 320 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 1: you're coworker. Maybe not, but you do have a slingshot. 321 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:59,639 Speaker 1: There's something God has given you. That slingshot may seem ordinary, 322 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: but when God breathes on it, you'll defeat a giant 323 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 1: twice your size. You'll be promoted beyond your talent. You'll 324 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:11,919 Speaker 1: go places where you didn't have the experience. You weren't 325 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 1: next in line, but suddenly the door opened, Suddenly the 326 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 1: compact center is yours. Suddenly people are celebrating you. But 327 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,880 Speaker 1: too often we look at others and think about how 328 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 1: great they are, We put them on a pedestal. But 329 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: God has put greatness in you. He's given you gifts, creativity, dreams. 330 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 1: He created you to leave your mark on this generation. 331 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:42,400 Speaker 1: You're not supposed to live and die and nobody knew 332 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 1: you were here. There is something significant about you, something 333 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 1: that will cause you to stand out. We're years from now, 334 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:54,439 Speaker 1: people will look back and say you made the world 335 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: a better place. Stir up those gifts, Stir up that faith. 336 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,919 Speaker 1: Don't get so caught up in celebrating others that you 337 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:07,680 Speaker 1: don't recognize there's something in you to be celebrated. Jeremiah said, 338 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:12,119 Speaker 1: your word, Oh Lord, is like fire shut up in 339 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: my bones. There is something shut up in you, something 340 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:19,400 Speaker 1: big that's about to be released. 341 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 2: Dreams, books, movies, inventions, businesses, ministries, Potential that you haven't 342 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 2: tapped into, gifts and talents that you didn't know were there. 343 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:35,919 Speaker 1: You haven't seen them yet because it hasn't been the 344 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: right time. But your season is coming. The good break, 345 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:45,680 Speaker 1: the promotion, the opportunity, it's on the way now. Don't 346 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 1: be surprised if there's opposition. That promotion may be disguised 347 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 1: as Goliath. That giant looks like it's there to stop you, 348 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:58,919 Speaker 1: but it's a setup. It's going to thrust you to 349 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 1: a new level. You're going to discover what the slingshot 350 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 1: was all about. It was a test. You proved your faithfulness. 351 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 1: You did the right thing when nobody was watching. You 352 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:16,480 Speaker 1: kept a good attitude when it wasn't fair. You celebrated 353 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:20,200 Speaker 1: others when you could have been jealous. Now your time 354 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 1: is coming. What's been shut up in your spirit is 355 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:27,920 Speaker 1: about to be released. It's going to be bigger, more rewarding, 356 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 1: more fulfilling than you ever imagine. It's not going to 357 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 1: come through your neighbor, through your cousin, through your boss, 358 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: through your pastor. It's going to come through you. It's 359 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 1: your baby, It's your time to be celebrated. This is 360 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 1: what happened in the scripture with Sarah. She and her 361 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: husband Abraham were very old. Sarah had been bearing her 362 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: whole life and not able to have children. But in 363 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: Genesis seventeen, God said to Abraham, I will give Sarah 364 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:03,160 Speaker 1: a son. She will be the mother of nations. Kings 365 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 1: of people will come out of her. Every circumstance said 366 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 1: it was impossible. She was out in the desert, no 367 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: fertility treatments, no medical procedures, eighty years old. Yet God said, 368 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:21,360 Speaker 1: you have kings in you. You have nations in you. 369 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 1: He was saying, Sarah, what I've put in you is 370 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: more than you can imagine. God is saying the same 371 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 1: thing to you. There are kings in you. There is 372 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 1: greatness in you. It's much bigger than what you think. 373 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: Don't let circumstances talk you out of it. You may 374 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 1: not see how it could work out. God has ways 375 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:46,720 Speaker 1: to do it that you've never thought of. One touch 376 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: of God's favor will catapult you to the next level. 377 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: When Sarah heard this, it was so unbelievable. She laughed. 378 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 1: She said, me, have a baby. I don't think so. 379 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:02,679 Speaker 1: She loved the idea, but since she was so old, 380 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 1: she thought the baby would have to come through somebody else. 381 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 1: So she tried to help God out. She had Abraham 382 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 1: sleep with her maid, and they had a son. She 383 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,960 Speaker 1: was so excited. She said, God, you did what you said. 384 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:21,879 Speaker 1: God said, Sarah, that is not the promised child. I 385 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,879 Speaker 1: didn't put the promise in somebody else. I put the 386 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 1: promise in you. At ninety years old, against all odds, 387 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 1: she became pregnant and gave birth to a son named Isaac. 388 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:37,880 Speaker 1: What God put in you, he's still going to bring 389 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 1: to pass. You are pregnant with destiny. You are pregnant 390 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 1: with greatness. It's not going to come through others. You're 391 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 1: going to shine, You're going to excel. You're going to 392 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 1: be promoted. You're going to be celebrated. Friends. You are 393 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: fully loaded. You're not at a deficit. You're not lacking. 394 00:25:56,840 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 1: You're full of potential, full of favor. Like Sarah, you 395 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:03,200 Speaker 1: may have been barn for a long time. You don't 396 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: see how it can happen. Get ready, This is a 397 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 1: new day. Things are changing in your favor. I believe 398 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 1: and declare what's been shut up in your spirit is 399 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: being released. Dreams are being released, potential, promotion, healing, abundance, vindication, breakthroughs, 400 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:28,239 Speaker 1: the fullness of your destiny in Jesus's name, And if 401 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 1: you receive it. Can you say amen? Today, I'd like 402 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,440 Speaker 1: to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord 403 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:39,880 Speaker 1: of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 404 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I 405 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 1: make you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed 406 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:53,280 Speaker 1: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get 407 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 1: in a good Bible based church, and keep God first place. 408 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,920 Speaker 3: Three minutes Can such a small amount of time make 409 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 3: a big difference to your day to turn worry into confidence, 410 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:10,640 Speaker 3: frustration to hope, defeat to victory. Maybe you just need 411 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:11,679 Speaker 3: a boost of faith. 412 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:15,159 Speaker 1: When we put God first place and get our thinking 413 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:18,199 Speaker 1: in line with his, even a small seed of time 414 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:21,200 Speaker 1: can make a huge difference. We have a new resource 415 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 1: called three minute Mornings. Start your day the blessed way. 416 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: My challenge is when you wake up, before you leave 417 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:31,440 Speaker 1: the house, take three minutes to speak blessings over your 418 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:34,880 Speaker 1: life and to declare God's favor. Get your mind going 419 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,119 Speaker 1: in the right direction. When you do that, you're setting 420 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:40,880 Speaker 1: yourself up for a blessed, victorious day. 421 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 422 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 3: of any size to the ministry this month, Joel and 423 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 3: Victoria would like to send you this just released, life 424 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 3: giving new daily devotional. Before your feet hit the ground 425 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 3: or go out the door, have your heart experience a 426 00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 3: bit of heaven. Set your mind on the things above 427 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:03,560 Speaker 3: with our new three Minute Mornings devotional. With this new 428 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,359 Speaker 3: three hundred and sixty five day devotional, three Minute Mornings, 429 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 3: You'll experience God showering down his favor like never before. 430 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:14,879 Speaker 3: You'll focus on the better that is coming and fully 431 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:18,080 Speaker 3: realize the freedom of not worrying about tomorrow. 432 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:21,600 Speaker 1: Victoria, I pray for you and your family every day. 433 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:25,000 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your prayer and support. You're 434 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:28,080 Speaker 1: making a difference all over the world. Remember you can 435 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:32,920 Speaker 1: watch the services online every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, 436 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:36,920 Speaker 1: listen on Sirius XM. But until we meet again, mid 437 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 1: the Lord bless you and keep you. 438 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of Three Minute Mornings today. 439 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 3: Visit Joelostein dot com or call eighty eight five six seven. 440 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:47,560 Speaker 1: Joel