1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 1: enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,880 Speaker 1: share it with a friend, reappreciate you and pray for 5 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: God's very best in your life. Oh God, bless you. 6 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 1: It's great to be with you today, and I hope 7 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 8 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: daily podcast, our YouTube channel, and social media, and you 9 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: can come visit us in person. We'd love to have 10 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: you be a part of one of our services. I'd 11 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: let to start with something funny, and I heard about 12 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: these three sisters, ages ninety six, ninety four, and ninety 13 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: two that lived together. One night, the ninety six year 14 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,599 Speaker 1: old draws a bath and she puts one foot in 15 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: and stops. She hollers, downstairs, I can't remember if I 16 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: was getting in or getting out. The ninety four year 17 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 1: old says, hang on, I'll come up and help you, 18 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: and she gets halfway up the stairs and stops. He says, 19 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: I can't remember if I've gone up or coming down. 20 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: The ninety two year old shook her head said, ma'am ope, 21 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: I never get that forgetful. She knocked on wood for 22 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: good luck. Then she said, hang on, I'll come help 23 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:08,759 Speaker 1: both of you as soon as I see who's at 24 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: the door. No, no, no, that's not us. We're gonna 25 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: have sound mind, clear minds. In Jesus' name, Come on, 26 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 1: say like you mean it. This is my Bible. I 27 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: am what it says I am. I have what it 28 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 1: says I have. I can do what it says I 29 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. 30 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 1: I boldly confess my mind is alert, my heart is recepted. 31 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 32 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: bless you. I want to talk to you today about 33 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: fake friends. There are people, I should say ushers lock 34 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: the doors. But there are people that God brings into 35 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: our lives that are amazing people. They love us unconditionally. 36 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: They cheer us on, celebrate our victories, and stick with 37 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: us through thick and thin. But in the midst of 38 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: all these great people will be some fake friends, people 39 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: that have hidden agendas and ulterior motives. They're not concerned 40 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,959 Speaker 1: about you. They're concerned about what you can do for them. 41 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 1: They see you as an opportunity in they'll use control 42 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: and manipulation to get what they want, guilty into doing 43 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: things make you feel bad because you can't meet their expectations. 44 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: A fake friend is two faced. They clap when you 45 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: succeed and act like they're happy. Down deep, they're jealous. 46 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 1: They were hoping you would fail. They compliment you on 47 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: your new outfit and act excited about the promotion, but 48 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: behind your back talk about how you didn't deserve it, 49 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 1: make derogatory remarks. Fake friends create unnecessary drama, stir things up, 50 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: bring confusion. They act like they're watching after you doing 51 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: your favor. Their real agenda is to get you upset, 52 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: cause your strife and turmoil. If you don't have discernment 53 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 1: and recognize who's a true friend who has your best 54 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 1: interest at heart, and who's a fake friend who's just 55 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 1: here for what you could do for them, that life 56 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: can be frustrating. Jesus said in Matthew you will know 57 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: them by their fruit. Does it say you will know 58 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 1: them by their words? People can say one thing, they 59 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: can talk a good game, but they're not always who 60 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: they say They are. Their actions and how they treat you, 61 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: what they do is who they are. You won't have 62 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: to go up to an apple tree and ask it, 63 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: what kind of tree are you? You look at the fruit. 64 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: This is an apple. I know it's an apple tree. 65 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: You've never gone to an apple tree and found a 66 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: lemon growing one of the branches, never gone to an 67 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: orange tree and found a banana growing off of it. 68 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: The tree will only produce the fruit of what it is. 69 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: If someone is always telling you one thing, but the 70 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: fruit is different, the fruit is not lying. The fruit 71 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: is who they are. Well, I'm loyal, I'm faithful, I'm 72 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: always gonna be there for you. But they never show off. 73 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 1: They always have an excuse. They're always too busy. That's 74 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: who they are. If they're gossiping, talking bad about people, 75 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: stirring up trouble, that's showing their true colors. Pay attention 76 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: to people's fruit. Well, Joel, they're nice to me, they 77 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: compliment me, they say kind things. But behind your back, 78 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 1: when you're not around, you hear how they talk bad 79 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 1: about you, push you down, discredit you. And I'm all 80 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: for giving people the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they're 81 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 1: having a bad day, but if it happens again and again, 82 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: when it's a pattern, their fruit is not lying. That's 83 00:04:56,120 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: who they are. Bottom line is you don't need fake friends. 84 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: You don't need people you have to play up to. 85 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,919 Speaker 1: People that have hidden agendas, people that are too faced. 86 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: They're not helping you move forward. They're keeping you from 87 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,279 Speaker 1: your destiny. If you'll get rid of the wrong people, 88 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: God will bring the right people. And sometimes the reason 89 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: we're not seeing true friends is we're holding on to 90 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: the wrong friends. Down deep, we know something's not right. 91 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 1: Our discernment's going off. They don't have integrity. They just 92 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: stir me up. They just want what I can do 93 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,839 Speaker 1: for them. We try to defend them, make excuses. You 94 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 1: need to make a change. You don't have to make 95 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 1: a big announcement you're fake. I'm done with you. Just 96 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,679 Speaker 1: little by little, spend less and less time with them. 97 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:51,359 Speaker 1: The scripture says, to redeem the time. Your time is 98 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: too valuable to spend with people that are draining your energy, 99 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: that have hidden agendas, that don't really care about you. 100 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: But what you can do for them. Life is flying by. 101 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: The enemy would love for us to waste years distracted, confused, 102 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: trying to figure out what they meant control. Do yourself 103 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: a favor, get rid of the fate friends you have 104 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: a destiny to fulfill. There's a calling on your life. 105 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 1: We have a responsibility to live with purpose and not 106 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 1: be sidetracked by people that can pull us off course. 107 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: This is what happened with Sampson. His birth was predicted 108 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: by the prophets. He was destined to save the Israelites, 109 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 1: and God gave him supernatural strength and this power to 110 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:45,040 Speaker 1: defeat his enemies. But Sampson started hanging around the wrong people. 111 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: He fell in love with a lady named Delilah. She 112 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: was beautiful. He was so infatuated and so caught up 113 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 1: he ignored what he was feeling inside. He didn't pay 114 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: attention to the alarms that were going off. God will 115 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: always give you a warning. There will be an uneasiness 116 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: and unrest. Don't push it down. That's God speaking to you. 117 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: That's the spirit of discernment telling you be careful. Something 118 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: is faith. It's not what it looks like. Sampson was 119 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: a Hebrew and the Philistines were trying to capture him 120 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: because he was so powerful. They couldn't defeat him by 121 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: normal means, so they decided to try to trick him. 122 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: They told Delilah to go seduce him and try to 123 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: find the secret of his strength. They said in verse five, 124 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: if you'll do this, will each pay you eleven hundred 125 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: pieces of silver. She got all dressed up and put 126 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: her fake eyelashes on, her hair extensions in, got her 127 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: new Louis Vaton bag, strutted in there to see Sampson. 128 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: He looked up and saw how beautiful she was. He 129 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: thought he was dreaming. He was so caught up in 130 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: how amazing she looked on the outside. He didn't think 131 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: anything about what was happening on the inside. What were 132 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: her motives? Why was she there? Who is this girl? 133 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: She was so nice, kind, beautiful. Sampson thought this must 134 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: be the hand of God, when in fact it was 135 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: the enemy at work. She wasn't there because she cared 136 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 1: about Sampson. She was there because of what Samson could 137 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: do for her. She had a hidden agenda. She could 138 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: get paid a bunch of silver for just finding out 139 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: a secret. She acted so loving, Sampson, You are everything 140 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: I dreamed of. You are so good looking. I want 141 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: to spend my life with you. All eyes don't believe 142 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: everything you hear. The scripture says, test the spirit, dig 143 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: down a little deeper, listen to what you're feeling inside. 144 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: Every person is not who they say they are. When 145 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: there's a hidden agenda, they'll say what you wanted here, 146 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: They'll use manipulation, deception, flattery to try to get what 147 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: they wanted. She had Sampson lay his head in her lap. 148 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 1: She said, now, sammy boy, if you really loved me, 149 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,679 Speaker 1: please tell me the secret of your strength. What's amazing. 150 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 1: If Sampson knew she was trying to trick him, he 151 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: knew she wasn't being truthful, but he didn't take it seriously. 152 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: He thought he could play around with it. He told her, 153 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:31,239 Speaker 1: if you tie me up with seven fresh bow strings 154 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: that have never been dried, then I will become weak, 155 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: have the strength of an ordinary man. She's knuck out 156 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 1: and told the Philistines. While he was sleeping, they came 157 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: in and tied him up with seven fresh bow streams. 158 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: Delilah woke him up, Sampson, Samson, the Philistines are here. 159 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: He sat up and broke those strings like they were nothing. 160 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 1: Delilah was so upset she came and said, Sampson, you 161 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: lied to me. If you loved me, you would tell 162 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: me the truth. The whole time she's been lying she's 163 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: got an ulterior motive. She's working for the enemy. Now 164 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: she's trying to make him feel guilty for not telling 165 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: this secret. This happened two more times. Sampson made up 166 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: things where he could be captured, but it wasn't the truth. 167 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 1: You would think Sampson would see right through this man. 168 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 1: This girl is not for me. She's in it for 169 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: herself for what she can get out of me. Has 170 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 1: seemed obvious. She's a fake. She's two faced. She's saying 171 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: she loves Sampson to his face, but behind his back, 172 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 1: she's telling the enemy how to capture him. Look at 173 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: this pattern. Three times she's done something so obvious to 174 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:48,079 Speaker 1: show her colors. She asking the secret, then runs tells 175 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: the Philistines. How could Sampson not see that she was 176 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: a phony? Sometimes you need to step back and examine relationships. 177 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 1: Which ones have a pattern of causing you trouble, a 178 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 1: pattern of bringing strife and drama where you feel guilty, 179 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: you feel used. Perhaps you have a Delilah, a person 180 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:14,439 Speaker 1: that's saying one thing but meaning something else, a hidden agenda, 181 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,719 Speaker 1: using you for their gain. On the outside, they may 182 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: have great qualities, looks, position, charm, but what's going on 183 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: on the inside, what's happening behind the scenes. If there's 184 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 1: a pattern of things that are not right, lack of integrity, 185 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: a pattern of feeling guilty it's always my fault, I'm 186 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 1: not enough, a pattern of manipulation, drama, you're having to 187 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: defend yourself, recognize what's happening. A fake friend is going 188 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 1: to drain your energies, take your peace, and cloud your vision. 189 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:55,359 Speaker 1: Best thing you can do is put up some boundaries. 190 00:11:56,120 --> 00:12:00,040 Speaker 1: Stop allowing them to manipulate you. Quit letting them and 191 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: get that close to you. Don't share those secrets, those 192 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: hidden dreams that you know they're going to use against you. Now, 193 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: I'm not saying they're a bad person. They just don't 194 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: have your best interests at heart. They may be kind, 195 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: they tell you nice things, they say they care about you, 196 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: so did Delilah. You have to judge them by their actions, 197 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 1: not by what they say. Look at the track record, 198 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: study the patterns. Ask yourself, why do I always feel 199 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,199 Speaker 1: drained when I spend time with them? Why am I 200 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: having to constantly defend myself? Why do what I tell 201 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: them in confidence? Three other people ask me about Samson 202 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 1: kept overriding all these signs of a fake friend, of 203 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: a hidden agenda, And he had plenty of opportunities to 204 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: make a change, but he didn't do it. Delilah kept 205 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: asking and pleading with him, Samson, you know how much 206 00:12:57,400 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 1: I love you, How could you do me this way? 207 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: Tell me the secret of your strength? Verse seventeen says 208 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: she pressed him very hard with her words, day after 209 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 1: day until his soul was vexed unto death. That means 210 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: she nagged and nagged until he couldn't take it anymore. 211 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: This time he told her the truth. If you cut 212 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 1: my hair, I'll lose my strength. They cut it and 213 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 1: captured him. That was it. She got her pieces of silver. 214 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:33,560 Speaker 1: He ended up bound and missed his destiny. Now I 215 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:37,199 Speaker 1: realize not every fate friend is going to be this dramatic, 216 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 1: but the principle is there. They don't have your best 217 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,679 Speaker 1: interests at heart. It's all about what you can do 218 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 1: for them. They'll pretend and charm, try to make you 219 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:51,679 Speaker 1: feel bad when you don't do what they want. Recognize 220 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:56,199 Speaker 1: what's happening. A true friend doesn't pressure you into doing 221 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: things you don't want. They don't try to manipulate you 222 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 1: in to getting their way. That's people with hidden agendas, 223 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: ulterior motives. They play up to you and get on 224 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:12,080 Speaker 1: your good side and build your trust because eventually they're 225 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: going to try to get something from you. I pray 226 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 1: every day, God give me discernment, Help me to see 227 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 1: things for what they really are. Help me to know 228 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: who doesn't have good motives, who's trying to manipulate, who's pretending, 229 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 1: who's two faced. I heard someone say I ask God 230 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: to protect me from my enemies, and I started losing friends. 231 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: Sometimes it's not the enemy holding us back, it's fake friends. 232 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: It's deliless people that we're allowing in our lives that 233 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: don't have good motives, that are only out for what 234 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: we can do for them. If you're going to fulfill 235 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: your destiny, you have to be strong and take control 236 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: of your life. You have a responsibility to redeem your time, 237 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 1: to use the gifts God's given you to make the 238 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: most of each day. Like the apostle Paul tells us, 239 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: when my father went to be with the Lord and 240 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: I stepped up to pass through the church, I was 241 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: very insecure and I didn't know if I could do it. 242 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 1: This was all new to me and I'd never ministered before. 243 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: There was a man that I had grown up with 244 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: that was a part of the church and a friend 245 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 1: of our family. And it was a good man, and 246 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 1: I believe had good intentions, but he saw this as 247 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 1: an opportunity to take the church where he wanted it 248 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 1: to go. He would encourage me and tell me I 249 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: was doing good, but there was always this underlying message 250 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: that I needed to do more of this and less 251 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: of that. I felt this pressure that I was being 252 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 1: squeezed into a mold that I didn't want to be in. 253 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: And it wasn't anything overtly critical or negative. It was 254 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: just the feeling I would get from him, little subtle 255 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: innuendos to really be good if you did it this way, 256 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: or I think you'd be better off doing it this 257 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: other way. And I'm all for taking advice, getting good counsel. 258 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: But only you can hear what God is saying to 259 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 1: your spirit. God may confirm what he's saying through other people, 260 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: but God is not going to tell someone else what 261 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: you need to do for your life. He's not gonna 262 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: give them direction. He's gonna come straight to you. Seeing 263 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: the Old Testament, God would speak to the prophet to 264 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 1: tell the people what to do. But since Jesus came, 265 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit lives on the inside of each one 266 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: of us. You don't need a prophet to speak to you. 267 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 1: A priest, a rabbi, a pastor, a friend. God will 268 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 1: speak directly to you. And yes, he can use people, 269 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: but deep down you know what bears witness to your spirit. 270 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: Nothing this man was telling me felt right to me, 271 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: and over time he got more and more out spoken. 272 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:05,120 Speaker 1: I'm very nice, I like to please people. But something 273 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:08,639 Speaker 1: rose up in me so strongly. I thought to myself, 274 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: I am not going to be who you called me 275 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 1: to be. I'm gonna be who God called me to be, 276 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: because when we come to the end of life, we're 277 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 1: not going to answer to people. We're gonna answer to God. 278 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 1: And I was nice, I was kind, but I didn't 279 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:28,400 Speaker 1: let him pressure me into his mold. Eventually he got 280 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 1: upset and left the church and we had a party. 281 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:34,640 Speaker 1: I mean, we were so upset. But I don't mean 282 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 1: this derogatory. But he was a fake friend. He didn't 283 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 1: want what was best for me. He wanted to manipulate 284 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: me into doing what he wanted. All those times he 285 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 1: was encouraging me wasn't out of a pure spirit. There 286 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: was a hidden agenda. I gotta wind Joel over so 287 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 1: I can get my way. I can tell you this, 288 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 1: If I had not been strong and taking control of 289 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: my life, wouldn't be up here today. If I had 290 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 1: not listened to the discernment, if I had pushed down 291 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: that feeling that this is not right doesn't bear witness, 292 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 1: and just giving into what he wanted, letting him control me, 293 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:16,400 Speaker 1: I would have missed what God called me to do. 294 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 1: It's good to evaluate why we do things. Am I 295 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 1: doing this out of guilt because this person is going 296 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:25,959 Speaker 1: to look down on me if I don't. That's a 297 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: fake friend. A true friend wants the best for you. 298 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: A true friend will get an agreement with what God 299 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: put in your heart and cheer you on, even if 300 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,960 Speaker 1: it's not what they were hoping for. And yes, they 301 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:43,360 Speaker 1: may challenge you, they may give you good advice. They're 302 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,160 Speaker 1: not going to pressure you try to make you feel 303 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 1: bad if you don't do what they want. If not, 304 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 1: it's manipulation. Too many of us are letting other people 305 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:58,679 Speaker 1: run our lives, all the demands, the expectations. If I 306 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:02,119 Speaker 1: don't stop by joy, they'll get their feelings hurt. If 307 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 1: I don't call them three times a week, they're not 308 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:08,439 Speaker 1: going to be happy. Here's the key. You're not responsible 309 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:13,439 Speaker 1: to keep everyone happy. Your responsibility is to keep yourself happy, 310 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: keep yourself peaceful, keep yourself focused. If you have a 311 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:23,360 Speaker 1: friend that always stirs things up, brings drama, gets you upset. 312 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: Did you hear what they said about you? You shouldn't 313 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 1: let that happen. Can I tell you you don't need 314 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 1: that friend. They're a peace stealer. They're a drama queen. 315 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: You have enough drama in your life. You don't need 316 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: them bringing drama. Some people's hidden agenda is to stir 317 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: things up, turn you against your coworker, get you jealous 318 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: of your neighbor, critical of your cousin. You don't have 319 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 1: time for that. They don't have your best interests at heart. 320 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: That's a fake friend. Their goal is to create chaos, discontentment. 321 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 1: When they're around, there's always some kind of trouble. But 322 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 1: God is not the author of confusion. Your friends shouldn't 323 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:10,680 Speaker 1: drain you upset you. True friends bring peace. True friends 324 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: bring joy. You're better when they leave, not worse off. 325 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:19,439 Speaker 1: We all know Judas the most famous fate friend. He 326 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: was one of Jesus' disciples. He traveled with Jesus, saw 327 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:27,879 Speaker 1: the miracles, saw Lazarus come back to life, saw the 328 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 1: food multiplied, saw Jesus going around being good to people. 329 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: All this love and compassion. You would think Judas would 330 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: be layal, trustworthy, someone you could count on. But when 331 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 1: Jesus was in the garden of Gaseimonea about to be crucified, 332 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 1: Judas came up with the Roman soldiers to betray him. 333 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: When he saw Jesus, he said hello, rebbi and kiss Jesus. 334 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 1: Seemed like a friendly greeting, a warm embrace. Look at 335 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: how people can be two faced. The kiss was assigned 336 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:06,080 Speaker 1: for the soldiers to arrest Jesus. Behind the friendly greeting 337 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:10,399 Speaker 1: was a hidden agenda, and Jesus knew all along what 338 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: was going to happen. After the kiss, Jesus said to 339 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: Judas in verse fifty, do what you came to do. Friend. 340 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:25,200 Speaker 1: He called Judas friend. He could have called him enemy, betrayer, hypocrite, 341 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:29,399 Speaker 1: but he called him friend. Jesus was showing us that 342 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:32,919 Speaker 1: not everyone that calls your friend is truly a friend. 343 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 1: Some people that seem like Therefore, you have hidden agendas. 344 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 1: They see all the goods you do. They see you 345 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: loving your family, excelling at work, being a blessing to others, 346 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:50,159 Speaker 1: instead of celebrating you and cheering you on. Sometimes the 347 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 1: enemy will plant a seed of jealousy, seed of bitterness, 348 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 1: a set of strife. We all have a few enemies 349 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 1: in life, people that don't want us to succeed. But 350 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 1: sometimes the enemy is not obvious. It's a fake friend. 351 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 1: It's a Judas, someone that greets us warmly but has 352 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 1: wrong motives, that gives us that friendly kiss, but not 353 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 1: out of affection, it's out of betrayal. Pay attention to 354 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 1: your enemies, but stay aware of your friends. May not 355 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: be something so dramatic like Judas betraying Jesus. But friends 356 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 1: can get jealous, friends can turn manipulative, friends can have 357 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,400 Speaker 1: wrong motives. And again it doesn't mean they're a bad 358 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:38,679 Speaker 1: person and you have to never see them again. No, 359 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 1: but you should be aware so you don't open yourself 360 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: up to harm. The scripture says, don't cast your pearls 361 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: among swine. Your pearls are your gifts, your dreams, your personality. 362 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:56,400 Speaker 1: Now I've learned some people can't handle your success. They 363 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 1: were fine as long as you were at the same level, 364 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 1: in the same department. You're still single. But if you 365 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 1: pass them up and see more favored you get married, 366 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 1: you move into that nicer house that can stir them up. 367 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,639 Speaker 1: They may applaud you on the outside, but on the 368 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: inside they think they don't deserve that promotion. I'm smarter 369 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: than they are. A true friend will celebrate your success. 370 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: They're not competing with you, trying to outperform you, secretly 371 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: hoping you'll fail, You'll get left out. You don't need 372 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:34,879 Speaker 1: people like that. If you see these signs of people 373 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:39,679 Speaker 1: critical not for you, sometimes you just feel it on 374 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 1: the inside. Something's not right. Don't make excuses for it, 375 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: don't try to win them over. Just move forward and 376 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,399 Speaker 1: God will bring you friends that do celebrate you, friends 377 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 1: that are happy when you succeed. And I'm sure you 378 00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:58,720 Speaker 1: have some of those friends now, amazing people that you 379 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:02,679 Speaker 1: dearly love, that you can always count on. And I 380 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: would guess that you may have a few fake friends 381 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: as well. The key is to know the difference. You 382 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: need to know when Judas is among you. Jesus never 383 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 1: got rid of him. He was a part of his destiny, 384 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:21,399 Speaker 1: but he knew who he was now a fake friend. 385 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 1: You don't bring into your inner circle. You don't tell 386 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:28,920 Speaker 1: them things that are confidential that you don't want repeated. 387 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: You don't let them control and manipulate you. You set 388 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 1: some boundaries. You don't play up to them, waste your 389 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:41,439 Speaker 1: valuable time trying to keep them happy. These may be 390 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: coworkers that are going to be there for the next 391 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 1: ten years, maybe family members, relatives that you know have 392 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: hidden agendas. They act like they like you, but you 393 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: know better. They don't want you to succeed. That's okay. 394 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 1: You have the grace to handle it. Let them upset you. 395 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: You don't take de bait when they try to stir 396 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,920 Speaker 1: you up. You don't get offended when they leave you out, 397 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:10,399 Speaker 1: You stay in peace. You know who they are. They're 398 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 1: just a fake friend. Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on 399 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:19,439 Speaker 1: that donkey palm Sunday. People shouted Hosanna, blessed is he 400 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: who comes in the name of the Lord, celebrating his arrival. 401 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:27,960 Speaker 1: All this praise and people cheering him on. Three days later, 402 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: the same people were shouting, crucify him. He's not our king. 403 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 1: Jesus had a lot of fake friends to deal with 404 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:39,920 Speaker 1: in our journey. We're going to have some fake friends. 405 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:42,679 Speaker 1: You can't get rid of them, but you need to 406 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: be aware. Are you spending time and energy trying to 407 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: keep people happy that have ulterior motives, or if you're 408 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:55,640 Speaker 1: doing things out of guilt pressure they don't meet your demands, 409 00:25:55,680 --> 00:26:00,399 Speaker 1: they get upset. Maybe you have some delilahs, people with 410 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: hidden agendas trying to take advantage of you, wanting only 411 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:08,160 Speaker 1: what you can do for them. Pay attention to who's 412 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: in your life. Listen to the warnings, don't override that uneasiness. 413 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:16,720 Speaker 1: That's God's speaking to you. Remember you will know them 414 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 1: by their fruit, not by their words, but by their actions. 415 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 1: Notice patterns that are not right, things that don't ever change. 416 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:30,360 Speaker 1: You don't have time to waste playing games, being distracted. 417 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:32,879 Speaker 1: That may have happened in the past, but this is 418 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:36,119 Speaker 1: a new day. God is going to show you people 419 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 1: that have hidden agendas. He's going to reveal wrong motives. 420 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 1: You don't have to be rude to them, just quietly 421 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:46,880 Speaker 1: spend less and less time with them. If you'll weed 422 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 1: out the wrong people. I believe and declare God is 423 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:53,919 Speaker 1: going to bring you true friends, people that want the 424 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 1: best for you, that push you forward, that are loyal, trustworthy, 425 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:01,679 Speaker 1: that help you become all you were created to be 426 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 1: in Jesus' name, And if you receive it, can you 427 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 1: say amen? I'd like to give you an opportunity to 428 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 1: make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray 429 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:17,440 Speaker 1: with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. 430 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:22,120 Speaker 1: Come into my heart. I'll make you my Lord and savior. 431 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 1: If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 432 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 1: born again. We'd love to send you some free information 433 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 1: on your new walk with the Lord. You can text 434 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 1: the number on the screen or go to the website. 435 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 1: But I hope you'll get into a good Bible based 436 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:40,919 Speaker 1: church and keep God first place. When we face challenges, 437 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 1: it's easy to feel like God has forgotten about us. 438 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:46,680 Speaker 1: We don't see anything happening, and God's telling us it's 439 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 1: not going to work out. But God is not called 440 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 1: the Great I was or the Great I will be. 441 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: He's called the Great I Am. In my new book, 442 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: he is I Am, You'll discover that God is with 443 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:01,960 Speaker 1: you in every area of your life. I Am is 444 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 1: always in the present, not at a later time. God 445 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,920 Speaker 1: is working in your life right now. I Am means 446 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 1: I am your healer. I am your provider, I am 447 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:16,440 Speaker 1: your waymaker. Whether you're facing a challenge or pursuing your dreams, 448 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 1: stay in faith. The Great I Am is right there 449 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: with you. 450 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 2: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 451 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 2: of any amount this month, we would like to send 452 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 2: you a copy of Joel's book, he Is I Am. 453 00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:32,879 Speaker 2: God is for you here and now. Are you in 454 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 2: need of protection or provision today? Jesus assures us, I 455 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 2: Am the good Shepherd. Does the path ahead seem uncertain 456 00:28:41,040 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 2: or dark? Jesus declares, I Am the Light of the world. 457 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 2: Do you feel like your career, calling or marriage just 458 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:53,640 Speaker 2: beyond hope? Jesus promises, I Am the Resurrection and the Life. 459 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 2: With every I Am statement, You'll discover more about who 460 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 2: God is and what He has made of being for you, 461 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 2: not someday, but today. Request your copy today and watch 462 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:09,600 Speaker 2: God's promise come alive. No matter what you face, He 463 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:13,080 Speaker 2: is here and now for you. Be sure to request 464 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 2: your copy of he Is I Am. God Is for 465 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 2: you here and now today. Visit Joeloastin dot com or 466 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 2: call eight eight eight five six seven, Joel. 467 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 1: You're never alone. The Great I Am is behind the scenes, 468 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:33,040 Speaker 1: making ways, opening doors, turning things in your favor. Victoria 469 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:34,640 Speaker 1: and I want you to know we love you. We 470 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 1: pray for you every day. Thanks for your prayer and 471 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:41,479 Speaker 1: support of the ministry. Your generosity is making a difference 472 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: in people's lives around the world. Special thank you to 473 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 1: our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly support. If 474 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 1: you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 475 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:55,400 Speaker 1: Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 476 00:29:55,960 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 1: download our daily podcast, listen on Serious XM, watch OHI 477 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 1: our YouTube channel, and the new Joel Ostein network streaming 478 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 1: on television twenty four hours a day. But until we 479 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:09,360 Speaker 1: see you next time, may the Lord bless you and 480 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 1: keep you. 481 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of he Is I Am. 482 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 2: God is for you here and now today. Visit Joelostein 483 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:21,480 Speaker 2: dot com or call eight eight eight five six seven 484 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:25,480 Speaker 2: Joel for an additional donation. This month we are offering 485 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:29,760 Speaker 2: the IM Collection. It includes a beautiful two piece scripture 486 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 2: walart plus the he Is IM book bundle. The stretched 487 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:39,200 Speaker 2: canvas elegantly features IM and scripture reference John fourteen six. 488 00:30:39,720 --> 00:30:43,120 Speaker 2: You can request these unique resources by calling eight eight 489 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 2: eight five six seven Joel for logging on to joelostein 490 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:51,120 Speaker 2: dot com today call or click anytime, twenty four hours 491 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:55,000 Speaker 2: a day. Yes, be reminded that the power of IM 492 00:30:55,320 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 2: is for you, each and every day