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See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 33 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 4: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 34 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 5: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 35 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 5: the ministry. 36 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 3: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 37 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 3: blessing and share it with a friends. 38 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 6: Reappreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life, and. 39 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 4: God bless you. It's a joy to come into your homes. 40 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 5: We love you and I know God has great things 41 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 5: in store. If you're ever in our area, I hope 42 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 5: you'll stop by and be a part of one of 43 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 5: our services. I promise you will make you feel right 44 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 5: at home. But thanks so much for tuning in today, 45 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 5: and I like to get started each week with something 46 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,239 Speaker 5: kind of funny, and I heard about this man. 47 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 4: He called the church. 48 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 5: Office and said, I want to speak to the head 49 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 5: hog at the trough. 50 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 4: The secretary was offended. 51 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 5: She said, if you mean the pastor, you're going to 52 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:27,799 Speaker 5: have to call him pastor, but you may not call 53 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 5: him the head hog at the trough. He said, fine, 54 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 5: but I was thinking about making a ten thousand dollars 55 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 5: donation to your church. She said, hang on, Porky just 56 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 5: walked in. All right, hold up your bibles. Let's say 57 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 5: it like we mean it. This is my Bible. I 58 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 5: am what it says I am. I have what it 59 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 5: says I have. I can do what it says I 60 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 5: can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. 61 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 5: I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 62 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,919 Speaker 5: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 63 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 5: bless you. I want to talk to you today about 64 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 5: being comfortable with who God made you to be. God 65 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 5: has equipped each one of us with specific gifts and talents. 66 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,399 Speaker 4: When God made you, he knew how high. 67 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 5: You could jump, how fast you could run, and how 68 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 5: much you could accomplish. He put in you a specific 69 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 5: set of skills. And it's up to each one of 70 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 5: us to not only identify those gifts, but we have 71 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 5: to be disciplined to develop our gifts. And one of 72 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 5: the keys is you need to stay in your strength zone. 73 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 5: There's something that you're good at naturally, something you can 74 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 5: do that comes easy to you. 75 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 4: Some of you you. 76 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 5: Could sell ice to an eskimo. You have a gift 77 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 5: of communication, and you shouldn't be sitting behind a desk 78 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 5: all day not interacting with other people. 79 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 4: Get in your area of gifting. Some of you are 80 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 4: great with your hands. 81 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 5: You can build furniture, you can make cabinets. 82 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 4: It's like that second nature to you. That's your strength zone. 83 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 5: That's the way God has wired you. It's all a 84 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 5: part of your divine destiny. And we need to ask 85 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 5: ourselves what am I good at naturally? What do I 86 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 5: do well? We have to identify our strengths and then 87 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 5: identify our weaknesses. And the scripture says to give yourself 88 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 5: to your gifts. In other words, don't spend all your 89 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 5: time trying to improve your weaknesses. Don't waste valuable days 90 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 5: pursuing things that are outside your main gifting. Focus on 91 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 5: your strengths, spend time improving the areas that you're already 92 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 5: good at. I heard somebody say on a scale of 93 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 5: one to ten, with ten being the highest, the most 94 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 5: we can ever improve is two or three numbers. And 95 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 5: for instance, I may have a desire to sing, but 96 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 5: I can tell you my singing ability would only rate 97 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 5: about a two. 98 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 4: Don't laugh, yours is not any better. 99 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 5: But even if I spent years taking voice lessons and 100 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 5: having people train me, I would still probably only be 101 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 5: able to bring that up to a four, maybe a five. 102 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 5: But think about it, five is average. Five is just mediocre. 103 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,840 Speaker 5: If you'll take something that you're already above average in 104 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 5: right now, something that you're already naturally good at, maybe 105 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:35,840 Speaker 5: in cells, in building and teaching, you're already a six 106 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 5: or a seven. If you'll put your time and energy 107 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 5: focused on developing that skill, you'll look up one day 108 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 5: and you'll be a eight, a nine, who knows, maybe 109 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 5: even a ten. Focus on your strengths, the things that 110 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 5: you're already good at. That's what God has wired into you. 111 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 5: But too often we see somebody doing something and we think, 112 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 5: I want to do that. That looks more exciting, that 113 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 5: seems more impressive, and we make the mistake of getting 114 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 5: out of our strength zone. But you have to stay 115 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 5: in your area of gifting and don't fall into the 116 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 5: trap of comparing your success with someone else's. 117 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 4: You're not running against them. 118 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 5: They have their own race, they have their own set 119 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 5: of skills, they have their own purpose. If you're going 120 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 5: to compete against anyone, compete against your own inner voice, 121 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 5: that voice down in your spirit that tells you who 122 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 5: you are and what you were created to be. When 123 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 5: you get complacent, that's the voice that tells you, come on, 124 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 5: press forward. 125 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 4: God has more in store. 126 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,919 Speaker 5: But don't compete against other people. Run your own race 127 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 5: and be the best that you can be. I think 128 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 5: about on a football team, there are certain positions that. 129 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:50,840 Speaker 4: Require different talents. 130 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 5: If you're alignment that blocks the defense from trying to 131 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,679 Speaker 5: get the quarterback, you need to be big and heavy 132 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 5: and strong. You don't have to know necessarily be fast, 133 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 5: you don't have to have good hands, you don't have 134 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 5: to throw accurately. Size and strength is what's really important. 135 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 5: But on the other hand, if you're a running back, 136 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 5: it's a totally different set of requirements. 137 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 4: You need speed, agility, quickness. 138 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 5: You have to be able to dart here and there 139 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:24,239 Speaker 5: and try to out maneuver your opponents. It's the same team, 140 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 5: but different requirements. The problem occurs when the lineman says, 141 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 5: I'm not happy where I am. I never get to 142 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 5: run the ball. People don't cheer for me like they 143 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 5: cheer for their running back. I think I'm going to 144 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 5: change positions. This is what many people do in life. 145 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 5: They try to function outside. 146 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 4: Of their natural gifting. 147 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 5: They see somebody that's more successful or something that's more glamorous, 148 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 5: and instead of running their race being comfortable with who 149 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 5: God made them to be, they compare themselves and they 150 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 5: end up letting that frustrate them. But you have to 151 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 5: stay in your strength zone. You're not going to be 152 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 5: good at something that you were not. 153 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 4: Equipped to do. And God will help you. 154 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 5: To become everything He's created you to be, but he 155 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 5: will not help you to be something you were not 156 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 5: created to be. And the scripture tells us we have 157 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 5: to accept the gift God has given us. It's easy 158 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 5: to think, God, I want that gift. God, I want 159 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 5: to be able to sing. God, I want to be 160 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 5: in management. I want to be the running back. But 161 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 5: if you'll quit comparing and take the pressure off of 162 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 5: yourself thinking that you have to have a certain position 163 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 5: in order to. 164 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 4: Feel good about who you are. 165 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 5: If you'll quit doing that, you'll feel that weight lift 166 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 5: off of you. Some of you are always in competition 167 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 5: with a family member, with a friend, with a coworker. 168 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 4: But you need to get free today. 169 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 5: We're not supposed to be competing against anyone else. 170 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 4: Run your own race. 171 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,679 Speaker 5: I heard somebody say I would rather be a great 172 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 5: sergeant than a poor general. We have to realize not 173 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 5: everyone was equipped to be a general. Everyone can't be 174 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 5: the leader, everyone. 175 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 4: Can't be the boss. 176 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 5: But a lot of times, because of the pressure we 177 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,359 Speaker 5: put on ourselves and the need we feel to impress, 178 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:20,559 Speaker 5: we think I've got to do what they're doing. I've 179 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:22,959 Speaker 5: got to be in that position so I'll be respected, 180 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 5: so I'll feel important. But that need to impress is 181 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,679 Speaker 5: because we have our worth and value in what we 182 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 5: do instead of who we are. You don't need to 183 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 5: impress people in order to feel good about yourself. If 184 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 5: you'll quit looking at others and just take what God 185 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 5: has given you and be the best that you can be, 186 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,959 Speaker 5: then you can feel good about yourself. I think about 187 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 5: my brother Paul in nineteen ninety nine, when my father 188 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 5: went to be with the Lord, Paul gave up his 189 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 5: practice as a successful surgeon. He moved back home to 190 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:01,559 Speaker 5: help us here in the ministry. Natural he could have 191 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 5: wanted to be in charge, after all, he's the older brother. 192 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:06,959 Speaker 5: He could have thought, I'm not gonna go back home 193 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,199 Speaker 5: and serve my younger brother, especially if he's gonna get 194 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 5: up there and make jokes about me all the time. 195 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 5: But Paul is comfortable in who God made him to be. 196 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:19,599 Speaker 4: He doesn't have to be up here in order to 197 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 4: feel good about himself. 198 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 5: We recognize our giftings are different. I know I enjoy 199 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 5: spending most of the week preparing for the week ends. 200 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 5: This is what I focus on down deep. I believe 201 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 5: this is what I was born to do. On the 202 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 5: other hand, Paul enjoys meeting with people one on one, 203 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 5: getting into their lives, finding out how he can help. 204 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,200 Speaker 5: He's very relational. I'll call him some nights, Hey, what 205 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 5: are you doing. We're having friends over for dinner. Another night, 206 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:50,839 Speaker 5: what's going on? We're having the couple's class over, like 207 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:53,599 Speaker 5: thirty or forty of them. Another time he's at a 208 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 5: friend's counseling them that's struggling in their marriage. Paul likes 209 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 5: getting into people's lives, and don't get me wrong, I 210 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 5: love people, but I'm just the opposite. When I'm at home, 211 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 5: I don't want any company. Listen, I loved you, but 212 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 5: do me a favor. 213 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 4: Do not come and visit me. 214 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 5: What is that God has wired us differently? Paul recognizes 215 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 5: his gifting. He's not striving to be up here. He's 216 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:26,439 Speaker 5: not thinking one day I'm gonna feel good about myself 217 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 5: when I'm in charge. 218 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 4: Paul accepts the gifts God has given him. 219 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:33,079 Speaker 5: He has the attitude I'd rather be a great sergeant 220 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 5: functioning in my gifting than be just an average general. 221 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 5: But there's this temptation today to compare our gifts, and 222 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 5: when we do so often we get out of our 223 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 5: strength zone, we get into. 224 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 4: Areas that are not our main gifting. 225 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 5: So much better to do like Paul did and just 226 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 5: recognize these are the gifts God has given me, and 227 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:56,079 Speaker 5: I'm gonna accept it. And at the same time, I'm 228 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 5: not gonna feel less than and inferior because I can't 229 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 5: do what somebody else can do. I know sometimes I'll 230 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 5: hear other ministers and they can articulate things so well. 231 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 5: They're these great orators, and they've got deep voices, and 232 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 5: they can move the audience. 233 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 4: I think to. 234 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 5: Myself, I am so ordinary. I just get up here 235 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 5: and talk in my Texas Twain. Compared to them, If 236 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 5: I allowed myself, I could feel inferior, insecure. But I've 237 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 5: learned this simple principle. I'm not competing against them. I 238 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 5: don't have to compare. All I've got to do is 239 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 5: be the best me that I can do. The scripture 240 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 5: says they're in Proverbs eighteen sixteen. Your gift will make 241 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 5: room for you. If you will develop what God has 242 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 5: given you, you will have opportunity. You will see favor, 243 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 5: you will have doors open. Understand, staying in your gifting 244 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 5: and developing your talents is. 245 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 4: A key to fulfilling your destiny. 246 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 5: I know when my father went to be with the Lord, 247 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 5: I made a decision at the very beginning that I 248 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 5: was going to be who God made me to be. 249 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 5: My father was raised Southern Baptist, and he was forty 250 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 5: years older than I am, and our personality and styles 251 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 5: weren't exactly the same. I'm kind of laid back and easygoing, 252 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 5: and my father could be a little more fiery, a 253 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 5: little more feisty. And at first I thought maybe I 254 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 5: should be like my dad. Everybody's used to him, after all, 255 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 5: he built the church. But I never gave into that temptation. 256 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 5: I said, God, I'm going to be who you made 257 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 5: me to be, and if it doesn't work out, I'll 258 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 5: go do something else. When I first began ministering, I 259 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 5: thought I had to have so many scriptures and opening texts. 260 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:42,199 Speaker 4: And so much of this and so much of that. 261 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 5: But the more I ministered, the more I realized I'm 262 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 5: my very best when I'm just sharing a simple thought. 263 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:50,559 Speaker 4: I feel the most at ease and the. 264 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 5: Most fulfilled when I just encourage people and talk about 265 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 5: living a victorious life. Now I realize that's my area 266 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 5: of gifting. That's the way God has wired me. You 267 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 5: have to be sensitive enough to not only identify your gifts, 268 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 5: but take it a step further and develop them. Give 269 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 5: yourself to your gift. In other words, focus on what 270 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 5: you do best. It may not be the way other 271 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 5: people do, it may not be the way you're expected 272 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 5: to do it. I'm sure I could teach on different 273 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 5: subjects and go more down this road or that road. 274 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 5: But I recognize the main gifting God put on my life, 275 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 5: and I put all my energy into that. And I 276 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 5: found most of the time, we are not going to 277 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 5: be good at doing five different things. We may be average, 278 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 5: but I really believe there's one thing you were born 279 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 5: to do, one thing you can excel at. And really, 280 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 5: we are not free until we are free from trying 281 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 5: to please everyone. Now I say this respectfully, but you 282 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 5: cannot live just to be who your parents want you 283 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 5: to be, or who your boss wants you to be, 284 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 5: or who your friends want you to be. You have 285 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 5: to stay true to who God made you to be. 286 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 5: When my father died, I recognized my father's calling was 287 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 5: not exactly the same as my calling. And as much 288 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 5: as I love and respect my father, I knew I 289 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 5: could not run his race. People say to me sometimes, Joe, 290 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 5: you're doing a great job filling your dad's shoes, and 291 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 5: I understand what they mean. They're complimenting me, But really, 292 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 5: we're not called to fill anyone's shoes. 293 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 4: You got to run your own race. 294 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 5: And I know my father's calling was to help bring 295 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 5: down the denominational walls. He went all over the world 296 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 5: ministering about. 297 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 4: The fullness of the spirit. 298 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 5: And when I first took over, I thought, maybe I 299 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 5: should just do what Daddy did, Maybe I should preach 300 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 5: his sermons, go down. 301 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 4: That same road. 302 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 5: But when I really searched my heart, I knew down deep, 303 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 5: my calling is to plan a sea of hope, a 304 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 5: seat of encouragement in people's lives. And of course I 305 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 5: wanted to honor my father. And I struggled with this, 306 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 5: knowing that the vision God put in me wasn't exactly 307 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 5: the same as the one he put in my father. 308 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 5: But one day I was reading a scripture and it 309 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 5: really set me free. It was talking about David, and 310 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 5: it said David fulfilled God's purpose for his generation. And 311 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 5: when I read that, I could hear God speaking to 312 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 5: me right down in here. He said, Joel, your dad 313 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 5: fulfilled his purpose for his generation. Now you go out 314 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 5: and fulfill your. 315 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 4: Purpose for your generation. 316 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 5: And I realized at that point, I realized, I've got 317 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 5: to run my race and be the best me that 318 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 5: I can be. After all, God doesn't want a bunch 319 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 5: of cheap imitations. Let's be the originals God has. 320 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 4: Created us to be. 321 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 5: One reason David was so blessed was he understood what 322 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 5: he was good at. He really knew his gifting when 323 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 5: he was out in the shepherd's fields. He developed his 324 00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 5: talent with the slingshot. He became a master sharp shooter. 325 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 5: That didn't just automatically happen. He had a natural bent 326 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 5: toward it, and he took the time to develop that talent. 327 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 5: I can imagine as he was taking care of his 328 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 5: father's sheep, he didn't just sit around there lazy and unmotivated. 329 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 5: He used that time to practice hitting targets with his slingshot. 330 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 5: He got better and better, until one day he could 331 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:23,880 Speaker 5: hit a bullseye one. 332 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 4: Hundred feet away. 333 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 5: It's interesting David had other talents. He was a great songwriter, 334 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 5: he was a skilled musician. He was a talented leader. 335 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 5: But do you know the gift that got him promoted, 336 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 5: the gift that made room for him, was his talent 337 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 5: with the little slingshot. What am I saying? Don't despise 338 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 5: the gift God has given you. It may seem small, 339 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 5: it may not seem very significant, but it doesn't have 340 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:52,959 Speaker 5: to be an important gift for God to use it 341 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:56,880 Speaker 5: in a great way. Stay focused, stay determined, and pursue 342 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:58,160 Speaker 5: what God's put in your heart. 343 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 4: At that time, the Lee was King Saul. He loved David. 344 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 5: He could see David's potential, and he would have David 345 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 5: over to his home. David was one of his military strategists. 346 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:12,439 Speaker 5: He'd have David go out and lead the troops. And 347 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 5: David was extremely effective, and at first Saul was so 348 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 5: happy for him. He was his number one fan. But 349 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 5: something happened that changed it all. One day, David was 350 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,160 Speaker 5: coming home from a battle where he had defeated the Philistines, 351 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 5: and the women were singing a song saying, Saul has 352 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 5: killed thousands, but David has killed tens of thousands. The 353 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 5: scripture says, from that moment, Saul never looked at David 354 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 5: the same way. What happened, Saul became jealous. He was 355 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 5: so insecure. He thought, I can't be number two. I'm 356 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 5: supposed to. 357 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:50,199 Speaker 4: Be the greatest. 358 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 5: I'm supposed to get all the compliments. Now they're talking 359 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 5: about somebody's. 360 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 4: Greater than I am. 361 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 5: Saul could not walk in the company of great men 362 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 5: because he didn't really know who he was. Sometimes, like David, 363 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 5: people will despise you because you're effective. Sometimes people will 364 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 5: talk behind your back simply because you're talented. The fact 365 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 5: is David didn't do anything wrong. He didn't come back saying, 366 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,640 Speaker 5: look how great I am Saul out did you Man, 367 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:23,119 Speaker 5: I'm something special. No, he was simply being the best 368 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 5: that he could be. He was giving it his all. 369 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 5: It was the other people that were singing David's praises. 370 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 5: The problem with King Saul was he was not satisfied 371 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 5: with the gifts God has given him. When he heard 372 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 5: them singing about how he had killed thousands, he liked that. 373 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 5: But when they started singing about how David had killed 374 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 5: tens of thousands and how David had outdone him, it 375 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 5: was that comparison that caused him to get jealous and 376 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:55,200 Speaker 5: despised David. If he could have just recognized David was 377 00:19:55,280 --> 00:20:00,199 Speaker 5: running a different race, God had given him different talents. If, oh, 378 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 5: David was more successful, Saul didn't have to feel inferior 379 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 5: or less than. But he let that unhealthy competitive spirit 380 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 5: cause him to think David's getting all the praise. They're 381 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 5: gonna think David's greater than I am. 382 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 4: Here's the key. 383 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:19,640 Speaker 5: If you're not comfortable with who you are, you'll never 384 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 5: be able to celebrate somebody that's ahead of you, somebody 385 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 5: that has more talent, because when we're insecure, we're always comparing, 386 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 5: even if it's your best friend, like David was to Saul. 387 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 5: If you can't compliment them and celebrate their successes without 388 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 5: feeling inferior, without getting jealous, then that poison that's on 389 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:44,080 Speaker 5: the inside is going to keep you from becoming all 390 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 5: God's created you to be. 391 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 4: If Saul could have. 392 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 5: Just recognized he wasn't running against David, he wasn't competing 393 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,200 Speaker 5: against him. Saul had his own race, with his own 394 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 5: set of skills, with his own purpose. If he would 395 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:01,919 Speaker 5: have just been able to congratulate David and genuinely be 396 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 5: happy for him, he could have gone on to do 397 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:06,640 Speaker 5: great things and to fulfill his purpose. 398 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 4: But he let that. 399 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 5: Resentment, he let the fact that somebody was ahead of 400 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 5: him cause him to get distracted. He lost focus, and 401 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:18,880 Speaker 5: he never did fulfill his divine destiny. 402 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 4: Here's a phrase I want you to remember. 403 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:27,440 Speaker 5: Don't compare yourself, celebrate yourself. Someone else may have conquered 404 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:31,639 Speaker 5: ten thousand and you only conquered a thousand, But you 405 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 5: have to realize a thousand is still very good. Some 406 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 5: people only conquered five hundred. Some people only conquered fifty. 407 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 5: Don't lose your enthusiasm because you're not keeping up with others. 408 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 5: We're not supposed to keep pace with other people. We're 409 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 5: supposed to keep pace with our own inner voice. We 410 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 5: need to have the attitude I'm going to be the 411 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 5: best me that I can be. 412 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 4: I know I am one of a kind. I know 413 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 4: I'm in a class all by myself. I'm gonna try 414 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 4: to be like David. 415 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 5: He may have conquered tens of thousands, but God knows 416 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:07,440 Speaker 5: what I'm capable of, and I'm not gonna feel inferior 417 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 5: just because somebody out did me. I'm gonna be comfortable 418 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 5: with who God. 419 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 4: Made me to be now. I found if you can't compliment. 420 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 5: Others, you'll never really be able to compliment yourself, because 421 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:24,160 Speaker 5: every time you accomplish something new, every time you rise higher, 422 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 5: you'll see somebody else that can do it a little 423 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 5: better than you, somebody else that's a little more successful. 424 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:32,400 Speaker 5: You have to be secure enough in who you are 425 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 5: to celebrate other people's victories. It's only when we can 426 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,920 Speaker 5: celebrate others that we can really celebrate ourselves. 427 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:41,440 Speaker 4: It boils down to this. 428 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:46,199 Speaker 5: The creator of the universe has put different gifts and 429 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:50,119 Speaker 5: talents in each one of us. Every person doesn't have 430 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:53,200 Speaker 5: the same amount of talent, the same amount of potential, 431 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:56,639 Speaker 5: and we have to be big enough to recognize I 432 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 5: may not be a ten thousand level person like David. 433 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 5: God may have made me to be a thousand level person. 434 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 5: But I can guarantee you this, I'm gonna be the 435 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 5: best thousand level man you've ever seen. I'm not gonna 436 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 5: stop at nine ninety, not gonna stop at nine ninety five, 437 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:15,439 Speaker 5: not gonna stop at nine ninety nine. I'm gonna become 438 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 5: all God's created me to be. And when I hit 439 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 5: a thousand, I'm not gonna look back and get depressed 440 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 5: because somebody hit ten thousand. I'm running my race. I 441 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 5: know God's put in me everything that I need. That 442 00:23:28,119 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 5: means I have the right personality. I have the right looks, 443 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 5: I have the right height, I have the right gifts, 444 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:35,640 Speaker 5: I have the right talents, I. 445 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:37,680 Speaker 4: Have the wisdom. The idea is the creativity. 446 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 5: God has equipped each one of us with exactly what 447 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,880 Speaker 5: we need. Quit thinking that you have to measure up 448 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,920 Speaker 5: to someone else. You don't have to feel less than 449 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:51,879 Speaker 5: because you're not as successful as another family member or 450 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 5: a friend or a coworker. 451 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 4: You're not running their race. 452 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 5: You're in a class all by yourself when God made 453 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 5: you through away the mold. You don't have to live 454 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,720 Speaker 5: up to anyone's expectations. Just be the best that you 455 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 5: can be. Celebrate who God made you to be. And 456 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 5: some of you are real good at celebrating others, but 457 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 5: you need to start celebrating yourself. You may not be 458 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 5: a general, we may not be like King David, but 459 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 5: we don't have to feel less than put your shoulders 460 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,399 Speaker 5: back and be the best private you can be. Be 461 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 5: the best corporal you can be, Be the best sergeant 462 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:28,959 Speaker 5: you can be. Bottom line is, take what God has 463 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 5: given you and make. 464 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:31,119 Speaker 4: The very most of it. 465 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 5: And don't ever feel intimidated because you see somebody that 466 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,679 Speaker 5: has more gifts or more talents. Listen, if it was 467 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 5: not for the goodness of God, none of us would 468 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:46,720 Speaker 5: be where we are today. When we compare. When we compare, 469 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 5: we lose focus. We get distracted. But I've learned I 470 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 5: can't run with your vision. I can't fall it in 471 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:56,960 Speaker 5: your footsteps. It may be a great vision, it may 472 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 5: be exciting, but I recognize God has equipped you with. 473 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 4: What you need. 474 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:05,679 Speaker 5: You have the gifts and the talents to accomplish what 475 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 5: God's put in your heart. But the moment I get 476 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:10,919 Speaker 5: out of my calling and try to do what you're doing, 477 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 5: I lose my annointing. My gifting is not right, my 478 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:18,919 Speaker 5: tools are not appropriate. It's like I need some screwdrivers, 479 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 5: but all I got is a bunch of wrenches. 480 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:22,959 Speaker 4: What happened I got out of my calling. 481 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:27,800 Speaker 5: God has put in you everything you need to fulfill 482 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 5: your destiny, but he has not equipped you to do 483 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:32,440 Speaker 5: something that's. 484 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 4: Outside of your vision. Now. 485 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 5: I know people that are in their fifties, even in 486 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 5: their sixties, and they're still not happy with who they are, 487 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,679 Speaker 5: and it's because they're trying to bring something out of 488 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 5: them that was never in them. At some point they 489 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 5: got off course, they got distracted, and instead of running 490 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,880 Speaker 5: their race staying in their gifting, they saw a friend 491 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:55,959 Speaker 5: doing something and now they're trying to do it. 492 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:57,960 Speaker 4: They're trying to be something that they're not. 493 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:02,399 Speaker 5: It's so important that we stay free from comparisons and 494 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:06,200 Speaker 5: free from trying to keep up with everyone. Now, take 495 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 5: the pressure off yourself. Just go out each day and 496 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:12,920 Speaker 5: be the very best that you can be, and when 497 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 5: you really follow your own inner vision, it's not a 498 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 5: constant struggle. Yes it takes work, yes it takes determination. 499 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:24,440 Speaker 5: But when you're in your calling, running your race, the gifts, 500 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:27,879 Speaker 5: the talents, the drive, the determination, it comes up out 501 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 5: of you naturally, So you cannot pull from something that's 502 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 5: not there. 503 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 4: You've got to be. 504 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:36,320 Speaker 5: Comfortable with who God made you to be. Old King Saul, 505 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 5: he was so jealous he couldn't stand the fact that 506 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 5: they were singing about David's praises. He ended up trying 507 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 5: to kill David. He spent years trying to get rid 508 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 5: of him, but all that did was lead to his 509 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 5: own untimely death. When God has anointed someone to be 510 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:55,919 Speaker 5: at a certain position, there's nothing we can do to 511 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 5: stop it. Being jealous, being critical, talking behind their back, 512 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 5: that's not gonna stop them. All that's gonna do is 513 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 5: lead to our own downfall. It's much better to just 514 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 5: recognize God has gifted this person. God has put talents 515 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 5: in them, and who am I to argue with the 516 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:15,120 Speaker 5: creator of the universe. I'm gonna be happy for him 517 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:18,199 Speaker 5: and at the same time recognize God has given me 518 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 5: everything I need to be victorious It's interesting how Saul 519 00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 5: faced his successor verse, how the apostle Paul faced his successor. 520 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 5: Saul tried to kill David, but the apostle Paul did 521 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 5: it right. 522 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 4: He encouraged Timothy. 523 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:37,640 Speaker 5: He tried to build him up instead of being jealous 524 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 5: and intimidated. 525 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 4: He said, Timothy, stir up your gifts. 526 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:44,520 Speaker 5: You don't have a spirit of fear. You're strong, You're courageous. 527 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:47,679 Speaker 5: He was saying, Timothy, you're gonna do great things. I 528 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 5: celebrate what God has put in you. How could Paul 529 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 5: do that? 530 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 4: Here's the key. 531 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 5: Paul said, I have kept the faith. I have finished 532 00:27:56,800 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 5: my course. Paul knew he wasn't competing against anyone. He 533 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 5: was running his own race. He developed his gift, He 534 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 5: stayed in his calling. He was able to say, I've 535 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 5: become all God's created me to be. I have finished 536 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:11,359 Speaker 5: my assignment. 537 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:14,680 Speaker 4: That's my prayer for each one of you, that you 538 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:16,400 Speaker 4: will develop your gifts. 539 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:19,680 Speaker 5: And talents and you will run your race. Why don't 540 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 5: you break free from any comparisons. You're not competing with others, 541 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:29,000 Speaker 5: compete against your own inner voice. Don't compare yourself, celebrate yourself. 542 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 5: You will one of a kind. If you will stay 543 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 5: in your strength zone and develop your gifts. God has 544 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 5: promised your gifts will make room for you. 545 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:37,959 Speaker 4: Now. 546 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:41,920 Speaker 5: I know every one of us has untapped potential. Stay 547 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 5: focused and work on the things that you're already good at. 548 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,320 Speaker 5: If you will be comfortable with who God made you 549 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 5: to be, not go around competing and comparing, You're not 550 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 5: only going to enjoy your life more, but God's going 551 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 5: to pour out his blessings and one day, like Paul, 552 00:28:57,680 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 5: you'll be able to look back and say, I've kept 553 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 5: the faith, I have finished my course. Amen, do you 554 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 5: receive it today? We never like to close our broadcast 555 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:11,360 Speaker 5: without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord 556 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 5: of your life. 557 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 4: Would you pray with me? 558 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 5: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. Come 559 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:24,360 Speaker 5: into my heart. I make you my Lord in Savior. Friends, 560 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 5: if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 561 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:27,360 Speaker 5: born again. 562 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 4: Get in a good. 563 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:31,120 Speaker 5: Bible based church, and keep God first place. 564 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 4: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 565 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 7: Thank you for listening to the joel OUs Deine podcast. 566 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 7: Help us continue to share the message of hope with 567 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 7: those all over the world visit joelus dein dot com 568 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 7: slash give hope to give a gift today. 569 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 570 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 5: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 571 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 5: podcast to keep. 572 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:57,440 Speaker 4: You inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 573 00:29:57,640 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 4: I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 574 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:07,840 Speaker 4: next time, MHM.