A Masterpiece In The Making

0:00:01.120 --> 0:00:03.840 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:00:03.880 --> 0:00:07.040 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:00:07.120 --> 0:00:09.720 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:00:09.800 --> 0:00:12.440 share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 0:00:12.480 --> 0:00:16.000 for God's very best in your line. Oh God, bless you. 0:00:16.480 --> 0:00:19.079 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:00:19.120 --> 0:00:21.600 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:00:21.680 --> 0:00:25.920 daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can 0:00:25.960 --> 0:00:28.400 come visit us in person. We'd love to have you 0:00:28.520 --> 0:00:30.880 be a part of one of our services. But I 0:00:31.040 --> 0:00:33.320 like to start with something funny, and I heard about 0:00:33.320 --> 0:00:37.040 this elderly woman. She was at the store and accidentally 0:00:37.040 --> 0:00:39.239 locked her keys in the car, and she had a 0:00:39.240 --> 0:00:41.640 coat hanger and she was trying and trying, but she 0:00:41.640 --> 0:00:44.320 couldn't get it open. She prayed and asked God to 0:00:44.440 --> 0:00:47.239 help her. About that time, this guy pulls off on 0:00:47.280 --> 0:00:51.200 a motorcycle, very rough looking, dressed in leather and tattoos 0:00:51.280 --> 0:00:54.760 a skull cap. Fifteen seconds later he had the car open. 0:00:55.360 --> 0:00:57.400 She hugged him and said, Lord, thank you for sending 0:00:57.440 --> 0:01:00.360 me such a nice man. He said, lady, I'm not 0:01:00.400 --> 0:01:03.520 a nice man. I just got out of prison for theft. 0:01:04.120 --> 0:01:06.440 She hugged him again and said, Lord, thank you, you 0:01:06.560 --> 0:01:10.800 even sent me a professional. Say it like you mean it. 0:01:11.240 --> 0:01:14.199 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:01:14.600 --> 0:01:17.000 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:01:17.080 --> 0:01:19.640 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:01:19.720 --> 0:01:23.559 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:01:23.640 --> 0:01:27.000 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:01:27.120 --> 0:01:32.399 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:01:32.440 --> 0:01:35.800 to talk to you today about a masterpiece in the making. 0:01:36.640 --> 0:01:39.360 It's easy to get down on ourselves because we're not 0:01:39.400 --> 0:01:41.880 as far along as we want to be in we 0:01:41.959 --> 0:01:45.360 focus on our flaws and our shortcomings and why am 0:01:45.360 --> 0:01:48.160 I not more disciplined? And I'm still struggling with this 0:01:48.240 --> 0:01:52.280 addiction being impatient saying things I know I shouldn't say. 0:01:53.200 --> 0:01:56.760 Some people live with this nagging feeling on the inside 0:01:56.960 --> 0:01:59.400 telling them something is wrong with them and how they 0:01:59.400 --> 0:02:03.360 don't measure. But the scripture says God is the potter 0:02:03.800 --> 0:02:07.520 and we are the claim. He controls the process when 0:02:07.560 --> 0:02:11.400 we change, how fast we change. The key is to 0:02:11.520 --> 0:02:15.400 accept yourself while God is in that process of changing you. 0:02:16.120 --> 0:02:19.359 He's taken you from glory to glory, you have to 0:02:19.440 --> 0:02:22.239 learn to enjoy the glory that you're in right now. 0:02:22.919 --> 0:02:26.080 You're not supposed to go through life being against yourself, 0:02:26.680 --> 0:02:29.960 over analyzing your faults. That doesn't help you do better. 0:02:30.560 --> 0:02:34.360 Focusing on your weaknesses doesn't help you improve. All that's 0:02:34.400 --> 0:02:37.880 doing is slowing down the process. We put all this 0:02:38.160 --> 0:02:40.960 pressure on ourselves to change, and I got to be 0:02:41.040 --> 0:02:44.040 more focused. I got to watch my mouth. I got 0:02:44.040 --> 0:02:47.240 to be a better mother, better spouse, better employee. And 0:02:47.240 --> 0:02:50.000 it's good to want to improve. We should strive for 0:02:50.120 --> 0:02:54.320 excellence and be growing, but don't get frustrated if it's 0:02:54.320 --> 0:02:57.960 not happening as fast as you would like. Some things 0:02:58.080 --> 0:03:01.359 only God can change until he gives you the grace 0:03:01.440 --> 0:03:04.679 to do it. You have to accept yourself where you are, 0:03:05.440 --> 0:03:09.240 and it takes maturity to have peace in the process. 0:03:09.560 --> 0:03:11.919 Even though you have areas you need to improve in, 0:03:12.320 --> 0:03:16.160 you're not negative towards yourselves. Your attitude is God. I 0:03:16.200 --> 0:03:19.840 have these shortcomings. I want to change, but I trust 0:03:19.960 --> 0:03:22.799 you as the potter. I know at the right time, 0:03:23.080 --> 0:03:26.160 you'll give me the grace. But in the meantime, I'm 0:03:26.200 --> 0:03:29.440 going to enjoy where you have me right now. One 0:03:29.440 --> 0:03:32.119 thing that holds people back is they don't like who 0:03:32.120 --> 0:03:35.640 they are. There's this war going on on the inside. 0:03:36.200 --> 0:03:39.240 But the problem with not liking you is you can 0:03:39.280 --> 0:03:42.280 never get away from you. You can get away from 0:03:42.280 --> 0:03:45.160 your cousin, your neighbor, your coworker, but you have to 0:03:45.200 --> 0:03:48.800 live with you. You get up with you, you eat dinner 0:03:48.840 --> 0:03:51.520 with you, you go to work with you, shower with you, 0:03:51.680 --> 0:03:55.600 take vacations with you. If you don't like yourself, life 0:03:55.640 --> 0:03:59.040 is going to be miserable. You may have some shortcomings. 0:03:59.080 --> 0:04:01.880 We all do. You may have areas you wish you 0:04:01.960 --> 0:04:04.920 to overcome by now we all do. The good news 0:04:05.040 --> 0:04:08.240 is you're not a finished product. God is still working 0:04:08.280 --> 0:04:11.600 on you. He has you on the Potter's wheel, making 0:04:11.680 --> 0:04:15.360 you and molding you. It's not just up to you. 0:04:15.360 --> 0:04:19.080 You don't have to live under this constant pressure, striving, working, 0:04:19.320 --> 0:04:23.120 trying to measure up. God is the one who's in charge. 0:04:23.600 --> 0:04:26.719 You can relax and enjoy your life while God is 0:04:26.720 --> 0:04:29.800 in the process of changing you. Well, Joel, I feel 0:04:29.800 --> 0:04:33.320 good about myself when I lose ten pounds. I like 0:04:33.360 --> 0:04:36.080 myself when I break the addiction, when I control my 0:04:36.160 --> 0:04:38.839 temper better, when I spend more time with my children. 0:04:39.600 --> 0:04:42.640 The problem with that approach is when you cross one 0:04:42.680 --> 0:04:46.000 thing off your list, something new will pop up. You 0:04:46.120 --> 0:04:49.560 overcome this weakness and God will bring delight another area 0:04:49.800 --> 0:04:52.640 you can come up higher in. If you don't learn 0:04:52.680 --> 0:04:56.760 to enjoy yourself where you are, faults and all, you'll 0:04:56.800 --> 0:05:00.400 go your whole life feeling wrong on the inside, that 0:05:00.560 --> 0:05:04.440 vague feeling of disapproval. It's very powerful when you can 0:05:04.480 --> 0:05:08.080 say I like myself. Yes, I have areas I need 0:05:08.120 --> 0:05:10.760 to improve in. There are things I need to do better, 0:05:11.160 --> 0:05:13.679 but I'm at peace with who I am right now. 0:05:14.320 --> 0:05:18.359 I accept myself. I approve myself. I am happy with 0:05:18.480 --> 0:05:21.240 who God made me to be. When you do that, 0:05:21.800 --> 0:05:25.640 despite your flaws, you give the enemy a nervous breakdown. 0:05:26.520 --> 0:05:29.200 He'd love for you to go through life focused on 0:05:29.279 --> 0:05:33.520 everything wrong with you, magnifying everything you don't like. He 0:05:33.600 --> 0:05:36.760 knows if you live against yourself, you will never reach 0:05:36.800 --> 0:05:41.279 your potential. If you allow that condemning voice convincing you 0:05:41.360 --> 0:05:43.800 that you're not up to par, that will keep you 0:05:43.880 --> 0:05:48.080 from becoming who you were created to be. The scripture says, 0:05:48.480 --> 0:05:53.000 looking away from all that will distract to Jesus, the 0:05:53.040 --> 0:05:56.960 author and finisher of our faith. God is the author. 0:05:57.560 --> 0:06:00.720 He breathed life into you. He chose you to be here, 0:06:01.160 --> 0:06:05.720 gave you a purpose, an assignment, something to accomplish. He's 0:06:05.760 --> 0:06:09.359 not just the author, he's the finisher. He's going to 0:06:09.440 --> 0:06:13.159 keep making you, molding you, giving you grace to come 0:06:13.240 --> 0:06:17.280 up higher until he finishes. Now, the key is don't 0:06:17.279 --> 0:06:20.400 give up in the middle. Don't get discouraged while you're 0:06:20.440 --> 0:06:24.440 being changed. He's in control as long as you're being 0:06:24.480 --> 0:06:27.840 your best. You don't have to perform perfectly, but you 0:06:27.920 --> 0:06:30.520 have a heart to do what's right. Then you can 0:06:30.560 --> 0:06:33.960 be assured when it's time to change, all the forces 0:06:33.960 --> 0:06:37.960 of darkness cannot stop you. But notice there's a requirement 0:06:38.000 --> 0:06:41.440 for this to happen. Looking away from all that will 0:06:41.440 --> 0:06:46.159 distract Focusing on your flaws will distract you from your purpose. 0:06:46.960 --> 0:06:51.120 Magnifying your weaknesses, what you don't like about yourself will 0:06:51.200 --> 0:06:54.440 keep you from your potential. Look away from all that 0:06:54.800 --> 0:06:58.880 and look to your maker. God told Jeremiah, before you 0:06:58.960 --> 0:07:02.720 were formed in your's womb, I knew you and approved 0:07:02.760 --> 0:07:07.279 you before Jeremiah ever did anything good, before he ever 0:07:07.400 --> 0:07:10.880 overcame a weakness, before he ever became a great prophet. 0:07:11.280 --> 0:07:15.720 God said, I approved you, and I've accepted you. We 0:07:15.800 --> 0:07:19.320 think when we perform better, then we can approve ourselves. 0:07:19.800 --> 0:07:23.160 When we get rid of these flaws, overcome this bad habit, 0:07:23.280 --> 0:07:26.400 be more patient, then we can feel good about who 0:07:26.400 --> 0:07:30.520 we are. God approves you, why don't you approve yourself. 0:07:31.400 --> 0:07:33.800 He's not waiting for you to get better, then he's 0:07:33.840 --> 0:07:38.400 going to accept you. He knew every shortcoming, every weakness 0:07:38.520 --> 0:07:41.480 you would ever have, He said, I still approve you. 0:07:42.400 --> 0:07:45.960 It's because he's the potter. He knows. Those flaws aren't 0:07:46.000 --> 0:07:48.600 going to keep you from your destiny. They don't stop 0:07:48.640 --> 0:07:52.320 your purpose. The only way they'll limit you is if 0:07:52.360 --> 0:07:56.840 you live down on yourself, feeling wrong, putting all this pressure, 0:07:57.080 --> 0:08:00.880 trying to change things that only God can change. Do 0:08:00.960 --> 0:08:05.480 your best and then rest. He's the potter. He'll work 0:08:05.520 --> 0:08:09.240 out things that shouldn't be there. Stay pliable, be willing 0:08:09.280 --> 0:08:12.600 to change, But don't be down on yourself if it's 0:08:12.640 --> 0:08:16.280 not happening as fast as you would like. Give yourself 0:08:16.280 --> 0:08:20.760 permission to have some weaknesses. Give yourself the grace to 0:08:20.880 --> 0:08:24.240 not perform perfectly all the time. Now I'm not saying 0:08:24.280 --> 0:08:28.480 to be sloppy, live flippant. We should dig down, have discipline, 0:08:28.520 --> 0:08:32.720 be focused, be growing, but don't live pressured, thinking that 0:08:32.760 --> 0:08:35.240 you have to make it all happen in your own strength. 0:08:36.240 --> 0:08:38.880 God told Jeremiah that he was going to become a 0:08:38.920 --> 0:08:43.680 great prophet and speak to nations. First thing Jeremiah said was, God, 0:08:44.000 --> 0:08:47.000 I can't do that. I'm too young. I don't have 0:08:47.080 --> 0:08:50.480 the training. I wouldn't know what to say. He started 0:08:50.520 --> 0:08:53.800 looking at all of his shortcomings. God, I'm not old enough. 0:08:54.240 --> 0:08:58.840 I'm not confident enough, secure enough, experienced enough. As long 0:08:58.880 --> 0:09:02.280 as he focused on that, he was stucked. God said 0:09:02.320 --> 0:09:05.480 to him, say not that you're too young. I will 0:09:05.480 --> 0:09:08.199 give you the words to speak. Do not be afraid 0:09:08.200 --> 0:09:11.200 of the people everywhere you go. I will be with you. 0:09:12.080 --> 0:09:15.800 God was saying Jeremiah, I'm the potter. I don't ask 0:09:15.840 --> 0:09:18.040 you to do things and then not give you what 0:09:18.120 --> 0:09:21.480 you need to do it. I've already approved you. I've 0:09:21.520 --> 0:09:26.160 already accepted you. I've already anointed you. Jeremiah had to 0:09:26.240 --> 0:09:30.800 change his thinking instead of I'm insecure, I have these weaknesses. 0:09:30.880 --> 0:09:34.479 I'm limited. Now I'm a child of the Most High God. 0:09:34.600 --> 0:09:38.000 He's approved me, so I'm going to approve myself. I'm 0:09:38.080 --> 0:09:41.120 accepted by the creator of the universe, so I'm going 0:09:41.160 --> 0:09:46.000 to accept myself. He quit being down on himself, focusing 0:09:46.040 --> 0:09:48.880 on his faults, and he rose up and became a 0:09:48.920 --> 0:09:53.440 great prophet to the nations. What could you become if 0:09:53.480 --> 0:09:55.800 you had quit focusing in all the things you don't 0:09:56.000 --> 0:10:00.080 like about yourself and start approving yourself? How much how 0:10:00.080 --> 0:10:02.760 further will you go? How much more will you enjoy 0:10:02.800 --> 0:10:06.120 your life if you'll take all the pressure off yourself 0:10:06.200 --> 0:10:10.360 to change and trust the Potter. You may have some flaws, 0:10:11.000 --> 0:10:14.920 things you wish were different, So did Jeremiah. God didn't say, Jeremiah, 0:10:14.920 --> 0:10:18.800 why are you so insecure, so intimidated? I had something 0:10:18.840 --> 0:10:21.400 great for you. I guess I'll have to find someone 0:10:21.440 --> 0:10:25.560 else now, God said Jeremiah. I knew you would have weaknesses, 0:10:25.840 --> 0:10:29.360 but I've already approved you. I knew what you struggle with. 0:10:29.600 --> 0:10:32.880 But I'm the Potter. It's no problem for me. I'll 0:10:32.920 --> 0:10:36.320 make you and mold you until you become who I've 0:10:36.360 --> 0:10:40.079 created you to be. Are you focused on your flaws, 0:10:40.559 --> 0:10:43.800 what you don't like about yourself, or you're looking away 0:10:43.800 --> 0:10:47.800 from those distractions. Are you living pressured thinking you have 0:10:47.880 --> 0:10:50.319 to make it all happen in your own strength, your 0:10:50.360 --> 0:10:54.200 own timing, or you trusting the potter, at peace with 0:10:54.280 --> 0:10:57.520 where you are while he's in the process of changing you. 0:10:58.440 --> 0:11:03.120 Paul said in Ephesians, you are God's masterpiece. It's interesting. 0:11:03.440 --> 0:11:07.920 A masterpiece never makes itself. The Mona Lisa had a 0:11:07.960 --> 0:11:11.440 painter Leonardo da Vinci, The Statue of David had a 0:11:11.480 --> 0:11:17.520 sculptor Michael Angelo. Without da Vinci, that's just an ordinary canvas. 0:11:17.760 --> 0:11:22.960 Some paint brushes, no big deal. Without Michaelangelo, it's just 0:11:23.000 --> 0:11:25.679 a big piece of stone. Someone could have looked at 0:11:25.720 --> 0:11:29.400 it and thought, there's nothing special about this rock. What 0:11:29.600 --> 0:11:33.360 made the difference was the maker. The good news is 0:11:33.520 --> 0:11:37.600 you have a maker. You have a designer. It's not Michaelangelo, 0:11:37.880 --> 0:11:41.760 it's not Da Vinci. Your maker is the most high God. 0:11:42.040 --> 0:11:45.560 It's not up to you to become a masterpiece. That's 0:11:45.600 --> 0:11:49.680 your maker's job. You don't have to strive and perform 0:11:49.800 --> 0:11:53.160 and live under all this pressure. You have a designer 0:11:53.360 --> 0:11:57.200 that's making you and molding you. He knows exactly what 0:11:57.280 --> 0:12:00.840 you need, when you need where you need it. You 0:12:00.880 --> 0:12:04.640 can relax knowing that you're a masterpiece in the making. 0:12:05.480 --> 0:12:08.160 You may have some flaws areas you need to do 0:12:08.240 --> 0:12:12.000 better in. You're not finished. The master is still at work. 0:12:12.800 --> 0:12:16.160 If you were to watch da Vinci painting the Mona Lisa, 0:12:16.600 --> 0:12:19.319 there would be times that you'd think, that doesn't look 0:12:19.360 --> 0:12:21.840 like much. That's just a bunch of black over here 0:12:21.880 --> 0:12:25.080 and some random colors over there. Looks blad at us. 0:12:25.840 --> 0:12:28.520 But the artist has an advantage. He can see the 0:12:28.559 --> 0:12:32.240 picture in his mind. He knows what he's making. What 0:12:32.360 --> 0:12:35.440 looks like a mistake, a flaw. When he had some 0:12:35.480 --> 0:12:40.679 more strokes, more color, definition, shadowing, it begins to make sense. 0:12:41.320 --> 0:12:45.680 When it all comes together, it becomes the masterpiece. It's 0:12:45.720 --> 0:12:49.040 the same way with our designer. There are strokes, you 0:12:49.120 --> 0:12:53.160 may not understand, things that seem like flaws and weaknesses. 0:12:53.200 --> 0:12:56.640 And this color doesn't make sense, this bad break, and 0:12:56.679 --> 0:13:00.599 why do I still struggle in this area? By it 0:13:00.000 --> 0:13:04.320 it looks like a mistake. But stay patient. The master 0:13:04.520 --> 0:13:08.680 is at work. Someone far greater than Michelangelo is working 0:13:08.679 --> 0:13:12.440 on you, someone far more skilled than Da Vinci. Your 0:13:12.559 --> 0:13:18.240 artist created solar systems, galaxy, sunsets, mountain ranges, all these 0:13:18.240 --> 0:13:23.600 incredible creations. But what's significant is when God created those things. 0:13:23.760 --> 0:13:26.480 He said in Genesis chapter one that it was good, 0:13:26.960 --> 0:13:30.680 that he was pleased. But when he created man, that's 0:13:30.720 --> 0:13:34.880 the only time he said that was very good. You 0:13:34.920 --> 0:13:38.000 can imagine when God saw the universe, when he saw 0:13:38.040 --> 0:13:42.360 these incredible mountain ranges and spectacular sunsets, he knew that 0:13:42.480 --> 0:13:45.959 was good. But when he created you, he thought, Wow, 0:13:46.360 --> 0:13:51.160 there's a real masterpiece. That's what I call extraordinary, magnificent. 0:13:51.880 --> 0:13:55.080 Not the solar system, not the Grand Canyon, not the 0:13:55.120 --> 0:13:59.760 Swiss Alps. That's great, but his most prized possession he 0:13:59.760 --> 0:14:04.760 could considers a masterpieces. You. Sometimes we're striving so hard 0:14:05.400 --> 0:14:09.079 trying to fix this. Be more of that, stay more 0:14:09.120 --> 0:14:11.640 focused over there. And yes, I know we have to 0:14:11.720 --> 0:14:15.199 work with God. But when you recognize it's not up 0:14:15.200 --> 0:14:19.160 to you to become a masterpiece, that's up to your designer, 0:14:19.680 --> 0:14:23.160 then you can relax. You can stay in peace in 0:14:23.200 --> 0:14:26.600 the process, knowing that even though you have some shortcomings, 0:14:26.880 --> 0:14:30.600 things you don't like, God is working on you. You're 0:14:30.680 --> 0:14:34.480 right on schedule. You don't have too many flaws, too 0:14:34.520 --> 0:14:39.320 many imperfections. God has already approved you. He's already called 0:14:39.360 --> 0:14:42.480 you a masterpiece. He can already see the finished product. 0:14:42.880 --> 0:14:46.640 He knows exactly what he's making you into now take 0:14:46.680 --> 0:14:49.600 the pressure off yourself when you're trying to do it 0:14:49.640 --> 0:14:52.920 all on your own. It's frustrating. Why am I still 0:14:52.960 --> 0:14:56.480 dealing with this and it's taking so long, and why 0:14:56.520 --> 0:14:59.920 do I still struggle in this same area before long year? 0:15:00.120 --> 0:15:03.720 Down on yourself, feeling wrong on the inside, that's what 0:15:03.880 --> 0:15:08.960 slows down the process. Being against yourself is limiting your growth, 0:15:09.640 --> 0:15:13.000 keeping you from God's best. The enemy would love for 0:15:13.040 --> 0:15:15.840 you to go through life feeling like you don't measure up, 0:15:16.440 --> 0:15:19.800 you don't deserve to be blessed. Don't believe those lies. 0:15:20.080 --> 0:15:23.840 You are a masterpiece in the making. God knew everything 0:15:23.880 --> 0:15:27.800 about you, and he still approves you. He knew every flaw, 0:15:28.240 --> 0:15:32.120 every shortcoming, and he still accepts you. You don't have 0:15:32.200 --> 0:15:35.560 too much wrong with you. You haven't made too many mistakes. 0:15:35.920 --> 0:15:39.440 God has already approved you. He's already said that was 0:15:39.680 --> 0:15:43.880 very good. Why don't you start approving yourself. Not when 0:15:43.880 --> 0:15:46.520 you perform better, not when you get it all together, 0:15:47.000 --> 0:15:51.720 Accept yourself while you're in the process of changing. One morning, 0:15:51.840 --> 0:15:54.560 Jesus was at the Sea of Galilee and so many 0:15:54.640 --> 0:15:58.160 people had gathered around. He asked Peter if he could 0:15:58.200 --> 0:16:00.880 borrow his boat so he could shout from the shore 0:16:00.920 --> 0:16:04.440 and teach the people. He'd never met Peter, but Peter agreed. 0:16:05.160 --> 0:16:08.000 After Jesus finished, he told Peter to go back out 0:16:08.000 --> 0:16:10.360 into the water and he would catch a great haul 0:16:10.440 --> 0:16:14.560 of fish. Peter had fished all night, caught nothing didn't 0:16:14.560 --> 0:16:17.000 make sense to his mind, but he went back out 0:16:17.400 --> 0:16:20.680 and caught so many fish that his nets begin to break. 0:16:21.200 --> 0:16:23.920 He had to call another boat over, and they both 0:16:24.000 --> 0:16:27.960 were so loaded down they begin to sink. Peter came 0:16:28.000 --> 0:16:31.200 to the shore and he fell at Jesus feet and says, Sir, 0:16:31.760 --> 0:16:34.520 please go away from me. I'm too much of a 0:16:34.600 --> 0:16:38.000 sinner to be around you. Jesus said to him, Peter, 0:16:38.560 --> 0:16:41.840 follow me, and I will make you fisher's of men. 0:16:43.040 --> 0:16:46.040 Peter was thinking about all of his flaws, all of 0:16:46.080 --> 0:16:51.400 his shortcomings. He was hot, tempered, loud, impatient. He was 0:16:51.440 --> 0:16:55.960 a fisherman. They were rough and used strong language. Three 0:16:56.040 --> 0:16:58.920 years after he had been following Jesus, he cursed the 0:16:59.000 --> 0:17:02.280 lady out this that he was a disciple. One time 0:17:02.320 --> 0:17:04.920 he cut off a soldier's ear trying to defend Jesus. 0:17:05.359 --> 0:17:08.320 Another time he denied that he knew Christ in the 0:17:08.320 --> 0:17:11.800 garden of Gysimine. Jesus asked him to stay up and pray, 0:17:12.000 --> 0:17:17.919 but Peter fell asleep. He didn't have great character, great integrity, loyalty. 0:17:18.240 --> 0:17:20.919 He didn't come from a background of faith. He was 0:17:20.960 --> 0:17:25.520 all over the place. When Jesus said follow me, he thought, Jesus, 0:17:26.119 --> 0:17:29.000 you have the wrong person. You don't know who I am. 0:17:29.280 --> 0:17:32.960 I have all these weaknesses. Jesus could have said, you're right, Peter, 0:17:33.720 --> 0:17:36.520 I should have done a better background check. I don't 0:17:36.520 --> 0:17:38.919 know you're going to be cursing people out and cutting 0:17:38.920 --> 0:17:42.200 off ears and denying that you knew me. You're a mess. 0:17:42.240 --> 0:17:46.560 I better find somebody else. Jesus knew everything about Peter. 0:17:47.320 --> 0:17:50.960 He knew his shortcomings, he knew every mistake he would make, 0:17:51.440 --> 0:17:54.919 every time he would fail. But he also knew what 0:17:55.080 --> 0:17:59.600 Peter could become. We judge people on the outside, but 0:17:59.720 --> 0:18:02.840 God looks on the inside. He knew Peter was a 0:18:02.880 --> 0:18:06.320 masterpiece in the making, that he just had to be 0:18:06.440 --> 0:18:10.399 refined and work with so he could discover who he 0:18:10.440 --> 0:18:14.679 really was. At one point, Jesus said to him, you 0:18:14.800 --> 0:18:20.200 are Simon, but you shall be called Peter. Simon represents 0:18:20.240 --> 0:18:26.280 shifting sand and unstable, inconsistent but Peter means rock. If 0:18:26.320 --> 0:18:29.359 all the people Jesus could have chosen, he said to Peter, 0:18:29.840 --> 0:18:33.560 upon this rock, I will build my church. Here's a 0:18:33.560 --> 0:18:36.520 man that seems the least likely that God would build 0:18:36.520 --> 0:18:41.080 a church on. A fisherman with rough language that compromises, 0:18:41.320 --> 0:18:45.320 that's hot tempered. How could this be? Here's the phrase 0:18:45.520 --> 0:18:49.520 that tells us. Jesus said to Peter, follow me, and 0:18:49.680 --> 0:18:53.560 I will make you. Jesus was saying, Peter, you can't 0:18:53.560 --> 0:18:56.800 do this on your own. I can see why you're confused. 0:18:57.240 --> 0:18:59.800 You're looking at your flaws, but I'm looking at your 0:19:01.119 --> 0:19:04.639 You're looking at your dysfunction, but I'm looking at your destiny. 0:19:05.200 --> 0:19:07.680 You think you're a mess, but what you can't see 0:19:08.000 --> 0:19:10.960 is you're a masterpiece. It's not up to you to 0:19:11.040 --> 0:19:14.440 change yourself. Peter, follow me and I will make you. 0:19:15.200 --> 0:19:18.800 I will refine you, I will favor you. I will 0:19:18.840 --> 0:19:22.080 give you strength. I will open new doors. I will 0:19:22.080 --> 0:19:24.600 set you on a better path. I will bring out 0:19:24.640 --> 0:19:28.159 your talents. I will make you into the masterpiece that 0:19:28.280 --> 0:19:33.400 I created you to be. When Jesus called Peter told him, 0:19:33.400 --> 0:19:36.480 in effect, I'm going to do something awesome with your life. 0:19:37.119 --> 0:19:39.160 I'm going to make you into a person with great 0:19:39.320 --> 0:19:43.440 character and integrity and discipline will cause you to set 0:19:43.480 --> 0:19:47.680 a new standard and leave your mark. Often we think 0:19:47.720 --> 0:19:51.560 like Peter, not me. God, you don't know who I am. 0:19:52.000 --> 0:19:54.320 You don't know what I struggle with. I still have 0:19:54.359 --> 0:19:57.359 all these falls. I still don't perform like I should. 0:19:58.200 --> 0:20:01.000 God is saying to you what he said to I 0:20:01.080 --> 0:20:04.720 will make you. It's not just up to you. Don't 0:20:04.760 --> 0:20:08.040 worry about what you're dealing with. I'm going to change things. 0:20:08.400 --> 0:20:12.200 I'm going to breathe my freedom, my healing, my favor, 0:20:12.480 --> 0:20:15.199 my strength. I'm going to help you do what you 0:20:15.280 --> 0:20:19.280 can't do on your own. Jesus said you are Simon, 0:20:20.040 --> 0:20:23.600 but you shall be called Peter. We get stuck under 0:20:23.640 --> 0:20:28.760 you are You are addicted, you are undisciplined, you are impatient, 0:20:29.320 --> 0:20:32.960 you are hot tempered. That's where the enemy would love 0:20:33.000 --> 0:20:35.960 for you to stop. Look at you, man, You should 0:20:36.040 --> 0:20:39.280 be down on yourself. You can't get it together. Still 0:20:39.320 --> 0:20:42.359 dealing with the same things. God is saying, I know 0:20:42.400 --> 0:20:45.240 what you are right now, I know what you haven't 0:20:45.280 --> 0:20:49.280 been able to overcome. But stay encouraged. You shall be 0:20:49.480 --> 0:20:52.280 is on the way. God is going to make you 0:20:52.960 --> 0:20:55.439 It's not up to you to make yourself. It's up 0:20:55.480 --> 0:20:59.600 to you to fallow him. Keep in first place, stay pliable, 0:20:59.840 --> 0:21:03.680 and he will make you. Peter was at this critical point. 0:21:04.440 --> 0:21:08.160 He'd stayed focused on his flaws and how unworthy he was, 0:21:08.600 --> 0:21:11.480 how he didn't measure up. We wouldn't be talking about him. 0:21:12.080 --> 0:21:15.240 He had to shift his focus from thinking he had 0:21:15.280 --> 0:21:19.080 to change himself to believing that God would change him. 0:21:19.720 --> 0:21:22.240 When Jesus said, follow me and I will make you, 0:21:22.720 --> 0:21:26.560 something switched in his mindset. The pressure is not on 0:21:26.680 --> 0:21:29.000 all me to do it. He's going to make me. 0:21:29.800 --> 0:21:33.240 That's when he dropped his nests and follow Jesus. He 0:21:33.320 --> 0:21:36.360 had to be willing to accept himself, to be at 0:21:36.440 --> 0:21:39.359 peace with who he was while God was in the 0:21:39.400 --> 0:21:43.280 process of changing him. Didn't happen overnight. He still had 0:21:43.359 --> 0:21:46.840 rough edges, but he knew he was a work in progress, 0:21:47.160 --> 0:21:51.199 that he wasn't a finished product. After Jesus died and 0:21:51.280 --> 0:21:55.679 rose again, the First Church was starting. They needed someone 0:21:55.720 --> 0:22:00.919 to give the inaugural address. This very prestigious wrong. They 0:22:00.960 --> 0:22:05.399 didn't choose a rabbi, a theologian, the chief priest. They 0:22:05.480 --> 0:22:09.400 chose Peter. He spoke and three thousand people gave their 0:22:09.440 --> 0:22:12.600 life to Christ. Peter was the one that when people 0:22:12.640 --> 0:22:15.960 got in his shadow, they were healed. This was the 0:22:16.040 --> 0:22:19.399 man that said I'm unworthy, the man that said I 0:22:19.440 --> 0:22:22.359 don't have it all together. I have too many shortcomings. 0:22:22.520 --> 0:22:25.919 I'll never measure up. But look what happens when you 0:22:26.000 --> 0:22:31.880 let God make you, the masterpiece comes out. I don't know, Joel, 0:22:32.240 --> 0:22:35.680 I still struggle in these areas. I should be further along. 0:22:36.280 --> 0:22:39.600 I'm not as disciplined as just should be. The problem 0:22:39.760 --> 0:22:42.080 is you're trying to do it all in your own strength. 0:22:42.680 --> 0:22:46.040 That's pressure. That's when you feel wrong on the inside, 0:22:46.400 --> 0:22:49.600 that nagging feeling, why can't I do better? Try a 0:22:49.600 --> 0:22:53.760 different approach. God. I have some flaws, I have weaknesses, 0:22:54.119 --> 0:22:57.399 but I believe I'm a masterpiece in the making. I 0:22:57.480 --> 0:23:01.520 know you've approved me, you've accepted me. You've already planned 0:23:01.520 --> 0:23:04.920 my days for good. Like Peter, I'm gonna follow you 0:23:05.320 --> 0:23:08.880 and let you make me. I'm gonna accept myself while 0:23:08.880 --> 0:23:11.960 you're changing me. I'm gonna enjoy the glory that I'm 0:23:11.960 --> 0:23:16.640 in right now. Some one hundred says know with approval. 0:23:17.160 --> 0:23:20.199 The Lord, our God is he who makes us and 0:23:20.280 --> 0:23:24.320 not be ourselves. You're trying to be a self made person, 0:23:24.920 --> 0:23:28.040 do it all on your own. Change this, fix this. 0:23:28.359 --> 0:23:32.040 You're going to struggle. That's a constant battle. But when 0:23:32.040 --> 0:23:34.800 you let God makes you, it takes the pressure off. 0:23:35.359 --> 0:23:38.560 When you learn to like yourself where you are, knowing 0:23:38.600 --> 0:23:42.480 that He's in control of the process, how fast it happens, 0:23:42.760 --> 0:23:45.600 then you can enjoy your life while God is working. 0:23:46.720 --> 0:23:49.240 When my father passed and I stepped up to pass 0:23:49.240 --> 0:23:53.040 through the church, I didn't feel qualified. I was insecure 0:23:53.119 --> 0:23:57.359 and intimidated, and my father had a big personality, and 0:23:57.440 --> 0:24:01.600 I'm more quiet and reserved. The newspaper said, no large 0:24:01.680 --> 0:24:05.080 church where the sun took over ever made it. I 0:24:05.119 --> 0:24:07.640 overheard a couple of people talking about how I wasn't 0:24:07.640 --> 0:24:10.600 as good as my father. When you're about to step 0:24:10.640 --> 0:24:13.560 into a new level, the enemy will work over time 0:24:13.880 --> 0:24:17.639 to try to make you feel unqualified, unworthy, like you 0:24:17.680 --> 0:24:20.560 don't measure up. I had to do what I'm asking 0:24:20.600 --> 0:24:23.200 you to do, I said, God, I know you've raised 0:24:23.240 --> 0:24:26.280 me up for this time. You said if I follow you, 0:24:26.280 --> 0:24:30.320 you would make me. I'm looking away from all these distractions, 0:24:30.600 --> 0:24:33.360 from what I'm not, from what I don't have, from 0:24:33.440 --> 0:24:36.440 what people have said, and I'm trusting you to get 0:24:36.440 --> 0:24:40.280 me to where I'm supposed to be. Voices would whisper 0:24:40.280 --> 0:24:43.600 in the night. You're not qualified, I learned to say, 0:24:43.960 --> 0:24:47.439 talk to my maker. You're not strong enough. Talk to 0:24:47.520 --> 0:24:50.240 my maker. You don't have what your father had. Talk 0:24:50.320 --> 0:24:53.480 to my maker. You need to be more dynamic. Talk 0:24:53.520 --> 0:24:58.040 to my maker. You can't make yourself into a masterpiece. 0:24:58.240 --> 0:25:02.199 That's your maker's job. You follow him, Believe what he 0:25:02.320 --> 0:25:06.200 says about you, Obey that still small voice, and he'll 0:25:06.240 --> 0:25:09.359 make you into the masterpiece he created you to be. 0:25:10.640 --> 0:25:13.880 My challenge today is don't go through life against yourself, 0:25:14.400 --> 0:25:17.520 feeling wrong on the inside because you're not as far 0:25:17.560 --> 0:25:21.040 along as you should be. Neither was Peter when Jesus 0:25:21.080 --> 0:25:24.760 called him, but he still became a masterpiece. You have 0:25:24.800 --> 0:25:28.160 to put on that approval. Know that God is pleased 0:25:28.160 --> 0:25:31.040 with you right where you are. He's not shaking his 0:25:31.040 --> 0:25:34.280 head because you're still dealing with some things. He's the 0:25:34.320 --> 0:25:37.560 one that's going to help you get free. Why don't 0:25:37.600 --> 0:25:41.719 you accept yourself while he's changing you. Being down on 0:25:41.800 --> 0:25:45.439 yourselves not gonna help you do better until you like 0:25:45.520 --> 0:25:48.680 who you are, even though you have shortcomings. You'll never 0:25:48.760 --> 0:25:53.760 reach your potential. Take the pressure off trying to perform perfectly. 0:25:53.920 --> 0:25:56.160 Then you're gonna feel good about who you are. That's 0:25:56.200 --> 0:25:59.840 gonna frustrate you. Do your best and trust God to 0:25:59.840 --> 0:26:02.760 take take care of the rest. He's the potter. He 0:26:02.800 --> 0:26:05.720 has you on the will follow him and he will 0:26:05.760 --> 0:26:09.440 make you if you'll do this, I believe and declare 0:26:09.800 --> 0:26:12.520 this is a new day. Things that have hindered you 0:26:12.600 --> 0:26:15.920 in the past will hinder you no more. You're about 0:26:15.960 --> 0:26:21.800 to experience a new sense of freedom, wholeness, fulfillment, joy, victory. 0:26:22.160 --> 0:26:25.320 You will become the masterpiece God created you to be 0:26:25.920 --> 0:26:29.080 in Jesus' name, And if you receive it, can you 0:26:29.119 --> 0:26:33.760 say amen? I'd like to give you an opportunity to 0:26:33.800 --> 0:26:36.760 make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray 0:26:36.800 --> 0:26:41.160 with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. 0:26:41.760 --> 0:26:45.520 Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:26:46.280 --> 0:26:48.760 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:26:48.800 --> 0:26:52.040 born again. We love to send you some information on 0:26:52.080 --> 0:26:54.239 your new walk with the Lord. You can go to 0:26:54.280 --> 0:26:57.439 the website or text the number on the screen, but 0:26:57.520 --> 0:27:00.240 I hope you'll get into a good Bible based church 0:27:00.359 --> 0:27:04.320 and keep God first place. Thanks so much for listening 0:27:04.320 --> 0:27:07.480 to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe so you can 0:27:07.520 --> 0:27:11.080 receive the latest podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired 0:27:11.160 --> 0:27:13.440 all through the week. Help us to continue to share 0:27:13.480 --> 0:27:15.840 the message of hope with those all around the world. 0:27:16.160 --> 0:27:18.919 Visit Joelosting dot com or click the link in the 0:27:18.960 --> 0:27:22.240 description to partner with us today. We hope you'll share 0:27:22.280 --> 0:27:24.680 this message with a friend and be sure to follow 0:27:24.760 --> 0:27:27.679 us on social media. We're praying for you. I know 0:27:27.800 --> 0:27:30.760 God's best is still ahead. We'll see you next time.