Clothed With Love

0:00:00.440 --> 0:00:02.160 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 0:00:02.240 --> 0:00:05.279 Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 0:00:05.280 --> 0:00:08.240 the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 0:00:08.280 --> 0:00:10.440 be a blessing and share it with a friend. We 0:00:10.520 --> 0:00:13.560 appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your line. 0:00:14.160 --> 0:00:14.840 God bless you. 0:00:15.080 --> 0:00:17.599 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:00:17.600 --> 0:00:20.040 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:00:20.120 --> 0:00:23.799 daily podcast, our YouTube channel, and social media, and you 0:00:23.880 --> 0:00:25.320 can come visit us in person. 0:00:25.520 --> 0:00:27.200 We'd love to have you be a part of one 0:00:27.200 --> 0:00:28.080 of our services. 0:00:28.720 --> 0:00:31.040 I'd like to start with something funny and I heard 0:00:31.080 --> 0:00:34.840 about this husband and wife. They were celebrating their sixtieth 0:00:34.880 --> 0:00:39.080 birthdays together when an angel suddenly appeared and said that 0:00:39.120 --> 0:00:41.840 God was going to grant them each one special request, 0:00:41.880 --> 0:00:45.239 and they were so excited. The wife said, my request 0:00:45.400 --> 0:00:47.320 is that we'd be able to travel all over the 0:00:47.360 --> 0:00:50.800 world and proof when the smoke cleared, she had tickets 0:00:50.800 --> 0:00:53.920 in her hand. Well, her husband put his head down 0:00:53.960 --> 0:00:57.120 in shame and said, my request is that I would 0:00:57.160 --> 0:00:59.840 be married to a woman thirty years younger than me 0:01:00.520 --> 0:01:03.680 and poof when the smoke cleared, he was ninety years old, 0:01:05.319 --> 0:01:06.600 all right, y'all say it. 0:01:06.600 --> 0:01:07.200 Like you mean it. 0:01:07.600 --> 0:01:10.400 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:01:10.880 --> 0:01:13.280 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:01:13.360 --> 0:01:15.920 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:01:16.040 --> 0:01:19.800 taught to word of God. I boldly confess my mind 0:01:19.880 --> 0:01:22.039 is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:01:22.360 --> 0:01:26.120 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:01:26.120 --> 0:01:26.679 bless you. 0:01:28.040 --> 0:01:30.800 I want to talk to you today about clothed with love. 0:01:31.800 --> 0:01:33.959 There's so much noise in our society. 0:01:34.600 --> 0:01:40.160 Opinions can become like weapons. People that are argumentative, judgmental, divisive. 0:01:40.959 --> 0:01:44.760 Everyone has a platform through social media. You can speak 0:01:44.800 --> 0:01:48.440 your mind, set people's strength, call them out, insult them. 0:01:49.200 --> 0:01:54.440 Being harsh, rude, shocking can become normal to us. The 0:01:54.440 --> 0:01:58.280 more we see it, the more desensitized we are. If 0:01:58.320 --> 0:02:02.480 we're not careful, we'll be like what's around us. We'll 0:02:02.520 --> 0:02:06.240 think it's okay to attack, belittle, insult. 0:02:06.400 --> 0:02:07.440 Everyone's doing it. 0:02:08.080 --> 0:02:11.360 But God has called us to live by a higher standard, 0:02:11.800 --> 0:02:12.840 to be the exception. 0:02:13.639 --> 0:02:16.880 Don't let all the noise, the hate, the disrespect. 0:02:17.320 --> 0:02:20.799 People who are loud and abrasive, don't let that poison 0:02:20.880 --> 0:02:25.119 get in you. Don't become like your environment and Colossians 0:02:25.160 --> 0:02:33.520 three says you must clothe yourself with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness. 0:02:32.880 --> 0:02:33.720 And patience. 0:02:34.200 --> 0:02:39.679 Make allowances for people's faults, and forgive the person who offends. 0:02:39.280 --> 0:02:40.799 As Christ has forgiven you. 0:02:41.520 --> 0:02:44.440 Paul was saying, you have to get dressed each morning 0:02:44.600 --> 0:02:47.320 in the right clothes, clothe yourself. 0:02:47.960 --> 0:02:50.480 Clothes don't jump on you. You have to choose to 0:02:50.520 --> 0:02:53.000 put them on. Put on kindness. 0:02:53.360 --> 0:02:56.960 I'm going to be nice and friendly today. Put on gentleness. 0:02:57.160 --> 0:03:01.560 I'm going to be easy going and understanding. Put on mercy. 0:03:02.000 --> 0:03:05.520 I'm gonna make allowances when people don't perform perfectly. 0:03:05.880 --> 0:03:08.839 I'm gonna give them grace when they make mistakes. Put 0:03:08.840 --> 0:03:09.640 on humility. 0:03:10.040 --> 0:03:13.040 I'm not gonna go around arrogant, looking down on people. 0:03:13.320 --> 0:03:16.880 I'm gonna treat everyone with respect. Put on patience. 0:03:17.120 --> 0:03:19.960 I'm gonna stay in peace when things don't go my way. 0:03:20.760 --> 0:03:21.959 Put on forgiveness. 0:03:22.200 --> 0:03:25.600 I'm not gonna hold a grudge living offended. I'm gonna 0:03:25.680 --> 0:03:29.280 forgive those that do me wrong. After Paul listed all 0:03:29.280 --> 0:03:31.720 these qualities that we need to put on each day, 0:03:32.120 --> 0:03:35.600 he finished by saying, and the most important piece of 0:03:35.680 --> 0:03:38.280 clothing you must wear is love. 0:03:39.120 --> 0:03:39.640 You would think. 0:03:39.680 --> 0:03:42.240 He would say, the most important thing is faith. You 0:03:42.280 --> 0:03:46.040 can't please God without faith or truth. It's the truth 0:03:46.040 --> 0:03:49.840 that sets people free, or justice. You have to stand 0:03:49.960 --> 0:03:52.360 up for those that don't have a voice, help the 0:03:52.440 --> 0:03:55.680 less fortunate. Those are all good, we should put them on. 0:03:56.040 --> 0:03:59.280 But the most important piece of clothing you must wear 0:03:59.560 --> 0:04:04.320 is love, because without love, the others aren't as effective. 0:04:05.160 --> 0:04:08.200 You can be right, you know the other person is wrong. 0:04:08.520 --> 0:04:11.960 You have the facts, here's the truth. But without love, 0:04:12.240 --> 0:04:14.960 it's just noise. That's what Paul. 0:04:14.760 --> 0:04:16.320 Said in First Corinthians. 0:04:16.839 --> 0:04:19.599 If I speak with the tongue of men or the 0:04:19.640 --> 0:04:23.360 tongue of angels, and have not love, I am only 0:04:23.440 --> 0:04:25.080 a loud, clinging symbol. 0:04:25.680 --> 0:04:27.760 One version says a noisy gong. 0:04:28.839 --> 0:04:33.720 He was saying, you can be gifted, articulate, powerful, have 0:04:33.800 --> 0:04:37.919 all this impressive knowledge, but without love, you're just a 0:04:37.960 --> 0:04:41.760 lot of noise, just a lot of clinging, not effective, 0:04:42.279 --> 0:04:43.440 not changing anything. 0:04:44.400 --> 0:04:45.520 And a lot of people. 0:04:45.240 --> 0:04:49.320 Are sincere, they're passionate, but they're not speaking the truth 0:04:49.400 --> 0:04:53.000 in love. They're not putting on the most important piece. 0:04:53.640 --> 0:04:59.599 They become offended, argumentative, disrespectful. They wonder why they're not effective, 0:04:59.760 --> 0:05:01.440 Why now they don't have more influence. 0:05:01.720 --> 0:05:02.480 There's no love. 0:05:02.720 --> 0:05:07.760 It's ego, pride, competition, making others look bad so they'll 0:05:07.760 --> 0:05:11.400 look good. Those are not things God is going to bless. 0:05:11.880 --> 0:05:15.800 You may be right, but where's the love? Where's the kindness? 0:05:16.200 --> 0:05:20.719 Where is being merciful and understanding? You can be gentle 0:05:21.200 --> 0:05:25.320 without being weak. You can be kind and strong at 0:05:25.360 --> 0:05:28.479 the same time. You don't have to be harsh and 0:05:28.600 --> 0:05:34.880 condescending and hateful because someone doesn't agree, start attacking, confronting. 0:05:36.040 --> 0:05:38.400 Love is more powerful than loudness. 0:05:39.279 --> 0:05:43.040 Truth spoken softly is more powerful than yelling at someone, 0:05:44.080 --> 0:05:48.919 being offensive, insulting to prove a point, criticizing someone back. 0:05:49.440 --> 0:05:52.720 That's sinking down to their level. Do yourself a favor, 0:05:53.200 --> 0:05:54.360 put on your code of love. 0:05:55.200 --> 0:05:58.680 See Jesus was strong, but he was kind. He had 0:05:58.720 --> 0:06:00.520 the truth, but he was meiful. 0:06:01.120 --> 0:06:03.960 He was God better than any of us, never made 0:06:04.000 --> 0:06:07.839 a mistake, but he walked in humility. He washed people's 0:06:07.880 --> 0:06:11.359 feet and served others when he could have been served. 0:06:12.080 --> 0:06:14.640 And yes he got upset he threw people out of 0:06:14.680 --> 0:06:18.159 the temple, but it wasn't out of bitterness and hatred. 0:06:18.240 --> 0:06:20.400 And I'm gonna prove to you and push you. 0:06:20.440 --> 0:06:25.359 Down he didn't want to see people being taken advantage of. Now, 0:06:25.400 --> 0:06:27.960 I'm not saying to not be passionate and to never 0:06:28.040 --> 0:06:31.240 stand strong, but you should do it out of love 0:06:31.880 --> 0:06:35.400 and not out of anger and ego and competition. If 0:06:35.440 --> 0:06:38.520 you don't have love, your good intentions are going to 0:06:38.560 --> 0:06:42.640 turn into claning symbols, a lot of noise but little impact. 0:06:43.400 --> 0:06:48.800 Being loud doesn't equate to being effective, Being harsh, argumentative, 0:06:49.040 --> 0:06:52.560 trying to force your opinion. You may be right, you 0:06:52.680 --> 0:06:55.320 have the truth, but you can do it the wrong 0:06:55.400 --> 0:06:59.279 way and still be wrong. And I'm not talking about 0:06:59.320 --> 0:07:02.320 just in a debate with someone online. 0:07:02.760 --> 0:07:05.880 How about in your marriage? How about with your children, 0:07:06.160 --> 0:07:07.120 your coworkers. 0:07:07.720 --> 0:07:11.960 Are you putting on love, making allowances for their weaknesses 0:07:12.440 --> 0:07:15.640 or are you harsh looking for reasons to correct and 0:07:15.840 --> 0:07:19.600 prove that you're right? Are you forgiving the wrongs as 0:07:19.720 --> 0:07:23.960 Christ forgave us? Are you holding a grudge making them pay, 0:07:24.400 --> 0:07:25.040 giving them. 0:07:24.880 --> 0:07:28.360 The cold shoulder? After all, they were at fault, they 0:07:28.400 --> 0:07:31.040 deserve it. How about putting on some mercy? 0:07:31.640 --> 0:07:35.960 How about putting on some gentleness, being understanding. The mercy 0:07:36.040 --> 0:07:38.400 you show others is the mercy God is going to 0:07:38.480 --> 0:07:42.160 show you. I was in my backyard one afternoon watering 0:07:42.200 --> 0:07:42.800 the plants. 0:07:43.120 --> 0:07:44.360 We have some flowers in. 0:07:44.360 --> 0:07:46.960 These big pots, and i'd gotten some of the weeds 0:07:47.000 --> 0:07:50.080 out and putting new dirt in. I was hot and sweaty, 0:07:50.160 --> 0:07:53.080 and I'd worked out earlier that morning exercise. 0:07:53.160 --> 0:07:53.800 Rode my bike. 0:07:54.320 --> 0:07:56.240 Victoria came out and said, Joe, we need to run 0:07:56.320 --> 0:07:58.880 up to the store and pick something up, piece of 0:07:58.960 --> 0:08:02.440 equipment she had ordered. Well, I was in my workout clothes, 0:08:02.560 --> 0:08:05.600 my gym shortz and this blue T shirt. 0:08:05.280 --> 0:08:08.120 That I always wear. My children kid me that it's 0:08:08.120 --> 0:08:10.880 my uniform. I've had it like forty seven years. 0:08:11.240 --> 0:08:15.160 The collars all stretched out, faded straggly on one side. 0:08:15.160 --> 0:08:17.840 And I have other shirts, but that's the one I like. 0:08:17.920 --> 0:08:21.240 And I told Victoria I can't go anywhere I'm not dressed. 0:08:21.400 --> 0:08:23.440 I'd have to go in, take a shower and put 0:08:23.480 --> 0:08:26.200 some better clothes on. She said, no, Joel, you don't 0:08:26.240 --> 0:08:26.840 have to get out. 0:08:26.760 --> 0:08:28.560 Of the car. They're going to put it in the 0:08:28.600 --> 0:08:31.200 back for us. So we got there. They loaded it 0:08:31.200 --> 0:08:33.120 in the trunk. All was good, but. 0:08:33.120 --> 0:08:36.800 As we were driving away, Victoria saw this other store. 0:08:37.640 --> 0:08:41.520 When she gets close to a mall, there's an unseen force. 0:08:41.280 --> 0:08:44.080 That tries to pull her in. She said, Joel, let's 0:08:44.080 --> 0:08:45.160 go in there real quick. 0:08:45.640 --> 0:08:48.439 I've been wanting to there's something I really want to see. 0:08:48.559 --> 0:08:51.680 I said, no, Victoria, I am not dressed. That's a 0:08:51.840 --> 0:08:55.319 nice place. I'll go in home Depot, I'll go to Walmart, 0:08:55.320 --> 0:08:56.320 but I'm not going in there. 0:08:56.760 --> 0:09:00.920 She said, Joel, you're fine. You look great. I'm either 0:09:01.080 --> 0:09:04.040 so dumb or so naive. She talked me into going. 0:09:04.640 --> 0:09:07.200 When she said I looked great, I lost all sense 0:09:07.240 --> 0:09:07.880 of reasoning. 0:09:08.880 --> 0:09:11.200 We walked in and it was a nice store. 0:09:11.600 --> 0:09:15.400 There were three salespeople there to greet us, two men 0:09:15.480 --> 0:09:18.880 and an old woman. The men were in the finest suits, 0:09:19.080 --> 0:09:25.439 impeccable shoeshine. The woman was in a beautiful pantsuit, elegant, sophisticated, 0:09:25.840 --> 0:09:28.800 looked like they had just stepped out of a fashion magazine, 0:09:28.840 --> 0:09:32.880 and looked like I just stepped out of a farming magazine. 0:09:32.120 --> 0:09:35.920 And the first thing the man said was all, Pastor, Joel, 0:09:36.080 --> 0:09:39.559 we've never seen you like this. Now. 0:09:40.160 --> 0:09:41.680 We all laughed and laughed. 0:09:41.760 --> 0:09:43.560 I thought, yeah, and you're about to have never seen 0:09:43.559 --> 0:09:45.200 me another way if you keep laughing. 0:09:46.400 --> 0:09:48.600 Here's my point. When I walked in. 0:09:48.640 --> 0:09:52.559 I hadn't said a word, but my clothes sent a message. 0:09:52.720 --> 0:09:56.640 What I was wearing communicated something to them, not only 0:09:56.679 --> 0:09:59.680 that what I had on was affecting me. I didn't 0:09:59.679 --> 0:10:02.040 feel good good about going in. I knew I wasn't 0:10:02.120 --> 0:10:06.800 dressed appropriately. People read your clothing before you say a word. 0:10:07.600 --> 0:10:10.439 They form impressions before you open your mouth. 0:10:10.760 --> 0:10:12.080 Depending on how you dress. 0:10:12.520 --> 0:10:16.400 Casually, fond, sophisticated dressing, that's. 0:10:16.240 --> 0:10:17.520 All communicating something. 0:10:17.960 --> 0:10:22.559 If you dress sloppy, close, wrinkled, don't fit out of style, risk, gay. 0:10:22.640 --> 0:10:24.840 Those are all sending a message about you. 0:10:25.160 --> 0:10:28.400 Well, that's the physical in the scene, but it's the 0:10:28.440 --> 0:10:34.360 same in the unseen. When you put on kindness, gentleness, humility, mercy, 0:10:34.800 --> 0:10:38.199 you're sending a message to people before you say a word. 0:10:38.360 --> 0:10:39.760 They can sense who you are. 0:10:40.360 --> 0:10:45.960 It's creating this impression love, goodness, respect that draws people in, 0:10:46.080 --> 0:10:49.120 that gives you favor, that brings healthy relationships. 0:10:49.760 --> 0:10:51.199 And sure the opposite is true. 0:10:51.280 --> 0:10:56.880 If you get dressed with pride, competition, bitterness, sarcasm, that's how. 0:10:56.760 --> 0:11:00.200 People are reading you. You're projecting it without saying in 0:11:00.200 --> 0:11:03.320 a word. You know how it is. You can sense 0:11:03.679 --> 0:11:07.480 when someone is arrogant, when they're unfriendly, when they have 0:11:07.520 --> 0:11:08.760 a chip on their shoulder. 0:11:09.160 --> 0:11:11.480 You can sum them up in no time by the 0:11:11.559 --> 0:11:15.080 feeling and how they carrying themselves. In the same way, 0:11:15.800 --> 0:11:18.360 you know when you have the wrong clothes on. I 0:11:18.440 --> 0:11:21.040 knew my shirt was old, I knew my gym shorts 0:11:21.080 --> 0:11:24.400 were dirty. It's the same way in the unseen. You 0:11:24.480 --> 0:11:27.679 know when you have a bad attitude, when you're condescending, 0:11:28.120 --> 0:11:31.600 when you're hersh you won't forget. It's not just sending 0:11:31.640 --> 0:11:35.480 a message to others, but it doesn't feel right to you. 0:11:35.480 --> 0:11:36.640 You don't like who you are. 0:11:37.200 --> 0:11:40.040 You may get used to it, talk yourself into it, 0:11:40.360 --> 0:11:43.559 but deep down there's an unrest and uneasiness. 0:11:43.760 --> 0:11:47.160 It's because that's not who you were created to be. 0:11:47.720 --> 0:11:53.199 You were created to put on love, kindness, gentleness, being merciful, 0:11:53.480 --> 0:11:57.800 overlooking faults. And sometimes you have clothes that don't fit anymore. 0:11:58.160 --> 0:12:01.760 You've grown out of the too small, wrong style. You 0:12:01.840 --> 0:12:05.800 put them away and get clothes that fit. Maybe you've 0:12:05.840 --> 0:12:09.800 worn being judgmental, critical and jealous for a long time, 0:12:10.559 --> 0:12:13.480 or you put on a code of pride bitterness hard 0:12:13.520 --> 0:12:16.520 to get along with. That was fine for a while, 0:12:16.920 --> 0:12:20.040 but now you're growing out of them. God is calling 0:12:20.080 --> 0:12:22.920 you up to a higher standard. Now you have to 0:12:22.960 --> 0:12:26.600 do your part and have a wardrobe change. Can I 0:12:26.640 --> 0:12:30.520 tell you bitterness doesn't look good on you. That sour 0:12:30.600 --> 0:12:34.160 attitude smells bad. You don't have to say anything. You're 0:12:34.200 --> 0:12:38.720 pushing people away. The pride or having to always be right, 0:12:38.960 --> 0:12:40.240 that doesn't fit you anymore. 0:12:40.880 --> 0:12:44.080 The jealousy holding onto an offense. That's how a style. 0:12:44.640 --> 0:12:48.400 Those clothes are over and done. How about a spring cleaning. 0:12:48.960 --> 0:12:51.640 Don't even send them to goodwill, put them into trash. 0:12:52.040 --> 0:12:57.480 Put on love, put on kindness, gentleness, friendliness, understanding, respect. 0:12:58.400 --> 0:13:02.079 That's the wardrobe God designed for you. He's your tailor. 0:13:02.679 --> 0:13:06.200 He knows what fits, what's instyled, what's gonna make you 0:13:06.280 --> 0:13:08.520 look good, and what's going to be effective. 0:13:09.200 --> 0:13:10.800 Do you know how it is in fashion? 0:13:10.880 --> 0:13:15.240 There's always some knockoff brands and some imitations not quite 0:13:15.240 --> 0:13:17.640 the same, but they're good enough. It's kind of close. 0:13:18.280 --> 0:13:19.160 Or don't be fooled. 0:13:19.520 --> 0:13:21.720 The enemy has his own clothing line. 0:13:22.120 --> 0:13:25.000 He'll tell you, hey, this pride is gonna look better 0:13:25.040 --> 0:13:25.400 on you. 0:13:25.960 --> 0:13:27.960 This jealousy, it's the hottest thing going. 0:13:28.760 --> 0:13:32.400 This greed, being self centered, only thinking about you, This 0:13:32.400 --> 0:13:37.520 will look amazing on you, this judgment, being critical, insulting people. 0:13:37.800 --> 0:13:39.280 This is just your size. 0:13:39.640 --> 0:13:42.960 Look how flashy it is. Don't put on that integrity 0:13:43.080 --> 0:13:47.880 that's boring. Kindness, patience, mercy, that's old school, that's outdated. 0:13:48.559 --> 0:13:52.080 Don't fall for his lives. He has faith merchandise. When 0:13:52.120 --> 0:13:52.720 you put on the. 0:13:52.720 --> 0:13:56.720 Wardrobe God designed for you, you'll not only feel better, 0:13:57.040 --> 0:14:00.240 but you are projecting the right things to those around you. 0:14:00.800 --> 0:14:04.880 You'll draw in good people, favor, and opportunity. You'll be 0:14:04.920 --> 0:14:08.760 more effective. I saw this with my father. He taught 0:14:08.800 --> 0:14:11.680 me by example how to put on a coat of love. 0:14:11.800 --> 0:14:15.120 And he was kind and merciful, even back in the 0:14:15.200 --> 0:14:18.480 nineteen fifties when he was pastoring that church and they 0:14:18.480 --> 0:14:21.880 didn't understand his new direction, and they didn't want him anymore. 0:14:22.480 --> 0:14:23.480 They asked him to leave. 0:14:24.240 --> 0:14:27.560 He was never bitter, He never talked bad about the people, 0:14:28.120 --> 0:14:30.520 didn't go around with a chip on his shoulder. He 0:14:30.600 --> 0:14:36.120 was merciful. He forgave them and moved on. He wasn't accepted. 0:14:35.640 --> 0:14:38.280 Anymore in his traditional denomination. 0:14:38.880 --> 0:14:41.680 There were friends and colleagues he'd gone to school with, 0:14:41.800 --> 0:14:44.640 and they were no longer for him. They didn't want 0:14:44.640 --> 0:14:48.040 to have any contact like they would be contamidated, couldn't 0:14:48.040 --> 0:14:50.880 get around him, He said, Jel, they drew a circle 0:14:50.960 --> 0:14:53.840 to shut me out, but I drew a bigger circle 0:14:53.920 --> 0:14:57.440 to shut them in. You can't stop hurt from coming, 0:14:57.840 --> 0:14:59.880 betrayal people that are unfair. 0:15:00.600 --> 0:15:01.960 But when you have your code. 0:15:01.680 --> 0:15:06.400 Of love on, when you're merciful forgiving, make allowances for 0:15:06.440 --> 0:15:10.720 people shortcoming, it doesn't poison you. You keep enjoying your life, 0:15:11.080 --> 0:15:13.960 being good to people, drawing in the. 0:15:13.680 --> 0:15:14.640 Favor of God. 0:15:15.320 --> 0:15:19.680 And James too, says, whatever you say and whatever you do, 0:15:20.240 --> 0:15:23.520 remember you will be judged by the law of love. 0:15:24.280 --> 0:15:26.240 Doesn't say we're going to be judged by how many 0:15:26.320 --> 0:15:30.120 arguments we want, how many people we corrected, how perfect 0:15:30.160 --> 0:15:31.560 our doctrine was, how. 0:15:31.400 --> 0:15:34.840 Successful we were. No, we're going to be judged by 0:15:35.200 --> 0:15:38.000 were you wearing your code of love? Were you good 0:15:38.040 --> 0:15:40.840 to people, kind, merciful forgiving? 0:15:41.280 --> 0:15:45.960 Did you walk in humility, patience and generosity? James said, 0:15:46.360 --> 0:15:50.520 whatever you do and whatever you say that means before 0:15:50.560 --> 0:15:54.240 you post it on social media, before you express your opinion, 0:15:54.840 --> 0:15:58.520 before you confront someone, ask yourself, am I doing this 0:15:58.560 --> 0:16:02.760 out of love, out of kindness, gentleness? Or you're doing 0:16:02.760 --> 0:16:05.720 it out of hurt, out of anger, jealousy. 0:16:06.360 --> 0:16:07.920 I don't want them to look better than me. 0:16:08.160 --> 0:16:11.640 I'm gonna say something to meaning, or I'm not gonna 0:16:11.720 --> 0:16:14.080 let this coworker get away with being rude to me. 0:16:14.120 --> 0:16:17.080 I'm gonna be rude back to him. There's no blessing 0:16:17.360 --> 0:16:17.960 when you're. 0:16:17.760 --> 0:16:21.880 Doing things out of spite, ill willed bitterness. That's gonna 0:16:21.960 --> 0:16:25.480 drag you down and make life more difficult. And this 0:16:25.640 --> 0:16:29.600 is the way many people live disrespect for disrespect. You 0:16:29.680 --> 0:16:33.520 hurt me, I'm gonna hurt you. They're a loud, clinging symbol. 0:16:34.160 --> 0:16:37.440 We try to answer back with loud, clinging symbols. Let's 0:16:37.480 --> 0:16:40.360 be louder, harsher, more disrespectful. 0:16:40.800 --> 0:16:41.840 That's not the way to win. 0:16:42.640 --> 0:16:47.040 The Scripture says you overcome evil with good when you're 0:16:47.160 --> 0:16:49.800 kind to those that are not kind to you. Proverb 0:16:49.880 --> 0:16:52.880 says it's like you're heaping coals of fire on their 0:16:52.920 --> 0:16:54.720 head when you say in. 0:16:54.720 --> 0:16:56.640 Love, God will fight your battles. 0:16:57.040 --> 0:17:01.160 He'll vindicate you better than you can vindicate yourself. First 0:17:01.160 --> 0:17:06.320 Corinthian says love never fails. Does it say strength never fails? 0:17:06.320 --> 0:17:08.520 Being right never fails? Proven your point? 0:17:08.920 --> 0:17:12.000 No, love never fails. Love brings down walls. 0:17:12.680 --> 0:17:17.000 Love heals, restores, protects. Love will help you keep your 0:17:17.000 --> 0:17:17.679 heart pure. 0:17:18.760 --> 0:17:19.520 Jesus had a. 0:17:19.480 --> 0:17:23.720 Lot of people against him, critics, naysayers, religious leaders that 0:17:23.800 --> 0:17:26.760 were jealous, but he didn't spend a lot of time 0:17:27.000 --> 0:17:30.840 arguing with people, getting into heated debates trying to prove 0:17:30.960 --> 0:17:31.679 who he was. 0:17:31.920 --> 0:17:33.560 He let his actions. 0:17:33.040 --> 0:17:37.880 Speak when he was brought before Pilot all these false accusations. 0:17:38.160 --> 0:17:42.199 The scripture says he answered him not a word. He 0:17:42.240 --> 0:17:43.120 knew they weren't. 0:17:42.880 --> 0:17:45.600 Going to change their mind, that they were determined to 0:17:45.640 --> 0:17:49.600 misunderstand him. And sometimes we're trying to win over people 0:17:49.960 --> 0:17:52.720 that are never going to be for us. We're getting 0:17:52.760 --> 0:17:55.520 all riled up trying to convince him to change, and 0:17:55.760 --> 0:17:58.439 see it from our point of view, we have to 0:17:58.560 --> 0:18:03.000 accept it's okay if someone doesn't agree, it's okay if 0:18:03.000 --> 0:18:04.040 they're not for us. 0:18:04.320 --> 0:18:07.440 You don't need everyone to be for you to fulfill 0:18:07.480 --> 0:18:08.160 your destiny. 0:18:08.920 --> 0:18:14.040 And it's really easy to get baited into conflict, argumentative angered, 0:18:14.160 --> 0:18:18.159 frustrated because they're not changing their mind, they're insulting, saying 0:18:18.200 --> 0:18:19.399 things that aren't true. 0:18:19.640 --> 0:18:21.960 For some battles you're not supposed to fight. 0:18:22.680 --> 0:18:25.760 It's a distraction to try to get your off course, 0:18:26.000 --> 0:18:29.920 wasting time stressed over something that you can't control. 0:18:30.760 --> 0:18:33.600 In the big picture, it's not going to stop your purpose. 0:18:34.119 --> 0:18:37.480 Jesus didn't answer every critic, He didn't try to change 0:18:37.520 --> 0:18:38.600 every person's mind. 0:18:39.480 --> 0:18:40.720 The enemy would love. 0:18:40.600 --> 0:18:45.080 To deceive us into becoming loud, clinging symbols. You have 0:18:45.160 --> 0:18:48.080 the truth, you know you're right, but you got bent 0:18:48.119 --> 0:18:49.960 out of shape, aggravated. 0:18:50.880 --> 0:18:52.600 It takes maturity to. 0:18:52.600 --> 0:18:56.440 Not get drawn into the wrong battles because human nature 0:18:56.440 --> 0:18:58.320 wants to fight, defend, stand up. 0:18:58.680 --> 0:19:01.720 There are times that's important, but do it with love. 0:19:02.520 --> 0:19:05.400 Don't let the poison of other people get in you. 0:19:06.280 --> 0:19:08.960 If you take it all personally, you try to straighten 0:19:09.000 --> 0:19:11.280 everyone out, prove your point. 0:19:11.800 --> 0:19:12.480 You get as. 0:19:12.400 --> 0:19:16.800 Loud and trade insult to insult. That's what the enemy wants. 0:19:17.320 --> 0:19:20.560 Now you're not effective. It's a clinging symbol, a lot 0:19:20.600 --> 0:19:22.119 of noise with no results. 0:19:22.800 --> 0:19:24.119 Go put your coat of love on. 0:19:24.840 --> 0:19:29.000 The gentleness, the kindness, that's who God created us to be. 0:19:29.560 --> 0:19:32.480 Those are the clothes He's designed for us to wear, 0:19:33.240 --> 0:19:37.479 but sometimes we're wearing knockoffs or hand me downs. I 0:19:37.520 --> 0:19:41.840 got this pride jacket, Joel from my relatives. This temper, 0:19:41.960 --> 0:19:44.960 this harshness. It was passed down from my family. My 0:19:45.040 --> 0:19:46.000 father used to wear it. 0:19:46.200 --> 0:19:49.320 He was angry. My grandmother gave me this coat. She 0:19:49.520 --> 0:19:50.960 was jealous, she was bitter. 0:19:51.560 --> 0:19:54.040 Now those clothes don't look good on you. Their day 0:19:54.119 --> 0:19:54.600 is over. 0:19:55.119 --> 0:19:57.359 It's time to get a new wardrobe. 0:19:57.520 --> 0:20:02.920 Your heavenly father is an amazing designer. He's already created 0:20:03.080 --> 0:20:10.200 custom made clothing just for you. Kindness, gentleness, humility, forgiveness, patience, 0:20:10.680 --> 0:20:12.399 and the most important. 0:20:11.840 --> 0:20:15.800 Piece that you must wear, your clothing of love. Don't 0:20:15.880 --> 0:20:16.800 leave home without it. 0:20:17.280 --> 0:20:23.240 If you forget to put that on, bitterness will show up, offense, judgment, jealousy. First, 0:20:23.320 --> 0:20:26.600 John says, let us stop saying we love each other 0:20:27.000 --> 0:20:30.440 and let us start showing it by our actions. Paul 0:20:30.600 --> 0:20:33.680 was saying, talk is cheap. You can say all day 0:20:33.680 --> 0:20:36.200 long you love me, But if you won't forgive me, 0:20:36.960 --> 0:20:39.440 if you want quit being jealous, if you won't stop 0:20:39.480 --> 0:20:42.679 talking behind my back, there's no proof that you love me. 0:20:43.359 --> 0:20:44.280 Love is action. 0:20:45.240 --> 0:20:48.960 There should be evidence that you love people. Express your 0:20:49.000 --> 0:20:52.239 love all through the day. It may just be a 0:20:52.320 --> 0:20:57.120 smile to a stranger someone passing by. You could ignore them, 0:20:57.440 --> 0:21:02.080 look down, but you acknowledge them. You're saying, I see you. 0:21:01.640 --> 0:21:05.800 You're valuable, I care about you. You just deposited something 0:21:05.840 --> 0:21:06.280 in them. 0:21:06.840 --> 0:21:09.640 It may be bringing your coworker a cup of coffee 0:21:09.680 --> 0:21:12.359 in the morning, or filling your wife's car up with 0:21:12.480 --> 0:21:16.119 gasoline so she doesn't have to Love should be seen 0:21:16.560 --> 0:21:18.280 people that God's put in your life. 0:21:18.359 --> 0:21:21.200 She'll just have some evidence that you love them. It's 0:21:21.240 --> 0:21:22.159 good to tell them. 0:21:22.560 --> 0:21:26.200 Words are important, but words alone are not enough. 0:21:26.800 --> 0:21:29.640 There should be some good deeds of how you're being 0:21:29.720 --> 0:21:30.240 a blessing. 0:21:31.240 --> 0:21:34.080 It may be when that friend makes a mistake and 0:21:34.280 --> 0:21:38.760 hurts your feelings. You could be upset make them pay, 0:21:38.800 --> 0:21:41.960 but you're merciful. You let it go and don't try 0:21:41.960 --> 0:21:43.320 to make them feel guilty. 0:21:43.640 --> 0:21:47.639 That's love in action. I was at the grocery store one. 0:21:47.520 --> 0:21:50.640 Time and this young woman was at the cash register 0:21:50.760 --> 0:21:53.919 and it's very crowded and lines were backed up, and 0:21:54.000 --> 0:21:57.320 she was very slow. She was new and didn't know 0:21:57.359 --> 0:21:58.320 how to work everything. 0:21:58.560 --> 0:22:01.840 It's taken forever. Well. There were several people in front of. 0:22:01.800 --> 0:22:05.680 Me, and they were getting very upset and very impatient, 0:22:06.200 --> 0:22:08.680 and they let her know, making comments. 0:22:09.040 --> 0:22:10.800 Hearsh condescending. 0:22:11.640 --> 0:22:13.840 But I want to live my life being a part 0:22:13.880 --> 0:22:17.440 of the solution and not the problem. Lifting people up 0:22:17.560 --> 0:22:21.880 and not putting them down. People already have enough hurts, 0:22:22.040 --> 0:22:24.919 enough things to overcome, and things that we don't know 0:22:24.960 --> 0:22:30.439 anything about. They don't need another condemning voice, judgment. Come on, 0:22:30.680 --> 0:22:34.040 do better, can't you get it right? No? God put 0:22:34.080 --> 0:22:36.760 them in your path so you can be a healer, 0:22:37.320 --> 0:22:40.800 a lifter, a restorer. When I got up there, I 0:22:40.840 --> 0:22:44.639 simply said, you're doing great. Everything's going to be fine, 0:22:44.680 --> 0:22:46.800 and we appreciate you being here. 0:22:47.400 --> 0:22:48.240 I'll never forget. 0:22:48.680 --> 0:22:53.000 Tears started running down her cheeks. She said, my baby 0:22:53.080 --> 0:22:56.480 is in the hospital. I'm so worried. I can't really 0:22:56.520 --> 0:22:59.639 concentrate on what I'm doing. We took a moment to 0:23:00.080 --> 0:23:02.880 pray right then and there. So you don't know what 0:23:02.920 --> 0:23:05.760 people are going through. We can be quick to judge, 0:23:05.880 --> 0:23:08.760 quick to criticize, but if you were to walk in 0:23:08.800 --> 0:23:12.920 their shoes, you'd probably have more mercy, You'd be more understanding. 0:23:13.920 --> 0:23:15.359 The world needs more love. 0:23:15.640 --> 0:23:19.480 We have a lot of division, strife, people arguing. 0:23:19.480 --> 0:23:23.879 Trying to push him down prove their point. God is counting. 0:23:23.560 --> 0:23:27.520 On us to express his love, to show his kindness, 0:23:27.880 --> 0:23:29.080 his mercy. 0:23:29.160 --> 0:23:30.040 You can help. 0:23:29.880 --> 0:23:34.399 Heal restore and put people back on their feet. Doesn't 0:23:34.400 --> 0:23:38.520 happen through judgment, pride, impatience, holding grudges. 0:23:39.160 --> 0:23:40.320 That's the wrong clothing. 0:23:41.080 --> 0:23:44.240 All through the scripture we can see how Jesus didn't 0:23:44.280 --> 0:23:45.800 just teach you about love, but. 0:23:45.800 --> 0:23:47.800 He wore love. He modeled it. 0:23:48.520 --> 0:23:52.800 When he saw zach Kiss, a despised tax collector. They 0:23:52.800 --> 0:23:56.919 were known for their dishonesty. Society had written him off, 0:23:57.400 --> 0:23:59.520 but Jesus called him out of the crowd and said, 0:23:59.640 --> 0:24:01.760 I want to go to your house and have dinner 0:24:01.800 --> 0:24:02.040 with you. 0:24:02.080 --> 0:24:06.080 Today. Jesus went to people that others thought were too 0:24:06.119 --> 0:24:08.119 far gone. Love in action. 0:24:09.000 --> 0:24:11.400 Or how about when the leper came to Jesus, fell 0:24:11.440 --> 0:24:13.960 at his feet and said, Jesus, if you want to, 0:24:14.400 --> 0:24:16.200 you can heal me well. 0:24:16.280 --> 0:24:18.760 Lepers were unclean, contagious. 0:24:19.160 --> 0:24:22.280 They were supposed to keep their distance. Hear this man 0:24:22.720 --> 0:24:27.480 put Jesus at risk. He'd broken protocol and gone against 0:24:27.520 --> 0:24:31.240 safety requirements. Jesus could have been upset, get them away 0:24:31.280 --> 0:24:34.800 from me, You're gonna get me infected. But Jesus bent 0:24:34.920 --> 0:24:38.480 down and touched the man. I can hear the gasp 0:24:38.520 --> 0:24:39.159 in the crowd. 0:24:39.320 --> 0:24:41.560 Can you believe it? He's gonna get lepers set. 0:24:42.280 --> 0:24:46.040 The scripture says instantly, the men's skin was made whole 0:24:46.880 --> 0:24:50.240 love that can be seen. How about on the cross, 0:24:50.600 --> 0:24:53.560 after being betrayed and mocked, Jesus was up there in 0:24:53.640 --> 0:24:58.160 great pain. He could have been bitter angry, but he said, Father, 0:24:58.320 --> 0:25:02.480 forgive them. They don't know what they're doing. Showing love 0:25:02.680 --> 0:25:06.760 is not just being kind to people, but is forgiving wrongs, 0:25:07.480 --> 0:25:11.920 not holding grudges, being merciful. Is there someone you need 0:25:11.960 --> 0:25:15.320 to forgive today, family member, you need to let off 0:25:15.320 --> 0:25:16.560 the hook, Joel. 0:25:16.560 --> 0:25:20.639 They're guilty, they didn't be wrong. Only the guilty need mercy. 0:25:21.520 --> 0:25:23.640 We're not going to be judged by how right we are, 0:25:24.000 --> 0:25:27.200 how much faith we have, but by the law of love. 0:25:28.359 --> 0:25:31.320 Just like you get dressed each morning physically, you need 0:25:31.359 --> 0:25:32.639 to get dressed spiritually. 0:25:33.160 --> 0:25:37.920 Put on kindness, humility, gentleness, respect, and then the most 0:25:38.000 --> 0:25:41.240 important piece of clothing you must wear is love. 0:25:42.080 --> 0:25:43.720 That all you do and all you. 0:25:43.720 --> 0:25:48.520 Say run through the filter of love. Not pride, not judgment, 0:25:48.600 --> 0:25:53.040 not offense, but love. Maybe today you need to change 0:25:53.080 --> 0:25:58.440 your wardrobe. You've been wearing a sour attitude, being horsh jealous. 0:25:58.760 --> 0:26:01.840 None of that looks good on you. That's outdated, that's 0:26:01.880 --> 0:26:05.080 the wrong designer. The good news is there's a new 0:26:05.119 --> 0:26:08.520 wardrobe waiting just for you, already paid for. 0:26:08.880 --> 0:26:09.760 Just your size. 0:26:10.119 --> 0:26:13.600 Now do your part and start clothing yourself in love. 0:26:14.040 --> 0:26:17.280 If you'll do this, I believe and declare you're not 0:26:17.320 --> 0:26:20.240 only going to feel better about who you are, more peace, 0:26:20.320 --> 0:26:23.720 more confidence, but you're going to be more effective, have 0:26:23.840 --> 0:26:28.360 better relationships, and see the goodness of God in greater ways. 0:26:28.800 --> 0:26:31.840 In Jesus' name, and if you receive it, can you 0:26:31.880 --> 0:26:35.199 say amen? I'd like to give you. 0:26:35.240 --> 0:26:38.360 An opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. 0:26:38.440 --> 0:26:39.399 Would you pray with me? 0:26:40.160 --> 0:26:43.560 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. 0:26:44.359 --> 0:26:46.000 Come into my heart. 0:26:46.280 --> 0:26:49.640 I make you my Lord and Savior. If you prayed 0:26:49.680 --> 0:26:50.920 that simple prayer. 0:26:50.680 --> 0:26:53.280 We believe you got born again and we'd love. 0:26:53.160 --> 0:26:55.760 To send you some free information on your new walk 0:26:55.800 --> 0:26:58.000 with the Lord. You can text the number on the 0:26:58.040 --> 0:27:00.640 screen or go to the website. But I hope you'll 0:27:00.640 --> 0:27:04.000 get into a good Bible based church and keep God 0:27:04.359 --> 0:27:05.040 first place. 0:27:07.119 --> 0:27:12.359 Life throws so much at us disappointments, failures, challenges. We 0:27:12.440 --> 0:27:15.080 can feel so out of touch that we no longer 0:27:15.160 --> 0:27:16.320 recognize ourselves. 0:27:17.119 --> 0:27:18.800 Life has a way of changing us. 0:27:19.080 --> 0:27:22.240 At one time, we were outgoing and excited about our dreams. 0:27:22.640 --> 0:27:25.600 But when we go through disappointments and people do us wrong, 0:27:25.920 --> 0:27:27.240 it's easy to lose. 0:27:27.000 --> 0:27:29.840 That positive, passionate person that we used to be. 0:27:30.600 --> 0:27:34.200 In my new book, Rediscovering the Forgotten You, I'll help 0:27:34.240 --> 0:27:37.000 you get back to who you really are, the joyful you, 0:27:37.280 --> 0:27:39.280 the confident you, the talented you. 0:27:39.800 --> 0:27:42.520 It's not too late. You haven't been through too much. 0:27:42.920 --> 0:27:45.160 You may have lost part of yourself, but you can 0:27:45.240 --> 0:27:48.840 find yourself. God is in the business of restoring what 0:27:49.000 --> 0:27:52.240 was lost, healing what was broken. You haven't seen the 0:27:52.280 --> 0:27:55.720 best version of you yet it's still in front of you. 0:27:56.280 --> 0:27:58.560 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:27:58.600 --> 0:28:01.359 of any amount, like to send you a copy of 0:28:01.440 --> 0:28:06.080 Joel's brand new book, Rediscovering the Forgotten, You take back 0:28:06.080 --> 0:28:09.879 your passion, reignite your dreams, and embrace the life you 0:28:10.040 --> 0:28:14.119 were created to live. This book shares uplifting scripture and 0:28:14.240 --> 0:28:18.200 personal stories that will help you release bitterness, silence self 0:28:18.200 --> 0:28:21.800 defeating thoughts, and embrace by faith the vision of the 0:28:21.880 --> 0:28:26.520 life God designed for you. Life's challenges might have distorted. 0:28:26.000 --> 0:28:26.520 The true you. 0:28:27.000 --> 0:28:31.000 But now you can reclaim, revitalize, and restore the version 0:28:31.040 --> 0:28:34.080 of yourself that you once knew, or the version that 0:28:34.160 --> 0:28:36.960 you know God has made you to be filled with 0:28:37.119 --> 0:28:41.680 hopes and dreams, optimism, and confidence. Request your copy today 0:28:41.840 --> 0:28:44.280 and discover the best version of you yet. 0:28:45.000 --> 0:28:48.360 God is about to breathe new life, new passion, new 0:28:48.480 --> 0:28:52.200 dreams into your heart. What he started, He's going to finish. 0:28:52.440 --> 0:28:55.040 Hey so much for being with us today. Victorian and 0:28:55.040 --> 0:28:57.520 I R praying for you and your family for God's 0:28:57.680 --> 0:29:01.280 very best. Thank you so much for your prayer and support. 0:29:01.640 --> 0:29:05.240 Your generosity helps people all over the world. A special 0:29:05.320 --> 0:29:08.160 thank you to our champion of Hope partners for all 0:29:08.200 --> 0:29:09.120 you do to make. 0:29:09.000 --> 0:29:10.160 The ministry possible. 0:29:10.440 --> 0:29:13.440 If you're not a partner, I'll hope you'll consider becoming one. 0:29:13.680 --> 0:29:16.280 Until we meet again. May the Lord bless you and 0:29:16.440 --> 0:29:16.840 keep you. 0:29:17.960 --> 0:29:21.400 Be sure to request your copy of Rediscovering the Forgotten You, 0:29:21.880 --> 0:29:25.760 available this month by simply visiting us at Joelostein dot 0:29:25.800 --> 0:29:29.240 com or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel. 0:29:29.720 --> 0:29:33.240 You can also receive the God's Got You rediscovery duo. 0:29:33.680 --> 0:29:37.880 You'll receive Rediscovering the Forgotten You and God's got You 0:29:38.280 --> 0:29:42.520 promises for overcoming fear. It's the perfect combination to help 0:29:42.560 --> 0:29:46.520 you rekindle your purpose while standing firm and God's promises. 0:29:46.920 --> 0:29:50.200 In addition to these two inspiration books, you can also 0:29:50.280 --> 0:29:54.440 receive the beautifully crafted CSB Thin Line Study Bible in 0:29:54.520 --> 0:29:58.880 camel swedesft leather Touch, an elegant Bible that offers a rich, 0:29:59.040 --> 0:30:03.320 immersive study experience and brings God's Word beautifully into your 0:30:03.440 --> 0:30:07.600 everyday life. This collection is more than encouragement. It is 0:30:07.640 --> 0:30:12.240 a foundation for lasting renewal, rooted in God's Word, strengthened 0:30:12.280 --> 0:30:16.200 by faith, and anchored in his promises. You can request 0:30:16.240 --> 0:30:20.240 these inspiring resources by calling eight eight eight five six 0:30:20.360 --> 0:30:32.840 seven Joel or logging on to joelostein dot com today