Favor Connections

0:00:00.200 --> 0:00:02.880 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:00:02.960 --> 0:00:05.040 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 0:00:05.040 --> 0:00:07.760 in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 0:00:07.760 --> 0:00:10.360 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:00:10.400 --> 0:00:12.840 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:00:12.880 --> 0:00:15.720 today and where your money can work harder. Now you 0:00:15.760 --> 0:00:18.759 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:00:18.800 --> 0:00:23.400 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:00:23.400 --> 0:00:25.360 This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 0:00:25.440 --> 0:00:27.280 is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 0:00:27.320 --> 0:00:29.080 offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 0:00:29.160 --> 0:00:30.080 legal or tax advice. 0:00:30.760 --> 0:00:33.960 You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 0:00:34.000 --> 0:00:37.200 can do more than take classes. You can take charge 0:00:37.520 --> 0:00:41.520 of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 0:00:41.560 --> 0:00:43.559 a degree you can be proud of, and get an 0:00:43.680 --> 0:00:48.559 education employer's respect. 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The unit stap 0:01:11.840 --> 0:01:14.360 makes it easy for grandparents and family friends to give 0:01:14.440 --> 0:01:17.160 funds to a child's investment account for a limited time. 0:01:17.280 --> 0:01:19.440 Download the units stap and use the code I heeart 0:01:19.440 --> 0:01:21.720 fifty at sign up to receive a fifty dollars bonus 0:01:21.720 --> 0:01:24.280 when you fund your account. That's code iHeart fifty when 0:01:24.319 --> 0:01:27.280 you sign up at unest dot co for a fifty 0:01:27.319 --> 0:01:31.160 dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. Hi, 0:01:31.240 --> 0:01:34.360 this is Joel. Thanks so much for downloading the podcast. 0:01:34.600 --> 0:01:36.759 I believe you'll be inspired and challenged. 0:01:36.880 --> 0:01:49.720 I hope you enjoy the message. 0:01:52.080 --> 0:01:54.760 Oh God bless you. It's a joy to come into 0:01:54.800 --> 0:01:57.480 your homes. And if you're ever in our area, please 0:01:57.520 --> 0:01:59.920 stop by and be a part of one of our services. 0:02:00.160 --> 0:02:02.600 I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 0:02:03.360 --> 0:02:05.560 I like to start with something funny, and I heard 0:02:05.560 --> 0:02:08.640 about this elderly couple. They were having a terrible time 0:02:08.680 --> 0:02:12.320 with their memory. They went to the doctor. He instructed 0:02:12.320 --> 0:02:15.560 them to start writing down everything they had been forgetting. 0:02:16.040 --> 0:02:18.839 The next night, they were watching television. The wife said, 0:02:18.840 --> 0:02:21.280 I sure would like a bowl of ice cream. Husband 0:02:21.320 --> 0:02:22.400 said I'll go get it for you. 0:02:22.960 --> 0:02:25.320 She said, honey, you know what the doctor said. You 0:02:25.400 --> 0:02:27.840 better write it down. He said, I'm just going into 0:02:27.919 --> 0:02:29.600 the kitchen. I'm not gonna forget. 0:02:30.280 --> 0:02:32.720 Came back a few minutes later handed her a plate 0:02:32.800 --> 0:02:36.000 of bacon and eggs. She shook her head and said, 0:02:36.040 --> 0:02:40.480 I should have known it. You forgot my toast. Say 0:02:40.520 --> 0:02:43.440 it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I 0:02:43.520 --> 0:02:45.960 am what it says I am. I have what it 0:02:45.960 --> 0:02:48.480 says I have. I can do what it says I 0:02:48.520 --> 0:02:51.800 can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. 0:02:52.240 --> 0:02:56.680 I boldly confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:02:57.040 --> 0:03:00.720 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:03:00.760 --> 0:03:04.079 bless you. I want to talk to you today about 0:03:04.320 --> 0:03:08.480 favor connections. When I was a teenager, I was pulled 0:03:08.480 --> 0:03:10.280 over by a police officer for. 0:03:10.360 --> 0:03:11.520 Driving too fast. 0:03:12.120 --> 0:03:15.239 When he saw the name on my license, he asked 0:03:15.280 --> 0:03:18.560 if I was related to the pastor that he watched 0:03:18.600 --> 0:03:21.919 on television each week. I told him that was my father. 0:03:22.639 --> 0:03:26.280 He gave me my license back, told me to slow down, and. 0:03:26.200 --> 0:03:27.000 Said I could go. 0:03:28.080 --> 0:03:31.520 I received favor because of who I was connected to 0:03:32.400 --> 0:03:35.560 wasn't anything I did. I just happened to be the 0:03:35.600 --> 0:03:38.840 son of a man that was favored, and because I 0:03:38.920 --> 0:03:42.920 was in relationship with him, his favor spilled over onto me. 0:03:43.800 --> 0:03:48.080 The scripture says Noah found favor with the Lord. When 0:03:48.080 --> 0:03:51.800 a great flood covered the earth, Noah's family were the 0:03:51.840 --> 0:03:52.840 only ones saved. 0:03:53.440 --> 0:03:55.280 It never says his sons. 0:03:54.960 --> 0:03:58.920 Had favor or his daughters had favor, but because they 0:03:58.960 --> 0:04:02.840 were connected to know Oh, their lives were spared. The 0:04:02.920 --> 0:04:06.960 principle is when you're connected to people that are favored, 0:04:07.360 --> 0:04:10.920 people that are further along, people that are more successful, 0:04:11.320 --> 0:04:14.640 that favor is going to flow down to you. You'll 0:04:14.640 --> 0:04:19.840 see increased promotion because of that association. There should be 0:04:19.920 --> 0:04:24.880 people you're in relationship with that inspire you, that challenge you, 0:04:25.279 --> 0:04:27.320 that make you strive to do better. 0:04:28.000 --> 0:04:30.200 When you're connected to someone that's. 0:04:30.080 --> 0:04:34.600 Blessed, you honor them, you learn from them, you sew 0:04:34.640 --> 0:04:37.800 into them. The more blessed they are, the more blessed 0:04:37.800 --> 0:04:40.960 you're going to be. Eventually, you're going to look like 0:04:41.360 --> 0:04:45.800 who you're connected to. The question is are you connected 0:04:45.839 --> 0:04:49.479 to anyone that has what you want? Or are you 0:04:49.560 --> 0:04:54.239 connected to people that are negative? Critical can't get ahead, 0:04:54.720 --> 0:04:58.560 cause you to compromise, drain your energy. It's fine to 0:04:58.600 --> 0:05:02.360 be a good influence, fine to encourage them, but if 0:05:02.400 --> 0:05:05.839 you're spending all your time with them, the problem is 0:05:06.320 --> 0:05:09.800 you're going to become just like them. They're rubbing off 0:05:09.800 --> 0:05:13.800 on you. You need to disconnect from people that are 0:05:13.920 --> 0:05:18.960 hindering your growth, limiting your potential, causing you to compromise 0:05:19.440 --> 0:05:21.719 and find some fever connections. 0:05:22.040 --> 0:05:22.960 People that are. 0:05:22.760 --> 0:05:26.600 Going places, people that are at another level, people that 0:05:26.760 --> 0:05:28.640 have what you're dreaming about. 0:05:29.120 --> 0:05:31.720 You need some eagles in your life. 0:05:32.040 --> 0:05:36.080 You cannot hang around with chickens and reach your destiny. 0:05:36.160 --> 0:05:39.960 You can't spend all your free time with crows, people 0:05:39.960 --> 0:05:45.240 that complain or turkeys, people that have accepted mediocrity. 0:05:45.360 --> 0:05:48.279 You need people who are soaring, people. 0:05:48.000 --> 0:05:51.159 That are taking new ground, people that are out of debt, 0:05:51.680 --> 0:05:55.039 that think bigger than you, people that are exposing you 0:05:55.120 --> 0:05:58.760 to levels that you've never seen. A few years ago, 0:05:59.200 --> 0:06:01.400 I went to this meeting eating with a man that 0:06:01.520 --> 0:06:05.840 runs television networks, a friend of mine. They were negotiating 0:06:05.880 --> 0:06:09.400 a contract for programming. He said, I want to offer 0:06:09.640 --> 0:06:13.720 eighty million dollars. Almost fell out of my chair. I 0:06:13.760 --> 0:06:15.760 thought it was a big deal that we had spent 0:06:15.839 --> 0:06:18.960 eighty thousand dollars to buy a screen for the church. 0:06:19.440 --> 0:06:23.080 They talked about these huge numbers like I talked about 0:06:23.160 --> 0:06:23.920 buying a pair. 0:06:23.800 --> 0:06:27.920 Of tennis shoes. I didn't realize it, but God was. 0:06:27.920 --> 0:06:32.160 Expanding my vision. He was using that man to enlarge 0:06:32.279 --> 0:06:36.599 my thinking. After the meeting, I was about to tell him, Wow, 0:06:37.120 --> 0:06:40.960 those were some incredibly big numbers. I felt something right 0:06:41.040 --> 0:06:44.880 down in here. Say Joel, zip it up. When God 0:06:45.000 --> 0:06:47.839 puts you with a bunch of eagles, don't have a 0:06:47.920 --> 0:06:53.200 chicken mentality. Don't start talking about how you've never seen 0:06:53.240 --> 0:06:56.240 anything like that, how that could never happen for you. 0:06:57.200 --> 0:07:00.760 Let it take root on the inside. Breathe it in, 0:07:01.560 --> 0:07:04.520 get used to it. That's where God is taking you. 0:07:05.080 --> 0:07:08.640 That's why he's exposing you to new levels, not to 0:07:08.800 --> 0:07:11.640 just impress you, not to just show you how the 0:07:11.720 --> 0:07:15.600 other half live, but to get you prepared in your thinking. 0:07:16.600 --> 0:07:19.480 You have to make room for the new things God 0:07:19.520 --> 0:07:20.320 has in store. 0:07:20.960 --> 0:07:24.200 If you live with a limited vision, thinking it could 0:07:24.240 --> 0:07:28.000 never happen, it's too far out, then you're right, it's 0:07:28.040 --> 0:07:31.880 not going to happen. You'll never go where you can't 0:07:31.960 --> 0:07:36.080 accept and God gave you that favor connection to give 0:07:36.080 --> 0:07:39.160 you a glimpse into the next level, to show you 0:07:39.480 --> 0:07:42.280 where He's about to take you. Now do your part 0:07:42.600 --> 0:07:46.920 and get in agreement with God. About five years after that meeting, 0:07:47.160 --> 0:07:50.960 we acquired this place, the former Compact Center, And when 0:07:51.000 --> 0:07:53.800 I found out it was going to cost about one 0:07:53.880 --> 0:07:58.080 hundred and twenty million dollars to purchase and renovate, I 0:07:58.120 --> 0:08:01.920 didn't fall apart. I was and intimidated. I thought, God, 0:08:02.120 --> 0:08:04.040 you did it for my friend, you can do it 0:08:04.080 --> 0:08:04.320 for me. 0:08:05.400 --> 0:08:06.280 But had I not. 0:08:06.800 --> 0:08:10.480 Connected with that man, had I only spent time with 0:08:10.560 --> 0:08:13.000 people at my same level, I wouldn't be here. 0:08:13.560 --> 0:08:15.440 My mind wouldn't have been prepared. 0:08:16.000 --> 0:08:20.000 You need people that think bigger than you, that dream bigger, 0:08:20.240 --> 0:08:24.040 that believe bigger. If you're the smartest one in your group, 0:08:24.480 --> 0:08:25.240 your group. 0:08:25.040 --> 0:08:26.560 Is too small. 0:08:26.760 --> 0:08:30.360 God has already lined up these favor connections for you, 0:08:30.840 --> 0:08:31.720 people that are. 0:08:31.680 --> 0:08:33.679 Ordained to help you go further. 0:08:34.559 --> 0:08:38.839 In the scripture, Naomi and Ruth were both widows. They 0:08:38.840 --> 0:08:42.880 were living in Bethlehem, very poor. Ruth would go out 0:08:42.920 --> 0:08:46.240 into the fields each morning and pick up left over wheat. 0:08:46.760 --> 0:08:50.240 It looked like this was their destiny. To just barely survive. 0:08:51.040 --> 0:08:53.560 But Naomi saw a man named Boaz. 0:08:54.080 --> 0:08:55.840 He was the owner of all the. 0:08:55.760 --> 0:08:59.240 Fields, one of the wealthiest men in that area. She 0:08:59.400 --> 0:09:03.520 not only recognized the favor on his life, but she 0:09:03.679 --> 0:09:04.559 respected it. 0:09:05.200 --> 0:09:06.880 She told Ruth, I want. 0:09:06.760 --> 0:09:10.160 You to dress up, put on perfume, and go meet 0:09:10.200 --> 0:09:14.480 this man. She was saying, in effect, Boaz has favor. 0:09:14.840 --> 0:09:16.600 We need to connect with him. 0:09:17.160 --> 0:09:20.679 Ruth not only met Boas, but they fell in love 0:09:21.080 --> 0:09:26.160 and eventually were married. Because she connected with someone with favor, 0:09:26.480 --> 0:09:30.640 she had more favor than she ever imagined. When you 0:09:30.720 --> 0:09:35.119 recognize the favor on a person's life and you respect 0:09:35.200 --> 0:09:39.679 that favor by connecting with it, by honoring them, learning 0:09:39.720 --> 0:09:44.000 from them, that favor will come back to you. Naomi 0:09:44.040 --> 0:09:47.400 could have thought, oh, Boas, he's wealthy, he's busy, not 0:09:47.440 --> 0:09:47.839 gonna have. 0:09:47.800 --> 0:09:48.960 Anything to do with us. 0:09:49.640 --> 0:09:53.040 She could have dismissed it and just stayed with the 0:09:53.080 --> 0:09:54.520 friends where she was comfortable. 0:09:54.960 --> 0:09:56.400 We wouldn't be talking about her. 0:09:57.000 --> 0:10:01.800 She recognized Boas was an eager She was willing to 0:10:01.840 --> 0:10:04.079 get out of her comfort zone. 0:10:04.280 --> 0:10:04.720 No doubt. 0:10:04.800 --> 0:10:07.960 She had to break away from a few chickens, spend 0:10:08.040 --> 0:10:11.320 less time with a couple turkeys, she took these steps 0:10:11.400 --> 0:10:15.360 of faith and connected with an ego. That's what opened 0:10:15.440 --> 0:10:18.240 new doors and took her and root to a new level. 0:10:18.880 --> 0:10:22.040 Are there favor connections God has put in your life 0:10:22.120 --> 0:10:25.199 that you're overlooking people that have what you. 0:10:25.240 --> 0:10:30.199 Want, that are further along. Don't be intimidated by their success. 0:10:30.600 --> 0:10:31.520 Be inspired. 0:10:32.280 --> 0:10:35.920 God put them there so you could connect. If you 0:10:35.960 --> 0:10:38.679 will honor them, learn from them. 0:10:39.000 --> 0:10:40.719 Then because you're connected to. 0:10:40.760 --> 0:10:45.680 Someone with more favor, more influence, more vision, like Ruth 0:10:45.679 --> 0:10:49.600 in Naomi, that favor will flow down to you. You 0:10:49.640 --> 0:10:54.040 will see new doors open, influence in greater ways, Promotion 0:10:54.240 --> 0:10:56.959 that you couldn't have reached on your own. It came 0:10:57.600 --> 0:11:02.199 because of a favor connection. What you sew into you're 0:11:02.240 --> 0:11:06.880 going to reap. If you sow into worry connections, people 0:11:06.880 --> 0:11:10.640 that are always upset, anxious, worried, you're going to reap worry. 0:11:11.480 --> 0:11:15.720 If you sow into compromised connections, people that are pulling 0:11:15.760 --> 0:11:18.840 you down, causing you to give in to temptation, you're 0:11:18.840 --> 0:11:23.040 going to reap compromise. If you sow into gossip connections, 0:11:23.360 --> 0:11:28.400 critical connections, people that talk bad about the bass, complain 0:11:28.480 --> 0:11:33.680 about life, you're going to reap a negative, limited, discouraging life. 0:11:34.280 --> 0:11:39.160 But if you sow into these favor connections, into eagles, 0:11:39.480 --> 0:11:44.199 into people that are blessed, successful, happy, people that have 0:11:44.360 --> 0:11:46.920 been where you want to go, that are out of debt, 0:11:47.320 --> 0:11:52.439 building orphanages, paying off people's houses, expanding their businesses, you're 0:11:52.480 --> 0:11:57.280 going to reap favor, increase new levels. We all have 0:11:57.520 --> 0:12:01.959 our friends, we have peers, hopefully we have people were helping, 0:12:02.160 --> 0:12:06.400 people were mentoring. That's important, but we should have a 0:12:06.440 --> 0:12:10.520 few of these favor connections, people that are far ahead 0:12:10.520 --> 0:12:13.440 of us in the natural. It looks like we could 0:12:13.480 --> 0:12:17.640 never get there. That connection is the seed God is 0:12:17.679 --> 0:12:20.800 going to use to take you where you've never dreamed. 0:12:21.640 --> 0:12:24.440 A pastor friend of mine here in Houston had a 0:12:24.520 --> 0:12:28.760 church of several hundred people. He started it fifteen years ago, 0:12:28.920 --> 0:12:31.600 and they had been at that same number for years. 0:12:31.960 --> 0:12:34.360 It looked like they had reached their limits. That's all 0:12:34.400 --> 0:12:38.720 they'd ever had. He saw this pastor in California that 0:12:38.840 --> 0:12:40.160 had a large church. 0:12:40.800 --> 0:12:43.680 He was so impressed by it. He flew out there 0:12:44.040 --> 0:12:45.319 just to attend a service. 0:12:45.960 --> 0:12:49.760 He sat in the auditorium, looked around and breathed it 0:12:49.840 --> 0:12:55.160 all in. Was very inspiring. Never seen anything that large. 0:12:55.240 --> 0:12:58.240 After the service, he was able to meet the pastor. 0:12:58.800 --> 0:13:02.120 He gave him a small donation that his church had 0:13:02.160 --> 0:13:06.720 taken up for their ministry. Every month, he started flying 0:13:06.720 --> 0:13:10.319 out to California just to attend a service and give 0:13:10.360 --> 0:13:14.440 a donation. He had plenty of pastor friends here in Houston, 0:13:14.920 --> 0:13:17.880 had good members in his church, had a great family. 0:13:18.640 --> 0:13:22.440 But he understood to reach a new level, you have 0:13:22.559 --> 0:13:26.240 to have some fever connections. You need to be so 0:13:26.520 --> 0:13:31.800 in time, energy, resources, honor into people that have what 0:13:31.920 --> 0:13:37.480 you want. The anointing you respect is the anointing. 0:13:37.040 --> 0:13:37.880 You will attract. 0:13:38.880 --> 0:13:42.719 This man sewed into a vision much larger than his. 0:13:43.679 --> 0:13:47.719 He could have been jealous of the man, intimidated competitive. 0:13:48.080 --> 0:13:51.600 Instead, he celebrated what he was doing. He cheered him on. 0:13:52.600 --> 0:13:56.320 It wasn't long before his church started to grow. He 0:13:56.400 --> 0:13:59.600 went from three hundred to five hundred, from five hundred 0:13:59.640 --> 0:14:03.480 to a thou from a thousand to several thousand. Now 0:14:03.760 --> 0:14:06.560 his church is larger than the church in California. 0:14:06.679 --> 0:14:07.840 He outgrew that man. 0:14:08.320 --> 0:14:11.040 I don't believe it would have happened if he had 0:14:11.040 --> 0:14:15.120 not sown into his ministry. Now I don't mean just finances. 0:14:15.360 --> 0:14:21.640 He sowed honor, respect, encouragement. He valued and esteemed what 0:14:21.760 --> 0:14:24.920 that man had built. But when we see people that 0:14:24.960 --> 0:14:30.000 are more successful, more talented, more blessed, it's easy to 0:14:30.000 --> 0:14:34.760 get jealous, try to compete, discredit them, talk about what 0:14:34.800 --> 0:14:38.400 they're doing wrong, how they're not talented, they're just lucky. 0:14:38.760 --> 0:14:39.400 Here's the key. 0:14:39.880 --> 0:14:43.680 If you can't celebrate other people's success, you will never 0:14:43.720 --> 0:14:48.040 get to where they are. If you get jealous, try 0:14:48.040 --> 0:14:52.400 to outperform them, intimidated, you'll get stuck. 0:14:52.680 --> 0:14:53.400 It's a test. 0:14:54.280 --> 0:14:59.000 God brings these favor connections across our path. Are you 0:14:59.120 --> 0:15:02.480 secure enough and who you are to honor them, to 0:15:02.600 --> 0:15:06.600 respect them, to cheer them on, or will your pride 0:15:06.760 --> 0:15:10.680 keep you from connecting with their favor? The problem is 0:15:10.960 --> 0:15:15.560 your destiny is tied to certain people. When you connect 0:15:15.600 --> 0:15:18.360 with the favor on their life, that's going to cause 0:15:18.400 --> 0:15:19.480 you to rise higher. 0:15:20.320 --> 0:15:22.760 But if we want humble ourselves, if. 0:15:22.680 --> 0:15:25.200 We think I'm as smart as them, I'm not going 0:15:25.200 --> 0:15:27.560 to celebrate them, Joel, they should be celebrating me. 0:15:27.960 --> 0:15:29.520 That's going to limit our growth. 0:15:30.360 --> 0:15:33.960 What you're connected to eventually is going to come back 0:15:33.960 --> 0:15:37.560 to you. Don't be small minded where you have to 0:15:37.600 --> 0:15:41.240 be the smartest one in your circle. If you're only 0:15:41.320 --> 0:15:44.880 sowing into your level, then your level is all that's 0:15:44.880 --> 0:15:45.760 going to come back. 0:15:46.600 --> 0:15:49.400 You need to sow into where you want to go. 0:15:50.480 --> 0:15:54.840 Swallow your pride and so honor into that supervisor at work, 0:15:55.600 --> 0:16:00.880 so respect into that colleague that's really talented in your life. 0:16:00.920 --> 0:16:04.960 By accident, God put them there as a favor connection. 0:16:05.760 --> 0:16:09.360 As you connect to them, new doors will open for you, 0:16:10.040 --> 0:16:13.600 New talents will come out, new levels. They are instrumental 0:16:13.920 --> 0:16:17.600 in you reaching the fullness of your destiny. But too 0:16:17.640 --> 0:16:21.360 often when we see someone that's further along, someone that's 0:16:21.360 --> 0:16:25.520 more blessed, instead of being inspired, we can get discouraged, 0:16:25.920 --> 0:16:29.720 thinking we could never get there. God wouldn't have brought 0:16:29.760 --> 0:16:33.000 them across your path if he wasn't about to take 0:16:33.040 --> 0:16:37.200 you higher. The favor on their life is an indication. 0:16:37.040 --> 0:16:38.920 Of what God is about to do in yours. 0:16:39.920 --> 0:16:43.480 In the scripture, when they poured oil on erin the 0:16:43.560 --> 0:16:46.960 high priests on his head, it flowed down to the 0:16:47.000 --> 0:16:51.440 rest of his body. This is symbolic. Oil represents favor. 0:16:52.080 --> 0:16:56.160 When you're connected with people with favor, the more blessed 0:16:56.200 --> 0:16:58.080 they are, the more blessed you'll be. 0:16:58.360 --> 0:17:02.480 That oil will flow down to you. When we understand this. 0:17:02.640 --> 0:17:06.600 It's easy to celebrate those that are ahead. We know 0:17:07.080 --> 0:17:11.720 because we're honoring them, sewing into them as they rise higher. 0:17:12.320 --> 0:17:16.160 Because we're connected, we're going to rise higher. That favor 0:17:16.240 --> 0:17:17.560 is going to flow down to us. 0:17:18.200 --> 0:17:19.080 Like that pastor. 0:17:19.640 --> 0:17:23.240 There will be times where you surpass what you're honoring, 0:17:23.880 --> 0:17:28.280 you overtake what you're celebrating. When I first started ministering, 0:17:28.760 --> 0:17:32.480 I was very nervous and unsure of myself. I didn't 0:17:32.480 --> 0:17:35.760 have the training or the experience. But there were several 0:17:36.240 --> 0:17:39.640 very prominent ministers that I knew from growing up. 0:17:40.200 --> 0:17:43.240 I listened to their messages over and over. 0:17:43.840 --> 0:17:46.840 I would send them notes telling them how much they 0:17:46.880 --> 0:17:50.960 had helped men, how much I admired and respected them. 0:17:51.640 --> 0:17:54.880 This one man, at least to me, he was a legend. 0:17:55.359 --> 0:17:58.000 He was so far ahead of me. I was amazed 0:17:58.000 --> 0:18:00.879 at what he'd accomplished and how respec affected he was. 0:18:01.720 --> 0:18:06.440 I say this with humility, But now, nearly twenty years later, 0:18:06.760 --> 0:18:08.600 God has taken me further than him. 0:18:09.280 --> 0:18:10.119 What am I saying? 0:18:10.720 --> 0:18:13.960 When you celebrate those that are ahead of you, you 0:18:14.080 --> 0:18:18.040 show honor, respect, then some of the favor on them. 0:18:18.320 --> 0:18:20.879 It's going to come back to you. You'll look up 0:18:20.880 --> 0:18:22.720 and think, how did I get here? 0:18:23.280 --> 0:18:27.399 Part of it is the favor connection you connected with 0:18:27.520 --> 0:18:29.920 someone that was where you wanted to go. 0:18:30.680 --> 0:18:34.480 That's why you don't have to compete with people. You 0:18:34.520 --> 0:18:36.520 don't have to try to outperform them. 0:18:37.040 --> 0:18:42.040 You're not in competition with anyone except yourself. Let where 0:18:42.080 --> 0:18:45.080 they are inspire you to be the best that you 0:18:45.160 --> 0:18:48.920 can be. Like iron sharpens iron, they can sharpen you, 0:18:49.320 --> 0:18:52.960 they can make you better. But when we start competing, 0:18:53.320 --> 0:18:57.520 before long, we get jealous. Fine fault, try to discredit, 0:18:58.320 --> 0:19:02.400 But here's the key. Pull somebody else down will never 0:19:02.480 --> 0:19:05.960 make you rise higher. Trying to make them look bad. 0:19:06.480 --> 0:19:09.600 Spreading rumors, magnifying their faults. 0:19:09.520 --> 0:19:10.359 May feel good. 0:19:10.920 --> 0:19:14.560 The problem is it's going to boomerang and come right. 0:19:14.400 --> 0:19:15.120 Back to us. 0:19:15.760 --> 0:19:20.160 If you sow disrespect, you'll reap disrespect. If you sow 0:19:20.640 --> 0:19:24.879 spreading rumors, stirring up trouble, that's what you'll reap. A 0:19:24.960 --> 0:19:29.200 much better approach is to celebrate those that are ahead. 0:19:29.560 --> 0:19:33.600 How do you know they're not a favor connection somebody 0:19:33.640 --> 0:19:36.879 God brought into your life so that you could rise higher. 0:19:37.560 --> 0:19:41.920 If you're jealous, competitive, then you're letting what God meant 0:19:41.960 --> 0:19:44.440 for your good to become something that's. 0:19:44.240 --> 0:19:46.520 Holding your back. Turn it around. 0:19:46.840 --> 0:19:50.720 Let's be people that celebrate success, that learn from those 0:19:50.760 --> 0:19:53.760 that are ahead, that honor people that are blessed with 0:19:53.800 --> 0:19:58.600 more influence. Elijah in the scripture, was a great prophet, 0:19:58.880 --> 0:20:02.840 did amazing mirror. One day he was walking by a field, 0:20:03.400 --> 0:20:07.520 he saw a young man named Elisha out plowing. He 0:20:07.600 --> 0:20:10.880 told him to leave his animals and come with him. Well, 0:20:10.880 --> 0:20:14.040 Elisha came from a well to do family. I'm sure 0:20:14.080 --> 0:20:18.040 he had goals and dreams. Elijah wanted him to become 0:20:18.119 --> 0:20:21.639 his assistant, basically, take care of him, bring him food, 0:20:21.840 --> 0:20:25.840 set up his tent, feed his animals. Elisha could have thought, 0:20:25.880 --> 0:20:29.000 no thanks, I'll stay here at my own place. He 0:20:29.000 --> 0:20:33.120 could have been too proud, but he recognized the favor 0:20:33.240 --> 0:20:34.359 on Elijah's life. 0:20:34.920 --> 0:20:36.800 He respected his anointing. 0:20:37.359 --> 0:20:41.840 He wasn't jealous, he didn't get bitter because he offered 0:20:41.880 --> 0:20:45.800 him what seemed to be a low level position. For years, 0:20:46.359 --> 0:20:51.160 he served Elijah with honor, watching after him, making sure 0:20:51.240 --> 0:20:55.320 he was comfortable. What you sew into is what you're 0:20:55.359 --> 0:20:59.280 going to reap when you sew into someone with great favor, 0:21:00.000 --> 0:21:02.840 going to reap some of that favor. When you honor 0:21:02.920 --> 0:21:06.520 someone that has more influence, some of that influence is 0:21:06.560 --> 0:21:10.119 going to come back to you. I'm sure Elisha's friends 0:21:10.119 --> 0:21:13.560 came around saying, Elisha, what are you still doing here 0:21:13.960 --> 0:21:17.320 serving this old man? You have your own dreams. Why 0:21:17.320 --> 0:21:19.960 don't you start your own ministry? He's holding you back. 0:21:20.800 --> 0:21:22.959 He could have let them talk him out of it, 0:21:23.359 --> 0:21:26.080 thought he was wasting his time, but he just kept 0:21:26.119 --> 0:21:32.760 on sewing, honoring, respecting the favor connection. Well, eventually Elijah 0:21:32.880 --> 0:21:37.240 was taken to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha received a 0:21:37.359 --> 0:21:40.719 double portion of his anointing. He didn't just get the 0:21:40.720 --> 0:21:45.240 favor on Elijah's life, he got twice the favor. Some 0:21:45.320 --> 0:21:50.240 of these favor connections that you're sewing into giving, serving, honoring, 0:21:50.640 --> 0:21:54.240 your time is coming. Like with Elisha, You're not just 0:21:54.320 --> 0:21:56.040 going to go to the level where they are. 0:21:56.200 --> 0:21:57.200 You're going to go further. 0:21:57.920 --> 0:22:02.800 Double the influence, double the faith, double the resources. This 0:22:03.000 --> 0:22:06.160 is why the enemy works overtime to try to get 0:22:06.200 --> 0:22:09.760 us jealous of each other, competing, trying to pull each 0:22:09.800 --> 0:22:13.080 other down. He wants us to get stuck where we are. 0:22:13.840 --> 0:22:18.040 It's very freeing when you can celebrate those that are ahead, 0:22:18.720 --> 0:22:22.080 knowing that the seeds you sow into them, the honor, 0:22:22.320 --> 0:22:25.360 the respect, the resources are going to come back to you. 0:22:26.280 --> 0:22:30.680 But if you're only sowing into horizontal relationships people at 0:22:30.680 --> 0:22:34.120 your same level, then you're going to see horizontal favor. 0:22:34.760 --> 0:22:37.600 But when you're secure enough in who you are to 0:22:37.720 --> 0:22:41.280 sow into vertical relationships people that are ahead of you, 0:22:41.680 --> 0:22:45.359 you're going to read some of this vertical favor. Many 0:22:45.520 --> 0:22:50.400 pastors sew into our ministry. They faithfully support and attend 0:22:50.400 --> 0:22:54.120 to our events. They tell me again and again how 0:22:54.160 --> 0:22:57.560 when they connected with us, their church started growing in 0:22:57.640 --> 0:23:02.120 new ways. One man told me rec since twenty twelve, 0:23:02.480 --> 0:23:05.200 he has gone from two hundred people to over six 0:23:05.280 --> 0:23:08.720 thousand people. He said, Joel, I can pinpoint the exact 0:23:08.760 --> 0:23:11.840 time it started, when we connected with you at your 0:23:11.960 --> 0:23:13.280 Night of Hope in our city. 0:23:13.880 --> 0:23:14.760 I'm not bragging. 0:23:14.960 --> 0:23:18.760 This is a spiritual principle. God has people in your 0:23:18.840 --> 0:23:23.879 life that are favor connections. You could be one relationship 0:23:23.920 --> 0:23:29.120 away from a new level. Look around, find the people 0:23:29.240 --> 0:23:33.880 that God is blessing. Don't be intimidated, don't be jealous, 0:23:34.400 --> 0:23:38.520 connect with them. If you'll honor, respect, sew into them 0:23:38.720 --> 0:23:42.040 that favor will come back to you. I know a 0:23:42.080 --> 0:23:45.520 man that had a dream of being in the hospitality business. 0:23:45.880 --> 0:23:49.359 He wanted to own hotels. When he was eighteen, he 0:23:49.480 --> 0:23:52.560 met an older gentleman that owned one of the largest 0:23:52.560 --> 0:23:55.880 hotel chains in the world. He convinced him to give 0:23:55.960 --> 0:23:58.480 him a job working as a bellman at one of 0:23:58.520 --> 0:24:02.399 his hotels. Every time this young man saw the owner, 0:24:02.720 --> 0:24:06.040 he went overboard to take care of him, opening the door, 0:24:06.280 --> 0:24:12.679 carrying his briefcase, constantly sewing, honoring, respecting. The owner loved 0:24:12.680 --> 0:24:16.640 this young man kept promoting him. In his early thirties, 0:24:16.680 --> 0:24:19.879 he left to start his own business. There was a 0:24:19.920 --> 0:24:24.919 piece of very expensive real estate overlooking the ocean that 0:24:25.000 --> 0:24:26.639 this owner was planning. 0:24:26.280 --> 0:24:27.680 On building a big hotel. 0:24:28.400 --> 0:24:31.120 Well, this young man asked if he could buy that 0:24:31.200 --> 0:24:35.000 property from him. This was their prime location that they 0:24:35.000 --> 0:24:38.760 were planning on this big project. The owner said, I 0:24:38.840 --> 0:24:41.480 never dreamed I would do this, but you have been 0:24:41.560 --> 0:24:44.600 so good to me. I want you to be successful. 0:24:44.760 --> 0:24:47.399 I'm going to sell you this property. It had taken 0:24:47.440 --> 0:24:50.840 them over ten years to acquire it. That young man 0:24:50.920 --> 0:24:56.160 built a beautiful resort. It's incredibly successful today. He has 0:24:56.280 --> 0:25:00.760 hotels all over the world. It all started when he 0:25:00.880 --> 0:25:05.960 recognized a fever connection. There are people God has put 0:25:06.000 --> 0:25:10.200 in your life not to compete with, but to connect with. 0:25:10.960 --> 0:25:15.280 They are instrumental in you rising higher. And this is 0:25:15.320 --> 0:25:18.399 not about playing up to people trying to win them over. 0:25:18.720 --> 0:25:23.600 It's about recognizing and respecting the fever that God's placed 0:25:23.640 --> 0:25:24.159 on people. 0:25:25.160 --> 0:25:26.080 Luke, Chapter five. 0:25:26.800 --> 0:25:30.240 Jesus had just borrowed Peter's boat to teach the people 0:25:30.280 --> 0:25:33.960 from the shore. When he finished, he told Peter to 0:25:34.040 --> 0:25:36.600 launch out into the deep and he would catch a 0:25:36.640 --> 0:25:40.040 great haul of fish. Well, Peter had fished all night, 0:25:40.520 --> 0:25:42.480 but he went back out to try it again. 0:25:43.119 --> 0:25:46.520 He caught so many fish that his net began to break. 0:25:47.280 --> 0:25:52.040 Verse seven says Peter shouted for help, and his partners came. 0:25:52.760 --> 0:25:56.480 Soon both boats were so loaded with fish they were 0:25:56.520 --> 0:25:58.600 concerned the boats might sink. 0:26:00.200 --> 0:26:04.920 Was blessed because he obeyed. He had favor. But notice 0:26:05.280 --> 0:26:07.120 the favor didn't stop with him. 0:26:07.840 --> 0:26:11.520 He caught so many fish that his partners, those that 0:26:11.560 --> 0:26:16.280 were connected with him, they received the overflow. When you 0:26:16.400 --> 0:26:20.600 connect with someone that's blessed, someone that's favored, as they. 0:26:20.480 --> 0:26:22.200 Increase, you'll increase. 0:26:22.960 --> 0:26:27.159 Peter's partners hadn't done anything to really deserve the fish. 0:26:27.840 --> 0:26:30.359 Peter was the one that lent Jesus the boat. 0:26:31.200 --> 0:26:34.840 God could have just sent enough fish to fill Peter's boat, 0:26:35.400 --> 0:26:38.800 made sure Peter was paid back, but God on purpose 0:26:39.320 --> 0:26:42.840 blessed Peter in such a way there would be overflow, 0:26:43.320 --> 0:26:47.320 so all in partnership, all those connected. 0:26:46.960 --> 0:26:49.280 Would see increase in favor as well. 0:26:50.240 --> 0:26:55.480 Who you're connected to is extremely important. There are blessings 0:26:55.560 --> 0:26:59.080 that belonged to you, that are attached to the people 0:26:59.280 --> 0:27:03.320 God's place in your life. If you're not seeing any fish, 0:27:03.960 --> 0:27:07.760 you need to evaluate who you're connected to. You may 0:27:07.840 --> 0:27:12.679 need to disconnect from relationships that aren't producing any increase 0:27:13.119 --> 0:27:14.720 and connect with people. 0:27:14.440 --> 0:27:17.040 That are blessed, people that are seeing favor. 0:27:17.480 --> 0:27:22.040 Peter's boat was not only full of fish, but his partner's. 0:27:21.520 --> 0:27:22.960 Boat was full of fish. 0:27:23.320 --> 0:27:27.639 You're going to become like who you're connected to again. 0:27:27.840 --> 0:27:31.280 Are you connected to anyone that has what you want? 0:27:31.840 --> 0:27:35.160 People that are more blessed, people that are more successful. 0:27:35.600 --> 0:27:40.400 Look around, find the favor connections in your life. Don't 0:27:40.400 --> 0:27:44.720 be intimidated because they're further along, don't be jealous because 0:27:44.760 --> 0:27:49.200 they have more. Celebrate them, Honor them, sew into them. 0:27:49.560 --> 0:27:53.640 If you'll do this, I believe and declare because you're 0:27:53.680 --> 0:27:57.240 connected to favor like Peter's friends, your. 0:27:57.040 --> 0:27:58.320 Boat is going to be full. 0:27:58.760 --> 0:28:03.399 You're going to see increase, promotion, new levels, the fullness 0:28:03.440 --> 0:28:04.919 of your destiny. 0:28:04.840 --> 0:28:08.000 In Jesus's name, if you receive it. Can you say men? 0:28:08.040 --> 0:28:12.720 Today, I'd like to give you an opportunity to make 0:28:12.800 --> 0:28:15.960 Jesus the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:28:16.720 --> 0:28:22.200 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 0:28:22.280 --> 0:28:26.040 into my heart. I'll make you my lord and savior. 0:28:27.359 --> 0:28:30.160 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:28:30.200 --> 0:28:33.840 born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 0:28:33.880 --> 0:28:35.040 God first place. 0:28:36.040 --> 0:28:39.480 Thank you for listening to the Joel Oustine podcast. Help 0:28:39.560 --> 0:28:42.280 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:28:42.400 --> 0:28:46.280 all over the world. Visit Jolusteine dot com slash give 0:28:46.360 --> 0:28:48.040 Hope to give a gift today. 0:28:49.320 --> 0:28:51.760 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:28:51.920 --> 0:28:54.640 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:28:54.680 --> 0:28:57.760 podcast to keep you inspired all through the week. 0:28:57.960 --> 0:29:00.840 We're praying for you. I know God's best to still ahead. 0:29:01.040 --> 0:29:02.200 We'll see you next time. 0:29:09.400 --> 0:29:14.400 Nice Funds, Soft Fluffy and ultralow netcarbs. 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