Finding The Lost You

0:00:01.000 --> 0:00:03.680 Hi, this is Juel and Victoria. We are so glad 0:00:03.720 --> 0:00:06.360 that you are a part of this podcast. We believe 0:00:06.360 --> 0:00:08.600 that it's going to make a huge difference in your life. 0:00:09.080 --> 0:00:10.520 Know that we are praying for you. 0:00:11.000 --> 0:00:13.480 Yeah, we love you guys, and just appreciate you taking 0:00:13.520 --> 0:00:15.680 the time. We believe it it's going to be a 0:00:15.720 --> 0:00:19.000 beautiful spring for you and an awesome twenty twenty four. 0:00:19.320 --> 0:00:22.920 Enjoy the message today. Well, God bless you. It's great 0:00:22.920 --> 0:00:24.400 to be with you today, and. 0:00:24.600 --> 0:00:26.840 I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week 0:00:27.040 --> 0:00:31.080 through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and 0:00:31.160 --> 0:00:32.800 you can come visit us in person. 0:00:33.040 --> 0:00:34.760 We'd love to have you be a part of one 0:00:34.760 --> 0:00:35.800 of our services. 0:00:36.280 --> 0:00:38.400 I'd like to start with something funny and I heard 0:00:38.400 --> 0:00:41.520 about this couple. They were driving down the road when 0:00:41.520 --> 0:00:44.000 they saw a sign that said Nacodochius. 0:00:44.280 --> 0:00:45.360 Forty miles ahead. 0:00:46.000 --> 0:00:48.800 They begin to argue over how to correctly pronounce the 0:00:48.880 --> 0:00:52.879 name Nakodochis. The husband got so upset he told his 0:00:53.000 --> 0:00:55.200 wife that when they got into town, he was going 0:00:55.280 --> 0:00:57.320 to stop and prove to her that she was wrong. 0:00:57.920 --> 0:01:01.080 They drove silently the next thirty minutes. When he arrived 0:01:01.120 --> 0:01:04.160 in town, he pulled into the first fast food restaurant. 0:01:04.600 --> 0:01:06.959 They both marched up to the counter. He said to 0:01:07.000 --> 0:01:09.840 the young lady working behind it, my wife and I 0:01:09.880 --> 0:01:12.880 have been arguing the last thirty minutes. Would you please 0:01:12.959 --> 0:01:17.040 tell us, very slowly and very clearly, how to pronounce 0:01:17.080 --> 0:01:19.640 the name of this place. The young girl's eyes got 0:01:19.680 --> 0:01:21.880 real big. She leaned over the counter and. 0:01:21.800 --> 0:01:27.520 Said, burr gir king. All right, y'all say it like 0:01:27.600 --> 0:01:28.080 you mean it. 0:01:28.480 --> 0:01:31.320 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:01:31.760 --> 0:01:34.040 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:01:34.120 --> 0:01:36.640 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:01:36.720 --> 0:01:40.520 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:01:40.640 --> 0:01:43.880 is alert, my heart is recepted. I will never be 0:01:44.000 --> 0:01:49.080 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:01:49.120 --> 0:01:52.040 to talk to you today about finding the lost you. 0:01:53.280 --> 0:01:56.280 Life has a way of changing us. At one time, 0:01:56.320 --> 0:02:00.920 we were outgoing, excited about our dreams, grateful for our family. 0:02:01.480 --> 0:02:06.000 We saw the vest in people and excelled at work. Positive, hopeful. 0:02:06.600 --> 0:02:07.720 Then life happens. 0:02:08.320 --> 0:02:11.400 We go through a disappointment and we lose a little joy. 0:02:12.080 --> 0:02:15.480 We make mistakes and lose a little sense of value. 0:02:15.880 --> 0:02:16.680 People do us. 0:02:16.600 --> 0:02:19.720 Wrong, and we lose a little passion. We look up 0:02:19.760 --> 0:02:23.600 and wonder where that other person went. Man said to 0:02:23.639 --> 0:02:26.080 me last week, Joel, I've lost myself. 0:02:26.560 --> 0:02:27.359 I used to be so. 0:02:27.480 --> 0:02:31.600 Passionate, so caring. I don't know what happened. I don't 0:02:31.639 --> 0:02:35.080 even recognize who I am. He'd been through a loss, 0:02:35.600 --> 0:02:38.280 things hadn't turned out the way he thought. Now he 0:02:38.440 --> 0:02:41.520 was a fraction of what he used to be. But 0:02:41.560 --> 0:02:45.120 God didn't create us to start off excited about life, 0:02:45.600 --> 0:02:49.919 believing for our dreams, and then end up defeated, insecure, 0:02:50.040 --> 0:02:53.880 and lonely. That's life trying to change who you are. 0:02:54.800 --> 0:02:57.800 You may have lost yourself. The good news is you 0:02:57.880 --> 0:03:01.880 can find yourself, go back to who God made you 0:03:01.960 --> 0:03:02.320 to be. 0:03:03.040 --> 0:03:04.880 The real you is still. 0:03:04.600 --> 0:03:09.040 There, the joy for you, the passionate you, the confident you, 0:03:09.280 --> 0:03:10.320 the victorious you. 0:03:11.440 --> 0:03:13.240 One reason Jesus came. 0:03:13.480 --> 0:03:17.440 Was to recover what was lost, to restore what was stolen, 0:03:17.960 --> 0:03:20.840 to heal what was broken, to give you beauty for. 0:03:20.840 --> 0:03:22.960 Ashes, joy for mourning. 0:03:23.840 --> 0:03:27.680 What you've lost is coming back. God is about to 0:03:27.720 --> 0:03:30.320 do a new thing. He's not going to leave you 0:03:30.360 --> 0:03:33.520 at a deficit. He sees what you've been through, and 0:03:33.919 --> 0:03:36.080 he's going to make up for it. He's going to 0:03:36.120 --> 0:03:41.080 breathe new life, new passion, new opportunities, and new vision. 0:03:41.880 --> 0:03:44.920 You haven't seen the best version of you yet. 0:03:45.560 --> 0:03:48.560 It's still in front of you. But there is something 0:03:48.600 --> 0:03:51.680 you have to do. You can't sit on the sidelines 0:03:52.200 --> 0:03:55.720 feeling sorry for yourself, thinking you washed up. Man, I've 0:03:55.760 --> 0:03:58.839 made so many mistakes, and why did these people. 0:03:58.560 --> 0:03:59.240 Do me wrong. 0:04:00.040 --> 0:04:03.120 As long as we have a defeated mentality, we're going 0:04:03.160 --> 0:04:03.840 to get stuck. 0:04:04.600 --> 0:04:06.160 You have to get back in the game. 0:04:06.680 --> 0:04:10.800 Stir your faith up, start believing again, start dreaming again, 0:04:11.080 --> 0:04:15.160 start hoping again. The book of Genesis, Adam and Eve 0:04:15.240 --> 0:04:18.080 were in the garden of Eden. They had this magnificent 0:04:18.120 --> 0:04:20.719 place to live. God would come out at night and 0:04:20.800 --> 0:04:24.640 talk with them. They were so happy, confident, and secure. 0:04:25.279 --> 0:04:28.440 They woke up excited about the day, grateful for what 0:04:28.480 --> 0:04:29.560 God had given them. 0:04:30.000 --> 0:04:31.120 Then life happened. 0:04:31.600 --> 0:04:33.760 God told them not to eat the fruit from a 0:04:33.800 --> 0:04:37.240 certain tree, but they got deceived and did it anyway. 0:04:38.200 --> 0:04:41.560 When they did, immediately they felt guilty. 0:04:41.680 --> 0:04:45.040 They knew they had done wrong. Their consciences came to life. 0:04:45.640 --> 0:04:49.240 They recognized they were naked. They weren't wearing any clothes. 0:04:49.640 --> 0:04:52.839 They were ashamed and embarrassed, so they ran in hid, 0:04:53.640 --> 0:04:56.560 put on some fig leaves to cover up, got under 0:04:56.600 --> 0:04:59.000 some bushes and behind some trees. 0:04:58.920 --> 0:05:00.800 To make sure that they weren't visible. 0:05:01.240 --> 0:05:04.160 When God came to visit in the garden that evening, 0:05:04.640 --> 0:05:08.800 he said, Adam, where are you? God wasn't asking this 0:05:08.920 --> 0:05:10.440 question to find an answer. 0:05:10.920 --> 0:05:12.200 He already knew where they were. 0:05:12.839 --> 0:05:17.000 He was asking to make Adam think where are you? 0:05:17.080 --> 0:05:18.080 Not just physically. 0:05:18.480 --> 0:05:21.800 He was talking about his state of mind, his attitude, 0:05:22.240 --> 0:05:26.039 how he saw himself. He was saying, Adam, where is 0:05:26.080 --> 0:05:29.640 the real you? Where is the you I created? The 0:05:29.760 --> 0:05:34.560 joyful you, the confident you, the valuable you, the peaceful you. 0:05:34.960 --> 0:05:38.960 Where is that person gone? God is asking us where 0:05:39.040 --> 0:05:39.520 are you? 0:05:40.440 --> 0:05:41.520 Where is the you. 0:05:41.800 --> 0:05:45.480 Before you went through the disappointment, the you before the breakup, 0:05:46.000 --> 0:05:47.279 the you before the mistake. 0:05:47.680 --> 0:05:51.200 Where is the passionate you, the friendly you, the. 0:05:51.240 --> 0:05:54.560 Kind you, the positive, hopeful, generous you. 0:05:55.160 --> 0:05:56.560 That's who God made you to be. 0:05:57.520 --> 0:06:03.360 But too often, like Adam, because mistakes, disappointments. 0:06:02.520 --> 0:06:05.640 We lose that person. We can look back and think, man, 0:06:06.120 --> 0:06:09.000 I used to be so passionate about life. I used 0:06:09.040 --> 0:06:10.120 to have big dreams. 0:06:10.720 --> 0:06:13.359 I used to feel valuable and secure. I don't know 0:06:13.400 --> 0:06:17.000 what happened to me. You may have lost who you are, 0:06:17.520 --> 0:06:19.680 but God is going to bring that person back. 0:06:20.560 --> 0:06:22.040 Nothing that's happened. 0:06:21.640 --> 0:06:25.599 To you has taken the real you, Adam said God. 0:06:26.000 --> 0:06:28.880 When I heard your voice, I was afraid, so I 0:06:28.920 --> 0:06:32.120 went in the hid. How many of us are hiding 0:06:32.880 --> 0:06:36.880 because the things we've gone through. Hiding our potential, hiding 0:06:36.960 --> 0:06:41.480 our personality, hiding our smile. You have so much to offer, 0:06:42.000 --> 0:06:45.279 but the way many people handle hurts and failures and 0:06:45.320 --> 0:06:50.880 disappointments is to isolate, to disengage, turn their feelings off, 0:06:51.440 --> 0:06:55.920 push down any emotions, not pursue any dreams. They show 0:06:56.040 --> 0:06:59.279 up at work, but they're not really there. They have 0:06:59.360 --> 0:07:02.839 great ideas, but they never share them. They're in the 0:07:02.880 --> 0:07:06.599 house physically with their family, but they've checked out emotionally. 0:07:07.400 --> 0:07:11.240 The pressure, the hurts, the mistakes have caused them to 0:07:11.280 --> 0:07:15.480 go into a defense mode where they don't participate. They 0:07:15.480 --> 0:07:19.000 don't answer the phone, don't interact with friends, don't share 0:07:19.000 --> 0:07:25.320 their feelings. The enemy would love for you to live disengaged, unplugged, 0:07:25.760 --> 0:07:29.920 hiding your gifts, hiding your creativity, hiding your feelings. 0:07:30.560 --> 0:07:32.640 God is saying, where are you. 0:07:33.560 --> 0:07:37.640 I created you to bloom, to blossom, to shine, to 0:07:37.840 --> 0:07:41.400 enjoy life, to be a blessing, to love, to lie, 0:07:41.560 --> 0:07:45.400 to accomplish. But it will never happen if you're hiding, 0:07:46.240 --> 0:07:51.520 hiding behind mistakes, hiding behind hurts, hiding behind injustice. 0:07:51.680 --> 0:07:54.760 I wasn't treated right, Joel. That's why I'm bitter. I 0:07:54.800 --> 0:07:57.040 went through a breakup. They hurt me. 0:07:57.400 --> 0:08:00.840 That's why I'm not passionate anymore. My spouse and I 0:08:00.920 --> 0:08:03.440 we don't get along. She doesn't respect me. 0:08:03.800 --> 0:08:04.920 That's why I've checked out. 0:08:05.840 --> 0:08:08.840 The enemy is using that to keep you in hiding, 0:08:09.600 --> 0:08:12.600 feeling ashamed, insecured. 0:08:12.240 --> 0:08:17.080 No enthusiasm. Here's the key. God can't heal what's hidden. 0:08:17.920 --> 0:08:21.200 He's asking you to come out to get back engaged, 0:08:21.440 --> 0:08:21.960 but he's not. 0:08:21.920 --> 0:08:23.480 Going to force you. 0:08:22.560 --> 0:08:26.520 You have to make that choice to come out of isolation, 0:08:27.160 --> 0:08:30.120 come out of fear, come out of shame, come out 0:08:30.120 --> 0:08:33.960 of regrets, and get back in the game that part 0:08:34.000 --> 0:08:36.880 of you that you lost. Can I encourage you? It's 0:08:36.960 --> 0:08:41.079 looking for you right now. The joy, the talent, the favor, 0:08:41.160 --> 0:08:41.839 the confidence. 0:08:41.960 --> 0:08:43.199 It's knocking on your door. 0:08:43.960 --> 0:08:48.600 The creative you, the outgoing you, the compassionate you, the 0:08:48.720 --> 0:08:52.920 generous you. He's been gone long enough. Now you have 0:08:53.000 --> 0:08:56.079 to do your part. Get your fire back, start taking 0:08:56.120 --> 0:08:59.120 some risk. Well, Joel, if I get involved in this 0:08:59.320 --> 0:09:03.280 new relationship, I may get hurt again. If I take 0:09:03.320 --> 0:09:06.719 this new opportunity, they may not treat me right, or 0:09:06.800 --> 0:09:09.280 I may not be any good at it. Yes, it's 0:09:09.320 --> 0:09:14.560 easier to stay in hiding. If you unplugg disengage, you 0:09:14.640 --> 0:09:18.920 might not experience as much hurt, pain or possible disappointment, 0:09:19.480 --> 0:09:23.600 but you'll also never experience the joy, the love, the 0:09:23.640 --> 0:09:27.120 favor of the victory that makes life so rewarding and 0:09:27.160 --> 0:09:33.400 so fulfilling. The enemy doesn't want you engaged, motivated, passionate, 0:09:33.600 --> 0:09:37.400 feeling anything He loved. For you to go through life none, 0:09:38.040 --> 0:09:40.640 never showing this world who God made you to be. 0:09:41.600 --> 0:09:42.800 Don't fall into that trap. 0:09:43.480 --> 0:09:46.120 You may get knocked down, but don't go into hiding. 0:09:46.880 --> 0:09:48.679 That disappointment is not final. 0:09:49.000 --> 0:09:49.959 Get back up again. 0:09:50.960 --> 0:09:54.640 You made a mistake, don't beat yourself up for five years, 0:09:54.920 --> 0:09:59.520 live in regrets, ask for forgiveness, and move forward. God 0:09:59.559 --> 0:10:01.199 doesn't remember your mistakes. 0:10:01.520 --> 0:10:02.880 Why are you remembering them? 0:10:03.559 --> 0:10:08.079 Those are forces trying to get you to unplug disengage 0:10:08.320 --> 0:10:11.920 so you don't fulfill your purpose, or maybe your dream 0:10:11.960 --> 0:10:15.120 didn't work out. You've put a lot of effort into it, 0:10:15.440 --> 0:10:16.720 but the business failed. 0:10:16.960 --> 0:10:20.679 It didn't make it. Failure is an event, not a person. 0:10:21.520 --> 0:10:23.440 You don't have to go into hiding. It's not who 0:10:23.440 --> 0:10:26.120 you are. You're not a failure. You're a child of 0:10:26.160 --> 0:10:29.880 the most high God. Any person that's ever done anything 0:10:29.960 --> 0:10:35.760 significant has had some failures, disappointments and setbacks, or perhaps 0:10:35.840 --> 0:10:39.160 people have hurt you. They put you at a disadvantage. 0:10:39.440 --> 0:10:42.520 Thoughts will try to convince you that you're lacking. You're 0:10:42.520 --> 0:10:46.079 not up to par. If you were more attractive, if 0:10:46.080 --> 0:10:49.199 you had a better personality, if you were more talented, 0:10:49.240 --> 0:10:52.040 this wouldn't have happened. It's easy to go into hiding, 0:10:52.720 --> 0:10:55.160 live insecure, feeling not valuable. 0:10:55.920 --> 0:10:57.200 Don't believe those lies. 0:10:57.480 --> 0:11:01.200 You were made in the image of Almighty God. People 0:11:01.280 --> 0:11:04.880 can't make you feel inferior unless you give them permission. 0:11:05.800 --> 0:11:08.160 They don't determine your worth and value. 0:11:08.559 --> 0:11:12.280 What they say, how they treat you doesn't change who 0:11:12.360 --> 0:11:15.480 God made you to be. Now quit giving them permission. 0:11:16.640 --> 0:11:19.439 When I was in junior high I was very outgoing. 0:11:19.640 --> 0:11:23.240 I had a lot of friends, played sports. I's confident, 0:11:23.320 --> 0:11:23.920 and secure. 0:11:24.360 --> 0:11:26.000 How's always making people laugh? 0:11:26.760 --> 0:11:29.360 But when I got into high school, all my friends 0:11:29.480 --> 0:11:31.440 kept growing taller, but I didn't. 0:11:32.200 --> 0:11:34.080 I went into my freshman year at. 0:11:33.960 --> 0:11:38.319 Four feet nine inches tall. People called me Peanut. Those 0:11:38.360 --> 0:11:42.240 thoughts started coming. It's too short, You're at a disadvantage. 0:11:42.360 --> 0:11:45.559 People are making fun of you. I let that insecurity 0:11:45.679 --> 0:11:49.560 in and it started to affect my confidence. Now wasn't 0:11:49.559 --> 0:11:53.839 as outgoing. I started to hide my personality, became more 0:11:53.920 --> 0:11:57.440 quiet and reserved. I tried out for the baseball team, 0:11:57.520 --> 0:11:59.959 and in the Little league, I was always one of 0:12:00.120 --> 0:12:03.280 the best players, made the All Star team every year. 0:12:03.880 --> 0:12:06.760 But now in high school, people were so much bigger 0:12:06.800 --> 0:12:10.720 and stronger. We were all into gym waiting to see 0:12:10.720 --> 0:12:13.640 who made the team. The coach called out the names 0:12:13.640 --> 0:12:16.400 one by one. This friend made it, then another, and 0:12:16.440 --> 0:12:17.360 another and another. 0:12:17.559 --> 0:12:20.560 They all made the team, and I waited and waited, 0:12:20.679 --> 0:12:23.240 thinking surely my name was going to be next. But 0:12:23.320 --> 0:12:25.600 I didn't make it. The coach called me. 0:12:25.559 --> 0:12:28.440 In afterwards and said, Joel, you're a good player, You're 0:12:28.520 --> 0:12:31.680 just too small to play at this level. That was 0:12:31.720 --> 0:12:34.400 the last thing I needed to hear. For years, I 0:12:34.520 --> 0:12:39.160 let that affect myself image, my confidence. I dealt with 0:12:39.200 --> 0:12:42.280 it the way many of us do. I went into hiding. 0:12:42.840 --> 0:12:46.800 I was in his outgoing. When certain opportunities came, I'd 0:12:46.840 --> 0:12:50.160 just shrink back, unsure of myself, wondering. 0:12:49.840 --> 0:12:50.839 What people would think. 0:12:51.200 --> 0:12:55.240 But I could hear God whispering deep down in my spirit, Joel, 0:12:55.559 --> 0:12:56.200 where are you? 0:12:57.160 --> 0:13:02.319 Where is that person? I created? Strong, confident, fun outgoing. 0:13:03.080 --> 0:13:06.440 Why are you shrinking back and letting someone else determine 0:13:06.440 --> 0:13:09.360 your value when you have so much more to offer. 0:13:10.440 --> 0:13:13.280 I had to make that decision to come out of hiding, 0:13:14.080 --> 0:13:17.040 to not worry about what other people think, not let 0:13:17.120 --> 0:13:19.120 disappointments take my passion. 0:13:19.600 --> 0:13:22.040 If I had not done that, I wouldn't be up 0:13:22.080 --> 0:13:25.839 here today. Is there some area you need to come 0:13:25.840 --> 0:13:29.120 out of hiding? You've let what didn't work, what. 0:13:29.160 --> 0:13:34.640 Someone said, how you were raised caused you to shrink back, unplugged. 0:13:34.960 --> 0:13:38.240 Now we're not seeing the best of you. When Adam 0:13:38.280 --> 0:13:41.240 made that mistake, he went into hiding and he tried 0:13:41.280 --> 0:13:42.000 to check out. 0:13:42.520 --> 0:13:46.520 But notice how God came looking for him. God Good 0:13:46.520 --> 0:13:49.079 has said, too bad, Adam, you blew it. You had 0:13:49.120 --> 0:13:49.680 your chance. 0:13:50.360 --> 0:13:53.800 God never gives up on us, even when we hide, 0:13:54.520 --> 0:13:57.040 even when we lose the person he made us to be. 0:13:57.559 --> 0:14:00.520 He keeps coming after us, saying, where there are you? 0:14:01.240 --> 0:14:04.520 I miss you, I need you. I can restore you 0:14:05.720 --> 0:14:06.320 like I did. 0:14:06.679 --> 0:14:09.880 Maybe you've let a disappointment or you've led a mistake 0:14:10.600 --> 0:14:14.640 cause you to hide your personality. Ha'd your smile? How'd 0:14:14.640 --> 0:14:18.360 your passion? You used to have big dreams, you used 0:14:18.360 --> 0:14:22.080 to fight for your family, used to be passionate about 0:14:22.080 --> 0:14:25.880 your walk with God, but kind of disengaged, checked out, 0:14:25.960 --> 0:14:27.080 thinking it's not worth it? 0:14:27.720 --> 0:14:28.840 Can I tell you? 0:14:29.000 --> 0:14:33.080 God is looking for you, not the partial you, not 0:14:33.200 --> 0:14:36.040 the thrumpbacked version, not the intimidated you. 0:14:36.720 --> 0:14:40.280 Where is the confident you? Where is the outgoing you? 0:14:40.920 --> 0:14:42.200 Where is the talented you? 0:14:43.280 --> 0:14:46.160 Where is the you before the coach told you you're 0:14:46.160 --> 0:14:46.720 too small? 0:14:47.360 --> 0:14:49.960 Where is the you before you ate the forbidden fruit? 0:14:50.520 --> 0:14:54.200 That's who God's looking for. The true you, not the 0:14:54.240 --> 0:14:57.760 water down you. The you that dream big, the you 0:14:57.880 --> 0:15:00.640 that knew all things are possible, the you that took 0:15:00.680 --> 0:15:03.440 steps of faith, the you that was determined to set 0:15:03.520 --> 0:15:07.480 new standards, the you that didn't let doubt, fear, negativity 0:15:07.720 --> 0:15:08.960 talk you out of your goals. 0:15:09.360 --> 0:15:10.680 That's who God's looking for. 0:15:11.680 --> 0:15:14.680 I believe today that part of you that you lost 0:15:15.080 --> 0:15:21.600 is coming back. God is restoring dreams, restoring passion, restoring competence, 0:15:22.000 --> 0:15:26.960 restoring value, vision, creativity, goals, and joy. 0:15:27.200 --> 0:15:30.280 This is a new day. The full you is coming back. 0:15:31.360 --> 0:15:35.000 Adam told God he was in hiding because he was naked. 0:15:35.400 --> 0:15:39.600 He felt ashamed and embarrassed. The second question God asking 0:15:39.640 --> 0:15:44.760 the Bible was Adam, who told you you were naked again. 0:15:44.880 --> 0:15:48.440 God wasn't asking to get information. He wanted Adam to 0:15:48.480 --> 0:15:51.800 see where that thought came from. That was the enemy 0:15:51.920 --> 0:15:56.320 deceiving him. It's no different today. The enemy will whisper 0:15:56.400 --> 0:16:00.920 his lies, trying to deceive us into hiding. Talented or not, 0:16:01.720 --> 0:16:05.160 you've made too many mistakes. You'll never be successful. You 0:16:05.240 --> 0:16:08.600 come from the wrong family. You need to ask yourself 0:16:08.760 --> 0:16:13.240 where are these thoughts coming from. If they're negative, discouraging, 0:16:13.600 --> 0:16:17.320 pushing you down, making you feel unworthy, you can be 0:16:17.440 --> 0:16:20.760 certain they are not from God. Don't give them the 0:16:20.800 --> 0:16:23.400 time of day. Let them go in one ear and 0:16:23.520 --> 0:16:27.000 out the other. When I didn't make the baseball team, 0:16:27.200 --> 0:16:29.760 that coach was just doing his job, you know, judging 0:16:29.800 --> 0:16:30.040 by the. 0:16:30.120 --> 0:16:34.600 Natural the physical. But people don't determine our value. 0:16:34.840 --> 0:16:37.680 I could hear God saying, Joel, who told you you're 0:16:37.680 --> 0:16:40.480 too small, Who told you you're not up to par 0:16:40.960 --> 0:16:42.240 I created. 0:16:41.760 --> 0:16:43.280 You in my own image. 0:16:43.400 --> 0:16:47.400 You were fearfully and wonderfully made. I call you a masterpiece. 0:16:47.640 --> 0:16:49.400 I put a crown of favor. 0:16:49.000 --> 0:16:49.680 On your head. 0:16:50.760 --> 0:16:53.160 You need to listen to what God says about you, 0:16:53.560 --> 0:16:57.040 and not all the negative chatter You may have made, 0:16:57.080 --> 0:17:01.320 poor choices, gotten off course. Who told you that mistake 0:17:01.440 --> 0:17:06.040 stopped your purpose? Who told you that you're washed up, unworthy? 0:17:06.320 --> 0:17:10.280 Just sit on the sidelines. That's the accuser trying to 0:17:10.359 --> 0:17:14.399 keep you in hiding, feeling guilty and unworthy, so you 0:17:14.480 --> 0:17:18.000 won't pursue your dreams you want to accomplish your assignment. 0:17:18.760 --> 0:17:20.080 Don't believe those lies. 0:17:20.440 --> 0:17:24.879 God's mercy is bigger than any mistake you've made. He 0:17:24.960 --> 0:17:30.280 already took into account every failure, every wrong turn, every compromise. 0:17:30.880 --> 0:17:36.760 He has mercy, restoration, new beginnings already lined up. His 0:17:37.000 --> 0:17:41.639 calling on your life is irrevocable. He doesn't change his mind. 0:17:42.400 --> 0:17:46.000 What he started he will finish. But you have to 0:17:46.040 --> 0:17:49.760 do your part. Come out of heiding, come out of shame, 0:17:50.119 --> 0:17:52.600 come out of guilt, and get back in the game. 0:17:53.560 --> 0:17:55.160 We need you. 0:17:55.160 --> 0:18:00.000 Your family, needs you fully engaged. Your children need you 0:18:00.160 --> 0:18:04.639 healthy in home. Your friends need you, not the partial you, 0:18:05.160 --> 0:18:08.680 but the fool you, the help going you, the loving you, 0:18:09.080 --> 0:18:09.879 the friendly you. 0:18:11.200 --> 0:18:14.040 Maybe you went through a breakup, you had a divorce. 0:18:14.600 --> 0:18:17.399 Who told you that you'll never be happy again? 0:18:18.119 --> 0:18:21.400 Who told you that that disappointment has ruined your future, 0:18:21.760 --> 0:18:25.280 that you'll never meet anyone? The Enemy wouldn't be telling 0:18:25.320 --> 0:18:28.000 you that if he didn't know it was going to happen. 0:18:28.680 --> 0:18:32.560 That's why he's trying to deceive you into living negative, doubting, 0:18:32.960 --> 0:18:34.359 thinking you've missed your chance. 0:18:34.960 --> 0:18:37.880 Tune that out. God has beauty for the ashes. 0:18:38.440 --> 0:18:42.520 The right person, a divine connection is already en route. 0:18:43.080 --> 0:18:46.040 Your latter days will be better than your former days. 0:18:47.000 --> 0:18:47.679 Or how about this? 0:18:47.760 --> 0:18:51.119 Who told you you're not talented enough? That all you 0:18:51.119 --> 0:18:54.399 can make in school or seese and not AI's. That's 0:18:54.480 --> 0:18:57.480 the enemy doing what he did in the garden of Eden, 0:18:58.280 --> 0:19:02.320 trying to deceive you into high your gifts, hiding your talents. 0:19:03.080 --> 0:19:06.520 Don't believe his lies. God has put greatness in you. 0:19:07.240 --> 0:19:12.760 There are ideas, creativity, businesses. He's created you to bloom, 0:19:13.040 --> 0:19:16.040 to blossom, to go where no one in your family 0:19:16.119 --> 0:19:19.520 has gone. That's why the enemy fights so hard to 0:19:19.600 --> 0:19:23.439 keep your push down. Feeling inadequate where you have a 0:19:23.520 --> 0:19:27.639 limited vision, no come out of hiding. God is about 0:19:27.680 --> 0:19:31.919 to enlarge your territory. He's about to expand your influence. 0:19:32.119 --> 0:19:36.399 He's about to increase your resources. You haven't seen, heard, 0:19:36.640 --> 0:19:38.800 or imagined what he has in store. 0:19:39.440 --> 0:19:42.320 He's just waiting for you to come back to who 0:19:42.400 --> 0:19:44.920 you are. Where is the bold. 0:19:44.680 --> 0:19:48.760 Ee, the confident you, the faith filled you, the dreaming you, 0:19:49.040 --> 0:19:50.280 the mighty hero you. 0:19:51.440 --> 0:19:54.760 I saw a video about this stray dog. He's about 0:19:54.760 --> 0:19:55.560 a year. 0:19:55.480 --> 0:19:59.080 Old, and he lived in this busy downtown area in 0:19:59.119 --> 0:20:03.760 an alley way behind this big dumpster. One cold, rainy night, 0:20:04.320 --> 0:20:07.600 this couple was throwing away some trash and noticed the dog. 0:20:08.240 --> 0:20:10.160 He was curled up in the corner. 0:20:10.440 --> 0:20:14.560 Shaking, shriveled up, very thin, lost most of his hair. 0:20:15.280 --> 0:20:17.199 The girl felt sorry and went over to help it, 0:20:17.720 --> 0:20:21.159 but the dog was very angry. He growled and showed 0:20:21.160 --> 0:20:23.320 his teeth and had both paws. 0:20:23.040 --> 0:20:25.080 Out, and the girl wouldn't give up. 0:20:25.480 --> 0:20:28.320 She went home and got some food and blankets. This 0:20:28.400 --> 0:20:30.960 time she got down on her knees to be more 0:20:31.000 --> 0:20:33.840 at the dog's level. She put some food out and 0:20:34.040 --> 0:20:38.000 talked very gently and softly, and little by little, the 0:20:38.080 --> 0:20:38.800 dog began. 0:20:38.720 --> 0:20:40.159 To let down his defenses. 0:20:40.680 --> 0:20:42.840 She was able to close enough to pet the dog, 0:20:42.920 --> 0:20:46.159 and after about an hour she gained the dog's trust 0:20:46.280 --> 0:20:49.120 enough to pick it up. She and her husband took 0:20:49.119 --> 0:20:52.520 the dog home in her house. The dog went to 0:20:52.600 --> 0:20:54.680 the corner and would never put his head up. 0:20:55.200 --> 0:20:58.119 It just hung down, so afraid and uncertain. 0:20:58.720 --> 0:21:01.919 This girl just kept loving, giving it food, doing our 0:21:01.960 --> 0:21:02.920 best to win it over. 0:21:03.760 --> 0:21:07.359 Then the video fast forwarded to a year ahead. You 0:21:07.400 --> 0:21:10.439 wouldn't believe it was the same dog. This dog was 0:21:10.480 --> 0:21:13.800 so playful and fine. He was jumping up on them. 0:21:14.119 --> 0:21:17.320 He would spin around in circles so happy, run and 0:21:17.359 --> 0:21:23.000 fetch things in the backyard. That playful, healthy, loving dog 0:21:23.480 --> 0:21:24.680 was in there this whole time. 0:21:25.680 --> 0:21:30.440 But when you go through hurts, mistreatment, bad breaks, there's 0:21:30.520 --> 0:21:31.560 this natural. 0:21:31.200 --> 0:21:35.959 Tendency to isolate, disengage, and become angry. 0:21:36.080 --> 0:21:38.919 We put up these defenses and think this is just 0:21:38.960 --> 0:21:39.560 who I am. 0:21:40.359 --> 0:21:43.920 I'm bitter because of a bad childhood. I'm angry because 0:21:43.920 --> 0:21:46.600 the company did me wrong. I've given up on my 0:21:46.720 --> 0:21:49.640 dream because I've made so many bad decisions. Look where 0:21:49.680 --> 0:21:52.879 I am Joel, like that little dog. There is so 0:21:53.000 --> 0:21:57.080 much more in you. You're just letting that defense mechanism 0:21:57.440 --> 0:22:01.439 cause you to isolate, push away, thinking that staying in 0:22:01.560 --> 0:22:03.560 hiding is the way to deal with it. 0:22:04.240 --> 0:22:05.719 That is not the best option. 0:22:06.600 --> 0:22:10.199 God has seen everything you've been through, who hurt you, 0:22:10.840 --> 0:22:14.520 who didn't keep their word. He's seen the mistakes you made, 0:22:14.840 --> 0:22:17.600 the times you took that wrong turn, and now. 0:22:17.440 --> 0:22:20.080 You're in that corner, not wanting anyone to help. 0:22:21.119 --> 0:22:24.800 Like that young woman went with compassion and rescued the dog. 0:22:25.600 --> 0:22:28.879 God is coming to you. He's calling your name. 0:22:29.640 --> 0:22:32.359 If you'll come out of hiding, if you'll let down 0:22:32.400 --> 0:22:36.399 your defenses and give it another chance, you'll discover a 0:22:36.480 --> 0:22:39.920 life greater than you ever dream. 0:22:40.000 --> 0:22:41.600 God is not finished with you. 0:22:42.440 --> 0:22:45.359 He didn't create you and then decide to walk away 0:22:45.800 --> 0:22:49.960 because of mistakes, neglect, or bad breaks. He's a god 0:22:50.000 --> 0:22:53.000 who restores, a God who has new beginnings. 0:22:53.160 --> 0:22:55.199 He's saying, where are you? 0:22:56.080 --> 0:22:58.960 Let me turn things around, let me love you back 0:22:59.000 --> 0:22:59.840 into wholeness. 0:23:00.160 --> 0:23:03.600 Let me pay you back for the unfair things. And 0:23:03.640 --> 0:23:05.200 it's not always something big. 0:23:05.760 --> 0:23:09.320 It may just be you're hiding a part of your personality, 0:23:09.960 --> 0:23:13.720 letting insecurity and what other people think keep you from 0:23:13.760 --> 0:23:17.560 blossoming into who you were created to be, or letting 0:23:17.640 --> 0:23:20.000 mistakes convince you to feel unworthy. 0:23:20.840 --> 0:23:23.320 You know you have so much more in you. You 0:23:23.359 --> 0:23:26.280 can feel God calling you to step up, to get 0:23:26.280 --> 0:23:27.560 out of your comfort zones. 0:23:28.280 --> 0:23:32.440 It's much easier to stay in hiding, not having to stretch. Yes, 0:23:32.480 --> 0:23:36.640 it's easier, but you'll never be fulfilled settling for. 0:23:36.680 --> 0:23:38.360 Less than what God put in you. 0:23:39.119 --> 0:23:43.080 There'll always be a subtle unrest, a slight uneasiness. That's 0:23:43.119 --> 0:23:47.359 God saying, step into my purpose for your life. In 0:23:47.359 --> 0:23:50.919 the Book of First Kings, the prophet Elijah had just 0:23:51.000 --> 0:23:54.239 called down fire from heaven and destroyed four hundred and 0:23:54.240 --> 0:23:57.240 fifty false prophets. He had just prayed and saw a 0:23:57.240 --> 0:23:59.360 three and a half year drought come to an end. 0:23:59.840 --> 0:24:03.240 He could just outrun a chariot for twenty miles. 0:24:03.600 --> 0:24:06.040 You would think he would never have a down moment. 0:24:06.359 --> 0:24:10.320 He was so powerful and anointed, but at one point 0:24:10.359 --> 0:24:13.720 he was so depressed he wanted to die. When the 0:24:13.840 --> 0:24:17.199 king's wife heard about the prophets he had destroyed, she 0:24:17.359 --> 0:24:20.400 sent words saying I'm going to kill you by this 0:24:20.480 --> 0:24:25.720 time tomorrow. Elijah got so afraid so panicked he took 0:24:25.720 --> 0:24:30.439 off running for his life. You can be devoted, faithful, 0:24:30.600 --> 0:24:31.920 anointed and. 0:24:31.880 --> 0:24:34.200 Still have times where you lose who you are. 0:24:35.280 --> 0:24:38.919 Elijah ended up hiding in a cave, went into isolation, 0:24:39.440 --> 0:24:42.960 didn't want to talk to anyone. His attitude was I'm done. 0:24:43.760 --> 0:24:46.720 This is the end of my life. God came to 0:24:46.800 --> 0:24:49.480 him in the cave and said, Elijah, what are you 0:24:49.560 --> 0:24:53.119 doing here? He was saying, this is not who I 0:24:53.200 --> 0:24:57.040 made you to be. Afraid, intimidated, defeated. 0:24:57.440 --> 0:24:58.480 You've lost who. 0:24:58.359 --> 0:25:03.000 You are, bold, confident, faith filled. I just said, well, God, 0:25:03.080 --> 0:25:06.480 these people are after man. I'm the only one serving God. 0:25:07.000 --> 0:25:10.280 Everyone else has turned away. God told him to go 0:25:10.320 --> 0:25:15.880 stand outside the cave. After a mighty windstorm, rain and fire. 0:25:15.840 --> 0:25:17.080 God spoke to him again. 0:25:17.880 --> 0:25:22.119 I can imagine Elijah leaning in, listening so intently. 0:25:22.320 --> 0:25:24.920 What is God going to tell me this time? God 0:25:24.960 --> 0:25:29.280 said it again, what are you doing here? As powerful 0:25:29.320 --> 0:25:30.520 as Elijah was. 0:25:30.680 --> 0:25:34.560 He lost part of himself. He got distracted and forgot 0:25:34.600 --> 0:25:37.840 who he was. And God didn't say, Elijah, I feel 0:25:37.920 --> 0:25:41.080 sorry for you, man, it's been rough. Just settle here 0:25:41.119 --> 0:25:45.080 in this cave, no, God said in verse fifteen, Elijah 0:25:45.560 --> 0:25:47.160 go back the way you came. 0:25:48.119 --> 0:25:49.520 God was saying, come out. 0:25:49.359 --> 0:25:56.080 Of hiding and go back to who I say you are, powerful, anointed, favored, victorious. 0:25:57.040 --> 0:25:59.760 Maybe today, like Elijah, you'll committed. 0:26:00.400 --> 0:26:04.280 You're faithful, you're blessed, but you've lost part of yourself. 0:26:05.040 --> 0:26:06.720 Things have happened that have taken. 0:26:06.480 --> 0:26:11.320 Your joy, limited your vision, stopped your creativity. Now you've 0:26:11.320 --> 0:26:16.080 settled in that area, not pursuing dreams, not enjoying your family, 0:26:16.440 --> 0:26:20.080 not passionate about life. God is saying, come out of 0:26:20.160 --> 0:26:23.280 hiding and go back to who I created you to be. 0:26:23.680 --> 0:26:26.440 Get your fire back, get your dream back. 0:26:26.800 --> 0:26:31.359 No more isolating, checking out, being there but not engaging. 0:26:32.280 --> 0:26:34.680 And yes, I know things can happen that aren't fair. 0:26:35.200 --> 0:26:38.480 You don't understand it, but God sees it. And that's 0:26:38.600 --> 0:26:39.119 not how. 0:26:39.000 --> 0:26:42.000 Your story ends. This is a new day now. I 0:26:42.119 --> 0:26:43.840 believe and declare. 0:26:43.760 --> 0:26:46.520 That part of you that you lost is coming back, 0:26:47.040 --> 0:26:51.560 the confident you, the joyful you, the passionate you, the 0:26:51.680 --> 0:26:54.360 valuable you, the successful you. 0:26:54.640 --> 0:26:59.360 The victorious you. In Jesus' name. And if you receive it, 0:26:59.480 --> 0:27:03.320 can you say, amen, I'd like to give. 0:27:03.160 --> 0:27:06.120 You an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:27:06.680 --> 0:27:07.639 Would you pray with me. 0:27:08.400 --> 0:27:12.600 Just say, Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins, Come 0:27:12.640 --> 0:27:13.800 into my heart. 0:27:14.000 --> 0:27:16.000 I make you my Lord and Savior. 0:27:16.680 --> 0:27:19.120 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:27:19.160 --> 0:27:19.840 born again. 0:27:20.440 --> 0:27:22.719 We'd love to send you some free information on your 0:27:22.760 --> 0:27:23.720 new walk with the Lord. 0:27:24.000 --> 0:27:26.000 You can text the number on the screen or go 0:27:26.080 --> 0:27:27.080 to the website. 0:27:27.280 --> 0:27:29.000 But I hope you'll get into a good. 0:27:28.800 --> 0:27:32.040 Bible based church and keep God first place. 0:27:33.359 --> 0:27:36.959 It starts with just a tiny seed. From it tender 0:27:37.040 --> 0:27:40.920 bud sprout. The miracle of new life blooms and thrives. 0:27:41.240 --> 0:27:44.800 But how do you experience the same miraculous and extraordinary 0:27:44.840 --> 0:27:46.560 growth in your own life? 0:27:46.600 --> 0:27:50.280 Sometimes our life is limited because we're believing too small. 0:27:50.880 --> 0:27:52.040 Faith is like a seed. 0:27:52.560 --> 0:27:55.920 When you believe all things are possible, that's when you'll 0:27:55.920 --> 0:27:58.439 see new growth, opportunity, and healing. 0:27:58.800 --> 0:28:01.159 We don't have to figure out how it's going to happen. 0:28:01.480 --> 0:28:03.160 All we have to do is believe. 0:28:03.520 --> 0:28:05.880 There may not be away in the natural, but our 0:28:05.920 --> 0:28:09.480 God is supernatural. We'd like to send you this time 0:28:09.560 --> 0:28:12.679 next year believe big journal. It will help you to 0:28:12.760 --> 0:28:16.119 enlarge your vision and stretch your faith. Where would you 0:28:16.280 --> 0:28:19.000 like to be a year from now. Who knows what 0:28:19.040 --> 0:28:21.520 God will do in twenty twenty four if you'll take 0:28:21.560 --> 0:28:24.040 the limits off of Him and believe for the great 0:28:24.080 --> 0:28:25.320 things He's placed. 0:28:25.040 --> 0:28:25.639 In your heart. 0:28:26.119 --> 0:28:28.639 As our thank you for your gift of any amount 0:28:28.680 --> 0:28:31.200 this month, we want to send you that this time 0:28:31.280 --> 0:28:35.040 next year Believe Big Journal along with our new Believe tea. 0:28:35.400 --> 0:28:38.520 As you begin to Believe Big, you'll see God move 0:28:38.600 --> 0:28:44.120 in powerful ways, the impossible made possible. Growth, provision, and 0:28:44.160 --> 0:28:47.680 new opportunities will burst forth above and beyond which you 0:28:47.720 --> 0:28:51.400 can ask or imagine. Also, for the first time ever, 0:28:51.800 --> 0:28:54.640 we want to present you with our new Believe t shirt, 0:28:55.000 --> 0:28:58.680 created exclusively by our friends at Copverfeit for the viewers 0:28:58.720 --> 0:29:02.560 and partners of Jolo. We invite you to wear and 0:29:02.600 --> 0:29:06.000 declare which you are believing God for in twenty twenty four. 0:29:06.360 --> 0:29:09.480 It's a gift from Copperfit as they extend their support 0:29:09.480 --> 0:29:10.880 of the message of Hope. 0:29:11.440 --> 0:29:13.360 Many of you have watched us a long time, but 0:29:13.400 --> 0:29:16.200 you've never been to Lakewood. We have a perfect time. 0:29:16.440 --> 0:29:20.080 We're calling it homecoming weekend April thirteenth and fourteenth. 0:29:20.240 --> 0:29:23.080 We'd love to meet you. I'll introduce you to my family. 0:29:23.360 --> 0:29:26.200 You can see the facility and enjoy a service. We'd 0:29:26.200 --> 0:29:28.560 be honored to have you. We'll make you feel right 0:29:28.600 --> 0:29:31.760 at home. Remember you can watch the services live online 0:29:31.800 --> 0:29:35.480 every Sunday, download our podcast watch on YouTube. 0:29:35.640 --> 0:29:37.840 We'll keep you inspired and encouraged. 0:29:38.200 --> 0:29:41.000 Be sure to request your copy of This Time next 0:29:41.080 --> 0:29:44.600 year Believe Big Journal and the Copperfit Believe T shirt 0:29:44.720 --> 0:29:48.720 as our gift of thanks Today, visit Joelostein dot com 0:29:48.840 --> 0:29:52.840 or call us tool free