How To Handle Troublemakers

0:00:00.920 --> 0:00:03.800 Hi, this is Joelan Victoria. Thanks so much for listening 0:00:03.880 --> 0:00:07.520 to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 0:00:07.560 --> 0:00:11.400 believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 0:00:11.560 --> 0:00:15.320 and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. 0:00:15.600 --> 0:00:18.079 God bless you. It's play to be with you today, 0:00:18.120 --> 0:00:20.560 and I hope you'll stay connected with us during the 0:00:20.600 --> 0:00:24.720 week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, 0:00:25.079 --> 0:00:27.480 and you can come visit us in person. We'd love 0:00:27.520 --> 0:00:29.680 to have you be a part of one of our services. 0:00:30.120 --> 0:00:32.760 I like to start with something funny. It's just a joke. 0:00:32.840 --> 0:00:35.800 Don't be offended. But I heard about this man. He 0:00:35.880 --> 0:00:38.360 was sitting in a dark restaurant and he said to 0:00:38.400 --> 0:00:40.360 the lady next to him, would you like to hear 0:00:40.400 --> 0:00:43.600 a blonde joke? The lady said, well, before you tell me, 0:00:43.880 --> 0:00:46.960 you should know that I'm blonde, six foot tall and 0:00:47.000 --> 0:00:50.800 a professional bodybuilder. The lady next to me is blonde, 0:00:50.960 --> 0:00:54.200 six foot two and a professional wrestler. The lady next 0:00:54.200 --> 0:00:57.520 to her is blonde, six foot five and the kickboxing 0:00:57.640 --> 0:00:59.720 champion of the world. Now do you still want to 0:00:59.760 --> 0:01:02.760 tell me? He thought about it a moment, said no, not 0:01:02.840 --> 0:01:06.959 if I might have to explain it three times. All right, 0:01:07.040 --> 0:01:09.640 y'all say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:01:10.000 --> 0:01:12.399 I am what it says I am. I have what 0:01:12.480 --> 0:01:14.959 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:01:14.959 --> 0:01:17.760 I can do. Today I will be taught the word 0:01:17.800 --> 0:01:21.959 of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 0:01:22.080 --> 0:01:26.520 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 0:01:26.959 --> 0:01:30.520 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:01:30.560 --> 0:01:34.840 about how to handle troublemakers. We all have people in 0:01:34.959 --> 0:01:37.840 life that can get on our nerves and do things 0:01:37.840 --> 0:01:42.360 to aggravate us, say things behind our back. Maybe a coworker, 0:01:42.640 --> 0:01:46.720 a neighbor, a relative, or perhaps you're sitting by them. 0:01:47.480 --> 0:01:50.440 They try to make us look bad and stir up division. 0:01:50.960 --> 0:01:54.120 It's like they're calling in life is to cause us trouble, 0:01:54.680 --> 0:01:57.480 and it's easy to get riled up. This is not right. 0:01:58.080 --> 0:02:00.880 I got to straighten them out to get the best 0:02:00.880 --> 0:02:04.880 of me. But most of the time it's simply a distraction. 0:02:05.720 --> 0:02:08.840 That's the enemy trying to bate you into conflict and 0:02:09.000 --> 0:02:13.160 get your off course. Spending valuable time and energy on 0:02:13.240 --> 0:02:17.840 something that doesn't matter. Changing their mind about you should 0:02:17.880 --> 0:02:20.680 not be your goal. Trying to get them to like 0:02:20.800 --> 0:02:24.120 you is not your job. Some people, no matter how 0:02:24.200 --> 0:02:26.760 nice you are, no matter how good you are to them, 0:02:27.040 --> 0:02:29.600 they're not going to be for you. But you don't 0:02:29.720 --> 0:02:32.800 need them to fulfill your destiny. You don't have to 0:02:32.880 --> 0:02:36.280 have their approval to become who you were created to be. 0:02:37.080 --> 0:02:39.840 Don't let that get on the inside. You have to 0:02:39.919 --> 0:02:44.600 keep your walls up. You can't stop people from being rude, offensive, 0:02:44.720 --> 0:02:47.680 stirring up trouble, but you don't have to allow it in. 0:02:48.639 --> 0:02:52.079 And the scripture says to guard your heart. There should 0:02:52.080 --> 0:02:55.320 be a secret place down in your spirit that you 0:02:55.320 --> 0:02:59.000 don't let a fence in. You don't let bitterness. What 0:02:59.240 --> 0:03:03.240 wasn't fair, how they treated you? Keep that out well, Joel. 0:03:03.400 --> 0:03:06.520 If they wouldn't say things that weren't true, they wouldn't 0:03:06.560 --> 0:03:10.040 be demeaning, if they wouldn't leave me out. You can't 0:03:10.080 --> 0:03:14.240 control people. You can't make them do what's right. Every 0:03:14.280 --> 0:03:17.680 time you let it upset you, you're giving them your power. 0:03:18.360 --> 0:03:21.720 It's like you're putting your thermostat in their hands. 0:03:22.000 --> 0:03:24.080 You're letting them set your temperatures. 0:03:24.400 --> 0:03:27.320 Let's make them cold, Let's make them hot, Let's make 0:03:27.360 --> 0:03:31.320 them uncomfortable. Do yourself a favor, get your thermostat back. 0:03:32.120 --> 0:03:35.600 Quit letting what they say ruin your day. Quite allowing 0:03:35.640 --> 0:03:40.880 people that have issues that are angry, bitter, insecure determine 0:03:40.960 --> 0:03:44.680 how you're going to live. You are responsible for your 0:03:44.720 --> 0:03:48.520 own happiness. If you're depending on what other people do 0:03:48.960 --> 0:03:51.280 to determine whether or not you're going to be happy, 0:03:51.880 --> 0:03:54.960 you're going to spend a lot of days unhappy. Why 0:03:54.960 --> 0:03:57.280 don't you make up your mind. I'm going to enjoy 0:03:57.360 --> 0:04:01.280 this day despite what comes against me. Now, Joel, this 0:04:01.320 --> 0:04:04.200 person at work, they get on my nerves. They're always 0:04:04.200 --> 0:04:06.480 trying to make me look bad. Here's what I'm saying. 0:04:06.880 --> 0:04:10.360 Get them off your nerves. They don't control you. You're 0:04:10.400 --> 0:04:14.520 giving them your joy. Genesis twenty six talks about how 0:04:14.640 --> 0:04:18.880 Isaac redug the wells that belonged to his father Abraham. 0:04:19.480 --> 0:04:21.919 He and his wife Rebecca had plenty of water and 0:04:21.960 --> 0:04:26.039 beautiful pastures. He signed a peace treaty with king of Bemelech. 0:04:26.640 --> 0:04:29.680 Everything was going great. Seemed like Isaac would be so 0:04:29.800 --> 0:04:33.200 happy and so fulfilled. But the last verse of this 0:04:33.320 --> 0:04:38.880 chapter says Esau's wives made life miserable for Isaac and 0:04:38.920 --> 0:04:44.960 Rebecca here, Isaac had all these great things happening, favor, abundance, peace. 0:04:45.560 --> 0:04:50.120 Then this one verse, there's no context, there are no details, 0:04:50.720 --> 0:04:53.760 doesn't tell us what these wives did, how they made 0:04:53.839 --> 0:04:58.720 their lives miserable. Why was this seemingly random fact included 0:04:58.720 --> 0:04:59.440 in the scripture? 0:05:00.320 --> 0:05:01.520 Wasn't a coincidence? 0:05:02.040 --> 0:05:05.160 God was showing us If we don't stay on guard, 0:05:05.720 --> 0:05:09.240 even though we're blessed, even though we have favor, we 0:05:09.279 --> 0:05:13.400 can let people steal our joy. Don't be surprised if 0:05:13.600 --> 0:05:18.800 Esau's wives show up in your life, relatives, neighbors, coworkers. 0:05:19.160 --> 0:05:21.800 They can get on your nerves, do things. 0:05:21.600 --> 0:05:26.160 To aggravate you. Isaac could have kept his thermostat he 0:05:26.160 --> 0:05:29.479 could have not given away his power, ignored it. But 0:05:29.520 --> 0:05:32.000 he didn't keep his walls up. He let it get 0:05:32.000 --> 0:05:34.919 on the inside. I don't want us to come to 0:05:34.960 --> 0:05:37.520 the end of life and it be said about us. 0:05:37.600 --> 0:05:41.920 We were blessed, we had favor, but someone made us miserable. 0:05:42.480 --> 0:05:46.479 We lived upset, bitter, angry. Would you all when my 0:05:46.560 --> 0:05:50.280 boss quits being disrespectful, when my neighbors stops saying things 0:05:50.279 --> 0:05:53.600 about me, when my cousin quits leaving me out, then 0:05:53.600 --> 0:05:58.599 I'll be happy again. The fact is they may not change, 0:05:58.720 --> 0:06:03.360 but you can change. Get your thermostat back, giving them 0:06:03.360 --> 0:06:07.520 your power. Life is too short to let your happiness 0:06:07.800 --> 0:06:09.720 depend on how someone else treats you. 0:06:10.480 --> 0:06:12.599 Don't put your happiness in their hands. 0:06:13.040 --> 0:06:16.159 You can't control what they do, but you can control 0:06:16.200 --> 0:06:19.800 what you do. Keep your walls up. You have a 0:06:19.880 --> 0:06:24.200 destiny to fulfill. There's an assignment for you to accomplish. 0:06:24.600 --> 0:06:28.520 You can't be your best if you're upset, offended, trying 0:06:28.560 --> 0:06:33.279 to pay people back. Let it go. God is your vindicator. 0:06:34.000 --> 0:06:38.680 When you ignore the negative comments, overlook the insults, have 0:06:38.760 --> 0:06:42.680 a good attitude. When people are trying to discredit you, you 0:06:42.360 --> 0:06:46.520 are passing the test. God will take care of those 0:06:46.560 --> 0:06:49.680 who oppose you. He may not stop them from doing it, 0:06:50.080 --> 0:06:53.840 but he won't let it stop you. David was seventeen 0:06:53.920 --> 0:06:57.880 years old when he heard Goliath taunting the people of Israeli. 0:06:58.279 --> 0:07:01.599 Something rose up in him. He went out with a slingshot, 0:07:01.960 --> 0:07:06.320 slung the rock, brought down the giant. Some troublemakers you 0:07:06.440 --> 0:07:09.320 need to confront. God will give you the grace to 0:07:09.360 --> 0:07:12.560 defeat them, but most of them are not going to 0:07:12.640 --> 0:07:17.520 go away that quickly. David defeated Goliath in a few minutes, 0:07:18.000 --> 0:07:21.880 but his real enemy was King Saul. He didn't go away. 0:07:22.440 --> 0:07:26.160 He kept pestering David for much of his life. David 0:07:26.200 --> 0:07:29.120 went to the palace to serve King Saul. He was 0:07:29.160 --> 0:07:32.559 his armor bearer. He would play the harp when Saul 0:07:32.680 --> 0:07:36.120 was depressed and it would help bring healing. But when 0:07:36.160 --> 0:07:40.400 Saul heard people singing about how he had killed thousands 0:07:41.000 --> 0:07:44.760 but David had killed tens of thousands, Saul became jealous. 0:07:45.640 --> 0:07:50.240 He couldn't handle being more prominent and more revered. And 0:07:50.320 --> 0:07:52.600 some people are fine as long as you stay at 0:07:52.600 --> 0:07:55.640 their level. But when God starts to promote you and 0:07:56.240 --> 0:08:00.320 give you more honor influence, don't be surprised if they 0:08:00.360 --> 0:08:03.920 can't handle it, they get jealous, start finding it for 0:08:03.960 --> 0:08:07.760 all being critical. If you let that in, it will 0:08:07.800 --> 0:08:12.080 poison your spirit. You'll become critical of the people that 0:08:12.160 --> 0:08:15.640 are critical of you, and it'll keep you from rising higher. 0:08:16.600 --> 0:08:20.000 You have to be mature enough to walk away. Don't 0:08:20.000 --> 0:08:24.320 get drawn into that battle. It's a distraction. And one day, 0:08:24.400 --> 0:08:27.679 while David was playing the harp, Saul threw a spear 0:08:28.080 --> 0:08:31.680 and tried to kill David. David ducked, and it barely 0:08:31.760 --> 0:08:36.080 missed him. Earlier, when David heard the insults, he ran 0:08:36.120 --> 0:08:40.360 toward Goliath. He thought, I'm gonna fight this troublemaker. But 0:08:40.520 --> 0:08:44.640 this time, when he was disrespected, he ducked. He didn't 0:08:44.679 --> 0:08:48.760 confront Saul like he did Goliath. He knew Saul was 0:08:48.800 --> 0:08:52.320 anointed by God and he wasn't going to touch God's anointed. 0:08:53.400 --> 0:08:55.920 The principle is you have to know when to fight 0:08:56.360 --> 0:08:59.960 and when to walk away. You're not supposed to confront 0:09:00.080 --> 0:09:05.720 every troublemaker. They may be throwing spears, disrespectful, trying to 0:09:05.720 --> 0:09:08.760 make you look bad. Most of the time you need 0:09:08.800 --> 0:09:12.960 to duck, ignore it, and move on. David had to 0:09:13.000 --> 0:09:15.679 flee for his life, and he spent years on the 0:09:15.760 --> 0:09:20.280 run in the desert with King Saul chasing him. Wasn't fair. 0:09:20.960 --> 0:09:23.880 He hadn't done anything wrong. He could have been bitter 0:09:24.040 --> 0:09:27.600 and angry and I'm gonna get revenge. I'm gonna pay 0:09:27.679 --> 0:09:30.800 him back, But David kept his walls up. 0:09:31.640 --> 0:09:34.240 At one point he had the opportunity to kill Song. 0:09:34.760 --> 0:09:36.880 He could have put an end to this problem, but 0:09:36.920 --> 0:09:41.040 he wouldn't do it. He kept passing the test. How 0:09:41.080 --> 0:09:45.120 you handle people that do you wrong will determine how 0:09:45.200 --> 0:09:49.000 high you can go. If you get upset and offended, 0:09:49.320 --> 0:09:52.920 try to pay everyone back, it's going to limit your growth. 0:09:53.640 --> 0:09:56.920 But when you do like David, even when it's unfair, 0:09:57.200 --> 0:09:59.800 you stay on the high road. You keep that f 0:10:00.240 --> 0:10:03.640 out of your spirit. You duck when you could easily fight, 0:10:04.160 --> 0:10:07.920 you are passing the task. See before David could take 0:10:07.960 --> 0:10:11.400 the throne, he didn't just have to defeat Goliath, not 0:10:11.559 --> 0:10:14.880 just confront a trouble maker. He had to walk away 0:10:14.920 --> 0:10:19.560 from a troublemaker. He had to ignore the disrespect and 0:10:19.600 --> 0:10:23.880 to reach your destiny. There will be Sauls, people that offend, 0:10:24.480 --> 0:10:28.360 people that are rude, don't give you credit. Like David, 0:10:28.400 --> 0:10:31.720 you're doing the right thing, but they find fault. That's 0:10:31.760 --> 0:10:36.000 not Goliath, that's Saul. Ignore it, don't let it get 0:10:36.120 --> 0:10:40.559 in your spirit. One Peter Too says, follow the example 0:10:40.640 --> 0:10:44.920 of Christ. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, 0:10:45.559 --> 0:10:48.360 He did not threaten to get even when he was 0:10:48.440 --> 0:10:49.040 done wrong. 0:10:49.679 --> 0:10:52.240 He left his case in the hens of God. 0:10:53.280 --> 0:10:56.120 How much more peace would we have if we'd start 0:10:56.200 --> 0:10:59.520 leaving our cases in the hens of God? How much 0:10:59.559 --> 0:11:03.559 more we enjoy our life if we didn't retaliate when 0:11:03.600 --> 0:11:07.559 we're insulted. We didn't live trying to get even. We 0:11:07.559 --> 0:11:10.920 weren't frustrated over people at work that are stirring up trouble. 0:11:11.559 --> 0:11:15.600 Instead of fighting, we ducked. We walked away knowing that 0:11:15.640 --> 0:11:17.400 God is fighting for us. 0:11:18.120 --> 0:11:20.600 Are there some things you need to leave in the 0:11:20.640 --> 0:11:21.400 hands of God? 0:11:22.280 --> 0:11:26.640 People that did you wrong? What somebody said, that spear 0:11:26.679 --> 0:11:30.080 they threw that almost took you out, That coworker that 0:11:30.240 --> 0:11:34.839 cost you a promotion. Now you're stressed, blood pressure's high, 0:11:35.040 --> 0:11:38.560 can't sleep well. You're trying to solve the case, fix 0:11:38.640 --> 0:11:41.560 the case, prove the case. This can save you a 0:11:41.559 --> 0:11:44.640 lot of heartache. You can leave that case in the 0:11:44.679 --> 0:11:49.320 hands of God. He'll make the wrongs right. He sees 0:11:49.400 --> 0:11:54.400 the spears they've thrown. He's heard the negative comments, the betrayals, 0:11:54.640 --> 0:11:58.040 the jealousy. None of that can keep you from your 0:11:58.120 --> 0:12:02.120 destiny unless you let the offense get in you and 0:12:02.200 --> 0:12:06.320 poison your spirit. You get distracted in battles you're not 0:12:06.360 --> 0:12:10.600 supposed to fight. You don't have to retaliate. God will 0:12:10.720 --> 0:12:15.240 vindicate you better than you can vindicate yourself. This takes 0:12:15.280 --> 0:12:17.680 all the pressure off. It's very freeing. 0:12:17.679 --> 0:12:20.520 When you understand you don't have to change people. 0:12:21.080 --> 0:12:23.280 You don't have to convince them to be for you, 0:12:23.679 --> 0:12:26.920 make them like you. Just keep taking the high road, 0:12:27.320 --> 0:12:30.439 honoring God, and he'll get you to where you're supposed 0:12:30.480 --> 0:12:35.760 to be. First Samuel eighteen says Saul remained David's enemy 0:12:36.160 --> 0:12:39.960 for the rest of his life. It's interesting that God 0:12:40.000 --> 0:12:44.400 didn't change Saul. Saul didn't suddenly decide that he liked 0:12:44.480 --> 0:12:47.640 David and he's gonna quit trying to harm him. I 0:12:47.640 --> 0:12:50.720 don't mean to depress us, but some of those troublemakers 0:12:50.840 --> 0:12:54.840 may not change. Some of the people that don't like you, 0:12:54.880 --> 0:12:58.640 say things that aren't true, that won't respect you. They 0:12:58.679 --> 0:13:02.960 may be that way their whole life. The question is, 0:13:02.960 --> 0:13:06.480 is your happiness dependent on whether Saul quits bothering you, 0:13:07.240 --> 0:13:11.280 on whether that relative quits demeaning you. You're putting your 0:13:11.400 --> 0:13:15.319 power in their hands. I'm asking you to take your 0:13:15.360 --> 0:13:20.439 power back. Quit giving them your thermostaf God didn't promise 0:13:20.520 --> 0:13:23.880 he's going to change them, but he did promise they 0:13:23.920 --> 0:13:27.520 cannot keep you from your destiny. What God Is purpose 0:13:27.600 --> 0:13:31.640 for your life is not dependent on whether they approve you, 0:13:32.200 --> 0:13:36.720 accepts you, validate you quit worrying about what they think. 0:13:37.440 --> 0:13:41.720 Quit spending time and energy trying to defend yourself. Those 0:13:41.720 --> 0:13:42.839 are distractions. 0:13:43.480 --> 0:13:44.760 You're never going to get rid of. 0:13:44.760 --> 0:13:48.760 All the negative chatter and relatives saying this a coworker 0:13:48.800 --> 0:13:52.679 stirring things up. You don't have time for all that pettiness. 0:13:52.960 --> 0:13:56.280 God has put greatness in you. He has destined you 0:13:56.360 --> 0:13:59.360 to leave your mark, to set a new standard for 0:13:59.440 --> 0:14:02.920 your family. If you'll leave it in his hands, he 0:14:03.000 --> 0:14:05.760 will take care of those who are trying to stop you. 0:14:06.720 --> 0:14:10.000 David kept doing the right thing year after year. One 0:14:10.080 --> 0:14:13.240 day Saul was killed in a battle and David was 0:14:13.280 --> 0:14:17.480 made king. It happened suddenly. David didn't see it coming. 0:14:18.080 --> 0:14:20.480 Looked like he'd be on the run for many more years. 0:14:20.760 --> 0:14:22.760 Then word came, Saul's. 0:14:22.400 --> 0:14:25.120 Gone, and now you're on the throne. 0:14:25.440 --> 0:14:29.320 God has some of these sudden turnarounds for you. You've 0:14:29.360 --> 0:14:33.000 taken the high road, You've walked away from the disrespect. 0:14:33.560 --> 0:14:35.920 You've been good to people that weren't good to you. 0:14:36.640 --> 0:14:40.160 God saw you doing the right thing. There's about to 0:14:40.200 --> 0:14:45.239 be a shift where suddenly you're promoted, Suddenly you're vindicated. 0:14:45.680 --> 0:14:48.640 Suddenly that person that costs you all the heartache is 0:14:48.680 --> 0:14:52.400 no longer there. Saul is gone, and you take the throne, 0:14:52.440 --> 0:14:56.360 so to speak. You see favor and blessing that catapults 0:14:56.360 --> 0:14:59.640 you ahead. A man I know worked at this company 0:14:59.680 --> 0:15:03.600 for men years and he was very faithful, always doing 0:15:03.720 --> 0:15:07.480 more than what was required. But his supervisor was never 0:15:07.560 --> 0:15:10.920 for him. He was intimidated by him, and even in 0:15:11.040 --> 0:15:14.720 meetings he would make demeaning remarks about this man. He 0:15:14.840 --> 0:15:17.920 was passed over for several promotions that should have been his, 0:15:18.800 --> 0:15:22.280 but he never complained, didn't talk about the supervisor. 0:15:22.640 --> 0:15:24.840 He left his case in the hands of God. 0:15:25.680 --> 0:15:29.560 He knew this was a Saul. You can't pray away Saul. 0:15:30.360 --> 0:15:33.520 You'll defeat a few giants quickly, but most of the 0:15:33.560 --> 0:15:36.760 people that stir things up are saws. They don't go 0:15:36.840 --> 0:15:40.280 away overnight. These are tests that we have to pass. 0:15:41.040 --> 0:15:43.480 One day, the owner of the company flew in from 0:15:43.520 --> 0:15:46.960 another state where he lived and the supervisor was out 0:15:46.960 --> 0:15:50.000 of town. This man worked with the owner for the 0:15:50.040 --> 0:15:53.240 week and gave him the reports that he needed. The 0:15:53.240 --> 0:15:57.040 owner was so impressed. A few months later he decided 0:15:57.040 --> 0:16:00.720 to restructure his staff. He called this man and the 0:16:00.760 --> 0:16:04.320 supervisor in. He said to the man, I'm making you 0:16:04.680 --> 0:16:08.480 my vice president. From now on, you'll run the company 0:16:08.880 --> 0:16:12.400 and report directly to me, he said to the supervisor. 0:16:12.600 --> 0:16:16.880 From now on, you'll report to him. God knows how 0:16:16.880 --> 0:16:20.560 to vindicate you. He knows how to make up for 0:16:20.680 --> 0:16:23.800 what you've been through. When you're dealing with a soul, 0:16:24.560 --> 0:16:29.280 there's disrespect, people demeaning you, stirring up trouble. Thoughts will 0:16:29.280 --> 0:16:32.760 whisper it's never gonna change. You. Better get even. This 0:16:32.840 --> 0:16:33.440 is not fair. 0:16:34.120 --> 0:16:36.440 No, leave that case in the hands of God. 0:16:37.240 --> 0:16:40.720 You don't have to retaliate. God will make the wrongs right. 0:16:41.160 --> 0:16:44.200 Promotion doesn't come from people. He comes from the Lord. 0:16:44.680 --> 0:16:48.000 He lifts up one and sets down another. Let me 0:16:48.000 --> 0:16:51.080 tell you, when it's your time, no person can stop 0:16:51.120 --> 0:16:54.120 what God has for you. He will lift you up. 0:16:54.600 --> 0:16:57.400 He will promote you, cause you to go where you 0:16:57.440 --> 0:17:01.920 could have never gone. Second Samuel, David was doing great, 0:17:02.120 --> 0:17:06.360 seeing God's favor. But verse one says a trouble maker 0:17:06.640 --> 0:17:10.840 named Sheba showed up, blew a loud trumpet, and shouted, 0:17:11.359 --> 0:17:14.320 we have nothing to do with David. We want no 0:17:14.400 --> 0:17:17.160 part of him. Come on, men of Israel, let's all 0:17:17.200 --> 0:17:21.440 go home. All the Israeli men left and went with Sheba. 0:17:21.960 --> 0:17:25.760 The men of Judah stayed with David. When you start 0:17:25.800 --> 0:17:29.400 to make progress, don't be surprised if Sheba shows up. 0:17:30.119 --> 0:17:33.199 There's always a trouble maker trying to stir things up. 0:17:33.840 --> 0:17:36.320 When David heard about it, he told his men to 0:17:36.359 --> 0:17:39.439 go find Sheba. They came to a city where he 0:17:39.600 --> 0:17:43.200 was hiding behind the walls. An older woman came out 0:17:43.240 --> 0:17:46.760 and asked David's men what they were doing there. They said, 0:17:46.760 --> 0:17:49.800 we're looking for a man named Sheba. The woman said 0:17:49.840 --> 0:17:53.040 stay right here. She came back a little later and 0:17:53.119 --> 0:17:57.320 gave them the head of Sheba. David didn't have to fight, 0:17:58.119 --> 0:18:00.520 He didn't have to prove to Sheba who he was. 0:18:00.960 --> 0:18:05.760 God took care of the troublemakers with Saul with Sheba. 0:18:06.600 --> 0:18:11.080 Even with his own family. Absalom, David's son rose up 0:18:11.200 --> 0:18:11.919 and tried. 0:18:11.680 --> 0:18:13.840 To take the throne, but he was defeated. 0:18:14.680 --> 0:18:17.200 When David brought the Ark of the Covenant back home, 0:18:17.600 --> 0:18:20.480 he was so excited that he danced with all of 0:18:20.520 --> 0:18:25.400 his might. His wife, Michelle. She was offended. She said 0:18:25.440 --> 0:18:27.960 to him in disgust, look at what a fool you've 0:18:27.960 --> 0:18:31.119 made of yourself, dancing in front of all the people 0:18:31.280 --> 0:18:35.600 with your legs showing you embarrassed yourself. David could have 0:18:35.640 --> 0:18:40.320 been angry, offended, but he kept his walls up. He said, Michelle, 0:18:40.480 --> 0:18:44.080 I wasn't dancing under you. I was dancing under God 0:18:44.520 --> 0:18:47.040 to show my gratitude for what He's done. 0:18:48.160 --> 0:18:51.439 Here's what I'm saying. Some of your family may not 0:18:51.600 --> 0:18:52.280 understand you. 0:18:53.240 --> 0:18:57.080 They may not ever acknowledge your accomplishments or approve what 0:18:57.119 --> 0:19:01.080 you feel called to do. Like Michelle, they make these 0:19:01.119 --> 0:19:05.480 comments that are hurtful offensive. Leave that in the hands 0:19:05.480 --> 0:19:08.359 of God. Don't let it get into your spirit and 0:19:08.720 --> 0:19:12.280 cause you to live bitter and angry and critical. I'm 0:19:12.320 --> 0:19:16.320 sure David thought, I can understand Saulop treating me right. 0:19:16.960 --> 0:19:20.840 I can understand Sheba causing me trouble, But my own 0:19:20.960 --> 0:19:24.199 son turned against me. My wife said, I look like 0:19:24.240 --> 0:19:28.800 a fool. When it's from the inside, from those we love, 0:19:29.160 --> 0:19:32.320 it can be more difficult. It's easy to get at 0:19:32.320 --> 0:19:36.480 odds with family members. They may find fault look down 0:19:36.560 --> 0:19:39.959 on you. But be the bigger person and rise above it. 0:19:40.840 --> 0:19:44.040 Don't get drawn into battles that you're not supposed to fight. 0:19:44.840 --> 0:19:48.800 You never go wrong by taking the high road. God 0:19:48.920 --> 0:19:55.040 sees you overlooking forgiving, being merciful, gracious even when people 0:19:55.080 --> 0:19:59.440 don't deserve it. The scripture says avoiding a fight is 0:19:59.480 --> 0:20:03.679 a mark honor. We think winning a fight. Let me 0:20:03.720 --> 0:20:07.439 straighten them out they're being disrespectful. Two can play at 0:20:07.440 --> 0:20:12.560 this game, no pass that test. How you handle troublemakers 0:20:12.720 --> 0:20:16.680 will determine how high you can go. You can't pray 0:20:16.760 --> 0:20:19.800 them all away. They're going to show up a long 0:20:19.840 --> 0:20:23.320 life's journey when you learn to keep your walls up 0:20:23.400 --> 0:20:26.919 and not give your thermostat to others. They may not 0:20:27.040 --> 0:20:29.840 ever be for you, but they won't keep you from 0:20:29.880 --> 0:20:34.200 your destiny. God will take care of the Sauls, the Shibas, 0:20:34.280 --> 0:20:37.520 the Mashalls, and get you to where you're supposed to be. 0:20:38.800 --> 0:20:41.960 When I was dating Victoria, I was driving home from 0:20:42.040 --> 0:20:45.160 her apartment one Saturday night and it was just past 0:20:45.240 --> 0:20:48.159 midnight and there was hardly anyone on the road. And 0:20:48.480 --> 0:20:51.399 I was on this boulevard. There were two lanes on 0:20:51.440 --> 0:20:54.640 our side, and I was in the right hand lane, 0:20:54.840 --> 0:20:57.720 driving about thirty miles an hour. There was a car 0:20:57.840 --> 0:20:59.680 stop at the light in front of me in the 0:21:00.119 --> 0:21:03.200 flame and as I got close, the light changed and 0:21:03.640 --> 0:21:06.760 I kept going through the intersection, but the man in 0:21:06.800 --> 0:21:11.159 the left lane decided to turn right from the wrong lane. 0:21:11.320 --> 0:21:14.040 When he turned, I was there and boom, we crashed 0:21:14.040 --> 0:21:17.080 into each other. My heart was beating so fast. 0:21:17.200 --> 0:21:18.440 I'd never had an accident. 0:21:19.119 --> 0:21:21.440 Got out of my car to look at the damage, 0:21:21.440 --> 0:21:25.080 and he was across the intersection. He got out, and 0:21:25.280 --> 0:21:28.320 he's about sixty years old. He was as red as 0:21:28.359 --> 0:21:31.879 could be, so angry. He looked like he was about 0:21:31.880 --> 0:21:37.879 to explode. He started running toward me, screaming, cursing, calling 0:21:37.960 --> 0:21:41.439 me names. My first thought was, you want some of this, 0:21:41.720 --> 0:21:45.680 And when he got closer, I saw how big he 0:21:45.760 --> 0:21:49.600 was and I changed my mind. But he screamed how 0:21:50.119 --> 0:21:52.440 I was at fault, and how I needed to learn 0:21:52.440 --> 0:21:54.479 how to drive, and how it's going to have to 0:21:54.480 --> 0:22:00.960 pay for all of this. He was spewing all this poison, disrespect, angry, belittling. 0:22:01.760 --> 0:22:04.840 The truth. Is it no more bothered me? I thought, 0:22:04.840 --> 0:22:07.119 this is not about me. You don't even know me. 0:22:07.600 --> 0:22:10.399 You're just mad at yourself because you turned from the 0:22:10.440 --> 0:22:14.520 wrong lane. I didn't give him my thermostats. I wasn't 0:22:14.520 --> 0:22:17.200 going to let him control my temperature. He is about 0:22:17.240 --> 0:22:20.639 to blow a gasket. A couple of weeks later, my 0:22:20.760 --> 0:22:23.399 insurance agent called and said they had just spoken to 0:22:23.440 --> 0:22:26.439 the man, and the agent asked me, was he rude 0:22:26.440 --> 0:22:30.160 to you that night? Angry and demeaning and screaming, And 0:22:30.280 --> 0:22:33.439 I said he was. He said, that's exactly how he 0:22:33.520 --> 0:22:37.520 talked to us. Some people are full of turmoil on 0:22:37.600 --> 0:22:42.639 the inside. They have a fence, bitterness, unresolved issues, all 0:22:42.720 --> 0:22:45.920 built up, and at any time, if you don't keep 0:22:45.920 --> 0:22:48.800 your walls up, they'll try to pour their trash on 0:22:48.920 --> 0:22:53.120 you. You can't stop the trouble from coming, but you can 0:22:53.240 --> 0:22:57.800 stop it from getting into your spirit. Jesus said, Blessed 0:22:57.920 --> 0:23:01.680 are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Meat 0:23:01.720 --> 0:23:05.320 doesn't mean you're weak. You let people walk all over you. 0:23:05.320 --> 0:23:10.439 You're always a doormat. Meekness is strength under control. You 0:23:10.520 --> 0:23:13.560 have the power, you have the fortitude, but you know 0:23:13.600 --> 0:23:18.040 when to use it. You don't waste it getting upset, offended, 0:23:18.280 --> 0:23:21.639 trying to pay people back. I knew nothing I said 0:23:21.680 --> 0:23:24.639 that night was going to change his mind. I just 0:23:24.760 --> 0:23:28.280 kept my cool, overlooked it, knowing that it was going 0:23:28.320 --> 0:23:32.000 to turn out in my favor. Usually the loudest person 0:23:32.240 --> 0:23:36.000 is the most insecure person. The hot temper, the easily 0:23:36.080 --> 0:23:41.320 upset is a sign of immaturity. The meat controlled their emotions. 0:23:41.640 --> 0:23:44.160 The meat don't try to prove and argue. 0:23:43.840 --> 0:23:47.360 And I'll show you they keep their strength under control. 0:23:48.560 --> 0:23:51.879 The apostle Paul had all kinds of people come against him. 0:23:52.280 --> 0:23:55.240 The scholars he grew up with looked down on him 0:23:55.560 --> 0:23:59.479 because he became a follower of Jesus. The disciples wouldn't 0:23:59.480 --> 0:24:03.160 accept him. First, he had persecuted the church so greatly 0:24:03.520 --> 0:24:06.000 they didn't know if he had really changed. He had 0:24:06.000 --> 0:24:11.400 to deal with criticism, judgment, being misunderstood. He finally got 0:24:11.440 --> 0:24:14.159 so fed up with it he said in Galatian six, 0:24:14.680 --> 0:24:19.600 from henceforth, I will let no man trouble me. He 0:24:19.640 --> 0:24:22.280 came to a point where he said, I've made up 0:24:22.280 --> 0:24:25.800 my mind from now on, I'm not gonna let people 0:24:25.840 --> 0:24:29.280 get on my nerves. Not gonna worry about them not 0:24:29.440 --> 0:24:33.040 accepting me, not gonna lose sleep over who's trying to 0:24:33.040 --> 0:24:36.639 discredit me, not gonna be bitter over who doesn't like me. 0:24:37.480 --> 0:24:39.840 He went on to say, for I bear on my 0:24:39.960 --> 0:24:44.440 body the marks of Jesus Christ. He was saying, I've 0:24:44.480 --> 0:24:47.440 been through too much to let any person trouble me. 0:24:48.160 --> 0:24:53.320 I've been through shipwrecks, beatings, been falsely accused, been ridiculed, 0:24:53.560 --> 0:24:57.040 but by the grace of God, I'm still here. But 0:24:57.160 --> 0:25:01.480 every one of us needs to have a moment or 0:25:01.480 --> 0:25:05.240 we make this decision like Paul, that no person is 0:25:05.280 --> 0:25:09.600 gonna trouble me anymore. Not gonna let these coworkers get 0:25:09.600 --> 0:25:12.680 on my nerves. Another day. They may leave me out, 0:25:13.000 --> 0:25:15.919 but I'm gonna stay in peace, not gonna let that 0:25:16.080 --> 0:25:21.000 family member that's disrespectful upset me anymore. I'm gonna enjoy 0:25:21.080 --> 0:25:24.760 my life despite what they say. Not gonna let this 0:25:24.880 --> 0:25:28.159 neighbor keep me stirred up another day. I'm taking my 0:25:28.240 --> 0:25:33.400 thermostat back. When you have this henceforth moment, you don't 0:25:33.520 --> 0:25:37.280 live to win people over. Hope they approve you, change 0:25:37.280 --> 0:25:40.480 their mind to like you. All that pressure is off. 0:25:41.160 --> 0:25:44.760 You're free to enjoy your life, to pursue your dreams, 0:25:45.080 --> 0:25:48.840 to become who God's created you to be. But too 0:25:48.880 --> 0:25:52.960 many of us are letting the salts, the shebas, the 0:25:53.000 --> 0:25:58.760 angry drivers keep us frustrated upset. When are they gonna change? No, 0:25:58.920 --> 0:26:02.639 here's the whole key. We have to change. We have 0:26:02.720 --> 0:26:06.439 to have that henceforth moment where we say I'm not 0:26:06.520 --> 0:26:11.520 gonna be offended, upset, engaged in conflict, that doesn't matter. 0:26:11.880 --> 0:26:15.240 I'm gonna stay in peace, run my race, and let 0:26:15.280 --> 0:26:19.560 God fight my battles. Friends, today can be a turning point. 0:26:20.440 --> 0:26:23.400 Don't go the next twenty years letting the same people 0:26:23.520 --> 0:26:27.679 upset you start leaving those cases in the hands of God. 0:26:28.000 --> 0:26:31.199 Keep your walls up, don't let it get on the inside. 0:26:32.000 --> 0:26:34.280 And I know many of you have been doing this. 0:26:35.080 --> 0:26:39.760 God sees you overlooking the insults, ignoring the disrespect, and 0:26:39.800 --> 0:26:40.560 being good. 0:26:40.359 --> 0:26:43.160 To people that are not being good to you. 0:26:43.160 --> 0:26:47.159 Your time is coming now, I believe in Declaire, like 0:26:47.240 --> 0:26:51.480 with David, God's about to vindicate you. Things are going 0:26:51.520 --> 0:26:55.160 to turn around suddenly. You didn't see any sign of it, 0:26:55.359 --> 0:26:59.760 but the wrong people move out opposition, leaving new doors 0:26:59.800 --> 0:27:06.760 over promotion, restoration, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus's name, 0:27:07.240 --> 0:27:11.360 and if you receive it, can you say amen? I'd 0:27:11.400 --> 0:27:13.959 like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the 0:27:13.960 --> 0:27:16.280 lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:27:17.040 --> 0:27:20.280 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. 0:27:20.880 --> 0:27:24.520 Come into my heart. I make you, my Lord and Savior. 0:27:25.400 --> 0:27:27.840 If you've prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:27:27.880 --> 0:27:30.920 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:27:31.080 --> 0:27:33.240 on your new walk with the Lord. You can text 0:27:33.240 --> 0:27:35.800 the number on the screen or go to the website. 0:27:36.040 --> 0:27:38.320 But I hope you'll get into a good Bible based 0:27:38.400 --> 0:27:40.679 church and keep God first place. 0:27:41.880 --> 0:27:44.720 Sometimes the stresses of life can feel like you're just 0:27:44.800 --> 0:27:49.119 getting by. God wants to bless us, but how do 0:27:49.200 --> 0:27:52.440 you move from barely enough to just enough to more 0:27:52.520 --> 0:27:53.040 than enough. 0:27:54.680 --> 0:27:57.320 We all face difficulties and people that are hard to 0:27:57.359 --> 0:28:00.639 deal with. You can't eliminate all the stress, but if 0:28:00.680 --> 0:28:03.040 you'll handle it the right way, you don't have to 0:28:03.080 --> 0:28:06.760 live stressed out. Much of our frustration is we're trying 0:28:06.800 --> 0:28:10.199 to control things that we can't control, letting things stress 0:28:10.320 --> 0:28:12.760 us that don't have to. I'd love to send you 0:28:12.760 --> 0:28:15.800 by new book fifty five Ways to be Blessed and 0:28:15.920 --> 0:28:19.080 not Stressed. I'll show you practical things you can do 0:28:19.359 --> 0:28:21.920 to live more peaceful and enjoy each day. 0:28:22.400 --> 0:28:25.879 You can move from stressed to blessed and fully realize 0:28:25.920 --> 0:28:29.760 God's goodness, favor, and blessings. As our way of saying 0:28:29.840 --> 0:28:32.680 thank you for your gift of any amount to the ministry. 0:28:32.720 --> 0:28:35.480 This month, Joel and Victoria would like to send you 0:28:35.600 --> 0:28:39.960 this powerful life transforming resource, fifty five Ways to be 0:28:40.040 --> 0:28:44.040 blessed and not stressed. With this book, you'll not just 0:28:44.120 --> 0:28:48.680 see one pathway forward, but fifty five powerful life changing 0:28:48.720 --> 0:28:51.640 ways to kill the stress and give life to a 0:28:51.680 --> 0:28:55.719 life of blessing. These fifty five promises will open God's 0:28:55.720 --> 0:28:59.440 floodgates and release double the impact of his divine direction 0:28:59.720 --> 0:29:04.520 upper tunity, un blessing. Every day now expect, declare, and 0:29:04.640 --> 0:29:08.360 receive a blessed not stressed, over the top outpouring in 0:29:08.400 --> 0:29:09.120 your life. 0:29:09.880 --> 0:29:13.560 How much time are you spending worry, upset, and frustrated. 0:29:13.840 --> 0:29:16.760 Life is too short to live stressed. If you'll make 0:29:16.800 --> 0:29:20.520 some simple adjustments, you can live blessed and not stressed. 0:29:21.040 --> 0:29:23.160 Deetory and I want you to know we're praying for 0:29:23.200 --> 0:29:26.400 you that you'll experience peace and joy and see your 0:29:26.480 --> 0:29:29.400 dreams come to pass. Thank you so much for your 0:29:29.440 --> 0:29:33.920 prayers and support. Your generosity is impacting lives all over 0:29:33.960 --> 0:29:38.440 the world. Remember you can watch the services online Sunday mornings, 0:29:38.840 --> 0:29:43.800 download our daily podcast, listen on Serious XM YouTube social media. 0:29:44.280 --> 0:29:46.880 But until we meet again, let the Lord bless you 0:29:47.040 --> 0:29:47.760 and keep you. 0:29:48.440 --> 0:29:51.360 Be sure to request your copy of fifty five Ways 0:29:51.400 --> 0:29:55.360 to be Blessed and not stressed Today. Visit Joeloustein dot 0:29:55.400 --> 0:29:58.880 com or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel