Invisible but Invaluable

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See terms and conditions at UNEs 0:01:29.760 --> 0:01:30.080 dot co. 0:01:31.080 --> 0:01:34.840 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. 0:01:35.080 --> 0:01:37.880 We enjoy spending this time with you. I hope you'll 0:01:37.959 --> 0:01:41.319 leave Inspire. Make sure you subscribe to get new messages 0:01:41.360 --> 0:01:44.360 every week. We appreciate your support. It helps keep the 0:01:44.440 --> 0:01:45.240 ministry going. 0:01:45.640 --> 0:01:57.840 Enjoy the message. 0:02:00.000 --> 0:02:02.480 Go God bless you. It's always a joy to come 0:02:02.520 --> 0:02:04.919 into your homes. And if you're ever in our area, 0:02:05.160 --> 0:02:07.160 please stop by and be a part of one of 0:02:07.200 --> 0:02:10.160 our services. I promise you we'll make you feel right 0:02:10.200 --> 0:02:12.600 at home. But thanks so much for tuning in, and 0:02:12.800 --> 0:02:15.400 thank you again for coming out. I like to start 0:02:15.440 --> 0:02:18.400 with something funny, and I heard about this pastor and 0:02:18.560 --> 0:02:21.760 song leader that weren't getting along, and it started to 0:02:21.800 --> 0:02:25.440 spill over into the services. One Sunday, the pastor talked 0:02:25.480 --> 0:02:28.920 about being a giver. Afterwards, the song leader got up 0:02:28.960 --> 0:02:31.200 and led the song Jesus paid it all. 0:02:32.040 --> 0:02:34.560 The next week he talked about not gossiping. 0:02:34.720 --> 0:02:37.040 The song leader got up and led, I love to 0:02:37.080 --> 0:02:38.280 tell the story. 0:02:38.720 --> 0:02:40.400 Another week he talked about. 0:02:40.080 --> 0:02:42.919 Being willing to change, and songleader got up and led, 0:02:43.040 --> 0:02:47.400 I shall not be moved. Pastor was so frustrated he resigned. 0:02:47.760 --> 0:02:51.280 Told the congregation Jesus brought me here, and Jesus is 0:02:51.360 --> 0:02:52.120 taking me away. 0:02:52.600 --> 0:02:54.919 The song leader then led, what a friend we have 0:02:55.040 --> 0:02:59.160 in Jesus. Hold up your Bible. Say it like you 0:02:59.280 --> 0:02:59.560 mean it. 0:03:00.120 --> 0:03:02.720 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:03:03.200 --> 0:03:05.400 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:03:05.480 --> 0:03:07.880 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:03:07.960 --> 0:03:11.520 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:03:11.600 --> 0:03:14.640 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:03:14.720 --> 0:03:19.720 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:03:19.720 --> 0:03:25.000 to talk to you today about invisible but invaluable. A 0:03:25.000 --> 0:03:28.120 friend of mine is the equipment manager for a professional 0:03:28.240 --> 0:03:31.880 basketball team. He's in charge of getting all the uniforms, 0:03:32.200 --> 0:03:35.840 the balls, the training materials to the stadium before the 0:03:35.880 --> 0:03:39.600 team arrives. Many times they'll land in the middle of 0:03:39.640 --> 0:03:42.520 the night, two o'clock in the morning, he'll go straight 0:03:42.560 --> 0:03:46.080 to the arena get everything set up for the next day. 0:03:46.280 --> 0:03:49.520 He studies each player to find out what they like. 0:03:50.120 --> 0:03:52.600 He goes to great links to make sure their locker 0:03:52.760 --> 0:03:54.160 is exactly what they want. 0:03:54.920 --> 0:03:55.760 When the game. 0:03:55.600 --> 0:03:59.120 Rolls around, you don't see him. The cameras are on 0:03:59.200 --> 0:04:00.880 the players, the coaches. 0:04:01.280 --> 0:04:03.520 They're the stars. They're getting all the attention. 0:04:04.320 --> 0:04:04.400 Now. 0:04:04.440 --> 0:04:07.440 I had lunch with him recently and I commented about 0:04:07.480 --> 0:04:11.920 how dedicated he is. He made this statement, I'm invisible, 0:04:12.400 --> 0:04:16.440 but I know I'm invaluable. Nobody sees me, but I 0:04:16.480 --> 0:04:19.520 know without me, this team wouldn't be what it is. 0:04:20.720 --> 0:04:24.479 It takes a mature person to say I'm okay with 0:04:24.640 --> 0:04:29.560 being invisible. I'm okay with helping you to shine. I'm 0:04:29.600 --> 0:04:32.320 secure enough in who I am that I can be 0:04:32.440 --> 0:04:38.119 comfortable behind the scenes playing my role. Not frustrated because 0:04:38.160 --> 0:04:41.640 I'm not getting the credit, not jealous because nobody's talking 0:04:41.640 --> 0:04:45.679 about me. I'm content to make other people look good. 0:04:46.040 --> 0:04:51.800 I may be invisible, but I understand I'm invaluable. When 0:04:51.839 --> 0:04:54.719 you have this kind of attitude, you are sowing a 0:04:54.760 --> 0:04:59.039 seed when you push people up, when you make them 0:04:59.120 --> 0:05:02.440 look good. Then when it's your time to be promoted, 0:05:03.000 --> 0:05:06.200 when it's your time to shine, God will make sure 0:05:06.520 --> 0:05:09.320 somebody is there to push you up to make you 0:05:09.360 --> 0:05:12.440 look good. But you have to pass this test of 0:05:12.560 --> 0:05:17.200 being content when you're invisible. A lot of times we think, well, Joel, 0:05:17.240 --> 0:05:19.960 I'm doing all the work at my company and nobody 0:05:20.040 --> 0:05:23.120 thanks me. They never give me any credit, they don't 0:05:23.120 --> 0:05:27.160 appreciate me. Don't worry about that. You're not working under people, 0:05:27.400 --> 0:05:32.120 You're working under God. He's keeping the records. They may 0:05:32.160 --> 0:05:34.640 not thank you, they may not give you the credit. 0:05:34.920 --> 0:05:38.560 But promotion doesn't come from people. It comes from the Lord. 0:05:39.480 --> 0:05:43.359 And this scripture talks about how what you give in secret, 0:05:44.120 --> 0:05:47.799 God will reward you in the open. When you're behind 0:05:47.839 --> 0:05:53.320 the scenes, invisible, helping somebody else to shine, making your 0:05:53.360 --> 0:05:57.960 supervisor look good, teaching that coworker your skills, going out 0:05:57.960 --> 0:06:01.680 of your way to help them excel. God sees what 0:06:01.760 --> 0:06:05.240 you're doing, and when it's your time, God knows how 0:06:05.240 --> 0:06:08.240 to get you to where you're supposed to be. You'll 0:06:08.240 --> 0:06:13.080 be okay being invisible if you'll just remember you're invaluable. 0:06:14.000 --> 0:06:16.520 That company wouldn't be what it is without you. 0:06:17.400 --> 0:06:21.360 That person you've been investing in, they wouldn't shine as brightly, 0:06:21.920 --> 0:06:25.680 they wouldn't be as successful without your efforts. They may 0:06:25.720 --> 0:06:28.640 not acknowledge it, they may never tell you things they 0:06:28.640 --> 0:06:29.919 think they did it on their own. 0:06:30.000 --> 0:06:31.919 That's okay. God sees it. 0:06:32.680 --> 0:06:37.599 God knows every seed that you've sown, every sacrifice you've made, 0:06:38.160 --> 0:06:43.160 every kind word you've spoken, what you did in secret, God. 0:06:43.000 --> 0:06:45.960 Is going to reward you in the open. And every 0:06:46.000 --> 0:06:49.159 one of us should be invisible. 0:06:48.560 --> 0:06:52.640 In somebody's life, behind the scenes, helping them to grow, 0:06:53.560 --> 0:06:58.360 encouraging them, calling out their seeds of greatness, not looking 0:06:58.400 --> 0:07:01.960 for any credit, not announcing, hey, everybody, look what I'm doing, 0:07:02.839 --> 0:07:05.279 and not making them think, boy, you really owe me. 0:07:05.920 --> 0:07:07.880 You see how much extra work this is to pour 0:07:07.920 --> 0:07:08.599 into your life. 0:07:08.839 --> 0:07:12.280 Now do it quietly in humility, unto God. 0:07:13.200 --> 0:07:15.720 Do you know how many people are making this service? 0:07:15.760 --> 0:07:19.960 Take place right now that we cannot see behind the scenes. 0:07:20.720 --> 0:07:25.240 Nursery workers taking care of our babies, teachers training our children, 0:07:25.640 --> 0:07:31.880 parking attendants directing the traffic, ushers, greeters, seeding people, technicians 0:07:32.080 --> 0:07:32.560 running the. 0:07:32.560 --> 0:07:33.520 Sound and lighting. 0:07:34.760 --> 0:07:37.760 Their names are not on the sign. They're not getting 0:07:37.760 --> 0:07:41.920 any credit. They're invisible. But the truth is without them, 0:07:41.960 --> 0:07:42.800 we wouldn't be here. 0:07:43.240 --> 0:07:48.080 They're invaluable. You have to accept the role that God 0:07:48.120 --> 0:07:48.880 has given you. 0:07:49.640 --> 0:07:53.320 If not, you'll try to promote yourself, compete with people, 0:07:53.800 --> 0:07:57.120 try to outperform them, thinking I can't help them, they 0:07:57.160 --> 0:07:59.680 may pass me up, they may look better than me. 0:08:00.560 --> 0:08:00.600 No. 0:08:00.760 --> 0:08:03.480 God puts people in our lives. 0:08:03.240 --> 0:08:06.280 So we can help them succeed, so we can push 0:08:06.320 --> 0:08:09.800 them forward. You have to be secure enough in who 0:08:09.840 --> 0:08:14.200 you are that you can say I'm okay with being invisible. 0:08:15.080 --> 0:08:17.040 I realize my role. 0:08:17.000 --> 0:08:20.360 In your story is to help you shine, to make 0:08:20.400 --> 0:08:23.320 you look good, to use my gifts to help you 0:08:23.440 --> 0:08:26.800 move further. But human nature will say just the opposite. 0:08:26.920 --> 0:08:30.000 Don't let them get ahead. They're going to outshine you. 0:08:30.000 --> 0:08:32.600 You're just as good as they are. No, God put 0:08:32.679 --> 0:08:35.959 them there on purpose so you could help push them 0:08:36.280 --> 0:08:40.920 into their destiny. Don't compete with them, don't get jealous. 0:08:41.559 --> 0:08:43.400 The right attitude is God. 0:08:43.720 --> 0:08:46.760 I'm going to do my best to make them look good, 0:08:47.280 --> 0:08:49.720 and I know at the right time, you'll make me 0:08:49.800 --> 0:08:54.000 look good. As you push somebody else up, God will 0:08:54.040 --> 0:08:56.560 make sure that you get to where you're supposed to be. 0:08:57.760 --> 0:09:01.640 We were created to help others. One of the greatest 0:09:01.760 --> 0:09:05.439 joys in life is to help somebody else succeed, help 0:09:05.559 --> 0:09:06.760 somebody else shine. 0:09:07.200 --> 0:09:10.800 They may go further than you. That's okay, You're. 0:09:10.600 --> 0:09:13.400 Not running their race. When you come to the end 0:09:13.440 --> 0:09:16.040 of life. God's not going to ask did you keep 0:09:16.120 --> 0:09:19.720 up with your relative, did you outperform your coworker, Did 0:09:19.760 --> 0:09:21.280 you have more stuff than your neighbor. 0:09:21.520 --> 0:09:22.280 No, he's going to. 0:09:22.280 --> 0:09:27.439 Ask did you fulfill your destiny? Did you accomplish your assignment? 0:09:28.280 --> 0:09:31.480 And in the scripture there was a young man named Jonathan. 0:09:32.120 --> 0:09:35.960 He was King Saul's son. He'd been raised in royalty. 0:09:36.559 --> 0:09:39.480 He was next in line to take the throne, but 0:09:39.600 --> 0:09:43.240 things didn't work out the way. Jonathan thought his best 0:09:43.240 --> 0:09:47.719 friend David was chosen over him. Jonathan could have been 0:09:47.720 --> 0:09:50.800 bitter and thought, that's not right. I got passed over. 0:09:51.280 --> 0:09:53.720 I'm not going to do anything for David. He took 0:09:53.760 --> 0:09:57.719 my place. But Jonathan was so secure in who he 0:09:57.960 --> 0:10:00.560 was he went out of his way to help David. 0:10:01.280 --> 0:10:04.560 When his father, King Saul, was trying to kill David, 0:10:05.320 --> 0:10:10.160 Jonathan gave David inside information to keep him safe. He 0:10:10.200 --> 0:10:12.960 told him where to go, how to avoid his father. 0:10:13.600 --> 0:10:19.040 He was behind the scenes, invisible, protecting David, connecting him 0:10:19.080 --> 0:10:21.680 to the right people. He could have thought the whole time, 0:10:21.840 --> 0:10:25.439 this God took my spot here, I'm giving him my secrets, 0:10:25.640 --> 0:10:30.520 I'm making him look good. But Jonathan understood this principle. 0:10:31.120 --> 0:10:35.160 He knew his role in David's story was to push 0:10:35.280 --> 0:10:39.800 him forward. He was okay with somebody rising above him, 0:10:40.320 --> 0:10:44.360 he realized. As he helped David move toward his destiny, 0:10:45.000 --> 0:10:48.920 in fact, he was moving toward his own destiny. It's 0:10:49.000 --> 0:10:53.319 better to become who God created you to be than 0:10:53.360 --> 0:10:56.720 to try to promote yourself and become something that you're not. 0:10:57.640 --> 0:11:00.640 And when you try to take yourself where you weren't 0:11:00.679 --> 0:11:04.240 designed to be, it will be a constant struggle, like 0:11:04.280 --> 0:11:08.680 you're always rowing upstream. It's because there's no grace on 0:11:08.760 --> 0:11:11.960 your life to become something that you were never meant 0:11:12.000 --> 0:11:16.520 to be. But there is an anointing to fulfill your destiny. 0:11:16.679 --> 0:11:20.320 If you will become a Jonathan to someone and help 0:11:20.640 --> 0:11:24.280 them succeed, push them forward. When you become a Jonathan, 0:11:24.640 --> 0:11:27.760 God will always make sure there will be a Jonathan 0:11:27.840 --> 0:11:32.760 in your life to push you forward. When you sew 0:11:32.920 --> 0:11:35.800 into other people, you take time to help them. Don't 0:11:35.840 --> 0:11:38.880 ever feel like, man, I'm falling behind. I should be 0:11:38.960 --> 0:11:42.679 using this time and energy to put into my own dreams, 0:11:42.760 --> 0:11:45.840 not to help them. Know when you're sowing into others, 0:11:46.040 --> 0:11:49.280 you are sowing into your own dreams. You are paving 0:11:49.360 --> 0:11:53.160 the way to reach the fullness of your destiny. When 0:11:53.240 --> 0:11:55.920 David arrived at the palace, he didn't know the right 0:11:56.000 --> 0:12:01.439 protocol and how everything operated. He wasn't trained to become 0:12:01.440 --> 0:12:05.080 the leader of a great nation, raised in royalty. He 0:12:05.240 --> 0:12:09.319 came from a very poor family. They were shepherds living 0:12:09.360 --> 0:12:12.080 out in the desert. A few months earlier he has 0:12:12.160 --> 0:12:15.960 taken care of sheep, cleaning up the mess, dirty, smelly. 0:12:16.800 --> 0:12:20.840 Now he's in the palace, Saul is still on the throne. 0:12:21.040 --> 0:12:25.080 His son Jonathan took David under his wing and taught 0:12:25.120 --> 0:12:28.360 him the right protocol and what to wear, and here's 0:12:28.360 --> 0:12:31.200 how you dressed this person. Here's how you start the meeting. 0:12:31.679 --> 0:12:36.000 Jonathan was behind the scenes, helping his friend David, not 0:12:36.240 --> 0:12:41.120 competing with him, not jealous, but celebrating his success. 0:12:41.760 --> 0:12:42.880 Now as David. 0:12:42.640 --> 0:12:47.360 Rose higher, gained more influence and credibility, the whole time 0:12:47.840 --> 0:12:53.920 Jonathan was invisible. People saw David shining, rising to new heights, 0:12:53.960 --> 0:12:58.080 so popular, loved by the masses. What they didn't see 0:12:58.400 --> 0:13:01.240 was his good friend Jonathan, who thought he'd be on 0:13:01.280 --> 0:13:07.079 the throne, pouring into David's life. Jonathan accepted his role 0:13:07.320 --> 0:13:11.560 in David's story. He was invisible, but he knew he 0:13:11.720 --> 0:13:16.240 was invaluable. The question is, can you play your role 0:13:16.880 --> 0:13:19.960 even if it's not the lead role? Can you be 0:13:20.080 --> 0:13:22.880 your best and so into others even when they start 0:13:22.920 --> 0:13:25.960 passing you up. A lot of times we think, God, 0:13:26.040 --> 0:13:30.600 let me be a David. David killed giants, defeated armies, 0:13:31.160 --> 0:13:34.679 came from nothing to royalty, a hero of faith, and 0:13:34.720 --> 0:13:38.080 that's good. We should aspire to rise higher and do 0:13:38.200 --> 0:13:42.400 great things. But our prayer shouldn't just be God, let 0:13:42.520 --> 0:13:46.600 me be a David, but also God, let me be 0:13:46.679 --> 0:13:51.360 a Jonathan. Let me push somebody into their destiny. Let 0:13:51.400 --> 0:13:54.160 me be so secure in who I am, that I 0:13:54.200 --> 0:13:56.439 can be invisible and use my. 0:13:56.480 --> 0:13:58.800 Gifts to help somebody else succeed. 0:14:00.040 --> 0:14:03.480 Let me realize that it's okay to play a smaller role. 0:14:04.080 --> 0:14:07.280 Help me to not be jealous, to not compete, to 0:14:07.320 --> 0:14:10.320 not try to outperform. But God, let me be a 0:14:10.440 --> 0:14:14.640 Jonathan and behind the scenes helps somebody else look better. 0:14:15.480 --> 0:14:18.440 The scripture says, if you want to be great, you 0:14:18.559 --> 0:14:22.400 have to serve others. True greatness is not how bright 0:14:22.440 --> 0:14:27.520 you shine, but how bright do you make others shine. Eventually, 0:14:27.760 --> 0:14:29.560 Jonathan and his father, King. 0:14:29.440 --> 0:14:30.960 Saul were killed in a battle. 0:14:31.720 --> 0:14:36.400 Years later, King David was sitting around reminiscing, thinking about 0:14:36.440 --> 0:14:40.160 the good old days. He remembered his friend Jonathan how 0:14:40.240 --> 0:14:44.040 much he loved him. David asked his assistant if any 0:14:44.080 --> 0:14:48.040 of Jonathan's relatives were still alive. They found his young son, 0:14:48.120 --> 0:14:51.400 who was crippled, and brought him to the palace. David 0:14:51.440 --> 0:14:54.200 gave him all the land that belonged to his family, 0:14:54.560 --> 0:14:55.840 treated him like royalty. 0:14:56.480 --> 0:14:58.000 The point is, when you. 0:14:58.000 --> 0:15:02.200 Do good for people, you're so a seed that harvest 0:15:02.320 --> 0:15:04.720 will either come back to you or it will come 0:15:04.760 --> 0:15:09.160 back to your children. But this society, sometimes it teaches 0:15:09.240 --> 0:15:12.560 us to get ahead at all cost. Don't get in 0:15:12.640 --> 0:15:15.320 my way. I'm competing with you. I can't help you. 0:15:15.640 --> 0:15:17.760 I'm trying to outperform you. I want the credit, I 0:15:17.800 --> 0:15:21.120 want to recognition. But that's a very shallow way to live. 0:15:21.560 --> 0:15:25.600 You will never truly be fulfilled if you're only focused 0:15:25.640 --> 0:15:30.200 on yourself. When you help somebody else succeed, God will 0:15:30.240 --> 0:15:31.320 help you succeed. 0:15:31.560 --> 0:15:33.200 Those seeds will come back to you. 0:15:34.280 --> 0:15:37.200 When you're a Jonathan, you not only use your gifts 0:15:37.320 --> 0:15:41.520 to help someone else rise higher, but you celebrate other 0:15:41.600 --> 0:15:46.000 people's success. A lot of times, if you have a setback, 0:15:46.480 --> 0:15:48.640 you get a bad medical reporter, or you go through 0:15:48.640 --> 0:15:51.440 a loss, people will come running. They'll be there to 0:15:51.520 --> 0:15:54.320 encourage you, to cheer you on, to may help you 0:15:54.360 --> 0:15:58.240 make it through that difficult time. But too often, when 0:15:58.280 --> 0:16:03.080 you succeed, people can be so competitive that they get jealous. 0:16:03.440 --> 0:16:07.400 Fine fault, make excuses. He's not that talented, or I 0:16:07.440 --> 0:16:10.520 can't believe she got married. What was that guy thinking? Now, 0:16:10.680 --> 0:16:14.160 let's be people you think it, but I said it. 0:16:14.600 --> 0:16:20.320 Let's be people that celebrate other people's success. They may 0:16:20.400 --> 0:16:24.040 be ahead of us, but I've learned if you can't 0:16:24.080 --> 0:16:26.960 be happy, for what God has done in their life. 0:16:27.120 --> 0:16:30.440 You will never get to that level. Don't be critical 0:16:30.560 --> 0:16:34.840 because they moved into a beautiful new home. Celebrate with them, 0:16:35.200 --> 0:16:37.720 and one day God can bless you with a beautiful 0:16:37.720 --> 0:16:42.600 new home. Don't be jealous because your cousin married somebody 0:16:42.680 --> 0:16:46.640 way over her head. Be happy for one day God 0:16:46.680 --> 0:16:49.600 can bring you somebody way over your head like he 0:16:49.680 --> 0:16:50.320 did Victoria. 0:16:50.400 --> 0:16:51.120 I mean like you did me. 0:16:53.160 --> 0:16:55.960 When I took over from my father and first became 0:16:56.000 --> 0:16:58.680 a pastor, there were a lot of ministers that were 0:16:58.800 --> 0:16:59.520 very for me. 0:17:00.080 --> 0:17:03.240 They called me in, cheered me on, encouraged me. 0:17:03.680 --> 0:17:06.760 They were being a Jonathan, pushing me toward my destiny, 0:17:06.880 --> 0:17:10.080 and I was very grateful. But as the ministry began 0:17:10.200 --> 0:17:14.119 to grow and new doors opened and we saw success, 0:17:14.840 --> 0:17:17.720 some of them went from a Jonathan to a Saul. 0:17:18.760 --> 0:17:20.359 Saul was jealous of David. 0:17:21.080 --> 0:17:24.560 One reason King Saul lost the throne was because he 0:17:24.600 --> 0:17:29.640 couldn't handle David's success. He was so insecure and so competitive. 0:17:29.800 --> 0:17:33.000 He couldn't stand anyone being ahead of him. When the 0:17:33.040 --> 0:17:37.360 people started singing Saul has killed thousands and David has 0:17:37.440 --> 0:17:40.919 killed tens of thousands, he never looked at David the 0:17:40.960 --> 0:17:44.720 same way again. Saul loved David as a young man, 0:17:45.240 --> 0:17:47.360 had him come to the palace and play the. 0:17:47.359 --> 0:17:49.440 Heart for him, treated him like a son. 0:17:50.320 --> 0:17:53.520 When David went out and shocked the nation and killed Goliath, 0:17:54.040 --> 0:17:56.800 Saul was right there cheering him on, saying, that's my. 0:17:56.880 --> 0:17:58.640 Boy, He's making me proud. 0:17:59.440 --> 0:18:02.760 But when Saul all heard them singing about how David 0:18:02.880 --> 0:18:07.639 was more talented, more accomplished, a better leader, instead of 0:18:07.680 --> 0:18:11.879 saying that's his destiny, you go, David, more power to 0:18:12.000 --> 0:18:16.480 you rise higher, he got jealous and saw eventually lost 0:18:16.520 --> 0:18:20.040 the throne. If you're going to reach your highest potential, 0:18:20.440 --> 0:18:23.280 you have to be happy for the people that pass 0:18:23.320 --> 0:18:26.760 you up. Don't be a fair weathered friend where you're 0:18:26.800 --> 0:18:29.600 only going to be happy if they stay at your level. 0:18:30.440 --> 0:18:33.479 What if God destined them to be a David and 0:18:33.560 --> 0:18:35.040 destined you to be a Jonathan? 0:18:35.680 --> 0:18:37.400 Can you handle be a number two? 0:18:38.080 --> 0:18:41.160 Are you big enough to let them shine brighter than you? 0:18:42.040 --> 0:18:45.840 Pass that test of being happy for people that rise higher. 0:18:46.520 --> 0:18:49.560 They may not have as much training, as talent, as 0:18:49.640 --> 0:18:53.640 qualifications as you. You just have to realize it's the 0:18:53.760 --> 0:18:55.000 sovereignty of God. 0:18:55.880 --> 0:18:57.280 Favor is not fair. 0:18:58.080 --> 0:19:00.800 It's easy to think well, Joel I paid does? That's 0:19:00.840 --> 0:19:04.480 not right. No, be big enough to celebrate what God 0:19:04.520 --> 0:19:06.880 has done in somebody else's life. 0:19:06.960 --> 0:19:07.640 Here's the key. 0:19:08.480 --> 0:19:14.080 God blessing them doesn't mean that God cannot promote you. 0:19:15.200 --> 0:19:18.159 God did not use all of his favor on their life. 0:19:18.800 --> 0:19:21.639 God never runs out of favor. He can get you 0:19:22.040 --> 0:19:25.560 to where you're supposed to be. But if you become 0:19:25.600 --> 0:19:29.359 a Saul and get jealous, try to discredit them, find 0:19:29.440 --> 0:19:30.600 fault that's going to. 0:19:30.600 --> 0:19:32.440 Keep you from your destiny. 0:19:32.520 --> 0:19:35.959 The scripture talks about how God lifts up one and 0:19:36.040 --> 0:19:40.399 sets down another. Whether you get lifted up or set down, 0:19:40.960 --> 0:19:44.359 whether you're a David or a Jonathan, there is a 0:19:44.520 --> 0:19:48.280 destiny for you to fulfill a place where you're in 0:19:48.359 --> 0:19:53.120 your sweet spot, seeing God's favor, doing exactly what you know. 0:19:53.040 --> 0:19:54.000 You're supposed to do. 0:19:54.800 --> 0:19:58.760 This is why Jonathan wasn't frustrated because he didn't take 0:19:58.800 --> 0:20:04.280 the throne in his sweet thought Happy, fulfilled, enjoy in life. 0:20:04.400 --> 0:20:05.119 What am I saying? 0:20:05.680 --> 0:20:08.959 You don't have to be David to be fulfilled. You 0:20:09.000 --> 0:20:11.480 don't have to be the King to enjoy your life. 0:20:12.200 --> 0:20:16.640 Learn to accept your own be content even when you're 0:20:16.640 --> 0:20:21.360 not getting the credit. You may be invisible, but that 0:20:21.400 --> 0:20:25.880 doesn't lessen your importance. What you have to offer is invaluable. 0:20:26.440 --> 0:20:30.520 Without Jonathan David's life could have ended early. When you 0:20:30.640 --> 0:20:33.440 keep a right hard a pure heart, you take time 0:20:33.480 --> 0:20:38.080 to sew into others. You are passing the test. Many times, 0:20:38.480 --> 0:20:42.200 God will take you from being invisible to be invisible, 0:20:42.400 --> 0:20:44.359 from the background to the foreground. 0:20:45.000 --> 0:20:46.720 And I believe one reason I. 0:20:46.680 --> 0:20:49.320 Saw that happen in my own life is because for 0:20:49.359 --> 0:20:53.800 many years I was content behind the scenes. I was 0:20:53.880 --> 0:20:57.520 happy making my father look good. I liked being invisible. 0:20:58.080 --> 0:21:00.560 I wasn't thinking, one day I'm going to be the pastor. 0:21:00.960 --> 0:21:03.320 That should be me up there. I bet I could do. 0:21:03.320 --> 0:21:04.120 It better than him. 0:21:04.400 --> 0:21:08.040 No, for seventeen years, I did my best to help 0:21:08.080 --> 0:21:11.240 my father shine, to make sure the lighting was perfect 0:21:11.280 --> 0:21:14.720 and camera angles just right. I would pick out his 0:21:14.840 --> 0:21:16.560 suit and tied to wear each week. 0:21:16.800 --> 0:21:18.680 I was invisible, but. 0:21:18.680 --> 0:21:22.080 I knew I was fulfilling my purpose, using my gifts 0:21:22.080 --> 0:21:25.600 to celebrate others, to push them forward. And when my 0:21:25.680 --> 0:21:28.440 father went to be with the Lord, I had never ministered. 0:21:28.760 --> 0:21:30.400 But God took me from. 0:21:30.200 --> 0:21:32.640 Being invisible to be invisible. 0:21:33.200 --> 0:21:37.600 And the truth is, I'm not any happier today being 0:21:37.680 --> 0:21:40.240 in front of you than I was when I was 0:21:40.280 --> 0:21:44.439 behind the scenes. I was happy and fulfilled behind the scenes. 0:21:44.600 --> 0:21:49.359 I'm happy and fulfilled right now. When you're secure in 0:21:49.440 --> 0:21:52.000 who God made you to be, then you can be 0:21:52.119 --> 0:21:55.880 content wherever God has you. Whether your role is visible 0:21:56.000 --> 0:21:58.760 or invisible, large or small. 0:21:58.920 --> 0:22:00.359 You know you're making a day difference. 0:22:00.760 --> 0:22:03.960 And as you keep passing these tests, God will get 0:22:04.000 --> 0:22:06.520 you to where you're supposed to be. You don't have 0:22:06.680 --> 0:22:11.080 to promote yourself. You keep honoring God, being a person 0:22:11.119 --> 0:22:14.200 of excellence, sewing into others, and when it's your time 0:22:14.240 --> 0:22:18.880 to be promoted, you will be promoted. Elisha spent years 0:22:18.960 --> 0:22:23.120 taking care of the prophet Elijah. He went everywhere with him, 0:22:23.600 --> 0:22:27.280 brought him his food, ran his errands, washed his clothes. 0:22:27.920 --> 0:22:31.040 I'm sure people ask Elisha, what do you do in 0:22:31.200 --> 0:22:34.679 spending your life taking care of this old prophet? You 0:22:34.720 --> 0:22:38.080 could be doing something much more significant. You're just as 0:22:38.119 --> 0:22:41.000 talented as he is. Why don't you start your own ministry? 0:22:41.440 --> 0:22:46.359 Elisha wouldn't do it. He was comfortable being invisible, using 0:22:46.400 --> 0:22:48.560 his gifts to serve the prophet. 0:22:49.359 --> 0:22:50.480 Year after year went by. 0:22:51.000 --> 0:22:54.600 At one point, Elijah even said to Elisha, you don't 0:22:54.640 --> 0:22:55.639 have to stay here with me. 0:22:55.960 --> 0:22:58.440 I can take care of myself. Go do your own thing. 0:22:59.160 --> 0:23:04.240 But Elisha sense that his destiny was tied to Elijah. 0:23:04.480 --> 0:23:07.159 He said, no, I'm gonna serve you, make it easier 0:23:07.160 --> 0:23:11.040 and help you to shine. One day, after years of 0:23:11.119 --> 0:23:15.920 being invisible, serving in the background, passing the test, God said, 0:23:16.400 --> 0:23:19.159 I'm going to take Elijah to heaven. I need to 0:23:19.200 --> 0:23:22.880 find somebody to replace him, somebody that I can give 0:23:22.920 --> 0:23:26.959 a double portion of his anointing too. God looked around 0:23:27.240 --> 0:23:29.879 and said, I know just the right person, Elisha. 0:23:30.560 --> 0:23:32.000 He's been faithful. 0:23:31.560 --> 0:23:36.000 All those years, didn't try to promote himself, didn't find 0:23:36.080 --> 0:23:39.160 fault with those ahead of him, He celebrated others. 0:23:39.520 --> 0:23:42.360 He was happy behind the scenes, So let. 0:23:42.200 --> 0:23:46.400 Me take him from being invisible to be invisible. Elisha 0:23:46.560 --> 0:23:49.840 took over for the prophet Elijah. He went on to 0:23:49.880 --> 0:23:54.400 perform twice as many miracles as Elijah, but it all 0:23:54.480 --> 0:23:59.040 happened because he was content behind the scenes being invisible. 0:24:00.119 --> 0:24:02.840 Chapter two, there was a man that had been paralyzed 0:24:02.840 --> 0:24:05.920 for many years and not able to walk, and word 0:24:05.960 --> 0:24:09.280 got out that Jesus was in another city, and four 0:24:09.359 --> 0:24:12.879 of his friends decided to carry him on a stretcher 0:24:13.000 --> 0:24:17.320 to see Jesus. After a long journey, they finally arrived 0:24:17.400 --> 0:24:20.159 at the house where Jesus was teaching, but it was 0:24:20.200 --> 0:24:24.040 so crowded they couldn't possibly get in. They could have 0:24:24.119 --> 0:24:26.840 turned around, thought, well, too bad, we tried but it 0:24:26.880 --> 0:24:27.560 didn't work out. 0:24:28.200 --> 0:24:30.640 But no, they were determined they couldn't. 0:24:30.359 --> 0:24:32.520 Get through the door. One of the men said, I 0:24:32.520 --> 0:24:33.200 got an idea. 0:24:33.640 --> 0:24:34.720 Let's go through the roof. 0:24:35.720 --> 0:24:39.520 While Jesus was teaching, dust started falling from the ceiling. 0:24:40.000 --> 0:24:43.520 A little bit of clay and straw is a big commotion. 0:24:43.840 --> 0:24:45.000 They lowered the man down. 0:24:45.880 --> 0:24:50.679 The scripture says when Jesus saw their faith, he healed 0:24:50.680 --> 0:24:53.600 the man. It doesn't say that he just saw the 0:24:53.640 --> 0:24:57.159 men's faith, but when he saw the faith of his 0:24:57.280 --> 0:25:02.000 four friends, the ones in the back, behind the scenes, 0:25:02.240 --> 0:25:03.800 invisible carrying the man. 0:25:03.920 --> 0:25:07.920 When he saw the faith of his friends, he healed him. 0:25:08.440 --> 0:25:11.840 When you're behind the scenes pushing people forward, helping them 0:25:11.880 --> 0:25:16.240 to succeed, you may feel invisible, but God sees what 0:25:16.280 --> 0:25:20.480 you're doing. Your faith can cause your children to accomplish 0:25:20.560 --> 0:25:23.679 their dreams. Your faith can help a loved one get well. 0:25:24.359 --> 0:25:29.320 Your faith can be what God uses to push that coworker. 0:25:28.920 --> 0:25:30.000 Into their destinies. 0:25:30.920 --> 0:25:34.200 There are times in life we have to carry someone. 0:25:34.960 --> 0:25:38.000 They don't have the faith they need right now. They're 0:25:38.000 --> 0:25:40.399 not at the point where they can believe, and like 0:25:40.480 --> 0:25:41.880 this man, in some. 0:25:41.960 --> 0:25:43.200 Way, they're paralyzed. 0:25:43.680 --> 0:25:47.280 God will use us to carry a friend, carry a neighbor, 0:25:47.480 --> 0:25:48.560 carry a loved one. 0:25:49.119 --> 0:25:50.679 This is what happened with my father. 0:25:51.359 --> 0:25:55.000 He wasn't raised with any kind of spiritual upbringing, and 0:25:55.320 --> 0:25:58.480 as a teenager, my dad loved a party and have fun, 0:25:58.680 --> 0:26:01.960 never thought anything about God. But he had a friend 0:26:02.160 --> 0:26:05.520 named Sam Martin, who was always talking to him about 0:26:05.560 --> 0:26:07.800 the Lord and inviting him to come to church. 0:26:08.359 --> 0:26:10.359 My dad said, Sam, that's just not me. I'm not 0:26:10.400 --> 0:26:11.200 a religious person. 0:26:11.320 --> 0:26:12.000 Leave me alone. 0:26:12.680 --> 0:26:14.200 Sam didn't get discouraged. 0:26:14.560 --> 0:26:17.520 Day after day told my father, John, you have a 0:26:17.560 --> 0:26:18.640 destiny to fulfill. 0:26:19.080 --> 0:26:21.480 God has a purpose for your life. 0:26:21.520 --> 0:26:25.400 What was Sam doing carrying my father when my dad 0:26:25.440 --> 0:26:29.320 didn't have faith. Sam had faith for him. Just as 0:26:29.359 --> 0:26:33.400 God saw the four friends carrying the paralyzed man, God 0:26:33.520 --> 0:26:38.560 saw Sam carrying my father One night when Daddy was 0:26:38.600 --> 0:26:42.280 seventeen years old. He was walking home from a nightclub 0:26:42.359 --> 0:26:44.560 at two o'clock in the morning, and he looked up 0:26:44.600 --> 0:26:47.240 at the stars and began to think about his life, 0:26:47.640 --> 0:26:51.800 his destiny. That was God drawing him to himself. He 0:26:51.880 --> 0:26:54.840 got home and he called his friend Sam. The next 0:26:54.920 --> 0:26:57.840 day he went to church with Sam for the first time. 0:26:58.440 --> 0:27:00.960 The end of the service, the pastor said, if you 0:27:01.000 --> 0:27:03.399 want to receive Christ, meet me down at the front. 0:27:04.040 --> 0:27:05.640 My father was too afraid to go. 0:27:06.400 --> 0:27:08.720 Sam looked at him and said, John, if you'll go, 0:27:09.280 --> 0:27:12.680 I'll go with you. My father got up and walked 0:27:12.680 --> 0:27:15.080 down front gave his life to Christ, arm in arm 0:27:15.119 --> 0:27:18.399 with his friend Sam Martin. My dad went on to 0:27:18.400 --> 0:27:24.520 become a prominent pastor and touch the world. Sam remained invisible. 0:27:24.320 --> 0:27:26.120 But in fact he was invaluable. 0:27:26.720 --> 0:27:30.800 It was his faith that pushed my father into his destiny. 0:27:31.440 --> 0:27:34.959 Now I wonder where I would be if Sam Martin 0:27:35.280 --> 0:27:39.040 had not been willing to carry my father. I'm asking 0:27:39.080 --> 0:27:44.920 you today to carry a friend, carry a neighbor, carry 0:27:44.920 --> 0:27:47.800 a loved one. They may not have the faith they 0:27:47.840 --> 0:27:51.280 need right now to step into their destinies, but God 0:27:51.320 --> 0:27:55.840 can see your faith for them. My prayer is, God, 0:27:56.320 --> 0:27:59.399 let us become so secure in who we are that 0:27:59.480 --> 0:28:02.879 we can be invisible, that we can carry people that 0:28:02.960 --> 0:28:05.560 we don't have to have the credit. Friends, whether your 0:28:05.920 --> 0:28:09.320 assignment is large or small, a David or a Jonathan, 0:28:09.680 --> 0:28:13.959 be content to play your role. You may feel invisible 0:28:14.040 --> 0:28:18.680 at times, but remember your invaluable God is keeping the records, 0:28:18.920 --> 0:28:21.720 and as you help others to shine, God is going 0:28:21.760 --> 0:28:22.880 to cause you to shine. 0:28:23.119 --> 0:28:26.080 I believe and declare you will rise higher. 0:28:25.920 --> 0:28:30.000 Fulfill your destiny, and become everything you were created to 0:28:30.040 --> 0:28:31.840 be in Jesus's name. 0:28:32.160 --> 0:28:34.280 If you receive it, can you say a men? Today? 0:28:36.720 --> 0:28:39.600 We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 0:28:39.640 --> 0:28:42.800 an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:43.000 --> 0:28:43.960 Would you pray with me? 0:28:44.640 --> 0:28:49.920 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins, Come 0:28:49.960 --> 0:28:55.440 into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, 0:28:55.440 --> 0:28:58.120 if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:28:58.160 --> 0:29:01.680 born again. Get in a Goodbye based church, keep God 0:29:01.760 --> 0:29:04.840 first place. He's going to take you where you've never dreamed. 0:29:05.560 --> 0:29:08.400 Thank you for listening to the Joel Los Deine podcast. 0:29:08.760 --> 0:29:11.360 Help us continue to share the message of hope with 0:29:11.480 --> 0:29:15.480 those all over the world. Visit Joeloustin dot com slash 0:29:15.560 --> 0:29:17.560 give Hope to give a gift today. 0:29:18.840 --> 0:29:21.280 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:29:21.400 --> 0:29:24.160 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:29:24.200 --> 0:29:27.240 podcast to keep you inspired all through the week. 0:29:27.480 --> 0:29:30.320 We're praying for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 0:29:30.560 --> 0:29:31.600 We'll see you next time. 0:29:38.600 --> 0:29:41.120 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:29:41.160 --> 0:29:44.880 for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 0:29:44.960 --> 0:29:48.200 been ill equipped to help. That is until now. Join 0:29:48.280 --> 0:29:51.360 yourly fifty thousand people just like you who've enrolled in 0:29:51.360 --> 0:29:54.520 the Mental Health Coach training program and become equipped to 0:29:54.600 --> 0:29:57.479 help for a limited time. 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