It's the Heart that Matters

0:00:00.680 --> 0:00:03.880 You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 0:00:03.920 --> 0:00:07.080 can do more than take classes. You can take charge 0:00:07.400 --> 0:00:11.440 of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 0:00:11.480 --> 0:00:13.480 a degree you can be proud of, and get an 0:00:13.600 --> 0:00:18.439 education employer's respect. It's time, your time, not just to 0:00:18.480 --> 0:00:20.880 go back to school, but to come back and move 0:00:20.960 --> 0:00:25.760 forward with Purdue Global, produce online university for working adults. 0:00:26.360 --> 0:00:29.840 Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 0:00:30.360 --> 0:00:33.080 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:00:33.159 --> 0:00:35.199 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 0:00:35.240 --> 0:00:37.959 in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 0:00:37.960 --> 0:00:40.559 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:00:40.560 --> 0:00:43.040 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:00:43.080 --> 0:00:45.879 today and where your money can work harder. Now you 0:00:45.960 --> 0:00:48.960 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:00:49.000 --> 0:00:53.600 and get your financial wellness score today. That's faceet dot com. 0:00:53.600 --> 0:00:55.560 This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 0:00:55.640 --> 0:00:57.480 is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 0:00:57.520 --> 0:00:58.920 offer to buy your self securities sn or is it 0:00:58.960 --> 0:01:00.000 investment legal or tax fives. 0:01:00.320 --> 0:01:02.240 He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 0:01:02.280 --> 0:01:02.840 his birthday. 0:01:03.160 --> 0:01:05.039 Wow, thanks Grandpa. 0:01:04.880 --> 0:01:07.280 But He'll never forget how you invested in his future 0:01:07.319 --> 0:01:09.240 with the units stapp. Wow. 0:01:09.720 --> 0:01:10.480 Thanks Grandpa. 0:01:11.080 --> 0:01:13.600 The units stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 0:01:13.640 --> 0:01:16.319 friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 0:01:16.360 --> 0:01:18.760 a limited time. Download the uns stap and use the 0:01:18.800 --> 0:01:20.840 code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 0:01:20.880 --> 0:01:23.400 fifty dollars bonus when you fund your account. That's code 0:01:23.400 --> 0:01:26.400 iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 0:01:26.760 --> 0:01:29.319 for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 0:01:29.440 --> 0:01:30.120 UNEs dot co. 0:01:31.120 --> 0:01:34.880 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. 0:01:35.160 --> 0:01:37.959 We enjoy spending this time with you. I hope you'll 0:01:38.000 --> 0:01:41.360 leave Inspire. Make sure you subscribe to get new messages 0:01:41.400 --> 0:01:44.440 every week. We appreciate your support. It helps keep the 0:01:44.480 --> 0:01:45.280 ministry going. 0:01:45.680 --> 0:01:57.360 Enjoy the message. 0:01:58.480 --> 0:02:01.240 Well, God bless you always a joy to come into 0:02:01.280 --> 0:02:04.000 your homes, and if you're ever in our area, please 0:02:04.040 --> 0:02:06.480 stop buy and be a part of one of our services. 0:02:06.640 --> 0:02:09.120 I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 0:02:09.480 --> 0:02:11.760 But thanks so much for tuning in, and thank you 0:02:11.800 --> 0:02:13.120 again for coming out today. 0:02:13.680 --> 0:02:15.520 I like to start with something funny. 0:02:15.160 --> 0:02:17.880 And I heard about this elderly lady. She was at 0:02:17.919 --> 0:02:20.919 the store and she accidentally locked her keys in her car, 0:02:21.000 --> 0:02:23.400 and she was using a coat hanger to try to 0:02:23.440 --> 0:02:25.040 get it open, with no success. 0:02:25.639 --> 0:02:27.320 She prayed and asked God to help her. 0:02:27.880 --> 0:02:31.320 About this time, this real rough looking guy drove up 0:02:31.360 --> 0:02:32.280 on a motorcycle. 0:02:32.720 --> 0:02:35.360 We're in leather, tattoos, a skull cap. 0:02:35.639 --> 0:02:39.120 In fifteen seconds, he had her car door opened. She 0:02:39.240 --> 0:02:41.280 hugged him and said, Lord, thank you for sending me 0:02:41.360 --> 0:02:44.720 this nice man. He said, Lady, I'm not a nice man. 0:02:45.120 --> 0:02:48.280 I just got out of prison for auto theft. She 0:02:48.400 --> 0:02:50.760 gave him a bigger hug and say, Lord, thank you. 0:02:50.760 --> 0:02:55.519 You even sent me a professional. Hold up your Bible. 0:02:55.600 --> 0:02:58.040 Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:02:58.360 --> 0:03:00.680 I am what it says I am. I have what 0:03:00.760 --> 0:03:03.160 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:03:03.160 --> 0:03:05.720 I can do. Today I will be taught the word 0:03:05.760 --> 0:03:09.640 of God. I'll boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 0:03:09.720 --> 0:03:13.880 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 0:03:14.320 --> 0:03:17.680 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:03:17.720 --> 0:03:21.400 about it's the heart that matters. All of us have 0:03:21.560 --> 0:03:25.080 areas that we struggle in. We make mistakes and do 0:03:25.240 --> 0:03:28.840 things that we know we shouldn't. We told ourselves we 0:03:28.840 --> 0:03:31.760 weren't going to give into that temptation anymore, but we 0:03:31.840 --> 0:03:35.760 did it again. We lost our temper, didn't keep our word, 0:03:36.360 --> 0:03:40.240 maybe compromised with some friends. It's easy to go around 0:03:40.320 --> 0:03:45.000 feeling guilty and condemned wrong on the inside, thinking I 0:03:45.040 --> 0:03:49.400 can't believe I'm still struggling in this same area. Voices 0:03:49.440 --> 0:03:52.720 will whisper, God's never going to bless you. You can't 0:03:52.720 --> 0:03:55.200 get it right, you don't deserve it. Just sit on 0:03:55.240 --> 0:03:58.880 the sidelines. We think we have to have a perfect 0:03:58.920 --> 0:04:01.040 performance for God to bless us. 0:04:01.760 --> 0:04:04.240 Once we get rid of all these weaknesses. 0:04:04.600 --> 0:04:07.480 Once I overcome in these areas that I'm struggling in, 0:04:07.960 --> 0:04:09.520 then I'll have God's favor. 0:04:09.880 --> 0:04:11.560 Then I'll feel good about myself. 0:04:12.360 --> 0:04:16.600 But the scripture says God searches the earth to show 0:04:16.680 --> 0:04:21.960 himself strong in people whose hearts are turned perfect toward him. 0:04:23.040 --> 0:04:26.560 God is not looking for people who have a perfect performance, 0:04:27.120 --> 0:04:31.680 perfect behavior, people who never make a mistake. He's looking 0:04:31.720 --> 0:04:35.920 for people who have a perfect heart turned toward him. 0:04:36.480 --> 0:04:39.960 That means you may make mistakes, but you have a 0:04:40.040 --> 0:04:42.839 desire to please him. Deep down. 0:04:43.160 --> 0:04:46.080 You want to honor him with your life. It's your 0:04:46.160 --> 0:04:50.479 heart that matters. God looks on the inside. He is 0:04:50.560 --> 0:04:54.320 more pleased with someone with a right heart that makes 0:04:54.400 --> 0:04:57.560 mistakes every once in a while than someone with a 0:04:57.600 --> 0:05:00.479 wrong heart and performs perfectly all time. 0:05:01.560 --> 0:05:02.880 We see this in the scripture. 0:05:03.160 --> 0:05:06.800 The Pharisees kept all the religious rules. They prayed at 0:05:06.839 --> 0:05:11.000 the right time, gave the exact amount required, went to 0:05:11.080 --> 0:05:15.520 great links to perform the religious ceremonies exactly like they 0:05:15.520 --> 0:05:19.599 were supposed to. They had the performance part down. The 0:05:19.680 --> 0:05:25.560 problem was their heart wasn't right. They were self righteous, proud, critical, 0:05:26.000 --> 0:05:29.560 and even though they performed perfectly, Jesus said to them, 0:05:30.040 --> 0:05:33.000 you're like a bunch of whitewashed tunes. You look good 0:05:33.040 --> 0:05:36.920 on the outside, but on the inside, there's a major problem. 0:05:37.680 --> 0:05:41.120 When Jesus chose his twelve disciples, it was just the opposite. 0:05:41.680 --> 0:05:45.200 He didn't choose people who had it altogether. He chose 0:05:45.240 --> 0:05:48.880 a tax collector. They were known for being dishonest. He 0:05:49.000 --> 0:05:52.839 chose fishermen. They used bad language, lived a rough lifestyle. 0:05:53.120 --> 0:05:56.920 He chose Thomas, a doubter. It looked like he'd made 0:05:56.960 --> 0:06:02.080 a mistake. These weren't the most qualified disciplined, upstanding people. 0:06:02.720 --> 0:06:06.479 These were people who had flaws and weaknesses, people who 0:06:06.520 --> 0:06:10.200 came out of dysfunction, people who were not raised in 0:06:10.240 --> 0:06:14.600 a religious background. But what God can see that others 0:06:14.680 --> 0:06:18.919 cannot see is the heart. People look on the outside 0:06:19.320 --> 0:06:22.520 at the performance, the behavior, the background. 0:06:22.960 --> 0:06:27.000 God looks beyond all that. He knows it's the heart 0:06:27.120 --> 0:06:27.760 that matters. 0:06:28.680 --> 0:06:32.599 He said to these disciples, I chose you not because 0:06:32.640 --> 0:06:35.839 you have it all together, not because you perform perfectly. 0:06:36.200 --> 0:06:40.039 No, I hand picked you because I can see your 0:06:40.080 --> 0:06:41.800 heart is turned toward me. 0:06:42.839 --> 0:06:45.760 God is saying the same thing to you. You wouldn't 0:06:45.760 --> 0:06:48.480 be here, you wouldn't be listening if you didn't have 0:06:48.520 --> 0:06:52.880 a heart turned toward God. Your performance may not be perfect. 0:06:53.360 --> 0:06:57.360 Your behavior, your attitude, your character may need some improvement. 0:06:57.560 --> 0:06:58.240 We all do. 0:06:58.960 --> 0:07:02.480 But just like with the disciples, God is saying, I 0:07:02.680 --> 0:07:07.159 handpicked you because your heart is sincere. Your heart is 0:07:07.200 --> 0:07:10.880 to do the right thing. Your heart is pliable and moldable. 0:07:11.320 --> 0:07:14.080 So I'm gonna show myself strong in your life. 0:07:14.960 --> 0:07:15.120 Now. 0:07:15.160 --> 0:07:18.280 The key is you have to learn to accept yourself 0:07:18.680 --> 0:07:22.120 while you're in the process of changing. Doesn't do any 0:07:22.120 --> 0:07:25.480 good to go around beating yourself up. Because of flaws 0:07:25.520 --> 0:07:29.760 and weaknesses, living guilty and condemned because you're not where 0:07:29.800 --> 0:07:31.440 you think you should be in life. 0:07:32.280 --> 0:07:34.800 The scripture says God changes. 0:07:34.440 --> 0:07:38.240 Us from glory to glory. You may not realize it, 0:07:38.640 --> 0:07:42.040 but you're in a phase of glory right now. Learn 0:07:42.160 --> 0:07:45.440 to enjoy the glory that you're in while God is 0:07:45.560 --> 0:07:48.600 changing you and taking you to the next level of glory. 0:07:49.480 --> 0:07:52.280 Too often, we're not gonna feel good about who we 0:07:52.320 --> 0:07:55.400 are until our behavior gets better, until we break the 0:07:55.400 --> 0:07:57.480 bad habit, till we control our temper. 0:07:58.040 --> 0:07:59.920 Then we'll start accepting ourselves. 0:08:00.640 --> 0:08:04.040 The problem with this approach is there will always be 0:08:04.240 --> 0:08:07.960 something that's not right. There will always be some reason 0:08:08.280 --> 0:08:10.040 to feel wrong about who we are. 0:08:10.840 --> 0:08:15.040 You have to accept yourself right where you are faults 0:08:15.080 --> 0:08:15.600 in awe. 0:08:16.240 --> 0:08:19.480 You are not a finished product. God is the potter, 0:08:19.800 --> 0:08:22.800 You are the clay. He's still working on you. He 0:08:22.880 --> 0:08:25.840 goes at his own pace. Nothing you can do to 0:08:25.880 --> 0:08:29.240 make it happen any faster. He knows what's best the 0:08:29.360 --> 0:08:32.600 sooner you say God, my life is in your hands, 0:08:33.400 --> 0:08:37.520 not just my goals and dreams, but my flaws, my weaknesses. 0:08:37.800 --> 0:08:41.440 These areas that I struggle in God, I know only. 0:08:41.160 --> 0:08:44.360 You can give me the grace to overcome. I'm gonna 0:08:44.360 --> 0:08:44.960 do my best. 0:08:45.160 --> 0:08:48.080 I'm gonna work with you, but in the meantime, I'm 0:08:48.120 --> 0:08:52.080 going to accept myself and enjoy the glory that I'm in. 0:08:53.080 --> 0:08:56.760 Now I've learned, if you'll keep your heart turned toward God, 0:08:56.920 --> 0:09:00.240 your performance will catch you up. The Disciples star guarded 0:09:00.320 --> 0:09:03.319 off rough They had a lot to overcome, but they 0:09:03.440 --> 0:09:07.000 ended up men of great character who touched the world. 0:09:07.640 --> 0:09:11.280 Peter had a problem with cursing, using bad language. He 0:09:11.320 --> 0:09:14.880 didn't change overnight. I'm sure there were plenty of times 0:09:14.960 --> 0:09:17.840 he got upset, fell back into that bad habit. 0:09:18.640 --> 0:09:20.400 Remember it happened the night before. 0:09:20.200 --> 0:09:23.160 Jesus was crucified. A young lady saw him and said, 0:09:23.160 --> 0:09:26.520 that's a disciple. I saw him with Jesus. Peter started 0:09:26.559 --> 0:09:30.040 cursing her out, Let her have it, went right back 0:09:30.080 --> 0:09:33.040 into his old ways. He had been a disciple for 0:09:33.080 --> 0:09:34.520 a long time. 0:09:34.520 --> 0:09:35.920 But he still wasn't perfect. 0:09:36.760 --> 0:09:40.000 You would think God would say, Peter, you're a headache man. 0:09:40.120 --> 0:09:43.599 You make me work over time. I'm gonna find somebody else. Know, 0:09:43.800 --> 0:09:46.959 as long as your heart is turned toward God. 0:09:46.880 --> 0:09:48.439 He's gonna keep working with you. 0:09:49.360 --> 0:09:53.679 God does not expect us to be perfect, but he 0:09:53.720 --> 0:09:58.120 does expect us to keep trying to keep growing. You 0:09:58.240 --> 0:10:02.640 have to stay pliable, willing to change when you make mistakes, 0:10:02.800 --> 0:10:06.040 don't stay down on yourself, get back up and go again. 0:10:06.840 --> 0:10:11.439 Peter blew a big time, but he repented, asked for forgiveness, and. 0:10:11.440 --> 0:10:12.440 Kept moving forward. 0:10:13.080 --> 0:10:16.640 He had to fight off the guilt, the condemnation, the 0:10:16.720 --> 0:10:19.560 voices telling him he was a failure, that he was 0:10:19.640 --> 0:10:23.160 never going to change. He didn't believe those lies. He 0:10:23.240 --> 0:10:26.640 knew he was on the Potter's will. God was making 0:10:26.720 --> 0:10:30.120 him and molding him. He was in a process of changing. 0:10:30.800 --> 0:10:35.400 Here's the key. Peter accepted himself even though he had 0:10:35.440 --> 0:10:40.120 some issues. His performance wasn't perfect, but he kept his 0:10:40.320 --> 0:10:42.840 heart perfect, turned toward God. 0:10:43.800 --> 0:10:44.439 Why don't you. 0:10:44.400 --> 0:10:48.320 Stop beating yourself up because you don't perform perfectly all 0:10:48.360 --> 0:10:52.880 the time and start accepting yourself because your heart is right. 0:10:53.800 --> 0:10:58.040 When you live guilty and condemned, feeling wrong on the inside, 0:10:58.160 --> 0:11:01.200 it only makes you do worse. And it takes a 0:11:01.280 --> 0:11:04.960 mature attitude to say I am happy with who I am, 0:11:05.600 --> 0:11:08.040 even though I'm not where I want to be. I 0:11:08.120 --> 0:11:11.600 still got these issues, I still struggle in some areas. 0:11:11.800 --> 0:11:14.960 But I know I'm growing, I know I'm improving. My 0:11:15.120 --> 0:11:17.880 heart is turned toward God. So I'm not gonna beat 0:11:17.920 --> 0:11:21.800 myself up. I'm going to enjoy where I am while 0:11:21.800 --> 0:11:25.160 I'm in the process of being changed. But too many 0:11:25.200 --> 0:11:29.320 people they go around feeling wrong on the inside. They're 0:11:29.360 --> 0:11:32.560 so focused on their flaws, their weaknesses, what they're not. 0:11:32.920 --> 0:11:34.439 They don't like who they are. 0:11:34.960 --> 0:11:38.800 If you don't like yourself, nobody else is gonna like you. 0:11:38.800 --> 0:11:42.439 You project on others the way you feel about yourself. 0:11:43.240 --> 0:11:44.119 If you feel. 0:11:43.840 --> 0:11:48.640 Guilty, lousy, condemned, mad at yourself because you're not far 0:11:48.760 --> 0:11:52.520 enough long, that's not only gonna hold you back. You're 0:11:52.520 --> 0:11:57.800 not gonna have good relationships. Quit taking inventory of everything. 0:11:57.400 --> 0:11:58.920 That's wrong with you. 0:11:58.920 --> 0:12:01.360 You may have a lot, but you have a lot 0:12:01.480 --> 0:12:05.840 more right with you. When God made you, he wasn't 0:12:05.880 --> 0:12:09.000 having a bad day. You are not a mistake. You 0:12:09.120 --> 0:12:13.199 have been fearfully and wonderfully made. In fact, when God 0:12:13.240 --> 0:12:15.840 created you, he stepped back and said. 0:12:15.640 --> 0:12:19.280 That was good. He calls you a masterpiece. 0:12:19.920 --> 0:12:23.720 Quit living like your ordinary, mediocre average, when in fact 0:12:23.880 --> 0:12:27.040 you're want of a kind. You're a prized possession. You're 0:12:27.040 --> 0:12:31.240 wearing a crown of favor. Paul said in Ephesians, put 0:12:31.280 --> 0:12:33.600 on the breastplate of God's approval. 0:12:34.520 --> 0:12:35.120 Every day. 0:12:35.160 --> 0:12:38.760 You need to say, Father, thank you that you approve me, 0:12:39.640 --> 0:12:40.760 thank you that. 0:12:40.760 --> 0:12:41.920 You are proud of me. 0:12:42.720 --> 0:12:47.240 When you put on this approval, chains of inferiority, of 0:12:47.320 --> 0:12:51.600 low self esteem, guilt, and condemnation, those chains are broken. 0:12:52.200 --> 0:12:55.600 There's a freedom when you know you've been approved by God. 0:12:56.080 --> 0:13:00.400 You're his prized possession. He created you in his own image. 0:13:00.880 --> 0:13:03.640 Don't go through life being against yourselves. 0:13:04.240 --> 0:13:05.840 Well, Joel, God doesn't approve me. 0:13:06.559 --> 0:13:08.560 I don't make a lot of mistakes, and I don't 0:13:08.559 --> 0:13:11.720 do everything right. I'm still struggling with my temper. You're 0:13:11.760 --> 0:13:14.720 not a finished product. God is still working on you. 0:13:15.200 --> 0:13:18.480 He doesn't say I'll approve you when you perform perfectly. 0:13:19.080 --> 0:13:21.760 I'll approve you when you get it all together. No, 0:13:21.960 --> 0:13:24.200 he approves you right where you are. 0:13:25.000 --> 0:13:28.040 He may not approve all of your behavior, but he 0:13:28.120 --> 0:13:32.280 approves you. God said you were good before you did 0:13:32.320 --> 0:13:33.040 one good thing. 0:13:34.200 --> 0:13:37.400 You don't have to keep working trying to gain God's approval. 0:13:37.520 --> 0:13:38.559 You already have it. 0:13:39.520 --> 0:13:42.360 You may make mistakes, we all do. You may fail 0:13:42.360 --> 0:13:44.160 from time to time. But here's the key. 0:13:44.800 --> 0:13:47.840 That's what you do, that's not who you are. 0:13:48.640 --> 0:13:52.200 We get our performance mixed up with our identity. You 0:13:52.240 --> 0:13:55.640 ask someone who are you, often they'll say, I'm a 0:13:55.640 --> 0:13:59.480 business person, I'm a firefighter, I'm a pastor, I'm a coach, 0:13:59.520 --> 0:14:00.440 I'm an art kitect. 0:14:00.880 --> 0:14:03.760 The truth is, that's what you do. That's not who 0:14:03.840 --> 0:14:04.240 you are. 0:14:04.760 --> 0:14:07.920 Who you are is a child of the most High God. 0:14:10.520 --> 0:14:15.000 That's where your value, your worth comes from from your who, 0:14:15.640 --> 0:14:19.080 not your doo. Because you may do things that are 0:14:19.120 --> 0:14:22.080 not who you are. Well, Joel, I'm an alcoholic. I 0:14:22.120 --> 0:14:24.720 got this problem with drinking. That's what you do. That's 0:14:24.720 --> 0:14:27.560 not who you are. Well, I failed in business. I 0:14:27.560 --> 0:14:30.720 guess I'm a failure. Failure is an event, it is 0:14:30.760 --> 0:14:35.800 not a person. Nothing you can do changes your value. 0:14:35.960 --> 0:14:38.480 Your who has been set by the creator. 0:14:39.400 --> 0:14:41.760 But the enemy would love for us to go around 0:14:42.000 --> 0:14:45.320 like we don't deserve God's blessings. He's called the accuser 0:14:45.960 --> 0:14:49.680 constantly whisper in your ear. You're still struggling with that 0:14:49.760 --> 0:14:52.760 bad habit. God's never gonna bless you. You can't get 0:14:52.800 --> 0:14:56.880 anything right. Don't believe those lies. Your who never changes 0:14:57.400 --> 0:14:59.480 Every morning when you get up. No matter how many 0:14:59.520 --> 0:15:02.680 mistakes you you've made, no matter how many weaknesses you have, 0:15:03.160 --> 0:15:07.240 you have to put on the breastplate of God's approval. God, 0:15:07.280 --> 0:15:10.240 I want to thank you that you approve me, You 0:15:10.360 --> 0:15:14.840 accept me, You are proud of me. See the breastplate 0:15:15.000 --> 0:15:17.720 covers your heart. It has to do with how you 0:15:17.800 --> 0:15:18.960 think about yourself. 0:15:19.600 --> 0:15:21.280 If you think you've made too many. 0:15:21.080 --> 0:15:25.400 Mistakes, you don't deserve God's goodness. I'm so disappointed in 0:15:25.400 --> 0:15:27.000 where I am now that's. 0:15:26.800 --> 0:15:28.920 Going to keep you from your destiny. 0:15:29.040 --> 0:15:33.240 You have to shake off the disapproval and remind yourself 0:15:33.480 --> 0:15:36.760 I've been approved by the one who matters most. Not 0:15:36.920 --> 0:15:41.320 approved when you perform perfectly, not approved when you overcome 0:15:41.360 --> 0:15:42.120 the bad habit. 0:15:42.600 --> 0:15:44.560 No, you are approved. 0:15:44.160 --> 0:15:44.960 Right where you are. 0:15:45.800 --> 0:15:48.920 Our son Jonathan, when he was a toddler, he would 0:15:48.960 --> 0:15:51.360 fall down while he was learning to walk. 0:15:51.920 --> 0:15:53.880 Sometimes he would throw food. 0:15:53.600 --> 0:15:57.080 From his high chair and bite his baby sister color 0:15:57.120 --> 0:16:01.080 on the walls. It's interesting none of that changed his name. 0:16:01.840 --> 0:16:05.200 No matter how many mistakes he made, how many times he. 0:16:05.120 --> 0:16:07.040 Failed, he was still in o steem. 0:16:07.840 --> 0:16:10.880 Nothing he could do back then, nothing he can do 0:16:11.000 --> 0:16:14.520 now can change his who. His who has been set 0:16:14.680 --> 0:16:17.920 He's been born into our family. When you gave your 0:16:17.920 --> 0:16:20.200 life to Christ, you were born. 0:16:20.080 --> 0:16:21.160 Into a new family. 0:16:21.560 --> 0:16:24.200 You were given a new name, child of the Most 0:16:24.280 --> 0:16:29.040 High God. Now you may make some mistakes, you may 0:16:29.080 --> 0:16:33.120 fall down, have weaknesses. The good news is none of 0:16:33.160 --> 0:16:38.040 that changes your name. Nothing you do can change your who. 0:16:38.520 --> 0:16:41.280 It is been set by the creator of the universe. 0:16:42.000 --> 0:16:46.040 God said in Jeremiah, before you were born, I knew you, 0:16:46.640 --> 0:16:51.120 and I approved you. Something powerful happens when you have 0:16:51.200 --> 0:16:54.360 the boldness to say God, I know you approve me, 0:16:54.800 --> 0:16:56.760 so I'm gonna approve myself. 0:16:57.160 --> 0:16:58.960 I am happy with who I am. 0:17:00.160 --> 0:17:03.320 Is will scream out on the inside, You're a hypocrite. 0:17:03.560 --> 0:17:06.879 You've got issues. You made a mistake last Tuesday. You 0:17:06.920 --> 0:17:10.520 didn't keep your word. Just answer back. I'm not approved 0:17:10.520 --> 0:17:13.800 because I'm perfect. I'm approved because of the family I 0:17:13.920 --> 0:17:19.760 belong to. My heavenly Father created the whole universe, and 0:17:19.800 --> 0:17:23.199 you know what he's crazy about me. I'm the apple 0:17:23.240 --> 0:17:26.440 of his eye. I'm his most prized possession. And yes, 0:17:26.480 --> 0:17:29.600 I may still have some issues, but I'm on the potters. Well, 0:17:30.040 --> 0:17:34.680 I'm growing, I'm improving. God is still working on me. Friends, 0:17:35.119 --> 0:17:38.920 you can enjoy the glory that you're in while God 0:17:39.000 --> 0:17:41.760 is preparing you for the next level of glory. 0:17:42.560 --> 0:17:45.040 I want you to feel good about who you are. 0:17:45.760 --> 0:17:49.040 When you are positive toward yourself, you are in agreement 0:17:49.080 --> 0:17:49.560 with God. 0:17:50.400 --> 0:17:52.879 Well, Joel, what about the mistake I made last week? 0:17:53.280 --> 0:17:56.600 What about that failure I made last year? The moment 0:17:56.920 --> 0:18:00.520 you repented and asked God to forgive you, Not only 0:18:00.560 --> 0:18:05.640 forgave you, but he doesn't remember it anymore. Quit remembering 0:18:05.960 --> 0:18:10.199 what God has forgotten. Quit letting the accuser tell you 0:18:10.320 --> 0:18:14.360 everything that you're not. Your performance may not have been perfect, 0:18:14.680 --> 0:18:16.560 but your heart is perfect. 0:18:16.720 --> 0:18:19.240 That's what matters to God. Now, I'm not. 0:18:19.200 --> 0:18:22.840 Saying to use this as an excuse to live sloppy, mediocre, 0:18:22.880 --> 0:18:25.760 do whatever you want. I'm talking about not letting guilt 0:18:25.880 --> 0:18:30.600 and condemnation keep you from your destiny. Bottom line, God 0:18:30.760 --> 0:18:33.320 is not keeping a record of all of our mistakes. 0:18:33.960 --> 0:18:36.600 Sometimes we think God must be up in the heavens, 0:18:36.640 --> 0:18:40.960 sitting at his computer closely watching, waiting for us to fail. 0:18:41.200 --> 0:18:42.360 Oh, I saw that mistake. 0:18:42.440 --> 0:18:45.560 Let me write it down. I heard that comment. Gabriel 0:18:45.600 --> 0:18:47.240 put a star by it. That was a bad one. 0:18:48.000 --> 0:18:51.040 They missed church last Sunday. Let me withhold my blessings 0:18:51.119 --> 0:18:55.080 this week. God is not waiting for you to perform 0:18:55.240 --> 0:18:58.760 perfectly before he can show you his goodness. He is 0:18:58.840 --> 0:19:02.800 looking for hearts that are turned perfect toward him. When 0:19:02.800 --> 0:19:07.359 you say, God, I love you, I need you, I 0:19:07.440 --> 0:19:09.960 can't do this on my own, help me to. 0:19:09.920 --> 0:19:11.080 Make good decisions. 0:19:11.640 --> 0:19:15.080 When you show your dependency on Him like that, you 0:19:15.200 --> 0:19:18.320 go through the day talking to Him under your breath, 0:19:18.480 --> 0:19:19.840 thanking him for life and. 0:19:19.880 --> 0:19:21.879 Health and family and opportunity. 0:19:22.200 --> 0:19:24.720 You go to bed with a greatful attitude, saying Lord, 0:19:24.760 --> 0:19:28.119 thank you for another beautiful day. When your heart is 0:19:28.119 --> 0:19:31.679 turned toward God, he'll not only give you the grace 0:19:31.840 --> 0:19:35.000 to overcome things that are holding you back, he'll give 0:19:35.040 --> 0:19:39.080 you the favor to reach your highest potential. Years ago, 0:19:39.480 --> 0:19:42.159 my father went to a high school football game with 0:19:42.240 --> 0:19:45.119 a good friend of ours. His son played on the 0:19:45.160 --> 0:19:48.760 defensive side, so normally he never got to touch the ball. 0:19:49.040 --> 0:19:51.320 But during this game, there was a short punt and 0:19:51.440 --> 0:19:54.719 his son caught the ball. This father right up there 0:19:54.760 --> 0:19:57.199 next to my dad. His eyes got so big, he 0:19:57.320 --> 0:20:00.880 was so proud. His son took a half step this way, 0:20:01.600 --> 0:20:04.880 half a step that way, and then got clobbered by 0:20:04.920 --> 0:20:06.080 about ten guys. 0:20:06.400 --> 0:20:09.239 I mean he did not move one inch forward. He 0:20:09.320 --> 0:20:10.280 was annihilated. 0:20:11.320 --> 0:20:14.000 My dad was kind of feeling sorry for this father 0:20:14.200 --> 0:20:15.520 because his son had just. 0:20:15.480 --> 0:20:16.400 Got wiped out. 0:20:16.840 --> 0:20:20.040 About that time, he turned to my father and said, hey, pastor, 0:20:20.560 --> 0:20:26.359 did you see those two good moves. Only a father 0:20:26.960 --> 0:20:30.080 can see the two good moves and not the fact 0:20:30.280 --> 0:20:35.520 that his son just got tackled by most of North America. 0:20:36.040 --> 0:20:38.000 That's the way our heavenly Father is. 0:20:38.440 --> 0:20:40.720 He's not looking at the times you got knocked down, 0:20:41.000 --> 0:20:43.200 the times you failed, the times you didn't measure up. 0:20:43.600 --> 0:20:45.439 He's looking at your two good moves. 0:20:45.880 --> 0:20:48.399 He's focused on the fact that you're stilling the game. 0:20:49.280 --> 0:20:51.600 You got back up again. You're here today. 0:20:51.760 --> 0:20:55.399 You haven't desire to please him. That's what God is 0:20:55.440 --> 0:20:59.440 looking at. It's your heart that matters. When you have 0:20:59.560 --> 0:21:02.800 the right image of God, you realize that He is 0:21:02.960 --> 0:21:07.000 for you, that he is not basing his goodness on 0:21:07.080 --> 0:21:11.560 your perfect performance, then all the guilt, the condemnation, the 0:21:11.560 --> 0:21:14.720 feelings that something is wrong on the inside, they don't 0:21:14.760 --> 0:21:17.959 stand a chance. You'll put your shoulders back, hold your 0:21:18.000 --> 0:21:21.480 head up high, knowing that just like the disciples, God 0:21:21.720 --> 0:21:26.160 hand picked you, not because you were perfect. But because 0:21:26.200 --> 0:21:29.679 he could see your heart, Friends, God is pleased with you. 0:21:30.480 --> 0:21:33.840 He is not disappointed in where you are. He is 0:21:33.880 --> 0:21:36.320 not shaking his head thinking when are they ever going 0:21:36.400 --> 0:21:39.840 to grow up? You are right on schedule. He has 0:21:39.880 --> 0:21:43.600 you on his potter's will. He's making you and molding you. 0:21:44.359 --> 0:21:48.800 Now do your part, stay positive toward yourself, keep your 0:21:48.800 --> 0:21:50.280 heart turned toward God. 0:21:50.720 --> 0:21:54.160 He's going to show himself strong in your life. When 0:21:54.240 --> 0:21:55.520 Jonathan was a little. 0:21:55.240 --> 0:21:58.440 Boy, I had this black sports car that I took 0:21:58.600 --> 0:22:01.359 very good care of. I would wash it by hand 0:22:01.520 --> 0:22:04.520 once or twice a week and polish it, make sure 0:22:04.560 --> 0:22:07.240 that it was perfect. And I kept on my towels 0:22:07.280 --> 0:22:09.960 and sponges and polished in a bucket at the front 0:22:10.000 --> 0:22:10.880 of the garage. 0:22:11.400 --> 0:22:14.280 One day, I just spent two hours cleaning. 0:22:13.920 --> 0:22:16.840 The car, and I had buffed the paint. It looked 0:22:16.880 --> 0:22:19.720 like glass. I could see my reflection in it, and I. 0:22:19.720 --> 0:22:20.679 Was so proud of it. 0:22:21.200 --> 0:22:24.879 A couple of hours later, Jonathan came running in my room, 0:22:25.280 --> 0:22:26.240 very excited. 0:22:26.800 --> 0:22:28.000 He was four years old. 0:22:28.480 --> 0:22:31.119 He had been in the backyard with Victoria while she 0:22:31.200 --> 0:22:34.760 worked on another project. He said, Daddy, Daddy, I just 0:22:34.960 --> 0:22:39.359 washed your car for you. My heart sunk. I thought, 0:22:39.400 --> 0:22:42.800 surely he did not touch that car that I have spotless. 0:22:43.240 --> 0:22:45.760 He said, I found your towels and your sponges. Do 0:22:45.840 --> 0:22:48.359 you want to come see it? I thought, not really, 0:22:48.359 --> 0:22:52.280 I'm already depressed. But I went and looked at it. 0:22:52.560 --> 0:22:55.919 He had taken my old, dirty towels and gone all 0:22:56.119 --> 0:23:00.720 over that car. It looked terrible, but I didn't say 0:23:00.720 --> 0:23:03.480 anything to him about it. I didn't chew him out 0:23:03.480 --> 0:23:06.080 and say, Jonathan, ken't you see the car was cleaned. 0:23:06.080 --> 0:23:09.480 You made it look worse. I knew his heart was right. 0:23:09.720 --> 0:23:13.440 So I just got the hose out, cleaned up the mess, didn't. 0:23:13.160 --> 0:23:14.359 Say a word to him about it. 0:23:15.560 --> 0:23:18.880 I wonder how many times God does that with us. 0:23:19.480 --> 0:23:22.280 We make the mess, but because our heart is right, 0:23:22.560 --> 0:23:25.719 God causes it to all work out, never says anything 0:23:25.720 --> 0:23:30.960 about it. We made a wrong turn, we got involved 0:23:31.000 --> 0:23:34.240 in something we had no business being involved in. But 0:23:34.359 --> 0:23:37.240 God looked at our heart, didn't hold it against us. 0:23:37.520 --> 0:23:38.639 He cleaned up the mess. 0:23:39.520 --> 0:23:42.400 The scripture says in James, God will give you wisdom 0:23:42.760 --> 0:23:44.280 without finding fault. 0:23:44.920 --> 0:23:46.360 God is not a fault finder. 0:23:46.840 --> 0:23:49.520 He doesn't go around accusing, saying I told you so, 0:23:50.000 --> 0:23:51.560 you should have known that was gonna happen. 0:23:51.720 --> 0:23:55.880 You're on your own now. No God is full of mercy. 0:23:56.000 --> 0:23:59.239 We deserve judgment, we deserve having to deal with our 0:23:59.280 --> 0:23:59.960 own problem. 0:24:00.359 --> 0:24:03.199 But because your heart is right, God will show you 0:24:03.359 --> 0:24:05.080 favor that you didn't deserve. 0:24:05.440 --> 0:24:08.200 He'll help you clean up a mess that you made, 0:24:08.359 --> 0:24:10.959 and on top of that, not even condemn you for it. 0:24:12.000 --> 0:24:13.760 We see this principle in the scripture. 0:24:14.720 --> 0:24:17.919 Jesus was at a Pharisees house about to have dinner. 0:24:18.280 --> 0:24:21.040 A lady came in by the name of Mary. The 0:24:21.080 --> 0:24:25.160 scripture says she was a notorious sinner. She spent all 0:24:25.160 --> 0:24:27.720 of her time in the red light district. That's how 0:24:27.760 --> 0:24:31.120 she made her money. And she poured this expensive jar 0:24:31.240 --> 0:24:34.400 of perfume on Jesus' feet and washed them. 0:24:34.960 --> 0:24:36.760 She dried them with her own hair. 0:24:37.560 --> 0:24:41.880 The Pharisees, the religious leaders, they begin to complain. They said, 0:24:41.880 --> 0:24:44.560 if this man is really a prophet, he'll know what 0:24:44.760 --> 0:24:46.760 kind of profession that she's really in. 0:24:47.200 --> 0:24:47.560 He'll know. 0:24:47.760 --> 0:24:50.320 She doesn't have a good reputation around here at all. 0:24:50.720 --> 0:24:54.320 They looked on the outside, they judged her performance. 0:24:54.880 --> 0:24:58.320 Her performance said, she's not valuable, she'll never amount to 0:24:58.400 --> 0:25:04.320 anythingform moments was poor, but deep down this lady had a. 0:25:04.320 --> 0:25:05.800 Heart turned toward God. 0:25:06.480 --> 0:25:10.320 She'd made lots of mistakes, but she took this unusual 0:25:10.440 --> 0:25:15.280 step to pour this oil on Jesus' feet. The religious 0:25:15.359 --> 0:25:17.680 leaders were watching closely. What's he going to do? 0:25:18.040 --> 0:25:18.640 Condemn her? 0:25:19.000 --> 0:25:21.520 Throw her out? Is he your real prophet? 0:25:22.200 --> 0:25:25.600 Jesus began to tell a parable about how when you've 0:25:25.600 --> 0:25:29.520 been forgiven much, you will love much. He looked at 0:25:29.520 --> 0:25:32.960 the lady and said, ma'am, your sins are many, but 0:25:33.080 --> 0:25:37.840 they are forgiven. Notice the lady made the mess, she 0:25:38.040 --> 0:25:42.000 spent years making wrong decisions, but when she took one 0:25:42.119 --> 0:25:45.080 step toward God, he didn't condemn her. 0:25:45.480 --> 0:25:49.600 He didn't chewerr out. He showed her mercy. He cleaned up. 0:25:49.520 --> 0:25:53.399 The mess and never said anything about it, never talked 0:25:53.440 --> 0:25:54.280 about her past. 0:25:54.840 --> 0:25:56.240 That's the God we serve. 0:25:56.520 --> 0:26:00.359 It's not your performance, it's your heart that matters. Maybe 0:26:00.400 --> 0:26:03.439 you two have made a mess of things. You're not 0:26:03.520 --> 0:26:06.240 where you thought you'd be in life. You brought the 0:26:06.280 --> 0:26:09.280 trouble on yourself. You're thinking, oh, Joel, God's never gonna 0:26:09.280 --> 0:26:12.800 help me. It's my own fault. But God is not. 0:26:12.760 --> 0:26:16.320 Judging you based on what you've done. He is not 0:26:16.480 --> 0:26:21.080 looking at past mistakes, past failures. He's looking at your heart. 0:26:21.920 --> 0:26:26.040 The real question today is your heart turn toward God. 0:26:26.920 --> 0:26:29.840 If you'll do like this lady, instead of running away 0:26:29.880 --> 0:26:34.480 from God, run to God and say God, I need 0:26:34.520 --> 0:26:37.720 you in my life. I want to do what's right. God, 0:26:37.840 --> 0:26:40.600 help me to become who You've created me to be. 0:26:41.040 --> 0:26:44.240 When you take one step toward God, he'll come running 0:26:44.280 --> 0:26:47.600 towards you. The scripture says, draw close to God, and 0:26:47.680 --> 0:26:51.280 he'll draw close to you. He won't disappoint you, he'll 0:26:51.320 --> 0:26:54.359 turn situations around. He'll help you get back on the 0:26:54.440 --> 0:26:56.880 right path. He'll even clean up a. 0:26:56.880 --> 0:27:00.199 Mess that you made. Jesus. 0:27:00.359 --> 0:27:03.880 The religious leaders, they did everything right, but their heart 0:27:04.000 --> 0:27:08.520 was wrong. This lady, he forgave, showed her mercy even 0:27:08.560 --> 0:27:10.040 though her actions were wrong. 0:27:10.720 --> 0:27:12.520 Friends, it's your heart that matters. 0:27:12.960 --> 0:27:16.280 If God's goodness was only based on our perfect behavior, 0:27:16.880 --> 0:27:19.560 none of us would have a chance because we all 0:27:19.600 --> 0:27:22.960 fall short, we all have flaws and weaknesses. 0:27:23.720 --> 0:27:26.720 But when your heart is turned perfect toward God, you 0:27:26.800 --> 0:27:29.120 may make mistakes, you may get off. 0:27:29.000 --> 0:27:32.240 Course, but when you make one move to come back, 0:27:32.840 --> 0:27:35.520 God won't say I don't think so. Seen how you've 0:27:35.560 --> 0:27:38.960 been living you don't deserve my goodness. No, because your 0:27:39.000 --> 0:27:43.000 heart is right, God will show himself strong in your life. 0:27:43.119 --> 0:27:46.199 That means he'll forgive you when you don't deserve it. 0:27:46.720 --> 0:27:49.439 He'll show your favor even though you didn't earn it. 0:27:49.800 --> 0:27:53.240 He'll clean up a mess that you made. Don't go 0:27:53.359 --> 0:27:57.119 through life feeling wrong on the inside. You may have 0:27:57.160 --> 0:28:00.720 made mistakes. Good news, None of that change your name. 0:28:00.920 --> 0:28:03.480 You are still a child of the most High God. 0:28:03.760 --> 0:28:07.040 He has already approved you. Now get up every morning 0:28:07.320 --> 0:28:08.600 short of proven yourself. 0:28:09.320 --> 0:28:10.400 Put on that approval. 0:28:10.480 --> 0:28:13.919 Shake off the guilt, the condemnation, keep your heart turned 0:28:13.920 --> 0:28:17.440 toward God. If you'll do this, I believe and declare, 0:28:17.880 --> 0:28:20.800 God is going to show out strong in your life. 0:28:21.119 --> 0:28:21.720 You are going to. 0:28:21.640 --> 0:28:26.199 See favor, healing, restoration, mercy Like this lady, He's going 0:28:26.280 --> 0:28:28.800 to turn the mess around, set you on a new 0:28:28.880 --> 0:28:31.600 path toward the fullness of your destiny. 0:28:31.840 --> 0:28:35.119 In Jesus' name. If you receive it today, can you 0:28:35.160 --> 0:28:35.719 say amen. 0:28:37.359 --> 0:28:40.160 We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 0:28:40.200 --> 0:28:43.080 an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:43.560 --> 0:28:47.880 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I 0:28:48.040 --> 0:28:52.840 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 0:28:52.920 --> 0:28:54.280 you my Lord and Savior. 0:28:55.680 --> 0:28:57.960 Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 0:28:58.000 --> 0:29:00.960 got born again. Get in a good bye Bible based church. 0:29:01.320 --> 0:29:02.480 Keep God first place. 0:29:02.800 --> 0:29:05.200 He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed. 0:29:05.880 --> 0:29:09.320 Thank you for listening to the Joel Osteine podcast. Help 0:29:09.400 --> 0:29:12.120 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:29:12.240 --> 0:29:16.120 all over the world. Visit Joelostin dot com slash give 0:29:16.200 --> 0:29:17.880 Hope to give a gift today. 0:29:19.160 --> 0:29:21.600 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:29:21.720 --> 0:29:24.480 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:29:24.520 --> 0:29:27.600 podcast to keep you inspired all through the week. 0:29:27.800 --> 0:29:30.680 We're praying for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 0:29:30.880 --> 0:29:31.920 We'll see you next time. 0:29:40.480 --> 0:29:43.000 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:29:43.040 --> 0:29:46.640 for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 0:29:46.680 --> 0:29:49.760 been ill equipped to help. That is until now. Join 0:29:49.840 --> 0:29:52.840 nearly fifty thousand people just like you who've enrolled in 0:29:52.880 --> 0:29:55.800 the Mental Health Coach Training program and become equipped to 0:29:55.920 --> 0:29:58.240 help for a limited time. Apply for a full tuition 0:29:58.360 --> 0:30:00.640 scholarship and only pay a one time tech fee of 0:30:00.680 --> 0:30:05.440 fifty four dollars if accepted. Apply now at mentalhealthcoach dot org. 0:30:05.600 --> 0:30:07.640 That's mentalhealthcoach dot org. 0:30:09.400 --> 0:30:14.400 Nice funds, Soft, Fluffy and ultralow netcarbs. Discover hero Bread 0:30:14.600 --> 0:30:18.400 the delicious ultralow net carbread with incredible taste and texture. 0:30:18.640 --> 0:30:21.080 Hero Bread has zero grams of sugar and is under 0:30:21.080 --> 0:30:24.360 one hundred calories per serving, plus high end fiber and 0:30:24.560 --> 0:30:27.440 up to ten grams of protein per serving. Available on 0:30:27.560 --> 0:30:30.600 Amazon dot com, Walmart dot com, and Hero dot Co. 0:30:31.240 --> 0:30:34.840 That's Hero dot Co. Order from Hero dot Co now 0:30:34.880 --> 0:30:37.440 and get ten percent off your purchase with promo code 0:30:37.480 --> 0:30:40.720 IHM ten. Summer is here and our sleep is just 0:30:40.760 --> 0:30:42.520 as important as our weekend plans. 0:30:42.320 --> 0:30:44.040 So get the sleep you deserve with Lisa. 0:30:44.160 --> 0:30:46.120 For a limited time, save up to seven hundred dollars 0:30:46.120 --> 0:30:49.320 off select mattresses plus two free pillows during our summer sale. 0:30:49.440 --> 0:30:51.760 Check out our hybrid mattress designed to keep you cool 0:30:51.840 --> 0:30:54.719 during those hot summer nights. Lisa also offers free shipping 0:30:54.840 --> 0:30:56.680 and a risk free one hundred night trial. 0:30:56.880 --> 0:30:58.080 Get the sleep you deserve. 0:30:58.280 --> 0:31:00.240 Shop our summer sale now and save up to seven 0:31:00.280 --> 0:31:03.360 hundred dollars off select mattresses plus two free pillowps at 0:31:03.400 --> 0:31:06.120 Lisa dot com. That's l e e s A dot 0:31:06.160 --> 0:31:07.400 Com exclusion supply. 0:31:07.480 --> 0:31:08.880 Visit Lisa dot com for details.