Let Them Walk

0:00:00.920 --> 0:00:03.800 Hi, this is Jolan Victorium. Thanks so much for listening 0:00:03.840 --> 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 --> 0:00:15.920 and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. Well, 0:00:15.920 --> 0:00:18.520 God bless you. It's great to be with you today, 0:00:18.640 --> 0:00:21.319 and I hope you'll stay connected with us during the 0:00:21.360 --> 0:00:25.840 week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, 0:00:26.360 --> 0:00:29.120 and you can come visit us in person. We'd love 0:00:29.160 --> 0:00:31.640 to have you be a part of one of our services. 0:00:32.080 --> 0:00:34.319 I like to start with something funny, and I heard 0:00:34.360 --> 0:00:37.240 about this young man. He was a huge football fan. 0:00:37.720 --> 0:00:40.840 He bought two tickets to the Super Bowl months ahead 0:00:40.880 --> 0:00:43.800 of time, not realizing it was going to be on 0:00:43.840 --> 0:00:47.000 the same day as his wedding. He had paid a 0:00:47.080 --> 0:00:50.280 couple thousand dollars for each of the tickets. So we 0:00:50.400 --> 0:00:53.680 put an ad on Facebook seeing if anyone wanted to 0:00:53.720 --> 0:00:56.400 go in his place. He said, it will be at 0:00:56.480 --> 0:01:01.560 three o'clock First Baptist Church and her name is Tiffany. No, 0:01:01.920 --> 0:01:05.720 don't do that, y'all. Here we go. This is my Bible. 0:01:06.120 --> 0:01:08.520 I am what it says, I am, I have what 0:01:08.600 --> 0:01:11.160 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:01:11.200 --> 0:01:14.000 I can do. Today I will be taught the word 0:01:14.040 --> 0:01:18.160 of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert, my 0:01:18.280 --> 0:01:22.720 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 0:01:23.240 --> 0:01:26.680 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:01:26.720 --> 0:01:30.680 about let them walk. We all have people that God 0:01:30.720 --> 0:01:34.000 brings across our path that are there for a lifetime. 0:01:34.520 --> 0:01:39.880 Our spouse, children, friends that we cherish. They're loyal, stick 0:01:39.959 --> 0:01:43.960 with us through thick and thin. But not every relationship 0:01:44.440 --> 0:01:49.160 is designed to last forever. There are seasons, and sometimes 0:01:49.240 --> 0:01:52.520 a good season will come to an end. Who you 0:01:52.600 --> 0:01:55.680 needed to raise your children may not be the same 0:01:55.720 --> 0:01:59.480 ones you need when they're grown and gone. Other times, 0:01:59.680 --> 0:02:03.360 God is it's taking you higher, you growing. The people 0:02:03.400 --> 0:02:06.200 that have been with you can't go where you're going, 0:02:06.520 --> 0:02:10.080 so doors will close. One of the hardest things for 0:02:10.280 --> 0:02:14.320 us is to let people go. You have to recognize 0:02:14.400 --> 0:02:18.160 when their part in your story is over doesn't mean 0:02:18.200 --> 0:02:20.600 you can't still be friends, but it's not going to 0:02:20.720 --> 0:02:24.280 be the same if not. We try to hold onto 0:02:24.400 --> 0:02:28.320 things that God is finished with. When that season is over, 0:02:28.600 --> 0:02:32.480 there's no grace for it. There's this tensions they want 0:02:32.480 --> 0:02:35.200 to lead, but we don't want them to go and 0:02:35.200 --> 0:02:38.160 how it's a struggle, a strain trying to force it 0:02:38.200 --> 0:02:42.080 to work. But when someone wants to walk away, you 0:02:42.200 --> 0:02:46.000 have to learn to let them walk. We spend too 0:02:46.040 --> 0:02:48.880 much time trying to convince people to stay in. We 0:02:49.000 --> 0:02:53.120 have to play up to them, manipulate. Why aren't they calling? 0:02:53.840 --> 0:02:56.239 Am I not good enough? I hope they come by. 0:02:57.280 --> 0:03:01.280 Do yourself a favor, Move on with your life. Don't 0:03:01.320 --> 0:03:05.160 waste another minute trying to convince someone to love you. 0:03:05.720 --> 0:03:09.920 Call you, come see you. You are a gift. You 0:03:09.960 --> 0:03:15.120 are a treasure, a prized possession. If someone doesn't recognize 0:03:15.120 --> 0:03:18.720 your value, they don't treat you like the masterpiece that 0:03:18.800 --> 0:03:23.600 you are, with respect, with honor, that's a sign that 0:03:23.760 --> 0:03:28.000 season has changed. You have to move forward. God has 0:03:28.080 --> 0:03:32.880 already ordained divine connections for you. People that can't live 0:03:32.960 --> 0:03:36.680 without you, people that love being with you, can't wait 0:03:36.760 --> 0:03:40.400 to see you. And sometimes the reason we're not seeing 0:03:40.440 --> 0:03:43.800 these people is we're holding on to the wrong people. 0:03:44.360 --> 0:03:47.440 Quit chasten someone that doesn't want to be with you, 0:03:48.400 --> 0:03:53.360 letting them control you, manipulate you, hoping that you'll gain 0:03:53.440 --> 0:03:56.320 their approval. Then they'll let you in their friend group. 0:03:56.720 --> 0:04:00.800 Here's the problem. If you do convince them come your friend. 0:04:01.520 --> 0:04:05.040 How you started that relationship is how you're going to 0:04:05.080 --> 0:04:07.760 have to maintain it. It's going to be a constant 0:04:07.760 --> 0:04:13.880 struggle to keep performing, manipulating connithing. Solomon said, unless the 0:04:13.920 --> 0:04:18.039 Lord builds the house, we labor in vain. If you'll 0:04:18.080 --> 0:04:21.800 let God bring your relationships and trust him with who 0:04:21.839 --> 0:04:25.560 comes into your life, then it's not a struggle. You 0:04:25.600 --> 0:04:28.599 can be who you are. You don't live trying to 0:04:28.680 --> 0:04:32.840 force people to like you, lower your standards to be accepted. 0:04:33.720 --> 0:04:35.800 Someone doesn't want to be in your life, it's no 0:04:35.920 --> 0:04:39.360 big deal. You let them go, and it doesn't mean 0:04:39.400 --> 0:04:43.200 that they're a bad person. Something's wrong with them. They're 0:04:43.240 --> 0:04:46.400 just not right for you at this time. Maybe they 0:04:46.400 --> 0:04:49.440 were fine for a season, but this is a new season. 0:04:50.040 --> 0:04:53.280 And the scripture talks about how God is our doorkeeper. 0:04:53.920 --> 0:04:58.080 He opens and closes doors in our life. When God 0:04:58.160 --> 0:05:01.720 closes a door, nothing you can do to keep that 0:05:01.800 --> 0:05:06.200 door open. You can strive and strain, try to talk 0:05:06.279 --> 0:05:11.720 people into staying perform better. That's laboring in vain. All 0:05:11.760 --> 0:05:14.720 that's going to do is wear you out, frustrate you, 0:05:15.040 --> 0:05:18.560 cause you to get bitter, Try a new approach and 0:05:18.680 --> 0:05:22.400 let them go. If people can walk away from you, 0:05:22.800 --> 0:05:26.520 they're not a part of your destiny, don't take it personally. 0:05:27.120 --> 0:05:31.239 Don't get offended, be critical. God is ordering your steps. 0:05:31.560 --> 0:05:35.160 The people He's ordained to be in your life cannot leave. 0:05:35.839 --> 0:05:38.400 You can't get rid of them. They love you no 0:05:38.440 --> 0:05:42.200 matter what. They accept you with no makeup, no coffee. 0:05:42.480 --> 0:05:44.960 They come when you don't call. They show up when 0:05:45.000 --> 0:05:48.279 you didn't ask. They laugh with you, cry with you. 0:05:48.640 --> 0:05:54.040 They don't judge you. You never have to think about performing, manipulating, hoping. 0:05:54.080 --> 0:05:58.040 They like you. They're a divine connection. God ordained them 0:05:58.080 --> 0:06:02.200 to be there. Now that's the opposite is true. The 0:06:02.279 --> 0:06:04.760 people that are not supposed to be in your life 0:06:05.000 --> 0:06:09.080 cannot stay. It's not up to them. God has closed 0:06:09.120 --> 0:06:13.200 that door. No matter how hard you try, how much 0:06:13.240 --> 0:06:16.920 you serve, give play up to, it's not going to change. 0:06:17.600 --> 0:06:21.160 Take the pressure off. Quit trying to win someone over 0:06:21.680 --> 0:06:25.080 that's not supposed to be there. We hear that phrase 0:06:25.400 --> 0:06:29.719 they ghosted me, men, they just disappeared. They didn't call, 0:06:29.880 --> 0:06:33.920 they didn't respond. They may have ghosted you, but sometimes 0:06:33.960 --> 0:06:38.320 it's the Holy ghost shutting that door. They don't even 0:06:38.360 --> 0:06:43.960 know why. It's because God is your doorkeeper. He knows 0:06:44.000 --> 0:06:47.359 who's good for you and who's not, who has the 0:06:47.440 --> 0:06:50.280 right motives, and who's just there for what you can 0:06:50.320 --> 0:06:53.440 do for them. He knows who will add value and 0:06:53.760 --> 0:06:57.640 move you further into your destiny, and who is a distraction, 0:06:58.279 --> 0:07:02.280 a dead end there to get you. Of course, bottom line, 0:07:02.360 --> 0:07:05.599 if someone doesn't want to be your friend, don't waste 0:07:05.600 --> 0:07:09.520 another second trying to convince them. If you have to 0:07:09.600 --> 0:07:13.560 perform to stay in a relationship, it's always a struggle. 0:07:13.960 --> 0:07:17.080 You don't feel like you measure up. They're not for you. 0:07:17.320 --> 0:07:21.840 That's laboring in vain. Let God build your house. Trust 0:07:21.920 --> 0:07:25.000 him to bring the right people. Now here's the key. 0:07:25.480 --> 0:07:28.240 You have to be at peace with who walks away, 0:07:29.040 --> 0:07:33.680 a peace with those who don't accept you. Recognize when 0:07:33.720 --> 0:07:37.200 their part in your story is over. You don't have 0:07:37.280 --> 0:07:41.400 to get bitter, live offended. God is the one behind 0:07:41.440 --> 0:07:46.040 the scenes, opening and closing doors. And that friend may 0:07:46.040 --> 0:07:48.960 have been great for ten years, then the season changed, 0:07:49.280 --> 0:07:52.920 they're not around, or that person walked out on you, 0:07:53.600 --> 0:07:57.680 broke your heart. I know that's painful, but you have 0:07:57.760 --> 0:08:01.680 to realize if they left you, you didn't need them. 0:08:02.520 --> 0:08:05.640 If you needed them for your purpose, for your assignment, 0:08:05.840 --> 0:08:09.600 they would still be there. The scripture says that God 0:08:09.640 --> 0:08:13.520 will never leave us or forsake us. If they walked out, 0:08:14.240 --> 0:08:18.600 ghosted you, betrayed you, and you needed them, that would 0:08:18.640 --> 0:08:22.800 mean God was forsaking you. You can draw the conclusion 0:08:23.320 --> 0:08:27.280 if they walked away, their part in your story was over. 0:08:28.280 --> 0:08:30.360 If they don't want to be your friend, you don't 0:08:30.480 --> 0:08:34.480 need them. If they don't value you make you feel 0:08:34.480 --> 0:08:37.280 like you have something to offer, they're not for you. 0:08:37.480 --> 0:08:41.000 You have to move on. Quit trying to talk people 0:08:41.040 --> 0:08:44.360 into staying that don't want to stay. Let them walk. 0:08:45.240 --> 0:08:48.240 Jesus told his disciples when you go into a city, 0:08:48.880 --> 0:08:51.560 if they don't accept the message of the good news, 0:08:52.040 --> 0:08:54.360 they're not for you and they don't want you to 0:08:54.400 --> 0:08:57.200 be there. He didn't say, man, you got to work harder, 0:08:57.720 --> 0:09:01.160 spend more time, try to convince them. No, he said, 0:09:01.280 --> 0:09:04.080 shake the dust off your feet and go on to 0:09:04.160 --> 0:09:08.160 the next city. He was saying, don't waste your time 0:09:08.440 --> 0:09:11.360 trying to win people over that are not a part 0:09:11.400 --> 0:09:14.840 of your destiny. Someone doesn't want to be with you, 0:09:15.120 --> 0:09:18.760 they don't like you, they don't validate you. Shake the 0:09:18.840 --> 0:09:22.600 dust off and move on. Accept that they're not a 0:09:22.640 --> 0:09:26.280 part of your story. If they can walk away, you 0:09:26.400 --> 0:09:29.760 have to let them walk. If you try to convince them, 0:09:30.040 --> 0:09:33.840 it's going to be a constant source of frustration. And yes, 0:09:33.920 --> 0:09:37.120 God can change their mind. If they're supposed to be there, 0:09:37.240 --> 0:09:40.800 He'll turn things around. But you're not supposed to live 0:09:41.440 --> 0:09:44.760 trying to talk people into liking you, being your friend, 0:09:45.160 --> 0:09:49.520 hoping they call. God created you in his own image. 0:09:49.720 --> 0:09:53.280 You have royal blood flowing through your veins. He's already 0:09:53.320 --> 0:09:57.560 lined up people that recognize your value, people that love 0:09:57.640 --> 0:10:01.640 being with you. Here's a lady in the scripture named Naomi. 0:10:02.280 --> 0:10:05.640 Her husband passed away and she became a widow at 0:10:05.679 --> 0:10:09.400 a young age. Ten years later, both of her grown 0:10:09.559 --> 0:10:13.640 sons were killed. She was so heartbroken she decided to 0:10:13.679 --> 0:10:17.560 move back to her hometown of Bethlehem. She told her 0:10:17.600 --> 0:10:21.560 two daughters in law, Ruth and Orpah, that they should 0:10:21.600 --> 0:10:24.040 move back to their homes as well, and going with 0:10:24.120 --> 0:10:27.320 their lives. The three of them packed up their belongings 0:10:27.400 --> 0:10:30.439 and headed out on the road toward Judah. They came 0:10:30.520 --> 0:10:34.360 to an intersection and stopped. Naomi said, this is where 0:10:34.400 --> 0:10:37.760 we part ways. You both go that way, and I'm 0:10:37.800 --> 0:10:41.319 going to go on to Bethlehem. The scripture says Orpa 0:10:41.720 --> 0:10:46.360 kissed Naomi goodbye and headed down the road. Orpa was 0:10:46.400 --> 0:10:50.360 a good person. She loved Naomi, but now she was leaving. 0:10:51.240 --> 0:10:54.240 Naomi could have been upset, thought, man, after all I 0:10:54.280 --> 0:10:57.480 did for her, She's leaving me in my darkest time 0:10:57.720 --> 0:11:02.080 when I need her the most. Oh Naomi understood this 0:11:02.240 --> 0:11:05.720 was a new season, that things had changed, that it 0:11:05.800 --> 0:11:08.839 was okay for her to walk away. She was at 0:11:08.920 --> 0:11:13.360 peace with who left. She accepted Orpah not being a 0:11:13.400 --> 0:11:16.400 part of her life in the same way without being 0:11:16.480 --> 0:11:20.600 critical and bitter toward her. We like to hold on 0:11:20.640 --> 0:11:23.760 to people and stay here, meet my needs, keep it 0:11:23.800 --> 0:11:27.760 the same. It's a mark of maturity. To let people 0:11:27.880 --> 0:11:32.880 walk away takes trust. You're saying, God, I know you're 0:11:32.920 --> 0:11:37.600 my doorkeeper. You're opening and closing the doors of relationships 0:11:37.720 --> 0:11:41.600 in my life. The other daughter in law, Ruth, was 0:11:41.679 --> 0:11:44.960 just the opposite. Naomi tried to get her to leave. 0:11:45.600 --> 0:11:48.960 She said, Ruth, there's no future going with me, nothing 0:11:49.000 --> 0:11:52.240 in Bethlehem for you. You deserve more for your life. 0:11:53.080 --> 0:11:56.440 She gave her best speech. Every opportunity to leave with 0:11:56.480 --> 0:12:01.280 no guilt. But Ruth said in verse sixteen, Naomi, I 0:12:01.360 --> 0:12:06.280 can't leave. I will go wherever you go live. Wherever 0:12:06.320 --> 0:12:10.040 you live, your people will be my people. Your God 0:12:10.200 --> 0:12:13.560 will be my God. May the Lord punish me if 0:12:13.559 --> 0:12:18.120 I allow anything to separate us. How could one daughter 0:12:18.160 --> 0:12:21.679 in law leave so easily the other want to stay? 0:12:22.480 --> 0:12:26.040 They both loved their mother in law, but Ruth sensed 0:12:26.080 --> 0:12:30.440 that her destiny was tied to Naomi. She felt this 0:12:30.520 --> 0:12:34.960 connection that was stronger than her own family. She watched 0:12:34.960 --> 0:12:38.040 her sister in law Orpa, walk away, but something in 0:12:38.080 --> 0:12:42.200 her said, you have to stay. In life, you'll have 0:12:42.280 --> 0:12:46.040 a lot of orpus people that leave. They're good people, 0:12:46.360 --> 0:12:51.559 but the season is over. Things change. They're busy, distracted. 0:12:52.160 --> 0:12:55.200 You have to let them go. Be at peace with 0:12:55.320 --> 0:12:59.880 who left. Don't fault them, don't get critical. God is 0:13:00.080 --> 0:13:04.360 closing the door. They're an orpah. They were instrumental in 0:13:04.400 --> 0:13:08.440 your life for a season. They were necessary, but now 0:13:08.520 --> 0:13:11.960 their part in your story is over. The good news 0:13:12.080 --> 0:13:15.920 is God will always give you a Ruth, someone you 0:13:16.000 --> 0:13:18.880 can't get rid of. They stick with you through thick 0:13:18.920 --> 0:13:22.440 and thin. They know their destiny is tied to you. 0:13:23.320 --> 0:13:26.680 But sometimes we try to convince the orpus to stay, 0:13:27.280 --> 0:13:32.360 spending time and energy and got to manipulate, perform or 0:13:32.440 --> 0:13:37.760 beloved Naomi, but she laughed. People can love you and leave. 0:13:38.600 --> 0:13:41.800 If they walk away, they're not a bad person. God 0:13:41.880 --> 0:13:46.200 shut the door. That season ended. But when it's a ruth, 0:13:46.559 --> 0:13:49.400 there's nothing you can do to convince them to go. 0:13:50.679 --> 0:13:54.240 When you understand this, it takes the pressure off. You're 0:13:54.280 --> 0:13:58.120 not frustrated over who laughed, bitter over that person that 0:13:58.200 --> 0:14:01.960 ghosted you, and strive to get that coworker to accept you. 0:14:02.760 --> 0:14:07.840 That's laboring in vain. Let God bring your relationships. Trust 0:14:07.960 --> 0:14:12.360 him with your open and closed doors. If someone leaves, 0:14:12.600 --> 0:14:17.760 do light, Naomi, kiss them goodbye, not bitter, angry man. 0:14:17.800 --> 0:14:20.600 They never call me back. Why won't they invite me 0:14:20.680 --> 0:14:24.320 to their group? You're not supposed to be there. You 0:14:24.400 --> 0:14:27.480 can't open a door that God has closed, and you 0:14:27.560 --> 0:14:31.560 can't close a door that God is open. They can't 0:14:31.680 --> 0:14:35.120 leave when God has purposed it. If they walked away, 0:14:35.800 --> 0:14:39.120 they were supposed to go. If they didn't stay, you 0:14:39.200 --> 0:14:43.520 didn't need them. Kiss them goodbye and move on. The 0:14:43.600 --> 0:14:47.800 mistake we make sometimes is instead of kissing them goodbye, 0:14:47.880 --> 0:14:51.840 we kick them goodbye. Good riddance, Get out of here. 0:14:51.920 --> 0:14:56.320 I didn't like you anyway. Talk bad, critical, live offended. 0:14:57.560 --> 0:15:00.920 They may have done you wrong, betrayed you, left you out. 0:15:01.400 --> 0:15:05.200 God is your vindicator. He'll take care of who hurts you. 0:15:06.000 --> 0:15:08.640 But if you let that bitterness get on the inside, 0:15:09.240 --> 0:15:13.040 it's going to poison your next relationship. You have to 0:15:13.040 --> 0:15:16.280 be at peace with who left. You have to accept 0:15:16.400 --> 0:15:19.960 who walked away as a part of God's plan. Yes, 0:15:20.040 --> 0:15:23.400 it was painful, it wasn't fair, but God wouldn't have 0:15:23.440 --> 0:15:27.720 allowed it if it wasn't moving you towards your destiny. 0:15:28.000 --> 0:15:32.080 Sometimes he closed his doors. We don't understand. He takes 0:15:32.120 --> 0:15:35.480 the orphus out of our life. People we were counting on, 0:15:36.000 --> 0:15:39.320 friends we were used to. But He always has a ruth. 0:15:39.960 --> 0:15:44.840 He always has the right people, destiny connections. The late 0:15:44.920 --> 0:15:49.480 nineteen fifties, my father was pastoring a successful church. It 0:15:49.640 --> 0:15:52.600 just built a beautiful new sanctuary and the future looked 0:15:52.640 --> 0:15:55.880 so bright. My sister Lisa was born with something like 0:15:55.960 --> 0:15:59.840 cerebral pausing. The doctors told my parents that she'd probably 0:16:00.240 --> 0:16:03.640 never be able to walk or feed herself. My father 0:16:03.680 --> 0:16:06.600 went away for a few days to read the scripture 0:16:07.120 --> 0:16:10.160 like he had never read it before. He saw how 0:16:10.240 --> 0:16:14.400 Jesus went around healing people, doing miracles, and how would 0:16:14.520 --> 0:16:18.120 you believe all things are possible? He was taught in 0:16:18.200 --> 0:16:22.160 seminary back then that miracles only happened in Bible days. 0:16:22.920 --> 0:16:24.960 He came back to his church with a new fire, 0:16:25.040 --> 0:16:28.560 and he shared this message of faith and victory. He 0:16:28.640 --> 0:16:32.640 thought everyone would be excited, but it was just the opposite. 0:16:32.760 --> 0:16:36.880 It didn't fit into their traditions. Things got so contentious 0:16:36.920 --> 0:16:40.720 and so divisive that my parents were forced out of 0:16:40.760 --> 0:16:44.680 the church. They had to resign. My mother was twenty 0:16:44.720 --> 0:16:48.960 six years old. She had lifelong friends that never spoke 0:16:49.000 --> 0:16:52.520 to her again. People she had known for years, gone 0:16:52.560 --> 0:16:56.800 to school with, raised children with, done life together. Now 0:16:56.840 --> 0:17:00.160 they walked away. Wouldn't have anything to do with her. 0:17:00.760 --> 0:17:03.840 Mother is about to be ninety one years old. I 0:17:03.840 --> 0:17:07.840 have never heard her say one negative thing about those people. 0:17:08.560 --> 0:17:12.719 Never heard her complain about them, belittle them. Sure it 0:17:12.800 --> 0:17:16.840 was hurtful. She felt the sting of rejection being misunderstood. 0:17:17.240 --> 0:17:20.199 Some of them talked about her and my father. She 0:17:20.280 --> 0:17:24.240 could have tried to defend herself, convince them to change 0:17:24.280 --> 0:17:28.639 their mind, keep them on her side. She understood this principle. 0:17:29.240 --> 0:17:32.520 If people can walk away, you have to let them walk. 0:17:33.200 --> 0:17:36.040 If they leave you accept it as a part of 0:17:36.080 --> 0:17:40.080 your destiny. Don't spend your life trying to change people's 0:17:40.080 --> 0:17:43.679 minds and win them over, convince them to approve you. 0:17:44.680 --> 0:17:49.000 Like Naomi, you have to kiss them goodbye, not bitter. 0:17:49.800 --> 0:17:52.680 I'll show you I'm gonna make you look bad. Leave 0:17:52.720 --> 0:17:55.960 it in God's hands. When you're at peace with who 0:17:56.000 --> 0:17:59.800 walked away, you're passing the test. That's when you'll see 0:17:59.800 --> 0:18:03.280 the new things God is doing. My parents went out 0:18:03.320 --> 0:18:08.040 and started Lakewood Mother's Day nineteen fifty nine with ninety people. 0:18:08.359 --> 0:18:10.760 The critics said it would never last, but here we 0:18:10.800 --> 0:18:14.480 are today, sixty five years later and still going strong. 0:18:15.680 --> 0:18:19.560 The fact is my parents couldn't have fulfilled their destiny 0:18:19.760 --> 0:18:23.960 at that church. It was a limited environment. Or if 0:18:24.000 --> 0:18:27.720 I had to walk away, those people had to misunderstand 0:18:27.760 --> 0:18:31.480 my parents, They had to reject them. It was painful, 0:18:31.720 --> 0:18:34.679 but it was God closing the door. And you're not 0:18:34.720 --> 0:18:38.520 always going to understand what God is doing and why 0:18:38.560 --> 0:18:41.600 this person treated you this way. You've been good to them, 0:18:41.680 --> 0:18:44.960 but they left you out, said things that weren't true. 0:18:45.440 --> 0:18:49.000 Leave it in God's hands. Don't spend all your energy 0:18:49.280 --> 0:18:53.280 trying to convince people to stay. They don't want to stay. 0:18:53.440 --> 0:18:56.760 Some people, no matter what you do, how hard you tried, 0:18:57.080 --> 0:19:01.320 how good you are to them, they're going to find fault, misunderstand. 0:19:01.640 --> 0:19:05.000 Wanna lead, best thing you can do, let them go. 0:19:06.000 --> 0:19:10.000 There's something called the gift of goodbye. We see it 0:19:10.040 --> 0:19:13.640 as a disappointment. Really they're doing you a favor. They 0:19:13.760 --> 0:19:16.439 had to leave so you can see the greater things, 0:19:17.000 --> 0:19:20.439 the levels you couldn't reach with those same people. It 0:19:20.480 --> 0:19:23.960 doesn't mean they're bad. It's just a new season. God 0:19:24.040 --> 0:19:26.960 is doing a new thing, so Orpah has to go, 0:19:27.520 --> 0:19:31.520 but Ruth will always be there. God is controlling the 0:19:31.640 --> 0:19:36.360 doors in your life, who comes in and out of relationships. 0:19:37.119 --> 0:19:40.560 If Ruth had walked away said like Orpah, I'm out 0:19:40.560 --> 0:19:43.680 of here, I'm going to greener pastures, I'm not saying 0:19:43.680 --> 0:19:47.080 with this old woman. If she had not stuck with Naomi, 0:19:47.840 --> 0:19:51.159 she would have never married Boaz and become the great 0:19:51.200 --> 0:19:56.280 grandmother of King David. Now we understand why she said, 0:19:56.359 --> 0:20:01.119 I cannot leave. Maybe I'll come with you, Naol. Maybe 0:20:01.160 --> 0:20:02.960 I'll go home for a few months and then come 0:20:03.000 --> 0:20:05.960 back and see you. The people God has ordained for. 0:20:06.080 --> 0:20:10.280 You cannot walk away. Listen to Ruth's language. May the 0:20:10.320 --> 0:20:14.040 Lord punish me if I allow anything to separate us. 0:20:15.160 --> 0:20:18.640 God will put such a strong desire in those who 0:20:18.680 --> 0:20:22.520 are supposed to stay that they can't leave. Now, quit 0:20:22.600 --> 0:20:25.800 worrying about the orphus man why didn't they stay, or 0:20:25.920 --> 0:20:29.600 thinking you have to work harder, perform better, convince them 0:20:29.640 --> 0:20:33.760 to not leave. That's not your job. Take the pressure off. 0:20:34.000 --> 0:20:38.480 You have a doorkeeper, a God who opens and closes doors, 0:20:38.880 --> 0:20:42.159 a God who moves people out on purpose, and a 0:20:42.200 --> 0:20:45.679 God who causes people to not be able to walk away. 0:20:47.240 --> 0:20:51.360 My part is to honor God, treat people with respect, 0:20:51.880 --> 0:20:55.720 be kind, be loving. But you don't have to beg 0:20:55.800 --> 0:20:58.800 people to stay. You don't have to play up to 0:20:58.880 --> 0:21:01.960 that friend hoping they'll give you the time of day. 0:21:02.960 --> 0:21:07.360 Let that coworker manipulate, talk down, belittle. If not, they 0:21:07.359 --> 0:21:11.359 won't accept you. You don't need them. The sooner you 0:21:11.480 --> 0:21:14.119 let them walk away, the better off you're going to be. 0:21:15.040 --> 0:21:17.199 And I'm not saying to be mean and rude and 0:21:17.440 --> 0:21:21.120 treat them the same way. I'm just saying quit depending 0:21:21.200 --> 0:21:24.320 on them for your value, thinking you have to have 0:21:24.440 --> 0:21:27.480 them to reach your destiny. You don't need them to 0:21:27.520 --> 0:21:30.639 feel good about who you are. Let them walk away, 0:21:31.040 --> 0:21:33.960 and God will bring people into your life that see 0:21:34.000 --> 0:21:37.680 you as a masterpiece, people that celebrate who you are, 0:21:38.040 --> 0:21:41.040 that love spending time with you. And I know when 0:21:41.080 --> 0:21:45.840 someone leaves it's hard to be looked down on, betrayed, rejected. 0:21:46.720 --> 0:21:49.760 But what if you knew, like my parents, that it 0:21:49.840 --> 0:21:52.640 had to happen so you could see your lake wood. 0:21:53.359 --> 0:21:56.600 What if you knew God closing the door was to 0:21:56.640 --> 0:22:00.240 take you to greater levels. It was a disappoint but 0:22:00.800 --> 0:22:04.880 in fact, them walking away is a present. They gave 0:22:04.920 --> 0:22:08.280 you the gift of goodbye, and it's very freeing when 0:22:08.280 --> 0:22:12.000 you realize God is your doorkeeper. He's going to have 0:22:12.080 --> 0:22:16.040 the right people for each season of your life. May 0:22:16.080 --> 0:22:19.280 not be who it's always been. I don't mean your spouse, 0:22:19.320 --> 0:22:22.760 your children, they're with you. I'm talking about friends, co workers, 0:22:22.960 --> 0:22:26.720 people you grew up with. Yes, some are long term, 0:22:26.760 --> 0:22:29.719 but some may walk away. You have to be at 0:22:29.760 --> 0:22:33.359 peace with who leaves. Some people they've been playing up 0:22:33.400 --> 0:22:38.240 to people for years, letting them control them, manipulate, live 0:22:38.320 --> 0:22:42.280 under so much pressure, all because they're afraid if they 0:22:42.320 --> 0:22:45.880 don't perform. This person may leave, may not call, may 0:22:45.920 --> 0:22:48.960 not approve. This can save you a lot of heartache. 0:22:49.520 --> 0:22:52.399 Let them walk. They don't want to be your friend. 0:22:52.640 --> 0:22:56.080 It's their loss, not yours. If they don't call, shake 0:22:56.160 --> 0:22:59.119 the dust off and move on. If they ghost, you 0:22:59.400 --> 0:23:02.359 take it as the holygo shutting that door, keeping you 0:23:02.520 --> 0:23:05.880 from that jerk. I mean that person. A few years 0:23:05.880 --> 0:23:09.040 after my father passed, the church was really growing and 0:23:09.320 --> 0:23:13.159 we needed a larger auditorium. My father always said that 0:23:13.240 --> 0:23:16.600 he would never move the church. I was young. I 0:23:16.640 --> 0:23:19.120 didn't want to rock the boat. But when we got 0:23:19.160 --> 0:23:22.560 word that the Compact Center became available, I knew it 0:23:22.640 --> 0:23:25.960 was supposed to be ours. I didn't announce it, but 0:23:26.040 --> 0:23:29.240 it came out in the news. Ninety nine percent of 0:23:29.280 --> 0:23:33.960 the congregation was completely for it. Everyone's so excited, But 0:23:34.000 --> 0:23:37.000 there was this one man. He would find me after 0:23:37.119 --> 0:23:41.159 every service. Joe. You know, your dad said he wouldn't 0:23:41.160 --> 0:23:43.560 move the church. It's not right to go to that 0:23:43.640 --> 0:23:48.520 other location. And if you go, I'm not going to come. Well, 0:23:48.520 --> 0:23:51.840 my personality is to want everybody to be for it. 0:23:51.840 --> 0:23:54.080 And I said, well, man, let's just pray, let's just wait, 0:23:54.160 --> 0:23:57.760 let's just see what happens, hoping to change his mind, 0:23:58.000 --> 0:24:01.040 convince him to get on board. But after about the 0:24:01.119 --> 0:24:05.040 fortieth time of him telling me it wasn't right, he 0:24:05.119 --> 0:24:09.200 wasn't gonna come, something shifted in my spirit. I didn't 0:24:09.200 --> 0:24:11.520 say it, but I thought to myself, I hope you 0:24:11.600 --> 0:24:17.760 don't come. In fact, you're not even invited. A stronghold 0:24:18.080 --> 0:24:21.640 was broken in my mind, thinking that if he leaves, 0:24:21.920 --> 0:24:26.080 the world's gonna fall apart. You can't accomplish your dreams. 0:24:26.480 --> 0:24:29.680 Worried about who's gonna walk away, who's gonna accept you? 0:24:29.720 --> 0:24:32.120 And I gotta perform play up to them, make them 0:24:32.240 --> 0:24:35.879 like me. That's no way to live. Some people can't 0:24:35.920 --> 0:24:39.800 go where God has taken you. They're good people, they're 0:24:39.800 --> 0:24:42.720 great for a season. But God has ordained you to 0:24:42.760 --> 0:24:47.760 go higher. It's gonna take greater commitment, greater faith, greater consecration. 0:24:48.600 --> 0:24:52.399 So He'll remove certain people that would limit you so 0:24:52.560 --> 0:24:56.919 you can fulfill your purpose. John chapter six. Jesus was 0:24:56.960 --> 0:25:00.680 teaching his disciples about commitment, what it meant to be 0:25:00.720 --> 0:25:05.240 a follower of Christ. Some of them didn't understand. Verse 0:25:05.280 --> 0:25:09.520 sixty six says at that point, many of his disciples 0:25:09.760 --> 0:25:13.840 turned away and deserted him. Here Jesus had given his 0:25:13.960 --> 0:25:17.680 life for them. They'd seen him do great miracles, traveled 0:25:17.680 --> 0:25:21.160 with him, eaten together, laughed together. But they walked away. 0:25:22.200 --> 0:25:25.320 Jesus looked at the twelve disciples and said, are you 0:25:25.359 --> 0:25:29.160 going to leave? Two? Peter said Jesus, where would we go? 0:25:29.880 --> 0:25:33.320 You have eternal life. We believe you're the son of God. 0:25:34.280 --> 0:25:37.960 He couldn't get rid of the twelve. What's interesting is 0:25:38.000 --> 0:25:41.840 you never read where Jesus went chasing after the many 0:25:42.000 --> 0:25:45.720 disciples that left that day. He chased after that one 0:25:45.800 --> 0:25:48.679 lost sheep that got off course, but he didn't go 0:25:48.920 --> 0:25:53.919 chasing after people that didn't want to stay. Your destiny 0:25:54.080 --> 0:25:57.879 is not tied to those that left you. God doesn't 0:25:57.960 --> 0:26:01.879 need anything you lost to bless you. Those that walked 0:26:01.920 --> 0:26:06.880 away didn't understand that betrayed. They didn't stop what God 0:26:06.960 --> 0:26:11.000 has for you. Let it go. Quit dwelling on it, 0:26:11.640 --> 0:26:14.960 reliving to her, hoping that you can pay them back, 0:26:15.080 --> 0:26:18.040 or trying to change their mind. God, close that door. 0:26:18.920 --> 0:26:21.440 I'm asking you to be at peace with those who 0:26:21.440 --> 0:26:24.560 have walked away. Quit trying to hold on to people 0:26:24.800 --> 0:26:27.399 that don't want to be there. You're not supposed to 0:26:27.520 --> 0:26:31.040 chase people to love you and accept you and believe 0:26:31.080 --> 0:26:35.240 in you. You don't need them. This takes the pressure off. 0:26:35.440 --> 0:26:39.199 No more striving, straining trying to convince people to be 0:26:39.320 --> 0:26:43.000 for you. That's laboring in vain. Trust God to be 0:26:43.119 --> 0:26:47.600 your doorkeeper. Trust him with your relationships. If you'll do this, 0:26:47.960 --> 0:26:52.280 I believe and declare God will bring you divine connections, 0:26:52.560 --> 0:26:56.520 the right people for every season or from may have left, 0:26:56.760 --> 0:26:59.679 but God has some rusts coming for you. People that 0:26:59.800 --> 0:27:03.520 care can not leave. In Jesus' name, and if you 0:27:03.560 --> 0:27:07.640 receive it, can you say amen? I'd like to give 0:27:07.640 --> 0:27:10.960 you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. 0:27:11.320 --> 0:27:15.000 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll 0:27:15.000 --> 0:27:19.120 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 0:27:19.160 --> 0:27:23.080 you my Lord and savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, 0:27:23.359 --> 0:27:26.240 we believe you got born again. We'd love to send 0:27:26.240 --> 0:27:29.240 you some free information on your new walk with the Lord. 0:27:29.520 --> 0:27:31.800 You can text the number on the screen or go 0:27:31.840 --> 0:27:34.399 to the website. But I hope you'll get into a 0:27:34.440 --> 0:27:38.040 good Bible based church and keep God first place. 0:27:39.240 --> 0:27:44.119 Sometimes the circumstances of life can be overwhelmingly negative. What 0:27:44.160 --> 0:27:47.000 should we do when we experience these kinds of negative 0:27:47.000 --> 0:27:48.320 reports and realities. 0:27:50.560 --> 0:27:53.520 Our life is like a container. It can only hold 0:27:53.560 --> 0:27:57.760 so much. When we allow negative things in, like worry, guilt, 0:27:57.880 --> 0:28:01.520 and unforgiveness. That's taking up space for the good things 0:28:01.520 --> 0:28:04.159 that belonged to you. That's why I wrote my book, 0:28:04.200 --> 0:28:06.720 Empty Out the Negative. I'll show you how to get 0:28:06.800 --> 0:28:09.840 rid of what's limiting you so you can live a victorious, 0:28:10.000 --> 0:28:10.880 fulfilled life. 0:28:11.200 --> 0:28:14.320 When you make room for joy, peace and faith, God 0:28:14.400 --> 0:28:16.000 will fill you afresh and anews. 0:28:16.160 --> 0:28:18.440 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:28:18.480 --> 0:28:21.320 of any amount to the ministry this month, Joel and 0:28:21.480 --> 0:28:24.879 Victoria would like to send you this powerful book, Empty 0:28:24.920 --> 0:28:29.159 out the negative, Empty out fear, and replace it with faith. 0:28:30.320 --> 0:28:36.760 My doctor, he said, I went in there and there 0:28:36.840 --> 0:28:38.280 is no cancer in your body. 0:28:39.200 --> 0:28:43.160 Empty out a hurt filled childhood, and replace it with confidence. 0:28:44.200 --> 0:28:47.680 So I took what Joel said and I physically replaced 0:28:47.760 --> 0:28:50.760 them with I am strong, I am worthy. 0:28:50.960 --> 0:28:53.800 I started saying those over and over and over. 0:28:54.360 --> 0:28:58.800 Empty out broken relationships and find renewed love in. 0:28:58.760 --> 0:29:01.280 A world that's just so full of so much noise 0:29:01.520 --> 0:29:04.200 and negativity and hatred, and just to come and have 0:29:04.560 --> 0:29:07.640 so much encouragement filled into you. You know, it's something 0:29:07.680 --> 0:29:09.360 I've never had in my whole life. 0:29:09.520 --> 0:29:11.920 Are you holding onto things that are weighing you down? 0:29:12.200 --> 0:29:14.320 It's time to empty that out so you can live 0:29:14.360 --> 0:29:16.440 a positive, faith filled line. 0:29:16.640 --> 0:29:19.240 Joel and I pray for you every day. We're believing 0:29:19.320 --> 0:29:22.560 for God's very best for you and your family. You 0:29:22.600 --> 0:29:26.680 know we appreciate your prayers and your support. Your generosity 0:29:26.800 --> 0:29:28.440 is impacting so many lives. 0:29:28.600 --> 0:29:32.120 Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 0:29:32.600 --> 0:29:37.040 download our daily podcast, listen on Serious Exam, watch the 0:29:37.120 --> 0:29:41.080 new Joeloastin Network streaming on television. But until we see 0:29:41.080 --> 0:29:43.760 you next week now, the Lord bless you and keep you. 0:29:44.240 --> 0:29:46.840 Be sure to request your copy of Empty Out the 0:29:46.920 --> 0:29:51.000 Negative today. Visit Joelostein dot com or call eight eight 0:29:51.040 --> 0:29:52.960 eight five six seven Joel