Pass The Test

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Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 0:01:00.320 --> 0:01:02.960 But if you're going to reach your destiny, you have 0:01:03.040 --> 0:01:06.280 to be the bigger person. Let God fight your battles. 0:01:06.760 --> 0:01:11.760 If you sink down to their level, get baited into conflict, revengeful, 0:01:11.880 --> 0:01:15.839 paying people back, then God can't trust you with more influence. 0:01:16.280 --> 0:01:19.520 That's a test. Prove to God that you'll stay on 0:01:19.560 --> 0:01:22.880 the high road, be an eagle, and rise above it. Hi, 0:01:22.959 --> 0:01:25.640 this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to our 0:01:25.680 --> 0:01:28.959 podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you enjoy 0:01:29.000 --> 0:01:31.600 today's message, why don't you be a blessing and share 0:01:31.600 --> 0:01:34.120 it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray for 0:01:34.200 --> 0:01:39.160 God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you. 0:01:39.440 --> 0:01:42.000 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:01:42.040 --> 0:01:44.400 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:01:44.480 --> 0:01:48.400 daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media. We'll keep you 0:01:48.560 --> 0:01:52.200 encouraged and inspired. I like to start with something funny, 0:01:52.240 --> 0:01:55.960 and I heard about this scientist. He said to God, 0:01:56.320 --> 0:02:00.000 we've decided we no longer need you. We can clone people, 0:02:00.400 --> 0:02:04.560 transplant hearts, do all kinds of things once considered miraculous. 0:02:04.840 --> 0:02:07.440 God said, fine, But to prove you don't need me. 0:02:07.840 --> 0:02:11.359 Let's have a man making contest. The only requirement is 0:02:11.480 --> 0:02:14.160 you have to make man out of dirt. The scientist 0:02:14.200 --> 0:02:16.600 said great and reached down to pick up a handful 0:02:16.639 --> 0:02:19.520 of dirt. God said, not so fast, Go get your 0:02:19.520 --> 0:02:23.919 own dirt. God made it all here. We go ready. 0:02:24.400 --> 0:02:27.239 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:02:27.720 --> 0:02:30.200 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:02:30.280 --> 0:02:32.920 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:02:33.000 --> 0:02:37.079 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:02:37.200 --> 0:02:40.560 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:02:40.680 --> 0:02:45.280 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:02:45.320 --> 0:02:48.840 to talk to you today about past the test. We 0:02:48.880 --> 0:02:53.120 all face situations that are uncomfortable. We're not getting our way. 0:02:53.600 --> 0:02:56.600 Someone is not treating us right. Our dream is taking 0:02:56.680 --> 0:03:00.880 longer than we thought. It's easy to get upset, frustrated, 0:03:01.160 --> 0:03:04.680 wondering why it's not changing. But much of life is 0:03:04.720 --> 0:03:07.920 a test. You don't really know what's in you until 0:03:07.960 --> 0:03:10.839 you're put under pressure. It's easy to have a good 0:03:10.840 --> 0:03:14.320 attitude when everything's going our way and people are being 0:03:14.360 --> 0:03:17.760 good to you. Doors are opening, the driver next to 0:03:17.840 --> 0:03:21.080 you politely let you in you'll feel the joy of 0:03:21.120 --> 0:03:25.240 the Lord. Thank you Lord for your favor. And that's good. Praise. 0:03:25.480 --> 0:03:29.079 Gratefulness is inside you. But how about when the driver 0:03:29.240 --> 0:03:32.280 isn't so polite, In fact, they make sure you don't 0:03:32.320 --> 0:03:35.880 get in. Stay right on the other person's bumper. You 0:03:35.960 --> 0:03:38.560 may find out there are some other things in you 0:03:38.760 --> 0:03:42.400 besides praise and thanksgiving. You weren't speaking in tongues, but 0:03:42.480 --> 0:03:47.320 another language started coming out. Peter told Jesus, I'll never 0:03:47.400 --> 0:03:51.640 deny you. I'm your most faithful disciple. His heart was right, 0:03:52.040 --> 0:03:56.000 he had good intentions standing with the other disciples in 0:03:56.040 --> 0:03:59.760 that atmosphere of faith, that wasn't difficult. But when he 0:03:59.880 --> 0:04:04.320 was put under pressure when the Roman soldiers were arresting Jesus. 0:04:04.600 --> 0:04:07.320 When the heat was turned up, the young lady said 0:04:07.360 --> 0:04:10.200 he's one of his disciples, Peter said, no, I'm not. 0:04:10.760 --> 0:04:14.240 You're the wrong person. Three times he denied that he 0:04:14.320 --> 0:04:18.640 knew Jesus. The pressure brings to light weaknesses in our character, 0:04:19.240 --> 0:04:22.039 areas we need to deal with. If we'll be willing 0:04:22.080 --> 0:04:26.560 to change, make adjustments, start passing those tests, then God 0:04:26.600 --> 0:04:30.080 will show us more of his favor. But just because 0:04:30.120 --> 0:04:34.320 Peter failed that test didn't stop his destiny. God doesn't 0:04:34.360 --> 0:04:37.440 give up on us. He gives us another chance. And 0:04:37.480 --> 0:04:40.920 it's significant that Peter is the one that wrote, don't 0:04:40.960 --> 0:04:44.520 be surprised at the fiery trial. That is to test 0:04:44.560 --> 0:04:48.640 your quality. The purpose of the trial is to test 0:04:48.720 --> 0:04:52.599 your character. God already knows how you're going to respond. 0:04:53.120 --> 0:04:56.039 It's not to show God, it's to show you what's 0:04:56.080 --> 0:04:59.760 in you. Every traffic jam, every person that gets on 0:04:59.800 --> 0:05:03.720 your nerves, every time you're tempted to be jealous, critical 0:05:03.920 --> 0:05:08.000 pay someone back, that's not a random challenge. That's God 0:05:08.160 --> 0:05:12.599 testing your quality. That's an opportunity to grow, to come 0:05:12.680 --> 0:05:16.000 up higher, to show him what you're made of. And 0:05:16.040 --> 0:05:19.640 the problem with failing the test being rude to someone 0:05:19.680 --> 0:05:22.800 that's rude to you, getting upset every time you get 0:05:22.839 --> 0:05:26.160 stuck in traffic, being jealous over a friend that God 0:05:26.200 --> 0:05:29.680 a promotion. When you don't pass, you're going to have 0:05:29.760 --> 0:05:32.760 to take the test again. It's not going to go away. 0:05:33.120 --> 0:05:36.320 God is going to keep testing your quality. He loves 0:05:36.320 --> 0:05:39.360 you too much to let you stay at one level. 0:05:39.680 --> 0:05:44.160 That's why you can't pray away everything that's uncomfortable. God, 0:05:44.200 --> 0:05:47.599 get this coworker out of my life. They're irritating me. 0:05:48.000 --> 0:05:51.720 They're getting on my nerves. That's a test. Why don't 0:05:51.760 --> 0:05:55.440 you be an ego and rise above their pettiness. Stop 0:05:55.520 --> 0:05:58.919 letting them steal your joy, Stop giving them your power. 0:05:59.880 --> 0:06:02.880 You let someone else determine whether or not you're going 0:06:02.920 --> 0:06:07.160 to stay in peace. You're handing them your thermostaff You're 0:06:07.240 --> 0:06:10.919 letting them control your temperature. They say something rude, you 0:06:10.960 --> 0:06:14.480 get upset, They leave you out, You get offended, they 0:06:14.520 --> 0:06:18.080 ignore you. Your day is soured. Do yourself a favor. 0:06:18.360 --> 0:06:23.440 Take your thermostat back. Quit letting other people control your atmosphere, 0:06:24.040 --> 0:06:27.960 determine your mood, your peace, your joy. You can't control 0:06:28.000 --> 0:06:31.359 what they do, but you can control how you respond. 0:06:32.160 --> 0:06:35.960 Start passing the test. Next time they're rude, just smile 0:06:36.120 --> 0:06:38.960 and go about your day. When they leave you out, 0:06:39.160 --> 0:06:42.359 just stay in peace. God, I know you're fighting my battles. 0:06:42.520 --> 0:06:46.120 You're my vindicator. When they try to make you feel small, 0:06:46.560 --> 0:06:50.400 just ignore it and move on. They don't determine your destiny. 0:06:50.920 --> 0:06:53.360 You're not who they say you are. You are who 0:06:53.440 --> 0:06:57.159 God says you are. You're a masterpiece, want of a kind, 0:06:57.480 --> 0:07:00.919 crowned with favor instead of trying to pray them away, 0:07:01.240 --> 0:07:05.360 try a different approach and be happy despite what they're doing. 0:07:05.920 --> 0:07:09.840 Bloom where you're planted. The scripture says, no person can 0:07:09.880 --> 0:07:13.080 take your joy. They can't take it. You have to 0:07:13.160 --> 0:07:16.000 give it. Make up your mind. I'm not going to 0:07:16.040 --> 0:07:18.960 give this jerk. I mean this cowork of my joy. 0:07:19.720 --> 0:07:22.840 Don't go the next twenty years letting the same things 0:07:22.920 --> 0:07:27.120 upset you, same people, same traffic, same delays. It's a 0:07:27.240 --> 0:07:32.760 test if you'll grow, if you'll respond differently. Sometimes God 0:07:32.800 --> 0:07:36.160 will remove it. But here's the key. Even if he doesn't, 0:07:36.600 --> 0:07:40.360 because you've changed, because your character has come up higher, 0:07:40.640 --> 0:07:44.160 it's not going to affect you. I found when God 0:07:44.240 --> 0:07:48.000 is not changing the circumstance, he's using the circumstance to 0:07:48.120 --> 0:07:52.560 change me. I'm a very goal oriented person. I have 0:07:52.600 --> 0:07:55.760 a plan, I'm focused. I like to get things done. 0:07:56.160 --> 0:07:59.200 That's a nice way of saying I struggle with being impatient. 0:08:00.200 --> 0:08:03.040 But it seemed like the more in a hurry I was, 0:08:03.560 --> 0:08:06.600 the more I would find myself in situations where I 0:08:06.600 --> 0:08:10.000 would have to wait at the grocery store there would 0:08:10.040 --> 0:08:13.560 be three registers to check out. I'd make sure i'd 0:08:13.560 --> 0:08:16.640 get in the shortest line. I would calculate it count 0:08:16.640 --> 0:08:19.240 the number of people in line, study how much was 0:08:19.240 --> 0:08:21.680 in their car. I was on a mission to get 0:08:21.680 --> 0:08:25.960 in and get out as fast as possible. Invariably the 0:08:26.000 --> 0:08:28.280 person in front of me would need a price check, 0:08:28.840 --> 0:08:32.800 can't find the item, computer is malfunctioning. One time the 0:08:32.840 --> 0:08:36.200 clock was new, she was so slow, Supervisor, I had 0:08:36.240 --> 0:08:39.439 to come over three times. The whole time I watched 0:08:39.440 --> 0:08:42.720 people and other lines pass me by. That'd give me 0:08:42.800 --> 0:08:46.640 so stressed. I never realized it was a test. I 0:08:46.679 --> 0:08:48.920 thought it was just a bad break. I chose the 0:08:48.960 --> 0:08:52.520 wrong line. One day, it dawned on me that I 0:08:52.600 --> 0:08:56.079 always got behind the slowest person in the grocery store, 0:08:56.160 --> 0:08:59.600 on the freeway at the airport. Why is that you'll 0:08:59.600 --> 0:09:04.080 be in the area of your greatest weakness. I'm not 0:09:04.200 --> 0:09:08.079 tested in being focused, being responsible, taking risks, those are 0:09:08.080 --> 0:09:12.680 my strengths. I'm tested in being impatient. If you struggle 0:09:12.760 --> 0:09:16.040 with being jealous, don't be surprised if you see every 0:09:16.120 --> 0:09:20.120 friend that gets something that you want. Your coworker makes 0:09:20.160 --> 0:09:22.320 half as much as you. They drive up in a 0:09:22.360 --> 0:09:26.079 brand new car. You take your family on vacation for 0:09:26.120 --> 0:09:29.079 a few days down to Lake Conroe. You are happy 0:09:29.360 --> 0:09:32.720 until your neighbor calls from Paris. There're spending two weeks there. 0:09:34.040 --> 0:09:37.040 You're believing for a spouse, to meet the right person. 0:09:37.559 --> 0:09:41.440 Your best friend gets engaged, your cousin, your coworker, your 0:09:41.520 --> 0:09:46.640 ninety year old grandmother. You're the bridesmaid in six weddings. Smiling, 0:09:46.880 --> 0:09:51.520 I'm so happy for you. Down deep, I am so upset. God, 0:09:51.559 --> 0:09:54.520 this is so not fair. Tell you something front of 0:09:54.600 --> 0:09:57.040 a pastor friend of mine. He was believing for a 0:09:57.080 --> 0:10:00.319 new building for his church, and for several years he'd 0:10:00.360 --> 0:10:04.640 been praying, looking everywhere, raising funds, but nothing was available. 0:10:05.160 --> 0:10:08.600 A new pastor moved in town, hadn't been there two months. 0:10:08.720 --> 0:10:10.880 He called my friends said, I want to come pick 0:10:10.920 --> 0:10:14.080 you up and take you somewhere. My friend was excited. 0:10:14.520 --> 0:10:16.959 He thought maybe he had found my friend a new building, 0:10:17.440 --> 0:10:20.560 placed a rent. He drove him to this beautiful building, 0:10:20.840 --> 0:10:24.680 prime location, great parking. He said, the owner of this 0:10:24.840 --> 0:10:28.240 property just told me I could use it rent free 0:10:28.240 --> 0:10:31.840 for five years. Isn't this awesome? My friend said, yes, 0:10:31.880 --> 0:10:35.160 it is so awesome. He didn't mean a word of it. 0:10:35.280 --> 0:10:40.440 He was so discouraged. But God, blessing someone else doesn't 0:10:40.480 --> 0:10:43.920 mean he's not going to bless you. God didn't run 0:10:43.920 --> 0:10:48.440 out of favor. That's a test. He's watching to see 0:10:48.440 --> 0:10:51.480 how you're going to respond. But they don't deserve it. 0:10:51.880 --> 0:10:54.719 I've been here longer than them. I don't understand it. No, 0:10:54.960 --> 0:10:59.160 pass the test. Be happy for them. That's an opportunity 0:10:59.200 --> 0:11:02.160 to show God what you're made of. If you will 0:11:02.200 --> 0:11:05.840 celebrate others, then God will have plenty of times where 0:11:05.840 --> 0:11:09.880 people will celebrate you. Pay attention to the areas that 0:11:09.960 --> 0:11:13.960 you're tested in. It's not a coincidence. When God brings 0:11:14.000 --> 0:11:16.199 things to light, you have to be willing to deal 0:11:16.240 --> 0:11:19.840 with it. These impurities in our character keep us from 0:11:19.960 --> 0:11:23.320 rising higher. They don't come out in the good times. 0:11:23.480 --> 0:11:26.920 They come out when we're under pressure. Don't ignore it, 0:11:27.360 --> 0:11:31.320 don't keep responding the same way. God wants to entrust 0:11:31.360 --> 0:11:35.440 you with more favor, more influence, more resources. That's why 0:11:35.480 --> 0:11:39.120 he's testing your character. One time I had a meeting 0:11:39.160 --> 0:11:41.280 at the church, and at that time it was a 0:11:41.320 --> 0:11:44.080 thirty minute drive from my house. I left a little 0:11:44.080 --> 0:11:46.640 bit late, but I knew if I didn't hit any traffic, 0:11:47.040 --> 0:11:50.720 I would get there right on time. I prayed for favor. Lord, 0:11:50.760 --> 0:11:53.920 thank you for making my crooked places straight. There was 0:11:53.960 --> 0:11:57.640 a light leaving my neighborhood. In three years, I had 0:11:57.679 --> 0:12:01.240 never seen it red. Was always green, but right when 0:12:01.240 --> 0:12:04.280 I got to the intersection, it turned red. It was 0:12:04.320 --> 0:12:07.880 the strangest thing. I got on the freeway and took off, 0:12:08.320 --> 0:12:11.000 praying that God would give me discernment to know which 0:12:11.040 --> 0:12:14.160 hell the policeman would be sitting over. Now. I was 0:12:14.200 --> 0:12:17.360 doing fine, still had time to make it. Then the 0:12:17.400 --> 0:12:20.960 traffic started slowing down. As it got slower, my blood 0:12:20.960 --> 0:12:24.040 pressure went higher and higher. Slowed down all the way 0:12:24.080 --> 0:12:27.160 to twenty miles an hour. It's never that slow at 0:12:27.200 --> 0:12:30.679 that time of day, and I was frustrated. The lane 0:12:30.679 --> 0:12:33.240 next to me was going a little faster. I tried 0:12:33.280 --> 0:12:37.520 to get over, but nobody would let me in. I waved, smiled, 0:12:37.840 --> 0:12:42.040 blue kisses, held up a twenty but nothing. Finally someone 0:12:42.120 --> 0:12:44.120 paused and let me in. I thought, thank God I 0:12:44.160 --> 0:12:48.360 got over. Right when I did, that lane stopped. I 0:12:48.400 --> 0:12:51.160 sat there and watched the lane I was in passed 0:12:51.160 --> 0:12:55.200 me by. I was so stressed. I just knew that 0:12:55.400 --> 0:12:59.800 was the enemy attacking me, making me lame. Now realized 0:13:00.160 --> 0:13:04.640 that was God attacking my impatience. That was God allowing 0:13:04.679 --> 0:13:08.320 me to be in an uncomfortable situation to bring to 0:13:08.440 --> 0:13:12.760 light impurities in my character. It didn't happen overnight, but 0:13:12.840 --> 0:13:16.480 I started dealing with it, ruling over my emotions, not 0:13:16.640 --> 0:13:20.120 letting that upset me. Now I've learned to stay in peace, 0:13:20.520 --> 0:13:23.120 that God's ordering my steps, that I'm at the right 0:13:23.160 --> 0:13:26.520 place at the right time. Are you trying to pray 0:13:26.559 --> 0:13:29.640 away what God is wanting to use to refine you 0:13:30.559 --> 0:13:33.640 instead of trying to change everything? Why don't you pray 0:13:33.679 --> 0:13:37.400 God help me to change, Help me to come up higher, 0:13:37.880 --> 0:13:41.200 to be more patient, to overlook the offense, to not 0:13:41.320 --> 0:13:44.600 be jealous, to not let other people steal my joy. 0:13:45.679 --> 0:13:49.200 Sometimes the test is to be good to someone that's 0:13:49.240 --> 0:13:52.480 not being good to you. It's easy to treat people 0:13:52.600 --> 0:13:55.560 the way they treat us. They're rude to us, We're 0:13:55.559 --> 0:13:58.040 going to be rude to them. They put us down, 0:13:58.160 --> 0:14:00.880 We're gonna put them down. They stabbed me in the 0:14:00.920 --> 0:14:04.160 back at work, I'm gonna get revenge. But if you're 0:14:04.160 --> 0:14:06.800 going to reach your destiny, you have to be the 0:14:06.840 --> 0:14:10.720 bigger person. Let God fight your battles. If you sink 0:14:10.760 --> 0:14:15.520 down to their level, get baited into conflict, revengeful paying 0:14:15.600 --> 0:14:19.200 people back then God can't trust you with more influence. 0:14:19.640 --> 0:14:22.880 That's a test. Prove to God that you'll stay on 0:14:22.920 --> 0:14:25.840 the high road, be an eagle, and rise above it. 0:14:26.720 --> 0:14:29.200 This is what David did. He was one of King 0:14:29.320 --> 0:14:34.320 Saul's main armor bearers. When Saul wasn't feeling well, David 0:14:34.360 --> 0:14:37.200 would come in and play the harp. Saul would get better. 0:14:37.760 --> 0:14:40.600 Saul was jealous of David. He could see the favor 0:14:40.640 --> 0:14:43.240 on his life, and instead of being happy for him, 0:14:43.480 --> 0:14:47.040 he let that jealousy get stronger and stronger made him 0:14:47.040 --> 0:14:50.880 bitter toward David. One day, while David was playing the 0:14:50.960 --> 0:14:54.680 harp being good to Saul saw through a spear and 0:14:54.720 --> 0:14:58.280 barely miss David. Here David was doing the right thing, 0:14:58.760 --> 0:15:01.800 trying to help Saul, Pasaul was trying to kill him. 0:15:02.320 --> 0:15:05.720 David could have fought back, tried to get even, but 0:15:05.840 --> 0:15:09.680 he knew Saul had been anointed king. He respected the 0:15:09.760 --> 0:15:13.000 authority he was under, so he ran in the desert. 0:15:13.280 --> 0:15:17.440 Saul came chasing after him. At one point David found 0:15:17.480 --> 0:15:20.920 Saul and all of his men asleep. Was David's big 0:15:21.000 --> 0:15:24.400 chance to get even, to pay him back. In one moment, 0:15:24.560 --> 0:15:27.000 he could take Saul out, but he wouldn't do it. 0:15:27.880 --> 0:15:32.640 When Saul found out how David spared his life, he wept, said, David, 0:15:32.800 --> 0:15:36.280 you're a better man than me. The reason God could 0:15:36.280 --> 0:15:40.880 trust David with so much influence, honor, resources as he 0:15:40.960 --> 0:15:44.640 kept passing the test all these times he was under 0:15:44.680 --> 0:15:47.600 great pressure where he could have done what he felt like, 0:15:48.160 --> 0:15:51.960 told Saul off got revenge, made his life miserable. David 0:15:51.960 --> 0:15:55.120 wouldn't do it. He took the high road. He let 0:15:55.160 --> 0:15:58.680 God fight his battles. He was kind to someone that 0:15:58.840 --> 0:16:02.520 wasn't kind to him. When you treat people right that 0:16:02.640 --> 0:16:05.920 don't treat you right, you're proving to God that you 0:16:06.000 --> 0:16:10.720 can handle more influence, more responsibility. This is a major 0:16:10.840 --> 0:16:14.160 test because most of us will be good to people 0:16:14.280 --> 0:16:17.200 that are good to us. But to go where God 0:16:17.280 --> 0:16:19.400 wants you to go, you have to be good to 0:16:19.480 --> 0:16:22.760 people that are not good to you. When you let 0:16:22.800 --> 0:16:26.120 God refine you, you don't let the offense get in. 0:16:26.800 --> 0:16:29.600 You don't live thinking about paying people back. But you 0:16:29.760 --> 0:16:32.800 stay in peace. You're going to see God's favor and 0:16:32.840 --> 0:16:37.080 blessing in great ways. And don't be surprised if you 0:16:37.120 --> 0:16:41.240 find yourself in situations that are not fair. People that 0:16:41.320 --> 0:16:45.280 didn't keep their word. They played politics, made you look bad. 0:16:45.800 --> 0:16:48.960 They betrayed you. You have every right to get even 0:16:49.560 --> 0:16:52.760 your flesh says, do to them what they did to you. No, 0:16:53.000 --> 0:16:57.240 pass the test. Be a David. That's God seeing what 0:16:57.280 --> 0:17:01.080 you're made of. It's easy to tell people off. It's 0:17:01.080 --> 0:17:03.960 easy to be rude when someone's rude to you, But 0:17:04.000 --> 0:17:07.000 that will keep you at the same place. God wants 0:17:07.040 --> 0:17:10.000 to take you higher, to places that you've never seen. 0:17:10.760 --> 0:17:14.280 He'll allow you to be uncomfortable. The scripture calls it. 0:17:14.560 --> 0:17:18.920 The fiery challenge is to test your quality. Sometimes God 0:17:18.960 --> 0:17:21.639 will put you in the middle of the fire. In 0:17:21.680 --> 0:17:26.080 that pressure, impurities will come out revenge. Two can play 0:17:26.080 --> 0:17:28.719 at this game, pride. I don't have to put up 0:17:28.760 --> 0:17:32.200 with this sarcasm. You really think you're that hot? No, 0:17:32.400 --> 0:17:36.280 stay in peace. Let God fights your battles. The Psalmist said, 0:17:36.600 --> 0:17:40.760 remain calm in times of adversity. That's passing the test. 0:17:41.280 --> 0:17:44.280 That's what allows God to take you where you've never dreamed. 0:17:44.880 --> 0:17:47.160 Which old These people at work get on my nerves. 0:17:47.680 --> 0:17:50.600 I've been praying for God to move them out. Have 0:17:50.720 --> 0:17:54.120 you ever thought about maybe God has you there on purpose? 0:17:54.840 --> 0:17:59.399 Maybe that's a test. If he removed everything uncomfortable, you 0:17:59.440 --> 0:18:03.240 would never instead of being sour, Why don't you try 0:18:03.280 --> 0:18:07.480 a different approach and keep a good attitude. My spouse 0:18:07.520 --> 0:18:11.280 aggravates me. She knows just what buttons to push. That's 0:18:11.280 --> 0:18:14.800 why I say things I shouldn't. That's why I get upset. No, 0:18:14.960 --> 0:18:19.280 that's a test of your character. In that fire. Impurities 0:18:19.320 --> 0:18:22.720 are coming out under pressure. You're seeing what's in you. 0:18:23.520 --> 0:18:27.920 Next time that happens, respond a different way. Proverbs twenty 0:18:27.960 --> 0:18:31.560 one says, if you'll keep your mouth closed, you'll stay 0:18:31.560 --> 0:18:35.000 out of trouble. One way to pass the test is 0:18:35.040 --> 0:18:39.320 real simple. Keep your mouth closed. Quit letting your emotions 0:18:39.359 --> 0:18:44.040 control your mouth. Your tongue can start World War three. 0:18:44.119 --> 0:18:46.879 Your tongue can get you fired. Your tongue can have 0:18:46.920 --> 0:18:49.919 your sleeping on the couch at night. Next time you 0:18:50.040 --> 0:18:55.040 feel like saying something hurtful, disrespectful, telling someone off, take 0:18:55.080 --> 0:18:59.359 a deep breath. Pause for ten seconds. Under your breath, God, 0:18:59.400 --> 0:19:02.399 help me to control my tongue. Help me to pass 0:19:02.480 --> 0:19:06.680 this test. If you'll keep your mouth closed the next time, 0:19:06.800 --> 0:19:09.680 it will be a little easier. The next time easier. 0:19:10.400 --> 0:19:14.160 Don't go year after year responding the same way. That's 0:19:14.200 --> 0:19:18.359 an opportunity to grow. You can change. You don't have 0:19:18.400 --> 0:19:23.159 to be sarcastic, say hurtful, critical words that wound people, 0:19:23.520 --> 0:19:28.320 bring strife conflict. What if my spouse doesn't change. If 0:19:28.359 --> 0:19:32.520 you'll change, they'll change. Sometimes we're waiting for the other 0:19:32.560 --> 0:19:36.239 person to move first, then we'll do better. You have 0:19:36.320 --> 0:19:38.760 to be the bigger person. You be the one to 0:19:38.840 --> 0:19:41.359 keep your mouth closed. You be the one to walk 0:19:41.400 --> 0:19:44.800 away from conflict. You be the one to pass the test. 0:19:45.800 --> 0:19:49.000 The scripture says in a house, there are vessels of 0:19:49.040 --> 0:19:53.240 wood and clay for ordinary use, but there are vessels 0:19:53.280 --> 0:19:57.680 of gold for God's highest purposes. We can stay vessels 0:19:57.680 --> 0:20:01.679 of wood and clay. That's fine, still God's creation. He 0:20:01.800 --> 0:20:05.120 made us. We can live with these impurities, still make 0:20:05.160 --> 0:20:08.480 it through life. But I'm not talking about just making 0:20:08.520 --> 0:20:12.280 it through. I'm talking about seeing the greatness God put 0:20:12.320 --> 0:20:15.720 in you, being a vessel of gold use for God's 0:20:15.840 --> 0:20:19.920 highest purposes. That's what happens when we keep letting God 0:20:20.000 --> 0:20:23.480 refine us, we keep dealing with what he brings to light. 0:20:24.359 --> 0:20:27.760 You can't rebuke everything you don't like. You can't pray 0:20:27.800 --> 0:20:32.000 away every grouchy person. The delays the clerk that's rude, 0:20:32.240 --> 0:20:35.280 the spouse that gets on your nerves. Those are tests. 0:20:36.040 --> 0:20:39.520 They may not change, but you can change now. Key 0:20:39.600 --> 0:20:44.680 to seeing God's best is to stay pliable, walk in humility, 0:20:45.240 --> 0:20:49.240 be willing to change. What can you do to get 0:20:49.240 --> 0:20:54.399 along better in relationships? What improvements can you make not 0:20:54.560 --> 0:20:58.720 your spouse, your boss, your children? What areas can you 0:20:58.840 --> 0:21:03.359 come up higher in to have better relationships? Don't pray 0:21:03.359 --> 0:21:07.000 for God to change someone else without first praying God 0:21:07.240 --> 0:21:10.600 show me where I need to change. I used to 0:21:10.600 --> 0:21:14.080 play basketball at the YMCA, and when i'd come home 0:21:14.400 --> 0:21:18.240 after playing a couple of hours full courts, high intensity, 0:21:18.400 --> 0:21:21.680 I'd be really sweaty. The closest sink from the back 0:21:21.720 --> 0:21:24.600 door was the kitchen sink. I'd always stop and wash 0:21:24.680 --> 0:21:27.959 my hands. Well, Victoria didn't like me using the kitchen 0:21:28.000 --> 0:21:30.439 sink when I was so sweaty. She didn't want that 0:21:30.480 --> 0:21:33.200 around all the food. She asked me not to wash 0:21:33.280 --> 0:21:36.920 my hands there. It was a small thing, no big deal. 0:21:37.119 --> 0:21:40.520 Use the other sink. That makes sense, But it's funny 0:21:40.600 --> 0:21:43.480 how we can come up with excuses. That was a 0:21:43.520 --> 0:21:46.680 reasonable request, But I thought of all the reasons why 0:21:46.680 --> 0:21:49.840 I shouldn't do it. This is the closest sink. I 0:21:49.880 --> 0:21:51.920 don't want to walk to that other sink here. I've 0:21:51.960 --> 0:21:54.440 just run up and down the court for two hours now, 0:21:54.520 --> 0:21:59.000 don't want to walk another thirty feet. Sometimes pride can 0:21:59.040 --> 0:22:02.920 blind us. We can come up with lame excuses to 0:22:02.920 --> 0:22:06.000 not do what we know we should do. My mind 0:22:06.119 --> 0:22:09.000 kept going, this is my house too. That is not 0:22:09.200 --> 0:22:12.120 right that I cannot use that sint. I think about 0:22:12.160 --> 0:22:14.800 it now, and it seems so strange. What was a 0:22:14.800 --> 0:22:19.239 big deal. But sometimes we're just being contentious. We just 0:22:19.280 --> 0:22:22.000 want our way. Our pride says I can do what 0:22:22.080 --> 0:22:24.480 I want to do. I would wash my hands there 0:22:24.480 --> 0:22:27.000 from time to time, Joel, please use the other Saint 0:22:27.480 --> 0:22:31.480 Victoria is not hurting anything. I'm not contamidating the food. 0:22:32.040 --> 0:22:36.280 Sometimes the test is to just honor your wife, honor 0:22:36.320 --> 0:22:39.360 your husband, to be good to the people God put 0:22:39.400 --> 0:22:43.280 in your life. How can God trust you to lead 0:22:43.359 --> 0:22:46.560 others if you don't treat your own family with respect? 0:22:47.320 --> 0:22:50.640 How could he trust David to lead the Israelites if 0:22:50.640 --> 0:22:54.240 he wasn't honorable to King Saul. Maybe it's just a 0:22:54.320 --> 0:22:57.639 test to see how obedient you'll be, whether you'll do 0:22:57.720 --> 0:23:00.560 the right thing when it's a small thing, whether you'll 0:23:00.600 --> 0:23:03.080 go the extra mile when you don't think it's fair. 0:23:04.000 --> 0:23:07.000 This is the difference between being a vessel of wood 0:23:07.280 --> 0:23:10.359 for ordinary use or being a vessel of honor for 0:23:10.440 --> 0:23:14.600 God's highest purposes. One day I came home from playing basketball. 0:23:15.000 --> 0:23:18.000 Victoria wasn't there. She was out running areas. I thought, 0:23:18.000 --> 0:23:20.760 Oh great, I'll go in the kitchen. She won't see me, 0:23:20.840 --> 0:23:23.720 nobody will know. I was about to wash my hands, 0:23:23.920 --> 0:23:26.760 and I heard this voice down in here saying, Joel, 0:23:27.400 --> 0:23:29.960 when are you going to start honoring your wife and 0:23:30.000 --> 0:23:33.080 not wash your hands here? I thought, is that to you? Lord? 0:23:34.200 --> 0:23:37.200 She couldn't see me, but the one who matters could 0:23:37.240 --> 0:23:41.600 see me. He controls the universe. It's not always the 0:23:41.600 --> 0:23:44.760 big things that are keeping us from God's best, it's 0:23:44.800 --> 0:23:48.680 the small things. If I can't honor my wife show 0:23:48.800 --> 0:23:52.280 respect by doing a small thing, how can God trust 0:23:52.320 --> 0:23:56.200 me to lead Lakewood. Don't let a small thing keep 0:23:56.200 --> 0:24:00.240 you from your greatness. How we treat people matters. You 0:24:00.280 --> 0:24:03.679 can't be harsh, contentious, hard to get along with and 0:24:03.760 --> 0:24:07.720 reach your potential. The scripture says, husbands, if we're not 0:24:07.760 --> 0:24:11.160 treating our wife right, then our prayers will be hindered. 0:24:11.840 --> 0:24:15.040 You shouldn't treat anyone better than you treat your own family. 0:24:15.680 --> 0:24:22.119 Be kind, loving, respectful, Paul Sitting Colossians. Whatever you do, 0:24:22.119 --> 0:24:26.080 do it under God and not under people. Sometimes there 0:24:26.080 --> 0:24:29.280 are things we don't feel like doing. Doesn't seem fair. 0:24:30.000 --> 0:24:33.240 At work, you're not getting the credit, someone's not treating 0:24:33.280 --> 0:24:36.480 you right. Why should you be kind to them? Why 0:24:36.480 --> 0:24:38.800 should you keep a good attitude? Why should you go 0:24:38.880 --> 0:24:42.080 the extra mile? God is saying, will you do it 0:24:42.320 --> 0:24:45.560 under me? Will you keep your mouth closed for me? 0:24:46.560 --> 0:24:49.040 Will you be kind to that person that doesn't deserve 0:24:49.080 --> 0:24:51.800 it for me? Will you not wash your hands in 0:24:51.880 --> 0:24:54.840 that sink for me? Will you be your best at 0:24:54.880 --> 0:24:58.480 work for me? Do it under God? He's the one 0:24:58.520 --> 0:25:02.919 that matters. Doesn't come from people, It comes from Him. 0:25:03.480 --> 0:25:06.200 When you do the right thing, when it's hard, you're 0:25:06.240 --> 0:25:09.760 passing the test. Like with David, You're going to go 0:25:09.840 --> 0:25:13.919 to levels that you've never imagined. God is getting you 0:25:14.040 --> 0:25:17.280 prepared now for the new things he has in store. 0:25:18.160 --> 0:25:21.280 Anytime you're going to go higher, your flesh has to 0:25:21.320 --> 0:25:25.879 go lower. God is going to require greater obedience, things 0:25:25.880 --> 0:25:28.800 that you'd rather not have to deal with. But those 0:25:28.880 --> 0:25:31.840 tests are not there to stop you. That's a sign 0:25:32.080 --> 0:25:36.000 that God is refining you, getting you prepared for something greater. 0:25:36.960 --> 0:25:39.840 When these impurities come to light, don't push it down. 0:25:40.440 --> 0:25:44.679 That's just me. I've always been impatient. I'm always contentious. 0:25:44.680 --> 0:25:47.920 I always wash my hands here. We always argue, I've 0:25:47.960 --> 0:25:53.000 always been jealous. No, make the adjustments respond differently. You 0:25:53.040 --> 0:25:56.360 wouldn't be hearing this if God didn't have new levels 0:25:56.400 --> 0:25:59.800 in your future. That's why he's getting you prepared to 0:25:59.840 --> 0:26:04.359 handle the weight of glory. God told the Israelites, I 0:26:04.480 --> 0:26:07.800 led you into the wilderness for a purpose, to test 0:26:07.880 --> 0:26:10.800 you and to prove you, to see if you'd keep 0:26:10.840 --> 0:26:15.280 my commands before you go into the Promised Land. There 0:26:15.280 --> 0:26:18.840 would be times of testing, times of proving where you 0:26:18.880 --> 0:26:21.560 have to show God you'll do the right thing when 0:26:21.600 --> 0:26:24.480 you don't feel like it. You'll keep a good attitude 0:26:24.600 --> 0:26:27.959 when it's not fair. You'll deal with the impurities that 0:26:28.040 --> 0:26:31.760 He brings to light. But when the Israelites came under pressure, 0:26:32.000 --> 0:26:35.720 they kept failing to test. They complained about the giants, 0:26:36.240 --> 0:26:39.600 complained about the food, complained that it was so hot. 0:26:40.240 --> 0:26:43.800 That group never made it into the Promised Land. What 0:26:43.840 --> 0:26:46.640 would have happened if they would have dealt with that negative, 0:26:46.720 --> 0:26:51.040 complaining spirit. Instead of saying, these giants are too big, 0:26:51.520 --> 0:26:54.080 we're never going to make it, they would have said, yes, 0:26:54.119 --> 0:26:57.760 the giants are big, but God, we know you're bigger. Yes, 0:26:57.800 --> 0:26:59.760 it's hot out here, but Lord, thank you for bringing 0:26:59.840 --> 0:27:02.560 us out of slavery. Thanks for making a way where 0:27:02.560 --> 0:27:05.639 we didn't see a way. They could have gone in, 0:27:06.400 --> 0:27:09.960 but they let these impurities keep them out. It wasn't 0:27:09.960 --> 0:27:14.000 God's fault. He gave them chance after chance to change. 0:27:14.160 --> 0:27:16.280 But God is not going to make you do the 0:27:16.359 --> 0:27:19.920 right thing. He'll allow the pressure show you what you 0:27:20.040 --> 0:27:22.400 need to deal with, but you have to do your 0:27:22.480 --> 0:27:26.720 part and be willing to change, make the adjustments. Don't 0:27:26.800 --> 0:27:31.359 keep responding the same way. The delays, traffic, people that 0:27:31.440 --> 0:27:35.280 get on your nerves, that's not random. Those are opportunities 0:27:35.320 --> 0:27:40.280 to come up higher. Those challenges are to test your quality. Now, 0:27:40.320 --> 0:27:43.639 my challenge is show God what you're made of. Prove 0:27:43.720 --> 0:27:47.320 to him that you can handle more influence, more favor, 0:27:47.680 --> 0:27:52.000 more responsibility by passing the test. If you'll do this, 0:27:52.440 --> 0:27:55.800 I believe and declare new doors are going to open. 0:27:56.280 --> 0:27:59.800 Your relationships are going to get better. You will rise higher, 0:28:00.160 --> 0:28:03.760 accomplish dreams, and become all you were created to be 0:28:04.400 --> 0:28:07.280 in Jesus' name, And if you receive it, can you 0:28:07.359 --> 0:28:11.199 say amen? I'd like to give you an opportunity to 0:28:11.240 --> 0:28:14.280 make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray 0:28:14.320 --> 0:28:18.520 with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. 0:28:19.840 --> 0:28:23.880 Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:28:25.119 --> 0:28:27.600 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:28:27.600 --> 0:28:30.560 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:28:30.680 --> 0:28:32.639 on your new walk with the Lord. You've text the 0:28:32.720 --> 0:28:35.479 number on the screen or go to the website. I 0:28:35.520 --> 0:28:38.479 hope you'll get into a good Bible based church and 0:28:38.600 --> 0:28:41.760 keep God first place. Thanks so much for listening to 0:28:41.760 --> 0:28:45.160 today's message. I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive 0:28:45.200 --> 0:28:48.680 the latest podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired all 0:28:48.720 --> 0:28:50.840 through the week. Help us to continue to share the 0:28:50.880 --> 0:28:53.160 message of hope with those all around the world. 0:28:53.480 --> 0:28:56.240 Visit Joelosting dot com or click the link in the 0:28:56.280 --> 0:28:58.440 description to partner with us today. 0:28:58.680 --> 0:29:01.160 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:29:01.240 --> 0:29:04.040 be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 0:29:04.120 --> 0:29:07.200 for you. I know God's best is still ahead, We'll 0:29:07.240 --> 0:29:08.040 see you next time. 0:29:10.320 --> 0:29:13.000 With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 0:29:13.080 --> 0:29:18.080 for everyone. 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