Redeem The Time

0:00:00.200 --> 0:00:02.880 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:00:02.960 --> 0:00:05.040 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 0:00:05.040 --> 0:00:07.760 in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 0:00:07.760 --> 0:00:10.360 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:00:10.400 --> 0:00:12.840 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:00:12.880 --> 0:00:15.720 today and where your money can work harder. Now you 0:00:15.760 --> 0:00:18.759 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:00:18.800 --> 0:00:23.400 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:00:23.400 --> 0:00:25.360 This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 0:00:25.440 --> 0:00:27.280 is an sec registered investment advisor. 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The units 0:01:11.560 --> 0:01:14.080 stap makes it easy for grandparents and family friends to 0:01:14.160 --> 0:01:17.160 give funds to a child's investment account for a limited time. 0:01:17.280 --> 0:01:19.440 Download the uns stap and use the code I heeart 0:01:19.440 --> 0:01:21.720 fifty at sign up to receive a fifty dollars bonus 0:01:21.720 --> 0:01:24.280 when you fund your account. That's code iHeart fifty when 0:01:24.319 --> 0:01:27.280 you sign up at unest dot co for a fifty 0:01:27.319 --> 0:01:30.120 dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 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 --> 0:01:37.920 We enjoy spending this time with you. I hope you'll 0:01:38.000 --> 0:01:38.720 leave inspire. 0:01:39.080 --> 0:01:41.960 Make sure you subscribe to get new messages every week. 0:01:42.160 --> 0:01:45.280 We appreciate your support. It helps keep the ministry going. 0:01:45.680 --> 0:01:58.120 Enjoy the message. 0:01:59.000 --> 0:02:01.600 Well, God bless you. It's always a joy to come 0:02:01.600 --> 0:02:04.240 into your homes. And if you're ever in our area, 0:02:04.320 --> 0:02:06.400 please stop by and be a part of one of 0:02:06.440 --> 0:02:09.440 our services. I promise you will make you feel right 0:02:09.480 --> 0:02:12.079 at home. But thanks so much for tuning in. Thank 0:02:12.120 --> 0:02:14.320 you again for coming out today. And I like to 0:02:14.360 --> 0:02:17.560 start with something funny and I heard about this minister. 0:02:17.760 --> 0:02:20.240 He'd been out bear hunting all day long. 0:02:20.560 --> 0:02:23.440 Searched and searched through the woods with no sign of 0:02:23.480 --> 0:02:27.360 a bear. Finally, in frustration, he threw his gun on 0:02:27.400 --> 0:02:30.280 the ground. He went down to the stream to cool off. 0:02:31.040 --> 0:02:34.959 About that time he sees this huge, grizzly bear running 0:02:35.040 --> 0:02:38.880 straight toward him full force, about one hundred yards away. 0:02:39.040 --> 0:02:42.240 He fell on his knees and said, God, I need protection. 0:02:42.800 --> 0:02:48.120 Please convert this bear into a Christian. Miraculously, the bear 0:02:48.160 --> 0:02:51.360 froze in his tracks. Lifted both pauls toward the heavens, 0:02:51.560 --> 0:02:53.919 and said, Lord, thank you for this food I'm about 0:02:53.919 --> 0:02:57.400 to eat. Hold up your Bible, say it like you 0:02:57.520 --> 0:03:00.680 mean it. This is my Bible and what it says 0:03:00.680 --> 0:03:03.400 I am. I have what it says I have. I 0:03:03.440 --> 0:03:05.960 can do what it says I can do. Today I 0:03:06.000 --> 0:03:09.200 will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 0:03:09.600 --> 0:03:12.960 My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 0:03:12.960 --> 0:03:16.760 never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 0:03:18.080 --> 0:03:20.120 I want to talk to you today about. 0:03:20.000 --> 0:03:21.320 Redeeming the time. 0:03:22.200 --> 0:03:25.280 Time is one of the most valuable commodities that we have. 0:03:25.960 --> 0:03:29.440 It's more valuable than money. You can make more money, 0:03:29.720 --> 0:03:33.320 but you can't make more time. The scripture tells us 0:03:33.480 --> 0:03:38.400 to redeem the time. That means don't waste it. Don't 0:03:38.520 --> 0:03:45.240 live this day unfocused, undisciplined, unmotivated. We have a responsibility 0:03:45.440 --> 0:03:47.000 to use our time wisely. 0:03:47.600 --> 0:03:50.840 We're not always going to be here. This day is 0:03:50.880 --> 0:03:51.400 a gift. 0:03:52.080 --> 0:03:55.560 Are you living it to the full with purpose, passion, 0:03:56.040 --> 0:04:01.640 pursuing your dreams? Or are you distracted, indifferent, just doing 0:04:01.680 --> 0:04:05.480 whatever comes along in a job. You don't like hanging 0:04:05.520 --> 0:04:08.480 out with people that are pulling you down. That's not 0:04:08.600 --> 0:04:13.080 redeeming the time. That's wasting the time. Just like you 0:04:13.160 --> 0:04:15.800 spend money, you are spending your life. 0:04:16.480 --> 0:04:19.120 You're either investing it or you're wasting it. 0:04:19.920 --> 0:04:23.520 The first step is you need to set goals, short 0:04:23.640 --> 0:04:27.280 term goals and long term goals. What do you want 0:04:27.320 --> 0:04:31.400 to accomplish this week? Where do you want to be five. 0:04:31.240 --> 0:04:31.960 Years from now? 0:04:32.600 --> 0:04:35.440 Do you have a plan? Are you taking steps to 0:04:35.480 --> 0:04:39.400 get there? Don't go another three years on a job 0:04:39.480 --> 0:04:43.039 you don't like, doing something that you're not passionate about. 0:04:43.680 --> 0:04:48.080 Life is flying by. This is your one shot. You 0:04:48.120 --> 0:04:51.200 don't get a do over. We can't relive our twenties, 0:04:51.680 --> 0:04:54.920 relive our thirties once this day is over. We can 0:04:55.000 --> 0:04:59.280 never get it back. Paul said in Ephesians, make the 0:04:59.320 --> 0:05:04.400 most of every opportunity. Don't be vague and thoughtless, but 0:05:04.560 --> 0:05:09.360 live purposefully and accurately. If you're going to reach your 0:05:09.440 --> 0:05:13.400 highest potential, you have to be an on purpose person. 0:05:14.120 --> 0:05:15.239 You know where you're going. 0:05:15.800 --> 0:05:20.280 You're not vague distracted waiting to see what happens. No, 0:05:20.400 --> 0:05:25.000 you're focused. You're making the most of each opportunity. Let 0:05:25.000 --> 0:05:28.800 me put it more practical. Staying on social media hours 0:05:28.839 --> 0:05:31.960 a day catching up on the latest gossip is not 0:05:32.080 --> 0:05:36.720 redeeming the time playing video games hours a day when 0:05:36.760 --> 0:05:37.760 you could be studying. 0:05:38.040 --> 0:05:38.880 It's not redeeming. 0:05:38.920 --> 0:05:42.680 The time talking on the phone hours a day to 0:05:42.760 --> 0:05:46.600 a friend that's not going anywhere, that has no dreams. 0:05:46.320 --> 0:05:50.080 Is not redeeming the time. God has given you a present. 0:05:50.560 --> 0:05:53.320 It's called today. What are you going to do with it? 0:05:53.880 --> 0:05:55.360 This is a call to action. 0:05:56.080 --> 0:06:01.159 Get focused, good organized, set your goals, make your plans. 0:06:01.680 --> 0:06:04.599 God could have chosen anyone to be here, but he 0:06:04.680 --> 0:06:09.479 chose you. And the scripture talks about living well spent lives. 0:06:10.200 --> 0:06:12.880 When we go to bed at night, we should ask ourselves, 0:06:13.000 --> 0:06:16.000 did I live a well spent day, Did I take 0:06:16.040 --> 0:06:19.520 steps toward my goals? Was I blessing to someone else? 0:06:20.080 --> 0:06:23.160 Did I invest my time or did I waste my time? 0:06:23.760 --> 0:06:25.400 I read where the average. 0:06:25.000 --> 0:06:29.279 Person spends over eighty hours a year looking for things 0:06:29.360 --> 0:06:37.520 they misplaced car keys, cell phones, glasses, receipts, children. Somebody 0:06:37.560 --> 0:06:40.599 said the reason God gives babies to young people is 0:06:40.600 --> 0:06:44.520 because older people would forget where they left them. Do 0:06:44.640 --> 0:06:48.520 yourself a favor, save yourself eighty hours a year and 0:06:48.560 --> 0:06:52.680 get organized redeem that time. I know too many people 0:06:52.800 --> 0:06:56.880 that are incredibly talented. They have great potential, but they're 0:06:56.880 --> 0:07:00.240 not disciplined when it comes to how they spend their time. 0:07:00.880 --> 0:07:04.960 They have good intentions, but they're easily distracted and they 0:07:05.080 --> 0:07:09.160 end up off course. There are a thousand good things 0:07:09.320 --> 0:07:11.760 you can give your time to each day. You have 0:07:11.840 --> 0:07:15.520 to be disciplined to stay focused on what's best for you. 0:07:16.440 --> 0:07:19.800 If not, you'll end up chasing the latest trend, trying 0:07:19.840 --> 0:07:23.960 to keep up with your friend, distracted, entangled in things 0:07:24.160 --> 0:07:27.160 that are not a part of your destiny. It's like 0:07:27.200 --> 0:07:29.480 a man I heard about. He was walking through the 0:07:29.520 --> 0:07:32.560 airport on the way to his flight. He saw a 0:07:32.600 --> 0:07:35.960 sign on the terminal wall that said know your future 0:07:36.360 --> 0:07:39.720 twenty five cents. He was intrigued by it, and he 0:07:39.760 --> 0:07:42.360 walked over and put a quarter in the slot. The 0:07:42.440 --> 0:07:46.440 computer readoubt said your name is John Smith. You're on 0:07:46.480 --> 0:07:49.720 the two to twenty flight to Boston. He couldn't believe it. 0:07:49.880 --> 0:07:52.080 He thought, how does this thing know my name? How 0:07:52.080 --> 0:07:54.960 does it know my flight number? A friend was walking by. 0:07:55.000 --> 0:07:56.920 He called him over and said, look at this. Put 0:07:56.960 --> 0:07:59.760 another quarter in. Did it again? Your name is John 0:08:00.640 --> 0:08:03.880 You're on the two twenty flight to Boston. His friend 0:08:03.960 --> 0:08:06.200 looked kind of puzzled, shrugged his shoulders and went on. 0:08:06.720 --> 0:08:08.920 The man reached in his pocket to get another quarter out. 0:08:08.960 --> 0:08:11.760 He's going to do it again. Didn't have any more coins. 0:08:12.200 --> 0:08:14.200 He had to walk way back to the news stand 0:08:14.240 --> 0:08:14.960 to get changed. 0:08:15.320 --> 0:08:16.280 It's a long line. 0:08:16.320 --> 0:08:19.160 He waited and waited, finally got that quarter, came back, 0:08:19.240 --> 0:08:21.280 put it in the slot. It said, your name is 0:08:21.360 --> 0:08:24.880 John Smith. You just missed the two twenty flight to Boston. 0:08:26.520 --> 0:08:27.360 Stay focused. 0:08:28.040 --> 0:08:30.800 It's easy to get sidetracked by things that pull you 0:08:30.920 --> 0:08:34.760 off course. And you look up and the day is gone, 0:08:35.000 --> 0:08:38.439 or the year is gone, or twenty years have gone. 0:08:38.880 --> 0:08:41.600 Nothing will be sadder than to come to the end 0:08:41.600 --> 0:08:44.760 of life and think why did I waste so many days? 0:08:45.320 --> 0:08:48.640 Why didn't I live focused? Now make this decision with 0:08:48.760 --> 0:08:49.959 me that you're going. 0:08:49.800 --> 0:08:51.199 To redeem the time. 0:08:51.840 --> 0:08:56.480 We have a responsibility. God has entrusted you with his life. 0:08:57.120 --> 0:09:00.360 He breathed his breath into you. He's put gifts and 0:09:00.400 --> 0:09:04.640 talents on the inside. You have seeds of greatness. You're 0:09:04.679 --> 0:09:07.480 not just on planet Earth taking up space. You're a 0:09:07.520 --> 0:09:11.680 person of destiny. With that gift of life comes a 0:09:11.760 --> 0:09:16.800 responsibility to develop your talents, to pursue your dreams, to 0:09:16.920 --> 0:09:19.200 become who God's created you to be. 0:09:20.040 --> 0:09:21.240 And on a regular. 0:09:20.920 --> 0:09:26.440 Basis, you need to reevaluate what you're doing, refocus your life, 0:09:26.920 --> 0:09:30.520 get rid of any distractions. Paul said in another place, 0:09:30.760 --> 0:09:32.400 I run with purpose. 0:09:32.280 --> 0:09:33.240 In every step. 0:09:34.240 --> 0:09:37.440 When we understand the value of time and see each 0:09:37.520 --> 0:09:40.200 day as the gift that it is, it helps us 0:09:40.240 --> 0:09:44.679 to keep the right perspective. You realize every battle is 0:09:44.720 --> 0:09:48.359 not worth fighting. You don't have time to get engaged 0:09:48.400 --> 0:09:51.520 in conflicts that are not between you and your God 0:09:51.600 --> 0:09:55.000 given destiny. And if somebody has a problem with you, 0:09:55.640 --> 0:09:58.600 as long as you're being your best, doing what God's 0:09:58.600 --> 0:10:01.440 put in your heart with all all due respect. That's 0:10:01.520 --> 0:10:03.640 their problem and not yours. 0:10:04.160 --> 0:10:04.880 You don't have. 0:10:04.840 --> 0:10:08.959 To resolve conflict with every person. Some people don't want 0:10:09.000 --> 0:10:09.440 to be at. 0:10:09.320 --> 0:10:11.559 Peace with you. That's a distraction. 0:10:12.320 --> 0:10:14.480 Don't waste your valuable time. 0:10:14.400 --> 0:10:15.920 Fighting battles that don't matter. 0:10:16.800 --> 0:10:20.439 When you realize your days are numbered, you don't respond 0:10:20.520 --> 0:10:21.400 to every critic. 0:10:22.200 --> 0:10:23.920 You don't try to convince people. 0:10:23.760 --> 0:10:26.960 To like you that are never going to like you. 0:10:26.960 --> 0:10:30.160 You accept the fact that some people are never going 0:10:30.200 --> 0:10:33.319 to give you their approval. But that's okay. You know 0:10:33.520 --> 0:10:38.160 you have Almighty God's approval. When you're redeeming the time, 0:10:38.960 --> 0:10:42.319 you're not trying to keep someone happy that's never going 0:10:42.400 --> 0:10:45.680 to be happy. Some people, no matter what you do 0:10:45.800 --> 0:10:48.800 for them, is not going to be enough, but their 0:10:48.840 --> 0:10:53.959 happiness is not your responsibility. Always be kind, be respectful, 0:10:54.200 --> 0:10:56.760 but your attitude should be If you don't want to 0:10:56.800 --> 0:10:59.360 be happy, that's fine, but you're not going to keep 0:10:59.360 --> 0:11:02.440 me from being happy. I know this day is a gift, 0:11:02.960 --> 0:11:05.640 and I'm not going to live it trying to change 0:11:05.679 --> 0:11:09.200 things that I cannot change, or trying to fix people 0:11:09.360 --> 0:11:10.160 that don't want. 0:11:09.960 --> 0:11:12.160 To be fixed. That's redeeming the time. 0:11:13.360 --> 0:11:16.920 When you realize your time is limited, You don't get offended. 0:11:17.600 --> 0:11:21.559 You don't get upset because somebody's playing politics, stressed out 0:11:21.600 --> 0:11:24.520 because somebody's trying to make you look bad. You let 0:11:24.600 --> 0:11:27.480 it go and trust God to make your wrongs right. 0:11:28.720 --> 0:11:31.480 A lady was telling me how a family member had 0:11:31.480 --> 0:11:35.400 done her wrong. She was very negative and starting to 0:11:35.440 --> 0:11:38.480 get bitter. I told her what I'm telling you, life 0:11:38.520 --> 0:11:40.880 is too short to live that way. Let it go, 0:11:41.080 --> 0:11:42.640 and God will be your vindicator. 0:11:43.360 --> 0:11:44.400 She didn't want to hear it. 0:11:44.880 --> 0:11:48.040 She said, no, I'm not going to be happy until 0:11:48.080 --> 0:11:52.920 he apologizes. What she doesn't realize is she is wasting 0:11:53.160 --> 0:11:58.480 valuable days. I don't know he may never apologize. I wonder, 0:11:58.640 --> 0:12:02.560 like her, how many that we've wasted. We can't say 0:12:02.559 --> 0:12:05.800 that we redeemed the time. We didn't appreciate the day. 0:12:06.240 --> 0:12:10.840 We just drug through it, upset, offended, discouraged. The scripture says, 0:12:11.280 --> 0:12:15.240 don't let the sun go down on your anger. The 0:12:15.280 --> 0:12:20.040 reason many people have no joy, no enthusiasm, is because 0:12:20.080 --> 0:12:23.200 they go to bed each night with unforgiveness in their heart, 0:12:23.920 --> 0:12:27.680 reliving their hurts, thinking about their disappointments. 0:12:28.000 --> 0:12:28.959 Here's the problem. 0:12:29.440 --> 0:12:32.559 If the sun goes down with bitterness, it will come 0:12:32.600 --> 0:12:35.880 back up with bitterness. If it goes down with resentment, 0:12:36.160 --> 0:12:40.439 it comes back up with resentment. That's blocking God's blessings. 0:12:40.720 --> 0:12:44.280 It's keeping you from seeing the bright future. If you 0:12:44.320 --> 0:12:47.520 want the sun to shine brightly in your life once again, 0:12:48.240 --> 0:12:50.400 before you go to bed each night, you need to 0:12:50.440 --> 0:12:54.640 say God, I'm releasing every negative thing that's happened to 0:12:54.640 --> 0:12:59.800 me today. I'm releasing every hurt, releasing every worry, releasing 0:13:00.080 --> 0:13:04.120 every disappointment. I'm forgiving the people that did me wrong. God, 0:13:04.120 --> 0:13:07.040 I'm going to bed in peace. When you do that, 0:13:07.559 --> 0:13:10.719 the sun will go down with nothing blocking it. When 0:13:10.760 --> 0:13:12.920 it comes back up the next morning, you'll have a 0:13:12.960 --> 0:13:16.400 new spring in your step, excited about the day, ready 0:13:16.400 --> 0:13:20.160 for your future. Don't go to bed at night with 0:13:20.280 --> 0:13:22.640 any kind of defeat still in your mind. 0:13:23.559 --> 0:13:24.760 I talked to a young lady. 0:13:25.240 --> 0:13:28.360 She's a television reporter at a local station here in town, 0:13:28.440 --> 0:13:32.360 and during Hurricane Ike, she was out covering the story. 0:13:33.000 --> 0:13:35.480 Her assignment was to find people that were down and 0:13:35.520 --> 0:13:37.960 out because of the hurricane, and people that were having 0:13:38.000 --> 0:13:40.839 a hard time finding food. And she was at one 0:13:40.880 --> 0:13:44.280 of the food drops talking to people in line, but 0:13:44.400 --> 0:13:48.000 nobody had a sad story. They were all grateful that 0:13:48.040 --> 0:13:50.320 they were alive and talking about how. 0:13:50.160 --> 0:13:52.040 They were going to make it well. 0:13:52.080 --> 0:13:55.319 Victoria and I and some Lakewood volunteers happened to be there, 0:13:55.360 --> 0:13:58.440 and she came over with the camera and asked me, 0:13:58.520 --> 0:14:01.440 what's the worst thing that I'd see? And I said, yes, 0:14:01.480 --> 0:14:04.440 some people are struggling, but they've got faith. They know 0:14:04.480 --> 0:14:09.160 their overcomers, they know they're victors and not victims. She thought, well, 0:14:09.400 --> 0:14:11.600 I knew Joel wasn't going to tell me anything sad, 0:14:12.160 --> 0:14:15.560 so she went and found Victoria. Victoria was worse than me. 0:14:16.120 --> 0:14:18.840 She said, these people are fired up. They know God's 0:14:18.880 --> 0:14:22.800 in control and something better is coming their way. She 0:14:22.880 --> 0:14:25.720 got back to the station and she told her supervisor, 0:14:26.120 --> 0:14:29.080 I couldn't find any sad stories, but I got Joel 0:14:29.200 --> 0:14:33.120 and Victoria ostein commenting on the hurricane. She thought they 0:14:33.160 --> 0:14:36.040 would be excited, but it was just the opposite. They 0:14:36.080 --> 0:14:39.720 didn't want us, They wanted sad stories. She ended up 0:14:39.760 --> 0:14:43.800 getting terminated over that incident. They let her go and 0:14:43.880 --> 0:14:48.120 she could have been discouraged, depressed, bitter, but she understands 0:14:48.200 --> 0:14:51.680 this principle that every day is a gift from God. 0:14:52.040 --> 0:14:53.320 She started thinking. 0:14:53.040 --> 0:14:55.520 God that new doors were going to open and thanking 0:14:55.600 --> 0:14:57.520 him that favor was coming her way. 0:14:58.400 --> 0:15:00.880 Not long after that, we received. 0:15:00.520 --> 0:15:05.200 A phone call from a very prestigious broadcasting company. They 0:15:05.240 --> 0:15:08.360 saw her report on the hurricane, the same one that 0:15:08.440 --> 0:15:11.640 got her fired. They said, we'd like to offer you 0:15:11.720 --> 0:15:14.440 a full time position to come and head up the 0:15:14.480 --> 0:15:17.960 department that does all of our documentaries. That was a 0:15:18.040 --> 0:15:20.760 dream come true. She couldn't believe it. She gave me 0:15:20.800 --> 0:15:22.840 a big hug and said, Joel, I just want to 0:15:22.840 --> 0:15:28.760 thank you and Victoria for getting me fired. I've heard 0:15:28.760 --> 0:15:35.880 it said disappointments are inevitable, but misery is optional. No 0:15:35.880 --> 0:15:38.960 matter what kind of setbacks you face, no matter who 0:15:39.000 --> 0:15:43.840 does you wrong, you don't have to drag through life defeated, depressed, bitter. 0:15:44.200 --> 0:15:47.160 Start redeeming the time. Do like she did. 0:15:47.240 --> 0:15:50.200 Start thanking God that he's in control and thank him 0:15:50.200 --> 0:15:52.960 that new doors are opening. Think him that favor is 0:15:53.000 --> 0:15:56.480 coming your way. The truth is we all go through 0:15:56.480 --> 0:15:59.600 the valleys, but the valleys are what lead. 0:15:59.480 --> 0:16:03.960 Us to higher mountains. They're not permanent, They're only temporary. 0:16:04.040 --> 0:16:04.680 Here's the key. 0:16:05.240 --> 0:16:08.200 When you're in the valley, instead of sitting around thinking 0:16:08.240 --> 0:16:11.960 about your problems, go out and do something good for 0:16:12.040 --> 0:16:16.400 somebody else. Volunteer while you're in the valley. Us sure 0:16:16.440 --> 0:16:19.200 while you're in the valley. Cheer somebody up when you're 0:16:19.200 --> 0:16:22.480 in the valley, most somebody's lawn while you're in the valley. 0:16:22.920 --> 0:16:26.360 When you invest your time the right way in helping others, 0:16:26.960 --> 0:16:31.080 those seeds that you sow will create the harvest you need. 0:16:31.440 --> 0:16:33.480 Not to just get out of the valley, but to 0:16:33.520 --> 0:16:35.760 come to a higher mountain, to come up to a 0:16:35.800 --> 0:16:39.760 new level of your destiny. It's important not only how 0:16:39.800 --> 0:16:42.880 we spend our time, but with whom we spend it with. 0:16:43.920 --> 0:16:47.080 To redeem the time may mean you have to prone 0:16:47.160 --> 0:16:49.680 off some relationships. 0:16:48.920 --> 0:16:51.920 That are not adding anything to your life. 0:16:52.200 --> 0:16:55.840 Don't hang around people that are not going anywhere. 0:16:55.760 --> 0:16:58.080 That have no goals, no dreams. 0:16:58.600 --> 0:17:02.880 People that are not focused, not disciplined, They compromise, take 0:17:02.880 --> 0:17:08.080 the easy way out. If you tolerate mediocrity, mediocrity will 0:17:08.160 --> 0:17:12.160 rub off on you. If you hang out with jealous, critical, 0:17:12.320 --> 0:17:16.400 unhappy people, you will end up jealous, critical, and unhappy. 0:17:16.720 --> 0:17:18.200 That's what it says in proverbs. 0:17:18.800 --> 0:17:22.159 When you walk with wise men, you will become wise. 0:17:23.040 --> 0:17:25.720 Take a look at your friends. That's what you're going 0:17:25.760 --> 0:17:27.080 to be like in a few years. 0:17:27.920 --> 0:17:33.000 If your friends are winners, leaders, givers, successful, if they 0:17:33.040 --> 0:17:37.800 have a spirit of excellence, integrity, positive, motivated, then those 0:17:37.880 --> 0:17:40.120 good qualities are going to rub off on you. 0:17:40.720 --> 0:17:41.760 When you're with them. 0:17:41.880 --> 0:17:45.880 You're investing your time, they're making you better. But if 0:17:45.920 --> 0:17:50.400 you hang out with people that are sloppy, undisciplined, unmotivated, 0:17:50.600 --> 0:17:53.600 not going anywhere, let me give you some great advice. 0:17:54.080 --> 0:17:55.680 Find some new friends. 0:17:56.359 --> 0:17:59.800 You cannot become who God created you to be hanging 0:17:59.840 --> 0:18:03.680 out with them. And they may be a good person, 0:18:04.080 --> 0:18:06.919 they may have a good heart, but your destiny is 0:18:06.960 --> 0:18:11.679 too great, your assignment too important, your time too valuable 0:18:12.000 --> 0:18:13.280 to let them drag you down. 0:18:14.160 --> 0:18:16.040 Some people, the only thing. 0:18:15.880 --> 0:18:18.600 That's keeping them from a new level of their destiny 0:18:18.960 --> 0:18:23.119 is wrong friendships. You cannot hang out with chickens and 0:18:23.240 --> 0:18:26.760 expect a sword like an eagle. You don't have to 0:18:26.840 --> 0:18:29.680 make some big announcement and go tell them, hey, man, 0:18:29.720 --> 0:18:32.879 I'm cutting you off, Joel said, to get. 0:18:32.840 --> 0:18:33.360 Rid of you. 0:18:33.359 --> 0:18:36.360 No, do me a favor and leave my name out 0:18:36.359 --> 0:18:36.640 of this. 0:18:36.800 --> 0:18:38.920 But you can just. 0:18:39.000 --> 0:18:43.480 Gradually spend less and less time with them. Well, Joel, 0:18:43.520 --> 0:18:46.000 what if I hurt their feelings? What if they keep 0:18:46.040 --> 0:18:49.240 you from your destiny. I heard about a lady that 0:18:49.359 --> 0:18:53.760 was reevaluating her friendships. Her answering machine said, I'm sorry 0:18:53.840 --> 0:18:57.280 I missed your call. I'm making some changes in my life, 0:18:57.640 --> 0:19:00.359 and if I don't call you back, please know you 0:19:00.400 --> 0:19:04.320 were one of those changes. I'm thinking about all the 0:19:04.320 --> 0:19:05.639 people that hadn't called me back. 0:19:06.960 --> 0:19:08.200 But here's the key. 0:19:08.280 --> 0:19:11.000 If you don't let go of the wrong people, you'll 0:19:11.040 --> 0:19:15.520 never meet the right people. Sometimes we can outgrow a friendship. 0:19:15.960 --> 0:19:17.199 It was good at one time. 0:19:17.640 --> 0:19:20.240 For a few years, you were fulfilled, but now you've 0:19:20.280 --> 0:19:23.399 grown more than they have. You're running at a different pace. 0:19:23.640 --> 0:19:26.520 Your gifts are coming out in a greater way. That 0:19:26.600 --> 0:19:28.400 doesn't make them a bad person. 0:19:28.680 --> 0:19:30.000 It's just a new season. 0:19:30.920 --> 0:19:33.159 Human nature likes to hold on to the old. 0:19:33.240 --> 0:19:34.960 We like to keep everything the same. 0:19:35.440 --> 0:19:38.800 But the truth is it's healthy for seasons to change. 0:19:39.359 --> 0:19:41.960 It doesn't mean you can't still be their friend. You 0:19:42.119 --> 0:19:44.880 just know you cannot spend as much time with them 0:19:45.240 --> 0:19:48.920 and become all you were created to be. There are 0:19:49.000 --> 0:19:52.080 people that come into our life that are like scaffolding. 0:19:52.760 --> 0:19:55.879 They're designed to be there for a period of time. Now, 0:19:55.880 --> 0:20:00.840 I'm not talking about a marriage situation. I'm talking about friendships. 0:20:00.880 --> 0:20:02.399 Some of you thought you got your word from the 0:20:02.400 --> 0:20:03.000 Lord today. 0:20:03.000 --> 0:20:08.480 But these people, for a period of time, they help 0:20:08.520 --> 0:20:13.040 us grow, They inspire us, they motivate us. But like 0:20:13.119 --> 0:20:15.840 that scaffolding, at some point, it's got to come off 0:20:15.880 --> 0:20:18.840 the building. If the scaffolding stayed up, the building would 0:20:18.880 --> 0:20:21.720 never be what it was meant to be. Appreciate the 0:20:21.760 --> 0:20:25.320 people that have helped you. Always honor them, but be 0:20:25.480 --> 0:20:29.120 big enough to recognize when their part in your story 0:20:29.240 --> 0:20:33.040 is over. On a regular basis, you need to reevaluate 0:20:33.080 --> 0:20:36.120 your friendships. The people you choose to spend time with. 0:20:36.440 --> 0:20:39.840 Are they in the right position? Has the position changed? 0:20:40.080 --> 0:20:42.120 Perhaps? Could it be that it's a new season. 0:20:42.880 --> 0:20:45.600 When Jesus was on the earth, he was very selective 0:20:45.680 --> 0:20:48.879 with his friendships. Everyone of course, wanted to be close 0:20:48.920 --> 0:20:52.760 to him, but he chose only twelve men to spend 0:20:52.800 --> 0:20:56.400 most of his time with the Disciples. Out of those twelve, 0:20:56.720 --> 0:21:01.200 three were his close friends, Peter, James, and John. One 0:21:01.320 --> 0:21:03.159 could be considered his best friend. 0:21:03.520 --> 0:21:03.840 John. 0:21:04.320 --> 0:21:08.479 He was described as the disciple whom Jesus loved. You 0:21:08.520 --> 0:21:11.639 may know a lot of people have a bunch of acquaintances. 0:21:12.200 --> 0:21:14.440 You have to be careful who you. 0:21:14.400 --> 0:21:19.240 Allow in your inner circle. You can't have twenty best friends. 0:21:19.920 --> 0:21:23.320 The higher you go, the more successful you are, the 0:21:23.480 --> 0:21:27.200 tighter your circle needs to become. You may have twenty 0:21:27.240 --> 0:21:30.080 people you call friends, and that's great, but the two 0:21:30.200 --> 0:21:32.919 or three you choose to be close to you, you 0:21:33.000 --> 0:21:36.360 need to make sure they are one hundred percent for you. 0:21:36.840 --> 0:21:39.240 They believe in you, they stick up for you. 0:21:39.600 --> 0:21:41.320 They're with you through thick and thin. 0:21:42.640 --> 0:21:46.439 It could be that you're not seeing God's best because 0:21:46.480 --> 0:21:50.800 your team is weak. You're investing valuable time in people 0:21:51.080 --> 0:21:53.560 that were never supposed to be a part of your 0:21:53.600 --> 0:21:57.800 inner circle. You have to evaluate your friendships, get the 0:21:57.920 --> 0:21:59.879 right people in the right positions. 0:22:00.280 --> 0:22:02.840 If your team is weak, you're going to be weak. 0:22:03.920 --> 0:22:07.520 March chapter five, Jesus was traveling to another city to 0:22:07.640 --> 0:22:10.639 pray for a little girl that had died. When he 0:22:10.720 --> 0:22:14.359 arrived at the home, the scripture says Jesus didn't allow 0:22:14.480 --> 0:22:18.720 anyone to go in with him except Peter, James, and John, 0:22:18.920 --> 0:22:22.919 his inner circle. Why Jesus knew when he got in 0:22:22.960 --> 0:22:26.280 that room where the little girl was dead, he needed 0:22:26.359 --> 0:22:30.359 people that wouldn't question who he was, people that wouldn't 0:22:30.400 --> 0:22:31.800 say Hey, are you sure you're the. 0:22:31.760 --> 0:22:34.919 Son of God? What if she doesn't get healed? Do 0:22:35.000 --> 0:22:36.080 you have a backup plan? 0:22:36.600 --> 0:22:38.680 No, when you're in the heat of the battle, when 0:22:38.720 --> 0:22:41.600 you need God's favor, you need a breakthrough, You need a. 0:22:41.600 --> 0:22:43.200 Legal situation to turn around. 0:22:43.720 --> 0:22:47.240 You cannot afford to have people in your inner circle saying, 0:22:47.960 --> 0:22:50.240 do you really think you're going to get well? My 0:22:50.320 --> 0:22:53.080 grandmother died of that same thing. Do you really think 0:22:53.119 --> 0:22:55.680 you're going to get out of debt? Business is so slow? No, 0:22:55.840 --> 0:22:58.480 you need people that are joined in spirit with you, 0:22:58.920 --> 0:23:01.520 people that will say, Hey, if you're. 0:23:01.359 --> 0:23:04.120 Bold enough to believe it, count on me. I'm bold 0:23:04.240 --> 0:23:05.119 enough to agree with you. 0:23:07.080 --> 0:23:10.400 If you believe you can great that addiction, then I'm 0:23:10.440 --> 0:23:12.240 not going to tell you ten reasons why you can't. 0:23:12.440 --> 0:23:14.000 My report is you are well able. 0:23:14.600 --> 0:23:17.320 If you believe you can get your degree, you can 0:23:17.359 --> 0:23:20.200 start that business, you can see your marriage restored. 0:23:20.440 --> 0:23:23.600 Then count on me. I'm on board. I'm all for you. 0:23:23.600 --> 0:23:24.800 You need people that will. 0:23:24.800 --> 0:23:27.399 Join faith with you and not try to talk you 0:23:27.440 --> 0:23:30.760 out of it. Jesus got to the home and everyone 0:23:30.880 --> 0:23:34.880 was so distraught. You can imagine the crying, weeping, sorrowing. 0:23:35.560 --> 0:23:38.120 Jesus looked at them and said, don't be upset. 0:23:38.280 --> 0:23:40.760 She's not dead. She's only asleep. 0:23:41.680 --> 0:23:45.359 Their sorrow turned to mocking, ridiculing, making fun. 0:23:45.840 --> 0:23:48.359 What do you mean she's not dead? Of course she's dead. 0:23:49.320 --> 0:23:53.280 What Jesus did next is very significant. It's a key 0:23:53.440 --> 0:23:57.439 to living in victory. Verse forty says they mocked and 0:23:57.560 --> 0:24:02.439 jeered at him, but Jesus put them out. Notice the 0:24:02.480 --> 0:24:04.760 son of God asked them to leave. 0:24:05.080 --> 0:24:06.560 He showed them the door. 0:24:07.400 --> 0:24:11.040 Jesus knew the importance of having people around him that 0:24:11.240 --> 0:24:15.360 understood his destiny. His attitude was, Hey, I don't need 0:24:15.400 --> 0:24:17.840 your doubt. I don't need you telling me what I 0:24:17.880 --> 0:24:21.720 can't do. I'm gonna surround myself with believers, with people 0:24:21.720 --> 0:24:23.440 of faith, with people. 0:24:23.160 --> 0:24:24.679 That understand my assignment. 0:24:26.040 --> 0:24:28.800 If you have people close to you that are constantly 0:24:28.880 --> 0:24:32.040 pulling you down, telling you what you can't do, how 0:24:32.080 --> 0:24:36.560 you'll never accomplish your dreams. Understand it is scriptural to 0:24:36.680 --> 0:24:40.399 show them the door. It may be difficult, but you 0:24:40.440 --> 0:24:43.879 have to have the attitude. I cannot fulfill my destiny 0:24:44.240 --> 0:24:47.359 with your critical spirit in my life. I can't become 0:24:47.440 --> 0:24:50.359 who I was created to be with you dragging me down. 0:24:50.560 --> 0:24:53.240 I love you, but I can't allow you in my 0:24:53.320 --> 0:24:54.000 inner circle. 0:24:54.160 --> 0:24:57.399 I'm gonna love you from a distance. This is what 0:24:57.520 --> 0:24:58.240 Jesus did. 0:24:58.720 --> 0:25:02.359 He only took the girl's parents and Peter, James and 0:25:02.480 --> 0:25:04.760 John into the little girl's room. 0:25:05.119 --> 0:25:07.639 He spoke to that girl and she came back to life. 0:25:08.240 --> 0:25:11.439 But think of this, Jesus could have healed her in 0:25:11.480 --> 0:25:15.520 front of the whole crowd, laughing, mocking, ridiculing. He's God, 0:25:15.600 --> 0:25:18.960 he can do anything. He was showing us this principle. 0:25:19.359 --> 0:25:23.360 Who you have in your inner circle is extremely important. 0:25:23.880 --> 0:25:26.760 If Jesus went to the trouble to ask the wrong 0:25:26.840 --> 0:25:29.560 people to leave, if he took the time to weed 0:25:29.600 --> 0:25:32.760 out the doubters, the naysayers, the people that didn't believe 0:25:32.800 --> 0:25:36.600 in him, he was that concerned about his inner circle. 0:25:37.160 --> 0:25:40.199 How much more concerned should we be with who's in 0:25:40.200 --> 0:25:43.960 our inner circle? You need to pay attention to who's 0:25:44.000 --> 0:25:47.760 on your team, who's speaking into your life. Who are 0:25:47.760 --> 0:25:51.560 you giving your time and attention to More practical who 0:25:51.640 --> 0:25:53.760 are you eating lunch with every day at the office. 0:25:54.200 --> 0:25:56.080 Who are you talking to on the phone so much? 0:25:56.359 --> 0:25:59.919 Are they building you up or tearing you down? They 0:26:00.119 --> 0:26:03.199 pushing you toward your destiny? Or are they telling you 0:26:03.240 --> 0:26:07.399 what you can't do? Are they modeling excellence, integrity, character, 0:26:07.520 --> 0:26:11.679 godliness or they laizy, sloppy, undisciplined. Now, you have a 0:26:11.720 --> 0:26:16.480 responsibility to redeem your time. Don't waste it with people 0:26:16.520 --> 0:26:20.520 that don't sharpen you. If you don't politely show them 0:26:20.560 --> 0:26:24.199 the door, that can keep you from your destiny. And 0:26:24.280 --> 0:26:26.800 sometimes we know a person's not good for us, we 0:26:26.880 --> 0:26:29.480 know they're dragging us down, but we think if I 0:26:29.560 --> 0:26:33.119 let them go, I'm going to be lonely. Yes, you 0:26:33.200 --> 0:26:36.400 may be lonely for a season, but you'll never give 0:26:36.520 --> 0:26:39.800 up something for God without him giving you something better 0:26:40.040 --> 0:26:44.520 back in return. God will not only give you new friends, 0:26:44.600 --> 0:26:48.399 he'll give you better friends, people that inspire you, people 0:26:48.400 --> 0:26:52.240 that celebrate you, people that push you forward. Now, this 0:26:52.320 --> 0:26:55.000 may mean that you have to change who you eat 0:26:55.080 --> 0:26:55.679 lunch with. 0:26:55.640 --> 0:26:57.240 At the office every day. 0:26:57.359 --> 0:27:01.680 That person is always finding fault, bad mouthing the boss. 0:27:02.000 --> 0:27:04.880 You don't need that poison in your life. That's not 0:27:04.920 --> 0:27:08.440 redeeming the time. You may have to change hanging out 0:27:08.440 --> 0:27:12.200 with that neighbor that's always depressed, defeated, has a sad song. 0:27:12.560 --> 0:27:15.480 If you stay there, you're gonna end up defeated. It's 0:27:15.560 --> 0:27:18.600 better to make the change and be lonely for a 0:27:18.680 --> 0:27:22.879 season than to be poisoned for a lifetime. When we 0:27:22.960 --> 0:27:25.120 come to the end of our days, God is going 0:27:25.119 --> 0:27:28.240 to ask us, what did you do with the time 0:27:28.400 --> 0:27:32.160 I entrusted you with? Did you develop your gifts and talents? 0:27:32.560 --> 0:27:36.840 Did you accomplish your assignment? How did you spend your life. 0:27:36.960 --> 0:27:39.320 It's not going to be a good excuse to say, God, 0:27:39.560 --> 0:27:43.440 I got distracted, but my friend got me off course. God, 0:27:43.480 --> 0:27:46.760 I live bitter, but somebody did me wrong. God I 0:27:46.920 --> 0:27:50.280 was negative, but my company let me go. Well, I'm 0:27:50.320 --> 0:27:55.040 asking you to quit making excuses and start redeeming the time. 0:27:55.760 --> 0:27:58.560 We're not always going to be here, the scripture says, 0:27:58.720 --> 0:27:59.920 our life is like a myth. 0:28:00.640 --> 0:28:02.639 We're here for a moment, then we're gone. 0:28:03.480 --> 0:28:06.199 Make this decision that you're going to be an on 0:28:06.680 --> 0:28:07.760 purpose person. 0:28:08.440 --> 0:28:11.320 Set your goals and be disciplined to stick with it. 0:28:11.840 --> 0:28:15.560 Don't waste any more days prone off those relationships that 0:28:15.600 --> 0:28:16.879 are not adding to your life. 0:28:17.560 --> 0:28:19.120 Don't go to bed at night. 0:28:19.000 --> 0:28:22.960 With any kind of defeat, bitterness, negativity still in your mind. 0:28:23.320 --> 0:28:24.800 This day is a gift. 0:28:25.440 --> 0:28:27.800 Make sure you're investing your time. 0:28:27.880 --> 0:28:29.000 And not wasting it. 0:28:29.560 --> 0:28:33.280 If you do this, I believe and declare the seeds 0:28:33.320 --> 0:28:36.359 of greatness on the inside are going to take root 0:28:36.440 --> 0:28:40.840 and begin to flourish. You will rise higher, overcome every obstacle, 0:28:41.120 --> 0:28:44.000 and become everything that God's created you to be. 0:28:44.400 --> 0:28:45.440 In Jesus' name. 0:28:45.760 --> 0:28:47.840 If you receive it, can you say him in today? 0:28:49.800 --> 0:28:52.720 We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 0:28:52.760 --> 0:28:55.680 an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:56.240 --> 0:28:57.240 Would you pray with me? 0:28:57.920 --> 0:29:03.400 Just say, Lord Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. Come 0:29:03.400 --> 0:29:09.080 into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Friends, 0:29:09.080 --> 0:29:11.440 if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:29:11.440 --> 0:29:14.920 born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep 0:29:14.920 --> 0:29:15.840 God first place. 0:29:16.120 --> 0:29:18.560 He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 0:29:20.160 --> 0:29:23.560 Thank you for listening to the Joel Oustine podcast. Help 0:29:23.680 --> 0:29:26.400 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:29:26.480 --> 0:29:30.400 all over the world. Visit joelostin dot com slash give 0:29:30.480 --> 0:29:32.160 Hope to give a gift today. 0:29:33.440 --> 0:29:36.360 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:29:36.360 --> 0:29:39.720 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:29:39.840 --> 0:29:41.840 keep you inspired all through the week. 0:29:42.080 --> 0:29:44.960 We're praying for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 0:29:45.160 --> 0:29:46.200 We'll see you next time. 0:29:53.240 --> 0:29:55.760 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:29:55.800 --> 0:29:59.520 for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 0:29:59.560 --> 0:30:02.840 been ill equipped to help. That is until now. 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