Serve Your Way Up

0:00:00.160 --> 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 0:00:10.360 --> 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. 0:00:23.440 --> 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. This is not an 0:00:27.320 --> 0:00:29.080 offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 0:00:29.160 --> 0:00:30.080 legal or tax advice. 0:00:30.520 --> 0:00:33.120 Are you ready to move your career forward? Make your 0:00:33.159 --> 0:00:36.640 comeback with Perdue Global and get college credit for your work, school, life, 0:00:36.720 --> 0:00:39.840 or military experiences. With these credits, you may have already 0:00:39.840 --> 0:00:42.680 completed up to seventy five percent of your undergraduate degree. 0:00:42.720 --> 0:00:44.800 You've worked hard to get where you are. It's time 0:00:44.840 --> 0:00:46.920 to get the recognition you deserve and earn a degree 0:00:47.000 --> 0:00:49.600 you'll be proud of, one that employers will trust and 0:00:49.720 --> 0:00:51.840 respect when you take the next step in your life 0:00:51.880 --> 0:00:55.040 and career. Make it count with Perdue Global produce online 0:00:55.120 --> 0:00:59.720 University for working adults. Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 0:01:00.240 --> 0:01:02.200 He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 0:01:02.200 --> 0:01:02.800 his birthday. 0:01:03.120 --> 0:01:05.000 Wow, thanks Grandpa, but. 0:01:05.000 --> 0:01:07.360 He'll never forget how you invested in his future with 0:01:07.400 --> 0:01:08.240 the units stapp. 0:01:08.760 --> 0:01:10.400 Wow, thanks Grandpa. 0:01:11.040 --> 0:01:13.560 The unit stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 0:01:13.600 --> 0:01:16.280 friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 0:01:16.319 --> 0:01:18.720 a limited time. Download the unit stap and use the 0:01:18.720 --> 0:01:21.120 code iHeart fifty at sign up to receive a fifty 0:01:21.160 --> 0:01:23.679 dollars bonus when you find your account. That's code iHeart 0:01:23.760 --> 0:01:26.800 fifty when you sign up at unest dot co for 0:01:26.840 --> 0:01:29.640 a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at UNEs 0:01:29.760 --> 0:01:30.080 dot co. 0:01:30.880 --> 0:01:34.240 Hi, this is Joel. Thanks so much for downloading the podcast. 0:01:34.480 --> 0:01:37.160 I believe you'll be inspired and challenged. I hope you 0:01:37.240 --> 0:01:53.000 enjoy the message. God bless you. It's a joy to 0:01:53.080 --> 0:01:56.040 come into your homes, and if you're ever in our area, 0:01:56.120 --> 0:01:58.280 please stop by and be a part of one of 0:01:58.280 --> 0:02:01.360 our services. I promise you we'll make you feel right 0:02:01.400 --> 0:02:04.280 at home. I like to start with something funny, and 0:02:04.480 --> 0:02:06.920 I heard about this little girl. She was sitting in 0:02:06.960 --> 0:02:10.920 her grandfather's lap. She noticed how wrinkled his face was. 0:02:11.560 --> 0:02:16.239 As she contemplated the difference between his and hers, she said, Grandaddy, 0:02:16.480 --> 0:02:19.919 did God make you? He kind of laughed and said, yes, honey, 0:02:20.080 --> 0:02:23.160 he made me a long time ago. She then asked, 0:02:23.360 --> 0:02:26.120 did God make me? He said, yes, he made you 0:02:26.280 --> 0:02:29.880 just a little while ago. She thought about it a moment, said, Granddaddy. 0:02:30.200 --> 0:02:34.440 God's getting better, isn't he say like you mean it? 0:02:34.919 --> 0:02:37.839 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:02:38.280 --> 0:02:40.720 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:02:40.800 --> 0:02:43.480 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:02:43.600 --> 0:02:47.600 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:02:47.680 --> 0:02:50.920 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:02:51.000 --> 0:02:55.840 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:02:55.880 --> 0:02:58.880 to talk to you today about serve your way up. 0:02:59.720 --> 0:03:04.679 We all want to rise higher, accomplish our dreams, overcome obstacles, 0:03:05.080 --> 0:03:08.480 but as long as we're only focused on ourselves, will 0:03:08.520 --> 0:03:13.400 get stuck. God brings people and opportunities across our path, 0:03:13.720 --> 0:03:16.960 so we can be a blessing. When you take time 0:03:17.040 --> 0:03:21.079 to serve, you bring that elderly neighbor food each week, 0:03:21.600 --> 0:03:24.120 you clean up at the office, even though you didn't 0:03:24.160 --> 0:03:27.680 make the mess you mentor that young man that doesn't 0:03:27.680 --> 0:03:31.720 have a father. That's what allows God to take you higher. 0:03:32.400 --> 0:03:36.480 When you serve others, a new level of fever is released. 0:03:37.200 --> 0:03:39.560 We think we have to work our way to the top. 0:03:39.960 --> 0:03:42.880 The truth is you can serve your way to the top. 0:03:43.560 --> 0:03:47.320 The scripture says when Job prayed for his friends, he 0:03:47.360 --> 0:03:52.440 got well. When he served others, he went higher. Something 0:03:52.600 --> 0:03:56.640 powerful happens when you get your mind off yourself and 0:03:56.680 --> 0:04:00.520 you go out and do good for somebody else. Are 0:04:00.560 --> 0:04:04.880 you serving anyone besides you? Are you doing something for 0:04:05.000 --> 0:04:09.920 others outside of what your job requires. Growing up, we 0:04:10.000 --> 0:04:13.800 knew this older gentleman named mister Davis. He'd been attending 0:04:13.880 --> 0:04:17.119 Lakewood since I was a little boy. He was very 0:04:17.240 --> 0:04:20.599 kind and friendly. When I was in my late teens, 0:04:20.880 --> 0:04:24.200 I was driving home from church one Sunday afternoon. I 0:04:24.320 --> 0:04:26.400 noticed he was pulled over on the side of the 0:04:26.480 --> 0:04:31.000 road on this main residential street. He was in his eighties, 0:04:31.040 --> 0:04:33.359 and I thought something was wrong, maybe he had a 0:04:33.400 --> 0:04:36.800 flat tire. So I turned around to go check it out. 0:04:37.279 --> 0:04:39.080 I got out of my car and said, brother Davis, 0:04:39.279 --> 0:04:42.200 do you need some help? He was getting something out 0:04:42.200 --> 0:04:45.440 of his trunk, he said, no, Joel, I noticed the 0:04:45.480 --> 0:04:49.240 other day that this street sign is covered with vines. 0:04:49.760 --> 0:04:52.440 You can hardly read it. So I brought my lawn 0:04:52.480 --> 0:04:55.800 equipment to clean it up. He opened his trunk. He 0:04:55.880 --> 0:05:00.160 had his tremors, a garden hoe, some plastic bags. The 0:05:00.240 --> 0:05:03.800 next couple of hours he worked cleaning up the sign 0:05:04.240 --> 0:05:08.520 everything around him. At eighteen years old, that made such 0:05:08.560 --> 0:05:11.719 an impression on me. I thought he didn't have to 0:05:11.760 --> 0:05:15.240 do that, wasn't his job. He could have waited for 0:05:15.320 --> 0:05:19.880 the city to trim it. But Brother Davis lived to serve. 0:05:20.560 --> 0:05:23.719 He was always looking for ways to be a blessing. 0:05:24.440 --> 0:05:27.760 Maybe that's why he was so happy. Maybe that's why 0:05:27.760 --> 0:05:31.839 he lived a long, healthy life. When you focus not 0:05:32.240 --> 0:05:36.160 just on accomplishing your dreams, but on being a blessing, 0:05:36.640 --> 0:05:39.920 on serving others, then you're going to have more joy, 0:05:40.320 --> 0:05:43.880 live more fulfilled. And the reason some people are not 0:05:44.040 --> 0:05:48.599 happy is all they think about is themselves, my dreams, 0:05:48.720 --> 0:05:52.960 my goals, my problems, my family. I say this respectfully. 0:05:53.600 --> 0:05:56.760 You need to take a break from you. It's not 0:05:57.000 --> 0:05:59.760 healthy to have you on your mind all the time. 0:06:00.440 --> 0:06:04.120 Take a break from what's bothering you. Take a break 0:06:04.160 --> 0:06:07.480 from what you want from what you're believing for and 0:06:07.560 --> 0:06:12.000 go be good to somebody else. When you serve others, 0:06:12.440 --> 0:06:16.520 that's a seed you're sewing. God will make sure people 0:06:16.520 --> 0:06:19.760 are good to you. But if you're not getting any 0:06:19.800 --> 0:06:23.280 good breaks, you need to ask yourself, am I giving 0:06:23.360 --> 0:06:27.200 any good breaks? Am I showing people favor? Am I 0:06:27.360 --> 0:06:30.159 just doing what's required? Or am I going the extra 0:06:30.279 --> 0:06:35.719 mile and serving? Isaiah said, when you feed the hungry, 0:06:36.279 --> 0:06:39.720 when you clothe the neked, when you help those in need, 0:06:40.240 --> 0:06:43.560 then your light will break forth like the dawn, and 0:06:43.640 --> 0:06:48.120 your healing will quickly come. Too often we're waiting for 0:06:48.160 --> 0:06:51.040 the light to break forth. We're waiting for the healing, 0:06:51.279 --> 0:06:54.680 the promotion, the new level. The question is have we 0:06:54.800 --> 0:06:58.520 done the first part? Have we served someone? Have we 0:06:58.560 --> 0:07:02.320 been a blessing? When that coworker has to put their 0:07:02.360 --> 0:07:05.039 car in the shop, Hey, let me swing by and 0:07:05.080 --> 0:07:07.680 pick you up. I can bring you to work this week. 0:07:08.040 --> 0:07:12.040 You just serve someone. That single mom that's struggling to 0:07:12.080 --> 0:07:14.920 pay a rent. Hey, let me buy your groceries this month. 0:07:15.440 --> 0:07:19.440 You just fed the hungry. That young colleague that doesn't 0:07:19.560 --> 0:07:22.920 understand the computer program, Hey, let me stay late and 0:07:22.960 --> 0:07:25.280 teach you what I know I'll help you to learn. 0:07:26.240 --> 0:07:29.200 When you make it your business to serve, you're going 0:07:29.240 --> 0:07:33.600 to see breakthroughs, promotion, doors open that you couldn't open. 0:07:34.480 --> 0:07:37.680 Nobody may have seen what brother Davis did that day. 0:07:38.320 --> 0:07:42.080 Nobody may have stopped to thank him. Nobody reimbursed him 0:07:42.080 --> 0:07:46.960 for his supplies. Here's the key. God sees everything. He's 0:07:47.040 --> 0:07:51.160 keeping the records. The scripture says what you do in secret, 0:07:51.440 --> 0:07:55.040 God will reward in the open. Don't worry if you're 0:07:55.080 --> 0:07:58.920 not getting credit. Don't get discouraged if people don't thank 0:07:58.960 --> 0:08:03.240 you God. God sees your sacrifice. He sees you buying 0:08:03.320 --> 0:08:06.960 supplies for your students. He sees you taking care of 0:08:06.960 --> 0:08:10.000 that friend that's not well. He sees you getting up 0:08:10.040 --> 0:08:13.160 early to come sing in the choir. God knows how 0:08:13.200 --> 0:08:16.160 to thank you. He knows how to open the windows 0:08:16.200 --> 0:08:20.400 of heaven. You can't be good to somebody without God 0:08:20.520 --> 0:08:23.440 being good back to you. That's not the reason we 0:08:23.520 --> 0:08:26.280 do it. It's just the way God is. When you give, 0:08:26.720 --> 0:08:29.680 he gives you more back. When you show favor, he 0:08:29.800 --> 0:08:33.679 shows you more favor. I think about all the volunteers 0:08:33.960 --> 0:08:38.559 that make Lakewood work each week, ushers, greeters, prayer partners, 0:08:38.880 --> 0:08:42.200 people that visit the sick in the hospital, that go 0:08:42.360 --> 0:08:46.240 up to the prisons, that help those in addictions and recovery. 0:08:46.520 --> 0:08:51.200 Thousands of people that come early and stay late on 0:08:51.320 --> 0:08:55.320 their day off. They've already worked forty hours. They could 0:08:55.360 --> 0:09:00.240 be at home, resting, running errands, enjoying hobbies and ed. 0:09:00.320 --> 0:09:05.400 What are they doing serving, helping others, giving Some of 0:09:05.440 --> 0:09:08.960 you volunteers. I have never said thank you to in person, 0:09:09.440 --> 0:09:12.280 one on one, and of course I am very grateful. 0:09:12.559 --> 0:09:15.640 But the truth is you don't have to have my thanks. 0:09:16.040 --> 0:09:19.160 I don't control the universe. When the Most High God 0:09:19.240 --> 0:09:22.520 thanks you, things will happen that you couldn't make happen. 0:09:23.280 --> 0:09:28.040 His blessing will take you where you've never dreamed. Sometimes 0:09:28.120 --> 0:09:31.440 we don't want to serve because it seems so small 0:09:31.480 --> 0:09:35.120 and so insignificant. But on the way to the big 0:09:35.200 --> 0:09:38.480 things God has in store, he will test us with 0:09:38.600 --> 0:09:43.439 small things. Don't discount trimming the vines off a street sign. 0:09:44.120 --> 0:09:47.160 Don't talk yourself out of going the extra mile and 0:09:47.480 --> 0:09:51.560 serving your family, getting up early, taking care of the children, 0:09:51.760 --> 0:09:55.839 making sure everything's all right. Nobody may be saying thank you. 0:09:56.240 --> 0:10:00.400 It feels unnoticed. God sees what you're doing. That's what 0:10:00.520 --> 0:10:04.040 leads to new levels. Maybe you're working at a job 0:10:04.120 --> 0:10:07.040 that you feel is beneath you. You know you have 0:10:07.120 --> 0:10:10.880 more in you. It's tempting to think, when I get promoted, 0:10:11.400 --> 0:10:13.840 when a new door opens, then I'll be my best. 0:10:14.200 --> 0:10:17.160 Then I'll give it my alle You have to first 0:10:17.520 --> 0:10:20.679 serve where you are with a good attitude. If you 0:10:20.760 --> 0:10:25.280 will excel in that small position, do more than you 0:10:25.400 --> 0:10:29.640 have to, then God will open something bigger. Or maybe 0:10:29.679 --> 0:10:31.960 you want to be in ministry. You want to do 0:10:32.040 --> 0:10:35.960 something significant, but the church isn't looking for a pastor. 0:10:36.559 --> 0:10:40.000 They need volunteers in the children's church. We think I 0:10:40.000 --> 0:10:42.680 don't want to take care of kids, Joe, I do 0:10:42.760 --> 0:10:44.839 that all week with my own children. I want to 0:10:44.880 --> 0:10:48.720 be on the platform. It may seem small, but it's 0:10:48.720 --> 0:10:51.960 a key to you rising higher. It may not be 0:10:52.120 --> 0:10:55.400 the main thing in your heart, but it's leading to 0:10:55.480 --> 0:10:59.680 the main thing. You can't skip that step and reach 0:10:59.720 --> 0:11:04.160 your destiny. Success is not an elevator, it's a set 0:11:04.160 --> 0:11:08.400 of stairs. God leads a step by step. Will you 0:11:08.559 --> 0:11:13.319 serve even though it seems insignificant. This is what David did. 0:11:13.800 --> 0:11:16.360 He was anointed to be the next king of Israel. 0:11:16.679 --> 0:11:20.320 When he was seventeen years old, the prophet Samuel came 0:11:20.360 --> 0:11:24.600 to his house unannounced and chose him over his seven 0:11:24.600 --> 0:11:28.760 older brothers. He knew he was destined to do great things. 0:11:29.120 --> 0:11:32.559 God put this promise in his heart. But David didn't 0:11:32.600 --> 0:11:35.760 go to the palace. He went back to the shepherd's 0:11:35.800 --> 0:11:38.440 fields to take care of sheep, like he had done 0:11:38.480 --> 0:11:42.520 for years. One day, his father asked him to take 0:11:42.559 --> 0:11:46.680 some sandwiches and cheese to his brothers, who were in 0:11:46.760 --> 0:11:50.840 another city in the army. David could have thought, Dad, 0:11:51.280 --> 0:11:54.320 I'm not an errand boy, I'm not a gopher. I'm 0:11:54.360 --> 0:11:57.679 a king. You saw Samuel annoint me. I'm not gonna 0:11:57.720 --> 0:12:00.840 serve my brothers. They should be bringing me food. He 0:12:00.880 --> 0:12:05.000 could have been too proud to do a small thing. Instead. 0:12:05.320 --> 0:12:08.800 The next morning, he set out with the lunches. When 0:12:08.800 --> 0:12:13.240 he arrived at their camp, he heard Goliath, the champion 0:12:13.360 --> 0:12:18.440 of the Philistine army, taunting the Israelites. If David had 0:12:18.440 --> 0:12:22.680 not been willing to serve in a small area taking 0:12:22.760 --> 0:12:27.280 his brother lunches, he would have never met Goliath. His 0:12:27.440 --> 0:12:32.560 purpose was hidden in what seemed to be insignificant. You 0:12:32.679 --> 0:12:36.080 have to be willing to do something small before God 0:12:36.160 --> 0:12:40.200 will trust you with something great. David was led into 0:12:40.240 --> 0:12:45.160 his destiny by delivering a sandwich. You would think when 0:12:45.160 --> 0:12:48.120 God anointed him king, he would say, David, the next 0:12:48.160 --> 0:12:51.360 step is to go meet with the commander of the army, 0:12:51.720 --> 0:12:56.000 go to the palace and strategize with the military leaders. Instead, 0:12:56.080 --> 0:13:00.280 God said, the next step take your brother's lunch. I 0:13:00.360 --> 0:13:03.800 wonder if a new level is waiting for you in 0:13:03.840 --> 0:13:09.600 what seems insignificant. Don't put off opportunities to do good 0:13:09.640 --> 0:13:14.080 to those around you, to serve people like David. You 0:13:14.160 --> 0:13:17.360 may have bigger things in your heart. What's in front 0:13:17.360 --> 0:13:21.200 of you doesn't line up with your vision. David thought, 0:13:21.240 --> 0:13:24.400 I'm a king, not a delivery man. You don't know 0:13:24.920 --> 0:13:29.160 where that small step is leading. Your purpose could be 0:13:29.320 --> 0:13:33.360 waiting for you in your next act of service. That 0:13:33.400 --> 0:13:37.640 could be where you meet your Goliath. David was talking 0:13:37.679 --> 0:13:40.800 with some people in the army. He found out there 0:13:40.840 --> 0:13:45.520 was a huge reward for defeating Goliath. Whoever killed him 0:13:46.040 --> 0:13:49.240 would get one of the king's daughters as their wife, 0:13:49.360 --> 0:13:53.199 plus their whole family would be exempt from paying taxes. 0:13:53.960 --> 0:13:57.120 David was so excited he couldn't believe it. It's one 0:13:57.160 --> 0:13:59.760 thing to not have to pay taxes, but when you 0:13:59.800 --> 0:14:04.920 met Mary, the King's daughter, that means your status would change. 0:14:05.040 --> 0:14:09.200 David came from a common family. They were shepherds, but 0:14:09.360 --> 0:14:13.400 with one defeat he could become royalty. That would change 0:14:13.440 --> 0:14:18.080 his family line forever. When King Saul heard that this 0:14:18.240 --> 0:14:22.840 young man David was interested in fighting Goliath, the scripture 0:14:22.920 --> 0:14:27.480 says Saul sent for David. He had somebody bring him 0:14:27.520 --> 0:14:31.840 in here. David went simply to bring a lunch, and 0:14:31.920 --> 0:14:35.960 now he's standing in the presence of the king. It's 0:14:36.000 --> 0:14:40.720 amazing what can happen when you, sir, just being faithful, 0:14:41.240 --> 0:14:44.920 just doing something that seems small. You don't know when 0:14:44.960 --> 0:14:48.720 you're going to get called in. Promotion doesn't come from people. 0:14:49.000 --> 0:14:52.200 It comes from the Lord. When it's your time, God 0:14:52.240 --> 0:14:55.120 will cause you to be seen. He'll cause you to 0:14:55.120 --> 0:14:57.760 be at the right place. He'll cause you to be 0:14:57.880 --> 0:15:02.040 called in. David went out with a slingshot, slung the 0:15:02.160 --> 0:15:08.080 rock and defeated Goliath. Overnight he became royalty. He went 0:15:08.120 --> 0:15:12.680 from struggling being poor to having more than enough, not 0:15:12.800 --> 0:15:16.880 just him, but his whole family. There are moments in 0:15:16.920 --> 0:15:23.480 your future where like David. Because you're serving, giving, helping others, 0:15:23.960 --> 0:15:27.440 God is going to suddenly thrust you to a new level. 0:15:28.160 --> 0:15:31.680 God knows how to change your status. He knows how 0:15:31.680 --> 0:15:35.600 to bump you up to another dimension. One touch of 0:15:35.640 --> 0:15:39.160 his favor. It not only affects you, but it impacts 0:15:39.200 --> 0:15:42.240 your whole family. And you may not see how this 0:15:42.320 --> 0:15:46.400 can happen. Neither did David. He was just delivering a lunch, 0:15:47.320 --> 0:15:50.440 serving in what seemed like a small area. You don't 0:15:50.480 --> 0:15:53.560 know what God is up to. You keep being faithful. 0:15:53.880 --> 0:15:56.600 God's going to make things happen that you never dreamed 0:15:56.600 --> 0:16:02.360 would happen. What's interesting is and deliver the lunches looking 0:16:02.440 --> 0:16:06.080 for an opportunity. He didn't go thinking maybe I'll get 0:16:06.080 --> 0:16:09.760 a good break, maybe I'll make an important contact, maybe 0:16:09.800 --> 0:16:13.360 I'll meet the king. He didn't have his own agenda. 0:16:13.480 --> 0:16:18.080 He wasn't trying to manipulate things. He was just faithfully serving, 0:16:18.680 --> 0:16:22.680 doing what his father asked, and the opportunity came to him. 0:16:23.800 --> 0:16:27.680 When you serve others, you are serving God, You are 0:16:27.720 --> 0:16:31.640 honoring him. You don't have to make things happen. You 0:16:31.680 --> 0:16:34.240 don't have to try to convince people to like you, 0:16:34.960 --> 0:16:37.960 talk them in to opening a door. You just keep 0:16:38.000 --> 0:16:41.600 being your best where you are going the extra mile, 0:16:42.080 --> 0:16:45.080 and the blessing will come to you, the promotion, the 0:16:45.200 --> 0:16:50.280 right people, the favor it will find you. For seventeen 0:16:50.360 --> 0:16:53.680 years I served my father behind the scenes here at 0:16:53.760 --> 0:16:58.280 Lakewood doing the television production. I wasn't trying to become 0:16:58.320 --> 0:17:02.280 a pastor. I looking for this position. I was happy 0:17:02.320 --> 0:17:06.320 where I was. I would spend hours tweaking the lighting 0:17:06.400 --> 0:17:10.679 and adjusting the camera angles, doing all I could to 0:17:10.760 --> 0:17:13.919 make my father look good. I would go to his 0:17:14.080 --> 0:17:17.320 house every week and pick out a suit and tie 0:17:17.520 --> 0:17:21.480 for him to wear on television on Sundays. For several 0:17:21.600 --> 0:17:25.520 years when we owned a station, every Saturday I would 0:17:25.560 --> 0:17:27.640 have to go to the station and pick up these 0:17:27.680 --> 0:17:31.160 seven large recorders, load them into my truck, bring them 0:17:31.200 --> 0:17:34.240 to the church, get them all hooked up. I never 0:17:34.280 --> 0:17:36.639 thought much about it. I was just doing what needed 0:17:36.680 --> 0:17:40.600 to be done. But God is watching to see how 0:17:40.640 --> 0:17:45.240 we respond in the difficult times. When we could slack off, 0:17:45.680 --> 0:17:49.040 we could be sour. You have to be faithful in 0:17:49.160 --> 0:17:53.000 the wilderness before God will take you into the promised land. 0:17:53.960 --> 0:17:58.400 When you keep serving with excellence, serving when no one 0:17:58.520 --> 0:18:02.720 is watching on your day off serving when it doesn't 0:18:02.760 --> 0:18:06.880 look like it will ever change. Then one day, like David, 0:18:07.359 --> 0:18:10.880 you will come into a destiny moment. Will God will 0:18:10.880 --> 0:18:15.160 open a door bigger than you've imagined. Nineteen ninety nine, 0:18:15.440 --> 0:18:19.639 my father unexpectedly went to be with the Lord. That 0:18:19.840 --> 0:18:23.639 was like my Goliath moment. I was never expecting to 0:18:23.640 --> 0:18:26.719 be in front of the camera, but God suddenly thrust 0:18:26.840 --> 0:18:30.040 me into this position. It's taking me further than I've 0:18:30.040 --> 0:18:34.920 ever dreamed. But it all started behind the scenes, when 0:18:34.960 --> 0:18:38.240 nobody was watching. When I was doing what I could 0:18:38.480 --> 0:18:41.360 to make my father look good, not trying to get 0:18:41.359 --> 0:18:46.040 the credit, not trying to manipulate things, thinking maybe Daddy 0:18:46.080 --> 0:18:48.800 one day will choose me, maybe one day I'll be 0:18:48.920 --> 0:18:54.000 in charge. I was simply faithfully serving my father's vision. 0:18:55.080 --> 0:18:57.800 You may have a dream to have your own business 0:18:57.880 --> 0:19:01.479 or have your own ministry, but right now you're working 0:19:01.640 --> 0:19:06.520 for someone else. You're in approving season. You need to 0:19:06.560 --> 0:19:10.439 do all you can to help that company succeed. Do 0:19:10.560 --> 0:19:14.359 all this in your ability to help that ministry flourish. 0:19:14.720 --> 0:19:17.679 Don't wait till you get what you want. If you 0:19:17.760 --> 0:19:20.639 don't give it your best where you are, that door 0:19:20.680 --> 0:19:24.400 won't open for you. I've heard it said you have 0:19:24.480 --> 0:19:28.560 to carry a crown before you can wear one. You 0:19:28.600 --> 0:19:31.879 have to serve someone else with excellence. You have to 0:19:31.920 --> 0:19:36.040 help build their dream, help them succeed. Well, Joel, I 0:19:36.119 --> 0:19:39.080 want somebody to serve me, want someone to help me 0:19:39.359 --> 0:19:44.879 be successful. The scripture says, if you're not faithful to 0:19:44.960 --> 0:19:48.480 that which belongs to another man, who will give you 0:19:48.480 --> 0:19:51.800 your own. Every day you go to work with a 0:19:51.840 --> 0:19:55.480 good attitude and give it your all. Every time you 0:19:55.560 --> 0:19:59.280 sing in the choir, usher someone to their seats, every 0:19:59.280 --> 0:20:02.320 time you help that friend with their project, you are 0:20:02.359 --> 0:20:07.000 being faithful to another person's dream. You're showing God that 0:20:07.080 --> 0:20:10.280 he could trust you with your own. God has a 0:20:10.280 --> 0:20:14.080 crown for you. He wants you to rise higher, give 0:20:14.119 --> 0:20:19.080 you more influence opportunity than you've ever seen. The question is, 0:20:19.640 --> 0:20:23.560 are you carrying somebody else's crown? Are you helping somebody 0:20:23.600 --> 0:20:28.760 else succeed, sewing into their dream, maybe serving in their ministry. 0:20:29.560 --> 0:20:34.320 One King's nineteen God told the prophet Elijah to anoint 0:20:34.359 --> 0:20:38.920 a young man named Elisha as his replacement. He saw 0:20:38.960 --> 0:20:42.000 Elisha out plowing in the field. He went over and 0:20:42.040 --> 0:20:45.800 threw his cloak on him. It represented his mantle. It 0:20:45.840 --> 0:20:49.640 was an invitation for Elisha to work for him. Maybe 0:20:49.680 --> 0:20:52.840 Elisha had a dream of being in ministry. This was 0:20:52.880 --> 0:20:56.720 his big chance, God answering his prayer. I can imagine 0:20:56.800 --> 0:20:59.800 Elisha saying, Elijah, I'd love to work for you. What 0:21:00.080 --> 0:21:03.200 will my position be. He thought he'd be on the 0:21:03.240 --> 0:21:07.359 platform leading the people. I can hear Elijah say, no, 0:21:07.760 --> 0:21:10.440 I don't need anyone on the platform. I don't need 0:21:10.440 --> 0:21:13.760 anyone in the limelight. I need you to get my food, 0:21:14.440 --> 0:21:18.480 bring my water, set up my tent. It was a test. 0:21:18.680 --> 0:21:21.879 He didn't tell Elisha that he was his replacement. He 0:21:21.920 --> 0:21:25.080 didn't tell them a little earlier God said to anoint him. 0:21:25.440 --> 0:21:28.040 Elisha could have said, I'd love to do it, but 0:21:28.560 --> 0:21:30.920 I don't want to be in the background. I don't 0:21:30.920 --> 0:21:33.600 want to serve in a menial position. I have big 0:21:33.640 --> 0:21:39.159 things in my heart. Instead, Elisha understood this principle that 0:21:39.280 --> 0:21:43.040 you have to carry a crown before you can wear one. 0:21:43.080 --> 0:21:48.120 He faithfully served Elijah month after month, year after year. 0:21:48.600 --> 0:21:52.000 In fact, three times Elijah tried to get rid of him. 0:21:52.640 --> 0:21:54.679 He told him to stay in a city while he 0:21:54.720 --> 0:21:58.760 went further. Elishah wouldn't do it. He was so committed, 0:21:59.160 --> 0:22:03.639 so faithful, that he went with him anyway. When Elijah 0:22:03.720 --> 0:22:07.280 was taken to heaven in the world, when Elishah received 0:22:07.280 --> 0:22:11.080 a double portion of his anointing, he performed twice as 0:22:11.119 --> 0:22:14.960 many miracles. It would have never happened if he had 0:22:14.960 --> 0:22:19.640 not served him all those years. Don't discount the power 0:22:19.880 --> 0:22:25.639 of serving, being faithful, helping someone else succeed. Joel, I 0:22:25.680 --> 0:22:29.639 have my own dreams. I'm falling behind. No, your time 0:22:29.840 --> 0:22:34.520 is coming. There's a Goliath moment suddenly where God is 0:22:34.560 --> 0:22:37.520 going to thrust you to a new level. You are 0:22:37.640 --> 0:22:42.439 never wasting time serving others. It's a part of God's plan. 0:22:42.960 --> 0:22:46.760 You cannot reach your destiny without being faithful to another 0:22:46.840 --> 0:22:50.359 person's dream. That showing God he can trust you with 0:22:50.480 --> 0:22:54.159 your own. As a young man, God gave Joseph a 0:22:54.280 --> 0:22:57.560 dream that one day he would be in leadership, that 0:22:57.640 --> 0:23:01.040 people would bow down before him. But he was betrayed 0:23:01.080 --> 0:23:04.879 by his brothers and sold into slavery. He worked for 0:23:04.920 --> 0:23:08.960 a man named potterfor a high ranking military official in 0:23:09.040 --> 0:23:12.960 the Egyptian army. Joseph had every right to be bitter 0:23:13.680 --> 0:23:17.399 to slack off his own family turned on him, but 0:23:17.520 --> 0:23:22.520 instead of being discouraged. Joseph kept excelling where he was 0:23:23.160 --> 0:23:27.520 doing more than required, and Potterford noticed and put him 0:23:27.520 --> 0:23:31.600 in charge of his whole household. Even when it's not fair, 0:23:32.119 --> 0:23:36.000 you can serve your way up. People notice when you 0:23:36.080 --> 0:23:39.880 go the extra mile. You should be so excellent at 0:23:39.920 --> 0:23:43.880 work that your company can't make it without you. When 0:23:43.880 --> 0:23:47.240 your boss your supervisor looks at you, they think, Wow, 0:23:47.400 --> 0:23:51.280 they're a cut above. They're always on time, they always 0:23:51.280 --> 0:23:54.760 do more than they have to. They always help solve problems. 0:23:55.720 --> 0:24:00.360 If you're gone and nobody misses you, everything at your 0:24:00.359 --> 0:24:03.960 company runs just as smoothly, then maybe they don't need you. 0:24:04.800 --> 0:24:08.360 If you want job security, you need to be so productive, 0:24:08.800 --> 0:24:12.080 so above and beyond the norm, that there's a gap 0:24:12.160 --> 0:24:15.800 when you're not there. This doesn't mean you have to 0:24:15.840 --> 0:24:18.760 have the most talent. It means you know how to 0:24:18.840 --> 0:24:23.719 serve well. Joseph was eventually put in prison for something 0:24:23.720 --> 0:24:27.520 that he didn't do. Surely he'd be sour now, surely 0:24:27.560 --> 0:24:30.840 he would slack off. No, he kept being his best, 0:24:31.400 --> 0:24:34.720 so much so that the supervisor put him in charge 0:24:34.840 --> 0:24:40.240 of the prison. Betrayed but still serving faithfully, not fair, 0:24:40.440 --> 0:24:45.480 but still serving with excellence. That gets God's attention. One night, 0:24:45.600 --> 0:24:49.600 the pharaoh had a dream that he didn't understand. Word 0:24:49.680 --> 0:24:53.960 reached him that this young prisoner, this slave named Joseph, 0:24:54.080 --> 0:24:58.920 could interpret dreams he sent for him. Joseph was standing 0:24:59.000 --> 0:25:01.200 in the palace in front of one of the most 0:25:01.240 --> 0:25:05.840 powerful people of that day. The betrayal, the bad break, 0:25:06.080 --> 0:25:10.160 the injustice. It was a test. God was saying, Joseph, 0:25:10.600 --> 0:25:13.840 will you serve me through the bad breaks? Will you 0:25:13.920 --> 0:25:18.880 serve me through the lonely nights? When you face big challenges, 0:25:19.080 --> 0:25:22.959 it's because God has a big destiny in front of you. 0:25:23.640 --> 0:25:27.440 Joseph passed the test. He not only served his way up, 0:25:27.760 --> 0:25:31.600 he served his way out. He interpreted the dream. The 0:25:31.640 --> 0:25:34.800 pharaoh was so impressed he brought him out of prison 0:25:35.320 --> 0:25:39.399 and made Joseph the prime minister of Egypt. When you 0:25:39.480 --> 0:25:45.040 go through unfair situations, don't get bitter. Keep serving, keep 0:25:45.080 --> 0:25:50.320 being faithful, keep helping someone else succeed. That difficulty is 0:25:50.359 --> 0:25:53.240 not there to stop you. It's there to promote you. 0:25:53.760 --> 0:25:57.320 Now do your part and serve your way out. Not 0:25:57.520 --> 0:26:01.720 negative complaining. Joel, you talk me into it, I'll do it, 0:26:01.760 --> 0:26:04.720 But it's not fair. You can do the right thing 0:26:05.240 --> 0:26:09.520 with the wrong attitude and miss your blessing. God is 0:26:09.600 --> 0:26:12.639 not just looking at what we do. He's looking at 0:26:12.640 --> 0:26:16.800 the attitude of our heart. The Psalmist said, serve the 0:26:16.880 --> 0:26:21.560 Lord with gladness, Serve with a smile, go to work 0:26:21.560 --> 0:26:25.360 with a good attitude, singing the choir with joy. Too 0:26:25.400 --> 0:26:29.480 many people are serving with sadness. They wonder why nothing changes. 0:26:30.080 --> 0:26:32.919 If David would have taken lunch to his brothers with 0:26:33.000 --> 0:26:37.000 a sour attitude, complaining, I don't believe he would have 0:26:37.080 --> 0:26:42.600 met Goliath. If Elishah would have served Elijah negative, I 0:26:42.600 --> 0:26:45.200 can't believe I'm still taking care of this old man. 0:26:45.680 --> 0:26:47.679 This is not what I signed up for. He'd have 0:26:47.760 --> 0:26:52.359 never received the double portion. Don't miss your blessing because 0:26:52.400 --> 0:26:55.760 you're sour. You're doing the right thing. Make sure you're 0:26:55.760 --> 0:26:59.960 doing it with gladness. Remember you're not working under people. 0:27:00.560 --> 0:27:03.600 You're not just serving your company, serving your church, serving 0:27:03.640 --> 0:27:07.000 your neighbor. You are serving the creator of the universe, 0:27:07.320 --> 0:27:11.080 the God who breathed life into you. You may be 0:27:11.440 --> 0:27:16.040 in a difficult situation like Joseph, serve your way out. 0:27:16.359 --> 0:27:19.679 Keep being your best where you are. Don't discount the 0:27:19.840 --> 0:27:24.000 small things. Taking your brother's lunch. That small act of 0:27:24.160 --> 0:27:27.520 service is leading to the big things God has in store. 0:27:28.359 --> 0:27:33.080 Many of you have been serving faithfully, going the extra mile, 0:27:33.480 --> 0:27:36.800 doing it with a good attitude. Get ready. Your time 0:27:37.040 --> 0:27:40.200 is coming. God is about to open a new door. 0:27:40.760 --> 0:27:43.800 He's about to put you in position where you're not 0:27:44.000 --> 0:27:47.760 just carrying a crown. You're wearing your crown. You're seeing 0:27:47.760 --> 0:27:51.520 a dream come to pass. It's because you've been faithful 0:27:51.680 --> 0:27:57.040 to serve. I believe and declare breakthroughs are coming, promotions 0:27:57.040 --> 0:28:01.119 are coming, healings are coming. New level of your destiny 0:28:01.520 --> 0:28:04.679 in Jesus's name, and if you receive it, can you 0:28:04.720 --> 0:28:08.439 say it? Men? Today, I'd like to give you an 0:28:08.480 --> 0:28:12.399 opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. Would 0:28:12.440 --> 0:28:17.320 you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll repent 0:28:17.359 --> 0:28:21.919 of my sins. Come into my heart. I'll make you 0:28:22.040 --> 0:28:26.080 my Lord and savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, 0:28:26.280 --> 0:28:29.040 we believe you got born again. Get in a good 0:28:29.040 --> 0:28:33.160 Bible based church, keep God first place, Victor, and I'll 0:28:33.200 --> 0:28:35.480 be right back to speak a blessing over you. 0:28:36.480 --> 0:28:39.920 Thank you for listening to the Joel Oustine podcast. Help 0:28:40.000 --> 0:28:42.720 us continue to share the message of Hope with those 0:28:42.840 --> 0:28:46.720 all over the world. Visit Joeloustein dot com slash give 0:28:46.800 --> 0:28:48.479 Hope to give a gift today. 0:28:49.760 --> 0:28:52.680 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:28:52.720 --> 0:28:56.080 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:28:56.160 --> 0:28:59.360 keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 0:28:59.520 --> 0:29:01.880 I know God Od's best is still ahead. We'll see 0:29:01.920 --> 0:29:02.640 you next time. 0:29:09.840 --> 0:29:14.880 Nice funds, Soft Fluffy and ultralow netcarbs discover hero Bread 0:29:15.080 --> 0:29:19.360 the delicious ultralow netcarbread with incredible taste and texture. Hero 0:29:19.480 --> 0:29:21.680 Bread has zero grams of sugar and is under one 0:29:21.720 --> 0:29:25.160 hundred calories per serving, plus high end fiber and up 0:29:25.160 --> 0:29:28.440 to ten grams of protein per serving. Available on Amazon 0:29:28.480 --> 0:29:31.880 dot com, Walmart dot com, and hero dot Co. That's 0:29:31.960 --> 0:29:35.440 hero dot Co. Order from hero dot Co now and 0:29:35.520 --> 0:29:38.960 get ten percent off your purchase with promo code IHM ten. 0:29:41.200 --> 0:29:43.720 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:29:43.760 --> 0:29:47.320 for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 0:29:47.400 --> 0:29:50.480 been ill equipped to help. That is until now. Join 0:29:50.560 --> 0:29:53.560 nearly fifty thousand people just like you who've enrolled in 0:29:53.600 --> 0:29:56.880 the Mental Health Coach training program and become equipped to help. 0:29:57.000 --> 0:29:59.760 For a limited time. Apply for a fultuition scholarship and 0:30:00.040 --> 0:30:01.920 only pay a one time tech fee of fifty four 0:30:01.960 --> 0:30:06.520 dollars if accepted. Apply now at mentalhealthcoach dot org. That's 0:30:06.600 --> 0:30:08.360 mentalhealthcoach dot org. 0:30:09.880 --> 0:30:11.880 Summer is here and our sleep is just as important 0:30:11.880 --> 0:30:12.840 as our weekend plans. 0:30:12.920 --> 0:30:14.920 So get the sleep you deserve with Lisa for. 0:30:14.880 --> 0:30:16.880 A limited time, save up to seven hundred dollars off 0:30:16.920 --> 0:30:19.920 select mattresses plus two free pillows during our summer sale. 0:30:20.040 --> 0:30:22.360 Check out our hybrid mattress designed to keep you cool 0:30:22.440 --> 0:30:25.320 during those hot summer nights. Lisa also offers free shipping 0:30:25.440 --> 0:30:27.280 and a risk free one hundred night trial. 0:30:27.480 --> 0:30:28.680 Get the sleep you deserve. 0:30:28.920 --> 0:30:30.840 Shop our summer sale now and save up to seven 0:30:30.880 --> 0:30:34.000 hundred dollars off select mattresses plus two free pillows at 0:30:34.000 --> 0:30:37.120 Lisa dot com. That's l E e s A dot Com. 0:30:37.280 --> 0:30:39.480 Exclusions apply. Visit Lisa dot com for details