Shining Brightly

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. 0:01:00.680 --> 0:01:03.440 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:03.480 --> 0:01:06.600 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:01:06.720 --> 0:01:09.280 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:01:09.360 --> 0:01:12.000 share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 0:01:12.040 --> 0:01:27.720 for God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you. 0:01:27.880 --> 0:01:30.080 It's always a joy to come into your homes. And 0:01:30.280 --> 0:01:32.640 if you're ever in our area, please stop by and 0:01:32.680 --> 0:01:35.080 be a part of one of our services. I promise 0:01:35.120 --> 0:01:37.399 you we'll make you feel right at home. Thanks so 0:01:37.480 --> 0:01:40.039 much for tuning in, and thank you again for coming out. 0:01:40.520 --> 0:01:42.800 I like to start with something funny, and I heard 0:01:42.800 --> 0:01:46.400 about this reporter that was visiting churches across the nation. 0:01:47.120 --> 0:01:50.520 While in the Northeast, he saw this golden telephone on 0:01:50.560 --> 0:01:53.920 the wall with a sign that said calls ten thousand 0:01:53.960 --> 0:01:57.080 dollars a minute. He asked the pastor what it meant. 0:01:57.440 --> 0:02:00.920 The pastor explained that was a direct line Heaven. If 0:02:00.960 --> 0:02:02.960 you were willing to pay the price, you could talk 0:02:02.960 --> 0:02:06.800 directly to God. He continued visiting different churches and saw 0:02:06.840 --> 0:02:10.440 the same golden phone the same sign. Finally made it 0:02:10.480 --> 0:02:13.440 to Texas. He saw the phone, but the sign said 0:02:13.440 --> 0:02:17.480 calls twenty five cents a minute. Intrigued, he asked the 0:02:17.520 --> 0:02:20.239 pastor why it was so much cheaper. The pastor said, 0:02:20.240 --> 0:02:25.680 you're in Texas now, it's a local call. Say it 0:02:25.760 --> 0:02:28.680 like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am 0:02:28.720 --> 0:02:31.040 what it says I am. I have what it says 0:02:31.080 --> 0:02:33.560 I have. I can do what it says I can do. 0:02:33.960 --> 0:02:36.720 Today I will be taught the word of God. I 0:02:36.840 --> 0:02:40.720 boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is recepted. 0:02:41.120 --> 0:02:44.760 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:02:44.840 --> 0:02:48.280 bless you. I want to talk to you today about 0:02:48.560 --> 0:02:52.720 shining brightly. How you live your life is sending a 0:02:52.760 --> 0:02:56.679 message to those around you. More than your words, More 0:02:56.720 --> 0:02:59.959 than what you say. People are watching, how you live, 0:03:00.680 --> 0:03:04.079 how you respond to adversity, how you treat others, how 0:03:04.120 --> 0:03:07.360 consistent you are when you go out each day with 0:03:07.400 --> 0:03:10.520 a smile on your face. You're kind, you're in a 0:03:10.520 --> 0:03:14.120 good mood, You're always doing things for others. That's one 0:03:14.120 --> 0:03:18.440 of the best witnesses you can have. Our actions speak 0:03:18.560 --> 0:03:22.160 much louder than our words. I've heard it said, preach 0:03:22.200 --> 0:03:26.880 at all times, use words only when necessary. Your life 0:03:27.080 --> 0:03:30.120 is your message, and the scripture tells us we have 0:03:30.200 --> 0:03:33.639 the power to be a witness. It doesn't say to 0:03:33.840 --> 0:03:37.280 witness to preach a sermon, to straighten people out, to 0:03:37.360 --> 0:03:40.280 tell them what they're doing wrong. Know, the real power 0:03:40.480 --> 0:03:44.360 is to be a witness. When people see you living 0:03:44.520 --> 0:03:48.320 a life of excellence and integrity day in and day out. 0:03:48.360 --> 0:03:53.080 You're happy, friendly, good natured. That has a greater impact 0:03:53.280 --> 0:03:57.000 than anything we could ever say. We can quote scriptures 0:03:57.040 --> 0:03:59.680 all day long, come to church every time the doors 0:03:59.720 --> 0:04:03.200 are open, keep a praise music on. But if you 0:04:03.240 --> 0:04:06.800 complain about the boss, get upset because of the traffic, 0:04:07.320 --> 0:04:12.560 play politics to get ahead. Your example will override anything 0:04:12.560 --> 0:04:16.159 that you say. Parents, we can tell our children be kind, 0:04:16.640 --> 0:04:20.839 be respectful, but if they see us being disrespectful, not 0:04:20.920 --> 0:04:23.360 treating people right, it will go in one ear and 0:04:23.400 --> 0:04:26.640 out the other. The power is in what you do. 0:04:27.640 --> 0:04:31.240 Most people are not reading their Bibles, they're reading your life. 0:04:32.040 --> 0:04:34.120 They may never listen to a minister, they may never 0:04:34.160 --> 0:04:37.240 come to church, but they're watching how you live. And 0:04:37.279 --> 0:04:40.800 we should have so much joy, so much peace. We 0:04:40.880 --> 0:04:43.960 should be so kind, so generous, so good natured that 0:04:44.080 --> 0:04:47.200 people want what we have that's what it means to 0:04:47.240 --> 0:04:49.919 be the light of the world. And we come to 0:04:50.000 --> 0:04:53.520 church each week to get our batteries charged, to get 0:04:53.560 --> 0:04:57.120 filled back up, to be encouraged to grow, to learn. 0:04:57.760 --> 0:05:01.520 But our real assignment begins when we leave this auditorium. 0:05:02.120 --> 0:05:05.599 There's already plenty of light in here. Most of us 0:05:05.680 --> 0:05:09.560 are believers, we have faith, We're expecting good things. Our 0:05:09.680 --> 0:05:14.440 light is not very effective around other light. It's like 0:05:14.480 --> 0:05:17.600 this little boy. His father bought him a new flashlight. 0:05:18.160 --> 0:05:20.479 He was outside on a bright sunny day and he 0:05:20.760 --> 0:05:24.000 turned it on, shined it around, couldn't see anything, said, Daddy, 0:05:24.040 --> 0:05:27.760 doesn't work. Something's wrong. Dad said, no, son, it's fine. 0:05:27.880 --> 0:05:30.919 It wasn't designed to work in the light. It was 0:05:31.000 --> 0:05:33.840 made to work in the darkness. That's when you'll see 0:05:33.839 --> 0:05:37.559 what it can really do. Too often we complain about 0:05:37.600 --> 0:05:40.960 the darkness. I don't like this job. These people are 0:05:41.000 --> 0:05:44.279 so negative. Nobody has a good attitude. Let me ask you, 0:05:44.760 --> 0:05:47.559 why do you think God puts you there? They don't 0:05:47.600 --> 0:05:51.159 need more light in the bright places. That's an opportunity 0:05:51.320 --> 0:05:54.760 for you to shine. I've heard it said you can 0:05:54.839 --> 0:05:58.960 either be a thermometer and just measure the temperature become 0:05:59.040 --> 0:06:02.480 like everyone else. Or you can be a thermostat and 0:06:02.600 --> 0:06:06.880 change the temperature. When you hear people complaining about the company, 0:06:06.920 --> 0:06:09.279 don't join in. Yeah it's really bad around here. Be 0:06:09.320 --> 0:06:12.919 a thermostat. Turn it around. Things may not be perfect, 0:06:12.960 --> 0:06:15.640 but I'm grateful that I have a job. I'm thankful 0:06:15.680 --> 0:06:18.200 that I can come to work each day. You are 0:06:18.279 --> 0:06:21.599 the light of the world. Don't add to the darkness. 0:06:22.040 --> 0:06:26.120 Turn your light on. It works best in the dark places, 0:06:26.760 --> 0:06:32.039 when you're around negative influences, gossiping, complaining, people playing politics. 0:06:32.279 --> 0:06:36.000 Don't turn it off, don't hide it. Realize that's what 0:06:36.080 --> 0:06:40.159 your light was designed for. Let it shine brightly. The 0:06:40.200 --> 0:06:44.280 scripture talks about wives that have husbands that are not believers. 0:06:44.839 --> 0:06:48.719 It says, don't try to win them over with your speech. 0:06:49.440 --> 0:06:53.279 Your godly life will speak to them better than any words. 0:06:53.760 --> 0:06:56.719 They will be won over by watching how you live. 0:06:57.480 --> 0:06:59.920 In other words, you don't have to preach to people. 0:07:00.440 --> 0:07:02.200 You don't have to try to straighten them out. Hey, 0:07:02.240 --> 0:07:04.640 you need to have a better attitude, You need to 0:07:04.640 --> 0:07:08.520 have a new perspective. No, just be happy, be friendly, 0:07:09.360 --> 0:07:12.280 be a person of excellence. That's how you let your 0:07:12.360 --> 0:07:16.320 light shine with your actions. Not just with your words. 0:07:16.800 --> 0:07:19.760 Everybody's discouraged, but you've got a spring in your step. 0:07:20.160 --> 0:07:23.440 You're in a good mood. Everybody's slacking off, but you're 0:07:23.480 --> 0:07:26.960 giving it your best. Everybody's upset at the company because 0:07:26.960 --> 0:07:29.160 they have to work late, but you're just the same. 0:07:29.400 --> 0:07:32.200 Happy in the good times, happy in the tough times. 0:07:32.560 --> 0:07:36.960 That's letting your light shine brightly. My father told how 0:07:37.160 --> 0:07:39.920 when he was a young man, this one church where 0:07:39.960 --> 0:07:44.480 he went to minister was so dead. Nobody clapped, nobody's saying, 0:07:44.560 --> 0:07:48.200 nobody responded. He thought, God, what am I doing here? 0:07:48.680 --> 0:07:51.320 These people don't want to be in church. They certainly 0:07:51.320 --> 0:07:54.320 don't want to listen to me. It's dead. He heard 0:07:54.360 --> 0:07:56.920 God say, right down in here, son, why do you 0:07:56.960 --> 0:07:59.880 think I sent you there? They don't need more light 0:08:00.040 --> 0:08:03.280 where it's already bright. I sent you to stir them up. 0:08:03.760 --> 0:08:07.360 I send you to be a thermostat, to ignite that spark, 0:08:07.560 --> 0:08:11.600 that fleeing that's on the inside. God will send us 0:08:11.720 --> 0:08:15.000 into dark places so we can make a difference, so 0:08:15.120 --> 0:08:19.440 our light will shine brightly. Quick complaining about the family 0:08:19.520 --> 0:08:23.480 you married into. God, these in laws, these outlaws, this 0:08:23.600 --> 0:08:26.160 mother in law. God, they get on my nerves. You're 0:08:26.200 --> 0:08:29.680 not there by accident. God has you there on purpose. 0:08:30.040 --> 0:08:33.200 He's counting on you to brighten it up. Now. Don't 0:08:33.200 --> 0:08:36.280 add to the darkness, don't make it worse. Be a light. 0:08:37.080 --> 0:08:39.760 Do the right thing even when the wrong thing's happening. 0:08:40.360 --> 0:08:44.720 Be respectful even when they're disrespectful. Keep a good attitude 0:08:44.760 --> 0:08:47.400 even when you feel like being sour. Stay on the 0:08:47.480 --> 0:08:52.920 high road. They need your light shine brightly well, Joel. 0:08:53.200 --> 0:08:56.160 I am so dreading going to my family reunion this year. 0:08:56.840 --> 0:09:00.160 My relatives are so sarcastic. They make fun of me 0:09:00.200 --> 0:09:02.600 because I want party with them. They give me a 0:09:02.600 --> 0:09:04.520 hard time because I go to church. I don't feel 0:09:04.520 --> 0:09:06.960 like putting up with it. They'll have a new perspective. 0:09:07.200 --> 0:09:10.960 That's an opportunity for you to shine. It's easy to 0:09:11.000 --> 0:09:14.520 shine around everybody that loves you, everybody that celebrates you, 0:09:14.559 --> 0:09:18.240 and things like you. The problem is your light is 0:09:18.280 --> 0:09:22.840 not nearly effective around those people because it's already so bright. 0:09:23.440 --> 0:09:26.920 The darker the situation, the brighter your light will shine. 0:09:27.559 --> 0:09:30.080 You don't have to try to change their minds. You 0:09:30.080 --> 0:09:32.480 don't have to tell them everything they're doing wrong. All 0:09:32.520 --> 0:09:35.960 you've got to do is be happy when they make 0:09:36.000 --> 0:09:38.600 fun of you, Just laugh and let it bounce off. 0:09:39.040 --> 0:09:42.480 When they're sarcastic, just smile and move forward. No big deal. 0:09:42.559 --> 0:09:47.000 Don't let it affect you. People push buttons expecting to 0:09:47.040 --> 0:09:50.800 get a certain response. I'll say this and they'll get upset. 0:09:51.400 --> 0:09:53.440 I'll leave them out and they'll get their feelings hurt. 0:09:53.840 --> 0:09:57.160 I'll be disrespectful and they'll argue. They'll be rude. Don't 0:09:57.200 --> 0:10:00.640 fall into that trap. Turn your buttons off, let them 0:10:00.679 --> 0:10:04.560 push all they want. Just keep being kind, keep being respectful, 0:10:04.800 --> 0:10:09.360 stay on the high road. Love never fails. Light will 0:10:09.400 --> 0:10:13.240 always overcome darkness. It may not happen this year or 0:10:13.280 --> 0:10:16.280 even next year, but at some point they will come 0:10:16.280 --> 0:10:20.680 to the place where they get tired of living negative, defeated, sarcastic, 0:10:20.760 --> 0:10:23.000 and they'll think, you know what, I want what they have. 0:10:23.559 --> 0:10:26.839 I want that joy, I want that peace, I want 0:10:26.840 --> 0:10:31.600 that spirit of excellence. Your exampled more than your words, 0:10:31.760 --> 0:10:35.160 will be what causes them to change. Don't complain about 0:10:35.160 --> 0:10:39.040 that neighborhood you're in. God, these neighbors, these people, they're 0:10:39.040 --> 0:10:42.280 involved in things they shouldn't be involved in. They curse, 0:10:42.679 --> 0:10:46.160 they're disrespectful, they don't take care of their property. That's 0:10:46.240 --> 0:10:49.480 why God has you there. It's dark. He's counting on 0:10:49.520 --> 0:10:53.240 you to turn on the light. Instead of complaining. While 0:10:53.320 --> 0:10:56.480 God had you there, why don't you pray? God, help 0:10:56.559 --> 0:10:59.920 my light to shine with greater intensity. God, help me 0:11:00.080 --> 0:11:03.320 to be a greater influence. Let your love, your kindness, 0:11:03.320 --> 0:11:07.560 your mercy be seen in everything that I do. In 0:11:07.640 --> 0:11:12.079 the scripture, David worked for King Saul. Saul became jealous 0:11:12.080 --> 0:11:15.160 of David and tried to kill him. One day, David 0:11:15.200 --> 0:11:17.240 was playing the heart for Saul, trying to make him 0:11:17.280 --> 0:11:21.679 feel better. Saul, through a spear, barely missed David. He 0:11:21.720 --> 0:11:25.199 took off, running for his life. Saul ended up chasing 0:11:25.320 --> 0:11:29.480 David through the wilderness, making his life miserable. What's interesting 0:11:30.240 --> 0:11:34.000 is David never complained about Saul. He never said, God, 0:11:34.520 --> 0:11:36.800 why is this man trying to kill me? This is 0:11:36.840 --> 0:11:40.160 not right. I haven't done anything wrong. David just kept 0:11:40.160 --> 0:11:44.720 doing the right thing, letting his light shine brightly. One night, 0:11:44.800 --> 0:11:48.679 while David was on the run, he saw Saul and 0:11:48.760 --> 0:11:52.880 his men asleep in the desert. This was David's big 0:11:52.960 --> 0:11:56.000 opportunity to put an end to it. He could have 0:11:56.360 --> 0:11:58.960 killed Saul easily once and for all been done with 0:11:59.000 --> 0:12:02.080 it and nobody will have faulted him. But David wouldn't 0:12:02.120 --> 0:12:05.160 do it. He knew Saul had been anointed to be 0:12:05.240 --> 0:12:08.160 the king. He said, God, I'm not going to touch 0:12:08.200 --> 0:12:10.760 your anointed. I'm going to let you fight my battles. 0:12:11.520 --> 0:12:14.520 When Saul woke up and realized what had happened, that 0:12:14.640 --> 0:12:18.640 David could have easily killed him, Saul said, David, you're 0:12:18.640 --> 0:12:21.760 a better man than me. He was ashamed and went 0:12:21.800 --> 0:12:26.079 back home. This didn't happen because of David's words, because 0:12:26.120 --> 0:12:28.680 of something that he said. Come on, Saul, I'm a 0:12:28.720 --> 0:12:31.480 good person. I'm not going to harm you. Leave me alone. No, 0:12:31.720 --> 0:12:36.800 David let his actions do the talking. He became a witness. 0:12:37.360 --> 0:12:40.960 People believe a sermon that they see more than a 0:12:41.000 --> 0:12:44.079 sermon that they hear. Quit trying to pray away the 0:12:44.160 --> 0:12:49.000 darkness and just start being a brighter light. Do it consistently. 0:12:49.600 --> 0:12:54.240 People don't change overnight. Saul chased David for a long time, 0:12:54.760 --> 0:12:58.160 month after month, year after year. David stayed on the 0:12:58.240 --> 0:13:02.240 high road. God eventually vindicated him. He became the king. 0:13:03.280 --> 0:13:05.960 There may be people in your life that you have 0:13:06.080 --> 0:13:09.840 to let your light shine year after year. You have 0:13:09.920 --> 0:13:13.320 to be willing to invest in them. Keep doing the 0:13:13.400 --> 0:13:15.959 right thing, even when it seems like it's not making 0:13:16.000 --> 0:13:19.480 a difference. Keep being respectful even though they're giving you 0:13:19.520 --> 0:13:23.840 the cold shoulder. Your consistency being a witness day in 0:13:24.120 --> 0:13:27.320 and day out, than just like Saul, that's going to 0:13:27.360 --> 0:13:31.640 cause one day that light to overtake the darkness. Think 0:13:31.679 --> 0:13:34.320 about when Jesus was on the earth. He didn't spend 0:13:34.360 --> 0:13:37.600 all of his time in the temples and the synagogues, 0:13:37.679 --> 0:13:40.960 in the churches, in the safe places. He didn't only 0:13:41.080 --> 0:13:44.760 associate with people that believed in him, people that celebrated 0:13:44.800 --> 0:13:47.760 who he was. He went to the people that were 0:13:47.800 --> 0:13:51.480 not on the right track. The tax collectors, they were 0:13:51.520 --> 0:13:55.319 known for being dishonest. He went to the fishermen, they 0:13:55.320 --> 0:13:58.400 were rough and used bad language. He went to the 0:13:58.440 --> 0:14:02.199 people that had failed moral He showed them mercy, was 0:14:02.320 --> 0:14:05.920 kind to them. He was called a friend of sinners. 0:14:06.720 --> 0:14:10.880 The religious people didn't like it. They criticized Jesus because 0:14:11.080 --> 0:14:14.200 they thought that he was associating with what they considered 0:14:14.200 --> 0:14:18.000 to be the wrong kind of people. They didn't understand 0:14:18.040 --> 0:14:22.800 this principle that light is the most effective in dark places, 0:14:23.560 --> 0:14:26.760 and because Jesus let his light shine. Many of those 0:14:26.800 --> 0:14:31.640 sinners became believers. Sometimes we think, God, keep me away 0:14:31.680 --> 0:14:35.960 from anyone that's struggling with a bad habit, an addiction 0:14:36.120 --> 0:14:38.960 and anger issue. God, don't make me have to deal 0:14:39.000 --> 0:14:42.400 with that person that's dishonest, not faithful in a relationship. 0:14:42.600 --> 0:14:46.000 Keep me away from the darkness. But Jesus showed just 0:14:46.080 --> 0:14:49.760 the opposite. He said, it's the sick who need a doctor, 0:14:50.080 --> 0:14:54.040 not the healthy. God will bring people across your path 0:14:54.560 --> 0:14:58.960 that need your light. Don't have a holier than now attitude, 0:14:59.520 --> 0:15:03.720 thinking I can't be contamidated. He uses bad language, she's 0:15:03.800 --> 0:15:06.760 kind of loose. He didn't have integrity. I got to 0:15:06.840 --> 0:15:10.640 keep my distance. Now you've got the light. God's counting 0:15:10.640 --> 0:15:13.160 on you to make a difference. You don't have to 0:15:13.200 --> 0:15:16.000 become best friends with them. I'm not saying to spend 0:15:16.040 --> 0:15:18.400 all your time with them. But you can be kind, 0:15:19.000 --> 0:15:21.240 you can show them that's your care. You can be 0:15:21.320 --> 0:15:25.120 a positive influence in their life. That's what a minister 0:15:25.240 --> 0:15:28.200 friend of mine did. This young lady that cut his hair. 0:15:28.560 --> 0:15:31.640 She was a good person, but she had some issues. 0:15:31.680 --> 0:15:34.760 She was struggling with addictions, and she'd been in and 0:15:34.800 --> 0:15:36.880 out of a bunch of relationships, and now she was 0:15:36.960 --> 0:15:40.000 living with another boyfriend. And when he came in to 0:15:40.000 --> 0:15:43.640 get his hair cut, she was very uncomfortable because she 0:15:43.760 --> 0:15:45.960 knew there were some things in her life that were 0:15:46.000 --> 0:15:49.360 not right. Him being a minister, she was certain that 0:15:49.440 --> 0:15:52.200 he was going to judge her, give her a sermon, 0:15:52.680 --> 0:15:55.120 tell her everything that she was doing wrong. But he 0:15:55.120 --> 0:15:59.240 didn't do this. He was just kind, friendly, likable. When 0:15:59.280 --> 0:16:03.080 he left that day, she was so relieved. I found 0:16:03.480 --> 0:16:07.200 most people already know what they're doing wrong. You don't 0:16:07.240 --> 0:16:09.120 have to tell them. Man, you need to break this addiction. 0:16:09.720 --> 0:16:11.960 You need to get out of that toxic relationship. You 0:16:11.960 --> 0:16:14.920 need to start being more honest. You don't have to 0:16:15.000 --> 0:16:18.920 convict people of their sin. That's not your job. That's 0:16:18.960 --> 0:16:22.520 what the Holy Spirit does. Our job is to love people, 0:16:22.760 --> 0:16:25.440 to let our light shine, to be kind, to be friendly, 0:16:25.720 --> 0:16:29.760 to be good to them. My friend noticed that this 0:16:29.880 --> 0:16:33.120 young lady, the hairdresser, she liked a certain kind of coffee, 0:16:33.120 --> 0:16:36.080 and before he'd come get his haircut, he'd always stopped 0:16:36.120 --> 0:16:39.000 by and bring her that cup of coffee, just being kind. 0:16:39.440 --> 0:16:42.480 She had a son, a little boy, and every time 0:16:42.560 --> 0:16:46.040 around his birthday Christmas, special holidays. He would pick up 0:16:46.160 --> 0:16:48.880 gift certificates to a toy store and give that to 0:16:48.920 --> 0:16:53.520 his mother. He was always encouraging this young lady, letting 0:16:53.560 --> 0:16:56.720 her know that he believed in her. It was about 0:16:56.760 --> 0:17:00.640 two years later she asked where his church was located, 0:17:01.120 --> 0:17:03.720 the first sign that he was having any kind of effect. 0:17:04.280 --> 0:17:07.600 That next Sunday, she and her boyfriend showed up at church. 0:17:07.840 --> 0:17:10.160 She hadn't been to church since she was a little girl. 0:17:11.040 --> 0:17:13.800 That day, she felt a love like she had never felt. 0:17:14.400 --> 0:17:17.440 Their hearts were touched. Both she and her boyfriend gave 0:17:17.480 --> 0:17:20.520 their life to Christ. After the service, they said to 0:17:20.560 --> 0:17:23.639 the minister, we've been living together for a long time. 0:17:24.359 --> 0:17:26.880 We need to set a better example for our son. 0:17:27.359 --> 0:17:31.000 We'd like to get married. Several months later, this minister 0:17:31.119 --> 0:17:35.040 performed their wedding ceremony. Today that was years ago. They're 0:17:35.080 --> 0:17:38.480 still married, still happy, still in church. Here's how Jesus 0:17:38.480 --> 0:17:42.960 put it, Let your light shine before men so they 0:17:43.000 --> 0:17:46.840 may see your good works. It doesn't say let your 0:17:46.920 --> 0:17:50.399 light shine before people that deserve it, people that have 0:17:50.480 --> 0:17:53.520 it all together, people that don't have any issues. No, 0:17:53.680 --> 0:17:57.080 let it shine before all people. How do you do 0:17:57.160 --> 0:18:01.040 it by letting them see your good works. Can the 0:18:01.119 --> 0:18:04.040 people God's put in your life, not the ones that 0:18:04.080 --> 0:18:06.600 have it all together, but the ones that are struggling, 0:18:07.160 --> 0:18:09.640 the ones that you could easily judge and write off 0:18:09.680 --> 0:18:11.719 and think, Man, you need to get it together. You 0:18:11.760 --> 0:18:14.879 need to straighten up. Can they see your good works? 0:18:15.720 --> 0:18:18.680 Maybe the reason they don't have it together just yet 0:18:19.440 --> 0:18:23.520 is because they're waiting for your light, your love, your kindness, 0:18:23.640 --> 0:18:26.840 your mercy. When they see your good works, they'll begin 0:18:26.920 --> 0:18:29.920 to change. If my friend would have gone in there 0:18:29.960 --> 0:18:33.040 and preached to her, you need to straighten up. God 0:18:33.119 --> 0:18:35.760 is not pleased. You need to make some changes. She 0:18:35.800 --> 0:18:39.080 wouldn't have received it. She would have become defensive, would 0:18:39.119 --> 0:18:41.880 have pushed her away. She would have found somebody else 0:18:41.920 --> 0:18:45.520 to cut his hair. I've heard it said people don't 0:18:45.560 --> 0:18:49.000 care how much you know until they know how much 0:18:49.040 --> 0:18:52.480 you care. When you take time to shine light in 0:18:52.560 --> 0:18:55.760 their life. You give a smile, you bring them a 0:18:55.800 --> 0:18:58.840 cup of coffee, you give their child a gift, your 0:18:58.960 --> 0:19:02.280 kind your health. For they feel your love. That's what 0:19:02.440 --> 0:19:06.399 opens the door to their heart. Look around at who's 0:19:06.440 --> 0:19:09.720 in your life. Where is there some light that you 0:19:09.800 --> 0:19:13.800 can shine? Will you be a friend to sinners. Will 0:19:13.840 --> 0:19:17.600 you take off judgmental glasses and help love people back 0:19:17.680 --> 0:19:20.720 onto the right track. Will you be willing to overlook 0:19:20.760 --> 0:19:23.600 some flaws, not focus on what they're doing wrong, and 0:19:23.680 --> 0:19:27.600 instead show a little mercy, be a light in their life, 0:19:27.880 --> 0:19:32.199 a positive influence, a difference maker. After all, if it 0:19:32.240 --> 0:19:34.840 had not been for the grace of God, that could 0:19:34.920 --> 0:19:38.840 be you and me. Somebody shine some light in your life. 0:19:39.000 --> 0:19:42.000 Somebody helps you get to where you are. Somebody overlooked 0:19:42.040 --> 0:19:45.800 some flaws. Somebody showed mercy. Why don't you pass on 0:19:46.080 --> 0:19:49.679 that same light that's been given to you now? I 0:19:49.720 --> 0:19:52.199 was in my twenties. I used to play basketball at 0:19:52.200 --> 0:19:54.720 this gym and there were a lot of guys there 0:19:54.760 --> 0:19:58.159 that were very rough. They would curse and argue, and 0:19:58.440 --> 0:20:01.440 a lot of times fights would break. He was very 0:20:01.480 --> 0:20:05.119 competitive and very intense. I didn't go in there and 0:20:05.280 --> 0:20:08.280 start telling everybody what they're doing wrong. Plus they're a 0:20:08.280 --> 0:20:11.520 lot bigger than me. I didn't try to straighten everybody out. 0:20:11.640 --> 0:20:14.520 I just went in there being me, just living my life, 0:20:14.560 --> 0:20:18.760 consistently happy in a good mood, always kind to others. 0:20:19.400 --> 0:20:22.639 Over time, they started noticing that there was something different 0:20:22.680 --> 0:20:26.639 about me. I wouldn't argue, I didn't get upset. I 0:20:26.760 --> 0:20:29.719 was kind to everyone. It got to the point if 0:20:29.760 --> 0:20:33.119 there was ever a questionable call, even if I wasn't 0:20:33.119 --> 0:20:35.720 in the game, I was on the sidelines waiting to 0:20:35.760 --> 0:20:38.840 play next, just watching. They would always say, ask Joel, 0:20:39.080 --> 0:20:42.960 we know he won't lie. I never told them that 0:20:43.000 --> 0:20:45.399 my father was the pastor of a big church in town. 0:20:45.960 --> 0:20:48.480 I worked at a ministry. I just let my actions 0:20:48.560 --> 0:20:51.359 do the talking. There was a young man there that 0:20:51.680 --> 0:20:55.560 had some addictions and some real angry issues. He was 0:20:55.680 --> 0:20:59.720 very explosive. He would lose his temper and get into fights. 0:21:00.119 --> 0:21:02.760 I had not talked to him that much over the years, 0:21:02.840 --> 0:21:05.800 just nothing more than hello and how's it going. But 0:21:05.840 --> 0:21:07.919 one day he came over in the locker room and 0:21:08.000 --> 0:21:10.639 ask if I would help him. I thought he wanted 0:21:10.640 --> 0:21:12.840 me to help him find a basketball or help him 0:21:12.840 --> 0:21:15.040 pull out the bleachers so we could sit home. But 0:21:15.119 --> 0:21:17.320 he looked at me and said, Joel, I got all 0:21:17.320 --> 0:21:20.600 these anger issues. It's messing up my marriage. It's causing 0:21:20.640 --> 0:21:22.959 me problems at home. And you always seem to be 0:21:23.000 --> 0:21:26.200 so calm, so friendly, so good natured. I thought maybe 0:21:26.320 --> 0:21:29.200 you could give me some advice. I was like twenty 0:21:29.280 --> 0:21:31.400 years old. I didn't know how to solve his anger problems. 0:21:31.480 --> 0:21:34.160 But I ended up invited him to come to church. 0:21:34.680 --> 0:21:36.960 He came to Lakewood. Long story short, he gave his 0:21:37.000 --> 0:21:39.280 life to Christ. He got in some of the classes, 0:21:39.359 --> 0:21:45.320 overcame those addictions. Today he's like a different person, calm, halfy, respectful. 0:21:46.160 --> 0:21:49.480 I still see him here all the time. Here's my point. 0:21:50.040 --> 0:21:52.800 I could have prayed, God, get all these sinners out 0:21:52.800 --> 0:21:56.840 of the gym. God, they're arguing, they're fighting, they got addictions. 0:21:56.880 --> 0:22:00.879 God delivered me from these people. I could have tried 0:22:00.920 --> 0:22:04.679 to pray away the darkness. But instead I said, God, 0:22:05.240 --> 0:22:07.720 this is where you have me right now. I know 0:22:07.840 --> 0:22:10.280 my steps are ordered by the Lord. You brought these 0:22:10.280 --> 0:22:13.119 people into my life. So God, my prayer is that 0:22:13.240 --> 0:22:16.879 my light will shine with greater intensity. God, let me 0:22:16.920 --> 0:22:19.919 be a greater influence. Let them see something in me 0:22:20.240 --> 0:22:23.720 that they want. Year after year, I just kept being 0:22:23.720 --> 0:22:27.879 a witness, being kind, being respectful, being honest, being a 0:22:27.880 --> 0:22:31.440 person of excellence. One by one, those young men would 0:22:31.480 --> 0:22:33.399 come up, Joel, would you pray for me? Can you 0:22:33.440 --> 0:22:35.560 give me some advice? Can I bring my family to 0:22:35.600 --> 0:22:39.000 your church? Now many of them are here. When you 0:22:39.080 --> 0:22:42.439 become a friend of sinners, when you take time to 0:22:42.480 --> 0:22:46.680 shine light into the darkness, that's what has the greatest impact. 0:22:47.200 --> 0:22:49.679 And the truth is we all have a ministry. We 0:22:49.760 --> 0:22:51.960 all have a pulpit. May not look like this one, 0:22:52.200 --> 0:22:55.720 but your life is sending out a message. Me just 0:22:55.840 --> 0:23:00.880 living a life of kindness, respect, integrity. I spoke more 0:23:00.960 --> 0:23:04.200 to those young men than anything I could have ever said. 0:23:04.640 --> 0:23:07.200 I could have told them, Gods, straighten up, man, break 0:23:07.240 --> 0:23:10.800 these addictions, quit fighting. That would have had very little impact. 0:23:11.440 --> 0:23:15.720 Talk is cheap. People are watching how you live. What 0:23:15.840 --> 0:23:19.920 kind of example are you setting? Second Corinthians five says 0:23:20.280 --> 0:23:24.879 we are God's personal representatives on the earth. We have 0:23:24.960 --> 0:23:29.720 to realize people can't see God, they see us. The 0:23:29.800 --> 0:23:33.520 question is are we making God look good? Are we 0:23:33.640 --> 0:23:36.520 representing him the right way? Do people want what we 0:23:36.640 --> 0:23:41.080 have or are we pushing them away? A few years ago, 0:23:41.560 --> 0:23:44.520 I was driving in my car with six small children 0:23:44.880 --> 0:23:48.200 with me, two of my own, plus nieces and nephews. 0:23:48.600 --> 0:23:50.840 They all wanted to go to McDonald's to get something 0:23:50.840 --> 0:23:53.280 to eat. So I pulled in the drive through and 0:23:53.680 --> 0:23:56.200 I was about to place my order at the little speaker. 0:23:56.800 --> 0:23:59.520 My nephew, Christopher, was about four years old, and he 0:23:59.720 --> 0:24:03.359 likes it is hamburger with nothing on it, completely dry. 0:24:03.880 --> 0:24:05.960 So I told the lady, the young girl through the 0:24:06.000 --> 0:24:09.479 speaker there, that I wanted a kid's hamburger with nothing 0:24:09.560 --> 0:24:12.880 but the bon and a piece of meat. She said, 0:24:12.920 --> 0:24:15.960 would you like pickles with that? I said no, ma'am, 0:24:16.040 --> 0:24:19.000 I don't want anything on it. She said, okay, would 0:24:19.040 --> 0:24:22.600 you like mayonnaise? I said no, I want it completely dry. 0:24:23.000 --> 0:24:25.320 She said, all right, would you like mustard? I thought 0:24:25.320 --> 0:24:27.680 she was kidding. I kind of laughed. I said, ma'am, 0:24:27.760 --> 0:24:30.320 I just want the bond and a piece of meat. 0:24:30.800 --> 0:24:32.840 She said, okay, so you don't want to lettuce, do you. 0:24:34.520 --> 0:24:36.920 This was my first order. I had five more to go. 0:24:38.600 --> 0:24:42.480 I had to remind myself I am God's personal representative 0:24:42.560 --> 0:24:46.280 here on this earth. What would God do? How would 0:24:46.320 --> 0:24:49.760 he act? Would he get upset? Would he lose his cool? 0:24:50.080 --> 0:24:52.560 Give her a piece of his mind? I was tempted to, 0:24:52.680 --> 0:24:55.480 but I stayed calm and ended up placing my order 0:24:55.520 --> 0:24:58.160 and finally pulled up there to the window to pay. 0:24:58.680 --> 0:25:04.520 First thing the young girl said was Pastor Joel. My 0:25:04.600 --> 0:25:12.119 first thought was thank you. Jesus. You never know who's watching. 0:25:13.359 --> 0:25:15.119 Oh you said, Joel, you know you're on TV. I 0:25:15.119 --> 0:25:17.440 don't have to worry about that. No, don't kid yourself. 0:25:17.600 --> 0:25:22.000 Your children are watching, your neighbors, your co workers. Every 0:25:22.040 --> 0:25:25.680 time you interact with someone, you're preaching a sermon. They 0:25:25.720 --> 0:25:29.640 may not remember what you say, but they'll remember how 0:25:29.640 --> 0:25:32.479 you made them feel. Do they feel loved? Do they 0:25:32.480 --> 0:25:36.880 feel respected? Be careful what kind of example you're setting. 0:25:37.080 --> 0:25:40.920 You're representing Almighty God. And I was a little boy, 0:25:41.440 --> 0:25:44.000 my father took me and my brothers and sisters to 0:25:44.000 --> 0:25:47.159 see the Astros play baseball at the Astrodome. And there 0:25:47.160 --> 0:25:50.199 were these two guys behind us that were very loud 0:25:50.480 --> 0:25:53.879 and obnoxious that had too much to drink. When the 0:25:53.920 --> 0:25:56.520 Astros would do something wrong, they would stand up and 0:25:56.600 --> 0:25:59.679 curse the players. You blanke, any blank player? Can't you 0:25:59.760 --> 0:26:03.040 hit the This went on for about an hour. Every 0:26:03.119 --> 0:26:06.119 time they did that, I would squirm in my seat 0:26:06.560 --> 0:26:09.840 because I knew eventually my father was going to say something. 0:26:10.280 --> 0:26:14.040 Daddy was very bold, is very strong. Sure enough, the 0:26:14.080 --> 0:26:16.880 Astros made another mistake, and they stood up and cursed 0:26:16.920 --> 0:26:20.840 and cursed. My father turned around. I remember it like 0:26:20.880 --> 0:26:24.000 it was yesterday with this big smile on his face, 0:26:24.240 --> 0:26:27.399 as friendly as can be, he said, listen, fellas, the 0:26:27.520 --> 0:26:30.199 name of the Lord is to be praised, not to 0:26:30.240 --> 0:26:33.639 be cursed. They looked at him, kind of strained, shook 0:26:33.680 --> 0:26:36.520 their head. A few minutes one of the astros hit 0:26:36.520 --> 0:26:39.280 a home run. They both stood up. By this time 0:26:39.359 --> 0:26:42.120 they had weigh too much to drink. They lifted both 0:26:42.160 --> 0:26:49.760 hands in the air and shouted, hallelujah. They slapped my 0:26:49.800 --> 0:26:53.639 dad on the back. He said, how's that, preacher. The 0:26:53.720 --> 0:26:55.919 rest of that game, all we heard from them was 0:26:56.000 --> 0:27:01.320 praise the Lord, hallelujah, Thank you, jeeves. It is to 0:27:01.440 --> 0:27:05.160 represent God. You don't have to be mean. You don't 0:27:05.160 --> 0:27:08.160 have to jump down people's throats. My father used to say, 0:27:08.400 --> 0:27:11.440 don't be a fire hose and try to knock people down. 0:27:11.800 --> 0:27:16.400 Just be a sprinkler. Just let your light shine, be kind, 0:27:16.680 --> 0:27:19.760 keep a smile on your face, let people see your 0:27:19.840 --> 0:27:24.280 good works. Remember your actions speak louder than your words. 0:27:24.840 --> 0:27:28.560 Your life is your message. When you're in those dark places, 0:27:28.880 --> 0:27:32.879 don't complain. Have a new perspective. That's an opportunity for 0:27:32.960 --> 0:27:36.280 your light to shine brightly. When you go out each day, 0:27:36.760 --> 0:27:40.600 represent God in a great way, be a witness, be 0:27:40.720 --> 0:27:44.080 a positive influence in people's lives. If you'll put this 0:27:44.200 --> 0:27:48.439 simple principle into action, shining brightly, you'll not only make 0:27:48.480 --> 0:27:50.760 a difference in other people's lives, but it'll make a 0:27:50.760 --> 0:27:54.080 difference in your own life. You'll have more favor, people 0:27:54.119 --> 0:27:57.159 will be drawn to you. I believe and declare you 0:27:57.200 --> 0:28:01.240 will fulfill your destiny and become every thing God's created 0:28:01.280 --> 0:28:04.439 you to be in Jesus' name. If you receive it, 0:28:04.640 --> 0:28:08.280 can you save him in today? We never like to 0:28:08.280 --> 0:28:11.960 close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make 0:28:12.080 --> 0:28:14.919 Jesus the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:28:15.520 --> 0:28:20.760 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 0:28:20.760 --> 0:28:24.320 into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:28:25.640 --> 0:28:27.880 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:28:27.880 --> 0:28:31.040 born again. Get in a good Bible based church, Keep 0:28:31.080 --> 0:28:33.879 God first place. He's going to take your places that 0:28:33.920 --> 0:28:36.440 you've never dreamed of. Thank you for listening to the 0:28:36.560 --> 0:28:39.520 joelous Deine podcast. Help us continue to. 0:28:39.480 --> 0:28:42.440 Share the message of hope with those all over the world. 0:28:42.720 --> 0:28:43.960 Visit joelus dein. 0:28:43.840 --> 0:28:47.120 Dot com slash give Hope to give a gift today. 0:28:48.400 --> 0:28:51.320 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:28:51.360 --> 0:28:54.720 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:28:54.800 --> 0:28:58.000 keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 0:28:58.200 --> 0:29:00.640 I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 0:29:00.720 --> 0:29:01.200 next time. 0:29:12.600 --> 0:29:15.320 With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 0:29:15.400 --> 0:29:19.440 for everyone. For example, Olivia's ha after learning she has 0:29:19.520 --> 0:29:21.880 quite a lot in common with a ninth century Viking 0:29:22.120 --> 0:29:26.000 is different to Luna's woo after the old man narrowly 0:29:26.160 --> 0:29:29.360 escaped being bitten by zombies, which is also different to 0:29:29.440 --> 0:29:33.400 Jerome's ha ha his eureka moment on finding the perfect 0:29:33.400 --> 0:29:36.200 new quote for his dating profile from. 0:29:36.200 --> 0:29:39.320 Hao to haha. 0:29:39.640 --> 0:29:42.360 Amazon books that reading feeling awaits. 0:29:43.720 --> 0:29:47.480 All inclusive vacations make life easy with endless eats, bottomless drinks, 0:29:47.480 --> 0:29:50.040 and never ending fun, so booking an all inclusive vacation 0:29:50.080 --> 0:29:53.320 should be easy, too, write. That's where Apple Vacations comes in. 0:29:53.440 --> 0:29:55.720 Book your all inclusive get away with Apple Vacations and 0:29:55.720 --> 0:29:58.800 receive exclusive perks as select resorts. You'll find the best 0:29:58.840 --> 0:30:02.160 deals from Reu Hotels resorts in Mexico, the Caribbean, and 0:30:02.200 --> 0:30:06.080 Central America and enjoy a selection of exclusive, NonStop vacation flights. 0:30:06.280 --> 0:30:08.960 Turn on Easymode at Apple vacations dot com, or call 0:30:09.000 --> 0:30:10.880 your local trouble advisor to get started.