Stay On The Potter's Wheel

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The units stap 0:01:11.840 --> 0:01:14.360 makes it easy for grandparents and family friends to give 0:01:14.440 --> 0:01:17.160 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. 0:01:35.120 --> 0:01:37.920 We enjoy spending this time with you. I hope you'll 0:01:38.000 --> 0:01:41.360 leave Inspire. Make sure you subscribe to get new messages 0:01:41.400 --> 0:01:44.440 every week. We appreciate your support. It helps keep the 0:01:44.480 --> 0:01:45.280 ministry going. 0:01:45.720 --> 0:01:57.840 Enjoy the message. 0:01:59.240 --> 0:01:59.920 Well, God bless you. 0:02:00.000 --> 0:02:00.240 Thank you. 0:02:00.600 --> 0:02:02.920 It's always a joy to come into your homes. And 0:02:03.120 --> 0:02:05.760 if you're ever in our area, please stop by and 0:02:05.800 --> 0:02:08.280 be a part of one of our services. I promise 0:02:08.360 --> 0:02:10.799 you we'll make you feel right at home. But thanks 0:02:10.880 --> 0:02:13.120 so much for tuning in, and thank you again for 0:02:13.160 --> 0:02:16.280 coming out. I like to start with something funny and 0:02:16.320 --> 0:02:18.799 one day up in heaven. God said to the men, 0:02:19.280 --> 0:02:22.440 I want you to form two lines. One line for 0:02:22.520 --> 0:02:25.200 the men who were the head of the house. The 0:02:25.240 --> 0:02:27.959 other line is for the men who let the woman 0:02:28.200 --> 0:02:30.680 be the head of the house. The line where the 0:02:30.720 --> 0:02:34.040 woman ran the house was one hundred miles long. There 0:02:34.120 --> 0:02:37.480 was only one man in the other line. God said, men, 0:02:37.560 --> 0:02:40.280 I'm ashamed of you. I created you to be the head, 0:02:40.280 --> 0:02:43.400 but you let the woman run the house. Only one 0:02:43.480 --> 0:02:46.320 man stood up to make me proud. He looked at 0:02:46.360 --> 0:02:48.640 him and says, son, tell them, how did you manage 0:02:48.680 --> 0:02:51.960 to be the only one in this line. Men looked confused, 0:02:52.040 --> 0:02:54.560 said I don't know. My wife told me to stand here. 0:02:56.760 --> 0:02:58.840 Hold up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. 0:02:59.280 --> 0:03:02.040 This is my I am what it says I am. 0:03:02.520 --> 0:03:04.800 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:03:04.919 --> 0:03:07.360 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:03:07.440 --> 0:03:11.120 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:03:11.200 --> 0:03:14.320 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:03:14.400 --> 0:03:19.399 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:03:19.400 --> 0:03:22.639 to talk to you today about staying on the Potter's wheel. 0:03:23.680 --> 0:03:27.000 We all face situations that we don't like, where we're 0:03:27.080 --> 0:03:31.800 uncomfortable we're not getting our way, somebody's not treating us right, 0:03:32.360 --> 0:03:36.240 traffic's backed up, a person gets on our nerves. It's 0:03:36.280 --> 0:03:39.120 easy to get frustrated. Thank God, when are you ever 0:03:39.160 --> 0:03:42.880 going to change this? But I've learned you can't pray 0:03:42.920 --> 0:03:47.320 away every difficulty. Some of the things that are uncomfortable 0:03:47.360 --> 0:03:50.800 in your life right now, if God removed them, you 0:03:50.840 --> 0:03:54.200 wouldn't be prepared for the promotion that he has in store. 0:03:54.960 --> 0:03:59.040 God uses difficulties to do a work in us. The 0:03:59.080 --> 0:04:02.480 scripture says he is the potter. We are the claim. 0:04:03.240 --> 0:04:06.120 When God is spinning us around on that potter's wheel 0:04:06.240 --> 0:04:10.160 and he comes across a lump of impatience, of pride, 0:04:10.480 --> 0:04:14.160 of jealousy, He'll put us in a situation to bring 0:04:14.200 --> 0:04:20.360 those impurities to light. Nothing randomly happens. Every traffic jam, 0:04:20.680 --> 0:04:23.800 every person that irritates you, every time you're at tempted 0:04:23.800 --> 0:04:26.800 to worry, to be critical, to be jealous, that's an 0:04:26.880 --> 0:04:31.680 opportunity for you to be refined. In the difficult times. 0:04:31.880 --> 0:04:35.080 We prove to God what we're made of. That's when 0:04:35.120 --> 0:04:38.960 our quality is tested. And if you'll work with God 0:04:39.320 --> 0:04:43.320 and stay on the Potter's wheel, be mouldible. Pliable, willing 0:04:43.360 --> 0:04:46.960 to change. Then your character will come up higher, and 0:04:47.040 --> 0:04:50.320 as your character is developed, God will release more of 0:04:50.360 --> 0:04:54.320 his blessings and favor. But too many people, when they're 0:04:54.320 --> 0:04:58.160 in an uncomfortable situation, instead of doing the right thing, 0:04:58.800 --> 0:05:03.200 keeping a good attitude, forgiving the wrong, being patient, they 0:05:03.279 --> 0:05:09.200 try to get off the potter's will. They complain, get upset, offended, impatient. 0:05:09.720 --> 0:05:11.440 I don't have to put up with this. I'm gonna 0:05:11.440 --> 0:05:14.440 give them a piece of my mind. They respond the 0:05:14.480 --> 0:05:18.320 same way year after year. That's why they get stuck. 0:05:19.240 --> 0:05:22.160 And this is what happened with the Israelites. They were 0:05:22.200 --> 0:05:26.320 headed toward the Promised Land. It was an eleven day journey, 0:05:26.360 --> 0:05:31.839 no big deal. But they started complaining, it's hot, we're tired, 0:05:32.400 --> 0:05:35.960 we don't like the food, Moses, it's uncomfortable out here. 0:05:36.200 --> 0:05:39.640 Can't we just go back to Egypt? They kept getting 0:05:39.760 --> 0:05:44.040 off the potter's wheel. That eleven day journey ended up 0:05:44.080 --> 0:05:48.200 taking over forty years, and they never did make it 0:05:48.279 --> 0:05:51.400 into the Promised Land. They kept going around the same 0:05:51.520 --> 0:05:56.480 mountain again and again. If they would have just recognized, yes, 0:05:56.920 --> 0:06:00.599 this is uncomfortable, we don't like it, but we know 0:06:00.760 --> 0:06:03.800 God wouldn't have us here unless we needed it. He's 0:06:03.920 --> 0:06:07.480 using it to refine us, to prepare us, to make 0:06:07.560 --> 0:06:11.560 us tougher, stronger. It's not working against us, it's working 0:06:11.640 --> 0:06:15.360 for us. If they were to pass those tests, let 0:06:15.400 --> 0:06:19.120 God refine them, their character would to come up higher. 0:06:19.320 --> 0:06:21.400 Their whole life would have been so much better. 0:06:22.440 --> 0:06:22.600 Now. 0:06:22.640 --> 0:06:25.520 My challenge to us today is don't do like they 0:06:25.560 --> 0:06:29.760 did and go the next forty years responding to the 0:06:29.920 --> 0:06:36.360 uncomfortable situations the same way, getting upset, offended, impatient, feeling 0:06:36.400 --> 0:06:40.760 sorry for yourself. No, stay on the potter's wheel next 0:06:40.800 --> 0:06:43.640 time you get stuck in traffic, instead of letting that 0:06:43.760 --> 0:06:47.279 sour your day, have a new approach. God, I believe 0:06:47.360 --> 0:06:50.440 you're guiding and directing my steps. You have me at 0:06:50.440 --> 0:06:52.760 the right place at the right time. So I'm going 0:06:52.839 --> 0:06:56.080 to stay in peace and enjoy where I am. That's 0:06:56.160 --> 0:06:59.680 passing the test. That's letting God refine you when you 0:06:59.760 --> 0:07:03.880 go through a disappointment an unfair situation, instead of being 0:07:03.880 --> 0:07:08.160 discouraged living in self pity. No, God, you said you'd 0:07:08.200 --> 0:07:11.480 give me beauty for ashes. You said what's meant for harm? 0:07:11.520 --> 0:07:14.000 You'd use to my advantage. So I'm going to stay 0:07:14.000 --> 0:07:16.600 in faith and get ready for the new thing that 0:07:16.680 --> 0:07:20.679 you have in store. Well, Joel, I always get upset 0:07:20.880 --> 0:07:23.920 when I can't find my car keys. I always get 0:07:23.920 --> 0:07:27.160 offended when my spouse does a certain thing, or I 0:07:27.280 --> 0:07:31.640 always get discouraged when my friend doesn't call. Whatever the 0:07:31.840 --> 0:07:35.320 always is for you the next time it comes up, 0:07:35.880 --> 0:07:41.280 respond differently. Start passing these tests. Life is flying by. 0:07:41.920 --> 0:07:45.120 You don't have time to spend another year going around 0:07:45.160 --> 0:07:49.320 that same mountain. Your destiny is waiting on you. God 0:07:49.400 --> 0:07:53.880 has amazing things he wants to release, new opportunities, new levels, 0:07:54.640 --> 0:07:59.080 but it depends on the quality of our character. None 0:07:59.120 --> 0:08:03.320 of us like on comfortable situations. But here's the key. 0:08:03.440 --> 0:08:07.040 If God is not removing it, that means we must 0:08:07.120 --> 0:08:11.160 need it. He's using it to refine us, to purify us, 0:08:11.440 --> 0:08:14.520 to get us prepared for new levels of our destiny. 0:08:15.360 --> 0:08:19.240 If you're still responding to difficulties the same way you 0:08:19.280 --> 0:08:24.480 did five years ago, getting upset offended, I say this respectfully, 0:08:25.000 --> 0:08:28.800 you need to grow up. Don't go another five years 0:08:28.960 --> 0:08:32.840 letting those same things keep you from God's best. Recognize 0:08:33.280 --> 0:08:37.040 that's a test. You're on the Potter's wheel. God's giving 0:08:37.040 --> 0:08:41.199 you an opportunity to come up higher. Instead of complaining 0:08:41.320 --> 0:08:43.920 about that person at work that gets on your nerves, 0:08:44.520 --> 0:08:48.400 have a new perspective. That person is there to help 0:08:48.440 --> 0:08:52.880 develop your character. Next time you see them they say 0:08:52.920 --> 0:08:57.600 something rude and disrespectful. Instead of responding the same way, 0:08:58.120 --> 0:09:01.959 letting it upset you, or say something rude back to them. No, 0:09:02.200 --> 0:09:05.480 stay on the potter's wheel. Let it bounce off of you. 0:09:06.040 --> 0:09:08.240 Don't pay it any attention. Just smile and say, I 0:09:08.240 --> 0:09:11.560 hope you have a great day. Here's the beauty. The 0:09:11.600 --> 0:09:14.200 next time you do it, it'll be a little bit easier, 0:09:14.640 --> 0:09:18.079 the next time, even easier. If you keep at it, 0:09:18.520 --> 0:09:20.679 you'll look up in a year or two it won't 0:09:20.720 --> 0:09:24.800 bother you at all. What happened. Your character came up higher. 0:09:25.320 --> 0:09:30.280 They didn't change you changed. But too often we're praying God, 0:09:30.800 --> 0:09:34.080 change my children, they're getting on my nerves. Change my 0:09:34.160 --> 0:09:36.960 boss he's driving me crazy. Change the traffic it's making 0:09:37.000 --> 0:09:41.920 me upset. I've learned God is more interested in changing 0:09:41.960 --> 0:09:47.360 me than he is in changing my circumstances. Sometimes we're 0:09:47.400 --> 0:09:50.920 trying to pray away the very thing that God wants 0:09:50.960 --> 0:09:54.840 to use. The reason he's not removing it is he's 0:09:54.880 --> 0:09:58.520 waiting for us to change that person that irritates you. 0:09:59.200 --> 0:10:02.120 God can use them like sandpaper to rub the rough 0:10:02.200 --> 0:10:05.160 edges off of you. That neighbor that's hard to get 0:10:05.160 --> 0:10:08.520 along with. God can use them to teach you how 0:10:08.559 --> 0:10:12.640 to be merciful, kind understanding, Or that loved one that 0:10:12.760 --> 0:10:15.880 says things that are hurtful. God can use them to 0:10:15.880 --> 0:10:19.160 toughen you up, to learn not to be easily offended 0:10:19.360 --> 0:10:24.000 thereby accident. God has them there on purpose. Why don't 0:10:24.000 --> 0:10:28.040 you look inside and say, God, how can I change? 0:10:28.640 --> 0:10:31.720 How can I be more patient, more forgiving, more loving, 0:10:31.760 --> 0:10:34.240 more understanding? How can I come up higher? 0:10:35.120 --> 0:10:35.320 See? 0:10:35.360 --> 0:10:38.600 Don't ever pray for God to change somebody else without 0:10:38.600 --> 0:10:42.600 first saying, God, change me now. A question I asked 0:10:42.600 --> 0:10:46.440 myself often is how much have I grown in the 0:10:46.480 --> 0:10:50.400 last five years? Do I have a better attitude? Do 0:10:50.440 --> 0:10:54.240 I forgive quicker? Do I treat people better? Am I kinder? 0:10:54.440 --> 0:10:57.800 Am I more considerate? We shouldn't be at the same 0:10:57.840 --> 0:11:01.839 place now as we were five years ago. If you're 0:11:01.920 --> 0:11:05.640 still letting the same things upset you, the same people 0:11:05.679 --> 0:11:10.000 offend you, the same circumstances, still your joy. This is 0:11:10.040 --> 0:11:13.760 a wake up call. I'm sounding the alarm you don't 0:11:13.800 --> 0:11:18.040 have time to waste another year going around the same mountain. 0:11:18.400 --> 0:11:22.760 Your assignment is too important, your time is too valuable, 0:11:23.240 --> 0:11:27.760 your destiny is too great. You can't afford forty years 0:11:27.840 --> 0:11:30.720 like the Israelites to learn a lesson that we could 0:11:30.800 --> 0:11:33.400 learn in a fraction of the time. You got to 0:11:33.440 --> 0:11:37.240 put your foot down and say that's it. I'm done 0:11:37.320 --> 0:11:41.040 going around this mountain. I'm done having a bad attitude 0:11:41.080 --> 0:11:44.280 when I don't get my way. I'm done getting stressed 0:11:44.280 --> 0:11:48.200 in traffic. I'm done arguing with my spouse over the 0:11:48.240 --> 0:11:51.320 same petty things. This is a new day. I'm not 0:11:51.440 --> 0:11:56.439 waiting for anyone or anything to change. I'm going to change. 0:11:56.559 --> 0:11:59.880 The scripture talks about how there are different levels that 0:12:00.160 --> 0:12:04.240 we can grow into vessels of clay, vessels of wood 0:12:04.720 --> 0:12:08.280 that are used for ordinary purposes. But if you'll stay 0:12:08.320 --> 0:12:12.000 willing to change and not get stuck in one level 0:12:12.200 --> 0:12:15.400 in your attitude and how you treat people and how 0:12:15.440 --> 0:12:19.439 you respond to difficulties, but you'll let God keep refining you, 0:12:20.040 --> 0:12:23.480 then you will become a vessel of gold used for 0:12:23.520 --> 0:12:27.440 his highest purposes. And we all start off at the 0:12:27.480 --> 0:12:30.600 same place in life, like a lump of clay, we 0:12:30.720 --> 0:12:36.680 have impurities, impatience, selfishness, anger. God will put us in 0:12:36.840 --> 0:12:40.880 situations to work that out of us. The key is 0:12:40.920 --> 0:12:44.960 to pass those tests. Don't fight against everything you don't like. 0:12:45.320 --> 0:12:48.640 That's an opportunity to come up higher. And if you 0:12:48.720 --> 0:12:51.720 don't pass the test, the good news is you get 0:12:51.720 --> 0:12:55.560 to take it again and again and again. It's not 0:12:55.640 --> 0:12:58.400 going to go away until God does the work in us. 0:12:58.800 --> 0:13:01.719 The sooner you did with what you know God is 0:13:01.760 --> 0:13:04.880 bringing delight, the better off you're going to be. When 0:13:04.920 --> 0:13:07.679 Victoria and I were first married and we were about 0:13:07.679 --> 0:13:10.120 to go someplace, I would ask her if she was 0:13:10.160 --> 0:13:12.760 ready to leave, and when she would tell me yes, 0:13:13.240 --> 0:13:16.040 I would go get in the car and wait and 0:13:16.120 --> 0:13:19.800 wait and wait and wait. I'd get frustrated and go 0:13:19.880 --> 0:13:21.800 back in and said, I thought you said you were ready. 0:13:22.120 --> 0:13:24.400 She would say I am ready. I would say, well, 0:13:24.440 --> 0:13:27.800 would you mind walking to the car. This happened time 0:13:27.880 --> 0:13:30.200 and time again. I used to get so stressed, so 0:13:30.400 --> 0:13:32.880 up tight, and I was praying, God, you gotta change her, 0:13:33.360 --> 0:13:35.600 make her more of this, make her more that I 0:13:35.720 --> 0:13:39.560 had her on my potter's wheel. One day I realized 0:13:39.720 --> 0:13:43.080 I'm not the potter. God is the funny thing is 0:13:43.720 --> 0:13:47.360 God didn't change her. God used her to change me. 0:13:48.280 --> 0:13:50.840 Took a couple of years. I kept going around that 0:13:50.960 --> 0:13:54.800 same mountain again and again. Finally it dawned on me. 0:13:55.520 --> 0:13:58.200 Life is too short to let this stress me out. 0:13:58.800 --> 0:14:01.280 She may not ever change, So you know what I'm 0:14:01.360 --> 0:14:04.800 going to change. I learned how to be patient, to 0:14:04.880 --> 0:14:08.960 stay calm, to be peaceful. Today, it's no big deal. 0:14:10.080 --> 0:14:13.800 When she says I'm ready, I know that means in general, 0:14:13.960 --> 0:14:18.439 she's ready. It's like the two minute warning in football. 0:14:19.280 --> 0:14:22.360 The clock officially says two minutes, but if you know football, 0:14:22.400 --> 0:14:26.320 it's gonna take fifteen minutes. Now. When she says I'm ready, 0:14:26.480 --> 0:14:29.800 I'll go sit down, watch some television, get something to eat, 0:14:29.880 --> 0:14:34.640 and mow the lawn, wash the car. She doesn't realize it, 0:14:34.720 --> 0:14:39.880 but now I'm not looking that way. But God's used 0:14:39.920 --> 0:14:44.400 her to refine me, to make me better. Are there 0:14:44.480 --> 0:14:48.480 things that you keep letting upset you? Stress you out? 0:14:48.960 --> 0:14:51.840 Do you keep going around the same mountain again and again. 0:14:52.600 --> 0:14:55.960 This may be hard to swallow, but that other person 0:14:56.240 --> 0:14:59.920 may not ever change. Why don't you change? God would 0:15:00.160 --> 0:15:03.040 to put you in that situation if you didn't need it. 0:15:03.600 --> 0:15:06.000 He is not going to be content with you. Stay 0:15:06.000 --> 0:15:08.800 in a vessel of clay, a vessel of wood, not 0:15:08.920 --> 0:15:12.040 even a vessel of silver. He's going to keep spinning 0:15:12.040 --> 0:15:15.360 you around on that wheel until he brings out all 0:15:15.400 --> 0:15:19.160 those impurities and you become the vessel of gold he's 0:15:19.240 --> 0:15:22.920 created you to be. Now, our job is to recognize 0:15:23.120 --> 0:15:28.520 that every challenge, every delay, every offense is an opportunity 0:15:28.760 --> 0:15:32.960 to be refined. You can't just pray it away. God's 0:15:32.960 --> 0:15:36.240 not going to remove every difficult person from your life. 0:15:36.360 --> 0:15:39.520 You've got to learn to overlook the faults to stay 0:15:39.520 --> 0:15:42.200 on the high road. He's not going to shield you 0:15:42.240 --> 0:15:45.680 from every negative, derogatory comment. You've got to learn to 0:15:45.760 --> 0:15:49.320 keep your walls up not be easily offended. He's not 0:15:49.360 --> 0:15:52.800 going to keep us from every delay inconvenience, setback. We've 0:15:52.840 --> 0:15:56.000 got to learn to believe that he's directing our steps 0:15:56.120 --> 0:15:59.640 and go with the flow. Be aware of what your 0:15:59.680 --> 0:16:03.760 dealings with this week. Don't let the same things continue 0:16:03.800 --> 0:16:06.400 to hold you back. If you're going to become this 0:16:06.560 --> 0:16:09.360 vessel of gold, you got to stay on the Potter's 0:16:09.400 --> 0:16:13.480 wheel and be willing to change, keep growing, keep letting 0:16:13.480 --> 0:16:16.760 God refine you. I was in New York City a 0:16:16.760 --> 0:16:19.760 few years ago and went to a diner early in 0:16:19.800 --> 0:16:22.920 the morning to eat breakfast. There was a gentleman sitting 0:16:22.960 --> 0:16:25.680 a couple of tables over and he came up and 0:16:25.720 --> 0:16:28.760 told how when he came in the restaurant that morning, 0:16:28.840 --> 0:16:32.200 it was very windy outside, the person in front of 0:16:32.320 --> 0:16:36.160 him let the door slam in his face. The person 0:16:36.280 --> 0:16:39.000 clearly saw him, looked around at him. It's almost like 0:16:39.040 --> 0:16:42.440 he did it on purpose. This man had been hot 0:16:42.480 --> 0:16:45.680 tempered his whole life. Normally, he would have gone over 0:16:45.720 --> 0:16:48.200 there and told them what he thought. But he had 0:16:48.240 --> 0:16:51.440 been watching us on television for a few years. He 0:16:51.440 --> 0:16:55.040 heard me talking about this subject, grow in not letting 0:16:55.080 --> 0:16:58.440 the same things hold us back. Just as he was 0:16:58.440 --> 0:17:01.680 about to give them a piece of his he said, Joel, 0:17:02.040 --> 0:17:06.080 I heard your voice saying let it go and God 0:17:06.119 --> 0:17:10.160 will fight your battles. He did just that. He ignored 0:17:10.200 --> 0:17:13.320 what that person did. When he did, he said that 0:17:13.400 --> 0:17:17.880 he felt this incredible joy bubbling up on the inside, 0:17:18.160 --> 0:17:21.280 something that he had never felt before. When you pass 0:17:21.400 --> 0:17:24.840 these tests, when you make a decision, I'm not going 0:17:24.880 --> 0:17:28.359 around this mountain responding the same way. I'm going to 0:17:28.359 --> 0:17:31.440 bite my tongue. Even though I feel like telling them off. 0:17:31.960 --> 0:17:34.760 I'm gonna stay peaceful, even though I feel like being stressed. 0:17:35.280 --> 0:17:37.800 I'm going to forgive even though they did me wrong. 0:17:38.600 --> 0:17:42.199 When you do the right thing when it's difficult, like 0:17:42.320 --> 0:17:45.560 this man, you will feel a new sense of joy 0:17:45.720 --> 0:17:48.480 down in your spirit. You will know the creator of 0:17:48.520 --> 0:17:52.919 the universe is smiling down on you. I read about 0:17:52.960 --> 0:17:57.639 how up in the Northeast, fishing for codfish had become 0:17:57.680 --> 0:18:01.280 a huge commercial business. It was a great market for 0:18:01.359 --> 0:18:04.359 codfish all over the United States, but they had a 0:18:04.400 --> 0:18:09.120 major problem with the distribution. At first, they tried freezing 0:18:09.160 --> 0:18:12.480 the codfish, shipping it out all over like they did 0:18:12.520 --> 0:18:16.320 their other products, but for some reason, when the codfish 0:18:16.400 --> 0:18:19.960 was frozen, it didn't have any more taste. Next, they 0:18:20.040 --> 0:18:24.200 tried shipping it alive in big containers with fresh seawater. 0:18:24.720 --> 0:18:27.439 They thought that would certainly solve the problem, but it 0:18:27.520 --> 0:18:31.400 only made it worse. Because the codfish just sat there 0:18:31.520 --> 0:18:35.159 inactive in the water. They became soft and mushy, and 0:18:35.359 --> 0:18:38.800 once again lost their taste. Someone came up with an 0:18:38.800 --> 0:18:43.400 interesting idea. They decided to put a catfish in each 0:18:43.480 --> 0:18:49.000 container with the codfish. The catfish is the natural enemy 0:18:49.119 --> 0:18:52.439 of the codfish, So the whole time the codfish was 0:18:52.480 --> 0:18:56.119 being shipped, it had to stay alert and active looking 0:18:56.160 --> 0:18:59.480 out for this catfish. This solved the problem. When the 0:18:59.480 --> 0:19:03.000 codfish derived at their destination, they were just as fresh 0:19:03.040 --> 0:19:06.480 and tasty as they were up in the northeast. What's 0:19:06.520 --> 0:19:11.120 my point. Sometimes what looks like an enemy is really 0:19:11.160 --> 0:19:15.360 an asset. That person that gets on your nerves, that 0:19:15.400 --> 0:19:17.840 neighbor that doesn't treat you right, that traffic that gets 0:19:17.840 --> 0:19:21.120 you stressed out. What you think is there to defeat you. 0:19:21.680 --> 0:19:25.280 The truth is God put it there to make you better. 0:19:25.880 --> 0:19:30.119 Nothing in your life happens by accident. The people you encounter, 0:19:30.680 --> 0:19:34.919 the delays, the grouchy clerk, the slow water, the child 0:19:34.920 --> 0:19:39.680 that never stops, they are divinely orchestrated by the creator 0:19:39.760 --> 0:19:42.919 of the universe to help make you and mould you 0:19:43.320 --> 0:19:47.080 into that vessel of gold. Now, how you respond is 0:19:47.080 --> 0:19:51.760 what makes the difference. If you get upset, impatient, offended, 0:19:51.960 --> 0:19:56.480 feel sorry for yourself, you'll get stuck. Pay attention to 0:19:56.560 --> 0:19:59.040 what you don't like in your life, what you're praying 0:19:59.080 --> 0:20:03.600 for God to remove, what you're fighting against. Recognize that 0:20:03.720 --> 0:20:07.720 catfish is there to make you better, not to defeat you, 0:20:08.240 --> 0:20:12.720 but to promote you. Now you may work with a catfish, 0:20:13.119 --> 0:20:17.080 you may be married to a catfish. Or you say, Joel, 0:20:17.119 --> 0:20:19.800 my mother in law, she's not a catfish, she's a 0:20:19.800 --> 0:20:24.000 great white shark. God wouldn't have put you there if 0:20:24.040 --> 0:20:27.639 you didn't need it. Like iron sharpens iron, that's going 0:20:27.720 --> 0:20:31.399 to sharpen you. Stay on the potter's wheel. God's using 0:20:31.440 --> 0:20:34.280 that to strengthen you, to refine you, to polish you, 0:20:34.560 --> 0:20:38.800 to develop your character. Several years ago, Victoria and I 0:20:38.840 --> 0:20:41.600 were headed to an important meeting that started at seven 0:20:41.600 --> 0:20:45.359 point thirty. We got delayed at home, and we're running 0:20:45.400 --> 0:20:47.800 a little late. But I knew we could still make 0:20:47.840 --> 0:20:51.000 it on time if I caught all the lights just right, 0:20:51.480 --> 0:20:55.120 didn't run into any traffic. Everything was going great. We 0:20:55.119 --> 0:20:59.160 were making good time until I saw these flashing red 0:20:59.280 --> 0:21:02.280 lights at the railroad tracks. A train was coming by. 0:21:03.000 --> 0:21:06.040 We had never seen a train there at that particular 0:21:06.080 --> 0:21:09.439 time of day. I was convinced this was the enemy 0:21:09.520 --> 0:21:13.520 trying to delay me. I prayed, I rebuked, I confessed. 0:21:13.760 --> 0:21:16.680 Seemed like the more I prayed, the slower the train went. 0:21:17.280 --> 0:21:21.120 It got slower and slower finally stopped and started backing up. 0:21:22.359 --> 0:21:25.239 About ten minutes later, it had changed direction and was 0:21:25.320 --> 0:21:27.240 just about to clear the road so we could go, 0:21:27.320 --> 0:21:31.520 and I heard this loud train horn. Thought, that's strange. 0:21:31.560 --> 0:21:33.520 They don't sound the horn at the end of the train. 0:21:33.800 --> 0:21:36.680 I looked up and another train was coming on the 0:21:36.760 --> 0:21:39.160 second set of tracks. I didn't even know there were 0:21:39.240 --> 0:21:43.600 two sets of tracks. I finally got the message and said, 0:21:43.600 --> 0:21:46.240 you know what, I'm just gonna relax. God is still 0:21:46.240 --> 0:21:49.280 in control. Life is too short to let this stress 0:21:49.359 --> 0:21:53.440 me out. You know what, that train was a catfish. 0:21:54.440 --> 0:21:57.199 God allowed it to be there, not to just delay 0:21:57.200 --> 0:22:00.199 the not to just make my life miserable, but to 0:22:00.280 --> 0:22:04.360 refine me, to make me better. For years, I thought 0:22:04.440 --> 0:22:08.320 that was the enemy attacking me. Now I realized that 0:22:08.520 --> 0:22:13.240 was God attacking my impatience. I've learned to stay on 0:22:13.280 --> 0:22:16.000 the Potter's will. My attitude is God, you can have 0:22:16.080 --> 0:22:19.240 it your way. It doesn't have to change. I'll change. 0:22:19.920 --> 0:22:23.199 The scripture says there in Firs Peter, our faith is 0:22:23.359 --> 0:22:28.520 tried in the fire of affliction, as fire purifies gold. 0:22:29.480 --> 0:22:32.040 You don't really know what's in you until you're put 0:22:32.119 --> 0:22:35.720 under pressure. The pressure brings to light what we need 0:22:35.760 --> 0:22:39.399 to deal with. Peter said, Jesus, I'll never deny you. 0:22:39.520 --> 0:22:42.920 I'm your biggest follower. But a few days later, when 0:22:42.960 --> 0:22:46.320 Peter was under pressure, he denied that he knew Jesus 0:22:46.320 --> 0:22:51.080 three times. When you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation 0:22:51.760 --> 0:22:54.720 where you feel like being impatient, you feel like telling 0:22:54.800 --> 0:22:59.000 somebody off, you at tempted to be upset, offended, that's 0:22:59.080 --> 0:23:02.880 when you have to wreckonognize this is a test. I'm 0:23:02.920 --> 0:23:05.679 here for a reason. I'm not gonna go around this 0:23:05.800 --> 0:23:08.800 same mountain respond in the same way. I'm gonna come 0:23:08.920 --> 0:23:12.119 up higher. I'm gonna keep my cool. I'm gonna forgive 0:23:12.280 --> 0:23:14.560 even though they did me wrong. I'm gonna stay in peace. 0:23:15.119 --> 0:23:18.320 If you'll stay on that Potter's wheel and let God 0:23:18.400 --> 0:23:23.479 keep refining you, you are headed toward that vessel of gold. 0:23:23.880 --> 0:23:27.320 That's when God can release some of the amazing things 0:23:27.480 --> 0:23:30.840 he has in your future. But it all depends on 0:23:30.920 --> 0:23:34.520 the quality of our character. You can have gifts, you 0:23:34.560 --> 0:23:38.680 can have talents, but your character is what matters. Can 0:23:38.720 --> 0:23:43.199 God trust you with more responsibility, with greater influence, with 0:23:43.359 --> 0:23:47.399 new levels, If you'll see these catfish, so to speak, 0:23:47.440 --> 0:23:51.119 in the right way, Recognize each one is a test, 0:23:51.640 --> 0:23:55.359 and respond properly. You'll see God take you places that 0:23:55.400 --> 0:24:00.280 you've never imagined. Years ago, the government of Thailand wanted 0:24:00.280 --> 0:24:03.320 to build a new highway, but right in the middle 0:24:03.359 --> 0:24:07.199 of their path was a huge religious statue that had 0:24:07.240 --> 0:24:10.919 been there for decades. It stood over forty feet tall 0:24:11.119 --> 0:24:14.680 and was made out of clay. This statue was greatly 0:24:14.800 --> 0:24:17.600 revered by the people. They knew they had to move 0:24:17.640 --> 0:24:22.320 it with extreme caution. Got their cranes very delicately and 0:24:22.440 --> 0:24:26.200 carefully started to lift the statue. But even as hard 0:24:26.240 --> 0:24:28.919 as they tried, some of the clay began to crack. 0:24:29.560 --> 0:24:33.120 They stopped and readjusted. Tried to do it more carefully, 0:24:33.480 --> 0:24:37.040 but again the clay continued to break off. They were 0:24:37.160 --> 0:24:42.240 very distressed that they were damaging this important religious statue. 0:24:42.359 --> 0:24:45.280 They finally got it to its new destination, but as 0:24:45.359 --> 0:24:48.359 they were lifting it off the truck with the crane, 0:24:48.440 --> 0:24:52.240 a huge piece of clay fell off. One of the 0:24:52.280 --> 0:24:56.640 men noticed something shiny underneath the clay. He went over 0:24:56.680 --> 0:25:00.959 to examine it, much to their amazement, on underneath the clay, 0:25:01.400 --> 0:25:05.480 the whole statue was made out of solid gold. The 0:25:05.560 --> 0:25:08.480 clay was never supposed to be permanent. It was just 0:25:08.520 --> 0:25:11.640 a facade to protect the gold, yet it had been 0:25:11.680 --> 0:25:15.600 there for hundreds of years. In the same way, we 0:25:15.680 --> 0:25:19.720 all start off as vessels of clay. We have flaws 0:25:19.800 --> 0:25:25.119 and weaknesses, impatience, selfishness, pride. All we can see is 0:25:25.160 --> 0:25:29.679 the clay, But underneath that clay is a vessel of gold. 0:25:30.440 --> 0:25:34.479 God made you to shine. As you grow, you let 0:25:34.600 --> 0:25:37.919 him keep refining you. Little by little, that clay is 0:25:37.960 --> 0:25:41.280 going to come off. Maybe you used to get offended 0:25:41.280 --> 0:25:45.200 by that coworker that said hurtful things. It ruined your day. 0:25:45.720 --> 0:25:48.560 You tried to pay them back, but then you started 0:25:48.640 --> 0:25:52.440 overlooking it, staying in peace, taking the high road, letting 0:25:52.480 --> 0:25:56.040 God fight your battles. Now it doesn't bother you anymore. 0:25:56.480 --> 0:26:00.760 What's happening, the clay is coming off, is starting to 0:26:00.800 --> 0:26:04.240 shine through. Maybe, like me, you used to be impatient 0:26:04.280 --> 0:26:07.639 in traffic, stress when your plans didn't work out, But 0:26:07.760 --> 0:26:10.439 now you've learned to go with the flow, knowing that 0:26:10.480 --> 0:26:13.560 God's in control. It's no big deal. What's happening. More 0:26:13.600 --> 0:26:16.280 and more of that clay is coming off. Your gold 0:26:16.520 --> 0:26:20.480 is getting brighter and brighter. Or perhaps you used to 0:26:20.520 --> 0:26:25.000 rely on compliments, people's approval to feel good about yourself. 0:26:25.520 --> 0:26:28.439 That's how you gained your value, your self worth. But 0:26:28.560 --> 0:26:32.120 now you know that God approves you, that He's made 0:26:32.160 --> 0:26:35.480 you valuable, that you're a masterpiece. So you put your 0:26:35.520 --> 0:26:38.480 shoulders back. You live with confidence, knowing that you're one 0:26:38.520 --> 0:26:42.080 of a kind. What's happening the low self esteem, the 0:26:42.200 --> 0:26:46.040 insecurity is breaking off and your gold is starting to 0:26:46.080 --> 0:26:49.679 shine forth. We all have areas where we can come 0:26:49.760 --> 0:26:52.880 up higher. All of us still have some clay, some 0:26:52.920 --> 0:26:57.040 dirt left on us. Don't get discouraged. The scripture says 0:26:57.359 --> 0:27:01.159 he that began a good work in you will continue 0:27:01.320 --> 0:27:04.879 to perform it until it's complete. The good news is 0:27:05.440 --> 0:27:09.320 you're not a finished product. God is still working on you. 0:27:10.320 --> 0:27:14.119 Don't beat yourself up because you're still dealing with some weaknesses. 0:27:14.560 --> 0:27:18.560 Just stay on the potter's wheel, Just keep improving. Every 0:27:18.640 --> 0:27:22.119 person fails from time to time. The key is to 0:27:22.160 --> 0:27:26.080 get back up again. Don't you dare settle for the clay. 0:27:26.600 --> 0:27:30.159 You have gold in you. You were made in the 0:27:30.200 --> 0:27:34.199 image of Almighty God. He created you to shine, to 0:27:34.280 --> 0:27:40.320 live free, happy, secure, peaceful, confident, calm. That's what's on 0:27:40.359 --> 0:27:44.639 the inside. I'm asking you to work with God to 0:27:44.720 --> 0:27:49.080 bring it out. Don't try to pray away every uncomfortable situation. 0:27:49.760 --> 0:27:53.880 Recognize that's an opportunity for more clay to come off. 0:27:54.680 --> 0:27:58.320 Don't complain about the catfish. God put it there. It's 0:27:58.359 --> 0:28:01.240 not there to defeat you. It's there to make you better. 0:28:02.119 --> 0:28:04.280 If you'll make this decision that you're going to stay 0:28:04.320 --> 0:28:08.280 on the potter's will, let God refine you see these 0:28:08.320 --> 0:28:11.439 as opportunities to grow. Then you will not stay a 0:28:11.520 --> 0:28:15.040 vessel of clay, a vessel of wood, nor a vessel 0:28:15.080 --> 0:28:18.920 of silver. But I believe and declare you will become 0:28:19.040 --> 0:28:23.160 a vessel of gold. Use for His highest purposes. You'll 0:28:23.160 --> 0:28:26.040 not only enjoy your life more, but you will see 0:28:26.080 --> 0:28:30.760 His favor in amazing ways and become everything God's created 0:28:30.800 --> 0:28:33.440 you to be. I declare it in Jesus' name. If 0:28:33.440 --> 0:28:34.960 you receive it, can you say it? 0:28:35.000 --> 0:28:35.160 Men? 0:28:35.200 --> 0:28:40.640 Today, we never like to close our broadcast without giving 0:28:40.680 --> 0:28:43.680 you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:43.880 --> 0:28:48.360 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 0:28:48.480 --> 0:28:53.400 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 0:28:53.480 --> 0:28:57.080 you my lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 0:28:57.200 --> 0:29:00.360 simple prayer. We believe you got born again. Get in 0:29:00.400 --> 0:29:03.840 a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's 0:29:03.880 --> 0:29:06.040 going to take your places that you've never dreamed. 0:29:07.120 --> 0:29:10.560 Thank you for listening to the Joel Loustine podcast. Help 0:29:10.640 --> 0:29:13.360 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:29:13.480 --> 0:29:17.360 all over the world. Visit joeloustin dot com slash give 0:29:17.440 --> 0:29:19.120 Hope to give a gift today. 0:29:20.400 --> 0:29:23.360 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:29:23.360 --> 0:29:26.720 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:29:26.800 --> 0:29:30.000 keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 0:29:30.200 --> 0:29:32.680 I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 0:29:32.720 --> 0:29:33.160 next time. 0:29:40.200 --> 0:29:42.720 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:29:42.760 --> 0:29:46.480 for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 0:29:46.560 --> 0:29:49.800 been ill equipped to help. That is until now join 0:29:49.880 --> 0:29:52.920 yourly fifty thousand people just like you who've enrolled in 0:29:52.960 --> 0:29:56.120 the Mental Health Coach training program and become equipped to 0:29:56.200 --> 0:29:59.040 help for a limited time. 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