Take Your Image Off The Throne

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See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 0:01:32.880 --> 0:01:35.600 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:35.640 --> 0:01:38.399 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:01:38.520 --> 0:01:40.880 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:40.880 --> 0:01:42.440 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:01:42.760 --> 0:01:45.480 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:01:45.520 --> 0:01:46.200 your life. 0:01:48.160 --> 0:01:49.000 God bless you. 0:01:49.200 --> 0:01:51.559 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:01:51.560 --> 0:01:53.960 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:01:54.040 --> 0:01:58.040 daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can 0:01:58.080 --> 0:02:00.880 come visit us in person to have you be a 0:02:00.880 --> 0:02:03.559 part of one of our services. I like to start 0:02:03.600 --> 0:02:06.400 with something funny, and I heard about these two professional 0:02:06.520 --> 0:02:10.200 baseball players. They were discussing whether or not they thought 0:02:10.240 --> 0:02:13.040 there would be baseball up in heaven. They made an 0:02:13.080 --> 0:02:16.200 agreement that whoever died first would come back and tell 0:02:16.240 --> 0:02:19.520 if there was indeed baseball in heaven. A few months later, 0:02:19.720 --> 0:02:22.799 when of the players died, just like he promised, he 0:02:22.840 --> 0:02:25.720 came back said to the other player, I've got good news. 0:02:25.800 --> 0:02:28.560 I got bad news. The good news is there. 0:02:28.440 --> 0:02:29.960 Is baseball up in heaven. 0:02:30.400 --> 0:02:33.640 The bad news is your schedule to pitch next Thursday. 0:02:35.520 --> 0:02:38.160 Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:02:38.520 --> 0:02:40.840 I am what it says I am. I have what 0:02:40.919 --> 0:02:43.240 it says I have. I can do what it says 0:02:43.240 --> 0:02:45.880 I can do. Today I will be taught the word 0:02:45.960 --> 0:02:49.960 of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my 0:02:50.040 --> 0:02:54.400 heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, 0:02:54.840 --> 0:02:58.160 God bless you. I want to talk to you today 0:02:58.200 --> 0:03:00.240 about taking your image. 0:02:59.840 --> 0:03:01.040 Off the throne. 0:03:01.760 --> 0:03:04.919 It's easy to go through life making decisions based on 0:03:05.040 --> 0:03:08.040 what people will think. How will this make me look? 0:03:08.480 --> 0:03:11.680 Will this be impressive? Will this gain me more followers, 0:03:11.880 --> 0:03:15.720 will they approve me? When we live image driven, we 0:03:15.800 --> 0:03:19.120 can't be real, we can't be authentic. We have to 0:03:19.200 --> 0:03:21.680 hide this weakness or they may think less of us. 0:03:22.200 --> 0:03:24.440 We have to play up to this person to stay 0:03:24.440 --> 0:03:25.200 in their favor. 0:03:25.680 --> 0:03:28.720 We have to drive this, wear this be seen with 0:03:28.760 --> 0:03:29.440 these people. 0:03:30.080 --> 0:03:34.000 We spend so much energy protecting this image we've created. 0:03:34.680 --> 0:03:38.920 And there's nothing wrong with looking good, being successful, carrying 0:03:38.920 --> 0:03:40.160 yourself with confidence. 0:03:40.440 --> 0:03:41.320 That's all healthy. 0:03:42.000 --> 0:03:44.800 But where it crosses the line is when you become 0:03:44.920 --> 0:03:46.320 driven by your image. 0:03:46.680 --> 0:03:48.000 You run everything through. 0:03:47.800 --> 0:03:49.960 The filter of how it's going to make you look. 0:03:50.840 --> 0:03:54.320 Jesus said to the Pharisees, you do everything for show. 0:03:55.160 --> 0:03:57.920 You wear these long robes to look better than others. 0:03:58.440 --> 0:04:01.320 You give in front of people to be impressive. You 0:04:01.360 --> 0:04:03.080 sit in the best seats. 0:04:02.760 --> 0:04:05.360 So you'll be well thought of. And none of those 0:04:05.360 --> 0:04:06.760 things in themselves are bad. 0:04:07.240 --> 0:04:09.320 To wear nice clothes, to be a giver, to have 0:04:09.360 --> 0:04:10.120 a good position. 0:04:11.040 --> 0:04:12.840 The issue was their motives. 0:04:13.400 --> 0:04:16.600 They were doing it all to be seen, to impress people, 0:04:16.800 --> 0:04:20.839 to build their ego. The problem with living image driven 0:04:21.160 --> 0:04:24.239 is it will wear you out the pressure of trying 0:04:24.240 --> 0:04:27.800 to keep up with people, impress your friends, look better 0:04:27.839 --> 0:04:31.760 than your neighbor, hide how you feel, act like everything's 0:04:31.800 --> 0:04:32.760 okay when it's not. 0:04:33.279 --> 0:04:34.600 That's not sustainable. 0:04:35.360 --> 0:04:38.640 The reason some people are so stressed run down is 0:04:38.640 --> 0:04:42.040 they have their image on the throne. They're doing everything 0:04:42.080 --> 0:04:45.120 to protect how they're seen. But you need to take 0:04:45.160 --> 0:04:48.160 your image off the throne and put God back on 0:04:48.240 --> 0:04:51.640 the throne. You don't have to perform, you don't have 0:04:51.680 --> 0:04:52.359 to pretend. 0:04:52.920 --> 0:04:55.240 You don't have to keep up with your friends. If 0:04:55.279 --> 0:04:56.880 they only accept you if you. 0:04:56.920 --> 0:05:01.359 Perform to their standards, they're not true friends. Such a 0:05:01.400 --> 0:05:05.400 freedom when you can be real, be vulnerable, not worry 0:05:05.440 --> 0:05:09.560 about what other people think. That's a treadmill that never stops. 0:05:10.080 --> 0:05:13.800 To sure way to drain your energy. Stop for your creativity, 0:05:14.120 --> 0:05:17.880 steal your joy, pulse it. In Romans, we should be 0:05:17.960 --> 0:05:22.400 conformed to the image of Christ. I've found if you're 0:05:22.440 --> 0:05:26.520 obsessed with your image, you can't be conformed to his image. 0:05:26.720 --> 0:05:29.680 You're always thinking about what people think is going to 0:05:29.760 --> 0:05:30.440 be impressive? 0:05:30.960 --> 0:05:32.080 Will they approve me? 0:05:32.600 --> 0:05:35.160 Then you're not going to become who you were created 0:05:35.200 --> 0:05:38.800 to be. A friend of mine works in the entertainment industry. 0:05:39.000 --> 0:05:42.159 He's very popular. He has a dynamic personality. 0:05:42.680 --> 0:05:45.960 He's seen as strong, talented, successful. 0:05:46.520 --> 0:05:50.600 In the movies. He plays action heroes. He's the good. 0:05:50.400 --> 0:05:54.679 Guy save in the day, hosting television shows. He's so friendly, 0:05:54.960 --> 0:05:56.479 so likable, big smile. 0:05:57.400 --> 0:05:58.640 But he told how. 0:05:58.520 --> 0:06:02.320 He became obsessed with his image, what people thought about. 0:06:02.040 --> 0:06:03.400 Him, how he looked. 0:06:03.960 --> 0:06:08.240 He always projected this image of success, strength, being so happy. 0:06:09.000 --> 0:06:12.480 The problem was it was all a facade. He was pretending. 0:06:13.120 --> 0:06:16.479 In real life, he was falling apart, his wife was 0:06:16.560 --> 0:06:17.200 leaving him. 0:06:17.560 --> 0:06:18.920 He struggled with an addiction. 0:06:19.400 --> 0:06:22.560 He didn't like who he was, but every day he 0:06:22.560 --> 0:06:23.200 would put on. 0:06:23.160 --> 0:06:25.880 That mask, got to made sure I look good today. 0:06:26.720 --> 0:06:29.280 People would see him on the streets, Hey man, I 0:06:29.320 --> 0:06:30.160 love you. 0:06:30.160 --> 0:06:32.760 You're so great in that movie. He'd give them a 0:06:32.839 --> 0:06:34.320 high five, thank you so much. 0:06:35.120 --> 0:06:38.680 The whole time he was thinking, I'm not great, I'm depressed, 0:06:39.160 --> 0:06:43.080 I'm hurting, I'm lonely. He was so obsessed with his 0:06:43.160 --> 0:06:46.400 image he couldn't be real. He wouldn't let anyone see 0:06:46.440 --> 0:06:47.400 who he really was. 0:06:48.120 --> 0:06:50.320 And one day he did what I'm asking us to do. 0:06:50.640 --> 0:06:51.880 He took off the mask. 0:06:52.480 --> 0:06:56.599 He quit pretending, He got honest with himself, got the 0:06:56.640 --> 0:06:59.520 help he needed. He went to a recovery program and 0:06:59.600 --> 0:07:03.679 broke the addiction. He got help in his marriage his wife, 0:07:03.720 --> 0:07:06.880 who had left him. She came back home. Today, they're 0:07:06.880 --> 0:07:08.760 happily married with their children. 0:07:08.960 --> 0:07:10.160 He's healed, he's whole. 0:07:11.040 --> 0:07:14.000 None of this would have happened if he'd kept hiding 0:07:14.200 --> 0:07:16.120 behind the image he was projecting. 0:07:16.920 --> 0:07:17.000 Now. 0:07:17.040 --> 0:07:19.360 I'm not saying you have to tell people all your issues, 0:07:19.760 --> 0:07:23.040 announce all your secrets. What I'm saying is you don't 0:07:23.080 --> 0:07:27.160 have to hide. You don't have to pretend worried about 0:07:27.200 --> 0:07:28.320 what people will think. 0:07:29.120 --> 0:07:31.320 The ones that look like they have it all together, 0:07:31.520 --> 0:07:32.200 can I tell. 0:07:32.080 --> 0:07:36.239 You they have issues too. Everyone is dealing with something. 0:07:36.840 --> 0:07:38.200 There's no shame in. 0:07:38.080 --> 0:07:41.160 Saying I need help. I'm not what I look like. 0:07:41.720 --> 0:07:44.120 I'm struggling, I'm hurting, I'm broken. 0:07:44.880 --> 0:07:48.040 It takes humility to take your image off the throne, 0:07:48.520 --> 0:07:51.320 to not worry about what people think, to not live 0:07:51.400 --> 0:07:55.360 trying to impress, trying to gain their approval. So much 0:07:55.360 --> 0:07:59.360 better to be real, to be vulnerable. In the story 0:07:59.400 --> 0:08:02.440 of the Prodigal Son, the young man asked his father 0:08:02.680 --> 0:08:07.200 for his inheritance early. He left home and wasted it all, partying, 0:08:07.440 --> 0:08:08.480 living wild. 0:08:08.560 --> 0:08:11.480 Making poor decisions. When the money ran out. 0:08:11.760 --> 0:08:14.440 The only job he could find was working in a 0:08:14.480 --> 0:08:16.080 hogpen feeding hogs. 0:08:16.560 --> 0:08:18.160 He got so desperate he. 0:08:18.160 --> 0:08:21.720 Had to eat the hogfood to survive. The scripture says 0:08:21.960 --> 0:08:25.280 when he came to himself, he said, I will arise 0:08:25.520 --> 0:08:27.280 and go back to my father's house. 0:08:27.920 --> 0:08:28.480 If he was. 0:08:28.480 --> 0:08:32.079 Living image driven, he would have never gone home. He 0:08:32.120 --> 0:08:34.600 would have thought, I'm not going to let anyone see 0:08:34.600 --> 0:08:38.880 me in this condition, down dirty, working in a hogpen. 0:08:39.440 --> 0:08:42.120 I've got an image to protect. I want them to 0:08:42.160 --> 0:08:45.920 think I'm happy, successful, on top of the world. But 0:08:46.000 --> 0:08:48.920 as long as you're pretending, as long as you're wearing 0:08:48.960 --> 0:08:51.520 a mask, you won't get the help that you need. 0:08:52.360 --> 0:08:54.880 Like this young man, you have to come to yourself, 0:08:55.640 --> 0:08:58.520 not who you pretend to be, not the image you've. 0:08:58.400 --> 0:09:01.240 Created, who other people think you are. 0:09:02.360 --> 0:09:07.439 Second Corinthian says, with unveiled faces, we reveal the glory 0:09:07.480 --> 0:09:11.120 of God. As long as your face is veiled, as 0:09:11.200 --> 0:09:14.200 long as you're wearing a mask, you won't see God's glory. 0:09:14.679 --> 0:09:18.320 You want see the freedom, the wholeness, the abundance. Why 0:09:18.360 --> 0:09:19.840 don't you take off the mask? 0:09:20.800 --> 0:09:21.880 Well, Joel, what will. 0:09:21.760 --> 0:09:25.360 People think if I'm not perfect, if I still struggle 0:09:25.360 --> 0:09:27.560 in this area if I need help, You know what 0:09:27.640 --> 0:09:30.880 they'll think. They'll think you're real, they'll think you're brave, 0:09:31.200 --> 0:09:35.320 they'll think you're honest and sure, some will judge, some 0:09:35.480 --> 0:09:36.560 may look down on you. 0:09:37.000 --> 0:09:38.160 But what they think. 0:09:37.960 --> 0:09:41.719 About you doesn't stop your destiny. Quit worrying about what 0:09:41.800 --> 0:09:42.560 they think. 0:09:42.960 --> 0:09:44.880 It's always going to be someone. 0:09:44.559 --> 0:09:48.200 That doesn't understand you, that won't be for you, that 0:09:48.280 --> 0:09:51.240 tries to make you feel small. But there will be 0:09:51.440 --> 0:09:54.960 other people God has ordained for you that will be 0:09:55.040 --> 0:09:57.679 there to help you, to bring you out of the struggle, 0:09:58.040 --> 0:10:01.360 to lift you when you're down, to beat victory when 0:10:01.400 --> 0:10:02.199 you feel defeat. 0:10:03.280 --> 0:10:06.640 When the young man returned home, the father. 0:10:06.640 --> 0:10:09.840 Who represents God was there with open arms. 0:10:10.120 --> 0:10:13.080 He hugged him, kissed him, put a. 0:10:12.960 --> 0:10:16.559 New robe on him, new shoes, gave him the family. 0:10:16.240 --> 0:10:18.079 Ring that represents authority. 0:10:18.840 --> 0:10:21.199 The other brother was kind of jealous of all the attention. 0:10:21.800 --> 0:10:25.360 He didn't like this brother being celebrated. When you take 0:10:25.400 --> 0:10:28.920 off your mask, when you get real, you're vulnerable. 0:10:29.400 --> 0:10:31.199 Some people may not accept you. 0:10:31.720 --> 0:10:34.840 They may find fault, they like seeing you down, say 0:10:34.840 --> 0:10:38.880 they look better. But your heavenly father, the one who matters, 0:10:39.000 --> 0:10:42.959 he accepts you he'll restore you. He'll put a new 0:10:43.040 --> 0:10:46.360 robe on you. He'll help you break the addiction. He'll 0:10:46.400 --> 0:10:48.200 deliver you from what's holding your back. 0:10:48.720 --> 0:10:51.560 He'll give your friends that will celebrate you, friends that 0:10:51.600 --> 0:10:52.560 will before you. 0:10:53.280 --> 0:10:55.720 Yeah, you may have a few walk away, a few 0:10:55.760 --> 0:10:58.920 that judge you, but you don't need them in your life. 0:10:59.480 --> 0:11:01.800 They were just out for what you could do for them. 0:11:02.320 --> 0:11:05.360 True friends, you don't have to wear a mask. You 0:11:05.400 --> 0:11:08.160 don't have to pretend. You don't have to hope that 0:11:08.240 --> 0:11:09.200 you can measure up. 0:11:09.880 --> 0:11:12.800 They accept you for who you are, not for how 0:11:12.840 --> 0:11:15.240 you look, how you perform, who you know. 0:11:16.400 --> 0:11:19.360 I like this phrase I heard what you think about 0:11:19.400 --> 0:11:23.079 me is none of my business. People can think anything 0:11:23.120 --> 0:11:23.560 they want. 0:11:23.720 --> 0:11:26.520 It's a free world. But your part is to make 0:11:26.559 --> 0:11:29.480 it none of your business. You don't have time to 0:11:29.559 --> 0:11:33.800 worry about everyone's opinion of you. You have a destiny 0:11:33.880 --> 0:11:37.199 to fulfill, you have an assignment to accomplish. 0:11:37.800 --> 0:11:39.920 It's not going to happen if your image. 0:11:39.640 --> 0:11:43.719 Driven, If you're making decisions based on other people's opinions, 0:11:44.040 --> 0:11:46.959 how will this make me look? Truth is, no matter 0:11:47.120 --> 0:11:51.160 how hard we try, someone is going to judge. Someone 0:11:51.360 --> 0:11:53.480 is going to talk about you. Someone's not going to 0:11:53.679 --> 0:11:56.520 like you. You can spend all your time trying to 0:11:56.559 --> 0:12:01.679 win them over, performing perfectly, do whatever they please. 0:12:01.880 --> 0:12:03.360 But it will never be enough. 0:12:04.240 --> 0:12:07.520 Don't waste another day trying to get their approval. You 0:12:07.559 --> 0:12:11.040 don't need them to validate you. Almighty God has already 0:12:11.040 --> 0:12:15.680 approved you. Pastor friend of mine has a teenage daughter 0:12:15.760 --> 0:12:18.920 and she got pregnant when she was fifteen, and he 0:12:19.000 --> 0:12:21.839 was so upset. He felt like he had failed as 0:12:21.840 --> 0:12:25.160 a parent. He's a good man, he has a great ministry. 0:12:25.640 --> 0:12:27.240 He came to me with tears. 0:12:26.920 --> 0:12:29.960 In his eyes tell me about it. And he was so. 0:12:29.960 --> 0:12:33.160 Concerned about how I would respond and would I think 0:12:33.280 --> 0:12:37.000 less of him. But I've learned to not judge people. 0:12:37.679 --> 0:12:41.280 Everyone is on a journey. The mercy you show others 0:12:41.600 --> 0:12:43.640 is the mercy that will be shown back to you 0:12:44.320 --> 0:12:46.840 when you're attempted to look down on someone. 0:12:47.080 --> 0:12:48.480 I can't believe they did that. 0:12:48.880 --> 0:12:52.320 I can't believe he still struggles in that area. Just remember, 0:12:52.720 --> 0:12:54.800 if it was not for the grace of God that 0:12:54.880 --> 0:12:58.200 could be you. It wasn't just your own strengths, just 0:12:58.280 --> 0:13:01.680 your own choices. It was the of God keeping it 0:13:01.720 --> 0:13:05.640 from you. He was very appreciative of the grace that 0:13:05.880 --> 0:13:09.320 I showed him, But he was still concerned about what 0:13:09.400 --> 0:13:11.839 people were going to think, and how it was going 0:13:11.920 --> 0:13:15.120 to look, and who was going to start talking. I 0:13:15.160 --> 0:13:18.120 told him what I'm telling you. You can't control all 0:13:18.160 --> 0:13:21.440 of that. If you live trying to protect your image 0:13:21.480 --> 0:13:25.760 and keep everyone happy, hoping they'll understand, then you're going 0:13:25.840 --> 0:13:30.120 to be frustrated. Life happens to us all. You don't 0:13:30.120 --> 0:13:33.280 have to explain yourself to everyone. You don't have to 0:13:33.320 --> 0:13:36.560 convince people to try to be for you. The ones 0:13:36.600 --> 0:13:40.000 that are judgmental won't show you any mercy. You can 0:13:40.040 --> 0:13:43.360 be sure they have issues too, They have things they're 0:13:43.360 --> 0:13:46.840 dealing with that they're not telling you about. There's no 0:13:47.040 --> 0:13:51.040 shame in being open and honest. The enemy would love 0:13:51.120 --> 0:13:54.760 for us all to hide behind masks, go around pretending 0:13:55.120 --> 0:14:00.200 acting like we're perfect, making sure nobody sees our flaws, projecting. 0:13:59.600 --> 0:14:01.800 This image that we can't live up to. 0:14:03.000 --> 0:14:06.960 Paul said in Second Corinthians, we refuse to wear masks 0:14:07.160 --> 0:14:10.600 and play games. We keep everything out in the open, 0:14:11.120 --> 0:14:13.240 the whole truth on display. 0:14:14.000 --> 0:14:16.199 Do you need to take off a mask today? 0:14:16.920 --> 0:14:20.040 Do you need to quit pretending hiding what you need 0:14:20.080 --> 0:14:23.560 to deal with like the Pharisees, doing things for show, 0:14:24.280 --> 0:14:27.240 trying to create this image of who you are instead 0:14:27.280 --> 0:14:28.720 of just being who you are. 0:14:29.760 --> 0:14:32.160 How many people are living for this image? 0:14:32.720 --> 0:14:34.520 This is who I want you to see be as 0:14:34.640 --> 0:14:39.120 someone greater, smarter, prettier, more popular. When the truth is 0:14:39.480 --> 0:14:42.120 who God made you to be is the best youth. 0:14:42.920 --> 0:14:46.240 You don't need the image. Just be you. You're made 0:14:46.360 --> 0:14:49.920 in the image of God. You already have the best image. 0:14:50.480 --> 0:14:53.120 You don't need to pretend. You don't need to do 0:14:53.200 --> 0:14:57.720 things for show. Live to please people. Having their approval 0:14:57.920 --> 0:15:03.240 is overrated. Move you towards your destiny. Be confident in 0:15:03.280 --> 0:15:04.400 who God made you to be. 0:15:05.560 --> 0:15:08.120 This is where Saul missed it. He was the first 0:15:08.280 --> 0:15:12.440 king of Israel. He was tall, handsome, he looked like 0:15:12.520 --> 0:15:12.920 a king. 0:15:13.800 --> 0:15:18.080 God chose him from obscurity, didn't come from a prominent family, 0:15:18.640 --> 0:15:22.000 was it raised in wealth and influence. Suddenly he was 0:15:22.040 --> 0:15:25.760 thrust into a position that he never dreamed possible. And 0:15:25.840 --> 0:15:29.240 he started out good, doing what God asked him to do. 0:15:29.840 --> 0:15:33.000 But over time he made the mistake that's easy to make. 0:15:33.640 --> 0:15:38.240 He started letting what people thought how he would be accepted. 0:15:38.040 --> 0:15:41.440 Influence his decisions. For Samuel sixteen. 0:15:41.800 --> 0:15:45.920 God gave him specific instructions to wipe out all of 0:15:45.960 --> 0:15:47.760 the Amalekites, not to. 0:15:47.720 --> 0:15:51.280 Spare anyone or anything, the leaders, the. 0:15:51.280 --> 0:15:55.120 Animals, the flocks, the supplies, but to destroy them all. 0:15:55.760 --> 0:15:56.640 He went and attacked. 0:15:57.160 --> 0:16:00.880 He obeyed that part, but instead of just join everything, 0:16:01.240 --> 0:16:04.560 he spared the king, he kept the best cattle, the 0:16:04.600 --> 0:16:06.400 best sheep, all the supplies. 0:16:07.160 --> 0:16:09.440 The next day, the prophet Samuel showed up. 0:16:09.960 --> 0:16:13.240 Saul greeted him, said, so excitedly, I did what the 0:16:13.280 --> 0:16:14.080 Lord commanded. 0:16:14.160 --> 0:16:15.200 We won the victory. 0:16:16.120 --> 0:16:19.000 Samuel said, if you did what he commanded, why do 0:16:19.160 --> 0:16:22.000 I hear those sheep? Why do I see those cattle? 0:16:22.680 --> 0:16:25.440 Saul said, oh, come on, Samuel, I just kept a 0:16:25.480 --> 0:16:28.720 few so our people could enjoy them. I didn't destroy 0:16:28.920 --> 0:16:29.760 all the supplies. 0:16:29.800 --> 0:16:31.080 We can use them in the future. 0:16:31.720 --> 0:16:34.320 Besides, some of these sheep we're going to take and 0:16:34.400 --> 0:16:39.400 sacrifice them to God started making all these excuses, all 0:16:39.440 --> 0:16:42.760 these reasons why he didn't do it. Samuel said, Saul, 0:16:43.000 --> 0:16:45.640 obedience is much better than sacrifice. 0:16:46.680 --> 0:16:47.480 Verse twenty four. 0:16:47.800 --> 0:16:50.880 Saul finally admitted why he didn't fully obey. 0:16:51.600 --> 0:16:53.200 He said, I did not. 0:16:53.360 --> 0:16:56.720 Follow God's commands, for I was afraid of the people, 0:16:57.360 --> 0:17:01.440 and instead I did what they demanded. How many of 0:17:01.520 --> 0:17:04.600 us are like Saul. We know God has told us 0:17:04.640 --> 0:17:08.080 to do something. We feel that impression down in here, 0:17:08.760 --> 0:17:12.720 but we have to please the people. Someone may not understand, 0:17:13.320 --> 0:17:15.959 they may think less of us, they may leave us 0:17:16.000 --> 0:17:16.840 out of their group. 0:17:17.560 --> 0:17:21.480 Saul's attitude was I have to perform for my popularity, 0:17:22.000 --> 0:17:23.119 to keep my followers. 0:17:23.240 --> 0:17:28.000 My friends have to do what they want, impress, pretend, hide, 0:17:28.200 --> 0:17:31.560 I have to keep this image up. The problem with 0:17:31.720 --> 0:17:35.639 living image driven is you can't please God and please 0:17:35.720 --> 0:17:39.280 people all of the time. Sometimes God will ask you 0:17:39.359 --> 0:17:43.520 to do something that's not popular, that people don't understand, 0:17:43.920 --> 0:17:47.480 that your friends don't accept. That cause coworkers to look 0:17:47.520 --> 0:17:50.720 down on you. You mean you won't go party after work? 0:17:51.119 --> 0:17:53.640 You think you're too good for us, don't you? If 0:17:53.680 --> 0:17:56.640 your image driven, you'll say no, I'll go. I don't 0:17:56.680 --> 0:17:57.840 want you to think less of me. 0:17:58.680 --> 0:18:01.760 But if you're driven by your purpose, you'll say no, thanks, 0:18:01.960 --> 0:18:03.199 You'll have to go without me. 0:18:03.560 --> 0:18:05.120 I have a destiny to fulfill. 0:18:05.920 --> 0:18:09.840 You'll be more interested in pleasing God than in pleasing people. 0:18:10.920 --> 0:18:15.400 Because Saul was a people pleaser, because he wouldn't fully obey, 0:18:15.880 --> 0:18:17.040 he lost the kingdom. 0:18:18.000 --> 0:18:21.200 What could have Saul become if he had not lived? 0:18:21.359 --> 0:18:26.080 Image driven, worried about what people think, trying to impress, 0:18:26.560 --> 0:18:29.960 to perform, having to pretend to win people over. 0:18:30.640 --> 0:18:34.440 None of that moves you forward. Be driven by your purpose. 0:18:35.000 --> 0:18:38.200 Be more concerned about how God sees you than how 0:18:38.240 --> 0:18:39.120 people see you. 0:18:39.400 --> 0:18:40.640 He's the one that matters. 0:18:41.800 --> 0:18:43.879 When my father went to be with the Lord and 0:18:44.280 --> 0:18:47.080 I stepped up to pastor the church, there were a 0:18:47.119 --> 0:18:50.800 lot of people telling me which direction to go and 0:18:51.119 --> 0:18:52.240 who I should become. 0:18:52.880 --> 0:18:55.040 They were good people, They loved me. 0:18:55.640 --> 0:18:58.720 But one wanted me to go this way, another that way, 0:18:58.800 --> 0:19:00.840 and another takes to this way. 0:19:01.560 --> 0:19:05.320 There were so many voices that I was confused. I thought, 0:19:05.359 --> 0:19:06.960 I don't even know who I am. 0:19:07.280 --> 0:19:10.399 When you're always trying to please people, you can lose 0:19:10.440 --> 0:19:14.800 who you are. My personality type is I want people 0:19:14.800 --> 0:19:15.560 to accept me. 0:19:16.080 --> 0:19:18.440 I want them to like me. I had to do 0:19:18.480 --> 0:19:19.800 what I'm asking us to do. 0:19:20.200 --> 0:19:23.800 I got quiet before God when I searched my heart. 0:19:24.160 --> 0:19:26.840 I knew what he was leading me to do. The 0:19:26.960 --> 0:19:29.800 problem was it was not what some of them wanted 0:19:29.840 --> 0:19:33.120 me to do. I had to decide, am I going 0:19:33.200 --> 0:19:35.439 to be who they want? Me to be or am 0:19:35.480 --> 0:19:37.400 I going to be who God wants me to be. 0:19:38.080 --> 0:19:41.199 I had to disappoint a few people in order to 0:19:41.240 --> 0:19:42.520 not disappoint God. 0:19:43.400 --> 0:19:45.800 Some of them looked down on me, few. 0:19:45.640 --> 0:19:49.120 Criticized, couple left the church, said I would never make it, 0:19:49.160 --> 0:19:51.000 But I think it's turned out okay. 0:19:51.720 --> 0:19:54.960 It's better to please God than to please people. 0:19:55.720 --> 0:19:59.640 Don't let them squeeze you into their mind. Take your 0:19:59.640 --> 0:20:02.880 image off the throne. What other people want you to be, 0:20:03.480 --> 0:20:07.840 Having to perform to keep their friendship, Pretend to stay popular, 0:20:08.080 --> 0:20:11.840 impressed to be like that's too much pressure to live under. 0:20:12.640 --> 0:20:15.480 It's hard to be something you're not. It's hard to 0:20:15.560 --> 0:20:16.680 keep everyone. 0:20:16.359 --> 0:20:21.399 Happening, wear different masks, pretending depending on who you're with. 0:20:22.000 --> 0:20:27.199 You know what's easy being you, being real, being vulnerable. 0:20:27.560 --> 0:20:30.719 What makes it complicated is when we put our image 0:20:30.800 --> 0:20:33.639 on the throne instead of having God on the throne. 0:20:34.520 --> 0:20:37.719 When we're obsessed with our image, so much time and 0:20:37.920 --> 0:20:42.000 energy is spent trying to please others, trying to look good, 0:20:42.720 --> 0:20:45.400 we end up like the pharisees, doing things for show 0:20:46.080 --> 0:20:47.160 and me impress them. 0:20:47.359 --> 0:20:48.879 This will make me more popular. 0:20:49.440 --> 0:20:52.919 When the truth is doing what God's asking you to 0:20:53.000 --> 0:20:56.359 do being who He made you to be. That's where 0:20:56.359 --> 0:20:59.840 the blessing is, That's where the anointing is, that's where 0:20:59.880 --> 0:21:03.479 the power is. When you take off the mask and 0:21:03.560 --> 0:21:07.120 live as the authentic you, he'll shine down his favor, 0:21:07.560 --> 0:21:11.800 take your further than you've ever dreamed. Saul was rejected 0:21:11.840 --> 0:21:15.760 as the king. Samuel chose a young man named David 0:21:16.200 --> 0:21:20.000 to be the next king. One difference between Saul and 0:21:20.160 --> 0:21:24.760 David is David wasn't image driven. He didn't spend his 0:21:24.880 --> 0:21:29.280 time worried about what other people thought, trying to please everyone. 0:21:29.560 --> 0:21:32.080 His focus was on fulfilling his purpose. 0:21:33.119 --> 0:21:36.080 One time, the Ark of the Covenant was a large 0:21:36.160 --> 0:21:39.720 box that represented where God lived. It had been taken 0:21:39.760 --> 0:21:42.640 from the Israelites. They'd been trying to get it back 0:21:42.680 --> 0:21:46.439 for months. Finally David was able to recover it. He 0:21:46.520 --> 0:21:49.880 brought it back to Jerusalem. There was a big celebration. 0:21:50.680 --> 0:21:54.120 The scripture says David danced before the Lord with all 0:21:54.160 --> 0:21:59.080 of his might. There's great shouting, trumpets, blowing music playing. 0:21:59.680 --> 0:22:02.359 Right in the middle of it all, there's David putting 0:22:02.400 --> 0:22:08.200 Michael Jackson to shamee, dancing, celebrating, worshiping, praising. Now David 0:22:08.720 --> 0:22:12.879 was this respected, influential leader. He could have thought, I 0:22:12.960 --> 0:22:16.879 need to be more reserved, proper and sophisticated. I can't 0:22:16.960 --> 0:22:20.679 let these people see me show an emotion, praising with 0:22:20.760 --> 0:22:21.440 all my might. 0:22:21.720 --> 0:22:23.800 They may think I go to Lakewood, that. 0:22:23.800 --> 0:22:28.960 I'm one of those happy, joyful, victorious people. But David 0:22:29.160 --> 0:22:32.520 didn't have his image on the throne. He didn't run 0:22:32.560 --> 0:22:35.720 his worship through a filter of what people would think. 0:22:36.280 --> 0:22:38.040 When he saw the goodness. 0:22:37.600 --> 0:22:40.520 Of God, even though he was the king, he didn't 0:22:40.520 --> 0:22:44.800 hold back. What he didn't know was his wife. This 0:22:45.000 --> 0:22:49.600 was King Saul's daughter. She was watching him dancing, praising, 0:22:49.840 --> 0:22:53.560 showing all this emotion, and she was offended. She looked 0:22:53.560 --> 0:22:57.480 at him and scorned, disgusted. When David got home, she 0:22:57.600 --> 0:23:00.600 let him have it. She said, what are you doing 0:23:00.640 --> 0:23:04.080 out there dancing like a fool, showing your legs. 0:23:04.359 --> 0:23:07.040 Don't you know you're the king? You have an image 0:23:07.080 --> 0:23:07.720 to withhold. 0:23:08.200 --> 0:23:12.400 You're supposed to be prim proper, reserve. That was the 0:23:12.440 --> 0:23:15.720 mold she was trying to put David in. David said, 0:23:15.720 --> 0:23:19.160 in effect, I love you, but I wasn't dancing under you. 0:23:19.560 --> 0:23:21.400 I was dancing under my God. 0:23:21.840 --> 0:23:24.760 I was thanking him for the great mercy, the great 0:23:24.840 --> 0:23:28.080 favor that he's shown me. He went on to say, 0:23:28.600 --> 0:23:31.960 I'm willing to look like a fool to express. 0:23:31.520 --> 0:23:33.320 The goodness of God in my life. 0:23:34.240 --> 0:23:37.159 David was saying, you may look down on me, but 0:23:37.280 --> 0:23:37.920 that's okay. 0:23:38.280 --> 0:23:40.879 My image is not on the throne. God is on 0:23:40.920 --> 0:23:41.760 the throne. 0:23:42.040 --> 0:23:44.040 I'm not going to be who people want me to be. 0:23:44.320 --> 0:23:46.440 I'm going to be who God wants me to be. 0:23:47.160 --> 0:23:50.560 Notice the difference between King Saul and King David. 0:23:51.200 --> 0:23:54.480 Saul was a people pleaser. David was a God pleaser. 0:23:55.119 --> 0:23:58.080 Saul had his image on the throne. David had God 0:23:58.160 --> 0:24:02.119 on the throne. Saul was driven by his image. David 0:24:02.240 --> 0:24:05.480 was driven by his purpose. Don't be a Saul and 0:24:05.520 --> 0:24:06.560 miss your destiny. 0:24:06.800 --> 0:24:07.479 Be a David. 0:24:08.560 --> 0:24:10.879 And like with David, sure there will be people that 0:24:10.960 --> 0:24:13.879 try to put you in their box, convince you to 0:24:13.880 --> 0:24:17.120 be who they want you to be. If you're not strong, 0:24:17.720 --> 0:24:21.000 if you're focused on having people approve you, you live to 0:24:21.080 --> 0:24:24.760 impress them, You'll end up letting their image of you 0:24:25.119 --> 0:24:26.159 become a reality. 0:24:27.080 --> 0:24:30.520 Sometimes it's not our own images, it's other people's images. 0:24:31.240 --> 0:24:33.680 Your friend wants you to be this, your cousin wants 0:24:33.720 --> 0:24:35.919 you to be that your neighbor wants you to be 0:24:36.000 --> 0:24:40.960 this other. Be respectful, listen to advice, but don't let 0:24:41.000 --> 0:24:44.160 anyone talk you out of what God put in your heart. 0:24:45.080 --> 0:24:48.600 You have a responsibility to become who He created you 0:24:48.680 --> 0:24:51.680 to be. When you come to the end of life. 0:24:51.800 --> 0:24:54.240 He's not going to say, why weren't you more like 0:24:54.320 --> 0:24:57.240 your cousin, Why weren't you more like your coworker, Why 0:24:57.280 --> 0:24:58.040 weren't you more. 0:24:57.880 --> 0:24:58.560 Like your friend. 0:24:58.840 --> 0:25:02.320 He's going to say, why weren't you who I created 0:25:02.320 --> 0:25:02.679 you to be. 0:25:03.280 --> 0:25:05.840 Why did you let people squeeze you into their mold? 0:25:06.520 --> 0:25:10.359 Why did you live pretending, wearing masks, hiding when you 0:25:10.400 --> 0:25:13.080 needed help, acting like everything was okay? 0:25:13.960 --> 0:25:16.919 Take the image down and step up to who you 0:25:17.000 --> 0:25:17.840 were created to be. 0:25:18.760 --> 0:25:21.560 A few years ago, a miniSTR I know called me, 0:25:21.640 --> 0:25:24.720 and he's much older than I am. He's very well 0:25:24.760 --> 0:25:30.040 respected and very influential, and he's very strong and very opinionated. 0:25:30.640 --> 0:25:34.040 He started telling me how to use my influence, what 0:25:34.160 --> 0:25:36.679 I needed to do, and where I needed. 0:25:36.440 --> 0:25:38.200 To change, and how if. 0:25:38.080 --> 0:25:40.280 I didn't do it this way, it wasn't going to 0:25:40.320 --> 0:25:44.480 be right. I'm very nice, I'm very kind, but when 0:25:44.520 --> 0:25:47.360 it comes to my destiny, what I believe God has 0:25:47.400 --> 0:25:48.200 called me to do. 0:25:48.640 --> 0:25:49.800 I'm very strong. 0:25:50.480 --> 0:25:52.920 As hard as he came at me, as forceful, as 0:25:52.960 --> 0:25:55.760 certain as the authority, I went back at him with 0:25:55.920 --> 0:26:00.440 that same authority. I was respectful, but I told him 0:26:00.720 --> 0:26:02.880 when I come to the end of my life, I'm 0:26:02.880 --> 0:26:05.760 not going to answer to you when you're telling me, 0:26:06.520 --> 0:26:08.840 does not bear witness with my spirit. 0:26:09.359 --> 0:26:11.280 I know what God has called me to do. 0:26:12.200 --> 0:26:15.159 I'm going to run my race with purpose, with integrity, 0:26:15.320 --> 0:26:19.320 with compassion. If my image was on the throne, I 0:26:19.320 --> 0:26:20.240 wouldn't be worried. 0:26:20.480 --> 0:26:22.720 What's he going to think about me? What if he 0:26:22.760 --> 0:26:27.040 doesn't approve me? Some of these situations are tests. 0:26:27.720 --> 0:26:30.040 Are you going to live to please others or are 0:26:30.040 --> 0:26:32.960 you going to live to please God. I don't mean 0:26:33.000 --> 0:26:36.119 to never take ad bys to be disrespectful, but you 0:26:36.240 --> 0:26:39.399 have to be strong when it comes to other people 0:26:39.760 --> 0:26:42.840 putting their demands on you, trying to squeeze you. 0:26:42.840 --> 0:26:43.680 Into their mold. 0:26:44.359 --> 0:26:47.760 You can hear from God about your life more than. 0:26:47.640 --> 0:26:48.640 Any other person. 0:26:49.320 --> 0:26:52.639 God is not going to tell someone else everything about 0:26:52.640 --> 0:26:53.400 your destiny. 0:26:54.080 --> 0:26:56.080 Others may confirm it, they. 0:26:55.960 --> 0:26:59.360 May encourage you, but the Holy Spirit lives in you 0:26:59.800 --> 0:27:02.240 he's your guide, your counselor your helper. 0:27:02.680 --> 0:27:04.719 Trust what you're hearing on the inside. 0:27:05.840 --> 0:27:09.560 In the Scripture three Hebrew teenagers wouldn't bow down to 0:27:09.640 --> 0:27:12.440 the king's golden idoling. He's going to have them thrown 0:27:12.480 --> 0:27:17.280 into a furnace. The idol is described as a golden image. 0:27:17.600 --> 0:27:20.920 It was actually an image of King Nebukazzar. It was 0:27:20.960 --> 0:27:24.440 a physical thing. But I believe there's a spiritual principle. 0:27:24.880 --> 0:27:29.280 The teenagers wouldn't bow down to an image. How many 0:27:29.320 --> 0:27:32.480 of us today are bowing down to an image? The 0:27:32.520 --> 0:27:36.520 image we've created, what we project, what we want people 0:27:36.520 --> 0:27:41.440 to see. Or maybe it's the image others have created squeezed. 0:27:40.920 --> 0:27:41.720 Into their mold. 0:27:42.280 --> 0:27:45.719 It's time to stop bowing down to that image. Like 0:27:45.800 --> 0:27:48.719 Paul said, we're not playing games, we're not pretending. 0:27:49.119 --> 0:27:52.320 We're taking off the mask. That's too much pressure. 0:27:53.040 --> 0:27:56.399 The reason some people are run down, worn out, not 0:27:56.600 --> 0:27:57.480 enjoying life. 0:27:57.720 --> 0:27:59.520 Is they have this image. To keep up. 0:28:00.160 --> 0:28:02.520 You have to be five different people, one for your neighbor, 0:28:02.560 --> 0:28:05.359 one for your spouse, one for your friends, trying to 0:28:05.400 --> 0:28:09.520 please everyone, keep them happy. Do yourself a favor, take 0:28:09.560 --> 0:28:11.880 your image off the throne and put God. 0:28:11.720 --> 0:28:15.159 Back on the throne. Quit bowing down to that image. 0:28:15.680 --> 0:28:19.760 If you'll do this, I believe and declare, weights are. 0:28:19.600 --> 0:28:21.080 Going to lift off of you. 0:28:21.080 --> 0:28:24.920 You're going to live freer, happier, more fulfilled, and you're 0:28:24.960 --> 0:28:28.920 going to become all you were created to be in Jesus' name. 0:28:29.560 --> 0:28:31.600 If you receive it, can you say amen? 0:28:33.119 --> 0:28:35.840 I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 0:28:35.920 --> 0:28:37.000 the Lord of your life. 0:28:37.400 --> 0:28:38.400 Would you pray with me? 0:28:39.160 --> 0:28:44.240 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins, Come 0:28:44.240 --> 0:28:48.080 into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior. 0:28:49.560 --> 0:28:50.000 Amen. 0:28:50.040 --> 0:28:52.160 Well, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 0:28:52.200 --> 0:28:54.920 got born again. We'd love to send you some free 0:28:54.960 --> 0:28:57.560 literature your new walk with the Lord. You can text 0:28:57.560 --> 0:28:59.960 the number on the screen or go to the website. 0:29:00.320 --> 0:29:03.320 I hope you'll get into a good Bible based church 0:29:03.640 --> 0:29:07.160 and keep God first place. Thanks so much for listening 0:29:07.160 --> 0:29:10.320 to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe so you can 0:29:10.360 --> 0:29:13.920 receive the latest podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired 0:29:14.040 --> 0:29:14.800 all through the week. 0:29:14.960 --> 0:29:17.160 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:29:17.200 --> 0:29:18.719 with those all around the world. 0:29:19.000 --> 0:29:21.800 Visit Joelosting dot com or click the link in the 0:29:21.840 --> 0:29:24.000 description to partner with us today. 0:29:24.240 --> 0:29:26.680 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:29:26.760 --> 0:29:29.560 be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 0:29:29.640 --> 0:29:32.760 for you. I know God's best is still ahead. We'll 0:29:32.760 --> 0:29:33.600 see you next time.