The "I Am" Advantage

0:00:00.440 --> 0:00:03.160 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:00:03.200 --> 0:00:06.240 our podcast and thanks for supporting the minis Strength. If 0:00:06.280 --> 0:00:08.880 you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing 0:00:08.960 --> 0:00:11.760 and share it with a friend, reappreciate you and pray 0:00:11.800 --> 0:00:14.920 for God's very best in your life. God bless you. 0:00:15.160 --> 0:00:17.840 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:00:17.840 --> 0:00:20.360 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:00:20.440 --> 0:00:24.480 daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can 0:00:24.520 --> 0:00:27.000 come visit us in person. We'd love to have you 0:00:27.080 --> 0:00:29.680 be a part of one of our services. I'd like 0:00:29.720 --> 0:00:32.599 to start with something funny, and someone sent me this 0:00:32.840 --> 0:00:36.760 funny prayer about food goes like this, Lord, grant me 0:00:36.840 --> 0:00:40.200 the strength that I may not fall into the clutches 0:00:40.240 --> 0:00:45.440 of cholesterol at Polyungsatyritz. I'll never mutter for the road 0:00:45.479 --> 0:00:49.800 to Hell is paved with butter. Cake is cursed, cream 0:00:49.920 --> 0:00:54.520 is awful, and Satan is hiding in every waffle. Belzebove 0:00:54.680 --> 0:00:58.680 is a chocolate drop, Lucifer is a lollipop. Teach me 0:00:58.760 --> 0:01:02.000 the evils of Fridghs kicking from the south. Lord, if 0:01:02.040 --> 0:01:06.679 you love me, shut my mouth, say it like you 0:01:06.800 --> 0:01:09.760 and a job. This is my Bible. I am what 0:01:09.880 --> 0:01:12.640 it says I am. I have what it says I have. 0:01:13.160 --> 0:01:15.800 I can do what it says I can do. Today 0:01:15.920 --> 0:01:19.320 I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 0:01:19.760 --> 0:01:23.360 My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 0:01:23.400 --> 0:01:27.400 never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 0:01:28.920 --> 0:01:31.120 I want to talk to you today about the I 0:01:31.360 --> 0:01:35.240 am advantage, two of the most important words we can 0:01:35.280 --> 0:01:39.880 ever say, or I am. They're just small, ordinary words. 0:01:40.520 --> 0:01:43.640 We use I and am in different ways all through 0:01:43.640 --> 0:01:48.040 the day. But when you put them together, something powerful happens. 0:01:48.600 --> 0:01:53.080 Whatever falls the im will come looking for you. I 0:01:53.120 --> 0:01:57.880 am blessed. Blessings are coming. I am strong. Strength is coming, 0:01:58.400 --> 0:02:02.120 I am healthy. Health is and this is great when 0:02:02.120 --> 0:02:04.800 we use it in the positive and we declare good 0:02:04.880 --> 0:02:08.440 things over our life. The problem is it works in 0:02:08.480 --> 0:02:14.240 the negative as well. I am unattractive. Unattractiveness comes, I 0:02:14.280 --> 0:02:19.600 am lazy. Laziness comes, I am unlucky. Bad breaks come. 0:02:20.520 --> 0:02:24.360 Whatever you put after the I am, you're inviting into 0:02:24.400 --> 0:02:29.000 your life. Just imagine you're sending it an invitation. I 0:02:29.040 --> 0:02:33.919 am talented. You just invited talent to come. I am disciplined, 0:02:34.400 --> 0:02:39.079 I am focused, I am a masterpiece. You're inviting things 0:02:39.160 --> 0:02:43.120 that are making you better and moving you towards your destiny. 0:02:43.360 --> 0:02:47.800 But how many times are we inviting things we don't want? Joel, 0:02:47.840 --> 0:02:53.120 I'm just ordinary. You're inviting ordinary. I am poor, I 0:02:53.160 --> 0:02:57.160 am broke, I am so in debt. You're inviting lack 0:02:57.760 --> 0:03:02.520 struggle and not enough or I am weak, I am tired, 0:03:02.880 --> 0:03:06.360 I am lonely. You're inviting the very things you're trying 0:03:06.400 --> 0:03:10.160 to get rid of. Pay attention to what you're sending 0:03:10.280 --> 0:03:14.320 invitations to. The good news is you get to choose 0:03:14.520 --> 0:03:18.440 what follows the I am no more, I am limited, 0:03:19.080 --> 0:03:21.760 I am out of shape, I am at a disadvantage. 0:03:21.960 --> 0:03:26.640 Do yourself a favor. Cancel those invitations. Quit sending out 0:03:26.800 --> 0:03:29.880 what you don't want. Well, Joel, I'm just telling it 0:03:29.960 --> 0:03:33.160 like it is. It's the truth. I am sick, I 0:03:33.200 --> 0:03:37.520 am broke, I am undisciplined. The scripture says, let the 0:03:37.560 --> 0:03:41.520 weak say I am strong. God didn't say let the 0:03:41.560 --> 0:03:45.200 weak say I am weak. Let the insecure say I 0:03:45.240 --> 0:03:49.120 am not enough. God says, use the I am to 0:03:49.240 --> 0:03:53.400 declare who I say you are. The circumstances may say 0:03:53.440 --> 0:03:57.120 you're sick. The medical report doesn't look good. But don't 0:03:57.120 --> 0:04:00.440 go around saying I am unhealthy, I am going down, 0:04:00.600 --> 0:04:05.800 and I am so worried. You're prophesying your future. Change 0:04:05.800 --> 0:04:08.960 what follows the I am? How about I am healthy, 0:04:09.600 --> 0:04:13.200 I am strong, I am an overcomer, I am armed 0:04:13.240 --> 0:04:16.600 with strength for this battle. You declare that, and healing 0:04:16.680 --> 0:04:22.520 starts coming strength, vitality. Instead of I am limited, I'm 0:04:22.560 --> 0:04:26.120 at a disadvantage, I am not up to par Turn 0:04:26.160 --> 0:04:30.520 that around. I am equipped, I am empowered, I am anointed, 0:04:30.720 --> 0:04:36.719 I am well able. Look at what you're inviting, power, favor, anointing, 0:04:36.960 --> 0:04:40.760 the goodness of God. The scripture says, with our words, 0:04:40.800 --> 0:04:45.480 we can bless ourselves or we can curse ourselves. Sometimes 0:04:45.520 --> 0:04:49.440 it's not the enemy holding us back. We're holding ourselves back. 0:04:50.240 --> 0:04:54.000 We're using these negative ims and we may not even 0:04:54.080 --> 0:04:58.520 realize it. Pay attention to what follows the im. What 0:04:58.560 --> 0:05:02.080 are you saying about yourself else? One reason that I 0:05:02.120 --> 0:05:05.080 am is so powerful is it one of the names 0:05:05.120 --> 0:05:09.599 of God. Moses had been hiding in the desert because 0:05:09.640 --> 0:05:12.000 of a mistake he had made. He had to flee 0:05:12.040 --> 0:05:15.800 from the Egyptians. After forty years, God came to him 0:05:15.800 --> 0:05:18.960 in a burning bush and told him to go deliver 0:05:19.080 --> 0:05:22.760 the Israelites from slavery. That's what he was originally called 0:05:22.800 --> 0:05:26.160 to do. He thought he had missed his purpose. He 0:05:26.240 --> 0:05:29.000 told God how the Pharah wouldn't listen to him, and 0:05:29.640 --> 0:05:33.040 how the Israelites wouldn't follow his leadership. He had all 0:05:33.040 --> 0:05:37.039 these excuses. He finally said, God, if I go, the 0:05:37.160 --> 0:05:40.520 Israelites are going to ask me who sent me? What 0:05:40.560 --> 0:05:43.800 should I tell them? Your name is? God said you 0:05:43.880 --> 0:05:47.760 tell them, my name is I Am. He could have said, 0:05:47.800 --> 0:05:51.320 my name is Jehovah, my name is Yahweh, my name 0:05:51.400 --> 0:05:54.360 is the most High. But out of all the names 0:05:54.400 --> 0:05:58.440 he could have chosen, he simply said, tell them, I 0:05:58.520 --> 0:06:02.599 Am sent you. Every time we say I Am, we 0:06:02.680 --> 0:06:06.279 are saying the name of God. That's why what follows 0:06:06.320 --> 0:06:10.119 the I am has so much power. When you say 0:06:10.279 --> 0:06:13.680 I am healthy, you are saying, in effect, God, I 0:06:13.800 --> 0:06:18.279 believe that I'm healthy. That statement has the authority of 0:06:18.360 --> 0:06:22.040 the creator of the universe. It's not just being positive. 0:06:22.760 --> 0:06:26.320 Let me speak some nice affirmations over me. When you 0:06:26.480 --> 0:06:29.920 use I am, it's backed up by the Most High God. 0:06:31.000 --> 0:06:33.680 You may be struggling, you have some things coming against you, 0:06:34.360 --> 0:06:38.560 but when you declare, I am blessed, I am victorious. 0:06:38.960 --> 0:06:41.440 I am more than a conquer I am the head 0:06:41.600 --> 0:06:45.120 and not the tail. You're not just hyping yourself up. 0:06:45.520 --> 0:06:48.880 The power of the living God is behind those i ams. 0:06:49.880 --> 0:06:53.479 You could be worried about your children, stressed over your job, 0:06:54.279 --> 0:06:57.880 upset over people at work. But instead of giving life 0:06:57.920 --> 0:07:01.920 to all that defeat, you declare, I am peaceful, I 0:07:01.960 --> 0:07:07.200 am calm, I am secure, I am confident. When God 0:07:07.240 --> 0:07:10.840 hears those i ams declaring what he said about you, 0:07:11.240 --> 0:07:15.760 angels go to work. Forces of darkness are broken, miracles 0:07:15.760 --> 0:07:19.480 said intomotion, his power is backing up the I am. 0:07:19.920 --> 0:07:24.560 That's his name. But imagine how God must feel when 0:07:24.600 --> 0:07:27.880 he has created us in his image and crowned us 0:07:27.880 --> 0:07:32.080 with his favor, put the enemy under our feet, called 0:07:32.160 --> 0:07:36.120 us more than conquers. But he hears us using the 0:07:36.240 --> 0:07:40.960 I am to devalue who we are, to criticize ourselves, 0:07:41.320 --> 0:07:46.000 to speak mediocrity. It's like using his name in vain. 0:07:47.240 --> 0:07:50.760 I am not talented enough, I'm not really smart enough. 0:07:51.160 --> 0:07:55.320 I am not attractive enough. No, God calls you a masterpiece. 0:07:56.040 --> 0:07:59.760 He put in you everything you need to reach your destiny. 0:08:00.000 --> 0:08:02.400 I can hear God saying, don't put my name on that. 0:08:03.240 --> 0:08:06.080 Don't use my authority for something I didn't call you. 0:08:06.960 --> 0:08:10.800 A few years ago, someone created a fake brand on 0:08:10.840 --> 0:08:15.680 the internet under Victoria's name. Was this skincare line, had 0:08:15.720 --> 0:08:19.320 all this product, made, all these promises, used her picture, 0:08:20.000 --> 0:08:22.800 They showed her on talk shows telling how amazing it was. 0:08:23.000 --> 0:08:25.680 It was all fake. We had nothing to do with it. 0:08:26.120 --> 0:08:28.880 People had come up, Victoria, I bought your skincare products. 0:08:28.960 --> 0:08:32.320 We love it. We had to tell the authorities take 0:08:32.360 --> 0:08:35.679 our name off of that. It's not us, it's a scam. 0:08:36.520 --> 0:08:39.920 In the same way when God hears us saying I 0:08:39.960 --> 0:08:45.480 am weak, I am addicted, I'm dysfunctional, Joel, it's been 0:08:45.520 --> 0:08:49.480 in my family a long time. I am unworthy. I 0:08:49.520 --> 0:08:52.800 don't deserve to be blessed. I am not able. I 0:08:52.840 --> 0:08:57.000 don't have the training. God says, that's not who I am. 0:08:57.400 --> 0:09:01.320 That's a scam. Don't use my name like that. That's 0:09:01.400 --> 0:09:04.040 the enemy trying to get you to use the I 0:09:04.200 --> 0:09:07.880 am in the wrong way. When you use I am 0:09:08.280 --> 0:09:12.400 to describe who you are or to describe your circumstances, 0:09:12.679 --> 0:09:15.640 you need to make sure it's in agreement with who 0:09:15.720 --> 0:09:19.360 God says you are. Don't use his name in vain. 0:09:20.200 --> 0:09:23.040 I know normally that means cursing, talking bad, but how 0:09:23.040 --> 0:09:27.080 about not using his name to speak negative over yourself 0:09:27.600 --> 0:09:31.720 to contradict who he says you are. Had a friend 0:09:31.720 --> 0:09:35.200 in high school. He was a good guy, very smart, talented, 0:09:35.240 --> 0:09:39.720 and great in sports, but he was always putting himself down. 0:09:40.200 --> 0:09:44.000 I have never known anyone to be more negative toward themselves. 0:09:44.679 --> 0:09:47.840 I don't think he even realized he's doing it, or 0:09:47.840 --> 0:09:51.760 he's just trying to be funny or self deprecating. All 0:09:51.800 --> 0:09:54.360 through the day he would say things like I am 0:09:54.400 --> 0:09:57.760 so stupid in front of the whole class, I am 0:09:57.800 --> 0:10:02.040 so fat, I'm so clumsy. The problem with saying that 0:10:02.480 --> 0:10:05.480 is it's gonna catch up to you. We played basketball, 0:10:06.120 --> 0:10:08.560 he'd miss a shot, and running back down the court 0:10:08.600 --> 0:10:10.959 he would say it over and over. I am an idiot. 0:10:11.360 --> 0:10:14.200 I am an idiot. I am an idiot. Thought to myself, 0:10:14.240 --> 0:10:16.880 You're not an idiot. You just missed a shot. We 0:10:16.920 --> 0:10:21.680 all miss shots. Quit cursing your future. Quit using the 0:10:21.800 --> 0:10:25.960 I am in vain. Some people have developed this habit 0:10:26.360 --> 0:10:30.240 of being against themselves. They become trained to speak the 0:10:30.360 --> 0:10:34.679 negative i ams, and they don't realize they're cursing their future. 0:10:35.600 --> 0:10:39.200 You can't go around speaking negative about yourself and reach 0:10:39.240 --> 0:10:42.840 your destiny. As long as you have the wrong i ams, 0:10:43.120 --> 0:10:46.800 it's going to limit your potential. David said in Psalms, 0:10:47.080 --> 0:10:51.839 God put a watch over my mouth. That's a great prayer. God, 0:10:51.920 --> 0:10:56.640 don't let me speak another negative thing about myself. You 0:10:56.679 --> 0:11:00.960 have enough people in life against you. Don't be against yourself. 0:11:02.120 --> 0:11:05.960 Most of us don't go around criticizing other people. You 0:11:06.000 --> 0:11:08.760 don't go to your friends or that person sitting next 0:11:08.800 --> 0:11:10.680 to you and say, man, you don't look good today. 0:11:11.480 --> 0:11:15.400 You are overweight. Your personality really gets on my nerves. 0:11:15.960 --> 0:11:19.120 You may think that, but you don't verbalize it. I 0:11:19.120 --> 0:11:21.720 hope you don't. You're not gonna say something to put 0:11:21.760 --> 0:11:26.960 them down. We're disciplined when it comes to not devaluing others. 0:11:27.640 --> 0:11:31.960 Why are you devaluing yourselves? You don't criticize your friends. 0:11:32.440 --> 0:11:36.040 Why are you critical towards yourself? You don't speak defeat 0:11:36.080 --> 0:11:39.160 over your children. You tell them how beautiful they are, 0:11:39.679 --> 0:11:42.800 how talented, and how proud you are to have them. 0:11:43.200 --> 0:11:46.760 Why don't you start being good to yourself? Don't say 0:11:46.800 --> 0:11:51.840 another time I am unattractive. I am not likable, I'm 0:11:51.880 --> 0:11:56.240 too short, I am clumsy, I am slow. ZiT that up. 0:11:57.080 --> 0:12:01.160 When you criticize yourself, you are criticized in God's creation. 0:12:01.920 --> 0:12:03.960 You might as well look up and say, God, you 0:12:03.960 --> 0:12:06.640 didn't do a very good job on me. The fact 0:12:06.800 --> 0:12:10.480 is God calls you a masterpiece. He made you in 0:12:10.559 --> 0:12:14.400 his own image. He didn't make you in a dog's image, 0:12:14.800 --> 0:12:18.480 or a lion's image, or even an angel's image. You 0:12:18.520 --> 0:12:22.560 have the DNA of Almighty God. You look like the 0:12:22.640 --> 0:12:26.199 creator of the universe. You have royal blood flowing through 0:12:26.240 --> 0:12:29.360 your veins. When God made you, he liked you so 0:12:29.480 --> 0:12:32.680 much he threw away the mold. You are one of 0:12:32.720 --> 0:12:36.760 a kind, a prize possession. But the trick of the 0:12:36.960 --> 0:12:40.600 enemy is to get you to go through life feeling inferior, 0:12:41.400 --> 0:12:46.079 like you're not enough, speaking negative I ams. He knows 0:12:46.280 --> 0:12:49.880 if you go around discounting yourself, you will never see 0:12:49.920 --> 0:12:53.960 the masterpiece you were meant to be. When you say 0:12:54.280 --> 0:12:58.640 I'm not valuable, I'm not that talented, I am ordinary. 0:12:59.360 --> 0:13:03.760 That's honoring to God. You are using his name the 0:13:03.960 --> 0:13:07.880 I am to contradict who he says you are. You 0:13:07.920 --> 0:13:10.480 may feel those ways, but you have to learn to 0:13:10.520 --> 0:13:14.880 turn it around. In the face of insecurity, feeling inferior, 0:13:15.320 --> 0:13:19.239 you need to say I am worthy, I am valuable, 0:13:19.800 --> 0:13:23.920 I am a masterpiece. I am talented. I am crowned 0:13:23.960 --> 0:13:27.440 with favor. That's what causes God to go to work. 0:13:28.160 --> 0:13:32.480 That's using his name the right way. The circumstances may 0:13:32.520 --> 0:13:35.440 say one thing, and it's tempting to talk about that, 0:13:35.800 --> 0:13:38.800 but you have to get in agreement with God. I 0:13:38.920 --> 0:13:42.200 may be struggling with this addiction, but I am not 0:13:42.240 --> 0:13:45.840 an addict. I am not dysfunctional. I am not a 0:13:45.880 --> 0:13:50.000 product of my environment. I am free, I am whole, 0:13:50.520 --> 0:13:55.480 I am clean, I am victorious. See, sometimes the reason 0:13:55.720 --> 0:13:59.320 we're stuck is we keep using our i ams to 0:13:59.440 --> 0:14:02.920 describe the situation, but you need to use the I 0:14:03.040 --> 0:14:07.840 am to change the situation. Business may be slow, my 0:14:07.920 --> 0:14:10.560 bank account may have gone down, but that's not who 0:14:10.600 --> 0:14:14.480 I am. I am blessed, I am prosperous. I am 0:14:14.559 --> 0:14:18.559 under the open windows of heaven. Whatever follows that I 0:14:18.600 --> 0:14:22.320 am is going to come looking for you. I am average, 0:14:22.600 --> 0:14:27.800 average comes looking how about I am exceptional? Exception comes 0:14:27.840 --> 0:14:33.520 looking favor new levels. I am unworthy. I don't measure up. 0:14:33.920 --> 0:14:39.320 Unworthiness comes shame, guilt, try a different I am. I 0:14:39.360 --> 0:14:43.880 am forgiven, I am redeemed, I am restored. I am 0:14:43.920 --> 0:14:48.120 the righteousness of God. That's what brings hope, That's what 0:14:48.240 --> 0:14:51.280 brings life and cause you to get back up and 0:14:51.360 --> 0:14:54.720 go again. When my father went to be with the Lord, 0:14:55.160 --> 0:14:57.240 I knew I was supposed to step up and pasture 0:14:57.320 --> 0:15:01.120 the church. But I didn't feel qualified. I'd been behind 0:15:01.120 --> 0:15:04.720 the scenes for seventeen years doing the television production and 0:15:05.320 --> 0:15:08.520 I had never trained to be a pastor, never ministered. 0:15:09.120 --> 0:15:12.120 Plus my father was a great pastor and so strong, 0:15:12.280 --> 0:15:15.520 this big personality, and I thought I don't have any 0:15:15.520 --> 0:15:20.720 of that. My ims were negative. I am intimidated, I 0:15:20.760 --> 0:15:25.000 am unqualified, I am lacking. And the fact is that 0:15:25.160 --> 0:15:27.960 was all true. I wasn't making it up. That's how 0:15:28.000 --> 0:15:31.560 I felt. But the scripture says, let the week say 0:15:31.720 --> 0:15:35.760 I am strong. Not let the week describe the situation. 0:15:36.640 --> 0:15:39.640 Let the week talk about how you feel. No, let 0:15:39.680 --> 0:15:43.720 the weak declare what God says. If I would have 0:15:43.800 --> 0:15:47.000 kept the wrong I ams, I wouldn't be up here today. 0:15:48.000 --> 0:15:50.800 All these thoughts told me I couldn't do it, But 0:15:50.960 --> 0:15:53.880 all through the day I wouldn't say what I felt 0:15:54.280 --> 0:15:57.640 that was tempting, but I put a watch over my mouth. 0:15:58.280 --> 0:16:00.760 I did my best to only say what God says 0:16:00.800 --> 0:16:05.480 about me. I am strong, I am anointed, I am equipped, 0:16:05.800 --> 0:16:12.280 I am favored. You know what started looking for me? Courage, strength, power, anointing. 0:16:13.120 --> 0:16:17.400 I discovered ability I never dreamed I had talent came 0:16:17.440 --> 0:16:21.040 out that I didn't know was in me. Don't let 0:16:21.240 --> 0:16:25.440 negative i ams keep you from your greatness. You can't 0:16:25.480 --> 0:16:30.480 reach your destiny speaking defeat over your life. Whatever follows that, 0:16:30.720 --> 0:16:36.000 I am, make sure it's uplifting, encouraging, empowering. That is 0:16:36.000 --> 0:16:39.040 what God says about you. See some people get up 0:16:39.040 --> 0:16:41.760 in the morning and look in the mirror, and the 0:16:41.800 --> 0:16:44.920 first thing they say is, man, I am so old looking, 0:16:45.640 --> 0:16:48.920 I am so wrinkled, and I am so out of shape. 0:16:49.600 --> 0:16:52.600 Next time you do that, just imagine you're sending out 0:16:52.640 --> 0:16:58.520 invitations oldness. You are cordially invited into my life. Wrinkles, 0:16:58.560 --> 0:17:00.840 this is your formal invitation, and I'd love to have 0:17:00.960 --> 0:17:07.080 you unattractiveness, ugliness, homeliness. I'd like to personally you better 0:17:07.119 --> 0:17:10.600 start canceling those invitations. Some of you that have already 0:17:10.600 --> 0:17:13.960 shown up. And I'm just kidding, but instead of all 0:17:14.040 --> 0:17:18.480 those negative i ams starting to day off down on yourself. 0:17:19.000 --> 0:17:22.879 Get in agreement with God. If you're gonna use his name, 0:17:23.359 --> 0:17:26.480 put what he says behind it. Father, you said, my 0:17:26.600 --> 0:17:29.920 youth is being renewed like the eagles. So I declare, 0:17:30.000 --> 0:17:33.680 I am young, I am strong, I am good looking, 0:17:33.800 --> 0:17:37.880 I am vibrant. I am a masterpiece. When you say that, 0:17:38.000 --> 0:17:43.879 it won't get stronger, fresher, younger, more vitality. Whatever is 0:17:43.920 --> 0:17:48.040 following the I am you're calling in, pay attention to 0:17:48.119 --> 0:17:52.359 what you're speaking over yourself. Do you want what you're inviting? 0:17:53.320 --> 0:17:56.159 David said in so On one thirty nine. God, I 0:17:56.280 --> 0:18:00.600 praise you because you have made me in an amazing 0:18:01.200 --> 0:18:05.800 What you have done is wonderful. Notice David's i ams. 0:18:06.359 --> 0:18:09.760 He was saying, not in arrogance, but in praise to God. 0:18:10.240 --> 0:18:14.520 I am amazing, I am wonderful. I am a masterpiece. 0:18:15.720 --> 0:18:19.920 Most of us think just the opposite. Nothing amazing about me, 0:18:20.680 --> 0:18:25.000 nothing wonderful. I got these flaws. I'm impatient. I don't 0:18:25.000 --> 0:18:28.800 have a very good personality. We're speaking against who we 0:18:28.920 --> 0:18:32.760 really are. We're using the name of God the I 0:18:32.920 --> 0:18:37.480 am to devalue ourselves, to push down the greatness He's 0:18:37.520 --> 0:18:41.480 put in us. Have you ever said I am amazing, 0:18:42.160 --> 0:18:47.439 I am beautiful, I am talented, I am successful. I 0:18:47.560 --> 0:18:50.440 know people that say that to others. They have no 0:18:50.520 --> 0:18:55.600 problem complimenting their friends. You look amazing today. That was 0:18:55.640 --> 0:19:00.320 an incredible presentation. You did outstanding. You played all in 0:19:00.359 --> 0:19:04.400 your game. They speak the blessing over others, but they 0:19:04.440 --> 0:19:07.439 never do it to themselves. And it's good for people 0:19:07.480 --> 0:19:11.560 to tell you you're great, You're kind, talented, beautiful, But 0:19:11.640 --> 0:19:15.320 there's a whole other level of impact when it comes 0:19:15.320 --> 0:19:18.440 out of your mouth. Your I am is one of 0:19:18.520 --> 0:19:23.000 the most powerful tools to reach your destiny. When was 0:19:23.040 --> 0:19:26.840 the last time you said I am amazing. You're not 0:19:26.920 --> 0:19:30.719 bragging on you, You're bragging on what God has done. I 0:19:30.720 --> 0:19:33.680 don't mean out in public, go around announcing I'm talking 0:19:33.680 --> 0:19:36.879 about in private, in your quiet time. You need to 0:19:36.880 --> 0:19:39.880 be able to say Lord, thank you that I am amazing. 0:19:40.800 --> 0:19:45.119 I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am attractive, I 0:19:45.160 --> 0:19:50.560 am strong, I am talented, I am disciplined, I am powerful, 0:19:50.960 --> 0:19:55.800 I am favored. I am victorious. Because you're in agreement 0:19:55.880 --> 0:19:59.600 with God, the power of his name is backing you up. 0:20:00.280 --> 0:20:03.760 The God who told Moses, tell the people, I AM 0:20:03.920 --> 0:20:07.520 sent you. When he hears you declaring what he promised 0:20:08.160 --> 0:20:11.960 in the unseen realm, things are said into motion. God 0:20:12.040 --> 0:20:15.840 begins to bring about what he says about you. In 0:20:15.840 --> 0:20:19.560 the scripture, God told Jeremiah that he knew him before 0:20:19.600 --> 0:20:22.439 he was formed in his mother's womb, and that he 0:20:22.560 --> 0:20:25.359 was going to become a great prophet, that he would 0:20:25.400 --> 0:20:28.639 speak to nations and make a great difference with his life. 0:20:29.359 --> 0:20:32.600 But Jeremiah was young. He didn't have the training, and 0:20:33.280 --> 0:20:36.720 no one in his family had done anything significant. He 0:20:36.760 --> 0:20:40.080 said in verse six, Oh, Sovereign God, I do not 0:20:40.240 --> 0:20:44.240 know how to speak. I am too young. Notice his 0:20:44.359 --> 0:20:48.679 I ams. I am not able. I am at a disadvantage. 0:20:48.920 --> 0:20:52.399 I am too young. God could have said, no, Jeremiah, 0:20:52.800 --> 0:20:54.960 you can do this. I'm going to help you take 0:20:55.040 --> 0:20:58.680 this step. He could have just encouraged him and tried 0:20:58.720 --> 0:21:01.919 to talk him into it. But God knows the power 0:21:02.080 --> 0:21:06.520 of the I am. He knows if we're speaking against ourselves, 0:21:06.760 --> 0:21:10.439 it will keep us from rising higher. God answered him 0:21:10.480 --> 0:21:14.200 back and said, Jeremiah, say not that you're too young. 0:21:15.240 --> 0:21:18.479 God was saying, in effect, don't put that negative I 0:21:18.560 --> 0:21:21.639 am with my name. That's not who I called you 0:21:21.720 --> 0:21:26.680 to be. I didn't say you're too young, not able, afraid. 0:21:26.880 --> 0:21:31.280 I said you will speak to nations like Jeremiah. God 0:21:31.359 --> 0:21:34.600 not only knew you before you were formed in the wound, 0:21:35.320 --> 0:21:39.480 but he's already called you to accomplish your assignment, to 0:21:39.600 --> 0:21:43.280 go further than you think possible, to overcome obstacles that 0:21:43.320 --> 0:21:46.960 look too big. When he called you, he put in 0:21:47.000 --> 0:21:51.320 you everything you need to fulfill your destiny. There will 0:21:51.359 --> 0:21:54.560 be these times where you don't feel qualified, you don't 0:21:54.560 --> 0:21:57.880 have the experience, you don't come from an influential family. 0:21:58.680 --> 0:22:02.760 All these circumstances seem like you should shrink back, stay 0:22:02.800 --> 0:22:06.440 where it's comfortable. But God is going to call out 0:22:06.480 --> 0:22:09.960 of you things you didn't know were in you. He's 0:22:10.000 --> 0:22:12.840 going to take you further than others in your family 0:22:12.880 --> 0:22:15.920 have gone. If you're going to see these new levels, 0:22:16.200 --> 0:22:19.280 you have to have the right I ams. You'll be 0:22:19.359 --> 0:22:24.000 tempted to make excuses, devalue yourself, come up with the 0:22:24.040 --> 0:22:29.040 reasons it's not possible. That's judging your future based on 0:22:29.080 --> 0:22:31.879 what's happened in the past. But God is about to 0:22:31.960 --> 0:22:35.800 do a new thing, something that you've never seen He's 0:22:35.840 --> 0:22:40.520 about to show out in your life in an uncommon way. Now, 0:22:40.560 --> 0:22:44.760 don't let negative ims hold you back by faith. You 0:22:44.880 --> 0:22:48.760 have to declare who God says you are. God. If 0:22:48.760 --> 0:22:51.359 you say I'm a giant killer, then I'm going to 0:22:51.440 --> 0:22:54.320 get in agreement and say what you say, I am 0:22:54.359 --> 0:22:57.920 a giant killer God. If you say I'm a prophet 0:22:57.960 --> 0:23:00.960 to speak to the nations, I'm not gonna use my 0:23:01.200 --> 0:23:04.080 I am to tell you I am too young. My 0:23:04.240 --> 0:23:08.240 new I am is, I am well able, I am equipped, 0:23:08.520 --> 0:23:12.280 I am anointed for this assignment. Don't tell God all 0:23:12.320 --> 0:23:15.719 the reasons you can't do it. I am addicted, i 0:23:15.760 --> 0:23:20.040 am brogue, I am limited. I'm too young, too old, 0:23:20.119 --> 0:23:24.359 too short, too tall, all these negative i ams. God 0:23:24.480 --> 0:23:28.000 is saying to us what he said to him. Say not, 0:23:28.240 --> 0:23:32.200 you can't do it. Zip up that negative that's gonna 0:23:32.240 --> 0:23:35.439 keep you from your destiny. God would not have called 0:23:35.480 --> 0:23:37.479 you to do it if you were not well able. 0:23:38.520 --> 0:23:42.399 Verse nine says the Lord reached out and touched Jeremiah's 0:23:42.440 --> 0:23:45.520 mouth and said, I have put my words in you. 0:23:46.480 --> 0:23:49.119 God could have reached out and touched his heart, touched 0:23:49.119 --> 0:23:53.040 his head, but God touched his mouth. He was saying, 0:23:53.040 --> 0:23:56.680 from now on, you're gonna speak my words. What's held 0:23:56.720 --> 0:24:00.520 many people back are these negative i ams. They've been 0:24:00.600 --> 0:24:05.280 speaking against themselves their whole life, devaluing who they are. 0:24:05.960 --> 0:24:11.120 It's pushed down their gifts, kept them from dreams, limited relationships. 0:24:12.080 --> 0:24:14.800 Often we don't realize we're doing it. It's how we 0:24:14.800 --> 0:24:20.000 were raised. We've always been against ourselves. I believe today 0:24:20.560 --> 0:24:24.840 like God did for Jeremiah, He's touching your mouth. He's 0:24:24.880 --> 0:24:28.000 going to help you stop cursing your future. You're going 0:24:28.080 --> 0:24:31.760 to feel a power of strength to not speak defeat 0:24:31.880 --> 0:24:35.480 over your life. When you start to the spirit of 0:24:35.520 --> 0:24:37.960 God is going to rise up and remind you to 0:24:38.080 --> 0:24:41.920 zip it up. Say not that you're too young, Say 0:24:41.960 --> 0:24:45.520 not that you're not qualified. Say not you missed your chance, 0:24:45.960 --> 0:24:49.280 Say not that you'll live addicted. What God has spoken 0:24:49.359 --> 0:24:52.920 over you will override what the enemy has told you. 0:24:52.960 --> 0:24:56.440 No force of darkness can stop what God has purposed 0:24:56.440 --> 0:24:59.479 for you. Now do your part and use that I 0:24:59.520 --> 0:25:03.480 am to declare what God says about you. This is 0:25:03.480 --> 0:25:06.920 what Jeremiah did. He changes I am from I am 0:25:06.960 --> 0:25:10.960 too young to I am victorious. I am an overcomer, 0:25:11.160 --> 0:25:16.680 I am empowered God touched his mouth, said in verse eighteen, Jeremiah, 0:25:17.160 --> 0:25:20.800 I have made you like a strong, fortified city. You 0:25:20.840 --> 0:25:24.680 will stand up against any opposition. They will fight you, 0:25:25.040 --> 0:25:28.400 but they will fail, for I Am with you. When 0:25:28.440 --> 0:25:31.240 you have the right i ams, the most high God 0:25:31.280 --> 0:25:34.560 will show up. People may come against you, but the 0:25:34.640 --> 0:25:39.119 great i Am is backing you up our negative ims, 0:25:39.480 --> 0:25:43.320 keeping you from your destiny. Have you been speaking against 0:25:43.320 --> 0:25:46.800 your future and maybe don't realize it, using one of 0:25:46.800 --> 0:25:51.000 the names of God to declare defeat, to speak mediocrity. 0:25:51.680 --> 0:25:54.880 This is a new day. God has reached out to 0:25:54.880 --> 0:25:58.359 touch your mouth. He's going to help you speak faith 0:25:58.400 --> 0:26:01.919 filled words. You get the right i ams, you'll be 0:26:01.960 --> 0:26:05.080 amazed at how your self image begins to improve. You 0:26:05.160 --> 0:26:07.960 feel good about who you are. You don't live stuck 0:26:08.280 --> 0:26:11.160 thinking you could never get well. Never break the addiction. 0:26:11.800 --> 0:26:15.440 You know that's only temporary. That God is fighting your battles. 0:26:15.720 --> 0:26:19.520 They came against you, but like Jeremiah, they will fail, 0:26:19.800 --> 0:26:23.400 for God is with you. Now, pay attention to what 0:26:23.560 --> 0:26:27.440 follows the i Am. That's what you're inviting into your life. 0:26:27.960 --> 0:26:33.000 No more inviting lack, defeat, struggle. Lets invite some new things. 0:26:33.720 --> 0:26:36.040 Let me help you to get started. Will you say 0:26:36.080 --> 0:26:41.520 this after me. I am strong, I am healthy, I 0:26:41.560 --> 0:26:48.840 am valuable, I am forgiven, I am amazing, I am exceptional. 0:26:49.960 --> 0:26:55.200 I am a masterpiece. I am blessed. I am successful, 0:26:56.200 --> 0:27:01.959 I am young, I am favored, a powerful, I am 0:27:02.080 --> 0:27:07.639 victorious in Jesus' name, Amen and Amen, do you receive 0:27:07.680 --> 0:27:11.879 it today? I'd like to give you an opportunity to 0:27:11.920 --> 0:27:14.840 make Jesus the lord of your life. Would you pray 0:27:14.880 --> 0:27:19.360 with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. 0:27:20.040 --> 0:27:23.720 Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:27:24.440 --> 0:27:27.080 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:27:27.080 --> 0:27:30.280 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:27:30.440 --> 0:27:32.560 on your new walk with the Lord. You can text 0:27:32.560 --> 0:27:35.240 the number on the screen or go to the website. 0:27:35.640 --> 0:27:38.159 But I hope you'll get into a good Bible based 0:27:38.240 --> 0:27:43.119 church and keep God first place. When we face challenges, 0:27:43.280 --> 0:27:45.840 it's easy to feel like God has forgotten about us. 0:27:46.200 --> 0:27:49.000 We don't see anything happening. God's telling us it's not 0:27:49.040 --> 0:27:51.840 going to work out. But God is not called the 0:27:51.880 --> 0:27:54.800 great I was or the great I will be. He's 0:27:54.840 --> 0:27:58.120 called the Great I am. Then my new book he 0:27:58.240 --> 0:28:01.000 is I am you'll just go that God is with 0:28:01.040 --> 0:28:04.199 you in every area of your life. I Am is 0:28:04.280 --> 0:28:07.760 always in the present, not at a later time. God 0:28:07.880 --> 0:28:11.119 is working in your life right now. I Am means 0:28:11.240 --> 0:28:14.080 I am your healer. I am your provider. I AM 0:28:14.119 --> 0:28:18.640 your waymaker. Whether you're facing a challenge or pursuing your dreams, 0:28:18.880 --> 0:28:21.640 stay in faith the Great I Am is right there 0:28:21.680 --> 0:28:22.120 with you. 0:28:23.119 --> 0:28:25.520 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:28:25.520 --> 0:28:28.000 of any amount this month, we would like to send 0:28:28.000 --> 0:28:30.520 you a copy of Joel's book He Is. 0:28:31.000 --> 0:28:31.440 I Am. 0:28:31.800 --> 0:28:35.080 God is for you here and now. Are you in 0:28:35.160 --> 0:28:39.280 need of protection or provision today? Jesus assures us, I 0:28:39.320 --> 0:28:43.040 Am the good Shepherd. Does the path ahead seem uncertain 0:28:43.240 --> 0:28:47.280 or dark? Jesus declares, I AM the Light of the world. 0:28:47.840 --> 0:28:50.840 Do you feel like your career, calling or marriage just 0:28:50.880 --> 0:28:55.840 beyond hope? Jesus promises, I Am the Resurrection and the Life. 0:28:56.440 --> 0:29:00.160 With every I AM statement, you'll discover more about who 0:29:00.240 --> 0:29:02.800 God is and what He has made available for you, 0:29:03.240 --> 0:29:07.680 not someday, but today. Request your copy today and watch 0:29:07.680 --> 0:29:11.800 God's promise come alive. No matter what you face, He 0:29:11.920 --> 0:29:15.280 is here and now for you. Be sure to request 0:29:15.360 --> 0:29:18.280 your copy of He Is I Am God Is for 0:29:18.400 --> 0:29:22.440 you Here and now Today. Visit Joe Roastein dot com 0:29:22.640 --> 0:29:25.680 or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel. 0:29:26.680 --> 0:29:30.200 You're never alone. The Great I Am is behind the scenes, 0:29:30.320 --> 0:29:35.240 making ways, opening doors, turning things in your favor. Victoria 0:29:35.240 --> 0:29:36.840 and I want you to know we love you. We 0:29:36.960 --> 0:29:39.920 pray for you every day. Thanks for your prayer and 0:29:39.960 --> 0:29:43.720 support of the ministry. Your generosity is making a difference 0:29:43.760 --> 0:29:47.360 in people's lives around the world. Special thank you to 0:29:47.400 --> 0:29:50.920 our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly support. If 0:29:50.920 --> 0:29:53.760 you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 0:29:54.080 --> 0:29:57.600 Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 0:29:58.160 --> 0:30:02.400 download our daily podcast, listen on Serious XM, watch our 0:30:02.440 --> 0:30:06.200 YouTube channel and the new Joel Ostein Network streaming on 0:30:06.240 --> 0:30:09.280 television twenty four hours a day. And until we see 0:30:09.320 --> 0:30:12.160 you next time. Made the Lord bless you and keep you. 0:30:12.920 --> 0:30:15.520 Be sure to request your copy of he Is I 0:30:15.720 --> 0:30:19.480 Am God Is for You Here and Now today. Visit 0:30:19.560 --> 0:30:23.280 Joelostein dot com or call eight eight eight five six 0:30:23.360 --> 0:30:27.240 seven Joel. For an additional donation. This month, we are 0:30:27.280 --> 0:30:31.440 offering the IM Collection. It includes a beautiful two piece 0:30:31.480 --> 0:30:35.360 scripture wal Art plus the he is IM book Bundle. 0:30:35.800 --> 0:30:40.400 The Stretched Canvas elegantly features IM and scripture reference John 0:30:40.440 --> 0:30:44.760 fourteen six. You can request these unique resources by calling 0:30:44.920 --> 0:30:48.160 eight eight eight five six seven Joel for logging on 0:30:48.320 --> 0:30:52.760 to joelostein dot com today call or click anytime, twenty 0:30:52.760 --> 0:30:56.560 four hours a day. Yes, be reminded that the power 0:30:56.600 --> 0:31:00.560 of IM is for you, each and every day