The Power of No

0:00:00.400 --> 0:00:02.160 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 0:00:02.240 --> 0:00:05.279 Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 0:00:05.280 --> 0:00:08.240 the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 0:00:08.280 --> 0:00:11.039 be a blessing and share it with a friend, reappreciate 0:00:11.119 --> 0:00:13.800 you and pray for God's very best in your life. 0:00:14.080 --> 0:00:15.920 God bless you. It's great to. 0:00:15.880 --> 0:00:18.520 Be with you today, and I hope you'll stay connected 0:00:18.560 --> 0:00:22.120 with us during the week through our daily podcast, YouTube channel, 0:00:22.200 --> 0:00:25.360 social media, and you can come visit us in person. 0:00:25.640 --> 0:00:27.360 We'd love to have you be a part of one 0:00:27.400 --> 0:00:30.360 of our services. So I like to start with something. 0:00:30.120 --> 0:00:33.440 Funny, and I heard about these three men, a Baptist, 0:00:33.640 --> 0:00:35.520 a Catholic and a Charismatic. 0:00:36.080 --> 0:00:38.160 They died on the same day went to heaven. 0:00:38.560 --> 0:00:41.040 Saint Peter met him at the pearly gates said sorry, guys, 0:00:41.240 --> 0:00:44.080 your rooms are not available yet. He didn't know what 0:00:44.159 --> 0:00:47.080 to do, so he called Satan and asked if he 0:00:47.120 --> 0:00:48.440 would keep them for a little while. 0:00:48.920 --> 0:00:50.400 Satan reluctantly agreed. 0:00:50.920 --> 0:00:53.239 A few hours Satan called back and said, you've got 0:00:53.280 --> 0:00:56.000 to come get these guys, Peter. The Baptist man is 0:00:56.040 --> 0:00:59.880 saving everyone, the Catholic man is forgiving everyone, and the 0:01:00.080 --> 0:01:04.800 charismatic has already raised enough money for air conditioning. Say 0:01:04.800 --> 0:01:07.480 it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I 0:01:07.520 --> 0:01:09.880 am what it says I am. I have what it 0:01:09.920 --> 0:01:12.440 says I have. I can do what it says I 0:01:12.480 --> 0:01:15.639 can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. 0:01:16.120 --> 0:01:20.440 I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:01:20.800 --> 0:01:24.399 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:01:24.440 --> 0:01:28.160 bless you. I want to talk to you today about 0:01:28.200 --> 0:01:32.320 the power of no. To reach our potential, we have 0:01:32.400 --> 0:01:36.399 to say yes. Yes to our dreams, yes to God's promises, 0:01:36.920 --> 0:01:41.039 yes to the right people. Yes is incredibly important, but 0:01:41.240 --> 0:01:45.080 yes alone is not enough. What you say no to 0:01:45.640 --> 0:01:48.360 has as much impact as what you say yes to, 0:01:49.360 --> 0:01:53.560 and yes it's typically easier. It's the path of least resistance. 0:01:54.160 --> 0:01:56.720 But if you don't learn to say no, you will 0:01:56.720 --> 0:01:57.440 never get to. 0:01:57.440 --> 0:02:01.240 Your greater yeses. There's power in no. 0:02:01.240 --> 0:02:06.559 No to compromising, no to people, pleasing, no to distractions. 0:02:07.400 --> 0:02:09.280 No takes discipline. 0:02:09.120 --> 0:02:12.000 To not let our emotions rule us. It's not something 0:02:12.000 --> 0:02:15.800 that comes naturally. Our flesh wants to have its own way, 0:02:15.840 --> 0:02:18.120 and most of us are good at saying yes. 0:02:19.000 --> 0:02:21.440 Do you want to stay up late and watch TV. Yes, 0:02:21.480 --> 0:02:23.920 that's fun. Do you want to go to the mall 0:02:24.000 --> 0:02:25.959 and not do your homework? Yes, let's go. 0:02:26.680 --> 0:02:29.520 Do you want that third ball a Bluebell chocolate chip 0:02:29.560 --> 0:02:30.200 ice cream? 0:02:30.320 --> 0:02:31.880 Yes, you don't even need to ask. 0:02:32.880 --> 0:02:36.600 There's a battle taking place between our flesh and our spirit. 0:02:37.400 --> 0:02:40.520 The flesh wants to take the easy way out, wants 0:02:40.560 --> 0:02:46.720 instant gratification. Proverbs says a person without self control is 0:02:46.800 --> 0:02:47.640 like a city. 0:02:47.520 --> 0:02:48.880 With broken down walls. 0:02:49.960 --> 0:02:53.080 Those days when the walls were down around the city, 0:02:53.280 --> 0:02:56.360 the enemy could easily come in and do whatever they wanted. 0:02:57.200 --> 0:02:58.680 If you say yes all the. 0:02:58.720 --> 0:03:02.760 Time and there's no self controlled self discipline, then your 0:03:02.800 --> 0:03:07.919 walls are down. There's no defense, no protection, and sometimes 0:03:08.120 --> 0:03:12.000 we're our worst enemy. We're saying yes to offense, they 0:03:12.000 --> 0:03:16.040 did me wrong, Yes to compromise, friends, pulling. 0:03:15.840 --> 0:03:20.359 This down, Yes to mediocrity, showing up late to work. 0:03:20.840 --> 0:03:22.720 You can have all the talent. 0:03:22.440 --> 0:03:25.360 In the world and all the opportunity, but if you 0:03:25.360 --> 0:03:29.040 don't have self control, the discipline to say no to 0:03:29.200 --> 0:03:31.000 things you know you shouldn't do. 0:03:31.560 --> 0:03:34.360 Then you won't reach your destiny. You may want to 0:03:34.360 --> 0:03:35.640 tell somebody off. 0:03:35.680 --> 0:03:39.800 The clerk is rude, and the neighbor offends you. Your flesh, 0:03:40.080 --> 0:03:43.400 that's our lower nature, will say, let them have it. 0:03:43.960 --> 0:03:48.000 Be rude back to them. The easy thing is to agree, yes, 0:03:48.120 --> 0:03:51.960 that sounds good. Lord, thank you for that idea. But 0:03:52.120 --> 0:03:55.560 every idea is not from God. You have to discern 0:03:55.720 --> 0:03:59.680 between the still small voice of the spirit and the loud, 0:03:59.760 --> 0:04:04.000 aimry voice of the flesh. Be still, get quiet and 0:04:04.080 --> 0:04:07.280 listen to what God is saying. Don't let the flesh 0:04:07.480 --> 0:04:12.280 your carnal desires dictate your life. You're in control of 0:04:12.320 --> 0:04:16.040 your yeses and your nose. It's easy to say, yes, 0:04:16.080 --> 0:04:18.200 I'm gonna get upset, Yes I'm gonna pay them back. 0:04:18.960 --> 0:04:23.040 Try a different approach. Learn the power of no. 0:04:23.040 --> 0:04:26.320 No to arguing and having to have your way. No 0:04:26.480 --> 0:04:29.960 to watching things that are poisoning your spirit. No to 0:04:30.080 --> 0:04:35.200 pure pressure letting people talk you into compromising. Every no 0:04:35.880 --> 0:04:39.159 is leading to a better yes. The nose are not 0:04:39.240 --> 0:04:42.599 an option, They are necessary for you to reach your destiny. 0:04:43.720 --> 0:04:46.800 Moses was born into a Hebrew family, but he. 0:04:46.800 --> 0:04:50.680 Was raised by the pharaoh's daughter, an Egyptian princes. He 0:04:50.720 --> 0:04:54.400 grew up in the palace with prestige and influence, but 0:04:54.480 --> 0:04:57.200 as a young man he saw how the Egyptians were 0:04:57.200 --> 0:05:01.200 oppressing the Hebrews, had them in slavery and mistreating them. 0:05:02.000 --> 0:05:04.320 Something rose up on the inside. 0:05:04.400 --> 0:05:07.760 He knew that wasn't right, and the scripture says he 0:05:07.839 --> 0:05:11.760 refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, but 0:05:11.920 --> 0:05:14.839 instead he chose to stand with the people of God. 0:05:15.400 --> 0:05:19.400 Here he had it made, wealth, influence, and easy life. 0:05:20.040 --> 0:05:23.599 Thoughts were telling him, don't rock the boat, Moses, but 0:05:23.680 --> 0:05:26.640 he dared to say no. I'm not taking the easy 0:05:26.640 --> 0:05:29.120 way out. I'm not gonna sit back and watch my 0:05:29.200 --> 0:05:32.120 family suffer and compromise with these people. 0:05:32.920 --> 0:05:35.560 He refused to be called by their name. Look at 0:05:35.560 --> 0:05:38.040 that baldness. Wasn't easy. 0:05:38.520 --> 0:05:41.360 But if you're going to reach the fullness of your destiny, 0:05:41.880 --> 0:05:42.479 there will. 0:05:42.320 --> 0:05:43.280 Be these times. 0:05:43.400 --> 0:05:46.800 You have to put your foot down and refuse things 0:05:46.920 --> 0:05:51.160 that are less than God's best. Refuse the addictions that 0:05:51.200 --> 0:05:54.839 have hindered your family. Refuse to be cynical like those 0:05:54.880 --> 0:05:59.440 around you. Refuse the offense, the unforgiveness that is trying 0:05:59.480 --> 0:06:03.240 to poison your life. Had Moses not said no as 0:06:03.279 --> 0:06:05.839 a young man, he would have never seen. 0:06:05.680 --> 0:06:09.520 A bigger yes. Had he stayed in the palace where 0:06:09.520 --> 0:06:13.560 it was comfortable, thought things are good here. Good can 0:06:13.600 --> 0:06:15.080 be the enemy of the best. 0:06:16.120 --> 0:06:19.680 Without that, no, Moses would have never brought the Israelites 0:06:19.680 --> 0:06:23.120 out of slavery, never seen the red sea part the 0:06:23.279 --> 0:06:27.240 enemies drown and the water that No may be difficult, 0:06:27.640 --> 0:06:30.599 but it's leading to a yes much greater than you 0:06:30.600 --> 0:06:35.240 can imagine. The scripture says, no discipline at the time 0:06:35.520 --> 0:06:39.279 is pleasant, but later on you will see a reward. 0:06:40.040 --> 0:06:43.599 We focus too much on right now. It's hard to 0:06:43.640 --> 0:06:46.200 say no to this, friend, Joel. This is dragging me down. 0:06:46.400 --> 0:06:50.359 I'm comfortable. You're right where Moses was. Are you going 0:06:50.400 --> 0:06:54.599 to obey the flesh or the spirit? God asked for 0:06:54.680 --> 0:06:57.360 the nose not to make your life harder. 0:06:57.800 --> 0:06:58.960 It's because he has. 0:06:58.880 --> 0:07:03.320 Bigger yeses, greater things in your future. But the no 0:07:03.800 --> 0:07:07.039 is required to get to the yes. Well, it's hard 0:07:07.080 --> 0:07:10.040 to get up early in exercise. It's hard to not 0:07:10.200 --> 0:07:13.080 eat things that are making me unhealthy. It's hard to 0:07:13.120 --> 0:07:16.120 control my mouth, Joel, it's hard to not watch. 0:07:15.920 --> 0:07:18.040 Things that are poisoning me. Here's the key. 0:07:18.560 --> 0:07:22.600 The pain of discipline is less than the pain of regret. 0:07:23.480 --> 0:07:26.600 The pain of discipline weighs ounces. 0:07:26.240 --> 0:07:30.640 The pain of regret wastes Tonus. It's gonna take courage, 0:07:30.640 --> 0:07:32.560 and I know doing what you don't feel like. 0:07:33.200 --> 0:07:36.840 But that pain is much less than looking back and 0:07:36.880 --> 0:07:40.040 realizing I was supposed to deliver the Israelites. 0:07:40.120 --> 0:07:42.840 So to speak, God had these big yeses. 0:07:43.320 --> 0:07:46.080 I could have been at new levels, more blessed, more happy. 0:07:46.720 --> 0:07:49.800 But I didn't refuse what was limiting me. I didn't 0:07:49.840 --> 0:07:50.960 learn the power of no. 0:07:51.840 --> 0:07:54.520 We focus on the pain right now. We need to 0:07:54.560 --> 0:07:59.800 think more about later on. Moses was uncomfortable leaving the palace, 0:08:00.280 --> 0:08:03.880 but later on, when he was watching the Israelites march 0:08:03.920 --> 0:08:08.440 out of Egypt, two million people free after ten generations 0:08:08.440 --> 0:08:11.520 of slavery, not one part of him said. 0:08:11.840 --> 0:08:14.400 I wish I hadn't said no back then. I wish 0:08:14.480 --> 0:08:15.800 I'd taken the easy way out. 0:08:16.560 --> 0:08:20.840 You will never see your greater yeses without saying no 0:08:20.960 --> 0:08:24.800 to certain things. They may be good Moses living in 0:08:24.840 --> 0:08:26.320 the palace, nothing wrong with that. 0:08:26.920 --> 0:08:29.560 But he since there was more in him that he 0:08:29.720 --> 0:08:31.840 was destined to deliver God's people. 0:08:32.559 --> 0:08:36.680 If you'll be uncomfortable now, later on, you'll look back 0:08:36.920 --> 0:08:39.520 and think it was well worth it. When you see 0:08:39.520 --> 0:08:42.120 where God takes you, you'll be glad you said no. 0:08:43.520 --> 0:08:46.920 Years ago, I was invited to meet with some executives 0:08:46.920 --> 0:08:49.839 at Sirius XM. They asked me to do a one 0:08:49.880 --> 0:08:52.920 hour program once a week that they could run on 0:08:52.920 --> 0:08:53.800 one of their channels. 0:08:54.320 --> 0:08:55.400 I was very honored. 0:08:55.760 --> 0:08:58.640 It was a great opportunity, but I didn't feel right 0:08:58.679 --> 0:09:03.000 about it. Done anything on radio and seem like God 0:09:03.040 --> 0:09:06.320 opened this door, but for some reason I didn't have peace. 0:09:06.360 --> 0:09:09.280 And I told them how grateful I was, but I 0:09:09.280 --> 0:09:10.200 would have to pass. 0:09:11.000 --> 0:09:13.400 Two years later they asked for another meeting. 0:09:13.720 --> 0:09:16.600 The executive said, you didn't want to do the one 0:09:16.640 --> 0:09:20.040 hour program once a week, what if we gave you your 0:09:19.960 --> 0:09:23.720 own channel twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. 0:09:24.240 --> 0:09:25.520 I said, now that sounds good. 0:09:26.600 --> 0:09:30.200 Had I not said no to the good thing, I've 0:09:30.200 --> 0:09:33.880 never seen the bigger? Yes, Trust what you feel in 0:09:33.920 --> 0:09:36.880 your spirit. What God is going to do in your 0:09:36.960 --> 0:09:39.400 life is bigger than what you have planned. 0:09:39.960 --> 0:09:43.920 He'll speak to you in the still small voice and uneasiness. 0:09:43.960 --> 0:09:47.040 This isn't right, may not make sense, but God knows 0:09:47.080 --> 0:09:47.720 what he's doing. 0:09:48.040 --> 0:09:49.599 He can see the big. 0:09:49.360 --> 0:09:53.319 Picture, and sometimes you have to say no to what 0:09:53.360 --> 0:09:57.720 you're comfortable with. It's not bad, you're not doing anything wrong, 0:09:58.200 --> 0:10:01.360 but God's calling you higher. He's about to bring it 0:10:01.400 --> 0:10:04.600 into a greater Yes, but he's asking you to come 0:10:04.640 --> 0:10:08.080 up higher. To say no to watching so much on 0:10:08.120 --> 0:10:12.439 your TV, your phone, to say no to comparing and 0:10:12.480 --> 0:10:17.400 competing with your friends and always trying to keep up outperform, 0:10:17.880 --> 0:10:22.080 get off that treadmill that's not going anywhere, Or to 0:10:22.160 --> 0:10:27.080 say no to being against yourself, feeling inferior, not good enough, 0:10:27.360 --> 0:10:31.400 not attractive. You have to do like Moses, put your 0:10:31.440 --> 0:10:35.480 foot down and refuse to live that way. Don't let 0:10:35.559 --> 0:10:40.480 the enemy steal your destiny by seeing yourself the wrong way. 0:10:40.880 --> 0:10:43.920 Are there things that you need to say no to today? 0:10:44.640 --> 0:10:48.480 You feel that conviction. God's speaking to you. You keep 0:10:48.480 --> 0:10:51.839 putting it off. I'll do it later. I don't want 0:10:51.840 --> 0:10:55.840 to be uncomfortable. That's going to be hard. The longer 0:10:55.920 --> 0:10:59.520 you wait, the harder it's going to be. There's a 0:10:59.559 --> 0:11:03.000 window of grace to do what you know you're supposed 0:11:03.040 --> 0:11:06.040 to do. God is going to breathe on your life 0:11:06.480 --> 0:11:09.080 and give you the ability to do hard things. 0:11:10.160 --> 0:11:13.559 You are in one of those windows. Now. You wouldn't 0:11:13.600 --> 0:11:17.000 be hearing this if you weren't well able. Don't miss 0:11:17.040 --> 0:11:17.640 your moment. 0:11:18.640 --> 0:11:21.240 What you say no to is going to open the 0:11:21.280 --> 0:11:25.320 door to a yes that you've never imagined. This is 0:11:25.320 --> 0:11:28.840 what Joseph did. His brothers were jealous and sold him 0:11:28.840 --> 0:11:32.439 into slavery. In Egypt, he's working for a man named Potterphar, 0:11:32.559 --> 0:11:37.160 running his household well. Potterphar's wife liked it Joseph. She 0:11:37.280 --> 0:11:40.880 tried to seduce him. When Potterphar wasn't home, she'd come 0:11:40.920 --> 0:11:44.400 around and make advances, let him know that she was interested. 0:11:45.160 --> 0:11:48.600 But Joseph was a man of great character and integrity. 0:11:49.200 --> 0:11:52.600 When God has something big in your future, you'll. 0:11:52.440 --> 0:11:54.000 Be tested along the way. 0:11:54.920 --> 0:12:00.200 Can you handle more influence, more favor, more resources. This 0:12:00.240 --> 0:12:03.319 is where many people get stuck. They're not good at 0:12:03.360 --> 0:12:07.520 saying no. They want the pleasure of the moment. They 0:12:07.559 --> 0:12:12.600 give into their fleshly desires, not realizing that's keeping them 0:12:12.760 --> 0:12:14.120 from the much greater. 0:12:13.960 --> 0:12:15.840 Pleasure that God has in stores. 0:12:17.000 --> 0:12:20.320 Joseph was alone in the house. Potiphar was gone, just 0:12:20.600 --> 0:12:21.720 him and this wife. 0:12:21.800 --> 0:12:26.640 This after him, nobody would have known. Joseph was already disappointed. 0:12:27.160 --> 0:12:30.120 Life had thrown him a bad break, Held against his 0:12:30.200 --> 0:12:32.160 will in a foreign land. 0:12:32.400 --> 0:12:35.559 What does he have to lose? But Joseph understood. 0:12:35.960 --> 0:12:39.280 We have to win battles in private before God will 0:12:39.320 --> 0:12:42.800 bless us in public. What you do when no one 0:12:42.920 --> 0:12:47.240 is watching will determine how much God can entrust you with. 0:12:48.040 --> 0:12:51.240 Joseph knew that people may not be watching, but God 0:12:51.320 --> 0:12:55.760 is watching. He controls the universe. Promotion doesn't come from people, 0:12:55.920 --> 0:13:01.199 he comes from the Lord. Paul said to Timothy from temptation, 0:13:02.040 --> 0:13:04.800 don't hang around and think that you can withstand it. 0:13:05.320 --> 0:13:06.800 I'm strong, Joel, I'm not. 0:13:06.760 --> 0:13:09.920 Gonna give in. The spirit is willing, but the flesh 0:13:09.960 --> 0:13:14.520 is weak. If you're married and someone's interested in you, 0:13:14.640 --> 0:13:18.000 stay away from them. You may work with them, but 0:13:18.160 --> 0:13:20.719 do what you can to keep your distance. If they 0:13:20.760 --> 0:13:24.000 take the elevator, you take the stairs. If they go 0:13:24.040 --> 0:13:26.839 out the front door, you got the back. If they 0:13:26.840 --> 0:13:29.040 come in at eight, you come in at some forty five. 0:13:30.160 --> 0:13:33.520 Don't make it harder than it has to be. The 0:13:33.559 --> 0:13:37.720 scripture says be careful when you think you stand, lest 0:13:37.760 --> 0:13:41.160 you fall. That means don't play with fire or you're 0:13:41.160 --> 0:13:41.920 gonna get burned. 0:13:42.760 --> 0:13:45.040 Stay out of the kitchen or you're gonna eat the doughnut. 0:13:45.920 --> 0:13:47.600 Don't go to the barber shop, or you're gonna get 0:13:47.600 --> 0:13:52.679 a haircut. It says, to run from temptation that's aggressive. 0:13:53.080 --> 0:13:57.440 Could have said, walk, jog, move quickly. You have to 0:13:57.480 --> 0:13:58.480 be on the offensive. 0:13:58.960 --> 0:14:01.960 Well, Joel, I know these friends aren't making good decisions. 0:14:02.400 --> 0:14:05.520 They give in to temptation. But I'm smarter than that. 0:14:06.000 --> 0:14:08.000 I'm not gonna do it first. 0:14:08.000 --> 0:14:12.960 Corinthian says, bad company corrupts good character. Now I don't 0:14:13.040 --> 0:14:16.160 doubt that you're good, but you're good is not gonna 0:14:16.200 --> 0:14:18.920 rub off on them. They're bad is going to rub 0:14:18.960 --> 0:14:23.239 off on you, says in Psalms one. Don't sit inactive 0:14:23.720 --> 0:14:27.400 in the path of sinners. Don't hang around people that 0:14:27.480 --> 0:14:30.280 don't have what you want. You're going to be like them. 0:14:31.240 --> 0:14:36.120 Are you sitting inactive with people that compromise, gossip, no integrity. 0:14:36.480 --> 0:14:39.040 That's got rub off on you. You need to run 0:14:39.160 --> 0:14:44.240 from that temptation. Quit making it harder. It's difficult enough 0:14:44.560 --> 0:14:46.600 to deal with things we have no control over. 0:14:47.320 --> 0:14:50.280 When Potterphar's wife comes, so to speak. We can't stop that. 0:14:50.920 --> 0:14:54.720 When things randomly pop up on your computer, perhaps you 0:14:54.720 --> 0:14:56.800 were born into a family of dysfunction. 0:14:57.680 --> 0:15:00.520 None of that is our choice. We have the grace 0:15:00.560 --> 0:15:01.320 to resist. 0:15:01.760 --> 0:15:06.320 But when you're putting yourself in environments of compromise and temptation. 0:15:06.960 --> 0:15:10.240 People that don't honor God, you make it more difficult. 0:15:10.880 --> 0:15:14.040 While all the gods party on my ball team, they 0:15:14.040 --> 0:15:16.040 all go out afterwards and mess around. 0:15:16.240 --> 0:15:19.120 Find some new friends, find a new team to play on. 0:15:19.760 --> 0:15:23.640 Your destiny is too important, the calling on your life 0:15:23.680 --> 0:15:28.000 too significant. What God has assigned you to do can 0:15:28.080 --> 0:15:30.800 impact your family for generations to come. 0:15:31.640 --> 0:15:33.880 You have to learn to say no, to live. 0:15:33.760 --> 0:15:38.360 Holy with integrity, doing the right thing when no one 0:15:38.440 --> 0:15:42.160 is watching. The people you spend time with need to 0:15:42.160 --> 0:15:45.120 push you up and not drag you down. And I 0:15:45.200 --> 0:15:47.400 know we need to be lights and help those that 0:15:47.440 --> 0:15:50.360 are struggling, but you don't need to be around that 0:15:50.520 --> 0:15:55.240 on an ongoing basis. Don't sit inactive with people that 0:15:55.280 --> 0:15:56.640 are bringing out the worst in you. 0:15:57.400 --> 0:16:01.240 Stay in healthy environments. You position yourself. 0:16:01.840 --> 0:16:04.800 Who you choose to spend time with will make you 0:16:05.040 --> 0:16:08.080 or break You heard about this lady that was on 0:16:08.160 --> 0:16:11.200 a diet and she was doing so good. She used 0:16:11.240 --> 0:16:13.400 to go to this bakery all the time on the 0:16:13.440 --> 0:16:16.840 way to work and buy desserts. She was so determined 0:16:17.080 --> 0:16:20.200 she started driving another way so she wouldn't have to 0:16:20.240 --> 0:16:22.360 pass by it. She didn't want to be tempted to 0:16:22.400 --> 0:16:25.800 pull in. One day, the road was closed, she had 0:16:25.800 --> 0:16:29.040 to go the old way, and she prayed, God, help 0:16:29.120 --> 0:16:32.120 me to resist the temptation to stop, help me to 0:16:32.160 --> 0:16:35.840 stand strong. The closer she got, the weaker she felt 0:16:36.400 --> 0:16:37.960 she could taste those desserts. 0:16:38.520 --> 0:16:39.840 She said, God, I'll make a deal. 0:16:40.240 --> 0:16:43.320 If there's not a parking space right up front, I 0:16:43.360 --> 0:16:46.600 won't pull in. A few minutes later she came home 0:16:46.640 --> 0:16:50.120 with a dozen desserts. She told her husband, I couldn't 0:16:50.160 --> 0:16:52.560 help it. On the eighth time around the block, there 0:16:52.600 --> 0:16:55.880 was a front row spot. Do yourself a favor. Run 0:16:55.920 --> 0:17:00.800 from temptation, stay away from people and thief means that 0:17:00.920 --> 0:17:03.680 you know are going to pull you down. One day, 0:17:03.960 --> 0:17:07.080 Potterphar's wife came up to Joseph and grabbed him, said 0:17:07.119 --> 0:17:09.640 come with me, and she's had her hands on him, 0:17:09.680 --> 0:17:13.879 pulling at him. But the scripture says Joseph tore himself away, 0:17:14.760 --> 0:17:17.280 talking about integrity, discipline. 0:17:17.640 --> 0:17:21.240 He had plenty of excuses. She was the aggressor, was 0:17:21.280 --> 0:17:25.639 her idea. But Joseph knew the power of no. He 0:17:25.720 --> 0:17:26.920 knew if he said. 0:17:26.800 --> 0:17:30.639 Yes to compromise, yes to be an unfaithful, he would 0:17:30.680 --> 0:17:35.160 never see the greater yeses He wasn't thinking about right then, 0:17:35.560 --> 0:17:36.440 he was thinking. 0:17:36.160 --> 0:17:40.360 About later on. How was this decision going to impact 0:17:40.400 --> 0:17:41.000 my future. 0:17:41.680 --> 0:17:45.200 Don't let short term pleasure keep you from a long 0:17:45.320 --> 0:17:48.280 term blessing. That's what he saw. Did you remember in 0:17:48.320 --> 0:17:51.439 the scripture? He'd been out hunting all day long and 0:17:51.800 --> 0:17:56.520 hadn't caught anything. Came back so hungry, so famished. He 0:17:56.640 --> 0:18:00.240 smelled his brother's pot of stew. Jacob had just took 0:18:00.280 --> 0:18:03.159 this great meal. He said, let me have some of 0:18:03.160 --> 0:18:07.199 your stew. Jacob, I'm starving. Jacob said, I'll give it 0:18:07.240 --> 0:18:11.000 to you if you'll give me your birthright. Well, his 0:18:11.080 --> 0:18:15.840 birthright was his inheritance. Esau was the firstborn son. The 0:18:15.880 --> 0:18:17.919 firstborn got a much bigger portion. 0:18:18.920 --> 0:18:22.640 Esau thought, man, I'm so hungry. I can't take this anymore. 0:18:23.040 --> 0:18:27.760 He let his emotions rule instead of him ruling his emotions. 0:18:28.200 --> 0:18:31.200 He gave away his birthright for a pot of stew. 0:18:32.200 --> 0:18:36.920 Later on, he regretted it greatly. He got short term pleasure, 0:18:37.600 --> 0:18:39.560 but it cost him a lifetime blessing. 0:18:40.080 --> 0:18:40.800 Don't let that be. 0:18:40.920 --> 0:18:45.360 You learn to say no, to rule over your emotions 0:18:46.119 --> 0:18:49.360 when Potterpher's wife saw that Joseph wasn't going to give in. 0:18:49.800 --> 0:18:53.360 She started screaming and saying that Joseph tried to harm her, 0:18:53.760 --> 0:18:57.119 falsely accused him. He was put in prison for something 0:18:57.119 --> 0:19:01.800 he didn't do. Another setback. Joseph could have been bitter, 0:19:02.320 --> 0:19:05.560 but he said no, could have slacked off, but he 0:19:05.640 --> 0:19:08.240 kept being his best. He's put in charge of the 0:19:08.280 --> 0:19:12.080 whole prison. The Baker, one of his cell mates, was 0:19:12.119 --> 0:19:13.120 released from prison. 0:19:13.680 --> 0:19:16.399 He promised to help Joseph, but he forgot about it. 0:19:17.119 --> 0:19:20.399 Joseph could have gotten sour, that's the last straw, but 0:19:20.480 --> 0:19:23.879 he said no. If you're going to fulfill your destiny, 0:19:24.240 --> 0:19:27.840 you have to get good at saying no. It's easy 0:19:27.880 --> 0:19:32.280 to say yes, let our feelings rule live bitter pay 0:19:32.280 --> 0:19:35.840 people back, but yes won't get you to your destiny. 0:19:36.600 --> 0:19:41.280 And no takes discipline, takes self control. But those no's are. 0:19:41.200 --> 0:19:45.840 Always leading to bigger yeses. And I know it's difficult to. 0:19:45.800 --> 0:19:49.600 Bite our tongue, walk away from Potterphar's wife, to have 0:19:49.680 --> 0:19:54.600 integrity when no one's watching, But that pain of discipline. 0:19:54.440 --> 0:19:56.080 Is going to bring a great reward. 0:19:56.880 --> 0:20:00.320 You are passing the test, you are proving to God, God, 0:20:00.480 --> 0:20:01.840 that he can trust you with. 0:20:01.800 --> 0:20:04.159 Greater favor, greater influence. 0:20:05.040 --> 0:20:08.240 But many people are conditioned to say yes and just 0:20:08.320 --> 0:20:12.520 do what they feel. God is looking for Joseph's people 0:20:12.520 --> 0:20:15.400 that don't take the high road, do the hard thing, 0:20:16.160 --> 0:20:20.520 run from temptation. Friend of mine has struggled with alcohol 0:20:20.800 --> 0:20:22.879 as long as I've known him. He got to the 0:20:22.880 --> 0:20:24.800 place where he accepted it, thought this is just. 0:20:24.800 --> 0:20:28.119 Who I am. About two months ago. He woke up 0:20:28.160 --> 0:20:29.240 one morning with. 0:20:29.240 --> 0:20:32.879 This new passion, a resolve that he had never felt. 0:20:33.280 --> 0:20:35.640 He didn't really know where it came from, but he said, 0:20:35.680 --> 0:20:39.040 I made up my mind that I was done with alcohol, 0:20:39.600 --> 0:20:42.960 that it wasn't going to keep destroying my life. He 0:20:43.000 --> 0:20:46.080 had said yes for years, but that day he rose 0:20:46.200 --> 0:20:49.800 up and said no. That was a turning point. He 0:20:49.880 --> 0:20:53.719 has not touched alcohol since then. He's like a different person. 0:20:54.440 --> 0:20:58.000 He never dreamed he could be free, feel good, not 0:20:58.080 --> 0:21:02.320 be hung over all the time, healthy and excited. And 0:21:02.400 --> 0:21:04.720 I know that wasn't normal. That was the hand of God, 0:21:05.200 --> 0:21:09.359 supernatural deliverance. But it all started when he made the 0:21:09.400 --> 0:21:13.240 decision to say no. Maybe there's things you've been saying 0:21:13.320 --> 0:21:17.400 yes to for years, things you've gotten comfortable, Joel, I've 0:21:17.440 --> 0:21:21.040 always struggled with this addictioner always had a problem watching 0:21:21.160 --> 0:21:24.560 things I shouldn't or being unfaithful, jealous, complaining. 0:21:25.480 --> 0:21:28.000 Let this be the day you rise up. 0:21:28.119 --> 0:21:32.359 Like my friend and say no, no to compromise, no 0:21:32.480 --> 0:21:36.359 to jealousy, no to temptation. When you do your part, 0:21:36.760 --> 0:21:39.640 God will step in and do his part. There will 0:21:39.640 --> 0:21:43.080 be a supernatural grace to break the bad habits, to 0:21:43.119 --> 0:21:45.720 bring down strongholds that have held you back. 0:21:46.200 --> 0:21:48.639 And it may be a little painful. You got to 0:21:48.680 --> 0:21:50.639 dig down deep and be disciplined. 0:21:51.320 --> 0:21:54.040 Later on, you're going to see the hand of God 0:21:54.200 --> 0:21:57.119 take you where you've never dreamed. He's gonna give you 0:21:57.160 --> 0:22:00.200 the favor, the courage to do what you can and 0:22:00.280 --> 0:22:04.000 do before so. Another man in the scripture named Gehzi. 0:22:04.640 --> 0:22:08.280 He was Elisha's assistant. One time Elisha prayed for a 0:22:08.320 --> 0:22:11.320 man with leprosy and he was healed. The man was 0:22:11.359 --> 0:22:15.000 so excited and so grateful he asked Elisha if he 0:22:15.040 --> 0:22:17.600 could pay him or give him some kind of gift, 0:22:17.640 --> 0:22:20.600 and Elisia said, no, it was God who healed you, 0:22:20.720 --> 0:22:23.760 not me. You don't ever have to pay for prayer. 0:22:24.400 --> 0:22:27.080 Think that you can buy a miracle. The blessing of 0:22:27.080 --> 0:22:28.320 God is always free. 0:22:28.880 --> 0:22:31.640 But this man was determined, come on, Elisha, you've done. 0:22:31.480 --> 0:22:34.040 So much for me, Let me at least give you 0:22:34.119 --> 0:22:38.320 some silver or gold. Again, Elisha refused, wouldn't take anything. Well, 0:22:38.359 --> 0:22:40.919 the man and his party left and headed back toward 0:22:40.960 --> 0:22:46.399 their city. Well, Gehaese, the assistant, overheard the conversation. Something 0:22:46.440 --> 0:22:49.080 whispered to him, you should go get that treasure. 0:22:49.680 --> 0:22:51.960 This could be some easy money. Nobody will know. 0:22:52.760 --> 0:22:57.160 Temptation comes to us all to be dishonest, to be unfaithful, 0:22:57.280 --> 0:23:01.240 to be offended. The flesh wants to say, yes, that 0:23:01.280 --> 0:23:04.640 feels good, I like it. But the scripture says, if 0:23:04.680 --> 0:23:06.360 you live by the dictates of the. 0:23:06.359 --> 0:23:08.000 Flesh, you will die. 0:23:08.520 --> 0:23:12.600 That means if you let ordinary impulses rule, you won't 0:23:12.600 --> 0:23:16.639 reach your destiny. When gahes I felt that desire to 0:23:16.720 --> 0:23:21.800 be dishonest, that impulse to go secretly take those funds, he. 0:23:21.680 --> 0:23:24.520 Could have simply said, no, I'm not going there, that's 0:23:24.560 --> 0:23:27.120 not who I am. But he let his guard down, 0:23:27.600 --> 0:23:27.960 let his. 0:23:27.960 --> 0:23:31.720 Emotions rule, and he snuck away. When Elisha wasn't watching. 0:23:32.440 --> 0:23:35.280 Caught up with them, they wondered what was going on. 0:23:35.400 --> 0:23:39.400 Gayes I said, we've had some unexpected guests join us. 0:23:39.920 --> 0:23:42.520 Elisha was wondering if you'd still give us that silver 0:23:42.600 --> 0:23:46.080 and gold. They said, of course and loaded him down 0:23:46.080 --> 0:23:46.960 with all the treasure. 0:23:47.640 --> 0:23:51.200 He made it back to Elisha, acting normal, like everything 0:23:51.320 --> 0:23:56.320 was fine. Elisa said, Geezon, where have you been? He said, nowhere, 0:23:56.720 --> 0:24:01.280 just right here. The scripture says, immediately his skin was 0:24:01.320 --> 0:24:06.040 filled with leprosy. What we do in private matters to God. 0:24:06.920 --> 0:24:09.440 Elijah didn't see him take the funds. He wasn't there, 0:24:09.840 --> 0:24:11.040 but God sees everything. 0:24:11.800 --> 0:24:13.120 There were some big. 0:24:12.920 --> 0:24:16.639 Yeses in Gehazi's future, but he didn't say no to 0:24:16.680 --> 0:24:19.879 the little things. God would have given him far more 0:24:19.920 --> 0:24:24.320 treasure than he stole. That was a test, Gehaz, I, 0:24:24.400 --> 0:24:27.000 can I trust you to say and no to being 0:24:27.080 --> 0:24:32.919 dishonest Joseph know to being unfaithful Moses, No to impressing 0:24:32.920 --> 0:24:37.200 my people, David Know to getting revenge on King Saul, 0:24:37.640 --> 0:24:41.720 Nehemiah know to getting distracted and fighting with the critics. 0:24:42.400 --> 0:24:44.959 They all said no and went on the greater yeses. 0:24:45.600 --> 0:24:48.520 Not Gaehz I. He didn't learn the power of. 0:24:48.480 --> 0:24:52.359 No, how to not let his emotions rule him. You 0:24:52.480 --> 0:24:58.040 never hear anymore about Gehazi. What's really sad is Elisha 0:24:58.080 --> 0:25:01.679 was Elijah's assistant. You remember he got a double portion 0:25:01.840 --> 0:25:06.240 of Elijah's annoying Well, Gahezaut was Elisha's assistant. He was 0:25:06.320 --> 0:25:09.240 next in line. He should have had four times the 0:25:09.280 --> 0:25:13.200 anointing of Elijah, but he didn't pass the test. Don't 0:25:13.280 --> 0:25:16.280 let that be you learn to say no to compromise, 0:25:16.960 --> 0:25:20.680 No to wrong friends, No the distractions that are wasting 0:25:20.720 --> 0:25:21.200 your time. 0:25:21.760 --> 0:25:24.720 Life's short. We're not gonna be here forever. 0:25:25.359 --> 0:25:28.520 It's easy to get stuck in a rut, a negative sockle, 0:25:28.640 --> 0:25:30.200 like my friend with that addiction. 0:25:30.800 --> 0:25:32.879 It's time to break those patterns. 0:25:33.680 --> 0:25:37.840 Examine your life, how you spend your time, your friendships, 0:25:37.880 --> 0:25:38.760 your environments. 0:25:39.400 --> 0:25:41.000 God is calling us up higher. 0:25:41.840 --> 0:25:46.159 He has greater levels, but the greater requires greater discipline, 0:25:46.640 --> 0:25:47.760 greater consecration. 0:25:48.840 --> 0:25:50.679 What do you need to say no to today? 0:25:51.000 --> 0:25:54.400 May not be some great sin, but something that's limiting 0:25:54.440 --> 0:25:56.680 your growth, causing you not to. 0:25:56.680 --> 0:25:58.000 Blossom like you should. 0:25:58.840 --> 0:26:02.920 Are your walls down, there's no self control. Let this 0:26:03.040 --> 0:26:05.480 be the day that you rise up and say no. 0:26:06.359 --> 0:26:09.880 You're not gonna let the natural impulses dictate your life. 0:26:10.119 --> 0:26:11.640 You're gonna rule your emotions. 0:26:12.000 --> 0:26:16.080 Like Joseph, You're gonna run from temptation, not sit inactive 0:26:16.160 --> 0:26:17.600 with people that pull you down. 0:26:18.000 --> 0:26:19.280 Let me tell you, if you learn. 0:26:19.119 --> 0:26:23.080 The power of no, I believe, declare, you're gonna come 0:26:23.080 --> 0:26:29.439 into greater yess something you've never seen. Favor, promotion, healing, breakthroughs, freedom, 0:26:29.760 --> 0:26:34.119 the fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name, and if 0:26:34.160 --> 0:26:37.800 you receive it, can you say him in Today? I'd 0:26:37.840 --> 0:26:40.479 like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the 0:26:40.480 --> 0:26:41.560 Lord of your life. 0:26:41.760 --> 0:26:42.760 Would you pray with me? 0:26:43.560 --> 0:26:47.440 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll repent of my sins, Come 0:26:47.480 --> 0:26:48.280 into my heart. 0:26:48.840 --> 0:26:50.760 I make you my Lord and Savior. 0:26:51.400 --> 0:26:53.680 If you've prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:26:53.720 --> 0:26:56.760 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:26:57.000 --> 0:26:59.240 on your new walk with the Lord. You can text 0:26:59.280 --> 0:27:02.199 the number on this or go to the website. But 0:27:02.280 --> 0:27:05.159 I hope you'll get into a good Bible based church 0:27:05.400 --> 0:27:07.240 and keep God first place. 0:27:09.560 --> 0:27:14.600 Are you in a situation where you feel lost, afraid, hopeless, 0:27:14.880 --> 0:27:19.679 where there seems to be no solutions, no answers, no 0:27:19.840 --> 0:27:23.159 way out. It's time for your turnaround. 0:27:23.400 --> 0:27:26.400 We all face situations that look like they'll never change. 0:27:26.440 --> 0:27:29.320 It's easy to get discouraged. I love to send you 0:27:29.400 --> 0:27:32.040 my book turn Around, How God Can take You from 0:27:32.040 --> 0:27:35.600 a setback to a comeback, where you'll discover how God 0:27:35.640 --> 0:27:40.520 can turn sickness into health, lack into abundance, addictions into freedom. 0:27:41.000 --> 0:27:44.480 It'll inspire you to keep believing and have an expectancy 0:27:44.560 --> 0:27:48.120 for things to turn in your favor. Recent weeks, we've 0:27:48.160 --> 0:27:52.080 been celebrating the incredible life of my mother, her miraculous 0:27:52.119 --> 0:27:56.200 turnaround story of overcoming terminal cancer over forty years ago. 0:27:56.560 --> 0:28:00.240 It's a testimony of the power of God's promises. Just 0:28:00.240 --> 0:28:02.959 because you don't see a way doesn't mean God doesn't 0:28:03.000 --> 0:28:03.520 have a way. 0:28:03.720 --> 0:28:06.520 Stay in faith, your turnaround is on the way. 0:28:07.320 --> 0:28:09.680 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:28:09.760 --> 0:28:12.359 of any amount, this month, we would like to send 0:28:12.400 --> 0:28:15.720 you a copy of Joel's brand new book, turn Around, 0:28:15.960 --> 0:28:19.240 How God Can take You from Setback to come Back. 0:28:19.640 --> 0:28:25.040 Through biblical examples, real life applications, and practical encouragement, you'll 0:28:25.119 --> 0:28:28.760 learn to see challenges through a faith filled perspective. Each 0:28:28.840 --> 0:28:32.360 section highlights a faith turnaround point to help you see 0:28:32.400 --> 0:28:36.199 a positive change in your life as you meditate on 0:28:36.280 --> 0:28:40.760 his promises, you'll begin to see your greatest challenges turn around. 0:28:41.280 --> 0:28:45.640 These power packed life transforming stories will shift your mindset, 0:28:46.000 --> 0:28:50.760 strengthen your faith, and turn your trials into triumphs. Request 0:28:50.800 --> 0:28:54.720 your copy today and see the turnaround and breakthrough you've 0:28:54.760 --> 0:28:55.560 been waiting for. 0:28:56.600 --> 0:28:58.840 God won't let you get in a problem that He 0:28:58.880 --> 0:29:02.400 can't bring you out of. There are turnarounds in your future. 0:29:02.920 --> 0:29:05.640 Thanks so much for being with us today. Victoria and 0:29:05.720 --> 0:29:08.240 I pray for you and your family, and we sure 0:29:08.240 --> 0:29:12.280 appreciate your prayer and support. Your generosity is helping bring 0:29:12.360 --> 0:29:15.720 hope to people around the world. Special thank you to 0:29:15.760 --> 0:29:18.800 our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly gifts. If 0:29:18.800 --> 0:29:21.600 you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider it becoming one. 0:29:22.000 --> 0:29:25.520 Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 0:29:25.960 --> 0:29:30.240 download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube the new Joeloasting 0:29:30.320 --> 0:29:31.640 Network social media. 0:29:31.960 --> 0:29:34.440 Of course, you can listen Serious XM twenty four hours 0:29:34.440 --> 0:29:34.800 a day. 0:29:35.120 --> 0:29:38.440 We'll keep you encouraged and inspired until we see you 0:29:38.440 --> 0:29:39.040 next time. 0:29:39.320 --> 0:29:41.400 May the Lord bless you and keep you. 0:29:42.120 --> 0:29:45.480 Be sure to request your copy of Turnaround How God 0:29:45.520 --> 0:29:49.240 Can take You from setback to come Back. Visit Joelosting 0:29:49.320 --> 0:29:52.680 dot com or call eight eight eight five six seven 0:29:52.920 --> 0:29:56.600 Joel for an additional donation. This month, we are also 0:29:56.720 --> 0:30:00.640 offering the Turnaround Faith Duo, one for you and one 0:30:00.680 --> 0:30:03.800 to share with a friend or family member to encourage them. 0:30:04.080 --> 0:30:08.080 You can also request the Turnaround Victory Collection. It includes 0:30:08.160 --> 0:30:11.800 two turnaround books and the beautiful set of three wooden 0:30:11.920 --> 0:30:17.600 encouragement blocks, Happy, Healthy, and Free, each featuring and uplifting scripture. 0:30:18.200 --> 0:30:21.960 You can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight 0:30:22.000 --> 0:30:26.040 eight five six seven Joel or logging on to Joelostein 0:30:26.120 --> 0:30:30.400 dot com today. Call or click anytime twenty four hours 0:30:30.440 --> 0:30:34.720 a day. Your life is about to turn around. Request 0:30:34.760 --> 0:31:04.840 these resources today