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Uncommon
Joel OsteenAbout this sermon
God did not create you to be common. We are living in a day where the standards are being lowered, where it’s acceptable to compromise, take the easy way out, and have no integrity. If we’re not careful, we’ll adapt to our environment and become like everyone else. This way of living can limit what God wants to do in our lives.Paul said in Romans 12:2, “Don’t let society squeeze you into its mold.” Learn why it’s important to live with integrity and excellence. When you make the decision to be uncommon, to not fit in and do what everyone else is doing, then you will see uncommon favor, strength, friendships and increase! You will become everything God created you to be! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Source: Joel Osteen
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0:00:00.240 --> 0:00:02.640 You and your dog are close, like watch each other 0:00:02.680 --> 0:00:04.960 go to the bathroom close, But you could be even 0:00:05.000 --> 0:00:08.880 closer with BarkBox. Every month, BarkBox brings dogs and their 0:00:08.920 --> 0:00:12.639 humans together with original toys and delicious treatment. Sign up 0:00:12.640 --> 0:00:14.880 now at BarkBox dot com. Slash iHeart. 0:00:15.400 --> 0:00:18.119 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:00:18.200 --> 0:00:20.239 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 0:00:20.280 --> 0:00:22.960 in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 0:00:23.000 --> 0:00:25.600 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:00:25.600 --> 0:00:28.080 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:00:28.080 --> 0:00:30.880 today and where your money can work harder. Now you 0:00:31.000 --> 0:00:34.000 can visit Facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:00:34.040 --> 0:00:38.640 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:00:38.640 --> 0:00:40.600 This ad is sponsored by Facet. Facet Wealth in Corporated 0:00:40.680 --> 0:00:42.519 is an SEC registered investment advisor. This is not an 0:00:42.560 --> 0:00:44.600 offer to buy yourself security snor is it investment, legal 0:00:44.680 --> 0:00:45.280 or tax advice. 0:00:45.760 --> 0:00:48.360 Are you ready to move your career forward? Make your 0:00:48.360 --> 0:00:51.880 comeback with Purdue Global and get college credit for your work, school, life, 0:00:51.960 --> 0:00:55.080 or military experiences. With these credits, you may have already 0:00:55.080 --> 0:00:57.880 completed up to seventy five percent of your undergraduate degree. 0:00:57.960 --> 0:01:00.000 You've worked hard to get where you are. It's time 0:01:00.120 --> 0:01:02.200 to get the recognition you deserve and earn a degree 0:01:02.200 --> 0:01:04.840 you'll be proud of, one that employers will trust and 0:01:04.920 --> 0:01:07.119 respect when you take the next step in your life 0:01:07.120 --> 0:01:10.280 and career. Make it count with Purdue Global produce online 0:01:10.319 --> 0:01:14.920 university for working adults. Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 0:01:15.680 --> 0:01:19.240 Welcome to the Jiell Loostine Podcast. Help leu's continue to 0:01:19.280 --> 0:01:22.160 share the message of hope with those all over the world. 0:01:22.680 --> 0:01:26.240 Visit joeloostin dot com slash give hope to give a 0:01:26.240 --> 0:01:34.920 gift today. 0:01:37.720 --> 0:01:40.320 Well, God bless you. It's a joy to come into 0:01:40.360 --> 0:01:43.120 your homes and if you're ever in our area, please 0:01:43.160 --> 0:01:45.880 stop buying. Be a part of one of our services. 0:01:46.000 --> 0:01:48.360 I promise you we'll make it feel right at home. 0:01:48.640 --> 0:01:51.480 But thanks for tuning in today. I like to start 0:01:51.480 --> 0:01:54.320 with something funny, and I heard about this man. He 0:01:54.440 --> 0:01:57.120 called the church office and said, I want to speak 0:01:57.120 --> 0:02:01.520 to the head hog at the trough. The secretary was offended. 0:02:01.880 --> 0:02:04.080 She said, if you mean the pastor, you're going to 0:02:04.160 --> 0:02:06.560 have to call him pastor, but you may not call 0:02:06.640 --> 0:02:09.079 him the head hog at the troth. He said, well, 0:02:09.120 --> 0:02:11.919 find but I was thinking about making a five thousand 0:02:12.000 --> 0:02:15.639 dollars donation to your church. She said, hang on, poor kid, 0:02:15.800 --> 0:02:19.600 just walked in. Say it like you mean it. This 0:02:19.680 --> 0:02:22.200 is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:02:22.680 --> 0:02:25.079 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:02:25.160 --> 0:02:27.720 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:02:27.840 --> 0:02:31.639 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:02:31.720 --> 0:02:35.000 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:02:35.120 --> 0:02:39.799 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:02:39.840 --> 0:02:43.680 to talk to you today about uncommon. It's easy to 0:02:43.720 --> 0:02:47.040 fit in and do what everyone else is doing. Our 0:02:47.040 --> 0:02:51.160 neighbors complain, so we complain. Our coworkers show up late, 0:02:51.280 --> 0:02:54.480 so we show up late. Our relatives have addictions, so 0:02:54.560 --> 0:02:58.919 we have addictions. It's normal. It's common. But God did 0:02:58.960 --> 0:03:02.880 not create you to be common. He didn't breathe his 0:03:03.000 --> 0:03:06.600 life into you so you can do what everyone else does. 0:03:07.240 --> 0:03:11.200 You were created to be uncommon, to live by a 0:03:11.320 --> 0:03:15.280 higher standard, to do what others aren't willing to do, 0:03:15.840 --> 0:03:18.880 to believe for things that others think are too big. 0:03:19.480 --> 0:03:22.840 He created you to stand out in the crowd, to 0:03:22.880 --> 0:03:26.959 be a cut above everyone. At work. May be complaining 0:03:27.160 --> 0:03:31.840 that's common, but that's not you. You're uncommon. Instead of 0:03:31.919 --> 0:03:35.520 joining in, you find something to be grateful for. You 0:03:35.560 --> 0:03:38.680 don't focus on what's wrong. You thank God for what's right. 0:03:39.040 --> 0:03:43.840 Why you're uncommon? People around you may have a small vision. 0:03:44.240 --> 0:03:47.440 They think they've reached their limits. Now they've settled where 0:03:47.440 --> 0:03:50.120 they are, and they're just going through the motions of life. 0:03:50.600 --> 0:03:55.400 That's common, but that's not you. You're passionate about your future. 0:03:55.880 --> 0:03:59.760 You believe for big things. You're expecting new levels. You know, 0:03:59.800 --> 0:04:03.600 the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter. Or 0:04:03.640 --> 0:04:09.000 maybe everyone around you is compromising. They're not faithful in relationships, 0:04:09.320 --> 0:04:13.080 they're dishonest in business dealings. They do anything to get ahead. 0:04:13.720 --> 0:04:18.520 That's common, but that's not you. You're a person of excellence. 0:04:19.080 --> 0:04:21.360 You do the right thing when no one is looking. 0:04:21.920 --> 0:04:25.279 You keep your word when it costs you something other 0:04:25.360 --> 0:04:29.159 people don't understand. You could have compromised to get ahead, 0:04:29.560 --> 0:04:33.279 nobody would have known. But you live by a higher standard. 0:04:33.720 --> 0:04:38.000 Why is that you're uncommon? That's the kind of people 0:04:38.120 --> 0:04:43.760 God rewards. Complainers are a dime, a dozen compromisers are 0:04:43.800 --> 0:04:48.360 all around naysayers. I can't accomplish my dreams. You'll see 0:04:48.360 --> 0:04:52.240 them every day. That's common. But God is looking for 0:04:52.520 --> 0:04:57.640 uncommon people, people that don't go with the majority, people 0:04:57.680 --> 0:05:01.560 that don't lower their standards, looking for people that go 0:05:01.640 --> 0:05:06.839 against the grain, people that have uncommon faith, that believe 0:05:06.960 --> 0:05:11.640 when it seems impossible, uncommon commitment, that do the right 0:05:11.680 --> 0:05:16.520 thing when it's hard, and uncommon attitude when everyone around 0:05:16.600 --> 0:05:21.440 is negative, bitter, moody, you have a smile, your kind, 0:05:21.720 --> 0:05:25.719 your good nature. When you make this decision to not 0:05:25.880 --> 0:05:29.240 fit in, to not be like everyone else, but to 0:05:29.320 --> 0:05:35.280 be uncommon, then you will see uncommon favor, uncommon opportunities, 0:05:35.480 --> 0:05:40.159 uncommon breakthroughs, uncommon victories. But we are living in a 0:05:40.279 --> 0:05:44.960 day where the standards are being lowered, where it's acceptable 0:05:45.000 --> 0:05:48.600 to compromise, to not have integrity, to take the easy 0:05:48.640 --> 0:05:52.359 way out, and if we're not careful, will adapt to 0:05:52.440 --> 0:05:57.080 our environment, will become like everybody else. But there's nothing 0:05:57.160 --> 0:06:02.679 special about common, nothing signific again about ordinary. God wants 0:06:02.720 --> 0:06:06.120 you to stand out. When people look at us, they 0:06:06.120 --> 0:06:10.679 should say there's something different about them. They're a cut above, 0:06:11.040 --> 0:06:16.000 they're excellent, they're trustworthy, they're committed, they're loyal, they're happy. 0:06:16.200 --> 0:06:21.520 What they're really saying is they're uncommon, Paul said in Romans, 0:06:21.839 --> 0:06:26.560 don't let society squeeze you into its mold. There's a 0:06:26.640 --> 0:06:31.480 constant pressure trying to squeeze us into being common. People 0:06:31.520 --> 0:06:36.240 at work may slack off, waste time playing around, do 0:06:36.360 --> 0:06:40.520 a half hearted job. Don't be squeezed into that mold. 0:06:41.120 --> 0:06:44.080 Don't let that thinking rub off on you. If they 0:06:44.120 --> 0:06:46.880 want to be mediocre, if they want to be common, 0:06:47.440 --> 0:06:50.520 that's their choice. But that's not who you are. You 0:06:50.600 --> 0:06:54.640 are uncommon, stand out in the crowd. Do the right 0:06:54.680 --> 0:06:57.880 thing when the boss is not around. Don't sink down 0:06:57.880 --> 0:07:01.920 to their level. Set a new stand. People around you 0:07:02.240 --> 0:07:05.680 may be giving into temptation, doing things you know are 0:07:05.680 --> 0:07:09.400 not the best. Thoughts will tell you it's okay, it's not 0:07:09.520 --> 0:07:13.400 hurting anything. You only live once. That's the enemy trying 0:07:13.440 --> 0:07:17.360 to deceive you into being common. He knows if you're 0:07:17.440 --> 0:07:21.440 like everyone else, if there's nothing different about you, then 0:07:21.480 --> 0:07:25.480 you won't become all you were created to be. Don't 0:07:25.480 --> 0:07:30.160 fall into that trap. Be uncommon, be different, Live by 0:07:30.200 --> 0:07:35.080 a higher standard. Well, Joel, everyone is doing it, everyone's partying, 0:07:35.200 --> 0:07:40.040 everyone's slacking off, everyone's negative. Here's the key. You're not everyone. 0:07:40.240 --> 0:07:44.840 You're the exception. The scripture says you've been set apart. 0:07:45.640 --> 0:07:49.600 You are a chosen people. That's saying you're not common. 0:07:50.160 --> 0:07:54.600 You're not like everyone else. You've not only been handpicked 0:07:55.040 --> 0:07:57.920 by the most high God. He not only chose you, 0:07:58.520 --> 0:08:02.240 but he has set you apart. He's made you uncommon. 0:08:03.080 --> 0:08:07.080 Could it be the reason you're not seeing favor is 0:08:07.120 --> 0:08:10.480 your being common. The reason you're not going to the 0:08:10.520 --> 0:08:15.080 next level is you've let society squeeze you into its mold, 0:08:15.840 --> 0:08:19.280 and now there's nothing different about you. You're like everyone else. 0:08:19.720 --> 0:08:22.520 It's time to break out of that mold. That is 0:08:22.560 --> 0:08:26.160 not who you are. You may be surrounded by people 0:08:26.200 --> 0:08:31.400 that are lazy, indifferent, not going anywhere. Don't be squeezed 0:08:31.480 --> 0:08:35.040 into that mold. Don't let that keep you from your destiny. 0:08:35.480 --> 0:08:39.360 You've been set apart. You're not common. Now do your 0:08:39.440 --> 0:08:43.720 part and don't live common. This is what Daniel did 0:08:43.800 --> 0:08:48.040 in the scripture. He was a Hebrew teenager that was 0:08:48.080 --> 0:08:51.720 brought out of Judah into Babylon to be trained to 0:08:51.800 --> 0:08:55.839 serve the king. But the Babylonians had all these customs 0:08:56.040 --> 0:08:59.600 that didn't agree with the Jewish faith. They worship many 0:08:59.600 --> 0:09:02.680 different gods, and they wanted Daniel to fit in and 0:09:02.720 --> 0:09:06.520 worship their gods. The first thing they did was change 0:09:06.559 --> 0:09:10.800 his name from Daniel, which means God is my judge, 0:09:10.960 --> 0:09:15.480 to belt a shazar, which means worshiper of Bell. They 0:09:15.520 --> 0:09:18.800 wanted him to forget about the God of Israel and 0:09:18.840 --> 0:09:23.400 start worshiping their idols. Daniel could have accepted it and thought, 0:09:23.559 --> 0:09:27.560 this is what everybody's doing. I'm in their nation, I'm 0:09:27.600 --> 0:09:30.720 surrounded by people that worship idols. I'll just fit in, 0:09:30.920 --> 0:09:35.480 go with the flow. But Daniel understood this principle. He 0:09:35.520 --> 0:09:39.840 didn't let them squeeze him into their mold. He knew 0:09:39.920 --> 0:09:43.000 he had been set apart, that he wasn't supposed to 0:09:43.040 --> 0:09:46.400 be common, and they put all this pressure on Daniel 0:09:46.440 --> 0:09:50.320 to change. But the scripture says Daniel purposed in his 0:09:50.480 --> 0:09:54.760 heart he would not defile himself by eating the king's 0:09:54.800 --> 0:09:59.200 food and drinking the king's wine. He was saying, in effect, 0:09:59.520 --> 0:10:04.080 everyone around me may be compromising, they're taking the easy 0:10:04.120 --> 0:10:07.600 way out, but I am not going to lower my standards. 0:10:07.920 --> 0:10:10.719 I'm not going to fit in and become common. I'm 0:10:10.760 --> 0:10:14.320 going to live by a higher standard. When the person 0:10:14.400 --> 0:10:17.640 in charge saw how determined he was. He said he 0:10:17.640 --> 0:10:20.640 would give Daniel ten days to eat his own food, 0:10:21.160 --> 0:10:24.880 then they see how he was doing. After those ten days, 0:10:25.280 --> 0:10:29.600 Daniel came out stronger and healthier than all the other 0:10:29.720 --> 0:10:33.560 young men that had been eating the king's food. When 0:10:33.600 --> 0:10:38.640 you refuse to compromise, not be squeezed into society's mold, 0:10:39.080 --> 0:10:42.200 God will show you favor and cause you to stand 0:10:42.280 --> 0:10:46.360 out above the rest. But being common does it get 0:10:46.360 --> 0:10:50.840 God's attention being like everyone else, not being different. But 0:10:50.960 --> 0:10:54.040 when you dig your heels in and say, like Daniel, 0:10:54.720 --> 0:10:58.360 I'm not going to be pressured into compromising. I'm not 0:10:58.400 --> 0:11:03.200 going to live like everyone else, complaining, gossiping, giving up 0:11:03.240 --> 0:11:07.000 on dreams. I'm going to be uncommon. I'm going to 0:11:07.080 --> 0:11:09.800 go against the grain. I'm gonna take the high road. 0:11:10.040 --> 0:11:13.559 I'm gonna be a person of excellence. When you make 0:11:13.640 --> 0:11:18.040 this choice to be uncommon, like Daniel, you will see 0:11:18.480 --> 0:11:22.560 uncommon favor. God will make things happen that you couldn't 0:11:22.600 --> 0:11:27.360 make happen. But it takes courage to be different, takes 0:11:27.440 --> 0:11:30.960 courage to not compromise. People will try to make you 0:11:31.040 --> 0:11:35.120 feel weak because you're not going with the majority. Because 0:11:35.120 --> 0:11:38.320 you don't party with everyone, you don't gossip, you don't 0:11:38.320 --> 0:11:42.600 play politics. The truth is you're not weak, you're strong. 0:11:43.600 --> 0:11:46.839 It doesn't take much effort to do what everyone else 0:11:46.920 --> 0:11:50.840 is doing. A dead fish can float downstream. It takes 0:11:50.880 --> 0:11:56.280 a live one to swim upstreamly. It's easy to be common. 0:11:56.840 --> 0:12:01.280 The pressure comes when you decide to be unc when 0:12:01.280 --> 0:12:05.520 everybody around you is compromising. But you rise up and say, 0:12:05.920 --> 0:12:09.079 as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 0:12:10.360 --> 0:12:13.960 Neighbors will say, you're going to church today on Sunday, 0:12:14.080 --> 0:12:16.640 your day off. Why would you waste time doing that? 0:12:16.960 --> 0:12:21.400 It's because you're uncommon. You live by a higher standard. 0:12:21.600 --> 0:12:28.479 You honor God with your life. Uncommon obedience produces uncommon blessings, 0:12:28.960 --> 0:12:33.800 uncommon favor, and uncommon destiny. You'll go where you couldn't 0:12:33.840 --> 0:12:37.520 go on your own. But there is pressure right now 0:12:37.760 --> 0:12:41.680 trying to squeeze you into being common. Thoughts trying to 0:12:41.720 --> 0:12:45.080 deceive you into not breaking out of the mold. Don't 0:12:45.080 --> 0:12:49.800 believe those lies. Be a Daniel. All that pressure trying 0:12:49.800 --> 0:12:53.000 to get you to conform is a sign that God 0:12:53.080 --> 0:12:56.400 has something amazing in front of you. You have to 0:12:56.440 --> 0:12:59.800 do like him and purpose in your heart. I will 0:12:59.840 --> 0:13:04.120 not defile myself by giving into this temptation, or by 0:13:04.200 --> 0:13:07.880 letting these outside pressures convince me in the lower in 0:13:07.960 --> 0:13:11.880 my standards. The person in charge was so impressed with 0:13:12.000 --> 0:13:15.600 Daniel he took him to see the king. The scripture says, 0:13:16.000 --> 0:13:19.720 the king found no one equal to Daniel. He had 0:13:19.800 --> 0:13:24.280 ten times more wisdom and understanding than the smartest people 0:13:24.360 --> 0:13:28.559 in his kingdom. That wasn't a coincidence. When you make 0:13:28.640 --> 0:13:32.600 this choice to be uncommon, God will shine his favor 0:13:32.679 --> 0:13:39.280 on you. You will have wisdom beyond you years, creativity, ideas, ability, 0:13:39.720 --> 0:13:44.880 God rewards uncommon. The king put Daniel in charge of 0:13:45.000 --> 0:13:48.760 all of Babylon. He went from being a slave to 0:13:48.840 --> 0:13:52.320 being the leader of the whole country. But I wonder 0:13:52.480 --> 0:13:55.680 what would have happened if Daniel would have chosen to 0:13:55.760 --> 0:13:59.760 be common. If he had worshiped their idols, lived by 0:13:59.760 --> 0:14:03.720 their standards, been squeezed into their mold. I don't think 0:14:03.760 --> 0:14:07.600 we would be talking about him today. Another ordinary life 0:14:07.679 --> 0:14:12.880 would have faded off into the sunset. Years after you're gone. 0:14:12.960 --> 0:14:17.000 God wants somebody to be reading about you. Your faith, 0:14:17.520 --> 0:14:22.280 your courage, your victories can inspire others to believe for 0:14:22.320 --> 0:14:25.880 the fullness of their destinies, Joel, I don't think so, 0:14:26.360 --> 0:14:30.160 not with me. I don't have the experience, the influence, 0:14:30.240 --> 0:14:35.400 the training, the education. Daniel was a slave, a teenager 0:14:35.720 --> 0:14:39.240 in a foreign land. All the odds were against him, 0:14:39.600 --> 0:14:44.280 but he made this decision to be uncommon, to stand out, 0:14:44.760 --> 0:14:48.400 to honor God with his life. When you honor God, 0:14:48.680 --> 0:14:52.680 God will always honor you. God opened doors for Daniel 0:14:52.840 --> 0:14:56.680 he never dreamed would open. You may not see it yet, 0:14:56.960 --> 0:15:00.720 but God has something amazing in front of you. He 0:15:00.800 --> 0:15:04.240 has destined you to leave your mark in this generation. 0:15:05.000 --> 0:15:08.200 You're not supposed to live and die and nobody knew 0:15:08.240 --> 0:15:14.720 you were here. God has opportunities, resources, people, wisdom that's 0:15:14.760 --> 0:15:18.800 going to catapult you further than you thought possible. But 0:15:18.880 --> 0:15:23.280 one requirement is you can't be common. You have to 0:15:23.360 --> 0:15:26.960 be willing to do what others won't do, to make 0:15:27.040 --> 0:15:32.160 sacrifices that others won't make, to resist temptation when others 0:15:32.200 --> 0:15:36.840 are giving in the good news. Nothing you're facing is 0:15:36.920 --> 0:15:41.600 too much for you to handle. Every temptation, every struggle, 0:15:41.680 --> 0:15:46.000 every difficulty. God has given you the grace to overcome. 0:15:46.440 --> 0:15:50.480 You have the power to be uncommon, And yes it 0:15:50.560 --> 0:15:55.040 takes discipline, Yes, it's uncomfortable, your flesh will tell you 0:15:55.160 --> 0:15:58.360 give in, do what everyone else is doing. No, your 0:15:58.400 --> 0:16:02.880 destiny is at stake. Don't let a temporary period of 0:16:02.960 --> 0:16:07.560 being uncomfortable keep you from a permanent blessing. It wasn't 0:16:07.600 --> 0:16:11.160 easy for Daniel to go against the grain. I'm sure 0:16:11.280 --> 0:16:15.240 people made fun of him. Thought, this new guy, this teenager, 0:16:15.760 --> 0:16:19.400 he's strange, brought his own food, he was just his 0:16:19.480 --> 0:16:21.960 own God, he's too good to hang out with us. 0:16:22.960 --> 0:16:27.120 Daniel could have given in to the pressure, been intimidated, 0:16:27.400 --> 0:16:30.720 not wanted to stand out, but he was willing to 0:16:30.840 --> 0:16:35.000 take the heat for being different. He was secure enough 0:16:35.040 --> 0:16:38.320 in who he was and confident enough in who his 0:16:38.360 --> 0:16:42.840 God was that he didn't let the opposition, the ridicule, 0:16:43.360 --> 0:16:47.560 the people trying to discredit him to squeeze him into 0:16:47.560 --> 0:16:51.840 their mold. He knew when you're uncommon, there will be 0:16:51.960 --> 0:16:56.480 seasons of difficulties where it's not fair. Seems like others 0:16:56.480 --> 0:16:59.480 are getting the best of you, You're having to swim upstream. 0:17:00.080 --> 0:17:04.440 But God sees what's happening. Your time is coming life 0:17:04.520 --> 0:17:08.640 with Daniel. At some point, God will suddenly turn it around. 0:17:09.160 --> 0:17:14.240 He'll suddenly promote you, suddenly vindicate you. When the people 0:17:14.480 --> 0:17:19.200 saw the favor on Daniel's life, they became jealous. This 0:17:19.280 --> 0:17:22.600 Hebrew slave that they'd been making fun of trying to 0:17:22.640 --> 0:17:26.360 discredit was now their boss. He was over all of them. 0:17:27.320 --> 0:17:31.760 When you're being uncommon taking the highroad, don't be distracted 0:17:31.800 --> 0:17:35.880 by the naysayers and people trying to discredit you. They're 0:17:35.920 --> 0:17:38.840 making fun of you now, but you don't know, like 0:17:38.920 --> 0:17:41.800 with Daniel, one day, they may be working for you. 0:17:42.800 --> 0:17:46.640 These people knew that Daniel wouldn't compromise. They knew how 0:17:46.680 --> 0:17:49.720 committed and faithful he was, so they came up with 0:17:49.760 --> 0:17:53.000 a plan to try to trap him. They went to 0:17:53.040 --> 0:17:57.560 the king and said, King, you're so amazing, you're so incredible, 0:17:58.160 --> 0:18:01.800 you should write a law that for the next thirty days, 0:18:02.280 --> 0:18:06.480 no one can pray to anyone except you. If they do, 0:18:06.520 --> 0:18:10.159 they'll be thrown into a lion's den. The king was 0:18:10.240 --> 0:18:14.399 so flattered, his ego was so inflated. He thought that 0:18:14.520 --> 0:18:18.720 was a good idea. Be careful when people flatter you 0:18:19.200 --> 0:18:22.639 and then ask you for something. When they do, just 0:18:22.760 --> 0:18:26.560 cancel out everything they said first, because even if it 0:18:26.640 --> 0:18:30.120 is true, most likely they said it with the wrong motives. 0:18:30.800 --> 0:18:34.040 Flattery is a tool. If you're not securing who you 0:18:34.119 --> 0:18:36.800 are and you need that to feel good about yourself, 0:18:37.240 --> 0:18:41.600 you'll make decisions that you may regret later on. The 0:18:41.720 --> 0:18:44.960 King loved Daniel, he didn't realize they were doing this 0:18:45.000 --> 0:18:48.359 to trap him. But when Daniel heard about the new law, 0:18:48.640 --> 0:18:52.119 it didn't stop him. The scripture says he went home, 0:18:52.600 --> 0:18:56.399 opened his windows, got on his knees, and prayed like 0:18:56.480 --> 0:19:01.160 he had always done. Now he's in chargee and he's 0:19:01.200 --> 0:19:05.760 still not being squeezed into their mold. Sometimes when people 0:19:05.840 --> 0:19:09.200 get to where they were trying to go, God blesses 0:19:09.240 --> 0:19:13.480 them and opens the door, they forget what got them there. 0:19:14.280 --> 0:19:17.720 It was the fact that they were uncommon, but too often, 0:19:18.000 --> 0:19:22.439 once they reach a goal, they start becoming common. Daniel 0:19:22.480 --> 0:19:25.760 didn't do this. He had made it to the top. 0:19:26.200 --> 0:19:28.840 He had everything to lose. If there was ever a 0:19:28.920 --> 0:19:32.760 time he should have fit in did what the king asked, 0:19:32.880 --> 0:19:36.200 it was now. But Daniel stayed on the high road. 0:19:36.800 --> 0:19:40.840 He didn't let the pressure cause him to compromise. They 0:19:40.920 --> 0:19:43.760 ran back and told the king that Daniel was praying 0:19:43.800 --> 0:19:47.040 to another god. The King felt bad about it, but 0:19:47.160 --> 0:19:49.400 he couldn't go back on his word, and he had 0:19:49.520 --> 0:19:53.480 Daniel thrown into the lions den. The whole night the 0:19:53.600 --> 0:19:58.280 king stayed awake and prayed and fasted for Daniel. Early 0:19:58.320 --> 0:20:00.960 the next morning he ran out to check on him. 0:20:01.320 --> 0:20:04.720 He said, Daniel was the god you serve able to 0:20:04.800 --> 0:20:08.960 rescue you from the lions. Daniel said, yes, I'm still here. 0:20:09.680 --> 0:20:12.840 The king was so overjoyed he had him taken out 0:20:12.920 --> 0:20:15.840 of the lion's den. The scripture says there was not 0:20:16.040 --> 0:20:19.680 one scratch on him and the people that talked him 0:20:19.720 --> 0:20:23.040 into writing the decree that tried to get rid of Daniel. 0:20:23.400 --> 0:20:26.600 The king had them arrested and thrown into the same 0:20:26.680 --> 0:20:31.520 lions den. Not one of them survived. The king wrote 0:20:31.560 --> 0:20:35.800 a new decree. It said everyone in my kingdom should 0:20:35.880 --> 0:20:39.320 worship the God of Daniel. He's the living god. He 0:20:39.400 --> 0:20:44.640 rescues people and does great miraclesure when you're uncommon, when 0:20:44.680 --> 0:20:47.480 you refuse to compromise, when you don't take the easy 0:20:47.520 --> 0:20:51.480 way out, God will do the uncommon. He'll close the 0:20:51.560 --> 0:20:55.040 mouths of lions. When you study the heroes of faith 0:20:55.080 --> 0:20:58.800 people like Daniel, you'll find one common ingredient is they 0:20:58.840 --> 0:21:03.480 were uncommon. A lady in the scripture named Naomi had 0:21:03.520 --> 0:21:07.720 two sons that both died early. Their wives were Ruth 0:21:07.880 --> 0:21:12.040 and Orpah. Naomi was going to move back home to Bethlehem. 0:21:12.680 --> 0:21:15.320 She told both daughters in law that they should go 0:21:15.400 --> 0:21:20.000 back to their country and start a new life. Ruth said, no, Naomi, 0:21:20.240 --> 0:21:22.600 I'm not going to leave you. I'm going to move 0:21:22.680 --> 0:21:26.399 back with you and help take care of you. She said, Ruth, 0:21:26.440 --> 0:21:29.880 I'm an old lady. There's no future for you in Bethlehem. 0:21:30.000 --> 0:21:33.080 Go back to your country. Maybe you'll find somebody new 0:21:33.119 --> 0:21:37.119 to marry there. This is what Orpah did. She left, 0:21:37.160 --> 0:21:41.200 went her own way, did her own thing. Ruth said, Naomi, 0:21:41.760 --> 0:21:44.480 I will go where you go. Your people will be 0:21:44.600 --> 0:21:47.679 my people. Your God will be my God. It was 0:21:47.760 --> 0:21:51.800 in the fields of Bethlehem, picking up wheat every morning, 0:21:52.080 --> 0:21:57.440 barely surviving. That God cost Boaz, the owner of those fields, 0:21:57.480 --> 0:22:01.359 to notice Ruth. He was the wealthiest man in that area. 0:22:01.800 --> 0:22:05.240 They ended up falling in love and were married. Ruth 0:22:05.320 --> 0:22:07.760 no longer had to work in the fields. Now she 0:22:07.920 --> 0:22:13.160 owned the fields. What am I saying? Uncommon commitment brought 0:22:13.359 --> 0:22:18.359 uncommon favor. Ruth was willing to do what Orpah wouldn't do. 0:22:19.240 --> 0:22:22.560 Orpah took the easy way out, but Ruth did the 0:22:22.680 --> 0:22:25.960 right thing when it was hard. She took care of 0:22:26.040 --> 0:22:30.200 someone when she had every right to walk away. Nothing 0:22:30.240 --> 0:22:33.320 against Orpah. She may have lived a good life, but 0:22:33.359 --> 0:22:36.720 you don't read anything more in the scripture about her. 0:22:37.320 --> 0:22:41.520 You don't read much about common people. Not only did 0:22:41.560 --> 0:22:44.919 God bless Ruth with a husband and a son, but 0:22:45.000 --> 0:22:49.360 she became the great grandmother of David. God put her 0:22:49.400 --> 0:22:53.200 in the family line of Jesus. It wouldn't have happened 0:22:53.520 --> 0:22:57.400 if she was common. Are there areas that you're being 0:22:57.440 --> 0:23:01.439 common in doing what everybody else is doing? Taking the 0:23:01.480 --> 0:23:04.880 easy way out? Why don't you be a Ruth? Why 0:23:04.920 --> 0:23:09.080 don't you be a Daniel? God has uncommon favor in 0:23:09.119 --> 0:23:14.879 your future, uncommon opportunities, uncommon relationships. But you have to 0:23:14.960 --> 0:23:19.920 do your part and be uncommon Acts Chapter sixteen, Paul 0:23:19.960 --> 0:23:23.480 and Silas were out helping people when they were falsely 0:23:23.520 --> 0:23:27.120 accused of trying to start a riot. They hadn't committed 0:23:27.200 --> 0:23:30.440 any crime, but they were beaten with rods and put 0:23:30.480 --> 0:23:35.280 in prison. They could have been complaining, bitter God, why 0:23:35.280 --> 0:23:37.920 did you let this happen? That would have been common, 0:23:38.440 --> 0:23:43.640 but they were uncommon. Instead, At midnight in the Dungeon. 0:23:44.200 --> 0:23:48.080 They were singing praises to God. The scripture says the 0:23:48.160 --> 0:23:51.880 other prisoners could hear them. I'm sure they thought, what's 0:23:51.920 --> 0:23:55.919 wrong with these guys. They've been beaten, they were falsely accused, 0:23:56.080 --> 0:24:00.720 and now they're thanking God. That's not normal. Suddenly there 0:24:00.800 --> 0:24:03.840 was a great earthquake. The prison doors flung open, the 0:24:03.920 --> 0:24:08.080 chains came off. They walked out as free men. An 0:24:08.200 --> 0:24:14.400 uncommon attitude led to an uncommon breakthrough. Instead of complaining 0:24:14.440 --> 0:24:17.840 about the people that have done you wrong, being sour 0:24:18.000 --> 0:24:21.080 over the disappointment, why don't you do like them and 0:24:21.160 --> 0:24:25.200 be uncommon God. I don't understand why this has happened, 0:24:25.440 --> 0:24:28.520 but I know you're still on the throne. I want 0:24:28.560 --> 0:24:30.680 to thank you that you have beauty for these ashes. 0:24:30.960 --> 0:24:34.320 That what was meant for harm you turn into my advantage. 0:24:34.480 --> 0:24:41.640 That's what brings uncommon turnarounds, uncommon breakthroughs, uncommon favor. This 0:24:41.720 --> 0:24:45.240 is what happened with David. He was a teenager out 0:24:45.280 --> 0:24:48.280 taking care of his father's sheep. He didn't come from 0:24:48.320 --> 0:24:53.520 an influential family. They were shepherds. Nobody saw anything special 0:24:53.600 --> 0:24:58.120 in David. He looked ordinary like everyone else. But David 0:24:58.280 --> 0:25:02.840 made this decision be uncommon. He was willing to do 0:25:03.240 --> 0:25:07.760 what others wouldn't do. Nobody had the courage to face Goliath. 0:25:08.320 --> 0:25:11.720 They thought he was too big, too strong, too much experience. 0:25:12.320 --> 0:25:16.800 The whole army was afraid and intimidated. But when David 0:25:16.920 --> 0:25:21.600 heard Goliath tauning the Israelites, he said, who is this 0:25:21.800 --> 0:25:26.080 uncircumcised philistine? That he would defy the armies of the 0:25:26.119 --> 0:25:30.520 Living God. When others were shrinking back in fear, David 0:25:30.640 --> 0:25:33.840 rose up in faith. He told King Saul that he 0:25:33.960 --> 0:25:37.800 wanted to fight Goliath. His brothers the other people in 0:25:37.840 --> 0:25:41.359 the army said, who are you. You don't have a chance. 0:25:41.400 --> 0:25:44.800 You're a kid, and a small one at that. They 0:25:44.840 --> 0:25:48.160 were common, and they were trying to convince him into 0:25:48.200 --> 0:25:52.119 being common. When you go against the grain, when you 0:25:52.280 --> 0:25:56.199 take these steps of faith, don't be surprised if common 0:25:56.320 --> 0:25:59.320 people tell you how it's not going to happen. You 0:25:59.359 --> 0:26:03.280 can't get well, he'll never break that addiction. You can't 0:26:03.280 --> 0:26:06.800 start your business, you don't have the experience. Don't believe 0:26:06.880 --> 0:26:11.520 those lies. You have something on you that they cannot see. 0:26:11.560 --> 0:26:16.080 There is a favor, a blessing, an anointing, an ability 0:26:16.400 --> 0:26:21.880 that is not ordinary. Average people would be stuck. Ordinary 0:26:21.960 --> 0:26:25.679 people would settle. Common people would say the giant is 0:26:25.720 --> 0:26:30.159 too big. The good news is you are uncommon. God 0:26:30.240 --> 0:26:33.800 breths his life into you. He's crowned you with favor. 0:26:34.400 --> 0:26:38.159 You have seeds of greatness on the inside. Like David. 0:26:38.520 --> 0:26:41.879 You're going to defeat giants that look bigger. You're going 0:26:41.920 --> 0:26:45.840 to overcome obstacles that look stronger. You're going to accomplish 0:26:45.920 --> 0:26:50.040 dreams that seemed impossible. The forces that are for you 0:26:50.400 --> 0:26:53.360 are greater than the forces that are against you. I'm 0:26:53.400 --> 0:26:57.040 not looking at average people. I'm not looking at common people. 0:26:57.560 --> 0:27:00.960 I'm looking at David's. I'm looking at root. I'm looking 0:27:01.000 --> 0:27:05.240 at Daniels. I see history makers. I see people that 0:27:05.280 --> 0:27:08.000 are going to leave their mark, people that are willing 0:27:08.040 --> 0:27:11.400 to do what others want do, people that live by 0:27:11.400 --> 0:27:15.480 a higher standard fringe. God has not only chosen you, 0:27:15.880 --> 0:27:19.080 but he has set you apart. He's made you uncommon. 0:27:19.280 --> 0:27:21.920 Now I'm asking you to do your part and live 0:27:22.000 --> 0:27:27.200 uncommon when others shrink back, have uncommon faith, when others 0:27:27.240 --> 0:27:30.720 slack off, Have uncommon commitment when others take the easy 0:27:30.760 --> 0:27:34.680 way out, have uncommon excellence. If you'll do this, I'll 0:27:34.720 --> 0:27:40.320 believe and declare You're going to see uncommon favor, uncommon breakthroughs, 0:27:40.720 --> 0:27:45.840 uncommon increase, uncommon victories in Jesus' name, And if you 0:27:45.880 --> 0:27:47.119 receive it, can you say it? 0:27:47.240 --> 0:27:47.400 Men? 0:27:47.440 --> 0:27:52.160 Today, I'd like to give you an opportunity to make 0:27:52.280 --> 0:27:55.480 Jesus the lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:27:56.160 --> 0:28:01.760 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 0:28:01.800 --> 0:28:07.119 into my heart. I'll make you my lord and savior. Friends, 0:28:07.119 --> 0:28:09.520 if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:28:09.560 --> 0:28:12.800 born again. Get in a good Bible based church, and 0:28:12.920 --> 0:28:16.600 keep God first place. Victorian, I'll be right back to 0:28:16.680 --> 0:28:18.040 speak a blessing over you. 0:28:19.560 --> 0:28:21.920 As a thank you for your support of our ministry 0:28:21.960 --> 0:28:24.800 this month, Joel and Victoria, we'd like to send you 0:28:24.840 --> 0:28:28.560 a copy of Joel's new three message series, Fresh Favor. 0:28:30.080 --> 0:28:33.639 God sees the dreams you have in your heart. He 0:28:33.760 --> 0:28:36.840 knows how hard you've worked through life's challenges to make 0:28:36.880 --> 0:28:41.880 your dreams a reality. You are not alone. God sees 0:28:41.960 --> 0:28:45.360 all of the disappointments and heartaches and is working behind 0:28:45.400 --> 0:28:49.560 the scenes on your behalf. God has fresh favor for 0:28:49.680 --> 0:28:52.840 you today. His favor can take you further than you 0:28:52.960 --> 0:28:54.400 ever imagine. 0:28:55.200 --> 0:28:58.520 God has placed his favor on you. Favor will open 0:28:58.560 --> 0:29:01.520 doors you couldn't open. It will help you overcome what 0:29:01.720 --> 0:29:04.360 should have held you back. God's favor is going to 0:29:04.360 --> 0:29:07.160 help you accomplish your dreams and go further than you 0:29:07.160 --> 0:29:08.160 could imagine. 0:29:08.320 --> 0:29:11.280 I've found when you live favor minded, you'll see more 0:29:11.360 --> 0:29:14.520 of God's favor. Bequesse this resource. It will help you 0:29:14.600 --> 0:29:17.360 live the favor filled life that belongs to you. 0:29:18.080 --> 0:29:21.760 Request your copy of the Fresh Favor Collection today, which 0:29:21.760 --> 0:29:25.640 includes Jewel three message series and a one hundred page book, 0:29:25.960 --> 0:29:30.040 Live in God's Favor. Order today at Joe Lustein dot 0:29:30.080 --> 0:29:32.960 com or call eight eight eight five six seven. 0:29:33.200 --> 0:29:37.880 Joel. Your support is making a difference around the world. 0:29:38.120 --> 0:29:41.360 Thank you so much for your prayer and your generosity. 0:29:41.720 --> 0:29:45.000 The ministry couldn't keep going without faithful people just like you. 0:29:45.320 --> 0:29:48.000 And until we meet again, May the Lord bless you, 0:29:48.360 --> 0:29:51.000 May he shine down his favor on you, and may 0:29:51.040 --> 0:29:53.280 you see His goodness as never before. 0:29:59.000 --> 0:30:02.600 Be a barbecue here Zo with delicious ultralow netcar hero 0:30:02.800 --> 0:30:06.520 bread buns and tortillas, soft and fluffy, high in fiber, 0:30:06.600 --> 0:30:08.640 and with zero grams of sugar. And up to ten 0:30:08.680 --> 0:30:11.720 grams of protein coming in at under one hundred calories 0:30:11.720 --> 0:30:14.240 per survey. Oh, and did I mention they taste like 0:30:14.280 --> 0:30:17.640 their mouthwatering traditional versions. 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