Use It Or Lose It

0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:02.880 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:00:02.960 --> 0:00:05.040 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 0:00:05.040 --> 0:00:07.760 in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 0:00:07.760 --> 0:00:10.360 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:00:10.360 --> 0:00:12.840 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:00:12.880 --> 0:00:15.720 today and where your money can work harder. Now you 0:00:15.760 --> 0:00:18.759 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:00:18.800 --> 0:00:23.400 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:00:23.440 --> 0:00:25.360 This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 0:00:25.440 --> 0:00:27.280 is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 0:00:27.320 --> 0:00:29.080 offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 0:00:29.160 --> 0:00:30.080 legal or tax advice. 0:00:30.520 --> 0:00:33.120 Are you ready to move your career forward? Make your 0:00:33.159 --> 0:00:36.640 comeback with Perdue Global and get college credit for your work, school, life, 0:00:36.720 --> 0:00:39.840 or military experiences. With these credits, you may have already 0:00:39.840 --> 0:00:42.680 completed up to seventy five percent of your undergraduate degree. 0:00:42.720 --> 0:00:44.800 You've worked hard to get where you are. It's time 0:00:44.840 --> 0:00:46.920 to get the recognition you deserve and earn a degree 0:00:47.000 --> 0:00:49.600 you'll be proud of, one that employers will trust and 0:00:49.720 --> 0:00:51.840 respect when you take the next step in your life 0:00:51.880 --> 0:00:55.040 and career. Make it count with Perdue Global produce online 0:00:55.120 --> 0:00:59.720 University for working adults. Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 0:01:00.240 --> 0:01:02.200 He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 0:01:02.200 --> 0:01:02.800 his birthday. 0:01:03.120 --> 0:01:05.000 Wow, thanks Grandpa, but. 0:01:05.000 --> 0:01:07.240 He'll never forget how you invest it in his future 0:01:07.280 --> 0:01:08.240 with the units stapp. 0:01:08.760 --> 0:01:10.720 Wow, thanks Grandpa. 0:01:11.040 --> 0:01:13.560 The unit stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 0:01:13.600 --> 0:01:16.280 friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 0:01:16.319 --> 0:01:18.720 a limited time. Download the unit stapp and use the 0:01:18.720 --> 0:01:20.800 code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 0:01:20.840 --> 0:01:23.319 fifty dollars bonus when you find your account. That's code 0:01:23.360 --> 0:01:26.320 iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 0:01:26.720 --> 0:01:29.280 for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 0:01:29.360 --> 0:01:30.080 uness dot co. 0:01:32.840 --> 0:01:34.640 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 0:01:34.680 --> 0:01:37.679 Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 0:01:37.720 --> 0:01:38.399 the ministry. 0:01:38.520 --> 0:01:40.880 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:40.880 --> 0:01:42.440 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:01:42.760 --> 0:01:45.480 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:01:45.520 --> 0:01:49.440 your life. Well, God bless you, and it's a joy 0:01:49.480 --> 0:01:51.400 to come into your homes. And if you're ever in 0:01:51.480 --> 0:01:53.840 our area, please stop buy and be a part of 0:01:53.880 --> 0:01:56.200 one of our services. I promise you we'll make you 0:01:56.240 --> 0:01:58.960 feel right at home. But thanks so much for tuning in, 0:01:59.040 --> 0:02:01.840 and thanks again for coming out today. And I like 0:02:01.920 --> 0:02:04.640 to start with something funny. And I heard about this man. 0:02:05.200 --> 0:02:08.919 He was on vacation in Jerusalem with his family when 0:02:08.960 --> 0:02:12.160 his mother in law suddenly died. He went to make 0:02:12.280 --> 0:02:15.160 arrangements to get her body back home, and the consulate 0:02:15.200 --> 0:02:17.960 said it would cost five thousand dollars to have her shipped, 0:02:18.440 --> 0:02:20.799 but he could have her buried right there in Jerusalem 0:02:20.800 --> 0:02:23.600 for one hundred and fifty dollars. Men thought about it 0:02:23.639 --> 0:02:25.519 a moment and said, I'd like to have her body 0:02:25.520 --> 0:02:28.880 shipped home. Consulate said, wow, you must have really loved 0:02:28.919 --> 0:02:31.040 your mother in law. He said, no, it's not so 0:02:31.160 --> 0:02:33.960 much that. I just remember a case here many years 0:02:33.960 --> 0:02:36.560 ago when they buried somebody and on the. 0:02:36.520 --> 0:02:39.040 Third day they arose. And I can't take that chance. 0:02:40.800 --> 0:02:43.320 I have to say, I am blessed with a very 0:02:43.320 --> 0:02:45.160 awesome mother in law right here on the front row. 0:02:46.560 --> 0:02:50.560 It's her daughter I have problems with. And hold up 0:02:50.600 --> 0:02:52.800 your Bible, say it like you mean it. This is 0:02:52.880 --> 0:02:55.680 my Bible. I am what it says, I am, I 0:02:55.720 --> 0:02:56.760 have what it says I have. 0:02:57.280 --> 0:02:59.760 I can do what it says I can do today, 0:03:00.000 --> 0:03:02.760 I will be taught the word of God. I boldly 0:03:02.800 --> 0:03:06.320 confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:03:06.639 --> 0:03:10.200 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:03:10.240 --> 0:03:10.720 bless you. 0:03:11.880 --> 0:03:14.360 I want to talk to you today about use it 0:03:14.800 --> 0:03:18.680 or lose it. God has placed gifts and talents on 0:03:18.720 --> 0:03:22.079 the inside of each one of us. There is potential 0:03:22.200 --> 0:03:24.880 in you that you've not yet tapped into. 0:03:25.240 --> 0:03:27.640 It wasn't designed to come out all at once. 0:03:28.280 --> 0:03:31.560 You don't become everything you were created to be overnight. 0:03:32.440 --> 0:03:36.400 These gifts were putting you on a time release. They 0:03:36.400 --> 0:03:40.000 are destined to open up at certain points throughout your life. 0:03:40.720 --> 0:03:44.240 You will come into seasons of new growth, seasons of 0:03:44.280 --> 0:03:48.720 new opportunity. Seasons will you discover talent and ability that 0:03:48.760 --> 0:03:52.040 you didn't know you had. We weren't created to reach 0:03:52.080 --> 0:03:55.920 one level and get stuck. You may have finished your education, 0:03:56.400 --> 0:04:00.000 but you haven't finished learning. You may have that position 0:04:00.040 --> 0:04:03.720 and you've always dreamed of. You're satisfied, but that's not 0:04:03.840 --> 0:04:08.040 your final step. God is not satisfied. He's put more 0:04:08.120 --> 0:04:12.520 in you. He has new talents, new abilities, even new levels. 0:04:13.280 --> 0:04:17.279 But too often we have gifts lying dormant because we're 0:04:17.320 --> 0:04:19.279 not taking time to develop them. 0:04:19.640 --> 0:04:20.640 We're not being. 0:04:20.440 --> 0:04:24.640 Disciplined to study, to grow, to become better. We have 0:04:24.760 --> 0:04:29.600 talent that's being underutilized because we're comfortable. We don't want 0:04:29.640 --> 0:04:32.440 to have to stretch and do something out of our routine. 0:04:32.640 --> 0:04:35.360 We think, oh, man, I'm doing good enough. But good 0:04:35.440 --> 0:04:40.520 enough is not your destiny. Sometimes we're stuck because we're intimidated. 0:04:41.200 --> 0:04:43.840 We let thoughts of fear and doubt talk us out 0:04:43.920 --> 0:04:47.320 of it, things like you can't take that management position, 0:04:47.800 --> 0:04:50.839 you can't write that book, you can't lead that class. 0:04:50.520 --> 0:04:53.520 You're not qualified, you come from the wrong family. 0:04:54.440 --> 0:04:57.240 All the what if thoughts come? What if you try 0:04:57.279 --> 0:04:59.560 and fail? What if it doesn't work out? 0:05:00.080 --> 0:05:01.720 What if you get up there in you're embarrassed? 0:05:02.160 --> 0:05:04.120 Well, what if you get up there and you succeed? 0:05:04.839 --> 0:05:06.960 What if you go to a new level? What if 0:05:07.000 --> 0:05:10.239 you set a new standard for your family. Don't let 0:05:10.279 --> 0:05:11.520 fear keep you. 0:05:11.480 --> 0:05:12.440 From your destiny. 0:05:12.960 --> 0:05:16.120 That is a time released gift trying to come out. 0:05:17.000 --> 0:05:20.479 Don't miss your season. You look up and another year 0:05:20.680 --> 0:05:24.760 is gone. Life is flying by. You don't have time 0:05:24.839 --> 0:05:30.040 to waste being unfocused, intimidated, letting opportunities. 0:05:29.279 --> 0:05:32.240 Pass you by. You have to draw that line in 0:05:32.279 --> 0:05:33.480 the sand and say that's it. 0:05:33.640 --> 0:05:36.960 I'm going to get focused. I'm going to be intentional. 0:05:37.560 --> 0:05:39.839 I'm not going to play it safe my whole life. 0:05:39.920 --> 0:05:43.680 I'm going to start stretching, taking steps of faith to 0:05:43.800 --> 0:05:45.560 release these gifts. 0:05:45.279 --> 0:05:48.400 That God has put in me. Paul said in Romans. 0:05:48.720 --> 0:05:53.320 God has given each person the ability to do certain things. Well, 0:05:54.120 --> 0:05:57.400 you have a gift. There's something you're good at. Find 0:05:57.400 --> 0:05:58.240 out what it is. 0:05:58.360 --> 0:05:59.159 And do it well. 0:06:00.320 --> 0:06:02.839 Maybe you can sing and you've never had a lesson. 0:06:03.640 --> 0:06:06.840 You can figure out how things work technically and nobody. 0:06:06.480 --> 0:06:07.920 Had to teach you. 0:06:07.920 --> 0:06:10.880 You can stand up in front of people, lead that class. 0:06:11.160 --> 0:06:13.400 You don't even think twice about it. It's just who 0:06:13.440 --> 0:06:17.640 you are. Those are gifts that God has invested in you. 0:06:18.360 --> 0:06:19.040 Here's the key. 0:06:19.560 --> 0:06:24.080 God is expecting a return on his investment. Do you 0:06:24.200 --> 0:06:28.000 have gifts that are being underutilized. You're not taking time 0:06:28.080 --> 0:06:31.520 to develop them. You're too busy to put forth the 0:06:31.560 --> 0:06:35.359 extra effort to stretch to learn to become better. Or 0:06:35.360 --> 0:06:39.200 perhaps you can feel that stirring on the inside, you 0:06:39.240 --> 0:06:42.120 can feel that desire in your spirit. You know you should, 0:06:42.200 --> 0:06:44.760 but you keep talking yourself out of it, letting it 0:06:44.839 --> 0:06:45.599 intimidate you. 0:06:46.839 --> 0:06:48.960 Jesus said in Matthew twenty five. 0:06:49.720 --> 0:06:54.320 Those who use well what they've been given, even more 0:06:54.560 --> 0:06:58.480 will be given to them. But to those who are unfaithful, 0:06:58.960 --> 0:07:00.560 even what little they have. 0:07:00.880 --> 0:07:03.159 Will be taken away. 0:07:03.279 --> 0:07:07.240 If you don't use well what you've been given, if 0:07:07.240 --> 0:07:10.920 you're not taking time to develop your talents to maximize 0:07:10.920 --> 0:07:12.600 your potential, then it can. 0:07:12.480 --> 0:07:13.960 Be taken away. 0:07:14.120 --> 0:07:19.800 But when you use well, you're responsible, you're focused, you're passionate, 0:07:20.040 --> 0:07:24.240 you study, you grow, you get better. Because you're using well, 0:07:24.680 --> 0:07:28.520 even more will be given to you. This scripture came 0:07:28.520 --> 0:07:31.240 from the parable that Jesus told about the talents. 0:07:31.760 --> 0:07:34.080 There was a man that went on a long journey. 0:07:34.440 --> 0:07:38.080 He left three of his employees different amounts of talents 0:07:38.120 --> 0:07:40.960 to take care of while he was gone. A talent 0:07:41.080 --> 0:07:44.240 back in those days was about one thousand dollars. To 0:07:44.320 --> 0:07:47.960 one man, he left five talents, to another two talents, 0:07:48.240 --> 0:07:50.360 and to the third man he left one talent. 0:07:50.800 --> 0:07:52.680 Then he went on his journey. 0:07:52.800 --> 0:07:56.120 The man with the five immediately went out and invested 0:07:56.160 --> 0:08:00.440 those talents. Over time, he gained five more. Man with 0:08:00.520 --> 0:08:03.000 the two invested those and gained two more. 0:08:03.840 --> 0:08:06.000 But this third man was afraid. 0:08:06.640 --> 0:08:08.840 He went out and dug a hole in the ground 0:08:09.000 --> 0:08:13.560 and buried his talent. Months later, when the owner returned, 0:08:14.160 --> 0:08:16.800 the man with the five talents came and said, sir, 0:08:16.840 --> 0:08:19.560 here are your five talents that you gave me, plus 0:08:19.760 --> 0:08:23.800 five more that I gained. The owner said, well done, 0:08:23.880 --> 0:08:26.800 you've been faithful over a little Now I'm going to 0:08:26.800 --> 0:08:29.920 give you more. The second man said, sir, here are 0:08:29.960 --> 0:08:32.320 the two talents you gave me, plus two more that 0:08:32.400 --> 0:08:32.959 I gained. 0:08:33.480 --> 0:08:34.600 Owner said the same thing. 0:08:34.840 --> 0:08:37.600 Well done, You've been faithful with what I've given you. 0:08:37.720 --> 0:08:40.680 Now I'm going to give you more. This third man 0:08:40.720 --> 0:08:43.559 came up, said, sir, I was afraid. I didn't want 0:08:43.559 --> 0:08:44.600 to lose what you gave me. 0:08:45.000 --> 0:08:47.240 I didn't want to take any risks, so I just 0:08:47.320 --> 0:08:50.439 buried my talent. Here's the one talent that you gave me. 0:08:51.480 --> 0:08:56.080 This owner, who represents God, could have said, I understand 0:08:56.640 --> 0:08:58.680 you played it safe. At least you didn't lose what 0:08:58.760 --> 0:09:03.200 I gave you. Instead, the owner was furious. He was 0:09:03.280 --> 0:09:07.080 so angry he said, you lazy man. You should have 0:09:07.080 --> 0:09:09.120 at least put my money in the bank so I 0:09:09.120 --> 0:09:12.520 could have earned some interest. Now take from him who 0:09:12.600 --> 0:09:15.640 has won and give it to the man who has ten. 0:09:16.920 --> 0:09:18.120 You would think, since. 0:09:17.920 --> 0:09:21.240 God is so loving, so merciful, he would have said, 0:09:21.240 --> 0:09:23.800 look at this poor guy, he only has one talent. 0:09:24.320 --> 0:09:25.840 He's afraid insecure. 0:09:26.320 --> 0:09:28.319 Go get a few talents from that man that had 0:09:28.360 --> 0:09:31.920 ten and give it to him. It was just the opposite. 0:09:32.000 --> 0:09:35.680 God was showing us this principle. If you don't use it, 0:09:36.120 --> 0:09:40.520 you'll lose it. If you're always making excuses waiting for 0:09:40.559 --> 0:09:43.400 the perfect time to take a step of faith. Joel, 0:09:43.400 --> 0:09:45.880 one day I'll get out of my comfort zone. One 0:09:45.960 --> 0:09:48.319 day I'll step up and teach that class. One day 0:09:48.320 --> 0:09:52.640 I'll hone my skills. You'll one day may never come. Friends, 0:09:52.720 --> 0:09:56.880 today is your day. Don't put it off another year. 0:09:57.640 --> 0:10:03.120 Don't live life in neutral passionate, not intentional, not focus. 0:10:03.400 --> 0:10:05.240 Stir up what God's given you. 0:10:06.080 --> 0:10:09.760 Dare to take those steps of faith, develop those talents. 0:10:10.240 --> 0:10:13.839 God is expecting a return from what he's invested in you. 0:10:14.800 --> 0:10:17.280 I don't know about you, but I don't want anyone 0:10:17.320 --> 0:10:19.959 getting what should have been mine. 0:10:20.080 --> 0:10:20.960 I'm not greedy. 0:10:21.080 --> 0:10:23.400 I love to give, but I don't want God to 0:10:23.440 --> 0:10:26.559 have to say, Joe, you're not using that talent, that 0:10:26.640 --> 0:10:30.360 gift you're not staying passionate, you're not taking steps to 0:10:30.440 --> 0:10:33.160 move forward. So I'm going to take what should have 0:10:33.240 --> 0:10:36.520 been yours and give it to someone that's being a 0:10:36.559 --> 0:10:38.880 good steward over what I've given them. 0:10:39.440 --> 0:10:42.600 Now, make this decision with me. You're going to stretch, 0:10:43.200 --> 0:10:46.599 You're going to grow. You're going to pray bold prayers. 0:10:46.880 --> 0:10:48.720 You're going to dream big dreams. 0:10:49.000 --> 0:10:52.360 You're not going to live intimidated, letting thoughts of defeat 0:10:52.400 --> 0:10:54.560 talk you out of it. Or you can't do it. 0:10:54.600 --> 0:10:56.760 You don't have what it takes. This is as far 0:10:56.840 --> 0:10:59.280 good as it gets. No, let that go in one 0:10:59.360 --> 0:11:03.040 ear and the other. Keep using what you have and 0:11:03.080 --> 0:11:05.960 God will give you more. I want to light a 0:11:06.000 --> 0:11:09.360 new fire under us today because we're not always going 0:11:09.440 --> 0:11:12.640 to be here. The Psalmist said, our life is like 0:11:12.720 --> 0:11:16.040 a mist. We're here one moment and then we're gone. 0:11:16.600 --> 0:11:20.040 When you're tempted to be indifferent, to not pursue what 0:11:20.120 --> 0:11:22.760 you know is in you, you have to remind. 0:11:22.400 --> 0:11:25.560 Yourself this principle. If I don't use it, I'm going 0:11:25.600 --> 0:11:26.199 to lose it. 0:11:26.800 --> 0:11:29.719 If I'm not giving God a return on his investment, 0:11:30.280 --> 0:11:33.400 if I'm not being a good steward, then he's going 0:11:33.440 --> 0:11:35.560 to take what should have been mine and give it 0:11:35.559 --> 0:11:39.040 to someone else. This is not so that you will 0:11:39.080 --> 0:11:43.040 live pressured, but so that you will live passionate, so 0:11:43.160 --> 0:11:46.320 you will stir up gifts that are being underutilized, so 0:11:46.440 --> 0:11:49.400 you will take steps of faith to become all you were. 0:11:49.280 --> 0:11:49.880 Created to be. 0:11:50.920 --> 0:11:54.400 Here's the key. It's not important how many talents you have. 0:11:54.760 --> 0:11:58.320 What's important is are you using what you have. I 0:11:58.400 --> 0:12:02.200 may have four, has an he has three. God is 0:12:02.240 --> 0:12:06.600 given to every person, different talents, different amounts. He's not 0:12:06.679 --> 0:12:08.800 going to judge us by Did you go as far 0:12:08.840 --> 0:12:11.800 as your neighbor? Were you as smart as your coworker? 0:12:12.320 --> 0:12:14.760 Were you as talented as your cousin? None of that 0:12:14.800 --> 0:12:17.760 matters to God. He didn't say to the man that 0:12:17.840 --> 0:12:19.880 brought him two extra talents. 0:12:19.960 --> 0:12:22.760 Boy, I'm disappointed in you. Why didn't you bring me 0:12:22.840 --> 0:12:26.080 five like the first man? No, he told him, well done, 0:12:26.600 --> 0:12:28.920 just like the first man. What's the point. 0:12:29.240 --> 0:12:33.800 Don't compare your talents with somebody else. You may have 0:12:33.880 --> 0:12:36.440 received three and they receive six. 0:12:36.679 --> 0:12:37.719 That's not up for. 0:12:37.679 --> 0:12:40.560 You to decide. You don't have to keep up with them. 0:12:40.880 --> 0:12:43.880 Just run your race. Be the best you can be. 0:12:44.200 --> 0:12:47.400 What God's given you. If you'll be faithful with the three, 0:12:47.760 --> 0:12:52.840 God will increase you. But when we compare our talents 0:12:52.840 --> 0:12:57.439 to somebody else, will end up competing with them, trying 0:12:57.480 --> 0:13:01.400 to outperform them, outdress them, out, drive them, out build them, 0:13:01.559 --> 0:13:04.079 competing in a race we were never designed to be in. 0:13:05.080 --> 0:13:06.840 When we compare, we end. 0:13:06.760 --> 0:13:11.520 Up discouraged because there's always somebody more beautiful, more talented, 0:13:11.720 --> 0:13:16.439 more successful. Take the talent that you have and hone 0:13:16.559 --> 0:13:21.480 that skill, develop it, grow, learn, study, and God will 0:13:21.520 --> 0:13:24.840 give you more. When I first started ministering back in 0:13:24.920 --> 0:13:28.319 nineteen ninety nine, I didn't really know what I was doing. 0:13:28.800 --> 0:13:32.400 I'd only ministered one time before. Then that same week 0:13:32.480 --> 0:13:36.160 my dad died. Two weeks later, I found myself up 0:13:36.280 --> 0:13:40.160 again in front of six thousand people. The first few months, 0:13:40.280 --> 0:13:41.160 I couldn't even. 0:13:41.000 --> 0:13:43.960 Watch myself on video. I was so embarrassed. 0:13:44.320 --> 0:13:47.040 I talked so high and so fast, and you could 0:13:47.080 --> 0:13:50.200 tell I was very nervous. And of course I grew 0:13:50.280 --> 0:13:53.160 up as a minister's son. I've seen some of the 0:13:53.200 --> 0:13:57.559 most experienced, articulate, incredible ministers of our day. 0:13:57.559 --> 0:13:58.760 I've seen them firsthand. 0:13:59.520 --> 0:14:02.880 I would have made a mistake of comparing my talent 0:14:02.960 --> 0:14:06.679 to theirs, trying to compete and outperform them. I would 0:14:06.679 --> 0:14:10.280 have given up and quit right there at the very beginning. Instead, 0:14:10.960 --> 0:14:14.160 I simply took what God had given me. I took 0:14:14.200 --> 0:14:17.800 that one talent, and I kept honing it, kept working 0:14:17.800 --> 0:14:21.240 on it, kept studying, kept growing. When I would see 0:14:21.280 --> 0:14:26.200 these other ministers that are incredibly experienced, incredibly talented, instead 0:14:26.200 --> 0:14:27.960 of being intimidated by them. 0:14:28.120 --> 0:14:29.600 I would be inspired by them. 0:14:30.480 --> 0:14:34.160 Little by little, God gave me more insight, more ability, 0:14:34.240 --> 0:14:35.440 more influence. 0:14:35.040 --> 0:14:35.600 More favor. 0:14:36.040 --> 0:14:38.720 I could have looked at what I didn't have. Instead 0:14:39.080 --> 0:14:42.200 I focused on what I did have. I've learned you 0:14:42.280 --> 0:14:44.640 don't have to have a great gift for God to 0:14:44.760 --> 0:14:47.920 use you in a great way. If you'll be faithful 0:14:48.080 --> 0:14:50.960 with what God has given you, He'll entrust you with more. 0:14:51.840 --> 0:14:55.160 Are you using well what you have or are you 0:14:55.240 --> 0:14:59.960 comparing what you have being discouraged, competing with someone that's 0:15:00.040 --> 0:15:03.160 not even in your race? Are you hiding your gifts, 0:15:03.680 --> 0:15:07.360 burying your talents, too busy to invest in what God's 0:15:07.360 --> 0:15:11.560 given you? Friends, Developing your gifts is not an option. 0:15:11.880 --> 0:15:14.040 If you don't use it, you can lose it. 0:15:15.000 --> 0:15:18.480 We see this principle in the Book of Genesis, Isaac 0:15:18.600 --> 0:15:22.720 said to his son Esau, your brother has carried away 0:15:22.760 --> 0:15:27.040 your blessing. That doesn't seem fair. Surely God wouldn't let 0:15:27.120 --> 0:15:28.400 someone take his blessing. 0:15:28.600 --> 0:15:29.480 But there's a reason. 0:15:30.680 --> 0:15:35.160 Esau was the firstborn son. His twin brother, Jacob was 0:15:35.200 --> 0:15:38.960 born right after him. In fact, the scripture says during childbirth, 0:15:39.280 --> 0:15:43.240 Jacob was grabbing at Esau's hills, trying to get ahead. 0:15:43.280 --> 0:15:46.840 From the very beginning, Jacob made a lot of mistakes. 0:15:47.320 --> 0:15:51.360 He didn't have integrity, He cheated people. But despite all 0:15:51.400 --> 0:15:55.360 these weaknesses, he had a boldness to become who he. 0:15:55.320 --> 0:15:56.120 Was created to be. 0:15:57.040 --> 0:16:00.680 One time, he even wrestled with an angel. He told 0:16:00.680 --> 0:16:03.200 the angel, I'm not letting you leave until you bless me. 0:16:03.760 --> 0:16:05.080 The angel blessed him. 0:16:05.640 --> 0:16:08.640 He went about it the wrong way, especially at first, 0:16:08.920 --> 0:16:12.240 but he was passionate about fulfilling his destiny. 0:16:13.080 --> 0:16:17.040 On the other hand, his brother Esau was just the opposite. 0:16:18.040 --> 0:16:21.240 Esau knew he had the blessing that came from being 0:16:21.240 --> 0:16:24.640 the firstborn son. He knew he would get double the 0:16:24.720 --> 0:16:28.840 inheritance from their father. Back in those days, that birthright 0:16:29.240 --> 0:16:34.280 was extremely valuable. But one day Esau had been out hunting, 0:16:34.760 --> 0:16:37.880 trying to find something to eat. He couldn't kill anything, 0:16:37.960 --> 0:16:40.880 and he came back so hungry, felt like he was 0:16:40.920 --> 0:16:45.160 going to starve. He smelled some stew that Jacob had made. 0:16:45.720 --> 0:16:47.520 He went over and asked his brother if he could 0:16:47.560 --> 0:16:50.760 have some. Will Jacob, being the schemer that he was, 0:16:51.520 --> 0:16:53.440 he said, hey, Esau, make a deal with you. 0:16:53.840 --> 0:16:57.200 I'll trade you my potter stew for your birthright. Was 0:16:57.240 --> 0:16:58.360 a ridiculous offer. 0:16:58.840 --> 0:17:01.120 Today, it'd be like saying I'll give you my house 0:17:01.200 --> 0:17:04.280 and my car for one meal. He shouldn't have even 0:17:04.440 --> 0:17:09.440 entertained it. But Esau was so indifferent about what he had, 0:17:10.200 --> 0:17:13.880 so nonchalant, he thought, Hey, what good is this birthright 0:17:13.920 --> 0:17:14.439 going to do me? 0:17:14.480 --> 0:17:16.080 Anyway? If I starved to death? 0:17:17.000 --> 0:17:22.320 He traded something extremely valuable for a pot of stew. Now, 0:17:22.359 --> 0:17:26.119 God could have stopped it. God controls the universe. He 0:17:26.160 --> 0:17:28.640 didn't have to let his brother carry away his blessing. 0:17:28.760 --> 0:17:29.639 Why did it happen? 0:17:30.600 --> 0:17:34.760 When God sees someone that has the blessing and doesn't 0:17:34.840 --> 0:17:38.920 value it, they're not passionate about what God has given them. 0:17:39.240 --> 0:17:42.600 They take it for granted, this birthright, No big deal, 0:17:43.160 --> 0:17:44.360 these gifts, these talents. 0:17:45.040 --> 0:17:46.200 I'll develop them later. 0:17:47.119 --> 0:17:53.080 If we're nonchalant like Esau, not disciplined, not focused, then 0:17:53.160 --> 0:17:55.560 someone can carry away our blessing. 0:17:56.280 --> 0:17:59.200 God is saying, I'd rather have someone. 0:17:59.080 --> 0:18:04.040 Like Jacob that makes mistakes, that has weaknesses, but at 0:18:04.080 --> 0:18:06.320 least they're passionate about serving me. 0:18:07.080 --> 0:18:09.080 At least they recognize their gifts. 0:18:09.280 --> 0:18:12.280 They'll go wrestle with an angel if they have to 0:18:12.280 --> 0:18:14.000 to become who I've created. 0:18:13.640 --> 0:18:14.040 Them to be. 0:18:15.160 --> 0:18:19.840 I'd rather have someone like that than someone like Esau 0:18:20.080 --> 0:18:22.920 that has the blessing and doesn't value it. 0:18:23.920 --> 0:18:27.800 The scripture says God hated Esau. I can't find. 0:18:27.600 --> 0:18:30.200 Anyone else in the scripture where it says God hated him. 0:18:30.760 --> 0:18:34.879 What did Esau do that was so bad? Kill someone, lie? Cheat? 0:18:34.960 --> 0:18:39.400 Still, what made God so displeased was that he had 0:18:39.440 --> 0:18:40.760 the blessing. 0:18:40.600 --> 0:18:41.720 And he didn't value it. 0:18:42.280 --> 0:18:45.040 He wasn't focused, he wasn't disciplined, he wasn't passionate. 0:18:45.760 --> 0:18:47.720 That's why the apostle Paul told. 0:18:47.600 --> 0:18:52.480 Timothy, Timothy, stir up your gifts, fan your flame, recognize 0:18:52.480 --> 0:18:52.919 what you have. 0:18:53.840 --> 0:18:56.400 When I look back over my life, God's been too 0:18:56.440 --> 0:18:59.240 good to me to live indifferent, nonchalant. 0:19:00.800 --> 0:19:04.240 I have too much respect and all for God to 0:19:04.320 --> 0:19:07.240 take things for granted. Think well, if I have time, 0:19:07.280 --> 0:19:10.680 I'll develop this gift God. One day I'll be more focused, 0:19:10.680 --> 0:19:14.560 more intentional, more discipline. Don't be an essom. Don't let 0:19:14.600 --> 0:19:18.040 someone carry away your blessing. If you don't value and 0:19:18.200 --> 0:19:21.840 use it, it can be taken away. Well, you say, Joel, 0:19:21.840 --> 0:19:24.879 I've missed a lot of opportunities, made a lot of mistakes. 0:19:25.000 --> 0:19:27.520 I guess it's too late for me. No, just the 0:19:27.600 --> 0:19:30.760 fact that you're here today, just the fact that you're 0:19:30.840 --> 0:19:34.200 listening is a sign you have a heart after God. 0:19:34.760 --> 0:19:37.440 And what's happened in the past is not important. What's 0:19:37.480 --> 0:19:41.159 important is right now. You can do like Timothy and 0:19:41.280 --> 0:19:45.000 start stirring up your gifts, start using well what God 0:19:45.040 --> 0:19:48.119 has given you. If you do this, you don't have 0:19:48.200 --> 0:19:52.280 to worry. Nobody can carry away your blessing. God has 0:19:52.320 --> 0:19:56.399 a hedge around you and your future that cannot be 0:19:56.560 --> 0:20:01.000 penetrated without God's permission. The only reason and Esaul lost 0:20:01.000 --> 0:20:04.880 his blessing is because God pulled back that hedge and said, 0:20:04.920 --> 0:20:07.040 all right, Esau, you're not going to use it, So 0:20:07.119 --> 0:20:10.040 I'm going to give it to somebody that will use. 0:20:10.040 --> 0:20:11.800 Well what I've given them. 0:20:12.359 --> 0:20:16.120 When the prophet Samuel came to Jesse's house to anoint 0:20:16.160 --> 0:20:19.560 one of his sons as the next king, Jesse didn't 0:20:19.560 --> 0:20:23.240 even bring his youngest son, David into the house. When 0:20:23.280 --> 0:20:26.000 Samuel tried to pour the oil on the other sons, 0:20:26.119 --> 0:20:30.880 it wouldn't flow. It defied gravity. David eventually came into 0:20:30.920 --> 0:20:34.800 the house. When Samuel poured the oil, it freely flowed 0:20:34.920 --> 0:20:35.520 on David. 0:20:36.280 --> 0:20:37.040 What am I saying? 0:20:37.440 --> 0:20:39.960 You don't have to live worried, thinking, Oh man, I'm 0:20:40.000 --> 0:20:43.360 falling behind. Other people are getting my blessing. I'll never 0:20:43.400 --> 0:20:45.720 get the break I need. Know, as long as you 0:20:45.840 --> 0:20:50.280 keep honoring God, stirring up your gifts, developing your talents, 0:20:50.680 --> 0:20:53.840 the oil that belongs to you will not flow to 0:20:53.920 --> 0:20:54.720 anybody else. 0:20:54.960 --> 0:20:57.320 God will get you to where you're supposed to be. 0:20:58.680 --> 0:21:01.199 When David was out in those shepherd's fields as a 0:21:01.240 --> 0:21:02.840 young man, was lonely. 0:21:03.480 --> 0:21:05.120 His father didn't believe in him. 0:21:05.720 --> 0:21:08.439 He had big dreams, but all he did day in 0:21:08.440 --> 0:21:11.719 and day out was take care of sheep. But instead 0:21:11.760 --> 0:21:15.040 of sitting around complaining, he would get his slingshot out 0:21:15.160 --> 0:21:16.600 and he would sling rocks. 0:21:17.040 --> 0:21:18.399 He became an expert. 0:21:18.880 --> 0:21:22.760 He could hit a bullseye one hundred feet away compared 0:21:22.800 --> 0:21:26.280 to his dream. It was a small talent, no big deal. 0:21:26.720 --> 0:21:30.560 But because he developed the small one day, that small 0:21:30.640 --> 0:21:33.880 talent led him to defeat a big giant. 0:21:33.680 --> 0:21:35.240 That took him to the throne of Israel. 0:21:35.840 --> 0:21:37.840 What if he had been out in the shepherd's field saying, 0:21:37.880 --> 0:21:40.640 God is boring out here. How come I didn't get 0:21:40.640 --> 0:21:42.960 a big gift God, I don't want to mess with 0:21:43.040 --> 0:21:46.399 this slingshot. I want to lead an army. If he 0:21:46.440 --> 0:21:50.520 would have been indifferent like Esau, not valued what God 0:21:50.520 --> 0:21:54.000 had given him, that oil could have flowed to somebody else. 0:21:54.520 --> 0:21:56.119 This is where many people miss it. 0:21:56.560 --> 0:22:00.720 You have to be productive right where you are whatever 0:22:00.760 --> 0:22:03.879 God's given you, even if it's small, developed that gift. 0:22:04.640 --> 0:22:08.400 God invests the most in people who are productive. If 0:22:08.400 --> 0:22:12.320 you'll show God increase, God will increase you more. When 0:22:12.359 --> 0:22:16.560 the Israelites were in slavery, God said to Moses, go 0:22:16.640 --> 0:22:20.440 tell Pharaoh to let my people go. Moses said, God, 0:22:20.480 --> 0:22:23.920 I can't do that. I don't speak well. I stutter. 0:22:24.840 --> 0:22:26.800 He was saying, God, I didn't get a big gift. 0:22:27.200 --> 0:22:31.280 I just got one talent. He kept making excuse after excuse, 0:22:31.640 --> 0:22:36.120 so much so The scripture says God became angry with Moses. 0:22:36.880 --> 0:22:40.520 He wasn't angry because he stuttered. He wasn't angry because 0:22:40.560 --> 0:22:44.160 he had flaws. He was angry because he didn't see 0:22:44.160 --> 0:22:47.640 his gift as being enough. He was like the man 0:22:47.680 --> 0:22:51.159 with the one talent, hiding it afraid, thinking he didn't 0:22:51.160 --> 0:22:54.480 have what it takes. God is not displeased with us 0:22:54.720 --> 0:22:59.680 because we still have weaknesses, we have shortcomings. He's displeased 0:23:00.119 --> 0:23:03.960 when we're not using what he's given us, when we're making. 0:23:03.760 --> 0:23:06.520 Excuses discounting our gifts. 0:23:06.880 --> 0:23:09.760 Listen, God wouldn't have asked you to do it if 0:23:09.760 --> 0:23:12.639 he hadn't already given you exactly what you need. 0:23:13.440 --> 0:23:14.920 Quit discounting yourself. 0:23:15.520 --> 0:23:18.160 Well, Joel, if I had his talents, if I had 0:23:18.200 --> 0:23:20.680 her looks, if I had their gifts, then I could 0:23:20.720 --> 0:23:21.560 do something great. 0:23:21.960 --> 0:23:22.960 No, take the. 0:23:22.840 --> 0:23:26.320 Talent that you have, whether it's five to two or one, 0:23:26.720 --> 0:23:29.240 and make the most of that. If you'll use what 0:23:29.280 --> 0:23:33.440 God's given you, He'll give you more. Moses kept complaining, 0:23:33.920 --> 0:23:37.720 he kept making excuses. Finally God said to him, Moses, 0:23:38.200 --> 0:23:42.360 who made your tongue? Who makes the death here? Who 0:23:42.400 --> 0:23:45.919 makes the blind to see? He was saying Moses, I 0:23:46.000 --> 0:23:50.479 created the universe. I flung stars into space. I spoke 0:23:50.520 --> 0:23:54.040 worlds into existence. Moses, I know what I'm doing. You 0:23:54.119 --> 0:23:57.679 didn't get short changed, You're not lacking. I've given you 0:23:57.880 --> 0:24:02.160 exactly what you need. Moses still didn't believe. He still 0:24:02.160 --> 0:24:05.320 wouldn't do it. He was holding a staff in his hand, 0:24:05.359 --> 0:24:07.600 a rod, and God told him to throw it down. 0:24:08.280 --> 0:24:10.600 When he did, it turned into a snake. 0:24:11.720 --> 0:24:15.119 Moses, this mighty man of faith, the one who eventually 0:24:15.160 --> 0:24:18.639 parted the Red Sea and delivered the Israelites from slavery. 0:24:19.240 --> 0:24:21.400 When he saw that snake, you know what he did. 0:24:21.680 --> 0:24:26.240 The scripture says he was terrified and turned and ran away. 0:24:26.440 --> 0:24:29.840 Sometimes we see these heroes of faith in the scripture 0:24:30.040 --> 0:24:31.359 as being superhuman. 0:24:31.920 --> 0:24:33.720 It's good to know they were just like us. 0:24:34.400 --> 0:24:36.720 He was talking with God, saw a snake and took 0:24:36.760 --> 0:24:39.320 off running. That means there's hope for you and me. 0:24:40.600 --> 0:24:44.000 God told him to do something interesting. He said, Moses, 0:24:44.600 --> 0:24:48.120 go back and pick up that snake. Can't you hear God, 0:24:48.160 --> 0:24:50.960 I'm not about to touch that snake. I'll go speak 0:24:51.000 --> 0:24:53.080 to Fao now, but I'm not gonna touch that snake. 0:24:53.720 --> 0:24:56.760 Sometimes God will ask us to do things that we're 0:24:56.800 --> 0:25:00.920 afraid of when my father died. God, I can't step 0:25:01.000 --> 0:25:04.280 up and pastor the church. I've only ministered one time. 0:25:04.960 --> 0:25:08.159 But just because you feel fear doesn't mean you're not 0:25:08.200 --> 0:25:12.040 supposed to do it. If you have all the confidence, courage, 0:25:12.040 --> 0:25:14.359 strength to do it on your own, doesn't take any faith. 0:25:15.160 --> 0:25:17.400 Faith says God. I'm afraid. 0:25:18.119 --> 0:25:20.040 I don't know if I can step up and speak 0:25:20.080 --> 0:25:22.360 in front of these people. God, I don't know if 0:25:22.359 --> 0:25:24.600 this new business I'm starting is going to make it. 0:25:24.800 --> 0:25:26.920 But God, I believe you put it in my heart. 0:25:27.200 --> 0:25:29.680 So I'm going to take a step of faith, knowing 0:25:29.720 --> 0:25:31.919 that you're with me each step of the way, and 0:25:32.000 --> 0:25:34.119 that you will get me to where I'm supposed to be. 0:25:35.400 --> 0:25:37.919 You have to get out of your comfort zone and 0:25:38.000 --> 0:25:41.760 do it afraid. If you play it safe your whole life, 0:25:41.840 --> 0:25:45.919 you'll never reach your full potential. Jesus gave an illustration 0:25:46.200 --> 0:25:49.240 in Luke chapter thirteen about a man that had a 0:25:49.280 --> 0:25:52.520 fig tree in his garden. He went out month after 0:25:52.640 --> 0:25:54.879 month checking on it, but it never had any fruit. 0:25:55.480 --> 0:25:58.640 He was so frustrated he finally said to his gardener, 0:25:59.119 --> 0:26:03.720 I've waited three this tree has never produced one fig 0:26:04.080 --> 0:26:07.160 cut it down. It's taking up space that we could 0:26:07.160 --> 0:26:10.800 be using for something else. The gardener said, sir, give 0:26:10.840 --> 0:26:15.120 it one more chance. Leave it another year. I'll give 0:26:15.160 --> 0:26:18.520 it special attention. If it doesn't produce fruit in a year, 0:26:18.640 --> 0:26:21.720 then we could cut it down. The owner of the 0:26:21.760 --> 0:26:26.840 tree represents the justice of God. He was saying, this 0:26:26.920 --> 0:26:30.880 tree should be further along for its age. At three 0:26:31.000 --> 0:26:35.200 years old, it should be producing fruit. Justice says, cut 0:26:35.240 --> 0:26:39.280 it down. It's taking up valuable space. Something could be 0:26:39.320 --> 0:26:41.760 put there that would make better use of the soil, 0:26:42.080 --> 0:26:47.879 the nutrients, the sunshine. The gardener represents the mercy of God. 0:26:48.480 --> 0:26:51.640 He said, sir, give it one more chance. 0:26:52.320 --> 0:26:55.280 Yes, it's bearing, but I still believe it can produce fruit. 0:26:55.680 --> 0:26:58.400 I still see some potential in it. It's not as 0:26:58.440 --> 0:27:00.159 far along as it should be, but I. 0:27:00.200 --> 0:27:02.680 Know it can catch up. Leave it one more year. 0:27:03.600 --> 0:27:06.520 If God came to take a look at your fig tree, 0:27:06.880 --> 0:27:09.600 when he looks at your life, will he see any fruit? 0:27:10.440 --> 0:27:14.080 Are you producing any figs? Developing what He's given you? 0:27:14.680 --> 0:27:17.680 Or would that tree be barren? Will Joe you said, 0:27:18.119 --> 0:27:19.760 use it or you lose it. I can tell you 0:27:19.840 --> 0:27:23.399 I've lost it. I've made mistakes. It's too late for me. 0:27:24.280 --> 0:27:28.680 Justice says you're right, you should be further along. Too bad, 0:27:28.760 --> 0:27:32.320 you're done. The good news is the God of Mercy says, 0:27:32.560 --> 0:27:34.199 I'm gonna give you another chance. 0:27:34.720 --> 0:27:38.359 I'm gonna work with you another year. I'm going to 0:27:38.359 --> 0:27:40.080 give you special. 0:27:39.640 --> 0:27:44.040 Attention, the grace, the favor, the wisdom, the strength, the 0:27:44.040 --> 0:27:48.160 breakthroughs to step up to become who you were created 0:27:48.200 --> 0:27:48.359 to be. 0:27:49.119 --> 0:27:53.640 My challenge is do your part and get focused. Be intentional. 0:27:54.359 --> 0:27:58.880 Don't waste another moment making excuses. Don't be like Esau 0:27:59.240 --> 0:28:03.640 and not vale you what God has given you. Live indifferent, nonchalant, 0:28:03.880 --> 0:28:05.920 no stir up those gifts. 0:28:06.480 --> 0:28:08.280 Be passionate about your dreams. 0:28:08.600 --> 0:28:10.960 Dare to take some steps of faith, getting out of 0:28:10.960 --> 0:28:14.840 your comfort zone. If you will use well what God 0:28:14.880 --> 0:28:18.800 has given you, I believe and declare God is about 0:28:18.800 --> 0:28:20.240 to increase you with more. 0:28:20.680 --> 0:28:23.320 You're about to step up to a new level. You're 0:28:23.320 --> 0:28:25.560 going to see new gifts, new. 0:28:25.320 --> 0:28:30.720 Talents, new opportunities, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name. 0:28:30.960 --> 0:28:33.359 And if you receive it today, can you say amen. 0:28:35.400 --> 0:28:38.320 We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 0:28:38.400 --> 0:28:41.440 an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. 0:28:41.880 --> 0:28:46.360 Would you pray with me, Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 0:28:46.520 --> 0:28:51.400 repent of my sins, Come into my heart. I make 0:28:51.480 --> 0:28:55.240 you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 0:28:55.360 --> 0:28:56.400 simple prayer, we. 0:28:56.440 --> 0:28:59.480 Believe you got born again. Get in a good Bible 0:28:59.480 --> 0:29:02.680 based church. Keep God first place. He's going to take 0:29:02.720 --> 0:29:06.200 your places that you've never dreamed. Thanks so much for 0:29:06.280 --> 0:29:09.640 listening to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe so you 0:29:09.640 --> 0:29:12.800 can receive the latest podcast to keep you encouraged and 0:29:12.920 --> 0:29:14.320 inspired all through the week. 0:29:14.480 --> 0:29:16.680 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:29:16.720 --> 0:29:20.160 with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 0:29:20.280 --> 0:29:22.880 or click the link in the description to partner with 0:29:22.960 --> 0:29:23.479 us today. 0:29:23.720 --> 0:29:26.160 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:29:26.280 --> 0:29:28.240 be sure to follow us on social media. 0:29:28.520 --> 0:29:31.800 We're praying for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 0:29:32.080 --> 0:29:33.120 We'll see you next time. 0:29:35.120 --> 0:29:37.640 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:29:37.680 --> 0:29:41.440 for their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, the church has largely 0:29:41.480 --> 0:29:44.720 been ill equipped to help. That is until now. Join 0:29:44.800 --> 0:29:47.880 yourly fifty thousand people just like you who've enrolled in 0:29:47.920 --> 0:29:51.040 the Mental Health Coach Training program and become equipped to 0:29:51.120 --> 0:29:54.000 health for a limited time. Apply for a full tuition 0:29:54.080 --> 0:29:56.560 scholarship and only pay a one time tech fee of 0:29:56.600 --> 0:30:00.400 fifty four dollars If accepted. Apply now at men health 0:30:00.400 --> 0:30:04.120 coach dot org. Again, that's mental health coach dot org. 0:30:06.360 --> 0:30:09.480 Did you know you can be happier enjoying watermelon? Eighty 0:30:09.520 --> 0:30:14.720 two percent of consumers agree eating watermelon boost their mood 0:30:14.760 --> 0:30:17.520 savor A slice pool side toss in to a salad 0:30:17.640 --> 0:30:20.280 blends into a child sommer smoothie, whether you eat the 0:30:20.320 --> 0:30:23.280 fruit or drink the juice, anyway you slice it. Eating 0:30:23.360 --> 0:30:26.400 watermelon one hundred percent makes you feel happy. Just look 0:30:26.400 --> 0:30:28.600 at the rind. It leaves a smile behind. 0:30:29.040 --> 0:30:30.440 Be happy and check out. 0:30:30.320 --> 0:30:33.200 The Slice of Happy project at watermelon dot org. 0:30:35.080 --> 0:30:37.840 With millions of books on Amazon, there's a reading feeling 0:30:37.880 --> 0:30:42.280 for everyone. For example, wands Uh as he drifts away 0:30:42.320 --> 0:30:43.400 to Nirvana. 0:30:43.000 --> 0:30:47.480 After only the first chapter is different to Maya's when 0:30:47.520 --> 0:30:50.440 she discovered the narrator was in fact the Evil Twin, 0:30:51.040 --> 0:30:52.240 which is also different. 0:30:52.000 --> 0:30:56.160 To Noah's aw anytime the cute cyberpunk is mentioned, even 0:30:56.160 --> 0:30:58.720 though in reality he'd be totally out of his league. 0:30:59.080 --> 0:31:04.720 From h two two Amazon books, that reading feeling awaits