What's Blocking Your Growth?

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This is not an offer 0:01:28.240 --> 0:01:30.080 to buy your self security snor is it investment, legal 0:01:30.200 --> 0:01:30.800 or tax advice. 0:01:31.040 --> 0:01:32.240 How high could. 0:01:32.000 --> 0:01:36.959 You rise if you weren't being shaded by compromise, by mediocrity. 0:01:37.760 --> 0:01:40.679 I know your love your friends, but your destiny is 0:01:40.720 --> 0:01:44.880 too great, your assignment too important to hang around people 0:01:45.120 --> 0:01:46.759 that are not adding to your life. 0:01:47.600 --> 0:01:48.559 You need people that. 0:01:48.480 --> 0:01:51.720 Bring out the best in you, people that inspire you 0:01:51.800 --> 0:01:54.520 to do better, that challenge you to live a life 0:01:54.560 --> 0:01:56.360 of excellence and integrity. 0:01:56.880 --> 0:01:59.600 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:59.640 --> 0:02:02.440 our pot podt and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:02:02.560 --> 0:02:04.920 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:02:04.920 --> 0:02:06.480 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:02:06.800 --> 0:02:09.520 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:02:09.560 --> 0:02:14.639 your life. Well, God bless you. 0:02:14.919 --> 0:02:17.720 It's great to have you today, and if you're ever 0:02:17.800 --> 0:02:19.280 in our area. 0:02:18.760 --> 0:02:21.680 Please stop buy be a part of one of our services. 0:02:21.720 --> 0:02:22.880 We would love to have you. 0:02:23.440 --> 0:02:25.840 I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week. 0:02:26.000 --> 0:02:29.680 We have a daily podcast. You can download our YouTube channel, 0:02:29.840 --> 0:02:31.360 watch the messages anytime. 0:02:31.639 --> 0:02:34.040 You can follow us on social media. We'll keep you 0:02:34.240 --> 0:02:35.720 encouraged and inspired. 0:02:36.440 --> 0:02:38.839 I like to start with something funny, and I heard 0:02:38.840 --> 0:02:42.600 about this lady. She was stopped at an intersection. This 0:02:42.680 --> 0:02:45.600 man came up asking for money. She dug in her 0:02:45.639 --> 0:02:48.839 purse and found a dollar bill. She said to the man, 0:02:49.360 --> 0:02:52.359 I'm going to give you this money, not because you 0:02:52.520 --> 0:02:55.480 deserve it, but because it makes me happy. 0:02:56.080 --> 0:02:56.880 The man looked at. 0:02:56.840 --> 0:02:58.919 Her and said, ma'am, why don't you give me twenty 0:02:58.960 --> 0:03:01.200 dollars and throw enjoy yourself? 0:03:02.400 --> 0:03:03.480 Say it like you mean it. 0:03:03.960 --> 0:03:06.880 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:03:07.320 --> 0:03:09.600 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:03:09.639 --> 0:03:12.120 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:03:12.200 --> 0:03:16.120 taught the word of God. I'll boldly confess my mind 0:03:16.240 --> 0:03:19.640 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:03:19.760 --> 0:03:24.639 the same in Jesus' name, God, bless you. I want 0:03:24.639 --> 0:03:28.000 to talk to you today about what's blocking your growth. 0:03:28.960 --> 0:03:31.440 Victoria and I were in another city walking through a 0:03:31.520 --> 0:03:34.720 park and it was full of these huge cactus plants. 0:03:35.080 --> 0:03:39.120 They stood over thirty feet tall, all kinds of incredible shapes. 0:03:39.720 --> 0:03:41.560 I was amazed at not only. 0:03:41.320 --> 0:03:45.000 How beautiful they were, but how big they were. As 0:03:45.040 --> 0:03:48.520 we continued through the park, enjoying all the sights, we 0:03:48.600 --> 0:03:51.320 came to a group of cactus that looked the same 0:03:51.400 --> 0:03:54.680 type as the large cactus, but they were only about 0:03:54.680 --> 0:03:58.400 my height. I went over to them and look closer, 0:03:58.800 --> 0:04:01.000 trying to figure out why they were so much shorter. 0:04:01.600 --> 0:04:04.520 I said to Victoria, they must be a different kind. 0:04:05.080 --> 0:04:07.720 She looked up and said, no, Joel, it's that tree. 0:04:08.280 --> 0:04:11.880 There was this large oak tree. Its branches were keeping 0:04:11.880 --> 0:04:15.880 the sun from hitting these cactus. What's interesting is they 0:04:15.920 --> 0:04:19.320 have the same potential as the cactus that were thirty 0:04:19.360 --> 0:04:23.760 feet tall. They're in the same soil, same climate, same 0:04:23.760 --> 0:04:24.760 weather conditions. 0:04:25.160 --> 0:04:26.680 The only difference was. 0:04:27.000 --> 0:04:30.760 Something was blocking their growth, and because they're constantly in 0:04:30.839 --> 0:04:32.400 the shade, they're only. 0:04:32.200 --> 0:04:34.599 A fraction of what they were created to be. 0:04:35.440 --> 0:04:39.000 Now, I wonder if something is blocking your growth? Are 0:04:39.040 --> 0:04:41.880 you under the shade of what someone spoke over you, 0:04:42.520 --> 0:04:45.680 told you what you couldn't do, how you're not that talented? 0:04:46.120 --> 0:04:49.720 Now that shade is limiting your life. Are you under 0:04:49.760 --> 0:04:53.560 the shade of intimidation? Afraid to step out in faith 0:04:54.000 --> 0:04:57.000 thinking of all the things that could go wrong. Do 0:04:57.040 --> 0:05:01.160 you have friends that are blocking your growth? You to compromise, 0:05:01.800 --> 0:05:05.039 do things that are holding you back. What could you 0:05:05.160 --> 0:05:06.920 become if you got out. 0:05:06.800 --> 0:05:10.440 From under that shade? How high could you go if 0:05:10.480 --> 0:05:11.760 you made some adjustments. 0:05:12.400 --> 0:05:16.000 The good news is the potential is still in you. 0:05:16.000 --> 0:05:18.960 You can still become who you were created to be. 0:05:19.440 --> 0:05:22.080 You just have to get out from under that shade, 0:05:22.839 --> 0:05:26.400 remove what's blocking your growth, and you'll begin to blossom. 0:05:26.720 --> 0:05:27.920 You'll go to new levels. 0:05:28.520 --> 0:05:32.200 There's nothing wrong with you. You have the life of Almighty 0:05:32.279 --> 0:05:36.120 God in you. He created you to rise higher, to 0:05:36.200 --> 0:05:40.760 be successful, confident, to leave your mark. I was talking 0:05:40.800 --> 0:05:43.520 to a man and he was so down on himself 0:05:43.640 --> 0:05:47.520 because of past mistakes. He went on and on telling 0:05:47.600 --> 0:05:51.039 me everything he had done wrong. He was so focused 0:05:51.040 --> 0:05:55.080 on his past that it was poisoning his future. You 0:05:55.120 --> 0:05:58.880 may have made mistakes, we all have, but don't let guilt, 0:05:59.160 --> 0:06:03.400 stunt your growth. Come out from under that shade. Quit 0:06:03.440 --> 0:06:07.240 thinking about all the things you've done wrong, living in regrets, 0:06:07.600 --> 0:06:11.240 thinking you've seen your best days. When you live guilty, 0:06:11.640 --> 0:06:13.400 you're in agreement with the enemy. 0:06:14.000 --> 0:06:15.280 He's called the accuser. 0:06:16.000 --> 0:06:18.719 He'll remind you of every mistake you've made for the 0:06:18.800 --> 0:06:21.920 last twenty years. He'd loved for you to go through 0:06:21.960 --> 0:06:26.080 life feeling wrong about yourself. What he's trying to do 0:06:26.440 --> 0:06:29.720 is stunt your growth. He'll do his best to keep 0:06:29.760 --> 0:06:33.640 you in the shade. He knows your potential. He knows 0:06:33.680 --> 0:06:37.000 you were created to soar. That's why he works over 0:06:37.040 --> 0:06:41.479 time trying to make us feel guilty, whispering you don't 0:06:41.520 --> 0:06:45.920 measure up. You failed again, you blew your diet, you 0:06:45.920 --> 0:06:49.479 didn't spend enough time with your children. There's always some 0:06:49.720 --> 0:06:53.080 reason to be down on ourselves. You have to put 0:06:53.080 --> 0:06:56.000 your foot down and say no thanks. I'm not living 0:06:56.120 --> 0:07:00.560 under that shade. I know I'm forgiven, I'm redeemed. My 0:07:00.680 --> 0:07:04.800 past is over, my present is secure, my future is right. 0:07:05.800 --> 0:07:08.320 This is what my father had to do. He was 0:07:08.400 --> 0:07:12.200 married at a very young age, and unfortunately the marriage 0:07:12.240 --> 0:07:13.000 didn't work out. 0:07:13.680 --> 0:07:16.880 Denominational leaders told him that he would never be in 0:07:16.960 --> 0:07:21.760 ministry again, that that failure had disqualified him for leadership. 0:07:22.360 --> 0:07:26.280 He eventually resigned from his church and he started selling insurance. 0:07:26.840 --> 0:07:29.600 He knew God's calling was on his life, but he 0:07:29.720 --> 0:07:32.960 was living under the shade of guilt, the shade of 0:07:32.960 --> 0:07:37.680 what people said. You'll never be in ministry, You're not qualified. 0:07:38.520 --> 0:07:42.720 The scripture says, God's calling on your life is irrevocable. 0:07:43.440 --> 0:07:45.000 God doesn't change his mind. 0:07:45.520 --> 0:07:48.800 He didn't cancel your destiny because you got off course. 0:07:49.440 --> 0:07:51.480 People may have disqualified you. 0:07:51.640 --> 0:07:53.760 But people don't determine your destiny. 0:07:54.200 --> 0:07:58.360 God does, and he never disqualifies you. You have to 0:07:58.440 --> 0:08:02.200 tune out all the negative words that were spoken over you. 0:08:03.000 --> 0:08:05.920 It may be from people that you love, people that 0:08:05.960 --> 0:08:09.880 should be encouraging you, showing your mercy, lifting you when 0:08:09.920 --> 0:08:10.400 you fall. 0:08:11.000 --> 0:08:12.360 Instead it's just the opposite. 0:08:12.840 --> 0:08:15.360 They make you feel more guilty, tell you how you 0:08:15.400 --> 0:08:19.400 don't measure up. Don't stay under that shade. God still 0:08:19.480 --> 0:08:22.320 has a purpose for you to fulfill. You wouldn't be 0:08:22.400 --> 0:08:26.120 alive unless he had something awesome in front of you. 0:08:26.200 --> 0:08:30.400 Get your passion back, start believing again, start hoping again, 0:08:30.680 --> 0:08:34.959 start dreaming again. After several years, my father got back 0:08:35.000 --> 0:08:38.880 in the ministry and started pastoring. He met my mother 0:08:39.000 --> 0:08:41.680 and they were married and had five children. 0:08:42.120 --> 0:08:45.120 He pastored here at Lakewood for nearly forty years. 0:08:46.000 --> 0:08:48.800 None of this would have happened if he had stayed 0:08:49.120 --> 0:08:52.319 under the shade of guilt. I wouldn't be up here 0:08:52.480 --> 0:08:56.440 if he had let those negative words limit his life. 0:08:56.640 --> 0:09:00.320 Is something blocking your growth, is something keeping you from 0:09:00.360 --> 0:09:04.800 standing up tall guilt, shame, fear, doubt. 0:09:05.440 --> 0:09:06.360 You have to come. 0:09:06.200 --> 0:09:09.120 Out from under that shade. It's not going to leave 0:09:09.160 --> 0:09:11.360 on its own. You have to make the move. 0:09:12.160 --> 0:09:14.000 When you do like my father and. 0:09:13.920 --> 0:09:17.640 Start going forward knowing that God's mercy is bigger than 0:09:17.679 --> 0:09:21.240 your mistakes, then you're going to begin to blossom. New 0:09:21.280 --> 0:09:24.000 doors are going to open, Talent will come out that 0:09:24.040 --> 0:09:26.920 you didn't know you had. You're going to accompass dreams 0:09:27.120 --> 0:09:30.760 bigger than you thought. One thing that can easily stunt 0:09:30.840 --> 0:09:34.160 our growth is the people that we're spending time with. 0:09:34.960 --> 0:09:38.720 You need to evaluate your friendships. The people you're eating 0:09:38.800 --> 0:09:41.960 lunch with at the office, the neighbor you're hanging out with. 0:09:42.640 --> 0:09:47.079 Are they making your life better, pushing you higher, inspiring 0:09:47.120 --> 0:09:50.240 you to reach your dreams, or are they causing you 0:09:50.280 --> 0:09:55.080 to compromise, be mediocre, take the easy way out. You're 0:09:55.120 --> 0:09:59.000 going to become like the people you continually associate with. 0:10:00.000 --> 0:10:03.360 The scripture says, don't hang around angry people, or you. 0:10:03.320 --> 0:10:04.960 Will become angry. 0:10:05.040 --> 0:10:07.800 It says when you walk with wise people, you will 0:10:07.840 --> 0:10:11.079 become wise. If you want to know what you're going 0:10:11.120 --> 0:10:13.439 to be like in five years, look. 0:10:13.280 --> 0:10:14.439 At your friends. 0:10:14.880 --> 0:10:20.079 If they gossip, complain about the boss, unfaithful in relationships, 0:10:20.080 --> 0:10:23.360 hard to get along with, do yourself a favor, find 0:10:23.400 --> 0:10:28.920 some new friends. Spirits are transferable. If your friends gossip, 0:10:29.360 --> 0:10:31.120 that spirit of gossip. 0:10:30.679 --> 0:10:31.600 Will get off on you. 0:10:32.400 --> 0:10:35.600 If your friends are critical, that critical spirit will end 0:10:35.679 --> 0:10:39.160 up on you. If your friends run around on their spouse, 0:10:39.720 --> 0:10:43.800 that unfaithful spirit will start to tempt you. You may 0:10:43.840 --> 0:10:46.600 not realize it, but they're blocking your growth. 0:10:47.040 --> 0:10:50.720 They're limiting your potential. It's not their fault. You have 0:10:50.800 --> 0:10:52.360 to make a change. 0:10:52.520 --> 0:10:55.160 Well, Joel, what if I hurt their feelings? What if 0:10:55.160 --> 0:10:58.960 they get upset? What if you miss your destiny? What 0:10:59.000 --> 0:11:01.880 if they keep you up five foot cactus, so to speak, 0:11:02.120 --> 0:11:05.120 instead of the thirty foot cactus that you were created 0:11:05.160 --> 0:11:09.280 to be? How high could you rise if you weren't 0:11:09.280 --> 0:11:13.640 being shaded by compromise, by mediocrity. Now, I know you 0:11:13.760 --> 0:11:17.439 love your friends, but your destiny is too great, your 0:11:17.480 --> 0:11:21.080 assignment too important to hang around people that are not 0:11:21.160 --> 0:11:23.040 adding to your life. 0:11:23.080 --> 0:11:24.640 You need people that bring out the. 0:11:24.559 --> 0:11:27.960 Best in you, people that inspire you to do better, 0:11:28.360 --> 0:11:32.480 to challenge you to live a life of excellence and integrity. 0:11:32.880 --> 0:11:35.760 I have a friend that treats his wife so good. 0:11:36.320 --> 0:11:40.800 He's so loving, so kind, so romantic. He writes his 0:11:40.840 --> 0:11:43.640 wife poetry. Almost makes me sick. 0:11:43.920 --> 0:11:44.720 He sends her. 0:11:45.280 --> 0:11:48.319 He sends her these loving texts that he's worked on 0:11:48.480 --> 0:11:52.880 for two days. My darling wife, how beautiful you are today? 0:11:53.320 --> 0:11:54.920 I text Victoria was up. 0:11:55.360 --> 0:12:01.600 But I would rather have a friend and that inspires 0:12:01.640 --> 0:12:04.319 me to come up higher than I would to sink 0:12:04.360 --> 0:12:07.760 down lower. I would rather have him challenge me to 0:12:07.840 --> 0:12:14.679 be kinder, more respectful, more loving than to be sarcastic, derogatory, belittling. 0:12:15.600 --> 0:12:19.400 Pay attention to what you're seeing modeled around you. That's 0:12:19.440 --> 0:12:22.960 all getting on the inside. Over time, it will start 0:12:22.960 --> 0:12:26.640 influencing how you act, how you think, how you treat people. 0:12:27.600 --> 0:12:30.960 And some friendships were great for a time, But now 0:12:31.320 --> 0:12:34.720 you've come up higher, You've grown you've stepped up to 0:12:34.800 --> 0:12:38.640 a new level. Doesn't mean they're not good people, but 0:12:38.720 --> 0:12:40.439 you've outgrown that friendship. 0:12:41.080 --> 0:12:41.160 Now. 0:12:41.160 --> 0:12:43.800 I'm not saying to never speak to them again, but 0:12:43.920 --> 0:12:46.760 little by little, you need to spend less and less 0:12:46.800 --> 0:12:50.480 time with them. Some of the trouble and heartache we 0:12:50.559 --> 0:12:54.319 find ourselves in if we look back. We knew we 0:12:54.320 --> 0:12:57.160 were supposed to make a change, but we didn't do it. 0:12:57.679 --> 0:12:59.840 We didn't want to rock the boat. We didn't want 0:12:59.880 --> 0:13:03.240 to upset people. But what you're not willing to walk 0:13:03.280 --> 0:13:05.679 away from is where you'll stop growing. 0:13:06.559 --> 0:13:07.400 I know a man. 0:13:07.679 --> 0:13:12.600 He's a strong believer, very talented, very influential, but he 0:13:12.679 --> 0:13:14.760 started hanging around this person. 0:13:14.480 --> 0:13:15.760 That wasn't a good influence. 0:13:16.320 --> 0:13:19.080 His friends and family tried to warn him that he 0:13:19.120 --> 0:13:22.640 didn't have a good pass. Trouble always followed him, but 0:13:22.760 --> 0:13:25.800 this man wouldn't listen. He always took up for him 0:13:25.800 --> 0:13:31.000 and made excuses. Over time, this man started compromising, doing 0:13:31.080 --> 0:13:32.600 things that were totally out. 0:13:32.480 --> 0:13:33.280 Of his character. 0:13:34.000 --> 0:13:37.280 He ended up losing his marriage, his company let him go, 0:13:37.679 --> 0:13:41.680 lost a big contract. He told me later, I knew 0:13:41.840 --> 0:13:44.760 he was a bad influence. I knew God was telling 0:13:44.800 --> 0:13:49.000 me to distance myself, But I ignored it. God always 0:13:49.120 --> 0:13:53.040 gives us a warning. Don't override it when he asked 0:13:53.040 --> 0:13:56.360 you to do something. It's for your own good. If 0:13:56.360 --> 0:13:58.960 you'll get rid of the wrong people, then God will 0:13:58.960 --> 0:14:01.760 send the right people, people that will make you better, 0:14:02.000 --> 0:14:04.439 people that will inspire you, people that will. 0:14:04.280 --> 0:14:05.920 Push you into your destiny. 0:14:07.160 --> 0:14:10.320 In the scripture, God chose a young man named Gideon 0:14:10.720 --> 0:14:14.840 to lead the Israeli army against the Midianites. But Gideon 0:14:15.000 --> 0:14:18.880 was afraid. He was hiding in the wine press. An 0:14:18.920 --> 0:14:21.960 angel came to him and said, mighty hero. 0:14:22.320 --> 0:14:23.560 The Lord is with you. 0:14:24.360 --> 0:14:27.840 Gideon didn't feel like a mighty hero. He said, I 0:14:27.880 --> 0:14:31.400 can't lead the army. I come from the poorest family. 0:14:31.840 --> 0:14:35.600 I'm the least one in my father's house. Here God 0:14:35.680 --> 0:14:39.920 called him a mighty hero. God knew his potential. He 0:14:40.000 --> 0:14:44.640 knew Gideon had greatness in him. The problem was Gideon 0:14:44.800 --> 0:14:48.080 was under the shade of fear, the shade of intimidation. 0:14:48.920 --> 0:14:51.800 I can't do anything great. I don't come from an 0:14:51.800 --> 0:14:56.120 influential family. I'm at a disadvantage. Had the angel not 0:14:56.280 --> 0:14:59.240 come to Gideon and told him who he was, we 0:14:59.280 --> 0:15:03.760 wouldn't be talking about him. The angel was saying in effect, Gideon, 0:15:04.200 --> 0:15:07.840 come out of hiding, Come out from under that shade, 0:15:08.040 --> 0:15:12.360 that insecurity, that defeated mindset, that can't do it, thinking 0:15:12.600 --> 0:15:16.480 is stunning your growth. God is saying to you, you 0:15:16.520 --> 0:15:20.080 are a mighty hero. You are destined to leave your mark, 0:15:20.680 --> 0:15:21.920 but you have to. 0:15:21.680 --> 0:15:22.440 Make the choice. 0:15:22.520 --> 0:15:25.200 Like Gideon, are you going to stay in the shade, 0:15:25.960 --> 0:15:28.760 hiding in the wine press, thinking you don't have what 0:15:28.840 --> 0:15:29.320 it takes. 0:15:29.960 --> 0:15:32.440 Or are you going to step into your greatness? 0:15:32.680 --> 0:15:36.119 Are you going to believe that you're a mighty hero, equipped, 0:15:36.480 --> 0:15:41.080 empowered and anointed. This was a destiny moment for Gideon. 0:15:41.640 --> 0:15:44.840 Either stay in the shade and the opportunity would pass 0:15:44.920 --> 0:15:48.480 him by, God would find someone else, or take that 0:15:48.520 --> 0:15:51.760 step of faith and believe he was who God said 0:15:51.760 --> 0:15:55.760 he was. Gideon made this decision that I'm asking us 0:15:55.800 --> 0:16:00.320 to make. He got rid of what was blocking his growth, porse, 0:16:00.360 --> 0:16:04.520 self image, low self esteem. He saw himself a new way, 0:16:04.840 --> 0:16:10.320 not weak, defeated, limited, but as strong, courageous, well able. 0:16:11.120 --> 0:16:14.040 When he did, the scripture says the spirit of. 0:16:13.960 --> 0:16:16.360 God clothed Gideon with power. 0:16:17.200 --> 0:16:20.240 When he got out from under the fear, the intimidation, 0:16:20.640 --> 0:16:22.960 God breathed on his life in a new way. 0:16:23.600 --> 0:16:27.320 He felt a strength, a courage, a boldness that he 0:16:27.360 --> 0:16:28.560 had never felt. 0:16:29.160 --> 0:16:32.840 And too often we're like Gideon, we don't realize who 0:16:32.880 --> 0:16:37.680 we are. We're letting doubt, negative voices convince us that 0:16:37.720 --> 0:16:41.440 we're limited. I can't do anything great, Joel, I come 0:16:41.480 --> 0:16:44.840 from the wrong family. I don't have the talent. Who 0:16:44.920 --> 0:16:49.000 told you that? Where did those thoughts come from? That's 0:16:49.040 --> 0:16:52.440 the enemy trying to keep you under the shame he'd 0:16:52.440 --> 0:16:55.160 loved for you to believe those lies. Your whole life 0:16:55.800 --> 0:17:00.840 live with a defeated mindset, hiding insecure, afraid to step out. 0:17:01.640 --> 0:17:05.320 This can be a destiny moment for you. God is saying, 0:17:05.600 --> 0:17:09.800 mighty Hero, come out from under that shade, Mighty Hero. 0:17:10.160 --> 0:17:12.720 It's time to step up to who you were created 0:17:12.760 --> 0:17:12.960 to be. 0:17:14.000 --> 0:17:14.840 When you make that. 0:17:14.920 --> 0:17:19.160 Choice, like Gideon, see, I'm done letting fear and can't 0:17:19.200 --> 0:17:23.280 do it thoughts dictate my life. I'm done making excuses 0:17:23.680 --> 0:17:26.040 as to why I can't go after my dreams. I 0:17:26.119 --> 0:17:30.600 believe I'm a mighty hero. Then, like with Gideon, God 0:17:30.680 --> 0:17:32.560 is going to show out in your life in a 0:17:32.600 --> 0:17:37.720 new way. You're going to see favor, courage, opportunities like 0:17:37.760 --> 0:17:42.240 you've never experienced. Gideon rounded up thirty two thousand men, 0:17:42.840 --> 0:17:45.800 as many as he could find. They headed out to 0:17:45.800 --> 0:17:49.639 face the Midianites. He was feeling confident he had this 0:17:49.840 --> 0:17:54.560 large army. God said Gideon, that's too many people. If 0:17:54.560 --> 0:17:57.240 you defeat them with this many men, you'll think you 0:17:57.280 --> 0:17:57.640 did it. 0:17:57.600 --> 0:17:58.600 In your own strength. 0:17:59.760 --> 0:18:03.040 Had them weed the men down all the way till 0:18:03.040 --> 0:18:06.160 he only had three hundred men. When you come out 0:18:06.160 --> 0:18:09.520 of the shade, there will be times the odds are 0:18:09.560 --> 0:18:12.840 against you. Thoughts will tell you you should have played 0:18:12.840 --> 0:18:15.720 it safe. It's not going to work out. Now you're 0:18:15.760 --> 0:18:19.520 way over your head. No, stand strong, The Lord, your 0:18:19.560 --> 0:18:23.560 God is with you. Gideon marched toward the Midianites with 0:18:23.640 --> 0:18:27.840 only three hundred men. At midnight, they blew the trumpets 0:18:28.000 --> 0:18:29.760 and begin to shout a. 0:18:29.640 --> 0:18:33.320 Sword for the Lord and a sword for Gideon. A 0:18:33.320 --> 0:18:37.080 little earlier, he was hiding in the wine press. No 0:18:37.160 --> 0:18:40.520 one had ever heard of him. Now people were shouting 0:18:40.560 --> 0:18:41.080 his name. 0:18:42.200 --> 0:18:45.639 God knows how to make up for lost growth that 0:18:45.800 --> 0:18:50.000 time you spent hiding afraid off course, don't worry. Your 0:18:50.080 --> 0:18:52.719 time is coming. God is going to make it up 0:18:52.760 --> 0:18:56.200 to you. He knows how to accelerate, how to speed 0:18:56.280 --> 0:19:00.800 things up. He doesn't hold it against us that we 0:19:00.920 --> 0:19:04.680 stayed under the shade. We've all made choices that should 0:19:04.720 --> 0:19:08.760 have stopped our destiny, should have stunted our growth. But God, 0:19:08.880 --> 0:19:12.240 in his mercy, won't just let you start growing again. 0:19:12.480 --> 0:19:16.440 He'll thrust you ahead. It's not too late. You can 0:19:16.520 --> 0:19:20.920 still become the mighty hero. You can still accomplish your dream. 0:19:21.400 --> 0:19:25.640 You can still live an abundant life. There is greatness 0:19:25.640 --> 0:19:29.720 in you, Jeremiah said, there's fires shut up in my bones. 0:19:30.160 --> 0:19:34.880 There is potential talent increase that you haven't tapped into. 0:19:35.320 --> 0:19:38.879 Come out of hiding, start believing you're a mighty hero. 0:19:39.680 --> 0:19:42.959 Get rid of those limiting thoughts. You and God are 0:19:43.000 --> 0:19:47.359 a majority. He's calling you out of the shade. 0:19:47.400 --> 0:19:49.400 Out of anything that's blocking your growth. 0:19:49.960 --> 0:19:54.040 Step out and get ready to see new levels, new friendships, 0:19:54.320 --> 0:19:56.200 new opportunities. 0:19:55.359 --> 0:19:57.040 New talents, new victories. 0:19:57.920 --> 0:20:02.960 That's what happened to Gideon defeated the Midianites overnight. He 0:20:03.080 --> 0:20:07.080 became a mighty hero, from hiding in the wine press 0:20:07.560 --> 0:20:10.520 to being known as a man of fearless courage. 0:20:11.080 --> 0:20:14.359 Gideon is now listed in Hebrews eleven as one of 0:20:14.400 --> 0:20:15.600 the heroes of faith. 0:20:16.320 --> 0:20:19.840 But He wasn't like David that went out and courageously 0:20:20.000 --> 0:20:24.520 defeated Goliath. He wasn't like Abraham who believed when all 0:20:24.560 --> 0:20:27.840 hope was gone. He wasn't like the apostle Paul that 0:20:27.960 --> 0:20:34.879 wrote books of the Bible in prison. He started off insecure, intimidated, afraid. 0:20:35.400 --> 0:20:38.240 He was shaded by all these things that were blocking 0:20:38.320 --> 0:20:42.399 his growth. God was showing us it's not where you start, 0:20:42.800 --> 0:20:46.959 it's how you finish. Where you are is not your destiny. 0:20:47.280 --> 0:20:51.200 There's still time to become a Gideon. You can come 0:20:51.240 --> 0:20:55.040 out of the fear, the doubt, the guilt, and step 0:20:55.080 --> 0:20:58.119 in to who you were created to be, a mighty hero, 0:20:58.840 --> 0:21:02.600 a history maker. Now quit believe in those lies that 0:21:02.640 --> 0:21:06.520 you've reached your limits. You'll always struggle. You've been through 0:21:06.600 --> 0:21:08.400 too much. It'll never work out. 0:21:09.080 --> 0:21:13.119 Come out from under that shade that's limited you. Long enough. 0:21:13.520 --> 0:21:14.560 God is ready to. 0:21:14.560 --> 0:21:19.560 Show out in your life, to do things that are unusual, uncommon, 0:21:20.040 --> 0:21:23.040 out of the ordinary, to take you where no one 0:21:23.160 --> 0:21:26.880 in your family has gone. And sometimes the reason we're 0:21:26.920 --> 0:21:30.360 in the shade is that's what we saw model growing up. 0:21:31.000 --> 0:21:37.000 We were raised by people that were negative, insecure, lived guilty, dysfunctional. 0:21:37.560 --> 0:21:40.960 Now that's normal to us, but that's not who you are. 0:21:41.680 --> 0:21:45.679 That's a result of being in the shade. For some people, 0:21:45.960 --> 0:21:53.000 fear has been blocking their family for generations. Low self esteem, addictions, mediocrity. 0:21:53.600 --> 0:21:54.960 That's what Gideon was saying. 0:21:55.280 --> 0:21:59.639 My family, we're all poor, we're all defeated, limited, afraid. 0:22:00.600 --> 0:22:03.400 That may be true for you when you look back 0:22:03.440 --> 0:22:06.679 at your family line. But here's the key. You're the 0:22:06.720 --> 0:22:09.480 one God is raised up to step. 0:22:09.200 --> 0:22:10.000 Out of the shade. 0:22:10.520 --> 0:22:13.520 You're the one to set the new standard, to be 0:22:13.640 --> 0:22:17.679 the difference maker. Don't let these negative things keep getting 0:22:17.720 --> 0:22:21.560 passed down. All it takes is for one person to 0:22:21.640 --> 0:22:25.280 rise up, one Gideon, to say, I'm going to step 0:22:25.280 --> 0:22:30.240 out of this fear, this addiction, this defeated mentality, these 0:22:30.320 --> 0:22:34.240 unhealthy relationships, and I almost set a new standard. We're 0:22:34.240 --> 0:22:37.159 going to be people who honor God. We're going to 0:22:37.200 --> 0:22:43.480 lift free, competent, secure, victorious. I read about an experiment 0:22:43.560 --> 0:22:47.040 that was done with four monkeys. They placed them in 0:22:47.119 --> 0:22:50.560 a room with a tall pole in the center. At 0:22:50.560 --> 0:22:52.639 the top of the pole was a bunch of bananas. 0:22:53.119 --> 0:22:55.920 The first monkey climbed up the pole as fast as 0:22:55.920 --> 0:22:58.480 he could to get the bananas, but just when he 0:22:58.560 --> 0:23:01.320 was about to take it, a large bucket of cold 0:23:01.400 --> 0:23:04.560 water was poured on him. He scurried down the pole 0:23:04.640 --> 0:23:07.360 as fast as he could. Didn't want to have anything 0:23:07.359 --> 0:23:10.639 to do with those bananas. In a few minutes, another 0:23:10.680 --> 0:23:11.960 monkey climbed up the pole. 0:23:12.320 --> 0:23:13.360 Same thing happened. 0:23:13.600 --> 0:23:16.439 The bucket of cold water was poured on him, He 0:23:16.560 --> 0:23:19.960 turned and ran back down. Over time, the other two 0:23:20.040 --> 0:23:23.240 monkeys tried, but once again they were doused with water 0:23:23.320 --> 0:23:26.760 and came running down. Day after day went by, and 0:23:27.400 --> 0:23:30.960 even though those monkeys loved bananas, none of them would 0:23:31.000 --> 0:23:34.640 go up the pole. At one point, the researchers removed 0:23:34.680 --> 0:23:37.800 one monkey and replaced it with a new one. When 0:23:37.800 --> 0:23:40.959 it started going up the pole, the other three monkeys 0:23:41.080 --> 0:23:44.000 grabbed hold of it and pulled it down. Wouldn't let 0:23:44.040 --> 0:23:47.800 it go up. This happened time and time again. Finally 0:23:47.840 --> 0:23:52.199 this new monkey gave up didn't try anymore. The researchers 0:23:52.200 --> 0:23:55.320 brought in another monkey and replaced one of the originals. 0:23:55.680 --> 0:23:58.800 Same thing. They pulled him down. They brought in two 0:23:58.840 --> 0:23:59.600 more monkeys. 0:24:00.000 --> 0:24:02.680 Now none of the original monkeys were in the room, 0:24:03.280 --> 0:24:05.200 but they wouldn't let any monkey go. 0:24:05.240 --> 0:24:08.800 Up the pole. Eventually the room was filled with dozens 0:24:08.840 --> 0:24:09.480 of monkeys. 0:24:09.880 --> 0:24:12.920 None of them had ever felt the cold water, but 0:24:13.000 --> 0:24:13.600 not one of. 0:24:13.560 --> 0:24:16.320 Them would climb the pole. They didn't know why. 0:24:16.920 --> 0:24:20.040 They just knew they weren't supposed to have those bananas. 0:24:20.440 --> 0:24:24.080 And sometimes we're like these monkeys. We don't know why 0:24:24.240 --> 0:24:27.840 we can't accomplish a dream, why we can't be successful, 0:24:28.320 --> 0:24:31.480 get out of debt, break the addiction. All we know 0:24:32.080 --> 0:24:34.000 is nobody in our family ever did it. 0:24:34.720 --> 0:24:36.040 They lived in the shade. 0:24:36.480 --> 0:24:40.640 They let fear, insecurity, limited thinking block their growth. 0:24:41.200 --> 0:24:43.680 Now we're in that same shade. 0:24:43.880 --> 0:24:46.760 Anytime we try to move forward, there are people telling 0:24:46.840 --> 0:24:49.800 us what we can't do, how it's not going to 0:24:49.840 --> 0:24:53.840 work out. It's easy to accept it. Learn to live 0:24:53.880 --> 0:24:57.480 with mediocrity. This is just who we are. No quit 0:24:57.560 --> 0:25:01.000 letting people talk you out of your dream. It may 0:25:01.040 --> 0:25:03.920 not have happened for them, but you're a mighty hero, 0:25:04.480 --> 0:25:08.240 it's going to happen for you. Go get your bananas. 0:25:08.680 --> 0:25:11.840 This is a new day. God's favor is on your 0:25:11.920 --> 0:25:15.120 life in a new way. He's called you to set 0:25:15.160 --> 0:25:18.600 the new standard, to take your family to a new level. 0:25:19.440 --> 0:25:22.040 I met a young man after the service. He had 0:25:22.080 --> 0:25:25.679 just graduated from college, and he was so excited. He 0:25:25.760 --> 0:25:28.120 was the first one in his family. 0:25:27.840 --> 0:25:29.080 To ever get a degree. 0:25:29.760 --> 0:25:32.000 But when he told his family he wanted to go, 0:25:32.440 --> 0:25:35.679 no one encouraged him. In fact, they said, we're not 0:25:35.880 --> 0:25:41.080 college material. Granddaddy didn't go, Great grandaddy didn't go. We're 0:25:41.119 --> 0:25:44.760 not made for that kind of work. Like those monkeys, 0:25:45.040 --> 0:25:47.520 they were trying to pull him down and didn't even 0:25:47.560 --> 0:25:51.159 know why. The young man not only graduated at the 0:25:51.200 --> 0:25:54.879 top of his class as a chemical engineer, but a 0:25:54.920 --> 0:25:59.400 company has already hired him. How high can you go 0:26:00.080 --> 0:26:02.920 if you'll just get rid of what's blocking your growth? 0:26:03.680 --> 0:26:08.040 Limited mindsets, other monkeys, I mean, people pulling you down. 0:26:08.119 --> 0:26:12.000 Friendships that are holding your back. God has a big 0:26:12.080 --> 0:26:13.080 destiny for you. 0:26:13.920 --> 0:26:17.400 There are things in your future greater than you've imagined. 0:26:17.920 --> 0:26:19.440 But there will always be. 0:26:19.480 --> 0:26:25.520 Dreamstealers, naysayers, people that try to pull you into their shade. 0:26:25.560 --> 0:26:29.199 They're insecure. They'll try to talk you into being insecure. 0:26:29.880 --> 0:26:32.480 You really think you can go to college, you really 0:26:32.480 --> 0:26:35.480 think you can start that business, You really think you're 0:26:35.480 --> 0:26:39.520 going to beat that sickness. They live intimidated. They'll try 0:26:39.520 --> 0:26:44.000 to pull you into intimidation. Fear doubt, don't take the bait. 0:26:44.600 --> 0:26:47.399 Stay in the sun. God is going to cause you 0:26:47.480 --> 0:26:51.000 to blossom, to go places no one ever thought you 0:26:51.040 --> 0:26:54.480 could go. It's going to surprise your family. People are 0:26:54.480 --> 0:26:57.920 going to be amazed at where God takes you. When 0:26:57.920 --> 0:27:01.040 my father passed and I stepped up pastor of the church, 0:27:01.320 --> 0:27:06.359 I was afraid and intimidated. That was definitely blocking my confidence. 0:27:06.680 --> 0:27:07.400 I didn't think I. 0:27:07.359 --> 0:27:10.200 Could do this. If that wasn't bad enough. 0:27:10.840 --> 0:27:14.720 There were certain people Alberhard said, he's not that good. 0:27:15.400 --> 0:27:16.600 I don't think he'll make it. 0:27:17.040 --> 0:27:21.840 He's too quiet, he's not experienced enough. Even though I 0:27:21.960 --> 0:27:25.159 half way agreed with them, something rose up on the 0:27:25.200 --> 0:27:25.960 inside of me. 0:27:26.560 --> 0:27:29.520 I thought, you don't determine my destiny. You don't know 0:27:29.720 --> 0:27:31.080 what God has put in me. 0:27:32.200 --> 0:27:35.840 My attitude was, I'm already in my own shade. 0:27:35.920 --> 0:27:38.480 I'm sure not coming into your shade. 0:27:38.840 --> 0:27:42.840 Part of the reason I believe I succeeded was simply 0:27:42.880 --> 0:27:43.639 to show. 0:27:43.440 --> 0:27:44.800 Them that they were wrong. 0:27:45.600 --> 0:27:48.080 They meant it for harm, but God used it to 0:27:48.160 --> 0:27:51.640 light of fire in me to create a greater determination, 0:27:52.280 --> 0:27:56.920 a greater resolve. I wasn't about to let their shade, 0:27:57.160 --> 0:27:58.360 their negative. 0:27:57.960 --> 0:27:59.480 Comments limit my life. 0:28:00.480 --> 0:28:05.520 Like Gideon, I felt weak, inexperience, unqualified. But I could 0:28:05.520 --> 0:28:08.480 hear God whispering Joel, your a mighty hero. 0:28:09.160 --> 0:28:10.560 It's your time to shine. 0:28:10.720 --> 0:28:15.000 You have what you need to fulfill your destiny. Anytime 0:28:15.080 --> 0:28:19.359 you try to go forward, that will be opposition, naysayers, 0:28:19.840 --> 0:28:22.240 people that try to pull you into their shade. 0:28:22.359 --> 0:28:23.320 Don't take their bait. 0:28:24.000 --> 0:28:26.760 The fact that they're trying to discourage you is a 0:28:26.800 --> 0:28:29.440 sign you're about to step in to a new level 0:28:29.560 --> 0:28:36.400 of your destiny. Is there something blocking your growth? Unhealthy relationships, 0:28:36.720 --> 0:28:40.920 negative words that were spoken over you, limited thinking? How 0:28:41.000 --> 0:28:44.240 high could you go if you would make some adjustments. 0:28:44.880 --> 0:28:46.400 Don't stay a five foot. 0:28:46.160 --> 0:28:49.960 Cactus when you were created to go thirty feet tall. 0:28:50.160 --> 0:28:52.760 Make a decision that you're going to come out from 0:28:52.840 --> 0:28:53.840 under that shade. 0:28:54.360 --> 0:28:58.240 If you'll remove what's limiting your growth, you're going to bloom. 0:28:58.480 --> 0:29:02.920 You're going to blossom, see favor, courage, the boldness to 0:29:03.000 --> 0:29:06.560 accomplish what God put in your heart. Now I believe 0:29:06.640 --> 0:29:09.960 and declare, like Gideon, a mighty hero. 0:29:10.000 --> 0:29:11.320 Is about to emerge. 0:29:11.480 --> 0:29:14.360 The power of the most Time is going to come 0:29:14.400 --> 0:29:17.280 on you in a new way. You're going to rise higher, 0:29:17.720 --> 0:29:21.440 overcome obstacles and become all you were created to be 0:29:22.120 --> 0:29:25.080 in Jesus' name, And if you receive it, can you 0:29:25.160 --> 0:29:25.680 say amen? 0:29:27.400 --> 0:29:28.320 I'd like to give you. 0:29:28.280 --> 0:29:31.400 An opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. 0:29:31.880 --> 0:29:36.280 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 0:29:36.440 --> 0:29:41.400 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 0:29:41.440 --> 0:29:42.920 you my Lord in Savior. 0:29:44.240 --> 0:29:46.680 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:29:46.720 --> 0:29:49.680 born again. We'd love to send you some free information 0:29:49.840 --> 0:29:51.880 on your new walk with the Lord. Just text the 0:29:51.960 --> 0:29:54.640 number on the screen, or you can go to the website. 0:29:54.880 --> 0:29:57.840 I hope you'll get into a good Bible based church 0:29:58.120 --> 0:29:59.840 and keep God first place. 0:30:00.160 --> 0:30:02.719 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:30:02.800 --> 0:30:05.600 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:30:05.640 --> 0:30:09.120 podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. 0:30:09.280 --> 0:30:11.480 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:30:11.520 --> 0:30:15.000 with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 0:30:15.080 --> 0:30:17.680 or click the link in the description to partner with 0:30:17.800 --> 0:30:18.320 us today. 0:30:18.560 --> 0:30:21.000 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:30:21.080 --> 0:30:23.880 be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 0:30:23.960 --> 0:30:27.080 for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 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