Joel Osteen - Approval Addiction

January 12, 2026 | 29:55

Joel and Victoria Osteen's message of unconditional love and unending hope reaches everyone across the world.

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Joel Osteen | Joel Osteen - Approval Addiction | January 12, 2026
  • >joel: god bless you.
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  • >joel: god bless you. it's great to be with you
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  • It's great to be with you today. i hope you'll stay
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  • Today. i hope you'll stay connected with us during
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  • Connected with us during the week, through our
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  • The week, through our daily podcast, our youtube
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  • Daily podcast, our youtube channel, social media.
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  • Channel, social media. and you can come visit
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  • And you can come visit us in person. we'd love
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  • Us in person. we'd love to have you be a part of
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  • To have you be a part of one of our services.
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  • One of our services. i like to start with
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  • I like to start with something funny.
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  • Something funny. i heard about this mother.
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  • I heard about this mother. she was cooking breakfast
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  • She was cooking breakfast for her two young boys;
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  • For her two young boys; ryan was 5 and kevin was 3.
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  • Ryan was 5 and kevin was 3. they began to argue over
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  • They began to argue over who should get the first
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  • Who should get the first pancake. she saw this as
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  • Pancake. she saw this as an opportunity to teach
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  • An opportunity to teach them a lesson. she said,
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  • Them a lesson. she said, “boys, boys, if jesus were
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  • “boys, boys, if jesus were here, he would say, ‘let
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  • Here, he would say, ‘let my brother have the
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  • My brother have the first pancake.'” ryan
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  • First pancake.'” ryan turned to his younger
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  • Turned to his younger brother and said, “okay
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  • Brother and said, “okay kevin, you be jesus.”
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  • Kevin, you be jesus.” say it like you mean it.
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  • Say it like you mean it. this is my bible.
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  • This is my bible. i am what it says i am.
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  • I am what it says i am. i have what it says i
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  • I have what it says i have. i can do what it
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  • Have. i can do what it says i can do.
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  • Says i can do. today, i will be taught
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  • Today, i will be taught the word of god.
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  • The word of god. i boldly confess: my mind
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  • I boldly confess: my mind is alert. my heart is
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  • Is alert. my heart is receptive. i will never
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  • Be the same in jesus'
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  • Be the same in jesus' name. god bless you.
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  • Name. god bless you. i want to talk to you today
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  • I want to talk to you today about approval addiction.
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  • About approval addiction. too many people make
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  • Too many people make decisions based on what
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  • Decisions based on what other people will think
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  • Other people will think about them. they run
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  • About them. they run everything through a
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  • Everything through a filter, “how is this going
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  • Filter, “how is this going to make me look?
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  • To make me look? how will my friends, my
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  • How will my friends, my coworkers perceive me?
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  • Coworkers perceive me? will they be impressed,
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  • Will they be impressed, will they applaud, or will
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  • Will they applaud, or will they look down on me, will
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  • They look down on me, will they think less?” instead
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  • They think less?” instead of being confident in who
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  • Of being confident in who god made them to be, they
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  • God made them to be, they let the opinion of others
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  • Let the opinion of others determine what they do.
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  • Determine what they do. they don't realize they're
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  • They don't realize they're addicted to approval.
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  • Addicted to approval. psychologists call this
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  • Psychologists call this fopo.
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  • Fopo. f-o-p-o.
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  • F-o-p-o. fear of other people's
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  • Fear of other people's opinion.
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  • Opinion. yes, we all want approval,
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  • Yes, we all want approval, we all want to be liked but
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  • We all want to be liked but you can't become dependent
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  • You can't become dependent on what other people think
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  • On what other people think about you.
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  • About you. everyone is not going to
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  • Everyone is not going to understand you, everyone
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  • Understand you, everyone won't celebrate you.
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  • Won't celebrate you. there will be seasons when
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  • There will be seasons when people are for you, giving
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  • People are for you, giving you approval, then times
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  • You approval, then times when they're not.
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  • When they're not. if you have that filter, “i
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  • If you have that filter, “i have to keep pleasing them,
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  • Have to keep pleasing them, i need them to approve me
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  • I need them to approve me to feel good about myself,”
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  • To feel good about myself,” then you're letting them be
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  • Then you're letting them be in charge of who you are.
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  • In charge of who you are. your destiny is not
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  • Your destiny is not predicated on other
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  • Predicated on other people's opinion of you.
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  • People's opinion of you. when god laid out your
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  • When god laid out your plan, he didn't have a
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  • Plan, he didn't have a committee.
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  • Committee. he didn't form a group
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  • He didn't form a group chat, call twelve of your
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  • Chat, call twelve of your friends, and say, “let's
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  • Friends, and say, “let's get together and decide who
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  • Get together and decide who they're going to be.” by
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  • They're going to be.” by himself, he called you,
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  • Himself, he called you, equipped you, gave you
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  • Equipped you, gave you favor.
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  • Favor. if you live trying to
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  • If you live trying to please people, gain their
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  • Please people, gain their approval, keep everyone
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  • Approval, keep everyone happy, you're going to be
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  • Happy, you're going to be frustrated.
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  • Frustrated. that's going to wear you
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  • That's going to wear you out.
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  • Out. you have to break free from
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  • You have to break free from what people think about you.
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  • What people think about you. you don't have to have
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  • You don't have to have their approval; you have
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  • Their approval; you have almighty god's approval.
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  • Almighty god's approval. don't live to please
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  • Don't live to please people, live to please god.
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  • People, live to please god. he's the one that holds
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  • He's the one that holds your destiny.
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  • Your destiny. promotion doesn't come from
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  • Promotion doesn't come from people; it comes from the
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  • People; it comes from the lord. how much time and
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  • Lord. how much time and energy are you spending
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  • Energy are you spending trying to get approval,
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  • Trying to get approval, trying to be well liked,
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  • Trying to be well liked, trying to keep this friend
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  • Trying to keep this friend impressed, stay in this
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  • Impressed, stay in this coworker's favor?
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  • Coworker's favor? take the pressure off.
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  • Take the pressure off. you can't follow what god
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  • You can't follow what god put in your heart if you're
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  • Put in your heart if you're always trying to play up to
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  • Always trying to play up to people.
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  • People. “what will they think?
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  • “what will they think? what if they don't
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  • What if they don't approve?” a much better
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  • Approve?” a much better question is, what will god
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  • Question is, what will god think?
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  • Think? the apostle paul had all
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  • The apostle paul had all kinds of opinions about
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  • Kinds of opinions about him. at one time he was the
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  • Him. at one time he was the biggest enemy of the
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  • Biggest enemy of the church, then he became a
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  • Church, then he became a believer.
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  • Believer. some people loved him,
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  • Some people loved him, others were skeptical.
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  • Others were skeptical. despite all this
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  • Despite all this opposition, he wrote almost
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  • Opposition, he wrote almost half of the new testament,
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  • Half of the new testament, impacted the world in an
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  • Impacted the world in an amazing way.
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  • Amazing way. he gives us a secret of how
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  • He gives us a secret of how he handled the pressure,
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  • He handled the pressure, how he dealt with all the
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  • How he dealt with all the opinions.
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  • Opinions. he said in 1 corinthians 4,
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  • He said in 1 corinthians 4, “it matters very little to
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  • “it matters very little to me what you or anyone else
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  • Me what you or anyone else thinks.
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  • Thinks. i have been faithful.” paul
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  • I have been faithful.” paul was saying, “i'm not
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  • Was saying, “i'm not looking to you for approval.
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  • Looking to you for approval. i'm not basing my decisions
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  • I'm not basing my decisions on what you think, whether
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  • On what you think, whether you like me or don't.
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  • You like me or don't. that doesn't change who i
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  • That doesn't change who i am.” he wasn't trying to
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  • Am.” he wasn't trying to please everyone, he was
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  • Please everyone, he was trying to please an
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  • Trying to please an audience of one, the one
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  • Audience of one, the one who called him, the one who
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  • Who called him, the one who gave him breath to breathe.
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  • Gave him breath to breathe. he went on to say in the
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  • He went on to say in the next verse, “my conscience
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  • Next verse, “my conscience is clear.” he was saying,
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  • Is clear.” he was saying, “i've done what god put in
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  • “i've done what god put in my heart. to the best of my
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  • My heart. to the best of my ability, i've pursued the
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  • Ability, i've pursued the dreams and goals he's
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  • Dreams and goals he's placed in me.” some people
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  • Placed in me.” some people didn't understand, some
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  • Didn't understand, some didn't approve, but he
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  • Didn't approve, but he wasn't ruled by their
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  • Wasn't ruled by their opinions.
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  • Opinions. he wasn't insecure to where
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  • He wasn't insecure to where he needed people to
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  • He needed people to validate him. he didn't
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  • Validate him. he didn't have to fit into their mold.
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  • Have to fit into their mold. if he was addicted to
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  • If he was addicted to approval, we wouldn't have
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  • Approval, we wouldn't have half of the new testament.
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  • Half of the new testament. don't miss your greatness
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  • Don't miss your greatness because you're dependent on
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  • Because you're dependent on people approving you.
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  • People approving you. don't shrink back and let
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  • Don't shrink back and let your dreams die stillborn
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  • Your dreams die stillborn because you're worried
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  • Because you're worried about what they may think,
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  • About what they may think, what they may say; they may
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  • What they may say; they may not accept you.
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  • Not accept you. no, that's an addiction
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  • No, that's an addiction that needs to be broken.
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  • That needs to be broken. you have to like paul, be
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  • You have to like paul, be bold, have that attitude,
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  • Bold, have that attitude, “it matters very little
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  • “it matters very little what people think, what
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  • What people think, what they say.
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  • They say. i don't need their approval
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  • I don't need their approval to do what god's called me
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  • To do what god's called me to do.” if you're getting
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  • To do.” if you're getting your approval from people,
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  • Your approval from people, you're letting them control
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  • You're letting them control you.
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  • You. i'm not talking about never
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  • I'm not talking about never taking advice, not
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  • Taking advice, not listening to counsel.
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  • Listening to counsel. i'm saying don't let their
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  • I'm saying don't let their opinion become more
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  • Opinion become more important than what god put
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  • Important than what god put in your heart. if you can
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  • In your heart. if you can say like paul, “my
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  • Say like paul, “my conscience is clear.
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  • Conscience is clear. god, i've searched my
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  • God, i've searched my heart, to the best of my
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  • Heart, to the best of my ability i believe this is
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  • Ability i believe this is something you want me to do.
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  • Something you want me to do. that this is a part of my
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  • That this is a part of my destiny.” then you don't
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  • Destiny.” then you don't need twelve people to
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  • Need twelve people to confirm it.
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  • Confirm it. you don't need all your
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  • You don't need all your family to cheer you on,
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  • Family to cheer you on, your friends and coworkers
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  • Your friends and coworkers to approve.
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  • To approve. you may not get that.
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  • You may not get that. sometimes god will cause
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  • Sometimes god will cause people to withhold their
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  • People to withhold their approval.
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  • Approval. it's a test. are you going
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  • It's a test. are you going let their lack of approval,
  • 00:06:19.635 --> 00:06:21.370
  • Let their lack of approval, their opinion, keep you
  • 00:06:21.437 --> 00:06:22.772
  • Their opinion, keep you from becoming who you were
  • 00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:24.173
  • From becoming who you were created to be?
  • 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:26.108
  • Created to be? when my father went to be
  • 00:06:26.175 --> 00:06:27.210
  • When my father went to be with the lord, i stepped up
  • 00:06:27.276 --> 00:06:28.444
  • With the lord, i stepped up to pastor the church, i was
  • 00:06:28.511 --> 00:06:30.713
  • To pastor the church, i was insecure, i didn't feel
  • 00:06:30.780 --> 00:06:32.315
  • Insecure, i didn't feel qualified.
  • 00:06:32.381 --> 00:06:33.716
  • Qualified. i was trying to figure
  • 00:06:33.783 --> 00:06:34.717
  • I was trying to figure everything out.
  • 00:06:34.784 --> 00:06:36.052
  • Everything out. who i was going to be, how
  • 00:06:36.118 --> 00:06:37.753
  • Who i was going to be, how i was going to lead, what
  • 00:06:37.820 --> 00:06:39.322
  • I was going to lead, what direction the church was
  • 00:06:39.388 --> 00:06:40.323
  • Direction the church was going to go.
  • 00:06:40.389 --> 00:06:40.957
  • Going to go. there were a lot of
  • 00:06:41.023 --> 00:06:42.158
  • There were a lot of different opinions.
  • 00:06:42.225 --> 00:06:43.826
  • Different opinions. my personality is to want
  • 00:06:43.893 --> 00:06:45.161
  • My personality is to want to please people.
  • 00:06:45.228 --> 00:06:47.430
  • To please people. i'm kind, i'll do anything
  • 00:06:47.497 --> 00:06:49.232
  • I'm kind, i'll do anything for you, that can be good,
  • 00:06:49.298 --> 00:06:51.567
  • For you, that can be good, but it also can be a
  • 00:06:51.634 --> 00:06:52.535
  • But it also can be a weakness.
  • 00:06:52.602 --> 00:06:53.870
  • Weakness. there were all these
  • 00:06:53.936 --> 00:06:54.670
  • There were all these different opinions.
  • 00:06:54.737 --> 00:06:55.671
  • Different opinions. i found myself tempted to
  • 00:06:55.738 --> 00:06:57.840
  • I found myself tempted to make decisions based on
  • 00:06:57.907 --> 00:06:59.442
  • Make decisions based on what people would think.
  • 00:06:59.509 --> 00:07:01.310
  • What people would think. there was this man that had
  • 00:07:01.377 --> 00:07:02.645
  • There was this man that had been on staff with us here
  • 00:07:02.712 --> 00:07:03.679
  • Been on staff with us here at the church, for many
  • 00:07:03.746 --> 00:07:04.947
  • At the church, for many years, a good friend of my
  • 00:07:05.014 --> 00:07:06.349
  • Years, a good friend of my father.
  • 00:07:06.415 --> 00:07:07.049
  • Father. i had known him since i was
  • 00:07:07.116 --> 00:07:08.451
  • I had known him since i was a little boy, always liked
  • 00:07:08.518 --> 00:07:10.219
  • A little boy, always liked him. one day he called and
  • 00:07:10.286 --> 00:07:12.588
  • Him. one day he called and started telling me
  • 00:07:12.655 --> 00:07:13.489
  • Started telling me everything i needed to do.
  • 00:07:13.556 --> 00:07:15.191
  • Everything i needed to do. how to minister, how to run
  • 00:07:15.258 --> 00:07:16.993
  • How to minister, how to run the church, we should do
  • 00:07:17.059 --> 00:07:18.494
  • The church, we should do more of this and less of
  • 00:07:18.561 --> 00:07:19.762
  • More of this and less of that.
  • 00:07:19.829 --> 00:07:20.530
  • That. he was very opinionated,
  • 00:07:20.596 --> 00:07:22.164
  • He was very opinionated, very strong.
  • 00:07:22.231 --> 00:07:23.633
  • Very strong. he said, “if you don't do
  • 00:07:23.699 --> 00:07:24.667
  • He said, “if you don't do these things, joel, it's
  • 00:07:24.734 --> 00:07:25.935
  • These things, joel, it's all going to go down.”
  • 00:07:26.002 --> 00:07:28.337
  • All going to go down.” there's a fine line between
  • 00:07:28.404 --> 00:07:29.805
  • There's a fine line between advice and manipulation.
  • 00:07:29.872 --> 00:07:32.508
  • Advice and manipulation. i'm always open for new
  • 00:07:32.575 --> 00:07:33.709
  • I'm always open for new ideas; the problem was
  • 00:07:33.776 --> 00:07:35.311
  • Ideas; the problem was nothing he was telling me
  • 00:07:35.378 --> 00:07:36.913
  • Nothing he was telling me bore witness with my spirit.
  • 00:07:36.979 --> 00:07:38.514
  • Bore witness with my spirit. it was just the opposite of
  • 00:07:38.581 --> 00:07:40.483
  • It was just the opposite of what i was feeling.
  • 00:07:40.550 --> 00:07:42.051
  • What i was feeling. what i've learned is you
  • 00:07:42.118 --> 00:07:43.519
  • What i've learned is you can hear god's voice for
  • 00:07:43.586 --> 00:07:44.921
  • Can hear god's voice for your life more than anyone
  • 00:07:44.987 --> 00:07:46.689
  • Your life more than anyone else.
  • 00:07:46.756 --> 00:07:47.757
  • Else. god is not going to speak
  • 00:07:47.823 --> 00:07:49.191
  • God is not going to speak to someone else about your
  • 00:07:49.258 --> 00:07:51.294
  • To someone else about your destiny and not tell you.
  • 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:54.163
  • Destiny and not tell you. other people may confirm it.
  • 00:07:54.230 --> 00:07:55.998
  • Other people may confirm it. they may encourage you but
  • 00:07:56.065 --> 00:07:57.800
  • They may encourage you but if it doesn't agree with
  • 00:07:57.867 --> 00:07:59.001
  • If it doesn't agree with your spirit, then you need
  • 00:07:59.068 --> 00:08:00.436
  • Your spirit, then you need to dismiss it.
  • 00:08:00.503 --> 00:08:01.971
  • To dismiss it. don't let other people
  • 00:08:02.038 --> 00:08:03.072
  • Don't let other people squeeze you into their mold.
  • 00:08:03.139 --> 00:08:05.241
  • Squeeze you into their mold. i looked up to this man.
  • 00:08:05.308 --> 00:08:06.442
  • I looked up to this man. he's like a father figure
  • 00:08:06.509 --> 00:08:07.977
  • He's like a father figure to me.
  • 00:08:08.044 --> 00:08:08.844
  • To me. i thought, “if i don't do
  • 00:08:08.911 --> 00:08:09.912
  • I thought, “if i don't do what he wants, then he's
  • 00:08:09.979 --> 00:08:11.914
  • What he wants, then he's not going to approve me.
  • 00:08:11.981 --> 00:08:13.416
  • Not going to approve me. he may not support me.
  • 00:08:13.482 --> 00:08:15.151
  • He may not support me. he may tell others, try to
  • 00:08:15.217 --> 00:08:16.619
  • He may tell others, try to stir up trouble.” all these
  • 00:08:16.686 --> 00:08:18.588
  • Stir up trouble.” all these reasons said, “joel, you
  • 00:08:18.654 --> 00:08:19.689
  • Reasons said, “joel, you need his approval.
  • 00:08:19.755 --> 00:08:21.090
  • Need his approval. you better take his
  • 00:08:21.157 --> 00:08:21.791
  • You better take his opinion, don't rock the
  • 00:08:21.857 --> 00:08:22.892
  • Opinion, don't rock the boat.” these are tests we
  • 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:25.394
  • Boat.” these are tests we have to pass.
  • 00:08:25.461 --> 00:08:26.896
  • Have to pass. “am i going to please
  • 00:08:26.963 --> 00:08:27.797
  • “am i going to please people or am i going to
  • 00:08:27.863 --> 00:08:29.298
  • People or am i going to please god?” i was afraid
  • 00:08:29.365 --> 00:08:31.734
  • Please god?” i was afraid of what he would think,
  • 00:08:31.801 --> 00:08:33.202
  • Of what he would think, afraid he may be offended,
  • 00:08:33.269 --> 00:08:35.037
  • Afraid he may be offended, afraid he might not like me.
  • 00:08:35.104 --> 00:08:37.406
  • Afraid he might not like me. the scripture says,
  • 00:08:37.473 --> 00:08:38.374
  • The scripture says, “fearing people is a
  • 00:08:38.441 --> 00:08:40.176
  • “fearing people is a dangerous trap.” it doesn't
  • 00:08:40.242 --> 00:08:42.411
  • Dangerous trap.” it doesn't say a bad trap, it doesn't
  • 00:08:42.478 --> 00:08:44.280
  • Say a bad trap, it doesn't say it's unhealthy.
  • 00:08:44.347 --> 00:08:45.715
  • Say it's unhealthy. it uses the word dangerous.
  • 00:08:45.781 --> 00:08:47.883
  • It uses the word dangerous. it's because if you fear
  • 00:08:47.950 --> 00:08:49.619
  • It's because if you fear people, you can miss your
  • 00:08:49.685 --> 00:08:51.320
  • People, you can miss your destiny.
  • 00:08:51.387 --> 00:08:52.722
  • Destiny. if you let the opinion of
  • 00:08:52.788 --> 00:08:53.990
  • If you let the opinion of others, “what will they
  • 00:08:54.056 --> 00:08:55.324
  • Others, “what will they think, what if they don't
  • 00:08:55.391 --> 00:08:56.726
  • Think, what if they don't approve me?” if you let
  • 00:08:56.792 --> 00:08:58.327
  • Approve me?” if you let that hold you back, then
  • 00:08:58.394 --> 00:08:59.795
  • That hold you back, then you can miss who you were
  • 00:08:59.862 --> 00:09:01.330
  • You can miss who you were created to be.
  • 00:09:01.397 --> 00:09:02.999
  • Created to be. something rose up in me, a
  • 00:09:03.065 --> 00:09:04.867
  • Something rose up in me, a holy boldness.
  • 00:09:04.934 --> 00:09:06.636
  • Holy boldness. i was respectful, i was
  • 00:09:06.702 --> 00:09:07.937
  • I was respectful, i was kind, but i was very strong.
  • 00:09:08.004 --> 00:09:10.206
  • Kind, but i was very strong. i said in effect, “thanks
  • 00:09:10.272 --> 00:09:11.607
  • I said in effect, “thanks but no thanks.
  • 00:09:11.674 --> 00:09:12.908
  • But no thanks. i'm not following your
  • 00:09:12.975 --> 00:09:14.043
  • I'm not following your plan; i'm going to follow
  • 00:09:14.110 --> 00:09:15.645
  • Plan; i'm going to follow what god put in my heart.”
  • 00:09:15.711 --> 00:09:18.047
  • What god put in my heart.” sometimes you have to go
  • 00:09:18.114 --> 00:09:20.016
  • Sometimes you have to go alone.
  • 00:09:20.082 --> 00:09:21.283
  • Alone. you have to do it without
  • 00:09:21.350 --> 00:09:22.551
  • You have to do it without the approval of those that
  • 00:09:22.618 --> 00:09:24.320
  • The approval of those that you thought would be for
  • 00:09:24.387 --> 00:09:25.521
  • You thought would be for you.
  • 00:09:25.588 --> 00:09:26.656
  • You. other people may not see
  • 00:09:26.722 --> 00:09:28.090
  • Other people may not see what god put in you.
  • 00:09:28.157 --> 00:09:29.759
  • What god put in you. they can't feel what you
  • 00:09:29.825 --> 00:09:30.826
  • They can't feel what you feel.
  • 00:09:30.893 --> 00:09:31.827
  • Feel. he wasn't happy.
  • 00:09:31.894 --> 00:09:33.362
  • He wasn't happy. he told me how it wasn't
  • 00:09:33.429 --> 00:09:34.430
  • He told me how it wasn't going to work out and how i
  • 00:09:34.497 --> 00:09:35.931
  • Going to work out and how i was missing it.
  • 00:09:35.998 --> 00:09:37.033
  • Was missing it. he ended up leaving the
  • 00:09:37.099 --> 00:09:38.000
  • He ended up leaving the church.
  • 00:09:38.067 --> 00:09:38.834
  • Church. i was so thrilled, i mean
  • 00:09:38.901 --> 00:09:39.969
  • I was so thrilled, i mean disappointed.
  • 00:09:40.036 --> 00:09:41.804
  • Disappointed. but i learned i didn't have
  • 00:09:41.871 --> 00:09:43.606
  • But i learned i didn't have to have his approval.
  • 00:09:43.673 --> 00:09:45.207
  • To have his approval. you and god are a majority.
  • 00:09:45.274 --> 00:09:47.443
  • You and god are a majority. he didn't approve me, but
  • 00:09:47.510 --> 00:09:49.578
  • He didn't approve me, but almighty god shined down
  • 00:09:49.645 --> 00:09:51.047
  • Almighty god shined down his favor.
  • 00:09:51.113 --> 00:09:52.848
  • His favor. here's my point: had i
  • 00:09:52.915 --> 00:09:54.750
  • Here's my point: had i listened to that man and
  • 00:09:54.817 --> 00:09:56.552
  • Listened to that man and let the fear of people
  • 00:09:56.619 --> 00:09:58.087
  • Let the fear of people determine my decisions, had
  • 00:09:58.154 --> 00:10:00.089
  • Determine my decisions, had i let the opinion of others
  • 00:10:00.156 --> 00:10:01.724
  • I let the opinion of others dictate my life, i wouldn't
  • 00:10:01.791 --> 00:10:03.859
  • Dictate my life, i wouldn't be here today.
  • 00:10:03.926 --> 00:10:05.594
  • Be here today. we put too much emphasis on
  • 00:10:05.661 --> 00:10:07.363
  • We put too much emphasis on people's approval.
  • 00:10:07.430 --> 00:10:08.931
  • People's approval. but people didn't call you.
  • 00:10:08.998 --> 00:10:10.866
  • But people didn't call you. people didn't crown you
  • 00:10:10.933 --> 00:10:11.934
  • People didn't crown you with favor.
  • 00:10:12.001 --> 00:10:12.835
  • With favor. people didn't know you
  • 00:10:12.902 --> 00:10:13.803
  • People didn't know you before you were formed in
  • 00:10:13.869 --> 00:10:15.137
  • Before you were formed in your mother's womb.
  • 00:10:15.204 --> 00:10:16.272
  • Your mother's womb. the most high god did.
  • 00:10:16.338 --> 00:10:18.240
  • The most high god did. quit worrying about their
  • 00:10:18.307 --> 00:10:19.241
  • Quit worrying about their opinions and get your
  • 00:10:19.308 --> 00:10:20.643
  • Opinions and get your approval from him.
  • 00:10:20.710 --> 00:10:22.978
  • Approval from him. in the scripture, god told
  • 00:10:23.045 --> 00:10:24.547
  • In the scripture, god told jeremiah that before he was
  • 00:10:24.613 --> 00:10:26.716
  • Jeremiah that before he was born, he had set jeremiah
  • 00:10:26.782 --> 00:10:28.684
  • Born, he had set jeremiah apart and called him to
  • 00:10:28.751 --> 00:10:30.052
  • Apart and called him to speak to nations.
  • 00:10:30.119 --> 00:10:31.554
  • Speak to nations. that he would be a prophet,
  • 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:33.122
  • That he would be a prophet, that he would impact the
  • 00:10:33.189 --> 00:10:34.290
  • That he would impact the culture.
  • 00:10:34.356 --> 00:10:35.558
  • Culture. jeremiah was a teenager, he
  • 00:10:35.624 --> 00:10:37.560
  • Jeremiah was a teenager, he felt unqualified, but god
  • 00:10:37.626 --> 00:10:39.361
  • Felt unqualified, but god told him he would give him
  • 00:10:39.428 --> 00:10:40.696
  • Told him he would give him the words to speak,
  • 00:10:40.763 --> 00:10:42.198
  • The words to speak, wherever he went, his hand
  • 00:10:42.264 --> 00:10:43.599
  • Wherever he went, his hand of favor would be on him.
  • 00:10:43.666 --> 00:10:45.668
  • Of favor would be on him. after god spoke all these
  • 00:10:45.735 --> 00:10:47.002
  • After god spoke all these incredible things, told him
  • 00:10:47.069 --> 00:10:49.004
  • Incredible things, told him how he would be a history
  • 00:10:49.071 --> 00:10:50.172
  • How he would be a history maker, god finished by
  • 00:10:50.239 --> 00:10:52.041
  • Maker, god finished by saying one last thing.
  • 00:10:52.108 --> 00:10:53.709
  • Saying one last thing. he said, “jeremiah, don't
  • 00:10:53.776 --> 00:10:55.478
  • He said, “jeremiah, don't be afraid of the people.”
  • 00:10:55.544 --> 00:10:58.080
  • Be afraid of the people.” god knew that people
  • 00:10:58.147 --> 00:10:59.448
  • God knew that people wouldn't understand him,
  • 00:10:59.515 --> 00:11:01.150
  • Wouldn't understand him, that friends may not agree.
  • 00:11:01.217 --> 00:11:03.085
  • That friends may not agree. he was saying, “don't let
  • 00:11:03.152 --> 00:11:04.653
  • He was saying, “don't let the opinion of others hold
  • 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:06.388
  • The opinion of others hold you back.
  • 00:11:06.455 --> 00:11:07.523
  • You back. don't let what they think,
  • 00:11:07.590 --> 00:11:09.125
  • Don't let what they think, what they say keep you from
  • 00:11:09.191 --> 00:11:10.760
  • What they say keep you from fulfilling your purpose.”
  • 00:11:10.826 --> 00:11:12.795
  • Fulfilling your purpose.” god is saying that to us,
  • 00:11:12.862 --> 00:11:14.764
  • God is saying that to us, don't fear the people.
  • 00:11:14.830 --> 00:11:15.898
  • Don't fear the people. if they don't approve you,
  • 00:11:15.965 --> 00:11:18.134
  • If they don't approve you, that's not going to stop
  • 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:19.068
  • That's not going to stop your purpose.
  • 00:11:19.135 --> 00:11:20.002
  • Your purpose. what will stop you is if
  • 00:11:20.069 --> 00:11:21.837
  • What will stop you is if you let their opinion
  • 00:11:21.904 --> 00:11:23.205
  • You let their opinion become more important than
  • 00:11:23.272 --> 00:11:24.840
  • Become more important than what god has put in your
  • 00:11:24.907 --> 00:11:25.841
  • What god has put in your heart.
  • 00:11:25.908 --> 00:11:27.276
  • Heart. my parents went out and
  • 00:11:27.343 --> 00:11:28.444
  • My parents went out and started lakewood on
  • 00:11:28.511 --> 00:11:29.645
  • Started lakewood on mother's day in 1959.
  • 00:11:29.712 --> 00:11:32.314
  • Mother's day in 1959. instead of a beautiful new
  • 00:11:32.381 --> 00:11:33.482
  • Instead of a beautiful new auditorium, they had this
  • 00:11:33.549 --> 00:11:35.084
  • Auditorium, they had this old rundown feedstore.
  • 00:11:35.151 --> 00:11:37.086
  • Old rundown feedstore. it had holes in the floor,
  • 00:11:37.153 --> 00:11:39.288
  • It had holes in the floor, dirty, and smelly.
  • 00:11:39.355 --> 00:11:41.123
  • Dirty, and smelly. they cleaned it up and put
  • 00:11:41.190 --> 00:11:42.591
  • They cleaned it up and put some wood chairs in it.
  • 00:11:42.658 --> 00:11:44.593
  • Some wood chairs in it. one of my father's good
  • 00:11:44.660 --> 00:11:45.394
  • One of my father's good friends came by and said,
  • 00:11:45.461 --> 00:11:46.962
  • Friends came by and said, “john, what in the world
  • 00:11:47.029 --> 00:11:48.297
  • “john, what in the world are you doing out here
  • 00:11:48.364 --> 00:11:49.498
  • Are you doing out here pastoring this little
  • 00:11:49.565 --> 00:11:50.366
  • Pastoring this little church.” he couldn't
  • 00:11:50.432 --> 00:11:51.734
  • Church.” he couldn't understand it.
  • 00:11:51.801 --> 00:11:53.068
  • Understand it. some people made fun of my
  • 00:11:53.135 --> 00:11:54.236
  • Some people made fun of my father, laughed.
  • 00:11:54.303 --> 00:11:56.071
  • Father, laughed. these are tests that we
  • 00:11:56.138 --> 00:11:57.640
  • These are tests that we have to pass.
  • 00:11:57.706 --> 00:11:59.208
  • Have to pass. are we going to depend on
  • 00:11:59.275 --> 00:12:00.442
  • Are we going to depend on people's approval to do
  • 00:12:00.509 --> 00:12:02.178
  • People's approval to do what god's put in our heart?
  • 00:12:02.244 --> 00:12:04.113
  • What god's put in our heart? are we going to let their
  • 00:12:04.180 --> 00:12:05.080
  • Are we going to let their opinions, “what will they
  • 00:12:05.147 --> 00:12:06.816
  • Opinions, “what will they think, how will i be seen,
  • 00:12:06.882 --> 00:12:09.151
  • Think, how will i be seen, what if they look down on
  • 00:12:09.218 --> 00:12:10.319
  • What if they look down on me?” are we going to let
  • 00:12:10.386 --> 00:12:11.387
  • Me?” are we going to let that determine who we
  • 00:12:11.453 --> 00:12:12.521
  • That determine who we become.
  • 00:12:12.588 --> 00:12:13.722
  • Become. it's dangerous to fear the
  • 00:12:13.789 --> 00:12:15.157
  • It's dangerous to fear the people.
  • 00:12:15.224 --> 00:12:16.392
  • People. on the way to your destiny,
  • 00:12:16.458 --> 00:12:18.160
  • On the way to your destiny, there will be people that
  • 00:12:18.227 --> 00:12:19.161
  • There will be people that don't celebrate you.
  • 00:12:19.228 --> 00:12:20.696
  • Don't celebrate you. you don't get the support,
  • 00:12:20.763 --> 00:12:22.164
  • You don't get the support, the encouragement.
  • 00:12:22.231 --> 00:12:23.432
  • The encouragement. it's just between you and
  • 00:12:23.499 --> 00:12:24.934
  • It's just between you and god.
  • 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:26.168
  • God. that's where you have to
  • 00:12:26.235 --> 00:12:26.936
  • That's where you have to set your face like a flint
  • 00:12:27.002 --> 00:12:28.237
  • Set your face like a flint and say, “god, i'm not
  • 00:12:28.304 --> 00:12:29.605
  • And say, “god, i'm not living to please people.
  • 00:12:29.672 --> 00:12:31.106
  • Living to please people. i'm living to please you.”
  • 00:12:31.173 --> 00:12:33.442
  • I'm living to please you.” people loved my father back
  • 00:12:33.509 --> 00:12:35.044
  • People loved my father back then as long as he was in
  • 00:12:35.110 --> 00:12:37.446
  • Then as long as he was in their mold.
  • 00:12:37.513 --> 00:12:38.647
  • Their mold. as long as he stayed who he
  • 00:12:38.714 --> 00:12:40.282
  • As long as he stayed who he was.
  • 00:12:40.349 --> 00:12:41.317
  • Was. but when he stepped into a
  • 00:12:41.383 --> 00:12:42.484
  • But when he stepped into a new level, that's when
  • 00:12:42.551 --> 00:12:43.886
  • New level, that's when certain people didn't like
  • 00:12:43.953 --> 00:12:45.120
  • Certain people didn't like it, the opposition, the
  • 00:12:45.187 --> 00:12:46.856
  • It, the opposition, the critics came.
  • 00:12:46.922 --> 00:12:48.557
  • Critics came. when god takes you higher,
  • 00:12:48.624 --> 00:12:50.459
  • When god takes you higher, don't be surprised if you
  • 00:12:50.526 --> 00:12:52.094
  • Don't be surprised if you don't get approval from
  • 00:12:52.161 --> 00:12:53.429
  • Don't get approval from some of your friends, some
  • 00:12:53.495 --> 00:12:55.164
  • Some of your friends, some of your family.
  • 00:12:55.231 --> 00:12:56.632
  • Of your family. they'll tell you, “you've
  • 00:12:56.699 --> 00:12:57.366
  • They'll tell you, “you've changed.
  • 00:12:57.433 --> 00:12:58.601
  • Changed. you're not who you used to
  • 00:12:58.667 --> 00:12:59.602
  • You're not who you used to be.” they want to keep you
  • 00:12:59.668 --> 00:13:01.237
  • Be.” they want to keep you in that same box, but where
  • 00:13:01.303 --> 00:13:03.472
  • In that same box, but where god is taking you it's
  • 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:05.207
  • God is taking you it's somewhere that you've never
  • 00:13:05.274 --> 00:13:06.108
  • Somewhere that you've never been.
  • 00:13:06.175 --> 00:13:07.076
  • Been. the fact is all of your
  • 00:13:07.142 --> 00:13:08.611
  • The fact is all of your friends can't handle where
  • 00:13:08.677 --> 00:13:10.479
  • Friends can't handle where you're going.
  • 00:13:10.546 --> 00:13:11.714
  • You're going. all of your relatives can't
  • 00:13:11.780 --> 00:13:13.349
  • All of your relatives can't handle the favor and
  • 00:13:13.415 --> 00:13:14.650
  • Handle the favor and influence.
  • 00:13:14.717 --> 00:13:16.151
  • Influence. but it's tempting to let
  • 00:13:16.218 --> 00:13:18.187
  • But it's tempting to let their disapproval, their
  • 00:13:18.254 --> 00:13:19.922
  • Their disapproval, their negative comments, their
  • 00:13:19.989 --> 00:13:21.390
  • Negative comments, their doubt, to cause you to get
  • 00:13:21.457 --> 00:13:23.158
  • Doubt, to cause you to get stuck, think, “man, if they
  • 00:13:23.225 --> 00:13:24.760
  • Stuck, think, “man, if they would only support me, if
  • 00:13:24.827 --> 00:13:26.095
  • Would only support me, if they would just change
  • 00:13:26.161 --> 00:13:27.096
  • They would just change their mind, if they would
  • 00:13:27.162 --> 00:13:28.364
  • Their mind, if they would just be for me.” you don't
  • 00:13:28.430 --> 00:13:30.299
  • Just be for me.” you don't need their approval.
  • 00:13:30.366 --> 00:13:32.401
  • Need their approval. when they tell you, “you've
  • 00:13:32.468 --> 00:13:33.202
  • When they tell you, “you've changed.
  • 00:13:33.269 --> 00:13:34.003
  • Changed. you're not who you used to
  • 00:13:34.069 --> 00:13:34.937
  • You're not who you used to be.” tell them, “you're
  • 00:13:35.004 --> 00:13:36.138
  • Be.” tell them, “you're right.
  • 00:13:36.205 --> 00:13:36.805
  • Right. i'm growing.
  • 00:13:36.872 --> 00:13:37.840
  • I'm growing. i'm stepping into new
  • 00:13:37.907 --> 00:13:38.707
  • I'm stepping into new levels.
  • 00:13:38.774 --> 00:13:39.475
  • Levels. my gifts are coming out in
  • 00:13:39.541 --> 00:13:40.910
  • My gifts are coming out in new ways.” it's not a bad
  • 00:13:40.976 --> 00:13:43.479
  • New ways.” it's not a bad thing to change, but some
  • 00:13:43.545 --> 00:13:45.281
  • Thing to change, but some people can't handle it.
  • 00:13:45.347 --> 00:13:47.082
  • People can't handle it. if you're depending on
  • 00:13:47.149 --> 00:13:48.083
  • If you're depending on them, it will keep you from
  • 00:13:48.150 --> 00:13:49.752
  • Them, it will keep you from moving forward.
  • 00:13:49.818 --> 00:13:51.654
  • Moving forward. those critics told my
  • 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:52.554
  • Those critics told my father that lakewood
  • 00:13:52.621 --> 00:13:53.555
  • Father that lakewood wouldn't last, that he was
  • 00:13:53.622 --> 00:13:55.090
  • Wouldn't last, that he was making a big mistake.
  • 00:13:55.157 --> 00:13:56.325
  • Making a big mistake. but here we are sixty-four
  • 00:13:56.392 --> 00:13:57.927
  • But here we are sixty-four years later, still going
  • 00:13:57.993 --> 00:13:59.361
  • Years later, still going strong.
  • 00:13:59.428 --> 00:14:01.363
  • Strong. here's what i'm saying: god
  • 00:14:01.430 --> 00:14:03.365
  • Here's what i'm saying: god knows what he's doing.
  • 00:14:03.432 --> 00:14:05.200
  • Knows what he's doing. he knows where he's taking
  • 00:14:05.267 --> 00:14:06.769
  • He knows where he's taking you.
  • 00:14:06.835 --> 00:14:07.803
  • You. i think about if my father
  • 00:14:07.870 --> 00:14:09.204
  • I think about if my father would have been addicted to
  • 00:14:09.271 --> 00:14:10.606
  • Would have been addicted to approval, he'd never rocked
  • 00:14:10.673 --> 00:14:12.441
  • Approval, he'd never rocked the boat.
  • 00:14:12.508 --> 00:14:13.575
  • The boat. he would have stayed there
  • 00:14:13.642 --> 00:14:15.044
  • He would have stayed there and let people's opinions
  • 00:14:15.110 --> 00:14:16.412
  • And let people's opinions control him. my sister lisa
  • 00:14:16.478 --> 00:14:18.681
  • Control him. my sister lisa wouldn't be healed.
  • 00:14:18.747 --> 00:14:19.882
  • Wouldn't be healed. i wouldn't be up here.
  • 00:14:19.949 --> 00:14:21.417
  • I wouldn't be up here. he would have never seen
  • 00:14:21.483 --> 00:14:22.418
  • He would have never seen the fullness of his destiny.
  • 00:14:22.484 --> 00:14:25.054
  • The fullness of his destiny. sometimes we're so
  • 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:25.921
  • Sometimes we're so concerned about what people
  • 00:14:25.988 --> 00:14:27.723
  • Concerned about what people think.
  • 00:14:27.790 --> 00:14:28.390
  • Think. “what will they say, will
  • 00:14:28.457 --> 00:14:29.725
  • “what will they say, will they have a good opinion of
  • 00:14:29.792 --> 00:14:30.859
  • They have a good opinion of me.” we're spending all
  • 00:14:30.926 --> 00:14:32.528
  • Me.” we're spending all this time and energy trying
  • 00:14:32.594 --> 00:14:34.363
  • This time and energy trying to perform for people, win
  • 00:14:34.430 --> 00:14:36.432
  • To perform for people, win them over, make a good
  • 00:14:36.498 --> 00:14:38.200
  • Them over, make a good impression, hopefully
  • 00:14:38.267 --> 00:14:39.635
  • Impression, hopefully they'll validate us.” we're
  • 00:14:39.702 --> 00:14:41.737
  • They'll validate us.” we're getting our approval from
  • 00:14:41.804 --> 00:14:43.205
  • Getting our approval from the wrong place.
  • 00:14:43.272 --> 00:14:44.807
  • The wrong place. it was never meant to come
  • 00:14:44.873 --> 00:14:45.975
  • It was never meant to come from people, but from god.
  • 00:14:46.041 --> 00:14:48.711
  • From people, but from god. when you're secure in who
  • 00:14:48.777 --> 00:14:50.179
  • When you're secure in who he made you to be, you know
  • 00:14:50.245 --> 00:14:52.014
  • He made you to be, you know you're valuable, talented,
  • 00:14:52.081 --> 00:14:53.882
  • You're valuable, talented, attractive, a masterpiece,
  • 00:14:53.949 --> 00:14:56.085
  • Attractive, a masterpiece, then you don't have to have
  • 00:14:56.151 --> 00:14:57.486
  • Then you don't have to have all the outside validation.
  • 00:14:57.553 --> 00:15:00.556
  • We're living in a day
  • 00:15:00.723 --> 00:15:02.091
  • We're living in a day where people can express
  • 00:15:02.157 --> 00:15:03.659
  • Where people can express their opinion easier than
  • 00:15:03.726 --> 00:15:05.627
  • Their opinion easier than ever. not just in person,
  • 00:15:05.694 --> 00:15:07.830
  • Ever. not just in person, but now on social media.
  • 00:15:07.896 --> 00:15:09.198
  • But now on social media. you have “friends” on
  • 00:15:09.264 --> 00:15:10.699
  • You have “friends” on facebook, you have
  • 00:15:10.766 --> 00:15:12.067
  • Facebook, you have followers on instagram,
  • 00:15:12.134 --> 00:15:14.136
  • Followers on instagram, twitter, tiktok.
  • 00:15:14.203 --> 00:15:15.938
  • Twitter, tiktok. some people you've never
  • 00:15:16.005 --> 00:15:17.139
  • Some people you've never met, living a thousand
  • 00:15:17.206 --> 00:15:19.008
  • Met, living a thousand miles away, yet they have
  • 00:15:19.074 --> 00:15:20.776
  • Miles away, yet they have an opinion on what you
  • 00:15:20.843 --> 00:15:21.844
  • An opinion on what you wear, what you believe, how
  • 00:15:21.910 --> 00:15:23.846
  • Wear, what you believe, how you raise your children,
  • 00:15:23.912 --> 00:15:25.280
  • You raise your children, what you had for dinner
  • 00:15:25.347 --> 00:15:26.115
  • What you had for dinner last night.
  • 00:15:26.181 --> 00:15:27.616
  • Last night. they've never talked to
  • 00:15:27.683 --> 00:15:28.417
  • They've never talked to you, never got to know who
  • 00:15:28.484 --> 00:15:30.285
  • You, never got to know who you are, never sat down and
  • 00:15:30.352 --> 00:15:31.987
  • You are, never sat down and had lunch.
  • 00:15:32.054 --> 00:15:33.155
  • Had lunch. why are you worrying about
  • 00:15:33.222 --> 00:15:34.723
  • Why are you worrying about what they think?
  • 00:15:34.790 --> 00:15:36.125
  • What they think? why are you trying to
  • 00:15:36.191 --> 00:15:36.992
  • Why are you trying to impress them?
  • 00:15:37.059 --> 00:15:38.560
  • Impress them? giving time and energy
  • 00:15:38.627 --> 00:15:39.928
  • Giving time and energy responding to their
  • 00:15:39.995 --> 00:15:41.196
  • Responding to their comments, trying to explain
  • 00:15:41.263 --> 00:15:43.098
  • Comments, trying to explain what you meant.
  • 00:15:43.165 --> 00:15:44.633
  • What you meant. some people are determined
  • 00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:46.435
  • Some people are determined to misunderstand you.
  • 00:15:46.502 --> 00:15:48.604
  • To misunderstand you. their comment is not really
  • 00:15:48.670 --> 00:15:49.938
  • Their comment is not really about you; it shows what's
  • 00:15:50.005 --> 00:15:52.041
  • About you; it shows what's in them. they have issues
  • 00:15:52.107 --> 00:15:53.275
  • In them. they have issues they haven't dealt with.
  • 00:15:53.342 --> 00:15:54.043
  • They haven't dealt with. they're angry, they're
  • 00:15:54.109 --> 00:15:54.676
  • They're angry, they're upset, they don't like
  • 00:15:54.743 --> 00:15:56.612
  • Themselves.
  • 00:15:58.380 --> 00:15:59.715
  • Themselves. don't be surprised if they
  • 00:15:59.782 --> 00:16:01.283
  • Don't be surprised if they find fault with you.
  • 00:16:01.350 --> 00:16:03.118
  • Find fault with you. no offense, but they're not
  • 00:16:03.185 --> 00:16:04.720
  • No offense, but they're not going where you're going.
  • 00:16:04.787 --> 00:16:06.655
  • Going where you're going. if you try to please
  • 00:16:06.722 --> 00:16:07.656
  • If you try to please everyone, win their
  • 00:16:07.723 --> 00:16:09.158
  • Everyone, win their approval, you'll not only
  • 00:16:09.224 --> 00:16:10.726
  • Approval, you'll not only miss the new levels that
  • 00:16:10.793 --> 00:16:12.194
  • Miss the new levels that belong to you, but you'll
  • 00:16:12.261 --> 00:16:13.595
  • Belong to you, but you'll miss the joy, the peace,
  • 00:16:13.662 --> 00:16:15.364
  • Miss the joy, the peace, the victory of this day.
  • 00:16:15.431 --> 00:16:18.434
  • The victory of this day. the problem with living for
  • 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.868
  • The problem with living for approval is we can lose who
  • 00:16:19.935 --> 00:16:22.571
  • Approval is we can lose who we really are.
  • 00:16:22.638 --> 00:16:23.372
  • We really are. we're so busy trying to be
  • 00:16:23.439 --> 00:16:25.574
  • We're so busy trying to be what everyone else wants us
  • 00:16:25.641 --> 00:16:26.809
  • What everyone else wants us to be.
  • 00:16:26.875 --> 00:16:27.676
  • To be. that's when life gets
  • 00:16:27.743 --> 00:16:28.477
  • That's when life gets confusing.
  • 00:16:28.544 --> 00:16:29.845
  • Confusing. you have to do like paul
  • 00:16:29.912 --> 00:16:31.080
  • You have to do like paul and search your own heart.
  • 00:16:31.146 --> 00:16:33.248
  • And search your own heart. when your conscience is
  • 00:16:33.315 --> 00:16:34.216
  • When your conscience is clear, when you know where
  • 00:16:34.283 --> 00:16:35.918
  • Clear, when you know where god is leading you, follow
  • 00:16:35.984 --> 00:16:37.686
  • God is leading you, follow that still small voice.
  • 00:16:37.753 --> 00:16:39.922
  • That still small voice. don't get distracted trying
  • 00:16:39.988 --> 00:16:41.657
  • Don't get distracted trying to get everyone on board.
  • 00:16:41.723 --> 00:16:43.659
  • To get everyone on board. it's a lot of pressure to
  • 00:16:43.725 --> 00:16:44.760
  • It's a lot of pressure to live trying to please
  • 00:16:44.827 --> 00:16:45.961
  • Live trying to please people, convince them to be
  • 00:16:46.028 --> 00:16:47.763
  • People, convince them to be for you, so you can pursue
  • 00:16:47.830 --> 00:16:49.798
  • For you, so you can pursue what's in your heart.
  • 00:16:49.865 --> 00:16:52.000
  • What's in your heart. after high school, i went
  • 00:16:52.067 --> 00:16:53.469
  • After high school, i went off to college.
  • 00:16:53.535 --> 00:16:54.369
  • Off to college. i always knew i wanted to
  • 00:16:54.436 --> 00:16:56.405
  • I always knew i wanted to come back to the church and
  • 00:16:56.472 --> 00:16:57.840
  • Come back to the church and work here and start a
  • 00:16:57.906 --> 00:16:58.874
  • Work here and start a television ministry.
  • 00:16:58.941 --> 00:17:00.676
  • Television ministry. from the time i was a
  • 00:17:00.742 --> 00:17:01.376
  • From the time i was a little boy, like ten years
  • 00:17:01.443 --> 00:17:02.377
  • Little boy, like ten years old, i loved cameras,
  • 00:17:02.444 --> 00:17:04.246
  • Old, i loved cameras, editing and lighting.
  • 00:17:04.313 --> 00:17:06.281
  • Editing and lighting. i used to run the cameras
  • 00:17:06.348 --> 00:17:07.749
  • I used to run the cameras as a teenager during the
  • 00:17:07.816 --> 00:17:08.917
  • As a teenager during the services.
  • 00:17:08.984 --> 00:17:09.618
  • Services. i would come down on the
  • 00:17:09.685 --> 00:17:10.752
  • I would come down on the weekends and play with all
  • 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:12.154
  • Weekends and play with all the equipment.
  • 00:17:12.221 --> 00:17:13.655
  • The equipment. i studied television
  • 00:17:13.722 --> 00:17:14.790
  • I studied television production in college.
  • 00:17:14.857 --> 00:17:16.725
  • Production in college. but after that first year,
  • 00:17:16.792 --> 00:17:18.560
  • But after that first year, i felt very strongly that i
  • 00:17:18.627 --> 00:17:20.329
  • I felt very strongly that i was supposed to come back
  • 00:17:20.395 --> 00:17:21.497
  • Was supposed to come back and get started.
  • 00:17:21.563 --> 00:17:22.965
  • And get started. i'm all for education.
  • 00:17:23.031 --> 00:17:24.800
  • I'm all for education. my brother paul's a
  • 00:17:24.867 --> 00:17:25.601
  • My brother paul's a surgeon, he went to college
  • 00:17:25.667 --> 00:17:27.069
  • Surgeon, he went to college for forty-seven years.
  • 00:17:27.136 --> 00:17:29.771
  • For forty-seven years. all my sisters have their
  • 00:17:29.838 --> 00:17:31.039
  • All my sisters have their degrees.
  • 00:17:31.106 --> 00:17:32.241
  • Degrees. i have friends that
  • 00:17:32.307 --> 00:17:33.075
  • I have friends that graduated summa cum laud.
  • 00:17:33.142 --> 00:17:35.177
  • Graduated summa cum laud. i finished that first year
  • 00:17:35.244 --> 00:17:36.111
  • I finished that first year and thought, “lawd, have
  • 00:17:36.178 --> 00:17:36.879
  • And thought, “lawd, have mercy.” i knew this was the
  • 00:17:36.945 --> 00:17:40.282
  • Mercy.” i knew this was the time god was leading me,
  • 00:17:40.349 --> 00:17:42.351
  • Time god was leading me, but i wondered what people
  • 00:17:42.417 --> 00:17:43.752
  • But i wondered what people would think.
  • 00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:45.320
  • Would think. “would they look down on
  • 00:17:45.387 --> 00:17:46.255
  • “would they look down on me, what if they think i
  • 00:17:46.321 --> 00:17:47.890
  • Me, what if they think i wasn't able to finish
  • 00:17:47.956 --> 00:17:48.957
  • Wasn't able to finish college, what if they
  • 00:17:49.024 --> 00:17:50.592
  • College, what if they discount me?” there was
  • 00:17:50.659 --> 00:17:52.294
  • Discount me?” there was this struggle in my mind.
  • 00:17:52.361 --> 00:17:53.762
  • This struggle in my mind. i finally told my father;
  • 00:17:53.829 --> 00:17:55.631
  • I finally told my father; he was all for it.
  • 00:17:55.697 --> 00:17:57.199
  • He was all for it. he said, “joel, just follow
  • 00:17:57.266 --> 00:17:58.600
  • He said, “joel, just follow what god put in your
  • 00:17:58.667 --> 00:17:59.535
  • What god put in your heart.” my mother, not so
  • 00:17:59.601 --> 00:18:01.336
  • Heart.” my mother, not so much.
  • 00:18:01.403 --> 00:18:02.237
  • Much. she took prayer and fasting.
  • 00:18:02.304 --> 00:18:05.240
  • She took prayer and fasting. god's plan for your life
  • 00:18:05.307 --> 00:18:06.909
  • God's plan for your life may be different than
  • 00:18:06.975 --> 00:18:08.043
  • May be different than others in your family.
  • 00:18:08.110 --> 00:18:09.878
  • Others in your family. it may be out of the
  • 00:18:09.945 --> 00:18:10.812
  • It may be out of the ordinary, not a traditional
  • 00:18:10.879 --> 00:18:12.948
  • Ordinary, not a traditional approach.
  • 00:18:13.015 --> 00:18:13.949
  • Approach. only you can hear that
  • 00:18:14.016 --> 00:18:15.150
  • Only you can hear that voice.
  • 00:18:15.217 --> 00:18:16.351
  • Voice. there'll be that temptation
  • 00:18:16.418 --> 00:18:17.452
  • There'll be that temptation to stay in the box.
  • 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:19.121
  • To stay in the box. people aren't going to
  • 00:18:19.188 --> 00:18:19.888
  • People aren't going to approve.
  • 00:18:19.955 --> 00:18:20.722
  • Approve. just do what everyone else
  • 00:18:20.789 --> 00:18:21.924
  • Just do what everyone else is doing.
  • 00:18:21.990 --> 00:18:22.591
  • Is doing. no, you have to be bold.
  • 00:18:22.658 --> 00:18:24.259
  • No, you have to be bold. step into who god has made
  • 00:18:24.326 --> 00:18:26.128
  • Step into who god has made you to be.
  • 00:18:26.195 --> 00:18:26.995
  • You to be. when you do the right doors
  • 00:18:27.062 --> 00:18:28.363
  • When you do the right doors will open.
  • 00:18:28.430 --> 00:18:29.631
  • Will open. you'll discover talent, and
  • 00:18:29.698 --> 00:18:31.200
  • You'll discover talent, and ability that you didn't
  • 00:18:31.266 --> 00:18:32.201
  • Ability that you didn't know you had.
  • 00:18:32.267 --> 00:18:33.569
  • Know you had. don't let the fear of what
  • 00:18:33.635 --> 00:18:34.570
  • Don't let the fear of what people will think, keep you
  • 00:18:34.636 --> 00:18:37.072
  • People will think, keep you from your greatness.
  • 00:18:37.139 --> 00:18:39.041
  • From your greatness. in 2 samuel chapter 6,
  • 00:18:39.107 --> 00:18:40.642
  • In 2 samuel chapter 6, david and his men had just
  • 00:18:40.709 --> 00:18:42.578
  • David and his men had just recovered the ark of the
  • 00:18:42.644 --> 00:18:43.845
  • Recovered the ark of the covenant.
  • 00:18:43.912 --> 00:18:44.880
  • Covenant. that represented where god
  • 00:18:44.947 --> 00:18:46.081
  • That represented where god lived.
  • 00:18:46.148 --> 00:18:46.715
  • Lived. it had been stolen and now
  • 00:18:46.782 --> 00:18:48.750
  • It had been stolen and now some twenty years later it
  • 00:18:48.817 --> 00:18:50.219
  • Some twenty years later it was being returned.
  • 00:18:50.285 --> 00:18:51.920
  • Was being returned. the priests were carrying
  • 00:18:51.987 --> 00:18:53.155
  • The priests were carrying it into jerusalem. there
  • 00:18:53.222 --> 00:18:54.957
  • It into jerusalem. there was this huge celebration,
  • 00:18:55.023 --> 00:18:56.725
  • Was this huge celebration, shouts of joy, trumpets
  • 00:18:56.792 --> 00:18:58.527
  • Shouts of joy, trumpets blowing, crashing symbols.
  • 00:18:58.594 --> 00:19:00.796
  • Blowing, crashing symbols. this was a day they had
  • 00:19:00.862 --> 00:19:01.897
  • This was a day they had dreamed about.
  • 00:19:01.964 --> 00:19:03.498
  • Dreamed about. david was wearing a long
  • 00:19:03.565 --> 00:19:04.800
  • David was wearing a long priestly robe.
  • 00:19:04.866 --> 00:19:06.401
  • Priestly robe. he was so excited, he
  • 00:19:06.468 --> 00:19:07.803
  • He was so excited, he danced with all of his
  • 00:19:07.869 --> 00:19:09.004
  • Danced with all of his might.
  • 00:19:09.071 --> 00:19:10.072
  • Might. here he was this
  • 00:19:10.138 --> 00:19:10.772
  • Here he was this distinguished leader, but
  • 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:12.307
  • Distinguished leader, but he didn't hold back.
  • 00:19:12.374 --> 00:19:13.709
  • He didn't hold back. he was out there
  • 00:19:13.775 --> 00:19:14.409
  • He was out there celebrating the goodness of
  • 00:19:14.476 --> 00:19:15.844
  • Celebrating the goodness of god.
  • 00:19:15.911 --> 00:19:17.045
  • God. his wife, michal, this was
  • 00:19:17.112 --> 00:19:19.248
  • His wife, michal, this was king saul's daughter, was
  • 00:19:19.314 --> 00:19:21.116
  • King saul's daughter, was watching from an upstairs
  • 00:19:21.183 --> 00:19:22.351
  • Watching from an upstairs window.
  • 00:19:22.417 --> 00:19:23.318
  • Window. she saw him dancing and
  • 00:19:23.385 --> 00:19:24.753
  • She saw him dancing and leaping.
  • 00:19:24.820 --> 00:19:25.487
  • Leaping. at times his robe would
  • 00:19:25.554 --> 00:19:26.688
  • At times his robe would open up, you could see his
  • 00:19:26.755 --> 00:19:28.257
  • Open up, you could see his legs.
  • 00:19:28.323 --> 00:19:29.391
  • Legs. the scripture says, “she
  • 00:19:29.458 --> 00:19:30.492
  • The scripture says, “she was filled with contempt,
  • 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:32.394
  • Was filled with contempt, and she despised what david
  • 00:19:32.461 --> 00:19:34.162
  • And she despised what david was doing.” when david came
  • 00:19:34.229 --> 00:19:36.365
  • Was doing.” when david came home, she let him have it.
  • 00:19:36.431 --> 00:19:38.000
  • Home, she let him have it. she said, “how glorious the
  • 00:19:38.066 --> 00:19:39.534
  • She said, “how glorious the king of israel looked
  • 00:19:39.601 --> 00:19:40.569
  • King of israel looked today, out their dancing
  • 00:19:40.636 --> 00:19:42.204
  • Today, out their dancing like a fool, letting the
  • 00:19:42.271 --> 00:19:43.872
  • Like a fool, letting the young women see your legs.”
  • 00:19:43.939 --> 00:19:46.074
  • Young women see your legs.” david said, “listen michal,
  • 00:19:46.141 --> 00:19:47.776
  • David said, “listen michal, i wasn't dancing unto you,
  • 00:19:47.843 --> 00:19:49.444
  • I wasn't dancing unto you, i was dancing unto god.
  • 00:19:49.511 --> 00:19:51.513
  • I was dancing unto god. i'm willing to act like a
  • 00:19:51.580 --> 00:19:53.081
  • I'm willing to act like a fool to show my
  • 00:19:53.148 --> 00:19:54.683
  • Fool to show my gratefulness for what he's
  • 00:19:54.750 --> 00:19:56.285
  • Gratefulness for what he's done.” david was saying
  • 00:19:56.351 --> 00:19:58.587
  • Done.” david was saying respectfully, “what you
  • 00:19:58.654 --> 00:20:00.155
  • Respectfully, “what you think of me is not going to
  • 00:20:00.222 --> 00:20:01.723
  • Think of me is not going to keep me from being who i
  • 00:20:01.790 --> 00:20:03.125
  • Keep me from being who i am. your disapproval is not
  • 00:20:03.191 --> 00:20:05.894
  • Am. your disapproval is not going to stop me from
  • 00:20:05.961 --> 00:20:07.095
  • Going to stop me from fulfilling my purpose.”
  • 00:20:07.162 --> 00:20:09.097
  • Fulfilling my purpose.” david wasn't controlled by
  • 00:20:09.164 --> 00:20:10.932
  • David wasn't controlled by other people's opinions.
  • 00:20:10.999 --> 00:20:12.668
  • Other people's opinions. he didn't worry about what
  • 00:20:12.734 --> 00:20:14.002
  • He didn't worry about what people thought.
  • 00:20:14.069 --> 00:20:15.537
  • People thought. we all have some michal's
  • 00:20:15.604 --> 00:20:17.005
  • We all have some michal's in our life.
  • 00:20:17.072 --> 00:20:18.440
  • In our life. you're honoring god, you're
  • 00:20:18.507 --> 00:20:19.775
  • You're honoring god, you're being your best, and
  • 00:20:19.841 --> 00:20:20.976
  • Being your best, and they're finding fault.
  • 00:20:21.043 --> 00:20:22.611
  • They're finding fault. they're looking down on you.
  • 00:20:22.678 --> 00:20:23.979
  • They're looking down on you. “why don't you come party
  • 00:20:24.046 --> 00:20:24.946
  • “why don't you come party with us anymore?
  • 00:20:25.013 --> 00:20:26.415
  • With us anymore? why do you go to church
  • 00:20:26.481 --> 00:20:27.282
  • Why do you go to church every week?
  • 00:20:27.349 --> 00:20:28.350
  • Every week? why do you stay faithful in
  • 00:20:28.417 --> 00:20:29.718
  • Why do you stay faithful in your marriage?
  • 00:20:29.785 --> 00:20:30.419
  • Your marriage? come on lighten up a little
  • 00:20:30.485 --> 00:20:31.320
  • Come on lighten up a little bit.” no, be a david.
  • 00:20:31.386 --> 00:20:33.655
  • Bit.” no, be a david. have the attitude, “i don't
  • 00:20:33.722 --> 00:20:35.324
  • Have the attitude, “i don't need your approval.
  • 00:20:35.390 --> 00:20:37.125
  • Need your approval. i'm not making decisions
  • 00:20:37.192 --> 00:20:38.427
  • I'm not making decisions based on your opinion of me.
  • 00:20:38.493 --> 00:20:40.195
  • Based on your opinion of me. i'm going to keep god first
  • 00:20:40.262 --> 00:20:41.430
  • I'm going to keep god first place.
  • 00:20:41.496 --> 00:20:42.364
  • Place. i'm going live with
  • 00:20:42.431 --> 00:20:43.098
  • I'm going live with integrity.
  • 00:20:43.165 --> 00:20:44.166
  • Integrity. i'm going to take the high
  • 00:20:44.232 --> 00:20:45.167
  • I'm going to take the high road.
  • 00:20:45.233 --> 00:20:45.767
  • Road. i'm going to do the right
  • 00:20:45.834 --> 00:20:46.601
  • I'm going to do the right thing when it's hard.”
  • 00:20:46.668 --> 00:20:48.470
  • Thing when it's hard.” don't let people talk you
  • 00:20:48.537 --> 00:20:50.472
  • Don't let people talk you into compromising, lowering
  • 00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:52.574
  • Into compromising, lowering your standards.
  • 00:20:52.641 --> 00:20:53.709
  • Your standards. they may not approve you,
  • 00:20:53.775 --> 00:20:55.410
  • They may not approve you, but god approves you.
  • 00:20:55.477 --> 00:20:56.912
  • But god approves you. he's the one that matters.
  • 00:20:56.978 --> 00:20:59.548
  • He's the one that matters. there was another leader
  • 00:20:59.614 --> 00:21:00.482
  • There was another leader named king saul.
  • 00:21:00.549 --> 00:21:02.017
  • Named king saul. he was the first king of
  • 00:21:02.084 --> 00:21:03.285
  • He was the first king of israel.
  • 00:21:03.352 --> 00:21:04.019
  • Israel. in 1 samuel 15, god told
  • 00:21:04.086 --> 00:21:06.922
  • In 1 samuel 15, god told him to completely destroy
  • 00:21:06.988 --> 00:21:08.857
  • Him to completely destroy the amalekites, to not
  • 00:21:08.924 --> 00:21:10.359
  • The amalekites, to not spare any of them, the
  • 00:21:10.425 --> 00:21:11.360
  • Spare any of them, the people, the livestock, not
  • 00:21:11.426 --> 00:21:13.695
  • People, the livestock, not take any of their
  • 00:21:13.762 --> 00:21:14.363
  • Take any of their possessions.
  • 00:21:14.429 --> 00:21:15.497
  • Possessions. saul went out and defeated
  • 00:21:15.564 --> 00:21:16.565
  • Saul went out and defeated the enemy, but he spared
  • 00:21:16.631 --> 00:21:18.400
  • The enemy, but he spared the king and he kept the
  • 00:21:18.467 --> 00:21:19.968
  • The king and he kept the best sheep and the best
  • 00:21:20.035 --> 00:21:21.236
  • Best sheep and the best cattle.
  • 00:21:21.303 --> 00:21:22.170
  • Cattle. gathered up some of the
  • 00:21:22.237 --> 00:21:23.004
  • Gathered up some of the spoils.
  • 00:21:23.071 --> 00:21:24.206
  • Spoils. the next morning samuel
  • 00:21:24.272 --> 00:21:25.507
  • The next morning samuel went to saul and said, “why
  • 00:21:25.574 --> 00:21:27.075
  • Went to saul and said, “why didn't you do what god told
  • 00:21:27.142 --> 00:21:28.677
  • Didn't you do what god told you to do?” saul said, “i
  • 00:21:28.744 --> 00:21:30.479
  • Did.
  • 00:21:30.645 --> 00:21:31.213
  • Did. i wiped them out.” samuel
  • 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:33.281
  • I wiped them out.” samuel said, “then why do i see
  • 00:21:33.348 --> 00:21:34.349
  • Said, “then why do i see those sheep, why do i hear
  • 00:21:34.416 --> 00:21:36.284
  • Those sheep, why do i hear those cows?” saul said, “oh
  • 00:21:36.351 --> 00:21:38.320
  • Those cows?” saul said, “oh samuel, that's nothing.
  • 00:21:38.387 --> 00:21:40.122
  • Samuel, that's nothing. we kept those animals so we
  • 00:21:40.188 --> 00:21:41.923
  • We kept those animals so we can sacrifice them to the
  • 00:21:41.990 --> 00:21:43.258
  • Can sacrifice them to the lord. we kept a little bit
  • 00:21:43.325 --> 00:21:45.026
  • Lord. we kept a little bit of the plunder.” samuel
  • 00:21:45.093 --> 00:21:46.962
  • Of the plunder.” samuel said, “saul, god would
  • 00:21:47.028 --> 00:21:48.563
  • Said, “saul, god would rather have your obedience
  • 00:21:48.630 --> 00:21:50.165
  • Rather have your obedience than your sacrifices.” saul
  • 00:21:50.232 --> 00:21:52.401
  • Than your sacrifices.” saul ran out of excuses.
  • 00:21:52.467 --> 00:21:54.002
  • Ran out of excuses. he finally got honest and
  • 00:21:54.069 --> 00:21:55.837
  • He finally got honest and told the real reason that
  • 00:21:55.904 --> 00:21:57.539
  • Told the real reason that he didn't do it.
  • 00:21:57.606 --> 00:21:58.573
  • He didn't do it. he said in verse 24, “i
  • 00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:00.308
  • He said in verse 24, “i disobeyed because i was
  • 00:22:00.375 --> 00:22:02.444
  • Disobeyed because i was afraid of the people, i did
  • 00:22:02.511 --> 00:22:04.579
  • Afraid of the people, i did what they demanded.” one
  • 00:22:04.646 --> 00:22:06.882
  • What they demanded.” one reason saul lost the
  • 00:22:06.948 --> 00:22:08.150
  • Reason saul lost the kingdom was he was addicted
  • 00:22:08.216 --> 00:22:10.318
  • Kingdom was he was addicted to approval.
  • 00:22:10.385 --> 00:22:11.920
  • To approval. he based his decisions on
  • 00:22:11.987 --> 00:22:13.922
  • He based his decisions on other people's opinions,
  • 00:22:13.989 --> 00:22:15.524
  • Other people's opinions, what they would think about
  • 00:22:15.590 --> 00:22:16.591
  • What they would think about him.
  • 00:22:16.658 --> 00:22:17.726
  • Him. the scripture says in verse
  • 00:22:17.793 --> 00:22:18.760
  • The scripture says in verse 10, “the lord said to
  • 00:22:18.827 --> 00:22:20.162
  • 10, “the lord said to samuel, i am sorry that i
  • 00:22:20.228 --> 00:22:22.731
  • Samuel, i am sorry that i made saul king.” that's one
  • 00:22:22.798 --> 00:22:24.833
  • Made saul king.” that's one of the saddest scriptures
  • 00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.934
  • Of the saddest scriptures in the bible.
  • 00:22:26.001 --> 00:22:27.135
  • In the bible. it's the only place where i
  • 00:22:27.202 --> 00:22:28.203
  • It's the only place where i can find where god says,
  • 00:22:28.270 --> 00:22:29.971
  • Can find where god says, “i'm sorry i gave them my
  • 00:22:30.038 --> 00:22:31.440
  • “i'm sorry i gave them my blessing.
  • 00:22:31.506 --> 00:22:32.441
  • Blessing. i'm sorry i showed them my
  • 00:22:32.507 --> 00:22:33.842
  • I'm sorry i showed them my favor.” what did saul do
  • 00:22:33.909 --> 00:22:36.211
  • Favor.” what did saul do that was so bad?
  • 00:22:36.278 --> 00:22:37.913
  • That was so bad? he didn't deny jesus like
  • 00:22:37.979 --> 00:22:39.481
  • He didn't deny jesus like peter did.
  • 00:22:39.548 --> 00:22:40.682
  • Peter did. he didn't betray jesus like
  • 00:22:40.749 --> 00:22:42.217
  • He didn't betray jesus like judas.
  • 00:22:42.284 --> 00:22:43.084
  • Judas. he didn't mock him like the
  • 00:22:43.151 --> 00:22:44.152
  • He didn't mock him like the soldiers.
  • 00:22:44.219 --> 00:22:45.554
  • Soldiers. what made god sorry was
  • 00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:47.656
  • What made god sorry was saul let other people's
  • 00:22:47.722 --> 00:22:49.257
  • Saul let other people's opinions keep him from
  • 00:22:49.324 --> 00:22:51.259
  • Opinions keep him from obeying.
  • 00:22:51.326 --> 00:22:52.427
  • Obeying. he lived for the approval
  • 00:22:52.494 --> 00:22:53.995
  • He lived for the approval of people rather than the
  • 00:22:54.062 --> 00:22:55.564
  • Of people rather than the approval of god.
  • 00:22:55.630 --> 00:22:57.599
  • Approval of god. look at the difference
  • 00:22:57.666 --> 00:22:58.400
  • Look at the difference between saul and david.
  • 00:22:58.467 --> 00:23:00.202
  • Between saul and david. david danced with all of
  • 00:23:00.268 --> 00:23:01.603
  • David danced with all of his might.
  • 00:23:01.670 --> 00:23:02.671
  • His might. he didn't care what other
  • 00:23:02.737 --> 00:23:03.605
  • He didn't care what other people thought.
  • 00:23:03.672 --> 00:23:04.840
  • People thought. but saul said, “i'm afraid
  • 00:23:04.906 --> 00:23:06.575
  • But saul said, “i'm afraid of the people.
  • 00:23:06.641 --> 00:23:07.476
  • Of the people. i need their approval.”
  • 00:23:07.542 --> 00:23:09.578
  • I need their approval.” david went on to become the
  • 00:23:09.644 --> 00:23:11.046
  • David went on to become the greatest king that ever
  • 00:23:11.112 --> 00:23:12.214
  • Greatest king that ever lived.
  • 00:23:12.280 --> 00:23:13.081
  • Lived. saul had the throne taken
  • 00:23:13.148 --> 00:23:14.649
  • Saul had the throne taken away from him.
  • 00:23:14.716 --> 00:23:16.518
  • Away from him. is fear of other people's
  • 00:23:16.585 --> 00:23:18.053
  • Is fear of other people's opinions holding you back?
  • 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:20.522
  • Opinions holding you back? are you sacrificing who you
  • 00:23:20.589 --> 00:23:22.057
  • Are you sacrificing who you are because you're addicted
  • 00:23:22.123 --> 00:23:23.725
  • Are because you're addicted to approval, worried about
  • 00:23:23.792 --> 00:23:25.727
  • To approval, worried about what everyone thinks?
  • 00:23:25.794 --> 00:23:27.362
  • What everyone thinks? this is your day to be free.
  • 00:23:27.429 --> 00:23:29.598
  • This is your day to be free. god is doing a new thing.
  • 00:23:29.664 --> 00:23:31.533
  • God is doing a new thing. where he's about to take
  • 00:23:31.600 --> 00:23:32.801
  • Where he's about to take you is going to take
  • 00:23:32.868 --> 00:23:33.869
  • You is going to take boldness, courage to break
  • 00:23:33.935 --> 00:23:36.238
  • Boldness, courage to break out of the mold.
  • 00:23:36.304 --> 00:23:37.772
  • Out of the mold. everyone is not going to
  • 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:38.673
  • Everyone is not going to understand.
  • 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.908
  • Understand. some people won't give you
  • 00:23:39.975 --> 00:23:41.109
  • Some people won't give you their approval.
  • 00:23:41.176 --> 00:23:42.077
  • Their approval. that's okay.
  • 00:23:42.143 --> 00:23:43.078
  • That's okay. you're not a saul, you're a
  • 00:23:43.144 --> 00:23:44.646
  • You're not a saul, you're a david.
  • 00:23:44.713 --> 00:23:45.480
  • David. you're not living to please
  • 00:23:45.547 --> 00:23:46.648
  • You're not living to please people; you're living to
  • 00:23:46.715 --> 00:23:47.849
  • People; you're living to please god.
  • 00:23:47.916 --> 00:23:49.284
  • Please god. because you're getting your
  • 00:23:49.351 --> 00:23:50.452
  • Because you're getting your approval from him, i
  • 00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.887
  • Approval from him, i believe and declare, you're
  • 00:23:51.953 --> 00:23:53.889
  • Believe and declare, you're going to step into new
  • 00:23:53.955 --> 00:23:54.890
  • Going to step into new levels of favor.
  • 00:23:54.956 --> 00:23:56.458
  • Levels of favor. new doors are opening.
  • 00:23:56.525 --> 00:23:58.159
  • New doors are opening. like david, you're going
  • 00:23:58.226 --> 00:23:59.361
  • Like david, you're going rise higher, accomplish
  • 00:23:59.427 --> 00:24:00.962
  • Rise higher, accomplish dreams and reach the
  • 00:24:01.029 --> 00:24:02.397
  • Dreams and reach the fullness of your destiny,
  • 00:24:02.464 --> 00:24:04.599
  • Fullness of your destiny, in jesus' name.
  • 00:24:04.666 --> 00:24:06.234
  • In jesus' name. if you receive it, can you
  • 00:24:06.301 --> 00:24:07.569
  • If you receive it, can you say amen?
  • 00:24:07.636 --> 00:24:09.838
  • It's a new year.
  • 00:24:10.472 --> 00:24:11.640
  • It's a new year. time to see the impossible
  • 00:24:11.706 --> 00:24:13.341
  • Time to see the impossible become possible.
  • 00:24:13.408 --> 00:24:14.743
  • Become possible. it's a new year.
  • 00:24:14.809 --> 00:24:15.911
  • It's a new year. life's setbacks are about
  • 00:24:15.977 --> 00:24:17.612
  • Life's setbacks are about to become god's setups
  • 00:24:17.679 --> 00:24:19.180
  • To become god's setups for new opportunity.
  • 00:24:19.247 --> 00:24:20.682
  • For new opportunity. it's a new year.
  • 00:24:20.749 --> 00:24:22.050
  • It's a new year. cherished dreams
  • 00:24:22.117 --> 00:24:23.184
  • Cherished dreams will become unexpected reality.
  • 00:24:23.251 --> 00:24:26.054
  • Will become unexpected reality. the start of the new year
  • 00:24:26.121 --> 00:24:27.289
  • The start of the new year is the perfect time
  • 00:24:27.355 --> 00:24:28.323
  • Is the perfect time to reset your focus,
  • 00:24:28.390 --> 00:24:29.791
  • To reset your focus, release disappointments
  • 00:24:29.858 --> 00:24:31.026
  • Release disappointments of the past,
  • 00:24:31.092 --> 00:24:31.893
  • Of the past, and get ready for
  • 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.694
  • And get ready for the new things
  • 00:24:32.761 --> 00:24:33.495
  • The new things god has in store.
  • 00:24:33.562 --> 00:24:35.130
  • Every january,
  • 00:24:35.230 --> 00:24:36.164
  • Every january, we create
  • 00:24:36.231 --> 00:24:36.765
  • We create a new 365-day
  • 00:24:36.831 --> 00:24:38.934
  • A new 365-day devotional calendar.
  • 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:40.802
  • Devotional calendar. i'd love to send it to you.
  • 00:24:40.869 --> 00:24:42.270
  • I'd love to send it to you. each day is filled
  • 00:24:42.337 --> 00:24:43.204
  • Each day is filled with inspiration,
  • 00:24:43.271 --> 00:24:44.205
  • With inspiration, scripture, and uplifting
  • 00:24:44.272 --> 00:24:45.840
  • Scripture, and uplifting declarations
  • 00:24:45.907 --> 00:24:46.641
  • Declarations to fuel your faith.
  • 00:24:46.708 --> 00:24:48.143
  • To fuel your faith. when you begin the day thanking
  • 00:24:48.209 --> 00:24:49.644
  • When you begin the day thanking god for what he's done,
  • 00:24:49.711 --> 00:24:51.046
  • God for what he's done, speaking victory
  • 00:24:51.112 --> 00:24:52.080
  • Speaking victory over your future,
  • 00:24:52.147 --> 00:24:53.481
  • Over your future, you're positioning yourself
  • 00:24:53.548 --> 00:24:54.983
  • You're positioning yourself for a blessed,
  • 00:24:55.050 --> 00:24:55.884
  • For a blessed, favor-filled year.
  • 00:24:55.951 --> 00:24:57.552
  • Favor-filled year. amazing things happen
  • 00:24:57.619 --> 00:24:58.853
  • Amazing things happen when you keep god first place.
  • 00:24:58.954 --> 00:25:01.289
  • When you keep god first place. as our way of saying thank you
  • 00:25:01.389 --> 00:25:03.024
  • As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount
  • 00:25:03.091 --> 00:25:04.559
  • For your gift of any amount this first month of the year,
  • 00:25:04.626 --> 00:25:06.194
  • This first month of the year, we would like to send you
  • 00:25:06.261 --> 00:25:07.462
  • A copy
  • 00:25:07.562 --> 00:25:07.963
  • Aof our brand new 365-day, 2026
  • 00:25:08.063 --> 00:25:12.000
  • Aof our brand new 365-day, 2026 devotional calendar.
  • 00:25:12.067 --> 00:25:13.501
  • Devotional calendar. do you want to overcome
  • 00:25:13.568 --> 00:25:14.903
  • Do you want to overcome your most pressing
  • 00:25:14.970 --> 00:25:15.804
  • Your most pressing challenges in 2026?
  • 00:25:15.870 --> 00:25:17.872
  • Challenges in 2026? do you want to see your life
  • 00:25:17.939 --> 00:25:19.307
  • Do you want to see your life take off in new directions
  • 00:25:19.374 --> 00:25:21.009
  • Take off in new directions of influence,
  • 00:25:21.076 --> 00:25:21.977
  • Of influence, favor and provision
  • 00:25:22.043 --> 00:25:23.478
  • Favor and provision in the year ahead?
  • 00:25:23.545 --> 00:25:24.879
  • In the year ahead? with this daily encouragement,
  • 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:26.815
  • With this daily encouragement, you'll not only smile
  • 00:25:26.881 --> 00:25:28.216
  • You'll not only smile at your day,
  • 00:25:28.283 --> 00:25:29.084
  • At your day, you'll be reminded
  • 00:25:29.150 --> 00:25:30.151
  • You'll be reminded that god is smiling
  • 00:25:30.218 --> 00:25:31.486
  • That god is smiling on your entire life.
  • 00:25:31.553 --> 00:25:33.254
  • On your entire life. each day
  • 00:25:33.321 --> 00:25:34.055
  • Each day will be a fresh new day.
  • 00:25:34.122 --> 00:25:35.690
  • Will be a fresh new day. turn discouragement
  • 00:25:35.757 --> 00:25:37.325
  • Turn discouragement to encouragement.
  • 00:25:37.392 --> 00:25:38.793
  • To encouragement. frustration to fulfillment.
  • 00:25:38.860 --> 00:25:41.096
  • Frustration to fulfillment. anxiety to overcoming.
  • 00:25:41.162 --> 00:25:43.565
  • Anxiety to overcoming. using this devotional calendar
  • 00:25:43.665 --> 00:25:45.533
  • Using this devotional calendar is as easy as one, two, three.
  • 00:25:45.634 --> 00:25:48.870
  • Is as easy as one, two, three. one: wake up with an expectancy
  • 00:25:48.937 --> 00:25:51.673
  • One: wake up with an expectancy in your heart.
  • 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.974
  • In your heart. two: reflect
  • 00:25:53.041 --> 00:25:54.175
  • Two: reflect on the daily scripture verse
  • 00:25:54.242 --> 00:25:55.644
  • On the daily scripture verse and devotional from joel.
  • 00:25:55.710 --> 00:25:57.545
  • And devotional from joel. three:
  • 00:25:57.612 --> 00:25:58.313
  • Three: capture the lord's
  • 00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:59.381
  • Capture the lord's promises to you
  • 00:25:59.447 --> 00:26:00.615
  • Promises to you on journaling lines
  • 00:26:00.682 --> 00:26:01.850
  • On journaling lines for writing and reflection.
  • 00:26:01.916 --> 00:26:04.085
  • For writing and reflection. 2026 is going to be
  • 00:26:04.152 --> 00:26:05.787
  • 2026 is going to be one of your best years ever.
  • 00:26:05.854 --> 00:26:07.756
  • One of your best years ever. we're going to help you
  • 00:26:07.822 --> 00:26:08.423
  • We're going to help you stay in faith
  • 00:26:08.490 --> 00:26:09.324
  • So you can see
  • 00:26:09.424 --> 00:26:10.058
  • The goodness of god
  • 00:26:10.158 --> 00:26:11.426
  • The goodness of god in new ways.
  • 00:26:11.493 --> 00:26:12.894
  • In new ways. victoria and i pray for
  • 00:26:12.961 --> 00:26:13.962
  • Victoria and i pray for you and your family every day
  • 00:26:14.029 --> 00:26:15.664
  • You and your family every day and we want to
  • 00:26:15.730 --> 00:26:16.364
  • And we want to thank you for your prayer
  • 00:26:16.431 --> 00:26:17.532
  • Thank you for your prayer and support.
  • 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:18.600
  • And support. your generosity is impacting
  • 00:26:18.667 --> 00:26:20.468
  • Your generosity is impacting lives around the world.
  • 00:26:20.535 --> 00:26:22.203
  • Lives around the world. a special
  • 00:26:22.270 --> 00:26:22.704
  • A special thank you to our champion
  • 00:26:22.771 --> 00:26:23.872
  • Thank you to our champion of hope partners
  • 00:26:23.938 --> 00:26:24.773
  • Of hope partners for your monthly gifts.
  • 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:26.274
  • For your monthly gifts. if you're not a partner,
  • 00:26:26.341 --> 00:26:27.142
  • If you're not a partner, i hope you'll consider
  • 00:26:27.208 --> 00:26:28.009
  • I hope you'll consider becoming one.
  • 00:26:28.076 --> 00:26:29.310
  • Becoming one. remember,
  • 00:26:29.377 --> 00:26:29.811
  • Remember, you can watch the services
  • 00:26:29.878 --> 00:26:31.079
  • You can watch the services online live
  • 00:26:31.146 --> 00:26:32.414
  • Online live every sunday morning.
  • 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.948
  • Every sunday morning. download our daily podcast,
  • 00:26:34.015 --> 00:26:35.884
  • Download our daily podcast, watch on youtube
  • 00:26:35.950 --> 00:26:37.218
  • Watch on youtube or the new joel osteen network
  • 00:26:37.318 --> 00:26:38.987
  • Or the new joel osteen network 24 hours a day.
  • 00:26:39.054 --> 00:26:40.722
  • 24 hours a day. of course,
  • 00:26:40.789 --> 00:26:41.089
  • Of course, listen live on sirius
  • 00:26:41.156 --> 00:26:42.223
  • Listen live on sirius xm as well.
  • 00:26:42.290 --> 00:26:43.625
  • Xm as well. but until we meet again,
  • 00:26:43.692 --> 00:26:45.126
  • But until we meet again, may the lord bless
  • 00:26:45.193 --> 00:26:46.061
  • May the lord bless you and keep you.
  • 00:26:46.127 --> 00:26:47.896
  • You and keep you. request your copy of the 2026
  • 00:26:47.962 --> 00:26:50.331
  • Request your copy of the 2026 devotional calendar today
  • 00:26:50.398 --> 00:26:52.133
  • Devotional calendar today with your gift of any amount.
  • 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:54.202
  • With your gift of any amount. also, no matter what season
  • 00:26:54.269 --> 00:26:56.104
  • Also, no matter what season you're in,
  • 00:26:56.171 --> 00:26:56.838
  • You're in, god wants to speak into each
  • 00:26:56.905 --> 00:26:58.873
  • God wants to speak into each and every moment.
  • 00:26:58.940 --> 00:27:00.241
  • And every moment. god's word for
  • 00:27:00.308 --> 00:27:01.309
  • God's word for every season is a guided
  • 00:27:01.376 --> 00:27:03.011
  • Every season is a guided journal series
  • 00:27:03.078 --> 00:27:04.012
  • Journal series designed to help you slow down,
  • 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:06.081
  • Designed to help you slow down, write out
  • 00:27:06.147 --> 00:27:06.648
  • Write out scripture, and reflect
  • 00:27:06.715 --> 00:27:08.149
  • Scripture, and reflect on its truth,
  • 00:27:08.216 --> 00:27:09.050
  • On its truth, one verse at a time.
  • 00:27:09.117 --> 00:27:10.852
  • One verse at a time. as you engage with his word,
  • 00:27:10.919 --> 00:27:12.754
  • As you engage with his word, you'll discover fresh strength,
  • 00:27:12.821 --> 00:27:14.723
  • You'll discover fresh strength, deeper peace,
  • 00:27:14.789 --> 00:27:15.757
  • Deeper peace, and timely encouragement
  • 00:27:15.824 --> 00:27:17.292
  • And timely encouragement for every step of your journey.
  • 00:27:17.358 --> 00:27:19.494
  • For every step of your journey. you can request these
  • 00:27:19.561 --> 00:27:20.595
  • You can request these inspiring resources
  • 00:27:20.662 --> 00:27:22.097
  • Inspiring resources by calling 888-567-joel
  • 00:27:22.163 --> 00:27:25.400
  • By calling 888-567-joel or logging on to
  • 00:27:25.467 --> 00:27:26.468
  • Or logging on to joelosteen.com today.
  • 00:27:26.534 --> 00:27:29.010