Joel Osteen

Joel Osteen - Take Your Image Off The Throne

September 29, 2025 | 29:56

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 - Take Your Image Off The Throne | September 29, 2025

> 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 daily
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The week, through our daily podcast, our youtube
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Podcast, our youtube channel, social media.
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Channel, social media. and you can come visit us
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And you can come visit us in person. we'd love to
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In person. we'd love to have you be a part of one
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Have you be a part of one of our services.
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Of our services. i like to start with
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I like to start with something funny. i heard
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Something funny. i heard about these two professional
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About these two professional baseball players. they were
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Baseball players. they were discussing whether or not
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Discussing whether or not they thought there would
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They thought there would be baseball up in heaven.
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Be baseball up in heaven. they made an agreement that
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They made an agreement that whoever died first would
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Whoever died first would come back and tell if there
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Come back and tell if there was indeed baseball in
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Was indeed baseball in heaven. a few months later,
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Heaven. a few months later, one of the players died,
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One of the players died, and just like he promised,
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And just like he promised, he came back and said to
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He came back and said to the other player, i've got
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The other player, i've got good news and i've got
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Good news and i've got bad news. the good news is
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Bad news. the good news is there is baseball up in
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There is baseball up in heaven. the bad news is
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Heaven. the bad news is you're scheduled to pitch
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You're scheduled to pitch next thursday."
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Next thursday." say it like you mean it.
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Say it like you mean it. this is my bible. i am what
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This is my bible. i am what it says i am. i have what
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It says i am. i have what it says i have. i can do what
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It says i have. i can do what it says i can do. today,
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It says i can do. today, i will be taught the word
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I will be taught the word of god. i boldly confess:
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Of god. i boldly confess: my mind is alert. my heart
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My mind is alert. my heart is receptive. i will never
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Is receptive. i will never be the same in jesus' name.
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Be the same in jesus' name. god bless you.
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God bless you. i want to talk to you today
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I want to talk to you today about taking your image off
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About taking your image off the throne. it's easy to
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The throne. it's easy to go through life making
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Go through life making decisions based on what
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Decisions based on what people will think.
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People will think. "how will this make me
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"how will this make me look, will this be
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Look, will this be impressive, will this gain
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Impressive, will this gain me more followers, will
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Me more followers, will they approve me?"
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They approve me?" when we live image driven,
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When we live image driven, we can't be real, we can't
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We can't be real, we can't be authentic.
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Be authentic. we have to hide this
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We have to hide this weakness or they may think
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Weakness or they may think less of us.
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Less of us. we have to play up to this
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We have to play up to this person, to stay in their
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Person, to stay in their favor.
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Favor. we have to drive this, wear
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We have to drive this, wear this, be seen with these
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This, be seen with these people.
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People. we spend so much energy
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We spend so much energy protecting this image we've
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Protecting this image we've created.
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Created. there's nothing wrong with
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There's nothing wrong with looking good, being
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Looking good, being successful, carrying
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Successful, carrying yourself with confidence.
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Yourself with confidence. that's all healthy, but
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That's all healthy, but where it crosses the line
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Where it crosses the line is when you become driven
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Is when you become driven by your image.
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By your image. you run everything through
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You run everything through the filter of how it's
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The filter of how it's going to make you look.
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Going to make you look. jesus said to the
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Jesus said to the pharisees, "you do
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Pharisees, "you do everything for show."
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Everything for show." you wear these long robes
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You wear these long robes to look better than others.
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To look better than others. you give in front of people
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You give in front of people to be impressive.
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To be impressive. you sit in the best seats,
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You sit in the best seats, so you'll be well thought
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So you'll be well thought of.
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Of. none of those things in
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None of those things in themselves are bad.
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Themselves are bad. to wear nice clothes, to be
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To wear nice clothes, to be a giver, to have a good
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A giver, to have a good position.
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Position. the issue was their motives.
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The issue was their motives. they were doing it all to
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They were doing it all to be seen, to impress people,
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Be seen, to impress people, to build their ego.
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To build their ego. the problem with living
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The problem with living image driven is it will
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Image driven is it will wear you out.
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Wear you out. the pressure of trying to
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The pressure of trying to keep up with people,
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Keep up with people, impress your friends, look
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Impress your friends, look better than your neighbor,
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Better than your neighbor, hide how you feel, act like
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Hide how you feel, act like everything is okay when
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Everything is okay when it's not.
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It's not. that's not sustainable.
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That's not sustainable. the reason some people are
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The reason some people are so stressed, run down, is
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So stressed, run down, is they have their image on
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They have their image on the throne.
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The throne. they're doing everything to
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They're doing everything to protect how they're seen.
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Protect how they're seen. you need to take your image
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You need to take your image off the throne and put god
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Off the throne and put god back on the throne.
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Back on the throne. you don't have to perform,
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You don't have to perform, you don't have to pretend,
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You don't have to pretend, you don't have to keep up
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You don't have to keep up with your friends.
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With your friends. if they only accept you if
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If they only accept you if you perform to their
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You perform to their standards, they're not true
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Standards, they're not true friends.
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Friends. there's such a freedom when
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There's such a freedom when you can be real, be
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You can be real, be vulnerable, not worry about
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Vulnerable, not worry about what other people think.
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What other people think. that's a treadmill that
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That's a treadmill that never stops.
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Never stops. that's a sure way to drain
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That's a sure way to drain your energy, stifle your
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Your energy, stifle your creativity, steal your joy.
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Creativity, steal your joy. in the story of the
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In the story of the prodigal son, the young man
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Prodigal son, the young man asked his father for his
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Asked his father for his inheritance early.
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Inheritance early. he left home and wasted it
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He left home and wasted it all partying, living wild,
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All partying, living wild, making poor decisions.
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Making poor decisions. when the money ran out, the
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When the money ran out, the only job he could find was
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Only job he could find was working in a hog pen,
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Working in a hog pen, feeding hogs.
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Feeding hogs. he got so desperate he had
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He got so desperate he had to eat the hog food to
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To eat the hog food to survive.
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Survive. the scripture says, "when
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The scripture says, "when he came to himself, he
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He came to himself, he said, i will arise and go
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Said, i will arise and go back to my father's house."
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Back to my father's house." if he was living image
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If he was living image driven, he would have never
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Driven, he would have never gone home.
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Gone home. he would have thought, "i'm
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He would have thought, "i'm not going to let anyone see
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Not going to let anyone see me in this condition, down,
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Me in this condition, down, dirty, working in a hog pen.
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Dirty, working in a hog pen. i've got an image to
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I've got an image to protect.
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Protect. i want them to think i'm
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I want them to think i'm happy, successful, on top
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Happy, successful, on top of the world."
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Of the world." but as long as you're
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But as long as you're pretending, as long as
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Pretending, as long as you're wearing a mask, you
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You're wearing a mask, you won't get the help that you
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Won't get the help that you need.
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Need. like this young man, you
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Like this young man, you have to come to yourself.
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Have to come to yourself. not who you pretend to be,
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Not who you pretend to be, not the image you've
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Not the image you've created, not who other
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Created, not who other people think you are.
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People think you are. second corinthians says,
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Second corinthians says, "with unveiled faces we
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"with unveiled faces we reveal the glory of god."
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Reveal the glory of god." as long as your face is
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As long as your face is veiled, as long as you're
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Veiled, as long as you're wearing a mask, you won't
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Wearing a mask, you won't see god's glory.
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See god's glory. you won't see the freedom,
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You won't see the freedom, the wholeness, the
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The wholeness, the abundance.
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Abundance. why don't you take off the
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Why don't you take off the mask?
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Mask? "well, joel, what will
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"well, joel, what will people think if i'm not
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People think if i'm not perfect, if i still
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Perfect, if i still struggle in this area, if i
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Struggle in this area, if i need help?"
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Need help?" you know what they'll think?
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You know what they'll think? they'll think you're real.
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They'll think you're real. they'll think you're brave.
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They'll think you're brave. they'll think you're
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They'll think you're honest."
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Honest." sure, some will judge, some
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Sure, some will judge, some may look down on you, but
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May look down on you, but what they think about you
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What they think about you doesn't stop your destiny.
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Doesn't stop your destiny. quit worrying about what
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Quit worrying about what they think.
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They think. there's always going to be
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There's always going to be someone that doesn't
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Someone that doesn't understand you, that won't
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Understand you, that won't be for you, that tries to
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Be for you, that tries to make you feel small.
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Make you feel small. but there will be other
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But there will be other people god has ordained for
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People god has ordained for you, that will be there to
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You, that will be there to help you, to bring you out
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Help you, to bring you out of that struggle, to lift
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Of that struggle, to lift you when you're down, to
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You when you're down, to speak victory when you feel
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Speak victory when you feel defeat.
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Defeat. when the young man returned
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When the young man returned home, the father, who
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Home, the father, who represents god, was there
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Represents god, was there with open arms. he hugged
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With open arms. he hugged him, kissed him. he put a
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Him, kissed him. he put a new robe on him, new shoes,
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New robe on him, new shoes, gave him the family ring
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Gave him the family ring that represents authority.
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That represents authority. the other brother was kind
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The other brother was kind of jealous of all the
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Of jealous of all the attention.
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Attention. he didn't like this brother
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He didn't like this brother being celebrated.
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Being celebrated. when you take off your
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When you take off your mask, when you get real,
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Mask, when you get real, you're vulnerable, some
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You're vulnerable, some people may not accept you.
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People may not accept you. they may find fault. they
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They may find fault. they like seeing you down so
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Like seeing you down so they look better.
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They look better. but your heavenly father,
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But your heavenly father, the one who matters, he
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The one who matters, he accepts you.
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Accepts you. he'll restore you.
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He'll restore you. he'll put a new robe on you.
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He'll put a new robe on you. he'll help you break the
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He'll help you break the addiction.
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Addiction. he'll deliver you from
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He'll deliver you from what's holding you back.
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What's holding you back. he'll give you friends that
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He'll give you friends that will celebrate you, friends
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Will celebrate you, friends that will be for you.
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That will be for you. you may have a few walk
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You may have a few walk away, a few that judge you.
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Away, a few that judge you. you don't need them in your
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You don't need them in your life.
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Life. they were just out for what
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They were just out for what you could do for them. true
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You could do for them. true friends you don't have to
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Friends you don't have to wear a mask, you don't have
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Wear a mask, you don't have to pretend, you don't have
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To pretend, you don't have to hope that you can
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To hope that you can measure up.
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Measure up. they accept you for who you
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They accept you for who you are, not for how you look,
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Are, not for how you look, how you perform, who you
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How you perform, who you know.
00:06:56.072 --> 00:06:56.706
Know. i like this phrase i heard,
00:06:56.772 --> 00:06:59.208
I like this phrase i heard, "what you think about me is
00:06:59.275 --> 00:07:00.943
"what you think about me is none of my business".
00:07:01.010 --> 00:07:02.812
None of my business". people can think anything
00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:04.046
People can think anything they want, it's a free
00:07:04.113 --> 00:07:05.214
They want, it's a free world, but your part is to
00:07:05.281 --> 00:07:07.250
World, but your part is to make it none of your
00:07:07.316 --> 00:07:08.084
Make it none of your business.
00:07:08.150 --> 00:07:09.252
Business. you don't have time to
00:07:09.318 --> 00:07:10.453
You don't have time to worry about everyone's
00:07:10.520 --> 00:07:12.088
Worry about everyone's opinion of you.
00:07:12.154 --> 00:07:13.689
Opinion of you. you have a destiny to
00:07:13.756 --> 00:07:14.891
You have a destiny to fulfill.
00:07:14.957 --> 00:07:16.092
Fulfill. you have an assignment to
00:07:16.158 --> 00:07:17.393
You have an assignment to accomplish.
00:07:17.460 --> 00:07:18.761
Accomplish. it's not going to happen if
00:07:18.828 --> 00:07:19.929
It's not going to happen if you're image driven, if
00:07:19.996 --> 00:07:21.564
You're image driven, if you're making decisions
00:07:21.631 --> 00:07:22.665
You're making decisions based on other people's
00:07:22.732 --> 00:07:23.933
Based on other people's opinions, how will this
00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:25.568
Opinions, how will this make me look.
00:07:25.635 --> 00:07:26.335
Make me look. the truth is no matter how
00:07:26.402 --> 00:07:28.237
The truth is no matter how hard we try, someone is
00:07:28.304 --> 00:07:30.172
Hard we try, someone is going to judge, someone is
00:07:30.239 --> 00:07:32.408
Going to judge, someone is going to talk about you,
00:07:32.475 --> 00:07:33.409
Going to talk about you, someone is not going to
00:07:33.476 --> 00:07:34.410
Someone is not going to like you.
00:07:34.477 --> 00:07:35.745
Like you. you can spend all your time
00:07:35.811 --> 00:07:37.146
You can spend all your time trying to win them over,
00:07:37.213 --> 00:07:38.881
Trying to win them over, performing perfectly, doing
00:07:38.948 --> 00:07:41.017
Performing perfectly, doing whatever they please, but
00:07:41.083 --> 00:07:43.052
Whatever they please, but it will never be enough.
00:07:43.119 --> 00:07:45.254
It will never be enough. don't waste another day
00:07:45.321 --> 00:07:46.656
Don't waste another day trying to get their
00:07:46.722 --> 00:07:47.523
Trying to get their approval.
00:07:47.590 --> 00:07:48.457
Approval. you don't need them to
00:07:48.524 --> 00:07:49.292
You don't need them to validate you.
00:07:49.358 --> 00:07:50.459
Validate you. almighty god has already
00:07:50.526 --> 00:07:51.994
Almighty god has already approved you.
00:07:52.061 --> 00:07:52.695
Approved you. a pastor friend of mine has
00:07:52.762 --> 00:07:55.565
A pastor friend of mine has a teenage daughter; she got
00:07:55.631 --> 00:07:57.767
A teenage daughter; she got pregnant when she was
00:07:57.833 --> 00:07:58.568
Pregnant when she was fifteen.
00:07:58.634 --> 00:07:59.769
Fifteen. he was so upset.
00:07:59.835 --> 00:08:01.304
He was so upset. he felt like he had failed
00:08:01.370 --> 00:08:02.605
He felt like he had failed as a parent.
00:08:02.672 --> 00:08:03.773
As a parent. he's a good man, he has a
00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:05.174
He's a good man, he has a great ministry.
00:08:05.241 --> 00:08:06.609
Great ministry. he came to me with tears in
00:08:06.676 --> 00:08:07.877
He came to me with tears in his eyes to tell me about
00:08:07.944 --> 00:08:09.779
His eyes to tell me about it.
00:08:09.845 --> 00:08:10.413
It. he was so concerned about
00:08:10.479 --> 00:08:11.914
He was so concerned about how i would respond; would
00:08:11.981 --> 00:08:13.716
How i would respond; would i think less of him?
00:08:13.783 --> 00:08:15.718
I think less of him? but i've learned to not
00:08:15.785 --> 00:08:17.186
But i've learned to not judge people.
00:08:17.253 --> 00:08:18.654
Judge people. everyone is on a journey.
00:08:18.721 --> 00:08:20.523
Everyone is on a journey. the mercy you show others
00:08:20.590 --> 00:08:22.491
The mercy you show others is the mercy that will be
00:08:22.558 --> 00:08:23.693
Is the mercy that will be shown back to you.
00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:25.294
Shown back to you. when you're tempted to look
00:08:25.361 --> 00:08:26.362
When you're tempted to look down on someone, "i can't
00:08:26.429 --> 00:08:28.364
Down on someone, "i can't believe they did that, i
00:08:28.431 --> 00:08:29.932
Believe they did that, i can't believe he still
00:08:29.999 --> 00:08:30.933
Can't believe he still struggles in that area."
00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:32.535
Struggles in that area." just remember if it was not
00:08:32.602 --> 00:08:34.403
Just remember if it was not for the grace of god, that
00:08:34.470 --> 00:08:35.805
For the grace of god, that could be you.
00:08:35.871 --> 00:08:37.006
Could be you. it wasn't just your own
00:08:37.073 --> 00:08:38.074
It wasn't just your own strength, just your own
00:08:38.140 --> 00:08:39.609
Strength, just your own choices, it was the mercy
00:08:39.675 --> 00:08:41.377
Choices, it was the mercy of god keeping it from you.
00:08:41.444 --> 00:08:44.213
Of god keeping it from you. he was very appreciative of
00:08:44.280 --> 00:08:45.915
He was very appreciative of the grace i showed him. but
00:08:45.982 --> 00:08:48.317
The grace i showed him. but he was still concerned
00:08:48.384 --> 00:08:49.852
He was still concerned about what people were
00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:50.853
About what people were going to think, how it was
00:08:50.920 --> 00:08:52.655
Going to think, how it was going to look, who was
00:08:52.722 --> 00:08:54.056
Going to look, who was going to start talking.
00:08:54.123 --> 00:08:55.958
Going to start talking. i told him what i'm telling
00:08:56.025 --> 00:08:57.293
I told him what i'm telling you.
00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:57.927
You. you can't control all of
00:08:57.994 --> 00:08:59.128
You can't control all of that.
00:08:59.195 --> 00:09:00.096
That. if you live trying to
00:09:00.162 --> 00:09:01.130
If you live trying to protect your image, keep
00:09:01.197 --> 00:09:03.065
Protect your image, keep everyone happy, hoping
00:09:03.132 --> 00:09:04.767
Everyone happy, hoping they'll understand, then
00:09:04.834 --> 00:09:06.369
They'll understand, then you're going to be
00:09:06.435 --> 00:09:07.036
You're going to be frustrated.
00:09:07.103 --> 00:09:08.404
Frustrated. life happens to us all.
00:09:08.471 --> 00:09:10.740
Life happens to us all. you don't have to explain
00:09:10.806 --> 00:09:11.974
You don't have to explain yourself to everyone.
00:09:12.041 --> 00:09:13.676
Yourself to everyone. you don't have to convince
00:09:13.743 --> 00:09:14.677
You don't have to convince people to try to be for you.
00:09:14.744 --> 00:09:17.146
People to try to be for you. the ones that are
00:09:17.213 --> 00:09:17.813
The ones that are judgmental, won't show you
00:09:17.880 --> 00:09:19.415
Judgmental, won't show you any mercy, you can be sure,
00:09:19.482 --> 00:09:21.450
Any mercy, you can be sure, they have issues too, they
00:09:21.517 --> 00:09:23.486
They have issues too, they have things they're dealing
00:09:23.552 --> 00:09:24.654
Have things they're dealing with that they're not
00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:25.655
With that they're not telling you about.
00:09:25.721 --> 00:09:27.356
Telling you about. there's no shame in being
00:09:27.423 --> 00:09:29.058
There's no shame in being open and honest. the enemy
00:09:29.125 --> 00:09:31.527
Open and honest. the enemy would love for us all to
00:09:31.594 --> 00:09:32.728
Would love for us all to hide behind masks, go
00:09:32.795 --> 00:09:34.764
Hide behind masks, go around pretending, acting
00:09:34.830 --> 00:09:36.399
Around pretending, acting like we're perfect, making
00:09:36.465 --> 00:09:38.000
Like we're perfect, making sure nobody sees our flaws,
00:09:38.067 --> 00:09:39.969
Sure nobody sees our flaws, projecting this image that
00:09:40.036 --> 00:09:41.804
Projecting this image that we can't live up to.
00:09:41.871 --> 00:09:43.973
We can't live up to. paul said in 2 corinthians,
00:09:44.040 --> 00:09:45.975
Paul said in 2 corinthians, "we refuse to wear masks
00:09:46.042 --> 00:09:48.144
"we refuse to wear masks and play games.
00:09:48.210 --> 00:09:49.679
And play games. we keep everything out in
00:09:49.745 --> 00:09:51.013
We keep everything out in the open, the whole truth
00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:53.015
The open, the whole truth on display."
00:09:53.082 --> 00:09:54.984
On display." do you need to take off a
00:09:55.051 --> 00:09:56.185
Do you need to take off a mask today?
00:09:56.252 --> 00:09:57.253
Mask today? do you need to quit
00:09:57.319 --> 00:09:58.688
Do you need to quit pretending, hiding what you
00:09:58.754 --> 00:10:00.690
Pretending, hiding what you need to deal with.
00:10:00.756 --> 00:10:02.258
Need to deal with. like the pharisees, doing
00:10:02.324 --> 00:10:03.693
Like the pharisees, doing things for show.
00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:05.194
Things for show. trying to create this image
00:10:05.261 --> 00:10:06.562
Trying to create this image of who you are, instead of
00:10:06.629 --> 00:10:08.264
Of who you are, instead of just being who you are.
00:10:08.330 --> 00:10:10.599
Just being who you are. how many people are living
00:10:10.666 --> 00:10:12.101
How many people are living for this image?
00:10:12.168 --> 00:10:13.636
For this image? "this is who i want you to
00:10:13.703 --> 00:10:14.704
"this is who i want you to see me as, someone greater,
00:10:14.770 --> 00:10:16.505
See me as, someone greater, smarter, prettier, more
00:10:16.572 --> 00:10:17.773
Smarter, prettier, more popular."
00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:19.008
Popular." when the truth is who god
00:10:19.075 --> 00:10:20.976
When the truth is who god made you to be is the best
00:10:21.043 --> 00:10:22.812
Made you to be is the best you.
00:10:22.878 --> 00:10:23.846
You. you don't need the image,
00:10:23.913 --> 00:10:25.281
You don't need the image, just be you.
00:10:25.347 --> 00:10:26.515
Just be you. you're made in the image of
00:10:26.582 --> 00:10:28.217
You're made in the image of god.
00:10:28.284 --> 00:10:29.051
God. you already have the best
00:10:29.118 --> 00:10:30.252
You already have the best image.
00:10:30.319 --> 00:10:31.487
Image. you don't need to pretend.
00:10:31.554 --> 00:10:33.355
You don't need to pretend. you don't need to do things
00:10:33.422 --> 00:10:34.423
You don't need to do things for show, live to please
00:10:34.490 --> 00:10:36.292
For show, live to please people.
00:10:36.358 --> 00:10:37.393
People. having their approval is
00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:38.961
Having their approval is overrated.
00:10:39.028 --> 00:10:40.563
Overrated. it doesn't move you toward
00:10:40.629 --> 00:10:41.964
It doesn't move you toward your destiny.
00:10:42.031 --> 00:10:43.065
Your destiny. be confident in who god
00:10:43.132 --> 00:10:44.700
Be confident in who god made you to be.
00:10:44.767 --> 00:10:46.569
Made you to be. this is where saul missed
00:10:46.635 --> 00:10:48.104
This is where saul missed it.
00:10:48.170 --> 00:10:48.771
It. he was the first king of
00:10:48.838 --> 00:10:49.739
He was the first king of israel.
00:10:49.805 --> 00:10:50.639
Israel. he was tall, handsome, he
00:10:50.706 --> 00:10:52.975
He was tall, handsome, he looked like a king.
00:10:53.042 --> 00:10:54.777
Looked like a king. god chose him from
00:10:54.844 --> 00:10:55.811
God chose him from obscurity.
00:10:55.878 --> 00:10:56.612
Obscurity. he didn't come from a
00:10:56.679 --> 00:10:58.013
He didn't come from a prominent family.
00:10:58.080 --> 00:10:59.048
Prominent family. he wasn't raised in wealth
00:10:59.115 --> 00:11:00.783
He wasn't raised in wealth and influence.
00:11:00.850 --> 00:11:02.084
And influence. suddenly he was thrust into
00:11:02.151 --> 00:11:03.886
Suddenly he was thrust into a position that he never
00:11:03.953 --> 00:11:05.121
A position that he never dreamed possible.
00:11:05.187 --> 00:11:06.689
Dreamed possible. he started out good, doing
00:11:06.756 --> 00:11:08.891
He started out good, doing what god asked him to do.
00:11:08.958 --> 00:11:10.760
What god asked him to do. but over time he made the
00:11:10.826 --> 00:11:12.328
But over time he made the mistake that's easy to make.
00:11:12.394 --> 00:11:14.563
Mistake that's easy to make. he started letting what
00:11:14.630 --> 00:11:15.731
He started letting what people thought, how he
00:11:15.798 --> 00:11:17.533
People thought, how he would be accepted,
00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.934
Would be accepted, influence his decisions.
00:11:19.001 --> 00:11:20.136
Influence his decisions. in 1 samuel 16, god gave
00:11:20.202 --> 00:11:23.205
In 1 samuel 16, god gave him specific instructions
00:11:23.272 --> 00:11:25.608
Him specific instructions to wipe out all of the
00:11:25.674 --> 00:11:27.009
To wipe out all of the amalakites, not to spare
00:11:27.076 --> 00:11:29.078
Amalakites, not to spare anyone or anything, the
00:11:29.145 --> 00:11:30.980
Anyone or anything, the leaders, the animals, the
00:11:31.046 --> 00:11:33.015
Leaders, the animals, the flocks, the supplies, but
00:11:33.082 --> 00:11:34.884
Flocks, the supplies, but to destroy them all.
00:11:34.950 --> 00:11:36.652
To destroy them all. he went and attacked.
00:11:36.719 --> 00:11:38.120
He went and attacked. he obeyed that part, but
00:11:38.187 --> 00:11:40.089
He obeyed that part, but instead of destroying
00:11:40.156 --> 00:11:41.223
Instead of destroying everything, he spared the
00:11:41.290 --> 00:11:42.858
Everything, he spared the king, he kept the best
00:11:42.925 --> 00:11:44.593
King, he kept the best cattle, the best sheep, all
00:11:44.660 --> 00:11:46.595
Cattle, the best sheep, all the supplies.
00:11:46.662 --> 00:11:48.130
The supplies. the next day the prophet
00:11:48.197 --> 00:11:49.331
The next day the prophet samuel showed up.
00:11:49.398 --> 00:11:50.933
Samuel showed up. saul greeted him, and said
00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:52.034
Saul greeted him, and said so excitedly, "i did what
00:11:52.101 --> 00:11:54.136
So excitedly, "i did what the lord commanded.
00:11:54.203 --> 00:11:55.137
The lord commanded. we won the victory."
00:11:55.204 --> 00:11:57.106
We won the victory." samuel said, "if you did
00:11:57.173 --> 00:11:58.340
Samuel said, "if you did what he commanded, why do i
00:11:58.407 --> 00:12:00.142
What he commanded, why do i hear those sheep, why do i
00:12:00.209 --> 00:12:02.011
Hear those sheep, why do i see those cattle?"
00:12:02.077 --> 00:12:03.612
See those cattle?" saul said, "oh, come on
00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:04.713
Saul said, "oh, come on samuel, i just kept a few
00:12:04.780 --> 00:12:06.649
Samuel, i just kept a few so our people could enjoy
00:12:06.715 --> 00:12:07.917
So our people could enjoy them, i didn't destroy all
00:12:07.983 --> 00:12:10.052
Them, i didn't destroy all the supplies, we can use
00:12:10.119 --> 00:12:11.220
The supplies, we can use them in the future.
00:12:11.287 --> 00:12:12.655
Them in the future. besides, some of these
00:12:12.721 --> 00:12:13.689
Besides, some of these sheep, we're going to take
00:12:13.756 --> 00:12:15.124
Sheep, we're going to take and sacrifice them to god."
00:12:15.191 --> 00:12:16.492
And sacrifice them to god." he started making all these
00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:18.861
He started making all these excuses, all these reasons
00:12:18.928 --> 00:12:21.130
Excuses, all these reasons why he didn't do it.
00:12:21.197 --> 00:12:22.698
Why he didn't do it. samuel said, "saul,
00:12:22.765 --> 00:12:23.899
Samuel said, "saul, obedience is much better
00:12:23.966 --> 00:12:25.701
Obedience is much better than sacrifice."
00:12:25.768 --> 00:12:26.435
Than sacrifice." in verse 24, saul finally
00:12:26.502 --> 00:12:29.538
In verse 24, saul finally admitted why he didn't
00:12:29.605 --> 00:12:30.973
Admitted why he didn't fully obey.
00:12:31.040 --> 00:12:32.541
Fully obey. he said, "i did not follow
00:12:32.608 --> 00:12:34.610
He said, "i did not follow god's commands for i was
00:12:34.677 --> 00:12:36.545
God's commands for i was afraid of the people and
00:12:36.612 --> 00:12:38.447
Afraid of the people and instead i did what they
00:12:38.514 --> 00:12:40.115
Instead i did what they demanded."
00:12:40.182 --> 00:12:41.917
Demanded." how many of us are like
00:12:41.984 --> 00:12:43.052
How many of us are like saul?
00:12:43.118 --> 00:12:44.253
Saul? we know god has told us to
00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:45.654
We know god has told us to do something, we feel that
00:12:45.721 --> 00:12:47.690
Do something, we feel that impression down in here,
00:12:47.756 --> 00:12:49.725
Impression down in here, but we have to please the
00:12:49.792 --> 00:12:50.860
But we have to please the people, someone may not
00:12:50.926 --> 00:12:52.895
People, someone may not understand, they may think
00:12:52.962 --> 00:12:54.864
Understand, they may think less of us, they may leave
00:12:54.930 --> 00:12:56.732
Less of us, they may leave us out of their group.
00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:58.400
Us out of their group. saul's attitude was, "i
00:12:58.467 --> 00:13:00.035
Saul's attitude was, "i have to perform for my
00:13:00.102 --> 00:13:01.503
Have to perform for my popularity.
00:13:01.570 --> 00:13:02.905
Popularity. to keep my followers, my
00:13:02.972 --> 00:13:04.340
To keep my followers, my friends, i have to do what
00:13:04.406 --> 00:13:05.975
Friends, i have to do what they want.
00:13:06.041 --> 00:13:06.942
They want. impress, pretend, hide, i
00:13:07.009 --> 00:13:09.011
Impress, pretend, hide, i have to keep this image up."
00:13:09.078 --> 00:13:11.647
Have to keep this image up." the problem with living
00:13:11.714 --> 00:13:13.048
The problem with living image driven is you can't
00:13:13.115 --> 00:13:14.850
Image driven is you can't please god and please
00:13:14.917 --> 00:13:16.518
Please god and please people all of the time.
00:13:16.585 --> 00:13:18.487
People all of the time. sometimes god will ask you
00:13:18.554 --> 00:13:20.222
Sometimes god will ask you to do something that's not
00:13:20.289 --> 00:13:21.690
To do something that's not popular, that people don't
00:13:21.757 --> 00:13:23.726
Popular, that people don't understand, that your
00:13:23.792 --> 00:13:25.160
Understand, that your friends don't accept, that
00:13:25.227 --> 00:13:27.062
Friends don't accept, that cause coworkers to look
00:13:27.129 --> 00:13:28.364
Cause coworkers to look down on you.
00:13:28.430 --> 00:13:29.732
Down on you. "you mean you won't go
00:13:29.798 --> 00:13:30.566
"you mean you won't go party after work?
00:13:30.633 --> 00:13:32.034
Party after work? you think you're too good
00:13:32.101 --> 00:13:33.002
You think you're too good for us, don't you?"
00:13:33.068 --> 00:13:34.403
For us, don't you?" if you're image driven,
00:13:34.470 --> 00:13:36.005
If you're image driven, you'll say, "no, i'll go.
00:13:36.071 --> 00:13:37.373
You'll say, "no, i'll go. i don't want you to think
00:13:37.439 --> 00:13:38.207
I don't want you to think less of me."
00:13:38.274 --> 00:13:39.608
Less of me." but if you're driven by
00:13:39.675 --> 00:13:40.609
But if you're driven by your purpose, you'll say,
00:13:40.676 --> 00:13:42.011
Your purpose, you'll say, "no thanks, you'll have to
00:13:42.077 --> 00:13:43.412
"no thanks, you'll have to go without me.
00:13:43.479 --> 00:13:44.280
Go without me. i have a destiny to
00:13:44.346 --> 00:13:45.614
I have a destiny to fulfill."
00:13:45.681 --> 00:13:46.815
Fulfill." you'll be more interested
00:13:46.882 --> 00:13:48.250
You'll be more interested in pleasing god than in
00:13:48.317 --> 00:13:49.985
In pleasing god than in pleasing people.
00:13:50.052 --> 00:13:51.820
Pleasing people. because saul was a people
00:13:51.887 --> 00:13:53.489
Because saul was a people pleaser, because he
00:13:53.555 --> 00:13:55.224
Pleaser, because he wouldn't fully obey, he
00:13:55.291 --> 00:13:57.026
Wouldn't fully obey, he lost the kingdom. what
00:13:57.092 --> 00:13:59.161
Lost the kingdom. what could have saul become if
00:13:59.228 --> 00:14:01.263
Could have saul become if he had not lived image
00:14:01.330 --> 00:14:02.598
He had not lived image driven, worried about what
00:14:02.665 --> 00:14:04.767
Driven, worried about what people think, trying to
00:14:04.833 --> 00:14:06.368
People think, trying to impress, to perform, having
00:14:06.435 --> 00:14:08.971
Impress, to perform, having to pretend to win people
00:14:09.038 --> 00:14:10.572
To pretend to win people over.
00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:11.407
Over. none of that moves you
00:14:11.473 --> 00:14:12.608
None of that moves you forward. be driven by your
00:14:12.675 --> 00:14:14.777
Forward. be driven by your purpose.
00:14:14.843 --> 00:14:15.878
Purpose. be more concerned about how
00:14:15.945 --> 00:14:17.346
Be more concerned about how god sees you than how
00:14:17.413 --> 00:14:19.048
God sees you than how people see you.
00:14:19.114 --> 00:14:20.115
People see you. he's the one that matters.
00:14:20.182 --> 00:14:21.417
He's the one that matters. when my father went to be
00:14:21.483 --> 00:14:23.652
When my father went to be with the lord and i stepped
00:14:23.719 --> 00:14:25.688
With the lord and i stepped up to pastor the church,
00:14:25.754 --> 00:14:27.723
Up to pastor the church, there were a lot of people
00:14:27.790 --> 00:14:28.824
There were a lot of people telling me which direction
00:14:28.891 --> 00:14:30.993
Telling me which direction to go and who i should
00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:32.661
To go and who i should become.
00:14:32.728 --> 00:14:33.762
Become. they were good people, they
00:14:33.829 --> 00:14:35.364
They were good people, they loved me, but one wanted me
00:14:35.431 --> 00:14:37.399
Loved me, but one wanted me to go this way, another
00:14:37.466 --> 00:14:39.101
To go this way, another that way, another take the
00:14:39.168 --> 00:14:40.803
That way, another take the church this way.
00:14:40.869 --> 00:14:42.538
Church this way. there were so many voices
00:14:42.604 --> 00:14:44.173
There were so many voices that i was confused.
00:14:44.239 --> 00:14:45.874
That i was confused. i thought, "i don't even
00:14:45.941 --> 00:14:46.809
I thought, "i don't even know who i am."
00:14:46.875 --> 00:14:48.277
Know who i am." when you're always trying
00:14:48.344 --> 00:14:49.244
When you're always trying to please people, you can
00:14:49.311 --> 00:14:50.980
To please people, you can lose who you are.
00:14:51.046 --> 00:14:53.115
Lose who you are. my personality type is i
00:14:53.182 --> 00:14:55.117
My personality type is i want people to accept me.
00:14:55.184 --> 00:14:57.052
Want people to accept me. i want them to like me.
00:14:57.119 --> 00:14:58.687
I want them to like me. i had to do what i'm asking
00:14:58.754 --> 00:15:00.089
I had to do what i'm asking us to do.
00:15:00.155 --> 00:15:01.090
Us to do. i got quiet before god.
00:15:01.156 --> 00:15:03.492
I got quiet before god. when i searched my heart, i
00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:05.127
When i searched my heart, i knew what he was leading me
00:15:05.194 --> 00:15:06.462
Knew what he was leading me to do.
00:15:06.528 --> 00:15:07.663
To do. the problem was it was not
00:15:07.730 --> 00:15:09.531
The problem was it was not what some of them wanted me
00:15:09.598 --> 00:15:10.799
What some of them wanted me to do.
00:15:10.866 --> 00:15:11.500
To do. i had to decide, am i going
00:15:11.567 --> 00:15:14.169
I had to decide, am i going be who they want me to be
00:15:14.236 --> 00:15:16.171
Be who they want me to be or am i going to be who god
00:15:16.238 --> 00:15:17.539
Or am i going to be who god wants me to be?
00:15:17.606 --> 00:15:18.941
Wants me to be? i had to disappoint a few
00:15:19.008 --> 00:15:20.409
I had to disappoint a few people in order to not
00:15:20.476 --> 00:15:22.411
People in order to not disappoint god.
00:15:22.478 --> 00:15:24.246
Disappoint god. some of them looked down on
00:15:24.313 --> 00:15:25.447
Some of them looked down on me, a few criticized, a
00:15:25.514 --> 00:15:27.483
Me, a few criticized, a couple left the church,
00:15:27.549 --> 00:15:28.851
Couple left the church, said i would never make it,
00:15:28.917 --> 00:15:30.052
Said i would never make it, but i think it's turned out
00:15:30.119 --> 00:15:31.487
But i think it's turned out okay.
00:15:31.553 --> 00:15:32.154
Okay. it is better to please god
00:15:32.221 --> 00:15:34.690
It is better to please god than to please people.
00:15:34.757 --> 00:15:36.658
Than to please people. don't let them squeeze you
00:15:36.725 --> 00:15:38.460
Don't let them squeeze you into their mold.
00:15:38.527 --> 00:15:40.129
Into their mold. take your image off the
00:15:40.195 --> 00:15:41.330
Take your image off the throne, what other people
00:15:41.397 --> 00:15:43.132
Throne, what other people want you to be, having to
00:15:43.198 --> 00:15:44.767
Want you to be, having to perform to keep their
00:15:44.833 --> 00:15:46.001
Perform to keep their friendship, pretend to stay
00:15:46.068 --> 00:15:48.137
Friendship, pretend to stay popular, impress to be
00:15:48.203 --> 00:15:49.838
Popular, impress to be liked.
00:15:49.905 --> 00:15:50.906
Liked. that's too much pressure to
00:15:50.973 --> 00:15:52.241
That's too much pressure to live under.
00:15:52.307 --> 00:15:53.609
Live under. it's hard to be something
00:15:53.675 --> 00:15:54.843
It's hard to be something you're not.
00:15:54.910 --> 00:15:55.811
You're not. it's hard to keep everyone
00:15:55.878 --> 00:15:57.179
It's hard to keep everyone happy, wear different
00:15:57.246 --> 00:15:58.847
Happy, wear different masks, pretending,
00:15:58.914 --> 00:16:00.983
Masks, pretending, depending on who you're
00:16:01.050 --> 00:16:01.917
Depending on who you're with.
00:16:01.984 --> 00:16:03.018
With. you know what's easy, being
00:16:03.085 --> 00:16:04.686
You know what's easy, being you, being real, being
00:16:04.753 --> 00:16:07.423
You, being real, being vulnerable.
00:16:07.489 --> 00:16:08.490
Vulnerable. what makes it complicated
00:16:08.557 --> 00:16:10.426
What makes it complicated is when we put our image on
00:16:10.492 --> 00:16:11.860
Is when we put our image on the throne instead of
00:16:11.927 --> 00:16:13.395
The throne instead of having god on the throne.
00:16:13.462 --> 00:16:15.531
Having god on the throne. when we're obsessed with
00:16:15.597 --> 00:16:16.665
When we're obsessed with our image, so much time and
00:16:16.732 --> 00:16:18.767
Our image, so much time and energy is spent trying to
00:16:18.834 --> 00:16:20.402
Energy is spent trying to please others, trying to
00:16:20.469 --> 00:16:22.237
Please others, trying to look good.
00:16:22.304 --> 00:16:23.705
Look good. we end up like the
00:16:23.772 --> 00:16:24.406
We end up like the pharisees, doing things for
00:16:24.473 --> 00:16:26.008
Pharisees, doing things for show.
00:16:26.075 --> 00:16:26.675
Show. let me impress them, this
00:16:26.742 --> 00:16:28.544
Let me impress them, this will make me more popular.
00:16:28.610 --> 00:16:30.446
Will make me more popular. when the truth is, doing
00:16:30.512 --> 00:16:32.414
When the truth is, doing what god's asking you to
00:16:32.481 --> 00:16:33.849
What god's asking you to do, being who he made you
00:16:33.916 --> 00:16:35.918
Do, being who he made you to be, that's where the
00:16:35.984 --> 00:16:37.453
To be, that's where the blessing is, that's where
00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:39.221
Blessing is, that's where the anointing is, that's
00:16:39.288 --> 00:16:40.689
The anointing is, that's where the power is.
00:16:40.756 --> 00:16:42.491
Where the power is. when you take off the mask
00:16:42.558 --> 00:16:44.359
When you take off the mask and live as the authentic
00:16:44.426 --> 00:16:45.761
And live as the authentic you, he'll shine down his
00:16:45.828 --> 00:16:47.596
You, he'll shine down his favor and take you further
00:16:47.663 --> 00:16:49.531
Favor and take you further than you've ever dreamed.
00:16:49.598 --> 00:16:51.600
Than you've ever dreamed. saul was rejected as the.
00:16:51.667 --> 00:16:53.168
Saul was rejected as the. king; samuel chose a young
00:16:53.235 --> 00:16:55.604
King; samuel chose a young man named david to be the
00:16:55.671 --> 00:16:57.573
Man named david to be the next king.
00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:58.841
Next king. one difference between saul
00:16:58.907 --> 00:17:00.809
One difference between saul and david is david wasn't
00:17:00.876 --> 00:17:03.412
And david is david wasn't image driven. he didn't
00:17:03.479 --> 00:17:05.214
Image driven. he didn't spend his time worried
00:17:05.280 --> 00:17:06.849
Spend his time worried about what other people
00:17:06.915 --> 00:17:07.983
About what other people thought, trying to please
00:17:08.050 --> 00:17:09.685
Thought, trying to please everyone.
00:17:09.751 --> 00:17:10.452
Everyone. his focus was on fulfilling
00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:12.287
His focus was on fulfilling his purpose.
00:17:12.354 --> 00:17:14.089
His purpose. one time the ark of the
00:17:14.156 --> 00:17:15.290
One time the ark of the covenant, it was a large
00:17:15.357 --> 00:17:17.059
Covenant, it was a large box that represented where
00:17:17.126 --> 00:17:18.927
Box that represented where god lived, it had been
00:17:18.994 --> 00:17:20.329
God lived, it had been taken from the israelites.
00:17:20.395 --> 00:17:22.331
Taken from the israelites. they had been trying to get
00:17:22.397 --> 00:17:23.165
They had been trying to get it back for months.
00:17:23.232 --> 00:17:24.800
It back for months. finally, david was able to
00:17:24.867 --> 00:17:26.368
Finally, david was able to recover it.
00:17:26.435 --> 00:17:27.369
Recover it. he brought it back to
00:17:27.436 --> 00:17:28.170
He brought it back to jerusalem. there was a big
00:17:28.237 --> 00:17:30.105
Jerusalem. there was a big celebration.
00:17:30.172 --> 00:17:31.673
Celebration. the scripture says, "david
00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:33.008
The scripture says, "david danced before the lord with
00:17:33.075 --> 00:17:34.843
Danced before the lord with all of his might."
00:17:34.910 --> 00:17:35.677
All of his might." there was great shouting,
00:17:35.744 --> 00:17:38.046
There was great shouting, trumpets blowing, music
00:17:38.113 --> 00:17:39.648
Trumpets blowing, music playing.
00:17:39.715 --> 00:17:40.649
Playing. right in the middle of it
00:17:40.716 --> 00:17:41.583
Right in the middle of it all, there's david, putting
00:17:41.650 --> 00:17:43.285
All, there's david, putting michael jackson to shame,
00:17:43.352 --> 00:17:45.087
Michael jackson to shame, dancing, celebrating,
00:17:45.154 --> 00:17:46.622
Dancing, celebrating, worshipping, praising.
00:17:46.688 --> 00:17:48.490
Worshipping, praising. now david was this
00:17:48.557 --> 00:17:50.025
Now david was this respected, influential
00:17:50.092 --> 00:17:51.727
Respected, influential leader.
00:17:51.793 --> 00:17:52.761
Leader. he could have thought, "i
00:17:52.828 --> 00:17:53.495
He could have thought, "i need to be more reserved,
00:17:53.562 --> 00:17:55.531
Need to be more reserved, proper, sophisticated.
00:17:55.597 --> 00:17:57.499
Proper, sophisticated. i can't let these people
00:17:57.566 --> 00:17:58.901
I can't let these people see me showing emotion,
00:17:58.967 --> 00:18:00.969
See me showing emotion, praising with all my might.
00:18:01.036 --> 00:18:02.704
Praising with all my might. they may think i go to
00:18:02.771 --> 00:18:03.639
They may think i go to lakewood, that i'm one of
00:18:03.705 --> 00:18:05.073
Lakewood, that i'm one of those happy, joyful,
00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:06.642
Those happy, joyful, victorious people."
00:18:06.708 --> 00:18:07.843
But david didn't have his
00:18:08.010 --> 00:18:10.946
But david didn't have his image on the throne.
00:18:11.013 --> 00:18:12.814
Image on the throne. he didn't run his worship
00:18:12.881 --> 00:18:14.249
He didn't run his worship through a filter of what
00:18:14.316 --> 00:18:15.784
Through a filter of what people would think.
00:18:15.851 --> 00:18:17.252
People would think. when he saw the goodness of
00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:18.654
When he saw the goodness of god, even though he was the
00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:20.289
God, even though he was the king, he didn't hold back.
00:18:20.355 --> 00:18:23.058
King, he didn't hold back. what he didn't know was his
00:18:23.125 --> 00:18:24.526
What he didn't know was his wife, this was king saul's
00:18:24.593 --> 00:18:26.895
Wife, this was king saul's daughter, she was watching
00:18:26.962 --> 00:18:28.697
Daughter, she was watching him dancing, praising,
00:18:28.764 --> 00:18:30.766
Him dancing, praising, showing all this emotion
00:18:30.832 --> 00:18:32.434
Showing all this emotion and she was offended.
00:18:32.501 --> 00:18:34.102
And she was offended. she looked at him in scorn,
00:18:34.169 --> 00:18:35.737
She looked at him in scorn, disgusted.
00:18:35.804 --> 00:18:37.172
Disgusted. when david got home, she
00:18:37.239 --> 00:18:38.574
When david got home, she let him have it.
00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.841
Let him have it. she said, "what were you
00:18:39.908 --> 00:18:41.243
She said, "what were you doing out there, dancing
00:18:41.310 --> 00:18:42.844
Doing out there, dancing like a fool, showing your
00:18:42.911 --> 00:18:44.446
Like a fool, showing your legs?
00:18:44.513 --> 00:18:45.380
Legs? don't you know you're the
00:18:45.447 --> 00:18:46.181
Don't you know you're the king, you have an image to
00:18:46.248 --> 00:18:48.116
King, you have an image to withhold?
00:18:48.183 --> 00:18:49.251
Withhold? you're supposed to be prim,
00:18:49.318 --> 00:18:50.852
You're supposed to be prim, proper, reserved."
00:18:50.919 --> 00:18:52.721
Proper, reserved." that was the mold she was
00:18:52.788 --> 00:18:54.156
That was the mold she was trying to put david in.
00:18:54.223 --> 00:18:56.091
Trying to put david in. david said in effect, "i
00:18:56.158 --> 00:18:57.492
David said in effect, "i love you, but i wasn't
00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:59.094
Love you, but i wasn't dancing unto you, i was
00:18:59.161 --> 00:19:00.862
Dancing unto you, i was dancing unto my god.
00:19:00.929 --> 00:19:02.731
Dancing unto my god. i was thanking him for the
00:19:02.798 --> 00:19:04.099
I was thanking him for the great mercy, the great
00:19:04.166 --> 00:19:05.634
Great mercy, the great favor that he's shown me."
00:19:05.701 --> 00:19:08.003
Favor that he's shown me." he went on to say, "i'm
00:19:08.070 --> 00:19:09.805
He went on to say, "i'm willing to look like a fool
00:19:09.871 --> 00:19:11.673
Willing to look like a fool to express the goodness of
00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:13.141
To express the goodness of god in my life."
00:19:13.208 --> 00:19:15.177
God in my life." david was saying, "you may
00:19:15.244 --> 00:19:16.812
David was saying, "you may look down on me, but that's
00:19:16.878 --> 00:19:18.447
Look down on me, but that's okay, my image is not on
00:19:18.513 --> 00:19:20.282
Okay, my image is not on the throne, god is on the
00:19:20.349 --> 00:19:21.917
The throne, god is on the throne.
00:19:21.984 --> 00:19:22.918
Throne. i'm not going to be who
00:19:22.985 --> 00:19:23.919
I'm not going to be who people want me to be, i'm
00:19:23.986 --> 00:19:25.454
People want me to be, i'm going to be who god wants
00:19:25.520 --> 00:19:26.855
Going to be who god wants me to be."
00:19:26.922 --> 00:19:28.090
Me to be." notice the difference
00:19:28.156 --> 00:19:29.057
Notice the difference between king saul and king
00:19:29.124 --> 00:19:31.059
Between king saul and king david.
00:19:31.126 --> 00:19:32.060
David. saul was a people pleaser;
00:19:32.127 --> 00:19:34.096
Saul was a people pleaser; david was a god pleaser.
00:19:34.162 --> 00:19:35.998
David was a god pleaser. saul had his image on the
00:19:36.064 --> 00:19:37.366
Saul had his image on the throne, david had god on
00:19:37.432 --> 00:19:39.201
Throne, david had god on the throne.
00:19:39.268 --> 00:19:40.335
The throne. saul was driven by his
00:19:40.402 --> 00:19:41.770
Saul was driven by his image; david was driven by
00:19:41.837 --> 00:19:43.839
Image; david was driven by his purpose.
00:19:43.905 --> 00:19:45.440
His purpose. like with david, there will
00:19:45.507 --> 00:19:46.775
Like with david, there will be people that try to put
00:19:46.842 --> 00:19:48.277
Be people that try to put you in their box, convince
00:19:48.343 --> 00:19:50.345
You in their box, convince you to be who they want you
00:19:50.412 --> 00:19:51.647
You to be who they want you to be.
00:19:51.713 --> 00:19:52.814
To be. if you're not strong, if
00:19:52.881 --> 00:19:54.616
If you're not strong, if you're focused on having
00:19:54.683 --> 00:19:55.517
You're focused on having people approve you, you
00:19:55.584 --> 00:19:57.319
People approve you, you live to impress them,
00:19:57.386 --> 00:19:59.288
Live to impress them, you'll end up letting their
00:19:59.354 --> 00:20:00.622
You'll end up letting their image of you become a
00:20:00.689 --> 00:20:02.257
Image of you become a reality.
00:20:02.324 --> 00:20:03.692
Reality. sometimes it's not our own
00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.993
Sometimes it's not our own images, it's other people's
00:20:05.060 --> 00:20:06.728
Images, it's other people's images.
00:20:06.795 --> 00:20:07.963
Images. your friend wants you to be
00:20:08.030 --> 00:20:08.997
Your friend wants you to be this, your cousin wants you
00:20:09.064 --> 00:20:10.499
This, your cousin wants you to be that; your neighbor
00:20:10.565 --> 00:20:12.100
To be that; your neighbor wants you to be this other.
00:20:12.167 --> 00:20:14.036
Wants you to be this other. be respectful, listen to
00:20:14.102 --> 00:20:15.904
Be respectful, listen to advice, but don't let
00:20:15.971 --> 00:20:17.773
Advice, but don't let anyone talk you out of what
00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:19.741
Anyone talk you out of what god put in your heart. you
00:20:19.808 --> 00:20:21.977
God put in your heart. you have a responsibility to
00:20:22.044 --> 00:20:23.445
Have a responsibility to become who he created you
00:20:23.512 --> 00:20:25.414
Become who he created you to be.
00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.048
To be. when you come to the end of
00:20:26.114 --> 00:20:27.883
When you come to the end of life, he's not going to
00:20:27.949 --> 00:20:29.217
Life, he's not going to say, "why weren't you more
00:20:29.284 --> 00:20:30.819
Say, "why weren't you more like your cousin, why
00:20:30.886 --> 00:20:32.354
Like your cousin, why weren't you more like your
00:20:32.421 --> 00:20:33.255
Weren't you more like your coworker, why weren't you
00:20:33.322 --> 00:20:34.289
Coworker, why weren't you more like your friend?"
00:20:34.356 --> 00:20:35.657
More like your friend?" he's going to say, "why
00:20:35.724 --> 00:20:37.092
He's going to say, "why weren't you who i created
00:20:37.159 --> 00:20:39.094
Weren't you who i created you to be?
00:20:39.161 --> 00:20:40.062
You to be? why did you let people
00:20:40.128 --> 00:20:41.163
Why did you let people squeeze you into their mold?
00:20:41.229 --> 00:20:43.332
Squeeze you into their mold? why did you live
00:20:43.398 --> 00:20:43.965
Why did you live pretending, wearing masks,
00:20:44.032 --> 00:20:46.335
Pretending, wearing masks, hiding when you needed
00:20:46.401 --> 00:20:47.402
Hiding when you needed help, acting like
00:20:47.469 --> 00:20:48.804
Help, acting like everything was okay."
00:20:48.870 --> 00:20:50.706
Everything was okay." take the image down and
00:20:50.772 --> 00:20:52.407
Take the image down and step up to who you were
00:20:52.474 --> 00:20:53.875
Step up to who you were created to be.
00:20:53.942 --> 00:20:54.643
Created to be. a few years ago, a minister
00:20:54.710 --> 00:20:57.346
A few years ago, a minister i know called me.
00:20:57.412 --> 00:20:58.780
I know called me. he's much older than i am.
00:20:58.847 --> 00:21:00.649
He's much older than i am. he's very well respected,
00:21:00.716 --> 00:21:02.250
He's very well respected, very influential, and he's
00:21:02.317 --> 00:21:04.386
Very influential, and he's very strong, and very
00:21:04.453 --> 00:21:05.887
Very strong, and very opinionated.
00:21:05.954 --> 00:21:07.356
Opinionated. he started telling me how
00:21:07.422 --> 00:21:08.890
He started telling me how to use my influence and
00:21:08.957 --> 00:21:10.692
To use my influence and what i needed to do and
00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:12.394
What i needed to do and where i needed to change
00:21:12.461 --> 00:21:13.895
Where i needed to change and how if i didn't do it
00:21:13.962 --> 00:21:15.797
And how if i didn't do it this way, it wasn't going
00:21:15.864 --> 00:21:16.798
This way, it wasn't going to be right.
00:21:16.865 --> 00:21:18.367
To be right. i'm very nice, i'm very
00:21:18.433 --> 00:21:19.968
I'm very nice, i'm very kind but when it comes to
00:21:20.035 --> 00:21:21.703
Kind but when it comes to my destiny, what i believe
00:21:21.770 --> 00:21:23.638
My destiny, what i believe god has called me to do,
00:21:23.705 --> 00:21:25.407
God has called me to do, i'm very strong.
00:21:25.474 --> 00:21:27.209
I'm very strong. as hard as he came at me,
00:21:27.275 --> 00:21:28.744
As hard as he came at me, as forceful, as certain, as
00:21:28.810 --> 00:21:30.145
As forceful, as certain, as the authority, i went back
00:21:30.212 --> 00:21:31.880
The authority, i went back at him with that same
00:21:31.947 --> 00:21:33.248
At him with that same authority.
00:21:33.315 --> 00:21:34.483
Authority. i was respectful, but i
00:21:34.549 --> 00:21:36.418
I was respectful, but i told him, "when i come to
00:21:36.485 --> 00:21:38.120
Told him, "when i come to the end of my life, i am
00:21:38.186 --> 00:21:39.554
The end of my life, i am not going to answer to you.
00:21:39.621 --> 00:21:41.456
Not going to answer to you. what you're telling me does
00:21:41.523 --> 00:21:43.558
What you're telling me does not bear witness with myoes
00:21:43.625 --> 00:21:45.127
Not bear witness with myoes spirit.
00:21:45.193 --> 00:21:46.094
Spirit. i know what god has called
00:21:46.161 --> 00:21:47.562
I know what god has called me to be and i'm going to
00:21:47.629 --> 00:21:49.331
Me to be and i'm going to run my race with purpose,
00:21:49.398 --> 00:21:51.099
Run my race with purpose, with integrity, with
00:21:51.166 --> 00:21:52.200
With integrity, with compassion."
00:21:52.267 --> 00:21:53.969
Compassion." if my image was on the
00:21:54.035 --> 00:21:55.170
If my image was on the throne, i would be worried,
00:21:55.237 --> 00:21:57.239
Throne, i would be worried, "what's he going to think
00:21:57.305 --> 00:21:57.973
"what's he going to think about me?
00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:59.040
About me? what if he doesn't approve
00:21:59.107 --> 00:22:00.208
What if he doesn't approve me?"
00:22:00.275 --> 00:22:01.209
Me?" some of these situations
00:22:01.276 --> 00:22:03.011
Some of these situations are tests.
00:22:03.078 --> 00:22:04.413
Are tests. are you going to live to
00:22:04.479 --> 00:22:05.380
Are you going to live to please others, or are you
00:22:05.447 --> 00:22:06.882
Please others, or are you going to live to please god?
00:22:06.948 --> 00:22:09.117
Going to live to please god? i don't mean to never take
00:22:09.184 --> 00:22:10.252
I don't mean to never take advice, to be
00:22:10.318 --> 00:22:11.086
Advice, to be disrespectful, but you have
00:22:11.153 --> 00:22:13.088
Disrespectful, but you have to be strong when it comes
00:22:13.155 --> 00:22:14.923
To be strong when it comes to other people putting
00:22:14.990 --> 00:22:16.858
To other people putting their demands on you,
00:22:16.925 --> 00:22:18.527
Their demands on you, trying to squeeze you into
00:22:18.593 --> 00:22:19.761
Trying to squeeze you into their mold.
00:22:19.828 --> 00:22:20.996
Their mold. you can hear from god about
00:22:21.062 --> 00:22:22.964
You can hear from god about your life more than any
00:22:23.031 --> 00:22:24.599
Your life more than any other person.
00:22:24.666 --> 00:22:26.001
Other person. god is not going to tell
00:22:26.067 --> 00:22:27.302
God is not going to tell someone else everything
00:22:27.369 --> 00:22:29.004
Someone else everything about your destiny.
00:22:29.070 --> 00:22:30.772
About your destiny. others may confirm it, they
00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:32.641
Others may confirm it, they may encourage you, but the
00:22:32.707 --> 00:22:34.376
May encourage you, but the holy spirit lives in you.
00:22:34.443 --> 00:22:36.578
Holy spirit lives in you. he's your guide, your
00:22:36.645 --> 00:22:37.813
He's your guide, your counselor, your helper.
00:22:37.879 --> 00:22:39.414
Counselor, your helper. trust what you're hearing
00:22:39.481 --> 00:22:40.615
Trust what you're hearing on the inside.
00:22:40.682 --> 00:22:42.651
On the inside. in the scripture, three
00:22:42.717 --> 00:22:43.852
In the scripture, three hebrew teenagers wouldn't
00:22:43.919 --> 00:22:45.654
Hebrew teenagers wouldn't bow down to the king's
00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.855
Bow down to the king's golden idol.
00:22:46.922 --> 00:22:47.622
Golden idol. he was going to have them
00:22:47.689 --> 00:22:48.824
He was going to have them thrown into a furnace.
00:22:48.890 --> 00:22:50.759
Thrown into a furnace. the idol is described as a
00:22:50.826 --> 00:22:52.727
The idol is described as a golden image.
00:22:52.794 --> 00:22:54.329
Golden image. it was actually an image of
00:22:54.396 --> 00:22:55.730
It was actually an image of king nebuchadnezzar.
00:22:55.797 --> 00:22:57.365
King nebuchadnezzar. it was a physical thing,
00:22:57.432 --> 00:22:59.034
It was a physical thing, but i believe there's a
00:22:59.100 --> 00:22:59.901
But i believe there's a spiritual principle.
00:22:59.968 --> 00:23:01.570
Spiritual principle. the teenagers wouldn't bow
00:23:01.636 --> 00:23:03.371
The teenagers wouldn't bow down to an image.
00:23:03.438 --> 00:23:04.639
Down to an image. but how many of us today
00:23:04.706 --> 00:23:07.142
But how many of us today are bowing down to an image?
00:23:07.209 --> 00:23:09.144
Are bowing down to an image? the image we've created,
00:23:09.211 --> 00:23:10.979
The image we've created, what we project, what we
00:23:11.046 --> 00:23:12.647
What we project, what we want people to see.
00:23:12.714 --> 00:23:14.316
Want people to see. or maybe it's the image
00:23:14.382 --> 00:23:15.450
Or maybe it's the image others have created,
00:23:15.517 --> 00:23:17.052
Others have created, squeezed into their mold.
00:23:17.118 --> 00:23:18.954
Squeezed into their mold. it's time to stop bowing
00:23:19.020 --> 00:23:20.455
It's time to stop bowing down to that image.
00:23:20.522 --> 00:23:22.290
Down to that image. like paul said, we're not
00:23:22.357 --> 00:23:23.325
Like paul said, we're not playing games, we're not
00:23:23.391 --> 00:23:24.759
Playing games, we're not pretending, we're taking
00:23:24.826 --> 00:23:26.394
Pretending, we're taking off the masks.
00:23:26.461 --> 00:23:27.896
Off the masks. that's too much pressure.
00:23:27.963 --> 00:23:29.764
That's too much pressure. the reason some people are
00:23:29.831 --> 00:23:31.566
The reason some people are rundown, worn out, not
00:23:31.633 --> 00:23:33.201
Rundown, worn out, not enjoying life is they have
00:23:33.268 --> 00:23:34.836
Enjoying life is they have this image to keep up.
00:23:34.903 --> 00:23:36.905
This image to keep up. you have to be five
00:23:36.972 --> 00:23:37.706
You have to be five different people, one for
00:23:37.772 --> 00:23:38.673
Different people, one for your neighbor, one for your
00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.674
Your neighbor, one for your spouse, one for your
00:23:39.741 --> 00:23:40.609
Spouse, one for your friends.
00:23:40.675 --> 00:23:41.643
Friends. trying to please everyone,
00:23:41.710 --> 00:23:43.211
Trying to please everyone, keep them happy.
00:23:43.278 --> 00:23:44.479
Keep them happy. do yourself a favor, take
00:23:44.546 --> 00:23:46.047
Do yourself a favor, take your image off the throne
00:23:46.114 --> 00:23:47.716
Your image off the throne and put god back on the
00:23:47.782 --> 00:23:48.984
And put god back on the throne.
00:23:49.050 --> 00:23:49.818
Throne. quit bowing down to that
00:23:49.885 --> 00:23:51.286
Quit bowing down to that image.
00:23:51.353 --> 00:23:52.420
Image. if you'll do this i believe
00:23:52.487 --> 00:23:54.489
If you'll do this i believe and declare, weights are
00:23:54.556 --> 00:23:56.291
And declare, weights are going to lift off of you.
00:23:56.358 --> 00:23:57.759
Going to lift off of you. you're going to live freer,
00:23:57.826 --> 00:23:59.294
You're going to live freer, happier, more fulfilled and
00:23:59.361 --> 00:24:01.530
Happier, more fulfilled and you're going to become all
00:24:01.596 --> 00:24:02.864
You're going to become all you were created to be, in
00:24:02.931 --> 00:24:04.699
You were created to be, in jesus' name.
00:24:04.766 --> 00:24:06.234
Jesus' name. if you receive it, can you
00:24:06.301 --> 00:24:07.602
If you receive it, can you say amen?
00:24:07.669 --> 00:24:07.836
God's healing isn't earned,
00:24:10.505 --> 00:24:12.307
God's healing isn't earned, it's received,
00:24:12.374 --> 00:24:13.408
It's received, and you can discover
00:24:13.475 --> 00:24:14.609
And you can discover how in the next 31 days.
00:24:14.676 --> 00:24:17.279
How in the next 31 days. life has a way of
00:24:17.345 --> 00:24:18.313
Life has a way of wearing us down
00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:19.447
Wearing us down physically, mentally,
00:24:19.514 --> 00:24:20.916
Physically, mentally, emotionally.
00:24:20.982 --> 00:24:22.183
Emotionally. but god didn't create us
00:24:22.250 --> 00:24:23.451
But god didn't create us to just survive, but to thrive.
00:24:23.518 --> 00:24:25.921
To just survive, but to thrive. i'm excited about
00:24:25.987 --> 00:24:26.955
I'm excited about our new devotional,
00:24:27.022 --> 00:24:28.189
Happy, healthy, and free.
00:24:28.290 --> 00:24:30.325
Happy, healthy, and free. for 31 days,
00:24:30.392 --> 00:24:31.593
For 31 days, i'll take you
00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:32.193
I'll take you on a wellness journey
00:24:32.260 --> 00:24:33.628
On a wellness journey for your spirit, body,
00:24:33.695 --> 00:24:35.163
And soul.
00:24:35.263 --> 00:24:36.264
It's filled with daily
00:24:36.364 --> 00:24:37.332
It's filled with daily declarations,
00:24:37.399 --> 00:24:38.266
Declarations, scriptures, encouragement.
00:24:38.333 --> 00:24:40.468
Scriptures, encouragement. as you get your mind in tune
00:24:40.535 --> 00:24:42.137
As you get your mind in tune with what god says,
00:24:42.203 --> 00:24:43.572
With what god says, you'll experience a refreshing,
00:24:43.638 --> 00:24:45.640
A revitalization.
00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:47.342
Ayou were created to be strong,
00:24:47.442 --> 00:24:49.444
Ayou were created to be strong, to be passionate,
00:24:49.511 --> 00:24:50.579
To be passionate, to live happy,
00:24:50.645 --> 00:24:51.613
To live happy, healthy, and free.
00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:53.682
Healthy, and free. when you contact us today,
00:24:53.748 --> 00:24:55.617
When you contact us today, we'll send you
00:24:55.684 --> 00:24:56.484
We'll send you happy, healthy, and free:
00:24:56.551 --> 00:24:58.386
Happy, healthy, and free: a 31-day wellness journey
00:24:58.453 --> 00:25:00.288
A 31-day wellness journey as our way of saying thank you
00:25:00.388 --> 00:25:01.923
As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount.
00:25:01.990 --> 00:25:03.892
For your gift of any amount. this devotional will help you
00:25:03.959 --> 00:25:05.360
This devotional will help you strengthen your faith,
00:25:05.427 --> 00:25:06.628
Declare god's
00:25:06.728 --> 00:25:07.495
Promises, and receive
00:25:07.596 --> 00:25:08.897
Promises, and receive the healing he's
00:25:08.964 --> 00:25:09.798
The healing he's already made available to you.
00:25:09.898 --> 00:25:11.933
Already made available to you. spirit, soul, and body.
00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:14.069
Spirit, soul, and body. god wants you whole
00:25:14.135 --> 00:25:15.737
God wants you whole and this resource will help you
00:25:15.804 --> 00:25:17.305
And this resource will help you experience his peace
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From the inside out.
00:25:18.873 --> 00:25:20.475
Please request your copy today.
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Please request your copy today. begin a life-receiving,
00:25:22.711 --> 00:25:24.012
Begin a life-receiving, life-giving journey
00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:25.480
That will transform
00:25:25.580 --> 00:25:26.648
Your spirit,ansform
00:25:26.748 --> 00:25:27.349
Your spirit,ansform mind, and body in just 31 days.
00:25:27.415 --> 00:25:30.719
Mind, and body in just 31 days. god is going to restore
00:25:30.785 --> 00:25:32.187
God is going to restore what the enemy tried to steal.
00:25:32.287 --> 00:25:34.022
What the enemy tried to steal. your joy,
00:25:34.089 --> 00:25:34.789
Your joy, your peace, your health.
00:25:34.856 --> 00:25:36.891
Your peace, your health. victoria and i pray for
00:25:36.958 --> 00:25:37.926
Victoria and i pray for you and your family every day.
00:25:38.026 --> 00:25:39.928
You and your family every day. thanks so much for your prayer
00:25:40.028 --> 00:25:41.463
Thanks so much for your prayer and support.
00:25:41.529 --> 00:25:42.530
And support. your generosity
00:25:42.597 --> 00:25:43.598
Your generosity is bringing hope to people
00:25:43.665 --> 00:25:45.033
Around the world.
00:25:45.133 --> 00:25:46.468
Special thank you to our
00:25:46.568 --> 00:25:47.569
Special thank you to our champion of hope partners
00:25:47.636 --> 00:25:49.004
Champion of hope partners for your monthly gifts.
00:25:49.070 --> 00:25:50.705
For your monthly gifts. if you're not a partner,
00:25:50.772 --> 00:25:51.873
If you're not a partner, i hope you'll consider
00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.774
I hope you'll consider becoming one.
00:25:52.841 --> 00:25:54.142
Becoming one. remember,
00:25:54.209 --> 00:25:54.576
Remember, you can watch the services
00:25:54.643 --> 00:25:55.910
You can watch the services online every sunday
00:25:55.977 --> 00:25:57.312
Online every sunday morning, download
00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.647
Morning, download our daily podcast,
00:25:58.713 --> 00:26:00.148
Our daily podcast, watch on youtube,
00:26:00.215 --> 00:26:01.549
Watch on youtube, the new joel osteen network,
00:26:01.616 --> 00:26:03.251
The new joel osteen network, social media,
00:26:03.318 --> 00:26:04.452
Social media, you can listen on
00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.086
You can listen on sirius xm 24 hours a day.
00:26:05.153 --> 00:26:07.389
Sirius xm 24 hours a day. we'll keep you
00:26:07.455 --> 00:26:07.922
We'll keep you encouraged and inspired.
00:26:07.989 --> 00:26:09.924
Encouraged and inspired. until we see you next time,
00:26:09.991 --> 00:26:11.459
Until we see you next time, may the lord bless you
00:26:11.526 --> 00:26:12.727
May the lord bless you and keep you.
00:26:12.794 --> 00:26:14.696
Be sure to request
00:26:14.796 --> 00:26:15.797
Your copy ofequest
00:26:15.897 --> 00:26:16.598
Your copy ofequest happy, healthy, and free:
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Happy, healthy, and free: a 31-day wellness journey.
00:26:18.833 --> 00:26:20.969
Visit joelosteen.com or
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Visit joelosteen.com or call 888-567-joel.
00:26:23.171 --> 00:26:26.675
For an additional gift
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For an additional gift this month,
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This month, we are also offering the
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We are also offering the wholeness and promise bundle,
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Which includes the
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Whappy, healthy, and free book,
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Whappy, healthy, and free book, plus the words of promise
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Plus the words of promise journal,
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Journal, a beautifully designed journal
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A beautifully designed journal where you can reflect,
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Where you can reflect, record prayers,
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Record prayers, and speak life
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And speak life over your future.
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Over your future. you can also request the
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You can also request the happy, healthy, and free
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Happy, healthy, and free collection,
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Collection, featuring the devotional,
00:26:47.328 --> 00:26:48.663
Featuring the devotional, the journal,
00:26:48.730 --> 00:26:49.564
The journal, and a beautifully crafted
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And a beautifully crafted set of three desktop
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Set of three desktop encouragement blocks.
00:26:52.634 --> 00:26:54.002
Each whitewashed wooden block
00:26:54.102 --> 00:26:55.804
Displays one powerfulen block
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Displays one powerfulen block word: happy,
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Word: happy, healthy, and free,
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Healthy, and free, along with a carefully
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Along with a carefully chosen scripture.
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Chosen scripture. place them in your home
00:27:02.811 --> 00:27:03.778
Place them in your home or workspace as daily
00:27:03.845 --> 00:27:05.346
Reminders of god's
00:27:05.447 --> 00:27:06.481
Promises for your life.
00:27:06.581 --> 00:27:08.416
Promises for your life. you can request these
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You can request these life-changing resources
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Life-changing resources by calling 888-567-joel,
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By calling 888-567-joel, or logging on to
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Or logging on to joelosteen.com today.
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Joelosteen.com today. this is your season
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This is your season to rise stronger,
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To rise stronger, live lighter,
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Live lighter, and walk daily in god's
00:27:22.030 --> 00:27:23.531
And walk daily in god's healing and peace.
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Healing and peace. request your copies today.
00:27:25.066 --> 00:27:27.836

Joel Osteen - Take Your Image Off The Throne

September 29, 2025 | 29:56

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