JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU.
IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU
TODAY. I HOPE YOU'LL STAY
CONNECTED WITH US DURING
THE WEEK, THROUGH OUR DAILY
PODCAST, OUR YOUTUBE
CHANNEL, SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE'LL KEEP YOU ENCOURAGED
AND INSPIRED.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY. I HEARD
ABOUT THIS MINISTER THAT
DIED. HE WAS STANDING IN
LINE AT THE PEARLY GATES.
THE MAN IN FRONT OF HIM WAS
DRESSED IN A LOUD T-SHIRT,
SUNGLASSES AND BLUE JEANS.
SAINT PETER ASKED HIS NAME.
HE SAID, “I'M JOE COHEN,
TAXICAB DRIVER, NEW YORK
CITY.” PETER CHECKED HIS
LIST, HANDED HIM A GOLD
STAFF AND SILK ROBE AND
SAID, “WELCOME TO HEAVEN.”
THE MINISTER STEPPED UP AND
SAID, “I'M REVEREND JOSEPH
SNOW, PASTOR OF ST. MARY'S
CATHEDRAL.” PETER CHECKED
HIS LIST AND HANDED HIM A
WOODEN STAFF AND COTTON
ROBE. HE SAID, “WAIT A
MINUTE, THAT COULDN'T BE
RIGHT. THE TAXI CAB DRIVER
GOT A GOLD STAFF, AND THIS
IS ALL I GET?” PETER SAID,
“SIR, UP HERE WE WORK BY
RESULTS. WHEN YOU PREACHED,
PEOPLE SLEPT, BUT WHEN HE
DROVE, PEOPLE PRAYED.”
SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT.
THIS IS MY BIBLE.
I AM WHAT IT SAYS I AM.
I HAVE WHAT IT SAYS I HAVE.
I CAN DO WHAT IT SAYS
I CAN DO. TODAY, I WILL
BE TAUGHT THE WORD OF GOD.
I BOLDLY CONFESS: MY MIND
IS ALERT. MY HEART IS
RECEPTIVE. I WILL NEVER
BE THE SAME IN JESUS'
NAME. GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT THE TRUE YOU.
ON THE INSIDE OF EVERY ONE
OF US IS A BLESSED PERSON.
SOMEONE CONFIDENT,
VALUABLE, TALENTED.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “YOU
HAVE BEEN FEARFULLY AND
WONDERFULLY MADE.” THE WORD
FEARFUL IN THE ORIGINAL
LANGUAGE MEANS, TO STAND IN
AWE, TO REVERENCE.
IT IMPLIES HONOR, RESPECT.
WHEN GOD CREATED YOU, HE
STOOD BACK IN REVERENCE.
HE LOOKED AT YOU IN AWE.
HE CALLS YOU A MASTERPIECE.
GOD DIDN'T MAKE ANY ONE
AVERAGE.
HE DIDN'T SAY, “I DIDN'T DO
VERY GOOD ON THAT ONE.
THEY HAVE A BUNCH OF FLAWS.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ANGRY,
INSECURE, JEALOUS.” YOU'VE
BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY MADE.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS WE GO
THROUGH LIFE AND WE MAKE
MISTAKES, WE DEVELOP BAD
HABITS, PEOPLE DO US WRONG.
SHAME COMES, GUILT COMES,
INSECURITY.
WE DON'T FEEL LIKE A
MASTERPIECE.
WE FEEL CONDEMNED.
“HOW CAN I BE SUCCESSFUL?
LOOK WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH.
OR I'M STRUGGLING WITH AN
ADDICTION, I'M NOT THAT
TALENTED.” BUT UNDERNEATH
THE INSECURITY, THE BAD
BREAKS, THE FAILURES,
THERE'S THE TRUE YOU, THE
ONE THAT GOD CREATED.
THE TRUE YOU IS THE BLESSED
YOU, THE HAPPY YOU, THE
SUCCESSFUL YOU, THE
FORGIVEN YOU.
IT'S STILL IN YOU.
THE BEAUTY OF OUR GOD IS HE
NEVER LOSES THE VISION OF
THE TRUE YOU.
HE STILL REMEMBERS THE
REVERENCE HE FELT WHEN HE
CREATED YOU.
DESPITE ALL THE FLAWS,
WEAKNESSES,
DISAPPOINTMENTS, HE STILL
SEES THE MASTERPIECE.
HE STILL KNOWS WHO YOU
REALLY ARE.
LIFE TRIES TO PUT ALL THESE
THINGS ON US TO KEEP THE
TRUE YOU FROM COMING OUT,
IMPATIENCE, JEALOUSY, BAD
BREAKS, THE GOOD NEWS IS
GOD IS NOT GOING TO LEAVE
US LIKE THAT.
HE'S GOING TO KEEP WORKING
ON US, MAKING US, MOLDING
US, UNTIL THE TRUE YOU
COMES OUT, THE FREE YOU,
THE BLESSED YOU, THE
PATIENT YOU, THE VICTORIOUS
YOU.
GOD SPECIALIZES IN REMOVING
EVERYTHING THAT'S NOT THE
TRUE YOU.
“JOEL, I'LL ALWAYS STRUGGLE
WITH THIS ADDICTION, I'VE
HAD IT SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.
IT'S JUST WHO I AM.” THAT
IS NOT WHO YOU ARE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THE ENEMY
PUT ON YOU TO TRY TO KEEP
THE TRUE YOU FROM EVER
COMING OUT.
THE TRUE YOU IS FREE, THE
TRUE YOU IS WHOLE.
THAT ADDICTION IS NOT HOW
YOUR STORY ENDS.
GOD IS WORKING RIGHT NOW,
FREEDOM IS COMING, CHAINS
ARE BREAKING, STRONGHOLDS
ARE COMING DOWN.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE THE
FREE YOU.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO STEP UP TO
WHO YOU WERE CREATED TO BE.
THE FORCES THAT ARE FOR YOU
ARE GREATER THAN ANY FORCE
THAT IS TRYING TO STOP YOU.
I'M CALLING OUT THE FREE
YOU, THE BLESSED YOU, THE
HAPPY YOU, THE FAVORED YOU.
NOW GET IN AGREEMENT WITH
GOD.
NOT, “I'LL ALWAYS STRUGGLE
WITH THIS.” BUT I AM FREE,
I'M WHOLE.” YOU NEED TO SEE
THE FREE YOU.
NOT THE DEFEATED YOU, NOT
THE DEPRESSED YOU, THE HURT
YOU.
SEE THE HAPPY YOU, SEE THE
SUCCESSFUL YOU, THE MARRIED
YOU, THE VALUABLE YOU.
YOU MAY HAVE GONE THROUGH
BAD BREAKS, SOMEONE WALKED
OUT ON YOU, YOU WEREN'T
RAISED IN A GOOD
ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S EASY TO CARRY THE
HURTS, LET IT LIMIT YOUR
VISION.
CARRY THE SHAME, GO AROUND
FEELING UNWORTHY, LIKE YOU
DON'T DESERVE TO BE BLESSED.
DO NOT BELIEVE THOSE LIES.
THE ENEMY WOULD LOVE FOR
YOU TO LIVE DISCOURAGED,
THINKING NOTHING GOOD IS IN
YOUR FUTURE.
NO, THE TRUE YOU IS STILL
IN YOU.
THE HAPPY YOU, THE RESTORED
YOU, THE VALUABLE YOU.
WHAT PEOPLE DID TO YOU,
DIDN'T STOP THE TRUE YOU.
WHAT WASN'T FAIR, DIDN'T
CHANGE WHO GOD CREATED YOU
TO BE.
HE'S IN THE PROCESS RIGHT
NOW OF REMOVING EVERYTHING
THAT'S NOT THE TRUE YOU.
THE ANGER IS NOT THE TRUE
YOU, “I'M JUST HOT
TEMPERED, I CAN'T HELP IT.
MY FATHER WAS THIS WAY, MY
GRANDFATHER TOO.” THAT'S
NOT WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
IT MAY BE THE WAY YOU ARE
NOW BUT YOU'RE THE ONE TO
BREAK THE CYCLE.
YOU'RE THE ONE TO SEE IT
COME TO AN END.
THE TRUE YOU IS CALM, COOL
AND COLLECTED.
DON'T BUY INTO THOSE LIES
THAT YOU CAN'T CHANGE.
GOD IS REMOVING EVERYTHING
THAT'S NOT THE TRUE YOU.
HE LOVES YOU TOO MUCH TO
LEAVE YOU ALONE.
HE'S GOING TO KEEP WORKING
ON YOU, UNTIL HE SEES THE
MASTERPIECE, WHO HE CREATED
YOU TO BE.
IN THE EARLY 1500'S, A
TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD ARTIST
NAMED MICHELANGELO HAD A
DREAM TO SCULPTURE KING
DAVID OUT OF A HUGE PIECE
OF MARBLE, A
TWELVE-THOUSAND-POUND
BLOCK, THAT STOOD OVER
TWENTY FEET TALL.
HE WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR
TWO YEARS, CHISELING AND
SHAPING WITH GREAT
PRECISION, AND GREAT DETAIL.
WHEN HE REVEALED THE
FINISHED PRODUCT, THIS
FOURTEEN-FOOT-TALL MARBLE
IMAGE OF DAVID, IT WAS
MAGNIFICENT, SO BEAUTIFUL,
SO INSPIRING.
SOMEONE ASKED MICHELANGELO
HOW HE COULD ACCOMPLISH
SUCH AN INCREDIBLE FEAT,
HOW COULD HE MAKE THIS
AMAZING STATUE OUT OF AN
OLD PIECE OF ROCK.
HE SAID, “I HAD A VISION IN
MY MIND OF KING DAVID, AND
I JUST KEPT REMOVING
EVERYTHING THAT WASN'T HIM.”
THAT'S THE WAY GOD IS.
HE KNOWS WHO WE REALLY ARE.
HE CAN SEE THE MASTERPIECE
IN THE ROCK.
THROUGHOUT LIFE, HE'LL KEEP
REMOVING THINGS THAT ARE
NOT WHO WE ARE.
THE IMPATIENCE, THE
INSECURITY, UNWORTHINESS.
“I'M NOT VALUABLE, LOOK AT
WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH.”
CHISEL, CHISEL, THAT'S NOT
WHO YOU ARE.
THE PRIDE, THE ARROGANCE.
CHISEL, CHISEL, THAT
DOESN'T BELONG ON YOU.
THE UNFORGIVENESS, THE
RESENTMENT, “THEY HURT ME,
THEY DID ME WRONG.” CHISEL,
CHISEL.
THAT RESENTMENT IS NOT WHO
YOU ARE.
“I'LL NEVER DO SOMETHING
GREAT, JOEL.
NOBODY IN MY FAMILY IS
SUCCESSFUL.
I'M NOT THAT TALENTED.”
CHISEL, CHISEL.
THAT LIMITED MINDSET, THAT
MEDIOCRITY DOESN'T BELONG
ON YOU.
IT MAY TRY TO COME, TRY TO
DISTORT YOUR IMAGE, AFFECT
YOUR PERSONALITY, LIMIT
YOUR FUTURE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE
SOMEONE FAR GREATER THAN
MICHELANGELO WORKING ON US.
WE HAVE THE CREATOR OF THE
UNIVERSE, THE GOD WHO MAKES
SPECTACULAR SOLAR SYSTEMS,
MAGNIFICENT MOUNTAIN
RANGES, AMAZING SUNSETS,
THAT'S THE ARTIST THAT'S
WORKING ON YOU.
HE'S CHISELING AWAY
EVERYTHING THAT'S NOT THE
TRUE YOU.
HE CAN SEE THINGS THAT WE
CAN'T SEE.
SO OFTEN WE LET OUR
CIRCUMSTANCES DETERMINE WHO
WE ARE.
HOW PEOPLE TREAT US
DETERMINE OUR VALUE, HOW
GOOD WE PERFORM DETERMINE
OUR WORTH.
GOD LOOKS BEYOND ALL THAT.
LIKE IN THE SCRIPTURE WITH
DAVID, HE SEES THE GIANT
KILLER IN THE SHEPHERD BOY.
LIKE WITH GIDEON, HE SEES A
MIGHTY HERO IN A MAN THAT'S
HIDING, AFRAID, INTIMIDATED.
LIKE WITH RAHAB, HE SEES A
RESPECTFUL, HONORED WOMAN
THAT IS IN THE FAMILY LINE
OF JESUS IN A FORMER
PROSTITUTE.
GOD KNOWS WHAT'S IN YOU.
YOU MAY HAVE MADE MISTAKES,
DONE THINGS YOU'RE NOT
PROUD OF.
GOD SEES THE REDEEMED YOU,
THE RESTORED YOU, THE
HONORED YOU.
YOU MAY BE INTIMIDATED,
THINKING YOU'RE NOT THAT
TALENTED.
GOD SEES THE GIANT KILLER.
HE SEES THE HISTORY MAKER
IN YOU.
MAYBE LIFE HAS THROWN YOU
CURVES, YOU'VE BEEN HURT,
ABANDONED, BETRAYED.
GOD SEES THE VALUABLE YOU,
THE BLESSED YOU, THE
FAVORED YOU.
NOTHING THAT'S HAPPENED TO
YOU HAS CHANGED THE TRUE
YOU.
GOD LOOKS BEYOND OUR
MISTAKES, THE HURTS, THE
BAD BREAKS AND HE SEES WHO
HE CREATED YOU TO BE.
HE HASN'T LOST THE VISION
OF WHO YOU ARE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS HE STILL
HAS THE CHISEL.
HE STILL KNOWS WHAT TO
REMOVE SO THE BEST YOU WILL
COME OUT, THE TALENTED YOU,
THE CONFIDENT YOU, THE
LOVING YOU, THE FREE YOU.
NOW SOMETIMES WHEN GOD
CHISELS, IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE.
WE DON'T LIKE IT.
“I DON'T WANT TO BITE MY
TONGUE, I DON'T WANT TO
OVERLOOK THE OFFENSE, I
WANT TO TELL THEM OFF.” BE
PLIABLE.
WORK WITH GOD.
LET HIM REMOVE THE HARDNESS.
THAT'S KEEPING YOU FROM
GOING TO NEW LEVELS.
DRIVING TO WORK, YOU GET
CAUGHT IN TRAFFIC,
CONSTRUCTION ON THE FREEWAY.
SOME JERK, I MEAN SOME
PERSON CUTS YOU OFF.
YOU'LL BE TEMPTED TO GET
UPSET, OFFENDED, LET IT
SOUR YOUR DAY.
RECOGNIZE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
GOD'S CHISELING AWAY THE
IMPATIENCE.
HE'S GIVING YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GROW.
THE IMPATIENT YOU WILL TRY
TO KEEP THE TRUE YOU FROM
COMING OUT.
AT THE OFFICE, YOU'RE NOT
GETTING THE CREDIT YOU
DESERVE.
PEOPLE ARE TAKING YOUR
IDEAS.
YOU COULD LIVE OFFENDED,
TRYING TO GET REVENGE, PAY
THEM BACK.
NO LET GOD BE YOUR
VINDICATOR.
LET HIM FIGHT YOUR BATTLES.
HE SEES WHAT'S HAPPENING.
HE KNOWS WHAT'S NOT FAIR.
HE HAS THE CHISEL OUT.
YOU THINK IT'S ABOUT THEM,
BUT REALLY, IT'S ABOUT YOU.
THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SHOW GOD THAT YOU TRUST
HIM, THAT YOU'LL STAY IN
PEACE, NOT LET PEOPLE STEAL
YOUR JOY.
SOMETIMES GOD WILL REMOVE
THINGS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.
REMOVE A FRIENDSHIP,
SOMEONE THAT'S PULLING US
DOWN, CAUSING US TO
COMPROMISE.
WE DON'T LIKE CHANGE.
WE WERE COMFORTABLE.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
STRETCH, GROW.
DON'T FIGHT THE CHISEL.
GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
HE'S NOT GOING TO LEAVE
SOMETHING ON YOU THAT WILL
KEEP YOU FROM YOUR PURPOSE.
HE'LL NEVER ASK YOU TO DO
SOMETHING AND THEN NOT GIVE
YOU THE ABILITY TO DO IT.
IF HE'S ASKING YOU TO WALK
AWAY, YOU KNOW A SEASON IS
COMING TO AN END, THAT'S
THE CHISEL AT WORK.
IF YOU'RE STUBBORN, YOU
FIGHT IT, YOU'RE GOING TO
MISS THE GREATER THINGS GOD
HAS IN STORE.
HE'S NOT TRYING TO TAKE
SOMETHING FROM YOU, HE'S
TRYING TO GET SOMETHING
BETTER TO YOU.
HE WANTS TO BRING OUT THE
TRUE YOU.
THE TRUE YOU IS MORE
BLESSED, MORE SUCCESSFUL,
MORE PEACEFUL THAN YOU CAN
IMAGINE.
A FRIEND OF MINE WORKED FOR
THIS COMPANY FOR OVER
TWENTY YEARS.
HE'S THE NICEST PERSON IN
THE WORLD, ALWAYS KIND,
RESPECTFUL, GOING THE EXTRA
MILE.
HE CALLED ONE DAY AND SAID,
“JOEL, I JUST GOT FIRED
FROM MY JOB.
THEY SAID I DIDN'T HAVE A
GOOD ATTITUDE; THEY WERE
LETTING ME GO.” I ALMOST
FELL OUT OF MY CHAIR.
THIS WOULD BE LIKE MOTHER
THERESA GETTING FIRED.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
BUT SOMETIMES GOD WILL
CLOSE A DOOR BECAUSE WE'RE
STAGNATE.
IF HE DIDN'T PUSH US INTO
OUR DESTINY, THEN THE TRUE
YOU WOULD NEVER COME OUT.
WE DON'T REALIZE, THERE'S
SO MUCH MORE IN US, GIFTS,
TALENTS, POTENTIAL.
GOD WILL CHISEL AWAY THINGS
THAT ARE KEEPING YOU FROM
YOUR GREATNESS.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE GOOD, BUT
THEY'RE NOT THE BEST. TRUST
HIM WHEN YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND.
HE WON'T REMOVE SOMETHING
UNLESS HE HAS SOMETHING
BETTER COMING.
HE WON'T USE THE CHISEL IF
IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE YOU
BETTER.
IT MAY HURT AT THE TIME, IT
MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT
GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER, MY
FRIEND CALLED SO EXCITED.
HE JUST GOT THIS DREAM JOB.
THIS POSITION RUNNING A
LARGE COMPANY, MANAGING ALL
THESE PEOPLE.
HE SAID, “I NEVER KNEW THIS
WAS IN ME.
I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD BE
THIS SUCCESSFUL, THIS
FULFILLED.”
LET GOD REMOVE WHAT HE
KNOWS IS KEEPING YOU FROM
THE TRUE YOU.
UNFORGIVENESS IS KEEPING
YOU FROM SHINING.
INSECURITY, COMPROMISE,
ANGER, THAT'S BLOCKING THE
BEST YOU FROM COMING OUT.
BE WILLING TO CHANGE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE
PERFECT, BUT WE SHOULD BE
GROWING.
WE SHOULD BE BETTER NOW
THAN WE WERE FIVE YEARS AGO.
WE SHOULD BE KINDER, MORE
RESPECTFUL, A BETTER
ATTITUDE.
WE SHOULD BE MORE
CONFIDENT, MORE SECURE.
WE SHOULD FORGIVE QUICKER,
OVERLOOK OFFENSES EASIER.
WE SHOULD COMPROMISE LESS,
RESIST THE TEMPTATION MORE
OFTEN.
THAT MEANS WE'RE LETTING
THE CHISEL CHIP AWAY THINGS
THAT ARE HINDERING OUR
GROWTH.
WE'RE SEEING MORE OF THE
TRUE YOU COMING OUT.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT
LARGE ROCK THAT
MICHELANGELO CARVED THE
STATUE OF DAVID OUT OF,
FIFTY YEARS EARLIER TWO OF
THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED
ARTISTS OF THAT TIME, THESE
VERY WELL-KNOWN SCULPTORS,
LOOKED AT THE ROCK AND SAID
THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD
WORK WITH IT.
IT HAD TOO MANY FLAWS, TOO
MANY IMPERFECTIONS.
THEY WERE GIVEN THE CHANCE
FIRST, BUT THEY TURNED IT
DOWN BECAUSE THE MARBLE HAD
TOO MANY BLEMISHES, TOO
MANY DEFECTS.
FIFTY YEARS LATER, YOUNG
MICHELANGELO CAME ALONG.
HE SAW THE SAME BLOCK OF
MARBLE, THE SAME DEFECTS,
SAME FLAWS, BUT HE LOOKED
BEYOND THE IMPERFECTIONS.
HE SAID, “I SEE A
MASTERPIECE IN THIS ROCK.
I SEE KING DAVID IN THIS
STONE.”
LIKE THOSE FIRST TWO
ARTISTS, OTHER PEOPLE MAY
LOOK AT YOU AND THINK,
“THEY'LL NEVER AMOUNT TO
MUCH, LOOK AT THEIR
FAILURES, THEIR WEAKNESSES.
THEY STRUGGLE WITH AN
ADDICTION.
OR LOOK AT WHAT THEY'VE
BEEN THROUGH, LOOK AT ALL
THE BAD BREAKS, THE
DISAPPOINTMENTS.” ALL THEY
SEE IS YOUR FLAWS, YOUR
BLEMISHES, WHAT HASN'T
WORKED OUT.
THEY MAY DISCOUNT YOU,
WRITE YOU OFF.
THEN LIKE MICHELANGELO DID,
GOD COMES ALONG.
HE SAYS, “HEY, WAIT A
MINUTE.
DON'T ABANDONED THAT PIECE
OF ROCK.
YES, I SEE FLAWS, I SEE
WEAKNESSES, BUT I SEE
SOMETHING ELSE, I SEE A
MASTERPIECE.
I SEE A BLESSED, STRONG,
FORGIVEN, FAVORED, CHILD OF
THE MOST HIGH GOD.” IT'S
NOT THAT GOD DOESN'T SEE
THE FLAWS, BUT HE KNOWS HOW
TO REMOVE THE FLAWS.
HE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE YOU
AND MOLD YOU TO WHERE THE
BEST YOU COMES OUT.
QUIT BELIEVING THOSE LIES
THAT YOU'VE MADE TOO MANY
MISTAKES, YOU'RE TOO FAR
OFF COURSE.
YOU SEE YOURSELF AS THE
FAILED YOU, THE BROKEN YOU,
THE GUILTY YOU.
NO, NOTHING YOU'VE DONE HAS
STOPPED YOUR DESTINY.
THE MERCY OF GOD IS BIGGER
THAN ANY MISTAKE YOU'VE
MADE.
THE TRUE YOU IS STILL IN
YOU.
THE BLESSED YOU, THE
FAITHFUL YOU, THE HONORED
YOU, THE RIGHTEOUS YOU.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, PETER WAS
OUT FISHING ONE MORNING,
BRINGING HIS BOAT CLOSE TO
THE SHORE.
JESUS CAME WALKING BY AND
SAID, “PETER, COME AND
FOLLOW ME, I'M GOING TO
MAKE YOU A FISHER OF MEN.”
PETER HAD NEVER MET JESUS,
NEVER HAD A CONVERSATION
WITH HIM, YET JESUS CALLED
HIM BY NAME.
CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW
SURPRISED PETER WAS?
“HOW DOES THIS MAN KNOW MY
NAME.
I KNOW WHO HE IS.
HE'S THAT TEACHER EVERYONE
IS TALKING ABOUT, YET HE
CALLED ME PETER.” GOD KNOWS
YOUR NAME.
HE'S THE ONE THAT CREATED
YOU.
HE'S THE ONE THAT CALLS YOU
A MASTERPIECE.
“NOT ME JOEL.
I'M NOT A RELIGIOUS
PERSON.” NEITHER WAS PETER.
HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY KIND OF
FAITH.
HE WASN'T REFINED,
RESPECTED.
HE WAS A FISHERMAN.
HE USED BAD LANGUAGE.
HE WAS HOT TEMPERED,
IMPULSIVE.
HE WOULD TELL YOU WHAT HE
THOUGHT.
YET GOD CHOSE HIM TO BE HIS
DISCIPLE, ONE OF THE TWELVE
THAT WOULD CHANGE THE WORLD.
OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE JESUS
COULD HAVE CHOSEN, HE
DIDN'T CHOOSE A RELIGIOUS
LEADER, HE DIDN'T CHOOSE
THE PRIEST IN THE
SYNAGOGUE, HE DIDN'T CHOOSE
THE MAYOR OF THE CITY, HE
CHOSE PETER.
HE ALREADY KNEW THAT PETER
WOULD DENY HIM THREE TIMES.
HE ALREADY KNEW PETER WOULD
FALL ASLEEP IN THE GARDEN
OF GETHSEMANE WHEN JESUS
NEEDED HIM THE MOST. HE
ALREADY KNEW PETER WAS HOT
TEMPERED, THAT HE WOULD
CURSE, THAT HE WOULD CUT
OFF THE SOLDIER'S EAR.
WHY WOULD JESUS CHOOSE
SOMEONE LIKE THIS?
BECAUSE GOD LOOKS BEYOND
THE FLAWS, THE MISTAKES,
THE WEAKNESSES AND HE SEES
THE MASTERPIECE IN THE ROCK.
HE SEES WHAT WE CAN BECOME.
HE HASN'T LOST THE VISION
OF THE TRUE YOU, HOW HE
MADE YOU BEFORE YOU WERE
FORMED IN YOUR MOTHER'S
WOMB.
JESUS LOOKED AT PETER AND
SAID, “YOU ARE SIMON, BUT
YOU SHALL BE CALLED PETER.”
SIMON REPRESENTS SHIFTING
SAND, BEING UNSTABLE,
INCONSISTENT, BUT PETER
MEANS ROCK.
JESUS WAS TELLING HIM WHO
THE TRUE YOU WAS.
AT ONE POINT JESUS SAID,
“YOU ARE PETER AND UPON
THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY
CHURCH.” WHEN JESUS SAID
THAT PETER WAS ANYTHING BUT
A ROCK.
HE WAS UNRELIABLE, HOT
TEMPERED.
YET GOD CALLED OUT THE TRUE
YOU, THE FAITHFUL YOU.
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT,
BUT GOD KEPT CHISELING AWAY
PETER'S WEAKNESSES,
CHISELING AWAY THE HOT
TEMPER, CHISELING AWAY THE
INCONSISTENCY.
WHEN THE CHURCH WAS
STARTING IN THE BOOK OF
ACTS, THEY NEEDED SOMEONE
TO GIVE THE INAUGURAL
ADDRESS.
THIS PROMINENT POSITION.
WHO DID THEY CHOOSE?
PETER.
BUT NOW IT WASN'T THE
IMPULSIVE PETER, THE
INCONSISTENT PETER, THE
DENY JESUS PETER.
THIS WAS THE ROCK.
IT WAS THE TRUE PETER, THE
FAITHFUL PETER, THE STRONG
PETER, THE ANOINTED PETER,
THE POWERFUL PETER.
HERE'S WHAT I'M SAYING:
DON'T GET DISCOURAGED
BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE
RIGHT NOW, GOD STILL HAS
HIS CHISEL.
HE'S STILL REMOVING THINGS
THAT ARE LIMITING YOUR
DESTINY.
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR BEST
DAYS.
THE ROCK IN YOU IS STILL
GOING TO COME OUT.
THE SUCCESSFUL YOU, THE
HOLY YOU, THE FAVORED YOU.
LIKE THOSE TWO ARTISTS THAT
SAW THE SLAB OF MARBLE BUT
SAID IT'S GOT TOO MANY
FLAWS, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
PEOPLE THAT TRY TO DISCOUNT
YOU, TELL YOU WHAT YOU
CAN'T BECOME, HOW YOU'RE
NOT TALENTED ENOUGH, YOU'VE
MADE TOO MANY MISTAKES.
DON'T LET THEM TALK YOU OUT
OF BECOMING THE TRUE YOU.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY'RE
NOT YOUR ARTIST. THEY DON'T
HAVE THE CHISEL.
YOU'RE NOT DEPENDENT ON
WHAT THEY THINK, WHAT THEY
CAN DO.
YOUR SCULPTOR IS THE MOST
HIGH GOD.
HE HAS NOT LOST THE VISION
OF WHO HE CREATED YOU TO BE.
MY DAD WAS RAISED VERY POOR.
HIS FAMILY WERE COTTON
FARMERS AND THEY LOST
EVERYTHING IN THE GREAT
DEPRESSION.
HIS MOTHER MADE TEN CENTS
AN HOUR WASHING PEOPLE'S
CLOTHES.
THERE WERE TIMES THEY
DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY
FOR FOOD.
HE HAD TO DROP OUT OF HIGH
SCHOOL TO WORK ON THE FARM.
AT SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD, HE
GAVE HIS LIFE TO CHRIST,
THE FIRST ONE IN HIS FAMILY.
HE FELT THIS CALLING TO
BECOME A MINISTER.
HE HAD NO MONEY, NO
EDUCATION, NO TRAINING.
BUT HE TOLD HIS PARENTS HE
WAS GOING TO LEAVE THE FARM
AND GO OUT AND START
MINISTERING.
THEY SAID, “JOHN YOU DON'T
KNOW HOW TO MINISTER.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET OUT
THERE AND FAIL.
YOU BETTER STAY ON THE FARM
AND WORK WITH US.” THEY
LOVED THEIR SON, BUT THEY
COULD ONLY SEE THE LIMITED
JOHN, THE POOR JOHN, THE
NOT TALENTED JOHN, THE
DEFEATED JOHN.
THEY LOOKED AT THAT MARBLE
SO TO SPEAK, “NOTHING GOOD
CAN COME OUT OF THAT, LOOK
AT ALL THE FLAWS, THE
DEFICIENCIES, THE
IMPERFECTIONS.” IF DADDY
WOULD HAVE BELIEVED WHO
THEY SAID HE WAS, HE WOULD
HAVE NEVER FULFILLED HIS
DESTINY.
PEOPLE CAN'T SEE WHAT GOD
PUT IN YOU.
DON'T LET THEIR NEGATIVE
WORDS LIMIT YOUR LIFE.
TUNE IT OUT.
YOU'RE NOT WHO PEOPLE SAY
YOU ARE, YOU ARE WHO GOD
SAYS YOU ARE.
HE SAYS YOU'RE A
MASTERPIECE.
HE SAYS YOU HAVE GREATNESS
IN YOU.
HE SAYS YOU ARE DESTINED TO
LEAVE YOUR MARK.
BUT MY FATHER GREW UP WITH
THIS LIMITED MINDSET, THIS
POVERTY MENTALITY.
ALL HE HAD KNOWN WAS
STRUGGLE, LACK, MEDIOCRITY.
BUT WE SERVE A GOD THAT HAS
A CHISEL.
HE DOESN'T LET HOW YOU WERE
RAISED, WHAT YOU DIDN'T
GET, THE ODDS BEING AGAINST
YOU, KEEP YOU FROM YOUR
PURPOSE.
LITTLE BY LITTLE, GOD
REMOVED THE POVERTY MINDSET.
HE CHISELED AWAY THE
MEDIOCRITY, NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
MY FATHER ROSE UP, AGAINST
ALL ODDS, HE DID GREAT
THINGS.
HE PASTORED CHURCHES,
FOUNDED LAKEWOOD AND
IMPACTED THE WORLD.
IN THAT POOR,
DISADVANTAGED, NOT
EDUCATED,
SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD MAN, WAS
A WORLD CHANGER, A HISTORY
MAKER.
IF YOU ONLY KNEW WHAT WAS
IN YOU.
THE TRUE YOU IS NOT LIMITED
BY YOUR ENVIRONMENT.
THE TRUE YOU IS NOT
DEPENDENT ON WHAT OTHER
PEOPLE THINK ABOUT YOU.
THE TRUE YOU IS NOT AT A
DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE YOU
HAVE FLAWS AND WEAKNESSES.
BUT THE ENEMY WOULD LOVE
FOR US TO GO THROUGH LIFE
FEELING INFERIOR, FOCUSED
ON OUR WEAKNESSES, WEIGHED
DOWN WITH REGRETS, GUILTY
FROM PAST MISTAKES,
CONDEMNED, ASHAMED.
BUT WHAT THE ENEMY PUT ON
YOU, GOD IS ABOUT TO TAKE
OFF OF YOU.
THIS IS A NEW DAY.
THE CHISEL IS AT WORK.
HE'S CHISELING AWAY WRONG
MINDSETS, CHISELING AWAY
NEGATIVE WORDS THAT HAVE
BEEN SPOKEN, CHISELING AWAY
GUILT AND SHAME, CHISELING
AWAY HURTS, BROKENNESS,
OFFENSE.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO STEP INTO A
NEW LEVEL OF YOUR DESTINY.
THE TRUE YOU IS ABOUT TO
COME OUT.
THE BLESSED YOU, THE FREE
YOU, THE HEALTHIEST YOU,
THE VICTORIOUS YOU.
I KNOW A YOUNG WOMAN SHE
WAS RAISED IN A VERY
DYSFUNCTIONAL HOME.
AT SEVEN YEARS OLD, THE
POLICE SHOWED UP AT HER
HOUSE AND TOLD HER TO PUT
HER BELONGINGS IN A TRASH
BAG, SHE WAS GOING TO SPEND
THE NIGHT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SHE GRABBED HER PAJAMAS,
TOOTHBRUSH, AND RUSHED OUT.
SHE WAS TAKEN TO A SHELTER.
HER MOTHER AND STEPFATHER
WERE ARRESTED FOR CHILD
ABUSE.
SHE HAD NEVER MET HER
BIOLOGICAL FATHER,
EVENTUALLY SHE WAS TURNED
OVER TO HIM BUT THAT WASN'T
ANY BETTER.
HE WAS ON DRUGS, IN AND OUT
OF JAIL.
SHE BECAME VERY ANGRY.
SHE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY
NO ONE WOULD LOVE HER.
SHE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE
SHE BUILT UP WALLS, SO SHE
DIDN'T HAVE TO FEEL.
SHE BECAME NUMB TO THE
PAIN. SHE DIDN'T FEEL
HAPPY, SAD, DEPRESSED.
SHE FELT NOTHING.
AT SIXTEEN SHE MOVED OUT ON
HER OWN, HURTING, BROKEN,
LONELY.
BY THE GRACE OF GOD, SHE
SHOWED UP AT LAKEWOOD.
SHE HEARD US TALKING ABOUT
HOW GOD IS OUR HEAVENLY
FATHER, HOW HE HAS GOOD
THINGS IN STORE FOR US, HOW
HE WILL GIVE BEAUTY FOR THE
ASHES.
SHE HAD NEVER FELT THAT
LOVE BEFORE.
SHE HAD NEVER HAD ANYONE
SPEAK FAITH AND VICTORY
INTO HER AND TELL HER WHO
SHE REALLY WAS.
ONE DAY, SHE GAVE HER LIFE
TO CHRIST. SHE SAID, “I
REALIZED I WAS NO LONGER AN
ORPHAN; I WAS ADOPTED BY MY
HEAVENLY FATHER.” THE RIGHT
PEOPLE BEGAN TO SHOW UP,
DOORS BEGAN TO OPEN.
TODAY THAT YOUNG WOMAN,
DESIREE, RIGHT HERE ON THE
FRONT ROW, IS ON STAFF WITH
US, A BEAUTIFUL GIRL.
SHE HAS THE JOY, THE SMILE,
THE VICTORY.
HERE'S WHAT I'VE LEARNED.
GOD WILL NOT LEAVE YOU AT A
DEFICIT.
WHAT YOU DIDN'T GET, WHAT
WASN'T FAIR, WHAT YOU FEEL
ROBBED OF, GOD IS GOING TO
MAKE IT UP TO YOU.
HE'S GOING TO PAY YOU BACK
FOR THE UNFAIR THINGS.
IF YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN
DESIREE YEARS BACK, YOU
WOULD HAVE SEEN THE BROKEN
YOU, THE ABANDONED YOU, THE
ANGRY YOU.
ALL THESE THINGS THE ENEMY
HAD PUT ON HER TO TRY TO
KEEP HER FROM HER DESTINY.
BUT UNDERNEATH THE SHAME,
THE ANGER, THE REJECTION
WAS THE MASTERPIECE.
THERE WAS THIS BEAUTIFUL,
CONFIDENT, RADIANT,
TALENTED YOUNG WOMAN.
MAYBE LIKE HER, YOU'RE
CARRYING SHAME, HURTS,
BROKENNESS, LIFE HAS PUT
YOU AT A DISADVANTAGE.
GOD SAID IN JOSHUA, “THIS
DAY I AM REMOVING THE SHAME
FROM MY PEOPLE.” THIS DAY
GOD IS BREAKING CHAINS.
THIS DAY STRONGHOLDS ARE
COMING DOWN.
THIS DAY THINGS THAT HAVE
HINDERED YOU ARE BEING
CHISELED AWAY.
THROUGH MY EYES OF FAITH, I
SEE THE TRUE YOU, THE
BLESSED YOU, FREE YOU, THE
RESTORED YOU, THE JOYFUL
YOU.
I SEE THE MASTERPIECE GOD
CREATED YOU TO BE.
THE TWO YEARS THAT
MICHELANGELO WORKED ON
SCULPTING DAVID, HE DID IT
ALL IN PRIVATE, WOULDN'T
LET ANYONE COME IN. WHEN HE
FINISHED, HE REVEALED IT TO
THE PUBLIC.
NOW FIVE HUNDRED MILLION
PEOPLE HAVE SEEN IT IN
PERSON.
YOU THINK ABOUT THAT OLD
PIECE OF ROCK, WITH FLAWS
AND WEAKNESSES, OTHER
ARTISTS SAID IT WAS NOT
USEFUL, YET IT'S BEEN SEEN
BY A HALF A BILLION PEOPLE.
WHEN GOD'S WORKING ON YOU,
CHISELING AWAY WHAT'S NOT
NECESSARY, OFTEN, HE'LL DO
IT IN PRIVATE.
HE'LL KEEP YOU HIDDEN, NOT
NOTICED.
BUT WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME,
WHEN GOD SAYS YOU'RE READY,
HE'LL CAUSE YOU TO BE SEEN.
YOU'LL BECOME A TROPHY OF
HIS GRACE, WHERE PEOPLE
THINK, “WASN'T THAT THE OLD
ROCK THAT HAD FLAWS?
WASN'T THAT THE FISHERMAN,
NOW HE'S UP THERE LEADING.
ISN'T THAT THE YOUNG BOY
FROM THE GREAT DEPRESSION,
NOW HE'S THE PASTOR.
WASN'T SHE ABANDONED BY HER
PARENTS, AND LOOK AT HER
NOW?” GOD'S GOING TO CAUSE
YOU TO SHINE, TO BE AN
EXAMPLE OF WHAT HE CAN DO
DESPITE IMPERFECTIONS,
DESPITE WHAT LIFE THROWS
YOUR WAY.
YOU MAY HAVE SOME THINGS
THAT ARE LIMITING YOU NOW,
DON'T WORRY, GOD STILL HAS
HIS CHISEL, HE'S STILL
WORKING ON YOU.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE THE
TRUE YOU IS ABOUT TO COME
OUT.
WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK IS
BEING BROKEN, THE SHAME IS
BEING REMOVED.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO STEP INTO
FAVOR, FREEDOM, WHOLENESS,
TO BECOME THE MASTERPIECE
GOD CREATED YOU TO BE, IN
JESUS' NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY AMEN?
(APPLAUSE)
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS
THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
WOULD YOU SAY IT WITH ME?
“LORD JESUS, I REPENT OF MY
SINS.
COME INTO MY HEART. I MAKE
YOU MY LORD AND SAVIOR.” IF
YOU PRAYED THAT SIMPLE
PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU GOT
BORN AGAIN. WE'D LOVE TO
GIVE YOU SOME FREE
INFORMATION ON YOUR NEW
WALK WITH THE LORD. YOU CAN
TEXT THE NUMBER OR GO TO
THE WEBSITE.
I HOPE YOU'LL GET INTO A
GOOD BIBLE-BASED CHURCH AND
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
VICTORIA AND I WILL BE
RIGHT BACK TO SPEAK A
BLESSING OVER YOU.
