>> JOEL OSTEEN: WELL, GOD
BLESS YOU.
IT'S A JOY TO COME INTO YOUR
HOMES, AND IF YOU'RE EVER IN
OUR AREA, PLEASE STOP BY AND
BE A PART OF ONE OF OUR
SERVICES.
I'LL PROMISE YOU WE'LL MAKE
YOU FEEL RIGHT AT HOME.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY, AND I HEARD
ABOUT THIS SINGLE MAN, HE WAS
SITTING ON AN AIRPLANE NEXT
TO A BEAUTIFUL SINGLE LADY.
THEY STRUCK UP A
CONVERSATION, HE ASKED HER
WHAT KIND OF MEN SHE LIKED.
SHE SAID, "WELL, I LIKE
NATIVE AMERICAN MEN WITH
THEIR HIGH CHEEK BONES,
GOLDEN TAN SKIN.
PLUS, I LIKE JEWISH MEN,
THEY'RE SO BRILLIANT AND
SUCCESSFUL.
AND I LIKE GOOD OLD BOYS FROM
THE SOUTH WITH THEIR LONG
SOUTHERN DRAWL.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"
HE SAID, "MY NAME IS GERONIMO
BERNSTEIN, BUT MY FRIENDS
CALL ME BUBBA."
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 PROTECT YOUR PEACE.
WE SHOULD GET UP EACH MORNING
BELIEVING FOR A GOOD DAY,
EXPECTING FAVOR, KNOWING THAT
GOD IS DIRECTING OUR STEPS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE SHOULD
REALIZE EVERYTHING MAY NOT GO
PERFECT.
EVERY PERSON MAY NOT TREAT US
RIGHT.
OUR PLANS MAY NOT STAY ON
SCHEDULE.
THERE MAY BE SOME BUMPS IN
THE ROAD, THINGS THAT WE
DIDN'T SEE COMING.
IF YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO ENJOY
THE DAY IF YOUR PLANS WORK
OUT, THEN YOU'RE SETTING
YOURSELF UP FOR
DISAPPOINTMENT.
IN OUR CARS, WE HAVE A SPARE
TIRE.
WHEN I DRIVE SOMEWHERE, I'M
NOT EXPECTING TO HAVE A FLAT,
I'M NOT EXPECTING TO HIT A
POTHOLE.
I'M EXPECTING TO GET TO MY
DESTINATION AS PLANNED.
BUT EVEN THOUGH I'M EXPECTING
THINGS TO GO MY WAY, I'VE
MADE PROVISION IN CASE IT
DOESN'T.
I'VE TAKEN STEPS AHEAD OF
TIME IN CASE THE TIRE GOES
FLAT.
IN THE SAME WAY, EVEN THOUGH
YOU'RE EXPECTING YOUR PLANS
TO WORK OUT, EVEN THOUGH
YOU'RE EXPECTING GOOD BREAKS,
YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR SPARE
TIRE.
YOU NEED TO MAKE PROVISION IN
CASE THINGS DON'T GO YOUR
WAY.
WELL, HOW DO YOU GET YOUR
SPARE TIRE?
AT THE START OF THE DAY, YOU
NEED TO MAKE A DECISION THAT
NO MATTER WHAT COMES AGAINST
YOU, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET
UPSET.
NO MATTER WHAT SOMEONE SAYS,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE
OFFENDED.
NO MATTER WHAT DELAYS,
DISAPPOINTMENTS, BAD BREAKS,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE SOUR.
YOU'VE ALREADY MADE UP YOUR
MIND TO STAY IN PEACE.
THAT'S MAKING SURE YOU HAVE
YOUR SPARE TIRE.
IF SOMEONE IS RUDE TO YOU,
YOUR ATTITUDE IS, "NO BIG
DEAL.
I'M NOT GOING TO SIT ON THE
SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SULK.
I'M GOING TO PUT MY SPARE
TIRE ON AND KEEP MOVING
FORWARD."
IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE,
SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS,
YOUR LOVED ONE HAS AN
ILLNESS, YOUR CHILD FORGOT
HIS HOMEWORK, THE LOAN DIDN'T
GO THROUGH, YOU COULD BE
UPSET, WORRIED, BUT YOU HAVE
YOUR SPARE TIRE.
YOU DECIDED AHEAD OF TIME TO
STAY IN PEACE.
AND THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE,
AS GOOD AS THEY ARE, THERE
ARE NO PERFECT PEOPLE.
THERE IS NO PERFECT BOSS, NO
PERFECT FRIEND, NO PERFECT
NEIGHBOR, NO PERFECT SPOUSE.
VICTORIA SAYS THAT I AM, BUT
I KNOW SHE'S EITHER LYING OR
SAYING IT BY FAITH.
GIVE PEOPLE ROOM TO BE HUMAN.
QUIT EXPECTING THEM TO
PERFORM PERFECTLY ALL THE
TIME.
"WELL, THEY HURT MY
FEELINGS."
IF YOU HAVE YOUR SPARE TIRE,
YOU FORGIVE THEM AND MOVE ON.
DON'T HAVE UNREALISTIC
EXPECTATIONS.
THAT PERSON THAT LOVED YOU SO
MUCH, NO MATTER HOW GOOD THEY
ARE, AT TIMES THEY'RE GOING
TO DISAPPOINT YOU, THEY'RE
GOING TO SAY THINGS THAT THEY
SHOULDN'T.
DON'T BE EASILY OFFENDED.
"WELL, MY SPOUSE DIDN'T TELL
ME HE LOVED ME TODAY.
THIS NEIGHBOR DOESN'T INVITE
ME OVER LIKE SHE USED TO.
MY COWORKERS DIDN'T
CONGRATULATE ME ON MY BIG
PRESENTATION."
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING
ON IN THEIR LIVES.
DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY.
HERE'S A KEY, YOUR HAPPINESS
IS NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S
RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR
OWN HAPPINESS.
TOO OFTEN, WE'RE COUNTING ON
OTHER PEOPLE TO KEEP US
CHEERED UP, ENCOURAGED,
FEELING GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES.
THAT'S PUTTING TOO MUCH
PRESSURE ON THE PEOPLE IN
YOUR LIVES.
LET THEM OFF THE HOOK.
NOBODY CAN KEEP YOU FIXED
EXCEPT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
DON'T GO TO PEOPLE FOR WHAT
ONLY GOD CAN GIVE.
ARE YOU GOING THROUGH LIFE
WITHOUT A SPARE TIRE, ONLY
HAPPY IF THINGS GO YOUR WAY?
THE PROBLEM IS THE ROADS ARE
BUMPY.
THERE WILL BE SOME POTHOLES,
UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES.
WITHOUT A SPARE, YOU'LL GET
STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE
ROAD, BITTER OVER A BREAKUP,
UPSET 'CAUSE A COWORKER LEFT
YOU OUT, STRESSED OVER THE
TRAFFIC.
LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO LIVE
OFFENDED, UPSET, DISCOURAGED.
THIS DAY IS A GIFT FROM GOD.
WE ARE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE
HERE.
YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR FOOT
DOWN AND SAY, "I AM NOT GOING
TO LET THESE SAME THINGS KEEP
UPSETTING ME.
I'M GOING TO STAY IN PEACE.
EVEN IF THE BOSS IS UNFAIR,
EVEN IF MY SPOUSE IS GRUMPY,
EVEN IF MY FLIGHT IS DELAYED,
EVEN IF THE MEDICAL REPORT
ISN'T GOOD, THIS IS THE DAY
THE LORD HAS MADE.
I HAVE MADE UP MY MIND I'M
GOING TO ENJOY IT."
WHEN WE GO AROUND OFFENDED,
UPSET, DISCOURAGED, REALLY IT
DISHONORS GOD.
HE'S ENTRUSTED US WITH LIFE.
HE COULD'VE CHOSEN ANYONE TO
BE HERE, BUT BEFORE TIME
BEGAN, IN HIS GREAT MERCY, HE
HANDPICKED YOU.
HE NOT ONLY CHOSE YOU, BUT HE
CREATED YOU IN HIS OWN IMAGE.
HE'S PLANNED OUT YOUR DAYS,
HE'S CROWNED YOU WITH FAVOR.
NOW, HE'S DIRECTING YOUR
STEPS.
THE WAY TO HONOR GOD IS TO
GET UP EACH DAY WITH PASSION,
BEING YOUR BEST, PURSUING
WHAT HE PUT IN YOUR HEART.
DON'T GET STUCK IN THE
POTHOLES OF LIFE.
SHAKE OFF THE OFFENSES, SHAKE
OFF WHAT SOMEBODY SAID, SHAKE
OFF SELF-PITY, BITTERNESS.
GOD SAW EVERYTHING THAT
HAPPENED TO YOU.
HE KNOWS WHAT WAS UNFAIR, HE
KNOWS HOW YOU WERE TREATED.
NOTHING IS A SURPRISE TO HIM.
IF YOU'LL KEEP MOVING
FORWARD, HE'LL NOT ONLY BRING
YOU OUT, HE'LL BRING YOU OUT
BETTER.
"WELL, JOEL, I WOULD DO THIS,
BUT THESE PEOPLE AT WORK
DON'T TREAT ME RIGHT, THEY'RE
UNFAIR, THEY GET ON MY
NERVES."
YOU CAN'T CONTROL WHAT OTHER
PEOPLE DO, BUT YOU CAN
CONTROL WHAT YOU DO.
IF YOU LET THEM UPSET YOU,
YOU ARE GIVING AWAY YOUR
POWER, YOU ARE LETTING THEM
CONTROL YOU.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS GOD HAS
GIVEN US THE POWER TO REMAIN
CALM IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LET THE
SAME THINGS KEEP UPSETTING
YOU.
QUIT TELLING YOURSELF,
"I CAN'T HELP IT. THEY
JUST KNOW HOW TO PUSH MY
BUTTONS."
TRY A NEW APPROACH.
DECIDE AHEAD OF TIME THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO STAY IN PEACE
AND YOU'LL TAP IN TO THAT
POWER TO REMAIN CALM.
A MAN WAS WALKING DOWN THE
STREET WITH HIS FRIEND TO BUY
A NEWSPAPER.
THEY CAME TO THE CORNER STORE
WHERE THE MAN BOUGHT THE
PAPER EVERY DAY.
THE CLERK BEHIND THE COUNTER
WAS AS UNFRIENDLY AS CAN BE.
COLD, INCONSIDERATE, ACTED
LIKE THE MAN WAS BOTHERING
HIM.
THE MAN BOUGHT THE PAPER,
SMILED, AND SAID, "I HOPE YOU
HAVE A GREAT DAY."
THE CLERK DIDN'T EVEN LOOK
UP, DIDN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT HE SAID ANYTHING.
HIS FRIEND SAID, "MAN, WHAT
WAS WRONG WITH THAT CLERK?
IS HE ALWAYS THAT RUDE?"
THE MAN SAID, "EVERY
MORNING."
THE FRIEND SAID, "ARE YOU
ALWAYS THAT NICE?"
HE SAID, "EVERY MORNING."
THE FRIEND LOOKED KIND OF
PUZZLED AND SAID, "WHY?"
THE MAN SAID, "I'VE MADE UP
MY MIND I'M NOT GOING TO LET
ANOTHER PERSON RUIN MY DAY."
HE WAS SAYING, "I HAVE MY
SPARE TIRE.
YES, I HIT THIS POTHOLE EVERY
MORNING, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO
GET STUCK HERE ARGUING, BEING
RUDE, LETTING HIM RUIN MY
MORNING."
AND THERE MAY BE PEOPLE YOU
SEE EVERY DAY THAT HAVE THE
GIFT OF GETTING ON YOUR
NERVES.
THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S THEIR
CALLING IN LIFE TO MAKE YOU
MISERABLE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU'RE IN
CONTROL.
THEY CAN'T MAKE YOU UNHAPPY
UNLESS YOU ALLOW THEM TO.
THEY CAN'T MAKE YOU BE
FRUSTRATED, IT'S YOUR CHOICE.
NOW, DON'T GO THE NEXT 30
YEARS LETTING THE SAME THINGS
UPSET YOU, GIVING AWAY YOUR
POWER.
MAKE A DECISION LIKE THIS
MAN, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LET
ANOTHER PERSON RUIN YOUR DAY.
NOT THE GUY THAT CUT YOU OFF
IN TRAFFIC, NOT THE CLERK
THAT'S RUDE, NOT THE FAMILY
MEMBER THAT'S DISRESPECTFUL.
AND WHEN SOMEONE IS CRITICAL,
CONDESCENDING, RUDE, THEY
HAVE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE NOT
DEALING WITH.
THEY'VE BECOME POISONED, AND
NOW THAT POISON NATURALLY
COMES OUT.
THE KEY IS DON'T LET THEIR
POISON GET INTO YOU.
DON'T LET THEIR BAD ATTITUDE
SOUR YOUR DAY.
YOU OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.
YOU DON'T OVERCOME EVIL WITH
MORE EVIL.
IF YOU JOIN IN, YOU'RE RUDE
BACK, YOU ARGUE, THEN YOU'VE
ALLOWED THEIR POISON TO
CONTAMINATE YOU.
BUT WHEN YOU TAKE THE HIGH
ROAD, WHEN YOU RISE ABOVE IT
AND YOU'RE KIND TO THOSE THAT
ARE UNKIND, YOU'RE RESPECTFUL
WHEN PEOPLE ARE
DISRESPECTFUL, YOU'RE BEING
AN EAGLE.
GOD WILL TAKE YOU TO HEIGHTS
THAT YOU'VE NEVER IMAGINED.
YEARS AGO, I PROMISED A
FRIEND THAT WORKS IN LOCAL
NEWS THAT I WOULD BE ON THEIR
MORNING PROGRAM.
I HAD TO BE AT THE STATION AT
6:30 ON A MONDAY MORNING.
I WOKE UP THAT DAY AND I WAS
TIRED, I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE
GOING.
IT WAS COLD AND RAINING, BUT
I MADE THE COMMITMENT.
I WAS TOLD TO PARK INSIDE THE
FENCE CLOSE TO THE MAIN
DOORS.TOLD TO PARK INSIDE THE
I PULLED IN, DARK OUTSIDE,
NOBODY WAS THERE.
I WAS ABOUT TO PARK AND GET
OUT, THIS LADY CAME RUNNING
OVER, A SECURITY GUARD WAVING
BOTH OF HER ARMS LIKE I HAD
COMMITTED A MAJOR CRIME.
SHE SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU
DOING?
YOU CANNOT PARK HERE.
THIS IS RESERVED FOR OUR
SPECIAL GUEST."
I THOUGHT, "GOD, I'M GOING TO
NEED THREE SPARE TIRES FOR
THIS LADY.
SHE'S LIKE A WRECKING BALL."
I SAID, "MA'AM, I'M ON THE
PROGRAM THIS MORNING.
I WAS TOLD TO PARK HERE."
SHE SAID, "DID YOU HEAR WHAT
I SAID?
YOU CANNOT PARK HERE."
I HAD TO REMIND MYSELF,
"JOEL, YOU'RE A PASTOR.
YOUR CHURCH IS RIGHT ACROSS
THE FREEWAY."
I SMILED AND SAID, "THAT'S
FINE."
WENT AND PARKED IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD COUPLE HUNDRED
YARDS AWAY, STILL RAINING,
HAD TO RUN TO THE BUILDING.
I DID THE PROGRAM, SHE
MUST'VE SEEN IT BECAUSE
AFTERWARDS, SHE CAME RUNNING
UP AND SAID, "OH PASTOR
OSTEEN, IF I WOULD'VE KNOWN
THAT WAS YOU, I WOULD'VE LET
YOU PARK THERE.
DO YOU HAVE TIME TO PRAY FOR
ME?"
I THOUGHT, "I WOULD IF I
DIDN'T HAVE TO WALK SO FAR."
I SAID, "SURE I WILL."
I WANTED TO PRAY, "GOD,
DELIVER HER FROM THAT
MEANNESS."
WHAT AM I SAYING?
DON'T LET ANOTHER PERSON RUIN
YOUR DAY.
DON'T LET A GROUCHY BOSS MAKE
YOU GROUCHY TO WHERE YOU COME
HOME AND BE SOUR WITH YOUR
FAMILY.
YOU CAN'T KEEP IT FROM
HAPPENING, BUT YOU CAN KEEP
IT FROM GETTING ON THE
INSIDE.
YOU HAVE TO GUARD YOUR HEART.
JESUS SAID, "OFFENSES WILL
COME."
HE DIDN'T SAY THEY MIGHT
COME, IF YOU'RE A GOOD
PERSON, IF YOU'RE KIND
ENOUGH, IF YOU QUOTE ENOUGH
SCRIPTURES, THEN YOU WON'T
HAVE TO DEAL WITH GROUCHY
PEOPLE, YOU WON'T HAVE TO HIT
ANY POTHOLES.
NO, HE SAID THEY WILL COME.
ON A REGULAR BASIS, YOU WILL
HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET
UPSET, LIVE BITTER, OFFENDED,
ARGUING, TRYING TO PAY PEOPLE
BACK.
THE WORD "OFFENSES" IN THE
SCRIPTURE COMES FROM A GREEK
WORD THAT MEANS BAIT.
IT'S USED IN REFERENCE TO HOW
THEY WOULD CATCH ANIMALS.
IT WAS ACTUALLY THE BAIT THAT
LURED THE ANIMAL INTO THE
TRAP.
WHEN YOU'RE TEMPTED TO BE
OFFENDED, SOMEBODY SAYS
SOMETHING DEROGATORY, THEY
LEAVE YOU OUT, RECOGNIZE THE
ENEMY IS OFFERING YOU THE
BAIT.
HE'S TRYING TO DECEIVE YOU
INTO THE TRAP.
COME ON, GET UPSET, BE
BITTER, ARGUE BACK.
MANY PEOPLE TAKE THE BAIT.
THEY GO AROUND BITTER, UPSET,
OFFENDED.
NEXT TIME THAT HAPPENS,
INSTEAD OF LETTING THOSE SAME
THINGS UPSET YOU, JUST SAY,
"NO THANKS.
I'M NOT TAKING THAT BAIT, NOT
FALLING INTO THAT TRAP.
I'M GOING TO ENJOY THIS DAY."
BUT IT'S EASY TO GET BAITED
INTO CONFLICT, ARGUE WITHAY."
PEOPLE, TRY TO PROVE OUR
POINT.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BE SELECTIVE
WHICH BATTLES YOU FIGHT.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO ENGAGE
IN EVERY CONFLICT.
IF THAT BATTLE IS NOT BETWEEN
YOU AND YOUR GOD-GIVEN
DESTINY, YOU SHOULD IGNORE
IT.
MOST OF THE THINGS THAT COME
AGAINST US ARE SIMPLY
DISTRACTIONS.
ASK YOURSELF, "IF I WIN THIS
BATTLE, HOW WILL IT BENEFIT
ME?
WHAT WILL IT ACCOMPLISH?
THAT PERSON THAT CUT ME OFF
IN TRAFFIC, IF I RUSH UP AND
CUT THEM OFF, WHAT DID IT
GAIN ME?
I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE PERSON.
IT'S A DISTRACTION.
IF I'M RUDE BACK TO THE
PERSON THAT SOLD ME THE
PAPER, YES, IT MAKES THE
FLESH FEEL GOOD, BUT IT
DOESN'T PUT ME FURTHER DOWN
THE ROAD, IT'S A
DISTRACTION."
YOU NEED TO CHOOSE YOUR
BATTLES WISELY.
IF YOU MAKE THE MISTAKE OF
ENGAGING IN EVERY CONFLICT,
STRAIGHTENING OUT COWORKERS,
PROVING TO PEOPLE WHO YOU
ARE, YOU WON'T HAVE TIME TO
FIGHT THE BATTLES THAT DO
MATTER.
WHEN DAVID WAS A TEENAGER, HE
WAS OUT WORKING IN THE
SHEPHERDS FIELDS.TEENAGER, HE
HIS FATHER ASKED HIM TO TAKE
LUNCH TO HIS BROTHERS.
THEY WERE IN ANOTHER CITY
SERVING IN THE ARMY.
WHEN DAVID ARRIVED, HE SAW
GOLIATH TAUNTING THE
ISRAELITES, MAKING FUN OF
THEM.
HE ASKED THE MEN THERE, "WHAT
IS THE PRIZE FOR THE MAN THAT
DEFEATS THIS GIANT?"
THEY SAID, "THE REWARD IS
THAT PERSON WILL GET ONE OF
THE KING'S DAUGHTERS IN
MARRIAGE, PLUS THEY WON'T
HAVE TO PAY TAXES."
WELL, THAT GOT DAVID'S
ATTENTION.
HE REALIZED THAT WAS A BATTLE
WORTH FIGHTING.
THERE WERE SPOILS, THERE WERE
BENEFITS.
BUT WHEN DAVID'S OLDER
BROTHER ELIAB HEARD HIM
INQUIRING ABOUT FIGHTING
GOLIATH, HE TRIED TO
EMBARRASS DAVID.
HE SAID IN FRONT OF ALL OF
THE PEOPLE, "DAVID, WHAT ARE
YOU EVEN DOING HERE, AND WHAT
HAVE YOU DONE WITH THOSE FEW
SHEEP YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE
TAKING CARE OF?"
HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE DAVID
TO FEEL SMALL, SAYING,
"DAVID, YOU ARE UNIMPORTANT.
YOU'LL NEVER DO ANYTHING
GREAT."
NOW, DAVID HAD KILLED A LION
AND A BEAR WITH HIS BARE
HANDS.
I HAVE NO DOUBT HE COULD'VE
TAKEN CARE OF ELIAB.
BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS DAVID
TURNED AND WALKED AWAY.
ONE REASON DAVID DID GREAT
THINGS IS HE KNEW WHICH
BATTLES TO FIGHT.
HE COULD'VE GOTTEN INTO
STRIFE, ARGUING, TRYING TO
PROVE TO ELIAB THAT HE WAS
IMPORTANT.
BUT IF HE WOULD'VE ENGAGED IN
THAT CONFLICT, IF HE WOULD'VE
TAKEN THE BAIT, HE WOULD'VE
GOTTEN DISTRACTED, WASTED
TIME, AND WHO KNOWS, MAYBE HE
WOULD'VE NEVER FACED GOLIATH.
ARE YOU FIGHTING BATTLES THAT
DON'T MATTER THAT ARE KEEPING
YOU FROM BATTLES THAT DO
MATTER?
YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO WALK
AWAY FROM THINGS.
WALK AWAY FROM PETTY
ARGUMENTS.
WALK AWAY FROM DISRESPECT,
WALK AWAY FROM JEALOUS
PEOPLE.
PROVERBS SAYS AVOIDING A
FIGHT IS A MARK OF HONOR, NOT
WINNING A FIGHT, BUT WALKING
AWAY FROM A FIGHT.
THAT'S NOT BEING WEAK, THAT
TAKES A STRONG PERSON.
THAT'S A MARK OF HONOR.
IN YOUR MARRIAGE, YOU NEED TO
DO WHAT YOU CAN TO STAY IN
UNITY.
IT'S EASY TO ARGUE OVER EVERY
LITTLE THING, LIVE BITTER,
OFFENDED.
THE PROBLEM IS THERE WILL BE
SOME BIG GIANTS THAT YOU AND
YOUR SPOUSE HAVE TO FACE.
ON THE WAY OF YOUR DESTINY,
THERE WILL BE GOLIATHS.
THAT'S HOW WE GO TO NEW
LEVELS.
BUT IF YOU'RE DISTRACTED
ARGUING OVER LITTLE THINGS,
YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO DEFEAT
THOSE BIG GIANTS.
YOU HAVE TO PASS THE TEST OF
BITING YOUR TONGUE, WALKING
AWAY WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE
TELLING SOMEBODY OFF,
OVERLOOKING AN OFFENSE.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS ONE CAN
CHASE A 1,000, TWO CAN PUT
10,000 TO FLIGHT.
WHEN YOU'RE IN AGREEMENT WITH
YOUR SPOUSE, YOU ARE TEN
TIMES MORE POWERFUL.
WHEN ELIAB INSULTED DAVID,
DAVID WAS ABLE TO BITE HIS
TONGUE.
WONDER WHY.
DAVID PRAYED IN PSALM 141,
"LORD, TAKE CONTROL OF WHAT I
SAY.
HELP ME TO KEEP MY LIPS
SEALED."
HE WAS SAYING, "GOD, HELP ME
TO NOT SAY THINGS I
SHOULDN'T.
HELP ME TO WALK AWAY FROM
RUDE PEOPLE.
HELP ME TO STAY ON THE HIGH
ROAD."
AND YES, IT'S GOOD TO PRAY
FOR FAVOR, IT'S GOOD TO PRAY
FOR WISDOM, FOR PROTECTION,
BUT I WONDER HOW MUCH FURTHER
WE WOULD GO IF WE WOULD DO
LIKE DAVID AND START PRAYING,
"GOD, HELP ME TO SHUT MY
MOUTH."
THAT'S A POWERFUL PRAYER.
"GOD, HELP ME TO NOT SAY
HURTFUL THINGS.
HELP ME TO NOT BE CRITICAL.
HELP ME TO NOT ARGUE."
WHEN GOD CAN TRUST YOU TO
WALK AWAY FROM THE ELIABS,
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
DISRESPECTFUL, PEOPLE THAT
TRY TO BAIT YOU INTO
CONFLICT, THEN HE CAN TRUST
YOU WITH THE GOLIATHS.
YOU WILL COME INTO DESTINY
MOMENTS WHERE YOU WILL
DEFEAT GIANTS THAT
CATAPULT YOU AHEAD.
AS I'VE BECOME MORE KNOWN,
I'VE HAD MORE CRITICS.
SOME OF THEM WERE PEOPLE THAT
HAD LARGE FOLLOWINGS.
WHEN YOU HEAR NEGATIVE
THINGS, ESPECIALLY THAT ARE
NOT TRUE OR WHERE IT'S TAKEN
OUT OF CONTEXT, IT'S TEMPTING
TO RESPOND.
BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I'VE
ALWAYS BEEN REAL GOOD OF
LETTING IT GO.
IT'S NEVER BOTHERED ME IN THE
LEAST BIT.
I'VE LEARNED WHEN I STAY ON
THE HIGH ROAD, WHEN I'LL NOT
TRY TO PROVE TO PEOPLE WHO I
AM, NOT LIVE DEFENSIVELY,NOT
THAT GOD WILL GET ME TO WHERE
I'M SUPPOSED TO BE.
BUT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT
WERE SO AGAINST ME, TODAY
THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR
PLATFORMS.
THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR
FOLLOWINGS.
THINGS HAVE HAPPENED WHERE IT
DIDN'T LAST.
AND I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT,
MY POINT IS GOD WILL TAKE
CARE OF THE ELIABS.
GOD WILL DEAL WITH THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE TRYING TO DISCREDIT
YOU.
IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO
STRAIGHTEN THEM OUT.
WALK AWAY FROM THEM AND LET
GOD FIGHT THOSE BATTLES.
DAVID SAID, "GOD PREPARES A
TABLE FOR US IN THE PRESENCE
OF OUR ENEMIES."
WHEN YOU HAVE AN ENEMY, THAT
MEANS GOD HAS A TABLE FOR
YOU.
WHEN SOMEONE'S COMING AGAINST
YOU, WHEN YOU HAVE AN ELIAB,
SOMEBODY AT WORK TRYING TO
DISCREDIT YOU, RECOGNIZE
THERE'S A TABLE THERE.
YOU CAN GO ARGUE WITH THEM,
BE RUDE BACK TO THOSE THAT
ARE RUDE TO YOU, OR YOU CAN
SIT AT THE TABLE THAT GOD
PREPARED.
WHEN YOU SIT, YOU'RE SAYING,
"GOD, I'M TRUSTING YOU TO
FIGHT THIS BATTLE.
IT'S NOT BETWEEN ME AND MY
DESTINY, SO I'M NOT GOING TO
WORRY ABOUT THESE PEOPLE AT
WORK THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE
ME LOOK BAD.THESE PEOPLE AT
I'M GOING TO KEEP HONORING
YOU, BEING MY BEST.
AND I KNOW WHILE I'M SEATED
AT THE TABLE YOU PREPARED,
WHILE I'M IN PEACE, YOU WILL
TAKE CARE OF WHAT'S COMING
AGAINST ME."
THE APOSTLE PAUL DID THIS.
HE HAD ALL KINDS OF
OPPOSITION.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS DIDN'T
ACCEPT HIM, THE GOVERNMENT
THOUGHT HE HAD TOO MUCH
INFLUENCE, PEOPLE LIED ABOUT
HIM.
HE WAS PUT IN PRISON.
HE HAD PLENTY OF
OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE BITTER,
OFFENDED.
ONE PLACE WE SEE HIS
ATTITUDE, HE SAID, "ALEXANDER
THE COPPERSMITH HAS DONE ME
GREAT WRONG, BUT GOD WILL
REPAY HIM."
HE WAS SAYING, "THAT BATTLE
IS NOT BETWEEN ME AND MY
DESTINY.
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THE
BAIT.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET
DISTRACTED, I'M GOING TO SIT
AT THE TABLE AND LET GOD
FIGHT MY BATTLES."
ARE YOU FIGHTING WHERE YOU
SHOULD BE SITTING?
TRYING TO STRAIGHTEN SOMEBODY
OUT, PROVE TO THEM WHO YOU
ARE?
THAT'S NOT YOUR BATTLE, THAT
BATTLE IS THE LORD'S.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY PEOPLE
BACK.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET EVEN,
GOD IS YOUR VINDICATOR.
HE WILL MAKE UP FOR THE
WRONGS THAT WERE DONE TO YOU.
IF YOU WILL STAY IN FAITH,
STAY IN PEACE ON THAT HIGH
ROAD, GOD WILL VINDICATE YOU
BETTER THAN YOU COULD
VINDICATE YOURSELF.
1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 10, THE
PROPHET SAMUEL CHOSE SAUL AS
THE NEXT KING OF ISRAEL.
MOST PEOPLE WERE HAPPY AND
CONGRATULATED SAUL, BUT WHEN
SAUL RETURNED TO HIS
HOMETOWN, SOME OF THE PEOPLE
THAT KNEW HIM THE MOST
WEREN'T HAPPY WITH SAMUEL'S
DECISION.
THEY BEGAN TO LAUGH AND MAKE
FUN.
"SAUL WILL NEVER BE OUR KING.
HE DOESN'T HAVE WHAT IT
TAKES."
THE TRUTH IS THEY WERE
JEALOUS OF SAUL.
THEY WERE SO INSECURE, SO
SMALLMINDED, THEY THOUGHT
THEY HAD TO PUSH SAUL DOWN SO
THEY WOULDN'T LOOK BAD.
DON'T EVER FIGHT BATTLES WITH
SMALLMINDED PEOPLE.
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH
PEOPLE THAT ARE JEALOUS,
PEOPLE THAT DON'T VALUE WHO
YOU ARE, PEOPLE THAT DON'T
RESPECT THE ANOINTING, THE
FAVOR, THE TALENT ON YOUR
LIFE.
THEY ARE NOT BETWEEN YOU AND
YOUR DESTINY.
IF YOU ENGAGE IN THOSE
CONFLICTS, IT WILL KEEP YOU
FROM BECOMING WHO YOU WERE
CREATED TO BE.
VERSE 27 SAYS, "THEY DESPISED
SAUL AND REFUSED TO BRING HIM
GIFTS, BUT SAUL IGNORED
THEM."
IF YOU'RE GOING TO FULFILL
YOUR PURPOSE, YOU HAVE TO GET
GOOD AT IGNORING THINGS.
IGNORE NEGATIVE COMMENTS,
IGNORE DISRESPECT, IGNORE THE
NAYSAYERS, THEY DON'T CONTROL
YOUR DESTINY.
THEY ARE DISTRACTIONS TO TRY
TO KEEP YOU FROM GOD'S BEST.
INSTEAD OF BEING UPSET OVER
WHO'S NOT FOR YOU, FRUSTRATED
OVER WHO'S TRYING TO MAKE YOU
LOOK BAD, DO LIKE SAUL,
IGNORE IT.
JEALOUS PEOPLE CAN'T KEEP YOU
FROM YOUR DESTINY.
SMALLMINDED PEOPLE CANNOT
STOP YOUR PURPOSE.
WHEN NEHEMIAH WAS REBUILDING
THE WALLS AROUND JERUSALEM,
THERE WERE TWO MEN AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAIN,
SANBALLAT AND TOBIAS, THAT
DIDN'T LIKE NEHEMIAH.
THEY WERE CONSTANTLY
CRITICIZING HIM, SPREADING
RUMORS, TRYING TO RUIN HIS
REPUTATION.
ALL DAY, THEY WOULD SHOUT
INSULTS, MAKING FUN, TRYING
TO BAIT NEHEMIAH INTO COMING
DOWN.
WHEN NEHEMIAH COULD'VE COME
OFF THE MOUNTAIN AND DEFEATED
THEM, HE COULD'VE SHUT THEM
UP, BUT HE KNEW AS LONG AS HE
WAS FIGHTING WITH THEM, HE
WOULDN'T BE MAKING PROGRESS
ON THE WALL.
HE KNEW THAT THEY WERE NOT
BETWEEN HIM AND HIS DESTINY.
HE DIDN'T GET UPSET, HE
DIDN'T TRY TO STRAIGHTEN THEM
OUT, HE SIMPLY IGNORED THEM.
HE WENT ON TO FINISH THE WALL
IN RECORD TIME.
WHEN GOD PUTS A DREAM IN YOUR
HEART, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
SANBALLATS AND TOBIAS'S,
PEOPLE THAT ARE CRITICAL,
JEALOUS, DISRESPECTFUL,
PEOPLE THAT TRY TO GET YOU
RILED UP.
DON'T TAKE THE BAIT, THAT IS
NOT A BATTLE YOU HAVE TO
FIGHT.
THEY ARE DISTRACTION TO TRY
TO GET YOU OFF COURSE SO YOU
MISS YOUR PURPOSE.
DO LIKE NEHEMIAH, LEARN TO
IGNORE THE SANBALLATS AND
TOBIAS'S.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS TOO
IMPORTANT TO BE DISTRACTED BY
JEALOUS, SMALLMINDED PEOPLE.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, IT TELLS US
TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF
GOD.
PART OF THAT ARMOR IS THE
SHOES OF PEACE.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT GOD
CHOSE OUR FEET FOR PEACE.
IT IMPLIES EVERYWHERE WE GO,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHOOSE
TO STAY IN PEACE.
BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE YOUR
HELMET OF SALVATION ON, YOUR
SHIELD OF FAITH, YOUR BELT OF
TRUTH, BUT IF YOU DON'T PUT
YOUR SHOES OF PEACE ON, IF
YOU DON'T MAKE THIS DECISION
THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET
UPSET, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
LIVE OFFENDED, YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO GET BAITED INTO
CONFLICT, THEN EVEN THOUGH
YOU HAVE ALL THE OTHER ARMOR
ON WITHOUT PEACE, IT'S NOT
EFFECTIVE.
EVERY MORNING, YOU NEED TO
MAKE SURE YOU PUT ON YOUR
SHOES OF PEACE.
TOO MANY PEOPLE GO THROUGH
THE DAY BAREFOOTED, OFFENDED,
DISCOURAGED, UPSET.
BUT WHEN YOU MAKE THIS
DECISION AT THE START OF THE
DAY THAT NOTHING IS GOING TO
UPSET YOU, REALLY YOU'RE
PUTTING YOUR SHOES ON.
YOU'RE SAYING, "GOD, I TRUST
YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE DIRECTING MY
STEPS.
AND EVEN IF THINGS DON'T GO
PERFECTLY TODAY, I BELIEVE
ALL THINGS ARE GOING TO WORK
OUT FOR MY GOOD."
WHEN YOU'RE IN PEACE, YOU'RE
IN A POSITION OF POWER.
WHEN YOU'RE UPSET,
DISCOURAGED, OFFENDED, JUST
THE OPPOSITE, YOU WON'T HAVE
THE STRENGTH YOU NEED.
NEXT TIME YOU'RE TEMPTED TO
BE OFFENDED, RECOGNIZE WHAT'S
HAPPENING, DON'T TAKE THAT
BAIT.
WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING
DEROGATORY, INSTEAD OF TRYING
TO PAY THEM BACK, IGNORE
THEM.
TAKE A SEAT AT THE TABLE GOD
PREPARED.
WHEN YOU WALK AWAY FROM THE
ELIABS, THE BATTLES THAT
DON'T MATTER, YOU WILL COME
INTO YOUR GOLIATHS,
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL
THRUST YOU AHEAD.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PROTECT
YOUR PEACE.
IF YOU'LL DO THIS, I'LL
BELIEVE AND DECLARE YOU'RE
NOT ONLY GOING TO ENJOY YOUR
LIFE MORE, BUT GOD IS GOING
TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT'S COMING
AGAINST YOU.
HE'S GOING TO VINDICATE YOU,
PROMOTE YOU, AND TAKE YOU TO
NEW LEVELS OF YOUR DESTINY IN
JESUS'S NAME.
AND IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN
YOU SAY AMEN TODAY?
WELL, I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS THE
LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?
JUST SAY, "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.
GET IN A GOOD, BIBLE-BASED
CHURCH, KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
