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 BAPTIST MAN
NAMED BILL. HE LIKED TO
SNEAK OFF TO THE HORSE
RACES AND BET. ONE DAY,
HE SAW A CATHOLIC PRIEST
STEP ON TO THE TRACK AND
BLESS A HORSE. SURE ENOUGH,
THE HORSE WON FIRST PLACE.
HE BLESSED ANOTHER HORSE,
THAT HORSE WON AGAIN. BILL
WENT TO THE ATM AND TOOK
OUT ALL OF HIS MONEY.
THIS TIME, HE SAW THE
PRIEST NOT ONLY TOUCH THE
HORSES' FOREHEAD BUT TOUCH
HIS EYES, HIS EARS AND ALL
OF HIS LEGS. FEELING
CONFIDENT, HE BET ALL OF
HIS MONEY. BUT IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE RACE, THE
HORSE FELL OVER DEAD.
BILL WENT TO THE PRIEST AND
SAID, “WHAT IN THE WORLD
HAPPENED?” THE PRIEST SAID,
“THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH
YOU PROTESTANTS, YOU DON'T
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE BLESSING AND THE LAST
RITES.”
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 WINNING THE WAR
WITHIN. THERE'S A BATTLE
TAKING PLACE ON THE INSIDE
OF EACH ONE OF US.
IT'S A BATTLE BETWEEN THE
FLESH AND THE SPIRIT.
THE FLESH REPRESENTS OUR
CARNAL NATURE.
IT'S THINGS LIKE JEALOUSY,
PRIDE, COMPROMISE.
IT'S THE EASY WAY TO LIVE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE
DISCIPLINED; YOU JUST
DO WHATEVER YOU FEEL.
IF SOMEONE IS RUDE TO YOU,
YOU'RE RUDE BACK TO THEM.
IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE
HAVING A GOOD ATTITUDE, YOU
GO THROUGH THE DAY SOUR.
WHEN YOU SEE THAT COCONUT
CREAM PIE, YOU DON'T THINK
TWICE.
YOU EAT YOUR FOURTH PIECE.
THE FLESH WANTS TO RULE, IT
WANTS TO HAVE CONTROL.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “THOSE
WHO LIVE BY THE DICTATES
OF THE FLESH.” NOTICE THE
FLESH IS DESCRIBED AS A
DICTATOR. WHAT DOES A
DICTATOR DO? THEY MAKE
ALL THE DECISIONS FOR
YOU. THEY TELL YOU WHAT
TO DO, WHEN TO DO IT.
YOU JUST FOLLOW ORDERS.
YOU GET STUCK IN TRAFFIC,
THE FLESH WILL TELL YOU,
“GET UPSET, THIS IS RUINING
YOUR DAY.” MANY PEOPLE
FOLLOW THE DICTATES OF THE
FLESH.
LIKE A GOOD SOLDIER, “YES
SIR, RIGHT AWAY.” THEY GET
UPSET.
IT SOURS THEIR DAY.
OR AT THE OFFICE, SOMEONE
LEAVES YOU OUT, DOESN'T
INVITE YOU TO THE MEETING.
THE FLESH SAYS, “GET
OFFENDED, THIS IS NOT
RIGHT.” THEY GO AROUND
OFFENDED, WITH A CHIP ON
THEIR SHOULDER.
THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU KEEP
GIVING IN TO THE FLESH,
THAT VERSE GOES ON TO SAY,
“YOU WILL DIE.” THAT
DOESN'T MEAN PHYSICALLY,
BUT YOUR DREAMS WILL DIE,
YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WON'T
FLOURISH, YOUR GIFTS WON'T
COME OUT LIKE THEY SHOULD.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM, YOU'RE
LETTING THE FLESH WIN THE
WAR.
ANY TIME YOU'RE TEMPTED TO
COMPROMISE, BE LAZY, GIVE
IN TO TEMPTATION, THERE'S
ANOTHER OPTION, THAT IS TO
WALK IN THE SPIRIT.
THAT MEANS YOU DO THE RIGHT
THING WHEN IT'S HARD. YOU
BITE YOUR TONGUE WHEN
SOMEONE IS RUDE.
YOU STAY FAITHFUL IN YOUR
RELATIONSHIP WHEN SOMEONE
IS TRYING TO LURE YOU AWAY.
WHAT'S LIMITING SOME PEOPLE
IS NOT THAT THEY'RE NOT
TALENTED, IT'S NOT THAT
THEY DON'T HAVE GOD'S
FAVOR, IT'S THAT THEY KEEP
SOWING TO THE FLESH.
DON'T KEEP GIVING IN TO THE
SAME THINGS THAT YOU KNOW
ARE HOLDING YOU BACK.
NEXT TIME YOU'RE TEMPTED TO
BE JEALOUS, FIND FAULT, SAY
SOMETHING CRITICAL, TELL
YOUR FLESH, “NO, I'M NOT
GOING THERE.
I'M GOING TO BE HAPPY FOR
THEM. I'M GOING TO SEE THE
BEST IN PEOPLE.” WHEN YOU
FEEL LIKE STAYING UP ALL
NIGHT, PLAYING ON THE
COMPUTER, TELL YOUR FLESH,
“NOT TONIGHT.
I'M GOING TO BED.
I'M GOING TO TAKE CARE OF
MYSELF.” NEXT TIME THOSE
FRIENDS CALL THAT ARE
PULLING YOU DOWN, CAUSING
YOU TO COMPROMISE, TELL
THEM, “SORRY, SOMETHING HAS
COME UP.
I CAN'T HANG OUT TONIGHT.”
QUIT LETTING THE FLESH BE
THE DICTATOR.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE CHARGE OF
YOUR LIFE.
THE FLESH IS NOT LEADING
YOU ANYWHERE PRODUCTIVE.
PAUL SAID IN GALATIANS 5,
“THESE TWO FORCES ARE
CONSTANTLY FIGHTING EACH
OTHER.
YOUR CHOICES WILL NEVER BE
FREE FROM THIS CONFLICT.” I
DON'T WANT TO DEPRESS YOU,
BUT THIS IS A BATTLE THAT
WILL NEVER GO AWAY.
YOU CAN BE A BELIEVER FOR
FIFTY YEARS, YOU'VE GROWN,
YOU'VE MATURED BUT YOU WILL
STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE
FLESH.
YOU DON'T OVERCOME IT ONE
TIME AND IT'S DEFEATED.
IT WILL COME BACK AGAIN.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE
TO GET SKILLED AT.
“NO, I'M NOT GOING TO LET
MY FLESH SAY EVERYTHING IT
WANTS.
NO, I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE
THE BAIT AND GET OFFENDED
BY THAT PERSON THAT DID ME
WRONG.
I'M NOT GOING TO LET MY
GUARD DOWN AND BE DISHONEST
IN THIS BUSINESS DEAL.” ARE
YOU WINNING THE WAR WITHIN?
ARE YOU LIVING BY THE
SPIRIT, MAKING DECISIONS
THAT HONOR GOD, OR ARE YOU
LETTING THE FLESH WIN,
DOING WHATEVER YOU FEEL?
YOU NEED TO TAKE THE FLESH
OFF THE THRONE.
QUIT LETTING IT DETERMINE
YOUR DECISIONS.
WE'VE SEEN IN FOREIGN
COUNTRIES WHERE THEY HAVE A
DICTATOR.
THE PERSON IN CHARGE IS
OPPRESSING THE PEOPLE,
PUSHING THEM DOWN.
THERE'S NO DEMOCRACY.
THEY CAN'T VOTE HIM OUT, SO
THEY HAVE TO TAKE DRASTIC
MEASURES.
THE PEOPLE RISE UP AND
OVERTHROW THE DICTATOR.
THEY HAVE TO FORCEFULLY
REMOVE HIM. THAT'S THE ONLY
WAY THEY CAN BE FREE.
IT'S THE SAME WAY WITH THE
FLESH.
IT WANTS TO STAY IN CONTROL
OF YOUR LIFE, TELLING YOU
WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO.
THE ONLY WAY IT'S GOING TO
COME OFF THAT THRONE IS IF
YOU FORCEFULLY REMOVE IT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO GO EASILY.
WHEN SOMEONE DOES YOU WRONG
AND YOU CHOOSE TO FORGIVE,
THE FLESH WILL HAVE A FIT.
“COME ON, MAN, GET EVEN,
PAY THEM BACK, THIS IS NOT
RIGHT.” YOU HAVE TO PUT
YOUR FOOT DOWN AND SAY,
“SORRY, YOU DON'T CONTROL
ME ANYMORE.
I'VE TAKEN YOU OFF THE
THRONE.
YOU'VE LOST YOUR AUTHORITY;
I WALK BY THE SPIRIT AND
NOT BY THE FLESH.” IT'S
TIME TO DETHRONE THE FLESH.
QUIT LETTING IT DICTATE HOW
YOU LIVE, HOW YOU RESPOND,
HOW YOU HANDLE ADVERSITY.
START SOWING TO THE SPIRIT.
START TAKING THE HIGH ROAD,
DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN
IT'S HARD. THAT'S WHEN YOU
GROW.
THAT'S WHEN GOD CAN TRUST
YOU WITH MORE.
IT'S VERY SHALLOW TO LIVE
BY HOW YOU FEEL, GIVING IN
TO CARNAL DESIRES.
THAT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU
FROM THE GREATNESS GOD PUT
IN YOU.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “NO
DISCIPLINE AT THE TIME
SEEMS PLEASANT, BUT LATER
ON YOU WILL REAP A HARVEST
OF GOOD THINGS.” BEING
DISCIPLINED IS NOT EASY.
WALKING AWAY WHEN SOMEONE
IS RUDE, NOT GIVING IN TO
THE TEMPTATION, GETTING UP
EARLY TO EXCEL AT WORK;
THAT'S DIFFICULT. YOUR
FLESH WANTS TO BE
COMFORTABLE.
YOUR FLESH WANTS THE EASY
WAY OUT, BUT YOU CAN'T BE
COMFORTABLE ALL THE TIME
AND REACH YOUR DESTINY.
IF YOU'LL DO THE HARD THING
NOW, LATER ON YOU'LL SEE
BLESSINGS AND FAVOR THAT
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN.
BUT THE FLESH ALWAYS WANTS
INSTANT GRATIFICATION.
“IF I TELL THIS PERSON OFF,
IT WILL MAKE ME FEEL GOOD
RIGHT NOW.
IF I BUY THIS ITEM I CAN'T
AFFORD, IF I SLEEP IN AND
SKIP WORK, I'LL FEEL GOOD
RIGHT NOW.” BUT IT'S
IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT
LATER ON.
WE SHOULD BE GROWING.
WE SHOULD BE FURTHER NOW
THAN WE WERE FIVE YEARS AGO.
IF I'M STILL DEALING WITH
MY TEMPER THE SAME WAY AS
YEARS AGO, THEN I'M LEAVING
MY FLESH ON THE THRONE.
IF I'M STILL GETTING
OFFENDED, UPSET, JEALOUS,
THE SAME WAY AS YEARS BACK,
THEN I'M LETTING THE FLESH
DICTATE MY LIFE.
I'M NOT SAYING WE HAVE TO
BE PERFECT, BUT WE SHOULD
BE GROWING.
WHEN VICTORIA AND I WERE
FIRST MARRIED, AND WE WERE
ABOUT TO GO SOMEWHERE, I
WOULD ASK HER IF SHE WAS
READY.
SHE'D SAY, “YES I'M READY.”
SO, I WOULD GO GET IN THE
CAR AND WAIT.
I'D WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT.
SHE WOLD NEVER COME.
I WOULD GET SO STRESSED.
I'D GO BACK IN, “I THOUGHT
YOU SAID YOU'RE READY.” SHE
SAID, “I AM READY.” I SAID,
“WELL WOULD YOU MIND, LIKE
COMING TO THE CAR.” I
DIDN'T LIKE TO WAIT.
I USED TO PRAY, “GOD, YOU
HAVE TO CHANGE HER.
HELP HER TO GO FASTER.” BUT
WHAT'S FUNNY IS GOD NEVER
CHANGED HER, BUT HE USED
HER TO CHANGE ME.
GOD DOESN'T REMOVE
EVERYTHING THAT'S
UNCOMFORTABLE.
IF HE DID, WE WOULD NEVER
GROW.
INSTEAD OF PRAYING GOD
CHANGE THE OTHER PERSON,
I'VE LEARNED TO PRAY, “GOD
CHANGE ME.
HELP ME TO COME UP HIGHER.
HELP ME TO BE MORE PATIENT.
HELP ME TO STAY IN PEACE.”
EVEN NOW, WHEN I GET STUCK
IN TRAFFIC, OR A LONG LINE
AT THE AIRPORT, THAT
IMPATIENCE STILL TRIES TO
GET BACK ON THE THRONE.
IT STILL TRIES TO DICTATE
MY LIFE.
YOU WON'T WIN THE WAR
WITHIN ONE TIME, AND YOU'RE
DONE.
THESE FORCES ARE CONSTANTLY
OPPOSING EACH OTHER.
THAT'S WHY THE APOSTLE PAUL
SAID, “I DIE DAILY.” NOW
PAUL WROTE HALF OF THE
BOOKS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
HE'S ONE OF THE HEROES OF
FAITH.
YOU WOULD THINK HE WAS SO
POWERFUL, SO MATURE, HE
WOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH
THESE ISSUES, YET HE SAID,
“EVERY DAY I HAVE TO TAKE
MY FLESH OFF THE THRONE.
EVERY DAY, I HAVE TO PUT
DOWN CARNAL DESIRES.”
AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OF
BEING IMPATIENT, LETTING
THINGS FRUSTRATE ME, I
TRIED A DIFFERENT TACTIC.
WHEN VICTORIA SAYS SHE'S
READY, IT'S LIKE THE
TWO-MINUTE WARNING IN
FOOTBALL.
THE CLOCK SAYS TWO MINUTES,
BUT YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO
BE TWENTY MINUTES.
WITH THE TIME OUTS, THE
REPLAYS, THE COMMERCIALS.
NOW WHEN SHE SAYS SHE'S
READY, I GO SIT DOWN, MAKE
A SANDWICH, WORK OUT, GO TO
THE GROCERY STORE, MOW THE
LAWN.
AND I'M NOT LOOKING AT HER
RIGHT NOW.
MANY OF THE THINGS THAT
FRUSTRATE US ARE REALLY
OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW.
TAKE THE FLESH OFF THE
THRONE.
DON'T RESPOND THE SAME WAY
YOU'VE BEEN RESPONDING THE
LAST TWENTY YEARS.
BEING IMPATIENT,
FRUSTRATED, ARGUING WITH
YOUR SPOUSE.
START DYING DAILY.
LIKE WITH PAUL, WE ALL HAVE
AREAS WHERE WE'RE LETTING
THE FLESH DICTATE.
IF WE WOULD START WALKING
BY THE SPIRIT, BEING
WILLING TO BE
UNCOMFORTABLE, KEEPING OUR
MOUTH CLOSED, WAITING WITH
A GOOD ATTITUDE.
THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE GROWING.
THAT'S WHEN GOD CAN TRUST
YOU WITH MORE INFLUENCE,
MORE FAVOR, MORE RESOURCES.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF
BATTLES ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT
MY QUESTION TODAY IS ARE
YOU WINNING THE WAR WITHIN.
ARE YOU WALKING BY THE
SPIRIT AND NOT THE FLESH?
WHEN YOU GAVE YOUR LIFE TO
CHRIST, WHEN YOU GOT BORN
AGAIN, THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“YOU BECAME A NEW CREATION,
THE OLD HAS PASSED AWAY.” I
WOULD LOVE TO TELL YOU THAT
MEANS YOU'LL NEVER HAVE ANY
MORE CARNAL DESIRES.
YOU'LL NEVER WANT TO BE
JEALOUS, RUDE, COMPLAIN.
NO, THE OLD MAN MAY HAVE
DIED, BUT I'VE LEARNED A
SECRET.
SOMETIMES HE'LL RESURRECT.
LAZARUS WASN'T THE ONLY ONE
THAT CAME BACK TO LIFE.
YOUR OLD NATURE WILL RISE
FROM THE DEAD.
EPHESIANS 4 SAYS, “PUT OFF
THE OLD MAN AND PUT ON THE
NEW MAN.” EVEN THOUGH
YOU'RE A NEW CREATION, YOU
HAVE TO PUT OFF THE OLD.
EVERY DAY THAT OLD MAN IS
TRYING TO GET BACK UP AND
RUN YOUR LIFE.
WE SEE THIS WITH PETER.
HE WAS A FAITHFUL DISCIPLE,
STRONG, COMMITTED.
JESUS SAID, “YOU ARE PETER,
UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD
MY CHURCH.” GOD HAD GREAT
CONFIDENCE IN PETER.
WHEN THE SOLDIERS CAME TO
ARREST JESUS, PETER WAS SO
DETERMINED TO STAND UP FOR
JESUS, HE PULLED HIS SWORD
OUT AND CUT OFF THE
SOLDIER'S EAR.
BUT A LITTLE LATER, WHEN
JESUS WAS TAKEN TO THE HIGH
PRIEST HOUSE, PETER DENIED
THAT HE KNEW JESUS.
A YOUNG GIRL SAID, “I KNOW
YOU'RE ONE OF HIS
DISCIPLES.” PETER GOT
ANGRY, HE STARTED CURSING,
“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
I DON'T KNOW THE MAN.” LIKE
PETER, WE ALL HAVE THESE
TWO PEOPLE ON THE INSIDE,
THE OLD MAN AND THE NEW MAN.
THAT'S WHY THE SCRIPTURE
SAYS, PUT OFF THE OLD MAN,
PUT OFF THE PRIDE, PUT OFF
THE BITTERNESS, PUT OFF THE
COMPROMISE AND PUT ON THE
NEW MAN.
“JOEL, I'M TRYING BUT I
CAN'T CONTROL MY TEMPER, I
CAN'T BREAK THIS ADDICTION,
I CAN'T KEEP MY EYES ON THE
RIGHT THINGS.” QUIT TELLING
YOURSELF THAT.
YOUR OLD MAN IS NOT THAT
STRONG.
THE REASON HE'S CONTROLLING
YOU IS YOU KEEP FEEDING
HIM. WHATEVER YOU FEED IS
GOING TO GROW.
EVERY TIME YOU GIVE IN TO
THAT TEMPTATION, YOU'RE
FEEDING IT.
IT'S GETTING STRONGER.
EVERY TIME YOU'RE OFFENDED,
YOU'RE IMPATIENT, YOU SAY
THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T,
YOU'RE FEEDING THE NEGATIVE.
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, QUIT
FEEDING THE OLD MAN.
IF YOU'LL START STARVING
THE BITTERNESS, STARVING
THE JEALOUSY, STARVING THE
COMPROMISE, IT WILL GET
WEAKER AND WEAKER.
THAT DESIRE MAY NOT TOTALLY
GO AWAY.
GOD MAY NOT TOTALLY REMOVE
IT.
THIS IS WHEN DISCIPLINE
STEPS IN. THIS IS WHEN HIS
GRACE SHOWS UP.
DON'T USE THE EXCUSE, “I'VE
TRIED, AND NOTHING HAS
CHANGED.” YOU HAVE THE
POWER TO OVERCOME.
DON'T LET THAT OLD MAN GET
BACK UP.
I STILL DEAL WITH BEING
IMPATIENT.
THAT OLD MAN HAS BEEN
TRYING TO GET BACK UP FOR
THIRTY YEARS.
I BURIED HIM, HAD A
FUNERAL, THOUGHT HE WAS
FINISHED, BUT YOU'VE HEARD
OF THE WALKING DEAD.
SOMETIMES HE GETS BACK UP.
HERE'S WHAT I'VE LEARNED.
ANYTHING YOU DEFEAT QUICKLY
IS NOT YOUR REAL ENEMY.
WHAT YOU OVERCOME IN A
SHORT TIME; YOU DON'T HAVE
TO BE CONCERNED WITH THAT.
YOUR REAL ENEMY DOESN'T GO
AWAY OVERNIGHT.
I'M NOT TEMPTED TO BE
DISHONEST, CURSE, DO DRUGS,
BY THE GRACE OF GOD THOSE
THINGS ARE NOT A STRUGGLE
FOR ME.
BUT BEING IMPATIENT IS A
DIFFERENT STORY.
DAVID DEFEATED GOLIATH IN A
FEW MINUTES.
THAT WASN'T HIS REAL ENEMY.
KING SAUL PESTERED DAVID
FOR YEARS.
THREW SPEARS AT HIM IN THE
PALACE, CHASED HIM THROUGH
THE DESERT. GOD COULD HAVE
DELIVERED DAVID FROM SAUL
IN A MOMENT, LIKE HE DID
WITH GOLIATH.
HE COULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF
HIM IN AN AFTERNOON.
NO BIG DEAL.
BUT SOME ENEMIES GOD
DOESN'T REMOVE, SOME
TEMPTATIONS, SOME DESIRES
MAY NOT GO AWAY.
IF GOD DOESN'T REMOVE IT,
THAT MEANS THE GRACE IS
THERE TO STAND STRONG AND
DEAL WITH IT.
GOD WOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED
IT IF IT WAS GOING TO KEEP
YOU FROM YOUR DESTINY.
ASK HIM TO HELP YOU.
ASK FOR HIS STRENGTH.
WHEN YOU ADMIT YOUR
DEPENDENCE ON HIM, YOU
HUMBLE YOURSELF AND SAY,
“GOD, I CAN'T DO THIS ON MY
OWN.
I CAN'T DEFEAT THIS GIANT;
IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.” GOD
WILL STEP IN AND HELP YOU
CONQUER WHAT'S HOLDING YOU
BACK.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO KEEP
THE OLD MAN DOWN.
DON'T LET HIM KEEP YOU FROM
YOUR GREATNESS.
DON'T LET THE FLESH STAY ON
THE THRONE.
THE FORCE IN YOU IS GREATER
THAN ANY FORCE THAT'S
TRYING TO STOP YOU.
START PUTTING ON THE NEW
MAN.
“FATHER, THANK YOU THAT I
AM STRONG, I AM
DISCIPLINED, I AM ANOINTED,
I AM FAVORED, THAT I MAKE
DECISIONS THAT HONOR YOU.”
IN 1 SAMUEL 25, DAVID AND
HIS MEN HAD BEEN OUT
PROTECTING THE PROPERTY OF
A MAN NAMED NABAL.
HE WAS A WEALTHY MAN THAT
OWNED A LOT OF SHEEP.
IT WAS THE TIME OF YEAR
WHERE THEY WERE SHEARING
THE SHEEP, THEY HAD ALL
THIS WOOL, A GREAT HARVEST.
THEY WERE HAVING A BIG
CELEBRATION.
DAVID SENT A FEW MEN TO ASK
NABAL, SINCE THEY HAD BEEN
WATCHING OVER HIS PROPERTY
IF HE WOULD GIVE THEM SOME
FOOD AND WATER.
IT SEEMED LIKE NABAL WOULD
BE GRATEFUL, GLAD TO DO IT,
BUT HE WAS JUST THE
OPPOSITE.
HE WAS VERY RUDE AND
DISRESPECTFUL TO DAVID'S
MEN.
COMMENTARIES SAY THAT NABAL
WAS A HARSH MAN, STUBBORN
AND HOT TEMPERED, THAT HE
SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE
DRUNK.
HE SAID TO DAVID'S MEN, “I
DON'T OWE YOU ANYTHING.
I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO PROTECT
ME.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON MY
PROPERTY?” HE SENT THEM
AWAY EMPTY HANDED.
WHEN DAVID HEARD HOW NABAL
INSULTED THEM, HE WAS
FURIOUS.
HE TOLD HIS MEN TO GET
THEIR SWORDS, THEY WERE
GOING TO ATTACK.
NABAL'S WIFE, A YOUNG LADY
NAMED ABIGAIL, WAS NOT ONLY
BEAUTIFUL BUT SHE WAS VERY
WISE.
SHE LOADED UP ANIMALS WITH
FOOD AND WATER AND HEADED
OUT TOWARD DAVID.
THEY MET ON THE ROAD.
ABIGAIL BOWED DOWN IN
HUMILITY.
SHE SAID, “DAVID, MY
HUSBAND IS A FOOL.
I'M SORRY FOR HOW HE
TREATED YOU.
I BROUGHT YOU ALL THESE
GIFTS FOR YOU AND YOUR
MEN.” SHE CALMED DAVID DOWN
AND KEPT HIM FROM WIPING
OUT HER TOWN.
DAVID THANKED HER AND
TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK
HOME.
TEN DAYS LATER, NABAL HAD A
STROKE AND DIED.
DAVID SENT WORD AND ASKED
ABIGAIL TO BECOME HIS WIFE.
NOW THAT THE OLD MAN WAS
DEAD, SHE COULD MEET THE
NEW MAN.
NABAL IS SYMBOLIC OF OUR
OLD NATURE, HOT TEMPERED,
RUDE, UNGRATEFUL,
ADDICTIONS.
THE NAME NABAL EVEN MEANS
FOOL.
AS LONG AS THE OLD MAN IS
ALIVE, YOU'LL NEVER MEET
THE NEW MAN.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR
HUSBAND.
SOMEBODY THOUGHT THEY GOT A
WORD FROM THE LORD, I'M
TALKING ABOUT THE OLD MAN
THAT LIVES IN US.
THE BITTERNESS, THE BAD
ATTITUDE, THE COMPROMISE.
START STARVING THE OLD MAN.
YOUR DESTINY IS TOO GREAT,
YOUR ASSIGNMENT TOO
IMPORTANT TO LET THE SAME
ISSUES KEEP YOU FROM SEEING
THE NEW MAN.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT NABAL
DIED TEN DAYS AFTER ABIGAIL
DID THE RIGHT THING.
THERE WILL BE THESE TIMES
WHEN YOU DIG DOWN DEEP AND
DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN
IT'S HARD, THAT YOU WILL
COME IN TO YOUR TENTH DAY.
SOMETHING WILL SUDDENLY
BREAK, THAT ADDICTION WON'T
HAVE THE POWER OVER YOU,
THAT BAD ATTITUDE, THAT
TEMPER, IT MAY NOT TOTALLY
GO AWAY BUT IT DOESN'T
CONTROL YOU ANYMORE.
I WONDER HOW MUCH HIGHER WE
WOULD GO, HOW MUCH MORE OF
GOD'S FAVOR WE WOULD SEE IF
WE WOULD START PUTTING OFF
THE OLD MAN.
IF WE WOULD START SAYING NO
TO THE THINGS THAT ARE
HOLDING US BACK.
SOMETIMES A LITTLE THING IS
KEEPING US FROM BIG
BLESSINGS.
A LITTLE PRIDE, A LITTLE
COMPROMISE.
“JUST THIS ONE FRIEND I
PARTY WITH.
JUST THIS ONE TEMPTATION I
GIVE IN TO.
JUST THIS ONE PERSON I
WON'T FORGIVE.” NO, IT'S
TIME TO GET RID OF NABAL.
NOBODY LIKES HIM. NOBODY
WANTS TO BE AROUND HIM. PUT
THE OLD MAN DOWN AND PUT ON
THE NEW YOU.
THE FREE YOU, THE BLESSED
YOU, THE HAPPY YOU, THE
VICTORIOUS YOU.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, JACOB WAS
KNOWN FOR BEING DISHONEST,
CHEATING PEOPLE.
HIS NAME MEANS TRICKSTER,
CON MAN.
HE LIVED UP TO IT.
HE TRICKED HIS BROTHER OUT
OF HIS BIRTHRIGHT, WENT
AROUND DECEIVING PEOPLE.
AFTER LIVING THIS WAY FOR
YEARS, HE WENT TO THE BROOK
TO BE ALONE.
I'M SURE HE WAS REFLECTING
ON HIS LIFE.
HE HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH
GOD.
HE WRESTLED WITH THE ANGEL.
IT WAS THERE THAT GOD
CHANGED HIS NAME FROM JACOB
TO ISRAEL.
HIS NEW NAME MEANS PRINCE
WITH GOD.
HIS OLD NAME MEANT DECEIVER.
HE SPENT THE REST OF HIS
LIFE DEALING WITH THESE TWO
NAMES.
YOU WOULD THINK THE
SCRIPTURE WOULD NOW REFER
TO HIM ONLY BY HIS NEW
NAME, ISRAEL.
AFTER ALL GOD CHANGED HIS
NAME.
IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT MOMENT.
HE HAD A NEW BEGINNING.
BUT THE SCRIPTURE GOES BACK
AND FORTH BETWEEN JACOB AND
ISRAEL.
ONE MOMENT HE'S JACOB, IN
THE SAME PASSAGE, THE NEXT
MOMENT HE'S ISRAEL.
GOD WAS SHOWING US THAT THE
OLD MAN, THE CARNAL
DESIRES, WON'T TOTALLY GO
AWAY.
THE KEY TO LIVING IN
VICTORY IS TO RESPOND LIKE
ISRAEL, NOT LIKE JACOB.
THERE'S A JACOB IN ALL OF
US.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN
HOLD US BACK.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE'S AN
ISRAEL IS IN ALL OF US.
THERE'S A PRINCE IN YOU,
THERE'S A HOLY, RIGHTEOUS,
FAVORED, WORLD CHANGER IN
YOU.
LET ME WARN YOU, EVEN
THOUGH ISRAEL IS IN THERE,
EVEN THOUGH GOD HAS CHANGED
YOUR NAME, JACOB WILL TRY
TO COME OUT.
THOSE CARNAL DESIRES MAY BE
DEAD, BUT PEOPLE WILL DO
THINGS THAT WAKE UP THE
JACOB IN YOU.
YOU WERE DRIVING TO WORK,
SINGING PRAISES, ENJOYING
THE DAY, ISRAEL WAS FEELING
GOOD.
THEN SOMEONE CUT YOU OFF IN
TRAFFIC.
OUT OF NOWHERE JACOB SHOWED
UP.
YOU QUIT PRAISING AND YOU
STARTED SAYING SOME OTHER
THINGS.
YOU THINK, “WHERE DID YOU
COME FROM?” JACOB SMILES
AND SAYS, “I'M IN HERE TOO.
I MAY BE DEAD, BUT I CAN BE
WOKEN UP.” JACOB WANTS TO
COMPLAIN, ISRAEL WANTS TO
PRAISE.
WHO'S GOING TO WIN THAT WAR?
JACOB WANTS TO HOLD A
GRUDGE.
THEY HURT YOU, DON'T SPEAK
TO THEM. ISRAEL WANTS TO
FORGIVE, LET IT GO, MOVE
FORWARD IN FAITH.
JACOB WANTS TO ARGUE, BE
CONDESCENDING, SAY HURTFUL
THINGS.
ISRAEL WANTS TO BE KIND,
OVERLOOK THE OFFENSE, KEEP
PEACE IN THE RELATIONSHIP.
JACOB WANTS ANOTHER CRISPY
CREAM DONUT, WITH CHOCOLATE
ICING, SPRINKLES ON TOP.
ISRAEL SAYS, “NO TWELVE WAS
ENOUGH” I'M ASKING YOU TO
BE THE ISRAEL NOT THE JACOB.
THEY'RE BOTH IN US.
GOD CHANGED YOUR NAME, BUT
HE DIDN'T GET RID OF JACOB.
WHEN JACOB WAS ABOUT TO
PASS, AT THE END OF HIS
LIFE, GENESIS 48 SAYS,
“WHEN JACOB WAS TOLD THAT
HIS SON JOSEPH WAS THERE TO
SEE HIM, ISRAEL GATHERED UP
HIS STRENGTH AND SAT UP IN
THE BED.” HE STARTED OFF AS
JACOB, TIRED, WEARY,
THINKING HE WAS DONE, BUT
THEN SOMETHING KICKED IN.
HE THOUGHT, “MY SON IS
HERE, THE ONE I THOUGHT WAS
DEAD, THE ONE I WAITED FOR.
I'M NOT GOING TO DIE YET.”
ISRAEL SAT UP.
THE PRINCE IN HIM CAME BACK
TO LIFE.
WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE
MORNING YOU GET TO CHOOSE,
“AM I GOING TO BE JACOB
TODAY, AM I GOING TO
COMPLAIN, I DON'T WANT TO
GO TO WORK.
I CAN'T STAND THIS TRAFFIC;
THESE PEOPLE GET ON MY
NERVES.” OR ARE YOU GOING
TO BE ISRAEL.
“LORD, THANK YOU FOR
ANOTHER DAY YOU HAVE MADE.
I'M GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE.
THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF
THIS DAY.” WHEN THINGS
DON'T GO YOUR WAY, YOU HAVE
DELAYS, DISAPPOINTMENTS,
PEOPLE THAT DO YOU WRONG,
ARE YOU GOING TO BE JACOB?
GET UPSET, OFFENDED, TRY TO
PAY THEM BACK OR ARE YOU
GOING TO BE ISRAEL?
“FATHER YOU'RE MY
VINDICATOR.
YOU'RE ON THE THRONE, I'M
GOING TO STAY IN PEACE
KNOWING THAT YOU ARE
FIGHTING MY BATTLES.” WITH
YOUR FAMILY, ARE YOU GOING
TO BE JACOB, CRITICAL,
HARSH, CONTENTIOUS, OR ARE
YOU GOING TO BE ISRAEL?
LOVING, KIND, TREATING THEM
WITH RESPECT AND HONOR.
BOTH PEOPLE ARE IN YOU, THE
FLESH AND THE SPIRIT, THE
OLD MAN AND THE NEW MAN,
JACOB AND ISRAEL.
YOU'LL GO SO MUCH FURTHER
IN LIFE IF YOU'LL START
BEING ISRAEL.
KEEP THE FLESH OFF THE
THRONE.
DON'T LET THAT OLD MAN GET
BACK UP, KEEP HIM BURIED.
I WAS AT THE DRIVE THROUGH
THE OTHER DAY, JUST MINDING
MY OWN BUSINESS.
LIFE WAS GOOD.
I HAD WAITED ABOUT TEN
MINUTES IN LINE.
I PULLED UP TO PLACE MY
ORDER ON THE MICROPHONE.
THE PEOPLE WERE IN THE
BUILDING.
I ROLLED DOWN MY WINDOW AND
THE MAN WAS SO UPSET.
HE SAID, “SIR, THERE ARE
OTHER PEOPLE WAITING.
IF YOU DON'T PLACE YOUR
ORDER, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO GET OUT OF LINE.” I HAD
JUST PULLED UP.
I HAD NOT BEEN THERE FOR
TWO SECONDS.
OUT OF NOWHERE JACOB SHOWED.
I WAS SO SURPRISED.
I SAID, “HOW'D YOU GET HERE
SO FAST?” HE SAID, “I LIVE
HERE, TOO.” HE GAVE ME SOME
GREAT IDEAS WHAT TO TELL
THIS JERK, I MEAN THIS MAN.
I SAID, “JACOB, I THOUGHT
YOU WERE DEAD.” HE SAID, “I
WAS, BUT I GOT BACK UP FOR
THIS ONE.” NOW, I HAD TO
MAKE THE CHOICE WAS I GOING
TO BE ISRAEL, THE PASTOR,
WITH A SMILE, OR WAS I
GOING TO BE JACOB AND TRY
TO GET EVEN. I DID WHAT I'M
ASKING YOU TO DO.
I THOUGHT, “I'M GOING TO BE
ISRAEL.” I SAID VERY
POLITELY, “NO PROBLEM, LET
ME GIVE YOU MY ORDER.”
AFTER I ORDERED I THANKED
HIM, SAID, “GOD BLESS YOU.
HAVE A GREAT DAY, HOPE YOUR
CHILDREN ARE FINE, TELL
YOUR GRANDPARENTS I SAID
HELLO.” WHEN I PULLED UP,
HE HAD ALL OF HIS WORKERS
GATHERED AROUND, STARING AT
ME.
HE SAID, “I THOUGHT THAT
WAS YOU, PASTOR JOEL.” I
WANTED TO SAY, “YES THIS IS
ME, ISRAEL.”
EVERY DAY, YOU HAVE TO MAKE
THE CHOICE, “AM I JACOB OR
AM I ISRAEL?
AM I GOING TO HOLD ON TO
THIS OFFENSE, OR AM I GOING
TO LET IT GO?
AM I GOING TO HANG OUT WITH
THESE FRIENDS THAT CAUSE ME
TO COMPROMISE, OR AM I
GOING TO STAY ON THE HIGH
ROAD AND BE A PERSON OF
EXCELLENCE?
AM I GOING TO CUT CORNERS
AT WORK, OR AM I GOING TO
HAVE INTEGRITY AND GIVE IT
MY BEST?” I'M ASKING YOU TO
BE AN ISRAEL.
PUT OFF THE OLD MAN.
DON'T LET THE FLESH DICTATE
YOUR LIFE.
LET THE SPIRIT RULE.
HONOR GOD WITH YOUR
DECISIONS.
THE CHOICES YOU MAKE DON'T
JUST AFFECT YOU, THEY
AFFECT YOUR CHILDREN AND
EVEN GENERATIONS TO COME.
JACOB'S BROTHER ESAU SOLD
HIS BIRTHRIGHT FOR A POT OF
STEW.
HE WAS SO HUNGRY, HE LET
HIS CARNAL DESIRES DICTATE
HIS DECISIONS.
HE SOLD SOMETHING
INCREDIBLY VALUABLE FOR A
BOWL OF STEW.
HE WAS THE FIRST-BORN SON.
WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE
GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND
ESAU, NOT JACOB.
BUT ESAU LET HIS FLESH TAKE
THE THRONE.
DON'T LET THAT BE YOU.
YOU CAN WIN THE WAR WITHIN.
GOD IS CALLING YOU UP
HIGHER.
WHATEVER YOU KNOW IS
HOLDING YOU BACK, THIS IS
THE TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE.
THIS IS A MOMENT OF GRACE
TO DO WHAT YOU COULDN'T DO
BEFORE.
YOUR DECISION CAN SAVE YOUR
MARRIAGE, IT CAN TAKE YOU
TO A NEW LEVEL IN YOUR
CAREER, IT CAN BREAK
MEDIOCRITY AND LAUNCH YOU
INTO ABUNDANCE.
IF YOU'LL DO THIS, I
BELIEVE AND DECLARE, LIKE
ISRAEL, YOU'RE GOING TO
BECOME THE PRINCE YOU WERE
CREATED TO BE.
YOU'RE GOING TO BREAK BAD
HABITS, RESIST TEMPTATION,
AND SEE THE FULLNESS OF
YOUR DESTINY, IN JESUS'
NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY AMEN?
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. WE'D LOVE TO
SEND YOU SOME FREE
INFORMATION.
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.
