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.
AND INSPIRED.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY. I HEARD
ABOUT THESE TWO MEN,
THE POPE AND A LAWYER.
THEY DIED ON THE SAME DAY
AND WENT TO HEAVEN. PETER
MET THEM AT THE GATE AND
SAID, “FOLLOW ME. I'LL TAKE
YOU TO YOUR HOMES.”
PETER DROPPED THE POPE OFF
AT THIS SMALL WOOD FRAME
HOUSE, ONE BED, ONE TABLE,
NOTHING TO IT. HE THEN TOOK
THE LAWYER TO THIS MAGNIFICENT
HOUSE. IT WAS HUGE, HAD A BIG
SWIMMING POOL, BEAUTIFUL
VIEW OUT BACK. THE LAWYER
WAS OVERWHELMED. HE SAID,
“PETER, HOW DID I MANAGE
TO GET THIS SPECTACULAR
PLACE WHEN THE POPE ONLY
GOT A SMALL PLACE?”
PETER SAID, “WE HAVE DOZENS
OF POPES, BUT YOU'RE THE
FIRST LAWYER.”
SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT.
JUST A JOKE. HERE WE GO!
READY?
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
RECEPTIVE. I WILL NEVER BE
THE SAME IN JESUS' NAME.
GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT YOUR REPUTATION IS IN
GOD'S HANDS. WE ALL HAVE A
DESIRE TO HAVE A GOOD
REPUTATION. WE KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS. OUR REPUTATION
GOES BEFORE US. IT CAN OPEN
DOORS, CAUSE THE RIGHT PEOPLE
TO COME. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
“A GOOD NAME IS WORTH MORE
THAN GREAT WEALTH.”
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE
BEING YOUR BEST, YOU'RE
HONORING GOD, BUT OTHER
PEOPLE DO THINGS TO TARNISH
YOUR REPUTATION. SAY THINGS
THAT ARE NOT TRUE, TAKE
THINGS OUT OF CONTEXT TO
TRY TO MAKE US LOOK BAD,
SLANDER, INNUENDOES, RUMORS.
WE WEREN'T THERE TO DEFEND
OURSELVES. WE COULDN'T TELL
OUR SIDE OF THE STORY.
NOW THEY'VE DONE SOMETHING
THAT LESSENS OUR
CREDIBILITY, MAKES PEOPLE
HAVE A WRONG OPINION OF WHO
WE ARE. IT'S TEMPTING TO
TRY TO STRAIGHTEN PEOPLE
OUT, PROVE TO THEM THAT
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS NOT
CORRECT. BUT IF YOU GET ON
THAT TREADMILL, YOU'LL NEVER
GET OFF. BECAUSE THERE WILL
ALWAYS BE SOMEONE SAYING
SOMETHING NOT TRUE,
MISCHARACTERIZING WHAT YOU
DID, QUESTIONING YOUR MOTIVES.
HERE'S THE KEY, YOU HAVE TO
PUT YOUR REPUTATION IN
GOD'S HANDS. LET HIM DEFEND
YOU. LET HIM BE YOUR
VINDICATOR. THE SCRIPTURE
NEVER TELLS US TO GUARD OUR
REPUTATION, IT SAYS GUARD
YOUR HEART. IF YOU'RE TRYING
TO GUARD YOUR REPUTATION,
YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORN OUT.
THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB.
LEAVE YOUR REPUTATION IN
GOD'S HANDS.
HE KNOWS HOW TO CHANGE
PEOPLE'S MINDS. HE KNOWS
HOW TO SILENCE NEGATIVE
VOICES. HE KNOWS HOW TO
CAUSE YOU TO BE SEEN IN
THE RIGHT LIGHT. HE HEARS
EVERYTHING SAID ABOUT YOU.
HE SEES WHEN PEOPLE ARE
MISCHARACTERIZING YOU; ON
PURPOSE, TRYING TO MAKE YOU
LOOK BAD, QUESTIONING YOUR
MOTIVES. NOTHING GOES
UNNOTICED. THE MISTAKE
WE MAKE IS WE GET INTO
FIGHT MODE, “THAT'S NOT
RIGHT, I HAVE TO FIX
EVERYTHING.” BUT TRYING
TO FIX IT IS ONLY GOING
TO MAKE IT WORSE. ONCE YOU
FIX THIS PERSON, SOMETHING
ELSE WILL COME UP. AND THEN
ANOTHER AND ANOTHER.
IT TAKES ALL THE PRESSURE
OFF WHEN YOU PUT YOUR
REPUTATION IN GOD'S HANDS.
WE THINK, “WELL, JOEL, IF I
CAN STRAIGHTEN THEM OUT, IF
I CAN LET THEM KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE SAYING IS NOT TRUE.
THAT I REALLY AM A GOOD
PERSON, THEN THAT WILL FIX
IT.” BUT THE PROBLEM IS
SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO
UNDERSTAND YOU.
IF YOU DID EVERYTHING THEY
ASKED, IF YOU CHANGED AND
BECAME WHO THEY WANT YOU TO
BE, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO
FIND FAULT. THEY'RE
DETERMINED TO MISUNDERSTAND
YOU. YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE FOR
YOU AND THAT'S OKAY.
YOU DON'T NEED THEM TO
FULFILL YOUR DESTINY.
HERE'S A BIGGER ONE, THEY
DON'T HAVE TO BE QUIET FOR
YOU TO REACH YOUR POTENTIAL.
THEY MAY KEEP SPREADING
LIES, SLANDERING, PUTTING
YOU IN A BAD LIGHT, BUT
THEY CANNOT STOP YOUR
PURPOSE. THEY DON'T HAVE
THAT MUCH POWER.
IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
THIS PRINCIPLE, YOU'LL LIVE
UPSET, MAD AT THEM,
THINKING OF WAYS YOU CAN
SHUT THEM DOWN.
THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB.
YOUR JOB IS TO GUARD YOUR
HEART. DON'T LET THE
OFFENSE, THE BITTERNESS,
THE POISON GET IN. YOU DO
YOUR PART AND GOD WILL DO
HIS PART. HE'LL TAKE CARE
OF YOUR REPUTATION.
SOMETIMES, HE'LL STOP THE
NEGATIVE THINGS BEING SAID,
HE'LL TURN THINGS AROUND
AND VINDICATE YOU.
OTHER TIMES, HE'LL LET THEM
KEEP TALKING, KEEP STIRRING
THINGS UP. BUT NO MATTER
WHAT THEY SAY, IT DOESN'T
HARM YOU. HE MAKES THEM
INEFFECTIVE. THEY'RE MAKING
ALL THIS NOISE, TRYING TO
DISCREDIT YOU. WHAT THEY
SAID, WHAT THEY DID, SHOULD
HAVE CAUSED OTHERS AT WORK
TO LOOK DOWN ON YOU.
IT SHOULD HAVE KEPT YOU
FROM THE PROJECT, BUT GOD
TOOK AWAY ALL THE STING.
HE TOOK AWAY ALL THE POWER.
NOW THEY'RE JUST A BUNCH OF
IRRELEVANT NOISE.
NOBODY THAT MATTERS PAYS
ATTENTION TO THEM. THAT'S
WHY YOU HAVE TO LET GOD DO
IT HIS WAY. HE MAY NOT STOP
WHAT THEY'RE DOING, HE MAY
NOT SHUT THEM UP.
HE MAY CAUSE YOU TO SHINE
IN THE FACE OF WHAT THEY'RE
DOING. SOMETIMES THAT'S A
BIGGER MIRACLE. ALL THIS
NEGATIVE CHATTER ABOUT YOU,
PEOPLE AT WORK, MAYBE AT
SCHOOL, TRYING TO MAKE YOU
LOOK BAD, SAYING THINGS THAT
ARE NOT TRUE, BUT IN SPITE
OF ALL THAT, YOU KEEP
EXCELLING, YOU KEEP GROWING,
YOU KEEP BEING GOOD TO
PEOPLE. YOU KEEP SEEING
FAVOR AND PROMOTION.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO TAKE CARE
OF YOUR REPUTATION.
DAVID SAID, “GOD PREPARES
A TABLE BEFORE US IN THE
PRESENCE OF OUR ENEMIES.”
WE THINK, “GOD JUST GET RID
OF MY ENEMIES. SHUT THEM UP,
CHANGE THEIR MIND, SHOW THEM
THAT THEY'RE WRONG.”
GOD SAYS, “NO, I HAVE A
BETTER WAY. I'M GOING TO
PROMOTE YOU, WHILE THEY'RE
STILL TALKING. I'M GOING TO
HONOR YOU, WHILE THEY'RE
STILL MAKING FUN. I'M GOING
TO LIFT YOU UP, WHILE THEY'RE
DOING THEIR BEST TO PUSH YOU
DOWN. YOU DON'T HAVE TO
SPEND YOUR ENERGY TRYING
TO GUARD YOUR REPUTATION,
SPEND YOUR ENERGY GUARDING
YOUR HEART. NOT TAKING THE
BAIT. WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING
TO MAKE YOU LOOK BAD,
SAYING THINGS BEHIND YOUR
BACK, LITTLE INNUENDOES.
“HE JUST PLAYS UP TO THE
BOSS, HE'S NOT THAT
TALENTED, I HEARD SHE'S
RUNNING AROUND WITH THAT
GUY.” YOU CAN'T STOP THAT.
YOU CAN'T MAKE PEOPLE DO
WHAT'S RIGHT. IF YOU PUT
OUT ONE RUMOR, THERE'S
GOING TO BE THREE MORE
POP UP. WHY ARE YOU WASTING
TIME AND ENERGY ON SOMETHING
YOU CAN'T CHANGE?
THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB, THAT'S
GOD'S JOB. YOUR REPUTATION
IS IN HIS HANDS. HE SAID,
“TOUCH NOT MY ANOINTED.”
YOU ARE HIS ANOINTED.
HE KNOWS WHEN SOMEONE IS
SLANDERING YOU,
MISCHARACTERIZING ON
PURPOSE, SPREADING RUMORS.
YOU STAY ON THE HIGH ROAD,
AND AT THE RIGHT TIME GOD
WILL VINDICATE YOU.
HE'LL DEFEND YOUR
REPUTATION. LET ME TELL YOU,
NOBODY CAN DEFEND YOU LIKE
OUR GOD. BUT IF WE MAKE THAT
OUR GOD. BUT IF WE MAKE THAT
MISTAKE OF GETTING UPSET AND
TRYING TO PAY THEM BACK AND
STRAIGHTEN THEM OUT, THEN
YOU'RE SINKING DOWN TO
THEIR LEVEL. YOU ALWAYS GO
DOWN TO ENGAGE WITH A
GOSSIP, WITH A PERSON THAT
SAYS THINGS TO DEMEAN OTHER
PEOPLE. RECOGNIZE WHO YOU'RE
DEALING WITH. THAT'S NOT AN
EAGLE. THAT'S NOT A PERSON
OF INTEGRITY, SOMEONE THAT
WILL BELIEVE THE BEST, THAT
WILL BE HAPPY IF YOU SUCCEED.
THAT'S A CHICKEN. YOU'RE NOT
SUPPOSED TO BE DOWN PECKING,
SUPPOSED TO BE DOWN PECKING,
GOSSIPING, FINDING FAULT,
PULLING PEOPLE DOWN. YOU'RE
AN EAGLE. YOU WERE CREATED
TO SOAR. STAY UP ON THOSE
HIGH LEVELS WHERE YOU
BELONG. IT'S EASY TO GET
DRAWN INTO CONFLICT, BAITED
INTO STRIFE. SOME PEOPLE'S
WHOLE GOAL IS TO GET YOU
STIRRED UP. “DID YOU HEAR
WHAT SO AND SO SAID ABOUT
YOU. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
IT'S SO WRONG.” THE BEST
THING YOU CAN SAY IS, “NO,
I DIDN'T HEAR AND I DON'T
WANT TO HEAR.” MY EARS ARE
NOT GARBAGE CANS TO FILL
WITH TRASH. “ARE YOU SURE,
THEY'RE SAYING THINGS THAT
ARE NOT TRUE. YOU BETTER
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.”
“NO THANKS, THEY DON'T
CONTROL MY REPUTATION.
IT'S IN GOOD HANDS.
I AM CONFIDENT. GOD WILL
TAKE CARE OF IT.”
QUIT LETTING PEOPLE STIR
YOU UP. QUIT LISTENING TO
ALL THE RUMORS, FALSE
ACCUSATIONS, NEGATIVE
THINGS PEOPLE HAVE SAID.
KEEP THAT OUT OF YOUR
SPIRIT. I'M NOT SAYING TO
BE NAÏVE AND ACT LIKE IT'S
NOT HAPPENING, I'M SAYING
DON'T GIVE IT THE TIME OF
DAY. PEOPLE CAN'T STOP
YOUR DESTINY.
IT'S A TEST, ARE YOU GOING
TO GET DRAWN INTO CONFLICT,
TRYING TO DEFEND YOURSELF,
PROVE THAT YOU'RE NOT WHAT
THEY'RE SAYING, OR ARE YOU
GOING TO STAY ON THE HIGH
ROAD AND LET GOD FIGHT YOUR
BATTLES, LET GOD DEFEND YOU.
AND, YES, I KNOW NEGATIVE
THINGS PEOPLE SAY CAN BE
HURTFUL, BUT WHEN YOU PUT
YOUR REPUTATION IN GOD'S
HANDS, THERE'S A FREEDOM.
YOU CAN REST, YOU CAN STAY
IN PEACE KNOWING THAT GOD
IS YOUR DEFENDER, KNOWING
THAT HE'S IN CHARGE OF YOUR
REPUTATION.
REPUTATION.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “JESUS
MADE HIMSELF OF NO
REPUTATION.” HE WENT AROUND
DOING GOOD, HEALING PEOPLE,
FEEDING THE HUNGRY, YET
PEOPLE RIDICULED HIM, THEY
SLANDERED HIM, SAID THINGS
THAT WEREN'T TRUE.
HIS OWN BROTHERS DIDN'T
BELIEVE IN HIM. THE
RELIGIOUS LEADERS SAID,
“HE'S FROM THE DEVIL,
THAT'S HOW HE CAN HEAL
PEOPLE.” JESUS COULDN'T
HAVE BEEN ANY MORE LOVING,
KIND, AND GENEROUS BUT
CERTAIN PEOPLE WERE
DETERMINED TO MISUNDERSTAND
HIM, MISCHARACTERIZE HIM,
MISJUDGE HIM. WHAT DID
JESUS DO? SPEND ALL HIS
ENERGY TRYING TO STRAIGHTEN
ENERGY TRYING TO STRAIGHTEN
THEM OUT, CONVINCE THEM
THEY WERE WRONG, PROVE
TO THEM WHO HE WAS?
NO, HE ANSWERED THEM NOT A
WORD. HE DIDN'T WASTE HIS
TIME TRYING TO CONVINCE
PEOPLE TO BE FOR HIM THAT
WERE NEVER GOING TO BE FOR
HIM. YOU WOULD THINK WITHR
HIM. YOU WOULD THINK WITHR
ALL THE NEGATIVE TALK, WITH
ALL THE RUMORS, SLANDER,
LIES, HE WOULD HAVE MISSED
HIS PURPOSE. BUT PEOPLE
DON'T CONTROL YOUR DESTINY.
THEY CAN TRY TO DEFAME,
THEY CAN TRY TO DEFAME,
DENOUNCE, MISCHARACTERIZE
BUT YOUR REPUTATION IS IN
GOD'S HANDS. IF WHAT THEY
SAID COULD STOP YOUR
PURPOSE, THEY WOULD BE
MORE POWERFUL THAN GOD.
DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE IN
ENGAGING IN BATTLES YOU'RE
NOT SUPPOSED TO ENGAGE IN.
DO LIKE JESUS, ANSWER THEM
NOT A WORD. DON'T PAY ANY
ATTENTION.
SINCE GOD IS PREPARING AY
SINCE GOD IS PREPARING A
TABLE IN THE PRESENCE OF
YOUR ENEMIES, THAT MEANS
THERE'S A SEAT FOR YOU.
WHEN THESE FALSE
ACCUSATIONS COME, RUMORS,
SLANDER, THE BEST THING YOU
CAN DO IS TAKE A SEAT.
STAY IN PEACE.
THAT'S NOT THE TIME TO GET
DEFENSIVE, PAY THEM BACK,
TWO CAN PLAY AT THIS GAME.
JUST IMAGINE GOD IS SENDING
THE ANGELS TO THE GROCERY
STORE. HE'S TURNED THE OVENS
ON. GABRIEL IS SETTING THE
TABLE. THERE'S A BIG MEAL
TABLE. THERE'S A BIG MEAL
BEING PREPARED. NOT JUST
DINNER BUT A FEAST, A
CELEBRATION. NOW THERE'S
A SEAT THERE FOR YOU.
THERE'S A PLACE AT THIS
TABLE WHERE GOD IS GOING TO
HONOR YOU IN FRONT OF THOSE
THAT HAVE TALKED, SHOW YOU
FAVOR IN FRONT OF THOSE
THAT HAVE MADE FUN, PROMOTE
YOU IN FRONT OF THOSE THAT
TRIED TO PUSH YOU DOWN.
GOD IS NOT GOING TO
VINDICATE YOU IN PRIVATE,
HE'S GOING TO DO IT IN
PUBLIC, SO THE VERY ONES
THAT TREATED YOU THE WORST,
WITH CONTEMPT,
MISCHARACTERIZED, THEY WILL
SEE YOU PROMOTED, HONORED,
IN POSITIONS OF INFLUENCE
AND RESPECT.
NOW FOR THIS TO HAPPEN YOU
HAVE TO BE SEATED AT THE
TABLE. IF YOU'RE TAKING
MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS,
UPSET, THINKING ABOUT WHAT
THEY SAID, THEN YOU'RE
GOING TO MISS THE DINNER.
YOU'RE GOING TO MISS THE
PROMOTION THAT GOD HAS FOR
YOU. IT'S EASY TO GET ALL
RILED UP, BENT OUT OF
SHAPE, DON'T FALL INTO THAT
TRAP. YOUR REPUTATION IS
IN GOD'S HANDS.
THERE'S NOTHING PEOPLE CAN
SAY, NOTHING THEY CAN DO
THAT CAN KEEP YOU FROM YOUR
PURPOSE. YES, THERE MAY BE
SEASONS OF DISRESPECT, WHERE
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GETTING
THE UPPER HAND, BUT YOUR
TIME IS COMING. THE MEAL
IS BEING PREPARED. YOU CAN
TRUST THE FAITHFULNESS OF
GOD. IT SAYS IN PSALMS,
“DEAL WITH ME OH SOVEREIGN
LORD, FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR
OWN REPUTATION.”
BECAUSE YOU BELONG TO THE
SOVEREIGN LORD, BECAUSE
YOU'RE HIS CHILD, HE WILL
DEAL WITH YOU BECAUSE OF
HIS REPUTATION. IT'S NOT
JUST WHO YOU ARE, IT'S
WHOSE YOU ARE.
NOW, YOUR PART IS TO GUARD
YOUR HEART, NOT GET
OFFENDED, NOT GET
DISTRACTED IN BATTLES THAT
DON'T MATTER, GOD'S PART IS
TO GUARD YOUR REPUTATION.
HE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE
SEEN IN THE RIGHT LIGHT.
GOD GAVE NEHEMIAH A DREAM
TO REBUILD THE WALLS OF
JERUSALEM. HE WAS LIVING A
THOUSAND MILES AWAY WORKING
AS A CUPBEARER FOR THE KING.
HE DIDN'T HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE, THE MATERIALS,
THE FUNDS, BUT GOD GAVE HIM
FAVOR WITH THE KING AND
THIS KING GAVE HIM
EVERYTHING HE NEEDED.
BUT WHEN TWO MEN, SANBALLAT
AND TOBIAS, HEARD ABOUT
NEHEMIAH'S PLAN, THEY
DIDN'T LIKE IT. THEY STARTED
STIRRING UP TROUBLE, SPREADING
RUMORS, MAKING FALSE
ACCUSATIONS. I CAN IMAGINE,
THEY WENT TO THE CITY
THEY WENT TO THE CITY
OFFICIALS TRYING TO DISCREDIT
HIM, “WHAT'S THIS MAN,
NEHEMIAH, DOING IN OUR CITY?
HE'S ONLY IN IT FOR HIMSELF,
HE'S JUST TRYING TO BECOME
KNOWN.” THEY QUESTIONED HIS
MOTIVES, CAST DOUBT ON HIS
INTEGRITY. IT'S NO DIFFERENT
INTEGRITY. IT'S NO DIFFERENT
TODAY. ANYTIME YOU STEP OUT
TO DO SOMETHING GREAT.
YOU'RE BEING A GREAT
MOTHER, POURING YOUR HEART
AND SOUL INTO RAISING THOSE
CHILDREN, MAYBE EXCELLING
AT SCHOOL, OR GOING THE
EXTRA MILE AT WORK, SEEING
YOUR GIFTS COME OUT IN
GREAT WAYS, DON'T BE
SURPRISED IF SOMEONE IS
GOING TO FIND FAULT,
QUESTION YOUR MOTIVES, SAY
THINGS THAT ARE NOT TRUE,
“HE JUST THINKS HE'S BETTER
THAN US. SHE'S NOT THAT
TALENTED, SHE JUST
MANIPULATED PEOPLE TO GET
THAT POSITION.” IF YOU WERE
SITTING AROUND, JUST BEING
MEDIOCRE, NO ONE WOULD CARE.
THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE
TRYING TO DISCREDIT YOU,
TRYING TO MAKE YOU LOOK
BAD, THAT'S A SIGN THAT
YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING
RIGHT, YOU'RE MAKING A
DIFFERENCE, YOU'RE LEAVING
YOUR MARK. WHILE NEHEMIAH
YOUR MARK. WHILE NEHEMIAH
WAS UP ON THE HILL WITH HIS
MEN, REBUILDING THE WALL,
SANBALLAT AND TOBIAS WERE
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL,
HURLING INSULTS. VERSE 2
SAYS THEY SHOUTED, “WHAT
DOES THIS THIS POOR, FEEBLE
MAN THINK HE'S DOING.”
SANBALLAT SAID, “IF A FOX
WALKED ON THAT WALL IT
WOULD FALL DOWN.” I'M
SURE NEHEMIAH WAS TEMPTED
TO PUT HIS TOOLS DOWN, WALK
DOWN THE HILL AND TELL THEM
WHAT HE THOUGHT.
HE HAD HIS SPEECH READY,
“LISTEN HERE LOSERS, YOU
DON'T KNOW ME, YOU'RE JUST
A BUNCH OF TROUBLEMAKERS,
SPREADING LIES, TRYING TO
STOP A GOOD CAUSE.
STOP A GOOD CAUSE.
BY THE WAY, WHY DID YOUR
MOTHER NAME YOU SANBALLAT?
THAT'S RIDICULOUS.” HE FELT
LIKE GIVING THEM A PIECE OF
HIS MIND, TRYING TO
STRAIGHTEN THEM OUT, BUT
THEN HE CAME BACK TO HIS
SENSES. THOUGHT, “NO, I'M
NOT GOING TO WASTE MY TIME
TRYING TO CONVINCE THEM TO
BE FOR ME. THEY DON'T WANT
TO BE FOR ME. THEY DON'T
WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
I'M DOING. THEY'RE
DETERMINED TO MISUNDERSTAND
ME.” SOME PEOPLE ARE SO
SMALL MINDED, SO INSECURE,
THEY'LL NEVER CELEBRATE
THE FAVOR ON YOUR LIFE.
THAT JEALOUS SPIRIT WILL
CAUSE THEM TO FIND FAULT
AND CRITICIZE. JUST STAY
ON THE WALL. NEHEMIAHULT
ON THE WALL. NEHEMIAH
IGNORED THEM AND KEPT
WORKING. EVERY DAY HE
COULD HEAR THEIR INSULTS,
EVERY DAY HE COULD HEAR
THEIR SLANDER. IT'S
INTERESTING THAT GOD
INTERESTING THAT GOD
DIDN'T STOP IT.
NEHEMIAH HAD TO ON PURPOSE
TUNE IT OUT AND KEEP FOCUSED
ON WHAT HE WAS CALLED TO DO.
IN FIFTY-TWO DAYS, RECORD
TIME, HE REBUILT THE WALL.
NEHEMIAH WAS HONORED AND
ESTEEMED AS ONE WHO HELPED
SAVE THE ISRAELITES.
SANBALLAT AND TOBIAS DID
THEIR BEST TO RUIN HIS
REPUTATION, BUT WHEN YOU
PUT YOUR REPUTATION IN
GOD'S HANDS, NOTHING CAN
STOP IT. TODAY NEHEMIAH
IS ONE OF THE HEROES OF
FAITH. NO MATTER HOW HARD
SOMEONE TRIES, THEY MAY
HAVE MORE INFLUENCE, MORE
SENIORITY, MORE FOLLOWERS,
DON'T WORRY, THEY CANNOT
STAND AGAINST OUR GOD.
YOU KEEP DOING THE RIGHT
THING, YOU KEEP STRIVING
FOR EXCELLENCE, FOLLOWING
THAT DREAM THAT IN YOUR
HEART, AND GOD WILL TAKE
CARE OF THE SANBALLATS AND
TOBIAS'. YOU MAY BE IN A
SITUATION NOW WHERE PEOPLE
ARE COMING AGAINST YOU,
SAYING THINGS THAT AREN'T
TRUE, YOU'RE TEMPTED TO
GET ALL RILED UP AND
STRAIGHTEN THEM OUT.
NO, DON'T COME DOWN OFF
THE WALL. DON'T LET THEM
BAIT YOU INTO CONFLICT.
THEY'RE A DISTRACTION.
THE SANBALLATS, THE TOBIAS,
THEY'RE TRYING TO LURE YOU
OUT OF YOUR PURPOSE, SO
YOU'LL WASTE VALUABLE TIME
ON THINGS THAT DON'T MATTER.
STAY ON THE WALL.
THEIR DISRESPECT CANNOT
STOP YOU UNLESS YOU COME
DOWN. THEIR LIES, SLANDER,
INNUENDOES; IS NOTHING BUT
NOISE. IT'S NOTHING BUT
NEGATIVE CHATTER.
HERE'S THE THING, GOD HEARS
IT. WHEN YOU STAY ON THAT
HIGH ROAD, HE'S PREPARING
THE DINNER. HE'S SETTING
THE TABLE. THERE WILL BE
A TIME WHEN THE NOISE HAS
STOPPED, AND YOU'RE BEING
PROMOTED; YOU'RE BEING
HONORED. “WELL, JOEL, MAN,
THEY'RE DAMAGING MY
REPUTATION, THEY'RE SAYING
THINGS THAT MAKE PEOPLE
BELIEVE LESS OF ME.”
THAT'S ONLY TEMPORARY.
THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT.
GOD IS IN CONTROL OF YOUR
REPUTATION. AS LONG AS
YOU'RE HONORING HIM, AT THE
RIGHT TIME VINDICATION IS
COMING. YOU WILL COME OUT
OF IT, NOT WITH LESS RESPECT
BUT WITH MORE RESPECT THAN
HAD THEY NOT TRIED TO HOLD
YOU DOWN. WHAT'S MEANT FOR
HARM, GOD WILL TURN TO YOUR
HARM, GOD WILL TURN TO YOUR
ADVANTAGE. A COUPLE OF YEARS
AFTER MY FATHER WENT TO BE
WITH THE LORD AND I STARTED
MINISTERING, I MET THIS
MINISTER WHEN I WAS IN
ANOTHER CITY, AND WE BECAME
FRIENDS. HE STARTED COMING
TO OUR NIGHTS OF HOPE WHEN
WE TRAVELED TO DIFFERENT
CITIES EACH MONTH. I NEVER
ASKED HIM TO. HE JUST CAME
TO VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORT US.
WE HAD CERTAIN CONSULTANTS
HELPING US RUN THE EVENTS
AT THAT TIME, SOME OF THEM
DIDN'T LIKE HIM SHOWING UP
SO MUCH. THEY WONDERED,
“WHO IS THIS NEW GUY AND
WHY'S HE ALWAYS HERE?”
WHEN THEY FOUND OUT HE WAS
A FRIEND OF MINE AND I WANTED
A FRIEND OF MINE AND I WANTED
HIM TO COME BACK, THEY WERE
JEALOUS. THEY STARTED
PUTTING HIM IN A NEGATIVE
LIGHT. I WOULD HEAR THE
RUMORS, “HE'S OPPORTUNISTIC,
HE'S JUST IN THIS FOR HIMSELF,
HE'S TRYING TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE.” QUESTIONING HIS
MOTIVES, TRYING TO
DISCREDIT HIM. I KNEW HIM
WELL. HIS HEART WAS PURE,
HE HAD GREAT CHARACTER,
A PERSON OF INTEGRITY.
YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST
INTENTIONS, THE PUREST
MOTIVES, BUT THERE WILL
ALWAYS BE PEOPLE THAT TRY
TO CAST DOUBT, THAT ON
PURPOSE MISCHARACTERIZE,
MISJUDGE. THEY'RE NOT BAD
PEOPLE, SOMETIMES THEY'RE
JUST JEALOUS, THEY DON'T
WANT TO SEE YOU SUCCEED,
THEY DON'T WANT TO LET
SOMEONE NEW IN. THIS IS
WHEN IT'S TEMPTING TO GET
OFFENDED, GET BAITED INTO
CONFLICT, LIVE DEFENSIVE.
YOU HAVE TO STAY ON THE
WALL. LEAVE IT ALONE.
TRUST GOD TO FIGHT YOUR
BATTLES. ONE EVENT, I KNEW
BATTLES. ONE EVENT, I KNEW
MY FRIEND WAS COMING, BUT
HE WAS LATE. IT WAS GOING
TO START IN A FEW MINUTES.
I TEXTED HIM AND ASKED
WHERE HE WAS. HE SAID
HE WAS DELAYED. WHAT HE
DIDN'T TELL ME IS THESE
PEOPLE WOULDN'T LET HIM
IN THE EVENT, SO HE WAS
IN LINE TO BUY A TICKET.
HE WAS VERY HURT BY IT.
FOR A FEW MONTHS, HE QUIT
COMING. HE THOUGHT, “IF
THEY PUT ME DOWN, DISCREDIT
ME, WHEN IN FACT I'M TRYING
TO BE A SOURCE OF GOOD, THEN
FORGET IT, I DON'T NEED IT,
I'LL STAY WHERE I'M
APPRECIATED.”
HERE'S THE PRINCIPLE AGAIN,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GUARD
YOUR REPUTATION, BUT YOU
DO HAVE TO GUARD YOUR
DO HAVE TO GUARD YOUR
HEART. GOD IS GOING TO
TAKE CARE OF YOUR
REPUTATION; THE QUESTION IS
ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE CARE
OF YOUR HEART. IT'S EASY TO
GET OFFENDED, LIVE BITTER,
UPSET. MY FRIEND WAS TEMPTED
TO COME DOWN OFF THE WALL.
LET WHAT WAS SAID, KEEP HIM
FROM DOING WHAT HE KNEW GOD
CALLED HIM TO DO. HE STARTED
COMING BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN,
MONTH AFTER MONTH, IGNORING
THE INSULTS, DISMISSING THE
DISRESPECT, NOT PAYING
ATTENTION TO THE RUMORS.
GOD STARTED FIGHTING HIS
BATTLES. GOD BEGAN TO
BRING VINDICATION.
THE MORE THEY PUSHED HIM
DOWN, THE MORE GOD LIFTED
HIM UP. THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE
IN HIM BUT I BELIEVED IN HIM.
I DIDN'T KNOW ALL THAT WAS
GOING ON, BUT GOD WILL
ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT
PEOPLE THAT WILL BE THERE
FOR YOU. THE ONES THAT
MATTER WILL SEE THE BEST
IN YOU. THEY'LL WANT TO
STAND UP FOR YOU AND HELP
YOU MOVE INTO YOUR PURPOSE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIND
THEM, THEY'LL FIND YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONVINCE
THEM TO BE FOR YOU, THEY'LL
WANT TO BE FOR YOU.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS ALL
THOSE THAT WERE AGAINST HIM
ARE NO LONGER WITH US, BUT
HE'S STILL HERE.
HE OUTLASTED ALL OF THEM.
LISTEN, THERE MAY BE
SEASONS WHERE YOU HAVE TO
ENDURE DISRESPECT, BEING
PUT DOWN, SEEN IN A BAD
LIGHT. THE SANBALLATS AND
TOBIAS MAY KEEP HURLING
THEIR INSULTS, STIRRING UP
TROUBLE, BUT THAT IS NOT
HOW YOUR STORY ENDS.
JUST STAY ON THE WALL.
KEEP DOING THE RIGHT THING.
KEEP FULFILLING YOUR
PURPOSE AND THERE WILL BE A
TIME LIKE WITH MY FRIEND,
THE OPPOSITION IS GONE, THE
SLANDERERS ARE SILENCED,
THE HATERS ARE HUMILIATED.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO DEFEND
YOUR REPUTATION.
HE KNOWS KNOW HOW TO
PROMOTE YOU IN THE PRESENCE
OF YOUR ENEMIES.
DESPITE WHAT WAS SAID,
DESPITE WHAT WAS DONE,
YOU'RE GOING TO SHINE,
YOU'RE GOING TO EXCEL,
YOU'RE GOING TO STEP INTO
LEVELS THAT YOU NEVER
DREAMED. THIS IS WHAT
HAPPENED TO JOSEPH.
AS A TEENAGER, GOD GAVE HIM
A DREAM THAT HE WAS GOING
TO LEAD A NATION, BUT HIS
BROTHERS WERE JEALOUS.
THEY THREW HIM INTO A PIT.
THEY WERE GOING TO LEAVE
HIM THERE TO DIE, BUT THEY
SAW A CARAVAN OF
ISHMAELITES COMING.
THEY SOLD HIM AS A SLAVE.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT IT
WASN'T SOMEONE ON THE
OUTSIDE THAT TRIED TO KEEP
JOSEPH FROM HIS PURPOSE, IT
WAS HIS FAMILY. SOMETIMES
THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO YOU
WILL NOT BELIEVE IN YOU,
NOT TREAT YOU WITH RESPECT,
SAY THINGS THAT ARE HURTFUL.
IT'S TEMPTING TO COME OFF
THE WALL, LIVE OFFENDED,
BITTER. YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT
TO GOD. LEAVE IT IN HIS
HANDS. YOU CAN'T DWELL ON
WHAT THEY DID, WHAT THEY
SAID. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T
EVEN KNOW THEY'RE DOING IT.
IT'S JUST HOW THEY WERE
RAISED, IT'S JUST WHAT THEY
SAW MODELED GROWING UP.
JOSEPH WAS WORKING FOR
A HIGH-RANKING MILITARY
OFFICIAL IN EGYPT, RUNNING
HIS HOUSEHOLD.
HE NEVER COMPLAINED.
HE DIDN'T SLACK OFF.
HE JUST KEPT BEING HIS
BEST, STAYING ON THE WALL.
THE MAN'S WIFE FALSELY
ACCUSED JOSEPH, SAID HE
WAS TRYING TO HARM HER.
THIS MAN WAS FURIOUS, HAD
JOSEPH THROWN IN PRISON.
IF YOU JUDGED JOSEPH AT
THAT POINT YOU WOULD THINK,
HE HAS NO REPUTATION.
HE'S A SLAVE, IN PRISON,
DISOWNED BY HIS FAMILY.
JOSEPH COULD HAVE BEEN
BITTER, ANGRY, THINKING
ABOUT WHAT HIS BROTHERS
ABOUT WHAT HIS BROTHERS
DID, “HOW COULD THIS LADY
LIE ABOUT ME, THAT'S SO
WRONG.” INSTEAD, HE STAYED
ON THE WALL. HE TRUSTED GOD
TO BE HIS VINDICATOR.
HE KEPT DOING THE RIGHT
THING WHEN IT WAS HARD,
WHEN HE WAS MISUNDERSTOOD,
MISCHARACTERIZED.
ONE NIGHT THE PHARAOH, THE
ONE NIGHT THE PHARAOH, THE
LEADER OF THE COUNTRY, HAD
A DREAM THAT HE DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND. THEY CALLED
FOR JOSEPH; HE INTERPRETED
THE DREAM. THE PHARAOH WAS
SO IMPRESSED, HE MADE JOSEPH
SECOND IN COMMAND OF ALL OF
EGYPT. OVERNIGHT, HE WENT
FROM THE PRISON TO BEING
PRIME MINISTER, ONE OF THE
MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE OF
THAT DAY. NOW HE WAS
RESPECTED, HONORED,
INFLUENTIAL, PEOPLE BOWED
DOWN BEFORE HIM. GOD KNOWS
HOW TO VINDICATE YOU.
HE KNOWS HOW TO RESTORE
YOUR REPUTATION. IT MAY
SEEM LIKE PEOPLE HAVE DONE
THINGS THAT HAVE PERMANENTLY
SET YOU BACK. YOUR MOTIVES
WERE RIGHT, YOUR HEART WAS
PURE, BUT THINGS HAPPENED
THAT PUT YOU IN A BAD LIGHT.
LIKE WITH JOSEPH, YOU'RE IN
THAT SEASON OF DISRESPECT,
LOSS OF CREDIBILITY, PEOPLE
DISCREDITING YOU.
YOUR TIME IS COMING.
GOD SEES YOU DOING THE
RIGHT THING. HE SEES YOU
BEING A JOSEPH, NOT
COMPLAINING, NOT HOLDING
A GRUDGE, NOT GIVING UP
ON LIFE. THE PHAROAH IS
GOING TO CALL YOU IN, SO
TO SPEAK. THE RIGHT PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO SHOW UP.
VINDICATION IS COMING.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
QUICKLY. IT'S NOT GOING
TO BE YEARS TO RESTORE
WHAT WAS LOST. JOSEPH WENT
FROM A PRISONER TO A PRINCE
OVERNIGHT. SUDDENLY YOU'RE
GOING TO SEE VINDICATION,
RESTORATION, PROMOTION,
HONOR, AND INFLUENCE.
THIRTEEN YEARS AFTER THE
THIRTEEN YEARS AFTER THE
BROTHERS THREW HIM INTO THE
PIT, THEY SHOWED UP AT THE
PALACE IN EGYPT LOOKING FOR
FOOD. THERE WAS A GREAT
FAMINE. JOSEPH WAS IN CHARGE
OF THE FOOD SUPPLY. THEY
THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD.
WHEN THEY REALIZED IT WAS
HIM, THEY ALL BOWED DOWN
LOW BEFORE HIM. THAT WAS
THE TABLE IN THE PRESENCE
OF HIS ENEMIES. THE VERY
ONES THAT TRIED TO HOLD
YOU DOWN, THEY'RE GOING
TO SEE YOU PROMOTED.
DON'T LIVE STRESSED OUT,
DON'T LIVE STRESSED OUT,
TRYING TO GUARD YOUR
REPUTATION, GUARD YOUR
HEART. MAKE THE DECISION TO
NOT LIVE OFFENDED, UPSET,
TRYING TO PAY PEOPLE BACK,
AND GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF
YOUR REPUTATION. HE'S HEARD
EVERY NEGATIVE COMMENT THAT
WAS SAID ABOUT YOU, THE
INSULTS, THE DISRESPECT,
THE BETRAYALS. HE'S GOING
TO MAKE IT UP TO YOU.
YOU DO YOUR PART, STAY ON
THE WALL. KEEP DOING GREAT
THINGS. KEEP BEING A PERSON
OF EXCELLENCE. KEEP
DREAMING. KEEP STRETCHING.
THE NAYSAYERS CANNOT STOP
YOUR PURPOSE. THE NEGATIVE
CHATTER IS JUST NOISE TO
TRY TO GET YOU DISTRACTED.
DON'T TAKE THAT BAIT.
STAY FOCUSED AND LEAVE YOUR
REPUTATION IN GOD'S HANDS.
IF YOU'LL DO THIS I BELIEVE
AND DECLARE, LIKE JOSEPH,
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
VINDICATION, PROMOTION,
NEGATIVE SITUATIONS ARE
ABOUT TO TURN AROUND,
FORCES THAT HAVE HELD YOU
BACK ARE BEING BROKEN.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE THE
TABLE IN THE PRESENCE OF
YOUR ENEMIES, FROM THE
PRISON TO THE PALACE, 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 SIMPLEE
IF YOU PRAYED THAT SIMPLE
PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU GOT
BORN AGAIN. WE'D LOVE TO
SEND 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
VICTORIA AND I WILL BE
RIGHT BACK TO SPEAK A
BLESSING OVER YOU.
