> JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU!
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU
TODAY. IF YOU'RE EVER IN
OUR AREA, PLEASE STOP BY;
BE A PART OF ONE OF OUR
SERVICES. WE WOULD LOVE
TO HAVE YOU. I HOPE YOU'LL
STAY CONNECTED WITH US
DURING THE WEEK. WE HAVE
A DAILY PODCAST YOU CAN
DOWNLOAD. OUR YOUTUBE
CHANNEL; WATCH THE
MESSAGES ANYTIME. YOU CAN
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE'LL KEEP YOU ENCOURAGED
AND INSPIRED.
AND INSPIRED.
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THIS LADY.
SHE WAS STOPPED AT AN
INTERSECTION. THIS MAN
CAME UP ASKING FOR MONEY.
SHE DUG IN HER PURSE AND
FOUND A DOLLAR BILL.
SHE SAID TO THE MAN,
"I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU
THIS MONEY NOT BECAUSE YOU
DESERVE IT, BUT BECAUSE
IT MAKES ME HAPPY."
THE MAN LOOKED AT HER AND
SAID, "MA'AM, WHY DON'T YOU
GIVE ME TWENTY DOLLARS AND
THOROUGHLY ENJOY YOURSELF."
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 WHAT'S BLOCKING YOUR
GROWTH.
VICTORIA AND I WERE IN
ANOTHER CITY WALKING THROUGH
A PARK.
IT WAS FULL OF THESE HUGE
CACTUS PLANTS.
THEY STOOD OVER THIRTY FEET
TALL, ALL KINDS OF
INCREDIBLE SHAPES.
I WAS AMAZED AT NOT ONLY HOW
BEAUTIFUL THEY WERE, BUT HOW
BIG THEY WERE.
AS WE CONTINUED THROUGH THE
PARK, ENJOYING ALL THE
SIGHTS, WE CAME TO A GROUP
OF CACTUS THAT LOOKED THE
SAME TYPE AS THE LARGE
CACTUS BUT THEY WERE ONLY
ABOUT MY HEIGHT.
I WENT OVER TO THEM, LOOKED
CLOSER, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHY THEY WERE SO MUCH
SHORTER.
I SAID TO VICTORIA, "THEY
MUST BE A DIFFERENT KIND."
SHE LOOKED UP AND SAID, "NO
JOEL, IT'S THAT TREE."
THERE WAS THIS LARGE OAK
TREE, ITS BRANCHES WERE
KEEPING THE SUN FROM HITTING
THESE CACTUS.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THEY
HAD THE SAME POTENTIAL AS
THE CACTUS THAT WERE THIRTY
FEET TALL.
THEY'RE IN THE SAME SOIL,
SAME CLIMATE, SAME WEATHER
CONDITIONS, THE ONLY
DIFFERENCE WAS SOMETHING WAS
BLOCKING THEIR GROWTH.
BECAUSE THEY'RE CONSTANTLY
IN THE SHADE, THEY'RE ONLY A
FRACTION OF WHAT THEY WERE
CREATED TO BE.
I WONDER IF SOMETHING IS
BLOCKING YOUR GROWTH.
ARE YOU UNDER THE SHADE OF
WHAT SOMEONE SPOKE OVER YOU,
TOLD YOU WHAT YOU COULDN'T
DO, HOW YOU'RE NOT THAT
TALENTED, NOW THAT SHADE IS
LIMITING YOUR LIFE?
ARE YOU UNDER THE SHADE OF
INTIMIDATION, AFRAID TO STEP
OUT IN FAITH, THINKING OF
ALL THE THINGS THAT COULD GO
WRONG?
DO YOU HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE
BLOCKING YOUR GROWTH,
CAUSING YOU TO COMPROMISE,
DO THINGS THAT ARE HOLDING
YOU BACK?
WHAT COULD YOU BECOME IF YOU
GOT OUT FROM UNDER THAT
SHADE?
HOW HIGH COULD YOU GO IF YOU
MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS?
THE GOOD NEWS IS THE
POTENTIAL IS STILL IN YOU.
YOU CAN STILL BECOME WHO YOU
WERE CREATED TO BE, YOU JUST
HAVE TO GET OUT FROM UNDER
THAT SHADE.
REMOVE WHAT'S BLOCKING YOUR
GROWTH AND YOU'LL BEGIN TO
BLOSSOM; YOU'LL GO TO NEW
LEVELS.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
YOU.
YOU HAVE THE LIFE OF
ALMIGHTY GOD IN YOU.
HE CREATED YOU TO RISE
HIGHER, TO BE SUCCESSFUL,
CONFIDENT, TO LEAVE YOUR
MARK.
I WAS TALKING TO A MAN AND
HE WAS SO DOWN ON HIMSELF
BECAUSE OF PAST MISTAKES.
HE WENT ON AND ON TELLING ME
EVERYTHING HE HAD DONE
WRONG.
HE WAS SO FOCUSED ON HIS
PAST THAT IT WAS POISONING
HIS FUTURE.
YOU MAY HAVE MADE MISTAKES,
WE ALL HAVE, BUT DON'T LET
GUILT STUNT YOUR GROWTH.
COME OUT FROM UNDER THAT
SHADE.
QUIT THINKING ABOUT ALL THE
THINGS YOU'VE DONE WRONG,
LIVING IN REGRETS, THINKING
YOU'VE SEEN YOUR BEST DAYS.
WHEN YOU LIVE GUILTY, YOU'RE
IN AGREEMENT WITH THE ENEMY.
HE'S CALLED THE ACCUSER.
HE'LL REMIND YOU OF EVERY
MISTAKE YOU'VE MADE FOR THE
LAST TWENTY YEARS.
HE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO GO
THROUGH LIFE FEELING WRONG
ABOUT YOURSELF.
WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO IS
STUNT YOUR GROWTH.
HE'LL DO HIS BEST TO KEEP
YOU IN THE SHADE.
HE KNOWS YOUR POTENTIAL.
HE KNOWS YOU WERE CREATED TO
SOAR, THAT'S WHY HE WORKS
OVERTIME TRYING TO MAKE US
FEEL GUILTY, WHISPERING,
"YOU DON'T MEASURE UP.
YOU FAILED AGAIN, YOU BLEW
YOUR DIET, YOU DIDN'T SPEND
ENOUGH TIME WITH YOUR
CHILDREN."
THERE'S ALWAYS SOME REASON
TO BE DOWN ON OURSELVES.
YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR FOOT
DOWN AND SAY, "NO THANKS,
I'M NOT LIVING UNDER THAT
SHADE.
I KNOW I'M FORGIVEN; I'M
REDEEMED.
MY PAST IS OVER, MY PRESENT
IS SECURE; MY FUTURE IS
BRIGHT."
THIS IS WHAT MY FATHER HAD
TO DO.
HE WAS MARRIED AT A VERY
YOUNG AGE AND UNFORTUNATELY
THE MARRIAGE DIDN'T WORK
OUT.
DENOMINATIONAL LEADERS TOLD
HIM THAT HE WOULD NEVER BE
IN MINISTRY AGAIN.
THAT THAT FAILURE HAD
DISQUALIFIED HIM FOR
LEADERSHIP.
HE EVENTUALLY RESIGNED FROM
HIS CHURCH, AND HE STARTED
SELLING INSURANCE.
HE KNEW GOD'S CALLING WAS ON
HIS LIFE, BUT HE WAS LIVING
UNDER THE SHADE OF GUILT,
THE SHADE OF WHAT PEOPLE
SAID, "YOU'LL NEVER BE IN
MINISTRY, YOU'RE NOT
QUALIFIED."
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "GOD'S
CALLING ON YOUR LIFE IS
IRREVOCABLE."
GOD DOESN'T CHANGE HIS MIND.
HE DIDN'T CANCEL YOUR
DESTINY BECAUSE YOU GOT OFF
COURSE.
PEOPLE MAY HAVE DISQUALIFIED
YOU, BUT PEOPLE DON'T
DETERMINE YOUR DESTINY.
GOD DOES, AND HE NEVER
DISQUALIFIES YOU.
YOU HAVE TO TUNE OUT ALL THE
NEGATIVE WORDS THAT WERE
SPOKEN OVER YOU.
IT MAY BE FROM PEOPLE YOU
LOVE, PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE
ENCOURAGING YOU, SHOWING YOU
MERCY, LIFTING YOU WHEN YOU
FALL, INSTEAD IT'S JUST THE
OPPOSITE.
THEY MAKE YOU FEEL MORE
GUILTY, TELL YOU HOW YOU
DON'T MEASURE UP.
DON'T STAY UNDER THAT SHADE.
GOD STILL HAS A PURPOSE FOR
YOU TO FULFILL.
YOU WOULDN'T BE ALIVE UNLESS
HE HAD SOMETHING AWESOME IN
FRONT OF YOU.
GET YOUR PASSION BACK, START
BELIEVING AGAIN, START
HOPING AGAIN, START DREAMING
AGAIN.
AFTER SEVERAL YEARS, MY
FATHER GOT BACK IN THE
MINISTRY, STARTED PASTORING.
HE MET MY MOTHER AND THEY
WERE MARRIED; HAD FIVE
CHILDREN.
HE PASTORED HERE AT LAKEWOOD
FOR NEARLY FORTY YEARS.
NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE
HAPPENED, IF HE HAD STAYED
UNDER THE SHADE OF GUILT.
I WOULDN'T BE UP HERE IF HE
HAD LET THOSE NEGATIVE WORDS
LIMIT HIS LIFE.
IS SOMETHING BLOCKING YOUR
GROWTH?
IS SOMETHING KEEPING YOU
FROM STANDING UP TALL?
GUILT, SHAME, FEAR, DOUBT.
YOU HAVE TO COME OUT FROM
UNDER THAT SHADE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO LEAVE ON
ITS OWN, YOU HAVE TO MAKE
THE MOVE.
WHEN YOU DO LIKE MY FATHER
AND START GOING FORWARD,
KNOWING THAT GOD'S MERCY IS
BIGGER THAN YOUR MISTAKES,
THEN YOU'RE GOING TO BEGIN
TO BLOSSOM.
NEW DOORS ARE GOING TO OPEN,
TALENT WILL COME OUT THAT
YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD,
YOU'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH
DREAMS BIGGER THAN YOU
THOUGHT.
ONE THING THAT CAN EASILY
STUNT OUR GROWTH IS THE
PEOPLE WE'RE SPENDING TIME
WITH.
YOU NEED TO EVALUATE YOUR
FRIENDSHIPS.
THE PEOPLE YOU'RE EATING
LUNCH WITH AT THE OFFICE,
THE NEIGHBOR YOU'RE HANGING
OUT WITH.
ARE THEY MAKING YOUR LIFE
BETTER, PUSHING YOU HIGHER,
INSPIRING YOU TO REACH YOUR
DREAMS, OR ARE THEY CAUSING
YOU TO COMPROMISE, BE
MEDIOCRE, TAKE THE EASY WAY
OUT?
YOU'RE GOING TO BECOME LIKE
THE PEOPLE YOU CONTINUALLY
ASSOCIATE WITH.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "DON'T
HANG AROUND ANGRY PEOPLE OR
YOU WILL BECOME ANGRY."
IT SAYS, "WHEN YOU WALK WITH
WISE PEOPLE, YOU WILL BECOME
WISE."
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE GOING TO BE LIKE IN
FIVE YEARS, LOOK AT YOUR
FRIENDS.
IF THEY GOSSIP, COMPLAIN
ABOUT THE BOSS, UNFAITHFUL
IN RELATIONSHIPS, HARD TO
GET ALONG WITH, DO YOURSELF
A FAVOR, FIND SOME NEW
FRIENDS.
SPIRITS ARE TRANSFERABLE.
IF YOUR FRIENDS GOSSIP, THAT
SPIRIT OF GOSSIP WILL GET
OFF ON YOU.
IF YOUR FRIENDS ARE
CRITICAL, THAT CRITICAL
SPIRIT WILL END UP ON YOU.
IF YOUR FRIENDS RUN AROUND
ON THEIR SPOUSE, THAT
UNFAITHFUL SPIRIT WILL START
TO TEMPT YOU.
YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IT BUT
THEY'RE BLOCKING YOUR
GROWTH.
THEY'RE LIMITING YOUR
POTENTIAL.
IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE.
"WELL, JOEL, WHAT IF I HURT
THEIR FEELINGS?
WHAT IF THEY GET UPSET?"
WHAT IF YOU MISS YOUR
DESTINY?
WHAT IF THEY KEEP YOU A
FIVE-FOOT CACTUS SO TO
SPEAK, INSTEAD OF THE
THIRTY-FOOT CACTUS THAT YOU
WERE CREATED TO BE?
HOW HIGH COULD YOU RISE IF
YOU WEREN'T BEING SHADED BY
COMPROMISE, BY MEDIOCRITY.
I KNOW YOU LOVE YOUR
FRIENDS, BUT YOUR DESTINY IS
TOO GREAT, YOUR ASSIGNMENT
TOO IMPORTANT TO HANG AROUND
PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ADDING
TO YOUR LIFE.
YOU NEED PEOPLE THAT BRING
OUT THE BEST IN YOU, PEOPLE
THAT INSPIRE YOU TO DO
BETTER, THAT CHALLENGE YOU
TO LIVE A LIFE OF EXCELLENCE
AND INTEGRITY.
I HAVE A FRIEND THAT TREATS
HIS WIFE SO GOOD.
HE'S SO LOVING, SO KIND, SO
ROMANTIC.
HE WRITES HIS WIFE POETRY;
IT ALMOST MAKES ME SICK.
HE SENDS HER THESE LOVING
TEXTS THAT HE'S WORKED ON
FOR TWO DAYS.
"MY DARLING WIFE, HOW
BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE TODAY."
I TEXT VICTORIA, "WAZZUP."
(LAUGHTER) BUT I WOULD
RATHER HAVE A FRIEND THAT
INSPIRES ME TO COME UP
HIGHER THAN I WOULD TO SINK
DOWN LOWER.
I WOULD RATHER HAVE HIM
CHALLENGE ME TO BE KINDER,
MORE RESPECTFUL, MORE
LOVING, THAN TO BE
SARCASTIC, DEROGATORY,
BELITTLING.
PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU'RE
SEEING MODELED AROUND YOU.
THAT'S ALL GETTING ON THE
INSIDE; OVER TIME IT WILL
START INFLUENCING HOW YOU
ACT, HOW YOU THINK, HOW YOU
TREAT PEOPLE.
SOME FRIENDSHIPS WERE GREAT
FOR A SEASON BUT NOW YOU'VE
COME UP HIGHER, YOU'VE
GROWN; YOU'VE STEPPED UP TO
A NEW LEVEL.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE
NOT GOOD PEOPLE, BUT YOU'VE
OUTGROWN THAT FRIENDSHIP.
I'M NOT SAYING TO NEVER
SPEAK TO THEM AGAIN BUT
LITTLE BY LITTLE YOU NEED TO
SPEND LESS AND LESS TIME
WITH THEM.
SOME OF THE TROUBLE AND
HEARTACHE WE FIND OURSELVES
IN, IF WE LOOK BACK, WE KNEW
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MAKE A
CHANGE, BUT WE DIDN'T DO IT.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO ROCK THE
BOAT; WE DIDN'T WANT TO
UPSET PEOPLE.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE NOT WILLING
TO WALK AWAY FROM IS WHERE
YOU'LL STOP GROWING.
I KNOW THIS MAN, HE'S A
STRONG BELIEVER, VERY
TALENTED, VERY INFLUENTIAL.
HE STARTED HANGING AROUND
THIS PERSON THAT WASN'T A
GOOD INFLUENCE.
HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY TRIED
TO WARN HIM, THAT HE DIDN'T
HAVE A GOOD PAST, TROUBLE
ALWAYS FOLLOWED HIM, BUT
THIS MAN WOULDN'T LISTEN.
HE ALWAYS TOOK UP FOR HIM
AND MADE EXCUSES.
OVER TIME THIS MAN STARTED
COMPROMISING, DOING THINGS
THAT WERE TOTALLY OUT OF HIS
CHARACTER.
HE ENDED UP LOSING HIS
MARRIAGE, HIS COMPANY LET
HIM GO, LOST A BIG CONTRACT.
HE TOLD ME LATER, "I KNEW HE
WAS A BAD INFLUENCE; I KNEW
GOD WAS TELLING ME TO
DISTANCE MYSELF, BUT I
IGNORED IT."
GOD ALWAYS GIVES US A
WARNING.
DON'T OVERRIDE IT.
WHEN HE ASKS YOU TO DO
SOMETHING, IT'S FOR YOUR OWN
GOOD.
IF YOU'LL GET RID OF THE
WRONG PEOPLE, THEN GOD WILL
SEND THE RIGHT PEOPLE,
PEOPLE THAT WILL MAKE YOU
BETTER, PEOPLE THAT WILL
INSPIRE YOU, PEOPLE THAT
WILL PUSH YOU INTO YOUR
DESTINY.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, GOD CHOSE
A YOUNG MAN NAMED GIDEON TO
LEAD THE ISRAELI ARMY
AGAINST THE MIDIANITES.
BUT GIDEON WAS AFRAID.
HE WAS HIDING IN THE
WINEPRESS.
AN ANGEL CAME TO HIM AND
SAID, "MIGHTY HERO, THE LORD
IS WITH YOU."
GIDEON DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A
MIGHTY HERO.
HE SAID, "I CAN'T LEAD THE
ARMY, I COME FROM THE
POOREST FAMILY, I'M THE
LEAST ONE IN MY FATHER'S
HOUSE."
HERE, GOD CALLED HIM A
MIGHTY HERO.
GOD KNEW HIS POTENTIAL.
HE KNEW GIDEON HAD GREATNESS
IN HIM.
THE PROBLEM WAS GIDEON WAS
UNDER THE SHADE OF FEAR, THE
SHADE OF INTIMIDATION.
"I CAN'T DO ANYTHING GREAT,
I DON'T COME FROM AN
INFLUENTIAL FAMILY, I'M AT A
DISADVANTAGE."
HAD THE ANGEL NOT COME TO
GIDEON AND TOLD HIM WHO HE
WAS, WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING
ABOUT HIM.
THE ANGEL WAS SAYING IN
EFFECT, "GIDEON COME OUT
FROM HIDING, COME OUT FROM
UNDER THAT SHADE.
THAT INSECURITY, THAT
DEFEATED MINDSET, THAT CAN'T
DO IT THINKING, IS STUNTING
YOUR GROWTH."
GOD IS SAYING TO YOU, "YOU
ARE A MIGHTY HERO.
YOU ARE DESTINED TO LEAVE
YOUR MARK."
BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE
CHOICE LIKE GIDEON, ARE YOU
GOING TO STAY IN THE SHADE,
HIDING IN THE WINEPRESS,
THINKING YOU DON'T HAVE WHAT
IT TAKES OR ARE YOU GOING TO
STEP INTO YOUR GREATNESS?
ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE
THAT YOU'RE A MIGHTY HERO,
EQUIPPED, EMPOWERED AND
ANOINTED?
THIS WAS A DESTINY MOMENT
FOR GIDEON.
EITHER STAY IN THE SHADE AND
THE OPPORTUNITY WOULD PASS
HIM BY, GOD WOULD FIND
SOMEONE ELSE, OR TAKE THAT
STEP OF FAITH AND BELIEVE HE
WAS WHO GOD SAID HE WAS.
GIDEON MADE THIS DECISION
THAT I'M ASKING US TO MAKE.
HE GOT RID OF WHAT WAS
BLOCKING HIS GROWTH, A POOR
SELF-IMAGE, LOW SELF-ESTEEM.
HE SAW HIMSELF A NEW WAY,
NOT WEAK, DEFEATED, LIMITED,
BUT AS STRONG, COURAGEOUS,
WELL ABLE.
WHEN HE DID, THE SCRIPTURE
SAYS, "THE SPIRIT OF GOD
CLOTHED GIDEON WITH POWER."
WHEN HE GOT OUT FROM UNDER
THE FEAR, THE INTIMIDATION,
GOD BREATHED ON HIS LIFE IN
A NEW WAY.
HE FELT A STRENGTH, A
COURAGE, A BOLDNESS THAT
HE'D NEVER FELT.
TOO OFTEN, WE'RE LIKE
GIDEON.
WE DON'T REALIZE WHO WE ARE.
WE'RE LETTING DOUBT,
NEGATIVE VOICES CONVINCE US
THAT WE'RE LIMITED.
"I CAN'T DO ANYTHING GREAT,
JOEL.
I COME FROM THE WRONG
FAMILY; I DON'T HAVE THE
TALENT."
WHO TOLD YOU THAT?
WHERE DID THOSE THOUGHTS
COME FROM?
THAT'S THE ENEMY TRYING TO
KEEP YOU UNDER THE SHADE.
HE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO BELIEVE
THOSE LIES YOUR WHOLE LIFE,
LIVE WITH A DEFEATED
MINDSET, HIDING, INSECURE,
AFRAID TO STEP OUT.
THIS CAN BE A DESTINY MOMENT
FOR YOU.
GOD IS SAYING, "MIGHTY HERO,
COME OUT FROM UNDER THAT
SHADE.
MIGHTY HERO, IT'S TIME TO
STEP UP TO WHO YOU WERE
CREATED TO BE."
WHEN YOU MAKE THAT CHOICE
LIKE GIDEON, AND SAY, "I'M
DONE LETTING FEAR AND CAN'T
DO IT THOUGHTS DICTATE MY
LIFE.
I'M DONE MAKING EXCUSES AS
TO WHY I CAN'T GO AFTER MY
DREAMS, I BELIEVE I'M A
MIGHTY HERO."
THEN LIKE WITH GIDEON, GOD
IS GOING TO SHOW OUT IN YOUR
LIFE IN A NEW WAY.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE FAVOR,
COURAGE, OPPORTUNITIES LIKE
YOU'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED.
GIDEON ROUNDED UP THIRTY-TWO
THOUSAND MEN, AS MANY AS HE
COULD FIND, THEY HEADED OUT
TO FACE THE MIDIANITES.
HE WAS FEELING CONFIDENT, HE
HAD THIS LARGE ARMY, BUT GOD
SAID, "GIDEON THAT'S TOO
MANY PEOPLE.
IF YOU DEFEAT THEM WITH THIS
MANY MEN, YOU'LL THINK YOU
DID IT IN YOUR OWN
STRENGTH."
GOD HAD THEM WEED THE MEN
DOWN, ALL THE WAY TILL HE
ONLY HAD THREE HUNDRED MEN.
WHEN YOU COME OUT OF THE
SHADE, THERE WILL BE TIMES
THE ODDS ARE AGAINST YOU.
THOUGHTS WILL TELL YOU, "YOU
SHOULD HAVE PLAYED IT SAFE;
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK OUT;
NOW, YOU'RE WAY OVER YOUR
HEAD."
NO STAND STRONG, THE LORD
YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU.
GIDEON MARCHED TOWARD THE
MIDIANITES WITH ONLY THREE
HUNDRED MEN.
AT MIDNIGHT THEY BLEW THE
TRUMPETS AND BEGAN TO SHOUT,
"A SWORD FOR THE LORD AND A
SWORD FOR GIDEON."
A LITTLE EARLIER, HE WAS
HIDING IN THE WINEPRESS, NO
ONE HAD EVER HEARD OF HIM,
NOW PEOPLE WERE SHOUTING HIS
NAME.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO MAKE UP FOR
LOST GROWTH.
THAT TIME YOU SPENT HIDING,
AFRAID, OFF COURSE, DON'T
WORRY, YOUR TIME IS COMING.
GOD IS GOING TO MAKE IT UP
TO YOU.
HE KNOWS HOW TO ACCELERATE,
HOW TO SPEED THINGS UP.
HE DOESN'T HOLD IT AGAINST
US THAT WE STAYED UNDER THE
SHADE.
WE'VE ALL MADE CHOICES THAT
SHOULD HAVE STOPPED OUR
DESTINY, SHOULD HAVE STUNTED
OUR GROWTH, BUT GOD IN HIS
MERCY, WON'T JUST LET YOU
START GROWING AGAIN, HE'LL
THRUST YOU AHEAD.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE.
YOU CAN STILL BECOME THE
MIGHTY HERO, YOU CAN STILL
ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAM, YOU
CAN STILL LIVE AN ABUNDANT
LIFE.
THERE IS GREATNESS IN YOU.
JEREMIAH SAID, THERE'S FIRE
SHUT UP IN MY BONES.
THERE IS POTENTIAL, TALENT,
INCREASE THAT YOU HAVEN'T
TAPPED INTO.
COME OUT OF HIDING.
START BELIEVING YOU'RE A
MIGHTY HERO.
GET RID OF THOSE LIMITING
THOUGHTS.
YOU AND GOD ARE A MAJORITY.
HE'S CALLING YOU OUT OF THE
SHADE.
OUT OF ANYTHING THAT'S
BLOCKING YOUR GROWTH.
STEP OUT AND GET READY TO
SEE NEW LEVELS, NEW
FRIENDSHIPS, NEW
OPPORTUNITIES, NEW TALENTS,
NEW VICTORIES.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO
GIDEON.
HE DEFEATED THE MIDIANITES.
OVERNIGHT, HE BECOME A
MIGHTY HERO.
FROM HIDING IN THE
WINEPRESS, TO BEING KNOWN AS
A MAN OF FEARLESS COURAGE.
GIDEON IS NOW LISTED IN
HEBREWS 11 AS ONE OF THE
HEROES OF FAITH.
HE WASN'T LIKE DAVID THAT
WENT OUT AND COURAGEOUSLY
DEFEATED GOLIATH.
HE WASN'T LIKE ABRAHAM WHO
BELIEVED WHEN ALL HOPE WAS
GONE.
HE WASN'T LIKE THE APOSTLE
PAUL THAT WROTE BOOKS OF THE
BIBLE IN PRISON.
HE STARTED OFF INSECURE,
INTIMIDATED, AFRAID.
HE WAS SHADED BY ALL THESE
THINGS THAT WERE BLOCKING
HIS GROWTH.
GOD WAS SHOWING US, IT'S NOT
WHERE YOU START, IT'S HOW
YOU FINISH.
WHERE YOU ARE IS NOT YOUR
DESTINY.
THERE'S STILL TIME TO BECOME
A GIDEON.
YOU CAN COME OUT OF THE
FEAR, THE DOUBT, THE GUILT,
AND STEP INTO WHO YOU WERE
CREATED TO BE, A MIGHTY
HERO, A HISTORY MAKER.
NOW QUIT BELIEVING THOSE
LIES THAT YOU'VE REACHED
YOUR LIMITS, YOU'LL ALWAYS
STRUGGLE, YOU BEEN THROUGH
TOO MUCH, IT WILL NEVER WORK
OUT.
COME OUT FROM UNDER THAT
SHADE.
THAT'S LIMITED YOU LONG
ENOUGH.
GOD IS READY TO SHOW OUT IN
YOUR LIFE, TO DO THINGS THAT
ARE UNUSUAL, UNCOMMON, OUT
OF THE ORDINARY, TO TAKE YOU
WHERE NO ONE IN YOUR FAMILY
HAS GONE.
SOMETIMES THE REASON WE'RE
IN THE SHADE IS THAT'S WHAT
WE SAW MODELED GROWING UP.
WE WERE RAISED BY PEOPLE
THAT WERE NEGATIVE,
INSECURE, LIVED GUILTY,
DYSFUNCTIONAL.
NOW THAT'S NORMAL TO US.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHO YOU ARE.
THAT'S A RESULT OF BEING IN
THE SHADE.
FOR SOME PEOPLE, FEAR HAS
BEEN BLOCKING THEIR FAMILY
FOR GENERATIONS, LOW
SELF-ESTEEM, ADDICTIONS,
MEDIOCRITY.
THAT'S WHAT GIDEON WAS
SAYING, "MY FAMILY-WE'RE ALL
POOR, WE'RE ALL DEFEATED,
LIMITED, AFRAID."
THAT MAY BE TRUE FOR YOU
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT YOUR
FAMILY LINE, BUT HERE'S THE
KEY, YOU'RE THE ONE GOD HAS
RAISED UP TO STEP OUT OF THE
SHADE.
YOU'RE THE ONE TO SET THE
NEW STANDARD, TO BE THE
DIFFERENCE MAKER.
DON'T LET THESE NEGATIVE
THINGS KEEP GETTING PASSED
DOWN.
ALL IT TAKES IS FOR ONE
PERSON TO RISE UP, ONE
GIDEON TO SAY, "I'M GOING TO
STEP OUT OF THIS FEAR, THIS
ADDICTION, THIS DEFEATED
MENTALITY, THESE UNHEALTHY
RELATIONSHIPS AND I'M GOING
TO SET A NEW STANDARD.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO
HONOR GOD.
WE'RE GOING TO LIVE FREE,
CONFIDENT, SECURE,
VICTORIOUS."
I READ ABOUT AN EXPERIMENT
WITH FOUR MONKEYS.
THEY PLACED THEM IN A ROOM
WITH TALL POLE IN THE
CENTER.
AT THE TOP OF THE POLE WAS A
BUNCH OF BANANAS.
THE FIRST MONKEY CLIMBED UP
THE POLE AS FAST AS HE COULD
TO GET THE BANANAS, BUT JUST
WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO TAKE
IT, A LARGE BUCKET OF COLD
WATER WAS POURED ON HIM.
HE SCURRIED DOWN THE POLE AS
FAST AS HE COULD, DIDN'T
WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH THOSE BANANAS.
IN A FEW MINUTES, ANOTHER
MONKEY CLIMBED UP THE POLE,
THE SAME THING HAPPENED.
THE BUCKET OF COLD WATER WAS
POURED ON HIM, AND HE TURNED
AND RAN BACK DOWN.
OVER TIME, THE OTHER TWO
MONKEYS TRIED BUT ONCE
AGAIN, THEY WERE DOUSED WITH
WATER AND CAME RUNNING DOWN.
DAY AFTER DAY WENT BY, EVEN
THOUGH THOSE MONKEYS LOVED
BANANAS, NONE OF THEM WOULD
GO UP THE POLE.
AT ONE POINT THE RESEARCHERS
REMOVED ONE MONKEY AND
REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE.
WHEN IT STARTED GOING UP THE
POLE, THE OTHER THREE
MONKEYS GRABBED HOLD OF IT,
AND PULLED IT DOWN, WOULDN'T
LET IT GO UP.
THIS HAPPENED TIME AND TIME
AGAIN, FINALLY THIS NEW
MONKEY GAVE UP, DIDN'T TRY
ANYMORE.
THE RESEARCHERS BROUGHT IN
ANOTHER MONKEY AND REPLACED
ONE OF THE ORIGINALS.
SAME THING, THEY PULLED HIM
DOWN.
THEY BROUGHT IN TWO MORE
MONKEYS, NOW NONE OF THE
ORIGINAL MONKEYS WERE IN THE
ROOM BUT THEY WOULDN'T LET
ANY MONKEY GO UP THE POLE.
EVENTUALLY THE ROOM WAS
FILLED WITH DOZENS OF
MONKEYS, NONE OF THEM HAD
EVER FELT THE COLD WATER,
BUT NOT ONE OF THEM WOULD
CLIMB THE POLE.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY, THEY
JUST KNEW THEY WEREN'T
SUPPOSED TO HAVE THOSE
BANANAS.
SOMETIMES WE'RE LIKE THESE
MONKEYS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T
ACCOMPLISH A DREAM, WHY WE
CAN'T BE SUCCESSFUL, GET OUT
OF DEBT, BREAK THE
ADDICTION.
ALL WE KNOW IS NOBODY IN OUR
FAMILY EVER DID IT.
THEY LIVED IN THE SHADE,
THEY LET FEAR, INSECURITY,
LIMITED THINKING BLOCK THEIR
GROWTH, NOW WE'RE IN THAT
SAME SHADE.
ANYTIME WE TRY TO MOVE
FORWARD, THERE ARE PEOPLE
TELLING US WHAT WE CAN'T DO
AND HOW IT'S NOT GOING TO
WORK OUT.
IT'S EASY TO ACCEPT IT,
LEARN TO LIVE WITH
MEDIOCRITY, "THIS IS JUST
WHO WE ARE."
NO QUIT LETTING PEOPLE TALK
YOU OUT OF YOUR DREAMS.
IT MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED FOR
THEM, BUT YOU'RE A MIGHTY
HERO, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
FOR YOU.
GO GET YOUR BANANAS.
THIS IS A NEW DAY.
GOD'S FAVOR IS ON YOUR LIFE
IN A NEW WAY.
HE'S CALLED YOU TO SET THE
NEW STANDARD, TO TAKE YOUR
FAMILY TO A NEW LEVEL.
I MET A YOUNG MAN AFTER THE
SERVICE, HE HAD JUST
GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE.
HE WAS SO EXCITED.
HE WAS THE FIRST ONE IN HIS
FAMILY TO EVER GET A DEGREE.
WHEN HE TOLD HIS FAMILY HE
WANTED TO GO, NO ONE
ENCOURAGED HIM.
IN FACT, THEY SAID, "WE'RE
NOT COLLEGE MATERIAL.
GRANDDADDY DIDN'T GO, GREAT
GRANDDADDY DIDN'T GO, WE'RE
NOT MADE FOR THAT KIND OF
WORK."
LIKE THOSE MONKEYS, THEY
WERE TRYING TO PULL HIM DOWN
AND DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHY.
THE YOUNG MAN NOT ONLY
GRADUATED AT THE TOP OF HIS
CLASS AS A CHEMICAL
ENGINEER, BUT A COMPANY HAS
ALREADY HIRED HIM.
HOW HIGH CAN YOU GO, IF
YOU'LL JUST GET RID OF
WHAT'S BLOCKING YOUR GROWTH?
LIMITED MINDSETS, OTHER
MONKEYS, I MEAN PEOPLE
PULLING YOU DOWN,
FRIENDSHIPS THAT ARE HOLDING
YOU BACK?
GOD HAS A BIG DESTINY FOR
YOU.
THERE ARE THINGS IN YOUR
FUTURE GREATER THAN YOU'VE
IMAGINED.
BUT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
DREAM STEALERS, NAYSAYERS,
PEOPLE THAT TRY TO PULL YOU
INTO THEIR SHADE.
THEY'RE INSECURE, THEY'LL
TRY TO TALK YOU INTO BEING
INSECURE.
"YOU REALLY THINK YOU CAN GO
TO COLLEGE, YOU REALLY THINK
YOU CAN START THAT BUSINESS,
YOU REALLY THINK YOU'RE
GOING TO BEAT THAT
SICKNESS?"
THEY LIVE INTIMIDATED,
THEY'LL TRY TO PULL YOU INTO
INTIMIDATION, FEAR, DOUBT.
DON'T TAKE THE BAIT.
STAY IN THE SUN.
GOD IS GOING TO CAUSE YOU TO
BLOSSOM, TO GO PLACES NO ONE
EVER THOUGHT YOU COULD GO.
IT'S GOING TO SURPRISE YOUR
FAMILY.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE
AMAZED AT WHERE GOD TAKES
YOU.
WHEN MY FATHER PASSED AND I
STEPPED UP TO PASTOR THE
CHURCH I WAS AFRAID,
INTIMIDATED.
THAT WAS DEFINITELY BLOCKING
MY CONFIDENCE.
I DIDN'T THINK I COULD DO
THIS.
IF THAT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH,
THERE WERE CERTAIN PEOPLE I
OVERHEARD SAID, "HE'S NOT
THAT GOOD, I DON'T THINK
HE'LL MAKE IT, HE'S TOO
QUIET, HE'S NOT EXPERIENCED
ENOUGH."
EVEN THOUGH I HALFWAY AGREED
WITH THEM, SOMETHING ROSE UP
ON THE INSIDE OF ME.
I THOUGHT, "YOU DON'T
DETERMINE MY DESTINY.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD HAS
PUT IN ME."
MY ATTITUDE WAS, "I'M
ALREADY IN MY OWN SHADE, I'M
SURE NOT COMING INTO YOUR
SHADE."
PART OF THE REASON I BELIEVE
I SUCCEEDED WAS SIMPLY TO
SHOW THEM THAT THEY WERE
WRONG.
THEY MEANT IT FOR HARM, BUT
GOD USED IT TO LIGHT A FIRE
IN ME, TO CREATE A GREATER
DETERMINATION, A GREATER
RESOLVE.
I WASN'T ABOUT TO LET THEIR
SHADE, THEIR NEGATIVE
COMMENTS, LIMIT MY LIFE.
LIKE GIDEON, I FELT WEAK,
INEXPERIENCED, UNQUALIFIED
BUT I COULD HEAR GOD
WHISPERING, "JOEL, YOU'RE A
MIGHTY HERO.
IT'S YOUR TIME TO SHINE.
YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO
FULFILL YOUR DESTINY." TO
ANY TIME YOU TRY TO GO
FORWARD, THERE WILL BE
OPPOSITION, NAYSAYERS,
PEOPLE THAT TRY TO PULL YOU
INTO THEIR SHADE.
DON'T TAKE THEIR BAIT.
THE FACT THAT THERE TRYING
TO DISCOURAGE YOU IS A SIGN
THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO STEP
INTO A NEW LEVEL OF YOUR
DESTINY.
IS THERE SOMETHING BLOCKING
YOUR GROWTH?
UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS,
NEGATIVE WORDS THAT WERE
SPOKEN OVER YOU, LIMITED
THINKING.
HOW HIGH COULD YOU GO IF YOU
WOULD MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS?
DON'T STAY A FIVE-FOOT
CACTUS, WHEN YOU WERE
CREATED TO GO THIRTY FEET
TALL.
MAKE A DECISION THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO COME OUT FROM UNDER
THAT SHADE.
IF YOU'LL REMOVE WHAT'S
LIMITING YOUR GROWTH, YOU'RE
GOING TO BLOOM, YOU'RE GOING
TO BLOSSOM, SEE FAVOR,
COURAGE, THE BOLDNESS TO
ACCOMPLISH WHAT GOD PUT IN
YOUR HEART.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE, LIKE
GIDEON, A MIGHTY HERO IS
ABOUT TO EMERGE.
THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH
IS GOING TO COME ON YOU IN A
NEW WAY.
YOU'RE GOING TO RISE HIGHER,
OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND
BECOME ALL YOU WERE CREATED
TO BE, 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
NEW INFORMATION ON YOUR NEW
WALK WITH THE LORD.
JUST TEXT THE NUMBER ON THE
SCREEN OR YOU CAN GO TO THE
WEBSITE.
I HOPE YOU'LL GET INTO A
GOOD BIBLE-BASED CHURCH AND
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
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