| 00:00:00 | If you'll make the change, god
will not only give you new
friends he will give you better
friends.
|
| 00:00:07 | Friends that you don't have
to wonder, "are they for me
"
friends that don't try
to manipulate you into who
they want you to be
but they celebrate you and help
you become who god has created
you to be.
|
| 00:00:19 | This may mean you have to change
who you eat lunch with every day
at the office.
|
| 00:00:26 | That person that is constantly
complaining,
you don't need that poison going
into your spirit.
|
| 00:00:31 | You may have to change and not
hang out with that neighbor that
is always discouraged
and always had a sad song and is
always dumping their problems
on you,
expecting you to keep them
fixed.
|
| 00:00:46 | Don't get me wrong.
|
| 00:00:47 | I'm all for helping people
and encouraging others.
|
| 00:00:49 | That's what life is all about.
|
| 00:00:50 | But I've also found some people
don't want to be helped.
|
| 00:00:54 | They like the attention that it
brings them.
|
| 00:00:57 | They are energy suckers.
|
| 00:00:58 | You spend an hour with them
you feel like you've just run
a marathon.
|
| 00:01:03 | (Laughter)
as long as you allow it
they will drain the energy out
of you,
dump their problems, unload all
their heartache.
|
| 00:01:12 | And again, it's good to be
kind.
|
| 00:01:14 | There are times we have to put
up with things in order to love
people back into wholeness.
|
| 00:01:17 | But what I'm saying is
you cannot spend your whole
life
trying to pull someone up
and expect to fulfill
your god-given destiny.
|
| 00:01:25 | Sometimes the best help you can
give a person like that is
to not help them at all
because all you're really doing
is enabling their dysfunction.
|
| 00:01:35 | Now they're relying
on you as a crutch.
|
| 00:01:39 | They don't have to take
responsibility for
their behavior.
|
| 00:01:45 | They don't have to learn
to encourage themselves.
|
| 00:01:47 | They know you'll always come
running.
|
| 00:01:49 | You'll bail them out.
|
| 00:01:50 | You'll cheer them up.
|
| 00:01:51 | What they're really doing is
manipulating and controlling
you.
|
| 00:01:55 | But friends, you have a destiny
to fulfill.
|
| 00:01:57 | You need to surround yourself
with people that are not
constantly taking something
from you
but with people that are putting
something into you.
|
| 00:02:06 | Proverbs 27 says, "as iron
sharpens iron one man sharpens
"
let me ask you, are your friends
making you stronger?
|
| 00:02:15 | Are they challenging
you to become a better parent,
a better spouse, a better
giver,
a better leader, a better
person?
|
| 00:02:27 | You cannot soar with the eagles
as long as you're hanging out
with the turkeys.
|
| 00:02:31 | (Laughter)
there may be some toxic
relationships you have to get
rid of,
relationships that are doing
nothing but make you
compromise,
make you negative, make
you complain.
|
| 00:02:44 | Every time you leave, you're
worse than you were before.
|
| 00:02:46 | That's a toxic relationship.
|
| 00:02:48 | I've learned you cannot help
a person that
will not separate themselves
from that toxic relationship.
|
| 00:02:57 | Years ago when I was in my early
20's I used to get my hair cut
by this young lady.
|
| 00:03:01 | She was as nice as could be.
|
| 00:03:04 | She had a good heart but she was
extremely negative.
|
| 00:03:08 | Every time I went in there,
month after month, year after
year,
she would tell me her problems,
how the owners weren't treating
her right,
making her work extra hours.
|
| 00:03:18 | She had a brother that was very
difficult.
|
| 00:03:20 | Often she didn't have the money
to pay her rent.
|
| 00:03:23 | Her dad was very sick,
on and on.
|
| 00:03:25 | Every time I left, I was
depressed.
|
| 00:03:29 | She was very convincing.
|
| 00:03:29 | It's like this guy I heard
about.
|
| 00:03:33 | He was sitting by the side
of a bridge about to jump
and end his life.
|
| 00:03:36 | A man stopped and ran
over and said,
"don't jump! don't jump!
|
| 00:03:39 | "
two hours later they both
jumped.
|
| 00:03:43 | (Laughter/applause)
that's the way this young lady
was.
|
| 00:03:47 | I did my best encourage her.
|
| 00:03:48 | I would pray with her.
|
| 00:03:51 | I gave her money.
|
| 00:03:54 | I sent her customers.
|
| 00:03:57 | It was never enough.
|
| 00:03:57 | One day I realized what I'm
telling you.
|
| 00:03:59 | I cannot go where god is taking
me with her in my life.
|
| 00:04:03 | I love her.
|
| 00:04:04 | I'm going to pray for her.
|
| 00:04:05 | But I can't fulfill my god-given
destiny putting that poison
in me month after month.
|
| 00:04:11 | I made a change.
|
| 00:04:13 | You too may have to change where
you do business, where you play
ball, where you workout, where
you shop.
|
| 00:04:20 | Life is too short.
|
| 00:04:22 | Your time is too valuable.
|
| 00:04:23 | Your destiny is too great
to spend it with people that are
constantly pulling you down,
draining the life and energy out
of you.
|
| 00:04:32 | The solution is found in mark
5:40.
|
| 00:04:36 | Show them the door.
|
| 00:04:37 | Be kind. be polite.
|
| 00:04:38 | But you need to gradually start
pulling away.
|
| 00:04:42 | In the scripture there is a lady
by the name of elizabeth.
|
| 00:04:45 | For many years she's been
barren; not able to have
a baby.
|
| 00:04:50 | In those days a lady was greatly
looked down on
if she couldn't give her husband
a child.
|
| 00:04:57 | But late in life elizabeth
conceived.
|
| 00:04:59 | Now she was so excited
about finally being able to have
this baby.
|
| 00:05:03 | For the first few weeks
elizabeth is on cloud nine.
|
| 00:05:06 | Her dream is coming to pass.
|
| 00:05:09 | I can imagine as a month or two
goes by she begins to get
a little worried.
|
| 00:05:14 | She's never had a baby before.
|
| 00:05:15 | She's hoping and praying that
everything is okay
but three months, four months,
five months, she doesn't feel
anything.
|
| 00:05:22 | She starts thinking, "surely
I should feel some kind
"
the longer it goes the more
concerned she becomes.
|
| 00:05:30 | One day there is a knock
on her door; an unexpected
guest.
|
| 00:05:35 | It's her younger cousin, a girl
named mary.
|
| 00:05:39 | She was a teenager.
|
| 00:05:40 | Elizabeth opened the door.
|
| 00:05:42 | Mary gave her a great bit hug
and said, "elizabeth!
|
| 00:05:44 | Congratulations!
|
| 00:05:46 | I've heard the great news you're
"
the scripture says in luke
41,
"when ebeth heard mary's
greeting her baby leaped
"
at that moment she knew
the child was alive.
|
| 00:06:02 | She knew the promise was going
to come to pass.
|
| 00:06:05 | Here's my point.
|
| 00:06:06 | God has designed people to come
into your life that will make
your baby leap,
people that will speak life
into your dreams,
people that will let you know
those promises will come
to pass.
|
| 00:06:20 | (Applause)
mary was a divine connection.
|
| 00:06:22 | She was sent there ordained
by the creator of the universe
to bring hope, faith, vision
into elizabeth's life.
|
| 00:06:30 | She didn't even have to say
anything profound.
|
| 00:06:35 | She just said hello
and the promise came to life.
|
| 00:06:37 | Just like with elizabeth god has
already lined up your mary's.
|
| 00:06:44 | When you get around the right
people they can simply say,
"good morning" and your baby
will leap.
|
| 00:06:50 | That's a supernatural
connection.
|
| 00:06:54 | But here's a key;
if you keep answering the door
and your baby never leaps, then
you're answering the door
for the wrong people.
|
| 00:07:00 | Don't answer the door for when
a gossip knocks.
|
| 00:07:02 | They're not going to make
your baby leap.
|
| 00:07:06 | Don't answer the door when
a complainer stops by to tell
you how bad life is and how
you're never going to make it.
|
| 00:07:12 | They're not going to make
your baby leap.
|
| 00:07:17 | They're going to make your baby
depressed.
|
| 00:07:18 | Don't answer the door when
a discourager shows up, when
a compromiser shows up, when
a "can't do it" person shows
up.
|
| 00:07:26 | Make a decision with me,
"i'm going to only answer
the door for people that make
my baby leap,
people that inspire me, people
that challenge me,
people that ignite something
"
(applause)
mary was pregnant with jesus,
the son of god.
|
| 00:07:43 | Elizabeth was pregnant with john
the baptist.
|
| 00:07:45 | When the promise in mary
connected with the promise
in elizabeth it was like
an explosion of faith.
|
| 00:07:51 | When you get around the right
people, when you connect
with people that have big
dreams,
people that understand
their destiny,
then the promise in you is going
to connect with the promise
in them.
|
| 00:08:08 | You're going to see god show up
and do something supernatural
in both of your lives.
|
| 00:08:14 | Like elizabeth, many of you have
a promise on the inside.
|
| 00:08:16 | You know god has spoken
to you but it's been a long
time.
|
| 00:08:19 | You haven't seen anything
happening.
|
| 00:08:21 | You haven't felt any movement
on the inside.
|
| 00:08:24 | Now you're thinking,
is
am
"
I believe god sent me today
to be one of your mary's.
|
| 00:08:34 | That situation that you think is
over,
god is ng, "it's still going
"
the promise is in you.
|
| 00:08:42 | It's alive and well.
|
| 00:08:44 | You may not see anything
happening.
|
| 00:08:49 | You may feel like you didn't
hear god right.
|
| 00:08:52 | But god is still on the throne.
|
| 00:08:54 | Right now he is arranging things
in your favor.
|
| 00:08:58 | What he promised you he will
bring to pass.
|
| 00:09:00 | If you will receive those words
by faith then down
in your spirit,
you'll start to feel something;
a kick, a push, a shove.
|
| 00:09:08 | What is that?
|
| 00:09:09 | That's your baby coming alive.
|
| 00:09:11 | When you get around the right
people your baby will leap.
|
| 00:09:14 | My prayer is that every time
you come in these doors,
every time you hear me, in some
way I'm going to make your baby
leap.
|
| 00:09:20 | ..
|
| 00:09:22 | (Applause)
I'm going to remind you that
you are a child of the most high
god.
|
| 00:09:30 | You have seeds of greatness
on the inside.
|
| 00:09:33 | There is no mistake you've made
that is too much for the mercy
of god.
|
| 00:09:40 | There is no obstacle too high,
no sickness too great, no dream
too big.
|
| 00:09:45 | You and god are a majority.
|
| 00:09:46 | When you hear words like that,
if you'll let it take root,
then on the inside you'll feel
faith springing up.
|
| 00:09:56 | That's your baby starting
to leap.
|
| 00:10:00 | Before long you'll be
convinced.
|
| 00:10:05 | "Hey, I can overcome this
addiction.
|
| 00:10:07 | "
"
another push.
|
| 00:10:11 | "As for me and my house we will
"
now both feet are kicking.
|
| 00:10:16 | "the economy is
down.
|
| 00:10:18 | Business is slow but I know
my job is not my source.
|
| 00:10:20 | My god is my source
and I believe he can still
"
(applause)
"now I feel all kinds
"
if you're going to become all
god has created you to be
you've got to get around people
that will speak life, faith,
vision into your future.
|
| 00:10:39 | Some of you have goals
and dreams that you've given up
on.
|
| 00:10:44 | You've let people talk you out
of it and convince you that
the promise is not going to come
to pass.
|
| 00:10:49 | They've told you that you're too
old, or you come from the wrong
family,
you've made too many mistakes,
you've tried and failed.
|
| 00:10:54 | It's just too late.
|
| 00:10:54 | No, here's the key.
|
| 00:10:56 | If you will change who you're
answering the door for and start
spending time with people
of faith,
with people that see
your potential,
with people that will tell
you what you can become instead
of just describing who you are
right now,
then your baby will start
to leap once again.
|
| 00:11:11 | The truth is, it's not too
late.
|
| 00:11:16 | You're not too old.
|
| 00:11:17 | You haven't made too many
mistakes.
|
| 00:11:19 | The promise is still alive.
|
| 00:11:20 | Now it's up to you and me
to elime the wrong
relationships,
the people that are pushing us
down,
telling us what we can't become,
taking and never giving.
|
| 00:11:30 | All that's going to do is cause
our baby to be born stillborn.
|
| 00:11:33 | We won't give birth to what god
put in our heart.
|
| 00:11:35 | Your baby, your dream, it needs
mary.
|
| 00:11:38 | It needs that encouragement.
|
| 00:11:41 | It needs that faith being joined
together.
|
| 00:11:44 | The good news is god has already
lined up the right people.
|
| 00:11:47 | He already has your mary's
if you'll just do your part
and not answer the door
for the wrong people.
|
| 00:11:54 | Friends, the clock is ticking
on your destiny.
|
| 00:11:57 | Don't waste another moment
ith people that don't sharpen
you.
|
| 00:12:05 | Make sure your inner circle,
those closest to you, are people
that are not just
with you but they are really
for you.
|
| 00:12:11 | Connect with people that
understand your destiny, people
that celebrate your uniqueness.
|
| 00:12:17 | Remember, not everyone can go
where god is taking you.
|
| 00:12:21 | They may be good people but that
season is over.
|
| 00:12:26 | If you don't make a change
they can keep you from getting
there.
|
| 00:12:32 | But if you'll make this decision
that you're only going to answer
the door for people that make
your baby leap,
then as iron sharpens iron
you're going to get better.
|
| 00:12:45 | You're going to rise higher.
|
| 00:12:46 | I believe and declare just like
with elizabeth you will give
birth to every promise god put
in your heart and you will
become everything god createdme
you to be.
|
| 00:12:54 | Amen.
|
| 00:12:55 | Do you receive that today?
|
| 00:12:56 | (Applause)
we never like to close
our broadcast
without giving you
an opportunity
to make jesus the lord
of your life.
|
| 00:13:04 | Would you pray with me?
|
| 00:13:06 | Just say, "lord jesus, I repent
of my sins.
|
| 00:13:08 | Come in to my heart.
|
| 00:13:10 | "
friends, if you prayed that
simple prayer we believe you got
born again.
|
| 00:13:16 | Get in a good bible-based
church.
|
| 00:13:19 | Keep god first place.
|
| 00:13:20 | He'll take you places that
you've never dreamed of.
|
| 00:13:24 | No matter what you're going
through,
god has an amazing plan to
accelerate your life into all
he has for you.
|
| 00:13:29 | Your life can change
for the better-in a single
moment.
|
| 00:13:33 | As a thank you for your support
of our ministry this month,
joel and victoria would like to
send you a copy of
god's plan
to propel your life".
|
| 00:13:41 | God is working behind the scenes
in your life.
|
| 00:13:44 | God can accelerate things,
he can promote you.
|
| 00:13:46 | Don't give up, stay encouraged,
od is breathing
in your direction.
|
| 00:13:52 | It may seem like it's never
going to happen,
but one touch of god's favor
can thrust you 50 years down
the road.
|
| 00:14:00 | So keep believing.
|
| 00:14:01 | We're praying for you every
single day.
|
| 00:14:03 | Thanks for your prayers
and your support.
|
| 00:14:05 | And a special thanks to our
champion of hope partners
for all that you do.
|
| 00:14:10 | Hey, remember to follow us
on twitter,
find us on facebook,
download our daily devotional.
|
| 00:14:14 | We love you very much and be
blessed today.
|
| 00:14:16 | To request your copy of
god's plan
to propel your life",
com
or call us toll free.
|
| 00:14:25 | [Music]
>> how do you respond to
opportunity?
|
| 00:14:36 | Life offers us a continuous
stream of new opportunities?
|
| 00:14:40 | But if we aren't alert to them
or if we move too slowly, we
will miss the good that's meant
for us and for others.
|
| 00:14:50 | Now, don't miss the next
opportunity that comes your way.
|
| 00:14:53 | Today and for the next several
weeks you'll discover god's
purpose in the opportunities
before us.
|
| 00:15:02 | today on
in touch, a passing opportunity.
|
| 00:15:04 | >> And jesus came up and spoke
..
|
| 00:15:09 | [Music]
>> baptizing them in the name of
the father, the son and the holy
spirit.
|
| 00:15:35 | Teaching them to observe all
that I've commanded you, and I'm
with you always, even to the end
of the age.
|
| 00:15:50 | >> Have you ever walked away
from a situation and thought all
of a sudden, I missed it?
|
| 00:15:56 | I just missed it?
|
| 00:15:58 | You say, missed what?
|
| 00:16:01 | Missed the wonderful opportunity
to give my testimony.
|
| 00:16:04 | A wonderful opportunity to give
a word of encouragement to
somebody that you knew were
going through a very difficult
time.
|
| 00:16:13 | A wonderful opportunity to
reassure someone who is in greatre
doubt.
|
| 00:16:18 | A wonderful opportunity to be of
specific help to someone who
needed you at this moment.
|
| 00:16:24 | Oftentimes we let opportunities
go by not recognizing that an
opportunity is a gift from god.
|
| 00:16:30 | That it's a privilege we have.
|
| 00:16:33 | It's a moment in time in
our circumstances in which we're
able to make a decision that
impacts our life, maybe impacts
someone else's life.
|
| 00:16:44 | And oftentimes we just ignore
wonderful, godly opportunities.
|
| 00:16:49 | You see, the truth is, an
day
is a day of opportunity.
|
| 00:17:25 | But think about this above all.
|
| 00:17:27 | Think about the opportunity of
having heard about jesus and
having trusted him as your
savior and having your name
written in the lamb's book of
life and the assurance that you
have that you're going to heaven
when you die and the awesome
privilege of being indwelt by
the holy spirit who guides you,
leads you, directs you and
teaches you.
|
| 00:17:48 | Think about the promises that
you have from almighty god.
|
| 00:17:52 | Think about the opportunity you
have to own a copy of the living
word of god.
|
| 00:17:58 | Think about the opportunity you
have to be instructed, to be
taught, the opportunity you have
to share with other people.
|
| 00:18:05 | And many of you have the
opportunity to teach the word of
god, to sing the word of god.
|
| 00:18:10 | Think about all the
|
