Introducing built to last a new podcast by American, Express I'm Elaine Wiltra and I'm excited to host the debut season where we will be deep, diving into the stories history and continued legacy of small businesses that shape american culture through these important conversations will hear how the black business leaders of our past have inspired. Today's black owned small businesses and communities join us for the debut season of built

to last on Spotify Apple Youtube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts hi. This is Joel and Victoria thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and share it with a friend? We appreciate you and pray for God's, very best in your life. God bless you what a joy it is to come into your homes today, where you at Minute Maid Park the home of the year Justin Astros, but you know what we're celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and so we thank you for tuning in if you're ever in the Houston area. I hope you'll stop by and see us we'd love to have you at one of our services, and I promise you will make you feel right at home, but thanks for tuning in today

I like to start with something funny. Each week and I'll tell you one of my favorite ones. This man called up the church office and yes, the church secretary. He said I want to speak to the head hall at the trough. In the church secretary. She was kind of offended said: If you mean the pastor, then you will have to call in past or but you may not call him the hit home at the trawl he's here Okay, I was just going to make a ten thousand dollar donation to your church. she said hold on. Porky just walked in all right, come on hold up your bibles and say it like you mean it. Are you 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'll be taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be the same. I am about to receive the

incorruptible indestructible ever living c of the word of God. I'll never be the same. Never never never never be the same in Jesus, nay, God bless you. You sound great as usual. I wanted, to you today about learning to receive the good things that God has in store and really God is already done, everything he's going to do. he paid the ultimate price through the day the burial and the resurrection of his son Jesus, he has made a way for each one of us to live in victory, but we, have to do our part and start believe in it and start acting on in through the Bible. There are so many promises of what God is already done. So innovations that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing past, since he's already done it. in Colossians that God has made us worthy sin. Have already been forgiven.

The good news is there is mercy for any mistake. We will ever make the problem. Many times is we're not acting on and so instead of receiving God's mercy and receiving forgiveness and moving on we just go around all guilty and condemned trying. Pay gone back feeling bad about ourselves. Well, you know, I just don't deserve anything good, now we ve got to learn to receive what God has already done I know when I first started ministering before I would come to speak. I would pray. I pray God, please give me your anointing Please help me. Please gum one: I found in the Bible that God has already anointed us, he's already, given us his power and ability, you don't the big God for that you simply gotta start acting on now, but come out. I just bolded declare I am anointed, I am well. I am do able to do what God to called me to do, have to pray about that the big God for that

gonna rise up and receive it by faith, and really begging. God doesn't get his attention in matters after fifteen this They came to Jesus and she was all upset and crying. She began to big big Jesus. Please here my daughter, Jesus play has come to my house, I'm begging you Jesus, please on and on she, and it's kind of trusting Jesus in pay any attention to him. He just basically ignored her this went on for a long time? Finally, when she realized that wasn't getting her any place, she decided to quit begging and stand. She started worshipping here now she started saying. Thank you, father for your mercy. Thank you for his goodness and man when she did that that got God's attention. Jesus stop right. you're insane healing to her little girl. The point is,

you don't have to beg God to bless. You beg God to help you or even beg God to forgive you. You simply need to ask in faith and receive it start acting. gets done and no plan. Give people today, they're living all guilty and condemned There are always praying, please God forgive me for that mistake. I may please God, I'm just so story prank every day they they are begging, God to forgive for something they did a year ago. Now, please understand God for gave you the very first time you ass, quit being a beggar and start receiving God's mercy, receiving his forgiveness. If you, you'll go through life guilty and condemned. Try pay God back for all your mistakes. I know so many people today they live. with this weak worm of the dust mentality they don't like they deserve to be blessed. It made to many mistakes. I ve done too much wrong no. You need to know that God has already made you worthy this

scripture says says: got put on your robe of righteousness one translation says put on the breastplate of God's approval, notice something we have to do is not to automatically jump on you every morning. When you get up, you need to boldly declare. God approves me. God is pleased with me. I am accepted. I am forgiven. I've been made worthy picture. I want you to have today is that God is smiling down on you. You are the apple of Gaza. God is not out to get to you God is not going to try to pay you back for all of your mistakes. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. Why don't you start receiving it? why don't you start receive in God's forgiveness many people and I go feeling wrong on the inside. got this and feeling down in here- we say Joe. What about the mistakes that I've made No then doesn't change what God has already done,

and God is not please, maybe with everything you do, but you need to know. God is pleased with you you do not have to live guilty and condemned now. I don't mean this to sound wrong, but many times this goes against everything that religion has taught us. Religion, you make a mistake, especially they want you to feel bad about your sale. I hate a lot of times. Religious people will be the first one to kick your window down into condemned don't ever get God mixed up with religion, God is for you, God is on your side, no matter what you have done. God wants to give you a new beginning, he's a god of second chances, My prayer today is that you'll begin to feel God's love in a great away, you'll get rid of any feelings of guilt and condemnation. Unworthiness. really, the message of Easter is a message of hope. God didn't come to condemn us. He came to save us ensure we all make mistakes.

We all do certain things that we wish we could do over, but God sees our hearts he knows we're not perfect. can see the desire you have to please him If you made some bad choices in life, please don't go around feelin long about yourself. God is already made you worthy and because of anything you did or didn't do is because of what Jesus did he shed his blood that we might live and abundant lie? and really it doesn't bring any glory to God to go around begging him for something that has already done I challenge you quit being a beggar and start being a believer start acting like you're a child of the most high God. That means you need to put your shoulders back, need to hold your head up high and just bold. I declare I am blessed: forgiven I am redeemed. I am worthy. I am a new creature. I am more than a conquer. I am the head, not the detail see it says there in Hebrews four. Sixteen, let sixteen

come boldly to the throne of grace obtain mercy and find help in our time of need. This God doesn't say, come to me with a. We defeated pitiful attitude He doesn't say, come to me thinking about all your failures and how unworthy you are. No God says you come to me with bonus you come to with your head held high, knowing that I'm a good god- and I want to help you- he says in effect- come to me No wonder you're the apple of knowing that want to be good to you, The only way you gonna go to God boldly is to know that you're righteous You got to know that God is pleased with you that your sins are forgiven. no, that God has good things in store, You will never rise up in your authority as long as you have some kind of feeling of inferiority there nothing. The enemy would love anymore than for you. Gold I'm thinking about your faults and weaknesses, all the,

states you made last week and all the time you messed up last month no, don't even go down that road quit dwelling on what you've done wrong and start dwelling on what you've done right not be all you're supposed to be, but at least you can, thank God, you're, not what you used to be We all make mistakes, Do you know what you need to learn to just be quick to repent, say God, I'm sorry. Forgive me help me to do better next time, but then no stop. There. Take it one step farther, say: Father. now receive your mercy now receive your forgiveness. see you should not go around feeling guilty and condemned like you got to pay God back for your mistakes when you do that. All you're really saying is this: sacrifice. Jesus made on the cross wasn't quite good enough. So let me do a little bit more now the Good NEWS is the price has been paid in full. You don't to add your part to it simply learn to receive that Nursy receive God's forgiveness

in proverbs twenty, eight one that the right, This are as bold as a line the only way you will have the boldness God. Won't. You too have is to know. That your writings, because when you know who you are in crisis, when you know that God is smiling down on you. When you know your sins are forgiven when you're gonna hold your shoulders back and have the boldness and confidence that God really want you to have and when I say that we been made righteous, I'm not saying that we're perfect saying that we don't make mistakes. But if you have a heart, after God, and I know you do you wouldn't be here today. If you have a desire to please him, then you have been made righteous. You have been born into gods very own family. You did not do anything to earn this righteousness is simply a gift and you ve got to learn how to receive agony, This is one of the main areas, people struggling so many people, just feel wrong on the inside they don't deserve anything. I just got that

Warm and the dust mentality people they made mistakes in the past and they, pride and ask God to forgive me they're very sincere. They ve done that part, but there are still holding on to all the guilt let that old black cloud followed them around every where they go but as long as we're living guilty and condemned, we will never experienced a good things have gone. God works where there's an attitude of faith. He when we have an expected harm, if you may, mistakes in the past. Don't fall into the trap and this man, I don't deserve anything. I'm such a lousy old, sinner, never going to bless me. No put your holders back and go to God with bonus you're. The two should they, I may have made mistakes, but I have opinion. I have received gods mercy and I refuse to wallow around in guilt and condemnation. I know because of what Jesus did too

two thousand and five years ago I am forgiven. I am redeemed, I am made worthy. I know his mercies are new and fresh every single morning. See. You got to shake off the old rags of guilt and condemnation and start putting on your robe of righteousness. We're going be all God created us to be. We got to have a bonus about us one time I was at this big event here in town and there were several other ministers there with me in the man that went right before me. He's a very well respected leader in the community in a very fine gentleman. He prayed about the most depressing player that I think I've ever heard. He said God, you know how unworthy I am to even stand up here before you God. You know what a wretched sinner I am, and I don't deserve your goodness and God. How could you even use anybody like me on and on I and by the time you got finished, I felt like I needed to go repent

I feel like I was about that all I just wanted to hang my head in shame. Let me ask you How can we expect gods blessings? How can we expect his goodness if we go around feeling wrong about ourselves? How wanted Ask him afterwards. Did you really mean what you prayed? You said you were weak. You were defeated. You were an old sinner. You were unworthy going to declare that kind of junk over my life, I'm all put on my robe of righteousness. I know got approves me and no, God is pleased with me. I know that I have been accepted. I have been made worthy you say you were just all sinner same by grace. Know that truth is we were old sinners, but when we came to Christ, we're not sinners anymore, we are sons and daughters of the most high god we have been changed. We've been born into a new family. We are not. creatures and sure

We may say never once in a while. You may make some mistakes, but that doesn't make you a sinner. You got the very nature of God on the inside of you, you have got start seeing yourself differently. And you need to have the right concept of God. Remember data used to tell about this guy by the name of Clyde He had so many problems. He always was making mistakes here and there living upset and frustrated. Nothing in his life was right. One day, complain in complaining God. Why too bad things always happened to me God? Why can I get ahead God? Why is it always me He said this voice, boomed out of the Heavens, and God said I don't know clad. There's something about you that really takes me on. you know a lot of people. Think about God like that today. They think, kind of mad at he's Scots. Did they made mistakes? So surely gonna pay them back, The good news is, God is not like their God is not out to get. You

God is not looking for some reason to slam you down. That is the wrong concept of God. You need to know God. On your side, yours have already been forgiven. All you ve got to do. Is you have to carry around that a heavy load of guilt and shame. Why don't you let it go, start in enjoying life God intended. You too have Jeez paid an incredible price that we might They free from guilt condoms all feelings of unworthiness and please understand God is not keeping a run in record of all of you: mistakes, the very moment you repent, God does not remember it anymore forever. and let me challenge you stop. Remembering what God has already forgotten? Why don't you at the past? Be the pants why don't you start receive in God's mercy I know this. You will never received the new things God wants to do in your life as long as you're holding onto the old. You

to quit. Dwelling on your mistakes and failures quit. Looking back at all, you ve done wrong. As long as you're. Looking back, you will never go forward the scriptures forgetting what lies behind in pressing forward to the good things God has installed. Do you who keeps bringing up your pass. It's the enemy he's called the accused or of the brethren theirs nothing. He would love anymore, then, for you to go through life focused, your past. Guilty and condemned Feelin wrong feelin unworthy, like you, don't deserve anything good as well, many times when you first get up in the morning the first stop It will come to your mind all the mistakes made last week now, don't even go down that path, let the past be the past receive gods mercy, its fresh new, every single born and some of you today your way too hard on yourself. We'd, beating yourself up over every mistake that you may give yourself a brain. You're learning you're growing God's. Not

What do you a work in progress? If you always are blaming yourself and live in condemned, you will never go forward. when you make a mistake ass, forgiveness and move on. wall around feeling depressed month after month. Let it go see God forgive you immediately. The real question is: will you forgive your sale, we receive gobs mercy. Will you let the past in the past. People today they have gone through some kind of disappointment, some a failure or maybe a divorce, some kind of sit back, and you know that only thing? That's keeping them in mediocrity is the fact that they, just we not forgive themselves, they don't any problem forgiven anybody else therefore again their spouse, their parents. Their neighbours, but they just It seemed to let go of the guilt. No, is blame in themselves, live in so condemned, but really the first step to be in free, is you gotta be willing to forgive your sale? Does it mean?

What you ve done, there's no sin. That's too difficult for our God! No failure. No mistake! No set back I know some of you today. You just can't sit on the sidelines of lie, You ve had some broken dreams and you're just convinced that God is managed to hear, is all washed up, but you need to know, God wants to give you a new beginning. He wants to next part of your life to be better than the first part. If you get rid of all the guilt and quit blaming yourself all the time? I believe those new doors will begin to open up. I know this is exactly what my father did Daddy was married at a very early age and on fortunately one one of the best choices that he made and it didn't work out His dreams were shattered here for sure his days in ministry were over, didn't think he'd ever have another family was the darkest our of his life They told how one of the most difficult things for him to do was to forgive himself. He was so him to do. Just hold onto the heart and pain

tempted to just go around continually blaming himself in he could have easily let that one set back, keep him from moving forward and really fulfil in his God. Given destiny he had to be willing to receive God's mercy and daddy too, that step of faith and he forgave himself and ass, he did that. God begin to restore back to him. God begin to give him a new beginning. After all that that he met my mom and God gave him a new family, they started. Lakewood daddy had over fifty years and ministry ended up touch in the world but none of that have happened. Had he not been willing to forgive himself, say it is ok to take the easy way out but you know as well as I do. You cannot unscramble eggs, what's done is done no matter who's, it was you need to receive God's mercy receive, is forgiveness and keep pressing forward. I know some of you here today can, like my dad, you ve been through a sit back. I've been through a disappointment. but I really believe if you'll take this to heart.

forgive yourself and receive God's mercy, then your best days are going to be right out in front of you, only God can take all the negative and turn it around and bring you out better off and you were before the darkest storm will always give way to the most beautiful sunrise God as a new beginning in store for you. Your head held high, forgive yourself and learn to receive his mercy and remember going looks at our hearts. I think My own children. They make mistakes, they're, not perfect, but their father. I can see their hearts- and this thing if they had an evil heart, they were defined. They wouldn't listen to anything I said, but there are not like that, ensure that new things. I don't always agree with. They don't always respond in the way I would like, but I don't just write em all and say you guys have blown it man, you made a mistake: I'm never gonna help. You know they're my children I can see their heart. I know their heart down deep is to please me. The scripture says

and second chronicle. Sixteen man they're gone is looking for people to bless whose hearts our turn perfect toward him. notice. God is not more bless. The people that have a perfect performance on the pier that never make a mistake. God is low at our hearts, my children even though they make mistakes, even though they are not perfect. They know because their hard is right. They are the app of my they know they are my pride and joy and they know how to come boldly to their father. they come home from school. They don't even ass. They go straight to the refrigerator, give me something to eat. They know support of their privilege, zero part of the family. Some of you It would bring God great joy today if you just start acting like you're the apple of his eye. If you go boldly to him and start acting. Like he's really pleased with you see, I want you to Given all these rags of guilt, condemnation, unworthiness start

no new robe of righteousness, learn to receive the good things God has installed. It's funny my children many times. Let's go, The toy store today I just wanna bag, is something special and do you know never wants have they said no daddy just don't deserve it, I made a mistake last week and I really need to pay for it. No little children know how to receive Where is adults with a I got to pay for it? I've got to earn it. Let me work for it, but no you got to receive as a little child. God is saying to us on this resurrection. Mornin, here's my mercy receive it here forgiveness receive it. Here are my blessings. We receive him you say, wait a minute Joe. I don't think I deserve it. Let me at least pay for it know it's free gift. A part of being in the family, you gotta learn to, let God be good. Did you the other day we

took our little son Jonathan up to the store to buy guitar. He had been wanting one for a long time, and so we decided to just surprise him and we went up there and we came home and he was so excited he gave me a great big he's, a daddy. I love you so much. Thank you so much for my guitar. Then he said by the way that we can we go back and get that new keyboard see. Jonathan knows how to come. Boldly he's, not shy. He knows how much I love him. He knows I delight in doing good things for a father. It makes me happy when I can do things to make him happy and parents you can imagine how you field. If your kids went around all the time thinking, you know what I don't deserve anything So many mistakes nobody's please with me at break your heart, but that eggs exactly what we do to God when we allow the enemy to heap all this guilt and condemnation on us and we go around feeling wrong on the inside about ourselves.

Some of you ve been living under that heavy load. Wait too long, it's time for you to get free today, the prices been paid in full. Why don't you really receive in God's mercy. I think it is story of the prodigal son he made. So many bad choices he left his home and went out wasted all of his money here. so low, and so did but he was eating the food that had been feeding to the hogs there in the hog pan Finally, he decided he just going go back home. He thought Even the servants in my father's house are living better than I am today. Maybe daddy you'll just hire me back as one of those servants. The story he went back when you got close to the house. His father saw him a long way off. He took off running he went and gave his son a great big hug is so excited to see but then the sun start and explain daddy, I'm really blown it avoids, did all my money now. No, I don't deserve any of this, but maybe you can just take me back is wanted your servants,

his father said no way you are. My servant, you are my son, always be my son, no matter, what you ever do. You will always be a part of this family the father said the servants go, kill the Care must come home, we're gonna have a celebration. He said somebody go put the best robe on his back, the family ring and put it on his finger. See there. The message of Easter there, forgiveness for any sin. There is mercy for any mistake, no matter what you've done. God still accepts you and approves you. You have been made worthy, you remember the time when Jesus had just been baptized and he was coming up out of the waters and a loud voice. Boomed out of the Heavens- and God said this is my beloved son in who I am well pleased. I believe, that's what God is saying to each one of you today, you may have made some mistakes you may

poor choice is like the prodigal son, but listen to these words. Let them think deep down into your spirit. Man, God is saying you are my beloved son, You are my beloved daughter in whom I am well pleased Let me you putting on your robe of righteousness, get up every morning and say it to yourself, God Please with me: God proves me. I am forgiven, I am worthy. remember you do not have to beg God for something that has already done so learn to receive it like a little child God has a great life, a victory in store for every one of you. No matter What you ve done, no matter what you ve been through, today be a time of new beginnings in your life, don't go around with that all week. Warm of the dust mentality, you were a child of the most targets, hold your shoulders back, go boldly to the throne

If you do that, you will be free from guilt and condemnation and no God will begin to pour out, is blessings you'll rise, higher and you'll. Experience the victories that he has in store amen. How many of you receive it this morning? Can you give the Lord a shout to praise today? We never like to close our broadcast without giving 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 save friends. If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again get in a good bible base. Church, keep God first place, he's gonna. Take you places that you ve never dreamed, I think, for listening to the Jews Dean podcast help helpless, continue to share the message of hope with those all over the world visit, dot com, slash, give hope to give a gift. Today, thanks,

much for listening to today's message. I hope you'll subscribe. so, you can receive the latest podcast to keep the inspired all through the we were playing. I know gods best is still ahead. We'll see you next time.