sooner or later
everyone you associate with will show
you their true colors
sooner or later
now i want to talk about several areas
of life the first area i want to talk
about is the mountain experience
when you're on the mountain this is your
season of success
this is where you're flying high
everything in your life is on the up
you're being blessed the money's coming
in the sun is shining and it's in this
season that you'll attract everyone and
anyone
you'll attract people who want to be
associated with you because of your
success
you'll attract people who want to be
associated with you so they can imitate
and emulate you
you'll even attract people who want to
be associated with you so they can take
from you
and here's the thing
when all is well
you will attract more people
you'll have more friends more phone
calls
but
no one will ever show you their true
colors or intentions
no one will ever come out in the open
and tell you the exact reason why they
want to be associated with you
no one will ever tell you what's in
their heart
but the bible warns us
it warns us about hidden intentions and
motives
jeremiah chapter 17 verse 9 and the
amplified translation says the heart is
deceitful above all things
and it is extremely sick
who can understand it fully and know its
secret motives
we can understand three things from this
verse
the heart is deceitful
it lies
it's fraudulent
the second is that the heart is
described as extremely sick
this means it's desperately wicked
there's evil in the hearts of man
and finally the heart has secret motives
and don't we all know that to be true
people will never show you their true
colors when you're on top
when you're being blessed very few will
ever be truly happy with you
not everyone who says congratulations
will mean it
if you could see into the hearts of each
and every one who is around you when god
is elevating you
you would be shocked to find that some
of the people closest to you will have
envy in their hearts
others will have jealousy
and some will have a plan to bring you
down look at the example of joseph when
joseph started to be favored by god and
god would speak to him through his
dreams
the bible tells that his brothers began
to hate him
in fact in genesis 37 between verses 4
and 8 the bible tells us that they hated
him three separate times
but now do you think joseph would have
ever thought his brothers would hate him
or even worse they would conspire
against him and plot to kill him
but eventually sell him into slavery
this is the perfect illustration of just
how deceitful the hearts of men can be
now you'll always find out people's true
colors when you're in a valley when
you're in a low place
when you're down and out
this is where you find who is really for
you and who is really against you
i say this because a lot of
relationships and friendships are kept
alive so long as there is something to
be gained
delilah was only interested in samson
because she wanted to bring him down
be careful of such people
mark chapter 7 verse 21 to 23 says
from within out of the heart of man come
evil thoughts
sexual immorality theft murder adultery
coveting wickedness
deceit sensuality envy slander pride
foolishness
all these evil things come from within
and they defile a person
all of the things listed here the bible
says they come from within from within
the heart of man
to the young lady listening if you spend
enough time with that young man you will
see his true colors
you'll soon find out that his heart is
filled with godly fear
and integrity or sexual immorality
equally to any young man who is
listening if you spend enough time with
that young lady
she will show you her true colors
you'll find out whether she has a heart
filled with godly fear and integrity or
sexual immorality
and even if you move away from a
romantic relationship
look at those closest to you
do they enable you to sin
to sin with them
or do they rebuke you and encourage you
to live in a godly manner chasing after
righteousness
this is why it's crucial and vitally
important for us to pray that god leads
us in all aspects of our lives
especially when it comes to those we
should be associated with
pray that god would reveal the red flags
concerning any person with evil
intentions in your life
and when you do this
and you really seek god's guidance
you will begin to see him highlight
certain things
you'll begin to notice that this person
only ever gets excited or happy when
there's something for them to gain
personally they'll never have the same
cheerful attitude if there is nothing
for them to gain
if you are truly faithful to the lord
and ask him for the spirit of
discernment
he will reveal to you the subtle ways in
which a person may be tempting you
encouraging you and luring you to do
evil
be careful when it comes to the people
in your inner circle
remember that the word of god warns us
about the hearts of men for a reason
too many people are betrayed
they're hurt and abused because they
ignore the word of god that tells them
how wicked the heart is
as long as you are connected to the lord
as long as you are someone who is
prayerful and led by the holy spirit
then you will be sensitive to the
warning signs about someone who is evil
in your life
pray that god would open your eyes
so that you can identify those people
who will strengthen you in faith
and uplift you
our enemy the devil wants to destroy the
peace and joy god has given us
and he can even use others to do it
consider this scenario
a woman joins a ministry in her church
to try and reach the lost community
there are those around her who don't
agree with the ministry and look for
ways to convince others in the church
including this woman why the ministry is
not needed
they speak well and have a reputation of
being people who have invested a lot in
the church
and they will most likely have been
members for a long time
now even though they proclaim
christianity with their mouths their
hearts proclaim something else
these types of people are out to destroy
anything that brings others peace and
joy and so you and i should pray for
discernment so we can identify these
types of people
pray for their deliverance but still
keep them at a distance so that they
don't have any effect over us
it's so vital to your relationship with
christ to make sure you are surrounded
by people who encourage you who
participate in doing the lord's work and
building up the body of christ rather
than tearing it down
it doesn't matter if you're a new
believer or have been a believer for
many years
the enemy will use anyone he can to
distract you from following the lord so
be cautious and guard your heart from
these types of people
pray and ask god to put people in your
life to edify your walk with him
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i am blessed by my enemies
i am blessed because of my
enemies psalm 23 says
you prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies
if i have no enemies
then there is no table
but because i have enemies
a table is created before them
so they can criticize me
but watch as god elevates me
they can throw dirt on my name
but watch as the lord favors me
your enemies can try and drag you down
but whole the lord will place you at a
table
and lift you up
they can talk about you not having a
nice car
they can whisper about your child and
laugh at your marriage but hold on to
the promise that lord will prepare a
table before you in the presence of your
enemies
and believe me
god can do it
god will do it
so your enemies might throw hate
they may gossip and spread lies about
you
they may steal or sabotage you
but they can never
they will never
derail god's plan
if the lord wants to elevate you
he'll do it in the presence of your
enemies
if the lord wants to promote you and
lift you up
then saints believe that he will do that
in the presence of your enemies
let god
fight your battles
one of the hardest things
the bible tells us to do
is to love our enemies
i mean you know this person doesn't like
you
you know this person talks about you
but never talks to you
you
but you still have to love them
tell me what's harder than that
but here's what i found
i found this short passage of scripture
in the bible
that makes the thought of loving my
enemies
much more bearable
you see psalm 23 verse 5 says
you prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies
you have anointed and refreshed my head
with oil
my cup overflows
when you place your trust in jesus
when you lean not on your own
understanding
you'll find
that god takes what is foolish in this
world
to shame the wise
and the last place that you and i would
expect to find a blessing
is in the hands of our enemies
however
if god prepares a table before me in the
presence of my enemies
this means that my enemies are selected
they are positioned and maneuvered by
god to lead and direct me to a place
where god has prepared a table for me
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the moral of the story is
when you are obedient to god's word when
you love instead of hate
when you forgive instead of hate
when you are kind
instead of filled with hate
god
will order your steps in such a way
that your enemies will be the reason you
are blessed
enemies
are a part of life
as sure as the sun is in the sky you
will always have enemies
you will have opposition
you will have naysayers who come only to
discourage
so to the believer who says
i can't turn the other cheek
to the believer who says but my enemies
deserve everything coming for them
well here's what i would like to say to
you
yes
you have enemies
and enemies can most definitely present
problems or challenges
but
we are to love
like jesus
we are to forgive
like jesus
we are to love our neighbors like jesus
did
and what this means is summed up
perfectly in romans chapter 12.
you see verse 17 to 21 says repay no one
evil for evil but give thought to do
what is honorable in the sight of all
if possible so far as it depends on you
live peaceably with all beloved
never avenge yourselves but leave it to
the wrath of god for it is written
vengeance is mine i will repay says the
lord
to the contrary if your enemy is hungry
feed him
if he is thirsty
give him something to drink
for by so doing you will keep burning
coals on his head
do not be overcome by evil but overcome
evil with good
saints let's live in obedience to god's
word
let's strive to live like jesus christ
and that means we repay no one with evil
it means that as much as it depends on
us as individuals we are to live
peaceably with all
let's strive
to leave our enemies to god
vengeance is his
our part is to be loving
regardless of whether they are an enemy
or not
we are to remain kind
we are to remain loving
we are to remain humble
the promise that we must hold on to when
it comes to our enemies is psalms 23
verse 5 which reads
you prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies
you anoint my head with oil
my cup overflows
god knows exactly what you need
so be at peace
be confident because the lord has
prepared a table for you to dine before
your enemies
because he will deal with them
exodus 14 verse 14 says
the lord will fight for you
and you will hold your peace
your enemies are in god's hands
you simply need to focus on god's plan
whether it's a physical enemy or an
unseen enemy here's what i would like to
tell you
god is your defender
god is your shield
and fortress
some battles are meant to help you
realize that if you keep fighting
battles on your own
you'll start thinking you can resolve
things your way
but some battles are so big that you
have to say god
defend me please
fight for me
learn to leave your fights in the hands
of god
when you leave it in his hands he
creates a table for you in the presence
of your enemies
when you stop worrying about what they
think when you stop listening to what
they're saying about you when you stop
getting worked up thinking about how you
can show them how you can pay them back
when you stop doing that that's when god
will show himself to be your defender
so basically i'm saying
stop defending yourself with matters
that take up your emotional energy
jesus said in the bible
but i say to you who hear love your
enemies
do good to those who hate you
bless those who curse you
pray for those who abuse you
to one who strikes you on the cheek
offer the other also
as long as you're defending yourself
then how can god defend you
take a step back and try handling things
god's way
god's way says i'm turning this over to
you lord i will not spend my life
worried about someone's opinion of me
i will not waste my energy trying to
change their mind
i will not get upset or frustrated
because they don't like me
god i know you're my defender i know
you're fighting my battles
that's when god almighty the creator of
the universe will go to work
that's when god who said i am that i am
will be all that you need him to be
when your enemies try to push you down
god will lift you up
when your enemies try and discredit you
when they try to make you look bad he'll
turn around
change it and make you look good
when they plot against
that's when god will cause it to work
for your good
there's a giant with your name on it and
it's going to fall when you show up to
the fight
god said he will fight your battles
he will take care of your critics
god will deal with those co-workers
some opposition is just a distraction
don't get distracted
[Music]
there's a popular saying regarding
success
show me your friends and i'll show you
your future
and one quote i like reads
friends should be like books few but
hand selected
now the bible also weighs in on this
topic of friendship
psalm 1 verses 1 through 2
blessed is the man who walks not in the
counsel of the wicked
nor stands in the way of sinners
nor sits in the seat of scoffers
but his delight is in the law of the
lord
and on his law he meditates day and
night
we all get to choose
who we let into our lives
we can surround ourselves with
like-minded people
with people who will build us up and
encourage us to dwell richly in christ
or
we can linger in the company of people
who will lead us astray
people who will take us far away from
god's perfect will for our lives
the choice we make when it comes to the
company we keep
it can have serious consequences
not just in the short term
but in light of eternity
second corinthians 6 14 says
do not be unequally yoked with
unbelievers for what partnership has
righteousness with lawlessness
or what fellowship has light with
darkness
this passage is often applied to the
context of dating or marriage
but it applies in a general sense to
friendships as well
we as believers should be more careful
about who we let into our inner circle
that doesn't mean we can't have
friendships with unbelievers
but we shouldn't allow ourselves to be
yoked to be tied
to be bound by them
we can't allow them to hold us back from
following the lord
because while we might share certain
hobbies or interests or life situations
at the end of the day
if we do not share the most important
part of us
our faith
our trust in jesus christ
then that's a relationship
that we don't need to maintain
first corinthians 15 33
do not be deceived
bad company
ruins good morals
no matter how good of a christian you
think you are
no one is 100 safe from the influence of
evil
if we're not careful
we can allow ungodly people to hinder
our own walk with christ
as humans we are social creatures
we tend to imitate each other's behavior
and attitudes
the more time we spend with certain
people
the more like them we become
that's why the bible warns us regarding
the company we keep
proverbs 13 verse 20 says
whoever walks with the wise
becomes wise
but the companion of fools
will suffer harm
today there might not be anyone in your
life that you would identify as a fool
but can you identify anyone who
constantly attracts trouble and often
brings you into it
you know the devil can plant people in
our lives
who may seem genuine at first
but are actually harmful to our
relationship with god
these people might end up discouraging
us
betraying us or even destroying us
however when we surround ourselves with
fellow bible-believing bible practicing
christ-loving people then our
interactions become seasoned with grace
and tenderness
we become better equipped to face the
struggles of life
when we know that we have a support
system that stands with us
that prays with us that intercedes for
us
and that believes with us
sometimes in life god gives us people
who aren't meant to stay
people who come to play their part
and the role they play in our lives can
be powerful
they might be a mentor they may be a
friend
they might even be an opposer someone
who challenges you but inadvertently
pushes you
to do better
to be better at your craft
better in your performance
all people have an appointed time and
season
all people will serve a purpose in your
life according to god's will
but what we need to realize is that
not everyone we love
is meant to be in our lives forever
not every friend will always be a friend
look back over your own life how many
friends did you have years ago who are
still friends today
they came and served a purpose whether
you liked it or not
they came for an appointed time in
season
you see none of us were born saved
none of us were born as little saints
we all have been involved with people
that we shouldn't have at one point or
another in our lives
you've had a friend who you knew was no
good for you
you've been with a guy who had red flags
all around him
and you've been with a girl who you knew
was trouble
we've all been involved at some level
with people or with a person who was bad
for us
now the strange thing is
have you ever noticed that it's those
people the ones with red flags
the ones who are trouble
it's those people that are the hardest
to get rid of in our lives
and i mean when you look at the long
term impact they have on us
the long term negative impact they have
on us it should be an easy decision to
let them go
but that's never the case
so
might i suggest that sometimes god
allows you to struggle and tussle with
these toxic people with these toxic
friends so that you may learn a lesson
so that you might learn not to invest
your time and energy in people who drain
you rather than support you
god put specific people in our lives for
purpose
if god removed someone from your life
let them go
don't try to hold on to them when their
appointed time comes to an end
if they are walking
let them walk
what god has for you
will never pass you by
have you ever been in a place where
nothing seems to be working and you know
only jesus can get you out of this place
a place where no natural resources no
doctor no psychologist no friend can get
you out of this situation but only jesus
christ that's where i was
where i once stood tall and relied on my
own skills my own resources life took me
to the feet of the lord asking for
forgiveness begging for mercy i wasn't
worthy but i was still loved i wasn't
faithful but i was still forgiven and
for anyone else who may be going through
what i went through for anyone else who
may need this word of encouragement i
want to tell you that although you may
be hard-pressed on every side but you're
not crushed you might be discouraged but
you're not destroyed although you're
perplexed you have not been driven to
despair the bottom line is
regardless of how bad or messed up you
think your situation is you are not
forsaken
remember what the word of god says about
you his plans for you are good plans to
prosper you and not to harm you plans to
give you hope and a future so let me
tell you you are valuable you are of
more value than many sparrows you've
been saved by grace you've been
justified by faith you see you need to
get to the point where you stop running
from the call of god there must come a
time when you as a believer must decide
i will stand strong on my godly
convictions i will stand for forgiveness
even when it's hard i will stand in
faith even when i can't see a way out
you may be under attack in your health
maybe the attack is within your family
or marriage even under attack pray that
the holy spirit will strengthen you so
i'm speaking to you child of god it's
time to take a stand with the word of
god against the forces of evil stand in
the authority of christ your savior when
you stand and wait on the lord he will
renew your strength he will
rescue you
[Music]
you