Destined for Victory

Guest (Male): Hello and welcome to another great week here on Destined for Victory with Pastor Paul Shepard. We're just moments away from today's message, taking only what God gives us. But first, a quick word about our mission and purpose. For well over a decade now, we've been committed to using the media to share the gospel all over the world and using Pastor Paul's voice to do it. In fact, I once asked him to talk about the importance of Destined for Victory's media ministry and why he felt so compelled to use his voice to lead people to faith in Christ.

Here's what he had to say.

Paul Sheppard: Well, I want to tell you that it's important to me as a discipler that my voice is heard and it is used to help people grow in their knowledge of the Lord and in their faith walk with him. Fact of the matter is my voice doesn't sound like most of the other folks you hear on Christian radio. I'm well aware of that and I'm really comfortable with that. I come from my own unique background both ethnically and in terms of life experience. There are things I share, there are things I say, and there are the ways that I say them that are unique.

I believe that that perspective needs to be heard throughout Christendom. And so while I'm so grateful for all of my heroes, your heroes are mine. I listen to the same people, the guys who have been on the radio for decades and have proclaimed God's word faithfully. I really do appreciate those guys, but I've learned not to be intimidated by them cuz I've got my own way of processing and own way of sharing and helping people to learn and to grow in their faith. So it's quite intentional. Sometimes I like to be really colloquial in what I say and how I say it because I'm just using who I am and I think God wants to use that.

He's the one who called me. I didn't call myself. He called me and I believe he knows what he was getting when he called me into the ministry. And so I'm just trying to make a difference because the gospel really does change lives and I believe I have a unique calling to help present the gospel from my own perspective. And I pray that that's resonating with listeners and I pray that that means enough to them that they'll make sure my voice can continue to be heard right along with our other heroes who teach the gospel of Jesus.

Guest (Male): That was Pastor Paul's mission and it remains our mission today to bring timeless truth for a victorious life to radio, online, on our free mobile app, and on every available digital platform. And as you join us in that mission today with your generous gift, we'd like to send you a special gift in return, our latest booklet called Before Qualified. Based on the messages you're hearing right now on the life of Gideon, this outstanding resource takes a deep dive into the man whom God called a mighty warrior long before he was brave enough to go into battle.

Sometimes God calls people who are already qualified, but sometimes he qualifies people after they've been called. Learn what that can look like in your life in our booklet Called Before Qualified, our thank you gift this month for your generous donation to the Destined for Victory media ministry. Give by phone by calling 855-339-5500. That's 855-339-5500 or visit pastorpaul.net to make a safe and secure donation online. You can also mail your gift to Destined for Victory, Post Office Box 1767, Fremont, California 94538.

Paul Sheppard: Some of us have people in our lives who are good so we see or assess, but it's not God's plan. Every good idea is not a God idea. Every good person is not a God person. Every potentially good partnership is not a God partnership.

Guest (Male): Any good military strategist knows a good plan when he sees one, but there's a difference between a good plan and a God plan. On today's Destined for Victory with Pastor Paul Shepard, we'll take a look at one of the more famous battles in the Old Testament. On paper, it was one of the worst battle plans in history, but in practice, well, stay with us to find out for yourself. Today's message is called Taking Only What God Gives Us and the message begins now.

Paul Sheppard: Numbers 14 then opens by saying the people raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron. Look at what happens when this doubt and unbelief infects the assembly. They first assembled to hear this report. If the reporters had come back with a strong word of faith, we certainly can go let's do it, then faith would have spread. But they come back saying we can't go over there. And even when Caleb tries to give a contradictory report, the negative folk come right back behind him and reiterate their negative feelings. The result is the people cry, weep aloud.

Oh my goodness, we going to die. Now these are folk who have seen God part a red sea. Come on somebody. These are folk who have seen the work of God. They saw the plagues of Egypt. They saw God humiliate and then harden Pharaoh time and again. He would humiliate him, then he would harden him so that Pharaoh would resist so he could break him down again. Then he'd harden him so he could break him down again. Why was God doing that? To show his people. There is no enemy that can stand up against my purpose.

And he hardened him time and time again so that he could show himself mighty on behalf of his people. Now anytime you are where you are in the wilderness because God made a highway in the middle of a sea, that ought to cure you of doubt and unbelief for the rest of your days. You ought something in you ought to say well the same God if God was that interested in getting us away from Egypt that he worked such a miracle, then obviously that same God knows very well who lives in the land that he promised to give us.

So if he can take care of Pharaoh in Egypt, I suppose he can take care of giants and walled cities. That's what you ought to say. But when you have the wrong folk in your inner circle, you can have seen the glory of God and now you fooling around talking about we going to die in this wilderness. You better get rid of those folk. Deuteronomy 20 When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them because the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt will be with you.

Why shouldn't you be afraid of what you're facing in your life right now? Cuz the Lord's with you. See, it's not because it doesn't exist. Unemployment does exist that at alarmingly high rates right now. You know, economic downturn has impacted a lot of people, a lot of situations. That's the reality on the natural side. But God said through Moses don't be afraid. Why? Because the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt will be with you. He says when you go about into battle, the priest will come forward to address the army. Here's what the priest will tell him.

Here oh Israel, today you're going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid. Do not be terrified. Don't give way to panic. Why? For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. Then the officers shall say now if you built a new house, haven't dedicated it, going home. Look at that, another sifting before Gideon. Another sifting, going home. Otherwise, you might die in battle. Somebody else dedicate your house. Has anybody planted a vineyard, hasn't had a chance to enjoy it?

Going home. So you make sure to enjoy your your little vineyard. Has anybody been pledged to a woman and not married her? You engaged, been living right, looking forward to celebrations? Y'all missed that. Been living right, been hanging on, believing God. Oh Lord, I heard one Christian comedian, he was a virgin at the time. He said he said I've been holding on, I 'm believing God, I'm virtuous by God's grace. He said but I 'm telling all of y'all soon as I meet the woman God has ordained for my life, I'm going to tell her baby, you don't even need to go out and buy one of these expensive Vera Wang dresses and all that.

We going to get something with Velcro where I can tear it right off. Let me get back to my message. Y'all messing it up. He said if you're pledged to be married, haven't had a chance to get married yet, going home. Then look at verse eight. Then the officers shall add if anybody's afraid or fainthearted, tell them to go on home. You can't have fearful people with you when you're in the fight of your life. You can't do it. I'm prophesying. You can't do it. Get rid of them. Push them out to the outer circles of your life.

I'm not saying you'll never have to speak to them again, but your inner circle, the people you roll with, the people you're believing God with, the people who are standing with you in the faith fights of your life cannot be people who don't know how to believe God. Now back to Judges seven. That was the first sifting. Get rid of all the fainthearted people. Let them go voluntarily, honorable discharges. Now he's left with 10,000. Judges seven, left with 10,000. Verse four God says still too many folk. Take them down to the water and I will sift them there.

He says if I say God says if I say to you get in this one shall go put them to one side. If I say this one shall not go he said he can't go. I don't care what he looks like. Can't go. But but but he said I don't care what he said. God said if I say somebody better hear this. God said if I say he can't go. Don't let him go. Looks like a potential mate to me, God. I know this isn't legal money. I know this is under the table, but our RS in our pockets too much as it is, God.

I don't think we should worry about whether they would approve. God said if I say you can't do it that way, then you can't. Some of us have people in our lives who are good so we see or assess, but it's not God 's plan. Every good idea is not a God idea. Every good person is not a God person. Every potentially good partnership is not a God partnership. This is a season in your life, says the Lord, where if I say this one shall go, put them to one side. That's what you're going to work with.

God says but if I say this one shall not go, which means you got to listen to God in this season.

Guest (Male): Well, if you joined us late, you're listening to Destined for Victory where we feature the teaching ministry of Pastor Paul Shepard. Stay with us. The second half of today's message is coming right up. One of the things we love to do for friends and listeners like you is to pray for you when you're in need. So if you have a prayer request, please visit pastorpaul.net and click contact in the top menu of the home page to share it with us. Our ministry team is always happy to lift you up in prayer. Well, it's a good idea to seek wise counsel, but not at the expense of something God has told you himself.

Let's get you back to the rest of today Destined for Victory message taking only what God gives us.

Paul Sheppard: It's not about what you think. It's about what he said. You can't be a Samuel standing there looking at all of Jesse's sons, assessing them from a natural point of view. Well, he looks big and strong. This one looked like oh yeah, this one looked like yeah, he looked like the next king of Israel. I could see this one being the king. I could I can picture the crown on his head right now. As Jesse's boys came by Samuel, the Lord said not him. Not him. Another big strong one come by. Not him. Next thing you know, Samuel standing there and all he heard God say repeatedly was no.

Finally, Samuel said you have any more boys? Cuz Jesse wasn't even thinking about David. When your own daddy don't even see you as a candidate, Samuel said you got anymore? I I noticed where God sent me. Jesse said well, I got my youngest, but I mean he's out there in the field with the sheep. Samuel said I'm going to stand right here. I won't even take a seat until he's in front of me. Go call David. Somebody run to the pastor. Eventually, David shows up, little staff in his hand, little ruddy boy, the Bible says, just a lad.

Stands in front of the prophet. God said that's him. Doesn't look like much, but that's him. You can't see a whole lot of potential, but that's him. God said Samuel, get out your horn of oil and pour it on that boy. That's the next king of Israel. And along the way, he told Samuel he said I don't see things the way y'all do. God said man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart. You know why I can hang just fine in this new season? Cuz all through the journey of restoration, all through the journey of renewal, all through the journey of being examined by godly people and walking with them through this whole process, all listening to God, I have heard God say don't look at it from your perspective.

There's a whole lot of people who are doing natural assessments of things they don't know what they're talking about. God said I want you to stay focused on me and listen to me. Who cares what other folks say? Who cares what they think? This is a season to listen to me. I know the plans I have for you, plans to do you good and not harm, plans to give you a hope and a future. This doesn't look great, but God says I 'm up to something. This isn't very impressive, but God says I 'm up to something.

You wouldn't bet on this, but God says I'm up to something. Oh, it's time for somebody to make up in your mind that you're going to stop listening to folk who don't know what they're talking about about your life. You've got to decide if God is for me, who can be against me? This is the time where you can't just be hung up on folk telling you what they think. This isn't a what you think season. You know, generally speaking, in our lives, you know, folks say things off the wall, don't know what they're talking about.

We say okay, I I hear you. This is a season where don't even bother hearing them. This is a season where don't even bother You cut them off in the middle of a sentence if you have to. I don't have time for this conversation. Oh, I'm telling you what I'm doing in this season. Sometime I don't even let them get through it cuz on this where the faith fight is, I got to listen to him. He's telling me who to take and who to leave. He's telling me this one rolls with you, this one does.

But they said don't listen to what they said. The first sifting was voluntary. Tell them if they're scared, they can go. The second sifting is mandatory. Some of you are in a place right now where God is in a mandatory fashion removing props, removing comfort zones, removing people who don't know what they're talking about, but they won't stop talking. And God's just removing. You got to understand God's will is not only general. The Bible gives us God's general will. The 66 books of the Bible gives us God's general will for our lives. Once you rightly divide the word of truth you have contained in the scriptures God's general will for your life.

But the reason why God gave you more than the Bible, he gave you the Holy Spirit is because the Spirit without ever contradicting the truth of Scripture will take the general principles and apply them in specific ways to your life and you need both. Acts 13 the teachers and and prophets in Antioch are praying, fasting, seeking the Lord's direction. How is this church going to spread? The Holy Spirit speaks up perhaps through a word of prophecy through one of them. Holy Spirit says separate Paul and Barnabas for the work where unto I've called them. You've got to discern who's called.

If you draw closer to God, I promise you if you draw closer to God, submit every area of your life, submit your money to him, submit your relationships to him, submit your habits to him, submit your practices. Be kingdom first. Seek first the kingdom of God. I promise you the Holy Spirit will start talking to you about the details of your life. Other day we had trouble with one of our vehicles and went online to see where to take it. And I saw a prominent place that fixes that kind of problem. And I called them and the guy said yeah, yeah, bring it in tomorrow.

You have to leave it. And I said okay, I'll be there. And then for some reason I kept looking and I saw this little place a little bit farther away than the big prominent place. But it jumped out. I said let me call this guy. Called him. Phone rang forever. Not all that fancy got employees and folk in offices and and dial three for this and five for that and none of that. Just rang had to ring till he could get back to the phone from up underneath a car somewhere. He got on. I said told him the problem.

He said oh, run it on by. Let's take a look at it. Said all right. And went there instead of the big place and had to wait on him. He doing some other stuff. I'm still standing there. I said don't take your time. I'm good. I'm good. Finally came over, popped the hood, looks in. He's oh, here's your problem. He's all right, try it now. Try it. Perfect. He's yeah, and he explained to me what it was. What have you All right. All right, you guys. Okay, good. Grab my wallet. He's no, no, no, put your money away.

I'm not used to putting my money away. I'm used to folks saying all right now. This is where I make my living. He's no, no, no, no. No, no, put your money away. Just few minutes don't know me from Adam. Wasn't Pastor Paul hook up. Just no, no, you're good. That's you hold you fine. If you have another problem, give me a call. Drove off. The other place where I had to leave it, they could have put that thing on a rack, saw the same problem that could be fixed in 30 seconds and called me back.

Well, see, it's your D calculator and your for ribulator and your And you know I wouldn't have known the difference. And I'd have been like okay, well, how much is it going to take to take that All all this is $725. You understand what I'm saying? Listen to the Holy Spirit. He's got a lot to say to you about the everyday details of your life. Some things are good things, but other things are God things. This is a season where you want God people. You want God assignments. You want God relationships. You want God directives.

And I don't care that it boils you down and you feel like God I don't have anything. How you reduce me from 32,000 to 300? What are you doing? God is saying I'm setting you up. And it doesn't feel good. But when I get through next message is the last message in the series and we going to see what God can do with the little, pitiful, meager but called 300 in your life.

Guest (Male): Thanks so much for choosing to spend part of your day here with us on Destined for Victory. Today's message is part of our teaching series from Warrior to Warrior. Look for it online at pastorpaul.net. Once again, pastorpaul.net.

Paul Sheppard: The reason why the devil has picked on you for as long as he has in your life is cause you haven't gotten it yet. You don't know who you are. You are a child of God. You are a joint heir with Jesus, meaning whatever Jesus has, he won that victory for you.

Guest (Male): That's next time in our message Taking on Our New Identity. But until then, remember he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. In Christ, you are destined for victory.