The other motivator for change is we are compelled by pain.
Sometimes people only change. When the pain of staying like they are is too great.
Something's gotta give.
So we're inspired to change as positive motivation or we're compelled by pain. Pain may cause you to change, and then again, change doesn't always mean progress. But how can you make sure it's a change for the better? Hello and welcome to another great day here on Destined for Victory, where we feature the preaching ministry of Pastor Paul Shepard. I'm sure you've heard this popular definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.
If you are in pain today and you want to make a positive change, Then stay with us for the next 20 minutes or so to get some practical biblical advice on how to deal with it the right way. Online, you'll find us at pastorpaul.net. You can listen to a recent message on demand, including today's. That's pastorpaul.net.
Now, let's give a listen to Pastor Paul's Destined for Victory message: turning pain into gain. Pain is inevitable. Number two, pain indicates that something has already changed. will soon change or should intentionally change. Check that out.
Pain when it comes. It indicates that something has already changed. Will soon change or should intentionally change. What did Jesus say? You will weep and lament.
But later in that sentence, he says, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
So he is saying, yes, it's gonna come, but it's going to result in a change. If you want your pain to result in a positive change, you gotta take a look at it because sometimes when you get the pain indicator, it means something has already changed. Anyone ever been living your life doing fine physically, and then one day some pain shows up? And you didn't do anything different. Like, what is this?
It's an indicator of something. You got to find out what has changed. that is now sending you pain signals.
So that you can properly address what has changed. It's an indicator something has already changed or will soon change.
Sometimes the indicator is something is about to change in your life. And so you get the foreknowledge: okay, there's a change coming in my life. And as you live, especially physically, as we get older, we see changes, subtle things. They start out subtle. And if you address them and make the right decisions, you'll be fine.
But some people don't pay too much attention to what's going on in their bodies or in their psychological life.
Some of us don't pay attention. That's why some of us end up crazy. Hey! Because stuff was starting to happen, and you didn't pay attention to it, and now you've gone from a little bit special to cray cray. Come on, somebody.
Come on. You ever seen somebody after while you're like, ooh, something wrong with her? Ooh, that man got a problem. You ever seen that happen? Subtle stuff was happening, and they didn't properly acknowledge it.
You need to get it checked out as soon as you see indications something is changing. I need to know what it is. We who are getting older, you gotta let your body talk to you. Just because you did it when you were young doesn't mean you can do it now. That was then.
Some of us need to tell ourselves, that was then, this is now. I need to figure out what life now has got to look like. And so it either has changed, is going to change, or watch the third one, or should intentionally change.
Now, that's where I really need to park a little bit with you. Because some of us aren't good at dealing with the things. We need to be responsible for what the change is going to look like. It's up to you in many cases. There are some changes that happen to us, and all we got to do is pray and look to God and let Him work it through.
Not everything is under our control. All of us go through things that I wish I could do something different, but this happened to me. I didn't have any responsibility. But where you can indicate where the change is going to take you, you've got to learn how to make better decisions. And be intentional about it.
We have to learn how to deal with our stuff. The real stuff. You can't pray over it. Only. Prayer's good.
Soak everything in prayer, but don't act like prayer is going to solve all of it. We believe in healing. We've seen supernatural healings. But you can't just believe God and I'm not going to go to the doctor. I'm just going to believe for healing.
Well, what if your healing is going to come through what the doctors do? You can't pit God against medical science. He's the one that gave the wisdom that would allow them to use the brain power so they can help you get well. I'm preaching better than you saying. Amen.
They are supposed to help us get well. Earl Roberts was known as someone who got a lot of people healed in his meetings, tent meetings, and all that, known worldwide for his gifting in that area. But notice the man had the wisdom and not only to build a university, but to build a medical center on the campus of the university. And a whole lot of people have gotten healed at Oral Roberts Medical Center. It wasn't supernatural healing, but it was healing that got them well, and they left there glorifying God.
We got to stop pitting the wrong things against each other. I'm just believing God.
So am I. Believe Him. And so if the healing comes supernaturally, praise Him for it. But if it comes after surgery, praise Him for it. Does this message make sense to anybody?
You gotta figure out. You're supposed to let the healing, let the pain indicate there's something that must be addressed.
Something has already changed. If you see something has changed, it's gotta be addressed. It's not gonna change back to the good place by itself. What do you mean by that, Pastor? There are two typical motivations for change that we initiate.
The first is, we can be inspired to change by positive vision. We can be inspired to change by positive vision. What do you mean by that? You have a vision of getting out of debt and staying out of debt. Positive vision.
Oh, I see myself not having to worry every month about all these bills and all these loans that aren't paid off and all that. I see, I see it. Positive vision. can inspire change. That's what happens.
That's why our church has not only school discipleship, but excellent living. We want people to learn how to live excellently. And in order to live excellently, you're going to have to make some intentional changes.
So we have Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University here. We're going to offer it every year and give you an opportunity when you come all laden with debt. We're going to say there is a way out. Don't stay in that mindset, but you're going to have to intentionally make some changes. And so we get inspired by positive vision, and you can make changes like I want to get out of debt.
I'm tired of all this debt in my life. Or for losing weight. How many have ever had a positive vision? I see myself thinner and healthier and looking better and wearing my clothes. I see, I see it.
Good. Because if you can see it, you can be it. If you never see it, what's going to make you get there? Nobody lucks up on living better. If you're gonna live better than you're living now, you gotta be intentional.
and say, I want this area to improve. Say amen, somebody.
So, whether it is getting out of debt, losing weight, maybe your marriage is jacked up. And you say, I didn't marry for a jacked up kidness. I want to have peace in my home. I want to have a home I come to, and it's a peaceful place. It's not World War III all the time.
Peaceful place.
So you can have a vision. I see myself smiling at my spouse, and they smile back at me. I see myself. How was your day? Fine.
How was yours? Doing good? Oh, had some rough times, but I'm better now because I'm home and I'm with you. See, you gotta see it. Nobody's gonna luck up on your marriage is in better shape.
So, you got to have one of the motivators for self. Change is: we are inspired by positive vision. The other motivator for change is we are compelled by pain.
Sometimes people only change. When the pain of staying like they are Is too great.
Something's gotta give.
You ever been changed? Cause I can't do this. anymore. If I keep this going.
Something's gotta change. I'm gonna catch a case. Yeah, yeah. I'm at whatever it is. It's not going to go well.
if things stay the way they are.
Something's gotta change. So we're inspired to change, that's positive motivation, or we're compelled by pain. I told you, pain is an indicator.
Sometime the pain is growing in some area of your life. And you say, I can't keep dealing with this level of pain. I got to do something different.
Some of us have got to learn. You can't keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. If I keep doing this, I already know what that's going to get me.
So, God helped me figure out what I have to do different than I'm doing it now. Those who are dealing with debt, sometimes you're not inspired by getting out of debt because, sadly, some of us are used to debt and we have a debt mentality. We think debt is normal. I'm preaching better than you say it, amen.
Some of us think debt is normal.
Well, as long as I can pay the minimum payments, all right? No! That's not normal. Study of recent American history. Our grandparents, our great-grandparents were not in debt because there was not even the debt culture that had been developed.
Still ahead, the second half of today's Destined for Victory message featuring the teaching ministry of Pastor Paul Shepard. As always, you can hear any of our recent messages on demand at pastorpaul.net. That's pastorpaul.net.
Listen and subscribe to the podcast at Spotify, at Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know, from the day of the Church of Jesus Christ until now, the great commission has always had to be funded, to be fulfilled. And words cannot express our gratitude for the prayers and donations of friends and partners like you because you're reaching people all over the world with the love of Jesus Christ. Let's keep that momentum going and let's do it together. To make a safe and secure donation online, do so at pastorpaul.net or call 855-339-5500.
One of our biggest sources of self-inflicted pain is consumer debt. Dip your toe into that pool, and you'll often end up underwater. We've got some practical advice to share on that subject next in the rest of today's message: Turning Pain into Gain.
Some of us have, depending on your age, either your grandparents or great-grandparents for you young folk, but they were all for me. My grandparents knew nothing about debt. They grew up in an America where there was no way for you to go out and take out loans at the bank. In those days, they didn't need them. You worked, you saved your money, you bought that house.
Some of y'all talk to some of your relatives. Go back in your roots. Do that. Do some ancestry searches and figure things out.
Some of your grandparents, great-grandparents, they owned a house free and clear because that was the only way to have it. There was no loan they could take out. They saw a house.
Some of them back in the day bought a house for $12,000. They saved up $50 here and there, and what have you, and finally they bought their house. Then they turned it over to kids who eventually came into the debt culture. And so things changed. In many cases, we make more money than our grandparents, great-grandparents ever thought about making, and their lives were better than our lives.
Because they live simply, but they live within their means. One of the things you learn from Dave Ramsey is at your wage. Come on, somebody. Don't act your age, act your wage. If you make this, that's all you have.
Give God his portion of that. Come on. And then you dedicate some of that to saving, putting together an emergency fund. You'll learn that when you sign up for financial peace. Everything you have isn't for now.
Some of it you got to put away. You got to look at the animal kingdom. They'll teach you some things. If you ever heard the term squirreling away, where did that come from? Check out the squirrels.
They don't eat every nut cause they found the nut.
Some nuts, you got to put it away. Dig you a little place, put it away. This is where I'm going to come when the winter comes, that's where I'm going to get what I have put away. You got to make different decisions. And so that's the way you deal with debt.
Losing weight. You can either be compelled by the vision seeing yourself healthier and smaller than you are now, and you see that positively, or that you can be compelled by the pain of standing at a closet full of clothes I'm trying to help somebody. See, some of you little skinny folk have never been overweight in your whole life. Just sit there and do a cross-word puzzle for this part of the message. We'll catch you later on.
But some of us who ain't been skinny all our lives know exactly what I just said. There is a pain that some of us have experienced. You stand in there, everything in front of you is paid for. And half of it you can't wear. Cause you bought it at one size And now you stand there.
I need something to wear, gotta go somewhere. You go to grab something, and in some cases, the clothes will talk to you. Y'all never had clothes talk to you. I need some honest people up in here. I've heard my clothes, I've reached for something and said, don't even.
Okay. Don't even. I know one day you want to get back into me. That would be wonderful. That day is not now.
Take your hand off the hanger. Come on, somebody. I'm trying to get some help up in here. This is not for now. And I want to rebuke the devil.
It wasn't the devil? You can't rebuke something he didn't do. The devil, I rebuke him, he buked me back.
Okay. And in the name of Jesus, you can call any name you want to. I ain't had nothing to do with that way. That's you in that bread. That's you in them sweets.
That's you in them carbs. Painful experience.
So, either you are inspired by your vision or you're compelled by your pain. Whatever it is. Make sure you understand there are some changes that we have to be intentional about making. I've gotten sick of the roller coaster. Lose the weight, gain the weight.
Gain it right back.
Some of y'all know what I just said.
Some of us are good at losing it. You can learn effectively how to lose it. Because it's not, at the end of the day, it's not that hard to lose it. The real challenge is in changing the lifestyle. Because if you don't change the, ask me how I know.
I have been up and down and up in most of my adult life, up and down and up and down, because I know I've learned how to lose it. But this last bout I said, when I lose this time, I'm going to learn while I'm losing what's going to have to happen so when it goes away this time, it doesn't show back up in my mirror a few months later. Come on, somebody. I said, so I'm not going to just lose this time. I got to learn while I'm losing.
Because I'm gonna have to make some lifestyle changes.
Now, I'm not one of those brothers who can, one of those people who can just give up some things forever. I don't even aspire to that. I know some of you health nuts just, oh Pastor, I'm so disappointed. Be disappointed. There are some things I'm not going to permanently eliminate, but I am learning I can't make it a regular part of my diet.
Oh, I need some help up in here.
Some things you can have ere now and then. You just can't have it every week. Come on. I know you help people just. Because, you know, do you have those friends that just get on your nerves?
They just so skinny and so wonderful, they make you sick. And no, no, I never eat any sweets, and I never eat any, never eat any starches, and I never eat anything. All I need is just some grass, and I'm good. I need. They don't need grounds.
I'm messing with them. I'm sorry. Pastor, you know you're wrong. No, I'm sorry. Yeah.
I'm never gonna be one of them. Every now and then I need, every now and then I've learned, I just can't have it regularly. Every now and then I need sweets in my life. But you just can't have it every meal. all the time.
And so you gotta learn as you go. And this season in my life is a wonderful season because I've learned over the past several months of losing weight this time, I've learned how it came back because I lost it well before. But in a matter of months, I went to the mirror and it said, hey. Come on, Saba. You ever had the weight come back?
Hey, how are you doing? How you doing? How your mama doing? Heh heh. Thanks for being here for today's message: Turning Pain into Gain.
For more information about the Destined for Victory ministry or to contact us for prayer, please come see us at pastorpaul.net.
Now before we leave you to day, here's a very special word from Meredith Shepherd. Hello, Destined for Victory family. This is Meredith Shepherd, Pastor Paul's wife. This is the first time you're hearing from me since my beloved husband went home to be with the Lord, and I want you to know your prayers have carried me. Your letters, your messages, cards, books, the ways you've reached out during these months, they've strengthened me through the shock and the grief in ways I can't fully express.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You know, Paul often said that he wanted to be the black J. Vernon Magee. He'd say it with that grin of his, but behind the humor was something deeply serious. A vision to create a teaching library that would outlive him, that would keep speaking biblical truth long after he was gone.
And that's what he did. For decades, Paul poured himself into buildings destined for victory. not just as a radio programme, but as a legacy. He wanted to make sure that timeless truth would be available to help people live victorious lives no matter what generation they're in. That's why I'm talking to you today, because what Paul worked so hard to build needs your help to continue.
Recently, we experienced a change in one of our major funding sources, and for the first time in this ministry's history, we're at risk of losing radio stations, of having to pull back from communities where people depend on this teaching. I don't want my husband's voice silenced. I don't want the work he dedicated his life to building. Disappear because of funding. We need to preserve what Pastor Paul poured himself into creating.
So I'm coming to you, this family that's already been so supportive, and I'm asking. Will you help us? if destined for victory has encouraged you challenged you or helped you grow in your walk with God Would you consider giving today? A monthly gift would especially help us stabilize our funding and keep Paul's teaching on the air in every community that needs it. You can give at pastorpaul.net.
Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for standing with us. And thank you for your generosity in helping to preserve this legacy. God bless you. Thank you, Meredith.
We do want to say a special thank you to those who have already responded to this need, and to those who haven't, we want to make sure you know how much you are needed now. When you make your generous gift today, we'll gladly send you a brand new booklet that will help you persevere through life's challenges or through a past you can't quite forget. It's called Keep Moving Forward, and it seems rather appropriate in this moment. Drawing from Israel's transition from Moses to Joshua, this book will help you understand that God will go before you as your leader and your protector, even when you're facing new challenges. Again, that's Keep Moving Forward, our gift to you for your generous donation to Destined for Victory today.
You can 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. Or mail your gift to Destined for Victory. Post Office Box 1767, Fremont, California, 94538.
I came to tell you, it doesn't mean it's over for you. One of the things about walking with Jesus is, He's the God of all grace. He's a God who can cover the mess you made, and He's a God who can get you to a place He's destined you to be despite some of the mistakes you've made. That's next time in our continuing message, Turning Pain into Gain. Until then though remember.
He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. In Christ, you are destined for victory.
