ANNOUNCER: COMING UP ON "MARRIAGE TODAY WITH JIMMY & KAREN"... JIMMY: PEOPLE MAY HAVE TOLD YOU THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE SUCCESSFUL. YOU MAY HAVE BEEN SITTING SOMEWHERE IN A FUNERAL AND THE DEVIL SAID TO YOU, "IF GOD LOVED YOU, THEN WHY WOULD HE ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN?" LISTEN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD, BUT I DON'T WANT A GOD SO SMALL THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND HIM. BUT IN THOSE TIMES IN LIFE THAT LIFE IS BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO COMPREHEND, WE SIMPLY HAVE TO SAY, "BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD." THE DEVIL USES PAIN AND TRAUMA IN OUR LIVES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. AND LET ME SAY THIS, NOW. I DON'T BELIEVE THE WORST THING ABOUT PAIN IS THE PAIN ITSELF. AND I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. THE WORST THING ABOUT PAIN IS THE MESSAGE THAT IT BRINGS. BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS A MESSAGE IN PAIN. REJECTION, ABUSE, DISADVANTAGE, DISAPPOINTMENT, FAILURE, SIN, SICKNESS, CHRONIC SICKNESS, TRAUMA, LOSS. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DEVIL TO COME AND TO USE THOSE TO DECEIVE US. JESUS SAID, "THE THIEF DOES NOT COME EXCEPT TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY. I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, THAT THEY MAY HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY." THE DEVIL--WHAT MAKES THE DEVIL DANGEROUS IS NOT JUST THAT HE'S EVIL. IT'S THAT HE DISGUISES HIMSELF. AND WE'RE GONNA READ A STORY IN JUST A MINUTE ABOUT ADAM AND EVE. BUT WHEN THE DEVIL CAME TO ADAM AND EVE, HE DIDN'T COME AS THE DEVIL. HE NEVER DOES. HE CAME AS A SERPENT. AND SERPENTS ARE DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY'RE SO STEALTHY. THEY DON'T PRESENT THEMSELVES. AND SO HE CAME NOT PRESENTING HIMSELF, BUT JUST BRINGING THIS ARGUMENT IN EVE'S MIND ABOUT SIN AND GOD AND THE WORD OF GOD AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, ULTIMATELY CAUSING THEM TO FALL. BUT LET ME TELL YOU THE DEVIL'S PERFECT DISGUISE. THIS IS WHAT MAKES HIM SO DANGEROUS. HIS PERFECT DISGUISE IS US. SEE, MANY TIMES WHEN THE DEVIL IS INTRODUCING THOUGHTS INTO OUR MINDS, WE DON'T KNOW IT'S THE DEVIL UNTIL YOU LEARN TO UNCOVER THE DEVIL'S LIES AND HIS DECEPTIONS, AND YOU KNOW ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE, WHICH MEANS TAKING OUR THOUGHTS CAPTIVE, THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT. AND SO YOU'RE HIS PERFECT DISGUISE. AND I'M GONNA SAY SOMETHING TO YOU AND I WANT YOU TO LISTEN, BECAUSE IN THIS MESSAGE I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I'M SAYING RIGHT NOW. MANY OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HURT YOUR LIFE THE MOST, THAT ARE IN YOUR MIND, WERE ACTUALLY INTRODUCED BY THE DEVIL, NOT YOU. YOU DID NOT TELL YOURSELF THOSE THINGS. GOD CERTAINLY-- AND HIS SECOND FAVORITE DISGUISE IS GOD. SEE, HE LOVES JUST TO INTRODUCE THOUGHTS INTO OUR MIND AND FOR US TO BELIEVE THAT THEY CAME FROM US, 'CAUSE THAT WAY WE'RE NOT GONNA RESIST THEM, BECAUSE THEY'RE OUR THOUGHTS, NOT HIS THOUGHTS. BUT HIS SECOND FAVORITE DISGUISE IS GOD. IT SAYS, "THEY HEARD THE SOUND OF THE LORD GOD WALKING IN THE GARDEN IN THE COOL OF THE DAY, AND ADAM AND HIS WIFE HID THEMSELVES FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD GOD AMONG THE TREES OF THE GARDEN. THEN THE LORD GOD CALLED TO ADAM AND SAID TO HIM, 'WHERE ARE YOU?' SO HE SAID, 'I HEARD YOUR VOICE IN THE GARDEN AND I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE I WAS NAKED, AND I HID MYSELF.' AND HE SAID, 'WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE NAKED? HAVE YOU EATEN FROM THE TREE OF WHICH I COMMANDED THAT YOU SHOULD NOT EAT?'" SO THE DEVIL COMES TO ADAM AND EVE, ESPECIALLY EVE, IT BEGINS WITH EVE, AND HE SAYS TO THEM, HAS GOD SURELY SAID THAT YOU CAN'T EAT FROM THESE TREES? AND SHE SAYS, WELL, THE DAY THAT WE EAT OF THE TREE, WE'LL DIE. AND HE SAYS, YOU WON'T DIE. WAS THAT TRUE? WELL, THEY DID DIE. HE'S A LIAR. HE ALWAYS LIES. AND SO HE ACCUSED GOD--LET ME SAY THIS. THE DEVIL'S REALLY GOOD BECAUSE HE CONVINCED TWO PERFECT PEOPLE IN A PERFECT PARADISE THAT THE PERSON WHO PUT THEM THERE WAS EVIL. YOU GOTTA BE GOOD WHEN YOU CAN DO THAT. LET ME JUST SAY THIS ABOUT GOD. OUR GOD IS A FABULOUS GOD. HE DIDN'T CREATE US IN HELL. HE DIDN'T CREATE US IN A GHETTO. HE DIDN'T CREATE US IN A WILDERNESS. HE CREATED US IN A PARADISE BECAUSE HE'S A GOOD GOD. AND THE BIBLE BEGINS IN A PARADISE AND IT ENDS IN A PARADISE BECAUSE OUR GOD IS A GOOD GOD. [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] BUT THE DEVIL, THE DEVIL'S ALWAYS OUT TO ACCUSE GOD. AND HE'LL USE ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. BUT HE'S SO GOOD. THEY HAD NO TRAUMA IN THEIR PAST. THEY DIDN'T HAVE A BAD DADDY OR A BAD MAMA. THEY DIDN'T GROW UP IN POVERTY. THEY HAD NEVER HAD A BAD DAY IN THEIR LIFE. BUT HERE COMES THE DEVIL, ACCUSING GOD TO THEM AND CONVINCES THEM THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH GOD. SO THEY EAT THE FRUIT. AND THE INSTANT THEY EAT THE FRUIT, SEE, THEY BEGAN TO HIDE FROM GOD. AND GOD WALKS UP AND HE SAYS, WHY ARE YOU HIDING FROM ME? AND HE SAYS, I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE I WAS NAKED. WAIT JUST A MINUTE. WHO MADE HIM NAKED? GOD MADE HIM NAKED. WITHOUT SHAME. GENESIS 2:25 SAYS, "AND THEY WERE BOTH NAKED WITHOUT SHAME." THEY HAD NO FEAR WHATSOEVER OF THEIR NAKEDNESS, BUT GOD SAYS THIS TO ADAM AS A QUESTION. AND BY THE WAY, GOD NEVER ASKS A QUESTION TO GET THE ANSWER. HE ASKS A QUESTION TO GIVE THE ANSWER. WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE NAKED? HE'S TRYING TO GET ADAM TO THINK. HOW DID-- HOW DID THIS THOUGHT GET INTO MY HEAD? GOD MADE US NAKED. WE WEREN'T ASHAMED OF OUR NAKEDNESS 10 MINUTES AGO. HOW DID THIS THOUGHT GET INTO MY HEAD? WELL, LET ME GIVE YOU THE ANSWER. THE DEVIL CAME AND TEMPTED THEM AND DECEIVED THEM. THEY ATE THE FRUIT, AND WHEN THEY ATE THE FRUIT, THEY MADE A MISTAKE. THEY SINNED. AND THE INSTANT THEY OPENED THE DOOR THROUGH THEIR SIN AND FAILURE, THAT OPENED THE DOOR FOR HIM TO SPEAK THIS INTO THEIR SPIRITS. YOU'RE DEFECTIVE. THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU. THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU. YOUR BODIES ARE DETESTABLE. WAS THAT TRUE? THEY WERE GLORIOUS. THEY LIVED FOR OVER 900 YEARS. THESE PEOPLE HAD BODIES. THESE PEOPLE WERE BEAUTIFUL. THESE PEOPLE WERE GLORIOUS. THEY HAD THE--THEY WERE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. IT WAS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THE TRUTH. THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU. SO ALL THE SUDDEN, HIS PERFECT-- THE DEVIL'S PERFECT DESIRE COMES TRUE. THEY DIVIDE FROM EACH OTHER AND GOD. SEE, THAT'S ALL-- ALL THE DEVIL ULTIMATELY WANTS TO DO IS JUST KEEP YOU FROM GOD AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE HATES THE MOST. HE HATES--HE HATES FAMILY. HE HATES MARRIAGE, BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE GOD. HE HATES GOD. HE WANTS TO KEEP YOU AWAY FROM GOD. SO ULTIMATELY, ALL HE'S TRYING TO DO IS TO KEEP YOU SEPARATED FROM GOD IN ANY HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP BY INTRODUCING LIES INTO YOUR MIND. WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE NAKED? WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE WORTHLESS? WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU COULDN'T SUCCEED? WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE NOBODY? WHO TOLD YOU THAT GOD COULDN'T USE YOU? WHO TOLD YOU THAT GOD DIDN'T LOVE YOU? WHO TOLD YOU THAT? BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES, IN PAIN AND TRAUMA, IN FAILURE, THERE'S THAT THOUGHT. THERE'S THAT THOUGHT. ADAM DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHO GAVE HIM THAT THOUGHT. BUT HE WAS AFRAID. HE WAS HIDING FROM HIS HEALER, HE WAS HIDING FROM HIS MAKER, AND HE WAS DIVIDED FROM HIS WIFE. THAT'S THE MARK OF THE DEVIL. THE DEVIL'S EVIL. HE NEVER KEEPS A PROMISE AND HE NEVER WILL. IT'S AMAZING TO ME THAT A GOD WHO IS SO FAITHFUL COULD BE SO MISTRUSTED, AND A DEVIL WHO HAS NEVER KEPT A PROMISE COULD BE SO FOLLOWED. HE'S THE HURT WHISPERER. IF WE HAVE HURTS, UNRESOLVED HURTS OR LIFE ISSUES, WE HAVE FAULTY MESSAGES WITHIN US. AND MOST OF US DO. IF YOU HAVE AN UNRESOLVED ISSUE IN YOUR LIFE, OF PAIN, I PROMISE, I PROMISE YOU, THERE IS A THOUGHT--THE PAIN ISN'T THE WORST PART. THE WORST PART IS THE THOUGHT, THE MESSAGE THAT CAME IN THAT PAIN. KAREN AND I BOTH HAD THESE. AND HERE WERE MY--THROUGH THE PAIN OF MY PAST. I CAME INTO ADULTHOOD WITH 5 MAIN MESSAGES. THE FIRST IS, I WAS A FREAK. THIS WAS A MESSAGE THAT I HAD EARLY IN LIFE. I WAS TALLER THAN MY SECOND-GRADE TEACHER, HAD A BIG SILVER TOOTH HERE 'CAUSE I GOT--MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR SHOT THIS OUT WITH A SLINGSHOT. AND WHEN THE DOCTOR REPLACED IT, HE GAVE ME A TOOTH I COULD GROW INTO. AND IT WAS A BIG, BIG SILVER TOOTH. AND MY BROTHERS, DAMIEN AND LUCIFER, THEY CALLED ME--THAT JOKE ALWAYS WORKS. AND I--IT MAKES ME--AND I JUST LOVE IT BECAUSE ALL THEY DID TO ME, I HAVE THE MICROPHONE NOW. BUT MY BROTHERS CALLED ME BUCKY THE SILVER-TOOTHED BEAVER. THAT'S GOOD FOR YOUR SELF-ESTEEM, ISN'T IT? SO THAT WAS--SO JUST THROUGH MY PHYSICAL, YOU KNOW, FEATURES WHEN I WAS A KID, THERE WAS A MESSAGE IN ME UNTIL ADULTHOOD THAT I WAS A FREAK, SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME. ANYTHING GOOD WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME. ANYTHING GOOD. I REMEMBER--I PLAYED BASEBALL, AND I REMEMBER I WAS ON THE BASEBALL TEAM, AND I JUST WAS HAVING A BIG TIME. I WAS MAYBE 10 YEARS OLD. AND I CAME HOME FROM BASEBALL PRACTICE ONE DAY AND MY MOTHER SAID, "YOU CAN'T PLAY ON THE BASEBALL TEAM ANYMORE." AND I SAID, "WHAT'S WRONG?" AND SHE SAID 'CAUSE MY BIRTHDAY WAS OCTOBER, I WAS TOO OLD. AND THAT HAPPENED SO OFTEN THAT I WOULD GET SOMETHING AND LOSE IT. AND I HAD THIS MESSAGE THAT ANYTHING GOOD I HAVE WILL BE TAKEN AWAY. I'M A BURDEN. AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE IN JUST A MINUTE. THAT WAS A MESSAGE IN MY SPIRIT. IF PEOPLE REALLY KNEW ME, THEY WOULD REJECT ME. THAT'S THE WAY I FELT. AND I'LL ALWAYS BE DISAPPOINTED. KAREN--HERE WERE THE MESSAGES THAT KAREN CAME INTO ADULTHOOD WITH. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH ME AND IT CAN'T BE FIXED. AND WHEN I WAS PREPARING THIS MESSAGE, I ASKED KAREN, KAREN, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MESSAGES WERE? SHE SAID THAT WAS THE BIG ONE. THE BIG ONE. AND IT CAME THROUGH PAIN. SHE--I'M STUPID. I'M FAT AND I'M UGLY. THERE'S SOMETHING MENTALLY WRONG WITH ME AND I'M NOT NORMAL. THESE WERE THE THOUGHTS. AND I REMEMBER, WHEN I MARRIED KAREN, THAT'S THE WAY SHE THOUGHT. I'VE NEVER MET A PERSON WITH MORE SELF-HATE THAN KAREN WHEN WE GOT MARRIED. OTHER COMMON THOUGHTS THAT PEOPLE COME INTO ADULTHOOD WITH--I'LL NEVER SUCCEED. GOD LOVES OTHER PEOPLE MORE THAN ME, PEOPLE WHO ARE PRETTY, SPIRITUAL, TALENTED. I'VE SINNED TOO MUCH FOR GOD TO FORGIVE ME. YOU CAN'T TRUST PEOPLE, THEY'LL ALWAYS DISAPPOINT YOU. IF GOD LOVES ME, WHY DID HE ALLOW BLANK TO HAPPEN? WHERE WAS GOD? YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT WAS THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I CAN'T CHANGE. I'LL ALWAYS BE THIS WAY. I'LL NEVER BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN. SOMETHING BAD IS GONNA HAPPEN TO ME OR MY FAMILY TO PAY ME BACK FOR WHAT I'VE DONE OR BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FAITH. GOD CAN'T USE ME. IT'S HOPELESS. I WON'T GO TO HEAVEN. I'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE WILL. AND THOSE ARE JUST SOME--SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF HOW IN OUR PAIN THE DEVIL COMES TO LIE TO US AND EMBED THESE MESSAGE THAT WE THINK ARE NORMAL, OR WE THINK ARE JUST US, BUT THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE THE DEVIL. SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO DESTROY THE DEVIL'S LIES THAT LIMIT OUR LIVES. I WANT TO SAY THIS, NOW. I THINK EVERYBODY'S GOT THEM. IF YOU'VE NEVER DEALT WITH THIS, I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU, YOU GOT 'EM. AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU'VE GOT UNRESOLVED PAIN IN YOUR LIFE AND ISSUES IN YOUR LIFE. THESE THINGS ARE IN THERE. SO HOW DO YOU GET RID OF THEM? WELL, THE FIRST STEP IS TO EXPOSE THE THOUGHT TO THE LIGHT. AND EVEN ASK--YOU MAY KNOW THE THOUGHT. AS WE'RE SITTING HERE TALKING, YOU CAN JUST MAKE YOURSELF A LIST. OK. BUT SOMETIMES WE DON'T. ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT--THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. AND JESUS SAID HE'LL LEAD YOU INTO ALL TRUTH. SO, I WAS--YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SO MANY THINGS THE LORD HAS SET ME FREE FROM, INCLUDING ALL THOSE THOUGHTS THAT I JUST MENTIONED. I'M FREE FROM THOSE. I DON'T KNOW, IT WAS MAYBE 15 YEARS AGO OR SO, AND I WAS HAVING A QUIET TIME ONE MORNING, AND HERE'S WHAT THE LORD SAID TO ME. YOU'RE A BLESSING AND NOT A BURDEN. AND THAT CHALLENGED EVERY MESSAGE I'D EVER RECEIVED ABOUT MY LIFE. BECAUSE FROM DAY ONE, I FELT LIKE WHEREVER I WENT, I WAS A BURDEN. CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING? I'M A BLESSING, I'M NOT A BURDEN. I COULDN'T-- [APPLAUSE] AND LET ME TELL YOU THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT. I COULDN'T RECEIVE. I COULDN'T RECEIVE. IF A PERSON--IF ANYBODY WANTED TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME, I COULDN'T RECEIVE IT 'CAUSE I FELT LIKE I CAN'T TAKE THAT BECAUSE I'LL BE A BURDEN. BUT I'VE LEARNED TO RECEIVE, IN A HEALTHY WAY. I'M NOT A MOOCHY PREACHER, THANK GOD. YOU KNOW, MANIP--BUT I'M SAYING, I'VE LEARNED TO RECEIVE KNOWING THAT I'M NOT A BURDEN, I AM A BLESSING. AND I CAN GO TO GOD AND BOLDLY ASK HIM FOR ANYTHING THAT I NEED, KNOWING THAT I'M NOT A BURDEN TO MY GOD. AND THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF A THOUGHT BEING EXPOSED TO THE LIGHT. AND I HONESTLY DID NOT CONSCIOUSLY KNOW THAT THAT THOUGHT WAS IN ME UNTIL THE LORD SPOKE TO MY HEART. LET ME SAY THIS TO YOU. WHEN YOU GET BEFORE THE LORD IN YOUR QUIET TIME, YOU NEED TO ENUNCIATE, YOU NEED TO SAY THOSE THINGS THAT ARE IN YOUR HEART THAT MAYBE YOU FEEL ASHAMED OF, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THIS MESSAGE YOU DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE HOW DEADLY IT WAS OR THE ORIGINATION OF THAT. YOU NEED TO SAY TO GOD, "GOD, THIS IS A THOUGHT IN MY HEAD, AND I BRING THIS INTO THE LIGHT." BUT YOU ALSO NEED TO SAY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, "IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN ME THAT I'M NOT EVEN AWARE OF, HOLY SPIRIT, SPEAK THAT TO MY HEART AND REPAIR THESE FAULTY THOUGHTS THAT ARE IN THERE THROUGH THE DISAPPOINTMENTS AND PAIN AND FAILURES IN MY LIFE." AND HE WILL. HE'LL BE FAITHFUL. LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE WON'T OVERWHELM YOU. HE'S VERY PATIENT. SO HE'LL DO IT IN HIS TIME. BUT HE'LL BEGIN TO DO IT IMMEDIATELY. THE DEVIL WORKS IN DARKNESS, BUT GOD WORKS IN LIGHT. AND WHEN YOU BRING IT INTO THE LIGHT, IT'S NOW IN GOD'S DOMAIN. THE SECOND THING THAT YOU DO IS TO EXPEL ANY THOUGHT THAT DOESN'T AGREE WITH GOD'S WORD. SECOND CORINTHIANS 10. "THOUGH WE WALK IN THE FLESH, WE DO NOT WAR ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL, BUT MIGHTY IN GOD FOR PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS, CASTING DOWN ARGUMENTS, AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTS ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, BRINGING EVERY THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST AND BEING READY TO PUNISH ALL DISOBEDIENCE WHEN YOUR OBEDIENCE IS FULFILLED." THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE TAKING--THE WARFARE'S IN OUR MINDS. THIS IS GOLGOTHA. JESUS DIED ON GOLGOTHA. THIS IS THE PLACE OF THE SKULL. AND SATAN ATTACKS US JUST LIKE ADAM AND EVE. JUST LIKE HE DID PETER. HE ATTACKS US IN OUR MIND, 'CAUSE WHOEVER CONTROLS OUR MIND CONTROLS US. AND IF WE'RE NOT FREE IN OUR MINDS, WE'RE NOT FREE. AND THESE ARGUMENTS, THESE HIGH THINGS IN OUR MINDS THAT EXALT THEMSELVES, THESE STRONGHOLDS THAT EXALT THEMSELVES AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, WE HAVE TO TAKE THEM CAPTIVE. WE HAVE TO TAKE THESE THOUGHTS INTO OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST. AND THAT MEANS EVERY THOUGHT IN MY MIND, I'M GOING TO COMPARE IT TO WHAT GOD SAYS TO ME. AND THIS IS THE THIRD POINT HERE, AND MY FINAL POINT. EXPRESS YOUR AGREEMENT WITH GOD'S WORD. CONFESS GOD'S WORD. WHEN GOD BEGAN TO SPEAK TO ME THAT I WAS A BLESSING AND NOT A BURDEN, I HAD TO BEGIN TO SAY IT WITH MY MOUTH. I'M A BLESSING AND NOT A BURDEN. I'M A BLESSING AND NOT A BURDEN. AND WHEN I BEGAN TO AGREE, I HAD TO PUT FAITH IN WHAT GOD WAS SAYING, 'CAUSE I KNEW IT WAS TRUE, BUT MY HEART DIDN'T AGREE WITH IT BECAUSE OF THE PAIN OF MY PAST. AND SO EXPRESS YOUR AGREEMENT. WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT ME? AND HERE'S THE ISSUE. YOU MAY BE SAYING TO YOURSELF, "I'LL NEVER SUCCEED." "WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE DONE TOO MUCH FOR GOD TO FORGIVE ME," AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. WELL, WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT YOU? HERE'S JEREMIAH 29:11. AND I LOVE THIS SCRIPTURE BECAUSE OF THE CONTEXT OF IT. GOD SAYS, "I KNOW MY THOUGHTS THAT I THINK TOWARD YOU." NOW, THE REASON THAT I LOVE THAT SCRIPTURE IS, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN AN ARGUMENT WITH SOMEONE TRYING TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU'RE THINKING? A WOMAN. EXCUSE ME. [STAMMERING] NO, NO, I DIDN'T MEAN THAT. DIDN'T MEAN THAT. KAREN'S GONE AND I FEEL REAL BOLD. SO--BUT...HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN AN ARGUMENT--SO THEY'RE JUST TELLING YOU WHAT YOU'RE THINKING. AND YOU'RE SAYING, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M THINKING. DON'T TELL ME WHAT I'M THINKING. JEREMIAH 29:11, THEY'RE TELLING GOD WHAT HE'S THINKING. YOU DON'T LOVE US. YOU'VE FORSAKEN US. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH US? AND I LOVE THE CONTEXT. I KNOW THE THOUGHTS THAT I THINK TOWARD YOU. DON'T TELL ME WHAT I'M THINKING. THOUGHTS OF GOOD AND NOT EVIL, TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE. PSALM 139 SAYS THAT THE DAY YOU WERE CREATED IN YOUR MOTHER'S WOMB THAT GOD HAD SO MANY THOUGHTS ABOUT YOU, THEY COULDN'T BE NUMBERED. THEY'RE MORE THAN THE SAND ON THE SEASHORE. GOD, IN DETAIL, PLANNED OUT YOUR LIFE, AND EVERY THOUGHT WAS A GOOD THOUGHT. AND NOTHING THE DEVIL HAS DONE HAS CANCELED OUT GOD'S GOOD PLAN. AND REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE, GOD CAN GET YOU BACK ON THE PATH IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. WOMAN: AMEN! [APPLAUSE] JIMMY: WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT ME? WHAT DOES GOD SAY? AND YOU HAVE TO AGREE WITH THAT. YOU HAVE TO BEGIN TO CONFESS THAT. WHATEVER'S BEEN DONE TO YOU IN LIFE. GOD DOESN'T THROW AWAY PEOPLE. YOU HAVEN'T DONE TOO MUCH THAT GOD CAN'T USE YOU. YOU'RE GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL IF YOU OBEY GOD. PEOPLE MAY HAVE TOLD YOU THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE SUCCESSFUL. YOU MAY HAVE BEEN SITTING SOMEWHERE IN A FUNERAL AND THE DEVIL SAID TO YOU, "IF GOD LOVED YOU, THEN WHY WOULD HE ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN?" LISTEN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD, BUT I DON'T WANT A GOD SO SMALL THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND HIM. BUT IN THOSE TIMES IN LIFE THAT LIFE IS BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO COMPREHEND, WE SIMPLY HAVE TO SAY, "BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD." BLESSED BE--I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. BUT BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. AFTER LIVING AS LONG AS I'VE LIVED, THERE WERE THINGS THAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND 30 YEARS AGO, AND I STAND HERE TODAY AND I SAY BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD. BECAUSE HE DID IT AND IT ALL WORKED OUT FOR HIS GOOD. BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD. DON'T LET THE DEVIL CAMP OUT IN YOUR BRAIN. DON'T LET THE DEVIL USE PAIN AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SLITHER UP AND WHISPER A LIE THAT'S GOING TO RUIN YOUR LIFE. AND ALL OF US HAVE DONE IT. ALL OF US HAVE DONE IT, INNOCENTLY, BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE KIND OF ISSUES. PEOPLE DON'T TYPICALLY TEACH US THIS KIND OF STUFF. AND SO PAIN ACCUMULATES IN OUR HURT POCKET. AND THAT HURT AND THAT PAIN BECOMES A PLACE OF DARKNESS FOR THE DEVIL TO COME AND WHISPER THOUGHTS AND LIES THAT KEEP US IN BONDAGE. AND JESUS SAID, "YOU'LL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE." GOD LOVES YOU. YOUR LIFE IS PRECIOUS. HE CAN USE YOU. AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE, HE CAN REDEEM IT, AND HE WILL REDEEM IT. BUT HE CAN ONLY WORK WITH TRUTH. THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGES THAT I'VE EVER BROUGHT. I'M TALKING ABOUT HURT AND PROCESSING HURT PROPERLY. AND I HOPE YOU'RE ENCOURAGED BY THIS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW SOMETHING? WE ALL GET HURT IN LIFE, BUT GOD HEALS. AND GOD HEALS YOU RIGHT NOW OF ANYTHING THAT IS HURTING YOU. AND SO I HOPE THIS PROGRAM HELPED. AND I HOPE THAT YOU GOT HEALING OUT OF THAT. WE HAVE-- WHAT YOU SAW THERE IS JUST A SMALL PART OF A LARGER SERIES OF MESSAGES THAT I HAVE CALLED "THE HURT POCKET." I ALSO HAVE A BOOK CALLED "WHEN LIFE HURTS." IT'S THE SAME INFORMATION. RIGHT NOW, FOR YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT TO SUPPORT US HERE AT "MARRIAGE TODAY," WE'LL GIVE YOU MY NEW BOOK, "WHEN LIFE HURTS." FOR YOUR GIFT OF $65 OR MORE, WE HAVE A FOUR-PART CD SERIES, "THE HURT POCKET," WHICH IS THE SAME INFORMATION YOU HEARD TODAY, PLUS A LOT MORE. AND WE'LL GIVE YOU THAT PLUS THE BOOK, "WHEN LIFE HURTS." FOR $90 OR MORE, WE'LL GIVE YOU THE DVD SERIES, THE FOUR-PART DVD SERIES, "THE HURT POCKET," ALONG WITH THE BOOK. YOU KNOW, THIS IS LIFE-CHANGING INFORMATION THAT CAN HEAL YOU, IT CAN HEAL YOUR MARRIAGE, IT CAN HEAL YOUR FAMILY. MAYBE YOU KNOW SOME PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE THAT REALLY NEED HEALING. THEY NEED EMOTIONAL HEALING. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. JUST EVERYTHING YOU'VE GONE THROUGH IN LIFE. ALL OF YOUR DISAPPOINTMENTS, ALL YOUR HURTS, ALL THE TRAGEDIES. ALL THOSE THINGS CAN BE RESOLVED, AND IT CHANGES EVERYTHING. LITERALLY CHANGES WHO YOU ARE, AND IT CHANGES YOUR DESTINY IN LIFE. THIS IS SUCH IMPORTANT INFORMATION. WE WANT TO GET IT TO YOU. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN GET IT. ANNOUNCER: FIND HOPE AND HEALING FROM THE PAIN YOU CARRY WITH JIMMY'S INSPIRING SERIES, "THE HURT POCKET." AVAILABLE ON CD AND DVD. WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE JIMMY'S COMPANION BOOK, "WHEN LIFE HURTS." THE CD SERIES AND BOOK ARE YOURS FOR A GIFT OF $65 OR MORE. THE DVD SERIES AND BOOK FOR $90 OR MORE. "THE HURT POCKET" SERIES WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE THE HURTS OF LIFE, GOD'S DESIRE TO HEAL AND REDEEM YOU, AND THE STEPS TO MAKING PEACE WITH YOUR PAST. JIMMY: LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE SILLY THING ABOUT HIDING FROM GOD--YOU'RE HIDING YOUR YOUR HEALER. WHEN HE TOUCHES TOUCHES PAIN, IT DOESN'T HURT. WHEN HE TOUCHES PAIN, IT GOES AWAY. ANNOUNCER: WHEN YOU SUPPORT "MARRIAGE TODAY" WITH A GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT, WE'LL SEND YOU JIMMY'S LATEST BOOK, "WHEN LIFE HURTS." CREATE A POSITIVE LEGACY AS YOU HEAL FROM THE HURTS OF LIFE. EXPERIENCE "THE HURT POCKET" SERIES TODAY. JIMMY: I HOPE THAT MESSAGE WAS ENCOURAGING TO YOU ON "THE HURT POCKET" AND TALKING ABOUT HURT AND HOW TO RESOLVE HURT. YOU KNOW, THE DEVIL IS AN EVIL DEVIL, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IN THIS MESSAGE, IS YOU KNOW, JUST HOW THE DEVIL COMES INTO OUR LIVES AND HE COMES TO STEAL, KILL, AND DESTROY AND THAT'S WHAT JESUS SAID. BUT JESUS CAME THAT WE COULD HAVE LIFE AND TO HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY. BUT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE HURTS IN OUR LIVES. WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE THINGS THAT WERE DONE TO US, AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID THAT WERE SINFUL OR, YOU KNOW, LED TO FAILURE OR WHATEVER. THE DISAPPOINTMENTS, THE HURTS, THE THINGS THAT ARE IN OUR LIVES THAT ARE COMPROMISING US MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, SPIRITUALLY, RELATIONALLY. JESUS CAME AND LIVED AND DIED AND ROSE AGAIN SO THAT WE COULD BE FREE FROM EVERY SINGLE THING THAT THE DEVIL'S TRIED TO DO TO US. BUT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO. AND THE FIRST THING IS, IS THAT WE JUST NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT. AND WHAT HURT US, WHAT WE DID WRONG. MAYBE IT WAS OUR SIN, MAYBE IT WAS SOMEBODY ELSE'S SIN. BUT COME TO GOD AND TELL GOD ABOUT IT. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT GOD. NO ONE LOVES YOU MORE THAN GOD. GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE. SEE, ONE OF THE THINGS THE DEVIL--HE'S THE HURT WHISPERER. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THE DEVIL WANTS US TO BELIEVE IS, GOD DOESN'T LIKE US, GOD'S TICKED OFF AT US, GOD WON'T FORGIVE US, WE'VE DONE TOO MUCH TO BE FORGIVEN. DID YOU KNOW THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL, BEFORE HE BECAME THE APOSTLE PAUL, HE PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS AND PUT THEM TO DEATH FOR GOD? HE FOUGHT FOR GOD. AND GOD FORGAVE HIM. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU READ YOUR BIBLE, I MEAN, PETER DENIED JESUS CHRIST. IN JESUS' MOST TRYING HOUR, PETER DENIED HIM. THE DEVIL WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE YOU'VE DONE TOO MUCH. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THAT DIVORCE, BECAUSE OF THAT ABORTION, BECAUSE OF THIS, BECAUSE OF THAT ADULTERY, YOU CAN'T BE FORGIVEN. THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS THE MOST POWERFUL CLEANSING AGENT IN THE UNIVERSE. AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS FORGIVES ANY SIN. AND IT'S NOT JUST OUR SINS THAT ARE FORGIVEN, IT'S THE SINS OF OTHER PEOPLE. THAT WE ARE SET FREE AS WE FORGIVE OUR MOMS AND DADS, AS WE FORGIVE A BUSINESS PARTNER, AN EX-SPOUSE OR A STEPMOTHER OR A STEPFATHER, WHOEVER IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN, THAT I'M FORGIVEN AND I FORGIVE OTHER PEOPLE AND I STAND UP, AND I BEGIN TO BE THE PERSON THAT GOD WANTS ME TO BE. SEE, WHEN I BRING IT INTO THE LIGHT AND WHEN I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY BEHAVIOR AND I'M WILLING TO FORGIVE OTHER PEOPLE, THAT'S THE ATMOSPHERE THAT GOD HEALS IN. GOD HEALS IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF LIGHT. AND AS I SAID BEFORE, OUR HURTS DON'T HEAL JUST BECAUSE TIME GOES ON. IN FACT, THEY ACCUMULATE. AND THE MORE OF THOSE THINGS THAT ACCUMULATE WITHIN US, THE MORE IT COMPROMISES US IN EVERY SINGLE AREA OF OUR LIVES. AND KAREN AND I, WE WERE THE WALKING WOUNDED WHEN WE GOT MARRIED. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE COULDN'T HAVE THE INTIMACY THAT WE HAVE TODAY SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE WOUNDEDNESS OF OUR LIVES. SEE, THE WOUNDEDNESS--HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE, IS THE OLD SAYING. AND THE WOUNDEDNESS OF MY LIFE HURTS MY CHILDREN. IT HURTS MY SPOUSE. IT HURTS THE PEOPLE AROUND ME. AND THE MAIN THING IS IT KEEPS ME FROM THE DESTINY THAT GOD HAS FOR ME. AND SO AS WE BEGIN TO SHINE THE LIGHT ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR LIVES AND TAKE STEPS OF FORGIVENESS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, OUR LIVES ARE CHANGED. GOD BEGINS TO WORK IN A NEW WAY IN OUR LIVES. AND THE DESTINY THAT GOD HAS FOR US CAN BE FULFILLED. I HOPE THAT THIS IS A BLESSING TO YOU. AND LET ME JUST SAY, WE'RE ABLE TO COME TO YOU TODAY BECAUSE OF OUR WONDERFUL PARTNERS THAT STAND WITH US FINANCIALLY. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT GIVE JUST A SPECIAL GIFT EVERY NOW AND THEN, OR ONE TIME, TO BLESS US HERE. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. NOTHING IS TOO SMALL. NOTHING IS TOO LARGE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR GIVING SO MUCH. BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO STAND WITH US MONTHLY. OUR ROCK SOLID PARTNERS. AND FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP, THEY GET A SPECIAL PREMIUM THAT NO ONE ELSE GETS. WE WANT YOU TO SUPPORT US, AND WE APPRECIATE IT. WE ALSO WANT YOU TO BE A MONTHLY PARTNER. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN DO THAT. ANNOUNCER: GOING THROUGH DIVORCE IS A LOT TO ASK OF CHILDREN AND OFTEN RESULTS IN YEARS OF EMOTIONAL PAIN. IT'S A VIOLENT RIPPING APART OF THEIR PARENTS AND A SENSE OF ABANDONMENT. WHAT SOMETIMES WE SEE AS A QUICK WAY OUT CAN MEAN COMPLETE LOSS FOR A CHILD. JIMMY: YOU HAVE A 100% CHANCE OF SUCCESS IN MARRIAGE. YOU WERE MADE FOR MARRIAGE. ANNOUNCER: "MARRIAGE TODAY" EXISTS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THE PAIN OF DIVORCE AND TO STEER COUPLES AWAY FROM MARITAL FAILURE BY TELLING THEM THE TRUTH. WHEN YOU STAND WITH "MARRIAGE TODAY," YOUR INDIVIDUAL EFFORT MULTIPLIES WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED PARTNERS AND TOGETHER, WE CAN REBUILD A LEGACY OF STRONG FAMILIES AROUND THE WORLD. CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL OF PARTNERSHIP TODAY AND RECEIVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE VIDEO STREAMING LIBRARY. BECOME A ROCK SOLID PARTNER TODAY. Thank you for watching MarriageToday. Subscribe to MarriageToday's YouTube channel for more marriage-building videos and updates.
