Transcript
1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,720
Welcome to a Biblical Perspective Podcast where God's point of view matters.
2
00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,660
I'm your host, Prophet CT Johnson.
3
00:00:10,660 --> 00:00:16,920
This podcast is designed to expand you beyond the mind's cultural and theological limitations
4
00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,040
about the Bible and what it teaches.
5
00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:26,680
Prepare for the challenge of becoming a critical thinker, analyzing life from God's perspective.
6
00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:33,800
Boldly and unapologetically, I'll address the ills and issues of our day using scripture
7
00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:35,800
as the frame of reference.
8
00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,760
Get ready to empower your thinking and change your life.
9
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:48,360
Now let's hear what God has to say.
10
00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:49,360
Well hello family.
11
00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:53,040
Welcome to another episode of a Biblical Perspective Podcast.
12
00:00:53,040 --> 00:01:00,560
I'm your host, Prophet CT Johnson, excited about today's podcast, excited about today's
13
00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:01,560
show.
14
00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:07,000
I have a very special guest, one that I know you're going to enjoy.
15
00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:14,200
You're going to be empowered and enlightened by his contribution to our conversation on
16
00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:15,700
today.
17
00:01:15,700 --> 00:01:17,360
Very special person to me.
18
00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:21,880
I've known him all of his life, all of his earthly existence.
19
00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:28,560
I've known him and so I'm going to introduce him momentarily and you want to ensure that
20
00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:36,880
you are staying put and you stay tuned to today's episode because we're going to have
21
00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:38,720
a powerful time with this guest.
22
00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:46,820
As we discuss the subject of expectation, we're going to discuss it from a position
23
00:01:46,820 --> 00:01:52,640
and a perspective that you probably haven't heard before.
24
00:01:52,640 --> 00:02:01,160
So again, you are going to want to make sure that you don't miss the entirety of today's
25
00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:08,280
podcast as we discuss with this guest the subject of expectation.
26
00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:14,440
But before we bring him on, I want to encourage you to go to my website, ctjohnson.org and
27
00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:23,120
pick up your copy of my latest book, Empower Your Thinking, volume one.
28
00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:28,320
It's going to literally empower your thinking.
29
00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:34,160
Quotes to shift consciousness, provoke thought, and increase understanding.
30
00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:44,080
This book is not your common, your usual book of quotes, but it is an interactive book and
31
00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:53,080
the quotes are designed to take you beyond the superficial as it pertains to how you
32
00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:57,640
see yourself and even more importantly, how God sees you.
33
00:02:57,640 --> 00:03:03,080
So I want to encourage you to go to ctjohnson.org and pick up your copy, Empower Your Thinking,
34
00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:04,080
volume one.
35
00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:08,880
Quotes to shift consciousness, provoke thought, and increase understanding.
36
00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:17,400
And also connect with me on social media, Facebook, and Instagram at cterelljohnson.
37
00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,400
That's c-t-e-r-r-i-l-l.
38
00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:28,720
Johnson, I would love to interact and connect with you there on social media, Facebook,
39
00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,800
and Instagram, cterelljohnson.
40
00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,120
All right.
41
00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:40,160
Let's bring my guest on as I shared with you briefly just a moment ago.
42
00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:49,800
This young man, I've known all of my life and we have had wonderful times together.
43
00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:58,880
We've had some turbulent times together, but nonetheless, we are yet together and this
44
00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:04,840
young man is none other than my youngest brother, James Brandon Johnson.
45
00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:10,440
I'm going to give you his whole government name, James Brandon Johnson, and I am so honored
46
00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:18,560
that he is with me on today's podcast and we're going to have a powerful, powerful time
47
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:26,000
and we're going to share, allow you rather to enter into a personal conversation that
48
00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,480
he and I had just earlier this week.
49
00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:37,280
Just earlier this week, we had a powerful conversation that provoked the idea to bring
50
00:04:37,280 --> 00:04:46,040
him on the podcast and have this conversation again with you all listening and benefiting
51
00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:47,040
from it.
52
00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,880
So without further ado, I'm going to bring my baby, my biological.
53
00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:58,280
This is my biological baby brother, my mother gave birth to both of us as well as our older
54
00:04:58,280 --> 00:04:59,280
brother.
55
00:04:59,280 --> 00:05:01,720
There's an older brother, Arthur.
56
00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:04,360
There's me and then there is James.
57
00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:11,520
And so James, say hello to our audience and we're going to jump into the conversation
58
00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,400
that we had just a few days ago.
59
00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,600
I'm glad that you're with me, baby brother.
60
00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:23,400
Yes sir, thank you for having me and definitely looking forward to continuing our conversation
61
00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:28,680
and above all else, I pray that it would be impactful, empowering and encouraging to others
62
00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:29,680
as well.
63
00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:30,680
Absolutely.
64
00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:34,680
I know that it will be.
65
00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:41,080
So I want to preface our conversation.
66
00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:47,080
Of course, this is a biblical perspective podcast, so everything that we discuss, all
67
00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:54,640
of our topics that we address, we address them from a biblical perspective.
68
00:05:54,640 --> 00:06:02,600
And so of course, I want to preface our talk, our discussion today out of Jeremiah 17 and
69
00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:12,600
seven and again, I told you all at the beginning of the show, you're going to hear us discuss,
70
00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:22,000
dialogue, even teach on the subject of expectation from a perspective that may not be familiar
71
00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:23,000
to you.
72
00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,600
However, it's going to bless and empower your life.
73
00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:35,080
But Jeremiah 17 and seven, it says blessed is the man that trusted in the Lord and whose
74
00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:39,000
hope the Lord is.
75
00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:44,880
Now as I was preparing for our discussion today and I shared with my brother a moment
76
00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:57,480
ago before we began the podcast and that is hope expectation is found in the scriptures.
77
00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:03,840
Obviously what I just read to you in Jeremiah 17 and seven, it says the latter portion and
78
00:07:03,840 --> 00:07:09,080
whose hope the Lord is blessed is the man that trusted in the Lord and whose hope or
79
00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:13,840
whose expectation is in the Lord.
80
00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:25,640
And one of the most common mistakes that we make as it pertains to our hope and our expectation
81
00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:42,120
is that we place it in everyone else, everything else other than God and his standards, his
82
00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,680
way, his laws.
83
00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:52,840
And that's one of the main reasons why many people are disappointed as it pertains to
84
00:07:52,840 --> 00:08:01,720
their hope and or the expectation they're let down because they hoped they expected
85
00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:08,240
from persons from an organization that's flawed.
86
00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:16,680
That probably not on purpose, let them down, disappointed them, but you will never ever
87
00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:28,280
have to worry about your hope, perishing your expectations, being dashed when it's placed
88
00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:29,280
in God.
89
00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:33,600
And so I'm going to pause there and I'm going to throw it to you James and just allow you
90
00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:41,040
to comment on what I just shared and what I just said and then we'll move further into
91
00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:48,080
how we got to this point of wanting to have this discussion on the podcast.
92
00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,800
So what are your thoughts about what I just shared thus far?
93
00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:55,960
James Dixon You know, as I ponder that scripture, it comes
94
00:08:55,960 --> 00:09:03,800
to mind that hope or expectation is really something that's predicated upon relationship.
95
00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:09,560
I think that it is one thing to be saved or to receive the gift of salvation.
96
00:09:09,560 --> 00:09:15,840
It's another to establish, maintain a relationship with Christ.
97
00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:21,660
In the absence of relationship, it becomes complicated to have such great expectations
98
00:09:21,660 --> 00:09:24,120
of our Lord and Savior.
99
00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:29,080
If you don't know Him, you can't truly trust Him, but to know Him, you can't help but trust
100
00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:30,080
Him.
101
00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:31,080
Neal Bajer That's good.
102
00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:32,080
That's good.
103
00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:33,080
Go ahead.
104
00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:34,080
Go ahead.
105
00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:35,080
That's good right there.
106
00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:36,080
Say that again.
107
00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:37,640
Repeat that last part because that was good.
108
00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:39,640
And then continue with your thought.
109
00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:43,640
James Dixon So I was just saying if you don't know Him,
110
00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:46,720
you cannot trust Him.
111
00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:49,040
But to know Him, you can't help but trust Him.
112
00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:54,920
See, I'm able to have certain expectations of you because you're my brother and I know
113
00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:55,920
you.
114
00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,640
If I didn't really know you, I wouldn't be able to take you at your word because I don't
115
00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,120
know your level of integrity.
116
00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:09,640
But we have a Savior that has mastered integrity above anyone else.
117
00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:13,520
Neal Bajer That's good.
118
00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:14,680
That's good.
119
00:10:14,680 --> 00:10:30,920
So expectation or relationship rather, relationship is the foundation of the premise, the substratum
120
00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:37,200
upon which expectation or hope is built upon.
121
00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:45,320
Is that the essence of what you just shared, the connection between relationship and expectation?
122
00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:50,800
James Dixon Certainly, I think that sums it up perfectly.
123
00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:55,640
You know, in order to have a hope or an expectation, you have to have a relationship.
124
00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:59,160
Once you have that relationship with Christ, then the stronger it is, the more you grow
125
00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:04,440
in Christ, the more you grow in your faith, the greater your expectations become.
126
00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:11,600
Neal Bajer So is it safe to say that, and this may not
127
00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:19,720
be true in every instance, but just generally speaking, is it safe to say that where we
128
00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:31,740
struggle with expectation or our expectations pertaining to certain people or even ourselves,
129
00:11:31,740 --> 00:11:44,160
is it because we fail to do due diligence in establishing a strong connection with said
130
00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:47,440
persons or people?
131
00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:56,800
Is it safe to say that most times we are disappointed where our expectation and our hope is concerned
132
00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:04,080
because we have placed it in people that we don't know that we have not spent enough time
133
00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:14,400
with as it pertains to, as you said earlier, learning or coming into the knowledge of understanding
134
00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:23,560
where they are, integral wise, whether or not they are a person that can be trusted,
135
00:12:23,560 --> 00:12:30,560
whether or not that they are a person that holds fast or holds true to their word.
136
00:12:30,560 --> 00:12:41,320
So again, I guess the question I'm asking is the result of, or rather is disappointment
137
00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:53,160
is being let down, sometimes the result of us prematurely placing our hope and expectations
138
00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:58,640
in people that we really have not taken the time to vet.
139
00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:00,640
Is that making sense?
140
00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,640
Neal Bajer Yeah, I think that makes perfect sense.
141
00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:09,520
I think the greatest point that you just made is spending time with someone.
142
00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:15,720
So, you know, I'm a person in my personal life, I believe that before I place any expectation
143
00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:22,680
on anyone, I spend time with that person and I observe that person under various circumstances,
144
00:13:22,680 --> 00:13:26,960
because circumstances will tend to bring out the true character of a person.
145
00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:33,840
So if you only observe someone when they're facing joyful times, you don't yet know how
146
00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:38,680
that person handles adversity, disappointment, frustration.
147
00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:43,040
And if you place all of your hope into that person, simply because you witnessed how they
148
00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:47,680
handle joyful times, well, life is not a 100% joyful experience.
149
00:13:47,680 --> 00:13:53,480
Unfortunately, in this life, trials and tribulations don't discriminate, they will come to you.
150
00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:54,480
Neal Bajer Absolutely.
151
00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:56,480
Yeah, go ahead, finish your thought.
152
00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:57,480
I'm just agreeing with you.
153
00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,480
Neal Bajer No, sir, that pretty much sums it up.
154
00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:02,600
You know, like I said, I agree with you.
155
00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:06,880
I think the greatest thing is where you mentioned spending time with the person and as it relates
156
00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:14,480
to our faith in Christ, our faith in God, I think that's where many go astray.
157
00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:20,440
Again, I'll repeat, it's one thing to receive the gift of salvation, but having received
158
00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:25,360
the gift of salvation does not mean that you have a relationship with God.
159
00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:27,160
Salvation is merely an introduction.
160
00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:33,800
I've been introduced to countless people, but I only have a relationship with a select
161
00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:41,520
few and having a relationship is an intentional decision and it requires investment.
162
00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:47,400
I think that many people seem to think that you accept the gift of salvation and that
163
00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:52,560
growing in God is just something that happens automatically over time.
164
00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:58,400
So we have many people that feel, well, you know, I've been in the faith for 40, 50 years.
165
00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:00,760
That doesn't mean that you have a relationship with God.
166
00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:01,760
Neal Bajer Absolutely.
167
00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:02,760
Absolutely.
168
00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:05,360
Neal Bajer Having a relationship means you've made a
169
00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:12,960
conscious decision to invest of yourself, to invest your time, your energy, your resources
170
00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:17,880
into developing that relationship and you have to spend time with him.
171
00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:20,000
Dr. Charles D. C. Cotter That's good.
172
00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:29,920
I love that point that you made in regards to salvation does not equate to having developed
173
00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:39,760
a relationship with God, having matured in your understanding of who he is and even who
174
00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:43,040
you are in relation to him.
175
00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:51,880
Salvation is the, I like how you said at the introduction, it is the beginning of relational
176
00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:54,200
development with Jesus Christ.
177
00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:55,200
Neal Bajer Exactly.
178
00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,240
Dr. Charles D. Cotter See, that was very, very, very powerful.
179
00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:09,240
And that's why the Bible talks to us about maturing and growing into the next dimension
180
00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:13,080
and image of Jesus Christ.
181
00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:19,220
Because unfortunately, within the church, we have labeled salvation as the end all be
182
00:16:19,220 --> 00:16:24,800
all as it pertains to once you're saved, once you give your life to Christ and you receive
183
00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:29,960
your new creation, spirit and your new heart according to Jeremiah, that's it.
184
00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:41,320
Or salvation alone brings you into a deeper, more in-depth understanding or relationship
185
00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:42,320
with Jesus Christ.
186
00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:47,080
No, there is work that is required just like with any relationship.
187
00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:52,920
You know, Jess and I, next month, September the 13th, will be 20 years that we've been
188
00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:53,920
married.
189
00:16:53,920 --> 00:17:06,160
We were married 20 years ago, September 13th, 2003, after the officiate, the person who
190
00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:11,720
officiated the wedding, once they said, I now pronounce you husband and wife, and we
191
00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:20,200
kissed and even though we had been engaged, we knew each other or courted for a year and
192
00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:24,680
a half prior to getting married somewhere in I think a year.
193
00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:29,960
But once we got married, my point is once we got married, the marriage or the ceremony,
194
00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:39,500
I should say the ceremony did not manifest a marriage or we did not in the ceremony in
195
00:17:39,500 --> 00:17:46,520
and of itself learned all that there was to learn about each other.
196
00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:53,520
It took years in order for the two to become one even though we got married in a day.
197
00:17:53,520 --> 00:18:01,760
So my point is, like you said, just because you got saved, salvation alone does not equate
198
00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:10,280
to you having strengthened, developed, matured, fortified your relationship with Jesus Christ
199
00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:11,520
because you don't know him.
200
00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,960
That's why church attendance is important.
201
00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:15,400
Bible study is important.
202
00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:22,000
Reading your Bible is important because reading the scriptures is how we develop and grow
203
00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,080
in that relationship.
204
00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:33,160
I just love that point that you brought out and that really connects with the scripture
205
00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:41,360
that I opened up with Jeremiah 17, blessed is the man, empowered is the man, the person
206
00:18:41,360 --> 00:18:47,240
who trusted in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is.
207
00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:55,240
Well, trust in God is not, it doesn't manifest by osmosis.
208
00:18:55,240 --> 00:19:02,180
Your trust and our trust with anyone that we're in relationship with, trust is developed
209
00:19:02,180 --> 00:19:03,360
over time.
210
00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:06,600
It's developed by us interacting with each other.
211
00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:14,760
It's developed through the good, the bad, the times of indifference, the times of disagreement
212
00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:16,320
and things of that nature.
213
00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:17,320
So what are your thoughts?
214
00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:26,560
You know, I think again, I would just reiterate the importance of relationship, having that
215
00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:30,000
relationship with God.
216
00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:31,640
You know, you can't trust him.
217
00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,080
You can't have any expectations in the absence of that.
218
00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:40,120
I think that is so important because all of the promises of God are predicated upon your
219
00:19:40,120 --> 00:19:47,600
relationship with God and your level of expectation as we were discussing previous, prior this
220
00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:52,680
week rather, your expectation is what dictates your conversation.
221
00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:57,160
And your conversation is going to control your level of manifestation because scripture
222
00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:00,320
says that death and life lies in the power of your tongue.
223
00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:06,120
So what you're saying is deriving from what do you really expect in life?
224
00:20:06,120 --> 00:20:11,980
You know, I think as we were discussing, it's one thing to utilize what I refer to as religiously
225
00:20:11,980 --> 00:20:13,720
correct terminology.
226
00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:20,280
So we know how to say the right things in the right moment to generate the right response
227
00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:22,400
that we want to receive.
228
00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:28,040
But to really have expectations of God's best in your life, as you mentioned, you have to
229
00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:33,760
get into the scriptures because you have to see all that God has outlined for you.
230
00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:36,400
Absolutely.
231
00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:38,040
I love what you just said.
232
00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:47,000
We're going to take them into, I'm going to allow you to take our listeners into the encounter,
233
00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:52,780
the moment, the conversation that you and the Lord had earlier this week and how we
234
00:20:52,780 --> 00:20:58,000
actually got into this discussion of expectation.
235
00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:03,360
But I don't want to misquote you, so I want you to say it again if I misquote it.
236
00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:06,260
But you said, how did you say it?
237
00:21:06,260 --> 00:21:07,260
You said expectation.
238
00:21:07,260 --> 00:21:08,260
Your expectation dictates your conversation.
239
00:21:08,260 --> 00:21:09,260
Your conversation.
240
00:21:09,260 --> 00:21:10,260
Yeah, that's it.
241
00:21:10,260 --> 00:21:11,260
Did y'all hear that?
242
00:21:11,260 --> 00:21:12,540
I want y'all to write that down.
243
00:21:12,540 --> 00:21:15,680
Your expectation dictates your conversation.
244
00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,680
Your expectation dictates your conversation.
245
00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:28,440
Now, take 60 seconds and explain what do you mean by that statement?
246
00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:29,440
That's a powerful statement.
247
00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,440
I want to make sure that our listeners understand it.
248
00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:36,440
Your expectation dictates your conversation because he's not just rhyming you all.
249
00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:38,960
It rhymes, but it's a powerful statement.
250
00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:42,560
And I want to make sure that our listeners understand it.
251
00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:49,000
Because he's not just rhyming you all, it rhymes, but it's a powerful statement and
252
00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:55,840
I want to make sure that you all understand precisely the point that James is endeavoring
253
00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,080
to make through that statement.
254
00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:05,160
Because many of you, your conversation, the reason you have not received what you are
255
00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:12,680
expecting or hoping for is because your conversation refutes what you're expecting.
256
00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:15,000
Your conversation disputes it.
257
00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,320
Your conversation combats it.
258
00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:22,200
So your conversation dictates, your expectation rather, dictates your conversation.
259
00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:23,200
Explain that.
260
00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:24,200
Well, okay.
261
00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:28,960
So as we said, you know, this is a biblical perspective so we definitely want to utilize
262
00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:29,960
scripture.
263
00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:34,040
Scripture indicates that death and life lies in the power of the tongue.
264
00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:38,200
So and again, you're correct, it rhymes, but trust me, that's not my intention.
265
00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:42,120
It just happens to be that's the way it came to me.
266
00:22:42,120 --> 00:22:47,640
But when I say your expectation dictates your conversation, I'm not speaking about the conversation
267
00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:49,880
that you say to other people.
268
00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:52,360
Because that's where we learn how to be religiously correct.
269
00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:57,320
Those of us that have been in this faith for any amount of time, we learn the right things
270
00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:58,320
to say.
271
00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:02,080
But when I say your expectation dictates your conversation, what I'm really speaking of
272
00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:04,600
is what are you saying to yourself about your situation?
273
00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:10,640
Because what you're saying to yourself about your situation is what matters the most.
274
00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:15,940
Because if you're not saying those things to yourself that line up with the scriptures,
275
00:23:15,940 --> 00:23:19,760
it does not matter that you say those things to other people.
276
00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:24,680
It's the internal dialogue that's controlling your level of manifestation.
277
00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:28,680
It's what you're saying to yourself.
278
00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:41,160
Hold on bro, you said it's your internal dialogue that is the significant aspect of the conversation.
279
00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:48,560
What you are saying to yourself, the conversations that are going on in your head, that you're
280
00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:53,240
having in your heart, the unheard dialogue.
281
00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:54,240
I love that.
282
00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:55,240
The internal conversation.
283
00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:56,240
Go ahead, continue.
284
00:23:56,240 --> 00:24:01,440
That's certainly it, and that's one of the things that God has really shared with me
285
00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:03,840
recently and I've been able to grow in that area.
286
00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:07,560
It's those things that you say to yourself about your situation.
287
00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:13,280
All too often, we speak to ourselves based on our emotions.
288
00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:19,840
So we respond to the situations and circumstances in our lives when in reality you have to speak
289
00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:24,840
to yourself based on what God has already said.
290
00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:28,960
And one thing that I've discovered in life is that situations and circumstances won't
291
00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:32,080
always line up with what God has said.
292
00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:38,200
However, if you speak based upon those situations and circumstances, you can expect for them
293
00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:41,800
to continue.
294
00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:44,560
That's good, absolutely.
295
00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:50,120
I want to connect your statement with Numbers 13 and 33.
296
00:24:50,120 --> 00:24:55,000
I want you to repeat it again for the people when you said it's the internal dialogue.
297
00:24:55,000 --> 00:25:00,320
Yes sir, it's the internal dialogue, the things that you're saying to yourself.
298
00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:05,040
I utilize the word dialogue intentionally, not just monologue because some people would
299
00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:10,720
think dialogue meaning there's an actual conversation going on, monologue meaning it's just one
300
00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:11,720
individual speaking.
301
00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:15,520
But how can you have dialogue within yourself?
302
00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:20,280
Because to be honest, there's oftentimes a conflict going on within yourself because
303
00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:25,720
there's your spirit that's having a conversation with your mind, your intellect.
304
00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:32,720
And sometimes we try to intellectualize the scriptures and you can't spiritualize and
305
00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:38,960
intellectualize at the same time.
306
00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:40,360
That's good.
307
00:25:40,360 --> 00:25:47,880
You have to, you know what, never mind.
308
00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:51,280
My head, my thoughts, my mind is going so many places.
309
00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:52,280
That was good.
310
00:25:52,280 --> 00:26:02,440
You said you can't spiritualize or intellectualize at the same time.
311
00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:03,720
That is powerful.
312
00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:10,280
You have to either, and you know what listeners, that's very true if you think about it.
313
00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:27,720
Because it's just like if you are, you really can't talk and have or develop a complete
314
00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:31,000
thought in your head.
315
00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:39,360
Because if I'm thinking in my head about whatever I'm thinking about and when I start to speak,
316
00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:48,840
me speaking interrupts the flow of my thoughts.
317
00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:53,360
And if you think about it, many times when you're thinking, you're having that internal
318
00:26:53,360 --> 00:26:58,960
dialogue with yourself and someone enters in the room or enters into your space and
319
00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:01,840
they start talking and you're in deep thought.
320
00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:03,160
Most times what do we do?
321
00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:06,840
We stop them like, no, hold on, let me finish processing this thought.
322
00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:14,320
Or if you're writing and you're dictating your thoughts or manifesting your thoughts
323
00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:16,640
through journaling or what have you.
324
00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:21,720
And if someone, many times I'm writing books or whatever, my wife comes in and starts talking
325
00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:24,040
to me and I'll say, well, no, hold on, let me finish this thought.
326
00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:32,920
Because what you're saying is going to interrupt or interject the flow of thought.
327
00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:42,280
And so we have to be able to calm or settle, settle ourselves.
328
00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:46,760
And really the truth of the matter is, let me say it this way, the Word of God can't
329
00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:54,040
be as you said, intellectualized anyway, because God does not speak to us through our intellect.
330
00:27:54,040 --> 00:28:00,840
Now he uses our intellect, but God speaks to us and converses with us because he is
331
00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:01,840
spirit.
332
00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:04,040
God speaks to us spirit to spirit.
333
00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:07,440
And many times that's where the disconnect is.
334
00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:17,280
We're trying to intellectualize that which is spiritual, but spirituality supersedes
335
00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:22,120
and overrides intellectual and or carnal wisdom.
336
00:28:22,120 --> 00:28:32,520
And so you can't think your way or intellectualize your way into understanding God.
337
00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:33,960
I hope that makes sense.
338
00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:40,360
But what I want to connect to that statement, the internal conversations that we have with
339
00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:49,240
ourselves, it is that conversation that if it's not the right conversation that can be
340
00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:53,320
detrimental to your life.
341
00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:58,800
It can impede the manifestation of what you're hoping for, what you're expecting.
342
00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:08,200
And in Numbers 13 and 33, it says, and there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak who come
343
00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:09,800
of the giants.
344
00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:13,400
And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers.
345
00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:17,120
And so we were in their sight.
346
00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:24,520
There's nowhere in that passage of scripture or in that chapter of Numbers that we are
347
00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:32,240
informed that the spies, the 10 spies that went in to the promised land to view, there's
348
00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:37,680
nowhere in the text where it says that the giants saw them.
349
00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:39,960
The giants didn't know they were in the land.
350
00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:42,720
Hence, they were spies.
351
00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:45,400
They went in undetected.
352
00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:51,720
But it was that internal conversation that they had with themselves.
353
00:29:51,720 --> 00:30:00,880
They had already convinced themselves that they were less than, that they were incapable
354
00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:10,140
of doing, accomplishing, acquiring what God told them they could, what He told them He
355
00:30:10,140 --> 00:30:26,560
had already given to them, but they were intimidated by the opposition because their perspective
356
00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:32,240
concerning themselves was less than.
357
00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:35,260
It says that they were grasshoppers in their sight.
358
00:30:35,260 --> 00:30:40,940
And so they assumed that because they saw themselves as defeated and as grasshoppers
359
00:30:40,940 --> 00:30:46,040
that the giants saw them as such.
360
00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:54,760
But there was no scriptural indication that the current inhabitants of the land saw them
361
00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:57,420
and said that they were grasshoppers and all of that.
362
00:30:57,420 --> 00:31:06,540
So my point is to your point that internal conversation, it's your expectation that determines
363
00:31:06,540 --> 00:31:08,400
your conversation.
364
00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,060
And really, James, we can even flip it.
365
00:31:11,060 --> 00:31:15,560
It's your conversation that dictates your expectation.
366
00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:18,800
And many people, their expectation is low.
367
00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:19,800
Yeah.
368
00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:29,500
But their expectations are at ground zero because of the conversation, the low self-esteem,
369
00:31:29,500 --> 00:31:32,540
the inferiority complex and all of the other things.
370
00:31:32,540 --> 00:31:34,480
So share your thoughts on that.
371
00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:40,280
And then I want you to take us into, take our listeners into the conversation that you
372
00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:51,180
and the Lord had in your vehicle and how this subject came about of expectation.
373
00:31:51,180 --> 00:31:56,020
So share your thoughts in regards to what we just dialogued about or what I just spoke
374
00:31:56,020 --> 00:32:01,740
about and then take us into that time with you and the Lord.
375
00:32:01,740 --> 00:32:05,140
Well, you know, I agree with everything you just said.
376
00:32:05,140 --> 00:32:10,340
I think it can actually be said both ways, your expectation dictates your conversation
377
00:32:10,340 --> 00:32:14,260
or we can flip it and say your conversation dictates your expectation.
378
00:32:14,260 --> 00:32:22,100
I think that while it can be said both ways, the main focal point is your conversation,
379
00:32:22,100 --> 00:32:29,260
having the correct conversations within yourself really is the main, I guess, the main meat
380
00:32:29,260 --> 00:32:32,340
of what we're attempting to convey here.
381
00:32:32,340 --> 00:32:38,180
As I was sharing with you earlier this week, you know, I'm a trucker, so my occupation
382
00:32:38,180 --> 00:32:41,500
allows me to spend the majority of my day alone.
383
00:32:41,500 --> 00:32:47,660
And I usually start my mornings off listening to some gospel, praying and meditating.
384
00:32:47,660 --> 00:32:51,620
And one of the things that God has really taught me over the course of time is that
385
00:32:51,620 --> 00:32:57,100
it's not so much that when I pray, I need to say what I have to say to God, but I need
386
00:32:57,100 --> 00:33:01,420
to be silent for a period of time and allow Him to speak to me.
387
00:33:01,420 --> 00:33:07,380
So during this time on a particular morning this week, I was just listening to some music.
388
00:33:07,380 --> 00:33:11,580
There was a song playing by Reverend Clay Evans for the rest of my life.
389
00:33:11,580 --> 00:33:16,500
And as I was just listening to it and began to ponder on some things and God began to
390
00:33:16,500 --> 00:33:22,380
speak to me about expectations, what do you really expect in your life?
391
00:33:22,380 --> 00:33:29,140
Because as I mentioned, one of the things that we as Christians, we learn how to be
392
00:33:29,140 --> 00:33:30,600
religiously correct.
393
00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:32,380
We learn how to put on a facade.
394
00:33:32,380 --> 00:33:35,060
We learn how to do church.
395
00:33:35,060 --> 00:33:41,140
Unfortunately, in this day and age, for many Christians, church has become nothing more
396
00:33:41,140 --> 00:33:42,140
than a learned activity.
397
00:33:42,140 --> 00:33:43,140
That's true.
398
00:33:43,140 --> 00:33:49,460
So just to have some time again with God, just speaking to me and asking me, what is
399
00:33:49,460 --> 00:33:51,460
it that I really expect in life?
400
00:33:51,460 --> 00:33:56,700
You know, on a personal note, man, there are countless situations in life right now that
401
00:33:56,700 --> 00:34:02,420
I am confused about, that I am praying to God to provide relief in.
402
00:34:02,420 --> 00:34:08,700
So God began to check me because one of those situations, I had to adjust my conversation
403
00:34:08,700 --> 00:34:11,100
about that situation.
404
00:34:11,100 --> 00:34:16,260
Because while I'm praying and asking that God would provide relief in that situation,
405
00:34:16,260 --> 00:34:21,140
my conversation was still rooted in my frustration.
406
00:34:21,140 --> 00:34:26,300
And if your conversation isn't lining up with what God is attempting to do, then what you
407
00:34:26,300 --> 00:34:33,820
are saying is actually counteracting what God is doing on your behalf.
408
00:34:33,820 --> 00:34:36,540
That's why there's a terminology of supernatural.
409
00:34:36,540 --> 00:34:40,300
God is doing his super, but you're not doing your natural because your conversation is
410
00:34:40,300 --> 00:34:42,740
still rooted in your frustration.
411
00:34:42,740 --> 00:34:46,900
So I was just listening to God and I began to ponder, okay, what is it that I really
412
00:34:46,900 --> 00:34:47,900
expect in life?
413
00:34:47,900 --> 00:34:53,300
And one of the things that God shared with me is you have to really expect the best out
414
00:34:53,300 --> 00:34:54,300
of life.
415
00:34:54,300 --> 00:34:57,420
You have a right to expect the best out of life.
416
00:34:57,420 --> 00:35:00,140
You have to expect great things to happen to you.
417
00:35:00,140 --> 00:35:02,540
You have to expect to be blessed.
418
00:35:02,540 --> 00:35:06,660
And one of the things that God showed me is that one of the reasons why so many people
419
00:35:06,660 --> 00:35:15,180
have low expectations is because at some point in their life, they had high expectations.
420
00:35:15,180 --> 00:35:21,140
And what they were praying for, what they were expecting, it didn't happen.
421
00:35:21,140 --> 00:35:22,140
And that's traumatizing.
422
00:35:22,140 --> 00:35:23,140
It's disappointing.
423
00:35:23,140 --> 00:35:24,140
It hurts.
424
00:35:24,140 --> 00:35:32,260
So what most people do, especially us as men, we tend to internalize our trauma.
425
00:35:32,260 --> 00:35:37,460
And when you internalize it, you don't effectively process it.
426
00:35:37,460 --> 00:35:40,620
And unprocessed trauma will cripple you.
427
00:35:40,620 --> 00:35:44,620
So most people have crippled faith.
428
00:35:44,620 --> 00:35:47,540
So their level of expectation has been crippled.
429
00:35:47,540 --> 00:35:51,580
And because they don't want to experience that hurt and disappointment ever again, they
430
00:35:51,580 --> 00:35:57,340
simply decide that instead of expecting all of these great things to happen to me in life,
431
00:35:57,340 --> 00:35:59,020
I'll just settle for mediocrity.
432
00:35:59,020 --> 00:36:00,980
I'll settle for average.
433
00:36:00,980 --> 00:36:06,860
And if God wants to do exceeding and abundantly above all that I could ask a thing, then sure,
434
00:36:06,860 --> 00:36:07,860
He can go for it.
435
00:36:07,860 --> 00:36:09,820
But I won't expect that.
436
00:36:09,820 --> 00:36:12,780
And that's not a philosophy that's rooted in Scripture.
437
00:36:12,780 --> 00:36:16,100
And that's not the way that God wants us to think.
438
00:36:16,100 --> 00:36:21,380
God wants us to expect the best things out of life.
439
00:36:21,380 --> 00:36:28,060
But in order to be in that position to do so, again, it necessitates that you effectively
440
00:36:28,060 --> 00:36:32,540
process and deal with past traumas.
441
00:36:32,540 --> 00:36:36,180
And I can't speak for women because I'm not a woman, never have been, have no desire to
442
00:36:36,180 --> 00:36:37,180
be one.
443
00:36:37,180 --> 00:36:42,340
I think that's necessary to see in this day and age that we live in.
444
00:36:42,340 --> 00:36:44,980
However, I can speak as a man.
445
00:36:44,980 --> 00:36:54,340
We tend to internalize our trauma and mask it because we think that defines our masculinity.
446
00:36:54,340 --> 00:36:55,580
And suppress it.
447
00:36:55,580 --> 00:36:56,580
We suppress it.
448
00:36:56,580 --> 00:36:57,580
Exactly.
449
00:36:57,580 --> 00:36:58,580
Go ahead.
450
00:36:58,580 --> 00:36:59,580
Go ahead.
451
00:36:59,580 --> 00:37:06,860
So, you know, I was just, again, you know, driving along, letting God download some information
452
00:37:06,860 --> 00:37:10,860
into me and just pondering on life and, you know, the various adjustments that I need
453
00:37:10,860 --> 00:37:13,900
to make in regards to some situations.
454
00:37:13,900 --> 00:37:19,100
And another thing that God shared with me, you know, we think of opportunities, man.
455
00:37:19,100 --> 00:37:24,260
And as opportunities come in life, you know, I'm certain that we would all agree that some
456
00:37:24,260 --> 00:37:25,260
opportunities are short-lived.
457
00:37:25,260 --> 00:37:32,100
And that being said, you need to take advantage of the opportunity and the life of the opportunity
458
00:37:32,100 --> 00:37:36,100
because some opportunities only come once in a lifetime.
459
00:37:36,100 --> 00:37:37,780
And I was pondering on that.
460
00:37:37,780 --> 00:37:45,620
And as I pondered that, God enlightened me to the fact that in all actuality, every day
461
00:37:45,620 --> 00:37:52,180
is a once in a lifetime opportunity because every day you see is a day that you've never
462
00:37:52,180 --> 00:37:54,180
seen before.
463
00:37:54,180 --> 00:37:57,980
And once it comes to a close, you'll never again get to see it.
464
00:37:57,980 --> 00:37:58,980
Right.
465
00:37:58,980 --> 00:38:00,980
And tomorrow is not promised.
466
00:38:00,980 --> 00:38:01,980
Exactly.
467
00:38:01,980 --> 00:38:08,420
So, understanding that it's imperative to make the best out of each day, you know, even
468
00:38:08,420 --> 00:38:12,180
on yesterday in particular, I encountered a situation that was somewhat frustrating
469
00:38:12,180 --> 00:38:13,180
to me.
470
00:38:13,180 --> 00:38:16,660
And I was reminded of what God has shared with me.
471
00:38:16,660 --> 00:38:23,020
And I said, well, you know, I'm agitated, I'm frustrated, aggravated by this situation,
472
00:38:23,020 --> 00:38:27,340
but I'm not going to let this define my day.
473
00:38:27,340 --> 00:38:31,980
I'm going to make an intentional decision that I'm going to continue to have a good
474
00:38:31,980 --> 00:38:35,460
day because I was having a great day up until this occurred.
475
00:38:35,460 --> 00:38:36,940
It's already occurred.
476
00:38:36,940 --> 00:38:37,940
I can't change it.
477
00:38:37,940 --> 00:38:41,420
So I'm simply going to move on from it.
478
00:38:41,420 --> 00:38:43,940
Now, that's good.
479
00:38:43,940 --> 00:38:49,580
So that's another thing that God had just been, you know, just sharing with me again
480
00:38:49,580 --> 00:38:52,980
about your level of expectation.
481
00:38:52,980 --> 00:39:02,540
And you have, I guess I don't want to speak as though I'm speaking at people because again,
482
00:39:02,540 --> 00:39:08,820
these are things that God spoke to me and adjustments that I recognize that I needed
483
00:39:08,820 --> 00:39:11,540
to make.
484
00:39:11,540 --> 00:39:18,940
But it's just, at least for me, it was a matter of, I know God, you know, I often tell people
485
00:39:18,940 --> 00:39:23,220
this and people laugh at the way I say it, but I'm just me when it comes to God because
486
00:39:23,220 --> 00:39:28,500
I don't believe that you got to try to be this extra double, triple spiritual person
487
00:39:28,500 --> 00:39:30,340
and use all these big fancy words.
488
00:39:30,340 --> 00:39:35,740
And I don't make a mockery of that because I think that's one of the errors of this generation.
489
00:39:35,740 --> 00:39:40,660
We make a mockery of how some people speak of God or relate to God.
490
00:39:40,660 --> 00:39:41,660
I'm not that person.
491
00:39:41,660 --> 00:39:45,940
But I oftentimes tell people, you know, the thing with me is I'm really down with God
492
00:39:45,940 --> 00:39:46,940
like that.
493
00:39:46,940 --> 00:39:47,940
Right.
494
00:39:47,940 --> 00:39:51,580
And most importantly, I know He's down with me like that.
495
00:39:51,580 --> 00:39:54,380
You understand what I'm saying?
496
00:39:54,380 --> 00:39:59,780
So I have a great level of confidence that, you know, the situations in my life that are
497
00:39:59,780 --> 00:40:08,460
a nuisance to me, that are a source of aggravation, frustration, even disappointment, I trust
498
00:40:08,460 --> 00:40:09,460
God.
499
00:40:09,460 --> 00:40:13,060
I really trust God like that because I've seen what God does.
500
00:40:13,060 --> 00:40:20,800
So my trust in my faith in God and my expectation of Him is not predicated upon what someone
501
00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:23,940
told me God did for them.
502
00:40:23,940 --> 00:40:27,700
But I know what He's done in my life and what He's continuing to do in my life.
503
00:40:27,700 --> 00:40:31,500
This man that I've become now, this has been a process of evolution.
504
00:40:31,500 --> 00:40:38,300
And although I'm not perfect, I humbly say that I applaud myself for the progress that
505
00:40:38,300 --> 00:40:44,020
I've made in life on a practical level as well as spiritually.
506
00:40:44,020 --> 00:40:51,060
It's been a process of growth and I applaud myself and I'm grateful.
507
00:40:51,060 --> 00:40:54,580
So because of that, and because of the growth that I've seen in myself, I know what God
508
00:40:54,580 --> 00:40:57,580
is capable of doing.
509
00:40:57,580 --> 00:40:58,580
Absolutely.
510
00:40:58,580 --> 00:41:00,860
That's where the expectation comes from.
511
00:41:00,860 --> 00:41:06,380
You know, when we were younger growing up, you know, older folks would say, I tried them
512
00:41:06,380 --> 00:41:07,380
for myself.
513
00:41:07,380 --> 00:41:08,380
Yes.
514
00:41:08,380 --> 00:41:12,820
And that's the best way that I can put it when I speak of having expectations.
515
00:41:12,820 --> 00:41:16,100
You got to try God for yourself and really see what He do.
516
00:41:16,100 --> 00:41:20,840
Don't just base your expectation off of what my brother and I are sharing, but you really
517
00:41:20,840 --> 00:41:22,940
have to try God for yourself.
518
00:41:22,940 --> 00:41:23,940
Right.
519
00:41:23,940 --> 00:41:29,820
Going back to developing your own relationship with the Lord Jesus.
520
00:41:29,820 --> 00:41:30,820
Exactly.
521
00:41:30,820 --> 00:41:31,820
Because...
522
00:41:31,820 --> 00:41:35,580
As the scripture says, all taste and see that the Lord is good.
523
00:41:35,580 --> 00:41:36,580
Yes, sir.
524
00:41:36,580 --> 00:41:41,780
And that's a powerful point that you made.
525
00:41:41,780 --> 00:41:48,340
Again, tying it, directing it all back to relationship.
526
00:41:48,340 --> 00:41:58,980
That is how we opened up today's show and laid the foundation that your expectations
527
00:41:58,980 --> 00:42:07,580
for God, for yourself, for individuals, that expectation is built upon the foundation of
528
00:42:07,580 --> 00:42:09,900
relationship.
529
00:42:09,900 --> 00:42:19,460
It's based upon the time and the experiences that you have encountered with that person
530
00:42:19,460 --> 00:42:23,420
getting to know them, them getting to know you.
531
00:42:23,420 --> 00:42:34,820
And so people whom we don't know our expectations pertaining to them, they are low or minimal
532
00:42:34,820 --> 00:42:37,500
because we don't know them.
533
00:42:37,500 --> 00:42:43,520
But for those whom we know and our knowing of them is positive.
534
00:42:43,520 --> 00:42:44,840
We know that they're punctual.
535
00:42:44,840 --> 00:42:46,260
We know that they're dependable.
536
00:42:46,260 --> 00:42:47,800
We know that they're reliable.
537
00:42:47,800 --> 00:42:49,980
We know that their word is their bond.
538
00:42:49,980 --> 00:42:57,980
Our expectation for them is higher than those that we do know.
539
00:42:57,980 --> 00:43:00,940
However, what we know about them is that they're not punctual.
540
00:43:00,940 --> 00:43:02,540
They're not dependable.
541
00:43:02,540 --> 00:43:05,860
They're a liar.
542
00:43:05,860 --> 00:43:08,860
They tell you they're going to do something and they don't do it.
543
00:43:08,860 --> 00:43:09,860
Right.
544
00:43:09,860 --> 00:43:19,780
So my expectation for you is not where I would want it because what I know about you is that
545
00:43:19,780 --> 00:43:27,700
you can't follow through or carry through with what you have.
546
00:43:27,700 --> 00:43:32,820
Your word is not your bond and that's not of course the Lord Jesus.
547
00:43:32,820 --> 00:43:38,060
And what I want to as we get ready to close it up here, it's been, I'm telling you time
548
00:43:38,060 --> 00:43:39,700
flies when you're having fun.
549
00:43:39,700 --> 00:43:43,340
This has been a very powerful conversation.
550
00:43:43,340 --> 00:43:51,820
But I want to go back to the word you use intentional and or intentionality because
551
00:43:51,820 --> 00:43:58,740
you were vulnerable a moment ago and you shared how just this week there was a situation that
552
00:43:58,740 --> 00:44:01,980
didn't pan out as you expected.
553
00:44:01,980 --> 00:44:08,340
But you realized, okay, I can't change what has happened, what has transpired, but I am
554
00:44:08,340 --> 00:44:15,340
making an intentional decision not to allow the disappointment that I may have experienced
555
00:44:15,340 --> 00:44:27,140
regardless of what it was, but I'm intentionally not allowing the disappointment to strip me
556
00:44:27,140 --> 00:44:35,500
of my future hope and or future expectation because as the old gospel song, trouble don't
557
00:44:35,500 --> 00:44:40,740
last always, Timothy Wright and or this too will pass.
558
00:44:40,740 --> 00:44:48,100
And I love how you talked about trauma, how men in particular, we internalize our trauma
559
00:44:48,100 --> 00:44:50,060
because it's just true.
560
00:44:50,060 --> 00:44:57,020
Men generally speaking, most men are not as conversational as women.
561
00:44:57,020 --> 00:45:04,580
Most men don't freely discuss their feelings and things of that nature because we have
562
00:45:04,580 --> 00:45:16,140
been taught most men from children, men don't cry, men don't reveal how they feel.
563
00:45:16,140 --> 00:45:20,100
Like you said, internalize it, we keep it to ourselves and things of that nature.
564
00:45:20,100 --> 00:45:29,400
But that really has destroyed the confidence and the expectation in most men pertaining
565
00:45:29,400 --> 00:45:31,140
to themselves.
566
00:45:31,140 --> 00:45:40,380
But I love what you said, again, how you made an intentional conscious decision to move
567
00:45:40,380 --> 00:45:44,860
beyond and move past what happened and what transpired.
568
00:45:44,860 --> 00:45:56,260
And you did not allow that moment of disappointment to rob you or strip you of hoping in the future.
569
00:45:56,260 --> 00:45:57,620
Now talk about that.
570
00:45:57,620 --> 00:46:06,180
How that is important when you don't experience what you've expected for whatever the reason,
571
00:46:06,180 --> 00:46:16,180
how not to allow that disappointment to rob you of hoping and expecting in the future
572
00:46:16,180 --> 00:46:21,380
because that's where many people are at and you even touched upon it early on.
573
00:46:21,380 --> 00:46:23,220
That's where many people are.
574
00:46:23,220 --> 00:46:35,820
You are stuck in your moment of disappointment and so you are deceived in thinking that because
575
00:46:35,820 --> 00:46:41,940
what you expected didn't happen this time that nothing you expect or nothing you hope
576
00:46:41,940 --> 00:46:46,980
for will happen or you keep pushing it, you keep prolonging it.
577
00:46:46,980 --> 00:46:53,580
And as the scripture talks about in Proverbs 13 and 12, hope deferred, make it the heart
578
00:46:53,580 --> 00:46:54,580
sick.
579
00:46:54,580 --> 00:46:56,420
You keep deferring your hope.
580
00:46:56,420 --> 00:47:04,140
Well, it'll happen one day or I'll address it one day or I'll get back to it sooner or
581
00:47:04,140 --> 00:47:11,340
later and you keep pushing your expectation further and further and further away, not
582
00:47:11,340 --> 00:47:19,780
realizing that deferring your expectation is what is continuing to feed the sickness
583
00:47:19,780 --> 00:47:26,780
and the illness of disappointment, discouragement, loneliness and all of that.
584
00:47:26,780 --> 00:47:33,620
So talk about that as we get ready to close but talk about that.
585
00:47:33,620 --> 00:47:41,100
How important is intentionality, not allowing the disappointment to incarcerate you and
586
00:47:41,100 --> 00:47:45,220
confine you but to hope and expect again?
587
00:47:45,220 --> 00:47:46,220
Go ahead.
588
00:47:46,220 --> 00:47:49,220
You know, I think it's imperative.
589
00:47:49,220 --> 00:47:50,220
It's essential.
590
00:47:50,220 --> 00:47:51,220
It's necessary.
591
00:47:51,220 --> 00:47:56,020
Intentionality is even necessary to receive the gift of salvation because you must first
592
00:47:56,020 --> 00:48:03,940
make an intentional decision to do so as it relates to our present discussion here.
593
00:48:03,940 --> 00:48:12,180
I think that one of the things that most people fail to realize is that life happens and it
594
00:48:12,180 --> 00:48:14,500
happens to everyone, all of us.
595
00:48:14,500 --> 00:48:17,340
It does not discriminate.
596
00:48:17,340 --> 00:48:24,900
Life will throw you some unexpected situations and circumstances that you probably could
597
00:48:24,900 --> 00:48:27,260
never have even imagined.
598
00:48:27,260 --> 00:48:37,420
Still, yet, you have to make the intentional decision to hold on, to not give up, to persevere,
599
00:48:37,420 --> 00:48:42,580
to continue to expect great things in this lifetime.
600
00:48:42,580 --> 00:48:43,580
Adversity comes.
601
00:48:43,580 --> 00:48:47,060
Even the Bible tells us, think it not strange.
602
00:48:47,060 --> 00:48:54,100
So we were forewarned that you're going to experience adversity in this life and experiencing
603
00:48:54,100 --> 00:49:00,980
such adversity is in no way indicative that God has left you.
604
00:49:00,980 --> 00:49:03,620
That's good, sir.
605
00:49:03,620 --> 00:49:07,420
Adversity is a part of life that you are going to experience.
606
00:49:07,420 --> 00:49:15,140
You have to make the intentional decision to allow God to carry you through it.
607
00:49:15,140 --> 00:49:20,580
Something that Steve Harvey oftentimes says, and I like the way he says it, there is no
608
00:49:20,580 --> 00:49:25,140
situation in your life that God hasn't carried you through.
609
00:49:25,140 --> 00:49:31,820
And if he hasn't carried you through it, he's currently carrying you through it right now.
610
00:49:31,820 --> 00:49:36,060
And the proof of that is that you're still here.
611
00:49:36,060 --> 00:49:41,180
So I think that intentionality is medicine-perative.
612
00:49:41,180 --> 00:49:45,900
It's the only way to get through the trials and tribulations of life.
613
00:49:45,900 --> 00:49:52,140
You have to resolve in yourself that this is something that I am going to do.
614
00:49:52,140 --> 00:49:53,980
I will trust in God.
615
00:49:53,980 --> 00:49:56,460
I will place my faith in God.
616
00:49:56,460 --> 00:49:59,820
I will allow for God to carry me through this.
617
00:49:59,820 --> 00:50:03,100
I will lean on His grace.
618
00:50:03,100 --> 00:50:05,100
As Scripture says, His grace is sufficient.
619
00:50:05,100 --> 00:50:06,100
Yes, sir.
620
00:50:06,100 --> 00:50:07,100
God knows it.
621
00:50:07,100 --> 00:50:12,060
But it's all about what you intentionally decide to do.
622
00:50:12,060 --> 00:50:20,940
And I know some may say you overutilize that word intentional, but I do so, again, intentionally
623
00:50:20,940 --> 00:50:21,940
because it's necessary.
624
00:50:21,940 --> 00:50:22,940
It's a decision.
625
00:50:22,940 --> 00:50:25,260
It's not something that just happens.
626
00:50:25,260 --> 00:50:32,020
It's not something that, you know, you just snap your fingers and all of a sudden you
627
00:50:32,020 --> 00:50:36,260
just have the resilience necessary to get through everything in life.
628
00:50:36,260 --> 00:50:38,380
No, it's an intentional decision.
629
00:50:38,380 --> 00:50:40,900
I will trust God.
630
00:50:40,900 --> 00:50:42,180
It's complicated at times.
631
00:50:42,180 --> 00:50:48,740
At times it conflicts with my natural human emotions because me being a man of faith does
632
00:50:48,740 --> 00:50:50,940
not nullify that I am human.
633
00:50:50,940 --> 00:50:52,540
I still feel disappointment.
634
00:50:52,540 --> 00:50:53,700
I feel hurt.
635
00:50:53,700 --> 00:50:54,700
I feel let down.
636
00:50:54,700 --> 00:50:55,700
I feel anger, frustration.
637
00:50:55,700 --> 00:50:56,700
Absolutely.
638
00:50:56,700 --> 00:51:03,980
But in spite of those natural human emotions, I've made a decision that I will allow God
639
00:51:03,980 --> 00:51:04,980
to carry me through.
640
00:51:04,980 --> 00:51:12,260
As I oftentimes say to people, something that God has taught me is in this life, you have
641
00:51:12,260 --> 00:51:20,260
to learn how to not be at peace with the situation, but yet and still choose peace within the
642
00:51:20,260 --> 00:51:21,260
situation.
643
00:51:21,260 --> 00:51:22,260
Now that's good.
644
00:51:22,260 --> 00:51:24,780
And that's where I am in life.
645
00:51:24,780 --> 00:51:31,060
There's many situations in my life right now that I am not at peace with, but I have chosen
646
00:51:31,060 --> 00:51:36,180
to be at peace within the situation as God works it out.
647
00:51:36,180 --> 00:51:42,380
Because when you've thrown money at situations, when you've tried to talk your way through
648
00:51:42,380 --> 00:51:48,900
it, you've tried to flick your way through it, when you've tried all else, then you come
649
00:51:48,900 --> 00:51:55,220
to the realization that this is one that only God can fix.
650
00:51:55,220 --> 00:52:01,580
So then for me, I took my hand off of it because if I take out my phone out of my pocket and
651
00:52:01,580 --> 00:52:06,900
I give it to you, I haven't given it to you because I've extended it to you in my hand.
652
00:52:06,900 --> 00:52:11,340
I haven't even given it to you because you put your hand on it.
653
00:52:11,340 --> 00:52:14,500
I've only given it to you once I take my hand off of it.
654
00:52:14,500 --> 00:52:19,500
And once I take my hand off of it, then I've relinquished control of it.
655
00:52:19,500 --> 00:52:21,340
I no longer have control of it.
656
00:52:21,340 --> 00:52:25,300
You have control of it now because I've taken my hand off of it.
657
00:52:25,300 --> 00:52:31,260
So one of the things God taught me is a great indicator of your level of faith and trust
658
00:52:31,260 --> 00:52:36,420
in God is can you take your hand off of that situation?
659
00:52:36,420 --> 00:52:38,700
Can you stop trying to fix that situation?
660
00:52:38,700 --> 00:52:43,740
Because sometimes as Christians, we have an inaccurate understanding of the scripture
661
00:52:43,740 --> 00:52:46,220
that says faith without works is dead.
662
00:52:46,220 --> 00:52:51,260
That doesn't mean you all the time need to be doing something physically in this situation.
663
00:52:51,260 --> 00:52:57,420
Sometimes the work that's required is having the discipline to take your hand off of it
664
00:52:57,420 --> 00:53:01,980
in spite of your emotions telling you to try this, try that.
665
00:53:01,980 --> 00:53:06,180
The work sometimes is having the discipline to take your hand off of it and not touch
666
00:53:06,180 --> 00:53:10,980
it anymore and wait for God to give you the next set of instructions because your good
667
00:53:10,980 --> 00:53:16,500
intentions are not the equivalent of God's instructions and God is only required to honor
668
00:53:16,500 --> 00:53:18,180
his instructions.
669
00:53:18,180 --> 00:53:23,820
Many things in life I've done in situations having great intentions but ended up making
670
00:53:23,820 --> 00:53:28,460
the situation far worse than it already was because that's not what God instructed to
671
00:53:28,460 --> 00:53:29,460
do.
672
00:53:29,460 --> 00:53:33,740
Sometimes we try to move prematurely.
673
00:53:33,740 --> 00:53:35,740
That's true.
674
00:53:35,740 --> 00:53:37,300
Absolutely.
675
00:53:37,300 --> 00:53:48,460
Well, James, this has been a wonderful, delightful, insightful, powerful and empowering time.
676
00:53:48,460 --> 00:53:55,620
I have so enjoyed this dialogue with you and thank you for being my special guest.
677
00:53:55,620 --> 00:53:56,620
Yes, sir, man.
678
00:53:56,620 --> 00:53:58,100
Thank you for having me.
679
00:53:58,100 --> 00:54:00,180
Listen, this is not the last time.
680
00:54:00,180 --> 00:54:02,900
It's the first time but it's not the last time.
681
00:54:02,900 --> 00:54:08,980
We're going to have James Johnson who is my baby brother.
682
00:54:08,980 --> 00:54:14,460
He is the youngest of the three of us boys that mom had.
683
00:54:14,460 --> 00:54:20,980
I am the middle and so I'm not his eldest brother but I am his older brother.
684
00:54:20,980 --> 00:54:27,220
He's the baby of the group and I'm so proud of you and I've told you this personally and
685
00:54:27,220 --> 00:54:36,180
I'm saying it publicly and persons in 43 countries are listening and or will listen and I'm proud
686
00:54:36,180 --> 00:54:42,500
of the man that you have become, the father that you are and I have seen his journey from
687
00:54:42,500 --> 00:54:48,740
birth up into this present time and we're going to have him back and who knows what
688
00:54:48,740 --> 00:54:56,820
we're going to discuss in dialogue about in the future but this young man has a powerful,
689
00:54:56,820 --> 00:54:57,820
powerful testimony.
690
00:54:57,820 --> 00:55:02,580
I'm not even going to allude to what it is but it's a powerful testimony and we're going
691
00:55:02,580 --> 00:55:06,740
to have him come back and he may share that.
692
00:55:06,740 --> 00:55:12,780
He may discuss and share something else but at some point we're definitely going to have
693
00:55:12,780 --> 00:55:19,660
James back on a biblical perspective so that he can share that powerful testimony and help
694
00:55:19,660 --> 00:55:26,940
build your faith and your expectation and let you know that as he has already eloquently
695
00:55:26,940 --> 00:55:34,220
stated throughout our conversation, if you maintain your relationship with Jesus Christ
696
00:55:34,220 --> 00:55:39,180
and do your part as it pertains to the maintenance thereof because we know God's going to do
697
00:55:39,180 --> 00:55:40,180
his part.
698
00:55:40,180 --> 00:55:41,180
Certainly.
699
00:55:41,180 --> 00:55:42,860
He always does.
700
00:55:42,860 --> 00:55:50,460
There's us that fall short but if you maintain your relationship and ensure that your hope
701
00:55:50,460 --> 00:56:00,620
and your expectation is in God, his word and you are operating, complying, abiding therein,
702
00:56:00,620 --> 00:56:04,620
that it doesn't matter what happens in your life.
703
00:56:04,620 --> 00:56:11,600
My brother is literally proof that God can restore you.
704
00:56:11,600 --> 00:56:20,860
God can literally raise you from the dead and he can reestablish your hope and your
705
00:56:20,860 --> 00:56:28,620
expectation not only in him because in most cases, in some cases it's not the expectation
706
00:56:28,620 --> 00:56:32,100
and our hope in God that is rocky or shaky.
707
00:56:32,100 --> 00:56:38,620
It's our hope and expectation of people and even more importantly really of ourselves
708
00:56:38,620 --> 00:56:48,820
and God has a way of helping you to reestablish faith, trust and hope in yourself.
709
00:56:48,820 --> 00:56:56,820
Many of you listening under the sound of our voice, your issue is not with people or God
710
00:56:56,820 --> 00:56:58,460
as it pertains to expectation.
711
00:56:58,460 --> 00:57:01,420
Your issue is with you.
712
00:57:01,420 --> 00:57:09,100
You don't expect the best out of your own self anymore.
713
00:57:09,100 --> 00:57:11,420
You don't expect things to get better.
714
00:57:11,420 --> 00:57:14,560
You don't expect progression.
715
00:57:14,560 --> 00:57:17,140
You don't expect things to pick up.
716
00:57:17,140 --> 00:57:23,260
You don't expect progress to develop in your life because as James said, you are internalizing
717
00:57:23,260 --> 00:57:24,260
your trauma.
718
00:57:24,260 --> 00:57:30,260
You're holding on to your trauma and sometimes in order to receive the help, to receive the
719
00:57:30,260 --> 00:57:40,820
release, to receive the healing, you have to go to the professionals, the psychologists,
720
00:57:40,820 --> 00:57:49,980
the psychiatrists connecting with the spiritual to help you receive the totality of the deliverance
721
00:57:49,980 --> 00:57:54,620
that God wants for you and that Jesus died to provide.
722
00:57:54,620 --> 00:58:00,700
So we're out of time but I again am so grateful to my baby brother James Johnson for being
723
00:58:00,700 --> 00:58:03,220
with me, my very special guest.
724
00:58:03,220 --> 00:58:11,460
I am just, listen, I'm just hippopotamus happy as they say, you having decided to be my guest
725
00:58:11,460 --> 00:58:16,860
on today and I know you all were blessed and empowered by this dialogue.
726
00:58:16,860 --> 00:58:23,820
I want you to do me a favor and connect with me on social media if you are not already.
727
00:58:23,820 --> 00:58:30,820
See Terrell Johnson on Instagram and Facebook and also go to my website ctjohnson.org and
728
00:58:30,820 --> 00:58:36,940
pick up my newest book, Empower Your Thinking, volume one, quotes to shift consciousness,
729
00:58:36,940 --> 00:58:41,500
provoke thought and increase understanding.
730
00:58:41,500 --> 00:58:47,540
Don't allow your conversation to be rooted in your frustration.
731
00:58:47,540 --> 00:58:50,540
That's a powerful quote by James.
732
00:58:50,540 --> 00:58:58,780
Don't allow your conversation to be rooted in your frustration but allow your conversation
733
00:58:58,780 --> 00:59:08,500
to be rooted in your expectations, expectations of progression, betterment, the favor of God,
734
00:59:08,500 --> 00:59:13,020
the blessing of God, the fruitfulness of God.
735
00:59:13,020 --> 00:59:27,700
Note what God's word says and allow his word, his expectation in his word to dictate your
736
00:59:27,700 --> 00:59:28,900
conversation.
737
00:59:28,900 --> 00:59:32,140
Speak life not death.
738
00:59:32,140 --> 00:59:34,500
All right, connect with me.
739
00:59:34,500 --> 00:59:39,340
I love all of you until our next podcast.
740
00:59:39,340 --> 00:59:44,980
This is Prophet CT Johnson with my very special guest, my baby brother James Brandon Johnson.
741
00:59:44,980 --> 00:59:47,500
We want you to know that we love you.
742
00:59:47,500 --> 00:59:50,580
Be empowered.
743
00:59:50,580 --> 00:59:53,700
Thanks for listening to a Biblical Perspective podcast.
744
00:59:53,700 --> 01:00:00,420
If today's episode empowered you, subscribe and rate the podcast at cpnshows.com, Apple
745
01:00:00,420 --> 01:00:03,140
podcast or wherever you listen.
746
01:00:03,140 --> 01:00:10,100
For more information about CT Johnson Ministries International, visit the website at ctjohnson.org
747
01:00:10,100 --> 01:00:18,340
or text CTJM to 54244 to stay in the know and connect with me on Instagram and Twitter
748
01:00:18,340 --> 01:00:24,100
at CTRL JOHNSON on Facebook and YouTube at CT JOHNSON MINISTRIES.
749
01:00:24,100 --> 01:00:33,380
Tune in next time as I continue to empower your thinking from God's perspective.