WEBVTT

1
00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:06.519
<v Speaker 1>Hello, everybody, Welcome to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. This is

2
00:00:06.599 --> 00:00:10.160
<v Speaker 1>the Bible teaching ministry of Rick Warren. Hey, we're so

3
00:00:10.279 --> 00:00:13.359
<v Speaker 1>glad you're here with us today. We are continuing in

4
00:00:13.400 --> 00:00:17.239
<v Speaker 1>a series called Talking about Stuff that Matters Now. In

5
00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:21.120
<v Speaker 1>this series, Rick looks into the scriptures and he's unpacking

6
00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:24.839
<v Speaker 1>what it means to live in community, have real conversation

7
00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:30.039
<v Speaker 1>about what matters most, and face discouragement with courage and faith.

8
00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:34.079
<v Speaker 1>It's honest, hopeful. So stay tuned. You won't want to

9
00:00:34.119 --> 00:00:36.600
<v Speaker 1>miss a second. Well, I can't wait to hear what

10
00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:39.399
<v Speaker 1>Rick has for us today. Here's part one of a

11
00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:42.280
<v Speaker 1>message called when You're Harassed and Bullied.

12
00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:45.679
<v Speaker 2>This weekend, I want us to look at what God

13
00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:50.000
<v Speaker 2>says about when you're harassed or bullied. When you're harassed

14
00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:52.320
<v Speaker 2>or bullied, and I'd like you to raise your hand

15
00:00:52.359 --> 00:00:56.240
<v Speaker 2>right now if you can remember a time in your life,

16
00:00:56.280 --> 00:00:58.640
<v Speaker 2>either as a child or as a teenager, as an adult,

17
00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:03.799
<v Speaker 2>when you felt bullied or harassed. Could I see your hands? Okay,

18
00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:06.719
<v Speaker 2>now I can't see you, obviously, but I figured that

19
00:01:07.239 --> 00:01:10.640
<v Speaker 2>I figured that almost everybody I know has felt being

20
00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:13.840
<v Speaker 2>harassed or bullied, either at school or in the neighborhood,

21
00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:16.920
<v Speaker 2>or in the office, or in the sports field, or

22
00:01:17.239 --> 00:01:21.200
<v Speaker 2>unfortunately even at home. Sometimes, What does God have to

23
00:01:21.239 --> 00:01:24.719
<v Speaker 2>say about bullying and harassment? That's what we're going to

24
00:01:24.760 --> 00:01:29.200
<v Speaker 2>look at today. Well, because everything on earth is broken

25
00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:33.120
<v Speaker 2>by sin, including relationships. God tells us not to be

26
00:01:33.239 --> 00:01:36.959
<v Speaker 2>surprised when people are mean or pushy, or angry, or

27
00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:42.200
<v Speaker 2>controlling or manipulative. In fact, Jesus warned us to expect

28
00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:47.439
<v Speaker 2>opposition and harassment in life in John sixteen, verse thirty three.

29
00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:50.920
<v Speaker 2>I love this. In the message translation, Jesus says, I've

30
00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:54.879
<v Speaker 2>told you all this so that in trusting me you

31
00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:59.959
<v Speaker 2>will be unshakable and at peace in this godless world.

32
00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:06.359
<v Speaker 2>You will experience difficulties, but take heart, I have conquered

33
00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:10.560
<v Speaker 2>the world. He said. You're going to have trouble, You're

34
00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:14.360
<v Speaker 2>going to experience difficulties, You're going to have harassment in

35
00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:17.039
<v Speaker 2>your life. But take heart, I've conquered the world now.

36
00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:20.960
<v Speaker 2>God also warns us that as time goes on throughout history,

37
00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:24.120
<v Speaker 2>he said things would get worse, not better, that people

38
00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:30.080
<v Speaker 2>would actually become more uncivil, more unkind, more rude, more mean.

39
00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:34.360
<v Speaker 2>Two Timothy Chapter three says this Versus one to four

40
00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:39.039
<v Speaker 2>and the New Living Translation. You should also know that

41
00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:42.439
<v Speaker 2>in the last days there will be very difficult times,

42
00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:47.479
<v Speaker 2>for people will love only themselves and their money. That

43
00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:52.360
<v Speaker 2>sound familiar. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God,

44
00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:57.520
<v Speaker 2>disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

45
00:02:58.280 --> 00:03:01.479
<v Speaker 2>They will be unloving and unforgiving. They will slander others.

46
00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:05.199
<v Speaker 2>This is here's before the internet. They will have no

47
00:03:05.319 --> 00:03:09.400
<v Speaker 2>self control. People will be cruel and have no interest

48
00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:11.599
<v Speaker 2>in what is good. They will betray their friends, they

49
00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:14.719
<v Speaker 2>will be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and they

50
00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:20.639
<v Speaker 2>will love pleasure rather than God. You know, friends. That

51
00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:24.919
<v Speaker 2>sounds an awful lot like modern culture. Because civilization is

52
00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:28.919
<v Speaker 2>losing its civility by the day. We're getting rude or

53
00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:32.360
<v Speaker 2>not more loving in the world. We're getting more unkind,

54
00:03:32.439 --> 00:03:38.159
<v Speaker 2>not more kind. So I want to begin by defining bullying.

55
00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:45.159
<v Speaker 2>Here's a definition. Bullying is any unwanted aggressive behavior where

56
00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:50.280
<v Speaker 2>a person or group tries to exert power over somebody else.

57
00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:54.719
<v Speaker 2>Any unwanted aggressive behavior where a person a group tries

58
00:03:54.759 --> 00:03:58.919
<v Speaker 2>to exert power over somebody else. That's bullying. Now, bullying

59
00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:03.879
<v Speaker 2>includes a lot of everythings, making threats, spreading rumors, attacking

60
00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:10.439
<v Speaker 2>physically or verbally, harassing, excluding somebody from a group on purpose.

61
00:04:10.520 --> 00:04:13.840
<v Speaker 2>That's a form of bullying. But bullying now doesn't just

62
00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:18.439
<v Speaker 2>happen in person. Today, with texting and social media and

63
00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:23.199
<v Speaker 2>being connected to video games, cyber bullies and cyber bullying

64
00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:27.040
<v Speaker 2>take place everywhere. You know. In previous generations, kids could

65
00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:31.560
<v Speaker 2>actually escape bullies by leaving the playground, But today the

66
00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:35.040
<v Speaker 2>bullies can reach you through your phone or your iPad,

67
00:04:35.160 --> 00:04:39.040
<v Speaker 2>or your tablets or your video games. Literally, bullies are

68
00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:41.480
<v Speaker 2>available to get in your face twenty four hours a

69
00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:46.240
<v Speaker 2>day because of technology. Technology now people get harassed and

70
00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:49.319
<v Speaker 2>bullied for all kinds of reasons. You can get bullied

71
00:04:49.720 --> 00:04:52.279
<v Speaker 2>for your appearance. People just don't think you look right.

72
00:04:52.839 --> 00:04:56.600
<v Speaker 2>You can be bullied for your abilities or your disabilities.

73
00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:00.319
<v Speaker 2>You can be bullied for your accent, somebod like the

74
00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:02.720
<v Speaker 2>way you talk. You can be bullied for your race,

75
00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:06.399
<v Speaker 2>for being poor or rich. You could be bullied for

76
00:05:06.439 --> 00:05:09.879
<v Speaker 2>your gender, and you can be, of course bullied for

77
00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:12.720
<v Speaker 2>your faith. You can be bullied for being a Christian.

78
00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:15.759
<v Speaker 2>Now that last category, being bullied or ask for being

79
00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:17.920
<v Speaker 2>a follower of Jesus that's been around for about two

80
00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:21.439
<v Speaker 2>thousand years, but it has been on a rapid increase

81
00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:27.639
<v Speaker 2>in just the last decade. According to a twenty nineteen

82
00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:31.160
<v Speaker 2>World Watch list, there's still one hundred and fifty countries

83
00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:35.639
<v Speaker 2>in the world where Christians are severely persecuted for their faith.

84
00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:38.240
<v Speaker 2>One hundred and fifty. Let me give you the most

85
00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:43.079
<v Speaker 2>recent statistics. Two hundred and forty five million Christians live

86
00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:47.360
<v Speaker 2>in the fifty worst persecuting countries. That means any of

87
00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:50.959
<v Speaker 2>those two hundred and forty five million Christians can face

88
00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:58.040
<v Speaker 2>the threat of discrimination, interrogation, arrest, prison, refugee camps, torture,

89
00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:02.199
<v Speaker 2>even death. That's a quarter of a billion people just

90
00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:06.079
<v Speaker 2>for being a Christian in those countries. One in nine

91
00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:10.959
<v Speaker 2>Christians worldwide experiences severe persecution. In fact, this past year,

92
00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:15.519
<v Speaker 2>four thousand, one hundred and thirty six Christians were killed

93
00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:20.000
<v Speaker 2>simply for being Christians. That's about eleven Christians a day. Now.

94
00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:22.920
<v Speaker 2>I'm not talking about wars. I'm saying just killed for

95
00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:27.240
<v Speaker 2>being a Christian. Two thousand, six hundred and twenty five

96
00:06:27.319 --> 00:06:32.439
<v Speaker 2>Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced, and imprisoned in

97
00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:35.600
<v Speaker 2>those fifty worst countries. Along with who knows how many

98
00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:38.879
<v Speaker 2>tens of thousands of others. Last year, one thousand, two

99
00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:43.120
<v Speaker 2>hundred and sixty six more churches were burned or destroyed

100
00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:47.079
<v Speaker 2>somewhere around the world out of persecution. Why am I

101
00:06:47.079 --> 00:06:50.040
<v Speaker 2>telling you this Well, because if I were to ask

102
00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:52.519
<v Speaker 2>you to name the most persecuted group on the planet today,

103
00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:56.600
<v Speaker 2>you would likely name the wrong group. It's Christians. You're

104
00:06:56.720 --> 00:07:00.720
<v Speaker 2>likely surprised because it's the most ignored, most overlooked, and

105
00:07:00.839 --> 00:07:06.519
<v Speaker 2>most underreported news in the world. There's a society called

106
00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:10.079
<v Speaker 2>the International Society for Human Rights. It's not a Christian organization,

107
00:07:10.360 --> 00:07:13.480
<v Speaker 2>it's a secular organization. And I read this this week

108
00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:18.160
<v Speaker 2>in their report. Quote eighty percent of all religious freedom

109
00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:23.519
<v Speaker 2>violations in the world are directed against Christians. Now, of

110
00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:26.879
<v Speaker 2>course that's just one kind of harassment, but it is

111
00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:30.040
<v Speaker 2>real and it is painful. And Jesus said this in

112
00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:34.720
<v Speaker 2>John fifteen, Verses nineteen and twenty. The world would love

113
00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:39.680
<v Speaker 2>you if you belong to it, but you don't. I

114
00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:43.040
<v Speaker 2>chose you to come out of the world, and so

115
00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:47.879
<v Speaker 2>it hates you. Remember, a servant is not greater than

116
00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:53.120
<v Speaker 2>the master. And since they persecuted me, Jesus says, naturally

117
00:07:53.399 --> 00:07:58.519
<v Speaker 2>they will persecute you too. Remember the world crucified Jesus.

118
00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:01.240
<v Speaker 2>He was perfect, he had never sinned, he had not

119
00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:05.000
<v Speaker 2>armed anybody, but the world crucified him. They would today too.

120
00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:08.360
<v Speaker 2>And the fact is, evil people don't like to attack

121
00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:12.600
<v Speaker 2>Christ directly, so they often attack those who follow him.

122
00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:15.680
<v Speaker 2>Now you maybe think of a rick. The people that

123
00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:18.720
<v Speaker 2>I'm dealing with who are bullying me or harassing me

124
00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:22.800
<v Speaker 2>at work or at school, they don't even know I'm

125
00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:26.680
<v Speaker 2>a Christian. Well that may be true. They may not

126
00:08:26.839 --> 00:08:29.240
<v Speaker 2>know that you're a Christian at work, at school, but

127
00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:33.000
<v Speaker 2>Satan knows. Satan knows that you're a Christian. Satan knows

128
00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:35.559
<v Speaker 2>you love God. Satan knows you're a child of God.

129
00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:39.639
<v Speaker 2>So he has targeted you. And honestly, he doesn't care

130
00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:44.159
<v Speaker 2>why or what reason people have to harass you, whether

131
00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:48.559
<v Speaker 2>it's your race, or your age, or your gender or whatever.

132
00:08:49.080 --> 00:08:52.480
<v Speaker 2>He just wants to make you miserable because you're a

133
00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:56.639
<v Speaker 2>child of God. You're the enemy and he has lost you,

134
00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:59.759
<v Speaker 2>so he wants to hurt you. How does God want

135
00:08:59.799 --> 00:09:03.879
<v Speaker 2>me to respond to the bullies and the cyber bullies

136
00:09:04.440 --> 00:09:09.600
<v Speaker 2>and the rassers at school or at work, or or

137
00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:13.360
<v Speaker 2>in society are online. Well, let me give you some

138
00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:17.960
<v Speaker 2>scriptures and some points from God's word this weekend. Okay,

139
00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:19.559
<v Speaker 2>why don't you write these down. I'm going to give

140
00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:25.360
<v Speaker 2>you seven ways to deal with bullying and harassment in

141
00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:28.440
<v Speaker 2>your life. Number one, here's the first one. It's very

142
00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:35.440
<v Speaker 2>important recognize the source behind the bully. Recognize the source

143
00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:39.480
<v Speaker 2>behind the bully. The bully is not your real problem.

144
00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:42.600
<v Speaker 2>The real problem is the source behind the bully. And

145
00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:46.159
<v Speaker 2>the real source is a force. It's a spiritual force.

146
00:09:46.200 --> 00:09:50.360
<v Speaker 2>It's called evil. The bully is just being used by Satan.

147
00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:57.639
<v Speaker 2>All evil, all meanness, all hatred comes from Satan. Now,

148
00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:00.399
<v Speaker 2>the people who are being hateful and who being they

149
00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:03.559
<v Speaker 2>don't even recognize that they're just a pond, that they're

150
00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:05.480
<v Speaker 2>just a tool in the hand of Satan because they're

151
00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:09.879
<v Speaker 2>spiritually blinded. But the Bible says this in Ephesians, chapter six,

152
00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:18.559
<v Speaker 2>verse twelve. We are not fighting against human beings, but

153
00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:24.159
<v Speaker 2>against wicked spiritual forces. Did you hear that the bully

154
00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:27.120
<v Speaker 2>is not your real problem. The bully is being used.

155
00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:31.679
<v Speaker 2>We're not fighting against human beings, we're fighting against spiritual

156
00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:36.639
<v Speaker 2>wicked forces. Satan can use anybody anyway if they don't

157
00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:39.399
<v Speaker 2>know the Lord because they don't have God's spirit in them. Now,

158
00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:42.879
<v Speaker 2>Satan wants to hurt God, but he can't, so he

159
00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:44.840
<v Speaker 2>does then xpec thing. You know what he does. He

160
00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:47.799
<v Speaker 2>goes after God's children. The best way to hurt a

161
00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:50.480
<v Speaker 2>parent is to hurt his child, and the child of

162
00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:55.080
<v Speaker 2>God is the enemy of Satan. This is why prayer

163
00:10:55.559 --> 00:10:58.720
<v Speaker 2>is such an important part of dealing with harassment school

164
00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:02.000
<v Speaker 2>or work, or dealing with the bully at school or work,

165
00:11:02.360 --> 00:11:04.919
<v Speaker 2>because we're not dealing with just human beings here. There's

166
00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:08.159
<v Speaker 2>a spiritual force behind it all. You may not have

167
00:11:08.200 --> 00:11:12.559
<v Speaker 2>the power to stop that bully, but God does, and

168
00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:18.200
<v Speaker 2>so first recognize the source or the force behind the bully.

169
00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:21.919
<v Speaker 2>Number two, This is the second key antidote to dealing

170
00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:26.759
<v Speaker 2>with harassmun Remember who you are. Remember who you are?

171
00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:31.120
<v Speaker 2>What is your identity? You are a son or daughter

172
00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:33.960
<v Speaker 2>of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You

173
00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:38.120
<v Speaker 2>are a part of God's family. You were created in

174
00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:42.159
<v Speaker 2>the image of God, and God loves you. And God

175
00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:44.559
<v Speaker 2>made you for a purpose and He has a plan

176
00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:47.759
<v Speaker 2>for your life. You need to remember who you are.

177
00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:51.639
<v Speaker 2>You're a child of God. Why is that important? Because

178
00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:56.159
<v Speaker 2>bullies can smell weakness and insecurity and low self esteem

179
00:11:56.200 --> 00:11:59.360
<v Speaker 2>a mile away. That's who they try to attack. Bullies

180
00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:02.440
<v Speaker 2>don't ever go atter or confident or courageous or self

181
00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:06.360
<v Speaker 2>assured people. No, they look for someone they think is

182
00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:12.480
<v Speaker 2>feeling down or unaccepted, or weak or unsure. They want

183
00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:16.639
<v Speaker 2>to pick off people when they're in their most vulnerable moments.

184
00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:22.039
<v Speaker 2>That's why I started this series talking about your identity

185
00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:26.159
<v Speaker 2>in Christ. I said, if you don't settle this issue,

186
00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:28.919
<v Speaker 2>you'll be pressured by peer pressure at school or work.

187
00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:32.679
<v Speaker 2>You'll be pressured by bullies at school of work. You'll

188
00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:35.399
<v Speaker 2>be conformed to the world at school or work or

189
00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:41.200
<v Speaker 2>anywhere else. You have to know your identity now. You're

190
00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:45.080
<v Speaker 2>not what other people say you are. They don't know

191
00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:48.919
<v Speaker 2>you're not even what you think you are. You are

192
00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:53.600
<v Speaker 2>whom God says you are. You see, because God always

193
00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:56.279
<v Speaker 2>speaks the truth. And it is the truth that sets

194
00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:58.919
<v Speaker 2>us free, and it is the truth that gives us confidence,

195
00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:02.440
<v Speaker 2>and it is the truth that makes us bold and courageous.

196
00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:06.480
<v Speaker 2>So if you haven't listened to that message, it's called

197
00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:10.000
<v Speaker 2>don't let anybody steal your identity on who you are

198
00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.799
<v Speaker 2>in Christ. Go back to the beginning of this series

199
00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:15.279
<v Speaker 2>and listen to it all over and over and over.

200
00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:19.000
<v Speaker 2>Until you settle the issue of your identity and who

201
00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:22.159
<v Speaker 2>you are in Jesus Christ, You're going to be easy

202
00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:25.840
<v Speaker 2>pickings until you do know that for sure God is

203
00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:29.559
<v Speaker 2>your creator. Jesus died for you, the Holy Spirit lives

204
00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:32.919
<v Speaker 2>in you. You have the Trinity behind you. What are

205
00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:37.360
<v Speaker 2>you worried about some measly little bully or harasser at

206
00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:41.360
<v Speaker 2>school or at work or even in the neighborhood. First

207
00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:45.399
<v Speaker 2>John four to four says this, You, dear children, are

208
00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:50.799
<v Speaker 2>from God and you have overcome the world. Why because

209
00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:55.480
<v Speaker 2>the one who is in you is greater than the

210
00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:57.600
<v Speaker 2>one who is in the world. Yeah, Satan's trying to

211
00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:59.559
<v Speaker 2>take you down. But the one who's in you greater

212
00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:01.240
<v Speaker 2>is he that is in you than he that is

213
00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:05.759
<v Speaker 2>in the world. So what I'm saying in remembering your identity,

214
00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:09.919
<v Speaker 2>remember what David remembered in Psalm fifty six, verse three

215
00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:13.279
<v Speaker 2>and four. I love this New Living translation. He says,

216
00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:17.120
<v Speaker 2>when I'm afraid, I put my trust in you, Oh God,

217
00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:21.960
<v Speaker 2>and I praise your word. That's the Bible, God's word.

218
00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:25.399
<v Speaker 2>I trust in you, God. So why should I be afraid.

219
00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:31.159
<v Speaker 2>What can mere mortals do to me? One plus God

220
00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:34.559
<v Speaker 2>equals a majority. If God is on your side, it

221
00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:36.879
<v Speaker 2>doesn't matter who's against you. If God is for us,

222
00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:39.919
<v Speaker 2>who can be against us. So, if you're being harassed

223
00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:44.039
<v Speaker 2>or you're being bullied by anybody, I want to urge

224
00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:47.120
<v Speaker 2>you to write down on some little three by five cards,

225
00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:51.399
<v Speaker 2>some Bible verses and some Bible promises that will encourage

226
00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:54.799
<v Speaker 2>you and strengthen you, and learn those and memorize them.

227
00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:59.039
<v Speaker 2>And when you're in a situation where you're being bullied,

228
00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:05.320
<v Speaker 2>you silently start saying those verses to yourself. Remind yourself

229
00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:08.279
<v Speaker 2>of the promises of God. Remind yourself of the truth

230
00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:11.600
<v Speaker 2>of God. Remind yourself who God says you are. It

231
00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:15.039
<v Speaker 2>doesn't matter what the bully or the harasser says. They

232
00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:18.519
<v Speaker 2>may say, you're worthless, you're no good, you're whatever. They're wrong,

233
00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:21.480
<v Speaker 2>they're liars. And the Bible says Satan is the father

234
00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:25.279
<v Speaker 2>of all lies. So what we're saying here is you

235
00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:28.120
<v Speaker 2>got to first know who the source is, and then

236
00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:31.960
<v Speaker 2>second you've got to know who you are. Parents, one

237
00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:34.879
<v Speaker 2>of your jobs is to teach your children their true

238
00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:38.919
<v Speaker 2>identity in Christ so they can withstand bullies and harassment.

239
00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:43.039
<v Speaker 2>They don't become people pleasers because they're God pleasers. Now

240
00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:46.799
<v Speaker 2>here's the third key. When you're hit with a bully,

241
00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:52.200
<v Speaker 2>when you're hit with a rasser, refuse to retaliate. Refuse

242
00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:56.440
<v Speaker 2>to retaliate because this messes up the whole situation that

243
00:15:56.480 --> 00:16:00.679
<v Speaker 2>God wants to do. In Romans twelve, verses seven up

244
00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:05.879
<v Speaker 2>to verse nineteen, God says this, if someone has done

245
00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:11.720
<v Speaker 2>you wrong, never pay back evil with evil. Okay, then

246
00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:14.639
<v Speaker 2>you know better than they are. Instead, try to do

247
00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:18.399
<v Speaker 2>what everyone considers to be good. Everybody would say that's

248
00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:22.919
<v Speaker 2>the right thing to do. Do everything possible on your

249
00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:28.559
<v Speaker 2>part to live in peace with everybody. Oh that's one

250
00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:30.919
<v Speaker 2>of the most difficult versus in the Bible. Do everything

251
00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:33.840
<v Speaker 2>possible in your part to live at peace with everybody.

252
00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:39.240
<v Speaker 2>Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger

253
00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:44.080
<v Speaker 2>do it. For the scripture says, I will avenge you,

254
00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:48.879
<v Speaker 2>and I will pay them back, says the Lord. Now,

255
00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:51.320
<v Speaker 2>I want you to notice a couple things about this First. First,

256
00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:53.960
<v Speaker 2>it says, as much as it's possible with you, do

257
00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:56.600
<v Speaker 2>it as far as possible, get along with everybody. I

258
00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:59.039
<v Speaker 2>like that verse because it says as much as possible.

259
00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:01.399
<v Speaker 2>There are some people, well you just can't get along

260
00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:05.440
<v Speaker 2>with no matter what you do. They are unpleasable, they

261
00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:08.599
<v Speaker 2>are impossible, they are hard to get along with. That

262
00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:11.000
<v Speaker 2>they're impossible to get along with. It says, as much

263
00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:14.319
<v Speaker 2>as it's possible on your side, that's admitting that there

264
00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:17.000
<v Speaker 2>are some people in life you just can't get along with.

265
00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:19.279
<v Speaker 2>So you got to walk away. In that case, you

266
00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:22.319
<v Speaker 2>just walk away. Well, I know, you say, well, they've

267
00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:25.319
<v Speaker 2>hurt me, they've bullied me, they've harassed me. And he said,

268
00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:28.440
<v Speaker 2>I want to show them up. I want to get even. Well,

269
00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:33.799
<v Speaker 2>you know you never get ahead. You're never going to

270
00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:35.839
<v Speaker 2>get ahead of them if you're trying to get even

271
00:17:35.880 --> 00:17:41.680
<v Speaker 2>with them. When you commit an offense against somebody, you

272
00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:44.400
<v Speaker 2>take an issue, you commit an off against offense against somebody,

273
00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:47.640
<v Speaker 2>that puts you below them. When you get even with

274
00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:49.680
<v Speaker 2>somebody who's hurt you and you hurt them back, that

275
00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:51.680
<v Speaker 2>just puts you even. You're no better than they are.

276
00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:55.759
<v Speaker 2>But when you forgive them and you walk away, it

277
00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:59.440
<v Speaker 2>puts you in the superior position above them, and a

278
00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:04.680
<v Speaker 2>position you for all kinds of blessings. You see, Bullies

279
00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.920
<v Speaker 2>want to hook you in a fight. They do it

280
00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:10.680
<v Speaker 2>on cyber you know, on the internet all the time.

281
00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:14.839
<v Speaker 2>Their trolls are out there trying to hook people, get

282
00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:18.279
<v Speaker 2>their attention. They want your attention. What a bully cannot

283
00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:21.680
<v Speaker 2>stand is for you to ignore them. What a bully

284
00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:24.559
<v Speaker 2>can't stand is for you to walk away because they

285
00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:28.440
<v Speaker 2>are starving for attention. Now, this is true on the

286
00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:32.279
<v Speaker 2>internet with cyber bullies. Don't engage them because you're just

287
00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:36.319
<v Speaker 2>hooking into what they want. You know, if you think

288
00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:39.599
<v Speaker 2>about this, most of you know you learned this as

289
00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:42.319
<v Speaker 2>a kid growing up, that when you were teasing your

290
00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:46.839
<v Speaker 2>brother or teasing your sister, that once they started reacting

291
00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:51.359
<v Speaker 2>to you, you were in control of the situation. As

292
00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:54.400
<v Speaker 2>long as they ignored you, as long as they didn't react,

293
00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:58.160
<v Speaker 2>you were helpless. You couldn't get them, you couldn't engage them.

294
00:18:58.359 --> 00:19:03.119
<v Speaker 2>But the moment you hook them, the moment they start reacting,

295
00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:07.200
<v Speaker 2>you're now in control. Have you ever thought about this

296
00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:12.839
<v Speaker 2>that any time you say or even think you make

297
00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:18.160
<v Speaker 2>me so mad, you're admitting that you've given control of

298
00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:21.920
<v Speaker 2>your emotions to somebody else. You make me mad. I

299
00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:24.839
<v Speaker 2>don't want to be mad, but you make me mad.

300
00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:28.599
<v Speaker 2>You're making me mad, which means you have the power

301
00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:31.640
<v Speaker 2>to control my emotions. Now you may not say you

302
00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:33.880
<v Speaker 2>make me mad, but you're thinking it. Or you may

303
00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:38.039
<v Speaker 2>not say you make me afraid. Sometimes a bully will

304
00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:40.559
<v Speaker 2>make you afraid, but if you're thinking it, you are

305
00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:43.839
<v Speaker 2>at that point admitting that they have power over your emotions.

306
00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:45.880
<v Speaker 2>You don't want to do that. You don't want to

307
00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:49.079
<v Speaker 2>give any bully or any harass power over your emotions.

308
00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:52.640
<v Speaker 2>I want you to note there in that Romans twelve

309
00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:56.559
<v Speaker 2>passage that God gives you a choice. You can either

310
00:19:56.640 --> 00:20:01.559
<v Speaker 2>seek revenge yourself or you can let God avenge you.

311
00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:04.000
<v Speaker 2>It's just your choice, and you want to do it.

312
00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:07.640
<v Speaker 2>Go ahead, be my guest, seek revenge yourself, or he says,

313
00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:11.519
<v Speaker 2>you can hold back, trust God and let God avenge you.

314
00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:15.440
<v Speaker 2>Who do you think can do a better job? Who

315
00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:18.640
<v Speaker 2>do you think has more resources at taking a person

316
00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:22.279
<v Speaker 2>down a nach or two who's been irritating and arrogant.

317
00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:27.200
<v Speaker 2>You got to just let it go, refuse to retaliate.

318
00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:36.359
<v Speaker 1>What a great message from Pastor Rick today. There's something

319
00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:39.839
<v Speaker 1>I always take away from his message. Here's Rick to

320
00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:43.039
<v Speaker 1>tell you how you can help support this ministry.

321
00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:45.799
<v Speaker 2>Jesus told his disciples that they should live their lives

322
00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:49.119
<v Speaker 2>according to five specific purposes. He said, you've got to

323
00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:52.480
<v Speaker 2>love God with all your heart. That's worship, and love

324
00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:56.440
<v Speaker 2>your neighbors yourself. That's ministry. That's called the Great Commandment.

325
00:20:56.880 --> 00:21:00.519
<v Speaker 2>And then Jesus said, go make disciples. That's evangelism. Baptize

326
00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:03.440
<v Speaker 2>them into the Family of God. That's fellowship, a sign

327
00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:06.039
<v Speaker 2>of fellowship. And then he said, teach them obey everything

328
00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:09.599
<v Speaker 2>I've taught you. That's discipleship. And we call that the

329
00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:13.920
<v Speaker 2>Great Commission. We believe it daily hope that a great

330
00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:18.319
<v Speaker 2>commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will

331
00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:22.319
<v Speaker 2>produce a great Christian, a great church, a great company,

332
00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:25.960
<v Speaker 2>a great community. You know, I started Daily Hope so

333
00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:28.519
<v Speaker 2>I could spread the good news about Jesus, not just

334
00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:33.079
<v Speaker 2>across America, but all around the world. And we want

335
00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:35.880
<v Speaker 2>people to know that God's word is filled with hope

336
00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:39.440
<v Speaker 2>and truth, and the power that we need to follow

337
00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:42.119
<v Speaker 2>him every day is available to every single one. You

338
00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:43.880
<v Speaker 2>know as well as I do, that the Word of

339
00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:46.960
<v Speaker 2>God changes lives. It's a live it's active, and it

340
00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:50.200
<v Speaker 2>breathes new life and new love into all of our lives.

341
00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:53.640
<v Speaker 2>So wherever you listen to this, whether you listen on

342
00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:56.400
<v Speaker 2>the website, whether you listen on a radio station, or

343
00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:59.240
<v Speaker 2>whether you listen to a podcast, you're a part of

344
00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:03.000
<v Speaker 2>the Daily Hope family and I need your help. We

345
00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:05.920
<v Speaker 2>could not do this without your support. We're one hundred

346
00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:09.599
<v Speaker 2>percent listener funded. Would you continue to pray for this

347
00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:13.279
<v Speaker 2>broadcast and would you continue to support us? And let

348
00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:15.799
<v Speaker 2>write to me, let me hear from you. I absolutely

349
00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:19.519
<v Speaker 2>love reading the stories that are sent to me. So

350
00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:23.920
<v Speaker 2>write me, pray for me, and support this ministry, and

351
00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:26.400
<v Speaker 2>God will bless it, and God will bless you, and

352
00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:28.240
<v Speaker 2>we'll get to heaven, and we'll thank God for all

353
00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:30.519
<v Speaker 2>the people going to be in heaven because you cared.

354
00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:33.640
<v Speaker 1>Hey, if you'd like to support Pastor Rick's Daily Hope,

355
00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:37.799
<v Speaker 1>just go to pastorrick dot com. That's Pastorrick dot com,

356
00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:40.720
<v Speaker 1>or you can text the word hope to seven oh

357
00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:44.160
<v Speaker 1>three oh nine. That's the word hope to seven oh

358
00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:47.240
<v Speaker 1>three oh nine. And really, from the bottom of our hearts,

359
00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:50.160
<v Speaker 1>we thank you so much for your support. Your gift

360
00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:52.680
<v Speaker 1>to Daily Hope helps us share the hope of Christ

361
00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:56.039
<v Speaker 1>with people everywhere. Hey, be sure to join us next

362
00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:59.599
<v Speaker 1>time when we look into God's Word for our daily hope.

363
00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:02.960
<v Speaker 1>This program is sponsored by Pastor Rick's Daily Hope and

364
00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:05.000
<v Speaker 1>your generous financial support.