SET YOUR STANDARDS
2 CORINTHIANS 7:1 SAYS: “HAVING THEREFORE THESE PROMISES,DEARLY BELOVED, LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES FROM ALL FILTHINESS OF THE FLESH AND SPIRIT, PERFECTING HOLINESS IN THE FEAR OF GOD.”
I REMEMBER AS A LITTLE KID, IN DALLAS, TEXAS, WE LIVED RIGHT NEXT TO A SMALL RIVER, MORE LIKE A CREEK. RIGHT BESIDE THE CREEK THERE WAS A PARK. I USED TO WAKE UP EVERY MORNING, EAT SOME PANCAKES, AND I REMEMBER THAT MY GOAL FOR THE DAY WAS TO GO TO THAT PARK. THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I WOULD CONCENTRATE ON DOING. SOME DAYS I WOULD FAIL TO ACCOMPLISH MY GOAL, BUT THAT WOULDN’T DISCOURAGE ME FROM TRYING AGAIN. ONE DAY, I GOT TO GO TO THAT PARK AND SINCE MY COUSIN, MARIVEL, WOULD LIVE WITH US, OR MAYBE IT WAS US WITH THEM, I DON’T KNOW, WE WOULD RACE TO THE BEST SWING
IN THE PARK. MAN, I WOULD PUSH HER OUT OF THE WAY EVERYTIME WE WOULD RACE TOWARDS THAT SWING, JUST TO GET IT. THEN, MARIVEL WOULD GO CRYING TO HER MOM, MY MOM WOULD FIND OUT, GET THE MAD ANOINTING UPON HER, SHE’D SHARE IT WITH ME A BIT, AND I WOULD HAVE
TO GIVE UP MY SWING! THAT DIDN’T MEAN MY DETERMINATION WAS OVER. TAKING ADVANTAGE THAT MARIVEL USED TO BE A BIT SLOW, OR I GUESS THE WORD WOULD BE NAIVE. I WOULD GO TO THE MERRY GO ROUND, OR THE SLIDE, OR MONKEY BARS, AND THAT MONKEY OF MY COUSIN WOULD FOLLOW ME. I WOULD PRETEND I WAS HAVING SO MUCH FUN ON WHATEVER OTHER THING I WAS ON AND SINCE MARIVEL WAS TRYING TO HAVE AS MUCH FUN AS I WAS, SHE WOULD DO THE SAME THING AND I WOULD END UP LEAVING HER ALONE HAVING “FUN” WHILE I WOULD GO BACK AND GET ON MY SWING! I HAD BEEN FRAMED, I HAD BEEN SUCKERED, BUT I GOT WHAT I WANTED WHICH WAS TO BE ON MY FAVORITE SWING. THE THING WAS THAT I DIDN’T GIVE UP. WELL, MARIVEL ISN’T AS DUMB NOW, BUT SHE DOESN’T TRUST ME AS MUCH, EITHER. I JUST WONDER WHY? NOW, AS A TEEN, MY
GOAL WAS TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL IN MAY OF 1999. OBSTACLES CAME. I WAS OVERWHELMED BY EMOTIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHICH I THOUGHT I COULD NOT CONTROL. FOR ONE, I WOULD SKIP A LOT. EVEN THEN, I STILL HAD A CHANCE, BUT WOULDN’T APPRECIATE IT. WHEN THE
TIME CAME IN WHICH REAL PROBLEMS WERE FACED, IT WAS TOO LATE. I WAS DISCOURAGED. MY GOAL WENT FROM GETTING A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA TO GETTING A GED. IT WENT FROM A TROPHY AT THE END OF THE FINISH LINE TO A “CONGRATULATIONS FOR TRYING” SPEECH. THEN, IT CAME
TO ME, HOW CAN I BE A SOILDER FOR CHRIST IF I CANNOT BE AN EXAMPLE IN THE EDUCATIONAL ROUND? I NEEDED TO PRACTICE WHAT I PREACHED AND THAT’S A MAJOR ISSUE THAT MANY PEOPLE NOW A DAYS DON’T SHOW. THEY’RE HOLY IN THE CHURCH, BUT HAVE A COUPLE OF HOLES IN THE HEAD.
IF I WERE TO PREACH, “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME,” BUT WAS ASKED, “WHY DIDN’T YOU GET YOUR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA?” AND MY ANSWER WAS, “PROBLEMS, I COULDN’T HACK IT.” I WOULD END UP BEING AN “APESTOSO” APESTANDO THE WORD OF GOD! IF THE LORD GOD GIVES YOU NO MORE THAN WHAT YOU CAN HANDLE,
THEN NO ONE CAN LIMIT YOU, BUT YOU, YOURSELF! IF YOU PLAY BASKETBALL, AND YOUR HIGHEST STANDARD, OR GOAL, IS TO PLAY WITH THE NBA, DON’T SETTLE FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL. DON’T LOWER YOUR STANDARDS. IF YOU WANT A Ph.D., BECOME AN MD, OR A 123, OR WHATEVER ALL THOSE LETTERS STAND FOR, DON’T SETTLE FOR BEING
AN ASSISTANT! ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME NOW? LADIES, IF YOU WANT YOUR HUSBANDS TO BE A SPIRIT FILLED, HOLY GHOST TONGUE SPEAKING, DEVIL STOMPING CHRISTIAN MAN, DON’T SETTLE FOR A GUY THAT COMES TO CHURCH ONCE A YEAR. TE VA A TOCAR PANZON, BARBUDO, APESTOSO, Y NO VA A QUERER TRABAJAR! GUYS, IF YOU WANT A WIFE THAT WILL PLEASE YOU WITH HER COOKING, HER CLEANING, IN HER WAY OF EXPRESSING HER LOVE TOWARDS YOU, WAIT UPON THE LORD FOR HER. DON’T SETTLE FOR ONE THAT’S NICE TO YOU ONLY ‘CAUSE YOU HAVE A NICE CAR OR WHEN YOU HAVE CASH! YOU’LL END UP MARRYING HER Y VA A SER UNA FLOJA. SHE’S NOT GOING TO WANT TO CLEAN, SHE’S GOING TO MAX UP YOUR CREDIT CARDS, COOK FOR HERSELF ONLY, SHE IS GOING TO END UP LOVING BON BONS, DYE HER HAIR RED, AND THE ONLY TIME YOU WILL END UP EATING IS GOING TO BE ONCE A DAY WHICH WILL BE TOOTHPASTE IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH, RIGHT BEFORE YOU GO TO SELL SHOES TO SUPPORT YOUR LOVING WIFE THAT THE LORD “LEAD YOU TO MARRY”! DON’T LOWER YOUR STANDARDS, GUYS. MANY TEENS MARRY BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE LIVING IN SIN. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THEY FIND OUT IT WASN’T LOVE, BUT LUST. YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT YOURSELVES BEFORE THE LORD AND THROUGH HIS STRENGTH, YOU CAN RESIST ANY TEMPTATION AND YOUR WAIT, I PROMISE YOU, WILL BE WORTHWHILE! NOW CHECK THIS OUT: IF YOU’VE MADE THE MISTAKE OF COMMITTING A SEXUAL ACT, AS OF THIS
MOMENT, IF YOU ASK THE LORD TO FORGIVE YOU, I BET MY NECK THAT YOU ARE AS CLEAN AS WHEN YOU WERE BORN AND ARE A BORN AGAIN VIRGIN. 2 CORINTHIANS SAYS: “YOU ARE A NEW CREATION ONCE YOU COME TO CHRIST. ALL THINGS HAVE PASSED AND FROM NOW ON, ALL THINGS ARE
MADE NEW.” IF THAT IS KEEPING YOU FROM LIVING A VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE, TELL THE DEVIL, “THANK YOU!” THAT’S RIGHT, TELL HIM, “THANK YOU, SONSO!” OKAY, NOW, LET ME EXPLAIN SOMETHING FOR THE BIBLE SCHOLARS HERE THAT ARE LIKE, “YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO THANK THE DEVIL. THE DEVIL IS BAD, BOO HOO HOO.” YEAH, HE IS BAD AND NOTHING HE DOES IS TO HELP YOU, BUT TO KILL AND DESTROY YOU, BUT CHECK THIS OUT: WHEN CHRIST DIED, ALL OUR SINS WERE PAID FOR. WHEN WE MADE THE CONFESSION THAT JESUS CHRIST REIGNED IN OUR HEARTS AS OUR PERSONAL SAVIOR, OUR SINS WERE FORGIVEN. IF YOU FEEL OR THINK THAT YOU ARE NOT FORGIVEN, THEN THAT MEANS THAT YOU ARE. THE DEVIL IS A LIAR AND HE CANNOT TELL YOU THE TRUTH. THAT’S A GOOD CLUE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DELIVERED IN JESUS NAME! IF YOU STARTED OFF LIKE I DID, CLEANING BENCHES, VACUUMING, CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE IN THE CHURCH, BUT DESIRE TREMENDOUSLY TO SOMEDAY BE IN THE YOUTH STAFF, AIM HIGHER! LET YOUR GOAL BE BEING A YOUTH PASTOR! IF YOU SING, LET IT BE THAT YOU ARE HAVING MIRACLE SINGING CRUSADES WORLDWIDE. HOLY GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! IF YOU TEACH, LET YOUR HIGHEST STANDARD BE MET. DO NOT LOWER YOUR STANDARDS! HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE WHEN THINGS ARE ALL THE CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO BE. ESPECIALLY WHEN THINGS GO WRONG. THE DARKER THE NIGHT, THE BRIGHTER THE MORNING. ONE THING THAT WON’T LET YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL WILL BE IF YOU ARE DOUBLE MINDED. A DOUBLE MINDED PERSON CHANGES HIS OR HER MIND QUICKLY. YOU COULD HAVE ALL THESE PLANS, LIKE MAKING THE MOST AWESOME OUTSIDE YOUTH RALLY IN THE HISTORY OF THIS VALLEY, BUT ONCE EVERYONE IS READY, YOU SAY, “NAH, MEJOR NO.” DEVOLADA TE AGUITAS NADA MAS PORQUE NO VA A VENIR MARIA O PORQUE NO VA A VENIR PABLO. IS IT FOR MARIA OR PABLO OR IS IT FOR YOUR LORD? DO YOU THINK THAT IF YOU HAVE A SUDDEN FAILURE, GOD FORBID, MARIA AND PABLO ARE GOING TO HELP YOU ALL THE WAY THROUGH? NAMBE, ONCE THEY SEE THAT YOU ARE STUCK IN SOMETHING, SE VAN A PELAR! MANY TIMES, THE REASON WHY SOMEONE GIVES UP ON SOMETHING IT IS BECAUSE OF INSECURITY WITHIN ONESELF. INSECURITY COMES BECAUSE OF A PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE THAT HAS CAUSED YOU TO BE INSECURE AND REMAINS WITHIN YOU. TURN TO EPHESIANS 4:24. IT SAYS: “AND THAT YE PUT ON THE NEW MAN, IN WHICH AFTER GOD IS CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS.” VERSE 25 SAYS: “WHEREFORE, PUTTING AWAY LYING, SPEAK EVERY MAN TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOR: FOR WE ARE MEMBERS OF ONE.” YOU NEED TO BE HONEST TO ALL. IF YOU MADE A MISTAKE, AND THE OUTCOME CAUSED YOU TO BE WRONG, CONFESS IT, AND DON’T HIDE IT. IF YOU HAVE A HIDDEN SIN, DON’T DENY IT, BUT CONFESS IT AND BE SET FREE IN JESUS’ NAME. BE HONEST TO YOURSELF AND DON’T DECEIVE YOURSELF BY BEING JEALOUS. BE A FRUITFUL MEMBER, NOT A WEED. IN MY YARD WE HAVE THESE DIFFERENT ORANGE TREES. ONE GIVES SWEET ORANGES AND ONE GIVES SOUR. AND THEN, THERE IS ONE THAT GIVES BOTH, SWEET AND SOUR. THE SWEET ONES I EAT. THE SOUR ONES, I USE FOR LEMONADE, OR ORANGEADE. IN ORDER TO MAKE THE DRINK SWEET, I ADD SUGAR TO IT. I DISGUISE IT. DON’T BE THE DISGUISED DRINK. BE 100% PURE. BE THE MUSCLE PART OF THE BODY AND NOT THE FAT. ONCE YOU HAVE BECOME FRUITFUL, YOUR STANDARDS WILL BE A LOT EASIER TO BE MET. WHEN YOU GET TO THE POINT THAT CAN DO MORE FOR YOURSELF TO BE SANCTIFIED AND USED BY THE LORD, YOU WILL HAVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE AND SURE, YOU WILL GO THROUGH UPS AND DOWNS, BUT YOU WILL MEET YOUR STANDARDS AND SURPRESS THEM IN JESUS’ NAME! BENNY HINN STARTED OFF AS A CATCHER FOR KATHERINE COLEMAN, AND HIS DESIRE GREW FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. HE IS NOW WHAT HE IS AND HIS VISION INCREASES BY THE YEAR. JOHN HAGEE, PASTOR OF OVER 30,000 PEOPLE, STARTED OFF WITH A CONGREGATION OF 110. NOW HIS CHURCH IS KNOWN WORLDWIDE. TRINITY WORSHIP CENTER WAS KNOWN AS A SMALL CHURCH THAT KEPT ON CHANGING LOCATION AND IS NOW KNOWN AS THE HOME OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY REFRESHING AND A FOUNTAIN OF HOLY GHOST REVIVAL. NOW, LET THE VISION BE REBORN, CHURCH, ONCE MORE, AND RAISE UP YOUR STANDARDS!
