You Gotta Stand Up For Yourself

0:00 Brace yourself and buckle up. You are about to hear a life-changing, history-making, world-defining message from the New Birth Podcast. Tell everybody you know, things will never be the same. We belong for me to get to this moment. Would you look at the person beside you and tell them this word is for you. This word.

0:26 Amen. Amen. Turn to somebody who you don't know and tell them you are on the mind of God today. You are. You're on the mind of God today. Bless the Lord. And so all of the other things that we had laid out for service, I'll come back and get it on the back end. If you don't mind, I just want to go straight to the word of God right there. The atmosphere is set because of Friday. Amen. Friday our church was in eight hours of prayer. Amen. And so you are standing on holy ground. And heaven is receptive. And I'm believing that we are the beneficiaries of Friday night sacrifice. sacrifice. I don't know how you feel about it, but I believe prayer still works. I believe that prayer changes things and prayer will impact things. Would you join me in the New Testament book of James? New Testament book of James chapter four.

1:40 James chapter 4 verse number 7 James 4 verse 7 Once you found it, once you say, I got it. If you can't find it, say, Lord, help me. He helped you. It's on the screen. Thank you. That's right. James 4, verse number 7. I want us to read it together with uplifted voices. Everybody, come on, let's declare it. Submit yourselves then to God. Bless the Lord. Amen. I want us to read it again with a little bit more them vigor and vitality.

2:37 Come on, everybody. Submit yourselves. God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Bless the Lord. You may be seated. You may be seated in the presence of the Lord. James 4 and 7, submit yourself to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. I want to preach for a little while today using as a subject, you gotta stand up for yourself. You gotta stand up for yourself. Would you point that bony finger at your neighbor and tell them you gotta stand up for yourself? You've got to stand up for yourself. Recently, a dear member of our church who is talented, educated, gifted, was trying to navigate her way in corporate space. And she was the only minority in her department.

3:51 A pattern had developed that was particularly annoying. Every time a big project came around, her ideas would be dismissed, and a week or so later reintroduced by a Caucasian co-worker, and it would be hailed as genius. Having had enough, the next time it took place, rather than remaining silent, she calmly chimed in and said politely, I'm sure with all the demands that this job requires, your mind is completely stretched. But if the secretary would kindly read the notes from the meeting two weeks ago, you will be reminded that this idea was brokered by me and you decided to pass.

5:02 The entire executive staff looked like a deer in headlights and had to concede that in fact she was correct. She was immediately placed as lead for the project. She never shouted, slammed her papers, or stormed out. She just simply found the carriage to stand up for herself. I wish I could get every child of God to commit to memory a poem by Connie Webb. I wish that you could get your children to memorize it and all the more internalize it. The poem by Connie Webb is entitled, Stand Up for Yourself.

6:00 In the first stanza, it says, I will truly accept myself today. No more worrying about what you say. I will do what I really want to do. No longer will I be controlled by you.

6:21 Then in stanza three, she writes, no more saying yes just to please. I will say the word no with ease. Too many times I let other people lead. This is not the way for me to succeed. I have got to stand up for myself. That poem I provided for you on the screen, I want you to take a screenshot of it. I want you to share it with your children while they are out on Christmas and on holiday break. I want you to share it with them. I want them not just to memorize it. I want them to internalize this amazing poem by Connie Webb. I want our media team to show you not just the first stanza, but also the third stanza of that poem. so that your children, your God children, your grandchildren will understand their God-given right and responsibility to stand up for themselves.

7:29 This poem is not just apropos for adolescents. There are some adults who need this poem. They know it for themselves. Echoing the same sentiment but in a different cadence is the book of James. Chapter 4, when he gives the admonishment, resist the devil and he will flee. In other words, don't let him just run amok and push you around. You have to find the fortitude to fight back and not just take what the devil hands you. John 10 and 10 warns that the devil comes to steal, to kill and destroy. But that doesn't mean you got to just let him.

8:25 He's trying to steal your joy, trying to kill your dreams, trying to destroy your destiny. But you have got to fight back with everything that's in you. this has been a rough year for you and the enemy is beginning to believe you are a pushover. Not so. Today you get ready to square your shoulders and lift your head up and tell the enemy, I don't know who you think you're dealing with, but I am one of God's chosen, select and anointed vessels and I am not giving this up without a fight. I feel like I got some brawlers in here who've had to fight just to breathe. You got to fight just to get out of the bed. You got to fight just so you don't become bitter.

9:18 You got to fight just to keep your family in check. You got to fight just to stay saved. You got to fight just to forgive. You got to fight just to face your family this week. You got to fight just so you don't curse nobody out. You got to fight because you're running out of patience. You got to fight because folk think they can talk to you any kind of way. You got to fight because folk think just because you're nice that you're gullible. You got to fight because folk really believe because you didn't say nothing. You didn't know nothing. You got to fight because God got a call on your life. And I got some people in here that are saying, Rev, you got no idea. I'm tired of fighting. All my life I had to fight. Well, God said, this is the final round. if you knock this enemy out this time you ain't gotta deal with them the next time Resist the devil and he'll flee from you.

10:21 And I'm not talking about a caricature that's in horns and a red suit and a tail. You have to resist complacency. You have to resist resignation. You have to resist depression. You have to resist self-pity. You got to resist lowering your standards. You got to resist loving somebody who don't care about you. You got to resist accepting things the way that they are. You got to resist apologizing for stuff you ain't responsible for. You got to resist always taking the blame when they never give you the credit. You got to learn how to tell the devil no. It is only a slave that has to say yes to everything.

11:19 You got to draw a stick in the ground and let the enemy know. I'm rolling up my sleeves. I'm taking off my earrings. I'm putting Vaseline on my face. I'm kicking off these heels. I need somebody to hold my bag. because I'm getting ready to fight with everything that I got because I am sick of being up against the ropes. I am sick of just taking everything y'all dishing out. I'm sick of always being the bigger person. I'm sick of having to shrink myself so that you can handle your insecurity. I'm sick of always self-deflecting because you can't handle my brilliance. I'm sick of apologizing because you think I'm attractive. I'm sick of having to hide my genius and my brilliance. I'm sick of always trying to act like my favor is my fault.

12:19 When I didn't even pray for what God has given me, I got to fight back. A lot of us, a lot of us don't stand up for ourselves. Yeah, I'm talking to you. You don't stand up for yourself because you don't like conflict. You don't like being seen negatively. You are afraid of being disliked. and you don't want to be criticized. Newsflash. They already don't like you. They already criticizing you. They already see you negatively. You might as well live up to the reputation and let them know, yes, I'm hard to deal with because I am not a push-toe.

13:18 Today, the Holy Ghost is setting you free from being a hostage to other people's meaningless opinions. The only way you are going to get set free is you got to stand up for yourself. Rosa Parks stood up for herself by sitting down. Standing up for yourself does not have to be violent, but it has to be intentional. I need you to look at your neighbor and tell him this week, don't take nothing from nobody. Say it with your full chest. You better meet y'all. I ain't say this the week. I'm calling people out. This is the week. I'm going to check you about what you said slick. This is the week. No, I know you said it funny, but you was dead serious about what you were saying.

14:14 This is the week. I gotta stand up for myself. No more rehearsing what I should have said. No more regretting what I should have done. No more walking away acting as if I am a weakling. The word resist means I draw a line in the sand. This is it. In the words of Popeye, I done took all I can stand and I can't stand no more. This is the day the enemy has grieved to happen. He don't even understand how much energy and effort I put forth to be sweet and nice and understanding. But I found out y'all don't appreciate that.

15:07 So now I got to roll up my sleeves and check some people and let them know y'all ain't saying nothing. I'm from the south side of heaven. and I will pull you all the way together because I don't want you to think I'm easy to push around. Every time, hear this? Every time you don't stand up for yourself, your self-esteem drops a notch.

15:42 Your inaction causes you to despise yourself. You know you should be treated better. And when you permit misbehavior, you are putting up a sign that says to the world I don't think I'm worth it You have put yourself on sale. You have reduced who it is that God has called you to be. I am anointed and I am assertive. Y'all didn't hear what I just said. I'm anointed and I am assertive. Back in May, when Marjorie Taylor Greene was still on the Trump train, before she did inside trading and got $25 million, she thought that she could handle my sister Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett from Texas on live television.

16:46 And because she had the muscle of MAGA behind her, she tried to, in fact, be slick in the mouth and said, I think you would be able to see better if you didn't have those fake eyelashes on But my homegirl from Dallas, Texas wasn't playing that She said you bleach blonde bad built books about it And that's the energy you got to have when the devil comes after you. You got to tell the devil you old line banned from worship, evicted from heaven, fallen angel, powerless urchin, backbiting and divisive fool. You think I don't see who it is that you are? Satan, the blood of Jesus is against you.

17:44 You better start learning to talk back to the devil. You got to tell the devil, you can't have my family. You can't have my increase. You can't have my breakthrough. I plead the blood. I need somebody to shout out loud, this means war. Come on, I dare you to shout it out loud, this means war i'm fighting to get my family back i'm fighting to get my nephew free i'm fighting to get every chain off of my daughter i'm fighting for my mama to get healed i'm not gonna sit here and not say nothing the enemy been fighting dirty with me but he don't know i got it out the mud I don't mind fighting dirty. And then some of y'all better push back on the enemy and let the enemy know I'll do whatever it takes in order for my family to get set free.

18:46 Would you do me a favor? Let's fight back. You're depressed, but still dance. You're sad, but you still gotta shout. You in debt, but you'll scream anyway. Will you fight back in the enemy's face And let him know this is the last time. You may be seated. The enemy. The enemy has been working for the last 18 months. For the last 18 months, the enemy has been fighting to diminish your self-esteem so that he could annihilate your self-confidence.

19:35 Absence of self-confidence is what makes it hard for you to stand up for yourself, To be courageous, you got to find the strength of your inner fortitude. To say nobody told me the road was going to be easy, but I don't believe he's brought me this far to leave me now. After Moses died, the Lord told Joshua, be strong and courageous. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, I'm already giving it to you. I need somebody to just put your foot down right there. God said do you know what just happened in the realm of the spirit you just took over territory I dare you to just put your foot down right there do you know the real estate that just got opened up for you I dare you to put your foot down right there do you know the contracts you getting ready to sign put your foot down right there do you know the opportunities that are getting ready to come to your children Put your foot down right there.

20:42 Every place. Satan is nothing more than a bully. He has more bark than he has bite. And the only way to deal with a bully is to challenge him to his face. Oh, y'all ain't saying nothing. For months, for months, for months, President Trump had been vilifying the new mayor of New York until the mayor had enough authority to walk up in the president's office. Y'all ain't saying nothing and call him a fascist to his face. The enemy don't know. I'm not one of them pushover believers. I will walk into the enemy's camp and I'm leaving out with everything that he's told.

21:37 I ain't scared of nobody. Y'all ain't saying nothing. Look at your neighbor and say, do you know how many people sent me to hell? They don't know I was going to get somebody free. When I went there, I was going to get somebody delivered and going to get somebody healed. You got to be strong enough to go into enemy's camp and face him right where he is. But the thing that you got to learn, here it is, is that your job, I need somebody to hear this, your job is not to match the energy of your enemy. Yeah, we ain't matching energy around here. Yeah, you on a whole different frequency.

22:34 They get loud. You remain steady. When they lie, stick to the truth. Come on, y'all ain't saying nothing in here. They want you to sit down, be quiet, and go away, but you are a revolutionary, so you are called to resistance. When you are under pressure, you don't even flinch, and you don't sweat, and you don't get nervous. Because watch this, you ain't the one that's in the wrong. You calling them into accountability. I can't hear nobody in here. I'm telling you, your coworkers about to be sick of you because they don't know what happened to you over the weekend. You ain't the same person they saw Friday at 5 o'clock. They don't understand.

23:26 I am fearfully and wonderfully made. You have got to fight back. I want you to be seated. I'm almost finished. You got to fight back. You got to push back.

23:47 You got to stand up for yourself. You have no idea what the people on your row have had to endure. And God said they've been dealing with it unnecessarily. Because they lost their push back. Hallelujah. But God says today you get ready to flex on some people. Hallelujah. That the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. but they're mighty under God for the pulling down of stronghold. Do you know what's getting ready to be destroyed in the next four minutes? The enemy was hoping you was going to roll over and play dead and sit in the fetal position with your thumb in your mouth and alcohol on your breath, but they don't understand whatsoever I loose in heaven shall be loosed in the earth and whatever I bind in earth shall be bound in.

24:49 Hallelujah. Do you understand? Hallelujah. That God is breaking chains, but today I'm breaking a cycle. He was just waiting for me to lift up my voice and let the enemy know what I ain't gonna stand for not another day in my life. And the reason why I got this level of conviction is not because I'm mad. It's because I done already lived through it before. And I promised myself I ain't ever going to live like that again. God, I can't hear nobody in here. Do you know what it takes just for you to pull yourself together? You ought to be proud of you and the you that you have become. because the old you would be in the bed right now wallowing in self-pity. The old you would need a drink to take an air jar. The old you would be bitter and would shrink like a violin.

25:47 The devil should have killed you before you got in church today. But because you get ready to live, y'all ain't liking this. This ain't for no car. This ain't for no turkey. This ain't for no chicken. I'm shouting because I'm trying to get my life back. I'm trying to get who I'm supposed to be back. I'm fighting to get my dignity and my peace and my joy back. God, make me who I was before I broke down. Make me who I was before the divorce. Make me who I was before I lost my job. Give me my fight back. I like what James says. He says something, I am afraid you ignored or overlooked.

26:47 He didn't even say you have to defeat him. He said resist him. Oh my God. when you resist him, hallelujah, he's caught just from your resistance. God, I hope somebody can hear what I'm trying to tell you. Is that when you resist the enemy, there is so much power in your resistance that the enemy can't walk away. God, help me. he's got to run away. Hallelujah. Because he understand he got to move on quickly because he's not dealing with a run-of-the-mill believer. I need y'all to do something because something crazy is getting ready to happen.

27:45 I know y'all didn't see where I was going, but I came today because this morning I'm getting ready to put the enemy on the run. When I give God glory, I'm not talking about what's coming to you. When I give God glory, I'm telling you what's getting ready to run away from you. Something powerful is getting ready to happen. I feel bad for the pushover saints that are sitting on your own. But God said, when you give me glory, it is a defiant act of resistance. He said, when you shout today, every foul, negative, nasty, perverse, demonic spirit that is in your house is getting ready to run out of your house. If you resist the devil. y'all didn't hear what I just said I said every demonic principality that has taken a residence in your house is getting ready to run out of your house I feel glory getting ready to come God said when you give me glory every impurity every disease every infection every abnormal growth is getting ready to run out of your body you want to shout right now let the sick say I am here let the poor say I am rich I need a praiser in here he said if you resist every choke on the devil put on your son is running out of here I'm not running from the devil I'm chasing after him if anybody asks you what's the matter with me tell them I'm saved I'm sanctified and I'm running for my life

29:51 Oh I'm almost finished. I'm almost finished. I'm almost finished. I need you to take that neighbor by the hand. Something crazy is getting ready to happen. Resist the devil. And he gonna flee from you. Keep every aisle open. I feel like some runners are coming. Watch this. He said, when you give me glory, you ain't gotta run after nothing. Another day in your life, be ye steadfast. unmovable always abounding knowing that your labor is not in vain pull on that neighbor and say neighbor you ain't got to move today we are about to resist the devil and when you shout it everything that's been chasing your family is going on the run When you give him a holler, everything you've been dealing with is under your feet.

31:11 When you scream our lives, every devil, every warlock, every witch is on the run. You are the cry that I'm chasing generational curses to get out of my panic. No more alcoholism. No more drug addiction. No more incest. No more abuse. Put the devil on the rock. Chase him. Hallelujah. I said chase him. I told you to take that neighbor's hand. You didn't know why I told you. Because one can chase a thousand. But two will put thousands of thousands. But two will put thousands of fire Three for your neighbor Like the devil Put them on the run Get them out your marriage Get them out of your house Get them out of your children Get them out of your computer Put the devil on the run You

32:33 new phone yeah yeah Hey, hey, hey, hey. in my life

33:27 lift up that hand Softly musicians. Every year in Spain, I want that hand lifted. Every year in fame they have a bull run. where the bulls are running through the streets of Spain. Hallelujah. God said I needed you to see a picture of what your house looks like right now. I'm running demons out of your house. God, I can't hear nobody in here. Ain't going to be no spirit of confusion this holiday season, eh?

34:24 Ain't nobody stepping up in this house with a spirit of divisiveness. I'm putting demons on the run. That hand is lifted. I want to pray for you. It says in no uncertain terms, if you resist him, then the devil will take off running. I pray that God will give you the confidence that as of this day forward, you'll stand up for yourself.

35:06 But you ain't gonna roll over and play dead. You're gonna fight for what's rightfully yours. You have zero tolerance for disrespect. Come on, somebody needed to hear that word today. You got zero tolerance for disrespect. I don't take that from people I love. I sure ain't taking it from you. Zero tolerance for disrespect. I hope you are energized that you don't need an energy drink. What you just heard should have you off and running, chasing your dreams, pursuing your purpose, and answering your call. If this was a blessing, share it with somebody else. Don't be selfish. This is what God gave you so that you can be a blessing to somebody who needs it worse.

36:02 Thank you.