Give Me 14 Minutes and I'll Show You Who to Cut Off Immediately

Maybe you've been feeling uncomfortable around certain people in your life, even those who feel close to you. But deep down, you've had this sense that you need to start creating some distance, and you've been looking for confirmation from the Holy Spirit. So give me a few minutes, and I believe that you'll get that confirmation from the Holy Spirit as we look to God's word. The first kind of relationship that the Holy Spirit will warn you about are the distractors. These are people who pull you from your purpose. They fill your life with the meaningless. Now here, I need to pause because as we go through these different kinds of relationships that the Holy Spirit's warning you about, it'll be important that you apply some balance. So when I talk about the distractors, I'm not talking about people who will relax with you. You vacation with some friends, you maybe go out to eat with some friends, maybe you just spend some time talking and laughing. There's nothing wrong with that. Everybody needs some recreation. Everybody needs relaxation. Everybody needs fellowship, where they're just enjoying time with people. It doesn't always have to be busy, busy, busy, productive, productive, productive. In fact, I would argue that recreation, rest, relaxation, all of that can actually help you be more productive overall. But I'm talking about those friends who get you to think only in terms of the here and now. In other words, all they care about is entertainment, who's hanging out where, who's doing what. And if you're not careful, you'll actually end up wasting years of your life. And before you know it, you'll look up and you realize that so much time has gone by, and you haven't even had a chance really to apply yourself to fulfill the destiny that God has placed in your life. Look at what Ephesians says, watch this, Ephesians 5:15. So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. You have to learn to discipline yourself and focus your mind That you might maximize the time and the energy that God has given to you. Life is sacred. God's given to you as a gift. When he created you, he created you for a purpose. He created you with a plan. He put gifts inside of you, abilities, and he wants you to make use of that which he's deposited in you. So if the people you're hanging around oversleep, overeat, never take care of their health, never set any goals, they're always late, their schedule's chaotic, they're always focused more so on what is fun rather than what is productive, then you need to hear that warning from the Holy Spirit. You'll notice that as you begin to grow, and as you begin to improve, and as you begin to apply yourself to fulfill the destiny for your life, you'll notice that certain people around you are gonna be uncomfortable with that. Maybe you have certain health goals, financial goals, ministry goals, business goals, Maybe you wanna get married, maybe you wanna have kids, whatever the goal may be, you just wanna grow as a person. And here's what you're gonna notice that's gonna start happening, is that the individuals around you are gonna begin to become uncomfortable with your growth. Why? Because the application of your skills, the giving of yourself to the bettering of yourself, the focus that you have reminds them of the focus that they lack. The goals that you set and the goals that you actually accomplish remind them of the goals that they've forgotten about, and therefore the goals that they haven't accomplished. So rather than being inspired by you, they become jealous of you and try to pull you down and keep you on their level. Why? Because they want to keep their surroundings comfortable. People who lack purpose don't like change, because that change reminds them that they're running out of time. And so they try to keep you the same. They try to keep you mediocre. Keep your eyes on the Lord. Keep your eyes on the divine dreams that God has gifted to you. Keep your eyes on your divine purpose. Keep your eyes on becoming more like Jesus. Keep your eyes on loving people around you like Jesus loved you. And set aside those relationships that are causing you to be so distracted that you feel like you're doing nothing but wasting time. It's not wrong of you. To outgrow people. Don't feel guilty for improving yourself. Don't feel guilty for pursuing everything that God has for you. Number 2, oh, please be careful of this one, the takers. Okay, this one, listen, especially if you're compassionate, especially if you have a generous nature, especially if you're empathetic, you're gonna be susceptible to people like this. Now I'm gonna say something that Some might not like, but you need to hear it anyway. There is no such thing as a 50/50 relationship. Each side needs to give 100% as they're able. Having said that, there will be no relationship where it is exactly equal. In any friendship, marriage, parent relationship, child relationship, sibling relationship, it doesn't matter, you name it, in any relationship, there will always be just a little bit of off balance. In other words, there'll be someone who initiates a little more, gives a little more, and then the other person doesn't necessarily do as much. Now that's not right, but that's just the way it is. Why? Because you can't quantify these things. There's no way to, I mean, unless you wanna get really technical with it and write everything down on a piece of paper, here's how much time I invested in you, here's how much time I want you to invest in me, here's how much money I gave you, here's how much money I want you to give me, because it doesn't work that way because— Different people bring different things to the relationship, and it's just not possible to track it in such a tedious and systematic way. So what are we left with? We're left with just recognizing that we ought to do our best to pour into people as they pour into us and keep no records after that. Having said that, you will notice that there are certain relationships where you rarely ever see them putting back in. Where if you were to stop calling them, if you were to stop texting them, you'd never hear from them again. Or maybe you notice that they're constantly asking you for money. Hey, I need to borrow some cash. Maybe that's the only time they actually call you is 'cause they need money. Or maybe the only time that they call you is when they're feeling down and they need someone to talk to, so they're using you as an emotional crutch. Look, we ought to be there for people, But some people want help, others just want attention, and they mistake that attention for help. They think that by getting attention, feeling better in that moment, that that is what's actually helping them. And they're unwilling to do the work and to apply the word in a way that will forever set them free from those emotional issues that cause them to have to lean on other people. And in that way, they're trying to get you to be a replacement for God in their life, and you become their idol. Except as an idol, you can't do for them everything they want, and you'll never meet their expectations. So what ends up happening is this. You pour in, you pour in, you pour in, they never pour in themselves. In fact, in many instances, they'll make you feel guilty, feeling like you're not doing enough when you're already doing everything that you can. It's like pouring water into a cup that has no bottom. The water will just go right through. And then when they're unfulfilled, they'll turn around and blame you. Why? Because they've recognized that they can manipulate you in that way, because they've taken advantage of your compassion. They've taken advantage of your empathy. They've taken advantage of your kindness. And they'll use that to let you, to cause you to live in guilt, to where you're constantly straining yourself and still not feeling like you're doing enough. And that's just something that they use as a manipulation tactic. And they may not even know that they're doing that. Maybe someone did that to you. They came to you and they said, oh, this past relationship was just so— everyone always abandoned me, abandons me. Everyone always just, they always misunderstand me. And it's true. It may be true. Maybe it is true that you're abandoned sometimes. Maybe it is true that you're misunderstood, but that's true of all of us. But then they use that, they weaponize their pain against you to touch on your guilt, to cause you to function in a way where you're straining yourself constantly Well, they just sit back and take all the benefits. And to keep you in that loop, they freak out when you challenge them on it. Galatians 6:2-3, share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Share each other's burdens. Do they apologize when they're wrong? Do they ask how you're doing? Do they initiate? The Holy Spirit is speaking of your value. You don't value yourself enough. And the Holy Spirit is convicting you concerning your identity. Think about how much the Holy Spirit loves you. Think about how valuable you are to God. Shouldn't others value you the same? Number 3, the sinful. Now, I'm just gonna come right out and say it here. If you're in a romantic relationship and you are not married, there should be no sexual activity. That is sin. It is wrong. There's no excuse for it, biblically speaking. And if you're claiming to be a Christian, hear me now, if you claim to be a Christian, and you are intentionally living this lifestyle of sin, then there's something very wrong there, very wrong indeed. And if there's no conviction of the Holy Spirit, you need to check your heart. So those romantic relationships that pull you into sexual sin, sexual compromise, and I'm not just talking about what we would all think is actual sexual sin. I'm talking about all of the ways in which you gratify your sexual nature in that relationship, that there should be no hint of sexual immorality in a romantic relationship before marriage. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 says this, run from sexual sin. No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does, for sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body, period. This is biblical, guys. You have to ask yourself, does this person actually intend on marrying you? Or are they just pretending to be committed so they can get sexual gratification out of you? Because what needs to happen is there has to be this deep repentance. Either you need to draw a line and stop the sexual sin, or you need to cut off that relationship. I'm serious. Now, when you hear this, there's gonna be this debate in your mind, this back and forth. Well, maybe, you know, if we just work through this or we make it to marriage, or there's all these compromises you're gonna be trying to allow yourself to make. There's all these negotiations we have with God. And here's the reality. If that's what you're doing internally right now, that's just proof to you that the Holy Spirit's already spoken to you. And so either you cease the sexual sin and you both agree to that, draw that line and stop, or you have to cut that relationship off for the sake of your soul, for the sake of your future, for the sake of your destiny in God, you need to recalibrate immediately. And I'm not just talking about sexual sin. That's just probably the biggest one that people think of when I talk about sinful relationships. But you know, outside of romantic partners, People can influence you to sin in all sorts of different ways. They can influence you to live lifestyles of drunkenness. They can influence you to form an addiction, or maybe they enable an addiction that you've already battled with. Doing drugs, smoking weed, all of these things that you know you ought not to be doing. And so the people around you who downplay your sin, oh, it's not a big deal, don't worry about that. It's okay, we have freedom in Christ. They excuse these things. These are the people you have to cut off. It's chaotic. There's always drama around them, never peace. You never feel peace. That's the Holy Spirit warning you. Red flashing lights, warning, warning, warning. The Holy Spirit is speaking to you. Don't ignore Him. 2 Corinthians 6:14 declares, don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? This is not saying, don't have a conversation with unbelievers. How are you ever supposed to share the gospel with someone if that's the case? Rather, what this is speaking of is that influence that someone has in your life through a close connection that you've allowed them to have with you. If that is causing you to stumble, if that is causing you to compromise, if that is causing you to take your eyes off the things of God, it's time to cut it off. Father, I pray that you would give your people discernment to see those relationships that need to go and the boldness to sever them immediately. Lord, I pray that You would help them to create healthy boundaries and distance where that is needed. I give You the praise and the glory and the honor. Type it in the comment section if you believe it, type a big amen. Well, church, it's time that we step it up. The harvest is ready. This is a historic opportunity right now. People, listen, people are more open to the gospel now than ever before. I'm seeing it. I'm seeing it as I travel. I'm seeing it as I go to different churches. It's here. Revival is now. So we have to now seize this opportunity. Nothing's more important. If you wanna help us go and win the soul of a generation, because now is the time, this is the hour of great salvation, then go right now to davidhernandezministries.com/partner. Listen, just go and open the page. Go and look and see how your gift can actually make a difference. You can also give a single gift by going to davidhernandezministries.com/donate. But whatever you do, single or monthly, large or small, do your best. Sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. Growth is happening. I need your help to keep up with it. We don't wanna miss the opportunity. Now, if you enjoyed this teaching, then you're going to love If You See These Signs, They were sent by God. In that teaching, I show you signs that you should connect with people.