JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU!
IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU
TODAY. IF YOU'RE EVER IN
OUR AREA, PLEASE STOP BY
AND BE A PART OF ONE OF
OUR SERVICES. I PROMISE YOU
WE'LL MAKE YOU FEEL RIGHT
AT HOME.
I HOPE YOU'LL STAY CONNECTED
WITH US DURING THE WEEK.
WE HAVE A DAILY PODCAST
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD.
OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL; WATCH
THE MESSAGES ANYTIME.
OR YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON
SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE'LL KEEP YOU ENCOURAGED
AND INSPIRED.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR TUNING
IN. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
COMING OUT IN PERSON.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THIS LITTLE
GIRL. SHE WAS SITTING ON
HER GRANDFATHER'S LAP,
AND SHE NOTICED HOW
WRINKLED HIS FACE WAS.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIS AND
HERS, SHE SAID, "GRANDDADDY,
DID GOD MAKE YOU?"
HE KIND OF LAUGHED AND SAID,
"YES HONEY, HE MADE ME A
LONG TIME AGO."
SHE THEN ASKED, "DID GOD
MAKE ME?"
HE SAID, "YES, HE MADE YOU
JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO."
SHE THOUGHT ABOUT IT A
MINUTE AND SAID,
"GRANDDADDY, GOD'S GETTING
BETTER, ISN'T HE?"
(LAUGHTER)
SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT.
THIS IS MY BIBLE.
I AM WHAT IT SAYS I AM.
I HAVE WHAT IT SAYS I HAVE.
I CAN DO WHAT IT SAYS I CAN
DO. TODAY, I WILL BE TAUGHT
THE WORD OF GOD.
I BOLDLY CONFESS: MY MIND
IS ALERT. MY HEART IS
RECEPTIVE. I WILL NEVER
BE THE SAME IN JESUS'
NAME. GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU
TODAY ABOUT DISCOVER
YOUR GREATNESS.
SAUL WAS THE LEADER OF
ISRAEL.
FOR FORTY DAYS A GIANT NAMED
GOLIATH CAME OUT IN THE
MORNING AND THE EVENING
TO TAUNT THE ISRAELITES.
HIS SIZE AND STRENGTH,
COUPLED WITH HIS
INTIMIDATING THREATS
PARALYZED THE ISRAELI ARMY.
THAT IS, UNTIL A TEENAGER
NAMED DAVID SHOWED UP TO
BRING LUNCH TO HIS BROTHERS.
WHEN HE HEARD THE INSULTS
FROM GOLIATH AND SAW THE
SOLDIERS RUNNING IN FEAR,
SOMETHING ROSE UP ON THE
INSIDE.
HE SAID, "WHO IS THIS
UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE,
THAT HE WOULD DEFY THE
ARMIES OF THE LIVING GOD."
HE WENT OUT TO FACE GOLIATH,
NOT WEARING ANY ARMOR, STILL
DRESSED AS A SHEPHERD, FROM
TAKING CARE OF HIS FATHER'S
SHEEP. NOT WITH A SWORD OR
A SPEAR, BUT WITH A
SLING SHOT THAT HE HAD
USED TO KEEP LIONS AND
BEARS FROM HIS SHEEP.
HE PICKED UP FIVE SMOOTH
STONES AND RAN TOWARD
THE GIANT.
SAUL AND HIS MEN WERE
WATCHING THIS DRAMA PLAY OUT
INTENTLY, CERTAIN THAT DAVID
WAS ABOUT TO BE CRUSHED.
BUT DAVID SLUNG A ROCK WITH
SUCH SKILL AND SUCH FORCE,
IT HIT GOLIATH IN THE
FOREHEAD AND KNOCKED HIM
UNCONSCIOUS. SAUL STOOD
THERE IN DISBELIEF.
HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND IT.
HOW DID DAVID LEARN TO
FIGHT LIKE A WARRIOR?
WHERE DID HE LEARN TO SPEAK
SO POWERFULLY THAT HE HAD
BOTH CAMPS, THE ISRAELIS AND
THE PHILISTINES SPELL BOUND.
WHERE DID HE GET THIS
CONFIDENCE, THIS LEADERSHIP,
WHO TRAINED HIM?
HE WENT OVER TO DAVID AND
DIDN'T SAY, "WOW,
CONGRATULATIONS, THAT WAS
SO AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR
STEPPING UP."
HE SAID, "DAVID, TELL ME
ABOUT YOUR FATHER."
HE WAS SAYING, "WHERE DO
YOU COME FROM?
HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?
YOU MUST HAVE AN INCREDIBLE
FATHER."
DAVID SAID, "HIS NAME IS
JESSE, WE LIVE IN THE
CITY OF BETHLEHEM."
I CAN IMAGINE SAUL TELLING
AN ASSISTANT, "FIND OUT
ABOUT JESSE, I WANT TO KNOW
EVERYTHING."
THE RESEARCH COMES BACK.
"HE'S A SHEPHERD.
HE COMES FROM AN ORDINARY
FAMILY. HE LIVES IN A
TYPICAL HOUSE. SHOPS AT
WALMART, EATS CHICK FIL A,
WATCHES THE KARDASHIANS.
THERE'S NOTHING SIGNIFICANT
ABOUT HIM."
SAUL WAS PERPLEXED.
"HOW COULD THIS TEENAGER
HAVE SUCH GREATNESS IN HIM,
HOW COULD HE RISE UP AND
BECOME A HERO WHEN HE COMES
FROM AN AVERAGE FAMILY?"
THE REASON SAUL WAS CONFUSED
WAS DAVID DIDN'T GIVE HIM
THE WHOLE ANSWER.
HE TOLD HIM ABOUT JESSE,
WHO HIS NATURAL FATHER WAS
BUT HE DIDN'T TELL HIM
ABOUT HIS HEAVENLY FATHER.
YOUR GREATNESS, YOUR
COURAGE, THE HERO IN YOU,
IT DOESN'T COME FROM YOUR
NATURAL FATHER.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "EVERY
GOOD GIFT COMES FROM YOUR
FATHER IN HEAVEN ABOVE."
JESSE WAS A GOOD FATHER;
HE DID HIS BEST TO CARE
FOR HIS FAMILY.
HE HAD DAVID TAKE LUNCH
TO HIS BROTHERS.
HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THEY WERE OKAY.
BUT LIKE ANY OF US,
JESSE HAD SHORTCOMINGS.
HE HAD LIMITATIONS.
HE DIDN'T SPEAK FAITH INTO
DAVID.
HE DIDN'T ENCOURAGE HIM
TO GO AFTER HIS DREAMS.
WHEN THE PROPHET SAMUEL
SHOWED UP AT HIS HOUSE
TO ANOINT THE NEXT KING OF
ISRAEL, JESSE DIDN'T BRING
DAVID IN FROM THE SHEPHERD'S
FIELDS.
HE DIDN'T THINK DAVID WAS
KING MATERIAL.
HE THOUGHT, "DAVID, HE'S TOO
SMALL, TOO YOUNG, HE'S NOT
THAT TALENTED, HE'LL NEVER
DO ANYTHING GREAT."
HE DISCOUNTED DAVID.
THE GOOD NEWS IS PEOPLE
DON'T DETERMINE YOUR
DESTINY.
YOUR GIFTS, YOUR TALENTS,
YOUR POTENTIAL, THE KING IN
YOU, IT COMES FROM YOUR
HEAVENLY FATHER.
THAT'S WHY SAUL WAS
CONFUSED.
HE SAW GREATNESS IN DAVID,
HE KNEW THERE WAS A KING IN
HIM, A WORLD CHANGER.
HE THOUGHT, "AM I MISSING
SOMETHING? ISN'T THIS
JESSE'S SON? DOESN'T HE
COME FROM AN AVERAGE
FAMILY? THEY'VE NEVER DONE
ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT."
HERE'S THE KEY, YOU COME
THROUGH YOUR FATHER, BUT
YOU COME FROM ALMIGHTY GOD.
HE KNEW YOU BEFORE YOU WERE
FORMED IN YOUR MOTHER'S
WOMB.
YOU MAY HAVE HAD A FATHER
LIKE JESSE THAT COULDN'T SEE
YOUR POTENTIAL.
THAT DIDN'T ENCOURAGE YOU TO
DREAM BIG; TO PURSUE WHAT
GOD PUT IN YOUR HEART.
IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE
LIMITED; LIKE DAVID, YOU
WERE LEFT OUT IN THE FIELD.
NO, GOD KNOWS HOW TO BRING
YOU IN.
HE KNOWS HOW TO CAUSE THE
GIFTS HE PUT IN YOU TO COME
OUT, HOW TO MAKE YOU SHINE.
YOUR TIME IS COMING.
YOU'RE GOING TO GO FURTHER
THAN PEOPLE THOUGHT, YOU'RE
GOING TO ACCOMPLISH DREAMS
BIGGER THAN THEY'VE
IMAGINED.
THERE WILL BE PEOPLE LIKE
SAUL, IN DISBELIEF,
THINKING, "HOW DID YOU
DEFEAT THAT GIANT, HOW COULD
YOU START THAT BUSINESS, HOW
COULD YOU GET THE COMPAQ
CENTER, HOW COULD YOU LEAD
YOUR COMPANY IN SALES?"
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO
ACCOMPLISH IS NOT GOING TO
MATCH WHERE YOU'VE COME
FROM.
NOW, YOU MAY HAVE HAD A
GREAT FAMILY, PEOPLE THAT
HAVE EXCELLED AND DONE BIG
THINGS BUT WHAT GOD HAS FOR
YOU IS GREATER.
HE WANTS EVERY GENERATION TO
INCREASE.
I'M PROUD TO BE THE SON OF
JOHN OSTEEN, HE WAS AN
AWESOME FATHER, BUT I
REALIZE, I'M NOT JUST JOHN'S
SON, I'M A SON OF THE MOST
HIGH GOD.
YES, WE CELEBRATE OUR
FATHERS, WE HONOR THEM, BUT
I'M SAYING DON'T STOP THERE.
RECOGNIZE THE GIFTS, THE
COURAGE, THE CREATIVITY, THE
GREATNESS IT COMES FROM YOUR
HEAVENLY FATHER.
DON'T DISCOUNT YOURSELF,
DON'T COME UP WITH EXCUSES
TO SETTLE.
"I'VE GONE AS FAR AS ANYONE
IN MY FAMILY.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO
HELP ME, MY FATHER WASN'T
AROUND."
YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WAS
THERE THE WHOLE TIME.
HE'S BEEN WATCHING OVER YOU
EVEN BEFORE YOU WERE BORN.
WHAT HE STARTED HE'S GOING
TO FINISH.
THERE ARE GIFTS AND TALENTS
IN YOU, HE'S ABOUT TO BRING
OUT.
YOU'RE GOING TO STEP INTO A
NEW BOLDNESS, CONFIDENCE,
SEE FAVOR AND INCREASE THAT
YOUR FAMILY HAS NEVER SEEN.
MY FATHER'S PARENTS, MY
GRANDPARENTS, THEY WERE VERY
GOOD PEOPLE.
THEY WERE LOVING AND KIND,
BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH
VISION.
THEY LOST EVERYTHING DURING
THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
THEY WERE VERY POOR,
STRUGGLED TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
MY FATHER WENT TO SCHOOL
WITH HOLES IN HIS SHOES AND
HOLES IN HIS PANTS.
HE HAD TO DROP OUT OF HIGH
SCHOOL TO WORK ON THE FARM.
IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS
LIMITED, THAT HIS DESTINY
WAS TO JUST SURVIVE.
IT'S ALL HE HAD SEEN GROWING
UP.
BUT AT SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD,
HE WAS WALKING HOME FROM A
NIGHT CLUB AT TWO O'CLOCK IN
THE MORNING.
HE LOOKED UP AT THE STARS
AND BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT GOD
AND WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO
WITH HIS LIFE.
HE WASN'T RAISED WITH ANY
KIND OF FAITH.
HE'D NEVER BEEN TO CHURCH
BUT THAT NIGHT HE FELT A
SENSE OF PURPOSE, HE KNEW HE
WAS MADE FOR MORE.
THE NEXT MORNING, HE WENT TO
CHURCH WITH A FRIEND AND
GAVE HIS LIFE TO CHRIST.
SOMETHING CAME ALIVE ON THE
INSIDE.
HE FELT GOD CALLING HIM TO
BECOME A PASTOR.
NOBODY IN HIS FAMILY HAD ANY
KIND OF TRAINING FOR
MINISTRY, NO BACKGROUND OF
PASTORS OR LEADERSHIP.
THEY WERE FARMERS.
HE TOLD HIS PARENTS HE WAS
GOING TO LEAVE THE FARM AND
GO OUT AND START
MINISTERING.
THEY SAID, "JOHN, YOU BETTER
STAY HERE WITH US.
ALL YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IS
WORK ON A FARM.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET OUT
THERE AND FAIL."
THEY MEANT WELL, THEY WERE
TRYING TO PROTECT HIM BUT
LIKE JESSE, THEY COULDN'T
SEE HIS POTENTIAL.
THEY COULDN'T SEE HIS
GREATNESS.
THEY THOUGHT, "WE'RE POOR,
ALL WE KNOW HOW TO DO IS
FARM, THAT'S OUR SON, WE
RAISED HIM, THAT'S ALL HE
KNOWS HOW TO DO."
THEY DIDN'T REALIZE,
GREATNESS DOESN'T COME FROM
PEOPLE IT COMES FROM GOD.
YES, OUR FATHERS, OUR
NATURAL FATHERS, OUR FAMILY;
THEY INFLUENCE US, THEY
TEACH US WHAT THEY KNOW, BUT
YOUR GIFTS, TALENTS,
COURAGE, FAVOR, IT COMES
FROM YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
YOU ARE NOT LIMITED BY WHAT
PEOPLE DIDN'T GIVE YOU.
MY FATHER HAD TO HITCH HIKE,
BUT HE LEFT HOME AND STARTED
MINISTERING IN THE PRISONS;
IN THE SENIOR CITIZENS
HOMES.
DOORS STARTED OPENING.
HE WAS ABLE TO GO BACK AND
FINISH HIGH SCHOOL.
HE WENT TO SEMINARY,
PASTORED GREAT CHURCHES.
STARTED LAKEWOOD, PASTORED
HERE FOR ALMOST FORTY YEARS.
ALONG THE WAY, I CAN HEAR
SOMEONE ASKING, "WHOSE SON
IS THAT?
HE SURE IS TALENTED, HE'S
SUCH A GREAT SPEAKER, A
GIFTED LEADER, IMPACTING SO
MANY PEOPLE."
WHEN THEY FOUND OUT WHO HIS
PARENTS WERE, THEY THOUGHT,
"HOW COULD THAT BE?
THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE."
IT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE ONLY
LOOKING AT IT IN THE
NATURAL.
EVERY GOOD GIFT COMES FROM
YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
WHAT HE'S DESTINED FOR YOUR
LIFE, IS NOT LIMITED BY WHAT
KIND OF NATURAL FATHER YOU
HAD.
JESSE COULDN'T SEE THE
GREATNESS IN DAVID, MY
GRANDFATHER COULDN'T SEE THE
GREATNESS IN MY FATHER.
BUT JUST BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T
SEE IT, THAT DIDN'T STOP IT
FROM COMING TO PASS.
I HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT
FATHER LIKE I DID, LOVING,
KIND, EMPOWERING.
A FATHER THAT PUSHED YOU
FURTHER AND HELPED YOU TO BE
CONFIDENT AND SECURE.
BUT EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T,
YOU'RE STILL GOING TO DO
GREAT THINGS.
YOU'RE STILL GOING TO LEAVE
YOUR MARK.
MAYBE YOUR FATHER WAS LIKE
JESSE, HE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN
YOU.
OR HE WASN'T AROUND, HE
TALKED DOWN TO YOU.
WHEN YOU THINK OF YOUR
FATHER IT'S NOT A FOND
MEMORY, IT'S A SOURCE OF
PAIN AND DISAPPOINTMENT.
PERHAPS HE WAS LIKE MY
FATHER'S DAD, HE MEANT WELL
BUT HE TOLD MY FATHER WHAT
HE COULDN'T ACCOMPLISH AND
HOW HE WAS GOING TO FAIL.
WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE IS
THAT IS NOT GOING TO STOP
YOUR DESTINY.
YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER
OVERRIDES WHAT PEOPLE DO.
YOUR GREATNESS DOESN'T COME
FROM YOUR NATURAL BLOODLINE,
FROM YOUR LINEAGE, IT COMES
FROM YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.
WHAT HE'S SPOKEN OVER YOUR
LIFE WILL COME TO PASS.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FATHER.
"WELL, HE WAS SO BUSY, JOEL,
HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME FOR ME,
HE DISCOURAGED ME, HE WAS
LOVING BUT, MAN, HE HAD SOME
ROUGH EDGES."
I DON'T MEAN THAT FATHER.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR HEAVENLY
FATHER.
HE SPOKE WORLDS INTO
EXISTENCE.
HE FLUNG STARS INTO SPACE.
HE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY
MADE YOU.
HE SAID YOU'RE A
MASTERPIECE.
HE'S EQUIPPED YOU, EMPOWERED
YOU, AND ANOINTED YOU.
HE PUT SEEDS OF GREATNESS IN
YOU.
HE CALLS YOU A HISTORY
MAKER, A GIANT KILLER, A
WORLD CHANGER.
WHETHER YOUR NATURAL FATHER
WAS GREAT OR NOT SO GREAT,
WHETHER YOU HAVE FOND
MEMORIES OR NOT SO FOND
MEMORIES, WHEN YOU RECOGNIZE
WHO YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS,
THAT HE'S THE GIVER OF ALL
GOOD GIFTS.
THAT MEANS IF YOUR FATHER
WAS LOVING, KIND, TALENTED,
GENEROUS, THAT ALL CAME FROM
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
MAYBE IT WAS JUST THE
OPPOSITE, THEN DESPITE
WHAT'S IN YOUR NATURAL
BLOODLINE, DESPITE THE
DYSFUNCTION, THE LIMITATION,
YOU'LL BE THE EXCEPTION.
YOU'LL DEFEAT GIANTS, YOU'LL
ACCOMPLISH DREAMS, YOU'LL
BECOME ALL YOU WERE CREATED
TO BE.
IN MY GRANDPARENT'S DEFENSE,
THEY HAD NO HISTORY OF
LEADERSHIP.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO
TRAIN MY FATHER TO BECOME A
PASTOR.
THEY HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED
ABUNDANCE, MORE THAN ENOUGH,
INFLUENCE.
NO WONDER THEY COULDN'T SEE
IT.
IT WAS FOREIGN TO THEM.
DON'T FAULT PEOPLE THAT
CAN'T SEE WHAT YOU CAN SEE.
GOD WILL PUT THINGS IN YOUR
SPIRIT THAT YOUR PARENTS,
YOUR RELATIVES, PEOPLE
AROUND YOU, CAN'T FATHOM.
IT'S TOO BIG, TOO GREAT, TOO
INFLUENTIAL.
THEY CAN'T COMPREHEND IT.
THEY'VE NEVER SEEN IT.
YOU'RE GOING TO SET A NEW
STANDARD.
YOU'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH
DREAMS BIGGER THAN THEY'VE
IMAGINED.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HONOR,
INFLUENCE, WEALTH THAT YOUR
FAMILY HAS NEVER
EXPERIENCED.
THERE'S NO HISTORY OF IT.
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK, IT'S ALL
AT ONE LEVEL.
"I DON'T SEE HOW THAT CAN
HAPPEN."
YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR
NATURAL LINEAGE.
I'M ASKING YOU NOT TO LOOK
BACK BUT TO LOOK UP.
YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER HAS
SOME BIG GIFTS COMING, BIG
FAVOR, BIG OPPORTUNITIES,
CREATIVITY, IDEAS, RESOURCES
THAT WILL EXCEED YOUR
EXPECTATIONS.
HE'S ABOUT TO CATAPULT YOU
INTO GREATNESS, INTO
ABUNDANCE, INTO NEW LEVELS
OF YOUR DESTINY.
THERE ARE TIMES THAT FOR
GENERATIONS EVERYTHING IS
THE SAME, GOING ALONG FINE,
NO COMPLAINTS, THEN SUDDENLY
LIKE WITH DAVID, GREATNESS
COMES OUT.
THERE'S NO EXPLANATIONS.
HOW COULD HE DEFEAT THAT
GIANT?
JESSE COULDN'T TRAIN HIM FOR
THAT.
HE COULDN'T TRAIN HIM TO
BECOME A KING.
THAT WASN'T IN JESSE.
HE'D NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY
OF THAT.
IT WAS HIS HEAVENLY FATHER
SHINING DOWN FAVOR.
WHEN JESUS WAS ON THE EARTH,
HE WENT AROUND HEALING THE
SICK, CURING THE LEPERS.
TEACHING WITH SUCH AUTHORITY
AND WISDOM THAT GREAT CROWDS
FOLLOWED HIM.
WHEN PEOPLE LOOKED AT HIS
BACKGROUND, WHERE HE HAD
COME FROM, THEY COULDN'T
UNDERSTAND IT.
THEY ASKED, "IS THIS NOT THE
CARPENTER'S SON?"
THEY WERE SAYING, "ISN'T
THIS JOSEPH'S CHILD?
WE KNOW JOSEPH, HE BUILDS
CABINETS.
HE'S NOT ANYTHING SPECIAL.
HOW COULD HIS SON BE DOING
MIRACLES?
HOW COULD HIS SON BE THIS
INFLUENTIAL, WHERE DID HE
GET THIS WISDOM TO TEACH IN
THE SYNAGOGUES?"
LIKE SAUL, THEY WERE LOOKING
AT HIS NATURAL FATHER.
THEY WERE LOOKING AT HIS
BACKGROUND, HIS TRAINING,
WHERE HE LIVED.
THEY DIDN'T REALIZE WHO HIS
HEAVENLY FATHER WAS.
SOMETIMES LIFE WILL TRY TO
TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE
AVERAGE, YOU'VE REACHED YOUR
LIMITS, GONE AS FAR AS YOU
CAN.
"LOOK AT YOUR FAMILY,
THERE'S NOTHING SPECIAL
ABOUT YOU.
YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING GREAT.
YOU'RE JUST WILLIAM'S SON,
YOU'RE JUST CASEY'S SON."
THAT MAY BE TRUE, BUT YOU
HAVE TO REALIZE YOU HAVE
ANOTHER FATHER.
NO DISCREDIT TO YOUR NATURAL
FATHER, BUT YOUR HEAVENLY
FATHER IS THE GIVER OF ALL
GOOD GIFTS.
I BELIEVE GOD IS GOING TO
SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE IN
SUCH A WAY PEOPLE WILL LOOK
AT YOU AND THINK, "IS THIS
NOT JESSE'S SON, HOW CAN
DAVID DEFEAT THAT GIANT?
HIS FATHER IS A SHEPHERD.
IS THIS NOT JACK OSTEEN'S
SON, HOW CAN JOHN BE
PASTORING A CHURCH OF
THOUSANDS, THEY'RE FARMERS.
IS THIS NOT WILLIAM'S SON,
HOW CAN HE BE LEADING THAT
COMPANY, WILLIAM STRUGGLED
WITH AN ADDICTION.
IS THIS NOT JOSE'S SON, HOW
CAN HE BE THAT SUCCESSFUL,
JOSE WAS NEVER AROUND
GROWING UP."
YOUR DESTINY IS NOT LIMITED
BY HOW YOU WERE RAISED, IT'S
NOT LIMITED BY WHAT LEVEL
YOUR PARENTS REACHED.
GOD WANTS YOU TO GO FURTHER.
NOW GET IN AGREEMENT WITH
HIM.
QUIT SEEING YOURSELF AS
AVERAGE, LIMITED.
"WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH THESE
ADDICTIONS, JOEL; THIS
DEPRESSION.
WE NEVER GET ANY GOOD
BREAKS.
THAT'S JUST WHO WE ARE."
THAT IS NOT WHO YOU ARE.
YOUR SPIRITUAL BLOODLINE
OVERRIDES YOUR NATURAL
BLOODLINE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE
GREATNESS THAT BELONGS TO
YOU, THE FAVOR, THE
INFLUENCE, THE TALENT, YOU
HAVE TO LOOK TO YOUR
HEAVENLY FATHER.
THAT'S WHAT DAVID DID.
THAT'S WHERE HE GOT THE
COURAGE, THE STRENGTH, THE
FAVOR.
HE WASN'T LOOKING AT HIS
HISTORY, HIS FAMILY LINE,
WHAT HIS FATHER HAD
ACCOMPLISHED.
IF HE'D STAYED FOCUSED ON
THAT, HE WOULD HAVE NEVER
LEFT THE SHEPHERD'S FIELDS.
HE WOULD HAVE LIVED LIMITED,
INTIMIDATED.
WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT
HIM.
DAVID UNDERSTOOD THIS
PRINCIPLE.
HE SAID TO GOLIATH, "YOU
COME AGAINST ME WITH A SWORD
AND A SPEAR, BUT I COME
AGAINST YOU IN THE NAME OF
THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL."
HE WAS SAYING, "YOU MAY BE
BIG, YOU MAY BE POWERFUL,
BUT I KNOW WHO MY HEAVENLY
FATHER IS, I KNOW WHAT HE'S
PUT IN ME."
IN THE SCRIPTURE, GOD
PROMISED ABRAHAM THAT HE WAS
GOING TO BE THE FATHER OF
MANY NATIONS.
HE WAS EIGHTY YEARS OLD AND
HAD NEVER HAD A CHILD.
HIS WIFE, SARAH, HAD GONE
THROUGH THE CHANGE OF LIFE.
THERE WAS NO WAY IN THE
NATURAL THAT THEY COULD HAVE
A BABY.
BUT GOD TOLD ABRAHAM TO DO
SOMETHING INTERESTING, TO GO
OUTSIDE HIS TENT AT NIGHT,
AND LOOK UP INTO THE SKY AND
THE NUMBER OF STARS HE COULD
SEE, THAT'S HOW MANY
DESCENDANTS HE WAS GOING TO
HAVE.
IT LOOKED IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE
CHILDREN, LOOKED LIKE IT WAS
TOO LATE.
GOD COULD HAVE GIVEN HIM
THIS PROMISE AT THIRTY-FIVE
YEARS OLD.
HE COULD HAVE SPOKEN TO HIM
AT A MORE REASONABLE TIME
WHEN IT WAS COMMON TO HAVE A
CHILD.
BUT OFTEN GOD WAITS TILL THE
ODDS ARE AGAINST US, TILL WE
DON'T SEE HOW IT CAN HAPPEN,
SO WHEN HE BRINGS IT TO PASS
EVERYONE WILL KNOW IT WAS
HIS FAVOR.
BUT THE TIME WE'RE WAITING,
THAT'S A TEST OF OUR FAITH.
ARE WE GOING TO GET
DISCOURAGED AND TALK
OURSELVES OUT OF IT?
"IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN,
JOEL, IT'S BEEN TOO LONG,
THIS GIANT IS TOO BIG."
I CAN IMAGINE THOSE THOUGHTS
CAME TO ABRAHAM, THAT'S WHEN
GOD SAID, "ABRAHAM GET
OUTSIDE YOUR TENT AND LOOK
UP."
GOD WAS SAYING, "ABRAHAM
YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT IN THE
NATURAL.
AS LONG AS YOU'RE IN YOUR
TENT, ALL YOU CAN SEE IS YOU
AND SARAH, YOU'RE FOCUSED ON
WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH.
YOU HAVE TO GET OUTSIDE YOUR
TENT AND LOOK UP.
BRING ME INTO THE PICTURE.
RECOGNIZE I'M YOUR SOURCE.
NO, YOU CAN'T FATHER THIS
CHILD IN YOUR OWN EFFORTS,
YOU ARE TOO OLD, BUT I'M
YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER, I CAN
MAKE THINGS HAPPEN THAT YOU
CAN'T MAKE HAPPEN.
GET YOUR EYES OFF YOUR
IMPOSSIBILITIES AND GET YOUR
EYES ON ME."
SEE, WHEN WE'RE IN OUR TENT,
ALL WE CAN SEE IS OUR
LIMITATIONS, HOW WE WERE
RAISED, WHAT WE CAN'T DO.
IN OUR TENT IS OUR FATHER,
OUR GRANDPARENTS, OUR
RELATIVES.
YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF YOUR
TENT AND LOOK UP.
HAVE A BIGGER VISION.
YOU'RE NOT DOING LIFE ON
YOUR OWN.
YES, YOU HAVE NATURAL
PARENTS, RELATIVES BUT YOUR
HEAVENLY FATHER CONTROLS THE
UNIVERSE.
HE MAKES WAYS WHERE YOU
DON'T SEE WAYS.
HE'S NOT LIMITED BY WHO
RAISED YOU, BY YOUR
BACKGROUND, BY WHAT SEEMS
IMPOSSIBLE.
IF YOU'LL GET OUT OF YOUR
TENT, GET A NEW PERSPECTIVE,
START BELIEVING THAT YOU'RE
FAVORED, DECLARING GOOD
THINGS ARE COMING, THEN
YOU'LL SEE YOUR HEAVENLY
FATHER, TURN IMPOSSIBLE
SITUATIONS AROUND AND TAKE
YOU FURTHER THAN YOU EVER
DREAMED.
IT SEEMED LIKE DAVID, AS A
TEENAGER, WAS STUCK IN THE
SHEPHERD'S FIELDS.
GOD PUT BIG DREAMS IN HIS
HEART.
DEEP DOWN HE KNEW HE WAS
DESTINED TO LEAVE HIS MARK.
BUT YEAR AFTER YEAR, TAKING
CARE OF SHEEP, I CAN
IMAGINE, HE STARTED TO GET
DISCOURAGED, "IT'S NEVER
GOING TO HAPPEN."
GOD SAID, "DAVID, GET OUT OF
YOUR TENT.
GET A NEW VISION."
I CAN SEE HIM IN THE FIELDS
AT NIGHT, LOOKING UP AT THE
STARS.
HE FEELS THIS NEW SENSE OF
DESTINY.
HE CAN HEAR HIS HEAVENLY
FATHER WHISPERING, "THE
GREATNESS I PUT IN YOU IS
ABOUT TO COME OUT.
KEEP BELIEVING, KEEP
DREAMING, KEEP BEING YOUR
BEST."
WHEN MY FATHER WAS COMING
HOME FROM THAT NIGHT CLUB AT
TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING,
FOR SOME REASON HE LOOKED UP
AT THE STARS.
HE FELT LIMITED, NO FUTURE
TO SPEAK OF, BUT THAT NIGHT
AS HE LOOKED UP SOMETHING
BEGAN TO HAPPEN.
FAITH BEGAN TO RISE, HOPE
THAT HE'D NEVER FELT, A
DREAM TO DO SOMETHING
SIGNIFICANT WITH HIS LIFE.
WHAT HAPPENED?
HE GOT OUT OF HIS TENT.
HE KNEW HE HAD COME THROUGH
HIS PARENTS, BUT THAT NIGHT
HE STARTED TO REALIZE WHO HE
HAD COME FROM.
THAT HIS HEAVENLY FATHER WAS
CALLING HIM, THAT HE WASN'T
JUST THE SON OF JACK OSTEEN
BUT HE WAS THE SON OF THE
MOST HIGH GOD.
YOU MAY FEEL LIMITED, LIKE
YOU'VE GONE AS FAR AS YOU
CAN.
DEEP DOWN YOU KNOW THERE ARE
BIGGER THINGS IN YOU, BUT
EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE SAYS
YOU'RE STUCK.
GOD IS SAYING, "COME OUT OF
YOUR TENT.
LOOK UP."
YOU'RE FOCUSED ON THE
NATURAL.
YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR
PERSPECTIVE.
YOU'RE NOT LIMITED BY YOUR
BACKGROUND.
YOU'RE NOT AT THE MERCY OF
WHO RAISED YOU, WHAT YOU
DIDN'T GET, WHAT LOOKS
IMPOSSIBLE.
YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS
ABOUT TO BREATHE ON YOUR
LIFE IN A NEW WAY.
NEW DOORS ARE ABOUT TO OPEN.
NEW GIFTS ARE ABOUT TO COME
OUT, THE GREATNESS GOD PUT
IN YOU IS ABOUT TO SHOW UP.
THERE WAS A YOUNG BOY BACK
IN THE EARLY 1900'S THAT WAS
RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER IN
THE HILLS OF TENNESSEE.
BECAUSE HIS MOTHER WAS NOT
MARRIED, THE NEIGHBORS
WOULDN'T ALLOW HIM TO PLAY
WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
IT WAS VERY LOOKED DOWN BACK
THEN.
THEY WOULD MAKE REMARKS
LIKE, "WHAT'S HE DOING IN
OUR TOWN AND WHO IS HIS
FATHER ANYWAY?"
ON SATURDAYS, HE WOULD GO UP
WITH HIS MOTHER TO THE LOCAL
STORE AND PEOPLE WOULD MAKE
DISPARAGING COMMENTS, LOUD
ENOUGH FOR HIM TO HEAR.
"THERE THEY ARE AGAIN.
DID YOU EVER FIGURE OUT WHO
HIS FATHER IS?"
THIS LITTLE BOY GREW UP
INSECURE, ALWAYS FEELING
LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING
WRONG WITH HIM.
AT TWELVE YEARS OLD, A NEW
PASTOR MOVED INTO TOWN.
HE WAS A YOUNG MINISTER,
VERY GIFTED AND PASSIONATE.
THIS YOUNG BOY HAD NEVER
BEEN TO CHURCH BUT ONE
SUNDAY HE DECIDED TO GO HEAR
THIS NEW MINISTER THAT
EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
HE ARRIVED LATE AND SAT IN
THE BACK SO NO ONE WOULD
NOTICE HIM.
AS HE LISTENED THAT DAY, HE
FELT A LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
THAT HE HAD NEVER FELT.
HE HAD PLANNED TO LEAVE
EARLY BUT HE WAS SO
ENGROSSED IN WHAT THE
MINISTER WAS SAYING IT WAS
OVER BEFORE HE KNEW IT.
HE GOT CAUGHT IN THE CROWD.
AS HE WAS LEAVING, THE YOUNG
MINISTER WAS GREETING THE
CONGREGATION AT THE DOOR, HE
SAW THIS YOUNG MAN.
HE NOTICED THAT HE WASN'T
WITH ANYONE.
HE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT HIM.
HE SAID VERY INNOCENTLY,
VERY FRIENDLY, "YOUNG MAN
WHO'S CHILD ARE YOU?"
THE ROOM GREW COMPLETELY
SILENT.
THAT WAS THE QUESTION
EVERYONE WANTED TO ASK.
THE BOY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO
SAY.
HE PUT HIS HEAD DOWN.
THE MINISTER REALIZED
SOMETHING WAS WRONG, HOW THE
LITTLE BOY WAS VERY
UNCOMFORTABLE.
HE LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID,
"OH, I KNOW WHO YOUR FATHER
IS.
I CAN SEE THE RESEMBLANCE SO
STRONGLY, YOU'RE A CHILD OF
ALMIGHTY GOD."
THAT DAY WAS A TURNING POINT
IN THE YOUNG BOY'S LIFE.
THE STRONGHOLD OF INSECURITY
AND SHAME WAS BROKEN.
THIRTY YEARS LATER, THAT
YOUNG BOY WAS ELECTED
GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE.
IF YOU ASKED HIM, BEN HOOPER
WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU, THE DAY
HE REALLY GOT ELECTED WAS
THE DAY THAT MINISTER TOLD
HIM WHO HIS FATHER WAS.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FATHER.
I DON'T MEAN YOUR NATURAL
FATHER.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN
THERE, THEY MAY HAVE MADE
MISTAKES, THEY MAY NOT HAVE
BELIEVED IN YOU, TELL ME
ABOUT YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
DO YOU REALIZE WHO YOU
BELONG TO, THAT YOUR GIFTS,
YOUR TALENTS, YOUR GREATNESS
DOESN'T COME FROM PEOPLE,
FROM FAMILY, FROM RELATIVES,
IT COMES FROM YOUR HEAVENLY
FATHER.
WHEN HE BREATHED LIFE INTO
YOU, HE PUT HIS DNA ON THE
INSIDE.
THAT'S HOW DAVID COULD DO
SOMETHING NO ONE IN HIS
FAMILY HAD DONE.
THAT'S HOW MY FATHER COULD
BREAK OUT OF POVERTY AND
LIMITED THINKING AND MAKE A
DIFFERENCE WITH HIS LIFE.
OUR NATURAL DNA GETS PASSED
DOWN, BUT YOUR SPIRITUAL DNA
WILL OVERRIDE THE NATURAL.
I SAW A DOCUMENTARY ON
CHAMPIONSHIP RACEHORSES, THE
KIND YOU SEE AT THE KENTUCKY
DERBY.
IT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT
THESE HORSES ARE THE FASTEST
HORSES IN THE WORLD.
THEY'VE BEEN CAREFULLY
STUDIED AND CAREFULLY BRED
FOR GENERATIONS.
IT CAN COST HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO
BREED A RACEHORSE WITH A
CHAMPION STALLION.
IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.
BEFORE BREEDING, THE OWNER
WILL GO BACK FIFTY OR SIXTY
YEARS AND STUDY THE
BLOODLINE OF A PARTICULAR
STALLION.
THEY'LL RESEARCH HIS FATHER,
HIS GRANDFATHER.
THEY'LL STUDY HOW LONG THEIR
STRIDE WAS, THE LENGTH OF
THEIR LEGS, THEIR TAKE OFF
SPEED, THEIR ENDURANCE.
WITH ALL THIS INFORMATION,
THEY'LL CHOOSE THE STALLION
THEY BELIEVE TO BE THE
PERFECT MATCH.
THEY UNDERSTAND WINNERS
DON'T JUST RANDOMLY HAPPEN,
IT'S IN THEIR DNA.
THAT'S HOW IT IS WITH YOU
AND ME.
BECAUSE OF WHO YOUR HEAVENLY
FATHER IS YOU CAN DEFEAT
GIANTS, YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH
GREAT DREAMS, YOU CAN BREAK
ADDICTIONS, YOU CAN SET NEW
STANDARDS.
I'M NOT LOOKING AT ORDINARY
PEOPLE, YOU HAVE THE DNA OF
A CHAMPION.
THERE'S NO LIMIT TO WHAT YOU
CAN ACHIEVE, I KNOW WHO YOUR
FATHER IS.
THERE'S NO OBSTACLE YOU
CAN'T OVERCOME, I'VE SEEN
YOUR FATHER DO IT.
THERE'S NO STRUGGLE THAT CAN
HOLD YOU BACK, YOUR FATHER
IS JEHOVAH JIREH, THE LORD
YOUR PROVIDER.
NOW DO YOUR PART, COME OUT
OF YOUR TENT.
GET A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
YOU'RE NOT LIMITED BY WHO
RAISED YOU.
YOU'RE NOT AT A DISADVANTAGE
BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU DIDN'T
GET, WHO WENT BEFORE YOU.
YOU ARE HEARING THIS BECAUSE
YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE THE
GREATNESS IN YOU COME OUT.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WONDER,
IS THIS THE CARPENTER'S SON?
IS THIS JESSE'S SON?
IS THIS JACK OSTEEN'S SON?
GET READY, YOU'RE ABOUT TO
DEFY THE ODDS.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE, GOD
IS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING
UNUSUAL, UNCOMMON, FAVOR
THAT WILL CATAPULT YOU
AHEAD, GIFTS AND TALENTS
COMING OUT THAT YOU DIDN'T
KNOW YOU HAD.
COURAGE, CONFIDENCE,
CREATIVITY LIKE YOU'VE NEVER
SEEN.
HEALING IS COMING,
PROMOTION, GOOD BREAKS, THE
FULLNESS OF YOUR DESTINY, IN
JESUS' NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY AMEN TODAY? (APPLAUSE)
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS
THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?
JUST SAY, "LORD JESUS, I
REPENT OF MY SINS.
COME INTO MY HEART.
I MAKE YOU MY LORD AND
SAVIOR."
IF YOU PRAYED THAT SIMPLE
PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU GOT
BORN AGAIN.
WE'D LOVE TO SEND YOU SOME
FREE INFORMATION ON YOUR NEW
WALK WITH THE LORD.
JUST TEXT THE NUMBER ON THE
SCREEN OR YOU CAN GO TO THE
WEBSITE.
I HOPE YOU'LL GET INTO A
GOOD BIBLE-BASED CHURCH AND
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.