JOEL OSTEEN. WELL,
GOD BLESS YOU.
ALWAYS A JOY TO COME INTO YOUR
HOMES, AND IF YOU'RE EVER IN OUR
AREA, PLEASE STOP BY, BE A PART
OF ONE OF OUR SERVICES.
I PROMISE YOU, WE'LL MAKE YOU
FEEL RIGHT AT HOME.
I LIKE TO START WITH SOMETHING
FUNNY, AND I HEARD ABOUT THESE
TWO MEN, ARCHIE AND JACK, THEY
HAD DEBATED THEIR WHOLE LIFE AS
TO WHETHER JESUS
WAS WHITE OR BLACK.
ARCHIE WAS CERTAIN HE WAS WHITE
AND, JACK WAS JUST AS SURE HE
WAS BLACK.
AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, THEY BOTH
DIED ON THE SAME DAY, RUSHED
TO THE PEARLY GATES.
THEY SAID, "ST. PETER,
PLEASE, WE'VE BEEN
ARGUING OUR WHOLE LIFE.
TELL US, IS JESUS WHITE,
OR IS HE BLACK."
ABOUT THAT TIME, JESUS STEPPED
UP AND SAID, "BUENOS DIAS."
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 HOW EVERYTHING SERVES
HIS PLAN.
WE ALL HAVE THINGS HAPPEN TO US
IN LIFE THAT WE DON'T
UNDERSTAND, THINGS THAT ARE
TAKING LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD,
DOORS THAT HAVE CLOSED.
WE WORKED HARD, BUT WE DIDN'T
GET THE PROMOTION, OR PEOPLE
THAT HAVE TURNED ON US.
A CO-WORKER SAID UNTRUE THINGS,
AND NOW IT'S SET US BACK.
IT'S EASY TO LIVE FRUSTRATED
AND FIGHT AGAINST EVERYTHING WE
DON'T LIKE.
"GOD, WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
WHEN ARE YOU GOING
TO TURN IT AROUND?"
WE THINK THAT IT'S HOLDING US
BACK, BUT PSALM 119 SAYS,
EVERYTHING SERVES HIS PLAN, NOT
JUST THE GOOD THINGS, NOT JUST
THE TIMES YOU'RE PROMOTED,
THE TIMES THINGS ARE CHANGING
IN YOUR FAVOR.
WE KNOW THAT SERVING GOD'S PLAN,
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
WHAT WE DON'T ALWAYS REALIZE IS,
THE DELAYS ARE SERVING HIS PLAN.
THE BETRAYALS ARE SERVING
HIS PLAN.
THE PERSON THAT WALKED AWAY
IS SERVING HIS PLAN.
THAT DOOR THAT CLOSED, THAT
CONTRACT THAT DIDN'T GO THROUGH,
IF THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED,
YOU COULDN'T REACH YOUR DESTINY.
YOU WANTED IT SO BADLY, WHAT YOU
COULDN'T SEE WAS, GOD HAD
SOMETHING BETTER.
HE LOVES YOU TOO MUCH TO LET YOU
MISS YOUR PURPOSE.
YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT.
IT DOESN'T SEEM FAIR, BUT IT'S
SERVING HIS PLAN.
THAT SILENT SEASON, WHERE YOU'RE
DOING THE RIGHT THING,
AND NOTHING IS IMPROVING, YOU'RE
BEING OVERLOOKED, PEOPLE
WITH LESS EXPERIENCE, LESS
TALENT PASSING YOU BY, THAT'S
AN IMPORTANT TIME.
YOU'RE BEING DEVELOPED.
YOU'RE GETTING STRONGER.
WITHOUT THAT SEASON, YOU
WOULDN'T BE PREPARED FOR WHAT'S
COMING.
AND WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT
EVERYTHING SERVES HIS PLAN, THEN
YOU WON'T LIVE FRUSTRATED WHEN
SOMETHING UNFAIR HAPPENS.
YOU WON'T GET UPSET BECAUSE YOU
DIDN'T GET YOUR WAY.
YOU REALIZED THE CLOSED DOOR
WASN'T A BAD BREAK, IT WAS GOD
SHUTTING THE DOOR.
THE PERSON THAT WALKED AWAY
WASN'T A COINCIDENCE.
IT WAS GOD MOVING THEM AWAY.
THEY WERE SERVING HIS PLAN.
WHEN SOMEONE SERVES YOU DINNER,
THEY'RE DOING YOU A FAVOR.
THEY BRING YOU THE FOOD.
THEY MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WATER.
THEY CLEAN UP THE DISHES.
THEY'RE WORKING FOR YOU,
HELPING YOU.
WE NEED TO SEE DIFFICULTIES
IN A NEW LIGHT.
THAT PERSON AT THE OFFICE THAT'S
AGAINST YOU, ALWAYS TRYING
TO MAKE YOU LOOK BAD, NEXT TIME
THEY DO SOMETHING UNFAIR,
INSTEAD OF BEING UPSET,
UNDER YOUR BREATH JUST WHISPER,
"THANK YOU.
YOU JUST SERVED ME."
YOU CAN'T REACH YOUR DESTINY
WITHOUT OPPOSITION,
WITHOUT CLOSED DOORS,
WITHOUT BETRAYALS.
WHY ARE YOU UPSET OVER SOMETHING
THAT'S DESIGNED TO MOVE YOU
FORWARD?
IT MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE, YOU MAY
NOT LIKE IT, BUT IT'S SERVING
YOU.
GOD WOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED IT IF
HE DIDN'T HAVE A PURPOSE.
NOTHING CAN HAPPEN TO YOU
WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION.
BEFORE JESUS COULD BE CRUCIFIED
AND RISE FROM THE DEAD, HE HAD
TO BE BETRAYED.
SOMEBODY HAD TO MAKE THINGS UP,
SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT HIM.
HE HAD DONE NO WRONG.
IF EVERYONE WOULD'VE LOVED
JESUS, IF EVERYONE WOULD
HAVE BEEN FOR HIM,
WE WOULDN'T HAVE SALVATION.
PART OF THE PLAN FOR HIS LIFE
WAS TO HAVE OPPOSITION, PEOPLE
THAT DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HIM.
IT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT
JUDAS, ONE OF HIS 12 DISCIPLES,
A PERSON JESUS HAD HANDPICKED,
DECIDED TO BETRAY HIM.
JUDAS DIDN'T COME UP WITH THAT
ON HIS OWN.
HE WAS A PAWN IN THE HAND
OF GOD.
HE WAS SERVING JESUS'S DESTINY.
WHAT IF JESUS WOULD'VE SAID,
"FATHER, THIS ISN'T FAIR.
I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING,
BUT MY OWN DISCIPLE BETRAYED
ME."
NO, JESUS UNDERSTOOD,
WITHOUT THE BETRAYAL, HE
COULDN'T FULFILL HIS PURPOSE.
AND WHEN THE SOLDIERS CAME
TO ARREST JESUS, THEY DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE.
JUDAS SAID, "I'LL IDENTIFY HIM
BY GIVING HIM A KISS."
JUDAS WALKED OVER LIKE NOTHING
WAS WRONG AND GREETED JESUS
WITH A KISS.
THAT KISS NOT ONLY POINTED JESUS
OUT, BUT IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT
MOMENT THAT HELPED UNLOCK HIS
DESTINY.
YOU COULD SAY THAT JUDAS DID
MORE FOR JESUS THAN ANY
OF THE OTHER DISCIPLES.
WITHOUT THE BETRAYAL, WE
WOULDN'T HAVE SALVATION.
NONE OF US LIKE OPPOSITION.
PEOPLE COMING AGAINST US, TRYING
TO MAKE US LOOK BAD.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT JUDAS'S
KISS IS NOT ABOUT TO UNLOCK YOUR
DESTINY?
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT CLOSED
DOOR, THAT BAD BREAK, THAT
DISAPPOINTMENT IS NOT SETTING
YOU UP FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE
NEVER SEEN?
YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT, BUT IT'S
SERVING HIS PLAN.
THAT CO-WORKER THAT ALWAYS GETS
ON YOUR NERVES.
YOU'VE BEEN PRAYING FOR SIX
YEARS FOR GOD TO MOVE THEM AWAY.
YOU KNOW WHY THEY HAVEN'T MOVED?
THEY'RE SERVING YOU.
GOD IS USING THEM LIKE SANDPAPER
TO RUB THE ROUGH EDGES
OFF OF YOU.
YOU'RE GROWING.
YOU'RE LEARNING TO BE KIND,
TO BE PATIENT, TO OVERLOOK
AN OFFENSE.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS OUR STEPS ARE
BEING ORDERED BY THE LORD.
IT DOESN'T SAY THEY'RE
BEING SUGGESTED.
IF YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE
THERE, YOU WOULDN'T BE THERE.
GOD ALLOWED IT BECAUSE
IT'S NECESSARY TO MOVE YOU
INTO YOUR PURPOSE.
DON'T BE UPSET OVER THAT PERSON
THAT'S TRYING TO MAKE YOU
LOOK BAD.
YOU NEED THEM
TO REACH YOUR DESTINY.
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED
OVER THE DOOR THAT CLOSED.
IT WASN'T A COINCIDENCE.
IT'S POSITIONING YOU
FOR SOMETHING BIGGER.
GOD DOESN'T TAKE US
IN A STRAIGHT LINE, FROM A TO B
TO C.
SOMETIMES HE'LL TAKE YOU FROM A
TO B, THEN UP TO M, THEN BACK
TO D, THEN UP TO R.
IT MAY NOT MAKE SENSE.
SOMETIMES IT'S GOING TO FEEL
LIKE YOU'RE GOING BACKWARDS.
YOU HAVE TO TRUST HIM WHEN YOU
DON'T UNDERSTAND.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING IS
SERVING HIS PLAN.
THAT'S WHY PAUL SAID, "ALL
THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD
TO THOSE THAT LOVE THE LORD."
ALL THINGS MAY NOT BE GOOD.
THE SICKNESS ISN'T GOOD.
THE LOSS ISN'T GOOD,
BUT THE PROMISE IS, IT'S GOING
TO WORK OUT FOR YOUR GOOD.
NOW THE TEST IS, WHILE GOD IS
WORKING IT OUT, WHILE IT'S NOT
GOOD, WILL YOU STAY IN FAITH?
WHEN YOU DON'T SEE ANY SIGN
OF IT IMPROVING, WHEN IT'S
UNFAIR, WHEN IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE,
WILL YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS
STILL ON THE THRONE, THAT HE'S
WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES, THAT
WHAT HE STARTED IN YOUR LIFE,
HE'S GOING TO FINISH?
THIS IS WHAT JOSEPH DID.
AS A TEENAGER, HIS BROTHERS WERE
JEALOUS OF HIM AND THREW HIM
INTO A PIT.
THEY WERE GOING TO LEAVE HIM
THERE TO DIE, BUT THEY SAW
A CARAVAN OF ISHMAELITES
TRAVELING BY, AND THEY DECIDED
TO SELL HIM.
JOSEPH NEVER DREAMED HE WOULD
BECOME A SLAVE, WORKING
IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY.
LOOKED LIKE GOD HAD FORGOTTEN
ABOUT HIM.
AT ONE POINT, THE WIFE
OF THE MAN HE WORKED FOR FALSELY
ACCUSED HIM, LIED ABOUT HIM.
HE WAS PUT IN PRISON
FOR SOMETHING THAT HE DIDN'T DO.
JOSEPH HAD PLENTY OF REASONS
TO LIVE BITTER, BUT YOU NEVER
READ WHERE HE COMPLAINED.
YOU NEVER READ WHERE HE HAD
A BAD ATTITUDE.
HE UNDERSTOOD THIS PRINCIPLE
THAT EVERYTHING WAS SERVING HIS
PLAN.
THIRTEEN YEARS LATER, AFTER ALL
THE DETOURS, DELAYS, BETRAYALS,
JUST LIKE GOD PROMISED, HE
BECAME THE PRIME MINISTER
OF EGYPT, AND WHAT'S INTERESTING
IS, IF ANY OF THOSE BAD BREAKS
HAD NOT HAPPENED, IF HIS
BROTHERS HAD NOT BEEN JEALOUS,
IF HE HAD NOT BEEN THROWN
INTO A PIT, IF HE HAD NOT BEEN
SOLD AS A SLAVE, IF THE WIFE HAD
NOT LIED ABOUT HIM, IF HE HAD
NOT BEEN PUT IN PRISON, HE
WOULD'VE NEVER MADE IT
TO THE THRONE.
EVERY STEP WAS NECESSARY.
THEY WERE ALL INSTRUMENTAL,
AND THE THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE,
THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT FAIR,
THE THINGS THAT ARE TAKING
LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD,
LIKE WITH JOSEPH, THEY ARE
SERVING HIS PLAN.
THEY ARE LEADING YOU
TO YOUR DESTINY.
MANY YEARS LATER, THE BROTHERS
CAME TO THE PALACE LOOKING
FOR FOOD DURING A GREAT FAMINE.
JOSEPH WAS IN CHARGE
OF THE FOOD SUPPLY.
HE SAID TO HIS BROTHERS,
"DON'T WORRY.
I'M NOT GOING TO HARM YOU.
YOU MEANT THIS FOR EVIL, BUT GOD
INTENDED IT FOR GOOD."
GOD WILL USE PEOPLE BEING
AGAINST YOU TO MOVE YOU
INTO YOUR PURPOSE.
THAT'S WHY YOU SHOULDN'T
TAKE IT PERSONALLY.
YOU NEED A JUDAS'S KISS
TO REACH YOUR DESTINY.
YOU NEED PEOPLE THAT TRY
TO THROW YOU INTO THE PIT,
DISCREDIT YOU, PUSH YOU DOWN,
SO YOU CAN TAKE YOUR THRONE.
IF JOSEPH'S BROTHERS BETRAYING
HIM WOULD'VE KEPT HIM
FROM BECOMING THE PRIME
MINISTER, GOD WOULD'VE NEVER
ALLOWED IT.
PEOPLE CAN'T OVERRIDE WHAT GOD
HAS ORDAINED FOR YOU.
BAD BREAKS, DETOURS, DELAYS,
INJUSTICE, THEY'RE NOT STOPPING
YOUR DESTINY, JUST THE OPPOSITE,
THEY'RE MOVING YOU INTO YOUR
DESTINY.
FEW YEARS AFTER VICTORIA AND I
WERE MARRIED, WE RECEIVED
AN UNEXPECTED TAX BILL
IN THE MAIL.
THE PERSON THAT DID OUR TAX
RETURNS LIVED IN ANOTHER STATE.
HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH A CERTAIN
LAW IN TEXAS.
NOW WE OWED THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS.
WE WERE A YOUNG COUPLE SAVING
UP FOR A DOWN PAYMENT
ON A HOUSE.
THIS WAS GOING TO TAKE ALL
OF OUR FUNDS.
NOT ONLY THAT, ABOUT HALF
OF WHAT WE OWED WAS BECAUSE
OF PENALTIES.
I THOUGHT, "GOD,
THIS IS NOT FAIR.
I HIRED A PROFESSIONAL.
HE MESSED UP.
NOW I'M HAVING TO PAY
FOR HIS MISTAKES."
WE ENDED UP FINDING A MAN
TO HELP US GET IT
STRAIGHTENED OUT.
HE'S A TAX ATTORNEY.
FOR SEVERAL WEEKS HE WAS AT OUR
HOUSE EVERY NIGHT FOR HOURS.
WE WERE GOING OVER DOCUMENTS,
FILLING OUT NEW FORMS, AND WE
BECAME GOOD FRIENDS.
WELL 10 YEARS LATER, I WAS
WORKING AT THE CHURCH FOR
MY FATHER, IN THE TELEVISION
DEPARTMENT.
SOMEONE OFFERED US
A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT
FOR THE LAST FULL POWER
TELEVISION STATION IN HOUSTON.
A STATION IN A BIG MARKET
OF COURSE IS VERY VALUABLE,
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT BUYING A CONSTRUCTION
PERMIT.
THEN I THOUGHT, I'LL CALL MY
ATTORNEY FRIEND, THE ONE I MET
DURING THE TAX ISSUE.
SIX MONTHS LATER, WE HAD
A SIGNED CONTRACT.
WE OWN THE STATION.
WE PUT IT ON THE AIR.
EVERYTHING WAS GREAT.
EVENTUALLY, MY FATHER WENT TO BE
WITH THE LORD, AND I BECAME
THE PASTOR, WAS THREE YEARS
AFTER THAT WE ACQUIRED
THE COMPAQ CENTER.
IT WAS GOING TO COST $100
MILLION TO RENOVATE.
WE DECIDED TO SELL THE STATION.
WE SOLD IT FOR
A SIGNIFICANT PROFIT.
THOSE FUNDS WERE INSTRUMENTAL
IN US RENOVATING THIS FACILITY.
BUT IT ALL STARTED WITH
THE TAX ISSUE.
I COULDN'T SEE IT AT THE TIME.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD BREAK.
I REALIZE NOW, IT WAS
ALL SERVING HIS PLAN.
IF I HADN'T HAVE HAD THE TAX
PROBLEM, I WOULD'VE NEVER MET MY
ATTORNEY FRIEND.
WITHOUT THE ATTORNEY, I WOULD'VE
NEVER PURSUED THE STATION.
WITHOUT THE STATION, WE MAY NOT
HAVE HAD THE FUNDS TO RENOVATE
THIS PLACE.
I WONDER IF YOU'RE UPSET
OVER SOMETHING THAT'S SERVING
HIS PLAN, A DOOR THAT CLOSED,
A PERSON THAT WALKED AWAY,
A DELAY THAT'S TAKING LONGER
THAN YOU THOUGHT.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
STAY IN PEACE.
IT'S ALL A PART OF THE PLAN.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HINDERING
YOU.
REALLY, IT'S HELPING YOU.
IT FEELS LIKE IT'S SETTING YOU
BACK, BUT REALLY IT'S SETTING
YOU UP FOR SOMETHING YOU'VE
NEVER SEEN.
GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU'RE GOING
TO NEED IN THE FUTURE.
I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD BE
A PASTOR.
NEVER DREAMED ONE DAY WE WOULD
OWN THE COMPAQ CENTER, BUT GOD
KNEW.
THAT TAX PROBLEM THAT WAS
SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAULT, THAT
LOOKED LIKE A BAD BREAK,
THE TRUTH IS, THAT WAS GOD
ORDERING MY STEPS INTO SOMETHING
THAT WAS UNFAIR, AND IF YOU
DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYTHING
SERVES HIS PLAN, YOU'LL GET
DISCOURAGED, BITTER, GIVE
UP ON DREAMS.
THIS IS WHAT KEEPS MANY PEOPLE
FROM SEEING WHAT GOD WAS
UP TO BEHIND THE SCENES.
THE REASON JOSEPH SAW IT ALL
COME TOGETHER IS, HE KEPT DOING
THE RIGHT THING WHEN THE WRONG
THING WAS HAPPENING.
HE KEPT BEING GOOD TO PEOPLE
THAT WEREN'T BEING GOOD TO HIM.
HE PASSED THE TEST.
MANY OF THE CHALLENGES THAT
YOU'RE FACING NOW, THE THINGS
THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE, THEY
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH NOW, IT'S POSITIONING YOU
FOR SOMETHING IN YOUR FUTURE.
IF YOU WILL STAY IN FAITH, YOU
WILL SEE HOW GOD WILL BEGIN
TO CONNECT THE DOTS, HOW IT WAS
ALL STRATEGICALLY ORCHESTRATED,
A PART OF HIS PLAN.
THERE WAS A MAN OUT IN HIS BOAT,
AND BIG STORM CAME UP AND HIS
BOAT CAPSIZED.
HE WAS ABLE TO SWIM
TO THE SHORE, BUT HE ENDED
UP STRANDED ON A DESERTED ISLAND
ALL BY HIMSELF.
WEEK AFTER WEEK WENT BY AND HE
WAS SO MISERABLE.
HE KEPT PRAYING AND PRAYING
FOR GOD TO SEND SOMEBODY, BUT IT
SEEMED LIKE THE HEAVENS
WERE SILENT.
JUST WHEN HE DIDN'T THINK IT
COULD GET ANY WORSE, ONE DAY,
WHILE HE WAS OUT GATHERING FOOD,
WHEN HE CAME BACK, THE SMALL
THATCHED ROOF HUT THAT HE HAD
BUILT SOMEHOW CAUGHT ON FIRE.
HE STOOD THERE AND WATCHED IT GO
UP IN FLAMES.
IT WAS LIKE POURING SALT
ON THE WOUND.
HE SAID, "GOD I GIVE UP.
I ASKED YOU TO HELP ME, AND ONE
BAD THING AFTER ANOTHER
HAPPENS."
ABOUT AN HOUR LATER HE SAW
A BOAT WAY OFF IN THE DISTANCE.
HE PERKED UP.
IT KEPT GETTING CLOSER
AND CLOSER.
SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS THE COAST
GUARD COMING TO RESCUE HIM.
COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
RAN OUT THERE AND GAVE HIM A BIG
HUG, AND SAID, "HOW IN THE WORLD
DID YOU FIND ME?"
THE CAPTAIN SAID, "WE SAW
THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE FIRE
THAT YOU BUILT."
SOMETIMES WHAT WE THINK IS
A DISAPPOINTMENT IS REALLY GOD
POSITIONING US FOR A NEW LEVEL.
I DIDN'T LIKE THE TAX ISSUE,
BUT I DO LIKE BEING
IN THE COMPAQ CENTER.
IF YOUR HUT'S ON FIRE TODAY,
INSTEAD OF BEING BITTER,
COMPLAINING, HAVE A NEW
PERSPECTIVE.
IT'S SERVING HIS PLAN.
MAY NOT MAKE SENSE NOW.
BEING IN THE PIT IS
UNCOMFORTABLE, BEING FALSELY
ACCUSED IS NOT FAIR.
THE JUDAS KISS, THE BETRAYAL,
THE CLOSED DOORS CAN BE
DISCOURAGING, BUT YOU HAVE
TO KEEP REMINDING YOURSELF, IT'S
NOT WORKING AGAINST YOU.
IT'S WORKIN' FOR YOU.
SOONER THAN LATER, YOU'RE GOING
TO SEE WHAT GOD WAS UP TO.
A FRIEND OF MINE HAD A DREAM
TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.
HE'S EXTREMELY TALENTED, VERY
FAST AND ATHLETIC.
IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE WAS THE STAR
PLAYER, A RUNNING BACK
THAT BROKE MANY OF
THE SCHOOL RECORDS.
HIS FUTURE LOOKED VERY BRIGHT.
HE STARTED TRAINING HARDER THAN
EVER GETTING READY FOR COLLEGE.
COACHES FROM MAJOR UNIVERSITIES
WOULD ATTEND HIS GAMES.
HIS JUNIOR YEAR, HE WAS OFFERED
A FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO ONE
OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS
FOOTBALL SCHOOLS.
HE WAS EXCITED, HIS DREAM WAS
COMING TO PASS,
BUT DURING THE FOURTH GAME
IN HIS SENIOR YEAR, HE WAS HIT
BELOW THE KNEE AND FELT
SOMETHING POP.
HE TORE HIS ACL.
HE LAID ON THE FIELD IN SHOCK,
KNOWING THAT HIS SEASON WAS
OVER.
HE'D NEVER HAD AN INJURY, NEVER
MISSED A GAME.
HE WAS SO DISAPPOINTED, AND HE
WAS RAISED IN A GOOD FAMILY,
BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW MUCH
ABOUT GOD.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY KIND
OF FAITH.
THAT WASN'T A PART
OF THEIR LIFE.
A FRIEND INVITED HIM
TO A YOUTH CAMP.
WHEN HE HEARD THE MINISTER
SPEAK, HE FELT SOMETHING
SO STRONG ON THE INSIDE.
THAT NIGHT, HE GAVE HIS LIFE
TO CHRIST.
IT WAS A COMPLETE TURNAROUND
IN HIS LIFE.
AFTER THE SURGERY, HE WAS DOING
THE REHAB, AND TRYING TO GET
BACK IN SHAPE, BUT SITTING
ON THE SIDELINES, WATCHING HIS
TEAM PLAY, HE BEGAN TO FEEL NEW
DESIRES ON THE INSIDE.
HE NO LONGER WANTED TO PLAY
FOOTBALL, HE WANTED TO BECOME
A PASTOR.
DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO HIS FAMILY,
HIS FRIENDS.
AFTER YEARS OF TRAINING SO HARD,
BUT HE KNEW HE WAS SUPPOSED
TO GO INTO MINISTRY.
SO, HE PASSED ON THE BIG
FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP, AND HE
ENROLLED IN A
LEADERSHIP COLLEGE.
TODAY, OUR FRIEND NICK NILSON IS
ONE OF OUR PASTORS HERE
AT LAKEWOOD, A GREAT MINISTER.
NICK TOLD ME, IF HE HAD NOT HAD
THAT INJURY, IF GOD HAD NOT PUT
HIS FOOTBALL CAREER ON HOLD, HE
WOULD'VE NEVER PURSUED MINISTRY.
GOD HAD TO PAUSE WHAT NICK
THOUGHT HE WANTED TO DO
AND REDIRECT HIM TO WHAT HE WAS
CREATED TO DO.
BUT AT FIRST, HE WAS
DISAPPOINTED.
IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE, BUT YOU
DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD IS UP TO.
GOD WILL NEVER CLOSE A DOOR
WITHOUT OPENING A BIGGER
AND A BETTER DOOR.
WHAT YOU'RE TEMPTED TO BE UPSET
ABOUT TODAY, IF YOU'LL KEEP
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE, ONE DAY,
YOU'LL LOOK BACK AND SAY
LIKE NICK, "LORD, THANK YOU
FOR CLOSING THAT DOOR.
NOW I CAN SEE WHAT YOU WERE
DOING TAKING ME SOMEWHERE THAT I
NEVER DREAMED.
THANK YOU FOR MOVING THAT PERSON
OUT OF MY LIFE."
I WOULD'VE NEVER MET
MY AMAZING SPOUSE.
THANK YOU FOR NOT LETTING THAT
COMPANY HIRE ME.
I WOULD'VE NEVER STARTED
MY OWN BUSINESS.
NICK SAYS, "I STILL LOVE
FOOTBALL, BUT I WOULDN'T CHANGE
A THING.
THIS IS WHAT I WAS BORN TO DO."
"WELL, JOEL, WHY IS THIS
CHALLENGE TAKING SO LONG?
WHY ISN'T ANYTHING HAPPENING?
WHEN IS IT GOING
TO TURN AROUND?"
SOMETIMES GOD IS NOT REMOVING
THE OBSTACLE BECAUSE HE'S USING
THE OBSTACLE TO GET US PREPARED.
HE'S TRAINING US TO GET US READY
FOR WHERE HE'S TAKING US.
WE DON'T GROW IN THE GOOD TIMES,
WHEN EVERYTHING'S GOING OUR WAY,
AND EVERYONE IS FOR US, THINGS
ARE FALLING INTO PLACE.
WE PREFER THAT MUCH BETTER,
BUT WE WOULDN'T REACH OUR
POTENTIAL.
WE GROW WHEN IT'S DIFFICULT,
WHEN THERE'S RESISTANCE, WE'RE
UNCOMFORTABLE, WHEN WE HAVE
TO STRETCH.
THAT'S WHY YOU CAN'T PRAY AWAY
EVERY CHALLENGE.
YOU CAN'T PRAY AWAY EVERYTHING
YOU DON'T LIKE, AND IF
THE SITUATION IS NOT CHANGING,
THEN GOD IS USING THE SITUATION
TO CHANGE YOU.
AFTER JOSHUA DIED,
THE ISRAELITES WERE
IN THE PROMISED LAND.
THEY WERE LIVING THEIR DREAM,
BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, GOD LEFT
CERTAIN ENEMY ARMIES
IN THE LAND.
HE DID THIS TO TEACH WARFARE
TO THE NEXT GENERATION
OF ISRAELITES WHO HAD NO
EXPERIENCE IN BATTLE.
GOD COULD'VE HAD JOSHUA
AND THE PREVIOUS GENERATIONS
CLEAR THE PATH, WIPE OUT ALL
THE OPPOSITION.
THE PROBLEM IS, THIS NEW
GENERATION, WHEN THEY FACED
AN ENEMY ARMY, THEY WOULD'VE
BEEN DEFEATED.
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE HAD
THE STRENGTH, THE EXPERIENCE,
THE TRAINING.
SO, GOD ON PURPOSE LEFT
OBSTACLES IN THEIR PATH.
IF GOD MADE EVERYTHING EASY
FOR US, IF WE NEVER HAD A JUDAS
KISS, A BETRAYAL, A CLOSED DOOR,
WE WOULDN'T BE READY FOR WHERE
WE'RE GOING.
GOD HAS AMAZING THINGS IN YOUR
FUTURE, THINGS YOU'VE NEVER
IMAGINED, BUT TO GET THERE,
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEFEAT
SOME BIG GIANTS, OVERCOME SOME
BIG OBSTACLES, OUTLAST SOME
STRONG OPPOSITION.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IF
YOU'RE WEAK, IF YOU GET
OVERWHELMED.
"WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?"
NO, YOU HAVE TO STAND STRONG
AND SHOW THE OPPOSITION THAT
YOU'RE MORE DETERMINED
THAN THEY ARE.
GOD DIDN'T BRING YOU THIS FAR
TO LEAVE YOU.
THAT PROBLEM IS NOT THERE
TO STOP YOU.
IT'S THERE TO PREPARE YOU.
THAT CHALLENGE IS NOT GOING
TO DEFEAT YOU.
IT'S GOING TO PROMOTE YOU.
EVERY DAY YOU STAY IN FAITH,
AND YOU THANK GOD WHEN NOTHING'S
HAPPENING, YOU DO THE RIGHT
THING WHEN IT'S NOT IMPROVING,
YOUR SPIRITUAL MUSCLES ARE
GROWING.
YOU'RE GETTING STRONGER, MORE
DETERMINED, DEVELOPING A GREATER
TRUST IN GOD.
INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING
ABOUT WHAT'S NOT TURNING AROUND,
SEE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO DEVELOP YOUR FAITH.
DON'T JUST GO THROUGH IT, GROW
THROUGH IT.
IT'S SERVING HIS PLAN, IT'S
THERE TO GET YOU PREPARED.
NOW YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR PART;
KEEP THE RIGHT ATTITUDE.
KEEP DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN
THE WRONG THING IS HAPPENING.
KEEP THANKING GOD WHEN YOU DON'T
SEE ANY SIGN OF IT.
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE
NOTHING'S HAPPENING
ON THE OUTSIDE.
SOMETHING'S HAPPENING
ON THE INSIDE.
YOU'RE GETTING STRONGER.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, THREE TIMES,
THE APOSTLE PAUL PRAYED
AND ASKED GOD TO REMOVE
THE THORN FROM HIS SIDE,
SOMETHING THAT WAS
BOTHERING HIM.
GOD COULD'VE EASILY REMOVED IT.
HE PARTED RED SEAS, HE OPENED
BLIND EYES, BUT GOD SAID
TO PAUL, "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT
FOR YOU."
HIS GRACE DOESN'T MEAN, HE'S
GOING TO REMOVE EVERY CHALLENGE.
DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY
OPPOSITION IS GOING TO LET UP.
IT MEANS, HE'S GOING TO INCREASE
YOUR STRENGTH SO IT DOESN'T FEEL
AS DIFFICULT.
AS YOU GET STRONGER, WHAT YOU'RE
UP AGAINST BECOMES EASIER.
GOD DIDN'T LESSEN WHAT CAME
AGAINST YOU.
HE SIMPLY ADDED
TO YOUR STRENGTH.
NOW YOU CAN HANDLE WHAT YOU
COULDN'T HANDLE IN THE PAST,
WHAT USED TO BOTHER YOU DOESN'T
BOTHER YOU ANYMORE.
THAT CO-WORKER THAT USED
TO ALWAYS GET ON YOUR NERVES,
SOUR YOUR DAY,
HE HASN'T CHANGED.
HE'S STILL THE SAME OLD JERK.
I MEAN, THE SAME PERSON.
HE DIDN'T CHANGE, BUT LOOK
AT YOU, YOU'VE CHANGED.
YOU DON'T LET IT STEAL YOUR JOY.
YOU DON'T PAY ANY ATTENTION
TO IT.
WHAT'S HAPPENING,
YOU'RE GROWING.
THE OBSTACLE IS NOT CHANGING,
BUT IT'S CHANGING YOU.
THAT'S GOD'S PLAN WORKING,
AND YOU MAY HAVE BEEN DEALING
WITH SITUATIONS FOR A LONG TIME
THAT ARE NOT IMPROVING.
YOU'RE TEMPTED TO GET TIRED
AND WORN DOWN.
I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW GRACE IS
COMING ON YOU IN A NEW WAY.
GOD IS BREATHING STRENGTH
INTO YOU, FRESH VISION, FRESH
PASSION, A SECOND WIND SO YOU
CAN OUTLAST WHAT'S TRYING
TO STOP YOU.
NOW YOU HAVE TO TAP
INTO THIS GRACE.
DON'T GO AROUND, "WHY DID
THE DOOR CLOSE?
WHY DID THESE PEOPLE BETRAY ME?
WHEN IS IT GOING TO CHANGE?"
NO, TURN IT AROUND.
"FATHER, THANK YOU THAT YOUR
GRACE IS SUFFICIENT
FOR EVERYTHING THAT I'M FACING.
I MAY NOT UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I
KNOW IT'S SERVING YOUR PLAN,
AND I'M NOT GOING TO JUST GO
THROUGH IT, I'M GOING TO GROW
THROUGH IT, AND I BELIEVE WHEN
IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, I'M NOT
ONLY GOING TO COME OUT,
I'M GOING TO COME OUT BETTER."
THE PSALMIST SAID, "ALL MY
TROUBLES TURNED OUT FOR GOOD."
GOD IS SAYING TO YOU TODAY,
EVERYTHING THAT'S COME
AGAINST YOU IS GOING TO TURN
OUT FOR YOUR GOOD.
THE JUDAS KISS DIDN'T FEEL GOOD,
THE BETRAYAL, BUT IT'S GOING
TO TURN OUT GOOD.
IT'S LEADING YOU
TO A RESURRECTION, TO SOMETHING
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN.
THE BETRAYAL WASN'T FAIR, BEING
IN THE PIT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE,
BUT IT'S TAKING YOU TO YOUR
PALACE, TO NEW LEVELS
OF INFLUENCE.
THE FOOTBALL INJURY WAS
DISCOURAGING, THE CLOSED DOOR
WAS DISAPPOINTING, BUT GOD'S
ABOUT TO OPEN A DOOR BETTER THAN
YOU'VE IMAGINED.
PERHAPS YOUR HUT
IS ON FIRE TODAY.
THE MEDICAL REPORT'S NOT GOOD.
CHILD IS OFF COURSE.
WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE IS, THE MOST
HIGH GOD IS ON THE WAY.
SOMETHING THAT LOOK PERMANENT IS
ABOUT TO SUDDENLY TURN AROUND,
AND I'M ASKING YOU TO TRUST HIM
WHEN YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
DON'T FIGHT AGAINST EVERYTHING
YOU DON'T LIKE.
STAY IN PEACE.
EVERYTHING SERVES HIS PLANE.
IF YOU'LL DO THIS, I BELIEVE
AND DECLARE, YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE
GOD CONNECT THE DOTS, THINGS
THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE ARE
ABOUT TO COME TOGETHER, NEW
LEVELS OF FAVOR, INFLUENCE,
OPPORTUNITY, HEALING,
BREAKTHROUGHS, THE FULLNESS
OF YOUR DESTINY, IN JESUS' NAME.
AND IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY AMEN TODAY?
WELL, 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.
GET IN A GOOD BIBLE BASED
CHURCH, AND KEEP GOD
FIRST PLACE.
