GOD BLESS YOU.
IT'S A JOY TO COME INTO YOUR
HOMES AND 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.
BUT I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY,
AND I HEARD ABOUT
THIS OLD COUNTRY FARMER.
HE WAS TAKING HIS NEPHEW
CAMPING FOR THE FIRST TIME.
HIS NEPHEW HAD FIVE DEGREES,
WAS ONE OF THE SMARTEST MEN
ALIVE.
THEY SET UP THEIR TENT
AND QUICKLY FELL ASLEEP.
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THE
FARMER WOKE UP HIS NEPHEW
AND SAID, "LOOK UP.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?"
THE NEPHEW SAID, "I SEE
MILLIONS OF STARS."
THE FARMER SAID, "I KNOW THAT
BUT WHAT DOES IT TELL YOU?"
HE SAID, "ASTRONOMICALLY,
IT TELLS ME THERE ARE
BILLIONS OF GALAXIES.
METEOROLOGICALLY,
IT TELLS ME IT'S GOING
TO BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
THEOLOGICALLY, IT TELLS ME
GOD IS A GREAT CREATOR.
WHAT DOES IT TELL YOU?"
THE OLD FARMER SHOOK HIS
HEAD, SAID, "IT TELLS ME
SOMEBODY STOLE OUR TENT."
"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'S NAME."
GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT "COMING OUT BETTER."
WE ALL GO THROUGH
DISAPPOINTMENTS AND THINGS WE
DON'T UNDERSTAND, AND
SOMETIMES LIFE IS NOT FAIR.
IT'S ONE THING TO COME
THROUGH A DIFFICULTY, BEAT
UP, BEDRAGGLED, WHERE YOU
LOOK WORN AND TIRED.
WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT WE MADE
IT BUT WHEN GOD RESTORES,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LOOK LIKE
WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
NOBODY IS GOING TO BE ABLE
TO TELL THAT YOU WENT
THROUGH THE SICKNESS,
THROUGH THE DIVORCE,
THROUGH THE UNFAIR
CHILDHOOD.
HE'S GOING TO RESTORE YOU
BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL
CONDITION, WHO YOU WERE
CREATED TO BE BEFORE
THE HEARTACHE,
BEFORE THE BAD BREAK.
SOME PEOPLE MADE IT OUT BUT
THEY AGED TEN YEARS.
THE CHALLENGE TOOK SO MUCH
OUT OF THEM, THEY LOOK
RUN DOWN, TIRED.
THAT'S NOT YOU.
GOD IS NOT GOING TO JUST
BRING YOU THROUGH, HE'S GOING
TO BRING YOU OUT BETTER,
REFRESHED, RENEWED,
REENERGIZED, WHERE NOBODY
WILL KNOW WHAT YOU WENT
THROUGH.
I MET A YOUNG LADY RECENTLY.
SHE WAS VISITING WITH HER
HUSBAND AND CHILDREN.
SHE'S A SHARP GIRL, IN HER
MID 20S AND SHE HANDED ME
A COPY OF HER BOOK.
IT'S CALLED
"BEAUTY FOR ASHES."
I ASKED WHAT IT WAS ABOUT
AND SHE SAID IT WAS HER LIFE
STORY.
SHE TOLD HOW, AS A LITTLE
GIRL, HER PARENTS
ABANDONED HER.
THEY WERE ON DRUGS AND LEFT
HER ON THE STREETS.
SHE WAS PASSED FROM FOSTER
HOME TO FOSTER HOME AND WENT
THROUGH ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND
ALL KINDS OF UNFAIR THINGS,
AND WHEN I SAW HER, WHAT SHE
WAS SAYING DIDN'T MATCH UP
TO WHO I WAS SEEING.
I SHOULD HAVE SEEN
SOMEONE BATTLE-SCARRED,
RUN DOWN, INSECURE.
BUT I SAW SOMEONE BEAUTIFUL,
STRONG, CONFIDENT,
WELL SPOKEN.
I NEVER DREAMED SHE HAD
GONE THROUGH THAT.
I THOUGHT SHE HAD COME FROM
A LOVING FAMILY,
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
JUST THE OPPOSITE.
ALL THE ODDS WERE AGAINST HER
BUT SHE HAD HER COLLEGE
DEGREE, TWO BEAUTIFUL
CHILDREN, SUCCESSFUL CAREER.
THAT'S HOW GOD RESTORES.
HE BRINGS YOU THROUGH WITH
NO SIGN OF THE DIFFICULTY,
NO SIGN OF THE BETRAYAL,
NO SIGN OF THE LOSS.
YOU MAY BE IN
A CHALLENGING TIME.
IT FEELS LIKE IT'S TAKEN
SOMETHING OUT OF YOU THAT
CAN'T BE REPLACED.
YOU'VE LOST THAT SPRING
IN YOUR STEP.
GET READY.
GOD IS ABOUT TO BREATHE NEW
LIFE INTO YOUR SPIRIT.
HE IS GOING TO RENEW
YOUR STRENGTH AND RENEW
YOUR YOUTH LIKE THE EAGLE'S.
WHAT THAT CHALLENGE TOOK
OUT OF YOU, GOD IS ABOUT
TO PUT BACK IN.
HEALTH, VITALITY,
FRESHNESS, VISION, PASSION.
HE'S GOING TO BRING NEW
OPPORTUNITIES, THE RIGHT
PEOPLE, FAVOR THAT
CATAPULTS YOU AHEAD.
HE IS NOT GOING TO JUST BRING
YOU THROUGH, HE'S GOING TO
MAKE UP FOR WHAT WAS UNFAIR.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS BECAUSE
YOU GOT A DOUBLE DOSE OF
TROUBLE, YOUR INHERITANCE
WILL BE DOUBLE AND YOUR JOY
WILL GO ON FOREVER.
WHEN YOU COME INTO DOUBLE,
NOBODY'S GOING TO KNOW THAT
BUSINESS PARTNER CHEATED YOU.
NOBODY WILL KNOW YOU WENT
THROUGH AN UNFAIR CHILDHOOD.
NOBODY WILL KNOW YOU
FOUGHT THAT BATTLE
WITH THAT SICKNESS.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE
SO BLESSED, SO STRONG,
SO FAVORED, PEOPLE WON'T BE
ABLE TO TELL WHAT
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL, THREE
HEBREW TEENAGERS WOULDN'T
BOW DOWN TO THE KING'S
GOLDEN IDOL.
HE WAS SO FURIOUS HE HAD THEM
THROWN INTO A FIERY FURNACE.
THEY SHOULD HAVE INSTANTLY
BEEN KILLED.
BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS NOT
A HAIR ON THEIR HEAD WAS
SINGED, THEIR CLOTHING WAS
NOT SCORCHED, THEY DIDN'T
EVEN SMELL LIKE SMOKE.
THEY CAME OUT WITH NO SIGN
THEY HAD BEEN IN THE FIRE.
WE WOULD REJOICE IF THEY HAD
JUST MADE IT OUT ALIVE, BEAT
UP, BEDRAGGLED, HAIR BURNED.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT
MIRACLE IF THEY
JUST CAME OUT.
BUT NOTICE HOW GOD WORKS.
WHEN HE RESTORES, THERE'S NO
SIGN OF THE TROUBLE, NO SIGN
OF THE INJUSTICE, NO SIGN OF
THE BAD BREAK.
HE WENT AS FAR AS TO NOT EVEN
HAVE THEM SMELL LIKE SMOKE.
IT'S ONE THING TO NOT SEE ANY
SIGN, TO NOT LOOK LIKE WHAT
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH,
BUT GOD IS SO AMAZING,
WHEN HE RESTORES,
YOU'RE NOT EVEN GOING
TO SMELL LIKE WHAT
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
ISAIAH SAID, "WHEN YOU GO
THROUGH THE FIRE,
YOU WILL NOT BE BURNED.
THE FLAMES WILL
NOT HARM YOU."
IT DOESN'T SAY, "IF YOU GO
THROUGH THE FIRE."
IT SAYS, "WHEN."
WE ALL HAVE THESE
DIFFICULTIES.
IN THE FIRE, YOU HAVE TO
REMIND YOURSELF, "THESE
FLAMES ARE NOT GOING
TO HARM ME.
THIS CHALLENGE IS NOT GOING
TO KEEP ME FROM MY DREAMS.
THIS SICKNESS IS NOT GOING
TO STOP MY PURPOSE."
WHEN PEOPLE MET THESE THREE
TEENAGERS YEARS LATER, SOME
OF THEM NEVER KNEW THEY WERE
THROWN INTO THE FIRE.
THEY NEVER KNEW THEY FACED
THIS HUGE ORDEAL.
THERE WERE NO SCARS, NO
BRUISES, NO PERMANENT DAMAGE.
THEY JUST SAW THREE MEN,
HEALTHY AND WHOLE, AND YOU
MAY BE IN THE FIRE NOW, BUT
LIKE WITH THEM, IT IS NOT
GOING TO SET YOU BACK
PERMANENTLY.
WHEN YOU COME OUT, YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO BE SCARRED FOR LIFE.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY
SIGN OF THE FIRE, ANY SIGN OF
THE ADDICTION, ANY SIGN
OF THE SICKNESS.
YOU'RE GOING TO COME OUT
WITHOUT THE SMELL OF SMOKE.
MY MOTHER WENT THROUGH
TERMINAL CANCER IN 1981.
SHE WAS VERY SICK.
SHE WEIGHED 89 POUNDS.
WHEN I FLEW HOME FROM COLLEGE
TO SEE HER, I WAS SHOCKED.
HER SKIN WAS AS YELLOW
AS CAN BE.
SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS CLOSE
TO DEATH AND THERE WAS NO
TREATMENT THAT THE DOCTORS
COULD GIVE HER.
FOR SEVERAL YEARS SHE FOUGHT
THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH
AND THERE WERE STRUGGLES.
WASN'T EASY, PLENTY
OF LONELY NIGHTS.
THOUGHTS TOLD HER THAT SHE
WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT AND
HOW SHE SHOULD BE BURIED
IN A CERTAIN DRESS.
SHE WAS IN THE FIRE, FLAMES
ALL AROUND HER, BUT LIKE WITH
THESE TEENAGERS, GOD DIDN'T
LET THE FIRE BURN HER AND
WHEN YOU SEE MY MOM NOW,
HEALTHY, STRONG, BEAUTIFUL,
SHE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WHAT
SHE'S BEEN THROUGH.
SHE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE SHE
SPENT YEARS FIGHTING
THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH.
SHE DIDN'T LOOK LIKE SHE HAD
TO RAISE MY BROTHER PAUL.
YOU MAY BE IN THE FIRE NOW,
DEALING WITH A SICKNESS,
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY,
A CHILD THAT'S OFF COURSE.
YOU NEED TO GET THIS DOWN
IN YOUR SPIRIT.
THAT FIRE IS NOT GOING
TO BURN YOU.
WHAT'S COME AGAINST YOU
IS NOT PERMANENT.
DON'T BELIEVE THOSE THOUGHTS
THAT IT'S ALL DOWNHILL FROM
HERE, THIS WILL ALWAYS TAINT
YOUR FUTURE, ALWAYS HINDER
YOUR DREAMS.
NO, WHAT WAS MEANT FOR
YOUR HARM GOD IS TURNING
TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
WHEN PEOPLE SEE YOU THEY ARE
NOT GOING TO SEE WHAT YOU'VE
BEEN THROUGH, NOT GOING TO
SEE THE MISTAKES YOU'VE MADE,
NOT GOING TO SEE THE
DISAPPOINTMENTS.
LIKE MY MOTHER, YOU'RE GOING
TO BE SO STRONG, SO HEALTHY,
SO BLESSED, THEY'RE GOING
TO SEE WHO YOU ARE AND NOT
WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
THE ISRAELITES WERE IN
SLAVERY FOR 430 YEARS,
MISTREATED AND TAKEN
ADVANTAGE OF.
IT LOOKED LIKE THAT WAS
THEIR DESTINY, BUT GOD
SUPERNATURALLY
BROUGHT THEM OUT.
AS THEY WERE LEAVING, THE
PEOPLE THAT HELD THEM CAPTIVE
ALL THOSE YEARS, GAVE THEM
THEIR GOLD, THEIR SILVER,
THEIR CLOTHING.
I CAN IMAGINE THE ISRAELITES
WALKING OUT WITH NEW CLOTHES
ON AND NEW SHOES,
WEARING JEWELRY.
THEY DIDN'T LEAVE THERE
LOOKING LIKE SLAVES; THEY
WERE LOADED DOWN WITH GIFTS.
THEY TRAVELED THE DESERT
FOR MANY YEARS.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THERE WAS
NOT ONE SICK OR FEEBLE ONE
AMONG THEM: 2 MILLION PEOPLE.
THEIR CLOTHES AND SHOES
DIDN'T WEAR OUT FOR 40 YEARS.
THERE WERE NO GROCERY STORES
OUT THERE, NO MALLS,
NO HOSPITALS.
IT WAS HOT AND DRY.
THEY LIVED ON THE MOVE.
YET WHEN PEOPLE SAW THEM,
NOBODY KNEW THEY WERE
FORMER SLAVES.
NOBODY KNEW THEY
HAD BEEN MISTREATED.
WHY?
WHEN GOD RESTORES,
THERE'S NO SIGN OF WHAT
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
NOW, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN
A SLAVE TO SOME THINGS,
SLAVE TO AN ADDICTION,
SLAVE TO DEPRESSION,
A SLAVE TO POVERTY.
IT'S BEEN IN YOUR FAMILY LINE
FOR GENERATIONS.
YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO
LOOK LIKE THOSE THAT HAVE
GONE BEFORE YOU.
NO, YOUR DAYS OF CAPTIVITY
HAVE COME TO AN END.
FREEDOM IS HERE.
GOD IS NOT ONLY GOING TO
DELIVER YOU, HE'S NOT ONLY
GOING TO BREAK BONDAGES, HE'S
GOING TO RESTORE BACK TO YOU
TO WHERE NO ONE WILL EVER
KNOW YOU WERE A SLAVE.
THEY WILL NEVER KNOW YOU WERE
ADDICTED, NEVER KNOW YOU WERE
DEPRESSED, OR NEVER KNOW YOU
CAME OUT OF A DYSFUNCTIONAL
ENVIRONMENT.
I LOVE THE STORY OF OUR
FRIEND, TYLER PERRY.
TYLER GREW UP VERY POOR
AND MISTREATED BY HIS FATHER.
AS A LITTLE BOY HE HAD TO
HIDE UNDER THE FRONT PORCH OF
HIS HOUSE TO ESCAPE THE DRAMA
AND DYSFUNCTION IN HIS HOME.
HE WAS IN THE FIRE.
IT LOOKED LIKE THAT FIRE
WOULD STOP HIS DESTINY,
A LITTLE BOY.
HE HAD NO CONTROL.
BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS GOD IS
A FATHER TO THE FATHERLESS,
AND WHEN YOU'RE IN THE FIRE,
YOU CAN BE ASSURED YOU'RE
NOT THERE BY YOURSELF.
GOD SHOWS UP IN FIERY PLACES.
HE COMES WHEN IT'S UNFAIR,
WHEN YOU'RE OUTNUMBERED,
WHEN IT'S BEYOND
YOUR CONTROL.
AND TYLER WOULD GO UNDER
THE HOUSE AS A LITTLE BOY
AND MAKE UP STORIES AND HAD
A VERY VIVID IMAGINATION.
THOSE STORIES WOULD TAKE HIM
TO ANOTHER PLACE WHERE HE
COULD GET A BREAK FROM THE
PAIN AND TURMOIL THAT HE WAS
DEALING WITH.
IT WAS THOSE STORIES AND THAT
IMAGINATION THAT OPENED
THE DOOR TO THE FILMS
AND THE PLAYS.
TYLER PERRY HAS BECOME ONE OF
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
ENTERTAINERS AND FILMMAKERS
OF OUR DAY, AND WHEN YOU SEE
TYLER NOW, BLESSED,
SUCCESSFUL, LOVING GOD,
MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH, ALWAYS
SMILING, HE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
WHAT HE'S BEEN THROUGH.
YOU'D NEVER DREAM HE DIDN'T
HAVE A GREAT CHILDHOOD.
WHAT HAPPENED?
GOD BROUGHT HIM OUT WITHOUT
THE SMELL OF SMOKE.
NOTHING THAT'S COMING AGAINST
YOU IS GOING TO STOP
YOUR DESTINY.
NOTHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN
THROUGH IS GOING TO KEEP YOU
FROM YOUR PURPOSE.
DON'T BELIEVE THOSE LIES THAT
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH TOO MUCH,
THE SICKNESS IS TOO BIG,
THE PAST IS TOO PAINFUL.
ALL THAT IS SETTING YOU UP
FOR GOD TO SHOW OUT
IN YOUR LIFE.
PSALM 71 SAYS:
"GOD WILL RESTORE YOU
TO GREATER HONOR."
THE GREATER THE DIFFICULTY,
THE GREATER THE HONOR.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LOOK
LIKE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN
THROUGH; YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK
LIKE WHO YOU ARE: BLESSED,
PROSPEROUS, STRONG,
HEALTHY, VICTORIOUS.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE OF
THIS WEEK'S MESSAGE!
> MARY: I HAVE SEEN THE LORD.
HE HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD.
> ANNCR: TOMORROW, WITNESS
THE CRUCIFIXION AND
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
THROUGH THE DEVOTION OF
MARY MAGDELENE.
> SPKR 1: MARY MAGDELENE
IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
FRIENDSHIP.
> MARY: WE ARE WITH YOU.
> ANNCR: AND THE LOYALTY
OF PETER.
> PETER: LORD, I AM READY
TO GO WITH YOU TILL DEATH.
> JESUS: YOU ARE NOW PETER,
THE ROCK.
> SPKR 2: PETER WILL NOW
BECOME THE FOUNDATION STONE
OF THE CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT.
> PETER: ON THIS ROCK,
I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.
> ANNCR: THE CONCLUSION OF
"JESUS, HIS LIFE",
MONDAY AT 8 ON HISTORY.
> JOEL: WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT
A BRAND NEW SERIES WE'VE
BEEN WORKING ON WITH THE
HISTORY CHANNEL.
'JESUS, HIS LIFE'.
> VICTORIA: IT EXPLORES
THE STORY OF JESUS CHRIST
THROUGH THE UNIQUE LENS
OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE
THERE.
> JOEL: EACH OF THE
8 EPISODES SHOW THE
PERSPECTIVE OF DIFFERENT
BIBLICAL FIGURES, ALL WHO
PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN
JESUS' LIFE.
> VICTORIA: DON'T MISS
'JESUS, HIS LIFE' MONDAYS
ON THE HISTORY CHANNEL.
HEALTHY, VICTORIOUS.
AS A TEENAGER, GOD GAVE
JOSEPH A DREAM THAT ONE DAY
HE WOULD BE IN LEADERSHIP.
HE STARTED OFF GREAT.
HE WAS HIS FATHER'S FAVORITE
CHILD, THEN THE BOTTOM
FELL OUT.
HIS BROTHERS WERE JEALOUS
AND THREW HIM INTO A PIT,
EVENTUALLY SOLD HIM
AS A SLAVE.
HE WORKED FOR AN ARMY
CAPTAIN, CLEANING HIS HOUSE
AND DOING REPAIRS.
SOMEONE LIED ABOUT HIM
AND HE WAS PUT IN PRISON.
HE SPENT YEARS IN THAT LONELY
CELL, FEELING FORGOTTEN.
IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS
PERMANENT.
BUT GOD WILL NOT LET THE
ACTIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE KEEP
YOU FROM YOUR PURPOSE.
IF THAT WAS THE CASE,
THEY WOULD CONTROL
YOUR DESTINY AND NOT GOD.
WHEN UNFAIR THINGS HAPPEN,
YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT BUT IT'S
A PART OF GOD'S PLAN TO GET
YOU TO WHERE YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE.
GOD WOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED IT
IF HE DIDN'T HAVE A PURPOSE,
AND ONE DAY
JOSEPH INTERPRETED
THE PHARAOH'S DREAM.
PHARAOH WAS SO IMPRESSED
HE MADE JOSEPH THE PRIME
MINISTER OF EGYPT.
JOSEPH BECAME ONE OF THE MOST
POWERFUL PEOPLE OF THAT DAY.
HE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE WHOLE
COUNTRY, AND WHAT'S
INTERESTING IS JOSEPH
WASN'T EVEN FROM EGYPT.
HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FORMAL
TRAINING, HE WASN'T RELATED
TO THE PHARAOH, BUT GOD KNOWS
HOW TO RESTORE YOU
TO GREATER HONOR.
HE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE UP FOR
WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH, AND
I CAN IMAGINE WHEN PEOPLE
CAME TO THE PALACE AND SAW
JOSEPH THEY THOUGHT HE WAS
BORN INTO ROYALTY.
THEY THOUGHT HE WAS RAISED
IN THE PALACE AND RELATED TO
THE PHARAOH, EDUCATED
IN THE FINEST SCHOOLS.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW A FEW YEARS
EARLIER, HE WAS IN A PIT,
BETRAYED.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS
A FORMER SLAVE,
CLEANING HOUSES.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD SPENT
YEARS IN PRISON.
THERE WAS NO SIGN OF
THE INJUSTICE, NO SIGN OF
THE BAD BREAKS, NO SIGN
OF THE LONELY NIGHTS.
ALL THEY SAW IS THIS MAN HAS
INFLUENCE, FAVOR, PRESTIGE.
HE'S RUNNING OUR COUNTRY.
THAT'S THE WAY GOD RESTORES.
PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO SEE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN
THROUGH, AND YOU MAY BE IN
A SITUATION LIKE JOSEPH
WHERE IT'S UNFAIR.
YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING
BUT THE WRONG THING
IS HAPPENING.
DON'T WORRY.
YOUR TIME IS COMING.
GOD IS A GOD OF JUSTICE.
HE SEES THE WRONGS, HE SEES
WHAT'S UNFAIR, WHO BETRAYED
YOU, WHO LEFT YOU OUT.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE RESTORED
TO GREATER HONOR.
BECAUSE OF WHAT TRIED TO STOP
YOU, GOD IS GOING TO TAKE YOU
FURTHER THAN IF THAT HAD
NOT HAPPENED.
WHEN YOU GET A DOUBLE DOSE OF
TROUBLE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET
A DOUBLE DOSE OF FAVOR.
NOW, QUIT TELLING YOURSELF
THAT YOU'RE STUCK, YOU'LL
NEVER GET PAST THE DIVORCE,
THE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY,
THE SICKNESS.
THAT IS NOT HOW YOUR
STORY ENDS.
GOD HAS THE FINAL SAY,
AND HE IS SAYING,
"I'M GOING TO RESTORE
THE YEARS THAT WERE STOLEN.
I'M GOING TO PAY YOU BACK
FOR WHAT WAS UNFAIR."
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO COME OUT
BEAT UP, BEDRAGGLED,
HAIR BURNED.
YOU'RE GOING TO COME OUT
WITHOUT THE SMELL OF SMOKE.
NOBODY IS GOING TO KNOW WHAT
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
LIKE JOSEPH, ALL THEY'RE
GOING TO SEE IS YOU PROMOTED,
HONORED, DOING GREAT THINGS.
I KNOW THIS COUPLE.
THEY WERE LIVING A VERY
BLESSED LIFE, THEN THE
PERFECT STORM HIT.
THEIR BUSINESS WENT DOWN AND
THE LADY HAD HEALTH ISSUES.
ONE OF THEIR IN-LAWS SUDDENLY
DIED, AND BECAUSE OF THE
UNEXPECTED BILLS, THEY ENDED
UP LOSING THEIR HOUSE.
THEY WERE SO DISCOURAGED.
I TOLD THEM WHAT I'M TELLING
YOU: WE ALL GET THROWN INTO
THE FIRE BUT THOSE FLAMES ARE
NOT GOING TO HARM YOU.
GOD IS IN CONTROL AND WHEN
YOU STAY IN FAITH, HE'LL
BRING YOU OUT BETTER.
BUT WHEN WE HEAR THIS,
SOMETIMES OUR MIND SAYS,
"THERE'S NO WAY.
JOEL, HOW COULD I MOVE PAST
THIS DIFFICULTY?
HOW COULD I GET WELL?"
OR JOSEPH, "HOW COULD I GET
OUT OF PRISON?
I'M A SLAVE, A FOREIGNER.
I HAVE NO RIGHTS."
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO FIGURE IT OUT.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO
IS BELIEVE.
GOD WORKS WHERE THERE'S
AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH.
WHEN YOU'RE IN THE FIRE,
INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING,
TALKING ABOUT HOW IT'S
NOT GOING TO WORK OUT,
TURN IT AROUND.
"FATHER, THANK YOU THAT
YOU'RE MAKING A WAY WHERE
I DON'T SEE A WAY.
THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE GOING
TO BRING ME OUT WITHOUT
THE SMELL OF SMOKE."
THAT'S NOT JUST BEING
POSITIVE, THAT'S RELEASING
YOUR FAITH.
I SAW THIS COUPLE SEVERAL
YEARS LATER.
THE LADY SHOWED ME A PICTURE
OF A NEW HOUSE THEY'D JUST
MOVED INTO.
SHE TOLD HOW IN THEIR OLD
HOUSE THE CHILDREN HAD TO
SHARE A BEDROOM BUT IN THIS
NEW HOUSE, EACH CHILD HAD
THEIR OWN BEDROOM, HOW IT WAS
MUCH CLOSER TO THEIR WORK,
AND HOW THEIR BUSINESS
HAD TAKEN OFF.
SHE HAD BIG TEARS RUNNING
DOWN HER CHEEKS, THANKING GOD
FOR HIS GOODNESS, AND AS I
LOOKED AT THE PICTURE OF THAT
NEW HOUSE AND LOOKED AT THIS
LADY, HEALTHY AND WHOLE,
AND LOOKED AT HER HUSBAND,
BEAMING WITH JOY, I THOUGHT
TO MYSELF, "YOU DON'T LOOK
LIKE WHAT YOU'VE
BEEN THROUGH.
GOD BROUGHT YOU OUT WITHOUT
THE SMELL OF SMOKE."
THAT'S WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO
FOR YOU: RESTORE YOU
TO GREATER HONOR.
NOW GET A VISION FOR IT.
DON'T GO THROUGH LIFE WITH A
CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER, BITTER
OVER WHO DID YOU WRONG,
DISCOURAGED OVER
WHAT DIDN'T WORK OUT.
GIVE GOD SOMETHING
TO WORK WITH.
FATHER, THANK YOU THAT WHAT
WAS MEANT FOR MY HARM, YOU
ARE TURNING TO MY ADVANTAGE.
THANK YOU THAT I'M NOT GOING
TO LOOK LIKE WHAT I'VE BEEN
THROUGH BUT I'M GOING TO LOOK
LIKE WHO YOU CREATED ME TO
BE: BLESSED, PROSPEROUS,
STRONG, HEALTHY, AND WHOLE.
MARK CHAPTER 5, THERE WAS
A MAN LIVING AMONG THE TOMBS
THAT WAS POSSESSED
WITH EVIL SPIRITS.
HE WAS DERANGED.
HE WOULDN'T WEAR CLOTHES.
HE COULDN'T BE RESTRAINED.
THEY TRIED TO PUT HIS ARMS
IN CHAINS, HIS FEET IN SHACKLES.
EVERY TIME, HE WOULD BREAK
THE CHAINS.
NO ONE HAD THE POWER
TO CONTROL HIM.
ALL THROUGH THE DAY AND THE
NIGHT, HE WOULD WANDER
THROUGH THE TOMBS,
SCREAMING AND CUTTING
HIMSELF.
THIS HAD GONE ON FOR YEARS.
EVERYONE KNEW TO STAY AWAY
FROM THIS CRAZY MAN.
ONE DAY, JESUS GOT IN A BOAT
AND CROSSED THE LAKE AND WENT
TO WHERE THE MAN LIVED.
THE MAN FELL AT JESUS'S FEET.
JESUS PRAYED FOR HIM,
CAST THOSE SPIRITS OUT.
INSTANTLY, THE MAN
WAS HEALED.
HIS MIND WENT BACK TO NORMAL.
SOME PEOPLE SAW, WENT TO THE
TOWN AND TOLD EVERYONE.
THEY CAME RUNNING OUT
TO SEE THE MAN.
HE CLEANED HIMSELF UP, CUT
HIS HAIR, PUT ON CLOTHES.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS: "THEY SAW
HIM SITTING THERE, CLOTHED,
IN HIS RIGHT MIND,
PERFECTLY SANE.
THEY WERE AMAZED.
THEY THOUGHT, "WAIT A MINUTE,
WE'VE SEEN THIS GUY
FOR YEARS.
WE KNOW HE'S DERANGED.
HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?"
IT WAS SO FAR OUT, THEY COULD
HARDLY BELIEVE IT.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS JESUS
MADE A SPECIAL TRIP TO CROSS
THE LAKE JUST TO GET
TO THAT MAN.
ONCE HE HEALED HIM, JESUS GOT
IN THE BOAT AND WENT BACK
ACROSS, AND SOMETIMES FORCES
OF DARKNESS COME AGAINST US.
LIKE WITH THIS MAN, YOU CAN'T
GET FREE BY YOURSELF.
THE GOOD NEWS IS OUR GOD
STILL CROSSES LAKES.
WHEN YOU CAN'T GET TO HIM,
HE'LL COME TO YOU.
YOU MAY BE IN A SITUATION
THAT LOOKS TOO FAR GONE, AN
ADDICTION SEEMS TOO STRONG,
SICKNESS TOO BIG, FAMILY
MEMBER TOO FAR OFF COURSE.
NOTHING IS TOO MUCH
FOR OUR GOD.
HIS POWER IS GREATER THAN
ANY POWER THAT'S TRYING
TO STOP YOU.
HE'S CROSSING
THE LAKE RIGHT NOW.
YOU ARE NOT GOING
TO LIVE ADDICTED, DEPRESSED,
SICK, FEARFUL.
CHAINS ARE BEING LOOSED,
STRONGHOLDS ARE BEING BROKEN.
WHAT YOU COULDN'T MAKE
HAPPEN, THE MOST HIGH GOD IS
ABOUT TO MAKE HAPPEN.
MY FATHER HAD A SISTER NAMED
MARY, AND IN HER LATE 40S
MARY BECAME VERY ILL.
SHE COULDN'T GET OUT OF BED,
COULDN'T WALK, TALK,
FEED HERSELF.
SHE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE
SHE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE PEOPLE.
SHE WAS GOING IN AND OUT OF
CONSCIOUSNESS, BASICALLY AT
HOME GIVEN UP TO DIE.
WHEN MY FATHER FOUND OUT HOW
SICK SHE WAS, HE DECIDED
TO DRIVE TO DALLAS AND PRAY
FOR HER.
HE WALKED IN THE ROOM AND
MARY DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HIM.
DADDY TOOK HER BY THE HAND
AND SAID, "MARY, IN THE NAME
OF JESUS, RISE AND WALK."
INSTANTLY, MARY WOKE UP.
SHE GOT OUT OF THE BED.
SHE WAS ABLE TO WALK
AND TALK.
THAT DAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN MONTHS, SHE FED HERSELF.
IT WAS A TURNING POINT.
SHE WAS INSTANTLY HEALED.
LATER THAT NIGHT, MY FATHER
ASKED HER, "MARY, WHY DID
YOU GET UP SO QUICKLY?"
SHE SAID, "I HEARD GOD SAY,
'MARY, RISE AND WALK.'"
MY FATHER KIND OF LAUGHED
AND SAID, "NO, MARY,
I SAID THAT."
SHE SAID, "NO, JOHN, I HEARD
GOD SAY, 'RISE AND WALK.'"
MY DAD SAID, "MARY, I WAS
STANDING RIGHT THERE.
I'M TELLING YOU,
I'M THE ONE THAT SAID IT."
SHE GOT UP IN HIS FACE AND
SAID, "LISTEN HERE, JOHN.
I HEARD THE CREATOR OF THE
UNIVERSE, THE MOST HIGH GOD,
TELL ME TO RISE AND WALK, AND
WHEN HE SAID THAT, I FELT
SOMETHING GO THROUGH MY BODY
THAT I HAVE NEVER
FELT BEFORE."
WHAT WAS THAT?
GOD CROSSING THE LAKE, GOD
BREAKING FORCES OF DARKNESS.
MARY WENT ON TO LIVE MANY
YEARS HEALTHY AND WHOLE.
I CAN IMAGINE WHEN PEOPLE SAW
THE MAN THAT HAD BEEN
DERANGED, THEY'D COME UP
TO HIM, SAY, "ARE YOU REALLY
THAT SAME MAN THAT USED
TO LIVE OUT IN THE TOMBS?
ARE YOU REALLY THAT GUY
WE WERE ALL AFRAID OF,
SCREAMING, CRAZY?"
WHAT THEY WERE SAYING WAS,
"YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE WHAT
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
WE'VE SEEN YOU FOR YEARS
ONE WAY; NOW YOU'RE BLESSED,
HEALTHY, FREE."
AS THIS MAN WAS PLAYING WITH
HIS GRANDCHILDREN DOWN
THROUGH THE YEARS, ENJOYING
LIFE, I'M SURE MANY TIMES HE
PAUSED AND SAID, "GOD, THANK
YOU FOR CROSSING THE LAKE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO ME
WHEN I COULDN'T GET TO YOU."
HOW MANY TIMES HAS GOD
CROSSED THE LAKE FOR US?
FREED US WHEN WE COULDN'T
FREE OURSELVES?
BROUGHT US OUT OF TROUBLE
THAT WE GOT OURSELVES INTO?
TURNED A FAMILY MEMBER AROUND
THAT DIDN'T DESERVE IT?
HEALED US WHEN THE MEDICAL
REPORT SAID WE WERE DONE?
THAT'S THE MERCY OF GOD.
IT'S FROM EVERLASTING
TO EVERLASTING.
THAT MEANS GOD WILL NEVER
STOP CROSSING THE LAKE
FOR YOU.
IN THE STORY JESUS TOLD OF
THE PRODIGAL SON, THE YOUNG
MAN TOOK HIS INHERITANCE,
LEFT HOME, AND WASTED ALL
OF HIS MONEY.
EVENTUALLY, HE RAN OUT OF
FUNDS AND THE ONLY JOB HE
COULD FIND WAS WORKING
AT A HOG PEN.
HE GOT SO LOW, SO DESPERATE,
HE HAD TO EAT HOG FOOD
TO SURVIVE.
FINALLY, HE DECIDED TO GO
BACK HOME.
HE THOUGHT, "MY FATHER HAS
STAFF MEMBERS THAT LIVE
BETTER THAN ME.
MAYBE HE'LL GIVE ME A JOB."
WHEN HE WENT HOME, HIS FATHER
WAS OUT LOOKING FOR HIM.
HE SAW THE SON A GREAT
DISTANCE OFF, TOOK OFF
RUNNING TOWARD HIM, HUGGED
HIS SON, AND KISSED HIM.
THE SON WENT INTO HIS SPEECH:
"DAD, I'VE BLOWN IT.
DAD, I KNOW I WAS WRONG."
HIS FATHER DIDN'T EVEN LET
HIM FINISH.
HE SAID TO HIS ASSISTANT,
"QUICK, GO GET THE BEST ROBE
IN THE HOUSE AND PUT IT
ON HIM.
GO GET NEW SHOES
FOR HIS FEET.
PUT A RING ON HIS FINGER.
KILL THE FATTED CALF.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
A PARTY."
IMAGINE, THE SON WAS CLEANED
UP NOW, WEARING HIS NEW ROBE,
HIS NEW SHOES,
HIS RING OF HONOR.
HE DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THE GUY
FROM THE HOG PEN.
HE DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THE SON
THAT BLEW HIS INHERITANCE.
THIS SHOWS US THE HEART
OF GOD.
EVEN WHEN IT'S OUR FAULT,
EVEN WHEN WE BRING TROUBLE ON
OURSELVES, GOD DOESN'T WANT
US TO LOOK LIKE WHAT
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH.
HE DOESN'T WANT YOU TO BE IN
CONSTANT MEMORY OF YOUR
FAILURES, THE HURTS,
THE INJUSTICES.
WHETHER YOU MADE THE MISTAKES
OR LIKE THE DERANGED MAN,
FORCES OF DARKNESS ARE TRYING
TO STOP YOU, GOD STILL
CROSSES LAKES.
HE STILL SAYS, "GO GET
THE BEST ROBE."
HE STILL RESTORES BACK
TO HONOR.
YOU WOULD THINK THIS FATHER
WOULD SAY, "ALL RIGHT, YOU
CAN COME BACK HOME BUT YOU
NEED TO BE GUILTY.
YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW
WRONG YOU WERE."
THE FATHER DIDN'T EVEN BRING
UP HIS PAST.
YOU MAY HAVE BLOWN IT,
DONE THINGS THAT YOU'RE
NOT PROUD OF.
YOU THINK YOU'LL ALWAYS BE
HINDERED BY THE PAST.
QUIT LISTENING TO THE
ACCUSING VOICES.
YOU ARE FORGIVEN.
YOU ARE REDEEMED.
NOW, DO YOUR PART, PUT ON
YOUR ROBE OF HONOR.
START RECEIVING THE MERCY
THAT YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER
IS OFFERING YOU.
IF YOU WILL SHAKE OFF
THE GUILT AND KEEP MOVING
FORWARD, NOBODY WILL BE ABLE
TO TELL WHAT YOU'VE BEEN
THROUGH.
YOU MEAN, YOU STRUGGLED
FOR YEARS WITH AN ADDICTION?
YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE IT.
YOU'RE FREE, CLEAN,
HELPING OTHERS.
YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE YOU'VE
HAD CANCER.
YOU'RE HEALTHY AND WHOLE.
YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE YOU'VE
BEEN THROUGH A DIVORCE.
YOU'RE HAPPY, REMARRIED,
HAVE A GREAT SPOUSE.
THAT'S GOD'S DREAM TO BRING
YOU OUT BETTER, AND YOU MAY
HAVE HAD UNFAIR THINGS
HAPPEN, SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE
AT A DISADVANTAGE,
WELL, GET READY.
GOD IS ABOUT TO DO
A NEW THING.
HE IS CROSSING THAT LAKE
RIGHT NOW, COMING AFTER YOU.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE GOD IS
GOING TO RESTORE YOU
TO GREATER HONOR.
YOU ARE COMING OUT WITHOUT
THE SMELL OF SMOKE, THINGS
ARE CHANGING IN YOUR FAVOR.
FREEDOM, HEALING,
VINDICATION, PROMOTION, THE
FULLNESS OF YOUR DESTINIES,
IN JESUS'S 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, KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
YOUR PARTNERSHIP MAKES
THIS MINISTRY POSSIBLE.
YOUR FAITHFUL AND
CONSISTENT MONTHLY SUPPORT
MAKES YOU A CHAMPION OF
HOPE.
THE VISION OF JOEL OSTEEN
MINISTRIES IS TO USE EVERY
AVENUE AVAILABLE TO PRESENT
THE HOPE OF JESUS CHRIST TO
PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.
WE KNOW IT IS THIS HOPE
AND THE TRANSFORMING
POWER OF THE GOSPEL THAT
MAKES AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE
IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
TO PARTNER WITH JOEL OSTEEN
MINISTRIES, VISIT
JOELOSTEEN.COM/PARTNER
TODAY.
