JOEL OSTEEN: WELL,
GOD BLESS YOU,
AND THANKS FOR LETTING US
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.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY, AND I HEARD
ABOUT THIS ELDERLY MINISTER.
HE WAS CLOSE TO DEATH.
HE SENT WORD FOR
TWO OF HIS MEMBERS,
AN IRS AGENT
AND A LAWYER,
TO COME TO HIS HOUSE.
UPON ARRIVAL, HE MOTIONED
FOR THEM TO SIT ON EACH SIDE
OF THE BED.
THE MEN WERE VERY MOVED THAT
THEY COULD BE WITH THEIR
PASTOR IN HIS FINAL MOMENTS.
AT ONE POINT, THE LAWYER
ASKED, "SIR, WHY DID YOU
CHOOSE BOTH OF US?"
THE MINISTER MUSTERED UP SOME
STRENGTH AND SAID, "JESUS
DIED BETWEEN TWO SINNERS,
AND THAT'S THE WAY
I WANT TO GO."
ALL RIGHT, IT'S JUST A JOKE.
HERE WE GO:
"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 "THE POWER OF FAVOR."
WHAT GOD HAS IN YOUR FUTURE
CAN'T BE ACCOMPLISHED
ON YOUR OWN.
THE PLACES HE'S GOING TO TAKE
YOU, YOU CAN'T GET THERE
BY YOURSELF.
THERE WILL BE OBSTACLES
TOO BIG, DREAMS
THAT SEEM IMPOSSIBLE.
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED
ASSISTANCE FOR WHERE
YOU'RE GOING.
THE GOOD NEWS IS, GOD HAS PUT
SOMETHING ON YOU THAT GIVES
YOU AN ADVANTAGE,
SOMETHING THAT WILL
OPEN DOORS THAT YOU
CAN'T OPEN, SOMETHING THAT
WILL MAKE YOU STAND OUT
IN THE CROWD.
IT'S CALLED "FAVOR."
FAVOR WILL CAUSE GOOD BREAKS
TO COME TO YOU.
FAVOR WILL TAKE YOU FROM THE
BACKGROUND TO THE FOREGROUND.
FAVOR WILL GIVE YOU
PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT,
THINGS YOU DON'T DESERVE.
YOU WEREN'T NEXT IN LINE,
BUT YOU GOT THE PROMOTION.
ON PAPER IT DIDN'T MAKE
SENSE, BUT THE LOAN
WENT THROUGH.
THAT PERSON THAT WAS SO
AGAINST YOU, FOR SOME REASON,
THEY CHANGED.
NOW THEY'RE FOR YOU.
THAT WASN'T A COINCIDENCE.
THAT WAS THE FAVOR OF GOD,
AND WE CAN WORK HARD, BE
FAITHFUL, BE DILIGENT,
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT,
BUT THAT WILL ONLY TAKE US
TO A CERTAIN LEVEL.
WE'LL GO AS FAR AS OUR
EDUCATION, AS FAR AS OUR
BACKGROUND ALLOWS.
BUT WHEN GOD BREATHES HIS
FAVOR ON YOU, THINGS WILL
HAPPEN THAT YOU COULDN'T MAKE
HAPPEN, OPPORTUNITY
THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE COMING.
THE RIGHT PEOPLE WILL
TRACK YOU DOWN.
I'VE HEARD IT SAID, "ONE
TOUCH OF FAVOR IS WORTH MORE
THAN A LIFETIME OF LABOR."
JUST ONE GOOD BREAK,
ONE PHONE CALL,
MEETING ONE PERSON WILL
CATAPULT YOU TO A NEW LEVEL,
AND YOU'VE WORKED HARD.
YOU'VE BEEN FAITHFUL.
YOU'VE HONORED GOD.
NOW GET READY FOR FAVOR.
GET READY FOR GOD
TO SHOW OUT.
HE'S ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING
UNUSUAL, SOMETHING THAT YOU
HAVEN'T SEEN, GOOD BREAKS
THAT YOU DIDN'T WORK FOR,
PROMOTION THAT YOU
DIDN'T DESERVE.
YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.
YOU CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR IT.
IT'S THE FAVOR OF GOD.
GOD TOLD NOAH TO BUILD
AN ARK, A BOAT 450 FEET LONG.
NOAH WASN'T A BUILDER.
THAT WASN'T HIS PROFESSION.
IT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE, BUT GOD
WILL NEVER ASK YOU TO DO
SOMETHING AND NOT GIVE YOU
THE FAVOR TO DO IT.
YOU HAVE FAVOR.
THE QUESTION IS,
DO YOU HAVE THE FAITH?
ARE YOU GOING TO TALK
YOURSELF OUT OF IT?
"I DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.
I DON'T KNOW
THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
I DON'T HAVE THE TALENT."
THAT'S OKAY, YOU HAVE
SOMETHING THAT MAKES UP
FOR ALL OF THAT.
FAVOR IS ON YOUR LIFE.
AND IT'S GOOD TO HAVE
EDUCATION, BUT EDUCATION
ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH.
TALENT ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH.
YOU NEED FAVOR FOR WHERE
YOU'RE GOING, AND YOU MAY NOT
KNOW THE RIGHT PEOPLE,
BUT DON'T WORRY, GOD DOES,
AND HE HAS ALREADY
LINED UP DIVINE CONNECTIONS,
PEOPLE THAT WILL COME
IN TO YOUR LIFE AND USE
THEIR INFLUENCE TO OPEN
DOORS, TO GIVE YOU
OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL PUSH
YOU FORWARD.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO MANIPULATE
PEOPLE, TRY TO CONVINCE THEM
TO LIKE YOU, COMPROMISE
TO GET YOUR WAY.
IF SOMEONE IS NOT FOR YOU,
YOU DON'T NEED THEM.
DON'T WASTE TIME TRYING
TO WIN THEM OVER.
THE PEOPLE GOD HAS LINED UP
FOR YOU, THEY DON'T HAVE
A CHOICE.
THEY MAY NOT LIKE YOU, BUT
THEY WILL HELP YOU ANYWAY.
THEY WILL GO OUT OF THEIR WAY
TO BE GOOD TO YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIND THEM.
THEY WILL FIND YOU.
YOU KEEP HONORING GOD,
BELIEVING, EXPECTING.
THE FAVOR ON YOUR LIFE WILL
CAUSE THE RIGHT PEOPLE
TO SHOW UP.
BUT THE PEOPLE IN NOAH'S DAY,
THEY DIDN'T CARE ANYTHING
ABOUT GOD.
THEY WERE LIVING WILD,
PARTYING, WORSHIPING IDOLS,
AND GOD WAS SO UPSET, HE WAS
ABOUT TO DESTROY THE EARTH,
BRING A GREAT FLOOD.
HE COULD'VE WIPED EVERYONE
OUT AND STARTED OVER,
BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
"NOAH FOUND FAVOR
IN THE EYES OF THE LORD."
WHY DID HE FIND FAVOR AND NOT
ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM?
THEY WERE ABOUT TO PERISH.
THE NEXT VERSE SAYS, "NOAH
CONTINUALLY FOLLOWED
GOD'S WILL AND DID
WHAT WAS RIGHT."
NOAH COULD'VE COMPROMISED,
FIT IN, DONE WHAT EVERYONE
ELSE WAS DOING, BUT HE MADE
THE CHOICE TO WALK
IN OBEDIENCE.
WHEN YOU HONOR GOD, WHEN YOU
KEEP HIM FIRST PLACE,
YOU WILL FIND FAVOR
IN THE EYES OF THE LORD.
THERE IS A BLESSING ON YOUR
LIFE THAT WILL PUSH YOU UP
WHEN OTHERS ARE GOING DOWN.
"WELL, JOEL, IF I HAVE FAVOR,
WHY AM I HAVING
THESE DIFFICULTIES?
WHY DID THESE PEOPLE
COME AGAINST ME?
WHY DID BUSINESS SLOW DOWN?"
HAVING FAVOR DOESN'T MEAN YOU
WON'T HAVE CHALLENGES, BUT
FAVOR IS WHAT'S GOING TO KEEP
THE CHALLENGES FROM DEFEATING
YOU, AND SOMETIMES GOD WILL
PUT YOU IN A SITUATION SO HE
CAN SHOW YOU HIS FAVOR.
ONE DEFINITION OF "FAVOR"
IS "TO ENDORSE,
TO BRING TO PROMINENCE,
TO GIVE NOTORIETY."
IF YOU ASK SOMEONE TO ENDORSE
YOUR BOOK, YOU FIND A PERSON
THAT HAS MORE INFLUENCE,
MORE CREDIBILITY,
A BIGGER FOLLOWING.
WHEN THEY PUT THEIR NAME ON
YOUR BOOK, BECAUSE THEY HAVE
SUCH PROMINENCE,
THAT INSTANTLY GIVES
YOU MORE CREDIBILITY.
OPRAH WINFREY USED
TO HAVE HER BOOK CLUB.
WHEN SHE WOULD ENDORSE
A BOOK, THE AUTHOR MAY
NOT HAVE BEEN KNOWN.
NOBODY'S EVER HEARD OF THEM.
WITHOUT THE ENDORSEMENT, THE
BOOK WOULD SELL A COUPLE
THOUSAND COPIES, BUT WHEN SHE
GOT ON HER TALK SHOW, SAID,
"THIS IS A GREAT BOOK, YOU
SHOULD READ IT," THAT SIMPLE
ENDORSEMENT WOULD
CAUSE IT TO SELL HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF COPIES.
AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE
PEOPLE'S ENDORSEMENT,
BUT YOU NEED TO GET READY.
THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE
IS ABOUT TO ENDORSE YOU.
GOD IS GOING TO MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN, SO BIG, SO AMAZING,
THAT PEOPLE WILL KNOW
IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN YOU.
THE MEDICAL REPORT SAID
YOU WERE DONE.
HOW'D YOU GET WELL?
GOD ENDORSED YOU.
HIS FAVOR CAUSED YOU TO
OVERCOME WHAT LOOKED
IMPOSSIBLE.
"HOW'D YOUR BUSINESS GET
SO SUCCESSFUL?
HOW'D YOU GET SO FAR AHEAD?
WE WENT TO THE SAME SCHOOL."
GOD ENDORSED YOU.
HE SHOWED HIS FAVOR SO PEOPLE
WOULD KNOW YOU BELONG TO HIM.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO
DANIEL IN THE SCRIPTURE.
FAVOR DIDN'T KEEP DANIEL
OUT OF TROUBLE.
THE TROUBLE WAS A SETUP FOR
GOD TO ENDORSE DANIEL, TO
BRING HIM INTO PROMINENCE.
DANIEL WAS A TEENAGER,
LIVING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY.
THE KING MADE A DECREE THAT
NO ONE COULD PRAY TO ANY GOD
EXCEPT THE KING'S GOD.
WELL, DANIEL
WORSHIPED JEHOVAH.
HE MADE THIS DECISION HE
WASN'T GOING TO COMPROMISE,
SO HE KEPT PRAYING LIKE
NORMAL.
SOME PEOPLE SAW HIM,
RAN AND TOLD THE KING.
THE KING HAD DANIEL THROWN
INTO A DEN OF HUNGRY LIONS.
THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN THE END,
BUT FOR SOME REASON,
THE LIONS COULDN'T OPEN
THEIR MOUTHS.
I CAN HEAR THOSE LIONS
TALKING, "I'M HUNGRY, I WANT
TO EAT THIS GUY, BUT MY JAWS
ARE MESSED UP."
FAVOR DOESN'T KEEP YOU OUT
OF THE LIONS' DEN, BUT FAVOR
WILL KEEP THE LIONS
FROM HARMING YOU.
THE NEXT MORNING, THE KING
WENT TO CHECK ON DANIEL.
WHEN HE FOUND OUT HE WAS
OKAY, HE SAID, "FROM NOW ON,
WE'RE ALL GOING TO WORSHIP
THE GOD OF DANIEL."
"WELL, JOEL, MAYBE THAT WAS
A LUCKY BREAK.
MAYBE THE LIONS WEREN'T
HUNGRY THAT DAY."
WHEN THEY BROUGHT DANIEL OUT,
THE KING HAD THEM THROW
THE PEOPLE IN THAT WERE
AGAINST DANIEL.
BEFORE THEY HIT THE BOTTOM
OF THE PIT, THE LIONS
TORE THEM APART.
PEOPLE SAW THAT,
THEY KNEW THE LORD
WAS ON DANIEL'S SIDE.
GOD IS GOING TO DO SOME
THINGS THAT BRING YOU INTO
PROMINENCE, INTO NEW LEVELS
OF INFLUENCE, CREDIBILITY.
PEOPLE CAN DEBATE WHAT YOU
SAY, BUT THEY CAN'T DEBATE
WHAT THEY SEE.
WHEN THEY SEE YOU RUNNING THE
COMPANY, PAYING YOUR HOUSE
OFF, GRADUATING WITH HONORS,
WHEN THEY SEE YOU BREAKING
THE ADDICTION, BEATING THE
CANCER, WHEN GOD ENDORSES
YOU, YOU COME OUT OF THE
LIONS' DEN UNHARMED,
YOU ACCOMPLISH DREAMS
WAY OVER YOUR HEAD,
THEY WILL KNOW HIS HAND
IS ON YOUR LIFE, AND GOD
IS ABOUT TO BRING YOU INTO
GREATER PROMINENCE.
YOU'VE BEEN IN THE BACKGROUND
LONG ENOUGH, SERVING
FAITHFULLY, HELPING OTHERS
WITH NO RECOGNITION.
YOUR TIME IS COMING.
DAVID SPENT YEARS IN THE
SHEPHERD'S FIELDS, TAKING
CARE OF HIS FATHER'S SHEEP,
AND I'M SURE AT TIMES HE
THOUGHT, "I DON'T HAVE FAVOR.
I'LL NEVER DO ANYTHING GREAT.
I'M STUCK OUT HERE.
NOBODY BELIEVES IN ME.
THE TRUTH IS, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO HAVE PEOPLE
BELIEVE IN YOU.
THE MOST HIGH GOD BELIEVES
IN YOU.
WHEN DAVID DEFEATED GOLIATH,
THAT ONE GOOD BREAK, THAT ONE
ENDORSEMENT LAUNCHED HIM INTO
A NEW LEVEL OF HIS DESTINY,
AND IT MADE UP FOR ALL THOSE
LONELY YEARS, AND YOU MAY
FEEL LIKE YOU'RE FALLING
BEHIND, IT'S TOO LATE TO
ACCOMPLISH A DREAM,
YOU'LL NEVER GET WELL.
WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR YOU
IN ONE MOMENT WILL PUT YOU
50 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
THAT'S THE POWER OF GOD
ENDORSING YOU.
YOU'VE SEEN ON CERTAIN
PRODUCTS A SEAL OF APPROVAL.
MAYBE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE
BOX, A COMPANY HAS STAMPED
IT, AND IT CAN BE A
LITTLE-KNOWN PRODUCT.
NOBODY'S EVER HEARD OF IT.
BUT WHEN THAT BIG COMPANY
PUTS THEIR STAMP ON IT, THEIR
SEAL, THAT PRODUCT HAS
NOTORIETY AND PROMINENCE, NOT
BECAUSE OF WHAT IT IS, BUT
BECAUSE OF WHO ENDORSED IT.
THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE
IS ABOUT TO PUT HIS STAMP
ON YOU.
HE'S ALREADY ACCEPTED
AND APPROVED YOU, BUT HE'S
ABOUT TO ENDORSE YOU.
HE'S ABOUT TO GO PUBLIC.
HE'S GOING TO SHOW PEOPLE
THAT YOU BELONG TO HIM.
YOU'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH
WHAT YOU COULDN'T ACCOMPLISH
ON YOUR OWN.
PEOPLE ARE GONG TO GO OUT
OF THEIR WAY TO HELP YOU.
YOU'RE GOING TO DEFEAT GIANTS
THAT ARE MUCH BIGGER.
PEOPLE DON'T THINK YOU HAVE
A CHANCE.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
ON YOU.
THEY CAN'T SEE THE FAVOR YET,
BUT WHEN GOD ENDORSES YOU,
WHEN HE SHOWS OUT, THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY DOUBT
THE LORD IS ON YOUR SIDE.
>> FEMALE ANNOUNCER:
STAY TUNED FOR MORE
OF THIS WEEK'S MESSAGE.
>> MALE: WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
>> JESUS: JESUS OF NAZARETH.
>> MALE ANNOUNCER: FROM
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
JOEL OSTEEN...
>> JOEL: HE FELT
WHAT WE FELT.
HE FACED WHAT WE FACE TODAY.
>> MALE ANNOUNCER: COMES
THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST.
>> FEMALE: JESUS WAS SPECIAL.
JESUS HAD A MISSION.
>> JESUS: LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.
DO GOOD TO THOSE
WHO HATE YOU.
>> MALE ANNOUNCER: FROM THE
PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE.
>> MALE: IF WE WANT TO
UNDERSTAND WESTERN HISTORY,
WE MUST UNDERSTAND
THE STORY OF JESUS.
>> MALE ANNOUNCER:
"JESUS: HIS LIFE,"
TOMORROW AT 8 ON HISTORY.
JOEL: I'M EXCITED
ABOUT THIS NEW SERIES.
IT'S CALLED,
"JESUS, HIS LIFE" ON
THE HISTORY CHANNEL.
> VICTORIA: IT'S A
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
ON THE STORY
WE'VE ALL HEARD.
SEEING IT THROUGH
THE LIFE OF THE PEOPLE
WHO WERE THERE.
> JOEL: BE SURE TO
TUNE IN.
IT STARTS
TOMORROW NIGHT ON
THE HISTORY CHANNEL.
>> JOEL: JOSEPH'S BROTHERS
THREW HIM INTO A PIT.
THEY EVENTUALLY SOLD HIM
INTO SLAVERY.
HE WAS FALSELY ACCUSED,
PUT IN PRISON FOR SOMETHING
HE DIDN'T DO.
ALL THE ODDS WERE
AGAINST HIM.
BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
"JOSEPH HAD FAVOR IN
EVERYTHING THAT HE DID,"
AND ONE THING I'VE LEARNED
IS YOU CAN'T KEEP
A FAVORED MAN DOWN.
YOU CAN'T KEEP A FAVORED
WOMAN DOWN.
YOU MAY HAVE SOME OBSTACLES,
SITUATIONS THAT ARE NOT FAIR.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU
DON'T HAVE FAVOR.
CHALLENGES COME TO US ALL,
BUT FAVOR IS WHY YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO STAY DOWN.
FAVOR IS WHY YOU'RE GOING
TO RISE BACK TO THE TOP.
AND JOSEPH SPENT 13 YEARS
IN THE BACKGROUND,
BEING OVERLOOKED, MISTREATED.
THERE WERE PLENTY
OF LONELY NIGHTS.
HE DIDN'T GET BITTER.
HE KEPT DOING THE RIGHT
THING, AND ONE DAY THE
PHARAOH HAD A DREAM THAT
NO ONE COULD INTERPRET,
SO THEY BROUGHT JOSEPH IN.
NOW HE WAS STANDING IN FRONT
OF ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL
PEOPLE OF THAT DAY.
JOSEPH INTERPRETED THE DREAM.
THE PHARAOH WAS SO IMPRESSED,
HE MADE JOSEPH THE PRIME
MINISTER, SECOND IN COMMAND.
I CAN IMAGINE THAT MEETING
TOOK NO LONGER THAN AN HOUR.
JOSEPH WALKED IN A SLAVE,
IN PRISON.
AN HOUR LATER, HE WALKED OUT
THE PRIME MINISTER.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD CAN
DO IN AN HOUR.
HE CAN TAKE YEARS
OF HEARTACHE,
YEARS OF BEING OVERLOOKED,
YEARS OF PRAYING, BELIEVING,
NOT SEEING ANY GOOD BREAKS,
AND IN AN HOUR,
NOT JUST DELIVER YOU, NOT
JUST BRING A DREAM TO PASS,
BUT DO SOMETHING THAT
CATAPULTS YOU TO A NEW LEVEL
OF YOUR DESTINY.
HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN?
THE FAVOR ON YOUR LIFE.
WHEN GOD BREATHES ON YOU,
SUPERNATURAL DOORS WILL OPEN.
OBSTACLES THAT LOOK PERMANENT
WILL TURN AROUND.
PEOPLE THAT WERE AGAINST YOU
WILL SUDDENLY BE FOR YOU.
YEARS LATER, JOSEPH'S
BROTHERS CAME TO THE PALACE
LOOKING FOR FOOD, THE SAME
ONES THAT THREW HIM
INTO THE PIT.
THERE WAS A GREAT FAMINE IN
THEIR COUNTRY, AND THEY HAD
TRAVELED TO EGYPT.
WELL, NOW JOSEPH WAS IN
CHARGE OF THE FOOD SUPPLY,
THE PRIME MINISTER.
THEY DID THEIR BEST TO KEEP
HIM DOWN, BUT GOD KNOWS
HOW TO ENDORSE.
HE KNOWS HOW TO PUT YOU IN
A POSITION OF PROMINENCE,
AND YOU MAY KINDA FEEL
LIKE YOU'RE IN A PIT TODAY.
DON'T GET DISCOURAGED.
WE ALL HAVE PIT STOPS ALONG
THE WAY IN LIFE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS
THAT IS NOT YOUR
FINAL DESTINATION.
GOD HAS AN ENDORSEMENT
COMING, AND I'VE LEARNED
THE GREATER THE OPPOSITION,
THE GREATER
THE ENDORSEMENT.
THE MORE THE ENEMY TRIES
TO PULL YOU BACK, THE MORE
YOU'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD,
JUST LIKE A BOW AND ARROW.
HE THINKS HE'S PULLING YOU
BACK TO HINDER YOU.
HE DOESN'T REALIZE HE'S
SETTING YOU UP TO SHOOT
FURTHER THAN YOU'VE
EVER IMAGINED.
WHEN GOD SAYS IT'S TIME,
YOU'RE GOING TO SHOOT
INTO PROMINENCE,
SHOOT INTO NEW LEVELS
OF INFLUENCE,
LEADERSHIP, RESPECT, INCOME,
CREDIBILITY.
WHEN THE BROTHERS SAW JOSEPH
AND FINALLY REALIZED WHO HE
WAS, THEY NEARLY PASSED OUT.
THEY THOUGHT THEY
HAD GOTTEN RID OF HIM.
BUT WHAT THEY MEANT FOR HARM,
GOD USED FOR GOOD, AND GOD IS
NOT GOING TO JUST DELIVER
YOU, NOT GOING TO JUST
BRING YOU OUT.
HE'S GOING TO ENDORSE YOU.
HE'S GOING TO PUT YOU IN A
POSITION OF PROMINENCE WHERE
PEOPLE CAN SEE YOU HONORED,
RESPECTED, AND ADMIRED.
FOR OVER 40 YEARS, LAKEWOOD
WAS LOCATED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD
ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF
TOWN, AND OVER TIME,
THAT AREA BECAME
MORE INDUSTRIAL
AND A LITTLE MORE RUNDOWN.
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP,
LAKEWOOD WAS IN A SMALL METAL
BUILDING, METAL FOLDING
CHAIRS, GRAVEL PARKING LOT.
WE HAD A WOOD PORTABLE
BUILDING FOR THE NURSERIES,
AND SOME PEOPLE KIND OF
LOOKED DOWN ON US, LIKE WE
COULDN'T AFFORD MUCH.
WE WERE SECOND CLASS.
WE WERE AT A DISADVANTAGE.
WHEN I BECAME PASTOR, THERE
WERE CERTAIN PEOPLE I SAW
DURING THE WEEK THAT WEREN'T
A PART OF LAKEWOOD.
THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME
THE TIME OF DAY.
THEY BARELY EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED
THAT I WAS THERE.
BUT IN DECEMBER OF 2003,
THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL
VOTED FOR US TO HAVE
THIS BUILDING,
THE FORMER COMPAQ CENTER.
WE WENT FROM BEING IN THE
INDUSTRIAL PART OF TOWN
WITH SMALL ROADS,
BACK IN A NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT HARDLY ANYBODY
COULD FIND YOU, TO BEING
ON THE SECOND-BUSIEST
FREEWAY IN THE NATION IN ONE
OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN,
PRESTIGIOUS BUILDINGS
IN OUR CITY.
THAT ONE GOOD BREAK
CATAPULTED US TO LEVELS OF
INFLUENCE AND RESPECT THAT WE
COULDN'T HAVE REACHED ON OUR
OWN IN OUR WHOLE LIFETIME,
AND THOSE SAME PEOPLE THAT
WOULDN'T GIVE ME THE TIME OF
DAY, NOW THEY WERE COMING UP
ASKING IF I COULD SAVE
THEM SEATS.
I TOLD THEM, "OF COURSE I
WILL, RIGHT UP BY THE FLAG."
WHAT AM I SAYING?
GOD KNOWS HOW TO ENDORSE YOU.
HE KNOW HOW TO CAUSE YOU
TO BE SEEN IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT.
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED
BY WHERE YOU ARE.
GOD SEES WHAT'S HAPPENING.
HE'S KEEPING THE RECORDS.
HE'S GOING TO MAKE
THE WRONGS RIGHT.
HE HEARS THE DISRESPECT.
HE HEARS THEM MAKING FUN.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "GOD
HEARD MIRIAM CRITICIZING
MOSES BEHIND HIS BACK,"
AND THEY MAY NOT GIVE YOU
THE TIME OF DAY NOW,
DON'T WORRY,
AN ENDORSEMENT IS COMING,
NOT BY PEOPLE,
BUT BY THE MOST HIGH GOD.
HE'S GOING TO DO THINGS THAT
ARE OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE,
THINGS THAT YOU COULDN'T MAKE
HAPPEN, NOT ONLY AMAZES YOU,
BUT PEOPLE AROUND YOU ARE
GOING TO BE AMAZED.
BUT PEOPLE CONGRATULATED ME
FOR GETTING
THE COMPAQ CENTER.
I THOUGHT, "IF YOU
ONLY KNEW."
YES, I PRAYED, I BELIEVED,
BUT GOD MADE THINGS HAPPEN
THAT I COULD HAVE NEVER
MADE HAPPEN.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "GOD WILL
TURN THE HEART OF A KING."
GOD TURNED COUNCIL MEMBERS
THAT HAD BEEN AGAINST US
FOR YEARS, AND SUDDENLY,
THEY WERE FOR US.
RIGHT NOW, GOD IS WORKING
BEHIND THE SCENES
IN YOUR LIFE.
HE IS SETTING YOU UP FOR AN
ENDORSEMENT, SETTING YOU UP
FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE
NEVER SEEN, PROMOTION,
INFLUENCE, RELATIONSHIPS
THAT WILL THRUST YOU
TO A NEW LEVEL.
BUT THAT CITY COUNCIL VOTE
PROBABLY TOOK TEN MINUTES.
THE MAYOR BROUGHT THE MOTION
TO THE FLOOR.
THERE WAS
A LITTLE DISCUSSION.
THEN THEY WENT AROUND THE
TABLE AND 14 COUNCIL MEMBERS
VOTED.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT GOD
CAN DO IN 10 MINUTES.
THAT 10 MINUTES CHANGED
THE COURSE OF MY LIFE.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT GOD CAN DO
IN AN HOUR, JOSEPH MEETING
WITH THE PHARAOH.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT GOD CAN DO
OVERNIGHT, DANIEL PROTECTED
IN THE LIONS' DEN.
GOD HAS SOME OF THESE DESTINY
MOMENTS ALREADY LINED UP
FOR YOU.
YOU CAN'T SEE IT NOW.
IF HE SHOWED YOU, YOU'D
THINK, "THERE'S NO WAY."
BUT WHEN GOD ENDORSES YOU,
IT'S NOT LIKE PEOPLE SHOWING
YOU FAVOR.
WHEN GOD DOES IT,
IT CATAPULTS YOU AHEAD,
AND IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE
A LONG TIME.
YES, YOU HAVE TO BE FAITHFUL.
JOSEPH WAS IN TROUBLE FOR
13 YEARS, BUT IT ONLY TOOK HIM
AN HOUR TO GET OUT.
HE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING.
HE WOKE UP THAT MORNING
THINKING IT WAS ANOTHER
ORDINARY DAY.
HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS HIS
DAY TO BE ENDORSED.
HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT DAY WAS
A DESTINY MOMENT.
WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU IS GOING
TO HAPPEN UNEXPECTEDLY.
YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING,
HONORING HIM.
OUT OF THE BLUE,
SOMEONE CALLS,
OFFERS YOU THE PROMOTION.
THE MEDICAL REPORT SAYS NO
MORE CANCER, THE CONTRACT
GOES THROUGH, OR YOU
BUMP INTO THE PERSON
OF YOUR DREAMS.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE'D
GET UP EACH DAY AND SAY,
"FATHER, THANK YOU FOR
ENDORSING ME TODAY.
LET PEOPLE SEE THAT I AM
YOUR CHILD."
JOSHUA CHAPTER 3, GOD TOLD
JOSHUA, "TODAY I WILL BEGIN
TO MAKE YOU GREAT IN THE EYES
OF ALL THE ISRAELITES."
GOD WAS SAYING, "JOSHUA,
THIS IS YOUR MOMENT.
I'M ABOUT TO ENDORSE YOU.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SEE THE
GREATNESS I'VE PUT IN YOU.
YOU'VE BEEN IN THE
BACKGROUND, JOSHUA, SERVING
MOSES, BEING FAITHFUL,
BUT TODAY YOU'RE COMING
INTO THE FOREGROUND."
NOT LONG AFTER THAT,
JOSHUA LED THE ISRAELITES
INTO THE PROMISED LAND.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "THAT DAY
GOD MADE JOSHUA GREAT IN THE
EYES OF ALL THE PEOPLE."
GOD HAS A THAT DAY FOR YOU,
A TIME WHERE HE WILL MAKE YOU
GREAT, WHERE HE WILL CAUSE
YOU TO STAND OUT, WHERE YOU
WILL ACCOMPLISH THINGS YOU
NEVER DREAMED YOU
COULD ACCOMPLISH.
YOU WILL KNOW IT, AND THE
PEOPLE AROUND YOU WILL SEE
THE GREATNESS IN YOU.
HELEN MAJOR WAS A LONGTIME
MEMBER OF LAKEWOOD.
SHE TAUGHT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS,
SO FAITHFUL, POURING IN
TO THE CHILDREN.
SHE GOT ONE PROMOTION AFTER
ANOTHER, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL,
THEN PRINCIPAL.
AFTER A VERY DISTINGUISHED
CAREER, SHE RETIRED.
A FEW MONTHS LATER,
A NEW SCHOOL WAS OPENING
IN THE DISTRICT.
THE BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY
TO NAME IT THE HELEN MAJOR
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SHE NEVER DREAMED A SCHOOL
WOULD BE NAMED AFTER HER, BUT
GOD KNOWS HOW TO ENDORSE YOU.
HE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE YOUR
LIFE SIGNIFICANT, AND THIS
IS NOT SO WE CAN SAY,
"LOOK WHO WE ARE.
LOOK HOW GREAT
WE'VE BECOME."
IT'S ABOUT LETTING GOD'S
GLORY BE SEEN THROUGH YOU.
GOD WANTS TO MAKE YOU AN
EXAMPLE OF HIS GOODNESS, AND
IF YOU WILL WALK IN HUMILITY
AND ALWAYS GIVE GOD THE
CREDIT, THERE'S NO LIMIT TO
HOW HIGH HE WILL TAKE YOU.
ROMANS 8 SAYS, "ALL CREATION
IS EAGERLY WAITING FOR THE
DAY WHEN GOD REVEALS WHO HIS
CHILDREN REALLY ARE."
ALL CREATION IS WAITING FOR
YOU TO COME INTO THAT DAY.
THE STAGE HAS BEEN SET.
THE AUDIENCE IS IN PLACE.
YOU KEEP HONORING GOD.
HE'S GOING TO SHOW PEOPLE
WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
HE'S GOING TO BRING YOU
INTO A POSITION
OF GREATER PROMINENCE.
NOW, YOU MAY BE BEHIND THE
SCENES LIKE I USED TO BE,
AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG
WITH THAT, BUT GOD HAS
SOMETHING BIGGER.
HE'S GOING TO USE YOU
TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING
SIGNIFICANT, NOT JUST BE
A SMALL PART.
YOU'RE GOING TO SHINE.
YOU'RE GOING TO STAND OUT.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SEE THE
GREATNESS IN YOU, AND IT'S
GOOD TO CELEBRATE OTHERS.
IT'S GOOD TO CHEER
YOUR FRIENDS ON.
IT'S GOOD TO ADMIRE THOSE
THAT ARE AHEAD, BUT GOD
DOESN'T WANT YOU TO LIVE
IN A CHEERLEADER MODE,
ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT
HOW GREAT OTHERS ARE.
CAN I TELL YOU, THERE
IS GREATNESS IN YOU?
YOU HAVE TALENT, CREATIVITY,
ABILITY, COURAGE, STRENGTH.
IT'S GOING TO COME OUT IN A
GREATER WAY, AND WHEN YOU
COME INTO THAT DAY WHEN GOD
ENDORSES YOU, PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO STEP BACK AND SAY,
"WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW
THAT WAS IN THEM.
I NEVER DREAMED THEY WOULD
SHINE THAT BRIGHTLY.
GOD IS GOING TO SHOW PEOPLE
WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
THERE WAS A YOUNG JEWISH GIRL
IN THE SCRIPTURE
NAMED ESTHER.
SHE WAS AN ORPHAN.
SHE HAD LOST BOTH
OF HER PARENTS.
SHE WAS LIVING IN EXILE
IN PERSIA.
DIDN'T LOOK LIKE SHE WOULD
EVER DO ANYTHING GREAT, BUT
ONE DAY THE KING WAS LOOKING
FOR A NEW QUEEN.
HE DECIDED TO HAVE
A NATIONWIDE BEAUTY CONTEST
WHERE HE WOULD CHOOSE
THE NEXT QUEEN.
THE KING SENT PEOPLE OUT
LOOKING FOR YOUNG LADIES,
AND THEY BROUGHT ESTHER BACK
AND PUT HER IN THE CONTEST.
WELL, ESTHER HAD NEVER BEEN
GROOMED TO BE A QUEEN,
NEVER HAD THE TRAINING.
SHE DIDN'T COME FROM
A PROMINENT FAMILY.
THEY LINED ALL THE YOUNG
LADIES UP IN FRONT
OF THE KING.
THEY WERE ALL BEAUTIFUL, ALL
WEARING THE LATEST FASHION,
ALL HAD THE BEST HAIR
AND MAKEUP.
I COULD IMAGINE THE KING
LOOKED AT THEIR RESUMES.
SOME OF THEM CAME FROM
WEALTH AND INFLUENCE.
SOME HAD IMPRESSIVE RESUMES,
GREAT EDUCATIONS,
STANDOUTS IN THEIR FIELD.
THERE WERE PLENTY OF OBVIOUS
CHOICES, BUT FOR SOME REASON,
THE KING CHOSE ESTHER,
AN ORPHAN, A FOREIGNER.
WHEN GOD ENDORSES YOU, IT
WILL CAUSE YOU TO STAND OUT.
HIS FAVOR WILL CAUSE YOU
TO BE PREFERRED.
THEY COULD'VE CHOSEN ANYONE
FOR THE CONTRACT.
FOR SOME REASON,
THEY CHOSE YOU.
THEY COULD'VE BOUGHT ANY
HOUSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
FOR SOME REASON,
THEY LIKED YOURS BEST.
THERE WERE PLENTY OF STUDENTS
THAT DESERVED
THE SCHOLARSHIP.
FOR SOME REASON,
THEY PICKED YOU.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO MAKE
YOU ATTRACTIVE.
HE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE PEOPLE
LIKE YOU.
SOMETIMES THEY DON'T
EVEN KNOW WHY.
THEY CAN'T PUT THEIR FINGER
ON IT.
THERE'S JUST SOMETHING
ABOUT YOU, THAT'S GOD
SMILING DOWN ON YOU.
"WELL, JOEL, THIS SOUNDS
GOOD, BUT I DON'T HAVE
THE TRAINING.
I DON'T HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE."
NEITHER DID ESTHER.
FAVOR IS MORE POWERFUL
THAN YOUR RESUME.
FAVOR WILL TAKE YOU WHERE
YOU DON'T HAVE
THE QUALIFICATIONS.
FAVOR WILL OPEN DOORS WHERE
YOU LOOK UP AND THINK,
"HOW DID I GET HERE?
I WAS THE LEAST LIKELY ONE."
ESTHER NEVER DREAMED
OF BECOMING A QUEEN.
THAT WASN'T EVEN
ON HER RADAR.
BUT WHEN YOU COME INTO THAT
DAY, WHEN GOD ENDORSES YOU,
HE WILL BRING YOU INTO
PROMINENCE THAT YOU'VE
NEVER IMAGINED.
HE'LL CAUSE OPPORTUNITY
TO COME TO YOU.
ESTHER WASN'T LOOKING
FOR THAT POSITION.
THE POSITION CAME TO HER.
SHE WENT FROM THE BACKGROUND
TO THE FOREGROUND.
LATER, ESTHER USED HER
POSITION TO SAVE THE JEWISH
PEOPLE FROM A PLOT
TO DESTROY THEM.
I BELIEVE ONE REASON GOD GAVE
HER SUCH PROMINENCE IS
HE KNEW SHE WOULD USE
THE INFLUENCE TO FULFILL
HER PURPOSE.
FAVOR IS NOT ABOUT HAVING A
BIGGER HOUSE, A BETTER CAR,
MORE STUFF.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHY GOD
IS GOING TO FAVOR YOU.
IT'S TO FULFILL YOUR PURPOSE.
IT'S TO ADVANCE HIS KINGDOM,
AND WHEN YOUR DREAMS ARE TIED
TO HELPING OTHERS, TO MAKING
THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE,
TO LIFTING THE FALLEN,
THEN YOU WILL COME
INTO SOME OF THAT DAYS,
WHERE GOD WILL SHINE
MORE THAN YOU'VE
EVER IMAGINED.
WHEN GOD CAN TRUST YOU,
HE WILL TAKE YOU FROM
OBSCURITY TO NOTORIETY.
NOW YOU'VE WORKED HARD,
YOU'VE BEEN FAITHFUL,
YOU'VE HONORED GOD.
GET READY, THE CURTAIN IS
ABOUT TO COME UP.
GOD IS ABOUT TO SHOW PEOPLE
WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE YOU ARE
COMING IN TO A NEW LEVEL
OF PROMINENCE,
A NEW LEVEL OF INFLUENCE,
A NEW LEVEL OF INCOME.
GOD IS ABOUT TO ENDORSE YOU.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SEE
THE GREATNESS HE PUT IN YOU,
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, AND 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.
