JOEL OSTEEN: WELL,
GOD BLESS YOU.
IT'S A JOY TO COME
INTO YOUR HOMES.
IF YOU'RE EVER IN OUR AREA,
PLEASE STOP BY AND BE A PART
OF ONE OF OUR SERVICES.
I PROMISE YOU WE WILL MAKE
YOU FEEL RIGHT AT HOME.
NOW, I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY, AND I HEARD
ABOUT THIS BAPTIST MAN
NAMED BILL.
HE LIKED TO SNEAK OFF TO
THE HORSE RACES AND BET.
ONE DAY, AFTER LOSING SO MUCH
MONEY, HE SAW A CATHOLIC
PRIEST STEP ONTO THE TRACKS
AND BLESS A HORSE.
SURE ENOUGH, THE HORSE
WON FIRST PLACE.
HE BLESSED ANOTHER HORSE,
THAT HORSE WON AGAIN.
SEEING THIS, BILL WENT TO
THE ATM, TOOK OUT ALL
OF HIS MONEY.
THIS TIME, HE SAW THE PRIEST
NOT ONLY TOUCH THE HORSE'S
FOREHEAD, BUT TO TOUCH
HIS EYES, HIS EARS,
ALL OF HIS LEGS.
FEELING CONFIDENT,
HE BET ALL OF HIS MONEY.
BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE RACE, THE HORSE
FELL OVER DEAD.
BILL COULDN'T BELIEVE IT, HE
WENT TO THE PRIEST, SAID,
"WHAT IN THE WORLD
HAPPENED?"
THE PRIEST SAID, "THAT'S THE
PROBLEM WITH YOU PROTESTANTS,
YOU DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A BLESSING
AND THE LAST RITES.
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'S NAME.
GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT A PUBLIC DISPLAY.
WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO IN
YOUR LIFE IS NOT JUST GOING
TO BE IN PRIVATE,
WHERE NOBODY SEES IT,
IN THE BACKGROUND,
HIDDEN.
GOD IS GOING TO DO
SOMETHING IN PUBLIC.
HE'S GOING TO SHOW OUT TO
WHERE YOU NOT ONLY SEE HIS
POWER, BUT PEOPLE AROUND YOU
SEE HIS POWER, AND IT'S
ONE THING WHEN GOD DOES
SOMETHING IN SECRET.
HE TURNS A PROBLEM AROUND,
NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT,
SHOWS YOU FAVOR IN PRIVATE.
BUT WHEN GOD BRINGS
YOU OUT IN PUBLIC,
IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.
WHEN PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO
DISCREDIT YOU, PUSH YOU DOWN,
BUT GOD OPENED A DOOR YOU
COULDN'T OPEN, PROMOTED YOU
WHEN YOU DIDN'T HAVE
THE QUALIFICATIONS,
PUT YOU IN A POSITION
OF INFLUENCE, WHEN
HE GIVES YOU A PUBLIC
DISPLAY, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO ANSWER YOUR CRITICS,
GOD DOES.
WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE YOU HAD
REACHED YOUR LIMITS,
RELATIVES LAUGHED WHEN YOU
TOLD THEM YOU WERE GOING
TO PAY YOUR HOUSE OFF.
THEY SHOOK THEIR HEADS,
THINKING YOU'RE
KIND OF FAR OUT.
BUT WHEN YOU COME INTO AN
EXPLOSIVE BLESSING, BLESSINGS
THAT CATAPULT YOU AHEAD, THEY
WON'T BE SHAKING THEIR HEADS
IN DISAPPROVAL, THEY'LL BE
SHAKING THEIR HEADS
IN AMAZEMENT.
GOD IS GOING TO SHOW OUT NOT
ONLY TO TAKE YOU INTO YOUR
DESTINY, BUT TO PROVE
TO OTHER PEOPLE THE LORD
IS ON YOUR SIDE.
WHAT HE'S ABOUT TO DO IN YOUR
LIFE PUBLICLY IS NOT GOING TO
LEAVE ANY DOUBT, AND IT'S ONE
THING TO SAY THE LORD IS ON
YOUR SIDE, IT'S ANOTHER TO
SEE THE LORD IS ON YOUR SIDE.
YOU'VE BEEN SAYING IT,
YOU'VE BEEN FAITHFUL,
BELIEVING, EXPECTING.
GET READY, YOU'RE ABOUT
TO SEE IT.
GOD IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING
SO BIG, SO UNUSUAL, THERE
WON'T BE ANY DOUBT TO YOU AND
TO PEOPLE AROUND YOU THAT
HIS FAVOR IS ON YOUR LIFE.
GOD SAID IN EXODUS,
"I WILL PERFORM WONDERS
NEVER DONE BEFORE.
ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU
WILL SEE THE AWESOME POWER
I DISPLAY THROUGH YOU."
GOD IS ABOUT TO DISPLAY
THROUGH YOU AWESOME POWER.
HE COULD DISPLAY IT THROUGH
ANYTHING, THROUGH NATURE,
THROUGH CREATION,
THROUGH THE WEATHER.
BUT HE SAID, "I'M GOING TO
DISPLAY IT THROUGH YOU."
HE'S ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING
UNPRECEDENTED, SOMETHING THAT
CAUSES YOU TO STAND OUT,
WHERE THERE'S NO EXPLANATION.
THAT SICKNESS SHOULD'VE
BEEN THE END.
THE MEDICAL REPORT SAID YOU
WERE DONE, BUT YOU DEFIED
THE ODDS.
YOU OVERCAME IT.
GOD DISPLAYED HIS
AWESOME POWER.
OR SOME OF THE PEOPLE YOU
GREW UP WITH, THEY'RE STILL
STRUGGLING, CAN'T GET AHEAD,
IN DYSFUNCTION.
LOOK AT YOU, BLESSED,
PROSPEROUS, LIVING AT
A DIFFERENT LEVEL.
OR MAYBE YOU WEREN'T THE MOST
QUALIFIED, YOU DIDN'T HAVE
THE EXPERIENCE, BUT YOUR
BUSINESS TOOK OFF.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO FIND
CLIENTS, THEY FOUND YOU.
THAT'S GOD DISPLAYING
HIS AWESOME POWER.
AWESOME MEANS IT'S NOT GOING
TO BE ORDINARY, IT'S GOING
TO BE UNUSUAL.
NOT NATURAL, SUPERNATURAL.
THAT'S WHAT THIS BUILDING IS,
THE FORMER COMPAQ CENTER,
AN AWESOME DISPLAY
OF GOD'S POWER.
WE WERE UP AGAINST OPPONENTS
THAT WERE BIGGER, STRONGER,
HAD MORE RESOURCES.
CRITICS LAUGHED, PEOPLE
MADE FUN, SAID WE WERE
WASTING OUR TIME.
BUT SOMETIMES GOD WILL LET
YOU GET IN A SITUATION WHERE
THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY OUT
SO WHEN HE TURNS IT AROUND,
EVERYONE WILL KNOW
IT WAS HIM.
THERE WON'T BE ANY DOUBT IT
WAS THE HAND OF GOD.
NOW, YOUR SITUATION MAY
SEEM IMPOSSIBLE.
THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN
ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAM,
NO WAY YOU'LL GET WELL,
NO WAY YOU CAN
PAY YOUR HOUSE OFF.
YOU'RE SO IN DEBT,
IT'S A SETUP.
GOD IS ABOUT TO DISPLAY HIS
AWESOME POWER, NOT JUST SO
YOU CAN SEE IT, BUT SO OTHER
PEOPLE CAN SEE IT.
DAVID SAID, "GOD PREPARES
A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE
PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES."
NOT PRIVATE, NOT HIDDEN.
GOD IS GOING TO SHOW OUT SO
YOUR ENEMIES, THE OPPOSITION,
THE CRITICS WILL ALL SEE YOU
PROMOTED, HONORED,
IN A POSITION OF INFLUENCE,
A PUBLIC DISPLAY.
THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T HAVE TO
PROVE TO PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRY
TO CONVINCE THEM TO LIKE YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE
WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE
THAT ARE NOT FOR YOU.
KEEP RUNNING YOUR RACE,
HONORING GOD, AND AT SOME
POINT HE'S GOING TO SHOW OUT
IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOUR
CRITICS CAN'T DENY
THE FAVOR ON YOU.
THEY MAY NOT LIKE YOU,
BUT THEY WILL RESPECT YOU.
THE SAME PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T
WANT US TO HAVE THIS
BUILDING, EVERY TIME THEY
DRIVE BY ON THE FREEWAY,
THEY MAY NOT LIKE IT,
BUT THEY CAN'T DENY THE LORD
WAS ON OUR SIDE.
GOD HAS SOME OF THESE
PUBLIC DISPLAYS FOR YOU.
NOT A SECRET SIGN,
NOT IN PRIVATE.
HE'S GOING TO SHOW OUT TO
PROVE TO PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE.
DAVID SAID IN PSALM 86, "GOD,
MAKE A SHOW OF HOW MUCH YOU
LOVE ME SO THAT BULLIES
THAT HATE ME WILL STAND
THERE SLACK-JAWED."
THAT MEANS IN ASTONISHMENT.
DAVID KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE
TO HAVE OPPOSITION,
PEOPLE SLANDERING HIM,
PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T
BELIEVE IN HIM.
HIS BROTHERS MADE FUN OF HIM,
HIS FATHER DISCOUNTED HIM.
WHEN HE TOLD KING SAUL
HE WANTED TO FIGHT GOLIATH,
SAUL THOUGHT HE WAS KIDDING.
DAVID WAS A TEENAGER,
DIDN'T HAVE ANY TRAINING.
WHEN GOLIATH SAW DAVID
AND HOW SMALL HE WAS,
HE THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS DAVID
COULD'VE DEFEATED GOLIATH
IN PRIVATE.
THEY COULD'VE BEEN ALONE, IN
A DESERTED PART OF A VALLEY,
NOBODY AROUND.
STILL WOULD'VE BEEN A GREAT
MIRACLE, BUT GOD KNOWS THERE
ARE TIMES WHERE HE HAS TO
BRING YOU OUT IN PUBLIC SO
ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR
ENEMIES, THOSE THAT ARE
FOR YOU AND AGAINST YOU,
WILL SEE FIRSTHAND THE FAVOR
ON YOUR LIFE.
WHEN DAVID FACED GOLIATH,
ALL THE PHILISTINE ARMY WAS ON
THE MOUNTAINSIDE WATCHING.
THE ISRAELI ARMY ON THE OTHER
SIDE, KING SAUL WAS OUT
THERE, OTHER LEADERS, PEOPLE
FROM THE TOWN, THEY ALL HEARD
ABOUT THIS BIG FIGHT.
IT WAS LIKE THE SUPER BOWL,
EVERYONE CAME OUT TO SEE,
AND THE ODDS WERE SO AGAINST
DAVID, IT WAS ALMOST COMICAL.
GOLIATH STOOD OVER
9 FEET TALL.
HE WAS THEIR MOST
EXPERIENCED FIGHTER.
DAVID WAS A TEENAGER,
NO ARMOR, NO TRAINING.
WHEN HE RAN OUT TO FACE
GOLIATH, ALL THE EYES
WERE ON HIM.
HE SLUNG THAT ROCK, IT HIT
GOLIATH IN THE FOREHEAD,
KNOCKED HIM TO THE GROUND
UNCONSCIOUS.
DAVID WENT OVER AND TOOK
GOLIATH'S OWN SWORD
AND CUT HIS HEAD OFF.
EVERYONE STOOD THERE IN
ASTONISHMENT, SLACK-JAWED.
THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT
THEY HAD JUST SEEN.
INSTANTLY, DAVID HAD
INFLUENCE, CREDIBILITY,
HONOR, RESPECT.
INSTEAD OF MAKING FUN OF HIM,
DISMISSING HIM, NOW WHEN THEY
TALKED TO DAVID,
IT WAS "YES SIR, NO SIR.
WHATEVER YOU SAY, SIR."
EVERYTHING CHANGED.
HIS FAMILY NEVER TREATED HIM
THE SAME WAY.
HIS FATHER NOW RECOGNIZED
THE ANOINTING ON HIS LIFE.
EVEN THE PHILISTINES,
THE OPPOSITION,
THEY DIDN'T LIKE HIM,
BUT THEY COULDN'T DENY
THE LORD WAS ON HIS SIDE.
LIKE WITH DAVID, GOD HAS SOME
OF THESE TIMES WHERE HE'S
GOING TO PROVE TO PEOPLE
WHO YOU ARE.
HE'S GOING TO OPEN DOORS
YOU COULDN'T OPEN,
HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH
WHAT YOU COULDN'T
ACCOMPLISH ON YOUR OWN,
HELP YOU DEFEAT GIANTS
THAT LOOK MUCH BIGGER.
EVERYONE WILL SEE HIS HAND
ON YOUR LIFE.
HE IS NOT GOING TO DO IT IN
SECRET, IT'S GOING TO BE
A PUBLIC DISPLAY.
A GENTLEMAN WAS IN TOWN
SEVERAL YEARS AGO
FOR TREATMENT AT
THE MEDICAL CENTER.
HE HAD A RARE FORM OF CANCER.
THE PHYSICIAN TREATING HIM
WAS A SPECIALIST IN THAT
AREA, A VERY WELL-KNOWN IN
THE MEDICAL FIELD, ONE OF
THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
EVEN WITH THE TREATMENT,
HE'D GIVEN THE MAN ONLY
THREE YEARS TO LIVE.
THIS MAN TOLD THE DOCTOR
THAT HE WAS GOING TO PRAY.
HE BELIEVED THAT GOD
COULD HEAL HIM.
WELL, THE DOCTOR CAME
FROM OVERSEAS, HE DOESN'T
HAVE ANY KIND OF FAITH.
HE'S A NICE MAN,
BUT HE SMILED AND SAID,
"UNFORTUNATELY, THIS TYPE
OF CANCER DOESN'T RESPOND
TO PRAYER."
HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYONE
RECOVER FROM IT, AND HE WAS
RESPECTFUL, HE JUST SAW IT
FROM A SCIENTIFIC POINT
OF VIEW.
SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE MAN
WENT BACK TO SEE HOW THE
TREATMENT WAS WORKING.
THE DOCTOR CAME IN, LOOKED
AT HIS CHART, AND SEEMED
PUZZLED, THOUGHT IT WAS
THE WRONG ONE.
WENT OUT, CAME BACK
IN A LITTLE LATER,
HE SHOWED THE MAN
THE OLD CHART, COMPARED
IT TO THE NEW, AND SAID, "IN
40 YEARS OF PRACTICE, I HAVE
NEVER SEEN THIS, BUT I DON'T
SEE THE CANCER ANYMORE."
THE DOCTOR STOOD THERE
IN ASTONISHMENT.
HE ASKED THE MAN IF HE WOULD
WRITE DOWN WHAT HE PRAYED,
HOW LONG HE PRAYED,
EVERYTHING HE DID SO HE COULD
INCLUDE IT IN HIS RESEARCH.
WHAT WAS THAT?
A PUBLIC DISPLAY.
GOD SHOWED HIS AWESOME POWER
THROUGH THIS MAN,
NOT JUST TO HEAL HIM,
BUT SO OTHER PEOPLE
WOULD SEE THE HAND OF GOD.
THAT DOCTOR WILL NEVER BE
THE SAME.
HE MAY NOT BE A BELIEVER YET,
BUT A SEED WAS PLANTED IN HIS
HEART, AND IT'S SIGNIFICANT
THAT DAVID PRAYED, "GOD,
MAKE A SHOW OF HOW MUCH
YOU LOVE ME."
HE WAS RELEASING HIS FAITH,
SAYING, "GOD, I BELIEVE YOU
CAN TAKE ME WHERE I CAN'T GO
ON MY OWN."
I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF WE WOULD START PRAYING,
"GOD MAKE A SHOW OF HOW MUCH
YOU LOVE ME.
DISPLAY YOUR AWESOME POWER
THROUGH ME.
LET ME NOT ONLY SEE YOUR
GOODNESS, BUT USE ME TO SHOW
OTHER PEOPLE HOW GREAT
YOU ARE."
1 KINGS 18, 450 FALSE
PROPHETS THAT WORSHIPED THE
GOD BAAL CAME AGAINST ELIJAH.
DIDN'T LOOK LIKE HE HAD
A CHANCE, IT WAS ALL OF THEM
AGAINST HIM.
THEY AGREED TO SETTLE THEIR
FEUD BY HAVING A CONTEST.
THEY WOULD BOTH MAKE AN ALTAR
AND PUT WOOD ON IT, AND THE
GOD WHO STARTED THE WOOD ON
FIRE WOULD BE THE TRUE GOD,
AND SOMETIMES, LIKE ELIJAH,
YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A
SITUATION WHERE YOU FEEL
OUTNUMBERED.
THE SICKNESS SEEMS BIGGER,
THE OPPOSITION STRONGER,
THE ADDICTION TOO POWERFUL.
IT'S EASY TO GET DISCOURAGED
AND SHRINK BACK.
BUT YOU HAVE TO DO LIKE HIM,
DON'T BE INTIMIDATED
BY WHAT'S AGAINST YOU.
THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS,
THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S.
GOD DID NOT BRING YOU
THIS FAR TO LEAVE YOU.
HE ALLOWED THAT SITUATION SO
HE COULD DISPLAY HIS AWESOME
POWER THROUGH YOU.
EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE MAY SAY,
"YOU'LL NEVER GET OUT,
NEVER GET WELL.
THE OBSTACLE'S TOO BIG."
STAY IN FAITH,
GOD HAS YOUR BACK.
IT WAS 450 AGAINST ONE, BUT
WHAT THE PROPHETS OF BAAL
DIDN'T REALIZE IS ELIJAH
HAD THE MOST HIGH GOD
ON HIS SIDE.
THEY BUILT THEIR ALTAR, PUT
THE WOOD ON IT, STARTED
PRAYING, DANCING, BEGGING,
SHOUTING HOUR AFTER HOUR.
EVERYONE WATCHING,
NOTHING HAPPENED.
FINALLY ELIJAH SAID,
"IT'S MY TURN."
HE PUT THE ROCKS DOWN, PUT
THE WOOD ON TOP OF IT, THEN
HE TOLD THEM TO POUR WATER
ON THE WOOD.
NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE, BUT
THREE TIMES, HE WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WHEN IT CAUGHT
FIRE, THEY WOULD KNOW IT
WASN'T A COINCIDENCE, IT
WASN'T JUST AN ACT OF NATURE,
IT WAS THE HAND OF GOD.
VERSE 36, ELIJAH PRAYED, "GOD
OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB,
PROVE TODAY THAT YOU ARE
THE LORD AND THAT I AM
YOUR SERVANT.
ANSWER ME SO THESE PEOPLE
WILL KNOW YOU ARE GOD."
THINK OF THE BOLDNESS
THAT TOOK.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE THING
TO PRAY AND BELIEVE,
AND GOD DOESN'T ANSWER
OUR PRAYER.
NO BIG DEAL, WE'LL PRAY
AGAIN TOMORROW,
WE'LL KEEP BELIEVING.
ELIJAH DIDN'T HAVE
THIS OPTION.
HIS LIFE WAS ON THE LINE.
IT WAS, "GOD, EITHER SHOW UP
OR I'M DONE."
SOON AS HE FINISHED PRAYING,
FIRE FLASHED DOWN FROM
HEAVEN, BURNED IT ALL UP.
EVERYONE FELL ON THEIR FACE
AND SAID, "ELIJAH,
YOUR GOD IS THE TRUE GOD,"
AND GOD IS GOING TO DO
SOME THINGS IN YOUR LIFE
WHERE HE DOESN'T JUST
BRING YOU OUT, HE GIVES YOU
A PUBLIC SIGN.
PEOPLE AROUND YOU MAY NOT
BELIEVE YET, BUT WHEN GOD
DISPLAYS HIS AWESOME POWER
THROUGH YOU, WHEN HE PROMOTES
YOU WHEN OTHERS WERE TRYING
TO PUSH YOU DOWN,
WHEN HE TAKES YOU TO
LEVELS YOU'VE NEVER DREAMED,
THEY WON'T BE ABLE
TO DENY IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW
HE IS GOD.
ELIJAH PRAYED, "GOD, PROVE
THAT YOU ARE THE LORD, AND
PROVE THAT I AM YOUR CHILD."
NOW, GOD DOESN'T HAVE
TO PROVE ANYTHING.
HE'S GOD WHETHER WE BELIEVE
IT OR NOT, BUT SOMETIMES HE
WILL PROVE TO OTHER PEOPLE
THAT YOU ARE HIS CHILD.
WHEN YOU FACE
DIFFICULT SITUATIONS,
YOU FEEL OUTNUMBERED,
THE GIANT SEEMS TOO BIG,
IF YOU'LL DO LIKE ELIJAH
AND SAY IN HUMILITY,
"GOD, PROVE THAT I'M
YOUR CHILD.
FREE ME FROM THIS ADDICTION.
TURN MY MARRIAGE AROUND.
RESTORE MY HEALTH.
BRING THIS DREAM TO PASS,"
IF YOU'LL ASK BIG,
GOD WILL SHOW OUT BIG.
HE'LL PROVE NOT ONLY TO YOU,
BUT TO PEOPLE AROUND YOU
THAT YOU ARE HIS CHILD,
AND HE IS ON YOUR SIDE.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WHEN
THE FIRE HIT, IT NOT ONLY
BURNED UP THE WOOD, FIRE IS
SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.
NOT ONLY EVAPORATED
THE WATER, THAT'S NORMAL.
BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THE
ROCKS WERE BURNED UP.
IT WAS ALL GONE.
ROCKS DON'T NORMALLY BURN,
BUT WHEN GOD SHOWS OUT IN
YOUR LIFE, HE'S GOING TO
CHANGE WHAT LOOKS PERMANENT.
MAYBE YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN OFF
COURSE FOR YEARS, YOU DON'T
THINK YOU CAN BREAK THE
ADDICTION, YOU FEEL STUCK IN
YOUR CAREER, HAVE BIG
OBSTACLES IN YOUR PATH.
DON'T WORRY, GOD KNOWS HOW
TO BURN UP THE ROCKS.
WHEN HE SHOWS OUT,
THE BABY WILL BE CONCEIVED,
THE LOAN WILL GO THROUGH.
YOUR CHILD WILL FULFILL HIS
DESTINY, YOUR HEALTH
WILL TURN AROUND.
HE'S A SUPERNATURAL GOD.
GET READY, HE'S ABOUT
TO BURN UP SOME ROCKS.
HE'S ABOUT TO MOVE WHAT LOOKS
PERMANENT.
IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO
SURPRISE YOU, IT'S GOING
TO SURPRISE THE PEOPLE
AROUND YOU.
GROWING UP, WE KNEW A MAN
THAT OWNED A COMPANY
THAT MOVED HOUSES.
HE WAS AN UNUSUAL MAN,
FULL OF FAITH.
HE WOULD BELIEVE
FOR ANYTHING.
ONE DAY HE AND HIS MEN HAD
TRAVELED FOR HOURS DOWN THESE
COUNTRY ROADS MOVING A HOUSE.
THEY FINALLY MADE IT
TO THEIR LOCATION.
WHEN THEY STARTED TO UNLOAD
THE HOUSE, THE MAN REALIZED
HE FORGOT TO BRING
HIS MAIN CHAIN.
WITHOUT THAT CHAIN,
HE COULDN'T FINISH.
HE WAS SO DISAPPOINTED, THEY
WERE WAY OUT IN THE COUNTRY,
COUPLE OF HOURS FROM
THE NEAREST TOWN.
LOOKED LIKE HE'D HAVE TO COME
BACK THE NEXT DAY.
HE WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE WHEN
HE DECIDED TO PRAY.
HE TOLD THE PEOPLE AROUND
HIM, THEY KIND OF LAUGHED,
SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO PRAY ABOUT?"
HE SAID, "I'M GOING TO PRAY
THAT GOD WILL GIVE ME
A CHAIN."
NOW, THEY REALLY LAUGHED.
ONE OF THEM SAID,
"WHAT DO YOU THINK,
GOD'S GOING TO RAIN
DOWN A CHAIN
FROM HEAVEN?"
THEY WERE ALL MAKING FUN
LAUGHING, HE SAID, "I DON'T
KNOW, BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK
NOT, SO I'M GOING TO ASK."
HE SAID, "LORD,
YOU CAN DO ANYTHING.
YOU CONTROL THE UNIVERSE.
I'M ASKING YOU TO GIVE ME
A CHAIN SO WE DON'T HAVE
TO WASTE A DAY
AND COME BACK TOMORROW."
THEY WERE STANDING ON THE
SIDE OF THIS COUNTRY ROAD,
THERE WAS A BIG CURVE
RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.
ABOUT THAT TIME,
THIS OLD PICKUP TRUCK CAME
SPEEDING DOWN THE ROAD,
IT HAD ITS TAILGATE DOWN.
WHEN IT TOOK THAT TURN GOING
WAY TOO FAST, A CHAIN SLUNG
OUT OF THE BACK OF THE PICKUP
BED, SLID ACROSS THE ROAD,
ENDED UP RIGHT AT
THE MAN'S FEET.
HE PICKED IT UP, SAID,
"I GOT MY CHAIN, MEN.
LET'S GO TO WORK."
SOMETIMES GOD WILL SHOW OUT
IN YOUR LIFE NOT SO MUCH FOR
YOUR SAKE, BUT TO SHOW OTHER
PEOPLE THAT THE LORD
IS ON YOUR SIDE.
THOSE MEN STOOD THERE
IN ASTONISHMENT.
WHEN THEY PRAYED, NO MORE
MAKING FUN, THEY LISTENED.
WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT
WOULD DO LIKE THIS MAN AND
BELIEVE GOD WANTS TO DISPLAY
AWESOME POWER THROUGH YOU?
PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE GOD WANTS
TO MAKE YOU AN EXAMPLE
OF HIS GOODNESS.
IT'S GOOD TO READ ABOUT GOD'S
POWER, IT'S GOOD TO TALK
ABOUT IT, IT'S GOOD TO
REMEMBER IT, BUT GOD WANTS
YOU TO EXPERIENCE IT.
HE WANTS TO SHOW OUT
IN YOUR LIFE IN A NEW WAY.
WHEN YOU DO LIKE DAVID, "GOD,
MAKE A SHOW OF YOUR FAVOR,"
THAT'S WHEN GOD WILL MAKE
THINGS HAPPEN THAT NOT ONLY
AMAZE YOU, BUT AMAZE THE
PEOPLE AROUND YOU.
A LADY I KNOW WAS ON A FLIGHT
A WHILE BACK, A FRIEND OF
HERS ON THAT SAME FLIGHT
BECAME ILL.
HER HEART STARTED RACING,
BLOOD PRESSURE WENT UP,
SHE THOUGHT SHE'S GOING
TO PASS OUT.
THIS LADY HEARD ABOUT IT AND
RUSHED BACK TO HER SEAT AND
KIND OF KNELT DOWN BESIDE HER
IN THE AISLE AND STARTED
PRAYING FOR HER.
EVERYONE WAS WATCHING,
ALL THIS COMMOTION.
AS SHE PRAYED, THE YOUNG
LADY'S HEART RATE BEGAN TO GO
BACK DOWN, AND THE DIZZINESS
BEGAN TO GO AWAY.
THE MAN IN THE SEAT BEHIND
THEM WAS SO IMPRESSED,
HE SAID TO THE LADY,
"WHAT WAS IT ABOUT YOUR
PRAYER THAT DID THAT?"
ALL OF A SUDDEN, TURBULENCE
HIT THE PLANE, STARTED GOING
UP AND DOWN, EVERYBODY
HOLDING ON FOR DEAR LIFE.
THIS WAS MAKING THAT YOUNG
LADY'S HEART START
RACING AGAIN.
FOR ABOUT 10 OR 15 SECONDS,
THIS LADY PRAYED, "LORD, LET
THESE WINDS CALM DOWN."
RIGHT WHEN SHE SAID IT, THE
PLANE WENT BACK TO NORMAL.
ALL THE TURBULENCE STOPPED.
THAT MAN'S EYES GOT THIS BIG.
HE SAID, "LADY, WHERE DID YOU
GET THIS KIND OF POWER?"
SHE SAID, "IT'S NOT ME,
IT'S MY GOD."
WHEN YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD
WANTS TO SHOW OUT IN YOUR
LIFE AND YOU HAVE THE
BOLDNESS TO ASK, GOD WILL
DISPLAY AWESOME POWER THROUGH
YOU, AND OTHER PEOPLE
WILL NOTICE.
WHEN THE THREE HEBREW
TEENAGERS WOULDN'T BOW DOWN
TO KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S
GOLDEN IDOL, HE WAS SO
FURIOUS, HE HAD THEM THROWN
INTO A FIERY FURNACE.
WHEN THE GUARD OPENED
THE DOOR, IT WAS SO HOT,
HE WAS INSTANTLY KILLED.
THOSE TEENAGERS SHOULDN'T
HAVE MADE IT ANY TIME,
BUT IN A FEW MINUTES,
THE KING WENT OVER
TO THE FURNACE, LOOKED
IN THE WINDOW, DIDN'T SEE
THREE PEOPLE, HE SAW FOUR,
AND ONE LOOKED LIKE
THE SON OF GOD.
IT'S A GREAT MIRACLE THAT
THEY WEREN'T HURT, BUT THAT'S
NOT THE ONLY REASON
GOD DID IT.
IT WAS SO OTHER PEOPLE
WOULD BE CHANGED.
HE'S GOING TO DISPLAY POWER
THROUGH YOU SO PEOPLE AROUND
YOU WILL KNOW HE IS GOD.
AFTER THE TEENAGERS CAME OUT
UNHARMED, KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR
SAID, "PRAISE BE TO THE GOD
OF SHADRACH, MESHACH,
AND ABEDNEGO."
FEW HOURS EARLIER, HE DIDN'T
BELIEVE IN THEIR GOD.
HE WAS AGAINST THEM AND
EVERYTHING THEY STOOD FOR.
NOW HE'S GIVING GOD PRAISE.
WHY?
GOD DISPLAYED AWESOME POWER
THROUGH THOSE TEENAGERS.
THAT'S WHAT GOD IS GOING
TO DO FOR YOU.
HE'S GOING TO OPEN DOORS YOU
COULDN'T OPEN, THRUST YOU
TO NEW LEVELS, CAUSE YOU
TO OVERCOME WHAT
LOOKED IMPOSSIBLE.
THE KING WENT ON TO ISSUE
A DECREE, IT SAID,
"IF ANYONE SPEAKS AGAINST
THE GOD OF SHADRACH,
MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO,
THEY WILL BE DESTROYED,
FOR NO GOD CAN
SAVE LIKE THEIR GOD."
WORDS DON'T ALWAYS
AFFECT PEOPLE.
YOU CAN TRY TO CONVINCE THEM,
DEBATE WITH THEM.
BUT WHEN THEY SEE YOU GO TO
LEVELS YOU COULDN'T REACH ON
YOUR OWN, WHEN THEY SEE YOU
COME OUT OF THE FIERY
FURNACE, BEAT THE CANCER,
BREAK THE ADDICTION, WHEN
THEY SEE THE CHAIN CURLING UP
AT YOUR FEET, OPPORTUNITIES
CHASING YOU DOWN,
THEY WILL KNOW THE LORD
IS ON YOUR SIDE.
LIKE NEBUCHADNEZZAR, THEY
WILL WANT WHAT YOU HAVE.
GOD IS NOT GOING TO DO
THIS ALL IN PRIVATE.
HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A
PUBLIC SIGN, SOMETHING SO
AMAZING THAT PEOPLE NOTICE.
BEFORE PAUL WAS THE APOSTLE
THAT WROTE ALMOST HALF
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT,
HIS NAME WAS SAUL.
HE WAS THE GREATEST ENEMY
OF THE CHURCH.
HE HAD BELIEVERS ARRESTED
AND PUT IN PRISON.
BUT ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS,
A BRIGHT LIGHT SHINED DOWN,
KNOCKED HIM OFF HIS ANIMAL,
AND THAT MOMENT GOD REVEALED
HIMSELF TO HIM, HE BECAME
A BELIEVER.
IT WAS BIG NEWS,
A COMPLETE TURNAROUND.
PAUL SAW AMAZING THINGS
HAPPEN IN HIS LIFE.
ONE TIME, HE WAS
ON AN ISLAND,
HE'D BEEN SHIPWRECKED.
HE WENT TO PICK UP FIREWOOD,
A POISONOUS SNAKE
BIT HIS WRIST.
HE SHOULD'VE SWOLLEN UP
AND DIED,
HE JUST SHOOK IT OFF,
WENT ABOUT HIS BUSINESS,
NEVER AFFECTED HIM.
ANOTHER TIME AT MIDNIGHT,
IN PRISON, IN THE DEEPEST
DUNGEON, AS HE AND SILAS WERE
SINGING PRAISES, THERE WAS A
GREAT EARTHQUAKE, THE PRISON
DOORS FLUNG OPEN.
CHAINS FELL OFF THEIR FEET,
THEY WALKED OUT AS FREE MEN.
WHEN THE JAILER, THE ONE IN
CHARGE OF MAKING SURE THEY
DIDN'T ESCAPE, REALIZED WHAT
HAPPENED, HE WENT AND FOUND
THEM AND SAID, "WHAT MUST I
DO TO BE SAVED?"
PAUL'S LIFE WAS FULL OF
MIRACLES AND AWESOME DISPLAYS
OF GOD'S POWER.
IN ACTS 26, HE HAD BEEN
ARRESTED AND BROUGHT
TO THE CITY OF CAESAREA.
HE WAS ON TRIAL DEFENDING
HIMSELF BEFORE KING AGRIPPA
AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.
AS HE TOLD THEM ABOUT THE
EVENTS OF HIS LIFE AND WHAT
BROUGHT HIM THERE,
IN VERSE 26, HE SAID,
"I'M SURE THESE EVENTS
ARE FAMILIAR TO YOU
BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT DONE
IN A CORNER."
WHAT GOD IS ABOUT TO DO IN
YOUR LIFE IS NOT GOING TO BE
DONE IN A CORNER, HIDDEN
WHERE NOBODY NOTICES.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SEE THE
FAVOR, SEE THE PROTECTION,
THE PROMOTION, THE ABUNDANCE.
SOME PEOPLE THINK YOU'VE
REACHED YOUR LIMITS, THAT
YOU'LL NEVER GET OUT OF THAT
PROBLEM, NEVER GET WELL, THAT
YOU DON'T HAVE THE TALENT.
THEY'RE GOING TO SEE GOD
TAKE YOU TO LEVELS
YOU'VE NEVER DREAMED.
THEY'RE GOING TO SEE YOU
ACCOMPLISH GOALS BIGGER
THAN YOU'VE IMAGINED.
IT'S NOT ONLY GOING
TO AMAZE YOU, IT'S GOING
TO AMAZE THEM.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
IN A CORNER.
GOD IS NOT GOING TO DO IT
IN PRIVATE.
IT'S GOING TO BE
A PUBLIC DISPLAY.
NOW, YOU MAY HAVE SOME
OBSTACLES IN YOUR PATH,
FEELS LIKE YOU'RE STUCK,
IT'S A SETUP.
GOD ALLOWED IT SO HE CAN
SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
HE'S ABOUT TO DO
SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED.
GET READY FOR NEW GROUND.
GET READY TO GO WHERE YOU
COULDN'T GO ON YOUR OWN.
EVERY MORNING,
GET UP AND SAY LIKE DAVID,
"GOD, MAKE A SHOW
OF HOW MUCH YOU LOVE ME."
IF YOU'LL DO THIS, I BELIEVE
AND DECLARE GOD IS ABOUT TO
DISPLAY HIS AWESOME POWER
THROUGH YOU.
NEW DOORS ARE GOING TO OPEN,
NEW OPPORTUNITIES, HEALING,
FAVOR, BREAKTHROUGHS.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO KNOW
THE LORD IS ON YOUR SIDE
IN JESUS'S NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY AMEN TODAY?
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.
VICTORIA AND I WILL BE
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.
