JOEL OSTEEN: WELL, GOD
BLESS YOU, AND 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 WILL MAKE
YOU FEEL RIGHT AT HOME.
I LIKE TO START SOMETHING
FUNNY, AND I HEARD ABOUT THIS
PASTOR.
HE WAS NEW IN TOWN, AND HE
WAS GOING DOOR TO DOOR
INVITING PEOPLE TO HIS
CHURCH.
HE KNOCKED ON THIS ONE DOOR.
HE COULD TELL SOMEONE WAS
HOME BUT NO ONE WOULD ANSWER,
SO HE TOOK HIS BUSINESS CARD
OUT, AND HE WROTE ON THE BACK
THE SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
"REVELATION 3:20."
THE NEXT SUNDAY AFTER SERVICE
SOMEONE HANDED HIM THE SAME
CARD.
UNDER WHAT HE HAD WRITTEN WAS
THE SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
"GENESIS 3:10."
HERE IS WHAT THEY SAY.
REVELATION 3:20, THE PASTOR'S
WORDS, "BEHOLD, I STAND AT
THE DOOR AND KNOCK.
IF ANYONE ANSWERS I WILL COME
IN."
THE REPLY WAS GENESIS 3:10.
IT SAID, "I HEARD YOUR VOICE,
AND I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE I
WAS NAKED."
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 "YOU PROMISED."
WHEN WE FACE DIFFICULTIES ONE
OF THE BEST THINGS WE CAN DO
IS FIND A PROMISE IN THE
SCRIPTURE AND REMIND GOD WHAT
HE SAID ABOUT US, "GOD, YOU
PROMISED I WOULD LEND AND NOT
BORROW.
YOU PROMISED MY CHILDREN WILL
BE MIGHTY IN THE LAND.
YOU PROMISED WITH LONG LIFE
YOU WOULD SATISFY ME."
ISAIAH SAID PUT GOD IN
REMEMBRANCE OF HIS PROMISES.
IT DOESN'T SAY PUT GOD IN
REMEMBRANCE OF OUR PROBLEMS,
AND IT'S EASY TO COMPLAIN.
"GOD, THESE PEOPLE AT WORK
AREN'T TREATING ME RIGHT."
"GOD, MY BACK'S BEEN
HURTING."
"GOD, THESE KIDS GET ON MY
NERVES."
IT'S OKAY TO BE HONEST WITH
GOD, BUT DON'T JUST PRAY THE
PROBLEMS.
PRAY THE PROMISES.
IF YOU'RE ONLY TELLING GOD
WHAT'S WRONG, IT'S LIMITING
WHAT HE CAN DO.
FOLLOW UP THE PROBLEM WITH A
PROMISE.
"GOD, MY BACK HAS BEEN
HURTING, BUT YOU PROMISED YOU
WOULD RESTORE HEALTH UNTO ME,
SO THANK YOU THAT HEALING IS
COMING."
"GOD, THESE PEOPLE AT WORK
ARE LEAVING ME OUT, NOT
GIVING ME CREDIT, BUT YOU
PROMISED YOU WOULD BE MY
VINDICATOR.
YOU PROMISED THE TRAP THE
ENEMY SET FOR ME THEY WILL
FALL IN THEMSELVES, SO I'M
GOING TO STAY IN PEACE AND
LET YOU FIGHT MY BATTLES."
OR "GOD, MY DREAM SEEMS
IMPOSSIBLE.
I DON'T HAVE THE CONNECTIONS,
THE RESOURCES, THE
EXPERIENCE."
IF YOU STOP THERE YOU'LL GET
STUCK.
FOLLOW IT UP WITH A PROMISE.
"BUT GOD, YOU PROMISED YOUR
FAVOR SURROUNDS ME LIKE A
SHIELD.
YOU PROMISED WHATEVER I TOUCH
WOULD PROSPER AND SUCCEED.
YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD OPEN
DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT."
SEE, GOD IS NOT OBLIGATED TO
BRING TO PASS WHAT WE SAY,
BUT HE IS OBLIGATED TO BRING
TO PASS WHAT HE SAYS, AND
WHEN HE HEARS HIS PROMISES
COMING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH
ANGELS GO TO WORK.
FAVOR IS RELEASED.
MIRACLES ARE SET INTO MOTION.
WHEN IT SAYS, "PUT GOD IN
REMEMBRANCE OF HIS PROMISES,"
IT'S NOT BECAUSE GOD HAS
FORGOTTEN WHAT HE SAID.
IT'S NOT FOR HIS SAKE.
IT'S FOR OUR SAKE.
GOD KNOWS WHEN YOU START
DECLARING HIS PROMISES, WHEN
YOU START SPEAKING WHAT HE
SAID ABOUT YOU NOT ONLY WILL
FAITH RISE IN YOUR HEART, BUT
IT WILL CHANGE YOUR
PERSPECTIVE.
YOU WON'T HAVE A VICTIM
MENTALITY.
YOU WILL HAVE A VICTOR
MENTALITY.
YOU'LL KNOW, "THIS SICKNESS
IS NO MATCH FOR MY GOD.
THIS TROUBLE AT WORK CANNOT
STOP MY PURPOSE."
YOU'LL KNOW GOD BEING FOR YOU
IS MORE THAN THE WORLD BEING
AGAINST YOU, BUT MOST OF US,
WE HAVE THE FIRST PART DOWN.
WE'RE GOOD AT TELLING GOD OUR
PROBLEMS, BUT YOU HAVE TO
FOLLOW IT UP WITH A "YOU
PROMISED."
THE MORE YOU TALK ABOUT THE
PROMISES, THE LESS YOU'LL
TALK ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS, AND
I START OFF EVERY DAY SIMPLY
THANKING GOD FOR WHAT HE'S
ALREADY PROMISED OVER MY
LIFE.
"FATHER, THANK YOU THAT YOU
PROMISED NO GOOD THING WILL
YOU WITHHOLD BECAUSE I WALK
UPRIGHTLY.
FATHER, YOU PROMISED THE PATH
OF THE RIGHTEOUS, OUR PATH,
GETS BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER."
IF YOU'RE SPENDING MORE TIME
TALKING ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS
THAN YOU ARE THE PROMISES,
THEN THAT'S OUT OF BALANCE.
MAYBE YOU'RE NOT SEEING
THINGS TURN AROUND.
YOU'RE NOT SEEING HEALING,
PROMOTION, VINDICATION
BECAUSE YOU'RE REMINDING GOD
OF THE WRONG THINGS.
YOU'RE TELLING HIM WHAT
DIDN'T WORK OUT AND HOW BAD
THE MEDICAL REPORT IS, WHO
LEFT YOU.
TRY A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
TAKE A BREAK FROM TELLING GOD
EVERYTHING THAT'S WRONG, AND
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH
ASKING, BUT GOD ALREADY KNOWS
YOUR NEEDS.
HE KNOWS OUR THOUGHTS BEFORE
WE THINK THEM.
AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO
SWITCH OVER TO THANKING GOD
FOR WHAT HE'S ALREADY
PROMISED.
MY SISTER, LISA, AND HER
HUSBAND KEVIN TRIED FOR YEARS
TO HAVE A BABY.
LISA WENT THROUGH ALL THE
FERTILITY TREATMENTS, HAD A
COUPLE OF SURGERIES, DID
EVERYTHING SHE COULD.
FINALLY, THE DOCTOR SAID
THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY
COULD DO.
THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE
CHILDREN.
LISA COULD HAVE BEEN
DEPRESSED AND TOLD GOD HOW
BAD IT WAS, INSTEAD SHE MADE
A LIST OF ALL THE PROMISES
SHE COULD FIND CONCERNING
CHILDREN.
SHE TYPED THEM OUT, PUT THEM
ON HER BATHROOM MIRROR.
IT SAYS IN PSALMS, "GOD WILL
MAKE THE BARREN WOMAN A HAPPY
MOTHER OF CHILDREN."
ISAIAH SAID, "YOUR CHILDREN
WILL BE LIKE OLIVE SHOOTS
AROUND YOUR TABLE."
DEUTERONOMY SAID, "THE FRUIT
OF YOUR WOMB IS BLESSED."
ALL THROUGH THE DAY, INSTEAD
OF COMPLAINING, "GOD, IT'S
NOT FAIR.
WHY CAN'T I HAVE CHILDREN?"
LISA DIDN'T PRAY THE PROBLEM.
SHE PRAYED THE PROMISES.
"LORD, YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD
MAKE ME THE HAPPY MOTHER OF
CHILDREN."
IT'S VERY POWERFUL WHEN YOU
TAKE IT OFF OF WHAT YOU WANT
AND PUT IT BACK ON WHAT GOD
SAID.
"GOD, YOU PROMISED THE FRUIT
OF MY WOMB IS BLESSED.
YOU PROMISED CHILDREN ARE A
HERITAGE FROM THE LORD."
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS GOD
WATCHES OVER HIS WORD TO
PERFORM IT.
IT DOESN'T SAY GOD WATCHES
OVER OUR COMPLAINTS, HE
WATCHES OVER OUR BEGGING.
"PLEASE, GOD, YOU GOT TO TURN
THIS AROUND."
YES, GOD IS CONCERNED, HE
SEES THE WRONGS, BUT WHAT
MOVES HIM TO ACT IS WHEN HE
HEARS HIS PROMISES.
SEVEN YEARS LATER, LISA
RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A
FRIEND THAT RUNS A HOME FOR
GIRLS.
SHE SAID, "LISA, I DON'T
REALLY KNOW WHY I'M CALLING
YOU, BUT WE HAVE THIS TEENAGE
GIRL, THAT'S ABOUT TO GIVE
BIRTH TO TWIN GIRLS.
WE WERE WONDERING IF YOU
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN
ADOPTING THEM."
WELL, LISA'S HUSBAND, KEVIN,
IS A TWIN.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN HIS DREAM
THAT HE WOULD HAVE TWINS.
THEY ADOPTED THOSE GIRLS AT
BIRTH, THEN ADOPTED ANOTHER
SON.
TODAY, JUST LIKE GOD
PROMISED, LISA IS THE HAPPY
MOTHER OF CHILDREN.
LISA SAYS, "GOD IS SO GOOD.
I HAVE THREE CHILDREN, AND I
NEVER HAD TO GET PREGNANT."
WHEN YOU DECLARE THE PROMISES
CHILDREN WILL FIND YOU, GOOD
BREAKS WILL TRACK YOU DOWN.
WHATEVER YOU'RE BELIEVING FOR
DO LIKE LISA AND MAKE A LIST
OF THE PROMISES.
PUT IT ON YOUR PHONE, YOUR
COMPUTER, YOUR BATHROOM
MIRROR.
ALL THROUGH THE DAY REMIND
GOD WHAT HE PROMISED.
IF YOU'RE FIGHTING AN
ILLNESS, IT'S EASY TO TALK
ABOUT THE SICKNESS, WHAT THE
DOCTOR SAID, HOW IT DOESN'T
LOOK GOOD.
SOMETIMES WE KNOW MORE ABOUT
THE PROBLEM THAN WE DO THE
PROMISES.
WE SPEND HOURS RESEARCHING IT
ON THE INTERNET, LEARNING
EVERYTHING THAT COULD
POSSIBLY GO WRONG.
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE 15 MINUTES
AND GOOGLE SCRIPTURES
CONCERNING ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE
FACING?
"GOD, YOU PROMISED I WOULD
LIVE AND NOT DIE AND DECLARE
THE WORKS OF THE LORD.
YOU PROMISED YOU ARE
JEHOVAH-RAPHA, THE LORD MY
HEALER.
YOU PROMISED BY THE STRIPES
OF YOUR SON JESUS
I AM HEALED."
IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH AN
ADDICTION, YOU'VE HAD IT A
LONG TIME, YOU DON'T THINK IT
WILL EVER CHANGE, "NO, GOD,
YOU PROMISED THAT YOU HAVE
DESTROYED EVERY YOKE.
YOU HAVE BROKEN EVERY
BONDAGE.
YOU PROMISED THE ENEMY I SEE
TODAY I WILL SEE NO MORE.
YOU PROMISED WHOM THE SON
SETS FREE IS FREE INDEED, SO,
LORD, THANK YOU THAT I AM
FREE."
THAT'S NOT JUST BEING
POSITIVE.
THAT'S REMINDING GOD WHAT HE
SAID.
I TALKED TO A LADY.
SHE WAS AT ODDS WITH HER
TEENAGE DAUGHTER, AND THIS
LADY WOULD COME DOWN TO THE
FRONT FOR PRAYER VERY OFTEN.
SHE WAS ALWAYS UPSET AND
DISCOURAGED, AND I DID MY
BEST TO CHEER HER UP AND TRY
TO CONVINCE HER TO KEEP
BELIEVING, BUT MORE THAN
COMING FOR PRAYER IT SEEMED
LIKE SHE JUST WANTED TO TELL
ME HOW BAD IT WAS AND HOW HER
DAUGHTER WAS BEING
DISRESPECTFUL.
I TOLD HER WHAT I'M TELLING
YOU.
"CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT THE
PROBLEM IS NOT DOING ANYTHING
PRODUCTIVE.
YOU NEED TO FIND A PROMISE
AND REMIND GOD WHAT HE SAID
ABOUT YOU."
I GAVE HER THE PROMISE FROM
PROVERBS 31.
IT SAYS, "CHILDREN WILL RISE
UP AND CALL THEIR MOTHER
BLESSED."
WELL, AT THAT TIME HER
DAUGHTER WAS CALLING HER
EVERY NAME EXCEPT BLESSED,
BUT THIS MOTHER STARTED GOING
THROUGH THE DAY, "FATHER, YOU
PROMISED THAT MY CHILDREN
WILL RISE UP
AND CALL ME BLESSED."
SHE FOUND OTHER PROMISES.
"CHILDREN ARE A GIFT FROM THE
LORD TO BE ENJOYED.
FATHER, THANK YOU, YOU
PROMISED THAT I WOULD ENJOY
MY CHILDREN, THAT I WOULD
HAVE FUN WITH MY DAUGHTER."
SHE DID THIS MONTH AFTER
MONTH.
DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGN OF THINGS
CHANGING.
THAT'S WHAT FAITH IS ALL
ABOUT.
IF YOU CAN SEE IT, IT DOESN'T
TAKE FAITH.
TWO YEARS LATER, THIS
DAUGHTER HAD A COMPLETE
TURNAROUND.
IT WAS LIKE SHE WAS A
DIFFERENT PERSON: KIND,
LOVING, RESPECTFUL.
TODAY, SHE AND HER MOTHER ARE
THE BEST OF FRIENDS.
THEY DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
NOW, WHEN THIS MOTHER SAYS,
"GOD, YOU PROMISED MY
CHILDREN WILL RISE UP AND
CALL ME BLESSED," SHE'S NOT
SAYING IT BY FAITH ANYMORE.
IT'S BECOME A REALITY.
GOD BROUGHT THE PROMISE TO
PASS.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "GOD IS
NOT A MAN THAT HE SHOULD LIE.
HAS HE EVER SPOKEN AND FAILED
TO ACT?
HAS HE EVER PROMISED AND NOT
CARRIED IT THROUGH?"
GOD HAS NEVER FAILED IN THE
PAST.
THE GOOD NEWS IS HE'S NOT
GOING TO START WITH YOU.
STAY IN FAITH AND STAY OPEN.
IT MAY NOT HAPPEN YOUR WAY OR
ON YOUR TIMETABLE, BUT GOD
KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
HE IS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD.
I TALKED TO A WELL-KNOWN
ACTOR.
HE'S AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN,
AND HE WAS VERY DOWN ON
HIMSELF.
HE SAID, "JOEL, I'M A
HAS-BEEN.
I NEVER GET ANY GOOD ROLES
ANYMORE.
I'VE PEAKED, AND IT'S ALL
DOWNHILL FROM HERE."
WHEN YOU SPEAK DEFEAT OVER
YOUR LIFE LIKE THAT, YOU ARE
INVITING BAD BREAKS,
DISAPPOINTMENTS, LACK.
ZIP IT UP AND FIND A "YOU
PROMISED."
"GOD, YOU PROMISED MY LATTER
DAYS WILL BE BETTER THAN MY
FORMER DAYS.
YOU PROMISED YOUR FAVOR IS
NOT FOR A SEASON BUT FOR A
LIFETIME.
YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD BRING
ME TO A FLOURISHING FINISH."
WE NEED YOU NOT JUST ALIVE
BUT PASSIONATE, DOING GREAT
THINGS YOUR WHOLE LIFE.
YOU MAY HAVE HAD SOME BAD
BREAKS, MAYBE YOU WENT
THROUGH A LOSS OR SOMEBODY
WALKED OUT OF A RELATIONSHIP.
YOU COULD GO AROUND WITH A
CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER, IN
SELF-PITY, "GOD, WHY DID THIS
HAPPEN?"
THAT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU
DEFEATED.
TURN IT AROUND.
"FATHER, YOU PROMISED YOU
WOULD GIVE ME BEAUTY FOR
THESE ASHES.
YOU PROMISED WEEPING ENDURES
FOR A NIGHT, BUT JOY COMES IN
THE MORNING.
YOU PROMISED IN ISAIAH THAT
BECAUSE I GOT A DOUBLE DOSE
OF TROUBLE I WOULD GET A
DOUBLE DOSE OF FAVOR, SO,
LORD, THANK YOU THAT I'M NOT
JUST COMING OUT, BUT I'M
COMING OUT BETTER."
WHEN YOU PRAY THE PROMISES,
GOD WILL MAKE UP FOR WHAT WAS
UNFAIR.
LIKE JOSEPH, HE'LL TAKE YOU
FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE.
LIKE RUTH, HE'LL TAKE YOU
FROM WORKING IN A FIELD TO
OWNING THE FIELD.
LIKE DAVID, HE'LL TAKE YOU
FROM THE BACKGROUND TO THE
FOREGROUND, FROM BEING
OVERLOOKED TO BEING IN
CHARGE.
NOW, PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S
COMING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.
ARE YOU TALKING MORE ABOUT
THE PROBLEMS OR ABOUT THE
PROMISES?
WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING TO GOD'S
REMEMBRANCE WILL DETERMINE
WHETHER OR NOT YOU REACH YOUR
DESTINY.
IN 2 KINGS CHAPTER 7 THE
ISRAELITES WERE SURROUNDED BY
THE SYRIAN ARMY.
THEY HAD CUT OFF THEIR FOOD
SUPPLY, CLOGGED UP THE
STREAMS THAT FLOWED INTO THE
CITY.
THEY WERE WAITING FOR THEM TO
STARVE AND THEN THEY WOULD GO
IN AND TAKE THE CITY.
THE PROPHET ELISHA SHOWED UP
AND SAID TO THE ISRAELITES,
"BY THIS TIME TOMORROW THERE
WILL BE SO MUCH FOOD, YOU'LL
BE ABLE TO BUY A LOAF OF
BREAD FOR ONE PENNY."
THE OFFICER ASSISTING THE
KING SAID, "ELISHA, THAT'S
IMPOSSIBLE.
WE'RE SURROUNDED BY A HUGE
ARMY.
WE'RE OUTNUMBERED.
WE HAVE NO FOOD.
WE'RE STARVING.
THERE IS NO WAY."
ELISHA SAID, "IT WILL HAPPEN.
GOD HAS PROMISED IT, BUT
BECAUSE YOU DOUBTED YOU WON'T
SEE IT."
THERE WERE FOUR LEPERS
SITTING OUTSIDE THE CITY
GATES.
THEY THOUGHT TO THEMSELVES,
"WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.
WE'RE GOING TO DIE ANYWAY.
LET'S GO DOWN TO THE ENEMY'S
CAMP AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE
DOING."
AS THEY WERE WALKING GOD
MULTIPLIED THE SOUND OF THEIR
FOOTSTEPS.
IT SOUNDED LIKE A HUGE ARMY
WAS APPROACHING.
THE SYRIANS PANICKED AND TOOK
OFF RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES.
THEY LEFT THEIR FOOD, THEIR
SUPPLIES, THEIR EQUIPMENT.
THE LEPERS WENT BACK AND TOLD
THE ISRAELITES.
THE OFFICER THAT DIDN'T
BELIEVE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE
CITY GATES.
WHEN HE OPENED THEM TO LET
THE PEOPLE OUT, THEY WERE SO
EXCITED HE GOT KNOCKED DOWN
AND WAS TRAMPLED TO DEATH.
HE NEVER SAW THE PROMISE COME
TO PASS.
NOW DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE
LIKE THAT MAN AND TALK
YOURSELF OUT OF WHAT GOD HAS
PROMISED.
HIS ATTITUDE SHOULD HAVE
BEEN, "GOD, YOU SAID BY
TOMORROW WE'LL HAVE BREAD FOR
ONLY A PENNY A LOAF.
I DON'T SEE HOW IT CAN
HAPPEN, IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE,
NO WAY IN THE NATURAL, BUT,
GOD, I KNOW YOU'RE A
SUPERNATURAL GOD.
I KNOW YOU CAN MAKE A WAY
WHERE I DON'T SEE A WAY."
GOD DOESN'T ASK US TO FIGURE
THINGS OUT.
ALL HE ASKS IS WE BELIEVE.
WHEN HE PUTS A PROMISE IN
YOUR HEART DON'T THINK OF ALL
THE REASONS WHY IT'S NOT
GOING TO WORK OUT.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TURN
YOUR MIND OFF.
FAITH IS NOT ALWAYS GOING TO
MAKE SENSE.
WHAT GOD SAYS IS NOT ALWAYS
GOING TO BE LOGICAL.
IF YOU REASON IT OUT, CHECK
WITH THE EXPERTS, READ ALL
THE REPORTS YOU WILL MISS
GOD'S BEST.
WE THINK NATURAL, GOD THINKS
SUPERNATURAL.
HE'S NOT LIMITED BY WHAT
LIMITS US.
GOD CAUSED FIRE TO NOT HARM
THE THREE HEBREW TEENAGERS IN
THE FURNACE.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, BUT
HE'S GOD.
HE CAUSED SARAH TO HAVE A
BABY AT 80 YEARS OLD.
HE PARTED THE SEA FOR THE
ISRAELITES.
THEY WENT THROUGH ON DRY
GROUND.
GOD HEALED MY MOTHER OF
TERMINAL CANCER.
GOD GAVE US THE COMPAQ CENTER
WHEN ALL THE ODDS WERE
AGAINST US.
NOW, DON'T LET YOUR NATURAL
LOGIC TALK YOU OUT OF WHAT A
SUPERNATURAL GOD CAN DO.
THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US WE
NEED TO HAVE CHILDLIKE FAITH.
CHILDREN DON'T TRY TO FIGURE
THINGS OUT.
WHEN YOU TELL YOUR CHILD
YOU'RE GOING TO BUY THEM
SOMETHING OR TAKE THEM
SOMEPLACE, THEY DON'T WORRY.
THEY DON'T WONDER IF YOU HAVE
THE MEANS.
THEY DON'T LOSE SLEEP OVER
WHETHER IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
THEY TRUST YOU.
WHEN OUR DAUGHTER ALEXANDRA
WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD, SHE
LOVED TO GO TO DISNEYLAND,
AND WE HADN'T BEEN IN SEVERAL
YEARS, AND ONE NIGHT I WAS
PUTTING HER IN BED, AND SHE
SAID, "DADDY, CAN WE GO TO
DISNEYLAND AGAIN?"
ALMOST IN PASSING I SAID,
"SURE WE CAN."
SHE SAID, "YOU PROMISE?"
I SAID, "YES, I PROMISE."
SHE SMILED REAL BIG.
I KISSED HER AND PUT HER TO
BED.
THE NEXT MORNING EARLY,
BEFORE I WOKE UP, SHE CAME
RUNNING IN OUR ROOM.
DIDN'T SAY, "GOOD MORNING,
DAD."
DIDN'T SAY, "HOW ARE YOU?"
DIDN'T SAY, "I LOVE YOU."
SHE SAID, "DADDY, WHEN ARE WE
GOING TO DISNEYLAND?"
IT WAS NEVER "IF."
IT WAS ALWAYS "WHEN."
SHE HAD SO MUCH CONFIDENCE IN
ME, SHE KNEW I WOULDN'T BREAK
MY PROMISE.
SHE KNEW IT WAS ONLY A MATTER
OF TIME.
NEVER ONCE DID SHE SAY, "DAD,
CAN I CHECK THE FINANCES TO
SEE IF WE CAN AFFORD IT?
DAD, CAN I CHECK YOUR
SCHEDULE TO SEE IF YOU HAVE
TIME?"
OR "WHAT IF WE CAN'T GET THE
FLIGHTS?
WHAT IF THE HOTELS ARE
BOOKED?
WHAT IF IT DOESN'T WORK
OUT?"
SHE DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT ANY OF
THE DETAILS.
SHE DIDN'T CONCERN HERSELF
ABOUT HOW IT WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
WHY?
SHE KNEW HER FATHER WOULD
TAKE CARE OF THAT.
SHE KNEW I WOULDN'T HAVE
PROMISED IT IF I COULDN'T DO
IT.
NOW, THE TRUTH IS I'M HUMAN.
I COULD LET HER DOWN, I COULD
BREAK THE PROMISE, NOT KEEP
MY WORD, YET SHE HAS THIS
INCREDIBLE TRUST IN ME.
WHAT IF WE HAD THAT SAME KIND
OF TRUST IN OUR HEAVENLY
FATHER, KNOWING THAT HE
CANNOT GO BACK ON HIS WORD,
KNOWING THAT HE CANNOT FAIL?
"GOD, YOU PROMISED AS FOR ME
AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE
THE LORD.
YOU PROMISED I WILL LEND AND
NOT BORROW.
YOU PROMISED I WILL RECOVER.
NOW I'M NOT GOING TO WORRY
ABOUT HOW IT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN.
I'M NOT GOING TO LIVE
STRESSED BECAUSE I DON'T SEE
ANYTHING CHANGING, WONDERING
IF IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT.
GOD, I TRUST YOU.
I BELIEVE YOU ARE TRUE TO
YOUR WORD AND IN YOUR PERFECT
TIMING, IN YOUR OWN WAY YOU
WILL BRING THIS PROMISE TO
PASS."
THAT'S CHILDLIKE FAITH.
YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO FIGURE
IT OUT, NOT WONDERING IF GOD
HAS THE MEANS.
DOES HE KNOW THE RIGHT
PEOPLE?
WHAT IF THE OBSTACLE IS TOO
BIG?
HE'S GOD.
HE CREATED THE UNIVERSE.
HE WOULDN'T HAVE PROMISED IT
IF HE WASN'T GOING TO BRING
IT TO PASS.
WE SEE HOW FAITHFUL GOD IS TO
HIS PROMISES WITH DAVID.
GOD PROMISED DAVID THAT ONE
OF HIS RELATIVES WOULD ALWAYS
BE ON THE THRONE OF ISRAEL.
TWENTY-THREE YEARS AFTER
DAVID DIED, HIS SON, SOLOMON,
WAS ON THE THRONE BUT NOT
MAKING GOOD CHOICES.
HE HAD MARRIED FOREIGN WIVES
HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO.
NOW HE STARTED
WORSHIPING THEIR IDOLS.
GOD SAID, "SOLOMON, I WOULD
NORMALLY TAKE THIS KINGDOM
AWAY FROM YOU, FOR YOU HAVE
DONE WRONG IN MY SIGHT, BUT I
WILL NOT DO IT FOR YOUR
FATHER DAVID'S SAKE."
GOD WAS SAYING, "SOLOMON, YOU
DON'T DESERVE THIS MERCY.
YOU'VE GOTTEN OFF COURSE, BUT
I MADE A PROMISE TO YOUR
FATHER, AND I AM A GOD THAT
KEEPS MY PROMISES, EVEN TO A
DEAD MAN."
THREE HUNDRED AND FIVE YEARS
LATER, ANOTHER ONE OF DAVID'S
RELATIVES WAS ON THE THRONE:
KING HEZEKIAH.
HE WAS IN GREAT DANGER.
AN ARMY HAD SURROUNDED
JERUSALEM.
THERE WAS NO WAY OUT.
LOOKED LIKE THE PEOPLE WERE
DOOMED.
AT THE LAST MOMENT GOD SENT
AN ANGEL THAT WIPED OUT
185,000 OF THE ENEMY TROOPS.
HEZEKIAH AND ALL THE PEOPLE
WERE SPARED.
I CAN IMAGINE HEZEKIAH
THINKING, "GOD, WHAT DID WE
DO TO DESERVE THIS KIND OF
FAVOR?"
GOD SAYS, "HEZEKIAH, THERE
WAS A MAN THAT LIVED 305
YEARS AGO.
HE'S DEAD, HE'S GONE, BUT I
MADE A PROMISE TO HIM THAT
ONE OF HIS DESCENDANTS WOULD
ALWAYS BE ON THE THRONE, AND
I AM THE GOD THAT KEEPS MY
PROMISES EVEN 305 YEARS
LATER."
NOW, MAYBE YOU'RE STANDING ON
A PROMISE THAT HASN'T COME TO
PASS YET.
IF GOD WOULD GO TO SUCH GREAT
LENGTHS TO KEEP HIS PROMISE
TO A MAN THAT WAS DEAD, HOW
MUCH MORE IS GOD GOING TO
KEEP HIS PROMISES TO YOU?
STAY IN FAITH AND KEEP
REMINDING GOD WHAT HE
PROMISED.
KEEP BRINGING IT TO HIS
REMEMBRANCE.
LIKE DAVID, YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THOSE
PROMISES COME TO PASS.
IN GENESIS 32 JACOB WAS ABOUT
TO MEET HIS BROTHER ESAU
AFTER MANY YEARS OF BEING
ESTRANGED.
JACOB CHEATED ESAU.
HE STOLE HIS BIRTHRIGHT,
TRICKED THEIR FATHER INTO
GIVING HIM THE BLESSING THAT
BELONGED TO ESAU.
ESAU WAS SO ANGRY THAT JACOB
HAD TO FLEE TO ANOTHER
COUNTRY FOR HIS LIFE.
HE LIVED WITH HIS UNCLE,
LABAN, WORKING FOR HIM FOR
NEARLY 20 YEARS.
IN SPITE OF THE MISTAKES GOD
BLESSED JACOB IN A GREAT WAY.
HE'D BECOME VERY WEALTHY.
NOW HE HAD HIS OWN FAMILY,
HIS OWN FLOCKS AND HERDS.
HE WANTED TO RETURN AND MOVE
BACK HOME.
HE SENT WORD.
ESAU SAID THAT HE WOULD MEET
HIM.
YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW NERVOUS
JACOB WAS.
HE'S ABOUT TO SEE THIS
BROTHER WHOM HE'S WRONGED AND
TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
HE DIDN'T KNOW IF ESAU WAS
STILL ANGRY, TRYING TO GET
REVENGE.
IT WAS A HUGE CHANCE.
JACOB SAID IN VERSE 11, "GOD,
PLEASE RESCUE ME FROM MY
BROTHER ESAU.
I'M AFRAID HE'S TRYING TO
KILL ME AND ALL OF MY WIVES
AND CHILDREN."
HE COULD HAVE STOPPED THERE
AND JUST PRAYED THE PROBLEM,
BUT JACOB UNDERSTOOD THIS
PRINCIPLE.
HE WENT ON TO SAY, "BUT GOD,
YOU PROMISED TO TREAT ME
KINDLY AND TO MULTIPLY MY
DESCENDANTS."
AFTER ALL THE BAD CHOICES,
ALL THE GREED, MANIPULATION,
WHAT DID HE DO?
HE WENT BACK TO A PROMISE GOD
MADE TO HIM AS A YOUNG MAN
AND SAID, "GOD, YOU PROMISED
YOU WOULD BE GOOD TO ME."
HE MET ESAU.
ESAU NOT ONLY FORGAVE HIM BUT
WAS VERY KIND TO HIM AND
WELCOMED HIM BACK HOME.
WHAT IF WE HAD THIS SAME
BOLDNESS LIKE JACOB?
IN SPITE OF OUR MISTAKES, IN
SPITE OF THE TIMES WE FAILED,
INSTEAD OF LIVING DOWN ON
OURSELVES, GIVING UP ON OUR
DREAMS, WE WOULD SAY, "GOD,
YOU PROMISED TO BE GOOD TO
ME.
YOU PROMISED TO RESTORE WHAT
WAS STOLEN.
YOU PROMISED TO FORGIVE ME
AND NOT REMEMBER MY
MISTAKES."
PUT GOD IN REMEMBRANCE OF
WHAT HE PROMISED.
NOT WHAT YOU FEEL, NOT WHAT
YOU DESERVE, NOT WHAT A
RELATIVE SAID, BUT WHAT GOD
SAID.
PSALM 86 SAYS, "GOD IS FULL
OF KINDNESS, GREAT IN MERCY.
THE LORD IS GOOD TO ALL."
GOD MADE THE SAME PROMISE TO
YOU THAT HE MADE TO JACOB.
"GOD, YOU PROMISED TO BE KIND
TO ME.
YOU PROMISED ME A FUTURE
FILLED WITH PURPOSE AND
FULFILLMENT."
GOD IS NOT HOLDING YOUR
MISTAKES AGAINST YOU.
DON'T GO THROUGH LIFE HOLDING
THEM AGAINST YOURSELF.
WHEN MOSES WAS LEADING THE
ISRAELITES THROUGH THE
DESERT, SOME 2 MILLION
PEOPLE, GOD TOLD HIM TO GO UP
ON MOUNT SINAI.
THAT'S WHERE HE RECEIVED THE
TEN COMMANDMENTS.
HE WAS UP THERE FOR 40 DAYS.
HE LEFT HIS BROTHER AARON IN
CHARGE.
THE PEOPLE GOT RESTLESS,
SAID, "AARON, WE DON'T KNOW
IF MOSES IS EVER GOING TO
COME BACK.
LET'S MAKE SOME GODS OUT OF
GOLD THAT WE CAN WORSHIP."
AARON HAD THEM MELT DOWN
THEIR JEWELRY, THEIR
EARRINGS.
THEY MADE A CALF OUT OF GOLD.
THEY STARTED PARTYING,
DRINKING, ALL KINDS OF
DEBAUCHERY.
GOD WAS SO ANGRY, HE WAS
ABOUT TO WIPE THEM ALL OUT
AND ONLY SPARE MOSES.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS MOSES
PLEADED WITH THE LORD AND
SAID, "GOD, REMEMBER WHAT YOU
PROMISED.
THAT OUR DESCENDANTS WOULD BE
AS NUMEROUS AS THE STARS IN
THE HEAVENS AND THAT THEY
WOULD POSSESS THIS LAND
FOREVER."
THE NEXT VERSE SAYS GOD
WITHDREW HIS THREAT AND DID
NOT BRING THE DISASTER THAT
HE PLANNED.
THAT'S HOW POWERFUL IT IS
WHEN YOU REMIND GOD WHAT HE
PROMISED.
IF MOSES HAD NOT SAID, "GOD,
YOU PROMISED," GOD WOULD HAVE
WIPED THEM ALL OUT, AND I
WONDER IF THERE ARE BLESSINGS
WE'RE NOT SEEING--HEALING,
PROMOTION, INCREASE--BECAUSE
WE'RE NOT REMINDING GOD OF
HIS PROMISES.
WE'RE PRAYING FOR GOD TO DO
IT, WE'RE ASKING HIM TO TURN
IT AROUND, AND THAT'S GOOD,
BUT WHEN YOU SAY, "GOD, YOU
PROMISED," SOMETHING POWERFUL
HAPPENS.
THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE
GOES TO WORK.
CHAINS ARE BROKEN.
FORCES OF DARKNESS ARE PUSHED
BACK.
NOTHING CAN STAND AGAINST OUR
GOD.
HE SAID IN GENESIS 28, "I
WILL BE WITH YOU CONSTANTLY
UNTIL I HAVE FINISHED
GIVING YOU EVERYTHING
THAT I PROMISED."
GOD IS SAYING TO YOU TODAY,
"EVERYTHING I PROMISED YOU IS
ON THE WAY."
HEALING IS ON THE WAY,
PROMOTION, VINDICATION,
FREEDOM, THE SPOUSE.
GET READY FOR GOD TO SHOW OUT
IN YOUR LIFE.
GET READY FOR NEW LEVELS, FOR
BREAKTHROUGHS, FOR FAVOR.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE NEW
DOORS ARE ABOUT TO OPEN.
PROBLEMS ARE TURNING AROUND.
WHAT'S HINDERED YOU IN THE
PAST WILL HINDER YOU NO MORE.
YOU'RE GOING TO RISE HIGHER,
ACCOMPLISH DREAMS, AND SEE
EVERY PROMISE COME TO
FULFILLMENT IN JESUS'S NAME,
AND IF YOU RECEIVE IT TODAY
CAN YOU SAY "AMEN"?
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.
WELL, IF YOU PRAYED THAT
SIMPLE PRAYER WE BELIEVE YOU
GOT BORN AGAIN.
GET IN A GOOD BIBLE-BASED
CHURCH AND KEEP GOD
FIRST PLACE.
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WE KNOW IT IS THIS HOPE
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