>> JOEL OSTEEN: WELL 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.
I LIKE TO START WITH SOMETHING
FUNNY AND I HEARD ABOUT THESE
TWO MEN, THE POPE AND A LAWYER.
THEY DIED ON THE SAME DAY, WENT
TO HEAVEN.
PETER MET THEM AT THE GATES,
SAID, "FOLLOW ME, I'LL TAKE YOU
TO YOUR HOMES."
PETER DROPPED THE POPE
OFF AT THIS SMALL WOOD FRAME
HOUSE, ONE BED, ONE TABLE,
NOTHING TO IT.
HE THEN TOOK THE LAWYER TO THIS
MAGNIFICENT HOUSE.
IT WAS HUGE, HAD A BIG SWIMMING
POOL, BEAUTIFUL VIEW OUT BACK.
THE LAWYER WAS OVERWHELMED.
HE SAID, "PETER, HOW DID I
MANAGED TO GET THIS SPECTACULAR
PLACE AND THE POPE ONLY GOT
THE SMALL PLACE?"
PETER SAID, "WE HAVE DOZENS
OF POPES.
YOU'RE THE FIRST LAWYER."
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 SEASONS OF SILENCE.
WE ALL GO THROUGH TIMES WHEN IT
DOESN'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE MAKING
PROGRESS.
WE'RE PRAYING BUT OUR PRAYERS
AREN'T BEIN' ANSWERED.
WE'RE BEING OUR BEST BUT NOT
GETTING GOOD BREAKS.
THE PROBLEM HASN'T TURNED
AROUND.
SEEMS LIKE GOD WENT ON VACATION.
BUT THE SILENCE IS NOT A SIGN
THAT GOD IS NOT WORKING.
HE MAY NOT BE CHANGING
THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT HE IS
CHANGING US.
GOD USES THE SEASONS OF SILENCE
TO GET US PREPARED.
WHEN WE'RE NOT GETTING OUR WAY.
WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING,
BUT WE'RE BEING OVERLOOKED.
OUR FRIEND GOT MARRIED BUT WE'RE
STILL SINGLE.
WE'RE WORKING HARDER THAN OUR
COWORKER, BUT THEY GOT
THE PROMOTION.
WE FEEL OVERLOOKED, UNDERVALUED,
FORGOTTEN.
THESE TIMES OF ISOLATION WHERE
YOU'RE NOT BEING CELEBRATED ARE
EXTREMELY VALUABLE.
NOTHING MAY BE CHANGING
ON THE OUTSIDE BUT SOMETHING'S
HAPPENING ON THE INSIDE.
YOUR CHARACTER IS BEING
DEVELOPED.
YOU'RE LEARNING TO NOT DEPEND
ON PEOPLE.
YOU'RE GAINING EXPERIENCE,
MATURITY, STRENGTH THAT YOU'LL
NEED TO GO WHERE GOD IS TAKING
YOU AND YOU MAY WONDER WHY NO
ONE IS CELEBRATING YOU.
YOU'RE BEING FAITHFUL,
BUT THE DOOR HASN'T OPENED.
YOU'RE GIFTED, YOU KNOW YOU
COULD TEACH THAT CLASS BETTER
THAN THE PERSON THAT'S IN PLACE,
BUT THEY NEVER CALL ON YOU.
DON'T COMPLAIN
ABOUT THE SILENCE.
GOD DOES HIS GREATEST WORK
IN ISOLATION WHEN NOBODY IS
NOTICING YOU.
THERE ARE THINGS YOU WILL LEARN
IN ANONYMITY THAT YOU CAN'T
LEARN ANYWHERE ELSE.
AND WHEN GOD IS SILENT THAT
DOESN'T MEAN HE'S NOT CONCERNED.
SILENCE IS NOT A SIGN THAT GOD
HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU.
JUST THE OPPOSITE.
IT'S A SIGN THAT HE'S CLOSELY
WATCHING YOU.
HE'S GETTING YOU PREPARED
FOR NEW LEVELS, BUT IF HE
BROUGHT YOU OUT BEFORE YOU WERE
READY, IT WOULD STOP YOUR
PURPOSE.
GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH THAT
AT TIMES HE WILL HIDE YOU.
HE'LL CAUSE YOU TO BE
OVERLOOKED.
HE'LL CAUSE THE DOOR NOT
TO OPEN.
HE'LL CAUSE A PERSON TO WALK
AWAY.
YOU CAN BE TALENTED AND HIDDEN,
ANOINTED AND HIDDEN, HAVE GREAT
IDEAS AND HIDDEN.
AND IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT
ITS GOD HIDING YOU, YOU'LL BE
FRUSTRATED AND TRY TO MAKE
THINGS HAPPEN OUT OF GOD'S
TIMING.
BUT BEFORE YOU SEE NOTORIETY,
YOU'LL GO THROUGH A SEASON
OF OBSCURITY.
YOU HAVE TO PASS THIS TEST WHEN
YOUR HIDDEN.
AS A TEENAGER, DAVID WAS
ANOINTED TO BE KING.
GOD SPOKE IT THROUGH THE PROPHET
SAMUEL BUT DAVID DIDN'T GO
STRAIGHT TO THE THRONE.
GOD HID HIM.
HE WENT BACK TO THE SHEPHERDS
FIELDS AND KEPT DOING THE SAME
THING THAT HE HAD BEEN DOING,
TAKING CARE OF HIS FATHER'S
SHEEP.
HE SPENT YEARS OUT THERE
BY HIMSELF ALONE IN OBSCURITY.
IT WAS BORING.
HIS BROTHERS WERE
IN THE MILITARY.
THEY HAD A PRESTIGIOUS POSITION.
THEY WERE BEING CELEBRATED.
HERE'S THE KEY DON'T COMPARE
YOUR LIFE TO OTHER PEOPLE'S.
IT MAY SEEM LIKE THEY HAVE IT
BETTER.
THEY'RE FURTHER ALONG.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE CHALLENGES
YOU DO.
RUN YOUR RACE.
GOD'S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE IS
NOT THE SAME AS THEIRS.
DON'T LOOK TO THE LEFT
OR TO THE RIGHT.
STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR CALLING.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, PETER ASKED
JESUS ABOUT JOHN AND WHAT KIND
OF FUTURE JOHN WAS GOING
TO HAVE.
HE THOUGHT JOHN MIGHT HAVE IT
BETTER THAN HIM.
JESUS SAID, "PETER, IF I WANT
JOHN TO REMAIN ALIVE UNTIL I
RETURN WHAT IS THAT TO YOU?"
HE WAS SAYING, "PETER, WHAT
HAPPENS WITH JOHN, JAMES, MARK
IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
JUST FOLLOW ME."
AS LONG AS YOU COMPARE YOU'LL BE
FRUSTRATED BECAUSE YOU'LL ALWAYS
FIND SOMEBODY THAT LOOKS
LIKE THEY HAVE IT BETTER THAN
YOU.
BUT DAVID WAS DESTINED TO GO
HIGHER THAN HIS BROTHERS.
HE WAS GOING TO SEE MORE
INFLUENCE, MORE FAVOR.
SO THAT REQUIRED MORE ISOLATION,
MORE TRAINING, MORE EXPERIENCE.
I'M SURE DAVID THOUGHT, "GOD,
YOU SAID I'D BE THE KING.
YOU SAID I'D LEAD THE NATION.
WHY AM I STILL STUCK OUT HERE
TAKING CARE OF THE SHEEP?
I HAVE SO MUCH MORE IN ME."
BUT THOSE YEARS OF ISOLATION
WHEN NOBODY KNEW DAVID, WHEN HE
FELT FORGOTTEN, UNDERVALUED,
THOSE WERE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
YEARS.
THEY WERE PROVING YEARS.
YEARS WHERE HE SHOWED GOD HE
WOULD BE FAITHFUL.
HE COULD'VE SLACKED OFF, GOTTEN
DISCOURAGED, BUT HE TOOK CARE
OF THOSE SHEEP LIKE HE WAS
TAKING CARE OF THE NATION.
HE KILLED THE LION AND A BEAR
WITH HIS OWN HANDS.
HIS FATHER WOULD'VE UNDERSTOOD
IF A FEW SHEEP WERE KILLED
BY A WILD ANIMAL.
NO BIG DEAL.
BUT DAVID WENT THE EXTRA MILE
WHEN NOBODY WAS WATCHING.
IN ANONYMITY WHEN NOBODY KNEW
HIS NAME HE WAS A PERSON
OF EXCELLENCE.
I CAN IMAGINE WHEN HE WAS
OUT THERE ALONE.
NOBODY TO TALK TO.
HE WOULD LOOK UP INTO THE SKIES
AND TALK TO GOD.
IN THAT TIME OF ISOLATION HE
DREW CLOSE TO HIS CREATOR.
MAYBE THAT'S WHERE HE WROTE SOME
OF THE PSALMS THAT WE READ
TODAY.
INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING, "GOD,
WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG?"
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL
NOT WANT.
SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY WILL
FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY
LIFE.
AFTER HE PASSED THE TEST
OF OBSCURITY GOD KNEW HE COULD
TRUST HIM WITH NOTORIETY.
LIKE DAVID, YOU MAY HAVE BIG
DREAMS.
GOD HAS SPOKEN PROMISES
OVER YOU, BUT NOBODY IS NOTICING
YOU.
YOU'RE NOT SEEING INCREASE,
PROMOTION.
DON'T GET DISCOURAGED, IT'S
BECAUSE GOD HAS YOU HIDDEN.
YOU'RE NOT OFF COURSE.
YOU'RE NOT FALLING BEHIND.
YOU ARE IN A TIME
OF PREPARATION, A TIME
OF TRAINING.
GOD IS GETTING YOU READY
FOR WHAT HE HAS IN STORE.
AND IF YOU WILL KEEP DOING
THE RIGHT THING, YOU WILL COME
INTO A TIME, WHERE GOD CAUSES
YOU TO BE SEEN.
PROMOTION DOESN'T COME
FROM PEOPLE.
IT COMES FROM THE LORD.
WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME, NO PERSON
CAN STOP YOU, NO BAD BREAK, NO
INJUSTICE.
JUST AS GOD HID YOU HE WILL
BRING YOU OUT INTO THE OPEN.
HE WILL SHINE DOWN HIS FAVOR
AND CAUSE YOU TO GO WHERE YOU
COULDN'T GO ON YOUR OWN.
NOW, YOU MAY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE
HIDDEN BUT DON'T BE FRUSTRATED,
THINKING YOU'RE FALLING BEHIND,
AND LOOK WHO'S GETTING AHEAD
OF ME.
WHEN GOD BRINGS YOU OUT HE WILL
CATAPULT YOU FORWARD.
HE WILL MAKE UP FOR THE LOST
TIME.
WHEN YOU HAVE AN EXPENSIVE PIECE
OF JEWELRY, A DIAMOND RING, YOU
PUT IT IN A BOX AND HIDE IT.
YOU DON'T WEAR IT
AROUND THE HOUSE, TO GO WORK
OUT, TO RUN UP TO THE GROCERY
STORE.
IT'S VALUABLE.
SO YOU KEEP IT HIDDEN.
AND AT THE RIGHT TIME, WHEN
YOU'RE GOING SOMEWHERE SPECIAL
YOU BRING IT OUT FOR PEOPLE
TO SEE.
IN THE SAME WAY THE REASON
YOU'RE HIDDEN IS BECAUSE YOU'RE
EXTREMELY VALUABLE.
YOU'RE LIKE THAT DIAMOND.
YOU'RE GOING TO SHINE.
GOD'S WAITING FOR THE RIGHT TIME
TO BRING YOU OUT.
YOU ARE NOT HIDDEN BECAUSE
YOU'RE ORDINARY.
YOU'RE NOT HIDDEN BECAUSE YOU'RE
AVERAGE.
YOU'RE HIDDEN BECAUSE YOU'RE
A MASTERPIECE.
GOD BREATHED HIS LIFE INTO YOU.
YOU HAVE SEEDS OF GREATNESS.
DON'T LET THE SILENCE DISCOURAGE
YOU.
YOUR TIME IS COMING.
NOW, IN THE ISOLATION, YOU HAVE
TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES GOD
BRINGS TO LIGHT.
LET HIM DEVELOP YOU.
LIKE DAVID DO THE RIGHT THING
WHEN IT'S HARD.
KEEP A GOOD ATTITUDE WHEN YOU'RE
BEING TREATED WRONG.
GO THE EXTRA MILE WHEN NOBODY IS
WATCHING.
WHEN YOU'RE HIDDEN YOU WON'T SEE
ANYTHING HAPPENING
ON THE OUTSIDE BUT I CAN ASSURE
YOU ON THE INSIDE GOD IS DOING
A WORK.
THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW,
TO COME UP HIGHER.
YOU'RE GETTING PREPARED FOR NEW
LEVELS.
IT'S LIKE A TREE, I HAVE THIS
BIG OAK IN MY BACKYARD
AND IN THE WINTERTIME IT LOSES
ALL OF ITS LEAVES.
IT LOOKS DEAD.
IT'S BARREN.
JUST A BUNCH OF BRANCHES.
NO LIFE.
BUT WHAT WE CAN'T SEE IS WHILE
EVERYTHING LOOKS STAGNANT
ON THE OUTSIDE, ON THE INSIDE
THE TREE IS GATHERING UP SAP
FOR SPRING GROWTH.
WITHOUT THAT TIME OF BARRENNESS,
WHERE IT'S COLD, AND LOOKS
LIKE NOTHING IS HAPPENING,
THE TREE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY NEW
GROWTH.
IN THE SEASONS OF SILENCE, WHEN
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE HIDDEN,
NOTHING POSITIVE IS TAKING
PLACE.
LIKE THIS TREE WHAT YOU CAN'T
SEE IS YOU'RE GATHERING UP SAP
SO TO SPEAK.
YOUR SPIRITUAL MUSCLES ARE
GETTING STRONGER.
YOU'RE LEARNING TO TRUST GOD
IN A NEW WAY.
THIS TIME IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
WHEN GOD BRINGS YOU OUT TO NEW
LEVELS, INTO GREATER
OPPORTUNITIES, YOU WILL SEE
GREATER OPPOSITION, BIGGER
OBSTACLES, MORE COMING
AGAINST YOU.
IF GOD BROUGHT YOU
OUT BEFORE YOU WERE READY, YOU
COULDN'T HANDLE IT SO HE USES
THE HIDDEN SEASONS TO TOUGHEN US
UP.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS GOD DIDN'T
TAKE THE ISRAELITES THE SHORTEST
ROUTE TO THE PROMISED LAND
BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T PREPARED
FOR WAR.
GOD KNEW THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN
DEFEATED SO HE HID THEM.
THEY WENT THROUGH THIS SEASON
OF SILENCE, WHERE THEY DIDN'T
SEE ANYTHING HAPPENING.
NOW, THE MISTAKE THEY MADE IS
THEY STARTED COMPLAINING.
GOD, WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG?
GOD, WHY ARE WE STILL OUT HERE
IN THE DESERT?
GOD, WHY AREN'T WE MAKING MORE
PROGRESS?
GOD WAS DOING THEM A FAVOR,
BUT THEY DIDN'T RECOGNIZE IT.
DON'T DO LIKE THEY DID.
YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE PATH
THAT GOD HAS TAKEN YOU.
WHY IT'S NOT HAPPENING FASTER,
BUT GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
HE USES THE DELAYS,
THE DIFFICULTIES, TO GET US
PREPARED.
AND NONE OF US LIKE THE SLOW
SEASONS, AND ESPECIALLY
THE UNFAIR SEASONS.
WE LOST A LOVED ONE, A FRIEND
WALKED AWAY, A DREAM DIDN'T WORK
OUT.
IT'S EASY TO THINK, "GOD, WHY
DIDN'T YOU STOP IT?
WHY DIDN'T YOU HEAL MY FATHER?
WHY DIDN'T YOU KEEP THEM
FROM BETRAYING ME?"
BUT GOD DOESN'T WASTE ANYTHING.
THE DIFFICULTIES, THE DELAYS,
THE LOSSES.
IF WE WILL KEEP THE RIGHT
ATTITUDE IT'S ALL WORKING
FOR OUR GOOD.
IT'S GETTING US TOUGHENED UP.
BECAUSE WHERE YOU'RE GOING YOU
CAN'T BE OFFENDED BY EVERY
NEGATIVE COMMENT.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BACKBONE MADE
OF STEEL.
GOD CAN'T PROMOTE YOU IF YOU'RE
GOING TO BE REVENGEFUL AND TRY
TO USE THAT POSITION TO PAY
PEOPLE BACK.
YOU HAVE TO LET IT GO AND TRUST
GOD TO BE YOUR VINDICATOR.
IF YOU'RE INTIMIDATED
BY THE OPPOSITION, OVERWHELMED
BY DIFFICULTIES.
IT WILL KEEP YOU FROM YOUR
DESTINY.
AND IN THESE SILENT SEASONS
LIKE THE ISRAELITES, WE CAN
THINK, "GOD, THE PROMISED LAND
IS THAT WAY.
WHY ARE YOU TAKING ME THE LONG
ROUTE?"
YOU HAVE TO TRUST GOD.
HE CAN SEE THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T
SEE.
HE KNOWS WHAT'S BEST.
IT'S ALL A PART OF THE PROCESS
TO GET YOU PREPARED, TO GET YOU
DEVELOPED.
HE KNOWS WHAT YOU'RE GOING
TO NEED.
I FACE CHALLENGES TODAY THAT IF
I WOULD'VE FACED 20 YEARS AGO
THEY WOULD'VE DEFEATED ME.
MY PERSONALITY TYPE IS TO WANT
EVERYONE TO LIKE ME.
AND WHEN I WAS WORKING
BEHIND THE SCENES THOSE 17 YEARS
THAT WAS EASY.
I HAD A DOZEN FRIENDS AND THEY
ALL LIKED ME.
AT LEAST I THINK THEY DID.
BUT WHEN GOD PROMOTED ME AND PUT
ME IN FRONT OF MORE PEOPLE, I
FOUND OUT THAT SOME PEOPLE
DIDN'T LIKE ME.
THAT WOULD'VE BOTHERED ME BACK
THEN AND MADE ME FEEL INSECURE,
INTIMIDATED, BUT I'VE LEARNED MY
APPROVAL DOESN'T COME
FROM PEOPLE.
IT COMES FROM GOD.
GOD HAD TO TOUGHEN ME UP.
NOW, WHEN THINGS COME
AGAINST ME, I THINK, "I BURIED
MY FATHER.
I WENT THROUGH THAT LOSS.
I LEARNED HOW TO MINISTER WHEN I
DIDN'T THINK I COULD.
I FOUGHT FOR THE COMPAQ CENTER
WHEN EVERY VOICE SAID WE'D NEVER
GET IT.
IF I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH THOSE
DIFFICULTIES THEN I COULD MAKE
IT THROUGH ANYTHING."
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "THESE LIGHT
AFFLICTIONS ARE FOR A MOMENT,
BUT THEY'RE WORKING IN US
AN ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY."
SOMEBODY NOT BEING FOR YOU,
THAT'S A LIGHT AFFLICTION.
THAT'S LIKE A LITTLE GNAT.
JUST FLICK THAT AWAY.
YOUR TIME IS TOO VALUABLE
TO WASTE ON PETTY THINGS.
BUT WHEN YOU'VE BEEN
THROUGH SOME DIFFICULTIES,
THROUGH SOME LOSSES,
THROUGH SOME GOLIATHS.
YOU DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT NOT
GETTING A PARKING SPOT.
YOU DON'T FALL APART BECAUSE
SOMEBODY LEFT YOU OUT.
YOU DON'T GIVE UP ON A DREAM
BECAUSE IT DIDN'T TURN OUT YOUR
WAY.
YOU KNOW IT'S A LIGHT AFFLICTION
AND IT'S WORKING FOR YOUR GOOD.
NOW, YOU MAY BE IN A SEASON
OF SILENCE.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE HIDDEN
BUT THE SILENCE DOESN'T MEAN GOD
HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU.
HE'S HEARD EVERY PRAYER.
HE'S SEEN EVERY TEAR
AND AT THE RIGHT TIME GOD IS
GOING TO BRING YOU INTO WHAT
HE'S ALREADY PREPARED.
GOD IS NOT PREPARING
THE BLESSING FOR YOU.
HE'S PREPARING YOU
FOR THE BLESSING.
THE PROMISED LAND WAS ALREADY
IN PLACE.
HE HAD TO GET THE ISRAELITES
PREPARED.
FAVOR IS ALREADY IN YOUR FUTURE.
THERE ARE BLESSINGS THAT ALREADY
HAVE YOUR NAME ON THEM.
THE RIGHT PEOPLE, DIVINE
CONNECTIONS ALREADY LINED UP.
YOU KEEP PASSING THE TEST
IN THE SILENT SEASONS.
YOU KEEP GETTING PREPARED
AND YOU'RE GOING TO COME
IN TO MORE THAN YOU CAN ASK
OR THINK.
BUT WHAT STOPS SOME PEOPLE IS
THEY DON'T LIKE THE PREPARATION.
YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES
GOD'S BRINGING TO LIGHT.
MAYBE GOD'S ASKING YOU TO PUT
DOWN YOUR PRIDE.
FORGIVE THE PERSON THAT DID YOU
WRONG.
OR TO START SAYING NO
TO THE COMPROMISE.
NO TO THE JEALOUSY.
NO TO THE CRITICAL SPIRIT.
DON'T LET A SMALL THING KEEP YOU
HIDDEN.
DON'T LET SOMETHING YOU KNOW YOU
CAN OVERCOME KEEP YOU
FROM THE AMAZING FUTURE THAT
BELONGS TO YOU.
YOU'RE NOT HIDDEN BECAUSE GOD IS
MAD AT YOU.
YOU ARE HIDDEN BECAUSE GOD LOVES
YOU SO MUCH HE'S GETTING YOU
PREPARED TO GO WHERE YOU'VE
NEVER GONE.
NOW, IN THE ISOLATION,
IN THE ANONYMITY, WHERE YOU'RE
NOT SEEING INCREASE, YOU'RE NOT
GETTING GOOD BREAKS, LIKE DAVID
USE THAT TIME TO DRAW CLOSE
TO GOD.
ONE THING ABOUT BEING ISOLATED
WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT
OF PEOPLE OR THINGS TO GIVE YOUR
ATTENTION TO YOU CAN TURN YOUR
ATTENTION TOWARDS YOUR HEAVENLY
FATHER.
LEARN TO TALK TO GOD.
DEVELOP A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP
NOT JUST A SUNDAY MORNING GOD
BUT ALL THROUGH THE DAY IN YOUR
THOUGHTS, TALK TO GOD LIKE YOU
TALK TO A FRIEND.
GOD WILL BE AS INVOLVED IN YOUR
LIFE AS MUCH AS YOU WANT HIM
TO BE.
IF YOU KEEP GOD IN A SUNDAY
MORNING BOX.
HE'LL STAY THERE.
BUT HE WANTS TO BE SO MUCH MORE.
TYLER PERRY TOLD HOW AS A YOUNG
MAN HE HAD A DREAM TO PUT
ON PLAYS.
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN VERY CREATIVE
AND HAD A VIVID IMAGINATION.
BUT AS A LITTLE BOY HE WAS
MISTREATED BY HIS FATHER.
THE WAY HE WOULD ESCAPE THE PAIN
IS TO GO OUT UNDER HIS FRONT
PORCH ALONE AND HE'D COME
UP WITH THESE AMAZING STORIES
IN HIS MIND.
HE WOULD GO TO A DIFFERENT
WORLD.
WHEN HE WAS IN HIS EARLY 20S HE
BORROWED $300 FROM A FAMILY
MEMBER AND RENTED A SMALL
THEATRE IN ATLANTA.
HE PASSED OUT FLYERS ALL
OVER THE COMMUNITY.
HE WAS EXCITED.
THIS WAS HIS BIG DEBUT,
BUT NOBODY SHOWED UP.
THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN.
HIS FAMILY TOLD HIM TO FORGET
ABOUT THE PLACE.
GO GET A NORMAL JOB.
EVERY TIME HE WANTED TO QUIT
SOMEBODY WOULD STEP
UP AND UNDERWRITE THE NEXT PLAY.
ONE PLAY ONLY A FEW PEOPLE
SHOWED UP.
HE WAS SO DISAPPOINTED.
HE COULDN'T PAY THE BUILDING,
COULDN'T PAY HIS STAFF.
THAT WAS IT.
HE WAS DONE.
BUT AFTERWARDS, A MAN
FROM THE AUDIENCE CAME AND SAID,
"I LOVE THAT.
I WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR NEXT
PLAY."
YOU MAY BE HIDDEN BUT GOD WILL
ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE
THERE TO HELP KEEP YOU GOING.
FOR SEVEN YEARS IT WAS
A STRUGGLE.
AT TIMES TYLER WAS HOMELESS,
LIVING OUT OF HIS CAR, $20 WAS
THE DIFFERENCE OF HIM EATING
THAT WHOLE WEEK.
AN OPPORTUNITY CAME FOR HIM
TO TAKE THE PLAY TO SOUTH
CAROLINA.
HE THOUGHT THIS WAS HIS BIG
BREAK, LOADED UP THE TRUCK,
STARTED DRIVING, THEN IT CAME
ON THE NEWS A HURRICANE IS
COMING TO SOUTH CAROLINA.
ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT.
TYLER HAD THE TALENT.
HE HAD THE CREATIVITY.
HE HAD THE SKILLS, BUT HE SAID,
"GOD HID ME ON PURPOSE.
I DIDN'T HAVE THE MATURITY
AND IF GOD WOULD'VE GIVEN IT
TO ME BACK THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO SUSTAIN IT."
BACK IN ATLANTA, HE RENTED
ANOTHER THEATER.
DECIDED TO TRY IT AGAIN.
HE THOUGHT IT'D BE THE SAME
RESULT, ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT.
THIS TIME ON OPENING NIGHT HE
PEEKED OUT THE WINDOW, PEOPLE
WERE LINED UP AROUND THE BLOCK,
WAITING TO GET IN.
HE COULDN'T QUIT WEEPING.
THAT NIGHT WAS THE START
OF SOMETHING AMAZING.
TODAY, TYLER PERRY HAS BECOME
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
AFRICAN-AMERICAN FILM PRODUCER
IN HISTORY.
YOU MAY BE HIDDEN BUT WHEN IT'S
YOUR TIME, GOD KNOWS HOW
TO BRING YOU OUT.
WHAT HE HAS PREPARED IS BIGGER
THAN ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE.
WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT IS TYLER TOLD
ME NONE OF THIS SUCCESS HAPPENED
UNTIL HE FORGAVE HIS FATHER.
FOR YEARS, HE WAS BITTER.
HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HIS
FATHER TREATED HIM SO BADLY.
AND ONE DAY HE WENT TO VISIT HIS
FATHER WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE,
TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHO HE WAS
AS A PERSON NOT AS A PARENT.
HE BEGAN TO LEARN HOW HIS FATHER
DIDN'T HAVE ANY TRAINING, DIDN'T
HAVE ANY GUIDANCE GROWING UP.
HE DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER.
TYLER ONCE HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT
HIS FATHER DEALT WITH HE DIDN'T
EXCUSE HIS ACTIONS, BUT HE
DIDN'T MAKE THE DECISION
TO FORGIVE HIM.
THAT'S WHEN DOORS BEGAN TO OPEN.
AND WHEN YOU'RE IN THESE SEASONS
OF SILENCE, WHEN YOU FEEL
LIKE YOU'RE HIDDEN.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO LOOK INSIDE
AND DEAL WITH THINGS THAT COULD
BE HOLDING YOU BACK.
YOU CAN HAVE THE TALENT TO GO
SOMEWHERE BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE
THE CHARACTER, IF YOU'RE NOT
WILLING TO FORGIVE, KEEP GIVING
INTO COMPROMISE.
IF YOU DON'T TREAT PEOPLE RIGHT.
THAT WILL KEEP YOU FROM YOUR
BEST.
WE SEE THIS IN THE SCRIPTURE
WITH JOSEPH.
HE WAS HIDDEN FOR 13 YEARS.
HE WAS BETRAYED BY HIS FAMILY,
FALSELY ACCUSED BY A LADY, PUT
IN PRISON FOR SOMETHING THAT HE
DIDN'T DO.
THE REASON JOSEPH FULFILLED HIS
PURPOSE IS HE KEPT PASSING THESE
TESTS.
HE SHOWED GOD HE WOULD FORGIVE.
IN PRISON INSTEAD OF SITTING
AROUND BITTER, HE HELPED
THE BUTLER GET OUT OF PRISON.
HE SOWED A SEED.
NOTHING THAT'S HAPPENED TO YOU
IS A SURPRISE TO GOD.
HE WOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED IT IF
HE DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN MEANT TO HARM
YOU, BUT GOD KNOWS HOW TO TURN
IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
GOD DID NOT CREATE YOU TO STAY
HIDDEN.
IT MAY LOOK LIKE IT'S NEVER
GOING TO CHANGE.
THE TRUTH IS IT'S A SEASON
OF SILENCE NOT A LIFETIME
OF SILENCE.
WHAT GOD HAS SPOKEN OVER YOU
THERE IS AN APPOINTED TIME
FOR IT TO COME TO PASS.
KEEP GROWING, KEEP IMPROVING,
THE SILENCE IS ONLY TEMPORARY.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 16, JESUS ASKED
PETER, "WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I
AM?"
PETER ANSWERED, "YOU'RE
THE MESSIAH, THE SON
OF THE LIVING GOD."
VERSE 20 SAYS JESUS STERNLY
WARNED HIM TO NOT TELL ANYONE
WHO HE WAS.
JESUS KNEW HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
HIDDEN.
HE KNEW IT WASN'T HIS TIME YET.
ANOTHER PLACE THE PEOPLE
BELIEVED IN JESUS SO STRONGLY
THEY WANTED TO CROWN HIM KING.
BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS JESUS
SNUCK AWAY AND WENT UP AND HID
IN THE MOUNTAINS.
HE KNEW HE COULDN'T BE CROWNED
BEFORE HE WENT TO THE CROSS.
HE TRUSTED HIS FATHER'S TIMING.
LIKE JESUS WE CAN'T BE CROWNED
BEFORE WE GO TO OUR CROSS
SO TO SPEAK.
BEFORE WE LEARN TO CRUCIFY OUR
FLESH AND RESIST THINGS THAT ARE
HOLDING US BACK.
HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES TO STAY
SILENT, TO NOT TELL ANYONE HE
WAS THE MESSIAH.
A LOT OF US WOULD BE JUST
THE OPPOSITE.
"GO AHEAD, PETER, GET THE WORD
OUT.
LET EVERYONE KNOW HOW GREAT I
AM."
IT'S MUCH BETTER TO LET GOD
PROMOTE YOU AND NOT PEOPLE.
DON'T GET IN A HURRY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONVINCE
SOMEONE TO PUT IN A GOOD WORD
FOR YOU.
GOD KNEW HOW TO HIDE YOU AND HE
KNOWS HOW TO ELEVATE YOU.
IF YOU'LL LET GOD DO IT HIS WAY,
IT WILL BE BETTER THAN ANYTHING
YOU COULD'VE MADE HAPPEN.
GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU.
HE KNOWS YOU'RE HIDDEN AND HE
KNOWS HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN
THERE.
HE KNOWS WHAT'S IN YOU.
HE'S THE ONE THAT PUT THE GIFTS,
THE TALENTS, THE DREAMS.
INSTEAD OF FIGHTING THE SILENCE
WHY DON'T YOU DO LIKE JESUS
AND EMBRACE IT?
"GOD, MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR
HANDS.
I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING ME
PREPARED, WORKING ALL THINGS
FOR MY GOOD,
AND AT THE APPOINTED TIME, I
KNOW YOU WILL BRING ME OUT."
ELIJAH WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST
PROPHETS IN THE BIBLE.
AS A YOUNG MAN HE SPENT TIME
STUDYING AND PREPARING
FOR MINISTRY.
HE'D JUST GONE TO THE PALACE
AND SPOKEN THE WORD OF THE LORD
TO KING AHAB.
NO ONE ELSE HAD THE COURAGE
TO SPEAK UP TO THE KING.
I'M SURE ELIJAH LEFT THERE
FEELING CONFIDENT, READY FOR HIS
NEXT ASSIGNMENT.
GOD SAID TO HIM IN 1 KINGS 17,
"LEAVE HERE, GO EAST, AND HIDE
YOURSELF BY THE BROOK CHERITH."
I CAN IMAGINE HIM SAYING, EXCUSE
ME, "GOD, YOU MUST HAVE
THE WRONG PERSON.
I'M ELIJAH, I JUST PROPHESIED
TO THE KING.
I'VE STUDIED MORE THAN ANYONE.
I'M READY TO GO ON A NATIONAL
TOUR.
YOU DON'T WANT ME TO HIDE
MYSELF."
ELIJAH WANTED TO SPEAK
TO THE NATION, BUT FOR THE NEXT
THREE AND A HALF YEARS HE ONLY
SPOKE TO A WIDOW AND HER SON.
GOD HID HIM.
HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT.
HE HAD BIGGER THINGS IN HIS
HEART.
BUT HE TRUSTED GOD'S TIMING.
HE WAS FAITHFUL WHEN HE WAS
HIDDEN.
WHEN YOU'RE FAITHFUL
IN THE SILENT SEASONS, YOU ARE
SETTING YOURSELF ON A LAUNCHING
PAD FOR GOD TO TAKE YOU FURTHER
THAN YOU'VE EVER DREAMED.
AFTER THREE AND A HALF YEARS GOD
SAID, "OKAY, ELIJAH, NOW I KNOW
I CAN TRUST YOU.
YOU'RE READY.
LEAVE HERE AND GO ON YOUR NEXT
ASSIGNMENT."
AFTER HE WAS HIDDEN, ELIJAH
PRAYED AND THE DROUGHT CAME
TO AN END.
HE CALLED DOWN FIRE FROM HEAVEN,
DESTROYED 400 FALSE PROPHETS,
ON AND ON.
IT'S INTERESTING, HE PERFORMED
NO MIRACLES UNTIL AFTER HIS
SEASON OF SILENCE.
DON'T BE FRUSTRATED WHEN YOU'RE
HIDDEN.
JESUS WAS HIDDEN.
ELIJAH WAS HIDDEN.
DAVID WAS HIDDEN.
IT'S ALL A PART OF THE PROCESS.
HERE'S THE BEAUTY.
YOU'RE HIDDEN, NUMBER ONE
BECAUSE YOU'RE EXTREMELY
VALUABLE.
LIKE THAT DIAMOND.
NUMBER TWO, YOU'RE HIDDEN
BECAUSE GOD IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH
YOU.
YOU'RE ON THE VERGE OF SEEING
PROMOTION, FAVOR, INCREASE
LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN.
YOU MAY HAVE BEEN HIDDEN
FOR A LONG TIME, BUT YOU'VE BEEN
FAITHFUL.
YOU'VE BEEN GROWING, GETTING
PREPARED.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE GOD IS
ABOUT TO BRING YOU OUT.
HE'S ABOUT TO CAUSE YOU TO BE
SEEN.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NOTICE YOU
THAT HAVE NEVER NOTICED.
KEEP BEING FAITHFUL.
YOUR APPOINTED TIME IS
ON THE WAY IN JESUS'S NAME.
AND 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
AND KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
