[MUSIC]
>> 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 THIS LADY.
EVERY DAY, SHE SAW
THIS LITTLE OLD MAN SITTING
ON HIS FRONT PORCH ROCKING
IN HIS ROCKING CHAIR.
HE ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE
SO HAPPY.
ONE DAY, SHE GOT HER NERVE UP
AND WENT OVER TO HIM, SAID,
"SIR, I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE
YOU'RE ALWAYS SMILING,
ALWAYS IN A GOOD MOOD.
PLEASE TELL ME, WHAT IS
YOUR SECRET FOR SUCH A LONG,
HAPPY LIFE?"
HE SAID, "THAT'S EASY.
I SMOKE THREE PACKS
OF CIGARETTES A DAY,
I EAT NOTHING BUT JUNK FOOD,
AND I NEVER EXERCISE."
SHE SAID, "THAT'S AMAZING,
HOW OLD ARE YOU?"
HE SAID, "TWENTY-SIX."
DON'T LIVE LIKE THAT.
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 YOUR WINGS ARE COMING.
WE ALL FACE SITUATIONS
THAT LOOK LIKE
THEY'LL NEVER CHANGE.
IN OUR CAREER, SEEMS LIKE
WE'VE REACHED OUR LIMITS.
WE HAVE MUCH BIGGER THINGS IN
OUR HEART, WE KNOW WHAT GOD
HAS PROMISED, BUT WHEN
WE LOOK AT THE CIRCUMSTANCES,
IT SAYS WE'RE STUCK.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MEDICAL
REPORT, LOOK AT THE BANK
ACCOUNT, THERE'S NO SIGN
OF THINGS IMPROVING.
BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THE
THINGS WE SEE ARE TEMPORARY,
BUT THE THINGS WE CAN'T SEE
ARE ETERNAL.
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED BY WHAT
YOU SEE, IT'S NOT PERMANENT.
ONE TRANSLATION SAYS THE
THINGS WE SEE ARE SUBJECT TO
CHANGE.
YOUR CHILD MAY BE OFF COURSE,
BUT HE'S SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
YOUR HEALTH MAY NOT LOOK
GOOD, IT'S SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
YOUR DREAM MAY SEEM
IMPOSSIBLE, THAT'S SUBJECT TO
CHANGE.
WHEN THOUGHTS TELL YOU THAT
IT'S PERMANENT, YOU'LL NEVER
GET WELL, NEVER MEET THE
RIGHT PERSON, INSTEAD OF
BEING DISCOURAGED,
TURN IT AROUND.
YES, IT MAY LOOK THAT WAY,
BUT I KNOW A SECRET,
IT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
YOU CAN'T BE MOVED BY WHAT
YOU SEE, YOU HAVE TO BE MOVED
BY WHAT YOU KNOW.
GOD IS ON THE THRONE, HE'S
WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES.
WHAT HE PROMISED IS ON THE
WAY.
WHEN A CATERPILLAR IS
CRAWLING ON THE GROUND,
BARELY MOVING, I COULD
IMAGINE HE LOOKS UP AND SEES
A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY FLYING
THROUGH THE AIR.
THE MORE HE WATCHES, THE MORE
DEPRESSED HE GETS, THINKING
IT'S NOT FAIR, "WHY CAN'T I
FLY?
I'LL ALWAYS BE GROUNDED."
WHEN HE LOOKS AT HIS
CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE'S
NOTHING ABOUT THEM THAT SAYS
HE WILL EVER FLY, NO SIGN OF
HIM EVER GETTING OFF THE
GROUND.
IF AN EXPERT EXAMINED HIM, HE
WOULD GIVE HIM NO CHANCE OF
TAKING FLIGHT, HE HAS NO
WINGS.
IF YOU PUT HIM UP NEXT TO A
DOZEN OTHER WORMS, NONE OF
THEM HAVE EVER FLOWN, BUT
THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT
ABOUT THE CATERPILLAR.
IN ITS DNA, IT'S BEEN
PROGRAMMED AT A CERTAIN TIME
TO DEVELOP WINGS.
EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS
IMPOSSIBLE, EVEN THOUGH EVERY
THOUGHT SAYS IT WILL NEVER
FLY, ONE DAY IT DOES THE
IMPOSSIBLE, IT TRANSFORMS
INTO A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY
THAT CAN SOAR THROUGH THE
AIR.
ALL THAT TIME, HE THOUGHT HE
WAS STUCK ON THE GROUND.
HE DIDN'T REALIZE IT WASN'T
PERMANENT.
HIS WINGS WERE COMING.
LIKE THAT CATERPILLAR, ALL
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES MAY SAY
YOU'LL NEVER FLY.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE TRAINING,
THE EXPERIENCE, YOU COME FROM
THE WRONG FAMILY.
THOUGHTS WILL TELL YOU YOU'LL
ALWAYS BE GROUNDED, YOU'LL
ALWAYS STRUGGLE IN YOUR
FINANCES, ALWAYS BE ADDICTED.
NO, GET READY, YOUR WINGS ARE
COMING.
WHERE YOU ARE IS NOT
PERMANENT.
GOD DID NOT CREATE YOU TO
CRAWL, TO GO THROUGH LIFE
LONELY, ADDICTED, STRUGGLING.
HE DIDN'T MAKE YOU IN HIS OWN
IMAGE, BREATHE LIFE INTO YOU,
CROWNED YOU WITH FAVOR SO YOU
COULD BARELY GET BY.
HE CREATED YOU TO SOAR, TO
TAKE NEW GROUND, TO GO
FURTHER THAN YOU THOUGHT
POSSIBLE.
NOW, QUIT BEING DISCOURAGED
ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE.
WHAT YOU SEE IS SUBJECT TO
CHANGE.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD
IS UP TO.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
HE'S DOING BEHIND THE SCENES.
BUT IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT
IF A CATERPILLAR WAS BORN
WITH WINGS THAT DIDN'T WORK
AND EVENTUALLY THEY WERE
ACTIVATED.
BE MUCH EASIER TO BELIEVE
THAT IT COULD FLY IF THE
WINGS WERE ALREADY IN PLACE.
BUT I BELIEVE ONE REASON GOD
MADE THE CATERPILLAR A WORM
WITHOUT WINGS THAT CRAWLS ON
THE GROUND, THAT'S THE LEAST
LIKELY ONE TO FLY, WAS TO
ENCOURAGE US.
THAT WHEN IT SEEMS THE LEAST
LIKELY FOR YOU TO FLY, WHEN
CIRCUMSTANCES SAY THERE'S NO
WAY YOU'LL GET WELL, NO WAY
YOU'LL ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAM,
YOU CAN REMEMBER THE
CATERPILLAR.
IF IT WENT FROM BEING
GROUNDED WITH NO WINGS TO
BEING A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY
THAT CAN SOAR THROUGH THE
AIR, THEN GOD CAN CHANGE WHAT
LOOKS IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU.
NOW, YOU MAY BE IN THE
CATERPILLAR STAGE, NOT MAKING
MUCH PROGRESS, THINGS DON'T
LOOK PROMISING.
GOD IS SAYING, "DON'T WORRY,
YOUR WINGS ARE COMING.
YOUR HEALING IS COMING.
YOUR PROMOTION IS COMING.
YOUR BREAKTHROUGH IS COMING."
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO JUST GET
AHEAD, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
JUST HAVE A LITTLE BUMP.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
SUPERNATURAL OPPORTUNITIES,
SUPERNATURAL INCREASE,
THINGS THAT YOU COULDN'T
MAKE HAPPEN.
WHEN A CATERPILLAR TRANSFORMS
INTO A BUTTERFLY, GETS ITS
WINGS, IT DOESN'T JUST HAVE
THE ABILITY TO CRAWL FASTER,
JUST BE BETTER AT
WHAT IT COULD ALREADY DO.
IT COMES INTO
A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION
FROM CRAWLING TO FLYING.
WHEN YOU GET YOUR WINGS,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO JUST BE
BETTER AT WHAT YOU CAN DO
RIGHT NOW.
GOD IS GOING TO CATAPULT YOU
INTO A NEW DIMENSION, INTO
FAVOR THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN.
ACCELERATION, THINGS ARE
GOING TO HAPPEN SOONER THAN
YOU THOUGHT.
SHOULD'VE TAKEN YOU 30 YEARS
TO WORK YOUR WAY INTO
MANAGEMENT, BUT SUDDENLY YOU
WERE PROMOTED.
WHAT HAPPENED?
YOU GOT YOUR WINGS.
SHOULD'VE TAKEN YOU A
LIFETIME TO PAY YOUR HOUSE
OFF, BUT YOU DID IT IN A
FRACTION OF THE TIME.
WHAT HAPPENED?
YOU WENT FROM CRAWLING TO
FLYING.
YOU GOT YOUR WINGS.
THAT'S THE HAND OF GOD
THRUSTING YOU AHEAD.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO US
HERE AT LAKEWOOD.
WE WERE DOING GREAT
AT THE OTHER LOCATION.
WE WERE BLESSED, GROWING.
BUT WHEN WE MOVED
INTO THE COMPAQ CENTER,
THINGS EXPLODED.
WE DIDN'T JUST GO
TO A NEW LEVEL, WE WENT
TO A NEW DIMENSION.
WE GOT OUR WINGS.
THIS PUT US 50 YEARS
DOWN THE ROAD.
WHAT AM I SAYING?
YOUR IDEA OF FLYING
AND GOD'S IDEA OF FLYING
ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING GOOD,
WAIT TILL YOU GET YOUR WINGS.
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN, HEARD, OR
IMAGINED WHAT GOD IN STORE.
HE'S GOING TO OPEN DOORS YOU
NEVER DREAMED WOULD OPEN.
HE'S GOING TO BRING STRATEGIC
PEOPLE, DIVINE CONNECTIONS
THAT WILL USE THEIR INFLUENCE
TO PUSH YOU AHEAD.
YOU'RE GOING TO DISCOVER
GIFTS, TALENTS, CREATIVITY
THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD.
WHERE YOU THINK,
"WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?"
YOU GOT YOUR WINGS.
THAT'S GOD TAKING YOU PLACES
THAT YOU COULD NEVER GO
ON YOUR OWN.
IN 1 KINGS CHAPTER 18,
THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA WERE
IN A GREAT DROUGHT.
HADN'T RAINED FOR THREE
YEARS, CROPS HAD DRIED UP,
PEOPLE WERE BARELY MAKING IT.
THE PROPHET ELIJAH SHOWED UP
AND SAID TO KING AHAB,
"I HEAR THE SOUND
OF THE ABUNDANCE OF RAIN."
WHEN HE SAID THAT, THERE
WASN'T A CLOUD IN THE SKY.
THERE WAS NO SIGN OF RAIN,
YET HE CHOSE TO BELIEVE WHAT
HE HEARD IN HIS SPIRIT OVER
WHAT HE SAW WITH HIS EYES.
HE SAW DROUGHT, FAMINE, CROPS
DRIED UP, BUT HE HEARD AN
ABUNDANCE OF RAIN.
ARE YOU BELIEVING WHAT
YOU'RE SEEING OR WHAT
YOU'RE HEARING?
WHAT YOU SEE MAY BE LACK,
STRUGGLE, CATERPILLAR
ON THE GROUND.
BUT WHAT GOD IS SPEAKING
TO YOUR SPIRIT IS ABUNDANCE,
HEALING, BREAKTHROUGHS,
NEW LEVELS.
WHAT YOU'RE HEARING
IS MORE POWERFUL THAN
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.
WHAT YOU SEE IS TEMPORARY,
WHAT YOU HEAR IS ETERNAL.
BUT IF YOU STAY FOCUSED ON
THE DROUGHT, HOW BIG THE
PROBLEM IS, HOW IT'S NEVER
GOING TO CHANGE,
THAT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU
IN A CATERPILLAR MODE.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
WE ARE TRANSFORMED BY
THE RENEWING OF OUR MIND.
THAT WORD "TRANSFORMED" IS
THE SAME WORD USED FOR WHEN A
CATERPILLAR METAMORPHOSES
INTO A BUTTERFLY.
YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR MIND
GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
YOU CAN'T THINK CATERPILLAR
THOUGHTS AND LIVE
A BUTTERFLY LIFE.
IF YOU THINK,
"JOEL, I'LL NEVER GET WELL.
I CAN'T GET AHEAD,
I'VE REACHED MY LIMITS,"
YOUR OWN THINKING WILL KEEP
YOUR WINGS FROM DEVELOPING.
YOU HAVE TO DO LIKE ELIJAH.
EVERYWHERE HE LOOKED,
HE SAW DROUGHT.
BUT IN HIS SPIRIT,
HE HEARD ABUNDANCE.
HE CHOSE TO BELIEVE WHAT GOD
SAID OVER WHAT HE SAW.
HE WENT ON TOP
OF MOUNT CARMEL TO PRAY.
HE TOLD HIS ASSISTANT TO GO
LOOK ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE MOUNTAIN TO SEE
IF THERE WAS ANY SIGN OF RAIN.
THE YOUNG MAN WENT OUT, CAME
BACK, SAID, "NO, THERE'S NOT
A CLOUD IN THE SKY."
ELIJAH COULD'VE BEEN
DISCOURAGED, THOUGHT,
"I MUST'VE HEARD GOD WRONG."
BUT HE UNDERSTOOD THIS
PRINCIPLE THAT WHAT HE SAW
WAS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
AND INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING THAT
IT WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN,
HE TOLD THE YOUNG MAN TO GO
BACK AND LOOK AGAIN
AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
IT TAKES FAITH
TO KEEP LOOKING.
YOU HAVE TO BE MORE CONFIDENT
IN WHAT GOD SAID THAN
IN WHAT YOU SEE.
WHAT YOU SEE MAY BE
A CATERPILLAR,
NO CHANCE IT COULD FLY.
YOU'D BE WASTING YOUR TIME
THINKING THAT WORM COULD
GET OFF THE GROUND.
FOR SOME PEOPLE,
THAT WOULD SEEM FOOLISH,
BUT FAITH IS NOT ALWAYS
GOING TO MAKE SENSE.
WHAT GOD PROMISES YOU IS NOT
ALWAYS GOING TO BE LOGICAL.
THERE WILL BE A BATTLE TAKING
PLACE IN YOUR MIND BETWEEN
WHAT YOU SEE
AND WHAT YOU HEAR.
I HEAR, "I'M A BUTTERFLY.
I'M CREATED TO SOAR.
I'M DESTINED TO DO
GREAT THINGS."
THEN THAT OTHER VOICE, "WELL,
WHERE ARE YOUR WINGS?
HOW COME YOU'RE STILL
ON THE GROUND?
HOW COME IT'S TAKING
SO LONG?"
YOU'RE RIGHT WHERE
ELIJAH WAS.
"GOD, YOU SAID AN ABUNDANCE
OF RAIN, BUT I DON'T SEE
A CLOUD IN THE SKY.
GOD, IF IT'S YOU, AT LEAST
GIVE ME SOME DRIZZLE.
AT LEAST LET THE WEATHERMAN
SAY 10% CHANCE OF RAIN."
SOMETIMES, THERE WILL BE
NO SIGN THAT IT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN.
THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE TO
DIG DOWN DEEP AND SAY,
"GOD, MY MIND SAYS I'M CRAZY,
PEOPLE SAY I'M FAR OUT,
BUT I STILL BELIEVE WHAT YOU
PROMISED IS ON THE WAY.
GOD, YOU SAID YOU WOULD
RESTORE HEALTH BACK UNTO ME.
I DON'T SEE ANY SIGN OF IT,
BUT I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE
HEALING IS COMING.
GOD, YOU SAID AS FOR ME
AND MY HOUSE,
WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.
MY CHILD IS OFF COURSE, BUT
I'M NOT MOVED BY WHAT I SEE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE
THE FINAL SAY.
GOD, YOU SAID I WOULD LEAVE
AN INHERITANCE TO MY
CHILDREN'S CHILDREN.
I DON'T SEE HOW IT COULD
HAPPEN, GOD.
I'M STRUGGLING TO MAKE
ENDS MEET, BUT I BELIEVE
MY WINGS ARE COMING.
IN MY SPIRIT, I HEAR
ABUNDANCE, I HEAR INCREASE,
I HEAR LEND AND NOT BORROW."
THE SEVENTH TIME THE YOUNG
MAN CAME BACK, HE SAID
TO ELIJAH, "THIS TIME, I SAW A
SMALL CLOUD IN THE SKY ABOUT
THE SIZE OF A MAN'S HAND."
ELIJAH SENT WORD TO AHAB,
SAID, "YOU BETTER TAKE OFF TO
THE NEXT CITY, THERE'S ABOUT
TO BE A DOWNPOUR."
ALL HE SAW WAS A SMALL CLOUD,
BUT ELIJAH WAS SO FULL OF
FAITH, SO FULL OF EXPECTANCY,
HE KNEW THAT LITTLE CLOUD WAS
ABOUT TO TURN INTO BIG RAIN.
IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE
THE THREE-YEAR DROUGHT
CAME TO AN END.
WHAT YOU SEE MAY SEEM SMALL
COMPARED TO WHAT GOD
PROMISED YOU.
IT'S EASY TO DISMISS IT,
THINK THAT IT'S NOTHING,
BUT GOD KNOWS HOW TO TAKE
A SMALL CLOUD AND BRING
A BIG BLESSING.
HE KNOWS HOW TO TAKE
SOMETHING THAT LOOKS
INSIGNIFICANT AND CAUSE IT
TO MULTIPLY AND TURN
INTO SOMETHING AMAZING.
BUT I WONDER IF ELIJAH
WOULD'VE EVER SEEN THE RAIN
IF HE HAD NOT KEPT LOOKING.
IF HE WOULD'VE GOTTEN
DISCOURAGED AFTER THE SECOND
TIME OR THE FIFTH TIME OR THE
SIXTH TIME, MAYBE THE CLOUD
WOULD'VE NEVER FORMED.
MAYBE GOD WAS SEEING
HOW BAD HE WANTED IT.
MAYBE THE CLEAR SKIES AND
NO CLOUDS WERE ALL A TEST.
GOD WANTED TO KNOW, "ELIJAH,
ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE
WHAT I'M SAYING OVER WHAT
YOU'RE SEEING?
ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE
YOUR WINGS ARE STILL COMING
WHILE YOU'RE CRAWLING
ON THE GROUND,
WHILE THERE'S NO SIGN OF IT?
OR ARE YOU GOING TO LET
CIRCUMSTANCES TALK YOU OUT OF
IT?"
PART OF THIS TEST IS
SOMETIMES THE SITUATION WILL
GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS
BETTER.
ELIJAH WAS DOING ALL THE
RIGHT THINGS IN THE FACE OF
THE DROUGHT, THE ODDS AGAINST
HIM.
HE DECLARED TO AHAB WHAT GOD
PROMISED, THE ABUNDANCE
OF RAIN WAS COMING.
HE WENT ON THE MOUNTAIN AND
PRAYED.
HE THANKED GOD IN ADVANCE.
HE LOOKED FOR IT,
BUT NOTHING CHANGED.
NO CLOUDS, NO RAIN.
HERE HE WAS DOING EVERYTHING
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING,
BUT THE DROUGHT GOT WORSE.
IF YOU WILL PASS THIS TEST OF
THINGS GETTING WORSE WHILE
YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING,
THEN LIKE HIM YOU WILL COME
INTO ABUNDANCE, YOU WILL SEE
WHAT GOD PROMISED.
THE GETTING WORSE IS A SIGN
THAT THE BREAKTHROUGH
IS COMING.
EVEN WITH THE CATERPILLAR,
BEFORE IT GETS ITS WINGS,
THE CATERPILLAR GOES
INTO A COCOON,
THAT'S WHERE IT TRANSFORMS.
IN THE COCOON, IT'S DARK,
IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE,
HE CAN'T MOVE.
AT LEAST WHEN HE WAS
A CATERPILLAR,
HE COULD CRAWL AROUND.
COULDN'T GO FAST,
BUT HE COULD MOVE.
NOW, HE'S TOTALLY RESTRICTED.
I'M SURE HE THINKS,
"WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?
I WAS BELIEVING FOR WINGS.
I WAS HOPING TO FLY.
NOW I HAVE NO MOBILITY,
IT'S WORSE THAN EVER."
BUT IN A LITTLE WHILE AFTER
THAT DARK SEASON, AFTER THAT
UNCOMFORTABLE TIME, HE COMES
OUT OF THE COCOON NOT
THE SAME, BUT WITH HIS WINGS.
NOW IT'S A BUTTERFLY.
NOW, YOU MAY BE IN THE COCOON
TODAY, YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE GOING BACKWARDS.
YOU'RE BELIEVING TO GET
BETTER, TO TAKE NEW GROUND,
BUT IT'S GONE THE OTHER WAY.
IT'S ALL A PART
OF THE PROCESS.
THAT'S A SIGN
THAT YOUR WINGS ARE COMING.
THAT'S A SIGN THAT THE CLOUDS
ARE STARTING TO FORM.
DON'T GET DISCOURAGED,
YOU'RE ABOUT TO COME IN TO
WHO YOU WERE CREATED TO BE.
THAT TIME IN THE COCOON,
THAT UNCOMFORTABLE SEASON
WHEN YOU WERE DOING
THE RIGHT THING
AND THE WRONG THING WAS
HAPPENING, IT WASN'T A
MISTAKE, IT WASN'T BAD LUCK.
IT WAS A TEST.
GOD HAS YOU
IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.
NOTHING CAN HAPPEN
WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION.
AND BECAUSE YOU STAYED
IN FAITH, BECAUSE YOU KEPT
LOOKING FOR THE CLOUD,
BECAUSE YOU KEPT DECLARING
ABUNDANCE IS COMING, YOU'RE
GOING TO COME OUT WITH YOUR
WINGS.
NO MORE CRAWLING, NO MORE
BARELY GETTING BY, LIVING
MEDIOCRE, STRUGGLING WITH
ADDICTIONS, DEPRESSION,
DYSFUNCTION.
THIS IS A NEW DAY.
IF THE ENEMY WOULD'VE KNOWN
WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN,
HE WOULD'VE LEFT YOU ALONE.
HE TOOK YOU INTO THAT
DIFFICULTY THINKING
HE WAS GOING TO STOP YOU.
HE DIDN'T REALIZE
IT WAS THE COCOON.
GOD WAS USING IT
TO TRANSFORM YOU.
HE MEANT IT FOR HARM; GOD
TURNED IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.
YOU CAME OUT WITH YOUR WINGS,
NOW YOU CAN SOAR, NOW YOU CAN
TAKE NEW GROUND, NOW
ABUNDANCE IS IN YOUR FUTURE.
DECEMBER OF 2002, THE HOUSTON
CITY COUNCIL VOTED FOR US TO
HAVE THE COMPAQ CENTER.
WE WERE SO EXCITED.
WE HAD WORKED A YEAR AND A
HALF TRYING TO CONVINCE
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS WAS A DREAM COME TRUE.
A FEW WEEKS LATER,
I WAS IN ANOTHER CITY, MY
BROTHER-IN-LAW KEVIN CALLED
AND SAID THE COMPANY THAT
OWNS ALL THE PROPERTY AROUND
THE COMPAQ CENTER HAD
JUST FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT
TO TRY TO KEEP US
FROM MOVING IN.
THEY SAID WE WOULD VIOLATE
THE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
THEY WERE A HUGE COMPANY,
ONE OF THE BIGGEST TAXPAYERS
IN TEXAS.
WE MET WITH OUR ATTORNEYS AND
THEY WEREN'T VERY
ENCOURAGING.
THEY SAID WE MIGHT POSSIBLY
WIN THE LAWSUIT, BUT EVEN IF
WE DID, IT COULD BE TIED UP
IN THE COURTS FOR TEN YEARS.
MONTH AFTER MONTH WENT BY,
NOTHING WAS HAPPENING, THEY
WEREN'T GOING TO BUDGE.
I HAD TO DO WHAT I'M ASKING
YOU TO DO.
I SAID, "GOD, I'M NOT GOING
TO BE MOVED BY WHAT I SEE.
WHAT I SEE IS A STALEMATE.
WHAT I SEE IS GOLIATH.
WHAT I SEE IS A LENGTHY LEGAL
BATTLE."
IT LOOKED LIKE WE COULD
ALWAYS BE GROUNDED, LIKE THAT
SETBACK WOULD BE PERMANENT.
BUT I KNEW THIS SECRET, IT
WAS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE
FINAL SAY, GOD HAS
THE FINAL SAY.
INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT HOW
BAD IT WAS, HOW IT WOULD
NEVER WORK OUT, I'D GO AROUND
SAYING, "FATHER, THANK YOU
THAT YOU BEING FOR US IS MORE
THAN THE WORLD BEING AGAINST
US.
THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE
FIGHTING OUR BATTLES."
ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS IN, WE
RECEIVED WORD THAT THE CEO OF
THIS LARGE COMPANY WANTED TO
FLY DOWN AND MEET WITH US.
OUR ATTORNEYS TOLD US NOT TO
GET OUR HOPES UP, THAT IT WAS
PROBABLY A PLOY, A
NEGOTIATING TACTIC TO TRY TO
PRESSURE US AND INTIMIDATE
US.
THEY EXPECTED THE WORST, BUT
DEEP DOWN I BELIEVED IT WAS
THE HAND OF GOD.
WE HAD HAD NO CONTACT WITH
THEM EXCEPT THROUGH
THE COURTS.
THE CEO WALKED IN THE ROOM,
THE FIRST THING HE SAID WAS,
"JOEL, I WATCH YOU EVERY WEEK
ON TELEVISION,
AND MY SON-IN-LAW IS
A YOUTH PASTOR."
GOD KNOWS HOW TO PUT THE
RIGHT PEOPLE IN YOUR PATH.
BY THE END OF THAT DAY, THEY
HAD NOT ONLY AGREED TO DROP
THE LAWSUIT AND LET US HAVE
THE BUILDING, BUT TO LEASE US
8,000 COVERED PARKING SPACES
THAT SURROUND THIS BUILDING.
WE THOUGHT WE WERE STUCK,
BUT WE GOT OUR WINGS.
IT COULD'VE TAKEN YEARS;
GOD DID IT IN A FRACTION
OF THE TIME.
WHAT YOU'RE UP AGAINST
MAY LOOK BIGGER, STRONGER,
THE ODDS ARE AGAINST YOU.
DON'T WORRY,
THE MOST HIGH GOD IS FOR YOU.
HE KNOWS HOW
TO DEFEAT GIANTS.
HE KNOWS HOW TO TURN THINGS
AROUND.
NO PERSON CAN STAND AGAINST
HIM, NO SICKNESS,
NO ADDICTION, NO OBSTACLE.
WHAT'S TRYING TO STOP YOU
IS NOT PERMANENT.
THE GOD WHO CREATED THE
UNIVERSE IS BREATHING IN YOUR
DIRECTION RIGHT NOW, PUSHING
BACK FORCES OF DARKNESS,
MAKING YOUR CROOKED PLACES
STRAIGHT, CHANGING PEOPLE'S
MINDS IN YOUR FAVOR.
NOT ONLY ARE YOU GOING TO
COME OUT, BUT IN THE PROCESS,
YOU'RE GOING
TO GET YOUR WINGS.
YOU'RE GOING TO RISE TO
HEIGHTS THAT YOU NEVER
THOUGHT POSSIBLE.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, GOD
PROMISED ABRAHAM AND SARAH
THAT THEY WERE GOING
TO HAVE A BABY, BUT THEY WERE
BOTH WAY TOO OLD.
EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMED
IMPOSSIBLE, THEY BELIEVED
FOR A WHILE, BUT YEARS WENT
BY AND NO SIGN OF A CHILD.
SARAH FINALLY TOLD ABRAHAM
TO SLEEP WITH HER MAID.
HER ATTITUDE WAS,
"I'LL NEVER GET MY WINGS.
I'LL ALWAYS BE GROUNDED."
SHE THOUGHT SOMEBODY ELSE
WOULD HAVE TO FLY FOR HER,
THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO RIDE
PIGGYBACK SO TO SPEAK,
THEY WOULD HAVE THE BABY.
BUT YOU NEVER SEE A BUTTERFLY
FLYING AROUND WITH A
CATERPILLAR ON ITS BACK.
THE PROMISE GOD PUT IN YOU
IS NOT GOING TO COME
THROUGH SOMEBODY ELSE.
YES, SOMETIMES PEOPLE LIFT
US, SOMETIMES THEY DO US A
FAVOR, BUT GOD DIDN'T CREATE
YOU TO BE DEPENDENT ON OTHERS
TO FULFILL YOUR DESTINY.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE
TO RIDE PIGGYBACK,
YOUR WINGS ARE COMING.
THERE IS GREATNESS IN YOU.
YOU HAVE GIFTS, TALENTS,
BUSINESSES, BABIES IN YOU.
ABRAHAM HAD A BABY WITH
SARAH'S MAID, BUT THAT WAS
NOT THE PROMISED CHILD.
AND WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE THERE
WAS NO WAY, AGAINST ALL ODDS
AT 80 YEARS OF AGE,
SARAH GAVE BIRTH TO A SON,
THE PROMISED CHILD.
WHAT GOD PUT IN YOUR HEART IS
STILL ON THE WAY.
MAYBE THE REASON IT SEEMS
SO UNLIKELY IS LIKE SARAH,
YOU DON'T HAVE
YOUR WINGS YET.
WHEN YOU'RE IN THE
CATERPILLAR STAGE, IT'S EASY
TO TALK YOURSELF OUT OF IT.
THE WAY TO STAY IN FAITH
IS KEEP REMINDING YOURSELF,
"MY WINGS ARE COMING."
WHEN SARAH HEARD THE PROMISE
THAT SHE WAS GOING
TO HAVE A BABY, THE FIRST THING
SHE DID WAS LAUGH.
SHE THOUGHT,
"THAT'S SO FAR OUT, IT'S FUNNY."
BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T
COMPREHEND IT,
SHE FOUND THE MAID TO TRY
TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
HERE'S THE KEY, DON'T REDUCE
WHAT GOD PROMISED YOU
TO FIT YOUR FAITH.
DON'T BRING IT DOWN TO YOUR
LEVEL AND GO FIND THE MAID.
COME UP TO HIS LEVEL.
DON'T BE LIMITED BY YOUR
FAITH, STRETCH YOUR FAITH.
IF YOU COULD DO IT ON YOUR
OWN, YOU WOULDN'T NEED WINGS.
IF YOU COULD ACCOMPLISH
YOUR DREAMS BY YOURSELF,
IT WOULDN'T TAKE FAITH.
WHAT GOD HAS IN YOUR FUTURE
IS SO BIG, SO AMAZING,
IT'S GOING TO BE INTIMIDATING.
AND WHILE YOU'RE EXCITED,
AT THE SAME TIME YOU'LL BE
TEMPTED TO SHRINK BACK
AND THINK, "THERE'S NO WAY.
THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED
IN MY FAMILY."
GOD WOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN IT
TO YOU IF HE DIDN'T HAVE A WAY
TO BRING IT TO PASS.
HE IS NOT ASKING YOU
TO FIGURE IT OUT,
HE'S ASKING YOU TO BELIEVE.
WHEN YOU BELIEVE,
SUPERNATURAL DOORS CAN OPEN.
WHEN YOU BELIEVE, GOD CAN
MAKE THINGS HAPPEN THAT YOU
COULD NEVER MAKE HAPPEN.
BUT THE MISTAKE WE MAKE
TOO OFTEN IS WE REDUCE
WHAT GOD PROMISED US
TO WHAT WE THINK IS POSSIBLE.
A YOUNG COUPLE CAME DOWN
FOR PRAYER ONE TIME, AND THEY
SAID, "JOEL, WILL YOU PRAY
THAT THIS FURNITURE WE REALLY
WANT TO BUY WILL GO ON SALE
SO WE CAN AFFORD IT?"
AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG
WITH BEING FRUGAL, I'M ALL
FOR GETTING GOOD DEALS,
BUT GOD IS NOT DEPENDENT
ON WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE DOES
TO BRING YOUR DREAM TO PASS.
HE'S NOT HOPING THEY GIVE YOU
A GOOD BREAK SO THAT PROMISE
WOULD BE FULFILLED.
I TOLD THEM, "IT'S GREAT IF
IT GOES ON SALE, BUT I WOULD
RATHER PRAY THAT GOD WOULD
GIVE YOU THE FUNDS
TO PURCHASE IT EVEN IF
IT DOESN'T."
SOMETIMES, WE'RE PRAYING FOR
THINGS TO COME DOWN WHEN WE
SHOULD BE PRAYING FOR US TO
GO UP.
THE SAME GOD THAT CAN CAUSE
IT TO GO ON SALE CAN BLESS
YOU WITH SUCH ABUNDANCE THAT
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT
DOESN'T.
SEE, MY FATHER CAME
OUT OF POVERTY.
HE WAS RAISED VERY POOR, WENT
TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH HOLES IN
HIS CLOTHES, HOLES IN HIS
SHOES.
WHEN I WAS TEN YEARS OLD, I
WAS AT A CLOTHING STORE, MY
FATHER WAS ABOUT TO PURCHASE
A SUIT.
WHEN THE SALESMAN FOUND OUT
HE WAS A PASTOR, HE SAID,
"LET ME GO SEE, MAYBE I CAN
GET YOU A MINISTER'S
DISCOUNT."
AND OF COURSE MY FATHER WAS
GRATEFUL, BUT SOMETHING ABOUT
THAT HIT HIM WRONG.
HE SAID, "SIR, I APPRECIATE
IT, BUT THAT WON'T BE
NECESSARY.
MY FATHER IS EXTREMELY
WEALTHY."
THE SALESMAN LOOKED
SO SURPRISED, HE DIDN'T KNOW
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT
HIS HEAVENLY FATHER.
BUT MY FATHER'S ATTITUDE WAS,
"I WAS GROUNDED LONG ENOUGH.
I CRAWLED AROUND FOR YEARS.
THIS IS A NEW DAY.
I'VE GOT MY WINGS
AND I'M NOT GOING BACK
TO THAT WORM MENTALITY.
I WAS BORN TO FLY."
SOMETIMES, WE'RE WAITING
FOR GOD TO TAKE US HIGHER.
GOD IS WAITING FOR US TO
BRING OUR THINKING UP HIGHER.
GET RID OF THAT
WORM MENTALITY.
DON'T REDUCE WHAT GOD
PROMISED YOU TO FIT YOUR
FAITH, STRETCH YOUR FAITH.
HOW YOU WERE RAISED IS NOT
HOW YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO STAY.
GOD HAS NEW LEVELS.
AND YOU MAY NOT SEE HOW
THIS CAN HAPPEN, THERE ARE
BIG OBSTACLES IN YOUR PATH.
DON'T BE MOVED
BY WHAT YOU SEE.
WHAT YOU SEE
IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
LIKE ELIJAH, I CAN HEAR
THE SOUND OF ABUNDANCE.
I HEAR THE SOUND OF HEALING,
THE SOUND OF BREAKTHROUGHS.
YOU MAY HAVE BEEN GROUNDED,
I HAVE GOOD NEWS, YOUR
CATERPILLAR DAYS ARE OVER.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE
YOUR WINGS ARE COMING.
YOU'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH
MORE THAN
YOU THOUGHT POSSIBLE.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN SOONER
THAN YOU THINK.
ACCELERATION, PROMOTION,
HEALING, NEW OPPORTUNITIES,
NEW LEVELS, THE FULLNESS OF
YOUR DESTINY 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, KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
> JOEL: THANKS FOR WATCHING
THE MESSAGE.
I HOPE IT
INSPIRED AND UPLIFTED YOU.
MAKE SURE YOU SUBSCRIBE TO
STAY CONNECTED.
THERE ARE
NEW MESSAGES EVERY WEEK.
WE LOVE YOU AND WE'LL SEE
YOU NEXT TIME.