[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.
BUT I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY, AND I HEARD
ABOUT THESE THREE SONS
THAT LEFT HOME AND WENT OUT
AND PROSPERED.
THEY GOT BACK TOGETHER TO
TALK ABOUT THE GIFTS THEY'D
GOT THEIR ELDERLY MOTHER.
THE FIRST SON SAID,
"I BUILT MOM A BIG HOUSE."
THE SECOND ONE SAID,
"I GOT HER A FANCY CAR."
THE THIRD SON SAID,
"SINCE MOTHER LOVES
TO READ THE BIBLE
BUT CAN BARELY SEE,
I GOT HER A SPECIALLY TRAINED
PARROT THAT CAN QUOTE
THE ENTIRE BIBLE.
A FEW WEEKS LATER,
THEY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM
THEIR MOTHER, SAID, "MILTON,
THE HOUSE YOU BUILT ME
IS WAY TOO BIG.
GERALD, THE CAR YOU GOT ME
IS WAY TOO SMALL.
BUT MY DEAREST DONALD, YOUR
SIMPLE GIFT IS MY FAVORITE.
THE CHICKEN WAS DELICIOUS."
[CONGREGATION LAUGHING]
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
THE JOSHUA GENERATION.
WHEN GOD DELIVERED THE
ISRAELITES OUT OF SLAVERY,
MOSES LED THEM THROUGH
THE DESERT TOWARD
THE PROMISED LAND.
BUT BECAUSE THEY COMPLAINED
AND HAD WRONG MIND-SETS,
THEY NEVER WENT IN.
THEY WANDERED AROUND FOR
40 YEARS, AND THEY SAW
GOD'S GOODNESS IN PART.
HE PROTECTED THEM, GAVE THEM
MANNA TO EAT EACH MORNING,
BROUGHT WATER OUT OF A ROCK,
AND AT TIMES
THEY WERE GRATEFUL,
THEY THANKED GOD
FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE,
BUT THEY ONLY SAW
THE PROMISED LAND
FROM A DISTANCE.
THEY ONLY HEARD ABOUT THE
CLUSTER OF GRAPES SO LARGE
THAT IT TOOK TWO PEOPLE TO
CARRY IT, HOW IT WAS A LAND
FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY.
THEY DREAMED ABOUT IT.
THEY BELIEVED FOR IT.
THEY HOPED IT WOULD HAPPEN,
BUT THEY DIED WITHOUT EVER
SEEING IT COME TO PASS.
GOD RAISED UP A YOUNG MAN
NAMED JOSHUA TO LEAD THIS NEW
GENERATION, THE CHILDREN
OF THE FIRST GROUP
THAT HAD DIED.
THEY HAD A DIFFERENT
MIND-SET.
THEY DIDN'T WANDER AROUND
ANOTHER 40 YEARS.
THEY WENT IN TO
THE PROMISED LAND.
THEY TOOK NEW GROUND.
THEIR PARENTS ONLY MADE IT
UP TO THE BORDER.
THEY CAMPED NEXT DOOR.
THEY COULD SEE THE CLUSTER OF
GRAPES, BUT JOSHUA AND HIS
PEOPLE TASTED THE GRAPES.
THEY DIDN'T JUST HEAR ABOUT
THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY,
THEY LIVED IN THE LAND
OF MILK AND HONEY.
ALL THEIR PARENTS DREAMED
ABOUT, THE PROVISION,
THE PEACE, THE ABUNDANCE,
THE JOSHUA GENERATION
EXPERIENCED, AND SOMETIMES
THOUGHTS WILL TELL YOU WHAT
YOU'RE DREAMING ABOUT WILL
ALWAYS ONLY BE A DREAM,
JUST A HOPE, A WISH.
OTHERS IN YOUR FAMILY TRIED
TO GET AHEAD.
THEY TRIED TO START
THE BUSINESS, TRIED TO BREAK
THE ADDICTION.
THEY COULDN'T DO IT,
AND NEITHER WILL YOU.
THAT WOULD BE TRUE
IF YOU WERE WITH MOSES
AND THE FIRST GROUP.
THE GOOD NEWS IS,
YOU ARE A PART
OF THE JOSHUA GENERATION.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO JUST
DREAM THE DREAM.
YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE
YOUR DREAM.
YOU'RE GOING TO GO WHERE NO
ONE IN YOUR FAMILY HAS GONE.
THEY MAY HAVE BELIEVED
FOR IT.
THEY STOOD IN FAITH.
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
THEY LAID THE FOUNDATION.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE ONE
TO SEE THE FULFILLMENT.
DAVID SAID, "TASTE AND SEE
THAT THE LORD IS GOOD."
YOU'RE GOING TO TASTE THE
GRAPES, TASTE THE ABUNDANCE,
TASTE THE FREEDOM.
TASTE THE FREEDOM.
THIS IS A YEAR WHERE YOU'RE
GOING TO TAKE NEW GROUND,
NEW GROUND IN YOUR FINANCES,
NEW GROUND IN YOUR HEALTH,
NEW GROUND IN RELATIONSHIPS,
AREAS THAT LOOKED
LIKE YOU WERE STUCK.
IT'S BEEN THAT WAY
A LONG TIME.
IT WILL NEVER CHANGE.
THINGS ARE SHIFTING.
FAVOR IS COMING IN A NEW WAY.
BREAKTHROUGHS, PROMOTION,
THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
GOD IS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING
THAT YOU'VE NEVER SEEN,
UNPRECEDENTED,
OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "STAND
STILL, AND WATCH THE LORD
SHOW HIS MIGHT POWER."
THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE BY
YOUR EFFORT, JUST YOUR
STRENGTH, YOUR TALENT,
YOUR DETERMINATION.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE HAND
OF GOD.
STAND STILL AND WATCH HIM
SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
HE'S GOING TO SURPASS
ANYTHING YOU'VE SEEN.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO JUST
BELIEVE FOR PROMISES.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE PROMISES
COME TO PASS.
NOT JUST HOPE FOR
BREAKTHROUGHS, YOU'RE GOING
TO ENJOY BREAKTHROUGHS.
NOT JUST DREAM ABOUT THE
RIGHT PERSON, YOU'RE GOING
TO MEET THE RIGHT PERSON,
SOMEBODY BETTER
THAN YOU IMAGINED.
BUT MAYBE YOU COME FROM
A FAMILY LINE OF MEDIOCRITY,
DEPRESSION, DIVORCE,
ADDICTIONS, POVERTY.
IT SHOULD CONTINUE WITH YOU,
BUT YOU'RE THE JOSHUA
GENERATION.
THERE IS A BLESSING
ON YOUR LIFE THAT WILL
THRUST YOU AHEAD.
FORCES THAT HAVE STOPPED
YOUR FAMILY ARE BEING BROKEN
RIGHT NOW.
WHAT YOU COULDN'T MAKE HAPPEN
GOD IS ABOUT TO SUDDENLY
MAKE HAPPEN.
NO MORE JUST WANDERING IN THE
DESERT, GRATEFUL THAT GOD
IS SUSTAINING YOU.
YOU CAN SEE THE PROMISED
LAND, BUT YOU DON'T THINK IT
WILL EVER HAPPEN.
THE JOSHUA GENERATION HAS
A CONQUERING SPIRIT,
NOT JUST MAINTAIN,
"LET ME HOLD MY GROUND,
TRY NOT TO GO BACKWARDS."
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO DO THAT,
JUST STAND IN FAITH, BUT THIS
JUST STAND IN FAITH, BUT THIS
IS A YEAR WHERE YOU'RE GOING
TO TAKE NEW GROUND, NOT
MAINTAIN, BUT ADVANCE.
NOT HOLD WHERE I AM,
BUT INCREASE, NEW LEVELS,
NEW OPPORTUNITIES,
AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
GONE BEFORE YOU
MAY HAVE WORKED HARD
AND THEY DID THEIR BEST,
BUT THEY ALWAYS STRUGGLED.
THEY BELIEVED MORE, BUT THEY
COULDN'T SEEM TO GET AHEAD.
THEY ONLY SAW THE PROMISED
LAND FROM A DISTANCE.
GET READY, YOU'RE ABOUT
TO GO IN.
YOU ARE NOT WITH MOSES.
YOU ARE WITH JOSHUA.
GOD IS GOING TO OPEN DOORS
FOR YOU THAT DIDN'T OPEN
FOR OTHERS.
YOU'RE GOING TO GO WHERE
YOUR FAMILY HASN'T GONE.
YOU'RE GOING TO SET
A NEW STANDARD.
YOU ARE NOT GOING
TO SPEND YOUR LIFE
CONSTANTLY STRUGGLING,
HOPING THINGS WILL IMPROVE,
BELIEVING, WISHING.
THAT WAS FOR A SEASON,
BUT YOU SHOWED GOD
YOU WOULD BE FAITHFUL.
YOU PASSED THE TEST.
NOW GOD IS ABOUT
TO SHOW HIS POWER.
HE'S ABOUT TO TAKE YOU TO
A PLACE THAT YOU'VE
NEVER DREAMED.
NEVER DREAMED.
YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE GROUND
THAT YOU DIDN'T THINK
WAS POSSIBLE.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE
THE QUALIFICATIONS,
YOU WEREN'T NEXT IN LINE,
THE CONNECTIONS, BUT GOD
IS ABOUT TO SHOW OUT.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
THE SURPASSING GREATNESS
OF HIS FAVOR.
OF HIS FAVOR.
"WELL, JOEL, THIS SOUNDS
ENCOURAGING TODAY,
BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW
IT COULD HAPPEN FOR ME."
THAT'S WHAT JOSHUA AND HIS
GENERATION THOUGHT.
ALL THEY HAD SEEN WAS
WANDERING AROUND IN A DESERT.
THEY WERE BORN OUT THERE.
THEY GREW UP AS NOMADS,
PEOPLE WITHOUT A HOME,
STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE,
FIGHTING OFF BANDITS.
THAT WAS THEIR WAY OF LIFE,
AND WHEN THEY CAME TO
JERICHO, THE CITY THAT STOOD
BETWEEN THEM AND THE PROMISED
LAND, THERE WAS
A 30-FOOT-HIGH WALL THAT
SURROUNDED THE CITY.
IT WAS SO THICK, CHARIOTS
WOULD RUN ON TOP OF THE WALL
TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE
AND WATCH FOR ENEMIES.
THE PEOPLE OF JERICHO
WERE SKILLED WARRIORS.
THEY HAD THE LATEST EQUIPMENT
INSIDE A FORTIFIED CITY.
JOSHUA AND HIS PEOPLE HAD
NO MILITARY TRAINING,
NO EQUIPMENT, NO WEAPONS.
ALL THE ODDS WERE
AGAINST THEM.
IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WOULD
JUST DREAM ABOUT THE PROMISED
LAND LIKE THEIR PARENTS.
LAND LIKE THEIR PARENTS.
BUT WHEN GOD IS READY FOR YOU
TO TAKE NEW GROUND, IT
DOESN'T MATTER HOW BIG THE
OBSTACLES ARE, HOW MANY
PEOPLE ARE AGAINST YOU, HOW
LONG YOU'VE HAD THE PROBLEM.
ONE TOUCH OF HIS FAVOR,
AND WALLS WILL COME DOWN.
AND WALLS WILL COME DOWN.
GOD IS NOT LIMITED BY
WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE,
BY THE ECONOMY,
BY HOW YOU WERE RAISED.
HE HAS SUPERNATURAL POWER,
AND THE ISRAELITES DIDN'T
HAVE TO BREAK THE WALLS DOWN,
AND FIGHT THEIR WAY THROUGH.
THEY JUST WALKED AROUND
THE WALLS GIVING GOD PRAISE,
THANKING HIM THAT HE WAS ON
THE THRONE, THAT HE WAS
BIGGER THAN WHAT
THEY WERE FACING.
SEVENTH TIME AROUND, THOSE
WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN.
THEY WENT IN AND TOOK
THE CITY, AND WENT ON
TO THEIR PROMISED LAND,
AND YOU MAY NOT SEE
HOW YOU CAN MAKE IT
INTO YOUR PROMISED LAND.
YOU HAVE BIG OBSTACLES
IN YOUR PATH.
THE ODDS MAY BE AGAINST YOU,
BUT THE MOST HIGH GOD IS FOR
YOU, AND WHEN THOUGHTS TELL
YOU THAT "YOU'RE STUCK,
YOU'VE REACHED YOUR LIMITS,
IT WILL NEVER CHANGE,"
JUST SAY, "NO, THANKS,
I KNOW A SECRET.
I'M THE JOSHUA GENERATION.
I AM DESTINED TO TAKE NEW
GROUND, AND I MAY NOT SEE
A WAY, BUT GOD, I KNOW
YOU HAVE A WAY.
FATHER, THANK YOU THAT WALLS
ARE COMING DOWN.
THANK YOU THAT NEW DOORS ARE
OPENING, THAT BREAKTHROUGHS,
PROMOTION, HEALING
IS HEADED MY WAY.
THE JOSHUA GENERATION MEANS
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIVE LIKE
THOSE THAT HAVE GONE
BEFORE YOU.
THEY MAY HAVE DONE WELL, BUT
YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE BETTER.
EVERY GENERATION
IS SUPPOSED TO INCREASE.
YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE FREER,
LIVE KINDER, LIVE MORE
GENEROUS, MORE PASSIONATE,
MORE BLESSED.
YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE MORE
DEVOTED, MORE CONSECRATED,
NOT COMPROMISING, LETTING
THE SAME NEGATIVE HABITS KEEP
GETTING PASSED DOWN.
NO, THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU.
YOU ARE THE ONE TO SET A NEW
STANDARD FOR YOUR FAMILY.
QUIT TELLING YOURSELF
THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT.
YOU'VE HAD THE ADDICTION
TOO LONG.
EVERYONE IN YOUR FAMILY IS
NEGATIVE, DEPRESSED, ANGRY.
THAT WAS THE PAST.
THAT WAS WITH MOSES.
THE DIFFERENCE IS, YOU'RE
THE JOSHUA GENERATION.
YOU WOULDN'T BE HEARING
THIS IF YOU WEREN'T ABOUT
TO TAKE NEW GROUND.
GOD IS ABOUT TO CATAPULT YOU
TO A NEW LEVEL.
YOU ARE COMING IN TO
GENERATIONAL BLESSINGS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN YOUR
FAMILY LINE THAT HAVE GONE
BEFORE YOU THAT HONORED GOD.
THEY PRAYED, THEY BELIEVED,
THEY WORKED HARD,
BUT THEY DIDN'T SEE
THE FULLNESS OF WHAT
THEY WERE BELIEVING FOR,
AND THE SCRIPTURE
TALKS ABOUT HOW SOME
OF THE SAINTS OF OLD DIED
IN FAITH WITHOUT SEEING
THE PROMISE COME TO PASS, AND
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOUR
PARENTS, YOUR ANCESTORS SAW,
IT WASN'T FOR
THEIR GENERATION.
GOD PUT IT IN THEIR SPIRIT
AS A SEED.
THEY DREAMED ABOUT IT.
THEY WORKED FOR IT, BUT IT
WAS ALL A PART OF THE PLAN SO
THAT YOU COULD STEP INTO IT.
YOU'RE COMING IN TO HOUSES
THAT YOU DIDN'T BUILD.
YOU'RE GOING TO REAP FROM
VINEYARDS THAT YOU DIDN'T
PLANT, PROMOTION
THAT YOU DIDN'T WORK FOR.
IT'S GOD KEEPING HIS PROMISE
TO YOUR PRAYING GRANDMOTHER.
IT'S GOD REWARDING YOUR
FAMILY THAT WENT BEFORE YOU,
AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
A HARVEST FROM SEEDS THAT
YOU DIDN'T SOW, BUSINESS,
CONTRACTS, PROPERTY, BOOKS,
MOVIES, MINISTRIES.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GO
AFTER THEM.
THEY CAME AFTER YOU.
IT'S A PART OF THE NEW GROUND
THAT GOD HAS ORDAINED
FOR YOU.
DEUTERONOMY 6 SAYS: "THE LORD
WILL SOON BRING YOU INTO
THE LAND THAT HE PROMISED
YOUR ANCESTORS.
IT IS FILLED WITH LARGE
CITIES THAT YOU
DID NOT BUILD.
THE HOUSES WILL BE RICHLY
STOCKED WITH GOODS YOU
DID NOT PRODUCE.
YOU WILL DRAW FROM WELLS
THAT YOU DID NOT DIG."
IT'S TALKING ABOUT
GENERATIONAL BLESSINGS, AND
IT SAYS, "SOON YOU WILL COME
IN TO WHAT GOD PROMISED.
SOON YOU WILL TAKE
NEW GROUND.
SOON YOU WILL STEP IN
TO NEW LEVELS."
WHEN I LOOK BACK OVER
MY LIFE, I CAN SEE THESE
GENERATIONAL BLESSINGS, FAVOR
THAT I DIDN'T WORK FOR.
MY PARENTS STARTED LAKEWOOD
IN 1959 WITH 90 PEOPLE,
AND THOSE ORIGINAL MEMBERS
AND MY PARENTS WORKED HARD.
THEY MADE SACRIFICES.
THEY HAD A LITTLE BUILDING,
AN OLD RUNDOWN FEED STORE.
THEY DIDN'T COMPLAIN.
THEY WERE GRATEFUL.
THROUGH THE YEARS,
THE CHURCH GREW, AND THEY
SAW GOD'S BLESSINGS.
BUT IN ONE SENSE, IT'S LIKE
THEY MADE IT UP TO
THE PROMISED LAND.
MY FATHER AND MANY OF THEM
WENT TO BE WITH THE LORD.
BUT WHEN GOD GAVE US
THE COMPAQ CENTER,
IT'S LIKE WE'RE THE GENERATION
THAT CAME INTO
THE PROMISED LAND.
WE HAVE SEEN INCREASE AND
FAVOR LIKE THEY NEVER SAW.
FIFTEEN YEARS BEFORE MY
FATHER DIED, HE WAS SPEAKING
AT A FRIEND OF OURS' CHURCH.
OUT OF THE BLUE, HE SAID,
"ONE DAY, WE'RE GOING TO OWN
THE COMPAQ CENTER."
THIS BUILDING WASN'T
FOR SALE.
THE ROCKETS BASKETBALL TEAM
HAD A LONG-TERM LEASE.
HE'D NEVER SAID THAT BEFORE.
WE HAD AN 8,000-SEAT
AUDITORIUM, PLENTY OF ROOM,
BUT GOD PUT THAT SEED
IN HIS SPIRIT, NOT FOR HIS
GENERATION, BUT FOR OUR
GENERATION.
HE DREAMED OF IT,
BUT WE'RE LIVING IT.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOUR
PARENTS, THOSE THAT WENT
BEFORE YOU, BELIEVED FOR,
THEY DREAMED ABOUT.
SOME WONDER WHY
THEY DIDN'T HAPPEN,
WHY THE DOORS DIDN'T OPEN.
IT'S BECAUSE GOD ORDAINED
THEM TO OPEN FOR YOU.
THEY LAID THE FOUNDATION.
NOW GOD IS ABOUT TO RELEASE
WHAT HE PROMISED.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO STEP IN
TO FAVOR THAT YOU
DIDN'T WORK FOR.
IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE THE
JOSHUA GENERATION.
YOU'RE THE ONE
TO TAKE NEW GROUND.
WHEN I HEARD THE
COMPAQ CENTER WAS COMING
AVAILABLE, SOMETHING CAME
ALIVE ON THE INSIDE.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT MY FATHER
HAD TALKED ABOUT IT UNTIL
MANY YEARS LATER, BUT THAT
SEED WAS IN MY SPIRIT JUST
LIKE IT WAS IN MY FATHER'S,
AND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO
TAKE NEW GROUND HAS ALREADY
BEEN LINED UP.
AND YES, WE HAVE TO DO
OUR PART, PRAY, BELIEVE,
STAY IN FAITH.
BUT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT
IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
BY YOUR OWN EFFORTS,
YOUR OWN ABILITY.
IF YOU CAN DO IT BY YOURSELF,
IT'S NOT THE NEW GROUND.
WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE IS TOO
BIG, TOO EXPENSIVE, TOO FAR
OUT, TOO COMPLICATED.
THE COMPAQ CENTER WAS FAR
BEYOND WHAT I IMAGINED.
IN MY MIND, IT DIDN'T MAKE
SENSE, BUT IN MY SPIRIT, I
KNEW WE WERE SUPPOSED TO
PURSUE IT, AND THIS BUILDING
WAS OWNED BY THE CITY,
SO I CALLED THE MAYOR.
HERE'S HOW AMAZING GOD IS.
TWENTY YEARS BEFORE LEE BROWN
WAS THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON,
HE WAS THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN
POLICE CHIEF.
WHEN HE CAME TO TOWN, MY
PARENTS WENT TO A RECEPTION
TO WELCOME HIM.
I WAS A TEENAGER.
I REMEMBER THAT NIGHT ASKING
MY PARENTS WHERE THEY
WERE GOING.
THEY SAID, "TO WELCOME
THE NEW POLICE CHIEF."
I ASKED WHEN THEY HAD
MET HIM.
THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER
MET HIM.
I ASKED WHO INVITED THEM.
THEY SAID NO ONE HAD
INVITED THEM.
THEY WERE JUST GOING ON THEIR
OWN TO MAKE SURE HE FELT
WELCOME AND TO LET HIM KNOW
THAT LAKEWOOD WAS PRAYING
FOR HIM.
AT 18 YEARS OLD, THAT MADE
SUCH AN IMPRESSION ON ME.
I THOUGHT,
"THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO GO.
NOBODY INVITED THEM.
WHY ARE THEY GOING?"
THEY WERE SIMPLY SOWING
A SEED OF KINDNESS.
WHAT MY PARENTS DIDN'T KNOW
THAT NIGHT WAS,22 YEARS
LATER I WOULD CALL HIM,
NOW THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON,
AND ASK ABOUT US PURCHASING
THE COMPAQ CENTER.
WHEN I DID, MAYOR BROWN SAID,
"JOEL, I THINK LAKEWOOD
HAVING THE COMPAQ CENTER
WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE CITY
OF HOUSTON."
BUT HAD MY PARENTS NOT MADE
THAT CONNECTION, HAD THEY NOT
DEVELOPED THAT FRIENDSHIP
YEARS EARLIER, MAYBE HE
WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN MY CALL.
MAYBE HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
FAVORABLE TO US.
MAYBE WE WOULDN'T BE HERE.
MY PARENTS SOWED THE SEED,
AND I REAPED THE HARVEST.
WHAT AM I SAYING?
GOD HAS IT ALL FIGURED OUT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE
TO MANIPULATE THINGS,
TRY TO FORCE DOORS TO OPEN.
WHAT GOD HAS COMING YOUR WAY
HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS
FOR A LONG TIME,
BEFORE YOU WERE BORN.
IT'S SO BIG, SO AMAZING,
YOU COULDN'T ACCOMPLISH IT
ON YOUR OWN.
HE'S BEEN WORKING BEHIND THE
SCENES, GENERATIONS BACK,
GETTING EVERYTHING LINED UP
FOR THIS TIME, TO TAKE YOU
INTO A PLACE THAT YOU'VE
NEVER IMAGINED, OPPORTUNITY
BIGGER, INFLUENCE GREATER,
BLESSED, PROSPEROUS, HEALTHY,
WHOLE, SO YOU CAN BE AN
EXAMPLE OF HIS GOODNESS,
SO YOU CAN SHINE BRIGHTLY
WHEREVER YOU GO.
GOD HAS BEEN BREATHING ON
YOUR FAMILY LINE EVEN WHEN
YOU DIDN'T KNOW IT.
HE HAS ARRANGED THINGS SO
THAT YOU CAN TAKE NEW GROUND,
STEP INTO NEW LEVELS,
SET NEW STANDARDS.
MY FATHER ALWAYS
BUILT AUDITORIUMS.
WE HAD LARGE SANCTUARIES,
BUT THE COMPAQ CENTER
IS NEW GROUND.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY CHURCH
THAT'S BOUGHT
A BASKETBALL ARENA.
THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED,
AND WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO
IN YOUR LIFE IS NOT GOING
TO BE ORDINARY.
IT'S GOING TO BE UNUSUAL,
WHAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN.
"WELL, JOEL, THIS SOUNDS KIND
OF FAR OUT."
IT'S BECAUSE WE SERVE
A FAR-OUT GOD.
IT'S FAR OUT TO BE HAVING
CHURCH IN THE COMPAQ CENTER.
IT'S FAR OUT THAT WALLS CAME
DOWN WITH NO OPPOSITION.
IT'S FAR OUT THAT MY PARENTS
BEFRIENDED A STRANGER
AND YEARS LATER HE HELPED US
GET THIS FACILITY.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
YOU'RE THE JOSHUA GENERATION.
FAR-OUT THINGS CHASE
YOU DOWN.
WATCH AND SEE WHAT GOD
IS ABOUT TO DO.
WATCH HIM SHOW OUT
IN YOUR LIFE.
WATCH HIM CONNECT THE DOTS,
DIRECT YOUR STEPS, TAKE YOU
WHERE YOU COULDN'T GO ON YOUR
OWN, AND GOD WANTS YOU TO NOT
ONLY TAKE NEW GROUND IN YOUR
FAMILY, BUT TO TAKE NEW
GROUND IN YOUR FIELD OF WORK,
NEW GROUND IN MEDICINE.
IT'S TIME FOR SOMEONE TO
DISCOVER THE CURE FOR CANCER.
MAYBE IT'LL BE YOU.
NEW GROUND IN TECHNOLOGY,
NEW GROUNDS IN THE ARTS
AND ENTERTAINMENT,
NEW GROUND IN EDUCATION,
IN MINISTRY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE
THE SMARTEST, MOST TALENTED,
MOST EDUCATED.
JUST DARE TO BELIEVE,
DARE TO SAY, "GOD, I'M READY.
SHOW OUT IN MY LIFE.
USE ME TO HELP MANKIND.
USE ME TO MAKE THE WORLD A
BETTER PLACE, TO LIFT PEOPLE,
TO HEAL PEOPLE, TO FEED
PEOPLE, TO SAVE PEOPLE,
TO LEAVE MY MARK.
MY FRIEND DR.
TODD PRICE AND
HIS FAMILY HAVE ATTENDED HERE
FOR MANY YEARS.
TODD SPECIALIZES IN
INFECTIOUS DISEASE, HAS A
VERY SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE,
AND IS A LEADER IN HIS FIELD.
EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS,
HE TRAVELS TO AFRICA
TO TREAT THE CHILDREN,
AND WAY BACK IN
THE VILLAGES, TEACHES THEM
HOW TO HAVE GOOD HYGIENE.
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, DR.
PRICE
WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE
FOR UGANDA.
IT WAS A FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
HE'D ALREADY LEFT THE
HOSPITAL AND WAS GETTING
PREPARED FOR HIS FLIGHT.
HIS OFFICE RECEIVED A CALL
ABOUT AN EXECUTIVE THAT HAD
RETURNED HOME FROM OVERSEAS
AND WASN'T FEELING WELL.
HE CONTINUED TO GET WORSE.
BEFORE THEY KNEW IT,
HIS HEALTH HAD GONE DOWN
SO QUICKLY, HE WAS IN A COMA,
COULDN'T SPEAK OR TALK.
HIS ORGANS WERE STARTING
TO SHUT DOWN.
DR.
PRICE RUSHED BACK
TO THE HOSPITAL.
HE DISCOVERED THE MAN
HAD MALARIA.
THE INFECTION WAS SPREADING
SO RAPIDLY TO THE OTHER CELLS
THAT ANOTHER FEW HOURS
AND HE WOULD DIE.
THE PROBLEM WAS, DR.
PRICE
DIDN'T HAVE THE STRONGER
MALARIA MEDICINE
THAT HE NEEDED.
YOU HAVE TO GET IT FROM THE
CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL.
HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT.
THE MAN LITERALLY HAD
A FEW HOURS TO LIVE.
HE PRAYED FOR GOD TO GIVE HIM
WISDOM TO SHOW HIM HOW
TO TREAT THE MAN.
HE DECIDED TO DO WHAT'S
CALLED AN EXCHANGE
TRANSFUSION.
THAT'S WHERE YOU TAKE ALL
THE PATIENT'S BLOOD OUT
AND PUT NEW BLOOD BACK IN.
IT'S AN UNUSUAL PROCESS, BUT
HE HAD NO OTHER OPTIONS.
THE FIRST TIME THEY EXCHANGED
THE BLOOD, THE INFECTION WENT
FROM 20% DOWN TO JUST OVER
6%, A REMARKABLE IMPROVEMENT,
BUT ANYTHING OVER 5%
IS LETHAL.
HE HAD A LONG WAY TO GO.
DR.
PRICE STAYED THERE
ALL NIGHT.
THEY DID THE EXCHANGE
TWO MORE TIMES.
THAT WEDNESDAY, THE MAN
WOKE UP FROM HIS COMA.
HIS ORGANS STARTED
FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.
ON FRIDAY, A WEEK AFTER HE
WAS ADMITTED, HE NOT ONLY
WALKED OUT OF THE HOSPITAL
WITH NO INFECTION,
BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY
FURTHER COMPLICATIONS.
DR.
PRICE SAID HE HAD NEVER
SEEN ANYONE RECOVER FROM SUCH
A SEVERE CASE OF MALARIA.
THAT WAS GOD HELPING
DR.
PRICE TO TAKE NEW GROUND,
AND WHEN YOU'RE A PART
OF THE JOSHUA GENERATION,
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE WISDOM
THAT GOES BEYOND YOUR
NORMAL UNDERSTANDING,
BEYOND WHAT YOU LEARNED
IN SCHOOL, IDEAS,
CREATIVITY, STRATEGY,
INVENTIONS THAT DEFY
THE ODDS.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ABILITY,
OPPORTUNITY, INFLUENCE
TO WHERE YOU KNOW
IT'S THE HAND OF GOD.
YOU KNOW IT'S HIS FAVOR
TAKING YOU WHERE YOU COULDN'T
GO ON YOUR OWN.
PSALM 110 SAYS: "THE LORD
WILL EXTEND YOUR DOMINION
FROM JERUSALEM.
YOU WILL RULE OVER
YOUR ENEMIES."
JERUSALEM WAS THEIR HOME.
THEY WERE USED TO HAVING
PROTECTION, FAVOR,
BLESSING THERE.
THAT WAS NORMAL.
BUT GOD SAID, "I'M ABOUT
TO DO SOMETHING UNUSUAL,
OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
I'M GOING TO INCREASE YOU
BEYOND WHAT YOU'RE USED TO.
I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU BEYOND
WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU
NEW GROUND.
GOD IS SAYING THAT TO YOU,
"I'M ABOUT TO EXTEND YOUR
DOMINION, EXTEND YOUR INCOME,
EXTEND YOUR INFLUENCE,
EXTEND YOUR WISDOM,
EXTEND YOUR TALENT,
EXTEND YOUR ANOINTING."
YOU MAY HAVE BEEN BLESSED
IN THE PAST, BUT YOU
HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET.
GOD IS ABOUT TO ENLARGE
YOUR TERRITORY.
HE IS GOING TO GIVE YOU
GROUND THAT YOU
DIDN'T GROW UP WITH.
IT SAYS, "THE LORD WILL
EXTEND YOUR DOMINION."
AGAIN, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN
IN YOUR OWN EFFORTS.
JUST KEEP HONORING GOD.
KEEP HIM FIRST PLACE, AND GOD
IS GOING TO OPEN DOORS
THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE COMING.
YOU'RE GOING TO THINK,
"HOW DID I GET HERE?
HOW DID I TAKE
ALL THIS GROUND?
HOW DID WE END UP IN
THE COMPAQ CENTER?"
IT WAS THE LORD EXTENDING
OUR DOMINION.
WHERE YOU ARE IS NOT YOUR
FINAL DESTINATION.
IT IS NOT WHERE
YOU'RE STAYING.
YOU'RE THE JOSHUA GENERATION.
NEW GROUND IS COMING,
NEW OPPORTUNITIES,
NEW LEVELS, AND LIKE JOSHUA,
YOU MAY HAVE SOME WALLS
IN FRONT OF YOU,
BIG OBSTACLES.
DON'T WORRY, IT'S NO MATCH
FOR OUR GOD.
KEEP PRAISING, KEEP
BELIEVING, KEEP EXPECTING,
AND THE LORD IS GOING TO
EXTEND YOUR DOMINION.
GOD IS GOING TO BRING WALLS
DOWN AND TAKE YOU FURTHER
THAN YOU EVER DREAMED.
GOES ON TO SAY, "YOU WILL
RULE OVER YOUR ENEMIES,"
AND IT'S ONE THING TO DEFEAT
YOUR ENEMIES.
THAT'S GOOD, BUT AN ENEMY CAN
RECOVER, GET BACK UP,
AND COME AT YOU AGAIN.
YOU CAN BEAT AN ADDICTION,
AND TWO YEARS LATER
FALL BACK.
YOU CAN OVERCOME AN ILLNESS,
AND THERE ARE TIMES
WHEN IT COMES BACK.
BUT GOD SAYS ABOUT YOU,
"YOU WILL RULE OVER
YOUR ENEMIES."
THAT MEANS YOU WON'T
JUST DEFEAT THEM, YOU WILL
KEEP THEM DEFEATED.
THAT ADDICTION IS NOT GOING
TO BE ON AND OFF
AND ON AND OFF.
YOU'RE GOING TO RULE OVER IT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIVE UP
AND DOWN, DEPRESSED ONE WEEK,
OKAY THE NEXT.
YOU'RE GOING TO RULE OVER
DEPRESSION, RULE OVER ANGER,
RULE OVER ALCOHOL,
RULE OVER POVERTY.
GOD IS PUTTING AN END TO
WHAT'S BEEN HINDERING YOU.
YOU MAY HAVE STRUGGLED
WITH IT IN THE PAST,
BUT THIS IS A NEW DAY.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO RULE
OVER EVERY ENEMY.
WALLS ARE COMING DOWN.
YOU ARE THE JOSHUA
GENERATION.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WANDER
IN THE WILDERNESS, DEFEATED,
LONELY, ADDICTED, POVERTY.
NO, GET READY TO COME IN
TO THE PROMISED LAND.
GET READY FOR FREEDOM.
GET READY FOR ABUNDANCE.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE AT
THIS SAME PLACE NEXT YEAR
AS YOU ARE RIGHT NOW.
GOD IS ABOUT TO ENLARGE
YOUR TERRITORY.
NEW DOORS ARE ABOUT TO OPEN.
THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO TRACK YOU DOWN.
GENERATIONAL BLESSINGS
ARE HEADED YOUR WAY.
WHAT YOUR LOVED ONES DREAMED
ABOUT, YOU'RE GOING
TO STEP INTO.
GOD IS ABOUT TO SHOW OUT
IN YOUR LIFE.
NOW, DO YOUR PART AND GET
IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD.
ALL THROUGH THE DAY, "LORD,
THANK YOU THAT I'M A PART
OF THE JOSHUA GENERATION."
IF YOU'LL DO THIS,
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE
THIS YEAR YOU WILL
TAKE NEW GROUND, YOU WILL
STEP INTO NEW LEVELS,
AND YOU WILL SET NEW
STANDARDS, 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.
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.
