[MUSIC]
JOEL OSTEEN: GOD BLESS YOU
AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR LETTING
US COME INTO YOUR HOMES, AND IF
YOU'RE EVER IN OUR AREA, PLEASE
STOP BY AND BE A PART OF ONE
OF OUR SERVICES.
THESE ARE THE FINEST PEOPLE
IN ALL OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, RIGHT
HERE IN LAKEWOOD, I PROMISE YOU
WE WILL MAKE YOU FEEL RIGHT
AT HOME, BUT THANKS FOR TUNING
IN AND THANKS FOR COMIN'
OUT AGAIN.
I LIKE TO START WITH SOMETHING
FUNNY AND I HEARD ABOUT THESE
THREE SISTERS, AGES 96, 94,
AND 92 THAT LIVED TOGETHER.
ONE NIGHT, THE 96 YEAR OLD DRAWS
A BATH, SHE PUTS ONE FOOT
IN AND STOPS.
SHE HOLLERS DOWNSTAIRS, "I CAN'T
REMEMBER IF I WAS GETTING
IN OR GETTING OUT."
THE 94 YEAR OLD SAYS, "HANG ON,
I'LL COME UP AND HELP YA."
SHE GETS HALFWAY UP THE STAIRS
AND STOPS, SAYS, "I CAN'T
REMEMBER IF I WAS GOIN'
UP OR COMIN' DOWN."
THE 92 YEAR OLD SHOOK HER HEAD
AND SAID, "BOY, I HOPE I DON'T
GET THAT FORGETFUL" AND SHE
KNOCKED ON WOOD FOR GOOD LUCK.
THEN SHE SAID, "HANG ON, I'LL
COME HELP BOTH OF YOU AS SOON AS
I SEE WHO'S AT THE DOOR."
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'
NAME."
GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT UNCLUTTER YOUR MIND.
IT'S EASY TO GO AROUND WORRIED
ABOUT OUR FUTURE, STRESSED
OVER OUR FINANCES, FRUSTRATED
WITH OUR BOSS.
WE'RE TEMPTED TO LIVE GUILTY
BECAUSE OF PAST MISTAKES
AND BITTER OVER WHAT DIDN'T WORK
OUT.
AND WE WONDER WHY WE DON'T ENJOY
LIFE.
WHY WE'RE NOT PASSIONATE
ABOUT DREAMS, WHY WE CAN'T SLEEP
AT NIGHT.
IT'S BECAUSE OUR MIND IS
CLUTTERED.
YOU WEREN'T CREATED TO LIVE
WORRIED, GUILTY, BITTER, UPSET.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO REACH YOUR
DESTINY YOU HAVE TO CLEAR
OUT THE CLUTTER.
YOU CAN'T STOP NEGATIVE THINGS
FROM COMING BUT YOU CAN KEEP
THEM FROM STAYING.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HOLD ONTO IT.
WHEN WE MAKE MISTAKES GUILT WILL
COME.
CONDEMNATION, TELLING US HOW WE
DON'T MEASURE UP.
YOU CAN HOLD ONTO IT GO
AROUND DOWN ON YOURSELF OR YOU
CAN LET IT GO AND SAY, "FATHER,
THANK YOU THAT I AM FORGIVEN.
THANK YOU THAT I AM REDEEMED.
THE PAST IS OVER.
THIS IS A NEW DAY, I'M MOVING
FORWARD."
WHEN YOU GO
THROUGH A DISAPPOINTMENT,
SOMETHING DOESN'T WORK OUT, YOU
CAN HOLD ONTO IT, LIVE
DISCOURAGED, OR YOU CAN LET IT
GO AND SAY, "GOD, I KNOW YOU
HAVE SOMETHING BETTER.
I KNOW YOUR PLANS FOR ME ARE
FOR GOOD.
I KNOW YOU'RE DIRECTING MY
STEPS."
WHEN THE MEDICAL REPORT IS NOT
GOOD.
WHEN THE CONTRACT DOESN'T GO
THROUGH.
WHEN YOU'RE IN A LEGAL
SITUATION.
YOU CAN HOLD ONTO IT.
LIVE WORRIED, THINKING, "WHAT AM
I GOING TO DO?"
OR YOU CAN LET IT GO AND SAY,
"GOD, I KNOW YOU'RE FIGHTING MY
BATTLES.
I KNOW WHAT'S MEANT FOR HARM,
YOU'RE TURNING TO MY ADVANTAGE.
I MAY NOT SEE A WAY, BUT GOD, I
KNOW YOU HAVE A WAY."
YOU CAN CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER.
YOU CAN GET RID OF THE NEGATIVE
THINGS THAT ARE STEALING YOUR
PEACE, TAKING YOUR JOY, DRAINING
YOUR ENERGY.
THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO GUARD
OUR MINDS.
YOU HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE WHEN IT
COMES TO KEEPING YOUR MIND
IN PEACE BECAUSE ALL
THROUGH THE DAY THERE'S CLUTTER.
THERE'S NOISE, THERE'S JEALOUSY,
THERE'S HURTS, THERE'S OFFENSE.
THEY MAY COME BUT YOU DON'T HAVE
TO HOLD ONTO IT.
I SAW A DOCUMENTARY
ABOUT HOARDERS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT NEVER
THROW ANYTHING AWAY AND THIS ONE
LADY LIVED BY HERSELF IN A TWO
STORY HOUSE, BUT YOU COULDN'T
GET UPSTAIRS.
SHE HAD IT SO PILED FULL
OF TRASH, OLD NEWSPAPERS, EMPTY
CEREAL BOXES, CANS FROM FOOD
THAT SHE HAD EATEN 30 YEARS AGO.
THERE WAS A SMALL PATH
TO THE KITCHEN, TO THE BATHROOM,
INTO A LITTLE PLACE TO SLEEP,
BIG WALLS OF TRASH ON EACH SIDE.
YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW IT SMELLED,
HOW UNHEALTHY IT WAS.
IT GOT SO BAD THE AUTHORITIES
CAME TO DO AN INTERVENTION.
THEY KNOCKED ON THE FRONT DOOR,
BUT SHE COULDN'T OPEN IT.
THEY WENT AROUND TO THE SIDE
DOOR, BARELY SQUEEZED IN.
AT ONE POINT, THIS MAN PICKED
UP AN OLD POPSICLE RAPPER,
LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE THOUSANDS
PILED UP IN THE CORNER.
HE ASKED IF HE COULD GET RID
OF IT.
THE LADY TOLD HOW THAT BELONGED
TO HER CHILDREN, THAT IT MEANT
SOMETHING TO HER AND TO PUT IT
BACK.
IT SEEMED OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE
ALL SHE WAS DOING WAS KEEPING
TRASH, BUT SHE COULDN'T SEE IT.
SHE WAS SO FOCUSED ON HOLDING
ON TO EVERYTHING, SHE DIDN'T
REALIZE IT WAS LIMITING HER
LIFE.
AND I WONDER HOW MANY OF US ARE
HOARDERS IN OUR MINDS.
WE'RE NOT LETTING ANYTHING GO.
THERE'S SO MUCH CLUTTER, WE
CAN'T ENJOY OUR LIFE.
GOD HAS YOU HEARING THIS BECAUSE
HE WANTS TO DO AN INTERVENTION.
HE WANTS TO HELP YOU CLEAR
OUT THE WORRY, THE OFFENSE,
THE GUILT, THE BITTERNESS, THOSE
THINGS THAT ARE CLUTTERING YOUR
LIFE.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS
THE AUTHORITIES DIDN'T MAKE HER
THROW AWAY THE TRASH.
IT WAS HER CHOICE AND EVENTUALLY
SHE DECIDED TO DO IT BUT IT
WASN'T EASY.
EVERYTHING IN HER SAID TO HOLD
ONTO.
THAT'S ALL SHE HAD KNOWN
FOR YEARS.
LIVING CLUTTERED HAD BECOME
NORMAL TO HER.
AND SOMETIMES LIVING WORRIED HAS
BECOME NORMAL TO US.
WE'VE DONE IT FOR YEARS.
LIVING GUILTY IS WHAT WE'RE USED
TO.
WE'VE GONE AROUND THINKING WE
DON'T DESERVE TO BE BLESSED.
WE'VE MADE TOO MANY MISTAKES.
WE'VE LET THAT RECORDING PLAY
SO LONG THAT WE'VE ACCEPTED IT.
OR MAYBE LIVING INFERIOR,
FEELING LESS THAN.
PERHAPS THAT'S HOW YOU WERE
RAISED, THOUGHTS HAVE ALWAYS
TOLD YOU, YOU'RE NOT THAT
TALENTED, YOU'RE NOT ATTRACTIVE,
YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD
PERSONALITY.
WE DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER.
WE BELIEVE THOSE LIES AND NOW
OUR MIND IS CLUTTERED.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS IS YOUR
DAY FOR AN INTERVENTION.
IT IS TIME TO CLEAR
OUT THE CLUTTER.
THOSE THOUGHTS THAT ARE TELLING
YOU YOU'RE NOT UP TO PAR, YOU
NEED TO SAY "NO, THANK YOU, I AM
FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE.
I HAVE ROYAL BLOOD FLOWING
THROUGH MY VEINS.
I'M WEARING A CROWN OF FAVOR."
CLEAR OUT THE NEGATIVE.
YOU HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN LIFE
AGAINST YOU.
DON'T BE AGAINST YOURSELF,
YOU'VE BEEN MADE IN THE IMAGE
OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
GOD DOESN'T MAKE ANY MISTAKES.
HE DIDN'T MAKE YOU FAULTY.
HE CALLS YOU A MASTERPIECE,
A PRIZED POSSESSION.
MY CHALLENGE, DON'T SAY ANOTHER
NEGATIVE WORD ABOUT YOURSELF.
QUIT DWELLING ON THOSE THOUGHTS
TELLING YOU WHAT YOU'RE NOT.
YOU ARE EXACTLY HOW YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE.
YOU HAVE BEEN WONDERFULLY MADE.
NOW GET IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD.
ALL THROUGH THE DAY THIS
RECORDING SHOULD BE PLAYING
IN OUR MIND, "I'M A MASTERPIECE.
I'M ONE OF A KIND.
I'M TALENTED.
I'M ATTRACTIVE.
I'M FAVORED.
I'M EMPOWERED.
I HAVE SEEDS OF GREATNESS."
WHEN YOU DWELL ON WHAT GOD SAYS
ABOUT YOU, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY
CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER.
FEAR CAN'T STAY WHERE FAITH IS.
DISCOURAGEMENT CAN'T STAY WHERE
HOPE IS.
GUILT CAN'T STAY WHERE
FORGIVENESS IS.
MEDIOCRITY CAN'T STAY WHERE
GREATNESS IS.
PROGRAM YOUR MIND WITH WHAT GOD
SAYS ABOUT YOU.
BUT THIS LADY HAD A BEAUTIFUL
HOUSE SHE COULDN'T ENJOY IT.
SHE COULDN'T GET UPSTAIRS
BECAUSE OF THE TRACK.
IN THE SAME WAY, IF YOU DON'T
CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER.
IT WILL KEEP YOU FROM GOING
TO NEW LEVELS.
WORRY WILL KEEP YOU FROM RISING
HIGHER.
LIVING GUILTY WILL KEEP YOU
FROM PURSUING DREAMS.
GOIN' AROUND OFFENDED BITTER
WILL KEEP YOU FROM NEW
OPPORTUNITIES.
"WELL, JOEL, THESE PEOPLE HURT
ME.
THEY DID ME WRONG, THAT'S WHY
I'M BITTER.
THAT'S WHY I'M UPSET."
THAT HAPPENED 27 YEARS AGO.
WHY ARE YOU STILL HOLDING
ON TO THEM?
WHY ARE YOU STILL SOUR
OVER THE PERSON THAT WALKED
AWAY?
STILL UPSET OVER HOW YOU WERE
RAISED?
STILL BITTER OVER THAT COMPANY
THAT LET YOU GO?
DON'T BE A HOARDER.
DON'T LET THAT POISON YOUR
FUTURE.
THEY HURT YOU ONCE, DON'T LET
THEM CONTINUE TO HURT YOU
BY HOLDING ONTO IT.
RECOGNIZE THAT'S CLUTTERING YOUR
MIND.
THAT'S LIMITING YOUR VISION.
AND I'M NOT SAYING WHAT THEY DID
WASN'T HURTFUL.
I'M NOT MAKING EXCUSES FOR THEIR
BEHAVIOR, BUT AS LONG AS YOU
HOLD ONTO IT, YOU'RE GIVING THEM
YOUR POWER.
YOU'RE LETTING THEM CONTROL YOU.
WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH EMOTIONAL
ENERGY EACH DAY.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH ENERGY IT
TAKES TO HOLD A GRUDGE?
TO BE BITTER, TO GO
AROUND TRYING TO PAY PEOPLE
BACK, THAT IS VALUABLE ENERGY
YOU NEED FOR YOUR DREAMS,
FOR YOUR GOALS, FOR YOUR
CHILDREN.
GOD SAID HE WILL GIVE YOU BEAUTY
FOR ASHES.
BUT HERE'S THE KEY, YOU HAVE
TO LET GO OF THE ASHES
BEFORE YOU RECEIVE THE BEAUTY.
YOU CAN'T GO AROUND HURT, LIVING
OFFENDED, UPSET, AND SEE THE NEW
THINGS GOD HAS IN STORE.
YOU HAVE TO CLEAR
OUT THE CLUTTER.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES ROOM FOR GOD
TO GIVE YOU THE BEAUTY.
THE MISTAKE WE MAKE SOMETIMES IS
WE THINK WE HAVE TO GET EVEN.
WE HAVE TO PAY PEOPLE BACK.
NO, THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB.
IF YOU'LL TURN IT OVER TO GOD,
HE'LL BE YOUR VINDICATOR.
HE'LL BRING JUSTICE INTO YOUR
LIFE.
HE SAW EVERY HURT, EVERY WRONG,
EVERY PERSON THAT TOOK ADVANTAGE
OF YOU.
I'VE LEARNED GOD WILL VINDICATE
YOU BETTER THAN YOU CAN
VINDICATE YOURSELF.
DAVID SAID, "GOD WILL PREPARE
A TABLE BEFORE YOU
IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR
ENEMIES."
THAT MEANS WHEN GOD BRINGS YOU
OUT, THOSE PEOPLE THAT DID YOU
WRONG, THE PEOPLE THAT TRIED
TO HOLD YOU BACK, THEY WILL SEE
YOU PROMOTED, HONORED,
IN A POSITION OF INFLUENCE.
GOD IS NOT GOING TO VINDICATE
YOU IN PRIVATE.
HE'S GOING TO DO IT IN PUBLIC.
SO, YOUR ENEMIES SEE YOU
BLESSED, FAVORED, SUCCESSFUL.
WHEN MY DAD WENT TO BE
WITH THE LORD AND I STEPPED
UP TO PASTOR THE CHURCH, I WAS
VERY INSECURE.
I HAD NEVER MINISTERED BEFORE.
ONE SUNDAY RIGHT AFTER I FIRST
STARTED SPEAKING, I WAS WALKING
THROUGH THE FRONT LOBBY, AND I
OVERHEARD THESE TWO OLDER LADIES
TALKING.
ONE SAID, "HE'S NOT AS GOOD AS
HIS FATHER."
THE OTHER ANSWERED, "YEAH, I
DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO MAKE
IT."
THAT WAS THE LAST THING I NEEDED
TO HEAR.
IT WAS LIKE MY WORST NIGHTMARE.
I WAS TEMPTED TO SHRINK BACK
AND THINK, "I CAN'T DO THIS.
NOBODY'S GOING TO LISTEN TO ME."
BUT I FELT SOMETHING RISE
UP IN ME SO STRONGLY.
I THOUGHT, "WHO ARE THEY TO TELL
ME WHAT I CAN'T DO?
THEY DIDN'T BREATHE LIFE
INTO ME.
THEY DON'T DETERMINE MY DESTINY.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW ME BEFORE I WAS
FORMED IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB.
I DON'T NEED THEIR APPROVAL.
I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THEM TO BE
FOR ME."
I DID WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO.
I CLEARED OUT THE CLUTTER.
AND EVERY TIME THEIR VOICES CAME
TO MY MIND, I SAID, "NO THANKS,
I AM WELL ABLE.
I AM STRONG IN THE LORD.
GOD BEING FOR ME IS MORE THAN
THE WORLD BEING AGAINST ME."
THEY STILL MAY NOT LIKE ME,
BUT THAT'S OKAY.
WHEN THEY TURN ON THE TELEVISION
THEY PROBABLY SEE ME.
WHEN THEY'RE FLIPPING
THROUGH SIRIUS XM, THEY MIGHT
HEAR ME.
WHAT WAS THAT?
GOD PREPARING A TABLE
IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES.
WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO ACQUIRE
THIS BUILDING, THE FORMER
COMPAQ CENTER, A WELL KNOWN
BUSINESS LEADER IN HOUSTON TOLD
A FRIEND OF MINE THAT IT WOULD
BE A COLD DAY IN HELL
BEFORE LAKEWOOD GOT
THE COMPAQ CENTER.
HE WAS VERY AGAINST US.
THE COMPANY WE WERE
UP AGAINST WAS MUCH BIGGER, HAD
MANY MORE RESOURCES, BUT GOD
STEPPED IN AND MADE THINGS
HAPPEN THAT WE NEVER COULD MAKE
HAPPEN AND HERE WE ARE TODAY.
BUT I CAN IMAGINE EVERY TIME
THAT MAN DRIVES
DOWN THE FREEWAY, SEES OUR
BUILDING WITH A BIG LAKEWOOD
SIGN, HE MUST THINK IT'S A COLD
DAY IN HELL 'CAUSE HERE WE ARE.
WHAT WAS THAT?
GOD HONORING US IN FRONT
OF THE OPPOSITION AND I'M NOT
GLOATING OVER IT.
NOT TOO MUCH ANYWAY, BUT HERE'S
MY POINT, GOD KNOWS HOW
TO VINDICATE YOU.
IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF HE DID
IT IN PRIVATE.
WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL, BUT GOD IS
GOING TO DO IT IN PUBLIC.
HE'S PREPARING A TABLE
IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR ENEMIES.
THAT MEANS WHEN YOU HAVE
OPPOSITION AND YOU HAVE TROUBLE
AND, THINGS COME AGAINST YOU,
GOD HAS A TABLE THERE.
THE KEY IS TO DON'T FIGHT
WITH THE OPPOSITION.
DON'T LIVE WORRIED, UPSET,
STRESSED OUT.
NO, TAKE A SEAT AT THE TABLE GOD
HAS PREPARED.
IF YOU WILL STAY IN REST THEN
GOD WILL GO TO WORK, BUT WHEN
YOU WORK, GOD RESTS.
AS LONG AS YOU'RE UPTIGHT,
WORRIED, TRYIN' TO MAKE IT
HAPPEN ONLY IN YOUR OWN
STRENGTH.
IT WILL LIMIT WHAT GOD WILL DO.
THE PSALMIST SAID, "BE STILL
AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD."
CLEAR OUT THE WORRY, CLEAR
OUT THE NEGATIVITY, LIVE
FROM A PLACE OF FAITH, A PLACE
OF PEACE.
GOD HAS YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS
HAND.
NOTHING YOU'RE FACING IS
A SURPRISE TO HIM.
HE SAID TO THE ISRAELITES,
"STAND STILL AND YOU WILL SEE
THE DELIVERANCE OF THE LORD."
HE WASN'T JUST TALKING
ABOUT PHYSICALLY HE WAS TALKIN'
ABOUT IN THEIR MIND, IN THEIR
ATTITUDE.
IN THEIR SPIRIT.
AND YOU MAY HAVE PLENTY OF GOOD
REASONS TO LIVE UPSET, WORRIED,
NOT ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN PEACE, THAT'S
A POSITION OF POWER.
WHEN YOU'RE IN PEACE, YOU'RE
SHOWING GOD THAT YOU TRUST HIM.
ANYONE CAN STAY IN FAITH, WHEN
EVERYTHING'S GOING OUR WAY.
THE TEST COMES WHEN THE CONTRACT
DOESN'T GO THROUGH.
WHEN YOUR CHILD IS OFF COURSE.
WHEN THE MEDICAL REPORT IS NOT
GOOD.
IT'S EASY TO LET THE CLUTTER IN.
NO, BE STILL.
THAT'S THE TIME TO SHOW GOD THAT
YOU TRUST HIM NOT JUST WITH YOUR
WORDS, BUT WITH YOUR ACTIONS.
SEE THE ENEMY'S MAIN TARGET IS
OUR MIND.
THAT'S THE CONTROL CENTER
FOR OUR LIFE.
IF HE CAN KEEP IT CLUTTERED,
FILLED WITH DOUBT.
"WHAT IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT,
JOEL?
WHAT IF MY HEALTH DOESN'T
IMPROVE?
WHAT IF I DON'T MEET THE RIGHT
PERSON?"
AS LONG AS OUR MIND IS
CLUTTERED, IT KEEPS GOD
FROM TURNING IT AROUND.
GOD WORKS WHERE THERE'S FAITH.
2 CHRONICLES 32, THE KING
OF SYRIA HAD A HUGE ARMY.
THEY HAD INVADED THAT WHOLE
REGION, CONQUERING ALL THESE
LARGE FORTIFIED CITIES
BY TEARING DOWN THE WALLS,
AND CAPTURING THE PEOPLE.
THE CITY OF JERUSALEM WAS NEXT
IN LINE.
WORD QUICKLY SPREAD
THROUGHOUT THE ISRAELITE CAMP.
THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO PANIC.
SO WORRIED, THINKING, "WHAT ARE
WE GOING TO DO?
THEY'RE SO MUCH BIGGER THAN US."
KING HEZEKIAH SAID
TO THE ISRAELITES IN VERSE 7,
"DON'T BE AFRAID OF THIS MIGHTY
ARMY, FOR THERE IS A POWER FAR
GREATER ON OUR SIDE.
THEY MAY HAVE A GREAT ARMY,
BUT THEY ARE JUST MEN.
WE HAVE THE LORD OUR GOD
TO FIGHT OUR BATTLES FOR US."
WHEN YOU FACE BIG ENEMIES, BIG
OPPOSITIONS, YOU HAVE TO REMIND
YOURSELF, OUR GOD IS BIGGER THAN
THE CANCER.
HE'S BIGGER THAN THE ADDICTION.
HE'S BIGGER THAN THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE TRYING TO STOP YOU.
AND THE WAY TO STAY IN FAITH IS
DON'T TALK ABOUT HOW BIG
THE PROBLEM IS, TALK ABOUT HOW
BIG YOUR GOD IS.
HE FLUNG STARS INTO SPACE.
HE SPOKE WORLDS INTO EXISTENCE.
HE HEALED MY MOTHER OF TERMINAL
CANCER.
HE GAVE US THE COMPAQ CENTER.
THE GOOD NEWS IS RIGHT NOW HE'S
BREATHING IN YOUR DIRECTION.
HE'S PUSHING BACK FORCES
OF DARKNESS, HE'S LINING
UP THE BREAKS THAT YOU NEED.
DON'T LET FEAR CLUTTER YOUR
MIND.
DON'T LET DOUBT KEEP YOU
FROM YOUR MIRACLE.
DON'T LET PEOPLE TALK YOU
OUT OF YOUR DREAMS.
THE KING OF SYRIA SENT A LETTER
TO THE ISRAELITES THREATENING
THEM.
IT SAID, "WE'VE CONQUERED ALL
THESE CITIES.
WE'VE CAPTURED ALL THESE PEOPLE.
NONE OF THEIR GODS SAVE THEM.
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOUR GOD IS
GOING TO SAVE YOU?"
THE ENEMY WILL ALWAYS TRY
TO DEFEAT YOU FIRST IN YOUR
THOUGHTS.
THINGS LIKE, "YOU'LL NEVER GET
WELL.
YOUR GRANDMOTHER DIED
OF THE SAME THING.
YOU'LL NEVER BREAK
THE ADDICTION.
THAT PROBLEM WILL NEVER TURN
AROUND."
DON'T BELIEVE THOSE LIES.
HE WOULDN'T BE TELLING YOU THAT
UNLESS HE KNEW IT WAS
ON THE WAY.
DO LIKE HEZEKIAH.
YES, THIS PROBLEM MAY BE BIG
BUT I KNOW A SECRET, MY GOD IS
MUCH BIGGER, HE'S ON THE THRONE.
HE HAS THE FINAL SAY.
WHAT HE STARTED IN MY LIFE HE
WILL FINISH.
HAD HEZEKIAH NOT BEEN PROACTIVE
TO GUARD HIS MIND AND TO SPEAK
VICTORY TO THE PEOPLE, THEY
WOULD HAVE ALL PANICKED, LIVED
IN FEAR, INSTEAD THEY STAYED
IN PEACE.
VERSE 21 SAYS, "GOD SENT
AN ANGEL THAT DESTROYED
THE WHOLE ENEMY ARMY."
THAT KING WENT HOME IN DISGRACE,
RETURNED TO HIS LAND.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO VINDICATE YOU.
HE KNOWS HOW TO TURN THE PROBLEM
AROUND.
ONE ANGEL WIPED OUT THE WHOLE
BUNCH.
NOW STAY IN FAITH.
WHEN YOU'RE TEMPTED TO WORRY,
TURN IT INTO WORSHIP.
"FATHER, THANK YOU THAT YOUR
ANGELS ARE WORKING IN MY LIFE.
THANK YOU THAT NO WEAPON FORMED
AGAINST ME WILL PROSPER.
THANK YOU THAT THE TRAP
THE ENEMY SET FOR ME THEY WILL
FALL IN THEMSELVES."
IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP
THE CLUTTER OUT, WE HAVE TO KNOW
WHAT'S OUR JOB, AND WHAT'S GOD'S
JOB.
SOMETIMES WE'RE FRUSTRATED
BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHAT
ONLY GOD CAN DO.
YOU CAN'T MAKE YOURSELF GET
WELL.
MAKE SOMEBODY DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
MAKE A DOOR OPEN.
OUR PART IS TO BELIEVE.
OUR PART IS TO STAY IN FAITH,
AND THEN LET GOD DO HIS PART.
TRUST HIM TO WORK IT OUT.
HEZEKIAH COULD HAVE THOUGHT, "I
KNOW GOD'S ON MY SIDE.
I'M GOING TO GO ATTACK THIS
ARMY.
SHOW THEM WHO THEY'RE DEALING
WITH."
WE WOULDN'T BE READING ABOUT IT.
I'M NOT SAYING TO ALWAYS SIT
BACK AND BE PASSIVE BUT THERE
ARE SOME BATTLES YOU'RE NOT
SUPPOSED TO FIGHT.
LET GOD FIGHT THEM FOR YOU.
EVEN WITH THE COMPAQ CENTER, WE
HAD A THREE YEAR LEGAL BATTLE
AND YES, WE DID WHAT WE COULD
BUT WE RECOGNIZE GOD, THIS IS
TOO BIG FOR US.
ONLY YOU CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE STILL
AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOD.
LIKE WITH HEZEKIAH GOD STEPPED
IN AND MADE THINGS HAPPEN THAT
WE COULD'VE NEVER MADE HAPPEN.
BUT WHILE YOU'RE WAITING
FOR THINGS TO CHANGE, THAT'S
A TEST.
IT'S EASY TO LIVE WORRY.
FOCUSED ON YOUR PROBLEM.
THINKIN' ABOUT HOW IT'S NEVER
GOING TO WORK OUT.
NO CLEAR OUT THAT CLUTTER.
ISAIAH SAID, "IF YOU'LL KEEP
YOUR MIND STAYED ON HIM, GOD
WILL KEEP YOU IN PERFECT PEACE."
OUR PART IS TO KEEP OUR MIND
ON HIM.
GOD, THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE
IN CONTROL.
THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE FOR ME.
THANK YOU THAT YOUR DESTINY
FOR MY LIFE WILL COME TO PASS.
IF WE DO OUR PART, GOD WILL DO
HIS PART.
HE'LL NOT ONLY KEEP YOU
IN PEACE, BUT HE'LL GET YOU
TO WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, THERE WERE
THREE HEBREW TEENAGERS THAT WERE
ABOUT TO BE THROWN INTO A FIERY
FURNACE BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T
BOW DOWN TO THE KING'S GOLDEN
IDOL.
THE KING THREATENED THEM ONE
LAST TIME.
THEY SAID, "KING, WE'RE STILL
NOT GOING TO BOW DOWN.
WE KNOW OUR GOD WILL DELIVER"
US.
THEY HAD THIS ATTITUDE OF FAITH.
BUT WHAT THEY SAID NEXT WAS
THE REAL KEY.
THEY WENT ON TO SAY, "EVEN IF HE
DOESN'T DELIVER US, WE'RE STILL
NOT GOING TO BOW DOWN."
THAT'S A POWERFUL POSITION.
WHEN YOU CAN SAY I'M GOING
TO STAY IN PEACE.
IF IT WORKS OUT MY WAY AND I'M
GOING TO STAY IN PEACE IF IT
DOESN'T WORK OUT MY WAY.
THEN YOU TAKE AWAY ALL THE POWER
OF THE ENEMY.
IF YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO BE
HAPPY, IF IT HAPPENS YOUR WAY,
YOU'RE SETTING YOURSELF
UP FOR DISAPPOINTMENT.
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THIS NEXT
STEP?
"GOD, THIS IS WHAT I'M BELIEVING
FOR.
THIS IS WHAT I WANT, BUT GOD,
YOU KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR ME.
AND IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN MY WAY,
I'M STILL GOING TO STAY
IN PEACE.
I'M STILL GOING TO HAVE A SONG
OF PRAISE.
I'M STILL GOING TO BE GOOD
TO PEOPLE."
THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS GOD TO DO
AMAZING THINGS.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF NOISE THESE
DAYS.
THERE'S A LOT OF DRAMA.
THINGS THAT WE CAN GET PULLED
INTO.
WORRY, CONFLICT, JEALOUSY, THAT
MAY BE ALL AROUND US, BUT IT
DOESN'T HAVE TO GET IN US.
PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU'RE
ALLOWING IN YOUR SPIRIT.
JUST BECAUSE THERE'S CONFLICT
WITH YOUR RELATIVES DOESN'T MEAN
IT HAS TO GET IN YOU.
DON'T TAKE THAT BAIT.
STAY ON THE HIGH ROAD.
MAYBE AT THE OFFICE YOU COULD BE
FRUSTRATED.
PEOPLE ARE PLAYING POLITICS, NOT
TREATING YOU RIGHT, IT'S EASY
TO LET THAT SOUR YOUR DAY, COME
HOME NEGATIVE.
NO, CLEAR OUT THAT CLUTTER.
YOUR TIME IS TOO VALUABLE
TO LIVE IT UPSET, BITTER.
THIS DAY IS A GIFT FROM GOD.
ONCE WE LIVE IT, WE CAN NEVER
GET IT BACK.
AND SOMETIMES, WE BECOME
SO HOOKED ON DRAMA, SO USED
TO LIVING UPTIGHT, WORRIED
ABOUT THIS SITUATION, PUTTING
OUT THIS FIRE, FIGHTING
WITH THIS RELATIVE.
WE'VE FORGOTTEN WHAT IT'S
LIKE TO BE IN PEACE TO NOT HAVE
ALL THAT CLUTTER.
THAT IS NOT THE WAY GOD CREATED
US.
IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN,
BEFORE THEY ATE THE FORBIDDEN
FRUIT, THERE WASN'T ANY NOISE,
ANY DRAMA, ANY JEALOUSY,
BACKSTABBING POLITICS.
IT WAS PEACEFUL, JOYFUL.
AND NO IT'S NOT LIKE THAT NOW,
BUT YOU CAN CHOOSE TO LIVE
FROM A PLACE OF PEACE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LET
THE OUTSIDE GET ON THE INSIDE.
MAYBE YOU BECOME COMFORTABLE
WITH THE CLUTTER.
LIKE THIS LADY, YOU DON'T
RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S LIMITING
YOUR VISION, THAT IS BLOCKING
YOUR POTENTIAL.
NOT ONLY THAT, IT DOESN'T SMELL
GOOD.
WORRY DOESN'T LOOK GOOD ON YOU.
LIVING GUILTY, BITTER, OFFENDED,
ANGRY, THAT IS NOT YOUR STYLE.
CLEAR OUT THAT CLUTTER
AND YOU'LL STEP INTO NEW LEVELS.
I READ WHERE A SHEEP WON'T GIVE
BIRTH IN A NOISY PLACE.
WHEN IT'S ABOUT TO GO INTO LABOR
IT WILL LEAVE THE FLOCK AND GET
AWAY FROM ALL THE COMMOTION, ALL
THE BUSYNESS AND FIND A QUIET
PLACE.
IN THAT PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE, IT
WE'LL GIVE BIRTH.
IN THE SAME WAY, YOU WON'T GIVE
BIRTH TO YOUR DREAMS IN A NOISY
PLACE.
YOU WON'T GIVE BIRTH TO THAT
BREAKTHROUGH YOU'RE BELIEVING
FOR, IF YOU'RE WORRIED, YOU'RE
MIND IS STRESSED.
YOU WON'T GIVE BIRTH TO YOUR
POTENTIAL IF YOUR MIND IS FULL
OF HURTS, REGRETS, BITTERNESS.
YOU MAY WONDER WHY GOD IS NOT
DOING ANYTHING, PERHAPS HE'S
WAITING FOR YOU TO FIND A QUIET
PLACE.
AND IT MAY BE NOISY ALL
AROUND YOU, BUT IN YOUR MIND YOU
CAN BE IN PEACE.
WHEN YOU KNOW GOD IS IN CONTROL,
WHEN YOU KNOW HE'S DIRECTING
YOUR STEPS, WHEN YOU KNOW
NOTHING CAN STAND AGAINST HIM
THEN YOU CAN LIVE OUT OF A QUIET
PLACE.
DAVID SAID, "GOD MAKES ME TO LIE
DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES.
HE LEADS ME BY THE STILL
WATERS."
YOU COULD THINK DAVID HAD
AN EASY LIFE.
EVERYTHING MUST HAVE GONE HIS
WAY.
HE LIVED IN THE GREEN PASTURES.
IT WAS JUST THE OPPOSITE.
DAVID'S LIFE WAS FULL
OF DIFFICULTIES, PEOPLE TRYING
TO STOP HIM, ARMIES TRYING
TO DEFEAT HIM, HIS OWN FAMILY
DIDN'T BELIEVE IN HIM.
YET HE SAID, "I LIE
DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES BY STILL
WATERS."
HE WASN'T JUST TALKING
ABOUT PHYSICALLY.
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IN HIS
MIND.
DESPITE ALL THAT CAME
AGAINST HIM, HE CHOSE TO LIVE
IN A PLACE OF PEACE.
GOD IS SAYING TO YOU, "COME
INTO THE GREEN PASTURES.
COME BY THE STILL WATERS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO CARRY ALL THAT
CLUTTER."
IT'S TIME TO GET RID
OF THE OFFENSE, THE HURTS,
THE GUILT, THE ANGER.
THERE ARE SOME NEW THINGS GOD
WANTS YOU TO BIRTH.
YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU'RE GOING
TO BIRTHED THEM?
BY THE STILL WATERS.
IF YOU'LL BE STILL YOU WILL KNOW
HE IS GOD.
YOU WILL SEE HIM SHOW
OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
I'M ASKING US TO UNCLUTTER OUR
MINDS.
LIVING GUILTY IS NOT YOUR
DESTINY.
GOING AROUND DOWN ON YOURSELF,
THINKING PROBLEMS ARE TOO BIG,
IS NOT WHO YOU WERE CREATED
TO BE.
EMPTY OUT THE NEGATIVE
AND PROGRAM YOUR MIND WITH WHAT
GOD SAYS ABOUT YOU IF YOU'LL DO
THIS I BELIEVE AND DECLARE
YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE BIRTH
TO DREAMS TO PROMOTION
TO HEALING TO BREAKTHROUGHS GOD
IS GOING TO DEFEAT ENEMIES.
MUCH BIGGER OPEN DOORS THAT YOU
COULDN'T OPEN AND TAKE YOU
TO THE FULLNESS OF YOUR DESTINY
IN JESUS' 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.
FRIENDS, 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.
