Displaying Christian Sermons by tag: sunday sermon
Joel Osteen - Sermon: Time Is On Your Side. Sometimes it can feel like we've lost time we can't get back. But God knows how to restore you. He's not just going to deliver you from the difficult season; He's going to make up for the time you lost. I want to talk to you today about time being on your side. We've all been through seasons in life where it feels like we've lost time.
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Joel: God bless you. It's great to have you with us today. I hope you'll stay connected with us through the week. You can download our podcast, listen to the messages any time, or you can go to our YouTube channel. But thanks again for tuning in. I like to start with something funny. One day, Jesus and Satan were having a contest to see who was better with computers. After six hours of making spreadsheets and designing web pages, a thunderstorm knocked the power out. When they rebooted their computers, Satan started screaming, "It's all lost. All my material is gone." While Jesus quietly walked over and printed out his and turned it in. Satan complained, "This isn't fair. He must have cheated. How come he didn't lose his material?" God smiled and said, "Jesus saves." 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 time being on your side. We've all been through seasons in life where it feels like we've lost time. We were in a relationship that didn't work out; we've lost those years. We weren't raised in a healthy environment; it feels like we've lost our childhood. We came down with an illness or struggled with an addiction. Months passed, maybe years, it's time that we can't get back. It's easy to think, "That was just a rough season, there's nothing that I can do about it." But God said in the book of Joel, "I will restore the years that the locusts have eaten, the years that the cankerworm and palmerworm have destroyed." It's said that time is the one thing that we can't get back. That's true in the natural, but we have a supernatural God. He knows how to make up for lost time. He's not going to just restore you, he's going to restore the years that you spent in that relationship that didn't make it. It feels like it was a waste of time, but God is going to make the rest of your life so fulfilling that you don't think about what you've been through. He's not going to just bring you out of that illness; he's going to restore the years that you spent taking the treatment. Your latter days will be better than your former days. Here's how good God is, he's even going to restore the years that we've wasted making poor choices, running with the wrong crowd. Years you should have been studying, but you spent them partying. Years that you should have been raising children, but you were distracted doing other things. Years you should have been pursuing your dreams, but you let fear and opposition hold you back. It should be too late, you missed your chance, God is saying, "Get ready, I'm about to restore the years. I'm about to make up for the time you missed with your children." He's not going to just restore the relationship; he's going to restore the years. He's going to make it as if you never lost that time. That company you've spent years at; they didn't treat you fairly, God is not going to just turn it around, but he's going to pay you back for what should have been yours.
In this passage from the book of Joel, the Israelites planted their crops, watered them, did their best to keep the weeds out. Everything was going great, the crops took off, but when they were about to harvest them, swarms of locusts came in, like a mighty army, and ate up all the crops. I'm sure the Israelites were discouraged. It wasn't fair. They had worked hard but had nothing to show for it. They made it through that winter, believed that God was still in control. The next year they went out and planted their crops. They thought, "That setback can't stop us. We didn't have a harvest last year, but God sustained us. We'll have one this year." But when the crops were ready to harvest, here came the locusts, just like the year before. When they saw them over the horizon, I can imagine how their hearts sunk. As they sat there and watched millions of locusts slowly eat up their crops, it was like pouring salt on the wound. This didn't happen just one year, or just two years, but four consecutive years their harvest was completely wiped out. They were tempted to think, "There's no use even planting. It's not worth the effort. We know what's going to happen. These locusts are going to come right back."
"Joel, I'm believing for my health to improve, but every time I go for a checkup, it's the same negative report." "I'm being my best at work, but I'm not being promoted." Like them, it feels like your harvest is being eaten. You're doing the right thing, but the locusts keep showing up. While the Israelites were discouraged, thinking they would never see a harvest, God spoke to them through the prophet Joel. He said, in effect, "I know it hasn't been fair. I've seen what didn't work out, I've seen what's been stolen. I'm not going to just stop the locusts, I'm not going to just give you a harvest this season. I'm going to restore the years that were stolen. I'm going to give you this season's harvest, plus four more harvest seasons." That's how amazing God is. He's going to make up for the years that you've lost. The scripture went on to say, "Your threshing floor will be full of grain, your storehouses will overflow with wheat and oil, you will have an abundance and be satisfied." Notice what happens when God restores: abundance, overflow, more than enough. They had been in famine, not seeing any increase, and suddenly God not only turned it around, but he paid them back for the lost years. He made up for what should have been theirs. God is keeping a record of everything that should have been yours. He knows what you didn't get. He saw you working hard, raising those children, making sacrifices, but they haven't turned out like they should. He saw you taking the treatment, keeping a good attitude, praising Him when it wasn't improving, thanking Him when you didn't feel well. He saw you struggling with the addiction, trying to beat it, going to counseling, quoting the promises, but it hasn't changed. Your harvest hasn't come.
Don't worry, it's on the way. God is not going to just free you, heal you, just turn your children around; He's going to restore the years that you've lost. You're going to still get a harvest from all those years you prayed, those years you believed, those years you did the right thing, worked hard, helped others. That harvest has been stored up. The enemy may think he took it, but God has the final say. He has blessings stored up for you. When He restores the years, you're going to be more fulfilled than you've ever been. You're going to be healthier, stronger, have more energy. You're going to have better relationships than you've ever dreamed. You're going to overflow with blessings, overflow with joy, overflow with favor.
A man I know was married at a young age. They struggled as a young couple and had some rough years, but he was determined to make it work. He went overboard to love, to forgive, to go the extra mile. They had two children, but at one point, the wife checked out. She was done. This man kept being his best, raising the children basically by himself. The wife was still there but she wouldn't have anything to do with him. He kept praying, believing, asking God to turn it around, but on his twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, she left a note saying she was leaving. This man was so heartbroken. When I saw him, it looked like he had aged twenty years. He was normally so upbeat, fun, positive, but it was like all the life had been drained out of him. I tried to encourage him and let him know that there were good days up ahead, but he was so down. He said, "I've invested all this time, I've poured my heart and soul, trying to make my marriage work and it was all for nothing."
God sees the years you've lost. He knows the pain, the hurt, what wasn't fair. The beauty of our God is He doesn't just heal the wounds, He restores the years. He makes up for what wasn't fair. You may feel like you're in one of those lost years. The pandemic has slowed your business, put your dreams on hold, you're dealing with an illness, a child is off course. You've invested so much but it looks like it was wasted. The locusts came in and ate up your harvest. Stay encouraged, payback is coming. God is keeping the records. He knows how to not just restore you but restore the years that were stolen. The years that were unfair, the years that were lonely, the years you struggled with that depression. When God restores the years, you're not going to look like what you've been through. When He makes up for what should have been yours, nobody is going to know that you had the illness, nobody will know that you went through the breakup. You'll be so blessed, so happy, so healthy, nobody will be able to tell.
Over time, my friend began to get his joy back, his passion back, his vision back. Instead of living defeated, he started thanking God that there was beauty for those ashes, that what was meant for harm God was turning to his advantage. Three years later, he met a beautiful young lady; they fell in love and ended up getting married. I'll never forget what he told me. He said, "Joel, I have never been this happy in all my life. I never dreamed I could be this fulfilled, I didn't know what a healthy relationship was." What was that? God restoring the years that were lost. God knows how to make up for what should have been yours. Just because it hasn't happened, doesn't mean that it's not going to happen. God is storing up what belongs to you. I believe He's about to release some of those stored-up blessings. When He restores the years, you'll see increase that you've never seen, blessings that will catapult you ahead, divine connections, people better than you've ever imagined. Those locusts may have eaten up your crops, so to speak, they may have taken your harvest, but the good news is it's only temporary. Everything that belongs to you is coming back: the health, the freedom, the promotion, the joy, the victory. It's not coming back like it was, it's going to come back pressed down, shaken together, running over. When God restores the years, like with my friend, your joy will overflow, you'll have an abundance of opportunity, an abundance of resources, an abundance of good health.
The Israelites had been in slavery for many years. They were mistreated, forced to work long hours, given quotas that were impossible to meet. Despite how unfair it was, they kept working hard, being their best, but not seeing any increase, no harvest. They thought it was permanent, they had already accepted that they would never be free, but God sees when you're being mistreated. He sees when you're doing the right thing, but the locusts are eating your harvest. It may feel like God has forgotten about you, you've accepted that you'll always struggle, always be at a disadvantage, always have that trouble at work, but your time is coming. God said in Exodus, "I have seen the affliction of my people, I have heard their cries, and I am coming down to deliver them." God was saying, in effect, "Enough is enough." There will be a time where God says, "That's it. I'm coming down to vindicate you, to heal you, to promote you, to pay you back for what you're owed." The Pharaoh that was holding them captive was very powerful. He had a huge army, the latest equipment, chariots, skilled warriors.
The Israelites had none of that. No chance in the natural; they were slaves. But God is not limited by what you don't have, by who's against you, by how powerful the sickness looks, by how long you've struggled, by how far off course that child is. Nothing can stand against our God. When He comes down to deliver you, all the forces of darkness cannot stop Him. Don't focus on how big your obstacles are, focus on how big your God is. He flung stars into space, He spoke worlds into existence. He's saying to you what He said to them, "I'm coming down to deliver you. I'm coming down to make things happen that you couldn't make happen on your own. I'm coming down to restore the years that you've lost."
God sent plague after plague on Pharaoh and his people. He was stubborn, but he finally agreed to let them go. I'm sure the Israelites were thrilled to be free. It was a day they never dreamed would happen. They were satisfied to just be leaving, but God wasn't satisfied. He doesn't just bring you out; He restores the years that were stolen. He pays you back for what should have been yours. On their way out, the scripture says, "God caused the Israelites to have favor with their oppressors, and they gave them their gold, their silver, and their clothing." One version says they left loaded down with blessings. What was that? God paying them back for four hundred and thirty years of working as slaves. God is keeping the records of what you are owed. Those times you've done the right thing, but the locusts ate up your harvest. You did your best, but you didn't get promoted, the loan didn't go through, the anxiety didn't go away. Despite it all, you kept believing, praising, being good to others. Like these people, your time is coming. God is storing up the harvest that should have been yours. It seems like the locusts are eating it, but the truth is what God has for you is still on the way. The joy that should have been yours, those years you were dealing with depression, it's still coming. The resources that should have been yours, those years you were overlooked, they're still on the way. The healing, the good relationships, the victory you missed out on is still in your future.
Our daughter Alexandra was born a month and a half before my father went to be with the Lord. During that time, he was on dialysis, and many times I would take him to the clinic. It was a very busy season. Then, when he went to be with the Lord, our whole life changed. I was thrust into this position. I was doing my best to just stay afloat. I don't remember very well the first couple of years of Alexandra's life. We were in such transition, and I was learning how to minister and trying to figure everything out. It consumed me. Several years later, I realized I didn't have the same memories of Alexandra's first few years like I did with our son Jonathan's. I said, almost in passing, "God, I'm asking You to restore those years that I lost by being so busy and so preoccupied with other things." Alexandra was eight years old when I prayed that. All she wanted to do was to be with me. She would rather go out in the backyard and let me watch her do cartwheels than go over to her friends. Sometimes I needed a break; I'd say, "Why don't you go swimming with your cousins? Why don't you have your friends over?" She'd say, "No, Dad, I want to stay here with you." She'd come up to me all through the day, put her arm around me, walk around the house. We were the best of friends. She's twenty-one years old now and doesn't know who I am. I'm just kidding; we're still the best of friends. You know what that is? God restoring the years, making up for lost time. God is going to do that for you. He's going to restore opportunities that you missed. He's going to restore relationships that are not what they should be. He's going to restore the years you lost not making good decisions, giving in to compromise. You don't have to live with regrets, thinking you missed your season. It's too late to accomplish your dreams, too late to have good relationships with your family, there's too much water under the bridge. God knew we would make mistakes. He's not going to just redeem you; He's going to redeem the time. He's going to give you another chance. Don't believe those lies that you're too old, you've made too many mistakes. You wouldn't be hearing this if God wasn't about to restore the years. He's about to make up for that harvest that you missed.
I have a digital clock on my bathroom counter at home. It gets its information from a satellite. Unlike older clocks that rely on their own software to keep time, these digital clocks come from a master clock that's transmitted from a satellite. A while back, I was about to get in the shower one evening, and I noticed that it was 9:30. A few minutes later, when I got out of the shower, I looked at the clock, and it read 9:22. I thought that's strange; I know it was just 9:30. I thought I must be seeing things. While I was watching it, the clock went back to 9:18. In a few seconds, it went to 9:07. It kept backing up. I realized it was getting bad reception, but I had never seen that happen before. What's interesting is that day I had a very busy schedule. I had a lot to do but hardly got anything done. I had interruptions, delays, things that didn't work out. I was kind of frustrated, thinking what an unproductive day. When I saw the clock go backwards, it's as if God was saying to me, "Joel, quit worrying about what you didn't get done. I control time. I can back things up, I can make up for lost time." You may have missed opportunities, missed relationships. They were there, but you were distracted, you weren't focused, and they passed you by. Don't worry, God can turn back time. He's about to bring things across your path that should have been yours years ago. You missed it the first time, like I did with Alexandra, but God's about to give you another chance. He's about to turn back time.
I was at a book signing years ago. I met this lady; she and her daughter were estranged. They hadn't spoken to each other in years. She had reached out to her daughter many times with no success. Now she was discouraged, feeling guilty. She heard me talking about how God can restore the years that were lost, even when it was our fault, how He can turn back time and give us another chance. Faith rose in her heart. She said, "God, do that for me." She kept trying, but the daughter wouldn't have anything to do with her. Months later, she came to the book signing. Out of the hundreds of people there, she noticed that her daughter was in line. She hadn't seen her in person in years. She went over to her; it was a divine appointment. They embraced, held on to each other, while they wept, healing was taking place. When they came up to the table, they were both still weeping. The mother told how she didn't know her daughter watched us on television. She had no idea she'd be at that book signing, but that was a turning point. Today, they're the best of friends. They do everything together. God knows how to turn back time. It's not too late for you to have good relationships. It's not too late for you to accomplish your dreams. God is about to put you at the right place at the right time. He's going to make things happen that you couldn't make happen. That time you've lost being at odds with people you love, God's about to restore those years. That time you've spent fighting the illness, not able to go to work, not pursuing your dreams, God is going to turn back time. He's going to make up for what should have been yours. The locusts may have eaten your harvest, they may have delayed some things, but the good news is God is going to pay you back. He's going to restore those years of harvest that you missed out on.
One time, Joshua and the Israelites were battling five armies. God told Joshua that he was going to win. The problem was they were running out of time. It was about to get dark, and the enemy forces would escape. They could regroup and come against Joshua again. He knew he needed to finish them off; he just needed more time. Instead of being discouraged, thinking it was too late, Joshua was bold. He looked up in the sky and said, "Sun, stand still. Moon, stay where you are." I can imagine people looking at Joshua thinking, "Are you crazy? You think you can stop time? You can pause the solar system so you can finish this battle?" The scripture says, "The sun stopped in the middle of the sky. It stood still until the Israelites defeated their enemies." It may feel like it's too late for you to accomplish dreams, too late to get your degree, too late to write that book, too late to overcome that obstacle. If you just knew back then what you know now, then you would have stayed in school, you would have raised the children differently, you would have started that business. If you just had more time. God is going to do for you what He did for Joshua. He's going to freeze time so you can finish what you started. He's going to help you accomplish what you could have accomplished in an earlier season of life. He's not going to let you miss your destiny. You're not running out of time; time is on your side because God is on your side. He controls time. He's not limited by a clock, by a calendar, by age, by year. This is your chance to step up to a new level. Your chance to break the addiction, to go back to school, to make your marriage great. God is going to cause you to accomplish more in less time. He's going to make you more effective, more productive, more focused, more skilled. There's going to be greater favor on your life. Now, don't sit back and think, "I waited too long, I'm too old. I don't have the experience, the training, the discipline." No, this is a window, like with Joshua, where God is going to freeze time. He's going to give you the opportunity to finish what you started.
I met a lady after service. She was a hundred and three years old. Her mind was as sharp as can be. She had a great sense of humor. She told how she'd promised her mother that she would get her college degree. But she got married and spent years raising her children. Then she worked in an office at this large company. After she retired, she was busy with her grandchildren. But in the back of her mind, it always bothered her that she didn't keep her promise. She kept putting it off. In her nineties, she started having some health issues. After spending a couple of months in the hospital, it didn't look like she was going to make it, but somehow, she recovered. When she was released, she told the doctor that she was going back to college to get her college degree. She spent three years finishing up her degree and at 103 was the oldest person to ever graduate from that university. God knows how to freeze things until you accomplish what He put in your heart. It may feel like you're running out of time, but God wouldn't have planned out your days, He wouldn't have given you a destiny and then not given you the time to fulfill it. It may seem like it's too late; you've missed your season. If you would have pursued that dream twenty years ago, it would have worked. If you would have invested in your marriage, your business, your children back then, you could have accomplished it. No, there's still time. I wonder what would happen if you would do like Joshua and say, "Sun, stand still. God, I need more time to spend with my children. I didn't know back then what I know now. I need more time to finish my education, more time to accomplish my dream." God gave Joshua an extra day to finish his assignment. God said He would restore the years that you've lost. You're not running out of time. Time is on your side. I believe and declare, everything God put in your heart will come to pass. What the locusts have eaten, all those harvests that belong to you are about to show up. God is about to restore the years that were stolen. You're going to see favor like you've never seen, healing, freedom, breakthroughs, promotion, the fullness of your destiny, in Jesus' name.
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. We'd love to give you some free information on your new walk with the Lord. Just text the number on the screen. I hope you'll get into a good Bible-based church. Keep God first place.
Joel: Thanks for watching this message. I hope you enjoyed it. We upload new videos every week to keep you inspired and encouraged. So don't forget to hit the like button and make sure you subscribe to our channel.
Victoria: Let us know in the comments below how this message has encouraged you. We would love to hear from you. We're praying for you and your family. We'll see you next time!
Don't Settle For Less - Joel Osteen. In seasons of waiting for your promise to come to pass, it’s easy to get discouraged and believe for less than the dream God put in your heart. But if you’re going to become all that God created you to be, you have to refuse to settle for less than what He promised.
Watch John Hagee Sunday Sermon - Seven Signs of His Coming. America and the countries of the world are falling apart, laden with absolute corruption. Christ is coming for those who “eagerly” look for him, but many doubt his return. This deep dive through Scripture walks us through the signs of Jesus’ return.
Joel Osteen Watch Sermon: Don't Lose Your Joy. Your joy is what’s going to help you keep believing and keep standing strong. When you hold to your joy, you’re showing God that you trust Him. You have to get your joy back, so you’ll have the strength to step into the new things God has for you.
John Hagee - Watch Easter Sunday Sermon: "The Two Resurrections". Christianity rises or falls on the resurrection story. If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, our faith is a fraud…our sermons are delusional. Did you know there are two resurrections? There is the resurrection of the just and the resurrection of the unjust. From the foundations of the earth, Jesus was destined to die on the cross, so that we could be redeemed and receive the gift of eternal life. The best news the world ever heard came out of a cemetery. He is risen!
Jack Hibbs Sunday Sermon (March 24, 2024) Epicenter Israel: What's Really Happening in the Middle East? - Part 2. Prophecies past and present converge as signs point to Israel's imminent restoration and Christ's return. Darkness us rising, but God's final Word stands.
Watch Matt Hagee Sunday Sermon - The One Thing Hell Hopes You Never Find Out. There’s one thing hell hopes you never find out…your true identity in Christ. The world doesn’t want you to know your true identity; once you discover who you are through Christ, you become a force that hell cannot stop. We often forfeit our uniqueness in an effort to be accepted by others. The devil is a master deceiver who wants to steal your identity. You’re an essential part of God’s plan to build the Kingdom on earth. Stay grounded in the Word.
Joel Osteen (March 24, 2024) Sunday Sermon: From Trouble to Double. On the other side of that trouble, is the double portion, greater joy, greater courage, greater influence.
Joel Osteen - Sermon: Keep On Walking. It's easy to get discouraged while we wait for our dreams to come to pass. But just because you don’t see anything happening doesn’t mean God isn’t working. If you keep believing and doing the right thing, you’ll see things start to shift in your favor.
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Joel: God bless you. It's great to have you with us today. I hope you'll stay connected with us all through the week. You can download our daily podcast, listen to the messages any time. Or you can go to our YouTube channel, follow us on Instagram, Facebook. But thanks for tuning in. I like to start with something funny. I heard about this pastor. He found a dead mule on the church grounds. He called the health department; they said they couldn't pick it up without authorization from the mayor. Well, the mayor was known to be rude and hard to get along with. When the pastor called, the mayor didn't disappoint. He started ranting and raving.
Finally, he said, "Why did you even call me? Isn't it your job to bury the dead?" The pastor asked God for the right response. He said, "Yes, Mayor, it is my job to bury the dead, but I always like to notify the next of kin first." 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 keeping on walking. We all have things we're believing for, dreams to come to pass, problems to turn around. We have the promise in our heart, but nothing is happening. We've prayed, we've believed, but we don't see any signs of things improving. It's easy to get discouraged and think it's never going to work out. But most of the time, God doesn't do things instantly. There will be a waiting period. Thoughts will tell you, "It's too late. If it was going to happen, it would have happened by now." Just because you don't see anything doesn't mean that God is not working. As you keep believing, keep praising, keep doing the right thing, you're going to see things begin to change.
Many times, the miracle is in the process. It happens when you keep being obedient. Don't be frustrated because you're not seeing immediate results. What you're believing for is still on the way. In Luke 17, there were ten lepers sitting by the side of the road. As Jesus came passing through on his way to Jerusalem, they began to shout, "Jesus, have mercy on us and heal us." Jesus could have gone over and healed them right there. He could have spoken to them and caused that leprosy to suddenly disappear. But he did something interesting. He said, "Go show yourselves to the priest." Leprosy was contagious. They were forbidden to be around people. They had to live in colonies, isolated from society. Jesus asked them to do something that didn't make sense, something out of the ordinary. They could have thought, "Once I'm healed, once I see my skin clear up, then I'll go see the priest." But faith says you have to believe it before you see it. You have to act like it's on the way when you don't see any sign of it. These lepers started walking toward the priest. It could have been several miles, maybe taken them most of the day. I can hear people saying, "Why are you going to the priest? You're not well. You look just the same." The first couple of hours they looked at their skin, didn't see anything different. Thoughts said, "You might as well turn around, go back home. You're just wasting your time." But these lepers just kept on walking. No sign of things improving, no changes in their skin, but hour after hour they kept walking. I can imagine at one point, one of them looked at their skin and thought, "It looks like it's getting better." Another began to move his hand and said, "My fingers are starting to function." Another, "My skin is starting to clear up." The scripture says, "As they went, they were healed." If they would have stayed where they were, waited for things to change, they would have never seen the miracle. The healing was in the obedience, in the going. By the time they got to the priest, they were all perfectly well.
God has put promises in your heart. He's told you that he's restoring health back unto you, that you're going to lend and not borrow, that as for you and your house you will serve the Lord. But maybe like these lepers nothing looks any different, the medical report hasn't changed, your child is still off course, your business hasn't improved. You could get discouraged; think it's never going to happen. No, just keep walking, keep being obedient, keep praising, keep thanking. That's when the miracle is going to take place. You can't go by what you see or by what you don't see. Go by what God promised you. "Joel, I still have these symptoms." Keep on walking. "My business is still slow." Keep on walking. "These people at work are still not treating me right." Keep on walking.
God sees your obedience. He sees you believing when you could be discouraged, he hears you praising when you could be complaining, he sees you stretching when you could be shrinking back. I believe for many of you, you're about to walk into your healing, walk into your freedom, walk into a great spouse, walk into abundance. As you keep walking, you're going to see God show out in your life. Many of the miracles Jesus performed required an act of obedience. His first miracle, turning water into wine, he told the staff at the wedding to go fill up these large pots with water. They had to do something that didn't make sense. They could have said, "Jesus, we need wine, not water. What good is this going to do?"
The obedience is what brought the miracle. Without them filling the water pots, there would be no wine. Is God asking you to do something that doesn't make sense? To step out in faith when you don't have the experience, to forgive that person that did you wrong, to pray for others that need healing when you're still not feeling well? Is he asking you to bring him five loaves and two fish when you need to feed thousands? It's not so much what you're doing, it's the obedience. When you prove to God that you're going to do the right thing even when it's hard, even when it doesn't make sense, then you're going to see God do awesome things in your life.
In the Old Testament, there was a widow, her husband had died and left her in great debt. She finally ran out of funds. Now the creditors were coming to take her two sons as payment. The prophet Elisha showed up and asked her what she had in her house. She said, "I don't have anything except a small jar of oil." He told her to go out and borrow as many empty containers as she could find. That didn't make sense. What good was it going to do to borrow empty containers? She could have said, "Elisha, I need full containers. I need provision, I need funds." What God asks us to do doesn't always make sense. His ways are not our ways. Many times, it's simply a test. If you'll obey, the miracle will follow. Don't talk yourself out of what you know God is telling you to do. Sometimes it seems ordinary. You're asking God to promote you. He's saying, "Get to work on time, produce more than you have to." You're asking God for healing. He's saying, "Eat healthier, exercise, get more sleep." You're believing for your child to get on course. God is saying, "Help that neighbor's child, invest into that young man." It doesn't have to make sense. That's what faith is all about. This widow went out and borrowed all these empty containers. I can see her knocking on door after door. The neighbors thinking, "What does she need my container for? She doesn't have any food. No reason for it." But faith makes room for provision. You can't wait till it happens; you have to make room for it when you don't see any sign of it. You have to talk like it's on the way, plan like it's on the way, think like it's on the way.
After working all day, she came back to her house; now she had a couple dozen empty containers. Elisha told her to pour the little oil that she had into one of the empty containers. She could have said, "Elisha, that doesn't make sense. What good is that going to do, to just transfer the oil from one container to the other?" But instead of talking herself out of it, she poured that little bit of oil and kept pouring and pouring and pouring. She couldn't believe it. She filled up the first empty container, then another and another. The oil never ran out until all the containers were full. She sold the oil and not only had enough to pay the creditors, but she had plenty left over to live off of. But none of this would have happened if she had not been willing to do something that didn't make sense. Are you missing your miracle because you're reasoning everything out? You're looking at it all in the natural. God is supernatural. He'll ask you to do things that you may not understand. After Moses died, God raised up Joshua to lead the Israelites. The earlier generation never made it into the promised land because they complained and doubted; they wandered in the desert for forty years. Now the children of that generation had grown up.
Joshua was their new leader. They were headed to the promised land, but they had to cross the Jordan River. There were no bridges in that day. The problem was it was the rainy season, and the Jordan was in flood stage. It was over a hundred and fifty feet wide, with violent currents rushing down from the melting snow. Joshua was familiar with this type of scene. As a young man, he was there when Moses held up his staff, and the Red Sea parted. He had seen God make a way. When these two million people came to the Jordan River and saw how swollen it was and how strong the currents were, they didn't want to have anything to do with it. I can imagine Joshua did like his mentor Moses. He held up his rod and said, "Lord, please let these waters part." Everyone was watching with great anticipation, but nothing happened. Joshua thought, "God, this is my first test to show these people that you're really with me. Don't leave me hanging here."
God promised Joshua, "As I was with Moses, I will be with you." He didn't say, "I'm going to do for you everything I did for Moses." God does things in different ways. You have a unique anointing; there's a distinct calling on your life. You don't have to copy someone else and try to be what they are, prove your worth; prove that you measure up. Walk in your own anointing, walk in your own calling. The Jordan River didn't part. Joshua had to make a decision. "Are we going to turn around and go back, wander more in the desert, or are we going to keep walking?" Joshua's attitude was, "We've come too far to stop now. God, you wouldn't have promised us this land if you weren't going to give us the victory." Instead of turning back, Joshua put the priest out in front; he told all the people, "Let's keep walking." I can hear them say, "Excuse me, Joshua, do you not see, there's a violent raging river a few hundred feet in front of us. There's nowhere to go." Joshua acted like he didn't hear them. His instructions were, keep on walking. There will always be people that try to convince you to turn back. "Your dream is too big, the opposition too strong, nothing is working out. Just accept it." You have to do like Joshua, have a made-up mind. "I'm going to keep walking. I'm going to become all I was created to be." The priest got right up to the water. It was do or die, now or never, but the waters still didn't part. They looked back at Joshua one last time, thinking, "Surely he's going to retreat now, surely he'll come to his senses." Joshua answered with three simple words: keep on walking.
The scripture says, "When the priests got in the water, when their feet got wet, suddenly the waters began to push back." All two million people went through on dry ground. Miracles happen when there's obedience. God doesn't give us all the details. He doesn't show you how it's going to work out. It may not happen like you've seen happen with your family. There may not be any sign of things changing. Like Joshua, every circumstance may say, "It's not going to turn around, go back, no use believing for your dreams; it's too late. You'll never get well; it would have happened by now." Don't believe those lies. Keep walking. God is not moved by what's not moving. He's not intimidated by waters that aren't parting, by how big the obstacle is, by how impossible it looks. In fact, many times God will wait on purpose till the river is in flood stage. He'll wait till the experts say there's no way, the odds are against you.
So, when He turns it around, everyone will know it was His favor, His power, His goodness in your life. You may have situations where you don't see how it can work out, in your health, your finances, your relationships. You're tempted to quit believing. If Joshua were here today, he would tell you, "Keep walking. You're on the verge of a miracle. Those waters are about to open up." Now you may have to get your feet wet. It may not happen like with Moses, where the waters part first, you can see your way clearly. You know exactly how it's going to work out. Sometimes God waits to see if you're going to trust Him when the waters haven't parted. Are you going to believe when you don't see any sign of things changing? You don't feel like you have the strength, the courage, the ability. If you'll just keep walking, praying, expecting, doors are going to open that you couldn't open, healing that defies the odds, freedom from things that have held you back.
Some Jordan Rivers are about to part. Things you've been standing in faith for, for a long time, it's about to come to pass. It's not going to be ordinary; it's going to be the hand of God. When God parted the Red Sea for Moses, the waters opened before the people went through. They could see their way clearly. It was a great miracle, but that doesn't take as much faith, when you know where the funds are coming from, the medical report is good, your child is excelling. Those people wandered in the desert for forty years. But when God parted the Jordan River for Joshua, when the people had to get their feet wet and keep walking when it didn't look like it was working, that group of people made it into their promised land. I believe it's significant. When you don't see how it can work out, but you keep walking, you keep believing, keep being good to people, that means you're about to enter your promised land.
God is setting you up to go where you've never been, to see favor you've never seen. Now, don't complain because the water is not parting. That doesn't mean God is not going to do it. That's a sign that what He's up to is bigger than you've imagined. You may be at the Jordan River right now. Nothing is changing. God is waiting to see, are you going to turn around and go back? "Joel, I prayed, I believed but my dream didn't come to pass, these people at work stopped me, I couldn't break the addiction, the waters didn't part." You're right where Joshua was. It didn't work the first time. The obstacle looks impassable. The river is swollen, the problem is bigger than it's ever been. That's a test. You have to get your feet wet. If you'll keep walking, you're going to see God open up things you never dreamed would open, turn problems around you never dreamed would turn around. That Jordan River is setting you up for your promised land. David said, "I was young and now I'm old, and I've never seen the righteous forsaken." He was saying, in effect, "I've never seen a Jordan River God won't part. I've never seen a sickness that He won't heal. I've never seen a dream He won't bring to pass." When we were trying to acquire the Compaq Center, God gave us favor, and the city council members voted for us to have the building.
It was a year and a half process. Council members that were against us suddenly changed their minds and the facility was ours. Like Moses, we prayed, we believed, and God parted the Red Sea. We were grateful, we knew it was the hand of God. But a few days later, a company filed a lawsuit to try to keep us from moving in. They said that we violated the deed restrictions. Our attorneys told us it could be tied up in the courts for ten years. It was like a roller coaster. We went from this great celebration to the reality that it may not ever work out. It's times like these, where you don't see a way, the opposition is bigger and stronger, that you see what you're made of. It's easy to believe when God parts Red Seas, but what do you do when you come to the Jordan River? You prayed, you believed, but it didn't part. You held up your rod like your mentor, you did what your parents did, but nothing happened. Are you going to get your feet wet? Are you going to keep walking even though thoughts tell you, "It's not going to work out, you might as well turn around.
After all, God's been good to you. Be grateful for what you have." Don't let the enemy talk you out of your promised land. God has bigger things in your future. He has new mountains for you to climb. Keep walking when the waters aren't parting. Keep walking when you're not being promoted. Keep walking when your health isn't improving, when the pandemic seems like it's stopped your dreams. The reason you're facing a Jordan River at flood stage, not just a normal river but stubborn, is because your promised land is on the other side. You don't come to Jordan rivers, rivers that you have to get your feet wet, if it's just another ordinary victory, something common. The Jordan means God is about to thrust you to a new level. I woke up many times in the middle of the night when we were in that lawsuit with thoughts telling me, "You better turn around. You've told people that it's your building, you're raising funds for it. When you have to give it back, you're going to look like a fool. Nobody is going to listen to you." All these voices saying, "Retreat, it didn't part. If God was for you, you wouldn't have this opposition. If it was going to work out, you wouldn't have this lawsuit." No, God being for you doesn't mean you won't have opposition.
The enemy wouldn't be trying to stop you if you weren't a threat to him. He doesn't come against people that don't have great destinies. The reason you're facing big giants is because you're at the Jordan River. You're about to come into your promised land. I didn't see how this lawsuit could ever resolve. The other side was stubborn but I did what I'm asking us to do, I kept on walking. When thoughts told me it would never work out. "This company is bigger, stronger, more influential." "Father, thank you that you're fighting our battles. Thank you that you being for us is more than the world being against us." Our attorneys told us the other side would probably pay us a large sum of money for us to go away. They threw out numbers that we could practically build another facility, but we didn't want the money, we wanted the building. This building is one of the main landmarks in the city of Houston. Two million people a year came through it. It's on the main freeway, has great access. We could have thought, "Let's just be safe, we may not win, let's take the funds and go do something else." But God doesn't want you to water down your dream, to take less than what you know is in your heart.
John Hagee - Watch Sunday Sermon: "Thou Shall Not Bear False Witness: Thou Shall Not Covet". What is truth? The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. The Bible tells us that the Spirit will guide us into all truth. Our churches need a fresh outpouring of the Spirit of God, an infusion of truth. When you reject the truth, all that’s left is a lie. Do not covet what your neighbor has. God is your provider.