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This is another day that the Lord has made; we are very blessed to be starting it off with you, waking up to hope together. We love you guys. You're going to be blessed as you're feeding your faith today. There's nothing you can't accomplish. Know that God is right by your side and He is strengthening you to accomplish all He's called you to do. [Music]
I want to talk to you today about your coming out. We all face situations that look permanent in our health, our relationships, our career. It's easy to think that that's the way it's always going to be. I'll always struggle with this addiction. I'll always have to deal with this depression. I'll always be at this same level. I'll never break out of the rut, do something great. But just because it seems permanent to us doesn't mean that it's permanent to God. God doesn't allow you to get into anything that He can't bring you out of. Even if it was your own fault, you brought the trouble on yourself, God wouldn't have allowed it if He didn't have a way out. He knew how to get you out of the trouble before you got into trouble. He knows the end from the beginning. He had the solution even before you had the problem. It may look to you like it's never going to change, but God is saying it's temporary. You're coming out of that sickness, you're coming out of chronic pain, you're coming out of loneliness. That debt, that addiction, that legal trouble is not going to last forever. It didn't come to stay; it came to pass. God has already made a way of escape. He's already planned your coming-out party. It's just a matter of time before you see the breakthrough, the healing, the abundance, the restoration, the new level. The scripture says in Job that God has set an end to the difficulty. He has set an end to that trouble.
God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He's already set an end to the sickness, an end to the addiction, an end to that injustice at work. Your coming-out date has already been established. Now, when thoughts tell you it's never going to change, you might as well accept that this is as good as it gets. No, you have to remind yourself, "I will not always be lonely. God has set an end to this loneliness. He's bringing somebody great into my life. I will not always struggle financially. God has set an end to this lack. He has promotion, increase, abundance coming my way." Or, "This child, this off-course, is not always going to cause me heartache. The Creator of the Universe, the One who spoke worlds into existence, has already decided the final date." Or maybe, "This addiction, these bad habits, are not going to hinder me my whole life. God has already put the end on His calendar. My time is coming. Freedom, wholeness, victory is in my future." That's what happened to a young lady I met. She had been a cocaine addict for 14 years, and she knew it was destroying her health, her family, her future. She was about to lose her job again, and she'd done everything she could in her own strength to try to quit, gone through counseling and treatment with no success. And she wasn't a "quote religious person." She didn't grow up in church like me, but she watched us on television every morning. She started praying, "God, please help me. I can't do this on my own. God, I need You." Simply acknowledging God.
The scripture says, "Call out to God, and He will answer you." Month after month went by. She didn't see any sign of a change. She continued struggling. But one morning, while she was praying, she felt this warmness come all over her. She couldn't explain it. She said, "I felt such a peace, such a joy that I began to weep and weep." As she sat there weeping, it was like that was cleansing her. A healing was taking place. From that moment forward, she never had a desire for the cocaine. She didn't have to go through withdrawals; she didn't have to gradually get off of it. Instantly, that addiction was broken. I saw her about 6 months later in the lobby. She looked like a different person. She was very thin and fragile before. She'd gained weight back; her skin had cleared up. She had this beautiful smile, so radiant. What happened? She came in to the end date set by the Creator of the Universe. If you will stay in faith, there will come a point where God says, "Enough is enough. That's my son; that's my daughter. I didn't create them to live with addictions, with sickness, in lack, mediocrity, being taken advantage of. I created them to be victorious, to be healthy, to be free, to lend and not borrow." God may have allowed it, but He wouldn't have let you get into it if He couldn't bring you out of it. He's already set the end to the sickness, to the legal problem, to the family situation, to the struggle. You don't know; that end date could be today. It could be this week. It could happen this month.
What if you knew that on August 22nd of this year, that was the final day God set for the difficulty? You wouldn't drag around discouraged, thinking, "Oh man, I never get any good breaks. I'll never get over this illness." No, you'd go out each morning with a spring in your step, a smile on your face, talking like it was going to happen, acting like it was going to happen. That's what faith is all about. You've got to believe it before you see it. You've got to act like it's true before you see any sign of it happening. Somebody asks you, "Are you still dealing with that sickness? Are you still under the weather?" Don't give them a 20-minute update of everything wrong with you, how bad the medical report was. Your answer should be, "Yes, I'm still dealing with it, but can I tell you? I'm coming out. I'm getting better. God is restoring health unto me. The number of my days He will fulfill." "What? Are you still struggling in your finances? You're still in debt?" "Yes, I'm still there, but I'm coming out. It's only temporary. I will lend and not borrow." "Are you still with that same company, that same position? I thought you wanted to do something better." "Yes, I'm still there, but I'm coming out. My new job is on the way. God is opening doors that no man can shut." You've got to get in agreement with God. He's saying, "Where you are is not where you're staying. You're coming out of the drought into abundance. You're coming out of fear and worry into peace. You're coming out of depression into joy. You're coming out of constant struggle, bad breaks, into the favor of God." You may not see how it can happen, but don't believe those lies. The end date has already been set. David put it this way: Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, he didn't say, "I stay in the valley, I build my house in the valley, I'm stuck in the valley." He said, in effect, "I'm coming out of this valley." The valley is temporary; you're supposed to go through it. That is not your permanent home. But if you let it become permanent in your thinking, it will keep you from your destiny.
Every one of us is going through something: a health issue, financial difficulty, struggle at work. Too often, we settle in the valley and think, "Oh man, I'll always struggle, Joel. I'll always have this back pain. I'll always have strife and division in my family. That's just who we are." We put our stakes down, build our house in the valley. I'm asking you to do what David did: pack up your belongings, pull up your stakes. The valley is not your home. You are just passing through. You are not a citizen of the valley. You don't belong there. You're illegal in the valley. You are not a citizen of death, you are not a citizen of cancer, you are not a citizen of mediocrity. That's a temporary position. You may be there for a season, but the good news is your day of departure has already been set. God has already purchased your ticket.
Now, you may be in the valley of sickness right now. The medical report doesn't look good, but take heart. Your ticket says you are headed for good health. Your ticket says you will live and not die. You may be in the valley of struggle, lack, not enough, but your ticket says you are headed to more than enough, to overflow, to abundance. Maybe you're in the valley of loneliness. You don't have much company. Stay encouraged. Your ticket says divine connections are coming, new friendships, the right people. Perhaps you're in the valley of disappointment. Something didn't work out. You went through a breakup, a business didn't make it, a friend betrayed you. Don't stay discouraged. Don't let the self-pity and bitterness take root. That is not your final destination. Your ticket says beauty for ashes. Your ticket says what was meant for your harm, God will use to your advantage.
If you will be a prisoner of hope, Zechariah said, God will bring you out with twice what you had before. He'll pay you back for the unfair things that have happened. A friend of mine recently lost her father. She was very close to her dad, and it's really difficult on her. She's in the valley right now, grieving that loss. But what I want us to see is we're not supposed to stay in the valley. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy is coming in the morning. Your ticket says new beginnings. Now, don't get stuck in the valley. Don't put your stakes down in the disappointment, the loss, the heartache, thinking you've seen your best days.
Psalm 84 says, "Passing through the valley of weeping, you'll find pools of blessing." That means when you're in the valley, if you'll stay in faith knowing that God has you in the palm of his hand, God will take your tears and turn them into pools to refresh you. You'll have the strength you need for every situation.
Genesis 15: God told Abraham, "I'm sending your people, the Israelites, into a foreign land. They will be enslaved there for 400 years. Afterwards, they will come out with great substance." What's interesting is God is the one that sent them into slavery. He said, "I'm taking you into a place that's going to be difficult." If that was the end of the story, that doesn't sound like a good deal. We think, "God, don't do me any favors." The truth is, that setback was a setup for God to do something greater. God brought them out with great substance, with more than they had before. When you go through a difficulty, a disappointment, you may not understand it, but God wouldn't have allowed it not only if he couldn't get you out, but God's going to take it one step further and bring you out with great substance, better off than you were before. A friend of mine, a young man, recently had his car stolen. He went out early in the morning to go to school, and his car wasn't there. This was the first car he had ever owned. His father had bought it for him. They filed the police report. A week went by, and they didn't find the car. Another week and another, and from time to time, I would ask the father, "Hey, have they found your son's car yet?" He would say, "No, but we're not worried. We know God's in control. He's fighting our battles. He'll make our wrongs right." About six weeks later, the insurance company paid them for the car because it was never found.
The young man thought he would go buy another used car like he had before, but God never brings you out the same. If you'll stay in faith, he'll bring you out with greater substance, greater joy, greater peace, greater resources. His father had a very nice, high-end sports car. He kept it perfect, looked brand-new. One day, a friend of his father called his father and said, "Hey, come over to my house. I want to give you something." This father had helped this man from time to time. He thought he was going to buy his dinner, do something nice like that, but this man gave his father one of the most expensive, top-of-the-line luxury cars made today. His father couldn't believe it. He was amazed. He thought, "Well, I don't need my sports car anymore." So, he got it all cleaned up, all detailed, gave it to his son. Here's how God works: before the car was stolen, the young man had a car payment. After it was stolen, the insurance company had paid off that car. He had no payment, plus he and his father both had better cars. That car being stolen was a setup for God to bring them out with great substance.
Psalm 66 says, "We went through fire, through flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance." You may be in the fire right now, you may be in the flood, in the famine. Well, get ready. Your next step is great abundance. God's going to do more than you can ask or think. The fact is, God could have kept the car from being stolen. He's God; he controls the whole universe. When you go through a difficulty, when you face a bad break, you may not understand it, you may not like it, but God wouldn't have allowed it unless ultimately he was going to use it to your advantage. Recognize it's a setup for God to do something greater.
In Exodus 14, when God told Moses to tell Pharaoh to let the people go, the scripture says that God hardened Pharaoh's heart and caused him to say no. Here, God was the one that told him to let the people go, yet God wanted Pharaoh to say no. It goes on to say, "I have planned this so I will receive great glory at the expense of Pharaoh." There are enemies God will allow into your life, not to defeat you, not to make you miserable, but so that God can receive great glory. Every time I see my friend's new car, I think to myself, "Look what the Lord has done." You may be in a tough time, but when God brings you out, when you beat the cancer, when you break the addiction, when your marriage is restored, when you pay your house off, when you accomplish your dreams, everyone will know it wasn't just you; it was the favor of God. God wants to show out in your life. He wants to make you an example of his goodness. But we pray, "God, keep me out of all the difficulties. Don't let me face any opposition." But if that happened, number one, we wouldn't grow like we should. Our character is developed in the tough times. That's when our faith is tested and strengthened. And number two, if we never had obstacles to overcome, if we never faced impossible situations, we wouldn't see the greatness of God's power.
When we have difficulties, a lot of times we think, "Oh man, why is this happening to me? What am I doing wrong?" No, you may not be doing anything wrong. God just may want to show out in your life. He may want to use that situation to bring him great glory. One time, Jesus saw a man that had been blind since birth. His disciples asked him, "Who sinned, this man or his parents?" Jesus said, "Nobody sinned. He was born this way so that the glory of God might be seen." Jesus touched his eyes, healed him, brought him out of blindness. For the rest of his life, that man was a testimony to the goodness of God. When the Houston City Council members voted for us to have this facility, we had worked on it for nearly two years. It was a dream come true. We were so excited. But a week later, a company filed a lawsuit to try to keep us from moving in. This company was the largest taxpayer in Texas. My first thought was, "God, this is impossible. We'll never win this lawsuit. This company is huge. They've got more money, more resources, more experience. It was David versus Goliath."
But one day, I was reading this passage in Exodus 14. It says, "When I get through with Pharaoh, all of Egypt will know that I am the Lord." I could hear God saying to me, right down in here, "Joel, you just stay in faith, and when I give you that building, everyone will know it is the Lord your God." This building is a testimony of the greatness of our God. We can all say, "Look what the Lord has done." Your situation may look impossible, like ours did. The obstacle looks too big, the sickness too bad, the business too slow, the marriage too far gone. Well, get ready, you're a prime candidate for God to show himself strong. God specializes in cases that look too big, impossible, no chance. That way, when he turns it around, you will give him great glory at the expense of your enemies. The scripture says God caused Pharaoh to harden his heart; that tells me that God is in control, even of our enemies. When Satan wanted to test Job, he had to ask God for permission to even touch him. In the book of Acts, when Saul was persecuting the church, he had to get permission from the chief priests to arrest believers. He was headed to Damascus with papers in hand, thinking, "I've got permission to make their lives miserable, I got permission to bring them down." But as he was traveling, a bright light shined down from heaven, knocked him off his horse, and he fell flat on his back. What's my point? Even though he had permission, God stopped it. There are times when God will give the enemy permission to test us, the enemy has papers in hand, but just like with Saul, God will stop it. That young lady addicted to cocaine for 14 years, God said, "That's it, I'm stopping it." God can stop the cancer, stop the addiction, stop the legal situation. Every one of us can look back and see times where we know God stopped it. I was on the freeway one time, in my early 20s, and it was raining really hard. I lost control of my car, started spinning around and around. At one point, I looked up and I was going the wrong direction on the freeway. There was an 18-wheeler right in front of me, looked like I could reach out and touch its grill, just a few feet away. My life flashed before me. I thought, "That's it, I'm done." But God doesn't let you get into something that he can't bring you out of. That truck should have run over me, the enemy had the papers in hand, but God said, "No, I'm going to use this to show my power in a greater way." God stopped it. Somehow, that truck missed me. The driver pulled over to the side of the road where I was; he looked like he'd seen a ghost. His first words were, "Boy, you must be living right." He told how he felt like a big gust of wind picked up his whole rig and moved it one lane over, just in the nick of time. What am I saying? Whatever comes against you, God can stop it. He can stop the accident, stop the addiction, stop the family trouble. The enemy is not going to have the last laugh; you will. David said in Psalm 129, "From my earliest youth, my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never been able to finish me off." Can I tell you, that difficulty, it's not going to finish you off. That bad break, that disappointment, that sickness, it's not the end. God has the final say, and he's saying, "You're coming out with greater substance. You're coming out better off than you were before."
I read about a small fish called the Moses sole; it's a little flounder that's found over in the Red Sea. There are also sharks in those waters, and typically those sharks would eat this kind of fish. But in the 1970s, researchers discovered something interesting about the Moses sole. All the other fish in the same category, same size, same way, would be eaten by the sharks, but the sharks could not eat the Moses sole. It's because it has a unique defense system. When it senses any kind of danger, it naturally releases poisonous toxins from its glands. Those toxins literally caused the shark's jaws to freeze. They showed a picture of this Moses sole swimming inside the shark's mouth. All the shark had to do was bite down, and there was dinner. The only problem was the shark couldn't do it. God put something on this little fish to protect it. As long as the shark was there, it couldn't close its mouth. It had to go away for a few seconds before its jaws would be released. In the same way, as a child of the Most High, God has put something on you where you cannot be defeated. At times, it may look like those jaws are going to close down. The medical report isn't good, business is going down, the odds are against you, but Isaiah said, "No weapon formed against you will ever prosper." It may form, it may look impossible, but the good news is God will stop it. It's not going to prosper.
That's what David said: "My enemies cannot finish me off." Stay in peace. God's got your back. He's fighting your battles. He's done it in the past, and He'll do it again in the future. The three Hebrew teenagers, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar's golden idol. He was furious. He was going to have them thrown into a fiery furnace. I'm sure they prayed, "God, please keep us out of the fire. God, this is dangerous. We could be killed in there." They wanted God to do it one way, but God chose to do it another way. Sometimes God will deliver you from the fire; other times, God will make you fireproof and take you through the fire. Those teenagers had their hands and feet bound with cords. They were thrown into the furnace. It looked like it was over, looked like they were done, but God never lets you get into something that He can't bring you out of. The only thing that fire burned off were the cords that were holding them back. The king came to check on them, looked through the window in the furnace, couldn't believe it. He asked the guards, "Didn't we throw three men in here, bound? I see four men, loose, and one looks like the Son of the Living God."
King Nebuchadnezzar said, "Hey, guys, from this day forward, we're all going to worship the god of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego." Friends, your enemies cannot finish you off. They don't have the final say. God does. You may feel like you're in the fire right now. You don't see a way out. Stay encouraged. Where you are is not permanent; it's temporary. You're coming out not the same but better, with great abundance. When you come out, all of your family, friends, and enemies will know the favor of God is on your life. You're going to be a living testimony of God's goodness. Now, remember, the end of the difficulty has already been set. The end of the trouble, the lack, the addiction, the final date has already been established. The good news is it could happen this week. Get up every morning thanking God that it's on the way. If you'll do this, I believe and declare you're coming out of sickness, you're coming out of depression, you're coming out of addictions, you're coming out of lack and struggle. The tide of the battle is turning. You might as well start planning your coming out party. Like the Israelites, God is going to bring you out with great abundance, great joy, great peace. Great victories are in your future. In Jesus' name, if you receive it, can you say Amen?
Today, we never like to close our broadcast without giving 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. He's going to take you places that you've never dreamed of.
From New York Times bestselling authors Joel and Victoria Osteen comes their new devotional, "Wake Up to Hope." We're excited about our new devotional called "Wake Up to Hope." It's a great way to start the new day. You'll be inspired and encouraged to be your best each day. Start each morning setting your mind in the right direction with this new devotional, "Wake Up to Hope," now available at JoelOsteen.com.
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Every one of us has seeds of greatness on the inside. You have a gift to share with this world. There is buried treasure down in you right now, potential that has not yet been released. But so often, we let other people talk us out of our dreams. We let disappointments and failures keep our treasure buried. We allow insecurities and low self-esteem to convince us that we don't have anything special to offer. We're just an average, ordinary person. But no, God did not make average people. He did not create any of us as ordinary. No matter what someone has told you, no matter how they tried to make you feel, listen to what God is saying: There is treasure on your inside. You have something to offer that no one else has. And if you don't step into your destiny and release your gift, then this world will not be as bright as it should be. Understand, no one can take your place. You are unique. When God created you, He threw away the mold. Don't make the mistake of comparing yourself with someone else. If God wanted you to have their gift, He would have given you their gift. If He wanted you to look like them and have their personality, He would have created you that way. You don't need what they have to fulfill your destiny. You have what you need. It's already on the inside. When God created you, He matched you with your world. He decided what your purpose would be. He gave you an assignment, and then He put in you the gifts, the talents, the looks, the creativity, the personality. He equipped you with exactly what you need. That means if you needed to be taller, God would have made you taller. If you needed to be another nationality, God would have made you another nationality. If you needed a different personality, God would have created you that way. Quit despising what you have. Quit complaining about what you don’t have. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. God has created you exactly the way He wants you to be.
Think about it: with a car, you can purchase a car that’s totally stripped down, just the basics—no AC, no power windows, no radio, just a standard car. But know this, when God made you, He ordered all the options. You are not a base model. You are fully loaded and totally equipped. When God created you, He said, “I want the deluxe package. I want the chrome wheels. I want the sunroof. I want the navigation. I want the stereo with surround sound. And oh yeah, don’t forget my pinstripes.”
Some of you got a sedan, some of you got a compact, some of you got a truck, some of you got a lowrider, and even if you got a station wagon, like my brother Paul, whatever God has given you, you are fully loaded and totally equipped. I realize I may not have what someone else has. They may be a Ferrari, and I’m a Ford, but I’m not the least bit worried. I know I have what I need to fulfill my purpose. When we try to be something that we’re not, that’s when life gets frustrating. I’ve learned it’s easy to be me. I don’t have to perform. I don’t have to manipulate things. I can just relax and be myself. Do you know I can be a better me than anybody else in the whole world?
Why I'm anointed to be me, and you are anointed to be you. Nobody can beat you at being you. Quit worrying about what you don't have and just be the best you that you can possibly be. I remember when I first started ministering, I was very intimidated and unsure of myself. I would hear these other ministers who were so dynamic, many of them could not only speak exceptionally well but they could even sing incredibly well at the end of their sermons. They just burst out into songs, and it was so effective, it almost gives you chills. I used to think, "God, why can't I sing like that? Why don't I have their gift?" But one day, I realized God has given me what I need. If they have it and I don't, it must mean that I don't need it. And yes, they may be able to sing exceptionally well, but I know this: they're not nearly as good-looking as I am.
Friends, you are fully loaded and totally equipped. Don't you dare go around thinking, "Oh, I don't have what it takes." No, you go around saying, "I'm anointed, I'm empowered, I am talented, I am creative, I am a fully loaded person."
I heard about this young lady many years ago. She went to the theater and heard a girl singing so beautifully, and she complained to her friends, "If I could just sing like that, then I'd be successful." She went to the movies and saw an actress giving an award-winning performance. She thought to herself, "If I could just act like that, then I'd be successful." But one day, someone told her what I'm telling you. Instead of looking at others, complaining about what she didn't have, she looked inside and discovered what she did have. She remembered how all through school, she was constantly making people laugh. She was naturally funny, she had this gift for humor. She went on to develop that gift, and today, Phyllis Diller has become extremely successful. What's interesting is she doesn't have the beautiful looks like the movie actress she saw. She doesn't have the incredible voice like the young lady she heard that was singing. In fact, her voice is very scratchy, very gruff. But when God created you, He didn't make any mistakes.
Instead of looking at others, thinking about what you don't have, why don't you look inside and you'll discover what you do have? The fingerprints of God are all over you. Before you were born, God knew you. He has planned out all your days for good. Don't let your potential lie dormant. Tap into that buried treasure. Share your gift with the world. You have more in you. There is talent you've not yet discovered. You may have had some great victories in your past, but that is nothing compared to what God has in your future.
If you will see yourself as a fully loaded person, totally equipped, then as you stretch your faith, God is going to show up and show out in amazing ways. Now, I know tonight, I am not looking at average people. I'm not looking at anyone ordinary. I'm looking at fully loaded people, victors and not victims. And I'm declaring the treasure that's been buried is going to come out. I'm calling forth the dreams, the gifts, the talents, the businesses, the ideas, the inventions, the books, the songs, the movies. I'm calling forth that untapped potential. I believe that you're going to step into a new season. You're going to have the confidence to do things that you wouldn't do before. You're going to feel a supernatural stream. Supernatural doors are going to open up for you. Supernatural opportunities are coming your way.
Don't shrink back. Don't be intimidated. The creator of the universe has not only equipped and empowered you, but He's breathing in your direction. He's breathing creativity, confidence, ideas, restoration. God is saying to you what He said to Joshua: "Be strong and of good courage, for the Lord your God is with you." And some of you have been told a thousand times what you can't do, but I'm here to tell you what you can do. You can overcome every obstacle. You can prosper in spite of the economy. You can be healthy and whole once again. You can recover from a fall. You can become all that God's created you to be. You are a can-do person, fully loaded, totally equipped.
But if you don't understand who you are, then you'll never have the confidence to get out of your comfort zone and take steps of faith. This is imperative to fulfilling your destiny. I've learned when I make a move, God will make a move. When I get out of my comfort zone and stretch my faith, then God will release more of His favor. When I think bigger, God will act bigger. When I believe that I can rise higher, now put my shoulders back, hold my head up high, and I walk like I'm the child of the Most High God, that's when God shows up and shows out in unusual ways.
One time in the scripture, when Lazarus had died, Jesus said to the disciples, "Roll away the stone, and I'll raise Lazarus." It's interesting, Jesus could have rolled away the stone Himself. Here He was about to raise a dead man, but it was a principle: God expects us to do what we can, and then He will do what we can't. If you will do the natural, God will do the supernatural. If you will do the ordinary, God will do the extraordinary. But God will not do for you what you can do for yourself.
When you say, "I'll never get promoted. I never get any good breaks," let me ask you, are you rolling away the stone? Do you get to work on time each day? Are you giving it your best? Are you productive? Do you have a good attitude? If you will do what you can, God will do what you cannot.
Maybe you're single and have a desire to get married. You cannot sit at home every night watching television, praying that Miss America is going to come knocking on your door. You need to get out and meet some new friends, go to the mall, get some new clothes, dress good, look good. You are a fully loaded person; you have a lot to offer. When somebody gets you, they're getting a prize. You are extremely valuable. You have the fingerprints of God all over you. You've got to see yourself the right way.
Well, you say, "Joel, I'm kind of shy. I'm kind of reserved." So am I, but I'm standing in front of thousands of people. Do you know how much nerve it took me to even call Victoria and ask her out on our first date? It took me two weeks to get my courage up. I finally convinced myself that I am a fully loaded person. She would be absolutely crazy to say no to me. I called her, she said yes, and I nearly passed out. After 22 years of marriage, I can tell you that Victoria is fully loaded and totally equipped. She's one of a kind. What am I saying? You make a move and God will make a move. You do the natural and God will do the supernatural. Some of you tonight, you're stuck in your comfort zone. You're a fully loaded person using about ten percent of what God has given you. I want to stir you out of complacency. If you're not uncomfortable every once in a while, then you're not really using your faith.
Faith is all about stretching. That obstacle, that challenge, that opportunity, it may look intimidating, but God would not have presented you with it if He didn't already know that you have what it takes to stretch. I would rather try and fail every once in a while than have to come to the end of my life and wonder what would have happened if I'd have taken that risk. A lot of people are living in the safe zone, but I want to get you over into the faith zone. That's where you see God do amazing things. One time in the scripture, a city was about to be destroyed. The angel told Lot to go to a certain place, but Lot wasn't moving fast enough, so the angel said, "Hurry, Lot. I can't do anything until you get there." I believe God is saying that to each one of us. "I can't move in your life like I want to. I can't release my favor in a greater way until you get where you're supposed to be." It may not even be somewhere physically, but in our thoughts, in our mind. We cannot go around with low self-esteem, thinking that we don't have what it takes. No, we have to think like we're fully loaded. Think like you're totally equipped. We can't have the attitude that my business will probably never make it in this economy, or I lost so much in the stock market, I'll probably never recover. You all, I got laid off. I don't think I'll ever get another job. No, you are a fully loaded person. That means when one door closes, God's going to open up another door. That setback is not a surprise to God. He had the solution before you even had the problem. He has already armed you with strength for every battle. You need to pack up and move over into faith. God is saying to you what He said to Lot, "Hurry up and get there so I can show you my favor in a greater way." I heard a story about a five-year-old boy. He loved the piano. Anytime that he got a chance, he would sit down and pedal around. He'd never had lessons or any kind of formal training. He was often told that he was too small, too young to play the piano, but in spite of those comments, he continued to practice and practice. The only song he knew how to play was "Chopsticks," just a very simple tune, but he played it again and again.
One day, his father surprised him. He got tickets for them to go to the symphony and hear this world-renowned Italian. This man was one of the greatest piano players that had ever lived. As they were walking to their seats there in the auditorium, the little boy saw the beautiful grand piano behind the curtain. While no one noticed, he snuck over and sat down on the piano bench and began to play his elementary version of "Chopsticks." About that time, the curtain began to rise. Everyone was thinking they were going to see this world-famous master pianist. Instead, they saw a little boy hunched over the piano playing "Chopsticks." He was so caught up in his world he didn't know anybody was watching. When he realized what was happening, he was petrified. And just as he was about to get up and run for his life, he felt two big arms reaching around him, with the hands landing on the piano keys. It was the master pianist. He whispered in the little boy's ear, "Keep playing." As the little boy continued to play his simple rendition of "Chopsticks," this world-renowned pianist began to play a Beethoven symphony piece that was scored in the same cadence and the same key. Under the direction of the master, he brought the rest of the orchestra in. First, he broadened the woodwinds, then the brass, then the percussionists. The boy's father sat there with tears coming down his cheeks. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He never dreamed that simple tune that he heard in his living room each day would no longer sound like "Chopsticks," but now it would become a full, beautifully orchestrated Beethoven symphony. What was the difference? The master stepped in. Sometimes in life, you may not feel like you have the talent, the wisdom, the know-how. The good news is, God does. When you use what you have, the master will step in. He'll put his hands on top of your hands. He'll take what you think is very average—average gifts, average talent, average ability—but when the master steps in, he'll put his super with your natural, and supernatural things will begin to happen. Like that little boy, you'll be amazed. You'll think, "I know what I normally sound like. I know what I'm capable of. How did I end up like this?" Here's how: the master stepped in. I remember when I first started ministering, 10 years ago, my first few sermons were so basic and so elementary. Like this little boy, I'm sure they sounded about like "Chopsticks." And don't you say, "Amen." I had never really ministered before, but I was doing the best that I could, using what God had given me.
The negative thoughts bombarded my mind, saying, "Joel, you don't have what it takes. You're not a minister. You're too shy. You're too quiet. You better stay in your safe zone." I had to keep shaking those thoughts off and remind myself that I am a fully loaded person. I'm anointed. I'm equipped. I'm talented. I can do all things through Christ. What happened? The master stepped in. God put his hands on my hands. He put his voice in my voice. I discovered talent in me that I didn't even know I had. If you'd have told me ten years ago that one day I'd be ministering in Yankee Stadium, I would have said, "Yeah right, and you can land an airplane safely in the Hudson River."
When the master stepped in, supernatural things are going to happen. Some of you think that you could never accomplish your dreams. You think you don't have the talent, the resources, the connections. You may not, but know this: God does. And as you take steps towards your destiny, God is going to show up. You have to put a demand on your faith. If you play it safe all the time, you'll never really know what's on the inside. And I believe in the coming days, as you stretch your faith, you're going to see the master step in. You're going to have the courage to do things that you wouldn't do before. You're going to discover an ability that you didn't even know was in you. God is going to take your natural and mix His super with it, and instead of just playing "Chopsticks" like the little boy, God is going to bring in the percussion. That means you're going to get supernatural breaks. Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, God's going to bring in the brass—that is, the right people. Then the woodwinds—that's the right opportunity. Before long, you're going to be hitting on all cylinders. It's going to sound like a beautiful orchestra. That very treasure is going to come out, and you're going to know, like I know, this is not just my talent, this is not just my ability; this is the master joining in. This is God taking my ordinary and making it extraordinary.
I read a story about a police officer. She patrolled a very rough area of town. She always had a desire to help children learn how to read. In fact, she was the oldest of 12 children; she was the one that taught all of her brothers and sisters how to read. When she would get called to these troubled homes, so often she would notice how there were never any children's books—nothing for the kids to read—and this just broke her heart. She wanted to do something about it, but what could she do? She had limited resources. But instead of giving up and thinking it would never happen, she just kept hoping, kept praying, kept believing. One night, she answered a false alarm at this huge warehouse. When she flipped the lights on, she saw thousands of children's books just waiting to be destroyed. They were brand new but they had a little imperfection; they were going to be discarded. She said, "When I saw those books, I knew they were mine." She asked the owner right then and there if she could have them. He said, "Fine, they're all yours." That night, dropped into her hands were over 10,000 brand-new children's books. One Saturday afternoon, she and the other officers went through the low-income neighborhoods and passed out every single book. Now, when she patrols her area, she constantly sees kids sitting on the sidewalk, sitting on the front porch, reading these children's books. What happened? The master stepped in. God made a way where it looked like there was no way.
The scripture says that no good thing will God withhold when you walk uprightly. That means as you live a life of excellence and integrity, a life that's pleasing to the Lord, God is going to bring your dreams to pass. He's going to cause you to be at the right place at the right time. You're going to find yourself even stumbling into God's blessings. Dare to dream big, think big, believe big. You are a fully loaded person. You are totally equipped. Like this lady, you may not have the resources right now, but that's okay. God does. And as you take steps towards your divine destiny, God is going to release more of His favor. Don't be surprised when things fall into place. That's not a lucky break; that's not a coincidence; that's the master stepping in. Don't be surprised when you have wisdom beyond your years, when you get breaks you didn't deserve, when you accomplish more than you thought possible. That's God putting His hand on your hands. That's the master breathing in your direction.
We have a friend that told a story about her mother-in-law. As a little girl, this mother-in-law always had a desire to sing. Her dream was to one day become an opera singer. She was extremely talented. All through junior high and high school, she was the one chosen to play the lead in the class plays. But when it came time for college, her parents said, "You'll never make a living as an opera singer. That's not a good idea. You need to get a normal degree." They kind of talked her out of what she felt in her heart. She went on and got her degree and lived a happy and a blessed life. When she was 90 years old, she was living in a senior citizens home. Her husband had gone to be with the Lord, and her mind was not as sharp as it should be. She suffered a little from dementia. But what's interesting is every day in the senior's home, she would stand in front of all the people and sing the most beautiful opera you could ever imagine. She sounded like an angel. In fact, people came from all over just to hear this 90-year-old woman sing. What was that? She had buried treasure on the inside. Her gift had been pushed down for nearly 90 years, but it was still alive, just waiting to be released.
My challenge to you is, don't die with the music still in you. Share your gift with this world. You can go further than you think. You can accomplish more than you've accomplished. No matter what you've gone through, no matter how long it's been, your seeds of greatness are still alive and well. You can still become everything that God has created you to be. My prayer for each one of you is that before you leave this earth, all of your potential will be released. Not one dream, not one gift, not one promise, not one God-given desire will go left unfulfilled. I'm calling back those seeds that you've let go of, those family members you've given up on, those dreams you pushed aside. I'm calling them back tonight. Some of you, you don't realize it, but you can't die yet. You've got too much left in you. You've got too much potential. God is not going to let that go to waste. You might as well put up that rocking chair. It's not time to retire; it's time to re-fire. You need to get ready. God is going to give you new opportunities and more time to share your gift with the world.
I recently read about a 93-year-old woman that just graduated from college. If she can do it at 93, you and I can do it at 20, at 40, at 60, at 80. Get your fire back. The moment you quit planning for your future is the moment you quit living. The day you quit being excited about what God has in store is the day you went from living to just breathing. You need to have the right attitude, have the right vision for your life. You are a fully loaded person, totally equipped. And if you will learn to switch on your favor, refuse to die with the music still in you, here's what's going to happen: The master is going to step in. That means you're going to get breaks that you didn't deserve. You're going to overcome obstacles that look insurmountable. You're going to accomplish more than you ever thought possible. When you come to the end, you'll be able to say, "I finished my course. I've spent all my potential. I've released all my gifts. I've fulfilled my God-given destiny." Amen. Do you receive that tonight?