Joel Osteen - Overcoming Worry (November-28-2020)

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you're any closer to what you were believing for than you were last year but when you come into your time god is going to do it quickly it's not going to be a long drawn-out process you're going to see a rapid turnaround a sudden breakthrough a speedy recovery it may look like it's going to take a long time for you to get well to break the addiction to meet the right person no get ready it's going to happen sooner than it looks it's going to be unusual out of the ordinary you're going to know it was the hand of god it should take you years to get out of debt years to accomplish your dream in the natural that's true but when you come into one of these destiny moments it's going to happen in a fraction of the time and i don't know what's next but that was good so far it's going to happen in the fraction of the time every thought may tell you it's permanent it's never going to change no god is saying to you today i'm going to do it quickly it's going to happen suddenly now get in agreement with god instead of thinking of all the reasons it's not going to work out turn it around father thank you for a quick work thank you for a sudden turnaround thank you for a speedy recovery when god brought the israelites out of slavery they headed toward the promised land the pharaoh who had just let them go changed his mind and decided he wanted them back so he said 600 of his fastest chariots some of his strongest warriors to try to recapture them the israelites these two million people were at a dead end at the red sea they had nowhere to go it looked like they would be recaptured but moses held up his rod and those waters parted the israelites walked through on dry ground when pharaoh's men came chasing the waters closed up they were all drowned psalm 114 gives us insight into what happened verse 3 says the red sea saw the israelites coming and hurried out of their way when you come into your time don't worry enemies are going to hurry out of your way that addiction the depression the anxiety it's not permanent it's about to hurry out of your way it's going to happen quickly you didn't see any sign of things changing nothing looked any different then suddenly the waters part suddenly your health turns around suddenly the door opens god knows how to take things that look permanent and quickly change them when god told moses to hold up the rod and the waters would part i can imagine he was tempted to reason it out god what do you mean these waters have been like this for years you would think if the israelites were going to somehow get across it would take months for the waters to recede become less and less maybe god would send a big drought but when god spoke to moses nothing looked any different everything in his mind said it's impossible it would take months or years of a drought god we only have a few hours before we're going to be recaptured but god doesn't always do things on a normal timetable he specializes in doing a quick work he knows how to speed things up what could have taken years in one moment god caused the winds to blow the waters back they hurried out of the israelites way now you may have obstacles in your life that look permanent but god is about to have them hurry out of your way it's not going to happen gradually on a normal schedule like you were expecting it's going to happen quickly out of the ordinary things that you've been struggling with fear anxiety a challenge in your health that child that's off course when you look at the waters nothing looks any different you know god is telling you a breakthrough is coming but you don't see any sign of it you want to believe but your mind is telling you there's no way but just like those waters hurried out of the israelites way those obstacles are about to hurry out of your way now you may have had that illness a long time the prognosis doesn't look good receive this into your spirit it's about to hurry out of your way that legal trouble looks permanent and financial difficulty that situation at work seems like there's no end inside they'll get ready god's about to do a quick work lack struggle debt is about to hurry out of your way it's going to happen suddenly it's going to be a rapid turnaround that's what happened for us here at lakewood when we acquired the compact center a company filed a lawsuit to try to keep us from moving in they said we violated the deed restrictions our attorneys told us it could be tied up in the courts for years when we looked at the waters like with moses nothing looked any different a year had gone by the other side wasn't about to budge he had no contact with us looked like it could be that way for another 10 years but one day out of the blue the other side called and said they wanted to meet our attorney said it was probably a ploy just trying to distract us we met with them and in a couple of hours they agreed to drop the lawsuit and let us have the building when it's your time god knows how to have enemies hurry out of your way would have been one thing if we'd have won the lawsuit after 10 years we would have been grateful but god is not going to let the opposition delay you from your destiny he has already scheduled your destiny moments it may feel like you're falling behind the opposition is holding you back stay encouraged at the right time that adversity is going to hurry out of your way red seas can't keep you from your purpose god knows how to part those waters legal situations companies that seem bigger stronger they can't stop god's plan for your life it may feel like you're stuck you don't see anything improving don't worry god knows how to do a quick work it can happen suddenly the scripture says god hastens his word to perform it that word hasten means quickly speedily in a hurry and i'm not saying that we don't have to wait there are things that take time what i'm saying is when you don't see anything happening it looks like what you're up against is never going to change when you come into your destiny moment god will do it speedily quicker than you thought you'll accomplish a dream in a fraction of the time that obstacle looks permanent suddenly it turns around that's god that's god hastening his word second kings chapter 7 the israelites were surrounded by the syrian army they had cut off the israelites food supply now the people were starving just a matter of time before they died every circumstance said it was permanent the enemy army was bigger they had more equipment all the odds were against the israelites but there were four lepers sitting outside the city gates they thought we have nothing to lose we're going to die anyway let's go down to the syrian camp and see what they're doing while they were walking toward the enemy the scripture says god calls the syrians to hear the sound of speeding chariots and galloping horses the footsteps of a vast army approaching the syrian king thought the israelites had hired several armies to attack them verse 7 says the syrians panicked and fled into the night leaving all their horses tents and belongings what was that god causing their enemies to hurry out of their way seemed impossible the israelites didn't have a chance they didn't have food equipment supplies strength experience but god is not limited by what you don't have he's not intimidated by how big the opposition is by how bad the medical report looks about what the financial statement says god multiplied the sound of these lepers footsteps and caused this huge army to flee for their lives they left in such a hurry they didn't even take their belongings they didn't even grab their tents god knows how to quickly get rid of the opposition don't be discouraged by how permanent the obstacle looks or by how much bigger it seems than you you have an advantage the most time god is on your side he knows how to cause your enemies to hurry out of your way not gradually not over a few months you're about to see some things quickly turn around problems suddenly resolve enemies rapidly defeated what's interesting is while the lepers were walking they didn't know what god was doing they couldn't hear what the enemy was hearing everything seemed normal to them but god was doing something supernatural you don't know what god is up to right now while you're believing while you're doing the right thing everything may seem just the same but god is talking to your enemies he's causing them to hear what he wants them to hear the syrians didn't say to the lepers okay we'll leave just give us a few months to pack up our belongings give us some time to relocate we need to find new properly they left suddenly in a panic they were so afraid they fled for their lives some of the obstacles you're up against may seem like they have the upper hand the sickness is bigger you've had the addiction a long time feels like that trouble has you surrounded but when it's your time like with them it's not going to lead gradually it's not going to improve a little here a little there it's going to leave suddenly like it's in a panic like it's fleeing for its life well joel this sounds encouraging but i don't believe it's going to happen quickly for me i've been dealing with this for a long time you're right it won't happen for you this is for believers this is for people that will let the seed take root people that will dare say god i agree with what you said that you will hasten your word to perform it lord i believe for a quick work i believe enemies are hurrying out of my way i believe i'm gonna see a rapid turnaround friend of mine worked for this company where his supervisor wasn't treating him right he was jealous of him my friend had a great attitude i never heard him complain he just kept doing the right thing even though this supervisor would try to discredit him and make him look bad this went on for several years the supervisor was in his early 40s been with the company almost 20 years looked like my friend would always have to deal with this but one monday morning he went to work the owner of the company called my friend in and said that the supervisor was leaving and this owner wanted him to have his position my friend asked when was this going to happen when was going to leave the owner said he left last friday you're the supervisor starting right now god knows how to cause people to hurry out of your way to do things quickly things that you didn't see coming that supervisor could have been there another 30 years but he suddenly left quit worrying about who's in front of you and how it's never going to work out god can quickly change things quickly promote you quickly heal you quickly for you and yes i know some things take time we have to outlast what's coming against us but you're going to come into these moments where god does a quick work now instead of complaining what i don't know about for me i don't think i'll ever get well i'll never meet the right person don't turn it around father thank you that my health is about to suddenly improve thank you that this addiction is not permanent it's about to quickly turn around thank you that this depression is not how my story ends it's about to hurry out of my way that's not just being positive that's releasing your faith that's what allows god to speed things up this is what joseph did in the scripture he was mistreated for 13 years betrayed by his brothers sold into slavery put in prison for something that he didn't do it wasn't easy but he kept a good attitude kept being his best one morning joseph was sitting in prison seemed like another ordinary day when the guard came and said joseph the pharaoh wants to see you i can imagine joseph's thinking the pharaoh i don't know him i don't have an appointment i'm a slave a foreigner i'm in prison and the pharaoh's calling for me god knows how to have the right people come looking for you you may feel like you're at a disadvantage you're being overlooked know the one who matters most has his eyes on you the one who controls the universe the most high god is watching after you he's working out his plan for your life joseph walked in and was standing in the presence of one of the most powerful people of that day he interpreted the pharaoh's dream he was so impressed he made joseph the prime minister of egypt second in command it happened quickly joseph didn't have to run for office the pharaoh didn't hold a vote he didn't interview candidates for six months right on the spot he made joseph the prime minister god knows how to do a quick work the trouble the injustice it quickly it hurried out of joseph's way he woke up that morning a slave in prison he went to bed that night the prime minister promoted vindicate don't be discouraged by what's not changing like joseph you may be doing the right thing and the wrong thing is happening your time is coming god has these destiny moments where he's going to suddenly catapult you to a new level it's not going to be a long process it's going to happen quickly unexpectedly the right people are going to come looking for you the promotion the opportunity the vindication is going to come tracking you down after the israelites came through the red sea they wandered in the desert for 40 years they thought their obstacles were too big their enemies too strong that kept them from going into the promised land now years later their children and grandchildren were about to cross the jordan river and go into the land that god promised the problem was the land was occupied with these incredibly strong powerful people called the anakites they were descendants of giants you can imagine how intimidated the israelites must have fell standing at the brink of the jordan no doubt contemplating whether or not they should go in god gave them a promise that helped push them over he said in deuteronomy 9 today you are about to see people that are much stronger and much more powerful but the lord your god will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire he will subdue them so that you can quickly conquer unlike their parents that talk themselves out of it this new generation had the boldness to go in just like god promised they quickly conquered the land now you may be facing a situation like them that seems impossible in your health your finances a relationship but god is saying to you what he said to them i'm going to cross over ahead of you and take care of those enemies so you can quickly conquer them you are not fighting those battles on your own the most high god is going before you you're going to come out of that difficulty quicker than you think now get this down in your spirit you're going to quickly conquer the sickness quickly conquer the addiction quickly conquer the trouble at work behind the scenes right now god is changing things in your favor he's crossing over ahead of you to take care of the sickness to take care of that trouble if you will stay in faith it's going to happen sooner than it looks you didn't see any sign of it looked like it was permanent then suddenly it changes god is going to hasten his word he's going to speed things up i talked to a man that had a stroke in his early 50s he attends lakewood his family brought him up for prayer after a service he was now in a wheelchair he had lost control over the left side of his body and his face was drawn he was told with therapy in three to five years he might regain some control of his left arm and leg but he was specifically told he would never be able to lift his arm above his head again i told him what i'm telling you that god can do things quickly in the natural it should take years but god is a supernatural god he knows how to speed things up i could tell this man was a fighter he wasn't about to take that stroke lying down i saw him six months later this time he wasn't in a wheelchair he was walking on his own through the lobby he had a big smile on his face when our eyes met the first thing he did was lift his arm way up in the air i said i thought that was going to take three to five years he said that's what i was told but it happened for me in three months his therapist said that in 30 years she had been helping people she had never seen anyone improve as fast as him god knows how to do a quick work quit believing those lies that it's going to take you a long time to recover you heard the experts a long time to accomplish your dream a long time to get free from that anxiety no god is crossing ahead of you right now so you can quickly conquer you're going to see a rapid recovery you're going to defy the odds god is going to accelerate things dreams coming to pass in record time things falling into place that depression is not permanent that addiction is not going to last it's about to hurry out of your way it's going to happen quickly you didn't see it coming now when thoughts tell you it's going to take you years to get well years to meet the right person no keep this phrase down in your spirit quickly conquer you have to answer the doubt back with faith don't let that thought continue to play it's permanent it's never going to work out no all through the day father thank you that it's going to happen quickly thank you that enemies are hurrying out of my way thank you that i want to see a rapid recovery but what if i do that for a month and nothing happens keep doing it you have to stay on the offensive if you live with that lie that is permanent it's never going to change that will limit your life luke chapter 18 jesus told a story about a judge that wasn't fair he didn't have integrity he didn't care for people this widow kept coming to him day after day trying to get him to do something but about a person that had done her wrong the judge ignored her didn't pay her any attention but the widow wouldn't quit coming finally the judge said to the lady i'm going to give you what you're asking for not because i want to but because you're wearing me out with your constant request jesus said to the disciples if this judge who is not fair will make the right decision because the lady wouldn't quit asking do you think god who is fair will keep putting off those that come to him jesus went on to say i can assure you god will grant them justice quickly when you're in a difficult time things are not turning around if you just keep thanking god that he's working thanking him that he's fighting your battles thanking him that he's bigger than what you what you're facing not begging him but reminding him what he promised notice what god said he will give you justice quickly it's going to happen faster than you thought one translation says he will rush to your defense he will come to you in haste it may not have happened yet but you need to know god is in a hurry to help you you're going to see some of these sudden turnarounds now the key is to keep thanking him keep talking like it's going to happen keep believing that it's on the way when you don't talk to yourself out of it you don't get discouraged but you consistently thank god you're going to see some of these quick works he's going to quickly turn your child around quickly bring your healing quickly cause that dream to come to pass maybe like this widow you've been doing this but you don't see anything changing everything looks the same stay encouraged your time is coming god is crossing over ahead of you right now i believe and declare you're about to quickly conquer problems that have held you back are about to suddenly resolve enemies that have hindered you are about to hurry out of your way you're going to see a rapid recovery a sudden breakthrough a speedy turn around it's going to happen quickly in jesus name and if you receive it can you say amen today i'd like to give you the opportunity to make jesus the lord of your life would you pray with me just say lord jesus i repented 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 just play base church and keep god first place victoria and i'll be right back to speak a blessing over you let me pray for you as well if you have five minutes we'll wrap it up here if you can stick with us but lord i thank you for what we've heard today i know it falls on great ground the faithful people here at lakewood many watching and listening lord we're going out of here today inspired in our faith knowing that even though the waters don't look any different you can part of them suddenly you can change things quickly lord you've done it in the past we believe you'll do it again in the future lord i pray that every person under the sound of my voice will have a blessed week a faith-filled week that they'll see a sign of your goodness even this week with our heads bowed in prayer let me ask an important question if your heart stopped beating in the next few minutes are you at peace with god do you know where you'd spend eternity if not i would love to pray with you i'm not here to condemn anybody i'm here to help you find a new beginning i know this comes from a personal relationship with jesus christ in just a moment if you're not at peace with the lord or maybe you are a christian but you've grown cold toward god you know you need to rededicate your life you need a fresh new start if that's you in just a moment i'm going to ask you to take a step of faith and stand right where you are and we'll pray together i can't think of a better time to get on the road to victory than right now god is not mad at you your sins have already been forgiven all you have to do is accept the free gift of christ's salvation will you do it today the enemy in your thoughts will tell you do it next week do it another time listen the bible says today is the day of salvation don't put it off so easy but you know it's embarrassing to stand in front of everyone listen to what jesus said if you won't be ashamed of me before people then i won't be ashamed of you before my father in heaven i want to give you a great opportunity to show god that you're not ashamed of him if you're not at peace with the lord or you just need to rededicate your life you need that fresh new start that new beginning if that's you would you be bold take that step of faith and stand right where you are and we'll pray together would you do that come on let's give him a hand come on [Music] god bless you please remain standing if you don't mind let me tell you how proud we are of you more importantly i know the angels are rejoicing in the heavens right now it's going to be a new beginning in your life we prayed once but would you pray one more time everyone listening please lord jesus i'll repent of my sins come into my heart i'll make you my lord and savior amen remain standing one more moment if you don't mind let me tell you how much we love you we're going to be praying for you i also want to give you a personal invitation and a challenge to come back and be with us on a regular basis we ask new believers give us the next year of your life make a commitment that you're going to come just like you go to work whether you feel like it or not i'll make a promise to you your life will never be the same for the better when you come back next week bring somebody with you go pick up a friend a family member god can use you to help change their life if you need anything after service some of our staff will be this way i will be back over there if you can't stop by today whenever you can i'd love to meet you and your family i hope you'll stop by sometime last thing the moment you stood up god washed away all your sins your message your failure you are starting with a fresh clean slate write it down in your bible december 15 2019 a new day of victory in your life in jesus name amen amen well it's a little sin together if you would please thanks for coming out today how many of you going home better off than you were before amen well we love you and until we meet again may the lord bless you and keep you may the lord show you his favor and have mercy on you and may the lord watch over you and give you his peace god bless you have a great week i'm faithful week see you back real soon