Joel and Victoria Osteen's message of unconditional love and unending hope reaches everyone across the world.
#Faith
#TrustGod
#Lord
#God'sWill
#Religion
#Protection
#JoelOsteen
#Plan
#Confidence
#Authority
#Sovereignty
#HandofGod
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Joel Osteen | Joel Osteen - Secure In His Sovereignty | May 26, 2025
- .
- 00:00:09.799 --> 00:00:11.034
- God bless you. it's great
- 00:00:11.134 --> 00:00:12.669
- God bless you. it's great to be with you today. i
- 00:00:12.735 --> 00:00:14.938
- To be with you today. i hope you'll stay connected
- 00:00:15.004 --> 00:00:16.005
- Hope you'll stay connected with us during the week,
- 00:00:16.072 --> 00:00:17.440
- With us during the week, through our daily podcast,
- 00:00:17.507 --> 00:00:19.275
- Through our daily podcast, our youtube channel, social
- 00:00:19.342 --> 00:00:21.010
- Our youtube channel, social media. we'll keep you
- 00:00:21.077 --> 00:00:22.011
- Media. we'll keep you encouraged and inspired.
- 00:00:22.078 --> 00:00:24.280
- Encouraged and inspired. i like to start with
- 00:00:24.347 --> 00:00:25.014
- I like to start with something funny. i heard
- 00:00:25.081 --> 00:00:26.549
- Something funny. i heard about this couple that had
- 00:00:26.616 --> 00:00:28.051
- About this couple that had been married for over 60
- 00:00:28.118 --> 00:00:29.552
- Been married for over 60 years and never had an
- 00:00:29.619 --> 00:00:30.920
- Years and never had an argument, never had a cross
- 00:00:30.987 --> 00:00:32.755
- Argument, never had a cross word. they were at a church
- 00:00:32.822 --> 00:00:34.557
- Word. they were at a church function. someone asked
- 00:00:34.624 --> 00:00:35.792
- Function. someone asked them the secret of their
- 00:00:35.859 --> 00:00:36.759
- Them the secret of their success. the man told how
- 00:00:36.826 --> 00:00:38.962
- Success. the man told how he always treated his wife
- 00:00:39.028 --> 00:00:40.163
- He always treated his wife with respect and how he
- 00:00:40.230 --> 00:00:41.764
- With respect and how he took her on trips around
- 00:00:41.831 --> 00:00:42.999
- Took her on trips around the world. he said, "in
- 00:00:43.066 --> 00:00:44.367
- The world. he said, "in fact, for our 25th wedding
- 00:00:44.434 --> 00:00:46.069
- Fact, for our 25th wedding anniversary i took her to
- 00:00:46.136 --> 00:00:47.604
- Anniversary i took her to beijing, china." everyone
- 00:00:47.670 --> 00:00:49.606
- Beijing, china." everyone politely applauded. someone
- 00:00:49.672 --> 00:00:51.508
- Politely applauded. someone asked, "what did you do for
- 00:00:51.574 --> 00:00:52.375
- Asked, "what did you do for your 50th anniversary?" he
- 00:00:52.442 --> 00:00:54.244
- Your 50th anniversary?" he said, "i went back and
- 00:00:54.310 --> 00:00:55.478
- Said, "i went back and picked her up."
- 00:00:55.545 --> 00:00:56.312
- Picked her up." all right y'all. that's not
- 00:00:56.379 --> 00:00:59.215
- All right y'all. that's not in your marriage class.
- 00:00:59.282 --> 00:01:00.116
- In your marriage class. here we go. this is my
- 00:01:00.183 --> 00:01:02.218
- Here we go. this is my bible. i am what it says i
- 00:01:02.285 --> 00:01:04.120
- Bible. i am what it says i am. i have what it says i
- 00:01:04.187 --> 00:01:05.855
- Am. i have what it says i have. i can do what it says
- 00:01:05.922 --> 00:01:07.724
- Have. i can do what it says i can do. today, i will be
- 00:01:07.790 --> 00:01:09.692
- I can do. today, i will be taught the word of god. i
- 00:01:09.759 --> 00:01:11.561
- Taught the word of god. i boldly confess: my mind is
- 00:01:11.628 --> 00:01:13.796
- Boldly confess: my mind is alert. my heart is
- 00:01:13.863 --> 00:01:15.198
- Alert. my heart is receptive. i will never be
- 00:01:15.265 --> 00:01:17.000
- Receptive. i will never be the same in jesus' name.
- 00:01:17.066 --> 00:01:19.602
- The same in jesus' name. god bless you.
- 00:01:19.669 --> 00:01:21.604
- God bless you. i want to talk to you today
- 00:01:21.671 --> 00:01:23.139
- I want to talk to you today about secure in his
- 00:01:23.206 --> 00:01:25.008
- About secure in his sovereignty. we all have
- 00:01:25.074 --> 00:01:27.410
- Sovereignty. we all have our own free will. we can
- 00:01:27.477 --> 00:01:29.445
- Our own free will. we can make decisions, do what we
- 00:01:29.512 --> 00:01:30.947
- Make decisions, do what we want, go where we want to
- 00:01:31.014 --> 00:01:32.549
- Want, go where we want to go. it's easy to think that
- 00:01:32.615 --> 00:01:34.651
- Go. it's easy to think that our life is based on what
- 00:01:34.717 --> 00:01:36.319
- Our life is based on what we're choosing. to a point,
- 00:01:36.386 --> 00:01:38.321
- We're choosing. to a point, of course, that's true, but
- 00:01:38.388 --> 00:01:39.923
- Of course, that's true, but that's not the only factor.
- 00:01:39.989 --> 00:01:42.125
- That's not the only factor. god has a conditional will.
- 00:01:42.192 --> 00:01:44.561
- God has a conditional will. these are things he does
- 00:01:44.627 --> 00:01:45.995
- These are things he does based on whether or not we
- 00:01:46.062 --> 00:01:47.363
- Based on whether or not we make good choices. we
- 00:01:47.430 --> 00:01:48.965
- Make good choices. we determine the course our
- 00:01:49.032 --> 00:01:50.466
- Determine the course our life will take. but god
- 00:01:50.533 --> 00:01:52.268
- Life will take. but god also has a sovereign will.
- 00:01:52.335 --> 00:01:54.971
- Also has a sovereign will. these are things he's going
- 00:01:55.038 --> 00:01:56.172
- These are things he's going to do regardless of our
- 00:01:56.239 --> 00:01:57.907
- To do regardless of our decisions. god has already
- 00:01:57.974 --> 00:02:00.410
- Decisions. god has already planned ahead of time a
- 00:02:00.476 --> 00:02:02.178
- Planned ahead of time a purpose for you to fulfill.
- 00:02:02.245 --> 00:02:04.681
- Purpose for you to fulfill. he's not making it up on
- 00:02:04.747 --> 00:02:05.882
- He's not making it up on the fly, watching how
- 00:02:05.949 --> 00:02:07.617
- The fly, watching how you're going to perform,
- 00:02:07.684 --> 00:02:09.085
- You're going to perform, how disciplined you'll be,
- 00:02:09.152 --> 00:02:10.720
- How disciplined you'll be, then he's going to decide
- 00:02:10.787 --> 00:02:12.188
- Then he's going to decide whether he does certain
- 00:02:12.255 --> 00:02:13.189
- Whether he does certain things. he's not watching
- 00:02:13.256 --> 00:02:15.325
- Things. he's not watching to see what other people
- 00:02:15.391 --> 00:02:16.526
- To see what other people do, what bad breaks come
- 00:02:16.593 --> 00:02:18.394
- Do, what bad breaks come your way, what
- 00:02:18.461 --> 00:02:19.495
- Your way, what disappointments, then he'll
- 00:02:19.562 --> 00:02:20.930
- Disappointments, then he'll pivot, come up with another
- 00:02:20.997 --> 00:02:22.565
- Pivot, come up with another plan. it says in ephesians,
- 00:02:22.632 --> 00:02:25.401
- Plan. it says in ephesians, "you were chosen, having
- 00:02:25.468 --> 00:02:27.403
- "you were chosen, having been predestined according
- 00:02:27.470 --> 00:02:29.606
- Been predestined according to the plan of him who
- 00:02:29.672 --> 00:02:31.608
- To the plan of him who works out everything
- 00:02:31.674 --> 00:02:33.109
- Works out everything according to his will."
- 00:02:33.176 --> 00:02:35.445
- According to his will." long before you got here,
- 00:02:35.511 --> 00:02:37.280
- Long before you got here, god laid out the plan and
- 00:02:37.347 --> 00:02:38.748
- God laid out the plan and purpose for your life. his
- 00:02:38.815 --> 00:02:40.683
- Purpose for your life. his sovereign will is
- 00:02:40.750 --> 00:02:41.884
- Sovereign will is unstoppable. there's
- 00:02:41.951 --> 00:02:43.653
- Unstoppable. there's nothing you can do or not
- 00:02:43.720 --> 00:02:45.521
- Nothing you can do or not do to keep his sovereign
- 00:02:45.588 --> 00:02:47.190
- Do to keep his sovereign will from coming to pass.
- 00:02:47.257 --> 00:02:49.325
- Will from coming to pass. you can't make too many
- 00:02:49.392 --> 00:02:50.360
- You can't make too many mistakes; you can't get so
- 00:02:50.426 --> 00:02:52.395
- Mistakes; you can't get so far off course that god's
- 00:02:52.462 --> 00:02:53.963
- Far off course that god's going to change his mind.
- 00:02:54.030 --> 00:02:55.598
- Going to change his mind. just ask jonah. he did
- 00:02:55.665 --> 00:02:57.600
- Just ask jonah. he did exactly opposite of what
- 00:02:57.667 --> 00:02:59.402
- Exactly opposite of what god told him to do. he went
- 00:02:59.469 --> 00:03:01.204
- God told him to do. he went his own way. he got in
- 00:03:01.271 --> 00:03:02.972
- His own way. he got in trouble, was thrown
- 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:04.440
- Trouble, was thrown overboard into the sea. god
- 00:03:04.507 --> 00:03:06.876
- Overboard into the sea. god didn't say, "too bad,
- 00:03:06.943 --> 00:03:08.111
- Didn't say, "too bad, you're on your own. you
- 00:03:08.177 --> 00:03:09.245
- You're on your own. you should have listened." god
- 00:03:09.312 --> 00:03:10.947
- Should have listened." god had a big fish waiting for
- 00:03:11.014 --> 00:03:12.682
- Had a big fish waiting for him. it's like god called
- 00:03:12.749 --> 00:03:14.083
- Him. it's like god called an uber. swallowed him up
- 00:03:14.150 --> 00:03:15.885
- An uber. swallowed him up and took him to the shore.
- 00:03:15.952 --> 00:03:17.887
- And took him to the shore. god was saying, "jonah you
- 00:03:17.954 --> 00:03:19.589
- God was saying, "jonah you can't stop my sovereign
- 00:03:19.656 --> 00:03:21.057
- Can't stop my sovereign will. where i want you to
- 00:03:21.124 --> 00:03:22.592
- Will. where i want you to go, you're going to go."
- 00:03:22.659 --> 00:03:25.128
- Go, you're going to go." not just in negative
- 00:03:25.194 --> 00:03:26.362
- Not just in negative things. when it's his
- 00:03:26.429 --> 00:03:27.697
- Things. when it's his sovereign will for you to
- 00:03:27.764 --> 00:03:29.032
- Sovereign will for you to be blessed, it's not
- 00:03:29.098 --> 00:03:30.933
- Be blessed, it's not dependent on what family
- 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:32.268
- Dependent on what family you come from, how much
- 00:03:32.335 --> 00:03:33.936
- You come from, how much experience, talent,
- 00:03:34.003 --> 00:03:35.872
- Experience, talent, education you have. the
- 00:03:35.938 --> 00:03:37.640
- Education you have. the blessing will overtake you.
- 00:03:37.707 --> 00:03:39.776
- Blessing will overtake you. you'll see favor that you
- 00:03:39.842 --> 00:03:41.277
- You'll see favor that you didn't have anything to do
- 00:03:41.344 --> 00:03:42.412
- Didn't have anything to do with. you didn't earn it,
- 00:03:42.478 --> 00:03:44.280
- With. you didn't earn it, you weren't born into it,
- 00:03:44.347 --> 00:03:45.682
- You weren't born into it, you can't explain it. it's
- 00:03:45.748 --> 00:03:47.283
- You can't explain it. it's the unstoppable god
- 00:03:47.350 --> 00:03:49.252
- The unstoppable god carrying out the plan that
- 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:50.853
- Carrying out the plan that he decided long ago.
- 00:03:50.920 --> 00:03:53.756
- He decided long ago. when you go to a broadway
- 00:03:53.823 --> 00:03:55.091
- When you go to a broadway play, you don't show up and
- 00:03:55.158 --> 00:03:57.694
- Play, you don't show up and the actors are all there
- 00:03:57.760 --> 00:03:59.195
- The actors are all there without a script. the play
- 00:03:59.262 --> 00:04:01.097
- Without a script. the play starts in fifteen minutes,
- 00:04:01.164 --> 00:04:02.965
- Starts in fifteen minutes, "let's decide what we're
- 00:04:03.032 --> 00:04:03.833
- "let's decide what we're going to do. what's the
- 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:05.401
- Going to do. what's the plot, what character will i
- 00:04:05.468 --> 00:04:07.270
- Plot, what character will i play, how will the drama
- 00:04:07.337 --> 00:04:08.938
- Play, how will the drama unfold." the script has
- 00:04:09.005 --> 00:04:11.240
- Unfold." the script has already been written. long
- 00:04:11.307 --> 00:04:13.209
- Already been written. long before the actors ever
- 00:04:13.276 --> 00:04:14.610
- Before the actors ever arrive, the writer has
- 00:04:14.677 --> 00:04:16.312
- Arrive, the writer has already decided what's
- 00:04:16.379 --> 00:04:17.880
- Already decided what's going to take place. when
- 00:04:17.947 --> 00:04:20.116
- Going to take place. when you walk in the theater,
- 00:04:20.183 --> 00:04:21.684
- You walk in the theater, there's not an empty stage.
- 00:04:21.751 --> 00:04:22.819
- There's not an empty stage. the carpenters don't show
- 00:04:22.885 --> 00:04:24.921
- The carpenters don't show up and say, "okay let's
- 00:04:24.987 --> 00:04:26.122
- Up and say, "okay let's build some sets. what props
- 00:04:26.189 --> 00:04:28.124
- Build some sets. what props are you going to need?" the
- 00:04:28.191 --> 00:04:29.592
- Are you going to need?" the lighting director, "tell me
- 00:04:29.659 --> 00:04:31.094
- Lighting director, "tell me the scenes so i can go get
- 00:04:31.160 --> 00:04:32.028
- The scenes so i can go get some lights, let me figure
- 00:04:32.095 --> 00:04:33.363
- Some lights, let me figure everything out." the stage
- 00:04:33.429 --> 00:04:35.565
- Everything out." the stage has already been set, the
- 00:04:35.631 --> 00:04:37.467
- Has already been set, the props are already in place,
- 00:04:37.533 --> 00:04:39.402
- Props are already in place, the script already
- 00:04:39.469 --> 00:04:40.336
- The script already finalized. in the same way,
- 00:04:40.403 --> 00:04:42.972
- Finalized. in the same way, you didn't show up on
- 00:04:43.039 --> 00:04:44.474
- You didn't show up on planet earth and god say,
- 00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:46.376
- Planet earth and god say, "okay let me figure out a
- 00:04:46.442 --> 00:04:47.910
- "okay let me figure out a script for them, let me
- 00:04:47.977 --> 00:04:49.645
- Script for them, let me figure out what role
- 00:04:49.712 --> 00:04:50.546
- Figure out what role they'll play." you weren't
- 00:04:50.613 --> 00:04:52.448
- They'll play." you weren't born into an empty stage.
- 00:04:52.515 --> 00:04:54.951
- Born into an empty stage. god didn't think, "i have
- 00:04:55.017 --> 00:04:56.252
- God didn't think, "i have to decide what environment
- 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:57.520
- To decide what environment they'll be in, what family,
- 00:04:57.587 --> 00:04:59.722
- They'll be in, what family, what people i should use,
- 00:04:59.789 --> 00:05:00.857
- What people i should use, what experiences." long
- 00:05:00.923 --> 00:05:03.159
- What experiences." long before you arrived, god
- 00:05:03.226 --> 00:05:05.228
- Before you arrived, god wrote a script for you. the
- 00:05:05.294 --> 00:05:07.163
- Wrote a script for you. the fact that you're here is a
- 00:05:07.230 --> 00:05:08.631
- Fact that you're here is a sign that the stage is been
- 00:05:08.698 --> 00:05:10.466
- Sign that the stage is been set. all the props are in
- 00:05:10.533 --> 00:05:12.635
- Set. all the props are in place, all the people you
- 00:05:12.702 --> 00:05:14.470
- Place, all the people you need. yes, there may be
- 00:05:14.537 --> 00:05:16.272
- Need. yes, there may be some drama, ups and downs,
- 00:05:16.339 --> 00:05:18.875
- Some drama, ups and downs, things you don't
- 00:05:18.941 --> 00:05:19.575
- Things you don't understand, but you can
- 00:05:19.642 --> 00:05:21.177
- Understand, but you can stay in peace knowing that
- 00:05:21.244 --> 00:05:22.879
- Stay in peace knowing that it's all working according
- 00:05:22.945 --> 00:05:24.680
- It's all working according to his will. you're not at
- 00:05:24.747 --> 00:05:26.816
- To his will. you're not at the mercy of fate,
- 00:05:26.883 --> 00:05:28.551
- The mercy of fate, happenstance, hope you get
- 00:05:28.618 --> 00:05:30.520
- Happenstance, hope you get some good breaks, hope this
- 00:05:30.586 --> 00:05:32.188
- Some good breaks, hope this sickness doesn't take you
- 00:05:32.255 --> 00:05:33.356
- Sickness doesn't take you out, there is a sovereign
- 00:05:33.423 --> 00:05:35.324
- Out, there is a sovereign god who is in control of
- 00:05:35.391 --> 00:05:37.093
- God who is in control of your life. his sovereign
- 00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:38.961
- Your life. his sovereign will cannot be overridden
- 00:05:39.028 --> 00:05:40.897
- Will cannot be overridden by bad choices, by other
- 00:05:40.963 --> 00:05:42.899
- By bad choices, by other people, by how you were
- 00:05:42.965 --> 00:05:44.367
- People, by how you were raised, by what you didn't
- 00:05:44.434 --> 00:05:45.668
- Raised, by what you didn't get.
- 00:05:45.735 --> 00:05:47.136
- Get. jeremiah said, "god knew
- 00:05:47.203 --> 00:05:48.938
- Jeremiah said, "god knew you before you were formed
- 00:05:49.005 --> 00:05:51.007
- You before you were formed in your mother's womb." you
- 00:05:51.073 --> 00:05:53.176
- In your mother's womb." you didn't show up because your
- 00:05:53.242 --> 00:05:54.510
- Didn't show up because your mother and father decided
- 00:05:54.577 --> 00:05:56.379
- Mother and father decided to have a baby. it wasn't a
- 00:05:56.446 --> 00:05:58.347
- To have a baby. it wasn't a random coincidence that
- 00:05:58.414 --> 00:05:59.949
- Random coincidence that they got together.
- 00:06:00.016 --> 00:06:01.751
- They got together. sometimes when a pregnancy
- 00:06:01.818 --> 00:06:03.286
- Sometimes when a pregnancy is not planned, we say this
- 00:06:03.352 --> 00:06:04.921
- Is not planned, we say this baby was a surprise. you
- 00:06:04.987 --> 00:06:07.356
- Baby was a surprise. you may have been a surprise to
- 00:06:07.423 --> 00:06:08.658
- May have been a surprise to your parents, but you are
- 00:06:08.724 --> 00:06:09.959
- Your parents, but you are not a surprise to our god.
- 00:06:10.026 --> 00:06:12.094
- Not a surprise to our god. he's been thinking about
- 00:06:12.161 --> 00:06:13.362
- He's been thinking about you for generations.
- 00:06:13.429 --> 00:06:15.965
- You for generations. jeremiah went on to say,
- 00:06:16.032 --> 00:06:17.733
- Jeremiah went on to say, "god's plans for you are
- 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:19.635
- "god's plans for you are for good, to give you a
- 00:06:19.702 --> 00:06:21.471
- For good, to give you a future and a hope." part of
- 00:06:21.537 --> 00:06:24.207
- Future and a hope." part of his sovereign will is to be
- 00:06:24.273 --> 00:06:26.108
- His sovereign will is to be good to you. there are
- 00:06:26.175 --> 00:06:27.810
- Good to you. there are blessings coming that are
- 00:06:27.877 --> 00:06:29.612
- Blessings coming that are unstoppable. there is favor
- 00:06:29.679 --> 00:06:31.881
- Unstoppable. there is favor in your future that is
- 00:06:31.948 --> 00:06:33.483
- In your future that is simply the goodness of god,
- 00:06:33.549 --> 00:06:35.651
- Simply the goodness of god, something that he has
- 00:06:35.718 --> 00:06:36.352
- Something that he has already planned, that
- 00:06:36.419 --> 00:06:37.920
- Already planned, that cannot be overridden. you
- 00:06:37.987 --> 00:06:40.056
- Cannot be overridden. you don't have to worry about
- 00:06:40.122 --> 00:06:41.123
- Don't have to worry about how it can happen, how you
- 00:06:41.190 --> 00:06:43.159
- How it can happen, how you can get ahead, how you can
- 00:06:43.226 --> 00:06:44.927
- Can get ahead, how you can leave your mark, the
- 00:06:44.994 --> 00:06:46.429
- Leave your mark, the sovereign god has already
- 00:06:46.496 --> 00:06:48.731
- Sovereign god has already not only planned it, but he
- 00:06:48.798 --> 00:06:50.867
- Not only planned it, but he will make it happen. it's
- 00:06:50.933 --> 00:06:52.468
- Will make it happen. it's not up to you, it's up to
- 00:06:52.535 --> 00:06:53.836
- Not up to you, it's up to him. blessings that chase
- 00:06:53.903 --> 00:06:55.972
- Him. blessings that chase you down, favor you didn't
- 00:06:56.038 --> 00:06:57.773
- You down, favor you didn't see coming, good breaks
- 00:06:57.840 --> 00:06:59.442
- See coming, good breaks that you couldn't explain.
- 00:06:59.509 --> 00:07:01.177
- That you couldn't explain. it's already written in
- 00:07:01.244 --> 00:07:02.411
- It's already written in your script. the stage has
- 00:07:02.478 --> 00:07:04.280
- Your script. the stage has already been set.
- 00:07:04.347 --> 00:07:06.482
- Already been set. how could i be up here
- 00:07:06.549 --> 00:07:07.550
- How could i be up here today? this is not
- 00:07:07.617 --> 00:07:09.085
- Today? this is not something that i chose.
- 00:07:09.151 --> 00:07:10.286
- Something that i chose. it's not something that i
- 00:07:10.353 --> 00:07:11.487
- It's not something that i worked for; that i was
- 00:07:11.554 --> 00:07:12.989
- Worked for; that i was hoping to attain. i didn't
- 00:07:13.055 --> 00:07:14.724
- Hoping to attain. i didn't want to get up in front of
- 00:07:14.790 --> 00:07:15.591
- Want to get up in front of people. i didn't think i
- 00:07:15.658 --> 00:07:17.360
- People. i didn't think i could minister. for
- 00:07:17.426 --> 00:07:18.794
- Could minister. for seventeen years i stayed
- 00:07:18.861 --> 00:07:20.696
- Seventeen years i stayed behind the scenes, my
- 00:07:20.763 --> 00:07:22.365
- Behind the scenes, my choices were determining my
- 00:07:22.431 --> 00:07:24.000
- Choices were determining my future. i was comfortable,
- 00:07:24.066 --> 00:07:26.369
- Future. i was comfortable, i would have stayed there
- 00:07:26.435 --> 00:07:28.070
- I would have stayed there but at one point i came
- 00:07:28.137 --> 00:07:29.605
- But at one point i came into the sovereign will of
- 00:07:29.672 --> 00:07:31.440
- Into the sovereign will of god. his will is
- 00:07:31.507 --> 00:07:33.376
- God. his will is unstoppable. god will let
- 00:07:33.442 --> 00:07:35.645
- Unstoppable. god will let you make decisions up to a
- 00:07:35.711 --> 00:07:37.046
- You make decisions up to a point, he'll let you be in
- 00:07:37.113 --> 00:07:38.848
- Point, he'll let you be in control of your destiny for
- 00:07:38.915 --> 00:07:40.650
- Control of your destiny for periods of time, but at
- 00:07:40.716 --> 00:07:42.618
- Periods of time, but at certain times he will take
- 00:07:42.685 --> 00:07:44.320
- Certain times he will take complete control. he will
- 00:07:44.387 --> 00:07:46.322
- Complete control. he will override your decisions and
- 00:07:46.389 --> 00:07:48.291
- Override your decisions and thrust you into your
- 00:07:48.357 --> 00:07:49.325
- Thrust you into your destiny.
- 00:07:49.392 --> 00:07:51.193
- Destiny. when my father died, i not
- 00:07:51.260 --> 00:07:52.995
- When my father died, i not only knew i was supposed to
- 00:07:53.062 --> 00:07:54.964
- Only knew i was supposed to step up and pastor the
- 00:07:55.031 --> 00:07:56.232
- Step up and pastor the church, but suddenly i had
- 00:07:56.299 --> 00:07:58.601
- Church, but suddenly i had the desire. i wanted to. i
- 00:07:58.668 --> 00:08:01.404
- The desire. i wanted to. i hadn't had that desire for
- 00:08:01.470 --> 00:08:02.738
- Hadn't had that desire for thirty-six years. in fact,
- 00:08:02.805 --> 00:08:04.840
- Thirty-six years. in fact, i was just the opposite. i
- 00:08:04.907 --> 00:08:06.275
- I was just the opposite. i dreaded getting up in front
- 00:08:06.342 --> 00:08:07.643
- Dreaded getting up in front of people. but when you hit
- 00:08:07.710 --> 00:08:09.645
- Of people. but when you hit one of these sovereignty
- 00:08:09.712 --> 00:08:10.746
- One of these sovereignty moments, when it's not
- 00:08:10.813 --> 00:08:12.615
- Moments, when it's not god's conditional will,
- 00:08:12.682 --> 00:08:14.750
- God's conditional will, where you have a part, you
- 00:08:14.817 --> 00:08:16.285
- Where you have a part, you can decide, but god has
- 00:08:16.352 --> 00:08:18.087
- Can decide, but god has already decided. it's
- 00:08:18.154 --> 00:08:19.889
- Already decided. it's already on the script. he's
- 00:08:19.956 --> 00:08:21.657
- Already on the script. he's already planned to bless
- 00:08:21.724 --> 00:08:22.792
- Already planned to bless you, to favor you, to
- 00:08:22.858 --> 00:08:24.560
- You, to favor you, to rescue you, to turn that
- 00:08:24.627 --> 00:08:26.162
- Rescue you, to turn that trouble around. there's
- 00:08:26.228 --> 00:08:27.897
- Trouble around. there's nothing you can do except
- 00:08:27.964 --> 00:08:29.365
- Nothing you can do except sit back and enjoy the
- 00:08:29.432 --> 00:08:30.633
- Sit back and enjoy the ride. you stepped into the
- 00:08:30.700 --> 00:08:32.835
- Ride. you stepped into the unstoppable god, the part
- 00:08:32.902 --> 00:08:35.171
- Unstoppable god, the part of his plan that is not
- 00:08:35.237 --> 00:08:37.006
- Of his plan that is not negotiable. he's not
- 00:08:37.073 --> 00:08:38.774
- Negotiable. he's not looking for your opinion,
- 00:08:38.841 --> 00:08:40.443
- Looking for your opinion, he's not asking what you
- 00:08:40.509 --> 00:08:41.711
- He's not asking what you think. he will override
- 00:08:41.777 --> 00:08:43.646
- Think. he will override every force trying to
- 00:08:43.713 --> 00:08:44.880
- Every force trying to stopping you, every
- 00:08:44.947 --> 00:08:46.315
- Stopping you, every limitation, every
- 00:08:46.382 --> 00:08:47.883
- Limitation, every disadvantage, every bad
- 00:08:47.950 --> 00:08:49.652
- Disadvantage, every bad decision and thrust you
- 00:08:49.719 --> 00:08:51.687
- Decision and thrust you into your destiny.
- 00:08:51.754 --> 00:08:53.856
- Into your destiny. when david was a teenager,
- 00:08:53.923 --> 00:08:55.291
- When david was a teenager, he was working in the
- 00:08:55.358 --> 00:08:56.559
- He was working in the fields taking care of his
- 00:08:56.626 --> 00:08:58.561
- Fields taking care of his father's sheep. it looked
- 00:08:58.628 --> 00:09:00.363
- Father's sheep. it looked like that's what he would
- 00:09:00.429 --> 00:09:01.163
- Like that's what he would do the rest of his life. he
- 00:09:01.230 --> 00:09:03.199
- Do the rest of his life. he came from a low-income
- 00:09:03.265 --> 00:09:04.367
- Came from a low-income family. they weren't
- 00:09:04.433 --> 00:09:05.768
- Family. they weren't influential, nobody knew
- 00:09:05.835 --> 00:09:07.570
- Influential, nobody knew them. but when god wrote
- 00:09:07.637 --> 00:09:09.672
- Them. but when god wrote your script, when he
- 00:09:09.739 --> 00:09:11.173
- Your script, when he designed the plan for your
- 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:12.508
- Designed the plan for your life, on purpose, he put
- 00:09:12.575 --> 00:09:14.844
- Life, on purpose, he put these moments of favor that
- 00:09:14.910 --> 00:09:16.679
- These moments of favor that don't make sense. the
- 00:09:16.746 --> 00:09:18.347
- Don't make sense. the scripture says, "he chose
- 00:09:18.414 --> 00:09:19.882
- Scripture says, "he chose the foolish to confound the
- 00:09:19.949 --> 00:09:21.484
- The foolish to confound the wise." david was out in the
- 00:09:21.550 --> 00:09:23.653
- Wise." david was out in the fields, minding his own
- 00:09:23.719 --> 00:09:25.287
- Fields, minding his own business. every
- 00:09:25.354 --> 00:09:26.389
- Business. every circumstance says, "you're
- 00:09:26.455 --> 00:09:27.556
- Circumstance says, "you're stuck, this is your lot in
- 00:09:27.623 --> 00:09:29.458
- Stuck, this is your lot in life." but one day, the
- 00:09:29.525 --> 00:09:31.394
- Life." but one day, the prophet samuel showed up at
- 00:09:31.460 --> 00:09:33.496
- Prophet samuel showed up at his father's house to
- 00:09:33.562 --> 00:09:35.164
- His father's house to anoint one of jesse's sons
- 00:09:35.231 --> 00:09:37.166
- Anoint one of jesse's sons as the next king of israel.
- 00:09:37.233 --> 00:09:39.268
- As the next king of israel. david didn't go looking for
- 00:09:39.335 --> 00:09:40.670
- David didn't go looking for samuel, samuel came looking
- 00:09:40.736 --> 00:09:42.605
- Samuel, samuel came looking for david. david's purpose
- 00:09:42.672 --> 00:09:44.840
- For david. david's purpose came tracking him down.
- 00:09:44.907 --> 00:09:47.043
- Came tracking him down. david couldn't have made
- 00:09:47.109 --> 00:09:48.044
- David couldn't have made this happen. he didn't earn
- 00:09:48.110 --> 00:09:49.912
- This happen. he didn't earn it, he didn't work for it,
- 00:09:49.979 --> 00:09:52.048
- It, he didn't work for it, he didn't put out flyers,
- 00:09:52.114 --> 00:09:53.249
- He didn't put out flyers, "hey vote for me." this was
- 00:09:53.315 --> 00:09:54.750
- "hey vote for me." this was the sovereignty of god.
- 00:09:54.817 --> 00:09:57.286
- The sovereignty of god. samuel tried to anoint one
- 00:09:57.353 --> 00:09:59.321
- Samuel tried to anoint one of david's seven brothers
- 00:09:59.388 --> 00:10:01.257
- Of david's seven brothers as the next king. they were
- 00:10:01.323 --> 00:10:03.192
- As the next king. they were in the house; david was
- 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:04.760
- In the house; david was still out in the shepherd's
- 00:10:04.827 --> 00:10:05.761
- Still out in the shepherd's fields. samuel went by them
- 00:10:05.828 --> 00:10:07.596
- Fields. samuel went by them one by one. "it's not him,
- 00:10:07.663 --> 00:10:09.365
- One by one. "it's not him, it's not this one, it's not
- 00:10:09.432 --> 00:10:10.533
- It's not this one, it's not this one." what god has for
- 00:10:10.599 --> 00:10:12.768
- This one." what god has for you is not going to go to
- 00:10:12.835 --> 00:10:14.403
- You is not going to go to someone else. his sovereign
- 00:10:14.470 --> 00:10:16.572
- Someone else. his sovereign will cannot be overridden.
- 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:18.074
- Will cannot be overridden. people can't manipulate the
- 00:10:18.140 --> 00:10:20.676
- People can't manipulate the situation to where you
- 00:10:20.743 --> 00:10:22.478
- Situation to where you don't get to where god
- 00:10:22.545 --> 00:10:23.913
- Don't get to where god wants you to go. nobody
- 00:10:23.979 --> 00:10:25.948
- Wants you to go. nobody stole your blessing, nobody
- 00:10:26.015 --> 00:10:27.817
- Stole your blessing, nobody stole your husband, your
- 00:10:27.883 --> 00:10:29.418
- Stole your husband, your promotion, your house. stay
- 00:10:29.485 --> 00:10:31.554
- Promotion, your house. stay in peace. god is ordering
- 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:33.289
- In peace. god is ordering your steps. the stage is
- 00:10:33.355 --> 00:10:35.091
- Your steps. the stage is all set, the script is all
- 00:10:35.157 --> 00:10:37.093
- All set, the script is all written. he's in control.
- 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:40.129
- Written. he's in control. david was anointed to be
- 00:10:40.196 --> 00:10:41.530
- David was anointed to be the next king, but he
- 00:10:41.597 --> 00:10:42.998
- The next king, but he didn't go to the palace, he
- 00:10:43.065 --> 00:10:44.734
- Didn't go to the palace, he went back to the shepherd's
- 00:10:44.800 --> 00:10:45.935
- Went back to the shepherd's fields. one morning, his
- 00:10:46.001 --> 00:10:48.170
- Fields. one morning, his father asked him to take
- 00:10:48.237 --> 00:10:49.438
- Father asked him to take lunch to his brothers who
- 00:10:49.505 --> 00:10:51.440
- Lunch to his brothers who were in the army. the
- 00:10:51.507 --> 00:10:53.042
- Were in the army. the israelites were in a
- 00:10:53.109 --> 00:10:53.909
- Israelites were in a standoff with the
- 00:10:53.976 --> 00:10:54.844
- Standoff with the philistines. there were on
- 00:10:54.910 --> 00:10:56.045
- Philistines. there were on the verge of conflict.
- 00:10:56.112 --> 00:10:58.147
- The verge of conflict. david left that day,
- 00:10:58.214 --> 00:11:00.082
- David left that day, thought he was just running
- 00:11:00.149 --> 00:11:01.016
- Thought he was just running an errand, no big deal, "i
- 00:11:01.083 --> 00:11:02.885
- An errand, no big deal, "i told my dad i'd deliver
- 00:11:02.952 --> 00:11:04.253
- Told my dad i'd deliver this lunch." but notice the
- 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:06.355
- This lunch." but notice the sovereignty of god. when
- 00:11:06.422 --> 00:11:08.257
- Sovereignty of god. when david arrived, it just so
- 00:11:08.324 --> 00:11:10.192
- David arrived, it just so happened that goliath came
- 00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:12.027
- Happened that goliath came out and started taunting
- 00:11:12.094 --> 00:11:13.562
- Out and started taunting the israelites. david heard
- 00:11:13.629 --> 00:11:15.564
- The israelites. david heard all the insults, all the
- 00:11:15.631 --> 00:11:17.433
- All the insults, all the threats, something rose up
- 00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:19.268
- Threats, something rose up in him. look how strategic
- 00:11:19.335 --> 00:11:21.804
- In him. look how strategic god is. david thought it
- 00:11:21.871 --> 00:11:23.973
- God is. david thought it was another ordinary day,
- 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:26.008
- Was another ordinary day, just taking lunch to his
- 00:11:26.075 --> 00:11:27.176
- Just taking lunch to his brothers when in fact it
- 00:11:27.243 --> 00:11:29.211
- Brothers when in fact it was a destiny moment. david
- 00:11:29.278 --> 00:11:31.680
- Was a destiny moment. david was at the right place, at
- 00:11:31.747 --> 00:11:33.215
- Was at the right place, at the right time. if he would
- 00:11:33.282 --> 00:11:34.850
- The right time. if he would have been three hours
- 00:11:34.917 --> 00:11:35.818
- Have been three hours later, he wouldn't have
- 00:11:35.885 --> 00:11:36.952
- Later, he wouldn't have heard goliath. if he'd
- 00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:38.721
- Heard goliath. if he'd said, "dad, no, i'm not an
- 00:11:38.788 --> 00:11:40.689
- Said, "dad, no, i'm not an errand boy, go find
- 00:11:40.756 --> 00:11:42.258
- Errand boy, go find somebody else to deliver
- 00:11:42.324 --> 00:11:43.359
- Somebody else to deliver this lunch," he would have
- 00:11:43.425 --> 00:11:44.727
- This lunch," he would have missed his destiny. god is
- 00:11:44.794 --> 00:11:47.229
- Missed his destiny. god is ordering your steps. when
- 00:11:47.296 --> 00:11:49.398
- Ordering your steps. when it's his sovereign will,
- 00:11:49.465 --> 00:11:51.066
- It's his sovereign will, you don't have a choice.
- 00:11:51.133 --> 00:11:52.968
- You don't have a choice. don't worry thinking you
- 00:11:53.035 --> 00:11:53.936
- Don't worry thinking you missed it, you're too late,
- 00:11:54.003 --> 00:11:56.005
- Missed it, you're too late, you didn't obey, you should
- 00:11:56.071 --> 00:11:57.473
- You didn't obey, you should have done this, you can't
- 00:11:57.540 --> 00:11:59.208
- Have done this, you can't miss the sovereign will.
- 00:11:59.275 --> 00:12:01.210
- Miss the sovereign will. it's not up to you, it's up
- 00:12:01.277 --> 00:12:02.978
- It's not up to you, it's up to god. what he's already
- 00:12:03.045 --> 00:12:04.747
- To god. what he's already decided is going to happen.
- 00:12:04.814 --> 00:12:07.449
- Decided is going to happen. the good news is god has
- 00:12:07.516 --> 00:12:09.251
- The good news is god has decided to favor you. he's
- 00:12:09.318 --> 00:12:11.554
- Decided to favor you. he's decided to rescue you. he's
- 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:13.556
- Decided to rescue you. he's decided to be good to you.
- 00:12:13.622 --> 00:12:16.292
- Decided to be good to you. goliath was twice david's
- 00:12:16.358 --> 00:12:18.194
- Goliath was twice david's size. he was the champion
- 00:12:18.260 --> 00:12:20.229
- Size. he was the champion of the philistine army,
- 00:12:20.296 --> 00:12:21.964
- Of the philistine army, their most feared soldier.
- 00:12:22.031 --> 00:12:23.899
- Their most feared soldier. david was young, small, no
- 00:12:23.966 --> 00:12:26.402
- David was young, small, no military training, no
- 00:12:26.468 --> 00:12:27.870
- Military training, no armor. how could he have
- 00:12:27.937 --> 00:12:29.805
- Armor. how could he have the courage to face
- 00:12:29.872 --> 00:12:30.873
- The courage to face goliath? what gave him the
- 00:12:30.940 --> 00:12:32.575
- Goliath? what gave him the passion, the fire to even
- 00:12:32.641 --> 00:12:34.810
- Passion, the fire to even think he had a chance? when
- 00:12:34.877 --> 00:12:36.912
- Think he had a chance? when you come into these
- 00:12:36.979 --> 00:12:37.813
- You come into these sovereign moments, it's not
- 00:12:37.880 --> 00:12:39.682
- Sovereign moments, it's not just you, it's the most
- 00:12:39.748 --> 00:12:41.417
- Just you, it's the most high god backing you up.
- 00:12:41.483 --> 00:12:43.886
- High god backing you up. it's the one who's already
- 00:12:43.953 --> 00:12:45.187
- It's the one who's already written your script
- 00:12:45.254 --> 00:12:46.455
- Written your script stepping in with you. there
- 00:12:46.522 --> 00:12:48.591
- Stepping in with you. there will be a faith that you've
- 00:12:48.657 --> 00:12:49.925
- Will be a faith that you've never had, courage,
- 00:12:49.992 --> 00:12:51.627
- Never had, courage, boldness, that will
- 00:12:51.694 --> 00:12:53.095
- Boldness, that will catapult you ahead. like
- 00:12:53.162 --> 00:12:55.564
- Catapult you ahead. like david, there are these
- 00:12:55.631 --> 00:12:56.765
- David, there are these times where you think
- 00:12:56.832 --> 00:12:57.967
- Times where you think you're just going to work,
- 00:12:58.033 --> 00:12:59.001
- You're just going to work, just taking care of the
- 00:12:59.068 --> 00:13:00.536
- Just taking care of the kids, you're just running
- 00:13:00.603 --> 00:13:01.937
- Kids, you're just running an errand, what you don't
- 00:13:02.004 --> 00:13:03.439
- An errand, what you don't realize is it's a sovereign
- 00:13:03.505 --> 00:13:05.374
- Realize is it's a sovereign moment. a moment that god
- 00:13:05.441 --> 00:13:07.443
- Moment. a moment that god has strategically
- 00:13:07.509 --> 00:13:08.611
- Has strategically orchestrated to put you at
- 00:13:08.677 --> 00:13:10.512
- Orchestrated to put you at the right place at the
- 00:13:10.579 --> 00:13:11.680
- The right place at the right time, to meet the
- 00:13:11.747 --> 00:13:13.282
- Right time, to meet the right people, to hear the
- 00:13:13.349 --> 00:13:14.884
- Right people, to hear the right thing. faith is going
- 00:13:14.950 --> 00:13:16.852
- Right thing. faith is going to rise up in you. you're
- 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:18.520
- To rise up in you. you're going to see things happen
- 00:13:18.587 --> 00:13:20.122
- Going to see things happen that you could never make
- 00:13:20.189 --> 00:13:21.123
- That you could never make happen. when you defeat
- 00:13:21.190 --> 00:13:22.992
- Happen. when you defeat that giant so to speak,
- 00:13:23.058 --> 00:13:24.360
- That giant so to speak, you're going to look back
- 00:13:24.426 --> 00:13:25.527
- You're going to look back and think, "how did i do
- 00:13:25.594 --> 00:13:26.962
- And think, "how did i do that? how did i get here?
- 00:13:27.029 --> 00:13:29.231
- That? how did i get here? how did i meet this person?
- 00:13:29.298 --> 00:13:30.833
- How did i meet this person? how did this sickness turn
- 00:13:30.900 --> 00:13:32.001
- How did this sickness turn around? how did my family
- 00:13:32.067 --> 00:13:33.836
- Around? how did my family member get back on course?"
- 00:13:33.903 --> 00:13:35.604
- Member get back on course?" it's the sovereignty of
- 00:13:35.671 --> 00:13:36.805
- It's the sovereignty of god, something he planned
- 00:13:36.872 --> 00:13:39.108
- God, something he planned that you couldn't stop.
- 00:13:39.174 --> 00:13:40.876
- That you couldn't stop. take this in the right way,
- 00:13:40.943 --> 00:13:42.044
- Take this in the right way, but you couldn't mess it
- 00:13:42.111 --> 00:13:43.312
- But you couldn't mess it up. you're not that
- 00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:44.446
- Up. you're not that powerful. he already
- 00:13:44.513 --> 00:13:45.848
- Powerful. he already decided long before you
- 00:13:45.915 --> 00:13:48.083
- Decided long before you were born to make that
- 00:13:48.150 --> 00:13:49.151
- Were born to make that happen.
- 00:13:49.218 --> 00:13:50.686
- Happen. i'll never forget, one
- 00:13:50.753 --> 00:13:51.887
- I'll never forget, one tuesday, i was going to
- 00:13:51.954 --> 00:13:53.489
- Tuesday, i was going to work just like another
- 00:13:53.555 --> 00:13:54.924
- Work just like another ordinary day. i was at the
- 00:13:54.990 --> 00:13:56.926
- Ordinary day. i was at the church. a friend called i
- 00:13:56.992 --> 00:13:58.928
- Church. a friend called i hadn't spoken to in years.
- 00:13:58.994 --> 00:14:00.629
- Hadn't spoken to in years. he said, "joel, i want to
- 00:14:00.696 --> 00:14:01.931
- He said, "joel, i want to take you to lunch today." i
- 00:14:01.997 --> 00:14:03.732
- Take you to lunch today." i said, "i'm sorry, i'm busy,
- 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:04.934
- Said, "i'm sorry, i'm busy, let's do it another day."
- 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:06.402
- Let's do it another day." he said, "no it's
- 00:14:06.468 --> 00:14:07.069
- He said, "no it's important, i want to do it
- 00:14:07.136 --> 00:14:08.203
- Important, i want to do it today." i said, "what's it
- 00:14:08.270 --> 00:14:09.738
- Today." i said, "what's it about?" he said, "i'll tell
- 00:14:09.805 --> 00:14:11.240
- About?" he said, "i'll tell you when you get there." i
- 00:14:11.307 --> 00:14:12.441
- You when you get there." i thought, "oh great, he's
- 00:14:12.508 --> 00:14:13.609
- Thought, "oh great, he's going to have a project,
- 00:14:13.676 --> 00:14:14.710
- Going to have a project, he's going to need
- 00:14:14.777 --> 00:14:15.411
- He's going to need something from me." i
- 00:14:15.477 --> 00:14:16.445
- Something from me." i canceled an appointment to
- 00:14:16.512 --> 00:14:17.713
- Canceled an appointment to go. normally, i wouldn't
- 00:14:17.780 --> 00:14:19.548
- Go. normally, i wouldn't have done that. i'm very
- 00:14:19.615 --> 00:14:21.083
- Have done that. i'm very routine, but for some
- 00:14:21.150 --> 00:14:22.618
- Routine, but for some reason i wanted to go. we
- 00:14:22.685 --> 00:14:24.520
- Reason i wanted to go. we got to the restaurant, he
- 00:14:24.586 --> 00:14:26.188
- Got to the restaurant, he said, "joel the rockets
- 00:14:26.255 --> 00:14:27.790
- Said, "joel the rockets basketball team is moving
- 00:14:27.856 --> 00:14:29.558
- Basketball team is moving out of the compaq center,
- 00:14:29.625 --> 00:14:31.527
- Out of the compaq center, you should try to get that
- 00:14:31.593 --> 00:14:32.695
- You should try to get that for your church." what he
- 00:14:32.761 --> 00:14:34.630
- For your church." what he didn't know, is we had been
- 00:14:34.697 --> 00:14:36.498
- Didn't know, is we had been turned down twice trying to
- 00:14:36.565 --> 00:14:38.434
- Turned down twice trying to buy property to build an
- 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:40.069
- Buy property to build an auditorium. i was
- 00:14:40.135 --> 00:14:41.603
- Auditorium. i was discouraged, thinking we
- 00:14:41.670 --> 00:14:43.372
- Discouraged, thinking we were at a dead end. when he
- 00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:45.274
- Were at a dead end. when he said that, it was like a
- 00:14:45.341 --> 00:14:46.642
- Said that, it was like a bomb exploded on the
- 00:14:46.709 --> 00:14:48.210
- Bomb exploded on the inside. i knew this
- 00:14:48.277 --> 00:14:49.812
- Inside. i knew this building was supposed to be
- 00:14:49.878 --> 00:14:51.080
- Building was supposed to be ours. looking back now, i
- 00:14:51.146 --> 00:14:53.882
- Ours. looking back now, i don't know how i had the
- 00:14:53.949 --> 00:14:54.883
- Don't know how i had the faith for it. i was
- 00:14:54.950 --> 00:14:56.485
- Faith for it. i was oblivious to the fact that
- 00:14:56.552 --> 00:14:58.187
- Oblivious to the fact that it was going to cost a
- 00:14:58.253 --> 00:14:59.054
- It was going to cost a hundred million dollars to
- 00:14:59.121 --> 00:15:00.255
- Hundred million dollars to renovate. sometimes god
- 00:15:00.322 --> 00:15:02.558
- Renovate. sometimes god will hide things from you
- 00:15:02.624 --> 00:15:03.926
- Will hide things from you on purpose. i wasn't moved
- 00:15:03.993 --> 00:15:06.695
- On purpose. i wasn't moved by the critics telling us
- 00:15:06.762 --> 00:15:08.197
- By the critics telling us we didn't have a chance. i
- 00:15:08.263 --> 00:15:09.798
- We didn't have a chance. i had this unshakeable
- 00:15:09.865 --> 00:15:11.200
- Had this unshakeable confidence, knowing that
- 00:15:11.266 --> 00:15:12.801
- Confidence, knowing that god could make a way even
- 00:15:12.868 --> 00:15:14.870
- God could make a way even when i didn't see a way.
- 00:15:14.937 --> 00:15:16.939
- When i didn't see a way. there are these times that
- 00:15:17.006 --> 00:15:18.674
- There are these times that you don't have a choice.
- 00:15:18.741 --> 00:15:20.209
- You don't have a choice. god will give you the
- 00:15:20.275 --> 00:15:21.210
- God will give you the faith. he'll bring the
- 00:15:21.276 --> 00:15:22.711
- Faith. he'll bring the building to you, the idea,
- 00:15:22.778 --> 00:15:25.247
- Building to you, the idea, the right people, the
- 00:15:25.314 --> 00:15:26.248
- The right people, the favor. it's the sovereign
- 00:15:26.315 --> 00:15:27.883
- Favor. it's the sovereign lord. see, the city built
- 00:15:27.950 --> 00:15:30.319
- Lord. see, the city built this building for the
- 00:15:30.386 --> 00:15:31.720
- This building for the rockets to play basketball
- 00:15:31.787 --> 00:15:33.255
- Rockets to play basketball in. they didn't realize,
- 00:15:33.322 --> 00:15:35.290
- In. they didn't realize, long before they built it,
- 00:15:35.357 --> 00:15:37.126
- Long before they built it, god had already decided it
- 00:15:37.192 --> 00:15:38.761
- God had already decided it was going to be ours. it
- 00:15:38.827 --> 00:15:40.162
- Was going to be ours. it was already written in the
- 00:15:40.229 --> 00:15:41.296
- Was already written in the script. at the right time,
- 00:15:41.363 --> 00:15:44.299
- Script. at the right time, his sovereign will came to
- 00:15:44.366 --> 00:15:45.768
- His sovereign will came to pass. i'm all for making
- 00:15:45.834 --> 00:15:48.003
- Pass. i'm all for making good decisions, honoring
- 00:15:48.070 --> 00:15:50.005
- Good decisions, honoring god, being our best, but
- 00:15:50.072 --> 00:15:52.241
- God, being our best, but there are times that we
- 00:15:52.307 --> 00:15:53.509
- There are times that we don't have the faith, we
- 00:15:53.575 --> 00:15:55.044
- Don't have the faith, we make mistakes, we get off
- 00:15:55.110 --> 00:15:56.779
- Make mistakes, we get off course, we didn't do our
- 00:15:56.845 --> 00:15:58.047
- Course, we didn't do our best. but when it's his
- 00:15:58.113 --> 00:15:59.815
- Best. but when it's his sovereign will, he will
- 00:15:59.882 --> 00:16:01.483
- Sovereign will, he will override your doubt,
- 00:16:01.550 --> 00:16:03.118
- Override your doubt, override your mistakes,
- 00:16:03.185 --> 00:16:04.920
- Override your mistakes, override what's trying to
- 00:16:04.987 --> 00:16:06.155
- Override what's trying to stop you, and you will
- 00:16:06.221 --> 00:16:07.589
- Stop you, and you will defeat the giant, you will
- 00:16:07.656 --> 00:16:09.191
- Defeat the giant, you will get your compaq center, you
- 00:16:09.258 --> 00:16:10.793
- Get your compaq center, you will meet the person of
- 00:16:10.859 --> 00:16:11.760
- Will meet the person of your dreams, you will step
- 00:16:11.827 --> 00:16:13.228
- Your dreams, you will step in to your greatness. i lay
- 00:16:13.295 --> 00:16:15.931
- In to your greatness. i lay down at night and sleep in
- 00:16:15.998 --> 00:16:17.966
- Down at night and sleep in peace knowing that there is
- 00:16:18.033 --> 00:16:19.835
- Peace knowing that there is a sovereign god. because if
- 00:16:19.902 --> 00:16:22.004
- A sovereign god. because if it was just up to me, i
- 00:16:22.071 --> 00:16:23.539
- It was just up to me, i would be worried. i may
- 00:16:23.605 --> 00:16:25.174
- Would be worried. i may make mistakes, i may not
- 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:27.042
- Make mistakes, i may not have the faith, i may think
- 00:16:27.109 --> 00:16:28.510
- Have the faith, i may think the giant is too big, but
- 00:16:28.577 --> 00:16:30.379
- The giant is too big, but because of the sovereignty
- 00:16:30.446 --> 00:16:31.814
- Because of the sovereignty of god, there are these
- 00:16:31.880 --> 00:16:33.515
- Of god, there are these times where what we think,
- 00:16:33.582 --> 00:16:35.651
- Times where what we think, what we do, how we perform,
- 00:16:35.717 --> 00:16:38.120
- What we do, how we perform, does not change what god
- 00:16:38.187 --> 00:16:39.955
- Does not change what god has already predestined for
- 00:16:40.022 --> 00:16:41.690
- Has already predestined for our life.
- 00:16:41.757 --> 00:16:43.125
- Our life. david understood this
- 00:16:43.192 --> 00:16:44.259
- David understood this principle. he said in 2
- 00:16:44.326 --> 00:16:46.028
- Principle. he said in 2 samuel, "who am i, oh
- 00:16:46.095 --> 00:16:48.130
- Samuel, "who am i, oh sovereign lord, and what is
- 00:16:48.197 --> 00:16:50.365
- Sovereign lord, and what is my family, that you have
- 00:16:50.432 --> 00:16:51.934
- My family, that you have brought me this far." he
- 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.802
- Brought me this far." he was looking back over his
- 00:16:53.869 --> 00:16:55.003
- Was looking back over his life, thinking, "how did i
- 00:16:55.070 --> 00:16:56.672
- Life, thinking, "how did i get here, i was a shepherd,
- 00:16:56.738 --> 00:16:59.108
- Get here, i was a shepherd, now i'm a king, i'm
- 00:16:59.174 --> 00:17:00.576
- Now i'm a king, i'm respected, i have a lasting
- 00:17:00.642 --> 00:17:02.411
- Respected, i have a lasting dynasty." he was saying,
- 00:17:02.478 --> 00:17:04.279
- Dynasty." he was saying, "it could only be one
- 00:17:04.346 --> 00:17:05.647
- "it could only be one thing, the sovereign god."
- 00:17:05.714 --> 00:17:08.350
- Thing, the sovereign god." five times in the next few
- 00:17:08.417 --> 00:17:09.918
- Five times in the next few verses, he referred to god
- 00:17:09.985 --> 00:17:11.887
- Verses, he referred to god as sovereign. verse 28 he
- 00:17:11.954 --> 00:17:14.356
- As sovereign. verse 28 he said, "oh sovereign lord,
- 00:17:14.423 --> 00:17:16.492
- Said, "oh sovereign lord, you have promised good
- 00:17:16.558 --> 00:17:17.793
- You have promised good things to me." can i tell
- 00:17:17.860 --> 00:17:19.995
- Things to me." can i tell you? the sovereign lord has
- 00:17:20.062 --> 00:17:21.997
- You? the sovereign lord has good things for you. it's
- 00:17:22.064 --> 00:17:24.133
- Good things for you. it's not based on how well you
- 00:17:24.199 --> 00:17:25.467
- Not based on how well you perform, who likes you,
- 00:17:25.534 --> 00:17:27.769
- Perform, who likes you, what family you come from,
- 00:17:27.836 --> 00:17:29.404
- What family you come from, what the economy does.
- 00:17:29.471 --> 00:17:31.573
- What the economy does. these are blessings, favor,
- 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:33.976
- These are blessings, favor, breakthroughs that god has
- 00:17:34.042 --> 00:17:35.844
- Breakthroughs that god has already written in your
- 00:17:35.911 --> 00:17:37.112
- Already written in your script. instead of
- 00:17:37.179 --> 00:17:38.914
- Script. instead of worrying, thinking that
- 00:17:38.981 --> 00:17:40.249
- Worrying, thinking that it's never going to happen,
- 00:17:40.315 --> 00:17:41.617
- It's never going to happen, trying to earn it, why
- 00:17:41.683 --> 00:17:43.218
- Trying to earn it, why don't you do like david and
- 00:17:43.285 --> 00:17:44.953
- Don't you do like david and say, "oh sovereign lord,
- 00:17:45.020 --> 00:17:46.855
- Say, "oh sovereign lord, thank you for the good
- 00:17:46.922 --> 00:17:47.890
- Thank you for the good things you have in store
- 00:17:47.956 --> 00:17:49.358
- Things you have in store for me. thank you for
- 00:17:49.424 --> 00:17:50.926
- For me. thank you for choosing me before i could
- 00:17:50.993 --> 00:17:52.561
- Choosing me before i could choose you. thank you for
- 00:17:52.628 --> 00:17:54.163
- Choose you. thank you for not depending on my
- 00:17:54.229 --> 00:17:55.364
- Not depending on my performance, my faith, my
- 00:17:55.430 --> 00:17:57.366
- Performance, my faith, my circumstances, but blessing
- 00:17:57.432 --> 00:17:59.434
- Circumstances, but blessing me because of your
- 00:17:59.501 --> 00:18:00.669
- Me because of your goodness."
- 00:18:00.736 --> 00:18:02.204
- Goodness." "well joel, it sounds like
- 00:18:02.271 --> 00:18:03.405
- "well joel, it sounds like you're saying we can do
- 00:18:03.472 --> 00:18:04.640
- You're saying we can do whatever we want and god's
- 00:18:04.706 --> 00:18:05.874
- Whatever we want and god's still going to be bless
- 00:18:05.941 --> 00:18:06.675
- Still going to be bless us." no what i'm saying is
- 00:18:06.742 --> 00:18:09.044
- Us." no what i'm saying is you cannot change god's
- 00:18:09.111 --> 00:18:10.512
- You cannot change god's sovereign will. you may not
- 00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:12.681
- Sovereign will. you may not perform perfectly all the
- 00:18:12.748 --> 00:18:13.916
- Perform perfectly all the time, you may not deserve
- 00:18:13.982 --> 00:18:15.751
- Time, you may not deserve his blessing, but when it's
- 00:18:15.817 --> 00:18:17.419
- His blessing, but when it's his sovereign will, it
- 00:18:17.486 --> 00:18:19.154
- His sovereign will, it doesn't depend on what you
- 00:18:19.221 --> 00:18:20.689
- Doesn't depend on what you do or don't do. god has
- 00:18:20.756 --> 00:18:22.991
- Do or don't do. god has decided to make it happen.
- 00:18:23.058 --> 00:18:24.826
- Decided to make it happen. what god decides is
- 00:18:24.893 --> 00:18:26.361
- What god decides is unstoppable.
- 00:18:26.428 --> 00:18:28.130
- Unstoppable. in the scripture, saul was
- 00:18:28.197 --> 00:18:29.798
- In the scripture, saul was the biggest enemy of the
- 00:18:29.865 --> 00:18:31.200
- The biggest enemy of the church. he got letters from
- 00:18:31.266 --> 00:18:33.202
- Church. he got letters from the courts to have people
- 00:18:33.268 --> 00:18:34.836
- The courts to have people arrested that were
- 00:18:34.903 --> 00:18:35.971
- Arrested that were following christ. he was
- 00:18:36.038 --> 00:18:37.539
- Following christ. he was like a terrorist. you would
- 00:18:37.606 --> 00:18:39.241
- Like a terrorist. you would think he's too far gone.
- 00:18:39.308 --> 00:18:41.243
- Think he's too far gone. god wouldn't have anything
- 00:18:41.310 --> 00:18:42.244
- God wouldn't have anything to do with him. no don't
- 00:18:42.311 --> 00:18:44.079
- To do with him. no don't write anybody off. you
- 00:18:44.146 --> 00:18:45.814
- Write anybody off. you don't know what god has
- 00:18:45.881 --> 00:18:47.049
- Don't know what god has planned ahead of time. his
- 00:18:47.115 --> 00:18:49.117
- Planned ahead of time. his sovereign will can't be
- 00:18:49.184 --> 00:18:50.886
- Sovereign will can't be stopped by our choices.
- 00:18:50.953 --> 00:18:53.322
- Stopped by our choices. saul was on a horse,
- 00:18:53.388 --> 00:18:54.856
- Saul was on a horse, traveling to damascus, to
- 00:18:54.923 --> 00:18:56.692
- Traveling to damascus, to have people arrested. he's
- 00:18:56.758 --> 00:18:58.560
- Have people arrested. he's on a mission to cause more
- 00:18:58.627 --> 00:18:59.962
- On a mission to cause more havoc and suddenly a light
- 00:19:00.028 --> 00:19:01.997
- Havoc and suddenly a light shined down from heaven,
- 00:19:02.064 --> 00:19:03.432
- Shined down from heaven, like a flash of lightning,
- 00:19:03.498 --> 00:19:05.267
- Like a flash of lightning, knocked him to the ground.
- 00:19:05.334 --> 00:19:06.969
- Knocked him to the ground. it was so powerful that he
- 00:19:07.035 --> 00:19:08.370
- It was so powerful that he couldn't see. a voice
- 00:19:08.437 --> 00:19:10.072
- Couldn't see. a voice boomed out, "saul, saul,
- 00:19:10.138 --> 00:19:12.241
- Boomed out, "saul, saul, why do you persecute me?"
- 00:19:12.307 --> 00:19:14.243
- Why do you persecute me?" saul answered, "who are
- 00:19:14.309 --> 00:19:15.677
- Saul answered, "who are you, lord?" all the sudden,
- 00:19:15.744 --> 00:19:18.280
- You, lord?" all the sudden, he's using the word 'lord'.
- 00:19:18.347 --> 00:19:20.215
- He's using the word 'lord'. that day was a turning
- 00:19:20.282 --> 00:19:21.483
- That day was a turning point. saul eventually
- 00:19:21.550 --> 00:19:23.252
- Point. saul eventually became the apostle paul,
- 00:19:23.318 --> 00:19:25.320
- Became the apostle paul, who wrote almost half of
- 00:19:25.387 --> 00:19:26.755
- Who wrote almost half of the new testament. if god
- 00:19:26.822 --> 00:19:29.057
- The new testament. if god based his will only on our
- 00:19:29.124 --> 00:19:30.926
- Based his will only on our decisions, paul wouldn't
- 00:19:30.993 --> 00:19:32.694
- Decisions, paul wouldn't have had a chance. the
- 00:19:32.761 --> 00:19:34.196
- Have had a chance. the beauty is god has a
- 00:19:34.263 --> 00:19:35.797
- Beauty is god has a sovereign will, that
- 00:19:35.864 --> 00:19:37.499
- Sovereign will, that overrides our choices. it's
- 00:19:37.566 --> 00:19:39.635
- Overrides our choices. it's the goodness of god, loving
- 00:19:39.701 --> 00:19:41.803
- The goodness of god, loving us when we don't deserve
- 00:19:41.870 --> 00:19:43.005
- Us when we don't deserve it, showing us mercy when
- 00:19:43.071 --> 00:19:45.173
- It, showing us mercy when we should have judgment.
- 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:47.109
- We should have judgment. you may have gotten off
- 00:19:47.175 --> 00:19:48.043
- You may have gotten off course, made decisions
- 00:19:48.110 --> 00:19:49.845
- Course, made decisions you're not proud of. you
- 00:19:49.911 --> 00:19:51.346
- You're not proud of. you feel like you're washed up.
- 00:19:51.413 --> 00:19:52.948
- Feel like you're washed up. can i encourage you? the
- 00:19:53.015 --> 00:19:54.416
- Can i encourage you? the sovereign god is still in
- 00:19:54.483 --> 00:19:56.218
- Sovereign god is still in control of your life. he's
- 00:19:56.285 --> 00:19:58.153
- Control of your life. he's already planned ahead of
- 00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:59.488
- Already planned ahead of time these moments of
- 00:19:59.554 --> 00:20:01.189
- Time these moments of mercy, healing, favor,
- 00:20:01.256 --> 00:20:04.126
- Mercy, healing, favor, where he won't just restore
- 00:20:04.192 --> 00:20:05.494
- Where he won't just restore you, but he'll thrust you
- 00:20:05.560 --> 00:20:07.129
- You, but he'll thrust you into your purpose.
- 00:20:07.195 --> 00:20:09.564
- Into your purpose. sometimes we
- 00:20:09.631 --> 00:20:10.232
- Sometimes we get frustrated because we
- 00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:11.800
- Get frustrated because we can't see the whole script.
- 00:20:11.867 --> 00:20:13.802
- Can't see the whole script. we don't know what god is
- 00:20:13.869 --> 00:20:15.003
- We don't know what god is up to. we go through
- 00:20:15.070 --> 00:20:16.438
- Up to. we go through disappointments, loss, bad
- 00:20:16.505 --> 00:20:18.707
- Disappointments, loss, bad breaks. it doesn't make
- 00:20:18.774 --> 00:20:20.008
- Breaks. it doesn't make sense to us. it's a
- 00:20:20.075 --> 00:20:21.076
- Sense to us. it's a setback. nothing is random,
- 00:20:21.143 --> 00:20:24.246
- Setback. nothing is random, it's all working according
- 00:20:24.313 --> 00:20:25.714
- It's all working according to his plan, what he
- 00:20:25.781 --> 00:20:27.449
- To his plan, what he decided long ago. you have
- 00:20:27.516 --> 00:20:29.718
- Decided long ago. you have to trust him when you don't
- 00:20:29.785 --> 00:20:31.520
- To trust him when you don't understand. you have to
- 00:20:31.586 --> 00:20:33.121
- Understand. you have to believe that he's
- 00:20:33.188 --> 00:20:33.955
- Believe that he's sovereign, that it's all
- 00:20:34.022 --> 00:20:35.524
- Sovereign, that it's all serving a purpose. i
- 00:20:35.590 --> 00:20:37.392
- Serving a purpose. i believe one day, you'll see
- 00:20:37.459 --> 00:20:38.960
- Believe one day, you'll see what he was up to.
- 00:20:39.027 --> 00:20:40.996
- What he was up to. this is what happened with
- 00:20:41.063 --> 00:20:42.097
- This is what happened with a lady named naomi. she
- 00:20:42.164 --> 00:20:44.166
- A lady named naomi. she lived with her husband and
- 00:20:44.232 --> 00:20:45.734
- Lived with her husband and two sons in the city of
- 00:20:45.801 --> 00:20:47.269
- Two sons in the city of bethlehem. life was good,
- 00:20:47.336 --> 00:20:49.938
- Bethlehem. life was good, then a great famine came.
- 00:20:50.005 --> 00:20:52.007
- Then a great famine came. she had to move with her
- 00:20:52.074 --> 00:20:53.041
- She had to move with her family to moab so they
- 00:20:53.108 --> 00:20:54.643
- Family to moab so they could survive. in moab, her
- 00:20:54.710 --> 00:20:57.312
- Could survive. in moab, her sons met ruth and orpah,
- 00:20:57.379 --> 00:20:59.681
- Sons met ruth and orpah, they fell in love and were
- 00:20:59.748 --> 00:21:00.849
- They fell in love and were married. eventually naomi's
- 00:21:00.916 --> 00:21:03.452
- Married. eventually naomi's husband died. ten years
- 00:21:03.518 --> 00:21:05.387
- Husband died. ten years later both of her sons
- 00:21:05.454 --> 00:21:06.855
- Later both of her sons died. she was so
- 00:21:06.922 --> 00:21:08.156
- Died. she was so heartbroken, she decided to
- 00:21:08.223 --> 00:21:10.125
- Heartbroken, she decided to move back home to
- 00:21:10.192 --> 00:21:11.093
- Move back home to bethlehem. she urged her
- 00:21:11.159 --> 00:21:13.028
- Bethlehem. she urged her two daughters in law to go
- 00:21:13.095 --> 00:21:15.030
- Two daughters in law to go back to their hometowns as
- 00:21:15.097 --> 00:21:16.498
- Back to their hometowns as well. orpah took her up on
- 00:21:16.565 --> 00:21:18.667
- Well. orpah took her up on it, she walked away but
- 00:21:18.734 --> 00:21:20.802
- It, she walked away but ruth said, "no, i'm not
- 00:21:20.869 --> 00:21:22.170
- Ruth said, "no, i'm not leaving you." she moved
- 00:21:22.237 --> 00:21:23.805
- Leaving you." she moved back to bethlehem with
- 00:21:23.872 --> 00:21:25.240
- Back to bethlehem with naomi. she met a man named
- 00:21:25.307 --> 00:21:27.576
- Naomi. she met a man named boaz there. they were
- 00:21:27.642 --> 00:21:29.378
- Boaz there. they were married and had a son named
- 00:21:29.444 --> 00:21:30.979
- Married and had a son named obed, obed had a son name
- 00:21:31.046 --> 00:21:33.281
- Obed, obed had a son name jesse, jesse had a son
- 00:21:33.348 --> 00:21:35.050
- Jesse, jesse had a son named david.
- 00:21:35.117 --> 00:21:36.651
- Named david. look at how strategic god
- 00:21:36.718 --> 00:21:38.186
- Look at how strategic god is. the famine that caused
- 00:21:38.253 --> 00:21:40.088
- Is. the famine that caused naomi to move wasn't
- 00:21:40.155 --> 00:21:41.890
- Naomi to move wasn't random. it was a part of
- 00:21:41.957 --> 00:21:43.759
- Random. it was a part of god's plan to get her to
- 00:21:43.825 --> 00:21:45.494
- God's plan to get her to moab so her son could marry
- 00:21:45.560 --> 00:21:47.763
- Moab so her son could marry ruth. it was painful, but
- 00:21:47.829 --> 00:21:50.165
- Ruth. it was painful, but if she hadn't gone through
- 00:21:50.232 --> 00:21:51.166
- If she hadn't gone through that loss, she would have
- 00:21:51.233 --> 00:21:52.534
- That loss, she would have never moved back home. if
- 00:21:52.601 --> 00:21:54.803
- Never moved back home. if ruth wasn't single again,
- 00:21:54.870 --> 00:21:56.671
- Ruth wasn't single again, she would have never
- 00:21:56.738 --> 00:21:57.372
- She would have never married boaz, they would
- 00:21:57.439 --> 00:21:59.207
- Married boaz, they would have never had a child. yet
- 00:21:59.274 --> 00:22:01.410
- Have never had a child. yet god decided ahead of time
- 00:22:01.476 --> 00:22:03.478
- God decided ahead of time that david, the greatest
- 00:22:03.545 --> 00:22:05.213
- That david, the greatest king that ever lived, would
- 00:22:05.280 --> 00:22:06.748
- King that ever lived, would come out of their family
- 00:22:06.815 --> 00:22:07.849
- Come out of their family line. if someone would have
- 00:22:07.916 --> 00:22:10.018
- Line. if someone would have told naomi back then during
- 00:22:10.085 --> 00:22:12.120
- Told naomi back then during the famine, during the
- 00:22:12.187 --> 00:22:13.655
- The famine, during the loss, that god was working,
- 00:22:13.722 --> 00:22:16.525
- Loss, that god was working, that it was all a part of
- 00:22:16.591 --> 00:22:17.526
- That it was all a part of his plan, she would have
- 00:22:17.592 --> 00:22:18.994
- His plan, she would have said, "yeah right. nothing
- 00:22:19.060 --> 00:22:20.595
- Said, "yeah right. nothing good is going to come out
- 00:22:20.662 --> 00:22:21.430
- Good is going to come out of this." but god is
- 00:22:21.496 --> 00:22:23.198
- Of this." but god is sovereign. we're looking at
- 00:22:23.265 --> 00:22:25.167
- Sovereign. we're looking at what's going on this week,
- 00:22:25.233 --> 00:22:26.635
- What's going on this week, this month, but god can be
- 00:22:26.701 --> 00:22:28.336
- This month, but god can be looking generations ahead.
- 00:22:28.403 --> 00:22:30.605
- Looking generations ahead. think about ruth, for some
- 00:22:30.672 --> 00:22:32.407
- Think about ruth, for some reason she wanted to move
- 00:22:32.474 --> 00:22:34.042
- Reason she wanted to move to naomi's hometown. she
- 00:22:34.109 --> 00:22:36.378
- To naomi's hometown. she didn't know anyone there.
- 00:22:36.445 --> 00:22:38.013
- Didn't know anyone there. why didn't she do like
- 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:38.914
- Why didn't she do like orpah, go back to where she
- 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:40.482
- Orpah, go back to where she was from. this was the
- 00:22:40.549 --> 00:22:42.284
- Was from. this was the sovereignty of god. god
- 00:22:42.350 --> 00:22:44.352
- Sovereignty of god. god gave her the desire because
- 00:22:44.419 --> 00:22:46.388
- Gave her the desire because it was something he had
- 00:22:46.455 --> 00:22:47.856
- It was something he had already decided ahead of
- 00:22:47.923 --> 00:22:49.458
- Already decided ahead of time. god is not making it
- 00:22:49.524 --> 00:22:52.093
- Time. god is not making it up as you go. he's working
- 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:54.296
- Up as you go. he's working all things according to his
- 00:22:54.362 --> 00:22:55.964
- All things according to his plan. now stay in faith
- 00:22:56.031 --> 00:22:58.633
- Plan. now stay in faith while his plan unfolds.
- 00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:01.269
- While his plan unfolds. what if you're upset over a
- 00:23:01.336 --> 00:23:02.737
- What if you're upset over a disappointment, living
- 00:23:02.804 --> 00:23:04.339
- Disappointment, living bitter over a loss, when in
- 00:23:04.406 --> 00:23:06.174
- Bitter over a loss, when in fact, obed so to speak is
- 00:23:06.241 --> 00:23:08.577
- Fact, obed so to speak is coming. now ruth is in the
- 00:23:08.643 --> 00:23:11.079
- Coming. now ruth is in the family line of jesus. what
- 00:23:11.146 --> 00:23:13.648
- Family line of jesus. what god is doing in our lives
- 00:23:13.715 --> 00:23:15.450
- God is doing in our lives is not always going to make
- 00:23:15.517 --> 00:23:16.685
- Is not always going to make sense. he's been
- 00:23:16.751 --> 00:23:18.086
- Sense. he's been orchestrating things for
- 00:23:18.153 --> 00:23:19.387
- Orchestrating things for you, generations back to
- 00:23:19.454 --> 00:23:21.890
- You, generations back to bring you to where you are.
- 00:23:21.957 --> 00:23:24.125
- Bring you to where you are. just like he brought ruth
- 00:23:24.192 --> 00:23:25.760
- Just like he brought ruth out of heartache, into
- 00:23:25.827 --> 00:23:26.995
- Out of heartache, into great joy, nothing you've
- 00:23:27.062 --> 00:23:29.030
- Great joy, nothing you've been through has been
- 00:23:29.097 --> 00:23:30.131
- Been through has been random. it's not
- 00:23:30.198 --> 00:23:31.566
- Random. it's not happenstance, bad luck, god
- 00:23:31.633 --> 00:23:34.002
- Happenstance, bad luck, god is still in control. this
- 00:23:34.069 --> 00:23:36.171
- Is still in control. this is when you have to trust
- 00:23:36.238 --> 00:23:37.472
- Is when you have to trust that he's sovereign, that
- 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:39.040
- That he's sovereign, that the good things in your
- 00:23:39.107 --> 00:23:40.308
- The good things in your future are unstoppable. if
- 00:23:40.375 --> 00:23:42.844
- Future are unstoppable. if you'll do this, i believe
- 00:23:42.911 --> 00:23:44.579
- You'll do this, i believe and declare, you're about
- 00:23:44.646 --> 00:23:46.147
- And declare, you're about to come in to some of these
- 00:23:46.214 --> 00:23:47.682
- To come in to some of these sovereign moments, things
- 00:23:47.749 --> 00:23:49.484
- Sovereign moments, things that you couldn't make
- 00:23:49.551 --> 00:23:50.285
- That you couldn't make happen. like david, the
- 00:23:50.352 --> 00:23:52.487
- Happen. like david, the right breaks are going to
- 00:23:52.554 --> 00:23:53.722
- Right breaks are going to come looking for you, like
- 00:23:53.788 --> 00:23:55.390
- Come looking for you, like ruth favor that you've
- 00:23:55.457 --> 00:23:56.758
- Ruth favor that you've never imagined, like paul,
- 00:23:56.825 --> 00:23:59.227
- Never imagined, like paul, god is going to override
- 00:23:59.294 --> 00:24:00.595
- God is going to override your mistakes and thrust
- 00:24:00.662 --> 00:24:02.230
- Your mistakes and thrust you into your destiny, in
- 00:24:02.297 --> 00:24:04.399
- You into your destiny, in jesus' name. if you receive
- 00:24:04.466 --> 00:24:06.468
- Jesus' name. if you receive it, can you say amen today?
- 00:24:06.535 --> 00:24:08.503
- Each week, i stand on
- 00:24:09.671 --> 00:24:10.772
- Each week, i stand on this stage
- 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:11.506
- This stage and remind you
- 00:24:11.573 --> 00:24:12.474
- And remind you of what god says about you.
- 00:24:12.541 --> 00:24:14.543
- Of what god says about you. because it's easy
- 00:24:14.609 --> 00:24:15.377
- Because it's easy to be defined by
- 00:24:15.443 --> 00:24:16.378
- To be defined by who people say we are,
- 00:24:16.444 --> 00:24:17.979
- Who people say we are, or by our own
- 00:24:18.046 --> 00:24:18.713
- Or by our own negative thoughts;
- 00:24:18.780 --> 00:24:19.781
- Negative thoughts; that we're not talented,
- 00:24:19.848 --> 00:24:21.016
- That we're not talented, our problems too big.
- 00:24:21.082 --> 00:24:22.851
- Our problems too big. the key is to go back to
- 00:24:22.918 --> 00:24:24.386
- The key is to go back to who god says you are.
- 00:24:24.452 --> 00:24:26.121
- I'd love to send you
- 00:24:26.221 --> 00:24:26.755
- I'd love to send you my new book, 101 great things
- 00:24:26.821 --> 00:24:29.658
- My new book, 101 great things god says about you.
- 00:24:29.724 --> 00:24:31.359
- God says about you. i'll help you discover
- 00:24:31.426 --> 00:24:32.494
- I'll help you discover your true identity.
- 00:24:32.561 --> 00:24:34.029
- Your true identity. god says you're blessed.
- 00:24:34.095 --> 00:24:35.630
- God says you're blessed. you're chosen. you're forgiven.
- 00:24:35.697 --> 00:24:37.632
- You're chosen. you're forgiven. you have seeds of greatness.
- 00:24:37.699 --> 00:24:39.234
- You have seeds of greatness. your future is bright.
- 00:24:39.301 --> 00:24:41.102
- Your future is bright. when you get in agreement
- 00:24:41.169 --> 00:24:42.237
- When you get in agreement with god and declare
- 00:24:42.304 --> 00:24:43.638
- With god and declare his promises,
- 00:24:43.705 --> 00:24:44.673
- His promises, you'll rise higher
- 00:24:44.739 --> 00:24:45.907
- You'll rise higher and become
- 00:24:45.974 --> 00:24:46.741
- And become all you were created to be.
- 00:24:46.808 --> 00:24:49.077
- All you were created to be. as our way of saying thank you
- 00:24:49.144 --> 00:24:50.845
- As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount
- 00:24:50.912 --> 00:24:52.414
- For your gift of any amount this month,
- 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.114
- This month, we would like to send you
- 00:24:53.181 --> 00:24:54.282
- We would like to send you a copy of joel's brand
- 00:24:54.349 --> 00:24:55.584
- A copy of joel's brand new resource,
- 00:24:55.650 --> 00:24:56.651
- New resource, 101 great things
- 00:24:56.718 --> 00:24:58.386
- 101 great things god says about you:
- 00:24:58.453 --> 00:25:00.055
- God says about you: faith reminders
- 00:25:00.121 --> 00:25:01.156
- Faith reminders when you need them most.
- 00:25:01.222 --> 00:25:03.491
- When you need them most. as you read and reflect,
- 00:25:03.558 --> 00:25:05.060
- As you read and reflect, the story of your life, the way
- 00:25:05.126 --> 00:25:06.995
- The story of your life, the way you see yourself,
- 00:25:07.062 --> 00:25:08.096
- You see yourself, will radically change.
- 00:25:08.163 --> 00:25:09.598
- Will radically change. it will become a reflection
- 00:25:09.664 --> 00:25:10.932
- It will become a reflection of god himself
- 00:25:10.999 --> 00:25:12.167
- Of god himself and what he says about you.
- 00:25:12.233 --> 00:25:14.069
- And what he says about you. use this resource
- 00:25:14.135 --> 00:25:15.170
- Use this resource to encourage your heart
- 00:25:15.236 --> 00:25:16.371
- To encourage your heart and remind you
- 00:25:16.438 --> 00:25:17.238
- And remind you of who you are in him.
- 00:25:17.305 --> 00:25:19.274
- Of who you are in him. you are everything
- 00:25:19.341 --> 00:25:20.408
- You are everything god says about you
- 00:25:20.475 --> 00:25:21.543
- God says about you within these pages,
- 00:25:21.610 --> 00:25:23.011
- Within these pages, so read it, experience it,
- 00:25:23.078 --> 00:25:25.013
- So read it, experience it, and believe it.
- 00:25:25.080 --> 00:25:26.247
- And believe it. as an added bonus,
- 00:25:26.314 --> 00:25:27.415
- As an added bonus, you can detach
- 00:25:27.482 --> 00:25:28.249
- You can detach the beautiful poster
- 00:25:28.316 --> 00:25:29.284
- The beautiful poster at the back of the book to read
- 00:25:29.351 --> 00:25:30.986
- At the back of the book to read and declare these reminders
- 00:25:31.052 --> 00:25:32.487
- And declare these reminders every day.
- 00:25:32.554 --> 00:25:33.488
- Every day. yes, you are
- 00:25:33.555 --> 00:25:34.623
- Yes, you are who god says you are.
- 00:25:34.689 --> 00:25:36.191
- Who god says you are. now is your time
- 00:25:36.257 --> 00:25:37.359
- Now is your time to start believing it.
- 00:25:37.425 --> 00:25:38.893
- To start believing it. be sure to request
- 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.961
- Be sure to request your copy of 101 great things
- 00:25:40.028 --> 00:25:42.564
- Your copy of 101 great things god says about you.
- 00:25:42.631 --> 00:25:44.265
- God says about you. visit joelosteen.com
- 00:25:44.332 --> 00:25:46.101
- Visit joelosteen.com or call 888-567-joel.
- 00:25:46.167 --> 00:25:50.138
- Or call 888-567-joel. as you dwell on-joel.
- 00:25:50.205 --> 00:25:50.872
- As you dwell on-joel. what god says about you,
- 00:25:50.939 --> 00:25:52.440
- What god says about you, you're going to see yourself
- 00:25:52.507 --> 00:25:53.675
- You're going to see yourself for who you really are:
- 00:25:53.742 --> 00:25:55.343
- For who you really are: strong, talented,
- 00:25:55.410 --> 00:25:56.911
- Strong, talented, valuable, a victor,
- 00:25:56.978 --> 00:25:58.580
- Valuable, a victor, never a victim.
- 00:25:58.647 --> 00:26:00.382
- Never a victim. victoria
- 00:26:00.448 --> 00:26:00.649
- Victoria and i want you to know
- 00:26:00.715 --> 00:26:01.650
- And i want you to know that we love you
- 00:26:01.716 --> 00:26:02.584
- That we love you and we pray for you every day.
- 00:26:02.651 --> 00:26:04.819
- And we pray for you every day. thanks so much for your prayer
- 00:26:04.886 --> 00:26:06.554
- Thanks so much for your prayer and support.
- 00:26:06.621 --> 00:26:07.589
- And support. your generosity
- 00:26:07.656 --> 00:26:08.556
- Your generosity is helping people
- 00:26:08.623 --> 00:26:09.491
- Is helping people around the world.
- 00:26:09.557 --> 00:26:10.825
- Around the world. specialthe world.
- 00:26:10.892 --> 00:26:11.292
- Specialthe world. thank you to our champion
- 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:12.460
- Thank you to our champion of hope partners
- 00:26:12.527 --> 00:26:13.428
- Of hope partners for your monthly support.
- 00:26:13.495 --> 00:26:15.196
- For your monthly support. if you're not a partner,
- 00:26:15.263 --> 00:26:16.097
- If you're not a partner, i hope you'll consider
- 00:26:16.164 --> 00:26:17.065
- I hope you'll consider becoming one.
- 00:26:17.132 --> 00:26:18.266
- Becoming one. remember,
- 00:26:18.333 --> 00:26:18.800
- Remember, you can watch the services
- 00:26:18.867 --> 00:26:20.001
- You can watch the services online every sunday
- 00:26:20.068 --> 00:26:21.302
- Online every sunday morning, download
- 00:26:21.369 --> 00:26:22.504
- Morning, download our daily podcast,
- 00:26:22.570 --> 00:26:23.838
- Our daily podcast, listen on sirius xm,
- 00:26:23.905 --> 00:26:25.674
- Listen on sirius xm, watch our youtube channel,
- 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:27.475
- Watch our youtube channel, and the new joel osteen
- 00:26:27.542 --> 00:26:28.743
- And the new joel osteen network streamingosteen
- 00:26:28.810 --> 00:26:29.944
- Network streamingosteen 24 hours a day.
- 00:26:30.011 --> 00:26:31.780
- 24 hours a day. until we meet again,
- 00:26:31.846 --> 00:26:32.781
- Until we meet again, may the lord bless
- 00:26:32.847 --> 00:26:33.648
- May the lord bless you and keep you.
- 00:26:33.715 --> 00:26:35.450
- You and keep you. be sure to request
- 00:26:35.517 --> 00:26:36.518
- Be sure to request your copy of 101 great things
- 00:26:36.584 --> 00:26:39.054
- Your copy of 101 great things god says about you.
- 00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:40.789
- God says about you. visit joelosteen.com
- 00:26:40.855 --> 00:26:42.657
- Visit joelosteen.com or call 888-567-joel.
- 00:26:42.724 --> 00:26:46.227
- Or call 888-567-joel. for an additional donation
- 00:26:46.294 --> 00:26:47.662
- For an additional donation this month,tional donation
- 00:26:47.729 --> 00:26:48.196
- This month,tional donation we are also offering
- 00:26:48.263 --> 00:26:49.497
- We are also offering 101 great things
- 00:26:49.564 --> 00:26:51.332
- 101 great things god says about you card set.
- 00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:53.668
- God says about you card set. these cards can serve as daily
- 00:26:53.735 --> 00:26:55.537
- These cards can serve as daily reminders of who
- 00:26:55.603 --> 00:26:56.705
- Reminders of who god says you are.
- 00:26:56.771 --> 00:26:58.206
- God says you are. additionally, you can request
- 00:26:58.273 --> 00:26:59.841
- Additionally, you can request the beautiful copy
- 00:26:59.908 --> 00:27:00.942
- The beautiful copy of the passion translation:
- 00:27:01.009 --> 00:27:02.477
- Of the passion translation: power, provision and peace.
- 00:27:02.544 --> 00:27:04.345
- Power, provision and peace. god has always
- 00:27:04.412 --> 00:27:05.380
- God has always intended his people
- 00:27:05.447 --> 00:27:06.381
- Intended his people to walk in power,
- 00:27:06.448 --> 00:27:07.582
- To walk in power, provision, and peace.
- 00:27:07.649 --> 00:27:08.983
- Provision, and peace. in this dynamic scripture
- 00:27:09.050 --> 00:27:10.418
- In this dynamic scripture resource of key books
- 00:27:10.485 --> 00:27:11.786
- Resource of key books of the new testament,
- 00:27:11.853 --> 00:27:12.854
- Of the new testament, you'll discover
- 00:27:12.921 --> 00:27:13.755
- You'll discover how to walk in faith
- 00:27:13.822 --> 00:27:15.056
- How to walk in faith and experience faith
- 00:27:15.123 --> 00:27:15.924
- And experience faith god's best for your life.
- 00:27:15.990 --> 00:27:17.726
- God's best for your life. you can request
- 00:27:17.792 --> 00:27:18.526
- You can request these unique resources
- 00:27:18.593 --> 00:27:19.894
- These unique resources by calling 888-567-joel
- 00:27:19.961 --> 00:27:23.364
- By calling 888-567-joel or logging on to
- 00:27:23.431 --> 00:27:24.399
- Or logging on to joelosteen.com today.
- 00:27:24.466 --> 00:27:26.768