祝福的力量｜喬爾-奧斯坦 (The Power of The Blessing | Joel Osteen)

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>> JOEL OSTEEN:
WELL, GOD BLESS YOU.
IT'S A JOY TO COME INTO YOUR
HOMES, AND IF YOU'RE EVER
IN OUR AREA, PLEASE STOP BY
AND BE A PART OF
ONE OF OUR SERVICES.
I PROMISE YOU, WE'LL MAKE YOU
FEEL RIGHT AT HOME.
I LIKE TO START
WITH SOMETHING FUNNY,
AND I HEARD ABOUT THIS COUPLE
THAT HAD BEEN MARRIED FOR 60
YEARS AND THEY WERE SITTING
ON THE FRONT PORCH TOGETHER.
FEELING ROMANTIC, THE WIFE
SAID, "I REMEMBER WHEN YOU
USED TO ALWAYS HOLD MY HAND."
HER HUSBAND REACHED OVER AND
TOOK HER HAND.
SHE SAID, "I REMEMBER WHEN
YOU ALWAYS USED TO KISS ME ON
THE CHEEK."
HE LEANED OVER, KISSED HER ON
THE CHEEK.
SHE SAID, "I EVEN REMEMBER
WHEN YOU USED TO NIMBLE ON MY
EAR."
HE GOT UP AND STARTED WALKING
AWAY.
SHE SAID, "WHAT'S WRONG?
WHERE YOU GOING?"
HE TURNED AROUND AND SAID,
"TO GET MY TEETH."
SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT,
"THIS IS MY BIBLE.
I AM WHAT IT SAYS I AM.
I HAVE WHAT IT SAYS I HAVE.
I CAN DO WHAT IT SAYS I CAN
DO.
TODAY I WILL BE TAUGHT THE
WORD OF GOD.
I BOLDLY CONFESS.
MY MIND IS ALERT.
MY HEART IS RECEPTIVE.
I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.
IN JESUS'S NAME."
GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT THE POWER OF THE
BLESSING.
WHEN YOU HONOR GOD WITH YOUR
LIFE, THERE IS A BLESSING
HE PUTS ON YOU
THAT GIVES YOU AN ADVANTAGE.
IT CAUSES YOU TO RISE UP WHEN
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE TRYING
TO PUSH YOU DOWN.
YOU WILL RECOVER FROM AN
ILLNESS WHEN THE EXPERT SAID
YOU WOULDN'T.
YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH DREAMS
THAT LOOKED IMPOSSIBLE.
IT WASN'T JUST YOUR TALENT,
YOUR SKILL, DETERMINATION.
THERE IS A FORCE BEHIND YOU
FIGHTING YOUR BATTLES,
OPENING DOORS
YOU COULDN'T OPEN, BRINGING
THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
THOSE WEREN'T JUST
GOOD BREAKS.
THAT'S THE BLESSING
ON YOUR LIFE.
THE BLESSING WILL CAUSE YOU
TO PROSPER WHEN OTHERS
ARE STRUGGLING.
THE BLESSING WILL BRING
PROMOTION WHEN YOU
WEREN'T NEXT IN LINE.
THE BLESSING WILL CAUSE
PEOPLE TO BE GOOD TO YOU
THAT DON'T EVEN LIKE YOU.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS IN
MALACHI, WHEN WE GIVE OUR
TITHES AND OFFERINGS, GOD
WILL POUR OUT A BLESSING THAT
WE DON'T HAVE ROOM TO
RECEIVE.
IT DOESN'T SAY "BLESSINGS,"
PLURAL.
IT SAYS "BLESSING," SINGULAR.
WHEN YOU HAVE THE BLESSING,
THEN ALL KINDS OF BLESSINGS
WILL COME.
YOU WON'T HAVE ROOM TO
RECEIVE ALL THE GOOD THINGS
GOD HAS IN STORE.
WHEN YOU FACE DIFFICULTIES,
THE MEDICAL REPORT, DOESN'T
LOOK GOOD.
YOU DON'T SEE HOW YOU COULD
EVER GET OUT OF DEBT, EVER
BREAK THE ADDICTION.
ORDINARY PEOPLE WOULD
COMPLAIN.
ORDINARY PEOPLE WOULD BE
WORRIED.
HERE'S THE KEY, YOU'RE NOT
ORDINARY.
YOU HAVE THE BLESSING.
GOD'S FACE IS SMILING ON YOU.
HE'S GOING BEFORE YOU RIGHT
NOW MAKING CROOKED PLACES
STRAIGHT, MOVING THE WRONG
PEOPLE OUT OF THE WAY,
ARRANGING THINGS IN YOUR
FAVOR.
WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE
BLESSING, YOU DON'T GO AROUND
UPSET 'CAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T
TREATING YOU RIGHT, WORRIED
ABOUT YOUR FINANCES,
FRUSTRATED OVER A CHILD.
YOU STAY IN PEACE KNOWING
THAT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF
TIME BEFORE THINGS CHANGE.
YOU KNOW GOD BEING FOR YOU IS
MORE THAN THE WORLD BEING
AGAINST YOU.
WHEN YOU'RE TEMPTED TO BE
DISCOURAGED, THINK IT'S NEVER
GOING TO WORK OUT, TURN IT
AROUND.
"FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THE
BLESSING ON MY LIFE.
THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE
BREATHING IN MY DIRECTION.
THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE TAKING
ME WHERE I COULD NOT GO ON MY
OWN."
THIS IS WHAT DAVID DID.
WHEN HE FACED GOLIATH IN THE
NATURAL, HE DIDN'T HAVE A
CHANCE.
GOLIATH WAS TWICE HIS SIZE,
HAD ALL KINDS OF TRAINING AND
EXPERIENCE.
HE WAS WEARING A FULL SET OF
ARMOR.
DAVID DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF
THAT.
HE COULD HAVE BEEN
INTIMIDATED, STAYED IN THE
SHEPHERD'S FIELDS,
COMPLAINED, "GOD, HE'S TOO
BIG."
BUT DAVID UNDERSTOOD THIS
PRINCIPLE.
HE KNEW THE BLESSING ON HIS
LIFE GAVE HIM AN ADVANTAGE.
HE WENT OUT WITH A SLINGSHOT
AND A FEW STONES AND DEFEATED
GOLIATH.
AND WHAT YOU HAVE MAY SEEM
SMALL COMPARED TO WHAT YOU'RE
UP AGAINST, BUT A SLINGSHOT
WITH THE BLESSING IS MORE
POWERFUL THAN A TANK WITHOUT
IT.
YOUR TALENT MAY SEEM SMALL
COMPARED TO THE DREAM GOD PUT
IN YOUR HEART, BUT THAT
TALENT WITH THE BLESSING WILL
TAKE YOU FURTHER THAN YOU CAN
IMAGINE.
NOW, DON'T DISCOUNT YOURSELF.
DON'T LOOK AT ALL THE REASONS
WHY YOU CAN'T BE SUCCESSFUL,
WHY YOU CAN'T PURCHASE A
HOUSE, WHY YOU CAN'T BREAK
THE ADDICTION.
ON YOUR OWN, IT MAY NOT
HAPPEN BUT YOU'RE NOT ON YOUR
OWN.
THERE IS A BLESSING ON YOUR
LIFE PUT THERE BY THE GOD WHO
SPOKE WORLDS INTO EXISTENCE.
THIS BLESSING IS NOT NATURAL,
IT'S SUPERNATURAL.
IT WILL CAUSE THINGS TO
HAPPEN THAT YOU COULDN'T MAKE
HAPPEN.
THE BLESSING WILL CAUSE
OPPORTUNITY TO FIND YOU.
GOOD BREAKS WILL CHASE YOU
DOWN, PROMOTION, HEALING,
VINDICATION.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO AFTER
THEM, THE BLESSING WILL CAUSE
THEM TO COME TO YOU.
ONE SUNDAY MORNING WHEN MY
FATHER WAS THE PASTOR, I WAS
IN THE TV PRODUCTION AREA AND
RIGHT BEFORE SERVICE, I RAN
DOWNSTAIRS TO SEE MY FATHER
AND PUT HIS MICROPHONE ON.
ON MY WAY BACK UP, I WAS IN A
BIG HURRY.
AS I CAME AROUND A CORNER,
THIS MAN WAS COMING UP.
HE STOPPED ME AND SAID,
"JOEL, MY COUSIN HAS A
CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR THE
LAST FULL-POWER COMMERCIAL
TELEVISION STATION IN
HOUSTON.
HE WANTS YOU TO BE A PART OF
IT."
THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
IN THE LOBBY THAT DAY.
IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN 10
SECONDS EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE
MISSED HIM.
IF HE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ONE
MORE RED LIGHT ON THE WAY TO
CHURCH, OUR PATHS WOULDN'T
HAVE CROSSED.
GOD HAD US AT THE RIGHT PLACE
AT THE RIGHT TIME.
I WASN'T LOOKING FOR A
TELEVISION STATION, BUT A
TELEVISION STATION WAS
LOOKING FOR ME.
WAS THAT A COINCIDENCE, A
LUCKY BREAK?
NO, THAT WAS THE BLESSING ON
MY LIFE.
I CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR IT.
ALL I WAS GOING WAS HONORING
GOD, BEING MY BEST, AND THE
OPPORTUNITY FOUND ME.
WE PUT THE STATION ON THE AIR
AND SEVERAL YEARS LATER, SOLD
IT FOR A HUGE PROFIT.
THOSE FUNDS WERE INSTRUMENTAL
IN US RENOVATING THIS PLACE,
THE FORMER COMPAQ CENTER.
GOD HAS THE RIGHT BREAKS, THE
RIGHT PEOPLE LINED UP FOR
YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE
FRUSTRATED, TRYING TO MAKE
THINGS HAPPEN, WORRIED THAT
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK OUT.
GOD IS DIRECTING YOUR STEPS.
HE'S GOING TO HAVE YOU AT THE
RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME
DOWN TO THE SPLIT SECOND.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MISS
WHAT BELONGS TO YOU.
OPPORTUNITY IS COMING BIGGER
THAN YOU'VE IMAGINED.
WHEN WE SIGNED THE CONTRACT
FOR THE TELEVISION STATION, I
WAS SO EXCITED.
I NEVER DREAMED WE'D OWN A
STATION.
I COULDN'T FATHOM ANYTHING
BIGGER.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS
JUST A STEP IN WHAT GOD
WANTED TO DO.
AS GREAT AS I THOUGHT IT WAS,
IT WASN'T EVEN THE MAIN
THING.
THAT WAS JUST THE WARMUP ACT.
BEING UP HERE, OWNING THE
COMPAQ CENTER, SPEAKING TO A
LOT OF PEOPLE, THIS IS FAR
BEYOND WHAT I EVER DREAMED.
WHAT AM I SAYING?
WHAT YOU THINK IS THE
ULTIMATE BLESSING, GOD
SHOWING OUT IN YOUR LIFE,
CAN I TELL YOU?
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING
YET.
THAT IS JUST A STEP IN WHERE
GOD IS TAKING YOU.
THERE ARE LEVELS THAT YOU
HAVE NOT EVEN FATHOMED,
OPPORTUNITIES FAR BEYOND WHAT
YOU THINK.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN GOD'S
GOODNESS IN THE PAST.
YOU CAN SAY LIKE ME THAT
GOD'S BLESSED YOU, BUT YOU
HAVEN'T TOUCHED THE SURFACE
OF WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE.
I WAS IN INDIA ONE TIME WITH
MY FATHER.
I MET THIS YOUNG PASTOR THAT
CAME FROM A VERY POOR FAMILY.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE RUNNING
WATER OR A ELECTRICITY.
THEY LIVED OUT ON THIS OPEN
FIELD IN A LITTLE HUT.
THE MAN NEXT DOOR WAS VERY
WEALTHY.
HE OWNED A HUGE FARM, HAD
THOUSANDS OF CATTLE AND MANY
CROPS.
HE SOLD MILK AND VEGETABLES
TO PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGE, BUT
THIS MAN WAS VERY GREEDY.
HIS PRICES WERE SO HIGH THAT
MOST OF THE POOR PEOPLE
COULDN'T AFFORD ANYTHING.
ONE DAY ABOUT TEN OF HIS COWS
GOT OUT AND CAME OVER TO THE
PROPERTY WHERE THE PASTOR AND
HIS FAMILY LIVED.
THE MAN HEARD ABOUT IT AND
HAD HIS WORKERS COME, GET THE
COWS, PUT THEM BACK IN THE
FENCE.
THE NEXT DAY, TEN MORE COWS
GOT OUT, CAME OVER TO THE
PASTOR'S PROPERTY.
THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN
AND AGAIN.
THE OWNER GOT SO FRUSTRATED,
HE FINALLY TOLD THE PASTOR TO
JUST KEEP THE COWS.
PASTOR WAS SO EXCITED, HE
STARTED SELLING MILK AND
PRODUCTS TO PEOPLE IN THE
VILLAGE, BUT HE SOLD THEM FOR
LESS THAN THE OTHER MAN.
BEFORE LONG, PEOPLE WERE
LINED UP AT HIS DOOR.
HE WAS ABLE TO BUY MORE COWS.
HIS BUSINESS GOT SO LARGE
THAT THAT OTHER MAN CAME AND
SAID, "I CAN'T COMPETE WITH
YOU.
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE OVER MY
BUSINESS?"
HE PURCHASED IT FOR A
FRACTION OF THE VALUE.
TODAY THIS YOUNG PASTOR HAS A
LARGE BUSINESS WITH SEVERAL
HUNDRED EMPLOYEES.
IT ALL STARTED WHEN THOSE
COWS CAME TO HIS PROPERTY AND
WOULDN'T LEAVE.
HE COULDN'T HAVE MADE THAT
HAPPEN.
THAT WAS THE BLESSING ON HIS
LIFE.
GOD CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE.
HE KNOWS HOW TO HAVE THE COWS
FIND YOU.
THE GOOD BREAKS, THE
PROPERTY, THE CONTRACTS, THE
BUSINESSES, THEY'RE GOING TO
COME LOOKING FOR YOU.
"WELL JOEL, THIS IS KIND OF
FAR OUT."
WE SERVE A FAR-OUT GOD.
HIS BLESSING ON YOUR LIFE IS
GOING TO DO FAR-OUT THINGS.
AFTER ALL, IT'S FAR OUT
HAVING CHURCH IN THE FORMER
COMPAQ CENTER.
IT'S FAR OUT THAT MY MOM IS
STILL ALIVE 37 YEARS AFTER
BEING DIAGNOSED WITH TERMINAL
CANCER.
IT'S FAR OUT FOR ME TO BE UP
HERE IN FRONT OF YOU HAVING
NO FORMAL TRAINING.
GET READY FOR SOME FAR-OUT
FAVOR, FAR-OUT BLESSING,
FAR-OUT OPPORTUNITY, FAR-OUT
PROMOTION.
GOD SAID, "YOU WON'T HAVE
ROOM TO RECEIVE IT."
HE'S GOING TO DO THINGS SO
AMAZING IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU
HAVE TO PASS IT DOWN TO YOUR
CHILDREN.
YOU CAN'T CONTAIN IT ALL.
GENERATIONAL BLESSINGS ARE
COMING, INCREASE THAT GOES TO
YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR
GRANDCHILDREN, YOUR GREAT
GRANDCHILDREN, BUSINESSES,
CONTRACTS, REAL ESTATE THAT
CONTINUED TO BLESS PEOPLE
LONG AFTER YOU'RE GONE.
PROVERBS SAYS, "A GOOD PERSON
LEAVES AN INHERITANCE THAT
THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN."
THAT'S GOD'S DREAM FOR YOU.
GET RID OF A BARELY-GET-BY
MENTALITY.
"I'LL BE SATISFIED IF I CAN
JUST PAY MY BILLS AND MAKE IT
THROUGH."
THAT IS NOT YOUR DESTINY.
THE BLESSING ON YOUR LIFE IS
GOING TO CAUSE YOU TO LEND
AND NOT BORROW, TO HAVE MORE
THAN ENOUGH.
DAVID SAID, "MY CUP RUNS
OVER."
THERE ARE SOME RUNNING OVER
BLESSINGS IN YOUR FUTURE,
BLESSINGS THAT YOU CANNOT
CONTAIN, INCREASE THAT YOU
CAN'T USE UP IN YOUR
LIFETIME.
"WELL JOEL, I HAVEN'T SEEN
ANY OF THESE FAR-OUT
BLESSINGS."
STAY ENCOURAGED, THEY'RE ON
THE WAY.
YOU WOULDN'T BE HEARING THIS
IF GOD WASN'T ABOUT TO DO
SOMETHING AMAZING.
HE'S WANTING US TO TAKE THE
LIMITS OFF OF HIM.
ENLARGE YOUR VISION.
QUIT TELLING YOURSELF ALL THE
REASONS WHY IT'S NOT GOING TO
HAPPEN, HOW YOU'VE HAD TOO
MANY BAD BREAKS, HOW YOUR
DREAM LOOKS IMPOSSIBLE.
IT MAY BE TO YOU, BUT IT'S
NOT TO OUR GOD.
START EXPECTING HIS FAVOR.
START BELIEVING FOR NEW
LEVELS.
START TALKING LIKE IT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN.
"FATHER, THANK YOU THAT
YOU'RE BRINGING ME INTO
OVERFLOW.
THANK YOU THAT GENERATIONAL
BLESSINGS ARE COMING MY WAY.
THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE OPENING
DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT."
WE SEE THIS BLESSING IN THE
LIFE OF JOSEPH.
AS A TEENAGER, GOD GAVE HIM A
DREAM THAT ONE DAY HE WOULD
LEAD A NATION, THAT PEOPLE
WOULD BOW DOWN BEFORE HIM.
HE KNEW SOMETHING BIG WAS IN
HIS FUTURE, BUT HIS BROTHERS
WERE JEALOUS.
THEY THREW HIM INTO A PIT.
THEY WERE GOING TO LEAVE HIM
THERE TO DIE, BUT THEY SAW A
CARAVAN OF ISHMAELITES
COMING.
THEY SOLD HIM AS A SLAVE.
HE ENDED UP WORKING FOR A MAN
NAMED POTIPHAR.
POTIPHAR WAS A HIGH-RANKING
MILITARY OFFICIAL IN THE
EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT.
AND JOSEPH COULD HAVE BEEN
BITTER.
"GOD, I THOUGHT THE BLESSING
WAS ON MY LIFE.
WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME?"
INSTEAD HE KEPT BEING HIS
BEST, TREATING PEOPLE WITH
RESPECT, DOING MORE THAN
REQUIRED.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THE LORD
WAS WITH JOSEPH AND BLESSED
HIM GREATLY AS HE SERVED IN
THE HOME OF HIS EGYPTIAN
MASTER.
NOTICE, GOD WAS WITH JOSEPH
IN THE UNFAIR SITUATION WHEN
HE WAS MISTREATED.
WHEN HE WAS BETRAYED, THE
BLESSING WAS STILL ON HIS LIFE.
SOMETIMES WE THINK
WE'RE NOT BLESSED.
WE CAME DOWN WITH AN ILLNESS.
WE LOST OUR MAIN CLIENT.
A RELATIONSHIP
DIDN'T WORK OUT.
THAT DIDN'T STOP
THE BLESSING.
PEOPLE CAN'T CHANGE
WHAT GOD PUT ON YOU.
THE FAVOR DIDN'T CANCELED OUT
BECAUSE OF A BAD BREAK.
THE BLESSING IS WHY THOSE
ENEMIES CANNOT DEFEAT YOU.
THE BLESSING IS WHY
THAT SICKNESS CAN'T TAKE
YOUR LIFE.
THE BLESSING IS WHY THAT
SETBACK IS NOT THE END.
IT IS A SETUP FOR WHAT
GOD IS ABOUT TO DO.
DON'T GET DISCOURAGED WHEN
LIFE DOESN'T GO YOUR WAY.
THE BLESSING IS STILL ON YOU.
VERSE 3 SAYS, "POTIPHAR
NOTICED JOSEPH AND REALIZED
THE LORD WAS GIVING HIM
SUCCESS IN EVERYTHING HE
DID."
VERSE 4, "SO JOSEPH NATURALLY
BECAME THE FAVORITE OF
POTIPHAR."
JOSEPH WENT FROM BEING A
SLAVE, UNNOTICED,
INSIGNIFICANT, TO BEING THE
FAVORITE.
POTIPHAR WAS SO IMPRESSED
THAT HE PUT JOSEPH IN CHARGE
OF HIS WHOLE HOUSE.
THAT'S THE POWER OF THE
BLESSING.
WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO PUSH YOU
DOWN, IT WILL CAUSE YOU TO
RISE UP.
WHEN PEOPLE IGNORE YOU AND
TRY TO DISCOUNT YOU, IT WILL
CAUSE YOU TO BE NOTICED.
I'M SURE POTIPHAR HAD OTHER
PEOPLE WORKING FOR HIM THAT
HAD MORE EXPERIENCE, BUT THE
BLESSING ON JOSEPH'S LIFE
CAUSED HIM TO STAND OUT.
AND PEOPLE MAY NOT RECOGNIZE
YOU YET.
YOUR BOSS DOESN'T GIVE YOU
CREDIT, RELATIVES DISCOUNT
YOU, THINK YOU DON'T MUCH TO
OFFER.
YOU MAY BE OVERLOOKED NOW,
BUT THE TIME IS COMING WHERE
YOU'RE GOING TO BE NOTICED.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE
YOUR GIFTS, YOUR TALENT, YOUR
VALUE.
GOD'S GOING TO CAUSE YOU TO
STAND OUT.
YOU'RE GOING TO GO FROM BEING
UNNOTICED TO BEING IN CHARGE,
FROM BEING NOT RECOGNIZED, TO
BEING THE FAVORITE.
HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?
THE BLESSING ON YOUR LIFE.
VERSE 5 SAYS, "THE DAY JOSEPH
WAS PUT IN CHARGE, GOD BEGAN
TO BLESS POTIPHAR FOR
JOSEPH'S SAKE."
YOU WOULD THINK THAT JOSEPH
WOULD BE BLESSED BECAUSE OF
POTIPHAR, THIS PROMINENT
OFFICIAL.
IT WAS JUST THE OPPOSITE.
THE BLESSING ON YOUR LIFE IS
SO POWERFUL, IT WILL NOT ONLY
CAUSE YOU TO BE PROMOTED, YOU
TO BE NOTICED, BUT PEOPLE
AROUND YOU WILL BE BLESSED.
YOUR COMPANY, YOUR COWORKERS,
YOUR FRIENDS SHOULD BE GLAD
TO HAVE YOU.
BECAUSE YOU'RE THERE, THEY'RE
GOING TO SEE FAVOR, THEY'RE
GOING TO SEE INCREASE.
THEY MAY NOT EVEN REALIZE THE
REASON THEY'RE BLESSED IS
BECAUSE THEY'RE CONNECTED TO
YOU.
GENESIS 30, JACOB HAD BEEN
WORKING FOR A MAN NAMED LABAN
FOR SEVEN YEARS.
LABAN PROMISED HIM IN RETURN
THAT HE COULD MARRY HIS
DAUGHTER, RACHEL.
WELL, AFTER THE SEVEN YEARS,
LABAN GAVE HIM HIS DAUGHTER
LEAH INSTEAD.
HE DIDN'T KEEP HIS WORD.
HE SAID, "JACOB, IF YOU'LL
WORK FOR ME ANOTHER SEVEN
YEARS, THEN I'LL GIVE YOU
RACHEL."
JACOB COULD HAVE BEEN BITTER,
STARTED A BIG FIGHT, LEFT
THERE ANGRY, BUT HE TOOK THE
HIGH ROAD AND WORKED ANOTHER
SEVEN YEARS.
HE FINALLY MARRIED RACHEL AND
WAS ABOUT TO MOVE BACK TO HIS
HOMETOWN WITH HIS FAMILY.
VERSE 27 LABAN SAID, "JACOB,
PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME.
I HAVE LEARNED THE LORD HAS
BLESSED ME BECAUSE YOU ARE
HERE."
FOR YEARS, HE DIDN'T TREAT
JACOB RIGHT.
IT WAS UNFAIR, BUT NOW HE'S
BEGGING HIM TO STAY.
HE REALIZES HE'S BLESSED
BECAUSE OF THE FAVOR ON
JACOB'S LIFE.
YOU MAY HAVE PEOPLE THAT
DON'T REALLY VALUE WHO YOU
ARE AND THEY HAVEN'T KEPT
THEIR WORD.
DON'T BE OFFENDED, BE A
JACOB.
KEEP DOING THE RIGHT THING.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONVINCE
PEOPLE TO LIKE YOU, PROVE TO
THEM WHO YOU ARE.
THEY MAY DISCOUNT YOU NOW BUT
ONE DAY, LIKE JACOB, THEY'LL
BE ASKING YOU TO STAY.
THEY WILL REALIZE THE REASON
THEY'RE BLESSED IS BECAUSE OF
YOU.
LABAN SAID TO JACOB, "I'LL
PAY YOU WHATEVER YOU WANT IF
YOU WILL STAY."
JACOB KNEW HIS TIME THERE WAS
OVER.
HE LEFT, NOT ONLY A VERY
WEALTHY MAN, BUT HE LEFT WITH
THE RESPECT AND HONOR THAT HE
HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN FOR MANY
YEARS.
GOD IS YOUR VINDICATOR.
HE SEES WHAT'S HAPPENING.
YOU KEEP DOING THE RIGHT
THING AND ONE DAY GOD WILL
MAKE IT UP TO YOU.
IN THE LATE 1950S, MY FATHER
WAS PASTORING A LARGE CHURCH,
VERY SUCCESSFUL.
THEY HAD JUST BUILT A
BEAUTIFUL NEW SANCTUARY.
HE WAS ON THE STATE BOARD FOR
HIS DENOMINATION.
HIS FUTURE LOOKED VERY
BRIGHT, BUT HE STARTED
TEACHING THE PEOPLE ABOUT HOW
GOD IS GOOD, AND HOW HE STILL
HEALS, AND WANTS US TO LIVE A
VICTORIOUS LIFE.
WELL, THIS NEW MESSAGE DIDN'T
GO OVER WELL.
IT DIDN'T FIT INTO THEIR
DENOMINATIONAL MOLD AND THERE
WAS SO MUCH OPPOSITION, SO
MUCH PRESSURE THAT HE HAD TO
RESIGN FROM THAT CHURCH.
HE AND MY MOTHER WENT OUT AND
STARTED LAKEWOOD.
FOR YEARS, MY FATHER WAS
IGNORED BY HIS PEERS.
HE WAS OVERLOOKED, UNNOTICED.
COLLEAGUES THAT HE USED TO GO
TO LUNCH WITH, THEY JUST
DISMISSED HIM, ACTED LIKE HE
WAS SECOND CLASS, LIKE HE
WASN'T UP TO PAR.
MY FATHER NEVER SAID ANYTHING
ABOUT THIS, BUT I KNEW DEEP
DOWN THAT IT BOTHERED HIM.
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS LATER, THAT
DENOMINATION WAS HAVING THEIR
ANNUAL MEETING HERE IN
HOUSTON.
THE MAIN SPEAKER SAID IN
FRONT OF THOUSANDS OF
LEADERS, "WE NEED TO STAY
MORE OPEN.
THINK WHERE WE WOULD BE IF WE
STILL HAD JOHN OSTEEN WITH
US."
AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS, THEY
FINALLY SHOWED HIM RESPECT AND
ADMIRATION.
AND NO, YOU DON'T NEED
PEOPLE'S APPROVAL.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO THEIR
SUPPORT, BUT GOD IS A GOD OF
JUSTICE.
HE SEES WHAT'S HAPPENING.
IF YOU WILL KEEP HONORING
HIM, THERE WILL BE A DAY WHEN
THOSE THAT HAVE OVERLOOKED
YOU, THOSE THAT ARE
DISCOUNTED YOU, THEY WILL SEE
YOU IN A NEW LIGHT AND GIVE
YOU THE RESPECT AND HONOR
THAT YOU DESERVE.
WHEN JOSEPH'S BROTHERS THREW
HIM INTO THE PIT, THEY TOOK
HIS FREEDOM BUT THEY DIDN'T
TAKE THE BLESSING.
WHEN POTIPHAR'S WIFE TRIED TO
SEDUCE JOSEPH, SHE RIPPED HIS
COAT OFF AND LIED ABOUT HIM,
FALSELY ACCUSED HIM.
SHE TOOK HIS COAT, BUT SHE
COULDN'T TAKE HIS CALLING.
SOMEBODY MAY HAVE HURT YOU,
THEY BETRAYED YOU, THEY LEFT
YOU OUT, BUT THEY DIDN'T STOP
YOUR DESTINY.
A MAN TOLD ME RECENTLY HOW
HIS COMPANY LET HIM GO AFTER
MANY YEARS.
SOMEBODY WAS JEALOUS AND
SPREAD ALL THESE RUMORS AND
LONG STORY SHORT, HE UNFAIRLY
LOST HIS POSITION.
I TOLD HIM WHAT I'M TELLING
YOU, THEY MAY HAVE TAKEN YOUR
JOB, BUT THEY DIDN'T TAKE
YOUR BLESSING.
PEOPLE CANNOT STOP WHAT GOD
PUT ON YOU.
YOU KEEP HONORING GOD, BEING
YOUR BEST, AND THE BLESSING
WILL ALWAYS OVERRIDE WHAT
PEOPLE HAVE DONE.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "WHAT GOD
HAS BLESSED, NO PERSON CAN
CURSE."
THE BLESSING ON YOU IS MORE
POWERFUL THAN ANY BETRAYAL,
THAN HOW YOU WERE RAISED,
THAN PEOPLE TRYING TO
DISCREDIT YOU.
QUIT FOCUSING ON WHAT YOU'VE
LOST AND START FOCUSING ON
WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT.
THE BLESSING IS STILL ON YOUR
LIFE.
YOU ARE BLESSED IN THE CITY,
AND BLESSED IN THE COUNTRY.
YOU ARE BLESSED WHEN YOU GO
IN AND BLESSED WHEN YOU COME
OUT.
THAT MEANS YOU ARE BLESSED
WHEN THINGS ARE GOING YOUR
WAY AND BLESSED WHEN THEY'RE
NOT GOING YOUR WAY.
YOU ARE BLESSED WHEN YOU'RE
IN THE PALACE AND YOU'RE
STILL BLESSED WHEN YOU'RE IN
THE PIT.
HERE'S THE KEY, THE BLESSING
DID NOT COME FROM PEOPLE SO
IT CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY BY
PEOPLE.
IN NUMBERS CHAPTER 22, THIS
KING WAS TRYING TO PAY A
PROPHET TO CURSE THE
ISRAELITES.
THREE TIMES THE PROPHET TOLD
THE KING, "NO MATTER HOW MANY
YOU PAY, I CANNOT CURSE WHAT
GOD HAS ALREADY BLESSED."
WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THIS, YOU
WON'T LIVE UPSET 'CAUSE
SOMEBODY'S TALKING ABOUT YOU,
FRUSTRATED 'CAUSE YOU HAD A
BAD BREAK, OFFENDED BECAUSE
THEY LEFT YOU OUT.
YOU KNOW EVERY FORCE THAT'S
TRYING TO STOP YOU IS
POWERLESS TO CHANGE THE
BLESSING ON YOUR LIFE.
IN THE 1500S, QUEEN ELIZABETH
I WAS BORN.
HER FATHER WANTED A BOY SO
BADLY THAT HE CURSED HER AT
BIRTH.
THE POPE DECLARED HER
ILLEGITIMATE BECAUSE HER
FATHER HAD BEEN DIVORCED.
HER HALF SISTER FALSELY
ACCUSED HER AND HAD HER
IMPRISONED IN THE TOWER OF
LONDON.
ALL THESE PEOPLE CAME AGAINST
HER FROM CHILDHOOD, BUT
PEOPLE DON'T DETERMINE YOUR
DESTINY.
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT YOU
CANNOT STOP YOUR PURPOSE.
AND ELIZABETH HAD A ROUGH
START, BUT THAT DIDN'T KEEP
HER FROM BECOMING WHO SHE WAS
CALLED TO BE.
SHE WENT ON TO SERVE AS THE
QUEEN FOR 45 YEARS.
SHE REFORMED THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
RECEIVED A FAIR TRIAL.
PERHAPS PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO
HOLD YOU BACK, FAMILY HASN'T
SUPPORTED YOU, YOU COULD BE
DISCOURAGED, SETTLE WHERE YOU
ARE, BUT LIKE HER, SHE
BLESSING ON YOUR LIFE IS
GOING TO OVERRIDE WHAT'S
TRYING TO STOP YOU.
GOD SAID IN PSALMS, "TOUCH
NOT MY ANOINTED."
YOU ARE HIS ANOINTED.
WHEN PEOPLE COME AGAINST YOU,
THEY'RE NOT JUST MESSING WITH
YOU, THEY'RE MESSING WITH THE
GOD WHO PUT THE BLESSING ON
YOU.
THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU DON'T
HAVE TO FIGHT THOSE BATTLES.
YOU HAVE A DEFENDER.
DON'T TRY TO DO IT IN YOUR
OWN STRENGTH, STAND STILL AND
YOU WILL SEE THE DELIVERANCE
OF THE LORD.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYONE
WHO'S TRIED TO STOP ME,
DISCREDIT ME, KEEP ME FROM MY
PURPOSE, CONTINUE TO SUCCEED.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN A YEAR, FIVE
YEARS, TEN YEARS BUT
EVENTUALLY THEY FADE OUT AND
I'M STILL STANDING.
IT'S BECAUSE THE BLESSING IS
MORE POWERFUL THAN THE CURSE.
WHATEVER'S COMING AGAINST
YOU, WHATEVER PEOPLE ARE
TRYING TO STOP YOU, THEY MAY
SEEM BIGGER, MORE POWERFUL.
THE SICKNESS, THE ADDICTION,
IT CAN BE INTIMIDATING.
STAY IN PEACE.
THE BLESSING GOD PUT ON YOU
IS MORE POWERFUL THAN WHAT'S
TRYING TO STOP YOU.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, KING SAUL
WAS TRYING TO KILL DAVID.
DAVID HADN'T DONE ANYTHING
WRONG.
IN FACT, DAVID WAS BEING GOOD
TO SAUL, BUT SAUL WAS
JEALOUS, CHASED DAVID THROUGH
THE DESERT, MAKING HIS LIFE
MISERABLE.
SEVERAL TIMES DAVID HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE SAUL'S
LIFE.
HE SNUCK UP ON HIM WHILE HE
WAS SLEEPING.
HE COULD HAVE ENDED THE
CONFLICT, DEFENDED HIMSELF,
NOBODY WOULD HAVE BLAMED HIM.
DAVID WOULDN'T DO IT.
HE KNEW SAUL HAD BEEN
ANOINTED BY GOD TO BE THE
KING AND EVEN THOUGH DAVID
WAS ANOINTED TO REPLACE HIM,
HE STILL WOULDN'T HARM SAUL.
HE UNDERSTOOD YOU DON'T TOUCH
GOD'S ANOINTED.
YOU DON'T COME AGAINST WHAT
GOD HAS BLESSED.
WHEN YOU FACE OPPOSITION,
PEOPLE COME AGAINST YOU, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO GET UPSET, TRY
TO PAY THEM BACK.
YOU CAN STAY IN PEACE KNOWING
THAT WHEN THEY COME AGAINST
YOU, THEY ARE TOUCHING GOD'S
ANOINTED.
THAT MEANS IT'S NOT YOUR
BATTLE, THE BATTLE IS THE
LORD'S.
HE'S YOUR DEFENDER.
HE'S YOUR VINDICATOR.
YOU'RE LIKE JOSEPH AT TIMES,
WE'LL GET THROWN INTO A PIT,
SOMEBODY MAY BETRAY YOU, BUT
THEY CANNOT KEEP THE BLESSING
DOWN.
THEY MEANT IT FOR HARM, GOD'S
GOING TO TURN IT FOR GOOD.
KEEP YOUR SHOULDERS BACK,
LIVE WITH CONFIDENCE.
YOU HAVE AN ADVANTAGE, THE
BLESSING IS ON YOUR LIFE.
AND I BELIEVE AND DECLARE
THIS BLESSING IS GOING TO
TAKE YOU FURTHER THAN YOU'VE
IMAGINED.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE FAR-OUT
OPPORTUNITY, FAR-OUT
PROMOTION, FAR-OUT FAVOR, THE
FULLNESS OF YOUR DESTINY IN
JESUS'S NAME.
AND IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN
YOU SAY, "AMEN" TODAY?
I'D LIKE GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS THE
LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?
JUST SAY, "LORD JESUS,
I REPENT OF MY SINS.
COME INTO MY HEART.
I MAKE YOU MY LORD
AND SAVIOR."
IF YOU PRAYED THAT SIMPLE
PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU GOT
BORN AGAIN.
GET IN A GOOD BIBLE-BASED
CHURCH AND KEEP GOD
FIRST PLACE.
YOUR PARTNERSHIP MAKES
THIS MINISTRY POSSIBLE.
YOUR FAITHFUL AND
CONSISTENT MONTHLY SUPPORT
MAKES YOU A CHAMPION OF
HOPE.
THE VISION OF JOEL OSTEEN
MINISTRIES IS TO USE EVERY
AVENUE AVAILABLE TO PRESENT
THE HOPE OF JESUS CHRIST TO
PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.
WE KNOW IT IS THIS HOPE
AND THE TRANSFORMING
POWER OF THE GOSPEL THAT
MAKES AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE
IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
TO PARTNER WITH JOEL OSTEEN
MINISTRIES, VISIT
JOELOSTEEN.COM/PARTNER
TODAY.