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.
BUT I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY, AND I HEARD
ABOUT THIS REPORTER.
HE WAS VISITING CHURCHES
ACROSS THE NATION.
WHILE IN THE NORTHEAST, HE
SAW THIS GOLD PHONE ON THE
WALL WITH A SIGN THAT SAID,
"CALLS: $10,000 PER MINUTE."
HE ASKED THE PASTOR WHAT IT
MEANT.
THE PASTOR EXPLAINED THAT
THAT WAS A DIRECT LINE TO
HEAVEN.
IF YOU WERE WILLING TO PAY
THE PRICE, YOU COULD TALK
DIRECTLY TO GOD.
HE CONTINUED VISITING
DIFFERENT CHURCHES, SAW THE
SAME GOLD PHONE, THE SAME
SIGN.
WHEN HE FINALLY MADE IT TO
TEXAS, HE SAW THE PHONE, BUT
THE SIGN SAID, "CALLS: 25
CENTS PER MINUTE."
INTRIGUED, HE ASKED THE
PASTOR WHY IT WAS SO MUCH
CHEAPER.
THE PASTOR SAID, "YOU'RE IN
TEXAS.
NOW IT'S A LOCAL CALL."
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 "YOUR FAITH."
IN MARK CHAPTER 5, THERE WAS
A LADY THAT HAD A BLEEDING
DISORDER FOR 12 YEARS.
SHE'D GONE TO MANY DOCTORS,
SPENT ALL OF HER MONEY, TRIED
EVERYTHING SHE COULD TO GET
WELL, BUT NOTHING HELPED.
SHE CONTINUED TO GO DOWNHILL,
AND ONE DAY, THERE WAS ALL
THIS COMMOTION IN HER TOWN.
SHE FOUND OUT THAT JESUS WAS
PASSING THROUGH.
SHE HAD HEARD THE STORIES OF
HOW HE HAD HEALED A CRIPPLED
MAN, AND HOW HE'D OPENED
BLIND EYES, HOW HE'D CURED
SOMEONE WITH LEPROSY, AND
SOMETHING CAME ALIVE ON THE
INSIDE.
SHE THOUGHT, "HE DID IT FOR
OTHERS.
HE CAN DO IT FOR ME."
SHE COULD HAVE BEEN
DISCOURAGED, COMPLAINING,
"LIFE IS NOT FAIR.
WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?"
INSTEAD, SHE SAID TO HERSELF,
"IF I CAN GET TO JESUS AND
JUST TOUCH THE FRINGE OF HIS
ROBE, I KNOW I WILL BE
HEALED."
THE PROBLEM WAS, THERE WAS A
GREAT CROWD SURROUNDING
JESUS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
ALL PACKED IN.
IT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE.
MOST PEOPLE WOULD HAVE GIVEN
UP AND THOUGHT, "HEY, IT'S
NOT MEANT TO BE."
NOT THIS LADY.
SHE STARTED MAKING HER WAY
THROUGH THE CROWD.
"EXCUSE ME, I NEED TO GET BY.
PARDON ME, I HAVE TO GET UP
FRONT.
I DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE, BUT
MOVE OUT OF MY WAY."
PEOPLE LOOKED AT HER LIKE,
"WHAT'S THIS LADY'S
PROBLEM?"
SHE WAS ON A MISSION.
SHE HAD A MADE-UP MIND.
I'M SURE SHE WAS WEAK.
SHE HAD LOST BLOOD FOR YEARS.
SHE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT, BUT
SHE FOUGHT HER WAY THROUGH
THE CROWD.
ONE VERSION SAID, "SHE KEPT
SAYING TO HERSELF, 'WHEN I
GET TO JESUS, I KNOW I WILL
BE WELL.'"
SHE WAS SAYING, "I KNOW
HEALING IS COMING.
I KNOW THINGS ARE TURNING IN
MY FAVOR.
IT'S TOUGH NOW.
I'M TIRED, I'M WEAK, BUT I
KNOW I'M CLOSE TO MY
BREAKTHROUGH."
THE REASON SHE COULD KEEP
GOING IS SHE KEPT THE RIGHT
THOUGHTS PLAYING IN HER MIND,
AND I COULD IMAGINE SHE WAS
SO EXHAUSTED, SHE FINALLY
FELL TO THE GROUND AND HAD TO
CRAWL THE LAST FEW FEET.
JUST AT THE RIGHT TIME, SHE
REACHED OUT AND TOUCHED THE
EDGE OF JESUS'S ROBE.
ALL THE SUDDEN, JESUS
STOPPED, SAID TO HIS
DISCIPLES, "WHO JUST TOUCHED
ME?", AND THEY SAID, "WHAT DO
YOU MEAN?
IT'S CROWDED OUT HERE.
EVERYBODY'S TOUCHING YOU."
HE SAID, IN EFFECT, "NO,
EVERYONE MAY BE BUMPING INTO
ME, BUT SOMEBODY JUST TOUCHED
ME.
SOMEBODY DREW THE
MIRACLE-WORKING POWER OUT OF
ME.
THEY BELIEVED HEALING WAS
COMING.
THEY BELIEVED THEIR CHILD WAS
GOING TO TURN AROUND.
THEY BELIEVED NEW DOORS WERE
GOING TO OPEN.
THEY TOUCHED ME WITH
EXPECTANCY."
ABOUT THAT TIME, JESUS LOOKED
AT THIS WOMAN.
THEIR EYES MET.
SHE WAS AFRAID, THOUGHT SHE'D
DONE SOMETHING WRONG.
JESUS SMILED AND SAID,
"DAUGHTER, YOUR FAITH HAS
MADE YOU WHOLE.
GO IN PEACE.
YOU ARE HEALED."
NOTICE, THE KEY WAS HER
FAITH.
IT WAS GREAT THAT HER PARENTS
WERE PRAYING.
HER FRIENDS WERE ENCOURAGING
HER.
HER NEIGHBORS WERE CHEERING
HER ON.
THAT'S ALL GOOD, BUT THERE'S
NOTHING MORE POWERFUL THAN
YOUR FAITH.
WHEN YOU BELIEVE, WHEN YOU
EXPECT THINGS TO CHANGE, WHEN
YOU KEEP SAYING TO YOURSELF,
"I KNOW THE BREAKTHROUGH IS
COMING.
I KNOW HEALING IS ON THE WAY.
I KNOW THE RIGHT PERSON IS IN
MY FUTURE.
I KNOW WHAT GOD STARTED HE'S
GOING TO FINISH."
YOUR FAITH CAN STOP THE
CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.
THAT'S WHAT ACTIVATES HIS
POWER.
THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE IN
THE CROWD THAT DAY THAT WERE
SICK, MANY PEOPLE THAT HAD
NEEDS.
NO DOUBT, THEY'D BUMPED INTO
JESUS.
NOTHING HAPPENED, BUT THIS
LADY TOUCHED HIM.
ARE YOU BRUSHING UP AGAINST
HIM, OR ARE YOU TOUCHING HIM?
ARE YOU LIVING WITH
EXPECTANCY, KNOWING THAT HE'S
BIGGER THAN THOSE PROBLEMS,
GREATER THAN THAT SICKNESS,
MORE POWERFUL THAN THAT
OPPOSITION?
OR HAVE YOU BECOME
DISCOURAGED, THINKING, "IT'S
NEVER GOING TO CHANGE"?
GOD IS PASSING BY.
HE HAS ALL POWER.
DON'T JUST BRUSH UP AGAINST
HIM.
DON'T BE PASSIVE AND THINK
YOU COULD NEVER ACCOMPLISH
YOUR DREAMS, NEVER MEET THE
RIGHT PERSON, NEVER START
YOUR BUSINESS.
DO LIKE THIS LADY.
REACH OUT AND TOUCH HIM.
RELEASE YOUR FAITH.
BELIEVE THAT IT WILL HAPPEN.
THIS LADY WAS CLOSEST TO HER
MIRACLE WHEN SHE FACED THE
GREATEST OPPOSITION.
WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY IF JESUS
WOULD HAVE COME, JUST A FEW
DISCIPLES.
SHE COULD HAVE GONE OUT AND
TOUCHED HIM WITHOUT THE
STRUGGLE, WITHOUT ALL THE
PEOPLE IN THE WAY, BUT SHE
HAD TO FIGHT THROUGH THE
CROWD.
THE CROWD REPRESENTS BROKEN
DREAMS, THINGS THAT DIDN'T
WORK OUT, THOUGHTS TELLING
YOU, "IT'S NEVER GOING TO GET
BETTER.
YOU'LL NEVER GET WELL, NEVER
BREAK THE ADDICTION."
THE CROWD CAN BE NEGATIVE
WORDS PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN OVER
US.
"YOU'RE NOT THAT TALENTED.
YOU CAN'T ACCOMPLISH YOUR
DREAMS."
IF YOU'RE GOING TO REACH YOUR
POTENTIAL, YOU HAVE TO FIGHT
THROUGH SOME THINGS.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A WEAK, GIVE
UP, "THIS IS TOO HARD,"
SPIRIT.
YOU HAVE TO BE MORE
DETERMINED THAN WHAT'S TRYING
TO STOP YOU.
YOU MAY GET KNOCKED DOWN,
BUT YOU HAVE TO GET BACK UP
AGAIN.
YOU NEED TO HAVE A MADE-UP
MIND, "THIS DISAPPOINTMENT IS
NOT GOING TO STOP ME.
I'M NOT GOING TO LET THE
MISTAKES I'VE MADE, THE
GUILT, THE REGRETS CAUSE ME
TO SHRINK BACK.
I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW THE
BAD BREAKS, THE PEOPLE THAT
DID ME WRONG, THE REJECTION,
THE BETRAYAL CAUSE ME TO GET
BITTER AND STAY WHERE I AM.
I'M GOING TO FIGHT THROUGH
THE CROWD."
MANY OF THE MIRACLES JESUS
PERFORMED, HE LAID HIS HANDS
ON PEOPLE, AND THEY WERE
HEALED.
BUT IN THIS CASE, JESUS
DIDN'T LAY HANDS ON THE
WOMAN.
THE WOMAN LAID HANDS ON
JESUS.
ARE YOU WAITING FOR GOD TO
LAY HANDS ON YOU, SO TO
SPEAK?
"GOD, THIS PROBLEM'S SO BIG.
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT?"
WHY DON'T YOU LAY HANDS ON
HIM?
INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING ABOUT
THE PROBLEM, "LORD, I WANT TO
THANK YOU THAT THINGS ARE
TURNING IN MY FAVOR.
THANK YOU THAT NO WEAPON
FORMED AGAINST ME WILL
PROSPER.
LORD, THANK YOU THAT YOU HOLD
VICTORY IN STORE FOR THE
UPRIGHT.
I DON'T SEE A WAY, BUT, LORD,
I WANT TO THANK YOU I KNOW
YOU HAVE A WAY."
WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU'RE
LAYING HANDS ON GOD.
YOUR FAITH CAN INITIATE THE
HEALING.
YOUR FAITH CAN BE THE
CATALYST FOR GOD TO DO
AMAZING THINGS.
ACTS CHAPTER 14, THE APOSTLE
PAUL WAS TEACHING PEOPLE.
HE NOTICED A CRIPPLED MAN IN
THE CROWD.
HE'D BEEN THAT WAY SINCE
BIRTH AND NEVER WALKED.
VERSE 9 SAYS: "PAUL REALIZED
THE MAN HAD FAITH TO BE
HEALED."
HERE, THE MAN WAS JUST
SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE,
LISTENING TO PAUL, BUT HE
MUST HAVE HAD SUCH
ANTICIPATION ON HIS FACE.
PAUL MUST HAVE SEEN SOMETHING
IN HIS EXPRESSION, AN
EXPECTANCY THAT SOMETHING
GOOD WAS GOING TO HAPPEN,
LIKE A LITTLE CHILD AT A
CANDY STORE.
PAUL WAS SO IMPRESSED, HE
STOPPED HIS MESSAGE AND SAID,
"SIR, I CAN SEE YOU'RE READY
FOR YOUR MIRACLE, STAND UP."
THE MAN STOOD UP, AND
INSTANTLY, HE WAS HEALED,
BEGAN TO WALK FOR THE FIRST
TIME.
LIKE THAT MAN, WE SHOULD LIVE
WITH THIS ANTICIPATION THAT
SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
YES, WE'VE ALL HAD
DIFFICULTIES.
WE ALL HAVE A REASON TO BE
SOUR.
DON'T LET THAT TALK YOU OUT
OF WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE.
YOU WOULDN'T BE ALIVE IF
THERE WASN'T SOMETHING
AMAZING IN YOUR FUTURE.
CAN YOUR FAITH BE SEEN?
CAN ANYONE NOTICE THAT YOU'RE
EXPECTING TO GO TO A NEW
LEVEL?
ARE YOU TALKING LIKE IT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN, THINKING
LIKE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN,
BELIEVING LIKE IT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN?
GOD IS PASSING BY, BUT IF
YOU'RE NEGATIVE, "I DON'T SEE
HOW IT'LL WORK OUT.
I NEVER GET ANY GOOD BREAKS.
I'VE BEEN THIS WAY A LONG
TIME."
YOU MAY BRUSH UP AGAINST HIM,
BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TOUCH
HIM.
YOU HAVE TO SHOW GOD YOU'RE
READY TO BE HEALED, READY TO
BE FREE, READY TO BE BLESSED.
THERE SHOULD BE AN
EXPECTANCY, "IT COULD HAPPEN
TODAY."
YOU COULD MEET THE PERSON OF
YOUR DREAMS THIS WEEK.
YOU COULD SEE YOUR HEALTH
TURN AROUND THIS MONTH.
THIS YEAR COULD BE YOUR YEAR
TO GO TO A NEW LEVEL WHERE
THINGS FALL INTO PLACE.
GOOD BREAKS FIND YOU.
PROMISES YOU'VE BEEN
BELIEVING FOR SUDDENLY COME
TO PASS.
"WELL, JOEL, WHAT IF I
BELIEVE FOR IT AND IT DOESN'T
HAPPEN?"
WHAT IF YOU BELIEVE FOR IT
AND IT DOES HAPPEN?
WHEN YOU LIVE WITH
EXPECTANCY, WHERE YOUR FAITH
CAN BE SEEN IN YOUR
EXPRESSIONS, IN YOUR
ATTITUDE, IN HOW YOU TALK,
THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE GOD TO
NOTICE YOU IN A NEW WAY.
GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US.
HE HAS US IN THE PALM OF HIS
HAND, BUT FAITH IS WHAT GETS
HIS ATTENTION.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD
WITHOUT FAITH."
THAT'S A POWERFUL STATEMENT.
THAT MEANS YOU CAN BE
OBEDIENT, AND HAVE A SOUR
ATTITUDE AND LIMITED VISION,
AND NOT PLEASE GOD.
YOU CAN GIVE, SERVE, FEED THE
POOR, AND THAT'S ALL
IMPORTANT.
WE SHOULD DO THAT.
BUT IF YOU'RE NOT BELIEVING
FOR THINGS BIGGER THAN YOU
CAN ACCOMPLISH ON YOUR OWN,
IF YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING
DIFFICULTIES TO TURN AROUND,
IF YOU'RE NOT ANTICIPATING
NEW LEVELS, THANKING GOD THAT
HE'S BRINGING PROMISES TO
PASS, THEN YOU'RE NOT
RELEASING YOUR FAITH.
YOU HAVE TO STIR UP WHAT GOD
PUT IN YOU.
HE'S PASSING BY.
DON'T JUST SIT BACK AND
WATCH, "WELL, I WISH I COULD
BREAK THE ADDICTION.
I WISH I COULD ACCOMPLISH MY
DREAMS."
WHY DON'T YOU REACH OUT AND
TOUCH HIM?
"LORD, I WANT TO THANK YOU
THAT YOU'RE OPENING DOORS NO
MAN CAN SHUT.
THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE TAKING
ME WHERE I COULD NOT GO ON MY
OWN.
LORD, I BELIEVE HEALING IS ON
THE WAY.
FREEDOM IS ON THE WAY.
THE RIGHT PERSON IS ON THE
WAY.
ABUNDANCE IS ON THE WAY."
THAT'S HOW WE TOUCH GOD TODAY
WITH OUR FAITH.
"WELL, JOEL, I'M WAITING FOR
GOD TO DO SOMETHING."
MAYBE GOD IS WAITING ON YOU.
THIS LADY DIDN'T WAIT FOR
JESUS TO LAY HANDS ON HER.
SHE LAID HANDS ON HIM, AND I
REALIZE GOD HAS A PERFECT
TIME, BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
"NOW FAITH IS."
FAITH IS ALWAYS IN THE
PRESENT, AND THINGS MAY NOT
INSTANTLY CHANGE.
WE ALL HAVE WAITING PERIODS,
BUT OUR FAITH SHOULD STAY
ACTIVE.
OUR NORMAL ATTITUDE SHOULD
BE, "LORD, I'M LOOKING FOR
YOUR GOODNESS.
NOT NEXT WEEK.
NOT NEXT MONTH.
NOT NEXT YEAR.
I'M LOOKING FOR IT TODAY."
STAY IN THE NOW.
LIVE WITH THE ANTICIPATION
THAT IT COULD HAPPEN TODAY.
FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THERE'S
BEEN SOMETHING I'VE BEEN
BELIEVING FOR, WAYS THAT WE
CAN EXPAND THE MINISTRY, AND
EVERY DAY, I DID WHAT I'M
ASKING YOU TO DO.
"LORD, I THANK YOU THAT IT'S
ON THE WAY.
I THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE
MAKING THINGS HAPPEN THAT I
COULDN'T MAKE HAPPEN."
DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGN OF IT,
BUT EACH MORNING, I WENT OUT
WITH EXPECTANCY, LOOKING FOR
GOD'S GOODNESS, KNOWING IT
COULD HAPPEN AT ANY MOMENT.
THIS WENT ON MONTH AFTER
MONTH, EVEN YEAR AFTER YEAR,
NO SIGN.
HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT IT?
THE LADY IN THE SCRIPTURE
WAITED 12 YEARS, BUT SHE
WANTED IT SO BADLY, SHE
FOUGHT THROUGH THE CROWD.
EVERY VOICE SAID TO HER,
"STAY HOME, IT'S TOO MUCH
TROUBLE.
THERE'S SO MUCH OPPOSITION."
HER ATTITUDE WAS, "I'VE COME
TOO FAR TO STOP NOW.
I MAY BE TIRED.
I MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT
I'M GOING TO GET TO JESUS."
WHEN GOD SEES YOU DOING WHAT
YOU CAN, BELIEVING WHEN
THERE'S NO SIGN, THANKING HIM
WHEN YOU'RE WEAK, TAKING
STEPS OF FAITH WHEN YOU'RE
UNCOMFORTABLE, GOD WILL GIVE
YOU STRENGTH THAT GOES BEYOND
YOUR NATURAL ABILITY.
HE'LL HELP YOU DO WHAT YOU
COULDN'T DO ON YOUR OWN, AND
I JUST KEPT BELIEVING DAY
AFTER DAY, THANKING GOD, AND
LAST WEEK, ON MONDAY,
SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT I'VE
BEEN BELIEVING FOR FOR OVER
THREE YEARS, AND I WAS SO
GRATEFUL.
THEN TUESDAY MORNING,
SOMETHING EVEN MORE AMAZING
HAPPENED.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH,
TUESDAY EVENING, SOMETHING
BIGGER THAN THE FIRST TWO
COMBINED, MORE THAN I CAN
IMAGINE, HAPPENED.
IT WAS LIKE RAPID FIRE,
"BOOM, BOOM, BOOM," A FLOOD
OF GOD'S FAVOR.
THAT'S THE WAY GOD IS.
WHEN YOU STAY IN FAITH, AND
YOU CONSISTENTLY THANK HIM
EVEN WHEN THERE'S NO SIGN,
YOU WILL COME INTO THESE
SUDDENLIES, WHERE GOD NOT
ONLY SURPRISES YOU, YOU
DIDN'T SEE IT COMING, BUT IT
WILL EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATION.
THE SCRIPTURE TALKS ABOUT HOW
GOD WILL DO THINGS THAT WILL
CAUSE OUR HEAD TO SPIN.
MY HEAD WAS SPINNING THAT
NIGHT.
MAYBE YOU'VE BEEN PRAYING,
BELIEVING, EXPECTING FOR A
LONG TIME.
STAY ENCOURAGED, IT'S ON THE
WAY.
YOU ARE CLOSER THAN YOU
THINK.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN SOONER
THAN IT LOOKS.
THERE'S NO SIGN OF THINGS
IMPROVING.
EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME.
GET READY, GOD IS FULL OF
SURPRISES.
HE DOESN'T ALWAYS DO THINGS
IN A NORMAL WAY, WHERE IT
GRADUALLY GETS BETTER.
HE'LL DO THEM SUDDENLY, OUT
OF THE ORDINARY.
YOU DIDN'T SEE IT COMING.
IT'S BECAUSE DAY AFTER DAY,
WEEK AFTER WEEK, YOU KEPT
TOUCHING HIM.
YOU KEPT EXPECTING IT.
YOU KEPT THANKING HIM IT WAS
ON THE WAY.
YOU KEPT TALKING LIKE IT WAS
GOING TO HAPPEN.
YOUR FAITH IS GOING TO MAKE
YOU WHOLE.
YOUR FAITH IS GOING TO BREAK
THE ADDICTION.
YOUR FAITH IS GOING TO BRING
YOU OUT OF DEBT.
YOUR FAITH IS GOING TO HELP
YOU ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOD-GIVEN
DREAMS.
TALKED TO A LADY THAT STARTED
HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HER
LEGS.
HER MUSCLES AND JOINTS WERE
CAUSING HER SUCH PAIN.
GOT TO THE POINT WHERE SHE
COULDN'T WALK.
ALL THE DOCTORS COULD DO WAS
GIVE HER MEDICINE FOR THE
PAIN.
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, SHE
COULDN'T GO TO WORK.
SHE COULDN'T STAND UP.
SHE HAD TO STAY AT HOME OFF
OF HER FEET.
THE PROGNOSIS DIDN'T LOOK
GOOD.
SHE DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE WOULD
EVER WALK AGAIN.
ONE SATURDAY EVENING, SHE AND
HER HUSBAND WERE WATCHING OUR
SERVICES ONLINE.
AT THE END, I ALWAYS ASK
PEOPLE TO STAND TO RECEIVE
CHRIST.
WELL, HER HUSBAND STOOD UP
RIGHT THERE IN THE LIVING
ROOM.
SHE SMILED AND WAS PLEASANTLY
SURPRISED.
HE LOOKED AT HER AND SAID,
"COME ON, HONEY.
STAND UP WITH ME."
SHE WAS KIND OF CONFUSED,
SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
YOU KNOW I CAN'T STAND."
HE SAID, "SURE YOU CAN," AND
TOOK HER BY THE HANDS AND HE
HELPED HER UP.
HE HELD HER WHILE WE WERE
PRAYING, AND I CAN IMAGINE
GOD SEEING HER THERE,
STANDING IN GREAT PAIN, BEING
HELD BY HER HUSBAND, BUT
DETERMINED TO TAKE A STEP OF
FAITH.
I SAID AT THIS END, "WRITE
THIS DAY DOWN.
IT'S GOING TO BE A NEW DAY OF
VICTORY."
THAT SEED TOOK ROOT IN HER
HEART.
SHE BELIEVED IT WAS A NEW
DAY.
IN A FEW MINUTES, WHILE SHE
WAS SITTING ON THE COUCH, SHE
FELT THE BONES IN HER LEGS
BEGIN TO POP AND CRACK, AND
HER MUSCLES BEGAN TO MOVE.
SHE SAID, "I CAN'T EXPLAIN
IT, BUT SOMETHING UNUSUAL WAS
HAPPENING."
STRENGTH BEGAN TO COME BACK
INTO HER LEGS.
SUDDENLY, ALL THAT PAIN WAS
GONE.
HER HUSBAND HAD FALLEN
ASLEEP.
SHE STOOD UP AND WALKED INTO
THE BEDROOM.
HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
THE NEXT MORNING, THEY BOTH
GOT UP AND WENT TO CHURCH.
SHE SAID, "JOEL, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED, BUT I'VE BEEN
WALKING NORMAL EVER SINCE
THEN."
WHAT WAS THAT?
HER FAITH MADE HER WHOLE.
JUST LIKE THAT LADY FOUGHT
HER WAY THROUGH THE CROWD,
WHEN GOD SEES YOU RELEASING
YOUR FAITH, IT GETS HIS
ATTENTION.
THAT'S WHAT ACTIVATES HIS
POWER.
SHE COULD HAVE BEEN
DISCOURAGED, TOLD HER
HUSBAND, "DON'T BOTHER ME.
YOU KNOW I CAN'T STAND UP."
BUT AS AN ACT OF FAITH, EVEN
THOUGH HE HAD TO HOLD HER,
SHE STOOD UP.
CAN GOD SEE YOUR FAITH?
ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING THAT
SAYS, "I WANT TO BE WELL.
I WANT TO BE FREE.
I WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT
LEVEL."
THAT'S WHAT A MAN DID IN MARK
CHAPTER 10.
HIS NAME WAS BARTIMAEUS.
HE WAS A BLIND BEGGAR SITTING
ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
JESUS WAS LEAVING JERICHO AND
ABOUT TO PASS IN FRONT OF
HIM, AND WHEN HE FOUND OUT IT
WAS JESUS, HE STARTED
SHOUTING.
"JESUS, SON OF DAVID, HAVE
MERCY ON ME."
WELL, JESUS TECHNICALLY
WASN'T THE SON OF DAVID.
HE WAS THE SON OF JOSEPH.
WHY DID BARTIMAEUS CALL HIM,
"SON OF DAVID"?
HE RECOGNIZED HE WAS THE
MESSIAH.
A FEW CHAPTERS EARLIER, THE
RELIGIOUS LEADERS DIDN'T
RECOGNIZE JESUS.
THEY THOUGHT HE WAS A FRAUD.
THEY WERE JEALOUS,
INTIMIDATED.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT THIS
BLIND MAN, A MAN THAT DIDN'T
HAVE PHYSICAL SIGHT, WAS ONE
OF THE FIRST ONES TO
RECOGNIZE JESUS AS THE
MESSIAH, AND WHEN HE CRIED
OUT, "JESUS, SON OF DAVID,"
HE WAS SAYING, "MESSIAH,
HEALER, DELIVERER, MOST HIGH
GOD."
JESUS STOPPED IN HIS TRACKS.
I CAN IMAGINE JESUS THINKING,
"HERE'S SOMEONE THAT KNOWS
WHO I AM.
HE KNOWS I AM ALL POWERFUL.
HE'S EXPECTING MY GOODNESS."
WHEN BARTIMAEUS STARTED
SHOUTING, PEOPLE AROUND HIM
SAID, "BARTIMAEUS, BE QUIET.
YOU'RE CAUSING A SCENE.
HE'S GOING TO GET UPSET WITH
YOU."
PEOPLE WILL TRY TO TALK YOU
OUT OF YOUR MIRACLE.
THEY'LL TELL YOU ALL THE
REASONS WHY YOU CAN'T GET
WELL, WHY YOU WON'T BREAK THE
ADDICTION, WHY YOU WON'T MEET
THE RIGHT PERSON.
IT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW
WHAT GOD PUT IN YOU.
THEY CAN'T HEAR WHAT YOU
HEAR.
NEGATIVE VOICES WILL TRY TO
DISCOURAGE YOU, BUT WHEN YOU
GET QUIET, YOU'LL HEAR THAT
STILL, SMALL VOICE SAYING,
"THIS ADDICTION IS NOT YOUR
DESTINY.
YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS."
"LIVING IN LACK, NOT ABLE TO
GET AHEAD, IS NOT YOUR LOT IN
LIFE.
ABUNDANCE IS ON THE WAY."
"BEING DEPRESSED, NO PASSION,
THAT IS NOT WHO YOU ARE.
FREEDOM IS COMING.
JOY IS COMING.
BREAKTHROUGHS ARE COMING."
GOD WHISPERS IN YOUR SPIRIT
DREAMS AND PROMISES, WHAT YOU
CAN BECOME.
THE ENEMY WILL DO HIS BEST TO
DROWN THAT OUT.
NO MATTER HOW LOUD THOSE
OTHER VOICES ARE, DON'T LET
THEM TALK YOU OUT OF WHAT GOD
HAS WHISPERED IN YOUR SPIRIT.
THE SCRIPTURE TALKS ABOUT THE
SECRET PETITIONS OF OUR
HEARTS.
THAT'S THE DREAMS GOD GAVE
YOU AT NIGHT, THE PROMISE
THAT YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ANYONE
ABOUT.
IT SEEMS TOO FAR OUT, LIKE IT
COULD NEVER HAPPEN.
THAT'S GOD SPEAKING TO YOU.
HIS DREAM FOR YOUR LIFE IS
MUCH BIGGER THAN YOUR OWN.
BUT THESE PEOPLE SAW
BARTIMAEUS AS INSIGNIFICANT,
UNIMPORTANT, "HE'S JUST A
BLIND BEGGAR."
THEY TOLD HIM TO BE QUIET,
BUT BARTIMAEUS SHOUTED EVEN
LOUDER, AND WHEN JESUS HEARD
HIM, HE STOPPED AND SAID,
"LET HIM COME TO ME."
VERSE 50 SAYS: "BARTIMAEUS
THREW OFF HIS COAT."
THIS WAS SIGNIFICANT.
IN THOSE DAYS, SCHOLARS TELL
US WHEN A PERSON HAD A
LEGITIMATE DISABILITY, THEY
WERE GIVEN AN OFFICIAL COAT
FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAT GAVE
THEM THE RIGHT TO BEG.
THE BEGGAR'S COAT WAS VERY
VALUABLE.
THAT'S HOW THEY MADE THEIR
LIVING.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IT LABELED
YOU AS A BEGGAR.
JUST AS WE RECOGNIZE PEOPLE
BY THEIR UNIFORMS, POLICE
OFFICER, FIREFIGHTER, A
DOCTOR, WHEN YOU WORE THE
BEGGAR'S COAT, EVERYWHERE YOU
WENT, PEOPLE KNEW YOU'RE AT A
DISADVANTAGE, YOU'RE NOT UP
TO PAR.
IN A SENSE, THAT COAT GAVE
YOU THE RIGHT TO FEEL SORRY
FOR YOURSELF, THE RIGHT TO BE
DEPRESSED, THE RIGHT TO SIT
AROUND IN SELF-PITY.
WHEN BARTIMAEUS HEARD JESUS
SAY, "COME," THE FIRST THING
HE DID WAS THROW OFF HIS
COAT.
HIS ATTITUDE WAS, "THIS IS A
NEW DAY.
I AM DONE FEELING SORRY FOR
MYSELF.
I'M DONE WEARING THIS LABEL
THAT SAYS, 'DISADVANTAGED.'
I'M DONE BEGGING.
I DON'T NEED THIS COAT
ANYMORE."
HE CHANGED HIS MIND-SET.
"I AM NOT A VICTIM.
I AM A VICTOR.
GOD IS ON THE THRONE.
HE'S BIGGER THAN THIS
PROBLEM.
HE HAS BEAUTY FOR THESE
ASHES."
HE GOT RID OF THE EXCUSES.
AS LONG AS YOU JUSTIFY WHERE
YOU ARE, MAKING EXCUSES AS TO
WHY YOU CAN'T RISE HIGHER,
WHY YOU'RE AT A DISADVANTAGE,
WHY YOU'RE BITTER, THEN
YOU'LL GET STUCK, AND I
WONDER HOW MANY OF US ARE
WEARING THAT BEGGAR'S COAT.
"JOEL, I HAD A BAD CHILDHOOD.
I'VE GOT A GOOD REASON TO BE
BITTER."
"SOMEBODY WALKED OUT OF A
RELATIONSHIP."
"I LOST A LOVED ONE."
"I CAME DOWN WITH AN ILLNESS.
THAT'S WHY I'M NEGATIVE.
THAT'S WHY I'M SOUR."
BEFORE YOU CAN GET WELL, YOU
HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE BEGGAR'S
COAT.
CAN I TELL YOU, WE ALL HAVE A
REASON TO FEEL SORRY FOR
OURSELVES?
EVERYBODY'S BEEN HURT.
EVERYBODY'S MADE MISTAKES.
EVERYBODY'S HAD
DISAPPOINTMENTS.
GET RID OF THE EXCUSES.
IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FAIR,
BUT GOD IS FAIR.
HE'S A GOD OF JUSTICE.
HE WOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED IT
IF IT WAS GOING TO KEEP YOU
FROM YOUR PURPOSE, AND I'M
ALL FOR BEING COMPASSIONATE,
LOVING, KIND, BUT I DON'T
BELIEVE IN GIVING PEOPLE THE
RIGHT TO FEEL SORRY FOR
THEMSELVES.
NOT BECAUSE IT WASN'T FAIR,
NOT BECAUSE LIFE DIDN'T THROW
YOU A CURVE, BUT BECAUSE IT
WILL KEEP YOU FROM SEEING THE
BEAUTY FROM ASHES.
IT WILL KEEP YOU FROM BEING
RESTORED, HEALED, VINDICATED,
PROMOTED.
GOD WANTS TO MAKE THE ENEMY
PAY.
HE WANTS TO BRING YOU OUT
BETTER.
DO YOUR PART.
TAKE OFF THE SELF-PITY.
TAKE OFF THE HURTS.
TAKE OFF THE DISAPPOINTMENTS.
YOU CAN'T REACH YOUR DESTINY
MAKING EXCUSES, AND AS LONG
AS YOU'RE WEARING THE
BEGGAR'S COAT, GIVING
YOURSELF A REASON TO BE
BITTER AND FEEL
DISADVANTAGED, FEEL LESS
THAN, IT WILL KEEP YOU FROM
THE NEW LEVELS GOD HAS IN
STORE.
WHEN BARTIMAEUS TOOK OFF THAT
COAT, HE WAS NOT ONLY LEAVING
HIS LIVELIHOOD, HE WAS
LEAVING THE NEGATIVE THINGS
OF THE PAST.
IT WAS SYMBOLIC.
HE WAS LEAVING THE
DYSFUNCTION, THE BAD BREAKS.
YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO
LEAVE SOME THINGS IF YOU'RE
GOING TO BECOME ALL YOU WERE
CREATED TO BE.
YOU MAY NEED TO LEAVE
BITTERNESS, LEAVE A BAD
ATTITUDE, LEAVE COMPROMISE.
JESUS TOLD BARTIMAEUS TO
COME.
HE COULDN'T SEE, BUT HE
STARTED WALKING TOWARD JESUS
BASED SOLELY ON WHAT HE
HEARD.
YOU MAY NOT SEE HEALING YET,
BUT YOU HAVE TO GO BY WHAT
YOU'VE HEARD.
"BY HIS STRIPES I AM
HEALED."
YOU DON'T SEE INCREASE YET.
BUSINESS IS SLOW.
GO BY WHAT YOU'VE HEARD.
"I WILL LEND AND NOT
BORROW."
YOUR CHILD'S OFF COURSE, NO
SIGN OF HIM IMPROVING.
"AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE
WILL SERVE THE LORD."
"WALK BY FAITH, AND NOT BY
SIGHT."
JESUS ASKED BARTIMAEUS, "WHAT
IS IT THAT YOU WANT ME TO DO
FOR YOU?"
HE SAID, "LORD, I WANT TO
SEE."
JESUS SAID, "YOUR FAITH HAS
MADE YOU WHOLE.
GO IN PEACE.
YOU ARE HEALED."
INSTANTLY, HE COULD SEE.
GOD IS SAYING TO US WHAT HE
SAID TO HIM.
YOUR FAITH IS GOING TO TURN
THINGS AROUND.
YOUR FAITH IS GOING TO OPEN
THE RIGHT DOORS.
YOUR FAITH IS GOING TO BRING
UNUSUAL FAVOR.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN SOONER
THAN IT LOOKS.
KEEP EXPECTING IT.
KEEP TALKING LIKE IT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN.
GO OUT EACH MORNING LOOKING
FOR GOD'S GOODNESS.
HE'S PASSING BY.
DON'T JUST BRUSH UP AGAINST
HIM.
DO LIKE THIS LADY.
REACH OUT AND TOUCH HIM.
IF YOU'LL DO THIS, I BELIEVE
AND DECLARE, LIKE BARTIMAEUS,
YOUR FAITH IS GOING TO MAKE
THINGS HAPPEN THAT YOU COULD
NEVER MAKE HAPPEN.
GOD IS ABOUT TO OPEN
SUPERNATURAL DOORS, TURN
IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS AROUND,
AND TAKE YOU TO THE FULLNESS
OF YOUR DESTINY, IN JESUS'S
NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY, "AMEN," TODAY?
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS THE
LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?
JUST SAY: "LORD JESUS, I
REPENT OF MY SINS.
COME INTO MY HEART.
I MAKE YOU MY LORD AND
SAVIOR."
FRIENDS, IF YOU PRAYED THAT
SIMPLE PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU
GOT BORN AGAIN.
GET IN A GOOD BIBLE-BASED
CHURCH.
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
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