[MUSIC]
GOD BLESS YOU.
IT'S A JOY TO COME INTO YOUR
HOMES, AND IF YOU'RE EVER IN
OUR AREA, PLEASE STOP BY, BE
PART OF ONE OF OUR SERVICES.
I PROMISE YOU, WE'LL MAKE YOU
FEEL RIGHT AT HOME.
I LIKE TO START
WITH SOMETHING FUNNY.
ONE DAY ADAM SAID TO GOD,
"WHY DID YOU MAKE EVE
SO BEAUTIFUL?"
GOD SAID, "SO YOU WOULD
LOVE HER."
HE SAID, "WELL, WHY DID YOU
GIVE HER SUCH LONG
FLOWING HAIR?"
GOD SAID IT AGAIN,
"SO YOU WOULD LOVE HER."
"SO, WELL, GOD,
WHY'D YOU GIVE HER SUCH
A GREAT FIGURE?"
GOD SAID THE SAME THING,
"SO YOU WOULD LOVE HER."
ADAM SAID, "ALL RIGHT,
GOD, YOU MADE HER
SO BEAUTIFUL, SO ATTRACTIVE,
WHY'D YOU MAKE HER
SO DUMB?"
GOD SAID, "THAT'S EASY, ADAM,
SO SHE WOULD LOVE YOU!"
AND ALL THE LADIES SAID AMEN!
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'LL BOLDLY CONFESS MY MIND
IS ALERT, MY HEART IS
RECEPTIVE, I WILL NEVER BE
THE SAME, IN JESUS' NAME.
GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT "YOU ARE
FULLY LOADED."
WHEN GOD CREATED YOU, HE PUT
IN YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED
TO FULFILL YOUR DESTINY.
GOD IS A STRATEGIC GOD.
HE'S NOT RANDOM.
HE DIDN'T JUST CREATE YOU
AND SAY, "LET'S SEE WHAT
THEY CAN DO.
LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS."
GOD IS PRECISE.
HE'S INTENTIONAL,
DOWN TO THE SMALLEST
DETAIL, AND WHEN HE LAID OUT
THE PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE,
HE CAREFULLY STUDIED IT.
HE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU
WOULD NEED, WHAT IT WOULD
TAKE TO GET YOU THERE,
THEN HE MATCHED YOU
WITH YOUR WORLD.
HE GAVE YOU THE TALENT YOU
NEED, THE CREATIVITY,
THE STRENGTH.
YOU'RE THE RIGHT SIZE,
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT LOOKS,
THE RIGHT PERSONALITY,
THE RIGHT FAMILY.
YOU DIDN'T GET SHORTCHANGED.
YOU ARE FULLY LOADED AND
COMPLETELY EQUIPPED FOR THE
RACE THAT'S BEEN DESIGNED
FOR YOU.
NOW QUIT WISHING YOU WERE
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: "IF I
HAD A BETTER PERSONALITY,
THEN I COULD DO SOMETHING
GREAT," "IF I CAME FROM
A DIFFERENT FAMILY,"
"IF I WASN'T SO SMALL, JOEL..."
HAVE A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
IF YOU NEEDED TO BE TALLER,
GOD WOULD'VE MADE YOU TALLER.
IF YOU NEEDED A DIFFERENT
PERSONALITY, HE WOULD'VE
GIVEN YOU ONE.
IF YOU NEEDED TO BE ANOTHER
NATIONALITY, YOU WOULD BE
ANOTHER NATIONALITY.
GOD DOESN'T MAKE MISTAKES.
YOU'RE NOT FAULTY.
YOU HAVE BEEN FEARFULLY
AND WONDERFULLY MADE.
WHEN GOD CREATED THE
UNIVERSE, WHEN HE FLUNG STARS
INTO SPACE, HE SAID,
"THAT WAS GOOD."
WHEN HE CREATED MOUNTAINS,
OCEANS, SUNSETS, HE SAID,
"THAT WAS GOOD."
WHEN HE MADE ANIMALS, LIONS,
EAGLES, BUTTERFLIES,
HE SAID, "THAT WAS GOOD."
BUT WHEN GOD CREATED YOU,
WHEN HE SAW HOW MAGNIFICENT
YOU ARE, HOW STRONG,
HOW ATTRACTIVE, HOW TALENTED,
GOD LOOKED AT YOU AND SAID,
"THAT WAS VERY GOOD."
HE DIDN'T SAY THE SOLAR
SYSTEM WAS VERY GOOD.
HE DIDN'T SAY THE ROCKY
MOUNTAINS WERE VERY GOOD.
THE ONLY TIME HE USED "VERY
GOOD" IS WHEN HE CREATED YOU.
IN EPHESIANS, HE CALLS YOU
"A MASTERPIECE."
WHEN THE CREATOR OF THE
UNIVERSE SAYS, "YOU ARE VERY
GOOD," THAT MEANS YOU ARE
BAD TO THE BONE!
NOW, DON'T GO AROUND
FEELING SHORTCHANGED, LIKE
SOMEHOW YOU'RE LACKING,
YOU DIDN'T GET ENOUGH,
YOU CAN'T DO
WHAT THEY CAN DO.
IF YOU DIDN'T GET WHAT
SOMEBODY ELSE HAS,
THAT MEANS YOU DON'T NEED IT.
QUIT COMPARING YOURSELF
AND RUN YOUR RACE.
BE WHO GOD CREATED YOU TO BE.
YOU ARE AN ORIGINAL.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER
THE WORLD THAT NOBODY
ELSE HAS.
LET YOUR GIFTS SHINE.
SHOW YOUR TALENT, YOUR
PERSONALITY, YOUR STYLE.
WE DON'T NEED AN IMITATION.
WE DON'T NEED A COPY.
WE NEED THE ORIGINAL YOU, BUT
WHEN WE WANT WHAT SOMEBODY
ELSE HAS, WE WISH WE HAD
THEIR LOOKS, THEIR TALENT,
THEIR PERSONALITY,
THE TRUTH IS, IF YOU HAD IT, IT
WOULDN'T BE A BLESSING.
IT WOULD BE A BURDEN.
IT WASN'T DESIGNED FOR YOU.
THE REASON IT WORKS FOR THEM
IS BECAUSE IT FITS THEM.
THEY'RE WALKING
IN THEIR ANOINTING.
YOU ARE NOT ANOINTED
TO BE SOMEBODY ELSE.
AS LONG AS YOU'RE TRYING
TO BE LIKE THEM,
YOU'LL BE FRUSTRATED.
THE ANOINTING ON YOUR LIFE
IS TO BE WHO GOD CALLED YOU
TO BE.
BE CONFIDENT
IN WHAT YOU HAVE.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT LOOKS,
THE RIGHT TALENT,
THE RIGHT PERSONALITY.
IT MAY NOT BE WHAT SOMEBODY
ELSE HAS, BUT YOU'RE NOT
RUNNING THEIR RACE.
WHEN MY FATHER WENT
TO BE WITH THE LORD,
HE HAD PASTORED LAKEWOOD
FOR 40 YEARS.
I HAD BEEN BEHIND THE SCENES,
DOING THE TELEVISION
PRODUCTION, AND WHEN HE DIED,
I'D ONLY MINISTERED ONE TIME,
BUT I KNEW I WAS SUPPOSED
TO STEP UP AND PASTOR
THE CHURCH, BUT I THOUGHT
I NEEDED TO BE LIKE MY DAD.
AFTER ALL, PEOPLE HAD COME
TO HEAR HIM FOR YEARS,
AND I KNEW THAT'S WHAT
THEY WERE EXPECTING.
THE FIRST FEW MONTHS, I TRIED
TO PREACH LIKE MY DAD
AND LEAD LIKE MY DAD,
BUT IT WAS A STRUGGLE.
I HAD GOOD INTENTIONS.
I WANTED TO HONOR MY FATHER,
BUT THERE'S NO GRACE ON YOUR
LIFE TO BE SOMEBODY ELSE.
ONE DAY, I READ A SCRIPTURE.
IT SAYS IN ACTS, "DAVID
FULFILLED HIS PURPOSE
FOR HIS GENERATION."
I HEARD SOMETHING DOWN IN
HERE SAY, "JOEL, YOUR FATHER
FULFILLED HIS PURPOSE.
NOW QUIT TRYING TO BE LIKE
HIM, AND GO OUT AND FULFILL
YOUR PURPOSE."
IT WAS LIKE A STRONGHOLD
WAS BROKEN IN MY MIND.
I REALIZED I'M FREE TO BE ME.
I QUIT TRYING TO IMITATE MY
FATHER, AND I STEPPED
INTO MY OWN ANOINTING.
THAT'S WHEN THE MINISTRY
BEGAN TO GROW.
SEE, I'VE LEARNED IT'S EASY
TO BE ME.
I DON'T HAVE TO PRETEND.
I DON'T HAVE TO PERFORM.
TAKES ALL THE PRESSURE OFF.
I CAN RELAX
AND JUST BE MYSELF.
WHEN YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH
WHO YOU ARE, WHEN YOU'RE NOT
TRYING TO IMPRESS PEOPLE,
YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO BE
SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE NOT,
THEN YOUR OWN UNIQUENESS
WILL COME OUT.
YOU'LL BE MORE CREATIVE.
YOUR TALENT WILL COME OUT
IN GREATER WAYS.
THE RIGHT PEOPLE
WILL SHOW UP.
WHY?
BECAUSE YOU'VE STEPPED INTO
THE ANOINTING ON YOUR LIFE.
BE YOU.
YOU ARE POWERFUL
WHEN YOU'RE YOU.
HERE'S A KEY: NOBODY CAN
BEAT YOU AT BEING YOU.
YOU CAN BE A BETTER YOU THAN
ANYBODY IN THE WORLD.
YOU HAVE AN ADVANTAGE.
YOU'VE BEEN ANOINTED
TO BE YOU.
WHEN I MINISTER,
I'M MORE CONVERSATIONAL,
AND I DON'T GET REAL LOUD
AND REAL EXCITED.
BUT GROWING UP, I USED TO
THINK TO BE AN EFFECTIVE
MINISTER, YOU HAD TO BE LOUD
AND FORCEFUL AND DYNAMIC, AND
I HAVE MINISTER FRIENDS THAT
ARE THAT WAY, AND THEY ARE
VERY POWERFUL.
THAT'S WHO THEY ARE.
BUT I'VE LEARNED WHEN YOU'RE
WHO YOU ARE, YOU CAN BE QUIET
AND BE POWERFUL.
YOU CAN BE SMALL
AND BE POWERFUL.
YOU CAN BE BEHIND THE SCENES
AND BE POWERFUL.
THE WHOLE KEY IS TO BE YOU
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE YOU,
YOU ACTIVATE YOUR ANOINTING.
THERE'S A FAVOR, A BLESSING,
A GRACE THAT IS UNIQUE
TO YOUR LIFE.
BUT TOO OFTEN, WHEN WE SEE
SOMEONE THAT'S MORE TALENTED,
MORE SUCCESSFUL,
MORE BLESSED,
THERE'S A TENDENCY TO BE
ENVIOUS AND THINK,
"WHY CAN'T I DO THAT?
I WANT WHAT THEY HAVE."
IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL, BEFORE
LONG, WE'LL BE COMPETING WITH
THEM, TRYING TO OUTPERFORM
THEM, OUT-DRESS THEM,
OUTDRIVE THEM, OUT-WORK THEM.
THE PROBLEM IS YOU'RE
COMPETING WITH SOMEONE
THAT'S NOT IN YOUR RACE.
YOUR RACE IS SPECIFICALLY
FOR YOU.
YOU'RE NOT IN COMPETITION
WITH YOUR FRIENDS,
YOUR NEIGHBORS,
YOUR CO-WORKERS,
YOUR SIBLINGS.
THE ONLY COMPETITION YOU HAVE
IS WITH YOURSELF,
TO BE THE BEST
THAT YOU CAN BE.
I REALIZE I CAN'T PREACH LIKE
BISHOP JAKES, I CAN'T SING
LIKE STEVE CRAWFORD, I CAN'T
DO SURGERY LIKE MY BROTHER
PAUL, BUT I CAN
ENCOURAGE SOMEONE.
I CAN INSPIRE A FEW PEOPLE.
I CAN SMILE.
I'M GOOD AT THAT!
DON'T GET DISTRACTED TRYING
TO KEEP UP WITH SOMEONE
YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED
TO KEEP UP WITH.
WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND YOU ARE
FULLY LOADED FOR THE RACE
THAT'S BEEN DESIGNED FOR YOU,
INSTEAD OF COMPETING
WITH PEOPLE,
YOU'LL CELEBRATE THEM.
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IS "THEY
MAY HAVE SOMETHING THAT
I DON'T, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
I'M NOT RUNNING THEIR RACE.
I'M EQUIPPED
FOR MY DESTINY."
THIS IS WHY KING SAUL
LOST THE THRONE.
WHEN HE SAW DAVID
RISING HIGHER THAN HIM,
GAINING MORE INFLUENCE,
INSTEAD OF CELEBRATING DAVID,
HE BECAME JEALOUS.
PEOPLE STARTED SINGING, "SAUL
HAS DEFEATED THOUSANDS..."
HE WAS HAPPY.
"PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING ME.
I'VE DONE SOMETHING GREAT!"
BUT THEN THE SONG CONTINUED,
"AND DAVID HAS DEFEATED
TENS OF THOUSANDS."
SAUL COULDN'T HANDLE ANYBODY
BEING IN FRONT OF HIM.
HE DIDN'T REALIZE THEY
WEREN'T IN THE SAME RACE.
HE WASN'T COMPETING
WITH DAVID.
IF HE WOULD'VE BEEN HAPPY FOR
HIM, HE WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED
HIS DESTINY.
WHEN WE START COMPETING WITH
PEOPLE, WE GET DISTRACTED, WE
LOSE FOCUS, AND BEFORE LONG,
WE'RE WASTING TIME ON THINGS
THAT ARE NOT MOVING US
TOWARD OUR PURPOSE.
I HEARD A QUOTE: "SUCCESSFUL
PEOPLE ARE SO FOCUSED ON
THEIR OWN GOALS, THEY DON'T
HAVE TIME TO LOOK AROUND TO
SEE WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE
IS DOING."
RUN YOUR RACE, AND WHEN
SOMEBODY PASSES YOU BY,
DON'T BE INTIMIDATED.
BE INSPIRED.
IF GOD DID IT FOR THEM, HE
CAN DO IT FOR YOU, BUT IF YOU
CAN'T CELEBRATE PEOPLE THAT
ARE FURTHER ALONG THAN YOU,
THEN YOU'LL NEVER GET
TO WHERE THEY ARE.
YOU HAVE TO PASS THE TEST OF
BEING HAPPY FOR PEOPLE THAT
HAVE PASSED YOU UP BECAUSE
THERE WILL BE THE TENDENCY
TO BE JEALOUS, START FINDING
FAULT, BEING CRITICAL:
"WELL, THEY DON'T DESERVE IT.
THEY'RE NOT THAT
TALENTED ANYWAY.
LET ME TELL YOU SOME BAD
THINGS I HEARD ABOUT THEM."
DON'T FALL INTO THAT TRAP.
GOD SHOWING THEM FAVOR
DOESN'T MEAN HE'S NOT GOING
TO SHOW YOU FAVOR.
BE HAPPY FOR THEM, AND WHEN
YOU SEE SOMEONE THAT'S
BLESSED, THEY'RE RISING
HIGHER, IT'S EASY TO THINK,
"WELL, THEY'VE JUST HAD
A LOT OF GOOD BREAKS."
WHAT YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IS
THE FAVOR ON THEIR LIFE
DIDN'T COME WITHOUT PAIN.
THE PROMOTION DIDN'T COME
WITHOUT STRUGGLES,
WITHOUT THEM FIGHTING OFF
DISCOURAGEMENT, WITHOUT THEM
PRESSING FORWARD WHEN
THEY FELT LIKE GIVING UP.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT TOOK
FOR THEM TO GET WHERE
THEY ARE.
SOMETIMES WE COME IN
AT THE END OF THE MOVIE.
WE SEE EVERYTHING
WORKING OUT.
THEY'RE HAPPY, BLESSED,
SUCCESSFUL.
WHAT WE DIDN'T SEE WAS THE
MIDDLE: THE TEARS, THE LONELY
NIGHTS, THE STRUGGLES.
BE BIG ENOUGH TO CELEBRATE
WHAT GOD'S DOING
IN THEIR LIFE.
DON'T BE A SAUL.
DON'T MISS YOUR DESTINY
BECAUSE YOU'RE SOUR THAT
SOMEBODY PASSED YOU UP.
THEIR SUCCESS IS NOT STOPPING
WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO
IN YOUR LIFE.
GOD DIDN'T USE UP ALL
OF HIS FAVOR ON THEM.
IT'S A TEST.
ARE YOU GOING TO COMPETE WITH
THEM AND SPEND ALL YOUR
ENERGY, TRYING TO KEEP UP, OR
ARE YOU GOING TO CELEBRATE
WHAT GOD HAS DONE?
YOU CAN TELL WHO YOUR TRUE
FRIENDS ARE, NOT BY WHO
COMES WHEN YOU FALL,
WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE.
PEOPLE WILL FEEL SORRY.
THEY'LL SHOW UP TO HELP YOU.
YOUR TRUE FRIENDS ARE
THE ONES THAT SHOW UP
WHEN YOU SUCCEED.
THEY CELEBRATE WHEN
YOU'RE PROMOTED.
THEY'RE HAPPY WHEN
GOD BLESSES YOU.
THEY'RE HIGH-FIVING YOU WHEN
YOU MOVE INTO THAT NEW HOUSE.
YOU'VE HEARD THE SAYING:
"IT'S LONELY AT THE TOP."
IT'S BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY
CAN HANDLE YOUR SUCCESS, AND
TOO OFTEN PEOPLE GET ENVIOUS,
JEALOUS, CRITICAL.
LET'S PASS THIS TEST.
WHEN SOMEBODY PASSES YOU BY,
GIVE THEM A HIGH FIVE AND
KEEPING RUNNING YOUR RACE.
DON'T LOOK TO THE LEFT
NOR TO THE RIGHT.
KEEP BEING WHO GOD'S MADE
YOU TO BE.
ONE TIME I WAS OUT RUNNING
THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND
I SAW THIS MAN IN FRONT OF ME
ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE,
AND HE WAS RUNNING TOO.
I THOUGHT, "I'M GOING
TO CATCH HIM."
I HAD ABOUT A MILE TO GO
BEFORE I NEEDED TO TURN OFF
AND GO DOWN MY PATH.
I PICKED UP THE PACE
AND STARTED GAINING ON HIM
AND GAINING ON HIM,
AND I WAS FEELING BETTER,
"LOOK WHAT I'M DOING!"
GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER,
AND I FINALLY PASSED HIM UP.
I BEAT HIM!
HE DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE
RACING, BUT I FELT GOOD
ABOUT IT!
ABOUT THAT TIME, I REALIZED I
WAS SO FOCUSED ON CATCHING
HIM, I MISSED MY TURN.
I HAD TO TURN AROUND AND GO
BACK ABOUT SIX BLOCKS TO
WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO TURN.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE
START COMPETING WITH PEOPLE.
IT'S A DISTRACTION.
WE'RE RUNNING IN A RACE WE'RE
NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN,
COMPETING WITH PEOPLE THAT,
MANY TIMES,
DON'T EVEN KNOW IT.
IF THAT MAN KNEW WE WERE
RACING, I'D PROBABLY STILL BE
TRYING TO CATCH HIM.
HE WOULD'VE SPED UP!
DON'T GET DISTRACTED.
RUN YOUR RACE.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, JOHN THE
BAPTIST WAS BAPTIZING PEOPLE
AND GAINING A LOT
OF ATTENTION.
ONE POINT, THE JEWISH LEADERS
CAME AND WONDERED
IF HE WAS THE CHRIST.
WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT,
JOHN SAID, "I AM NOT
THE MESSIAH."
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW NOT
ONLY WHO YOU ARE BUT TO KNOW
WHO YOU'RE NOT.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THIS, YOU
CAN SPEND YOUR LIFE TRYING TO
BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE NOT.
JOHN HAD NO PROBLEM SAYING,
"I AM NOT THE MESSIAH."
HE WAS SAYING, "I DON'T HAVE
TO BE THE MESSIAH TO FEEL
GOOD ABOUT MYSELF.
I'M CONTENT WITH WHO GOD
MADE ME TO BE."
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO BE
SOMETHING YOU'RE NOT,
YOU'LL BE FRUSTRATED.
THERE'S NO GRACE FOR IT.
IT'LL BE A CONSTANT STRUGGLE,
ALWAYS LIKE IT'S UPHILL.
THE SAUL WOULD'VE UNDERSTOOD
THIS, HE COULD'VE KEPT
THE THRONE.
IF HE WOULD'VE ACCEPTED,
"I AM NOT DAVID,"
"HE'S DEFEATED
TENS OF THOUSANDS,"
"HE'S DONE GREAT THINGS,"
"I'VE DEFEATED A THOUSAND,"
"GOD, YOU'VE BLESSED ME,"
IT WOULD'VE BEEN
A DIFFERENT STORY.
MOST OF THE TIME WE'RE HAPPY
UNTIL WE START COMPARING.
WHEN SAUL HEARD THE NUMBERS,
"DAVID, TENS OF THOUSANDS,"
I CAN IMAGINE HIM ASKING
SOMEONE, "HOW MANY DID THEY
SAY DAVID HAS DEFEATED?"
WHEN THEY ANSWERED,
"TENS OF THOUSANDS,"
SAUL'S WHOLE
PERSPECTIVE CHANGED.
HE WAS NO LONGER CONTENT
WITH HIS SUCCESS.
NOW HE WAS ENVIOUS, JEALOUS.
HE BASICALLY SPENT THE REST
OF HIS LIFE TRYING
TO BE DAVID.
ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS REALIZE
"I AM NOT DAVID.
GOD HAS BLESSED HIM
IN A DIFFERENT WAY."
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD.
MAY NOT SEEM FAIR TO US,
DOESN'T ALWAYS MAKE SENSE,
BUT GOD'S WAYS ARE NOT OUR
WAYS, AND THE SCRIPTURE TALKS
ABOUT HOW GOD HAS GIVEN TO
EVERY PERSON DIFFERENT GIFTS,
DIFFERENT TALENTS, ACCORDING
TO OUR OWN ABILITY.
EVERYONE DOESN'T GET THE
SAME, BUT WHAT HE GAVE YOU IS
WHAT YOU NEED TO FULFILL YOUR
DESTINY, AND WHETHER YOU'RE
A SAUL AND YOU CAN DEFEAT
A THOUSAND, OR YOU'RE A DAVID
AND YOU CAN DEFEAT TEN
THOUSAND, THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
IS "I'M GOING TO TAKE WHAT
GOD'S GIVEN ME AND MAKE
THE MOST OF IT."
DON'T COMPETE, DON'T COMPARE,
JUST RUN YOUR RACE.
IN THE PARABLE JESUS TOLD OF
THE TALENTS, THE OWNER GAVE
ONE MAN ONE TALENT,
ANOTHER MAN TWO TALENTS,
AND ANOTHER MAN FIVE TALENTS.
IT SEEMS LIKE IF GOD WAS
FAIR, HE WOULD'VE GIVEN THEM
ALL THE SAME NUMBER,
BUT GOD IS SOVEREIGN.
HE MAY GIVE YOU FIVE TALENTS
AND GIVE ME TWO TALENTS.
HE'S GOD.
I CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TWO,
TRY TO COMPETE WITH YOU AND
OUTPERFORM YOU, BUT THAT
DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT
THAT YOU STILL HAVE FIVE,
AND I STILL HAVE TWO.
A BETTER APPROACH IS TO SAY,
"GOD, I RECOGNIZE YOU ARE
SOVEREIGN, AND BEFORE YOU
GAVE ME THESE TWO TALENTS,
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY.
SO INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING
ABOUT THE TWO AND COMPETING
WITH THE FIVE, I'M GOING TO
TAKE THESE TWO TALENTS AND BE
THE BEST THAT I CAN BE."
IT TAKES A MATURE PERSON TO
RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU'RE NOT,
BUT KNOWING WHAT YOU'RE NOT
WILL HELP YOU STAY FOCUSED
ON BECOMING WHO YOU ARE
BECAUSE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
PRESSURES TO BE THIS, TO BE
THAT, TO BE THE OTHER.
EVERYONE WILL HAVE OPINIONS
ABOUT YOU, BUT DOWN IN YOUR
HEART, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
YOU CAN'T LET THE OUTSIDE
PRESSURES AND OTHER PEOPLE
SQUEEZE YOU INTO BECOMING
SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE NOT.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED
MINISTERING, I WAS YOUNG AND
DIDN'T HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE,
AND I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE
GIVING ME OPINIONS.
THEY TOLD ME HOW TO LEAD
THE CHURCH, HOW TO MINISTER,
WHAT I SHOULD SPEAK ON,
AND SOMETIMES IT WASN'T
WHAT THEY SAID,
JUST WHAT THEY INFERRED.
I COULD FEEL THE PRESSURE TO
BE WHO THEY WANTED ME TO BE,
AND THEY WERE GOOD PEOPLE,
BUT PEOPLE DIDN'T
BREATHE LIFE INTO YOU.
PEOPLE DIDN'T LAY OUT YOUR
PLAN AND PURPOSE.
PEOPLE DIDN'T PUT GIFTS AND
TALENTS ON THE INSIDE.
I WAS ALWAYS RESPECTFUL,
BUT I WAS FIRM.
A LOT OF THEIR ADVICE, WHEN I
HEARD IT, I KNEW IT WASN'T
WHAT GOD PUT IN MY HEART,
AND I HAD TO BE BOLD AND SAY,
"I AM NOT THAT.
I AM NOT THAT.
I AM NOT THAT.
THIS IS WHO I AM."
YOU HAVE TO BE STRONG.
IT'S YOUR DESTINY.
WHEN YOU COME TO THE END
OF LIFE, YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO ANSWER TO PEOPLE.
YOU'RE GOING TO ANSWER TO
GOD, AND PEOPLE MAY MEAN
WELL, THEY MAY LOVE YOU, BUT
IF IT DOESN'T BEAR WITNESS IN
YOUR SPIRIT, YOU HAVE TO BOLD
AND SAY LIKE, JOHN,
"THAT IS NOT WHO I AM."
HERE'S THE KEY:
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE
A GREAT GIFT FOR GOD
TO USE YOU IN A GREAT WAY.
YOU KNOW WHAT TOOK DAVID
TO THE THRONE?
IT WASN'T HIS LEADERSHIP
SKILLS, HIS ABILITY TO WRITE
MUSIC, HIS PERSONALITY,
HIS SIZE.
WHAT PROMOTED DAVID WAS HIS
GIFT OF SLINGING A ROCK.
HE WAS GOOD WITH A SLINGSHOT.
OUT IN THE SHEPHERDS' FIELDS,
HE HAD SPENT HOURS PRACTICING
AS A TEENAGER WHILE
HE WAS TAKING CARE
OF HIS FATHER'S SHEEP.
HE COULD'VE THOUGHT, "GOD,
WHY DIDN'T YOU GIVE ME AN
IMPRESSIVE GIFT?
WHY DID YOU JUST GIVE ME
ONE TALENT?
I'M AN EXPERT WITH
A SLINGSHOT.
BIG DEAL.
THAT'S NEVER GOING TO TAKE ME
ANY PLACE, BUT IF YOU'LL BE
FAITHFUL WITH THE GIFTS YOU
HAVE, IF YOU'LL DEVELOP IT,
GROW, LEARN, GET BETTER,
THAT GIFT WILL OPEN DOORS TO
PLACES YOU'VE NEVER DREAMED.
DON'T DISCOUNT YOUR GIFT.
IT MAY SEEM SMALL TO YOU.
COMPARED TO OTHERS,
IT FEELS INSIGNIFICANT,
BUT THERE IS NOTHING
ORDINARY ABOUT YOU.
YOU HAVE THE FINGERPRINTS
OF GOD ALL OVER YOU.
GOD MADE YOU
IN HIS OWN IMAGE.
HE CROWNED YOU WITH FAVOR.
YOU HAVE ROYAL BLOOD FLOWING
THROUGH YOUR VEINS.
DON'T BELIEVE THOSE LIES:
"THERE'S NOTHING SPECIAL
ABOUT YOU," "YOU'RE NOT AS
TALENTED AS YOUR BROTHER,"
"YOU DON'T HAVE A BIG
PERSONALITY LIKE YOUR
FRIEND," "YOU DON'T HAVE
THE DESIGN SKILLS LIKE
YOUR CO-WORKER--"
MAYBE NOT, BUT YOU DO HAVE
A SLINGSHOT.
THERE'S SOMETHING GOD HAS
GIVEN YOU, AND THAT SLINGSHOT
MAY SEEM ORDINARY, BUT WHEN
GOD BREATHES ON IT, YOU'LL
DEFEAT A GIANT TWICE YOUR
SIZE, YOU'LL BE PROMOTED
BEYOND YOUR TALENT, YOU'LL GO
PLACES WHERE YOU DIDN'T HAVE
THE EXPERIENCE.
YOU WEREN'T NEXT IN LINE, BUT
SUDDENLY THE DOOR OPENED,
SUDDENLY THE COMPAQ CENTER IS
YOURS, SUDDENLY PEOPLE
ARE CELEBRATING YOU.
BUT TOO OFTEN, WE LOOK AT
OTHERS AND THINK ABOUT HOW
GREAT THEY ARE.
WE PUT THEM ON A PEDESTAL,
BUT GOD HAS PUT GREATNESS
IN YOU.
HE'S GIVEN YOU GIFTS,
CREATIVITY, DREAMS.
HE CREATED YOU TO LEAVE YOUR
MARK ON THIS GENERATION.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO LIVE
AND DIE AND NOBODY KNEW
YOU WERE HERE.
THERE IS SOMETHING
SIGNIFICANT ABOUT YOU,
SOMETHING THAT WILL CAUSE YOU
TO STAND OUT WHERE, YEARS
FROM NOW, PEOPLE WILL LOOK
BACK AND SAY, "YOU MADE
THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE."
STIR UP THOSE GIFTS.
STIR UP THAT FAITH.
DON'T GET SO CAUGHT UP IN
CELEBRATING OTHERS THAT YOU
DON'T RECOGNIZE THERE'S
SOMETHING IN YOU
TO BE CELEBRATED.
JEREMIAH SAID, "YOUR WORD,
O LORD, IS LIKE FIRE SHUT UP
IN MY BONES."
THERE IS SOMETHING SHUT UP
IN YOU, SOMETHING BIG THAT'S
ABOUT TO BE RELEASED: DREAMS,
BOOKS, MOVIES, INVENTIONS,
BUSINESSES, MINISTRIES,
POTENTIAL THAT YOU HAVEN'T
TAPPED INTO, GIFTS
AND TALENTS THAT YOU DIDN'T
KNOW WERE THERE.
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THEM YET
BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN THE
RIGHT TIME, BUT YOUR SEASON
IS COMING: THE GOOD BREAK,
THE PROMOTION, THE
OPPORTUNITY, IT'S ON THE WAY.
NOW, DON'T BE SURPRISED
IF THERE'S OPPOSITION.
THAT PROMOTION MAY BE
DISGUISED AS GOLIATH.
THAT GIANT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S THERE TO STOP YOU,
BUT IT'S A SETUP.
IT'S GOING TO THRUST YOU TO
A NEW LEVEL.
YOU'RE GOING TO DISCOVER WHAT
THE SLINGSHOT WAS ALL ABOUT.
IT WAS A TEST.
YOU PROVED YOUR FAITHFULNESS:
YOU DID THE RIGHT THING WHEN
NOBODY WAS WATCHING, YOU KEPT
A GOOD ATTITUDE WHEN IT
WASN'T FAIR, YOU CELEBRATED
OTHERS WHEN YOU COULD'VE
BEEN JEALOUS.
NOW YOUR TIME IS COMING.
WHAT'S BEEN SHUT UP
IN YOUR SPIRIT IS ABOUT
TO BE RELEASED.
IT'S GOING TO BE BIGGER, MORE
REWARDING, MORE FULFILLING
THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED.
IT'S NOT GOING TO COME
THROUGH YOUR NEIGHBOR,
THROUGH YOUR COUSIN,
THROUGH YOUR BOSS,
THROUGH YOUR PASTOR.
IT'S GOING TO COME
THROUGH YOU.
IT'S YOUR BABY.
IT'S YOUR TIME TO BE
CELEBRATED.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN
THE SCRIPTURE WITH SARAH.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND ABRAHAM
WERE VERY OLD.
SARAH HAD BEEN BARREN HER
WHOLE LIFE AND NOT ABLE TO
HAVE CHILDREN, BUT IN GENESIS
17, GOD SAID TO ABRAHAM,
"I WILL GIVE SARAH A SON.
SHE WILL BE THE MOTHER
OF NATIONS.
KINGS OF PEOPLE WILL COME
OUT OF HER."
EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE SAID IT
WAS IMPOSSIBLE: SHE WAS OUT
IN THE DESERT, NO FERTILITY
TREATMENTS, NO MEDICAL
PROCEDURES, 80 YEARS OLD,
YET GOD SAID, "YOU HAVE KINGS
IN YOU."
YOU HAVE NATIONS IN YOU.
HE WAS SAYING, "SARAH,
WHAT I PUT IN YOU IS MORE
THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE."
GOD IS SAYING THE SAME THING
TO YOU: "THERE ARE KINGS IN
YOU," "THERE IS GREATNESS IN
YOU," "IT'S MUCH BIGGER THAN
WHAT YOU THINK."
DON'T LET CIRCUMSTANCES
TALK YOU OUT OF IT.
YOU MAY NOT SEE HOW
IT COULD WORK OUT.
GOD HAS WAYS TO DO IT THAT
YOU'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF.
ONE TOUCH OF GOD'S FAVOR
WILL CATAPULT YOU
TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
WHEN SARAH HEARD THIS, IT WAS
SO UNBELIEVABLE, SHE LAUGHED.
SHE SAID, "ME, HAVE A BABY?
I DON'T THINK SO!"
SHE LOVED THE IDEA, BUT SINCE
SHE WAS SO OLD, SHE THOUGHT
THE BABY WOULD HAVE TO COME
THROUGH SOMEBODY ELSE,
SO SHE TRIED TO HELP GOD OUT.
SHE HAD ABRAHAM SLEEP WITH
HER MAID, AND THEY HAD A SON.
SHE WAS SO EXCITED.
SHE SAID, "GOD, YOU DID
WHAT YOU SAID!"
GOD SAID, "SARAH, THAT IS
NOT THE PROMISED CHILD.
I DIDN'T PUT THE PROMISE
IN SOMEBODY ELSE.
I PUT THE PROMISE IN YOU."
AT 90 YEARS OLD, AGAINST ALL
ODDS, SHE BECAME PREGNANT
AND GAVE BIRTH TO A SON
NAMED ISAAC.
WHAT GOD PUT IN YOU, HE'S
STILL GOING TO BRING TO PASS.
YOU ARE PREGNANT
WITH DESTINY.
YOU ARE PREGNANT
WITH GREATNESS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO COME
THROUGH OTHERS.
YOU'RE GOING TO SHINE.
YOU'RE GOING TO EXCEL.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE PROMOTED.
YOU'RE GOING
TO BE CELEBRATED.
FRIENDS, YOU ARE
FULLY LOADED.
YOU'RE NOT AT A DEFICIT.
YOU'RE NOT LACKING.
YOU'RE FULL OF POTENTIAL,
FULL OF FAVOR.
LIKE SARAH, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN
BARREN FOR A LONG TIME.
YOU DON'T SEE HOW IT COULD
HAPPEN, BUT GET READY.
THIS IS A NEW DAY.
THINGS ARE CHANGING
IN YOUR FAVOR.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE WHAT'S
BEEN SHUT UP IN YOUR SPIRIT
IS BEING RELEASED.
DREAMS ARE BEING RELEASED,
POTENTIAL, PROMOTION,
HEALING, ABUNDANCE,
VINDICATION, BREAKTHROUGHS,
THE FULLNESS OF YOUR DESTINY,
IN JESUS' NAME, AND 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, 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.
For more infomation >> Clawbah and Emmuh: Blank Your Blanks - Duration: 3:16:34. 
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét