God’s favor is not for a season; it’s for a lifetime. Live each day expecting His goodness over your life.
? Subscribe to receive weekly messages of hope, encouragement, and inspiration from Joel! http://bit.ly/JoelYTSub
Follow #JoelOsteen on social
Twitter: http://Bit.ly/JoelOTW
Instagram: http://BIt.ly/JoelIG
Facebook: http://Bit.ly/JoelOFB
Thank you for your generosity! To give, visit https://joelosteen.com/give
Expecting a Favor Filled Future
JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU. IT’S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. I HOPE YOU’LL STAY CONNECTED WITH US DURING THE WEEK, THROUGH OUR DAILY PODCAST, OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, SOCIAL MEDIA. AND YOU CAN COME VISIT US IN PERSON. WE’D LOVE TO HAVE YOU BE A PART OF ONE OF OUR SERVICES. I LIKE TO START WITH SOMETHING FUNNY. I HEARD ABOUT THIS LADY. SHE WAS SITTING ON AN AIRPLANE READING HER BIBLE. THE GUY NEXT TO HER SAID, “YOU DON’T BELIEVE ALL THE STUFF IN THERE DO YOU?” SHE SAID, “OF COURSE I DO, IT’S THE BIBLE.” HE SAID, “WELL WHAT ABOUT THAT GUY THAT GOT SWALLOWED BY A WHALE?” SHE SAID, “YOU MEAN JONAH, YES I BELIEVE THAT TOO.” HE SAID, “WELL, HOW COULD HE POSSIBLY SURVIVE ALL THAT TIME INSIDE OF A WHALE.” SHE THOUGHT ABOUT IT A MOMENT AND SAID, “I DON’T KNOW. WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN, I’LL HAVE TO ASK HIM.” HE LAUGHED AND SAID,
“WHAT IF HE’S NOT IN HEAVEN?” SHE SAID, “THEN YOU’LL HAVE TO ASK HIM.” 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’ NAME. GOD BLESS YOU. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT EXPECTING A FAVOR FILLED FUTURE. IT’S EASY TO LOSE OUR PASSION IN LIFE. WHEN WE’VE BEEN THROUGH DISAPPOINTMENTS, DREAMS ARE TAKING LONGER THAN WE THOUGHT, WE’RE DEALING WITH A CHALLENGE. IF WE’RE NOT CAREFUL, WE’LL BECOME COMPLACENT, WHERE WE’RE NOT BELIEVING FOR THINGS TO TURN AROUND, NOT EXPECTING GOOD BREAKS. BUT PAUL SAID IN ROMANS, “BE GLAD FOR ALL GOD IS PLANNING FOR YOU.” IF YOU
COULD SEE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR YOU, IF YOU KNEW THE DOORS HE’S GOING TO OPEN, THE PEOPLE YOU’RE GOING TO MEET, THE GIANTS YOU’RE GOING TO DEFEAT, THEN YOU WOULD GO OUT EACH DAY WITH A SPRING IN YOUR STEP, EXCITED ABOUT YOUR FUTURE, EXPECTING GOD TO SHOW OUT IN YOUR LIFE. THAT EXPECTANCY IS WHAT ALLOWS GOD TO DO GREAT THINGS. THAT’S YOUR FAITH AT WORK. YOU MAY BE IN A DIFFICULT TIME. THOUGHTS WILL WHISPER, “IT’S NEVER GOING TO CHANGE. YOU’VE SEEN YOUR BEST DAYS.” DON’T BELIEVE THOSE LIES. GOD HAS A COMEBACK FOR EVERY SETBACK, A NEW BEGINNING FOR EVERY LOSS, MERCY FOR EVERY MISTAKE. HE’S ALREADY PLANNED TO BRING YOU OUT BETTER, TO PROMOTE YOU IN FRONT OF THOSE THAT DID YOU WRONG, TO HEAL YOU DESPITE THAT DIAGNOSIS. THERE ARE GOOD BREAKS IN YOUR FUTURE THAT WILL CATAPULT YOU AHEAD. WHEN YOU REALIZE THIS, IT
CHANGES YOUR PERSPECTIVE. YOU WON’T GET DISCOURAGED OVER PROBLEMS, THINKING A DREAM IS TOO BIG, THESE PEOPLE ARE TOO POWERFUL. THERE’LL BE A PASSION, AN EXPECTANCY. YOU KNOW GOD IS ON THE THRONE. YOU KNOW HIS PLANS FOR YOU ARE FOR GOOD. THAT HE’S ALREADY LINED UP THE RIGHT PEOPLE, THE BREAKS YOU NEED, THE FAVOR. THERE’S NOT A PROBLEM YOU’LL FACE THAT GOD HASN’T ALREADY LINED UP A SOLUTION. THERE’S NOT A GOLIATH THAT WILL TRY TO STOP YOU THAT GOD HASN’T ALREADY LINED UP A SLING SHOT AND A SMOOTH STONE. THERE’S NOT A DREAM IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD HASN’T ALREADY ARRANGED THE WISDOM, THE CREATIVITY, THE FUNDING. WHEN YOU KNOW GOD HAS GOOD PLANS, YOU’LL LIVE OUT OF A PLACE OF REST. NOT UPTIGHT, WONDERING HOW IT’S GOING TO WORK OUT. YOU KNOW IT’S ALREADY BEEN PLANNED; THE SCHEDULE HAS ALREADY BEEN SET, NOT BY
PEOPLE, NOT BY OPPOSITION, NOT BY THE ENEMY. THE MOST-HIGH GOD HAS PLANNED OUT YOUR DAYS. PSALM 30 SAYS THAT “GOD’S FAVOR IS NOT FOR A SEASON, IT’S FOR A LIFETIME.” IT’S NOT FOR A FEW YEARS, MAYBE IN YOUR TWENTIES, YOUR THIRTIES. “YOU’LL HAVE A FEW GOOD BREAKS.” NO, AS LONG AS YOU’RE BREATHING, THERE’S FAVOR ON YOUR LIFE. WE CAN ALL LOOK BACK AND SEE THESE MOMENTS OF FAVOR WHERE GOD OPENED A DOOR WE COULD HAVE NEVER OPENED. HE HAD YOU AT THE RIGHT PLACE AND YOU MET THAT PERSON AND FELL IN LOVE. HE PROMOTED YOU WHEN YOU WEREN’T NEXT IN LINE. HE HEALED YOU WHEN THE EXPERTS SAID THERE WAS NO WAY. YOU’VE SEEN GOD’S FAVOR IN THE PAST. THE GOOD NEWS IS GOD NEVER DOES HIS GREATEST FEATS IN YOUR YESTERDAYS, THEY’RE ALWAYS IN YOUR TOMORROWS. GOD DOESN’T WANT US TO LIVE OFF OLD VICTORIES. YES, WE CAN
CELEBRATE; YES, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE. BUT HE HAS SOME NEW VICTORIES. HE’S TAKING YOU FROM GLORY TO GLORY. WHAT’S IN YOUR FUTURE IS GOING TO SUPERSEDE ANYTHING YOU’VE SEEN IN THE PAST. THAT’S WHY WE CAN LIVE WITH EXPECTANCY. EXCITED WHEN OTHERS ARE DOWN, HOPEFUL WHEN OTHERS ARE DISCOURAGED, PRAISING WHEN OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING. WE KNOW HIS FAVOR IS FOR A LIFETIME, THAT WE HAVEN’T SEEN OUR BEST DAYS. I’M SURE YOU CAN SAY LIKE ME, THAT GOD’S BEEN GOOD TO YOU. YOU’VE BEEN BLESSED. BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “YOU HAVEN’T SEEN, HEARD OR IMAGINED WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR THOSE THAT LOVE HIM.” YOU’VE SEEN FAVOR BUT YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE FAVOR THAT’S COMING. YOU’VE SEEN BREAKTHROUGHS, GOD TURN AROUND THINGS, BUT YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE BREAKTHROUGHS THAT ARE COMING. YOU’VE SEEN PROMOTION, BUT YOU HAVEN’T
SEEN THE LEVELS GOD IS ABOUT TO TAKE YOU TO. PAUL SAID TO BE GLAD FOR ALL GOD IS PLANNING FOR YOU. HE’S INFERRING, IF YOU’RE NOT GLAD, IF YOU’RE NOT HOPEFUL, NOT EXPECTING, THEN YOU’RE NOT GOING TO SEE IT. YOU’LL MISS THE FAVOR, THE BLESSING THAT BELONGS TO YOU. “JOEL, I’VE SEEN GOD’S GOODNESS IN THE PAST, BUT THIS PROBLEM WITH MY HEALTH, THIS CHILD, MY FINANCES, I DON’T SEE HOW IT CAN WORK OUT.” DON’T TALK YOURSELF OUT OF IT. IF YOU COULD SEE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED, IF YOU COULD SEE WHAT HE IS ABOUT TO DO, YOU WOULD GET YOUR PASSION BACK. GOD SENT ME TO RELIGHT THAT FIRE. YES, HE’S BEEN GOOD TO YOU IN THE PAST, BUT THERE ARE NEW VICTORIES COMING. JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVEN’T SEEN ANYTHING IN A LONG TIME DOESN’T MEAN GOD IS NOT GOING TO DO IT. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THERE’S A SET TIME FOR GOD TO FAVOR
YOU. THERE ARE MARKED MOMENTS WHERE GOD HAS ALREADY PLANNED TO SUDDENLY PROMOTE YOU, SUDDENLY TURN IT AROUND, SUDDENLY OPEN THE DOOR. DAVID SAID, “WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME, IF I HAD NOT BELIEVED I WOULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD.” HE WAS SAYING, “I WOULDN’T BE WHERE I AM. I WOULDN’T HAVE DEFEATED GOLIATH. I WOULDN’T HAVE OUTLASTED KING SAUL. I WOULDN’T HAVE TAKEN THE THRONE, IF I HAD NOT BELIEVED THAT THE FAVOR OF GOD WAS ON MY LIFE, THAT HE HAD ALREADY LINED UP THE BREAKS, THE PROTECTION, THE PROMOTION THAT WOULD TAKE ME INTO MY DESTINY.” WHEN DAVID WAS A TEENAGER, HE WAS OUT IN THE SHEPHERD’S FIELDS, TAKING CARE OF HIS FATHER’S SHEEP. HE HAD A BIG DREAM FOR HIS LIFE, BUT NOBODY PAID ATTENTION TO HIM. HE WAS STUCK OUT THERE CLEANING UP AFTER THE SHEEP, PROTECTING THEM, FEEDING THEM. HIS
BROTHERS WERE IN THE ARMY. THEY HAD A PRESTIGIOUS POSITION. IT SEEMED LIKE DAVID HAD BEEN LEFT OUT, THAT HE WAS AT A DISADVANTAGE, ALMOST LIKE GOD HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT HIM. HE COULD HAVE BEEN DISCOURAGED, “THIS ISN’T FAIR. WHY DID I GET STUCK OUT HERE?” BUT OUT THERE IN THE LONELY SHEPHERD’S FIELDS, WHEN HE COULD HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING, MAYBE THAT’S WHERE HE WROTE, “SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY WILL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.” HE WAS SAYING, “THE ODDS MAY BE AGAINST ME, IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE I CAN ACCOMPLISH MY DREAM, BUT SURELY GOODNESS IS COMING, SURELY NEW DOORS ARE GOING TO OPEN, SURELY THE RIGHT PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP.” HE HAD SUCH A CONFIDENCE IN GOD. HE BELIEVED DESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES, DESPITE HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN, DESPITE WHO DIDN’T BELIEVE IN HIM, THAT HE WOULD LEAVE HIS MARK.
ONE DAY, UNEXPECTEDLY, THE PROPHET SAMUEL CAME TO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE TO ANOINT ONE OF THE SONS AS THE NEXT KING OF ISRAEL. HIS FATHER, JESSE, DIDN’T EVEN BOTHER TO CALL DAVID IN FROM THE SHEPHERD’S FIELDS. HE THOUGHT, “DAVID IS TOO YOUNG, TOO SMALL. HE’S NOT THAT TALENTED. HE’LL NEVER DO ANYTHING GREAT.” PEOPLE MAY OVERLOOK YOU, BUT GOD SEES YOU. THEY MAY JUDGE YOU, DISCOUNT YOU, LEAVE YOU OUT. THEY CAN’T SEE THE GREATNESS GOD PUT IN YOU. HE LOVES TO TAKE WHAT SOME CONSIDER WEAK AND CAUSE THEM TO CONFOUND THE WISE. SAMUEL SAID TO JESSE, “IT’S NONE OF THESE SONS, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER?” HE SAID, “YES, I HAVE A SON NAMED DAVID BUT I’M SURE IT’S NOT HIM.” THEY BROUGHT DAVID IN. SAMUEL TOOK ONE LOOK AT HIM AND SAID, “THAT’S THE ONE.” GOD HAD ALREADY PLANNED FOR DAVID TO BE THE KING. WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR
YOU, PEOPLE CANNOT STOP, BETRAYALS CAN’T STOP, REJECTION CAN’T STOP. GOD’S PLAN WILL OVERRIDE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WANT. HIS PLAN WILL SUPERSEDE THOSE THAT TRY TO PUSH YOU DOWN, LEAVE YOU OUT, TELL YOU YOU’RE NOT QUALIFIED. IT’S SIGNIFICANT THAT DAVID DIDN’T GO AFTER SAMUEL, SAMUEL CAME TO HIM. DAVID DIDN’T HAVE TO CAMPAIGN, TRY TO CONVINCE SAMUEL TO BE FOR HIM, PLAY UP TO HIM. SAMUEL CAME KNOCKING ON HIS DOOR. THERE ARE BLESSINGS IN YOUR FUTURE, GOOD BREAKS, THE RIGHT PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO COME LOOKING FOR YOU. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO AFTER THEM, GOD’S GOING TO CAUSE THEM TO FIND YOU. THESE MOMENTS OF FAVOR THAT GOD HAS ALREADY LINED UP TO THRUST YOU INTO YOUR DESTINY. I KNOW YOU’VE SEEN SOME IN THE PAST. THE GOOD NEWS IS HIS FAVOR IS FOR A LIFETIME. THERE ARE MORE FAVOR MOMENTS COMING YOUR WAY. THERE ARE MORE SAMUEL’S,
BLESSINGS, PROMOTION, HEALING, STILL ON YOUR SCHEDULE. NOW DO YOUR PART AND BE GLAD FOR ALL GOD HAS PLANNED FOR YOU. LIVE WITH EXPECTANCY, EXCITED ABOUT YOUR FUTURE, THANKING GOD FOR WHAT’S IN STORE. A PASTOR FRIEND OF MINE WANTED TO BUILD A NEW SANCTUARY. HE HAD TRIED FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT COULDN’T FIND ANY PROPERTY. A COUPLE OF TIMES, HE FOUND A PLACE, BUT IT WAS WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. HE DIDN’T HAVE THE FUNDS. NOTHING WAS COMING TOGETHER. HE COULD HAVE BEEN DISCOURAGED, THOUGHT, “IT’S NOT MEANT TO BE.” BUT HIS ATTITUDE WAS, “GOD, I KNOW YOU ALREADY HAVE THE RIGHT PLACE FOR US. GOD, I TRUST YOU.” ONE DAY, THE MAYOR OF HIS CITY, UNEXPECTEDLY CALLED. HE HAD NEVER MET THIS PASTOR, BUT HE HAD HEARD THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A BUILDING.
HE TOLD ABOUT THIS GROUP THAT BUILT A HUGE BUILDING FOR A CASINO. IT WAS JUST A FEW MILES FROM HIS CHURCH. BEFORE THEY MOVED IN, THEY WENT BANKRUPT. IT HAD OVER FORTY ACRES OF PARKING. THE BUILDING COULD FIT FOUR FOOTBALL FIELDS INSIDE. THE MAYOR ASKED THE PASTOR IF HE WAS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE BUILDING. THE PASTOR THOUGHT IT WOULD COST FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS. THEY COULDN’T AFFORD THAT. THE MAYOR SAID, “NO, WE CAN SELL IT TO YOU FOR UNDER TWO MILLION DOLLARS.” THE PASTOR NEVER DREAMED HE WOULD HAVE A FACILITY LIKE THAT. THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE FAVOR MOMENTS THAT GOD HAD ALREADY PLANNED. GOD HAS SOME OF THESE EXPLOSIVE BLESSINGS IN YOUR FUTURE, MOMENTS THAT WILL CATAPULT YOU FURTHER. YOU COULDN’T MAKE IT HAPPEN, YOU DIDN’T HAVE THE RESOURCES, THE FUNDING, THE CONNECTIONS, BUT THE FAVOR
OF GOD WILL OPEN THE DOOR, THE FAVOR OF GOD WILL BRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE, THE FAVOR OF GOD WILL TURN THAT PROBLEM AROUND. INSTEAD OF LIVING WORRIED, FRUSTRATED, DO LIKE DAVID, “SURELY GOODNESS IS COMING.” HE DIDN’T SAY, “I HOPE IT COMES, MAYBE IT COMES. THERE’S A CHANCE IT MAY SHOW UP.” HE SAID, “SURELY IT’S COMING.” OUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE, “SURELY BREAKTHROUGHS ARE COMING. SURELY PROMOTION IS ON THE WAY. SURELY HEALING, RESTORATION, NEW LEVELS ARE IN FRONT OF ME.” DAVID SAID IN PSALM 27, “I AM CONFIDENT I WILL SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD.” LOOK AT HIS ATTITUDE. IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE, PEOPLE COMING AGAINST HIM, LEFT OUT IN THE SHEPHERD’S FIELDS, YOU WOULD THINK HE WOULD BE DISCOURAGED, GIVEN UP ON HIS DREAMS. YET HE SAID, “I AM CONFIDENT GOD WILL TURN THIS AROUND. I AM CONFIDENT GOOD THINGS
ARE AHEAD OF ME. I AM CONFIDENT MY LATTER DAYS WILL BE BETTER THAN MY FORMER DAYS.” HE WAS CONVINCED THAT GOD HAD GOOD THINGS PLANNED FOR HIM. THAT HE WASN’T AT THE MERCY OF OTHER PEOPLE, HIS ENVIRONMENT, WHAT HE DIDN’T GET. HE KNEW GOD HAD THE FINAL SAY. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE WOULD LIVE WITH THAT SAME ATTITUDE, “I AM CONFIDENT I WILL SEE GOD’S GOODNESS.” HOW MUCH FURTHER WILL WE GO, IF WE HAD THIS MINDSET, “SURELY GOOD THINGS ARE IN MY FUTURE.” “YES, BUSINESS MAY BE SLOW. I’M STRUGGLING WITH MY FINANCES, BUT I AM CONFIDENT, JEHOVAH JIREH, THE LORD MY PROVIDER WILL BRING INCREASE, PROMOTION, NEW CLIENTS, ABUNDANCE.” “I’M STILL SINGLE, HAVEN’T MET ANYONE YET, BUT I AM CONFIDENT THE RIGHT PERSON IS ON THE WAY.” “I’M STILL FIGHTING THIS BATTLE IN MY HEALTH, BUT I AM CONFIDENT JEHOVAH RAPHA, THE LORD MY
HEALER IS RESTORING HEALTH BACK UNTO ME. I AM CONFIDENT I WILL LIVE AND NOT DIE.” OR MAYBE, “THIS ADDICTION HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOR YEARS, BUT I AM CONFIDENT FREEDOM IS COMING. THIS IS NOT HOW MY STORY ENDS. I AM CONFIDENT THIS GENERATIONAL CURSE IS BEING BROKEN, AND A GENERATIONAL BLESSING IS BEGINNING.” PROVERBS 13 PUTS IT THIS WAY, “TROUBLE CHASES THE WICKED, BUT BLESSINGS CHASE THE RIGHTEOUS.” WHEN YOU HONOR GOD WITH YOUR LIFE, YOU KEEP HIM FIRST PLACE, SOMETHING IS CHASING YOU. NOT DEFEAT, BAD BREAKS, SICKNESS, DEPRESSION. NO, YOU’RE THE RIGHTEOUS, BLESSINGS ARE CHASING YOU, HEALING, PROMOTION, THE RIGHT PEOPLE, BREAKTHROUGHS. WHEN YOU LOOK IN YOUR REARVIEW MIRROR, YOU HAVE A TAILGATER, FAVOR IS ABOUT TO OVERTAKE YOU, SAMUEL IS ABOUT TO SHOW UP, THAT BABY YOU’VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT IS HEADED YOUR WAY, HEALING
IS TRACKING YOU DOWN RIGHT NOW, FREEDOM HAS ALMOST CAUGHT UP WITH YOU. IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE YOU SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD. NOW, DO YOUR PART AND BE GLAD FOR WHAT GOD IS PLANNING FOR YOU. EVERYDAY LIVE WITH EXPECTANCY, “LORD, I BELIEVE SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME. FATHER THANK YOU THAT MY BEST DAYS ARE NOT BEHIND ME BUT THEY’RE STILL OUT IN FRONT OF ME.” ISAIAH SAID, “GOD IS LONGING TO BE GOOD TO THOSE, WHO LOOK FOR, WHO EXPECT HIS GOODNESS, HIS FAVOR AND HIS BLESSING.” NOTICE GOD WANTS TO BE GOOD TO YOU, HE WANTS TO SHOW YOU HIS FAVOR BUT THERE’S A CONDITION. HE’S LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPECTING HIS GOODNESS, EXPECTING HIS FAVOR. PEOPLE WHO WILL BELIEVE THAT HEALING IS COMING, THAT BREAKTHROUGHS ARE ON THE WAY, THAT THEIR FUTURE
WILL BE BRIGHTER THAN THEIR PAST. COULD IT BE THAT GOD IS LONGING TO BE GOOD TO YOU BUT YOU’RE NOT SEEING IT BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT LOOKING FOR HIS GOODNESS. YOU’VE BECOME PASSIVE, COMPLACENT, “JOEL, IT’S BEEN THIS WAY A LONG TIME. I THINK I’M STUCK OUT HERE IN THE SHEPHERD’S FIELDS. THESE PEOPLE DIDN’T TREAT ME RIGHT EITHER.” NO, GOD HAS AN AWESOME FUTURE PLANNED FOR YOU. HIS FAVOR IS FOR A LIFETIME. HERE’S THE WHOLE KEY, YOU HAVE TO BE LOOKING FOR IT. YOU HAVE TO BE EXPECTING THINGS TO TURN AROUND, BELIEVING THAT GOOD BREAKS ARE COMING, THANKING HIM THAT THE BEST IS STILL AHEAD. A PASSIVE ATTITUDE WILL KEEP YOU FROM THE FULLNESS OF YOUR DESTINY. IT’S EASY TO BECOME COMPLACENT. “I’VE SEEN GOD’S GOODNESS, I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS, I’VE BEEN BLESSED.” DON’T PUT YOUR FAITH ON AUTOPILOT. GOD DIDN’T CREATE YOU TO
REACH A CERTAIN LEVEL AND GET STUCK. HE SAID YOUR PATH WILL GET BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER. THAT YOUR LATTER DAYS WILL BE BETTER THAN YOUR FORMER DAYS. YOU MAY HAVE HAD SOME GREAT FORMER DAYS, THAT’S AWESOME, BUT GOD HAS SOME GREATER DAYS UP AHEAD. THERE ARE SOME MOMENTS OF FAVOR YOU’RE ABOUT TO COME INTO THAT ARE GOING TO CATAPULT YOU AHEAD. SOMETHING YOU CAN’T EXPLAIN. YOU DIDN’T WORK FOR IT. YOU WEREN’T QUALIFIED. IT’S NEVER HAPPENED IN YOUR FAMILY. IT’S JUST THE GOODNESS OF GOD. IT’S SAMUEL SHOWING UP. IT’S THE MAYOR CALLING. IT’S THE BUILDING FINDING YOU. IT’S FAVOR ON THAT SLING SHOT TO WHERE GOD THRUSTS YOU INTO INFLUENCE, RESOURCES, LEADERSHIP THAT YOU’VE NEVER IMAGINED. PAUL PRAYED IN EPHESIANS, “THAT THE EYES OF OUR HEART
WOULD BE FLOODED WITH LIGHT SO WE WOULD KNOW THE AWESOME FUTURE GOD HAS IN STORE.” PAUL KNEW OUR MIND WOULD TRY TO TALK US OUT OF IT. THAT WE WOULD GET PASSIVE, LET DISAPPOINTMENTS, SETBACKS, CAUSE US TO QUIT BELIEVING, SETTLE WHERE WE ARE. THAT’S WHY HE PRAYED THAT WE WOULD BE FLOODED WITH LIGHT. FLOODED MEANS OVERWHELMED. NOT OVERWHELMED WITH DOUBT, TROUBLE. “LOOK WHAT I’M UP AGAINST. I’VE REACHED MY LIMITS.” NO FLOODED WITH LIGHT, FLOODED WITH HOPE, FLOODED WITH FAITH, FLOODED WITH EXPECTANCY. LIKE DAVID, “I AM CONFIDENT I WILL SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD.” WHEN MOSES WAS AT THE END OF HIS LIFE, A HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS OLD, HE WAS ABOUT TO PASS. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “HIS EYE WAS NOT DIM, AND HIS NATURAL FORCE WAS NOT ABATED.” THIS WAS TALKING
ABOUT HIS PHYSICAL EYES, BUT I BELIEVE IT’S SYMBOLIC. HIS EYES OF FAITH, THE EYES OF HIS HEART WERE STILL FLOODED WITH LIGHT. A HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS OLD AND HE WAS STILL EXPECTING GOD’S GOODNESS. THIS WAS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE MOSES AS A BABY HAD SEEN GOD’S FAVOR. THE KING HAD ISSUED A DECREE THAT ALL THE MALE HEBREW BOYS TWO YEARS OLD AND UNDER WERE TO BE KILLED, BUT MOSES’ MOTHER PUT HIM IN THAT BASKET AND SENT HIM DOWN THE NILE RIVER. IT JUST SO HAPPENED THE PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER WAS TAKING A BATH. SHE SAW HIM AND TOOK HIM IN. SHE RAISED MOSES AS HER OWN CHILD. MOSES KNEW HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DELIVER THE ISRAELITES OUT OF SLAVERY, BUT HE GOT OUT OF GOD’S TIMING. HE SAW AN EGYPTIAN FOREMAN MISTREATING A HEBREW SLAVE. HE DIDN’T THINK ANYONE WAS WATCHING AND HE KILLED THAT FOREMAN.
HE HAD TO FLEE FOR HIS LIFE. HE SPENT FORTY YEARS HIDING IN THE DESERT. I’M SURE HE FELT FORGOTTEN, ALONE, LIKE HE HAS MISSED GOD’S PLAN. IT WAS HIS OWN FAULT. HE BLEW IT. BUT GOD’S FAVOR IS NOT FOR A SEASON. IT’S FOR A LIFETIME. GOD HAS MERCY FOR EVERY MISTAKE. HE’S ALREADY PLANNED A COMEBACK. FORTY YEARS LATER, AT EIGHTY YEARS OLD, GOD SHOWED UP IN A BURNING BUSH AND SAID, “MOSES, NOW I WANT YOU TO GO DELIVER THE ISRAELITES.” AFTER HIS MISTAKE, AFTER HE THOUGHT HE WAS DONE, HE WENT ON TO PART THE RED SEA, TO BRING WATER OUT OF A ROCK, TO SEE ALL THESE SUPERNATURAL SIGNS. NOW AT A HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS OLD, HIS EYE WAS NOT DIM. HE WAS STILL CONFIDENT HE WOULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD. IF MOSES WERE HERE TODAY, HE WOULD TELL YOU, GOD’S FAVOR IS NOT FOR A SEASON,
IT’S FOR YOUR LIFETIME. YOU HAVEN’T MADE TOO MANY MISTAKES, THE OBSTACLES ARE NOT TOO BIG, WHAT GOD PROMISED YOU, HE’S STILL GOING TO BRING TO PASS. NOW GET YOUR FIRE BACK. START EXPECTING HIS FAVOR. HE’S LONGING TO BE GOOD TO YOU, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE LOOKING FOR HIS GOODNESS. I TALKED TO A YOUNG LADY AFTER THE SERVICE. SHE HAD LOST HER ARM IN AN ACCIDENT. SHE BECAME VERY DEPRESSED, WOULDN’T LEAVE THE HOUSE. MANY DAYS SHE WOULDN’T GET OUT OF BED. HER MOTHER GOT HER LISTENING TO OUR MESSAGES. SHE HEARD ME TALKING ABOUT HOW GOD HAS GOOD THINGS IN STORE, HOW WHAT WAS MEANT FOR HARM, HE CAN TURN TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. LITTLE BY LITTLE SHE GOT HER PASSION BACK. SHE TOLD ME HOW SHE SAID, “GOD, I’M DISAPPOINTED, I DON’T HAVE ANY PLANS FOR MY LIFE, BUT GOD I KNOW YOU HAVE GOOD PLANS FOR ME.” YOU MAY NOT SEE ANYTHING
GOOD IN YOUR FUTURE. THAT’S OKAY. LIKE HER, YOU CAN THANK GOD FOR WHAT HE HAS PLANNED FOR YOU. HIS PLANS ARE BIGGER, BETTER, MORE REWARDING THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE. PROVERBS SAYS, “HOPE DEFERRED MAKES THE HEART SICK.” ONE DEFINITION OF HOPE IS “HAPPY ANTICIPATION OF SOMETHING GOOD”. IF YOU’RE ANTICIPATING SOMETHING GOOD, IT BRINGS YOU JOY, IT GIVES YOU PASSION. WHEN YOU BELIEVE THE BEST IS IN FRONT OF YOU, THAT GOD IS ARRANGING THINGS IN YOUR FAVOR, LINING UP THE SAMUEL’S, THE PROPERTY, THE SOLUTION, YOU BELIEVE HE HAS EXPLOSIVE BLESSING ON YOUR SCHEDULE, THEN YOU’RE GOING TO BE EXCITED ABOUT LIFE. IT WILL AFFECT YOUR ATTITUDE, YOUR RELATIONSHIPS, YOUR PRODUCTIVITY. BUT IF YOU’RE NOT ANTICIPATING ANYTHING GOOD, IF YOU THINK YOU’RE STUCK,
THE PROBLEM IS PERMANENT, YOU’VE REACHED YOUR LIMITS, THAT WILL DRAIN YOUR ENERGY, STIFLE YOUR CREATIVITY, TAKE YOUR JOY. YOU’LL JUST DRAG THROUGH THE DAY, ENDURE LIFE. NO, GOD CREATED YOU TO HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO. THIS IS WHAT FAITH IS ALL ABOUT, “GOD, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE GOOD PLANS FOR ME, THAT YOU’RE TAKING ME WHERE I’VE NEVER BEEN. THAT THE BEST DAYS IN MY HEALTH, MY FAMILY, MY RELATIONSHIPS ARE STILL IN FRONT OF ME.” THAT’S NOT JUST BEING POSITIVE, THAT’S GETTING IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD. THAT’S WHAT ALLOWS HIM TO DO AMAZING THINGS. MY PRAYER IS THAT YOU WILL BE LIKE MOSES. THAT YOUR EYES WILL NOT BECOME DIM. THAT YOU WILL NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE AWESOME FUTURE GOD HAS IN STORE. THAT YOU WILL KEEP YOUR FAITH STIRRED UP, THAT YOU WILL LIVE WITH EXPECTANCY,
LOOKING FOR GOD’S GOODNESS. PAUL SAID, BE GLAD FOR ALL GOD HAS PLANNED FOR YOU. THE NEXT PART OF THAT SAME VERSE SAYS, “BE PATIENT IN TROUBLE.” IT’S NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT GOD CONNECTED THE TWO. BECAUSE IN TROUBLE, IN DIFFICULTIES, YOU’LL BE TEMPTED TO GET DISCOURAGED, THINK, “IT’S NEVER GOING TO WORK OUT, THE MEDICAL REPORT IS TOO BAD, I HAD THIS SETBACK IN MY CAREER.” NONE OF THAT IS A SURPRISE TO GOD. HE’S ALREADY PLANNED THE SOLUTION. BE PATIENT IN TROUBLE. THE TROUBLE IS NOT PERMANENT. THE TROUBLE IS NOT HOW YOUR STORY ENDS. GOD WOULDN’T HAVE ALLOWED THE DIFFICULTY IF HE WASN’T GOING TO BRING YOU OUT BETTER. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “GOD MAKES ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME.” GIVE GOD TIME TO WORK IT OUT. JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T SEE ANYTHING HAPPENING DOESN’T
MEAN GOD’S NOT WORKING. BEHIND THE SCENES RIGHT NOW, HE’S LINING UP EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED. HE’S NOT GOING TO BRING YOU OUT THE SAME, HE’S GOING TO BRING YOU OUT BETTER. BUT WHILE YOU’RE WAITING, NEGATIVE THOUGHTS WILL COME, TRY TO TALK YOU OUT OF IT. THAT’S WHEN YOU HAVE TO DIG DOWN DEEP AND SAY LIKE DAVID, “I AM CONFIDENT I WILL SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD. SURELY FAVOR IS COMING, SURELY HEALING IS COMING, SURELY BREAKTHROUGHS ARE ON THE WAY.” INSTEAD OF DWELLING ON ALL THE REASONS IT’S NOT GOING TO WORK OUT, START THANKING GOD THAT HE’S TURNING IT AROUND. “LORD, YOU SAID MANY ARE THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE RIGHTEOUS BUT YOU DELIVER ME OUT OF THEM ALL. YOU SAID YOU WILL LIFT ME OUT OF THIS PIT, SET MY FEET ON A ROCK AND PUT A NEW SONG IN MY HEART. LORD, I THANK YOU THAT I’M COMING OUT BETTER, PROMOTED, AT A
NEW LEVEL OF MY DESTINY.” IN THE SCRIPTURE, RUTH WENT THROUGH A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. HER HUSBAND UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED. SHE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN. SHE NEVER DREAMED SHE WOULD BE A WIDOW AT THIS AGE. HER WHOLE LIFE WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. IT DIDN’T SEEM LIKE GOD HAD GOOD PLANS FOR HER, WITH ALL THAT HEARTACHE AND PAIN. BUT BEING A BELIEVER DOESN’T EXEMPT US FROM DIFFICULTIES. THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT ARE NOT FAIR, THAT WE DON’T UNDERSTAND BUT THIS IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO TRUST THAT GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL. IF YOU’LL BE PATIENT, NOT GET BITTER, GOD WILL GIVE YOU BEAUTY FOR THE ASHES. RUTH AND HER MOTHER-IN-LAW, NAOMI, MOVED BACK TO NAOMI’S HOMETOWN. THEY WERE BOTH WIDOWS, VERY POOR, HEARTBROKEN. RUTH WOULD GO OUT IN THE FIELDS EACH MORNING AND PICK UP LEFTOVER WHEAT. ONE DAY THE OWNER OF THAT
FIELD NOTICED RUTH, A MAN NAMED BOAZ. LONG STORY SHORT, THEY ENDED UP FALLING IN LOVE AND GETTING MARRIED. THEY HAD A LITTLE BABY BOY. I CAN SEE RUTH HOLDING THAT BABY, NEVER IMAGINING SHE WOULD BE THAT HAPPY, THAT FULFILLED. SHE DIDN’T HAVE TO WORK IN THE FIELDS ANYMORE, NOW SHE OWNED THE FIELDS. THEY NAMED THEIR SON OBED, OBED HAD A SON NAMED JESSE, JESSE HAD A SON NAMED DAVID. NOW RUTH WAS IN THE FAMILY LINE OF JESUS. BE PATIENT IN TROUBLE. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED. YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE HE’S TAKING YOU. THE ENEMY WOULD LOVE FOR YOUR EYES TO BECOME DIM, WHERE YOU LIVE DISCOURAGED, “LOOK AT ALL THESE BAD BREAKS.” NO, THERE ARE BOAZ’S OUT THERE FOR YOU. THERE IS RESTORATION, HEALING, ABUNDANCE. GOD HAS THINGS IN YOUR FUTURE THAT YOU CAN’T CONCEIVE RIGHT NOW.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE DISAPPOINTMENT, THROUGH THE HARDSHIP BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE YOU’RE GOING SEE FAVOR THAT YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN. MY QUESTION FOR YOU TODAY IS ARE YOU EXPECTING A FAVOR FILLED FUTURE? ARE YOU ANTICIPATING ANYTHING GOOD? ARE THE EYES OF YOUR HEART FLOODED WITH LIGHT, OR HAVE THEY BECOME DIM, YOU THINK YOU’VE SEEN YOUR BEST DAYS? THE ONLY THING THAT’S STOPPING SOME PEOPLE IS WHAT THEY’RE EXPECTING. I’M ASKING YOU TO BE A DAVID. HAVE THAT ATTITUDE, “I AM CONFIDENT I WILL SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD. SURELY FAVOR IS COMING MY WAY.” IF YOU’LL DO THIS, I BELIEVE AND DECLARE, YOU’RE ABOUT TO STEP IN TO ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS OF FAVOR. GOD IS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING UNUSUAL. BLESSINGS CHASING YOU DOWN, HEALING ABOUT TO OVERTAKE YOU, SAMUEL IS ABOUT TO SHOW UP, GOOD BREAKS THAT
CATAPULT YOU AHEAD, A NEW LEVEL OF YOUR DESTINY, IN JESUS’ NAME. IF YOU RECEIVE IT, WILL YOU SAY AMEN? 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.” IF YOU PRAYED THAT SIMPLE PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU GOT BORN AGAIN. WE’D LOVE TO SEND YOU SOME INFORMATION ON YOUR WALK WITH THE LORD. YOU CAN TEXT THE NUMBER OR GO TO THE WEBSITE. I HOPE YOU’LL GET INTO A GOOD BIBLE-BASED CHURCH AND KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE. VICTORIA AND I WILL BE RIGHT BACK TO SPEAK A BLESSING OVER YOU.
