Are You Listening? - Pastor Joel Osteen at Lakewood Church
There are hundreds of radio signals going through the airwaves right now.
We're not receiving them because we're not tuned in to them.
God is constantly transmitting to us.
God doesn't speak out loud most times.
It's a prompting.
A sudden desire to check in on your child...
That's God telling you what to do.
Intuition is God communicating.
God is giving you inside information.
Some say that's "the universe" talking to you.
Pastor Joel says it's the Creator of the universe.
You have a Guide on the inside of you.
In 1999 Pastor Joel's father called him and asked him to minister to the church.
Joel had no desire to do so. He liked being behind the scenes.
He told his father no & sat back down to dinner.
"Something" said Joel you need to do it.
He couldn't get away from the prompting so he called his father and said yes.
He ministered the next Sunday at church.
Pastor John died shortly after.
Joel doesn't think he would've had the courage to get up and minister if he hadn't done it before his father passed.
Joel has learned to trust his sensor; that's one of his strengths.
It may seem impossible to his mind but he follows his heart.
Proverbs 3:6 The Message
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Pay attention to what you're feeling.
If you’re going to hear a whisper you‘ve got to be quiet.
Take time to get quiet.
Develop the art of listening.
Joel saw a tie he really liked.
Something said DON'T BUY IT.
A simple impression…
If you’re not tuned in you’ll ignore it.
There was no natural reason not to buy it.
In another store was the same tie marked down half price!
If you’ll be sensitive God will help you in your everyday life.
God help my ears to be open.
God is talking.
Too often we’re not paying attention.
If we’ll always listen He’ll always lead us.
God wants to give us direction.
God wants to thrust you years down the road.
Pastor Joel’s friend bought property for very cheap.
The land seemed barren and worthless.
Joel wondered why he bought it.
The friend said he didn’t know, he felt drawn to it.
He just knew the property was supposed to be his.
Joel thought “Next time do some research”.
15 years later he got notice that the state needed the property to build a highway.
He got lots of money for the property.
It sold for over 100 times what he paid for it.
A news reporter asked him how he knew so much about real estate.
He said his Father told him how to get it.
They asked about his father and he clarified it was his Heavenly Father.
When you listen to the still small voice you’ll get breaks, insight.
You may not have 10 years worth of research but you have the living God inside you.
His brother-in-law Kevin had a broken washing machine.
He was very good at fixing things.
He needed parts from store.
Something told him PUT A CAP ON THE FAUCET.
He thought no there’s no need to do that.
A few hours later he got a call that there was water all over the floor.
He heard the warning so strongly but he ignored it.
All of us can look back and recall times we ignored that voice of wisdom.
Joel’s father was on the feeder one time about to get on the freeway.
Something said SLOW DOWN THERE’S A POLICEMAN AROUND THE CORNER
Pastor John ignored it and got pulled over by the cop.
He said “God told me you were here.”
Officer said “Preacher I’ll let you go but the next time God speaks you’d better listen.”
A friend/TV minister was pulled over by a cop.
He pleaded “I’m just a poor preacher”.
Officer said “I know, I heard you on TV last week.”
You can be in the middle of a conversation when the alarm goes off.
When you feel the alarm that’s God talking to you.
God can keep you out of trouble.
Scripture calls it promptings.
God won’t force you to do it.
If you ignore it you’ll just make it more difficult for yourself.
Joel’s former landscaper was beat up.
He’d gotten carjacked at a light.
He told Joel something told him not to go home that way.
Take another route.
He even responded “Why should I go another way?”
He said now I know that was God.
God knows where the danger is.
Be sensitive.
Pay attention.
God won’t allow us to make a major mistake without first giving us warning.
If may be when you get around a certain person you feel uneasy.
Something isn’t right.
Don’t ignore it.
If you’ll listen God will give you discernment.
People aren’t always who they say they are.
They’re takers who’ll use you up.
If the alarm is going off be smart enough to walk away.
If they’re not the right one for you it means God has somebody better in store.
Avoid years of pain and heartache.
That uneasiness isn’t just your nerves.
It’s God saying stay away.
If you’ll trust your sensor then God can lead you down the best path.
You won’t get involved in things you aren’t supposed to be involved in.
Joel knew a couple.
The wife’s dream was to be in full time ministry.
She received a call out the blue to lead worship full time.
It seemed like a dream come true.
They felt uneasy over the next week.
The alarm was going off.
The husband felt it so strongly but didn’t want to dampen wife’s spirits.
But the wife came to him and said she didn’t feel she should take the job.
When they made that decision they felt peace.
Later that ministry was involved in a huge controversy.
90% of the employees were let go.
God knows what’s best for you.
He can see the big picture.
He’s not trying to keep you from your dreams; He’s trying to keep you from heartache.
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
See if you have peace.
Check your heart for peace.
If there’s uneasiness don’t do it.
Peace is the umpire.
People enter into relationships without peace and end up miserable.
If you don’t have peace now, you won’t have it later.
If you don’t have peace then it’s not the right job for you.
For many years Pastor John tried to buy the property across the street.
He knew one day the church would expand.
The owners were willing to sell the land at a fair price.
He had a lack of peace so he didn’t buy the land.
5 year later he became anxious and said he wanted the property.
But the uneasiness came again.
He had the money they had the property but he had no peace.
Another 5 years later the market changed and he got the property for a much cheaper price.
God wants to get you to something better.
Don’t be hardheaded and do your own thing your own way.
Job said God speaks to us in different ways but we don’t always hear His voice.
Are you on the right frequency?
It’s a still small voice.
You won’t hear it by accident.
It must be a priority.
Be sensitive.
Don’t ignore the alarms.
Let peace by your umpire.
God promises to guide you.
You will accomplish every dream and become everything God created you to be in Jesus’ name.
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