"God’s dream is for every generation to increase."
~Pastor Joel Osteen
Lakewood Church Saturday October 25, 2014
Joke:
A cab driver reaches the Pearly Gates and announces himself to St. Peter who gives him a silk robe and a golden staff. A preacher is next in line behind the cabby and St. Peter gives him a cloth robe and wooden staff. The preacher is astonished and asks why the cab driver got better rewards. "This is heaven and up here, we go by results. When you preached, people slept. When the cabbie drove his taxi, people prayed."
Bible confession:
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. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible,
ever-living seed of the Word of God. I'll never be the same; never never
never, I'll never be the same, in Jesus name.
Key Scripture:
Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
Every right choice makes it easier for those who come after you.
Those are seeds that make your life fuller, and your children and grandchildren better off.
I want my relatives to do great things in life because of me, not in spite of me.
Your life can be a stepping stone or a stumbling block.
Negative things get passed down but God raised you up to put a stop to it.
There are generational curses but there is also a generational blessing.
You can store up mercy for yourself and future generations.
Joel knows he’s reaping a harvest from his parents’ seeds.
A man who dreamed of being a doctor shared how he was living in a hotel after several bad breaks.
Pastor John handed him a $100 bill and said there are great things in your future.
Today he’s a successful doctor.
Said he wouldn’t have made it without Pastor John.
He sowed a generous seed to Lakewood and gave to Pastor Joel.
Joel said under his breath “Thank you Daddy.”
Are you making it easier or more difficult on those who come after you?
A young minister used to attend the conferences at the old church under Pastor John.
20 yrs later Pastor John went home to be with the Lord and Joel was trying to learn how to minister.
That minister’s CDs helped Pastor Joel.
Some seeds you won’t receive the full harvest; they’re designed for your children.
Somebody sowed kindness, etc for your blessings.
A godly heritage is better than having great wealth. [Prov 13:22]
When you leave your children a godly heritage that’s worth more than any material thing.
God’s blessing on their life will cause them to go further than money could.
The right people will be attracted to you.
You came into a generational blessing.
Joshua and Israelites were fighting battle against the Amalekites. [Exodus 17:8-16]
When Moses held up his arms they would win the battle, but when Moses’ arms went down they started losing.
Don’t think you’re successful just because of your strengths — because you’re talented and smart etc.
You are smart because you have the wisdom of your fathers.
Somebody you can’t see is holding up their hands so you can win the battle.
There is stored up favor.
They won so that you could win.
Live your life in such a way to help others to win.
Every time you resist temptation you’re winning.
Someone in your family line will experience God’s goodness.
A man named Levi paid tithes and offerings before he was born. [Hebrews 7:9-10]
God credited him because his grandfather was a giver.
Joel’s grandfather kept a record of his giving in a little notebook.
Joel has the notebook
No wonder Joel is blessed today.
Mama Dodie turned 81 last week.
"She raised all 5 of us children."
How many thousands of hot meals did she cook for the family?
They read their bibles daily as a family; now Joel does that with his family.
The generational blessing keeps getting passed down.
God had people watching over you before you even got here.
You had grandparents and relatives that worked hard and sacrificed.
You are the answer to their prayers.
Don’t take for granted the price that they paid.
Let’s keep moving forward and taking new ground.
In heaven your relatives are cheering you on.
This is your time, this is your day.
Don’t let the sacrifices they made go to waste.
Joel’s father dreamed of this sanctuary.
Daddy was never able to build that sanctuary.
But he stored up favor for his children.
Everything fell into place for John Osteen’s children.
Pastor Joel feels like he’s standing in his father’s auditorium.
God ordained John to lay the foundation, and his sons to walk into it.
God will put vision in you that may not be accomplished in your life time.
God put it there so you could lay the foundation.
Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t all come to pass in your lifetime.
You’re sowing seeds for generational blessings.
This happened to David.
He wanted to build God’s temple.
But it was for David’s son Solomon to do it. [1 Chronicles 22:6-10]
Nothing would make Joel happier than to see his children go further than he’s gone.
This is why the enemy fights our children so hard.
He knows they’re next in line for the blessing.
Blessings have been accruing in your account.
Whether you’re 8 or 80 don’t be lazy or indifferent.
Many of your ancestors went through injustices and sacrifices so you could enjoy blessings.
God’s dream is for every generation to increase.
Our ancestors they made it without air conditioning & comforts.
We have no excuse to not go further.
Joel was 36 when he took over the church.
At that age most ministers are in high school auditoriums and/or trying to get a building.
They already had an 8000 seat auditorium.
His dad was raised in the Great Depression.
John’s father picked cotton for a living.
John had gone thru such poverty and lack that he was extremely frugal.
He went thru the building and turned off all the lights at night.
His sacrifices led to generational blessings.
Joel was almost embarrassed to show the sanctuary to others.
But he realized he wasn’t bragging on himself but the goodness of God.
And his parents worked too hard for that blessing.
You don’t have to apologize for God’s goodness.
Wear your blessings well.
Your relatives paid blood, sweat, and tears to get you where you are now.
It’s like when people show up at the end of the movie.
They see you blessed but they didn’t see the first part of the movie.
When his grandparents made 10 cents an hour.
When Joel and his siblings swept out the church as little kids.
God will give you beauty for ashes. [Isaiah 61:3]
Sometimes people see your beauty and judge you.
But if they only saw your ashes…
And the people that went before you and struggled and sacrificed.
Joel the prophet talked about receiving the former rain and the latter rain.
The latter rain is making the most of God’s blessings.
The former rain is all the blessings that have been stored up in your family line.
The blessings your ancestors stored up but didn’t receive.
Lord I want to thank You that you’re releasing every blessing stored up for me.
May the Lord God of your fathers increase you 1000-fold. [Deuteronomy 1:11]
You’ll have wisdom beyond your years.
You’ll accomplish dreams that did not originate with you.
Those are the houses that you didn’t have to build. [Deut 6:11, Joshua 24:13]
Joel this all sounds good but I don’t see anybody in my family line that honored God.
Well you can be the first.
God raised you up to break the curse.
Don’t settle for things that are holding you back.
Draw the line in the sand.
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. [Joshua 24:15]
The Old Testament talks about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. [Matt 22:32]
A 3 fold cord cannot be broken. [Ecclesiastes 4:12]
When there’s 3 in a row that blessing is multiplied.
Pastor John was raised up in a family that wasn’t religious/spiritual.
He was the first one in their immediate family to honor God.
But he passed it on to his children.
He’s the God of John Osteen, Joel Osteen, and now Jonathan Osteen.
God my father honored You, I honor You, and my son honors You.
You can start it, or perhaps your job is to keep it going.
Don’t drop the ball.
Too much is at stake.
Your children and future generations are depending upon you.
You have the power to put an end to anything that’s holding you back.
No enemy is too powerful.
The most powerful force in the universe is inside you right now.
Hold up your hands so somebody else can win.
Our lives are like a mist… [James 4:14]
Give it your best.
They did their part; make sure you do your part.
Some of you have done good things but haven’t seen the latter rain yet.
Soon you’ll see the abundance.
Generational blessings are coming your way.
Get ready for a new level of your destiny.
In Jesus name.
ALTAR CALL
PRAYER
Watch online at http://www.lakewoodchurch.com/pages/watch-online.aspx (while available)
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