CHOOSING FAITH IN SPITE OF THE FACTS - JOEL OSTEEN

"Don’t let the facts talk you out of what God put in your heart."

Joel Osteen

LAKEWOOD CHURCH

Sunday November 16, 2014

Joke:
Elderly couple struggled with memory. The doctor told them to write everything down. Husband went to kitchen to get ice cream for his wife but didn’t write it down. He came back with bacon & eggs. Wife shook her head and said “You forgot my toast.”

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:
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;

CHOOSING FAITH IN SPITE OF THE FACTS

There are times with the facts in life are not our friend.
In the natural you don’t see how it could happen.
The facts tell you it won’t work.
You don't have the training, education, etc.
If you just focus on the facts they’ll keep you from your destiny.
The facts can talk you out of your dreams.
The facts will convince you to settle for mediocrity.
I’ve learned God is bigger than the facts.

He can promote you without the training.
Don’t let the facts fool you.
When you believe all things are possible. [Mark 9:23]
When Joel was in late teens he and his friends saw thieves carrying a TV & stereo out of a neighbor’s house.
Joel called 911.

He was nervous and sharing irrelevant information.
“Just give me the facts” they said.
In the same way when you're believing for change.
In your heart a voice will say it’s going to happen.
Favor and healing are coming.
But in your mind another voice is saying “Just give me the facts”.
What does the medical report say?
How much do you have in your account right now?
The real battle is taking place in our minds.

The scripture says lean not on your own understanding. [Prov 3:5]
Your mind will tell you all the reasons why it’s not going to happen.
Joel is all for using common sense and being wise
But sometimes there is no logical solution.
This is when faith kicks in.
God I don’t see a way but I know You still have a way.

Too often we only look at the natural logical solutions.
Joel this is my bank situation.
Nothing to debate about that.
What Joel is saying is He’s a supernatural God.
He controls the whole universe.
He spoke worlds into existence.
The facts may say you’ll never get out of debt.
You’ll never accomplish your dreams, it’s too late.
One touch of favor can set you free.
A man was in his 40s and full of anger & hatred his whole life.
He didn't like himself.
The facts said this is who you are.
A couple of months ago he accidentally flipped on our broadcast.
When he prayed the prayer at the end of the program he became a different person.
God can override what people are telling you that you can’t do.
Dare to believe.
God didn’t put you here to be average, to constantly struggle.
But to be free, victorious, and leave your mark on this generation.
The facts may say otherwise but don’t let that fool you.
God is not limited to the facts.
When the Osteens were newlyweds they saw beautiful home while out for a walk.
Victoria said one day we’re going to live in a house just like that.
Joel said I work for a church; we’re never going to be able to afford a house like that.
Victoria wouldn’t hear it.
She said I feel it in my spirit; it’s going to happen.
Joel had all the facts and they said it wouldn’t happen in their lifetime.
Victoria had all those facts too, but she said God it’s not possible in the natural but You are not limited by our income, etc.
2 years later circumstances allowed them to move into a house just like the one they saw.
Don’t let the facts keep you from God’s best.
When you take the limits off of God He'll amaze you with His goodness.
You’ve thought of all the reasons why you can’t live in a nice house.
The facts may be against you but God is for you.
His favor can thrust you to your destiny.
His love can restore, rebuild, set you on a new path, and give you a new beginning.
Shake off the doubt and negative voices.
God wouldn’t put the dream in your heart if He didn’t have a way.
You don't have to figure out how it's going to happen.
Your job is to believe.
The medical report says I won't make it.
But You said with long life You would satisfy me. [Psalm 91:16]
My kids aren’t doing right but God You said as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. [Joshua 24:15]
The facts say I'll never get out of debt but You said I'll lend and not borrow.
If you’re going to see God’s best you have to choose faith in spite of the facts.
The facts said Ms. Dodie wouldn’t live when she was diagnosed with metastatic cancer of the liver.
Today she's alive and well at 81.
Facts said Pastor Joel couldn’t pastor the church.
But he chose faith.
Facts said they’d never get the city-owned Compaq Center.
The facts don’t limit God.
He’s not in heaven scratching his head thinking; I didn’t know Dodie would get cancer at a young age.
God is not moved by the facts.
He has ways to get you to your destiny that you never thought of.
One idea, one divine connection can thrust you to a new level of your destiny.
A young man applied for a scholarship at a major university.
The odds were not in his favor.
His chances of getting it were less than ½ of 1 percent.
His attitude was God the odds are against me but You are for me.

Out of the 3,000 he was one of the 20 that was chosen.
When you believe it activates God's power.
Take the limits off of God.
Dare to believe.
The facts may say it’s been too long; it’s too late.
This is what happened with Jesus.
One time Jesus was walking through a town. [Mark 5]
Man said my little girl is sick, please help.
Jesus kept getting delayed on the way to her.
Finally man’s assistant said it’s too late, the little girl has died.
Jesus overheard the facts but ignored them. [Mark 5:36]
He heard the negative report but He chose to ignore it.
If you’re going to stay in faith you can’t keep focusing on the odds and the obstacles.
Jesus went to the house and prayed for the girl and she came back to life.
When I speak blind eyes open, Red Seas part, and the dead come back to life.
How many dreams would come to pass if we ignored the negative reports?
The big question is whose report will you believe?
Sometimes fact is easier to believe because it's right in front of you.
We walk by faith and not by sight. [2 Corinthians 5:7]
Facts may say nothing good is in your future.
There’s another report that says God has beauty for your ashes.
What was meant for your harm He will use for your advantage.
Facts may say you won’t get out of debt until you’re 160 years old.
Faith says God's Blessings are chasing you down.
Whatever you touch will prosper and succeed.
You or others may have said it will never work out well for you.
Start ignoring those lies.
You have everything you need to fulfill your destiny.
Sometimes the facts may say otherwise.
Paul said in Corinthians the things we see are temporary. [2 Corinthians 4:18]
One version says they’re subject to change.
You may have struggled with that addiction for 20 years but don’t believe the lie that it’s permanent.
The key is don’t let it become permanent in your own thinking.
Today is a new day.
The things you’ve been praying about and dreaming of are about to come to pass.
Victory is headed your way.
1 Kings 17
It was a time of great famine.
Widow was about to eat last meal with her son.
Facts said it was over.
No food, and no income.
The facts said she was done.
Prophet Elijah came and asked for food.
She said I only have enough for our last meal.
He said make me something first and you eat the leftovers.
It looked like he was being selfish.
But there's a principle here.
When you put God first He’ll take care of you.
Her logic said don't make him something when you're starving to death.
In spite of what her mind was telling her she made him the bread, and she and her son ate what was leftover.
There was still supply everyday and it never ran out.
God supernaturally supplied.
God didn’t stop the famine.
He simply blessed her in the middle of the famine.
Sometimes we think the economy has to get better for me to get blessed.
God can bless you right in the middle of the famine.
He can bless you in spite of what's going on around you.
You can be in a dysfunctional situation.
People at work don’t like you & try to hold you down.
God can promote you in the midst of all that.
Maybe you're at home with parents/children that don’t support you.
In a bad neighborhood.
Facts say you're stuck, just endure it.
God says I’m going to promote you, increase you, and take you where you’ve never been.
And when it happens everyone will know it was God that did it.
He’ll prosper you even in the desert.
Facts may say you’ll never get out of lack.
The odds may be against you but the Most High God is for you.
He’s going to promote you right in the middle of the famine.
The Osteens were in Kenya, Africa a few years ago.
A man there left a prestigious job to run an orphanage.
He and his grown children have land where they take care of many orphans.
Father said they’re self-sufficient.
They farm the land to provide food for the children.
They’re so successful they even sell food to local grocers.
When he bought the land he was told the soil wasn’t healthy enough to produce crops.
No one else in the area could produce crops.
Their property is like an oasis in the desert.
University sent people out to take soil samples to see why their soil was so healthy and neighboring soil wasn’t.
It’s the favor of God.
God has the final say.
The facts don't have to line up for God to bless you.
You don’t have to be the smartest, most attractive, most talented, etc.
One touch of favor can change your life.
Take the limits off of God.
Don’t let the facts talk you out of what God put in your heart.
The Israelites food supply had been cut off by a major army. [2 Kings 7]
Prophet Elisha said to Israelites this time tomorrow there will be so much food you can buy a loaf of bread for one penny.
King's assistant said it will never happen; he was looking at the natural facts.
He checked the stock report, watched the nightly news, and came to the conclusion there’s no way.
Elisha said it will come to pass but because you doubted it won’t happen for you.
Later that day 4 lepers outside city walked and God caused their footsteps to sound like an army.
The enemy took off running in fear and left all their supplies.
The assistant was trampled by the crowd rushing in to get the food.
When God puts a promise in your heart.
You may not see how it can happen.
Don’t tell God all the reasons why you don’t believe.
That will keep it from happening for you.
Turn your mind off.
He’s a supernatural God not limited by your circumstances.
He’s limited by what you believe.
The odds may be against you but the Most High God is for you.
He has the final say.
He controls the whole universe.
Do like Jesus and ignore the negative reports.
New doors will open.
Problems will turn around.
Faith, healing, abundance and victory are headed your way.

Prayer

Altar Call 

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