WEBVTT - The "I Am" Advantage | Joel Osteen 0:00:00.960 --> 0:00:03.320 I hope you and your family are having a great summer. 0:00:03.560 --> 0:00:06.360 Victorian are praying for you, believe in for God's very 0:00:06.480 --> 0:00:08.960 best in your life, and it's always my pleasure to 0:00:09.000 --> 0:00:10.920 be able to share a message with you. I hope 0:00:10.960 --> 0:00:14.800 you're encouraged and inspired today. God bless you. It's great 0:00:14.840 --> 0:00:17.360 to be with you today, and I hope you'll stay 0:00:17.360 --> 0:00:20.560 connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, 0:00:20.680 --> 0:00:24.160 our YouTube channel, social media, and you can come visit 0:00:24.239 --> 0:00:26.400 us in person. We'd love to have you be a 0:00:26.440 --> 0:00:28.880 part of one of our services. And I'd like to 0:00:28.920 --> 0:00:32.440 start with something funny, and someone sent me this funny 0:00:32.479 --> 0:00:36.040 prayer about food goes like this, Lord, grant me the 0:00:36.080 --> 0:00:39.440 strength that I may not fall into the clutches of 0:00:39.520 --> 0:00:44.680 cholesterol at polyunsatyretz. I'll never mutter, for the road to 0:00:44.760 --> 0:00:49.519 Hell is paved with butter. Cake is cursed, cream is awful, 0:00:49.800 --> 0:00:53.960 and Satan is hiding in every waffle. Belzebove is a 0:00:54.040 --> 0:00:58.520 chocolate drop, Lucifer is a lollipop. Teach me the evils 0:00:58.600 --> 0:01:01.680 of fried chicken from the side. Lord, if you love me, 0:01:02.040 --> 0:01:06.400 shut my mouth, say it like you mean a joam. 0:01:07.000 --> 0:01:09.840 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:01:10.360 --> 0:01:12.800 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:01:12.880 --> 0:01:15.440 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:01:15.520 --> 0:01:19.399 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:01:19.520 --> 0:01:22.959 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:01:23.040 --> 0:01:28.319 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:01:28.360 --> 0:01:31.640 to talk to you today about the I am advantage, 0:01:32.400 --> 0:01:35.040 two of the most important words we can ever say, 0:01:35.400 --> 0:01:39.800 or I am. They're just small, ordinary words, and we 0:01:39.920 --> 0:01:43.160 use I and am in different ways all through the day. 0:01:43.920 --> 0:01:48.760 But when you put them together, something powerful happens. Whatever falls, 0:01:48.760 --> 0:01:52.960 the I am will come looking for you. I am blessed, 0:01:53.320 --> 0:01:57.640 Blessings are coming. I am strong. Strength is coming, I 0:01:57.640 --> 0:02:01.240 am healthy. Health is coming. And this is great when 0:02:01.240 --> 0:02:03.920 we use it in the positive and we declare good 0:02:04.000 --> 0:02:07.560 things over our life. The problem is it works in 0:02:07.600 --> 0:02:13.360 the negative as well. I am unattractive. Unattractiveness comes, I 0:02:13.400 --> 0:02:18.720 am lazy. Laziness comes, I am unlucky. Bad breaks come. 0:02:19.680 --> 0:02:23.440 Whatever you put after the I am, you're inviting into 0:02:23.520 --> 0:02:28.120 your life. Just imagine you're sending it an invitation. I 0:02:28.160 --> 0:02:33.040 am talented. You just invited talent to come. I am disciplined, 0:02:33.520 --> 0:02:38.200 I am focused. I am a masterpiece. You're inviting things 0:02:38.280 --> 0:02:42.280 that are making you better and moving you towards your destiny. 0:02:42.480 --> 0:02:46.920 But how many times are we inviting things we don't want? Joel, 0:02:46.960 --> 0:02:52.240 I'm just ordinary. You're inviting ordinary. I am poor, I 0:02:52.280 --> 0:02:56.280 am broke, I am so in debt. You're inviting lack 0:02:56.919 --> 0:03:01.640 struggle and not enough or I am I am tired, 0:03:02.000 --> 0:03:05.480 I am lonely. You're inviting the very things you're trying 0:03:05.520 --> 0:03:09.280 to get rid of. Pay attention to what you're sending 0:03:09.400 --> 0:03:13.440 invitations to. The good news is you get to choose 0:03:13.680 --> 0:03:17.560 what follows the I am no more, I am limited, 0:03:18.200 --> 0:03:20.880 I am out of shave, I am at a disadvantage. 0:03:21.080 --> 0:03:25.720 Do yourself a favor. Cancel those invitations. Quit sending out 0:03:25.919 --> 0:03:29.000 what you don't want. Well, Joel, I'm just telling it 0:03:29.080 --> 0:03:32.280 like it is. It's the truth. I am sick, I 0:03:32.320 --> 0:03:36.640 am broke, I am undisciplined. The scripture says, let the 0:03:36.680 --> 0:03:40.640 weak say I am strong. God didn't say let the 0:03:40.680 --> 0:03:44.320 weak say I am weak. Let the insecure say I 0:03:44.360 --> 0:03:48.240 am not enough. God says, use the I am to 0:03:48.360 --> 0:03:52.520 declare who I say you are. The circumstances may say 0:03:52.560 --> 0:03:56.240 you're sick. The medical report doesn't look good. But don't 0:03:56.240 --> 0:03:59.560 go around saying I am unhealthy, I am going down, 0:04:00.240 --> 0:04:05.000 I am so worried. You're prophesying your future change what 0:04:05.200 --> 0:04:08.800 follows the I am? How about I am healthy, I 0:04:08.840 --> 0:04:12.400 am strong, I am an overcomer, I am armed with 0:04:12.560 --> 0:04:18.720 strength for this battle. You declare that, and healing starts coming, strength, vitality. 0:04:19.440 --> 0:04:23.359 Instead of I am limited, I'm at a disadvantage, I 0:04:23.400 --> 0:04:27.160 am not up to par Turn that around. I am equipped, 0:04:27.520 --> 0:04:30.880 I am empowered, I am anointed, I am well able. 0:04:31.800 --> 0:04:36.720 Look at what you're inviting, power, favor, anointing the goodness 0:04:36.760 --> 0:04:40.240 of God. The scripture says, with our words, we can 0:04:40.279 --> 0:04:44.960 bless ourselves or we can curse ourselves. Sometimes it's not 0:04:45.080 --> 0:04:49.600 the enemy holding us back. We're holding ourselves back. We're 0:04:49.680 --> 0:04:53.880 using these negative ims and we may not even realize it. 0:04:54.600 --> 0:04:57.880 Pay attention to what follows the im. What are you 0:04:58.000 --> 0:05:01.760 saying about yourselves? One reason that I AM is so 0:05:01.960 --> 0:05:06.360 powerful is this one of the names of God. Moses 0:05:06.480 --> 0:05:09.400 had been hiding in the desert because of a mistake 0:05:09.480 --> 0:05:12.400 he had made. He had to flee from the Egyptians. 0:05:12.680 --> 0:05:15.480 After forty years, God came to him in a burning 0:05:15.520 --> 0:05:19.680 bush and told him to go deliver the Israelites from slavery. 0:05:20.200 --> 0:05:23.200 That's what he was originally called to do. He thought 0:05:23.240 --> 0:05:26.599 he had missed his purpose. He told God how the 0:05:26.680 --> 0:05:29.960 Phabah wouldn't listen to him, and how the Israelites wouldn't 0:05:29.960 --> 0:05:34.720 follow his leadership. He had all these excuses. He finally said, God, 0:05:34.800 --> 0:05:37.800 if I go, the Israelites are going to ask me 0:05:38.120 --> 0:05:41.400 who sent me? What should I tell them? Your name is? 0:05:42.240 --> 0:05:45.679 God said you tell them, my name is I Am. 0:05:46.200 --> 0:05:48.880 He could have said, my name is Jehovah, my name 0:05:48.960 --> 0:05:52.440 is Yahweh, my name is the most High. But out 0:05:52.480 --> 0:05:56.000 of all the names he could have chosen, he simply said, 0:05:56.440 --> 0:06:01.280 tell them I Am sent you. Time we say I am, 0:06:01.640 --> 0:06:04.800 we are saying the name of God. That's why what 0:06:05.040 --> 0:06:08.880 follows the I am has so much power. When you 0:06:08.960 --> 0:06:12.640 say I am healthy, you are saying, in effect, God, 0:06:12.720 --> 0:06:17.000 I believe that I'm healthy. That statement has the authority 0:06:17.320 --> 0:06:21.160 of the creator of the universe. It's not just being positive. 0:06:21.880 --> 0:06:25.440 Let me speak some nice affirmations over me. When you 0:06:25.600 --> 0:06:29.040 use I am, it's backed up by the Most High God. 0:06:30.120 --> 0:06:32.800 You may be struggling, you have some things coming against you, 0:06:33.480 --> 0:06:37.680 but when you declare I am blessed. I am victorious. 0:06:38.080 --> 0:06:40.559 I am more than a conquer I am the head 0:06:40.720 --> 0:06:44.240 and not the tell You're not just hyphing yourself up. 0:06:44.640 --> 0:06:48.000 The power of the living God is behind those i ams. 0:06:49.000 --> 0:06:52.599 You could be worried about your children, stressed over your job, 0:06:53.400 --> 0:06:57.000 upset over people at work, But instead of giving life 0:06:57.040 --> 0:07:01.040 to all that defeat, you declare, I am peace, I 0:07:01.080 --> 0:07:06.320 am calm, I am secure, I am confident. When God 0:07:06.400 --> 0:07:09.960 hears those i ams declaring what he said about you, 0:07:10.360 --> 0:07:14.880 angels go to work, forces of darkness are broken, miracles 0:07:14.880 --> 0:07:18.600 said in emotion, his power is backing up the I am. 0:07:19.040 --> 0:07:23.680 That's his name. But imagine how God must feel when 0:07:23.720 --> 0:07:27.000 He has created us in his image and crowned us 0:07:27.040 --> 0:07:31.200 with his favor, put the enemy under our feet, called 0:07:31.280 --> 0:07:35.240 us more than conquers. But he hears us using the 0:07:35.360 --> 0:07:40.080 I am to devalue who we are, to criticize ourselves, 0:07:40.440 --> 0:07:45.119 to speak mediocrity. It's like using his name in vain. 0:07:46.360 --> 0:07:49.880 I am not talented enough. I'm not really smart enough. 0:07:50.280 --> 0:07:54.440 I am not attractive enough. No, God calls you a masterpiece. 0:07:55.160 --> 0:07:58.200 He put in you everything you need to reach your destiny. 0:07:59.040 --> 0:08:01.240 I can hear God say, and don't put my name 0:08:01.240 --> 0:08:04.720 on that. Don't use my authority for something I didn't 0:08:04.800 --> 0:08:09.000 call you. A few years ago, someone created a fake 0:08:09.160 --> 0:08:14.280 brand on the internet under Victoria's name. Was this skincare line, 0:08:14.680 --> 0:08:18.440 had all this product, made all these promises, used her picture. 0:08:19.120 --> 0:08:21.920 They showed her on talk shows telling how amazing it was. 0:08:22.120 --> 0:08:24.840 It was all fake. We had nothing to do with it. 0:08:25.240 --> 0:08:28.000 People had come up, Victoria, I bought your skincare products. 0:08:28.080 --> 0:08:31.440 We love it. We had to tell the authorities take 0:08:31.480 --> 0:08:34.840 our name off of that. It's not us, it's a scam. 0:08:35.640 --> 0:08:39.040 In the same way when God hears us saying I 0:08:39.080 --> 0:08:44.600 am weak, I am addicted, I'm dysfunctional, Joel, It's been 0:08:44.640 --> 0:08:48.600 in my family a long time. I am unworthy. I 0:08:48.640 --> 0:08:51.920 don't deserve to be blessed. I am not able. I 0:08:51.960 --> 0:08:56.199 don't have the training. God says, that's not who I am. 0:08:56.520 --> 0:09:00.480 That's a scam. Don't use my name like that. That's 0:09:00.520 --> 0:09:03.160 the enemy trying to get you to use the I 0:09:03.320 --> 0:09:07.000 am in the wrong way. When you use I am 0:09:07.440 --> 0:09:11.520 to describe who you are or to describe your circumstances, 0:09:11.800 --> 0:09:14.840 you need to make sure it's in agreement with who 0:09:14.840 --> 0:09:18.480 God says you are. Don't use his name in vain. 0:09:19.320 --> 0:09:22.160 I know normally that means cursing, talking bad, but how 0:09:22.160 --> 0:09:26.200 about not using his name to speak negative over yourself, 0:09:26.720 --> 0:09:37.959 to contradict who he says you are. Had a friend 0:09:38.000 --> 0:09:41.480 in high school. He was a good guy, very smart, talented, 0:09:41.520 --> 0:09:46.000 and great in sports, but he was always putting himself down. 0:09:46.440 --> 0:09:50.240 I have never known anyone to be more negative toward themselves. 0:09:50.920 --> 0:09:54.080 I don't think he even realized he's doing it, or 0:09:54.120 --> 0:09:58.040 he's just trying to be funny or self deprecating. All 0:09:58.080 --> 0:10:00.760 through the day he would say things, I am so 0:10:00.960 --> 0:10:04.600 stupid in front of the whole class, I am so fat, 0:10:05.120 --> 0:10:09.000 I'm so clumsy. The problem with saying that is it's 0:10:09.000 --> 0:10:12.840 gonna catch up to you. We played basketball. He'd miss 0:10:12.880 --> 0:10:15.320 a shot. Running back down the court, he would say 0:10:15.360 --> 0:10:17.840 it over and over. I am an idiot, I am 0:10:17.840 --> 0:10:20.640 an idiot. I am an idiot. Thought to myself, You're 0:10:20.679 --> 0:10:23.400 not an idiot. You just missed a shot. We all 0:10:23.440 --> 0:10:28.200 miss shots. Quit cursing your future. Quit using the I 0:10:28.360 --> 0:10:32.720 am in vain. Some people have developed this habit of 0:10:32.800 --> 0:10:37.080 being against themselves. They become trained to speak the negative 0:10:37.160 --> 0:10:40.959 i ams, and they don't realize they're cursing their future. 0:10:41.840 --> 0:10:45.480 You can't go around speaking negative about yourself and reach 0:10:45.520 --> 0:10:49.120 your destiny. As long as you have the wrong i ams, 0:10:49.400 --> 0:10:53.040 it's going to limit your potential. David said in Psalms, 0:10:53.360 --> 0:10:58.080 God put a watch over my mouth. That's a great prayer. God, 0:10:58.160 --> 0:11:01.640 don't let me speak another nation negative thing about myself. 0:11:02.760 --> 0:11:06.240 You have enough people in life against you. Don't be 0:11:06.320 --> 0:11:11.680 against yourself. Most of us don't go around criticizing other people. 0:11:12.120 --> 0:11:14.800 You don't go to your friends or that person sitting 0:11:14.800 --> 0:11:16.960 next to you and say, man, you don't look good today. 0:11:17.760 --> 0:11:21.680 You are overweight. Your personality really gets on my nerves. 0:11:22.240 --> 0:11:25.360 You may think that, but you don't verbalize it. I 0:11:25.400 --> 0:11:27.960 hope you don't. You're not gonna say something to put 0:11:28.000 --> 0:11:33.200 them down. We're disciplined when it comes to not devaluing others. 0:11:33.880 --> 0:11:38.200 Why are you devaluing yourselves? You don't criticize your friends. 0:11:38.720 --> 0:11:42.320 Why are you critical towards yourself? You don't speak defeat 0:11:42.360 --> 0:11:45.440 over your children. You tell them how beautiful they are, 0:11:45.920 --> 0:11:49.079 how talented, and how proud you are to have them. 0:11:49.480 --> 0:11:53.040 Why don't you start being good to yourself? Don't say 0:11:53.040 --> 0:11:58.080 another time I am unattractive, I am not likable, I'm 0:11:58.120 --> 0:12:02.440 too short, I am clumb I am slow. ZiT that up. 0:12:03.320 --> 0:12:08.280 When you criticize yourself, you are criticizing God's creation. You 0:12:08.360 --> 0:12:10.480 might as well look up and say, God, you didn't 0:12:10.480 --> 0:12:13.160 do a very good job on me. The fact is 0:12:13.440 --> 0:12:16.920 God calls you a masterpiece. He made you in his 0:12:17.040 --> 0:12:20.640 own image. He didn't make you in a dog's image, 0:12:21.080 --> 0:12:24.760 or a lion's image, or even an angel's image. You 0:12:24.800 --> 0:12:28.800 have the DNA of Almighty God. You look like the 0:12:28.920 --> 0:12:32.480 creator of the universe. You have royal blood flowing through 0:12:32.520 --> 0:12:35.600 your veins. When God made you, he liked you so 0:12:35.760 --> 0:12:38.960 much he threw away the mold. You are one of 0:12:39.000 --> 0:12:43.040 a kind, a prize possession. But the trick of the 0:12:43.200 --> 0:12:46.839 enemy is to get you to go through life feeling inferior, 0:12:47.679 --> 0:12:51.800 like you're not in enough. Speaking negative I ams. He 0:12:51.960 --> 0:12:55.760 knows if you go around discounting yourself, you will never 0:12:55.840 --> 0:12:59.760 see the masterpiece you were meant to be. When you 0:12:59.840 --> 0:13:04.840 say I'm not valuable, I'm not that talented, I am ordinary, 0:13:05.640 --> 0:13:10.000 that's dishonoring to God. You are using his name that 0:13:10.240 --> 0:13:14.120 I am to contradict who he says you are. You 0:13:14.200 --> 0:13:16.760 may feel those ways, but you have to learn to 0:13:16.760 --> 0:13:21.160 turn it around. In the face of insecurity, feeling inferior, 0:13:21.559 --> 0:13:25.479 you need to say I am worthy, I am valuable, 0:13:26.040 --> 0:13:30.199 I am a masterpiece. I am talented. I am crowned 0:13:30.240 --> 0:13:33.720 with favor. That's what causes God to go to work. 0:13:34.440 --> 0:13:38.719 That's using his name the right way. The circumstances may 0:13:38.760 --> 0:13:42.200 say one thing. It's tempting to talk about that, but 0:13:42.280 --> 0:13:45.360 you have to get in agreement with God. I may 0:13:45.400 --> 0:13:49.160 be struggling with this addiction, but I am not an addict. 0:13:49.800 --> 0:13:52.720 I am not dysfunctional. I am not a product of 0:13:52.760 --> 0:13:57.600 my environment. I am free, I am whole, I am clean. 0:13:58.000 --> 0:14:03.520 I am victorious. See. Sometimes the reason we're stuck is 0:14:03.559 --> 0:14:07.120 we keep using our i ams to describe the situation, 0:14:07.920 --> 0:14:10.400 but you need to use the I am to change 0:14:10.440 --> 0:14:15.000 the situation. Business may be slow, my bank account may 0:14:15.040 --> 0:14:17.680 have gone down, but that's not who I am. I 0:14:17.760 --> 0:14:21.560 am blessed, I am prosperous. I am under the open 0:14:21.680 --> 0:14:25.800 windows of heaven. Whatever follows that I am is going 0:14:25.880 --> 0:14:29.600 to come looking for you. I am average, Average comes 0:14:29.640 --> 0:14:35.240 looking how about I am exceptional? Exception comes looking favor 0:14:35.520 --> 0:14:41.000 new levels. I am unworthy. I don't measure up. Unworthiness 0:14:41.000 --> 0:14:46.400 comes shame, guilt. Try a different. I am. I am forgiven, 0:14:47.120 --> 0:14:51.120 I am redeemed, I am restored. I am the righteousness 0:14:51.120 --> 0:14:55.280 of God. That's what brings hope, That's what brings life 0:14:55.320 --> 0:14:58.160 and cause you to get back up and go again. 0:14:59.120 --> 0:15:01.760 When my father to be with the Lord, I knew 0:15:01.760 --> 0:15:04.040 I was supposed to step up and pastor the church, 0:15:04.120 --> 0:15:07.840 but I didn't feel qualified. I'd been behind the scenes 0:15:07.880 --> 0:15:11.800 for seventeen years doing the television production and I had 0:15:11.840 --> 0:15:15.800 never trained to be a pastor, never ministered. Plus my 0:15:15.880 --> 0:15:19.840 father was a great pastor and so strong, this big personality, 0:15:19.880 --> 0:15:23.040 and I thought I don't have any of that. My 0:15:23.240 --> 0:15:28.600 ims were negative. I am intimidated, I am unqualified, I 0:15:28.640 --> 0:15:32.479 am lacking. And the fact is that was all true. 0:15:32.640 --> 0:15:35.800 I wasn't making it up. That's how I felt. But 0:15:35.840 --> 0:15:38.720 the scripture says, let the week say I am strong. 0:15:39.560 --> 0:15:43.480 Not let the weak describe the situation. Let the week 0:15:43.560 --> 0:15:47.040 talk about how you feel. No, let the weak declare 0:15:47.280 --> 0:15:50.720 what God says. If I would have kept the wrong 0:15:50.840 --> 0:15:54.760 I ams, I wouldn't be up here today. All these 0:15:54.800 --> 0:15:57.680 thoughts told me I couldn't do it. But all through 0:15:57.680 --> 0:16:01.440 the day I wouldn't say what I felt. That was tempting, 0:16:02.160 --> 0:16:04.920 but I put a watch over my mouth. I did 0:16:04.960 --> 0:16:07.480 my best to only say what God says about me. 0:16:07.880 --> 0:16:12.160 I am strong, I am anointed, I am equipped, I 0:16:12.200 --> 0:16:18.520 am favored. You know what started looking for me? Courage, strength, power, anointing. 0:16:19.360 --> 0:16:23.640 I discovered ability I never dreamed I had talent came 0:16:23.680 --> 0:16:27.280 out that I didn't know was in me. Don't let 0:16:27.480 --> 0:16:31.720 negative i ams keep you from your greatness. You can't 0:16:31.760 --> 0:16:36.680 reach your destiny. Speaking defeat over your life. Whatever follows 0:16:36.680 --> 0:16:42.040 that I am, make sure it's uplifting, encouraging, empowering, that 0:16:42.080 --> 0:16:44.920 it is what God says about you. See some people 0:16:44.960 --> 0:16:47.360 get up in the morning and look in the mirror, 0:16:47.400 --> 0:16:49.880 and the first thing they say is, man, I am 0:16:50.000 --> 0:16:54.120 so old looking, I am so wrinkled, and I am 0:16:54.200 --> 0:16:57.320 so out of shape. Next time you do that, just 0:16:57.440 --> 0:17:02.720 imagine you're sending out invitations oldness. You are cordially invited 0:17:02.760 --> 0:17:06.600 into my life. Wrinkles, this is your formal invitation. I'd 0:17:06.600 --> 0:17:12.520 love to have you, unattractiveness, ugliness, homeliness. I'd like to personally. 0:17:12.920 --> 0:17:16.440 You better start canceling those invitations. Some of you that 0:17:16.520 --> 0:17:19.920 have already shown up. And I'm just kidding, but instead 0:17:19.920 --> 0:17:23.680 of all those negative i ams, starting to day off 0:17:23.760 --> 0:17:27.920 down on yourself. Get in agreement with God. If you're 0:17:27.920 --> 0:17:32.040 gonna use his name, put what he says behind it. Father, 0:17:32.119 --> 0:17:35.200 you said, my youth is being renewed like the eagles. 0:17:35.440 --> 0:17:38.919 So I declare, I am young, I am strong, I 0:17:38.960 --> 0:17:42.680 am good looking, I am vibrant, I am a masterpiece. 0:17:43.240 --> 0:17:47.480 When you say that, it won't get stronger, fresher, younger, 0:17:47.680 --> 0:17:52.400 more vitality. Whatever is following the I am you're calling in. 0:17:53.320 --> 0:17:56.919 Pay attention to what you're speaking over yourself. Do you 0:17:57.080 --> 0:18:02.280 want what you're inviting? David's and so on? One thirty nine. God, 0:18:02.320 --> 0:18:05.880 I praise you because you have made me in an 0:18:05.920 --> 0:18:11.400 amazing way. What you have done is wonderful. Notice David's 0:18:11.440 --> 0:18:15.119 I ams. He was saying, not in arrogance, but in 0:18:15.200 --> 0:18:19.639 praise to God. I am amazing, I am wonderful, I 0:18:19.680 --> 0:18:24.159 am a masterpiece. Most of us think just the opposite. 0:18:24.920 --> 0:18:29.119 Nothing amazing about me, nothing wonderful. I got these flaws. 0:18:29.680 --> 0:18:33.520 I'm impatient. I don't have a very good personality. We're 0:18:33.600 --> 0:18:37.680 speaking against who we really are. We're using the name 0:18:37.880 --> 0:18:42.359 of God that I am to devalue ourselves, to push 0:18:42.400 --> 0:18:46.000 down the greatness He's put in us. Have you ever 0:18:46.080 --> 0:18:50.879 said I am amazing, I am beautiful, I am talented, 0:18:51.280 --> 0:18:55.680 I am successful. I know people that say that to others. 0:18:56.200 --> 0:19:00.800 They have no problem complimenting their friends. You look today, 0:19:01.600 --> 0:19:06.000 that was an incredible presentation. You did outstanding, you played 0:19:06.040 --> 0:19:10.280 awesome in your game. They speak the blessing over others, 0:19:10.320 --> 0:19:13.160 but they never do it to themselves. And it's good 0:19:13.160 --> 0:19:17.320 for people to tell you you're great, you're kind, talented, beautiful, 0:19:17.760 --> 0:19:21.320 But there's a whole other level of impact when it 0:19:21.359 --> 0:19:24.680 comes out of your mouth. Your I am is one 0:19:24.680 --> 0:19:29.040 of the most powerful tools to reach your destiny. When 0:19:29.200 --> 0:19:32.960 was the last time you said I am amazing. You're 0:19:32.960 --> 0:19:36.680 not bragging on you, You're bragging on what God has done. 0:19:36.880 --> 0:19:39.640 I don't mean out in public, go around announcing I'm 0:19:39.640 --> 0:19:43.040 talking about in private, in your quiet time. You need 0:19:43.080 --> 0:19:45.439 to be able to say, Lord, thank you that I 0:19:45.480 --> 0:19:50.800 am amazing. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am attractive, 0:19:51.280 --> 0:19:55.800 I am strong, I am talented, I am disciplined, I 0:19:55.840 --> 0:20:01.280 am powerful, I am favored. I am victorious. Because you're 0:20:01.359 --> 0:20:05.080 in agreement with God, the power of his name is 0:20:05.160 --> 0:20:09.119 backing you up. The God who told Moses tell the 0:20:09.160 --> 0:20:12.760 people I am sent you. When he hears you declaring 0:20:12.800 --> 0:20:16.680 what he promised in the unseen realm, things are said 0:20:16.720 --> 0:20:20.440 into motion. God begins to bring about what he says 0:20:20.440 --> 0:20:24.760 about you. In the scripture, God told Jeremiah that he 0:20:24.840 --> 0:20:27.560 knew him before he was formed in his mother's womb, 0:20:28.320 --> 0:20:30.600 and that he was going to become a great prophet, 0:20:31.119 --> 0:20:33.720 that he would speak to nations and make a great 0:20:33.760 --> 0:20:37.960 difference with his life. But Jeremiah was young, He didn't 0:20:38.000 --> 0:20:40.880 have the training, and no one in his family had 0:20:40.920 --> 0:20:45.439 done anything significant. He said in verse six, Oh, Sovereign God, 0:20:45.920 --> 0:20:48.840 I do not know how to speak. I am too young, 0:20:50.040 --> 0:20:53.479 notice his I ams. I am not able. I am 0:20:53.520 --> 0:20:59.040 at a disadvantage. I am too young. God could have said, no, Jeremiah, 0:20:59.080 --> 0:21:01.240 you can do this. I want to help you take 0:21:01.280 --> 0:21:04.960 this step. He could have just encouraged him and tried 0:21:05.000 --> 0:21:08.200 to talk him into it. But God knows the power 0:21:08.359 --> 0:21:12.760 of the I am. He knows if we're speaking against ourselves, 0:21:13.040 --> 0:21:16.720 it will keep us from rising higher. God answered him 0:21:16.720 --> 0:21:20.440 back and said, Jeremiah, say not that you're too young. 0:21:21.480 --> 0:21:24.760 God was saying, in effect, don't put that negative I 0:21:24.800 --> 0:21:27.919 am with my name. That's not who I called you. 0:21:27.960 --> 0:21:32.720 To be. I didn't say you're too young, not able afraid. 0:21:33.160 --> 0:21:37.520 I said you will speak to nations like Jeremiah. God 0:21:37.600 --> 0:21:40.879 not only knew you before you were formed in the wound, 0:21:41.600 --> 0:21:45.760 but he's already called you to accomplish your assignment, to 0:21:45.880 --> 0:21:49.520 go further than you think possible, to overcome obstacles that 0:21:49.600 --> 0:21:53.199 look too big. When he called you, he put in 0:21:53.240 --> 0:21:57.560 you everything you need to fulfill your destiny. There will 0:21:57.640 --> 0:22:00.840 be these times where you don't feel qualified, you don't 0:22:00.840 --> 0:22:04.120 have the experience, you don't come from an influential family. 0:22:04.960 --> 0:22:09.040 All these circumstances seem like you should shrink back, stay 0:22:09.040 --> 0:22:12.680 where it's comfortable. But God is going to call out 0:22:12.720 --> 0:22:16.200 of you things you didn't know were in you. He's 0:22:16.240 --> 0:22:19.080 going to take you further than others in your family 0:22:19.160 --> 0:22:22.200 have gone. If you're going to see these new levels, 0:22:22.440 --> 0:22:25.560 you have to have the right I ams. You'll be 0:22:25.640 --> 0:22:30.240 tempted to make excuses, devalue yourself, come up with the 0:22:30.280 --> 0:22:35.280 reasons it's not possible. That's judging your future based on 0:22:35.359 --> 0:22:38.159 what's happened in the past. But God is about to 0:22:38.200 --> 0:22:42.080 do a new thing, something that you've never seen. He's 0:22:42.119 --> 0:22:46.800 about to show out in your life. In an uncommon way. Now, 0:22:46.840 --> 0:22:51.040 don't let negative ims hold you back by faith. You 0:22:51.160 --> 0:22:55.040 have to declare who God says you are. God. If 0:22:55.040 --> 0:22:57.639 you say I'm a giant killer, then I'm going to 0:22:57.680 --> 0:23:00.600 get in agreement and say what you say, I am 0:23:00.640 --> 0:23:04.200 a giant killer God. If you say I'm a prophet 0:23:04.240 --> 0:23:07.199 to speak to the nations, I'm not gonna use my 0:23:07.440 --> 0:23:10.320 i am to tell you I am too young. My 0:23:10.520 --> 0:23:14.520 new I am is, I am well able, I am equipped, 0:23:14.800 --> 0:23:18.560 I am anointed for this assignment. Don't tell God all 0:23:18.560 --> 0:23:22.000 the reasons you can't do it. I am addicted, i 0:23:22.040 --> 0:23:26.280 am brogue, I am limited. I'm too young, too old, 0:23:26.400 --> 0:23:30.639 too short, too tall, all these negative i ams. God 0:23:30.720 --> 0:23:34.360 is saying to us what he said to him. Say not, 0:23:34.520 --> 0:23:38.480 you can't do it. Zip up that negative that's gonna 0:23:38.520 --> 0:23:41.679 keep you from your destiny. God would not have called 0:23:41.720 --> 0:23:43.720 you to do it if you were not well able. 0:23:44.800 --> 0:23:48.679 Verse nine says the Lord reached out and touched Jeremiah's 0:23:48.720 --> 0:23:51.800 mouth and said, I have put my words in you. 0:23:52.760 --> 0:23:55.399 God could have reached out and touched his heart, touched 0:23:55.400 --> 0:23:59.280 his head, but God touched his mouth. He was saying, 0:23:59.320 --> 0:24:03.240 from now you're gonna speak my words. What's held many 0:24:03.320 --> 0:24:07.280 people back are these negative i ams. They've been speaking 0:24:07.400 --> 0:24:12.440 against themselves their whole life, devaluing who they are. It's 0:24:12.480 --> 0:24:18.320 pushed down their gifts, kept them from dreams, limited relationships. 0:24:18.320 --> 0:24:21.040 Often we don't realize we're doing it. It's how we 0:24:21.040 --> 0:24:26.240 were raised. We've always been against ourselves. I believe today, 0:24:26.800 --> 0:24:31.080 like God did for Jeremiah, he's touching your mouth. He's 0:24:31.119 --> 0:24:34.680 gonna help you stop cursing your future. You're gonna feel 0:24:34.680 --> 0:24:38.960 a power, a strength to not speak defeat over your life. 0:24:39.880 --> 0:24:42.359 When you start to the spirit of God is going 0:24:42.440 --> 0:24:44.879 to rise up and remind you to zip it up. 0:24:45.840 --> 0:24:48.760 Say not that you're too young. Say not that you're 0:24:48.800 --> 0:24:52.600 not qualified. Say not you missed your chance. Say not 0:24:52.760 --> 0:24:56.120 that you'll live addicted. What God has spoken over you 0:24:56.440 --> 0:24:59.800 will override what the enemy has told you. No force 0:24:59.840 --> 0:25:02.960 of darkness can stop what God has purpose for you. 0:25:03.880 --> 0:25:06.439 Now do your part and use that I am to 0:25:06.560 --> 0:25:10.760 declare what God says about you. This is what Jeremiah did. 0:25:11.200 --> 0:25:14.359 He changes I am from I am too young to 0:25:14.440 --> 0:25:18.320 I am victorious. I am an overcomer, I am in power. 0:25:19.119 --> 0:25:23.480 God touched his mouth, said in verse eighteen Jeremiah I 0:25:23.560 --> 0:25:27.320 have made you like a strong, fortified city. You will 0:25:27.359 --> 0:25:31.399 stand up against any opposition. They will fight you, but 0:25:31.520 --> 0:25:34.760 they will fail, for I Am with you. When you 0:25:34.880 --> 0:25:37.760 have the right i ams, the most high God will 0:25:37.760 --> 0:25:41.200 show up. People may come against you, but the great 0:25:41.240 --> 0:25:46.119 i Am is backing you up our negative ims, keeping 0:25:46.160 --> 0:25:49.719 you from your destiny. Have you been speaking against your 0:25:49.760 --> 0:25:53.159 future and maybe don't realize it, using one of the 0:25:53.240 --> 0:25:58.160 names of God to declare defeat, to speak mediocrity. This 0:25:58.200 --> 0:26:01.120 is a new day and it has reached out to 0:26:01.119 --> 0:26:04.600 touch your mouth. He's going to help you speak faith 0:26:04.640 --> 0:26:08.080 filled words. When you get the right i ams, you'll 0:26:08.080 --> 0:26:11.040 be amazed at how your self image begins to improve. 0:26:11.280 --> 0:26:13.840 You feel good about who you are. You don't live 0:26:13.920 --> 0:26:17.440 stuck thinking you could never get well. Never break the addiction. 0:26:18.040 --> 0:26:21.680 You know that's only temporary. That God is fighting your battles. 0:26:21.960 --> 0:26:25.800 They came against you, but like Jeremiah, they will fail, 0:26:26.080 --> 0:26:29.680 for God is with you. Now, pay attention to what 0:26:29.800 --> 0:26:33.720 follows the im. That's what you're inviting into your life. 0:26:34.240 --> 0:26:39.720