WEBVTT - Your Bags Are Packed | Joel Osteen 0:00:00.560 --> 0:00:03.000 Hi, It's Joel and Victoria. What a joy to be 0:00:03.040 --> 0:00:05.640 with you today. We always counted an honor. Know that 0:00:05.640 --> 0:00:07.920 we're praying for you and your family. We sure hope 0:00:07.920 --> 0:00:11.039 you enjoy this podcast today and we just are praying 0:00:11.119 --> 0:00:13.520 for you and know that God is for you, so 0:00:13.880 --> 0:00:17.639 enjoy today's message. Well, God bless you. It's great to 0:00:17.680 --> 0:00:20.400 be with you today, and I hope you stay connected 0:00:20.440 --> 0:00:23.279 with us during the week through a daily podcast or 0:00:23.360 --> 0:00:26.800 YouTube channel, social media, and you can come visit us 0:00:26.840 --> 0:00:28.960 in person. We'd love to have you be a part 0:00:29.000 --> 0:00:31.400 of one of our services. But I'd like to start 0:00:31.440 --> 0:00:34.480 with something funny. And I heard about these two professional 0:00:34.520 --> 0:00:38.400 baseball players. They were discussing whether or not they thought 0:00:38.400 --> 0:00:41.360 there would be baseball up in heaven. They made an 0:00:41.400 --> 0:00:44.600 agreement that whoever died first would come back and tell 0:00:44.680 --> 0:00:48.000 if indeed there was baseball in heaven. A few months later, 0:00:48.120 --> 0:00:51.040 one of the players died, just like he promised. He 0:00:51.080 --> 0:00:53.800 came back said to the other player, I got good 0:00:53.840 --> 0:00:56.560 news and I've got bad news. The good news is 0:00:56.680 --> 0:00:59.760 there is baseball up in heaven. The bad news is 0:01:00.160 --> 0:01:04.280 scheduled to pitch next Thursday. Say it like you mean it. 0:01:04.600 --> 0:01:07.440 This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:01:07.840 --> 0:01:10.160 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:01:10.319 --> 0:01:12.959 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:01:13.040 --> 0:01:16.920 taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 0:01:17.040 --> 0:01:20.240 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:01:20.319 --> 0:01:25.240 the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 0:01:25.280 --> 0:01:28.120 to talk to you today about your bags are packed. 0:01:29.120 --> 0:01:31.679 We all face situations where we don't know if we 0:01:31.760 --> 0:01:35.200 have what it takes. We feel unqualified for the position. 0:01:35.880 --> 0:01:38.320 We don't think we have the strength to raise these children, 0:01:38.400 --> 0:01:42.200 or the endurance to deal with these health issues. But 0:01:42.240 --> 0:01:46.280 God knew everything you would ever face, every problem, every 0:01:46.319 --> 0:01:50.520 set back, every dream. He put in you everything you 0:01:50.560 --> 0:01:54.760 would need to fulfill your purpose, the gifts, the talents, 0:01:54.880 --> 0:01:58.880 the wisdom, the strength. He's lined up the right people, 0:01:59.480 --> 0:02:03.960 the good, the doors to open, the giants to fall. 0:02:04.080 --> 0:02:07.040 You will never face a situation where you don't have 0:02:07.120 --> 0:02:11.840 what you need. You're not lacking, You're not at a disadvantage. 0:02:12.280 --> 0:02:15.440 The odds may be against you, but God has already 0:02:15.520 --> 0:02:20.040 equipped and empowered you for every season. David said it 0:02:20.080 --> 0:02:23.000 this way. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not 0:02:23.120 --> 0:02:27.320 want one version, says I have everything I need. That's 0:02:27.360 --> 0:02:31.440 a powerful place to live from. I'm not attractive enough 0:02:31.520 --> 0:02:34.880 and I don't have the talent. This problem's too big. 0:02:35.360 --> 0:02:37.840 As long as you think you're lacking, you're going to 0:02:37.880 --> 0:02:41.799 get stocks. You have to change your mindset. Get out 0:02:41.800 --> 0:02:45.480 of that not enough mentality can't do it too big. 0:02:46.080 --> 0:02:50.000 Do like David Heaven. I have everything I need mentality, 0:02:50.320 --> 0:02:53.800 I am well able. That's how David could defeat a 0:02:53.919 --> 0:02:57.680 giant with just a slingshot. That's how he could outlast 0:02:57.800 --> 0:03:01.080 King Saul, who was so jealous. That's why he didn't 0:03:01.080 --> 0:03:03.520 get discouraged when his father left him out in the 0:03:03.560 --> 0:03:07.639 shepherd's fields. He knew number one, the Lord is my shepherd. 0:03:08.200 --> 0:03:11.240 I'm not doing this by myself. I have a protector, 0:03:11.280 --> 0:03:16.280 a defender, a waymaker. And number two, he believed that 0:03:16.320 --> 0:03:20.000 the Lord, his shepherd, had put in him everything he needed, 0:03:20.639 --> 0:03:24.400 that he wasn't lacking, that he wasn't deficient. He didn't 0:03:24.440 --> 0:03:27.160 go around thinking, I wish I had more courage, then 0:03:27.200 --> 0:03:29.880 I'd face that giant. Wish I had more talent, then 0:03:29.880 --> 0:03:32.560 I could become a king. If I had more strength, 0:03:32.720 --> 0:03:35.400 I could deal with Saul. We wouldn't be talking about 0:03:35.520 --> 0:03:38.720 David if he didn't believe that he had everything he 0:03:38.800 --> 0:03:42.040 needed for each season he was in. If you have 0:03:42.120 --> 0:03:46.440 a lacking mindset, it pushes down your potential. If you 0:03:46.480 --> 0:03:49.480 believe you're at a deficit, it limits what God put 0:03:49.520 --> 0:03:52.560 in you. When Joel, I feel like I'm over my head. 0:03:52.960 --> 0:03:55.640 I don't know if I can do this. God wouldn't 0:03:55.680 --> 0:03:59.600 have allowed the situation if you weren't well able. It's 0:03:59.640 --> 0:04:02.640 a yes. Are you going to live with a lacking 0:04:02.760 --> 0:04:06.880 mentality or are you going to live with a loaded mentality? 0:04:07.120 --> 0:04:09.520 Are you going to shrink back because the obstacle feels 0:04:09.520 --> 0:04:12.520 too big or are you going to step up knowing 0:04:12.560 --> 0:04:16.000 that the courage, the strength, the favor is already in you. 0:04:17.080 --> 0:04:20.080 And I'm not saying you should never feel unqualified or 0:04:20.120 --> 0:04:24.160 feel intimidated. Feelings come to us all. That's not a 0:04:24.240 --> 0:04:27.640 lack of faith. That's normal. But here's the key. Feelings 0:04:27.680 --> 0:04:31.400 don't tell you the truth. Feelings are fickle. They can 0:04:31.440 --> 0:04:34.480 be up one day and down the next. You have 0:04:34.560 --> 0:04:38.520 to override those feelings by what you know. That is, 0:04:38.560 --> 0:04:41.680 the Lord is your shepherd, and you have everything you 0:04:41.800 --> 0:04:45.640 need for each season that you're in. Now, don't verbalize 0:04:45.680 --> 0:04:49.200 your feelings, verbalize what God says about you. Why I 0:04:49.240 --> 0:04:52.320 can't raise this child It's too difficult. No, I am 0:04:52.360 --> 0:04:55.520 strong in the Lord, I am well able. I can't 0:04:55.520 --> 0:04:58.680 take this position. I'm not qualified. No, I can do 0:04:58.760 --> 0:05:02.320 all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Well, Joe, this 0:05:02.360 --> 0:05:05.360 sickness is too much. I can't deal with the treatment. 0:05:05.720 --> 0:05:09.080 Turn it around. Greater is he that's in me than 0:05:09.080 --> 0:05:13.200 what's trying to stop me. You have the strength, the power, 0:05:13.320 --> 0:05:17.960 the favor for every season, not to just survive, but 0:05:18.000 --> 0:05:22.359 to thrive despite what comes against you. Imagine with me 0:05:22.520 --> 0:05:25.880 that I decided to take Victoria on a forty day 0:05:26.279 --> 0:05:31.720 surprise vacation next year for our fortieth anniversary. Now just imagine, 0:05:31.760 --> 0:05:37.040 because it's not gonna happen. This is an illustration, Victoria. 0:05:37.160 --> 0:05:40.760 This is not a prophecy. But since it's a surprise, 0:05:41.600 --> 0:05:44.840 I have to pack her bags, and I pick out 0:05:45.000 --> 0:05:47.960 all these great locations. So we're gonna spend a few 0:05:48.040 --> 0:05:51.520 days in the mountains where it's snowing. So I pack 0:05:51.600 --> 0:05:55.720 her coat and sweater, gloves, a scarf. Then we're gonna 0:05:55.760 --> 0:05:58.640 head to a beach town get some sun. I pack 0:05:58.680 --> 0:06:02.880 her shorts, taink top, sandal sunscreen. We love to hike. 0:06:03.320 --> 0:06:05.960 We're gonna travel to this place where they're great trails, 0:06:06.040 --> 0:06:10.280 So I pack her hiking boots, blue jeans, backpack, water bottle. 0:06:10.480 --> 0:06:12.800 Then we're gonna finish up the trip in a big 0:06:12.839 --> 0:06:15.839 city and go to a nice restaurant, maybe see a 0:06:15.880 --> 0:06:20.720 play afterwards. So I packed something formal, nice dress, high heels, 0:06:20.960 --> 0:06:24.240 fancy purse, and she'll need her makeup, and I'll take 0:06:24.279 --> 0:06:27.520 those four suitcases. And good morning of the trip. She 0:06:27.600 --> 0:06:29.640 wakes up and I tell her we're going on a 0:06:29.720 --> 0:06:33.839 surprise forty day vacation. We leave in an hour. First 0:06:33.880 --> 0:06:36.359 thing she'll say is I can't go. I have to pack. 0:06:37.000 --> 0:06:39.000 I tell her, no, you don't have to, I pack 0:06:39.160 --> 0:06:42.359 for you. She'll say, now I'm really not going. But 0:06:43.160 --> 0:06:45.520 we get to our first location. She looks in the 0:06:45.560 --> 0:06:49.400 bag and there's the coat, the sweater, the gloves that 0:06:49.480 --> 0:06:52.080 she needs. Get to the beach. A few days later, 0:06:52.400 --> 0:06:56.360 there's the shorts, sandals, some sunscreen. She thinks, man, I 0:06:56.400 --> 0:06:58.840 know Joel is good looking. I didn't know he's this smart. 0:06:58.920 --> 0:07:01.720 And we go to take our heights. She has all 0:07:01.760 --> 0:07:05.480 her gear, jeans, backpack, water bottle. Get to the big city, 0:07:05.600 --> 0:07:07.320 she looks in her back. There's one of her nice 0:07:07.400 --> 0:07:11.360 dresses perfectly folded. There's her high heels. It's all in there. 0:07:12.120 --> 0:07:15.120 Every place she went, she had just what she needed. 0:07:15.800 --> 0:07:18.560 How could I pack so perfectly? How could I have 0:07:18.640 --> 0:07:22.560 the right thing for every occasion? It's because I planned 0:07:22.560 --> 0:07:26.440 the trip. I knew the itinerary, where we were going, 0:07:26.880 --> 0:07:29.400 how long we're going to stay, what we're gonna do, 0:07:29.960 --> 0:07:32.840 what the weather would be like. I took all that 0:07:33.000 --> 0:07:37.000 into account and made sure I packed exactly what she needed. 0:07:37.560 --> 0:07:40.920 The scripture says before you were born, God knew you 0:07:41.240 --> 0:07:44.840 and planned out your days. It says in Psalms that 0:07:44.960 --> 0:07:48.239 He has written every day of your life in his book. 0:07:48.920 --> 0:07:51.960 He knows where you're going, how long you're going to stay, 0:07:52.320 --> 0:07:54.600 what the conditions are going to be like, what you're 0:07:54.600 --> 0:07:58.080 going to need. The good news is God not only 0:07:58.200 --> 0:08:02.240 knows your itinerary, but he has packed your backs. There's 0:08:02.280 --> 0:08:05.520 not a location that you go to that you won't 0:08:05.520 --> 0:08:08.560 have what you need. There's not a season you'll be 0:08:08.680 --> 0:08:11.600 in where you don't have the strength, the courage, the 0:08:11.640 --> 0:08:15.080 favor to do what He's assigned you to do. He 0:08:15.160 --> 0:08:20.200 knows every battle you'll face, every valley, every mountain, that 0:08:20.320 --> 0:08:23.640 opportunity that seems over your head. He knew it was coming. 0:08:24.240 --> 0:08:28.240 He planned your trip. He's already put the faith, the wisdom, 0:08:28.400 --> 0:08:31.440 the fortitude in your bag. You don't have to live 0:08:31.480 --> 0:08:33.360 worry anything. I don't know if I can handle this. 0:08:33.600 --> 0:08:37.240 It's over my head. No, it's in you. There's grace 0:08:37.280 --> 0:08:40.959 for every season. There is strength for your assignment and 0:08:41.280 --> 0:08:45.120 provision for your calling. Don't believe those lies that you 0:08:45.200 --> 0:08:49.480 had a deficit. It's too much. That's saying, in effect, God, 0:08:49.520 --> 0:08:52.559 you forgot something. You left this out of my bag. 0:08:53.040 --> 0:08:56.040 You didn't take into account this trouble or this person 0:08:56.080 --> 0:08:59.439 that walked away, this new level in my career. No, 0:08:59.600 --> 0:09:04.319 God that make mistakes. Whatever season you're in, it may 0:09:04.360 --> 0:09:07.040 be a surprise to you, but it's not a surprise 0:09:07.120 --> 0:09:11.400 to him when you understand that God has packed your bags. 0:09:12.000 --> 0:09:14.680 You don't live with a lacking mindset. You live with 0:09:14.760 --> 0:09:18.920 a loaded mindset like David. Even when you walk into 0:09:19.000 --> 0:09:22.839 seasons that don't make sense, you have that faith, that 0:09:22.960 --> 0:09:26.559 trust that the Lord is my shepherd. I have everything 0:09:26.679 --> 0:09:30.280 I need. This can save you a lot of frustration, 0:09:30.920 --> 0:09:33.720 a lot of anks about the future because there's so 0:09:33.840 --> 0:09:37.480 much uncertainty. It's easy. Don't worry about what might happen 0:09:37.520 --> 0:09:40.120 and how am I going to handle college? Or what 0:09:40.160 --> 0:09:42.880 if I'm not good at raising these children? Or what 0:09:42.960 --> 0:09:45.400 if this company doesn't need me in the future, how 0:09:45.440 --> 0:09:48.080 will I make it? We don't know what the future holds. 0:09:48.559 --> 0:09:50.720 We don't know what will need and what will face. 0:09:51.400 --> 0:09:53.280 But you know what will help you sleep well at 0:09:53.400 --> 0:09:56.480 night and lay down in peace is when you know 0:09:56.640 --> 0:09:59.640 that your bags have been packed by your heavenly father. 0:10:00.200 --> 0:10:05.360 He knows everything. He planned your itinerary. He didn't just 0:10:05.440 --> 0:10:08.160 leave it up to us to figure out come up 0:10:08.200 --> 0:10:11.720 with what we need. He packed your bags for you. 0:10:12.600 --> 0:10:16.319 He took into account every season in your life, your youth, 0:10:16.880 --> 0:10:20.320 your young adult, middle aged, senior years. It's all there. 0:10:21.000 --> 0:10:27.920 You can live in peace knowing who packed your bags. 0:10:31.960 --> 0:10:34.280 One time, I was at a Night of Hope, one 0:10:34.320 --> 0:10:37.319 of our events on the road, and always wear casual 0:10:37.360 --> 0:10:40.040 clothes to the venue, and I change into my suit 0:10:40.120 --> 0:10:43.080 right before the service starts. I'd been there an hour 0:10:43.160 --> 0:10:46.480 or so, visiting with pastors and other guests, and about 0:10:46.520 --> 0:10:49.439 fifteen minutes before the service I ran back to change 0:10:49.640 --> 0:10:52.760 my clothes, and my suit and shirt and tie were 0:10:52.800 --> 0:10:55.360 hanging there. I looked in my bag and there were 0:10:55.400 --> 0:10:59.120 my shoes, my belt, but I couldn't find my socks anywhere. 0:11:00.040 --> 0:11:03.959 Looked at all the compartments and unzipped everything, pulled out 0:11:04.000 --> 0:11:07.040 all the other clothes, but no socks. All I had 0:11:07.120 --> 0:11:10.360 was my athletic socks I was wearing with my tennis shoes. Well, 0:11:10.400 --> 0:11:12.600 my friend Johnny was with me. I've known him my 0:11:12.640 --> 0:11:15.800 whole life. He was already in his suit. He looked 0:11:15.840 --> 0:11:18.760 at me and said, do you want my socks? I said, 0:11:18.800 --> 0:11:22.080 if you don't mind, and we switched socks right there. 0:11:22.800 --> 0:11:25.079 I didn't tell him anything about that toe fungus I've 0:11:25.080 --> 0:11:28.480 had for thirty years. But God must have protected him. 0:11:28.480 --> 0:11:32.960 But here's my point. Sometimes we forget to pack things. 0:11:33.600 --> 0:11:35.680 I had done a couple hundred nights of hope, but 0:11:35.760 --> 0:11:38.520 that night I left something out. Can I encourage you? 0:11:38.880 --> 0:11:42.959 God never leaves anything out. He never forgets to pack 0:11:43.040 --> 0:11:46.679 what you need. Now, when you're in a difficult situations, 0:11:46.840 --> 0:11:51.040 thoughts will whisper You're not qualified, you're not attractive enough, 0:11:51.160 --> 0:11:54.720 you're not talented enough. Do you think the creator of 0:11:54.760 --> 0:11:59.600 the universe, the god who flung stars into space somehow 0:11:59.640 --> 0:12:02.600 made him mistake and forgot to pack what you need. 0:12:03.200 --> 0:12:06.360 That he somehow left out your socks, so to speak. 0:12:06.840 --> 0:12:10.160 Now you don't have the courage, the strength, the ability. 0:12:10.920 --> 0:12:14.800 That's the enemy. He'd love to deceive us into living 0:12:15.080 --> 0:12:18.720 with a lacking mentality. I'm not enough. I'm at a 0:12:18.760 --> 0:12:22.880 deficit as long as you believe that, it's limiting what 0:12:22.960 --> 0:12:26.760 God put in you, the gifts, the talents, the strength 0:12:26.920 --> 0:12:30.600 is lying dormant. The way to unpack your bags and 0:12:30.880 --> 0:12:34.000 discover what's in you is to be like David and 0:12:34.080 --> 0:12:38.200 live from this. I have everything I need mentality, not 0:12:38.320 --> 0:12:41.160 because of what we've done, not because of how great 0:12:41.200 --> 0:12:44.679 we are, but because the Lord is our shepherd, and 0:12:44.720 --> 0:12:48.559 he has packed us with courage, with influence, with leadership, 0:12:48.760 --> 0:12:53.679 with strategy. You're not lacking. You can handle it. If 0:12:53.720 --> 0:12:56.920 it's in your path, you're equipped for it. If it's 0:12:56.960 --> 0:13:01.520 in your future, you don't have to worry. Made the itinerary. 0:13:01.640 --> 0:13:05.880 He's planned your days. He's already packed everything you need. 0:13:06.120 --> 0:13:08.480 When you get there, you can open up that bag 0:13:08.520 --> 0:13:11.679 and there it is. A friend of mine is taking 0:13:11.720 --> 0:13:14.280 care of his elderly parents, and he and his wife 0:13:14.360 --> 0:13:18.160 have several beautiful children, and he's very successful in his career. 0:13:18.679 --> 0:13:21.160 They're always on the go. He said, Joel, if you 0:13:21.200 --> 0:13:24.160 would have told me five years ago that I would 0:13:24.280 --> 0:13:26.720 need to take care of my parents and bring them 0:13:26.760 --> 0:13:29.600 food each day and check on them and take them 0:13:29.640 --> 0:13:32.840 to appointments, I would have thought, there's no way. I 0:13:32.880 --> 0:13:35.680 don't have the time or energy. I can't handle all that. 0:13:36.520 --> 0:13:39.720 But he said, it's so amazing at how I have 0:13:39.800 --> 0:13:42.840 the grace to do all this Now. I don't dread it. 0:13:43.240 --> 0:13:46.559 I enjoy it. It's like God has multiplied my time. 0:13:47.520 --> 0:13:51.640 Why was that God had already packed the grace, the strength, 0:13:51.880 --> 0:13:55.319 the ability in his bag. God knows what you're going 0:13:55.400 --> 0:13:58.240 to need, when you're going to need it. You don't 0:13:58.280 --> 0:14:02.200 have to dread things. Urry you convince yourself it's going 0:14:02.240 --> 0:14:04.320 to be so hard, and what all you can't do. 0:14:04.960 --> 0:14:09.240 When you get there, the grace will be there. But Joel, 0:14:09.320 --> 0:14:11.480 it seems like it's over my head. It's too much 0:14:11.520 --> 0:14:15.000 for me. No, you haven't unpacked all this in your bag. 0:14:15.760 --> 0:14:20.480 You've seen partial strength, partial talent, partial courage. There's much 0:14:20.520 --> 0:14:24.040 more in you. You can't judge your future by where 0:14:24.120 --> 0:14:27.320 you are right now. Proverb says the path of the 0:14:27.400 --> 0:14:31.480 Righteous gets brighter and brighter as you step into new 0:14:31.640 --> 0:14:35.920 seasons where you need more strength, more wisdom, more grace. 0:14:36.560 --> 0:14:39.400 You're going to unpack things you didn't know we're in you. 0:14:40.480 --> 0:14:43.240 Some of what God is packed is hidden on purpose 0:14:43.720 --> 0:14:47.200 because you don't need it right now. It's easy to think, well, 0:14:47.200 --> 0:14:50.200 this is who I am, this is who I'll always be, 0:14:50.920 --> 0:14:56.080 this same level of confidence, strength, influence, no, your graceful 0:14:56.080 --> 0:14:59.600 where you are right now. But God has greater levels coming. 0:15:00.360 --> 0:15:02.920 You're going to discover what He's packed in you that 0:15:03.040 --> 0:15:06.920 you didn't even know you had. For seventeen years, I 0:15:07.000 --> 0:15:10.440 worked behind the scenes here at Lakewood during the television production, 0:15:10.560 --> 0:15:14.200 and I enjoyed it. Had a natural bent at cameras 0:15:14.240 --> 0:15:18.360 and lighting and producing. But my father would always try 0:15:18.360 --> 0:15:20.760 to get me up to speak. He said, Joe, you'd 0:15:20.760 --> 0:15:23.520 be a good minister. Why don't you help me pastor 0:15:23.560 --> 0:15:27.800 the church? That was always so strange to me. I thought, Man, 0:15:27.840 --> 0:15:30.520 I have my dad fooled. There is no way I 0:15:30.560 --> 0:15:32.360 could get up in front of people. I wouldn't know 0:15:32.400 --> 0:15:35.720 what to say. I don't have that gift. Year after 0:15:35.800 --> 0:15:38.760 year I would tell him no. In nineteen ninety nine, 0:15:38.840 --> 0:15:41.000 my father had a heart attack and went to be 0:15:41.080 --> 0:15:44.000 with the Lord, and all of a sudden, I felt 0:15:44.000 --> 0:15:47.080 this desire to step up and pastor the church. Now. 0:15:47.200 --> 0:15:50.200 Thoughts told me, Joe, you're not qualified, you don't have 0:15:50.240 --> 0:15:54.080 the experience. Nobody's going to listen to you. In years past, 0:15:54.120 --> 0:15:58.840 I believed it lived, intimidated too much, no way. But 0:15:59.000 --> 0:16:03.040 this time I felt this courage, this strength, this favor 0:16:03.720 --> 0:16:07.360 that I'd never felt before I stepped up. We never 0:16:07.480 --> 0:16:10.520 dreamed the church would grow. We were hoping if we 0:16:10.560 --> 0:16:13.280 could just maintain what my parents had built, that would 0:16:13.280 --> 0:16:16.120 be a great victory. But look what the Lord has done. 0:16:16.360 --> 0:16:19.840 Twenty seven years later, here we are in the former 0:16:19.920 --> 0:16:23.240 Compact Center. I didn't know my father was going to 0:16:23.320 --> 0:16:26.840 suddenly pass. I didn't know I could minister. But God 0:16:26.920 --> 0:16:29.440 knew what was coming. He knew what I was going 0:16:29.440 --> 0:16:32.600 to need. He had already packed my bags. You don't 0:16:32.680 --> 0:16:35.760 know what God has already packed in you. That's why 0:16:35.760 --> 0:16:38.360 you don't have to worry what if this happens, Joela. 0:16:38.560 --> 0:16:41.000 I don't think I'm qualified. I don't have the talent. 0:16:41.720 --> 0:16:44.840 You have what you need for this season. When you 0:16:44.960 --> 0:16:48.400 need more, it'll be there. God has already packed it. 0:16:49.000 --> 0:16:51.680 He's not only put things in you, but he's lined 0:16:51.760 --> 0:16:54.600 up the people you need and the doors to open. 0:16:54.800 --> 0:16:58.760 The good breaks. When my father passed, my brother Paul 0:16:58.960 --> 0:17:01.520 had been the chief of sogery at a hospital in 0:17:01.600 --> 0:17:05.920 Little Rock for thirteen years. Driving home from the memorial service, 0:17:06.160 --> 0:17:08.919 he felt God telling him to come back home and 0:17:09.040 --> 0:17:11.960 help us pastor the church. My brother in law, Dawn, 0:17:12.119 --> 0:17:15.760 was working in politics in Washington. He came back and 0:17:15.800 --> 0:17:18.520 helped us to run the television station the church owned. 0:17:19.040 --> 0:17:21.520 I couldn't have made all this happen. God had it 0:17:21.560 --> 0:17:25.160 all lined up. When we were trying to acquire this building, 0:17:25.400 --> 0:17:28.119 the former Compact Center, it was owned by the city. 0:17:28.560 --> 0:17:31.480 We needed ten city council members to vote for us. 0:17:31.800 --> 0:17:35.200 I'd never done anything in city politics. I thought, Man, 0:17:35.200 --> 0:17:37.840 where do we even start trying to convince people to 0:17:37.880 --> 0:17:41.240 be for us. There was a consultant we were told 0:17:41.240 --> 0:17:45.040 about that was the most influential man in city politics 0:17:45.600 --> 0:17:49.040 for decades. He had worked with council members and mayors. 0:17:49.920 --> 0:17:52.840 If you wanted anything done, people told us he was 0:17:52.880 --> 0:17:55.600 the person to get well. The thing about this man 0:17:55.720 --> 0:17:59.080 is he didn't have any kind of faith background, never 0:17:59.160 --> 0:18:02.959 done anything for religious organization, and he was kind of 0:18:03.000 --> 0:18:06.760 known to be a partier and love to dream, stay out, laid, 0:18:06.840 --> 0:18:09.880 have a good time. His language was really out there. 0:18:10.640 --> 0:18:13.840 But you never know who God is gonna use. Don't 0:18:13.880 --> 0:18:16.199 write people off because they're not just like you. And 0:18:16.880 --> 0:18:19.600 the first time I met with him, it was like 0:18:19.640 --> 0:18:23.760 this instant connection. God calls things to fall into place. 0:18:24.080 --> 0:18:26.520 He went out of his way to make things happen 0:18:26.560 --> 0:18:29.960 for us. He called on favors that people owed him 0:18:30.480 --> 0:18:33.560 and used it for us. It was uncommon. He told 0:18:33.560 --> 0:18:36.800 the newspaper, I love Joel, I'll do anything for him. 0:18:37.720 --> 0:18:39.800 I'd like to think I'm just that great, But that 0:18:40.000 --> 0:18:42.919 was the favor God had already packed for us for 0:18:43.040 --> 0:18:47.560 that critical season, bringing the right people. God knows what 0:18:47.640 --> 0:18:50.800 you need and he knows who you need. As you 0:18:50.920 --> 0:18:58.520 keep moving forward honoring God, you're going to unpack gifts, talents, favor, opportunity. 0:18:58.880 --> 0:19:02.160 The right people are going to show God packed it 0:19:02.359 --> 0:19:06.000 for the right season. You'll never be at a deficit, 0:19:06.520 --> 0:19:10.879 never be lacking. Like David. You have everything you need 0:19:11.119 --> 0:19:14.439 for the season you're in. Like God did for me, 0:19:14.800 --> 0:19:17.560 You're going to come into these seasons where you unpacked 0:19:17.640 --> 0:19:20.720 things that thrust you ahead that you didn't even know 0:19:20.840 --> 0:19:24.760 were in you. This is what happened to Gideon Judges 0:19:24.880 --> 0:19:28.720 chapter six. The people of Israel were being terrorized by 0:19:28.720 --> 0:19:33.080 the Midianites. They were bigger and stronger, and every time 0:19:33.160 --> 0:19:36.320 the Israelites crops begin to flourish, they would come and 0:19:36.359 --> 0:19:40.479 take the harvest and steal their possessions. Gideon was in 0:19:40.560 --> 0:19:45.440 hiding in a wine press, afraid and intimidated. An angel 0:19:45.520 --> 0:19:49.520 showed up and said, mighty hero, the Lord is with you. 0:19:49.520 --> 0:19:52.399 You are to deliver the Israelites from the army of 0:19:52.480 --> 0:19:56.960 midian I can imagine Gideon looking around, thought, who's he 0:19:57.000 --> 0:19:59.920 talking to. I'm not a mighty hero. I'm not strong 0:20:00.080 --> 0:20:04.359 and confident. I'm afraid. I'm hiding. God doesn't just see 0:20:04.400 --> 0:20:07.200 you as you are. He knows what he put in you. 0:20:07.960 --> 0:20:10.200 There will be these times that he calls it out. 0:20:10.840 --> 0:20:13.440 Get in. Said to the angel, how can I deliver 0:20:13.560 --> 0:20:17.160 the people? I come from the smallest tribe, and I'm 0:20:17.200 --> 0:20:20.840 the least one in my father's house. He was saying, Man, 0:20:20.840 --> 0:20:24.720 I'm lacking. I'm at a deficit. I would deliver the 0:20:24.720 --> 0:20:27.159 people if I had the courage, if I had the 0:20:27.200 --> 0:20:30.760 strength and the strategy, then I'd step up. God will 0:20:30.800 --> 0:20:33.480 never ask you to do something and not give you 0:20:33.560 --> 0:20:36.959 the ability to do it. He won't open a door 0:20:37.000 --> 0:20:39.879 that you can't walk through. He won't let you face 0:20:39.920 --> 0:20:43.320 opposition that you can't overcome. He knew it was coming. 0:20:43.880 --> 0:20:48.480 He planned your days, He determined your itinerary. He knew 0:20:48.520 --> 0:20:52.760 the Midianites would show up. The trouble, the sickness, the loss. 0:20:53.359 --> 0:20:56.920 It may have surprised you, but it didn't surprise him. 0:20:57.240 --> 0:21:01.280 The Psalmist said, God has armed you with for every battle. 0:21:02.160 --> 0:21:05.679 He's already packed your bags for that adversity. Yes, the 0:21:05.840 --> 0:21:08.679 enemy may look big, but what's in you is bigger. 0:21:09.520 --> 0:21:12.560 That challenge may be great, but greater is he that's 0:21:12.560 --> 0:21:17.240 in you. There's greater courage, greater faith, greater vision. You 0:21:17.280 --> 0:21:21.320 wouldn't be facing it if you weren't well able. Gideon's 0:21:21.400 --> 0:21:25.520 mistake is he went by what he felt. I feel unqualified, 0:21:26.080 --> 0:21:30.080 I feel less than afraid. That whole time he had 0:21:30.119 --> 0:21:34.919 a mighty hero on the inside, a man of fearless courage. 0:21:35.119 --> 0:21:38.919 This shows us what you're thinking can push down what 0:21:39.040 --> 0:21:42.360 God put in you. If you live with this deficit 0:21:42.480 --> 0:21:46.399 mentality not enough disadvantage, you're not going to see that 0:21:46.560 --> 0:21:50.720 mighty hero come out. Gideon made all these excuses and 0:21:50.920 --> 0:21:53.399 told the angel what he didn't have, what he couldn't do. 0:21:53.960 --> 0:21:57.640 The Angel said, Gideon, go in the strength you have. 0:21:58.359 --> 0:22:00.600 That was the key he was say, and don't wait 0:22:00.720 --> 0:22:04.159 till your feelings change. Take a step of faith, and 0:22:04.200 --> 0:22:08.400 you'll discover what God has already put in you. Sometimes 0:22:08.400 --> 0:22:12.040 we're like Gid in when I feel more couraged Joel, 0:22:12.320 --> 0:22:15.160 when I see things begin to improve, when I don't 0:22:15.200 --> 0:22:18.919 have this doubt, this insecurity, then I'll step up. But 0:22:19.080 --> 0:22:23.639 faith is about believing before you see it. Gideon finally 0:22:23.680 --> 0:22:27.480 took that step. He went out and defeated the Midianites, 0:22:27.520 --> 0:22:30.440 and he went on to become one of the heroes 0:22:30.480 --> 0:22:33.520 of faith. I wonder if there are things God has 0:22:33.600 --> 0:22:37.240 packed in your bag, But like Gideon, you're talking yourself 0:22:37.280 --> 0:22:41.639 out of it, thinking you're not qualified, the opposition's too big, 0:22:41.800 --> 0:22:45.080 you don't have what it takes. You wouldn't be there 0:22:45.280 --> 0:22:48.800 if you didn't have what it takes. Your assignment may 0:22:48.840 --> 0:22:51.880 be bigger than your confidence, but it's not bigger than 0:22:51.920 --> 0:22:56.560 your calling. God has already packed the mighty hero in you. 0:22:56.920 --> 0:23:02.479 He's already put greater confidence, strength, strategy to defeat the 0:23:02.520 --> 0:23:06.800 giants in your life, to step into your purpose. Moses 0:23:06.880 --> 0:23:09.359 had to learn this. He'd been in the desert for 0:23:09.359 --> 0:23:12.719 forty years hiding because of a mistake he had made. 0:23:12.960 --> 0:23:15.679 He felt like he was done. He had missed his chance. 0:23:16.280 --> 0:23:20.960 But God is taken into account every mistake, every wrong turn. 0:23:21.640 --> 0:23:26.359 He's already packed mercy and new beginnings and second chances. 0:23:27.040 --> 0:23:31.719 Nothing you've done has canceled your destiny. God showed up 0:23:31.720 --> 0:23:35.520 in a burning bush and told Moses go, tell the 0:23:35.600 --> 0:23:39.359 Pharaoh to let my people go. Moses said, God, I 0:23:39.400 --> 0:23:43.200 can't go. I stuttered, have a problem with my speech. 0:23:43.600 --> 0:23:46.960 I don't talk well. I love how God answered him. 0:23:47.160 --> 0:23:50.960 He said, Moses, who made your tongue? Who makes the 0:23:51.080 --> 0:23:54.199 death to hear? Who makes the blind to see? Is 0:23:54.240 --> 0:23:57.840 it not I? The Lord's your God? He was saying, 0:23:57.880 --> 0:24:01.960