Keeping Your Vision in Front of You

Joel @ Lakewood Church

• Keep the right things in front of you because if you aren't looking at it then you are not moving toward it.

Zechariah 4:6-10 KJV

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord , which run to and fro through the whole earth.

Proverbs 29:18 KJV

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

• When you believe big, you please God!  Don't be afraid to set a new standard for your family.  God is not limited by any of my perceived deficiencies.

• His dream for my life is bigger than my dream.
• Don't be limited by your own imagination (or lack thereof); don't let the enemy decide what you imagine.
• Let a new image take root.
• If you aren't healthy right now but you should put things in front of you that remind you of when you were.  More importantly make plans to live and not die.

2 Corinthians 4:18 KJV

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

One translation says that those things are subject to change.

Genesis 13:14-15 KJV

And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

Conrad Hilton: In 1932 Conrad N. Hilton wrote "The Greatest of Them All" onto a photograph of The Waldorf Astoria New York in New York City. It was his dream to own this hotel and include it in his prestigious portfolio of hotels. In 1949 he realized his dream, extending his version of "the light and warmth of hospitality" to the legendary New York landmark. Today, the hotel is the inspiration for the distinctive luxury hotels of The Waldorf Astoria New York Collection, the new Hilton brand established in 2006, to which the original Waldorf Astoria New York is affiliated. 

********Victoria Osteen**********

Forget and Press

Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

• ·Forget the past
• ·Set a goal.
• ·Press forward.

EXAMPLE: When you lift weights, you start with small weights and its hard but if you keep pressing then you get stronger. 

• We shouldn't operate in our circumstances because the more you mediate on it the more it will take root. Don't associate yourself with your circumstances.

You have to decide what you will dwell on and remove yourself from situations that will drag you down.

Walk out of harmful identities and walk into the identity that Christ on you, it is a HIGH CALLING!

God Will Finish What He Started

Joel @ Lakewood Church

• God never starts something with the end in mind and he has already set the completion date. God has already lined everything up.
• There are some people who you shouldn't tell about God's promises. (Secret Petitions) Psalm 37:4 AMP...Delight thyself also in the [Lord]; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
• Luke 2:25-27, 29 ESV
  Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
• David had to go on the run after he received the promise that he'd be the next king. He was in the wilderness where he couldn't see anything happening. He had to reminded of who he was and what God had promised (1 Samuel 25)
• A group went fishing and the people who knew that area told the leader that if he found himself near a certain place to head dew north and he'd make it back to dock (that was the promise). Well they went fishing and a thick fog set in limiting their visibility. The leader noticed where he was and told them to head dew north. The trip was taking long and the others started to plant seeds of doubt but he kept going and they made it back. When things look foggy, you just have to keep going.
• Genesis 30:22-24 MSG
  And then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and had a son. She said, "God has taken away my humiliation." She named him Joseph (Add), praying, "May God add yet another son to me."
• God doesn't forget even after you give up because I don't have the final say, God does.
• Paul Osteen (http://www.paulosteen.com/who-we-are/) Re
• Mary and Martha wanted Jesus to heal Lazarus, but He had a resurrection in mind! Sometimes you think God is too late, but he has something better in mind. (John 11)
• Zechariah 4:8-10 MSG
  After that, the Word of God came to me: "Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They'll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!" Going back to the vision, the Messenger-Angel said, "The seven lamps are the eyes of God probing the dark corners of the world like searchlights."
• If you hit a setback then begin again!
• Philippians 1:6 NIV
  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

********Victoria Osteen*********

• When you dance in the freedom that you have God gives you more freedom.
• I'm released from everything except doing my best.
• Faith is now and God has everything that I need. God is working through me for his good pleasure.
• God has my victory in His hands.
• My blessing is in stock for future release.
• I'm not under my circumstances, I'm

Making God A Part of Your Everyday Life

• Joel @ Lakewood Church
• 
  
• ·Some people put God in a Sunday morning box, but he wants to be the center of my life; at work, at the grocery store, etc...
• Proverbs 3:6 NIV
  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
• There are somethings that you may be able to do in your own strength but when we acknowledge God, he crowns your efforts.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV
  pray continually,
• You should have an attitude of prayer.

John 15:5-8 NIV
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.    If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.    If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.    This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

• When you humble yourself and admit that you can't do things on your own then God will exalt you. When you do this it's a sign of strength and if you can't then it's a sign of pride.
• Hebrews 11:6 KJV
  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
• God rewards you for making an effort.
• Matthew 6:33 NIV
  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
• One translation of seek says, to make it a vital necessity. Your life should depend on it and it shouldn't be an option. You may have to rearrange a few things to make God a priority.
• John 4:14 NIV
  but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
• Our praise should outweigh our petitions.
• When you talk to God talk to Him the way that you talk to your friends; when you talk to God speak the scripture even if you don't understand it because the Word is a living seed that will take root and sprout when needed because the holy spirit is your teacher.

*******Victoria Osteen @ Lakewood*******

1. We are ambassadors of peace and ambassadors represent.
• Romans 12:18 NIV
  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
2. You have to settle it in your heart that you will be at peace. That doesn't mean that you lay down and let someone make you a doormat.
• 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
  For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
3. When your heart and mind are not at.peace then you begin to react instead of respond.
• Philippians 4:7 NIV
  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
4. You have to learn to manage some relationships and you have to always pray for people who seen "hard to manage".
• Psalm 34:14 NIV
  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
5. Seek means that you have to take action and pursue means that you can't stop.