Your Destiny Is Calling

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

1. God calls you what you are before you become it.
1. Genesis 17:5
1. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
1. Abraham had no children
2. Abraham’s wife was passed traditional childbearing years.
2. 1 Samuel 13:14
1. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.
1. God told Samuel that he found a man after his own heart talking about the TEENAGER David.
2. God calls things that are not as if they already were.
2. There are promises that God has spoken over me.
1. Psalm 37:4
1. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
1. The secret petitions of my heart are whispers from God telling me what I will become.
2. When God speaks something he is looking for someone who will agree with Him.
1. Human nature says when I see it I’ll believe it but faith says I’ll believe it until I see it.
2. When the odds are against me God calls me successful, prosperous, and the head!
3. God doesn’t call you what you are, he calls you what you will become.
1. John Osteen
1. Had to drop out of high school to help his parents on the farm. At 17 he accepted Christ, the first person in his family. He had a desire to become a pastor. He let the seed take root and started telling people that he was a Pastor. Even his family told him that all he could do is pick cotton.
1. Don’t count on your friends and family to cheer you on.
2. When you hear your destiny calling, that’s between you and God.
3. Don't be moved by who’s not cheering me on.
2. Me and God are a majority.
1. His promises are not dependent on anyone but me. 
2. Don’t talk yourself out of your blessings with your doubts
3. Zechariah
1. An angel appeared to Zechariah saying that he’d have a child. He was old and his wife Elizabeth was barren. Zechariah was doubtful
2. Luke 1:18-20
1. Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
1. When you’ve been a certain way for a long time it’s hard to believe that you can be anything else.
2. Situations are only temporary.
3. God silenced Zechariah so he wouldn’t talk himself out of his victory.
1. Do yourself a favor and zip it up.
4. Don’t let people put labels on you
1. Luke 1:57-65
1. …They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.
1. Friends and Family came up with the best name. Sometimes well meaning people will try to “name your baby”. They will call you average, addicted, and other negative terms when your father has already called you something else. No one has the authority to name your future.
2. God changed Sarai’s name to Sarah so she’d know that she was a princess, a child of the Most High God!
5. Let go of Doubts and Latch on to His Promises
1. Sarah
1. Genesis 18:9-15
1. Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!”Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.”But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.”
1. Instead of latching on to a promise we are doubtful. Sarah laughed when she heard God’s promise of children.
2. God wouldn’t have given you a promise if he didn’t expect to bring it to pass.
2. Cheryl Prewitt Salem
1. The local milkman told a 5-year old Cheryl Prewitt that she would be Miss America one day. And so she was.Cheryl Prewitt walked the runway to become Miss America 1980, despite poverty, sexual abuse, a horrific car crash that resulted in a physical handicap and over 100 stitches in her face at age 11, and subsequent accident and fall that put a total of 200 stitches in her face by age 20 which have never been touched with plastic surgery. Prewitt was the first Miss America to have a platform, something she said the pageant now encouraged for all contestants. "I stood for God and country and putting the two back together."Ms. Prewitt entered - and lost - pageants for 5 years before winning the crown that would take her to Atlantic City. She won the Miss Starkville and Miss Mississippi titles in 1979, culminating in Miss America 1980.
6. Get Rid of the “Say Nots”
1. Jeremiah 1:5-7
1. “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.    Before you were born I set you apart    and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”  “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said,
1. It’s easy to come up with excuses.
2. God has already taken my circumstances into account.

Testimony Services Facilitated by Dr. Paul

Pastor Joel declared this as a year of acceleration. God wants to take you further and faster than you saying that God will open up doors of opportunity that will thrust me ahead. While believing, you have to do a few things

• Do your part.
• Get financial counseling and tithe.
• If you're volunteering and planted in the house of the Lord believe that you're going to flourish.
• Sometimes you have to pack your bags on faith.
• Dream Big

Ruby and Jose

Celebrated their 7th year anniversary. They struggled with their finances for the entire time until this year. After struggling and living pay check to pay check they decided they needed to change. So they reached out to the financial ministry and started tithing. Jose is now paid more money and he works less. They have a savings account. On June 6th the family took their very first family vacation to Colorado.

What am I expecting God for?

The Huertas

George worked in Heating and Air Conditioning for 15 years and he thought that is what he would do forever. Ruby prayed for the Lord to show them their purpose. One day George was playing around in the kitchen and his wife asked him what he was doing. George replied that he was making Mexican Gumbo. Super Bowl 2014, they saw a commercial announcing the Quest for Texas Best contest, which offers cash prizes and the opportunity to get small-batch, Texas-made food products on H-E-B store shelves. The couple entered the H-E-B contest and wound up among 25 finalists. They didn't win, but their Texas spin on traditional gumbo left enough of an impression with the grocery giant, that the company set them up with a co-packer to handle mass production, packaging and other major steps. George has since rededicated his life to Christ.

Kerry Smalls

Married with 8 kids. Worked in the railroad for 35 years. Been going to Lakewood for 12 years. 9 years ago he took his 2 year old to Kidslife but they were full so he had to take his two year old to service. Distracted by the antics of this 2 year old, he thought  “they really need more volunteers because he I can’t focus on the service”.  He decided to volunteer and has served with the 3-year-olds since then. His job transferred him to Chicago, and he flies back to Houston EVERY Friday to serve in Kidslife! He said that his move didn't change his calling, it just changed his commute. His daughter serves alongside him and his other kids are looking into ways to get involved. Several men at his job have started serving at their churches due to his example.

Brandon and Nana Funk

Dreaming to own a new home. So they started saving money and decided to sow into the acceleration ministry. They found a home that was above their budget but they saved it anyway. Meanwhile, they found other houses and were rejected. One day Brandon just decided to pack. Nana asked him what he was doing, and he said that he was "packing on faith" They prayed Amos 9:13 and in a few months that house they saved dropped 30%, well within their budget and they were able to move in with instant equity. Get your expectations up!

Amos 9:13

“The time will come,” says the Lord,“when the grain and grapes will grow faster    than they can be harvested.Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel    will drip with sweet wine!

Not Another Day

Ed Newton @ Community Bible Church

Pastor Ed was in Alaska and invited to go on a 30 mile four-wheeler ride to a glacier and got into an accident because he got loose. He didn't have to pay for the damage that he caused. The owner of the 4-wheeler told him that he was forgive and a weight was lifted off of his shoulders because 4-wheelers are very expensive!!!

Forgiveness is choosing not to live in regret.

Genesis 45:1-5

1. The Reunion of Jeopardy:   "I am Joseph" (Genesis 45:1-3)
1. Joseph could stand it no longer. There were many people in the room, and he said to his attendants, "Out, all of you!" So he was alone with his brothers when he told them who he was. Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh's palace. "I am Joseph!" he said to his brothers. "Is my father still alive?" But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them.
1. The reunion was for Joseph's brothers, not for Joseph. Joseph had been egyptianized so the brothers didn't recognize him.
2. Joseph Wept:  This (v. 2) was the third of five times he wept over his brothers (42:24; 43:30; 45:14; 50:17; cf. 50:1).
3. Brothers Worry:  (bahal) be disturbed, alarmed, terrified.
2. Forgiving is Not Forgetting:
1. The only person who can forgive AND forget is God.
2. High School Student’s Experience
1. Mom and dad were getting a divorce because mom had been unfaithful. Mom living with boyfriend and dad is depressed. Student invited boyfriend to McDonald's and bought him dinner. Told him that her family's life will never be the same but she's not going to live in anger, bitterness, and rage so she relinquished the vengeance that she wanted.
3. Reconciliation is the goal
1. Take the initiative to eliminate the distance.  The command "come near" (nagaš) is plural indicates all the brothers are intended.
4. Revenge brings grief
1. The word "please" was a refusal to not be harsh.  
3. Forgiving is not overlooking the circumstances
1. actions have consequences.
2. The Request of a Juncture:  "Come near" (Genesis 45:4)
4. Forgiving is Not Settling:
1. Forgiveness is 1 dimensional and reconciliation is 2 dimensional.
2. Johnny and Jenny
1. Johnny Johnny  killed a duck with his slingshot and Jenny saw him! She said to him,  "I will remember the duck.”
2. Jenny used the duck to manipulate her brother into doing her chores.
3. Finally, Johnny couldn’t carry the weight and confessed what he’d done to his Grandma.
4. Grandma actually saw the entire incident.
1. Grandma is God and Jenny is the guilt that you carry
3. The Reassurance of Joy: "Do not be distressed or angry" (Genesis 45:5)
1. But don't be upset, and don't be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.
2. Happiness vs. Joy
1. Happiness is based on circumstances.
2. Joy is based on a concrete reality of something that never changes. 
1. We have to walk through difficulty and get healing from Jesus to have joy.
4. Forgiving is Giving:
1. Thomas Edison: Worked hours to create the first light bulb and his assistant accidentally dropped it. So they worked hours to create another lightbulb and Edison gave him another chance to carry the lightbulb to the test lab.
3.  
5. The Reason of Justice: "Preserve a life" (Genesis 45:5-7)
1. But don't be upset, and don't be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.
2. Robert Smith's son was murdered. He wrote the murderer a letter. The murders had received a lot of threat mail from family members so he was hesitant to reply to Robert.
1. God could have stopped your pain!  
2. God will never waste your pain, but will use it for a purpose bigger than you. 
6. Forgiving is trusting: 
1. The Release of : "Meant for Evil, God used for Good" (Genesis 50:15-21)
1. Forgiveness is Freedom from Fear. 
2. It was not Joseph living in fear, but his brothers.  
3. "For the wicked flee when no one pursues" (Proverbs 28:1)
7. Forgiving is Comforting:
1. Tractor Pull Analogy
2. Practical steps in offering forgiveness
1. Step One: Forgiving the Offender in Prayer
2. Step Two: Forgiving the Offender in Person

Praise & Worship

"Deep Cries Out" by Amanda Gilbertson, Christiann Koepke, and 

William Matthews

"Nothing But The Blood" by Robert Lowry

"Always" by Jason Ingram and Kristian Stanfill

"Jesus Messiah" by Daniel Carson, Ed Cash, Jesse Reeves, and Chris Tomlin

The church provided this “listener’s guide” for us to follow along with the message and take notes