Your Father's World

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

Wealthy man had a baby later in life than he expected. At first he was conflicted until he had the baby...then he couldn't wait to give the child his world.

God has lined up good things for me. 

"So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

Luke 12:32 NLT

The great love 

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isaiah 30:18 NIV

Sometimes God will give to you promises so unusual they seem laughable. You don't see how it could happen.

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?"

Genesis 18:12 NLT

God is merciful that he doesn't punish us for our disbelief.

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."

Genesis 18:13‭-‬14 NLT

One day we'll be laughing in amazement

And Sarah declared, "God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!"

Genesis 21:6‭-‬7 NLT

He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the home of the wicked will be destroyed."

Job 8:21‭-‬22 NLT

Get ready for some "who would have ever said" blessings.

When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, "What amazing things the Lord has done for them." Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!

Psalms 126:1‭-‬3 NLT

Stay in faith.

Joseph went through very unfair situations that put him in a strategic position to bless God's people. God saw the big picture.

When Joseph's brothers arrived for donations they didn't recognize their brother bur Joseph recognize them and was able and willing to show favor to them. We will have similar people in our lives.

Esther was an orphan.

If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?"

Esther 4:14 NLT

Samuel went to anoint David as the next king. 

In the same way all seven of Jesse's sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Then Samuel asked, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse replied. "But he's out in the fields watching the sheep and goats." "Send for him at once," Samuel said. "We will not sit down to eat until he arrives." So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, "This is the one; anoint him." So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:10‭-‬13 NLT

Our father's world is a big world.