Passing the Small Tests

Joel @ Lakewood Church

_God speaks to us in small impressions. A lot of times we know what we should do. God wants to know if you will be quick to obey the "I knows..." God speaks to us about practical everyday things.

_Joyce Meyers: the Lord spoke to her about returning her cart to the place where it should go. She would look around and see other carts and say "Why do I have to return my cart when there are others all over the parking lot." It's because everyone else isn't going where you are going.

_Don't confuse "small" with "insignificant"

_John 9: there was a blind man who Jesus put mud on his eyes. He then told him to go wash it off. That man would be (and was) healed through his OBEDIENCE

_2 Kings 5: Naaman was a leper and the Lord t told him to wash in the Jordan river. Naaman didn't want to wash there because it was dirty. He didn't want to do it. (2 Kings 5:13 KJV) His servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

_Be quick to obey. If you think too long you would probably talk yourself out of it.

_Joel: led to give a man his tie. Joel finally gave him the tie. That tie became a symbol of hope.

_Partial obedience isn't obedience. When you sew a radical seed of obedience you will reap radical awards.

_Saul was given specific instructions in 1 Samuel 15:3

1 Samuel 15:22-23 KJV
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord ? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord , he hath also rejected thee from being king.

_God is looking for people who are quick to obey.

_Deuteronomy 28:1-2 KJV
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.
_Deuteronomy 28:1-2 NLT
"If you fully obey the L ord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the L ord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the L ord your God:

PRAYER TALK (pastor Joel): victory starts on the inside.
Ephesians 4:23 NLT
...let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

********Victoria Osteen********
_Life has a way of making its tired.
Galatians 6:9-10 NIV
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

_If we don't faint, then we will receive what is due.... (we will reap a harvest)

_When you faint, you become unconscious.

_How to detect spiritual weariness:
· Loss of interest.
· Lack of care
· Negative self-talk

_Waiting is confident expectancy. It is not inactive and it requires trust.
Isaiah 40:29-31 KJV
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

_When you feel weary
· Help others
· Get some rest
· Have fun

Waiting With Expectancy

Joel Osteen @  Lakewood Church

1. There's a right and wrong way to wait.

• Psalm 5:12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

2. Waiting is not passive, it's active.

• Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, in exhaustion. But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

3. When you wait the right way, you aren't moved by what you see.

• Psalm 112:2 His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed.

• If you are sick then make plans for when you aren't. If you are trying lose weight then by an outfit that's a few sizes too small.

4. When you wait you expect blessings.

• Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

5. Wait like a farmer and expect double for your trouble.

• James 5:7-12 (NKJV) Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lordthat the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your Yes be Yes, and your No, No, lest you fall into judgment.

• James 5:7-12 (MSG) Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master's Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time. Friends, don't complain about each other. A far greater complaint could be lodged against you, you know. The Judge is standing just around the corner. Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail. And since you know that he cares, let your language show it. Don't add words like "I swear to God" to your own words. Don't show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can't be used against you.

• When a farmer sows seeds he doesn't go to bed worried, he keeps taking care of his garden because he KNOWS in due season he will bear fruit!

6. Let your faith be seen and make preparations for the harvest.

• Luke 5:17-20 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

• That man could have sat at home and just hoped he got better but he put his faith into action.

Victoria Osteen Talk

Romans 12:11-13 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

-- Sent from JRochelle's Palm