[MUSIC] >> JOEL OSTEEN: WELL,
GOD BLESS YOU. IT'S A JOY TO COME
INTO YOUR HOMES, AND IF YOU'RE EVER IN
OUR AREA, PLEASE STOP BY AND BE A PART OF ONE
OF THE SERVICES. I PROMISE YOU WE'LL MAKE YOU
FEEL RIGHT AT HOME. I LIKE TO START
WITH SOMETHING FUNNY, AND I HEARD ABOUT THIS
KINDERGARTEN TEACHER. SHE WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN
TO HER STUDENTS ABOUT SELF-ESTEEM. SHE SAID TO HER CLASS, "ANYONE WHO FEELS LIKE YOU'RE
DUMB, PLEASE STAND UP." SHE DIDN'T THINK ANYONE WOULD
STAND, AND SHE'D MAKE THE SIMPLE POINT
HOW NOBODY IS DUMB. ABOUT THAT TIME,
LITTLE JOHNNY STOOD UP. SHE THOUGHT, "OH NO,
NOW WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?" SHE SAID, "NOW JOHNNY,
DO YOU REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE DUMB?" HE SAID, "NO MA'AM, I JUST HATE TO SEE YOU STANDING
THERE ALL BY YOURSELF." SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT. THIS IS MY BIBLE. I AM WHAT IT SAYS I AM. I HAVE WHAT IT SAYS I HAVE. I CAN DO WHAT IT SAYS
I CAN DO. TODAY, I WILL BE TAUGHT
THE WORD OF GOD. I BOLDLY CONFESS MY MIND IS
ALERT, MY HEART IS RECEPTIVE. I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME
IN JESUS'S NAME. GOD BLESS YOU. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT THE CHAIN BREAKER. WE ALL HAVE FORCES THAT ARE
TRYING TO HOLD US BACK, AND WE WONDER WHY WE CAN'T GET
AHEAD, OR WHY WE CAN'T BREAK AN ADDICTION, WHY WE CAN'T
CONTROL OUR TEMPER. THOSE ARE CHAINS THAT
ARE RESTRICTING US, CHAINS OF GUILT,
BEATING OURSELVES UP FOR PAST MISTAKES. CHAINS OF DEPRESSION, THAT DARK CLOUD FOLLOWS US AROUND. OR CHAINS OF LOW SELF-ESTEEM, WE NEVER FEEL GOOD
ABOUT OURSELVES. THAT RECORDING IS CONSTANTLY
PLAYING, "YOU'RE NOT ATTRACTIVE ENOUGH. YOU'RE NOT TALENTED. YOU DON'T HAVE
A GOOD PERSONALITY." YOU WERE NOT CREATED TO LIVE
BOUND, BOUND BY LONELINESS, BOUND BY SHAME, BOUND BY
NEGATIVE WORDS THAT WERE SPOKEN OVER YOU. THE GOOD NEWS IS OUR GOD IS A CHAIN BREAKER,
AND YOU MAY NOT SEE HOW IT CAN HAPPEN,
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES LOOK PERMANENT. NO, GET READY, THE CHAIN BREAKER IS ABOUT TO SHOW UP. THAT CHAIN OF LONELINESS IS BEING BROKEN. YOU'RE GOING TO MEET A DIVINE CONNECTION, SOMEBODY BETTER
THAN YOU'RE IMAGINED. THAT CHAIN OF INJUSTICE,
BAD BREAKS, ALWAYS BEING OVERLOOKED,
IT'S BEING BROKEN. GOD IS ABOUT TO PAY YOU BACK. HE'S GOING TO MAKE UP FOR THE WRONGS THAT WERE DONE. OR THAT CHAIN OF LACK, STRUGGLE, NOT HAVING ENOUGH,
IT'S BEING LOOSED. OPPORTUNITY IS GOING
TO CHASE YOU DOWN. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE
TO GO AFTER IT, IT'S GOING TO COME AFTER YOU. WHY? THE CHAINS CAME OFF. YOU'RE BEING RELEASED INTO FAVOR, RELEASED INTO HEALING,
RELEASED INTO NEW LEVELS. LUKE 13, JESUS WAS TEACHING
IN THE SYNAGOGUE, AND HE SAW A LADY THAT HAD BEEN SICK
FOR 18 YEARS. SHE WAS BENT OVER AND NOT
ABLE TO STAND UP STRAIGHT. IT WAS THE SABBATH. YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO ANY KIND OF WORK. THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WERE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT JESUS
WAS GOING TO DO. HE SAID SOMETHING INTERESTING IN VERSE 16. "SHOULD NOT THIS WOMAN, WHOM SATAN HAS BOUND FOR 18 YEARS,
BE LOOSED FROM HER SICKNESS? HE DESCRIBED THE SICKNESS
AS A CHAIN. HE SAID SHE WAS BOUND. JESUS TOUCHED THE LADY AND INSTANTLY SHE WAS HEALED. WHATEVER HAS YOU BOUND, WHATEVER IS RESTRICTING YOU,
GOD IS SAYING THIS IS YOUR TIME TO BE FREE. IT IS NOT YOUR DESTINY TO GO THROUGH LIFE WITH THINGS
LIMITING YOU, AND IF YOU WILL RECEIVE THIS INTO YOUR
SPIRIT, I BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHAIN THAT IS HOLDING YOU
BACK IS BEING BROKEN: CHAINS OF SICKNESS,
CHAINS OF DEPRESSION, EVEN CHAINS THAT HAVE BEEN
IN YOUR FAMILY LINE FOR GENERATIONS. NOW, YOU MAY NOT FEEL ANY DIFFERENT. THE CIRCUMSTANCES LOOK THE SAME. THIS IS WHAT FAITH IS ALL ABOUT. INSTEAD OF THINKING, "OH MAN, IT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME,"
NO, TURN IT AROUND. FATHER, THANK YOU THAT
MY CHAINS ARE GONE. THANK YOU THAT I AM FREE. THANK YOU THAT EVERY FORCE THAT'S HOLDING ME BACK
HAS BEEN BROKEN. GET IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD. FREEDOM STARTS IN YOUR MIND. AS LONG AS YOU THINK,
"I'LL NEVER GET WELL. DID YOU SEE
THE MEDICAL REPORT? OR MY GRANDMOTHER
WAS DEPRESSED, MY MOTHER WAS DEPRESSED,
I GUESS I'LL ALWAYS BE DEPRESSED." NO, THE DIFFERENCE WITH YOU IS THE CHAIN BREAKER
SHOWED UP. GOD SET YOU FREE. YOU'RE THE ONE TO SET A NEW STANDARD. YOU'RE THE ONE TO DEFY THE ODDS. GOD TOLD THE ISRAELITES, "THE ENEMIES YOU SEE TODAY
YOU WILL SEE NO MORE." THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE HELD
YOU BACK, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THEM ANYMORE. THIS IS A NEW DAY OF FREEDOM, A NEW DAY OF WHOLENESS. I CAN SEE THROUGH MY EYES OF FAITH CHAINS COMING OFF,
CHAINS OF DEBT BEING BROKEN, CHAINS OF CANCER, DIABETES,
HEART TROUBLE BEING LOOSED, CHAINS OF FEAR, LOW
SELF-ESTEEM, DEPRESSION. YOU WILL SEE THEM NO MORE. IS THERE SOMETHING LIMITING YOU TODAY? WHY DON'T YOU HAVE THIS NEW PERSPECTIVE,
"MY CHAINS ARE GONE. I'VE BEEN LOOSED"? START LIVING FROM A FREEDOM MIND-SET,
NOT A BOUND MIND-SET. NOT, "I'LL NEVER GET AHEAD. JOEL, I NEVER GET ANY GOOD BREAKS." THAT WAS THE PAST. THIS IS A NEW DAY. I'VE BEEN RELEASED INTO INCREASE. I'VE BEEN RELEASED INTO FAVOR,
RELEASED INTO BLESSINGS. INSTEAD OF, "I'LL HAVE
TO DEAL WITH THIS ADDICTION MY WHOLE LIFE. I'VE HAD IT SO LONG." NO, THAT CHAIN THAT'S HELD ME
BACK HAS BEEN BROKEN. I'M ON MY WAY TO HEALING. I'M ON MY WAY TO FEELING BETTER THAN EVER. NOW, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE FREE DOESN'T MEAN EVERYTHING IS
INSTANTLY GOING TO CHANGE. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO WALK THIS OUT. BUT WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE RESTRICTED LIKE YOU
WERE BEFORE. YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO
THINGS THAT YOU COULDN'T DO. THE GUILT IS NOT GOING
TO HOLD YOU BACK. THE DEPRESSION,
THE HOT TEMPER, THE ADDICTION,
IT IS NOT GOING TO CONTROL YOUR LIFE. WHY? THE CHAIN HAS BEEN BROKEN. THIS LADY THAT CAME TO JESUS
HAD BEEN SICK SO LONG, BENT OVER FOR 18 YEARS. I'M SURE SHE THOUGHT IT WAS PERMANENT. BUT JESUS SAID, "SHOULD NOT THIS WOMAN, BEING A DAUGHTER
OF ABRAHAM, BE LOOSED FROM HER SICKNESS?" A DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM MEANT SHE WAS A PART OF THE
COVENANT THAT GOD MADE WITH ABRAHAM. SHE WASN'T JUST ANY WOMAN,
SHE HAD RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES BECAUSE SHE WAS IN THE FAMILY
LINE OF ABRAHAM. LIKE HER, YOU'RE NOT JUST
ANYONE, YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD. IF JESUS WERE HERE TODAY, HE WOULD LOOK AT YOU AND SAY,
"SHOULD NOT THIS SON, SHOULD NOT THIS DAUGHTER
OF THE MOST HIGH GOD BE FREE FROM THEIR SICKNESS,
FREE FROM THEIR ADDICTION, FREE FROM THAT DEPRESSION?" YOU HAVE RIGHTS BECAUSE OF WHO YOU BELONG TO, AND YOU
MAY HAVE STRUGGLED IN AN AREA FOR A LONG TIME,
BUT LIKE WITH HER, IT IS NOT PERMANENT. YOUR DAY OF FREEDOM IS HERE. THE CHAIN BREAKER
IS AT WORK. JESUS SAID IN VERSE 12,
"WOMAN, YOU ARE LOOSED FROM YOUR SICKNESS." GOD IS SAYING THAT TO YOU, YOU ARE LOOSED FROM WHATEVER
IS HOLDING YOU BACK. MAYBE YOU'VE BEEN BARREN
FOR YEARS, NOT ABLE TO HAVE A CHILD. YOU ARE BEING LOOSED FROM THAT BARRENNESS. A HEALTHY BABY IS ON THE WAY. OR YOU'VE PURSUED YOUR DREAMS, YOU'VE DONE YOUR
BEST, BUT DOORS KEEP CLOSING. IT'S ONE DISAPPOINTMENT
AFTER ANOTHER, NOBODY WILL HELP YOU. NOW YOU'RE TEMPTED TO ACCEPT THAT IT'S NOT GOING
TO HAPPEN. YOU ARE BEING LOOSED FROM
WHAT'S RESTRICTED YOU. NOW, DO YOUR PART
AND TRY AGAIN. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE DOORS
OPENED THAT YOU COULDN'T OPEN. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO HELP YOU. THINGS ARE GOING TO FALL INTO PLACE, AND YES,
WE HAVE FORCES TRYING TO STOP US, BUT THE FORCES
THAT ARE FOR YOU ARE GREATER THAN THE FORCES
THAT ARE AGAINST YOU. NO CHAIN IS TOO MUCH FOR OUR
GOD, NO ADDICTION TOO GREAT, NO SICKNESS TOO BIG,
NO ENEMY TOO POWERFUL. GOD CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE. HE SAID IN JEREMIAH, "I WILL TEAR OFF THEIR CHAINS,
AND THEY WILL NO MORE BE ENSLAVED." IF GOD DOESN'T BREAK THE CHAIN, HE'LL SIMPLY TEAR
THE WHOLE THING OFF. THE PSALMIST SAID, "YOU CAN
RUN THROUGH A TROOP OR LEAP OVER A WALL." IF GOD DOESN'T REMOVE THE OBSTACLE, DON'T WORRY,
HE'LL TAKE YOU OVER IT. HE KNOWS HOW TO GET YOU
TO YOUR DESTINY. I BELIEVE EVEN RIGHT NOW,
SOME CHAINS ARE BEING TORN OFF. WHAT'S HELD YOU BACK IS NOT GOING TO ENSLAVE YOU ANYMORE. ACTS CHAPTER 12, KING HEROD HAD PETER ARRESTED
AND PUT IN PRISON. THE NIGHT BEFORE PETER
WAS TO GO ON TRIAL, HE WAS SLEEPING CHAINED
BETWEEN TWO PRISONERS. THERE WERE GUARDS OUTSIDE
HIS CELL AND TWO SETS OF BIG IRON GATES. A GROUP OF BELIEVERS HAD GATHERED AT A HOUSE
TO PRAY FOR PETER. HEROD HAD ALREADY PUT TO
DEATH THE APOSTLE JAMES. IT LOOKED LIKE PETER
WOULD BE NEXT. BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE NIGHT, WHILE THEY WERE PRAYING, AN ANGEL
SHOWED UP IN THE PRISON. HE HAD TO WAKE PETER UP. HE TOLD HIM TO GET DRESSED, THEY WERE ABOUT TO LEAVE. INSTANTLY, THE CHAINS FELL OFF OF PETER'S WRIST. THE PRISON DOORS OPENED, THE GUARDS' EYES
WERE BLINDED. THEY WALKED THROUGH
THE FIRST SET OF GATES, AND THEN THROUGH
THE SECOND. PETER WENT TO THE HOUSE WHERE
EVERYONE WAS PRAYING. WHEN THEY SAW HIM,
THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. THEY SAID, "PETER,
WHAT HAPPENED?" HE COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT. HE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW. I WAS SLEEPING WHEN AN ANGEL
WOKE ME UP, AND SUDDENLY THE CHAINS FELL OFF MY WRIST." THEY ASKED, "DID THE ANGEL UNLOOSE THEM? DID HE GET THE KEY FROM THE JAILER? DID HE PULL THE CHAINS OUT OF THE WALL?" PETER SAID, "NO, THEY JUST OPENED BY THEMSELVES,
AND I WAS ABLE TO WALK OUT." GOD HAS THESE TIMES WHERE
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW IT HAPPENED. YOU GOT WELL WHEN THE MEDICAL REPORT SAID YOU WOULDN'T. YOU BROKE THE ADDICTION
WITHOUT THE TREATMENT. YOU PAID YOUR HOUSE OFF WHEN
IT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN YOU 15 MORE YEARS. CHAINS ARE GOING TO COME OFF THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE. THERE'S NO EXPLANATION. SUDDENLY YOU'RE CATAPULTED TO A NEW LEVEL. SUDDENLY YOU MEET THE PERSON OF YOUR DREAMS. LIKE PETER, YOU WERE JUST MINDING YOUR OWN BUSINESS,
BEING YOUR BEST. ON THEIR OWN ACCORD, CHAINS
ARE GOING TO FALL OFF. NOW, THE CIRCUMSTANCES
MAY SAY IT'S PERMANENT, IT'S NEVER GOING TO CHANGE,
NO SIGN OF IT IMPROVING. BUT I'VE FOUND GOD IS FULL
OF SURPRISES. HE'LL SHOW UP WHEN YOU
LEAST EXPECT IT. WHEN THE ODDS ARE
AGAINST YOU MORE THAN EVER, THE OBSTACLE LOOKS TOO BIG,
SUDDENLY OUT OF NOWHERE, GOD WILL TURN IT AROUND. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE JUST YOUR TALENT, YOUR
DETERMINATION, YOUR STRENGTH, AND SURE, WE SHOULD DO OUR
PART, BUT SOME THINGS WE CAN'T MAKE HAPPEN IN OUR OWN
ABILITY, AND WHEN YOU COME TO THE END OF WHAT YOU CAN DO,
WHERE IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT,
LIKE PETER SO TO SPEAK, YOU'RE IN CHAINS, IN JAIL,
GUARDS OUTSIDE. IN THE NATURAL,
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. THAT'S WHEN THE CHAIN BREAKER
IS GOING TO SHOW UP AND DO THE IMPOSSIBLE. NOW, QUIT TELLING YOURSELF
THAT YOU'RE STUCK, YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE THE ILLNESS,
YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE TO FIGHT THE ADDICTION,
YOU'LL ALWAYS BE LONELY. THOSE CHAINS ARE
NOT YOUR DESTINY. WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK DOES
NOT HAVE THE FINAL SAY. THE CHAIN BREAKER,
THE MOST HIGH GOD IS WORKING IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW. HE'S ABOUT TO SHIFT THINGS IN YOUR FAVOR. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE A SLAVE TO SICKNESS,
A SLAVE TO DEPRESSION, A SLAVE TO FEAR, AND SEE,
MOST OF US KNOW GOD AS A SAVIOR. WE KNOW HIM AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW
HIM AS THE CHAIN BREAKER, AS THE GOD WHO LOOSES US
FROM BONDAGES. IT'S INTERESTING THAT PEOPLE
WERE PRAYING FOR PETER WHEN THE ANGEL SHOWED UP
AND THE CHAINS FELL OFF, AND YOU MAY HAVE CHILDREN
THAT ARE OFF COURSE, FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS
THAT ARE NOT MAKING GOOD DECISIONS, RUNNING
WITH THE WRONG CROWD. KEEP PRAYING FOR THEM. THEY MAY NOT DESERVE IT, THEY BROUGHT THE TROUBLE
ON THEMSELVES. BUT GOD IS SO MERCIFUL,
BECAUSE OF YOUR PRAYERS, HE WILL LOOSE THEIR CHAINS. YOU CAN STAND IN THE GAP FOR SOMEBODY ELSE THAT'S BOUND. THAT FRIEND THAT'S STRUGGLING WITH AN ADDICTION,
INSTEAD OF JUDGING THEM, WHY DON'T YOU START
PRAYING FOR THEM? THAT CO-WORKER THAT'S GOT
A SOUR ATTITUDE, INSTEAD OF CRITICIZING,
START PRAYING. YOUR PRAYER CAN BE THE
CATALYST THAT CAUSES CHAINS TO SUDDENLY FALL OFF. I TALKED TO A YOUNG LADY THAT HAD STRUGGLED WITH A DRUG
ADDICTION SINCE HIGH SCHOOL. SHE WAS AN EXCELLENT STUDENT,
VERY BRIGHT, BUT SHE GOT OFF-COURSE, AND LIFE TOOK
HER DOWN A DARK PATH. HER MOTHER HAD JUST DIED,
AND SHE WAS GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE, AND SHE
DIDN'T THINK SHE COULD GO ON. SHE'D GONE TO REHAB SEVERAL
TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. THE TEMPTATION WAS SO STRONG,
SHE WOULD ALWAYS FALL BACK. BUT AFTER BEING ADDICTED FOR
21 YEARS, ON THE DAY SHE BURIED HER MOTHER,
SHE GOT DOWN ON HER KNEES AND SAID, "GOD,
I CAN'T DO THIS ON MY OWN. HELP ME TO CHANGE." FROM THAT DAY FORWARD, SHE NEVER TOUCHED ANOTHER DRUG. SHE NEVER TOUCHED
THE ALCOHOL. SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY KIND
OF WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS. SHE SAID, "JOEL,
I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN,
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY DESIRE FOR THE DRUGS." LIKE PETER, THOSE CHAINS JUST FELL OFF OF HER. IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD BECOME
WITHOUT THE CHAINS THAT ARE LIMITING YOU, WHAT COULD YOU
ACCOMPLISH WITHOUT THE CHAIN OF FEAR,
THE CHAIN OF INSECURITY. WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP
COULD YOU HAVE WITHOUT THE CHAIN OF GUILT, ANGER,
FEELING WRONG ABOUT YOURSELF? OR HOW HIGH COULD YOU GO
WITHOUT THAT CHAIN OF NEGATIVE WORDS SPOKEN OVER
YOU, PEOPLE TELLING YOU THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
WHAT IT TAKES? IT'S TIME TO STEP
INTO YOUR FREEDOM. YOUR DESTINY IS TOO
IMPORTANT, YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS TOO GREAT FOR YOU
TO GO THROUGH LIFE BOUND. WHY DON'T YOU DO LIKE HER,
SAY, "GOD, HELP ME TO CHANGE. HELP ME TO RELEASE THIS ANGER
AND FORGIVE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HURT ME. HELP ME TO ACCOMPLISH MY DREAMS AND LEAVE MY CHILDREN
BETTER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE. HELP ME TO BREAK THESE BAD
HABITS, AND LIVE FREE AND WHOLE." LISTEN, IF YOU'LL DO YOUR PART, GOD WILL DO HIS PART. HE WILL MAKE THINGS HAPPEN THAT YOU COULDN'T MAKE
HAPPEN. IN THE SCRIPTURE, ANOTHER
WORD FOR CHAIN WAS YOKE. A YOKE WAS SOMETHING THEY PUT
AROUND THE NECK OF AN OXEN LIKE A BRIDLE TO HELP
CONTROL THE ANIMAL, AND THIS YOKE KEPT
THE ANIMAL FROM DOING WHAT IT WANTED. IT WAS A CONSTANT BURDEN, AND EVEN THOUGH THE ANIMAL
WAS MUCH BIGGER, MUCH MORE POWERFUL,
THIS SMALL YOKE WOULD RESTRICT IT, AND MANY
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THEY ARE LIVING WITH
A YOKE AROUND THEM. SOME OF THESE YOKES HAVE BEEN
PASSED DOWN TO US. OUR PARENTS HAD ADDICTIONS,
AND NOW WE HAVE THOSE ADDICTIONS. OUR RELATIVES HAD LOW SELF-ESTEEM. THEY WERE ANGRY, THEY WERE BITTER,
THEY NEVER GOT GOOD BREAKS. NOW WE STRUGGLE
IN THOSE SAME AREAS. IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL,
IT WILL BECOME NORMAL TO US. IT'S ALL WE'VE KNOWN. IT'S NORMAL TO HAVE BAD
RELATIONSHIPS. IT'S NORMAL
TO BE HOT-TEMPERED. IT'S NORMAL TO BE ANGRY,
TO NEVER GET GOOD BREAKS. FRIENDS, THAT IS NOT NORMAL,
THAT IS A YOKE. THAT IS A CHAIN. IT IS LIMITING YOUR MOVEMENT. IT'S RESTRICTING
YOUR ABILITY. YOU ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE
OF ALMIGHTY GOD. HE HAS CROWNED YOU
WITH FAVOR. HE PUT SEEDS OF GREATNESS
ON THE INSIDE. YOU WERE NOT MADE TO GO
THROUGH LIFE JUST BARELY MAKING IT. HE CREATED YOU TO BE FREE, TO BE HAPPY, TO ACCOMPLISH
YOUR DREAMS. NOT TO BE MEDIOCRE,
BUT TO EXCEL, TO LEAVE YOUR MARK ON THIS GENERATION. DON'T LET A YOKE BECOME NORMAL. DON'T LEARN TO FUNCTION IN YOUR DYSFUNCTION. THIS IS WHAT
THE ISRAELITES DID. THEY HAD BEEN IN SLAVERY
FOR 400 YEARS. ALL THEY HAD KNOWN WAS BEING
MISTREATED, INJUSTICE, BARELY MAKING IT. BUT GOD BROUGHT THEM OUT AND THEY WERE HEADED TOWARD
THE PROMISED LAND. EVERYTHING LOOKED GREAT. THE PROBLEM WAS THEY WERE STILL WEARING THAT YOKE. EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE FREE, THEY HAD A DEFEATED MIND-SET. WHEN THEY FACED THE ASSYRIAN
ARMY, INSTEAD OF KNOWING THAT GOD WOULD GIVE THEM
THE VICTORY, THEY THOUGHT, "OH MAN, HERE WE GO AGAIN. ANOTHER STRUGGLE, ANOTHER HEARTACHE. THIS IS THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE." BUT GOD SAID TO THEM IN ISAIAH, "THIS BURDEN IS BEING
LIFTED OFF OF YOUR SHOULDERS. THIS YOKE IS BEING REMOVED
FROM YOUR NECK, AND THE YOKE WILL
BE DESTROYED." GOD WAS SAYING,
"THIS IS A NEW DAY. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO
CONSTANTLY STRUGGLE. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LIVE
DEFEATED, BURDENED DOWN. I AM REMOVING THAT YOKE." FROM THAT DAY FORWARD, THEY STEPPED INTO A NEW LEVEL
OF THEIR DESTINY. WHAT THEY USED
TO STRUGGLE WITH WASN'T A STRUGGLE ANYMORE. THAT BURDEN TO OVERCOME ENEMIES, THAT PRESSURE
TO DEFEAT OTHER ARMIES, IT WAS LIFTED OFF OF THEM. THEY DEFEATED ARMIES THAT WERE MUCH BIGGER AND MORE
POWERFUL THAN THEM, AND GOD IS SAYING TO YOU WHAT
HE SAID TO THEM. YOU HAVE STRUGGLED
LONG ENOUGH. YOU HAVE DEALT WITH THAT
ADDICTION LONG ENOUGH. YOU'VE BEEN WEIGHED DOWN BY
FAMILY BAGGAGE LONG ENOUGH. I AM TAKING AWAY THAT BURDEN. I AM NOT ONLY GOING TO REMOVE THE YOKE, I'M GOING
TO DESTROY THE YOKE. THAT MEANS IT'S NOT GOING
TO COME BACK. THAT DEPRESSION IS NOT GOING
TO HINDER YOU THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. THAT ADDICTION THAT KEEPS GETTING PASSED DOWN
IS BROKEN. THAT SICKNESS THAT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S GOING TO BE THE END OF YOU, NO, THIS IS A NEW DAY. THE YOKE HAS BEEN DESTROYED. THE BURDEN HAS BEEN LIFTED. NOW, WHAT YOU STRUGGLE WITH MAY NOT HAVE STARTED
WITH YOU. IT WAS PASSED DOWN. THE GOOD NEWS IS IT CAN END WITH YOU. YOU CAN BE
THE DIFFERENCE MAKER. THIS IS WHAT
MY FATHER DID. HE WAS RAISED DURING
THE GREAT DEPRESSION, AND HIS FAMILY
LOST EVERYTHING. HE GREW UP VERY POOR. FROM HIS EARLIEST MEMORIES, ALL HE KNEW WAS POVERTY,
NOT HAVING ENOUGH FOOD. HE COULD NEVER DRINK
A FULL GLASS OF MILK. BEING POOR AND DEFEATED
WAS NORMAL TO HIM. HE WAS WEARING THAT YOKE. BUT AT THE AGE OF 17, DADDY GAVE HIS LIFE
TO CHRIST, AND SOMETHING CAME ALIVE ON THE INSIDE. THE CHAIN BREAKER SHOWED UP. HE SAID, "JOEL, I MADE
A DECISION THAT DAY THAT MY CHILDREN WOULD NEVER BE
RAISED IN THE POVERTY THAT I WAS RAISED IN." NOW, NOTHING HAD CHANGED ON THE OUTSIDE. WASN'T LIKE HE GOT A BIG JOB, A BIG PROMOTION. HE HAD NO MONEY, NO EDUCATION. BUT ON THE INSIDE, IN HIS MIND, CHAINS WERE BROKEN. THAT YOKE THAT HAD BEEN AROUND HIS FAMILY FOR
GENERATIONS WAS DESTROYED. HIS FAMILY TOLD HIM,
"JOHN, YOU BETTER STAY HERE ON THE FARM WITH US
AND PICK COTTON. THIS IS ALL YOU KNOW
HOW TO DO." THEY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHY HE'D WANT TO LEAVE. THEY DIDN'T THINK
HE WOULD MAKE IT. MY FATHER WENT ON TO PASTOR
GREAT CHURCHES AND TOUCH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD. IT WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED IF HE HAD NOT GOTTEN THAT
YOKE OFF OF HIS NECK. GOD HAS FREED YOU,
BUT YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR PART AND TAKE OFF THE YOKE. IT'S IN YOUR THINKING. QUIT TELLING YOURSELF
THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS,
YOU'VE BEEN HURT TOO MUCH. YOU CAN'T ACCOMPLISH
YOUR DREAMS, YOU DON'T HAVE THE TALENT. YOU CAN'T BREAK THE ADDITION, EVERYONE IN YOUR FAMILY
HAS IT. THOSE ARE LIES TRYING TO KEEP
YOU FROM YOUR DESTINY. THE YOKE HAS BEEN DESTROYED. THE CHAIN HAS BEEN BROKEN. GOD IS RELEASING YOU
TO GO WHERE NO ONE IN YOUR FAMILY HAS GONE. YOU ARE GOING TO BREAK BAD HABITS THAT NOBODY ELSE
WAS ABLE TO BREAK. YOU ARE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH
DREAMS BIGGER THAN YOU'VE IMAGINED. TALENT IS GOING TO COME OUT OF YOU THAT YOU
DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD. THOSE ADDICTIONS THAT KEEP
GETTING PASSED DOWN ARE BROKEN. THE DEPRESSION IS COMING TO AN END. THE LOW SELF-ESTEEM IS OVER. GOD IS NOT ONLY BREAKING
CHAINS, HE'S ABOUT TO CATAPULT YOU TO A NEW LEVEL. HE IS GOING TO GIVE YOU FAVOR, RESPECT,
INFLUENCE IN WAYS LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN. "WELL, JOEL, YOU'RE JUST GETTING PEOPLE'S HOPES UP." YOU CAN'T HAVE FAITH IF YOU DON'T FIRST HAVE HOPE. LISTEN TO WHAT JESUS SAID. "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS ON
ME TO ANNOUNCE DELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVES, FREEDOM
TO THOSE THAT ARE BOUND." THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING,
ANNOUNCING FREEDOM, ANNOUNCING THAT YOKES HAVE
BEEN DESTROYED, ANNOUNCING THAT CHAINS HAVE BEEN BROKEN. NOW, IT'S UP TO YOU TO RECEIVE THIS. YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT WHAT'S BEEN LIMITING YOU
HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY. WHAT'S BEEN HINDERING YOUR
PROGRESS HAS BEEN REMOVED. NOW, GET READY FOR FAVOR
IN NEW WAYS. GET READY FOR GOD TO SURPRISE
YOU, TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE COMING,
AND HERE'S THE KEY. GOD IS NOT ONLY BREAKING
CHAINS THAT HOLD YOU BACK, BUT HE IS BREAKING CHAINS
THAT ARE HOLDING BACK WHAT BELONGS TO YOU. THERE ARE BLESSINGS THAT HAVE YOUR NAME ON THEM, PROMOTION,
A HEALING, A BUSINESS, THAT BABY YOU'VE BEEN PRAYING FOR. GOD'S ABOUT TO RELEASE WHAT'S BEEN HELD UP. IN THE SCRIPTURE, DANIEL PRAYED AND ASKED GOD
FOR SOMETHING, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. DAY AFTER DAY WENT BY, NO SIGN OF IT. THREE WEEKS LATER, AN ANGEL SHOWED UP WITH THE ANSWER. DANIEL ASKED WHAT TOOK HIM SO LONG. THE ANGEL SAID, "THE MOMENT YOU PRAYED, GOD SENT ME WITH THE ANSWER, BUT THERE WERE
FORCES BLOCKING MY WAY. GOD HAD TO SEND ANOTHER ANGEL
TO HELP FIGHT THROUGH ALL THE OPPOSITION." IN THE SAME WAY, THERE ARE FORCES TRYING TO HOLD BACK
WHAT YOU'RE BELIEVING FOR: YOUR DREAM, YOUR HEALING,
THE RESTORATION. STAY ENCOURAGED,
IT IS ON THE WAY. THOSE FORCES THAT ARE HOLDING
IT BACK, JUST IMAGINE RIGHT NOW GOD BREAKING THE CHAINS,
GOD MAKING THAT PATH CLEAR. WHAT HAS YOUR NAME ON IT
IS ON THE WAY. ALL THE FORCES OF DARKNESS
CANNOT STOP WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED YOU. I HEARD A STORY
ABOUT A DOG THAT LIVED OUT IN THE COUNTRY. HE'D BEEN ON A LEASH HIS WHOLE LIFE, ABOUT 30 FEET
LONG, TIED TO A TREE, AND OTHER DOGS WOULD COME BY,
AND HE'D TAKE OFF RUNNING TO THE END OF THAT LEASH,
AND BARK AND BARK, AND HE WANTED TO GO PLAY
WITH THEM AND RUN OUT THROUGH THE FIELDS,
BUT HE COULDN'T DO IT, HE WAS ON A CHAIN. THIS WENT ON FOR YEARS, AND ONE DAY, HIS OWNER FELT SORRY
FOR HIM, AND DECIDED TO LET HIM RUN FREE LIKE
THE OTHER DOGS. BUT INSTEAD OF TAKING THE
WHOLE LEASH OFF, HE JUST UNFASTENED THE DOG'S COLLAR
AROUND HIS NECK. HE STEPPED BACK AND WAITED
FOR THE DOG TO TAKE OFF. ANOTHER DOG CAME TROTTING BY,
AND THE OWNER THOUGHT, "ALL RIGHT, HERE HE GOES,"
AND HIS DOG GOT UP, TOOK OFF RUNNING. BUT WHEN HE CAME TO THE END OF THE LEASH, HE STOPPED
WHERE HE ALWAYS DID. A FEW MINUTES LATER,
A CAT CAME BY. THIS CAT HAD TORMENTED
THE DOG HIS WHOLE LIFE. THE DOG WANTED TO GET HIM SO
BADLY, BUT THE CAT KNEW JUST WHERE TO WALK OUTSIDE
THE DOG'S RANGE. THE DOG GOT UP,
TOOK OFF RUNNING. ONCE AGAIN, HE STOPPED
WHERE HE ALWAYS DID. WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM? THE DOG WAS FREE, HE JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT. HE STILL FELT THE COLLAR, HE STILL HEARD THE CHAIN. ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS GO A
LITTLE BIT FURTHER THAN HE NORMALLY DID, AND THAT COLLAR
WOULD HAVE COME OFF AND HE WOULD HAVE REALIZED
HE WAS FREE. MY CHALLENGE TO YOU TODAY
IS DON'T BE LIKE THIS DOG. YOUR COLLAR HAS BEEN LOOSED. YOUR CHAINS HAVE BEEN BROKEN. THOSE YOKES
HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. NOW, DO YOUR PART
AND WALK OUT OF IT. START THINKING
LIKE YOU'RE FREE, TALKING LIKE YOU'RE FREE,
ACTING LIKE YOU'RE FREE. GO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER THAN
YOU'RE USED TO. IT MAY NOT HAVE WORKED OUT
LAST TIME, BUT THIS IS A NEW DAY. YOUR COLLAR HAS BEEN LOOSED. IF YOU'LL DO HIS, I BELIEVE
AND DECLARE YOU'RE ABOUT TO STEP INTO A NEW SENSE
OF FREEDOM. WHAT HAS HINDERED YOU IN THE
PAST WILL HINDER YOU NO MORE. THE CHAIN BREAKER,
THE MOST HIGH GOD, IS RELEASING YOU RIGHT
NOW INTO FREEDOM, INTO HEALING, INTO NEW LEVELS,
INTO THE FULLNESS OF YOUR DESTINY IN JESUS'S NAME,
AND IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU SAY AMEN TODAY? I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS
THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE. WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME? JUST SAY, "LORD JESUS, I REPENT OF MY SINS. COME INTO MY HEART. I MAKE YOU MY LORD
AND SAVIOR." FRIENDS, IF YOU PRAYED THAT
SIMPLE PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU GOT BORN AGAIN. GET IN A GOOD, BIBLE BASED CHURCH AND KEEP
GOD FIRST PLACE. VICTORIA AND I WILL BE RIGHT YOUR PARTNERSHIP MAKES
THIS MINISTRY POSSIBLE. YOUR FAITHFUL AND
CONSISTENT MONTHLY SUPPORT MAKES YOU A CHAMPION OF
HOPE. THE VISION OF JOEL OSTEEN
MINISTRIES IS TO USE EVERY AVENUE AVAILABLE TO PRESENT
THE HOPE OF JESUS CHRIST TO PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. WE KNOW IT IS THIS HOPE AND THE TRANSFORMING
POWER OF THE GOSPEL THAT MAKES AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE
IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. TO PARTNER WITH JOEL OSTEEN
MINISTRIES, VISIT JOELOSTEEN.COM/PARTNER
TODAY.
