Joel Osteen Podcast - Trusted With Power | Joel Osteen

Episode Date: August 30, 2026

When you cover faults and bless your enemies, you’re showing God how much He can trust you. Keep your heart pure and let Him be your vindicator. In just a few focused minutes each day, our August offer can help you renew your strength, quiet anxiety, and experience God's presence. Request 3-Minute Moments with God and make room for Him to move in your life.    https://bit.ly/4yye0FP See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind every night spent making the kids' lunches, there's a lot of suspense. Will they finally eat the veggies? Will the pasto survive the first bite? Will the lunchbox come home empty, half full, or come home at all? And will you finish episode 8 before you're done slicing the cucumbers? Get Bell Pure Fiber Internet with Craved Netflix and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.com for details and to check availability.

Bell, connection is everything. It's another great day to be alive, and we are so blessed to be here with you today. Victoria, my beautiful wife, and we're just praying for you guys to have a blessed summer. I sure hope you enjoy the podcast. I know I always enjoy these messages. They're so uplifting and encouraging and inspiring, so we hope you enjoy the message today. Well, God bless you. It's great to be with you today, and I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week

through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, and social media. and you can come visit us in person. We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services. I'd like to start with something funny. And one Sunday morning, this man walked into church wearing blue jeans, T-shirt, and an old cowboy hat. Some of the members were appalled. They sent notes to the pastor expressing their concern.

Afterwards, the pastor told the man he needed to pray and asked God what he should wear when he came back to his church. The next week, the man came back wearing the exact same thing. the pastor said, I told you, ask God what you should wear before you came back to my church. The man said, I did ask God, but he told me he didn't know what to wear because he's never been here before. That one's got a message to it, but here we go, y'all. 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 name. God bless you. I want to talk to you today about trusted with power. We've all had people do us wrong, a friend that talks behind our back, a co-worker that stole our client, a family member that ignores us. You can't live very long without offenses and hurts and people that are unfair. And we know to not let that poison us, we have to forgive

and not hold on to it, that's the first test we have to pass. But there's another test. This is the one that holds many people back. When God turns things around, when He vindicates you, and now you have the upper hand, how will you treat those people? Will you use that power to get even, to pay them back, to make them feel what you feel? They embarrass you in front of the office. Now, you're in charge.

You can embarrass them. they tried to ruin your reputation. Now they work for you. You can keep them down. Make sure they never get any good breaks. Or they walked out of a relationship when you needed them. And now the tables have turned. You're healed and whole and they're hurting.

They need help. Are you going to walk away and think good for you? Now you can see how it feels. How you handle power when you have the advantage will determine what God can trust you with. He will not promote. you to get even. He will not vindicate you so you can pay someone back. He'll not give you greater influence if you're going to use it to get revenge and to settle old scores and punish those who did you wrong. And Paul said in Romans 12, never avenge yourselves, but leave it in the hands of God. Payback

doesn't belong to you. Getting even is sinking down to their level. Trying to make them feel how you felt is not the way to win. God sees what they did. He knows the pain, the hurt, the injustice. If you'll leave it to him, he'll vindicate you better than you can vindicate yourself. The next verse gives us the key. If your enemy is hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. This means you have the power now. You have what they need. They're hungry. They're hurting. What are you going to do? Get even. Show them how it feels. Ignore them. Be the bigger person and be good to them. Feed them. Bless them. Help them to move forward. Well, Joel, that doesn't make sense. You don't know what they did to me. Before God will trust you with greater levels, he'll put you in these situations to see what

you do. When you could embarrass them, will you bless them? When you could expose them, will you cover them? when you could push them down, will you show mercy and lift them up? These are tests we all have to pass to reach our destiny. Because along the way, there will be hurts, betrayals, people that lie. You can't stop that from happening. Many people get bitter and angry. They hold grudges. They're looking for ways to retaliate, hoping the other person has trouble,

praying they have bad breaks. they don't realize that's keeping them from rising higher. The next verse says, never overcome evil with evil, but overcome evil with good. If you'll be good to those that were not good to you, you are passing the test. And it's one thing to forgive. That's important. That's the first step. But we can forgive and think, I'm not going to be good to you.

Don't ask me for a favor. Getting even may feel good to our flesh. our carnal nature, but it's going to limit you. If God can trust you to handle the power, the influence without being vindictive and revengeful, but instead you show mercy. You're good to those who weren't good to you. Then he can promote you and take you to new levels. And I know this is not easy, but you have the grace to do it.

God knew what you would face. He knew who would do you wrong, who would be. betray you, who would lie about you? He wouldn't have allowed it if you couldn't handle it. Yes, it's hurtful. It's not fair, but God is fair. He knows how to not only vindicate you, but to promote you in the presence of your enemies. But here's the key. The promotion is not to gloat, not to pay back, to humiliate, but to be good to them. The scripture says, when you're good to your enemies, it's like heaping coals of fire on their head. I always thought that meant to make them hurt, to make them burn, make them feel some of that pain they made us feel.

Good, you're going to get what you deserve. That's not what it means. Coles back in that day represented purification. Coles were used for softening metal. Coals brought warmth to a cold home. Your kindness is softening them. Your mercy melts their hardness. Your goodness is conviction. It's not burning, hurting, punishing. God is using you to change them, to purify them, to make them better. Years ago, there was a pastor in another state, and we had been friends practically our whole life.

He's a good man, a strong leader, but there was a political issue that he felt strongly about. This was his new mission. He wanted me to get on board and help him. He reached out to our team, but my plate was full. doing what I'm called to do. I was very respectful, but he was so upset with me. They interviewed him in the local paper, and he spent half the article talking about how I wouldn't help and how that wasn't right, on and on. It's one thing to not agree, but another to start blasting somebody in public, especially someone that's been your friend for years. I wanted to set the record straight.

I've learned, though, it's better to let God fight your battles. Let God be your vindication. A couple of years later, one of his staff members sent a request asking me to make a video for his 25th anniversary of being at his church. It was a surprise. They were going to play it in front of the whole congregation during the service. This staff member didn't know this. Man, it said all these negative things about me. My first thought was, yeah, I'd love to make a video.

I have a lot to say, especially in front of the church. But seriously, I thought, God, making a video, that's too much. I'll bless him privately, but not publicly. He doesn't deserve it. He tried to make me look bad. And now they want me to make him look good. It was a test. Could God trust me to bless my enemies?

Now they need something for me. I could have easily withheld it. I had a good excuse that I could hear that still small voice saying, Joel, overcome evil with good. Be the bigger person. I didn't feel like it. Nothing in my human nature wanted to do it. But if you go by your feelings,

you'll hold grudges, try to pay people back and live vindictive. Get out of your feelings. Don't let them dictate your decisions. Let your character determine your decisions. You're a person of honor, a person of integrity. You can do the right thing when it's hard.

I made the video, congratulate. him and thanking him for all his mean all his faithfulness. I mean, all his faithfulness. A friend of mine was in attendance when it played. He said, as soon as I came on the big screen, this man put his head down and started weeping. Blessing your enemies not only shows God that you have the character to go higher, but it shows other people who you really are. Behind every night spent making the kids' lunches, there's a lot of suspense. Will they finally eat the veggies. Will the pesto survive

the first bite? Will the lunchbox come home empty, half full, or come home at all? And will you finish episode 8 before you're done slicing the cucumbers? Get Bell Pure Fiber internet with craved Netflix and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on internet with a two-year

term and auto pay credit. Visit bell. dot ZA for details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. Anyone can be good to someone that's been good to them, but when you can be good to someone that's done you're an exceptional person you're the kind of man the kind of woman that god can entrust with greatness that he can use for his highest purposes and sometimes

the way to bless people that have done you wrong is to simply not talk bad about them when other people bring them up you could share all the dirt all the ways they hurt you man they're so two-faced they lie they don't keep their word, stay on the high road. Be a person that covers a fault, not exposes a fault. A person that has mercy for failures, not magnifies failures. Can you be trusted with greater power, greater influence, or will you use it to pay back who did your wrong? Embarrass those who made you look mad.

Many people have the talent to rise higher, but they don't have the character. They have the personality, the looks, the experience, but they're holding grudges, looking for revenge, waiting to pay somebody back. God loves you too much to promote you like that, because if he gives you more influence, it would expose your weaknesses in a greater way. Promotion amplifies what's already in you. If revenge is in you and God gives you a bigger platform, you'll be more revengeful. if getting even, paying people back is in you, and God promotes you, then you can be more vindictive and more hurtful. That's why God puts us in situations so we can see what's in us. He already knows what's there, but if you'll recognize it and make the adjustments, then you're proving to

him that you have the character to be promoted. God will test you in private before he'll promote you in public. How do you handle that co-worker that always ignores you? Doesn't give you the time of day but now they need your help. They ask you for a favor. It's easy to say, sorry, I'm busy, loser, no thanks, you don't give

me the time of day. It's a small thing, but it can keep you from something big. It's revealing what's in you. Pay attention to your attitude toward hurts, offenses, being wrong. It doesn't mean you're a bad person,

to feel offended or to want revenge, you're human. Those feelings come to us all. What I'm saying is there's a better way to live. When you make that choice to override those feelings and bless those who have done you wrong, cover them when you could expose them, be good to them even though they weren't good to you, you are positioning yourself for promotion. We see this in the life of Joseph in the scripture. As a teenager, God gave him a dream that he would lead a nation and people would bow down before him, this great promise spoken over his life. What significant is Joseph had many brothers. God could have chosen Rubin. He was the firstborn son. This was important in those days. He had the seniority. He could have chosen Judah. He was the strongest. Or Simeon and Levi, they were

warriors, known for their skill and courage. Here Joseph was the youngest. He didn't have the most talent, most experience, the connections, but God chose Joseph because of his heart. He had a forgiving spirit, a willingness to bless and not retaliate, a refusal to let bitterness take root. God promotes based on character, not position. He'll elevate you based on integrity and not seniority. Long before Joseph ever got to the palace, he proved to God that he could handle the power. When Joseph's brothers heard about his dream,

they were jealous. Joseph wasn't bragging. He wasn't saying, I'm better than you. He was excited and wanted to share it with the people that meant the most to him. But sometimes the people closest to you won't understand. You thought they'd be happy for you

and celebrate. but they tried to find fault, tried to discourage you. How are we going to respond? Get bitter, get angry, get even. That's the low road. One day Joseph's father asked him to go check on his brothers. They were in another city feeding their flocks. When they saw Joseph coming, they thought,

this is our big chance to get rid of him. They threw him into a deep well. They were going to leave him there to die till their father he had been eaten by a wild animal, but they saw this caravan of Ishmaelites coming. They decided to sell him as a slave. He spent years in Egypt against his will. Couldn't speak the language at first, didn't know anyone.

This was all done to him not by some bandits, not by a foreign army, but by his brothers. Imagine what Joseph was feeling, the hurt, the betrayal. There were lonely nights, longing for home, wondering while this has happened. He went from bad to worse. He was falsely accused and put in prison. Now he's a slave, incarcerated, in a foreign country, all because of these brothers.

One night, the Pharaoh, the leader of the country, had a dream, didn't know what it meant. Joseph interpreted the dream. The Pharaoh was so impressed, he brought Joseph out of prison and made him the prime minister second in command of a whole nation. People may try to push you down, but when it's your time, God will lift you up. What he has spoken over your life cannot be stopped by bad breaks, by delays, by people. He has a final say. Well, there was a great famine in the land.

Joseph was in charge of the food supply. They had more grain than any nation because God had given Joseph the wisdom to store it up. Joseph's father told his brothers to go to Egypt to see if they could buy grain. They showed up at the palace. Joseph came out to oversee the distribution. The moment he saw them, he knew exactly who they were, but these brothers didn't recognize Joseph. The last time they saw him was 13 years earlier

when he was in the well, afraid, begging for mercy. Now he's dressed in royalty, speaking another language with all this staff around. And at first he kept his identity hidden, gave them some instructions and things they had to do. When they returned a second time with their youngest brother, Joseph saw them standing there and he couldn't take it any longer. He was so overcome with emotion, he ran inside, closed the doors, and began to weep and weep. The scripture says you could hear sobbing throughout the whole palace. It's interesting, he didn't weep when they threw him into a pit.

He didn't weep when they sold him as a slave. He didn't weep when he was falsely accused or when he was put in prison. Joseph was a strong man, determined and courageous. But when he saw these brothers, all this emotion flooded his heart. He didn't just see them, but he saw the betrayal, the trauma, the lost years, the pain. you would think he would be hard, angry, full of revenge. But sometimes you don't weep because you're hurt. You weep because you're healed.

These tears showed how much he still deeply loved his family, weeping over people who betrayed him, weeping over brothers that took his freedom. Joseph shows us you can be powerful and still be tender. You can be strong and still keep a soft heart. You may have had people that did you wrong. In your mind, you want to be angry, hold a grudge, pay them back. But in your heart, you're a Joseph.

There's a tenderness. A voice saying, forgive, have mercy, be good to them. You never go wrong by taking the high road. These brothers, they still didn't recognize Joseph. They were standing in there, afraid, foreigners, needing food, not sure in how it's going to work out. was this tense emotional moment. He finally looked at his brothers and said, guys, I am Joseph. They were stunned.

Their jaws dropped. They thought we're doomed. We threw this guy into a pit. We ruined his life. Now, he's in charge. The tables had turned. 13 years earlier, they had the upper hand. They were in control.

This was Joseph's big chance to get even. The moment finally came. where he could pay them back for all the trouble, the misery. All he had to do was say the word, and they'd be put in prison. They'd be killed. Their families would be taken. But Joseph wouldn't do it. He was good to them.

He didn't just give them food and say, okay, I'm not going to hurt you. Get out of here. He had them go get their father and all their families and come move to Egypt to live with him. 70 people. He gave them the best land. The city of Goshen was the most fertile and prosperous land in the nation. He provided protection for them. He would have them come eat at the palace.

He made sure their children and grandchildren were taken care of. No wonder God could give him such favor and authority. He was trustworthy. None of this would have happened if he had been vindictive, wanting to retaliate and pay people back. I'm not saying that you're excusing people's behalf. behavior, that what they did was okay, that just get over it. No, I'm saying, let God be your vindicator. Don't let that bitter spirit take root and poison your life to where you live,

hoping they fell, hoping you can make them look bad, waiting for that big chance to get revenge, it won't come. God won't trust you with more power and influence if you're going to use it to settle old scores, to get even. You have to dig down deep and overcome evil with good. Your character is revealed when you have the advantage. Not so much when you're in the pit. You've been wrong. But how about when your enemy is hungry?

When they're thirsty, what are you going to do? Well, all, the last thing I'm going to do is help them. They're my enemy. You know what they did to me? Be a Joseph. Be kind to someone that's not being kind. to you. Help that co-worker that always leaves you out, but now they need you. Be good to that family member that said negative things about you, but now they're asking you for a favor. That's a test.

That's where Joseph was. If God can trust you in these small areas, things that don't really matter, pettiness, offenses, being left out, that's life. But if we let our pride get the best of us, we think, that's not right. I'm going to show them. Now I'm in charge. You'll see how it feels. That's a shallow way to live. That'll keep you from your destiny.

If Joseph would have been bitter in the pit and planning revenge as a slave and hoping his brothers were miserable while he was in the palace, we wouldn't be talking about it. Jesus said, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

When you keep your heart pure, not fended, not red, revengeful, when you're a Joseph, you trust God to vindicate you, you don't live to settle scores to get even, then you will see greater influence, greater favor. Sure, you may get hurt in the pit, but you'll end up in the palace. People may do you wrong, but there will be a day when they're down and you're up. Your kindness, your mercy, you being good to them, when you had every right to ignore and push them down? That's heaping coals of fire on their head.

God is using you to refine them and to show them how to live a life of character, honor, and integrity. 1959, my father left the church he was pastoring and started Lakewood. He didn't feel like he's still fit in that denomination anymore. Some of the people didn't like his new message of faith in victory. Lakewood had less than 200 people.

Daddy didn't have a big platform. Not a lot of influence. But this prominent minister wrote him a scathing letter, berating him, telling him how that was wrong, how he wasn't qualified for ministry. He should resign on and on. That made my father so mad, so offended. He wrote a letter back saying,

listen here, brother, you don't know what you're talking about. You don't know the facts. You're just full of a lot of hot air. I don't answer to you. You need to mind your own business. He sealed that envelope, put the same. put the stamp on it felt so much better. As he was walking out to the mailbox,

he heard a still small voice saying, you paid him back, didn't you? Daddy said, I sure did. The voice said, you let him have it. Daddy said, yes, I did. You set him straight. My father said, you got that right. Then the voice said,

you returned evil for evil. Insult for insult. My father felt convicted. He knew it wasn't right. He tore up the letter. Went back in, never did send it. Twenty years went by and no more contact with that minister. Life went on.

One day, the minister was involved in a big controversy. Had to do with an improper relationship, getting a lot of news. Everyone was down on this minister. He was seen as a hypocrite, a fake, no integrity. Now, my father was a prominent pastor that people loved and respected. The tables had turned.

My father wrote this minister a letter telling him that he loved him, that he was praying for him, how God's mercy is bigger than our mistakes. There's still a bright future up ahead. A couple years went by and my father didn't hear anything. But one morning, they were at an event together. And this man came up to my father, weeping. He said, John, your letter was what kept me going. Was your encouragement that gave me the strength to get back up and try again? He says, I'm so ashamed at that letter I sent you. Will you forgive me? The scripture says love never fails. It doesn't say being right never fails. Proving your point, getting even. That's the low road. That's letting pride and ego run your life. Living bitter, angry, offended. That's letting feelings determine your actions. You're bigger than that. You're a Joseph. You have an an anointing on you to be good to people who are not being good to you. Are you passing these tests?

Or could it be that you're not seeing new levels because God can't trust you to handle the influence, the power correctly? You'd use it to pay people back to embarrass those that embarrass you. What if the person that hurt you walked into your office tomorrow needing your help? Would God be able to trust you with that moment? What if the one that criticize you now need your recommendation? What if the one that walked away is now looking for your compassion? Be a Joseph. Blessing your enemies reveals your character.

It shows who you really are. It's not about being right, being vindicated. That's all fine. That feels good. But the bigger picture is that God can trust you with power. The fact that you have offenses, somebody did you wrong, that wouldn't have happened to you if you didn't have a Joseph anointing. God's giving you the grace to handle it with kindness, with mercy, to be good to those that weren't

being good to you. Now, be the bigger person. Keep your heart pure and let God be your vindicator. If you'll do this, I believe, declare, like Joseph, you're going to see God show out in your life. New levels of favor, influence, resources, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus' 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. If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. We'd love to send you some free information on your new walk with the Lord. You can text the number on the screen or go to the website. but I hope you'll get into a good Bible-based church and keep God first place.

Behind every night spent making the kids' lunches, there's a lot of suspense. Will they finally eat the veggies? Will the pasto survive the first bite? Will the lunchbox come home empty, half full, or come home at all? And will you finish episode 8 before you're done slicing the cucumbers? Get Bell Pure Fiber Internet with Craved Netflix and Disney Plus

from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. It's amazing what happens when you take a few moments throughout the day to connect with God. A moment to thank him for his goodness, a moment to declare his promises, a moment to remember that he's working. I love to send you my new resource, three-minute moments with God.

These short readings will help you refocus your thoughts, gain a fresh perspective, knowing that God is ordering your steps. You don't need hours to connect with God. In just a few minutes, you can turn your thoughts toward him and be encouraged by his promises. As you make time for him, you'll have greater peace and strength, and you'll step into the favor that belongs to you. Three-minute moments with God is a powerful new devotional designed to meet you right where you are. Inside, you'll find topical readings for whatever you're facing. Whether you need peace, wisdom, healing, or hope, Each one is filled with scripture, an encouraging thought, a heartfelt prayer, and faith-building declarations. So in just a few focused minutes, you can quiet the noise, turn your heart toward God, and set the atmosphere for him to move.

It's yours as a thank you for your gift to the ministry today. Be sure to request your copy of Three Minute Moments with God, available this month, by visiting us at Joeloesteen.com or call 888-567, Joel. Know today that God has you in the palm of his hand. As you take time to acknowledge him throughout the day, he's going to fight your battles and get you to where you're supposed to be. Victoria and I are praying for you and your family every day. Thank you so much for your prayer and support. Your generosity takes this message of hope to people all over the world

who need their own moment with God. A special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners. Your monthly support makes a difference every single day. If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. Until next time, may the Lord bless you and keep you. Be sure to request your copy of Three Minute Moments with God, available this month by visiting us at Joelosteen.com or call 888-567, Joel.

With an additional gift, you can also receive the Three-Minute Promise, power and authority collection, featuring abundance, assurance, and authority. A rich, empowering study drawn from the passion, translation. It opens up who you already are in Christ, what's already yours, and the authority you already carry, because your next moment with God could change everything. Know who you are. Walk in what's yours. Step into every moment with confidence. You can request these inspiring resources by calling 888-567, Joel, or logging on to joelosteen.com today. Call or click anytime, 24 hours a day.

Thank you.