Joel Osteen Podcast - You Have Resurrection Power | Joel Osteen

Episode Date: January 10, 2024

The greatest force in the universe is on your side! The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you. You have everything you need to overcome every obstacle and outlast all opposition in your life. Your best days are still ahead, and together we can make a difference in this world with the message of God's hope and love. To give visit JoelOsteen.com/GiveHope.Daily inspiration. Scriptural promises. Get ready for a new year of faith with the Hopes & Dreams 2024 Planner. Our special December offer will let you journal your thoughts, record your prayers, and hold on to the dream God has placed in your heart. Request your copy today! https://bit.ly/3T8xgqS  Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of the Joel Osteen Podcast ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks so much for listening to the podcast. We have a new resource. It's a 2024 daily devotional. We'd love to send it to you. It'll help you start the day off right. You will love this devotional. And know this.

We are praying for you and we are believing for God's very best for you in 2024. God bless you today. Such a joy to come into your homes. If you're ever in our area, please stop by. Be a part of one of our services. I promise you, we'll make you feel right at home. But thanks so much for tuning in, and thank you again for coming out today. And I like to start with something funny.

I heard about this man. He was on vacation in Jerusalem with his family when his mother-in-law suddenly died. He went to make arrangements to get her body back home. The consulate said it would cost $5,000 to have her shipped and $150 to have her buried right there in Jerusalem. He thought about it a moment, said he'd like to have her body shipped back home. Consulate said, wow, you must have really loved your mother-in-law. He said, no, it's not so much that. I just remember a case here many years ago when they buried somebody on the third day they arose and I can't take that chance.

Hold your Bible up. 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'll boldly confess. My mind is a 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 how you have resurrection power. When you gave your life to Christ, God put a power in you greater than any power that you'll ever face. And we're not supposed to go through life, backing down, in fear, intimidated, like we're at a disadvantage. This problem is so big, The medical report is so bad. Or Joel, these people coming against me,

they're so much more influential than me. I'm no match for them. No, Romans 8-11 says, the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives on the inside of you. Most of us believe that Jesus has incredible power, but God turned it around and said, I'm putting the same power in you.

It's a power so strong that dead. couldn't keep him in the grave. A power so strong that all the forces of darkness couldn't stop it. But here's the key. The only way to activate the power is to believe. You can't go through life thinking, this situation is impossible. I'll never accomplish my dreams.

I've been through too much. That will keep you from your destiny. Have a new perspective. You are not weak. You are full of resurrection power. You may have had some bad breaks, but you are not a victim. You are a victor. You are not supposed to back down from life, run from difficulties, run from things that are hard.

No, stand your ground and fight the good fight of faith. The reason it's called a good fight is because the enemy has already been defeated. The keys to death and hell have already been taken away. Jesus said, the prince of this world comes, talking about Satan, and he has no power over me. You can say the same thing. The enemy has no power over you. That sickness cannot stop you. That bad break can't hold you back.

Those people can't keep you from your destiny. There is a power in you that is no match for any power that tries to stop you. Now, all through the day, this should be playing in our mind. am powerful. I am strong. I am well able. I will not fear. I will not back down. I will not run and hide. I am not intimidated. I am not a victim. I am not at a disadvantage. I am full of resurrection power. Well, you say, Joel, I don't feel very powerful. I don't feel very strong. But you can't go by what you feel. You've got to go by what you know. Your feelings may change every other hour. And what you're up against may look bigger, stronger, more influential, more powerful.

That's okay. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. You have an advantage is called resurrection power. And even though you may not feel powerful, you've got to put your shoulders back and start acting like you're powerful. Fake it till you make it. Act like you're strong. Act like you're well able.

Act like you're more than a conquer. Don't go through life intimidated when you have to be. have the most powerful force in the universe on the inside. One time in the scripture, the Syrian army was trying to overtake the Israelites. But every time they made a move, the Israelites knew exactly where they were going, what they were going to do, and they would be there prepared, ready for the attack. The Syrian commander got so frustrated. He thought one of his men was a spy.

He called them all together. men, somebody is leaking this inside, top secret information. Who is it? Captain spoke up and said, sir, it's none of us. There's a prophet in Israel named Elisha. And what you whisper to us in secret, he tells to the Israelites. The commander was furious. He decided to go get Elisha. Now, Elisha wasn't in the military. He didn't have any protection. He was a civilian. You would think the commander would take four or five people with him, maybe a dozen at the most. No, this commander was so afraid of Elisha that he took his whole army,

thousands of troops, chariots, horses, all to capture one man filled with the spirit of God. That's the way you need to see yourself. You and God are a majority. When the enemy looks at you, it's like this Syrian commander looked at. Elijah. He thinks, I can't defeat them. They're not weak. They have an advantage. It's resurrection power. Elijah's assistant went out early one morning and he saw all these troops, these chariots, the Syrian army surrounding their house. He ran back inside, panicked, so afraid. He said, Elisha, get up. We're doomed. We're surrounded by the Syrians. Lycia didn't get upset.

He said, son, don't worry about it. There are more for us. then there are against us. The young man was confused. He thought, no, no, we're totally outnumbered. Elisha prayed, God opened his eyes that he may see. He went out and looked again, but this

time he could see into the unseen spiritual realm. He didn't just see the Syrian army, but he saw a vast host of the heavenly armies all across the mountainside, hundreds of thousands of these powerful

huge, warring angels dressed and ready for battle. Now, you may not always feel powerful, but you've got to know God's got your back. The creator of the universe has got you covered. No matter what comes against you, keep the right perspective. There are more for you than there are against you. When the enemy looks at you,

he doesn't see you as weak, intimidated, at a disadvantage, just the opposite. He sees you as powerful, equipped, and anointed. When he sees you, it reminds him of that day 2,000 years ago when Jesus crushed his head. Don't be afraid of the enemy. He's scared the death of you. Whether you've been a believer five days or 50 years, he has to send a whole army just to try to slow you down. And it's good to see ourselves as God sees us.

That's important. but I want you to see yourself the way the enemy sees you. When you know who you are and whose you are, when you realize you're full of resurrection power, you won't live intimidated thinking, ah, this problem's too big. No, you'll put your shoulders back, knowing that the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives on the inside of you.

If death couldn't keep Christ in the grave, that bad break can't hold you back. that sickness cannot stop you, that addiction cannot defeat you, there is a power in you greater than any power that comes against you. When I was growing up, we knew this man that lived in Alaska. For several generations, his family had been heavily involved in the occult and witchcraft. In fact, his father was the head warlock in that whole area. Later, he gave his life to Christ and got out of all of that. But he told something interesting. He said his father could leave his physical body and travel into the spirit world. They called it astro flight. One night, he went to this home

to cast a spell on a person and to put a curse on that house. But when he got there, for some reason, he couldn't penetrate the house. Normally, he would go right in through the walls. I thought, that's strange. Why can't I get in? He went over. He went over. looked in the window, and he saw this man he was looking for. He described him as being very, very dark. But sitting all around him were these people that were lit up like bright, bright light bulbs. He said it was the most brilliant light you could ever imagine. Come to find out, it was a group of young people that had come over there for a Bible study. As long as they were there, he could not penetrate that house. He told his son later, if believers only knew the power they had in the spirit world, they would never be afraid again.

You may not feel powerful, but you've got to know in this unseen world, you are glowing with God's glory. You are radiating like a brilliant light. You are protected. You are set apart. It's resurrection power. How do we activate it by believing? not giving into fear. No, I'm powerful. I'm strong. I'm glowing with God's glory. We may not see it with our physical eyes, but in this unseen realm, you are shining so brightly

that you blind the darkness. The enemy cannot penetrate your house, your life, your future, your finances. God has put a hedge of protection around you. You have nothing to worry about. And listen, nobody can put a curse on you. They can say, all they want, it bounces right off of you. God has already put a blessing on you, and the blessing always overrides the curse. Years ago, there was a missionary in Africa. He was traveling by horseback down a narrow winding path. It was a hot Sunday afternoon. He was headed to one of the small villages. As he approached a sharp curve in the path, the horse stopped and refused to go any further. It evidently sensed there was something wrong around the curb.

The man couldn't make the horse go. Finally had to get off and he looked around the corner. Sure enough, there was a huge snake, about 10 feet long, very thick, curled up right in the middle of the path, basking in the sun. It had its head hidden underneath a small flat stone. The man's heart was gripped with fear. He'd been warned about how dangerous and Poisonous the snakes were over there. Didn't really know what to do.

Didn't have a weapon. There was no way around the path. There was brush and thick trees on each side. After about 15 minutes, he got his nerve up and decided to find the biggest rock he could possibly find. He was going to throw it on top of that flat stone where the snake was hiding his head and hopefully killed the snake. He moved toward it very cautiously,

trembling with fear. Back of his mind thinking, what if I miss? What if I just make him mad? And he comes over here and he bites me. Amid all the fear with the adrenaline flowing, he hurled that rock as hard as he could. Much to his surprise, the snake didn't move. He walked up a little closer and suddenly realized the snake was already dead.

Somebody passing that way before him had crushed the snake's head and just left it lying there in. the path. The good news today, as somebody has already gone down our path and cleared it of everything that could harm us. We have nothing to fear. Little over 2,000 years ago, Jesus came to the earth. Went about healing, teaching, forgiving, showing love, but the religious leaders didn't like him. They got jealous, critical, found fault. Even though he had done no wrong, they unjustly had him beaten with the lead whip. They put a crown of thorns on his head.

They forced him to carry his own cross to be crucified. The soldiers mocked him, ridiculed him, even spit upon him. They put him on the cross and nailed the spikes into his hands, into his feet. He had all power. He could have called 10,000 angels. He could have ended it in a split second. the angels were standing at attention ready to come, but he didn't do it. The nails didn't hold him on the cross.

Love held him on the cross. He did it for you. He did it for me. Hanging on that cross, the earth he spoke into existence, got nervous and began to tremble. It sensed something was wrong. There was a great earthquake. The sun he created turned his back and refused to look. It got dark in the middle of the day.

When the soldiers saw the very earth revolting, they said to one another, surely he was the son of God. When Jesus breathed his last breath on this earth, the veil in the temple, this big thick curtain, was ripped from the top to the bottom. Behind that veil was the holy of holies. That's where the Ark of the Covenant was, where God lived.

nobody could go in there except the priest and then only once a year when that veil was ripped it wasn't to let God out it was to let you and I in now we can all come boldly to the throne

of grace you don't need anybody to go to God for you you don't need a pastor a priest a rabbi a Sunday school teacher you can go to God for yourself God wants to talk to you. He wants to be your friend. Does it matter how religious you are or you aren't? Does it matter the mistakes you've made, what you've done in the past or even what you're doing right now? He took your sins.

He paid the price for every mistake, every wrong. His blood covered it once and for all. The veil is open. He's waiting to hear from you. People tell me all the time, well, Joel, I'm not a religious person. I wasn't raised in church like you were. I'm not talking about being religious. Jesus didn't come to start a religion. He came to have a relationship with you. He has a, he has a purpose and a destiny for your life. He's the one that created you. He knows the reason that you're here. When you come into agreement with him, your life will be more rewarding, more fulfilling. At one of our events on the road, a night of hope, a young man came up to me afterwards, and I could tell he had been smoking pot. You could smell it so strongly. First, I thought, man, this is a night of hope, not a night of dope. After talking with him for a little while, I started feeling really, really good. He told me how he had never been to church a day in his life. He said, Joe, I've never been to any kind of religious events. but I've been watching you on television and something is drawing me. There's something I know I need. I told him what I'm telling you. That's your heavenly father wanting to be in relationship with you.

There is a void on the inside that only God can feel. We are living in the day where the veil is open. God's mercy is available to whomever will accept it. They put Jesus in the tomb on Friday, thinking that it was over, I'm sure Satan in all of his forces were having a big party celebrating their victory. But I can imagine in the midst of their celebration they hear some footsteps starting to get closer and closer.

They see this person coming, can't figure out who it is. Everyone is accounted for. He walks with an authority like they've never seen before. His eyes are like fire. His hair is white as wool. His face radiates with a brilliance so bright that it forces them to turn away. Jesus crashes their party. Says, I've got a big announcement to make. I'm back. He said, you thought you got rid of me, but it was all a part of my plan to redeem mankind.

You didn't take my life. I gave it away. The battle of the ages took place. Right versus wrong, light versus darkness, Jesus versus Satan. It was no match. Jesus crushed Satan's head and totally defeated him. The scripture says he paralyzed him and rendered him powerless. It looked dark on Friday. It looked like it was over, but on Sunday morning, it was a different story. The grave

couldn't hold Jesus in. He came bursting out, and he said, I am he that lives. I was dead, but I'm alive forevermore. By the way, one more thing, I got the keys to death and hell. He came out with all power, and then he's

turn right around in Luke 1019 and said, I give you power over all the power of the enemy. The same power he had, he gave to us. Now you and I have all power. It's resurrection power. One scripture says that Jesus brought Satan to naught. Another word for naught is zero. When thoughts of fear, worry, intimidation come. Instead of dwelling on them, getting worried, discouraged, just give the enemy the zero sign. Remind him that he has no power over you. When you do it, learn to look down. That's where he is under your feet. The thought says, you'll never get out of that problem. Zero sign. God always causes me to triumph. You'll never accomplish your dreams. Zero sign. I can do all things through Christ. Your family will never get back on the right track. Zero sign. As for me in my house, we will serve the Lord.

you'll never get married, you're too old. Zero sign. No good thing will God withhold because I walk up rightly. Here's one we all hear. You've made too many mistakes. Zero sign. God's mercy is bigger than any mistake. Remind the enemy of his defeat. John chapter 20, Peter went to the empty tomb and he saw the burial cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus head, folded up, neatly placed over to the side. it was away from the other burial cloths. Why did Jesus think it necessary to fold that cloth? He was sending a message to the Jewish people. In that day, if you went to dinner at a Jewish home

and you enjoyed the dinner, enjoyed the company, the food was good, the people were nice, the tradition was to take that cloth napkin, crumple it up, and leave it on the seat. That sent a message that you appreciated the dinner and you would be back again. but if in any way you felt insulted,

disrespected, the people weren't courteous, the food wasn't good, you would take that cloth napkin carefully folded up and neatly place it back on the dinner table. When Jesus arose from the grave, he knew many Jews would come to the tomb

looking for him. He took time to fulfill this very common and well-understood tradition. He took that cloth that was wrapped around his head. He very carefully folded it up and placed it over to the side. He was saying, I wasn't treated right. I was disrespected, put to shame, humiliated, and I will never come back to this tomb again. I defeated the enemy once and for all. I died for the sins of the world once and for all. He was saying, it is finished. The price has been

paid. The sacrifice has been made. Our enemy has been eternally defeated. We have nothing to fear. Paul said in Ephesians 6 to put on the whole armor of God. It goes on to list all the different pieces of the armor. Talks about the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shoes of peace, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the sword of the spirit. What's interesting is there is not one piece of armor that is designed for our backside. It's all designed for our backside. It's all designed for. for our front. Why is that? God never intended for us to be running from the enemy. If you live in fear, backing down from life, feeling like you're at a disadvantage, then you're leaving yourself

wide open. It's like a hospital gown. They're great in the front, but they don't have much going on in the back. No matter what life throws you away, stand your ground, look that challenge in the eye, say you will not defeat me. I am a child of the most high God. I am. I am. of resurrection power. A minister I know told about a dream that he had. In this dream, he saw himself standing in a large room,

about as big as this platform. At the other end of the room, Satan himself was standing there, staring at him very evilly. This terrible gaze was holding him captive. He tried again and again to break free and get out of the room, but he couldn't move. He was totally paralyzed.

The more he tried, tried, the more he struggled, the more Satan would sarcastically laugh. In the dream, he was so afraid that he couldn't pray, couldn't quote a scripture, couldn't remember anything. He was frozen stiff, held hostage by these evil, glaring eyes. Then all of the sudden, Jesus stepped into the room and walked right between the two men. Jesus was facing Satan with his back to this man. Jesus started backing up. The man thought, no, Jesus, don't back up. You're not afraid of Satan. But he kept backing up and backing up until he got right in front of this man.

There was nowhere else to go. But in this dream, Jesus took another step backwards, and he stepped into the man. Jesus' arms went into his arms. Jesus' legs into his legs. Jesus' torso. When Jesus completely disappeared into him, he saw himself, lift his hand, and point at Satan. And Satan, even, immediately fell to the ground and he was able to walk out of that room. Now, you may not feel powerful, but you've got to know the most powerful force in the universe is on the inside of you. At the name of Jesus, the scripture says, everything has to bow. We don't have anything to be afraid of. We don't have to fear the past. Some people say,

I've made so many mistakes. Joel, I got all these skeletons in my closet. Now, when you gave your life to Christ, he clearly, your closets. Your sins have already been forgiven. God doesn't have a big hard drive, a big computer up in heaven, keeping a list of everything that you've done wrong. When you repented, he totally erased them. Doesn't remember that anymore. We don't have to fear the present. Well, Joel prices are so high. My neighborhood's kind of dangerous. I don't know if I'm going to make it. No, God has you in the palm of his hand. Nothing can snatch you away. If God takes care of the birds of the air, how much more is God going to take care of you? We don't even have to fear the

future. We don't have to fear death. The scripture says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. When it comes your time to go, you'll breathe one final breath, but that's not the end. Your next breath, you'll be a more alive than ever breathing heavenly air at a place where there is no pain, no sickness, no sorrow. We can say with the Apostle Paul, O death, where is your victory? Oh, grave, where is your sting? We're not afraid of the past, the present, the future.

Why? We know we have resurrection power. We know those that are for us or greater than those that are against us. We know our enemy has been eternally defeated. My challenge to us today, put your shoulders back, hold your head up high. You are not weak, intimidated, at a disadvantage. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives on the inside of you.

If you'll rise up and tap into this power, I believe and declare. Because he lives, you too will live an abundant, overcoming, faith-filled, victorious life in Jesus' name. If you receive it, can you say amen today? We never like to close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity. 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. Get in a good Bible-based church. Keep God first place. He's going

to take your places that you've never dreamed out. It's January. Time to renew my faith. It's January. It's time to start a new season. It's January. There is no better time than now to set the course of our year ahead. The beginning of the year is a great time to start a fresh and anew. To let go of negative things of the past and to get ready for the new things God has in store. Every January, we create a new devotional calendar that will help you throughout the year.

When you start the day off in faith, grateful for what God's done and making positive declarations over your future, you're setting the tone for a blessed day and a victorious year. This devotional will help you get your mind going in the right direction

so you can go out each day in faith, knowing that God is in control and that his plans for you are for good. I'd love to send you a copy. As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount this first month of the year, we would like to send you a copy of our brand new 2022-34-365-day devotional calendar.

Do you want to set a faith course for your life in 2024? Do you want to see your life take off in new directions of influence, favor, and provision in the year ahead? Using this devotional calendar is as easy as one, two, three. One, wake up with an expectancy in your heart. Two, reflect on the daily scripture verse and devotional from Joel. 3. Capture God's promises to you on journaling lines for writing and reflection. Be sure to request your copy of the 2024 devotional calendar available this month by simply visiting us at joelosteen.com or calling 888-567 Joel.