Joel Osteen - Call Out The King In You
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I want to talk to you today about calling out the king in you. On the inside of each one of us is a strong, confident, victorious person. You were created to reign in life. You’ve been crowned with favor, a royal priesthood, destined to overcome obstacles and accomplish your dreams. There’s a king in you. But that’s not the only thing. There are negative forces: fear, insecurity, doubt. You go through a disappointment, and discouragement comes, and you make a mistake and guilt shows up. You face a big obstacle and think, «I can’t do it. I’m not able.»
The king is in you the whole time. But here’s the key: He doesn’t come out automatically. You have to rise up in the face of fear. You’re tempted to worry; the medical report doesn’t look good, and you should say, «I will not fear. No weapon formed against me will prosper.» When thoughts of inferiority come—you’re not good enough, you don’t measure up, nobody likes you—call out the king. «I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I’ve been handpicked by the Creator of the universe.»
Or are you tempted to compromise, give in to temptation? Everything in your senses tells you to just do it; it’s not going to hurt anything. Don’t call out the king. «I am disciplined. I am focused. I make decisions that honor God.» That’s how you call out the king in you. But too many times, we’re calling out the wrong things. «Joel, I’m a victim. I’ve had a lot of bad breaks. Life hasn’t treated me fairly.»
God never said life would be fair, that we wouldn’t have hardships, injustice, and betrayal. But He did say He would take what was meant for your harm and turn it for your good. That He’d pay you back double for the trouble, that He has beauty for those ashes.
You have to do your part. The victim will naturally come out: the bitterness, the chip on your shoulder—that happens without you asking. That’s the flesh, the carnal nature. You have to call out the king. He’s waiting for you to summon Him. Once He hears you rise up in faith, declaring God’s promises, staying in peace when you could be upset, the king in you shows up. That’s the strong, confident, trusting you.
But God said you were created to reign. The word «reign» means to rule and to have authority, but it’s not necessarily to rule over people or circumstances, to pay my neighbor back or make this problem go away. No, it’s to rule over your thoughts, rule over your attitude, rule over the temptation, over the anger, the worry, the doubt. Don’t use your energy trying to rule things that you have no control over.
You can’t control other people: the boss that’s unfair, the relative that gets on your nerves, the traffic—all that worry and stress is going to steal your peace, or you can’t sleep at night; you don’t enjoy your family, too frustrated to pursue dreams. The problem is you’re trying to rule things that you have no authority over. Try a better approach and rule over your emotions. Rule over the bad attitude. Rule over feeling sorry for yourself.
That’s calling out the king. That’s how you rise above those challenges. Life throws you a curve, people do you wrong, the negative chatter. Don’t call out the complainer, the victim, the compromiser. There’s a king in you—a victorious, strong, confident, peaceful, joyful person. But you have to call him out.
Somebody said, «Joel, don’t tell me that I’m good, I’m valuable, I’m disciplined.» I need to hear that I’m a sinner, I’m unworthy, I’m broken, I’ve got these issues. The problem with that approach is you’re moving toward who you think you are. Your thoughts are going to become a reality. Even subconsciously, you’re gravitating toward what you’re telling yourself. The Scripture says you will become what you believe.
The enemy would love for you to believe that you’re mediocre, you’ll always struggle, you’re an addict, you’ll never be free, or you’re not attractive, you’re not valuable, nobody wants you. If you let those thoughts play, you’re giving them a right to become a reality. Quit calling out the wrong you—the lonely you, the addicted you, the broke you. There’s a king in you waiting for your call.
Instead of «I’m a sinner, so unworthy,» say, «I used to be a sinner, but I’ve been saved by grace. Now I’m a son. I used to be unworthy, but God has made me worthy. I’m covered by the blood of Jesus, redeemed, forgiven, a new creation.» When you have that kind of attitude, it’s going to help you resist the temptation and make better decisions. That’s what you’re moving toward: valuable, worthy, forgiven.
But if you go around focused on your flaws and how you don’t measure up and you don’t deserve God’s goodness, that’s going to pull you down, causing you to compromise more. The king in you will help you overcome the bad habits. When the king rises up, you can rule over the temptation, rule over the things that are holding you back.
But the enemy would love for us to live thinking we’re not good enough, we’re so unworthy, so undeserving. That’s the way you used to be. But when you gave your life to Christ, He put on you a robe of righteousness. One translation calls it the robe of God’s approval. That doesn’t mean that you do everything right; we all make mistakes. But you should live from a worthy, forgiven, valuable, «God is pleased with me» mentality. If not, and you let the king stay dormant, you won’t be able to rule over the guilt, the shame, thoughts telling you, «I’m not good enough. I don’t deserve to be blessed. Look what I’ve done.»
There’s not a mistake you’ve made that’s too much for the mercy of God. The enemy is called the accuser. He’d love to deceive you into going through life against yourself, focused on mistakes, thinking you’re washed up. Don’t believe those lies. Let the king in you rise up—the forgiven, redeemed, righteous, valuable child of the Most High God.
This is what happened with Peter in the Scripture. Jesus was teaching on the shores of Galilee and He asked to borrow Peter’s boat. When He finished, He wanted to thank Peter and told him to go back and throw out the nets, and he caught so many fish that the nets began to break. He came to the shore, fell at Jesus' feet, and said, «Sir, please go away from me. I’m a sinner. I’m unworthy.»
See, Peter was a rough fisherman. He had flaws. He was hot-tempered, used bad language, and knew nothing about God or faith. But Jesus saw something in Peter that he couldn’t see in himself. He chose him as his first disciple. A little later, Jesus looked at him and said, «Peter, you are a rock, and upon you, I’m going to build my church.» He was calling out the king, telling Peter who he really was.
Underneath the weaknesses, the shortcomings, the compromise was a mighty leader, a strong, favored, powerful disciple that would impact the world. We look at our flaws and how we don’t measure up, and we discount ourselves. «I’m just a fisherman,» so to speak. «Joel, I’m just a business person, just an accountant, I’m a coach, a nurse, a stay-at-home mom.» Nothing special about me.
Can I tell you there’s a king in you? There’s a powerful, talented, disciplined, history-maker, giant-killer, world-changer. Quit calling out the ordinary, the weak, the insecure, the hot-tempered. Call out the king! Call out the favored you, the strong you, the patient you, the successful you, the barrier-breaker you.
When Jesus told Peter, «You’re a rock, and I’m going to build my church on you,» I believe something came alive on the inside of Peter. The king woke up; this passion, this fire said, «Hey, I’m not weak; I’m not limited or ordinary. I’m anointed. I’m powerful. I’m favored. I’m destined to leave my mark!» That king began to show up.
On the day of Pentecost, when the church was just starting, they needed someone to give the inaugural address. Out of all the religious leaders, disciples, and influential rabbis, they chose Peter. He got up and spoke, and 3,000 people became believers. He thought he was ordinary, unworthy, but there was a king in him; there was greatness waiting to come out.
Another time, in Acts three, he was going to the temple one afternoon. A crippled man was lying there begging for money. Peter said, «I don’t have any silver or gold, but I have something better: in the name of Jesus, rise and walk.» He grabbed the man by the hand, pulled him up. Instantly he was healed; he went walking, running, so grateful.
Look at Peter: from an unworthy fisherman, down on himself, to someone now impacting the culture and making a great difference. What happened? He called out the king. He changed his thinking from doubt, unworthy, and «I’m not good enough» to «I’ve been handpicked by Almighty God. I’m a rock, forgiven, talented, anointed.»
See, the Scripture says we are transformed by the renewing of our mind. You want to see transformation? You want to see the king come out? You have to get your thoughts going in the right direction. As long as you’re thinking «ordinary,» «not good enough,» and «always going to be addicted,» then it’s going to be true. You’re going to become what you believe.
Peter would have been stuck if Jesus had not shown up and told him who he really was. We wouldn’t even know Peter if Jesus had not spoken faith into his destiny. I believe God sent me today to help call out your king, to remind you who you really are—not ordinary, not average. You’re a masterpiece; you’ve been made in the image of God.
He’s equipped you with everything you need. You are gifted, talented, disciplined, focused, strong. The right attitude is this: this giant is no match for the king in me. This cancer cannot stand against the king in me. This dream’s not too big for the king in me. When you call out the king, it’s not just your power but the power of the Most High steps in.
Like Peter, you couldn’t heal the man, but when you take steps of faith, God shows up. He does what you can’t do. He’ll free you from the addiction, turn your child around, open doors you couldn’t open, bring talent out that you didn’t know you had. Are you calling out the king, or are you calling out the complainer, the compromiser, the doubter?
Too many people go around putting themselves down, speaking against their destiny. «I’m unworthy, I’m average, I’m short, I’m slow, I’m the wrong nationality, I can’t be successful.» They don’t realize they’re calling out what they don’t want. They’re giving those destructive things the right to come to pass.
Let me challenge you: Don’t ever say another negative thing about yourself. You have enough people and circumstances against you. Don’t be against yourself. When you’re tempted to put yourself down—"I’m slow, I’m unattractive, I’m dumb"—do yourself a favor: zip it up. Do not curse your future; do not call out things you don’t want. That person is going to show up.
There’s a king in you—a talented, strong, focused, victorious person waiting to come out. In the Scripture, the king of Babylon came against King Zedekiah and the people of Israel. They destroyed the walls of Jerusalem and captured Zedekiah and his strongest men. Now the people in Jerusalem were left there without a king for the first time in history.
It started way back with King Saul. He was tall, strong, impressive. Then, of course, David came along, and on and on for 400 years they always had a king. But now, Zedekiah was gone. The people were so distraught and afraid. As they sat there feeling hopeless, thinking that they were done, the prophet Micah showed up. He said in verse 9, «Why are you crying? Why are you discouraged? Is there not a king in you?»
They were counting on Zedekiah, someone else, to deliver them, protect them, provide for them. They thought, «As long as he’s captured, we’re stuck. We have no way out.» But Micah said, «No, no, you have it wrong. There’s a king in you.» He was saying, «You have what it takes. You are powerful. You are anointed. You are a giant killer.»
When you go through disappointments and the medical report’s not good, or you face a setback in your finances, it’s easy to get discouraged, to think, «I’ll never get out of this problem. I’ll never see my family restored.» These people were crying and so down, and I know there is a time to weep—sometimes life hurts.
But there’s also a time to dry those tears and rise up in faith. You may have things coming against you now that could overwhelm you, cause you to quit pursuing dreams, quit believing for your child, quit trying to get well. God is saying to you what He said to them: Is there not a king in you? You have to call out that mighty warrior in you.
Call out the overcomer; call out the more than conqueror. Call out the giant killer; call out that barrier breaker. Don’t sit back and let life keep you down. The king in you has to rise up.
Father, thank you that greater is He that’s in me than what’s trying to stop me. Though I am surrounded by trouble, I will not be afraid, for you are my light and my salvation. A thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my right hand, but it will not stop me.
Let me tell you, you are not weak, defeated, or unable. You have the power of the Most High God on the inside of you—the same power that raised Christ from the dead. Now, call out the strong, courageous, determined, anointed warrior that God put in you.
You don’t have to go looking for a king, thinking you’re dependent on someone else to help you, free you, provide for you. Look no further; the king is in you. What you need for every season of your life is already on the inside. Now you have to be on the offensive and call it out. If not, the weak you will dominate. The «Why did this happen? It’s not fair» victim you will show up, telling you to be depressed, to get even.
You have to rule over those thoughts. Rule over your emotions; don’t try to pay people back. Be still and know that He is God. When you let the king come out, you stay in peace. Instead of worrying, you’re worshiping, thanking God that He’s fighting your battles. Instead of complaining, you’re speaking victory: «This too shall pass. Healing is coming. Freedom is coming. Abundance is coming.»
When my father went to be with the Lord, I knew I was supposed to step up and pastor the church, but I didn’t feel qualified. I had never ministered except one time, never been to seminary, and didn’t have the training. My father had this big personality, strong and powerful, and I’m more quiet and reserved, and I like being behind the scenes.
All these thoughts told me that I wasn’t able, not talented enough, I wouldn’t know what to say. «Nobody will listen to you, Joel.» The enemy’s main battlefield is your mind. He doesn’t want the king in you to come out. He knows you’re powerful; he knows you’re destined to take new ground.
So he’ll do everything he can to try to intimidate, discourage, and make you feel unworthy. «Look at all the mistakes you’ve made,» or, «You’re not able. The giant’s too big.» The sickness is too strong. Just accept where you are. Don’t believe those lies. There’s a king in you—new levels, greater talent, greater influence, greater favor.
All these thoughts were telling me that I couldn’t do it, that I would fail. I had to choose to rule over those thoughts. I had to be disciplined in what I allowed to play in my mind. Instead of letting the enemy talk to you, you need to talk to the enemy: «I can do all things through Christ.»
Father, I thank You that I’m strong in the Lord, that You’ve anointed, equipped, and empowered me. I took that step of faith, never dreaming the church would grow. We were hoping we could just maintain what my parents had built. But look what the Lord has done! He has exceeded our expectations.
I didn’t know this was in me. I was like the Israelites at first: «God, my father is gone. You need to send us some great leader, a powerful minister, someone that’s experienced, with a great resume.» God said, «No, Joel, the king is in you.»
Maybe you’re like I was, looking for someone else, thinking that you’re lacking, not talented enough, not smart enough, not experienced enough. God is saying, «Quit looking to others. The favor is in you. The blessing is in you. The strength, the abundance, the power—it’s in you now.»
Call out the king. Call out the anointed one. Call out the talent. Call out the courage. It starts in your thinking. Quit telling yourself everything you’re not, how you can’t do it, that you’re not up to par. Turn it around.
Father, thank You that Your gracious hand is upon my life, that I am surrounded by Your favor, that You are shining brightly through me, helping me do what I can’t do on my own. This is what happened with Sarah. She had been barren her whole life, and God gave her and her husband Abraham a promise that she was going to have a baby. Well, they were both way too old. She had passed the childbearing years. In the natural, it wasn’t possible.
When she first heard the promise, it was so far out that she laughed. It was comical to think that she could have a child at that age. Sometimes God will wait on purpose to put a dream in your heart to where there’s no way, logically speaking. It’s a test: «Are you going to believe and get in agreement, or are you going to talk yourself out of it, think that it could never happen?»
Well, year after year went by, and there was no sign of a baby. I’m sure Sarah was discouraged. But God said to Abraham, «I will give Sarah a son. She will be the mother of nations. Kings will come out of her.» God was saying, «Sarah, you can’t see it. You’re laughing and talking yourself out of it, but there’s a king in you.»
All the circumstances say you’re barren, but there’s a mother in you. Sarah had to rule over her thoughts and start defeating the doubt: «God, I believe what You said. It looks impossible, but I know You can do the impossible. Lord, let me be the mother of nations.»
She had to call out the king before she could give birth to kings. At 90 years old, against all odds, she had a son. They named him Isaac—the promised child. You may have situations that look too late, too long, no chance now. God is saying to you what He said to her: there’s a king in you.
You’re going to give birth to what God promised. Now let that king come out. Start believing that it’s on the way and thanking God that He’s working, not moved by what you see but moved by what you know, that what God promised will come to pass.
My friend Terry Crews is a great actor, television host, and a man of faith. Terry grew up in a very violent home. His father was an alcoholic, and when he drank too much, he would physically abuse his mother. This made Terry, as a little boy, so angry and distraught that he hated his father. He told himself that when he got old enough, he would put a stop to it.
He became a star football player, played in college, and went on to play professional football. Things back at home hadn’t improved, and he got word that his father was abusing his mother again. Well, now he wasn’t a little boy; he was this big, strong, powerful man. He had such hatred in his heart and such anger toward his father that he drove to the house and beat his father within an inch of his life. He exploded with all this rage.
He thought it would make him feel relieved; finally, he stood up for his mother and took care of the abuser, got the revenge. But he said it made him feel worse than ever. He cried like a baby in so much pain and regret: «We weren’t created to harm the people that gave us life.» He realized the answer was to forgive his father. That getting revenge couldn’t heal what was broken on the inside.
Terry made that decision and forgave his father. That’s when healing came to him. Terry says, «On the inside of every person is a king, a victim, and a fool. You get to choose which one comes out.» Often, we choose the victim: «Man, Joel, they did me wrong. It’s not fair. Why wasn’t I raised better?»
Choosing the victim doesn’t help you heal. It doesn’t let you get better. As long as you have an excuse to be bitter, angry, or not give it your best, «Jo, I got a good reason. I’m at a disadvantage,» that’s going to keep you stuck.
God knew everything that would happen to you—every hurt, every wrong, every injustice—that didn’t stop your purpose. If you’ll have the right attitude, let it go, and stay in faith, God will pay you back for what was unfair. He’ll give you beauty for the ashes. He’ll make the rest of your life better than you can imagine.
Sometimes we choose to fool ourselves, trying to get revenge, pay people back, give in to temptation, or run with the wrong crowd. We know it’s limiting us. We don’t want to be disciplined; we just want to do what we feel. But there’s not just a victim in you, not just a fool; there’s a king in you—a person that rises above the hate, the anger; a person of honor that overcomes evil with good, that does the right thing when it’s hard, that believes what God promised even though it seems impossible.
I’m asking you to call out the king in you—not the compromiser, not the complainer, not the one that wants to be lazy and give up on dreams. Call out the kind, strong, powerful, favored masterpiece. Call out the worthy, valuable, forgiven, redeemed, more than conqueror.
God is counting on you to carry out His purpose to leave your mark. This is not for victims; this is not for fools. This is going to take the king in you. Now rule your thoughts. Quit believing those lies. Rule your actions. Don’t give in to things that are pulling you down.
Rule your emotions, not letting them dictate your life. If you’ll call out the king, I believe and declare forces that have held you back are being broken right now. God is about to release you into greater favor, greater joy, greater influence. You will rise higher, accomplish dreams, and become all you were created to be, in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say amen?