Joel Osteen - Let The Party Begin
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I want to talk to you today about letting the party begin. We all have times of waiting where we don’t see anything happening, and the medical report hasn’t improved, and our child is still off course. Well, we’ve made mistakes and missed opportunities, and all the circumstances say it’s too late now. It’s never going to happen.
But God has not forgotten about you. What He promised is already on the schedule. Just because you don’t see anything happening doesn’t mean God is not working behind the scenes. God is arranging things in your favor, lining up the breaks you need, the doors to open. He’s moving the wrong people out of the way. If you’ll stay in faith, you’ll come into a destiny moment, something God has already prepared, where you will see breakthroughs, healing, promotion. Don’t believe those lies that the problem’s too big, the sickness is too great, the mistake stopped your destiny.
God knew everything that would happen to you. Nothing has caught Him off guard. You had a setback? He’s already planned your comeback. You made a mistake? His mercy is new every morning. That contract fell through? He has a coin in the fish’s mouth, like He did for Peter, a way to make up for it. You’re not going to just come out barely making it. There’s going to be a celebration. God has a party planned for you where He turns mourning into dancing, sickness into health, lack into abundance, loss into new beginnings. You may be struggling now, but God is faithful. There will be a time where He says, «Let the party begin.»
Jesus told a parable about a young man who asked his father for his inheritance early, took the money, left home, and went out living wildly, wasting it, making poor decisions. It wasn’t long until the money ran out; he couldn’t pay his rent and didn’t have money for food. The only job he could find was working in a hog pen, taking care of hogs. He got so desperate that he had to eat the hog food to survive. It wasn’t anybody’s fault except his own. He could have stayed at home, worked in the family business, had a nice place to live, a family that loved him, but he let his carnal nature, his flesh, rule him, and now he was ashamed and down on himself, dirty and smelly. Sitting in the hog pen, every thought said, «You have no future now. You’ve blown it. No one will ever respect you again.»
But when you make mistakes, the enemy will work overtime trying to push you down. He’s called the accuser. He’ll remind you how you should have done better and that you blew that relationship. You’re so undisciplined. If you’re going to see God restore you, you have to tune out all the condemning thoughts. God’s mercy is bigger than any mistake you’ve made. What you did did not cancel your destiny. It did not stop your purpose. You have to get back in the game. You wouldn’t be hearing this if God didn’t have another chance for you. Don’t stay in that hog pen because you think you’re unworthy. You’ve blown it. God is ready to restore you, but you have to make a move. When you take a step toward God, He’ll come running toward you.
After months of sitting in the hog pen, guilty and ashamed, the scripture says this young man came to himself and said, «I will arise and go to my father’s house.» You have to come to yourself. That means you have to come back to who God says you are, not all the lies: unworthy, inferior, not good enough. No, come to your true self: worthy, forgiven, valuable, talented, a masterpiece. What’s a masterpiece doing in a hog pen? What’s a child of the Most High doing living defeated, compromised, feeding the flesh? That’s not who you are. He came to himself and said, «I’m going to rise and go to my father’s house.» That’s the decision that changed his destiny. Without him making a move, we wouldn’t be reading about him. Without him saying, «I’m better than this. I’m not made to live in a hog pen, defeated, dirty, ” nothing would have changed.
Maybe you’re where he was: off course and not making good decisions, trying to hide things that are pulling you down. Don’t stay in the hog pen. Make that decision: „I’m going to arise. I’m going to go back to my father’s house. I’m going to get back in church. I’m going to be faithful in my relationships. I’m going to be my best at work. I’m going to start pursuing my dreams again.“ Get your fire back. When you arise, supernatural things begin to happen. The son started back on his journey home, and the whole time he was nervous, sure his father was going to be angry and upset, probably tell him, „Stay off the property. I don’t want to see you again. You’ve embarrassed our family name.“ He already had his speech prepared: „Dad, I know I’m unworthy. I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore. Just let me live here as a hired servant with the other employees.“
The closer he got, the more uptight he was. Finally, he made it to the neighborhood and looked way off in the distance. He could see someone at the edge of his property. He got a little closer and realized it was his father. The father took off running toward the son. He grabbed him, hugged him, and kissed him, so excited that his son was back home. Every day he’d been out on the driveway, hoping and believing it would finally come to pass. The son started into his big speech: „Dad, I’ve blown it. I’m ashamed. I’m not worthy.“ The father wouldn’t hear it. He interrupted him and said to the staff, „Quick! Go get the best robe and put it on my son. Get the family ring for his finger, the shoes for his feet, and kill the calf that we’ve been fattening. We must celebrate, for my son was lost but now he’s found.“ The next verse says, „So the party began.“ There was music, dancing, great joy, laughter.
But this son sitting in the hog pen never imagined that one day there would be a party for him. He never dreamed one day he’d be restored, be with his family, and have his position of honor back. Every thought told him, „They’re done with you. You blew it. You’ll never be happy.“ It was just the opposite. That whole time, the father was planning a party. Every day he had them feed the calf because he knew one day his son would be home. Every day they polished the ring, shined the shoes, ironed the robe. This father didn’t just throw the party together all of a sudden; he had been preparing long before, knowing that his son would return.
The promises you’re standing on, the healing, the freedom, the restoration may look like it’ll never happen. All the circumstances say just the opposite. But what you can’t see is God is already planning your party. He’s fattening the calf. He’s polishing the ring. He’s ironing the robe. He sees you standing in faith, believing when you could be doubting, and praising when you could be complaining, arising when you could be sitting in defeat. You’re going to come into that moment where God says, „Let the party begin.“ There’s going to be a celebration like this son that you didn’t see coming that’s better than you thought. Not just come out of the difficulty but how about come out better? Not just survive the sickness but come out healthier, stronger than before. Not just outlast the trouble but see double, where God pays you back.
Friends, God knows how to throw a party. He knows how to celebrate. See, the father could have just received the young man back home and said, „All right, I’m going to forgive him. Let him back in.“ That would be good. But look at how God works: „We’re going to celebrate! I need the best robe. I need the family ring that represents authority. I need the fatted calf, the calf we’ve been feeding in preparation for this moment. I need those shoes we’ve been polishing. I need the ring I’ve set aside for my son’s return.“
What am I saying? The things that you’re concerned about now, God is already working on. He doesn’t just suddenly decide, „Oh, man, I have to help them.“ No, He’s been working behind the scenes, doing things that you can’t see. He’s already scheduled your party. What He has planned is going to be better than you think, bigger than you expect, more fulfilling than you’ve imagined. Many of you have been faithful. I’ve seen you stand strong against the sickness. You’ve fought that addiction the best you could. You’ve endured trouble with a good attitude, prayed for that wayward child year after year. You’re about to see a breakthrough, a turnaround, the healing, the freedom, the provision where God says, „Let the party begin.“ Open the floodgates of heaven. Release the favor, the abundance, the connections that I’ve already prepared.
„Hey, go get that calf that I’ve been fattening for my son’s return. Get that spouse that I’ve been preparing for my child. Get that business that I’ve been polishing, that house that I’ve been shining. Get that freedom that I’ve been saving.“ Yes, it’s been hard. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy is coming in the morning. There’s a party time where mourning is turned to joy, from barren to having a baby, from not enough to overflow, from lonely to great relationships, from defeat to dancing. You may be in a difficult place now. You know those thoughts will tell you it’s always going to be this way.
No! Keep this down in your spirit: Your party is coming. Your breakthrough is scheduled. Your robe is ready. Your ring is waiting. The father is watching down the road. He sees you doing the right thing when it’s hard, going the extra mile when nobody gives you credit, enduring the disrespect, and not trying to get even. Doors have closed. You’ve had delays, but you’re still believing. You’re still hoping. God sees you standing strong. He’s about to say, „Let your party begin.“ Your time is coming. You’re closer than you think. You’re going to come into a destiny moment where God supersedes what you have in mind, where there will be great joy, great laughter, celebrating the goodness of God.
When we were trying to acquire this place, the former compact center, the company that owned all the property around here, 13 high-rises, they wanted it. They were the largest taxpayer in Texas, had a lot of clout and influence. It was David versus Goliath. We met with council members and tried to convince them to be for us. It was owned by the city. We needed 10 votes for it to pass. And we worked tirelessly, trying to persuade them that we’d be good for the city and here’s why you should do it.
After a year and a half, we finally had the 10 we needed. I was so relieved. But two days before the vote, one of the council members changed his mind. He had so much pressure from the other side he decided to be out of town. Him not being here meant that we wouldn’t have enough votes and wouldn’t get the building. We were so discouraged after all that work and all the struggle. It seemed like it was all for naught. Well, the day before the vote, I went and met with a council member that had been against us the whole time. I had already given him my best speech, my biggest smile, my best charm. None of that had helped before. I walked in that day not knowing what I was going to say. But before I said a word, he said, „Joel, you don’t need to convince me. I’ve already changed my mind. I’m going to vote for you.“
I thought, „Man, am I hearing things? Am I dreaming?“ He went on to explain how he received a phone call the night before from an older Jewish woman, a friend of his family that he greatly respected, but he hadn’t spoken to in over 20 years. She told him in no uncertain terms that he was to vote for Lakewood having the compact center. It was her call that changed his mind. I’d never met the woman; I didn’t ask her to call. But God is behind the scenes preparing your party. He’s fattening the calf that you’ve never seen. He’s polishing the ring, and you haven’t even met the person of your dreams yet. He’s shining those shoes, getting that healing ready for the right time. There will be a destiny moment where you see what God was up to when He says, „Let the party begin.“
The next day, we were at City Hall for the main vote: myself and our team of attorneys. There were about 200 people from Lakewood in the audience, and they started the vote. My heart was beating so fast. There was a yes, a yes, a no, a no, a yes. It came down to the last council member. We had five votes against us and nine votes for us, down to this last person. They called on him. He looked down and paused for about 15 seconds. It felt like 15 hours. You could hear a pin drop. He finally looked up and said, „Yes, I’m for it.“ There was a great shout, great cheer. I walked out on the steps of City Hall, and there were all the Lakewood people singing, shouting, celebrating. It was like God saying, „Let the party begin! I’ve been planning this for you. I’ve already scheduled this victory. You couldn’t see it, but I’ve been fattening the calf. I’ve been polishing the ring.“ God was behind the scenes moving on that lady to call the council member, changing a mind that I couldn’t change.
That vote was on a Wednesday. Well, that night, Wednesday night, thousands of people came to Lakewood. We celebrated that victory. We had a big party. It’s great that it happened for us. But can I encourage you? God has some parties in your future. He’s planning things right now that are going to exceed your expectations. Those challenges may seem too big, the sickness too great, the addiction too strong, maybe too much for you, but it’s not too much for Him. He’s already scheduled your party, your breakthrough, your healing, your compact center. Your dream is already on the calendar.
Now keep doing the right thing when you don’t see anything happening. Keep believing despite the doubts. Thoughts telling you that there’s no way. Those thoughts came to me, especially in the night: „Joel, you told people you’re going to get the building. You’re going to look like a fool. You don’t have the connections. They’re not going to sell that to a church.“ I’d wake up in a cold sweat. That whole time, behind the scenes, God had them feeding the calf. The band was practicing the music, the staff setting the table, getting ready for the celebration. God had already marked that moment for the party to begin. Right now, God is preparing your party. He’s working behind the scenes, doing things you can’t see. He’s already picked out your robe; He’s already set aside your ring. It’s just a matter of time before you hear, „Let the party begin!“
Let me tell you, God knows how to throw a party like nobody else. I never dreamed we’d have the compact center. I used to come here in my 20s. I had season tickets to watch the Rockets play basketball. You’re going to come into parties that exceed your expectations. In the original agreement, we leased the building for 60 years. That was the best way for us to acquire it. But I never liked the lease. I didn’t want this to come to an end and we’d have to give the building back to the city. Well, seven years into the lease, the city was running low on funds, and the mayor called and asked if we wanted to buy the building. Of course, we were interested, but I didn’t know what it was going to cost. She said they would run an appraisal and let us know. Well, this is like a half a billion-dollar property, seven acres on the busiest freeway in Texas, the fourth largest city in America. I thought, „I don’t know if we can pay that amount.“
Well, they had to appraise the building based on the fact that we had a lease for 53 more years. So whoever bought it wouldn’t get it for 53 years. The appraisal came back: not at 300 million, not at 100 million, not at 50 million. They said, „We’ll sell it to you for $75 million.“ It was like God said, „Let the party begin!“ You don’t know what God is up to in your life. You think you’ve reached your limits. Your dream’s not possible now. You’ve made too many mistakes. If you could only see the party God is preparing for you! He’s already scheduled a destiny moment to show out in your life. The calf is being fattened. The right people are en route. The good breaks are on the calendar.
And don’t talk yourself out of it. Faith is believing when you don’t see anything happening. It’s thanking God that it’s on the way when there’s no sign of it. When you believe, angels go to work. Doors open. Problems turn around. Miracles are set into motion. The Israelites had been in captivity for 400 years. They were mistreated and taken advantage of. But God sees your suffering. He sees when people do you wrong. You’re dealing with anxiety, fighting sickness, or trouble in your home. God is concerned about what you’re going through. There will be a time where He says, „Enough is enough.“ He will step in and put an end to what’s harming you. He told the Israelites, „I have seen the affliction of My people, and I am coming down to deliver them.“
When God comes down, things are going to happen. He sent plagues on Pharaoh, remember? And all their oppressors. Pharaoh finally decided to let them go. After 40 generations, they were free. They headed out toward the promised land. But Pharaoh changed his mind. He sent his fastest chariots, his most powerful soldiers to bring them back. And the Israelites came to a dead end at the Red Sea. They looked back in the distance, and they could see the army chasing them, but they had nowhere to go. You can imagine how panicked they were and afraid. After finally being free, now they’re about to be captured or maybe be killed.
But God won’t let you get in a problem that He can’t bring you out of. You may not see a way, but that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have a way. God told Moses to hold up his rod toward the sea. When he did that, a huge wind blew back the waters. The sea parted, and these two million Israelites walked through on dry ground. When they all got across, Pharaoh’s army came chasing after them, but the walls of water closed up, came crashing down, and they were all drowned. The scripture says when Miriam, Moses’ sister, got to the other side and saw the army defeated, she got her tambourine out with all the other women. They started singing, dancing, celebrating the victory. You can imagine the joy, excitement, and shouts of praise. Just a few hours earlier, they thought they were doomed, afraid.
But God was saying, in effect, „It may look bad, but I’m still in control.“ Maybe today you’re being chased by things that are much bigger, stronger. Don’t worry; the angels are getting the tambourines out. The band is practicing their music. The calf is being fed. God is up to something you can’t see. When they got across the river, God said, „All right, you know, let this party begin.“ Miriam started dancing. I could hear the whole place singing: „The enemy is outnumbered! Who can withstand against Jehovah?“ Miriam danced on the very ground where it looked like she would be defeated. She celebrated at the very place where it seemed like she would be captured.
Can I tell you? You’re going to dance on the things that are trying to stop you. Dance on the depression. Dance on the sickness, the death, the loneliness. Dance on the chains that once held you back. Verse 20 says, Miriam sang, „Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted! He has thrown the horse and the rider into the sea.“ She had her tambourine out; her dance was a declaration. „What tried to take me out has now been taken out. What should have stopped me is now under my feet.“ There will be a time where those things that are hindering you will be under your feet. The right attitude is this: trouble is not permanent. I know a party is coming. I will dance on what could have buried me. I will dance in victory, celebrating the greatness of my God.
I believe like Miriam, like the prodigal, there’s about to be some dancing, some celebrating. I can hear God saying, „Let the party begin!“ You’re about to see what God’s been up to behind the scenes. I talked to a man a while back. He called that SiriusXM program. He’d been having really bad headaches, and his vision started to get blurred. It got so bad he couldn’t go to work anymore. He couldn’t drive. The doctors ran tests and discovered that he had a tumor in his brain. It was cancerous. They gave him 18 months to live. He was young; he certainly didn’t see this coming. But although he was discouraged, he still had faith. He still believed that his life was in God’s hands, that the number of our days He will fulfill.
Instead of letting that diagnosis take root, dwell on it, Google all the terrible things that could happen, he kept that out of his spirit. His attitude was, „God is restoring health back into me; sickness cannot live in my body.“ He was supposed to go downhill, but over time, his headaches began to go away, and his vision started clearing up. The doctor said it was just an anomaly, that nothing had changed. Well, 18 months later, he went back and asked for another MRI. This time, the doctors were puzzled. They said, „We can’t explain it, but we can’t find any cancer in your body.“ It was like God said, „Let the party begin!“
God has these destiny moments where it looks like you’re stuck, you’re defeated, you’ve made too many mistakes, but that whole time, He’s preparing a celebration. There’s about to be a party where you dance on what should have held you down, where, like Miriam, you’ve got your tambourine, so to speak. You’re singing on the shores of what should have defeated you, ringing that bell, cancer-free, paying off your house, marrying the person of your dreams, free from the addiction, saying, „Man, look what the Lord has done.“
And I know there are difficult times, and you can’t escape life from happening, but what I’m saying is that’s not how your story ends. God is working behind the scenes to turn mourning into dancing, turn sickness into health, turn debt into abundance, turn council members' minds, and your dream comes to pass. Your time is coming. Your robe is ready. The ring is polished. The calf is fatted. Now get ready! I believe and declare your party is about to begin. God is going to give you something to celebrate: great joy, great laughter, healing, freedom, abundance, dancing on what should have defeated you in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say, „Amen“?