Joel Osteen — Yes Is Coming
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I wanna talk to you today about "Yes is coming". Sometimes we've gone through so many "No's" that we get discouraged and give up on our dreams. Maybe the loan didn't go through, you didn't get the promotion, you tried to break the addiction but you couldn't do it.
A young couple told me how they've had four miscarriages, haven't been able to have a baby. You may have had a lot of "No's" in the past, your dreams haven't come true yet, but I believe God is saying, "This is going to be a year of 'YES,' yes to the healing, yes to the promotion, yes to the breakthrough, yes to having that baby". What hasn't worked out in the past is suddenly going to fall into place. Doors you thought were closed are suddenly going to open. Dreams you've given up on, promises you've let go of, thought, "There's no way," God is about to make a way.
In this year of "Yes," God is going to reverse the "No's". The times you've been denied, turned down, told, "No, thanks," that's not the end, it just wasn't the right time. Yes is coming. Yes to the dream you quit pursuing, yes to the child getting back on the right course, yes to the business you've been wanting to start.
Now, people may tell you, "No, you can't get well. Look at the medical report. No, sorry, you don't have the experience we need. No, you're not talented enough. No, that idea's not going to work for us". Their "No" doesn't cancel out God's "Yes". Don't let them talk you out of your dreams. God has the final say. He's saying, "Get ready for 'YES'. Yes to increase. Yes to freedom from the addiction. Yes to seeing your family restored. Yes to new opportunities".
God is going to put you at the right place at the right time. He's going to send divine connections, people that will go out of their way to be good to you. You couldn't make it happen. It was the favor of God bringing you into your yes.
I talked to a lady that had been out of work for over a year. She worked as an executive in sales. Very successful. After many years, unexpectedly her contract was not renewed. She had an impressive resume and she applied at a couple of dozen companies but no one was interested. She was turned down again and again.
Several months later, a company called and asked her to come in for an interview. And she was excited. It looked like something had finally opened up and the interview went well. She thought she had it, but they called back and said she just wasn't the right fit. This happened four more times, where she went in and interviewed, looked like she was the front-runner, then she was told, "No," one "No" after another.
A few months later, a company from out of state called. They were very interested. It was between her and another man. And she flew to that city for an interview. On the way to the office, the taxi cab driver struck up a conversation. She was very friendly and told how she was there to go on a job interview and how she'd been praying and believing that something would open up and, out of all the offers, this was the one she wanted the very most. He dropped her off and told her that he was pulling for her and that he believed that she was going to get it.
Later that day, the lady that interviewed her had to catch a plane. It just so happened this same man came back to the office and picked her up when she called for a taxi. Being the friendly taxi cab driver that he was, he asked her how her day was going. She explained how she'd been interviewing two people, a man and a woman, and couldn't decide between the two. The taxi cab driver said, "Let me tell you who you should pick". She said, "What do you mean"? He said, "I picked up that lady you interviewed and brought her this morning. And you won't find a better person. She's smart, she's talented, she's articulate, plus she wants to work for you".
He went on and on, singing her praises. The lady said, "You know what? I just made my decision". And when she called the lady in the other state and told her that she'd got the position, she said, "If you ever see that taxi cab driver again, you need to thank him because he's the reason I chose you".
What are the chances in a large city that the same taxi cab driver would pick up both ladies? That wasn't a coincidence; that was the hand of God. In this year of "Yes," God is going to have the right people put in a good word for you. You may not think you have the connections. Don't worry, you have friends in high places. God is not only guiding and directing your steps, he's lining up the people you need. He's arranging things in your favor.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians from the message translation, "Whatever God has promised gets stamped with yes". That means the dreams God's placed in your heart, the promises he's spoken over you, have already been stamped with yes. God has already set the date to bring it to pass. It's already on the schedule. But there's one more thing that God needs. It goes on to say, "God's yes with our yes together makes it a sure thing". God is saying, "Yes". Now he needs your yes to make it happen. God's yes by itself is not enough. God works where there's faith.
If this lady would have gone around thinking, "Oh, I'll never get the position. Nothing good ever happens to me," that would have kept it from happening. When it comes to God, be a yes man, be a yes woman. God says he's restoring health back into you. You can think of all the reasons why you're not going to get well or you can be a yes man. "Yes, God, I agree. Thank you that I'm getting healthier, thank you that I'm getting stronger".
God said in Psalm 65 that he's going to crown your year with a bountiful harvest. You can go around not expecting good breaks, not expecting to get ahead. Or you can be a yes man, "Yes, God, I agree. Thank you that it's going to be a blessed, prosperous, abundant, bountiful year". That's not just being positive, that's putting your yes with God's yes. God said what was meant for your harm he's going to turn and use to your advantage. You can dwell on all your hurts, what didn't work out, the people that did you wrong, or you can be a yes man. "Yes, God, I agree. Thank you for beauty for these ashes. Thank you that you're my vindicator. Thank you that you're fighting my battles".
Is God waiting for your yes? Are you letting the "No's," the disappointments, the delays, convince you that it's not going to happen? You may not have seen it yet, but this is a new day. You are coming into a year of yes. I'm asking you to put your yes with God's yes and watch what happens.
There was a young lady in the scripture named Hannah. She was married to a man but she wasn't able to have children. She kept praying and believing. But the scripture says the Lord had shut Hannah's womb. Year after year went by and she was so discouraged. Didn't look like she'd ever be able to have a baby.
To make matters worse, her husband was married to another woman as well and she kept having children. She didn't have any problem conceiving. And this other wife would make fun of Hannah, try to make her feel like she was inferior, something was wrong with her. And Hannah would end up in tears, so upset.
And one day Hannah went to the temple and she was crying and asking God to give her a baby and the prophet Eli saw her and asked what was wrong. She explained how she was barren and she was asking God to open up her womb. Eli said, "Cheer up. The God of Israel has granted your request. You're going to have a baby".
Hannah went back home like a different person. She had a spring in her step, a smile on her face. On the outside, nothing had changed. No baby, no sign of a child. But on the onside, she put her yes with God's yes. At that point, she believed she was going to have a baby. When that other wife made fun of her, "Too bad, Hannah. You'll never have a child," instead of getting upset, instead of crying, her new attitude was, "I may have had some 'NO's' but I have some inside information. I know my 'YES' is coming. The God of Israel has spoken it over me. I may not see it yet but I walk by faith and not by sight. I know my baby is coming".
A year later, she went back to the temple with her baby boy, Samuel. She came in to her "Yes". And like Hannah, you may have had a lot of "No's". People have tried to discourage you, make you think that it's never going to happen. You need to get ready. Your "Yes" is coming. The same God that shut Hannah's womb opened Hannah's womb. God may have said "No" in the past. Doesn't mean it's going to be "No" in the future. Just as God turned Hannah's "No" into a "Yes," God is going to turn around some "No's" for you.
Will you do like Hannah and start acting like what God told you is going to happen? All Hannah had was a word from the prophet that she was going to have a baby. She didn't have an ultrasound. She didn't have a pregnancy test. She just had what Eli said to her. He could have been wrong. You have something so much more powerful. You have the promise from the God who spoke worlds into existence. He's saying, "If you'll put your 'YES' with my 'YES' I'll turn the 'NO's' around".
Those situations that seem permanent. The addiction you've dealt with for years, health issue that won't go away, maybe a struggle in your finances. Seems like you're stuck. Thoughts tell you, "Just accept the 'NO's.' just get used to it". Don't believe those lies. God is about to open up your womb. What you've been dreaming about, that child to get back on course, that business to take off, that person to spend your life with. You need to get ready. Your time is coming. Your "Yes" is headed your way.
A young lady I know was working as a news reporter. She was in her early 20s. She had a problem with her skin. She had real bad rosacea. When she was out filming a report, if she sweated or accidentally touched her face, rubbed her make-up off, that red would shine through so brightly and it looked really bad. She couldn't find any make-up that would cover it up and last.
She ended up quitting her job as a news reporter. She started working on a new make-up line that would fix her problem. She developed a product that she really liked. She believed it would be successful. She and her husband went to bank after bank, trying to get funding but they were turned down again and again. Her husband started a website so you could order the product. It was up for weeks and weeks with no activity, no orders.
Finally, an order came through. She went running to her husband, said, "Look, we got our first order". He said, "No, that was me. I was just testing the website". She knew God had put this dream in her heart but all she kept getting were "No's". Her goal was to somehow get on a home shopping channel like QVC. For years she sent them product, she met with representative trying to make it happen but it didn't work out.
They were down to their last thousand dollars. Didn't know what she was going to do. She went to a large cosmetic convention. All of the major companies were there and she had a 3-foot booth where she was showing people her product. Across the way, QVC had a huge booth. This older lady came over and said, "Honey, I love your product. I'm going to tell my buyers at QVC we need to have you on our channel". That lady was an on-air personality that had been there for over 17 years. She used her influence to open the door. And this young lady went on QVC. Her product was a huge hit.
Today, our friend, Jamie Kern, the founder of it cosmetics, goes on QVC 200 times a year. Her company has become one of the largest cosmetic companies in the world. But like Hannah, for years it was as if the womb was shut up. No good breaks, no favor, very little progress. Then one day, she came into her "Yes". That one good break thrust her further than she ever imagined. Years later, she was talking to the lady that put in a good word for her that day and she asked her why she did it. The lady said, "Well, I like your product but it wasn't about the cosmetics. When I saw you that day, I felt like God said to me, 'go help that young lady.'"
God has the right people lined up for you. In this year of "Yes," you're going to see doors open that you haven't been able to open for years. The dream God has placed in your heart has already been stamped with yes. Are you adding your "Yes" to God's "Yes"? Are you doing like Hannah and thanking God, even though you don't see anything happening? Will you be bold enough to believe that you're still going to give birth, even though it feels like your womb has been shut? Heaven is saying, "Yes," yes to your dream, yes to your healing, yes to the freedom, yes to the breakthrough.
"Well, Joel, this sounds good today. It's encouraging but I don't think I'm gonna have a year of yes. I've had so many 'NO's.'" You're right where Hannah was. The problem is if you keep adding your "No" to God's "Yes," you can cancel out what God has in store. Other people's "No" cannot stop you. What they say, what they do, they don't control your destiny. The enemy's "No" cannot stop you. What you believe is what matters. God needs your "Yes". He has amazing things in your future. He's going to give you more influence and favor than you've ever imagined.
Now keep adding the "Yes". Thoughts may tell you "No". Circumstances may tell you it's never going to happen but your "Yes" and God's "Yes" makes it a sure thing. Why? Because God controls the universe. One touch of his favor can turn a "No" into a "Yes". From "No, we don't need you" to "Yes, you have the position". From "No, you'll never get well" to "Good news. You're cancer-free". From going to interview to interview with no success to having a taxi cab driver put in a good word for you. Friends, you need to get ready. Your "Yes" is on the way. Like Hannah, God is about to open up your womb.
In the book of 2 kings there was a king named Hezekiah that was told "No". But his "No" didn't come from people, it came from God. He was very sick, close to death. His mentor, the prophet Isaiah, came to the palace to see him. Isaiah was called the eagle-eyed prophet. He was the one that spoke for God. He didn't make mistakes.
I can imagine when king Hezekiah heard the news that Isaiah was at the palace, he brightened up, thinking, "Maybe there's hope. Maybe he's going to pray for me and I'm going to get well. Or maybe he'll give me an encouraging word that I can stand on". Isaiah came in and said, "King Hezekiah, I have a word from the Lord for you". Hezekiah leaned in closer. Isaiah said, "The Lord says, 'set your house in order for you will surely die.'" He didn't say, "You might die. Hezekiah, it doesn't look too good. Maybe you'll pull through". He said, "You will surely die".
What do you do when God says, "No"? Hezekiah could have thought, "Well, too bad for me. I'm done. No use even trying". The scripture says Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and started praying. He reminded God how he had served him, how he'd torn down the pagan altars and how he'd set a new standard for his family. He asked God for his mercy to give him more years. His attitude was, "If I die, I'm gonna die asking for the 'yes'".
Before Isaiah could leave the palace grounds, God said to him, "Isaiah, go back to Hezekiah and tell him I've heard his prayers and I've changed my mind. I'm gonna add 15 years to his life".
Even when you feel like God has said, "No," if you'll dare do like Hezekiah and ask God for the "Yes," your faith can cause God to change his mind. And in this year of "Yes," God is going to reverse some "No's". Mistakes that you've made, God is going to correct them and give you another chance. Opportunities that you've missed, he's going to bring them back across your path. The things that have been a struggle, the constant pressure, it's going to suddenly turn around.
Hezekiah and Hannah, both faced situations where God said, "No". God shut Hannah's womb, told Hezekiah that he was done. Hannah went to the temple and asked for a baby. Hezekiah asked for more years. The common denominator was they both asked for "Yes" in the face of "No". Every circumstance said, "Forget it. God said 'NO'. Just live with it". Their attitude was, "God, we know you control the universe. And even though this seems like a 'NO' to us, we're asking in your great mercy to change your mind and give us a 'Yes'". Are you bold enough to ask for a "Yes," even though all you keep getting are "No's"?
Jesus told a parable in Luke 12 about a widow woman that went to see a judge to try to get relief from someone that had done her harm. He was an unjust judge. He wasn't fair, he didn't listen to the lady, didn't give her the time of day. He just dismissed her and sent her away. The next day, the lady was right back in his courtroom, asking for justice. The judge said, "Lady, didn't I tell you NO yesterday"? And she said, "Yes, you did. But I'm not going to leave you alone until you give me a 'YES'". He had her put out again. She came back the next day and the next and the next, asking for justice, pleading her case.
Finally, that judge got so frustrated, he said in verse 5, "This woman is driving me crazy". That's a message all on its own. That's next week. He went on to say, "I'm gonna see that she gets justice because she is wearing me down with her constant request". She kept asking for "Yes" in the face of "No".
If you're going to see your "Yes," you have to be determined. If you accept the first "No," you weren't serious about it. The "No's" are a test. God wants to see how bad do you want it. If you get discouraged, give up, you didn't want it badly enough. You have to do like this woman, keep asking, keep praying, keep believing, keep dreaming, keep hoping. If one door closes, try another door. If one company says "No," try another company. If one bank turns you down, try another bank.
A friend of mine wanted to start his business. He was turned down by 31 banks. Thirty-one times he was told, "No, sorry, we can't help you. Doesn't seem like a good idea to us". He knew that dream had already been stamped with God's "Yes". He just kept adding his "Yes," going through the closed doors, not getting discouraged.
Bank number 32 said, "We think it's a great idea". He started his business. It's taken off and expanded all around the world. He told me how some of those same banks now are trying to get his account. You know what he tells them? "No".
What am I saying? Don't get discouraged by the "No's". The "No's" are a part of your destiny. They're leading you to the "Yes". You have to come to your closed doors before you'll get to your open doors. You may have had a lot of "No's" in the past, things haven't worked out. You need to get ready. Your "Yes" is coming. God is going to open doors that you could not open. He's going to cause people to change their mind and go out of their way to be good to you. It's going to be unprecedented favor. You will know it is the hand of God.
I talked to a lady named Sharee. She's a single parent, living in Compton, California. Compton, of course, is known for being a rough environment, drugs and violence. Her husband was in the federal penitentiary. Sharee is a school teacher. For 13 years she raised her son, E.J., by herself. There were a lot of negative influences, a lot of opportunity for him to get off course, but Sharee is a praying woman. Every morning before school, they would listen to our messages.
Her goal was for her son E.J. to go to college. And even though it looked like he had some disadvantages, a rough environment, the odds against him, they believed that God would open the right doors. They'd had a lot of "No's" in the past but they knew their "Yes" was coming. And they were waiting for different colleges to respond to see if he got accepted anywhere.
Several weeks ago, on their way to school, they were listening to a message where I was talking about unprecedented favor and how God was going to do something unusual and out of the ordinary. When Sharee heard that, something came alive on the inside. She told her son E.J., "That's for us".
Later that day, E.J. Opened up an email. It said, "Congratulations. You have been accepted into Harvard University". Sharee says that E.J. is the first African American from Compton to ever get accepted to Harvard. His goal is to become a neurosurgeon. You've heard that phrase, "Straight out of Compton". A lot of times, we think of the negative, the gangs, the violence. How about, "Straight out of Compton, and straight to Harvard"?
Jesus came from the city of Nazareth. That was a poor, run-down city in those days. His critics said, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth"? That's not an important, influential place, yet the Son of God came out of Nazareth. Can any good thing come out of Compton? Yes, E.J. Yes, Sharee. Yes, a whole lot of others. Can any good thing come out of your neighborhood? Yes, you can. You're the history maker. You're the exception. You have seeds of greatness.
Like E.J. And Sharee, there are "Yeses" in your future that are going to thrust you to the next level. God is going to open doors that no man can shut. He's going to bring divine connections, people that will use their influence to push you into your purpose. And you may have had a lot of "No's" in the past but you need to get ready. I believe and declare you are coming in to your year of "Yes". God is saying, "Yes" to the scholarship, "Yes" to the right person, "Yes" to the healing, "Yes" to the breakthrough. Your "Yes" is on the way, in Jesus' name.