Joel Osteen - How Bad Do You Want It?
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In this sermon, Joel Osteen challenges believers to examine how deeply they desire the dreams and promises God has placed in their hearts, using examples from David's perseverance to become king and blind Bartimaeus's persistent cry for healing. He emphasizes that reaching one's destiny requires a relentless, warrior-like determination that refuses to give up despite opposition, delays, or discouragement.
The Question: How Bad Do You Want It?
I want to talk to you today about "How bad do you want it?" The dreams God has placed in your heart, the promises He has spoken to you are not going to come to pass without opposition, without delays, without people trying to talk you out of it. There will be plenty of opportunities to get discouraged, to lose your passion and think that it's not meant to be. But if you're going to reach your destiny, you have to have a made-up mind. If you give up after the first time or the fifth time or the 30th time, what that really means is you didn't want it bad enough.
There should be something you're believing for that you are relentless about. You are not moved by how impossible it looks, you're not discouraged by how long it's taking, you don't give up because people told you no. Your attitude is, "If I have to believe my whole life, I am not going to stop believing. I am not going to take no for an answer. I'm not going to settle for mediocrity. I'm going to keep pursuing what God put in my heart." You can't be passive and indifferent; you have to have a holy determination.
It's more than just your will; it's a fire on the inside, a knowing that it's supposed to be yours. And when everything says it's not going to happen, instead of getting discouraged, you kick into a new gear. Normal people would give up, normal people would settle, but you're not normal. You want it on another level.
David's Warrior Mentality
When David was 17 years old, the prophet Samuel anointed him as the next king of Israel, but David didn't go to the palace. He went back to the shepherds' fields where it was lonely. He was overlooked, mistreated by his family. When he finally did go to the palace to serve King Saul, Saul became jealous of David and tried to kill him. David had done no wrong, yet he had to live on the run, hiding in caves, spending months out in the desert.
He could have been discouraged, thought, "God, this isn't fair. You anointed me to be king. Nothing is working out." But David didn't have a give-up spirit. He didn't feel sorry for himself. He didn't let circumstances talk him out of it. He had a warrior mentality. His attitude was, "I am not quitting. I am not settling for mediocrity. I know there is greatness in me. I'm going to become who God says I am." One reason he took the throne is he wanted it bad enough.
How bad do you want what God has put in your heart? Bad enough to outlast the opposition? Bad enough to overlook some insults? Bad enough to do the right thing when the wrong thing is happening? Do you want it bad enough to keep pursuing even when circumstances say it's not going to happen? Many of the difficulties we face, the delays, the times it's not fair—that's simply a test. God is seeing how bad you want it.
This is what weeds people out. If you're overcome by problems, you let circumstances push you down, people talk you out of it, you're not going to have the strength or the courage to sustain where God is taking you. You have to be like David: don't have a weak mentality, have a warrior mentality. You have to be more determined than the opposition.
If you give up every time things don't go your way, you didn't want it bad enough. You have to dig your heels in and say, "I am in this for the long haul. I know what God has spoken to me. I will get well. I will accomplish my dream. I will meet the right person." You're not moved by what's not working out, by how long it's taking, or by who's not for you. You know who is for you: the Most High God.
Bartimaeus: Relentless Faith
In Mark Chapter 10, Jesus was leaving Jericho; a great crowd was following Him. There was a blind beggar on the side of the road named Bartimaeus. When he heard all the commotion, he started shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." The people around him told him to be quiet. "You're creating a scene; He's going to get upset." They saw Bartimaeus as insignificant. "You're just a beggar. This man Jesus is not going to be interested in you."
The more they tried to quiet him, the Scripture says, the louder he shouted. About that time, Jesus stopped, turned, and looked at him. Jesus smiled and said, "Tell him to come to me." They brought him to Jesus. Jesus said to him, "What is it that you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus said, "I want to see." Jesus told him, "Go your way. Your faith has made you whole." Instantly he could see.
Here's my point: there were other blind men on the road that day. There were other sick people in the crowd, yet Bartimaeus was the only one that was healed. Why? He wanted it more than they did. He wanted it so bad he didn't let people talk him out of it. When they tried to push him down, discourage him, he shouted even louder. If he had listened to them, he would have missed his miracle.
Are you letting people talk you out of what God put in your heart? "You can't get well; you saw the report. You'll never get out of debt. You've reached your limits." Do like him: let that go in one ear and out the other. Ignore what they're saying. They don't determine your destiny; God does.
But if Bartimaeus had been passive and indifferent and thought, "Hey, I'm blind. It's just a bad break," he wouldn't have received his sight. He had this passion, this fire on the inside that said, "This is your day. This is your time." He rose up and took that step of faith. And if you're going to see what you're believing for, you have to be willing to do what other people won't do.
Standing Out Like Daniel
Other people may not believe when it looks impossible; other people may settle where they are. You have to do like Bartimaeus and say, "God, this looks impossible, but I know You can do the impossible. The odds are against me, but God, I know You are for me."
When the odds are against you, you have to want it on a new level. How bad do you want to get out of debt? Bad enough to not buy things you can't afford? Bad enough to honor God by tithing your income? How bad do you want that promotion? Bad enough to get to work early? Bad enough to do more than what's required? Bad enough to take that online course to sharpen your skills?
The Scripture says Daniel distinguished himself. He was so excellent in his work, so sharp, had such a great attitude that he stood out among all the other young men. The king put him in a position of great leadership. But it doesn't say God distinguished him; it says he distinguished himself. He was willing to do what the other young men wouldn't do.
How bad do you want your children to stay on the right course? Bad enough to bring them to church each week? Bad enough to get them up and dressed on your day off? We don't think twice about getting our children up for school, but their spiritual life is even more important. Every time you bring them, you are showing them by example to put God first.
How bad do you want your marriage, your relationships to work out? Bad enough to bite your tongue when you feel like telling them off? There are new levels in front of us, but much of it depends on how bad we want it. God is not going to do everything for us; we have to do our part.
Rolling Away the Stone
When Lazarus died, Jesus told his family, "Roll away the stone, and I'll raise Lazarus." Jesus could have moved the stone—He's God. He wanted to see how bad they wanted it. You can pray, "God, help me to feel better," but are you eating right? Are you exercising? Are you getting enough sleep?
If you'll roll away the stone, then God will do what you're asking. Do you want to break that addiction bad enough to not hang around those people that are pulling you down? God is not going to free you until you roll away the stone. When He sees you doing all you can, then He'll make things happen that you can't.
Your destiny is too important to spend it with people that are not making you better. Who are you allowing to influence you? Are they challenging you, inspiring you, pushing you forward? Life is flying by; we don't get a do-over.
"What if I hurt their feelings?" What if you miss your destiny? They may be okay with mediocrity and compromise, but that's not who you are. You have seeds of greatness; you're destined to leave your mark. Now, do your part and distinguish yourself. Be willing to do what others won't do. Yes, it takes discipline, but the pain of discipline is less than the pain of regret.
A Young Man's Persistence
There was a young man raised in a small town in Pennsylvania. Nobody in his family had ever left that area, but this young man had a dream to go to college. He didn't have the funds or connections, but he got the phone directory for New York City and wrote 393 letters to one company asking for a job.
A month went by—no response. Three months, six months—still nothing. When he turned 18, he took the train to New York to follow up. He went to the headquarters, and the executive said, "Yes, we received your letter—all 393 of them. You can start tomorrow." This young man not only worked his way through college but became a manager for a whole region.
The difference between a dream and a wish is action. The Scripture says faith without works is dead. The people that succeed don't always have the most talent; many times they simply want it more than others. Being passive and indifferent will keep you from your destiny.
Hungering After Righteousness
Jesus said, "Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled." If you're not hungering after anything, you're not going to be filled. Are you hungry to get well? Hungry to accomplish the dream? You have to know you are a person of destiny.
You may have had setbacks, but you have to be relentless. Sometimes we talk ourselves out of it: "It's too hard." It's amazing what we'll do when we want something bad enough. When you want something bad enough, you'll do things you normally wouldn't do.
My grandmother was hooked on dipping snuff. My grandfather offered her $1,000 to quit—huge money back then—but she couldn't. Later, when she met a man she wanted to marry, she quit instantly because her "want to" got big enough.
Like my grandmother, you can do whatever you want to do. The question is: how big is your "want to"? Your will is powerful, and when you make up your mind, God will give you strength beyond your ability.
Your Destiny Is Calling
Don't convince yourself you can't do something you really can. God is saying, "You can do it, but you're going to have to dig down deep." It may not be easy, but your destiny is calling. You have greatness in you.
I believe I'm looking at hungry people today—people with a made-up mind, people that are relentless. Because your want-to is big enough, like Bartimaeus, you're going to see God suddenly turn things around. Like David, you're going to outlast the opposition and take your throne. And like my grandmother, you're going to break barriers and step into a new level of your destiny in Jesus' name.