It’s a joy to come into your homes. And if you’re ever in our area, please stop by and be a part of one of our services. I promise you will make you feel right at home. I like to start with something funny and I heard about this elderly couple. They were having a terrible time with their memory. They went to the doctor. He instructed them to start writing down everything. They had been forgetting the next night. They were watching television. The wife said I sure would like a bowl of ice cream husband said, I’ll go get it for you. She said honey, you know what the doctor said you better write it down. He said I’m just going into the kitchen not gonna forget came back a few minutes later handed her a plate of bacon and eggs. She shook her head and said I should have known it you forgot my toast.
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’ve only confess my mind is 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 fever connections when I was a teenager. I was pulled over by a police officer for driving too fast. When he saw the name on my license. He asked if I was related to the pastor that he watched on television each week. I told him that was my father he gave me my license back told me to slow down and said I could go.
I received fever because of who I was connected to wasn’t anything. I did I just happen to be the son of a man that was favored because I was in relationship with him. His favor spilled over onto me the scripture says Noah found favor with the Lord. When a great flood covered the Earth Noah’s family were the only ones saved that never says his sons had favored or his daughters had favored but because they were connected to Noah their lives were spared. The principle is when you’re connected to people that are favored people that are further along people that are more successful that favor is going to flow down to you you’ll see increased promotion because of that Association, there should be people you’re in relationship with that inspire you that challenge you that make you strive to do better.
When you’re connected to someone this blessed, you honor them you learn from them you so into them the more blessed. They are the more blessed you’re going to be eventually you’re going to look like who you’re connected to the question is are you connected to anyone that has what you want or you connected to people that are negative critical can’t get ahead cause you to compromise drain your energy. It’s fine to be a good influence fine to encourage them. But if you’re spending all your time with them the problem is you’re going to become just like them. They’re rubbing off on you you need to disconnect from people that are hindering your growth limiting your potential causing you to compromise and find some fever connections people that are going places people that are at another level people that have what
You’re dreaming about you need some Eagles in your life. You cannot hang around with chickens and reach your destiny. You can’t spend all your free time with crows people that complain or turkeys people that have accepted mediocrity. You need people who are soaring people that are taking new ground people that are out of debt that think bigger than you people that are exposing you to levels that you’ve never seen a few years ago. I went to this meeting with the man that runs television networks a friend of mine. They were negotiating a contract for programming. He said I want to offer 80 million dollars almost fell out of my chair. I thought it was a big deal that we had spent $80,000 to buy ice cream for the church. They talked about these huge numbers. Like I talked about buying a pair of tennis shoes. I didn’t realize it but God
Was expanding my vision he was using that man to enlarge my thinking after the meeting. I was about to tell him what how those were some incredibly big numbers. I felt something right down in here. Say Joel zip it up when God puts you with a bunch of eagles don’t have a chicken mentality.
Don’t start talking about how you’ve never seen anything like that how that could never happen for you. Let it take root on the inside breathe it in get used to it. That’s where God is taken you that’s why he’s exposing you to new levels not to just impress you not to just show you how the other half live but to get you prepared in your thinking you have to make room for the new things God has in store. If you live with a limited Vision thinking it could never happen. It’s too far out then you’re right. It’s not going to happen. You’ll never go where you can’t accept God gave you that favor connection to give you a glimpse into the next level to show you where he’s about to take you now do your part and get an agreement with God about five years after that meeting. We acquired this place the former compact Center.
When I found out it was going to cost about 120 million dollars to purchase and renovate. I didn’t fall apart. I wasn’t intimidated. I thought God you did it for my friend. You can do it for me, but had I not connected with that man had only spent time with people at my same level. I wouldn’t be here. My mind wouldn’t have been prepared. You need people that think bigger than you that dream bigger that believe bigger. If you’re the smartest one in your group your group is too small. God has already lined up these favor connections for you people that are ordained to help you go further in the scripture Naomi and Ruth were both widows. They were living in Bethlehem. Very poor Ruth would go out into the fields each morning and pick up leftover wheat it looked like this was their Destiny to just barely
But Naomi saw a man named Boaz. He was the owner of all the fields one of the wealthiest men in that area. She not only recognized the favor on his life, but she respected it. She told Ruth. I want you to dress up put on perfume and go meet this man. She was saying in effect Boaz has fever we need to connect with him Ruth. Not only met Boaz, but they fell in love and eventually were married because she connected with someone with favor. She had more favored than she ever imagined when you recognize the favor on a person’s life and you respect that favored by connecting with it by honoring them learning from them that favor. We’ll come back to you. Naomi could have thought oboe as he’s wealthy. He’s busy like will have anything to do with us. She could have
Dismissed it and just stayed with the friends where she was comfortable we wouldn’t be talking about her. She recognized Boaz was an eagle and she was willing to get out of her comfort zone. No doubt. She had to break away from a few chickens spend less time with a couple turkeys. She took these steps of faith and connected with an eagle. That’s what open new doors and took her and route to a new level are their favor connections. God has put in your life that you’re overlooking people that have what you want that are further along don’t be intimidated by their success Be Inspired God put them there. So you could connect if you are honor them learn from them then because you’re connected to someone with more favored more influence more Vision like Ruth and Naomi that favor will flow down to you you will see
New doors open influence in Greater ways promotion that you couldn’t have reached on your own. It came because of a favor connection see what you sow into you’re going to reap if you sow into worry connections people that are always upset and anxious worried you’re going to reap worry. If you sow into compromise connections people that are pulling you down causing the to give in to Temptation. You’re going to reap compromise. If you sow into gossip connections critical connections people that talk bad about the boss complain about life. You’re going to reap a negative limited discouraging lie, but if you sow into these fever connections into Eagles into people that are blessed successful happy people that have been where you want to go that are out of debt building orphanages paying off people’s house.
Expanding their businesses you’re going to reap favor increase new levels. We all have our friends we have peers. Hopefully we have people were helping people were mentoring that’s important, but we should have a few of these fever connections people that are far ahead of us in the natural. It looks like we could never get there that connection is the seed God is going to use to take you where you’ve never dreamed a pastor friend of mine here in Houston had a church of several hundred people. He started it 15 years ago and they had been at that same number four years. It looked like they had reached their limits. That’s all they’d ever had. He saw this pastor in California that had a large church. He was so impressed by it. He flew out there just to attend a service. He sat in the auditorium looked around Breathe It All
In was very inspiring never seen anything that large after the service he was able to meet the pastor. He gave him a small donation that his church had taken up for their Ministry every month. He started flying out to California just to attend a service and give a donation. He had plenty of Pastor friends here in Houston had good members in his church had a great family, but he understood to reach a new level. You have to have some fever connections you need to be so in time energy resources honor into people that have what you want the anointing you respect is the anointing you will attract this man sewed into a vision much larger than his he could have been jealous of the man intimidated competitive instead. He celebrated.
He was doing he cheered him on it wasn’t long before his church started to grow he went from 300 to 500 from five hundred to a thousand from a thousand to several thousand. Now, his church is larger than the church in California. He outgrew that man. I don’t believe it would have happened if he had not sewn into his ministry and I don’t mean just finances. He sowed honor respect encouragement. He valued and esteemed what that man had bill, but when we see people that are more successful more talented more blessed easy to get jealous try to compete discredit them talk about what they’re doing wrong how they’re not talented. They’re just lucky. Here’s the key. If you can’t celebrate other people’s success you will never get to where they are.
If you get jealous kind of outperform them intimidated, you’ll get stuck. It’s a test. God brings these fever connections across our path. Are you secure enough in who you are to honor them to respect them to cheer them on or will your pride keep you from connecting with their favor? The problem is your destiny is tied to certain people when you connect with the favor on their life that’s going to cause you to rise higher but if we want humble ourselves, if we think I’m as smart as them not going to celebrate them Joel. They should be celebrating me that’s going to limit our growth.
What you’re connected to eventually is going to come back to you. Don’t be small-minded where you have to be the smartest one in your circle. If you’re only sowing into your level, then your level is all this going to come back you need to sow into where you want to go swallow your pride and so honor into that supervisor. It worked. So respect into that colleague that’s really talented. They’re not in your life by accident God put them there as a favor connection as you connect to them new doors will open for you new talents will come out new levels. They are instrumental in you reaching the fullness of your destiny.
But too often when we see someone that’s further along someone this more blessed instead of being inspired. We can get discouraged thinking we could never get there. God wouldn’t have brought them across your path. If he wasn’t about to take you higher the favor on their life is an indication of what God is about to do in yours in the scripture when they poured oil on Aaron the high priest on his head. It flowed down to the rest of his body. This is symbolic oil represents favor when you’re connected with people with favor the more blessed. They are the more bless you’ll be that oil will flow down to you when we understand this. It’s easy to celebrate those that are ahead we know because we’re honoring them so and into them as they rise higher because we’re connected we’re going to rise higher that favor is going to
Down to us like that Pastor there will be times where you surpassed what you’re honoring you overtake what you’re celebrating when I first started ministering. I was very nervous and unsure of myself. I didn’t have the training or the experience but there were several very prominent ministers that I knew from growing up. I listened to their messages over and over I would send them notes telling them how much they had helped me and how much I admired and respected them. This one man, at least to me. He was a legend he was so far ahead of me. I was amazed at what he had accomplished and how respected he was and I say this with humility, but now nearly 20 years later. God has taken me further than him. What am I saying? When you celebrate those that are ahead of you you shall honor respect then.
Of the favor on them. It’s going to come back to you. You’ll look up and think how did I get here? Part of it is the favor of connection you connected with someone that was where you wanted to go. That’s why you don’t have to compete with people. You don’t have to try to outperform them. You’re not in competition with anyone except yourself let where they are inspire you to be the best that you can be like iron sharpens iron. They can sharpen you they can make you better but when we start competing before long, we get jealous find fault try to discredit. Here’s the key pulling somebody else down will never make you rise higher trying to make them look bad spreading rumors magnifying their false me feel good. The problem is it’s going to Boomerang and come right back to us if you so
Respect you’ll reap disrespect if you so spreading rumors stirring up trouble. That’s what you’ll reap a much better approach is to celebrate. Those that are ahead. How do you know they’re not a fever connection somebody God brought into your life so that you could rise higher if you’re jealous competitive. Then you’re letting what God meant for your good to become something that’s holding you back turn it around. Let’s be people that celebrate success that learn from those that are ahead that honor people that are blessed with more influence Elijah in the scripture was a great prophet did amazing Miracles one day. He was walking by a field. He saw a young man named Elijah out plowing. He told him to leave his animals and come with him. Well Elijah came from a well-to-do family. I’m sure he had goals and dreams alive.
I wanted him to become his assistant basically take care of him. Bring him food set up his tent feed his animals. Elijah could have thought no thanks. I’ll stay here at my own place. He could have been too proud, but he recognized the fever on Elijah’s life. He respected his anointing. He wasn’t jealous. He didn’t get bitter because he offered him. What seemed to be a low level position for years. He served Elijah With Honor watch it after him making sure he was comfortable. What you sow into is what you’re going to read when you sew into someone with great favor, you’re going to reap some of that favor when you honor someone that has more influence some of that influence is going to come back to you. I’m sure Elijah’s friends came around saying why sure what are you still doing here serving? This old man. You have your own?
Range, why don’t you start your own Ministry? He’s holding you back. He could have let them talk him out of it thought he is wasting his time, but he just kept on sewing honoring respecting the favor connection. Well, eventually Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind Elijah received a double portion of his anointing. He didn’t just get the favor on Elijah’s life. He got twice the favor and some of these favor connections that you’re sowing into giving serving honoring your time is coming like with Elijah. You’re not just going to go to the level where they are. You’re going to go further double the influence double the favor double the resources. This is why the enemy Works overtime to try to get us jealous of each other competing trying to pull each other down. He wants us to get stuck where we are. It’s very freeing when you can celebrate.
Right, those that are ahead knowing that the seeds you sow into them the honor the respect the resources are going to come back to you. But if you’re only sowing into horizontal relationships people at your same level, then you’re going to see horizontal favor, but when you’re secure enough in who you are to so into vertical relationships people that are ahead of you. You’re going to read some of this vertical favor many pastors. So into our ministry, they Faithfully support and attend our events. They tell me again and again how when they connected with us their Church started growing in new ways one man told me recently since 2012. He is gone from 200 people to over 6,000 people. He said Joel I can pinpoint the exact time it started when we connected with you at your not have hope in our city. I’m not bragging. This is a spiritual principle.
Abel God has people in your life that are favored connections. You could be one relationship away from a new level. Look around find the people that God is blessing don’t be intimidated don’t be jealous connect with them. If you will honor respect so into them that favor will come back to you. I know a man that had a dream of being in the hospitality business. He wanted to own hotels when he was 18. He met an older gentleman that owned one of the largest hotel chains in the world. He convinced him to give him a job working as a Bellman at one of his hotels every time this young man saw the owner. He went overboard to take care of him opening the door carrying his briefcase constantly sewing honoring respecting the owner love this young man kept promoting him in his early.
He left to start his own business. There was a piece of very expensive real estate overlooking the ocean that this owner was planning on building a big hotel. Well this young man asked if he could buy that property from him. This was their prime location that they were planning on this big project. The owner said I never dreamed I would do this, but you have been so good to me. I want you to be successful. I’m going to sell you this property. It had taken them over 10 years to acquire it that young man built a beautiful resort to incredibly successful today. He has hotels all over the world it all started when he recognized a fever connection. There are people God has put in your life not to compete with but to connect with they are instrumental in you Rising higher.
This is not about playing up to people trying to win them over. It’s about recognizing and respecting the fever that God’s placed on people Luke Chapter 5. Jesus had just borrowed Peters boat to teach the people from the shore when he finished he told Peter to launch out into the deep and he would catch a great haul of fish. Well Peter had fished all night, but he went back out to try it again. He caught so many fish that is net begin to break verse 7 says Peter shouted for help and his Partners came soon. Both Boats were so loaded with fish. They were concerned the boats might sink.
Peter was blessed because he obeyed he had favor but notice the favor didn’t stop with him. He caught so many fish that his Partners those that were connected with him. They receive the overflow when you connect with someone that’s blessed. Someone that’s favored as they increase you’ll increase Peters Partners hadn’t done anything to really deserve. The fish. Peter was the one that let Jesus the boat. God could have just sent enough fish to feel Peters boat made. Sure Peter was paid back, but God on purpose blessed Peter in such a way. That would be overflow. So all in Partnership, all those connected would see increase in favor as well.
Who you’re connected to is extremely important. There are blessings that belong to you that are attached to the people God’s placed in your life. If you’re not seeing any fish, you need to evaluate who you’re connected to you may need to disconnect from relationships that aren’t producing any increase and connect with people that are blessed people that are seeing favor. Peters boat was not only full of fish but his Partners boat was full of fish. You’re going to become like who you’re connected to again. Are you connected to anyone that has what you want people that are more blessed people that are more successful look around find the favor Connections in your life don’t be intimidated because they’re further along don’t be jealous because they have more celebrate them honor them so into then if you
Do this I believe and declare because you’re connected to favor like Peters friends. Your boat is going to be full you’re going to see increase promotion new levels the fullness of your destiny in Jesus name if you receive it. Can you say Amen today?
I’d like to give you an 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’ll 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 your partnership makes this ministry possible your faithful and consistent monthly support makes you a champion of Hope. The vision of Joel Osteen Ministries is to use every Avenue available to present the hope of Jesus Christ to people everywhere. We know it is this hope and the transforming power of the Gospel that makes an eternal difference in people’s lives to partner with Joel Osteen Ministries visit Joel Osteen.com partner today.