Don't Get Sidetracked | Joel Osteen

[Audience applauding]

[Joel] God bless you

it's great to be with you today and

I hope you'll stay connected with us

during the week. Our daily podcast,

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and you can come visit us in person.

We'd love to have you be apart

of one of our services.

I like to start with something funny and

I heard about these brothers

ages 4 and 6.

They were spending the night

at their grandmothers house and

she told them before they went to bed

to make sure they said their prayers.

They went to their bedroom and

got down on their knees and

the youngest brother started praying

at the top of his lungs.

God, I pray for a new bicycle, pray for a

PlayStation. I pray for a puppy .

His brother stopped and said

Why are you screaming?

God is not deaf. He said I know that.

But grandmother is.

[Audience laughing]

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 boldly 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

not getting sidetracked. God has a best

track for all of our lives.

A path that leads to our divine purpose.

It's filled with opportunity, favor and

protection.

But along the way their will be forces

trying to get us off course.

That will compromise.

Hanging around the wrong people, living

offended. These are all distractions to

keep us from our destiny.

The enemy cannot stop your purpose

but if he can get you sidetracked,

entangled, fighting battles that

don't matter. Busy doing good things but

not the best. Then he can keep you

from your purpose.

Proverbs 4 says "look straight ahead,

stick to the path and stay safe.

Do not get sidetracked."

God knew there would be all these

opportunities to get off course. If your

going to reach your highest potential

you have to recognize what's a

distraction and what's important.

What you should spend your time on,

what's valuable, what's making you better,

causing you to grow and what's dragging

you down. Causing you to compromise.

Paul said in Ephesians "To make the most

of your time, not living vague, but with

purpose, in every step."

Time is one of the most valuable things

that you have.

Once we live this day, you can never

get it back.

Just like you spend your money, you are

spending your time.

But your time is more valuable than money.

You can make more money but you can't

make more time.

Are you investing your time, living with

purpose, on course, pursing your dreams

or are you wasting your time?

Living vague, distracted playing on

social media, taking the easy way out.

This day is a gift from God,

We have a responsibility to live focused,

wisely, making the most of it.

On a regular basis, you need to evaluate

how you're spending your time.

Are you on that best path?

Honoring God. Doing what he put in your

heart. Or have you gotten sidetracked?

Holding a grudge, mad at that

family member, jealous of that coworker.

Trying to outperform them. Hanging around

friends that bring out the work in you.

The fact is we've all gotten of course

at times. Made mistakes, been distracted.

The good news is that you can get back on

course. It's not too late. You haven't

gotten too far off. You can still become

who you were created to be.

Now you have to do your part and make

a course correction.

Recognize what is a distraction.

An entanglement, what's got you busy

spinning wheels, but not going anywhere.

Make the necessary adjustments.

You have a destiny to fulfill.

There's a calling on your life.

An assignment for you to accomplish.

How you spend your time, will determine

whether you fulfill that best plan, see

God do more than you can imagine or

whether you get stuck and having to settle

for a life mediocrity.

In the scripture, Samson's birth was

predicted by the prophets. His mother was

bearing and an angel appeared.

Said she would bear a son and

He would leave the Israelites.

That his hair was never to be cut.

Long hair was a sign that he was dedicated

to God.

She gave birth to Samson and I can imagine

as a little boy. She told him Samson

there is a calling on your life.

An angel appeared to me, you're going

to do something great.

He'd heard this since he was a child.

One time when he was a young man

he was walking down a road

and this Lion attacked him

The scripture says "The spirit of the Lord

powerfully took control of him."

He ripped the Lion apart with his

bare hands.

That was the first time he recognized

there was something different about him.

He knew he had this incredible calling.

That God had raised him up to save his

people.

Whenever you have a great assignment

the enemy will always come with

distractions, temptations, opportunities

to compromise. He will bring people

to try to bait you into conflict.

That is not a part of your destiny.

His goal is to get you sidetracked,

of course. Where you're not focusing on

what your called to do. You're entangled

in things that don't matter.

You may wonder why people come against you

and you struggle with that same tempation,

you don't feel like being disciplined.

It's because there is a great calling on

your life.

The enemy would leave you alone if he

didn't know you were a threat.

He's not fighting you for where you are,

he is fighting you for where you are going

He knows there is greatness in you.

Sometimes he can see our potential better

than we can.

He knows you're a giant killer,

a history maker, your destined to take

your family to new levels.

So, what's his strategy?

Get you distracted, jealous, compromised,

busy doing things that are not a part

of your destiny.

You would think Samson that since

he had this supernatural strength.

He heard about the angel prophesize his

birth. He would go out of his way to make

good decisions, be responsible with God

had given him.

He let his guard down, started hanging

around the wrong people. He married a

girl from the city of Tenma.

She was a philistine. The philistine's

were the ones oppressing the Israelites.

He was supposed to deliver the from

the philistines instead he's sleeping with

a philistine. He had this incredible gift

all this power. What does he do?

He starts telling riddles to the enemy.

He made a bet, if you can figure out

my riddle. I'll give you 60 white robes

and if not, you give me 60 robes.

Playing games, not focused on the

destiny, he was called to.

This led to all kinds of conflict.

He killed 1,000 philistines.

He tore the gates of the city and carried

them off. They couldn't figure out how

to stop him.

He fell in love with another philistine

women named Delilah.

She kept asking him about where

his power came from. He would make up

things and tease her.

Would never tell her the secret was his

long hair.

she nagged him and nagged him

and nagged him. A man can only take so

much nagging that he finally gave in.

The philistines cut his hair while he was

sleeping.

They came to capture him.

He stood ready to fight but this time

there was no supernatural strength.

No power to overcome.

He had lost what God had given him.

I can imagine many times along the way

he heard a still small voice saying

come on Samson get back on course,

quit playing around with your destiny.

Be responsible for what I entrusted

you with.

God will always give us opportunities

to have a course correction.

He doesn't hold our faults against us

he doesn't say man you're done, you

made too many mistakes. There will come a

time where that window of grace

will close.

Where if you're not going to be

responsible with the gifts, the favor, the

opportunity. God will force things

to change.

Doesn't mean you're not going to have

another chance but he is not going

to let you stay of course

and be comfortable.

Just ask Jonah, sitting in the belly

of a whale.

Samson could always count on this

supernatural strength.

Thinking I can tell riddles, I can

compromise, hangout with the enemy,

no big deal. I've got a secret weapon.

But Paul said I do not frustrate the

grace of God.

God will never run out of grace,

never run out of mercy but if you take it

for granted. It may not be there in the

same way.

Samson's story is not in the scripture to

depress us. It actually has a good ending.

It's there to challenge us, to make

course corrections.

Pay attention to the still small voice.

That thing that is bother your conscience

You know that friend is not good for you

or you need to spend more time with

your children. Less on the computer,

or you need to ignore that coworker that

gets on your nerves.

Not let is upset you everyday.

That's the enemy trying to get you

sidetracked. You don't have time for that.

The angel may have not prophesized your

birth like Samson but before you were

formed in your mother's womb, the most

high God knew you and planned out your day

he has given you gifts, talents,

opportunities. Are you making the most of

each day? Spending your time wisely,

or have you gotten sidetracked?

Like Samson playing with the enemy,

compromising, not serious about your gifts

This is time for course correction.

To get focused, to be on purpose, to make

decisions that honor God.

Life is going by so fast it seems like

just yesterday I graduated from

high school. I look up now I'm 39

years old. [Audience laughing]

We don't have time to be distracted.

We have a purpose to fulfill.

It's interesting what Jesus told about the

talents. One man had 1, another had 2,

and the 3rd had 5.

They all went out and doubled what

they had.

Expect the man with 1. He was afraid

and hid his talent.

The owner said take from him the one

and give to the one who has five.

The scripture says the man who has used

well, what has given him.

The point is if you don't use well

what's been given to you.

Eventually it will be taken away.

That is what happened to Samson.

He didn't fulfill the best plan.

Having his eyes gouged out, the enemy

making fun of him. That was not God's best

I don't want us to come to the end of life

and be like Samson.

Man, I made it but were beat up,

broke, addicted, lonely.

That is not your destiny.

Samson would have had a different story

if he had not gotten sidetracked.

This should stir us up to stay focused.

To stay on course, to deal with things

that we know are not right.

There is no shame in getting of course,

were human, we make mistakes.

There is shame in staying off course.

No matter what you've done, how much

time you wasted.

You can still get back on course.

You are in a window of grace today.

You have not missed your chance, you

would not be hearing this if God wasn't

giving you the mercy, the grace, and the

power to make changes.

Let's not be a Samson, have all this power

favor, anointing, and then get

sidetracked.

Waste our time, rather than invest it.

If you will use well what God has given

you. You know what will happen?

God will give you more.

When he can trust you to be a good

steward of your gifts, time, and

you stay focused. You get rid of

distractions. He will take you further

than you ever dreamed.

But sometimes it's not the major things,

like way we got way off course like Samson

It can be little things like time

and energy.

Jealous of a coworker, competing with them

, trying to prove your worth and prove

your talent.

If you live with that proving mentality,

it's like you're on a treadmill that's

never going to stop.

Because there will always be someone more

talented, more attractive, more successful

That's a distraction. You're not running

their race. The only person you should

compete with is yourself.

Have a goal to be better next year,

than you are right now. Be healthier,

smarter, kinder, more generous, to be

closer to God.

You'll never reach your potential if your

competing with others, basing your

worth and value on how you measure

up to them.

Successful people are so focused on what

their doing, they don't have time to look

around at others.

One translation of Proverbs 4 says

"Don't look to the left or to the right,

stay focused on the goal."

Quit competing, quit comparing, and

run your race."

I talked to a gentleman after service and

he told how a relationship he was in

didn't last. He had given it his best but

the woman had other ideas and walked

away. Broke his heart, so angry and bitter

I realize that's very painful.

Things happen in life that we

don't understand. There is a time where we

have to heal and give ourselves grace to

get strong again.

You can't let a season of mourning

turn into a lifetime of mourning.

If you don't let it go, it will poison

your life.

He was so upset, I thought it happened

a mother ago. I asked him when it happened

He said this happened in 1997.

I didn't say anything but I calculated in

my mind. 2007, 2017, 2020.

That was 27 years ago. Yes, we all have

hurts. Disappointments, bad breaks but at

some point you have to move on with your

life. The enemy would love to use that

hurt to get you sidetracked.

To where you live bitter, bitter, chip

on your shoulder, never expecting

anything good. The problem with not

letting it go is that it's going to poison

the next relationship.

God said he would give you

beauty for those ashes.

I've learned you have to let go of the

ashes before you'll see the beauty.

You're not making the most of each day

if you're holding on to unforgiveness

trying to pay people back. They hurt you

once, don't let them continue to hurt you.

It takes a lot of emotional energy

to think about what they did and how

that wasn't right. You need that energy

to love the people God had given you now.

To play with your children, to purse your

dreams.

Maybe the course correction for you is

to forgive the person who did you wrong.

Forgive your parents for what they

did not give you.

Forgive the business partner that cheated

you.

Life's too short to carry around

the bitterness.

You'll always have these offences, people

saying things that aren't true, somebody

walks away. You can't stop that from com-

ing but you don't have to let it stop you.

You don' have to get sidetracked, you can

stay on the best path and trust God to

make it up to you.

Years ago, I was driving with a friend

to his house after we came from the gym.

He invited some of us over and I jumped in

the car to ride with him. He had a real

nice sports car. Kept it super clean.

On the way to his house, I noticed that

he took the long way. 3 or 4 miles out of

the way. I asked him why?

He said my ex-girlfriend lives on this

street.

I always drive by to make sure she sees

what she missed out on.

They had been broken up for years but

he was still driving by every chance

he got.

Trying to prove he was worthy, successful

and trying to prove he could make it

without her.

He couldn't see it but he was distracted.

spending time and energy on something

that didn't matter. Don't let that be you.

Are you using well what God has given you?

Or have you gotten sidetracked?

Trying to prove to people who you are

jealous of that friend, offended by that

coworker. Your time is too valuable for

that.

The funny thing about my friend is that he

found out later that his ex-girlfriend

had moved to another state.

[Audience laughing]

He had been driving by that house 2 years

and she wasn't even there.

God has a sense of humor.

My prayer is God show us any areas

that we need to have a course correction,

where we don't realize.

Verse Samual 25. David and his 6 men were

living out in the countryside. This is

when Saul was chasing David.

There was a wealthy man named Nabel that

lived right next door. He had thousands

of sheep and cattle. David and his army

had been protecting Nabel by just being

that area. When bandits came and they saw

David's forces, they would naturally back

down. It was time for sheering the sheep,

the harvest season. David sent

messengers to Nabel since they have

watched over his property.

Nabel what very rude and harsh.

His name means fool and he lived up to it.

He said who is this man David?

I don't even know him. You tell him I am

not going to give him a penny.

He insulted David. When the men came back

with report David was furious.

He told his men to pack up their

belongings. They were going to go

take care of Nabel.

Your not supposed to fight every battle.

Many of the things that come against us

are simply distractions. If that battle

is not between you and your destiny

you need to ignore it.

That's the enemy trying to get

you sidetracked.

Involved in conflict that doesn't matter.

You have to ask yourself, are there any

spoils? If you win is it going to move you

towards your purpose?

or is it just going to feed your ego?

Make you feel better.

You don't have time to respond to every

critic. To try to straighten out

every coworker, make that friend stop

saying things that aren't true.

One of the enemy's favorite tools is

to bait you into conflict.

Get you stirred up. Don't fall into

that trap.

You're time in valuable, your energy,

your emotions. You have to be selective

what you give that to.

If you make the mistake of fighting

every battle.

Your not going to have the time or

the emotional energy to reach your purpose

The scripture says God will silence

the lying lips.

If you ignore it, God will take care of

your enemies.

David headed toward Nabel's house

so upset, full speed ahead.

About to make a mistake, that would affect

his destiny. Here's how good God is

Nabel's wife met David on the road with

all kinds of food and provision.

She bowed down before him. In verse 24

she said David, you were called to be the

king of Israel. Why would you even fight

with this fool? Don't let this needless

battle be a blemish on your record.

Notice she called it a needless battle.

He knew it was a distraction. David came

to his senses. He said Abagael the Lord

God Isreal has sent you to me today

for you have not kept me from

carrying out vengeance, not one of your

family members would be alive.

We're all going to encounter Nabel's

in life.

People that are rude, hard to along with,

stir up trouble. I'll ask you what

Abigail asked David.

Why are fighting with a fool?

Why are you in conflict with someone

that is not between you and your destiny?

They are a distraction. Trying to get you

off course. Wasting valuable

time and energy that you need to for

your dreams.

Had Abigail not intervened and kept David

out of that conflict.

We might not be talking about David

God will always send you an Abigail

to warn you when you're about to get

sidetracked.

Maybe today, I'm that Abigail.

God sent me to remind you not to get

baited into conflict.

You could be upset, offended, trying

to pay them back. All that is going

to do is get you off course.

and keep you from the great things God

has in store.

What they say can't stop your purpose.

They may be loud, jealous, noisy. Their

just a Nabel.

You keep running your race, focused on

what God's called you to do.

And got will take care of the Nabel's in

your life.

[Audience applauding ]

Elijah in the scripture had an assistant

named Elijah. He left his family business

as a young man to take care of Elijah.

He served him faithfully through the years

When Elijah was about to pass, he asked

Elijah what he wanted. Elijah said

a double portion of his spirt.

That is what he received.

There are twice as many miracles recorded

for Elijah than Elijah.

Eljah had an assistant name Ghazia.

He served Elijah year after year.

Everything was going great. He was next

in line to do amazing things.

Being mentored by this great prophet.

One day a Capitan of the Syrian Army

came to Elijah. He had leprosy.

Elijah told him to go wash in the

Jordan River seven times and he would

be healed.

When he did, his skin was perfectly normal

He came back to Elijah so grateful,

so happy. He tried to pay him.

Do something to show his gratitude but

Elijah wouldn't take it.

He knew it was God that healed him

and not him.

The Capitan pleaded with him and said

please let me leave you some gold

or silver or something to help you.

Again, Elijah refused. Well, Ghazia

was there overhearing all this.

Captain and his entourage headed back home

Ghazia snuck out of the camp without

Elijah knowing. He caught up with him,

they were so surprised and

said what's wrong?

He said nothing, but we had some

unexpected guests show up. Elijah changed

his mind and would like some of those

gifts that you offered.

He got the money and headed back to the

house.

Thinking nobody knew anything but God sees

everything. He is the one that controls

the universe. Promotion doesn't come

from people, it comes from God.

Elijah called him in and said Ghazia

where have you been?

He said nowhere, I've just been here

hanging out.

The scripture says immediately,

Ghazia's skin was filled with leprosy.

What's interesting is you never read

anything more about Ghazia in

the scripture.

We hear all about Elijah, how great he was

Elijah and all the miracles he performed.

Ghazia was next in line. He should have

had 4 times the anointing of Elijah.

But distractions can keep you from your

purpose.

Being sidetracked can stop your destiny.

Ghazia thought man if I can get a few of

these gifts, without anybody knowing.

That will put me way ahead.

He didn't realize, God would have blessed

him in much greater ways by being a person

of honor.

Staying on that high road.

My father had a message about Ghazia

called the man who could've been.

Don't miss the greatness God put in you

because you got sidetracked.

Listen to the still small voice, pay

attention when your conscience is

bothering you. Learn to deal with

those things God brings to life.

We're not going to be here forever, let's

make the most of each day.

Well Joel, I think it's too late for me.

I'm like Ghazia, I think I missed

my chance. Let me show you

the beauty of our God.

Samson made mistakes year after year,

wasn't a good steward with what God gave

him, ended up lying, in captivity.

The scripture says, the spirt of God

came on Samson one more time.

Samson defeated more Philistines in his

death than he did his whole life.

That's what happens when you get back

on course.

God doesn't hold your mistakes against

you. Is there any area you need to make

a course correction?

Holding on to unforgiveness, trying

to prove your worth. Like Samson

playing around with your gift.

Don't go another week like that, you put

it off a week. It will turn into a year.

A year into twenty years.

You can get back on course today.

God's mercy, his grace is available.

You just have to tap into it.

If you do this, I believe and declare

God's going to help you get back

on the best path for your life.

The favor, the ability, the blessing.

You will fulfill your purpose and

become all you were created to be.

In Jesus name

and if you receive it, can you say amen

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 make you my

Lord and Savior.

If you prayed that simple prayer,

we believe you got born again.

We'd love to send you some free

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Lord. You can text the number on the

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I hope you'll get into a good bible

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and keep God first place.