Over And Above Blessings | Joel Osteen

Well, God bless you, it's great to be with you today and I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can come visit us in person. We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services, but I'd like to start with something funny and I heard about this pastor. He was asked to inform one of his members that he had just inherited $10 million. They were concerned because of the shock of it, he might have a heart attack. The pastor went to him and said, sir, what would you do if you inherited $10 million? The man said, pastor, the first thing I'd do is give half of it to the church. At that point, the pastor fell over dead. 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 over and above blessings. When you have a generous spirit, you're always doing more than what's required, you stay late to help that co-worker that's struggling, you take that elderly neighbor dinner at night, support that single parent mom, or you give to expand the ministry. You don't have to, nobody would look down on you if you didn't, but you have this over and above mentality. You're always looking for ways you can do good. You're not just being a blessing to others, but you are positioning yourself for God to do over and above in your life. The scripture says, if you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly. But if you sow generously, you will reap generously. Some people do as little as they can to get by. They have a little kindness, so they won't be seen as unfriendly. They'll give a little time to help others, a little encouragement, a little friendship. They wonder why they don't get good breaks, why they don't see favor.

They're reaping what they're sowing. If you sow average, you're going to see average. If you sow ordinary, do only what's required, then you'll see ordinary. But when you have this over and above mentality, looking for ways to be a blessing and doing more than what's expected, you are setting yourself up for God to show out in your life, to open doors you couldn't open, to bring divine connections, to see favor that you've never seen. Don't live at the level of obligation. Don't have that what can I get by with mentality. That's going to limit your life. Have a generous spirit. If you'll turn loose of what's in your hands, God will turn loose of what's in His hands. God is a rewarder. He sees you being a blessing, singing in the choir on your day off and investing in that young man that doesn't have a father, taking him to ball practice with your son. He sees you giving funds that you could use for your dream, making sacrifices to build His kingdom. That's setting you up for over and above blessings. I've learned you can't outgive God. You can't be a blessing to others without God being a blessing to you. The way He does it is He multiplies it. It's going to come back pressed down, shaken together and running over. There was a man in the scripture named Barnabas. He didn't come from an influential family. He didn't have a big resume or education, just an ordinary man, but he had a generous spirit. He saw the disciples were doing great work and he wanted to support them. Acts 4 says he sold a piece of property he owned, brought the funds and laid them at the disciples' feet. He didn't have to.

Nobody would have faulted him if he didn't, but he had this over and above mentality. He wanted to be a blessing. That one act of generosity opened the door to all this opportunity. He became a mentor to Paul. Paul wasn't accepted by the disciples at first. They still thought that he was against the church. It was Barnabas that convinced them that Paul was a believer. Barnabas went from ordinary, nobody knew him, to this influential position. The scripture says Barnabas was chosen by the Spirit to accompany Paul on his first missionary journey. Barnabas helped start the church in Antioch. When Paul and Mark had a big disagreement, Barnabas was the one that helped restore the relationship on and on. God used Barnabas in great ways, but it can all be traced back to that over and above gift. Open doors brought favor Relationships that he never dreamed when you live with this over-and-above mentality You're generous with your time your talent your resources not living at the level of obligation But going above and beyond that gets God's attention He'll release over and above in your life. He'll put you in front of audiences that you've never dreamed people Opportunities resources you didn't see coming. That's the running over blessings things. You can't explain positions where you didn't have the qualifications Connections with people that should be over your head out of your league, but now they're looking up to you now You're the leader you're giving vision. You're making the impact Don't miss opportunities to live over and above These are things that are not required Nobody's going to pressure you to do it your mind your reasoning will tell you no. Thanks Joel. I'm busy I don't have time to serve I don't have time to mentor that young person or I need these funds. I got my own dreams trying to build my own career

Here's the whole key when you give over and above you're not going to end up at a deficit You're not losing anything You are positioning yourself for increase for abundance for doors to open for divine Connections if Barnabas were here today He would tell you it all started when I gave that gift when I went over and above He didn't give it to get something. He simply gave it to be a blessing But look how God works He can entrust you to be a great blessing Then he will bless you with more he will open the windows of heaven pour out blessings that you cannot contain That's what it says in the book of Malachi that when you tied your income you give offerings And God will increase you and pour out his blessings in that same passage It asked the question will a man rob God by not giving? What's interesting is God owns it all he makes streets out of gold when Peter needed money for taxes There was a coin in the fish's mouth It's not like God needs our funds to keep everything going God's gonna go broke if we don't give know what that means Will a person rob God is if you don't live generously you are robbing God of the opportunity to bless you You're robbing him of the doors. He wants to open the resources He wants to give you the people he wants to bring you're taking away that opportunity for him to show out in your life Don't rob him. He's longing to be good to you Jesus said it's the father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom But God works by principles When you live over and above that's a seed you're sowing then you will reap over and above When you do more than what's required like Barnabas, nobody forced you to bless that neighbor that's struggling Nobody made you come early today and serve as a prayer partner and usher Nobody required you to give that co-worker a ride. You weren't obligated to support the ministry Nobody would know if you didn't you could live at the level of obligation, but I know a secret I'm looking at Barnabas is I'm looking at over and above people people with a generous spirit You need to get ready. God's about to release over and above in your life He's about to put you in front of audiences. You didn't see coming

With people of influence where you shine brightly where they admire you and open doors that thrust you to a new level Because you're so generously You're going to reap generously. I know many of you have been doing this, but you haven't seen those windows open yet Let me encourage you God has seen all the sacrifices The times you gave when you needed the funds you stayed late to help when you were tired You went the extra mile, but nobody said thanks God is about to thank you He's about to show out in your life. You're going to see increase abundance resources contracts that you cannot contain That means so many good opportunities that you have to choose what's best That means lending and not borrowing being able to be a bigger blessing That means the right people showing up not having to track them down Hope they give you a break, but divine connections searching you out This all goes back number one to honoring God Keeping in first place and number two having an over and above mentality a generous spirit Not ingrown Focused only on me get outside of yourself Don't rob God of the opportunity to bless you look for ways. You can be an over-and-above blessing. I Was at the furniture store a while back and I ran into this couple and they told how they had just bought their first home and they were so proud just beaming with joy and I Congratulated them gave them a hug and they were looking for furniture for their living room On the way out. I told my salesman whatever they find to buy put it on this credit card Don't say anything about who it was I'm not doing it to get credit. I'm doing it under God. He's the one that matters. He's keeping all the records But y'all I don't have those kinds of funds to buy a stranger furniture Maybe not but can you buy your co-worker a cup of coffee? Bring it to them in the morning. You didn't have to that's an over-and-above blessing Can you mow the lawn of that elderly neighbor? Can you pick up the friend that doesn't have a ride bring them to church? Can you mentor that young man that's struggling? Look for something you can do that's over and above

That's not required. That's sowing a seed for God to do over and above in your life The scripture says in Galatians don't miss an opportunity to do good Don't be too busy Too self-centered too stingy when you miss that opportunity You are robbing God of the opportunity to bless you when you make someone else's day God will always make your own day When we acquired the compact center this place we learned that it was going to cost a hundred million dollars to renovate We borrowed 75 In a year before we could move in we had a 25 million dollar payment due. I was 38 years old I'd only been pastoring for two years. I'd never had to raise those kinds of funds come up with such a large amount I felt this pressure This uncertainty thought saying joy, you're never gonna make that payment. You're way over your head Now I had to agree it was over my head, but I knew it wasn't over God's head That year we did everything we could We presented the vision and we had meetings inviting people to support So many got on board and were very generous many of you But despite all of our efforts we were three months from moving in and still only a third of the way there I received a phone call from a pastor friend of mine in another state He was trying to purchase a building for his church He'd been working on it a couple years raising the funds doing everything he could this was his dream But he didn't have enough he was scheduled to close in three days, but he was a million dollar short He said Joel. I'm just calling to see if you'll pray with me about these funds coming in He had a much smaller church and I could tell he was devastated He would not only lose the property, but he would lose the down payment if he didn't close I could hear the still small voice saying Joel give him the million that he needs. I thought get behind me Satan We don't have enough for our own building God, we're three months out. We're 20 million short. That doesn't make sense. I told him we'll be praying for you That's the easy way out, right? Well that night I couldn't sleep All I could think about was him and I finally fell asleep and I dreamed about him Sometimes to go over and above it doesn't make sense

All the facts the figures the logic says hold on to what you have man You need that for your dream your house your retirement, but God is not always logical This is what faith is all about. I called him the next morning They said Lakewood was going to give him the funds. It was our gift that made his dream come true When you help others accomplish their dream God will help you accomplish your dream You're never losing what you give. It's a seed you're sowing It's gonna come back to you press down shaking together running over Well Lakewood owned a television station at that time channel 55 here in Houston Victoria and I put that on the air in the late 90s when my father passed we decided to sell it We believed it was worth 30 million dollars We had a man come in to represent us. He sold more stations than anyone in the US the leading expert He said you won't get half of what you're asking. There's no way the markets down. No one wants an independent station There's no future in it on and on he could not have been more negative discouraging He had all the facts the figures the cells to back up what he was saying in the natural. He was Right, but God knows how to breathe on your property and breathe on your career breathe on your children Where what looks impossible? Becomes possible my brother-in-law Don ran the station. He said Joel don't listen to him We're gonna get the full amount. I thought man Don you got more faith than I do, but I'm gonna agree with you I'm gonna be a believer and not a doubter One month before the big payment was due a buyer showed up for the station. We didn't go after him He came to us. He had never owned any television properties. We told him the price. He said you got a deal I'll take it We sold the station a few days before the deadline Got twice the amount the expert said we'd get we had the funds to move in to the compact center but I believe I Believe it all goes back to that act of generosity a year earlier Where we went over and above to help someone else We sowed a generous seed and God did over and above in our life You cannot give God something without him giving you more back in return. It's not just what he does It's who he is

For God so loved the world that he gave it's his nature to give You have to stir your faith up when it comes to over and above because our flesh our human nature Doesn't like to stretch. We don't want to be uncomfortable and inconvenienced It doesn't have to be money. But how about giving your time? Giving encouragement giving friendships. Are there any areas you're living over and above? Being a blessing to someone else going the extra mile to help that friend's dream come true Joel if I do that man, I've fallen behind I'm not gonna have enough for my own dreams for my future It's just the opposite You are positioning yourself for God to do over and above in your life To open the windows of heaven to pour out blessings that you cannot contain There was a young woman in the scripture named Rebecca. She lived in the city of Nahor, which is modern-day Syria I'm sure like any girl. She wondered what she's gonna do with her life when she get married Where would she live when she had children? She had all these hopes and dreams But in those days the marriages were pre-arranged You didn't have a choice the parents of the husband would choose who the wife would be Well Abraham lived in Canaan. He was an old man and about to pass He said to his assistant go back to my hometown of Nahor and find a good wife for my son Isaac You can imagine the pressure on this assistant. It was up to him to choose He traveled back to Nahor and he was camped on the outskirts there with his camels There was a well down the hill all these young girls were coming from the city to draw water He thought how am I gonna know? Which one is the right one? He said God, here's what I'm gonna do I'm gonna ask these girls for a drink the way I know it's the one you've chosen If she will say yes, I will not only give you a drink, but I will get water for your camels as well First one that came up this beautiful girl. She said do you mind getting me a drink of water? She said certainly I will she lowered her jug and he drank the water when he finished he handed it back She said let me get water for your camels as well Verse 20 says she ran quickly down to the well again She kept carrying the water until all the camels had finished drinking

Well, this man had ten camels a Camel after a long day's walk can drink 30 gallons of water if she had a one gallon container That means she had to go back to the well 300 times Look at her generosity. It's one thing to say. I'll get you some water. That's the minimal commitment. That's what's required I'm not gonna leave you here thirsty. I'd be looked down on but all these camels forget it I'm gonna go hang out with friends. We're going to Lulu lemons. I don't want to be inconvenienced. No Rebecca had this over-and-above mentality The assistant didn't ask to water the camels. She suggested it. It was her idea She wasn't doing this to get anything. She didn't have an ulterior motive. Maybe he'll give me a gift She was simply doing it to be a blessing He knew she was the right one he went and spoke to her father and told him how Abraham had sent him This patriarch of the faith a man everyone knew and respected Abraham one of the wealthiest men of that day Now she was marrying his son Isaac you talk about over-and-above blessing She thought she You live in that town, obscurity, have an ordinary life, but now she's in the most influential family of that day. She gave birth to Jacob. Out of Jacob came the 12 tribes of Israel. Rebecca is in the family line of Jesus. This can all be traced back to the over and above giving, to doing more than what's required. Had she been too busy, too selfish, she would have missed the awesome future that God had for her. Man, let's be Rebecca's. Let's be over and above people. Let's look for opportunities to be a blessing. Had a friend that's struggling, just a phone call. Hey, I'm praying for you.

Let me bring you dinner this week. That coworker that's fighting cancer, let me babysit your children one night. Let me pick you up and bring you to church. That relative that's trying to get the down payment for their house, let me give you a gift, something to push you ahead. What you give may leave your hand, but it doesn't leave your life. It's a seed you're sowing. It's coming back. God sees the sacrifices. He sees you going over and above, not doing it to get credit. Rebecca wasn't making a big announcement, doing it in front of friends. It was this stranger that she had never met. And look what happened thousands of years later. We're talking about her. She opened her heart and God opened the heavens. When you give what's in your hand, God will give what's in his hands. And I don't believe in pressuring people to give and making you feel manipulated, guilty, but I am passionate about challenging you to live generously. I've seen it in my own life. God opens the windows of heaven. When you have this over and above mentality, not I have to, this is what's required.

This is the minimum I can get away with. That's robbing God of the opportunity to bless you. That will keep the windows of heaven closed. But you come to Lakewood, I know who you are. I am looking at over and above people. I've seen you show up and volunteer week after week. I've seen you give to building projects and unselfishly rebuild houses and visit people in the hospital. All those good deeds, sacrifices you've made, funds you've given, they are coming back to you, pressed down, shaken together, running over. Now you may not have seen it yet, but your time is coming. God is faithful. When you sow generously, you're gonna reap generously. Like Rebecca, he's gonna show out in your life, take you where you've never dreamed. When Victoria was in her early 20s and still single, she met an elderly lady at the church she attended across town and they became friends. This woman got to where she couldn't drive anymore. So Victoria would go pick her up every Sunday and take her to church and take her to lunch afterwards. Victoria had other friends. She was busy, plenty of things to do. Nobody would have faulted her for not doing this, but she had this over and above mentality, thinking, how can I be a blessing today? Who can I be good to? Where is there a need that I can meet?

That's the best way to live. Get up in the morning, not thinking about how you can be blessed, but God, how can I be a blessing today? Show me ways to be good to people. Bring those across my path that need encouragement, that need a friend, that need to know that you care. Well, Victoria always prayed that God would bring the right man into her life. She said, God, what's more important to me than how he looks or what he has or how talented he is, is God, I want someone that loves you with their whole heart. I want a man that puts you first place. Well, all this time she's praying that God didn't send her a young man. He sent this older woman. Year after year, Victoria was faithful, taking her to church, making sure she felt loved. She went over and above to be a blessing. And what did God do? He went over and above and sent her this tall, good looking hunk of humanity. She didn't come looking for me, I found her. I walked into her mother's jewelry store and there she was to wait on me. I thought about how if Victoria had not taken care of that lady, had not gone over and above, my brother Paul could have walked into the store. I like that one.

Here we go, y'all. This is like Rebecca. She didn't have to get water for the camels. Victoria didn't have to be good. Good to the older lady Barnabas didn't have to give the property We didn't have to help that other pastor with his building But every time you go over and above God is going to go over and above He's going to do things in your life that surprise you Now my challenge Don't rob him of this opportunity Look for ways you can be good to people. You may not get any credit. Nobody knows but God knows He's keeping the records Let's stretch our faith. Let's get out of our comfort zones If you keep doing the same thing, you're gonna get the same results What God has planned for you is bigger than you can imagine How about getting some bigger seed in the ground? Take some steps of faith do something over and above what you're used to if you'll do this I believe and declare you're about to see the heavens open God is going to bring people. You've never imagined open doors. You couldn't open give you resources influence creativity Blessings that you cannot contain. I believe it and declare it 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 information on your new walk with the Lord You can text the number on the screen or go to the website But I hope you'll get into a good Bible based church and keep God first place