Something's Cooking | Joel Osteen

God bless you. It's great to be with you today And I hope you stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast or 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 I like to start with something funny and I heard about this five-year-old boy. He wasn't feeling well So he had to stay home from church with the babysitter while his family attended it it was Palm Sunday when his parents returned home his mom told how the church passed out palm branches to the Congregation and people laid them down on the floor and Jesus came walking down the aisle The little boy said wouldn't you know it the one Sunday? I don't go and Jesus shows up 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 something's cooking We all have things that we're waiting on. It's easy to be frustrated Why is this taking so long? And I thought I'd be married by now. I thought I'd be over this illness I thought I'd be further in my career When we don't see anything happening it's tempting to take matters into our own hands and try to force doors to open and manipulate a situation live striving and straining but the scripture says through faith and Patience we inherit the promises and it's good to have faith, but without patience you can miss God's best One of the most important things I've learned is to trust God's timing Sometimes the reason it's taking longer is because what God has in store is much better than what we have in mind We think we're falling behind Everyone's passing us up and I should be further along But God has blessings that will catapult you ahead Jesus told his disciples. I'm going away to prepare a place for you God has some prepared blessings for you things He's already lined up good breaks the right people healing at the appointed time You'll come into blessings favor greater than you've ever imagined

Isaiah said they that wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like Eagles Waiting on the Lord is waiting in faith. I don't see anything happening But God, I believe you're working behind the scenes It's waiting in peace. You could be frustrated over your job worried about your health Your attitude is God. I trust you. I know you're in control. You already have a solution I'm gonna be still and know that you are God It's waiting from a place of rest. You could be trying to force things make that door open Manipulate that co-worker, but you step back and let God fight your battles You trust him to open the doors to bring the right people to vindicate you you do your best and then rest You know, he's already prepared what you need. So you stay in peace knowing that at the right time You'll step in to a prepared blessing John 21 Peter was very discouraged Jesus had been crucified and now he and the other disciples were without their leader. They believed Jesus was the Messiah They gave up their life to follow him. They never dreamed it would turn out this way They were so disappointed Wondering what they were going to do next Well Peter went back to what he had done before he met Jesus to fishing He was at the Sea of Galilee and he and a few disciples got in a boat and fished all night They didn't catch anything. They were already disappointed Now on top of that they were frustrated. They had worked strained put out the net again and again Surely this time we'll catch something. Once again, the net was empty Early the next morning. They were close to the shore and Jesus was standing on the beach. They couldn't tell who he was He asked them if they had caught anything. They told him no He said throw your nets on the other side of the boat and you'll catch plenty of fish When they did they caught so many fish that they couldn't put them all in at that moment John recognized Jesus. He said to Peter. It's the Lord Peter jumped out of the boat and swam to the shore Jesus had a charcoal fire burning and fish grilling on it. He said in verse 12 come and have some breakfast with me There's a principle here. What they couldn't catch, Jesus was already cooking.

What they were so frustrated over, working all night, toiling, straining, no fish, God already had on the grill. This was a prepared blessing, not raw fish, not I'll help you find what you're looking for. No, I'm gonna cook the fish for you. It's gonna be better than you've imagined. Like these disciples, you may have worked hard, done your best, but you hadn't caught anything. You haven't caught your healing, so to speak. Caught the right person, caught the good break in your business. You fished all night, but your nets are empty. Can I encourage you, what you didn't catch, God is already cooking. He not only knows where all the fish are, but He's grilling your fish. While you're stressed, thinking it's never gonna happen, He's seasoning your fish. While the medical report says you're not gonna get well, He's putting more charcoal on the fire. While thoughts are telling you, you'll never get out of debt, never break that addiction, never see your family restored, hang on a minute, I smell something. I smell fire burning. I smell some fish grilling. Something's cooking. You're about to taste and see that the Lord is good. You're gonna come into a prepared blessing. You've been working, straining, striving, but what you're laboring over, God is already grilling.

It may be taking longer than you thought. You don't see anything happening. My encouragement is, let Him cook. God knows what He's doing. When the fish are ready, when it's just right, He'll call you. See, God is a master chef. He doesn't use a microwave. He wasn't on the beach, microwaving some frozen fish. Come on in, disciples. I've cooked you a cheap version of what you're trying to catch. 12 fish fillets for $1.99. They've been frozen 14 years. I'm gonna microwave it right out of them. No, God doesn't cook like Victoria. I mean, He doesn't use a microwave. I couldn't resist, but I'm not gonna look at her. God doesn't use a microwave. God doesn't cut any corners. He's not gonna give you a microwave blessing, a lesser version, an imitation. That's good enough. No, God uses the real thing. The charcoal, the fire, that takes longer than a microwave. It seems like a delay to us, but if you could see behind the scenes, God's seasoning your blessing. He's flavoring your promise. He's making sure it's the exact right temperature.

Don't be in a hurry, let Him cook. He's up to something. You haven't met the right person, let Him cook. Your health hasn't turned around, let Him cook. Your business seems stuck, let Him cook. God has not forgotten about you. He sees you doing the right thing, working hard, praying, believing. You're passing the test. You can't see it yet, but something's cooking. What you're believing for has already been caught, cleaned, seasoned, it's on the grill. When we were trying to buy property to build a new sanctuary, twice that property was sold out from under us. I was fishing, doing my best, taking steps of faith. I thought I caught 100 acres. I had a big fish on the line, but twice that fish got away. Like Peter, I caught nothing. I was disappointed. I didn't see how we could grow. But all that time I was worried the compact center was sitting right here waiting for us. God had already caught the fish. He was in the process of cleaning it, moving out the old tenants, lining up the council members to support us. My nets were empty. What I couldn't see was God was already grilling the fish.

All I had to do was let Him cook, stay in peace, and at the appointed time, He called our name. Joel, come have some breakfast. I've got what you're looking for. It wasn't just a piece of property, but a prepared blessing, a facility already built. You know what this building is? It's a good fish. But there were plenty of times, you know, I couldn't sleep. We're never gonna find a place. I didn't realize God was seasoning the fish. What if it doesn't work out? We're gonna be stuck. God was putting more charcoal on the fire, making sure it was just the right temperature. Now when my nets come up empty and things aren't happening on my timetable, I've learned this principle, let Him cook. God's up to something. You don't have to strain, strive, try to manipulate. All that's gonna do is wear you out. Do your best, take steps of faith, but don't try to force things to work out. If it's not the right time, all your effort can't make it. Make it happen. It's going to frustrate you. You can't open a door that God has closed. In the same way, when it's the right time, all the forces of darkness cannot stop what God has for you.

Peter had fished all night and caught nothing. He was a professional fisherman. They had huge nets they were throwing out. You would have thought they caught something, at least a couple of fish here and there, but God was making a point. All of our own efforts, striving, straining, toiling, that doesn't bring the blessings. And yes, we can reach a certain level by working hard, and that's good, but what God has for you is much greater than you can accomplish on your own. There will be times that your nets are empty. You're doing the right thing, not catching anything. You haven't caught a good break, caught a promotion, caught a divine connection. That's a test. Are you gonna get discouraged, try to make it happen all in your own effort, or are you gonna recognize something's cooking? God is doing something you can't see. He has some fish on the grill. He's already caught what you're believing for. Instead of being thrusted on, why is this taking so long? Let him cook. Our attitude should be, God, I trust you. I trust your timing. I trust your ways. I don't have to understand what you're doing. I'm gonna stay in faith knowing that my fish are on the grill, knowing that you have prepared blessings in store for me. There's a young woman in the scripture named Rachel.

She and her sister Leah were both married to Jacob. When Jacob saw Rachel, it was love at first sight. She was very beautiful, but their father tricked Jacob into marrying Leah first, the oldest daughter. Jacob had to work seven more years to marry Rachel. She had already been through this long delay, disappointments, finally she got married. She always wanted children. That was her dream, but for some reason she couldn't conceive. Year after year went by, she was still barren. Her sister Leah was just the opposite. She had one son after another, four boys, strong, handsome. Rachel was so upset, she became jealous of Leah. She tried to manipulate things and take matters into her own hands. Leah's son had some mandrakes. That was a plant believed to help with fertility. They would make this potion to aid in conception. Rachel asked her sister Leah for her son's mandrakes, but Leah wouldn't have anything to do with it. There was strife and division because Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. She said in verse 15, you've already taken my husband. I'm not gonna give you my son's mandrakes. This was like an episode of Love Island. Rachel said, if you'll give me the mandrakes, I'll let Jacob be with you tonight. Leah wanted the baby so badly, she agreed. That evening when she saw Jacob coming in

from harvesting grain, after a long day of work, she ran out to meet him, said in verse 16, you have to come with me. I've hired you with my son's mandrakes. That night, Leah conceived and gave birth to a fifth son. She went on to have two more children, seven children in seven years. The whole time, Rachel was barren. Her nets were empty. She strived, manipulated, deceived. None of that worked. What she couldn't see was God had the fire on. There were fish on the grill. What she was trying to catch, God was already cooking. He had a son in her future. The reason it was taking so long was it was no ordinary child. The scripture says God remembered Rachel. She conceived and gave birth to a son that she named Joseph. Joseph was the one that would save the Israelites during the famine. He was the one that God raised up to become the prime minister of Egypt, to control all the food supply in the most powerful nation of that day to be good to his family and continue on what God started. The principle is when it's taking longer than it should, it's because God has something bigger, something better. I was trying to catch a hundred acres. God gave me a whole building on the main freeway.

Rachel was just hoping to have a baby, but she gave birth to a deliver, to someone we'd be talking about thousands of years later. One thing we can learn from Rachel is you don't have to connive and manipulate, be jealous of people, try to force things to work out. You don't need their mandrakes. You don't need what someone else has. God has your fish already on the grill. It may be. taking longer than you thought, it's because God's seasoning it. He's flavoring it, marinating it, removing the bones, getting it exactly like He wants. Yes, it's been a long time, but I smell something. I smell fire burning. I smell charcoal in the air. I smell some fish grilling. Do you hear that? I hear God calling your name. He's saying, you're about to come into a prepared blessing. Doors opening you never dreamed would open. The right person showing up, healing, restoration. Don't get discouraged because your net was empty. You didn't catch what you hoped to catch. You didn't get that promotion. The medical report hasn't changed. Like Rachel, you haven't conceived yet. Can I tell you, something's cooking. The scripture says God remembered Rachel. God has not forgotten you.

He has seen every unfair situation, every lonely night, every heartache. That is not how your story ends. There are prepared blessings that you're going to walk into. Now, in the meantime, let Him cook. Psalm 37 says, don't be impatient for the Lord to act. Keep traveling steadily along His path, and in due season, He will honor you with every blessing. If you'll keep traveling steadily, everything that has your name on it is coming in. The spouse, the baby, the healing, the business, the contract, the freedom. When thoughts whisper, you'll never get out of debt. Everyone in your family struggles. No thanks, I can smell the fish. Something's cooking. You'll never meet the right person. Yes, my net was empty, but I know God's already caught him. You've had this sickness a long time. I don't see how you'll ever get well. No, I know a secret. While I'm waiting, God is cooking. The Scripture says, healing is the children's bread. Healing is in the oven. Freedom is in the oven. Promotion is in the oven. Don't fight the wait. Let Him cook. Wait, knowing that God is working on what you're concerned about.

He's already caught what you thought you missed. Trust His timing. If it hasn't happened yet, it wasn't supposed to happen. God has an appointed time to bring the promise to pass. Rachel was barren all those years. If Joseph would have been born earlier, he wouldn't have fulfilled his divine purpose. God is strategic. He does everything for a reason. There's nothing random, haphazard. He knows what you need and when you're going to need it. It's interesting, two years before we needed a larger auditorium, the Rockets basketball team tried to move out of this facility, but the city voted no. They didn't approve the construction of a new facility and wouldn't let them out of their lease. If that vote would have passed at that time, we wouldn't have been in position to try to acquire the building. We didn't need it then. But God controls everything. Sometimes He'll delay things, close a door, cause someone to walk away. We may not recognize it then, but it's all serving His plan. You can stay in peace knowing that He's ordering your steps. David said it this way, God, my times are in your hands. He was saying, I'm not gonna be frustrated by the delays.

I'm not gonna be sour when my nets are empty. Not gonna live discouraged because I'm not further along. I know something's cooking. I know fish are already on the grill, that there are prepared blessings. And when you know that God's in control, that your times are in His hands, when your nets come up empty, He's already caught what you need. This takes all the pressure off. You don't have to strive and strain. Gotta make this door open, convince these people to like me and work hard to earn their approval. I gotta manipulate this situation at work to get the upper hand. That's gonna wear you out. That's being a Rachel, conniving, deceiving, jealous. Life's too short to live that way. Come back to a place of peace. You don't have to catch everything. You don't have to make it happen all in your own strength. God has exactly what you need for each season that you're in. Jesus said, seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. You keep God first place and He'll add everything you need. You honor Him and He'll grill your fish. He'll catch what you can't catch.

The psalmist said, no good thing will He withhold when you walk uprightly. The key is don't seek the blessing, seek the blessor. Him first place and the blessings will seek you When Peter recognized it was Jesus on the shore. He immediately jumped into the water and swam to the beach They were in the middle of gathering a net breaking load of fish so many fish. They couldn't pull it all in But Peter showed by his actions. He was more interested in the Savior than success He wasn't focused on the blessing. He was focused on the bless or He knew where the source of all good things come from our Father in heaven He left the boat and went to Jesus. I've seen from that time I was a little boy when you honor God, he will always honor you The grilled fish is not the goal The goal is to fulfill your purpose to end your life hearing well done good and faithful servant But Rachel was barren for all those years Plus she had to wait another seven years to get married because her father was dishonest. She had all these delays detours Disappointments they come to us all we worked hard, but our nets were empty did the right thing But other people were unfair now, we've caught nothing. That's not the end of your story. Those are tests through faith and Patience you inherit the promises you have the faith. My question is do you have the patience? Psalm 106 says the Israelites did not wait for God's plan to unfold It's taken longer than they thought they got discouraged gave up on their dreams Don't let that be you keep traveling steadily Believing trusting knowing that something's cooking. It's taking longer because it's going to be better than you imagine Ruth chapter 4 says that Rachel is the one from whom the whole nation of Israel descended Think about it this barren woman Jealous of her sister thinking she was at a disadvantage that God had forgotten about her when in fact She would be the one that would birth the nation Her son would be the one who would save the nation Who knows what God is cooking for you?

Who knows what's on that grill right now things you couldn't catch you never thought it would happen It's been too long Like Rachel you're barren in your business barren in relationships barren in your health That barrenness is not the end Your baby is coming your healing is coming your breakthrough is coming not something ordinary Not something average but a Joseph uncommon Unusual grilled fish a prepared blessing that catapults you into your destiny Back in the 1980s. My father wanted to build a new sanctuary We needed a larger building, but every time he tried to proceed he didn't feel good about it Something would come up and delay it. He'd get his faith back up and announced to the congregation Then he'd change his mind this happened again and again He saw these other pastors that were much younger than him building these beautiful sanctuaries Thoughts told him you're getting too old You'll never build again just not meant to be it seemed like it was the truth years went by no building No plans, nothing had changed But when it's not the right time, you're not going to feel a piece There will be an unrest no matter how hard you try the doors not going to open Timing is critical. You can do the right thing at the wrong time and it not work out The reason your nets may be empty is not because there aren't any fish, but it's not the right time the fish are there Jesus told Peter to throw his nets on the other side of the boat They caught so many fish that the nets begin to break. They couldn't handle it God not only knows where all the fish are, but he controls the fish You may have fished all night and caught nothing but at the right time the fish will find you You won't have to go after them. They'll come to you 1986 Houston was in the worst recession our city had ever seen There was that big oil bust and the price of oil dropped so low There were more bankruptcies and foreclosures than ever people going out of business left and right That's when my father felt peace to build he knew it was the right time Logically speaking. It was the worst time but God's ways are not our ways

Sometimes God will let the odds be against you in a greater way on purpose So when he does it it will be a bigger miracle My father announced to the congregation that we were going to build this new 8,000 seat sanctuary should have cost 30 million dollars back then But things were so depressed the price of steel concrete electrical We built the sanctuary debt-free for six million dollars The reason God had that delay was because he had something better in store What am I saying? God can see things that we can't see he knows what's coming What you're going to need where you need to be and when you need to be there trust his timing Don't fight the delays let him cook He knows what's best for you. He has some of these prepared blessings in store You may have been waiting for a long time. You haven't caught anything Your nets came up empty. Can I encourage you again? Something's cooking God's already grilling what you couldn't catch. He already has what you need It's just a matter of time before you hear him calling your name Opening the door bringing the healing the right person the breakthrough Now do your part and wait for his plan to unfold the reason it's taking longer is it's grilled fish It's better than you've imagined if you'll do this I believe and declare you're about to come in to a prepared blessing favor Healing promotion that catapults you ahead like Rachel Your baby is coming like Peter Abundance is coming like my father. Your dream is coming 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