Thank God in Advance

Thank God in Advance

Joel Osteen

I. Opening

A. Joke

B. Confessional

II. Theme: Thanking God in Advance

A. From the time we pray to the time we receive is the trial, it is the time of seed growth. You water the seed by thanking God in advance.

i. Medical report – don’t wait for report, start to thank God in advance

ii. Finances – don’t wait for the prosperity, start to thank God in advance

B. It strengthens your own faith when you thank God in advance.

i. This is what Abraham did.

ii. Everyone said it it was impossible

iii. – Abraham got strong by giving God praise.

C. We often think, “I will thank God after…after…after..”

i. When you give God praise it gives you confidence that what God says will come to pass.

ii. Turn your worry into praise.

iii. Turn your self-defeat into declarations

D. When we tried to get this facility my thoughts were bombarded.

i. It will not happen

ii. Don’t your hear what people are saying

iii. God wants to bring the promise to pass but he is looking for a people already praising Him.

iv. The mistake we make so often is that “we start begging God” please, please. We are not beggars, we are called sons of God and friends of Yeshua.

v. I know people that are always acting like beggars. They need to start thanking him in advance and being grateful for what they see and do not see.

vi. The woman who went from begging to worshiping Him. What begging will not do praising Him will do.

E. Illustration: Son got used car at 16. Daughter at 13 wanted to know if she would get car. She only had to ask once. She acts like it is already hers. Can you imagine if she kept begging me everyday.

i. Praising is the right way to get God’s attention.

ii. The angel with the answer. God heard the prayer on the first day but it took 21 days to fight off the power of darkness.

1. The right person

2. The right job

3. The right scholarship

4. The right thing is heading your way

iii. Elijah did not beg for rain he prayed for rain *not a very strong illustration

F. Anybody can quit and it will cost you something but being grateful is also free

i. do the right thing when it is hard.

ii. This is saying if you will thank God in advance.

iii. He will reverse negative situation and restore what was lost.