17/08/24
GOSPEL CORNER
JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD
Today’s Scripture
“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.”
Matthew 13:24–25, NIV
WEEDS
In Matthew 13, Jesus tells a story about a man who planted wheat. He sowed good seed, doing the right thing. But while he slept, an enemy came and planted weeds in his soil that sprang up among his wheat. As big a problem as that was, the good news is that the weeds could not keep the wheat from being harvested, and the weeds were destroyed.
The message is that you shouldn’t be surprised by unexpected challenges, unexpected trouble, and unexpected difficulties even as you do the right things, honor God, and work to be your best every day. When you’re close to victory, when you’re on the verge of an accomplishment or breakthrough, when you’re about to go into the harvest season, that’s when unexpected problems will pop up as the enemy tries to keep you from moving forward. Don’t worry about it. Remember, our God has unexpected favor, unexpected breakthroughs, and unexpected promotion. Just wait and let God take care of it for you. Those weeds cannot keep you from your God-given destiny.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that everything You have for me will be released and harvested in my life at the right time. Thank You that I can wait with great expectancy, knowing that You will take care of the enemy’s weeds. Help me to be patient and know that You are always working. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO
This is the most important verse in Psalm 91! If you ever had any doubt that God desires for you to live a long, good life, let this verse be your answer.
You may be battling with a health condition right now, but by faith let’s hold fast to this verse together. In Jesus’ mighty name, I see you healed, healthy, and whole. I see you strong in Christ and ready to take on any giant that is ahead of you.
One of my favorite pictures of long life is found in the biblical character Caleb. When he was eighty-five years old, he said, “I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war” (Josh. 14:10–11).
The faith picture here of long life is not just in terms of quantity—the number of days—but also quality—health and strength. Caleb remained as strong at eighty-five as he was when he was forty-five. Which means in the last forty years in the harsh wilderness, his strength, youth, and vigor didn’t diminish. There was no leaking, no receding, and no fading away of his strength!
If perhaps you think that Caleb was just talking big, look at what he said next: “Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said” (Josh. 14:12).
At eighty-five, Caleb was ready to fight with giants to gain possession of a mountain! And Caleb did as he said! Read the evidence for yourself: “Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel” (Josh. 14:14).
You were impressed when a teenage shepherd boy picked a fight with one giant named Goliath? We should be completely blown away by this eighty-five-year-old, who took on a whole mountain packed with giants!oó
Caleb was zealous for the Lord’s glory. As far as he was concerned, there was unfinished business because the Lord had promised them the mountain forty years ago.
My personal belief is that his biological clock stopped ticking and he basically stopped aging because he kept his eyes not on himself, but on the promises of the Lord. As you meditate on and find strength in God’s promises, the same can happen for you!
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