It Changed Positions | Joel Osteen

0:03 Hi, it's Joel and Victoria. What a joy to be with you today. We always count it an honor. Know that we're praying for you and your family. We sure hope you enjoy this podcast today. And we just are praying for you and know that God is for you. So enjoy today's message. 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. I'd like to start with something funny. And I heard about this new police recruit.

0:38 He was taking his final exam in front of a large classroom. The sergeant asked him, what would you do if you had to arrest your own mother-in-law? Without missing a beat, he said, call for backup. I have an amazing mother-in-law, Georgene, right here on the front row. I'm blessed with a great mother-in-law, but come on guys, 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.

1:10 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 it changed positions. We all have things that come against us in life, hurts, betrayals, disappointments. It's easy to let that stay on the forefront of your mind where you're always thinking about it, reliving it. It ends up souring your future. But God knew that life wouldn't always be fair.

1:43 He said in Psalm 110, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. He didn't say until your enemies go away, you never see them again. He said, they will become a footstool. They may still be there, but now they're not stopping you. They're under your feet. An enemy to a footstool means it changed positions. It used to be over you, but now it's under you. You used to think about it all the time and give it so much attention and why did this happen? But now you're at peace. You're enjoying life. pursuing your dreams. Instead of it reigning over you, you reign over it. What happened? You repositioned it. You couldn't get rid of it, but you put it where it belonged, under your feet. It used to be controlling you,

2:36 intimidating you, even defining you, but now it has no power over you. See, God doesn't eliminate every enemy. He may not take away the offense, the hurt, the injustice, but he has given you the power to take it off the throne of your life and put it under your feet. Instead of limiting you, if you'll handle it the right way, it will become a footstool. A footstool means you rest. You don't fight. You don't worry. You don't try to pay people back, live all upset. Even though the difficulty is still there, you've dethroned it. You stay in peace. You know God's fighting your battles. You know all that's meant for harm. He's turning to your advantage.

3:22 So instead of worrying, you're at rest. Instead of living frustrated, you trust his plan. Instead of trying to pay people back, you let him be your vindicator. What you're doing is taking away the power of that enemy. You're switching positions, putting it under your feet. So you can live in victory despite it not being totally gone. This is what David said. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. He didn't say my enemies are gonna go away. He said, they're gonna switch positions. They're gonna become a footstool. Their presence may still be there, but their power is gone. They don't control you. They don't dictate your joy. They don't stop your purpose. They are under your feet. Now, the question is, are you

4:14 letting something be over you that you're supposed to put under you? God has given you power to reign in life. Reign means there's opposition. There's people that do you wrong, a sickness you're dealing with, a child that's off course. Sometimes we think, God, when are you gonna get rid of these things? When will these feelings go away and I not have this worry and negativity? Here's the key.

4:39 It's not up to God, it's up to you. He's given you power to reign. You get to choose what's on the throne of your mind, what you think about, what thoughts you give attention to. You get to choose which emotions you allow to stay. Well, I'm disappointed. I'm offended. I got a chip on my shoulder. That's not going to go away until you take authority and reign over it.

5:04 Reign over the worry. Put it under your feet. Every time you're tempted, thank God that he's working in your life, ordering your steps, that his plans for you are for good. Reign over the self-pity. Quit dwelling on who did you wrong and why did this happen and start thanking God that he'll pay you back, that he has beauty for these ashes. You have to reign over that bitterness. Somebody betrayed you. Business partner cheated you. You could live angry, let that poison the rest of your life. No, put it under your feet. You're letting it have the wrong position.

5:43 God saw what happened. He knows what's not fair. If you'll handle it the right way, he'll make it up to you. He said in Isaiah, he will pay you back double for the unfair things. Well, Joel, I'd love to do this, but I still feel the hurt. I still feel the offense. The psalmist said, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool. Until means it may take some time. May not happen the first time you pray, the first week. You may have to reign over that offense month after month, even year after year. Some enemies don't go away quickly. You may put that discouragement under your feet in the morning, but by dinnertime, it's back up to eye level. The worry wants the high position. The fear, the doubt, the insecurity

6:35 is going to try to control you. And if you're passive and you just dwell on whatever thoughts come to your mind, think about all the reason life's not fair, then the negative will dominate your life. Do yourself a favor, start reigning over what's trying to limit you. Reign over those negative thoughts. You're in charge. You control what sits on your throne. You can let that obstacle stop you and sour your life, or you can put it under your feet and it'll become a footstool. The worry's still there, but it doesn't bother you. You've lowered its position. You put what God promised on the throne. That offense, the injustice, negative things people have said, that should upset you. Wanting to prove to them who you are. Do you understand

7:25 this principle that you have the power to reign? Instead of letting that stay over you and dictating your joy and peace, you put it under your feet. Now, even though it's still there, it's not affecting you. You're still shining, still believing, still being good to people. When it says to make your enemies a footstool, that doesn't necessarily mean people.

7:48 Don't see this as I'm going to get even. I'm going to show my relatives. I'm going to push down these co-workers. No, people are not your enemy. What people have done can become the enemy. They walked out of a relationship, broke your heart. The rejection becomes the enemy, not the people. People are made in the image of God.

8:10 We all make mistakes. We all need mercy. You're not fighting against people. It's what they left in you that can sour your life. Maybe you were mistreated growing up. You didn't have a good childhood. Well, the people that raised you may not even still be alive, but the injustice, the self-pity, the abandonment is still in you. That's the real enemy, not the person. You have to put that under your feet. Sometimes people do us wrong and they don't even realize it. They say something hurtful, coach, teacher, a parent, you're not talented enough, you're kind of slow, you can't do anything right, you'll never be successful. That was 20 years ago, but the wound is still there.

8:56 They said it once. but you've repeated it thousands of times. They're not bad people. If they could take it back, they probably would, but you can't undo what happened. Let people off the hook and start putting those negative words under your feet. They don't determine your destiny. They didn't know you before you were formed in your mother's womb.

9:19 They didn't hand pick you. They didn't call you, equip you, favor you, anoint you, empower you. Why are you elevating their words over who God says you are? You need to put those discouraging, limiting words under your feet. Quit letting them reign. Put God's word on your throne. Father, thank you that I am a masterpiece, that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, that I'm wearing a robe of righteousness, that I'm crowned with favor, that I have royalty in my blood, a child of the most high, well able to do what you've called me to do. That's what should be on your throne. That's how you fulfill your destiny.

10:02 You can't stop people from saying negative things. Those words will try to stay up top, big, bold, loud, but you can switch positions and put it under your feet. I'm sorry you're getting dethroned. You don't belong up here in my mind. You belong down there under my feet. You're the ruler. You get to choose what's on your throne.

10:35 Are you letting something that should be under you stay over you? You keep dwelling on it, thinking about it, reliving it. No, dethrone that bitterness. Dethrone the worry. dethrone the offense. You have the power to change its position. It may not go away, but it doesn't have to stop you. The memory may still be there. The medical report hadn't changed. A child is still struggling. That coworker is still jealous. In the old days, I'd take your joy and get you upset, but you've learned how to switch positions. that it doesn't have to stay over you, that you can put it under your feet. You can make it a footstool to where you rest. Instead of fighting, you're at peace. Instead of struggling, you're trusting God to

11:22 make the wrongs right. Instead of being frustrated, you're enjoying your life, knowing that God will take care of your enemies. Well, Joel, it's not right what they did. I'm gonna show them, I'm gonna get even. They're gonna see they shouldn't mess with me. or taking matters into your own hands, trying to prove to people who you are, that's not the way to deal with enemies. You're putting the offense on the throne. You're letting the hurt, the bitterness reign. The scripture says, sit at my right hand until I make enemies your footstool. It doesn't say fight at my right hand. Payback, get even, prove. That's gonna lead to stress, frustration, being worn out. Sitting is a position of rest. Sit means

12:10 you're at peace. You're trusting God to fight your battles. You know he's gonna make it up to you. Too often, we think we have to fix the situation, straighten this person out, prove to our relative that they're wrong, but here's the key. As long as you're working, God will rest. If you're gonna fight instead of sit, then he'll let you do the fighting. But if you'll rest, God will go to work. If you'll take that seat, God will do things you could never do. He will vindicate you better than you can vindicate yourself. Worrying about that illness is not going to help you get better. Worrying is working.

12:49 Living offended is working. Being discouraged, thinking about how impossible it looks, that's working. Why don't you take a seat? Take that pressure off. You're trying to do everything in your own strength. God wants you to depend on him. He's not going to override your will. There are times in life where everything will try to get us to stand up, fight this enemy and worry about this child and bitter over this hurt and guilty because of my mistakes. Joel, I got a lot of things to fix. The scripture says, be still and know that I am God. The psalmist said, sit at my right hand. If you'll sit, God will make those enemies of footstool. We see this in the life of Joseph. As a teenager, his brothers were jealous.

13:38 They didn't like the fact that he had big dreams and that he was their father's favorite son. He traveled to another city to check on his brothers. When they saw him, they said, here comes the dreamer. Like that was a bad thing. Sometimes people don't like you because you have a big vision. You want to do something significant in life, break out of the mold. You feel that greatness God put in you? Some people can't handle that.

14:06 They'll try to push you down and devalue you. Sure, that's hurtful, especially when it's your family and people that are close to you. But don't make the mistake of letting that get on your throne where you stay offended and insecure and you start believing the negative things people have said. Put that under your feet. Quit dwelling on it.

14:28 Quit giving at the time of day. Joseph's brothers threw him into a deep well and they were going to leave him to die, but they saw this caravan of Ishmaelites coming. They decided to sell him as a slave. Joseph went to Egypt and worked for a military official. He was so excellent, they put him in charge of the whole house. He was falsely accused by the man's wife.

14:52 She lied about him. Joseph was put in prison. He interpreted a dream for another inmate, the cupbearer of the king. He's about to get out. Joseph asked in return to please remember him when he was released. He had his hopes up, but the cupbearer forgot all about Joseph. Another disappointment. Eventually, Joseph interpreted a dream for the Pharaoh, the leader of the nation. He was so impressed, he brought Joseph out of prison. He put a gold ring on his finger representing his authority and He made Joseph the prime minister, second in command of all of Egypt. We think that's when Joseph began to reign. He was vindicated, brought out of prison, seeing this favor. But the fact is, Joseph learned to reign long before he ever sat on a throne.

15:44 He knew this secret of how to take what should have been over him and put it under his feet. He reigned over rejection and betrayal. His own brothers tried to kill him. His family sold him as a slave. Make more sense if it was a foreign army, an adversary, but these were people he grew up with. Imagine the hurt, the loneliness. He could have been bitter and angry, let it dominate his thoughts, poison his attitude, but he put it under his feet. He said, in effect, no, you don't get that high position. That's not where you belong.

16:23 I have a promise from God. I have an assignment on my life. God's purpose is greater than what's trying to stop me. You can't be passive and just dwell on whatever thoughts come. You have to reign on the inside before you'll reign on the outside. Joseph reigned over injustice. He was being his best, running the household when the boss's wife tried to seduce him. Come on, Joseph. My husband's gone. It's just you and me, big boy. She was so set. That's my translation. She was so set on making this happen that she went over and grabbed Joseph.

17:02 You're talking about aggressive. Joseph was a man of such honor, such integrity, he turned to run away, but she ripped his shirt off. She started screaming, saying that Joseph had tried to harm her. He was put in prison for something he didn't do. Don't you know thoughts came saying, Joseph, this is so wrong. You were so mistreated. You know she lied. She's ruining your life. Joseph had a good reason to be bitter and upset, But he did what we all have to do. He took that off the throne and put it under his feet. The cupbearer forgot about Joseph. Another injustice. That could have been the last straw.

17:42 Once again, Joseph reigned over the disappointment. He kept excelling in prison. So much so, the warden put him in charge of the whole prison. But any of these bad breaks could have stopped his purpose if he would have allowed it. Had he not said, God, I feel like standing, fighting, paying people back, but instead I'm gonna take my seat.

18:06 I'm gonna stay in peace. I'm gonna keep a good attitude, keep being my best, knowing that you will get me to where I'm supposed to be. The offense was still there. The betrayal, the injustice, it didn't go away. He simply changed its position. He took it off the throne and put what God promised on the throne. God said, if you'll stay seated, if you won't let these things upset you, then I'll make your enemies a footstool. See, life's going to happen to us all. You can't reach your destiny without rejection, betrayals, and disappointments. The question is, are you going to let it take the throne, dominate your thoughts, cause you to become bitter and frustrated, or are you going to be a Joseph and reign over it? The

18:55 disappointment may not go away, but you can change its position. You can put it under your feet, keep your heart pure, keep honoring God. He said he'll turn it into a footstool. Well, a footstool is not just something to rest your feet on. It can be something to take you higher. The enemy was meant to stop you, but actually it's going to lift you. Enemies oppose your progress, but footstools elevate your progress.

19:25 Footstools help you reach levels that you couldn't reach on your own. And I know none of us like hurts. We don't like injustice, but when God turns those enemies to footstools, now you're going places you could have never gone. Reaching new heights, seeing favor, influence, resources that you could have never seen. Instead of complaining about the enemy, why don't you thank God? for the footstool? Well, Joel, they tried to ruin my reputation. They lied about me. Get ready to go higher. They just set you up for a new level. A footstool is coming. Yeah, but these people at work, they're jealous. They won't give me credit.

20:05 I know it's not fair, but they just set you up for promotions. They meant it for harm, but if you'll stay in peace, God's gonna turn it into a footstool to take you higher. That's what happened with Joseph. The jealous brothers, the betrayal was meant to push him down, but God used it to move him to Egypt. The false accusation, being lied about, put him in prison. That's where he connected with Pharaoh's cupbearer. Eventually, he told the Pharaoh that Joseph could interpret dreams. The prison looked like a setback, but really it was a footstool to take him higher. Without the prison, he would have never made it to the palace. Some of the things on your journey may not make sense. You were doing the right

20:52 thing and the wrong thing happened. God wouldn't have allowed it if it wasn't going to somehow work for your good. It may come in as an enemy, but God knows how to turn it into a footstool, into something that propels you further. When these unfair things happen, disappointments, bad breaks, instead of being sour, have this new perspective. Lord, I want to thank you that a footstool is coming, that you're going to use this to increase me, to take me to new levels, to reach the fullness of my destiny.

21:25 Joshua chapter 10, the Israelites were taking possession of the promised land and these five kings got together to oppose them. They joined their forces and this big battle was taking place. At one point, the king saw that their armies were losing and they ran and hid in a cave. Joshua learned where they were. He told his men to seal off the entry with big rocks. Now they were trapped inside.

21:51 After the battle was over and the enemy forces were defeated, Joshua went to the cave. All the people of Israel gathered around. He had the kings brought out. This very dramatic moment. Joshua told his captains to put their feet on the necks of these kings. In front of all the people, the kings laid down, the foot was placed on their neck. That was not to humiliate them. In that culture, it was symbolic. Putting your foot on the neck of a defeated enemy was a picture of complete conquest, of total victory. The foot represents dominion, authority, Something under your foot means it has no power. It's completely surrendered. Well, why did Joshua take this time to make a big scene?

22:43 He could have just said, arrest the guys, put them in prison. I don't need to see them. But while everyone was gathered with the foot on the five enemies' necks, Joshua said to the people, verse 25, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for this is what the Lord God will do to all the enemies that come against you.

23:05 The Israelites still had many armies to conquer. Joshua wanted them to have a picture of the enemies under their feet. He had them stare at it so that image would be ingrained in their thinking. They would know that no matter what comes against you, it's going to end up under your feet. See, there were five armies against one army.

23:28 The Israelites were outnumbered. They had less equipment. They weren't trained to be soldiers. But God being for you is more than what's trying to stop you. Whatever enemies are coming against you today, you need to have a picture of them under your feet. Fear is under your feet. That sickness, the cancer is under your feet. That addiction seems like you can't get free. It controls you. No, this is a new day. Just imagine you putting your foot on that addiction. You're saying you have no power over me. You are completely surrendered. You have to put it under your feet, in your mind, in your thinking, then God will step in and do what you can't do.

24:14 Just a few days earlier, These five armies looked unstoppable. So powerful, confident, everything going their way. If someone was betting, it would be a no brainer. It's five against one. This is gonna be a blowout. No, don't judge the enemy by where it is right now. It may seem stronger, more powerful, like it has the upper hand, but there is a force in you that cannot be defeated. The most high God is working behind the scenes. He has power that nothing can stand against. Looks like that enemy is permanent, but God says, no, it's about to become a footstool. Instead of stopping you, it's gonna take you higher.

24:58 Now do your part and don't let the offense stay on the throne. Don't let the bitterness, the worry, the doubt change its position. You may not be able to change what happened, but you can change where you put it. You get to choose the position. It doesn't belong over you. It belongs under you. Take it from that high place and put it under your feet. It may not totally go away, but now it's not dominating your thoughts. It's not keeping you worried. You're reigning over what tried to stop you. And God said, if you'll sit, I'll turn enemies into footstools. Are you seated today? Are you trusting?

25:40 Are you at peace or are you striving and trying to pay people back, fix everything on your own. Today can be a turning point. Take that pressure off. You don't have to do this on your own. While you're resting, God is working. While you're trusting, he's fighting your battles. Now keep this picture in your mind that Joshua gave the Israelites. Everything that's trying to stop you, it is under your feet. If you'll do this, I believe and declare like Joseph, what looks like a stumbling block is about to be turned to a stepping stone to take you higher. That bad break is not going to stop your destiny. It's going to launch you into your destiny.

26:21 Like Joshua, every enemy that's trying to stop you is being defeated. The sickness, the addiction, the lack, the trouble that's coming to an end, it's under your feet. 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.

26:51 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. The scripture says, write the vision and make it plain to see. There's something powerful about writing down what you're believing for. That's why I'd love to send you my new I Believe Planner. It's a place to write down your dreams, your prayers, and the promises you're standing on. What stays before your eyes has a way of staying in your heart. Every time you see what you've written, let it be a reminder to thank God

27:42 that He's already at work behind the scenes, even when you can't see it. As you keep your faith in front of you day after day, you'll be encouraged, your expectation will grow, and you'll begin to see God bring those dreams to pass.

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