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Joel Osteen Podcast
Take Your Image Off The Throne | Joel Osteen
00:29:56
Living image-driven will drain your energy.
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- [00:02]
Joel Osteen
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Victoria Osteen
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Joel Osteen
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
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Victoria Osteen
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- [01:09]
Joel Osteen
Hi, this is Joel in Victoria. Thanks so much for listening to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We believe you're going to have an awesome 2024 healthy, productive and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. God bless you. It's great to be with you today. 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 these two professional baseball players. They were discussing whether or not they thought there would be baseball up in heaven. They made an agreement that whoever died first would come back and tell if there was indeed baseball in heaven. A few months later, one of the players died, just like he promised. He came back, said to the other player, I've got good news, I've got bad news. The good news is there is baseball up in heaven. The bad news is you're scheduled to pitch next Thursday. 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 taking your image off the throne. It's easy to go through life making decisions based on what people will think. How will this make Me look, will this be impressive? Will this gain me more followers? Will they approve me? When we live image driven, we can't be real, we can't be authentic. We have to hide this weakness or they may think less of us. We have to play up to this person to stay in their favor. We have to drive this, wear this, be seen with these people. We spend so much energy protecting this image we've created. And there's nothing wrong with looking good, being successful, carrying yourself with confidence, that's all healthy. But where it crosses the line is when you become driven by your image, you run everything through the filter of how it's going to make you look. Jesus said to the Pharisees, you do everything for show. You wear these long robes to look better than others. You give in front of people to be impressive. You sit in the best seats so you'll be well thought of. None of those things in themselves are bad. To wear nice clothes, to be a giver, to have a good position. The issue was their motives. They were doing it all to be seen, to impress people, to build their ego. The problem with living image driven is it will wear you out. The pressure of trying to keep up with people. Impress your friends, look better than your neighbor, hide how you feel, act like everything's okay when it's not. That's not sustainable. The reason some people are so stressed, run down, is they have their image on the throne. They're doing everything to protect how they're seen. But you need to take your image off the throne and put God back on the throne. You don't have to perform, you don't have to pretend. You don't have to keep up with your friends if they only accept you. If you perform to their standards, they're not true friends. Such a freedom when you can be real, be vulnerable, not worry about what other people think. That's a treadmill that never stops. It's a sure way to drain your energy, stifle your creativity, steal your joy. Paul said in Romans, we should be conformed to the image of Christ. But I've found if you're obsessed with your image, you can't be conformed to his image. You're always thinking about what people think. Is this going to be impressive? Will they approve me then? You're not going to become who you were created to be. A friend of mine works in the entertainment industry. He's very popular, has a dynamic personality. He's seen as strong, talented, successful. In the movies, he plays action heroes. He's the good guy. Saving the day, hosting television shows. He's so friendly, so likable. Big smile. But he told how he became obsessed with his image. What people thought about him, how he looked. He always projected this image of success, strength, being so happy. The problem was, it was all a facade. He was pretending in real life. He was falling apart. His wife was leaving him. He struggled with an addiction. He didn't like who he was. But every day, he would put on that mask. Gotta make sure I look good today. People would see him on the streets. Hey, man, I love you. You're so great in that movie. He'd give them a high five. Thank you so much. The whole time he was thinking, I'm not great. I'm depressed, I'm hurting, I'm lonely. He was so obsessed with his image, he couldn't be real. He wouldn't let anyone see who he really was. One day, he did what I'm asking us to do. He took off the mask. He quit pretending. He got honest with himself, got the help he needed. He went to a recovery program and broke the addiction. He got help in his marriage. His wife who had left him, she came back home today. They're happily married with their children. He's healed. He's whole. None of this would have happened if he'd kept hiding behind the image he was projecting. Now, I'm not saying you have to tell people all your issues, announce all your secrets. What I'm saying is you don't have to hide. You don't have to pretend. Worried about what people will think. The ones that look like they have it all together. Can I tell you, they have issues too. Everyone is dealing with something. There's no shame in saying, I need help. I'm not what I look like. I'm struggling, I'm hurting. I'm broken. It takes humility to take your image off the throne. To not worry about what people think, to not live trying to impress, trying to gain their approval. So much better to be real, to be vulnerable. In the story of the prodigal son, the young man asked his father for his inheritance early. He left home and wasted it all. Partying, living wild, making poor decisions. When the money ran out, the only job he could find was working in a hog pen, feeding hogs. He got so desperate, he had to eat the hog food to survive. The scripture says when he came to himself, he said, I will arise and go back to my father's house. If he was living, image driven, he would have never gone home. He would have thought, I'm not going to let anyone see me in this condition. Down, dirty, working in a hog pen. I've got an image to protect. I want them to think I'm happy, successful, on top of the world. But as long as you're pretending, as long as you're wearing a mask, you won't get the help that you need. Like this young man. You have to come to yourself, not who you pretend to be, not the image you've created, not who other people think you are. Second Corinthians says, with unveiled faces, we reveal the glory of God. As long as your face is veiled, as long as you're wearing a mask, you won't see God's glory. You won't see the freedom, the wholeness, the abundance. Why don't you take off the mask? Well, Joel, what will people think if I'm not perfect? If I still struggle in this area, if I need help? You know what they'll think? They'll think you're real. They'll think you're brave. They'll think you're honest and sure. Some will judge. Some may look down on you. But what they think about you doesn't stop your destiny. Quit worrying about what they think. There's always going to be someone that doesn't understand you, that won't be for you, and tries to make you feel small. But there will be other people God has ordained for you, that will be there to help you, to bring you out of the struggle, to lift you when you're down to speak, victory when you feel defeat. When the young man returned home, the father who represents God was there. With open arms. He hugged him, kissed him, put a new robe on him, new shoes. Gave him the family ring that represents authority. The other brother was kind of jealous of all the attention. He didn't like this brother being celebrated. When you take off your mask, when you get real, you're vulnerable. Some people may not accept you. They may find fault. They like seeing you down. Say they look better. But your Heavenly Father, the one who matters, he accepts you. He'll restore you. He'll put a new robe on you. He'll help you break the addiction. He'll deliver you from what's holding you back. He'll give you friends that will celebrate you, friends that will be for you. Yeah, you may have a few walk away, a few that judge you, but you don't need them in your life. They were just out for what you could do for them. True friends. You don't have to wear a mask. You don't have to pretend. You don't have to hope that you can measure up. They accept you for who you are, not for how you look, how you perform, who you know. I like this phrase. I heard what you think about me is none of my business. People can think anything they want. It's a free world. But your part is to make it none of your business. You don't have time to worry about everyone's opinion of you. You have a destiny to fulfill. You have an assignment to accomplish. It's not going to happen if you're image driven, if you're making decisions based on other people's opinions, based on, how will this make me look? Truth is, no matter how hard we try, someone is going to judge. Someone is going to talk about you. Someone's not going to like you. You can spend all your time trying to win them over, performing perfectly, doing whatever they please, but it will never be enough. Don't waste another day trying to get their approval. You don't need them to validate you. Almighty God has already approved you. Pastor friend of mine has a teenage daugh. She got pregnant when she was 15 and he was so upset. He felt like he had failed as a parent. He's a good man. He has a great ministry. He came to me with tears in his eyes. Tell me about it. He was so concerned about how I would respond and would I think less of him. But I've learned to not judge people. Everyone is on a journey. The mercy you show others is. Is the mercy that will be shown back to you when you're tempted to look down on someone. I can't believe they did that. I can't believe he still struggles in that area. Just remember, if it was not for the grace of God, that could be you. It wasn't just your own strength, just your own choices. It was the mercy of God keeping it from you. He was very appreciative of the grace that I showed him, but he was still concerned about what people were going to think and how it was going to look and who was going to start talking. I told him what I'm telling you. You can't control all of that. If you live trying to protect your image, keep everyone happy, hoping they'll understand, then you're going to be frustrated. Life happens to us all. You don't have to explain yourself to everyone. You don't have to convince people to try to be for you. The ones that are judgmental won't show you any mercy. You can be sure they have issues, too. They have Things they're dealing with that they're not telling you about. There's no shame in being open and honest. The enemy would love for us all to hide behind masks, go around pretending, acting like we're perfect, making sure nobody sees our flaws, projecting this image that we can't live up to. Paul said in Second Corinthians, we refuse to wear masks and play games. We keep everything out in the open, the whole truth on display. Do you need to take off a mask today? Do you need to quit pretending, hiding what you need to deal with? Like the Pharisees, doing things for show, Trying to create this image of who you are instead of just being who you are. How many people are living for this image? This is who I want you to see me as. Someone greater, smarter, prettier, more popular. When the truth is who God made you to be is the best you. You don't need the image, just be you. You're made in the image of God. You already have the best image. You don't need to pretend. You don't need to do things for show, live to please people. Having their approval is overrated. It doesn't move you toward your destiny. Be confident in who God made you to be. This is where Saul missed it. He was the first king of Israel. He was tall, handsome. He looked like a king. God chose him from obscurity. Didn't come from a prominent family, wasn't raised in wealth and influence. Suddenly, he was thrust into. Into a position that he never dreamed possible. He started out good, doing what God asked him to do. But over time, he made the mistake that's easy to make. He started letting what people thought how he would be accepted, influence his decision. 1st Samuel 16. God gave him specific instructions to wipe out all of the Amalekites. Not to spare anyone or anything. The leaders, the animals, the flocks, the supplies, but to destroy them all. He went and attacked. He obeyed that part. But instead of destroying everything, he spared the king. He kept the best cattle, the best sheep, all the supplies. The next day, the prophet Samuel showed up. Saul greeted him, said so excitedly, I did what the Lord commanded. We won the victory. Samuel said, if you did what he commanded, why do I hear those sheep? Why do I see those cattle? Saul said, oh, come on, Samuel. I just kept a few so our people could enjoy them. I didn't destroy all the supplies. We can use them in the future. Besides, some of these sheep we're going to take and sacrifice them to, God started making all these excuses, all these reasons why he didn't do it. Samuel said, saul, obedience is much better than sacrifice. Verse 24. Saul finally admitted why he didn't fully obey. He said, I did not follow God's commands, for I was afraid of the people. And instead I did what they demanded. How many of us are like Saul? We know God has told us to do something. We feel that impression down in here. But we have to please the people. Someone may not understand. They may think less of us. They may leave us out of their group. Saul's attitude was, I have to perform for my popularity. To keep my followers, my friends have to do what they want. Impress, pretend, hide. I have to keep this image up. The problem with living image driven is you can't please God and please people all of the time. Sometimes God will ask you to do something that's not possible. Popular that people don't understand that your friends don't accept that cause co workers to look down on you. You mean you won't go party after work? You think you're too good for us, don't you? If you're image driven, you'll say, no, I'll go. I don't want you to think less of me. But if you're driven by your purpose, you'll say, no, thanks, you'll have to go without me. I have a destiny to fulfill. You'll be more interested in pleasing God, pleasing people. Because Saul was a people pleaser, because he wouldn't fully obey, he lost the kingdom. What could have Saul become if he had not lived? Image driven, worried about what people think. Trying to impress, to perform, having to pretend to win people over. None of that moves you forward. Be driven by your purpose. Be more concerned about how God sees you than how people see you. He's the one that matters. When my father went to be with the Lord and I stepped up to pastor the church, there were a lot of people telling me which direction to go and who I should become. They were good people. They loved me. But one wanted me to go this way and another that way. And another, take the church this way. There were so many voices that I was confused. I thought, I don't even know who I am. When you're always trying to please people, you can lose who you are. My personality type is I want people to accept me. I want them to like me. I had to do what I'm asking us to do. I got quiet before God. When I searched my heart, I knew what he was leading me to do. The problem was, it was not what some of them wanted me to do, I had to decide, am I going to be who they want me to be or am I going to be who God wants me to be? I had to disappoint a few people in order to not disappoint God. Some of them looked down on me. A few criticized couple left. The church said I would never make it, but I think it's turned out okay. It's better to please God than to please people. Don't let them squeeze you into their mold. Take your image off the throne what other people want you to be. Having to perform to keep their friendship, pretend to stay popular, impress to be liked. That's too much pressure to live under. It's hard to be something you're not. It's hard to keep everyone happy. Wear different masks, pretending, depending on who you're with. You know what's easy? Being you, being real, being vulnerable. What makes it complicated is when we put our image on the throne instead of having God on the throne, when we're obsessed with our image, so much time and energy is spent trying to please others, trying to look good. We end up like the Pharisees, doing things for show. Let me impress them. This will make me more popular. When the truth is doing what God's asking you to do, being who he made you to be, that's where the blessing is. That's where the anointing is. That's where the power is. When you take off the mask and live as the authentic you, he'll shine down his favor, take you further than you've ever dreamed. Saul was rejected as the king. Samuel chose a young man named David to be the next king. One difference between Saul and David is David wasn't image driven. He didn't spend his time worried about what other people thought, trying to please everyone. His focus was on fulfilling his purpose. One time, the Ark of the Covenant was a large box that represented where God lived. It had been taken from the Israelites. They'd been trying to get it back for months. Finally, David was able to recover it. He brought it back to Jerusalem. There was a big celebration. The scripture says David danced before the Lord with all of his might. There's great shouting, trumpets blowing, music playing. Right in the middle of it all, there's David putting Michael Jackson to shame, dancing, celebrating, worshiping, praising. Now David was this respected, influential leader. He could have thought, I need to be more reserved, proper and sophisticated. I can't let these people see me showing emotion, praising with all my might. They may think I go to Lakewood, that I'M one of those happy, joyful, victorious people. But David didn't have his image on the throne. He didn't run his worship through a filter of what people would think. When he saw the goodness of God, even though he was the king, he didn't hold back. What he didn't know was his wife. This was King Saul's daughter. She was watching him dancing, praising, showing all this emotion. And she was offended. She looked at him in scorn, disgusted. When David got home, she let him have it. She said, what were you doing out there dancing like a fool, showing your legs? Don't you know you're the king? You have an image to withhold. You're supposed to be prim, proper, reserved. That was the mold she was trying to put David in. David said, in effect, I love you, but I wasn't dancing unto you. I was dancing unto my God. I was thanking him for the great mercy favor that he's shown me. He went on to say, I'm willing to look like a fool to express the goodness of God in my life. David was saying, you may look down on me, but that's okay. My image is not on the throne. God is on the throne. I'm not going to be who people want me to be. I'm going to be who God wants me to be. Notice the difference between King Saul and King David. Saul was a people pleaser. David was a God pleaser. Saul had his image on the throne. David had God on the throne. Saul was driven by his image. David was driven by his purpose. Don't be a Saul and miss your destiny. Be a David. And like with David, sure there will be people that try to put you in their box, convince you to be who they want you to be. If you're not strong, if you're focused on having people approve you, you live to impress them. You'll end up letting their image of you become a reality. And sometimes it's not our own images, it's other people's images. Your friend wants you to be this, your cousin wants you to be that. Your neighbor wants you to be this other. Be respectful, listen to advice, but don't let anyone talk you out of what God put in your heart. You have a responsibility to become who he created you to be. When you come to the end of life, he's not going to say, why weren't you more like your cousin? Why weren't you more like your co worker? Why weren't you more like your friend? He's going to say, why weren't you, who I created you to be. Why did you let people squeeze you into their mold? Why did you live pretending, wearing masks, hiding when you needed help, acting like everything was okay? Take the image down and step up to who you were created to be. A few years ago, a minister I know called me. And he's much older than I am. He's very well respected and very influential. And he's very strong and very opinionated. He started telling me how to use my influence, what I needed to do and where I needed to change, and how if I didn't do it this way, it wasn't going to be right. I'm very nice, I'm very kind. But when it comes to my destiny, what I believe God has called me to do, I'm very strong. As hard as he came at me, as forceful, as certain as the authority, I went back at him with, that same authority. I was respectful. But I told him, when I come to the end of my life, I'm not going to answer to you. What you're telling me does not bear witness with my spirit. I know what God has called me to do. I'm going to run my race with purpose, with integrity, with compassion. If my image was on the throne, I wouldn't be worried. What's he going to think about me? What if he doesn't approve me? Some of these situations are tests. Are you going to live to please others? Or. Or are you going to live to please God? I don't mean to never take advice to be disrespectful, but you have to be strong when it comes to other people putting their demands on you, trying to squeeze you into their mold. You can hear from God about your life more than any other person. God is not going to tell someone else everything about your destiny. Others may confirm it. Others, they may encourage you. But the Holy Spirit lives in you. He's your guide, your counselor, your helper. Trust what you're hearing on the inside. In the scripture, three Hebrew teenagers wouldn't bow down to the king's golden idol. He's going to have them thrown into a furnace. The idol is described as a golden image. It was actually an image of King Nebuchadnezzar. It was a physical thing, but I believe there's a spiritual principle. The teenagers wouldn't bow down to an image. How many of us today are bowing down to an image? The image we've created, what we project, what we want people to see. Or maybe it's the image others have created, squeezed into their mold. It's time to stop bowing down to that image. Like Paul said, we're not playing games. We're not pretending. We're not taking off the mask. That's too much pressure. The reason some people are run down, worn out, not enjoying life is they have this image to keep up. You have to be five different people. One for your neighbor, one for your spouse, one for your friends, trying to please everyone, keep them happy. Do yourself a favor, take your image off the throne and put God back on the throne. Quit bowing down to that image. If you'll do this, I believe and declare weights are going to lift off of you. You're going to live freer, happier, more fulfilled and you're going to become all you were created to be. In Jesus name. 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. Amen. Well, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. We'd love to send you some free literature your new walk with the Lord. You can text the number on the screen or go to the website. I hope you'll get into a good Bible based church and keep God first.
- [28:41]
Victoria Osteen
Place It's a new year, an opportunity for a fresh start. It's a new year, time to forget the struggles of the past and make room for new blessings. It's a new year, the perfect time to build expectation and faith for an amazing new season.
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Joel Osteen
The beginning of the year is a great time to start afresh and anew, to let go of negative things of the past and to get ready for the new things God has in store. Every January we create a new devotional calendar. When you start off each day in faith, grateful for what God has done and making positive declarations over your future, you're setting the tone for a blessed day and a victorious year. This devotional calendar will help you get your mind going in the right direction so you can live in faith expecting the goodness of God as our way.
- [29:33]
Victoria Osteen
Of saying thank you for your gift of any amount this first month of the year we would like to send you a copy of our brand new 20, 25, 365 day devotional calendar. Using this devotional calendar is as easy as 123 1. Wake up with an expectancy in your heart. 2. Reflect on the daily scripture verse and devotional from Joel. 3. Capture the Lord's promises to you on journaling lines for writing and reflection.
- [30:03]
Joel Osteen
This is going to be one of your best years. Our 2025 devotional calendar is going to help you stay in F and see the goodness of God in ways you've never seen. Victoria and I pray for you and your family every day and thank you so much for your prayer and support. Your generosity is impacting lives around the world. A special thank you to our Champion of Hope Partners for your monthly gifts. If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. Remember, you can watch the services online live every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube now, the new Joel Osteen network 24 hours a day, and of course listen live on Sirius XM as well. But until we meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May he show you his favor and watch over you.
- [30:52]
Victoria Osteen
Be sure to request your copy of the 2025 devotional calendar today, visit joelosteen.com or call us toll free. Building a business may feel like a big jump, but On Deck small business loans can help keep you afloat. With lines of credit up to $100,000 and term loans up to 250,000, OnDeck lets you choose the loan that's right for your business. As a top rated online small business lender, OnDeck's team of loan advisors can help you find the right business loan to fit your needs. Visit ondeck.com for more information. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by Ondeck or Celtibank. On Deck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval. Netcredit is here to say yes because you're more than a credit score. Apply in minutes and get a decision as soon as the same day. Loans offered by Netcredit or lending partner banks and service by Netcredit. Applications subject to review and approval. Learn more@netcredit.com partners netcredit credit to the people meet flip. She's 1/2 of a Flip Flop. That's me who got left behind at Celebration Key Carnival's exclusive paradise in Grand Bahama. Uh, I chose to stay here. It really is paradise. So now Flip spends her time lounging on the beach, swimming in the lagoon and eating. The only thing more impressive than my appetite are all the dining options.
- [32:11]
Joel Osteen
Yeah. Have you tried food service to your cabana? Ooh, yum. Flip. Where'd she go? Book your cruise.
- [32:17]
Victoria Osteen
Vacation to Carnival Celebration Cay, a paradise you'll want to lose yourself in.
- [32:21]
Joel Osteen
Ships registry the Bahamas in Panama.