Story of John Osteen
"Great is to dream the dream, when you stand in youth by the starry stream. But a greater thing is to fight life through, and say at the end that the dream is true." - John Osteen JOHN OSTEEN, founder of Lakewood Church and father of pastor Joel Osteen (www.joelosteen.com), was a divorced pastor. Here's how his son Joel told about the story of what happened to his father in his bestseller book, "Your Best Life Now:"
"We all make mistakes, but God does not disqualify us simply because we have failed. He's the God of another chance. You may have missed plan A for your life, but God has a plan B, a plan C, a plan D, and a plan E. God will always find a way to get you to your final destination if you will trust Him.
The Old Testament records how King David ordered a man murdered so he could marry his wife. But when David repented, God forgave him and still used him in a greater way.
A man named Saul hated Christians; he chased them down, persecuted them, and had them thrown in jail. Yet God forgave him, changed his name to Paul, and he ended up writing more than half of the New Testament.
Rahab was a prostitute, yet God used her to deliver the children of Israel. Nobody is too far gone, no matter what he's done. You need to know that God still loves you. He has a great plan for your life; He has not run out of mercy. If you have asked His forgiveness, God has already forgiven you. The question is: Will you forgive yourself? Will you quit living in guilt and condemnation? Will you let the past be the past and live today in an attitude of faith and victory?
That is what my father had to do. Daddy went through a tragedy early in life. He married quite young, and unfortunately that wasn't one of his better choices. Sadly, the marriage didn't work out, and he went through a divorce. Daddy was heartbroken. His dreams were shattered and he didn't think he would ever preach again. It was one of the darkest hours of Daddy's life. He was tempted to hold on to the hurt and pain, continually blaming himself. He could easily have allowed his disappointment and disillusionment to keep him from moving forward and fulfiling his God-given destiny.
But Daddy had to quit mourning over what he had lost; he had to learn how to receive God's mercy, and to start believing God for something better.
Maybe you've made some serious mistakes; you've done some things that were not the best for your life, and now you're living in guilt, condemnation, or with a sense of disqualification. You will remain trapped in those doldrums unless you learn how to receive God's mercy and forgiveness, and move on with your life.
That is what my father did. Daddy made a decision to receive God's mercy for his mistakes and failures. And little by little God began to restore Daddy's life and ministry. Daddy began to minister again, but he never dreamed he'd get married again and have another family.
Then one day he met a nurse working at one of the hospitals where he visited some of his church members when they were sick. For my Dad, it was love at first sight. He started looking for any reason he could find to stop by that hospital. I mean, he would visit your great-aunt's third cousin's next-door neighbor if you asked him! He was there so much, my mother told one of her friends, 'That minister has the sickest congregation I've ever seen!' She didn't realize at the time that Daddy was there to see her. To make a long story short, they fell in love and got married. God gave Daddy beauty for his ashes, and Daddy went on to touch the world.
He pastored Lakewood Church in Houston for more than 40 years, and today all five of my parents' children are working in the ministry. God took what the enemy meant for evil, and He turned it around and used it for good. But I don't believe that would have happened if Daddy had stayed trapped in the past, focused on his sadness and disappointments. I don't believe it ever would have happened if Daddy had not learned how to receive God's mercy."
Comments
Marriage is forever and nothing will change what God said.
David had severe problems with his kids. One raped another. One killed another. Solomon turned to idolatry and many many wives. Sure God can still use us. He spoke through an ass.
John Osteen was able to build a "ministry", yet no faith to save his marriage.
Saul was unsaved when he was killing Christians. John Osteen was saved when he was divorced. Joel calls what his dad did a mistake, yet God hates divorce and calls it sin.
Rahab wasn't married.
Just because someone builds and makes money proves not spiritual success. Donald trump did it and so did Bill Gates and Ted Turner.
This is precisely why Joel teaches a feel good gospel. He is the product a second marriage.
God can take even evil and use it to do what he promised and this is to bring to pass what he said. But to try and justify sin is wrong and not everyone is ignorant of the Bible and believes this stuff.
Souls are dying and many are telling them God wants to make their creams come true.
The message of the Bible is Christ and death to self and Christ within. John Osteen didn't die to self when he left his wife behind.
We need men who are married once and we have them thank God out there preaching the gospel.
Divorce is sin and God hates it. So does Joel think God stopped hating his dad's divorce?
God doesn't change.
He calls it a mistake and that God turned it around.
No God didn't turn it around.
Osteen turned it around. God's mercy simply permitted it.
God permits many things, but that doesn't mean that is his perfect will.
.
God is a God of Love, He hates sin, however He loves man. No one disputes the fact that God hates the divorce, but not John, however we are under a new covenant established on better promises, so there's no basis of comparison with Saul and David.
God's mercy endures forever, and the blood of Christ is still potent I believe to save the uttermost sin (Hebrews 7:25).
His divorce doesn't make John any less of a child of God, but 1 John 1:9 (written to saints) teaches that God will completely cleanse from all unrighteousness all who confess their sins, and ask for forgiveness, a privilege David and Saul didn't really have (they had a shadow of this promise).
Please study the bible and gain and understanding of the concept of love, as a believing Christian, your badge should be one of love, not condemnation, God NEVER condemns anyone under the New Covenant...so allow the love of God flow through your hearts instead of giving expression to hatred and condemnation!
Well unlike David sons, John Osteen went on and left a talented and loving family behind for us to enjoy and listen to. Because we serve God does not mean our children will, and never has. If that was all it took, then we would not each need the self application of Faith at the Cross. I understand the judgemental comments, but in the end, no one is perfect, and those that think they have it all down, are the best at secret keeping. We succeed because of Gods mercy alone. I love the Osteens, and would travel 6 hours just to listen to John at Lakewood. I am honored to have been around his life.
I have not walked in their shoe's so can't possibly know what they have been through, But I have seen and witnessed God's Divine Nature manifesting in the life of a divorced and remarried Christian and the miracles have been just that! MIRACLES.
Now if our LOVING Heavenly Father can and does use people That have been through divorce and remarriage, who are we to question Him, the people that were healed are still healed and they are grateful to Both God and the Pastor. God's Grace is sufficient for all and every person.
Anonymous please read Ephesians 3:-21
God Bless You.
Rodney WJ Wilkinson
PO Box 25
Guildford 6935
Western Australia.
+6140 6 422 894
May His Richest Blessings be yours. Rodney WJ Wilkinson.
its will be great to see you in pakistan for the work of lord with fellowship youth.
blessings in your work,
"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery and the man who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery."
Step 1: Divorce Your Spouse
Step 2: Remarry Another Person
Step 3: Commit Adultery
Notice AFTER the wedding they are committing adultery with each other.
Notice AFTER the wedding the adultery STARTS.
Are they husband and wife?
Answer: God did not join them at the altar if they are committing adultery that night AFTER they had their wedding ceremony.
Remember--it is impossible for a husband and his wife to commit adultery--WITH EACH OTHER.
If they were really joined as a husband and wife at their remarriage--Jesus would never have called their sexual relationship AFTER this wedding--adultery.
People go to the courthouse to get divorce papers to get them out of their marriage but the papers obviously don’t work because they are still committing adultery AFTER they've done that. Divorce does not make them single if the charge of adultery is still on them AFTER a divorce.
"Look at the legalized adultery we call divorce. Men marry one wife after another and are still admitted into good society; and women do likewise. There are thousands of supposedly respectable men in American living with other men's wives, and thousands of supposedly respectable women living with other women's husbands."
-- R. A. Torrey
R.A. Torrey
Pastor and graduate of Yale University
Superintendent of Moody Bible Institute for 19 years
"A wife is married to her husband as long as he lives."
1 Corinthians 7:39
Divorce + Remarriage = Adultery (Not a legal marriage in the sight of God)
This is the first generation that believes God accepts remarriage, if your spouse has not died.
http://www.cadz.net/tony.html
I just found this blog after typing John Osteen on google; My english may be a little bad but may you forgive.
I was wondering why should there be so much division and discussion when it comes to the Word.
We all know nobody is perfect.
But may we let God only to juge his kids. Because all we are is just kids before the Father.
I know Paul says in the Bible there should not be many teachers of the Word on the earth. But still there are so many and sometimes we come to wonder if God is there or not. That is normal for we are not God to know what lays in heart.
Only Him knows. We should work for peace. Because He said the the ones who bring peace should be happy. He said in James 2:12 that judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Please my friends, may we be full of Love, and compassion for our mistakes; we all do mistakes and faults before the Father. Should we be sincere in the will of not sinning by the Grace of His spirit.
May the Father strenghen us so that we'll not keep falling, so that our heart will be open to hear the spirit telling to our heart that we are going wrong.
May the lord bring us all to just look after our own relationship with Him instead of looking over our brothers.
We need to be full of love so that the world may see we are disciples.
Sin gets us away from God. But He'll always love us and pray for us to repent.
Lets pray repentance, humility, and peace upon the Body of Christ. No one can say "I have the whole truth"... We are ignorants and God only decide to reveal Himself to who He wants when He wants. May He always find us worthy to have revelation of His Glory and wonderful Love and Word.
Arent we moved to see how christians can get to hurt each others? And destroy peace and unity? Is that the Will of the Father? Im not God, all i can say is I know peace and unity are vertues He loves.
Please brothers, whatever John and Joel says, should we let the Lord be the judge. Because The Bible also says in Romans 14:4 : "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."
Why I say this? not to say we are wrong to wonder, but to plaid for love and mercy. To pray for us to understand how much God wants all creation to Him. Other way He would not have purchase salvation.
He knows sin makes us weak. Thanks The Holy Spirit for his help all the time. He knows everything, all the people who are using His name for their own glory, He perfectly knows them.
Yes we are offended because we so much love the Father we dont want His name to be spoiled, but still Father in heaven knows. And can turn to good if it is His will.
Paul says to support the weak... If our brothers are weak in the spirit, may we come to a point we pray for them to come to truth and stop the evil in their life.
The flesh makes us get close to the devil. Why? because our own lust deceived us. Because the lust of the world capture our eyes. But should we sow hatred for the ones who fail?
We failed also one day. And God was sooooo loving that he got us on our knees, broken.. we were convinced to sin and repented.
That was all i have to say.
Let the love flows.
In this last days, our love shoud not come cold. True love as 1 cor 13 says.
God bless u brothers
The Apostle Paul tells us this in 1 Corinthians 6:15-20," "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”[a] 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body[b] and in your spirit, which are God’s.
While no explicit statement is made that the sexual sins are worse that any other sin, No where in scripture can anyone find a warning against a sin and an explanation of why the sin is so bad, except here in 1 Corinthians 6:15-20.
As far as John Osteen is concerned, he was one of the greatest men of God in our time- and that is coming from a "devout Catholic Christian," who by God's grace understands that as far as is the east is from the west, God remembers our sins no more once they are sincerely confessed and we ask God to be forgiven -as is written by the Psalmist, David in Psalm 103:12 New King James Version
Psalm 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west,So far has He removed our transgressions from us."
In my understanding, God not only forgives us as far as the East is from the West, but remembers them no more!!! as is written in Isaiah 43:25, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more." (Isaiah 43:25).
We are all sinners and fall short of the Glory of God, Romans 3:23. That includes me, John Osteen, and every other person who reads this post.
What is MOST important in our lives is to become so united to "The Will of God," that nothing but the love of Jesus comes out of our mouth and our actions.
I am NOT there yet. I may, and probably won't ever reach that level of holiness, but I have an obligation to keep trying as Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:48 "But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."
In conclusion, let us all pray for ousrselves that God would grant us the grace to have a "desire" to become perfect as He, Jesus" is perfect. Amen!
James M Cirillo Sarasota FL.
There is never a reason for remarriage - not even adultery if one studies the meaning of the word in the Greek it actually means fornication and refers to the before the marriage vows take place.
Divorce is just man's way to allow remarriage.
Also, Paul does not say that believers can remarry if married to unbelievers. He says that the believer is exonerated from divorce if the unbelieving spouse wants to end the marriage. He does not say the believing spouse is "free" to remarry.
1 Corinthians 6:9,10 - Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor "Idolaters" nor male prostitutes nor homosexuals offenders nor thieves nor the greedy will inherit the kinddom of God. What is the point of being washed in the blood of Jesus, or being forgiven if you are still living in sin. John Osteen remarried while his first wife was still alive.
All the self righteous rock throwers.
Hahahahahaha
All fools.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=40732686
John Osteen died later, in 1999.
Divorce is a sin according to the Bible, only death can end a marriage according to Jesus Christ himself in the new testament of grace. God will not change his word or standard to suit anybody's need or 'human mistake'.
John Osteen stands a chance of making it to heaven because his first wife whom he divorced, died four years before him....lucky escape likely due to God's mercy.
However, John's years of a second marriage were technically years of adultery until 1995 when his first wife died....according to Jesus Christ's new testament commandment. You can divorce, but you cannot marry another person as long as your first spouse is alive. Only death can end a marriage, if you don't like this fact, then pick a fight with Jesus Christ and be damned-doomed on the day of judgement to come, when you meet the angry saviour whose holy law you broke.
Paul the apostle clearly states this law of Christ in I Corinthians 7:39 .