It Changed Positions | Joel Osteen | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

It Changed Positions

Lakewood Church • Oct 12, 2026 • 28 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

When unfair situations, offenses, and disappointments come against us, God gives us the authority to change their position in our lives. Instead of letting worries and hurts sit on the throne of our minds, we can choose to put them under our feet where they belong. As we take a position of rest and trust God to fight our battles, He will turn those very obstacles into footstools that elevate us to higher levels of purpose and victory.

Themes

Rest and Trust in GodOvercoming Offenses and BetrayalSpiritual Authority and DominionGod's Vindication and PromotionReframing Life's Obstacles

Key Points

1.
God does not eliminate every enemy or unfair situation, but He gives you the power to take it off the throne of your life and put it under your feet.
2.
A footstool signifies rest; sitting at God's right hand means you stop trying to fight, worry, or pay people back, and let God be your vindicator.
3.
People are not your true enemy—it is the hurt, rejection, self-pity, or bitterness left behind that you must dethrone.
4.
Words spoken against you do not determine your destiny; God's Word belongs on the throne of your mind, declaring you are a masterpiece created with favor.
5.
While you are striving to fix things in your own strength, God rests; but when you sit in faith and peace, God goes to work on your behalf.
6.
Joseph learned to reign on the inside long before he ever sat on Egypt's throne by putting rejection, false accusations, and forgotten promises under his feet.
7.
An enemy is meant to stop you, but when God turns that enemy into a footstool, it becomes something that elevates you to new levels of favor and influence.
8.
Just as Joshua had his captains place their feet on the necks of defeated kings, you must visualize fear, sickness, and addiction under your feet because God has given you complete victory.

Sermon Moments

“An enemy to a footstool means it changed positions. It used to be over you, but now it's under you.”

“As long as you're working, God will rest. If you'll rest, God will go to work.”

“People are not your enemy... It's what they left in you that can sour your life.”

“Why are you elevating their words over who God says you are? You need to put those discouraging, limiting words under your feet.”

“Joseph learned to reign long before he ever sat on a throne. He knew the secret of how to take what should have been over him and put it under his feet.”

“Enemies oppose your progress, but footstools elevate your progress.”

“Joshua wanted them to have a picture of the enemies under their feet... so that image would be engrained in their thinking.”

This Week

Take worry and bitterness off the throne of your mind and consciously decide to put those negative thoughts under your feet.

Choose to sit and rest in faith rather than trying to get revenge or prove your worth in your own strength.

Separate people from their actions by forgiving those who hurt you and targeting the underlying bitterness or rejection instead.

Replace negative, limiting words spoken over your past with God's promises, declaring that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Trust God during delays and setbacks, knowing He can turn every unfair situation into a footstool to lift you higher.

Visualize your current struggles—whether sickness, addiction, or lack—as defeated enemies lying under your feet.

Speak daily declarations of faith and peace over your mind whenever old offenses or worries try to regain center stage.

Remember This

You have the God-given power to dethrone worry and bitterness from your mind, placing them under your feet so God can turn your greatest obstacles into footstools that elevate your destiny.

A Challenge for You

Keep this picture in your mind that Joshua gave the Israelites: everything that's trying to stop you is under your feet, and as you rest in faith, God will turn your stumbling blocks into stepping stones that launch you into your destiny.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.