Can you tell – can you tell Brian and Jenn how much we’re glad to have them here? Bethel Music. Thank you all so much. Really great today.
Would you mind standing, one last time if you would, I’m very honored to have you with us today. Thanks for coming out. How many of you are visiting? Can we see your hands one more time? Welcome to you, God bless you. A joy to have you here. I’d love to meet you after the service. I’ll be in the lobby back there if you’ve got a little while. But it’s always our joy to have you here. Remember this, your life will go better when you keep God in first place, like you’re doing today. When you walk out the door, say, Lord I thank you, I’m going to flourish this week. When you’re planted in the House of the Lord, you will flourish. So, thanks so much for being here. You make the service better by coming. So many watching and listening on SeriusXM as well.
Hey, also, Bethel, Jenn and Brian, they have their brand new CD, it comes out on Tuesday but it’s here right there in the back; it’s great to have some new music playing in your car and all through your house. But, anyway, thanks for coming out. I’m going to ask you if you see yourself on the screen, can you give our TV audience a great big Lakewood welcome.
God bless you. It’s always a joy to come into your homes and if you’re ever in our area, please drop by and be a part of one of our services. I promise you it will make you feel right at home. Thanks so much for tuning in today and thank you again for coming out. I’d like to start with something funny.
I heard about this little girl, she was sitting in her grandfather’s lap. She noticed how wrinkled his face was. As she contemplated the difference between his and hers, she asked, granddaddy, did God make you? He kind of laughed and said, yes honey He made me a long time ago. She then asked, did God make me? He said, yes, He made you just a little while ago. She thought about it a minute and said, granddaddy, God’s getting better, isn’t He?
Hold up your Bibles, 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. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever-living seed of the word of God. I’ll never be the same, never, never, never. I’ll never be the same, in Jesus’ name. God bless you.
If you’d like to open your Bibles to Corinthians II 12:9. While you’re turning to Corinthians II 12:9, don’t forget we have a great Spanish-speaking service at 1:45, just a little while from now. It’ll be a great service tonight at 7, Bethel Music will be helping to lead our whole young adult worship service. Pastor Nick. If you’re young at heart, you’re welcome to come. Wednesday night our Pastor John Grey is going to be here; it’s a great time on Wednesday nights as well. Come out as often as you can.
One last favor I’ll always ask of you. If you could stay until the end of the service, if you don’t mind, if you would please. I understand if you have to go to work or catch a plane, but please as little walking around as possible, just not to distract others. I’m very much honored to have you here.
I wanted to talk to you about secret frustrations. We can be blessed in many areas, with good health, good family, a good job, but then just have one thing that’s not right, one temptation we can’t seem to overcome, one thing in a relationship that’s not fulfilling. Maybe one nagging health issue. Nobody can see it. On the outside we seem fine, but on the inside we’re frustrated.
I talked to a lady last week. She volunteers as one of our prayer partners. She and her husband have been believing to have a baby for many years with no success. Every so often during the services she’ll pray for people in that same situation who have a child. And over time, again and again, they’ll bring their babies back. So happy. She sees their prayers being answered but her own prayers not being answered. She looks like she’s on top of the word; she’s beautiful, successful, great husband. But what you can’t see is this secret frustration; this one thing she can’t understand.
Life is full of contradictions. You’re helping other people get well but you don’t feel that well. Your coworkers are all being promoted, you’re working just as hard, sacrificing just as much, but nobody notices you. If we’re honest, we all have these secret frustrations, things we know God could change. We know He could open the door, He could remove the temptation, He could give us the baby we’ve been dreaming about, but it’s not happening.
We have to realize God is a sovereign God. We’re not going to understand why everything happens. There are some things that God doesn’t relieve, some situations He waits a long time to change. We have to trust that He knows what’s best for you. Everything that’s not changing, what He’s not removing, if you’ll keep the right attitude, it won’t work against you, it will work for you. Don’t let the contradictions of life cause you to be sour and give up on your dreams.
The Apostle Paul wrote over half of the New Testament. He came from an influential family, was highly educated. God used him in incredible ways. But as effective as Paul was, he had this secret frustration; he called it a thorn in his flesh. Scholars had debated for years whether that was a physical condition, some kind of illness, or whether it was emotional.
People coming against him, the persecution. But whatever this thorn was, whatever was bothering Paul, he asked God 3 times to remove it. One version says he implored God to take it away. That means he gave it his best argument. God, you know I’m doing my best, serving you, writing all of these books, the least you can do is heal me. If anybody had pull with God it would have been Paul. But what’s interesting is God didn’t remove the thorn. He said, Paul my grace is sufficient for you. My power shows up best in weakness.
Is there something you’ve been imploring God to change? A situation in your health, your finance, your relationships? You’ve asked again and again; nothing’s improving. I’m not saying to give up and settle there. What I’m saying is until God removes it, don’t let it steal your joy. Don’t let it sour your life. You have the grace to be there. The right attitude is I’m not going to let this secret frustration, this thorn in my flesh, so to speak, frustrate me anymore. God, I believe your grace is sufficient. Now I know at the right time you’ll change it, but even if you don’t change it, I’m still going to be my best and honor you.
You have to make up your mind that if your spouse never changes, if your health never improves, if you have to put up with that grouchy boss the rest of your life, you are not going to complain, you’re not going to use it as an excuse to slack off. You’re going to tap into this grace. It is sufficient for you. Here’s the key. Don’t stay focused on the frustration. If Paul would have gone around thinking, God why won’t you remove this thorn, why won’t you change my child, why won’t you help my business grow? If he would have stayed focused in the why’s of life, he would have never fulfilled his destiny. Faith is trusting God when life doesn’t make sense.
A man named Smith Wigglesworth was one of the great ministers of the early 1900s. He would have large meetings where he would see hundreds of people heal all kinds of miracles. But most of Wigglesworth’s life, he suffered from kidney stones. Many times he would leave the services in so much pain that he couldn’t walk, had to go home and lay on the floor, hour after hour, to try to get some kind of relief.
Here he had just seen all of these great miracles, but he didn’t see his own miracle. He could have gotten bitter; God this is not fair, you healed them, why don’t you heal me? No, he had this attitude your grace is sufficient for every situation, even when I don’t understand it, even when it doesn’t make sense, God I trust you. I’m not going to let this secret frustration keep me from my destiny.
If you’re going to reach your highest potential, you can’t be a weakling. You have to be a warrior. There will be things you don’t understand, things that don’t make sense. But God knows what He’s doing. His ways are better than our ways. He is the potter, we are the clay. When it’s time to be removed, He will remove it. Until then, dig your heels in, fight the good fight of faith. You have the grace you need for every situation.
When Jesus healed a man that had been crippled for 38 years, there by the Pool of Bethesda, God told him to get up and take up his bed and walk. I believe it was significant that he asked him to take his bed with him. He didn’t need it anymore after all, but God was saying this thing that’s held you back, this thing that’s kept you from being your best for so many years, I want you to take it with you as a reminder of what I’ve done in your life. Even though he could walk, even though he didn’t need the bed, it remained a part of his life. It was a contradiction; I’m healed, I’m healthy, I can walk, but I’ve still got my bed.
Imagine him going to help someone else that is struggling. They’d look at him and go how can you help me? You’ve still got that bed. You’re still carrying around that thing that held you back. He said, no, it’s not what you think; it’s not a limitation to slow me down, it’s a testimony of what God has done in my life. This bed may look like a liability, but really it’s an asset. Every time I see it, it reminds me to give God praise; it reminds me where He brought me from. It reminds me that if He can do it for me once, He can do it for me again. What am I saying?
Even though God frees you from certain things, you may still have your bed. You may still be tempted in that same area. The weakness, the limitation, may not totally gone away. One reason God doesn’t remove the bed totally is not to slow you down, give you an excuse to go back, but rather to remind you of where you came from. That bed is not there to discourage you but to inspire you.
I’ve been ministering now for close to 15 years. When I first started, I was so nervous, intimidated. I was – thank you but, I was insecure and I didn’t really feel qualified. Over the last few years, of course, I’ve grown and become more confident. But the truth is God didn’t make me into a different person. When I get up here, you may not see it but I still have my bed. Those weaknesses, those limitations, come back from time to time. But I don’t see them the same way. They don’t intimidate me. They remind me of my dependency on God.
Another reason God doesn’t totally remove the bed is because if you think you can do it all on your own, you’ve got it all figured out, you don’t need His help, before long you’ll be back to where you were. But if you’ll see the weakness, the temptation, as a reminder to ask God for His help, to show your dependency on Him, then you will continue to rise higher in spite of what comes against you.
Now I can say I’ve got my bed but I’m the Pastor of the Church. I’ve got my bed but I’m healthy, happy, victoriously. In the Old Testament, God told Moses to go tell Pharaoh to let the people go. Moses said, God how would he know that you sent me? I don’t come from an influential family. What makes you think Pharaoh’s going to listen to me? God told Moses to throw his staff on the ground. When he did, it turned into a snake. He picked it back up and it turned back into a staff.
He told him to put his arm in his coat. When he pulled it out it was filled with leprosy. He pulled it in and then pulled it back out; it was clean as can be. God was showing him these signs so he would go in with confidence, knowing that Pharaoh would listen to him. But Moses had another concern. He said, God I can’t stand before Pharaoh, I stutter; I’ve got a problem with my speech. You would think since God just showed him these great miraculous signs, God would simply touch his tongue, make him normal, and take away the stuttering.
But God didn’t do that. He didn’t remove the problem. He was saying to Moses what He said to Paul; Moses, my grace is sufficient, my power shows up best in weaknesses, and Moses if I needed to remove that stuttering so that you could fulfill your destiny I would have removed it.
Are you waiting for God to remove something before you can be happy? Before you can pursue a dream? Before you can finish school? If God hasn’t removed it, it’s not an accident. You don’t have to put your life on hold because you have a secret frustration. You have everything you need to fulfill your destiny.
The Scripture talks about how we have treasure in these earthen vessels. All of us have imperfections in our clay vessels. In other words, there’s probably at least one thing that God is not removing that we could easily be irritated by, live frustrated. Lord, if I didn’t have this back pain, have to struggle with this weight issue, didn’t have this coworker that gets on my nerves, this legal problem. Or how about if I hadn’t have gone through a bad childhood, the divorce, the hurt, the pain.
Whatever your thorn is, God is saying to us what He said to Paul, my grace is sufficient. Quit fighting it, quit letting it steal your joy. When it’s time to be removed, God will remove it. Until then, tap into this grace. God, my life is in your hands. You know what I want, you know my dreams, you know what’s bothering me; I may not understand it, it may not make sense, but God I trust you.
Here’s a key. If God is not removing it, it’s not an accident. There is a reason. Paul thought the thorn in his flesh was to keep him from being puffed up and too proud. Maybe that was true. Only God knows. But that secret frustration may just be a time of testing where you have to prove to God that you’re going to be content and do your best even though it’s not going your way. You’re going to keep giving, even though you’re not receiving.
You’re going to keep honoring Him, even though you’re not seeing things change. God could be using that to grow you up and develop your character. Some things we can only learn through experience. We can’t learn through reading a book or listening to a message. The Scripture says, our faith is tried in the fire of affliction. That’s where our spiritual muscles are developed. You can’t get stronger if you’re not put under any pressure. You have to work out, exercise your faith; it may not be comfortable, you may not like it, but if you’ll stick with it, it’s not working against you, it’s working for you. You’re growing, you’re coming up higher; you’re getting prepared for new levels.
See, you can’t be promoted without preparation. God won’t give you a 100lb blessing if He knows you can only lift 50lbs. If He gave you the 100lbs, it wouldn’t be a blessing, it would be a burden. It wouldn’t help you; it would hurt you. He’s got to get you prepared. Your gifts can take you to a certain level but if you don’t have the character to match you won’t stay there very long. Character is developed in the tough times. When we’re not getting our way, but we keep doing the right thing. Like Paul, we’ve asked God a lot more than 3 times to remove it. God, get this person out of my life that gets on my nerves. God, give me that child, God, change my spouse. While God is changing it, until He removes it, if you will stay in faith, not get bitter, not give up on your dreams, here’s the beauty. Even if the situation doesn’t change, you will change. God is growing you up, getting you prepared for new levels of your destiny.
I’ve learned, your character is more important than your talent. You can have all of the talent in the world but if you don’t have strong character you’re not going to go very far. We can all trust God in the good times that’s easy. I’m asking you, can you trust Him with the secret frustrations? The things that are not changing. You prayed and believed but He’s not removing it. The question is not only can you trust God but, more importantly, can God trust you? Will you pass the test, stay in faith, even when you don’t understand it?
My parents started Lakewood Church with 90 people in 1959. A few years later, my father put somebody else in charge so he could leave the Church and travel the world. He would go and hold these large crusades, 50,000 people in other countries. He was living his dream. Life was good. But around 1966 he knew he was supposed to come back and pastor Lakewood once again. My mom said, John when Houston hears you’re back, they’re going to come out by the thousands. Well Houston heard but Houston didn’t care. They stayed away by the thousands.
Now, instead of speaking to big crowds like my dad was used to, he was speaking to these 90 people. Three times a week, year after year. He thought, oh, I know I have more in me. I’m being my best, I’m honoring you, but nothing’s changing, I’m not seeing any growth. A secret frustration. But what my father didn’t realize is something was changing. Not the size of the congregation. He was changing. He was developing character. He was proving to God that he would be faithful in the tough times. If you’re not faithful in the wilderness, how can God trust you to be faithful in the promise land?
My father on the outside was happy; he gave his best to those 90 people. But deep down he has to deal with this secret frustration. In 1972, it was like God opened up a faucet. People started coming to Lakewood from all over the city; it grew and grew to a Church of thousands. It’s still growing today.
But maybe, like my father, you’re doing the right thing but not seeing any growth, not being promoted, it’s frustrating. It may not look like anything’s happening on the outside but if you’ll keep being your best, something’s happening on the inside. God is changing you. He is growing you up. He’s getting you prepared.
Now, keep doing the right thing. Keep being good to other people. Keep having that spirit of excellence. Too many people let these secret frustrations cause them to get bitter, give up on their dreams, lose their passion. Recognize it’s a test. If you will stay in faith, God will get you to where you’re supposed to be.
Genesis 29, there’s this story of 2 sisters, Rachel and Leah. When a young man named Jacob saw Rachel, he fell head over heels for her. It was love at first sight. You see, Rachel was extremely attractive. The Scripture says, she was beautiful in every way, with a lovely face and a shapely figure. Let me tell you, when God says you are fine, you are bad to the bone. Rachel had it going on.
Jacob, he didn’t even think twice. He went straight to her dad Leben and said, can I marry your daughter? Leben said, yes you can but you have to first work for me for 7 years. He worked those 7 years, was so excited, but Leben tricked Jacob. At the weddings in those days they wore very thick veils. You couldn’t tell who was in there. And of course he thought it was Rachel but in fact it was Leah. The Scripture says, Leah had weak eyes and was dog looking. I’m not sure what weak eyes means but I know what dog looking is, I’ve got a brother named Paul. I couldn’t resist. Don’t show Paul anymore.
No offence to Leah but Rachel got the looks in the family. I forgot what I’m talking about now. So, at the wedding, Jacob had a little too much to drink. He woke up the next morning, looked over in bed and there was weak eyes looking back at him. He nearly passed out. He ran to Leben’s house, what do you mean? This is not the deal we cut. I wanted Rachel not Leah. He said, I understand Jacob, but it’s our custom that the oldest daughter has to get married off first. Work for me for another 7 years and I’ll let you marry Rachel. He did it and finally got to marry her. Love makes you do dumb things.
But I’m sure when people saw Rachel around town, so beautiful, they thought that’s one blessed woman. She’s so stunning, she has a husband that adores her, she comes from a good family, but what they couldn’t see was Rachel had a secret frustration. Her dream was to have a baby but she was barren. She couldn’t conceive. Year after year, no baby. I can hear her every night, God please give me a child. Please remove this baroness. God, I want a baby.
On the other hand, her sister Leah gave Jacob one son after another. Four boys, strong, handsome, good looking, life was good for Leah. She was seeing a dream come to pass. But Leah too had a secret frustration. The Scripture says that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. I can hear Leah every night, God why won’t my husband love me more?
The point is, everyone is dealing with something, whether you’re a Rachel blessed in this area or a Leah blessed in this area. There will be areas that can frustrate you, things that you don’t understand. Things that God is not removing. You have to make up your mind you are not going to let it sour your mind. Do what you can, trust God to do what you can’t. The right attitude is, God I’m not going to live my life sour. If this never changes, if I never have a child, I’m still going to be happy. If my life never improves, I’m still not going to be sour. If I see somebody that’s more talented, more beautiful, has more, I’m not going to be envious or jealous. I’m at peace with who I am.
When you stay in peace, not trying to figure out why they could have the baby, why she’s more beautiful, why her husband loves her more, no, let that go. You’re never going to understand it. If you’ll live in peace, God will remove what needs to be removed. He will change what needs to be changed.
This is what happened with Rachel. Years later, God removed the barrenness. She had a son named Joseph. That secret frustration was taken away. For most of my father’s life, he suffered with high blood pressure. He was constantly trying to find new medicine to control it. Many times the side effects would make him feel bad. Nobody knew the Scripture more than my dad and nobody had more faith. But for some reason God didn’t take it away. But I never heard my dad complain.
His attitude was God I’m going to be my best, whether you heal me of this high blood pressure or whether you don’t. He had a made-up mind. Toward the end of his life, the medicine would make him dizzy. He couldn’t sleep a lot of nights. He would come in Sundays and preach his heart out. Nobody even knew it. He could have thought, God I’ve served you for over 50 years. The least you could do is answer my prayer.
No, he didn’t let the secret frustration keep him from his destiny. He trusted God that it didn’t make sense. When he was 77 years old, he had to go on dialysis. He couldn’t sleep one night. He called my brother-in-law Gary and asked if he’d come over and visit with him. Around one in the morning, they were talking and Gary asked my father what he thought about the difficulties he was going through. My dad said, Gary I don’t understand it all but I know this, His mercy endures forever.
Those were the last words my father ever spoke. A few seconds later, he had a heart attack and went to be with the Lord. That was 16 years ago Friday. But I love the fact that even though God didn’t remove it daddy didn’t get bitter. He died in faith. Whatever secret frustration you’re facing, you have to make this decision like my father that even if it never changes that you’re going to keep believing. We too are going to die in faith.
This is what 3 teenagers did in the Scripture. They wouldn’t bow down to the King’s golden idle. He was so furious he was going to have them thrown into a fiery furnace. They said, King, we’re not worried, we know our God will deliver us, but even if He doesn’t we’re still not going to bow down. That’s the key. Believe for your dreams. Believe for God to turn the situation around. Then take it one step further. Even if it doesn’t happen my way, even if I don’t get delivered, God, I’m still going to be happy. God, if you turn it around I’m going to give you praise and if you don’t turn it around I’m still going to give you praise.
You live like that and all of the forces of darkness cannot stop you. Friends, don’t let these secret frustrations keep you from your destiny. Have a new perspective. You have the grace you need for every situation. If God is not removing it, there’s a reason. Don’t try to figure it out; trust in it. If you do this, I believe and declare, God is going to change what needs to be changed. He’s going to remove what needs to be removed. You’re going to rise higher, overcome obstacles, and become everything God’s created you to be. In Jesus’ name. If you receive it, can you say Amen today?
We never like to close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I’ll repent of my sins, come into my heart, I’ll make you my Lord and Savior.
Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in a good Bible-based Church, keep God in first place, He’s going to take you places that you’ve never dreamed.
Let me pray for you, as well. Stay with me for 5 minutes. Lord, I thank you for what we’ve heard. I know it falls on great ground the faithful people of Lakewood and so many who are listening, as well. Lord we’re going out of here today with a greater trust for you, knowing that you’re in complete control. With our heads bowed in prayer, let me ask you, if your heart stopped beating in the next few minutes, are you at peace with God? Do you know where you’d spend eternity? If not, I would love to pray for you. In just a moment, if you’re not at peace, I want to ask you to take a step of faith and stand right where you are. Maybe you just need to rededicate your life to Christ, a new beginning, whatever that is.
The good news is, God’s not mad at you. Your sins have already been forgiven. Will you accept this free gift of Christ salvation? The enemy in your thoughts will say don’t stand up, do it next week. Or you’d be a hypocrite, you haven’t lived the right kind of life. Listen, you don’t come to Christ because you’re perfect. You come to Him just as you are. He’s standing before you with His arms held open wide. But you say, Joel it’s embarrassing to stand in front of everyone. This is what Jesus said, if you won’t be ashamed of me before people, I won’t be ashamed of you before my Father in heaven.
I want to give you a great opportunity to show God that you’re not ashamed of Him. When I ask you if you’re not at peace with the Lord or you just need to rededicate and recommit your life to Christ, if that’s you would you be bold, take a step of faith, and stand right where you are, we’re going to pray together, would you do that? Come on, Lakewood. Let’s give Him a hand, as they stand all in the building. Come on. Don’t put it off. How about up at the top? Anybody else? Take a step of faith, be bold, and get on the road to victory. You can do it this morning.
Well, God bless you. Please remain standing, if you would. Let me tell you, we’re proud of you. More importantly, I know the angels are rejoicing in the heavens right now. It’s going to be a new beginning in your life.
We prayed once but let’s do it one more time. Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins, come into my heart, I make you my Lord and Savior. Amen.
Remain standing one more moment. Let me tell you how much we love you. I give you a personal invitation and a challenge to come back and be with us on a regular basis. We ask new believers, give us at least a year of your life. Come as often as you can; your life will never be the same.
We’ve got a great reception up here with my brother Paul.
I’ll be in the lobby. When you come back next week, don’t come alone. Bring somebody with you, your friends, your family members. Know this. The moment you stood up, God washed away all of your sins, all of your mistakes, all of your failures. You’re starting with a fresh clean slate. Write it down in your Bible, January 25, 2015, a new day of victory in your life. Amen. Let’s all stand together if you would please. Thanks so much for coming out. How many of you are going home better off than you were before? Amen.
Alright, I’ll speak a final blessing. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord show you His mercy and have favor on you. May the Lord watch over you and give you His peace. God bless you. Have a great week, a faith-filled week. We’ll see you back soon. We love you.
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God bless you and we welcome you today to Lakewood. Thanks so much for coming out. How many of you are ready to worship the Lord today? God’s been good to you this week and it is always our joy and honor to have you here and so many watching and listening as well. It’s another beautiful day the Lord has made. We can say it like David, we are choosing to rejoice, to be glad. What you’re doing with me today is you’re recognizing that this day is a gift from God. I mean, the fact that we can get out of bed and be here together and have arms that work and eyes that see, that’s the blessing of God in our life.
I realize that life is so much about perspective. Because you can focus on what’s wrong and something relatively small can steal your joy. But you can choose to do what we do and say God we’re going to focus on what’s right today. We’ve got more going for us today than there are going against us, so you know when you have that grateful attitude and you know it doesn’t mean that everything’s perfect in your life but it means that you’re choosing to believe that God is on the throne, that He’s fighting your battles, that nothing you’re facing is a surprise to Him.
When you do that, you can live in victory. Even in the midst of difficult times.
But we welcome you. How many of you are visiting? If you would just slip your hands up. I want to welcome you especially; God bless you. So glad to have you here today. Make yourselves at home. We’re very blessed today to have Bethel Music with us today. This is Brian and Jenn. Brian over here, Jenn over here. Really great worship leaders and you know we sing a lot of their songs. You’ll recognize many of these that they’ve written. But we’re blessed to have the best here at Lakewood. To have you as well. Thanks for coming out. We’re going to have a great service.
Victoria:
Amen, it’s great to be in the House of the Lord. I believe you’ve come in with great expectation. Let’s just shake off anything that’s trying to hold us back. Because this is the time that God wants to strengthen us. He wants to fill us with His wisdom, His knowledge, His understanding. He wants to do something inside of us as we’re praising Him and giving Him His glory. You know, sometimes we can face circumstances and they seem so big, they seem so complicated. We just focus on those circumstances, try to figure how we’re going to work things out, but, you know what, this is the time to remind ourselves we don’t have to focus on those circumstances, those distractions, those things that are trying to pull us down.
We need to focus on Almighty God. And we need to say who God is today. That He is King of Kings. He is Lord of Lords. It doesn’t matter what’s going on in our lives. God hasn’t fallen off the throne. God’s still in control of our life and He still loves us. And He wants to get us to where we need to be. So let’s just let those circumstances fall off of us right now and let’s absolve the King of Kings. The one who’s worthy of our praise and worthy of our attention. That’s when we’ll come back to that place of peace, that’s when we’ll find that strength that He has for us. And that’s when we’ll go out and be all that God calls us to be. Amen.
Hey listen, remember this, this is our time to sing and worship. It doesn’t matter how you sound because let me tell you something the person on the left and on the right they don’t sound any better than you do. So just sing, just give praise to God, shout the victory, and let’s get in his presence. Amen.
Father, we thank you God. We thank you that you are here in the midst of us. Father, we acknowledge your name and the greatness of who you are. God, thank you that you love us with an everlasting love. That you’re not disappointed in us but you love us today. We lean into that love, God. And we worship you, and we thank you, in Jesus’ name. And everyone say, Amen. Thank you, Lord.
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Lord, God, we love you today. We know you are alive. Lord, we thank you that you didn’t stay in the grave but you came out of that grave and today we celebrate your goodness. Lord we thank you for the opportunity to be here in your presence, Lord, with family and friends. We know that you did give us the strength to get out of bed today. You said you chose us before we could choose you. So, we stand here as people of destiny, knowing who we are and whose we are, children of the Most High God, redeemed and forgiven. As we start this new week off, Lord we commit our lives fresh and anew into your hands. We say you’re our Lord, our God, and our Savior. Make us and mold us into who you want us to be.
Lord, I thank you that you’re opening the right doors, closing the wrong doors, bringing the right people across our path, weeding out those that should not be there. Lord, I thank you that we will fulfill the best path that you’ve laid out for each one of us. Lord, we’ve all made mistakes, made wrong turns, but we believe your mercy is bigger than any mistake we’ve ever made.
That you can still get us to where we’re supposed to be.
So, we’re shaking off the old, the guilt, the condemnation, the voices that try to push us down. And, Lord, we know who you say we are, that we are redeemed, that we are more than conquerors. That we are well able to do what you called us to do. Lord, I think that in 2015 we’ll step into a new level of our destiny. That we will not be at this same place next year as we are right now but we are moving forward, closer in our walk with you, healthier and stronger, better off in our career, our finances, better off in our relationships.
Lord, I thank you that we will not get stagnant but you said the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter.
Lord, I believe that’s each one of us, every person under the sound of my voice, and Lord I thank you right now that you’re just reigning down healing upon all those that need it. Lord, we know that you made our bodies; there’s nothing too hard for you. I thank you Lord the number of our days that you will fulfill.
That you’re bigger than sickness, cancer, heart trouble, diabetes, whatever it may be. Lord, we commit our life into your hands. We thank you that you’re restoring health into us, that we will finish our course healthy, whole, strong. Not only physically but Lord restore the relationships, restore joy and peace. Lord, I just thank you that not one of us will go out of here in the same way we came in but you are filling us to overflowing right now.
And I declare for us all that we are strong in the Lord. We are blessed, we are prosperous, redeemed, forgiven, talented, creative, disciplined, focused, confident, secure, prepared, qualified, motivated, equipped, empowered, anointed, accepted, and approved. Not average, not mediocre, but masterpieces handpicked by the Creator of the Universe.
Lord, we thank you for all you’ve done in the past but we thank you in advance, 2015 will be our due season year, our best year so far. In Jesus’ name. Come on, give the Lord one more shout of praise today. Victors, not victims.
I tell you, what I believe is happening in the unseen realm while we worship God and sing these songs of praise and victory, God is breaking chains that have held you back. He’s going before you, moving the wrong people out of the way, opening up the right doors. Praise precedes the victory. Sometimes you may not see it, you may not even feel it, but you’ve got to walk by faith and say God I know you’re on the throne of my life, that you can get me to where I’m supposed to be.
Let’s be believers and not doubters. I think it’s so important how we start the New Year. I know I’ve been talking about it a lot but many times how we start the year will determine what kind of a year we’re going to have. You can’t afford to start the year off in neutral, Joel I’m just believing to make it through 2015 like I made it through 2014. Why don’t you take the limits off of God? Say, God I believe 2015’s going to be my best year, a year where I’ll step up into new levels of my destiny.
A due season year. It means that promises come to pass that you’ve been standing on. It means you break bad habits that have held you back. It means that your family members come to know the Lord and serve Him with their whole hearts.
So, let’s take the limits off of God. You know, doubts and things will come but you’ve just got to get up every morning and say God I know you’re bigger than anything that I’m facing. You may have a big problem but let me encourage you like we’re singing, we have a big God, one touch of His favor can turn any situation around. When you believe, all things are possible. How many of you are believers in here today and not doubters? I know you are victors, not victims. It’s going to be an amazing year and a blessed week.
I believe the tide of the battle is beginning to turn. Anything that’s trying to hold you back, you get a vision for it on the inside and I believe you’ll see it come to pass on the outside. Well we’re going to take a few moments to pray over your needs. If there’s anything that you would like prayer individually for, it’d be our joy and honor to pray for you.
During this next song, there’ll be prayer partners all over the building, even up top if you need prayer we’ll be happy to be with you. Everyone else, if you’ll be seated. We’re going to sing a couple more songs. But come on down if you need prayer. God bless you today.
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Victoria:
Praise you Jesus. If you’ve had life imparted in you today, if you know that being in the presence of Almighty God has strengthened you, it’s imparted and added to your life today, let’s tell God a great big thank you. Let’s give Him one more great big shout of praise. Thank you God, we believe in you today. We believe it makes a difference to serve you, God. We believe we’re better because we’ve been in your presence.
Thank you, God. We love you, we call you King of Kings, we call you above every one of our circumstances, we say that you are able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think. So God we remain in your presence, even when we leave this place. We believe we remain with you, and you with us, and that God we will attain the victory and will always resound a great big thank you God. Amen. Amen, Amen. You may be seated.
It’s so good to be in the House of the Lord. Amen.
Jesus overcame so we can overcome. Amen. You know, it’s like having this big brother. I have a big brother. Some of you have big brothers, big sisters. You know, it’s great when they succeed. Because, you know what, you think, I can do that. If they can do that, I can do that. So if you’re a big brother or big sister today I want to encourage you to do your best, just for the young ones behind you. Because, you know, it just does something to you when you have an example. And Jesus is our example. He is the example. And the Bible says, Jesus was tempted in every way that we were, but He was without sin. He overcame.
See, it took Jesus to overcome so that we could overcome. So today if you feel down and discouraged get in the Bible and read about your big brother Jesus. Read about how He overcame. Read about how He accomplished it. And follow his example. Because you have the same DNA as Jesus does. You may think today that you come from the wrong family, maybe there’s too much stuff in your family and, you know, you feel like you see yourself repeating that. Well if you are born again, if you know that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, you’ve been recreated, you are born anew, and you have the same DNA as Heaven. You can overcome.
One thing that I think gets in our way of overcoming is the word “if.” The big “if.” Think about that word for just a minute. If. See, if implies uncertainty. It implies doubt. It implies impossibility. If, if. You know, if I’ll ever get well. If I ever lose this weight. If my children ever get on course. If I could overcome these addictions and these bad habits, I know things would change in my life. If I could do that. But see it’s not a matter of if today. I want you to don’t be tempted with the word “if.” With the big if. It’s not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when. See, when you serve Jesus Christ it’s when you’re going to overcome, it’s when you’re going to lose the weight, when your children come back to the Lord. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.
I heard this woman, she has a famous daughter and her daughter is a little bit off-course, let’s just say. She was raised in the Church but she’s not actually singing songs to the Lord. And someone said well you know your daughter was raised in Church and what do you think about that? And this was an interview in a big magazine. And she said, you know what, for me, in my house, we serve the Lord. The Bibles says train up a child in the way they should go and they’ll never depart from it. See, she didn’t answer the “if.” She didn’t answer the big if.
She answered, when. You see, when. It’s not a matter of if you’re coming out today, it’s a matter of when we’re coming out today, okay. It’s just a matter of when. We have just got to follow the example of Jesus.
He was in the wilderness, it says in Matthew 4. He’d been fasting 40 days and 40 nights. He was hungry. He was tired. And it said He was in the wilderness so obviously He was alone. And guess who showed up? The big if. The big, ugly if showed up. The Bible says that the enemy came and tempted Jesus. Now, before Jesus arrived in the wilderness, let’s just look at what happened to him. He was baptized by his cousin John and as He came up out of the water the Holy Spirit and a dove descended upon him, and the Scripture says that a booming voice came out of Heaven and said this is my son, who I am well pleased.
He had not started His public ministry yet. The Bible says that the spirit led him in the desert. He had the spirit of God on Him. He found Himself in the wilderness, in the desert. And the big if came. Okay, He was tired, He was weary, He was alone. And this is what the enemy said to him, said if you are the Son of God you’re so hungry you’re so tired why don’t you take these mere stones right here and turn them into bread? You can do that. Well, it wasn’t Jesus’ time yet.
See, the enemy was offering him a temporary solution. But, Jesus wasn’t interested in a temporary fix. He was interested in an eternal glory. He was interested in permanency. He was interested in God’s plan, not the enemy’s plan. You know, have you ever found yourself in the wilderness, alone and tired? You know, the enemy is so good at taking us from hero to zero. Just a minute ago, the dove came out of Heaven saying He was the Son of God, but the enemy wanted Him to think, are you really? If you are, why don’t you do something to prove it? This is between me and you, you don’t have to know who you are, it’s between me and you. Do some things that, you know, are prideful, to prove it. The truth of the matter is, Jesus wasn’t interested in that. And He came back at the enemy. He resisted that big if by simply saying, he doesn’t live on bread alone but by every word that precedes out of the mouth of God.
He was saying, God is my supply, God is my provider. I don’t need to show you anything. I don’t need to be tempted by your if, if I’m the Son of God prove it to me. I know who I am. Isn’t that just like the enemy? He’s always trying to undermine our confidence. He’s always trying to dispute our worth. He’s always trying to knock us out of the position of being in Christ Jesus and the authority and the power and the ability, the grace that goes with that. I want to encourage you today. It’s not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when.
When the big if comes, I want you to do exactly what your big brother Jesus did, and give that big if a when. When, when I come out of this. Don’t let him say if, if God loves you. If God loved you, this wouldn’t be happening to you. If God loved you, your children would be in Church. If God was a healer, you wouldn’t be sick.
See, he wants to demise you, he wants to reduce you to who he is. But, you are a child of the Most High God. You belong in heavenly places. You can fight the enemy with spiritual weapons. See, Jesus was weak. Jesus was lonely. Jesus was tired. Do you notice that in His humanity, He was weak? But when we’re weak, guess what, the word of God is strong in us. The spirit of God works through us. So I just want to encourage us to remember that if we’re going to overcome we’ve got to get rid of the if’s and we have to take hold of the when’s. We have to use God’s word for us because the enemy is going to try to use it against us. But we’ve got to take it up and we’ve got to wield the sword.
Listen, Jesus was tempted that day in the wilderness. But temptation isn’t sin. It’s when we act on the temptation. It’s when we do it our way. It’s when we try to figure it out in our own strength. It’s when we try to have a temporary fix when we really need a long-term solution. See, it’s not sin until we go down that road. And the enemy wants us to get way down the road because if He can get you far enough down the road then he knows it’s going to take you a long time to get back.
But today I want to tell you God does not tempt us. And He promises that you won’t be tempted beyond what you can bear. But, with that temptation, He’ll make a way of escape.
But see it’s you and I that have to find that way of escape. We have to just take up our sword and we have to wield it to take ourselves out of there. Because even when your situation seems uncertain and you don’t know what to do, I want to tell you a little secret today, God is certain about your future. He’s not saying if my children are going to come out of that, He’s saying when they are going to come out. And I know as soon as they take my word and they begin to fight with the word of God and not the flesh that they’re going to come out of this thing.
See, He’s certain of what He’s put into you today. He knows you have everything you need to succeed. He knows that temptation is not too much for you because with the spirit of God and the word of God you’re going to overcome, you’re going to be victorious, God is for you, He’s not against you. Don’t run from the enemy. The Bible says, submit yourself then unto God. Submit yourself unto God.
Resist the enemy, and He’ll flee from you.
Listen to this, I love what the Amplified says. It says, so let God work His work in you. Yell a ‘no’ to the devil and watch him scamper. Sometimes we’ve just go to yell a great big “no devil.” That reminds me of mamma, where is she? No devil. She’s yelling at the devil all the time. And that’s good. We need to yell at the devil. We need to say a great big no, not this time, I’m not going down that road.
I’m not going to feel bad about myself because you’re telling me to, because the voices of doubt and unbelief and uncertainty are trying to drag me off. That’s not a sin. I’m standing my ground, I’ve got my sword, and I’m going to stay in my position. Amen?
Amen. He’s an awesome God. And He has made a way for us. We’re going to continue to worship the Lord as we bring you our tithes and our offerings. We’re cheerful givers here at Lakewood. Thank you so much for trusting this Ministry with your tithe. The tithe belongs to God; He’s given it to you so that you can bring it to the storehouse, which is the local Church.
And God’s really entrusted every one of us with a tithe. And that’s the first 10% of our income and that’s found in Malachi 3. It would really be a good thing if you’re new to the Church or you don’t know about the tithes to get into Malachi 3 and read what God says about the tithe and how it’s set apart already; it’s holy unto Him. And He wants to entrust us with that. What He means by that is that He wants us to bring it back to Him. He wants us to put it back into our work, into the local Church.
He said that when we do that, it opens up the windows of Heaven and He is able to pour down blessing on us. You know, some of you have felt childlike faith before. You’ve done it in childlike faith and it’s worked because God honors faith. But some of you today have had to have your faith tested. And you’ve had to have your faith tried in the furnace of affliction. And you know what came out – pure gold. So, some of you have some really strong faith today. No matter where you are in your faith, God is going to help you. Trust Him. Trust Him with what is really precious. He knows where your heart is, where your treasure is, where your heart will be also. He knows that we need finances. He knows.
He knows that it’s the great exchange on this Earth. Trust Him with the tithe. Trust Him with what’s already His and let Him open up the windows of Heaven and pour out in your life. So many times we receive what we’ve worked for. We pay our bills and we do our thing, and then we give to God.
But, can I challenge you today? Can I say this? Can I say let’s do what God says, and He says bring the tithe first. The first tenth.
When you get your paycheck, when you get what you’ve earned, what you’ve worked for, give it to God first, because I want to tell you something, when you purpose and intend in your heart to seek God first, to honor Him first, I’m telling you the rest of it, the 90%, is going to go way farther than the 100%. You’ve got to get serious with God. Maybe you’re in a financial crisis.
I encourage you today to do exactly what I was talking about; find out where it’s written. Find out about the tithe, see what it says in Deuteronomy. Ask God to show you what He says about a giver. You know what, hold onto that word, submit to that word. Do what that word says. Don’t let the enemy bring a big fat if. If you ever get out of this, then you can give. No. You submit it unto God. You resist those big if’s. And you watch what God will do in your life because He’s a faithful God. Amen.
We love you so much. Go out and make it a great week. God Bless You.