This is Your Best Age | Joel Osteen | Lakewood Church Service

((music playing))
 Are you ready to worship this morning? 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 You said it couldn't be 
[singing]
 done. 
((music playing))
 This giant is just too strong. They said you don't have a chance. 
((music playing))
 There's something they don't understand. Armies rise, 
[music and singing]
 battles rage. They're going to bow to the sound of one 
[singing]
 name. When we praise, they all fall.

Our victory's in the 
((music playing))
 Almighty God. Yeah. 
((music playing))
 got the victory. I've got the 
[music and singing]
 victory. I've got his power in me. They're gonna 
[music and singing]
 hear me say I got the victory. I've got the 
((music playing))
 victory. I've got 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 They're gonna hear me say, "I've got the victory." 
((music playing))
 Hey, God bless you today. Thanks for coming out to Lakewood.

How many of you ready to worship the Lord this morning? And God's been good to all of us and brought us through another week. And every time I hear that song, especially walking in, I I I love hearing that cuz you know, life has a way of trying to push us down and well, you got these problems, you got this going on, but how about coming in to say, God, I know you've got the victory in store for me.

And you know, it it's not just wishful thinking, but how about the scripture? Thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph. I love that word always because it could have said, thanks be to God, he causes you to try most of the time. But man, we got an always type of God that he he he can bring you through things and even if it's difficult, God knows how to turn things around and bring you through.

But thanks for coming out today. We we love you guys. We're going to have a great service today. And it's always our prayer that not one of us are going to leave the same way we came in. I don't know if there's things in your life that are, you know, trying to weigh you down or, you know, it's easy just, you know, a little worried.

What's going on in the world? Or I got this health issue, Joel, or these people at work are getting on my nerves. But, you know, this is a perfect time to say, God, I'm going to come back to a place of peace today, a place of trust. I know you're fighting my battles.

Let me tell you, a place of peace is a place of power. 
((music playing))
 That's where God can work in your life. So, as we start the service off singing these songs of praise, not just killing time, we're making God bigger. We're we're thanking God for what he's done. We're we're getting the right perspective, reminding ourselves that, 
((music playing))
 hey, the creator of the universe is on our side.

How about this thought? If God be for you, who dare be against you? So, let's make God big today. And here's my prayer that not one of us will leave the same way we came in. We're going to go out of here with more joy, more faith, and more victory in Jesus name.

But thanks so much. We're honored to have you today. Yes, we are. We are so glad that you're here today. And the Bible says in his presence is fullness of 
((music playing))
 joy. Do you need some fullness today? Do you need some more of God today? I know you do or you wouldn't be here.

I know I do. But you know, sometimes what we have to do is empty out the things that have been going on all week or the things that are trying to distract us or even the things we have to do next week. Sometimes they can take up more space than we'd like.

But this morning, we have the opportunity to enter his presence with joy and thanksgiving in our heart. So, I just want to remind all of us, let's just push out what we have to do next week, what we got to do after church today, and let's just focus on God and continuing to praise him because when we make him big, all of our problems, all the things we have to do become small.

And this is the time that he wants to fill us with his strength, with his peace, with his joy. Man, he can give you an answer today that you don't even know about until next week. He can give you some wisdom that'll show up tomorrow, but it's what are we doing in his presence right now?

And it is a powerful place to stand when you're in the in the company of other believers. You know, the Bible says, "Don't forsake 
((music playing))
 assembling yourself together." I wonder why. I wonder why that was important to God. I believe it was because there's power between all of us and our faith.

You may not need as much faith as your neighbor does or the person sitting a few rows back, but because of your 
((music playing))
 faith, God is going to work. So, let's enter into his presence with praise and thanksgiving, knowing that miracles are going to take place in our midst because you can't be in the presence of almighty God without things changing in your life.

Amen. Father, we thank you so much for this day, Lord. Thank you that we have believers on each side of us, Father, and that we are strong in the faith. 
((music playing))
 And so, Father, we have come to simply tell you that we love you, that we praise you, God.

We want to be open to receive 
((music playing))
 everything that you have for us. So, we say today that you are amazing, you are wonderful, and we are glad to be in your presence. And it's in Jesus' name we pray. And everyone said, "Amen." 
((music playing))
 Oh, I won't 
((music playing))
 be silent for the Lord 
[singing]
 is in this place.

Oh, I won't keep quiet cuz 
((music playing))
 he's worthy of all praise. He has been good. He has been kind. He has been 
((music playing))
 faithful all the time. Now with everything within 
((music playing))
 me I will say. Church we sing today. 
((music playing))
 Oh praise the Lord of all creation. 
((music playing))
 Praise his name forever more.

Oh, from the earth 
((music playing))
 unto the heavens. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 for the Lord is in this 
((music playing))
 room. No, we can't be quiet cuz his power is 
((music playing))
 breaking through. Great is the name above every 
((music playing))
 kingdom His will reign 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 We praise you 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 There's no one higher. There's no one higher. 
[singing and music]
 There's no one 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Praise his name forever more.

((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 everything with breath come praise the Lord. 
((music playing))
 Hey, 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 there is nothing 
((music playing))
 that my God can't do. I've seen 
((music playing))
 him move the mountains. He's got nothing left to prove. 
((music playing))
 So when I see a giant up ahead, I will keep 
((music playing))
 relying on this truth and not forget. Come on church, let's 
((music playing))
 declare that God didn't lead us this far to leave us where we are.

Even 
((music playing))
 here, even now, he'll finish what he starts. 
((music playing))
 If he's done it before, he'll do it again. Even here, 
((music playing))
 even now. He's faithful to the end. 
((music playing))
 There is 
[music and singing]
 nothing that my God can't do. 
((music playing))
 He conquered sin and death. Now he's got nothing left to prove. 
((music playing))
 So if 
[singing]
 I need reminding here again, 
((music playing))
 your resurrection 
[singing]
 power gives me faith for 
((music playing))
 what comes next.

((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Right here, right now. Let this 
((music playing))
 place become your 
[singing]
 holy ground. As 
((music playing))
 the praises rise, the walls come down. So until we see it, 
((music playing))
 yeah, we'll keep on singing. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 right now 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Yes, you 
((music playing))
 are Lord. Faithful to 
[singing]
 faithful father, faithful 
((music playing))
 to the end. 
((music playing))
 A faithful 
((music playing))
 
[singing]
 friend. We lift up this praise to you, Lord, right here, 
((music playing))
 right now.

Let this place 
((music playing))
 become your holy ground. As the praises 
((music playing))
 rise, 
[singing]
 the walls come down. So 
((music playing))
 until we 
[singing]
 see it, God will keep on singing. 
((music playing))
 Sing 
[singing]
 right here, right now. Right here, right now. 
((music playing))
 Yes. Let this place become your 
[music and singing]
 holy ground. 
((music playing))
 As the praises rise, the walls come down.

((music playing))
 So until we see 
[singing]
 it, 
((music playing))
 
[singing]
 God will keep 
[singing]
 believing. 
((music playing))
 Yes, Lord. 
((music playing))
 'Tis so sweet to trust in 
[singing]
 Jesus just to 
[singing]
 take him at 
((music playing))
 
[singing]
 his word and just 
((music playing))
 to 
[singing]
 rest upon his promise. Just to 
[singing]
 know the 
((music playing))
 Lord. 
((music playing))
 Jesus, Jesus, how 
[singing]
 I 
((music playing))
 trust him. How 
[singing]
 I proved him o'er and o'er.

((music playing))
 Jesus, Jesus, precious 
[music and singing]
 Jesus. Oh, for grace to trust 
((music playing))
 him 
[singing]
 more. Jesus, 
((music playing))
 
[singing]
 Jesus, how I 
((music playing))
 trust him. How 
[singing]
 I proved him o'er 
((music playing))
 
[singing]
 and o'er. Jesus, Jesus, 
[music and singing]
 precious Jesus. Oh, 
[music and singing]
 for grace to trust him more. 
((music playing))
 Oh, for 
[singing]
 grace to trust him more. 
((music playing))
 Oh, for grace to trust 
((music playing))
 him 
[singing]
 more. 
((music playing))
 Yes, Lord.

((music playing))
 Say we trust you. Oh, you are only you. 
((music playing))
 Oh, we worship you, Lord. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Hallelujah. When I reach the end 
[music and singing]
 of my own strength, that's when you step in and prove 
((music playing))
 your faithfulness. I remember what my weapon is. And with lifted hands, 
((music playing))
 watch you move again. Are you not the 
[music and singing]
 God who is in heaven, the one who 
((music playing))
 reigns forever?

My eyes are on you. My eyes 
((music playing))
 are on you, Lord. You fight the battle, 
[singing]
 you 
((music playing))
 get the glory. Here come the angels. 
[music and singing]
 Here comes the victory. 
((music playing))
 The enemy is 
[singing]
 outnumbered 
((music playing))
 You fight the battle. 
[music and singing]
 You get the glory. 
((music playing))
 Oh, let's lift it up together. Here we go. 
((music playing))
 And I don't have to do 
[singing]
 this by myself.

((music playing))
 When I call your name, I 
[music and singing]
 have heaven's help. I will lift my eyes 
[singing]
 and look again to the 
[music and singing]
 king of all who has called me friend. And when the 
[music and singing]
 battle comes, I will remember. You're my great defender. 
((music playing))
 My eyes are on you. My eyes are on you, Lord.

((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 They know what your name is. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 You fight the battle. 
[singing]
 
((music playing))
 Here come the angels. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Thank you Lord. Thank you Father that you are our great defender and Father we thank you that you are still fighting battles today. You love your people Father. So you are going before them making crooked places straight and rough places smooth.

And father, we your people are here to say we give you all the glory. We give you all the praise, all the honor because you are an amazing God. And we thank you for calling us unto yourself, calling us your children. Father, we are so glad that we are children of the most high God.

And we look to you today 
((music playing))
 and we take hold of your strength today. We lift up that cup of salvation that you have given us so freely. And Father, we want to walk in an upright and humble way before you. We want to honor you in all that we do.

Father, thank you that you are making us and molding us. That Lord, we're growing. We're maturing. Father, we're drawing closer to you all the time. And God, as we do, Father, you are giving us everything we need to live this life godly and holy unto you. Father, thank you that you are the only one that we need.

You are the only one that we look to. We could not do this life without you, God. And we want you to know that today. We want you to know that we have a great dependency upon you. But God, one thing we know is that you'll never leave us or forsake us.

God, we may fail, but you never fail. We may fall. We may stumble, but God, you pick us right back up again. Father, you're not looking at what we're doing wrong. You're always working on us so we can be better and do the right thing. Thank you, God.

There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. But God, you teach us, you train us, you lead us. So, Father, as your sheep today, we are here to say, "Lead us and guide us." We are here to tell you that we are so grateful for everything that you've given us.

God, we want to be the people you've called us to be. And one way we can do that is to worship you, to follow you, to watch after you, to see where you want us to go, what you want us to say, and where you want us to be.

God, give us ears to hear what the spirit of the living God is saying to us today. Give us eyes to see, Father, past the situations, past the the the the the destruction, past all the problems, and Father, see you for who you really are. God, help us trust you like never before.

Help us believe, Father, like never before. Help our minds conceive who you are in us so that we can walk in the confidence that you have for us so that we can lead other people in your way. Not only by our words, but Father, by our life, by our actions, by our love.

Father, we thank you that today there may be some things going on in our life that that we can't control, that we don't know how to solve, but Father, our hands may feel like they're tied, but God, your hands are never tied. So, Father, thank you that you are working behind the scenes.

You are doing things that we cannot do for ourselves. If we stay close to you, God, we know that you're always working. You never sleep. You never slumber. But God, you're always doing the work in our behalf. So, Father, thank you for your angels that you 
((music playing))
 give you've given charge over us.

Thank you, Father, that you are making ways in the wilderness. You're open supernatural doors. Father, you are causing your people to be at the right place at the right time. God, you are bringing your people into the places they need to be, to be the godly people you've called us to.

God, we thank you that you've given us health and that's what we speak today. Health into our bodies. Father, heal those who are sick right now. Father, those who have symptoms in their body, we stand on the word of God that says by the stripes of Jesus, we are healed.

And so, we resist sickness. We resist those things that would try to come against us. We resist addictions. We resist bad habits. We resist uh negative mindsets. We resist the things that would try to stop us from becoming who you've called us to be and going to the places that you've called us to go.

Right now, we stand in the power and authority of Jesus Christ and we say those things cannot hinder us, but we will fulfill our destiny. With a long life, you will satisfy us and show us your salvation. Father, I thank you that our families are blessed, that our children, Father, are serving you.

That God, they are coming in from the north, the south, the east, and the west, wherever they are. Father, laborers, Father, are on their way instructing them, and they have the ears 
((music playing))
 to hear. Thought, Father, we thank you today for all that you're doing and we thank you for all you're going to do.

And God, we want to do our part. And that is we want to honor you. We want to cast those cares upon you. And we want to always trust you and be open that you will lead us to the places that we need to be. 
((music playing))
 And we want to thank you in advance for everything that you've done and everything you're going to do in Jesus' name.

((music playing))
 Amen. And amen. Amen. It is so good to have you in church today. Now, you know, if you're a visitor, you may not have done this with us before, but if you're our family regularly here, you know that we make a confession of faith every week. You see, it's powerful what we say, and it's important that we join our faith to what God says about us.

So, we're going to make some declarations this morning, and we're going to believe that this is what God says about us. And we're not going to let the negative voices, the things that have tried to to stop us in the past, we're not going to let them have any influence right now because we're going to receive everything that God has for us.

So let's begin to declare what God says. I am blessed, prosperous, 
((music playing))
 redeemed, forgiven, healthy, whole, talented, creative, confident, 
((music playing))
 secure, disciplined, focused, prepared, qualified, valuable, free, determined, equipped, empowered, accepted, not mediocre. I am a child of the most high God. I will become all I was created to be 
((music playing))
 in Jesus name.

Amen. Amen. Yes, you are. 
((applause))
 Yes, you are. You know, I love what David said in Psalm 116. He said, "I love the Lord." He said, "Because he hears me when I cry out for mercy. He bends down to listen and I will bless him and pray to him as long as I have breath.

You see, David went through a lot of struggles. He went through a lot of difficulties to become who God called him to be, the king of Israel. But no matter where he was, he had this confidence and assurance that God heard him. In fact, he pinned it even when he was running from King Saul.

Even when he was fighting battles that he didn't know if he could win, he didn't let the situation dictate to him. He dictated to the situation. He said, "I know my God hears me. 
((applause))
 And I know not only does he hear me, but he bends down to get close to me."

Can I tell you that God hears you? He hears every time you whisper his name. He hears every time you call out for his mercy. And he gets close to you to hear you. So I want to encourage you today to keep on praying. Keep on believing. Keep on understanding.

It's not your situation that dictates to you. It is your God who causes you to succeed. You are not what the situation says you are. You are what God says you are. See, so many times we want to take on what the problem is. But we can't. We got to take off the problem and we got to put on the full armor of God.

We got to put on the righteous uh the breastplate of righteousness, that helmet of salvation, the thing that Jesus came to give us. Not only is God still listening and bending down, but he did the ultimate. He came down. He came down as a man and walked in our shoes and took our sin, took our sicknesses, took everything on him so that we could have an abundant life.

Does that mean it's going to be easy? No. King David said it wasn't. But guess what? I fought the good fight of faith. I kept the faith and I became everything God called me to. And that's exactly what you are doing right now. You are deciding I'm going to be everything.

When I make these confessions of faith, I'm everything God says that I am. See, we need that holy boldness sometime. We got to have that voice of victory. That's why I love to sing and praise because it reprograms my mind. It trains my brain for who I really am and who God is in my life.

So this morning, know today, God is bending down hearing your prayers. If you have a prayer request, we have amazing prayer partners who are anointed, who want to join their faith with you, who want to see God move in your life, and they're going to come to all the sections and they're going to be standing there waiting for you and your prayer requests to join faith with you.

So when you come down, believe. And when you go back, believe more. The Bible says that the work of a believer, now we're not to work. I mean, we can't strive to make our lives holy. We can't strive, but we do have a work. And that is to believe.

That tells me it's going to take some effort. I'm going to have to push through some doubt. I'm going to have to push through some situations, some unbelief to get to that place. Just like the woman with the issue of blood, she was sick for 12 y long years.

And the Bible says she pushed through the crowd to reach out and touch Jesus. And that's sometimes what we got to do. We got to push through some things. But today, you can touch Jesus cuz he's drawing close to you. So come on down if you need prayer.

We're excited to be able to pray for you. Prayer partners, come down. The rest of you, you may be seated, but keep into a reverence place because God is working in you right now while people are praying. And those of you who are watching online, our brother uh pastor here, Steve, is going to be praying for you.

So, we love you very much. Good morning, Lakewood family. We are so 
((music playing))
 glad you're joining us today from all over the world. This is the time in the service when we pray for your needs. And I'm so excited because these next few minutes are going to be a miracle moment 
((music playing))
 for you.

I believe as we join our faith together and pray for your needs, God is going to 
((music playing))
 bring breakthrough in your life. Matthew 18:19, Jesus said, "If any two of you agree touching any matter on this earth, it shall be done." So, I come into agreement with you right now and I'm going to pray for your needs and we're going to believe God to do miracles in your life.

But before we pray, um I want to share a couple of praise reports from the comments. Barbara says, "Rel—um her relationships with her family have been restored." Praise the Lord. God is in the restoration business, the healing business. not only healing bodies but healing relationships, healing souls. 
((music playing))
 And uh Lord, we just thank you for restoring this family.

And uh Michaela said that her son accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Praise the Lord. You know, the Bible says in Acts 16:31, if you believe in Jesus, you will be saved, you and your household. So we just call in every one of your family members 
((music playing))
 that are unsaved into the kingdom of God.

Father, I thank you for Michaela's son receiving Jesus as his Lord and Savior. And I just pray for all of those who have unsaved family members to 
((music playing))
 come into the kingdom of God. Father, we thank you, Lord, for opening their hearts and their minds to the 
((music playing))
 truth of Jesus Christ.

Lord, you said you desire that none should perish, but all should come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved. So Lord, save all our family members. I want to share with you my father was an atheist his entire life. He's still alive. He's 94 years old, 
((music playing))
 but he got saved at 89 years old after being an atheist his entire life.

So 
((music playing))
 it's never too late. Keep believing for your family members and call them into the kingdom and they will come and they will become all God created them to be. 
((music playing))
 Amen. We have some prayer requests in the ch in the uh chats. Um this one is let's see Joyce lost both of her parents in a car accident.

((music playing))
 Joyce, we are so sorry for your loss and I just want to pray for you and all of those who have had loss in your life. The Bible says that God is near to those who are brokenhearted. So, Father, I ask you to be near to Joyce and all those who have lost loved ones.

Lord, your word says that you bind up our broken heart. Father, I ask you to just heal their broken heart. Father, 
((music playing))
 let them know that you are near. Comfort them. Father, give them strength and peace and grace. Father, give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning.

God, just comfort them in Jesus mighty name. Thank you, Lord. Philillip um put in the comments that he is praying for his children to come 
((music playing))
 back to church. Lord, we just lift up all of our children. Lord, 
((music playing))
 we we thank you that they will become all you created them to be and fulfill every plan and purpose you have for their lives.

Father, I pray Lord that all our children would get into church. They would grow in Christ and they would become 
((music playing))
 everything you created them to be in Jesus mighty name. All right, we're going to pray for some healings right now. Some healing prayer requests. Doris is praying for her laser uh asking for prayer for her laser eye surgery to go well.

And Rich is praying for his wife's 
((music playing))
 broken foot to heal. So Lord, I lift up every person who needs healing in their body. Thank you that you are Jehovah Rafa, the God who heals us. 
((music playing))
 Lord, you are a miraculous healing God. And I ask you to touch every person who needs healing 
((music playing))
 from the top of their head to the bottom of their feet.

Lord, heal every cell, tissue, gland, blood, organ, eyes, ears, every part of their body in the mighty name of Jesus. Lord, I declare what your word says 
((music playing))
 over them that they are healed by the stripes of Jesus. That no weapon formed against them 
((music playing))
 shall prosper. That you will remove sickness from the midst of them.

And I declare that they will live out all their days in 
((music playing))
 divine health, vim, vigor, vitality, energy, and strength by the shed blood of Jesus. We thank you 
((music playing))
 for it, Father, in Jesus mighty name. And then finally, we're going to pray for finances. Uh Carrie said that u or asking for prayer 
((music playing))
 for financial breakthrough and Mitchell is asking to get out of debt.

And Lord, I just lift up all those who have 
((music playing))
 financial needs. God, I thank you that you are Jehovah Gyra, the Lord, our provider, not our job, not the economy, not anything else. 
((music playing))
 Lord, you use those things as resources, but you are our source. And David said in Psalm 23:1, "The Lord is my shepherd.

I shall not lack." Paul wrote in Philippians 4:19, 
((music playing))
 "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by 
((music playing))
 Christ Jesus." So, Father, provide everyone's financial needs. And Lord, I ask for your people to live in abundance and victory, peace, and joy in every area of their lives.

We thank you for it in Jesus' name. 
((music playing))
 God bless you. We love you guys. Make it a great week and we'll see you back here 
((music playing))
 next Sunday. God bless you. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Beautiful. Awesome. You may be seated. Well, Pastor Joel released his latest book, Rediscovering the Forgotten You, last week.

Uh it's it's a phenomenal message and so we thought it'd be really cool, really important because it is such a relevant and necessary topic to explore it a little bit. So can we hear it for Pastor Joel for the new message, new book? Thank you. Um I know you don't like that but I think it's necessary because the message is so real and relevant and important and uh it talks a lot about well the main idea the core message is coming back to our identity in Christ which is so important right now whether you're young or old to continue to discover and come back to who God created you to become.

But why is this important to you? What's the message? What what stands out to you? What's what you're passionate about? You know Nick, it's something that I think we all deal with. We we start off in life passionate and joyful and maybe courageous and all this, but but life happens, you know, disappointments and maybe mistakes we make or things that people say and you can kind of lose who you are.

I talked to people out in the lobby just the other day, this man was here and he said, "Joy, I kind of lost myself." And I know what he means because you can lose part of your passion. You know, you used to believe big or you used to be, you know, joyful about your marriage, but you know, let that that ship sailed, Joel.

I believe that you can get back to who God made you to be. There's a joyful you, a peaceful you, a dreaming you, a prosperous you. You know, the enemy will, you know, I think part of it, Nick, is the enemy and people and other things, they try to put labels on us.

No, you're, you know, you failed. You're addicted. You're not talented enough. You're not good enough. But, man, if we can, the book is about, and y'all hear me talk about a lot. That's why we make that declaration of faith each week is if you can take off those labels and get back to who God says you are, you know, and I I think about even in the I based it on the this Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and you know they they ate from the forbidden tree, you know, and God came out and said, "Adam, where are you?"

Well, God knew where they were. God is all powerful, knows everything, but I don't think it was so much physically, but he was basically saying, "Adam, where is the real you? Where is the person I created? Look at you, Adam. You're ashamed. You're embarrassed. You're hiding. That's not who God made us to be.

But I think, you know, you know, it's good to ask, I believe God asks us, ask us many times, where are you? Where's that bold person I created? Where's that part of you that used to dream? Where's that part of you that that didn't live guilty and condemned, that believed you were forgiven?

So, I believe that, you know, you can get back. You start taking off those labels. You start saying, "God, I am not who people say I am. I am who you say I am. Let me tell you, you're a masterpiece. You've been handpicked by Almighty God. God didn't make any mistakes.

He didn't make anything subpar or second class. It's the enemy that tries to, you know, distort our thinking and push us down. But you got to you can rediscover. I called it finding the lost you. You know, it's it's not lost permanently. you can find that person that that dreamed and that believed that that knew God was big and that knew you could have a great family and just really Nick too and I don't have my notes so I ramble y'all but uh you know this is really what my dad did.

My dad was you know came out of a a family that was very poor. You know they were farmers and lost everything back in the Great Depression back in the 20s when my dad grew up. But my dad gave his life to Christ at 17 years old and he's the first one in the family.

But really, he had this defeated mindset, a limited mindset, a poverty mindset. And he told me, Joel, at 17, when I gave my life to Christ, I made up my mind that my family was not going to be raised in the defeat and poverty and lack that I was raised in.

((applause))
 You know, you know, it's like he's coming back to say, you know what, there's a there's a different me on the inside. There's a prosperous me. There's an abundant me. there's a a me that can make a difference. I believe that's who God wants us to get back to.

So, you know, it's about breaking strongholds in our mind. Many times, like my dad, you know, it's just a it's a it's our own thinking. You know, when when my dad died, I thought, I can't pastor. I'm not like my dad. I don't have that kind of talent.

But you don't know what God has put in you. There's a there's a big you in you. There's a bold you in you. There's a prosperous you in you. And I believe that, you know, we renew our mind. We're going to get back to who God made us to be, the true you.

That's awesome. You you talk about the power of of your environment as well in that journey of discovering, you know, yourself in Christ and the importance of environment, who you surround yourself with. Talk a little bit about that. Yes. That's that's so important. I believe this every one of you, every one of us, we are good seeds.

You're made in the image of God. You have the DNA of almighty God on the inside of you. But let me tell you, I can take a healthy seed and if I plant it on Highway 59, it's not going to grow very good. You know, it's it's it's not just about you.

It's what what kind of soil are you in? What is your environment around you? And I think sometimes it's not that you're lacking. It's not that you don't have greatness in you, but sometimes I don't know why I'm screaming y'all. Sometimes you're maybe it's we're hanging around people that are speaking defeat into us.

Maybe it's people that compromise. Maybe it's people that are jealous. Maybe it's people that just see everything in the negative. Let me tell you, your destiny is too important to put your valuable seed in soil that is not good. You need to surround yourself with people that are pushing you forward.

People that are honoring God. That's why every service I I try to get you connected with some great people here at Lakewood cuz I know that person on your left and your right, they're good soil. They're going to push you forward. And that's that's so important because you can have the best seed in the world, but you need to get in some good good soil.

And I know this, you may work around people that are negative and you can't help that or, you know, maybe you have some family members that are, you know, just would love to pull you down. You know what you got to do? You got to get prayed up before you go to work.

You got to get praised up before you go to work. You got to get your spirit strong. cuz I realize we can't stay away from every negative thing, but I'm really talking more about the people you choose to hang around, who you're choosing to spend time with. We all need people in our life that are further along than us, that treat their spouse better than we do, that are further in their career, that are more generous.

We need people pulling us up. You know, I know not just we should pull some people up, too, but you can't spend all your time there. You need some people that are further along that can help you go forward. Because let me tell you, you're you got valuable seed in you.

I know I already said it, but it's the seed of almighty God. You get that seed in the right environment, you're going to flourish. You're going to bloom. You're going to blossom. And you're going to see God take you where you've never dreamed. One one of the temptations again for us to drift from who we are in Christ is is this pressure to prove ourselves.

It's a temptation we can all find ourselves in, whether it's career, our peers, you know. talk a little bit about that because you you unpack it so well in the book. You know, it is it's it's a it's an important thing especially in the day we're in with all the social media and a lot of competing and comparison and if we're not careful, we'll live our life from a proving standpoint.

I got to prove I'm a good minister. I got to prove I'm I got to outperform my coworker. I got to You know, that's that's a treadmill that you're not going anywhere. We need to get our value from our our heavenly father. That's that's where your approval comes from.

Not how good I perform in life. Otherwise, you know, there's always going to you're going to live in a mode of just kind of disappointed and fighting and I got to go further and and I believe in, you know, reaching our goals, but I don't believe in doing things because I'm trying to prove to somebody else that I'm valuable.

We're not valuable because of what we do. We're valuable because because of who we are. We are children of the most high God. He calls you a masterpiece. I even thinking about real real quick, Nick, on the when Jesus was led out into the wilderness to be tempted.

You know, it's interesting the the devil was tempting him about he was basically saying, "Jesus, prove to me who you are. Jesus, if you're the son of God, jump off this building. Let me see you." You know, if you're the son of God, turn these turn these stones into bread.

But you know what Jesus said in effect? I don't have to prove anything to you. I know who I am. I am confident in who God made me to be. I mean just a little earlier that voice boomed out. This is my beloved son who I am in well pleased.

Jesus didn't get into approving mode. He did things to be a blessing to people. And I think if we can keep that phrase playing in our mind all the time. You are his beloved son in whom God is well pleased. You are his daughter in whom he is well pleased.

And I don't mean we don't work hard and we don't strive. You don't have to prove, you know, who you are and try to outperform and outdress and outrun and all that. You know, if you're going to compete against anybody, compete against yourself. I I like to ask myself, Joel, are you better today than you were 5 years ago?

Are you kinder? Are you more generous? Are you more insightful? Are you, you know, compete against yourself? Not competing against anybody else. And let me tell you, you you stay focused on your race, getting your value from Almighty God. That takes the pressure off and you can become who he's created you to be.

Awesome. Isn't that so good? Re Hey, rediscovering the forgotten you. It's out now. You can get copies if you're watching online, listening by way of radio. What an awesome message. We all need it. You want to pray a blessing over us. I'd love to. Lord, thank you for the amazing people here watching, listening on SiriusXM.

Lord, help us to come back who you've made us to be. Lord, those areas, those parts of us that we've lost, the dreams, the confidence, the peace. Lord, I thank you today, you're restoring. We are recovering what the enemy stolen. Lord, I thank you just even beginning today, we will step into the you that you've made us.

Bold, confident, talented, uh, prosperous, abundant, and Lord, holy, and godly. Lord, I thank you that it is not too hard and too late for us to become what you've created us to be. I speak victory into your people. Fresh vision, fresh anointing, fresh favor, fresh momentum, fresh growth.

Lord, I thank you that we will become what you've made us to be today. Strongholds have been broken in our mind. Lord, we trust you to help us do what we can't do on our own. And Lord, we do it to honor you, to build your kingdom in Jesus name.

((music playing))
 Amen, and amen. God bless y'all today. 
((music playing))
 I'm here at Lakewood's water baptisms this weekend. It's one of the most special times of the year. There's nothing like getting to see so many make this public declaration of their faith and symbolize a new start in their life. Water baptism is an outward 
((music playing))
 expression of inward life transformation.

And this weekend, hundreds of people have chosen to make that decision. You're seeing lives lit up. You're seeing tears of rejoicing. Um family members hugging and there's a celebration. Matter of fact, we can hear right now that right there, you cannot fake that. This is something that's encouraging.

And that's what I love about our church, 
((music playing))
 Lakewood Church, is that it provides so much hope and encouragement for so many individuals all across the world. People have come not just from across the United States, but from Canada to Honduras to Hong 
((music playing))
 Kong. Today, I met people from all different walks of life.

((music playing))
 I saw I saw individuals who have been incarcerated and been in prison for over eight years. And when they got out, something 
((music playing))
 transformed on the inside of them and and they found out about Pastor Joel's message and this message of hope that sparked an interest to say, 
((music playing))
 I need that hope.

I want to do something different for my life. This can never ever get too familiar. This, we're talking life change, and it's beautiful. This church isn't just a building. It's a family. And you can see that all over this place today as people are here celebrating, encouraging, and cheering each other on as they take this step of faith.

Today, we're not just celebrating one moment. We're celebrating new beginnings, renewed faith, and we couldn't be more honored to be a part of something so much bigger than ourselves. That's so good. Lakewood, thank you for making all this happen. What an honor to 
((applause))
 baptize hundreds of people yesterday, but it happens because of faithful people and your generosity.

And we always want to say thank you. And we take a moment in each service to worship the Lord with our tithes and our offerings. So, we'll do that right now. And again, so grateful for your consistency and making the ministry happen. It's it's not us up here doing it.

I mean, we may be the ones you see, but we're doing this together, bringing hope to people all over the world. I think about my brother. He left back for Africa for another three or four months to operate back there in those little tiny villages, bringing, you know, the hands and feet of Jesus to them and in the community.

You guys do so much good. But we just thank you the media that goes out as well. But I think about that scripture in Malachi. It says that, you know, when you honor God and you tithe, uh God said, "Prove me and see if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings that you cannot contain."

That's really the only time I see in the scripture where God says, you know, basically, test me, prove me. He's saying, I I dare you to put me first place in your life and in your finances and see if I won't open up windows, the windows of heaven.

Man, I don't know. I bet you can testify, too. I've seen the open windows of heaven in my life. Never dreamed we'd be standing in the former compact center, but this is one of those blessings that God poured out. It happens when you honor God, when you keep him first place.

And that's Lakewood people. You guys are so generous. So, we just want to say thank you. And when you give, I like to remind you to give in faith, you know, not God, okay, I got to, you know, I got to, you know, listen, give joyfully. give in faith saying, "God, I know you've given me these resources and I give, God, I thank you that it's going to bless people.

It's going to build your kingdom. And God, that I live under the open windows of heaven." That's what we pray for you every single day. But thanks for your support, your generosity. I I love that so much because I think it's the heart that God sees. He always sees our heart.

And I love that heart posture. You know, it reminds me of the story in Luke where Jesus told about the good shepherd who left 99 of his sheep grazing in the field because he realized one was lost, one was gone, and he went after that sheep, leaving the others.

And that just tells me that God puts so much emphasis and importance on individual lives. They are important. Each person is so important to God. You know, this ministry is built on people. Is people is the closest thing to the heart of God. We want to go after all those who maybe have gotten away from God, who've never known him for the first time, who are lost.

Just like when we saw the people coming in for the baptisms to start a fresh and a new and that's what God does through your generosity. You are actually extending a hand with the good shepherd to go after lost people. So, I just want to thank you and I know that God sees that and he sees your heart posture.

He sees all the things that you need to accomplish with your finances and what you need. But you have a posture to say, "God, I am willing to give you what's yours, and I know that you'll multiply back to me everything that I can't multiply back to myself."

Because God is a rewarder of those who obey him and who are diligent. And like Joel said, I mean, you can probably look at your own life and go, God, he has never left me. He's never forsaken me. He has never abandoned me. I've always made it. So know today that God is uh loving loving the fact that we are going after even just one person.

We go after many through all of ours, but he is interested in just one person even. So thank you so much. And we want to bless you and know that we pray for you all the time and that God's going to continue to bless your life. That's so good.

Let me pray. Lord, thank you for our generous givers here in the building watching, listening. Lord, we don't give because we have to. We give to honor you. We recognize everything we have came from you. And Lord, as we give, I just stand on your promise that you will open the windows of heaven for your people.

Lord, ideas and creativity and the right people showing up, the contracts, the businesses they need to fulfill their destiny to become who you've created them to be. Lord, those that are struggling in their finances, I just ask you, Lord, that you would do what only you can do.

I thank you Lord just for abundance and overflow again so 
((music playing))
 we can build your kingdom. Thank you for the generous givers in Jesus' name. God bless you today as you give. Here are some ways you can give using your smartphone. Scan the QR code located on 
((music playing))
 the screen.

Then select the online giving option that is the most convenient for you. Go to lakewoodurch.com/give. Text give hope 
((music playing))
 to 77977 or mail a check to P. Box 27450, Houston, Texas77227 or call us toll-free at 888-567 Joel. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 There is no way until you made 
[music and singing]
 one. Grace upon grace. Hallelujah.

Even when I don't deserve it, you did 
((music playing))
 it. Even when I couldn't earn it, 
((music playing))
 you give it. And who 
[singing]
 am I that you keep me on your mind? 
((music playing))
 God, I'm just grateful for you. God, I'm just grateful 
((music playing))
 for you. And all 
[singing]
 my life, you've been right here by my side.

((music playing))
 God, I'm just grateful for you. God, I'm just 
((music playing))
 grateful for you. 
((music playing))
 Holy, 
((music playing))
 there's only one. I give you 
((music playing))
 glory for all that you've done. Even though 
((music playing))
 I don't deserve it, you did it. Oh, 
((music playing))
 even if I couldn't earn it, you give it. 
((music playing))
 Oh, who 
[singing]
 am I that you keep me on your mind?

[music and singing]
 God, I'm just grateful for you. God, I'm just grateful for you. 
((music playing))
 All my life, 
[singing]
 you've been right here by my side. God, I'm just grateful for you. God, I'm just 
((music playing))
 grateful for you. Who am I? 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 for you. All 
((music playing))
 my life 
[singing]
 you've been right here by my side. God, I'm just grateful for you.

God, I'm just 
((music playing))
 grateful for you. Oh, 
((music playing))
 you have me on your mind, Lord. You have me here all 
((music playing))
 this time. Oh, 
[singing]
 and 
((music playing))
 I'm lifting both of my hands cuz you give 
((music playing))
 me chance after chance after chance. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 I'll give you all that I am. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 you've been 
((music playing))
 right here by my side.

((music playing))
 
[singing]
 
((music playing))
 
[singing]
 out of my mind. 
((music playing))
 God, I'm just grateful for you. God, I'm just grateful for you. 
((music playing))
 Woo! 
((music playing))
 That's so good. Are you grateful to be alive? Grateful for a good God. How about grateful to be at Lakewood today? Thanks for coming out, guys. Do you mind all standing one last time?

Last time, guys. I promise. But so honored to have you. The service is better because you came today. You brought God with you, joy with you, victory with you. We love you and we appreciate you coming out. If you're a guest, you we give you a special welcome today.

And love to meet you if you have an opportunity. If you have time afterwards, I'll be in the lobby back there and got a moment. I'd love to shake your hand. But always like to honor our city and government leaders. I see council member Edward Pollock right here on the front.

Pard right here on the front row. Council member, good to have you. Mighty men of God making a difference in different areas. And that's just a thank you for serving our community and praying for you all. But, uh, we feel blessed to have you here. And if you're, um, we got great services all day.

We have the Spanish service today at 2:00. And then we have, I wanted to mention my our Wednesday night service. We're back in person now. Got a couple thousand people every Wednesday night. Pastor Nick runs that. But it's it's really powerful. If you can come out on a Wednesday night, but again, blessed to have you.

I'm going to ask you, when you see yourself on the big screen, can you give our TV audience a great big Lakewood welcome? God bless you. It's great to be with you today and hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can come visit us in person.

We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services. I'd like to start with something funny. And I heard about this husband and wife. They'd been arguing and fussing for years. And the wife finally got so fed up, she packed up her husband's belongings and sent him out the front door.

As he was leaving, she said, "I hope you have a miserable, depressing, frustrating life." The husband turned around, his face brightened up. He said, "You mean you want me to stay?" All right, y'all 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, everliving 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 2 Coron 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 16, you're welcome to 2 Corinthians 4 and verse 16. But so blessed to have you with us today.

I want to talk to you today about this is your best age. It's easy to discount ourselves because we're too young or too old. We don't have enough experience or we're past our prime. We make excuses as to why we can't excel. Joel, I'm over the hill now.

I'm not as sharp as I used to be, not as agile. But you have to recognize there are great things on the other side of the hill. You never age out with God. You age into your purpose. Abraham became a father at a hundred years old. John wrote the book of Revelation in his 90s.

Noah built the ark when he was over 500 years old. And you think you're done at 60, at 70, at 80? You're just getting started. The scripture says, "Your latter days will be better than your former days." Moses was 80 years old, living in the desert and thinking he was washed up and he'd made mistakes and had to hide from his enemies.

He'd been out there 40 years in what we would call the prime of his life. 40s, 50s when he had all this passion, strength, endurance, but now he's past his prime. He's coasting, thinking he missed his chance. That's when God came to him in a burning bush and said, "Now is the time to go deliver my people."

You would think God would want someone younger. God get Joshua. He's in his 30s. He has more endurance, more followers on social media. He's in the in crowd. God, Moses is washed up. No, God has an assignment for you at every age. You are not too old. This world needs what you have.

We need your wisdom, your talent, your experience. We need your love. At 80 years old, after Moses thought he was done, he went to the Pharaoh and delivered the Israelites. He saw the Red Sea part and water come out of a rock, mana in the desert. He received the Ten Commandments and became one of the most influential leaders in history.

His greatest impact came as a senior citizen after he had quote passed his prime. Don't believe those lies that you're too old, you don't have much to offer, you're not valuable. God doesn't look at your age, he looks at your availability. His purpose didn't stop when you turned 60.

Your assignment didn't go away at 70. Your value didn't decrease at 80. If anything, it increased. You have wisdom. You have experience. You've gone through highs and lows and seen the faithfulness of God. Age hasn't lessened you. It's prepared you. Now, here's the key. Quit telling yourself that you're old.

I can't move like I used to. I can't remember things very good and my knees are about to give out. You're talking yourself into being old. You're prophesying aches and pains and going downhill. And I know our body ages. I'm not saying to deny reality, but how about saying what God says about you?

My youth is being renewed like the eagles. I will run and not be weary. I'll walk and not faint. The more you talk about getting old, the older you'll get. The more you think about your stiffness, your memory not as good, your tiredness, the more it's going to increase.

Do yourself a favor. Think young thoughts. Think freshness. Think vitality, energetic, strong, creative. Another important thing is you need to have some friends that are younger than you. Don't hang around everyone your age, especially if they're talking about their ailments and what they can't do and how they couldn't hear the announcer at bingo last week.

I know they're good people, but you need to be around people that are moving and dreaming, accomplishing, living a vibrant life because getting old starts in our mind. Your spirit never ages. this body does. The house we live in, but the real you, the one God made in his image is eternal.

It's timeless. It's not aging. I don't feel any different today at 39 than I did when I was a teenager. I can't believe I'm this age. I feel just like I did when I was in high school. Now, my body has aged. When I go to jump playing basketball, my mind says to jump, but my body doesn't do what it used to.

I jump like a white man now. I used to be able to jump. But what's always funny to me is in my mind I can do it. In my mind I can run just as fast, jump just as high. Your body may age, but your spirit is ageless.

The real you that lives on the inside doesn't have to get old. Aging is inevitable, but getting old is optional. Paul said it this way. Outwardly, this house that I live in is perishing, but inwardly I'm being renewed day by day. He was saying things may be aging on the outside, but inwardly I'm refreshed.

I'm renewed. He's talking about your thoughts. If you go around thinking, "Oh, thoughts and my knees are so stiff and my hearing's going. I can't concentrate anymore. At my age, it's to be expected." The problem with that mindset is you're letting yourself get old. Your attitude determines your age more than your birthday.

I've seen 80year-old people with a 20-year-old attitude. They're fun, sharp, positive, a joy to be around. And I've seen 30 year old people with an 80-year-old attitude. We're all going to age. You can't stop the clock from ticking, but you don't have to get old. It's in our mind.

And I love that phrase I heard. Don't let the old man in. That old man, that old woman is going to come knocking at your door. You're tired. You can't do what you used to. Look at those wrinkles. Nobody needs you anymore. Some people answer the door. Come on in.

Get a cup of coffee. Tell me more. No. Keep that door closed. Tell the old man no thanks. Tell the old woman you're not welcome here. You stay young by being renewed in the spirit of your mind. The scripture says Moses was 120 years old when he died.

Yet his eyesight was perfectly clear and he was as strong as ever. Now I know our bodies are aging. There's a natural progression. But why don't we believe for that Moses anointing that we will pass at an old age. When we go, we won't be weak, frail, spending years immobile, can't function, but we go still strong, sound mind, clear vision, joy in our heart, walk and move and being a blessing.

Think about my mother. She lived till she was almost 92 and she'd gone through cancer and broken her hip. But she came through all that strong, healthy, energetic. Her body had gotten weaker, but in her mind, she was still young and sharp and funny. After she broke her hip, the late 80s, in her late 80s, she needed a walker to help her walk.

So, as kids met and we decided that Paul and Lisa would tell her that she shouldn't drive anymore cuz she couldn't get the walker in and out of the car. Well, that was like World War II. She did not like that. She said, "Joel, I am not impaired.

I am strong. I'm 90 years old. I can do what I want to." I'd tell her, "Yeah, I don't know what's wrong with Paul and Lisa. They don't have any faith." I took my mother to dinner every Monday night after my Sirius XM radio program the last five years of her life.

And we were walking in the cafeteria one day and she was 90. This man walked in a little bent over, a little frail, probably in his early 80s. My mother leaned over and said, "Joel, look at that old man." She didn't see herself as old. Don't get old in your mind.

Stay active. Stay connected. Stay curious. As long as you're alive, God has something for you to do. It's not just take up space, watch others. You're secondary, man. You're past your prime. Every age is your prime. Every age you have a purpose. Two days before my mother passed, she was right here at this altar praying for people.

Like Moses, her eye was not dimmed. Her strength was not abaded. She went to heaven strong, healthy, still fulfilling her purpose. We may not make it to 120 like Moses, but let's believe we're not going to go frail and washed up. I have nothing to offer. Quit believing those lies.

Your body may age, but you don't have to get old. Your spirit is alive and fresh and energetic. Keep declaring what God promised. My youth is being renewed. Lord, I thank you. like Moses, I'll stay strong and healthy. I will shine at every age of my life. This is what Caleb did.

He was one of the 12 men that Moses sent to spy out the promised land. And 10 of them came back with a negative report. Said the people were too big. But Caleb came back with Joshua. Said, "We are well aable. The giants are big, but our God is bigger."

He had this report of faith. But the negative report spread throughout the camp. The people became discouraged, turned around, never did go into the promised land. Caleb was 45 years old at that time. We call that the prime of life. Had strength, experience, courage. This was the perfect age to do something significant.

But other people's doubt. Their lack of vision closed the door. Well, fast forward 45 years. Now Caleb is 85 years old. He should be in retirement. Talking about the good old days. What could have happened if only those people had believed? Now he's aged out. He's over the hill.

But Caleb didn't let the old man in. He knew what God started. He would finish. The Israelites had come into the promised land, the new generation. Joshua was dividing up the territory, giving different sections for people to conquer. Caleb went to him and said,"Joshua, I want that mountain."

It was a mountain that had three giants on it. They were descendants of Goliath. It was the same mountain he had seen four decades earlier. Caleb could have picked an easy place, somewhere that had no opposition. Or he could have said, "Joshua, come on. I'm an old man. let someone else do it and just give me what's left over.

But Caleb still had this fire in his spirit, this passion for his purpose. He said in Joshua 14, "I am as strong today at 85 as I was when Moses first sent me out." This was 40 years later. When you stay young in your mind and fresh in your attitude, you're going to accomplish great things.

Caleb went out at 85 and defeated those giants and took the land. It wasn't just a victory for him, but his family inherited that land. Generations later, they lived in abundance because of his faith. That's what happens when you stay young in your spirit. When you don't let these old thoughts in, I think I'm past my prime joy.

I missed a good opportunity. It wasn't my fault. They closed the door. How do you know, like with Caleb, that it's not coming back again? How do you know that what God promised you is not still on the schedule? Get your passion back. Get your vision back. Start thinking young thoughts, fresh thoughts.

I love how Caleb didn't retire, he refired. He said, in effect, "I don't want a rocking chair. Give me that mountain." 
[clears throat]
 You haven't aged out of your purpose. You are aging into your purpose. This is your best age right now. Well, Joel, this all sounds good, but I think I'm too young.

When I get more training, more experience, then I'll feel valuable. Then I'll take steps of faith. God used a little boy with five loaves and two fish. He was willing to give what he had. God multiplied the food, fed thousands. Samuel anointed David king as a teenager. Imagine what everybody thought.

He doesn't have experience, no military training. He's never proven himself. God doesn't judge the way we judge. Esther was a teenager when she went before the king and saved the Jewish people. Timothy led great churches in his youth. He had all this influence and favor as a young man.

Some people didn't understand begin to question his leadership. Paul said to him, Timothy, don't let anyone look down on you because you're young. Every age is your best age. Too often we're discounting ourselves, waiting to get older, or wishing we were younger. I wish I could be 20 again.

That was so much fun. I wish I could be in my 40s. I had so much opportunity. You know what you're going to say 20 years from now that you wish you could be at the age you are right now. Step in to who you are today. In junior high, we look at the high schoolers and think, "Man, those are the cool kids.

Can't wait to get there." High school, we see the college students, think, "Man, that's going to be fun. That's when I'll excel." In our 20s, it turns. We look at people in their 40s and think, "They're old." We get to 40. Look at people in 60, they're old.

Get to 60. People in their 80s, they're old. The definition of old keeps changing. The enemy would love for us to always have a reason to feel too old, too young, not the right time, missed my chance, need more experience. Don't believe those lies. You are at the right age right now for the season you're in.

You don't have to wait to get in your prime. This is your prime. God has graced you at this age with his wisdom, protection, favor, so you can shine where you are. One time, the Apostle Paul was in prison. He'd been arrested for sharing his faith, and a group of 40 men made a vow that they wouldn't eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

They went to the leading priest, said, "You need to bring Paul back to counsel. pretend like you want to ask him more questions and on the way we'll ambush him. Well, Paul's nephew, a teenager, happened to overhear this secret plan. He rushed to Paul and told him what he'd heard.

Paul told the main officer, "Take this young man to the commander and he explained about this secret plan and the commander ordered 200 soldiers to get ready to leave." At 9:00 that night, they snuck Paul out of the city, 70 horses, 200 officers guarding him, this huge escort, his life was spared.

But had that nephew, that teenager not had this boldness, this courage to say something, Paul would have been killed. God didn't use an angel. He didn't use another disciple or a city leader. He used this teenager. He set in motion the largest military escort in the New Testament.

If it wasn't for Paul's nephew, believing that he was empowered to make a difference even though he was young, we wouldn't have the books of Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians. Those were all written after this event. Don't ever say you're too young, too experienced. Think that your opinion doesn't matter.

God uses every age. He said in the book of Joel, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. Not just the young, the old, the middle-aged, the boomers, but not the millennials, not Gen Z. They got issues. God's spirit is poured out on every age. He went on to say, "Your old men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions."

I'm seeing visions. My brother Paul is dreaming dreams. But God was showing us how the young and the old are not competing. Not trying to outdo each other. Oh, the old's more important. The young's more with it. No, we need each other. We will accomplish more together than we will apart.

There was a lady in the scripture named Hannah. She had been barren for many years. And she told God if he would give her a son, she would give him back to him. She finally conceived and had a son named Samuel. As a little boy, she took him to the temple and kept her promise and he lived there and served the prophet Eli.

He was an older man in his senior years. One night, Samuel was in bed about 8 years old. And he heard this voice calling his name, Samuel. Samuel jumped out of bed, ran to Eli's room, said, "Yes, sir. What do you want?" Eli said, "I didn't call you.

I don't need anything. Go back to bed. Went back, laid down, heard the voice again. Samuel, ran back in. Here I am, sir. What do you need? Eli was a little confused. Thought I told you I didn't call you. You can go back to bed. Went back a third time.

Heard it again and came to Eli. This time, Eli realized what was happening. He said,"Samuel, next time you hear that voice, just lay there in bed and say this, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.' Samuel did that and God spoke to him as a boy and told him he was about to do a new thing and to get ready for the changes.

This story shows us how different generations are designed to work together. We're not supposed to be independent. All the young people do your thing. Middle age, you're over here. Seniors, you got this area. To reach your potential, you need different generations. Samuel was a young boy. He had passion, energy.

He loved God. His heart was pure, but he didn't know how to recognize God's voice. He never heard it. The scripture says the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to Samuel. He's 8 years old. He needs someone in his life that has more wisdom, more experience that can help him discern what's happening.

Eli, on the other hand, he's a senior citizen way up there in years. His life is winding down. He didn't have the strength he used to have. His eyesight was not clear. He could have thought, "I'm done. I've had a good run. God's blessed me, but now I've aged out.

I have nothing more to offer." No. Eli had something that Samuel didn't have. He had experience, wisdom, discernment. He couldn't run like Samuel. He didn't have the strength, the energy, the looks, but he knew how to hear from God. He was experienced in discerning the voice of the Lord.

Without Eli, Samuel would have missed what God was saying. He wouldn't have fulfilled his purpose. Without Samuel, Eli would not have seen his legacy continue. Generations are not competing. We need each other. The young bring passion, energy, innovation. The older bring perspective, experience, and wisdom. But the mistake we can make is we discount people based on their age.

Eli's old, he's outdated. He doesn't understand. He has nothing to benefit me. Or Samuel, he's too young, inexperienced, too far out there. Look what he's wearing. His jeans have holes in them. When you're older, it's easy to discount the young. It's not how you were raised. They're not doing it the way you did.

But God is progressive. He does new things. Same message, but sometimes different methods. If you're older, there was a time when you were young, when you were far out. Your elders were complaining about how you dress, what you listen to. Why do you have to be that way?

Eli had the grace to realize Samuel is not going to do it just like I did. But that's okay. He's a different generation. And Samuel had the insight to know, I need Eli. He may be older, but I need his wisdom, his experience, his insight. But we live in a culture that tends to glorify the young and discount the old.

We celebrate youth, beauty, trendiness. Seems like it's getting younger and younger. You can hit 35 and man, you're a hasb been. That's old school. Friend of mine is 55. 55 years old. He's a newscaster, but he got bumped out. They're looking for somebody younger, more appealing, more attractive.

It's easy to write people off because they're older. They can't teach me anything. They're way past their prime. They don't know how to work the iPhone. But gray hair is not a liability. It's an asset. The scripture says gray hair is a crown of glory. They may not know technology or the latest trends, but some of the best advice you'll ever hear will come from senior citizens, from those who are battle tested, that have fought life through, that have kept the faith and raised their children compressed dreams.

When we dismiss older people, we're throwing away treasure. We're ignoring some of the most valuable voices in our lives. Make it a point to be good to the seniors in your life. Make them feel loved. Let them know you see their crown of glory. In the Old Testament, when the father was getting up there in years and about to pass, he would call his children in and speak the blessing over them.

These words of faith and victory would help set the tone for their lives. And children long for this blessing. They understood the power of those words and the influence that their elders carried. Had they discounted, thought, "Ah, they're old school. They're washed up. I don't need anything from them, they wouldn't have fulfilled their purpose."

Maybe today you're in your senior years. Don't believe those lies that you don't have anything to offer. Your gray hair is a crown of glory. You've run further than us. You have wisdom and experience that we need. You carry treasure. You can push someone into their destiny. And it doesn't have to be some great lesson.

Just your love, your smile, hugging your grandchildren, being kind to that young person that's bringing vision, hope, and healing. Generations are not supposed to be independent. We need each other. It's not is this age better or that age. Every age is the best age. Whether you're a Samuel 8 years old, a David at 17, a Peter, a James 40s and 30s, or a Moses at 80, a Caleb at 85, an Abraham at 100, you're at the best age.

This is your age to shine. No more waiting when I get older. No more wishing, if I was younger, you are graced for this age. God's hand of favor and blessing is on you right now. And as the years pass, we can't stop the clock, but don't let the old man in.

Don't go around thinking old thoughts about how you're past your prime. Keep that door closed. You are in your prime. If you'll do this, I believe and declare you're going to see God's favor at every stage of your life. Even though the outward man may be perishing, your inner man is getting stronger.

Your youth is being renewed. you will live a long, productive, blessed life in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say amen? 
((applause))
 Let's pray together. If you have five minutes, can you stick with me? And I appreciate it. But Lord, thank you for what we've heard.

I know it falls on great ground. Faithful people here at Lakewood. And Lord, today we're not letting that old man in. We're not thinking that we're too young, can't do anything. Lord, we're going to step into our purpose. Thank you, Lord, that we'll let this word take root.

Help us to believe. Lord, I thank you today strongholds in our mind have been broken. Lord, I believe what you promise that at every age you'll shine through each one of us. Help us to get our passion back. Help us to keep the right perspectives. Lord, we trust you that we can become all you've created us to be.

And Lord, I just ask that you watch over your people, children, the students, the adults, as they go out this week to work and to school, that your angels would protect them in Jesus' name. With our heads bowed in prayer, one last thing before we leave. 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 you died a little while from now? If not, I would love to pray with you. I'm not here to condemn anybody. I'm here to help you find a new beginning. And I know this comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

In just a moment, if you're not at peace with the Lord, or maybe you are a Christian, but you've grown cold toward God, you know you need to rededicate and recommmit your life to Christ. If that's you, in just a moment, I'm going to ask you to take a step of faith and stand right where you are and we'll pray together.

I can't think of a better time to get on the road to victory than right now. God is not mad at you. Your sins have already been forgiven. All you have to do is accept the free gift of Christ's salvation. Will you do it today? The enemy in your thoughts, he'll whisper, "Do it next week. do it another time.

Listen, the Bible says today is the day of salvation. Don't put it off. It's so easy. Well, Joe, it's embarrassing to stand in front of everyone. I have people at the house. I can't lift my hand. Listen to what Jesus said. If you won't be ashamed of me before people, then 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. If you're not at peace with the Lord or you just need to rededicate your life, you need a fresh new start, 
((music playing))
 a new beginning. If that's you, would you be bold? Take that step of faith and stand right where you are and we'll pray together.

Would you do that? Come on, Lakewood. Let's give them a hand as they stand all over the building. 
((music playing))
 Come on. Don't put it off. 
((music playing))
 I feel like there ought to be others. Anybody else? Your heart's beating fast. Don't go home without peace. Anybody else watching, listening? You can just slip your hand up.

Anyone? 
((music playing))
 Well, God bless you. Please remain standing if you don't mind. But I want to tell you how much we love you and how proud we are of you. More importantly, I know the angels are rejoicing right now because you took this step of faith. The scripture says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Let me help you to call. Do you mind all praying this after me? Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior. Amen. We'll remain standing one more moment. I want to tell you again how much we love you.

We're going to be praying for you. Also, I want to give you a personal invitation and really a challenge to come back and be with us on a regular basis. this next year of your life is an incredibly important time and love to have you get plugged in, maybe meet some of our team.

If you do, I'll make a promise before the year is over, your life will never be the same for the better. We're going to help you grow and become who God's created you to be. And a lot of people ask me, "What's the next step?" Well, we've designed a space right over here after the service.

It's called New Beginnings. It's on that second floor. And there's a class takes maybe 20 minutes and we'll give you some resources. You can learn more about how to get connected with great people here at Lakewood. Meet some of our team and I'll be over there in 10 minutes.

Love to meet you and shake your hand. So, if you got a moment, that's a great next step. But know that we're praying for you. Know that we uh you know, God saw you this take this step of faith. And I would write it down in my Bible.

This is uh this is April the 12th, 2026. The moment you stood up, God washed away all your sins, your mistakes, your failures. You are starting with a fresh, clean slate. We love you very much. Well, let's all stand together if you would please. Thanks so much for coming out today.

How many of you going home better off than you were before? Amen. Well, we love you guys. I'll speak one last blessing. Until we meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord show you his favor and have mercy on you. And may the Lord watch over you and give you his peace.

God bless you. Have an amazing week. We'll see you back real soon. Thanks for coming out.