Clothed with Love | Joel Osteen | Lakewood Church Service

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 You fight the battle. 
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 You get the glory 
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 angels. Here comes the victory. The enemy is 
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 Good morning Lakewood! Let's worship together. Come on! 
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 They said it couldn't be done. This giant was just too strong. They said you don't have a chance. 
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 But there's 
[singing]
 something they don't understand. Armies rise, battles 
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 rage.

They're gonna bow at the sound of one name. When we praise, they 
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 all fall. Our victory's in the Almighty God. Come on, let's sing it. I've got the 
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 victory. I've got the 
[singing]
 victory. I've got His power in me. They're gonna 
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 hear me say, "I've got the victory." 
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 I've got the victory.

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 say, "I've got the 
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 victory." Hey, good morning everyone. Welcome to Lakewood. Thanks for coming out today. How many of you are ready to worship the Lord this morning? And 
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 God's been good to us. I love walking in here and I've got the victory. You know, just reminding us that God's in control, that he's on the throne, that he's got each one of us in the palm of his hand.

And I know this, God saw you take time to come today. So many things you could be doing. He saw you take time to watch, to tune in. But 
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 the scripture says God rewards those that seek after him. And I know that's you guys. So, I hope you know that God's smiling down on you right now.

Even the scripture says that God holds victory in store for the upright. Just what we're singing about. You guys are the upright. So, I I hope and I believe you came just ready to receive, ready to thank God for what he's done in your life. And really, I think the the right attitude is I'm not focused on what's wrong in my life.

God, I'm thanking you for what's right in my life. And I'm not focused on all that I don't have. Lord, I want to thank you for what I do have. I like even this thought. Sometimes instead of looking at how far you have to go, you need to look back and thank God for how far he's already brought you.

So God's brought us this far. And you know, it's just it's an attitude of you know what, I want to I want to live this day in faith. I want to live this day in praise. God, I'm going to thank you for what you've done. Well, I believe that's what allows us to receive what God has in store for each one of us.

So, I don't know if there's anything that's trying to, you know, steal your joy, take your peace, you know, something you could be worried about. Something didn't work out last week, but this is a perfect time to say, "God, I'm turning that over to you right now. I'm going come back to a place of peace and trust, knowing that you're in control."

I've learned when you do that, God will fill you a fresh and a new with fresh joy and fresh vision. And and here's always my prayer that not one of us will go out of here the same way we came in. We're going to go out of here with more joy, more peace, more victory in Jesus name.

Thanks for coming out. If you're visiting, a special welcome to you, but we're going to get started with a a prayer and then we'll go into praise. Lord, thank you for all that you've done and the opportunity to be here with friends and family. Lord, as we praise and worship you, Lord, we do it because we love you and we recognize it all comes from you.

So, Lord, I just thank you for this time together. I thank you that you're blessing your people as well in Jesus name. Amen. God bless you today. 
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 They said we'd never be free and our failure 
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 was guaranteed. 
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 They said "oh, don't hold your breath," but I've 
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 seen our God's faithfulness 
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.

Kingdoms rise, rulers fade. No power 
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 could ever rival his name. When we praise 
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 chains will fall. Our victory's 
[singing]
 in the almighty God. I've 
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 got the victory. I've got the victory. 
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 I've got the victory. 
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 I've got 
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 hear me say, "I've got the victory." Does anybody 
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 have the victory in this place this morning?

So he said, "I'm not running. I'm not running. All of my enemies got another thing coming. I'm not running. I'm not running with the Lord on my side, 
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 I ain't afraid of nothing." I'm not running. I'm not running. 
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 All of my enemies got another thing coming. 
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 I've 
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 got the victory.

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 They're gonna hear me say, "I've got the victory." 
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 I've got the victory. 
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 Thank you, Lord. Come on. I 
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 know a name that can silence 
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 roaring waves. I know a name 
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 that can empty 
[singing]
 out a grave. I know 
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 a name. It's the 
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 only name that saves and it's worthy of 
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 all praise.

I call you Jesus. 
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 I call 
[singing]
 you I call you healer. Risen and reigning 
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 in power. Something 
[singing]
 comes out of the grave. 
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 Every time I call you Jesus, 
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 I call you. I call you savior, worthy 
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 of glory forever. Something comes 
[singing]
 out of the grave. Oh, 
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 every time I call your name, 
[singing]
 I have a king 
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 with dominion over death.

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 He holds the 
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 key in his holy 
[singing]
 nail-scarred hands. He is the heel 
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 that has crushed the serpent's head. 
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 Our resurrected great I am. I 
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 call you Jesus. I call you. I call you healer. Risen 
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 and reigning in power. Something comes out of the grave. Every 
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 time I call you Jesus, I call 
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 you.

I call you savior. 
[singing]
 Worthy of glory forever. 
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 Something comes out of the grave. Oh, every time I call your name, chains 
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 break, dry bones wake. Every time I 
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 call your name, the gates of 
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 hell shake. Every time I call your name, chains break 
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[singing]
, dry bones wake. Every time I call your name 
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 shake, every time I call your name.

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 Oh, there's power in the name of Jesus. 
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 Jesus. Oh, come on. 
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 Where oh 
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 death is now your 
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 sting and where oh grave 
[singing]
 your 
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 victory? Come on, we declare this out. We say 
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 where oh death is now your 
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 sting and where oh grave your 
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 Dead things come alive. Dead things come alive in the name of Jesus.

Dead things 
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 come alive 
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 in the name of Jesus. Dead things come alive. Dead things come alive. Dead things come alive 
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 in the name of Jesus. 
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 I call you Jesus, I call 
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 you. I call you healer. Risen and reigning in 
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 power. Something comes out of the grave. 
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 Every time I call you Jesus, 
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 I call you.

I call you savior, worthy 
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 of glory forever. Something comes out of 
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 the grave. Oh, 
[singing]
 every time I call your name 
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 Every 
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 time I call you. Dead things come alive, things 
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 come alive. Come alive in the name of Jesus. Oh, 
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 Come on 
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 church, we sing. The universe declares, the 
[singing]
 universe declares his 
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 greatness.

And generations 
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 know his 
[singing]
 name. All creation 
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 echoes out this praise. Oh, how worthy, how worthy 
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 is our—come on. Can we sing today? He is hope. 
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 He is life. He is faithful 
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 all the time. He is good. He is 
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 God. And his word will not be stopped. every 
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 hour of every day.

He deserves the highest 
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 praise. Oh, how 
[singing]
 worthy, how worthy is our God. Come on, all our words fail 
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 to capture. All our words 
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 still 
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 he's honored when we simply say oh how 
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 worthy how worthy is our—come on sing it again 
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 oh how worthy how worthy is our 
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 He is.

He is life. He is faithful all the time. And he is good. 
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 He is God. And his word will not be stopped. Every 
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 hour of every day, He deserves the highest praise. Oh how worthy, 
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 how worthy is our God. 
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 So worthy, worthy. Come on, sing. Sing, oh, 
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 how great is his name and 
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 forever he will reign.

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 Oh, how 
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 deep. Oh, how wide 
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 is the love 
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 of Jesus. 
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 What good news we say? Oh, how great is his name 
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 and forever he will 
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 Jesus Christ. He is hope. 
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 He is life. He is faithful all the time. He is good. He is 
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 not be stopped. 
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 worthy. 
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 You're worthy of it all.

Yes, 
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 you are. You're worthy of it all 
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 From you from you 
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 from you and to you are 
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 you deserve the glory. 
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 Come on one more time. Today the church sings, you are worthy. 
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 You are worthy of it all. 
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 You're worthy of it all 
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 for 
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 you 
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 deserve the glory.

Thank you Jesus. 
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 Turn your eyes upon 
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 Jesus. Look 
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 for 
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 in his wonderful face 
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 and the things of Earth 
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 will grow strangely dim 
[singing]
 in the 
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 light of his 
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 glory and grace. We sing 
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 turn your eyes. We sing turn your eyes upon 
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 Jesus. Look 
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 full 
[singing]
 in his wonderful face. And 
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 the things of Earth will grow strangely 
[singing]
 
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 dim in the 
[singing]
 light of his 
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 glory and grace.

And the 
[singing]
 things 
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 of Earth will grow strangely 
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 dim in the 
[singing]
 light of his 
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 glory and grace. 
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 I just 
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 want to speak the name of Jesus over every heart and every mind. Cuz I know there 
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 is peace within his presence. I speak Jesus. 
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 Yes, Lord. I just want 
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 to 
[singing]
 speak the name of Jesus 
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 till every dark addiction starts to break.

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 declaring 
[singing]
 there is hope and there is freedom. I 
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 speak Jesus. 
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 Your 
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 name is power. Your 
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 name is healing. Your name is 
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 life. 
[singing]
 Break 
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 every stronghold. Shine through the shadows. 
[singing]
 Burn like a 
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 fire. 
[singing]
 
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 I just want to speak the name of Jesus. 
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 Over fear and 
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 all anxiety. To 
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 every soul held captive by depression, I speak 
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 Jesus.

[singing]
 
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 Your name is power. Your name is healing. Your name 
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 is life. Break 
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 every stronghold. Shine through the shadow. 
[singing]
 
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[singing]
 Your name 
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 is 
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 your name is 
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 shine through the shadows 
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[singing]
 
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 Shout Jesus on the mountains. 
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 Jesus in the streets. Jesus in the darkness over every 
[singing]
 enemy. Jesus 
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 for my family. I speak the holy name.

Jesus. 
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 Oh, 
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 Jesus on the mountain. Jesus in 
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 the street. Jesus in the darkness over every enemy. 
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 Jesus for my family. 
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 Jesus. 
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 Your name is power. 
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 Your name is healing. Your name is 
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 life. Break every 
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 stronghold. 
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 Your name is power. Oh, 
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 your name is 
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 break every stronghold. Shine through the 
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 shadows.

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 Come on 
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 church, let's lift it up. Shout Jesus 
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 Lord Jesus, we love you today. Lord, we thank you for all that you do. We do shout your name. We praise you, Lord. We recognize every good thing has come from you, Lord. You woke us up this morning and gave us another day to be alive.

And we don't take it for granted, Lord. It's your goodness, your mercy, your provision. You've watched after us. You protected us. Lord, we look back in our lives and we see how you've made ways when we didn't see a way. And Lord, you've done it in the past.

We thank you that you're doing it again right now. Lord, as we start the new week off, we put you first place. We say it publicly that you're our Lord, our God, our Savior. Make us and mold us into who you want us to be. Lord, I thank you going before us right now and making crooked places straight, opening right doors, closing wrong doors, weeding out the wrong people, and Lord, bringing the right people across our path.

Thank you that we can clearly hear your voice, Father, that we have the mind of Christ, a spirit of wisdom, discernment, Lord, that we have clear direction for our lives, the power to obey, and Lord, that we'll make decisions that honor you and move us toward our God-given destiny.

Father, I thank you that as we were worshiping you this morning, that every force that's tried to stop us has been broken in the name of Jesus. Lord, we believe what we were singing. Depression, anxiety, addictions, trouble at work, maybe it's a sickness, chronic pain. Lord, I thank you today is a breakthrough day.

That you're doing what only you can do. Lord, our eyes are upon you today. And we know you have greater things in store for each one of us. And Lord, I just speak fresh vision over your people. fresh strength and energy and fresh momentum, fresh growth, Lord, that we'll never get stuck or stagnant, but we'll keep growing and moving closer to you and becoming all that you've created us to be.

And Father, I do lift up those that are fighting battles in their health. And some in the building, some watching, listening from hospitals. Lord, you said you'd restore health back to your people. Lord, we've seen you do it in the past. We think even right now that healing is flowing into all those that need it.

Lord, even maybe doing what the medicine cannot do. Lord, we know you have the final say. So I speak healing, wholeness, strength, vitality, that the number of our days you will fulfill, that nothing will snatch us away in Jesus name. And Lord, not just physically, but I lift up those that are in tough times, those that have gone through loss and heartache.

Father, you said you're close to the brokenhearted. Let them feel your presence right now. Lord, I thank you that you are comforting them and giving them peace that only you can give. Even though mo may seem like it's an end, Lord, let them see it's a new beginning.

That you are still in control, that you have beauty for the ashes, that this too shall pass and they will come into good days. Lord, you said weeping endures for a night, but joy is coming in the morning. So Lord, I thank you for the joy that's on the way, the the new beginnings or just new chapters in their life in Jesus' name.

Lord, we thank you for all you've done in the past, but we believe declare 2026 won't be a get by year, but a blessed, prosperous, favorfilled year that we are victors and never victims in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say amen today? 
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 So glad to have you at Lakewood today.

What an honor. We make a declaration of faith every service to remind ourselves who God says we are. So come on, say it like you mean it. I am blessed, prosperous, redeemed, forgiven, healthy, whole, talented, creative, confident, secure, disciplined, focused, prepared, qualified, motivated, valuable, free, determined, equipped, empowered, anointed, accepted, and approved.

Not average, not mediocre. I am a child of the most high God. I will become all I was created to be in Jesus name. Amen and amen. Come on, keep your shoulders back, your head held high, not average. You are children of the most high God. He handpicked each one of us.

And it even says in Psalms that God has crowned you with his favor. And sometimes, you know, life will try to push you down and crown you with failure and crown you with mistakes and crown you with a lot of other things, but you just by faith you need to reach up there and straighten your crown of favor from the most high God.

Remember who you are and remember whose you are, who you belong to. And I love that scripture, too. It's in the New Testament somewhere. I forgot where, but it's in the Bible. But it says this. It says, "Looking away from all that will distract unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith."

And I love that it's got a lot of great one thing is what God started, he's going to finish. But notice our part. We have to look away from all that will distract. You know, there's you know what what that means is, you know, there's doubt, there's fear.

Here's the medical report. Joy, here's my financial situation. If you stay dwelling on all the facts and all the doubt, you know what? you're going to talk yourself out of it. And it don't I don't mean you deny the facts, but sometimes you just look away. In other words, you don't magnify the problem.

You magnify God. God, I'm looking under you. I know what you started, you will finish. Let me tell you, God is bigger than anything you're facing today. The enemy would love to talk you out of the promise, talk you out of your dream, talk you out of your, you know, your child coming back home, whatever it is.

But no, let's don't talk yourself out of it. Talk yourself back into it. God, I'm in agreement with you. And I'm going to look away from what distracts and I'm going to look at at the creator of the universe. And you look back at, you know, you can look back at your history, see what God's done in your life, the times he's made a way.

And you know, sometimes it's good to look back in the scripture and say, God, you parted the Red Sea of Moses. You can do it for me. And God, you shut the mouths of hungry lions. You can shut some mouths today. And just different things. God, you healed back then.

You're a healer now. Let's be believers and not doubters. Can I tell you, God did not bring you this far to leave you where you are. There are greater things in front of you. But this is important. With your greater purpose, there's going to be greater challenges. There's going to be greater enemies.

Cuz the enemy doesn't want you to fulfill your purpose. But let me tell you, greater is he that's for you than he that's coming against you. Be strong. Be of good courage. The Lord your God is fighting your battles. We're going to look away from all that distract. believing, declaring 2026, God's going to show out in your life.

Do something unusual, uncommon, out of the ordinary. Let's be believers and not doubters and watch what God can do. Amen. Well, we'll take a moment to pray today. If you would like for us to agree with you in prayer about anything, we'd be honored to pray for you one-on-one.

There's prayer partners at the front of your section all over the building. Anyone's welcome to come down for prayer during this next song. Again, we'd love to pray for you. rest of you, you're welcome to be seated if you'd like. We'll take this moment to pray. And our beautiful online family listening live on SiriusXM, thanks for being a part.

My friend, Pastor Phil Muny is there, and he's going to speak a a blessing over you as well. We're believing God to do great things in your life today, right now. You know, God is a good God. He's a good father and he loves to give good gifts to his children.

And I believe the gifts that we need today is for God to come through and answer our prayers. We're available to take your request. We're available to join in agreement with you that God today will move on 
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 your behalf. I believe with all of my heart that it is the good pleasure of God to do mighty works today.

And many of you, I know, are facing financial challenges. You're facing challenges in your health. You're facing difficulties in your family, your relationships. And I want you to know that God cares. That's one of the most important 
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 things that I think for us to have faith when we pray is to know that God cares.

The scripture says he counts the number of 
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 hair on our head. He's into you. He understands and he's touched by what you're 
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 going through. And I want you to know that. And though this is being aired around the world and there are thousands 
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 of people here today, God is zooming in on you.

What do you need? We've 
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 gotten praise reports from people that have been healed. We're getting prayer requests for people that are facing some 
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 very traumatic reports from the doctor. We have people and parents that are hurting because their children are away. All of these needs, God is able.

There's a principle that I've been following over the years, and I've been honored to be in the ministry for now 53 years full-time, and I've learned 
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 something about how to step into a miracle. There are three steps that if you'll follow, they're scriptural, that will put you in that realm 
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 of a miracle.

The first is that when you come to God is to make your petitions known 
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 to God. In other words, we know that he knows all things, but the scripture says not to be careful, but to make everything known to God. 
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 That's making your petition known. That's letting God know, I need you.

This is what I'm needing from you. The 
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 Bible tells us that he's touched with the feelings of our infirmities. In other words, you don't have to deny. You don't have to act like nothing's wrong. But you can actually open your heart, be totally honest, 
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 and let God know.

God, I need you. God, I'm afraid of what the doctors are going to tell me. God, I'm weary hanging 
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 in there for my family. God, I need a financial miracle. and know as you open up your heart that God is touched with the feelings 
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 of your infirmities. And that's such a beautiful promise to hold on to.

But you can't stay there as you release your petitions, as you turn in your prayer requests, 
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 as some of you are now are on the chat and you're saying, "Please pray for this." Do that. But then the next step you take is 
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 you step in from petition to praise.

This is when you stop asking God for something and you start praising God for it. You see, because prayer is releasing both petition and faith. And when you begin to thank God, God, thank you that my family is being restored. 
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 Thank you that you're opening the doors financially for my life.

Thank you that you're healing my body. And as you begin to praise God, you're releasing your faith. See, if you just keep asking over and over, "God, I need a job. God, I need a healing." You're going to actually talk yourself out of your faith. 
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 So, you have to know when to say, "I'm ready to take that next step."

And then you just begin to praise God. 
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 It's like you're at an elevator and you press the button and the light goes on. What does that mean? 
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 God's touched by your infirmities. God has heard your prayer request. And though he's touched by your feelings, he's moved by 
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 your faith.

And how do you engage your faith? Praising him. Thank you 
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 for healing me. Thank you for the miracle. And when you do that, you're stepping into 
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 your miracle. And then there's one last step you take, and that is the step of prophesying. This is where you go from petition, letting God know, to praising, giving him praise.

And prophecy 
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 is when you set in motion what you know God has decreed. Jesus 
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 did this in John 11. We see a pattern of how Jesus dealt with Lazarus being uh dying. And the Bible says that he wept. Jesus was touched. He was moved by the fact 
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 that his friend Lazarus had died.

So we know that his feelings were made known to God. And then when he came to the grave and they removed the stone, he began to praise God. He 
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 said, "Father, thank you that you heard my petition." Step one, "Thank you that you heard me." Step two, "I'm 
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 giving you praise in advance."

And then he reached down deep from his heart and he began to prophesy 
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 and he called forth Lazarus. He said, "Lazarus, come forth." It was as if it was up to Christ to speak it before it could manifest. And friends, that's what I want 
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 you to do today.

You've made your requests known. Now, you're going to sustain 
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 praise in your mouth and in your heart. And now go forth and just begin all week long to prophesy. My son's 
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 coming back to the Lord. My finances are turning around. The doctor's report is not the final report.

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 And if you'll do that, you're going to walk in victory. You're going to see God do a miracle in your life. Know we love you. We're 
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 standing with you. And God is up to something good in your life. 
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 be the name. Jesus 
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 be the name who gets all the glory.

Jesus be the name. 
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 Jesus be the name. Jesus be 
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 the name, who gets all the glory. 
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 Oh 
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 Oh Jesus. 
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 Amen. Come on, let's give Jesus another big hand clap this morning. 
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 We've been talking a lot about him through worship. He's so good. 
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 You know, we're all going to come to a place in our lives when we face a crisis.

We're in need of assistance. We need help and we need it now. You know, a cry for help is a signal for rescue, support, or divine intervention. We've all been there. The key is to find help and not carry the burden on your own. Sometimes we let embarrassment or fear of what people might think talk us out of getting the help we need.

We think our situation sometimes is beyond hope. It's just not true. That's what the enemy wants you to think. God hears your prayers today and he silences heaven so he won't miss a word. There is so much power when you call for help. I've learned that when the enemy attacks, God is on call, ready to respond to you.

God knows when you've gotten a bad medical report. He He knows when you're struggling in your finances, he he knows when you've been mistreated. You may not see anything happening, but you can be assured that God is not only aware, he's going to work for you. He already has the solution.

You know, 2 Chronicles 3:28, it says this, "But with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles." If you'll call out to him and stay in faith at the right time, he will release his angels to fight for you. You know, in the Bible, we see a dire situation when Daniel is thrown into a lion's den because of jealous officials.

These officials tricked the king into making a decree that Daniel could not obey. The decree was to stop openly praying to God. And despite the king's fondness of Daniel, he had to throw him in a den with lions because Daniel broke the decree. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you."

Then Daniel was thrown into the den of lions, never to be seen again. But the king got up the next morning. He went to the den in great distress and he said, "Daniel, has God rescued you from the lions?" And all of a sudden, a voice yells out, "May the king live forever."

God sent his angel and he shut the mouths of the lions. You see, not only was Daniel left unharmed, but King Darius honored Daniel and put him in a high position of authority while his enemies were put to death. You see, God will not only bring you out, he will bring you out better than you were before.

Now, this angel that we speak of would be what I call a first responder. When someone is in need of help, they are usually met by first responders. These are people of specialized training that are ready to respond. Behind me are a few uniforms of amazing types of first responders.

We have many right here in our church who have served or serve in that capacity like Denise Davis who is a lifellight paramedic for Memorial Herman 
((applause))
 and now leads our smart team that handles medical emergencies here at Lakewood. We're so thankful for you, Denise. Do you know there there are also spiritual first responders.

These people respond to crisis through prayer, walking alongside someone and meeting needs. I can think of our prayer partners, crisis care, marriage ministry, hospital ministry, relief and outreach ministry, freedom and comfort ministry, just to name a few. They are on the front lines when people desperately need help.

((applause))
 Now, you may not realize this, but some of our greatest spiritual first responders are Pastor Joel and Victoria. 
((applause))
 Every time one of their messages goes out over direct media platforms, they are impacting people in dire need. I'll never forget I was praying for people in the 11:00 service a while back and a disheveled man walked up to me and said this morning I was sitting in my bed ready to take my life when all of a sudden I look up at the TV in my room and I hear Joel saying no matter what you've done don't give up God has a plan for your life.

So he said, 'I got up and came to Lakewood and I'd like you to pray for me now. 
((applause))
 You know, today, if you're watching here or or if you're here or you're watching online, I I want to encourage you that you don't have to have it all together when you're hanging by a thread.

Help is on the way. God will use people, first responders to throw you a rope because even at your worst, God is at his best. And our pastor always says, "Your lowest points are launching pads to God's greatest promotions." You know, that's what happened to Lakewood members Camille and Marcus Robinson.

When Camille sent out a cry for help, our church responded. Now, Camille and Marcus are touching the world and being spiritual first responders for millions around the globe. I want you to watch their story. We got married and we got pregnant with our first child whose name is Mason.

We went on to have our first ultrasound 
((music playing))
 and the doctor came in to tell us that he would be born with congenital heart disease. That he has several areas of his heart that are not normal and they wouldn't be normal. And so he asked us, would we like to terminate the pregnancy right there because we only had a limited amount of 
((music playing))
 time left.

That's a lot to for him to deal with and it's probably going to be a lot for us to deal with. But I also don't like being told what we need to do. So Mason 
[singing]
 did in fact end up needing surgery. He had his first heart surgery when he was 5 days old.

Another one at 5 months, and then at 1 and a half, he had open heart surgery. Shortly after that, right before he was 2 years old, he 
((music playing))
 got diagnosed with autism. And I always say that it was autism that knocked the wind out of me. She had a whole career that she had to give up basically when we moved here because someone had to be the caregiver for Mason while the other one worked.

And that put a 
((music playing))
 lot of stress and pressure on me. me. I was an entrepreneur trying to to get out there and establish myself here in Houston and it was a lot. My heart broke for the families that need the Lord and they really, 
((music playing))
 you know, like many of us are going through a hard time, but there was nowhere to turn.

((music playing))
 So, I posted this video that went super viral. It's Sunday and I'm balling because I brought Mason to a church here in the Houston area that has a special needs ministry. 
((music playing))
 And the woman said that they don't really have space for children like Mason in so many words.

She said that they take children who are a little bit more able. What are we doing? So, this is a clarion call to all the pastors, leaders. Make room for autistic children, not the ones that are high functioning, the ones that might carry severe or profound autism and intellectual disabilities.

I had so many DMs, churches reaching out to say, "Come to our church. We have a special needs ministry." Parents were saying, "Look here. Look there." But one thing stood out. One day my phone rang and my phone said Champions Club and I was like, "Oh my goodness, the Champions Club is calling me."

((music playing))
 I picked up the phone and we got a personal invite to come visit Lakewood Church's Champions Club and we were absolutely blown away. I visited Champions Club. We then went to the banquet, I believe maybe a week or two later for special needs children, special needs families. 
((music playing))
 And then it was maybe the following week we saw Pastor Craig 
((music playing))
 and his wife share about the impact that special needs families really go through because of a 
((music playing))
 diagnosis in marriages.

And it was that Sunday where my husband looked at me and was like, "This is it. We 
((music playing))
 need to join this church." My biggest reason for saying we should go and we should continue to keep 
((music playing))
 coming back was Mason. But if it wasn't for the phone call and the reaching out, I feel like 
((music playing))
 that was a representation of what Lakewood is.

It was like a a hand that reached out to say, "We got you. Come here." Mason 
((music playing))
 is nonverbal, so he's not going to tell us about his day. But when we pull up now, he laughed the other day when we pulled up and I turned around and I was like, I looked at my husband.

I was like, "You you know where we are, Mason, that he knows that he's coming to Champions Club." And I remember telling my husband, I think the Lord wants me to talk about autism more often. I said, I just feel this, you know, desire to talk about it more.

And he was like, you should. And so online, I just started sharing the things that we typically keep to ourselves. And then other parents are like, "Me too. Me too. Oh my gosh. You know, I'm going through that too. Wow. How many other parents have gone through 
[clears throat]
 this?"

So, 
((music playing))
 I recorded a video and I just gave them encouragement. Special needs parents, 
((music playing))
 you know, you stay strong going to the doctor's appointments through meltdown. God sees you. He is with you. He will never leave you. 
((music playing))
 And I encourage those parents. And that went viral. 6 million. The next post 7 million.

And you know, over the years, we have 
((music playing))
 reached millions of people across the globe. Literally, that's how intentional God is. like he will lead you along the path that you're supposed to go on. I just believe that God is still with us. It's still purposeful cuz Jeremiah 29:11 says that he has a plan to give us a hope and a future.

Come on, let's give Marcus and Camille, 
((applause))
 amazing family, a big hand today. 
((applause))
 I'm so proud of you guys. 
((applause))
 And Camille, you know what's incredible? You guys don't know this, but Camille just got signed by the largest publisher in America, Random Penguin. Random House Penguin, to do a book and it's up there, I think, Moments of Joy.

It's coming out in March and we're so proud of you. And uh Camille, just just tell the people, just look out there and tell the people, you know, God has helped you reach millions of people now and you got a new book coming out. What would you say to people right now?

God is faithful. You know, when I saw you standing here with the first responders, me and my sister have a favorite movie, Miss Doubtfire. And I could I was just thinking of how she started running, saying, "Help is on the way." when somebody was choking. And that's literally what happens.

Whatever you're going through, we might not see the angels at work, but he sends help. And sometimes through physical people, you guys help me. And even if you don't have a child with special needs, we all go through trials. And sometimes we don't see him working, but have confidence and know that he's working.

Jeremiah 29:11 says he always he has a plan. He has a plan to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a future and a hope. So you hold on and you know that help is on the way. Come on. That's awesome. 
((applause))
 You know, Marcus, 
((music playing))
 you know, when you have a special needs child, you know, there's a lot of times you cry out for help, you know, but you know, you really were sharing with me just how your son and this situation has changed you.

It's changed me a lot. Uh, one thing I've learned, two things I learned. One was for the fellas, you know, the fathers that are raising kids that are on the spectrum or just with special needs. It's okay to be soft. It's okay to be loving. It's okay to be nurturing.

It's okay to, you know, put your guard down as a man and love up on your child a little bit more possibly than you was loved up on. Um, and the second thing I learned that, you know, through it all, through the challenges, my old my pastor from back home used to always say, "If it's God's will, it's God's bill."

So, he'll get you through it cuz he brought you to it. Oh, that's awesome. That's awesome. Keep that. That's awesome. You know, just seeing their life, you know, maybe there's people here today and you feel like you're hanging by a thread. 
((music playing))
 you know, you you're you maybe last night or or the day before you were calling out for help.

And if that's you today, if you're going through a really difficult situation, I want you to just lift your hands wherever you are. Yeah, we see you all over this building. You know, I also think about maybe like that person that came on that Sunday morning, you know, that that were they were going to take their life and and 
((music playing))
 and then they saw Pastor Joel, I I I I just want to speak this over you right now.

If if if you have those thoughts, don't give up. God has a plan for your life. He's not through with you. Help is on the way. Amen. 
((applause))
 And so we want to pray for you right now. If you've lift up your hand or or or you're going through a difficult time, let's just pray and and just reach out to people right now.

Father, I just I just pray for each and every person. Father, God, so many lift up their hands. Father, some feel like they're hanging on a thread, but Father, you're going to bring those spiritual first responders. God, you're going to send your angels down to them right now.

And God, not only are you going to help them through this, 
((music playing))
 they're going to come out better than they were before. Just like you've done for Camille and Marcus, God, you're going to do for them. And God, you have a plan for them. You have a hope and a future for them.

And I just ask right now that they will lay down that burden. They'll call you for help. And Father, you will send your angels. You will send somebody in their life that's going to encourage them, strengthen them, build them up. Father, that it's not over. That that that God, what they're going through isn't impossible with you because nothing is impossible for you, God.

And God, you want to do a work in them just like you've done for the Robinson. So, Father, we pray it. We declare it. We believe it that God, things are turning around that God, you're answering their prayers and help is on the way. And we believe it and declare it in Jesus' name.

Come on, church. If you believe it, let's tell the Lord right now. Give him a hand clap of praise. God bless you today. 
((applause))
 Hey, Lakewood family. We just finished M3 2026. It was a great conference. We had lots of people from all over the country come. I think people left refreshed, encouraged, inspired, and challenged to be a part of this great work that God's doing around the world by advancing his kingdom and being the hands and feet of Jesus all around the world.

I'm really excited this year that we were able to support the Pan-African 
((music playing))
 Academy of Christian Surgeons. It's an institution that's training Christian surgeons, 210 of them right now in Africa in 12 different countries. 
((music playing))
 They're truly making an impact and changing the landscape of healthcare in Africa. We are so 
((music playing))
 thankful.

This is what the body of Christ looks like. It's collaboration. It's working together. We all do our part. We're not trying to do the same things. We do our 
((music playing))
 work in Africa and you do your work here. And your contributions, your donations, your tithes, your time, your hosting 
((music playing))
 us at this conference allows us to do the work of Jesus around the world together.

Our part in Africa of training and discipling Christian surgeons and your partnership has allowed us and will allow us and enable us to do that more effectively 
((music playing))
 than we have in the past for the years that come. This project of the year going for three years of contribution.

((music playing))
 So thankful for that. Allows us to sustain this ministry that we call PAX. Huge thank you to 
((music playing))
 Lakewood Church. Lakewood, thank you for being so generous and 
((applause))
 uh you guys, your faithfulness, your consistency, it's making a difference all over the world. And we always like to say thank you and just speak God's blessing over you.

And we take time every service and we'll do it now to worship the Lord with our tithes and our offerings. So again, you know, here in the building and and watching just the consistency. I I think about how Lakewood, what are we going to this this Mother's Day?

I think we'll be 67 years old. And you know, it started with 90 people and just faithful people, consistent, and just who would have ever thought we would be here today? So, we just appreciate you being faithful. I think of the scripture that says when you put God first place, he will crown your efforts with success.

That's what we that's what you're doing being here at service and watching. You know, I know you serve in your community and just, you know, you're a giver. You help others where you're putting God first place. And so, we just believe God is going to crown, you know, different areas of your life, but how about in your financial area where you can be a blessing.

I mean, think, do you heard Camille there? That book that book deal that she got. And God knows how to open doors that you can't open. But I say this probably every service, but the economy is not our source. God is our source. You are connected to a supply line that will never run dry.

And we love our jobs. And you know, a lot of you have great places of employment. We thank God and we're grateful for that. But don't look to people. Look to God. You keep being consistent. And as you give, you know, I think another thing, you don't give God, okay, God, they talked me into it or God, I got to do this.

No, let's give joyfully. God, we get to give today. And we thank you, Lord, for life that you've given us. When you give joyfully and you put God first place, I know you can see in your own life, but God makes things happen that you couldn't make happen.

And we just believe 2026. I know I talk about other areas, but how about in your finances, God doing something unusual and out of the ordinary. And here's the purpose. So that we can fulfill our purposes and so that we can build the kingdom. When God can trust you to be a good steward of what he gives you, if you'll be a good steward of what you have now, God will give you more.

So you keep being a good steward. And we just pray and declare what the scripture says that you live under the open windows of heaven. Blessings that you cannot contain in Jesus' name. Father, I thank you for all of our awesome givers here in the building watching, listening.

Lord, I just pray what you say as you as they put you first that you will crown their efforts with success. Lord, ideas and creativity and let their gifts and talents come out. Lord, draw in opportunities to them. And 
((music playing))
 Lord, I just speak your blessing over them and all they put their hands to that they will lend and not borrow.

That they do live under the open windows of heaven. Things that they couldn't make happen, Lord, for your glory to build your kingdom to fulfill the purpose that you put in our lives in Jesus' name. God bless you today as you give. Here are some ways that you can give.

Using your smartphone, scan the QR code located on the screen. Then select the online giving option that is most convenient for you or go to lakewoodurch.com/give. 
((music playing))
 Text give hope to 77977. Mail a check to P. PO Box 27450, Houston, Texas 77227, 
((music playing))
 or call us toll-free at 888-567 
((music playing))
 Joel.

Good morning, church. So good to worship with you all today. This morning, we're going to sing a new song that we wrote that was inspired by the healing scriptures we we read in the word of God. My grandmother used to read these scriptures every single morning. She called them her medicine.

When she was facing cancer and even after she received her healing, she would pray these scriptures every single day as a way to stir her faith and to stand on the promises of God. This morning, we want to sing those promises over each and every one of you.

That you will live and not die and declare the works of the Lord. That the number of your days he will fulfill. And by the stripes of Jesus, you are healed. 
((music playing))
 You shall 
((music playing))
 live and not die. 
[singing]
 Thus sayeth the Lord, be sustained 
[music and singing]
 with long life. Oh, it shall be yours, made 
((music playing))
 whole, completely 
[singing]
 restored again.

Thus sayeth the 
((music playing))
 Lord. 
[singing]
 Let the prayer of your faith make you well. Let 
[singing]
 it be the testimony 
((music playing))
 that you live to tell. The number 
[music and singing]
 of your days the Lord shall fulfill. By 
((music playing))
 his stripes you are healed. 
((music playing))
 You shall 
[singing]
 walk and not faint. Thus, 
((music playing))
 sayeth the Lord, he'll 
[singing]
 renew all your days and offer you 
((music playing))
 more.

You rise up with eagles and 
((music playing))
 soar again, thus 
[singing]
 sayeth the Lord. Let the 
((music playing))
 prayer of your faith make you well. Let it 
[music and singing]
 be the testimony that you live to tell 
((music playing))
. The number of your days, the Lord 
[singing]
 shall fulfill. By his stripes, 
((music playing))
 you are healed. You are 
((music playing))
 healed. Yeah.

((music playing))
 Be whole, be saved, forgiven, be healed, 
((music playing))
 set free, delivered. His word fulfilled. He has 
[singing]
 made you well, 
((music playing))
 made you well. Be whole, be saved, forgiven, be healed, set free, delivered. His 
((music playing))
 word fulfilled. He has 
[singing]
 made you well. 
((music playing))
 Made you well. Be whole, be saved, forgiven. Be healed 
((music playing))
 delivered.

His word fulfilled. He has made you 
[music and singing]
 well, made you well. Be whole, be saved, forgiven. Be healed, set free, delivered 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 He has made you well. Let the 
((music playing))
 prayer of your faith make 
[singing]
 you well. And let it be the testimony 
((music playing))
 that you live to tell. The number of your days 
((music playing))
 the Lord shall fulfill.

By his stripes you are 
((music playing))
 healed. By his stripes you are healed. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((applause))
 Thank you, Alexandra. Come on, let's stand one last time if you don't mind. But so awesome to have you here. And I love that song. It's just speaking the scriptures over your life. And most of you know, my mom lived 44 years after she was given a terminal diagnosis of cancer.

And like Alexandra, our daughter, said, you know what? She spoke God's word. She chose to believe. And so I hope you'll do the same thing. That song by Lakewood Music is out now. If you want to download it, you can just play it during the week. And you know, if it's not that, play something else.

But feed your spirit man faith. There's a lot of negativity in the world and you just can't keep it on the news all the time and stay in faith. So, I hope you'll do that. But so honored to have you here. And again, if you're visiting with us today, just a special welcome to you.

And I'd love to meet you after service. I'm in the lobby back there by the bookstore. But thanks for coming out and we just speak blessings over you all. I think I have one quick thing. Um, well, first off, I wanted to say Camille and Marcus, I love your story.

So powerful. And we just thank you for staying in faith. And I don't know where they went. They're right over there. There they are. Y'all, Camille, you're a preacher, man. You're a powerful preacher. Marcus, you, too. But, 
((applause))
 you know, it's just a testimony that you know what? We we're not limited by the natural.

We serve a supernatural God. And you think about Camille speaking to millions of people. and you know, she never saw that coming. You don't know where God's going to take you. Let's just keep being faithful, consistent, and like you're doing, but it's a it's great to have you here today.

Hey, real quick to our online audience, if you've never been to Lakewood. How about coming out on our homecoming weekend coming up here in a couple weeks in March. Love for you to meet all these awesome people at Lakewood right here. Be a part of the service. We'll see you on that Saturday as well.

But guys, thanks for being here. When you see yourself, can you give our TV audience a great big Lakewood welcome? 
((applause))
 God bless you. It's great to be with you today and I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel and social media.

And you can come visit us in person. We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services. But I like to start with something funny. And I heard about this husband and wife. They were celebrating their 60th birthdays together when an angel suddenly appeared and said that God was going to grant them each one special request.

And they were so excited. The wife said, "My request is that we'd be able to travel all over the world." And poof, when the smoke cleared, she had tickets in her hand. Well, her husband put his head down in shame and said, "My request is that I would be married to a woman 30 years younger than me."

And poof, when the smoke cleared, he was 90 years old. 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 Colossians chapter 3 and verse 12, Colossians 3 and verse 12. And we'll put it up on the screen as well and some other scriptures. And don't forget we have great services during the week and Wednesday night we're back here in person if you want to come out.

We got a powerp packed 1-hour service. Love to have you be a part. And of course the Spanish speaking service today at 2 Bible study on Monday night that's online. But very honored to have you with us today. I want to talk to you today about clothed with love.

There's so much noise in our society. Opinions can become like weapons. people that are argumentative, judgmental, divisive. Everyone has a platform through social media. You can speak your mind, set people straight, call them out, insult them. Being harsh, rude, shocking can become normal to us. The more we see it, the more desensitized we are.

If we're not careful, we'll become like what's around us. We'll think it's okay to attack and belittle, insult. Everyone's doing it. But God has called us to live by a higher standard, to be the exception. Don't let all the noise, the hate, the disrespect, people who are loud and abrasive.

Don't let that poison get in you. Don't become like your environment. And Colossians 3 says, "You must clothe yourself with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowances for people's faults, and forgive the person who offends as Christ has forgiven you." Paul was saying, "You have to get dressed each morning in the right clothes."

Clothe yourself. Clothes don't jump on you. You have to choose to put them on. Put on kindness. I'm going to be nice and friendly today. Put on gentleness. I'm going to be easygoing and understanding. Put on mercy. I'm going to make allowances when people don't perform perfectly. I'm going to give them grace when they make mistakes.

Put on humility. Not going to go around arrogant, looking down on people. I'm going to treat everyone with respect. Put on patience. I'm going to stay in peace when things don't go my way. put on forgiveness. I'm not going to hold a grudge living offended. I'm going to forgive those that do me wrong.

After Paul listed all these qualities that we need to put on each day, he finished by saying, "And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love." You would think he would say the most important thing is faith. You can't please God without faith. Or truth.

It's the truth that sets people free. or justice. You have to stand up for those that don't have a voice. Help the less fortunate. Those are all good. We should put them on, but the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Because without love, the others aren't as effective.

You can be right. You know the other person is wrong. You have the facts. Here's the truth. But without love, it's just noise. That's what Paul said in first Corinthians. If I speak with the tongue of men or the tongue of angels and have not love, I am only a loud clanging symbol.

One version says a noisy gong. He was saying, "You can be gifted, articulate, powerful, have all this impressive knowledge, but without love, you're just a lot of noise, just a lot of clanging, not effective, not changing anything." And a lot of people are sincere, they're passionate, but they're not speaking the truth in love.

They're not putting on the most important piece. They become offended, argumentative, disrespectful. They wonder why they're not effective, why they don't have more influence. There's no love. It's ego, pride, competition, making others look bad so they'll look good. Those are not things God is going to bless. You may be right, but where's the love?

Where's the kindness? Where is being merciful and understanding? You can be gentle without being weak. You can be kind and strong at the same time. You don't have to be harsh and condescending and hateful because someone doesn't agree and start attacking, confronting. Love is more powerful than loudness.

Truth spoken softly is more powerful than yelling at someone. Being offensive, insulting to prove a point, criticizing someone back, that's sinking down to their level. Do yourself a favor. Put on your coat of love. See, Jesus was strong, but he was kind. He had the truth, but he was merciful.

He was God better than any of us. Never made a mistake, but he walked in humility. He washed people's feet and served others when he could have been served. And yes, he got upset. He threw people out of the temple. But it wasn't out of bitterness and hatred and I'm going to prove to you and push you down.

He didn't want to see people being taken advantage of. Now, I'm not saying to not be passionate, to never stand strong, but you should do it out of love and not out of anger and ego and competition. If you don't have love, your good intentions are going to turn into clanging symbols.

A lot of noise, but little impact. Being loud doesn't equate to being effective. being harsh, argumentative, trying to force your opinion. You may be right. You have the truth, but you can do it the wrong way and still be wrong. And I'm not talking about just in a debate or with someone online.

How about in your marriage? How about with your children, your co-workers? Are you putting on love, making allowances for their weaknesses, or are you harsh, looking for reasons to correct and prove that you're right? Are you forgiving the wrongs as Christ forgave us? Or are you holding a grudge, making them pay, giving them the cold shoulder?

After all, they were at fault. They deserve it. How about putting on some mercy? How about putting on some gentleness? be an understanding. The mercy you show others is the mercy God is going to show you. I was in my backyard one afternoon watering the plants and we have some flowers in these big pots and I'd gotten some of the weeds out and put new dirt in and I was hot and sweaty and I'd worked out earlier that morning, exercised, rode my bike.

Victoria came out and said, "Joel, we need to run up to the store and pick something up." Piece of equipment she had ordered. Well, I was in my workout clothes, my gym shorts, and this blue t-shirt that I always wear. My children kid me that it's my uniform.

I've had it like 47 years, and the collar is all stretched out. It's faded, straggly on one side, and I have other shirts, but that's the one I like. And I told Victoria, I can't go anywhere. I'm not dressed. I'd have to go in, take a shower, put some better clothes on.

She said, "No, Joel, you don't have to get out of the car. They're going to put it in the back for us. So, we got there, they loaded it in the trunk. All was good. But as we were driving away, Victoria saw this other store. When she gets close to a mall, there's an unseen force that tries to pull her in.

She said, "Joel, let's go in there real quick. I've been wanting to. There's something I really want to see." I said, "No, Victoria. I am not dressed. That's a nice place. I'll go in Home Depot. I'll go to Walmart, but I'm not going in there." She said, "Joy, you're fine.

You look great." I'm either so dumb or so naive. She talked me into going. When she said, "I look great," I lost all sense of reasoning. We walked in and it was a nice store. There were three salespeople there to greet us. Two men and a woman. The men were in dressed, dressed in the finest suits, impeccable shoe shine.

The woman was in a beautiful pants suit, elegant, sophisticated, looked like they had just stepped out of a fashion magazine. And looked like I'd just stepped out of a farming magazine. And the first thing the man said was, "Oh, Pastor Joel, we've never seen you like this." Wow.

We all laughed and laughed, and I thought, "Yeah, and you're about to have never seen me another way if you keep laughing." Here's my point. When I walked in, I hadn't said a word, but my clothes sent a message. What I was wearing communicated something to them. Not only that, what I had on was affecting me.

I didn't feel good about going in. I knew I wasn't dressed appropriately. People read your clothing before you say a word. They form impressions before you open your mouth. depending on how you dress, casually, fun, sophisticated, dressy, that's all communicating something. If you dress sloppy, clothes wrinkle, don't fit, out of style, risque, those are all sending a message about you.

Well, that's the physical in the scene. But it's the same in the unseen. When you put on kindness, gentleness, humility, mercy, you're sending a message to people. before you say a word, they can sense who you are. It's creating this impression, love, goodness, respect that draws people in, that gives you favor, that brings healthy relationships.

And sure, the opposite is true. If you get dressed with pride, competition, bitterness, sarcasm, that's how people are reading you. You're projecting it without saying a word. You know how it is. You can sense when someone is arrogant, when they're unfriendly, when they have a chip on their shoulder.

You can sum them up in no time by the feeling and how they carry themselves. In the same way, you know, when you have the wrong clothes on, I knew my shirt was old. I knew my gym shorts were dirty. It's the same way in the unseen. You know when you have a bad attitude, when you're condescending, when you're harsh, you won't forgive.

It's not just sending a message to others, but it doesn't feel right to you. You don't like who you are. You may get used to it, talk yourself into it, but deep down there's an unrest and uneasiness. It's because that's not who you were created to be. You were created to put on love, kindness, gentleness, being merciful, overlooking faults.

And sometimes you have clothes that don't fit anymore. You've grown out of. They're too small, the wrong style. You put them away and get clothes that fit. Maybe you've worn being judgmental, critical, and jealous for a long time. Or you put on a coat of pride, bitterness, hard to get along with.

That was fine for a while, but now you're growing out of them. God is calling you up to a higher standard. Now you have to do your part and have a wardrobe change. Can I tell you bitterness doesn't look good on you. That sour attitude smells bad. You don't have to say anything.

You're pushing people away. The pride or having to always be right. That doesn't fit you anymore. The jealousy, holding on to an offense, that's out of style. Those clothes are over and done. How about a spring cleaning? Don't even send them to Goodwill. Put them in the trash.

Put on love. Put on kindness, gentleness, friendliness, understanding, respect. 
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 That's the wardrobe God designed for you. He's your tailor. He knows what fits, what's in style, what's going to make you look good, what's going to be effective. Do you know how it is in fashion? There's always some knockoff brands and some imitations.

Not quite the same, but they're good enough. It's kind of close. Now, don't be fooled. The enemy has his own clothing line. He'll tell you, "Hey, this pride is going to look better on you. This jealousy, it's the hottest thing going. This greed, being self-centered, only thinking about you, this will look amazing on you.

This judgment, being critical, insulting people, this is just your size. Look how flashy it is. Don't put on that integrity. That's boring. Kindness, patience, mercy, that's old school. That's outdated. Don't fall for his lies. He has fake merchandise. When you put on the wardrobe God designed for you, 
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 you'll not only feel better, but you are projecting the right things to those around you.

You'll draw in good people, favor, and opportunity. You'll be more effective. I saw this with my father. He taught me by example how to put on a coat of love. And he was kind and merciful. Even back in the 1950s when he was pastoring that church and they didn't understand his new direction and they didn't want him anymore.

They asked him to leave. He was never bitter. He never talked bad about the people. Didn't go around with a chip on his shoulder. He was merciful. He forgave them and moved on. He wasn't accepted anymore in his traditional denomination. There were friends and colleagues he'd gone to school with and they were no longer for him.

They didn't want to have any contact like they would be contaminated. Couldn't get around him. He said, "Joel, they drew a circle to shut me out, but I drew a bigger circle to shut them in." You can't stop hurt from coming, betrayal, people that are unfair. But when you have your coat of love on, when you're merciful, forgiving, making allowances for people's shortcomings, it doesn't poison you.

You keep enjoying your life and being good to people, drawing in the favor of God. James 2 says, "Whatever you say and whatever you do, remember you will be judged by the law of love." doesn't say we're going to be judged by how many arguments we won, how many people we corrected, how perfect our doctrine was, how successful we were.

No, we're going to be judged by were you wearing your code of love? Were you good to people, kind, merciful, forgiving? Did you walk in humility, patience, and generosity? James said, "Whatever you do and whatever you say, that means before you post it on social media, before you express your opinion, before you confront someone, ask yourself, am I doing this out of love, out of kindness, gentleness, or are you doing it out of hurt, out of anger, jealousy?

I don't want them to look better than me. I'm gonna say something demeaning or I'm not going to let this coworker get away with being rude to me. I'm gonna be rude back to him. There's no blessing when you're doing things out of spite, ill will, bitterness. That's going to drag you down and make life more difficult.

And this is the way many people live. Disrespect for disrespect. You hurt me, I'm going to hurt you. They're a loud clanging symbol. We try to answer back with loud clanging symbols. Let's be louder, harsher, more disrespectful. That's not the way to win. The scripture says you overcome evil with good.

When you're kind to those that are not kind to you, Proverbs says it's like you're heaping coals of fire on their head. When you stay in love, God will fight your battles. He'll vindicate you better than you can vindicate yourself. First Corinthians says, "Love never fails." doesn't say strength never fails.

Being right never fails. Proving your point. No. Love never fails. Love brings down walls. Love heals, restores, protects. Love will help you keep your heart pure. Jesus had a lot of people against him. Critics, naysayers, religious leaders that were jealous. But he didn't spend a lot of time arguing with people, getting into heated debates, trying to prove who he was.

He let his actions speak. When he was brought before Pilate, all these false accusations, the scripture says he answered him, not a word. He knew they weren't going to change their mind, that they were determined to misunderstand him. And sometimes we're trying to win over people that are never going to be for us.

We're getting all riled up trying to convince them to change and see it from our point of view. We have to accept it's okay if someone doesn't agree. It's okay if they're not for us. You don't need everyone to be for you to fulfill your destiny. And it's really easy to get baited into conflict, argumentative, angered, frustrated because they're not changing their mind.

They're insulting, saying things that aren't true. But some battles you're not supposed to fight. It's a distraction to try to get you off course, wasting time, stressed over something that you can't control. In the big picture, it's not going to stop your purpose. Jesus didn't answer every critic.

He didn't try to change every person's mind. The enemy would love to deceive us into becoming loud, clanging symbols. You have the truth. You know you're right, but you got bent out of shape, aggravated. It takes maturity to not get drawn into the wrong battles because human nature wants to fight, defend, stand up, there are times that's important, but do it with love.

Don't let the poison of other people get in you. If you take it all personally and you try to straighten everyone out, prove your point, you get as loud and trade insult to insult, that's what the enemy wants. Now you're not effective. It's a clanging symbol. A lot of noise with no results.

Go put your coat of love on. The gentleness, the kindness. That's who God created us to be. Those are the clothes he's designed for us to wear. But sometimes we're wearing knockoffs or handme-downs. I got this pride jacket, Joel, from my relatives. This temper, this harshness, it was passed down from my family.

My father used to wear it. He was angry. My grandmother gave me this coat. She was jealous. She was bitter. No, those clothes don't look good on you. Their day is over. It's time to get a new wardrobe. Your heavenly father is an amazing designer. He's already created custommade clothing just for you.

Kindness, gentleness, humility, forgiveness, patience, and the most important piece that you must wear, your clothing of love. Don't leave home without it. If you forget to put that on, bitterness will show up. Offense, judgment, jealousy. First John says, "Let us stop saying we love each other and let us start showing it by our actions."

Paul was saying, "Talk is cheap. You can say all day long you love me, but if you won't forgive me, if you won't quit being jealous, if you won't stop talking behind my back, there's no proof that you love me." Love is action. There should be evidence that you love people.

Express your love all through the day. It may just be a smile to a stranger, someone passing by. You could ignore them, look down, but you acknowledge them. You're saying, "I see you. You're valuable. I care about you. You just deposited something in them." It may be bringing your coworker a cup of coffee in the morning or filling your wife's car up with gasoline so she doesn't have to.

Love should be seen. People that God's put in your life should have some evidence that you love them. It's good to tell them. Words are important, but words alone are not enough. There should be some good deeds of how you're being a blessing. It may be when that friend makes a mistake and hurts your feelings.

You could be upset, make them pay, but you're merciful. You let it go. And don't try to make them feel guilty. That's love in action. I was at the grocery store one time and this young woman was at the cash cash register and it's very crowded and lines were backed up and she was very slow.

She was new and didn't know how to work everything. It's taking forever. Well, there were several people in front of me and they were getting very upset and very impatient and they let her know making comments, harsh, condescending. But I want to live my life being a part of the solution and not the problem.

Lifting people up and not putting them down. People already have enough hurts, enough things to overcome and things that we don't know anything about. They don't need another condemning voice, judgment. Come on, do better. Can't you get it right? No. God put them in your path so you can be a healer, a lifter, a restorer.

When I got up there, I simply said, "You're doing great. Everything's going to be fine, and we appreciate you being here." I'll never forget, tears started running down her cheeks. She said, "My my baby is in the hospital. I'm so worried I can't really concentrate on what I'm doing.

We took a moment to pray right then and there. You don't know what people are going through. We can be quick to judge, quick to criticize, but if you were to walk in their shoes, you'd probably have more mercy. You'd be more understanding. The world needs more love.

We have a lot of division, strife, people arguing, trying to push them down, prove their point. God is counting on us to express his love, to show his kindness, his mercy. You can help heal, restore, and put people back on their feet. Doesn't happen through judgment, pride, impatience, holding grudges.

That's the wrong clothing. All through the scripture, we can see how Jesus didn't just teach about love, but he wore love. He modeled it. when he saw Zakius, a despised tax collector. They were known for their dishonesty. Society had written him off. But Jesus called him out of the crowd and said, "I want to go to your house and have dinner with you today."

Jesus went to others. Jesus went to people that others thought were too far gone. Love in action. Or how about when the leper came to Jesus, fell at his feet, and said, "Jesus, if you want to, you can heal me." Well, lepers were unclean, contagious. They were supposed to keep their distance.

Here, this man put Jesus at risk. He'd broken protocol and gone against safety requirements. Jesus could have been upset. Get him away from me. You're going to get me infected. But Jesus bent down and touched the man. I can hear the gasp in the crowd. Can you believe it?

He's going to get leprosy. The scripture says instantly the man's skin was made whole. Love that can be seen. How about on the cross after being betrayed and mocked, Jesus was up there in great pain. He could have been bitter, angry, but he said, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing."

Amen. Showing love is not just being kind to people, but it's forgiving wrongs, not holding grudges, being merciful. Is there someone you need to forgive today? Family member you need to let off the hook. Joel, they're guilty. They did me wrong. Only the guilty need mercy. We're not going to be judged by how right we are, how much faith we have, but by the law of love.

And just like you get dressed each morning physically, you need to get dressed spiritually. Put on kindness, humility, gentleness, respect, and then the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Let all you do and all you say run through the filter of love. Not pride, not judgment, not offense, but love.

Maybe today you need to change your wardrobe. You've been wearing a sour attitude, being harsh, jealous. None of that looks good on you. That's outdated. That's the wrong designer. The good news is there's a new wardrobe waiting just for you, already paid for, just your size. Now do your part and start clothing yourself in love.

If you'll do this, I believe and declare you're not only going to feel better about who you are, more peace, more confidence, but you're going to be more effective, have better relationships, and see the goodness of God in greater ways in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say amen?

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 Let's pray together. If you have five minutes, if you can stick with me, I'd appreciate it. But let's pray. Lord, thank you for what we've heard. I know it falls on great ground, faithful people here at Lakewood here to honor you and those listening and watching. And Lord, just I ask for all of us, show us areas where we need to change the wardrobe.

Show us areas where we have things that are hindering our growth and keeping us from becoming who you who we've created to be. Holy Spirit, we don't take it as condemnation, but rather as conviction so that we can change. And Lord, we're not going to go out of here wearing the wrong clothing. and we're going to leave it right here.

We're going to go out of here with kindness and with humility and with faith and knowing that you're in control. Father, help us do what we can't do on our own. Help those that have been through great hurts and it's hard to forgive. Lord, I thank you that you're working in their life, giving them the power to do what you've called them to do.

Lord, I thank you that we're all coming up higher. And Lord, that we will be bright lights that you can shine through. And Lord, that we will be vessels of honor, that we'll keep the right clothes on, clothing of love. Lord, bless your people this week 
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 as they go out at work, their children at school.

Thank you that your angels are protecting them that you're watching after them. Let it be a blessed week in Jesus' name. With our heads bowed in prayer, just a quick question. 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. I know this comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And 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, 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. Will you accept the free gift of Christ's salvation? The enemy will whisper, "Oh, do it next week. Do it another time." Listen, the Bible says, "Today is the day of salvation." Don't put it off. Well, Joel, it's embarrassing to stand in front of everyone.

Have people at the house. I can't lift my hand. Listen to what Jesus said. 
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 If you won't be ashamed of me before people, then I won't be ashamed of you before my father in heaven. I'm going to give you a great opportunity to show God that you're not ashamed of him.

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 If you're not at peace with the Lord or you just need to rededicate and recommmit your life to Christ, you need a fresh new start, 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 say it all over the building. 
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 Come on, don't put it off. I feel like there ought to be others. 
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 Your heart's beating fast. Anybody else watching, listening up top? Anybody else? 
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 Still time for you.

But God bless you and please remain standing if you don't mind. And I want to tell you how proud we are of you. I know that took courage to stand. And more importantly, I know God's never going to be ashamed of you cuz you took this step of faith.

The scripture says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Amen. 
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 Let me help you to call. Do you mind all praying this after me if you would please? Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior.

Amen. Remain standing one more moment. I want to tell you again how much we love you. We're going to be praying for you. I also want to give you a personal invitation and even a challenge to come back and be with us on a regular basis. This next year of your life is incredibly important.

We'd love to have you come out and get plugged in. Maybe you can join some of our teams if you're here in the building, the ushers, the greeters, the choir. All always I'd love for you to meet some good faithfilled people from Lakewood. And I know Sundays, you know, a lot of times it's a day off and man, Joel, I could be running errands or I need to rest.

But let me tell you this, when you put God first place and you get into that community of faith, there is a blessing on your life and your new week will go better because you've honored God. So I hope you'll come back out, be a part. We'd love to have you.

Love to meet you after service. I'll be out there. There's a booth over here. Ways you can get connected. But know this, the moment you stood up, God washed away all your sins, your mistakes, your failures. You are starting with a fresh, clean slate. Write it down in your Bible.

March 1st, 2026, a new day of victory in your life in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Well, let's all stand together if you would please. Thanks for coming out today. How many of you going home better off than you were before? Amen. All right, let me speak the 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. We love you very much. Have an amazing week, a favorfilled week.

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