Still I Rise | Joel Osteen | Lakewood Church Service

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 You fight the battle. 
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 Well, 
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 good morning everybody. Come on. Can you stand your feet? We're going to lift up the name of Jesus today. Come on. We declare 
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 I won't be silent. Oh, I won't be silent. For the Lord 
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 is in this place. Oh, I can't be quiet cuz he's worthy 
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 of all praise.

He has been good. He has been kind. He has been faithful 
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 all the time. Now with everything 
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 within me, I will sing. Come on every voice 
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 declare 
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 praise 
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 the Lord of all creation. Oh, 
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 praise his name forever. 
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 everything 
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 Good morning everyone. Welcome to Lakewood bright and early. How many of you are ready to worship the Lord this morning?

And God's been bring brought us through another week and we're so honored to have you here. Thanks for coming out in the cold today, but uh it's warm inside. But you know, I know you know this. God's on the throne. He's in control. He's got each one of us in the palm of his hand.

And God saw you take the time to come today. And saw you take the time to tune in as well. And God knows everything that's happening in our lives. And I've learned this, a place of peace is a place of power. And you can come back to that place of peace and trust to say, "God, you're in control.

You're ordering my steps. you're bigger than anything that I'm facing. You know, that's not just being positive. That's you releasing your faith. That's you're showing God that you trust him. And another great way to to do that is by, you know, I always say praise precedes the victory.

You know, sometimes you feel heaviness or you feel like you got some big challenges, but more than ever, that's where you need to thank God that he's that he is fighting your battles. And so, that's what we do every service. We take this first half hour just to start the service off thanking God for his goodness, for another day to be alive.

So, if there's anything trying to weigh you down, why don't you turn that over to God and just come back to that place of peace? And let me tell you, you do that, I'll make a promise to you. You will not leave the same way you came in.

You're going to go out of here with more joy, more faith, and more victory in Jesus name. But thanks so so much for coming out. We love you guys. Amen. Amen. Good morning, church. It is good to be in the house of the Lord, isn't it? Praise God.

I mean, you know, we do need to stir our faith up this morning because it's cold outside and us Texans aren't used to that. So, anyway, uh God is good. And I love what David said. I I was kind of sitting with this this week and it said, "Lord, my times are in your hands."

He said, "My times are in your hands." And he wasn't just saying that when he was king in the palace. He was saying it when he was running from King Saul. So, I just want to encourage us all. You know, our circumstances are not in the hands of our circumstance.

Our life is in the hands of our God. He's the one that's holding us today. So, as we enter in and worship him, understand today that he's got you. You're not forgotten. You haven't been left alone. You are you are in his hands this morning. And he is a loving heavenly father.

So, let's just release our faith to him in a 
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 fresh new way this morning as we give him all of our praise. Father, we thank you so much that we can stand in this place today and just say, "You are Lord. You are God and our life is in your hands.

Father, we thank you that you bring comfort. You bring joy. You bring peace and you bring rest." So as we worship you today, Father, we release our faith to you, believing that everything that you have for us today, Father, you are releasing into our life. Lord, we thank you for all that you've done and all you're going to do in Jesus' name.

And everyone said, "Amen." Come on, we won't be silent. Now, we won't 
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 be silent for the Lord is in this room. Oh, we can't be quiet cuz his power 
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 is breaking through. Great is the name that conquered the grave. Above every kingdom 
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 Now with everything we his people will proclaim.

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 Put your hands together today church. Come on from 
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 the front to the back. 
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 With one voice we declare, there's no one higher. 
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 There's no one higher. There's no one 
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 sing 
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 praise the Lord 
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 Oh, praise 
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 his name forevermore. 
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 Come praise the Lord. 
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 Hallelujah. Come on church, if you have breath in your lungs, can you 
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 lift up a shout of praise?!

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 All we 
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 see, every wonder was a symbol by his hand. What 
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 compares to his power through the greatness 
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 he commands? Everything that has been, 
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 everything that is to come answers to one, the Holy 
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 One. Give him praise for all he's done. 
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 Our God is, our God is 
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 we sing all our hope.

All our hope our salvation was established 
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 in his name. What compares, to his glory, to the greatness of his 
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 Everything that has been, everything 
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 that is to come answers to one 
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 praise for all He's done. 
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 Let everything that has breath praise the 
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 Lord praise the Lord. Let everything that 
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 has breath praise the Lord 
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 our God.

Let everything 
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 that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 
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 Let everything 
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 praise the Lord our God 
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 Our God 
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 is unrivaled. 
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 Come on, we sing this out. His word is still final. 
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 Though empires 
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 A thousand 
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 generations falling down in worship to sing the song of ages to the lamb.

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 And all who have 
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 gone before us and all who 
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 will believe will sing a song 
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 of ages to the lamb. Cuz your 
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 name is the highest. Your name is the greatest. 
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 Your name stands 
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 above them all. All thrones 
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 and dominions, all powers and positions, your name 
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 stands above them all.

And the angels 
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 cry, holy. All creation 
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 cries, holy. 
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 You are lifted high. 
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 holy forever. And if 
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 you've been forgiven and if you've been redeemed, we sing the song forever to 
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 if you walk 
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 in freedom. And if you bear his name, 
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 sing a song 
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 forever to the lamb. 
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 sing a song forever and amen.

And the angels 
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 cry. Come on, we lift it up. 
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 Lord, you are holy. 
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 You are holy, holy, holy, 
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 holy forever 
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 Your name is the highest. 
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 Your name is the greatest. Your name stands above 
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 them all. All thrones 
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 and dominions, all powers and positions. Your name stands above 
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 them all.

Come on, declare it. Your name is the highest. 
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 Your name is the greatest. Your name 
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 stands 
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 above them all. 
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 holy 
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 forever. Yes. You will always 
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 be holy, 
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 holy 
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 forever. 
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 And we sing holy spirit, 
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 you are welcome 
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 here. Come flood 
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 this place and fill the atmosphere. Your 
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 glory God is what our hearts long for to be overcome 
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 by 
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 your presence—come on, 
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 we sing that today.

Holy Spirit 
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 you 
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 are welcome here. Come flood 
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 this place and fill the atmosphere. 
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 Your glory 
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 God is what our hearts long 
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 for to be 
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 overcome 
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 by your presence Lord. 
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 Oh your 
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 presence, oh 
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 your presence, 
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 Lord, it's all we long 
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 for. You place eternity 
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 on our hearts. So we sing, we declare, Holy Spirit, 
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 come on church.

Holy Spirit, you 
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 are welcome 
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 Come flood this place and fill the 
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 atmosphere. Your glory God is what our hearts 
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 long for. To be 
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 overcome 
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 by your presence, Lord. 
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 Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah. 
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 Holy Spirit, 
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 your presence is 
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 all that we're after. 
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 And we find you in surrender. There's no 
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 better place.

There's no better time to respond with 
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 surrender cuz you put your love on the line. Come on church, 
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 here in this moment. Here in this moment, 
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 be lifted high. 
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 Lord, I offer my heart and worship your glory divine. Come on every 
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 voice today. So come like the wind 
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 and fall like 
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 the rain.

Oh Holy Spirit 
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 inhabit this place. 
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 We give you the room. Lord 
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 have your 
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 way. Oh holy spirit 
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 inhabit 
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 our praise forever 
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 more. Come on, 
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 we declare now's the moment. Now is the moment. Yeah, that's right. 
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 Now is the time. Oh, 
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 we'll see miracles 
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 happen when we put you first in 
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 our lives.

We put you first 
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 sing come do whatever you want to every voice. 
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 Come do whatever you want to. Nothing's 
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 impossible for you. Rain down 
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 the heavens here on the earth. Come on, if that's your prayer today, would you lift up your 
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 voice, your faith? Come do 
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 whatever you want.

We surrender. 
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 Bring it on now. Bring down 
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 whatever you 
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 want to. Nothing's impossible 
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 for you. 
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 Holy 
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 Spirit. 
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 Lord God, we love you today. Lord, we thank you for all that you've done, for bringing us into another day. And Lord, we give you the praise, the honor. Lord, we know you woke us up this morning.

You gave us breath to breathe and strength to get out of bed. Lord, we don't take for granted that every good thing comes from you, our father in heaven above. Lord, we're not here with a sad song. We're here with a song of praise to thank you for all that you've done, for your goodness and your mercy.

And Lord, we just thank you for it, Lord, for what you're going to do. Lord, you brought us into a new year, a new month, February. Lord, we just thank you that you'll shine brightly through each one of us, Lord. that we're full of your wisdom, that we have clear direction for our lives.

Lord, I thank you. You said you've given us the power to obey, that we will make decisions that honor you and move us toward our God-given destiny. Lord, I thank you as we're worshiping you this morning that every force that's tried to stop us has been broken in the name of Jesus. depression, anxiety, mental illnesses.

Lord, maybe it's a sickness, an addiction, uh bad habits, trouble at work, at home, in our finances. Lord, we believe that you're working in our lives. That today is a breakthrough day. Lord, like we were singing, do what only you can do. Lord, our eyes are upon you today.

We know you haven't brought us this far to leave us where we are. So, Lord, we stir up our faith. we come back to that place of peace and trust. Lord, we know you're breathing in our lives right now. Even a fresh wind of your spirit. And I just speak fresh strength and fresh anointing and fresh favor and fresh momentum, fresh growth, letting go of all the old, the disappointments, what didn't work out.

Lord, we get ready for the new things that you're doing. Lord, I just speak victory over every person here and in the sound of my voice. And Lord, those that are fighting battles in their health, Lord, we know you're Jehovah Rafa, the Lord, our healer. So Lord, I thank you even now, healing is flowing into all those that need it.

Father, like you did from my mother, even when there's no medical solution, Lord, you can do what medicine cannot do. You have the final say. So Lord, I just speak strength and healing and vitality that we will run and not be weary. the number of our days you will fulfill in good health in Jesus name.

And Lord, not just physically, but I lift up those that are in tough times, those that have gone through loss. Father, you said you're close to the brokenhearted. Lord, I thank you right now that you're comforting them. And Lord, comforting us all and just thank you for your peace that only you can give.

And Lord, even though it can seem like an end, we know it's a new beginning. That you have beauty for the ashes, that you are still in control. So Lord, let your people feel your strength, your peace, your comfort that this your that they're coming through this, Lord God, that weeping endures for a night, but joy is coming in the morning.

So Lord, we just speak your strength, your hope, your new beginnings in the name of Jesus. And Lord, you've done great things in the past. We thank you for all that you've done. But Lord, we thank you that 2026 will be a blessed year in our lives. A a fruitful, productive year where we grow, we move forward.

Lord, that you're opening doors that only you can open. That you're bringing us to where we're supposed to be. Lord, we believe, declare we are victors and never victims in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say amen today? 
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 So good to have you in the house of the Lord.

Today we're going to make our declaration of faith. Are you ready? 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. 
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 I am a child of the most high God.

I will become all I was created to be in Jesus' name. 
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 Amen. And amen. 
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 Every time we say that it, you know, it does something on the inside. We're not again just being positive. You are speaking faith over your future. You know, the scripture says that life and death are in the power of our tongue.

And really, you know, it's important to pay attention to what you're saying about yourself and about your future. Cuz really, you are prophesying your future. You want to know what you're going to be like in 5 years. Listen to what you're saying about yourself. And I know it's not, oh, I don't know, Joel.

I never get any good breaks and this back. I'll never get get rid of this back trouble. You know what? You got to zip that up and start speaking some victory over your life. Lord, I thank you that I am. 
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 You know, the scripture says, "Let the weak say I am strong."

And it's a principle that you know you don't you don't go around didn't say let the weak talk about the weakness and you know I know you know there are times that that may be appropriate but as a rule you know you may feel weak but you need to say I am strong you don't feel too you know too blessed but it's a declaration of faith I am blessed even when David made the declaration this is the day the Lord has made I will rejoice he wasn't in a good place he wasn't reporting hey everything's good in my life he was making a declaration of faith Everything's going wrong, but this is the day the Lord has made.

I'm going to rejoice. 
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 Have that attitude of faith. And one more thing before we pray. One thing I've learned is just because you don't see anything happening, doesn't mean God is not working. Many times God works in silent when you know that's where it's that's that's where it takes faith to say, "God, I'm praying and believing.

I'm doing the right thing, but my health isn't improving or my financial situation, my child." Do you know what? You got to know that God is working all the time behind the scenes in your life. You may not be able to see it, but this is what faith is all about.

God, I believe you're working. You know, you stay faithful. And you're going to come into a a suddenly a a supernatural moment where God's going to turn things around sooner than you think. But you know why that happens? Because you stayed in faith all those times you didn't see anything happening.

You know, that's when the enemy starts telling you how it's not going to work for you or God's forgotten about you or it would have happened by now. Let me tell you what God has for you is already on the schedule. God has already put it on the calendar at the at the right time.

Says in Psalms, at the set time, it will happen. Nothing can stop it. Other people can't stop it. The enemy can't stop it. What God has purposed for your life will come to pass in the name of Jesus. Now, 2026, let's take the limits off of God. Let's believe for some new things.

Let me tell you, God's going to open doors in 26 that you couldn't open on your own. He's going to bring some loved ones back in that you thought would never come back in. He's going to turn some health situations around. This is your year to be free, 
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 to be blessed, to be healthy, to see God take you into new levels of his favor, his goodness in Jesus name.

Amen. Do you receive that today? I receive it for myself as well. We're going to take a moment to pray. 
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 If you need prayer today, we'd be honored to stand in faith with you. Anything you need, why don't you meet a prayer partner at the front of your section and we'll take this moment to pray.

Anyone's welcome to come for prayer. And rest of you, you're welcome to be seated if you'd like and we'll take a moment to pray. And my beautiful wife Victoria is there to pray for our beautiful online family. Thanks for being with us, listening live on SiriusXM. It's always an honor to have you.

Good morning, church family. It is so good to be with you today. I just want to encourage your heart that God sees you. He loves you right where you are. We're going to take this time to pray for you, come into agreement in prayer with you because we know that prayer moves the hands that rule the world.

So, we are going to pray together today and believe that God is going to bring about uh all that we need him to and all that he wills to do. And we know that God's will for us is good. He says, "My my plans for 
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 you are good.

They're not to harm you, but they're to give you a future and a hope." So, we know that God's thoughts and will for us are are good. You know, he said that by the stripes of his son, Jesus, you're healed. So he wants us to be healed. He wants us to walk in restoration.

He 
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 wants us to walk in freedom today. And so if that is your heart's desire, then we're going to pray together that that is 
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 what's going to happen. So in uh if you have a prayer request, put it in the chat because right 
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 now we want to agree with you in prayer.

We have prayer partners and we're just going to stand in faith with you at this church that God is going to work miracles 
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 in your life. We already have some prayer requests right now. And Evelyn, she's praying for restoration in her family. And Michelle is playing praying for restoration in her family as well.

She wants to be reunited 
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 with her grandchildren. So Evelyn, between you and your family, we're going to believe that God is going to bring down any kind of dividing walls that would stand 
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 in between you and the unity of your family. And we're going to pray, Michelle, for those grandchildren to be united and to be in that loving, supportive home.

You know, God is the restorer of broken 
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 things. He restores our our life. He restores broken down walls. He is the restorer. David said, "Restore 
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 me, oh God." And so, whatever it is today that you need from God, we're going to stand in faith and 
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 believe. We also had Lori needs healing for her husband with his for his back and his leg.

Michelle, healing for his wife 
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 uh from cancer and his son from lupus. So, Michael, we are going to stand with you and 
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 Lori because you know what? We need our our family healthy. We need them strong. We need them whole. The Bible says that he will make us ever with whole.

And that's what we want for your family, Lori and Michael, is ever with wholeness. And maybe you're out there and you need healing in your body or someone in your family or close friend or 
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 or a relative needs healing in their body. We want to stand with you as as far as that healing goes because we know that Jesus came so that we could have life and life more 
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 abundantly.

And that's what we're going to pray right now. So, Father, I just ask you in the name of Jesus that you, Father, would bring your healing virtue, your restoring power to lives 
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 right now. Father, you know where they're sick. You know where their body is breaking down. And God, we ask that you would build it up.

That you would restore health unto them and heal them of their wounds. Father, 
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 we pray for Lori and her husband and Michael and his wife and son for lupus and all those out there who are believing that you are the healer. And so, Father, this morning, we just 
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 simply reach out to touch you just like that woman with the issue of blood for all those years.

She never gave up and she 
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 just reached one day and there it was the power of the living God. So, Father, 
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 let your power flow through your people in Jesus' name. And Father, if their families need to be touched today, 
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 Lord, would you touch their families? Would you restore relationships today, Father?

Men broken hearts, 
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 hearts that may have been wounded or bruised or or hurt and it's causing them to separate. 
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 Father, we're asking you to heal their hearts, to restore their mind, Father, to bring them back to a rightful position, not only with you, but with their families. And so, Father, 
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 I thank you that you are working.

You said you're always working, Lord. That Father, when when we try to do the work, Father, it's 
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 good, but when you work, it gets done. So, Father, we're taking our hands off of this and we're putting these things on the altar 
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 today. We're saying, God, here's our family.

Here's our lives. Here's our health. Father, our 
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 times are in your hands. Not the s circumstance, 
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 not the situation, not the fear, but they're in your hands. Everything about us is in 
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 your hands. So, Father, we thank you that we put them back in your hands. We take our hands off of it and we simply 
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 praise you.

We simply give you glory. We simply give you honor for the healing, the restoration, for financial 
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 breakthroughs, whatever it is my brothers and sisters need today. Father, I stand in agreement. And you said we're two or more agree on touching anything, it shall be done. So, Father, we're not going to break our agreement.

We're 
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 going to stand strong with one another. We're going to look to you where our help comes from. We're going to rest, Father, in the 
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 fact that we are in your hands. Our times, our lives, our situations, our families, our health. Father, it is in your hands today.

So, please work a miracle, 
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 Lord. We love you. We praise you, and we give you all the honor and the glory 
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 in Jesus' name. Listen, we're not going to break our agreement with you. We're going to stand strong. Stir your faith up because God is working in 
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 your life.

Get up and praise 
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 the Lord. 
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 Come on, help me church. Say, come on my soul. Oh, don't 
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 you get 
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 shy on me. 
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 Inside your lungs. Oh. Oh. Oh, come on 
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 my soul. Lift 
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 up your song 
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 Praise the Lord. So I'll 
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 throw up my hands and praise you again and again.

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 Cuz all I have is a 
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 Oh, hallelujah. 
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 I know it's not much, but I've nothing else fit for 
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 a king except for a heart singing. 
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 Hallelujah. Hallelujah. 
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 You may be seated. You know, I've talked and and prayed with a lot of people over the last six months, both within this church and beyond it, that have walked through some very difficult and challenging times, challenging circumstances concerning their loved ones, concerning their businesses, concerning their health.

And I was praying about this this week and I came across this passage of scripture that I'd like to bring our attention to. And it's a very powerful moment in the book of Isaiah. The book of Isaiah 6:1, the prophet Isaiah writes, "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord high and lifted up and his train filled the temple."

This is a powerful very powerful picture very powerful vision. The first thing I want us to discover is the context of the vision. You see this vision was given in the year that King Uzziah died. A trusted leader was gone. Stability and security was lost. The the future it felt uncertain.

And it's here, right after this loss that God reveals himself. It's not after things are fixed. It's not after things were good in the nation. It was right there that God reveals himself. So in a moment Isaiah's world is deeply shaken, Isaiah sees that God does not replace loss with silence, friends.

He replaces the space with his presence. The scripture says that his train filled the temple. In ancient culture, the larger the train of the king's robe, the greater the authority. Kings would add length to their train after major victories. This is a visible testimony of conquered enemies and established rule.

So the the train of the king, it told the story. So in the midst of loss, despair and uncertainty, God sends him a message to Isaiah and to the people. The throne is still occupied. A robe is still expanding. A kingdom is undefeated and it is still unthreatened.

In other words, God is still in control of your life. He hasn't left. 
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 So friend, a business, a dream, a season may be gone. And these times are very difficult to process. But one thing you can be certain of is that the ultimate seat of authority has not shifted.

What you leaned on may have left, but what holds you together has not. I want you to think about this for a minute. The train of the Lord did not stop at the throne. It moved outward into the place of worship. The train touched the ground. Friend, this isn't distant comfort.

It means God meets his people right where they're at in the middle of their loss. On hospital floors, in quiet bedrooms, in uncertainty, when you face loss, you can count on Jesus to come to you. You don't have to work your way to him. His presence comes down to you right where you're at.

This is an incredible vision to Isaiah. He's saying when Jesus comes into the room, he doesn't come alone. When he comes in, victory comes. When he enters, peace comes with. When he comes, provision, healing, freedom, and hope come with them. So this morning, if you're facing immense pressure and debt, fear, unanswered questions, if his train fills the temple, fear doesn't get the final word.

Lack doesn't get the final word. Loss doesn't get the final word. I want you to think about Romans 8 today, church, that God does not call all things good, but he does work things for good. All things for good. So this morning, we're not just singing songs today.

Can I encourage you that we're hosting the presence of the king? 
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 So today, if you're facing loss, unforeseen challenges, his peace is available. His strength 
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 is in the room. Joy is in the room. Comfort is in the room. If it's not uncomfortable, can you just in reverence stand to your feet because the king is here.

And what 
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 I'd encourage you to do is to lift your hands in a posture of surrender because God wants to meet you 
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 right in the middle of your circumstance, right in the middle of your uncertainty. And we're going to believe that as we welcome him, we're going 
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 to welcome peace.

We're going to welcome joy. We're going to welcome comfort. We're going to welcome healing. We're going to welcome victory. Come on, church. Let's declare with faith. Let's declare with great passion. Jesus is here and with him comes everything 
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 that he is. Let's worship this morning. We welcome the rain.

Welcome your hope. Welcome provision. 
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 We welcome your peace. Welcome 
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 your joy. Welcome your freedom. Here comes the king mighty to 
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 save, reigning in power. We hear it in the sound of heaven pouring out. Come on, 
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 we declare. We welcome the rain. Welcome your hope. Welcome 
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 provision. We welcome your peace.

Welcome your joy. Welcome your freedom. Here comes the king 
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 pouring out. 
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 So pour it out. 
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 Friend lost. The cool thing about this story is that 
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 after this incredible vision that God reveals to Isaiah in the midst of loss, he follows up with a question. God asks Isaiah, "My people need a message.

Whom shall I send?" 
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 And Isaiah answers, "Here am I. Send me." Notice Isaiah in the land, it's not healed yet. He's not whole yet, but he's available. This is great hope for those who are hurting because God doesn't wait for you to finish hurting or to be perfectly put together before he calls you, before he uses you, before he finishes what he began in you.

You are not abandoned in the loss. God's presence comes down right where you're at. And so today, I just declare in 
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 Jesus name for anybody going through a hard time, anybody that's experienced any sort of uncertainty over this last year 
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 that right now you would feel his presence like never before.

The throne over your life is still occupied. And even now, especially now, I believe and I declare that his glory is closer than you've ever experienced. that you would feel his peace, that you would feel his love, and that you would believe. No, not all things are good, but 
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 God is faithful to work all things out for good.

And we believe it, and we declare it. And 
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 church, if you receive it, can you shout amen this morning? Amen. God bless you. 
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((applause))
 Hello, Lakewood family. I am in Johannesburg, South Africa with Hope Restoration 
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 Ministries in Francina. And I'm just so excited and privileged to be able to come to you from South Africa because we are working with an amazing 
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 ministry partner, Hope Restoration Ministries.

They do phenomenal work. They feed so many people. They are intentional about providing education services, 
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 but they also build homes, homes for people like Francina who uh otherwise may not have access to a home like this. 
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 And they are investing in people that are uh in need. Many of them are homeless. and they're giving them a second chance and 
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 an opportunity to live in a place that they can be proud of.

And we're just so thankful and so appreciative that we can be 
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 a part of their ministry, a part of their story. Wherever seeds are sewn through Lakewood, they're swn by you as well. And so we're just so thankful that you are the constant 
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 gardeners in your faithfulness and generosity so that we can sew seeds and link arms with amazing ministries that 
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 help people just like Francina.

And it's just such a blessing. And we just want to say thank you and God bless. Yeah. Thank you so much, Lakewood. 
[applause and music]
 Y'all hear it every week, but because of your support, your generosity, your faithfulness, your love for God and love for people, you are helping people all over the world.

And so, 
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 I want you to feel good when you when you give. And we take time every service. We'll do it now to worship the Lord with our tithes and our offerings. And just uh thank you for your generosity 
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 here in the building. You're watching as well. And Lakewood's been going strong now for 60some years.

And so, it's because of faithful people. And you know the the scripture talks about many things about giving and one of them one of the favorite from growing up it says when you give it'll be given back to you but listen to what God says not in the same way but pressed down shaken together and running over that's the way God is and you know and I'm not saying it's always finances or something but man when God God can give you running over peace and running over with ideas or running over with friendship running over with a beautiful wife or just a lot of different things God can bless bless you with.

But part of it is the finances because we need money to, you know, it took took a lot of money to redo this building and to live and to fulfill our destiny. So, we want you to know that God sees the sacrifices, your faithfulness, and even when I seeing saying a while ago about, you know, well, Joel, I've been tithing, but I don't really see much happening.

But you don't know what's happening behind the scenes. Every day you're faithful, you are passing the test. And you know, I I've seen it in my own life. you can come into one explosive blessing that'll put you 50 years down the road. That'll bring you out of debt.

That'll give you do something that you never thought could happen. So, I hope I know you will continue to be faithful. And just, you know, when you give, don't give, I got to do this, man. I go to Lakewood. I got no give by saying, "God, I love you and it's a joy to give.

You've given me everything I have." You give in faith. You're planting that seed. And we just speak blessings over you and your family. Last thing, the economy is not our source. God is our source. you are connected to a supply line that will never run dry. So, thanks for being so so generous.

I love that, Joel, because no matter what we do for God, we have to do it in faith. Whether we're believing God for a healing, for a restoration, whatever it is, a breakthrough in our finances, we have to do it in faith. And that's the same way with our gifts and our generosity to God is we have to do it in faith.

Like Joel said, not just do it just let it be a habit, but really do it in faith. You know, Proverbs says that the that the gift gives way to the giver. That it gives way not only to the people receiving the gift, but it gives way to you and I as we give.

When we give, God is doing more than just provision. He's positioning us for a great future. And that's what we have to believe. God, it's not just provision, but it's my position. It is what you want to do in me and through me in the future. So, I just encourage us all, men, in I I'm I'm talking to myself.

It's like everything we do needs to be done with expectation. If you're a parent and your child came to you and asked you for something, you they ask you because they're expecting you to do something. And if they didn't, you would think, why are you even asking me? you don't you don't think I'm going to do it anyway.

But when when they come to you and you look at them and you know, man, they're dependent on you. They're doing everything they know to do and 
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 expecting you to do what you can do. You know, there's just something about that. And that's how I believe the heart of God is.

When we're doing everything we know to do and we come to him with faith and expectancy, then he does what we can't do. So, I just want to encourage you with that thought today. Amen. I just want you to know that we do pray for you every single day and we believe that God is moving in your life.

So as you give, you make room for him because he is positioning you into 
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 something wonderful. That's so good. Father, thank you for the generous givers here at Lakewood online listening. Lord, we don't give because we have to. We give because we want to to honor you, to put you first place.

And Lord, as your people give, as we all give, Lord, I just thank you that we live under the open windows of heaven. Father, you said you would pour out blessings that we could not contain. Lord, do what only you can do. I thank you, Lord, that we all will have the funds to fulfill the 
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 destiny you've laid for us, laid out for us.

And Lord, that we all have plenty left over to build your kingdom and to be a blessing to others, to support every good work. Lord, I just speak your your goodness over your people. I speak abundance and overflow and just that running over, pressed down, shaken together that only you can do.

Lord, give them ideas 
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 and creativity. Let their gifts and talents come out. Lord, draw opportunity and the right people and contracts and businesses. Cause them to flourish, to bloom, to blossom for your glory and for your honor so we can build your kingdom in Jesus' name. God bless you today as you give.

Here are some ways you can give. 
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 Using your smartphone, scan the QR code located on the screen. Then select the online giving option that 
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 is most convenient for you. Go to lakewoodurch.com/give. Text give hope to 77977. 
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 Mail a check to P. Box 27450, Houston, Texas77227. 
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 or call us toll-free at 888-567- 
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 Joel.

Now 
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 I searched the world but it couldn't 
[singing]
 fill me. Men's empty 
[music and singing]
 praise and treasures that fade are never enough. No. 
[singing]
 Then you came 
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 along. And then you put me back together. And every 
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 desire is now satisfied 
[singing]
 here in your love. Oh. 
[music and singing]
 Oh. Oh. There's nothing better than 
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 you.

[singing]
 There's nothing better than you, Lord. There's nothing, 
[music and singing]
 nothing is better than you. 
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 Now, I'm not afraid. 
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 to show you my weakness. My failures 
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 and flaws. Lord, you've seen them all and you still 
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 call me friend. The God 
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 of the mountain is the God of the valley. 
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 And there's not a place your mercy and grace won't find me again.

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 Oh, there's nothing 
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[singing]
 
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 How many of you can testify to that today? This is why cuz you 
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 turn mourning to dancing. You give beauty for ashes. 
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 You turn shame into glory. 
[singing]
 You're the only one who can 
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 Oh, there's nothing. 
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 Come on, help me sing it today. 
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 Lord we sing it to you today.

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 Oh, 
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 That's good Steve! Hey, thanks for being at Lakewood today. Come on, let's all stand one last time. But what an honor to have you out in the house of the Lord this morning. Thanks for coming here. We love you guys. And Victoria said it earlier. We pray for you every day.

We stand in agreement that what God put in your heart will come to pass. That what he's promised you. So I believe there's power in agreement when we pray for each other. And if you hadn't written your dream on the wall, your vision for 2026. I hope you'll write it on one of the walls and you guys can do it electronically and we'll put it up there for you.

But we like to stand in agreement. You know, we're better together and so we appreciate you being here. If you're visiting, love to meet you after service. I'll be right back over there by the bookstore. But thanks for coming out. We were singing while ago that song uh we welcome the freedom, welcome the hope, welcome provision.

That's the new Lakewood music song. It's out today. So if you want to download it and you know 
((cheering))
 with everything going on in the world, you need to keep keep faith put into you during the week and it's good to listen to some faithfilled music. Hey, one more thing.

My my brother Paul and his wife Jennifer have a conference here every year. It's called Mobilizing Medical Missions and it's coming up here real soon. in a couple couple weeks, Friday, February 20th. But you know, it's not just for people in the medical field. If you're a carpenter or pilot or a architect and you want to use your gifts to help people all over the world, it's a great time to come.

They have hundreds of booths out there and great speakers. But Paul tell you more about it. But I just want to get you alerted to that. Especially you guys watching and listening from all over the world, you want to come. It's just a great place to connect and stay over for the Sunday service as well.

Get to see how good-looking I am in person. But we'd glad be glad to have you. And I and I think that I don't know why I say it, but anyway. All right, guys. I'll start with something funny. I'm going to tell you this. My oldest one. I heard about this man.

He called the church office and said, "I want to speak to the head hog at the trough." Well, the secretary was offended. She said, "If you mean the pastor, you're going to have to call him pastor, but you may not call him the head hog at the trough."

He said, 'Well, fine, but I was thinking about making a $5,000 donation to your church.' She said, 'Hang on. Porky just walked in. 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 Genesis chapter 35, you're welcome to. Genesis 35. Don't forget next weekend, all day Sunday, Joyce Meyer will be right here with us.

And Joyce is one of a kind. She comes twice a year and we're always honored to have her. So, hope you come out as often as you can. Then I also noticed on the on the notes this Friday is our movie night once a month. So, love to have you come out on Friday night.

It's a free movie, a great time of family and connection, but blessed to have you here today. I want to talk to you today about Still I Rise. In life, things are going to happen that we don't understand, that are not fair, that can knock the wind out of us.

A bad medical report, a loss of a loved one, a setback in our business. I can't promise you that life won't knock you down, but I can promise you you can get back up again. The scripture says, "The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives on the inside of you."

God has put bounceback in your spirit. Amen. He knew we would face disappointments and things that could sour our future. He's put in you a fire that cannot be put out. A determination to overcome what's trying to hold you back. A strength to rise up when every voice is telling you to settle.

And when life knocks you down, it's okay to process it and grieve the loss. I'm not telling you to ignore the pain. Just be strong. God made us with emotions. We feel things. What I'm saying is don't stay there. Don't let the loss become your location. Don't let what happened to you become your identity.

You need to have this still I rise mentality. Yes, life knocked me down. I but you know I can get back up. Still I rise. Had a bad break. Joel, a door closed. I don't understand it. But still I believe. Still I trust. Still I smile. Still, I praise.

You have to have a madeup mind that when life knocks you down, you're not going to live defeated and think about what didn't work out, you declare in the face of those circumstances. Still, I rise. I was in the kitchen the other day and had a glass of water and I reached to pick something up and somehow the glass slipped out of my hand and it hit the countertop and it broke into a dozen pieces.

The glass has a thick bottom, maybe an inch of solid glass, but it was shattered. After I cleaned it up, I went to the countertop to see if it was damaged. I thought it probably chipped it cuz the glass hit it so hard, but there was no dent, no ding, looked perfect.

It's because the countertop is granite. Granite is one of the hardest stones, much harder than glass. And you can drop glass on granite all day long. Even though the glass is hard and seems so sturdy and tough, it will never break the granite. In the same way, God has made you harder than anything that will come against you.

There are things that you would think would break you. The sickness, the addiction, the trouble feels bigger, stronger, tougher. But can I encourage you? You are unbreakable. You are like that granite. You are harder than what's trying to break you. You are stronger than what's trying to stop you.

You are more powerful than what's trying to hold you. Greater is he that's in you than what's coming against you. Now, you may not have strength on your own, but there's something greater in you. That bad break may seem like it soured your future. It knocked you down, but there is bounce back in your spirit.

That same power that raised Christ is going to raise you back up. Now, you can't have a weak, defeated mentality. I can't handle this. It's too much. Have a new perspective. Yes, I'm hurting, but I know a secret. Still, I rise. Yes, it looks bad. Still, I believe.

Yes, I'm outnumbered. Still, I trust. Yes, I got the wind knocked out of me. But this is not how my story ends. I'm not settling here. Still, I move forward. Still, I dream. Still, I expect the goodness of God. This is what Jacob did in the scripture. As a young man, he had to leave his hometown because his brother Esau was angry at him.

Jacob had stolen his birthight. Esau was going to take revenge. So Jacob fled to a far away city and he lived with his uncle for many years. That's where he met his wives Rachel and Leah and he had many children. Jacob was very blessed with cattle and livestock.

Well, after everything cooled down, God said to him in Genesis 31, "Return to the land of your fathers, and I will be with you." Jacob always wanted to go back homes. So, he gathered his family, his flocks, and his children. He headed toward Hebron where his father Isaac lived.

It's a long journey. They made it to the city of Bethl and camped there. That's where God changed his name from Jacob, which means deceiver and trickster. That's who he was in the past, to Israel, which means prince with God. Was a destiny moment where he had this new identity, this new mindset.

I'm not who I used to be. I'm a new man. He built an altar there and worshiped God. Well, they left Bethl and continued on the journey. and his wife Rachel was pregnant and she began to have labor pains and they stopped and the midwives began to help her.

She went into labor was very hard. There were complications. Rachel gave birth to the child, a healthy baby, but Rachel didn't make it. She died during childbirth. Here it was the best of times, a new baby boy, and the worst of times. Jacob lost his beloved wife. In those days, they had multiple wives.

He had married her sister Leah. He was tricked into that. But Rachel was the love of his life. The first time he saw Rachel, it was love at first sight. So much so that he told her father, Laban, that he would work for him seven years just to be able to marry Rachel.

After the seven years, Laban didn't keep his word. He gave him the oldest daughter, Leah, instead instead. And Jacob said, "That's not what we agreed to." Laban said, "Well, then you have to work for me seven more years if you want Rachel." And Jacob did it. That's how much he loved Rachel.

But now his world is shattered. He never dreamed he would lose the thing he loved the most. It's one thing if she passed from old age at their home. They had reached their destination, but he lost her along the way while they were in transition, while they were dreaming about what was to come.

And sometimes on our journey in life, the unexpected happens. A dream dies, a door closes, a loved one doesn't make it. We didn't see it coming. We get knocked down and it's easy to stay down and wonder why it happened, live defeated, give up on dreams. We were doing the right thing, the wrong thing happened.

God, where were you? Why didn't you stop this? There will always be unanswered questions. Faith is about trusting when you don't understand, not trying to figure everything out. Don't put a question mark where God has put a period. He's still in control. He's still ordering your steps. And he still has a purpose for you to fulfill.

It's not like Jacob was off course doing something he wasn't supposed to. He was God told him to go back home. He was being obedient, following God's plan for his life. You can imagine the pain, sense of loss, the grease, the grief, being overwhelmed. This is the woman he worked 14 years for.

This is the mother of Joseph, a son that would impact the world. And suddenly she's gone. Here they were planning on seeing their family, having this big reunion, all being back together. Then life happened. What made it worse is he couldn't bury her with his family. The custom back then is you had to bury the body within 24 hours where they were weeks away from their destination.

So right there on the side of the road, he dug a grave, set a memorial stone, marked her passing. This was a critical point. Jacob could have settled there. He could have canceled his plans and thought, "No need to go further. Man, my dreams have died. I'm too heartbroken."

He could have lived in mourning. But verse 21 says, "After honoring her passing, Israel journeyed on." The verse before says, "Jacob set a marker on her grave." When Moses wrote this, he used two different names. It's not a coincidence. God was showing us Jacob represents the human part of us.

Our emotions, the pain, the grief, the heartbreak. That's Jacob. He set up this pillar to mark her passing. God didn't say, "Jacob, you got to get going. Don't feel anything. Be stronger. Grief is not weakness. Grief is a sign that you loved. When you love deeply, you grieve deeply.

There's a time for mourning, time for weeping, a time to process so you can heal. If you don't grieve your losses and you hold everything in, just try to override it. It's not healthy. There needs to be a release. Weeping endures for the night. Then joy comes. Don't bypass the process.

But here's a key. The enemy would love for a season of mourning to turn into a lifetime of mourning to where you set up camp at the memorial stone. You always think about what you lost. You relive the hurt, give up on dreams, settle in sorrow. That's how Jacob felt.

Those are normal emotions. Then the scripture switches his name and says, "Israel journeyed on." Israel is the spirit inside of you. It's who God called you to be. When Jacob wants to settle in defeat, Israel moves forward in faith. When Jacob is overcome with sorrow, Israel rises up, wipes the tears, and presses on.

Weeping endures for a night. That's Jacob. But joy comes in the morning. That's Israel. Jacob will feel overwhelmed by the loss. But the Israel in you says, "Still I rise. Still I believe. Still I trust. Still I will journey on. We see this with Job. He lost everything in the middle of the trouble.

When he should have been depressed, he looked up and said, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." That was Israel coming out. But when we have bad breaks and we have to bury a dream or bury something that you dearly loved, Jacob will be there. The grieving, the weeping, the sorrow.

But can I encourage you? There's there's an Israel in you as well. Israel carries the power, the fortitude, the supernatural strength that causes you to rise back up to defy the odds to journey on when all the circumstances tell you, "Look what's happened. You need to settle. It's not fair.

This has soured your life." When Jacob wants to sit down, Israel stands up. Jacob feels the pain, but Israel carries the promise. No weapon formed against you will prosper. There are beauty for those ashes. Jacob will try to convince you, you're done. You seen your best days. You can't handle this.

But if you'll listen carefully, you'll hear Israel saying, "No, no, still I rise. Still I move forward. Still I pursue. That door closed. I'm disappointed, but I'm going to knock on another door." That's Israel. Maybe that trouble with your child or that difficulty at work. She would have given you a nervous breakdown, taking your passion, your joy, but you felt a strength, a power that you can't explain to keep moving forward.

That's Israel. That's God sustaining you. That's his Holy Spirit causing you to overcome. Perhaps a relationship didn't make it. You lost that loved one. You should get stuck thinking, "Why? It's not fair. I don't understand it." But that's where Jacob was. But what happened with him is going to happen to you.

Israel is going to show up. Jacob couldn't have done this on his own. Was too much, too overwhelming. But when he came to the end of his ability, Israel stepped in. The spirit of God will help you to move forward, to continue on, to pursue your purpose despite what's tried to stop you.

Now, don't be down on yourself when you feel heaviness. Some people say if you have faith, you shouldn't grieve. You shouldn't feel the pain, feel the sadness. Jacob doesn't go away. We're all human. Jesus wept when his friend Lazarus died. He felt sorrow and heartache. Remember, in the garden of Gethsemane, he was so overwhelmed that he sweat drops of blood.

He's God. Yet, in his human body, he had these emotions. It's not a lack of faith to feel things. The Jacob in you feels pain. Jacob reacts to loss and betrayal. Jacob carries wounds and questions. That's the natural part of us. On our own by ourselves, we get stuck there.

The good news is there's not just a Jacob in you. There's an Israel in you. That's who I'm calling out today. Israel gets up after being knocked down. Israel moves forward while still hurting. Israel trust even though there's unanswered questions. Israel praises through the pain and speaks victory in the middle of the trouble.

Yeah. Jacob buries the dreams, mourns the loss, acknowledges the disappointment, but Israel journeys on. Now, you may be in a tough season and you feel the pain and maybe discouraged over a difficulty. Jacob's been out a long time, but let me tell you, Israel is in you, but you have to wake him up.

It starts in your thoughts. It starts in what you're telling yourself. I don't know, Joy. It's too much. I can't handle this. Why did they treat me this way? That's going to keep Israel from showing up. He's in you, but you have to let him come alive. Try a different approach.

God, this was a bad break. I don't understand it, but God, I trust you. You said you've armed me with strength for every battle. You said I can do all things through Christ. I may be down, but I'm not going to stay down. I declare still I rise.

That's how you get Israel to show back up. 
((applause))
 But Jacob, you know, he had every reason to settle where he was and to, you know, let that stop his destiny. He was doing the right thing. He was pursuing what God told him. And he lost what mattered most.

He could have become bitter, overcome by sorrow, stuck in unanswered questions, but he did what we all have to do. He let Israel rise up. He was saying in effect, "I'm hurting, but I'm still moving. I'm grieving, but I'm going forward. I lost something precious, but I didn't lose my purpose."

We all have these times, like Jacob, that don't seem fair. You may feel the pain, but don't forfeit the promise. What God has spoken over your life is still going to come to pass. It may be difficult, but the Israel in you is saying, "Journey on. Keep dreaming.

Keep pursuing. Keep expecting." You can't keep a good person down. Despite what's happened, you will still arise. You will still see the goodness of God. My father was pastoring a church back in the late 1950s and was very successful. They just built a beautiful new auditorium seating a thousand people and he was on the state board for his denomination on his wha up and life was good.

Then my sister Lisa was born. She had a birth injury something like cereble pausy. Doctors told my parents she'd probably never be able to walk or able to feed herself. They didn't see that coming. Jacob was there. Their human emotions they were discouraged. They felt this sorrow, this heaviness, wondering why it happened.

But inside each one of us, there's not just a Jacob, there's an Israel. My father told how he felt this holy anger, this fire, and this passion to pray and believe that Lisa could be healed. Well, that went against everything he'd been taught. In seminary, he was told that the day of miracles was over, that it ceased when the last disciple died.

He went to a hotel downtown to read the scripture. And Jacob was grieving, but Israel journeyed on. And my father saw how Jesus went around healing people with great power and victory. And faith rose in his heart. He came back to his church and he started preaching with a new fire and a new passion, encouraging them to believe for what seems impossible.

He thought they'd all be excited. They'd all be for him. It's just the opposite. They didn't like it. It didn't fit in with their tradition. They ended up asking my father to leave. My parents had poured their heart into those people and giving them their very best. My mother told me that lifelong friends never spoke to her again.

Like Jacob, on their way to their destination, doing what God called them to do, a dream died. Didn't seem right. God could have stopped it. There were unanswered questions. My parents grieved the loss. They mourned what didn't work out, but they didn't get bitter. They didn't hold on to the hurt and talk bad about the people and try to get revenge.

They realized God put a period there. That season was over. See, God is our doorkeeper. He opens and closes the doors in our lives. It doesn't always make sense to us. He numbers our days. Our times are in his hands. Daddy had to bury that dream. Except that it didn't work out.

But just because one dream dies doesn't mean God doesn't have another dream. Losing a job, a loved one, a relationship, that doesn't stop God's purpose for your life. Your destiny is not in what you've lost. It's in what you have left. But here's the key. If you focus on the loss, what didn't work out, what they did, you're going to get stuck.

And sure, you're going to feel that emotion, disappointment, sadness. Jacob is there, but Israel's in there, too. After you process the loss and go through the healing, Israel is going to rise up and say, "Journey on. Move forward. Don't stay here and mourn this any longer. It's a season.

Don't let it turn into a lifetime." This is what my parents did. They went out and started Lakewood on Mother's Day in 1959 with 90 people. My sister Lisa kept getting better and better, defying the odds. And you know, today Lisa is perfectly normal and Lakewood is still going strong 67 years later.

What the enemy means for harm, God knows how to turn to your advantage. 
((applause))
 And sometimes what we think is the enemy is really the divine plan of God. things we don't understand, but it's all working for his purpose. But had my father not journeyed on, we wouldn't be here today.

Had my mother gotten bitter and lived with a chip on her shoulder, she would have never seen the blessing and the favor. They were knocked down, but they made this decision. We're not going to stay down. They felt the sting of rejection, being misunderstood and pushed out. But they also felt Israel inside despite the opposition.

They had the attitude, still we rise, still we believe, still we dream, still we journey on. The scripture says, "A good man falls seven times, but he gets back up again." The question is not, "Are you going to get knocked down? Life happens to us all." The question is, are you going to get back up?

When it says Israel journeyed on, it means he rose up with a new attitude, a new determination, a new courage. He said, "This bad break is not going to defeat me. This loss is not going to define me. I know I am stronger than what's trying to stop me.

I am more powerful than what's trying to hold me down." You have bounced back in your spirit. Resurrection power. Don't settle into disappointment. Journey on to the new things God has for you. I heard about this 5-year-old boy named Johnny. He was in church with his family and the pastor was up speaking and Johnny kept standing up.

He couldn't sit still. And his mother whispered, "Johnny, sit down." And he'd sit. 30 seconds later, he'd stand back up. This happened again and again. At one point, he stood up and wouldn't sit back down. His mother reached over, put her hands on his shoulders, and pushed him down and held him there.

He was so upset. He looked at his mother and said, "I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm standing up on the inside." Sometimes life will push you down. It's like the circumstances won't let you get back up. The medical report holding you down, trouble with the child, that loss.

You may not be able to get up on the outside, but like that little boy, you have to get up on the inside, in your thinking. You have to talk to yourself the right way. Not this is too much and I'll never get well. This has soured my future.

You're defeating yourself. Israel is in you. Supernatural strength, courage to get back up, to journey on. But if you only focus on the hurt, the disappointment, Israel's going to stay silent. You got to wake him up. Get your fire back. Get your passion back. God didn't bring you this far to leave you.

He knows what's come against you. He feels the pain. He collects your tears. This is not the end of your story. This is one chapter. You had to bury something on the road in transition to where God is taking you. wasn't a surprise to him. It didn't cancel your destiny.

Do like Israel and journey on. He continued on to his hometown and he was reunited with his father Isaac. They hadn't seen each other for decades. He left as Jacob, the deceiver, the trickster, known for his poor choices, but he came home as Israel, a patriarch, a man of great honor and respect.

But I'm sure when he was burying Rachel, the side of the road in transition, he thought he'd seen his best days, that he'd just have to survive. But here's how good God is. After the loss of Rachel, after the heartbreak, he went on to see his 12 sons become the 12 tribes of Israel.

Benjamin, the son Rachel gave birth to when she passed, he was called the son of strength. His tribe became known for their courage and loyalty. After the loss, Jacob saw Joseph, his son, rise to power and become the prime minister of Egypt. Joseph was the one God used to save the Israelites during the famine.

This all happened after the bad break. If Jacob were here this morning, he would tell you loss is not the end of your story. When life knocks you down, Israel steps in. There's a power in you you can't explain. A force to push you forward. A grace to make it through what should stop you.

And sure, you're going to feel the emotions, the sorrow, the grief. Jacob is your humanity, but Israel is your destiny. There is favor on the other side of the disappointment. There are new beginnings in the path in front of you. It's okay to bury something. Acknowledge the season.

Grieve the loss. But don't let the loss become your location. It's not okay to stay there. Israel is in you to help you journey on to move forward. When things come against you that you think are too much, you have to remind yourself you are unbreakable. God has made you harder, stronger, more resilient than anything that tries to stop you.

Now do your part. Don't have a weak, defeated mentality. Have a still I rise mentality. Despite the loss, despite the heartbreak, still I believe. Joel, I don't understand it. I have unanswered questions, but still I trust. Still I praise. Still I journey on. If you'll do this, I believe and declare Israel's going to show up.

God will not only bring you through, but you will flourish again. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy is coming. Strength's coming. new relationship, healing, victory is coming in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say amen? 
((applause))
 Amen. Let's pray together. If you have five minutes, we'll just seal it in prayer.

Lord, I thank you for what we've heard today. I know it falls on great ground. Faithful people here at Lakewood and many watching and listening. And Lord, we've all gone through things we don't understand. And Lord, we come back to a place of peace today. I just thank you, Lord.

Even you're helping those that are down now. You're helping that Israel to rise up, just that supernatural strength to move forward. And Lord, I thank you that we will become all you've created us to be that you're breathing in our lives right now. And I just speak your victory over your people in Jesus' name.

With our heads bowed in prayer, just a quick question. If your heart stop beating in the next few minutes, are you at peace with God? Do you know where you'd spend eternity? If not, I would love to pray 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, and 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. 
((music playing))
 Will you do it this morning? 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. You're not hearing this by accident. Well, Joel, 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'm going 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 
((music playing))
 or you just need to rededicate your life, 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 stand all over the building. 
[applause and music]
 Come on, don't put it off. I feel like there'll be others.

Still time for you. Anybody else? 
[applause and music]
 Come on, Lakewood. They're still standing all over. Anybody else watching, listening up top? 
[music and applause]
 Steal time. Anybody else? Well, God bless you. And please remain standing if you don't mind. And let me tell you how proud we are of you. I know that took courage to stand.

And more importantly, I know God will never be ashamed of you 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 pray. Do you mind all praying this after me if you would please?

Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior. Amen. Remain standing one more moment if you would. I want to tell you how much we love you. We're going to be praying for you. I also want to give you a personal invitation and a challenge to come back and be with us on a regular basis.

This next year of your life is incredibly important. Why don't you get plugged in here? Be here as often as you can. I'll make a promise if you'll do that, 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 I know you're busy and Sunday's a day off for most people and you could be running errands, but can I tell you there is a blessing on your life when you put God first place and you get into a community of faith. We'd love to have you here at Lakewood.

You can get plugged in. Join some of our teams. I' I'd love for you to meet some of our great Lakewood people. Get plugged in. Choir, ushers, greeters. So many ways that you can become a part and just uh we can help you grow. After service, right over there, there's a booth if you need anything.

I'm going to be back that way. Love to meet you whenever you can. I'm almost always out there. 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. 
((applause))
 Write it down in your Bible.

February 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? Amen. All right, let me speak a 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 a great week and we'll see you back real soon. 
((music playing))