Why You Aren't Happy (The Trap of Entitlement) | Robert Madu

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 You fight the battle. You get the glory. Here come the angels. Here comes the victory. 
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 Good morning, Lakewood Church. Are you ready to worship the Lord this morning? Come on, help us with your hands, your heart, your voice. Yes. There's a light that shines with hope and grace.

Fills the sky with new mercy and grace. You're alive. Let your glory pour out. Jesus, There's a joy that overwhelms our souls. Cuz we know our God is in control. Overflow 
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 Your favor pour out 
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 Jesus. This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

This is the day that the Lord has made. We'll rejoice. We'll rejoice and be glad in it. We'll rejoice. We'll rejoice and be glad in it. We'll rejoice. We'll rejoice and be glad 
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 Welcome to Lakewood Church this morning. We are so grateful that you chose to worship with us today on behalf of our pastors Joel and Victoria.

We just have a great opportunity to close out 2025. Anyone thankful today of what God's done in your life this year. He's so good. And tonight we have a lot of today we have a lot of things that we're going to do in our service today. Pastor Robert and Taylor Madu from Social Church Dallas are here.

Pastor Robert's going to be preaching. I'm going to interview them as well here in a few moments. But we really just get the opportunity to thank God for what he's done. And uh I just want to encourage those of you who are uh watching online, listening by way of SiriusXM radio.

Um whatever reason you tuned in for this this morning, just know that God sees you and it's not by accident that you're tuned in or that you're here in person. And uh I just want to encourage you with a scripture in Luke chapter 17. Jesus heals 10 lepers in this passage of scripture and they all walk away and their lives are changed.

They all received a miracle. They're all they all would go back to a different life, different context. But the Bible says that one leper returned to give thanks. Only one. Nine were blessed. Nine were healed or 10 were healed, but nine left and one just came back to say thanks.

Today is the opportunity where we get to come back. I know God's been good to you. I know he's given you grace this year. I know he's given you strength. I know he's done some healing work. I know he's done miracles. And today is our opportunity to come back in this house and give thanks.

Anyone ready to give thanks to Jesus today and and celebrate his goodness, celebrate all that he's done? Because when we come with gratitude, it positions our heart for God to do something. You know, gratitude is the password of heaven. It says, "Enter his courts with praise and thanksgiving."

So, that's what we're going to do today. We're going to celebrate the year. We're going to position ourselves in a in a position of gratitude so that God could have his way. I believe and I'm declaring that today you're not going to leave the same way you came in.

We're not just here to gather and and go through some songs and hear a message. We're here to encounter Jesus and leave different. And I believe God's going to give you exactly what you need today. Can we pray? Father, we love you today and we thank you for this opportunity that we get with friends and family to gather together and to worship you.

And just like those lepers who were healed, one came back. We are choosing to be like that one to come back to you in your house and to give thanks. You've been so good to us this year. You've done so much in our lives and we always want to be children who are grateful. grateful for your provision, grateful for your strength, your peace, your joy, grateful for salvation.

So, we're going to lift our voices today and we're going to celebrate you. This is the day that you've made. We're going to rejoice and be glad in it. Lakewood, if you're grateful today, come on, can you give Jesus a big shout of praise? We love him. Let's worship Jesus today.

There's a joy that overwhelms our souls. Cuz we know our God is in control. Overflow, let your favor out Jesus. Jesus. This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made. We'll rejoice.

We'll rejoice and be glad in it. We'll rejoice. We'll rejoice and be glad in it. Leave behind what happened yesterday. Cuz today there's a new thing happening. Leave behind what happened yesterday. Cuz today there's a new thing happening. Leave behind 
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 a new thing happening. 
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 Yesterday 
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 behind what happened yesterday 
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 This is the day that the Lord has made.

We will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord have made. We'll rejoice, we'll rejoice and be 
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 we'll rejoice and be glad in it. We'll rejoice. We'll rejoice and be glad in it. We'll rejoice. We'll rejoice and be glad in it. 
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 Who's at the center of our worship and is deserving of all praise?

The one the heavens crown the king of kings. What's his name? It's Jesus. Sing it. Yes. who's at the right hand of the father and intercedes on our behalf. Oh, his blood redeemed our lives at Calvary. What's his name? Come on, King Jesus. All the honor. Sing it with me.

And glory and praise belongs to him and him alone. Yes. Jesus is mighty. He's holy. Oh, there is no one greater. There is no one greater than the Lord. Come on. 
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 Who will return here with his kingom and bring a new age on the earth? Dwell in his presence for all 
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 It's Jesus.

Jesus. 
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 Come on. Jesus. Jesus. Come on. Nothing else compares. No one else comes close. Jesus. Jesus. Worthy is the lamb. Sitting on the thrown. Jesus. Oh Jesus. Oh my Jesus. Nothing else 
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 Jesus. Jesus. 
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 seated on the throne. 
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 All the honor and glory. 
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 Jesus is mighty. He's holy. Oh, there is no one greater.

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 Jesus is mighty 
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 There is no one greater than the Lord. 
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 We worship the King of Kings. We worship 
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 Oh, there is no one. Sing it. 
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 Thank you, Jesus. How many of you know that there's no one greater than God? 
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 We love you, Jesus. Christ is my firm foundation, the rock on which I stand.

When everything around me is shaken, I've never been more glad that I put my faith in Jesus. He's never let me down. He's faithful through generations. 
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 So why would he fail now? He won't. Glory to God. I found that to be true. He won't. 
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 I've still got joy in chaos.

I've got peace that makes no sense. And I won't be going under. I'm not held by my own strength cuz I live my life on Jesus. He's never let me down. He's faithful in every season. So why would he fail now? He won't. Glory to God. If that's your testimony, come on, say he won't.

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 Say he won't fail. 
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 Come on. Say he won't fail 
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 Christ is my firm foundation. He's the rock. Yes. 
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 I've never 
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 let me down. 
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 Why would he fail now? 
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 Hallelujah. We know it to be true. Yeah. He won't fail. 
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 Hallelujah. 
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 Glory to God. For as long as I could remember, people have been saying that God has never failed.

And it's my testimony that he has never failed me. Can I tell you? He's never failed. And he's not about to mess up his perfect track record on you on the last Sunday of 2025. Thank you, God. Rain came, wind blew. My house was built on you and I'm safe with you and I'm going to make it through.

Say rain came, wind blew, my house was built on you. Oh, say 
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 I'm going to 
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 Come on, it's just you and God this morning. Say 
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 I'm going to make it. 
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 I'm going to make it cuz I'm standing strong. 
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 I've never been 
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 Lift your voice and say, he won't.

Encourage somebody. 
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 He won't. Glory to God. Just catch these two words. He won't. Oh no. He won't fail. He won't fail. 
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 We stand on him. Jesus is the rock that we can stand on and depend on. In this coming year, the rain reigning of this year and this coming year, you can depend on Jesus.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and rightuousness. 
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 I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus' name cuz on Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand All of the ground is sinking sand. Let's sing it. On Christ the solid rock I stand.

All other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand. 
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 Thank you Lord. Blessed assurance. Jesus is mine. He's been my fourth man in the fire. Time after time. I'm born of his spirit. And I'm washed in his blood. And what he did for me on Calvary is more than enough.

So I trust in God, my savior, the one who will never fail. He will never fail. I trust in God. My savior, the one who will never fail. He will never fail. Perfect submission. All is at rest. I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my step. And this is my story.

This is my song. I'm praising my risen king and savior all the day long I trust in God my savior 
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 who will never 
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 trust in God my savior 
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 Who will never 
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 he will never fail. 
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 Said I trust him today. I just want to know, church, do you trust him today?

Yeah. 
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 Oh, cuz this is what the Lord has done for me. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. That's why I trust him. That's why I trust him.

I saw the Lord and He heard and He anwswered. I saw the Lord and He heard. Come on, testify this morning. I saw the Lord. Hallelujah. That's why I trust. That's why I trust 
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 Father, we thank you for who you are and we thank you for all you've done for us.

Lord, thank you that you will never fail, that you're a faithful God. Father, we build our lives on the bedrock and the cornerstone of your son, Jesus. Thank you for that, Father. Thank you that you're loving and kind and compassionate, that you're full of mercy. Thank you for Jesus, his birth that we celebrated this last week.

Father, thank you for his life. Thank you for his death, his death, his sacrifice on the cross. Thank you for the abundant life that we have in him, the eternal life that we have in him. Thank you that our names are written in heaven. Father, we know that every good gift that we have comes from you, our father in heaven.

And we thank you for those gift, good gifts, Father. Don't take them for granted. Thank you for family and friends. Thank you for health and strength. Thank you that we're in the palm of your hands that you're leading and guiding and directing us. Thank you, Father, that you're keeping us on the best path for our lives.

That our spiritual ears are open and attentive to your still small voice, and that we have receptive and obedient hearts. Father, we thank you that your mercy is new this morning and every morning. And Lord, we receive your forgiveness for the mistakes that we've made. Father, we dedicate our lives a fresh and a new a new to you this morning.

Father, we say make us and mold us into who you want us to be. Father, fill us and use us for the plans and purposes that you have for our lives. Help us, Father, to grow and mature and become more and more like you. Father, bless every family that's represented here.

Lord, may your peace and joy fill each home. Strengthen marriages, Father. Heal and restore marriages that are struggling. Give strength to single parents. Give us wisdom as we lead and guide our children. For those believing for loved ones, Lord, we say this morning for the Father, as far as as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

That every one of our lost family members will come to know you. Father, we pray that you'd protect us this week. We pray for your hedge of protection around our children. Be with them as they go back to school, as they go back to university. Father, we pray your angels would surround all of us and protect us and guard us and keep us from harm and evil.

Lord, be with those that are sick right now, those here today, those watching, those in hospital rooms. Father, thank you that you are Jehovah Rafa, the Lord our healer. Long before there was medicine, doctors, chemo, radiation, there was you, Jehovah Rafa. And Father, you can still still heal today.

We pray that you would touch and heal sick bodies. Father, you would restore health, satisfy us with long healthy lives, and show us your salvation. And Father, for those that may be beyond the help of doctors and medicine, Father, like the woman at the well, with the like the woman with the issue of blood, like my mom, Father, we just reach out in faith and pray, Father, you would do what doctors can't do.

You would touch and heal and supernaturally restore them to health. Father, be with those who are going through heartache and grief and disappointment. Thank you that you're close to those of a broken heart. May they feel your presence as never before. Thank you that you're a father of compassion and the God of all comfort.

Father, comfort their hearts. Thank you that weeping may endure through the night, but joy does come in the morning. Let them know that you will restore their joy. Encourage those that are discouraged. Father, be with those that are battling anxiety and depression. We pray that you would lift that spirit of heaviness.

That you would, Father, that you would lead them through this dark valley. That you would give them beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for that spirit of heaviness. Father, we thank you for all that you've done in the past in this 2025.

Father, we thank you for that. We thank you for the good things that we have right now. And we thank you for the good things that are in our future. Father, that our best days are still out in front of us. Thank you that your word says shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous.

Father, we thank you for the joy and victory that you have for us today and in the future. And we pray that in Jesus' name. And everybody said, "Amen." And amen. 
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 You know, every service we like to make our declaration of faith and uh we like to say what God says about us.

You might say, "Paul, I don't feel like that." Well, it doesn't matter how we feel. feel it matters how God sees us and what God says about us. So, we're going to prophesy our future. We're going to say this in faith. Let's say it together. I am blessed, prosperous, redeemed, forgiven, healthy, whole, creative, being, 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. Before prayer time today, let me encourage you with a passage of scripture. It's probably well known to you. It's out of Isaiah 43.

I'm going have the scriptures up there so you can actually see them. But listen to this scripture. This is what God says. This is what the Lord says. Do not fear. I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name. You are mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you.

When you pass through rivers of difficulty, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you won't be burned. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior. Man, I love the way the Message Bible kind of amplifies this and paraphrases it.

Listen to this. But now, God's message, don't be afraid. I've redeemed you. I've called you by name. You're mine. When you're in over your head, I'll I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end.

Because I am your God, your personal God. I paid a huge price for you. That's how much you mean to me. That's how much I love you. You may be here this morning and going through a difficult time. Maybe in your health, maybe in your marriage, maybe with a child, maybe in your finances, or you're struggling with addiction, maybe you like those scriptures say, maybe you feel overwhelmed, or you're between a rock and a hard place, or you feel like you're at a dead end.

Here's what God's saying to you this morning. Do not be afraid. You are in the palm of his hand. He knows you by name. He knows every detail of your life. And he promises that in the midst of whatever you're going through, he will be there with you.

And he promises that he will deliver you and you'll make it through. But here's the thing about it. The enemy will always try to convince us that we're not going to make it through. He'll try to convince us that there's no way out, that we'll never make it, things will never change.

But God says when you pass through the difficulties, in other words, we're not going to stay there. We're going to pass through them. The Psalmist says it like this. Even though I walked through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. My dad put it very simply.

He said, "Difficult times didn't come to stay, they came to pass." So friends, you will make it through this difficult time. And then the second thing, the enemy will try to convince you that you're all alone. That God is distant and untouchable and unconcerned. But nothing could be further from the truth.

God says, "I will be with you in the midst of the waters, in the midst of the raging rivers, in the midst of the fire." Think about the fourth man in the fire, in the fiery furnace. There, Jesus was in the middle of the fire with the three Hebrews children.

In the same way, God's with you. Jesus is with you even this morning. And then lastly, the enemy will try to convince you that God doesn't care. But listen to what God says. I am your personal God. I know you. I love you. I take care of my sheep and I know every detail of your life and you will make it through.

So let these words encourage you. God knows what you're going through. He cares about you. He's right there with you in the difficult times. He's as close as the breath you breathe. And remember this. He promises that he will lead you in victory through every difficulty that you're facing.

Listen to these last words. He is your very present help in a time of trouble. If you receive that, would you say amen? Amen. Well, listen. We want to pray for your needs. Every service we have a time in our service where we get to pray with you for any needs you might have.

I'm going to ask the prayer partners to come front up front. The rest of you may be seated. But if you if you have any need in any area of your life, come let us join our faith with yours and believe God can do a miracle. Hey, listen.

We want to say thank you so much for taking the time to just stand in allow us to stand in agreement with you and just pray with you. Um, we believe that praise proceeds to victory. The Bible tells us to not be anxious about anything, but through all things by prayer and supplication, believe that Jesus is going to actually make a way to do something great in our lives.

And so, listen, we got a couple praise reports that I want to shout out just before we get into praying. Tessa just got a new job. Tessa, congratulations. We're so glad that God actually made that happen in your life. And then Sandy has been healed from cancer. Jehovah Rafa, the Lord, our healer, made a way again and did it again.

And so, we're so grateful to hear that, Sandy. We're glad that you're well. and we're believing that it's going to be a clean bill of health for the rest of your life in Jesus name. Hey, one of the first prayer points that I want to touch on is family.

I know in this holiday season it can sometimes family can be an interesting thing, an interesting topic to touch on. And I know that it can be sometimes a hard thing for some people, but we believe that for anybody who's struggling with their family or struggling with the fact that they may make mistakes or maybe they're seeing a family member that they haven't seen in a long time and they have a bad relationship.

We're believing that God is going to give you peace and a sound mind. The Bible said we are not anxious, but he's given us love, joy, peace, and a sound mind. And so I pray right now, Lord, for anybody who is out there who is dealing with family, who maybe is struggling with some relationships that they've had in their life, that they've made mistakes with some family members, family members that have done wrong to them that they are going to see.

I pray that they wouldn't be anxious. They would have been afraid. But Father, I pray that you would give them peace, Lord. Give them a peace that surpasses all understanding. I pray Jesus that right now that in those moments that they wouldn't feel the need to get back at them.

They wouldn't need to be vengeful for get revenge. We believe that vengeance is the Lord's. And so God, I pray that they would still love their family the same way that you love us, God. the way that you've forgiven us over and over. I pray that you would help us to be forgiving of all things.

Lord, I pray Jesus that in moments where it is hard and we want to be spiteful, we want to be angry. Father, I pray that right now that you would help us, Lord, to be just more graceful and merciful with our family today, Lord. Um, in Jesus name, amen.

We see that Rea is also praying and Raina, we're praying for you as well. She's praying for her daughter to turn her life to Jesus. Ren, as a youth pastor, I know that that is something that I hear parents talk about all the time. And you would be surprised if you would train the child up in a way that they should go that they would not depart.

So, I pray that you would keep planting the seed for your daughter, keep bringing her to church, keep putting her around great people who will continue to propel her in her walk with God. And I believe that the Lord is going to do it. And we're also praying for Melissa.

She's praying for peace for her and her son physically, emotionally, and mentally like we just prayed. Um, we know that Jesus is the prince of peace and he has that name for a reason. And so because of that, we know that if that is in his character and in his nature and we are the sons and daughters of God, that means that we get to embrace the same nature as well.

We get to embrace this as well. And so I pray right now that there would just be a peace that covers over you and your son. And it's going to be in all aspects physically, emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually in Jesus' name. The next prayer prayer that we want to go to is healing.

Um there are two people that sent in prayer requests and so would you want to stand in agreement with us. Anna is praying for her daughter's recovery and healing from spine surgery. Right now, I just pray for Anna and her daughter in the name of Jesus. I pray that Anna would have a sound mind in this moment, that in moments where she was afraid, where she's anxious, I pray that you would point her in the direction of the right doctor, the right surgeons.

And I pray that as she's in her recovery process, that it is going to be a smooth recovery process, that it'll be a faster recovery process than people will see. That people are going to look at Anna's daughter and see, you know what, there was a time where she did have a surgery, but she healed and recovered so fast.

And you look at her now when she's walking and she's jumping and she's alive and well, and you wouldn't even think that she actually went through a surgery like she went through. And I pray that it's going to be a recovery where she'll be able to encourage other people who maybe are going through the same thing.

That Anna is not going to be spiteful, that she won't be angry, but if anything, she would use this time to connect with you more, that she would draw close to you, so that way she can see all the healing benefits and you really being Jehovah Rafa in her life in Jesus' name.

And father, we're also praying for Tracy. Her husband was recently diagnosed with lupus and diabetes. Tracy, I just pray for you and your husband. I pray that it wouldn't there wouldn't be any discourse in the household, that it wouldn't be anything hard that is happening in life, God.

I'm thankful, Lord, that you were going to help point them in the right direction when it comes to their health. That you would help them have healthier eating habits. That you would help them to have more opportunities to be able to help um in their health, God. I pray that you would put the right people in their direction, to be able to lead them in the right direction, God.

And I pray, Lord, that this is not going to be a moment of discourse. It's not going to be something that messes them up, something that knocks some other pivot, but this is going to be something that allows them to come together and be stronger in Jesus name.

Father, we're so grateful for Tracy even willing to believe that you can heal, that you can heal her husband of lupus and diabetes. God, for anybody else out there who is maybe dealing with this, Lord, I pray that you would cover and protect them now. That if they need a breakthrough for themselves, if they need healing for themselves, if it's somebody else, if it's a friend, a family member, somebody who's in the hospital currently, somebody who's got a bad medical report, God, we're thankful for doctors and hospitals, but we know that you have the final say.

And so, God, right now, I just pray and I believe that you are going to do a mighty healing work in anybody who is watching and who is listening, God, under the sound of my voice, I believe that you are going to do a restorative work and that they are going to be healthy and whole in Jesus' name.

And the last prayer point I want to go to is career and financial. Doris is praying for job opportunities for her children. And Paquette is also praying for a new job and financial stability. And so, Father, I pray right now for any single person who is in need of a job, who is in need of a career.

Lord, I'm so thankful for the people that are interceding on behalf of other people to say that Lord, I've seen what you've done in my life and now there's somebody else who needs the same thing. And so, I'm grateful God that you put that person in their life.

You allow them to be help and just stand in agreement with them and stand in the gap for them. Father, I pray that there's people who maybe their accounts aren't looking too well, that their wallets may feel a little light. But God, I pray that right now that you are going to restore and help them, God, that you are going to give them exactly what they need.

Lord, I pray that in this moment of lack that you would teach them what it looks like to actually rely on Jehovah Gyra, the Lord, our provider. Thank you that you're going to provide everything that they need just enough. God, I pray that in moments that it will ultimately allow them to draw closer to you.

So that way, as they draw close to you, I am so grateful that you are going to make a way and open a door. And I pray that as they draw close to you, they will be able to hear that small, still voice that will tell them what job to say yes to, what door to open, what opportunity they should step into, what people they need to network and be in contact with so they can find the right job and career for themselves.

Father, I pray that even when they find that job that they wouldn't make that job their idol, they wouldn't make that job their God. But Lord, I pray that they would be good stewards of what it is and they would do it as if it is unto you.

And so, Father, I pray that in Jesus name, Lord, we're so grateful for all these prayer requests. And God, I pray that right now that you would hear them and you hear them and you hear them in the spirit, Lord. And I pray that your Holy Spirit is just encountering every single person in Jesus name.

Amen. He's worthy of 
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 you are all things and to you are all things. You deserve the glory. You're worthy of it all. 
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 And to you 
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 deserve the glory. 
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 You may be seated. God is good, isn't he? We're so grateful that you're here. Uh last service of 2025 and you could be anywhere, but you're here in church.

And we're just believing that God is already doing things in your life. And if you're tuning in or you're you're uh listening by way of SiriusXM, we want to welcome you again. Well, we have friends from Dallas, Texas in the house today. I want you to give a big Lakewood welcome to pastors Robert and Taylor Madu.

Show them some love, church. Good to have y'all. Good to have you. Pastor Robert is no stranger to Lakewood and Taylor. They've been here a lot preaching and ministering in young adult and youth spaces as well as Sundays. But you launched Social Dallas. Yeah. You know, and this was how many 13 years ago, right? 12 13 We got married 13 years ago.

You got married 13 years ago. Dallas is four years ago. Four years old. Sorry. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good to be here. I got to shout out my kids on the front row. The whole Madu crew is here. I had to bring family to family.

And my father, Robert Madu senior, is here today. So, shout out to my father. For dad four years ago launched the church. Four years 13. feels like birthdays probably. Uh but it started with a few hundred and now it's thousands and it's flourishing and God's doing an amazing thing through y'all um in your life and we've seen God do things in your life well before that as well.

But I do know what what has been a staple about your ministry together is what what God's doing in young adults through your ministry, college students, and I've seen it for years through y'all. If there's anyone watching, I know there is watching in in the room. any encouragement that you guys would want to give to any college students today or young adults in that season of their lives?

Maybe they're single, um, scoping and hoping, maybe praying to find the one in their life right now. What would you what would you say to them? Yeah, we have a lot of singles and young adults at our church and pastoring gives you so much perspective. Uh, sometimes I'll talk to them, they'll be like, "Pastor, you got to pray for me.

I got to find the one. I'm about to die if I don't." And then sometimes I think, well, if you don't want to be with you, why are you trying to drag somebody drag somebody else into it? But they're saying, man, I'm going to die if I don't find the one.

And then you'll talk to a person that's married and they realize that marriage didn't make them whole either. Wow. And so what I always try to tell a person that's single in that amazing season of just being a young adult is don't rush the season that you're in trying to get to the next one.

Uh singleness is not a disease. Being single is not a problem to solve. It is a season to steward. And you should steward that season well. And focus on who you're becoming uh more than finding the one. And I think that'll take you far. So good. Yeah. I love that.

We dated six years. So, you know, I get it. It's real. But it was it's part of our testimony. Hallelujah. Um but to the singles, I would say marriage is it's a beautiful thing that God designed. Um however, with marriage comes great responsibility. Um, so if I could summarize it into one word, I would say prepare.

Um, the way you can prepare is through therapy because how many of you know whenever you get married, you don't just bring yourself, you bring your history and all the baggage that comes with it. I got a handful of bags with uh that I carried into our marriage.

Um, but therapy is really great. I think your community is huge, your friend circle. Um, I think um preparing financially uh that's a huge deal because it's like you you want a house and then you get the house and you realize there's a lot of things that come with the house.

You got to fix the toilet when it breaks. You got to mow the yard, you know, and it's responsibility, right? So, marriage, um, it comes with great responsibility, and I believe preparation gets you ready. So, when the time is right, you're already prepared to to lock it in.

Come on. Lock it in. Yeah. Lock it in. Lock it in. Lock it in. Lock it in. In Jesus name. I heard I heard someone say, instead of looking for the right one, focus on becoming the right one. And I think it's just putting your energy more, like you said, on becoming the right one.

So good. Okay. 4 years we've been doing social Dallas and it hasn't been easy. You guys have started from a few hundred people. Like I said, there's a lot of sacrifice and hard work that comes with planting something uh in Dallas, the church. Maybe you're starting a business.

You're an entrepreneur. Beginning something is never easy. Something that God wants you to do. I want you guys to speak to just a leadership principle possibly that you've learned while pioneering the church. I think it can apply to anyone in any season of life who is beginning something or feels like they got a big dream in front of them.

Any leadership principles you've learned that could encourage people with today? Yeah, I think the biggest thing that I've learned is the hardest person to lead is yourself. And the biggest breakthroughs we've had have not been like with our team. It's been with how I show up to my team.

So, I've changed my prayer from God, send me the most amazing staff and the most amazing people to hold on, God, make me an incredible leader. Yeah. So, I'll know how to steward the great people that you're seeing. So, that has helped me a lot in this leadership journey for sure.

Yeah. For myself, um I believe we're we're all leaders in some way, whether we're leading our home or leading in our business or leading in a church. Um I think that you cannot be a great leader and be a people pleaser at the same time. Coming from a people pleaser, um because you can do something and make a decision, right?

And some people will love it and some people will hate it. So if you're making your decisions based off what other people want you to do, then you'll always fail. And so what we have kept before us is that we have been entrusted with this house uh this church to lead, right?

And we will stand before the Lord with the decisions that we make. And so although some will love it and some will hate it, at the end of the day, if if this is God's stamp of approval, then we lead from that place because we will have to stand before the Lord one day.

So that's really freed me in my leadership. That's good. If you want to be like, if your goal in life is to be liked, don't lead. Yeah. And I think that's something you guys model so well in your John Maxwell said, if you want everybody to like you, sell ice cream.

So that is that is fair. Yeah, it's true. Let's let's let's talk about parenting for a second. Um, three kids are in the front row and the best Rey's about to hit. Yeah. But let's talk about it's not easy parenting in in today's culture 2025. Parents, can you raise your hands real quick?

If you have any children, can you raise your hands? Okay. There's there's parents everywhere and we all are navigating the waters together. The struggle is real, but we want to do it God's way, right? So any any parenting things you've learned along the journey along the way you're learning currently that you'd like to just encourage parents right now that are trying to develop and raise their kids God's way.

Any thoughts? Pray and pray some more. Pray in tongues. Intercede. Yes. Do you want me to go? Yeah. Well, I just say uh lots of grace. We are humans raising humans. And I often find myself, I would say, feeling guilty at times when I just don't uh, you know, hit the mark.

Um, and God spoke to me a long time ago. Uh, they belong to me before they belong to you. Yes. So, every single day I wake up and I give them back to him every day. And I, my prayer is God, where I lack cuz I will. Where I fail cuz I will, his grace fills the gap.

And that he loves them more than I do. And so, I would say cover them in prayer. They're uh we write the future with our prayers. Our prayers don't die when we do. God answers them forever. And so we are shaping them through our prayers. We do our best with what we have and then trust that God will do the rest.

Really good. That's so good. That's really good. Yeah. I love that you said that. Give yourself grace because I don't think our kids are looking for perfection. They know that we're flawed, but they are looking for our presence. Yeah. Uh to even just give you some practical things, we had to do recently.

We had to buy a lock box for our phones and made a rule to put our phones in the lock box at 5:00. So at the dinner table, we're actually engaged and we're talking and we're there present. So I think if we can just show up and be president, it'll go a long way.

Great. Great. Um let's switch gears. Let's talk about um 2025 a little bit. Um I know maybe there's those of you here watching or listening. speak to the speak to somebody who maybe 2025 didn't work out how they hoped it would work out. Maybe there's some unanswered prayers that they see in the natural um right now they're they're sitting on in their hearts and really not knowing how to respond.

How do we transition into a new year when really this year didn't turn out how they expected? Maybe it was something in their family, something in their finance, something in their business with their children. What would you say to someone who maybe hasn't looked quite like the year they thought it would it should be?

Yeah. I think the first thing I would say is it's okay to feel that way. I think sometimes when you get into a new year, you even feel bad to not be expectant for the new year because you had so much pain this year. And you need to know that Jesus can feel your pain.

And it's okay for you to feel that way. I'd also say um just because you had a hard chapter doesn't mean it's a hopeless story. One of the things that's helped me is to know y that God is the author and the perfector of my faith. And so I'm going to trust him.

And just because 2025 is a bad chapter, you don't have a clue what God is going to do in the next chapter of your life. Don't give up. Come on. Cuz I believe the best is yet to come if you'll trust me. Um I would encourage you to shift your perspective.

Um first of all, you know, I'm sorry. Life can can be hard and disappointing and and that's hard and I think you can feel that like you just said. But one way I approach I think suffering is I get to learn a different and new expression of who the father is.

Um he's so many things I think we spend our lives discovering who he is. And so when I've lost my way or been confused, he stepped in as good shepherd and he's led my life. Um when I've been broken by my past, he stepped in as wonderful counselor.

If I was sick in my body, he stepped in as healer. And so I just pray that today over you as you enter into 2026 that you invite whatever expression of himself that he's trying to teach you and reveal to you. Welcome that. Um and and I think that's what we pray, right?

We want to know him more. We want to be like him, become like him, and and usually that comes through suffering. And so welcome it. Um and I know that your grace for your journey. So good. So good. Pastor Robert, I know we're going to hear a phenomenal message from you later in the service here in a few moments. any last words of encouragement you want to give the church before you pray for us?

Yeah, I think this is a significant Sunday. This is our last time to worship together in 2025. Uh it's a big deal. Yeah. And I want to let you know today that you're not in this room by accident. God knew that you would be in this service uh today.

His hand is on your life. And I think how we exit one season determines how we enter the next season. So come on, let's enter 2026 with joy, with expectation. Come on. Believing that God has so much more in front of us than what's been behind us. And uh I would encourage you to make sure that your heart is a posture of gratitude more than complaining.

So good. God does not inhabit the complaints of his people. He inhabits the praises of his people. So I just made up in my mind, I'm going to praise him all the way into the next year. And I'm believing he's going to do great things. Awesome. Pray for us.

Yes. Father, we thank you for your goodness. Yeah. God, we declare you have been so faithful over this year. And so today uh we posture our hearts and we say we are ready for what you have in store for us. We worship you today, Father. We honor you.

Thank you for being a good good father. Lord, we thank you for every door that you opened. We thank you for every door that you shut. God, we thank you for the people that walked into our lives. God, we can even thank you for the ones that walked away because you have never left us.

You have never forsaken us. So our hope, our confidence, our trust, and our anchor is in you, Father. And I thank you that you have more in store for us. You're able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask, think, or imagine. So we trust you in Jesus name we pray today.

Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you, God. Appreciate you. 2025 is going to be a year of uncommon favor and uncommon blessing. This year, Lakewood's Relief and Outreach Center was able to help over half a million people in the Gulf Coast. Your compassion and giving provided resources to 13 different pregnancy help centers, caring for thousands of new moms. 2,200 teachers and over 21,000 students were reached in 25 Title One schools as they received everything from notebooks and backpacks to school uniforms.

We are filled with so much gratitude with this partnership with Lakewood Church. Thank you from the bottom of my heart in having an hand to ensure students are successful this school year. In Houston, a rare winter freeze crippled infrastructure once again. Central Texas, communities across North Carolina are still digging out, facing widespread damage and an uncertain road to recovery. through Southern California today, forcing thousands to evacuate.

One of the things I I immediately thought, I was like, I know Lake was going to show up. I I had no doubt. It was super cool to see the church already saw what was about to go down. I think they knew immediately what it was going to take.

Our disaster response efforts allowed Lakewood to provide space heaters throughout the city of Houston during the winter freeze. We sent teams to North Carolina and Central Texas to help restore homes and pray for those affected by the devastating floods that rock those communities. We partnered with the Dream Center in Los Angeles to support thousands of people affected by the California wildfires.

As I stand here today, I can feel hope arising from the ashes of Southern California. Thank you, Lakewood, for the miracle that is happening right here in the heart of Los Angeles. Internationally, we currently have active programs in 22 countries, spanning four continents that focus on access to health care, providing education services, bolstering feeding programs in areas with high rates of malnutrition, and investing in strategic community development that lets the church shine brightly in these remote regions.

I really believe that God's plan is for us to thrive and not survive. Every piece and part that we're all playing is rounding out God's plan for the globe. Champions Clubs had a remarkable year as Lakewood was able to launch the opening of 13 new global locations, expanding our reach in impact for families in the special needs community where they continue to feel seen, supported, welcomed, and loved.

The Joel Ostein weekly and daily television broadcast continues to be the highest rated Christian program on television. As the message of hope in Jesus Christ continues to be spread all over the globe, viewers are encouraged, inspired, and challenged as they renew and restore their relationships with God. When I would hear the message and the words from Pastor Joel, they gave me hope. as a 16-year-old who was destined to probably go to prison.

It was something that inspired me to really believe in the God he was talking about. The Joel Ostein YouTube channel had an incredible 130 million views this year and her podcast had 50 million downloads. None of this is possible without you. Thank you for all you have done in 2025.

What an amazing year it's been. God has allowed us together to impact people all over the world. And we always want to thank you and just speak blessings over you as we finish 2025 strong. Getting ready for 2026. Well, let's take a moment to receive our final offering of the year.

Worship the Lord with our tithes and our offerings, our donations, and just again, thanks for your generosity, continuing to support the ministry. and we're just believing that uh you're going to see the goodness of God in over and above ways. I know you've been faithful. We've seen the sacrifices and not even just the giving of your finances, but how about serving in the church and attending regularly, tuning in, that's being a blessing to us as as we all worship the Lord together.

Here's what's down in my spirit. You haven't seen, heard, or imagined what God has in store for you. It's right out of the scripture. Keep that down on the inside that there are greater things to come. You've stayed faithful. You've honored God. And I just believe the open windows of heaven as we finish 2025.

Help us to finish it strong. Stay faithful. And let's get ready for an awesome 2026. Hey Joel, I love that so much because it is what we're putting in our spirit that makes the difference. It's what we're saying about our God. And he is a rewarder of those who seek after him.

And we have to believe that he is and he's able to do what he says he can do. So I want to get that down in my spirit that this is going to be an amazing year because I want you to know that the God who sees is also the God who rewards.

And as you have helped us together be generous to people in our communities and around the world that doesn't go unnoticed by God. So he not only sees but he rewards. And we thank you so much for all of your faithfulness to this church. We do. Thank you.

And so many give at the end of the year to catch up on their giving to make a year-end gift. So, thank you for that in advance. But let me just speak a blessing. Lord, thank you for the faithful givers of Lakewood in person, online listening. Lord, you've been good to us all year and we've had a a a blessed year.

And Lord, I just thank you that you are blessing your people. Lord, what you promised in the scripture that we haven't seen, heard, or imagined what you have in store, the open windows of heaven. Let our gifts and talents come out in great ways. Lord, I thank you for drawing the right people, business, contracts, ideas, creativity.

Lord, shine brightly through us. Let us be a greater blessing and fulfill what you placed in our hearts. I thank you for supernatural provision in Jesus' name. God bless you today as you give. Here are some ways you can give. Using your smartphone, scan the QR code located on the screen.

Then select the online giving option that is the most convenient for you. Go to lakewoodurch.com/give. Text give hope to 77977. Mail a check to P. Box 27450 Houston, Texas 77227 or call us toll-free at 888567 Joel. 
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 Come on church. Can you stand to your feet and praise the Lord with us?

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 I'll praise in the valley. I'll praise on the mountain. I'll praise when I'm sure and praise when I'm doubting. I'll praise when outnumbered and praise when surrounded. Cuz praise is the water my enemy's drown in. Oh, as long as I'm breathing, I've got a reason to praise the Lord.

Oh my soul, praise the Lord. Oh my soul, I'll praise when I feel it and I'll praise when I don't I praise cuz I 
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 Yeah, you are. 
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 my praise is a weapon. It's more than a sound. Oh, my praise is the shout that brings Jerichos down. Oh, come on.

As long as I'm breathing, I got a reason to 
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 Oh my soul, 
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 oh my soul. 
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 Praise the Lord, oh my soul. 
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 I'll praise cuz you're sovereign and praise cuz you reign. I praise cuz he rose and defeated that grave. I praise cuz he's faithful and praise cuz he's true.

I praise cuz there's nobody greater than you. We praise. 
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 every voice. Let everything. Come on. You say everything. Come on. We say praise. Hey, let everything. Let everything. Say that 
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 every Come on. We will praise the Lord. Come on. We will praise the Lord. Let everything. Say that as praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord. Let everything. Say that as praise the Lord. Hey, praise the Lord. 
((applause))
 What an honor to have you at Lakewood on the last Sunday of 2025. I know God saw you take the time to come to church. And I I remind you every week when you're planted in the house of the Lord, you will flourish.

We love you. We speak blessings over you. And don't forget next Sunday we have our annual anointing of oil service. everyone that comes, if if you're willing, we're just going to take a moment to anoint you with oil, symbolizing you're dedicating the new year to God. You're putting him first place.

So, love to have you come out, bring a friend. Let's start the new year off right in church, honoring God planted in the house of the Lord. But how about today? We have one of our favorites, Pastor Robert Madu. He and his beautiful wife, Taylor, Pastor Social Dallas, and he's a friend of our ministry.

He's been coming here for many, many years. one of the most powerful, joyful, anointed young men that I know. So, come on, Lakewood, a great big Lakewood welcome to Pastor Robert Madu. Church, come on. Can we give Jesus a big hand of praise today? Oh, come on. You can do better than that.

This is the day that the Lord has made. Come on, let's all rejoice and be glad in it. Are there any glad people in the house today? Remain standing if you can. Are you glad to be here? Do you like who you're worshiping next to? If you don't, change your seat.

Change your seat. Now I'm playing. Hey, it is an absolute honor and a privilege to be with you. I adopted myself into the Lakewood family a long time ago. So, y'all are stuck with me, okay? I'm your cousin just down the street in Dallas. And uh I love this house.

I love that every time I walk into Lakewood Church, I get built up and filled with hope. And uh I hope you don't take what you have for granted. How many are thankful that you're a part of this house? It's incredible. And this house is a reflection of the heart of your pastors.

And every time I'm here, I'm going to remind you how blessed you are to have Pastor Joel and Victoria Osteen. Come on. The grass doesn't get greener anywhere else. Can we thank God for who they are and celebrate them? Come on. Y'all could do better than that, y'all.

They are the best. And so, uh, I know Pastor Joel can get anybody to preach. And so, I'm honored today to be here. Remain standing with me. I want to jump straight into the word, uh, today because this is the last Sunday of 2025. And I believe God has given us a word to set us up for the new year.

You ready? Go with me to Luke chapter 17 today. The Gospel according to Luke, chapter 17. And I want to look at verses 11-9. Luke chapter 17. We'll start at verse 11 and go down to verse 19. When you're ready to read it, say, "Yeah." You need some time to find it, say, "Hold on."

Hold on. I heard that. Hold on. I'mma wait for you. While you're looking for it. How many you've never heard me preach before? Can I see your hand if you never heard me preach before? Oh, lot. That's a lot of y'all. Quick disclaimer. I am a hollowback preacher.

Okay. So, all that means is for the next six and a half hours that we're going to share today, I'm like, uh, if you're feeling anything I'm saying, you can say, "Amen." You can say, "Preach that." You can say, "That was good." Uh, you can stand up in the middle and go, "Woo, that was for me."

You can stand up in the middle and go, "Oh, that was for you." For real. You needed that. Any one of those will work. Let's look at what it says in verse 11. Now it happened as he went to Jerusalem that he is Jesus that he had passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

Then as he entered a certain village, there met him 10 men who were lepers who stood a far off. They lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." So when he saw them, he said to them, "Go show yourselves to the priest." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks, and he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not 10 cleansed? But where are the nine?

Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? And he said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well." Come on, somebody. That is good stuff. I'm intrigued that Jesus spoke to this one man who returned and asked him three questions before he said, "Your faith has made you well."

I just want to ask one question today and I want to tag a title to this text and preach to you from this thought. Did you say thank you? Did you say thank you? Help me preach. Look at your neighbor. Whichever one you like the best. Come on and just say neighbor.

At the end of the year at the end of the year I want to know. I want to know. Did you say thank you? Did you say thank you? Oh, that was the wrong neighbor. Find another neighbor. Find another neighbor. Come on. Say other neighbor. I want to know.

I want to know. Did you say thank you? If you believe God's going to speak, give him some praise in this place today. Father, have your way. Amen. You may be seated in the presence of the Lord. Did you say thank you? Any parents in the house today?

All the parents give me one more wave, maybe a shout. 
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 Can you hear the exasperation? Don't worry parents, you're going to make it. Every parent in the house today can relate to that moment when somebody gives your child, your offspring a gift. I mean, it could be Legos, a Nintendo, it could be a Christmas sweater.

And almost instinctively, you lean down towards them and you go, "Hey, now what do you say?" even if they know it. The reason you instinctively say that is because you're trying to form something on the inside of them. I was looking at this passage. I had a flashback to a moment in my ministry before we planted our church.

I traveled for 16 years as an itinerate preacher. Every weekend I'd be somewhere preaching from Genesis all the way to the maps in the back. And uh it it was cool in my single days. It was amazing when we got married. But when we had our firstborn baby girl, woo, it was hard to kiss my little princess goodbye.

Her brother was struggling. And I did not want her toddler brain as she got older to cognitively connect her dad leaving as a bad thing. So, I came up with a plan. I said, "Every time I go away to preach, I'm going to come back with a gift.

Just going to give her a little something so she'll know she's got an amazing dad." And y'all, it was so good. Every time I would come back from the road preaching, best feeling in the world. I would walk in the house. Daddy's home. She would do that little toddler walk and come up to me and she'd give me a hug and I go, "Here you go, Eevee girl.

Here's your gift." That went on for several months until one day. It was a dark day. I came home from preaching, my usual rhythm, and I walked in the house and I said, "Hey, daddy's home." And my baby girl walked right past me, went to my bag, opened it up, and started rummaging and pillaging through my bag.

Finally, in frustration, she looks up from the bag and looks at me and goes, "Dad, where am I surprised?" Have you ever been so shocked that your brain just starts buffering? I just stood there in shock. I almost chneled my Nigerian father and said, "What? Where is your surprise?"

Oh, I have a surprise for you. I calmed down a little bit, but I could not believe it. Daddy, why am I surprised? And my little daddy heart was not broken because my baby girl was asking for her gift. Cuz how many you know, every good father loves to give gifts to their children.

I was just shocked by how quickly she bypassed the giver to get to the gift. Woo! I'm going somewhere today. Lakewood family, I wonder how often we do the same thing with God. We're so quick to run to what he provides that we forget to just pause and acknowledge who he is.

Even with my baby girl, as she ran to get the gift, I found found myself asking to what degree was I responsible and even culpable for her behavior because I'm the one that was consistent in bringing the gift. I had a gift every single time I walked in the door.

And in that, just like us, have you noticed how we take constants for granted? Nobody woke up today and said, "Lord, I thank you that the sun came up today." Maybe you did, but I'm willing to bet most of us didn't. But let the sun not come up tomorrow.

Oo, let it be dark for about 72 hours. How many know when that sun finally comes up, I bet you open up your mouth and say, "Lord, thank you that the sun came up today." As a matter of fact, from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is to be praised.

We often take constants for granted. Robert Lupton in his book toxic charity says, "If you give somebody something once, you will elicit appreciation. If you give them something twice, you will receive anticipation. If you give somebody something three times, you will cultivate expectation. But if you give somebody something four times, you will elicit entitlement.

Entitlement. Spoiler alert. Today's message is about cultivating the discipline of thanksgiving. And how many know that is a discipline? Hear me what I'm telling you. This does not come naturally. All of us have to work at the discipline of thanksgiving. You have to be intentional to have an attitude of gratitude.

I know what some of y'all are thinking. You're like, "Come on, Pastor Robert. This is the last Sunday of 2025. This the message you came to Lakewood Church to preach. When is Pastor Joel getting back?" Cuz I know what you wanted. You wanted a new year message that got you ready for 2026.

You wanted something more exciting. Come on. You was like, "Get Robert, give us something that's going to build our faith. Give us give us a declaration that rhymes." You know, that's how I grew up. I grew up whenever you got ready for the new year, you always had the declaration that rhymes.

You know what I'm talking about? Like in 2022, God's going to do it for you. Uh, in 2023, God going to give you the victory. In 2024, you going to get more. In 2025, you coming alive. In 2026, everything's going to be fixed. I mean, that's the message that we want for hear me?

And maybe it will be. Maybe it will be. Don't miss the message. I want you to have great expectation for what God is going to do in the new year. But here's what I've learned is that expectation without appreciation leads to entitlement. So before you start declaring what you want God to do in the new year, I want to know, have you paused to thank him for what he did this year?

I want to know today, did you say thank you? Did you say thank you? Did you thank him for waking you up this morning? Did you thank him for his mercies that were new every morning? Did you thank him for the doors that he opened? Did you thank him for the doors that he shut?

Were you grateful? Do you have thanksgiving in your heart? Let's let's sing the song. God, I'm just grateful for you. Who am I that you would keep me on your mind? and I'm grateful. Hear me, Lakewood family. Gratitude changes everything. Gratitude has the ability to turn what we have into enough.

GK Chesterton, that great thinker and philosopher, says, "When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you will take things for granted or take things with gratitude." Look at your Bible from Genesis all the way to Revelation. You will see all a theme of thanksgiving. people saying, "Give thanks unto God.

His mercy endures forever. Enter into his gates with Oh, we got some church people in here today. And his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise." You can't even get past the gate if you don't start with a heart of thanksgiving. As a matter of fact, I am convinced that even the insidious inception of sin that entered the world started with ingratitude.

That's right. Woo! Yes. Back that thing up biblically to Genesis. You remember Satan, the deceiver, came in the Garden of Eden and he tempted Adam and Eve. And what did he get him to do? He tried to get them not just to take of the fruit, but first he focused their attention on the one tree in the garden that they could not eat.

All these trees were in the garden. They had the original whole food market, y'all. But the enemy came in and focused their attention on the one tree they could not touch. instead of focusing their attention on all the trees that God just blessed them with that they could eat of freely.

How many know the enemy doesn't have a new playbook? He does the same thing today. He wants to focus your attention on the things that you don't have so you won't give God praise for the things that you do have. But I came to tell somebody, you better flip the script on the enemy and say, I'm going to thank God for what I do have and watch how he turns what you do have into more than enough.

Gratitude. Wake up your neighbor, slap them and say, "You need to get thankful. You need to get thankful." Yeah, you wouldn't be so miserable if you got thankful. Some of y'all are waiting to get joy so that you'll be grateful. But it's not joy that makes you grateful.

It's gratitude that makes you joyful once you start thanking God. Watch how you'll get your joy back. Are y'all recording this? I'mma watch it later. It's blessing me. Gratitude is critical. But hear me. Gratitude has an enemy. Oh yes it does. And that is called entitlement. Entitlement is the enemy of gratitude.

I told the production team to put entitlement in big letters on that LED screen because I want you to see how entitlement works. See how annoying entitlement is? Just takes up all that space on the screen. Thinks it owns everything. That is the enemy of gratitude. Entitlement. Entitlement. and ingratitude are intrinsically connected.

Hear me because you will never be thankful for what you feel entitled to. I'm going to say that one more time. You will never be thankful for what you feel entitled to. Entitlement kills gratitude. If God's love language is gratitude, then the enemy's love language is entitlement. He wants you to walk around with the spirit of entitlement, never grateful for anything.

That's why you have to be careful whenever God blesses you or he opens up a door because the blessing of God without humility and the discipline of gratitude will always give you a sense of entitlement. Entitlement kills gratitude. Entitlement is different from hope, expectation, or believing the promises of God.

It is a focused form of pride that can only see what you think you are owed. Hope says, "I expect this." Entitlement says, "I deserve this." What do you think you deserve? You ever met that church person? Look like they've been sucking on lemons all day. You know how long I've been coming to Lakewood Church?

They never honored me on a video. This church doesn't even see all that I do. Oh, it's a horrible thing when you walk around thinking that everybody owes you something, that you deserve so much. Oh, have you noticed the best people to be around are the people that say, "How can I serve?

How can I serve?" Have you noticed those are the best people to be around? How can I serve you? What can I do? The worst people to be around, I'm talking about the people that light up a room when they walk out. are the people who walk around talking about I deserve more than this.

I deserve that. Oh, I don't want to be a person that says I deserve. I want to be a person that says, "How can I serve somebody? How can I give them hope? How can I give them life?" A friend of mine who pastors in Miami, I was in his office one day and I walked out of his office and looked up and saw a sign above his door and I loved what it said.

It said, "Nobody owes me anything. Jesus gave me everything." I said, "Now that's a good thing to look at every time you walk out of a room. Nobody owes me anything. Jesus gave me everything." I'm not really a fan of face tattoos, but if you thinking of getting one, that would be a good one right there.

That nobody owes me anything because Jesus gave me everything. Oh, I wish that could be your mantra for 2026. Nobody owes me anything. I serve a God who gave me everything. This is why entitled people can never win and thankful people can never lose because entitled people always think they deserve everything.

So, they live perpetually frustrated and mad all the time. But thankful people, oh, you can't keep them down. Thankful people are resourceful. They will find something to get thankful for. If they lose their job, they say, "Oh, God must have had a better job for me." I must be ready to start the business.

Or if their lights get cut off, they say, "I got some candles I was waiting to burn. Thank you, Jesus." If somebody ghost them, they say, "Thank you, Lord. I know they're not the one. It must be somebody better than me." I wish somebody in here would just get a heart of gratitude and take 10 seconds and give God the best praise that you got.

Oh, if you entitled, you can be quiet. But all the thankful people, just thank God that he made you the way that he made you. Thank God that he woke you up today. Thank God that he kept your heart beating last night. Thank God for his goodness and his mercy.

Thankful people can't lose. Now, I know what you're thinking. I see you looking at me in that tone of voice, saying, "Oh, come on, Pastor Robert. Are you really saying I'm supposed to thank God I lost my job? I'm supposed to thank God that my lights got cut off?

I'm not necessarily saying thank God for that. I am saying you should practice 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 that says rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Oh, that's good news right there. Rejoice when? Always. That means joy is always within my reach.

Joy is a decision. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for your life. Some of you are going, "What's God's will for my life?" Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances. It does not say give thanks for all circumstances. give thanks in all circumstances.

Because if I give God thanks in it, he has a way of showing up in it. When I'm in the fire and I still give God thanks, that's how you see the fourth man in the fire. When I'm like Paul and Silas and I've been whipped and beaten, I'm not thanking God that I'm in the prison.

But if I thank God while I'm in the prison, how many you know he will show up in that place? Your life would change if you got thankful. This is where a lot of you hearing this message today go, I got to text my cousin. I got to text my coworker.

I know about 15 people that need this message right here. You preaching to them, Pastor Robert. You preaching to them. Before you do that, could you apply this message to your own heart just like I did? and check for areas in your life where a spirit of entitlement has crept in.

Here's what I've learned. If you want to know what you feel entitled to, listen to what you complain about. Your complaints are blues clues to what you feel entitled to. There's a study that showed that the average person complains 15 to 30 times a day. 15 to 30 times a day, some type of complaint.

I can't believe I had to walk this far. Can't believe the parking is like this. I can't believe 15 to 30 times. I'm embarrassed to tell you this. I tried to not complain one day. I gave up after 10:00 because sometimes you don't even realize it. It just comes out of you all the time before you know it.

Let's take entitlement off. I just we we want to get into gratitude. Watch what you complain about. You know what complaining is like to me? Complaining to me is like bad breath. Yeah. Because it affects everybody. And sometimes you're the last person to realize how much is coming out of you.

But but but I got I got something that'll fix it today. I got Oh, I got a surprise for y'all today. Last service of the year. May as well give you a surprise. I I got an invention. Uh this is not in stores. You cannot get this at the stores.

But but I I think this would be great if somebody would make this. I I think that complaining is like bad breath. It is terrible. And so since complaining is like bad breath, I have uh made an invention. And don't steal my idea. I I I've created something.

Camera people help me. Um I've created entitle-mints. Entitle-mints. Wouldn't that be great? How many you know somebody needs one? Just just people that complain all the time. You need an entitle-mint. Let me show you how my entitle-mint will work. Anytime you get tempted to complain, just grab you an entitle-mint.

And that entitle-mint will shift your complaining into thanksgiving. Let me show you how it works. You're driving in Houston, right? You're driving. You're like, "Oh, I can't stand this traffic. Oh, can't stand this traffic. This traffic is ridiculous uh you need an entitle-mint." Cuz you know who doesn't complain about traffic? people that have to walk everywhere that they go.

You better flip that thing and say, "Thank you, God, that I actually have a car. I can give God praise while I'm in tr—" Oh, that's fun. Let's do another one. Next time you go to your barista and they have the nerve, the audacity, the miti— unmitigated gall to get your coffee order wrong cuz you told them oat milk, not 2%.

And here you are just frustrated and mad e entitle-mint. 2.1 billion people across the globe don't have access to clean water. And you mad cuz your milk was wrong. You need entitle-mint. Hear me today. It's amazing how we are louder with our complaints than we are about our thanksgiving.

That's right. Oh, I don't want my prayer list to be longer than my thankful list. I want to thank God. I want to be like the one who came back just to say thank you. Oh, if I had time, I would really break this powerful, powerful miracle down in Luke 17.

This miracle of 10 lepers who were cleansed and healed. You realize that this miracle is unique because it is only found in the Gospel of Luke. You will not find this in Matthew or Mark's gospel. John doesn't talk about this. Only Dr. Luke gives us this insight of 10 men who had leprosy.

Ain't it interesting that they were together in a group? Since when does Jesus do group miracles? They were together in a group and they all had leprosy. Leprosy was an incurable disease. It was a skin disease that started with spots on your skin and then it would progressively get worse and worse to the point that you would lose feeling in your arms.

Sores would show up in your body. This disease was completely debilitating and demoralizing. The moment you had it, you were completely cut off from your whole circle of family and friends. You had to leave your community. Every time somebody would come in distance to you, you would have to shout, "Unclean!

I'm unclean! I'm unclean." You would have to shave your head and be in complete isolation. This is the disease that these men had. And here they are. Even with their leprosy, they found community with each other. It's interesting because one of them was a Samaritan and the other ones perhaps were Jewish.

And Jews didn't have association with Samaritans. But since they all had the same disease, how many you know pain has a way of putting people together that makes us realize we are not that much different. Here they are sores on their body. They've lost so much. They've always had to be on the outskirts.

They've lost so much until one day they see Jesus passing by. I was reading about the miracle that I missed the miracle that was in the text. I noticed that they had leprosy, but one thing they also had was their voice. So since they still had their voice and saw Jesus passing by, they collectively decided, "Boys, this is our moment.

This is our opportunity because Jesus is in our vicinity." So all 10 of them said, "Let's lift up our voice and cry out to Jesus, and maybe he'll have mercy on us." I don't know who this is for today, but maybe you feel like these lepers. You feel like you're on the outside.

You feel like nobody sees what you're going through. But can I tell you, if you ever lift up your voice and open up your mouth and cry out to Jesus, how many you know we serve a God that is faithful. We serve a God that will respond to your cry.

Oh, come on, somebody. That's why the enemy always wants you to be quiet and never wants you to lift up your voice because he knows that God is drawn to the voice of his children. They said, "Jesus, master, have mercy on us. Jesus, master, have mercy on us.

Jesus, master, have mercy on us. Those are powerful words right there. First of all, they said Jesus. I want to stop and thank God there's still power in that name today. I don't know who's watching this, but you need to know there's power when you call on the name of Jesus.

If you're ever going to drop a name, drop the name of Jesus, cuz that's the name that'll get you up again. Jesus. Master, have mercy. In essence, they're saying, "Jesus, I know who you are, but I also know the authority that you have." They didn't say, "Jesus, savior."

Cuz we love savior, especially when we're stuck. Come and get me. But he's not just savior. He's master. And when he's master, he reserves the right to tell you what to do. Jesus, master, have mercy. They didn't ask for healing. They asked for mercy. Here's how I know they don't have any entitlement.

Because they're asking for mercy. Mercy is when you're begging not to get what you deserve. They said, "Jesus," maybe they heard what he did for the leper in Luke chapter 5, who he touched and made whole. They're saying, "Jesus, we we're not saying we deserve it. But if you could just look at us and have mercy."

They stood a far off and Jesus saw them. The Bible says he saw them. Can I tell somebody today, he sees you? All these people in this room today, God sees you. When he saw them, here's where you're thinking the miracle is about to happen. And he's going to go, "All right, all 10 of you, first starting five, come up.

I'mma lay hands. Then the next five, you're about to be healed." That's not what he does. He doesn't do like the blind man and spit in the dirt and say, "Come on, y'all. Come get it and put some of this mud on you." No. The first words out of his mouth, go.

Go. That's the first thing Jesus said. Go. That'll bless you, especially if you're stuck. Because the last thing you want to do when you're stuck is go. But often Jesus will tell you to go. You know, twothirds of his name is go. He says, "Go show yourself to the priest."

Huh? Show myself to the priest. Jesus, that don't make sense. You would only show yourself to the priest after you have been healed of leprosy. Once you're healed of leprosy, then you go show yourself to the priest and the priest says, "Now you're clean. You're telling me to go show myself to the priest, but you haven't healed me yet.

How about you heal me first and then I'll go show myself to the priest?" But that's not what he said. He said, "I want you to go show yourself to the priest." In other words, I want to see if you know how to respond in obedience to the word that I'm giving you.

Oh, I'm about to lose all my amens right now. If I'm really your master, that means you don't get to pick how I do the miracle. You just have to obey the word that I'm giving you. So, as your master, I'm telling you, go show yourself to the priest without any sign of your healing.

And I want to see, can you trust the word even when you have no evidence that you should trust the word? Somebody in here knows what I'm talking about. Has anybody ever had to step out on faith and you don't have anything around you to substantiate what God spoke?

You just got to move by faith. Go show yourself to the priest before you ever see healing. But guess what happened? The Bible says that as they went, they were healed. That means with each step that they took, their skin started getting better. That means the closer they got to the priest, healing started happening in their body.

And I want to praise God who can heal you in a moment, but he can heal you in a process. God knows how to heal you step by step by step by step. That's why you can't stop walking. God has greater in 2026. Keep on walking. Keep on moving.

And watch the healing happened as they went. Have you noticed obedience looks ridiculous until it becomes miraculous? Obedience looks ridiculous until it becomes miraculous. Here I am walking and ain't nothing happening. What if they would have stopped? What if they would have given up? They said, "I've got to trust the word that came from the master."

So, as they went, by the time they got to the priest, can you see them got that Gerber baby skin? But it happened as they went. Nine of the lepers got their healing and watch what they did. I'm convinced of it. I think they ran back to the life that was stripped away from them.

Understand? When you got leprosy, you were pulled away from your community. And I think those other nine lepers when they saw they were healed and the priest said they were clean, they said, "I got to go back to my family. I got to go see my kids, the ones that I haven't seen in years."

They went back to their life. I don't think the other nine were bad. I just think they were busy. I think they were too busy enjoying the gift they forgot about the giver. I think they were so excited about the healing they said, "Let me just run to the community that I was stripped away from." except for one one leper who was cleansed.

Say, "Yeah, I may have a family to go back to. I may have friends that I want to see. But before I do any of that, I've got to run to the one who made this healing possible. I have got to return to the God who did this.

I've got to say thank you." Can you see that leper? I'm sorry. Used to be leper walking through the streets going, "Have you seen Jesus? Have you seen Jesus?" And as he's stopping, people are going, "Wait a minute. Are you the same?" "Yeah, I'm the same one. He healed me."

And I just got to find him. I just got to tell him, "Thank you before I do anything else." "Have you seen him? Have you seen him? Can you see him searching and looking?" And when he finds Jesus, he falls on his knees and he worships. And Jesus says, "Wait a minute.

The math ain't mapping. Were not all 10 cleansed? Where are the nine? And when I read the Bible, I jump in the page of the Bible and I'm thinking, Jesus, why you talking to me? I'm here. Aren't you the omnisient one? You know where the other nine are.

Go ask them. But the fact that Jesus said it to him and not to them means it must have been for him to let him know how rare it was to have somebody actually return and say thank you. So at the end of the year I want to know did you say thank you?

Are you so full of expectation for 2026 you haven't paused to say thank you God for all that you've done this year? Did you say thank you? 
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 Oh, I love it because as he's at Jesus feet, the Bible says with a loud voice he started praising God. This ain't no little library praise.

With a loud voice, he began to praise God. Now, I know some of you say, "Well, that's just not my personality. I'm more calm. I'm more collected. I I I I don't do that. You that's not my style." That That's cool. But I don't I know why this man had a loud praise because he was so loud with his need.

I think he figured if I was allowed when I cried out and said, "God, have mercy on me." Why would I not be loud now that I got the miracle? So, I want to ask somebody today, if you were loud about your need, how come you're quiet when God has been faithful?

I got a few more seconds on my clock. Can I give you the 15 seconds I have just to get loud and thank God for his faithfulness over 2025? Thank God for his goodness. Thank God for his blessing. Thank God for everything he's done. I was loud about my need.

I got to be loud with my praise. Thank you, Jesus. 
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 Thank you, God. Oh Lord, don't let my complaints be louder than my praise. Let our heart of thanksgiving and gratitude fill our lives before we step into a new year. God, we've got great expectation, but we pause with adoration and appreciation to say thank you.

I'm not going to think my thank you. You got to verbalize it. How many you know gratitude that's not verbalized reads as a lack of gratitude? Say something that works with your savior. That works with the people around you. Some of you are kinder to the people in your job than the people in your house at work.

Oh, I love you guys. How are you at home? Can you move over? gratitude. Watch what happens. I'm done. He says, "Where are the nine? Did no one come back except this foreigner?" Oh, now we know he's a Samaritan. Jews didn't associate with Samaritans. Maybe the reason he came back is because he's the one that knew he didn't really deserve it.

See, when you have a spirit of gratitude and you know I don't deserve it, there's something about that posture that'll make you grateful. And Jesus tells him, "Your faith has made you well." Well, I thought I was already well. You don't see my skin. I can't even exfoliate to get it this good.

What do you mean my faith has made me well? Another version says your faith has made you whole. The Greek word soo where we get saved. In other words, the other nine got healing but they didn't get salvation. The other nine, they got the miracle but they didn't get wholeness on the inside.

Oh, do you know it's possible to receive a miracle and a blessing and miss the one who gave the miracle? It's possible to have external blessing and then be broken on the inside. This man was made whole. Gratitude opened up a door for Jesus to heal the thing that only he could heal.

So with heads bowed and eyes closed in this place today, the same savior that did it for that man, hear me, is willing and able to do it today. Yes, we serve a God that can heal and cleanse. He did it to all 10. He didn't take away the healing of the nine just because they didn't come back.

That's how good our God is. Woo. But the one that came back to say thank you, he was made whole. And so with heads bowed and eyes closed today on this last Sunday of the year, I can think of no better Sunday than for somebody to say, "I need to surrender my life to Jesus so I can be made whole."

In a moment, everybody will have all their New Year's resolutions and what they want to see happen in the new year. All that is good and great, but you can have a new you in the new year. And here's the good news. The price was already paid on a cross over 2,000 years ago.

So, with heads bowed and eyes closed today, if you say, "Hey, Pastor Robert, I've never surrendered my life to Jesus, but today I need to make him my Lord and Savior." If that's you, would you just lift up your hand high enough and long enough to where I could see it today?

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Hands are going up all over this place today. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, God. Anybody else? I want to lead you in this prayer. We're all going to say it, but especially those of you who responded. Would you say this? Say, "Jesus, Jesus, I need you.

I need you. I cannot do life. I cannot do life without you. So today, so today, I surrender. I surrender. Jesus, thank you. Jesus, thank you for living the life for living the life that I was supposed to live. I was supposed to live and for dying the death dying the death that I was supposed to die.

You took my place. You took my place on the cross. on the cross. So today I confess with my mouth I confess my heart and believe in my heart. Believe in my heart that you are the son of God. You are the son of God. And one day one day you're coming back for me.

I'm coming back. But until then I'm walking with you. I'm walking with you. In Jesus name. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. And come on. Would you give Jesus the best praise that you got? Oh, come on. You can do better than that. Let's give Jesus some praise today.

God bless you, Lake. Hey, real fast, just for two more minutes, just want to encourage those of you who maybe prayed that prayer for the first time. We want you to know that we have some resources that we've designed to help you in your new faith, in your new journey with Christ.

If you go up to our second floor, you'll see our new beginnings area. Love to give you some resources to help you in your journey. Also, there's some information on the screen you can text in. We'd love to see you connect. Our pastors always challenge us here. Give us one year of your life.

Give one year to to make the decision to follow Jesus every day of your life. And a year from now, you'll see that your life was forever better because you made that decision. Can anyone testify to that? I know I can. My life has been forever changed because I made Jesus the Lord and Savior of my life.

Hey, one more time. Can we thank Pastor Robert Madu and Taylor for coming? What a message. I'll never look at Altoids the same. Keep some mints with you this week. Let's be people of gratitude. Hey, next Sunday we're going to start 2026 off strong. Bring your friends. Bring family members.

We're going to have an anointing and dedication service. We're going to commit the year to God and to his plan for our life. It's going to be special. So, I want to encourage you to invite some friends and come back. It's going to be an awesome kickoff to the new year.

Amen. Let me leave you with a blessing from Numbers chapter 6. May the Lord bless you and may the Lord 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. We love you.

Happy New Year and we'll see you next Sunday. 
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