Make Room For More | Joel Osteen | Lakewood Church Service

((music playing)) You fight the battle. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Happy new year, Lakewood. Are you ready to worship the Lord this morning? Your mercies are new every morning. Your steadfast love will ever end. This hope won't fade in the evening. Lord, how great is your faithfulness? Lord, how great is your faithfulness? Yes, it is.

Every hour, every minute of my life has been part of your design. Though the whole world's in your hand. Every trial, every battle that I face, God, you met me there with grace. Every part has served your plan. Through it all, you've been so so good. Kept your word like you said you would.

Your mercies are new every morning ((music playing)) in the evening. Lord, how great is your faithfulness? Lord, how great is your faithfulness? Lord, how great is your faithfulness? Hey, welcome everyone. Thanks for coming out to Lakewood. How many of you ready to worship the Lord today? God's been good to you, man.

We love having you here on the first Sunday of 2026. And what a what an honor it is to have you in the house of the Lord. And more than us being happy, I know God sees you putting him first place today. So, I hope you know that he's smiling down on you today.

And we just believe and declare and 2026 is going to be an amazing year in all of our lives. We are we are getting ready for God to do new things in our lives. I I love that thought. It says the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter.

You know, 2026, we we leave the old in 2025 and we get ready for a little bit brighter in 2026. God to show out through us a little bit more this year. So, thanks for being a part today. And if you're visiting with us, watching online, our online family, listening live on SiriusXM, well, you know, another important start of the year is, you know, leave all the old negative things in 2025.

What didn't work out, you know, mistakes we made, you know, something somebody said, you know what, just leave that in the past. This is a new day. Let's come into 2026 with faith and expectancy, knowing that God's good. He's on the throne. He brought us this far. So, as we do that, that grateful attitude that is setting the tone for God to do something great in our life this year.

And so, few minutes we'll be anointing everybody with oil, everybody that wants to just consecrating oursel to God. But we are so honored to have you here. We love our Lakewood family. So, we're going to turn up the praise today. As we start off this year, we're going to start it off thanking God for all he's done and all he's about to do.

Let me tell you, you haven't seen your best days yet. They are still out in front of you in Jesus name. Thanks for coming out. Amen and amen. I receive it. How about you, church? I cannot think of a better place to start the new year than right here at Lakewood Church. together building our faith, creating our vision, and believing that God is a faithful God.

And I love the song we started off with because we want to talk about his faithfulness. We want him to know that we're not only grateful for what he's done in the past, but we are looking forward for the things he wants to do in the future to have that expectancy in our life.

And I believe that's what we have today. I believe you guys are stirring your faith up for something new, for something unusual, for something out of the ordinary that God wants to do in your life this morning. So, as we enter in to praise and worship, and that's what we're doing.

We're going to enter into a place not what we've been doing all week. We're going to enter in to a to a safe place, a sanctuary, a place that only you and God can dwell. And you say, "Well, I mean, this guy next to me is singing so loud I can't concentrate."

Will you sing louder because God is listening? You get into your place with God. You see, when we begin to open our heart and we begin to sing these songs of praise to God, we're entering into his presence where he dwells. And the Bible says that he inhabits that.

And when we're in those places, things are changing. You may not know what's changing, but you cannot get with God and stay the same. You can only get better in the presence of God. So let's enter in with our hearts and with our minds and just show him how much we love him this morning.

Father, we thank you. We thank you that we can stand here, Father, in your presence. And we acknowledge the presence of God in this place, the spirit that is moving in this place, the spirit that lives and dwells in us. And so, Father, we sing these songs to you and you alone.

And we thank you that you will be glorified in our life. You will be glorified in this church. And father your glory will shine through the earth in Jesus' name. And everyone said amen. Here and now, looking back on where I've been still as good as you were then.

There's no limit to your love. Through it all. Through it all. You've been so so good. You've been so so good. ((music playing)) mercies are new every morning. ((music playing)) how great is your faithfulness? Lord, how great is your faithfulness? ((music playing)) Oh, how great. Oh, how great. ((music playing)) Lord, how great is your faithfulness?

((music playing)) Oh, how great. Oh, how great ((music playing)) we sing. Lord, how great is your faithfulness? ((music playing)) Your faithfulness ((music playing)) Through it all, you've been so so good. Have you seen his goodness, church? Kept your word like you said you would. Through it all, you've been so so good. Kept your words like you said you would.

Your mercies are new every morning ((music playing)) how great is your faithfulness ((music playing)) every morning. Your steadfast love will never end. ((music playing)) Lord, how great is your faithfulness? Lord, how great is your faithfulness? Lord, how great is your faithfulness? ((music playing)) Great is your faithfulness. Oh, come on church. There's joy in the house of the Lord.

A home where your soul is restored. Come on through the open door. Come on through the open door. Hey, there's grace that abounds here and now. A place where new mercies are found. All are welcome in his house. All are welcome in his house. Come on church, let's declare.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving. Enter his courts with praise. This is a house of worship. We bless his holy name. Come and rejoice in his presence. Oh, we won't leave the same. Cuz this is a house of worship. We bless, oh, we bless his holy name. Come on.

There's freedom ((music playing)) ((music playing)) his gates with thanksgiving. Enter his courts with praise. This is a house of worship. We bless his holy name. Come and rejoice in his presence. Oh we won't leave the same. This is a house of worship. We bless, oh, we bless his holy name. ((music playing)) We bless your holy name.

((music playing)) For every battle He's won, for every chain He's undone ((music playing)) rejoice, rejoice again. For every giant He's slain. For every sinner He's saved. For every wide ((music playing)) rejoice, rejoice again. ((music playing)) Rejoice, rejoice again. Rejoice, rejoice again. Rejoice, rejoice again. Come on, we declare this together with thanksgiving. ((music playing)) This is a house of worship.

We bless his holy name. Come and rejoice in his presence. Oh we won't leave the same. Cuz this is a house ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Rejoice, rejoice again. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) rejoice again. Rejoice, rejoice again. Yeah. ((music playing)) I pray into the atmosphere. Spirit of God, you're here. You have all authority. I pray over my heart and mind.

I am healed by your stripes. Your blood declares that I am free. And in the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Calling on the power of heaven. I proclaim every weapon against me it must break in the mighty name of Jesus. I draw a permanent boundary line. The enemy has no rights to come near my family.

No scheme could ever undo God's plans. No matter the circumstance, the cross has sealed my destiny. Singing the mighty name of Jesus. I pray. Calling on the power of heaven. I proclaim every weapon formed against me it must break in the mighty name ((music playing)) Oh in the mighty name of Jesus.

In the mighty name of Jesus. Say I know. ((music playing)) Come on church. Let's declare this out ((music playing)) Cuz every key to every victory I hold ((music playing)) Sing I will not fear. I will not fear when the enemy comes near. On the door frame of my life is the blood of Jesus Christ.

Oh, I will not fear. I will not fear. There's an army of angels here. I'm protected on all sides by the blood of Jesus Christ. Oh, I will not fear. I will not fear ((music playing)) on the doorframe of my life is the blood of Jesus Christ. ((music playing)) There's an army of angels here ((music playing)) Jesus Christ.

In the mighty name of Jesus, ((music playing)) calling on ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) In the mighty name of Jesus. ((music playing)) Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus. Cuz Jesus your name is the highest. Your name is the greatest. Your name stands above them all.

All thrones and dominions, all power and positions. Your name stands above them all. Jesus your name is the highest. Your name is the greatest. Your name ((music playing)) and positions, your name ((music playing)) And the angels cry holy ((music playing)) You are lifted high ((music playing)) ((music playing)) We sing holy. To the king of kings ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Come on, church.

And the angels cry. Holy. All creation cries. ((music playing)) And you are lifted high. Holy. Sing holy forever. Your people sing. Hear your people sing. Sing it out. ((music playing)) And you will always be holy. Holy forever. And you will always be holy, holy forever. You'll always, you will always be holy.

Holy forever. ((applause)) ((music playing)) Hallelujah. ((music playing)) There's no better place, no better time to respond with surrender. Cuz you put your love on the line. Here in this moment, be lifted high. Lord, I offer my heart and worship your glory divine. So come like the wind. Fall like the rain. Oh, Holy Spirit inhabit this place.

We give you the room Lord, have your way. Oh, Holy Spirit, inhabit our praise forever more. Now is the moment. Are you ready, church? Now is the time. Lord, we'll sing ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Holy Spirit, ((music playing)) This is our prayer today. Lord, come do whatever you want to. Nothing's impossible for you.

Bring down the heavens here on the earth. Oh, Holy Spirit, come do whatever you want to. Come on, let me say it today. Nothing's impossible for you. Say right now, Lord, bring down the heavens, here on the earth. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Holy Spirit. ((music playing)) We give you the ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Holy Spirit. ((music playing)) ((applause)) Lord God, we love you today.

Lord, we thank you for all that you've done in our lives and Lord, bringing us into a new year. We know we didn't get here on our own, but Lord, it was your goodness, your mercy, your favor. You protected us. You g you got you you brought us into this year, Lord, by your goodness.

And we are here, Lord, to say thank you for all that you've done. Thank you for bringing us here. And Lord, as we start the new year off, we put you first place in our lives. Lord, we commit our decisions, our dreams, our children, our health, our finances, our careers.

Lord, we commit it into your hands. I thank you, Lord, that you are guiding us, guarding us, and protecting us, that you hold victory in store for the upright. Lord, we thank you for all you've done and for what you'll do in this year. Lord, we thank you for new things.

We're letting go of all the old, the disappointments, what didn't work out, mistakes we've made. Lord, we leave that all in 2025. We start this year, Lord, in faith, believing that you're smiling down on us. We know your plans are for good to give us a future and a hope.

So, Lord, we stir up our faith today and we make room for you to do some new things in our lives. Thank you for fresh vision and fresh anointing and fresh favor, fresh momentum, fresh attitudes. Lord, we let go of the unforgiveness, the bitterness, the chip on our shoulder.

Lord, we let all that go. And Lord, we start the year off in faith and in joy and expecting your goodness in new ways. Lord, I thank you that even as we're worshiping you this morning, that every force that's tried to stop us has been broken in the mighty name of Jesus.

Every force, maybe it's depression, anxiety, mental issues, any kind of sickness, disease, or chronic pain, addictions, bad habits. Lord, I thank you that today is a breakthrough day. That we're going into 2026 free and healed and victorious. Lord, even if we don't see it yet physically, we believe in the unseen realm things have changed in our favor.

That you are setting the miracles into motion. So Lord, I just thank you for healing the sick bodies and restoring the relationships, freeing us from anything that's holding us back. And Lord, we just commit our lives into your hands. We declare a blessed, healthy, productive, bountiful, beautiful, amazing 2026.

Victors and never victims in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say amen today? Amen. Wow. We're honored to have you in the house of the Lord starting off the new year, right? Let's let's make our declaration first time the 11:00 service. 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. I am a child of the most high God. I will become all I was created to be in Jesus name. Amen and amen. You sound amazing. You look amazing. You look blessed. You look strong. You look like you've been crowned with God's favor. So, let's keep our heads held high and get ready for the new things God's going to do.

So, today we're going to do our prayer time a little bit different. We're going to do our anointing of oil. Anybody that wants to be anointed, you you don't have to, but let me just give you a quick overview in the scripture. Anointing of oil mean different things, but one thing it meant is being consecrated to God.

They would anoint people, the priests and certain ones that just basically it meant they were set apart unto God. So today, when you get anointed, we're just going to touch your foreheads. Not a long thing. Just touch your forehead. One thing, keep that down in your spirit. Lord, I'm setting myself apart to you this year.

I'm consecrating myself. That's that's saying, you know what? I'm going to do my best, Lord, to make good decisions. I'm putting you first place. Another thing it talks about in in the book of 1st Samuel 16, it says when they anointed David, it said the spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David and he was enabled to fulfill his purpose.

So, I know the Holy Spirit lives on the inside of us all the time, but how about when you get anointed, let's just believe. Lord, I thank you. Your spirit is going to rise up in me powerfully in a new way to accomplish what I need to accomplish this year.

And even your power is rising up in me to overcome any obstacles that come against me. So, that anointing, it's to set apart. It's anointing for fresh power, fresh favor, fresh ability. And then of course you know in the New Testament it talks about let let the sick call for the elders of the church and have them anoint them with oil and the prayer of faith will heal the sick.

So there is healing in that oil today. Not just physically but maybe you need emotional healing or healing from wounds of the past. Well, you know it's it's an act of faith as you receive this oil. It's just down on the inside. Lord, I thank a healing is flowing into me today.

I thank you that your power is coming on me in a new way. And Lord, I thank you that I'm consecrating my life unto you. So, we're going to do that today. I I know you'll receive it by faith. Why don't you take a seat if you would please?

And we're going to start with our special needs family and I'll anoint them and then the ushers will notify you of when to to go and we'll do it rowby row, section by section. It'll go a little smoother, but uh we'll just stay in an attitude of prayer as we anoint people this morning.

((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Good morning online family. As you can tell, we've already begun anointing our special needs uh families and friends. And I just want you to know as you're watching um to participate in this moment, release your faith and believe that God is doing something significant in your life. Obviously, this is the opportunity that we create.

The space that we create for us all to really surrender ourselves to God's plans for this year. As pastor articulated, it's a anointing is a moment of being set apart. It's preparing for the new preparing for the new beginning, the new things that God has in store for us to encounter and experience in this new chapter of the story that he's written for our lives.

And I think it's just cool to become aware of that every year, to be reminded of that every year, that God has specific plans and purposes for each of us to step into. And as we step into the new year, I want to encourage you and remind you that God has prepared provision for you.

You know, I think sometimes when we step into new things and a new chapter, we often get worried when things aren't adding up or if we're being asked to step out in faith into a new adventure, a new space, new opportunities, new relationships, new business ventures. We get concerned about how God is going to provide.

Let me encourage you today. Don't worry about how he's going to provide. Just trust that he will provide and he's going to do it in creative ways. He's going to supply you with everything that you need this year. And I just want to encourage you. I I came across this passage of scripture, this story in the Gospels.

There's this rich young ruler. His name is Zakius. And the Bible says that he was rich, but he was short in stature. He was short. And the Bible says that he was intrigued of Jesus's teachings. Meaning he even though he had everything this world could offer, he was still empty on the inside.

He was searching for something bigger than himself, something that money and status and power couldn't satisfy. And so he goes ahead. The Bible says he knows where Jesus is going and he goes ahead of him because he wants to encounter Jesus. He wants to observe. He wants to take in what he's saying.

And the Bible says that as Zakius is going ahead of him, Zakius sees a tree, a tree planted on the side of the road. I find it very interesting and significant that God would give us the detail of this tree because Zakius would climb the tree and it would it would get Zakius to a height where he could see Jesus and and Jesus could see him in the midst of the crowd.

That tells me that there is there are trees planted in our journey that make up the difference between our limitations and the opportunities that are in front of us. What am I saying this year? God has some divine trees that he's prepared for you to walk into. Opportunities, relationships, resources, ideas.

I believe God has prepared provision for you. And today, as you set yourself apart to him and to his purposes, may you trust this. Trust that he is your soul provider. Trust that he has things in store for you that you're going to walk into. And we're just going to continue to believe for it and declare it over your life.

Prepared provision. As you set yourself apart, as you're anointed today, you're going to experience his goodness like never before. We love you. We're going to always be praying for you and we'll hope to see you soon. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) I'll tell you what, what a powerful sight to see the Army of God reigniting the spirit inside of you.

Watch out devil. All I can say when we turn you loose, you are empowered to overcome. He is a holy God. And the amazing thing about that is he's called us into his holiness. He has invited us in to where he is. And you know, we can't neglect that.

We've got to understand that it is a privilege to come into God's presence, into his holiness. What a beautiful sight it is to see believers igniting their faith and charging forward in 2026. You know, Jesus openly declared his anointing. He clearly acknowledged that it came from God. It didn't come from himself.

He said, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me." He didn't say, "I've anointed myself." He was always looking to the father and said, "Father, your will. Father, I want to follow you." And just like Jesus, we acknowledge that we carry what comes from God.

We carry what he's entrusted to us. and we're going to step forward in obedience and we're going to carry out the things that he has already prepared for us. Amen. Amen. You know the father, he said, you know, as the father has sent me, I am sending you.

God never sends you anywhere or put you in any place that he hasn't already prepared for you to overcome. See, Jesus overcame so that we could be more than conquerors. More than overcomers, we have the power of the Most High living on the inside of us. And so, as leaders, we're going to declare some things over your life.

We're going to wake up some dreams. We're going to stir up some dry bones. We're going to look towards what God has for us. We don't do this out of pride or arrogance. We do it out of humility. We want to hold up that cup of salvation. We want to fulfill our destiny.

We want to become all God has called us to be. So today, I declare Psalms 37:23 over you, which says, "The steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord." As we step into this year with purpose and confidence in obedience to God, I declare that we will live fruitful lives and that we will move into all that God has prepared us for.

We will do good works. We will do it with strength. We will do it with confidence. And we will walk out this journey of life with the grace that God has given us because his spirit is on us and in us. It leads us and it guides us into all righteousness.

We declare this in the name of Jesus. And if you receive it, say amen. This year I declare that the next generation will be mighty in the land in agreement with the word of God. Mighty meaning leading impacting being a catalyst for change on every cultural mountain of influence.

Government, media, arts, entertainment, education, business, and family will all be radically changed by the kids, youth, and young adults of our community. This generation is the one that will shift narratives, follow God, and fight for people and believe big. This generation is powerful, bold, blessed, and we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.

God says in Isaiah, "I will pour my spirit out on your offspring and blessing on your descendants." We believe and receive it for our future, the next generation, whether here listening or watching online in Jesus' name. If you believe it, can you say amen? Amen. Father, we declare that in this new year, you are Jehovah Rafa, the Lord our healer.

As Psalms 103 says, you are the Lord who heals all of our diseases. We declare as third John says that in this year we will prosper and be in good health even as our soul prospers. That we will thrive and be in good health mentally and physically and emotionally.

That you'll take sickness and disease from amongst us. That you'll restore us to health and heal us of our wounds. We declare that every cell in our body will function as you created them to be. That we would enjoy health and strength and vitality. that our minds would be sharp, that our bodies would be strong.

Father, for those who are sick right now, those with chronic illnesses or illnesses that may be beyond the help of medicine, we know that when you walked this earth, Jesus, you healed every disease, every form of sickness you encountered. We thank you that you are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Like the woman with the issue of blood, we reach out in childlike faith and touch the hem of your garment. And we declare even now that your healing is flowing into our bodies and that you're restoring health to us. We know that you sent your word and you heal.

Lord, even now send your word to heal us. And as a body of believers here at Lakewood, we declare in faith that we will enjoy health all this year and you'll satisfy with us with a long life and show us your salvation. If you receive that, would you say amen in Jesus name?

I declare that in 2026, this will be a year of financial breakthrough. God, we thank you that you are Jehovah Gyra, the Lord God, our provider. I declare that God would remain our source, not people, not jobs, but you alone. Lord, as we seek first your kingdom and your righteousness, God will provide everything that we need.

Scripture says to look at the birds, you feed them, they neither plant nor store. How much more valuable are we to you? So in 2026, we choose to trust over worry, faith over fear because you're a good father. And we remember the Psalms that says, "I've never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread."

So in the name of Jesus, I declare that debt is canceled. Burdens are lifted. Cycles of generational lack are broken once and for all. We're coming into abundance this year. We are lenders and not borrowers. Givers and not takers. Blessed to be a blessing. I declare for the right contracts, favor, creativity, opportunities, funding, wisdom to honor God with our wealth.

And I speak Philippians 4:19 over you that my God shall supply all your needs according to him who is in Christ Jesus. Come on. And if you receive it and you believe it, can you shout amen? Church, listen to God's word in Isaiah 43:19. The message translation says this, "Forget about what's happened.

Don't keep going over old history. Be alert and be present. I'm about to do something brand new. It's bursting out. Don't you see it?" Church, I declare you will have the eyes to see and the faith to believe for the new things that God is doing in 2026.

I declare you're letting go of what didn't work and you are available and ready for the new things that Jesus is bringing. I declare new beginnings for those who are lost, new opportunities and breakthroughs for those who are stuck and stagnant. I declare that your passion for the Lord will be renewed and you will see new growth in your faith like never before.

In 2026, I declare God is doing a new thing in your purpose, new relationships, new ideas, strategies, and new favor rests on all that you put your hands to. I declare that you won't miss this new thing that God is doing. I declare your eyes are open, your heart is ready, and your faith is active.

I declare in dry places, God is bringing new water. In the wilderness, God is making new roads. Church 2026. Come on. Can we get ready for the new thing that God is doing? If you believe it and you receive it, come on. Can you shout amen? Hallelujah. Your name is power.

Your name is healing. Your name is life. Break every stronghold. Shine through the shadows. ((music playing)) Your name is power. Your name is healing. Your name is life. Break every stronghold. Shine through the shadows. ((music playing)) Shout Jesus from the mountains, and Jesus in the streets. Jesus in the darkness ((music playing)) Jesus ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Greetings Lakewood family.

I am here at Mukinge Mission Hospital in Zambia and I am so excited to tell you about a project that you've helped complete here. This project started two years ago and it's been a full-scale effort with Lakewood volunteers as well as collaborative efforts with volunteers from all over the world to come here and improve some of the technology systems so we can create better outcomes for patient care as well as create better resources and access to infrastructure for healthcare workers.

It's been an amazing two years and we are just so excited about all that God has done through this project. Before the project began, they did have a telephone line that came into the hospital providing internet services. The speed was equivalent to dialup. But the biggest challenge was that it was not reliable.

Bringing in the Starlink services has transformed the way that the hospital and school can use internet services providing more than 100 times what they had before. And it's reliable. We plug them into batteries. They're up 100% of the time. We used to be able to do about 30 X-rays a day.

Now we're able to do probably over a hundred X-rays easily. Not only can we do the X-rays, we can see them dynamically on our phone as well. So I'm going patient to patient in a full ward. I don't have to go back to the X-ray department to see their X-rays.

I can see them right there on my phone. What we're doing is we're running a complete new cable system and network to support a digital phone system in each of the wards. In addition to that, we're extending it out. So, we're putting in wireless capability to the homes, which means that the on call doctors and nurses will be reachable in the evenings.

There was a call in the middle of the night for an urgent surgical uh consult and the network was down. The guard would have to come and find me. But now, because of this new technology, we're able to have phones and we can talk to each of the wards.

A CT scanner doesn't exist here. An MRI machine doesn't exist here. You can't just consult neurosurgery, neurology or an obstetrician when you need their help. Having the highspeed internet, having Starlink and the ability to pick up the phone and FaceTime my my buddy in the US and ask for help.

I'm excited. Uh the reason why I'm excited is uh the donation that has been given to this hospital, Mckinga Mission Hospital. One, it's going to improve uh students learning. The internet also is just a massive resource for education and training and learning. And so the students that are through here um continue and to be up to date with our with our care and with our knowledge and and be able to translate that to patient care.

The internet system and the communication system here at the hospitals really revolutionized the hospital and all of that's because of Lakewood Church. Without this donation would have been in the dark. But with your donation that has come, what we can only say thank you and may God continue replenishing your pockets.

Thank you Lakewood for caring for people in Mukinge Mission Hospital. Jesus said in Matthew 25, "When I was sick, you cared for me." That's exactly what you're doing. So, thank you for your kindness. Thank you for your care and thank you for your generosity. Yeah, really amazing. Lakewood, I just echo what Paul said.

Thanks for being so generous and thanks for supporting the ministry. We like to show you something hopefully every week of what's what your finances are doing as you give and you tithe and you support the ministry. It's not just there but it's here in the states as well.

And we do it in three areas through the media through humanitarian and then we are another focus is empowering the next generation. So I want you to know when you give at Lakewood you're giving into good soil and we just say thank you and never pressure you to give.

But as we take this moment to worship the Lord with our tithes and our offerings, I I will remind us of a scripture, it talks about, well, there are many, but you know, in Malachi, it says, "If you'll bring your tithes into the storehouse, God said, prove me and see if I won't open the windows of heaven."

You know, that's a great way, you know, the the first 10% of your income, giving it to God. And another place it says, if you put God first, he'll crown your efforts with success. So, I know I'm preaching to the choir. You guys are so generous and supportive.

But we want to thank you and we want you to know that God sees your giving. We're just believe in 2026, like Pastor Serena prophesied while ago, you're going to see some supernatural provision. And God do things that we can't do on his own. You know why I believe for this is because your heart is to is to be a good steward.

One, to take care of your family. There's nothing wrong with taking care of your family, sending your kids to college, being able to fulfill your dreams, and then your heart to to help others to be a blessing. I think we all know we are blessed so we can be a bigger blessing so we can continue the ministry and and bring about God's kingdom.

So, thanks for being supportive. Our online family, you guys listening on SiriusXM, you're what keep it all going and and we want you to know uh you know, just that you're doing so much good in the world and I know God sees it as well. That's so good.

Um, you know, in Matthew, Jesus said, "You are the light of the world." You think about that. I think, "Well, God, I'm just a small light. How can I light the world?" But one way that we can light the world is when we come together. We come together and we bring what God has given us together.

And then we can help the world. We can be the shining beacon to some people we'll never meet. people all the way across the world as well as the community we live in. So, I want to encourage you to let your light shine. Make a determination this year to not think you've just got a small flicker, but say, "No, I've got a big flicker.

I'm a blessed light. I'm a light that can shine all over this world." Not only can we shine together, we can shine further together. But I want to encourage you that when you shine, you're also shining in your own home because your example of giving and serving and loving God is shining it is shining a light to all of your family.

It's bringing up that next generation. It's showing that you know it's not me and my for no more. It's God has blessed me abundantly where I can be a blessing. And I believe that that kind of faith is contagious. And your children, your family, your relatives will benefit from that.

They will be inspired from that. And what does that do? That builds their faith, which allows them to stretch their faith to give, which allows God to move in their life. So I just want to encourage you today that we could not do this without you. That you are a powerful beam and a powerful force.

So, thank you for what you do for the kingdom of God. Yeah, we do. Thank you. And Lord, we just speak a blessing over all of our generous givers here in the building watching and listening. Lord, we thank you that 2026 will be a year of abundance and overflow that you are doing new things.

Lord, we commit to keep you first place to honor you with our decisions in our career, in our finances. And Lord, we thank you. You said you'd open the windows of heaven. So Lord, I just thank you for the the new things that you're doing, opening new doors and opportunities and those ideas and creativity that the the gifts you put in us will come out to the full.

I just speak your blessing over your people. Lord, we love you. Thank you for the opportunity to be together and we give in the name of Jesus. Amen and amen. God bless you as you give today. 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's most convenient for you. Go to lakewoodurch.com/give. Text give hope to 77977. Mail a check to P. Box 27450, Houston, Texas77227. or call us toll-free at 888-567 Joel. I wish I could tell you, wish I could describe it, but I can't contain it.

Can't keep it to myself. There aren't enough colors to paint the whole picture. They're not enough words to ever say what I found. Wonderful and beautiful and glorious and holy. He is merciful and powerful. Who we talking about? That's my king. We declare the glory. Give him all the honor.

He's all together worthy. Who we talking about? That's my King ((music playing)) we will adore you. All of this is for you. Who we talking about? That's my King. Jesus, you're my king. ((music playing)) without joining the chorus. There aren't enough notes to make the harmony. It's the song of the angels.

Angels! The song of the angels. Angels! It's all of earth and heaven's symphony. Wonderful and beautiful and glorious and holy. He is merciful and powerful. Who we talking about? That's my king. We declare the glory and give him all the honor. He's all together worthy. Who we talking about?

That's my king. There's no one before you. Yes, we will adore you. All of this is for you. Who we talking about? That's my king. Yeah. ((music playing)) That's my king. That's my God. That's my shepherd. my protector. That's my king. That's my rock. That's my anchor. My defender. That's my king.

Yes. That's my God. Oh yeah. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) king. That's my rock. That's my anchor ((music playing)) glory and give him all the honor. He's all together worthy. Who we talking about? That's my king. We declare the glory and give him all the honor. He's all together worthy. Who we talking about? ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Good.

We serve a great God. So good to have you. Do you mind all standing one last time if you don't mind? But can I tell you how honored we are to have you in the house of the Lord? And more importantly, God saw you take time to come on the first Sunday of the year to put in first place.

So honored to have you and just give you an encouragement to stay planted in the house of the Lord. I know you're all busy. Sunday's a day off. You got stuff to do. But you know this, there is a blessing on your life when you put God first place and you come to a community of faith.

And we're honored to have you here. But I know it makes a difference when you come. and you know uh thanks for being involved in um you know joining some of our teams man we got ushers and choirs and greeters and women's men's all kinds of stuff you can get involved with and the reason I say that is not just to get you more busy but one to use your talents because you got something to offer but number two I love for you to meet some great Lakewood people it's good to have some you'll meet lifelong friends here at Lakewood you get plugged in so anyway thanks for being here if you're visiting special welcome to you I'd love to meet you after service if you got a moment.

Hey, don't forget this Wednesday night we're kicking off our new Wednesday night service. So excited about it. That's been gone since co so five years later. But you know what? We're going to come back stronger than ever. So if you can come out for an hour powerp packed service on a Wednesday night led by Pastor Nick and some of the team, let me tell you, there's going to be prayer and ministry.

And after that hour, we got a little cafe up there we're getting finished with. There's time for community as well. But come on, let's be strong. Let's stay planted in the house of the Lord. Last. Now, I got one more thing. Next Sunday though, every year we take a Sunday to write our vision on the walls out in the lobbies.

What are you believing for this year? Come on. Let's don't go into the year just ah whatever, Joel. No. Find out what's down in your spirit. What do you want to see God do this year? You're going to write it if you'll write it on the wall next week on a designated wall.

You know what we do all year long? We go by those walls and we stand in agreement. God, what you put in your people's heart, we are agreeing that you will bring it to pass. So come on, let's take the limits off of God and be with us next week and we'll write that vision.

Feel like I had one more thing. I can't remember what it was. But y'all, thanks for being here today. And I want to ask you, when you see yourself up on the big screen, can you give our TV audience a great big Lakewood welcome? God bless you. It's great to be with you today and I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can come visit us in person.

We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services. But I like to start with something funny and I heard about this elderly woman. She was at the store and accidentally locked her keys in the car and she had a coat hanger and she was trying and trying, but she couldn't get it open.

So, she prayed and asked God to help her. About that time, this guy pulls up on a motorcycle, very roughl looking, dressed in leather and tattoos, a skull cap. 15 seconds later, he had the car open. She hugged him and said, "Lord, thank you for sending me such a nice man."

He said, "Lady, I'm not a nice man. I just got out of prison for theft." She hugged him and said, "Lord, thank you. You even sent me a professional." 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 Psalm 81 and verse 10, you're welcome to. Psalm 81 and verse 10. What I meant to tell you while ago is invite somebody with you next week.

It's the new year. Anybody will come to church in the first of the year. New Year's resolution. But here's what I find. People tell me, "Oh, I can't come. is too big and I don't know where to park and do I need a ticket? Well, here's the thing.

You got to go pick them up. Go pick them up. Bring them with you. Get them planted. And you know what? God can change their life. You can reach people in your sphere of influence that maybe would never come without an invitation. So, let's let our light shine brightly this year.

But again, honored to have you with us. I want to talk to you today about make room for more. It's easy to get stuck in life and think we've reached our limits and this is as happy as I'll ever be and as much as I'll ever have and I've gone as far as my background allows.

But God didn't create us to reach one level and get stuck. The psalmist said, "Open your mouth wide and God will fill it." The key is you have to make room for God to increase you in your thinking. You have to enlarge your vision. Raise your level of expectancy.

Don't go into a new year with an old mindset. And yes, it's good to be content. It's important to be grateful, but you shouldn't be satisfied. There needs to be something you're believing for that you can't accomplish on your own that stretches your faith where you get up in the morning thanking God that he's opening new doors and causing you to excel with more talent, more creativity, more influence.

The scripture talks about how God has blessings stored up for the righteous. There are blessings that have your name on them. They already belong to you, but they're in storage. There's healing with your name on it. There's abundance, a paid off house. There's promotion, a book, a big business.

There's a spouse, a baby. How do you get it out of storage? Number one, you keep God first place. You honor him. And number two, you have to make room for it. Is there any capacity in your thinking for God to do greater things? Not ordinary, not what the circumstances tell you, but something uncommon.

To live debtree, to break the addiction, to see your children back on course, to run your own business. If you'll open your mouth wide, God will fill it. He has unlimited resources. The supply is never the problem. It's our capacity to receive. If you think you'll barely get by and I don't know, Joel, this problem is big and I'm not that talented and I never get any good breaks, your mouth is too small.

Your vision is limiting your life. Make some room. God, I believe you have greater things in store. I know your face is shining on me. That I live under the open windows of heaven. I believe it's going to be a blessed, favorfilled year. That's creating space. That's giving God room to show out in your life.

If you've been dealing with an illness long time, it's easy to accept it. Think that's the way it's always going to be. No, you need to make room for health. God is still in the healing business. He's called Jehovah Rafa the Lord our healer. It may have been that way for years, but this is your year to get well, to see a divine turnaround.

If you're struggling in your finances, don't get stuck in a rut. I'll never have enough. I'm at a disadvantage. Nobody in my family can get ahead. God has ways to bless you that you can't see right now. He brought a coin out of a fish's mouth to pay taxes for Peter.

He sent quail into the desert to feed two million people. He gave us the funds to buy the compact center. He has supernatural provision. Is there any room in your thinking? Are you believing for greater things, expecting God's favor? Or have you let doubt, discouragement, delays take up all the space in your mind?

Jesus could not do any miracles in his hometown because of their unbelief. There was no room. They thought, "We know this man, Jesus. We grew up with him. He's nothing special. He can't do miracles. Their limited mindset limited their life. Don't let that be you. A while back, I ordered some exercise equipment.

I'd been using the same bench and workout machine at home for almost 30 years. This company was scheduled to come and put down a new rubber floor. They were backed up and weren't going to be there for a month. Well, all my equipment was coming the next week.

It's a bunch of boxes and crates that you had to assemble. I was planning on storing it in the garage where Jonathan used to park when he lived at home. The problem was over the last 5 years that garage has been turned into a storage room with all kinds of old stuff.

Old landscape lights from a couple trees that blew down in a storm. old parts of an AC unit and bikes that had flat tires. We hadn't ridden in 20 years that I was keeping just in case we needed them. There was an old ladder, rickety, top rung, broken off, not safe, and always planning to give it to Paul, but I kept putting it off.

I finally came to the point if I'm going to receive this new equipment that I really want, I'm going to have to make room for it. I got to clean out all this junk that's taking up the valuable space. Well, it's the same principle in our mind. Sometimes we're holding on to things we don't need and it's taking up space for the new things God has in store.

There's no capacity for increase. Maybe we're holding on to doubt. Well, it's not going to happen for me, Joel. I'm not that talented. I've had a lot of bad breaks. Do yourself a favor. Clean out the doubt. That's taking up space for good breaks, for open doors, for promotion.

Some people are holding on to unforgiveness, thinking about how they hurt me and they did me wrong. I'm a victim. All that negativity is keeping you from the restoration, the new beginnings, the beauty for ashes. It's not that God doesn't want to, but there's no room. Pay attention to what's taking space in your mind.

Maybe we're letting insecurity, inferiority take up all this room. I'm not attractive. I don't have a good personality. I'm too short. I'm not as smart as my cousins. You need to get that junk out of your garage. God says you're a masterpiece. That you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

That you have royal blood flowing through your veins. That he's crowned you with his favor. Amen. As long as you keep the insecurity, feeling not valuable, there's no room for the confidence, the favor that God has for you. He needs capacity to show you his goodness. What's occupying your space?

Doubt, worry, can't do it, not enough, problem too big. It's time for a cleaning. I met this couple after the service. They had both been raised in very lowincome families. All they saw growing up was not enough, struggle, trying to survive. What we've seen modeled and how we were raised often becomes normal to us.

It's what we expect. We don't realize it's a limited mindset. It's keeping us from rising higher. That's why it's so important to go back to God's word and find out who you really are. Life will try to define you. People, circumstances will put labels on you, try to convince you to take on that identity, who they say you are, average, undisiplined, angry, inferior, unattractive.

If you don't know better, those lies will take up all the valuable space in your mind. There's no room for God to work. That's why we make that declaration every service. I am who God says I am. I am blessed, prosperous, forgiven, talented, well-able. That's clearing out the negative.

Well, this couple was told by their parents that they would always struggle like they had and never have enough. That's just who they are. The grandparents of the woman said, "All you'll have in life is beans and rice, but that's good enough." They meant well. They were saying, "Don't expect too much.

We made it on beans and rice and you can too." But can I tell you beans and rice is not your destiny. That may have been when what you've seen, but that's not who you are. You're a barrier breaker. You're a new generation. You know more so you can do more.

You believe bigger so you can live bigger. God said in Hosea, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." If you think beans and rice is your destiny, then you'll live lacking, struggling, hoping to get by. But when you realize God created you in his own image, he said you would reign in life as a king, that you are the head and not the tail, that you will lend and not borrow, that whatever you touch will prosper and succeed.

That's not being arrogant. That's not being greedy. That's believing you are who God says you are. Well, this couple started watching us on television and their thinking begin to change. That didn't set well with them that they would always struggle and never have enough. They started believing that they were children of the most high.

That although they may be limited, he is unlimited. that he can open doors no person can shut. That he makes rivers in the desert. Now instead of all the doubt and negativity they had been programmed with, there was faith, expectancy. Instead of talking defeat, they started declaring God's promises over their life.

What were they doing? Creating capacity to receive. If you'll open your mouth wide, God will fill it. Well, this couple took a step of faith and on very normal incomes, they started building a house. Man was in construction and whenever they had extra funds, they would hire contractors and buy more supplies just little by little.

Well, a couple of years later, he said, "Joel, we can't explain it, but we moved into this beautiful new house in a great neighborhood, all debt-free." On paper, it didn't make sense. But God knows how to multiply what you have. His favor will cause you to defy the odds.

Few years after that, they sold the house for twice what they had built it for. And the wife told me something that I'll never forget. She said, "Joel, my grandparents told me all we'd ever have were beans and rice, but I always knew one day we would have steak.

If you're going to see those blessings that are stored up for you, you have to do like her and take the limits off. Enlarge your vision. Don't let how you were raised, what was passed down, what somebody said, even mistakes you've made convince you to settle for beans and rice, to live with the illness, to never be free from the depression, to always be lonely.

You have to stir your faith up. Nothing wrong with beans and rice, but how about some enchiladas? How about some fajitas? How about some chili and queso? You have to make room for more. And I know we're all grateful for what God has done. We're content in every situation, but that doesn't mean you're supposed to be satisfied.

If you quit stretching, believing, expecting, then you are limiting your life. Is there any capacity for God to do something greater? Something other people would never believe could happen. That's what faith is. It's capacity. It's saying, "God, I'm open. I know you have greater things in store." There was a lady in the scripture that was a widow.

Her husband was a prophet, but he had passed. And now she and her two sons were living together. She was so in debt, the creditors were coming to take her sons as payment. She came to the prophet Elisha. It's a friend of the family. She told him the problem.

He asked her what she had in her house. She said nothing at all except a small jar of oil. Elisha told her to go to her friends and neighbors and borrow as many empty vessels, large pots, as she could find. One version says, "Borrow not a few." She could have thought, "Elisha, what good is that going to do?

I need funds. I need provisions. I don't need empty pots." Sometimes God will ask you to do things that don't make sense. But obedience creates capacity. Do what he's asking you to do even when you don't understand it, even when it's a hard thing. God may ask you to apologize when you know it was the other person's fault.

You know they were wrong, but God's asking you to be the bigger person. You can't always see what he's doing, but you can be sure your obedience is making room for a blessing. Forgiving those that hurt you is never easy. Doesn't seem fair, but holding on to the hurt is taking up space for God to pay you back.

When you let it go, there's room for him to make it up to you. God will do it better than you ever could. This widow went out knocking on the neighbor's door, asking to borrow empty pots. Think about how foolish she looked. Going to hear people talking, gossiping.

Did that crazy lady come by your house asking for an empty jar? What's wrong with her? People may not understand you. They may think you're far out. Why do you go over there to Lakewood? Why do you live a holy life? Why don't you party with us? Don't worry about what people think.

Be concerned about what God thinks. He controls the universe. Noah looked foolish building an ark, a 500 ft boat when it had never rained. But his obedience saved his life. His obedience made room for God to do something that had never been done. After the widow gathered all these pots, Elisha told her to pour the little oil that she had into a big jar.

Imagine a little six inch jar. This twoft jar. Again, she could have questioned him, "What good is that going to do, Elisha? I need money. I'm not here to play games, transfer the oil." But God's ways are not our ways. You have to trust when you don't understand.

Be obedient when it doesn't make sense. This lady poured the little bit of oil and it kept pouring and pouring, it filled up the whole pot. That didn't make sense. But when you do what doesn't make sense, God will do what doesn't make sense. She was standing there in amazement.

She kept pouring the oil until all the vessels were full. She went out, sold the oil, paid off her debts, had plenty to live on. But here's what's interesting. The oil never ran out until she filled all the vessels. Let's say she borrowed 20 empty pots, the oil filled all 20.

If she had borrowed 30 pots, the oil would have filled all 30. If she had borrowed three pots, it would just filled three. With God, the problem is never supply, it's capacity. How many vessels are you gathering? What are you expecting this year? What are you believing for, Joel?

Joel, if I can just make it through this year, I'll be happy. If my child just doesn't get in trouble, if I can just survive this depression that I'm dealing with. Jesus told a blind man, "According to your faith, it will be done unto you." It wasn't God's faith.

It's our faith. It's how many vessels we have. Do yourself a favor. Get some more empty pots. Stretch, believe, expect. That's how you create capacity. See, some people gather a couple vessels that'll help them survive. Other people, they'll get a dozen. They'll make it okay. But there's another group that pray bold prayers.

They expect over and above favor. They are obedient in the hard things. They've been coming to Lakewood. They gather vessel after vessel after vessel. They have capacity for healing, for greater resources, more influence, more creativity, more generosity. Many of you have been doing this. Your mouth is open wide.

Get ready. God is about to fill it. Something big is coming that you can't explain. You didn't have the resources, the training, but suddenly the door opened for you. Maybe the medical report said you'd have to live with that sickness. But a turnaround is coming. God is going to do what medicine couldn't do.

Perhaps you thought that breakup stopped your destiny. That you had seen your best days. But God is about to surprise you. Someone better than you ever imagined. You didn't have to go after them. They came after you. Now keep believing. Keep making room for more. You're going to step into increase, favor that catapult you ahead.

This is what my father had to do. He was raised very poor and he had to drop out of high school to help on the family farm just to survive. All the circumstances said he would live a defeated, struggling get by life. That's all he had seen. But at 17, he gave his life to Christ.

The first one in the family. Something rose up in him. is the spirit of the living God saying, "You were made for more. This defeat is not your destiny." Like my father, you may have gotten off to a rough start, but how you start is not how you're going to end.

You're the one to set a new standard. Daddy's parents told him that all he knew how to do was work in the farm. That he better not leave that place. He'd get out there and fail. But sometimes to make room, you have to get out of a limited environment.

You have to break away from people that are telling you what you can't do, how you're not going to make it, and you don't have what it takes. God told Abraham, "Leave your country, leave your family, and go to the land that I will show you." Well, Abraham didn't have all the answers.

He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he couldn't see the favor and blessing staying where he was. The people in his city worshiped idols, the sun, the moon. Had he stayed there, it would have limited his life. To make room for more, you have to you may have to make changes with who you hang around, where you go.

Get out of places that are causing you to compromise, that are polluting your thinking. That's taking up space for the promised land that God has taken you to. Well, my father left the farm at 17. He didn't have a car. He had to hitchhike. But he left with a new mindset.

He told me, Joel, I made up my mind at 17 that my children would never be raised in the poverty and defeat that I was raised in. He emptied out all the lack, not enough, and made room for increase, for God to open new doors to break barriers of the past.

When I was a little boy sitting in the feed store, that was the first building that Lakewood had seated 90 people. Daddy would get up and say to the congregation, "Look out over there. Can you see that new auditorium seating a thousand people?" There was nothing there but an empty field.

But week after week, my father, I can see that new auditorium. He was making room for it. He built that one and many more. 65 years old, daddy was in the hospital about to have emergency open heart surgery. Very critical time. All the family was in the room praying, believing.

He asked me to run home and get his running shoes and put them by the bed. I thought, "I don't know, Daddy. You're not going to be needing these shoes for a long time. This surgery is a big deal. But he wanted those shoes there to show that he was planning to get well, that he would be running again healthy and whole.

He was making room, saying, "This is not the end. Healing is coming. Restoration is coming. I will run and not be weary." He came out of that surgery, lived many more years healthy and whole, traveling the world. What's taking up space in your thinking? Is there any room for God to do something bigger to heal you, to free you, to bring the right person to use you in a greater way?

God is looking for capacity. He's looking for people who are stretching, who are believing for bigger things. When Jesus was about to be born, there was a census. Everyone had had to travel back to their hometown. Joseph and Mary traveled by donkey 80 miles to Bethlehem. Was late at night.

They were tired. Mary was nine months pregnant. Joseph saw this in a place to stay. He knocked on the door and told the inkeeper, "Hey, my wife's pregnant. We traveled a long way. We need a room. She's about to have a baby." The inkeeper said, "I'm sorry. There's no room.

We're full." He turned and started to walk away. And I can hear Joseph saying, "Hey, wait a minute, sir. You got to understand this is no ordinary child. This is something special. The hand of God is on our baby." The inkeeper says, "Yeah, right. I told you we don't have any room."

Shut the door, went away. Imagine 30 years later that inkeeper begins to hear about this man named Jesus and how he's healing the sick and opening blind eyes, feeding the multitude. All this news about his miracles and his influence. Suddenly, the inkeeper has a flashback. He sees Mary and Joseph and realizes that's the young couple that came to the end that night.

He's the man that was asking me for a place to stay. Had I known this baby was going to change the world. Had I known what God was offering me, I would have made room. I would have moved things around. I would have let them stay in my own quarters if I'd known I could be a part of history.

And the truth is the inkeeper, he wasn't a bad person. He wasn't being mean. He was just full. He was busy. He was practical. This is the way it always works. We can't make an adjustment. We don't have any room. Most people are not bad people. They're just full.

Life is busy. They're distracted. They've got sports on Sunday. They're too tired to get up in the morning and thank God for his goodness. They don't recognize who's knocking. I wonder if we're missing blessings because there's no room in our inn. We're not seeing the favor, the destiny moments because our inn is full. the doubt, the hurts, things people have said, how we were raised.

When destiny comes knocking, sorry, I can't do that. I'm not that qualified. I got these friends I want to hang around with. No, make room in your in God is about to come knocking with something unusual, something far and beyond, but it may look ordinary. It may seem common, just another couple needing a place to stay.

Don't miss your destiny moments. God wants to use you to make a greater impact to be an example of his goodness. But you have to do your part. Empty out all the things that are cluttering your mind and cluttering your life. The people, the distractions, social media, comparisons, that's taking up valuable space.

Create some capacity. Go grab some empty vessels. Not a few, but enlarge your vision. Believe for the dreams God whispered in your spirit. You wouldn't be hearing this if God wasn't about to do something you've never seen. The question is, is there any room in your end? Are you creating any space for capa for abundance for victory?

If you'll open your mouth wide, I believe and declare God is about to fill it not with beans and rice, but fajitas, blessings, promotion, breakthroughs, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say amen? Let's pray together. If you got five minutes, stick with me.

Let's just seal it in prayer. Lord, thank you for what we've heard today. I know it falls on great ground, faithful people here at Lakewood, honoring you on this first Sunday. Lord, I I commit for all of us, we're going to make some room in our end. We're going to make the changes that we need to make.

We're emptying out the doubt, the little dreams, maybe some adjustments in relationships, how we're spending our time. And Lord, I thank you as we do our part, as we open our mouths wider and believe that you will fill us with greater things this year. We do put your first place, Lord God.

And I just thank you, Lord, for your blessing upon your people even as they go out this week, their children, protection, and watching after them, Lord. I thank you for what you're doing in our lives and what you're about to do in Jesus' name. With our heads bowed in prayer, just a quick question.

If your heart stopped beating in the next few minutes, are you at peace with God? Do you know where you would 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, you know you need to rededicate your life. You need a fresh new start. 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. God's not mad at you. Your sins have already been forgiven. All you have to do is accept the free gift of Christ's salvation. Will you do it today? This first Sunday of the year. Well, the enemy will whisper in your thoughts, "Do it later.

Do it another week." Listen, the Bible says, "Today is the day of salvation." You're not hearing this by accident. Well, Jo, it's embarrassing to stand in front of everyone. Had 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 or you just need to rededicate your life, you just need a fresh new start. 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. Come on, don't put it off. I feel like there ought to be others. Your heart's beating fast. Anybody else start the year right? Anybody else up top? Come on, Lakewood.

They're still standing. Anybody else watching, listening? Well, God bless you. And please remain standing if you don't mind. And can I tell you how proud we are of you? We're going to be praying for you. I know God saw you take this step of faith. He'll never be ashamed of you.

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

Amen. remain standing one more moment if you would. I want to tell you how much we love you. We're going to be praying for you as well. Also, I want to give you a personal invitation and a challenge to come back and be with us on a regular basis.

This next year is an incredibly important time in your life. Why don't you come and get plugged in? Be here as often as you can. I'll make a promise before that year is over, your life will never be the same for the better. Now, we got the new Wednesday night.

If you live close enough, you can be here as well. But, and I said it earlier, maybe you can get plugged in, meet some of our our join some of our teams. Just want you to meet some good people, keep you in community so you can grow and you will meet lifelong friends here at Lakewood.

I'd love to meet you after service. You got a minute? I'll be back over there. If can't today, I'd love to do it sometime. But know this, the moment you stood up, God washed away all your sins, your mistakes, your failures. You are starting with a fresh, clean slate.

Write it down in your Bible. January 4th, 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 so much for coming out today. How many of you going home better off than you were before?

Amen. All right, guys. We love you. I want to 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.

Happy New Year. See you back real soon.