Beyond Measure: The Danger of Transactional Faith

• Faith and Transformation [00:03:44 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor introduces the concept of Jesus as the architect of faith and the believer as clay to be molded, emphasizing that God is actively working to transform the individual.
• Focus and Perspective [00:05:10 ▶️ 📄]
  > The speaker instructs the congregation to give their 'stare' to God's promise rather than a 'glance' at their problems, establishing a posture of worship and attention.
• Prayer and Intercession [00:21:02 ▶️ 📄]
  > A comprehensive prayer segment covering healing, protection, comfort for the grieving, and the breaking of generational curses, emphasizing boldness in approaching the throne of grace.
• Rejoicing and Thanksgiving [00:26:02 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using Philippians 4, the pastor teaches that rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks dispels worry and shifts one's spiritual atmosphere, illustrated by a personal anecdote about cataract surgery restoring clear vision.
• Hope and Perseverance [00:38:02 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues against prematurely ending one's story or giving up on dreams, using biblical examples like Joseph and Jesus to illustrate that difficult seasons are often transitions rather than conclusions.
• Divine Providence and Healing [00:33:32 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor leads a prayer segment focusing on physical healing for specific individuals (David, Hannah) and financial breakthroughs, emphasizing God's presence in hospitals and difficult circumstances.
• Trust in God's Direction [00:33:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor cites Proverbs 3:5-6 to encourage the congregation to trust God's guidance rather than their own understanding, particularly regarding family direction and future steps.
• Science and Faith [01:02:06 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that science and faith are not enemies but friends, with science revealing the greatness and beauty of God's creation.
• The Greatness of God [01:04:09 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the scale of the universe (Milky Way, stars, Hubble telescope) to illustrate that God is bigger than human problems and past mistakes.
• Divine Sovereignty and Care [01:09:39 ▶️ 📄]
  > Connecting God's ability to name and create stars to His personal care for individuals, asserting He knows their plans and needs.
• God's Sovereignty and Sustaining Power [01:09:01 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that creation is an ongoing act of God sustaining the universe, citing Isaiah 40 to show God's power over the stars implies His care for individuals.
• The Magnitude of God vs. Human Problems [01:10:23 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using astronomical comparisons (Sun, Canis Majoris), the pastor illustrates God's immense size to contrast with human limitations, arguing that if God manages the universe, He can manage personal struggles.
• God's Unmeasurable Love and Grace [01:15:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > Referencing Psalm 103, the pastor explains that just as the distance between heaven and earth or east and west is unmeasurable, so too is God's love and the removal of sin.
• Reframing Perspective through Creation [01:17:19 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor teaches that measuring problems against oneself causes overwhelm, but measuring them against the God who created Canis Majoris puts them in proper perspective.
• Relentless Grace and Promises [01:18:35 ▶️ 📄]
  > Citing Genesis 22:17, the pastor uses the imagery of stars and sand to illustrate God's numerous promises and relentless grace that chases those who feel far from Him.
• Letting Go of Burdens [01:24:35 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor encourages the congregation to release stress, anxiety, and challenges to God, using the metaphor of taking out trash.
• Divine Perspective and Peace [01:23:53 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains how observing God's creation (stars) reframes personal problems and brings a different level of peace.
• Trusting God's Sovereignty [01:25:16 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor urges the audience to put their problems into the hands of the Creator, trusting He can handle their lives and future.

• Sermon Illustration [00:28:42 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal story about having cataracts removed from his eyes. He explains that cataracts dull vision with a yellowish hue, but after surgery, he could see clearly again with vibrant blue light. He uses this as an analogy for how an attitude of thanksgiving clears spiritual blindness, allowing believers to see God clearly and put life into perspective.
• Sermon Illustration [00:40:51 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the story of Ms. Vilma, a Lakewood member who survived a severe car accident in December where her son was ejected through the windshield. Despite the trauma, she found her son safe on the grass, was discharged with no major injuries, and received a new vehicle within a month, illustrating that 'it wasn't over yet.'
• Sermon Illustration [01:00:24 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about being a 'NASA nerd' in Houston, taking family trips to NASA, and tracking the Artemis mission on Twitter, specifically noting the first photo of Earth from space.
• Sermon Illustration [01:10:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses a golf ball to represent the Earth to illustrate the massive size of the Sun, stating that if Earth were a golf ball, the Sun would be 20 feet in diameter.
• Sermon Illustration [01:08:35 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the Hubble telescope's 'Pillars of Creation' image, describing it as a stellar nursery where new stars are being born to show God's ongoing sustenance of the universe.
• Sermon Illustration [01:10:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses a golf ball to represent Earth to demonstrate the size of the Sun (20 feet in diameter) and Canis Majoris (filling NRG Stadium 100,000 times), illustrating God's incomprehensible power.
• Sermon Illustration [01:14:13 ▶️ 📄]
  > A personal anecdote about the pastor counseling God during prayer, only to be reminded by God that He placed Canis Majoris in its place and can therefore handle the pastor's life, future, and family.
• Sermon Illustration [01:23:03 ▶️ 📄]
  > A personal story about taking out the trash in Houston, spinning the bins, and looking up at the stars to reframe stress and anxiety, resulting in peace and letting go of burdens.
• Sermon Illustration [01:23:16 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal habit of taking out the trash every night, spinning the cans, and looking up at the stars in the hazy Houston sky. This act helps him reframe his daily stress and anxiety, allowing him to 'let go' of his burdens at the curb before returning to his house with peace.

• Pastoral Charge [00:03:19 ▶️ 📄]
  > Guests and visitors are asked to raise their hands to be honored.
• Pastoral Charge [00:30:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > Congregation members and visitors are invited to come to the front for one-on-one prayer.
• Pastoral Charge [00:40:39 ▶️ 📄]
  > Verbal affirmation of belief in God's ongoing work and future provision.
• Pastoral Charge [01:11:00 ▶️ 📄]
  > Nod head and verbally acknowledge finding oneself in the analogy
• Pastoral Charge [01:21:32 ▶️ 📄]
  > Stand up and maintain an atmosphere of faith
• Pastoral Charge [01:21:08 ▶️ 📄]
  > Return to God's love and grace
• Pastoral Charge [01:25:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > Raise a hand and verbally declare the intention to let go of a burden.

[00:03:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:03:09] Welcome to Lakewood Church. On behalf of our pastors, Joel and Victoria Osteen, we want to say welcome.
[00:03:15] You could be anywhere this morning, but you chose to be here, and we're grateful.
[00:03:19] If you're a guest or a visitor, whether you're watching online or listening by way of Sirius XM Radio, if you're a visitor, can you just put your hand up real high? We want to honor you.
[00:03:27] Come on, church, show some love. All of our guests, all our visitors, so good to see everybody here.
[00:03:34] You look good, and I hope you're feeling good. If you're not, you've come to the right place.
[00:03:40] Either way, this morning is an opportunity.
[00:03:43] I mean, honestly, it really is.
[00:03:44] It's an opportunity for us to release our faith.
[00:03:46] The Bible says this, that Jesus is the architect of our faith.
[00:03:50] He is the author and he is the finisher.
[00:03:53] And he holds the plans for your life.
[00:03:56] Here's the good news.
[00:03:56] You're breathing today because God wants to work his plan into your life.
[00:04:01] You're not here by accident.
[00:04:04] If you're here, you get the opportunity to release your faith to the plan holder.
[00:04:08] and that allows him to do some remodeling.
[00:04:12] It allows him to change a wall or to change some flooring or to remove a lie you've subscribed to.
[00:04:19] Maybe give you some joy.
[00:04:20] Maybe give you some grace, some strength, some wisdom, an idea.
[00:04:24] Come on, is anyone here ready for God to do some work in their life?
[00:04:29] The idea, the idea is that we're becoming someone, that Jesus has in mind someone for you to become.
[00:04:37] We're on the journey of becoming.
[00:04:38] and the good news is today regardless of what your past tells you or what people have labeled you you're in the hands of Jesus today and he wants to mold you and make you and transform you into
[00:04:48] the person he's designed you to become if you need a miracle you're in a good place if you need grace you're in a good place if you're tired you're in a better place God's here he wants to give you
[00:04:58] everything that you need so let's give him our attention let's look beyond the problem and give the promise, our stare. Can we do that? Father, we love you today. And that is what we're doing.
[00:05:10] We're giving our circumstances and our problems a glance. And we're giving you and the promise you have for us, our stare, our full attention, our focus. And as we release our faith, we're believing that you're going to do the impossible. What only you could do. You're going to transform.
[00:05:27] You're going to deposit things. You're going to remove things. Jesus, we are the clay. You are the potter. And we pray Jesus that in this moment, you will mold us in such a way that will leave
[00:05:39] this place forever changed and different. We honor you. We focus on you. We worship you in Jesus name.

[00:05:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:05:45] And everybody said, come on, let's live Jesus today. He's good. Served your word to be obeyed.

[00:21:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:21:02] Father, you are worthy. You are holy. You are righteous. And we love you today. And father, we come to you in prayer. As your word says, we come boldly to the throne of grace to find help
[00:21:15] and mercy in our time of need. And Father, I pray for everyone that is here, everyone that is watching online, for those who are fighting battles, that every force that is trying to come against them is broken in the name of Jesus, in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. We know, Father,
[00:21:35] that no weapon formed against us will ever prosper. It will not prevail. And we also know, Father, that you are making a way where there seems to be no way. And Father, I pray that you
[00:21:47] would continue to give us wisdom to make great decisions, the best decisions. Father, I pray that you would give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation. And Father, that we would hear your voice clearly,
[00:22:00] Father. Oh, Father, that we would obey you, that we would follow your Holy Spirit. And I ask you to direct our steps, order our days, Father, lead us in paths of righteousness for your name's sake.
[00:22:15] Father, I pray for those who are facing health problems, cancer, diseases, sicknesses. Father, you said that because we obey you, because we worship you, that you will remove sickness from the midst of us and that the number of our days you will fulfill. And Father, I'm asking you,
[00:22:33] Father, to remove sickness today. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that by the stripes of Jesus, we are healed.
[00:22:40] And I thank you for your healing anointing that is released right now all over the world, Father, healing sicknesses, healing diseases, raising up sick bodies, Father, in Jesus' name. I thank you.
[00:22:53] And I declare over all of us that we will live a long, healthy life, full of energy and vitality and strength in Jesus' name.
[00:23:02] Father, I pray for those who have gone through loss of a loved one, loss of a marriage, loss of a job.
[00:23:08] And Father, they just don't know where to turn right now.
[00:23:11] I thank you, Lord Jesus, that you're with them, that they're not lost, that you're watching over them, you're guiding them.
[00:23:18] And I ask you to comfort them as no one can.
[00:23:22] Father, I thank you that they will see that day where their mourning is turned into joy.
[00:23:28] Father, turned into dancing, Father.
[00:23:30] I thank you that the plans that you have for them are good and not evil to give them a hope and a future.
[00:23:36] Thank you, Father, that your hand of blessing, your hand of favor, your hand of protection is upon each one of us, all of our children, our grandchildren, Father.
[00:23:47] We pray for every prodigal son or daughter, Father that is away from you Father we pray that you touch them even right now that you would speak to them by your Holy Spirit that you would send labors
[00:24:00] into their pathway that right now you will get their attention and they will return to you and they will return to the things of God and return to the house of the Lord Father we thank you Lord Jesus that
[00:24:12] as for me and my household we will be saved we will serve you and no one will be missing in the name of Jesus I thank you so much that we're blessed and we're not cursed father that every generational curse
[00:24:26] sickness addiction is broken over our lives in the name of Jesus in the name of Jesus father we will walk in the freedom that you provided for us on the cross and we thank you for it and we
[00:24:43] pray this in Jesus name and everybody said amen and amen well let's make this powerful declaration that we make over our lives every weekend and uh come on let's say it like we mean it let's say it
[00:24:58] strong are you ready amen okay it's not in front of me give me just a second I am blessed prosperous us redeemed, forgiven, healthy, creative, like Joel. That's a long declaration and it's powerful, isn't it? We're going to take the time to pray for your needs one-on-one in just a moment. But
[00:25:53] first I want to encourage you with this scripture in Philippians four, I believe it's four through eight. And it says this rejoice in the Lord always. And I say again, rejoice, do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, but with my prayer and with petition, with
[00:26:12] thanksgiving, present your request to God, and then the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. You know, this Bible principle shows us what to do when we feel weighed down by life's challenges. It says rejoice, pray,
[00:26:32] and give thanks. And these three things, these three actions, it will dispel discouragement, worry, and stir up your faith. It seems counterintuitive, but we are to rejoice in the Lord in spite of what we're going through. I mean, we may be going through hardships, but we can
[00:26:50] still rejoice in God and who he is. We can rejoice in his faithfulness, in his mercy, in his kindness As Paul and Silas did in the prison when they were in chains, they worshiped God.
[00:27:04] And we can worship God because our worship breaks chains and it ushers in the presence of God.
[00:27:12] Rejoicing instead of worrying about the situation, about our life, keeps us in that perfect peace.
[00:27:20] I will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me, whose mind is fixed on me.
[00:27:26] So, Philippians says we are to rejoice in the Lord again and again, and then we are to pray about everything.
[00:27:34] Don't worry about it.
[00:27:35] Don't overthink it.
[00:27:37] Pray about it.
[00:27:39] Stop and rejoice.
[00:27:40] Stop and pray.
[00:27:41] Because prayer changes everything.
[00:27:44] When we pray, we are involving God in our situation.
[00:27:48] And prayer is, you know, simply placing our burdens, our worries, our questions, our requests into the hands of God and trusting Him to do what we cannot do. Trusting Him to do what only He can
[00:28:02] do. When we pray, we're saying, God, I release control. I relinquish control of the circumstances and people, and I trust You for the very best outcome. So we rejoice, we pray, and we do it all
[00:28:17] with thanksgiving, with a grateful heart. You know, we may have problems that we can say, God, I may have needs, but I'm so grateful for the things that I do have.
[00:28:27] I'm grateful that you're faithful from generation to generation.
[00:28:31] I thank you that you protected my life, you watched over us.
[00:28:35] See, an attitude of thanksgiving, it really just shifts our atmosphere and our countenance.
[00:28:42] You know, recently I had cataracts removed from my eyes, and within hours I could see so much better.
[00:28:49] My doctor told me that cataracts cover up the blue light in your eyes.
[00:28:54] And I didn't realize how dull my vision had become.
[00:28:58] I mean, everything sort of had a yellowish tan hue, but now I see so clearly.
[00:29:05] Everything is so much more beautiful and that blue light is back.
[00:29:09] Even Kevin looks better.
[00:29:12] But listen, that's what the attitude of Thanksgiving does for you.
[00:29:16] It helps you see things more clearly.
[00:29:19] It helps you see a big God, and nothing is impossible with Him.
[00:29:25] It helps you see how things really are, and it puts things into perspective.
[00:29:30] Your life is not hopeless because you serve a big God.
[00:29:34] Your life is not hopeless because you serve a great God.
[00:29:38] You are blessed right now, even though you may be going through things.
[00:29:43] I love that old song.
[00:29:44] I don't know if you remember it, but it says, when I think about the Lord and how He saved me, how He raised me, how He filled me with the Holy Ghost, how He healed me to the uttermost,
[00:29:54] it makes me want to shout hallelujah.
[00:29:57] Thank you, Jesus.
[00:29:59] It goes on to say, when I think about the Lord and how He picked me up and turned me around and He placed me on solid ground, it makes me want to shout hallelujah.
[00:30:08] Thank you, Jesus.
[00:30:09] See, we have so much to be grateful for, and yet sometimes we forget.
[00:30:15] We forget it.
[00:30:16] So let's remember that as we pray today.
[00:30:20] Prayer partners, you can come to the front of your section, and I just want to invite any of you, members, visitors, if you want prayer one-on-one with someone, feel free to come up and receive prayer.
[00:30:30] The rest of you may be seated, and let's continue on an attitude of worship.
[00:30:34] God bless you.

[00:30:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:30:35] What an honor and a privilege it is to be able to pray for your needs wherever you are watching from.
[00:30:45] You know, God is near.
[00:30:47] And so as you have put in your prayer requests here, we're so honored to be able to partner with you in prayer.
[00:30:54] You know, Jesus says where two or three are gathered, I am there.
[00:30:58] I am there in their midst, in your midst.
[00:31:01] And so I hope you know the power of sharing a prayer request and for someone to also come alongside, not just someone, God, God Almighty comes alongside your prayer requests.
[00:31:14] And I was reading this morning how Jesus said that I'm sending you an advocate and he was talking about the Holy Spirit, that this is an advocate that will be your helper, but not just as he says, I'm going, but if I won't go, he won't come.
[00:31:29] He's talking about the Holy Spirit.
[00:31:31] And so now you have the Holy Spirit to live on the inside of you, friends.
[00:31:34] So when you call on God, know that you have the power of God on the inside of you and that he's hearing your prayer request.
[00:31:42] So whatever it is, however great or small it might be, maybe in our own eyes, God doesn't look at it in that way.
[00:31:49] He says, draw near to me and I'll draw near to you.
[00:31:52] And so it's our honor and privilege to be able to pray for you.
[00:31:55] I want to start with a few praise reports that came in here.
[00:31:58] And I love these because it really does encourage us as we hear what God is doing in each other's lives.
[00:32:04] And so here's the first one.
[00:32:05] Rhonda says she's been approved for an apartment.
[00:32:09] That's really awesome, Rhonda.
[00:32:10] So happy to hear that.
[00:32:12] I'm sure that that waiting process was not fun, but you've been approved.
[00:32:16] And so you're going to be able to move into your new apartment, whatever this new chapter awaits for you.
[00:32:22] We believe that God's going to do some great things in your life.
[00:32:25] And Lynn, come on, Lynn.
[00:32:26] And Lynn says she is now debt-free.
[00:32:30] I love this.
[00:32:31] I love this for you.
[00:32:33] And praise God for no debts.
[00:32:35] So you get to step into a new chapter, not holding back what was maybe in the past or the weight of what you had to pay for.
[00:32:45] But now you get to step into something new as well.
[00:32:49] And so maybe some of you are believing for financial breakthrough like Lynn or maybe you've been waiting for an answer or just direction on what's next in your life.
[00:32:59] Like Rhonda was waiting for that apartment to get approved.
[00:33:04] And so just continue to trust in God as he leads you.
[00:33:07] I love one of my favorite verses, and I'm sure you've heard it if you've been part of this church is Proverbs 3, 5 and 6.
[00:33:14] It says, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
[00:33:19] In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path.
[00:33:23] God is going to direct your path as you continue to trust in him in every area of your life.
[00:33:29] Well, let's pray for some of these prayer requests that have come in.
[00:33:32] And many of you, maybe you haven't heard your name, but know that we're praying for you and believing for you.
[00:33:37] Maybe as you hear this, just receive this for yourself.
[00:33:40] If you need healing in your body like David, he's praying for complete healing from a brain tumor.
[00:33:46] And so, David, we stand with you and we're believing that God is going to just give you the healing that you need in your brain, in your entire body, to give you the strength that you need to be able to function, think, the motor skills, everything that you need, that God is going to heal you completely.
[00:34:06] We just cover you in the blood of Jesus.
[00:34:08] Hannah she says she's recovering from a car accident and I love this in Isaiah it says I am the Lord God who heals you so call on the Lord your God and he it says that he will heal you and
[00:34:21] so we speak healing over you by his stripes that he bore you are healed and so receive the healing in your body Jesus I pray that you just continue to speak to all of my brothers and sisters who
[00:34:33] are dealing with difficult situations, even diagnoses. Maybe some of you are in a hospital room right now. God, I pray that you would just touch them, just that your arm would extend towards them wherever they are, that they would know and sense your healing power right now in
[00:34:51] their lives. I thank you that you're in the room with them. You're in the car with them. You're in that space with them, Father, that they are not facing this alone, but you are there with them in
[00:35:01] the midst. And so I pray for those who are maybe facing difficulty in your finances and you're believing for God to just break through in your life. Like Anna, you're praying for a financial breakthrough. Shelly, you're praying to be able to pay for your medical bills. You know, I was
[00:35:19] reminded of how Jesus says, don't worry about your life, what you're going to eat, what you're going he says he says to trust in me right trust in him he is a provider in your life and so
[00:35:30] i i just hope that you'll hold on to knowing that one of his names is jehovah jireh the lord god your provider and so god can provide for you continue to trust in him you know what it says
[00:35:44] seek first the kingdom of god everything else will be added so as you seek god as you seek his face and say, God, I know you're going to come through in my life. I believe he's going to he's
[00:35:54] going to give you the financial breakthrough that you need. I know he's done it in my life.
[00:35:59] I've seen it time and time again in my life financially as well. And so many of you are believing for your family. Carmen, you're believing for God to provide direction and guidance for your children and their career opportunities. George, for provision and
[00:36:14] guidance for your family you know I love that the psalmist says this says show me your ways teach me your paths and I pray that's your prayer over your family God would you show us your way
[00:36:28] God would you teach us your path and he says that I will instruct you I will teach you that's God's promise for your life for your family that your children will be mighty in the land Carmen George
[00:36:41] for you as well as you leave your family and we know God's going to show up in your life.
[00:36:46] We know that he is. Father, I pray for every single person, whether it was spoken or not spoken right now. God, you know the need before we could speak it. I ask God that you would reach
[00:36:55] out to them, Lord. Let this be their reminder that you are a God that is for them. You're a God that hears their prayers, that you don't withdraw from us, but instead you draw near to us, God.
[00:37:06] thank you God thank you for your strength thank you for your joy thank you for your endurance today in the mighty name of Jesus receive that over your life we love you so much continue to
[00:37:18] let us know how we can be praying for you God bless you amen amen you may be seated like we're

[00:38:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:38:02] family you know we've all been in situations where it wasn't pretty it looked like the end of a season or a relationship a job or even a life and what I've learned is that if we're not
[00:38:17] careful, we can keep trying to end the sentence that God is still writing. See, some of you walked in here today already counting something as dead. The job, you already updated the resume. The kid,
[00:38:29] you already stopped expecting the phone call. The dream, you already packed it up and told yourself, ah, just be more realistic. See, you didn't just lose hope. You made a decision. You closed the case. You filed it under over. But let me show you some in the Bible who could have closed the case
[00:38:46] too early as well. Come here, Joseph. In the bottom of a pit that his own brothers threw him in, it looked like the end, but God was setting up his seat in the palace. The pit wasn't the end
[00:38:58] of the story. It was the road to a room that he would use to save a nation. He just couldn't see that room from the pit. What about Jesus? It looked like the end when he died on a cross and
[00:39:10] was buried in a grave, and it seemed like there was nothing else to say, but Sunday was coming.
[00:39:15] And because he got up, we can get up.
[00:39:19] So here's what I need you to do with that thing that you buried.
[00:39:22] Number one is don't fake it.
[00:39:23] Don't pretend the pit doesn't hurt.
[00:39:25] It does.
[00:39:26] But stop narrating the ending.
[00:39:27] You keep telling yourself how the story turns out.
[00:39:30] And I'm here to tell you that you don't have the information to say that yet.
[00:39:35] You weren't given the end.
[00:39:36] You were just given the next step.
[00:39:38] Because what looks like a closed door might just be God moving you out of a room that you outgrew.
[00:39:44] What looks like the end of the road might be an on-ramp.
[00:39:47] What looks like a bad report may only be the next report.
[00:39:50] What looks like the finish line may only be a checkpoint.
[00:39:53] So go home today and pick the thing back up, that one that you buried, that one you filed under over, dust it off because the story's not done with it yet.
[00:40:03] Pick up the phone and call again.
[00:40:06] Have the conversation again.
[00:40:08] Send the application again.
[00:40:10] It's not over because you're tired.
[00:40:12] it's not over because it looks like it's over. It's not over. It's not finished. So you have to start asking family, what's next? And the same God who started it is still writing. So I need you to
[00:40:24] get ready for the next line because your best one has not been written yet. It's not over until God says it's over. There is more in store. Does anybody believe that in here this morning?
[00:40:39] You know, there's a friend of mine who's a faithful member of Lakewood and a part of the youth ministry and a part of a group called the Parent Collective who can articulate this story recently.
[00:40:51] This is my friend, Ms. Vilma.
[00:40:52] Ms. Vilma, would you tell us a little bit about how God has, you know, executed this point, and you've seen it come to pass in your life last December?

[00:40:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:40:59] Yes, definitely, Pastor Devante.
[00:41:02] Actually, back in December, the beginning of December, to be exact, the second of December, I remember we had gone bought some groceries, and as a single mom, you know, I was trying to make ends meet.
[00:41:11] We had finished our last Uber for the night, and when we were involved in a serious car accident, which that accident could have taken our lives, but thank God it didn't.
[00:41:24] The accident was so severe that my oldest son got ejected through the back windshield, which he broke the back windshield with his forehead, and my little one had a fractured leg.
[00:41:33] I ended up with a fracture rib as well, but when I thought it was over, God showed that it wasn't

[00:41:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:41:41] yet. Yeah, amen. So, you said that it wasn't over yet. So, what happened right after this accident?

[00:41:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:41:48] So, after the accident, I remember when we got impacted, I was out for a little bit.
[00:41:52] When I came back to my senses, I remember looking back. I could only see my little one in the back seat, and Jeremiah's was not in the car. My thought was, oh my God, please God, help me. Where is my
[00:42:03] child the fear was that we when we got hit in the intersection I thought my son got ran over by another vehicle on the intersection but God actually had placed him like a little in a fetal
[00:42:13] position a few feet from our car on the soft grass yes wow yes so then so then you know the paramedics

[00:42:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:42:22] arrive and you know you see that that's a miracle in and of itself that you know that you found him and that you were still alive and then what happened after that so after that I remember

[00:42:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:42:29] I got them both together. I was on my knees, and when the paramedic got there, she literally heard me saying, thank you, God, for being here with us. Thank you for letting my kids live.
[00:42:38] And she said, you know what? Yes, your God is with you. And she said, it's a miracle that you guys are alive. And the miracles didn't really stop there. Actually, two days later, when we were in the emergency room, we got discharged with no major injuries at all.
[00:42:55] And after that, God also blessed us, you know, miraculously with a new vehicle within less than a month.
[00:43:05] Yes.
[00:43:06] And God, it was so great that we were blessed to be able to celebrate Christmas with my sons and our loved ones.
[00:43:13] Thanks to the family, Lakewood family, the church that God has placed me in here.
[00:43:17] Wonderful people, family, friends that blessed us with prayers, love, gifts.
[00:43:21] so we were able to have a wonderful Christmas and we are so appreciative of that and through that God showed us that you know he is with us no matter the circumstances and he shows that

[00:43:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:43:31] his love through the church and everybody yeah amen so maybe maybe you are in a space right now you know where they're not in a place where they've been in a massive accident or anything like this that
[00:43:42] was life threatening but what would you encourage somebody with and maybe you know thinking that this is the end of a job or a relationship or anything like that what would you encourage them with

[00:43:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:43:50] from your story? So, I would encourage them because my faith was kind of tumbling. There are times that when the enemy will attack your faith, but God tells us to trust Him and have faith in Him no matter the situation. Whatever you're going through, you're hurting, you're sad,
[00:44:06] you're depressed, but you've got to trust Him because His plans are greater than what we can think or imagine, you know? And He also says in Psalms 94, 14, I believe He said He will never
[00:44:16] forsaken His people, and He will not abandon His heritage. So, I believe in that, you know, and I plant myself in that saying, you know, God is always with us no matter what, and He definitely
[00:44:26] showed that through the accident, which it was a miracle. So, if you're going through that, don't lose faith. Trust Him because He has the final say. You know, God's plans are better than

[00:44:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:44:35] ours. Amen, amen. Hey, Lakewood family, maybe you're in the room and you say, you know what, I'm going through something like this, and I actually need some encouragement. I put those dreams on the back burner. I put what I felt like I heard God say on the back burner. I've
[00:44:50] stopped the plying. I've given up hope. If you're in here, you just need some encouragement. Could you just raise your hand? Just raise your hand. I'm just going to pray for you. Father, in the
[00:44:57] name of Jesus, I thank you for every hand that's lifted and the people who didn't. Father, I thank you that the hands that are going up online and listening on the radio, Father, that they're not
[00:45:04] left out either. I thank you, Jesus, that you are giving us a new boldness to try again, new boldness to step out in faith again, because you do have the final say. Jesus, I thank you that sweeping
[00:45:15] through the room right now that you are blessing every single person with the gift of your presence to show them that you are still in control. So, I pray that they would try again. I pray that they
[00:45:25] would connect again. They would have the conversation again and trust that it's not over until you say it's over. In Jesus' name, all God's people said, amen. God bless you, Lakewood.

[00:45:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:45:38] Shannon and Sean Nelson with the H-Town Dream Center and Lakewood Church and Family. We're out here being the hands and feet of Jesus, serving the lost, broken, and hurting, giving them hope, healing, and freedom together. We are all better together. When they come up and tell you, hey,

[00:45:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:45:57] thank you for being here, then it shows that you're making a difference in their life. Without

[00:46:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:46:00] Lakewood, we couldn't do this here. From the Lakewood Relief and Outreach Warehouse, we were giving out things, hygienes, diapers, needs for the community. Everyone needs hope. And today, when we were talking and praying with people
[00:46:18] and some of them are crying because they didn't have food today.
[00:46:22] They didn't have diapers.
[00:46:25] We gave out baby strollers to mothers in need that didn't have strollers.
[00:46:30] Basic needs.

[00:46:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:46:32] All the givers at Lakewood, when they give, that makes it possible for us to come out and do a bigger outreach than what we could do by ourselves.
[00:46:39] So we're better together and it's an amazing time to be partners with you guys.

[00:46:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:46:43] and when you go out there and bless someone that's in need you're doing it unto Jesus

[00:46:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:46:50] we appreciate your generosity making all this good happen all over the world so thanks for being a part we love you guys and I know God sees the sacrifices your time your energy your donations just
[00:47:04] to be such a blessing so we'll take a moment in the service to worship the Lord with our tithes and our offerings and again you can see how you're sowing into good seed here at Lakewood? Not necessarily into us, but how about into helping people all over the world?
[00:47:19] I love what it says in 2 Corinthians 9. It says, God will give seed to the sower. You know, it's interesting that the more you give, the more you be a blessing, that God will make sure that you
[00:47:30] have more seed to give. That's just the way God is. I remember growing up, we always heard that phrase, you can never out give God. And I've seen that in my own life. So I just want to encourage
[00:47:40] you always to stay faithful, stay consistent, and to know that God sees your giving. You know, sometimes you think, well, I don't see anything big happening, but you don't know what's coming.
[00:47:50] You don't know what God's keeping you from. But I know this, that God sees your faithfulness and He sees your consistency. We just pray and believe what He promised, that He's going to continue to give you seed and that you live under the open windows of heaven. There is a blessing
[00:48:06] on your life because of the way you keep God first place. And know that we love you. We're praying for you and we appreciate all the support you give to the ministry to help people and to

[00:48:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:48:16] build his kingdom. You know, Joel, God does see. He sees us. He hears us. He sees our hearts. And you know, the scripture says that what you do for God will last. Whatever you do in God's name and
[00:48:29] And in behalf of Him, being obedient to Him, it has lasting effects.
[00:48:35] That means it's eternal.
[00:48:37] So, you know, I believe that we're not only storing up treasure in heaven, but you know what?
[00:48:43] We're having a ripple effect on earth.
[00:48:46] When we give, when we sow, it not only ripples out to other people, but it has a benefit for our life.
[00:48:53] So know today that as you obey God, as you give, saying, I'm honoring you, God, that it is eternal. It's lasting. And you know what? When you're doing things for God, God always does something for you. So know today that He sees you and He knows you
[00:49:11] and He loves you. So give and give with a heart of just knowing that He is going to honor what you do for Him. We love you and we couldn't do this without you. So thank you so much.

[00:49:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:49:21] Yeah, we appreciate you, Lord. Thanks for all the generous givers here in the building, watching and listening. And Lord, we give in faith today to honor you, to put you first place so that we can be a blessing with our life and help other people. And Lord, you said as we do
[00:49:36] that, as we sow that seed, that you would continue to give seed back to your people. So Lord, I just thank you for blessing people and at their jobs and what they put their hands to do. Lord, with
[00:49:47] ideas and creativity, let their gifts and talents come out. And Lord, I thank you for opportunity and contracts coming their way.
[00:49:56] Lord, making things happen that they couldn't make happen.
[00:49:59] Lord, to help them so we can advance your kingdom, so we can be a bigger blessing.
[00:50:04] Lord, I just speak abundance and overflow and the open windows of heaven over your people in ways that only you can do, God.
[00:50:12] We thank you for it.
[00:50:13] In Jesus' name we pray, amen and amen.
[00:50:16] God bless you today as you give.

[00:50:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:50:18] Here are some ways that you can give.
[00:50:20] Using your smartphone, scan the QR code located on the screen Then select the online giving option that is most convenient for you Or go to lakewoodchurch.com slash give Text GIVEHOPE to 77977 Mail a check to P.O. Box 27450
[00:50:42] Houston, Texas 77227 or call us toll-free at 888-567-JOEL.

[00:50:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:50:51] Do we have any free people in the house this morning?

[00:55:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:55:55] Can you all stand to your feet with us?
[00:55:59] Wow.
[00:56:00] Whoa, sorry, crew.
[00:56:01] Can we give some love to our worship team?
[00:56:03] Aren't they amazing?
[00:56:05] Ram, Alexander, the whole squad, our choir, looking so amazing.
[00:56:09] Choir, are you guys alive?
[00:56:11] Are you guys good back there?
[00:56:12] All right.
[00:56:14] And you guys, we're so grateful that you're here.
[00:56:16] If you're a visitor or a guest, can you just wave your hand at us? We want to honor you and acknowledge you and thank you for coming. Come on, Lakewood, show some love to all of our guests. I'm so grateful that you're here.
[00:56:27] Those of you watching online, we're grateful that you're tuning in as well as our Sirius XM radio listeners. Just put in the comments where you're watching from. We'd love to pray for you all week
[00:56:37] long. A couple of quick things that I'd like to point our attention to. Well, first of all, how awesome was Vilma's testimony? Vilma, what an amazing story of God's restoration of power.
[00:56:50] Pastor Devontae, amazing thought for us to contemplate this morning. Speaking of Pastor Devontae, our youth camps are coming in July. So parents, I'm just warning you already, our high school camp is already almost filled to capacity. So if you haven't registered for
[00:57:07] summer camps, we take a week away for our junior high and then a week away for our high school, and it's an amazing experience with God.
[00:57:15] Parents, I highly recommend you get your students signed up for that.
[00:57:18] If you haven't yet, it's gonna be life-changing.
[00:57:21] Also, we are less than three weeks away for our Hope in Life Conference, our 16th annual.
[00:57:27] That is June 24th through the 26th.
[00:57:30] That is also free.
[00:57:32] Can't beat free 99.
[00:57:33] And if you're here and you are a child at heart, wherever you're at, if you're watching online, you still have time to get a plane ticket, come join us.
[00:57:42] thousands are going to converge here in this auditorium and we're going to experience the hope and life of Jesus and leave forever changed I believe it's going to be our best one so if you're here you're hearing my voice you're invited to come to hope and life conference
[00:57:53] it's going to be phenomenal also we have our Spanish service today 2 p.m come back join us Monday night Bible studies on Monday night and midweeks midweeks are so back midweeks are so that. Come through on a Wednesday night. We have a lot of fun here and do a lot of awesome things
[00:58:13] and that's at 730 in person only. Well, if you have your Bibles, can you pull them out? If your Bible is on your phone, you can hold up your phone, whatever you're comfortable with. Come on,
[00:58:24] let's get this declaration of faith out with passion and with conviction. Come on, let's say it like we mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do
[00:58:36] what it says I can do. Today, I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert.
[00:58:44] My heart is receptive. I will never be the same. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever-living seed of the word of God. I'll never be the same. Never, never, never.
[00:58:59] I'll never be the same in Jesus' name. Amen. You sound great this morning. You may be seated.
[00:59:05] If you are taking notes, you can simply title today Beyond Measure, Beyond Measure.
[00:59:17] We are experiencing a very historic moment in our society.
[00:59:24] In fact, we are in the wake of a very specific historic moment.
[00:59:29] Humans have just orbited the moon, y'all.
[00:59:32] All two of you are excited about that.
[00:59:35] That's fantastic.
[00:59:37] I know, I know, we move on and we scroll through the feeds and we look for the next historic moment in humanity.
[00:59:45] But these four brave astronauts have just traveled further than any human has ever traveled in space.
[00:59:54] There we go.
[00:59:55] Okay, now we're getting it.
[01:00:00] These courageous astronauts suited up and they embarked.
[01:00:06] The Artemis mission has been put together by NASA to not only orbit the moon, but to develop systems to land on the moon and then to further project into space to explore even further to Mars, etc.
[01:00:22] Now, I love this stuff.
[01:00:24] I just have to tell you, I'm kind of a NASA nerd.
[01:00:26] Being here in Houston, if you don't live in Houston, obviously we have NASA here.
[01:00:30] And we took many trips as a family to NASA to explore and to see it.
[01:00:36] and get the magnitude of space, and it always fascinates me. Anytime I see these types of missions going out, and so I was tracking on Twitter and on my feed what was happening with NASA. I don't know if you saw this, but Artemis sent back the first picture from space of Earth.
[01:00:57] look at that I mean that that's stunning that's the actual photo from the shuttle looking back at where you and I live that in its entirety is a created miracle you do realize that you realize that that the system that was created to sustain life it's a miracle one degree closer
[01:01:30] to the sun, we're gone. One degree away and we are eventually gone. This thing we call earth that we live in is a sustained creative miracle. It's a miracle. And I'm fascinated. I'm fascinated by the universe, the stars, planets, the size and the beauty and the magnitude of it all. And it has
[01:01:52] a way of igniting my faith. I don't know about you, it has a way of igniting my faith. You see, we live in a culture that often likes to put science and faith as enemies but I don't believe
[01:02:06] that at all I actually think that science and faith can be friends I I don't know about you but I actually think that like science zooms in on the greatness and the beauty and the majesty of
[01:02:21] God and how creative he is and how big he is oh he's glorious he's holy he's big science and faith aren't enemies Genesis 1 1 it says in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth
[01:02:38] we read on in verse 14 God said let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night and mark seasons days and years and God made the sun to rule the day and moon and stars to rule the night
[01:02:53] and then God said let there be light and the universe came into existence let there be light and the universe came into existence at 670 million miles per hour that's the speed of light so was there a big bang when God said let there be light I don't know I can't I mean if light is
[01:03:18] moving at 670 million miles an hour I think when God said let let the heavens become what it is I think it was pretty eventful use your holy imagination Psalm 19 1 the heavens tell of the
[01:03:37] glory of God and their expanse declares the works of his hand. In other words, the stars every day are shouting to you and me, God is amazing. God is great. It is a daily billboard. The heavens,
[01:03:56] they're a daily billboard telling you and I, do not cut God short. Do not count him out. God is greater. God is bigger than your biggest problem. He is bigger than your past mistakes. He is bigger
[01:04:09] than the obstacle in front of you. Oh, are we thankful that we serve a star-breathing God today?
[01:04:15] When he breathed it, it began working on his command. Do not count him out. We call it the known universe. The known universe. That's what we humans call it. You know why it's called the
[01:04:33] known universe because because when we build a big telescope like the Hubble telescope we recognize once we look through the telescope that there is more out there that we didn't know was out there and then when we get to the end of what that telescope can reach to we are then reminded that
[01:04:52] there is more out there than the telescope can reach and it's like God is up there laughing God's up there like hey good job on that scope man why don't you go get a bigger one
[01:05:02] and when you get a bigger one and you come back and you set it up and you look out in the universe guess what you're going to realize there's more than that scope can even get to so why don't you
[01:05:11] go build another one and when you go and do that congratulations come back and you're going to see there is more to the story than what you can see with your natural eye what am i what am i saying
[01:05:24] today i hope you feel the tension that you cannot wrap your mind around the greatness of god and that the universe and the stars display every single day as a billboard that God is big and
[01:05:38] he is great and he holds your life in the palm of his hand. Scientists are stumped. One of their dilemmas is they think that there must be more habited planets in the universe. You know this
[01:05:53] theory, the reason they're stumped is because the argument is if the universe is simply a habitation for you and me. It's way oversized. And I kind of agree with that. If the purpose of the universe
[01:06:04] is just for you and I to habitate in it like that, that's pretty small, right? But what if that's not its primary purpose? What if the primary purpose of the universe is not just a home for you
[01:06:17] and me? What if its primary purpose is to show off the majesty and the greatness and the glory of the God who created it all. Because in that case, it's not too big at all. In that case, it's just the
[01:06:29] right size. It's just the right size. You see, let me dial this in a little bit and get into your neighborhood if I could. We live as humans in a little subdivision in the universe called
[01:06:43] the Milky Way Galaxy. You are there. You find yourself. Now, we can't even get a dot on the screen for the size ratio to kind of show you like how small we are and how big the Milky Way
[01:07:01] galaxy is. But you're right there in the corner of the subdivision that we call the Milky Way galaxy. See, you were thinking you live in Pearland or Katy or Spring or Houston or Africa or London
[01:07:13] or Europe. No, no, no. You're living in the Milky Way galaxy. It's your subdivision in the universe.
[01:07:18] and our entire solar system that you can't even see has eight planets orbiting the sun okay and in the Milky Way galaxy they think that there are a hundred billion solar systems just like ours just in our galaxy are you there yet we'll get there just wait you live in a huge
[01:07:47] subdivision in a huge galaxy and a massive universe. Psalms 147.4, he determines the number of the stars and he gives to all of them their names. Now, I can't remember someone's name after I say hi to them three seconds later. What's your name? Hey. Three seconds later, hey, man, sport.
[01:08:15] God is on a different level he breathes stars into existence and he knows them by name he recounts them this is this is bigger than what we can fathom y'all let's look a little bit deeper into some of these stars the Hubble telescope gives us regions like the pillars of
[01:08:35] creation look at that isn't that isn't that phenomenal that is that is what we call a stellar nursery. That is a stellar nursery. In other words, that is a nursery of stars that is giving birth to new stars. As we are here, as we speak, there are new stars being created in our
[01:09:01] universe, which tells me that creation isn't just something God did. It's something that He is is still sustaining and governing. The universe is still responding to his word. Isaiah 40 verse 25 says, to whom will you compare me? Who is my equal, says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to
[01:09:26] the heavens. Who created all of these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is
[01:09:39] missing and you think God's gonna miss out on getting you what you need at the right time in your life you think God's gonna you think God messed up he didn't see the obstacle he didn't
[01:09:54] see the challenge he didn't see the circumstance coming when he calls every star by name and he brings them forth you don't think he remembers you you don't think he knows his plan that he has
[01:10:08] for your life you don't think he has the capacity to bring you what has your name on it God is good God and he's a big God but I still don't know if we're convinced of how big God really is
[01:10:23] so the star that we're most familiar with is the sun and to help us with some size ratios I'm going to use this golf ball as a representation of the earth so if the earth were a golf ball
[01:10:41] The sun would be 20 feet in diameter.
[01:10:48] Do you get, are you seeing the picture here?
[01:10:51] Have you found yourself on the earth yet?
[01:10:55] Have you found Katie?
[01:10:57] Have you found the heights?
[01:11:00] Once you find yourself, nod your head and say, okay, I found me.
[01:11:03] Now look at where you are in comparison to how big the sun is.
[01:11:10] You can fit one million earths inside the sun.
[01:11:15] That's how big.
[01:11:16] that one star in our subdivision of a massive universe is and you are still unconvinced that God has the capacity to get you the resources you need to fulfill your destiny that he's ran out that he doesn't have good things in store for you that he isn't mindful of you that
[01:11:46] he has limited access to things when God put the sun in place. Oh, but I want to tell you about another star that absolutely wrecked my life. Are you ready for this one? This star is called
[01:12:02] Canis Majoris. Canis Majoris, it is 300,000 times brighter than the sun. Now this is a far away shot from a decent telescope that we have, but we just recently got a new photo of Canis Majoris.
[01:12:21] Can we show, oh my goodness, look at that. That's ferocious. That's a powerful star.
[01:12:29] God created this. Now, if the earth were a golf ball, can you find yourself yet on this?
[01:12:42] You find yourself? Not at me, Barbara, when you find it. Okay, you got it. Okay.
[01:12:45] if the earth were a golf ball size ratio and you wanted to equal the size of canis majoris you you could fit not one not two not 500 you could fit 100 000 golf balls
[01:13:05] you ready for this you're not ready you're not ready for this If the earth were a golf ball, you could fill NRG Stadium 100,000 times.
[01:13:28] I love the faces that I'm getting right now.
[01:13:31] Just complete like, here's what I love.
[01:13:34] You're just like I was in study this week.
[01:13:36] You're trying to comprehend it.
[01:13:38] You're trying to do the math.
[01:13:39] News flash, it's incomprehensible.
[01:13:43] You're never going to understand.
[01:13:45] It's beyond measure.
[01:13:47] We don't have a ruler for it.
[01:13:49] We don't have a measurement for it.
[01:13:51] We're never going to have the human capacity to understand it.
[01:13:55] That is how big our God is.
[01:13:57] You see, what shook me about Canis Majoris is during my prayer time, I've spent my time counseling God and advising God and drawing diagrams for God and like suggesting things to God.
[01:14:13] and God is like, son, I hear you, but I put Canis Majoris in its place. I think I can handle your life. I think I can handle your future. I think I can take care of your family. I think I can
[01:14:25] handle your business. I think I can restore your marriage. Come on, does anyone here believe that we serve a big star-breathing God that can do the impossible today? Just a glance into the universe Jesus resizes everything, doesn't it?
[01:14:43] We worship an unrivaled, uncontested God.
[01:14:47] So you say, all right, Nick, God is big, I am small.
[01:14:50] What's the deal?
[01:14:52] God is big.
[01:14:53] When you see those things, you kind of feel small.
[01:14:56] What's the point?
[01:14:58] Psalm 103, 11, it says, for as high as the heavens are above the earth is his love for those who fear him.
[01:15:12] As far as the heavens are from the earth, we just looked we don't have we don't have a tool to measure that we don't have a ruler long enough y'all that tells me that God is has made an everlasting sermon illustration for you and me
[01:15:29] if you want to try to grasp my love for you try to measure the heavens and how far they are away from the earth news flash you can't his love for us is beyond measure we're never going to be able
[01:15:44] to fully understand it. You can't get away from it. You can't out sin it. You can't out mistake it. You can't out doubt it. God's love is like the universe. It is there. It is beyond what you
[01:15:55] can fathom and it'll chase you down the rest of your life. His love is beyond measure. But the next verse gets even wilder. He says in the next breath, verse 12, as far as the east is from the
[01:16:10] west that's how far he has removed our sins from us I love it guess what have you have you tried measuring as far as the east is to the west get out in in space guess what we don't have a ruler
[01:16:31] for that either his grace is beyond measure his love for you is beyond measure and in the skies all we have to do is look up and see that it is a daily reminder it is the biggest best sermon
[01:16:45] illustration ever known to man. It is the heavens and the stars. And God is saying, you may never touch them. You may never get close to them, but they will shout to you every single day of my
[01:16:56] grace and my love. Always be reminded of them. Always be reminded. When we begin to reframe God and what he's made, it reframes everything we go through. If we're talking about measuring things today you see the size of your problem is determined by what you measure it against
[01:17:19] so if I measure my financial problem up against myself that can feel overwhelming if I measure my relationship challenges if I measure my health issue up against myself and my ability it looks overwhelming but if I measure those things up against a God who put canis majoris
[01:17:45] in place and sustains it, oh, it puts those problems back into the proper perspective.
[01:17:51] That's what God is trying to get us to realize every single day when we look up and every night when we look up in the sky. He is trying to help us resize our problems and resize the things we
[01:18:04] go through. It is not just for us to gaze at when we're on a date and go, hey babe, look at those.
[01:18:13] You love to look good, don't they?
[01:18:15] No, they're for us to consistently resize and reframe the things we're going through in light of how big he is.
[01:18:26] Oh, but I discovered something pretty cool this week.
[01:18:30] You see, the stars were not the end of God's sermon illustration to humanity.
[01:18:35] It wasn't enough for him.
[01:18:37] He gets very personal with our father in the faith.
[01:18:40] He speaks to Abraham in Genesis 22, 17.
[01:18:44] And he says, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.
[01:18:55] In other words, if you can't count the stars, try counting the sand.
[01:19:01] I don't know about you, but I'm like, oh, I can't do that either.
[01:19:06] Some of you are on the beach right now and you're on summer vacation and you look down and you're like, count the sand.
[01:19:14] Like that, I can't, I can't, you can't measure that.
[01:19:17] I can't count that and that is exactly the point.
[01:19:21] God is saying to us through His creation, if you look up, I got promises there.
[01:19:28] If you look down, I got promises there.
[01:19:31] I got promises everywhere you go reminding you of my goodness and my faithfulness and my love and grace.
[01:19:39] Some of you, life is great and you're on the mountaintop and you can look up and see His glory and be reminded of His grace and His love for you that's beyond measure.
[01:19:48] Others of you, you are carrying a weight that's so heavy and you're going through something so challenging that it's so hard for you to even look up.
[01:19:56] Well, listen, God meets you right where you're at.
[01:19:59] And He says, if you don't have the strength to look up and you have only the strength to look down, guess what?
[01:20:04] My love and promises are reminding you even down there that I will sustain you and that I got you.
[01:20:12] Promises up and promises below.
[01:20:14] promises all around us of God's faithfulness. The stars, friends, they announce his love and grace and the sand whispers of God's faithfulness. You know what's also interesting about this idea that God introduces to Abraham? He's essentially saying through this sermon illustration that you
[01:20:39] cannot run from the love and the grace of God. And some of you are on the run this morning.
[01:20:45] Some of you are so far from God And you think God doesn't love me God's given up on me Well my prayer is that every day when you wake up Whether you're looking down at the ground
[01:20:56] Or you're looking up in the sky That you would be reminded that God's love Will always chase you down It is relentless And your sins cannot outlast or outrun the grace of God This is actually a message telling you
[01:21:08] To come home to Him To come home to His love And to come home to His grace Come on, is anyone here thankful for the grace of God that is relentless and that it chases us down
[01:21:18] and it never leaves us the same? We serve a God who has an everlasting billboard all around us that points to his love and that reminds us to stir our faith again, to never give hope on the
[01:21:32] things that he's planned for us to accomplish. Can you stand your feet with me this morning?
[01:21:39] Can we keep this atmosphere of faith? Because I believe God wants to do something in your heart today the psalmist they made it a habit when you look throughout scripture to look up and some of
[01:21:59] us it's easy to just breeze past that phrase when you're reading scripture but it was actually a habit that these psalmists practiced to look up to look at the stars ever since Abraham the psalmist
[01:22:14] and God's people were instructed to look up they'd write about it it was almost as if God were saying and take 10 seconds and be reminded of how big I am and how I'm faithful
[01:22:24] and all of heaven is obeying my word on command.
[01:22:28] I sustain it all.
[01:22:30] I haven't forgot about you.
[01:22:31] I will make sure you fulfill the purpose that I've planned for you to fulfill.
[01:22:35] You can have peace today and rest today.
[01:22:41] And the psalmist did this.
[01:22:44] It put their problems in perspective.
[01:22:47] I don't know about your neighborhood, but in my neighborhood we have trash day two times a week and it started as my job now I've handed it off gracefully to my son and we both kind of share this responsibility now and there's something
[01:23:03] that I've done for years on trash day and I don't it was just something that I felt compelled to do but you know you got all the stuff from the week your trash bins recycle but you know and you're
[01:23:16] carrying it out and for me it's every every night before trash comes I pull those garbage cans out to the curb and I spin them around and I drop them and as I step away I look up and though that
[01:23:34] Houston sky is a little hazy and you can't quite see them I can see four or five or six stars breaking through the sky and it resizes everything in my life and all the stress of the day and the
[01:23:53] anxiety from work, and the challenges that I'm facing, they all get reframed when I look at what God has created and what He's sustaining. And I let go at the curb of my life all the stuff that
[01:24:09] I was carrying. Now, it's a habit and it's an exercise that I try to do more than twice a week, but I can guarantee that it's on those days I've learned to let go some things.
[01:24:20] And I go back into my house with a different level of peace because my perspective of God and my problems have been reframed.
[01:24:27] So here's the deal.
[01:24:29] I know it's not trash night, but I think God wants to do something in your life today.
[01:24:35] I think you have an opportunity to let some things go at the curb of your life.
[01:24:40] There are some heavy things that you've been battling and carrying and trying to figure out on your own.
[01:24:44] You maybe thought God has forgotten about you.
[01:24:47] You may have a struggle or a challenge in your business that you didn't see coming.
[01:24:50] a struggle in your marriage, or your children's lives, or a health issue, here's my encouragement.
[01:24:57] Let's take them before God, and let's let them go. Let's put all of our problems, all of our stress, anxiety, worry, fear, can we put those into the hands of the one who created the universe,
[01:25:16] trusting that He can handle our lives and our future, and leave this space and leave this moment watching online with a whole different level of peace that can only come from the Holy Spirit. So if you're carrying something heavy today, I don't know what it is, but God does.
[01:25:33] And he has you here and watching this for a reason. If you have something you want to let go of, can you just slip your hands up or slip one hand up and say, I need to let this go today.
[01:25:42] I'm not carrying this anymore. I'm letting this go at the curb of my life. And in exchange, I'm going to receive his peace and confidence in his promise that he's got me in the palm of his
[01:25:52] hands. And every day I'm going to be reminded habitually, whether I'm looking down or I'm looking up of his faithfulness and his grace and his love. Father, right now you see every hand lifted. You see every weight, obstacle, challenge, sickness, struggle, habit. And we release these
[01:26:11] things to you, father, right now. We're letting go of them. We're putting them at the curb of our life we're being reminded of how big you are and the simplicity of that compels us to stop trying
[01:26:29] to control our life to stop spinning in cycles of anxiety we can take a step back and we can let go of some things and we can rest and breathe in knowing that the one who breathes stars into
[01:26:41] existence holds our life father you got us you're going to take care of us you're going to provide for us everything that we need according to your riches and glory. Thank you for breathing peace
[01:26:54] into every person under the sound of my voice, both here and those watching online. Father, we thank you for your power, your majesty, your splendor, your goodness, and your grace.
[01:27:10] In Jesus' name, and everybody said, amen. We thank you, Jesus. We thank you, Jesus.
[01:27:16] I want to do this without anyone leaving One more thing Give me just one more minute in this house Without anyone leaving or moving around Just keep this atmosphere of faith I believe there are people here and those watching
[01:27:29] And you've come in here and you feel compelled By the love and the grace of God I'm not talking about religion I'm talking about a relationship with Jesus The reality is this The love of God receives us
[01:27:42] Just as we are But it's so good that it doesn't leave us the same and I know there are thousands of people in the sound of my voice that have been changed by the love of God and are being changed by the love of God but today maybe you feel unworthy of his love
[01:27:55] maybe you've been running or maybe you knew Jesus but you've ran away and you want to recommit your life to Christ right now here's a great opportunity for you to make Jesus the Lord of your life I'm
[01:28:07] going to do this I'm going to simply count down from three and when I get to one if you want to make Jesus the Lord of your life, you want him to come into your life, wash up your mistakes and all
[01:28:16] of your sins. When I get to one, if you want that and you want to begin your purpose in Christ, hey, listen, we can chase so many things for satisfaction and fulfillment in this life. We
[01:28:27] can chase money. We can chase the party scene. We can chase relationships. Those things can maybe make you happy temporarily, but they'll never satisfy your soul. They'll never satisfy the God-shaped hole that He created in your heart. So, if today you're serious about saying yes to
[01:28:43] Christ, when I get to one, put your hand up high. I'm going to lead you in a prayer of salvation, asking Jesus to come in, make His home in your heart, and begin to transform you from the inside
[01:28:54] out. Three, two, one. Slip your hand up if today is that day. Come on, church. Celebrate. Slip your hand up if today is that day for you. My man, anyone else over here, you want to wave at me.
[01:29:05] Wave at me. Come on. Unashamed. Say, I want to commit my life to Christ.
[01:29:10] Maybe you're watching. Maybe you're listening. Incredible. Welcome home. Welcome home.
[01:29:19] If you raised your hand or even if you didn't, I want you to repeat this simple prayer of faith after me.
[01:29:23] The rest of us, let's repeat it as if it was our first time.
[01:29:26] Everyone after me. Say, Jesus, I come before you today and I ask you to forgive me of all my sins and all my mistakes.
[01:29:35] come into my life, come into my heart, and wash me clean. Today I choose to make you my Lord and my Savior. I want to live for you for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name, amen.
[01:29:53] What an amazing prayer. What an amazing start. Listen, if you raised your hand or if you didn't, you prayed that prayer, it is a start of a new journey in Christ where He begins to transform
[01:30:06] you and change you into the person He's designed you to become. It is not an end point. It is the beginning of something amazing. Can anyone attest to following Jesus? It is the best decision you
[01:30:18] could possibly make in your life. So here's the deal. It's the start. We want to help you. We've designed some resources to help you in your journey. What does it mean to grow in Jesus?
[01:30:28] We get that question a lot. What's next? We've created a space where you can get that answered.
[01:30:33] If you look to your right and my left, you'll see on the second floor right up there, in our lobby. We've called the space New Beginnings. Our team will be there to give you some resources that'll help you grow. I'd love to meet you. I'm going to fly up there after the
[01:30:45] service. I'd love to congratulate you, pray with you if you need it, and just high-five the decision that you made. But it'll take 10 minutes of your time, get some resources, meet some of our team,
[01:30:55] get connected here at Lakewood. And we believe that a year from now, you'll be forever grateful that you chose to serve Jesus and plant yourself in the house of the Lord. Come on, can we celebrate
[01:31:05] one more time, all the decisions in the house, those of you watching, listening, incredible.
[01:31:12] Well, are you going home encouraged? Hopefully you won't look up the same anymore. You won't even look down at the sand anymore. You won't look at it the same is what I mean. Hopefully you're leaving inspired and you're leaving encouraged. Let me leave you with a blessing
[01:31:26] from Numbers chapter six. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord show you his favor and have mercy on you may the Lord watch over you and give you his peace we love you I love
[01:31:39] you have a great week and we'll see you very very soon God bless you