Built on the Rock: Navigating Faith, Storms, and Divine Sovereignty

• Faith and Obedience [00:39:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that faith requires action ('move your feet') even when the path is unclear, citing Abram leaving his home as a primary example of trusting God's direction without knowing the destination.
• Perception vs. Reality [00:39:26 ▶️ 📄]
  > He contrasts how faith looks 'crazy' or 'foolish' to human eyes with how it makes 'total sense' when viewed through the eyes of faith, referencing Hebrews 11.
• Overcoming Fear [00:41:32 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor lists specific scenarios (moving states, medical odds, academic gaps) where fear might stop action, urging the congregation to act anyway because God's word is trustworthy.
• Faith and Obedience [00:40:43 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that understanding is not a prerequisite for obedience; believers must move their feet even when the path doesn't make sense to their brain, citing Hebrews 11.
• Overcoming Fear [00:41:32 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor addresses common fears regarding life changes (moving, career, family) and encourages the congregation to act despite the fear of failure or the unknown.
• Divine Provision and Reward [00:43:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor asserts that leaving behind comfort for God's call results in God replacing what was lost with something better, referencing Matthew 6:33.
• Spiritual Foundation [01:01:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > In the subsequent segment, the pastor shifts to Matthew 7:24, teaching that wisdom is defined by building one's life on the solid rock of Jesus' teachings rather than sand.
• Assessment of Life's Foundation [01:03:57 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor challenges the congregation to evaluate what they are building their lives on, noting that everyone is building on something, but the critical question is what that foundation is.
• Drifting and False Foundations [01:04:53 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor identifies common but unstable foundations people drift toward, including self-sufficiency, other people's opinions, awards, education, career, status, and money.
• The Parable of the Two Houses [01:06:18 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor unpacks the biblical imagery of two houses built on sand and rock, explaining that storms reveal the true nature of the foundation rather than creating weakness.
• Storms as Revelation [01:08:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that storms do not create weakness but reveal what a person has already built their life on, contrasting those shaken by temporary trusts with those anchored in Jesus.
• Divine Rebuilding and [Romans 8](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8&version=KJV) [01:09:23 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor connects the stability of faith to Romans 8, asserting that God works all things for good and can rebuild marriages, careers, and dreams for those who hold on to Jesus.
• Proactive Faith [01:15:34 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor concludes that believers should not wait for a storm to hit to ensure their foundation is in Christ, but must actively 'work' Jesus' words into their lives as a primary construction, not an add-on.
• Foundational Faith vs. Add-on Religion [01:17:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues against treating Jesus as a 'spice' or 'add-on,' asserting instead that He must be the primary substance and foundation of one's life, similar to how a builder constructs a house's foundation first.
• Continuous Assessment and Remodeling [01:18:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that because life seasons change (college, marriage, career), believers must constantly 'inspect' their spiritual foundation and allow Jesus to 'remodel' different areas of their lives.
• Practical Submission (Tithing and Relationships) [01:21:56 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor provides concrete examples of submitting life to Jesus, including dedicating children, tithing finances to resubmit them to God's foundation, and seeking God's will in business and dating.
• Faith in Suffering and Storms [01:25:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor addresses unexpected loss and storms, arguing that these moments are opportunities to demonstrate faith and show God's character to others, rather than just when life is successful.
• The Role of 'Sand' (Secondary Blessings) [01:27:56 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor clarifies that 'sand' (career, money, relationships) is not evil but has a place in life; however, it must never be the foundation. The correct order is seeking God first, with these things added subsequently.
• Life on Jesus vs. Restriction [01:30:55 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the misconception that following Jesus is restrictive with the reality that it is a 'life of expansion' where influence, character, and love grow.
• The Foundation Analogy [01:30:31 ▶️ 📄]
  > Uses the analogy that the foundation of a home dictates its size to illustrate that building on Jesus removes limits on what God can do in a person's life.
• Personal Surrender and Decision [01:32:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > Calls the congregation to identify specific areas (finances, relationships, past sins) to surrender to Jesus, emphasizing that nothing else but Jesus is sufficient.

• Sermon Illustration [00:39:56 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses a humorous, modern analogy of waking up in the middle of the night with breath smelling like chicken parmesan to tell a spouse to immediately rent a truck and move without calling anyone, because God said so, illustrating the absurdity of Abram's call from a human perspective.
• Sermon Illustration [00:44:48 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares the testimony of CJ, a police officer who moved from Milwaukee to Houston with his wife. Despite financial risks and leaving a known comfort zone, they followed a strong feeling that Houston was their home. CJ now works as a crash investigator, his wife is an ER nurse, they own a home, and run a residential living facility, illustrating that seeking God's kingdom first leads to provision and better outcomes.
• Sermon Illustration [01:09:50 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a detailed story about his friend Ryan, whose home in Illinois was completely destroyed by an F5 tornado. While the house was ripped off its foundation, Ryan, his wife Jamie, and their children survived with only minor scratches because they took shelter in the corner of the basement foundation. Ryan felt a 'heavy hand' holding them down, which the pastor interprets as God's protection. The family subsequently rebuilt a new, better home on the same foundation where they found safety, illustrating that a firm foundation in Christ allows for survival and divine rebuilding.
• Sermon Illustration [01:19:13 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about buying his first home and the loan officer requiring a 'foundational inspection' to ensure the house was sound, using this as an analogy for allowing the Holy Spirit to inspect our lives.
• Sermon Illustration [01:22:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor tells the story of a couple, Brian and Sonia Leardon, who are building a restaurant in Houston. They asked the pastor to help them 'bury the Bible in the foundation' of their new business to symbolize submitting their career and business plan to God.
• Sermon Illustration [01:25:08 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the metaphor of 'locked rooms' in a house to describe areas of life (addictions, relationships) that people keep from God, urging them to unlock these rooms to allow Jesus to remodel and transform them.
• Sermon Illustration [01:31:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about his own misconceptions, admitting he used to think following Jesus meant having no fun and a restricted life, but realized through scripture that it is actually a life of expansion.
• Sermon Illustration [01:30:31 ▶️ 📄]
  > An analogy comparing the foundation of a home to spiritual life: just as the foundation determines the size of the house, building on Jesus determines the limitless potential of one's spiritual life.

• Pastoral Charge [00:41:13 ▶️ 📄]
  > Turn to the person next to you and acknowledge them as a neighbor.
• Pastoral Charge [00:41:13 ▶️ 📄]
  > Look at neighbor and say 'neighbor'
• Pastoral Charge [01:03:03 ▶️ 📄]
  > Say 'I'm built different' with conviction
• Pastoral Charge [00:49:28 ▶️ 📄]
  > Raise hand for prayer if needing boldness to take a step of faith
• Pastoral Charge [01:16:34 ▶️ 📄]
  > The congregation is asked to verbally repeat the phrase 'work these words' and commit to actively applying Jesus' teachings into their lives.
• Pastoral Charge [01:15:03 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor relays a message from a congregant encouraging the audience to trust in Jesus for anchoring and rebuilding.
• Pastoral Charge [01:29:30 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor asks the congregation to stand up and prepare for a special closing moment of faith.
• Pastoral Charge [01:32:53 ▶️ 📄]
  > Search heart, surrender specific areas of life (finances, business, past, present) to Jesus, and verbally declare ownership to Him.
• Pastoral Charge [01:32:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > Make big decisions to surrender unsurrendered areas (relationships, toxic habits) to Jesus and release them for healing.
• Pastoral Charge [01:37:42 ▶️ 📄]
  > Repent, come home to Jesus, recommit life to Christ, or give life to Jesus for the first time.

[00:03:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:03:09] We want to say welcome. Thank you for coming and worshiping with us.
[00:03:12] We believe God's gonna do something very special and unique in your life today.
[00:03:16] If you're a guest or visitor, can you just wave at me real quick?
[00:03:20] Just can we show some love to all of our guests, all of our visitors? Good to have you here.
[00:03:25] So great to have you. Those of you who are watching online or listening by way of Sirius XM radio, thank you so much for tuning in. Well, this is our opportunity we get to release our faith today.
[00:03:36] day. And here's what I know. God says in his word that he watches over his word, anxious to perform it. What does that mean? He's the architect of our life. He has the blueprint of the plan that he's
[00:03:49] established for your life. The good news is you didn't wake up by accident. You're not here on accident. God has purpose and destiny in this moment. So let's not miss the opportunity to allow the architect of our faith to change us and to transform us. If you need strength, I got good
[00:04:08] news. God has some strength that he wants to give you. If you need joy, if you need peace, if you need wisdom, if you need grace, you've come to the right place because Jesus is not only prepared
[00:04:19] to answer our prayers and to move on our faith, but he's anxious to do so. He's excited about it.
[00:04:25] So today my challenge is this release your faith. Don't be a spectator Be a participant of what god wants to do in this space. Amen. Can we do that?
[00:04:35] So let's get our joy up our excitement up our passion up a little bit We're here to meet jesus and here's what I believe. You're not going to leave the same way I believe you're going to leave forever changed and different
[00:04:47] Do I have any believers in the house believing that you're going to leave different you're going to leave changed We're not here to just play church.
[00:04:54] We're here to encounter Jesus and allow him to leave us very, very different than the way we came in.
[00:04:59] Father, we love you.
[00:05:01] We thank you for your presence.
[00:05:03] We're here to meet with you.
[00:05:04] And we believe that as we release our faith, that you move, that you do miracles, that you build and transform and change.
[00:05:13] So, Father, we're thankful that even when we're unfaithful, you are faithful.
[00:05:18] That you chase us down with your goodness and your mercy.
[00:05:21] so we're here as your kids ready to receive from you and ready to encounter you so that we can leave forever changed we love you we honor you thank you for your faithfulness in Jesus name

[00:05:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:05:33] and all the passionate believers said come on let's lift Jesus he's good with your faithfulness and your mercy Lord we know that you haven't brought us this far just to leave us where we are
[00:27:16] But know, God, you have more in store for us as we will continue to see your faithfulness guide us and lead us through every season and every situation.
[00:27:27] So, Lord, I lift up everyone in this room who's struggling with doubt, God, who's feeling alone and forgotten.
[00:27:34] God, remind them that you hold them in the palm of your hand.
[00:27:37] Remind them that they are known and seen and loved by you.
[00:27:41] God, remind us that you said that you will never leave us or forsake us.
[00:27:45] God I lift up all of those in this place who are fighting battles in their mind God who are carrying a weariness and a heaviness and anxiety that they were never meant to carry God you said that your yoke
[00:27:58] is easy and your burden is light so let a lightness come upon this place right now help us to lay these things at your feet knowing that you can carry them because we don't have to
[00:28:09] Lord we trust you in this place God we thank you for your healing power we lift up all those who are fighting battles in their body God you are a healer you made our bodies and God we know that you can heal them so we ask you to do what only you can do
[00:28:25] do the things that medicine can't do God we believe like your word said that we will live and not die and declare the works of the Lord so Lord we thank you that your healing power is in
[00:28:35] this place right now Lord for those who need restoration in their families in their relationships God we know that you are the great restorer the author and the finisher of our faith the only one
[00:28:49] who has the final say and there is nothing that you can't use for good there is nothing that you can't turn around so God we ask you to move in this place to bring it back better
[00:28:59] God with you the things that feel like they're lost aren't gone Lord even the things that look like they're dead we know they're not done with you that until you say it it's not done
[00:29:09] so God we just give you all those things in this place, trusting that you will bring it back better than it was before, better than it ever was. God, for those facing tough decisions, Lord, who need wisdom, who need clarity. God,
[00:29:23] I pray that we would hear your voice so clear, Lord, that the path would be clear for where you want to lead us. And as we fix our eyes on you, as we trust in you and you alone, you would give
[00:29:34] us the guidance and the wisdom that we need for every situation. Lord, you are so good and so gracious and we thank you that you're taking us from glory to glory and strength to strength
[00:29:46] that no weapon formed against us will ever prosper in jesus name lord we thank you for all that you have done for us god and with hearts full of expectation and faith god we say thank you in
[00:29:59] advance for all that you are going to do we believe that it'll be exceedingly more than we could ever ask think or imagine so lord we lift you up in this place we give you all the praise
[00:30:10] or that you are worthy of and all the mighty people lord this morning isn't it well we're going to take this next moment in our service to declare what god says about us we do this every
[00:30:30] single week as a declaration of faith so come on can you say this with me i am blessed prosperous redeemed forgiven healthy whole talented creative confident secure determined i'm a child I feel the faith in this room this morning.
[00:31:22] We're going to take a moment now to pray individually, to pray one-on-one for our needs.
[00:31:27] If you have anything that you would like for us to pray with you about, we'd love to join our faith and to believe for God to move.
[00:31:34] So there'll be prayer partners at the front of every single section.
[00:31:37] You can come down and we'd love to pray for you.
[00:31:40] The rest of us, we would love to continue to worship with you today.

[00:31:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:31:44] Good morning and thank you so much for tuning in today.
[00:32:06] We're just so glad to have you as a part of the Lakewood Church service.
[00:32:10] And as we take time to pray in the service, I just want to take the time to pray for you.
[00:32:16] I know that many of you are facing needs and struggles and challenges.
[00:32:21] And I loved what Alexandra prayed.
[00:32:24] God can turn it around.
[00:32:27] When we pray, the tide of the battle turns.
[00:32:29] That's what prayer is, asking God.
[00:32:32] You have not because you ask not.
[00:32:33] And God is interested in the little things and the big things of life.
[00:32:38] And so I want to pray for you, but I want to begin with the praise reports.
[00:32:42] And thank you for sending praise reports because they encourage us so much.
[00:32:47] And Karina said that God gave her a financial miracle and she'll now be able to pay for her son to go to college.
[00:32:54] And we're so grateful for that.
[00:32:56] Some of you are believing for the same thing, and I know God will work on your behalf.
[00:33:01] And then Michelle said her friend had surgery for an aneurysm and it went well and she is doing good.
[00:33:07] So thank you, Jesus, for that also.
[00:33:10] So good to hear about the faithfulness of God.
[00:33:14] I want to pray for you.
[00:33:15] There are many people that have written in and given your prayer comments and requests.
[00:33:22] And so let's pray for healing in your body right now.
[00:33:25] Well, Anita said that her body is fighting off an infection in her leg after having surgery.
[00:33:32] And we're going to pray for you, Anita.
[00:33:34] Tiffany, she is waiting on answers on her biopsy report for the tumor on her kidney.
[00:33:40] So let's pray for Anita, for Tiffany, for all of those who may be going into surgery, who may have gotten a bad report.
[00:33:47] You're sick right now as you sit and listen to us.
[00:33:51] the same healing anointing that is with us here is with you right now, the presence of God.
[00:33:57] Father, we pray for Anita. We pray for Tiffany. Father, we pray that all will go well with them.
[00:34:02] We thank you, Lord Jesus, for complete healing, that that infection will leave her body.
[00:34:07] And Father, that Tiffany will get a great report on her biopsy. Father, we just thank you that you are the great physician. You are the Lord, our healer. And we look to you as our healer. You
[00:34:19] that if we worship you, Father, that you would remove sickness from the midst of us. And I'm asking you, Father, to remove sickness from every person that is watching right now. I thank you that pain has to go. Sickness has to go. Cancer has to go in the name of Jesus. Father, we thank
[00:34:40] you that you came to heal the sick, to heal the brokenhearted, to set the captives free. And we thank you that you're so faithful and you're doing that right now in the name of Jesus. Amen. Amen.
[00:34:53] Let let's pray for families. I know that Janice said that her, she's praying for her son to accept Jesus as his Lord and savior. Many of you have loved ones that need to come to the Lord and God
[00:35:07] is going to bring them to the Lord because you're a praying mother, father, a fan, whatever family member you are. You just keep praying. I know my dad, he prayed for all of his family and it took
[00:35:17] a few years, but they all came to know Jesus. And it just makes a difference to pray and ask God because God watches over them. Jade needs direction and guidance in her family. So I'm going to pray
[00:35:30] over your family too. Father, we pray for Janice, Janice's son and all the prodigals, Father, that are out there running from you or who just don't know you, Father. We just pray that you would put
[00:35:41] a hedge about them. You would watch over them. You would send Christians, believers into their pathway who will share the love of Jesus with them. And I thank you, Father, that they will return to you, Jesus. They will come to you, Jesus, and they will serve you all the days of
[00:35:58] their life. In the name of Jesus, I pray that you'd give husbands and wives, mothers and fathers direction in their life, wisdom in their life. Show them what they need to do, Father. I thank
[00:36:10] you for restoring families, for encouraging them. Thank you, Father, that strife and division has to leave in the name of Jesus, and you're bringing peace and the presence of God in Jesus' mighty name. Amen. Amen. Father, I thank you for restoring marriages. Father, for those marriages that are in
[00:36:30] turmoil right now, I pray that you would bring them together in unity, that, Father, you tear down the barriers. And Father, you would bring healing and restoration. Father, you have a plan and a purpose for their marriage. And I thank you for bringing healing in Jesus' name. Amen and amen.
[00:36:49] I want to pray for your career, your education. Maria wrote and she said that her daughter's job situation really needs to change. And then Edward, he needs a new job. And so many of you
[00:37:03] need a job. Maybe you need a job change, just like Maria's daughter, but I'm going to pray that God's going to bless you wherever he plants you. Father, we pray for Maria's daughter, that you would bring
[00:37:14] about the right change in her life. Father, that you would put her at the right place at the right time. You would give her great favor and that she would be able to bloom wherever she is planted,
[00:37:24] Father, in the name of Jesus. Father, we pray for Edward, for everyone that needs a job, Father. I just pray right now for, uh, for people's finances too, father, I pray for a breakthrough in this
[00:37:36] area that you would, you would have them at the right place. You would order their steps, direct them father in the right way, close every wrong door, open the right doors for them in Jesus name. And I thank you father that you're meeting every financial need that they have in
[00:37:53] the name of Jesus father, give them, give them well-paying jobs with full benefits and a great atmosphere and environment where their skills, their gifts, their talents can just overflow and be used to the full. In Jesus' name, amen, amen. Man, it makes a difference to pray. The prayers
[00:38:14] of a man or woman are effectual. They're powerful. And so I believe that as we pray, God is intervening in your situation. We want you to know we love you so much. We're going to go back to the service.
[00:38:26] Now, God bless you all.

[00:39:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:39:08] Hey, you may be seated, Lakewood family.
[00:39:12] Hey, listen, I want to tell you whether you're in person, watching online or listening, that sometimes faith can look foolish.
[00:39:20] Now, before you fall out of your chair because of the way that I said that, listen to me.
[00:39:26] To the untrained eye or the new believer, or even some of us who have been walking with God for a long time, some of the things that we have to do on this journey can look absolutely
[00:39:35] crazy.
[00:39:38] Genesis chapter 12 has one of my favorite moments in scripture.
[00:39:41] God tells Abram, who will eventually be Abraham, to leave everything he knows and is comfortable with and go to a land that God will then show him.
[00:39:50] Did you hear that?
[00:39:51] Leave first and I'll tell you where you're going.
[00:39:55] I want you to imagine this.
[00:39:56] Waking up in the middle of the night, your eyes are crusty, breath still smelling like the chicken parmesan you had the night before.
[00:40:04] telling your spouse, hey, babe, wake up. We got to rent a truck and move tonight. Don't call anybody.
[00:40:13] Don't call your mom. Don't call your job. We just have to go. And she says, uh, why? And you say, because God says we have to go. And she says, um, okay, where? And you say, I don't know. He said,
[00:40:27] he'll show us when we get in the truck and leave. Doesn't that sound crazy? Family, honestly, it kind of is if you use your human eyes. But if you use eyes of faith, it makes total sense.
[00:40:43] Let me prove it to you. Hebrews chapter 11 says that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Your eyes are not deceiving you. God will reveal all the details
[00:40:55] if and when he knows that we need them. See, when you're walking by faith, you have to move your feet even when it doesn't make sense to your brain. You take the step even when you can't see
[00:41:06] where it's leading. Why? Because understanding was never a requirement for obedience.
[00:41:13] Look at your neighbor. Can we have church today a little bit? Look at your neighbor. Say neighbor.
[00:41:18] This is for you. When God says go, just go. See, I know it looks crazy to move out of state to a place where you know nobody for an opportunity when your whole family lives in the same city.
[00:41:32] I know it looks crazy to try again when the doctor told you that you got a slim chance of having kids on your own. I know it looks crazy to apply for that scholarship, even though your GPA is a little
[00:41:42] bit short. I just came to tell you, do it anyway. Because if God said it, you can bank on it being true. Amen? Don't let fear of what's on the other side stop you from seeing it. You might be
[00:41:57] thinking, what if I'm wrong? Or what if I fail? Or what if I didn't hear God properly? Every step should be celebrated, don't let fear rob you of the joy that comes from following God's lead.
[00:42:09] You see, I want to demonstrate this just a little bit because this is a step. This is a small step, but it still requires faith. Maybe the small step is apologizing when you struggle to take
[00:42:23] accountability or asking for help when you're overwhelmed. Maybe the small step is opening your Bible first thing in the morning instead of social media. It's still a small step, but it requires faith. But also, these are leaps, and these big steps require faith as well. Maybe it
[00:42:49] means going back to school and pursuing a degree when you're in your 50s or 60s. Or maybe it's letting your kid go off to college out of state when you know they won't be home for three months.
[00:43:00] either way whether a small step or a giant leap without faith it is impossible to please God all of these all of these steps still require faith and they should be celebrated and here we're not looking down on you because your state of step of faith doesn't look the same as my leap
[00:43:19] of faith we're not measuring whose faith move was better we all are on different paths and some roads require small steps while other ones require giant leaps but one thing I can assure you is that this, it requires all of us to have faith to follow God. Sometimes the fear stops people
[00:43:39] because you're worried about what you're leaving, but don't let that be you. Hear me, in order for you to go with God, you have to leave something else. You don't always know what the journey is
[00:43:52] going to look like or what it's going to cost you, but I can promise you this, the reward of the obedience is always worth it. The Bible says if you seek first the kingdom of God and his
[00:44:03] righteousness, all these things will be provided for you. You put him in first place, the first pursuit, the first priority, and step when he tells you to step or leap when he tells you to leap
[00:44:16] and you won't be put to shame. Everything you're worried about losing, God will replace with something that's better for you, that's destined for you. You will be where you're supposed to be.
[00:44:26] You will have what you're supposed to have, and you will please God by having faith the entire way.
[00:44:32] God will always do his part.
[00:44:34] That's a promise.
[00:44:35] All you have to do is your part and take the step.
[00:44:38] Does anybody believe it this morning?
[00:44:43] Amen.
[00:44:43] Hey, listen, I have a friend named CJ whose story embodies this very point.
[00:44:48] Take a look at the screens.

[00:44:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:44:51] While we were stepping forward in faith, there was moments where we felt like we were actually taking steps back.
[00:44:59] I had a seed planted in me from watching an officer that patrolled our neighborhood.
[00:45:09] And that seed grew in me.
[00:45:12] As I got older, God saw it fit to bless me with becoming an officer, which is something that I always wanted to do.
[00:45:21] I met my wife in Milwaukee.
[00:45:23] My wife was moving to Houston when we met.
[00:45:26] She had a job.
[00:45:27] She had a place already.
[00:45:29] She was leaving Milwaukee to come to Houston.
[00:45:31] And she met me and did not move.
[00:45:34] stayed in Wisconsin, but there was always that thing. And so the conversation was always on the table because it was in her heart to be here. I came to visit one time and there was such an
[00:45:46] overwhelming feeling that this was home. This is where we were supposed to be. And I said, you know what? We're going to go. And I had moments where I was like, I don't know, because we're talking about pay cut. We're talking about unknown. We're talking about
[00:46:00] leaving the comforts of what I knew, but it was such a strong feeling that I was supposed to be here.
[00:46:07] I knew that that was God.
[00:46:13] I'm like, okay, how am I gonna do this, right?
[00:46:17] Did I bite off too much in a rush to get here?
[00:46:21] Should there have been more preparation?
[00:46:23] And I'm talking to people who've been here all their lives, and I'm talking to people who worked for this department.
[00:46:30] It was like, here, we all work extra jobs.
[00:46:33] And so I was like, okay, I just got to work some extra jobs and that'll provide me with some of the money that I left on the table, I left behind.
[00:46:41] And it was a young man that I met and I was like, you know what, Lakewood needs some good people.
[00:46:47] And I've known you to be a good person.
[00:46:50] You got a big heart.
[00:46:51] I think you will be good over there.
[00:46:53] From the first day to today, I love coming here.
[00:46:57] I love the people here.
[00:46:59] I love the relationships that I've created here.
[00:47:01] And being here, it provides me with the Word.
[00:47:04] It provides me with being around believers.
[00:47:08] It's the love that is offered to me that it's a, I have to go to Lakewood.
[00:47:15] Pastor Joel tells people that if you do life for God by your side, there's nothing that you'll go through that you won't get through.
[00:47:22] We get to look at where we are now.
[00:47:25] And to me, in such a short time, God brought us back to all those things that we left, and we're in a better place.
[00:47:34] I'm no longer on patrol.
[00:47:36] I'm a crash investigator, and it's what I wanted to do on this department.
[00:47:40] We found a home, purchased it, did the remodeling of it, and our residential living facility is open now.
[00:47:48] And so now my wife gets to be an ER nurse, and she gets to run this home that was something that she always wanted to do.
[00:47:55] seeking the kingdom of God in all things, not some, not a little bit, but all things will be granted to you by doing nothing no more than just seeking the kingdom of God.

[00:48:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:48:10] Lakewood family, can we celebrate CJ?
[00:48:13] Listen, in two short years, God has replaced everything.
[00:48:26] He stepped out on faith to leave jobs, not to even talk about some of the rest of your story and the loss and everything that you've experienced, but I just want to say from the bottom of my heart,
[00:48:35] my life is better because you're in it. And I know all of us can say just on the staff and the congregation, just thank you so much for helping to keep us safe and protecting us and serving us.
[00:48:43] Our community is better because you're in it. So thank you so much. Well, CJ, somebody may be out there says, man, I don't know if I have the faith to move across the country and leave jobs on the
[00:48:54] table and take pay cuts and all of the things that you all did, but what would you encourage them with that need to take a step of faith today? I would say to you all, if God did it for me,
[00:49:05] he can do it for you take that step with faith and God will deliver amen amen hey listen if you're in the room I wanted to do this really special and hope that it can build your faith if
[00:49:20] you're in the room and you have a move in your heart you have a faith step that you know you need to take maybe it's a small step or maybe it's a giant leap like moving across the country
[00:49:28] if that's you and you say you know what I know God's saying it but I just need a little bit more boldness to do it I just want you to raise your hand I want to just pray over you if that's okay
[00:49:36] Amen, amen.
[00:49:38] Let me pray.
[00:49:38] Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you so much for every person who has something in their heart.
[00:49:43] They know that they hear from you, God.
[00:49:44] They have a word.
[00:49:46] And I pray, Father, that today would be the last day that they would procrastinate.
[00:49:49] Today would be the last day, Father, where they sit on their hands, Father, and they don't move.
[00:49:54] But God, you would give them the boldness to step out, to believe again, to move, to apply, to chase the opportunity, to write the book, to do what you've told them to do, God.
[00:50:03] I pray that the Holy Spirit would just be on them every step of the way and that nothing that they leave behind to follow you, Father, they would actually lose. But Lord, they would see that
[00:50:13] everything is to gain by walking with you forever. I pray that today would be the final day that our community would be short on moving on faith. But God, we would be quick to obey when we hear your
[00:50:24] word. In Jesus' name, all God's people said, amen, amen. God bless you, Lakewood.

[00:50:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:50:32] Lakewood family, listen, I wanted to let you guys know about some amazing things that are happening in just the next generation of our church. As one of the youth pastors, we actually got to celebrate
[00:50:40] the fact that we just got done with another round of our Advanced Student Leadership Boot Camp.
[00:50:44] This was a three-week boot camp that they did where they got to learn a bunch of different things. Talk about who is God? Who are they as the image of God? They also got to learn their
[00:50:51] spiritual gifts and sacred pathways as to how they connect with the Lord. And so we just celebrated graduation. It was a phenomenal time where parents and students got to come together and just celebrate the work that their students have put in. The team of our volunteers and our staff all
[00:51:03] came together and it was a beautiful, beautiful time. Also, what you guys have done is actually allowed students to get the chance to go to summer camp. We have students who may not be able to
[00:51:11] afford the full bill to get to go to camp, but because of you guys being so kind, you guys have been giving. And so now we're able to actually sponsor students to go to summer camp. We're
[00:51:19] actually able to even help young adults to actually get scholarships, to be able to go to college and pursue their endeavors in whatever it is the Lord is assigning them to do. You guys are actually
[00:51:26] helping to invest in the next pastors, leaders, lawyers, all these different people that are going to essentially take over the world. And not only that, they're going to have a biblical foundation in what leadership looks like. So Lakewood family, I want to personally thank you
[00:51:39] for not just believing in yourselves, believing in older generations, but believing in the next generation, the ones that are coming up to be able to do exactly what it is that God has assigned

[00:51:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:51:47] them to do. That all happens because of you, the faithful people of Lakewood. We love you guys.
[00:51:55] Thanks for being so generous.
[00:51:57] And we'll take a moment to worship the Lord with our tithes and offerings today.
[00:52:01] And we always want to express our gratitude for you just being faithful, making sacrifices, keeping God first place.
[00:52:09] You know, you serve, you give your time, your energy, you're at church, you bless people at work.
[00:52:15] That's Lakewood people.
[00:52:16] That's faithful people.
[00:52:18] I love what the scripture says in Psalm 112.
[00:52:20] All goes well for those who are generous.
[00:52:23] us. I think of you guys, generous people. Doesn't mean we won't have problems or challenges, but you know what? God gives us strength in every situation. We're believing 2026, you're going to see the open
[00:52:34] windows of heaven. Know that God is smiling down on you. He sees your generosity and we just speak blessings, increase. The economy is not our source. God is our source. You're connected to a supply
[00:52:46] line that will never run dry. So stay faithful. Know we love you and we're praying for you. I love

[00:52:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:52:51] that. I love the generosity because when we're generous, we're honoring God. And you have been honoring God with your generosity. And sometimes you think, well, how am I really making that much of a difference? But we hope that these reports and these things that we bring to you show the
[00:53:06] appreciation of the people who you are helping. So know today that God is smiling down on you.
[00:53:13] Your generosity is making a difference. It is unselfish faith. So thank you so much. You know, we could not do this without you. So we always want to get on here and say, thank you. Thank

[00:53:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:53:24] you. Thank you. So God bless. We do. Let me speak a blessing. Lord, thank you for our generous givers today. Father, you see them putting you first, the sacrifices they make honoring you.
[00:53:34] And Lord, we believe what you promised that we live under the open windows of heaven, that you're smiling down on us, that you're our provider. Lord, I just thank you for unusual things in 2026. Show out in our lives in greater ways. Let us be a bigger blessing wherever we go.
[00:53:51] And Lord, we commit to keep you first place, to honor you. And Lord, I just thank you for the abundance, the overflow, the supernatural provision, doing what only you can do. We love you and we honor you today in Jesus name. God bless you as you give. Here are some ways you can

[00:54:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:54:08] 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 lakewoodchurch.com slash give. Text give hope to 77977. Mail a check to P.O. Box 27450, Houston, Texas 77227. Or call us toll free at
[00:54:37] 888-567-JOEL.

[00:54:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:54:41] This is my firm foundation.
[00:54:58] The rock on which I stand.
[00:55:02] When everything around me is shaking.
[00:55:05] My faith and reason have made full through generations.

[00:55:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:55:27] You're so good.

[00:59:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:59:09] You can all stand.
[00:59:10] Can we all do our feet?
[00:59:12] You look so good this morning.
[00:59:13] Turn to your neighbor and say, you look good, neighbor.
[00:59:15] You look so good.
[00:59:16] You smell so good.
[00:59:17] Hey, one more time. If you're a guest or a visitor, can you just put your hand up real high in the air? If you're a guest visiting Lakewood church, show some love all our guests,
[00:59:25] all our visitors. So good to have you. So good to have you everybody in the house. Those of you watching, listening, so grateful that you're here. Um, wow. What a powerful testimony that CJ had with pastor Devante. I think CJ is actually out working and serving us on Sunday. You can
[00:59:41] clap that's amazing testimony about stepping out in faith i do i do like to say um on wednesday nights we have a powerful youth ministry youth experience if you're in high school or junior high
[00:59:54] wednesday night 7 30 on the fourth floor here at lakewood pastor davante pastor anon it is very powerful and it's amazing also we have a live midweek experience that happens at 7 30 here for
[01:00:05] young adult young professionals and anybody if you want to come actually we just launched a relationship series called learning to love you know the school of love you never graduate from it did you know that we're always we always should be learning in love so we're talking
[01:00:20] next three weeks I'm going to be talking about dating marriage relationships boundaries trust communication all the saucy stuff so if you got friends or you want to come bring your family bring everybody you know out Wednesday night next three weeks it's going to be phenomenal cool hold
[01:00:38] up your Bibles. Are you guys ready to get this declaration of faith out? If you brought your Bibles, let's hold it up. If it's on your phone, hold up your phone. Let's just, let's just declare
[01:00:47] this with passion and conviction. Can we do that? 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'll be taught the word of God. I boldly
[01:01:01] confess. My mind is alert. 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.
[01:01:17] Never, never, never. I'll never be the same in Jesus' name. You may be seated. You sound great today. And you set your clocks ahead, clap for yourself, high-five your neighbor. You did it.
[01:01:33] you made it some of you are still waking up I am not pastor Joel I'm sorry uh open your bibles to Matthew chapter 7 Matthew chapter 7 verse 24 we're looking at one verse this morning a profound
[01:01:52] verse especially in the day we're living in I think it's just a this is a powerful verse for us to explore together and see how it lands in our life Matthew 7 verse 24 Jesus is teaching
[01:02:05] And he says, anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it, it is it is wise.
[01:02:11] Anyone, college student, young adult, mom, husband, young professional, businessman, wherever you are at in life, whatever your age.
[01:02:20] It says anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
[01:02:28] Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house.
[01:02:33] it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock but anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish like a person who builds a house on sand when the rains and floods come and the
[01:02:46] winds beat against that house it will collapse with a mighty crash today I want to talk to you about being built different look at your neighbor and say you're just built different you're you're or built, say it with your chest, fellas.
[01:03:03] Say, I'm built different.
[01:03:04] Just, I'm built different.
[01:03:07] Father, we love you today.
[01:03:08] We thank you for your word.
[01:03:10] We believe it has the capacity and power to change us and we believe that it's going to.
[01:03:15] And we just posture ourselves in a position of surrender, asking you, Holy Spirit, to do what only you could do.
[01:03:20] The runway of our hearts are open.
[01:03:21] We're not here by accident.
[01:03:23] We're in this space of faith to encounter you, Jesus, and to allow you to do what only you can do.
[01:03:28] You are the architect of our faith.
[01:03:30] so change us transform us Jesus we want to be more like you we want to live our lives like you lived help us Jesus change us we believe and declare that we're going to leave this space different
[01:03:42] than the way we came in in Jesus name and all the passionate believers said amen when I ask you a question this morning how are you building your life once you think about it it's a great
[01:03:57] opportunity today to assess your life how are you building your life what is the foundation of your life look up look like you see the question isn't if you're building you're building something right your your life is being built on something that's not the question the question isn't if
[01:04:18] you're building the question is how are you building your life you see we all have a measure of faith that we exercise, right? You can exercise your faith in someone. You can exercise your faith
[01:04:31] in something. There's a lot of things you can exercise and put your faith in, right? The question isn't, are we exercising faith? Are we building? The question is, what are you exercising your faith in today? Person, place, thing. I've discovered that you can begin building one way and over time
[01:04:53] drift so this is a great question for for any season that we're in doesn't matter if you grew up in church or this is your first time in church we must constantly be asking the question what is
[01:05:05] the foundation of my life look like what am I building upon this morning because it can drift it can change do you look to yourself is that what you build your life on to be self-sufficient
[01:05:20] to keep it all together is your foundation built on other people's opinions and you spend the majority of your life scrolling trying to keep up with the joneses comparing are you built on awards and accolades and achievements what about education a lot of people build their life on
[01:05:43] their education or their career or status or performance or money how much you've accumulated it's easy to fall into the temptation of building your life on the things you've gathered and putting your whole trust into those things it's very easy these are these are all reasonable
[01:06:05] answers that probably at in some point of our lives we all find ourselves drifting into building off of these things and this is why Jesus comes and he gives us this staggering picture of two
[01:06:18] houses that have been built and these houses there is no difference to these houses on the external above ground they are the same right very aesthetic nice color scheme nice white trim on the windows nice pink flowers these these houses look pretty much the same on the outside and even when
[01:06:40] you look at the foundation the the foundation of what the houses have been built on at a quick glance they look similar right now what Jesus begins to unpack for us in chapter seven is that
[01:06:54] in life both of these homes will experience storms right they will go through unexpected challenges and the winds and the rains and the flood waters of this world will begin to pour so what happens
[01:07:11] to the house that is built on sand it begins to what collapse and what's interesting is now the foundation is specifically revealed when a storm hits you see what the house has been built on but in the same way when you look at the house that's built on the rock I love I love that Jesus
[01:07:36] doesn't say if you build on a rock you're not going to experience winds and floods and storms and challenges it says when they come oh the house that's built on rock the house that's built on
[01:07:48] firm foundation though the winds come though the unexpected happen though losses come our way challenges come storms come floodwaters rise winds beat against it all this house stays steady this house is anchored it is on firm foundation it does not move what an amazing visual
[01:08:11] now what it's been built on is revealed it's exposed you see storms don't create weakness storms reveal what you've already built your life on and this is why it's so important as believers to assess how am I responding when storms hit if I put my trust in money stuff
[01:08:35] career relationships social media then I'm easily shaken and moved and collapsing but if I've built my life on the solid rock if I've built my life on Jesus and Jesus alone when things come I'm
[01:08:48] immovable I've been so encouraged in this last season because I've seen multiple families in this church navigate loss yes question yes ask why very healthy things to do work with your emotions work in grief but stay strong in their faith holding on to Jesus immovable does it mean that
[01:09:12] they understand it all no it means that they trust in God and it's in Jesus that they're going to find strength it's in Jesus they're going to find hope and it's in Jesus if they stay long enough
[01:09:23] with him they will discover that he will work all things out for good for those who are in Christ Jesus oh can anyone testify to that Romans 8 says I will work all things out for good the good the
[01:09:36] bad the ugly he's going to work it out for the better and this is what Jesus is saying he's saying choose wisely what you're going to build your life on I have a friend he's a good friend
[01:09:50] from high school and he lives in a part of Illinois that's very susceptible to tornadoes and I remember him telling me the story that him and his family had went through, and he was at work,
[01:10:03] and Ryan was doing what he normally does, wrapping up his insurance work, and he said, all of a sudden, I'm in a meeting with our team, and all of our phone alarms go off, and there's a tornado warning.
[01:10:14] This particular part of the Midwest was very susceptible to tornadoes.
[01:10:18] All their phones alert, they all get into their cars, and they all immediately head home to protect their families.
[01:10:24] now on their way home on Ryan's way home he said Nick I drove right into chaos right when I left the insurance place I the sky turned black hail started beating against the window so hard that
[01:10:38] I thought the windshield was going to shatter he said I called my wife Jamie I said Jamie get the kids and get them in the basement ASAP like this is a real storm and I don't see the tornado but
[01:10:50] this thing is real get in the basement Ryan says he pulls into the driveway and as soon as he pulls into the driveway he looks to his left and he sees this massive tornado now on the ground and it is
[01:11:03] coming towards his home he flies into the house gets the kids all together into this corner of the basement the corner of the foundation of the house and as they're all huddled up Ryan one last
[01:11:16] time wants to go and check where this tornado is where is it where is it is it past them is it right close and where is it going and he says Nick I saw this tornado it was coming right at us it
[01:11:27] wasn't going to turn we were going to get a direct hit he said I immediately ran down the stairs and as soon as I'm literally jumping over the top of Jamie and the kids to protect them he goes all of
[01:11:39] the glass in the back of the house shatter and blow out immediately all he hears is an explosion as he's jumping on his family to protect him he says Nick in a split second everything just goes
[01:11:52] still and he says he looks up and all he sees is calm blue sky no home it's completely ripped off the foundation he's staring up at a white blue sky clouds a neighbor comes helps the girls helps
[01:12:14] Ryan get out of the foundation. And he says, Nick, I looked around and all we had were minor scratches. No, no injuries. We were completely safe. Now I want to show you, here's a photo
[01:12:27] of the house. So that's, there's a photo of the house that Ryan lived in. This is the house that they took shelter in. Okay. The next slide is the tornado. That is an F5 tornado, the actual
[01:12:42] tornado that hit their house like dead dead strike right on their house this is the house after completely destroyed right unbelievable you can see the tornado actually off in the distance as it's passed this next photo though is what's incredible you can see all of the trash you can
[01:13:05] see the the heater the furnace you can see everything but in that corner oh in this corner the foundation, you'll see a little four by four space where Ryan gathered Jamie and the kids and
[01:13:18] where they found protection and safety. And Ryan told me when I was talking on the phone, he said the moment that tornado hit, he said he felt like a, a hand, a heavy hand holding him and his family
[01:13:31] down as the suction of the tornado pulled everything out. Now you can believe what you want to believe, but I'm going to believe it was the hand of God. I'm going to believe that God
[01:13:39] does miracles like that and when we come to him for protection and shelter and he's the foundation that's the type of stuff that he does now this is unimaginable right like I I don't we don't want
[01:13:54] anyone to walk through something like this but as I'm asking Ryan questions Ryan loves Jesus and he says Nick had we not had our house built on a foundation a firm foundation we would have never
[01:14:09] been able to walk through this he's processing things emotionally but they began to rebuild a home on the very foundation that they found safety in I want you to look at this picture this is now the new home a better home on the same foundation that they found safety in oh don't tell
[01:14:30] me that Romans 8 isn't true if you stay faithful and you hold on to Jesus the Bible says that he will rebuild you better. He can rebuild your marriage. He can rebuild your career. He can
[01:14:43] rebuild your business. He can rebuild your self-esteem. He can rebuild the dream. There are seasons and things that we go through that rock our world. But if we're built in Jesus and him alone, we can withstand it. If Ryan were standing here, in fact, he told me to tell you,
[01:15:03] he said trust me if you build your life on Jesus he can anchor you through any storm and he promises that he will rebuild you better now he experienced that quite literally but today you get the idea
[01:15:22] you get the point that only Jesus can anchor us through the storms of life now one thing that's interesting when I was talking to Ryan is he said I didn't start building the foundation when I saw
[01:15:34] the f5 tornado coming it was already built so when a storm did hit he was anchored and the point is the good news is you don't have to wait for a storm to hit your life or the unexpected to happen
[01:15:51] in your world for you to make sure that your foundation is built in Christ and you have the right foundation to anchor you through your life as seasons change and so today that's what I want
[01:16:02] to explore for the next brief moment is talking about how we can assess the quality of the foundation of our lives. I want to look back at Matthew seven, verse 24. This is actually in the
[01:16:15] message translation. I told you one verse, there's so much in this passage of scripture, Matthew seven, verse 24 in the message. It says, these words I speak to you are no incidental additions to your life they're not homeowner improvements to your standard of living
[01:16:34] they are foundational words words to build a life on if you work these words everybody say work these words say it again say work these words if you work these words into your life you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock I love how the message puts that
[01:17:00] so what does it look like to work his words into life what does it look like to be a smart carpenter to allow Jesus to make his home in our heart you see what's interesting is this
[01:17:14] the foundation of the home it's the very first thing that a that a smart builder constructs it it digs and it builds the foundation and everything in the house comes off of the foundation right everything is built off the foundation it is the very first thing what
[01:17:31] Matthew 7 is saying is that Jesus is not designed to be an add-on in life he's not designed to just be well I'm going to do my thing I'm going to do it my way and oh Jesus come come over here and let
[01:17:45] just he's not a spice I'm just I just hate to say it he doesn't operate best that way now we're all on a journey Jesus will take a little better than anything but I'm telling you if you want to
[01:17:57] experience the fullness of Jesus and the fullness of what he promises you in your life if you want to become everything he's designed you to become give him everything he is supposed to be the
[01:18:07] substance he's supposed to be the meat he says taste and see that that I'm good he he wants to be the full meal not just the spice everything in our life everything in our life not an add-on
[01:18:21] and you can go throughout your life and you can drift and what I'm talking about when I say work his word into your life it's a process of following Jesus and recommitting and resurrendering that's really what it's about it's about assessing your life in every season why
[01:18:41] Because your lives change. You're in college. Now you have a new career. Now you're married. Now you're dating. Now you have three kids. Now, right? You move cities. Our lives are constantly changing. So we must assess the foundation to make sure that our foundation is built on Jesus
[01:19:01] and Jesus alone. Right? So that me, I'll give you an example. My wife and I, when we bought our first home we went to the bank we were rookies we're learning all this stuff doing all this
[01:19:13] paperwork and our loan officer said with the house inspection we'd ask for a foundational inspection to be done before we loan you the money why because we want to make sure that the foundation is still quality it's still good it's still sound there's no defects because if you have
[01:19:30] a bad foundation which can happen over time if you have a faulty foundation it impacts everything in the house walls start to lean floors start to sink windows don't quite shut doors don't close right so they're wanting someone to come out and inspect the foundation to make sure that the rest
[01:19:51] of the house is sound in the same way our lives must constantly be under inspection by the Holy Spirit there are times where you have to submit your life and say all right Jesus I am going to
[01:20:04] proceed to date this particular girl but I want to make sure it's the right thing what do you say is she best for me is this going to cause me to compromise is she following Christ that's what it
[01:20:17] means to submit your decisions to Jesus to build on firm foundation every area of our life as we're changing we must continually be assessing and evaluating Jesus is the architect of my life my house he's the author and the finisher and he is building his home in our hearts
[01:20:38] what does that mean that means sometimes he wants to remodel a room sometimes he wants to change the paint right sometimes he wants to redo the grass out front sometimes he wants to add on and change
[01:20:52] the kitchen and make it better and make it best for you but he's got the plans and he's the architect so we go all right Jesus I'm in a new season now me and my wife we we have a baby we've
[01:21:09] just welcomed a baby into our life so that means I want to dedicate this child to the Lord that's why we have baby dedications here at church because we realize the architect of your faith
[01:21:20] in your life is doing a new thing and we want to give you the opportunity to submit that new thing back to Christ to put it on firm foundation and say Jesus we're going to dedicate this child
[01:21:30] to you believing that they're going to live all their days for you and we are dedicating ourselves as parents to discipline love and courage and lead them in the way you've called us to lead them are
[01:21:41] you following me this is what it means to submit and to assess and to work the word into your life so that you're building everything in your life every room on firm foundation it's why Jesus gives
[01:21:56] us the opportunity to tithe our income what does tithing do it resubmits all of my finances on firm foundation it's a it's an acknowledgement and awareness that Jesus can do more with the 90 percent than I could ever dream of doing with the hundred that's what that means it means I trust
[01:22:16] you God and I'm going to submit my heart so that I'm building every area on firm foundation there's a family in the church that I love the Leardons and Brian and Sonia have had this thing
[01:22:27] in their heart for a business to to build a restaurant here in Houston and I've been on the faith journey with them and they've taken steps of faith to get there and right now they're
[01:22:37] constructing and renovating this space so they the restaurant can can fully live and come to fruition and they said Nick we got an idea we want to build this chapter of our life on firm
[01:22:49] foundation. We want to submit our career and our job and our business plan to God. This is not my business. This is God's business. Do you hear the language? You hear the difference?
[01:23:00] I'm going to, I want to do it his way. They're like, Nick, we got a Bible. We bought a Bible.
[01:23:04] Can you meet us at the restaurant? We want to bury the Bible in the foundation of the renovation.
[01:23:12] I'm like, I'm there. Can we show the photo real quick? This is two weeks ago at a restaurant here in Houston, Brian and Sonia gathered their kids, grabbed the shovel, and we all scooped some dirt
[01:23:24] and we buried that Bible that little sky is holding in the foundation of this restaurant that they're building. That's building your life on solid rock. Now, you may not be able to dig up your cubicle floor and bury a Bible. That's not what I'm saying. But what can you do that will
[01:23:46] remind you of every area of your life needing to be built on firm foundation Brian told me I want every person that steps into this this restaurant to feel God's love I want them to see a difference
[01:23:59] in my employees I want how we operate this business to be kingdom centered and I believe God's gonna bless them I believe God's gonna reward it's kingdom principles so how do you commit your sport that you play to Jesus how do you commit your marriage how do you commit your
[01:24:16] new job? What does it look like for you? The reality is whatever can remind you to continue to make Jesus the center of it is a good idea. But I hope that that inspires you to do something.
[01:24:30] Maybe working the word in your life is letting go of a space in your life that you know is dysfunctional and holding you back. Maybe Jesus is knocking on the door of a room in your life
[01:24:43] and he's saying, I can do something with that.
[01:24:47] But many of us live our lives going, no.
[01:24:50] You know, we kind of act like children a little bit with the stuff that we've kind of become obsessed over.
[01:24:56] No, God, you can have all of this, but not my career.
[01:24:59] No, God, you can have all of this, but not my money.
[01:25:02] No, God, you can have all of this, but you're not taking this.
[01:25:05] This is mine.
[01:25:08] And we don't allow, I believe there's some certain rooms in your life that have been kept locked.
[01:25:13] and God is saying if you'll unlock that and allow me to work in that relationship or allow me to work with that addiction or allow me to work with that issue I can transform it and I can do
[01:25:25] something better oh God wants to remodel some rooms today but our responsibility is to let go and to say God work your word into that room and he will rebuild it better are you with me
[01:25:37] this is what it means to submit and work the word in our life what about when our house changes in a way that we didn't see coming when we walk through loss and a storm hits and we lose a
[01:25:52] business someone we love it appears we lose a dream and we don't understand it that's hard right that can be tough when the unexpected hits but I will say this I think it's in these moments where
[01:26:07] we rest in his love and his character it's in these moments we rest in his strength and I believe that it's in these moments it's our greatest opportunity it's our greatest opportunity to inspire and to show our faith to people who don't know Christ you say what a lot of people
[01:26:29] ask if God is so good then why is that happening to you in your life and you can say well God is good because God is the one anchoring me through this unexpected thing in my life. And God's going
[01:26:39] to work this thing out and redeem my pain someday because I trust him and he's going to carry me through. You see, anyone can win the Superbowl and thank God, right? That's easy. It's easy when
[01:26:54] you're victorious and you're successful to say all glory to God. But faith comes really, really real when you can go through something and you can go through a challenge and you can go through a struggle and you can stand and say I still love Jesus he's still good he's still faithful he's
[01:27:12] going to redeem this pain he's going to work it out for my good and his glory that's what gets the attention of people around you it's what reveals struggle reveals storms reveal so don't dismiss the storm, embrace the storm, because there's great opportunity for your faith to shine
[01:27:33] to people around you. When you're going through a struggle, a challenge, an unexpected obstacle.
[01:27:40] I want to revisit the sand as we wrap up today, because I think, I think the sand plays a key component in the story. See a lot of people, when I've heard this taught, they dismiss sand
[01:27:56] all together and they just say build on the rock the sand and all the stuff but I actually think that that the sand I'm getting dirty today for y'all okay so y'all I'm hoping you get this all
[01:28:08] right the the sand actually is necessary right there is a place the bible says in Matthew 6 33 it says make the kingdom of God your primary concern right seek first the kingdom of God
[01:28:25] and all of these other things will be added unto you.
[01:28:30] So these things aren't bad.
[01:28:33] These things aren't the enemy necessarily.
[01:28:37] These things have a place in your life.
[01:28:39] They were just never designed to be the foundation of your life.
[01:28:43] Who am I preaching to today?
[01:28:46] Some of you, your career and relationships and money and stuff, all these things aren't bad things.
[01:28:56] it's when you look to them to be the foundation and the anchor and the source of contentment for your soul that's when they get out of balance those things have a place in your life but let's
[01:29:06] just not build our lives on them can we agree to do that today let's just not let's just say god they have a place what you have for me is going to find me what has my name on it it's going to
[01:29:19] come to me but my attention is going to be to seek you and to seek you first and all these other things will be added unto me at the right time. Do you believe that today? I want to do this. I
[01:29:30] want to, I want to all of us to stand to our feet. If we can, can we keep this atmosphere of faith?
[01:29:35] We're going to end a little bit differently. We don't usually end like this, but I felt really compelled to create this space at the close of this sermon to do something a little bit different.
[01:29:48] Is that okay? Good. What I love about Jesus is that he promises in John 10, 10 to give us life in life to the fullest. Isn't that amazing? It's the best life. Building your life on Jesus is the
[01:30:07] best way you can live. Not the easiest way, but it's the best way. Do you hear me? It's not the easiest way, but it's the best way. It's where you'll find contentment and peace and joy. And
[01:30:17] Jesus says in John 10, 10, I want to do a great thing in your life if you'll allow me to. What's interesting about the foundation of a home is that the foundation of the home is what dictates
[01:30:31] the size of the home.
[01:30:34] That's powerful when you think about it.
[01:30:36] The foundation determines the size of the house.
[01:30:41] So if Jesus says, make me the foundation, he is saying, when you build on me, there is no limit to what I can do in and through your life.
[01:30:51] Following Jesus, friends, listen, let me get to it.
[01:30:55] Following Jesus isn't a life of restriction.
[01:30:58] It's a life of expansion.
[01:30:59] you got to get this because I live my life I live a lot of my life thinking that following Jesus man oh can't have any fun life's going to be restricted I had a lot of misconceptions and
[01:31:11] then I read the scriptures and I read what it means to follow Jesus and I'm still learning to what it means to follow him but I've learned that wow it's actually a life of expansion where
[01:31:21] my influence grows my character grows my love grows the talents and things he's put in me when submitted to him. They grow. Oh, is anyone thankful that we serve a God who wants to take us from glory to glory, strength to strength. But he says, you got to build properly. You don't
[01:31:42] get it anyway. You get it one way. And that one way is the key to full life. And that one way is to build on Jesus and to build on him alone. Nothing else will do. Nothing in this world will
[01:31:58] do. Nothing in this world will do. Only Jesus. There's only one way. So this is the deal. This is the deal. I didn't come to just play church today. I believe that some of you need to make
[01:32:12] some big decisions. Maybe there's a room in the house that you've not surrendered to Jesus. Maybe it's a dating relationship. Maybe there's something that's negative and toxic in your life that you've been holding to, that you feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit, that you need to release it and allow
[01:32:28] him to heal it maybe you've built your life on something that is like sand and you've gone man my whole life I've slipped and drifted into this space of making my career everything and I need
[01:32:43] to come back to Jesus I don't know what it is for you but what I want to do is during this moment of worship the team's going to lead and they're going to sing but in this atmosphere of faith
[01:32:53] would you search your heart and would you surrender your life in all areas and would you respond specifically find a specific thing in your life that you know the Holy Spirit is addressing and can you say Jesus you got my finances you got my business you have my past
[01:33:10] you have my present I don't want anything to be with withheld from your grace and with your power you are the master architect church here's the deal we're going to sing Christ alone he is the
[01:33:21] cornerstone so may that be your prayer may that be your declaration come on team let's worship and let's sing with our hands lifted let's sing Christ alone let's give it all to Jesus come on

[01:33:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:33:34] let's sing it that's our declaration is that you would be Lord that you would have everything

[01:36:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[01:36:42] that we would build every part of our lives on you in your promise your word and we know that When our foundation is you, there is no limits to what you can do and how you can change
[01:36:58] us and transform us.
[01:37:00] So thank you for setting people free.
[01:37:02] Thank you for remodeling some rooms today.
[01:37:05] Thank you for adding some additions.
[01:37:07] Thank you for changing perspectives.
[01:37:09] Thank you that people are leaving here a little bit lighter, releasing the burden that they've been carrying and in exchange, receiving your peace.
[01:37:19] Father, we thank you.
[01:37:20] We declare that you're Lord of all, and we declare that we are built different in Jesus name.
[01:37:27] Everybody say, I want to just keep this atmosphere of faith because I believe there's people in this room today are watching, listening that maybe this is your first time in church, or honestly, maybe it's been a while since you've been, but you've recognized throughout the service that
[01:37:42] Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart with his love. And maybe you've been running. Maybe you've been trying to find fulfillment and satisfaction and happiness in all the wrong places, maybe satisfied for a moment, but realizing and recognizing pretty quickly over time
[01:37:56] that those things can't fully satisfy your soul. But today you're becoming aware of his love and his presence and his spirit. And today you want to repent and come home to him.
[01:38:08] And you want a new beginning. Maybe it's a rededicating moment where you've drifted, But today you want to recommit your life to christ and all that you are I'm going to count down from three and if that's you today and you want to give your life to jesus
[01:38:23] Or you want to rededicate your heart to him when I get to one I want you to real boldly just slip your hand up in the air and i'm going to lead you in a prayer of faith
[01:38:32] Don't be ashamed I want you to do it with courage and boldness Because of the life that's coming your way and the peace that's coming your way three two if you want to give your life to christ or rededicate your heart to him one slip your hand
[01:38:47] up real high all over this place you can even lift your hand while you're watching while you're listening come on wave at me i want to see it for a second wave at me come on church can we celebrate
[01:38:58] all the new beginnings all the way in the back i see you my guy incredible all right repeat this simple prayer of faith if you lifted your hand or even if you didn't but you want to make jesus the
[01:39:12] Lord of your life. The rest of us, let's repeat it as if it was our first time. Say Jesus, I come before you today and I ask you to forgive me of all my sins and all my mistakes. Come into my
[01:39:25] heart. Come into my life and wash me clean. Today I choose to make you my Lord and my Savior. I want to live my life for you and only you in Jesus name. Amen. Come on. Can we celebrate all the
[01:39:45] new beginning? What a amazing decision. Before you leave, let me encourage you. Our pastor always challenges us to give one year of our lives to following Jesus and planting in the house of Lord. The Bible says those who are planted will flourish. Those who are planted in the house of
[01:40:03] Lord will flourish. I know I've planted myself a lot more than one year in this house and I've seen God do some pretty incredible things in me and through me. Can anyone else testify to that?
[01:40:13] Giving your life to Christ, planting in the house of the Lord, you'll see him completely change your life around. If you prayed that prayer of faith for the first time or rededicated, I talked to a lot of people after the service that say, Nick, what's next? Like, what do I do
[01:40:28] with my faith now? We've created a space for you. If you are new in your faith, just gave your life to Christ, we have a space called New Beginnings that we've created in the lobby immediately after
[01:40:38] the service. If you want resources on how you can grow in your faith, in your walk with Christ, if you want to connect with some staff members or some leaders, or you just want to find information
[01:40:49] out about the church, check out that space. Our team is there, anxious to meet you and get you on that journey of growth in Jesus. One more time, can we celebrate everybody who made that decision
[01:40:59] today. Welcome home. Listen, I wanted to say this. I don't know why, but I think someone needs to hear this. Maybe it was one person, but it's worth me saying this. The Bible says the righteous fall
[01:41:14] seven times, but they get back up. Following Jesus is not about being perfect. It's about getting really good at getting back up, turning away from my sin and following after Jesus and going to him. The righteous fall seven times, but they get up, keep getting back up, following
[01:41:33] after Jesus, embracing everything that he has for you. And we believe you're going to become everything God's designed you to become. Amen. Let me leave you with a blessing from Numbers chapter six. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord show you his favor and have mercy on
[01:41:48] you. And may the Lord watch over you and give you his peace. We love you. God bless you. Have a fantastic week and we'll see you very, very soon.