The Danger of a Transactional Gospel: A Theological Audit

• Resurrection Power [00:05:51 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that God does what humans cannot do on their own strength, using the example of the stone at the tomb.
• Living Hope [00:06:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor defines Jesus as a 'living hope' that remains active and alive regardless of current life circumstances.
• Spiritual Breakthrough [00:30:24 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor prays for the breaking of chains related to depression, anxiety, sickness, and trauma, declaring a year of favor and health.
• Identity and Declaration [00:32:32 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor leads the congregation in a verbal affirmation of their identity as blessed, redeemed, and empowered by God.
• Prayer and Faith [00:35:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor encourages congregants to pray with faith, thanking God in advance for hearing their requests, emphasizing that prayer moves the hands that rule the world.
• Resurrection Power [00:37:01 ▶️ 📄]
  > Connecting Easter to the present, the pastor asserts that the same power that raised Jesus is available to sustain believers and overcome impossible situations.
• Divine Sovereignty and Prophecy [00:44:07 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using Isaiah 55, the pastor explains that God's ways are higher than human ways and that He knew the details of the crucifixion and resurrection 700 years in advance, proving His control over history.
• Atonement and Healing [00:48:43 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor reflects on Isaiah 53, highlighting that Jesus was pierced for rebellion and whipped for healing, allowing believers to claim physical and spiritual restoration through His stripes.
• Redemption and Testimony [00:53:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > A personal story is shared about overcoming a life of crime and addiction through faith, illustrating that God can speak hope and change lives even in the darkest places like juvenile detention.
• Faith and Trust in Uncertainty [01:11:28 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor urges believers to maintain faith and trust in God's plan even when life brings disappointment, setbacks, or unanswered prayers.
• Divine Perspective vs. Human Understanding [01:12:31 ▶️ 📄]
  > The speaker contrasts limited human understanding with God's supernatural knowledge, explaining that God's ways are higher and His plans are better than ours.
• Redemption through Setbacks [01:13:57 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that what appears to be a setback or defeat is often God setting the stage for a greater victory or purpose.
• The Story of Thomas and the Crucifixion [01:15:17 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the biblical example of Thomas and the disciples, the pastor illustrates how the crucifixion, though a perceived defeat, was necessary for salvation and eternal life.
• Personal Testimony of Ministry [01:19:26 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal story about his father's death leading to his own unexpected call to pastor the church, illustrating how struggles launch people into their destiny.
• Doubt and Faith [01:22:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor redefines Thomas's doubt not as a lack of faith, but as a protective response to pain, asserting that God does not disqualify those who question.
• Divine Intervention [01:26:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the imagery of Jesus walking through a locked door, the pastor illustrates God's power to overcome impossible natural circumstances like sickness or addiction.
• Identity and Labels [01:30:35 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues against letting temporary seasons of failure or doubt become permanent identity labels, urging listeners to accept God's definition of them as 'believing' and 'blessed'.
• The Holy Spirit [01:28:28 ▶️ 📄]
  > Explaining why it was 'better' for Jesus to leave, the pastor highlights the transition from external reliance on prophets to the internal presence of the Holy Spirit.
• Faith and Belief [01:35:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts seeing with believing, citing Jesus' words to Thomas to encourage the congregation to trust without physical proof.
• Doubt and Seasons of Life [01:36:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > Acknowledges that doubt and confusing situations are part of the Christian walk but do not disqualify one from God's use, referencing Thomas as an example.
• Destiny and Breakthrough [01:36:48 ▶️ 📄]
  > Encourages listeners to reject negative labels and past failures, asserting that their destiny is waiting and that current struggles (Friday) will lead to breakthrough (Sunday).

• Sermon Illustration [00:05:09 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the biblical account of the women going to the tomb to say goodbye to Jesus, noting that the stone was too heavy for them to move, but God had already rolled it away, illustrating that God does what we cannot do on our own.
• Sermon Illustration [00:53:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal testimony of growing up in a rebellious environment with drug and gang activity, leading to juvenile detention at age 14. Facing a felony charge at 16, he found hope through a radio broadcast ministry, prayed for forgiveness in his cell, and experienced God's presence, leading to his transformation.
• Sermon Illustration [00:45:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > An analogy is used comparing God's word to rain and snow falling on dry ground: unseen but quietly changing everything and accomplishing its purpose without returning empty.
• Sermon Illustration [01:19:26 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts his father's sudden death at 77, which he initially didn't understand, but later realized was God's way of pushing him out of the background and into his destiny as a pastor.
• Sermon Illustration [01:15:17 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the biblical narrative of Thomas, who doubted the resurrection because he couldn't reconcile the crucifixion with his expectations of a political Messiah, to illustrate how God's plan often defies human logic and expectation.
• Sermon Illustration [01:25:23 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about his mother, Dodie, fighting terminal cancer, describing her internal struggle with negative thoughts and doubt despite her heart's belief in God.
• Sermon Illustration [01:23:18 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the biblical narrative of Jesus appearing to the disciples behind locked doors, specifically bypassing the believers to address Thomas's doubt directly.
• Sermon Illustration [01:34:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the historical tradition that Thomas traveled to India to spread the gospel, illustrating how a man known for doubt went on to have a significant impact on millions.
• Sermon Illustration [01:35:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the biblical story of Thomas, who doubted until he saw Jesus, as an analogy for the congregation's faith journey, suggesting that doubt can launch them further in faith rather than stopping them.
• Sermon Illustration [01:37:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the metaphor of 'Friday' representing current suffering or confusion and 'Sunday' representing the coming healing, favor, and breakthrough to illustrate God's unfolding plan.

• Pastoral Charge [00:32:32 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor commands the congregation to verbally recite a specific declaration of identity and spiritual status.
• Pastoral Charge [00:35:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor invites those needing prayer to come to the front of the church to meet with prayer partners.
• Pastoral Charge [00:35:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > Invite those needing prayer to come to the front of their section to meet with prayer partners.
• Pastoral Charge [00:35:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > Instruct the seated congregation to remain seated while the pastor prays for the online audience.
• Pastoral Charge [00:39:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > Invite the congregation to join in a corporate prayer for family members struggling with addiction, disease, or spiritual distance.
• Pastoral Charge [01:37:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor invites the congregation to verbally affirm their reception of the message by saying 'amen' and to join in prayer.
• Pastoral Charge [01:37:40 ▶️ 📄]
  > Say 'amen' to receive the declared blessings of healing, favor, and breakthrough.
• Pastoral Charge [01:37:44 ▶️ 📄]
  > Stay for a closing prayer.

[00:03:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:03:09] How many of you are ready to worship the Lord today? Are you glad we have a risen Savior today alive and full of mercy and grace and we just feel blessed to have you here on this resurrection weekend and we're just gonna have a great time worshiping God and thanking Him for what He's done. I love that thought because He lives, we can live. We can live an abundant and joyful life and you know even though we may have some difficulties in our life we know that you know God
[00:03:40] for us is more than what's trying to stop us. And I've learned, you know, as you, as you celebrate God's goodness, you know, it does something in your mind, that grateful attitude. So I know you
[00:03:51] probably came like that today, but if you didn't, if there's anything kind of trying to weigh you down, you know, worry can take place up here and guilt and what somebody said. And Joel, I got this
[00:04:00] big challenge this week. Why don't you empty out all the negative? You know what'll happen? God will fill you afresh and anew with joy and peace and wisdom. We never want you to leave the same
[00:04:11] way you came. And I do think there's something we have to do. And really that's why we start the service off with praise because we start thinking about the greatness of our God. And we thank him for rising from the dead. We thank him that he's fighting our battles. And
[00:04:24] I say this often, the bigger we make God, the smaller our problems become and the more faith rises in our hearts. So we're going to make him big today. He's a resurrected savior and very
[00:04:35] honored to have you with us this morning. Thanks for coming out. Our beautiful online family listening live on Sirius XM, but here's our prayer, our declaration that not one of us are going to leave the same way we came in. We're going to go out of here with more joy and more

[00:04:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:04:49] victory in Jesus name, but thanks for coming out. Amen. That is so good. Happy Easter church. We are so glad to celebrate with you this wonderful celebration of life and victory. You know, sometimes there's things in our life or obstacles in our way that we don't have the strength or the
[00:05:09] ability to move. Have you ever faced something like that? Well, in the gospels, it talks about some women who were going to the tomb to put that, say their final goodbyes, their unfinished business for Jesus and he was in that tomb and that tomb was sealed with a heavy stone
[00:05:27] and they go they were going because they just thought I feel like we haven't said our goodbyes I feel like we haven't done enough and as they were going they were saying to themselves it's
[00:05:37] recorded who will roll away this stone for us see the stone was so huge and so heavy that these women could not roll it away in their own strength but when they got to that tomb they discovered
[00:05:51] that that stone had already been rolled away that Jesus had risen what they could not do on their own God did for them and I want to remind you that is what Easter is all about things that you can't
[00:06:08] make happen on your own because of what Jesus did, his death, burial, and resurrection, he can do for us and wants to do for us.
[00:06:17] So this morning, if you're facing some difficulties, maybe some things that seem impossible, know this.
[00:06:24] The same power that raised Jesus from the dead and rolled that stone away is still alive and it's still working today.
[00:06:33] In fact, Jesus is called our living hope.
[00:06:37] sometimes hope seems dead. It seems impossible. Can I remind us all today that that hope is living?
[00:06:45] That means no matter what's going on in your life, there's always hope because hope is not dead.
[00:06:51] Hope is alive and he is walking in your life right now. So we have something to celebrate. Amen.
[00:06:57] We have the risen savior. So as we go into this next portion of the service, let's just open our heart. Let's lift our voices and let's shout to the Lord. Thank you for being my living hope.
[00:07:10] Thank you for doing what I couldn't do on my own. Thank you that you're still rolling away stones.
[00:07:16] Thank you, Jesus, for what you want to do in my life. Amen. Father, we thank you for this time, this opportunity to worship together, to be together. Father, that we can say we serve a risen Savior. Thank you for all you've done and all you're going to do. And we want to feed
[00:07:34] this hope. We want to feed this faith of ours. We want to connect with you. And it's all in

[00:07:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:07:40] the precious name of Jesus. And everyone said, amen. Recognize the price that you paid to

[00:28:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:28:04] take our sins, our sicknesses, our failures. And Lord, we know it wasn't something easy, but you chose to do it.
[00:28:12] Lord, we thank you for the sacrifice you made.
[00:28:15] And we're here today to say, we love you, Lord.
[00:28:19] We celebrate what you've done and where you brought us to.
[00:28:23] And we thank you for rising from the dead.
[00:28:26] You hold all power in your hands.
[00:28:28] And Lord, you've chosen us before we could choose you.
[00:28:31] We gather on this Sunday that we call Resurrection Sunday just to remember specifically, Lord, all your goodness and your mercy and the price that you paid. Lord, we're here to just thank you for what you've
[00:28:45] done in our lives and where you brought us to. But Lord, we know you woke us up this morning.
[00:28:51] You gave us breath to breathe and life to live. None of us would be here without your goodness and your favor and your protection.
[00:28:59] So Lord, we thank you for that.
[00:29:01] We thank you for salvation, for eternal life, and just for all your goodness, Lord.
[00:29:06] We stand here before you this morning to say it publicly. You're our Lord. You're our God. You're our Savior. Make us and mold us into who you want us to be. Lord, would you put your first place in our lives, our decisions.
[00:29:21] We put them into your hands, our health, our finances, our career, our children. Lord, we put your first place. Let everything we do bring honor to your name. Lord, shine brightly through each one of us. Let us be bright lights wherever we go at work, at school. Lord, that we'll be a great
[00:29:40] blessing and a great witness, an example of your goodness and your mercy, sharing light and love and your goodness with everyone we meet. So Lord, we just thank you for this day that you've made.
[00:29:53] And Father, I thank you that as we're worshiping you this morning, that every force that's tried to stop us has been broken in the name of Jesus. For you are a powerful God. And I thank you that
[00:30:05] chains of depression, anxiety, and mental illnesses, Lord, any kind of sickness and chronic pain, maybe it's addictions, bad habits, bad relationships, trauma from the past. Lord, I thank you today is a breakthrough day that you're doing what only you can do.
[00:30:24] But Lord, our eyes are upon you today.
[00:30:27] We know you didn't bring us this far to leave us where we are.
[00:30:30] So we stir up our faith today.
[00:30:33] We believe not for a get by year, but for a blessed 2026, a productive, healthy favor filled year.
[00:30:41] Lord, show out in our lives.
[00:30:44] Let us be a greater blessing wherever we go.
[00:30:46] And Lord, I do lift up those that are fighting battles in their health here in the building, watching and listening.
[00:30:52] Lord you said that by your stripes we were healed that you have paid the price so Lord I just speak healing to all those that need it Lord I think you could even do what medicine cannot do
[00:31:05] that you have the final say so I think even now healing's flowing into all those that need it into our bones our joints our ligaments our cells our tissue Lord I say what you said with
[00:31:17] long life you will satisfy us, that we will run and not be weary. Good health for your people.
[00:31:25] And Lord, not just physically, but I lift up those that are in tough times and those that have gone through loss. Father, you said you're close to the brokenhearted. Let them feel your presence, even now, even though it may feel like a dark time in their life. Lord, I thank you that light
[00:31:41] will come bursting in, that you have beauty for the ashes, that you are comforting them and giving in that peace that only you can give. And Lord, I just thank you for fresh vision and fresh hope
[00:31:53] and Lord, just new beginnings. You said we've been indoors for a night, but joy is coming in the morning. So Lord, I thank you for the joy that's on the way in Jesus name. Lord, you've
[00:32:05] done great things in the past and we are grateful, but Lord, we believe declare that the best is still yet to come, that we are victors and never victims in Jesus name. And if you receive it,
[00:32:18] can you say amen today? So great to have you in the house of the Lord, blessed and honored to have you. We make a declaration of faith in every service. This is just to get in tune with God and
[00:32:32] to remind ourselves who God says we are. So come on, say it like you mean it. Ready? I am blessed, prosperous, redeemed, forgiving, whole, talented, creative, confident, secure, disciplined, focused, prepared, qualified, motivated, valuable, free, determined,
[00:32:55] equipped, empowered, anointed, accepted, and approved.
[00:33:00] Not average, not mediocre.
[00:33:02] I will become all.
[00:33:04] God has created me.
[00:33:05] in jesus name amen and amen all right y'all y'all messed up i couldn't hear i was daydreaming anyway here we go y'all it's blessed that we're blessed to have you in the house of the lord now think
[00:33:24] about a resurrection sunday one thing i think it's obvious you know god raised jesus from the dead but one principle we could take in our own life today is you know if god can do that he can
[00:33:34] resurrect dead things in your own life and you know sometimes we we look at the old man enjoy my finances or my situation, my health, or, or this relationship, joy is dead. It's gone. But
[00:33:45] you know, don't ever rule out the power and the favor and the goodness of God.
[00:33:49] When you believe all things are possible. Come on, let's be believers. Let's be, let's be people that believe we'll become all that God's created us to be. And if you have something that looks impossible, I'm not saying to deny the facts and act like it's not there,
[00:34:04] but you know, here, here's a good prayer. God, I don't see a way, but God, I know you have a way.
[00:34:09] you know, God, you know, Victoria quoted that the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives on the inside of us. How about 2026? We see some resurrection power and God brings some dreams back to life or relationships back to life. We believe you're going to have a blessed
[00:34:27] favor, feel productive 2026. And part of that is just the resurrection power that God has available to each one of us. Let's stay believers and not doubters. And we believe you're going to come to
[00:34:39] the end of this year and look back and say, look what the Lord has done. God has shown out in my life. One more scripture before we pray. I was reading in Psalms this week and the Psalmist
[00:34:48] said, God, show me a sign of your favor so that my enemies will know you're on my side. I thought, man, that's a great prayer. We need to all pray that God show us a sign of your favor this week,
[00:35:00] not only to move us to our destiny, but so that other people will know that we serve the most high God. I'm praying, believing you're going to see God surprise you and show you some signs of
[00:35:12] his favor. What does that, that means something you can't do something you weren't expecting.
[00:35:17] It's the goodness of God. The scripture says blessings, chase the righteous. I just speak his blessing over each one of you today. A sign of, of his favor, maybe not in the sweet by and
[00:35:29] by. How about in 2026, God show out in our lives so we can be a bigger blessing. But Jesus said, my father's house will be called a house of prayer. So every service we like to take time
[00:35:41] to pray individually during this next song. If you need prayer, there'll be prayer partners at the front of each section. Somebody loved to pray for you. Anyone's welcome to come for prayer.
[00:35:52] Rest of you, you're welcome to be seated if you'd like, but we'll take this next five, six minutes to pray for people watching online. Our beautiful audience there listening live on Sirius XM. Thanks for being with us. We love you guys. We're praying for you. And Victoria is there

[00:36:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:36:06] to speak a blessing over you today. It is so good to be with you this morning, and we're excited that we can join our faith with yours to see God do amazing things. You know, we can never give up
[00:36:23] in prayer. We've got to know that prayer moves the hands that rule the world. And sometimes when we pray, we wonder, God, do you hear us? But when we pray, we have to pray in faith and we have to go,
[00:36:35] God, thank you for hearing us and then making our requests known to him and thanking him. The Bible says to give thanks to him. And so that's what we want to do this morning. We want to pray for your
[00:36:48] needs, but we want to thank him because he's done so much for us. He's given us a living hope in Jesus Christ. It's Easter and we're celebrating the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord
[00:37:01] Jesus. And I want you to know today that that resurrection power is available for you today.
[00:37:07] The spirit that is on the inside of you is stronger than anything that can come against you.
[00:37:13] The Bible says that the spirit of a man, that's your spirit, that it is what sustains the man.
[00:37:21] And so today I want to speak strength of heart, strength of spirit to you. I want to speak faith into you so that you will believe for better things and greater days, because that's what we
[00:37:34] have to do. We have to feed our spirit, and that's what you're doing. You're listening to the Word of God. You're in the presence of Almighty God. You're staying in that place where your spirit
[00:37:44] can become strong. So know today, as you put your prayer requests in, believe and put them in with faith. If you need anything, whether it's financial difficulties, it's healing, relationships in your family, write it down in the chat, but write it in faith. Even put a thank you, Lord, before you put
[00:38:05] what you need, because God hears your faith. He sees your faith, and He hears your faith. And what I mean by that is sometimes it's easy to say what we don't have, but when we begin to say what God
[00:38:18] can do, then God hears that faith. So this morning, I just want you to be encouraged that nothing is impossible with him, the same way that he rolled away the stone and he was risen from the grave,
[00:38:31] he can do things in your life that seem impossible. We've already got a few prayer requests. We have requests for family. Omar, he is requesting that we pray for his daughter because she's going through this anxiety after the death of her grandmother. So Omar, we're going to stand with
[00:38:52] you for your beautiful daughter, that this anxiety cannot stay, that peace is going to blanket that anxiety, that her grandmother would not want her to be in this place of anxiety. So we're going to stand with you that she's going to go past this, the grieving period, and she's
[00:39:12] going to go forward in faith. We have Patty for her daughter to break a drug addiction. And so We're going to stand with you, Patty, for your daughter as well.
[00:39:21] You know, when our family's not doing well as parents or aunts and uncles or when the people in our life aren't doing well, man, it's hard because you can't fix it because you feel like your hands are tied, but they're never tied in prayer.
[00:39:37] You, when you pray, you are releasing your faith and God's hands are never tied.
[00:39:43] So just untie your hands and say, God, I'm giving it to you.
[00:39:47] I believe.
[00:39:47] So we're going to stand with Omar and with Patty right now and with you.
[00:39:52] If you have family members who are struggling with an addiction or maybe a disease or maybe they just need to find God again, let's just pray right now.
[00:40:01] Father, I thank you that you love our families and that God, you are going after our family members that are far off.
[00:40:09] Father, if they're in things that they shouldn't be in, if they're in different lifestyles or they're hooked on a habit, Father, you can break it.
[00:40:17] We're asking you to send labors across our path.
[00:40:20] We're asking you to, by the power of your Holy Spirit, to break those chains of addiction, to heal their bodies, Father, to restore back to them what they need, Father.
[00:40:30] We're asking you in Jesus' name for Omar's daughter and Patty's daughter and all those who are listening, Father, to build relationships and families again.
[00:40:41] And Father, do what only you can do.
[00:40:43] Restore.
[00:40:44] Bring help.
[00:40:45] Father, bring finances and bring whatever they need in the name of Jesus.
[00:40:50] And I also want to pray for Valerie and Michelle.
[00:40:53] Michelle's having surgery in April and Valerie is fighting lymphoma.
[00:40:57] And I don't know if there's sickness in your body, but let's just pray because it's by the stripes of Jesus.
[00:41:02] When he hung on that cross, he took stripes.
[00:41:05] He took whips that striped his body for us, the Bible says.
[00:41:10] and read the scriptures about what those stripes and those lashes did.
[00:41:15] It took on Him the things that we fight.
[00:41:18] So let's just say thank you for putting them back on Him.
[00:41:22] You resist them.
[00:41:23] We're giving them to Him because He bore them, and He can handle them, and He can heal you.
[00:41:28] So, Father, I thank you that you're healing every person out there.
[00:41:31] The sound of my voice are their family members, Father.
[00:41:34] You're healing them, restoring health back to them, Father.
[00:41:38] I thank you that symptoms have to go in the mighty name of Jesus.
[00:41:43] By the stripes of Jesus, you are healed.
[00:41:48] We're going to stand in faith with you.
[00:41:50] We're going to believe this is a new beginning.
[00:41:52] This is Easter.
[00:41:53] This is resurrection time.
[00:41:55] Get that faith in your heart.
[00:41:57] We're going to stand in faith with you.
[00:41:58] We're not going to break our agreement.
[00:42:00] We want you to know how much we love you.
[00:42:02] And it's all in the name of Jesus.

[00:42:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:42:04] Before there was a cross, long before there was an empty grave, it was foretold, spoken, written, set in motion.

[00:43:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:43:53] But for the people of that day, it didn't feel clear.
[00:43:58] It didn't look like what they expected.
[00:44:02] It felt uncertain.
[00:44:04] It felt confusing.
[00:44:07] But nothing is ever a surprise to God.
[00:44:09] he always knows he always sees and he's never trying to figure it out as he goes and in isaiah chapter 55 god pulls back the curtain and he lets us see how he works not how we think he works but how he actually moves he says my thoughts are not your thoughts
[00:44:36] neither are my ways your ways declares the Lord as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways as high as the sky stretches above us that is the distance
[00:44:56] between what we see and what God is doing and then he brings it a little bit closer as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return without watering the earth.
[00:45:14] Picture that.
[00:45:16] Rain falling onto dry ground, seeping in where no one can see, but quietly changing everything.
[00:45:29] So this is my word that goes out from my mouth and it will not return to me empty. Not one word wasted, not one promise forgotten. He says it will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You see, when God
[00:45:55] speaks, it establishes. When God speaks, it settles. Before there was a cross, before there was an empty grave, there was already a word, a promise set in motion. And if God said it, it's already done. So be it.

[00:46:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:46:51] Before these events would take place, Isaiah writes, he was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows acquainted with deepest grief.

[00:48:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:48:43] We turned our backs on him and looked the other way, yet it was our weaknesses that he carried.
[00:48:49] It was our sorrows that weighed him down.
[00:48:51] We thought his troubles were a punishment from God, but he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
[00:48:58] He was beaten so that we could be whole, whipped so that we could be healed.
[00:49:02] All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
[00:49:05] Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.
[00:49:10] See, these words, they hold a lot of hurt.
[00:49:14] His pain physically to our pain spiritually.
[00:49:18] See, I'm glad that we can take a moment, a sigh of relief to exhale.
[00:49:23] We get to have a hope that's an anchor for our soul.
[00:49:27] Because we committed the crimes, but Jesus stepped in to serve the sinners.
[00:49:31] We ruined the relationship, but he was the one to step in, rebuild, and restore it.
[00:49:36] We built the debt with our sins, but he cut the check that covered the cost.
[00:49:40] I'm grateful.
[00:49:43] Why?
[00:49:45] Because we no longer have anything to worry about.
[00:49:49] He didn't, wasn't surprised by these moments at all.
[00:49:53] This was not news to God.
[00:49:55] 700 years before these events would take place, Isaiah prophesied it, but God purposed it from the very beginning.
[00:50:03] Isaiah saw it coming, but God saw it complete.
[00:50:06] This wasn't news.
[00:50:07] This wasn't a surprise at all.
[00:50:08] This wasn't a plot twist at all.
[00:50:10] as a matter of fact it was a part of his manuscript see let that be an encouragement to us because we may have to wait on a word but we don't have to worry about whether or not the word is
[00:50:22] going to come to pass why because God doesn't just make statements God makes promises and when he says it it will happen so Jesus figures the pain of the cross is far less than the pain of not
[00:50:38] having a relationship with me and with you so he died he said i'll die and i'll get up and the whole time he had you and i in mind church every single word every prophecy declared every word
[00:50:53] that was spoken every promise was intentional god said it and it will happen i am so grateful and i wonder if there's anybody else in the room that would be grateful to serve a god that keeps
[00:51:05] his word. So this Resurrection Sunday, let's remember that God has the final say and when he says it it's settled. It is finished.

[00:51:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:51:25] The environment I was living in

[00:53:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:53:27] started to shape me in a very rebellious way. There was a lot of drug activity. There was a lot of gang activity. Graffiti on the wall every time I would walk home from school. I did not feel safe at all, but it was life. It was a norm to me. So eventually it was
[00:53:46] who I became. I had no respect for an authority. I'm disruptive at school. I'm fighting. Then I end up in criminal activity and going to juvenile detention center at 14 years old. I was like,
[00:54:02] well, this is life. And I was at a crossroads when I was 16 years old. It was my third time in the detention center I thought I'm just gonna get a slap on my hand I'll go home again with
[00:54:16] probation but that wasn't the case for me I was facing a felony charge if I was to be found guilty or condemned I would be in adult prison as a minor I didn't sign up for that but it dawned
[00:54:35] on me that my choices brought me here after about four months things were getting very serious Attorneys were talking to me.
[00:54:45] Psychologists were talking to me just to evaluate me how I was doing because I got into like some type of depression.
[00:54:54] Pastor Joel was a huge vessel in God's hands to give me hope and to give me inspiration in my hopeless situation.
[00:55:04] The detention officers would leave the broadcasting station on for me.
[00:55:09] And it's like every night there was something that was giving me hope.
[00:55:13] It was something that was tugging in my heart, like, hey, your past is the past.
[00:55:18] What's ahead of you is beyond what you can imagine with God.

[00:55:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:55:22] Let me declare it over you.
[00:55:24] Despite the delays, the setbacks, how you were raised, you're still going to live a blessed, fulfilled, victorious life.

[00:55:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:55:33] Even in the jail cell, God can speak to you.
[00:55:36] And I prayed to God.
[00:55:37] And it was in that moment that I asked him for forgiveness.
[00:55:41] and I asked him to please give me one more chance and I felt his presence come into that place in that cell and just embrace me you know the broken me the little girl that didn't have a dad and it
[00:55:58] was like God was telling me I love you I'm here and it was in that moment where things started to change, and letters came pouring in from outside organizations or entities that knew me.
[00:56:14] They would speak so highly of me when I thought the less of me. The judge, I really feel like it was the embodiment of God's mercy and grace in him, where he didn't see me as a criminal. He
[00:56:27] didn't see me as a lost case. He said, I'm going to give you an opportunity, and I'm going to give you a chance, and it was in that moment where I was given freedom. I did come back to my same
[00:56:40] environment, and the environment didn't change, but I did. What happened to me in that center really changed my life. So what I'm doing today, I am a prayer outreach specialist with KSBJ, And on the prayer and care line, we are praying for countless people who are in dire situations.
[00:57:04] I visit juvenile detention centers and I share my story to these young kids.
[00:57:09] I used to be in their shoes.
[00:57:11] It doesn't matter where you're at.
[00:57:13] It doesn't matter how hopeless your situation may be.
[00:57:16] There's so much hope in Jesus and there's restoration power in him.
[00:57:20] God is hope.
[00:57:21] And in Jesus Christ, there is new life.

[00:57:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:57:24] That's so beautiful.
[00:57:25] for Yesenia. Yesenia is right here on the front row. Come on, Yesenia. You got to stand up for us. Can you? She's weeping, but what a beautiful story. You don't have to stand. What a beautiful
[00:57:36] story. Come on, y'all. Welcome her to Lakewood and tell her how proud we are of her. So good.
[00:57:45] So good, Yesenia. We love you. We're proud of you. I know that was a fight of faith, but man, Yesenia you broke generational bondages you're setting a new standard for you and your family you know it's not where you
[00:58:01] start it's where God can take you so you gotta let her story inspire you as well may not be the same circumstances but really it just shows us that God has the final say that when you believe
[00:58:13] God sends the right people and you take that step of faith and you know what God can do great things in your life as well but we celebrate that but none of this would happen without you guys, because you know, it goes out through the media
[00:58:25] all over the world and we do a lot of humanitarian outreaches as well. So we want to thank you. We take a moment in every service to worship the Lord with our tithes and our offerings. We'll
[00:58:34] receive our donations today. And we just always want to thank you and like to show you the stories to let you know you're sowing it into good ground. It's all about how can we impact the world God's
[00:58:46] given us. And, you know, together we can make a great difference. And I love what the scripture says. The world of the generous gets larger and larger. I think a Lakewood people, cause you guys
[00:58:57] are generous with your time, serving, attending, helping others with your finances as well. You support the ministry and think, you know, naturally you think, well, wait a minute, if I give them, I'll have less, but that's not the way God works. When you give, when you sow your time, your energy,
[00:59:13] your finances. God knows how to give it back to you. Press down, shaken together, running over.
[00:59:18] And our prayer for each one of you is, you know, cause you to stay faithful. Your world is going to get larger and larger. That means, you know, greater relationships and greater in your career,
[00:59:29] more influence and just more opportunity. And I mean, look, we're in the former compact center.
[00:59:33] We never thought we'd be here, but you know, this, this is what God can do when you keep in first place and you know, you take it to your own life. This was for the church, but how about for your
[00:59:42] own life. We believe declare your world's going to get larger and larger. Stay faithful. Thanks for supporting the ministry and allowing us together to impact people all over the world.

[00:59:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:59:52] That's so good. You know, I think about giving like this when we give we're, we're not just giving, but this giving is living. That means it doesn't end in this very moment. It goes on.
[01:00:06] It has a ripple effect. There are people that you will never meet that were touched by your giving. There's generational lines that will be blessed because of your giving. You see, you may not know this on earth, but I bet you'll know it someday in heaven, but it is a, it's a living
[01:00:25] giving. So I just want to encourage you that not only that you're giving, give life, but you're giving brings life. It brings joy. It brings peace. It brings, you know, satisfaction to your own soul so think about your giving not as here it goes but as I'm just giving something but think
[01:00:48] about it in faith and saying God I'm not just releasing my money I'm releasing life I'm releasing life I'm releasing life because you're very very important to the kingdom of God and the things that you do make a huge impact not only on others but on your in your own life and in your own
[01:01:09] family. So today I just want to encourage you. You're releasing life. You know what? You're storing up treasure in heaven. God is writing it all down and he's got you covered. So you got to
[01:01:21] know today that you are important to him. You're important to us. And we just want to thank you

[01:01:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[01:01:25] for all you do. That's beautiful, Victoria. Lord, thank you for our generous givers here in the building and listening. Lord, we recognize everything we have comes from you for you've given us life and gifts and opportunities and resources. Lord, as we give, we don't do it
[01:01:40] because we have to. We do it to honor you, to build your kingdom, to put you first place.
[01:01:46] Father, I just pray what you promised, that your people's world will get larger and larger, that they live under the open windows of heaven, that you pour out blessings. Lord, we know the economy is not our source. You are our source. Lord, I thank you. You'll give your
[01:02:01] people ideas and creativity, wisdom, inventions. Lord, bring them contracts and opportunities.
[01:02:09] Let their gifts and talents come out to the full. Let them excel, Lord God, and shine brightly so we can build your kingdom. We love you, Lord. We give, not in our name, but in the name of Jesus.
[01:02:21] In Jesus' name, amen and amen. God bless you today as you give. Here are some ways that you can give.

[01:02:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[01:02:29] 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
[01:02:50] Houston, Texas 77227 or call us toll-free at 888-567-JOEL.

[01:02:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[01:02:59] Correction Sunday today, honored to have you.

[01:07:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[01:07:29] Do you mind all standing one last time?
[01:07:31] But can I tell you how honored we are to have you?
[01:07:34] The service would not be as good today if you had not have come.
[01:07:38] So we welcome you.
[01:07:39] That person on your left and on your right, they are a VIP.
[01:07:43] They are full of God.
[01:07:44] They're good looking.
[01:07:45] They're full of faith.
[01:07:47] You're sitting by somebody very important and we love you guys.
[01:07:51] Thanks for being a part. Y'all know this, but we're kind of wild out here at Lakewood. We celebrate all the time, but here's what I've learned. Your new week goes better when you put God first place. And I know you're all busy. You work hard. You got things you're dealing with,
[01:08:08] but here you are in the house of the Lord. So the scripture says, when you're planted in the house of the Lord, you will flourish. So, you know, life can be distracting now, but say planted,
[01:08:17] Keep your children planted in the house of the Lord as well.
[01:08:20] You know, like I said, life goes better and we love having you here and we just speaking blessings over each one of you.
[01:08:26] Hey guys, if you've never been baptized in water, I would be honored to do that this Saturday.
[01:08:31] We do it twice a year and I would be honored to baptize you in water.
[01:08:36] It's just, you know, it's celebrating the death, burial and resurrection of your old life.
[01:08:41] You're leaving the old in the past and you're coming up new.
[01:08:44] It's what Easter is all about.
[01:08:45] I know some have been baptized, you know, years ago when you're a little baby, may not remember, or some people got away from the Lord and they want to do it again, but we'd be honored. You
[01:08:53] just sign up and we'll tell you when to come. But again, we would be honored to baptize you.
[01:08:58] Last thing is I've got a new book out. I do a new book once or twice a year. I got a new book out.
[01:09:02] I'm proud of it. It's called Rediscovering the Forgotten You. And we'll talk more about it, but I'm not going to brag on myself there, Johnny. I don't want to brag on my books, but it's good, y'all. We are honored to have you here. If you're visiting, special welcome to you.
[01:09:18] If you've got time, I'd love to meet you in the lobby afterwards if you've got a moment, but just blessed to have everybody here today. I'm going to ask you, when you see yourself on the big screen, would you give our TV audience a great big Lakewood welcome?
[01:09:32] Well, God bless you. It's great to be with you today, and I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, and social media, and you can come visit us in person. We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services, but I like to
[01:09:47] start with something funny. And someone sent me this interesting observation from the book of Genesis goes like this in the beginning, God created the earth, then rested. Then God created man and rested next. God created women. And since then, neither God nor man has rested.
[01:10:06] a lady asked my father where would you men be without us women my father smiled and said in the garden of eden all right y'all say it like you mean it this is my bible i am what it says i am
[01:10:23] i have what it says i have i can do what it says i can do today i will be taught the word of god i boldly confess my mind is alert my heart is receptive i will never be the same i'm about to
[01:10:38] receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever living seed of the word of God. I'll never be the same. Never, never, never. I'll never be the same in Jesus name. God bless you. If you'd like to open your Bibles to John chapter 20 and verse 24, we'll put scriptures on the screen as well. John
[01:11:01] 20 verse 24, but don't forget this afternoon at two o'clock, we have a great Spanish speaking service, an amazing team. I see Talia sitting over there. What a singer he is, worship leader. But Monday night, we got the Bible study. Wednesday, we're back in person. If you want to come,
[01:11:18] we have a couple thousand people. It's a fantastic hour service. Love to have you. Plus the youth, the junior high meet on Wednesday and a lot of good things. But again, honored to have you.
[01:11:28] I want to talk to you today about dare to believe. There are times in life when our faith is high and we're filled with great expectation. We're pursuing dreams, seeing doors open, making progress. Then life happens. Person walks away, contract falls through. The medical report
[01:11:48] isn't good. We were so close. It's like we could grasp it, but now it doesn't seem possible.
[01:11:55] All of us face these moments when life doesn't make sense or what we were hoping for didn't happen. Our prayers weren't answered. It's easy to get discouraged. That's when doubt comes, whispers. You must've heard God wrong. You'll never get well, never see your family restored.
[01:12:13] It's too late to accomplish your dreams. No, God wouldn't have put that dream in your heart.
[01:12:20] He wouldn't have given you that promise. If he wasn't going to fulfill it, you're not going to understand the plan of God in real time. We look at what's happening now, but God knows what's
[01:12:31] coming later on. His ways are not our ways. His plans are better and bigger than our plans.
[01:12:39] If you try to understand everything that's happening in that one season, you're going to be frustrated because God is doing things now that are setting you up for something much better later on. He may have to close a door, move a person out of the way, or take you through this
[01:12:57] detour, this difficulty. I don't understand this. God, where are you? Why did this happen?
[01:13:05] Faith is all about trusting when you don't understand doing the right thing. When you have unanswered questions, when it doesn't make sense, all your emotions will say, be disappointed, live in self-pity give up on your dream no come back to that place of peace that place of trust
[01:13:24] God is ordering your steps he is the author of your story he has planned your days for good and not for harm and yes there may be some seasons you don't understand and seasons of struggle
[01:13:38] where what was working is not working anymore seasons of silence you're praying doing the right thing. Nothing's changing. Seasons of closed doors, disappointments, where it looks like it's canceled your dream, but God wouldn't have allowed it if it was going to stop your purpose.
[01:13:57] It looks like a setback. The truth is it's setting you up for something you've never seen.
[01:14:04] Dare to believe, dare to trust him when it doesn't make sense. When you don't understand, when doubt comes bombarding your mind telling you it's too late it's over it's never going to happen no what God started he's going to finish what he promised you is still on the schedule
[01:14:22] no disappointment can stop him no sickness no bad break God has the final say he has you in the palm of his hand he sees you doing the right thing when it's hard he sees you praising when you could be
[01:14:37] complaining and staying in faith when all the circumstances say you should be discouraged.
[01:14:43] Your time is coming. You're going to see God show out in your life. Jesus told Peter, you don't realize what I'm doing now, but later on you will understand. We get frustrated because we're trying to figure out now, why did that door close? Why'd they do me wrong? Why am I in this
[01:15:04] trouble. Well, stay in faith. You're later on is coming. You're going to see it was all a part of God's plan. What you thought was a disappointment was necessary for you to step in to who you were
[01:15:17] created to be. This is what Thomas had to deal with. He left everything to follow Jesus and became one of the 12 disciples. For three years, he saw Jesus walking in power, favor, huge crowds
[01:15:31] gathering. He was there when Jesus healed the blind, cured the lepers, multiplied the food.
[01:15:38] He knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the chosen one. He'd seen it firsthand. But the Jewish people in that day believed the Messiah would overthrow the Roman government, free them from oppression and restore Israel back to the glory days from when David sat on the throne. They expected Jesus
[01:15:59] to rule and to reign and to defeat the enemies. Things didn't turn out the way they thought.
[01:16:05] Instead of overthrowing Rome, Jesus was crucified by the Romans. Instead of sitting on a throne, he hung on a cross. Instead of this huge victory, they saw this great defeat. Their world was shattered. They were confused. They had questions. Thomas thought, man, did I waste my time?
[01:16:26] did I spend three years believing a lie was I fooled was he not who he said he was you can imagine how heartbroken and disappointed but what Thomas couldn't see right then was this was all the plan of God it had to happen if it had worked out the way Thomas wanted
[01:16:45] we wouldn't have salvation we wouldn't have redemption eternal life Thomas wanted Jesus to change the government. God wanted Jesus to change the world. Thomas wanted freedom from Rome. God wanted freedom from sin. Thomas wanted a temporary kingdom. God wanted an eternal kingdom.
[01:17:07] Thomas wanted a throne in Jerusalem. God wanted a throne on our hearts. What looked like a setback, them crucifying Jesus was really a setup for us to have an abundant, victorious life.
[01:17:20] What am I saying? You can't always see the plan of God in the present. It's not always going to make sense. God is doing things we can't comprehend that are much better than we can imagine. We get
[01:17:35] discouraged and think, man, Joel, this is not what I thought would happen. This company didn't treat me right. After all these years, this friend betrayed me. My loved one didn't make it. You don't know what God is up to. Things are happening behind the scenes that you can't see right now.
[01:17:53] And they crucified Jesus on that Friday and put him in the tomb. They thought it was over. All the forces of darkness were celebrating, having a big party. But on Sunday morning, it was a
[01:18:04] different story. They got the surprise of their life. Jesus came up out of the grave and he said, I am he that lives. I was dead, but I'm alive forevermore. By the way, I have the keys of death
[01:18:17] and hell. He rose in great victory. But the truth is Jesus didn't like going through that suffering season when he was mocked, betrayed and beaten. He sweat great drops of blood. He said, father, if you will take this cup from me, he knew he was going to be painful, but he trusted the plan of
[01:18:38] God. He understood that it had to happen. There are some levels you can only get to by going through difficult seasons. The key is don't focus on your crucifixion. So to speak, you have to
[01:18:52] believe that your resurrection is coming. It may be Friday in your life today, things you don't understand. You could be discouraged. Why is this happening? God is up to something. Your Sunday is coming. Something that you can't see right now. It's going to launch you into a new level of your
[01:19:12] destiny. When my father went to be with the Lord, 77 years old, he had a heart attack and suddenly passed. And I didn't understand that. I thought daddy would live another 20 years. We were best
[01:19:26] friends and now he was gone. Felt like everything was upside down. Like this was the end. But I soon realized it was all a part of God's plan. I never had ministered before. I'd been behind the scenes
[01:19:42] for 17 years. And my father tried to get me up here again and again. I always told him no, but when he passed, I suddenly had the desire to step up and pastor the church.
[01:19:52] I didn't know any of this was in me. I didn't think I could minister, but there are gifts and talents God has put in you. And sometimes he has to push you into your destiny, the struggle,
[01:20:06] the disappointment, things you don't understand. It's going to launch you into a new level of your purpose. We see the moment, but God sees the whole story. We don't like Friday, but stay in faith.
[01:20:19] Sunday is coming. The scripture says to lean, not to your own understanding. Things are going to happen that we don't understand. It's because our understanding is limited. We are natural.
[01:20:34] God is supernatural. He said, we haven't seen, heard, or imagined what he has in store.
[01:20:42] What he's planning, you can't see right now where he's taking you. It may not happen by traditional ordinary ways. He's going to do things uncommon that you haven't thought of bigger than you had plan. Had Jesus done what the disciples wanted and become that political Messiah and overthrown
[01:21:03] the government, we wouldn't have a savior. His ways are better than our ways. Trust him when it doesn't make sense. On that Sunday evening, after they crucified Jesus, the disciples were in a room locked behind closed doors. They were afraid of the Jewish leaders and what would happen
[01:21:24] after the crucifixion, would they be next? When Jesus suddenly appeared to them, standing right in the middle and talked with them, you can imagine how they were in awe. Well, Thomas wasn't there that night. They rushed out to find him. Couldn't wait to tell him the good news. They
[01:21:41] said, Thomas, we've seen the Lord. He's alive. They thought of course he'd be excited, but Thomas was a little more analytical. He was logical, practical. He had questions.
[01:21:55] This didn't make sense. He was crucified. How could he be alive? That's not possible.
[01:22:01] He answered them back. Unless I see the nail prints in his hands, unless I touch the wounds in his side, I'm not going to believe it wasn't so much that Thomas was lacking faith or he wasn't
[01:22:14] committed enough. It's that he didn't want to be hurt again. That disappointment, that loss was so painful. He couldn't deal with anything more. And sometimes when we've been through hurts and plans haven't worked out, it's tempting to lower our expectations. Don't get our hopes up. It's
[01:22:34] easier to not believe and just accept it. Joel, I doubt that I can get well now, but man, I can live with this sickness or I doubt I'll ever be free from this addiction. It's been so long,
[01:22:46] but I can handle it. I doubt that I'll meet the right person. I doubt I'll ever see abundance, the open windows of heaven. That's right where Thomas was. He thought, man, I've grieved this loss. I've accepted. It's not going to happen. And I'm okay with the disappointment. You may be okay,
[01:23:04] but God's not okay. He loves you too much to let you miss your destiny. You may have given up on a dream, but God has not given up. When you won't go to him, he'll come to you. A week later,
[01:23:18] the disciples were in a room again. This time Thomas was there. The door was locked, dead bolted. All of a sudden Jesus came walking through the door. They were standing there in astonishment. Jesus walked right past Peter, past John, Matthew, James, and he went straight to
[01:23:39] Thomas. He bypassed all the people who had faith and went to the one person that had doubt. He didn't speak to the believers. He went to the one man that didn't believe. He reached out his hands,
[01:23:53] said, Thomas, touch my nail prints. He turned his body. Thomas, touch the wounds in my side.
[01:24:01] God was showing us that doubt doesn't disqualify you. Jesus could have said, oh, fine, Thomas, i don't need you anymore i'll find somebody else that'll believe good riddance but god doesn't write you off because you don't have enough faith you have questions things you don't understand
[01:24:20] the enemy will try to bring condemnation you're not strong enough you're not committed enough why are you doubting you're doubting because you're human it doesn't mean that you're going to miss God's plan. You're not going to see his goodness. God knows your heart. There may be doubt
[01:24:39] in your head, but in your heart, you love God. You want to believe you're trying to stay in faith.
[01:24:46] God will come to you. Even in your doubt, he knows the struggles are real. Disappointments can weigh us down. People that do us wrong doors close. That can be discouragement. Bring questions. I must heard God wrong. He's not saying if you're Superman, if you never doubt you never have a
[01:25:08] down moment, then I'll help you. Then I'll show you a favor. No, even in the doubts, God is looking for you. He's coming your way. When my mother was fighting terminal cancer, she told how she would
[01:25:23] wake up in the middle of the night and so worried and fearful, all these thoughts telling her that was over and there was no way to get well. And she would get a little discouraged and even confused
[01:25:36] trying to stay in faith, but doubt was so real and so strong. She told my father, John, I feel bad that I'm doubting trying my best, but these negative thoughts keep weighing me down.
[01:25:49] My father told her, Dodie, you're doubting in your mind, but in your heart, you believe God In your spirit, you know that healing is coming. We all know that God works when we have faith.
[01:26:03] But what I want you to see is God is so good. He'll meet you in your doubt. When you have questions, when you feel confused, when things happen that you don't understand.
[01:26:15] Now, I love how Jesus walked through a closed door. He didn't knock. He didn't go to the window.
[01:26:21] he didn't try to push the door open he simply walked through the door you may have doors that are locked in your life so to speak things that seem impossible in your health your finances your
[01:26:35] dream no way in the natural the good news is there's not a door that God can't walk through not a sickness he can't heal not an addiction he can't break not a child he can't turn around
[01:26:48] You have the most powerful force in the universe on your side.
[01:26:53] But maybe today you're like Thomas.
[01:26:56] Things haven't turned out the way you thought.
[01:26:59] You're looking at it in real time and it doesn't make sense.
[01:27:03] The medical report is not good.
[01:27:05] Now you're doubting whether you'll get well.
[01:27:08] You had that breakup and now you're doubting if you'll ever meet anyone.
[01:27:13] You lost that client.
[01:27:14] You're doubting if your business can make it.
[01:27:17] You're right where Thomas was.
[01:27:19] the door is locked, deadbolted, odds are against you. What you can't see is God is about to walk through that door. It's going to be supernatural. You couldn't make it happen. It's the hand of God
[01:27:32] doing what only he can do. You see resurrection Sunday is not just about Jesus rising from the dead. That's, that's the most important thing. But if Jesus can walk out of a tomb, he can walk
[01:27:45] into your doubt, dare to trust him, dare to believe it may not make sense right now, but he's working behind the scenes. His plan is better than your plan. It may be Friday in your life, but Sunday
[01:28:01] is coming. Something that launches you into your destiny. Jesus told the disciples in John chapter 16, it's better for you. If I go away that way, the Holy spirit can come. Well, they couldn't understand that in real time. Nothing could be positive about Jesus leaving. He was their leader,
[01:28:23] their teacher, their Messiah. They'd seen all the miracles, all the good that he had done.
[01:28:28] This made no sense that it would be better if he left it's because they couldn't see the plan of God. They didn't know what was coming. See, before Jesus rose again, the Holy Spirit only lived in
[01:28:42] certain people, prophets and priests. In the old Testament, David would tell his men, go to the prophet and ask him what God wants us to do. When you made mistakes, you had to go find a priest
[01:28:55] to make a sacrifice for your sins. They were dependent on other people for guidance and protection. Everything in the disciples reasoning said, Jesus leaving is a bad thing.
[01:29:08] This is not what we expected with him. Not here. We'll be less effective, but it was just the opposite. When Jesus left, he sent the Holy spirit to live on the inside of each one of us.
[01:29:21] Now we don't have to go to a prophet. We don't have to find a priest, a minister, a pastor.
[01:29:27] we are temples of the most high God. The Holy spirit is in you right now, leading you, guiding you. He's called your counselor, your advocate, your helper. That's why Jesus said, it's better for you that I go away. Sometimes God will remove things. We don't understand.
[01:29:48] He'll close doors or move someone out of our life. We don't like it. Nothing in our logic can see how it's a good thing. You don't understand it now, but later on you will. God is doing things you
[01:30:01] can't see. And he's going to take you where you've never been. Trust him when it doesn't make sense.
[01:30:08] Don't fight everything you don't like. God is smarter than we are. He's closing a door, doing something you don't understand. Be mature enough to say, God, I trust you.
[01:30:20] you know what's best for me. I may not like this. I may be in a crucifixion right now, but I believe my resurrection is coming. Thomas became known as doubting Thomas.
[01:30:35] We were taught in Sunday school. Don't be like Thomas. He didn't have enough faith. He had to have proof. But do you know how long Thomas doubted? Was it for a year, five years, 30 years?
[01:30:48] He's got this nickname. This lasted 2000 years. No, Thomas doubted for eight days.
[01:30:55] It was eight days from the time they told him Jesus had risen into the moment. Jesus walked in the room eight days and thousands of years later, people are still calling him doubting Thomas. What's my point. People will try to label you by one bad moment, but one failure,
[01:31:15] one tough season, one breakup. Do yourself a favor. Take off those labels. Weak Thomas, addicted Thomas, divorced Thomas, compromising Thomas. That's not who you are. That was one moment of your life. You may have failed, but you are not a failure. That's what you did. That's
[01:31:37] not who you are. You may have doubted, but you're not a doubter. Don't let that label become permanent. You may struggle with an addiction, but you are not an addict. You are a child of
[01:31:48] the most high God. Don't let people label you. Let God label you. We call him doubting Thomas.
[01:31:57] You know what God calls him? Believing Thomas, forgiving Thomas, blessed Thomas. Now you may need to take off some labels today. Unattractive, damaged, hurt, compromiser. Don't let that define your future. Every person has had a moment of doubt, a moment of compromise that we wish we
[01:32:18] could undo. If we could go back, we'd do better. If Thomas had another chance, he would have believed right at first, but it happened. You can't change the past, but you don't have to let it define you. Now the enemy is an expert with labels. He'd love to deceive you into wearing that
[01:32:37] doubting label, inferior, shame, washed up, unworthy. Take off those labels. You are who God says you are. Blessed, valuable, worthy, a masterpiece. See, people may define you by what you did, but God defines you by what Jesus did. He made you worthy. He made you righteous. He
[01:33:03] calls his own child, his prize possession. And this is really a good lesson for all of us.
[01:33:11] Don't judge people by one event. Don't label them by one bad season. I can't believe they did that.
[01:33:19] If it wasn't for the grace of God, you could have done it too. It wasn't just your discipline, your focus. It was the mercy of God helping you. Don't be self-righteous, holier than thou. I've
[01:33:32] never done that. No, our righteousness comes from God. Walk humbly, recognize it's his mercy and his grace keeping us on course. The mercy you show others is the mercy God is going to show you.
[01:33:47] This is what Lakewood is all about. People walk in here, shortcomings, addictions, compromise, doubt, but we don't call you by what you've done. We call you by who God says you are.
[01:34:00] not doubting Thomas. That was eight days, but believing Thomas, not addicted Thomas, but free Thomas, not ashamed Thomas, but worthy Thomas, not failing Thomas, but victorious Thomas.
[01:34:16] Well, Thomas is probably most known for his doubt, but that wasn't the end of the story.
[01:34:22] That eight days got a lot of attention, but what we don't hear a lot about is Thomas took the gospel further than any other disciple. Peter, James, John, they went to Rome, Greece, Judea.
[01:34:37] Thomas went to India to another continent, 3000 miles away. The man who doubted God used to go the furthest. I've been to India many times with my father and every way you go, you meet a Thomas
[01:34:52] churches are named after Thomas. Parents named their sons, Thomas. There are groups called St.
[01:34:58] Thomas Christians that trace their faith back to Thomas 2000 years ago. Yes. Thomas had a season of doubt, but he didn't let it define him. He went on to live a lifetime of faith because of that
[01:35:13] millions of people in India, generations later are still hearing about the goodness of God.
[01:35:20] The enemy had loved to convince you that your doubts, your failures, what's happened in the past. That's tainted your future. Man, just sit on the sidelines. Don't believe those lies.
[01:35:32] God is coming to you with love, with mercy, with forgiveness, not to just make it through, but like with Thomas to go further, to leave your mark. The best part of your life is still
[01:35:45] in front of you. Jesus said to Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed, but blessed are those who have not seen yet will believe that's you and me. We haven't seen, we weren't
[01:36:00] there in person. We weren't able to touch to feel yet. You're here. You're honoring God. You're putting him first place. You are blessed because you believe and you haven't seen maybe like Thomas, you've had some seasons of doubt, wondering questions that didn't disqualify you. If God
[01:36:22] can use Thomas. He can use you. Maybe you're in a situation now. It doesn't make sense.
[01:36:29] Feels like you're going backwards. God is up to something behind the scenes. You don't understand it now. Trust him later on. You will. His plan will unfold into something better than you've ever imagined. If Thomas were here today, he would tell you, take off the negative labels.
[01:36:48] don't be defined by one event by one bad season don't let that sour the rest of your life move forward in faith your destiny is waiting your children are counting on you relatives in heaven those that have gone before
[01:37:04] you they are cheering you on right now this is your moment this is your time to shine dare to believe if you'll do this I believe and declare like Thomas doubt is not going to stop you. It's going to launch you further and higher. It may be Friday in your
[01:37:22] life, but get ready. Sunday is coming. Healing, favor, breakthroughs, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus name. And if you receive it, can you say amen today? Let's pray together.
[01:37:40] If you have a minute, if you don't mind sticking with me, I like to seal it in prayer.
[01:37:44] Lord, I thank you for what we've heard today. You see everybody here and watching, listening, that came out to honor you, to celebrate your resurrection. We recognize you're our savior.
[01:37:56] Lord, help us to go out of here full of faith, letting go of the doubt, knowing that you still love us, that you're pleased with us, that you still have a bright future. Lord, we're going to
[01:38:07] trust you even with unanswered questions. We're not going to get stuck in that, but we believe father, you're doing things that we can't see. Help us to stay in faith. Help us to honor you.
[01:38:18] thank you for your holy spirit rising up and big in all of us to step up to who you have created us to be lord as your people go out this week to work to school thank you that your angels are
[01:38:31] watching after them keeping them from evil and harm with our heads bowed in prayer just a quick question if your heart stopped beating in the next few minutes are you at peace with god do you know
[01:38:45] where you'd spend eternity if you died a little while from now? If not, I would love to pray with you. I'm not here to condemn anybody. I'm here to help you find a new beginning. I know this comes
[01:39:00] from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Just a moment. If you're not, if you're not at peace with the Lord, or maybe you are a Christian, but you've grown cold toward God and you need to
[01:39:13] rededicate, recommit your life. You need that fresh new start. If that's you in just a moment, I'm going to ask you to take a step of faith and stand right where you are and we'll pray together.
[01:39:26] I can't think of a better time to get on the road to victory than right now. Resurrection Sunday.
[01:39:33] God is not mad at you. Your sins have already been forgiven. All you have to do is accept the free gift of Christ's salvation. Will you do it today? In your thoughts, the enemy will whisper,
[01:39:46] do it next week. Do it another time. You can't stand. Listen to what Jesus said.
[01:39:52] If you know the Bible says today is the day of salvation. Don't put it off. You're not here by accident. Well, Joel, there's so many people. I don't want to stay in. I got people at home. I
[01:40:02] can't lift my hand. Jesus said, if you won't be ashamed of me before people, then I won't be ashamed of you before my father in heaven. I'm going to give you a great opportunity to show God
[01:40:16] that you're not ashamed of him. If you're not at peace with the Lord, or you just need to rededicate, you need to recommit your life to Christ. You need that fresh new start, a new
[01:40:26] beginning. If that's you, would you be bold? Take that step of faith and stand right where you are.
[01:40:32] If you would please come on Lakewood, let's give them a hand as they stand all over the building.
[01:40:38] come on don't put it off I feel like there ought to be others your heart's beating fast don't go home without peace come on don't be left out anybody else come on Lakewood they're still standing anybody else
[01:40:59] still time well God bless you and please remain standing if you don't mind I want to tell you how proud we are of you I know that took courage to stand and more importantly I
[01:41:13] know God is never going to be ashamed of you because you took this step of faith and the scripture says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Let me help you to call. Do you mind
[01:41:25] all saying this, even with our friends that are standing Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Amen. Remain saying one more moment. I want to
[01:41:42] tell you how much we love you. We're going to be praying for you. I also want to give you a personal invitation, even a challenge to come back and be with us on a regular basis. This next year of
[01:41:53] your life is incredibly important. And I'd love for you to get plugged in here at Lakewood. If you, if you live around here or you can do it online, however you do it. But if you will give
[01:42:02] us the next year of your life, I will make a promise to you before that year is over, your life will never be the same for the better. We're going to help you grow and become who God's
[01:42:14] created you to be. And I said it earlier, I know you're busy, you know, Sunday's a day off, but you know, there's, there's something happens. There's a blessing on your life. If you can, when you put
[01:42:24] God first place and you can get plugged in after the service, people ask me, Joel, what's the next step? Well, we've designed a space after the service right over here. It's called new beginnings.
[01:42:33] It's on the second floor, right over there. It takes about 20 minutes and we have resources to help you grow. You can learn how you can get connected and meet some of our team. I'd love
[01:42:44] to meet you over there too. I'll be there in five, 10 minutes. Just take a moment just to say hello to you, but know that you're important to us, that we're going to be praying for you. We want
[01:42:53] to see you become who God's created you to be. The moment you stood up, God washed away all your sins, your mistakes, your failures. How about writing it down in your Bible, April 5th, 2026,
[01:43:06] a new day of victory in your life in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Well, let's all stand together. If you would please. Thanks so much for coming out today. How many of you going home better off than
[01:43:19] you were before? Amen. All right, guys, we love you. I want to speak one more blessing until we meet again. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord show you his favor and watch over
[01:43:31] you and may the Lord give you mercy and an amazing week. We love you very much. God bless you. Have an awesome week. We'll see you back real soon and happy resurrection Sunday.