The Danger of Decretive Faith: A Theological Audit

• Faith and Praise [00:03:06 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor encourages the congregation to magnify God rather than their problems, emphasizing that praising God makes problems smaller and brings faith, joy, and victory.
• Divine Provision and Destiny [00:27:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The speaker asserts that God has equipped believers with everything they need for their destiny, arguing that big challenges indicate a big destiny and that God's favor is greater than any opposition.
• Holistic Healing [00:30:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor expands the definition of healing beyond physical symptoms to include emotional, financial, and relational wholeness, identifying God as 'Jehovah Rapha' (The Lord Our Healer).
• Faith vs. Sight [01:04:18 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that if evidence is present, faith is unnecessary, citing Hebrews to define faith as the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen.
• Divine Silence and Hidden Work [01:04:34 ▶️ 📄]
  > The speaker explains that God often works in secret behind the scenes, meaning a lack of visible change or divine response does not indicate inaction.
• Obedience Amidst Doubt [01:07:13 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the example of Noah, the pastor illustrates that true faith involves daily obedience and trust in God's word despite contradictory environmental evidence and internal discouragement.
• Faith vs. Sight [01:10:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that believers must prioritize God's promises over visible circumstances, using Noah's decision to build the ark despite clear skies as the primary example.
• Divine Silence [01:10:59 ▶️ 📄]
  > The sermon reframes periods of silence from God not as abandonment, but as a necessary season for spiritual growth and testing faith without immediate confirmation.
• Endurance and Obedience [01:16:26 ▶️ 📄]
  > Faith is defined as endurance; the pastor emphasizes that the miracle is not just the initial act of obedience, but the persistence in building the 'ark' over long periods without visible results.
• Hidden Resources [01:22:03 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor introduces the concept that God may provide solutions ('fountains of the deep') that are completely unexpected and unseen, contrasting with human expectations of 'rain'.
• Faith vs. Sight/Evidence [01:23:42 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that a lack of visible evidence should not deter faith, citing Noah's century-long obedience without seeing the rain, and Peter's initial success walking on water by focusing on Jesus' word rather than the storm.
• Divine Resources and Timing [01:23:42 ▶️ 📄]
  > The speaker emphasizes that God has 'hidden resources' and 'fountains of the deep' that may not be immediately visible, urging the congregation to trust in God's supernatural timing and provision despite current natural circumstances.
• Perseverance in Obedience [01:25:00 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using Noah and Peter as examples, the pastor highlights that the true miracle is continuing to act in faith (building the ark, walking on water) despite adverse conditions or lack of immediate results.

• Sermon Illustration [00:27:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the biblical figure David, noting that in one version of the scripture, David declares, 'The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need,' to illustrate that believers are fully equipped by God for their challenges.
• Sermon Illustration [01:05:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the story of Noah building the ark. He highlights that it had never rained before (only light mist), so Noah had no visual evidence of a flood. Despite years of clear skies, silence from God, and mockery, Noah continued building daily, trusting the original promise over the visible reality.
• Sermon Illustration [01:14:23 ▶️ 📄]
  > A GPS analogy where the narrator is on a long, silent stretch of road (240 miles) without new instructions, illustrating that silence from God indicates he is on the right path, not that he has abandoned the journey.
• Sermon Illustration [01:16:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > A testimony of a mother whose son became addicted to OxyContin and heroin during the opioid crisis; she maintained faith in God's promise for 10 years despite no evidence, until a strict parole officer forced him into rehab, leading to his complete recovery.
• Sermon Illustration [01:23:00 ▶️ 📄]
  > A personal anecdote about the pastor's struggle to find property for a new church sanctuary; after traditional plans failed, he realized God had a 'hidden resource' (the current building) that he hadn't anticipated, mirroring the 'fountains of the deep' opening.
• Sermon Illustration [01:24:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the biblical story of Noah, who built the ark for over a hundred years without seeing any rain or evidence of the coming flood, yet remained faithful and thankful. This is used to illustrate long-term perseverance when there is no visible evidence of God's promise.
• Sermon Illustration [01:25:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor details the story of Peter walking on water. He highlights that Jesus invited Peter out of the boat while the storm was still raging, not after calming it. Peter succeeded when he focused on Jesus' word ('Come') but began to sink when he shifted his focus to the 'negative evidence' of the wind and waves.

• Pastoral Charge [00:04:24 ▶️ 📄]
  > Congregation to verbally greet fathers present and online.
• Pastoral Charge [00:25:48 ▶️ 📄]
  > Congregation to verbally affirm the declaration of faith.
• Pastoral Charge [00:29:17 ▶️ 📄]
  > Congregation to move to the front for prayer during the song.
• Pastoral Charge [00:31:21 ▶️ 📄]
  > Online audience to submit prayer requests via chat.
• Pastoral Charge [00:31:21 ▶️ 📄]
  > Submit prayer requests via the chat function to invoke healing.
• Pastoral Charge [01:12:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > Remain faithful and stand on God's promises.
• Pastoral Charge [01:19:56 ▶️ 📄]
  > Do the right thing, believe, and thank God.
• Pastoral Charge [01:28:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > Verbal affirmation of receiving the blessing
• Pastoral Charge [01:29:04 ▶️ 📄]
  > Participate in a closing prayer to seal the message

[00:03:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:03:06] Thank you for coming out. How many of you are ready to worship the Lord today? God's been good to you. I always think about God brought us through another week and we're able to be here today with friends and family. We're healthy and whole so we all have a reason to give God thanks. So thanks for coming out today and especially our online audience as well and listening live on Sirius XM. We welcome all of you. Another day the Lord has made. It's a day that we can choose to give God praise and really choose to think about what we're focused on.
[00:03:36] focusing on. I often think about, you know, you can, you can magnify your problems or you can magnify God. We can think about what's wrong in our life or we can thank God for what's right in
[00:03:45] our life. So, you know, I think it's just, uh, it helps us to get back in tune, know that God's in control. He's got each one of us in the palm of his hand. And I've, I've learned that as you make
[00:03:55] God bigger, your problems become smaller and you have more faith and your attitude is right. So I hope today, if there's anything trying to weigh you down, what a perfect time to just say, God,
[00:04:05] I'm turning it over to you. As you do that and you thank God for what he's done and enter into praise and thanksgiving with us, let me make a promise to you. You will not go home the same
[00:04:15] way you came in. You'll go out of here with more faith, more joy, and more victory. We believe that in Jesus' name. And how about right off the bat, how about we say happy Father's Day to all the

[00:04:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:04:24] amazing fathers in the building and watching as well. We love you. You are listening. It is good to be in the house of the Lord this morning or wherever you're gathered listening. You know, David said it this way. He said, I was glad when they said, let us go to the house of
[00:04:43] the Lord. Aren't you glad this morning you got up and you came into the presence of almighty God. Listen, when we worship and we gather together, there's a powerful force of faith that goes up. So I want to encourage you today that as you, as you release your praise to
[00:05:00] God and, and it really is, it's a release because sometimes it's hard to get in the, in the rhythm of praise, but you know what? All you have to do is just say, God, I just released
[00:05:10] my praise to you today. And listen, as those praises go up, God senses those. He hears those.
[00:05:17] He sees you right where you are. And I believe he's got strength. He's got courage. He's got more faith in store for you today. You know, God, when we draw close to him, as we build and develop
[00:05:30] a relationship with him. He can do things in our life that we can't do on our own. He can make things happen in our life that we can't make happen on our own. So today, know you serve a
[00:05:42] faithful and wonderful God. And you know, I just want to say this. Sometimes, you know, we try to muster up faith, but this morning, if you're waiting on something or you need God to do
[00:05:51] something in your life, I encourage you to just say, God, help me with my faith. Help me believe.
[00:05:58] You see, the disciples said, help us in our unbelief, Jesus.
[00:06:03] You see, God is not saying you should have more faith.
[00:06:06] He's asking you to ask him for what you need.
[00:06:09] And if you need more faith today, I encourage you to say, God, give me that seed of faith because I want it to grow and I want to see you do amazing things in my life.
[00:06:19] Amen.
[00:06:19] Well, let's open up our hearts to him and worship him this morning.
[00:06:22] Father, we thank you so much that we can gather as a body of believers, Father, and lift up your name. Father, we thank you that you are, you are a wonderful God. You are King of
[00:06:33] Kings and Lord of Lords. And that's who we call you today. We call you who you are, the most high God. And we thank you that we can come into the house of the Lord and we can worship you together.
[00:06:44] So father, as our praises go up, receive them father, and know that we love you with an everlasting love. And it's in Jesus name we pray. And everyone said.

[00:07:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:07:11] Thank you for all that you've done in our life.

[00:21:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:21:57] Father, we realize you chose us before we could choose you.
[00:22:01] Here we stand today redeemed and forgiven, not as ordinary people, but as your children.
[00:22:07] You've crowned us with favor.
[00:22:09] You've written every day of our life in your book.
[00:22:12] Lord, we thank you for all that you've done, your goodness, your mercy, the times you made ways where we didn't see a way, and all the blessings you brought into our lives, the people the opportunities and lord we know every good thing has come from you our father
[00:22:28] in heaven above and lord even the difficult times you gave us the grace to come through it and here we are today lord standing strong thanking you for all that you've done and father we commit our
[00:22:40] lives are fresh and anew into your hands we say make us and mold us into who you want us to be Lord I thank you you're going before us now making the crooked places straight
[00:22:51] opening right doors and closing wrong doors bringing the right people across our path and Lord weed out those that shouldn't be there I thank you Lord that we're full of your wisdom that we have the power to
[00:23:05] obey that we make decisions that honor you and move us toward our God given destiny Father I thank you this morning any force that's tried to stop us has been broken in the name of Jesus. In our mind, depression or anxiety, mental illnesses,
[00:23:24] maybe it's sickness or bad habits or trouble at work or in our finances. Father, I thank you today is a breakthrough day that you're doing what only you can do. Lord, our eyes are upon you. We know
[00:23:37] you haven't brought us this far to leave us where we are. Lord, we thank you there are greater things in front of us and father i just speak fresh vision over your people and fresh anointing
[00:23:49] fresh momentum fresh attitude fresh growth leaving the old the negative the hurts the failures what didn't work out lord we leave that in the past and we step into a new beginning today of your
[00:24:03] goodness and mercy lord i do lift up those fighting battles in their health you said lord you're Jehovah Rapha the Lord our healer you said that by the stripes of your son Jesus we were
[00:24:16] healed that healing is available Lord we just receive it right now flowing into all those that need it Lord even doing what maybe the medicine cannot do but Lord you have the final say we speak
[00:24:29] healing wholeness strength vitality and Lord we thank you in advance that the number of our days you will fulfill in good health in Jesus name. And Lord, not just physically, but I lift up those
[00:24:43] that are in tough times, those that have gone through loss. Father, you said you're close to the broken hearted. Let them feel your presence even now. Thank you that you're comforting them or that they feel that peace that only you can give. Even though thoughts may tell them that
[00:24:59] it's the end, let them know that it's a new beginning, that you have beauty for the ashes, that you know how to restore.
[00:25:06] You said weeping endures for a night, but joy is coming in the morning in the name of Jesus.
[00:25:13] Father, I lift up all the fathers here today and those watching and listening.
[00:25:18] Lord, we just speak a special blessing over them.
[00:25:22] Thank you for their desire to honor you being in the house of the Lord.
[00:25:26] And Lord, I thank you that your hand of favor and goodness and mercy will be upon them.
[00:25:31] And Lord, that you'll help them do what they can't do on their own.
[00:25:34] take them where they can't go. We speak victory, health, and abundance, favor, wisdom over all the fathers in the name of Jesus. Lord, we declare we are victors and never victims in Jesus' name.
[00:25:48] And if you receive it, can you say amen today? So good to have you today. Honored to have you.
[00:25:56] Come on, let's make our declaration of faith. I am blessed, prosperous, redeemed, forgiven, healthy, talented, creative, confident, secure, disciplined, focused, prepared, qualified, motivated, valuable, free, determined, equipped, empowered, anointed, accepted, and approved.
[00:26:23] Not average, not mediocre. I'm a child of the Most High God. I will become all I was created to be in Jesus name. Amen and amen. Well, I like it. Every time we say it equipped, empowered,
[00:26:39] anointed. How about this part? I am prepared for everything that I need. You know, sometimes we think, oh man, Joel, I can't take this, this new position or I can't, I don't know if I can go
[00:26:50] through this, this, this, you know, difficulty or this challenge with this child, but you gotta, you gotta know that God has equipped you with everything you need. I love that. I spoke on it the other day. In one version, David said, the Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need.
[00:27:05] What a way to live y'all. Not all. I don't know if I can do that. I don't know. That may be too big. Listen, that you and God are a majority. The power in you is greater than any power that's
[00:27:16] trying to stop you. I love how it says in Psalms that God has armed you with strength for every battle. You got a big battle. Let me tell you, you got big strength. You got big favor. You got
[00:27:27] a big God backing you up. Here's what I've learned. I'll quit screaming y'all. Here's what I've learned. The reason you have big challenges is because you have a big destiny. The enemy wouldn't be fighting you if he didn't know you weren't a giant killer, that you have greatness
[00:27:43] in you. So sure, there's going to be some opposition, but you've got to remind yourself, I am equipped. I am empowered. Nothing you face will be too much for you because you have the grace of God, the favor of God. Think of it this way. God said, he's written every day of your life
[00:28:00] in his book. So nothing you face is a surprise to God. So if you get to a day where you're going to need a lot of, uh, you got a big challenge. Well, God has big grace. He has big favor waiting for
[00:28:11] you. Always going to have what you need. So you have to stir that up. Cause here's the thing.
[00:28:16] We can have all this power anointing crown with favor. We can have it all. But if we see ourselves the wrong way. It's not God that's limiting us. We're limiting ourselves. Not me, Joel. I got
[00:28:29] this shame or I got this problem or I got this bad pastor. I got these people that are too big.
[00:28:34] You got to tune all that out and say, no, God, I know you being for me is more than what's trying to stop me. I am well able to do what I'm called to do. You do that and you're going to see God
[00:28:45] step in and breathe on your life and make things happen that you couldn't make happen. Let me tell you, 2026, not a get by year, but a blessed year, a favor filled year, a year where you're going to
[00:28:56] see God do some unusual, uncommon things. You don't have to figure it out. Why don't you just be believers and not doubters and watch what God's going to do. Amen. We'll take a moment to pray
[00:29:08] today. We do it in every service. If you need prayer, you want us to agree with something you're believing for. Why don't you meet a prayer partner at the front of your section during this next
[00:29:17] song. Anyone's welcome to come for prayer. We'd be honored to pray and rest of you, you're welcome to be seated if you'd like. And we'll take this next song to pray, but our beautiful online audience
[00:29:27] and listening live on Sirius XM. Thanks for always being a part. We pray for you every day. And my wife, Victoria is there to speak a blessing over you today. Good morning. It is such a joy and an

[00:29:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:29:45] honor to be able to spend this time to agree in prayer with you. And as they are praying in the main sanctuary. This is a time that we can release our faith to God and allow Him to work in our
[00:29:58] lives. So know today that God is listening. He sees you. It's so important what we believe about God. Do we believe that He sees us? Do we believe that He hears us? You know, in Exodus 15,
[00:30:12] 26, God said, I am the Lord, your healer. He is declaring Himself the healer. I don't just heal you, I am healing. And so that's what God wants to do today. He wants to bring healing to our
[00:30:27] lives. And sometimes we think healing is just physical. Maybe we have a symptom in our body, or we've been diagnosed and God will heal us. But God is a God who wants to make us ever with
[00:30:39] whole. He wants to repair what's been broken. He wants to redeem. He wants to heal those parts of our lives that are hurting, whether it's in a relationship, maybe it's in your finances. Your finances need to be ever with whole. They need to be healed. Whatever is broken, whether it's
[00:30:59] physical, mental, or it's things that are external on the road, on the outside relationships, whatever it is, let's pray to a God who says, I am your healer. I am healing. I am Jehovah Rapha, he named himself. So it is important that we call him what he calls himself.
[00:31:21] Today, we're going to call on the healer. And so if you have a prayer request, put it in the chat right now, because what you're saying is I'm calling on the healer. I'm calling on healing
[00:31:34] and I'm going to call on him like he calls himself. So today know that he loves you with and everlasting love. And he's given us the favor to call forth that healing. Today, I want to
[00:31:46] encourage you with a couple praise reports that have already come in. Lisa was praying for her children and their praise report. Sorry, wrong one. Lisa, Elizabeth said she is praising God because she woke up with less pain in her body. And so Lisa, we rejoice with you that you woke
[00:32:07] up this morning feeling good. And I want to pray for all those out there who maybe wake up and they don't seem to feel like themselves. They don't feel like they used to feel. There's maybe something
[00:32:17] in your body. We're believing that the healer is going to heal you or show you what you need to do.
[00:32:23] Because sometimes it's simply, we may need to hear from God to do something in the natural so he can work in the supernatural. And you know what I mean by that is it takes faith,
[00:32:35] faith without works you know so can be just an empty thing so we have to do our part and God will do his part Luke um he said that his medical report came back negative nothing wrong in his
[00:32:51] body so Luke we're excited for you about that but anyway today we want to pray for what you need and maybe it is healing in your body Kay says she needs healing from arthritis and Dan he's having
[00:33:04] neck surgery and he wants to believe that he will recover and be healed. So we're going to call upon the healer today and ask Jesus that he would heal Kay and he will heal Dan and he will heal you.
[00:33:18] Whatever it is, Father, I thank you. Whatever your children need right now, you see them and you hear them. And Father God, we call upon Jehovah Rapha, the God, our healer. We call you healer because
[00:33:30] you called yourself healer. And we're standing on that word right now. We're not standing on something we say. We're standing on what you say today, Father. And we thank you. You said it was by the stripes of Jesus that we are healed. So I speak healing into people's bodies right now
[00:33:47] in the name of Jesus, that every symptom would have to go, that those doctor's reports would turn around, that Father, you would correct heart disease, diabetes, kidney functions, anything, Father, that is high blood pressures, anything in the head or brain, any kind of,
[00:34:04] you know, mental anxiety. Father, we're calling these things out. We don't have to call them out because you know your children and you know what they need and you see their faith. So, Father, I'm just agreeing with them today, Father, that they are healed in Jesus' name. Amen and amen.
[00:34:22] And Lisa needs healing for her children because their father passed away.
[00:34:27] And this will be the first Father's Day without their father.
[00:34:30] So we want to lift up that family and just believe that God can just come in and be that comforter.
[00:34:37] And be that husband to the husbandless and father to the fatherless.
[00:34:41] And that God will encamp around Lisa and her family all the support and all the provision that she needs.
[00:34:48] And so today, maybe you've suffered a loss or maybe you're lifting up people in your family.
[00:34:53] Let's just pray for provision and comfort.
[00:34:56] Father, I thank you right now that you are the God who comforts.
[00:35:00] You are the one who supplies.
[00:35:03] And so we're calling on the supplier.
[00:35:05] We're calling on Jehovah, the supplier.
[00:35:08] So, Father, we thank you that you will, Jehovah Jireh, you will supply all of our needs according to your riches by Christ Jesus.
[00:35:16] And so, Father, we thank you that Christ, he did it all.
[00:35:20] So, Father, there's nothing lacking in their life.
[00:35:23] And, Father, I thank you you can fill the empty spaces.
[00:35:25] You can give them grace, mercy, whatever it is they need today, Father, to be whole and complete and not broken in any area, Father.
[00:35:35] We thank you you are the redeemer of all things.
[00:35:38] And we don't know how you can do it, but, God, we know you can do it.
[00:35:42] So that's why we're asking you to move in their life today.
[00:35:45] And we thank you for it in advance, in Jesus' name, amen.
[00:35:50] Be whole and be healed, in Jesus' name.

[00:35:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:35:55] You may be seated.

[00:37:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:37:04] Thanks for coming out.
[00:37:05] And we want to take a moment today to really honor all the amazing fathers at Lakewood here in the building, online watching.
[00:37:12] So I've asked some of the great fathers, a few of the great fathers of Lakewood to join me today.
[00:37:17] I've got Dr. Ryan Hall here in the middle, and Devante runs our youth department, a great pastor. Pastor Randall's involved in our pastor in our Spanish speaking service. And so got some amazing, amazing men here. Dr. Hall is a transplant surgeon here in town and he travels overseas. Just
[00:37:35] got back with being with my brother, Paul, two weeks to Africa, using his gifts and talents, not only here in the medical center, but all over the world. And I just asked him to take a moment
[00:37:45] and let's speak a blessing or speak some wisdom for the, for the fathers. But Dr. Hall, thanks

[00:37:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:37:49] for being a part. I appreciate it. Thanks pastor Joel. Uh, you know, I was thinking about father's Day this year, and the thing that God kind of encouraged me with was the importance of each of
[00:37:59] us as a father being present in our children's lives, and also the encouragement that the things that I don't have to offer, He's going to find a way to make up for in their lives. My dad went to
[00:38:12] be with Jesus a couple of months ago, and even though, you know, we had some lead time and a few months to spend extra time with him, I wasn't prepared for how much I was going to miss him
[00:38:22] when he was gone. And, you know, had a little time to unpack that now and started realizing like the thing that I miss the most, you know, I certainly appreciate his advice and his wisdom
[00:38:32] and how he supported us through life. But the thing that I miss was just that he was there.
[00:38:37] That anytime I picked up the phone, he was happy to talk to me. And whatever I was going through, he was telling me I was doing a good job and I was going to make it. And, you know, that I don't
[00:38:47] know that I could have predicted that, you know, I'm 44 years old now and, you know, I'm not, I'm not little. I don't think maybe my wife would say I'm not mature yet, but, um, but I thought, you
[00:38:57] know, Hey, I would be ready for this. And, you know, it, it just wasn't the case, you know, but my dad, you know, wasn't always there for us. So the first seven years of my life, um, you know,
[00:39:06] he didn't serve God and was completely absent. And so I got to see both sides of it. And so at this part of my life, my wife tells me that, you know, I'm kind of in the, the, um, like the
[00:39:17] middle part of life, so to speak, where there's pressure from all sides, right? You're dealing with the busyness of kids and then career becomes something that's really important. And they say, you know, you're in your prime right now, right? And you got to really chase those things. And,
[00:39:29] you know, I feel like God's just really been encouraging me to prioritize the things that are going to matter in the end. And with losing my dad, you know, in this time, I realized how
[00:39:39] valuable the intentionality and the time spent, the little moments that he took to spend time with us and to trust that God was taking care of us in the end.
[00:39:49] My dad was a cowboy and wore boots and Wranglers, Levi's, whatever.
[00:39:55] And when my brother and I started playing golf, suddenly he traded all that for khakis and started playing golf.
[00:40:00] And I mean, that was as miracle as anything you'll ever see, y'all.
[00:40:04] But he was frank about it.
[00:40:06] He's like, look, I wanted to spend time with you boys.
[00:40:08] And I knew I was going to be intentional about taking that time.
[00:40:11] So there were a lot of things maybe that he couldn't fill over the years.
[00:40:14] And certainly now he's missing.
[00:40:16] But, you know, having my boys and daughter here, I realized that, you know, just like my dad, we try to be here in person whenever the doors are open, if we can.
[00:40:27] And, you know, the men in my life when I was growing up that would shake my hand and look me in the eye and knew me for me and took time to pour into me became people that over
[00:40:37] the years filled gaps that maybe my dad couldn't fill.
[00:40:41] You know, it says in Corinthians, Paul said, you have many teachers, but you have not many fathers.
[00:40:48] And so I realized that many is, you know, a big number, but there are going to be more than one, you know, in our life.
[00:40:53] And so I think, you know, y'all are here today, and if I would encourage you, you know, I think that being planted in the house of the Lord, that showing up and having people who
[00:41:01] know our kids so that the things that I can't give, someday there's going to be somebody in their life that's going to be able to fill that.
[00:41:08] It's such a huge part of it.
[00:41:10] So I so appreciate this place, Pastor Joel.
[00:41:12] Thank you so much.

[00:41:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:41:12] That's so good, Dr. Hall.
[00:41:13] I love that.
[00:41:14] So good.
[00:41:15] Pastor Randall, thanks for being with us.
[00:41:17] Randall's a man of integrity, him and his family, serving in our Spanish ministry.
[00:41:20] Just blessed to have you on staff with us.
[00:41:22] Thank you, Pastor.

[00:41:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:41:24] Something maybe you notice as a father is that our children are watching us all the time.
[00:41:31] They watch us how we treat their mother, how we react under pressure, or how we live our faith.
[00:41:38] And sometimes we could think, well, I'm not a perfect father.
[00:41:41] Let me tell you, neither do I.
[00:41:44] But our children do not need perfect fathers.
[00:41:46] They need present fathers, as Dr. Hall just said.
[00:41:51] Fathers who listen to them, who hugs them, who watch into their eyes and say, I love you, you're important to me, God is going to do great things in your life.
[00:41:59] Fathers who teach them by example what a man who truly loves God looks like.
[00:42:04] Because at the end of the road, our children learn more for what they see than for what they hear.
[00:42:09] And one of the things they see is the way that we connect with them.
[00:42:13] Studies from Barna Group says that if our children enjoy being with us, they're more likely to follow our faith.
[00:42:20] Pretty interesting, right?
[00:42:22] So the question is, how are we going to connect with them?
[00:42:25] I think we need to be really intentional about to find what interests they have.
[00:42:31] My son loves soccer, and even though I was not really into soccer, I decided I'm going to start watching games with him.
[00:42:39] I'm going to follow his team.
[00:42:40] I'm going to have conversations about soccer.
[00:42:42] Now, I'm not an expert, but I know something about soccer.
[00:42:46] But you know what?
[00:42:48] This was just an open door to have more conversations, deeper conversations, emotional conversations, relational, spiritual conversations.
[00:42:55] So maybe today you feel like you're tired or you're not enough.
[00:42:58] I have good news for you.
[00:43:01] God in you is more than enough.
[00:43:04] So, please, don't live your life based on emotions.
[00:43:10] You will be in a roller coaster.
[00:43:12] Live your life based on choices that you know God is asking you to make.
[00:43:16] Put God in first place.
[00:43:18] Your children, every day.
[00:43:20] And I believe God is going to give you new strength.
[00:43:23] He's going to give you wisdom.
[00:43:24] And he's going to get you to the next level as a father.

[00:43:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:43:28] Yeah, so good.
[00:43:29] Thank you, Pastor Randall.
[00:43:29] Beautiful, beautiful.
[00:43:32] Pastor Devontae runs our youth. Like I said, Pastor, mighty man of faith. Anything you have?

[00:43:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:43:37] Yeah, absolutely. I just want to encourage the fellas that are out there, the dads that are trying. I'm a newer dad to just tell you that we're more alike than we are different. I mean,
[00:43:46] we didn't plan this, but if you look at the stage, we all dressed alike. So dads are all more alike than you realize. Like we're trying to figure this thing out. I have two toddlers and
[00:43:55] you know, we run around the house. I'm in that stage where we put capes on and we tie towels around our neck to try to be superheroes. But my toddlers know that I can't fly for real,
[00:44:04] or I don't have these special ice-freeze-you powers that they make up. But somewhere along the road, I started realizing that I was taking that beyond pretend and thinking that I needed to be a superhero every day in everything. And it really started to break me down because I felt
[00:44:19] like I needed to be perfect. And my wife looked at me one day and said, baby, none of us in here actually asked you to wear a cape for real. And because I heard that, it allowed me to take some
[00:44:27] of pressure off. And that's not to say I figured it all out, but I'm trying. And I've realized that there are some spaces where I'm not going to get it right. But the Bible says to do everything with
[00:44:37] excellence as unto the Lord. What it doesn't say is do everything with perfection as unto the Lord.
[00:44:43] Literally, it's saying do your best. And if that is your best, you can lay your head down at night knowing that you did that. You're not going to always have the balance right. There are going
[00:44:51] to be days where you're giving more to work than you are to home. There are going to be days where you're giving more to others than you are to God, there's going to be days where you're taking care
[00:44:58] of the people around you more than you're taking care of yourself. But what I love about Jesus is that he gives us grace for the gap between who we are and who we're supposed to be. So I'm grateful.

[00:45:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:45:08] That's so good. Pastor Devante, I love this story about your dad and how, you know, he came to faith

[00:45:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:45:13] later. Tell me a little bit about that. Yeah, absolutely. So my dad, just recently, my dad is 61 years old and just recently really got serious about his relationship with Christ. He didn't grow up in church. He didn't grow up a believer, but my mom was the reason that we were going to church
[00:45:28] every time the doors were open, and you know, over the years, I didn't stop praying for him. I didn't give up. I didn't say, Lord, you know, I know that I'm in ministry. I know that, you know, I have a
[00:45:36] relationship with you, but God, you care about generations. You'll go back and get my dad, and I was praying and praying, and my dad gave his life to Jesus and doesn't miss church, and then I had
[00:45:47] the privilege two years ago of baptizing my father in this very building, yeah, where I was able to see God say, no, it's never too late. If you're still breathing, you got a reason, and he has a
[00:45:58] plan for you. So listen, keep praying for your dad. Keep praying for whoever he is and however old he is. God's not finished with him. If he still has life in his bones, then God still has
[00:46:06] a plan for him. So let my dad's life and our connection and what I've seen now, he leaves Houston late Saturday night, so he doesn't miss church. He just got back from a vacation Bible
[00:46:15] school at 60. So listen, it's never too late. I love that, Pastor Devontae. Awesome. How about

[00:46:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:46:21] can we have all the fathers stand up and we want to speak a blessing over you. Come on, Lakewood, we got to honor the fathers in the house today. Mighty men of faith, strong, talented, anointed.
[00:46:35] Let me tell you, men, God sees you being in the house of the Lord, leading your family with

[00:46:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:46:39] excellence. And Devontae, I'm just going to ask you to speak a blessing over the men.
[00:46:43] Yeah, absolutely. Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you so much for all of these special fathers. First and foremost, Lord, I just pray that shame would fall to the floor. God, if they
[00:46:51] haven't been perfect, I thank you, God, that you didn't require their perfection and that their future is full of favor. I thank you, Father, that reconciliation with some of the relationships and some of the kids, Lord, is going to get restored. I thank you, Father, that you're giving them
[00:47:04] wisdom to lead their families well with integrity. God, I pray that you bless them so that the rest of their life is the best of their life in Jesus name. All God's people said, amen. Amen. Beautiful.

[00:47:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:47:15] Thank y'all. Lakewood family greetings from McKinney mission hospital, Northwest province of Zambia. Been here for two months. And all I can say is God's gracious hand has been with us as we've seen him minister to the patients here. I think of two patients in particular,
[00:47:30] one little one came three hours after they were born. She was born with intestines outside of the abdomen. We were able to take her to surgery immediately. That child should not survive in rural Zambia, but God was gracious. She'll be going home this week, perfectly healthy and doing
[00:47:46] fine. Another little one swallowed a disc battery. It was there for two weeks before she came for care. Most of the time, the esophagus, when you try to take things out of it, it's very unforgiving.
[00:47:57] They will have complications, but God has been with her as well. She has had no postoperative complications. She's going home this week as well. One of the great privileges this time has been to work with young Zambian surgeons like Dr. Patricia, and she has a message for you.

[00:48:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:48:13] Hi, Lakewood family. I am Dr. Patricia Chupalavoy, and I just graduated as a general surgeon.
[00:48:19] I have been listening to Joel Osteen since I was a child. Throughout my medical training, he has been a source of encouragement, a source of hope, and I would just like to say thank you
[00:48:29] to the Lakewood family, to Pastor Joe Austin. May God bless you.

[00:48:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:48:33] Thanks, Lakewood. We love you. I'll see you in about a month. God bless.

[00:48:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:48:36] It's so good, Lakewood. Thank y'all for being so generous and making all this happen. Well, we can have outreach all over the world, the medical, the humanitarian, and spreading the gospel as well. But thanks for what you do. We take a moment every service to worship the Lord
[00:48:51] with our tithes and our offerings today. So we're going to do that. And again, always grateful for your generosity and being so consistent. You know, I think about how the scripture says, when you help those in need, uh, one place says it says you will be satisfied or another place
[00:49:06] says that you will have everything you need. And so that's what you guys do every week as you support the ministry and make things that happen. So I just am praying for each one of you that you
[00:49:16] will see the open windows of heaven, God doing what you can't do on your own. And always remind us. The economy's not our source. Our job's not our source. God is our source. You keep staying
[00:49:26] faithful, knowing that you're sown into good seed. And you know, people, you know, we see that young lady that's, that's watched the videos and Paul being over there. You know, people may see me up
[00:49:37] here, but really God knows all of you are making that happen. Attending, serving, praying, giving, you know, the reward's going to go to each one of you for being a part. So feel good about that.
[00:49:47] And again, when you give, give in faith, not, okay, I got to give, I'm going to click the button, but you know, sometimes it can be routine, but I think it's better to say, God,
[00:49:55] this is an act of worship.
[00:49:57] I'm worshiping you with my tithes, with my offering, with what you've given me.
[00:50:01] And that's, you know, that's, that's showing God that you're putting in first place.
[00:50:05] And like I said, you know, be expecting the open windows of heaven, not this.
[00:50:09] I don't think it's ever going to happen to me.
[00:50:11] No, I can't wait to see what God's going to do in my life.
[00:50:14] Listen, he wants to bless us so that we can leave an inheritance to our children's children So that we can carry out the kingdom so we can build some more hospitals over there things like that
[00:50:23] So let's let's believe big we're going to give big and we're going to believe big And then we'll leave it up to god to open the windows heaven. Thanks so much. Amen. That's so good

[00:50:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:50:32] You know, I love to see Lives changed through your giving and your generosity You are helping hurting people just like you saw in the in the video and you think about it if you're helping
[00:50:43] people's lives become better. God is going to help your life become better. And so as we're doing that, we're being the hands and feet of Jesus. And you know, Jesus went around about doing good and healing all that were sick and oppressed. And so that's what your generosity
[00:51:00] is doing, your kindness towards others. And I know God sees all of that. And I'm still stand at amazement after 27 years, how many people like this young lady watched Joel from just a child and was able to find hope and was able to become a doctor and was able to,
[00:51:19] to be the hands and feet of Jesus because of the message that came out of Lakewood church.
[00:51:24] So I got to just thank you, Joel. And number one, I know that you all want to wish him a happy father's day so happy father's day okay he's a great father he's a great husband he's a
[00:51:50] great pastor so thank you for honoring him today thank you thank you so much lord thank you for

[00:51:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:51:54] our amazing givers today and all the faithful people here at lakewood in the building watching listening lord we're honored to be able to do what you've called us to do lord we thank you for the faithfulness these last 27 years and then then lord back with them back with my parents
[00:52:46] the original 90 members lord all those faithful through the years and lord even to this day 2026 all the faithful people you put in our lives lord what an honor it is that you've trusted us with influence to
[00:53:04] speak to other nations and to be the hands and feet of jesus and to do what you've called us to do and lord we don't take it lightly we we walk humbly and holy before you to to do our
[00:53:16] best and lord you see your people that's made sacrifices down through the years, their giving and their consistency and the people today that are supporting the ministry and doing things behind the scenes and not getting all the credit
[00:53:30] that they really deserve. But Lord, you see it. You're the one that honors. You're the one that promotes. And Lord, I just think of that for generations to come, like Lakewood will be a lighthouse of hope that we are good stewards of what you've entrusted us with, that we will,
[00:53:44] you will shine brightly through us as a church and as a people, Lord. And as we do, Lord, I thank you what you promised, that you will bless your people, just unusual and uncommon or things that
[00:53:56] they've never dreamed, that they can be a greater blessing, that we will have more seed to sow and to help other people. And so, Lord, I just speak your abundance over all those under the sound of
[00:54:07] my voice today and just, Lord, that we will live fruitful, productive lives for your glory to see your kingdom come in Jesus' name. Amen. God bless you as you give today.

[00:54:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:54:44] four five zero Houston, Texas, seven, seven, two, two, seven, or call us toll free at eight,

[00:54:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:54:52] eight, eight, five, six, seven. Joel. I love you to say I need you. Oh,

[00:55:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:55:35] do you mind standing one last time? If you would please. And this, can I tell you again, what an honor to have you at Lakewood. If you're visiting, you're our special guest today. And I'd
[00:59:58] love to meet you after the service. I'm always right back over there in the lobby if you've got a moment, but thanks for coming out. Don't forget this Wednesday night kicks off our 16th annual
[01:00:08] Hope and Life Young Adult and Youth Conference. There'll be thousands of young people here on Wednesday night, Thursday night, and Friday night. Love to have you come out if you're young at heart, but I know Wednesday night, Pastor Torrin Wells will be here and Pastor J. Ben, a lot of different,
[01:00:26] got a great, great lineup. So we can do all this, this conference. It's a free youth conference.
[01:00:31] And so it happens again because of you guys. So thanks. Thanks for being a part. Thanks for being here today. I feel like I have one more thing. No, I, Oh no, I did want to tell you, well,
[01:00:40] I mentioned it last week. Y'all know we have a new communion room right over here on this lobby level. So a lot of people like to take communion every week in the church. If you'd like to,
[01:00:49] You can just, it's just come and go. You do it on your own, but it's a beautiful room right over there. And you're welcome to before, after anytime, you know, anytime when the building's open,
[01:00:57] you're welcome to use that. But thanks for being here today. We're, we love you. And we just speak again, blessings over all the fathers. Just thank you for what you do serving and leading your
[01:01:06] family and being in church. That's a, you know, the statistics say mainly the women, you know, the women by far come to church more, but not at Lakewood. We have so many amazing men. And so
[01:01:16] it's a testimony of you guys putting God first place. Anyway, when you see yourself on the big screen, can you give our TV audience a great big Lakewood welcome? God bless you. It's great to be
[01:01:31] with you today. And I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can come visit us in person. We'd love to have you
[01:01:41] be a part of one of our services. I like to start with something funny. And I heard about this lady Every day she saw this old man sitting on his porch rocking in a rocking chair
[01:01:52] He always seemed to be so happy and one day she got her nerve up and went over to him and said sir I can't help but notice you're always smiling always in a good mood
[01:02:02] Tell me what is your secret for such a long happy life?
[01:02:07] He said oh, that's easy. I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day I eat nothing but junk food and I never exercise She said that's amazing. How old are you?
[01:02:17] He said, 26. No, don't live like that. All right, y'all ready? This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today, I will be taught the word
[01:02:32] of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be the same.
[01:02:39] I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever-living seed of the word of God. I'll never be the same. Never, never, never. I'll never be the same in Jesus name.
[01:02:53] God bless you. You'd like to open your Bible, say Hebrews chapter 11. You're welcome to Hebrews 11 one. We'll put the scriptures on the screen, but don't forget this afternoon at two o'clock, the whole service, but it's all in Spanish, amazing service. And then Wednesday night,
[01:03:11] we're back in person. Pastor Nick speaks a lot of Wednesday night, pastor Serena. It's a very powerful hour service. So if you live around here, you'd love to have you come back. But again, thanks for being here today. I want to talk to you today about faith without the evidence.
[01:03:28] It's easy to believe when you see things happening, you're getting good breaks, doors are opening, your health is improving. You know, it's the hand of God working in your life.
[01:03:39] But sometimes we have promises we're standing on, but we don't see anything improving. We're praying, believing. There's no sign that the promise is on the way week after week, month after month. That's when doubt comes. Thoughts whisper, you're not going to get well or you'll
[01:03:57] never meet the right person. That dream's not going to come to pass. You're no further along today than you were two years ago. There's no evidence of things changing, but here's the key.
[01:04:08] true faith doesn't require evidence.
[01:04:11] Hebrews says, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
[01:04:18] If you can see it, if you have evidence, you don't need faith.
[01:04:23] That's why the scripture says to walk by faith and not by sight.
[01:04:27] If you're basing your faith on what you can see, is this improving?
[01:04:32] Are there signs that God is working?
[01:04:34] You're gonna be discouraged because often God works in secret.
[01:04:39] He's doing things behind the scenes where there's no visible evidence.
[01:04:44] Everything on the surface looks the same.
[01:04:46] That's the test of your faith.
[01:04:49] Are you gonna give up because you don't see anything changing?
[01:04:52] The circumstances, the facts don't line up with what you're believing for?
[01:04:57] Or are you gonna have real faith and say, God, I'm not moved by what I see.
[01:05:02] I'm moved by what you said.
[01:05:03] I don't need evidence to believe what you promised me is on the way That's the faith that gets god's attention faith that believes when nothing is changing This is what noah did god told him to build an ark that there was a big flood coming and he needed to protect his family
[01:05:22] The challenge was it had never rained Maybe a light mist but not rain like we know it today Imagine what was going through his mind. He's got this instruction from god this promise that he's going to save his family
[01:05:37] It doesn't make sense God if you want me to build an ark at least let me see some rain At least let there be a storm some dark clouds that way i'll know it's going to happen
[01:05:49] Noah had no evidence that a flood was coming The scripture says by faith noah being warned of things not yet seen God will give you a promise, but he may not give you any evidence
[01:06:04] The circumstances may not change what you see here may look the opposite The report hasn't improved Relationships the same the door still won't open There may be things not yet seen the key word there is yet
[01:06:20] You can't see it, but that doesn't mean it's not going to happen God is working in the unseen Things are happening that are not visible.
[01:06:30] The question is, will you believe without a sign?
[01:06:34] Will you stay in faith when the circumstances aren't matching what God promised you?
[01:06:40] You heard healing, but you still see sickness.
[01:06:43] You heard abundance, but you still see lack.
[01:06:46] You heard freedom, but you still see addiction.
[01:06:51] You have to choose what you heard over what you see.
[01:06:55] Let god's promises be louder than the doubt Noah went out with no sign No clouds never flooded before and started building the ark faithful day after day Being obedient doing the right thing when it didn't make sense
[01:07:13] Trusting that god was true to his word You would think he'd get a little sign a little encouragement But every morning he woke up to the same evidence blue sky sunny still as clear as can be thought said no way you're wasting your time you must
[01:07:33] have heard God wrong if it was going to flood surely there'd be some dark clouds surely you'd hear a little thunder here and there but nothing every day Noah had to choose to believe what God
[01:07:46] promised over what he saw that's the real test of faith will you not let the circumstances What you see or don't see talk you out of what you've heard.
[01:07:59] Noah didn't need a cloud in the sky because he had a word in his spirit.
[01:08:04] He let that word become more powerful than what he could see.
[01:08:08] He made a daily decision, I'm gonna believe what God said.
[01:08:12] Not one time, three months ago, every morning, Father, thank you that what you promised is on the way.
[01:08:19] I'm not moved by what I don't see.
[01:08:21] The circumstances, the clouds, the lack of evidence, I know you are faithful to your word. With every swing of that hammer, he was saying, God, I trust you. Every board he nailed into place was a vote of confidence
[01:08:36] in what God promised him. Many of you are like Noah. You're believing without a sign.
[01:08:43] God put that promise in you of health, freedom, victory, but the circumstances say the opposite.
[01:08:50] it? You could be discouraged, complaining, but you keep giving your best, being your excellent at work, loving your family. You are passing the test. God sees you trusting when nothing is changing, praising even though the problem is not turning around, being obedient even though doors are not
[01:09:12] opening. Your time is coming. You don't see anything happening, but God is working behind the scenes. Don't be fooled by a lack of evidence. You're right where you're supposed to be. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. You are proving to God that you trust him. You are showing him
[01:09:33] that you believe what he said over what you see. The key is to not get talked out of it because thoughts will whisper, surely it would have happened by now. You would see some improvement.
[01:09:46] Your child would be a little better The boss would treat you a little nicer. The medical report would have improved a little bit All those thoughts are based on what you can see But faith is based on what god said
[01:10:01] If you walk by sight, how's everything looking what's improving?
[01:10:06] Then i'll believe you'll miss god's best The question shouldn't be how does it look the better question is what did god promise?
[01:10:15] You have to let what you've heard override what you see Every day the evidence said to noah. Nothing's changing. The sky is blue But god's promise said a flood is coming. You're gonna need that boat
[01:10:29] You get to choose what report you're going to believe Are you going to walk by faith and believe what god said?
[01:10:37] Or you're going to walk by sight and let circumstances determine what you believe Noah saw that same clear sky year after year The scripture doesn't say that god reminded noah of his promise After five years god spoke to him again and confirmed it or 20 years later. God gave him a sign
[01:10:59] Angel showed up. He had a dream one night No, god spoke that one time and then went silent No voice No circumstances changing no improvement But god being silent doesn't mean he's not going to do what he promised
[01:11:16] You don't need a new word. Just believe the original word God has not changed his mind You may be in a season of silence now and it's been a long time There's no evidence that the promise is coming to pass
[01:11:31] If you could just hear another word Some kind of confirmation a good break a phone call a feather falling from the sky then you'll know You don't need a sign Just be obedient to the last thing god told you to do
[01:11:45] Noah went out started building the ark year after year No rain no clouds people making fun of him Dealing with his own thoughts of doubt and discouragement How did he keep going? He went back to that original promise
[01:12:02] God you said a flood is coming. You said you would save my house. I don't need a new word I believe what you told me. When you're in a silent season and you don't hear anything new
[01:12:15] and you don't see anything changing, it's because God is growing you up. He's teaching you to trust him. A child needs someone there all the time, reassuring them. Yes, this is going to happen.
[01:12:29] It's going to be all right. We're going to have a dinner in a little while. But when you're about to step into new levels and break generational limitations and see healing and freedom it's going to take believing without the evidence standing in faith when the circumstances aren't
[01:12:47] changing not being moved when every voice says it's not gonna happen it's been too long it would have been proved by now no that silence doesn't mean that God is not working stay faithful keep
[01:13:00] doing what he told you to do. Keep standing on that promise he gave you. May have been a year ago or 20 years ago, God did not change his mind. Not having any evidence is not a sign that God
[01:13:14] isn't working. It's a sign that he is working. If you can see it, you don't need faith. The fact that you can't see it means God is doing things behind the scenes. One of the greatest tests we
[01:13:27] all faith is not opposition. It's time. Will you keep believing when nothing is improving?
[01:13:35] Will you keep building your boat, acting on God's promises, being faithful when the sky is still blue? The medical report hadn't changed. You're still single. The business is still struggling.
[01:13:47] No sign of a flood. If the enemy can convince you to quit believing before the rain comes, then he won. If he can deceive you into living by what you see, then he'll keep you from what God
[01:14:01] said. Everything Noah saw contradicted what he heard, but he wasn't moved by a lack of evidence.
[01:14:09] He wasn't discouraged because he was in a silent season. He had the faith to act on that one promise that a flood is coming. Victoria and I were on a road trip a while back and I was using
[01:14:23] my GPS for directions and I put the address in and this lady came on and told me exactly what to do. Turn left in two blocks, turn right in a mile, get in the second lane from the center, stay to
[01:14:36] the right at the fork at the road. And I'm used to taking orders from a bossy lady. I mean, from GPS and all these clear, precise directions every 30 or 40 seconds made it so easy. Finally put me on
[01:14:49] the freeway. The lady came on and said, stay straight for 240 miles. Well, after about 30 minutes, the freeway had narrowed to a small country road that was zigzagging around. I'm out in the middle of nowhere thinking, am I on the right road? Is this still the freeway? I thought,
[01:15:09] lady, where are you? You were so vocal back then, but now you've gone silent. You would think she had come on every once in a while and say, you're doing good. This is the right road. Keep going
[01:15:20] forward. Nothing. She just sat there silently. It's because I was on the right path. There were no new instructions. I had to just keep following what she last told me in the same way. When God
[01:15:36] gives you a promise that he's going to heal you, free you and bring a dream to pass like that GPS, he may not come on every mile and say you heard me right keep going you're on track there will be
[01:15:50] some silence times you're not getting confirmation not seeing any signs and thoughts will tell you you're off course it's not going to happen you heard wrong don't be moved by the lack of evidence what you don't hear that's a test the silence doesn't mean that God is not working
[01:16:10] Noah's faith wasn't just obedience. It was endurance He could have talked himself out of it Gotten discouraged, but he kept trusting despite what he didn't hear He kept believing despite what the circumstances looked like
[01:16:26] I talked to a mother that was believing for her son to get off drugs He was raised in a loving middle-class family up in the northeast 15 years old, he heard about a new prescription drug
[01:16:41] that was going around his high school called OxyContin.
[01:16:45] Didn't seem harmful, just young men trying to explore and have some fun.
[01:16:50] He was a good student, the bright future, but this drug, if not used properly, can be extremely addictive.
[01:16:57] That's what happened to him and many of his high school class.
[01:17:01] This was at the start of the opioid crisis where hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives and this led him to heroin and other drugs and his once bright future turned to living on the streets in and out of jail violence selling
[01:17:18] drugs to try to survive his mother back at home heartbroken every moment on edge wondering if her son was alive was he arrested did she need to rescue him it's incredible pain and heartache Every day she would pray and ask god to turn her son around
[01:17:37] She stood on that scripture as for me and my house. We will serve the lord She had that promise that god was going to save her son But year after year went by No evidence. She didn't know where he was at times if he was still alive, but she kept praying
[01:17:55] She wasn't moved by what she saw by the circumstances by the facts she knew what she heard god you said my son will be mighty in the land that no weapon formed against him will prosper that you will restore what the enemy has stolen she kept building her ark so to
[01:18:13] speak faithful without a sign believing with no clouds 10 years had gone by one day his parole officer changed and this new lady was very strict and when he had his drug test that month he tested
[01:18:28] positive for heroin. She said, we're coming to get you right now. You're either going to serve your five-year prison sentence, or you're going to go to rehab and get clean. He started making excuses. That's not what the other officer said. It's not fair. I can't do that. She hung up the
[01:18:45] phone. They picked him up. He went to rehab and 90 days later, he was a different person. Today, he's totally clean and free. He's extremely successful, influential, doing things bigger than he ever imagined. His mother told me with tears running down her cheeks, how she'd watch
[01:19:05] her program every day to find hope. And she said, this is the goodness of God, a dream come true.
[01:19:12] There may be things that you're believing for like her. All the evidence is the opposite.
[01:19:18] it's no sign of things improving it's been months maybe years I know it's not easy but don't let what you see override what you heard God is working things are happening behind the scenes the enemy would love to talk you out of God's promises where you let the facts determine your
[01:19:38] faith the evidence how long it's been joy there are no clouds no thunder how's it going to rain You're right where noah was Keep doing the right thing Keep believing and thanking god Just because he's silent doesn't mean he's not working
[01:19:56] Just because the evidence is not there doesn't mean it's not going to happen It took noah a hundred years to build the boat Imagine being obedient a hundred years with no sign of rain A hundred years he kept doing the right thing with no clouds in the sky
[01:20:14] no evidence that it was going to happen even after the boat was completed some scholars say it was two more years before the rain came it's one thing to be building it but once it was built
[01:20:27] don't you know people came by and made fun we told you you were wasting your time you just spent all this money all that effort now you got a boat out in the desert Noah's attitude was
[01:20:40] I don't see it yet, but I still believe. I don't have any proof. Nothing's changed, but I know God is faithful and what he promised me is still on the way. Anybody can believe when
[01:20:53] it starts raining, but faith believes when the skies are still clear. One day Noah was out there minding his own business, just another normal day. And these animals started coming toward the ark.
[01:21:08] Noah didn't go after them. The scripture says the animals will come to you Noah's part was to obey God's part was to bring the provision I can hear people making fun of noah mocking him. Then they see two lions coming to the ark
[01:21:25] Two giraffe walking that way two elephants two squirrels this parade of animals supernaturally coming For a hundred years, there was no sign but stay in faith. The evidence is coming God knows how to show out in your life
[01:21:41] It not only started raining the scripture says the fountains of the deep opened up One version says the underground waters burst forth on the earth I can imagine all those years Noah was looking up for rain for clouds any thunder. That's how he expected it to flood
[01:22:03] But god had hidden resources God not only brought rain, but he brought water out of the earth that flooded the land We're expecting god to do it one way, but you don't know what god has hidden for you
[01:22:17] Ways that you didn't see coming. He's hidden healing hidden favor hidden abundance That's why you shouldn't get discouraged when you don't see a sign. You don't know what god is up to You don't know how he's going to do it
[01:22:32] You're expecting rain, but he's about to open the floodgates of the earth, bring water from unexpected places, healing, favor, freedom that you couldn't plan, that wasn't predicted. This is supernatural breakthrough, supernatural abundance.
[01:22:51] That's what happened to us. When we needed a larger sanctuary, I was looking for property to build an auditorium. That's the way I saw my father do it, the traditional way, but my plan kept failing. Twice the property was sold out from under us. That's disappointing. I thought, man,
[01:23:10] why isn't this working out? It's because God had a hidden resource. I was looking for rain, but God was about to open the fountains of the deep. He was going to do something that I couldn't
[01:23:21] see coming. That's what this building is. The underground waters bursting forth. You don't know what God has hidden for you. You don't see any clouds, no sign of rain. Joel, that's why I'm discouraged. Nothing's changing. I don't see any evidence of things improving. What if God is about
[01:23:42] to open the fountains of the deep? What if he has sources you've never thought of? Ways to bless you, heal you, promote you, free you that you've never seen. That's why there's no evidence. It's going
[01:23:55] to happen a supernatural way. Don't let the evidence or the lack of evidence fool you.
[01:24:02] Don't let the time convince you that it's not going to happen. It's interesting that God used Noah as the example of things not yet seen. It's not a coincidence that Noah went over a hundred
[01:24:15] years with no evidence, but he kept building, kept thanking God. The good news is we're not going to have to wait that long because we don't live a hundred years or that many years like they
[01:24:26] did. God was showing us if I'm faithful to Noah after a hundred years of no evidence, I'm going to be faithful to you with no evidence. Well, Joel, I've been believing for six weeks and I don't see
[01:24:40] anything changing. You have to be more determined than that. Be in it for the long haul. Faith is not believing because you see something. Faith is believing until you see something. The real miracle is not that Noah built the ark. The real miracle is that he kept building the ark. He
[01:25:00] didn't let the circumstances, the lack of evidence to talk him out of what God put in his heart.
[01:25:06] One time, the disciples were on a boat in the middle of the night and this great storm arose, all these winds and waves. And Jesus came walking on the water. They were afraid. They thought he
[01:25:20] was a ghost. They finally recognized Jesus. Well, Peter was so intrigued. He said, Lord, I want to come out there with you. Jesus said, come. What's interesting is Jesus didn't say, let me calm the storm first, Peter. Let me get these waves down. Wind's not so strong. Then
[01:25:38] it'll be easier. No, he said, come while the storm was still raging. You don't need the conditions to be perfect, to fulfill what God's called you to do.
[01:25:49] He may not stop all the storms, all the trouble, make everything nice and calm, then you can believe.
[01:25:57] Then you'll take those steps of faith.
[01:25:59] Don't be moved by the circumstances, be moved by what God tells you.
[01:26:04] Jesus told Peter, come.
[01:26:06] He got out of the boat in the middle of the storm with winds and waves, and he walked.
[01:26:12] He wasn't really walking on the water, he was walking on a word. He had that promise come. The water wasn't holding him up. The word was holding him up. The water was unstable. The word is unshakable. But the scripture says
[01:26:30] when Peter saw the wind, he shifted from hearing to seeing. What are the facts? What are the circumstances? He thought, oh my goodness, am I crazy? These waves are dangerous. These winds could knock me down. I could drown. He started to sink. The waves didn't change. His focus changed
[01:26:53] instead of focusing on the promise on what Jesus said. He focused on the facts, the circumstance, the evidence. I'm out here in a storm. It doesn't make sense. It's impossible. If you focus on the
[01:27:06] evidence, you're going to sink. That's what Peter did. He shifted his focus from the word to the wind. He didn't sink because the storm got worse. He didn't sink because the promise changed. He sank because he looked at the wrong evidence. Sometimes like Noah, there's no evidence of what
[01:27:27] God promised. Other times like Peter, there's a lot of negative evidence. This medical report, my financial situation, my relationship. If you focus on the winds and what you see, it will talk you out of what you've heard. The beauty is Jesus picked Peter up. He didn't let
[01:27:47] him drown. God knows we're not perfect. He's not going to let you go under. But this story is a lesson about what are we giving our attention to? The winds, the waves, the evidence, or are we
[01:28:01] giving our attention to the promises of God and what he says about us? I'm asking you today to walk by faith and not by sight. You may have circumstances where you don't see how they
[01:28:14] could resolve. There's no way in the natural, but we serve a supernatural God. He has hidden resources. We're looking up for the rain. He's got the fountains of the deep. He has underground blessings that can flood your life. Be like Noah. Keep building that ark, even though there's no
[01:28:32] sign. Keep trusting, being obedient, even though you don't see things changing. Let what you've heard override what you see. If you'll do this, I believe and declare you're about to see these hidden resources. God surprising you with healing opportunity, the right people, the fullness of
[01:28:52] your destiny in Jesus name. And if you receive it, can you say amen today? Let's pray together.
[01:29:04] if you have five minutes. Stick with me.
[01:29:06] We'll just seal it in prayer. Lord, thank you for what we've heard today.
[01:29:10] Father, I know it falls on great ground.
[01:29:12] Faithful people here at Lakewood and watching and listening. Lord, I know we all have things that you promised, but we don't see anything happening.
[01:29:21] Lord, we're tempted to give up.
[01:29:22] We're tempted to water down our dreams.
[01:29:24] We're tempted to quit believing, but Lord, help us to believe.
[01:29:28] Let this truth take root today.
[01:29:30] Lord, help us to be those people like Noah. Even when we don't see anything, we believe what you promised. We keep acting in faith. Lord, I thank you as we do our part at the appointed time that you'll cause the animals to come find
[01:29:45] us, the provision, the right people. Lord, at the right time, I thank you the underground waters will burst forth. Lord, do things that we didn't see coming. Lord, I thank you just for surprising your people with the healing, the favor, the wisdom, the growth, the opportunities, Lord,
[01:30:04] that they can fulfill their destinies in Jesus name. I pray this. And with our heads bowed in prayer, just a quick question. If your heart stopped beating in the next few minutes, are you at peace with God? Do you know where you'd spend eternity? If you died a little while from
[01:30:23] 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 from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In just
[01:30:38] a moment, if you're not at peace with the Lord, or maybe you are a Christian, but you've grown cold toward God, you know you need to rededicate your life. You need a fresh new start. If that's
[01:30:51] you in just a moment, I'm going to ask you to take a step of faith and stand right where you are and we'll pray together. I can't think of a better time to get on the road to victory than right now.
[01:31:04] 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, do it
[01:31:18] next week. Do it another time. Listen, the Bible says today is the day of salvation. Don't put it off. It's so easy. Well, Joel, it's embarrassing to stand in front of everyone. I have people at
[01:31:31] the house. I can't lift my hand. Listen to what Jesus said. If you won't be ashamed of me before people, then I won't be ashamed of you before my father in heaven. I'm going to give you a great
[01:31:44] opportunity to show God that you're not ashamed of him. If you're not at peace with the Lord or you just need to rededicate your life, you need a fresh new start, a new beginning. If that's you,
[01:31:57] would you be bold, take that step of faith and stand right where you are and we'll pray together.
[01:32:01] Would you do that? Come on, Lakewood. Let's give them a hand as they stand all over the building.
[01:32:11] Come on, don't put it off. Come on, Lakewood. Let's clap for me and I feel like there'll be a few more. Anybody else up top? Watching, listening, anybody else? God bless you. Please remain standing if you don't mind. Let me tell you how proud we are of you. More importantly,
[01:32:32] I know God will never be ashamed of you because you took this step of faith. The scripture says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Let me help you to call. Do you mind
[01:32:43] all praying this after me if you would please? Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior. Amen. We're going to stand in one more moment. I want to tell
[01:32:58] you again how much we love you. We're going to be praying for you. This next year of your life is incredibly important. I want to give you a personal invitation and even a challenge to come back and
[01:33:10] be with us on a regular basis. If you can do it here in person or online, on the radio, however you do it. I know you're busy and you know, life's happening, man. Joel, I got to do some stuff on
[01:33:20] Sundays. I got to run some errands. Let me tell you, there is a blessing on your life when you put God first place and get into a community of faith. I really believe your new week goes better
[01:33:31] when you take time to honor God. You cannot give God something without him giving you more back in return. It's so important to get around good faith filled people. I'd love for you to come and get
[01:33:42] plugged in and you can meet some of the Lakewood people, make some new friends. Well, the next step, if you're here in person, how about right out here after service? I'd love to meet you in a few
[01:33:51] minutes, 15, 20, 10 minutes, I'll be out there. Right up here, it's a class called New Beginnings.
[01:33:55] Takes about 20 minutes. You can meet some of our staff. We'll give you some resources, just a good next step. If you've got a moment, if not, I'm always out that way, almost after every service
[01:34:06] that I'm here. And I'd love to shake your hand, but so important who you're hanging around. Let me tell you, some of the best people in Houston or here in Houston or right here at Lake would
[01:34:16] love to have you come back, get on some of our teams, get plugged in, but know this, the moment you stood up, God washed away all your sins, your mistakes, your failures. You are starting with a
[01:34:27] fresh, clean slate. Write it down in your Bible, June 21st, 2026, a new day of victory in your life in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Well, let's all stand together if you would, please. Thanks for coming
[01:34:41] out today. How many of you are going home better off than you were before? Amen. All right. How about I speak a blessing out of number six may the Lord bless you and keep you may the Lord show
[01:34:52] you his favor and watch over you and may the Lord give you his peace and give you a blessed week happy Father's Day to you have an amazing week we'll see you back real soon