The Danger of ‘Doing Your Part’: A Theological Audit of Modern Prosperity Preaching

• Communion and Remembrance [00:36:23 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that communion is not just an intellectual exercise but a way to remember Jesus' consistent presence and sustaining power in daily life, referencing Luke 22.
• Inclusivity of the Gospel [00:38:17 ▶️ 📄]
  > The speaker emphasizes that the gospel is 'strictly inclusive,' meaning no religious tests or inspections are required to receive the benefits of Jesus' blood.
• Rejection of Shame and Guilt [00:39:21 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor urges the congregation not to let shame, guilt, or past behaviors prevent them from receiving the fullness of life purchased by Jesus.
• Courage to Get Well [01:00:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that healing and change require courage because they demand leaving comfort zones and stopping the normalization of dysfunction.
• Environment and Normalization [01:04:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains how surrounding oneself with negative or dysfunctional people normalizes those conditions, making it difficult to see them as limitations that need to be overcome.
• Identity and Transformation [01:01:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the 'old you' (mediocrity, self-pity) with the 'new you' (healthy, free, blessed), asserting that the new identity cannot emerge while the old patterns are maintained.
• Biblical Illustration ([John 5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+5&version=KJV)) [01:03:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the story of the man at the Pool of Bethesda to illustrate how Jesus challenges individuals to abandon their comfortable routines of defeat in order to experience true healing.
• Identity and Victimhood [01:10:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that many people cling to a 'victim mindset' or identity defined by past hurts, loss, or disability, which prevents them from moving forward.
• The Cost of Change [01:06:54 ▶️ 📄]
  > He explains that getting well is not just a passive event but requires active effort, courage, and the willingness to lose familiar comforts and dysfunctional relationships.
• Excuses and Self-Sabotage [01:07:57 ▶️ 📄]
  > The sermon identifies excuses (blaming others, citing past trauma, or lack of resources) as barriers that keep people stuck in their 'pool' of compromise rather than pursuing their purpose.
• Obedience and Action [01:18:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor emphasizes that healing requires immediate obedience and action ('rise up and walk') before the full outcome is seen, linking freedom to doing what God asks.
• Divine Calling and Predestination [01:19:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor discusses God choosing individuals before they can choose Him, using the example of his father's initial lack of faith background.
• Comfort in Dysfunction vs. Destiny [01:20:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts staying in a 'limited mindset' and 'poverty' (the pool) with the courage required to change, stretch, and take risks for God's purpose.
• Obedience and Healing [01:21:58 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor asserts that healing is contingent upon obedience, specifically the act of 'rising up' and leaving the place of dysfunction.
• Identity and Environment [01:22:10 ▶️ 📄]
  > Through a story about his father's childhood friend, the pastor illustrates how staying in a negative environment leads to stagnation, while leaving it leads to impact.

• Sermon Illustration [00:36:23 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the biblical account of the Last Supper (Luke 22), where Jesus used ordinary bread and wine as props to illustrate the need for consistent remembrance of His sacrifice.
• Sermon Illustration [00:37:56 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the physical act of receiving communion elements without inspection or 'carding' as an analogy for how the gospel is freely given without religious tests.
• Sermon Illustration [01:03:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the biblical story of the man crippled for 38 years at the Pool of Bethesda, describing his daily routine of being carried by his family, sitting among other sick people, and normalizing his defeat until Jesus asked him if he wanted to get well.
• Sermon Illustration [01:06:42 ▶️ 📄]
  > The biblical account of the man at the Pool of Bethesda, who waited 38 years for healing but responded to Jesus with excuses rather than faith.
• Sermon Illustration [01:12:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The historical example of the Israelites who, after being freed from 400 years of slavery in Egypt, feared the giants in the Promised Land and wanted to return to slavery because it was familiar.
• Sermon Illustration [01:14:46 ▶️ 📄]
  > A story about a man released from prison after 31 years who returned to the prison grounds and stole items to get arrested again because he did not know how to be free.
• Sermon Illustration [01:19:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor's personal testimony of his father, who grew up in poverty and was told he would fail as a minister, but chose to leave his 'pool' of low expectations to pursue his calling.
• Sermon Illustration [01:19:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares the story of his father, who came from a poor, uneducated farming family but felt a calling to ministry despite his parents' discouragement and his own lack of training. He left home to pursue God's purpose.
• Sermon Illustration [01:22:10 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts a visit to Paris, Texas, with his 75-year-old father, where they visited their old family farm and met a childhood classmate. The classmate lived in a dilapidated shack, had been unemployed for 40 years, and remained stuck in poverty, contrasting sharply with the pastor's father who 'rose up' and succeeded.

• Pastoral Charge [00:29:10 ▶️ 📄]
  > Come to the front of your section for individual prayer.
• Pastoral Charge [00:25:19 ▶️ 📄]
  > Say 'amen' to affirm receipt of the prayer and declaration.
• Pastoral Charge [00:43:30 ▶️ 📄]
  > Posture themselves in an attitude of spiritual surrender.
• Pastoral Charge [00:43:55 ▶️ 📄]
  > Lift hands as a physical sign of surrendering anxiety, sickness, worries, and all possessions to Jesus.
• Pastoral Charge [00:44:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > Lift voices and hearts to thank Jesus and worship Him.
• Pastoral Charge [01:08:13 ▶️ 📄]
  > Stop blaming external factors and people for one's circumstances.
• Pastoral Charge [01:17:16 ▶️ 📄]
  > Do not remain in a state of victimhood or stagnation ('the pool') for an extended period.
• Pastoral Charge [01:18:35 ▶️ 📄]
  > Take immediate action and obedience in response to God's call for healing and freedom.
• Pastoral Charge [01:19:03 ▶️ 📄]
  > Actively participate in one's own spiritual and emotional healing.
• Pastoral Charge [01:25:31 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor asks the congregation to verbally affirm receipt of the blessing ('say amen') and commit to staying for a closing prayer to seal the message.

[00:03:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:03:07] Thanks for coming out. How many of you are ready to worship the Lord this morning?
[00:03:12] God's been good to us and brought us through another week and what an honor it is to have you with us here in the building in person and so many watching and listening online and on
[00:03:20] Sirius XM, but we welcome all of you. I really believe the service is better because you took time to come today. God saw you make this journey of faith. You could be doing anything, but you
[00:03:31] said, I'm going to the house of the Lord. So I hope you know that God is smiling down on you right now it's got good things in store for each one of us and we're just believing that 2026
[00:03:41] it's not going to be a get by year for you but a blessed year and a productive year a year where you see God's goodness so hope you'll keep your faith stirred up and I don't know if there's
[00:03:52] anything this morning that's trying to weigh you down well this is a perfect time to just turn it over to God it may be worry or you know what somebody said what didn't work out you got a
[00:04:02] big project this week. When you come back to a place of peace and just say, God, I know you're in control. That's what's going to allow God to work in your life. You get your peace back,
[00:04:12] your joy back, and I believe you're going to see God's goodness. But thanks again for coming out.
[00:04:16] Always our declaration that not one of us will leave here the same way we came in.
[00:04:21] You're going to go out with more joy, more faith, and more victory in Jesus' name. So thanks for being a part. We're just committed into God's hands. Lord, thank you for the opportunity to be here with friends and family and people all over the world. Lord, as we worship you and we
[00:04:36] sing your praises, Lord, it's because we're grateful for all that you've done. Let these praises come up and Lord, I thank you that you're sending back down everything that we need in Jesus

[00:04:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:04:47] name. Amen. Thanks for coming out today. Give you the honor, the praise, the glory. Lord, we know

[00:21:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:21:41] we're here because you chose us before we could choose you. We stand here today redeemed and forgiven because of the price that you paid. Lord, we're not here with a sad song. We're here with a
[00:21:53] song of praise. Lord, we know your work in each one of our lives, that you've got us all in the palm of your hand. Lord, even though we may have some challenges that we're facing, we believe what
[00:22:05] we're singing, that the enemy is outnumbered, that you being for us is more than what's trying to stop us. Lord, I thank you even this morning as we're worshiping you, that every force that's come against us has been broken in the name of Jesus. Depression, anxiety, sicknesses, addictions,
[00:22:27] trouble in our home, in our finances. Lord, I thank you that today is a breakthrough day, that you're doing what only you can do.
[00:22:35] Lord, our eyes are upon you today.
[00:22:37] We know you're bigger than what we're facing.
[00:22:40] We come back to a place of peace, a place of trust.
[00:22:44] Lord, we know you're working even behind the scenes.
[00:22:47] Even though we may not see anything happening, Lord, we believe that you have not brought us this far to leave us where we are, but that you have good things.
[00:22:56] Lord, you said your whole victory in store for the upright.
[00:22:59] Lord, I know these are your upright people here and listening today. So I thank you that victory is coming. The angels are on the way with the answers, the healing, the provision, the freedom. Lord, I thank you that as for us in our house,
[00:23:15] we will serve the Lord. We are strong in the Lord. We are healthy and whole, redeemed and forgiven. Lord, we stand in what you promised us today and commit this new week, Lord, into your
[00:23:28] hands. Make us and mold us. Help us to make great decisions that honor you. I thank you that our spiritual ears and eyes are open and sensitive to your voice and that we'll make choices that
[00:23:41] move us toward our God-given destiny. Father, that you're making the path clear for each one of us.
[00:23:48] Help us to break free from things that are holding us back, the unforgiveness or a small-minded attitude, petty things, whatever it is, Lord, help us to break free and just step into who you've created us to be. Lord, those that are fighting battles in their health, I think even now that
[00:24:06] healing is flowing into all those that need it. Those watching from the hospitals, listening, Lord, I think that today as Jehovah Rapha, the Lord, our healer, that you're restoring what the enemies trying to steal that sickness and disease cancer diabetes cannot live in our bodies for we
[00:24:26] are temples of the most high God by faith we receive your healing wholeness into us Lord I do lift up those that are in difficult times gone through loss don't think they can move forward
[00:24:38] father you said you're close to the brokenhearted let them feel your presence now I think that that you're comforting them and giving them that peace that passes understanding. Lord, it may look like it's the end. Let them see it's a new beginning, that you have beauty for the
[00:24:56] ashes, that you're still in control, that we've been endorsed 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
[00:25:07] done great things in the past, but we, and we thank you for it, but we believe and declare that the best is still yet to come, that we are victors and never victims in Jesus' name.
[00:25:19] And if you receive it, can you say amen today? So great to have you in the house of the Lord.
[00:25:27] Honored to have you here. We make a declaration of faith every service and it's talks about in Psalms about getting in tune with God. I think sometimes during the week, you know, life happens and kind of get out of tune, a little bit worried or a little bit upset, a little bit frustrated,
[00:25:42] but this is a perfect time to get back in tune with God.
[00:25:45] One way to do that is just to remind yourself of who God says you are.
[00:25:50] Get in agreement with him.
[00:25:51] So come on, say it like you mean it.
[00:25:53] I am blessed, prosperous, redeemed, forgiven, healthy, whole, talented, creative, confident, secure, disciplined, focused, prepared, qualified, motivated, valuable, free, determined, equipped, empowered, anointed, accepted and approved. Not average, not mediocre. I am a child of the most high God. I will become all I was
[00:26:26] created to be in Jesus name. Amen and amen. You sound amazing today. Every time you say that, you make that declaration, you're moving closer to what you're saying. You know, the enemy love for us to go to, I'm not valuable and I'm not talented. I'm not disciplined, Joel, but you know
[00:26:45] what? You got to tune all that out and say, no, no, I am who God says I am. And as you do that, you're moving toward it. I, you know, it doesn't always happen overnight, but you keep doing that
[00:26:55] for a year and three years and five years, you're going to look up and say, you know what? I am blessed and I am talented. It's going, it's going to come to pass. Be careful what you're saying
[00:27:03] about yourself. I love what David said. He said, surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. When David wrote that Psalm, he had things coming against him. People weren't for
[00:27:16] him. Armies attacking, people slandering him. Sometimes his own family came against him.
[00:27:22] He could have said, surely God, you know, I'm never going to make it. Why is this happening to me? But look what he said, surely goodness and mercy are going to follow me. He was expecting
[00:27:32] God's goodness. It's such a powerful principle because it's easy to just, you know, think about, well, here's the circumstances and Joel, I don't see how it could happen, but how about a new approach of God? I know you're working in my life and not surely I'm going to have more trouble,
[00:27:47] but surely goodness and mercy is coming after me. You're facing that sickness. I don't see how it can work out. Medical report. No. How about this? I know surely healing is coming my way. Surely
[00:27:59] Jehovah Rapha is the Lord my healer. David was confident. He said in another place, I am confident of this. I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living. I love David's phrases. It
[00:28:12] shows his attitude. I am confident. I will see the goodness of God. Surely goodness and mercy is following me. Let's have that attitude. Let's be surely people. Let's be confident of the goodness of God. People. Let me tell you, you do that 2026, you're going to see God show out in
[00:28:28] your life and do some unusual things. How about surely God is going to bring my whole family in to serve him. Surely I will lend and not borrow. Surely I am strong in the Lord and the power of
[00:28:43] his might. Surely this giant cannot stand against me, but is coming down. Come on, let's be confident of the goodness of God. And it's not just being positive. It's releasing your faith. That's what allows God to work in our lives. We love you. We pray for you every day. And we take this time in
[00:29:00] all of our services to always have a moment to pray. So if you need individual prayer right now, we'd be honored to pray for you. There'll be prayer partners at the front of your section,
[00:29:10] all over the building. If you need prayer, anyone's welcome to come to the front of your section for prayer. Rest of you, you're welcome to be seated if you'd like. We'll take this next moment to pray and our beautiful online family listening live on Sirius XM. Thanks so much for
[00:29:24] being a part. My sister Lisa is there to pray for you as well, but know that we love you. So glad

[00:29:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:29:30] to have you with us today. Good morning and welcome, welcome, welcome to the Lakewood service.
[00:29:37] We are so glad that you have joined us today and you're part of the Lakewood family. We love that you listen from all over the world and that you send us your comments, your praise reports,
[00:29:49] your healing, I mean your prayer requests, and we always love to have those. And while we are praying for people in the sanctuary, I want to pray for you. And first of all, I want to begin
[00:30:01] with a great report that we got from Carol. She said that God blessed her son with the job he wanted. I love that. I love that God is so faithful. And then Lisa, she had back surgery,
[00:30:15] Lakewood prayed, and three days later, she was out of the hospital walking around. Thank God for all that he does, that he cares about every detail of our life.
[00:30:25] I was thinking about that scripture that says in James 1.5, if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives liberally without finding fault.
[00:30:36] And then James 4.2 says, we have not because we ask not.
[00:30:41] And then Hebrews 4.16 says this, come boldly.
[00:30:44] This is an invitation from God.
[00:30:45] Come boldly to my throne of grace to find help and mercy and grace in the time of need.
[00:30:53] You know, I was thinking about how God is always ready to give grace.
[00:30:59] He's always ready to give mercy.
[00:31:01] He's always ready to give help, to help us in our time of need.
[00:31:05] So help is on the way.
[00:31:07] Mercy is on the way.
[00:31:08] Grace is on the way.
[00:31:09] I just encourage you with that word today.
[00:31:11] And let's pray.
[00:31:13] First of all, I want to pray for Victoria.
[00:31:15] Let's pray for families.
[00:31:16] And Victoria asked, would we pray for her family's salvation, healing, and restoration in her relationships.
[00:31:24] And then Wendy said her oldest child is having a baby this month, praying for a healthy baby.
[00:31:30] And we will pray with you, Victoria and Wendy, and all of those who have family prayer requests.
[00:31:36] Father, in Jesus' name, we thank you for Victoria.
[00:31:39] and all those who desire to see their families come together in unity, Father, in healing and restoration and in salvation.
[00:31:49] Father, you said, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
[00:31:52] And I declare that over these families, that you will bring forgiveness, you will bring healing from the broken words, the broken things that have been done to them, that you will bring complete restoration.
[00:32:06] That word restoration means make new again.
[00:32:10] And, Father, we thank you for making these relationships, these family members, new again in the name of Jesus.
[00:32:16] And, Father, we thank you for Wendy, and we pray for her daughter who is having a child and anyone who may be pregnant right now.
[00:32:25] Father, we just thank you that they'll have a healthy pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
[00:32:33] Father, they'll have a healthy baby.
[00:32:35] No complications, Father.
[00:32:37] I thank you that you're watching over them, you're protecting them, and your hand of blessing is already upon that child, Father, and that they will serve you all the days of their lives.
[00:32:47] And, Father, I just pray for those who are away from you, for the children, grandchildren, parents who are away from you, that you will speak to their hearts, that they will return to you, and they will return to the things of God.
[00:33:00] Father, deliver them from addictions, from hurt, from anger.
[00:33:05] Father, we just pray for complete healing and restoration in their lives, Father, and that you'll do something great with them.
[00:33:12] In Jesus' name, amen.
[00:33:15] I also want to pray for your physical healing.
[00:33:19] You know, there's no distance in prayer.
[00:33:22] The same Holy Spirit that's here in the service, here with me, is there with you.
[00:33:26] And God's healing touch, His healing anointing is so real and so tangible.
[00:33:34] So we're going to pray for Millie because she has chronic headaches and Evelyn healing from a knee replacement surgery.
[00:33:43] And listen, God is not untouched by the feelings of your infirmity and His heart of compassion goes out towards you and so does ours.
[00:33:52] And we just pray in Jesus' name, Father, for your healing anointing right now that is touching Millie, that is touching Evelyn, and all those who have need of healing in their bodies.
[00:34:05] We command pain to go in the name of Jesus.
[00:34:09] We thank you that by your stripes we are healed.
[00:34:11] And we receive that healing.
[00:34:13] We take hold of it today.
[00:34:15] We know that you're the Lord, our healer.
[00:34:17] You promised to remove sickness from the midst of us.
[00:34:20] And we believe that, Father.
[00:34:21] Our faith is in you. You are Jehovah Rapha, the Lord, our healer. And we declare that we are healed by the stripes of Jesus today. In Jesus' name, and amen. And one more thing I want to
[00:34:34] pray about is finances for you. Sherry, her parents need a financial breakthrough. Karina, for her son to receive a scholarship. And Father, in Jesus' name, we pray for Sherry, for Karina's Son. We pray, Father, for everyone that has a financial need. Thank you, Father, that you are
[00:34:53] the Lord God, the one who supplies our needs. Jehovah Rapha, the Lord God who provides our needs. And Father, I thank you, Lord Jesus, that you are touching them in their finances. You are restoring all. You are giving them great favor and turning things around. In Jesus' name, amen.
[00:35:12] And I meant to say Jehovah Jireh, the Lord, our provider, but He is your provider.
[00:35:18] He is your source.
[00:35:19] Keep looking to Him because God has great things for you.
[00:35:23] And we love you.
[00:35:24] We appreciate you're part of the Lakewood family.
[00:35:27] And thank you for joining us today.
[00:35:30] And we'll go back to the main service now.
[00:35:33] God bless you.

[00:35:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:35:41] We're going to take an opportunity to receive communion together as a church family.

[00:36:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:36:10] So if you're watching online or you're listening by way of radio, you can find or gather some elements where you're at and join us as well in this space as we unify together to remember
[00:36:21] Jesus.
[00:36:23] Luke 22, the night before Jesus went to the cross, He gathered His disciples and He took two very ordinary, everyday things that were on the table and He used them as props, as an illustration.
[00:36:37] and he says I want you to use these and I want you to remember me consistently remember me he took the bread he took the wine and he broke it and he dispersed it and he said
[00:36:50] let these things always bring you back to the cross and to what I am going to do and who I am in your life you know the thing that I love about communion is that Jesus basically said
[00:37:06] remembering is going to be the most essential part of your walk in Christ. It's not only remembering the cross for you and I, it's remembering what Jesus did yesterday. It's remembering what Jesus is doing right now in our life. So if you're watching or you're listening
[00:37:24] right now, this moment is not only about remembering the power of the cross, it's remembering the power that we walk in every single day, even to get into this space right now.
[00:37:36] remembering Jesus, remembering his sustaining power, remembering the fullness of life that the cross provided for you and I to receive. The other cool principle I love about communion is that each one of you are holding the elements in your hand right now. When you came into this
[00:37:56] building today and you received the elements and as you hold them, no one inspected you. You didn't get carded to receive those elements you didn't take some religious test you received them freely and today I think it's a great reminder to understand that the gospel is strictly inclusive
[00:38:17] did you hear me church the gospel is strictly inclusive the cross the blood of Jesus is an invitation to all of humanity the reality is is because of what Jesus did we all stand with the opportunity to receive what Jesus did so what will you do with the cross today
[00:38:40] what will you do with the blood of Jesus what will you do with the price that was paid for you over 2,000 years ago the awesome thing is is you and I get the opportunity to receive by faith what
[00:38:53] Jesus did so we can walk in the fullness of life today walk in the fullness of grace and peace and strength and joy oh is anyone here grateful for the love and the and the sacrifice that Jesus came
[00:39:06] to pay for us to walk in fullness of life it unifies us we all have a seat at the table of grace today that is my point so don't let shame guilt condemnation behavior what you don't know
[00:39:21] or what you did keep you from receiving all that Jesus purchased for you on the cross the other cool thing about communion is that the very fact that Jesus picked up bread and wine and he said
[00:39:36] partake, consume, is it moved communion past just intellectual exercise. You see, Jesus wanted us to remember him in a way where our whole body would experience something. Isn't that interesting?
[00:39:53] To me, it sounds like the gospel. It's all-inclusive and it's experiential. In other words when when you receive Christ you receive the fullness of Christ on the inside and he begins to transform you in the same way you remember these elements and you partake of them in the same way
[00:40:12] Jesus doesn't want you to just admire him from afar he wants to be up close and personal he is to be experienced every day in a very personal way I'm not talking about religion I'm talking
[00:40:27] about a relationship with him there is no miracle within these elements the miracle is in when you remember and release your faith in what Jesus did for you on the cross are we thankful for the cross
[00:40:41] today aren't you thankful for the blood of Jesus today it's easy to forget but during this moment I want us to take the elements in our hands and remember listen if you're battling guilt today
[00:40:59] remember that the blood of Jesus covers all sin and does away with all shame and guilt as far as the east is to the west the Bible says guess what we don't have a measuring tool for that
[00:41:14] his grace is beyond measure let's remember that today and allow it to extinguish all shame and all guilt out of our lives if you're battling sickness today remember let's remember that his body was broken so that we could experience healing from the top of our head to the soles
[00:41:33] of our feet. If you're carrying weakness and you're coming in fatigued, overwhelmed today, remember that we can find strength and wholeness in Jesus, in the cross, by remembering His blood and what He did for us on the cross over 2,000 years ago. Father, we hold these elements and
[00:41:55] we're grateful and we're thankful today and we're choosing to remember as we partake of them what you did for us and what they provide for us your body and your blood what a precious precious
[00:42:08] sacrifice you stood in the gap for us and we are grateful church can you break the bread break the wafer as a representation of his body that was broken for us and let's receive the juice today
[00:42:29] as a representation of his blood that was poured out for you and I and for our sins.
[00:42:33] You see, Jesus stood in the gap for our brokenness, right?
[00:42:39] He stood in the gap.
[00:42:40] There's a gap in all of our lives between who Jesus called us to be and become and to who we really are, the person we aspire to be and who we really are.
[00:42:50] There's a gap.
[00:42:51] And Jesus came and did something about our brokenness.
[00:42:55] And he said, by my blood and by my spirit and my death, by living on the inside of you I can now transform you and fill in that gap and change you into the person that I've called you to become we can be like Christ because of what Jesus did on the cross
[00:43:10] aren't you grateful there is someone for us to become because of what Jesus did on the cross let's remember that today that we are becoming something because of Jesus let's partake and thank him for the blood and for filling in the gap for our brokenness once you are finished
[00:43:30] partaking could you stand your feet this morning and just set the elements down can we posture ourselves in an attitude in the spirit of surrender today and we're going to go back into this song
[00:43:44] but father we just want to say thank you we just want to say thank you we just want to remember again what you did on the cross and it brings us full circle right here in this moment to lift our
[00:43:55] hands as an outward sign of an inward desire to say Jesus we surrender again to you we surrender our anxiety we surrender our sicknesses we surrender our worries and our cares we surrender everything that we have to you and we say thank you thank you for the blood thank you for what
[00:44:11] you did on the cross we sing hallelujah to you Jesus come on let's lift our voices let's lift our hearts and let's thank Jesus for what he did for us on the cross come on let's worship him this

[00:44:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:44:22] morning he's good hey Lakewood church we are here in Costa Rica beautiful nation launching the first champions club for special needs children. Costa Rica is my native country.

[00:45:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:45:38] It's beautiful. It's known for its beautiful beaches and rainforests.
[00:45:42] Beautiful people too. I mean people here are nice and everything but as it happens everywhere around the world, beautiful places face ugly realities like the one we are sitting down here. Forty years back this used to be a city
[00:46:02] dump. I was part of a ministry many, many years ago, a ministry that was focused on reaching out to people and especially to vulnerable people in my country. During that time, it's amazing to remember that I actually got in contact for the very first time with
[00:46:27] John Austin's preaching. I was inspired by Lakewood's ministry without knowing that four Four decades later, I was going to be back here visiting the same places that I once served in now being part of Lakewood's ministry.
[00:46:49] We are writing a new story, a new chapter in this beautiful country.
[00:46:54] Here we have two special places completely devoted to special needs kids.
[00:47:01] This is amazing.

[00:47:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:47:04] From the beginning, Child Hope's heart has been to reach the communities that are least served.
[00:47:09] These teachers are wonderful.
[00:47:10] They're doing the best they can with very little resources.
[00:47:13] So I just felt so excited to be able to provide them this resource of Champions Club that gives them the tools that they need to do to best minister to the children and help them develop and lead them to Christ.
[00:47:26] And this community is perfect.
[00:47:27] It's going to serve not just the school, it's serving the church, and it will serve the whole community.
[00:47:32] I'm so grateful for Lakewood Church because even though they have this worldwide influence and TV ministry that can be in everybody's home throughout the world, they sent their pastors down here to minister to our people and train them hands-on, teaching them about
[00:47:49] this ministry of Champions Club.
[00:47:51] It's really been a great blessing.
[00:47:53] Lakewood Church, I want to thank you for your generosity.
[00:47:56] The offerings and tithes and gifts that you give through your church are impacting people all over the world, such as children here in Costa Rica with special needs who have been forgotten many times by their own country, but people so far away in Houston are able to give and bless
[00:48:13] the children here. And I just want to express my gratitude to you. Yeah. Thank you, Lakewood,

[00:48:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:48:17] so much. You guys are amazing. Isn't that something about Pastor Danilo, our Spanish pastor? I didn't even realize that 40 years ago, you know, he had connection with my father.
[00:48:29] You never know how your giving, your faithfulness is not going to just affect you, but how about your children and your grandchildren?
[00:48:37] You are sowing seeds, being a blessing as you continue to come, support the ministry.
[00:48:42] And we take a moment in every service to worship the Lord with our tithes and our offerings and just always want to thank you, you know, being so generous.
[00:48:51] And people say, Joel, why do they clap at Lakewood when you talk about an offering?
[00:48:54] I said, I don't know.
[00:48:55] They've been doing it for 60 years here.
[00:48:57] but you know, it's, I think it's because, you know, it's not about something that we have to do. We're here to honor God and what a joy to be a blessing. And y'all, y'all know the scriptures,
[00:49:07] you know, when you give the scripture says it'll be given back to you, pressed down, shaken together and running over. That's our prayer for each one of you. Not, you know, not just to get by life and that's good. We're grateful. There are seasons that are, you know,
[00:49:20] slower, but how about a, how about some running over seasons have running over peace and running over joy? How about running over with opportunity where you get to choose which way running over with the finances you need so that you can help build the kingdom. I love that someplace in the
[00:49:36] new Testament talks about, so you can give to every good work. I know that's your heart. That's my heart. I want to give to every good work that I, that I possibly can. Well, that's what we're
[00:49:45] believing for each one of you continue to stay faithful in your tithes and your offerings. And you know, know when you're giving, you're not giving to necessarily to, you know, people you're given to God. God sees this. He sees the sacrifices you make, your generosity, and we just speak those
[00:50:01] blessings back over each one of you. Thanks for being so, so generous. Lord, I do thank you for our amazing givers here at Lakewood, watching and listening. And Lord, as we give today, we give to
[00:50:11] honor you, not because we have to out of a religious rule, but Lord, we give to put you first place. We recognize what you've given us, life to live and breath to breathe and strength and
[00:50:23] the talent or the jobs that we have, the resources. Lord, as we give, I thank you that we live under the open windows of heaven. Lord, like you gave us this compact center, give your people amazing
[00:50:36] businesses and let talent come out and opportunity find them. I thank you, Lord, that we all lend and we don't have to borrow, that we can give to every good work, to children's champions clubs all over
[00:50:49] to help build your kingdom and help set people free and take the gospel all over the world.
[00:50:54] Lord, it's for your glory and for your honor.
[00:50:57] I just thank you for those running over blessings upon your people in Jesus' name.
[00:51:02] Amen and amen.
[00:51:03] God bless you today as you give.

[00:52:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:52:02] Let's all stand one last time.

[00:55:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:55:55] Are you glad to be in the house of the Lord at Lakewood this morning?
[00:55:59] We're honored to have you here.
[00:56:02] I love coming to a place of faith and victory and that happens because of all of you. So thanks for being here. The scripture says, when you're planted in the house of the Lord, you will flourish. I know I'm looking at flourishing
[00:56:14] people. A lot of things you could be doing today, but you're in the house of the Lord.
[00:56:17] So we welcome you in. I know we have a lot of special guests today because of the World Cup that's in town, but we welcome all of you. I want to welcome also, we have the Democratic
[00:56:28] Republic of Congo's ambassador to the United States, Ms. Yvette Lugundu, right here on the front row. Just a beautiful people there. And actually I'm going to meet the president of the Congo this Tuesday at Lakewood. Her sister's right here beside her. Her name's Joelle too. So we got
[00:56:48] two Joelles and they're here for the game this Thursday. She was telling me the Congo would be the DRC. It's the first time they played in 53 years because all the fighting over there. But
[00:57:01] wow, we're believing they're going to do well. But not only that, they were telling about how the president, his, her sisters, a man of faith, they have prayer meetings on Friday and just a real people of faith and, and just a love God over there all across Africa, but especially in the DRC.
[00:57:18] So we welcome you today and all of your, all of the group with you as well. And if you're visiting, you may not have come from the DRC, but you came from Dallas. We welcome you too, but just so glad
[00:57:31] to have everybody here. I'd love to meet you after service. I'm always in the lobby back there. If you've got a moment, just love to shake your hand. But don't forget, guys, Hope in Life, our youth
[00:57:40] and young adult conference is coming up right here in a couple weeks. And we'll have thousands of young people right here in the service, a free event. Love to have you come out. If you're young
[00:57:50] like I am, we'd love to have you be here. But honored to have you today. When you see yourself on the big screen, can you give our TV audience a great big Lakewood welcome? God bless you. It's
[00:58:03] great to be with you today. And I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can come visit us in person.
[00:58:13] We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services. I'd like to start with something funny.
[00:58:18] And I heard about these two men named Archie and Jack. They had debated their whole life as to whether Jesus was white or whether he was black. Archie was certain he was white. Jack was just as
[00:58:31] certain he was black. As fate would have it, they died on the same day and rushed to the pearly gates and said, St. Peter, please tell us. We've been arguing our whole life. Is Jesus white or is he
[00:58:42] black? About that time, Jesus stepped up and said, Buenos dias. All right, guys, say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says
[00:58:59] I can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be the same. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible,
[00:59:13] 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 Bible to John chapter five,
[00:59:29] you're welcome to John chapter five. And we'll put the scriptures up on the screen as well. And pastor Nick, that's beautiful with communion today. And we have a new room right over here on that lobby level. It's a communion room where it's open during any service or after any service.
[00:59:46] If you want to take communion each week, you're available right up over there. We'll have somebody there to help you out. But I know a lot of people want to take communion more often, and you're more
[00:59:55] than welcome to do it every week or anytime we have a service right up over on that side. But again, honored to have you with us today. I want to talk to you today about the courage to get
[01:00:05] well. We all have areas where we're not being our best. Something is limiting us. Lack of confidence, unforgiveness, and addiction. We don't like it. We know it's holding us back, but often we learn to live with it. Human nature leans toward what's comfortable. It's not change we resist. It's what's
[01:00:28] required of change. It's easier to stay the same. If we accept it and let it become a part of us, we won't have to stretch and put forth more effort. It becomes normal to us. We can get
[01:00:42] comfortable with self-pity, comfortable with bitterness, comfortable with a bad attitude.
[01:00:48] We have an excuse. I can't forgive Joel. They hurt me too badly. I know I'm hot-tempered, but that's how I was raised. I'll never be successful with the mistakes I've made. I'm carrying this guilt and shame. As long as you normalize it, that lesser version of you will
[01:01:05] stay. You'll adapt to your conditions and learn to function in the dysfunction. That's not who God made you to be. There is a better version of you, a healthy you, a free you, a blessed,
[01:01:19] competent, successful you. Here's the key. The new you won't show up as long as you're allowing the old you to stay. If you're accepting the mediocrity, the self-pity, the dysfunction, that's going to keep you from your destiny. Getting well takes courage. Being free will cost
[01:01:40] you something. If it was easy, everyone would do it. It's going to cost you excuses. No more finding reasons to justify it. It will cost you some comfort. You have to be disciplined and be
[01:01:53] willing to do the hard thing so you can see change. It may cost you some friends and getting out of limiting environments. If you're dealing with an addiction, you can't hang around other people who are addicted. If you do that long enough, the addiction becomes normal. That's
[01:02:11] just who we are. Everybody's this way. No, that's because you're in the wrong environment.
[01:02:16] if you're always around people who are jealous bitter and can't pay their bills that's going to become normal to you where you lower your expectations and convince yourself that's who you are well you're better than that you are made in the image of almighty God he created you to
[01:02:36] rule and to reign there's a new you on the inside ready to rise up break free and reach new levels Now do your part and have the courage to leave what's comfortable The courage to get away from people who are enabling dysfunction and limiting your growth
[01:02:55] The courage to have a new mindset Not live with insecurity not enough can't do it get rid of the old so the new you can show up John chapter 5 there was a man that had been crippled for 38 years and every morning
[01:03:12] his family would carry him to the pool of Bethesda. It was known to have healing waters.
[01:03:19] Once a year when the angel stirred the water, the first person in would be healed. The scripture says a great multitude of sick people came each day, the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.
[01:03:32] Everywhere this man looked, he saw people just like him with great problems, struggling. Some were groaning. Some couldn't talk. Some were very old and about to pass. I could hear the conversations, people talking about all that was wrong, hoping they can just make it through
[01:03:51] another day. It was an atmosphere of defeat and disappointment. For 38 years, that's all this man has known. What a limited, dysfunctional way to live. But to this man, it was normal. That was his world. It's what he did every day. Your environment has a way of normalizing your
[01:04:11] condition. If you're around people that complain all the time, complaining is going to feel normal.
[01:04:18] If everyone around you is negative, negative is going to feel normal. If everyone's unfaithful in relationships, being unfaithful is going to feel normal to you. And the challenge is when something becomes normal, we stop seeing it as a limitation, something we need to overcome,
[01:04:37] and we take it on as a part of who we are. Your environment is conditioning you. How you were raised, the people you work around, your community, they may be good people, but perhaps they have
[01:04:51] issues. They're sitting by the pool, so to speak, disappointed, talking about what didn't work out.
[01:04:58] Don't let their example become who you are They may be stuck They gave up on their dream. They won't forgive but you're the exception You're the one god raised up to break out of the limited environment
[01:05:12] Recognize that's not normal. That's not who you were created to be This man had been going to the pool for 38 years He had his routine down Every morning his family would get him dressed
[01:05:28] to bring him breakfast. Then they would carry him to the pool and sit in the same place. He would talk to the same people he'd known for decades that were crippled, blind, in great need. Every
[01:05:42] evening his family would come pick him up, take him home, help him to bed. He never saw people who were pursuing dreams, building their businesses, passionate about their family, thanking God for another day, he saw just the opposite. His normal was dysfunction and defeat. One afternoon, Jesus
[01:06:03] came walking by. He saw the man and went over to him. He said, sir, do you want to get well?
[01:06:11] That seemed like such an odd question. Of course he wanted to get well. That's why everyone came to the pool each day. But Jesus was asking something much deeper. He knew the man had been there for 38 years. He was saying, in effect, are you willing to leave what you've become
[01:06:28] accustomed to? Are you willing to give up that old routine that you've done for 38 years and take on new responsibility? Are you willing to get rid of the excuses? Because if he got healed, it wasn't
[01:06:42] just about his legs. His whole life would change. Nobody would have to carry him to the pool. He could walk where he went. Nobody would bring him food each day and cater to him. He would have to
[01:06:54] work. Jesus was saying, I want to change things for you. I want to make it much better, but it's going to cost you something. It's going to take courage to get well. You can't go back to the
[01:07:07] pool, what you've been used to. You can't hang around those same friends each day. They're dysfunctional, that's not you anymore. Getting well means you have to make changes. But some people choose to stay at the pool because it's comfortable. The insecurity, they're not good
[01:07:26] enough. The guilt, they know it's limiting them, but it's familiar. It's what they're used to.
[01:07:32] Change requires effort. It's not just God snapping his fingers, healing and freeing.
[01:07:37] freeing. There are things that we have to be willing to do. Some people stay at the pool of compromise, bad habits. I know these friends are not good for me, Joel, but I don't want to have
[01:07:49] to find new friends. I like them. Do you want to get well? Getting well will disrupt old patterns.
[01:07:57] Getting well means you can't rely on excuses. I'm this way because of what they did to me, because of what I didn't get. Excuses will keep you at the pool. Quit blaming people, blaming your boss, blaming your government. Nothing that's happened to you has stopped your
[01:08:13] purpose. It may not have been fair, but God saw it. He knows how to make it up to you, how to give you beauty for those ashes, but you can't stay at the pool nursing your wounds, thinking about who
[01:08:27] did you wrong, reliving the hurt. You can't change any of that. That's in the past. The question is, do you want to get well? Do you want to see God pay you back? Then you can't stay at the pool
[01:08:40] of self-pity, letting the chip on your shoulder, the bitterness, the unforgiveness become normal to you. You may, you may have a good reason, a good excuse. Look what happened when you get well, the excuses go away. No more people to blame. No more reason to shrink back and live intimidated.
[01:09:01] no more reason to be sour and critical there's new responsibility to getting well being free and whole Jesus asked the man a very simple question do you want to get well yes or no seemed like an easy answer this is a no-brainer yes I want to get well I don't want to go back
[01:09:22] to that pool another day but after 38 years strongholds can form in our mind we resist change because things have become so normal and so routine.
[01:09:36] Instead of answering with faith and confidence, yes, I want to get well, the man said, sir, I don't have anybody to help me.
[01:09:44] Every time the angel comes, somebody gets in before me.
[01:09:48] Excuses will keep you from getting well.
[01:09:51] Telling God what you don't have, what you can't do, that's going to keep you at the pool.
[01:09:57] God isn't asking you to heal yourself.
[01:09:59] he's asking, are you willing to deal with the changes when he takes you to a higher level?
[01:10:06] Will you not go back to that pool and stay in dysfunction?
[01:10:10] Will you quit making excuses to not pursue your destiny?
[01:10:14] This man was known as the crippled man by the pool.
[01:10:20] We don't have his name in the scripture.
[01:10:23] His whole identity was on what he had been through.
[01:10:27] If Jesus healed him, he'd have to be willing to change his identity.
[01:10:31] He'd no longer be the crippled man, no longer have people feeling sorry for him, catering to him, having that attention because of what he'd been through.
[01:10:42] Some people become known by the hurts, the loss, the bad things that have happened to them.
[01:10:48] It becomes their identity.
[01:10:50] It's a victim mindset.
[01:10:52] Man, I went through a bad breakup, Joel.
[01:10:55] My company let me go.
[01:10:56] It wasn't fair.
[01:10:57] I lost a loved one. If you're going to get well, you have to get rid of that old identity.
[01:11:04] That's what happened to you. It's not who you are. You are still a child of the most high God, valuable, a masterpiece, wearing a crown of favor. Don't let what you've been through distort who God says you are. The enemy would love for you to live as a victim.
[01:11:24] always had that on the forefront of your mind where you're bitter and you have a chip on your shoulder not expecting anything good no God is asking you today do you want to get well
[01:11:35] it's going to cost you something no more finding reasons to stay at the pool why you can't be successful it'll cost you the wrong identity you have to give up the defeated you, the hurt you, the not good enough you. It'll cost you being comfortable, staying in your
[01:11:54] routine where it's safe, the same friends, the same environment that's limiting you. You can't stay at the pool and reach your destiny. The pool was a place of healing. It's not your permanent home. One reason Jesus asked the crippled man, do you want to get well? He wanted to know if I heal
[01:12:14] you? Are you going to stay at this pool? Are you going to keep the same mindset? Are you going to go out and fulfill your purpose and step into the greatness that I put in you? See, the Israelites
[01:12:27] had been in slavery for 400 years, mistreated and taken advantage of. They were at the pool, so to speak. All they had known was struggle and hardship. Well, God sent Moses to deliver them.
[01:12:40] and after 10 generations, they were finally free.
[01:12:43] A dream come true.
[01:12:44] They left Egypt, headed through the desert toward the promised land.
[01:12:49] They got next door to it, the land flowing with milk and honey.
[01:12:53] But the spies came back, told Moses the people were too big.
[01:12:57] They could never defeat them.
[01:12:59] Well, God had already promised them the victory, but when they heard the negative report and how big the people were, they were so afraid, they said, Moses, let's go back to Egypt.
[01:13:10] Let's go back to being slaves, being oppressed, being told what to do. That's how powerful wrong mindsets are. Who would want to go back to being a slave? They could have said, let's just go live somewhere else where there's no opposition. But slavery had become normal to them.
[01:13:31] Being talked down to, forced to work long hours, that was their routine. As long as they were slaves. They weren't responsible for what they said and where they lived. It was up to someone else. God delivered them, but they weren't willing to pay the cost. They wanted to keep their old
[01:13:49] identity, their same excuses, same neighbor, same environment. They got stuck. Don't be like them.
[01:13:57] It takes courage to get well. You have to be willing to be uncomfortable for a season, to stretch and face opposition without being weak and turning back.
[01:14:09] It may mean you have to change relationships that are limiting your growth and keeping you from flourishing.
[01:14:16] Perhaps it's wrong mindsets, self-pity.
[01:14:19] Look what I've been through.
[01:14:20] A chip on your shoulder.
[01:14:22] Life is too short to live that way.
[01:14:25] Do you want to get well?
[01:14:27] Don't answer like the crippled man.
[01:14:29] Come up with excuses.
[01:14:30] Joel, you don't know what's happened to me.
[01:14:32] the right answer is yes, I want to get well, and I'm willing to change. I'm willing to get out of my routine. I'm willing to take on a new identity. I read about a man that had been in prison for 31
[01:14:46] years. He served his time and was finally released. Some volunteers took him to a shelter to stay, gave him clothing and food. They had a program to help him find a job and get back into society.
[01:14:59] But a week later the man was sleeping on the sidewalk in front of the prison The guards came out and said what are you doing here?
[01:15:07] Man, you're free go enjoy your life. He wouldn't leave A couple weeks later. He went to a grocery store and stole some items He waited outside for the police to come When they arrested him, he told the officer. I want to go back to prison
[01:15:22] I don't know how to be free we can get so accustomed to something even if it's not good for us that we don't want to change it's easy for us as an outsider to see it man don't go back to prison but sometimes you can't
[01:15:37] see it yourself you have to get honest and ask God to help you to see any areas where you're self-sabotaging where you're letting the old you stay simply because it's familiar you can change God will help you break out of those strongholds. He'll help you break free from negative patterns
[01:15:59] That may be the way it's been but this is a new day freedom is coming Healing is coming victory is coming but it's easy to want to stay at the pool because It lowers expectations
[01:16:14] As long as the man was at the pool Nobody expected him to walk or to go work or to travel or to help someone else. He's limited he's at a disadvantage and people would come by and i'm sorry you're going through this can i get
[01:16:30] you some water do you need some food they'd cater to it but if he gets healed the questions would change to what dreams are you pursuing what are you going to do with the gifts god has given you
[01:16:43] who are you going to be a blessing to today there's a responsibility with being made well no more excuses to be complacent feel sorry for yourself nurse the wounds i know things happen in life that can kind of knock the wind out of us
[01:17:00] a sickness a loss a bad break it's easy to lower our expectations push down the promises hey man it's too late for me joel i'm not worthy i've been through too much no don't spend your life at the pool
[01:17:16] You may go there for 38 days to find some healing or even 38 weeks But don't you dare stay there for 38 years God is a god of justice He knows what's happened to you
[01:17:29] He saw the disappointment The loss the mistakes the pool was a part of your story, but it's not the end of your story Jesus didn't get upset with the crippled man. He didn't berate him man. Why are you making all these excuses?
[01:17:45] he simply looked at the man and said rise up take up your mat and walk. Well this man had never walked. He could have thought what are you talking about? Can't you see that I'm crippled? Just a few
[01:17:58] minutes earlier he was making excuses but something shifted in his mind. A stronghold was broken. He thought this pool is not my destiny. I'm made for more than this. He started to get up. The scripture
[01:18:12] says immediately the man was healed. He rolled up his mat and began walking. What's interesting is Jesus told him to rise up and walk before he was healed. Why is that? Healing requires obedience. Freedom requires action. Do you want to get well? The real question is, are you willing
[01:18:35] to do what God is asking you to do. Will you rise up and take up your mat? That may mean forgiving that person that did you wrong. Distancing yourself from people that are pulling you down
[01:18:48] or taking on a new identity. Changing the way you're seeing yourself. Not a victim, not a failure, not an addict, but a free, blessed, healthy, victorious person. Getting well starts with you.
[01:19:03] You do your part and god will do his part This is what my father did He was raised very poor in a limited environment His parents lost everything during the great depression Dropped out of high school to help on the farm
[01:19:20] poverty lack defeat That's all he had known that was normal to him But at 17 years old he was walking home from a nightclub at two o'clock in the morning He knew nothing about god
[01:19:33] He wasn't raised in church didn't have any kind of faith background But he looked up at the stars and for some reason he began to think about god and what he would do with his life
[01:19:45] The scripture says god chose us before we could choose him This was god saying in effect john Do you want to get well?
[01:19:54] Do you want to fulfill your purpose? Do you want to go places that you've never dreamed?
[01:19:58] My father didn't know what was happening But that next morning he called a friend and said he wanted to go to church with him That day he gave his life to christ the first one in his family
[01:20:11] He felt this calling to become a minister, but he didn't have any training or experience And he told his parents that he was going to leave home and go out and become a minister They said john, you don't know how to minister
[01:20:25] All you know how to do is work on the farm with us you're going to get out there and fail. They meant well, but they were saying, you better stay at the pool. We're crippled. We're poor. We're at a disadvantage. Daddy had a good excuse to stay
[01:20:41] there. Poor was normal to him. A limited mindset, low expectations. Don't think you can do anything significant. That's all he has seen. He was comfortable, but he wasn't satisfied. He knew there was more in him. To get well, he would have to break out of old patterns. He'd have to change
[01:21:02] friends, change his environment, take risks, stretch, takes courage to get well. It's going to cost you to reach your destiny. Playing it safe, living by the pool with low expectations, making excuses, that's the easy thing to do. But God didn't call you, equip you, empower you,
[01:21:25] anoint you favor you so you can take the easy way out you weren't created to live at the pool rise up take up your mat and walk rise up out of dysfunction rise up out of poverty and lack
[01:21:42] rise up out of addictions and compromise rise up out of self-pity and bitterness if you'll make that first move you'll feel God strengthen your legs healing your body freeing you from addictions launching you into your purpose.
[01:21:58] The healing is in the obedience.
[01:22:01] Be willing to change.
[01:22:03] When my father was 75 years old, he asked if Victoria and I would drive him back to Paris, Texas.
[01:22:10] That's where he was born.
[01:22:11] And he just wanted to reminisce and see some of the old sites.
[01:22:16] And we got there and found the old well from the farm where he was raised on.
[01:22:21] We went into town and saw some people that knew one of his classmates.
[01:22:26] They told us how to get to his house.
[01:22:28] We drove there.
[01:22:30] It was this little shack with broken out windows, roof caving in.
[01:22:36] The yard was totally unkept.
[01:22:38] Didn't look livable.
[01:22:40] We knocked on the door and this man answered.
[01:22:43] He came out of the house, no shirt on, hadn't shaved, hadn't combed his hair, looked very unkept.
[01:22:50] My father told him who he was and they couldn't believe they were seeing each other after 60 years.
[01:22:55] He invited us into his house and never forget there were buckets on the board on the floor catching water dripping from the roof, very dilapidated. My father asked what he'd done with his life and he told how he had a job down at the boat docks for a while pumping gas, but
[01:23:13] he was laid off 40 years ago and hadn't been able to find work and how life had been very, very hard.
[01:23:20] That day made such an impression on me here two men were raised in the same environment Same school same poverty same hardship But my father went on to do great things pastor churches Raise his family impact the world
[01:23:37] this man Never got out of the poverty and dysfunction. He was raised in the difference was He stayed by the pool He let the dysfunction become normal He took on that identity. We're poor Not up to par have a good reason to be this way
[01:23:56] It takes courage to get well It's going to cost you something I wouldn't be here today if my father wasn't willing to pay the price Some people are stuck not because god won't free them but because they're comfortable in dysfunction
[01:24:12] That was the difference between that man and my father My father was at the pool, but he knew that pool wasn't his home He had this fire this passion to stretch to believe knowing that god was breathing on his life
[01:24:27] Are there areas where you're living with less than god's best and it's become normal?
[01:24:33] You've accepted it lowered expectations Now you're at the pool comfortable with an addiction comfortable with unforgiveness Comfortable with lack and not enough God doesn't want you to stay at the pool. He knew exactly where you would be. Jesus went to the pool
[01:24:51] and found this man. It's not an accident that you're hearing this today. God is saying to you, do you want to get well? Not do you want some relief? Do you want some help functioning the
[01:25:03] problem? God didn't help come to help you live better by the pool. He came to get you out of that pool. Jesus said to the man, rise up, take up your mat and walk. You would think he'd tell
[01:25:17] him just rise up and walk. No, he said, pick up your mat because you're not going to be coming back here. This is a new day, a breakthrough day, a destiny day, no more excuses, no more letting
[01:25:31] comfort keep us from our calling. If you'll pick up your mat and move forward, I believe and declare supernatural strength is coming, healing, freedom, breakthroughs, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus name. And if you receive it, can you say amen? Let's pray together. If you have five
[01:25:55] minutes, if you can stick with me, we'll just seal it in prayer. Lord, thank you for what we've heard today. Lord, I thank you that it falls on great ground. Faithful people here at Lakewood, so many
[01:26:05] watching and listening. And Lord, show us any areas where letting the old stay, where we've gotten comfortable with less than what you have for us. Holy Spirit, reveal that to us. And Lord God, help us to change. Help us to do what we can't do on our own. Lord, don't let us stay by
[01:26:25] the pool our whole life. Holy Spirit, stir us and show us. And I thank you, Lord, we'll do what we can. And Lord God, I thank you in advance that you'll help us do what we cannot. You will bring
[01:26:37] the healing, the freedom, the abundance, the wisdom, the opportunity. Father, I speak victory over your people today. Those watching and listening as they go out this week to work, their kids out for summer, Lord, watch after them, protect them. Let it be a flourishing week.
[01:26:55] We commit them into your hands in Jesus' name.
[01:26:59] With our heads bowed in prayer, just a quick question.
[01:27:02] If your heart stopped beating in the next few minutes, are you at peace with God?
[01:27:08] Do you know where you'd spend eternity if you died a little while from now?
[01:27:14] If not, I would love to pray with you.
[01:27:17] I'm not here to condemn anybody.
[01:27:19] I'm here to help you find a new beginning.
[01:27:22] I know this comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And in just a moment, if you're not at peace with the Lord, or maybe you are a Christian, but you've gone cold toward God, you know, you need to rededicate your life. You need
[01:27:39] a fresh new start. If that's you in just a moment, I'm going to ask you to take a step of faith and stand right where you are. And we'll pray together. I can't think of a better time to get
[01:27:51] on the road to victory than right now. God is not mad at you. Your sins have already been forgiven.
[01:27:59] All you have to do is accept the free gift of Christ's salvation. Will you do it today? The enemy in your thoughts, he'll whisper, do it next week. Do it another time. Listen, the Bible says
[01:28:10] today is the day of salvation. Don't put it off. It's so easy. Well, Joe, it's embarrassing to stand in front of everyone. Have people at the house. I can't lift my hand. Listen to what Jesus
[01:28:22] said. If you won't be ashamed of me before people, then I won't be ashamed of you before my father in heaven. I'm going to give you a great opportunity to show God that you're not ashamed
[01:28:36] of him. If you're not at peace with the Lord, or you just need to rededicate your life. You need that fresh new start, that new beginning? If that's you, would you be bold, take that step of faith
[01:28:48] and stand right where you are and we'll pray together. Would you do that? Come on, Lakewood.
[01:28:52] Let's give them a hand as they stand all over the building. Come on, don't put it off. Anybody else up top watching, listening? I feel like there ought to be a few more. Anybody else? Still time for you.
[01:29:16] Well, God bless you. Please remain standing if you don't mind. Let me tell you how proud we are of you. I know that took courage to stand. And more importantly, I know God will never be ashamed of
[01:29:28] 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 all praying this after me,
[01:29:38] if you would please? Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior. Amen. Or may I say in one more moment, I want to tell you again how much
[01:29:53] we love you. We're going to be praying for you.
[01:29:56] I also want to give you a personal invitation and a challenge to come back and be with us on a regular basis. This next year of your life is incredibly important. I want to just
[01:30:07] challenge you. If you'll give us this next year, I'll make a promise.
[01:30:11] Before it's over, your life will never be the same for the better.
[01:30:15] Love to have you back here at Lakewood if you can, or maybe it's online. I'll however you do it. But if you come back in person, you can meet some of our team and maybe join some
[01:30:24] of these teams. You'll meet some lifelong friends here at Lakewood. What's the next step? If you've got a moment after service, I'm going to be right over here in about 10 minutes. I'd love to shake
[01:30:33] your hand. Just you meet some of our staff. We'll give you some resources. It's a little gathering we call New Beginning. It just takes 15, 20 minutes. So it's right up here if you've got that
[01:30:42] time. But know this, the moment you stood up, God washed away all your sins, your mistakes, your failures. You are starting with a fresh, clean slate. Write it down in your Bible. June 14, 2026, a new day of victory in your life. In Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Well, let's all stand
[01:31:02] together, if you would, please. Thanks so much for coming out today. How many of you going home better off than you were before? Amen. All right, guys, we love you. I'm going to speak a blessing.
[01:31:13] until we meet again. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord show you his favor and have mercy on you. And may the Lord watch over you and give you his peace. God bless you. Have
[01:31:26] a great week, a favor filled week. See you back real soon.