The Danger of ‘Making Room’: A Theological Audit of Prosperity Preaching

• New Beginnings and Expectancy [01:01:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor declares that God is about to do something brand new in 2026, urging the congregation to forget the past and be alert for fresh opportunities.
• Spiritual Empowerment and Holiness [00:54:31 ▶️ 📄]
  > Discussion on the Holy Spirit empowering believers to overcome, emphasizing that holiness is a privilege and that Jesus carried what came from God, not himself.
• Generational Impact [00:57:40 ▶️ 📄]
  > A declaration that the next generation will be mighty, shifting narratives, and impacting cultural mountains like government, media, and education.
• Divine Healing [00:58:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > A prayerful declaration of Jehovah Rapha, asking for physical, mental, and emotional healing, citing the woman with the issue of blood as an example of faith.
• Financial Breakthrough [01:00:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > A declaration of Jehovah Jireh, stating that debt is canceled, generational lack is broken, and God will supply all needs, moving believers from borrowers to lenders.
• Community Engagement [01:17:28 ▶️ 📄]
  > Encouragement to stay planted in the church community to use talents and meet other believers, emphasizing the blessing of putting God first.
• Making Room for Increase [01:22:16 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that God's supply is unlimited, but human capacity to receive is limited by mindset; believers must 'make room' through faith and vision.
• Mindset and Identity [01:27:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > The speaker discusses clearing out 'junk' like doubt, unforgiveness, and insecurity to allow God's favor and identity to take up space.
• Breaking Generational Limitations [01:29:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the example of a couple from low-income backgrounds, the pastor explains how limited mindsets inherited from family can restrict one's destiny.
• Mindset and Identity [01:29:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that limited mindsets formed in childhood (e.g., 'not enough') must be replaced by God's definition of identity to allow for spiritual and practical growth.
• Faith and Expectation [01:31:17 ▶️ 📄]
  > Faith is described as 'capacity'; believers are urged to 'enlarge their vision' and expect more than survival, citing the widow's story as an example of expecting abundance.
• Obedience and Sacrifice [01:35:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the story of the widow and Elisha to illustrate that obedience, even when it seems foolish or illogical, creates the 'vessels' or capacity for God to pour out blessings.
• Breaking Generational Cycles [01:40:26 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using his father's story, the pastor encourages listeners to leave behind environments and mindsets of poverty and defeat to establish a new standard for their families.
• Faith and Restoration [01:43:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal story about his father requesting running shoes before heart surgery to demonstrate faith in future healing and restoration, illustrating the concept of 'making room' for God's work.
• Spiritual Capacity and 'Fullness' [01:44:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that God seeks people with capacity, contrasting this with the common state of being 'full' due to life's busyness, distractions, and practical concerns, which prevents spiritual breakthrough.
• Biblical Illustration of the Innkeeper [01:44:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor retells the nativity story, focusing on the innkeeper who lacked 'room' for Joseph and Mary, using this to illustrate how people miss divine opportunities because they are too busy or distracted to make adjustments.
• Practical Application: Emptying the Mind [01:47:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor calls the congregation to actively remove mental and life clutter (social media, comparisons, doubt) to create space for God to fill them with 'fajitas' (abundance) rather than just basic needs.

• Sermon Illustration [00:59:51 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the biblical story of the woman with the issue of blood, using her as an illustration of reaching out in childlike faith to touch the hem of Jesus' garment for healing.
• Sermon Illustration [01:00:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of birds that neither plant nor store food to illustrate God's provision and to encourage trust over worry.
• Sermon Illustration [01:26:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about ordering new exercise equipment but finding his garage cluttered with old junk (landscape lights, broken AC parts, flat-tire bikes). He realized he had to clean out the old items to 'make room' for the new equipment, using this as an analogy for clearing mental clutter to receive God's blessings.
• Sermon Illustration [01:29:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts meeting a couple raised in low-income families who were taught that 'beans and rice' was their destiny. He uses this to illustrate how generational expectations of struggle can create a limited mindset that blocks greater blessings.
• Sermon Illustration [01:29:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > A couple raised in poverty with a 'beans and rice' mentality changed their mindset after watching the pastor on TV, built a house debt-free on normal income, and sold it for double, proving God can defy odds when limits are removed.
• Sermon Illustration [01:34:46 ▶️ 📄]
  > The biblical story of the widow of Zarephath (or similar widow in 2 Kings) who borrowed empty vessels from neighbors and poured her small jar of oil into them, resulting in the oil multiplying to fill all vessels, paying her debts, and providing for her life.
• Sermon Illustration [01:40:26 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor's father, raised in poverty, left his family farm at 17 to break the cycle of defeat, eventually building Lakewood Church from a feed store to a large auditorium, and demonstrating faith for healing by placing running shoes by his hospital bed before heart surgery.
• Sermon Illustration [01:43:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts his father's emergency heart surgery at age 65. Despite the critical nature of the surgery, his father asked for his running shoes to be placed by the bed to show he believed he would recover and run again. This act of 'making room' for healing resulted in his father living many more healthy years.
• Sermon Illustration [01:44:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor illustrates the concept of being 'full' by retelling the story of Joseph and Mary seeking lodging in Bethlehem. He imagines the innkeeper refusing them because he was 'full' and busy, only to later realize he missed the chance to host the parents of Jesus, who would change the world. This serves as a metaphor for how modern believers miss blessings because their lives are cluttered with distractions.

• Pastoral Charge [00:30:01 ▶️ 📄]
  > Say 'amen' to receive the prayer.
• Pastoral Charge [00:58:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > Say 'amen' to affirm belief in the declaration for the next generation.
• Pastoral Charge [01:00:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > Say 'amen' to receive the declaration of healing.
• Pastoral Charge [01:01:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > Shout 'amen' to receive the declaration of financial breakthrough.
• Pastoral Charge [01:03:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > Shout 'amen' to receive the declaration of new beginnings.
• Pastoral Charge [01:03:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > Shout amen to affirm belief and reception of God's new work.
• Pastoral Charge [01:18:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > Visitors are invited to meet the speaker after service; all are invited to attend the new Wednesday night service.
• Pastoral Charge [01:19:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > Write down personal visions/hopes for the year on designated walls in the lobby next Sunday.
• Pastoral Charge [01:21:34 ▶️ 📄]
  > Invite someone to church next week and help them get settled/planted.
• Pastoral Charge [01:20:06 ▶️ 📄]
  > Stay connected via digital media and visit in person.
• Pastoral Charge [01:39:39 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor calls the congregation to prepare themselves spiritually, implying they should maintain their faith and openness as God prepares to act.
• Pastoral Charge [01:40:08 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor commands the congregation to continue in their faith and actively seek greater blessings.
• Pastoral Charge [01:47:59 ▶️ 📄]
  > Open their mouths wide in faith and say 'amen' to receive blessings and breakthroughs.
• Pastoral Charge [01:48:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > Make changes to empty out doubt and little dreams, adjust relationships and time usage to make room in their 'inn'.

[00:03:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:03:07] Thank you so much for coming out to Lakewood. How many of you ready to worship the Lord today? God's been good to you. Man, we love having you here on the first Sunday of 2026. And what an honor it is to have you in the house of the Lord. And more than us being happy, I know God sees you putting Him first place today. So I hope you know that He's smiling down on you today. And we just believe and declare in 2026 is going to be an amazing year in all of our lives. We are getting ready for God to do new things in our lives. I love that thought.
[00:03:39] it says the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter you know 2026 we we leave the old in 2025 and we get ready for a little bit brighter in 2026 God to show out through us a little bit
[00:03:52] more this year so thanks for being a part today and if you're visiting with us watching online our online family listening live on Sirius XM well you know another important start of the year is
[00:04:03] You know, leave all the old negative things in 2025.
[00:04:07] What didn't work out, you know, mistakes we made, you know, something somebody said.
[00:04:13] You know what? Just leave that in the past.
[00:04:14] This is a new day.
[00:04:15] Let's come into 2026 with faith and expectancy, knowing that God's good.
[00:04:20] He's on the throne.
[00:04:22] He brought us this far.
[00:04:23] So as we do that, that grateful attitude, that is setting the tone for God to do something great in our life this year.
[00:04:30] And so a few minutes, we'll be anointing everybody with oil.
[00:04:33] everybody that wants to, just consecrating ourselves to God. But we are so honored to have you here. We love our Lakewood family. So we're going to turn up the praise today.
[00:04:42] As we start off this year, we're going to start it off thanking God for all he's done and all he's about to do. Let me tell you, you haven't seen your best days yet. They are still

[00:04:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_12]
[00:04:50] out in front of you in Jesus' name. Thanks for coming out. Stephen, how about you, church?
[00:04:58] I cannot think of a better place to start the new year than right here at Lakewood Church.
[00:05:04] together, building our faith, creating our vision and believing that God is a faithful God. And I love the song we started off with because we want to talk about his faithfulness. We want him to
[00:05:17] know that we're not only grateful for what he's done in the past, but we are looking forward for the things he wants to do in the future to have that expectancy in our life. And I believe that's
[00:05:27] what we have today. I believe you guys are stirring your faith up for something new, for something unusual for something out of the ordinary that God wants to do in your life this morning. So
[00:05:39] as we enter in to praise and worship, and that's what we're doing. We're going to enter into a place, not what we've been doing all week. We're going to enter in to a, to a safe place, a
[00:05:50] sanctuary, a place that only you and God can dwell. And you say, well, I mean, this guy next to me is singing so loud. I can't concentrate. Well, you sing louder because God is listening. You get into
[00:06:02] your place with God. You see, when we begin to open our heart and we begin to sing these songs of praise to God, we're entering into his presence where he dwells. And the Bible says that he
[00:06:14] inhabits that. And when we're in those places, things are changing. You may not know what's changing, but you cannot get with God and stay the same. You can only get better in the presence of
[00:06:26] God. So let's enter in with our hearts and with our minds and just show him how much we love him this morning. Father, we thank you. We thank you that we can stand here, Father, in your presence
[00:06:37] and we acknowledge the presence of God in this place, the spirit that is moving in this place, the spirit that lives and dwells in us. And so, Father, we sing these songs to you and you alone. And we thank you that you will be glorified in our life. You will be glorified in
[00:06:55] this church. And Father, your glory will shine through the earth in Jesus' name. And everyone

[00:07:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:07:01] said, thank you for all that you've done in our lives. And Lord, bringing us into a new year.

[00:27:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:27:33] We know we didn't get here on our own, but Lord, it was your goodness, your mercy, your favor.
[00:27:39] You protected us. You brought us into this year, Lord, by your goodness. And we are here, Lord, to say thank you for all that you've done. Thank you for bringing us here. And Lord, as we start the new year off, we put you first place in our lives. Lord, we commit our decisions,
[00:27:58] our dreams, our children, our health, our finances, our careers. Lord, we commit it into your hands.
[00:28:06] I thank you, Lord, that you are guiding us, guarding us, and protecting us, that you hold victory in store for the upright. Lord, we thank you for all you've done and for what you'll do
[00:28:17] in this year. Lord, we thank you for new things. We're letting go of all the old, the disappointments, what didn't work out, mistakes we've made. Lord, we leave that all in 2025. We start this year,
[00:28:32] Lord, in faith, believing that you're smiling down on us. We know your plans are for good, to give us a future and a hope. So Lord, we stir up our faith today and we make room for you to
[00:28:44] do some new things in our lives thank you for fresh vision and fresh anointing and fresh favor fresh momentum fresh attitudes Lord we let go of the unforgiveness the bitterness the chip on our shoulder Lord we let all that go and Lord we start the year off in faith and enjoy and expecting your
[00:29:05] goodness in new ways Lord I thank you that even as we're worshiping you this morning that every force that's tried to stop us has been broken in the mighty name of Jesus. Every force, maybe it's
[00:29:20] depression, anxiety, mental issues, any kind of sickness, disease, or chronic pain, addictions, bad habits. Lord, I thank you that today is a breakthrough day, that we're going into 2026 free and healed and victorious.
[00:29:40] Lord, even if we don't see it yet physically, we believe in the unseen realm, things have changed in our favor, that you are setting the miracles into motion.
[00:29:50] Lord, I just thank you for healing the sick bodies and restoring the relationships, freeing us from anything that's holding us back.
[00:29:58] And Lord, we just commit our lives into your hands.
[00:30:01] We declare a blessed, healthy, productive, bountiful beautiful amazing 2026 victors and never victims in jesus name and if you receive it can you say amen today amen well we're honored to have you in the house of the lord starting off
[00:30:23] the new year right let's let's make our declaration first time 11 o'clock service are you ready 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.
[00:30:53] not average, not mediocre. I am a child of the most high God. I will become all I was created to be in Jesus name. Amen and amen. You sound amazing. You look amazing. You look blessed. You look
[00:31:12] strong. You look like you've been crowned with God's favor. So let's keep our heads held high and get ready for the new things God's going to do. So today we're going to do our prayer time a
[00:31:22] little bit different. We're going to do our anointing of oil. Anybody that wants to be anointed, you don't have to, but let me just give you a quick overview. In the scripture, anointing of oil means different things, but one thing it meant is being consecrated to God.
[00:31:36] They would anoint people, the priest and certain ones that just basically it meant they were set apart under God. So today when you get anointed, we're just going to touch your forehead. It's not a long thing. Just touch your forehead. One thing, keep that down in your spirit. Lord,
[00:31:50] I'm setting myself apart to you this year. I'm consecrating myself. That's, that's saying, you know what? I'm going to do my best Lord to make good decisions. I'm putting you first place.
[00:32:01] Another thing it talks about in the, in the book of first Samuel 16, it says when they anointed David, it said the spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David and he was enabled to
[00:32:12] fulfill his purpose. So I know the Holy spirit lives on the inside of us all the time, but how about when you get anointed? Let's just believe, Lord, I thank you. Your spirit is going to rise
[00:32:22] up in me powerfully in a new way to accomplish what I need to accomplish this year. And even your power is rising up in me to overcome any obstacles that come against me. So that anointing,
[00:32:35] it's to set apart, it's anointing for fresh power, fresh favor, fresh ability. And then of course, you know, in the new Testament, it talks about let, let the sick call for the elders of the
[00:32:46] church and have them anoint them with oil and the prayer of faith will heal the sick. So there is healing in that oil today. Not just physically, but maybe you need emotional healing or healing
[00:32:58] from wounds of the past. Well, you know, it's an act of faith as you receive this oil. It's just down on the inside. Lord, I think your healing is flowing into me today. I think that your power is
[00:33:09] coming on me in a new way. And Lord, I thank you that I'm consecrating my life unto you. So we're going to do that today, I know you'll receive it by faith. Why don't you take a seat if you would,
[00:33:19] please. And we're going to start with our special needs family and I'll anoint them. And then the ushers will notify you of when to go. And we'll do it row by row, section by section. It'll
[00:33:29] go a little smoother, but we'll just stay in an attitude of prayer as we anoint people this

[00:33:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:33:34] morning. Good morning, online family. As you can tell, we've already begun anointing our special needs families and friends. And I just want you to know, as you're watching, to participate in this moment. Release your faith and believe that God is doing something significant in your life.
[00:38:42] Obviously, this is the opportunity that we create, the space that we create for us all to really surrender ourselves to God's plans for this year. As Pastor articulated, anointing is a moment of being set apart it's preparing for the new preparing for the new beginning the new things
[00:39:00] that God has in store for us to encounter and experience in this new chapter of the story that he's written for our lives and I think it's just cool to become aware of that every year to be
[00:39:12] reminded of that every year that God has specific plans and purposes for each of us to step into and as we step into the new year I want to encourage you and remind you that God has
[00:39:23] prepared provision for you. You know, I think sometimes when we step into new things and a new chapter, we often get worried when things aren't adding up or if we're being asked to step out in faith into a new adventure, a new space, new opportunities, new relationships, new business
[00:39:38] ventures. We get concerned about how God is going to provide. Let me encourage you today. Don't worry about how he's going to provide. Just trust that he will provide and he's going to do it in creative
[00:39:50] ways. He's going to supply you with everything that you need this year. And I just want to encourage you. I came across this passage of scripture, this story and the gospels. There's this rich young ruler, his name is Zacchaeus. And the Bible says that he was rich, but he was short
[00:40:06] in stature. He was short. And the Bible says that he was intrigued of Jesus's teachings, meaning even though he had everything this world could offer, he was still empty on the inside. He was searching for something bigger than himself, something that money and status and power
[00:40:22] couldn't satisfy. And so he goes ahead, the Bible says. He knows where Jesus is going and he goes ahead of him because he wants to encounter Jesus. He wants to observe. He wants to take in what he's
[00:40:34] saying. And the Bible says that as Zacchaeus is going ahead of him, Zacchaeus sees a tree, a tree planted on the side of the road. I find it very interesting and significant that God would give us the detail of this tree
[00:40:50] because Zacchaeus would climb the tree and it would get Zacchaeus to a height where he could see Jesus and Jesus could see him in the midst of the crowd.
[00:41:00] That tells me that there are trees planted in our journey that make up the difference between our limitations and the opportunities that are in front of us.
[00:41:12] What am I saying this year?
[00:41:14] God has some divine trees that he's prepared for you to walk into. Opportunities, relationships, resources, ideas. I believe God has prepared provision for you. And today, as you set yourself apart to him and to his purposes, may you trust
[00:41:32] this. Trust that he is your sole provider. Trust that he has things in store for you that you're going to walk into. And we're just going to continue to believe for it and declare it over
[00:41:42] your life. Prepared provision. As you set yourself apart, as you're anointed today, you're going to experience his goodness like never before. We love you. We're going to always be praying for you,

[00:41:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_12]
[00:41:53] and we'll hope to see you soon. I'll tell you what, what a powerful sight.
[00:54:31] See of God, seeing the spirit inside of you. Watch out, devil. That's all I can say.
[00:54:43] when we turn you loose you are empowered to overcome he is a holy god and the amazing thing about that is he's called us into his holiness he has invited us in to where he is
[00:54:59] and you know we can't neglect that we've got to understand that it is a privilege to come into god's presence into his holiness what a beautiful sight it is to see believers igniting their faith and charging forward in 2026. I know Jesus openly declared his anointing.
[00:55:23] He clearly acknowledged that it came from God. It didn't come from himself. He said, the spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me. He didn't say I've anointed myself.
[00:55:37] he was always looking to the father and said father your will father I want to follow you and just like Jesus we acknowledge that we carry what comes from God we carry what he's entrusted
[00:55:54] to us and we're going to step forward in obedience and we're going to carry out the things that he is already prepared for us. Amen. You know, the father, he said, you know, as the father has sent
[00:56:09] me, I am sending you. God never sends you anywhere or put you in any place that he hasn't already prepared for you to overcome. See, Jesus overcame so that we could be more than conquerors,
[00:56:24] more than overcomers. We have the power of the most high living on the inside of us.
[00:56:31] And so as leaders, we're going to declare some things over your life. We're going to wake up some dreams. We're going to stir up some dry bones. We're going to look towards what God has for us
[00:56:44] out of pride or arrogance. We do it out of humility. We want to hold up that cup of salvation.
[00:56:53] We want to fulfill our destiny. We want to become all God has called us to be.
[00:56:59] So today I declare Psalms 37 23 over you, which says the steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord. As we step into this year with purpose and confidence in obedience to God, I declare
[00:57:14] that we will live fruitful lives and that we will move into all that God has prepared us for.
[00:57:21] We will do good works. We will do it with strength. We will do it with confidence and we will walk out this journey of life with the grace that God has given us, because his spirit is on us and in
[00:57:34] us. It leads us and it guides us into all righteousness. We declare this in the name of

[00:57:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:57:40] Jesus. And if you receive it, say amen. This year, I declare that the next generation will be mighty in the land, in agreement with the word of God. Mighty meaning leading, impacted, being a catalyst
[00:57:59] for change on every cultural mountain of influence. Government, media, arts, entertainment, education, business, and family will all be radically changed by the kids, youth, and young adults of our community. This generation is the one that will shift narratives, follow God, and
[00:58:20] fight for people, and believe big. This generation is powerful, bold, blessed, and we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord. God says in Isaiah, I will pour my spirit out on your offspring and blessing on your descendants. We believe and receive it for our future,
[00:58:41] the next generation, whether here, listening, or watching online. In Jesus' name, if you believe it,

[00:58:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:58:47] can you say amen? Father, we declare that in this new year, you are Jehovah Rapha, the Lord, our healer. As Psalms 103 says, you are the Lord who heals all of our diseases. We declare as third
[00:59:04] John says that in this year we will prosper and be in good health even as our soul prospers. That we will thrive and be in good health mentally and physically and emotionally. That you'll take
[00:59:16] sickness and disease from amongst us. That you'll restore us to health and heal us of our wounds.
[00:59:21] We declare that every cell in our body will function as you created them to be, that we would enjoy health and strength and vitality, that our minds would be sharp, that our bodies would be strong.
[00:59:35] Father, for those who are sick right now, those with chronic illnesses or illnesses that may be beyond the help of medicine, we know that when you walk this earth, Jesus, you healed every disease, every form of sickness you encountered.
[00:59:47] We thank you that you are the same yesterday, today, and forever.
[00:59:51] Like the woman with the issue of blood, we reach out in childlike faith and touch the hem of your garment. And we declare even now that your healing is flowing into our bodies and that you're
[01:00:02] restoring health to us. We know that you sent your word and you heal. Lord, even now send your word to heal us. And as a body of believers here at Lakewood, we declare in faith that we will enjoy
[01:00:13] health all this year and you'll satisfy us with a long life and show us your salvation. If you

[01:00:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_14]
[01:00:20] receive that, would you say amen in Jesus' name? I declare that in 2026, this will be a year of financial breakthrough. God, we thank you that you are Jehovah Jireh, the Lord God, our provider.
[01:00:35] I declare that God would remain our source, not people, not jobs, but you alone. Lord, as we seek first your kingdom and your righteousness, God will provide everything that we need.
[01:00:47] scripture says to look at the birds you feed them they neither plant nor store how much more valuable are we to you so in 2026 we choose to trust over worry faith over fear because you're
[01:01:01] a good father and we remember the psalms that says i've never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread so in the name of jesus i declare that debt is canceled burdens are lifted cycles of generational lack are broken one cent for all we're coming into
[01:01:19] abundance this year we are lenders and not borrowers givers and not takers blessed to be a blessing i declare for the right contracts favor creativity opportunities funding wisdom to honor God with our wealth.
[01:01:37] And I speak Philippians 4, 19 over you that my God shall supply all your needs according to him who is in Christ Jesus.
[01:01:46] Come on, if you receive it and you believe it, can you shout amen?

[01:01:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[01:01:52] Church, listen to God's word in Isaiah 43, 19.
[01:01:59] The message translation says this, forget about what's happened.
[01:02:03] Don't keep going over old history.
[01:02:06] Be alert and be present.
[01:02:07] I'm about to do something brand new.
[01:02:10] It's bursting out.
[01:02:11] Don't you see it?
[01:02:13] Church, I declare you will have the eyes to see and the faith to believe for the new things that God is doing in 2026.
[01:02:21] I declare you're letting go of what didn't work and you are available and ready for the new things that Jesus is bringing.
[01:02:28] I declare new beginnings for those who are lost, new opportunities and breakthroughs for those who are stuck and stagnant.
[01:02:35] I declare that your passion for the Lord will be renewed and you will see new growth in your faith like never before in 2026 I declare God is doing a new thing in your purpose new relationships new
[01:02:49] ideas strategies and new favor rests on all that you put your hands to I declare that you won't miss this new thing that God is doing I declare your eyes are open your heart is ready and your
[01:03:02] faith is active. I declare in dry places, God is bringing new water. In the wilderness, God is making new roads. Church, 2026, come on. Can we get ready for the new thing that God is

[01:03:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:03:15] doing? If you believe it and you receive it, come on, can you shout amen? Lakewood family,

[01:05:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[01:05:13] I am here at Mukingi Mission Hospital in Zambia, and I am so excited to tell you about a project that you've helped complete here.
[01:05:22] This project started two years ago and it's been a full-scale effort with Lakewood volunteers as well as collaborative efforts with volunteers from all over the world to come here and improve some of the technology systems so we can create better outcomes for patient care as well as
[01:05:37] create better resources and access to infrastructure for healthcare workers.
[01:05:42] It's been an amazing two years and we are just so excited about all that God has done through this project.

[01:05:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[01:05:50] Before the project began, they did have a telephone line that came into the hospital providing internet services.
[01:05:56] The speed was equivalent to dial-up, but the biggest challenge was that it was not reliable.
[01:06:02] Bringing in the Starlink services has transformed the way that the hospital and school can use internet services, providing more than 100 times what they had before, and it's reliable.
[01:06:13] We've plugged them into batteries.
[01:06:15] They're up 100% of the time.

[01:06:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[01:06:17] We used to be able to do about 30 x-rays a day.
[01:06:19] Now we're able to do probably over a hundred x-rays easily.
[01:06:22] Not only can we do the x-rays, we can see them dynamically on our phone as well.
[01:06:26] So I'm going patient to patient in a full ward.
[01:06:29] I don't have to go back to the x-ray department to see their x-rays.
[01:06:31] I can see them right there on my phone.

[01:06:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[01:06:33] What we're doing is we're running a complete new cable system and network to support a digital phone system in each of the wards.
[01:06:41] In addition to that, we're extending it out.
[01:06:43] So we're putting in wireless capability to the homes, which means that the on-call doctors and nurses will be reachable in the evenings.

[01:06:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[01:06:51] There was a call in the middle of the night for an urgent surgical consult, and the network was down.
[01:06:57] The guard would have to come and find me.
[01:06:59] But now because of this new technology, we're able to have phones and we can talk to each of the wards.

[01:07:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[01:07:06] A CT scanner doesn't exist here.
[01:07:08] An MRI machine doesn't exist here.
[01:07:11] You can't just consult neurosurgery, neurology, or an obstetrician when you need their help.
[01:07:17] Having the high speed internet, having Starlink, and the ability to pick up the phone and FaceTime my buddy in the U.S. and ask for help.

[01:07:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:07:26] I'm excited.
[01:07:28] The reason why I'm excited is the donation that has been given to this hospital, Mukinge Mission Hospital.
[01:07:34] One, it's going to improve students' learning.

[01:07:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[01:07:38] The internet also is just a massive resource for education and training and learning, and so the students that are through here continue and to be up to date with our with our care and with our knowledge and
[01:07:50] be able to translate that to patient care. The internet system and the

[01:07:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[01:07:55] communication system here at the hospital has really revolutionized the hospital and all of that's because of Lakewood Church. Without this donation

[01:08:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:08:03] we would have been in the dark but with your donation that has come what we can only say thank you and may God continue replenishing your pockets. Thank you

[01:08:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[01:08:13] Lakewood for caring for people in Mukengi Mission Hospital. Jesus said in Matthew 25, when I was sick, you cared for me. That's exactly what you're doing.
[01:08:21] So thank you for your kindness, thank you for your care, and thank you for your generosity.

[01:08:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[01:08:26] Yeah, really amazing Lakewood. I just echo what Paul said.
[01:08:31] Thanks for being so generous and thanks for supporting the ministry. We'd like to show you something, hopefully every week, of what your finances are doing as you give and you tithe and you support the ministry. It's not just
[01:08:43] there, but it's here in the States as well. And we do it in three areas, through the media, through humanitarian, and then we are, another focus is empowering the next generation. So I want you to know when you give at Lakewood, you're giving into good soil and we just say,
[01:08:57] thank you and never pressure you to give. But as we take this moment to worship the Lord with our tithes and our offerings, I will remind us of a scripture. It talks about, well, there are many,
[01:09:08] but you know, in Malachi, it says, if you'll bring your tithes into the storehouse, God said, prove me and see if I won't open the windows of heaven. You know, that's a great way. You know,
[01:09:16] the first 10% of your income, giving it to God. And another place that says, if you put God first, he'll crown your efforts with success. So I know I'm preaching to the choir. You guys are so
[01:09:26] generous and supportive, but we want to thank you. And we want you to know that God sees your giving.
[01:09:32] We're just believing 2026, like pastor Serena prophesied while ago, you're going to see some supernatural provision and God do things that we can't do on his own. You know why I believe for this is because your heart is to, is to be a good steward. One, to take care of your family. There's
[01:09:48] nothing wrong with taking care of your family, sending your kids to college, being able to fulfill your dreams, and then your heart to, to help others, to be a blessing. I think we all know
[01:09:57] we are blessed so we can be a bigger blessing, so we can continue the ministry and, and bring about God's kingdom. So thanks for being supportive. Our online family, you guys listening on Sirius XM, you're what keep it all going. And we want you to know, you know, just that you're
[01:10:13] doing so much good in the world. And I know God sees it as well. That's so good. You know, in

[01:10:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_12]
[01:10:18] Matthew, Jesus said, you are the light of the world. You think about that. I think, well, God, I'm just a small light. How can I light the world? But one way that we can light the world is when
[01:10:30] we come together. We come together and we bring what God has given us together. And then we can help the world. We can be the shining beacon to some people we'll never meet. People all the way
[01:10:43] across the world as well as the community we live in. So I want to encourage you to let your light shine. Make a determination this year to not think you've just got a small flicker, but say, no,
[01:10:56] I've got a big flicker. I'm a blessed light. I'm a light that can shine all over this world.
[01:11:02] Not only can we shine together, we can shine further together. But I want to encourage you that when you shine, you're also shining in your own home because your example of giving and serving and loving God is shining a light to all of your family. It's bringing up that next generation.
[01:11:23] It's showing that, you know, it's not me and my four and no more.
[01:11:27] It's God has blessed me abundantly where I can be a blessing.
[01:11:31] And I believe that that kind of faith is contagious.
[01:11:34] And your children, your family, your relatives will benefit from that.
[01:11:39] They will be inspired from that.
[01:11:41] And what does that do?
[01:11:42] That builds their faith, which allows them to stretch their faith to give, which allows God to move in their life.
[01:11:49] So I just want to encourage you today that we could not do this without you, that you are a powerful beam and a powerful force.
[01:11:57] So thank you for what you do for the kingdom of God.

[01:12:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[01:12:01] Yeah, we do thank you.
[01:12:02] And Lord, we just speak a blessing over all of our generous givers here in the building, watching and listening.
[01:12:07] Lord, we thank you that 2026 will be a year of abundance and overflow, that you are doing new things.
[01:12:13] Lord, we commit to keep you first place, to honor you with our decisions in our career, in our finances. And Lord, we thank you. You said you'd open the windows of heaven. So Lord, I just thank you for the new things that you're doing, opening new doors and opportunities and
[01:12:29] those ideas and creativity that the gifts you put in us will come out to the full. I just speak your blessing over your people. Lord, we love you. Thank you for the opportunity to be together.
[01:12:40] And we give in the name of Jesus. Amen and amen. God bless you as you give today.

[01:12:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]
[01:12:46] Here are some ways you can give Using your smartphone, scan the QR code located on the screen Then, select the online giving option that's most convenient for you Go to lakewoodchurch.com slash give Text GIVEHOPE to 77977
[01:13:06] Mail a check to P.O. Box 27450 Houston, Texas 77227 or call us toll-free at 888-567-JOEL.

[01:15:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:15:46] We serve a great God. So good to have you. Do you mind all standing one last time if you don't mind,

[01:17:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[01:17:28] but can I tell you how honored we are to have you in the house of the Lord? And more importantly, God saw you take time to come on the first Sunday of the year to put in first place. So
[01:17:38] honored to have you and just give you an encouragement to stay planted in the house of the Lord. I know you're all busy. Sunday's a day off. You've got stuff to do, but you know
[01:17:49] this. There is a blessing on your life when you put God first place and you come to a community of faith. And we're honored to have you here, but I know it makes a difference when you come and,
[01:17:59] you know, uh, thanks for being involved in, um, you know, joining some of our teens, man, we've got ushers and choirs and greeters and women's men, all kinds of stuff you can get involved with. And the reason I say that is not just to get you more busy, but one to use your
[01:18:13] talents because you've got something to offer. But number two, I love for you to meet some great Lakewood people. It's good to have some, you'll meet lifelong friends here at Lakewood. You get plugged in. So anyway, thanks for being here. If you're visiting special, welcome to you. I'd love
[01:18:27] to meet you after service. If you've got a moment, Hey, don't forget this Wednesday night, we're kicking off our new Wednesday night service. So excited about it. That's been gone since COVID.
[01:18:40] So five years later, but you know what? We're going to come back stronger than ever. So if you can come out for an hour power packed service on a Wednesday night led by Pastor Nick and some of the team.
[01:18:51] Let me tell you, there's going to be prayer and ministry and after that hour, we've got a little cafe up there we're getting finished with. There's time for community as well, but come on, let's be strong. Let's stay planted
[01:19:02] in the house of the Lord.
[01:19:04] Last, now I've got one more thing. Next Sunday though, every year we take a Sunday to write our vision on the walls out in the lobbies.
[01:19:13] What are you believing for this year?
[01:19:15] Come on, let's don't go into the year. Just ah, whatever joel. No Find out what's down in your spirit. What do you want to see god do this year?
[01:19:22] You're gonna write it if you'll write it on the wall next week on a designated wall You know what we do all year long we go by those walls and we stand in agreement god what you put in your people's heart
[01:19:32] We are agreeing that you will bring it to pass So come on, let's take the limits off of god and be with us next week We'll write that vision feels like I had one more thing. I can't remember what it was
[01:19:42] But y'all, thanks for being here today.
[01:19:44] And I want to ask you, when you see yourself up on the big screen, can you give our TV audience a great big Lakewood welcome?
[01:19:54] God bless you.
[01:19:55] It's great to be with you today.
[01:19:57] 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.
[01:20:06] We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services.
[01:20:09] But I'd like to start with something funny.
[01:20:10] And I heard about this elderly woman.
[01:20:12] She was at the store and accidentally locked her keys in the car and she had a coat hanger and she was trying and trying But she couldn't get it open So she prayed and asked god to help her about that time. This guy pulls up on a motorcycle
[01:20:27] very rough looking dressed in leather and tattoos a skull cap 15 seconds later. He had the car open She hugged him and said lord. Thank you for sending me such a nice man He said lady. I'm not a nice man. I just got out of prison for theft
[01:20:45] She hugged him and said lord. Thank you. You even sent me a professional All right, y'all 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 I can do today. I will be taught the word of god
[01:21:05] 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, 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.
[01:21:26] God bless you. If you'd like to open your Bibles to Psalm 81 and verse 10, you're welcome to.
[01:21:34] Psalm 81 and verse 10. What I meant to tell you a while ago is invite somebody with you next week.
[01:21:40] It's the new year. Anybody will come to church in the first of the year new year's resolution But here's what I find people tell me joe. I can't come it's too big and I don't know where to park
[01:21:50] Do I need a ticket? Well, here's the thing You got to go pick them up Go pick them up bring them with you get them planted and you know what god can change their life
[01:21:58] You can reach people in your sphere of influence that maybe would never come without an invitation So let's let our light shine brightly this year, but again honored to have you with us I want to talk to you today about make room for more. It's easy to get stuck in life and think
[01:22:16] we've reached our limits and this is as happy as I'll ever be and as much as I'll ever have.
[01:22:22] I've gone as far as my background allows, but God didn't create us to reach one level and get stuck.
[01:22:29] The psalmist said, open your mouth wide and God will fill it. The key is you have to make room for God to increase you. In your thinking, you have to enlarge your vision, raise your level of
[01:22:43] expectancy. Don't go into a new year with an old mindset. And yes, it's good to be content. It's important to be grateful, but you shouldn't be satisfied. There needs to be something you're believing for that you can't accomplish on your own, that stretches your faith, where you get up
[01:23:03] in the morning, thanking God that he's opening new doors, causing you to excel with more talent, more creativity, more influence. The scripture talks about how God has blessings stored up for the righteous. There are blessings that have your name on them. They already belong to you,
[01:23:24] but they're in storage. There's healing with your name on it. There's abundance, a paid off house.
[01:23:31] There's promotion a book a big business. There's a spouse a baby How do you get it out of storage?
[01:23:40] Number one you keep god first place you honor him and number two You have to make room for it Is there any capacity in your thinking for god to do greater things?
[01:23:53] Not ordinary not what the circumstances tell you but something uncommon to live debt free, to break the addiction, to see your children back on course, to run your own business. If you'll open your mouth wide, God will fill it. He has unlimited resources.
[01:24:13] The supply is never the problem. It's our capacity to receive. If you think you'll barely get by and I don't know, Joel, this problem is big and I'm not that talented and I never get any good breaks.
[01:24:26] Your mouth is too small Your vision is limiting your life Make some room God, I believe you have greater things in store I know your face is shining on me that I live under the open windows of heaven
[01:24:41] I believe it's going to be a blessed favor filled year That's creating space That's giving god room to show out in your life If you've been dealing with an illness long time, it's easy to accept it
[01:24:55] Think that's the way it's always going to be No, you need to make room for health God is still in the healing business. He's called jehovah rafa the lord our healer It may have been that way for years
[01:25:09] But this is your year to get well to see a divine turnaround If you're struggling in your finances, don't get stuck in a rut. I'll never have enough I'm at a disadvantage Nobody in my family can get ahead
[01:25:24] God has ways to bless you that you can't see right now. He brought a coin out of a fish's mouth to pay taxes for Peter. He sent quail into the desert to feed 2 million people. He gave us the funds
[01:25:38] to buy the compact center. He has supernatural provision. Is there any room in your thinking?
[01:25:46] are you believing for greater things expecting God's favor or have you let doubt discouragement delays take up all the space in your mind Jesus could not do any miracles in his hometown because of their unbelief there was no room they thought we know this man Jesus
[01:26:08] we grew up with him he's nothing special he can't do miracles their limited mindset limited their life. Don't let that be you. A while back, I ordered some exercise equipment. I'd been using the same bench and workout machine at home for almost 30 years. This company was scheduled to
[01:26:30] come and put down a new rubber floor. They were backed up and weren't going to be there for a month. All my equipment was coming the next week. It's a bunch of boxes and crates that you had to
[01:26:40] assemble. I was planning on storing it in the garage where Jonathan used to park when he lived at home. The problem was over the last five years, that garage has been turned into a storage room
[01:26:53] with all kinds of old stuff, old landscape lights from a couple of trees that blew down in a storm, old parts of an AC unit, bikes that had flat tires. We hadn't ridden in 20 years. I was keeping just
[01:27:07] in case we needed them. There was an old ladder, rickety, top rung, broken off, not safe. Always planning to give it to Paul, but I kept putting it off. I finally came to the point, if I'm going
[01:27:21] to receive this new equipment that I really want, I'm going to have to make room for it. I got to clean out all this junk that's taken up the valuable space. Well, it's the same principle
[01:27:33] in our mind. Sometimes we're holding on to things we don't need, and it's taking up space for the new things God has in store. There's no capacity for increase. Maybe we're holding on to doubt.
[01:27:46] Well, it's not going to happen for me, Joel. I'm not that talented. I've had a lot of bad breaks.
[01:27:52] Do yourself a favor. Clean out the doubt. That's taking up space for good breaks, for open doors, for promotion. Some people are holding on to unforgiveness, thinking about how they hurt me and they did me wrong. I'm a victim. All that negativity is keeping you from the restoration,
[01:28:13] the new beginnings, the beauty for ashes. It's not that God doesn't want to, but there's no room.
[01:28:20] Pay attention to what's taking space in your mind. Maybe we're letting insecurity, inferiority take up all this room. I'm not attractive. I don't have a good personality.
[01:28:33] I'm too short. I'm not as smart as my cousins. You need to get that junk out of your garage.
[01:28:39] God says you're a masterpiece, that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, that you have royal blood flowing through your veins, that he's crowned you with his favor. As long as you keep the insecurity, feeling not valuable. There's no room for the confidence, the favor that God has
[01:28:57] for you. He needs capacity to show you his goodness. What's occupying your space? Doubt, worry, can't do it, not enough, problem too big. It's time for a cleaning. I met this couple after the service. They had both been raised in very low income families. All they saw growing up was
[01:29:20] not enough, struggle, trying to survive. What we've seen modeled and how we were raised often becomes normal to us. It's what we expect. We don't realize it's a limited mindset.
[01:29:35] It's keeping us from rising higher. And that's why it's so important to go back to God's word and find out who you really are. Life will try to define you. People, circumstances will put labels on you. Try to convince you to take on that identity, who they say you are. Average,
[01:29:57] undisciplined, angry, inferior, unattractive. If you don't know better, those lies will take up all the valuable space in your mind. There's no room for God to work. That's why we make that declaration every service. I am who God says I am. I am blessed, prosperous, forgiven, talented,
[01:30:18] well able. That's clearing out the negative. Well, this couple was told by their parents that they would always struggle like they had and never have enough. That's just who they are.
[01:30:31] The grandparents of the woman said, all you'll have in life is beans and rice, but that's good enough. They meant well. They were saying, don't expect too much. We made it on beans and rice and
[01:30:46] You can too. But can I tell you, beans and rice is not your destiny. That may have been when what you've seen, but that's not who you are. You're a barrier breaker. You're a new generation. You
[01:31:01] know more so you can do more. You believe bigger so you can live bigger. God said in Hosea, my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. If you think beans and rice is your destiny,
[01:31:17] then you'll live lacking, struggling, hoping to get by. But when you realize God created you in his own image, he said you would reign in life as a king, that you are the head and not the tail,
[01:31:31] that you will lend and not borrow, that whatever you touch will prosper and succeed.
[01:31:37] That's not being arrogant. That's not being greedy. That's believing you are who god says you are Well, this couple started watching us on television And their thinking began to change That didn't set well with them that they would always struggle and never have enough
[01:31:55] They started believing that they were children of the most high That although they may be limited he is unlimited it. That he can open doors no person can shut. That he makes rivers in the desert. Now, instead
[01:32:11] of all the doubt and negativity they had been programmed with, there was faith, expectancy.
[01:32:18] Instead of talking defeat, they started declaring God's promises over their life.
[01:32:23] What were they doing? Creating capacity to receive. If you'll open your mouth wide, God will fill it. Well, this couple took a step of faith and on very normal incomes, they started building a house. Man was in construction. Whenever they had extra funds,
[01:32:43] they would hire contractors and buy more supplies just little by little. Well, a couple of years later, he said, Joel, we can't explain it, but we moved into this beautiful new house in a great
[01:32:56] neighborhood, all debt-free. On paper, it didn't make sense, but God knows how to multiply what you have. His favor will cause you to defy the odds. A few years after that, they sold the house
[01:33:12] for twice what they had built it for. The wife told me something that I'll never forget. She said, Joel, my grandparents told me all we'd ever have were beans and rice, but I always knew one
[01:33:26] day we would have steak. If you're going to see those blessings that are stored up for you, you have to do like her and take the limits off. Enlarge your vision. Don't let how you were raised,
[01:33:40] what was passed down, what somebody said, even mistakes you've made, convince you to settle for beans and rice, to live with the illness, to never be free from the depression, to always be lonely.
[01:33:54] you have to stir your faith up. Nothing wrong with beans and rice, but how about some enchiladas?
[01:34:00] How about some fajitas? How about some chili con queso? You have to make room for more.
[01:34:07] And I know we're all grateful for what God has done. We're content in every situation, but that doesn't mean you're supposed to be satisfied. If you quit stretching, believing, expecting, then you are limiting your life. Is there any capacity for God to do something greater,
[01:34:26] something other people would never believe could happen? That's what faith is. It's capacity.
[01:34:32] It's saying, God, I'm open. I know you have greater things in store. There was a lady in the scripture that was a widow. Her husband was a prophet, but he had passed. And now she and her
[01:34:46] two sons were living together. She was so in debt, the creditors were coming to take her sons as payment. She came to the prophet Elisha, a friend of the family. She told him the problem. He asked
[01:34:59] her what she had in her house. She said nothing at all except a small jar of oil. Elisha told her to go to her friends and neighbors and borrow as many empty vessels, large pots as she could find.
[01:35:14] One version says borrow not a few She could have thought elisha. What good is that going to do? I need funds. I need provisions. I don't need empty pots Sometimes god will ask you to do things that don't make sense
[01:35:30] But obedience creates capacity Do what he's asking you to do even when you don't understand it even when it's a hard thing God may ask you to apologize When you know it was the other person's fault, you know, they were wrong
[01:35:47] But god's asking you to be the bigger person You can't always see what he's doing, but you can be sure your obedience is making room for a blessing Forgiving those that hurt you is never easy
[01:36:02] Doesn't seem fair but holding on to the hurt is taking up space for god to pay you back When you let it go there's room for him to make it up to you. God will do it better than you ever could
[01:36:15] This widow went out knocking on the neighbor's door asking to borrow empty pots Think about how foolish she looked gonna hear people talking Gossiping did that crazy lady come by your house?
[01:36:30] Asking for an empty jar. What's wrong with her?
[01:36:33] People may not understand you. They may think you're far out Why do you go over there to lakewood? Why do you live a holy life? Why don't you party with us?
[01:36:43] Don't worry about what people think be concerned about what god thinks he controls the universe Noah looked foolish building an ark a 500 foot boat when it had never rained But his obedience saved his life his obedience made room for god to do something that had never been done
[01:37:04] After the widow gathered all these pots elisha told her to pour the little oil that she had into a big jar.
[01:37:13] Imagine a little six inch jar, this two foot jar.
[01:37:17] Again, she could have questioned him.
[01:37:19] What good is that gonna do, Elisha?
[01:37:21] I need money.
[01:37:22] I'm not here to play games, transfer the oil.
[01:37:26] But God's ways are not our ways.
[01:37:28] You have to trust when you don't understand.
[01:37:31] Be obedient when it doesn't make sense.
[01:37:34] This lady poured the little bit of oil and it kept pouring and pouring. It filled up the whole pot. That didn't make sense. But when you do what doesn't make sense, God will do what doesn't make sense. She was standing there in amazement.
[01:37:51] She kept pouring the oil until all the vessels were full. She went out, sold the oil, paid off her debts, had plenty to live on. But here's what's interesting. The oil never ran out until she filled
[01:38:05] all the vessels. Let's say she borrowed 20 empty pots. The oil filled all 20. If she had borrowed 30 pots, the oil would have filled all 30. If she had borrowed three pots, it would just fill three.
[01:38:20] With God, the problem is never supply, it's capacity. How many vessels are you gathering?
[01:38:28] What are you expecting this year? What are you believing for? Joel, if I can just make it through this year, I'll be happy. If my child just doesn't get in trouble, if I can just survive this
[01:38:40] depression that I'm dealing with. Jesus told a blind man, according to your faith, it will be done unto you. It wasn't God's faith. It's our faith. It's how many vessels we have. Do yourself a favor, get some more empty pots, stretch, believe, expect. That's how you create capacity.
[01:39:01] See some people gather a couple vessels that'll help them survive Other people they'll get a dozen. They'll make it. Okay But there's another group that pray bold prayers and they expect over and above favor
[01:39:16] They are obedient in the hard things. They've been coming to lakewood. They gather vessel after vessel after vessel They have capacity for healing For greater resources more influence more creativity more generosity Many of you have been doing this your mouth is open wide get ready. God is about to fill it
[01:39:39] Something big is coming that you can't explain You didn't have the resources the training but suddenly the door opened for you Maybe the medical report said you'd have to live with that sickness, but a turnaround is coming
[01:39:54] God is going to do what medicine couldn't do Perhaps you thought that breakup stopped your destiny that you had seen your best days But god is about to surprise you someone better than you ever imagined
[01:40:08] You didn't have to go after them. They came after you Now keep believing Keep making room for more. You're going to step into increased favor that catapults you ahead This is what my father had to do. He was raised very poor and he had to drop out of high school to
[01:40:26] help on the family farm just to survive. All the circumstances said he would live a defeated, struggling, get by life. That's all he had seen. But at 17, he gave his life to Christ, the first one in the family. Something rose up in him. It's the spirit of the living God saying,
[01:40:47] you were made for more. This defeat is not your destiny. Like my father, you may have gotten off to a rough start, but how you start is not how you're going to end. You're the one to set a new
[01:41:00] standard. Daddy's parents told him that all he knew how to do was work in the farm, that he better not leave that place. He'd get out there and fail. But sometimes to make room, you have to get out of
[01:41:15] a limited environment. You have to break away from people that are telling you what you can't do, how you're not going to make it and you don't have what it takes. God told Abraham, leave your
[01:41:28] country, leave your family and go to the land that I will show you. Well, Abraham didn't have all the answers. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he couldn't see the favor and blessing
[01:41:41] staying where he was. The people in his city worshiped idols, the sun, the moon. Had he stayed there, it would have limited his life. To make room for more, you may have to make changes
[01:41:56] with who you hang around, where you go. Get out of places that are causing you to compromise, that are polluting your thinking. That's taking up space for the promised land that God is taking you to. My father left the farm at 17. He didn't have a car. He had to hitchhike, but he left with
[01:42:16] a new mindset. He told me, Joel, I made up my mind at 17 that my children would never be raised in the poverty and defeat that I was raised in. He emptied out all the lack, not enough, and made
[01:42:32] room for increase, for God to open new doors to break barriers of the past. When I was a little boy sitting in the feed store, that was the first building that Lakewood had seated 90 people. Daddy
[01:42:47] would get up and say to the congregation, look out over there. Can you see that new auditorium seating a thousand people? There was nothing there but an empty field. But week after week, my father, I can see that new auditorium. He was making room for it. He built that one and many
[01:43:05] more. 65 years old, daddy was in the hospital about to have emergency open heart surgery, very critical time. All the family was in the room praying, believing. He asked me to run home and get his running shoes and put them by the bed. I thought, I don't know, daddy, you're not
[01:43:26] going to be needing these shoes for a long time. This surgery is a big deal, but he wanted those shoes there to show that he was planning to get well, that he would be running again, healthy and
[01:43:37] whole. He was making room, saying this is not the end. Healing is coming. Restoration is coming. I will run and not be weary. He came out of that surgery, lived many more years, healthy and whole,
[01:43:52] traveling the world. What's taking up space in your thinking? Is there any room for God to do something bigger, to heal you, to free you, to bring the right person, to use you in a greater
[01:44:05] away. God is looking for capacity. He's looking for people who are stretching, who are believing for bigger things. When Jesus was about to be born, there was a census and everyone had to travel back to their hometown. Joseph and Mary traveled by donkey 80 miles to Bethlehem. It was
[01:44:27] late at night. They were tired. Mary was nine months pregnant. Joseph saw this inn, a place to stay. He knocked on the door and told the innkeeper, hey, my wife's pregnant. We traveled a long way. We need a room. She's about to have a baby. The innkeeper said, I'm sorry, there's no
[01:44:48] room. We're full. He turned and started to walk away. I can hear Joseph saying, hey, wait a minute, sir. You got to understand this is no ordinary child. This is something special. The hand of
[01:45:01] God is on our baby. The innkeeper says, yeah, right. I told you we don't have any room. Shut the door, went away. Imagine 30 years later, that innkeeper begins to hear about this man named
[01:45:15] Jesus, how he's healing the sick and opening blind eyes, feeding the multitude, all this news about his miracles and his influence. Suddenly the innkeeper has a flashback. He sees Mary and Joseph and realizes that's the young couple that came to the end that night. He's the man that was
[01:45:36] asking me for a place to stay. Had I known this baby was going to change the world, had I known what God was offering me, I would have made room. I would have moved things around. I would have let
[01:45:48] them stay in my own quarters. If I had known I could be a part of history. And the truth is the innkeeper, he wasn't a bad person. He wasn't being mean. He was just full. He was busy. He was
[01:46:02] practical. This is the way it always works. We can't make an adjustment. We don't have any room.
[01:46:10] Most people are not bad people. They're just full. Life is busy. They're distracted. They've got sports on Sunday. They're too tired to get up in the morning and thank God for his goodness.
[01:46:22] they don't recognize who's knocking now i wonder if we're missing blessings because there's no room in our end we're not seeing the favor the destiny moments because our end is full the doubt the hurts things people have said how we were raised when destiny comes knocking sorry i can't do that
[01:46:47] I'm, not that qualified. I got these friends. I want to hang around with No make room in your end God is about to come knocking with something unusual Something far and beyond but it may look ordinary
[01:47:02] It may seem common just another couple needing a place to stay Don't miss your destiny moments God wants to use you to make a greater impact to be an example of his goodness but you have to do your part empty out all the things that are cluttering your mind
[01:47:22] and cluttering your life the people the distractions social media comparisons that's taking up valuable space create some capacity go grab some empty vessels not a few but enlarge your vision believe for the dreams God whispered in your spirit you wouldn't be
[01:47:44] hearing this if God wasn't about to do something you've never seen. The question is, is there any room in your inn? Are you creating any space for abundance, for victory? If you'll open your mouth
[01:47:59] wide, I believe and declare God is about to fill it, not with beans and rice, but fajitas, blessings, things, promotion, breakthroughs, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say amen? Let's pray together. If you got five minutes, stick with me. Let's just
[01:48:25] seal it in prayer. Lord, thank you for what we've heard today. I know it falls on great ground, faithful people here at Lakewood, honoring you on this first Sunday. Lord, I commit for all of us,
[01:48:36] we're going to make some room in our inn. We're going to make the changes that we need to make.
[01:48:41] we're emptying out the doubt, the little dreams, maybe some adjustments in relationships, how we're spending our time. And Lord, I thank you as we do our part, as we open our mouths wider and believe that you will fill us with greater things this year. We do put your first
[01:49:00] place, Lord God. And I just thank you, Lord, for your blessing upon your people, even as they go out this week, their children, protection, and watching after them.
[01:49:10] Lord, I thank you for what you're doing in our lives and what you're about to do in Jesus' name. With our heads bowed in prayer, just a quick question.
[01:49:18] If your heart stopped beating in the next few minutes, are you at peace with God?
[01:49:24] Do you know where you would spend eternity? If not, I would love to pray with you.
[01:49:30] I'm not here to condemn anybody. I'm here to help you find a new beginning.
[01:49:35] I know this comes from a personal relationship with jesus christ In just 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
[01:49:54] 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 on the road to victory
[01:50:07] God's 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 this first sunday of the year?
[01:50:20] Well, the enemy will whisper in your thoughts do it later Do it another week. Listen, the bible says today is the day of salvation You're not hearing this by accident but joy it's embarrassing to stand in front of everyone have people at the house I can't lift
[01:50:36] 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 opportunity to show
[01:50:50] God that you're not ashamed of him if you're not at peace with the Lord or you just need to we dedicate your life. You just need a fresh new start. If that's you, would you be bold,
[01:51:02] take that step of faith and stand right where you are and we'll pray together. Would you do that?
[01:51:07] Come on, Lakewood. Let's give them a hand as they stand all over the building.
[01:51:14] Come on, don't put it off. I feel like there ought to be others. Your heart's beating fast.
[01:51:20] Anybody else? Start the year right. Anybody else up top? Come on, Lakewood. They're still standing. Anybody else watching, listening? Well, God bless you and please remain standing if you don't mind. Can I tell you how proud
[01:51:36] we are of you? We're going to be praying for you. I know God saw you take this step of faith. He'll never be ashamed of you.
[01:51:43] 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 if you would please?
[01:51:52] Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins.
[01:51:57] Come into my heart.
[01:51:58] I'll make you my Lord and Savior. Amen.
[01:52:03] Remain standing. One more moment if you would.
[01:52:05] I want to tell you how much we love you.
[01:52:07] We're going to be praying for you as well.
[01:52:09] I also want to give you a personal invitation and a challenge to come back and be with us on a regular basis.
[01:52:16] This next year is an incredibly important time in your life.
[01:52:19] Why don't you come and get plugged in?
[01:52:22] Be here as often as you can.
[01:52:24] I'll make a promise. Before that year is over, your life will never be the same for the better.
[01:52:29] now we got the new Wednesday night if you live close enough you can be here as well but and I said it earlier maybe you can get plugged in meet some of our join some of our teams just I want you
[01:52:39] to meet some good people keep you in community so you can grow and you will meet lifelong friends here at Lakewood I'd love to meet you after service you got a minute I'll be back over
[01:52:49] there if can't today I'd love to do it sometime 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. January 4th,
[01:53:04] 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 so much for coming out today. How many of you going home better off
[01:53:17] than you were before? Amen. All right, guys, we love you. I want to speak a blessing. Until we meet again. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord show you his favor and have mercy on
[01:53:28] you. And may the Lord watch over you and give you his peace. God bless you. Happy new year.
[01:53:34] See you back real soon.