- 2 days ago
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00:00Guys, between services, I met some friends from Ukraine.
00:04Only one of them speaks English, my friend's here,
00:06but these are pastors in Ukraine.
00:08Their building has been hit with fighting.
00:11You see them there?
00:12The bishop, the son, and they're...
00:14I got to visit a little while.
00:16We're doing amazing work.
00:17And, you know, we don't fight battles like they fight battles.
00:20You know, buildings being hit and bombed,
00:22but you know what?
00:22They're faithful, they're serving God,
00:24and we just speak blessings over you guys.
00:27We're going to continue to pray and support you and do all we can.
00:30Thanks for what you do.
00:32Amazing people.
00:34I had one more thing, y'all, if I could just...
00:36Oh, yeah, I know what it was.
00:37It's for our online audience.
00:38Don't forget next...
00:39This Saturday is what we call homecoming,
00:41and it's for people that, you know, live out of town.
00:43You've never been to Lakewood.
00:44We'd love to have you be a part.
00:46I'll be down here with my family on Saturday,
00:47and Sunday you can come to the service.
00:49That's next week, but thanks for being a part, guys.
00:52Great to have you here today,
00:53and I want to ask you when you see yourself on the big screen,
00:56if you'll give our TV audience a great big Lakewood welcome.
01:02God bless you.
01:03It's great to be with you today,
01:05and I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week
01:08through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media,
01:11and you can come visit us in person.
01:13We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services.
01:16But I'd like to start with something funny,
01:18and I heard about this group of schoolchildren.
01:21They were in the cafeteria line
01:23at their Catholic elementary school.
01:25At the start of the line, there was a big bowl of apples.
01:28A nun had written a note.
01:30It said, take only one.
01:32God is watching.
01:33At the end of the line,
01:35there was a big bowl of chocolate chip cookies.
01:37One of the children had written a note.
01:40It said, take all you want.
01:41God is watching the apples.
01:45Say it like you mean it.
01:46This is my Bible.
01:48I am what it says I am.
01:50I have what it says I have.
01:51I can do what it says I can do.
01:54Today, I will be taught the word of God.
01:56I boldly confess my mind is alert.
02:00My heart is receptive.
02:01I will never be the same.
02:03I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible,
02:07ever-living seed of the word of God.
02:10God, I'll never be the same.
02:12Never, never, never.
02:14I'll never be the same in Jesus' name.
02:17God bless you.
02:21If you'd like to open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 6,
02:24you're welcome to.
02:24Matthew chapter 6 and verse 33.
02:27Don't forget, we have great services all week,
02:30and our new Wednesday night service has kicked up this year,
02:33and it's a great service.
02:34You can come back on Wednesday night.
02:36We have a great time here,
02:38but always honored to have you.
02:40And I so enjoyed some of our team
02:42from the Monday night Bible study,
02:44Pastor Eric and Jeremy.
02:45I mean, Monday night, those guys are online,
02:47or those men, and Pastor Mark Greathouse as well.
02:49But we have a great team here at Lakewood.
02:52But thanks again for coming out.
02:54I want to talk to you today about blessings finding you.
02:58It's easy to worry about the future.
03:01How can I accomplish my dreams?
03:03And what if I don't get that good break?
03:05What if my health goes down?
03:07Or I don't meet the right person?
03:09Creates all this pressure
03:10where we have to make things happen.
03:12And we live striving and straining,
03:15trying to force this door to open,
03:17make this person like us,
03:19turn this problem around.
03:21When Jesus was talking to people like this
03:23in Matthew chapter 6,
03:25they were very worried about their food,
03:28their clothing, how they were going to make it.
03:30He said to them in verse 33,
03:32don't worry about those things.
03:34Your heavenly Father knows all that you need.
03:38He was saying,
03:39God has already planned your future.
03:41He knows what it's going to take
03:43to get you to your destiny.
03:45You're not doing life on your own.
03:47It's not just up to you.
03:49The Most High God is ordering your steps.
03:52And Jesus gave us the key in verse 33.
03:55He said,
03:56seek first the kingdom of God
03:58and his righteousness
04:00and all these things will be added unto you.
04:03He was saying in effect,
04:05you don't have to spend your life
04:07seeking the blessing,
04:08seeking provision,
04:10seeking approval,
04:11seeking the right people.
04:13That's going to lead to frustration.
04:15There's a better way to live.
04:16If you'll seek God,
04:18then the blessings will seek you.
04:20There's a reversal.
04:22When you keep God first place,
04:24that takes the pressure off.
04:26Now it's not up to you to make it all happen.
04:29That's God's responsibility.
04:31He will add all these things.
04:34But if we don't understand this,
04:36it brings stress,
04:37tension.
04:38Hey man,
04:38I got to get this promotion
04:39and I got to win over this coworker.
04:42I got to fix this problem.
04:43And sure,
04:44we have to use our gifts,
04:46be determined,
04:47take steps of faith,
04:48but you don't have to live with that pressure.
04:51You can stay in peace
04:53knowing that because you're honoring God,
04:55he's arranging the good breaks.
04:58He's lining up the right people.
04:59He's scheduling the healing,
05:01the turnaround.
05:02You don't have to find it.
05:04It's going to find you.
05:05Don't spend your life chasing the blessing,
05:08chase God,
05:09and the blessings will chase you.
05:12But I wonder how many of us
05:14are trying to do God's job.
05:16We're striving,
05:17straining,
05:18manipulating.
05:19Go take the pressure off.
05:21Let God be God.
05:23He knows what's best for you.
05:25He's already written
05:26every day of your life in his book.
05:28He knows what you need,
05:30who you need,
05:32when you need it,
05:33and how to get it to you.
05:35He'll open doors
05:36that you could never open.
05:37He'll bring people
05:39you never imagined.
05:40He'll put you in rooms
05:42where you weren't qualified.
05:44Opportunity,
05:45resources,
05:45influences,
05:46far beyond
05:47what you had in mind.
05:49God's dream for your life
05:51is much bigger
05:52than your own.
05:54Where he's taken you,
05:55you could never accomplish
05:57by yourself.
05:58Just your own efforts,
06:00your talent,
06:01your hard work.
06:02That's all good,
06:03but God is going to add things
06:05that exceed your expectations,
06:07that boggle your mind,
06:09that thrust you
06:10where no one
06:11in your family has gone.
06:14And it says,
06:14seek first the kingdom
06:16and his righteousness.
06:18That means his way
06:20of doing things.
06:21God's kingdom,
06:22in one sense,
06:23is opposite
06:24of what we naturally think.
06:26He said to bless your enemies.
06:29Be good to those
06:30that do you wrong.
06:31I don't want to bless them.
06:32I want to get revenge.
06:34Forgive those that hurt you.
06:35I don't want to forgive.
06:37I want to hold a grudge.
06:38No, seek first the kingdom.
06:41If you want God to add,
06:42you have to do it his way.
06:45It means walking by faith
06:47and not by sight.
06:49You may have a situation
06:50where you don't see
06:52how it could work out.
06:53The odds are against you.
06:55You could be worried,
06:56discouraged.
06:57Instead,
06:58God, I don't see a way,
07:00but I know you have a way.
07:02You being for me
07:03is more than what's
07:04trying to stop me.
07:05That's seeking the kingdom.
07:07Being faithful at work.
07:09Doing the right thing
07:10when no one is watching.
07:12Integrity,
07:13excellence,
07:14that's God's way.
07:16Trusting when you
07:17don't understand.
07:18A good attitude
07:19when life's not fair.
07:21Biting your tongue
07:22when you want to
07:23tell someone off.
07:24Putting down
07:24your carnal desires.
07:26That's not just
07:27being disciplined.
07:28That's seeking the kingdom.
07:30That's doing it God's way.
07:32That's what puts you
07:33in position
07:34for God to add
07:36all these things.
07:37But sometimes we hear
07:39we need to seek God
07:40and we think,
07:41okay, I got to pray
07:41two hours in the morning.
07:42I got to read my Bible more.
07:44I got to come to church more.
07:44And that's all good.
07:45That's part of it.
07:46But you can honor God
07:49in your everyday life.
07:50Having a faith-filled attitude.
07:53Treating people with respect.
07:55Kind to your family.
07:56Being excellent at work.
07:58That's His righteousness.
08:00That's God's way
08:01of doing things.
08:02When you live like that,
08:04you are seeking God.
08:05That means blessings
08:07are seeking you.
08:09We see this
08:10in the life of David.
08:11He was a teenager
08:13out in the shepherd's fields
08:14taking care
08:15of his father's sheep.
08:17He was the youngest
08:18of eight brothers
08:18and he got stuck
08:20with the leftover job
08:21out there in the desert.
08:23Lonely, boring.
08:25No future to speak of.
08:27And David had big dreams.
08:29He could sense the greatness
08:31that God put in him.
08:33But he was at a disadvantage.
08:35Some of his brothers
08:36were in the military.
08:37They had prestigious positions.
08:39Well, David could have
08:40slacked off
08:41and taken the easy way out.
08:43I don't care about these sheep.
08:45Big deal if we lose a few.
08:47Nobody's going to know.
08:49David was a person of excellence.
08:51He did the right thing
08:53when no one was watching.
08:54He cared for those sheep
08:56night and day.
08:57Made sure they had food and water.
08:59He'd fight off wild animals.
09:01Killed a lion and a bear
09:03with his bare hands
09:04just to protect the sheep.
09:07All that time
09:08that David was going
09:09the extra mile.
09:10Doing the right thing
09:12when it was hard.
09:13Being his best
09:14when he wasn't getting
09:15any credit.
09:16He wasn't just being
09:17a good son,
09:18a good employee.
09:20He was honoring God.
09:22That was a time of testing.
09:24A time of proving.
09:26People may not be watching
09:27but God is watching.
09:30Maybe nobody is telling you
09:31thank you.
09:32You're not getting the credit
09:34you deserve
09:34but you keep doing
09:36the right thing.
09:37You keep showing up
09:38on time.
09:39Doing more than you have to.
09:41People may not see it
09:42but God sees it.
09:44He's the one that matters.
09:46He's keeping the records.
09:47You're not just being faithful.
09:49You're seeking God.
09:51You're doing things
09:52His way.
09:53That's what puts you
09:54in position
09:54for Him to add
09:56all these things.
09:57Promotion doesn't come
09:58from people.
09:59It comes from the Lord.
10:02David kept a good attitude
10:03in a difficult situation.
10:05He didn't complain,
10:07get bitter.
10:09Out in the fields
10:10is where he wrote
10:10some of the songs.
10:12When he got up
10:13in the morning
10:13he could have thought
10:14oh man
10:15another day
10:16with these stinking sheep.
10:17I'm so tired
10:18of feeding them,
10:20cleaning up them.
10:21Why don't my brothers
10:21have to help?
10:22He had plenty of reasons
10:24to complain
10:25and live sour.
10:26But David made the decision
10:28he was going to do things
10:30God's way.
10:31Maybe that's where
10:32he wrote Psalm 118.
10:34This is the day
10:34the Lord has made.
10:36I'm going to rejoice
10:37and be glad in it.
10:38Perhaps he wrote
10:39Psalm 5 out there.
10:40Early in the morning
10:41you will hear
10:42my song of praise.
10:44Maybe it was Psalm 63.
10:46Oh God,
10:46you are my God
10:47and earnestly
10:48I seek after you.
10:50He had this attitude
10:52of praise,
10:53thanksgiving
10:54right out in the desert
10:55when it was lonely,
10:57unfair,
10:58when he didn't see
10:59a way out
10:59but he's still
11:00full of praise.
11:02He's still caring
11:03for the sheep
11:03with excellence.
11:04He's still being
11:05faithful and consistent.
11:08Well David thought
11:09that the shepherd's fields
11:11were his destiny.
11:12In the natural
11:13there wasn't any way out
11:15but when you seek God
11:17blessings start seeking you.
11:19God will add things
11:21that you couldn't add.
11:22He'll speak to people
11:23to be good to you
11:24that you've never met.
11:26God told the prophet Samuel
11:28travel to the city
11:29of Bethlehem
11:30to the house
11:31of a man named Jesse
11:32for I've chosen
11:34one of his sons
11:35to be the next king
11:36of Israel.
11:37Here David
11:38is out in the fields
11:39just minding
11:41his own business
11:42another ordinary day
11:43being faithful
11:44serving with excellence
11:46doing more
11:47than what was required
11:48but as he was
11:50seeking God
11:51what he couldn't see
11:52was Samuel
11:53was seeking him.
11:55Something was headed
11:56his way
11:57that would change
11:58the course of his life.
12:00Many of you
12:01are like David
12:01you go the extra mile
12:03you take care
12:05of your family
12:06with kindness
12:06and compassion
12:07even when you're tired
12:09you still shine
12:10at work
12:12you give it your best
12:13you serve at church
12:15in your community
12:16always being a blessing
12:17it may seem like
12:19you're stuck
12:19reached limits
12:21no way to go higher
12:22but God has some blessings
12:25seeking you right now
12:26things you can't see
12:28you couldn't plan
12:29there was no sign of it
12:31but your Samuel
12:32is about to show up
12:34healing is pursuing you
12:36the right person
12:37the door opening
12:39the breakthrough
12:40in your business
12:41you couldn't find it
12:42it's gonna find you
12:43something better
12:45than you ever dreamed
12:46see God sees you
12:48doing the right thing
12:49when it's hard
12:50he sees your consistency
12:52day after day
12:54being good to people
12:55sacrificing your time
12:57and energy
12:57he sees you being excellent
12:59staying holy
13:01and pure
13:02refusing to compromise
13:03God has a Samuel coming
13:05a surprise
13:07something unexpected
13:08suddenly the right person
13:11is knocking on your door
13:12that's not a lucky break
13:13that's the blessing
13:15seeking you
13:15because you're doing things
13:17God's way
13:18his favor
13:19is gonna find you
13:22Samuel showed up
13:23at Jesse's house
13:24David's father
13:25and asked to see
13:26the sons
13:27and Jesse brought
13:28seven of them out
13:29Samuel looked at them
13:31studied
13:31no it's not any of these
13:33can imagine
13:34he's a little confused
13:35thought did I come
13:37to the right house
13:37did I hear God wrong
13:39Jesse spoke up
13:40said I do have
13:42one more son
13:43but he's the youngest
13:44he's small
13:45he doesn't have any experience
13:47I'm sure it's not him
13:49people may
13:50discount you
13:51try to make you feel
13:53like you're not enough
13:54you're not tall enough
13:55talented enough
13:57attractive enough
13:58funny enough
13:59the good news is
14:00you're not dependent
14:01on what people
14:02think about you
14:03they don't determine
14:05your destiny
14:05they may push you down
14:07but God knows
14:08how to lift you up
14:09they may overlook you
14:11but God knows
14:12how to make you be seen
14:14he'll promote you
14:15in front of the people
14:17that are trying
14:17to discredit you
14:18he'll prepare a table
14:20in the presence
14:21of your enemies
14:22now quit worrying
14:23about who's not for you
14:24and who looks down
14:26on you
14:26why won't they
14:27give me any credit
14:28no your time
14:30is coming
14:30Samuel is on the way
14:32you keep pursuing God
14:34doing things his way
14:36and the blessings
14:37will chase you down
14:38what you couldn't
14:40make happen
14:40will come to you
14:41you didn't have
14:43to strain
14:43manipulate
14:45force
14:45it's going to fall
14:46into your hands
14:48see David
14:49wasn't out in the fields
14:51coming up with
14:52a campaign strategy
14:53how he could get elected
14:55he didn't go to
14:56different villages
14:57passing out flyers
14:58holding town halls
15:00making a case
15:01how he'd be a great king
15:03he didn't go after
15:04the throne
15:05he went after God
15:07faithfulness
15:08and excellence
15:09integrity
15:10praising
15:11and the throne
15:12came to him
15:13you don't have to
15:15make it all happen
15:16God said
15:17all these things
15:18he will add
15:20what God
15:20is about to add
15:22is something
15:22you didn't see coming
15:23you didn't work for it
15:25you didn't earn it
15:26you didn't have
15:27the experience
15:28it's the goodness
15:29of God
15:30thrusting you
15:31into your purpose
15:32now here's the key
15:33stay consistent
15:35every day
15:37you do the right thing
15:38Samuel is a little closer
15:40you're passing the test
15:42David had to prove to God
15:44that he would take care
15:45of those sheep
15:46before God would let him
15:48take care of his people
15:50if he had slacked off
15:51with the sheep
15:52didn't keep them fed
15:54let wild animals harm them
15:56God would have never
15:57trusted him
15:58to take care of the Israelites
16:01be your best
16:02where you are
16:03don't wait for Samuel
16:05to show up
16:05then you'll have a good attitude
16:07then you'll be faithful
16:08then you'll let your talent shine
16:10the way to honor God
16:12is to shine where you are
16:14excel at your workplace
16:16be compassionate with your family
16:19be generous with your time
16:21and resources
16:22get up in the morning
16:23and thank God for his goodness
16:25stay full of praise
16:26that's seeking God
16:28doing things his way
16:30that's when blessings
16:31will come seeking you
16:34when I look back
16:35over my life
16:36many of the important moments
16:39when I was thrust
16:40to a new level
16:42weren't things
16:42that I was going after
16:44I was simply honoring God
16:45like David
16:47in the shepherd's field
16:48so to speak
16:49just being my best
16:50where I was
16:51and suddenly
16:52the Samuel showed up
16:53in my early 20s
16:55I went to a jewelry store
16:57to buy a battery
16:58for my watch
16:58I walked in
17:00and here came Samuel
17:01walking
17:01I mean here came Victoria
17:02walking toward me
17:03the most beautiful girl
17:05I'd ever seen
17:07I don't know
17:07if God spoke to her
17:09to come wait on me
17:10or if she was just
17:11overwhelmed by my good looks
17:13but
17:14she came right over
17:15and started talking to me
17:17I was there to buy a battery
17:19for my watch
17:19and she ended up
17:21selling me a whole new watch
17:22and she's been taking my money
17:24ever since then
17:26that was 40 years ago
17:29I don't know how that can be
17:30I'm only 39
17:31but
17:34I could have never
17:35made that happen
17:36but as you honor God
17:39he has the right people
17:40coming towards you
17:41David said
17:43I was young
17:43now I'm old
17:44and I've never once
17:45seen the righteous forsaken
17:47you don't have to worry
17:49make it all happen
17:51talk someone into liking you
17:53lower your standard
17:55because you may not
17:55meet anyone
17:56no keep honoring God
17:58and the right person
18:00will find you
18:00someone better
18:02than you can imagine
18:03that sees you
18:04as the gift
18:05that you are
18:06they're already
18:07in route
18:08your steps
18:09and their steps
18:10are being ordered
18:11by the Lord
18:12what God has purpose
18:13nothing can stop
18:16one Sunday morning
18:17when my father
18:18was pastoring
18:19I was running
18:20through the front lobby
18:21up the stairs
18:22to the TV area
18:23service was about
18:24to start
18:24a man came around
18:26the corner
18:26and said
18:27Joel my cousin
18:28has a construction permit
18:30for the last
18:31full power
18:32television station
18:33in Houston
18:34he wants you to have it
18:35I never dreamed
18:37we'd have a television station
18:38that wasn't even
18:40on my radar
18:40I didn't go after it
18:42it came to me
18:43we put the station
18:45on the air
18:46few years later
18:47we sold it
18:48it was those funds
18:50that helped us
18:51renovate the compact center
18:53God knows
18:54what you're going
18:55to need
18:55and he knows
18:56how to bring it
18:57to you
18:59when my father
19:00passed
19:00I was working
19:01behind the scenes
19:02I never thought
19:03I'd be a minister
19:04suddenly this door
19:06opened
19:06I didn't pursue it
19:08it pursued me
19:09I was planning
19:11on doing television
19:12production
19:12the rest of my life
19:13but God is going
19:15to add things
19:16that surprise you
19:17cause you to bloom
19:19and blossom
19:19he's put gifts
19:21in you
19:21that you haven't
19:22tapped into yet
19:24few years after
19:25I'd been pastoring
19:26Victoria encouraged
19:28me to write a book
19:29I thought
19:30Victoria I don't know
19:30how to write a book
19:31I don't know what to say
19:32I don't even know
19:33where to begin
19:35but an executive
19:36from one of the largest
19:37publishing companies
19:38in the world
19:39was walking to the subway
19:41in New York
19:42going home
19:42and he saw my name
19:44on a sign
19:45he didn't know
19:46how I was
19:47he'd never heard of me
19:48but he told me
19:50something told me
19:51that I was to sign you
19:52for a book deal
19:53he went
19:55looked us up
19:55researched
19:56offered us a contract
19:57now I have books
19:59in many languages
20:00all over the world
20:01I could have never
20:02made that happen
20:03I couldn't have planned it
20:05I couldn't have won
20:07his favor
20:07I didn't even know him
20:08this was the hand of God
20:10causing blessings
20:11to seek those
20:13who seek him
20:14one more
20:15how about when we needed
20:16a larger auditorium
20:17I was trying to build
20:19but things kept
20:21falling through
20:21well a friend called
20:23that I hadn't spoken to
20:25in years
20:26he said
20:27Joel
20:27you need to get
20:28the compact center
20:29the Rockets basketball team
20:31is about to move out
20:33I didn't go after
20:34this building
20:34I didn't know
20:35anything about it
20:36it came to us
20:38what am I saying
20:39you don't have to
20:40strive
20:41and strain
20:42try to make
20:43everything happen
20:44you're trying to do
20:46God's job
20:47that's going to bring
20:48frustration
20:49you don't have to
20:50figure it all out
20:51your job
20:52is to keep God
20:53first place
20:54keep doing things
20:55his way
20:56as you seek him
20:58he's going to have
20:59the blessings
20:59seek you
21:00the right people
21:01the contracts
21:02the healing
21:03the open doors
21:04it's going to
21:05track you down
21:06the scripture says
21:07no good thing
21:09will God withhold
21:10when you walk up rightly
21:11that's you
21:13you're walking up rightly
21:14you're committed
21:15faithful
21:16being good to people
21:17God is not going to
21:19withhold anything
21:20you need
21:21to get you
21:22to your destiny
21:24Samuel came
21:25and anointed
21:26David as king
21:27a very powerful
21:28moment
21:29but David
21:30didn't go to the throne
21:31he went back
21:32to the shepherd's fields
21:33one day
21:34his father
21:35asked him
21:35to take lunch
21:36to his brothers
21:37that were in the army
21:39in another city
21:39David could have
21:41thought dad
21:41I'm not an errand boy
21:43I'm not going to
21:44take them lunch
21:45that's beneath me
21:46you saw him
21:47anoint me king
21:48I'm made for bigger
21:49things than that
21:50he could have
21:52dismissed it
21:52went on his way
21:54but David
21:55wasn't too big
21:56to do a small thing
21:57he knew
21:59as you're serving
22:00others
22:00you are serving God
22:02he took the lunch
22:04that's when he heard
22:05Goliath
22:05taunting the Israelites
22:06as David
22:08walked in obedience
22:09in small things
22:11in what seemed
22:12insignificant
22:13it was leading him
22:14to a big thing
22:15he would have
22:17never met Goliath
22:18had he not been
22:19faithful
22:19to do the simple
22:20task that his
22:21father asked
22:22don't discount
22:24small acts
22:25of obedience
22:26doing simple things
22:27that may seem
22:28beneath you
22:29Joel I got more
22:30training than this
22:32I'm more qualified
22:33more experienced
22:34don't ask me
22:35to take care
22:35of the sheep
22:36find somebody
22:37else to take
22:38them lunch
22:38you don't know
22:40what's going
22:40to be waiting
22:41for you
22:41there are some
22:42Goliaths
22:43some destiny
22:44moments
22:45that are hidden
22:46in small acts
22:47of obedience
22:49I used to pick
22:50out my father's
22:51suit and tie
22:51to wear on
22:52television each
22:53Sunday
22:53I'd go over
22:55to his house
22:55every Saturday
22:56evening
22:57and I'd write
22:58it down
22:58he wore this
22:59and that
22:59keep the record
23:00my mom would
23:01say Joel daddy's
23:0270 years old
23:02he can pick
23:03out his own
23:04clothes
23:05I had seen
23:06what my father
23:07would wear
23:07and I wanted
23:08it to look good
23:09but I never
23:10dreamed one day
23:11I would be
23:12picking out a
23:13suit and tie
23:13for me to wear
23:14on television
23:16being obedient
23:17in small things
23:18is showing God
23:19he can trust you
23:21with big things
23:22David took lunch
23:24to his brothers
23:24honoring God
23:26doing a small thing
23:27and Goliath
23:28showed up
23:29a big thing
23:30that forever
23:31changed David's life
23:32a destiny
23:33a destiny
23:34moment
23:34where he became
23:35a national hero
23:37Hebrews says
23:38that God
23:39is a rewarder
23:40of those
23:41that diligently
23:42seek after him
23:43when you're
23:44seeking after God
23:45doing things
23:46his way
23:47then you're
23:48on God's
23:49payroll
23:49he's a rewarder
23:51he'll compensate
23:52you
23:53when you do
23:54a small
23:54act of obedience
23:55there's a reward
23:57when you forgive
23:58someone
23:59that doesn't
23:59deserve it
24:00God will
24:01reward you
24:01when you get
24:03up in the morning
24:04and take time
24:04to thank God
24:05for the day
24:06and acknowledge
24:07his goodness
24:08there's a reward
24:09when you stay
24:10faithful in the
24:11shepherd's field
24:13obscurity
24:13not getting the
24:15credit
24:15but you keep
24:16being your best
24:17God sees that
24:18he'll compensate
24:19you
24:20and God knows
24:21how to pay you
24:22like no one else
24:23he'll pay you
24:24with joy
24:25wisdom
24:26good health
24:27great relationships
24:29but sometimes
24:30we're on the
24:31wrong payrolls
24:32we're working
24:33for the wrong
24:33boss
24:34maybe we're
24:35self-employed
24:36working for
24:37ourselves
24:38I gotta strive
24:39I gotta strain
24:40I gotta work
24:42this thing out
24:42the problem is
24:44we don't pay well
24:45you'll barely get
24:46minimum wage
24:47out of that
24:48or we're letting
24:49our circumstances
24:50be the boss
24:51frustrated by
24:53what's not changing
24:54upset with the
24:55neighbor
24:55trying to set
24:56them straight
24:57that doesn't pay
24:58well
24:58maybe we're
25:00letting our
25:00feelings dictate
25:02our mood
25:02people's approval
25:04what they said
25:05well Joel
25:06they left me
25:06out
25:07they said
25:08I'm too small
25:08I gotta prove
25:10them wrong
25:10no you need
25:11to change
25:12payrolls
25:13you need to
25:14turn in your
25:14resignation
25:15no more letting
25:16stress
25:17fear
25:18people's opinion
25:19jealousy
25:20be your boss
25:22get on God's
25:23payroll
25:23start doing
25:24things his way
25:26seeking first
25:26his kingdom
25:29have you seen
25:30it the first
25:30of the year
25:31there's this
25:31list of the
25:33best companies
25:34to work for
25:34some have
25:36great benefits
25:37beautiful facilities
25:38retirement packages
25:40extended vacation
25:41that's all nice
25:43but nobody can
25:44pay you like
25:45God can pay you
25:46the best payroll
25:47you could ever
25:48be on
25:49is the most
25:50high God's
25:50not just material
25:52things
25:52but how about
25:53paying you with
25:54peace
25:54health
25:55a sound
25:56mind
25:57how about
25:57supernatural
25:58provision
25:59protection
26:00and favor
26:01I have to
26:02remind myself
26:03of this
26:03because it's
26:04easy to get
26:04on someone
26:05else's payroll
26:06striving
26:07trying to make
26:08this happen
26:09wonder what
26:10it's gonna be
26:10like in 10
26:11years
26:11how's this
26:11gonna work
26:12out
26:12what if
26:13that doesn't
26:13change
26:13you can't
26:15control all
26:15that
26:15your future
26:17is in
26:17God's hands
26:18you don't
26:19have to figure
26:20it all out
26:20it's not up
26:21to you
26:22to get
26:22to your
26:23destiny
26:23to open
26:24the right
26:25doors
26:25to find
26:26the right
26:26people
26:26to come
26:27up with
26:28the plan
26:28the strategy
26:29your job
26:30is to keep
26:31God first
26:31place
26:32use your
26:33gifts and
26:34talents
26:34to honor
26:35him
26:35then he
26:36promises
26:37he will
26:38add
26:38everything
26:39you need
26:39you don't
26:40have to
26:40add it
26:41he's
26:42responsible
26:42to open
26:43the doors
26:43bring the
26:44right people
26:45protect you
26:46when you're
26:47on his
26:47payroll
26:48you'll be
26:49well compensated
26:50he'll take
26:51you further
26:51than you
26:52can imagine
26:53I wonder
26:54today
26:54if you need
26:56to change
26:56payrolls
26:57are you
26:58self-employed
26:59trying to do
27:00it all on
27:00your own
27:01that's gonna
27:01wear you
27:02out
27:02are you
27:03trying to
27:04keep score
27:04outperform
27:05prove who
27:06you are
27:07you're gonna
27:07go in debt
27:08Dave Ramsey
27:10were here
27:10he'd tell you
27:11pay it off
27:11get out of
27:12debt
27:13that's draining
27:14the life
27:14out of you
27:15trying to
27:16keep up
27:16with people's
27:17expectations
27:18running a race
27:19you're not
27:19supposed to
27:20be in
27:20David would
27:22have never
27:22made it to
27:23the throne
27:24if he'd
27:25been on
27:25the wrong
27:25payroll
27:26out in the
27:27fields
27:27if he is
27:28bitter
27:28competing
27:29with his
27:30brothers
27:30trying to
27:31prove to
27:32his father
27:32who he
27:32was
27:33he'd been
27:33stuck
27:34his attitude
27:35was
27:36I'm gonna
27:36do it
27:36God's way
27:37I'm gonna
27:38seek first
27:38his kingdom
27:39he started
27:41the morning
27:41thanking God
27:42he excelled
27:43where he was
27:44faithful in
27:45small things
27:46good attitude
27:47day after day
27:48excellent when
27:49no one was
27:50watching
27:50the right
27:51time
27:52payday
27:52came
27:53God took
27:54him from
27:54the background
27:55to the
27:55foreground
27:56from being
27:57discounted
27:58to being
27:58in charge
27:59make sure
28:01you stay on
28:02the right
28:02payroll
28:02do it
28:03God's way
28:04no more
28:05straining
28:06striving
28:07worrying
28:07you're trying
28:08to do
28:09God's job
28:09take the
28:10pressure off
28:11today can be
28:12a turning
28:13point
28:13do your
28:14best
28:15rest
28:16then God
28:17promised
28:17he will
28:18add
28:18all of
28:19these
28:19things
28:19if you'll
28:20do this
28:21I believe
28:21and declare
28:22like with
28:23David
28:23Samuel is
28:25about to
28:25come looking
28:25for you
28:26things you
28:27couldn't make
28:27happen
28:28good breaks
28:29the right
28:29people
28:30healing
28:31freedom
28:31the fullness
28:32of your
28:33destiny
28:33in Jesus
28:35name
28:35and if you
28:36receive it
28:37can you
28:37say amen
28:42let's pray
28:42together
28:43if you have
28:44five minutes
28:44let's just
28:44seal it in
28:45prayer
28:45Lord thank
28:46you for
28:46what we've
28:46heard
28:46I know it
28:47falls on
28:48great ground
28:49faithful people
28:50here at
28:50Lakewood
28:51and Lord
28:52today we're
28:52going to
28:52come back
28:53to that
28:53place of
28:53peace
28:54we're going
28:55to live
28:55honoring you
28:56doing all
28:57that we
28:57can
28:58and Lord
28:59we're going
28:59to let you
29:00and trust
29:00you to do
29:01what we
29:01can
29:01Lord no
29:02more striving
29:03no more
29:03straining
29:04we're going
29:04to work
29:05hard
29:05we're going
29:05to use
29:06our gifts
29:06but God
29:07we're going
29:07to trust
29:07you to
29:08do what
29:08we can
29:09our life
29:10is in
29:10your hands
29:11Lord help
29:11us to
29:12believe
29:12help us
29:13to come
29:14back to
29:14a place
29:14of peace
29:15and trust
29:15and faith
29:16and Lord
29:17as we
29:18do this
29:18like you
29:19did for
29:19David
29:20in your
29:21perfect
29:21timing
29:22you will
29:22bring the
29:23Samuels
29:23you will
29:24defeat the
29:25Goliath
29:25you will
29:26take us
29:26to our
29:27throne
29:27to our
29:27destiny
29:28Lord we
29:29trust you
29:29with our
29:30lives
29:30our children
29:31our family
29:32our dreams
29:33it's in
29:33your hands
29:34Lord I
29:35ask that
29:36you would
29:36watch after
29:37your people
29:37I thank
29:38you for
29:38watching
29:38after your
29:39people this
29:39week as
29:40they go to
29:40work as
29:41their children
29:41go to school
29:42that your
29:43angels are
29:44watching after
29:44them give
29:45them a blessed
29:45week in
29:46Jesus name
29:47with our heads
29:48bowed in
29:48prayer just a
29:50quick question
29:50if your heart
29:52stopped beating
29:53in the next few
29:54minutes are you
29:55at peace with
29:56God do you
29:58know where
29:58you'd spend
29:59eternity if you
30:00died a little
30:01while from now
30:02if not I
30:03would love to
30:04pray with you
30:05I'm not here
30:06to condemn
30:07anybody I'm
30:08here to help
30:09you find a
30:09new beginning
30:10I know this
30:11comes from a
30:12personal
30:12relationship with
30:14Jesus Christ
30:15in just a
30:16moment if
30:17you're not at
30:18peace with
30:19God or maybe
30:20you are a
30:21Christian but
30:22you've grown
30:22cold toward
30:23God you know
30:25you need to
30:25rededicate and
30:26recommit your
30:27life to Christ
30:28if that's you in
30:29just a moment I'm
30:31going to ask you
30:31to take a step
30:32of faith and
30:33stand right where
30:34you are and we'll
30:35pray together I
30:37can't think of a
30:38better time to get
30:39on the road to
30:40victory than right
30:41now God is not
30:43mad at you your
30:45sins have already
30:45been forgiven all
30:47you have to do is
30:48accept the free
30:50gift of Christ
30:50salvation will you
30:52do it today the
30:54enemy in your
30:54thoughts he'll
30:55whisper do it next
30:56week do it another
30:58time listen the
30:59Bible says today
31:00today is the day
31:01of salvation you're
31:03not hearing this by
31:04accident but Joel
31:05it's embarrassing to
31:06stand in front of
31:07everyone have
31:08people at the house
31:09I can't lift my
31:10hand listen to what
31:11Jesus said if you
31:12won't be ashamed of
31:14me before people
31:15then I won't be
31:17ashamed of you
31:17before my father in
31:19heaven I'm gonna
31:20give you a great
31:21opportunity to show
31:22God that you're not
31:23ashamed of him if
31:25you're not at peace
31:26with the Lord or you
31:28just need to
31:28rededicate you need
31:30to recommit your
31:31life to Christ you
31:32need a fresh new
31:33start a new
31:34beginning if that's
31:35you would you be
31:36bold take that step
31:38of faith and stand
31:39right where you are
31:40and we'll pray
31:41together would you do
31:41that come on Lakewood
31:42let's give them a hand
31:44as they stand all
31:45over the building
31:51come on don't put it
31:52off I feel like
31:54there ought to be
31:55others your heart's
31:56beating fast come on
31:58Lakewood let's clap
31:58them in they're still
31:59standing anybody else
32:01watching listening
32:02anybody else
32:06God bless you
32:07please remain standing
32:09let me tell you how
32:10proud we are of you
32:11I know that took
32:12courage to stand and
32:14more importantly I
32:15know God's never
32:16going to be ashamed of
32:17you because you took
32:18this step of faith
32:19the scripture says that
32:20whoever calls on the
32:22name of the Lord will
32:23be saved let me help
32:24you to call do you
32:25mind all praying this
32:27after me if you would
32:27Lord Jesus I repent
32:30of my sins come into
32:33my heart I make you
32:36my Lord and Savior
32:39amen or may you stand
32:40just one more moment
32:41if you would I want
32:41to tell you again how
32:42much we love you we're
32:43going to be praying for
32:44you I also want to
32:45give you a personal
32:46invitation and a
32:47challenge to come back
32:48and be with us on a
32:49regular basis this next
32:51year of your life is a
32:53very important time
32:55and we'd love to have
32:56you come back and get
32:57plugged in be a part of
32:59the services I'll make
33:00a promise if you'll do
33:02that before the year is
33:03over your life will
33:05never be the same for
33:06the better we are going
33:07to help you grow and
33:08become who God's
33:09created you to be I
33:11know you're busy you
33:12work hard Sunday's
33:13probably a day off but
33:15I can tell you this when
33:16you get into a community
33:17of faith and put God
33:19first place there is a
33:21blessing on your life
33:22your new week will go
33:23better we'd love to have
33:24you here right up over
33:26here there's a place
33:27called new beginnings
33:28some of our team will be
33:29there they can talk to
33:30you about how you can
33:31get yeah what what the
33:33next steps are we'd love
33:35to have you do this but
33:36know this the moment you
33:37stood up God washed away
33:39all your sins your
33:41mistakes your failures
33:42you are starting with a
33:44fresh clean slate write it
33:46down in your Bible March
33:4715th 2026 a new day of
33:50victory in your life in
33:52Jesus name amen amen
33:54well let's all stand
33:55together please thanks so
33:57much for coming out
33:58today how many of you
34:00going home better off than
34:01you were before amen all
34:03right guys we love you and
34:04until we meet again may the
34:06Lord bless you and keep
34:07you may the Lord show you
34:09his favor and have mercy on
34:10you and may the Lord watch
34:12over you and give you his
34:14peace God bless you have a
34:15great week a favorite
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