Build Your Altar - Joel Osteen`s Sermon

God bless you. It's great to be with you today. I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, and social media. And you can come visit us in person—we'd love to have you be a part of one of our services.

I like to start with something funny. I heard about these elderly women; they were in their late eighties. They were driving down the freeway together when they were pulled over by a policeman. The officer asked the driver, “Ma'am, do you realize you're only going 35 mph?” She said, “Yes, Officer, I realize that.”

He said, “Why are you going so slow?”

She said, “Because that's what the sign says.”

He kind of laughed and said, “No, ma'am, that's the number of the freeway. This is Highway 35. And by the way, why do these other passengers look so terrified?”

She smiled and said, “Because we just got off Highway 95.”

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. I boldly confess: My mind is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be the same, in Jesus' name. God bless you.

I want to talk to you today about "Build Your Altar." We can all look back in life and see times when God made a way. He protected us from an accident. He sustained us in a slow time. He promoted us when we didn't deserve it. He strengthened us when we were weak and brought us through that loss. Those weren't lucky breaks. They weren't just a coincidence. That was the hand of God protecting you, healing you, and favoring you.

In the Old Testament, when these things happened, the people took time to build an altar to thank God for what He had done. They would look back at those altars, and that was fuel for their faith. They knew if He did it back then, He would do it again.

Today, we should still be building altars. It's easy to take things for granted, to get so busy that we don't recognize the blessing of God. But when you take time to acknowledge what God has done, you realize He brought you through the pandemic. Some people didn't make it. He gave you that person to love. You were at the right place at the right time. He healed you when it didn't look good. He opened that door, and now you're further than you ever imagined.

When you pause to say, "God, I recognize this didn't happen on my own. This is Your goodness. Thank You for Your favor. Thank You for Your mercy. Lord, I'm grateful for what You've done," that's building an altar.

God told the Israelites in Exodus 20, "Build altars in the places where I remind you who I am, and I will bless you there."

God will bless you where you've built altars. When you're always thanking God for what He's done, remembering His goodness, talking about how He's made ways where you didn't see a way—while you're thanking Him, God says He will bless you. You're there to express your gratitude, but when you're at the altar, God says, "I will be good to you."

This begs the question: Are we not being blessed because we're not building altars? Are we not seeing favor because we're not acknowledging God's goodness? God said, "Build altars where I remind you who I am."

We all have times when we know it was the hand of God. That car on the freeway should have hit you, but somehow, at the last second, it missed. That wasn't a lucky break. Those were angels assigned to protect you. Take time to build an altar.

That contract at work should have gone to three other people. They had more experience. They looked better on paper, but somehow, you were chosen. That was the favor of God causing you to stand out.

Have you built your altar?

I talked to a young couple. They were told they couldn't have children. She had taken all the fertility treatments—nothing more the doctors could do. But seven years later, against all odds, they brought their baby boy after the service.

At those places where you see the hand of God, what are you supposed to do? Just take the blessing and move on? No—build an altar. Pause for a few minutes to say, "God, I recognize this is Your mighty hand at work. I give You the praise. I give You the honor."

When you get in the habit of building altars, you'll look back over your life and see all these times when you should have been stuck, depressed, or defeated—but God stepped in and did what only He can do. As you see all these different altars, all the reminders of God's goodness, that will not only encourage you that God can do it again, but God says He will bless you at the altars you've built. He'll bless you as you go back and remember the good things He's done.

In Genesis 6, God told Noah that there was going to be a great flood. He was to build an ark—a large boat, 450 feet long—and take two of every kind of animal on it. The floods came. For forty days and forty nights, it rained, wiping out everything except Noah, his family, and those animals.

For over a year, Noah was on that boat, cooped up with all the stinky animals. It was smelly, noisy. I'm sure he was tired and ready to get off. Finally, the waters receded. After 377 days, they opened the door to dry ground. Noah and his family walked out.

What is the first thing you would think Noah would want to do? Have a big party, a celebration? Maybe go for a long walk, get away from everyone?

The first thing Noah did was build an altar.

He took time to thank God that they made it. I can hear his children saying, "Dad, we need to find food. We need to build a shelter." There were no roads, no crops, no houses—so many important things to take care of.

But Noah said, "No, the first thing we're going to do is thank God that He spared our lives. We're going to build an altar and thank God that we didn't drown. Thank Him for showing us mercy. Thank Him for His faithfulness."

My prayer is:

God, help us to be like Noah.

When we see Your favor, when You give us the victory, bring us through tough times, and cause us to defeat giants—let the first thing we do be to build an altar. Let us recognize Your goodness and acknowledge Your mercy.

Noah took animals that he had set aside and sacrificed them on that altar. When God smelled the aroma—when He heard Noah giving Him praise—the Scripture says God promised that He would never flood the earth again.

There are times, like with Noah, when you build that altar and thank God for what He's brought you through, God will say, "You will never have to go through that again." He will put an end to what's hindered you.

Get in the habit of building altars.

Today, we don't have to do it physically, like they did. It's simply acknowledging God's goodness. It's taking time to say, "Lord, thank You for healing me from this sickness. I know it wasn't just the medicine—God, You're the Healer. Thank You for turning my child around. Thank You for promoting me when I wasn't next in line. Thank You for giving me beauty for these ashes."

 We went through a two-year battle to acquire the Compaq Center. This building was owned by the city. We needed ten council members to vote for us. We had all ten, but two days before the main vote, one of our council members said he wasn't going to be there. He received so much pressure from the other side. His absence meant we were one short.

But a day before the main vote, one of the council members who had been against us for two years suddenly changed his mind and decided to vote for us. The vote was on a Wednesday morning. Victoria, myself, and all of our team were there, plus about a hundred people from Lakewood. We packed the city council room.

They went through the council members one by one: "Do you vote yes or no for Lakewood having the Compaq Center?" My heart was beating so fast. It was very dramatic. They came to the last man. We had nine. He paused—it seemed like five minutes. We were waiting and waiting. He finally looked up, smiled, and said, “Yes. I vote for them.”

We got the building. When the meeting was over, ten minutes later, we all went out on the steps of City Hall and began to thank God. We didn't plan it, but we started singing praises, declaring the greatness of our God, thanking Him that He made a way where we didn't see a way. It just came up out of us—impromptu. I'm sure people walking around downtown thought, “What are these people doing? Singing, shouting, celebrating.”

Like Noah, the first thing we did was build an altar. “God, we recognize Your hand of favor. You've opened a door we never dreamed would open. You've caused us to defeat giants.” Right there on the steps of City Hall, we built an altar.

You can build an altar wherever you are. Your car can become an altar, your office can be an altar, walking in the park can become an altar. At the places that remind you who God is—when He does things that only He can do—don't just think, That was nice. Build an altar. Acknowledge His greatness. Thank Him for His favor. God will bless you where you've built altars.

In the Old Testament, when the people were facing difficulties, they often started their prayers by reminding God who He is and thanking Him for what He had done. They would go back and look at their altars—the times in the past when God had made a way.

This is what King Jehoshaphat did. He and the people of Judah were surrounded by three powerful armies. They were outnumbered ten to one. He called the people together. They met in the courtyard at their City Hall. He looked up to the heavens and said,

“Oh Lord, You are powerful and mighty, and no one can stand against You. Are You not the God that drove the inhabitants out of this land? Are You not the God that gave it to our ancestor Abraham? Are You not the God that provided this temple for us to worship in?”

They reminded God of all their past victories. They looked back at those altars they had built that fueled their faith. They knew God did it back then, and He would do it again.

All of us have some of these "Am I not the God" stories. When you look back over your life, you need to remember what God has done.

Am I not the God that brought you through the pandemic?
Am I not the God that caused that contract to go through?
Am I not the God that put you at the right place, where you met your spouse?
Am I not the God that turned that child around?

Make sure you're building altars—recognizing His favor, thanking Him for His goodness. That’s where He’s promised to bless you—at the altars you've built.

I'm celebrating a birthday today, as you know. I finally made it to thirty-nine. You know what I did? Early this morning, long before the sun rose, I built an altar.

“God, thank You for bringing me through another year. Thank You for giving me favor, opening new doors, blessing my family, keeping me healthy—still good looking. Lord, thank You for sustaining me. You didn’t let my enemies defeat me. I can say like David: ‘By this I know the Lord is on my side—my enemies could not take me out.’”

I look back over my life and see some other altars that I’ve built. At seven years old, I was in a car accident and injured my head. By the grace of God, I’m still here—just a little bit crazy.

God helped me survive being raised with my brother Paul—another great miracle. He caused me to walk into a jewelry store and meet beautiful Victoria. He’s blessed me with two amazing children. When my father passed, God gave me strength in the storm and helped me learn how to minister.

Now, when I face giants and I’m tempted to get discouraged, I can hear God saying:

“Am I not the God that gave you the Compaq Center?
Am I not the God that changed that city council member’s mind?
Am I not the God that healed your mother of terminal cancer?
Am I not the God that pushed back that eighteen-wheeler that was about to run over you?
Am I not the God that promoted you when you didn’t feel qualified—who brought out talent you didn’t know you had?”

Look back over your life at all those places where you should have altars—where God has done unusual, uncommon things. Don't take them for granted.

"Joel, that’s great that you’re having a birthday, but hey, everybody has a birthday. It’s really no big deal."

When you have the right perspective, it is a big deal.

God gave you breath to breathe for another year. He woke you up this morning. He told your heart to beat. He’s the one who sustained you. He’s protected you from things you know nothing about. The disappointment, the loss—it may not have been easy, but you’re still standing. Still healthy. Still blessed.

If it had not been for the goodness of God, where would you be?

Sometimes you build an altar simply for the fact that you’re still here. The enemy couldn’t finish you off.

You may be up against some big obstacles, but God is saying:

“Am I not the God that parted the Red Sea?
Am I not the God that closed the mouths of lions?
Am I not the God that gave Sarah a baby at ninety?
Am I not the God who has brought you this far—who has protected you, promoted you, favored you, made ways where you didn’t see a way?”

When you look back at all those altars—those places that remind you who God is—and you thank Him for what He’s done, God says He’ll bless you at the altars you’ve built.

Don’t miss out on favor, healing, and protection because you’re not building any altars. Take time every day to thank God for what He’s done. Recognize His goodness in your life.

In Genesis 12, God told Abraham that he was going to become the father of many nations—that his descendants would own all the land, that he was going to be blessed and become a great blessing. When Abraham heard this promise, verse 8 says, “He built an altar and worshiped the Lord.”

What’s interesting is that the promise hadn’t come to pass. He wasn’t a father. His wife, Sarah, was barren. They didn’t have any children. He wasn’t greatly blessed. He didn’t own any land.

Yet he built an altar simply to thank God for what He promised.

This shows us a principle: Don’t wait for the promise to come to pass—thank God in advance for what He said He would do.

“God, You said my children will be mighty in the land.” There may not be any sign of it. They’re off course, running with the wrong crowd.

"Joel, when it becomes a reality, then I’ll thank God."

No—do like Abraham. Build your altar now.

Thank God before you see the promise—that's what faith is all about. When God sees you at the altar, when He hears you thanking Him, praising Him, and declaring His goodness, that’s when angels go to work. That’s when doors will open, healing will come, and favor is released.

“Lord, You said I will lend and not borrow. You said my cup would run over. You said I will have a bountiful year.”

That’s the promise. Now, build the altar.

“Lord, thank You that You’re my provider. Thank You that You have supernatural increase. Lord, thank You that You take pleasure in prospering me.”

Maybe you’re dealing with an illness. God said He would restore health back to you. He said He would heal you of your wounds.

"When I feel better, I’m going to build that altar."

No—build it now. That’s what’s going to activate the healing.

“Lord, thank You that I am healed. Thank You that I will run and not be weary, that strength, energy, and vitality are flowing through me right now.”

Abraham left the place where he built the altar and traveled to a different area. By this time, he had become very blessed, with cattle, silver, and gold. He was seeing the promise come to pass. His nephew, Lot, and all of his flocks were there with him. The land couldn’t support them both. He told Lot to choose where he wanted to go, and Abraham would relocate.

Lot chose the best part of the land—the place with plenty of springs and lush pastures. It looked like a garden. Abraham got stuck with just the opposite. His land was dry and not nearly as desirable. It didn’t seem fair. Abraham should have gotten to choose, but he took the high road.

After this disappointment, after having to start over, God came to him and said, “Abraham, look around, for as far as you can see, I’m going to give you that land for you and your descendants.”

What did Abraham do? The Scripture says, “He built an altar to the Lord.”

He didn’t have the land yet. He was discouraged, coming off a disappointment, but he began to thank God for what He promised. He knew the power of an altar. They didn’t wait for the fulfillment, for the land to become theirs—they thanked God in advance.

God has spoken promises to all of us. He’s whispered things in your spirit that may seem impossible.

How can you accomplish that dream? How can you get well? How can your family be restored?

You have the promise. Now, do your part and build the altar. Thank God that it’s on the way. Remind Him of His greatness. Go back over some of your “Am I not the God” stories. Make them personal.

“Are You not the God that opened that door I couldn’t open?
Are You not the God that prospered me despite how I was raised?
Are You not the God that freed me from the addiction, that blessed me with a spouse, that protected me in the pandemic, that turned my child around, that caused that contract to go through?”

When you look back at the altars you’ve built and thank God for what He’s done, that’s fuel for your faith. That makes it easier to build those altars looking forward—thanking God for what He’s about to do.

Lakewood was started on Mother’s Day in 1959. My parents were coming off a great disappointment. My father had been pastoring for many years when they asked him to leave the church. They didn’t like his new message of faith and victory. My parents were so discouraged. They felt the sting of rejection. It didn’t seem fair.

But God wouldn’t have allowed the disappointment if He didn’t have a purpose for it. It looked like a setback, but really, it was a setup to move them into a new level of their destiny.

There was a lady who owned an old, rundown feed store. She told my parents that they could use that little building for a church. That’s where they started Lakewood—never knowing what God was up to.

The truth is, they had to be pushed out. They had to be asked to leave. It was a part of God’s divine plan. Instead of being bitter, they built an altar. They said,

“God, thank You for this little building. Thank You for this opportunity.”

They never dreamed it would be what it is today. But we look back now at that altar that was built sixty-four years ago, and we can say,

“Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for sustaining us. We recognize we have not done this on our own—this is Your hand of blessing.”

When things get difficult, I can hear God saying,

“Am I not the God that gave you the feed store?
Am I not the God that sustained you when people said it wouldn’t last?
Am I not the God that took the original ninety members and multiplied them into thousands?
Am I not the God that turned that disappointment into a blessing that would take you into the Compaq Center?”

When you remember what God has done, it gives you faith to believe for the greater things He has in store.

In the Scripture, Jacob was dishonest. He tricked his father into giving him the blessing that belonged to his older brother, Esau. He had already cheated Esau out of his birthright. When Esau found out about this, he was furious. Jacob had to flee for his life.

He went far away and worked for his uncle Laban—all the while in hiding, hoping Esau wouldn’t find him.

Twenty years went by. Jacob wanted to return home. He didn’t know what Esau would think, so he sent messengers to tell Esau that he wanted to see him. Esau agreed. Their two parties met on the road. It was this incredible moment—this drama.

You can imagine how apprehensive Jacob was, thinking, “This may be the end. He may want revenge. He could wipe me and my whole family out.”

The big moment finally arrived. Esau came up with four hundred men. I’m sure Jacob thought, “Oh great, a whole army.”

Esau walked over, reached out both arms, and hugged Jacob. He kissed him. They both had tears running down their cheeks.

Esau went and hugged Jacob’s wives and their children. There was little Joseph, Jacob’s young son, watching all this take place. He had been so worried. He’d heard about the feud between his father and Esau. He was expecting the worst, but he saw his uncle Esau treat his father with such kindness.

Esau told Jacob to follow him—he would lead the way home. When Jacob arrived, the Scripture says, “Jacob built an altar there and named it El Elohe, which means The Mighty God.”

Jacob didn’t just take it for granted, thinking, “I got lucky.” No, he built an altar and said,

“This was The Mighty God. This was something greater than I ever imagined.”

We all have these times where we can say like Jacob, That was The Mighty God.

Getting the Compaq Center—The Mighty God.
Healing my mother of cancer—The Mighty God.
Freeing you from that addiction—The Mighty God.
Turning your child around—The Mighty God.

You may have some big challenges, but let me encourage you—The Mighty God is still at work. The Mighty God is still healing. The Mighty God is still parting Red Seas, still defeating giants, still raising Lazarus, still opening supernatural doors.

If you receive it, can you say Amen?

I’d like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me?

Just say:

“Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make You my Lord and Savior.”

If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. We’d love to send you some free information on your new walk with the Lord. You can text the number on the screen or go to the website.

I hope you’ll get into a good Bible-based church and keep God first place.