Podcast Summary: "Break The Box"

Change Church Podcast | Pastor Dharius Daniels
Date: September 21, 2025

Episode Overview

In this powerful sermon, Pastor Dharius Daniels explores the concept of breaking free from limiting mindsets and environments to access true worship and the fullness of God's presence. Using Luke 7:36 and the story of the woman with the alabaster jar (or "box"), Pastor Daniels develops the idea that spiritual breakthrough often requires us to break the metaphorical "boxes"—like shame, selfishness, and concern over spectators—that hold us back from wholehearted worship. The message intertwines deep biblical insights, practical application, and passionate encouragement to pursue God's manifest presence ("Shekinah") to experience wholeness ("Shalom").

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Obstacles as Tools of Intimidation (00:40–05:30)

• Main Point: The enemy (Satan) may not be able to stop God’s plan for your life, but he’ll use obstacles to make you want to quit.

  • "When Satan knows he can't win, his next goal is to make you quit." (02:10, Pastor Daniels)
  • Our success depends less on our passion and more on our preparedness to handle opposition.
  • “Obstacles are used by the enemy as a tool of intimidation.” (03:10)

• Faith Application: It’s not just about “want to” but about the “will to handle the warfare.”

  • “The question isn't, do you have the want to? The question is, do you have the will to handle the warfare?” (03:40)

2. Faith and Corresponding Action (05:30–12:30)

• James' Teaching on Faith: True faith is not just belief; it’s belief in action—specifically, applying the principles attached to God’s promises.

  • “Faith without works is dead... There must be action that corresponds with what I say I’m believing for.” (06:30)
  • “It’s not just working. It is working the right thing.” (07:20)

• Peace Principle: God’s promises come with principles.

  • "The promise is peace. The principle is not letting my mind operate without discipline.” (08:40)
  • “Working my faith is looking at the principle God attaches to a promise and saying, I’m gonna work that principle until it works for me.” (09:45)

• Testing of Faith:

  • “God now tests my faith not with the enormity of the obstacle, but with the length of time.” (10:20)
  • "The question is not how big can you believe, the question is, how long can you believe?" (11:10)

3. Spiritual Warfare and Execution (12:30–15:30)

• The enemy targets your application, not just revelation.

  • “It's not the notes that you put in your phone that change you. It's the notes you apply to your life that change you.” (13:55)
  • “Do you know the failure to consistently execute is an indication of spiritual warfare?” (14:55)

• "If you made it this far with weak execution, what is God going to do when your execution gets strong?" (15:30)

4. The Principle of Environment (15:30–19:30)

• Environment shapes outcome: Using the creation narrative in Genesis, Pastor Daniels discusses how God always created space (environment) before species (life).

  • “Fish only grow in proportion to the size of the tank you put them in… the tank either creates the space or you have to minimize who God’s called you to be.” (17:30)
  • "If fish need the sea, birds need the sky, cattle need the ground—what do humans need? Eden. Eden is a metaphor for His presence." (18:50)

• God’s Presence:

  • Physical place is less important than manifesting the right presence and boundaries.
  • “You no longer have to go to Eden. You bring Eden to you.” (19:45)

5. Boundaries and the Manifest Presence (Shekinah) (19:30–26:30)

• God values boundaries and manifest presence.

  • “This is a biblical blueprint for boundaries. And I don't understand why God set boundaries and humans think they don't have to.” (20:15)
  • "The Ark [of the Covenant] represents His presence… some miracles you need, some messages you need, and some provision you need is in the ark. The ark represents His presence." (22:10)

• Shekinah and Shalom:

  • Shekinah (God’s manifest presence) brings shalom (wholeness, completeness, harmony).
  • “Shekinah doesn’t just give you Shekinah. Shekinah gives you shalom… Wholeness, completeness, harmony—nothing missing, nothing broken.” (25:05)
  • "Worship brings Shekinah, and Shekinah brings shalom." (26:00)

6. The Narrative of Luke 7: Breaking Through Hostile Environments (26:30–37:00)

• The Pharisees’ dinner was not genuine—it was a setup for Jesus.

  • “What seems like an invitation for a sit-down was actually an invitation to a setup." (27:15)
  • The Pharisees operated out of spiritual elitism, ignorance, and life-draining legalism.

• The Woman’s Boldness:

  • She was not invited, but entered anyway, overcoming spiritual elitism and scorn.

  • “She walks right in there… in a cultural context where she’s unprotected.” (31:40)

  • Glory Offering:

    • “The glory of a woman is her hair. So metaphorically, when she was giving Him her hair, she was giving Him glory.” (33:00)
    • “There is nothing that I have that you can’t get—my hair, my time, my talent, my treasure.” (33:40)
    • “You can't really give God worship until you give God you.” (34:20)

7. Breaking the Real Box: Shame, Selfishness, Spectators (37:00–40:50)

• Not About the Alabaster Box:

  • “The box I'm talking about is not the alabaster box. The box I'm talking about is the box you stay stuck in that keeps you from giving God what He deserves.” (37:50)

• Boxes We Must Break:

  • Shame: Being held back by your past and others’ perceptions.
    • “Probably the box of shame. Some people refuse to let you outlive your last season.” (39:25)
    • “The enemy is called the accuser… repeating accusations to you regularly.” (39:40)
  • Selfishness: Refusing to worship because of what others might think.
    • “When I won’t give God what He deserves because of what I think other people are thinking… that’s selfish.” (40:15)
  • Spectators: Freed from people’s opinions to focus on worship.
    • “You don’t walk in this room like she walked in that room unless you’re already delivered from people.” (40:35)

8. The Heart of Worship and Final Encouragement (41:00–End)

• “The heart of worship is I don't worship because I've been good to God. I worship because He’s been good to me.” (41:15)
• “Break the box, and may God break the box of shame, selfishness, and the box of spectators so we can give Him worship that gives us Shekinah. And when we get the Shekinah, we get the Shalom.” (42:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "When Satan knows he can't win, his next goal is to make you quit." – Pastor Dharius Daniels (02:10)
• "It's not the notes you put in your phone that change you. It's the notes you apply to your life." (13:55)
• "God tests my faith not with the enormity of the obstacle, but with the length of time." (10:20)
• "Fish need sea, cattle need ground, birds need the sky—Adam needs Eden… You and I need His presence." (18:42)
• "You can't really give God worship until you give God you." (34:20)
• "Shame wants to use your past to keep you from the only One who can heal you of it." (39:50)
• "Break the box... so we can give Him worship that gives us Shekinah, and when we get the Shekinah, we get the Shalom." (42:00)

Important Timestamps

• 00:40–05:30 – Obstacles and spiritual warfare
• 05:30–12:30 – Faith and application: Principle attached to promise
• 12:30–15:30 – Application, execution, and spiritual resistance
• 15:30–19:30 – The principle of environment: thriving in the right space
• 19:30–26:30 – Boundaries, the Ark, Shekinah, and Shalom
• 26:30–37:00 – Breaking into the hostile room: The woman’s radical worship
• 37:00–41:00 – The real boxes: Shame, selfishness, spectators
• 41:00–End – The heart of worship: Giving God your all brings His manifest presence

Recap

Pastor Dharius Daniels calls listeners to break beyond obstacles, limiting beliefs, environments, and the opinions of others to offer God their full selves in worship. By drawing deeply on Luke 7, he makes a passionate argument that true breakthrough comes when we surrender our “hair”—that is, our time, talent, and treasure—and allow nothing (not shame, selfishness, or spectators) to keep us from the Presence of God, which alone brings lasting wholeness.

Final Challenge:

• “Break the box… so we can give Him worship that gives us Shekinah, and when we get the Shekinah, we get the Shalom.” (42:00)