Change Church Podcast

Host: Pastor Dharius Daniels
Episode: Get It Straight Before You Celebrate
Date: September 29, 2025

Episode Overview

In this final installment of the "Alterations" series, Pastor Dharius Daniels explores the foundational importance of standards, integrity, and reconciliation in worship. Drawing from Matthew 5:23, he challenges listeners to prioritize resolving interpersonal grievances before presenting offerings to God. The message calls for deep reflection, emphasizing that authentic worship requires both spiritual integrity and wholehearted reconciliation with others.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Nature and Necessity of Standards

[00:00–08:30]

• Pastor Daniels sets the tone by stating, “Just because something is offered doesn't mean it should be accepted. And just because something is given doesn't mean it's God.”
• Standards, he argues, are essential spiritual assets, not just personal preferences:
  • “The only individuals that accept any and everything with no examination are individuals who think they have no options. Or, which is worse, individuals who have options but don't have standards.” [01:55]
• Standards reflect self-worth, stewardship, and proper relationship with God and others:
  • “Standards aren't what you want to have. Standards are what you won't live without. Standards are not arrogance. Standards are awareness that God has given me responsibility to properly steward that which he entrusted into me.” [03:10]

2. Standards in Scripture: Three Biblical Examples

[08:30–19:00]

• Cain and Abel: (Genesis 4)
  • “Abel brings the first and the best. Cain brings from among... God looks favorably on Abel's offering and does not look favorably on Cain’s... Cain is the first, at least the first recorded human in history, that's a hater.” [08:55]
  • The lesson: God accepts offerings that meet His standard, not just any offering.
• Saul and the Amalekites: (1 Samuel 15)
  • Saul’s partial obedience is not enough. “He wanted to offer it, but it wasn’t accepted because just because it’s offered doesn’t mean it’s accepted because God has standards.” [13:30]
  • Obedience is better than sacrifice.
• The Priests in Malachi: (Malachi 1)
  • God rebukes priests for offering blemished sacrifices: “You know you wrong when…you find the sheep that got three legs, and you bring that sheep to me, and you take the sheep that's got four legs down to the market because you can get most for it.” [16:45]

3. Jesus’ Teaching on Reconciliation Before Worship

[19:00–31:00]

• Explains the intent behind Matthew 5:23: before offering a gift at the altar, reconcile with those who have something against you.
  • “God not only looks at what we are bringing in worship, God also looks at what you're carrying in your heart. Unaddressed mess with people impacts the way you meet with God.” [20:55]
• The problem of compartmentalization:
  • “You cannot be exalting the Creator and then assassinating somebody’s character at the same time…spiritual dissonance is when there’s a disconnect between what we profess about God and how we practice toward people.” [22:10]
  • Cites James 3:9.
• Only God can highlight true grievances needing reconciliation—not all offense is legitimate:
  • “He is not saying you should become obsessed with trying to figure out everybody that's offended with you because some people's offense is rooted in their filter and not fact.” [21:10]
  • Not every offense is your responsibility, but be sensitive to the Spirit’s conviction regarding real wounds you’ve caused.

4. The Impact of Offense and Spiritual Warfare

[31:00–38:45]

• Chronic offense is a tool of the enemy to disrupt authentic relationship with God:
  • “The enemy uses the accumulation of little things…when it's really a satanic attack to pervert the purity of your heart. Because he knows your heart is required for your assignment. The devil can't take your gifts. But if he changes your heart, you show up with your gift differently.” [28:45]
• A call to spiritual warfare: refusal to let offense infect the heart.
• Passionate declaration to the congregation to reclaim a pure heart:
  • “You want my offense to be a fence. But I'm getting ready to get a breakthrough at Change Church. You can't have my heart!” [30:13]

5. Prophetic and Pastoral Encouragement: “It’s the Last Day”

[34:00–38:57]

• Pastor and congregation declare breakthrough and freedom from past wounds and offense—“It’s the last day.”
• Encourages a shift from crying and holding on to bitterness, to praise and victory:
  • “I'm not crying anymore, I'm not worried anymore, I'm not gonna lose my mind, I'm not gonna go crazy. Why? Cause it's the last day.” [34:30]
• Repetition of the phrase “It’s the last day” affirms the break from old cycles and the arrival of spiritual freedom.

6. Closing Prayer for Heart Healing

[39:18–End]

• Pastor Daniels prays for release and healing from bitterness, offense, and heart-wounds:
  • “Father today, for unaddressed bitterness, offense, heart wounds that we're carrying. Would you be a heart surgeon in this house? And would you heal the brokenhearted. Bind up their wounds? I pray for supernatural extraction of the roots of bitterness. Come on out of there…what mama did, what the wife did, what the husband did, what church did…Would you extract every bitter root and set the hearts of your people free in Jesus’ name?” [39:18–40:16]

Notable Quotes

• On Standards:
  "Standards aren't what you want to have. Standards are what you won't live without. Standards are not arrogance. Standards are awareness that God has given me responsibility to properly steward that which he entrusted into me." — Pastor Dharius Daniels [03:10]
• On Authentic Worship:
  "God not only looks at what we are bringing in worship, God also also looks at what you're carrying in your heart. Unaddressed mess with people impacts the way you meet with God." — Pastor Dharius Daniels [20:55]
• On Reconciling with Others:
  "He is not saying you should become obsessed with trying to figure out everybody that's offended with you because some people's offense is rooted in their filter and not fact." — Pastor Dharius Daniels [21:10]
• On Spiritual Warfare and Offense:
  "The enemy uses the accumulation of little things...when it's really a satanic attack to pervert the purity of your heart. Because he knows your heart is required for your assignment. The devil can't take your gifts. But if he changes your heart, you show up with your gift differently." — Pastor Dharius Daniels [28:45]
• Prophetic Declaration:
  "It's the last day. I'm not crying anymore, I'm not worried anymore, I'm not gonna lose my mind, I'm not gonna go crazy. Why? Cause it's the last day." — Pastor Dharius Daniels [34:30]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00] — Series intro, purpose of the message, introduction to standards
• [08:30] — Cain & Abel, Saul, and Malachi: Biblical examples of God’s standards
• [19:00] — Deep dive into Matthew 5:23 & reconciliation before worship
• [22:10] — The problem of compartmentalization in faith and relationships
• [28:45] — The spiritual effect of offense and spiritual warfare
• [34:00] — “It’s the last day” declaration and collective praise
• [39:18] — Prayer for healing hearts and closing challenge

Tone and Language

Pastor Dharius Daniels delivers his message with a prophetic urgency, pastoral candor, and moments of humor and directness. He challenges listeners to reflection and action, blending practical teaching with spiritual exhortation and emotional engagement.

For Listeners

This episode is a transformative call to critically examine both your spiritual offerings to God and the state of your relationships. Pastor Daniels insists: Reconciliation and authenticity precede true celebration. If there are unresolved wounds, deal with them—get it straight before you celebrate.