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Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 23 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 3: He'll forget about the video game you gave him on 24 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: his birthday. 25 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa, but. 26 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 3: He'll never forget how you invest it in his future 27 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 3: with the units stapp. 28 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 4: Wow, thanks Grandpa. 29 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 3: The unit stap makes it easy for grandparents and family 30 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: friends to give funds to a child's investment account for 31 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 3: a limited time. Download the uns stapp and use the 32 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 3: code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 33 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 3: fifty dollars bonus when you find your account. That's code 34 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 3: iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 35 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 3: for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 36 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 3: UNEs dot co. 37 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 4: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 38 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,759 Speaker 4: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 39 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 5: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 40 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 5: blessing and share it with. 41 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 4: A friends, reappreciate you and pray for God's very best 42 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 4: in your life. Oh God, bless you always a joy 43 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 4: to come into your homes. We love you and we 44 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 4: know God has great things in store for each one 45 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 4: of you. And if you're ever in our area, I 46 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 4: hope you'll stop by and be a part of one 47 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 4: of our services. I promise you we'll make you feel 48 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 4: right at home. But thanks for tuning in today, and 49 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 4: thanks again for coming out. I'd like to start with 50 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 4: something funny each week. And I heard about this mom. 51 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 4: She had two small boys that were known for their 52 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 4: mischievous behavior. Anytime trouble occurred, they were sure to be 53 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 4: a part of it. So she decided to take them 54 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 4: one at a time to see her pastor. The pastor 55 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 4: said to the first boy, where is God? There was 56 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 4: no reply. He said it again, where is God? He 57 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 4: sat there silently. The third time the pastor asked. The 58 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 4: boy bolted out the door, ran home and said to 59 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 4: his brother, God is missing, and they think we did it. 60 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 4: Hold your bible up, say it like you mean it. 61 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 4: This is my Bible. I am what it says. I am. 62 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 4: I have what it says I have. I can do 63 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 4: what it says I can do. Today I will be 64 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 4: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 65 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 4: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 66 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 4: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 67 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 4: to talk to you today about knowing God as a father. 68 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 4: There are many different ways that we can know God. 69 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 4: We can know him as a God that's far off, 70 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 4: way out there, untouchable somewhere in the universe. We can 71 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 4: know God in a very formal way where we have 72 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 4: this deep respect and reverential fear. Some people see God 73 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 4: as a God that's out to get them. They think 74 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 4: he's got a baseball back looking down from heaven, waiting 75 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 4: for them to make a mistake. They know God as 76 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 4: an enforcer, harsh and mean. There's a pressure that they 77 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 4: can never live up to. But that's the wrong image 78 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 4: of God. The best picture we could have of God 79 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 4: is as of a loving father. A father is someone 80 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 4: that's for you, someone that helps you overcome mistakes, someone 81 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 4: that cheers you on as you pursue your dreams, someone 82 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 4: that believes the very best in you. And many people 83 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 4: know God as their savior. That's the most important way. 84 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 4: But when you know God as a father, it takes 85 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,279 Speaker 4: on a whole new meaning. You realize he's not a 86 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 4: God that's far off. He's not out to get you. 87 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 4: He's not just there to point out what you're doing wrong. 88 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 4: He's there as a constant source of strength and encouragement. 89 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 4: He's there to lift you when you fall, to encourage 90 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 4: you when you're down, to push you forward when you 91 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 4: feel like giving up. He's the friend that sticks closer 92 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 4: than a brother. Most people get their image of God 93 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 4: from their earthly father. If you grew up without a father, 94 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 4: or maybe your father wasn't nice and kind and loving, 95 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 4: he was harsh and mean and not there when you 96 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 4: needed he, then you have to make sure you don't 97 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,799 Speaker 4: let that image taint the picture of who your heavenly 98 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:10,360 Speaker 4: father is. One time, Victoria and I got a new dog. 99 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 4: Every time I tried to get close to him, the 100 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 4: dog would run away like I was going to harm him. 101 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 4: And it's funny. He wasn't afraid of women. He would 102 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 4: go right up to Victoria. He was only afraid of men. 103 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 4: And if I did get him cornered, he would cower 104 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 4: down and look up to me like he was terrified. 105 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 4: Come to find out that dog had been mistreated by 106 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 4: a man, It had been hurt and abused. Now its 107 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 4: image of all men was harsh and unkind. He would 108 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 4: shrink back in fear. Took me several months of loving 109 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 4: him and being kind for him to finally get over that. 110 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 4: Then the same way if you were raised by a 111 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:55,679 Speaker 4: father that was harsh, judgmental, impossible to please, not caring. 112 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 4: It's very easy to have the wrong image and think 113 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:03,159 Speaker 4: that God is harsh and God's going to berate you 114 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 4: when you make a mistake, and God's going to condemn 115 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 4: you when you do wrong, and you could never measure up. Now, 116 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 4: you cannot let that image get mixed up with who 117 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 4: your heavenly father really is. I was very blessed to 118 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 4: be raised by a great earthly father. I know. That's 119 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 4: one reason that I see God as being loving, kind 120 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 4: forgiving good. It's because my father was incredibly loving and 121 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 4: kind to us children. He thought we were the greatest 122 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 4: things in the world. He would do anything for us. 123 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 4: Remember one time in the fourth grade, I was in class. 124 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 4: There was a knock on the door. This man came 125 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,359 Speaker 4: and whispered to my teacher that I needed to go 126 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 4: down to the principal's office. I thought, oh, man, wonder 127 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 4: what's wrong. I hope everything's okay. He said, Joe, your 128 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 4: dad's holding on the phone and he really needs to 129 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 4: talk to you. My heart started beating fast. I went 130 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 4: in there and said, yes, Daddy, what is it? He said, 131 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 4: Joel about to go to Red Lobster and pick up dinner. 132 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 4: Do you want French fries or tater talks with your meal? 133 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 4: I said, Daddy, you mean you called just to ask 134 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 4: me that. He said, yes, Joel, I want to make 135 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 4: sure you get exactly what you want. I thought to 136 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 4: myself later, Daddy, you need to get out more often. 137 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 4: I went back to my class and my friends were saying, 138 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 4: what's wrong, what's going on? I said, oh, nothing, I 139 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 4: just had to order some tater tots. That's the way 140 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 4: my father was. He wanted the best for his children. 141 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 4: When you know God as a father, you realize no 142 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 4: detail is too small. He's constantly watching after you, making 143 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 4: sure that you're well taken care of. Victoria and I 144 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 4: get a lot of phone calls during the day here 145 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 4: at the ministry, and unfortunately we don't have time to 146 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 4: take most of them. But there are two calls that 147 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 4: we will always take without exception. I can be in 148 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 4: the middle of an important meeting, I have a thousand 149 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 4: things left to do on my schedule, but when these 150 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 4: two people call, no matter what I'm doing or who 151 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 4: I'm with, I'm going to step aside and take that call. 152 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 4: That's our two children, Jonathan and Alexandra. They have twenty 153 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 4: four hour access. When they call, I'm going to respond. 154 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 4: That's the way it is. As God's children, you can 155 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 4: call on your heavenly Father whenever you need, and he 156 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 4: will always be there to take your call. He won't 157 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 4: put you on hold, you won't get a recording, it 158 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 4: won't get transferred to a call center overseas. As God's child, 159 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 4: you have a hotline, you have a direct access. He 160 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 4: will always stop what he's doing and be right there 161 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 4: to take your call to see what you need. I 162 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 4: have people say, well, Joel, since you're closer to God, 163 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 4: would you pray for me and talk to God about me? 164 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 4: And I appreciate their respect, but the truth is you're 165 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 4: just as much child of God is I am. You 166 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 4: don't have to go through a third party. Of course, 167 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 4: I'd love to pray for you, but you don't have 168 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 4: to come through me or your priest, or your bishop, 169 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 4: or some other saint that's already in heaven. You can 170 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:18,840 Speaker 4: go directly to God for yourself. You've got that hotline. 171 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 4: God will always take your call. When my children call 172 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 4: during the day and I see their name come up 173 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 4: on the caller, I d something on the inside comes alive. 174 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 4: I smile before I even talk. They bring joy to 175 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 4: my spirit. In the same way, when God sees your 176 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 4: name come across his phone, so to speak, you bring 177 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 4: a smile to his face. He says, Wow, that's my son, 178 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 4: that's my daughter. Wonder what they want to talk about. 179 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 4: And some of you today you have this deep respect 180 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 4: and a reverential fear of God. And that's good. But 181 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 4: you're in such awe that you don't realize this majestic God, 182 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 4: this King of king, this awesome creator, he's your heavenly father. 183 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 4: He longs to hear from you. That's why when Jesus 184 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 4: taught us how to pray in the Lord's Prayer, he 185 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 4: didn't say started off by saying King of Kings and 186 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 4: Lord of Lords or old, great, Holy, majestic creator of 187 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 4: the universe. Now, Jesus said, when you pray, address God 188 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 4: like this our father, which art in heaven. He wanted 189 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 4: us to see God not as this all powerful, untouchable, 190 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 4: awesome creator, which he is. But he wanted us to 191 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 4: have an image of God as a loving father, as 192 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 4: someone right there close to us, someone that would listen 193 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 4: to what we have to say someone that guides us 194 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 4: through our life. A while back, I had an opportunity 195 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 4: to pray at a very important event. There were several 196 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,319 Speaker 4: other religious leaders there to pray, and one man prayed 197 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:01,199 Speaker 4: in the King James version of the Bible in Old English, 198 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 4: to THEE, O, Lord, our Maker, doth we bow down 199 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 4: before thee today? Very beautiful prayer. Another man prayed all 200 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:13,319 Speaker 4: in Latin, quoted scripture in another language. First I thought 201 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:17,679 Speaker 4: he was speaking in tongues. It was very formal, very reverential. 202 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 4: But I've learned you just got to be yourself. When 203 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 4: I stepped up to pray, I simply said, Heavenly Father, 204 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 4: we love you today. There's something about addressing God as 205 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:33,479 Speaker 4: a father when you know, deep down, this great Creator, 206 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 4: this King James God, this Latin God, the same God 207 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 4: that they're addressing, he's your father. When you see God 208 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 4: as a father, it's easy to talk to him. It's 209 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 4: easy to expect good things. It's easy to accept his 210 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:52,960 Speaker 4: forgiveness and his mercy. When you know God as a father, 211 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 4: you'll be strong and confident. You know your father controls 212 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 4: the universe. You know your father is concerned about every detail. 213 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 4: You know your father will always take your call. You know, 214 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 4: your father is incredibly proud of you. I used to 215 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 4: travel with my dad, and everywhere we would go, he 216 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 4: would brag on me. He couldn't wait to find someone 217 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 4: new that he could introduce me to. He would say, 218 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 4: do you know my son Joel, He is the most 219 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 4: fantastic television producer. He would go on and on telling 220 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 4: them how smart and great and talented that he thought 221 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 4: I was so much so that it would embarrass me, 222 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,680 Speaker 4: but he was so proud of me. He wanted to 223 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 4: show me off. Now, as a father, I know exactly 224 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 4: how he feels. The other day, after service, we saw 225 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 4: some friends that we haven't seen in a long time. 226 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 4: The first thought that came to my mind was, somebody 227 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 4: go find our children. They haven't seen our kids in 228 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 4: several years. And I didn't say it, but I thought, 229 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 4: they've got to see how awesome our children are. They 230 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,479 Speaker 4: got to see Alexander, she's gotten tall, she's a knockout. 231 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 4: They got to see our son Jonathan. He's almost as 232 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 4: good looking as I am now. But my point is 233 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 4: I could not wait to show them off. Let me 234 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 4: tell you that's how God feels about you. He loves 235 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 4: showing you off. He's incredibly proud of you. Now, don't 236 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 4: you dare drag through life beaten down. Don't listen to 237 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 4: the negative things people are saying about you. Don't let 238 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 4: your own thoughts, your own mistakes, convince you that you're 239 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 4: all washed up. Listen, you have been fearfully and wonderfully 240 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:40,679 Speaker 4: made your heavenly father, the one that breathed his life 241 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 4: into you, the one that gave you your gifts, your personality, 242 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 4: your smile. When he looks at you, he stands in amazement. 243 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 4: He calls you his masterpiece. I love what God said 244 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 4: about Job. Have you seen my servant Job? There's none 245 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 4: like him in all the land. Noticed God was bragging 246 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 4: on one of his children. If God were standing here today, 247 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:07,679 Speaker 4: he would say the same thing about each one of you. 248 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 4: Have you seen my son William. He's amazing. There's nobody 249 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 4: like him. Have you seen my daughter Judy? She is 250 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 4: so beautiful. I'm incredibly proud of her. Have you seen 251 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 4: my son Ramon? When I think of him, my world 252 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 4: lights up. See, many people have never seen God as 253 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 4: being proud of them because they don't know God as 254 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 4: a father. They know him as a savior. They know 255 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 4: their sins are forgiven. They know him as the King 256 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 4: of kings, sitting on the throne. Let's bow down in worship. 257 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 4: And that's good. But God is saying, I want you 258 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 4: to take it one step further and get to know 259 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 4: me as a father. I want you to know when 260 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 4: I see you, you bring a smile to my face. 261 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 4: I see each one of you as one of my 262 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 4: favorite children. Have you ever noticed how as parents we 263 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 4: all think our children are the smartest, the greatest, the fastest, 264 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 4: the most talented, the most beautiful. I've had parents bring 265 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 4: up their newborn babies so proud, beaming with joy to 266 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 4: show them off. They said, Joel, look how beautiful she is. 267 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 4: Look how cute he is. And I say this very respectfully, 268 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 4: But that baby can be as homely as can be, 269 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 4: skin all dried up, head not proportioned it yet, drool 270 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 4: coming out of his mouth doesn't matter. Those parents think 271 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 4: it's the most beautiful baby that's ever been born. Why 272 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 4: is that? Here's why parents see their own children differently 273 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 4: than other people do. Can I tell you your heavenly 274 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 4: father is crazy about you. He thinks you're amazing. He 275 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 4: loved showing you all. I remember when our son Jonathan 276 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 4: was just a toddler, maybe two years old. We bought 277 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 4: him this Batman book that he really loved, and we'd 278 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 4: read it to him again and again all through the day. 279 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 4: About a week later, or I came home and he 280 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 4: was sitting on the couch by himself with that book. 281 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 4: I was going to sit down and read it with him, 282 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 4: but he opened up the book, turned to the first page, 283 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 4: and he pointed to the words and he started reading 284 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 4: it word for word. My eyes got this big. He 285 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 4: turned to the next page, pointed it and read it 286 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 4: word for word. I thought, my goodness. I knew he 287 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 4: was smart, but this kid is a total genius. I 288 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 4: called Victoria, I said, come in here. He's two years old. 289 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 4: He's already reading. He went to the next page, the next, 290 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 4: the next, read it word for word. But at one 291 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 4: point he looked up at us and he quoted it 292 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 4: exactly what was on the page. I suddenly realized he 293 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 4: wasn't reading, he had it all memorized. I was so disappointed. 294 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 4: I thought he was the smartest child in all the world. 295 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 4: That's the way your heavenly father feels about you. Hey, 296 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 4: you said, y'all, No, God couldn't see me that way. 297 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 4: I've made mistakes, I've lived, I've got some bad habits. Listen, 298 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 4: my children aren't perfect. They've made mistakes, but nothing they've 299 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 4: ever done for one moment, has changed the way I 300 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 4: feel about them. I may not always be proud of 301 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 4: their actions, but I am always proud of them. Now 302 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 4: as a parent, I will naturally have more mercy on 303 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 4: my own children. I'll take up for them. I won't 304 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,199 Speaker 4: condemn them. I will forgive them and help them to 305 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 4: do better next time. Now, other people, when you make mistakes, 306 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 4: they may beat you down. Friends and family members may 307 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 4: judge you and try to make you feel guilty. A 308 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 4: coworker may be harsh on you because you've made some 309 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:45,160 Speaker 4: kind of mistake. But your heavenly father will always see 310 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 4: you in a different life. He'll be more merciful, understanding, forgiving, loving, 311 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:54,959 Speaker 4: Why because you're his own child. I grew up watching 312 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 4: doctor Charles Stanley on television. He's a great pastor, a 313 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 4: great Bible teacher. I know his son, Andy. He pastors 314 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:05,640 Speaker 4: north Point Community Church in Atlanta, and he's a fantastic 315 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 4: minister as well. Andy told how when he was growing 316 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:12,120 Speaker 4: up in his teens, he would go to his father's 317 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:15,199 Speaker 4: church on Sunday mornings, but when his dad got up 318 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,959 Speaker 4: to minister, he and his friends would sneak out and 319 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:22,159 Speaker 4: go across the street to the donut shop. There was 320 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 4: a television there and they would switch it on to 321 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,919 Speaker 4: his dad's channel. The service of his dad's was carried 322 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 4: live on television that way, when his father asked him 323 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,400 Speaker 4: what the sermon was about, he would know. He saw 324 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 4: it in the donut shop. One day a staff member 325 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 4: saw him in there. He went to doctor Stanley huffing 326 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 4: and puffing and told him how his son was skipping 327 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 4: church and that was very wrong, and he needed to 328 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 4: set a better example, and on and on all these 329 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 4: ways how he needed to correct him. Doctor Stanley looked 330 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 4: him in the eyes and said, do me a favor. 331 00:18:56,440 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 4: You raise your son, and I'll raise my son. See 332 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 4: fathers see their own children in a different light. That 333 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 4: man wanted him to chew his son out, and wanted 334 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 4: him to read him the Riot Act. But doctor Stanley 335 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 4: was much more loving, much more understanding, much more forgiving, 336 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 4: because it was his own son. It's the same way 337 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:22,479 Speaker 4: with our heavenly father when we make mistakes so often 338 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 4: people judge us, put you down, tell you don't deserve 339 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 4: anything good. You should have known better. Thank God, our 340 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 4: heavenly Father, he doesn't see us in that same life. 341 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 4: I'm not saying this is an excuse to live sloppy 342 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 4: and not have integrity and not be disciplined. But I 343 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 4: am saying that we're all going to make mistakes. We're 344 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 4: all human. Many people are living guilty, condemned, beaten down 345 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 4: by life because they're constantly listening to the accusing voices 346 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 4: reminding them of everything that they've done wrong. You've got 347 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 4: to know you Heavenly Father does not judge like other 348 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:07,440 Speaker 4: people judge. He sees the wrong. But like doctor Stanley, 349 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 4: he's not going to give you what you deserve. He's 350 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,880 Speaker 4: going to show you mercy because you're his child. When 351 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:17,120 Speaker 4: we make mistakes. Three main things that we need to do. 352 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 4: Number one, ask for forgiveness. Number two, receive God's mercy, 353 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 4: and number three move forward with your life, let it 354 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 4: go and press ahead. Some of you are still beating 355 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 4: yourself down over something that you did five years ago. 356 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 4: You've asked God to forgive you a thousand times, but 357 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 4: you can't let it go. You're living depressed, defeated, feeling unworthy, 358 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,359 Speaker 4: trying to show God that you're sorry, trying to pay 359 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 4: God back. Listen, the price has already been paid. The 360 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,679 Speaker 4: first time you ask God to forgive you, he forgave you. 361 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:56,679 Speaker 4: Now you've got to receive God's mercy and press ahead. Listen, 362 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:01,159 Speaker 4: that mistake did not change your name. My children have 363 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 4: never once gotten up in the morning as an osteem 364 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,639 Speaker 4: and then done something wrong and gone to bed that 365 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:11,160 Speaker 4: night with a different last name. No matter what they did, 366 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 4: they're still my children. You may have made mistakes, done 367 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:17,919 Speaker 4: something you're not proud of, you need to know you 368 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,159 Speaker 4: are still your father's child. You are still the apple 369 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,400 Speaker 4: of God's eye. You are still his most prized possession. 370 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 4: And God may not be pleased with every action, but 371 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 4: he's still pleased with you. He's still pleased that you're 372 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 4: in the game. He's pleased that you're here today. You're watching. 373 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 4: One of the greatest examples of God as a father 374 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,199 Speaker 4: can be seen in the parable Jesus told of the 375 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 4: prodigal Son. The young man left home, wasted all of 376 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,639 Speaker 4: his money, living a wild life. He ended up living 377 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 4: in the hog pen at his lowest moment, he thought, Man, 378 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:56,440 Speaker 4: even the servants at my father's house live better than 379 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 4: I do, So I will arise and go to my father. 380 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 4: When you make a mistake, the best decision you can 381 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 4: follow it up with is to not run away from God. 382 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:10,400 Speaker 4: But do like this young man and say, I will 383 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 4: arise and go to my father. When this father saw 384 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 4: the son a long way off, he took off running 385 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 4: down the road toward his son. He gave him a 386 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:23,880 Speaker 4: big hug, said to the staff, bring the best road, 387 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 4: kill the fatted calf. We're going to have a party. 388 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 4: My son has come back home. The only picture of 389 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:34,200 Speaker 4: God running in the Bible is where he's running as 390 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 4: a father to one of his children in need. And 391 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 4: sometimes when we make mistakes, religion will beat us down. 392 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 4: You don't deserve anything good. You blew it, sit on 393 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 4: the sidelines of life. Nothing good is in store for you. 394 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:52,679 Speaker 4: Please don't believe those lies. If you'll dare, do like 395 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 4: this young man and take one step toward your heavenly father, 396 00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 4: he'll come running towards you with his arms held open 397 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,400 Speaker 4: and wide. He'll receive you back. He'll restore you, give 398 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 4: you a new beginning. God can even make the rest 399 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 4: of your life better than the first part. But a 400 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 4: lot of times when we make mistakes like this young man, 401 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 4: we bring trouble on ourselves. We think, oh, I can't 402 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:20,159 Speaker 4: ask God to help me. I'd be a hypocrite. I 403 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:22,640 Speaker 4: knew it was wrong, I knew I shouldn't do it, 404 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 4: but I did it anyway. No way, God is going 405 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 4: to help me out of this mess. Now, think of 406 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 4: it like this. When our son Jonathan was about five 407 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 4: years old, we had a big oak tree in the 408 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 4: backyard that he loved to climb. This tree had some 409 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:40,879 Speaker 4: low branches, maybe six or eight feet off the ground. 410 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 4: But I told him, Jonathan, don't ever climb the tree 411 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 4: without me being here, because you could fall off and 412 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 4: really get hurt. Imagine one day I'm in my bedroom 413 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:53,639 Speaker 4: and I hear these screams coming from the backyard. I 414 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 4: look out there, and sure enough, Jonathan is hanging from 415 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 4: that tree, holding on for dear life, about to fall 416 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 4: and get hurt. He's saying, Daddy, Daddy, please come and 417 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 4: help me. What kind of father would I be if 418 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 4: I said, hang on, Jonathan, let me check and see 419 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 4: if you've done your chores. Victoria, has Jonathan cleaned his 420 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:16,439 Speaker 4: room lately, Daddy, please, I'm about to fall hert just 421 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 4: a second. Has he been nice to his sister lately? No, 422 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:22,240 Speaker 4: you know as well as I do. We would run 423 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 4: out there as fast as we could to help that 424 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,919 Speaker 4: child get down. It's the same way with God. You 425 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 4: may have made the mess, you may have brought the 426 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 4: trouble on yourself. The good news is your heavenly Father 427 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,360 Speaker 4: is not going to leave you out their hand if 428 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 4: you will call to him, if you will call out 429 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 4: to him knowing that he's not just your God, he's 430 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 4: not just your creator. He's more than that. He's your 431 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,880 Speaker 4: father when you ask him. The scripture talks about how 432 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 4: God will help you without finding fault. A lot of 433 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 4: people they're living guilty, condemned. They go around they don't 434 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 4: think they they deserve God's goodness. It's because they know 435 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 4: God as God, but they don't know him as a father. 436 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 4: If you'll start to see Him as a father, then 437 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 4: when you make mistakes, you won't run away from God. 438 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 4: You will run to God. Victoria has a fantastic father. 439 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 4: He's one of the kindest, most generous people that I've 440 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 4: ever known. When Victoria was a teenager, she asked if 441 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 4: she could borrow the car and go to a friend's 442 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:30,680 Speaker 4: house in the neighborhood. He said, yes, you can, as 443 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 4: long as you'll go directly there and come directly back home. Well, 444 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 4: Victoria was not quite as holy as I was growing up. 445 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:43,960 Speaker 4: Of course I never did anything wrong. But Victoria did 446 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 4: go directly to her friend's house. But when she got there, 447 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 4: she thought, since we have the car, we might as 448 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 4: well go out and drive on the freeway a little while. 449 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,359 Speaker 4: The Only problem is when she went to put the 450 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:58,879 Speaker 4: car in gear instead of putting it in drive, she 451 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 4: accidentally put it in low one, which is basically first 452 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 4: or second gear. It's for climbing steep grades. So she's 453 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,200 Speaker 4: out there on the freeway trying to go fifty miles 454 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 4: an hour in first gear. The engine is screaming like 455 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 4: a race car. She's wondering why it won't go any faster. 456 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:19,119 Speaker 4: It begins to smoke. About fifteen minutes later, the engine 457 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:22,639 Speaker 4: blows up. The car dies, the engine's ruined. She's sitting 458 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 4: on the side of the freeway. Most people in that situation, 459 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:29,320 Speaker 4: the last thing they would do would go call their father. 460 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 4: But not Victoria. She said, like the prodigal I would 461 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:36,879 Speaker 4: arise and go to my father. She said, Dad, I 462 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:39,240 Speaker 4: blew it. I'm sorry forgive me, but I went out 463 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:41,399 Speaker 4: on the freeway and something happened to the car and 464 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 4: it won't run anymore now. If her father years before 465 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:49,200 Speaker 4: would have been mean and harsh and judgment, always beating 466 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 4: her down, she would have run away from him instead 467 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:55,920 Speaker 4: of running to him. The reason people live guilty, they 468 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 4: think God's mad at them, and they give up on life, 469 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:01,439 Speaker 4: give up on their dreams, is because they have the 470 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,879 Speaker 4: wrong image of God. It was easy for Victoria because 471 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 4: her father is so loving and kind. Her father came 472 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 4: and picked her up, had the car toad, and do 473 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 4: you know he never said a word to her about 474 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:18,399 Speaker 4: that situation. That's the mercy of a father. Sometimes we 475 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 4: learn our lesson without God ever having to say a word. 476 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 4: And yes God can bring correction, Yes he can bring discipline. 477 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:29,400 Speaker 4: But God doesn't harp on us. God doesn't beray us, 478 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,919 Speaker 4: God doesn't nag on us. Those are the voices of 479 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 4: the accuser, trying to keep us from moving forward. When 480 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:40,600 Speaker 4: you make mistakes, God stands before you with his arms 481 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 4: held open wide. He says, come on back home. I've 482 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:46,760 Speaker 4: already forgiven you. You may have made the mess, but 483 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 4: I'm gonna help you clean it up. Go get the 484 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 4: best row, get a ring for their finger, get shoes 485 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:53,919 Speaker 4: for their feet. We're gonna have a party because my 486 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:57,679 Speaker 4: child has come back home. Many of us today we 487 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:01,120 Speaker 4: know God as a savior, know God as the king 488 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:04,159 Speaker 4: of kings, and that's great. But my prayer is that 489 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:07,359 Speaker 4: we'll begin to know God better as a father. If 490 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 4: you didn't have a good father growing up, don't let 491 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 4: that taint the image of who your heavenly father is. 492 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:17,679 Speaker 4: He's merciful, he's forgiving, he's loving, and he's incredibly proud 493 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:20,679 Speaker 4: of you. He loves showing you off. He thinks that 494 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 4: you're amazing. Remember you don't have to go through anybody 495 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:27,640 Speaker 4: else to talk to God. You have a direct line. 496 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 4: Your heavenly Father will always take your call. If you 497 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:34,119 Speaker 4: will begin to see God as a father, then you 498 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:38,240 Speaker 4: won't live life guilty, condemned, feeling like you don't measure up. No, 499 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 4: you'll be strong, confident, secure, and I believe in declare 500 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:44,959 Speaker 4: you will become everything He's created you to be, and 501 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,480 Speaker 4: you will live that life of victory that he has 502 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 4: in store. Amen, do you receive it today? But we 503 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:54,200 Speaker 4: never like to close our broadcast without giving you an 504 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 4: opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. Would 505 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 4: you pray with me? Just say Lord, j Jesus, I'll 506 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:06,480 Speaker 4: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 507 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:10,040 Speaker 4: you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 508 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 4: simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 509 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 4: a good Bible based church, Keep God first place. He's 510 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 4: going to take your places that you've never dreamed of. 511 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 5: Thank you for listening to the Joel Oustine podcast. Help 512 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:24,840 Speaker 5: us continue to share the message of hope with those 513 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 5: all over the world. Visit joelostin dot com slash give 514 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 5: Hope to give a gift today. 515 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 516 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 4: you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 517 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:41,480 Speaker 4: keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 518 00:29:41,640 --> 00:29:44,080 Speaker 4: I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 519 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 4: next time.