1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jolan Victorium. Thanks so much for listening 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We 3 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: God bless you. It's great to be with you today, 6 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:21,440 Speaker 1: and I hope you'll stay connected with us during the 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: week to our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media. 8 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: We'll keep you encouraged and inspired. I'd like to start 9 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: with something funny, and I heard about these three aspiring psychiatrists, William, Julie, 10 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 1: and Bubba. They were taking their first test on emotional 11 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: extremes and the professor asked William, what is the opposite 12 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: of sadness? He replied happiness. The professor asked Julie what 13 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: is the opposite of depression? She replied joy. The professor 14 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: asked Bubba what is the opposite of woe? Woe? Bubba 15 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: looked kind of puzzled. After a long pause, he replied, 16 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: giddy up, all right, say it like you mean it. 17 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: Here we go. This is my Bible. I am what 18 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: it says, I am, I have what it says I have, 19 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: I can do what it says I can do today, 20 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: I will be taught the word of God. I'll boldly 21 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I 22 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 1: will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 23 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,199 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about gladly welcomed. 24 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: We have two small dogs at home. They're Shizzoos. They're 25 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: very friendly and playful, and every time they hear the 26 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 1: garage door go up someone returns home, they run to 27 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: the back door and wait. When we open the door, 28 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: they jump up on us so excited. Their tails are 29 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: wagging back and forth. It's like they hadn't seen us 30 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: in two months. We've been gone thirty minutes. Now. I 31 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: know they're just dogs, but it still warms your heart 32 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: to know that they're so glad to see you. Paul 33 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: said in Ephesians, because of our faith in Christ, we 34 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: can come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome. 35 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: Not many of us have the audacity to think that 36 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 1: God would be that happy to see us. I mean, 37 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: he's the creator of the universe. He has bigger things 38 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: to deal with. He's not concerned about me. You are 39 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: God's biggest deal. You are his most valuable possession. He 40 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 1: made you in his own image. There's nothing more important 41 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: to God than you, it says in Isaiah. He has 42 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: your picture tattooed on the palm of his hand. He 43 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: knows the number of hairs on your head. He knows 44 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: your thoughts before you think them. If you will have 45 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 1: the right image of God, knowing that he gladly welcomes you, 46 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: His face lights up when he sees you. He loves 47 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: spending time with you, hearing your concerns, knowing what you're 48 00:02:55,360 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 1: dreaming about, then you won't shrink back in fear, intimidated, unworthy. 49 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: You will go fearlessly to him. But so many people 50 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 1: have the wrong image of God. They see him as 51 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: being harsh, like he has a ball back waiting for 52 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: them to make a mistake, knock them down further. Don't 53 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: come near me, man, You've done wrong, you haven't measured up, 54 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 1: you knew better. But God is not basing his glad 55 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 1: welcome on your performance. It's not based on how perfect 56 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 1: you've lived. It's based on the fact that you're his 57 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: child because of your faith in Christ, not because of 58 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: your good works, not because you perform perfectly. It's because 59 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: of who you belong to. Ephesians one says, long before 60 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,119 Speaker 1: God made the world, he chose you to be in 61 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: him without fault. Now you may have made mistakes. You God, 62 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: of course, done things you're not proud of. We let 63 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: the accuser heap all the baggage remind us of how 64 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: unworthy we are. We don't deserve God's goodness. Look at 65 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: what you've done. You should be ashamed. You know better, 66 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: You know how God sees you without fault. How could 67 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: this be? He's already paid the price for your sins, 68 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 1: your mistakes, your failures. He sees you without fault. But 69 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: that won't do you any good if you don't see 70 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: yourself without fault, if you're down on yourself, living guilty, condemned. 71 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: Even though God will gladly welcome you, even though he's 72 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: longing to be good to you, you won't see this 73 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: goodness because you don't come fearlessly into his presence. This 74 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: all started in the garden of Eden, when Adam and 75 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: Eve ate the forbidden fruit up to them. They were happy, confident, 76 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 1: secure they knew God loved them. They went boldly into 77 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:54,919 Speaker 1: his presence, walked with God, talk with God. They received 78 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: his glad welcome. But when they disobeyed, the condemnation came. 79 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 1: The accusing voice brought fear and intimidation. The first thing 80 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: they did was run and hide. They had to get 81 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: out of God's presence. They knew they wouldn't be gladly 82 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: welcomed anymore. God came and said, Adam, where are you. 83 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: It wasn't so much about his location, it was about 84 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: his frame of mind. In the Old Testament, they had 85 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 1: to make sacrifices to cover their sins. But we're under 86 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:31,919 Speaker 1: a better covenant. The price has already been paid, it 87 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: says in Revelation. God has washed away our sins, past tense. 88 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: He's already forgiven you. You may have made mistakes. You're 89 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: not where you wanted to be. You don't feel worthy 90 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: like you deserve God's goodness. Now, like Adam, you're hiding. 91 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: God is saying, where are you. I long to be 92 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 1: with you. I have mercy for your mistakes. I have 93 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 1: forgiveness for your wrongs You've done did not stop. He 94 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: is glad welcome. The scripture says, come boldly to the 95 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: throne of grace to receive mercy. Notice to get the mercy, 96 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: you have to go boldly. You won't go boldly if 97 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: you think God is mad at you. You've made too 98 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:21,039 Speaker 1: many mistakes, You lost your temper, you ran with the 99 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: wrong crowd, you run your marriage. Mercy is available, new 100 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: beginnings are available, but it's not going to happen if 101 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: you stay down on yourself, feeling unworthy. I don't deserve 102 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: to be blessed. Get rid of that defeated mentality. God 103 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: sees you without fault. He's not holding your mistakes against you. 104 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: When you come to him, he won't say it's about time, 105 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,919 Speaker 1: I'm so disappointed. What's wrong with you? He will gladly 106 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:55,039 Speaker 1: welcome you. Maybe, like Adam, you're hiding. You can't go 107 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: to God. Every voice says, look at your failures, look 108 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 1: at your weaknesses. You don't just deserve it. If you 109 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: only knew that God is standing before you right now 110 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 1: with open arms, He's not just going to welcome you. 111 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: He's going to gladly welcome you. Why don't you come 112 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: out of hiding, come out of unworthiness, come out of condemnation, 113 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: and receive this glad welcome God. I know I'm not worthy, 114 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: but I want to thank you that you have made 115 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: me worthy. Lord. I know I have many faults, but 116 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 1: I thank you that you see me with no faults. 117 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: How do you see God as someone that will gladly 118 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: welcome you, that's looking forward to seeing you, that won't 119 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: judge you, or do you see Him as someone this 120 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: hard condemning, holding your mistakes against you. Your perception of 121 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: God will have a great impact on whether you become 122 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: all you were created to be, and sometimes religion distorts 123 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: the image of God. It can show God as being 124 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: harsh and mean when you can't measure up, use his 125 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: guilt to making you feel unworthy, to try to get 126 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: you to live right. But condemnation doesn't make you do better. 127 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: The scripture says, it is the goodness of God that 128 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: leads to repentance when you understand that God loves you unconditionally, 129 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: not if you perform perfectly, but even when you make mistakes. 130 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: He has mercy that he finds you without fault, that 131 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: he gladly welcomes you, that there's nothing more valuable, nothing 132 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: more important to him than you. Then you'll put your 133 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: shoulders back, You'll hold your head up high and step 134 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,199 Speaker 1: up to who you were created to be. Luke chapter fifteen, 135 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: a young man asked his father for his inheritance. Early 136 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: father agreed and gave him the money. The son left home, 137 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 1: went out and lived a wild life, parted all the time, 138 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: wasted his inheritance, making poor choices. The money finally ran out. 139 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: Your men had nothing to eat, nowhere to go. He 140 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 1: found a job on a farm taking care of some hogs. 141 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: He was so desperate he had to eat the hog 142 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: food to survive. He was very down on himself, ashamed, embarrassed. 143 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 1: He had no one to blame except himself. As he 144 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: was sitting in the hog pen, dirty smelly, not knowing 145 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 1: what he is going to do next, he began to 146 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:25,439 Speaker 1: think about his father. He said, even the servants at 147 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 1: my father's house live better than I do. They have 148 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: a nice place to stay, they have three meals a day, 149 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: they get paid well. He thought about how good his 150 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 1: father was, how he was even kind to the staff. 151 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 1: He remembered how he was loving, generous, merciful, compassionate. As 152 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: he contemplated who his father was, something rose up on 153 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 1: the inside, a boldness, a confidence. He said, you know what, 154 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: I'm going to arise and go back to my father. 155 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: He didn't say I'm going to go back home. He 156 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 1: didn't say I'm gonna go back to my family's house. 157 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: He said I'm going to my father. He knew everyone 158 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: may not accept him. There would be judgment from people. 159 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 1: Maybe friends would look down on him, maybe a sibling 160 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,320 Speaker 1: would say hurtful things. But he knew his father was 161 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: the key. As he made this journey back home, I 162 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 1: can hear thoughts telling him, it's not a good idea. 163 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 1: Your father's not going to receive you. Look at what 164 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: you've done, God, how dirty you are? You better turn around. 165 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: The whole time, he kept dismissing it, saying, no, I 166 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: remember who my father is. If he had the image 167 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 1: of his father being harsh, mean, judgmental, he would have 168 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 1: never come home. How you see, your heavenly father will 169 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: determine whether you want away from him or whether you 170 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 1: want to him. Now, maybe you're staying away because you 171 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:56,560 Speaker 1: have the wrong image of God. You're letting those lies play. 172 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: God won't receive you. You've blown it too many times. 173 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: You should live guilty and condemned. No, if you knew 174 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 1: who your heavenly father really is, like this young man, 175 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 1: you would arise and go to your father When he 176 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 1: got close to the house. This big moment finally came. 177 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: His heart was beating fast. He was trying to believe 178 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 1: for the best, but fear, unworthiness, guilt was playing louder 179 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: than ever can imagine. He wants to turn around, just 180 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: forget it. This wasn't a good idea. Right Then he 181 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 1: looks way off in the distance and sees someone running 182 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: toward him. He thinks, who could this be? Is there're 183 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: a problem, an emergency, someone in trouble. They get closer 184 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 1: and he realizes it's his father. He naturally thinks he's 185 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 1: coming out here to condemn me, keep me off the property. 186 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 1: When this father gets to his son, he grabs him 187 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: and hugs him with all of his mnd won't let 188 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: him go. Remember, the sun is dirty. He has hog 189 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: manure mud all over him, hadn't showered in days, smells badly, 190 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: But it doesn't stop this father. He doesn't pay any attention. 191 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: Our God will get dirty to restore you. He's a 192 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: God that comes to messy places. The dirt on your life, 193 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: the mistakes you've made, the mess it will never keep 194 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: God from coming to you. Nothing you've done is too 195 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 1: much for the mercy of God. His father told his 196 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: assistant go get the best robe and put it on 197 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: my son. Get some new shoes and put it on 198 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: his feet. And get the family ring and put it 199 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: on his finger. This means that all of his authority 200 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: as a son was restored. He went on to say, 201 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: go kill the fatted calf. We're going to have a party. 202 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: God knows how to gladly welcome you. Would have been 203 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 1: nice at the father, would have just forgiven him, Let 204 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,679 Speaker 1: him come back home, not make a big deal about it. 205 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: But notice how God doesn't just take you back. He 206 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:05,680 Speaker 1: restores you. He gives you back what you lost. This 207 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 1: is hard for us to fathom that God will be 208 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: good to us even though we've done wrong. He'll have 209 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: a party when I return. But not because I did 210 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 1: something great, not because I accomplished a gold but I 211 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:22,559 Speaker 1: blew it. I made poor choices. This is the goodness 212 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: of our God. Maybe, like this young man, you think 213 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: that God wouldn't have anything to do with you. You've gotten 214 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: off course, you've made mistakes. When the truth is God 215 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: has a robe of honor waiting for you. It's not 216 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 1: in the hog pen, it's with your father. He has 217 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: a ring of authority. He wants to not just receive 218 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 1: you back, but restore what's been taken. Restore your honor, 219 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 1: restore your reputation, restore your joy. You'll condemning yourself when 220 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 1: he has a fatted calf out in the field with 221 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: your name on it. Don't believe those lies that you'll 222 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 1: never really be happy, never be fulfilled, if you'd only 223 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: made better choices. It's time to arise and go to 224 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:10,440 Speaker 1: your father. When you do, the scripture says, you can 225 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 1: be assured of his glad welcome. Not maybe, not if 226 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: he's in a good mood. Not if you've never had 227 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: this problem before. Now you can be sure he'll be 228 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 1: there with open arms. He's waiting to celebrate your arrival. 229 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: And we feel the guilt, the condemnation, But God sees 230 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: our failures already covered. Now we have to receive the forgiveness, 231 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: receive the mercy, and see ourselves without fault. This goes 232 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: against our natural reasoning, because everything in us says, oh, man, 233 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: you're just a poor, old sinner, You're just unworthy. The 234 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: truth is, you used to be an old sinner, but 235 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: when you gave your life to Christ, you became a son, 236 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: a daughter of the most High God. He has made 237 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: you worthy. You are the righteousness of God. It's not 238 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: your righteousness, it's His righteousness. Now, don't live with the 239 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 1: weak worm of the dust mentality. I don't deserve God's 240 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 1: goodness like that prodigle. I brought the trouble on myself. 241 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: The scripture says, where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. 242 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: You didn't supersede your allotment of grace. You didn't make 243 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: a mistake so big that God ran out of mercy 244 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: instead of living condemned. Why don't you go boldly to 245 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: the throne and receive that mercy. God is waiting to 246 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: gladly welcome you. Here's the key. He won't force you 247 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 1: to come. He didn't make the prodigal son go back home. 248 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: It was the young man's choice. When you take one 249 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 1: step toward God, he comes running towards you. Only place 250 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 1: in the Bible where it shows God running was that 251 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 1: this young man that had gotten off course. God could 252 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: have come running to heal the lepers, running to teaching 253 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: the synagogue, running to the real leaders. Instead he came 254 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 1: running to someone that had made mistakes. My little dogs, 255 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,119 Speaker 1: I told you about. When I get home this afternoon, 256 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: I have no doubt they're gonna be happy to see me. 257 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: I am fully convinced they will be there with their 258 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: tails wagging, jumping up on me. What would happen if 259 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 1: we believe that God will always gladly welcome us. How 260 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: much better would we live? How much freer more secure 261 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: at peace? If we were confident that God is for us, 262 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: that he sees us without fault, that even when we 263 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: make mistakes, he's waiting with arms held open wide, ready 264 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: to restore us and get us back on track. The 265 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: enemy has worked overtime to try to convince people that 266 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: God is out to get us. He's mad at you, 267 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: He's counting your mistakes. He's about to knock you down further. 268 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: That is not our God. Don't let the wrong image 269 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: of God keep you from coming to him. The scripture says, 270 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:05,199 Speaker 1: the people who know their God will be strong and 271 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: do exploits. I believe one meaning of this is when 272 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 1: you know the character of our God, when you know 273 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 1: he's for you, when you know he gladly welcomes you, 274 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: when you know he sees you without fault, when you 275 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: know he comes running when you make mistakes, then you're 276 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 1: going to be strong and you're going to do great things. Well, Joel, 277 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:30,160 Speaker 1: when we make mistakes, I believe we should do better. Yes, 278 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:34,199 Speaker 1: I agree, But you're not a finished product. God is 279 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: still working on you, while he's changing you, while you're growing. 280 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: You have to learn to accept yourself, not beat yourself 281 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 1: up when you don't perform perfectly. What you struggle with. 282 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: The mistakes you've made are not a surprise to God. 283 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 1: He's the one that made you. You're on that potter's will. 284 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: He's continuing to mold you. Now, stay positive towards yourself. 285 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: Give yourself Gray. You can't change in your own strength. 286 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: You keep honoring God and his timing. He'll help you 287 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: to change. Think about Zachius. He was a tax collector. 288 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,480 Speaker 1: They were known for being dishonest, cheating people. He was 289 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:19,439 Speaker 1: the chief tax collector. Zakias was despised. The people in 290 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: the scripture described him as scum. It's pretty bad when 291 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: the Bible calls you scum. Jesus came passing through the town. 292 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,159 Speaker 1: Zacchias was up in a tree trying to get a 293 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: glimpse of him. Jesus stopped out Of all the people 294 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: there thousands, Jesus looked up, said Zachias come down. I 295 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 1: want to go to your house and have dinner. This 296 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 1: didn't make sense to the religious leaders. They complained, why 297 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: is he going to dinner with a notorious sinner. Religion 298 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: says you're too bad, You've made too many mistakes. Stay away, 299 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: But God says, I will gladly welcome you. I'm will 300 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:00,400 Speaker 1: come to your house for dinner. Jesus could have gone 301 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: to the mayor's house, the high priest house, to the 302 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 1: governor's house. This is showing us how God doesn't judge 303 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 1: the way people judge. If God gladly welcomes Zachias, why 304 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 1: do you think he's not going to gladly welcome you, Joel. 305 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: I made some mistakes. I still struggle with my temper. 306 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: I gave into this temptation that didn't cancel out his mercy. 307 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 1: Run to God, not away from him. Don't do like 308 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: Adam and start hiding. You can be open and honest 309 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 1: with God. He's not going to judge you. It's very 310 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:40,920 Speaker 1: powerful when you admit your dependence on him. God, I'm 311 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: struggling in this area. I can't overcome on my own. 312 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:47,360 Speaker 1: I need your help. That's when you'll feel a strength, 313 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 1: a power to do what you can't do on your own. 314 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 1: Zachias went to dinner with Jesus, but he didn't lead 315 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: the same way. He said, I'm gonna give half of 316 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: my income to the poor I have overcharged. I'm gonna 317 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:05,640 Speaker 1: give four times the amount back. Jesus said, this day 318 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 1: salvation has come to your home. Sometimes we think if 319 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 1: we berat people, tell them all they're doing wrong, make 320 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:17,679 Speaker 1: them feel guilty, then they'll change. Most people already know 321 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 1: what they're doing wrong. When they hear about a God 322 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 1: who gladly welcomes, a God that doesn't hold their faults 323 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: against them, a God that shows mercy when they deserve judgment, 324 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: then they'll change and make sure you have the right 325 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:35,160 Speaker 1: image of God. He's for you. He has a great 326 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: plan for your life. It's not focused on all your failures. 327 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 1: He has mercy for every mistake. He's waiting to gladly 328 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 1: welcome you. All you have to do is take that 329 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:51,439 Speaker 1: step toward him. No more hiding, no more living condemned, 330 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 1: feeling unworthy. Go to God with boldness and receive this mercy, says, 331 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 1: come boldly to the throne. You won't receive it if 332 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: you go around thinking I don't deserve it. I'm unworthy. 333 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,200 Speaker 1: I'm like zach Kis. I've made a lot of mistakes, 334 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: done things I'm not proud of. God is calling your 335 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: name today, saying, come down out of that tree, come 336 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: out of hiding. I want to come to your house. 337 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: I want to gladly welcome you. Will you receive this welcome? 338 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,919 Speaker 1: Will you shake off the guilt, the condemnation, the past, 339 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: and put your shoulders back and see yourself like God 340 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:34,360 Speaker 1: sees you, without fault worthy, righteous. Many times we get 341 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: our image of God from our natural father. If your 342 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: father was loving and kind, will help you to have 343 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: the right perception of God. I know people their father 344 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 1: was harsh, condescending, wasn't around much. They couldn't count on him. 345 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: Don't let that negative image distort who our heavenly Father is. 346 00:21:55,240 --> 00:22:00,959 Speaker 1: God is merciful, he's loving, He's forgiving. Victoria the great Father, 347 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 1: It's always been good to us. Jonathan was a little baby, 348 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 1: he'd come to the house and spend the night so 349 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: we could sleep, and he would take care of the baby. 350 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:13,679 Speaker 1: Victoria's very close to her father. When she was in 351 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,919 Speaker 1: her teens, she had just gotten her driver's permit and 352 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: she asked her father if she could borrow the car 353 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 1: and go to a friend's house in the neighborhood. He 354 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 1: was a little hesitant, but he finally agreed and says, yes, 355 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 1: you can take the car, as long as you go 356 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 1: straight there and come straight back home. She said, yes, sir, 357 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 1: I'll do it exactly that. Well, Victoria is not quite 358 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 1: as holy as I am. She did go straight to 359 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: her friend's house, but she picked her up and then 360 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: they decided to get on the freeway and go see 361 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 1: some other friends. The problem is she didn't put the 362 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: car in drive. She put it in low one, that 363 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:53,159 Speaker 1: gear is used for climbing. She was going down the 364 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 1: freeway barely moving, with the engine sounding like a jet airplane. 365 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: The car started smoking. Ten minutes later, the engine blew up. 366 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:05,119 Speaker 1: The car wouldn't move. She pulled over to the side 367 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,640 Speaker 1: of the freeway. The last thing most people would do 368 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:11,679 Speaker 1: would be go call your father. He's the one that 369 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 1: just told you to not get on the freeway. Not Victoria, 370 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 1: like that prodigle. She said, I will arise and go 371 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 1: to my father. She called dad. I made a mistake. 372 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:24,400 Speaker 1: I took the car out on the freeway. Something happened. 373 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:30,400 Speaker 1: Not running anymore. If her father was hard, mean, always 374 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:33,920 Speaker 1: berating her, she wouldn't have run to him. She would 375 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 1: have run from him. The reason she was bold enough 376 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:39,719 Speaker 1: to go to her father was she knew his nature. 377 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: She had seen his character through the years, loving, kind, merciful. 378 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: When you have the right image of God, even when 379 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:53,360 Speaker 1: you make mistakes, you'll go to him. Like Victoria, you're 380 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 1: assured of his glad welcome. Her father came had the 381 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: car toad. Do you know he said a word to 382 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:04,919 Speaker 1: her about it? Sometimes God will clean up a mess 383 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 1: we've made and never say a word. He doesn't condemn us, 384 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:12,159 Speaker 1: doesn't find fault, say I told you so. It's the 385 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: mercy of God. That's what happened with the prodigal son 386 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: when he returned home. The father who represents God never 387 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:23,880 Speaker 1: brought up his past. He never said, I'll take you back, 388 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 1: but you should be ashamed of yourself. I hope you 389 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:30,400 Speaker 1: learned your lesson. The father never said a word about it. 390 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 1: Sometimes we don't go to God because we already feel condemned, 391 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:37,960 Speaker 1: We already know we've done wrong. We think, oh, man, 392 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 1: here comes more judgment. He's gonna let me have it. No, 393 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: God is waiting to gladly welcome you, not to judge you, 394 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,920 Speaker 1: not to make you feel worse, but to restore you. 395 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 1: He has a robe of honor, he has a ring 396 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: of authority. When you really know who your heavenly father is, 397 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: you'll go to him with confidence, knowing that he accepts 398 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: you faults in awe, that he has mercy for your mistakes, 399 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,119 Speaker 1: that he's not in the judging business, he's in the 400 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 1: restoring business. When our son Jonathan was a little boy, 401 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 1: maybe five years old, one afternoon, I couldn't find him 402 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 1: in the house. I went looking for him everywhere. Maybe 403 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: he's upstairs in his bedroom by himself. I went there, 404 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:25,440 Speaker 1: but he wasn't there. Went to Alexander's room, nothing wasn't 405 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 1: in the playroom. Started to get a little concerned. Had 406 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 1: my weights in the garage and he'd come out when 407 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 1: I was working out, and I went out the garage. 408 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:36,919 Speaker 1: Still couldn't find it. Looked in my office in the bathroom, 409 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 1: he was nowhere. I finally went back to check my bedroom. 410 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: When I got there, the door was closed. I opened it. 411 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:49,160 Speaker 1: There was Jonathan sitting in my favorite chair, this big 412 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 1: green recliner. The chair was laid back, his feet were 413 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:56,360 Speaker 1: in the air. He was eating a popsicle watching TV. 414 00:25:56,680 --> 00:25:58,959 Speaker 1: He looked at me with a big smile and said, Daddy, 415 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:04,000 Speaker 1: this is the life as a father. That made me 416 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:07,920 Speaker 1: feel good. I love the fact that he felt so loved, 417 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: so valuable, so important that he could come and get 418 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 1: in my favorite chair. He knew I would gladly welcome him. 419 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 1: If you want to make your heavenly Father proud, get 420 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:22,120 Speaker 1: up in the green chair. Come boldly to the throne. 421 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 1: Believe that you're loved, that you're valuable, that you're worthy. 422 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:30,400 Speaker 1: Don't let a wrong image of God keep you from 423 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 1: the blessings, the favor, the joy that belongs to you. 424 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 1: God sees you without fault. He's already forgiven your sins. 425 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:42,439 Speaker 1: You can come fearlessly into his presence, assured of his 426 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:46,600 Speaker 1: glad welcome. If you'll do this, I believe and declare 427 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 1: strongholds of guilt, condemnation, unworthiness, or being broken right now. 428 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:55,880 Speaker 1: Because you know your God, You're going to be strong 429 00:26:56,240 --> 00:27:00,000 Speaker 1: and do great things in Jesus's name if you receive it, 430 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: can you say him in today? I'd like to give 431 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:06,639 Speaker 1: you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 432 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 1: Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I 433 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:16,440 Speaker 1: repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I'll make 434 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 1: you my Lord and savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, 435 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 1: we believe you got born again. Love to send you 436 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: some free information on your new walk with the Lord. 437 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:27,719 Speaker 1: You can text the number on the screen or go 438 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 1: to the website. I hope you'll get into a good 439 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:33,639 Speaker 1: Bible based church and keep God first place.