1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 4 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 6 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: today and where your money can work harder. Now you 7 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 8 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 9 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 11 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 12 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: legal or tax advice. 13 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 14 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 2: can do more than take classes. You can take charge 15 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 2: of your story, of your career, of your life. Earn 16 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 2: a degree you can be proud of, and get an 17 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 2: education employer's respect. It's time, your time, not just to 18 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: go back to school, but to come back and move 19 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 2: forward with Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. 20 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 21 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 3: Paul said in Ephesians, because of our faith in Christ, 22 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 3: we can come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his 23 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 3: glad welcome. Not many of us have the audacity to 24 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 3: think that God would be that happy to see us. 25 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 4: I mean, he's the creator of the universe. He has 26 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 4: bigger things to deal with. 27 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 3: He's not concerned about me or You are God's biggest deal. 28 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 3: You are his most valuable possession. He made you in 29 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 3: his own image. There's nothing more important to. 30 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 5: God than you. 31 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 3: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 32 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,759 Speaker 3: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 33 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 5: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 34 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 5: blessing and share it with a friend. We appreciate you 35 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 5: and pray for God's very best in your life. God 36 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 5: bless you. 37 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 3: It's great to be with you today, and I hope 38 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 3: you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 39 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 3: daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media. We'll keep it 40 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 3: encouraged and inspired. I'd like to start with something funny 41 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 3: and I heard about these three aspiring psychiatrists, William, Julie 42 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 3: and Bubba. They were taking their first test on emotional extremes. 43 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 3: The professor asked William, what is the opposite of sadness? 44 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:13,799 Speaker 5: He replied, happiness. 45 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 3: The professor asked Julie, what is the opposite of depression? 46 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 5: She replied joy. 47 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 3: The professor asked Bubba, what is the opposite of woe? 48 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 5: Woe? 49 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 3: Bubba looked kind of puzzled, and after a long pause, 50 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 3: he replied, giddy up. 51 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,359 Speaker 5: All right, say it like you mean it. Here we go. 52 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 5: This is my Bible. I am what it says. I am. 53 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 3: I have what it says I have. I can do 54 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 3: what it says I can do. Today I will be 55 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 3: taught the word of God. I'll boldly confess. My mind 56 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 3: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 57 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 3: the same. In Jesus's name. 58 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 5: God bless you. 59 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:56,119 Speaker 3: I want to talk to you today about gladly welcomed. 60 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 5: We have two small dogs at home. They're Shizzoos. 61 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 3: They're very friendly and playful, and every time they hear 62 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 3: the garage door go up someone returns home, they run 63 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 3: to the back door and wait. When we open the door, 64 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 3: they jump up on us so excited. Their tails are 65 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 3: wagging back and forth. It's like they hadn't seen us 66 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 3: in two months. 67 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 5: We've been gone thirty minutes. Now. 68 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 3: I know they're just dogs, but it still warms your 69 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 3: heart to know that they're so glad to see you, Paul. 70 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 5: Said in Ephesians. 71 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 3: Because of our faith in Christ, we can come fearlessly 72 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 3: into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome. 73 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 5: Not many of. 74 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 3: Us have the audacity to think that God would be 75 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 3: that happy to see us. 76 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 4: I mean, he's the creator of the universe. He has 77 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 4: bigger things to deal with. He's not concerned about me. 78 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 4: You are God's biggest deal. You are his most valuable possession. 79 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 4: He made you in his own image. There's nothing more 80 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 4: important to God than you, it says in Isaiah. He 81 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 4: has your picture tattooed on the palm of his hand. 82 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 4: He knows the number of hairs on your head. He 83 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 4: knows your thoughts before you think them. 84 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 3: If you will have the right image of God, knowing 85 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 3: that he gladly welcomes you, his face lights up when 86 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 3: he sees you. He loves spending time with you, hearing 87 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 3: your concerns, knowing what you're dreaming about, then you won't 88 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 3: shrink back in fear, intimidated, unworthy. 89 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 5: You will go fearlessly to him. But so many people 90 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 5: have the wrong image of God. They see him as 91 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 5: being harsh. 92 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 3: Like he has a ball back waiting for them to 93 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 3: make a mistake, knock them down further. 94 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 5: Don't come near me. 95 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 3: Man, you've done wrong, you haven't measured up, you knew better. 96 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 3: But God is not basing his glad welcome on your performance. 97 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 5: It's not based on how perfect you've lived. 98 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:59,479 Speaker 3: It's based on the fact that you're his child because 99 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 3: of your faith in Christ, not because of your good works, 100 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 3: not because you perform perfectly. It's because of who you 101 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 3: belong to. If Esians one says, long before God made 102 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 3: the world, he chose you to be in Him without fault. 103 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 3: Now you may have made mistakes. You God, of course 104 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 3: done things you're not proud of. We let the accuser 105 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 3: heap all the baggage remind us of how unworthy we are, 106 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 3: how we don't deserve God's goodness. Look at what you've done. 107 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 3: You should be ashamed. 108 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 5: You know better, You know how God sees you without fault. 109 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 5: How could this be? 110 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 3: He's already paid the price for your sins, your mistakes, 111 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 3: your failures. 112 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 5: He sees you without fault. 113 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 3: But that won't do you any good if you don't 114 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 3: see yourself without fault, if you're down on yourself, living guilty, condemned, 115 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 3: even though God will gladly welcome you, even though he's 116 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 3: longing to be good to you. You won't see this 117 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 3: goodness because you don't come fearlessly into his presence. This 118 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 3: all started in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and 119 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 3: Eve ate the forbidden fruit. 120 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 5: Up to then, they were happy, confident, secure. They knew 121 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 5: God loved them. 122 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 3: They went boldly into his presence, walked with God, talk 123 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 3: with God. They received his glad welcome, but when they disobeyed, 124 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 3: the condemnation came. The accusing voice brought fear and intimidation. 125 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 3: The first thing they did was run and hide. They 126 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 3: had to get out of God's presence. They knew they 127 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 3: wouldn't be gladly welcomed anymore. God came and said, Adam, 128 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 3: where are you. It wasn't so much about his location, 129 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 3: it was about his. 130 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 5: Frame of mind. 131 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 3: In the Old Testament, they had to make sacrifices to 132 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:58,359 Speaker 3: cover their sins. But we're under a better covenant. The 133 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 3: price has already been paid, it says in Revelation. God 134 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 3: has washed away our sins past tense. He's already forgiven you. 135 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 3: You may have made mistakes, You're not where you wanted 136 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 3: to be. You don't feel worthy like you deserve God's goodness. Now, 137 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 3: like Adam, you're hiding. God is saying, where are you? 138 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 3: I long to be with you. I have mercy for 139 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 3: your mistakes. I have forgiveness for your wrongs. What you've 140 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 3: done did not stop. 141 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 5: He is glad welcome. The scripture says, come boldly to 142 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 5: the throne of grace. 143 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 3: To receive mercy. Notice to get the mercy, you have 144 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 3: to go boldly. 145 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 5: You won't go boldly if you think God is mad 146 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 5: at you. 147 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 3: You've made too many mistakes, You lost your temper, you 148 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:53,239 Speaker 3: ran with the wrong crowd, you run your marriage. Mercy 149 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 3: is available, new beginnings are available, but it's not going 150 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 3: to happen if you stay down on yourself, feeling unworthy. 151 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 3: I don't deserve to be blessed. Get rid of that 152 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 3: defeated mentality. God sees you without fault. He's not holding 153 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 3: your mistakes against you. When you come to him, he 154 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 3: won't say it's about time. 155 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 5: I'm so disappointed. What's wrong with you? He will gladly 156 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 5: welcome you. 157 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 3: Maybe, like Adam, you're hiding, thinking you can't go to God. 158 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 3: Every voice says, look at your failures, look at your weaknesses. 159 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 3: You don't deserve it if you only knew that God 160 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 3: is standing before you right. 161 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 5: Now with open arms. 162 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 3: He's not just going to welcome you, He's going to 163 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 3: gladly welcome you. Why don't you come out of hiding, 164 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 3: come out of unworthiness, come out of condemnation, and receive 165 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 3: this glad welcome God. I know I'm not worthy, but 166 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 3: I want to thank you that you have made me worthy. 167 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 5: Lord. I know I have many faults, but I thank 168 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 5: you that you see me with no faults. 169 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 3: How do you see God as someone that will gladly 170 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:05,079 Speaker 3: welcome you, that's looking forward to seeing you, that won't 171 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 3: judge you, or do you see him as someone that's 172 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 3: hard condemning, holding your mistakes against you. Your perception of 173 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 3: God will have a great impact on whether you become 174 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 3: all you were created to be, and sometimes religion distorts 175 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 3: the image of God. It can show God as being 176 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,439 Speaker 3: harsh and mean when you can't measure up, use his 177 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 3: guilt and making you feel unworthy to try to get 178 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 3: you to live right. But condemnation doesn't make you do better. 179 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 3: The scripture says it is the goodness of God that 180 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 3: leads to repentance when you understand that God loves you unconditionally, 181 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 3: not if you perform perfectly, but even when you make mistakes. 182 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 3: He has mercy that he finds you without fault, that 183 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 3: he gladly welcomes you. That there's nothing more valuable, nothing 184 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 3: more important to him than you. Then you'll put your 185 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 3: shoulders back, you'll hold your head up high and step 186 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 3: up to who you were created to be. 187 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:08,079 Speaker 5: Luke, Chapter fifteen. 188 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 3: A young man asked his father for his inheritance. Early 189 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 3: father agreed and gave him the money. The son left 190 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 3: home and went out and lived a wild life. Parted 191 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 3: all the time, wasted his inheritance, making poor choices. The 192 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,079 Speaker 3: money finally ran out. Young men had nothing to eat, 193 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 3: nowhere to go. He found a job on a farm 194 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 3: taking care of some hogs. He was so desperate he 195 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 3: had to eat the hog food to survive. He was 196 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 3: very down on himself, ashamed, embarrassed. He had no one 197 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 3: to blame except himself. As he was sitting in the 198 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 3: hog pen, dirty smelly, not knowing what he is going 199 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 3: to do next, he began to think about his father. 200 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,599 Speaker 3: He said, even the servants at my father's house the 201 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 3: better than I do. They have a nice place to stay, 202 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:01,559 Speaker 3: they have three meals a day, they get paid well. 203 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 3: He thought about how good his father was, how he 204 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 3: was even kind to the staff. He remembered how he 205 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 3: was loving, generous, merciful, compassionate. As he contemplated who his 206 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,319 Speaker 3: father was, something rose up on. 207 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,200 Speaker 5: The inside, a boldness, a confidence. 208 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 3: He said, you know what, I'm gonna arise and go 209 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 3: back to my father. He didn't say I'm gonna go 210 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 3: back home. He didn't say I'm gonna go back to 211 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 3: my family's house. He said I'm going to my father. 212 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 3: He knew everyone may not accept him. There would be 213 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 3: judgment from people. Maybe friends would look down on him, 214 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 3: maybe a sibling would say hurtful things. 215 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,679 Speaker 5: But he knew his father was the key. 216 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,319 Speaker 3: As he made this journey back home, I can hear 217 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 3: thoughts telling him, it's not a good idea. 218 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 5: Your father's not going to receive you. Look at what 219 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 5: you've done good? How dirty you are? 220 00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 3: You better turn around the Whole time he kept dismissing it, saying, no, 221 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 3: I remember who my father is. If he had the 222 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 3: image of his father being harsh, mean, judgmental, he would 223 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 3: have never come home. How you see your heavenly father 224 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 3: will determine whether you want away from him or whether 225 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 3: you won to him. Now, maybe you're staying away because 226 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 3: you have the wrong image of God. You're letting those 227 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 3: lies play. God won't receive you. You've blown it too 228 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 3: many times. You should live guilty and condemned. No, if 229 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 3: you knew who your heavenly father really is, like this 230 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 3: young man, you would arise and go to your father. 231 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 3: When he got close to the house, this big moment 232 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 3: finally came. 233 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:45,199 Speaker 5: His heart was beating fast. 234 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 3: He was trying to believe for the best, but fear, unworthiness, 235 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 3: guilt was playing louder than ever can imagine. 236 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 5: He wants to turn around, just forget it. This wasn't 237 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 5: a good idea. 238 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 3: Right Then he looks way off in the distance and 239 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 3: sees someone running toward him. 240 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:04,680 Speaker 5: He thinks, who could this be? 241 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 3: Is there a problem, an emergency, someone in trouble. They 242 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 3: get closer and he realizes it's his father. He naturally 243 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 3: thinks he's coming out here to condemn me, keep me 244 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 3: off the property. When this father gets to his son, 245 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 3: he grabs him and hugs him. 246 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 5: With all of his mind. Won't let him go. Remember, 247 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 5: the sun is dirty. 248 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,959 Speaker 3: He has hog feed manure mud all over him, hadn't 249 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 3: showered in days. Smells badly, but it doesn't stop this father. 250 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 5: He doesn't pay any attention. Our God will get dirty 251 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 5: to restore you. 252 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:45,959 Speaker 3: He's a God that comes to messy places. The dirt 253 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 3: on your life, the mistakes you've made, the mess it 254 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:51,320 Speaker 3: will never keep God from. 255 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 5: Coming to you. 256 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 3: Nothing you've done is too much for the mercy of God. 257 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 3: His father told his assistant, go get the best robe 258 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 3: and put it on my son. Get some new shoes 259 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 3: and put it on his feet. And get the family 260 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 3: ring and put it on his finger. This means that 261 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 3: all of his authority as a son was restored. He 262 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 3: went on to say, go kill the fatted calf. We're 263 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 3: going to have a party. God knows how to gladly 264 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 3: welcome you. Would have been nice at the father would 265 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 3: have just forgiven him, let him come back home, not 266 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 3: make a big deal about it. 267 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 5: But notice how God doesn't just take you back. He 268 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 5: restores you. He gives you back what you lost. 269 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 3: This is hard for us to fathom that God will 270 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 3: be good to us even though we've done wrong. He'll 271 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 3: have a party when I return, But not because I 272 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 3: did something great, not because I accomplished a gold but 273 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 3: I blew it. 274 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 5: I made poor choices. 275 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 3: This is the goodness of our God. Maybe, like this 276 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 3: young man, you think that God. 277 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 5: Wouldn't have anything to do with you. 278 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 3: You've gotten off course, you've made misias, mistakes, when the 279 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 3: truth is God has a robe of honor waiting for you. 280 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 5: It's not in the hog pen. It's with your father. 281 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 5: He has a ring of authority. 282 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 3: He wants to not just receive you back, but restore 283 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 3: what's been taken. Restore your honor, restore your reputation, restore 284 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 3: your joy. You're condemning yourself when he has a fatted 285 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 3: calf out in the field with your name on it. 286 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 5: Don't believe those lies. 287 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 3: You'll never really be happy, never be fulfilled, if you'd 288 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 3: only made better choices. It's time to arise and go 289 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 3: to your father. When you do, the scripture says you 290 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 3: can be assured of. 291 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 5: His glad welcome. 292 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 3: Not maybe, not if he's in a good mood, Not 293 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 3: if you've never had this problem before. Now you can 294 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 3: be sure he'll be there with open arms. He's waiting 295 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 3: to celebrate your arrival. And we feel the guilt, the condemnation. 296 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 3: But God sees our failures already. 297 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 5: Now we have to. 298 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 3: Receive the forgiveness, receive the mercy, and see ourselves without fault. 299 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 5: This goes against. 300 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 3: Our natural reasoning, because everything in us says, oh, man, 301 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 3: you're just a poor, old sinner, You're just unworthy. The 302 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 3: truth is, you used to be an old sinner, but 303 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 3: when you gave your life to Christ, you became a son, 304 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 3: a daughter of the most high God. 305 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 5: He has made you worthy. 306 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 3: You are the righteousness of God. It's not your righteousness, 307 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 3: it's his righteousness. Don't live with the weak worm of 308 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 3: the dust mentality. I don't deserve God's goodness. 309 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 5: Like that prodigle. I brought the trouble on myself. 310 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 3: The scripture says, where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. 311 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 3: You didn't supersede your allotment of grace. You didn't make 312 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 3: a mistake so big that God ran out of mercy. 313 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 3: Instead of living condemned, why don't you go boldly to 314 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 3: the throne and receive them at mercy. God is waiting 315 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 3: to gladly welcome you. 316 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 5: Here's the key. 317 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 3: He won't force you to come. He didn't make the 318 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 3: prodigal son go back home. It was the young man's choice. 319 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 3: When you take one step toward God, he comes running 320 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 3: towards you. Only place in the Bible where it shows 321 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 3: God running was that this young man that had gotten 322 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:25,880 Speaker 3: off course. God could have come running to heal the lepers, 323 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 3: running to teaching the synagogue, running to the religious leaders. 324 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 3: Instead he came running to someone that had made mistakes. 325 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 3: My little dogs I told you about when I get 326 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,920 Speaker 3: home this afternoon, I have no doubt they're going to 327 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 3: be happy to see me. I am fully convinced they 328 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 3: will be there with their tails wagging, jumping up on me. 329 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 3: What would happen if we believed that God will always 330 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 3: gladly welcome us. 331 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 5: How much better would we live? How much freer more 332 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 5: secure at peace? 333 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 3: If we were confident that God is for us, that 334 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 3: he sees us without fault, that even when we make mistakes, 335 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 3: he's waiting with arms held open wide, ready to restore 336 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,640 Speaker 3: us and get us back on track. The enemy has 337 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 3: worked over time to try to convince people that God 338 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:19,120 Speaker 3: is out to get us. He's mad at you, he's 339 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 3: counting your mistakes. He's about to knock you down further. 340 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:26,479 Speaker 3: That is not our God. Don't let the wrong image 341 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 3: of God, keep you from coming to him. The scripture says, 342 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:34,119 Speaker 3: the people who know their God will be strong and 343 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 3: do exploits. I believe one meaning of this is when 344 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 3: you know the character of our God, when you know 345 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 3: he's for you, when you know he gladly welcomes you, 346 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 3: when you know he sees you without fault, when you 347 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 3: know he comes running. When you make mistakes, then you're 348 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:55,240 Speaker 3: going to be strong and you're going to do great things. Well, Joel, 349 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 3: when we make mistakes, I believe we should do better. Yes, 350 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 3: I agree, But you're not a finished product. God is 351 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:07,400 Speaker 3: still working on you, while he's changing you, while you're growing. 352 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:10,239 Speaker 5: You have to learn to accept yourself. 353 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 3: Not beat yourself up when you don't perform perfectly. 354 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 5: What you struggle with. 355 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:18,679 Speaker 3: The mistakes you've made are not a surprise to God. 356 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 3: He's the one that made you. You're on that Potter's will. 357 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 3: He's continuing to mold you. Now, stay positive towards yourself, 358 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 3: give yourself grace. You can't change in your own strength. 359 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:35,159 Speaker 3: You keep honoring God and his timing. He'll help you 360 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:39,400 Speaker 3: to change. Think about Zachias. He was a tax collector. 361 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 3: They were known for being dishonest. 362 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 5: Cheating people. He was the chief tax collector. Zakias was despised. 363 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:51,160 Speaker 3: The people in the scripture described him as scum. It's 364 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 3: pretty bad when the Bible calls you scum. Jesus came 365 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 3: passing through the town. Zachias was up in a tree 366 00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 3: trying to get a glimpse of him. 367 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 5: Jesus stopped. 368 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 3: Out of all the people there thousands, Jesus looked up 369 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 3: said Zachias, come down. I want to go to your 370 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 3: house and have dinner. This didn't make sense to the 371 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 3: religious leaders. They complained, why is he going. 372 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 5: To dinner with a notorious sinner. 373 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 3: Religion says you're too bad, You've made too many mistakes. 374 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:21,919 Speaker 5: Stay away. 375 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:25,639 Speaker 3: But God says, I will gladly welcome you. I'm going 376 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 3: to come to your house for dinner. Jesus could have 377 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 3: gone to the mayor's house, the high priest house, to 378 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 3: the governor's house. This is showing us how God doesn't 379 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:41,719 Speaker 3: judge the way people judge. If God gladly welcomed Zachias, 380 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 3: why do you think he's not going to gladly welcome you. Joel, 381 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:49,439 Speaker 3: I made some mistakes. I still struggle with my temper. 382 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,920 Speaker 3: I gave in to this temptation that didn't cancel out 383 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:57,680 Speaker 3: his mercy. Run to God, not away from him. Don't 384 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 3: do like Adam and start hiding. You can be open 385 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:04,479 Speaker 3: and honest with God. He's not going to judge you. 386 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 3: It's very powerful when you admit your dependence on him. God, 387 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 3: I'm struggling in this area. I can't overcome on my own. 388 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 3: I need your help. That's when you'll feel. 389 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,719 Speaker 5: A strength, a power to do what you can't do 390 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 5: on your own. 391 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 3: Zach Ki has went to dinner with Jesus, but he 392 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 3: didn't lead the same way. He said, I'm going to 393 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 3: give half of my income to the poor those that 394 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 3: I have overcharged. I'm going to give four times the 395 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:36,159 Speaker 3: amount back. Jesus said, this day salvation has come to 396 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:40,840 Speaker 3: your home. Sometimes we think if we beerate people, tell 397 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 3: them all they're doing wrong, make them feel guilty, then 398 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:47,719 Speaker 3: they'll change. Most people already know what they're doing wrong. 399 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:51,639 Speaker 3: When they hear about a God who gladly welcomes, a 400 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 3: God that doesn't hold their faults against them, a God 401 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 3: that shows mercy when they deserve judgment, then they'll change 402 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 3: and make sure you have the right image of God. 403 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:02,880 Speaker 5: He's for you. 404 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:05,960 Speaker 3: He has a great plan for your life. It's not 405 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 3: focused on all your failures. He has mercy for every mistake. 406 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:14,439 Speaker 3: He's waiting to gladly welcome you. All you have to 407 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:18,400 Speaker 3: do is take that step toward him. No more hiding, 408 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 3: no more living condemned, feeling unworthy. Go to God with 409 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:27,719 Speaker 3: boldness and receive this mercy, says come boldly to the throne. 410 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 5: You won't receive it. 411 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 3: If you go around thinking I don't deserve it, I'm unworthy. 412 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 3: I'm like zach Kis. I've made a lot of mistakes, 413 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:39,719 Speaker 3: done things I'm not proud of. God is calling your 414 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 3: name today, saying, come down out of that tree, come 415 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 3: out of hiding. I want to come to your house. 416 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 3: I want to gladly welcome you. Will you receive this welcome? 417 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 3: Will you shake off the guilt, the condemnation, the past, 418 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,159 Speaker 3: and put your shoulders back and see yourself like God 419 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 3: sees you, without fault, worthy, righteous? Many times we get 420 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:06,920 Speaker 3: our image of God from our natural father. If your 421 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 3: father was loving and kind, will help you to have 422 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 3: the right perception of God. I know people their father 423 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 3: was harsh, condescending, wasn't around much. 424 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:19,119 Speaker 5: They couldn't count on him. 425 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:23,720 Speaker 3: Don't let that negative image distort who our heavenly Father is. 426 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 3: God is merciful, he's loving, he's forgiving. Victoria has a 427 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 3: great father. It's always been good to us. Jonathan was 428 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 3: a little baby, he'd come to the house and spend 429 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:38,160 Speaker 3: the night so we could sleep, and he would take 430 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:38,919 Speaker 3: care of the baby. 431 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 5: Victoria is very close to her father. 432 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:44,359 Speaker 3: When she was in her teens, she had just gotten 433 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 3: her drivers permit and she asked her father if she 434 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 3: could borrow the car and go. 435 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 5: To a friend's house in the neighborhood. 436 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 3: He was a little hesitant, but he finally agreed and says, yes, 437 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 3: you can take the car as long as you go 438 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 3: straight there and come straight back home. She said, yes, sir, 439 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 3: I'll do it exactly that. Well, Victoria is not quite as. 440 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 5: Holy as I am. 441 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 3: She did go straight to her friend's house, but she 442 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 3: picked her up and then they decided to get on 443 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:14,520 Speaker 3: the freeway and go see some other friends. The problem 444 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:17,480 Speaker 3: is she didn't put the car in drive. She put 445 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 3: it in low one that gear is used for climbing. 446 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 3: She was going down the freeway barely moving, with the 447 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:28,879 Speaker 3: engine sounding like a jet airplane. The car started smoking 448 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 3: ten minutes later, the engine blew up. 449 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 5: The car wouldn't move. 450 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,639 Speaker 3: She pulled over to the side of the freeway. The 451 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 3: last thing most people would do would be go call 452 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:41,479 Speaker 3: your father. He's the one that just told you to 453 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 3: not get on the freeway. Not Victoria, like that prodigal 454 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:47,439 Speaker 3: she said, I will arise and go to my father. 455 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 3: She called Dad, I made a mistake. I took the 456 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 3: car out on the freeway. Something happened. 457 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 5: Not running anymore. 458 00:24:55,560 --> 00:25:00,719 Speaker 3: If her father was hard, mean, always berating her, she 459 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:02,119 Speaker 3: wouldn't have run to him. 460 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 5: She would have run from him. 461 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 3: The reason she was bold enough to go to her 462 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:09,880 Speaker 3: father was she knew his nature. She had seen his 463 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:15,199 Speaker 3: character through the years, loving, kind, merciful. When you have 464 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:18,959 Speaker 3: the right image of God, even when you make mistakes, 465 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:20,400 Speaker 3: you'll go to him. 466 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 5: Like Victoria, you're assured of his glad welcome. 467 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:28,399 Speaker 3: Her father came, had the car, told do you know 468 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 3: he never said a word to her about it. Sometimes 469 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:35,160 Speaker 3: God will clean up a mess we've made and never 470 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 3: say a word. 471 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:39,920 Speaker 5: He doesn't condemn us, doesn't find fault, say I told 472 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 5: you so. It's the mercy of God. That's what happened 473 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 5: with the prodigal son when he returned home. 474 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:51,119 Speaker 3: The father who represents God never brought up his past. 475 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 3: He never said I'll take you back, but you should 476 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 3: be ashamed of yourself. I hope you learned your lesson. 477 00:25:56,920 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 3: The father never said a word about it. Sometimes we 478 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 3: don't go to God because we already feel condemned, We 479 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:07,120 Speaker 3: already know we've done wrong. We think, oh, man, here 480 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:08,120 Speaker 3: comes more judgment. 481 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 5: He's gonna let me have it. 482 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 3: No, God is waiting to gladly welcome you, not to 483 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 3: judge you, not to make you feel worse, but to 484 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 3: restore you. 485 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,880 Speaker 5: He has a robe of honor, He has a ring 486 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:22,239 Speaker 5: of authority. 487 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:25,640 Speaker 3: When you really know who your heavenly father is, you'll 488 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 3: go to him with confidence, knowing that he accepts you 489 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,200 Speaker 3: faults in awe, that he has mercy for your mistakes, 490 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:34,160 Speaker 3: that he's not in the judging. 491 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:37,760 Speaker 5: Business, he's in the restoring business. When our son. 492 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:42,199 Speaker 3: Jonathan was a little boy, maybe five years old, one afternoon, 493 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 3: I couldn't find him in the house. I went looking 494 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,640 Speaker 3: for him everywhere. Maybe he's upstairs in his bedroom by himself. 495 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:53,200 Speaker 3: I went there, but he wasn't there. Went to Alexander's room. 496 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:57,119 Speaker 3: Nothing wasn't in the playroom. Started to get a little concerned. 497 00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 3: Had my weights in the garage and out when I 498 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 3: was working out, and I went out in the garage. 499 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:04,200 Speaker 5: Still couldn't find it. Looked in my. 500 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 3: Office, in the bathroom, he was nowhere. I finally went 501 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 3: back to check my bedroom. When I got there, the 502 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 3: door was closed. I opened it. There was Jonathan sitting 503 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:19,920 Speaker 3: in my favorite chair, this big green recliner. The chair 504 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:22,719 Speaker 3: was laid back, his feet were in the air. He 505 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 3: was eating a popsicle, watching TV. 506 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 5: He looked at me with a big smile and said, Daddy, 507 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 5: this is. 508 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 3: The life as a father. That made me feel good. 509 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 3: I loved the fact. 510 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 5: That he felt so loved, so valuable. 511 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 3: So important that he could come and get in my 512 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 3: favorite chair. He knew I would gladly welcome him. If 513 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 3: you want to make your heavenly father proud, get up 514 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 3: in the green chair, Come boldly to the throne. Believe 515 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:56,400 Speaker 3: that you're loved, that you're valuable, that you're worthy. Don't 516 00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 3: let a wrong image of God keep you from the blessings, 517 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 3: the favor, the joy that belongs to you. God sees 518 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:07,880 Speaker 3: you without fault. He's already forgiven your sins. You can 519 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:12,240 Speaker 3: come fearlessly into His presence, assured of his glad welcome. 520 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:14,440 Speaker 5: If you'll do this, I'll. 521 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 3: Believe and declare strongholds of guilt, condemnation, unworthiness or being 522 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 3: broken right now. 523 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 5: Because you know your God, You're going to be strong 524 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:28,919 Speaker 5: and do great things in Jesus' name if you receive it. 525 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:30,439 Speaker 5: Can you say him in today? 526 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,400 Speaker 3: I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus 527 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 3: the Lord. 528 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 5: Of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 529 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 5: I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I'll 530 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 5: make you my Lord and savior. 531 00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:50,560 Speaker 3: If you've prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 532 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 3: born again. 533 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:54,160 Speaker 5: Love to send you some free information on your new 534 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 5: walk with the Lord. 535 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 3: You can text the number on the screen or go 536 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 3: to the website. 537 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 5: I hope you'll get into a good Bible church and 538 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:04,600 Speaker 5: keep God first place. Thanks so much for listening to 539 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 5: today's message. I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive 540 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 5: the latest podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired all 541 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 5: through the week. 542 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:14,480 Speaker 6: Help us to continue to share the message of hope 543 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:17,960 Speaker 6: with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 544 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:20,680 Speaker 6: or click the link in the description to partner with 545 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 6: us today. 546 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:23,960 Speaker 5: We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 547 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 5: be sure to follow us on social media. We're praying 548 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:30,040 Speaker 5: for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 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