WEBVTT 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:11.199 You're listening to this week's edition of the world. 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:12.960 This is the gospel. 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:20.640 This is Adam and Eve having disappointed their heavenly father being locked out of the garden. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:30.239 And the separation from their father and the whole point from Genesis to Revelation has one thing. 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:31.519 One message. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:33.280 It is the father. 00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:44.640 It's the restoration of the father's heart. 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:49.119 For us, it's his children, and he took his most precious possession. 00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:54.000 At the road, our mission is to empower people to change the world. 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:58.240 For more information on the road, visit the road.org. 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:01.520 We hope you are encouraged by today's message. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:09.519 Well, I am uh very honored today to be able to give the word. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:22.159 In fact, let me say this: um, there's probably not a Sunday of the year that I would um prefer to give uh a message on. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:34.480 Father's Day for me is a very uh very special day, not just because I am a father, but um I just feel like that this is one of my life messages. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:51.359 And many of you who you know know that we have a worship school, a lot of uh what I share about uh worshiping God comes from this very subject, the subject of God and the heart that he has as our Father. 00:01:52.079 --> 00:02:02.879 But I will say this for many of you, when Father's Day comes around, it's not a pleasant day. 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:24.719 I know that there are many people in this room, under the sound of my voice, that the issue of and the relationship maybe that you grew up with of your earthly father can cause kind of a whirlwind or a uh a roller coaster of emotions. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:26.879 Because how many know that this is true? 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:29.599 That um God is our father and loves us very much. 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:32.800 Raise your hand if you agree with that, believe it, okay? 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:34.080 We know that that's the truth. 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:35.680 In fact, that's the gospel. 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:39.840 That's what we're gonna talk about is the gospel, but in a little bit different form. 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:46.000 But I know also that many of you dread this day. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:58.560 And maybe after this, even the event that you're gonna go to, a barbecue or something, and you walk into the house and you automatically know the tension that's there. 00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:03.599 You know that you're gonna see this family member and that family member. 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:06.879 And have you ever walked into a room and you can just feel the tension? 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:09.439 It's almost like you can cut it with a knife. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:12.560 It's just lingering there. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:22.080 But here's the thing, and I hope by the end of this message, perhaps you can have a little bit different perspective. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.360 So is it okay if I talk about the gospel this this morning? 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:27.360 Is it okay with everybody? 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:33.120 The gospel is all about the cross. 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:34.080 Amen? 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:52.400 But if we were to look at the original state of the gospel, I'm gonna backpedal quite a bit, in fact, all the way to the beginning, and what I want to talk to you about the gospel is this a garden called paradise. 00:03:53.199 --> 00:04:06.800 And the garden that is called paradise was kind of its own ecosystem that we can whittle it down and say this is in its elementary form what the gospel is all about. 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:08.479 And what is the gospel? 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:12.719 What is this relationship that we have with God all about? 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:23.839 It was a man and it was a woman in a garden called paradise with their father. 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:33.199 The Bible says that he used to walk in the cool of the day and he would talk to them, and he would commune with them, and he would teach them things. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:41.920 Of course, uh, not very long, you know, after Adam B was there, he had all the animals pass through and he named all the animals. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:44.800 Um think about the intellect that it took. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:52.399 But here's the thing about the gospel, and here's the thing about this elementary form of God's plan for humanity. 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:54.800 God has a plan. 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:57.600 Everybody say God has a plan. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:06.959 But here's the thing Satan, always in response to God's plan, has a scheme. 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:10.480 Have you ever thought about this? 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:19.600 Adam and Eve in the garden, did they have belly buttons or did they not? 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:24.560 No, think about it. 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:26.399 I don't think they did. 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:32.319 Because they had no earthly father, who did they have instead? 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:35.360 A heavenly father. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:52.079 So God's plan and the gospel in its most elementary form is this God wants, longs for, desires to be your father. 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:57.279 But Satan also had a scheme, and here's what I believe that the scheme was. 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:04.959 Here in the garden called Paradise, we have a tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:08.160 We have a tree of life. 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:09.680 Think about this. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:18.720 Satan's scheme was we're going to get you to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil and disobey God. 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:39.680 And then at the same time that you're in this garden, this kind of ecosystem where God had placed them, you're going to disobey God, be separated from God, but then at the same time still have rights to the tree of life and eat of its fruit and live forever. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:58.079 And the devil would be in this garden with humanity stirring up nothing but chaos, and he would have a playground in which to just devise schemes and just ridicule and uh just have this playground of destruction forever. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:07.839 But God did something that Satan never dreamed that he would do. 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:18.560 Whereas Adam and Eve were off over here hiding themselves with leaves, trying to cover up their sin, the same animals that Adam named. 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:20.480 Think about this. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:26.639 There was no death whatsoever up until that point. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:30.480 Adam had never taken a piece of meat. 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:34.480 He had never killed and tasted blood. 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:39.920 All he had eaten was fruits, vegetables, and off the goods of the land. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:53.839 God comes along, his heavenly father comes along, takes an animal, and sacrifices to show him you sinned, you did evil, and are separated now, but I'm going to show you the way back. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:08:01.680 It causes, it's the only way for you to be to restore to relationship with me is by the shedding of innocent blood. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:11.600 We're not told what animal that God sacrificed to make a sacrifice for them, but I believe it was a lamb. 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:14.319 It's a good possibility that it was. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:27.759 He takes off the leaves, off their uh attempt to cover themselves, puts on them the skin of the animal, covers them up properly, but then Satan did not see this one coming. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:48.240 Instead of keeping them in the garden to eat of the tree of life and just live in separation and in bewilderment, he takes and he posts two flaming swords with angels at the at the door of the uh the garden and says, You can no longer go here. 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:52.639 I don't know about you, but I would really like to see those angels with the flaming sword. 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:54.480 Someday I think we will. 00:08:55.279 --> 00:09:00.320 But he casts them out, and this is where the gospel begins. 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:06.639 This is where the story of redemption really begins. 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:11.600 And here's what it is we all need a father. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:13.120 Can we say that together? 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:16.559 We all need a father. 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:27.120 I didn't quite understand this message and its uh importance until about four years ago. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:34.720 About four years ago, I got a phone call, and my dad, who had been battling cancer, uh, went from bad to worse. 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:50.799 Uh, he had had four bouts with cancer, uh, he beat three of them, and then uh on this fourth bout over the course of about 16 years went to his bones, and uh they basically said that uh that he it was getting close. 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:52.879 He was he was not doing very well. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:10:00.559 He was a man of faith, he was a pastor for 54 years, raised three preachers, uh both my brothers are pastors. 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:03.200 I'm a pastor, so I grew up in a ministry home. 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:12.639 But here's the thing about my father I have heard him over the years tell stories about his father's demeanor. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:15.840 His father was an alcoholic for many years. 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:28.399 He was very vicious, he was very degrading, to the point I've heard my father get up and preach sermons about this relationship, strained relationship that he had. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:37.600 And he said his dad would look at him and stick his finger in his nose and say, You are stupid and will never amount to anything. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:45.679 He said, To this day, he I would still get a chill up his spine as he thought about those remarks. 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:56.559 And just he said, I've never felt so small and so insignificant and worthless in my life as when my dad told me those degrading things. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:05.120 He went on to say, oh, through the years, he said this, he said, I cannot remember a kind word my father ever spoke to me. 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:17.039 He said, on his deathbed, just as his dad passed, his mom turned and looked at him and said, Did your dad ever tell you that he loved you? 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:23.679 And my dad said, No, not one time has he ever spoke love to me. 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:52.159 If you knew my father, though, if if if you had met him, you would say, Brian, how in the world did such a loving, such a righteous and holy man who loved his family, who preached the God, how is it that he ended up being such a loving man and came out from under this abusive situation? 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:58.639 I was speaking at a church in uh the Dallas area, and I had a pastor friend. 00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:01.120 Um, this was about Father's Day four years ago. 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:03.360 My dad had not passed yet. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:09.200 But we were on our way uh out to eat from the uh the service, and he told me this. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:12.639 He said, Brian, he said, I heard your your dad is sick. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:15.919 He said, uh, my dad passed a few years ago. 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:49.679 And he said, the only way I can describe to you um how I felt when that time came, is he said, it was like I was standing in a in a big house, like my house, and whereas I always felt safe and secure in this house, it was as if the roof had been ripped off the house, and I was standing there naked and vulnerable and felt no covering and no protection. 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:59.440 He said it was it was in an odd way, that's the only way I can describe when my dad passed from this life to the next. 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:03.600 I have never felt so vulnerable and uncovered. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.840 He was a godly man as well. 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:19.039 In August of that same year, I got a phone call, and my mom told uh all of us boys to go home because it was about that time. 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:22.559 Um I already been prepared. 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:27.600 Um I just really felt like the Lord was it was his appointed time. 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:31.519 And um he had always prayed, had faith. 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:36.159 But how many know that there is a moment, there is a date on the calendar with our name on it. 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:41.759 God only knows the appointed time, and I believe this was the moment for my father. 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:48.799 So we all gathered round, and uh before long he had breathed his last, we uh cried. 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:58.399 Um, and everything that that pastor told me about standing in that house and being uncovered, I felt in that moment. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:12.480 In fact, it was a weird time because actually, when my dad passed, we had to get on a plane, all three, all our entire family, 18 of us, come over here to Colorado. 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:37.679 We actually had a wedding to attend in Pueblo, and my nephew and niece-in-law got married, and you can imagine just how difficult it was a week after my dad passed, having to be at the dance and at this joyous occasion, and man, I I didn't even know how to respond. 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:42.399 I mean, we were all just like basket cases almost. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:48.000 I mean, it was just such a whirlwind of emotions, and I didn't even know how to feel. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:15:08.720 But one morning I got up early, it's about 4:30, 5 in the morning, sun was just coming up over the horizon, and I got in my rental car and I began to drive, and I found this overlook, and it was a beautiful scene, and I pulled up and I just had this moment with the Lord. 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:13.759 And I said, God, I said, I don't know how to feel. 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:16.320 I said, My hero is gone. 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:19.919 I have never felt so vulnerable and so uncovered. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:23.360 And then the Lord spoke to me. 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:34.000 My heavenly father spoke to me as clear as day, and he said, This he said, Brian, you've heard the story of your father and his dad. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:44.000 He said, Who do you think fathered your father? 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:47.360 And I'd never thought about it before. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.399 This is the gospel. 00:15:51.360 --> 00:16:08.879 This is Adam and Eve having disappointed their heavenly father, being locked out of the garden, and the separation from their father, and the whole point from Genesis to Revelation has one theme, one message. 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:16.320 It is a father in heaven longing to be with his children. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.360 That's it. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:23.519 It's the restoration of the Father's heart for us as his children. 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:26.000 And he took his most precious possession. 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:27.200 What did it take? 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:28.799 What did it cost him? 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:43.440 It was God, our Father, making the sacrifice and saying, I'm gonna give my most precious son and send him to die a murderer's death so that I can be with my children again. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:49.840 I'm sitting there in the car looking at this beautiful scene, and the Lord says, Who was your father's daddy? 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:55.360 Who do you think took care of him when his father was so ruthless and so mean? 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:57.600 He said, I've been there for your father. 00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:59.600 And then he said something I'll never forget. 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:07.839 He said, Brian, from this day forward, just as I was your dad's father, I will be yours now. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.920 And everything shifted. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:15.759 Everything in my life shifted at that moment. 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:23.759 Because we talk about Jesus and we talk about the Holy Spirit, and we talk about the moving of the Spirit, and God's presence come. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.839 You know who we're talking about most of the time? 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:30.400 We're talking about the cross, we're talking about his son, we're talking about the Savior. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:31.279 But you know what? 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:35.839 When you start talking about the Father, people tense up. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:41.200 People get real nervous about this relationship of a father. 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:42.079 Why is that? 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:48.880 Because a lot of times we look back at our earthly father experience and we say, it wasn't very good. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:56.000 I don't even know how I don't even know how to come at God as a father to me. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:05.759 Because all I've known is betrayal, all I've known is degrading and abuse, and all I've known is just, and maybe you had a good father. 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:11.839 But I know that across this room, many of us, this is a tough day. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:17.519 So I'm gonna give you six points, and these are traits of a good father. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:23.599 Listen to this verse, John 14, it says this don't let your heart be troubled. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:27.119 Trust in God and trust also in me. 00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:31.519 There is more than enough room in my father's home. 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:38.880 If this were not so, I would have told you, and I am going to prepare a place for you. 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:45.599 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:49.519 And you know the way is where I'm going. 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:52.559 No, we do not know, Lord, Thomas said. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:54.880 We have no idea where you're going. 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:57.200 So how can we know the way? 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:00.880 Jesus told them, I am the way. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:04.000 I am the truth and the life. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:06.079 No one comes to who? 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.640 The Father. 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.160 What's the point? 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:12.319 What is the whole point of this thing? 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:14.079 What are we here to do? 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:18.240 I'm the way, I'm the truth, I'm the life. 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:23.359 The only way to get to the Father is by me. 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:27.279 If you had known me, you would know who my father is. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:30.640 From now on, you do know him and have seen him. 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:34.799 Philip said, Lord, show us the Father and we'll be satisfied. 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:37.680 Jesus replied, Have I been with you? 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:39.759 Let me stop right here. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:49.200 This message is just as relevant right now in this moment of fatherlessness in this nation and across the world than it ever has been. 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.960 He said this. 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:59.759 You've been in church your whole life and didn't haven't discovered the whole point of it all? 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:06.559 Have you been here all this time and yet you still do not know who I am? 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:13.359 Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:16.319 So why are you asking me to show them to you? 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:19.759 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is me? 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:27.039 The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does this work through me. 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:37.599 So, Father, I just ask you right now, the remainder of this message, would you help a revelation to come? 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:52.000 That perhaps people in this room that have been serving God their whole life, like me, grew up in a pastor's home, was around church all the time, didn't discover the whole reason for it all. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:54.720 God, would you help it to come alive? 00:20:55.119 --> 00:21:08.559 Would you help us to connect with you, to maybe meet you for the first time, and the goodness, this good, good father that you are and how much you love us. 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:10.880 I thank you for it in Jesus' name. 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.839 Amen. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:14.799 Traits of a good father, these are just six things. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:17.359 You can jot these down if you want, or just listen. 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:22.240 Number one, a good father is around and not absent. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:29.839 A good father is around and not absent. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:34.960 And then I put in parentheses in presence or in mind. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:42.079 When I first got married, I was quite the workaholic. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:50.799 I was in ministry on staff at my father's church, um, working 70, 80 hours for the Lord. 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:54.160 Um, very out of balance. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:58.720 I learned really quick that that wasn't gonna fly with my wife. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.759 She would meet me. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:10.319 At the door, and I'd walk in, and she would come over and she would grab me by the shoulders and she would shake me and she would say, Are you gonna be home tonight? 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:13.279 It's like I'm here right now. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.960 I'm I'm I'm home. 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:17.839 And then she'd grab me and shake me again. 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:22.559 She'd said, Are you gonna be home tonight? 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:28.400 And I realized what she was talking about. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:35.759 That it is very possible to live under the same roof, but actually be absent. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:39.359 To not be present. 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:44.480 Here's the thing about our Heavenly Father and us Fathers, we need to grow in this. 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:46.240 Learn how to shut it off. 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:48.559 Do you know that I'm driving in my car? 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.799 It takes me three seconds. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:59.200 I'm driving in my car, turn on a song or not turn on a song, but I all of a sudden will take and turn my attention. 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:02.240 God, I need you. 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:04.640 Father, I I love you. 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:08.160 I just turn my heart towards you. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:17.839 And in the very moment that I that I focus my attention on him, he's he it's not like he has to go, you know, kind of come in from some distant place. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:21.519 No, he comes, he's right there, he leans right in. 00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:28.480 Our father is constantly, constantly waiting, longing. 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:38.960 In fact, I wonder sometimes if he longs to be with us, and we literally ignore him. 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:51.680 If he look, can you imagine if he has things that he wants to show you about himself, if he has things that he wants to unveil to you, but the only reason that we miss it is because we're not engaged. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:55.279 This is the good father that we have. 00:23:55.599 --> 00:24:02.160 He's constantly there, he's constantly in tune, he's constantly available. 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:08.319 Number two, a good father speaks and leads his children. 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:12.000 Here's what it says, John 10, verse 27. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:14.720 It says, My sheep hear my voice. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:16.319 In fact, can we say this verse together? 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.279 Say it together. 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:23.839 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:32.960 You know that there are whole slews of people that I've talked to that that would say, I don't think I've ever actually heard God's voice. 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.400 I used to think that sometimes. 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:38.720 Like, is that really God speaking to me? 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:46.880 And then I began to discover that if you will give him your this this is what the Bible says. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:51.839 Draw nigh unto me, and I will draw nigh unto you. 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:54.160 So let me ask you this question. 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:56.559 Who is it that draws nigh first? 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:09.599 Draw nigh unto me, and when we incline our ear to hear his voice, he will come and he will meet with us and he will speak to us. 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:14.160 And we can learn, literally, when God speaks to me, he spoke to me this morning. 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:22.480 I woke up, and the first thing he said to me was, the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon you, and I've anointed you to preach the gospel. 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.160 That's what he told me this morning. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:26.559 My heavenly Father, just as clear as day. 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:28.079 Now it's like picking up the phone. 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:30.480 My wife doesn't have to say, Hey, it's me. 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.720 I know it's her. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:34.079 I know her voice. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:38.079 I recognize her voice, and that's how the voice of our father should be. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:45.519 Number three is this a good father disciplines his children in love. 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:52.319 A good father disciplines his children in love. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:54.720 Listen to this verse, Hebrews 12. 00:25:54.880 --> 00:26:01.200 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons and daughters. 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:08.400 My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, or lose heart when he rebukes you. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:16.559 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastises everyone he receives as a son. 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:20.319 Endure suffering as discipline. 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:23.680 God is treating you as sons. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:28.799 For what son is not disciplined by his father? 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:42.319 So here's the question How long has it been since you have allowed your heavenly father to discipline you? 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:57.440 One of the things that I teach in the school of worship and have taught all over the world, really, is David's heart cry that I believe was what set him apart and made him a man after God's own heart. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:04.000 He made this statement Search me, O God, and know my heart. 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:12.240 Test me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:27.119 Can you imagine a man, like in a police car when they search you or frisk you, making himself vulnerable and putting himself up on the wall and saying, Okay, God, come here, search me. 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:30.960 What is there that's evil in me that I don't see? 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:33.200 Have you done that? 00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:41.680 Have you ever actually trusted your heavenly father enough to say, here I am, wide open? 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:54.799 There's times that there's times that I like to pray that prayer, and then there's other times that I'm afraid to pray that prayer. 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:59.680 But here's what the scripture says. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:07.200 Do we really think that it's out of hatred or your misfortune? 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:12.240 Or he's leading you somewhere that's bad? 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:36.000 Or do we trust our Heavenly Father that He is leading us somewhere that is good, that He wants the best for us, that when we hear His voice and we ask Him to search us and we ask Him to discipline us and we ask Him to change us, that He's gonna do it for our own good and for the good of our family and our future generations, even. 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:41.039 He only speaks the truth in love. 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:45.599 And that's that's been the problem in the church, hasn't it? 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:47.759 We've either had one or the other. 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:51.119 Bible says to speak the truth in love that you may grow up. 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.039 Be mature. 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:55.920 We've either had people speak the truth, but there's no love in it. 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:57.599 Just stop doing that. 00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:02.079 Or we've had people that love you but don't tell you the truth. 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:07.359 Like people that should never be behind a microphone singing. 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:11.039 Have you ever seen American Idol? 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:16.160 And some of those people who come in and their mama has told them how great they are. 00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:20.079 They've never been spoken the truth. 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:21.920 They've just been loved. 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:23.039 That's all. 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:29.119 And Simon will just, I mean, just completely mortify him. 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:30.559 But that's what we need. 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:42.559 We need to incline our ear to hear his voice and so that he can change us and tell us the truth, what we need, so that we can turn from our wicked ways that we all have. 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:47.119 Number four, God the Father loves at all times. 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:49.920 I'm not gonna hit a whole lot on this, but let me just say this. 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:56.000 The Lord appears to us in the past saying, I have loved you with an everlasting love. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:58.319 Everybody say, everlasting love. 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:02.640 It's an everlasting love. 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:05.759 I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:09.119 And then here's let's take that just a step further. 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:14.880 Here's what it says I am the Lord and I change not. 00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:30.799 When I began to understand God's incredible love for me, I I because I'm such a knucklehead, and because I have a hard time grasping things and I'm hard-headed, I have to ask the Lord his help for his help. 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:37.440 So I was at the foot of my bed and I just told the Lord, I said, God, how much do you love me? 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:41.920 Teach me to understand your love. 00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:44.400 I said, I really want to get it. 00:30:45.759 --> 00:31:02.720 And I'm sitting there and my mind wandered, and all of a sudden I was thinking about when I was 18 years old, and my friends took the preacher's kid out to get drunk, and they gave me these things called shots that I had never had in my life. 00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:07.519 I took one shot, I took three shots, I took over 12 shots. 00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:13.359 You guys have never done that though, I'm sure. 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:23.119 About shot number six, I don't remember anything, except that my friends told me they took me to the to my house, threw me on my bed in the middle of the night. 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:25.440 I rolled over, barfed all over my room. 00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:33.359 My mom woke up, I mean, woke up the next morning and had to shake me awake, and I was just about, I mean, still out of it. 00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:34.559 So I'm there. 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:36.720 Lord, how much do you love me? 00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:41.039 And then I'm thinking, why did I let my mind wander again? 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:42.000 You know, in prayer. 00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:45.599 Lord, forgive me for thinking about that. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:48.799 I said, no, seriously, how much do you love me? 00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:56.960 And then I thought about a day uh and a couple years back that I had fasted for 40 days. 00:31:58.079 --> 00:32:00.079 That's a long time not to eat. 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:14.640 And if there was ever a time that me and God were tight, I mean, we were like, I was, I was there, I was as righteous as could be, was on day 40 of that fast, and then God said something that absolutely shocked me. 00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:21.119 He said, Brian, don't you realize I loved you the same on both those days? 00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:26.799 Day 40 of your fast and when you were lying in your own filth. 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:36.559 He said, My love for you never changed, but your perception of my love changed because of your performance. 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:39.920 He said, What if my love supersedes all of that? 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:44.000 And I have made a decision, I have chosen you to love you. 00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:47.440 I first loved you before you even knew what love was. 00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:50.319 That is the Father's love. 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:52.640 It says, I change not. 00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:58.319 Number five, a God, a good father chose you to be in his house. 00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:04.960 Meaning you have refrigerator rights. 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:13.599 Do you know that my son never asked me permission to go get whatever he wants out of the refrigerator? 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:24.799 In fact, he'll go stand in front of the refrigerator and look for the 15th time at the same items and for something to eat, and he just doesn't even ask. 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:29.920 He just helps himself, and he's eating us out of house and home. 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:36.720 He's 19 and he eats constantly, and I love it. 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.960 I love it. 00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:43.519 I love to provide for his needs. 00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:51.440 Why do we live as orphans in a house that belongs to us? 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:58.160 Why is it that we live live so far below how he actually feels about us? 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:02.160 But we just think we're so unworthy. 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:09.360 And yet, because of his sacrifice, he has paid the price for us to have every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.880 Live like it. 00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:12.480 Live like it. 00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:17.679 Live like the price that he's paid for you to live. 00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:20.880 I could give you a bunch of scriptures on that. 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:21.920 I'll just read one. 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:28.079 For he chose us to be in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:30.079 You guys learning anything today? 00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.199 It's okay? 00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:31.920 All right. 00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:40.559 Number six, my final point is this a good father gives good gifts to his children. 00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:43.599 Gives good gifts to his kids. 00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:46.320 Here's what Luke 5, 53 says. 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:51.360 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a scorpion? 00:34:52.239 --> 00:35:02.079 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more? 00:35:02.239 --> 00:35:03.679 Everybody say more. 00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:13.679 How much more will your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him? 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:21.199 Rick was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt. 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:33.199 As a result of oxygen deprivation to Rick's brain at the time of his birth, Rick was diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:44.079 Dick and Judy were advised to institutionalize Rick because there was no chance of him ever recovering, and little hope for Rick to live a normal life. 00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:52.960 This was just the beginning of Dick and Judy's quest for Rick's inclusion in community, sports, education, and one day, the workplace. 00:35:53.119 --> 00:36:03.039 Dick and Judy realized that though Rick couldn't speak or walk, he was quite astute and his eyes would follow them around the room. 00:36:03.280 --> 00:36:11.519 They fought to integrate Rick into the public school system, pushing administrators to see beyond Rick's physical limitations. 00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:19.119 Dick and Judy would take Rick sledding and swimming and even taught him the alphabet and basic words like any other child. 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:29.599 After providing concrete evidence of Rick's intellect and ability to learn like everyone else, Dick and Judy needed to find a way to help Rick communicate for himself. 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:41.199 So with$5,000 in 1972, a skilled group of engineers from Tufts University developed an interactive computer for Rick. 00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:47.679 This computer consisted of a cursor being used to highlight every letter of the alphabet. 00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:56.000 Once the letter Rick wanted was highlighted, he would be able to select it with a tap against the headpiece on his wheelchair. 00:36:56.400 --> 00:37:04.239 When the computer was originally first brought home, Rick surprised everyone by not saying hello mom or hello dad. 00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:06.880 Instead, he said, Go Bruins. 00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:14.320 He was quite aware that they were in the Stanley Cup and was cheering for them that season. 00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:20.719 It was clear from that moment on that Rick loved sports like everyone else. 00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:26.079 In 1975, at the age of 13, Rick was finally admitted into public school. 00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:33.760 After high school, Rick attended Boston University and he graduated with a degree in special education in 1993. 00:37:34.159 --> 00:37:42.400 Dick retired in 1995 as a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard after serving his country for 37 years. 00:37:42.960 --> 00:37:55.039 In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a five-mile benefit run for a lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. 00:37:55.920 --> 00:38:07.920 Far from a long-distance runner, Dick agreed to train and also to push Rick in his wheelchair, and they finished all five miles, coming in next to last. 00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:19.039 That night, for the first time, Rick told his father, When I'm running with you, it's the first time I don't feel handicapped. 00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:22.639 Rick was asked in an interview. 00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:31.519 He was asked the question, he said, if you could give your father one thing, what would you give him? 00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:44.880 Rick responded, he said, the thing I'd most like is that just once my dad could sit in the chair and I could push him during the race. 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:50.559 I have taught worship for 20 years. 00:38:51.679 --> 00:39:00.159 I am not sure that I have heard a better definition of what worship is than that. 00:39:00.880 --> 00:39:10.559 Us coming before God and saying, I see who you are and your great love, and I wish that I could give back. 00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:20.239 I wish that I could just honor you and serve you and love you and spend my life for you and the kingdom. 00:39:22.480 --> 00:39:24.400 You've been listening to The Road. 00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:27.360 We hope you have been blessed by today's message. 00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:31.280 To connect with us further, visit theroad.org. 00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:35.280 If you are walking through a difficult time, we want to pray for you. 00:39:35.519 --> 00:39:42.719 Go to the road.org, click on the ministries tab, and go to our prayer page to send us your prayer request. 00:39:43.039 --> 00:39:48.079 Thank you for tuning in today, and be sure to listen to the next edition of The Road.