Social Dallas Podcast: “Prove It” – Robert Madu

Date: September 14, 2025

Episode Overview

In this powerful and engaging sermon titled “Prove It,” Pastor Robert Madu (with contributions from a co-pastor/worship leader/PT) challenges listeners at Social Dallas to examine their identity, the burdens of approval, and the spiritual battles we face. Drawing from the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11, Pastor Madu explores the pressure to “prove” ourselves, the spiritual implications of our identity in Christ, and how understanding our belovedness transforms how we live.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Year’s Theme: “Planted” & Scriptural Foundation

• The church’s word for the year is “planted.”
• Foundation: Psalm 92:13-15 – “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord... will flourish.”
• Sets a tone of rootedness, growth, and spiritual flourishing.

2. Introduction to the Series: “Mountains”

• The “Mountains” series explores significant biblical moments on mountains.
• Today’s mountain is the wilderness of temptation in Matthew 4.
• Pastor Madu: “In the Bible, mountains are not just geographical locations. They were sacred spaces and places where God showed up, did powerful things.”
  [00:40]

3. Reading and Context of Matthew 4

• The pivotal text: Jesus’ temptation by the devil after 40 days of fasting.
• The enemy challenges Jesus’ identity: “If you are the Son of God…”

4. The “Burden of Proof” and Pressures of Performance

• Engaging physical Bible illustration with congregant Alexis to evoke the discomfort of questioning and the pressure to prove oneself.
• Memorable metaphor: Like a duck, calm above water but paddling furiously below—the image of hidden anxieties beneath polished appearances.

  “The pressure to prove it will have you looking like a duck... Everybody sees you in church today... just trying to keep up the pressure to prove.” – Pastor Robert Madu [10:20]

• Observation: Culturally, we act as if we’re “guilty until proven innocent,” and many try to prove their existence or worth.

5. Personal Anecdote: The “Pastor Derby” Pressure

• Lighthearted but revealing story about participating in a public “Pastor Derby” with well-known pastors.
• Even trivial moments (like an icebreaker game) can become tests to “prove” oneself.

  “How in the world did an icebreaker game turn into an opportunity for me to have pressure to prove it?” [12:45]

6. The Spiritual Battle: Recognizing Real Warfare

• Satan is real, and spiritual warfare is serious.
• People err by overestimating or underestimating the enemy’s influence.
• The danger is either seeing the devil in everything (“No, you need an oil change!” [18:49]) or ignoring him entirely.

  “You cannot fight back against the enemy that you refuse to recognize.” [17:39]

7. Identity at the Root of the Temptation

• The devil attacks Jesus’ sonship—not his miracles, not his mission, but his identity.
• Connection to the previous chapter: God the Father had just affirmed Jesus in Matthew 3:17 (“This is my beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased”), so the enemy immediately sows doubt.

  “He’s attacking what the Father already affirmed... If you get my identity, you’ll stop me from stepping into what God has already prepared for me.” [26:53]

• Quote: “The enemy knows if he can shake your identity, he can shape your behavior.” [27:29]

8. Identity Precedes Behavior: Practical Examples

• We try to change behavior (external) instead of anchoring ourselves in our God-given identity.
• Charades with daughter Remy: the Father confirms her identity (what’s on the card) so she can act it out confidently.

  “She’ll come tell her father, and her father will confirm what’s on the card... This is what I love about God, is that he knows my identity.” – Pastor Robert Madu [29:00]

• Practical application: Speak identity over your life (“I am forgiven,” “I am a worshiper,” “I am healthy”) and let behavior follow.

  “Identity always precedes behavior.” [32:09]

9. Navigating the Wilderness: Trust in God’s Word over Experience

• Note on timing: The Spirit—not the devil—leads Jesus into the wilderness.
• The danger of rebuking the wilderness instead of learning in it.

  “The Spirit led him into the wilderness... The devil did not lead him into the wilderness. He was just there waiting for him.” [35:46]

• The challenge: Hold on to God's truth when circumstances don’t match past affirmations (the “wilderness vs. the river”).

10. Temptation: Its Nature and Jesus’ Victory

• Temptation itself is not sin; RSVP-ing to it is when the trouble starts.
• Jesus faced every type of temptation (lust of flesh, lust of eyes, pride of life) as highlighted in 1 John 2.

  “The enemy will always try to get you to fulfill a legitimate need, an illegitimate way.” [42:38]

• Jesus consistently refuses to “prove it” by performing for the devil, instead trusting the Father’s word.

11. Ultimate Takeaway: Live from Approval, Not for It

• We don’t need to prove what God has already pronounced over us.
• Live for the audience of One—the Father who already loves and approves.

  “I refuse to try to prove what my Father already says I am.” [45:31]

• Jesus passed every test, giving us hope and freeing us from the pressure to perform.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the pressure to prove:

  “Have you ever felt the weight of having to prove it in this culture, in this climate, in this society?” – Pastor Robert Madu [07:03]

• On spiritual attack:

  “There is a devil that, watch this, is trying to destroy you. That is his actual mission.” [17:51]

• On identity and behavior:

  “The enemy knows that the wrong identity always produces the wrong activity.” [28:47]

• On God’s timing and affirmation:

  “It’s easy to know I’m his beloved son when I’m in the Jordan River... But what do I do when I’m in the wilderness and there is no John?” [32:52]

• On temptation:

  “Temptation is not sin... It’s just an invitation. Ain’t nothing wrong with getting an invitation. But when you start the RSVP, when you start looking up the address...” [37:36]

• About shortcuts to destiny:

  “I refuse to take a shortcut to my destiny. I trust the will of my Father.” [43:36]

• Closing encouragement:

  “You don’t have to prove what has already been pronounced over you. You are loved. You're his child. He’s not tolerating you. He's pleased with you.” [45:31]

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–04:34: Opening, scripture reading, and setup of sermon theme.
• 06:42–08:22: The pressure to prove it—personalizing the burden.
• 10:20–12:45: The “duck” metaphor and “Pastor Derby” anecdote.
• 15:55–16:57: The importance of understanding biblical context.
• 17:33–20:38: The reality of spiritual warfare; don’t ignore or exaggerate the enemy.
• 24:33–26:53: The devil’s attack on Jesus’ identity as Son.
• 27:29–32:09: Identity precedes behavior: charades story and practical application.
• 35:46–36:27: Spirit-led into the wilderness—not every hard place is from the enemy.
• 37:36–40:49: Temptation as inevitable; Jesus as our empathetic high priest.
• 42:17–44:30: The three-fold temptations (lust of flesh, pride of life, lust of eyes).
• 45:31–53:13: Application, altar call, and closing prayer: living from approval and embracing true identity.

Tone and Language

Pastor Robert’s style is passionate, humorous, relatable, and repetitive for emphasis. He often uses metaphors, practical analogies (family stories, everyday experiences), scriptural exegesis, and call-and-response with the congregation. The sermon is both biblically grounded and full of practical encouragement.

For Those Who Haven’t Listened

This episode is a must for anyone wrestling with insecurity, the burden of performance, or questions about their spiritual identity. It reiterates the freedom found in God’s affirmation, encourages resisting temptation by clinging to identity in Christ, and delivers spiritual, practical, and emotional encouragement with actionable takeaways.