Prove It I Robert Madu I Social Dallas

Summary

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Social Dallas Podcast: “Prove It” – Robert Madu

Date: September 14, 2025

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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.

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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.

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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]

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Transcript

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Now we're just so glad that you're here. We're glad that you're planted in the house of the Lord today. Amen. That is our word. That's our word for the year. As a church. We come around a word, and our word for 20, 25 is planted. And we believe that we are going to flourish because we're planted in the house of the Lord. And so, to remind ourselves, every single week, we read our verse of the year found in Psalms 92, verses 13 through 15. We gonna read it together with uplifted voices. Y' all ready? Come on, let's read it. 1, 2, 3. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of our God, they shall still bear fruit in old age, they shall be fresh and flourishing to declare that the Lord is right. He is my rock. There is no unrighteousness in him. You sound good. You sound good. And then our text for today. If you've been around here, you know that we are in a series called Mountains. Mountains. We have been on a journey throughout the entire Bible, looking at mountain moments in the Bible, because in the Bible, mountains are not just geographical locations. They were sacred spaces and places where God showed up, did powerful things. So I've been telling you this whole series, lace up your boots, put on your back pain. It's time to climb. It's time to climb. That's the remix. And so there's another mountain we're going to look at today. But this, this. This mountain, oh, Lord, is different. I want you to go to Matthew, chapter four. Today we're going to look at verses one through eleven. The Gospel According to Matthew, chapter number four, verses one through eleven. When you're ready to read it, say, yeah, yeah. Need a little time. Say, hold it up. I heard it. I'm a wait for you, dawg. I'm away. I was desperate. Look at what it says. Then Jesus was led up by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. When he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights afterward, he was hungry. I bet he was. 40 days, no food. Now, when the tempter came to him, he said, if you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. But he answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Then the devil took him up into the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, if you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written. He shall give his angels charge over you.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Oh, the devil is quoting scripture.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Isn't that interesting?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Just because you know scripture don't mean. Never mind.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

It's too early in the message to mess with you. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. And Jesus said to him, well, it is written again, you shall not tempt the Lord your God. Again the devil took him up on an exceedingly high mountain. This is the final temptation on the mountain. He showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, all these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, away with you, Satan. For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and have all, only you shall serve. Then the devil left him and behold, angels came and ministered to him. Can you say amen?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Woo.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

That's good stuff. That's good stuff. So much to unpack in this today, but I do want to tag a title to this text and preach to you. Not long, about two and a half hours. I'm just playing. I'm gonna get you to the game. I want to talk from this thought. Prove it. Prove it. Prove it. Just look at somebody next to you, get in their personal space and say, neighbor, I want to know, are you trying to prove it? Come on, find you another neighbor. Find another neighbor. Say other neighbor. I really want to know what you trying to prove. Father, speak to us today. Amen. You may be seated in the presence of the Lord. Prove it.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Does.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Anybody have a physical Bible I could borrow? Like a physical Bible? Not your phone, but like a physical Bible right here? Thank you, sir. You're a good man. Give him a shout out for having a physical Bible.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I'll be honest, wasn't a lot of.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Hands when I said, anybody got a physical Bible? That's all right. That's the generation that we have. I remember an old preacher, he told me, he's like, there's nothing like the sound of hearing pages turn in the Bible as people are looking for scripture. I said, well, that's your generation. I got the new generation. There's nothing like the glow of your phone and your iPad hidden your face. But thank you, thank you for this.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

This physical leather bound Bible.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

This is your Bible. Tell me your name. Alexis.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I knew that.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Alexis, this is your Bible. Where you keep this Bible? It's with you all the time. All the time. At Chipotle, at the gym, Every day you read it every day? Every day. What you read yesterday oh, you're a little slow, Alexis.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I'm playing.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

I'm playing. I'm playing with you. Hold on. Let me see what you got in here.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Okay, okay, okay, okay. Let me show you.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Let me show you.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Let me show you. God, why you got notes in here?

[Pastor Robert Madu]

And. Come on.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Stuff highlighted. Come on. Got more notes in the New Testament than the Old Testament. That's all right. That's all right.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

That's all right.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I got stuff in here. Come on. What's your favorite verse, Alexis? Favorite verse?

[Pastor Robert Madu]

I need to know.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

You read it every day. You take it to Chipotle. What's your favorite verse in the Bible?

[Pastor Robert Madu]

You don't like reading a single verse? You mean to tell me that Psalms 92, verses 13 through 15, ain't your favorite verse? Those who are planted in the house of the Lord. That's okay. You just got one verse. But you don't want to share that one verse with. Okay. If you had one verse, would you post it on your page? You might. You might. Okay, I'm just. I'm just. I'm just messing with you. Give Alexis a hand. I'll give him a hand.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I did that.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Thank you for being a good sport. But it was interesting to watch his face as I was asking those questions. Isn't it funny how questioning somebody can create a climate of pressure?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Like, he was smiling, he was like, yeah. But I could see his heart going.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Man, come on, Pastor, there's a whole lot of people. Could you just move on in the message? Because just me asking you, and I believe you. I know you read your word. This is an awesome man of God. But it's funny to me how asking questions, the climate of somebody questioning you can place a pressure on you to prove it. Prove it. Notice I didn't just take your word for it. I kept asking you because I wanted you to prove it. I wonder if anybody in here has ever felt the weight, the pressure of having to prove it. Have you ever felt the weight of having to prove it in this culture, in this climate, in this society? Have you ever felt the weight of just trying to prove it? Trying to prove that you got it all together when everything's falling apart? The pressure to prove that you really are spiritual, to prove that you really do love the Lord. The pressure can be immense when you're trying to prove it. The pressure to prove that you are qualified for that job. You just got the pressure to prove that you know a whole lot. Come on. Don't act like you've never paused before. You Text somebody back and went straight to ChatGPT and asked it a question before you responded, just so you could give this image like you got it all together.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Does anybody know what it's like to.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Have the pressure to prove it? To prove that you're not like your father, to prove that you're not. What your mother said about you when you were 8 years old and it still rings in your head, oh, I'm.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Telling you, if we could be honest.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

In this church, which is sometimes hard for people to do, I am willing to bet anything that so many people will lift up their hands and say, pastor, I'm telling you, I am dealing with the weight and the pressure of trying to prove it. Trying to prove that I got the joy of the Lord. Trying to prove to my ex that I'm better now that you're gone and I finally found somebody that loves me for who I am. Trying to prove to people around you that you're successful and you made it and don't even know that you got more bills than you got paycheck, but you're flaunting on your Instagram.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Just trying to let them know I am somebody.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

The pressure to prove it can drive you crazy. Have you ever felt the pressure to prove it? I'm wondering how many of you are dealing with what I'll call the burden of proof. I'm gonna steal that from my lawyers. See, in the courtroom, they have something called the burden of proof. But the burden of proof is actually on the prosecutor. The prosecutor has the burden of proof, not the person. That's the defendant. The defendant is the one that we said is innocent until proven guilty. But I have found in our culture today, because of the stain of sin, many of us feel that we are guilty until proven innocent. And many of us go through our entire lives not just trying to prove innocence, but trying to prove our existence. And we do all kinds of things. Just trying to let people know I am somebody. And all the things that we do just to prove it. The pressure to prove it will have you looking like a duck. A duck. You ever seen a duck just coasting on the water? Looks poised. Looks like it got it all together. Put that camera underneath the water. Them little legs.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

That'S you.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Everybody sees you in church today.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

If we could look at your soul.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Just trying to keep up the pressure to prove.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

That's what I want to know today.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Is who or what makes you start paddling faster. What makes you do that? Ooh, I tell on myself, since you can't tell on You. I cannot tell you how many scenarios and situations where I start pedaling faster just trying to prove it. I had one this week. I love how the Holy Spirit sets up my messages. This week. This week, PT and I went to a vision dinner that we got invited to at Globe Life Field. It was a vision dinner for a conference that's gonna happen there next year. It was all these leaders and all these pastors, and we get there, and the stadium lights are on. It was unbelievable. They had a T tables set up on the stadium floor. The lights were on.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I was like, oh, this is awesome.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

We're gonna eat some good food. It's a great vision dinner.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Well, all of a sudden, before the.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Vision dinner, they have a little icebreaker.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

And the two dudes from Dude Perfect are there, and they get on the microphone in the stadium where the Rangers play. They say, well, before we begin the dinner, we are gonna have a little game called Pastor Derby. Get ready for Pastor Derby. And I'm sitting next to pt like, what is Pastor Derby? I didn't come here for this. I came here for the chicken. And I'm sitting up there, and all of a sudden he's like, if you come on down for Pastor Derby, Pastor Louie Giglio, come on down. Pastor Priscilla Shire, come on down. Pastor Matt Chandler, come on down. And then this fool says, pastor Robert Madue, come on down. Like, are you for real? So here I am going down to the field, and they have us put on a little baseball hat, and we.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Got a little baseball, and there I am standing in line, getting ready to.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Go up to the bat.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

And here's the thing.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

We're. My mind knew this is just the icebreaker to set up the dinner, but my heart was beating out of my chest. Yo, I've not swung a bat since T ball, and yet I felt like the pressure was on the line. You don't believe me? I'll prove it. There's the picture right there. That's me in Globe Life Field, swinging with everything I got with the pressure of, like, yo, I can't strike out. Not in front of all these people. I feel like Jackie Robinson in these streets. I was like, I gotta give it everything that I got. And I was thinking to myself, how in the world did an icebreaker game turn into an opportunity for me to.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Have pressure to prove it?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I'm not lying to you.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

My mom was like, you can't strike out in front of these people. You better at least hit it once. The pressure to prove it and you laughing at me. But isn't that what life does to you? You get in certain scenarios and situations, and externally, you know, oh, it's not a big deal. This is fine. But internally, there is this unspoken pressure in our lives to prove it. If you've ever felt that pressure, you're gonna love this sermon today. Because in our text today, we are looking at Jesus. And Jesus in Matthew chapter four is facing a battle. And if you get down to the bottom of the battle, there is this pressure that is being put on Jesus to prove it. To prove. Prove that you are the Son of God. Prove that you really are who your father says that you are. And if Jesus faced that pressure, I think we ought to look at what is happening on this mountain as Jesus is facing the pressure to prove it. Now, before I really jump into this today, a shout out to Alexis for letting me use your Bible, bro. Because I noticed something in your B, besides the highlighters and the notes, that were more in the New Testament than the Old Testament. I noticed that in your Bible, which I'm sure would be everybody's Bible, there were chapter divisions and verse numbers. Matter of fact, if you got a Bible on your phone, on your hand, how many of your Bible has chapter divisions or verse numbers in your Bible? Can I see your hand? Okay. There should be everybody, unless you came in here with a scroll. And I feel the need to let you know that you have to understand that was not in the original manuscripts. When we originally got the Scriptures, the writers were not writing for chapter divisions and verse numbers. Those came later. In fact, chapter divisions came in 1205 AD and then even verse numbers came later than that in the 1500s. That came later. Originally, these authors wanted you to get the full thought of what they were saying without the chapter divisions or the verse numbers. Now, I love those chapter divisions. I love those verse numbers. How many know they help you? Come on.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I am not trying to scroll, unscroll.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Some papyrus and be here all day trying to find Matthew chapter four.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

It's powerful, even helps you when you're.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Trying to get your verses in. Don't you feel good when you wake up, you're like, woo, got three verses in today. Come on. What you gonna do about that, Devil? It feels real good to get verses in, to have an address for a specific passage. But the problem with that, the problem with that is if you approach the Scripture like that, sometimes you can look at a particular passage independently and look at it by itself, not understanding that that particular passage is intrinsically connected to the chapter that went before it. And you can't look at that text independently. You really should be looking at that chapter interdependently, because what happened before is connected to what's happening to what you're reading now. And if you take it out of the context, you won't get the full weight of what the scripture is saying to you. Preach, Robert. Maddie, that's actually a good principle in life right there.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

When you take stuff, context, and you.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Think you got the whole story, whoo, you are in for trouble. It is dangerous when you just got a fragment of the story and think that because you got a fragment, you know the full story, you've got to have it all in context. So I say that on our journey today to understand Jesus, battle in Matthew chapter four is connected to what happened in Matthew chapter number three, and we'll get to that later. But let's dive in to Matthew chapter number four and the text that we just read, because in this text, Jesus is in a battle. He is in the fight of his earthly life. He is facing spiritual warfare. He is in a fight, y'. All. He's in a fight not with his disciples, not with the Sanhedrin, not with the Pharisees. Jesus is in a fight with the devil. He's in a fight with Satan himself. Why do you pause to point that out, PR Because I think one of the glaring realities of this passage we read today is that Satan is real, that spiritual warfare is real. And some of you who are proud Sunday school alumnus, you're like, duh, I know that, but I'm gonna still say it anyway. Satan is real, and spiritual warfare is real. This is critical for you to understand. I heard a pundit the other day, people talking about the devil. I don't believe in the Devil. And I heard him say that. And I thought to myself, just because you don't believe in him doesn't make him less real. He is still real whether you believe in him or not.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

As a matter of fact, he would.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Prefer that you don't believe in him.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Because you cannot fight back against the.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Enemy that you refuse to recognize. So the devil don't mind you not believing he's real.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

He would prefer it. So you just be oblivious out here in these streets, not even realizing there.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Is a target on your head.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

There is a devil that, watch this, is trying to destroy you. That is his actual mission. You must understand this in the same way that God loves you, that God doesn't want anybody to perish, and that God wants all to come into repentance. Satan is the actual opposite. He hates you.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

He wants every single person to perish.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

He does not want you to come into repentance because he knows there's a hell waiting for him and he wants to drag as many people as he can with him.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

This is a real battle that Jesus.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Is facing, and I want you to.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Know today that you are facing. This is a war, y'.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

All.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

This is a battle, y'. All.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

This is not a walk in the park.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

See, church people make me laugh because we generally go to one of the two extremities. We either overestimate the devil to where, like, we think he's, like, just as powerful as God. And we see the devil in everything. Sometimes not the devil, you know, it's just your decision.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Oh, the devil's in my car today, praying.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Just warfare in my car. No, you need an oil change.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

It's that simple.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

So we overestimate him and think he's.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

All powerful and you scared of him and think he's just as powerful as God.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

We overestimate him or we underestimate the devil and we just out here thinking.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

That, like, oh, no, I'm just serving the Lord.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

I don't have any attack. Have you lost your mind? This is what 1 Peter 5:8 says. He says, be sober, be vigilant, stay alert. Your enemy, your adversary, is roaming around like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour. A lion. This is the metaphor that Peter chooses to use. He is trying to see who can destroy. Reminds me like, I have been to the Dallas Zoo around the lions, and I have been on a safari in South Africa around lions. How many know I had two totally different dispositions in those environments?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Oh, Dallas Zoo. I got an ice cream cone. I ain't worried about that glass. What's up, Mufasa? Just go on, do whatever you gotta do. When I am on that Jeep with PT In Johannesburg, South Africa, and it's just us and the guide out there, and I'm out there, and we out there in the streets, y', all, I am alert. I'm looking around. Whatever my God tells me to do, please be still. I don't move. I'm making sure that that gun is loaded. Why? Because I understand the climate that I'm in. I understand the danger that's around me. So I closely leaned in to what my guide was saying, and I need some believers to wake up and understand the climate of the Earth. You can't be around here eating an ice cream cone. The enemy is trying to destroy you. He is trying to kill you. He's trying to take not just you out, but generations out. Are you aware. Are you aware of the enemy that you have because you cannot fight back.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Against the enemy that you refuse to acknowledge or be aware of? So I think it's interesting. In this text, as simple as it may be, we are understanding that the devil is real. He changes names three times in the text that we read today. In our text, in Matthew, chapter four, he's called the tempter, he's called the devil, and he's called Satan. In John, chapter 8, verse 44, Jesus himself says he is a murderer and has always been a murderer. Anytime you see murder and death, guess who's behind is Satan. This is his goal. In fact, he says he is a liar and the father of all lies. In Revelation 12, 9, it calls him the dragon, the ancient serpent, the one who deceives the whole world. And if he came up against Jesus, I came to tell you he will come up against you. But what I want us to dig into today is when does he come up against Jesus, and how does he come up against Jesus? Cause here's what I learned. He really don't get new tricks. He been running the same play since eternity. Ain't nothing changed. So I want us to look at how does he attack and when does he attack? Notice when he is attacking. Jesus is getting ready to step into his ministry, y'.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

All.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

He has been in anonymity for almost 20 years. Just we get much about Jesus life from birth to 12, then all of a sudden, he just ghosts us, and then shows up at age 30 ready to step into his purpose. He is about to go into the fullness of his purpose. And right at the beginning of his public ministry, here comes an attack. Have you noticed in your own life, the enemy always battles you at the beginning of a thing? It's like right when you're on the edge, right when you're getting ready to step into what God has for you, he turns up the intensity of the.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Attack because he knows what's on the other side.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

I don't know who I'm preaching to.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Today, but somebody's about to walk away from their purpose because you feel like the attack is too much. And I came to tell you, you need to flip that thing and tell yourself there's a reason he's attacking me right now. There's a reason why he's coming against me. I must be right on the edge of all that God has for me. He always battles as you get close to it. He didn't just do it at the beginning of his ministry, he did it at the beginning of his life working through King Herod. Isn't it interesting that King Herod sends out an edict and says, kill every baby boy two years or younger, trying to destroy the Messiah, trying to stop him before he ever got started. Oh, but that's why I'm thankful for the God that I serve. Because there is no scheme of man, there is no plan of hell that can ever stop the call and the purpose of God on my life. Oh, devil, you should have killed me when you had the chance. I know why you attacked me from the time I was young, because you knew the purpose that God put on the inside of me. And I just made a decision that he who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. Somebody ought to take 10 seconds and give God some praise. If you're thankful that the devil can't stop what God is going to do in you and through you, he's trying to stop him before he ever gets started. So no wonder you showing up.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

I'm about to step in my purpose. But also notice how he attacks the temptations. There are three of them and they change. We'll talk about those in a minute, Coach Taylor. But what precedes every single temptation? There's a statement. He says, did you read it? He keeps saying, if you are the Son of God, if that's a little extra.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Why did I just say turn the stones into bread?

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Why did I just say jump off.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

The top of the temple? Why do you have to precede every.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Temptation with if you are the Son of God? Can we think deeper? Why in the world would you attack this specific identity? I had to put a blank underneath Son of God because in my exegetical imagination, there's a whole lot of names we could put in that blanket.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

We can say, if you are a.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Miracle worker, turn the stones into bread. If you are a waymaker, turn the stones into bread. If you're a promise keeper, turn. I just had to do the song first.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

If you're the savior of the world.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Turn the stones into bread.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

If you are the Messiah, turn the stones into bread. If you are Jehovah, turn the stones into bread. If you're Jireh, turn the stones into bread. If you're Elroy, turn the stones into bread. If you're the Prince of Peace, turn.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

The stones into bread.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

If you're wonderful counselor, turn the stones into bread. If you're everlasting Father, turn the stones into bread if you are God Almighty. None of those.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

He only goes with son. He's attacking sonship. Why come? Well, Alexis, it's because of them chapter divisions that we jacked up.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

That's in your Bible.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

We got to go up to Matthew chapter three, where it was divided to realize why he's attacking his sonship. When he had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Saying, this is my beloved. This is my beloved. This is my beloved in whom I'm well pleased. Oh, now I know why you attacking me as a son. You're attacking the very thing my father affirmed. You're not coming against what I have because you can't take what I have, because you can't create anything. You cannot come against what I'm about to step into because you can't stop me from what I'm about to step into. You're coming against my identity because if you get my identity, you'll stop me from stepping into what God has already prepared for me. So no wonder you attacking me being a son, because that's. That's who my father said I was. Are y' all recording this? I'm gonna watch it later.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

It's blessing me.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

And look at how he says he's son. Watch this. He ain't done a miracle yet, Ain't healed a blinded eye yet, Ain't opened up a deaf ear yet, has not done any miracle yet, hasn't been to the cross yet. And yet we have a father who says, my love for you is not predicated upon your performance. So you never have to go through life trying to prove anything to anybody. I want you to flow from approval and know that you are my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased. You're already approved. So when you face the devil or.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

The Pharisees, walk in there knowing I already know who my father said that I am. This is a strategic attack against his identity. Why is he attacking his sonship? He's attacking what the father already affirmed. He's doing it because, hear me, the enemy knows if he can shake your identity, he can shape your behavior. He knows that identity drives behavior. If you want to change somebody, change their identity. And watch the byproduct of a changed identity affect their behavior. It's not the other way around. This is where church folks getting messed up. You're so Busy trying to change your behavior. Oh, God, I'm trying. I read all of Leviticus today. Oh, Lord, I lifted up two hands today and one leg.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Oh. Focused on your behavior instead of intimacy with Jesus and reminding yourself who he.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Says that you are. And when you change your identity, when.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Your identity changes, naturally your behavior comes into alignment with your identity. This is what we call sanctification. It don't just happen overnight, but over time. As I walk with the Lord and as I trust him, and as I.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Get his word in me, all of.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

A sudden, my behavior starts coming into alignment with my identity.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Identity. The enemy knows that the wrong identity always produces the wrong activity.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I'm gonna give you something.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

I even get the first service. Cause it came to me just in between services.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Family.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Friday night in the Madu household is fun. Sometimes we watch movies, sometimes we play Uno. And I kill him every time. And sometimes we play charades. That's what we did the other night, play charades. And it is the cutest thing when we play charades with my Remy, who's in the service today. Little Remy girl, you know, she. She's seven, about to be eight, and she's still learning how to read. So sometimes when we get the car for charades, Remy will come up to me, just me. And she'll go. She'll look at it first. She'll go, daddy, Daddy, what is this? And I look at it. Nobody else will know in the family. I look at it, and I, as her father, will tell her what's on the card. Because she doesn't know what it is. If she doesn't know what it is, she can't do the behavior to get us to guess it. So she'll come tell her father, and her father will confirm what's on the card.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

And then she'll step in with confidence once her father tells her what it is. And she'll start acting it out. And P.T. and Everly and Robert third, they don't know. But I know. I know exactly. In fact, she can do an action that is antithetical to the name. I said, no, don't do that, baby. Because I know what the word is. This is what I love about God, is that he knows my identity. He knows who I am, and sometimes my behavior is off. I got to come to him. He said, no, no, no, no, no. Don't do that, Robert. You're not a victim. You're a victor. You're not beneath. You're above. Oh, God. You gotta get your behavior in alignment with your identity. And it only comes not from the culture, not from scrolling. It comes from your father. Somebody give God some praise if you know who you are. Y' all stop shouting.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

I gotta hurry up. Identity always precedes behavior. Identity. What are you saying about yourself and how it'll affect your behavior?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I could get so spiritual with this.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

And I can get so practical with this. Start telling yourself, I am forgiven. And watch how shame starts to dissipate. And keep saying it and keep saying it. I'm talking to some of y' all that come up in here every day and just your hands folded. Missing the opportunity to worship. And what do you keep telling yourself that's a damn ass social. I don't get down like that. That's not my personality. Flip the script and start saying, I'm a worshiper. I'm a worshiper. I'm worship.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I bet you lift up your hands.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

You might take a lap around Hilly's. But you better start telling yourself, I'm a worshiper. I'm a worshiper. Gotta get real practical.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

You can't even go to a restaurant. You trying to change. This is the only body you got. I do this all the time. I go to a restaurant. I tell myself, I'm a healthy person.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

No, I'm healthy.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I'm not vegan.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

But I'm just healthy.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

So I start telling myself, what would.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

A healthy person order off of this menu?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

That's what I tell them. I'm healthy. And as I confirm my identity, it's crazy how my options change.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Nah, go ahead.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Give me that salmon with the kale salad.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Yes.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

No, I saw the banana pudding.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

But I'm healthy. Identity always precedes behavior. This is why the Father must affirm this before he steps into anything. You are my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased. My only beef with God is where he affirms his identity. Because it's easy to know I'm his beloved son when I'm in the Jordan River. That's a beautiful oasis. John is there, looking like a prophet.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

That's easy.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

I got a crowd around me that's easy. To know that I'm his beloved son. Look at this. This is amazing. We're in the water. There's a crowd around me. But, God, what do I do when I'm in the wilderness and there is no John? There is no Holy Spirit descending like a dove. In fact, one version says there are wild beasts. He's literally out there with lions. No ice cream cone. And Now I fasted 40 days and 40 nights. I'm beyond psychological hunger. This is physical hunger. My body internally is eating itself. I'm weary, I'm tired, and in the wilderness I've got to hear the voice of the enemy who does not come one time but twice and three. By the way, another version says he waits for another opportune time to come again. It just seems like to me Jesus.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Could have got a word there. Why not let the heavens open up in the wilderness? Maybe you don't read your Bible like.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

I read my Bible, but I'm like.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

God, if you gon give me a word, give it to me in the wilderness. Like, this is how this text should.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Play out in my mind. He's in the wilderness. No voices from heaven has come. And then the enemy shows up. If you are the son of God. And as soon as he says it, the heavens open up what you made. If he is the son of God.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Because I said he's the son of God. He's my beloved son.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Back up, devil. That's my child.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I can be like Sue.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Thank you. Does not happen. God says, I want you to trust the word you heard when the atmosphere was perfect. Can you hold on to that word I spoke over your life when you are in a wilderness and there is nothing around you to substantiate what I have spoken over your life. Anybody can know you're the beloved son when you're in the oasis of the Jordan River. But it's in the wilderness and we don't like that message. Right? In fact, if you've really been in church, you'll start rebuking the wilderness. I've come against this wilderness. This is not the place God has for me. He's created me to be an oasis and with green plush valleys, not the wilderness. But don't miss the part of the text that said the Spirit led him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The devil did not lead him into the wilderness. He was just there waiting for him. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Anybody want to be spirit led?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Oh, you do. You sang the song Spirit lead me where my trust is without bold. Really? Because this text says the Spirit will.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Lead you into the wilderness.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

So ain't no need of rebuke in the wilderness if the Spirit has led me there. Church people, I gotta pick on us.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Cause I'm one of us.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

We be in the wilderness talking about God, you know I love you. I just want your will. I want your will. He's like, well, my will is the will.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Darness, what do you do when his will is the wilderness. Are you waiting for a new word? Because I hate to be the person telling you it might not be coming. What if he wants you to hold on to what he already said or dig into what's already in you? And so he's in the wilderness and the enemy starts tempting. Here's some good news out of this text, very practically that you can take home with you. I love the fact that Jesus is being tempted in his earthly life because it reminds us today that temptation is not sin. Somebody needs to hear that today. The fact that you are being tempted to do something is not a sign of a lack of spirituality or intimacy with God. If it is, you gotta take this part out of the Bible. Jesus is being tempted. And temptation in and of itself is not a sin. Temptation is nothing but an invitation to live a self serving lifestyle that will lead to rebellion towards God. 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, you know when you get invitation to someplace you're not gonna go, but then you at least go to the mall and you're like, well if I was gonna go, this is what I would wear. Cause that outfit would kill it over there.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Whenever you start doing that, that's when.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

You on a path of destruction. So there's nothing wrong. Here's another thought from this text. Temptation is inevitable. It's inevitable. Some of you are waiting to reach some elite place of spirituality where you won't get tempted anymore. And it ain't going to happen. If Jesus with his holy self got tempted. As long as you are in this flesh, you will be tempted. But can somebody celebrate the fact that Jesus has felt every kind of temptation that we have a Savior that didn't just stay in heaven to redeem us, but he is the only person that can truly say, I know what you're going through, because I was tempted too. Oh, you need a verse. Here it is. Hebrews 4. This verse blessed me and then it messed me up. Writer of Hebrews says, seeing that we have a great high priest who has.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God. Let us hold fast our confession, for.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Ooh, that's good news.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Church. We have a savior that says, every temptation you've ever faced, I felt it too. I understand the battle, I understand the struggle. I understand the pull and that blessed me. That blessed me. When I read that verse, it reminded me of that old hymn that says, there's not a friend like the lowly Jesus. No, not one. Jesus knows all about our struggles. He will guide until the day is done.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Ooh, I love that verse. Said God, you know, you feel me when nobody else can feel me.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

You feel me. But then I started thinking, but hold up. If you've been tempted just like me, Jesus, I'm Yeshua.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

I ain't arguing. I'm just saying I can think of.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Some temptations that I face that you didn't face. Like Jesus, you weren't tempted to be on Instagram too long.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Wasn't no gram. Jesus, you were not tempted to leave your family. You weren't married. Jesus, you are not tempted to watch.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Netflix all day when you should be doing something that's connected to your purpose.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Jesus, you were not tempted to go.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

To Vegas and turn all the way up.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

So what you mean you? I can think. Jesus, you weren't tempted to cheat on your taxes? Should I keep saying till I hit yours? Jesus. Jesus, you weren't tempted to slide in somebody else's deal? What you mean you feel every temptation? I don't understand.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

And then I remembered Second John. Or is it First John? Yeah, probably First John, chapter two. I knew it was a two in there. And it says, do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Don't miss this. For all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life. Oh, Jesus. You didn't face every single temptation with specificity by name, but you did face every type of temptation. Cause there's only three. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Every single thing that is tempting you in your life or in church right now will fall in one of those categories right there. The lust of your flesh, your appetite. Look at Jesus in the wilderness. Hungry. Hunger didn't come from the devil. Hunger was created by God. He's hungry. He just finished fasting. That is a legitimate need. But what is the trick of the enemy trying to get me to fulfill a legitimate need, an illegitimate way? Come on, Jesus. Turn the stones into bread.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Use your miraculous power for you. And nowhere in your gospels does Jesus ever use his power for himself. His power was always for somebody else to come into the knowledge of who he Was so back up, Satan. I don't just live by natural, natural bread. I live by the spirit and the bread of life that comes from his word. So I cannot use my power to.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Feed my flesh appetite. The enemy will always try to get you to fulfill a legitimate need, an illegitimate way. The lust of the flesh, the pride of life.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Jump off the top of the building of the temple.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Don't the scriptures say his angels will take care of you? Oh, I see what you're doing, Satan. You up and up the temptation because I'm called to shape my life to fit the word of God, not to shape the word of God to fit my life.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

So you want to quote Psalm 91.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

That says God will protect me and.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

He is a God that protects me, but he's not going to protect me when I'm just jumping out to test.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

Him to do something he never told me to do.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Now if I do something, slip and fall, if I do have an attack, I do have a God that will cover me and protect me, but he's not authorized to protect me for something that I'm just out here saying I'm going to do. I got insurance, but I'm not going.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

To go break dancing on i35 this afternoon. So that is the pride of life. It is doing things for the approval and the applause of man, trying to prove it rather than for the glory of God. The lust of the eyes, he takes them on a mountain, says, look all the kingdoms of this world I will give you if you bow down and worship me. Satan, the kingdoms of this world are already mine and they are going to be mine, especially after I go to the cross, defeat death and get up from the grave. But you're trying to to get me to take a shortcut to my destiny, to avoid pain and worship you, to get what is already mine. I refuse to take a shortcut to my destiny. I trust the will of my Father. This is the trick of the enemy.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

To allow your ambition to make you step over people and take shortcuts to try to get what you want. No, I'm not just getting what I see. I'm getting what my Father wants me to have. And if I got to go through a cross to get it, it, I'll go through a cross to get it. Because that's what makes it legitimate. That's why I'm now ascended and seated at the right hand of the Father. And that ought to be good news for somebody that Jesus passed every single one of these tests. You know why that's Why? I can have hope today. That's why the devil can't stop me. That's why I can have an escape for temptation. Why? Because my perfect Savior didn't bow down on that mountain. He died on a mountain called Calvary. I want to thank Jesus for passing the test so I can have hope. So I don't have to prove it to anybody. I refuse to try to prove what my father already says that I am. I refuse to try to prove what.

[Pastor Robert Madu]

My father has already pronounced over me. I'm not living for likes. I'm not living for the applause of man. I'm living for him, the one who can feel what I feel and went through what I went through, who passed the test and died on a mountain so that we don't have to be stuck in our sin and we can have hope even when the enemy is coming with all kinds of temptations saying, prove it. I've got nothing to prove. As everybody stands to your feet, would you just stand, please? Everybody, respect this moment. Hear me. Today I believe that this is a word that is going to set somebody free. You have been on the hamster wheel of trying to prove it. And today this word is your father reminding you you don't have to prove what has already been pronounced over you. You are loved. You're his child. Watch this. He's not tolerating you. He's pleased with you. But you don't know what I've done. You don't know what I done. You are his child. He loves you. There's nothing my kids will do that'll make me go, oh, I can't stand them. I might not like the behavior and I'm sure gonna step in and correct it, but those are my children. I love them. They don't have to prove. They don't have to take out the trash to be accepted. My children, your father wants you to live from approval and not for it today. And as heads be bowed, eyes be closed today, Father, would you help us to stop living our lives to prove it? We don't have to post it to prove it. We don't have to beg for it from the person that rejected us to prove it. But God, we can walk in the confidence of our identity. And God, I thank you that it is our identity that is in you that transforms and shapes our behavior. Father, thank you for the power of your word. Thank you for the transformational power of the gospel that is not behavior modification. God, we are your children. We put our faith in you. We step out of darkness into the kingdom of light. And God, thank you that you don't give up on us and leave us where we are. But over time, thank you that we are transformed and our behavior comes into alignment with our identity. Heads are bowed, eyes are closed today. But if you're in here today and you'd be so honest to say, you know what, I've been living my life for approval. Some of you are so exhausted because you've been trying to prove it. And today this message is a wake up call to say you don't have to prove what has already been pronounced over you. I know the enemy's loud because he knows that you will live out the loudest voice that is in your head. And this is why you need to be leaned into the voice of your father and in his word so that his voice is the loudest voice. If you're here today, you say, pr, this message is for me and I've been living to prove it. And I. I'm laying it down today. I'm gonna remind myself what my father says. I am, if that's you, would just lift up your hand high enough and long enough to where I can see it. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, father. Anybody else? Head still bowed, eyes still close. In this room, you can put it down. Want to be real specific? Whether you're in this room or watch party room or maybe watching online, you say, hey, P.R. i've never taken that first step, which is to say, jesus, my life is yours. Christianity is not behavior modification. It is surrender to a savior who did not wait for you to get your life together to die for you. He passed the test on that mountain and then he died on a mountain so that we could have access to become sons and daughters of him. A great price was paid. He loves you that much. So with heads bowed and eyes closed today, if you've never surrendered your life to Jesus, I'd love to give you that opportunity today. I don't care if it's just one person. Please believe he'd be worth it today. Dashiell, would you just lift up your hand high enough and long enough to where I could see and say, today I gotta make a decision. I'm giving him my life today. I see that hand. I see that hand. Thank you, God. Thank you, Lord. I see that hand. Anybody else in the watch party room? The Bible says, the day you hear his voice, don't harden your heart. You know when God is speaking to you. I am convinced that all of us have an awareness of the divine. You know when he's talking to you, even when you try to reject it. We were not made for this world. We're made to be with him. Anybody else, just lift it up. Thank you, God. I want us to pray this prayer. We're all going to say it, but especially those of you who responded. Would you say this from your heart? Say, jesus, I need you. Jesus, I believe that you are the son of God. Jesus, I believe that you lived the life that I was supposed to live. You died the death that I was supposed to die. Lord, you took my place. So my response is to surrender. From this moment forward, I repent of my sin. Thank you. That your blood that was shed on the cross was enough to wash my sin away. From this moment forward, I surrender all of me, for all of you. I will continue to walk in my identity as your child. Even when the enemy is allowed in my ear. I will hold on to the truth that I am loved. I am your child and you're pleased with me. In Jesus name, Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Come on, somebody echo what angels are doing in heaven right now and give Jesus just the best shout of praise. Come on, come on.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader (possibly PT or another church leader)]

Don't give a golf clap. Would you give Jesus just the best praise that you got?

[Pastor Robert Madu]

So.