The Everlasting Father | Senior Pastor Kenneth Carpenter

If you have your Bibles and would join me, one one verse today out of Isaiah, Isaiah chapter 9 and verse number six. Isaiah chapter 9 verse number 6. While you're looking at that, we'll give we'll give more thanksgiving tonight. But I want to thank this church for your tremendous work this week at General Ministry Conference in Knoxville. I want to thank everybody. There was some hardworking people there. And I want to thank you. And uh tonight we we may do some more of this, but just want to take a moment and say thank you. Isaiah 9 and6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting father, the prince of peace. And of course, today I want to zero in on that one phrase, the everlasting father. The everlasting father. If you have a prayer request right now, would you just simply in the presence of God created brought down by the praise and worship, would you raise your hand? Please remember this morning to pray for brother Devon Murphy. His mother passed away a couple of days ago. Let's remember the Murphy family. Mother Zender, Rhonda Meyers, uh, Brother Tommy Callaway, Brother Anken Bower, Sister J Stone had heart surgery this week. And let's remember to pray for Brother Eddie and Sister Debbie Lawless today. Let's pray for marriages that are in need of a touch. Also, um, also a young man that that really grew up in this church, Andrew Husky. uh passed away unexpectedly and when we find the arrangements out for Andrew's u services we'll let them know it was just so um sudden and we we'll be praying we'll be praying for that family let's pray father we love you this morning Lord we thank you for your love and mercy and God we're just grateful for you've been right here by our side all of our life and God we're just thankful and grateful for you Lord Lord Jesus, you've heard our request today. And you have seen the names that are scrolling across the screen. And Lord, you've heard the names that we have called out already, Lord. And we believe that you're at work, God, with your perfect will upon all of these needs. Lord Jesus, I pray for marriages today to be healed, Lord. I pray for those relationships and those marriages, God, that that Lord, you would to heal the deep-seated wounds, Lord, in these marriages, God. I I pray for needs in general today. I pray for those that are carrying burdens. I pray for those that may be weary in their mind, body, and spirit. Lord, help us today to be refreshed through the reading and the preaching of your word. Lord, we'll give you praise and honor and glory. In Jesus wonderful name, we all pray. Give the Lord a hand of praise as you're being seated. Please, a hand of praise as you're being seated this morning. Just a hand of praise as you're being seated today. The everlasting father. The everlasting father. Give you a few facts about the Bible broken up into two parts. The Old Testament and the New Testament. God was not referred to often in the Old Testament. He was not God was not referred to often in the Old Testament as father. He wasn't referred to often as father. While the concept of fatherhood appears primarily when it refers to him as a creator and a redeemer and the covenant lord of Israel of which he called Israel, God called Israel his son. The explicit title father for God is relatively rare in the Old Testament. Scholars that have studied this out say that they can count 15 to 20 times in the Old Testament a direct reference to God as being father. Uh it would depend upon which which translation you would read from. But scholars say there's only about 15 to 20 times that God is referred to as father in the Old Testament. Let me show you a few of the verses. Deuteronomy 32:6. Do you thus reququite the Lord, oh foolish people, and unwise? Is not he thy father that hath bought thee? Hath he not made thee and established thee? There he is referred to as father, but in the way of a creator. Isaiah 64 and8. But now, oh Lord, thou art our father. We are the clay. Thou art the potter and we are all the work of thy hand. Again, father is relating in the act or the uh creation. Isaiah 63 and 16. Doubtless thou art our father. Though Abraham be ignorant of us, Israel acknowledgeth us not. Thou, oh Lord, our father, our redeemer. Thy name is from everlasting. So I believe that you begin to see here that it's very rare in the Old Testament that God was referred to as father. And when he was referred to it mainly referred that he was your creator or he was the redeemer of his people from from Egyptian bondage. In the Old Testament, God is more commonly addressed like Yahweh, God Elohim or almighty or king or judge or shepherd or redeemer. But again, I want to keep saying it is very it is very rare that he is referred to in the Old Testament as father. But you see, when we mention the word father, it emphasizes God's care, God's compassion, God's creation, God's covenant relationship. But yet, God would become so much more than just our creator and just Israel's redeemer. When we contrast the Old Testament with the New Testament, things take a dramatic change when God fulfills Isaiah 9 and6. For unto us a child is given, unto us a son is born. Unto us a child is given. And a a son is born. These things change drastically because listen to this. Jesus would emphasize and personalize the relationship that God wanted to have with man. As a matter of fact, Jesus referred to God as his father. More than 100 times in the gospel did Jesus refer to God as his father. Now, now keep keep note of this. Now, only 15 to 20 times in the entire Old Testament did did the Bible refer to God as a father. But in four books, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, there's over 100 references that God is his father. Well, how did this take place? Join me on this journey today. In John chapter 14 and verse number one, Jesus is speaking. He is about to go to Calvary. He's giving some last words to his disciples. And in John chapter 14 and verse number one, he says, "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." And this just just very just very briefly right now. Just very briefly right now, let me say this. Jesus didn't leave 2,000 years ago. And he's currently building mansions in heaven for us to live. All right? He didn't say, "I'm going away to build mansions." He said, "They're already there." And my father's house are. They're already there. I go to prepare a place for you. That place for you is not a mansion because that place is already there. That room is already there. The place was man didn't have a mediator between unholy man and holy God. There was no gobetween. There was no way that man could enter into heaven. And so Jesus as a mediator said, "I go to prepare a place for you." Aren't you thankful today that what you could not do, he did, and he is our mediator this morning. Glory to God. Verse three. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also. Now follow this now. And whether or where I go, you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whether or where you go, and how can we know the way? Now, that makes sense, doesn't it? He says, we we don't we don't know where you're going, and we we don't know the way to where you are going. Jesus said in verse six, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. If you had known me, now keep in mind now this is Jesus speaking. If you had known me, you should have known my father also, and from henceforth you know him and have seen him. Philip saith unto him,"Lord, show us the father and it sufficeth or satisfies us." Now, now I if you want to read the end of this and you you you can. He says, "If we could see the father, we would be satisfied." I I believe there's a lot of dissatisfaction in our world today for one reason. People don't see the father >> as they should see the father. Because if you can see the father as you s should see the father. He said would you show us the father and it sufficeth or satisfies us? Listen to Jesus answer. Uh Jesus saith unto him have I been so long time with you and yet hast thou not known me Philillip? He that hast seen me hath seen the father. How sayest thou then show us the father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me. The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself. Follow this now. But the Father that dwelleth where? >> In me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me. Or else believe me for the work's sake. He's saying if you don't believe that the father dwells in me and the works that I do I do not of myself but it is the father that dwelleth in me. He says if you don't believe my word that I'm telling you then believe the works. What man what mortal man can raise the dead? >> What mortal man can walk on the water? >> What mortal man can heal all manner of sickness? What mortal man can command devils and spirits to leave and they have to obey his voice and jump into the swine and run into the What mortal man can heal the blinded eye? What mortal man can unstopp the deaf ears? What mortal man can cause the to stand and walk? No mortal man can do that but put God inside of the man and the man can do the works. Colossians chapter 2 verse number one. Go on the journey with me now. Colossians chapter 2 and verse number one. Paul says to the church, "For I would that you knew what great conflict I have for you and for them at leia. And for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and all the riches of the full assurance of understanding. Now, follow this with me, please. I'm emphasizing something here. To the acknowledgment of the mystery, everybody say mystery. >> The mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ. He says there's a mystery of God >> and of the father and of and of Christ. There's a mystery in whom are hid this mystery is hid in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say lest any man should beg you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit. showing and beholding your order and your steadfastness of your faith in Christ. Listen to this. As you have received, therefore, as you therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. Now, now here between what Paul is battling here, Paul is battling false doctrine, false teachers trying to come into the church at Kalashe and draw these people away from Christ. They're trying to draw them away from the message. And so he he's he's he's battling this and he says in verse six, "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him." In other words, don't get pulled aside, rooted, built up in him, established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Verse eight, beware lest any man spoil you. That means to take away to take away from you through philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men and the rudiments of the world and not after Christ. He says they're they're trying to pull you away. But let me tell you in one verse why you ought to stay connected to Jesus. Let me tell you in one verse why you ought to grow in Jesus. Let me tell you in one verse why you ought to be rooted in Jesus. Let me tell you in one verse why you shouldn't let anybody regardless of how good it sounds that it makes sense in your natural man. Let me tell you one reason and it's it found in verse number nine. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily. They said that's the reason that you need to stay you need to stay tethered in him. Give me a verse. I don't I didn't send you I didn't send you verse 10, but could you just real quickly get Colossians 2:10 and put it on the screen. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily. And ye are what? >> You are what? >> Almost complete. >> Somebody else is going to find another book somewhere buried under a tree and help you be complete. >> Some other cult leader is going to come along and give you a new version. No. When you find the fullness of the Godhead, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, you're complete in him. I believe somebody ought to give him a praise right now. You're complete in him. Would you remember the word of the second chapter of Colossians chapter 2? What I read? It said, and if you can put that on the screen, it says to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God. The mystery of God. Now, the root word for mystery, the root word, if you look at the root word, the Greek word of which we get mystery from, it's interesting. The Greek root word for mystery simply means this, to keep the mouth shut. To keep the mouth shut. I I could get off on another tangent, Dave, but I'll just I just Maybe some of us need to get baptized with a mystery. It just simply means to keep the mouth shut. Now, you do understand that we're here today in creation because God opened his mouth and said, "Let there be." We have light today because God opened his mouth and said, "Let there be light." We have this earth of which we live on today because God opened his mouth and said, "Let there be." But Paul calls Jesus the mystery of God. Let's find this out in John chapter 1 verse number one. The choir's been singing about this. In the beginning was the word. In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. The Greek word for word is logos. It means thought, plan, and idea. That's what it means. Doesn't mean person. It means a thought, a plan, and an idea. So, we do no damage to the word of God by reading it this way. In the beginning was the thought, the plan, and the idea. And the thought, the plan, the idea was with God. And the thought pl and the idea was God. Jesus is called a mystery. But in John chapter 1 verse number 14, and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth. Can I tell you when God said, "Let there be light." And God said, "Let there let there be rivers." And God said, "Let the waters be separated." And God ended his creation in Genesis. God wasn't through. There was still something that God was going to speak into existence. And that happened when God sent the angel Gabriel down to a virgin girl in Bethlehem. When he sent the angel Gabriel down and he said, "You're highly favored of the Lord." And he said, "God is going to use you and what's going to be birthed in you is going to be the son of God." And when God spoke that, just like God spoke light into existence, God spoke that into existence in the conception inside of Mary's womb. >> It's called a mystery. Stays a mystery or is it is referred to as a mystery all through the scripture. Romans chapter 16 verse 25. Listen to the Apostle Paul. Now to him there's a power to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began. Paul said, "I'm preaching a mystery revealed. I am preaching a mystery that is revealed. It is Jesus Christ the mystery that has been revealed. Paul would again refer to it in 1 uh Corinthians chapter 2 verse number 7. Paul said, "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory." And then 1 Timothy 3:16, it's it it really just settles it all and without controversy. That means debating. That means arguing and without controversy. Great is the mystery of godliness or godlikeness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached under the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received into glory. And that is Jesus Christ. And that is why we stand upon the foundation of the word of God and boldly proclaim that Jesus is one God. Jesus is that one Jesus is that one God. I told you that God opened his mouth and God sent the angel Gabriel down to the city of Galilee named Nazareth. verse I'll just read this very quickly so we can see this. Luke chapter 1 verse number 26. In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into the city of Galilee named Nazareth. To a virgin and spouse to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel came into her and said unto her, "Hail, thou that art highly favored. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women." She heard him. She was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. The angel said unto her, "Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. Behold, thou shalt conceive, and thy woman, bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the highest of the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. There's no end to his kingdom. Choir, I I I really love that song you sang today. From generation to generation, there's no boundaries to his goodness. There's no boundaries to his power. Do you realize today that the kingdom of God is just as powerful this Sunday morning as it was 2,000 years ago when he shed his blood on a cross outside of Jerusalem? And he paid the sin debt for you and I. And the kingdom of God was birthed through the death and the burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Can I tell you God? Here's the gospel in a nutshell. God did become a man and that man suffered, bled, and died on a cross. And that man died. God didn't die, but the man died. And the same God that caused the conception inside of Mary's womb entered that tomb on the third day and resurrected that body immort to be immortal. God resurrected that body and he came walking out of that tomb. He not only came walking out of that tomb, he ascended back into heaven. And I got good news to tell you. This is a gospel today. And he is our sooncoming king. It is a kingdom that can bring you out of darkness. It is a kingdom that can bring you out of confusion. It is a kingdom that can bring you out of destruction. It is a kingdom that can cause you to be a brand new born again. Aren't you thankful for the gospel today? >> Why do we have the gospel? I want you to look at this. Why do we have the gospel? Why do we have the gospel? John 3:16. For God, what? So God, I I heard I heard someone not, thank God, not not one of our group, but I heard someone of another denomination that fought so much of their denomination that said these words. He said, "I know that it says, "For God so loved the world, but it really meant for God." And he named his denomination. And I thought, no, he shed his blood and bought the church, but he first loved the world. You hear me? He first loved the world. He first loved sin's perversion. He didn't love sin, but he loved the sinner that sin was in. >> You see, God doesn't hate sinners. And I've heard this, and I'd like to I've always I've heard people say, "God hates the sinner. God does not hate the sinner. God hates the sin of the sinner. But God doesn't hate the sinner. For God so loved the world. Why did we have the plan of the mystery? Why did God keep his mouth shut until the time came for him to open and speak it? Because God loved the world. God loved the people that was in the world. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever, look at that. Whooever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Brothers and sisters, today on this natural Father's Day, I've got to blow a trumpet and lift up a father that is an everlasting father. a father that loves us so much that he would give to us for God so loved the world. Now do you realize today in understanding and fully looking at a scripture so many people get off track scripturally when they just extract a scripture from a chapter and run off with it. Do you realize that John 3:16 Jesus was speaking to a religious ruler named Nicodemus and Nicodemus came to Jesus and complimented him. We know that thou art a teacher come from God for no man can do these miracles except God be with him. And Jesus addressed his need today. He said, "Nicodemus, unless a man is born again, he can't see the kingdom of God." How can a man be born when he's old? The religious leader said, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his the second time in his mother's womb, be born?" He said, "No, that which is born of the flesh is flesh, but that which is born of the spirit of spirit." He was simply saying to Nicodemus, "Knock off the compliments. Let's get down to what I came here for. I came to give you a new birth. I didn't come to make an old sinner look new. I came to give a sinner a new birth. I came to make you a new man. I came to make you a new person. Today you may be drowning in sin's misery. And you may be waking up every morning not having purpose in your life. And you may be a miserable woman or a miserable man today. But heed the words on this Father's Day. God came that you could get born again of the water and of the spirit. And Nicodemus, he's just not understanding this. Here's the good news. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Do you believe it? Do you believe that God came to this earth in the form of a man? Do you believe that he walked up a hill called Gaga and hung on a tree and suffered, bled, and died and was the payment for our sin? Do you believe that on the third day, God entered back into that body and resurrected that body? Do you believe that he walked on this earth 40 days after his resurrection and he ascended back up into heaven? And do you believe that he is the sooncoming king? Now, if you believe that, you qualify for the next step. You need to repent of your sins. How can you repent? How can you repent if you don't know there's an opportunity to repent? You need to repent of your sins. You need to die out to the old person. And then you need to get water baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and bury those old sins and come up out of that water and you'll be filled with the baptism of the Holy Ghost and you will be a new How many is glad today you're a new man? How many is glad today you're a new woman? How many glad today you're a new person? How many is glad you're not what you used to be? How many is glad that you see growth? And it's all because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the everlasting father. Our natural fathers, many of you here today, join with me. How I would love and my sister would love that's here to send our father a father's day card. But our father passed away almost 50 years ago. Our earthly fathers are not everlasting fathers. Our earthly fathers are not everlasting. But I'm glad that God gave us the everlasting father, Jesus Christ. The everlasting father. There's an interesting thing in the gospel in the Bible. As a matter of fact, Sister Carpenter, it's commonly believed that had there been religious people standing around Jesus that day when the disciples came around him and they said, "Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples." You see, the Old Testament was full of a God burning on top of a mountain. The Old Testament, anytime God showed up on top of Si, the mountain shook. The mountain was black with clouds and fire. It resembled a furnace. The people were fearful. They were fearful at this site. That was more than likely how John taught his disciples to approach God in a fearful way. But Jesus said, "Do you want me to teach you how to pray?" He said, "When you pray? You're going to be in a new kingdom. You're not going to be in a kingdom under the law that's based on fear. You're going to be in a new kingdom." And when you pray, say, "Our Father, they're beautiful." It's commonly it's commonly believed that had the religious leaders been there that day, they would have guessed that Jesus said when you approach your God in prayer, he is your father. He's your father. Romans 8:15, I'm coming to a close. Romans 8:15 is an interesting because Paul's trying to talk to people that want to go back under the law. They want to go back and kind of they could use this today to you. Do you realize that once you are born again, once you're born again, if if if you've ever got any thoughts of going back, do you realize you're not in your right mind? You're not in your right mind. No, no, nobody tastes of the Holy Ghost. Nobody taste of what it feels like to come up out of that water clean. Nobody tastes this. Nobody walks with God any length of time and sees the the good difference. Doesn't Jesus make a good difference in our lives. >> Nobody in their right mind leaves here. No, nobody in their right mind leaves God. So Paul is having to talk to people that are wanting to go back to their old way. He says in verse 15 of Romans 8, "For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear. Under the law, you were fearful. Oh, is this the right amount of flower? Oh, is this the right sacrifice? Oh, did I miss a blemish on that that bullet that I brought? Did I miss a blemish? Was there a blemish behind its ear? Oh, and they were so fearful anytime they brought a sacrifice to God because they it required perfection. But Paul said, "You have not received the spirit again. You have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Now, this is interesting that it's phrased this way because Abba was Arabic and it was what they spoke. But when you would say Abba, it was it was something intimate. It was it was something that represented it it was representing a security, familiarity, and it represented it was you were secure. you was you was familiar and you you you you you were close and it was warm and one of my granddaughters walked by today and she said, "Happy Father's Day, Papa. Happy Father's Day, Papa." Now, can I tell you all the young people around here doesn't come by me and say, "Happy Father's Day, Papa." Now, there'll be those who come and say, "Happy Father's Day." But they won't come and say, "Happy Father's Day, Papa." Why? because they're not my grandchild. Because they know me in a way and you do too, but they know me in a closer way of they're familiar and they're secure and and so God said, "When when you get the Holy Ghost, when you get the Holy Ghost, I'm going to give you something that's warm, familiar, and secure. I promise you. I promise you, you remember the time and we all held our breath when brother Hammond was wanting to use an illustration of trusting God and he Beckham was just a little boy and he put him up here on this ledge here. Remember how he was telling him to jump? All of us were kind of like, you know, that kid hits the floor, you're out of earth, dude. Come on. Trust me, Beckham. Trust me. And finally, Beckham, he jumped off. You know why he did? He He trusted his father, his abba, his abba. He trusted his father. Can I tell you this morning, don't have any reservations. If you're not serving Jesus Christ, would you jump into his arms this morning? If you're not trusting him, would you jump into the arms of Jesus Christ today on this Father's Day? He is an everlasting father. I promise you, if you'll jump in his arms and grab a hold of his word, he'll never let you go. Your life will become brand new. It'll become so wonderful, so wonderful. Aba is used three times in scripture. It's used once, church, when Paul's trying to tell people, "Don't go back under the law. Don't don't don't go back. Don't go back. Don't don't don't go back. Don't go back." He's trying to He's trying to Don't don't don't go don't go back. The second time he uses the word abba or a second time I'm referring to the word abba is found in Mark chapter 14 verse number 36. Jesus is in the garden under the stress of drinking the cup of sin. And in Mark chapter 14 verse number 36 he says these words and he said abba father all things are possible unto thee take away this cup from me nevertheless not what I will but what thou will in other words humanity was saying I don't want to drink this cup was saying I don't want to I I don't want to be I don't want to I don't want to take on me all the sins of the world. But he prayed and he said, "Aba, Father, I want this cup to pass from me. But if it doesn't, nevertheless, not my will, but your will." Can we trust our Abba Father this morning? Is there anybody under the sound of pastor's voice that you're going through a trial in your life today that you would like to see end? Anybody in a situation that you would you would just like to see it end? And how about this? You prayed for it to end. Why? You might have even fasted for it to end, but it hasn't ended. And because it hasn't ended, doesn't mean that God is not your aba father. Because you have to have trust and confidence in him that even though your prayer is not getting answered. And even though you're you're you're you're going through something that you don't want to go through, you have just got to remain that he is your aba father. He is your father. I don't know why I'm in the mess that I'm in. I don't know why things are falling apart like I am. But God, I've come on this Father's Day to say you are my aba father. Third time it's used. Third time it's used. It's used in Galatians chapter 4 verse number six. You could say that Galatians was written to prodals because they had left the gospel. Paul said they've been bewitched. They've been bewitched and they have left the gospel. So you could say that Galatians 4:6 is written to prod. And it says these words, "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts crying, abba, father." Can I tell you what's going to bring every prodal back home one day in Jesus name? I do. I do believe. Can I tell you what's going to bring your prodal son and your prodical daughter back home is because they were raised to know a loving God. They were raised in an atmosphere where God was in control. And one day when they get in a far country and they've wasted their living with with with addicted living and they get in a land of scarcity and they get in a land of bondage and they get in a land of hurt and wound, they're going to say, "I remember being in a youth camp and I remember somebody talking to me about he's a abba father. I never had it any better than I had it when I was in the house of God. When I was in the youth group, when I was serving God, I'm telling you something. Our children being raised in church and you staying in church is going to go with you. There's not a liquor, there's not a drug, there's not a philosophy, there's not a university, there's not a college, there's not a cult leader that can erase from their mind. They sat in a building where Aba Father was revealed. And it'll be that that causes them to say, "I got to get out of this mess. I got to shake this off. I got to get back to the house of God." If you believe that word this morning, stand and worship with me for a moment. Come on, raise your children. Live for God. Come on, stay in the house of God. It's the atmosphere of abba father. It's the everlasting father. It's the atmosphere of security. It's the atmosphere of familiarity. He's done us nothing but good. What the prodical son say? Where was he at? He's in the pig pin. And let me just say this to you. Let me just say this to you. Even though he was in the pig pin, didn't mean that he wasn't the son of his father. We've used the example before. I could take How many How many like getting a brand new Chris $100 bill? When you cash your check or go to the bank, they give you a Chris $100. You like that? You like that? But do you know the old wore out one that somebody's rode on? Somebody's crinkled up. You can take I take that $100 bill and stomp it under my foot. I could wad it up and stomp it under my foot. But do you know that doesn't take away of the value? It's still a $100 bill. And you may have allowed the world to crumple you up, stomp you up, ride on you. But can I tell you according to Aba Father, you are still valuable in his sight. You're still valuable in his sight. Hear me today. Aba Father, I'm talking about the everlasting father. And while I'm while I'm on this about our youth camp, brother Hammond, we got strong tower coming up in a few few weeks. He stopped me before church today and he said, "Pastor," he said, 'I am in dire need of Is it three? Six. He said, 'I am in dire need. I have six young people that need to go to youth camp and they don't have the money and we need a sponsor. We need a sponsor for them. Can I tell you something that if God lays one of those on your heart, you just come to Brother Hammond after church today. You just you just go to brother Hammond after church today because it might be at this youth camp. It might be at this youth camp, Sister Fuller, that one of those sponsors that you sponsor just may get a hold of God in a rich and a real way. They may lose their way years from now, but they may what they receive from the youth camp. Isn't he a loving God today? If you believe he's Abba, father, loving father, would you just lift your hands right now? Oh yes, God. Come on, feel the warmth of his hug right now. Can I tell you as you reach your hands toward him, he's reaching Let me share this with you. A couple of weeks ago, we we brought a prayer request. Our general or our superintendent of the Kentucky District, his son his son, which is the youth president of the Kentucky District, his son and his son's wife and two of his grandchildren were on the way home from church. He showed me the pictures this week. They had a head-on collision. 55 mph both ways. They had a head-on collision. The cars, both of them, the people in the other car, the people, the man and the woman in the other car were were killed that they died instantly in the wreck. Somehow, Brother Cook got word of the accident. And somehow, Sister Christie, he got to the accident before the paramedics got there. And when he got to the accident, he said, "I begin to brace myself because, will I find my children alive? Will I find my son, my daughter-in-law alive? Will I find my two grandchildren? He's got a little grandson named Henry. Henry's named after brother Phil Cook's father." And uh he he came to the he came to the uh the the driver's side and his son broke back leaning over the steering wheel spitting up blood. His wife broke back laying there and the two grandchildren were out of the car and um one of the granddaughters of they were all just busted up, broken bones. He said, "Little Henry was laying there in broken glass and weeds. Both of his eyes, his his jaw was broken. Both of his eyes were swollen shut and blood was coming out of his ears." And he looked and he said, he said, "Henry, buddy, it's going to be all right. It's going to be all right." He said, "Henry lifted his hands up and looked toward the voice." And all Henry said was, "Papa, would you hug me? Would you would you hug me, Papa?" Is there somebody in this room today that spiritually speaking you're in broken glass laying on the side of the road and your life's a wreck, but all you want to say today is, "Papa, God, heaven, Abba, Father, would you come and just hug me this morning? Would would you come and just wrap your arms around me today? Is there anybody just step out of your seat right now to to come to this altar? Just simp just say, "God, I'm just going to lift my hands to you right now. Just going to lift my hands to you right now, God. Papa God. Aba, would you just wrap your arms around me right now, Lord? Would you would you wrap your arms around me right now, God? God, I just need a hug from you right now, God. Lord, I just need to feel your embrace right now, God. Oh, God. You're the Alba Father. Oh, you're the Aba Father right now. You're the everlasting father. Jesus, you're the everlasting father. You're the mystery God. You're so good, Lord. You're so good, God. >> You're so good. >> Oh, you're the everlasting father right now. After all, >> oh yes, God, it would be so kind to move in as close as you can. >> We want to get everybody in the altar that we can. >> Come on, Aba Father. Come on, Aba Father. >> Wrap your arms around me right now. Aba Father. Oh father, I want this cup to pass. >> Oh God, I want this cup to pass. >> God, I want this problem to come to an end. God, I want this burden to be relieved. And thank God. >> I want this burden to be re relieved. >> Oh yes, God. >> Oh, I'm a father. I'm a father. >> I'm a father. I'm a father. I trust you, God. I trust you, God. >> I trust you. I'm a father. >> I trust you, I'm a father. I do. I trust you. I'm a father. Oh, I do. I trust you. I'm a father. Oh yes, God. I trust you are the father. >> Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Oh yes, you're still your generation to generation. There's no boundaries to your greatness. I have seen here has not done generations to generations. There's no boundaries to your grace. I have seen you have heard from generations to generation. >> >> through your praise. But I have seen ear hasen. >> All right. If you're here today and you've not yet been baptized in Jesus' name and you want to fulfill the word of God and you want to be baptized in Jesus' name, we have water, we have change of clothes, and we have somebody to be baptized this day. and and and and and if you're if you would like to be baptized, you make your way. Tell somebody tell somebody you would like to be baptized this morning. Could we just pray for this individual that's being baptized right now? Father, in the name of Jesus today, God, in the name of Jesus today, God, in the name of Jesus today, God, I believe this is the precious woman that received the Holy Ghost the other night at conference. God, I believe this is a precious woman that received the Holy Ghost. God, Lord, she wants to walk on with you, God, in water baptism. Lord, I pray, God, you use her life. God, you use her to touch people, God. Lord, you use her, God, to touch people, God. Lord, you use her in her life, in her generation. Jesus name. In Jesus name. Yes, Lord. >> Yah, upon the profession of your faith >> in obedience to the word of God, >> I now indeed baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins. >> And thank the Lord you received the Holy Ghost Thursday night. in Jesus name. And I'll pour my spirit out upon all flesh. He said, "I'll pour my spirit out upon all flesh. Every tongue, every tribe, every nation. Oh yes. There's no Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. >> >> You're not over yet. The Bible says that now are ye the body of Christ and members in particular. Jesus is not walking the earth right now, but we are. And we are the body of Christ. And why why don't we just put our hand over on someone if it would be appropriate, somebody be comfortable with. Then why don't you just pray for somebody standing around you right now? Come on, pray for your brother. Pray for your sister right now. Somebody's got a burden. Somebody's going through a trial. Somebody Somebody's got a need in their life. Somebody is hurting. Come on, lay your hand over on them right now. Be aba father to them right now. be the extension of Aba Father to them right now. Be the extension of Aba Father to him right now. Come on. That's right. Come on, pray for somebody right now. Somebody, you've been troubled. I'm talking to somebody right now. You've been troubled. You've been in misery. Oh, you've been in misery. You've been in grief. But in the name of Jesus Christ, right now, Aba Father wants to minister to you right now. Oh, aba father wants to minister to you right now. Oh, aba father. Aba father. Aba father. Go ahead and pray for one another right now. Young people, youth, pray for one another right now. Oh, you're going to need it one day. Go ahead and pray for somebody. Go ahead and pray for somebody. It may be that person you're praying for right now that's going to come to your rescue one day. It may the per be the person you're praying for right now that's going to be used to bless your family one day. Come on, lay your hand on them. Pray with them right now. Aba Father. Aba Father. I've got security. God, I got security. Aba Father. Aba Father. Oh, receive it right now in Jesus name. Receive it right now in Jesus name. Oh yes. That's right. Just lay your hand over on somebody. Pray with me. >> You are. >> Oh yes, God. >> Who you are. >> Oh yes, God. >> I am. >> Oh yes, I am. >> Oh, I'm loved by you. >> Who you are. Who you are by you? >> Who I am. >> Oh yes, God. >> I am. >> Oh yes, God. >> I am. >> Oh yes, God. >> Oh yes, God. >> Come on, let's just worship him right now. >> I'm a father's here right now. Our father's here right now. Our father's here right now. Let him know. Let him wrap around you right now. He come wrap his arms around you right now.