1. TBN
  2. Programs
  3. Allen Jackson Ministries
  4. Episodes
  5. Allen Jackson - Prayer and God's Power (Part 1)
Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Prayer and God's Power (Part 1)

June 28, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - Prayer and God's Power (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Prayer #Savior #Encouragement #Help #SeekGod #Grace #Faith #TrustGod #Purpose #AllenJackson

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Prayer and God's Power (Part 1) | June 28, 2026
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.316
  • Allen jackson: we have a new resource for you.
  • 00:00:01.750 --> 00:00:02.985
  • I'm really excited about this.
  • 00:00:03.118 --> 00:00:03.619
  • It's a book. it's a booklet.
  • 00:00:04.319 --> 00:00:05.654
  • It's a small book called "your identity in christ."
  • 00:00:05.654 --> 00:00:08.590
  • It was derived from years of teaching and leading in the
  • 00:00:08.590 --> 00:00:11.427
  • Context of the church.
  • 00:00:11.427 --> 00:00:12.928
  • We're walking through a season, folks, when there's so much
  • 00:00:12.928 --> 00:00:14.630
  • Confusion about our identity.
  • 00:00:14.630 --> 00:00:16.532
  • We put this together to help you understand who you are in
  • 00:00:16.532 --> 00:00:19.268
  • Christ, not just about your salvation, but so that you can
  • 00:00:19.268 --> 00:00:22.204
  • Lead a triumphant, victorious, overcoming life.
  • 00:00:22.204 --> 00:00:25.774
  • We built it for an individual read.
  • 00:00:25.774 --> 00:00:27.209
  • It's great for a small group.
  • 00:00:27.209 --> 00:00:28.677
  • It's a great resource for your kitchen table time as a family
  • 00:00:28.677 --> 00:00:31.814
  • With children or grandchildren.
  • 00:00:31.814 --> 00:00:33.715
  • If you know who you are in christ, it changes everything
  • 00:00:33.715 --> 00:00:36.952
  • About the landscape of your life.
  • 00:00:36.952 --> 00:00:39.054
  • I'm righteous in the sight of god.
  • 00:00:39.054 --> 00:00:41.423
  • I can stand before god without fear, guilt, or condemnation.
  • 00:00:41.423 --> 00:00:45.394
  • Those are such important foundational principles to get
  • 00:00:45.394 --> 00:00:48.564
  • Secure in your heart, around your table with the people you
  • 00:00:48.564 --> 00:00:51.967
  • Care about, in your small groups, with your friends.
  • 00:00:51.967 --> 00:00:54.536
  • Your identity in christ, it's a game changer.
  • 00:00:54.536 --> 00:00:57.172
  • I believe it will add momentum to your spiritual growth in
  • 00:00:57.172 --> 00:01:00.075
  • This season.
  • 00:01:00.075 --> 00:01:01.443
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:01.443 --> 00:01:20.696
  • Allen: it's summertime.
  • 00:01:21.597 --> 00:01:22.965
  • I mentioned this in a previous session, that it's growing time
  • 00:01:22.965 --> 00:01:26.969
  • In tennessee, the vegetables and flowers and all the things that
  • 00:01:26.969 --> 00:01:30.439
  • Bring so much to this season of the year; and it's a time where
  • 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:34.042
  • I'm very interested in initiating spiritual growth in
  • 00:01:34.042 --> 00:01:36.745
  • My own life and therefore in the life of the people with whom i'm
  • 00:01:36.745 --> 00:01:40.182
  • Doing life.
  • 00:01:40.182 --> 00:01:41.617
  • So i would invite you to a growing season, and my
  • 00:01:41.617 --> 00:01:46.355
  • Observation is in any endeavor of our lives, sustained growth
  • 00:01:46.355 --> 00:01:53.328
  • Or excellence is directly linked to your connection
  • 00:01:53.328 --> 00:01:56.765
  • To fundamentals.
  • 00:01:56.765 --> 00:01:58.534
  • It's true in business, it's true in athletics, it's true in
  • 00:01:58.534 --> 00:02:03.605
  • Relationships, and it's true in our spiritual lives.
  • 00:02:03.605 --> 00:02:07.943
  • We don't become so mature or so experienced that we step away
  • 00:02:07.943 --> 00:02:12.948
  • From the fundamental principles that bring transformation to us.
  • 00:02:12.948 --> 00:02:17.586
  • We spend our days under the sun with this tension between our
  • 00:02:17.586 --> 00:02:21.557
  • Old carnal earthly nature and the spirit of god within us, and
  • 00:02:21.557 --> 00:02:26.929
  • As we grow and mature in the lord the nature of that contest
  • 00:02:26.929 --> 00:02:30.732
  • Often changes, but the reality of it does not disappear.
  • 00:02:30.732 --> 00:02:36.572
  • And so i wanna take a few of the sessions and process some things
  • 00:02:36.572 --> 00:02:40.108
  • That hold tremendous potential for change in our lives.
  • 00:02:40.108 --> 00:02:43.278
  • And i don't know which one will be most appropriate for you, but
  • 00:02:43.278 --> 00:02:46.281
  • Somewhere along the journey, the lord will illuminate something
  • 00:02:46.281 --> 00:02:49.585
  • For you.
  • 00:02:49.585 --> 00:02:50.919
  • There'll be--it'll resonate with you.
  • 00:02:50.919 --> 00:02:52.588
  • There'll be an awareness that goes, "you know,
  • 00:02:52.588 --> 00:02:54.423
  • That's valuable."
  • 00:02:54.423 --> 00:02:55.991
  • And when you recognize that, spend some time with it.
  • 00:02:55.991 --> 00:02:59.861
  • Rearrange your devotional so you've got a little extra time
  • 00:02:59.861 --> 00:03:02.064
  • With it.
  • 00:03:02.064 --> 00:03:03.398
  • Spend a few days inviting god into that arena of your life.
  • 00:03:03.398 --> 00:03:05.400
  • If the spirit of god prompts you to respond in some way, have the
  • 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:09.571
  • Courage for that response.
  • 00:03:09.571 --> 00:03:12.040
  • When we get to the end of the summer and we transition back
  • 00:03:12.040 --> 00:03:14.743
  • Into the fall and all that comes with that and we reflect upon
  • 00:03:14.743 --> 00:03:17.746
  • These weeks, let's be able to say, "god moved in my life."
  • 00:03:17.746 --> 00:03:22.384
  • Wouldn't that be good?
  • 00:03:22.384 --> 00:03:23.852
  • That's the target. that's the target.
  • 00:03:23.852 --> 00:03:26.855
  • I wanna start with a habit i invited you towards some time
  • 00:03:26.855 --> 00:03:29.458
  • Ago: keeping a good news list.
  • 00:03:29.458 --> 00:03:30.926
  • I hope you still do that.
  • 00:03:30.926 --> 00:03:32.694
  • You know, i'm in the habit of saying, "god is moving in
  • 00:03:32.694 --> 00:03:34.496
  • The earth."
  • 00:03:34.496 --> 00:03:35.831
  • And wherever i go, people stop me, go, "i don't know.
  • 00:03:35.831 --> 00:03:37.299
  • What you say?"
  • 00:03:37.299 --> 00:03:39.935
  • And i always wanna hand them a button with a big smiley face on
  • 00:03:39.935 --> 00:03:42.604
  • It because it's--we're oftentimes more in tuned with
  • 00:03:42.604 --> 00:03:46.375
  • What evil is doing than what god is doing.
  • 00:03:46.375 --> 00:03:48.910
  • And so i've encouraged you over a broad period of time to
  • 00:03:48.910 --> 00:03:51.146
  • Maintain a good news list.
  • 00:03:51.146 --> 00:03:52.681
  • And i wanna celebrate something that i think belongs on the good
  • 00:03:52.681 --> 00:03:55.317
  • News list and with bold print, and that's something that our
  • 00:03:55.317 --> 00:03:59.154
  • Tennessee legislature and governor signed into law and
  • 00:03:59.154 --> 00:04:03.292
  • That's that june is a celebration of nuclear family
  • 00:04:03.292 --> 00:04:06.828
  • Month in tennessee.
  • 00:04:06.828 --> 00:04:08.196
  • [congregation cheering]
  • 00:04:08.196 --> 00:04:13.935
  • Well, from time to time, we'll comment on some ungodly
  • 00:04:13.935 --> 00:04:17.673
  • Legislation that impacts lives.
  • 00:04:17.673 --> 00:04:19.875
  • I think it's important for those who are christ followers and
  • 00:04:19.875 --> 00:04:22.177
  • Have a biblical worldview to celebrate when those biblical
  • 00:04:22.177 --> 00:04:25.547
  • Values are celebrated and recognized in the public square,
  • 00:04:25.547 --> 00:04:29.451
  • And i am very grateful.
  • 00:04:29.451 --> 00:04:31.953
  • If those discussions--nuclear family is kind of a
  • 00:04:31.953 --> 00:04:34.222
  • Sociological term.
  • 00:04:34.222 --> 00:04:36.058
  • I went and pulled it off the website, so i didn't--the
  • 00:04:36.058 --> 00:04:38.860
  • Government's website.
  • 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:40.195
  • So i didn't--it's defining a family as one husband and one
  • 00:04:40.195 --> 00:04:42.764
  • Wife with their biological children or adopted or
  • 00:04:42.764 --> 00:04:46.201
  • Fostered children.
  • 00:04:46.201 --> 00:04:48.637
  • So it's bringing a definition to marriage that aligns with the
  • 00:04:48.637 --> 00:04:51.673
  • Biblical worldview.
  • 00:04:51.673 --> 00:04:54.042
  • What a thought.
  • 00:04:54.042 --> 00:04:58.413
  • And perhaps even better news, tennessee is not alone.
  • 00:04:58.413 --> 00:05:01.516
  • Indiana's governor mike braun signed similar legislation.
  • 00:05:01.516 --> 00:05:05.454
  • Alabama's governor kay ivey, arkansas' governor sarah
  • 00:05:05.454 --> 00:05:09.091
  • Huckabee all have signed, making june a celebration of the
  • 00:05:09.091 --> 00:05:13.495
  • Nuclear family.
  • 00:05:13.495 --> 00:05:19.234
  • There's a bizarre ambivalence on the part of too many christians
  • 00:05:19.234 --> 00:05:25.140
  • On this topic.
  • 00:05:25.140 --> 00:05:26.475
  • They're like, "well, i--is it even appropriate to say
  • 00:05:26.475 --> 00:05:28.410
  • That's good?"
  • 00:05:28.410 --> 00:05:29.778
  • Is it appropriate to say that god's direction is good?
  • 00:05:29.778 --> 00:05:34.716
  • Yes, okay?
  • 00:05:34.716 --> 00:05:38.487
  • We are so addled, we have been so confused by the spirit of
  • 00:05:38.487 --> 00:05:44.559
  • This age that we've almost lost our compass points.
  • 00:05:44.559 --> 00:05:49.097
  • To say that we celebrate god's definition of family is not an
  • 00:05:49.097 --> 00:05:53.435
  • Expression of a hate towards anyone else, it's an expression
  • 00:05:53.435 --> 00:05:57.139
  • Of our intent to honor god with our lives.
  • 00:05:57.139 --> 00:06:00.842
  • And so i am grateful.
  • 00:06:00.842 --> 00:06:02.377
  • I hope you will use your voice this month when you're having
  • 00:06:02.377 --> 00:06:06.982
  • Your weekly meals, when you're having your expressions of
  • 00:06:06.982 --> 00:06:10.819
  • Hospitality with friends, when you're at the ball fields.
  • 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:14.823
  • It's a wonderful thing that has happened.
  • 00:06:14.823 --> 00:06:17.859
  • It will bring good things to children and families.
  • 00:06:17.859 --> 00:06:21.062
  • Our families aren't perfect, but we still strive for the best
  • 00:06:21.062 --> 00:06:24.866
  • Expression of family that gives the greatest opportunities to
  • 00:06:24.866 --> 00:06:27.636
  • Children, and i believe god has given us that blueprint.
  • 00:06:27.636 --> 00:06:31.773
  • Amen?
  • 00:06:31.773 --> 00:06:33.141
  • So it is a yay god.
  • 00:06:33.141 --> 00:06:34.476
  • It should be celebrated.
  • 00:06:34.476 --> 00:06:36.511
  • You know, maybe we could expand that.
  • 00:06:36.511 --> 00:06:38.413
  • I think we should have let's not steal month.
  • 00:06:38.413 --> 00:06:45.086
  • Feels like we need one of those.
  • 00:06:45.086 --> 00:06:48.323
  • Maybe we just get weird and go, "well, let's have a we won't
  • 00:06:48.323 --> 00:06:50.592
  • Commit adultery month."
  • 00:06:50.592 --> 00:06:52.994
  • We'll get out all of our biblical values and go, "hey, we
  • 00:06:52.994 --> 00:06:55.497
  • Think these should probably be held up as a standard."
  • 00:06:55.497 --> 00:06:59.134
  • We have retreated so far that we're reluctant to say something
  • 00:06:59.134 --> 00:07:04.272
  • As simple as jesus is lord, but we're not retreating anymore.
  • 00:07:04.272 --> 00:07:09.377
  • We're not angry, we don't have to be belligerent, we certainly
  • 00:07:09.377 --> 00:07:12.914
  • Don't have to be violent, but we can take the truth of god and
  • 00:07:12.914 --> 00:07:16.084
  • Express it with the kindness of god into the darkness of
  • 00:07:16.084 --> 00:07:19.721
  • Our world.
  • 00:07:19.721 --> 00:07:21.890
  • We used to call that evangelism when we would have a
  • 00:07:21.890 --> 00:07:27.062
  • Conversation with people that couldn't spell god if you gave
  • 00:07:27.062 --> 00:07:29.064
  • Them a g and an o, and we would talk about biblical values and
  • 00:07:29.064 --> 00:07:33.201
  • How they impacted lives and the good things that it brought to
  • 00:07:33.201 --> 00:07:36.037
  • Us and how god was helping us overcome our failures and
  • 00:07:36.037 --> 00:07:39.174
  • Shortcomings and invite people into that same journey.
  • 00:07:39.174 --> 00:07:42.143
  • That used to be the nature of the conversation that we would
  • 00:07:42.143 --> 00:07:44.279
  • Have with a secular culture.
  • 00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:46.414
  • Now there's just a lot of screaming and name-calling and a
  • 00:07:46.414 --> 00:07:50.018
  • Lot of labeling, and christians don't wanna be labeled so we've
  • 00:07:50.018 --> 00:07:52.954
  • Buried our faith.
  • 00:07:52.954 --> 00:07:55.323
  • Folks, if you get labels because you're advocating for a biblical
  • 00:07:55.323 --> 00:07:58.226
  • Worldview, i think those are like merit badges.
  • 00:07:58.226 --> 00:08:05.934
  • But at least think about it, okay?
  • 00:08:05.934 --> 00:08:07.702
  • But in june, we have good news to celebrate.
  • 00:08:07.702 --> 00:08:11.306
  • God is moving in the earth.
  • 00:08:11.306 --> 00:08:13.842
  • All right, the topic for this session is "prayer and
  • 00:08:13.842 --> 00:08:16.044
  • God's power."
  • 00:08:16.044 --> 00:08:17.913
  • You know, i have been around church my whole life and so
  • 00:08:17.913 --> 00:08:23.952
  • Prayer is one of those words that always bothers me.
  • 00:08:23.952 --> 00:08:25.754
  • I feel like it's so used--so overused that it's almost empty
  • 00:08:25.754 --> 00:08:29.090
  • Of any meaning, and we tend to associate prayer with kind of
  • 00:08:29.090 --> 00:08:33.595
  • The beginning of a formal religious service or a
  • 00:08:33.595 --> 00:08:35.931
  • Transition maybe in some religious experience or if
  • 00:08:35.931 --> 00:08:39.434
  • You're building some sort of a public event maybe we should
  • 00:08:39.434 --> 00:08:43.104
  • Have some sort of acknowledgment of a higher power.
  • 00:08:43.104 --> 00:08:47.576
  • And in all those formal settings it's not wicked or evil, but it
  • 00:08:47.576 --> 00:08:51.146
  • Has done a great deal to diminish any meaningful
  • 00:08:51.146 --> 00:08:54.049
  • Imagination of prayer, and i would like to kind of approach
  • 00:08:54.049 --> 00:08:58.887
  • That just as directly as i know how.
  • 00:08:58.887 --> 00:09:01.923
  • If prayer is absent in your life, the power of god is mostly
  • 00:09:01.923 --> 00:09:05.560
  • Absent in your life.
  • 00:09:05.560 --> 00:09:08.463
  • And so i wanna give you just some simple ways to begin to let
  • 00:09:08.463 --> 00:09:11.866
  • Prayer be integrated into the routine of your days, into the
  • 00:09:11.866 --> 00:09:16.071
  • Context of your relationships, into your imagination of god.
  • 00:09:16.071 --> 00:09:20.542
  • We won't always get it just right.
  • 00:09:20.542 --> 00:09:22.777
  • We're learning.
  • 00:09:22.777 --> 00:09:24.112
  • We are learners.
  • 00:09:24.112 --> 00:09:25.480
  • That's a part of our commitment in this place.
  • 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:26.881
  • But i would submit to you that prayer is a way of engaging the
  • 00:09:26.881 --> 00:09:30.619
  • Spirit of god so that the purposes of god can be expressed
  • 00:09:30.619 --> 00:09:34.122
  • In the earth, so that many times when you take a place and you're
  • 00:09:34.122 --> 00:09:38.093
  • Willing to offer a prayer, be it short or long, that you are
  • 00:09:38.093 --> 00:09:42.063
  • Actually engaging in a collision of spiritual forces.
  • 00:09:42.063 --> 00:09:47.569
  • So it's not surprising to me that we're reluctant.
  • 00:09:47.569 --> 00:09:50.605
  • It's not surprising to me that i would have inner voices or--you
  • 00:09:50.605 --> 00:09:55.043
  • Know, that would try to limit my willingness to do.
  • 00:09:55.043 --> 00:09:57.345
  • "well, what if you pray and nothing happens?"
  • 00:09:57.345 --> 00:09:59.547
  • Well, i think far more frightening is what if you pray
  • 00:09:59.547 --> 00:10:01.182
  • And something does.
  • 00:10:01.182 --> 00:10:05.086
  • So we're gonna kinda unpack this together with god's help in
  • 00:10:05.086 --> 00:10:08.123
  • Isaiah 37.
  • 00:10:08.123 --> 00:10:10.125
  • We looked at it in some detail in a previous session.
  • 00:10:10.125 --> 00:10:12.227
  • I won't belabor it.
  • 00:10:12.227 --> 00:10:13.695
  • A foreign army, the assyrian army has besieged jerusalem.
  • 00:10:13.695 --> 00:10:17.032
  • They've conquered all the surrounding nations.
  • 00:10:17.032 --> 00:10:19.200
  • They've conquered the northern kingdom of israel.
  • 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:20.869
  • They've conquered the other fortified cities of judah.
  • 00:10:20.869 --> 00:10:23.371
  • Only jerusalem is left.
  • 00:10:23.371 --> 00:10:24.706
  • Jerusalem is besieged, and the commander of the assyrian forces
  • 00:10:24.706 --> 00:10:28.643
  • Have said, "there's nothing you can do.
  • 00:10:28.643 --> 00:10:31.479
  • Surrender to us."
  • 00:10:31.479 --> 00:10:33.682
  • And honestly, he's telling the truth.
  • 00:10:33.682 --> 00:10:35.650
  • Israel does not have the military might, the force, the
  • 00:10:35.650 --> 00:10:39.921
  • Armaments, the technological superiority to defeat the
  • 00:10:39.921 --> 00:10:42.557
  • Assyrian army.
  • 00:10:42.557 --> 00:10:44.092
  • So the defeat of jerusalem is imminent, which means most
  • 00:10:44.092 --> 00:10:48.163
  • Likely death for the leadership class and subservience for the
  • 00:10:48.163 --> 00:10:52.767
  • Remainder of the people.
  • 00:10:52.767 --> 00:10:54.869
  • And when the king of judah, hezekiah, hears that
  • 00:10:54.869 --> 00:10:58.606
  • Pronouncement, he makes a most unusual choice.
  • 00:10:58.606 --> 00:11:02.777
  • He doesn't panic, he goes to the temple to pray, the king.
  • 00:11:02.777 --> 00:11:11.019
  • Do you think somebody met him on the way and said, "well,
  • 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:12.721
  • Actually, we should separate the church and state"?
  • 00:11:12.721 --> 00:11:19.427
  • You know that's a nonsensical idea, right?
  • 00:11:19.427 --> 00:11:22.163
  • A state absent of the spirit of god will become an increasingly
  • 00:11:22.163 --> 00:11:26.201
  • Authoritarian force in your life.
  • 00:11:26.201 --> 00:11:29.404
  • We don't want a state church.
  • 00:11:29.404 --> 00:11:31.339
  • We don't want the government dictating how we worship, what
  • 00:11:31.339 --> 00:11:33.475
  • Worship looks like.
  • 00:11:33.475 --> 00:11:34.843
  • We don't want them intruding.
  • 00:11:34.843 --> 00:11:36.177
  • I think that's what the constitution says.
  • 00:11:36.177 --> 00:11:39.247
  • But we cannot survive a state that is absent of that
  • 00:11:39.247 --> 00:11:42.684
  • Biblical worldview.
  • 00:11:42.684 --> 00:11:44.252
  • Hezekiah goes to pray, and because he prayed, it's in your
  • 00:11:44.252 --> 00:11:47.589
  • Notes, isaiah 37, god sends isaiah to see hezekiah.
  • 00:11:47.589 --> 00:11:53.128
  • Isaiah the prophet, the book in the old testament you may know,
  • 00:11:53.128 --> 00:11:56.698
  • Is a contemporary of king hezekiah.
  • 00:11:56.698 --> 00:11:59.834
  • So god has a message for the king.
  • 00:11:59.834 --> 00:12:02.537
  • "isaiah the son of amoz sent a message to hezekiah: 'this is
  • 00:12:02.537 --> 00:12:05.940
  • What the lord, god of israel, says: "because you have prayed
  • 00:12:05.940 --> 00:12:09.177
  • To me concerning the king of assyria, this is the word that
  • 00:12:09.177 --> 00:12:13.715
  • The lord has spoken against him: 'the virgin daughter of zion
  • 00:12:13.715 --> 00:12:17.285
  • Despises and mocks you.
  • 00:12:17.285 --> 00:12:19.854
  • The daughter of jerusalem tosses her head as you flee.'"'"
  • 00:12:19.854 --> 00:12:24.959
  • God sent a message to the king and said, "because you prayed,
  • 00:12:24.959 --> 00:12:28.596
  • I'm gonna send these knuckleheads home."
  • 00:12:28.596 --> 00:12:30.832
  • That's the living bible.
  • 00:12:30.832 --> 00:12:33.368
  • And in fact, he did.
  • 00:12:33.368 --> 00:12:34.702
  • Tens of thousands of assyrians died in the night, and
  • 00:12:34.702 --> 00:12:37.672
  • They fled.
  • 00:12:37.672 --> 00:12:39.040
  • They didn't even pack up their military paraphernalia.
  • 00:12:39.040 --> 00:12:42.076
  • The archaeological excavations around the walls in--from
  • 00:12:42.076 --> 00:12:44.546
  • Hezekiah's time period have included a considerable amount
  • 00:12:44.546 --> 00:12:48.650
  • Of assyrian armament.
  • 00:12:48.650 --> 00:12:51.719
  • God said, "hezekiah, because you prayed, watch."
  • 00:12:51.719 --> 00:12:56.357
  • So the question that is just right there in front of us is,
  • 00:12:56.357 --> 00:12:59.561
  • What if he hadn't prayed?
  • 00:12:59.561 --> 00:13:01.830
  • What if he just worried or been anxious?
  • 00:13:01.830 --> 00:13:04.632
  • What if he just cursed god?
  • 00:13:04.632 --> 00:13:07.535
  • What if he would have been upset because of the lack of military
  • 00:13:07.535 --> 00:13:10.471
  • Leadership or how he got in such a bad spot?
  • 00:13:10.471 --> 00:13:13.608
  • "because you prayed, hezekiah, the future is going to
  • 00:13:13.608 --> 00:13:16.611
  • Be different."
  • 00:13:16.611 --> 00:13:17.946
  • That's my invitation to you.
  • 00:13:17.946 --> 00:13:19.681
  • Why would we pray?
  • 00:13:19.681 --> 00:13:21.049
  • Because prayer is an invitation to god, and he will write a
  • 00:13:21.049 --> 00:13:23.318
  • Different future for you.
  • 00:13:23.318 --> 00:13:24.886
  • "well, i've survived x number of years and i've never prayed."
  • 00:13:24.886 --> 00:13:27.689
  • You don't know what you forfeited.
  • 00:13:27.689 --> 00:13:30.792
  • You don't know what you have forfeited, neither do i.
  • 00:13:30.792 --> 00:13:33.561
  • I'm determined to be a man who learns to pray.
  • 00:13:33.561 --> 00:13:36.030
  • I don't wanna be too sophisticated, too educated, too
  • 00:13:36.030 --> 00:13:38.466
  • Competent, too whatever.
  • 00:13:38.466 --> 00:13:41.803
  • I would much prefer to trust the power of god to bring suitable
  • 00:13:41.803 --> 00:13:45.540
  • Resolutions to my life than any other power available to me.
  • 00:13:45.540 --> 00:13:50.111
  • I'm not saying it has to be exclusive, but in the midst of
  • 00:13:50.111 --> 00:13:53.047
  • All that we are we can invite god.
  • 00:13:53.047 --> 00:13:55.216
  • It's fascinating enough with me with hezekiah.
  • 00:13:55.216 --> 00:13:57.085
  • I think he learned something from that encounter 'cause in 2
  • 00:13:57.085 --> 00:13:59.988
  • Kings 20--it's a different book, but it's the same historical
  • 00:13:59.988 --> 00:14:03.157
  • Period, same narrative.
  • 00:14:03.157 --> 00:14:04.492
  • It's king hezekiah in judah and isaiah the prophet; except this
  • 00:14:04.492 --> 00:14:09.898
  • Time isaiah came to see hezekiah, and he said, "god sent
  • 00:14:09.898 --> 00:14:12.800
  • Me to tell you to get your house in order.
  • 00:14:12.800 --> 00:14:14.168
  • You're gonna die."
  • 00:14:14.168 --> 00:14:16.871
  • Such a happy message.
  • 00:14:16.871 --> 00:14:20.241
  • And isaiah turned around and left, and the bible records that
  • 00:14:20.241 --> 00:14:23.912
  • Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and began to weep and he
  • 00:14:23.912 --> 00:14:28.283
  • Cried out to god.
  • 00:14:28.283 --> 00:14:30.318
  • And i put the balance of that in your notes.
  • 00:14:30.318 --> 00:14:33.755
  • "before isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the
  • 00:14:33.755 --> 00:14:36.925
  • Lord came to him: 'go back and tell hezekiah, the leader of my
  • 00:14:36.925 --> 00:14:40.728
  • People, "this is what the lord, the god of your father david,
  • 00:14:40.728 --> 00:14:44.165
  • Says: i've heard your prayer, and i've seen your tears; and i
  • 00:14:44.165 --> 00:14:49.871
  • Will heal you.
  • 00:14:49.871 --> 00:14:51.773
  • And on the third day from now you go back up
  • 00:14:51.773 --> 00:14:54.142
  • To the temple--"'"
  • 00:14:54.142 --> 00:14:56.811
  • It's a very different context, but it's a
  • 00:14:56.811 --> 00:14:59.447
  • Very similar response.
  • 00:14:59.447 --> 00:15:01.215
  • Hezekiah understood something about prayer.
  • 00:15:01.215 --> 00:15:04.452
  • It brought a tremendous victory to the entire nation over an
  • 00:15:04.452 --> 00:15:07.455
  • Assyrian army that was insurmountable and it extended
  • 00:15:07.455 --> 00:15:11.693
  • His life by more than a decade because hezekiah was willing
  • 00:15:11.693 --> 00:15:15.530
  • To pray.
  • 00:15:15.530 --> 00:15:16.864
  • So my invitation to you for a session or three is how many of
  • 00:15:16.864 --> 00:15:20.902
  • You would be willing to learn a bit more about prayer?
  • 00:15:20.902 --> 00:15:23.972
  • How many could we have the humility to say, "well, i don't
  • 00:15:23.972 --> 00:15:25.740
  • Know everything about prayer.
  • 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:27.075
  • I'd like to know.
  • 00:15:27.075 --> 00:15:28.443
  • I know a little bit, but i'd like to learn to pray
  • 00:15:28.443 --> 00:15:30.345
  • More effectively.
  • 00:15:30.345 --> 00:15:31.846
  • I'd like to be known as a person who prays"?
  • 00:15:31.846 --> 00:15:34.515
  • Prayer is not just for people who can't.
  • 00:15:34.515 --> 00:15:36.150
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:15:36.150 --> 00:15:41.189
  • Allen: hey, i wanna ask you a question.
  • 00:15:43.424 --> 00:15:45.093
  • How do you identify: male, female, southerner,
  • 00:15:45.093 --> 00:15:47.895
  • Educated, housewife?
  • 00:15:47.895 --> 00:15:49.897
  • How do you identify?
  • 00:15:49.897 --> 00:15:51.499
  • Well, i wanna suggest knowing your identity in christ is the
  • 00:15:51.499 --> 00:15:54.535
  • Most significant component of your person for both
  • 00:15:54.535 --> 00:15:57.705
  • Time and eternity.
  • 00:15:57.705 --> 00:15:59.173
  • We put together a resource. it's a new booklet.
  • 00:15:59.173 --> 00:16:00.942
  • It'll help you understand who you are in christ, your identity
  • 00:16:00.942 --> 00:16:04.545
  • In the kingdom of god, and what the implications of that are for
  • 00:16:04.545 --> 00:16:07.448
  • Your life today.
  • 00:16:07.448 --> 00:16:08.916
  • It's a game changer.
  • 00:16:08.916 --> 00:16:10.385
  • I believe it'll be a blessing to you and to your family.
  • 00:16:10.385 --> 00:16:13.955
  • Female announcer: every day the world tries to define who we
  • 00:16:13.955 --> 00:16:16.424
  • Are, what we should believe, and whether we're enough, but god's
  • 00:16:16.424 --> 00:16:20.028
  • Word tells a different story.
  • 00:16:20.028 --> 00:16:21.896
  • In pastor allen's new book, "your identity in christ: 12
  • 00:16:21.896 --> 00:16:25.533
  • Truths about who you are," he shares biblical truths that will
  • 00:16:25.533 --> 00:16:28.803
  • Help you recognize who you are in christ.
  • 00:16:28.803 --> 00:16:31.472
  • Request your book and free companion card today with your
  • 00:16:31.472 --> 00:16:34.308
  • Gift of any amount at allenjackson.com or call ...
  • 00:16:34.308 --> 00:16:40.982
  • Allen: i think it's important to know--i think one of the hurdles
  • 00:16:44.619 --> 00:16:46.654
  • We have is we think prayer requires a theological
  • 00:16:46.654 --> 00:16:48.589
  • Vocabulary or maybe an advanced graduate degree or some kind of
  • 00:16:48.589 --> 00:16:52.627
  • Experience or less ungodliness in our heart.
  • 00:16:52.627 --> 00:16:56.864
  • You know, the devil will always convince us of why we're
  • 00:16:56.864 --> 00:16:58.833
  • Disqualified for anything significant in the kingdom.
  • 00:16:58.833 --> 00:17:01.969
  • He is really good at that.
  • 00:17:01.969 --> 00:17:03.304
  • He's the accuser of the brethren.
  • 00:17:03.304 --> 00:17:04.672
  • It's one of the titles of satan.
  • 00:17:04.672 --> 00:17:06.007
  • And he and his whole dark kingdom flourish in that
  • 00:17:06.007 --> 00:17:09.310
  • Assignment of making us aware of things that would diminish or
  • 00:17:09.310 --> 00:17:13.714
  • Weaken us, but the good news of scripture is that simple prayers
  • 00:17:13.714 --> 00:17:17.718
  • Are often the most profound prayers.
  • 00:17:17.718 --> 00:17:20.822
  • And i can take a great deal of time with this.
  • 00:17:20.822 --> 00:17:22.957
  • I won't in this session.
  • 00:17:22.957 --> 00:17:24.325
  • I'm just introducing the idea.
  • 00:17:24.325 --> 00:17:25.693
  • In matthew 14, the disciples are in a boat crossing the lake of
  • 00:17:25.693 --> 00:17:30.431
  • Galilee; and jesus bypassed the boat, and he came walking across
  • 00:17:30.431 --> 00:17:36.304
  • The lake, which appropriately freaked out the disciples.
  • 00:17:36.304 --> 00:17:41.109
  • It's the middle of the night, it's stormy and you see somebody
  • 00:17:41.109 --> 00:17:44.345
  • Walking on the lake.
  • 00:17:44.345 --> 00:17:49.283
  • Unless they've been taking excessive treatments for being
  • 00:17:49.283 --> 00:17:51.686
  • Hoarse, that was unusual.
  • 00:17:51.686 --> 00:17:58.659
  • It's in your notes.
  • 00:17:58.659 --> 00:18:00.628
  • Peter speaks up.
  • 00:18:00.628 --> 00:18:01.996
  • It's matthew 14.
  • 00:18:01.996 --> 00:18:03.598
  • "lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water."
  • 00:18:03.598 --> 00:18:06.834
  • And jesus said, "okay, come on with your bad self."
  • 00:18:06.834 --> 00:18:12.306
  • And peter got down out of the boat and walked on the water and
  • 00:18:12.306 --> 00:18:14.709
  • He came toward jesus, but he saw the wind and he was afraid and
  • 00:18:14.709 --> 00:18:18.913
  • He began to sink, and peter prayed.
  • 00:18:18.913 --> 00:18:23.885
  • "most high god, the creator of heaven and earth, the designer
  • 00:18:23.885 --> 00:18:28.456
  • Of water and the water cycle, the one who established the
  • 00:18:28.456 --> 00:18:34.095
  • Polar ice caps and causes the nile to flow into
  • 00:18:34.095 --> 00:18:37.565
  • The mediterranean."
  • 00:18:37.565 --> 00:18:39.767
  • You ever heard somebody pray and think they were giving a
  • 00:18:39.767 --> 00:18:41.469
  • Geography lesson?
  • 00:18:41.469 --> 00:18:43.771
  • I have.
  • 00:18:43.771 --> 00:18:45.106
  • I've listened to a pastor--you know, we're the worst.
  • 00:18:45.106 --> 00:18:46.974
  • Professional christians are the worst.
  • 00:18:46.974 --> 00:18:48.676
  • We pray and it's like we're doing systematic theology.
  • 00:18:48.676 --> 00:18:53.014
  • Peter kinda just cut to the chase.
  • 00:18:53.014 --> 00:18:55.483
  • Three words: "lord, save me."
  • 00:18:55.483 --> 00:18:59.020
  • 'cause if he'd had done all the rest of that, he'd have
  • 00:18:59.020 --> 00:19:00.721
  • Gone swimming.
  • 00:19:00.721 --> 00:19:03.257
  • At least simple prayers.
  • 00:19:03.257 --> 00:19:05.726
  • It's biblical.
  • 00:19:05.726 --> 00:19:07.094
  • It's biblical.
  • 00:19:08.029 --> 00:19:10.831
  • People will be offended.
  • 00:19:10.831 --> 00:19:12.200
  • I've gotten mail.
  • 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:14.302
  • It's not a brand new idea to me.
  • 00:19:14.302 --> 00:19:16.904
  • You say, "you know, i just--i can't believe you'd encourage
  • 00:19:16.904 --> 00:19:19.006
  • People to say such simple prayers."
  • 00:19:19.006 --> 00:19:20.341
  • Well, worked for peter.
  • 00:19:20.341 --> 00:19:23.444
  • Jesus responded.
  • 00:19:23.444 --> 00:19:25.646
  • Jesus didn't look at peter and go, "peter, is that really the
  • 00:19:25.646 --> 00:19:27.415
  • Best you got?
  • 00:19:27.415 --> 00:19:29.917
  • Did you not memorize that 22-verse confession i gave you
  • 00:19:29.917 --> 00:19:33.421
  • Last week?"
  • 00:19:33.421 --> 00:19:36.257
  • No, in that moment, the best he had was, "lord, save me."
  • 00:19:36.257 --> 00:19:40.695
  • I was intrigued enough by it that i did a little research,
  • 00:19:40.695 --> 00:19:42.463
  • And i didn't bring it all to you 'cause it was overwhelming, to
  • 00:19:42.463 --> 00:19:44.532
  • Be honest.
  • 00:19:44.532 --> 00:19:45.866
  • You know, that prayer is repeated over and over and over
  • 00:19:45.866 --> 00:19:47.635
  • Through the bible.
  • 00:19:47.635 --> 00:19:49.003
  • In psalm 40 and verse 13, "be pleased, o lord, to save me; o
  • 00:19:49.003 --> 00:19:56.143
  • Lord, come quickly to help me."
  • 00:19:56.143 --> 00:19:58.646
  • And i put the next verse in 'cause i thought it was a pretty
  • 00:19:58.646 --> 00:20:01.148
  • Good--it doesn't line up with what i consider to be kinda the
  • 00:20:01.148 --> 00:20:05.353
  • Traditional church thinking about prayers.
  • 00:20:05.353 --> 00:20:08.356
  • Prayers are polite and kind.
  • 00:20:08.356 --> 00:20:10.992
  • You know, kinda like a hug from a grandparent, like a southern
  • 00:20:10.992 --> 00:20:14.462
  • "bless your heart."
  • 00:20:14.462 --> 00:20:17.198
  • That is not a ridicule of somebody who's not from here.
  • 00:20:17.198 --> 00:20:20.968
  • "you know, be pleased, o lord, to save me; lord, come quickly
  • 00:20:20.968 --> 00:20:23.471
  • To help me."
  • 00:20:23.471 --> 00:20:24.839
  • Look at verse 14.
  • 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:26.173
  • "may all who wanna seek to take my life be put to shame and
  • 00:20:26.173 --> 00:20:28.342
  • Confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back
  • 00:20:28.342 --> 00:20:32.713
  • In disgrace."
  • 00:20:32.713 --> 00:20:34.048
  • Whoa, big fella.
  • 00:20:34.048 --> 00:20:36.550
  • That's not just a "lord, help me," that's a "lord, help the
  • 00:20:36.550 --> 00:20:40.288
  • People that oppose me."
  • 00:20:40.288 --> 00:20:43.324
  • You see, i think one thing we should process--and we won't do
  • 00:20:43.324 --> 00:20:45.226
  • It in this session in any detail, but i will come back.
  • 00:20:45.226 --> 00:20:48.029
  • It's a very significant thing to oppose the purposes of god, and
  • 00:20:48.029 --> 00:20:52.667
  • I'm not talking about questioning somebody's
  • 00:20:52.667 --> 00:20:54.935
  • Interpretation of a bible verse, that's not what i mean at all,
  • 00:20:54.935 --> 00:20:58.306
  • But to give yourself to thwarting the purposes of god.
  • 00:20:58.306 --> 00:21:00.908
  • The bible deals with it very directly.
  • 00:21:04.412 --> 00:21:06.414
  • Look at psalm 116.
  • 00:21:06.414 --> 00:21:08.082
  • "i called on the name of the lord: 'lord, save me!'"
  • 00:21:08.082 --> 00:21:14.455
  • So we've all learned a new prayer at church today.
  • 00:21:14.455 --> 00:21:17.091
  • Three words.
  • 00:21:17.091 --> 00:21:19.193
  • Let's see if this section can do it.
  • 00:21:19.193 --> 00:21:20.661
  • These people over here, i'm not sure about, but i'm betting on
  • 00:21:20.661 --> 00:21:22.763
  • This group.
  • 00:21:22.763 --> 00:21:24.131
  • All right. on three, we got a prayer.
  • 00:21:24.131 --> 00:21:25.499
  • One, two, three.
  • 00:21:25.499 --> 00:21:28.169
  • Look at them at the head of the class.
  • 00:21:28.169 --> 00:21:33.607
  • You say, "well, how's he gonna do it?"
  • 00:21:33.607 --> 00:21:35.076
  • I don't know.
  • 00:21:35.076 --> 00:21:37.144
  • Peter never seen anybody walk on the water before.
  • 00:21:37.144 --> 00:21:40.915
  • Hezekiah had never seen the assyrian army terrified and
  • 00:21:40.915 --> 00:21:43.751
  • Withdraw in complete fear.
  • 00:21:43.751 --> 00:21:47.722
  • I'm sure he didn't know anybody that had had a death sentence
  • 00:21:47.722 --> 00:21:49.790
  • That had been brought to--delivered by god reversed
  • 00:21:49.790 --> 00:21:52.393
  • And their life extended.
  • 00:21:52.393 --> 00:21:54.962
  • Lord, save me.
  • 00:21:54.962 --> 00:21:56.497
  • I wanna lead a life that reflects the power of god in
  • 00:21:56.497 --> 00:22:00.301
  • Writing my future.
  • 00:22:00.301 --> 00:22:02.670
  • Doesn't mean we don't face challenges.
  • 00:22:02.670 --> 00:22:04.772
  • Doesn't mean we don't have hurdles or obstacles.
  • 00:22:04.772 --> 00:22:07.007
  • It means god will lead us through.
  • 00:22:07.007 --> 00:22:08.943
  • So we wanna embrace this notion of simple prayers.
  • 00:22:08.943 --> 00:22:12.980
  • I put just a sampling in your notes.
  • 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:14.849
  • "heavenly father, we need your mercy."
  • 00:22:14.849 --> 00:22:18.586
  • Maybe you work someplace where there's a lot of tension, a lot
  • 00:22:18.586 --> 00:22:21.188
  • Of confusion, a lot of frustration, a lot
  • 00:22:21.188 --> 00:22:22.890
  • Of antagonism.
  • 00:22:22.890 --> 00:22:24.225
  • "god, we need your mercy here.
  • 00:22:24.225 --> 00:22:25.593
  • Help us."
  • 00:22:25.593 --> 00:22:27.294
  • Don't tell everybody you're praying.
  • 00:22:27.294 --> 00:22:29.864
  • Just start to walk through that place when you're making copies.
  • 00:22:29.864 --> 00:22:31.999
  • "oh, god, we need your mercy."
  • 00:22:31.999 --> 00:22:35.102
  • When you have a break and you're getting a cup of coffee, "oh,
  • 00:22:35.102 --> 00:22:36.937
  • Lord, we need your mercy here."
  • 00:22:36.937 --> 00:22:39.240
  • Start inviting god into the midst of your life.
  • 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:42.443
  • Invite god into your home.
  • 00:22:42.443 --> 00:22:45.112
  • Men, pray for your home.
  • 00:22:45.112 --> 00:22:48.783
  • You say, "well, pastor, you know, if i prayed at my house,
  • 00:22:48.783 --> 00:22:50.618
  • They'd laugh."
  • 00:22:50.618 --> 00:22:51.986
  • Don't tell them.
  • 00:22:51.986 --> 00:22:53.854
  • Start praying before they--you tell them.
  • 00:22:53.854 --> 00:22:58.325
  • Before you leave in the morning, you can quietly say to the lord,
  • 00:22:58.325 --> 00:23:01.462
  • "god, let your presence rest on this home.
  • 00:23:01.462 --> 00:23:05.166
  • God, thank you for my family."
  • 00:23:05.166 --> 00:23:07.835
  • When you come in at the end of the day and you're tired and
  • 00:23:07.835 --> 00:23:10.638
  • There's all those little voices waiting to see you, "god, i
  • 00:23:10.638 --> 00:23:14.975
  • Thank you for my blessings."
  • 00:23:14.975 --> 00:23:17.745
  • You begin to pray long before you tell them.
  • 00:23:17.745 --> 00:23:22.650
  • There'll be a time and a place for you to tell them
  • 00:23:22.650 --> 00:23:25.286
  • You're praying.
  • 00:23:25.286 --> 00:23:26.620
  • Just a sentence prayer.
  • 00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:28.656
  • Folks, we have left this out of our portfolio for far too long.
  • 00:23:28.656 --> 00:23:33.561
  • We've been waiting to sound like something special.
  • 00:23:33.561 --> 00:23:37.198
  • I can't even imitate the professional christian voice
  • 00:23:37.198 --> 00:23:40.434
  • This morning, so god's kinda playing a joke on me.
  • 00:23:40.434 --> 00:23:42.803
  • But you've heard it.
  • 00:23:42.803 --> 00:23:44.605
  • You'd know it if i could do it.
  • 00:23:44.605 --> 00:23:47.541
  • I think even god looks at the angels and go, "what is
  • 00:23:47.541 --> 00:23:49.610
  • He doing?"
  • 00:23:49.610 --> 00:23:52.379
  • Start to use those simple prayers.
  • 00:23:52.379 --> 00:23:54.415
  • They'll change your life.
  • 00:23:54.415 --> 00:23:56.283
  • "heavenly father, give us your wisdom.
  • 00:23:56.283 --> 00:23:58.052
  • God, thank you for your kindness to us."
  • 00:23:58.052 --> 00:24:00.087
  • There are so many things to be said to the lord.
  • 00:24:00.087 --> 00:24:04.792
  • If you're aggravated with the people you live with, "god,
  • 00:24:04.792 --> 00:24:07.061
  • Thank you for my wife."
  • 00:24:07.061 --> 00:24:12.166
  • Don't announce it.
  • 00:24:12.166 --> 00:24:14.134
  • Just in your hearts, "god, i thank you for my wife.
  • 00:24:14.134 --> 00:24:16.570
  • I thank you for my children.
  • 00:24:16.570 --> 00:24:17.938
  • I thank you for my husband.
  • 00:24:17.938 --> 00:24:19.640
  • Thank you for the job i have.
  • 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:22.376
  • Thank you for the nation where i live.
  • 00:24:22.376 --> 00:24:25.546
  • God, thank you."
  • 00:24:25.546 --> 00:24:28.082
  • Hey, if we're quiet, even the kids will cry out.
  • 00:24:28.082 --> 00:24:29.950
  • So we better get ahead of it, so--simple prayers.
  • 00:24:29.950 --> 00:24:35.089
  • And i'm gonna take the balance of our time.
  • 00:24:35.089 --> 00:24:36.423
  • We're gonna just process this.
  • 00:24:36.423 --> 00:24:37.958
  • We're gonna learn a little bit about prayer.
  • 00:24:37.958 --> 00:24:39.393
  • We're gonna learn everything.
  • 00:24:39.393 --> 00:24:40.928
  • This is not a master class 'cause i'm not a master, but i
  • 00:24:40.928 --> 00:24:46.700
  • Know the master and i'm yielded to his authority and i am
  • 00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:50.738
  • A learner.
  • 00:24:50.738 --> 00:24:52.106
  • So i would invite you to join me in learning a bit.
  • 00:24:52.106 --> 00:24:55.276
  • In luke, jesus is with his disciples, and it says jesus
  • 00:24:55.276 --> 00:25:00.681
  • Was praying.
  • 00:25:00.681 --> 00:25:02.016
  • And when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "lord,
  • 00:25:02.016 --> 00:25:03.684
  • Teach us to pray."
  • 00:25:03.684 --> 00:25:05.719
  • And jesus responded, "that's the dumbest idea i've ever heard."
  • 00:25:05.719 --> 00:25:14.328
  • That's not what he said at all, is it?
  • 00:25:14.328 --> 00:25:16.430
  • "lord, teach us to pray."
  • 00:25:16.430 --> 00:25:18.098
  • And he said, "oh, okay, pray like this."
  • 00:25:18.098 --> 00:25:21.468
  • What i can deduce from that is we can learn to pray.
  • 00:25:21.468 --> 00:25:25.105
  • These are people jesus recruited.
  • 00:25:25.105 --> 00:25:27.308
  • He saw value in peter, james, and john.
  • 00:25:27.308 --> 00:25:29.510
  • They've watched him do miracles.
  • 00:25:29.510 --> 00:25:30.878
  • They have seen remarkable things happening, but in spite of all
  • 00:25:30.878 --> 00:25:34.148
  • Of those things, they recognize there's a deficit within them.
  • 00:25:34.148 --> 00:25:37.117
  • They're not particularly comfortable with prayer.
  • 00:25:37.117 --> 00:25:39.887
  • I wonder if we can have the courage to say to ourselves,
  • 00:25:39.887 --> 00:25:42.923
  • "i'm not as comfortable with prayer as i would like to be.
  • 00:25:42.923 --> 00:25:48.028
  • I wanna learn to pray."
  • 00:25:48.028 --> 00:25:49.363
  • I've been sharing with you in the last few weeks about how
  • 00:25:49.363 --> 00:25:50.965
  • God's been changing the focus of my prayer life in some pretty
  • 00:25:50.965 --> 00:25:54.702
  • Significant ways.
  • 00:25:54.702 --> 00:25:58.872
  • I'm gonna pray for healing before we get done today, just
  • 00:25:58.872 --> 00:26:00.975
  • Out of--you know, i'm not gonna be discouraged because i don't
  • 00:26:00.975 --> 00:26:06.146
  • Have all the outcomes i'm looking for just yet.
  • 00:26:06.146 --> 00:26:09.883
  • But i believe that if we would acknowledge that we can learn to
  • 00:26:09.883 --> 00:26:12.686
  • Pray, it will change the conversation for us.
  • 00:26:12.686 --> 00:26:16.824
  • Allen: hey, i'm really excited about our newest publication
  • 00:26:21.028 --> 00:26:23.597
  • "your identity in christ."
  • 00:26:23.597 --> 00:26:25.399
  • Far too often in christendom, we major on the minors.
  • 00:26:25.399 --> 00:26:28.369
  • We get way heated up about which church we attend, which
  • 00:26:28.369 --> 00:26:30.471
  • Denomination we belong to, which translation of the bible
  • 00:26:30.471 --> 00:26:32.973
  • We read.
  • 00:26:32.973 --> 00:26:34.308
  • Folks, those things are all okay, but knowing who you are in
  • 00:26:34.308 --> 00:26:36.944
  • Christ, it will mean freedom or it will put you in a place
  • 00:26:36.944 --> 00:26:40.314
  • Of bondage.
  • 00:26:40.314 --> 00:26:41.682
  • When i help people through the steps of spiritual freedom, the
  • 00:26:41.682 --> 00:26:44.051
  • Foundation of that is understanding who we are
  • 00:26:44.051 --> 00:26:46.787
  • In christ.
  • 00:26:46.787 --> 00:26:48.155
  • We put together this little booklet as a tool.
  • 00:26:48.155 --> 00:26:49.923
  • It'll help you individually.
  • 00:26:49.923 --> 00:26:51.325
  • You can do it as a small group.
  • 00:26:51.325 --> 00:26:52.660
  • It's a great resource to share with your children or your
  • 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:55.129
  • Grandchildren at your kitchen table time.
  • 00:26:55.129 --> 00:26:57.564
  • It'll make a difference in your life knowing who you are in
  • 00:26:57.564 --> 00:27:00.401
  • Christ first and foremost as a part of your
  • 00:27:00.401 --> 00:27:03.037
  • Spiritual formation.
  • 00:27:03.037 --> 00:27:04.371
  • In fact, i wanna pray with you before we go that god will
  • 00:27:04.371 --> 00:27:06.607
  • Bring new freedom to you in this season.
  • 00:27:06.607 --> 00:27:09.243
  • Father, thank you for you have established, you have paid the
  • 00:27:09.243 --> 00:27:12.646
  • Price that we can participate in your kingdom.
  • 00:27:12.646 --> 00:27:14.982
  • By your spirit, awaken us to who we are in christ first
  • 00:27:14.982 --> 00:27:19.186
  • And foremost.
  • 00:27:19.186 --> 00:27:20.554
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:20.554 --> 00:27:22.089
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:22.523 --> 00:27:22.523