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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - A Battle in the Mind (Part 1)

June 8, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - A Battle in the Mind (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#SpiritualWarfare #Mind #Foundation #SpiritualFoundation #Preparation #Challenges #Trials-HardTimes #Overcoming #RenewingtheMind #Transformation #Change #Strength #Grace #Evil #Culture #Calling #Purpose #Responsibility #Comfort #Complacency #Serving #ServantofGod #Perseverance #Endurance #WalkwithGod #HolySpirit #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - A Battle in the Mind (Part 1) | June 8, 2026
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.317
  • Allen jackson: hey, i've encouraged you for a long time
  • 00:00:01.785 --> 00:00:03.053
  • To lead with your faith.
  • 00:00:03.153 --> 00:00:04.587
  • Take your faith outside the church building
  • 00:00:04.687 --> 00:00:05.455
  • Into all the places that your life takes you,
  • 00:00:06.689 --> 00:00:08.825
  • Where you have influence, where you have a voice.
  • 00:00:08.825 --> 00:00:11.227
  • We've created some pieces to help you do that:
  • 00:00:11.227 --> 00:00:13.263
  • A tote bag, a blanket.
  • 00:00:13.263 --> 00:00:14.931
  • Maybe you're going to a ball game or the park or the beach,
  • 00:00:14.931 --> 00:00:17.500
  • Wherever that may be.
  • 00:00:17.500 --> 00:00:18.835
  • You take these along, they are a celebration of our nation's
  • 00:00:18.835 --> 00:00:21.871
  • 250th anniversary.
  • 00:00:21.871 --> 00:00:24.207
  • Somebody will want to know where you got it, what it's about.
  • 00:00:24.207 --> 00:00:26.776
  • It gives you an opportunity to share your faith.
  • 00:00:26.776 --> 00:00:29.345
  • You know, i've had the privilege of living in some places outside
  • 00:00:29.345 --> 00:00:32.315
  • The united states.
  • 00:00:32.315 --> 00:00:33.850
  • Things like a grocery store or fast food or food delivery,
  • 00:00:33.850 --> 00:00:38.855
  • Those things weren't possible in the places i lived.
  • 00:00:38.855 --> 00:00:41.191
  • When i come home, just walking through a grocery store reminds
  • 00:00:41.191 --> 00:00:44.060
  • Me of the goodness and the faithfulness of god,
  • 00:00:44.060 --> 00:00:45.895
  • His blessings on our nation.
  • 00:00:45.895 --> 00:00:47.964
  • Use your voice to say god has blessed america.
  • 00:00:47.964 --> 00:00:51.801
  • Something as simple as a tote bag can open a door
  • 00:00:51.801 --> 00:00:54.270
  • For your god story.
  • 00:00:54.270 --> 00:00:55.939
  • Together, we're gonna lift up the name of jesus in this
  • 00:00:55.939 --> 00:00:58.341
  • Generation and see god bless america again.
  • 00:00:58.341 --> 00:01:08.218
  • Allen: i'm gonna extend it one more time,
  • 00:01:08.284 --> 00:01:10.353
  • That invitation.
  • 00:01:10.453 --> 00:01:11.921
  • We've been reading our bibles around here for a long time.
  • 00:01:12.055 --> 00:01:13.957
  • That's not new.
  • 00:01:14.057 --> 00:01:14.324
  • I hope you've joined us in that.
  • 00:01:15.492 --> 00:01:16.860
  • If you haven't, come on.
  • 00:01:16.860 --> 00:01:20.230
  • But this year, i changed the invitation just a bit.
  • 00:01:20.230 --> 00:01:23.266
  • I said let's focus on the four gospels as we begin our year.
  • 00:01:23.266 --> 00:01:25.802
  • That's not really new.
  • 00:01:25.802 --> 00:01:27.504
  • You can read through matthew, mark, luke, and john in about
  • 00:01:27.504 --> 00:01:29.606
  • 60 days with that same commitment of time.
  • 00:01:29.606 --> 00:01:33.009
  • What i've asked you to do is include somebody else.
  • 00:01:33.009 --> 00:01:36.513
  • Don't let it just be about us.
  • 00:01:36.513 --> 00:01:38.448
  • A co-worker, a family member, a friend, a neighbor, whomever the
  • 00:01:38.448 --> 00:01:41.584
  • Lord puts on your heart, the stories you're bringing back
  • 00:01:41.584 --> 00:01:43.386
  • Are remarkable.
  • 00:01:43.386 --> 00:01:45.021
  • One man said he recruited sixteen people.
  • 00:01:45.021 --> 00:01:47.657
  • One woman told me her sister lives in another state and she
  • 00:01:47.657 --> 00:01:49.826
  • Has a long commute to work, and they read it together while
  • 00:01:49.826 --> 00:01:52.228
  • She's commuting.
  • 00:01:52.228 --> 00:01:54.531
  • You'll have your own narrative.
  • 00:01:54.531 --> 00:01:56.266
  • Let's not leave it to ourselves.
  • 00:01:56.266 --> 00:01:59.068
  • Take your faith and live it out.
  • 00:01:59.068 --> 00:02:01.070
  • Lead with your faith.
  • 00:02:01.070 --> 00:02:02.539
  • Not everybody will say yes.
  • 00:02:02.539 --> 00:02:04.107
  • Not everybody said yes to jesus.
  • 00:02:04.107 --> 00:02:06.643
  • "well, pastor, you know, why would i do that?
  • 00:02:06.643 --> 00:02:08.211
  • Why does it make any difference?"
  • 00:02:08.211 --> 00:02:10.446
  • Because people's invitations in your life shape your future.
  • 00:02:10.446 --> 00:02:15.051
  • The people that you spend time with purposefully, your
  • 00:02:15.051 --> 00:02:18.454
  • Discretionary time, the enthusiasm and the passion of
  • 00:02:18.454 --> 00:02:21.457
  • The people that you give your discretionary time to, shapes
  • 00:02:21.457 --> 00:02:23.993
  • Your future.
  • 00:02:23.993 --> 00:02:25.895
  • Why not help shape the future for someone else towards the
  • 00:02:25.895 --> 00:02:28.865
  • Kingdom of god?
  • 00:02:28.865 --> 00:02:30.967
  • If your attitude has been, "well, it's not really my
  • 00:02:35.071 --> 00:02:37.140
  • Problem, you know.
  • 00:02:37.140 --> 00:02:38.474
  • I'm gonna repent."
  • 00:02:38.474 --> 00:02:40.677
  • We're not gonna find ourselves in a better place until we have
  • 00:02:44.881 --> 00:02:49.118
  • A change of heart.
  • 00:02:49.118 --> 00:02:51.487
  • And so, i'm excited about every place i've been, every
  • 00:02:51.487 --> 00:02:54.424
  • Opportunity i've had for the last few weeks.
  • 00:02:54.424 --> 00:02:56.392
  • I've been extending this invitation.
  • 00:02:56.392 --> 00:02:57.860
  • I don't know how many people will say yes.
  • 00:02:57.860 --> 00:03:00.196
  • I don't know what the impact was.
  • 00:03:00.196 --> 00:03:01.564
  • I talked to some organizations and they said they weren't
  • 00:03:01.564 --> 00:03:03.633
  • Overly interested, but it's okay.
  • 00:03:03.633 --> 00:03:05.602
  • Some are.
  • 00:03:05.602 --> 00:03:07.470
  • And we're gonna read our bibles.
  • 00:03:07.470 --> 00:03:08.805
  • It will bring the blessing of god to your life, to your home,
  • 00:03:08.805 --> 00:03:11.874
  • And i believe it could bring it to our nation.
  • 00:03:11.874 --> 00:03:14.811
  • The outcome is in the lord's hands.
  • 00:03:14.811 --> 00:03:16.346
  • But what we can do is read the gospels.
  • 00:03:16.346 --> 00:03:18.014
  • It's a pretty easy invitation.
  • 00:03:18.014 --> 00:03:19.349
  • Almost everybody knows the primary characters.
  • 00:03:19.349 --> 00:03:22.252
  • Almost everybody's heard of jesus.
  • 00:03:22.252 --> 00:03:24.954
  • Most folks know something about mary and joseph.
  • 00:03:24.954 --> 00:03:27.991
  • They've probably heard about bethlehem.
  • 00:03:27.991 --> 00:03:30.526
  • They've probably heard something about jerusalem, so they know
  • 00:03:30.526 --> 00:03:32.695
  • The primary characters and the big cities before they
  • 00:03:32.695 --> 00:03:34.964
  • Even read.
  • 00:03:34.964 --> 00:03:36.499
  • It's a much lighter lift than leviticus.
  • 00:03:36.499 --> 00:03:40.270
  • You know, when you get your invitation muscles really built
  • 00:03:40.270 --> 00:03:43.373
  • Up, then we'll go invite somebody to read leviticus and
  • 00:03:43.373 --> 00:03:45.808
  • Numbers with us.
  • 00:03:45.808 --> 00:03:47.443
  • Well let's start with the gospels, amen?
  • 00:03:47.443 --> 00:03:51.948
  • Very good.
  • 00:03:51.948 --> 00:03:53.283
  • I hope you received an outline when you came in.
  • 00:03:53.283 --> 00:03:55.652
  • If you didn't, perhaps someone near you would share.
  • 00:03:55.652 --> 00:03:58.888
  • If you're joining us online, you can download those same outlines
  • 00:03:58.888 --> 00:04:01.824
  • From the website or the app.
  • 00:04:01.824 --> 00:04:04.294
  • The scriptures we'll look at will be helpful, i believe.
  • 00:04:04.294 --> 00:04:06.696
  • We're working through a study under the general heading of
  • 00:04:06.696 --> 00:04:09.098
  • "stormproof foundations."
  • 00:04:09.098 --> 00:04:11.067
  • How do we storm proof our lives?
  • 00:04:11.067 --> 00:04:12.769
  • Jesus told us storms would come to everybody.
  • 00:04:12.769 --> 00:04:15.738
  • And if you've had enough birthdays, you know that to
  • 00:04:15.738 --> 00:04:17.740
  • Be true.
  • 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:19.876
  • But jesus said it's possible to establish our lives in such a
  • 00:04:19.876 --> 00:04:22.912
  • Way that the storms don't bring total devastation
  • 00:04:22.912 --> 00:04:25.281
  • And destruction.
  • 00:04:25.281 --> 00:04:26.983
  • We may lose things, they may rearrange our schedule, they may
  • 00:04:26.983 --> 00:04:30.453
  • Intrude, they may be disappointments, but we can
  • 00:04:30.453 --> 00:04:33.122
  • Survive the storms.
  • 00:04:33.122 --> 00:04:34.490
  • That was jesus coaching.
  • 00:04:34.490 --> 00:04:35.825
  • So, we're trying to understand that.
  • 00:04:35.825 --> 00:04:37.193
  • In this session, i want to talk a bit more about the battle in
  • 00:04:37.193 --> 00:04:39.495
  • Our mind.
  • 00:04:39.495 --> 00:04:40.897
  • I typically imagine before we lose things and possessions, we
  • 00:04:40.897 --> 00:04:46.469
  • Have forfeited something in our mind.
  • 00:04:46.469 --> 00:04:48.037
  • That seems to be where the battles begin.
  • 00:04:48.037 --> 00:04:50.840
  • And it's often not okay to talk about it in polite company even
  • 00:04:50.840 --> 00:04:53.543
  • In church world.
  • 00:04:53.543 --> 00:04:55.278
  • We're often not sure how to talk about that.
  • 00:04:55.278 --> 00:04:58.348
  • It's an important weekend, i believe.
  • 00:04:58.348 --> 00:05:00.883
  • We're in the midst of a transition of power in our
  • 00:05:00.883 --> 00:05:03.419
  • Nation and it's a little halting.
  • 00:05:03.419 --> 00:05:10.026
  • Our freedoms have been tenuous for a while.
  • 00:05:13.963 --> 00:05:16.466
  • We've lost things that have been staples of our lives, things
  • 00:05:16.466 --> 00:05:19.135
  • Like free speech, borders, fiscal responsibility and it
  • 00:05:19.135 --> 00:05:25.508
  • Extends beyond any single party.
  • 00:05:25.508 --> 00:05:26.976
  • So please, we've had a long litany of this until we have
  • 00:05:26.976 --> 00:05:32.782
  • Deteriorated to the point that we no longer are confident we
  • 00:05:32.782 --> 00:05:35.585
  • Can even have a fair election, an election where citizens vote.
  • 00:05:35.585 --> 00:05:40.890
  • We're not sure that we can transfer power.
  • 00:05:40.890 --> 00:05:43.025
  • Whichever side you're on, there's questions around that.
  • 00:05:43.025 --> 00:05:46.996
  • The course we're on is unsustainable without a
  • 00:05:46.996 --> 00:05:52.769
  • Significant transformation.
  • 00:05:52.769 --> 00:05:55.171
  • I have great hope because we serve a god of redemption and
  • 00:05:55.171 --> 00:05:57.540
  • Transformation and renewal, and i believe that's possible.
  • 00:05:57.540 --> 00:06:01.411
  • But i believe it's very important for the people of god
  • 00:06:01.411 --> 00:06:03.746
  • To take a role in that.
  • 00:06:03.746 --> 00:06:05.248
  • There's good news.
  • 00:06:05.248 --> 00:06:06.949
  • I've started my year trying to encourage everybody that will
  • 00:06:06.949 --> 00:06:09.152
  • Listen to build the good news list.
  • 00:06:09.152 --> 00:06:11.888
  • I hope you've done that or i hope you are doing that.
  • 00:06:11.888 --> 00:06:15.525
  • There's been some remarkable things said.
  • 00:06:15.525 --> 00:06:17.727
  • Truth that's been hidden, denied, covered up, has come
  • 00:06:17.727 --> 00:06:22.031
  • Into the open.
  • 00:06:22.031 --> 00:06:23.399
  • That's really good news.
  • 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:24.734
  • Truth brings freedom.
  • 00:06:24.734 --> 00:06:26.102
  • We know that the nih was actually funding gain of
  • 00:06:26.102 --> 00:06:29.772
  • Function research in wuhan.
  • 00:06:29.772 --> 00:06:34.510
  • That might have been more helpful four years ago, but it's
  • 00:06:34.510 --> 00:06:36.646
  • Really good news that it's in the public square.
  • 00:06:36.646 --> 00:06:39.882
  • Mark zuckerberg says, "surprise."
  • 00:06:39.882 --> 00:06:44.320
  • They'd been practicing censorship, but the good news is
  • 00:06:44.320 --> 00:06:47.990
  • They want to stop.
  • 00:06:47.990 --> 00:06:49.659
  • That's really, really good news.
  • 00:06:49.659 --> 00:06:52.628
  • I mean, almost everywhere you look, there is--there are things
  • 00:06:52.628 --> 00:06:56.232
  • Taking place that forebode some positive things in our lives.
  • 00:06:56.232 --> 00:07:03.706
  • This is inaugural weekend if you've missed that.
  • 00:07:03.706 --> 00:07:06.576
  • In spite of some invitations to go to some gatherings in
  • 00:07:06.576 --> 00:07:10.346
  • Washington, i have to--i haven't always paid much attention
  • 00:07:10.346 --> 00:07:13.349
  • To inaugurations.
  • 00:07:13.349 --> 00:07:16.185
  • I, you know, i knew there were a lot of parties.
  • 00:07:16.185 --> 00:07:17.653
  • I didn't know they were expensive.
  • 00:07:17.653 --> 00:07:22.124
  • I live in tennessee.
  • 00:07:22.124 --> 00:07:24.894
  • Somebody called and say, "will you come go to this party?"
  • 00:07:24.894 --> 00:07:26.762
  • We go, "no, i think we're good."
  • 00:07:26.762 --> 00:07:28.231
  • And they said, "well, it's really expensive and we'll give
  • 00:07:28.231 --> 00:07:29.732
  • You a ticket."
  • 00:07:29.732 --> 00:07:31.067
  • And i'm like, "no, i'm really good, but thank you."
  • 00:07:31.067 --> 00:07:34.370
  • It felt really important to be together this weekend.
  • 00:07:34.370 --> 00:07:37.707
  • I believe the future depends upon the people of god.
  • 00:07:37.707 --> 00:07:42.044
  • I'm grateful for people who will lead.
  • 00:07:42.044 --> 00:07:45.715
  • I'm very grateful for people who will disrupt their lives to
  • 00:07:45.715 --> 00:07:49.252
  • Provide leadership.
  • 00:07:49.252 --> 00:07:50.786
  • I'm more closely acquainted with, for governor huckabee to
  • 00:07:50.786 --> 00:07:53.456
  • Go to israel, he had to turn his life upside down to accept
  • 00:07:53.456 --> 00:07:56.425
  • That assignment.
  • 00:07:56.425 --> 00:07:58.227
  • To move away from family and grandchildren, he had to turn
  • 00:07:58.227 --> 00:08:00.863
  • His professional life upside down.
  • 00:08:00.863 --> 00:08:02.532
  • I've been to--i've been involved in more than one conversation
  • 00:08:02.532 --> 00:08:06.402
  • Where it was a significant realignment of his life.
  • 00:08:06.402 --> 00:08:08.504
  • It's a sacrifice.
  • 00:08:08.504 --> 00:08:10.339
  • You say it's an honor, but it's a sacrifice.
  • 00:08:10.339 --> 00:08:13.709
  • And i'm grateful for those people, but it--the outcome, the
  • 00:08:13.709 --> 00:08:16.746
  • Sustainability will have more to do with the people of faith than
  • 00:08:16.746 --> 00:08:19.348
  • It will the politicians.
  • 00:08:19.348 --> 00:08:21.851
  • Otherwise, we'll have a change of administrations and a new
  • 00:08:21.851 --> 00:08:23.986
  • Slew of executive orders and we will see a whole new
  • 00:08:23.986 --> 00:08:26.455
  • Direction emerge.
  • 00:08:26.455 --> 00:08:27.823
  • We have to have a change of heart, folks.
  • 00:08:27.823 --> 00:08:30.793
  • So, we're looking at how to storm proof our lives.
  • 00:08:30.793 --> 00:08:32.695
  • I want to start with the assignment at 2 timothy 2. i'm
  • 00:08:32.695 --> 00:08:35.932
  • Gonna move pretty quickly, so listen fast.
  • 00:08:35.932 --> 00:08:38.134
  • Can you do that?
  • 00:08:38.134 --> 00:08:41.804
  • Paul--2 timothy is a letter written very near the end of
  • 00:08:41.804 --> 00:08:44.674
  • Paul's life for what we understand to be the end of
  • 00:08:44.674 --> 00:08:46.609
  • His life.
  • 00:08:46.609 --> 00:08:47.977
  • He's coaching a young man that he's been mentoring.
  • 00:08:47.977 --> 00:08:49.845
  • He said, "you then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in
  • 00:08:49.845 --> 00:08:52.748
  • Christ jesus.
  • 00:08:52.748 --> 00:08:54.283
  • And the things you've heard me say in the presence of many
  • 00:08:54.283 --> 00:08:56.485
  • Witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified
  • 00:08:56.485 --> 00:09:00.022
  • To teach others.
  • 00:09:00.022 --> 00:09:01.657
  • Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of christ jesus.
  • 00:09:01.657 --> 00:09:05.127
  • No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--
  • 00:09:05.127 --> 00:09:07.830
  • He wants to please his commanding officer.
  • 00:09:07.830 --> 00:09:10.600
  • Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he doesn't receive
  • 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:13.202
  • The victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.
  • 00:09:13.202 --> 00:09:17.907
  • The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of
  • 00:09:17.907 --> 00:09:20.843
  • The crops.
  • 00:09:20.843 --> 00:09:22.311
  • Reflect on what i'm saying, for the lord will give you insight
  • 00:09:22.311 --> 00:09:26.349
  • Into all of this."
  • 00:09:26.349 --> 00:09:27.717
  • He's coaching a young man.
  • 00:09:27.717 --> 00:09:29.385
  • I don't wanna stay a long time, but that i would submit to you
  • 00:09:29.385 --> 00:09:31.587
  • That the nature of that, the tone of that is difficult.
  • 00:09:31.587 --> 00:09:34.790
  • It's kind of hard language.
  • 00:09:34.790 --> 00:09:36.959
  • It's not soft or squishy or accommodating.
  • 00:09:36.959 --> 00:09:41.897
  • He's using images that invoke effort and risk and threat and
  • 00:09:41.897 --> 00:09:47.970
  • Perspiration, all of them.
  • 00:09:47.970 --> 00:09:50.573
  • He starts by saying, "be strong in the grace that's in
  • 00:09:50.573 --> 00:09:53.876
  • Christ jesus."
  • 00:09:53.876 --> 00:09:55.244
  • You think about being strong in grace?
  • 00:09:55.244 --> 00:09:58.214
  • It seems to me we're kind of soft in grace.
  • 00:09:58.214 --> 00:10:01.851
  • Grace is unearned, unmerited.
  • 00:10:01.851 --> 00:10:04.153
  • If it has anything to do with merit, it's not grace.
  • 00:10:04.153 --> 00:10:07.990
  • The goodness of god, the kindness of god, the blessing of
  • 00:10:07.990 --> 00:10:10.426
  • God that comes to us because of no merit on our part, you should
  • 00:10:10.426 --> 00:10:15.164
  • Be strong in that.
  • 00:10:15.164 --> 00:10:16.499
  • Understand what you've received.
  • 00:10:16.499 --> 00:10:18.234
  • Let it be the defining edge of your life.
  • 00:10:18.234 --> 00:10:20.102
  • I have received so much.
  • 00:10:20.102 --> 00:10:22.872
  • How could i give less back?
  • 00:10:22.872 --> 00:10:25.708
  • That's not the tone we typically embrace with grace.
  • 00:10:25.708 --> 00:10:28.844
  • And then he gives timothy an assignment.
  • 00:10:28.844 --> 00:10:30.312
  • He said, "you've got to entrust this to reliable men, not
  • 00:10:30.312 --> 00:10:33.349
  • To anybody.
  • 00:10:33.349 --> 00:10:34.717
  • Find those who are reliable."
  • 00:10:34.717 --> 00:10:36.052
  • May i ask you a question?
  • 00:10:36.052 --> 00:10:37.420
  • Are you a reliable person?
  • 00:10:37.420 --> 00:10:40.189
  • Don't give me the soft, you know, "well, i hope to be.
  • 00:10:40.189 --> 00:10:44.760
  • Well, i would like to be.
  • 00:10:44.760 --> 00:10:46.128
  • I aspire to be."
  • 00:10:46.128 --> 00:10:50.166
  • We borrow yoda, "do or do not, there is no trying."
  • 00:10:50.166 --> 00:10:56.739
  • Are you a reliable person?
  • 00:10:56.739 --> 00:10:58.908
  • And then paul says we have to endure hardship.
  • 00:10:58.908 --> 00:11:02.445
  • Endure hardship as in the context of our faith.
  • 00:11:02.445 --> 00:11:07.249
  • It's been generations since we've thought about that.
  • 00:11:07.249 --> 00:11:10.386
  • Hardship for us is when the sermon's too long.
  • 00:11:10.386 --> 00:11:14.390
  • You missed a good opportunity for an amen.
  • 00:11:14.390 --> 00:11:16.559
  • I'm just gonna.
  • 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:18.761
  • I mean, hardship for us in the context of our faith has been
  • 00:11:18.761 --> 00:11:22.698
  • Pretty simple stuff.
  • 00:11:22.698 --> 00:11:25.067
  • We've told stories from history about people who had to do that,
  • 00:11:25.067 --> 00:11:28.003
  • But paul is coaching somebody up, and he said, "you're gonna
  • 00:11:28.003 --> 00:11:30.573
  • Have to endure hardship."
  • 00:11:30.573 --> 00:11:32.208
  • And the image he pulls into it is like a soldier.
  • 00:11:32.208 --> 00:11:34.977
  • Folks, a soldier puts their life at risk.
  • 00:11:34.977 --> 00:11:38.848
  • I haven't served in the military, but i'm pretty certain
  • 00:11:38.848 --> 00:11:42.251
  • I understand some of the fundamentals.
  • 00:11:42.251 --> 00:11:43.953
  • That you have to forfeit your will.
  • 00:11:43.953 --> 00:11:46.388
  • You put yourself under the authority of someone else.
  • 00:11:46.388 --> 00:11:50.192
  • "endure hardship," he said.
  • 00:11:50.192 --> 00:11:52.027
  • Then he said, "you have to compete according to the rules."
  • 00:11:52.027 --> 00:11:55.264
  • You can't just do it the way you want.
  • 00:11:55.264 --> 00:11:57.633
  • It's not designer faith.
  • 00:11:57.633 --> 00:12:00.503
  • In fact, i don't know how you follow the lord.
  • 00:12:00.503 --> 00:12:02.371
  • I don't know how you seek the lord if you've never read
  • 00:12:02.371 --> 00:12:04.039
  • Your bible.
  • 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:06.242
  • Little promises from the promise box and little sermonettes will
  • 00:12:06.242 --> 00:12:09.645
  • Not be enough information for you to understand how to please
  • 00:12:09.645 --> 00:12:12.014
  • The lord.
  • 00:12:12.014 --> 00:12:15.251
  • And then finally, he uses the imagery of a farmer, a
  • 00:12:15.251 --> 00:12:18.187
  • Hardworking farmer.
  • 00:12:18.187 --> 00:12:21.257
  • Hard work has fallen out of fashion.
  • 00:12:21.257 --> 00:12:24.160
  • Now we wanna work smart.
  • 00:12:24.160 --> 00:12:26.862
  • Which usually means we don't want to.
  • 00:12:26.862 --> 00:12:30.366
  • My observation of those who work smart is that they don't work as
  • 00:12:30.366 --> 00:12:33.469
  • Much and it's not as hard.
  • 00:12:33.469 --> 00:12:35.805
  • I'm working smart.
  • 00:12:35.805 --> 00:12:38.507
  • When i really need help, you know what i want?
  • 00:12:38.507 --> 00:12:41.477
  • Somebody that'll work hard.
  • 00:12:41.477 --> 00:12:43.245
  • Now, i'm not opposed to them working smart.
  • 00:12:43.245 --> 00:12:45.748
  • Working stupid, that's--there's another word for that.
  • 00:12:45.748 --> 00:12:51.520
  • But the goal isn't to avoid the work.
  • 00:12:51.520 --> 00:12:54.990
  • What intrigues me is his analysis of the outcome.
  • 00:12:54.990 --> 00:12:57.993
  • He said, "the hardworking farmers should be the first to
  • 00:12:57.993 --> 00:13:01.130
  • Receive a share of the crops."
  • 00:13:01.130 --> 00:13:06.669
  • Well heck, if it's my field and i did the work, i want all
  • 00:13:06.669 --> 00:13:10.105
  • The crop.
  • 00:13:10.105 --> 00:13:13.175
  • But that doesn't seem to be the instruction.
  • 00:13:13.175 --> 00:13:14.710
  • Again, it's a passage that's a little prickly.
  • 00:13:14.710 --> 00:13:17.546
  • It's a little uncomfortable.
  • 00:13:17.546 --> 00:13:21.817
  • Allen: hey, we're celebrating this year the 250th anniversary
  • 00:13:26.021 --> 00:13:29.391
  • Of the signing of the declaration of independence.
  • 00:13:29.391 --> 00:13:32.027
  • What a wonderful privilege we have.
  • 00:13:32.027 --> 00:13:34.430
  • You know, god has blessed our nation so many good things.
  • 00:13:34.430 --> 00:13:37.433
  • People say to me, "well, our whole history is not good."
  • 00:13:37.433 --> 00:13:39.902
  • Well, folks, you know, my history is not great.
  • 00:13:39.902 --> 00:13:42.104
  • Your family history is not perfect.
  • 00:13:42.104 --> 00:13:44.106
  • But you love your family, you love your children.
  • 00:13:44.106 --> 00:13:46.809
  • In spite of our weaknesses-- well, our nation hadn't been
  • 00:13:46.809 --> 00:13:49.745
  • Perfect, but through that whole story, the goodness of god
  • 00:13:49.745 --> 00:13:52.648
  • Is evident.
  • 00:13:52.648 --> 00:13:53.983
  • It still is.
  • 00:13:53.983 --> 00:13:55.317
  • Let's ask god to bless america again.
  • 00:13:55.317 --> 00:13:57.887
  • I believe he will.
  • 00:13:57.887 --> 00:13:59.255
  • Female announcer: as we celebrate 250 years of god's
  • 00:13:59.255 --> 00:14:02.224
  • Faithfulness to our nation, we want to help you carry
  • 00:14:02.224 --> 00:14:05.094
  • That message along with you.
  • 00:14:05.094 --> 00:14:06.629
  • This commemorative tote bag and blanket are simple reminders of
  • 00:14:06.629 --> 00:14:10.399
  • His goodness and a way to spark meaningful
  • 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:12.801
  • Conversations wherever you go.
  • 00:14:12.801 --> 00:14:14.603
  • Request your limited edition tote bag and blanket
  • 00:14:14.603 --> 00:14:17.406
  • Today while supplies last with your gift
  • 00:14:17.406 --> 00:14:20.209
  • Of $100 or more at allenjackson.com or call...
  • 00:14:20.209 --> 00:14:28.350
  • Allen: so, i'm gonna ask you today, i'm gonna put something
  • 00:14:28.417 --> 00:14:30.786
  • Before you as we walk through these few minutes together.
  • 00:14:30.786 --> 00:14:32.955
  • I'm gonna ask you to consider an assignment for your life in this
  • 00:14:32.955 --> 00:14:35.791
  • Year that would help to storm proof the foundations of
  • 00:14:35.791 --> 00:14:39.194
  • Your life.
  • 00:14:39.194 --> 00:14:40.629
  • But spoiler alert, it's not easy.
  • 00:14:40.629 --> 00:14:43.999
  • We've done all the easy, folks.
  • 00:14:43.999 --> 00:14:46.435
  • The best things in life are on the other side of difficult, and
  • 00:14:46.435 --> 00:14:48.904
  • I'm purposefully asking you to pick up some things that will be
  • 00:14:48.904 --> 00:14:51.740
  • Less comfortable and convenient perhaps than in the past.
  • 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:55.744
  • Oh good.
  • 00:14:55.744 --> 00:14:58.847
  • But there's some gifts that make it possible.
  • 00:14:58.847 --> 00:15:00.849
  • The first is a gift of power.
  • 00:15:00.849 --> 00:15:03.185
  • God's not left us to our own strength or our own ability.
  • 00:15:03.185 --> 00:15:06.155
  • In fact, the assignment we've been given requires a power more
  • 00:15:06.155 --> 00:15:09.892
  • Than ourselves.
  • 00:15:09.892 --> 00:15:11.393
  • We're not going to outthink evil or outwork evil or out
  • 00:15:11.393 --> 00:15:13.896
  • Organize evil.
  • 00:15:13.896 --> 00:15:15.264
  • Evil is more powerful than we are, and in order to overcome
  • 00:15:15.264 --> 00:15:19.234
  • Evil, we will need a greater power than ourselves.
  • 00:15:19.234 --> 00:15:25.441
  • You don't have to be particularly aware culturally to
  • 00:15:25.441 --> 00:15:28.377
  • Understand this.
  • 00:15:28.377 --> 00:15:29.745
  • There are people that have been held in tunnels below gaza for
  • 00:15:29.745 --> 00:15:33.816
  • More than a year.
  • 00:15:33.816 --> 00:15:35.184
  • It's evil.
  • 00:15:35.184 --> 00:15:39.755
  • There's no justification.
  • 00:15:37.753 --> 00:15:42.124
  • Those that we have been able to talk to suffered horrifically.
  • 00:15:42.124 --> 00:15:47.830
  • It's evil.
  • 00:15:47.830 --> 00:15:49.498
  • And you're not gonna out negotiate evil.
  • 00:15:49.498 --> 00:15:51.200
  • There's a current deal on the table.
  • 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:52.568
  • It's inadequate.
  • 00:15:52.568 --> 00:15:53.902
  • It's incomplete.
  • 00:15:53.902 --> 00:15:55.404
  • And if there isn't an expression of power, real power, believed
  • 00:15:55.404 --> 00:15:59.208
  • It could be delivered, those people will never see the light
  • 00:15:59.208 --> 00:16:02.077
  • Of day again.
  • 00:16:02.077 --> 00:16:05.247
  • We could go on and on with examples.
  • 00:16:05.247 --> 00:16:07.449
  • Understand this, evil opposes the purposes of god in your
  • 00:16:07.449 --> 00:16:10.919
  • Life, and if you and i are gonna be victorious, we're gonna
  • 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:13.322
  • Need power.
  • 00:16:13.322 --> 00:16:15.190
  • Good news, it's been made available to us.
  • 00:16:15.190 --> 00:16:17.159
  • Acts chapter 1, this is a resurrected jesus.
  • 00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:21.530
  • A resurrected jesus.
  • 00:16:21.530 --> 00:16:23.499
  • I'm thinking that the relationship between he and his
  • 00:16:23.499 --> 00:16:25.334
  • Disciples is different.
  • 00:16:25.334 --> 00:16:26.702
  • They followed him, they watched him be betrayed, die on a cross.
  • 00:16:26.702 --> 00:16:29.838
  • They saw him buried, and now they've spent 40 days with a
  • 00:16:29.838 --> 00:16:32.975
  • Resurrected jesus.
  • 00:16:32.975 --> 00:16:34.376
  • Do you think they were better learners?
  • 00:16:34.376 --> 00:16:37.846
  • "on one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them
  • 00:16:37.846 --> 00:16:39.915
  • This command," you ought to circle that little word.
  • 00:16:39.915 --> 00:16:41.950
  • Not a hint, a command, "'do not leave jerusalem, but wait for
  • 00:16:41.950 --> 00:16:46.655
  • The gift my father promised.
  • 00:16:46.655 --> 00:16:48.857
  • You've heard me speak about it.
  • 00:16:48.857 --> 00:16:50.192
  • John baptized with water, but in a few days you'll be baptized
  • 00:16:50.192 --> 00:16:53.028
  • With the holy spirit.'"
  • 00:16:53.028 --> 00:16:55.064
  • They spent three years being coached by jesus,
  • 00:16:55.064 --> 00:16:57.666
  • Pretty effective.
  • 00:16:57.666 --> 00:16:59.535
  • They've had all the experiences, all the miracles, they've been
  • 00:16:59.535 --> 00:17:01.837
  • Anointed, they've been sent out, they've come back, they have
  • 00:17:01.837 --> 00:17:04.540
  • Their own personal stories.
  • 00:17:04.540 --> 00:17:07.309
  • But now jesus says to them, all of that, he met with them on
  • 00:17:07.309 --> 00:17:10.012
  • Resurrection evening and breathed on them and said,
  • 00:17:10.012 --> 00:17:12.081
  • "receive the holy spirit."
  • 00:17:12.081 --> 00:17:13.449
  • Sounds a lot like conversion to me.
  • 00:17:13.449 --> 00:17:16.518
  • And now he says, "don't even think of beginning your
  • 00:17:16.518 --> 00:17:19.688
  • Assignment until you receive power.
  • 00:17:19.688 --> 00:17:24.526
  • You need a power beyond yourself.
  • 00:17:24.526 --> 00:17:26.195
  • You need an authority beyond yourself."
  • 00:17:26.195 --> 00:17:28.197
  • So do we.
  • 00:17:28.197 --> 00:17:32.468
  • In that same chapter, the last words before he ascended back to
  • 00:17:30.132 --> 00:17:35.737
  • Heaven, "you will receive power when the holy spirit comes on
  • 00:17:35.737 --> 00:17:38.974
  • You; and you'll be my witnesses in jerusalem, and judea and
  • 00:17:38.974 --> 00:17:41.710
  • Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
  • 00:17:41.710 --> 00:17:44.480
  • Folks, if we're gonna be effective witnesses for the
  • 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:46.682
  • Lord, if we're gonna see the kingdom of god come into this
  • 00:17:46.682 --> 00:17:49.184
  • Generation, it will be because we cooperate with the person of
  • 00:17:49.184 --> 00:17:52.721
  • The holy spirit.
  • 00:17:52.721 --> 00:17:55.958
  • See, we have--to be honest, it seems to me we have no perceived
  • 00:17:55.958 --> 00:17:59.261
  • Need for power.
  • 00:17:59.261 --> 00:18:02.131
  • We don't really feel that urgency.
  • 00:18:02.131 --> 00:18:03.532
  • We read those passages and we start on a theological debate.
  • 00:18:03.532 --> 00:18:06.068
  • "well, i don't know how i feel about that," or, "i'm not sure
  • 00:18:06.068 --> 00:18:08.937
  • What i think about spirit baptism" or that, "you know the
  • 00:18:08.937 --> 00:18:11.106
  • Traditions i come from," or all sorts of stuff.
  • 00:18:11.106 --> 00:18:14.476
  • We have no perceived need for power because we haven't
  • 00:18:14.476 --> 00:18:16.678
  • Accepted the assignments beyond our strength and ability.
  • 00:18:16.678 --> 00:18:20.849
  • We serve the lord in our comfort zone with our available time,
  • 00:18:20.849 --> 00:18:24.620
  • With things that we feel good doing, places where we feel like
  • 00:18:24.620 --> 00:18:28.056
  • We bring some experience or some competence or some
  • 00:18:28.056 --> 00:18:30.259
  • Natural skills.
  • 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:32.361
  • So, we'll raise our hand and we'll participate in those
  • 00:18:32.361 --> 00:18:34.696
  • Places, but we're very reluctant to engage in assignments that
  • 00:18:34.696 --> 00:18:37.699
  • Are beyond us.
  • 00:18:37.699 --> 00:18:39.635
  • I mean, some of that's human nature, but then we forget that
  • 00:18:39.635 --> 00:18:42.804
  • We are serving the lord and king, that we're like soldiers
  • 00:18:42.804 --> 00:18:46.041
  • On assignment, enduring hardship.
  • 00:18:46.041 --> 00:18:49.111
  • Like, "i don't wanna do that."
  • 00:18:49.111 --> 00:18:52.714
  • I don't believe we can fulfill what we've been called to do
  • 00:18:56.919 --> 00:19:00.589
  • Without the help of the holy spirit.
  • 00:19:00.589 --> 00:19:03.725
  • And no matter how you know him, you can know him more fully.
  • 00:19:03.725 --> 00:19:07.696
  • You can cooperate with him more completely.
  • 00:19:07.696 --> 00:19:11.233
  • Don't begin any conversation regarding the holy spirit by
  • 00:19:11.233 --> 00:19:13.802
  • Saying what you won't do or you forfeit your future.
  • 00:19:13.802 --> 00:19:18.707
  • We've been assigned, we've got to pray for others.
  • 00:19:18.707 --> 00:19:22.411
  • I'm amazed we say, "well, you know, pastor, i just don't
  • 00:19:22.411 --> 00:19:23.979
  • Do that."
  • 00:19:23.979 --> 00:19:25.314
  • What do you mean you don't do that?
  • 00:19:25.314 --> 00:19:26.648
  • Why don't you do that?
  • 00:19:26.648 --> 00:19:28.717
  • "because, you know, i'm rebellious and stubborn.
  • 00:19:28.717 --> 00:19:32.221
  • I don't like cooperating with god."
  • 00:19:32.221 --> 00:19:35.157
  • I love you.
  • 00:19:38.527 --> 00:19:41.597
  • You have to pray for others.
  • 00:19:41.597 --> 00:19:42.965
  • You have to pray for people who are sick.
  • 00:19:42.965 --> 00:19:44.800
  • You have to pray for people who are frightened.
  • 00:19:44.800 --> 00:19:47.669
  • We have to pray for people who are demonized.
  • 00:19:47.669 --> 00:19:50.739
  • All that's a part of our world, and if we don't give expression
  • 00:19:50.739 --> 00:19:53.709
  • To the power of god, exactly where do we think it's going to
  • 00:19:53.709 --> 00:19:56.678
  • Come from?
  • 00:19:56.678 --> 00:19:59.281
  • We're the church.
  • 00:19:59.281 --> 00:20:00.916
  • We have to take our stand against wickedness.
  • 00:20:00.916 --> 00:20:02.818
  • That's biblical.
  • 00:20:02.818 --> 00:20:05.687
  • I'm amazed--i meet christians all the time.
  • 00:20:05.687 --> 00:20:07.589
  • They go, "well, i don't wanna do that.
  • 00:20:07.589 --> 00:20:12.961
  • I don't wanna tell my friends not to be ungodly.
  • 00:20:12.961 --> 00:20:16.898
  • I don't wanna focus on the difference.
  • 00:20:16.898 --> 00:20:18.800
  • I don't wanna use my voice.
  • 00:20:18.800 --> 00:20:20.168
  • I just wanna go along and get along are the things i
  • 00:20:20.168 --> 00:20:22.204
  • Wanna do."
  • 00:20:22.204 --> 00:20:23.572
  • That could be disruptive.
  • 00:20:23.572 --> 00:20:26.942
  • It could be.
  • 00:20:26.942 --> 00:20:29.278
  • We have to follow where jesus leads.
  • 00:20:29.278 --> 00:20:32.080
  • That's not always fun.
  • 00:20:32.080 --> 00:20:33.448
  • How much time do i spend trying to get jesus to follow me?
  • 00:20:33.448 --> 00:20:36.318
  • Over here.
  • 00:20:36.318 --> 00:20:38.920
  • For real.
  • 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:40.289
  • You--do you ever quote god's scriptures so he'll know which
  • 00:20:40.289 --> 00:20:42.257
  • Way to follow you?
  • 00:20:42.257 --> 00:20:46.094
  • Oh, come on.
  • 00:20:46.094 --> 00:20:48.664
  • That verse spoke to me, and now i wanted to speak to god,
  • 00:20:48.664 --> 00:20:52.167
  • This way.
  • 00:20:52.167 --> 00:20:55.103
  • We need a power so the purposes of god can emerge through
  • 00:20:55.103 --> 00:20:58.206
  • Our lives.
  • 00:20:58.206 --> 00:20:59.975
  • Then we've been given the gift of peace.
  • 00:20:59.975 --> 00:21:01.510
  • Jesus said this, "my peace i give you.
  • 00:21:01.510 --> 00:21:04.112
  • I don't give to you as the world gives.
  • 00:21:04.112 --> 00:21:05.580
  • Don't let your hearts be troubled and don't be afraid."
  • 00:21:05.580 --> 00:21:07.983
  • Jesus left us with his peace.
  • 00:21:07.983 --> 00:21:09.685
  • Wow.
  • 00:21:09.685 --> 00:21:11.520
  • Awesome.
  • 00:21:11.520 --> 00:21:13.822
  • Until you stop and reflect for a minute and you realize that he
  • 00:21:13.822 --> 00:21:16.425
  • Was betrayed, beaten, tortured to death, falsely accused.
  • 00:21:16.425 --> 00:21:23.465
  • "my peace i leave with you."
  • 00:21:23.465 --> 00:21:24.866
  • That's a bargain.
  • 00:21:24.866 --> 00:21:27.703
  • So, it's certainly not about an absence of conflict.
  • 00:21:27.703 --> 00:21:31.606
  • Jesus left his peace with some instructions.
  • 00:21:31.606 --> 00:21:34.476
  • He said, "don't let your hearts be troubled, don't be afraid,
  • 00:21:34.476 --> 00:21:36.912
  • Don't be afraid, don't worry."
  • 00:21:36.912 --> 00:21:39.614
  • See, we're talking about the battle in our mind.
  • 00:21:39.614 --> 00:21:41.416
  • Jesus's peace will enable us to do things that would have been
  • 00:21:41.416 --> 00:21:44.353
  • Impossible without his peace.
  • 00:21:44.353 --> 00:21:46.688
  • It brings a change to how we think.
  • 00:21:46.688 --> 00:21:48.724
  • Don't be troubled, don't be afraid.
  • 00:21:48.724 --> 00:21:50.492
  • Well, i'm troubled and afraid.
  • 00:21:50.492 --> 00:21:51.927
  • I don't have enough of that peace.
  • 00:21:51.927 --> 00:21:55.931
  • I've got to spend some more time thinking about jesus.
  • 00:21:55.931 --> 00:21:58.066
  • I gotta get closer to him.
  • 00:21:58.066 --> 00:22:00.335
  • I gotta love him more than i love the things that i feel are
  • 00:22:00.335 --> 00:22:02.738
  • Threatened because that's what's frightening me.
  • 00:22:02.738 --> 00:22:07.175
  • I gave you some examples in your notes.
  • 00:22:07.175 --> 00:22:08.610
  • I won't go through them all, but in acts chapter 2, it's the day
  • 00:22:08.610 --> 00:22:10.679
  • Of pentecost.
  • 00:22:10.679 --> 00:22:12.047
  • This is peter, the one that denied jesus three times, got
  • 00:22:12.047 --> 00:22:14.783
  • Ratted out.
  • 00:22:14.783 --> 00:22:17.252
  • Jesus met with him after the resurrection and to personally
  • 00:22:17.252 --> 00:22:20.055
  • Restore him.
  • 00:22:20.055 --> 00:22:21.390
  • Well, after all of that drama on the day of pentecost when the
  • 00:22:21.390 --> 00:22:23.825
  • Holy spirit's poured out, peter stands up in the streets of
  • 00:22:23.825 --> 00:22:26.194
  • Jerusalem where they asked for jesus to be crucified, and this
  • 00:22:26.194 --> 00:22:29.331
  • Is his commentary, "let all israel be assured of this: god
  • 00:22:29.331 --> 00:22:32.100
  • Made this jesus, whom you crucified, lord and messiah."
  • 00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:38.407
  • In case you're not tracking, that is very
  • 00:22:38.407 --> 00:22:40.809
  • Provocative language.
  • 00:22:40.809 --> 00:22:43.545
  • Standing in the streets of the city where they had reverberated
  • 00:22:43.545 --> 00:22:46.515
  • With, "crucify him," he said, "you crucified the messiah.
  • 00:22:46.515 --> 00:22:51.653
  • You did it."
  • 00:22:51.653 --> 00:22:54.022
  • Those are not bridge building words.
  • 00:22:54.022 --> 00:22:58.126
  • Those aren't the seeds of harmony.
  • 00:22:58.126 --> 00:23:01.029
  • He's not trying to establish unity.
  • 00:23:01.029 --> 00:23:05.634
  • Somehow he overcame his fear.
  • 00:23:05.634 --> 00:23:08.770
  • Anxiety is not choking him anymore.
  • 00:23:08.770 --> 00:23:12.040
  • He had a change of mind.
  • 00:23:12.040 --> 00:23:13.775
  • We can have a change of mind, church.
  • 00:23:13.775 --> 00:23:16.678
  • I know how we've been.
  • 00:23:16.678 --> 00:23:18.680
  • We can have a change of mind.
  • 00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:22.017
  • Then we've been given a gift of discipline.
  • 00:23:22.017 --> 00:23:24.986
  • I know it's a gift.
  • 00:23:24.986 --> 00:23:27.355
  • Look at hebrews 12, "the lord disciplines those he loves, he
  • 00:23:27.355 --> 00:23:31.359
  • Punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
  • 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:34.196
  • If you--if the lord hasn't disciplined you,
  • 00:23:34.196 --> 00:23:36.097
  • You're illegitimate.
  • 00:23:36.097 --> 00:23:39.334
  • Discipline's hard work.
  • 00:23:39.334 --> 00:23:40.702
  • It takes effort.
  • 00:23:40.702 --> 00:23:43.038
  • I don't discipline people i don't care about, right?
  • 00:23:43.038 --> 00:23:50.078
  • You just think, "well, they're stupid.
  • 00:23:50.078 --> 00:23:52.681
  • Not my problem."
  • 00:23:52.681 --> 00:23:54.950
  • Pray for their parents.
  • 00:23:54.950 --> 00:23:57.486
  • Somebody brought them into the world.
  • 00:23:57.486 --> 00:23:58.887
  • Lord help them.
  • 00:23:58.887 --> 00:24:01.857
  • Even in christian arenas, you know, you meet somebody and
  • 00:24:01.857 --> 00:24:04.593
  • They're from some different tradition or whatever they go,
  • 00:24:04.593 --> 00:24:06.528
  • "oh, not my problem."
  • 00:24:06.528 --> 00:24:08.997
  • I serve a congregation.
  • 00:24:08.997 --> 00:24:12.400
  • If the lord loves you, he disciplines you.
  • 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:14.202
  • We have to accept the discipline.
  • 00:24:14.202 --> 00:24:16.571
  • You can't have the love of god and the blessing of god and the
  • 00:24:16.571 --> 00:24:19.174
  • Goodness of god and the abundance of god and the health
  • 00:24:19.174 --> 00:24:22.110
  • Of god if you reject the discipline of god.
  • 00:24:22.110 --> 00:24:25.280
  • It's a gift.
  • 00:24:25.280 --> 00:24:27.148
  • He wants us to be better.
  • 00:24:27.148 --> 00:24:30.252
  • I was fortunate.
  • 00:24:30.252 --> 00:24:31.586
  • I had parents that cared enough about my brothers and i that
  • 00:24:31.586 --> 00:24:33.421
  • They believed in some discipline.
  • 00:24:33.421 --> 00:24:37.425
  • I'm not sure i always agreed with their timing or
  • 00:24:37.425 --> 00:24:39.794
  • Their approach.
  • 00:24:39.794 --> 00:24:41.563
  • If you're the one receiving the discipline,
  • 00:24:41.563 --> 00:24:43.198
  • It's seldom pleasant.
  • 00:24:43.198 --> 00:24:45.467
  • But there were these times where they would say to me, you know,
  • 00:24:45.467 --> 00:24:47.235
  • "this is for your good.
  • 00:24:47.235 --> 00:24:48.570
  • It's gonna help you grow up."
  • 00:24:48.570 --> 00:24:51.273
  • I never said it because i was afraid of the discipline, but i
  • 00:24:51.273 --> 00:24:53.708
  • Always thought the same thing, "no, i don't want to grow up.
  • 00:24:53.708 --> 00:24:58.046
  • I'm good being childish.
  • 00:24:58.046 --> 00:25:01.249
  • It's all right if you do my laundry and cook my food.
  • 00:25:01.249 --> 00:25:05.320
  • Give me cash.
  • 00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:07.055
  • I don't wanna grow up.
  • 00:25:07.055 --> 00:25:08.823
  • I don't want a job.
  • 00:25:08.823 --> 00:25:11.459
  • I don't want responsibility.
  • 00:25:11.459 --> 00:25:14.296
  • I'm just good being a jackson, well cared for."
  • 00:25:14.296 --> 00:25:20.635
  • But they were determined that my brothers and i would like,
  • 00:25:20.635 --> 00:25:23.738
  • Grow up.
  • 00:25:23.738 --> 00:25:27.142
  • They may have surrendered at this point, but i know it was a
  • 00:25:27.142 --> 00:25:29.210
  • Desire they had along the way.
  • 00:25:29.210 --> 00:25:31.913
  • You know, god is determined that you and i will grow up, accept
  • 00:25:31.913 --> 00:25:36.051
  • Responsibility, mature.
  • 00:25:36.051 --> 00:25:38.787
  • Not just demand the privileges, but understand the
  • 00:25:38.787 --> 00:25:42.090
  • Responsibility of being a child of the king.
  • 00:25:42.090 --> 00:25:44.259
  • It's a gift.
  • 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:45.660
  • It's an expression of his love.
  • 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:47.696
  • Allen: i want to pray with you before we go.
  • 00:25:48.697 --> 00:25:50.532
  • God is moving in the earth in some very, very unique ways.
  • 00:25:50.532 --> 00:25:54.135
  • Folks, the most powerful forces amongst us are not russian
  • 00:25:54.135 --> 00:25:57.439
  • Armies or a pandemic or international threats.
  • 00:25:57.439 --> 00:26:00.175
  • It's the spiritual activity around us, and our god
  • 00:26:00.175 --> 00:26:03.712
  • Is moving.
  • 00:26:03.712 --> 00:26:05.080
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:06.414
  • Father, i thank you for your spirit within us and that you
  • 00:26:06.414 --> 00:26:08.416
  • Are moving in the earth in this very unique time.
  • 00:26:08.416 --> 00:26:11.319
  • Give us listening ears and a receptive heart that we might
  • 00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:14.289
  • Choose you and say yes to you with confidence and boldness in
  • 00:26:14.289 --> 00:26:18.159
  • Jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:26:18.159 --> 00:26:21.730
  • Allen: you know, around the world,
  • 00:26:25.533 --> 00:26:26.868
  • People are searching for truth, and together we're doing our
  • 00:26:26.868 --> 00:26:29.638
  • Very best to help them find it.
  • 00:26:29.638 --> 00:26:31.706
  • When you become a ministry partner with allen jackson
  • 00:26:31.706 --> 00:26:33.975
  • Ministries, you're joining a growing community of believers
  • 00:26:33.975 --> 00:26:37.312
  • Who are committed to strengthening the church and
  • 00:26:37.312 --> 00:26:40.115
  • Sharing god's word through every available channel--
  • 00:26:40.115 --> 00:26:43.385
  • Television, radio, podcast, books, bible studies,
  • 00:26:43.385 --> 00:26:46.788
  • Digital resources, conferences.
  • 00:26:46.788 --> 00:26:49.658
  • Your monthly partnership helps us equip believers to reach new
  • 00:26:49.658 --> 00:26:52.827
  • Audiences, to take the hope of jesus to people who may never
  • 00:26:52.827 --> 00:26:56.731
  • Have heard the gospel otherwise.
  • 00:26:56.731 --> 00:26:58.833
  • Together, we can stand firm in our faith and make god's truth
  • 00:26:58.833 --> 00:27:02.771
  • Known right here at home and around the earth, wherever
  • 00:27:02.771 --> 00:27:05.907
  • God opens a door.
  • 00:27:05.907 --> 00:27:07.308
  • Let's keep gathering his people and building his church until
  • 00:27:07.308 --> 00:27:10.612
  • The day our king returns.
  • 00:27:10.612 --> 00:27:12.847
  • You can find more about becoming a ministry partner
  • 00:27:12.847 --> 00:27:15.750
  • At allenjackson.com/partner.
  • 00:27:15.750 --> 00:27:27.062