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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - A Battle in the Mind (Part 2)

June 9, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - A Battle in the Mind (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Thinking #Mind #RenewingtheMind #SeekGod #KingdomofGod #Bible #Culture #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - A Battle in the Mind (Part 2) | June 9, 2026
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world,
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  • People are searching for truth, and together we're doing our
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  • Very best to help them find it.
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  • Have heard the gospel otherwise.
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  • Together, we can stand firm in our faith and make god's truth
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  • At allenjackson.com/partner.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: there's some ideas in the battle in your mind
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  • You'll have to avoid: they're toxic.
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  • They will completely derail you and if you embrace them fully,
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  • They will destroy you.
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  • I don't have time to unpack them in detail, but i'm gonna hand
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  • Them to you really quickly.
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  • One is a degree of tolerance, and this one is confusing
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  • Culturally because we're told that tolerance is one of the
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  • Greatest virtues you can have.
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  • Tolerating evil is not godly.
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  • You don't have to be angry, you don't need to be belligerent,
  • 00:01:44.287 --> 00:01:46.556
  • You certainly don't need to be violent, but being tolerant,
  • 00:01:46.556 --> 00:01:49.526
  • Making peace with evil, you will give away your future.
  • 00:01:49.526 --> 00:01:54.797
  • It's biblical. revelation 2.
  • 00:01:54.797 --> 00:01:56.599
  • Jesus is talking to a church-- to a church, and he said, "you
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  • Tolerate that woman jezebel, she calls herself a prophetess, she
  • 00:02:00.370 --> 00:02:05.108
  • Pretends to have great religious depth and insight and
  • 00:02:05.108 --> 00:02:09.512
  • Understanding, but she misleads you into sexual immorality."
  • 00:02:09.512 --> 00:02:15.718
  • Not a lot changed in two millennia.
  • 00:02:15.718 --> 00:02:19.422
  • Do not tolerate evil.
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  • It has to be overcome.
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  • We overcome it with good--by asserting that good is more
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  • Valuable than evil.
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  • We have to step into the arena.
  • 00:02:30.967 --> 00:02:32.669
  • We've been hiding from it, denying it.
  • 00:02:32.669 --> 00:02:34.504
  • We've sacrificed sixty million children.
  • 00:02:34.504 --> 00:02:38.441
  • We've seen more people sold into sexual slavery in recent years
  • 00:02:38.441 --> 00:02:42.445
  • In our nation than at any point in our history on our watch.
  • 00:02:42.445 --> 00:02:47.817
  • We're just being tolerant.
  • 00:02:47.817 --> 00:02:51.020
  • I mean, everybody's entitled to an opinion.
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  • You know, some opinions are evil.
  • 00:02:52.655 --> 00:02:56.392
  • Well, who decides?
  • 00:02:56.392 --> 00:02:57.727
  • Well, if you choose a biblical worldview, not you.
  • 00:02:57.727 --> 00:03:01.397
  • We've submitted ourselves to that.
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  • There's another toxic idea.
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  • Jesus talked about it in luke 12.
  • 00:03:08.605 --> 00:03:10.773
  • He's talking about a businessman, a really
  • 00:03:10.773 --> 00:03:12.976
  • Good businessman.
  • 00:03:12.976 --> 00:03:14.310
  • Year after year he outpaced the markets.
  • 00:03:14.310 --> 00:03:17.580
  • He exceeded all the expectations year after year.
  • 00:03:17.580 --> 00:03:21.117
  • It got to the point where he finally said, "i've got
  • 00:03:21.117 --> 00:03:24.554
  • Everything i need.
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  • I'm just gonna take it easy."
  • 00:03:27.590 --> 00:03:28.958
  • And god said to that man, "you're a fool.
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  • You're a fool.
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  • You're living in only one dimension.
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  • You're comparing yourself to the other people of this dimension
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  • And you're not thinking about a life beyond that and tonight
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  • Your life will be demanded of you and you're not taking
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  • Anything with you."
  • 00:03:44.941 --> 00:03:47.010
  • It's a battle in our mind.
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  • We live in this world, in this present age.
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  • The messaging from this present age cascades over us like
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  • Niagara falls.
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  • Healthy babies make noise. it's okay.
  • 00:03:58.454 --> 00:04:02.158
  • It's when they get quiet, you gotta get anxious.
  • 00:04:02.158 --> 00:04:06.963
  • The messaging is so prevalent, so predominant, so frequent, so
  • 00:04:06.963 --> 00:04:10.533
  • Overwhelming, it can't help but influence us.
  • 00:04:10.533 --> 00:04:13.836
  • We compare ourselves to the people that are fully engaged in
  • 00:04:13.836 --> 00:04:16.439
  • The dimension of this culture.
  • 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:19.876
  • We want to achieve what they achieve.
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  • We want to be recognized in the way they're recognized.
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  • We have those aspirations for our children.
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  • And then we consider the spiritual aspects of our lives,
  • 00:04:28.318 --> 00:04:31.587
  • You know, kind of removed and distant and minimalistic, and
  • 00:04:31.587 --> 00:04:34.590
  • How can we address that?
  • 00:04:34.590 --> 00:04:36.759
  • We don't really get those perspectives out until there's a
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  • Crisis or a tragedy or something that's beyond our ability
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  • To resolve.
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  • God said that's a foolish approach to life.
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  • Don't be foolish. it's toxic, it will destroy you.
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  • You don't want the creator of all things to call you a fool.
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  • And then the third toxic idea is pride.
  • 00:04:55.411 --> 00:04:58.748
  • And one way of understanding pride is just a complete lack
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  • Of awareness.
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  • You just think you're all that and you lose all perspective
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  • Because some achievement or accomplishment or an idea or a
  • 00:05:08.591 --> 00:05:11.294
  • Thought or an ability or an appearance or something.
  • 00:05:11.294 --> 00:05:15.531
  • In revelation 3, it's to a church again.
  • 00:05:15.531 --> 00:05:17.400
  • He's writing to a church.
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  • This is hard to believe.
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  • He's saying, "you're lukewarm, you're not hot or cold, i'm
  • 00:05:20.103 --> 00:05:22.071
  • Gonna spit you out of my mouth.
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  • You say, 'i'm rich, and i've acquired wealth and that i don't
  • 00:05:23.973 --> 00:05:28.378
  • Need a thing.'
  • 00:05:28.378 --> 00:05:30.646
  • But you don't know that you're wretched, and pitiful, and
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  • Blind, and poor, and naked."
  • 00:05:32.982 --> 00:05:35.618
  • That's pride. i don't need a thing.
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  • I can make it happen.
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  • I can get it done.
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  • I'll work hard.
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  • I've got contacts. watch.
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  • People tell me i can't do it and i let them watch.
  • 00:05:49.732 --> 00:05:55.004
  • Roar.
  • 00:05:55.004 --> 00:05:57.907
  • And jesus said, "you don't understand.
  • 00:05:57.907 --> 00:06:01.577
  • You're blind, and wretched, naked, and in need of all
  • 00:06:01.577 --> 00:06:08.851
  • Things," pride.
  • 00:06:08.851 --> 00:06:10.787
  • Folks, we can't afford it.
  • 00:06:10.787 --> 00:06:13.289
  • We can't afford it. it'll overwhelm us.
  • 00:06:13.289 --> 00:06:16.826
  • That battle in our mind has, to a concerning extent, sidelined
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  • The church.
  • 00:06:22.565 --> 00:06:25.401
  • It's rendered us inept.
  • 00:06:25.401 --> 00:06:26.769
  • I know that's awkward.
  • 00:06:26.769 --> 00:06:28.104
  • I've spent my life in the church, so i'm not truly
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  • Throwing stones.
  • 00:06:31.674 --> 00:06:33.042
  • I'm trying to understand where we are and what's happened.
  • 00:06:33.042 --> 00:06:35.812
  • We've had more freedom and more liberty and more access to
  • 00:06:35.812 --> 00:06:38.281
  • Scripture and greater opportunities to gather in the
  • 00:06:38.281 --> 00:06:41.617
  • Name of jesus, all those things than any group of people in the
  • 00:06:41.617 --> 00:06:45.054
  • History of the church and yet our--my lifetime coincides with
  • 00:06:45.054 --> 00:06:48.558
  • One of the most precipitous declines of christian influence
  • 00:06:48.558 --> 00:06:51.260
  • In the history of the church.
  • 00:06:51.260 --> 00:06:55.064
  • Biblical worldview once defined our educational systems all the
  • 00:06:55.064 --> 00:06:59.202
  • Way through the highest levels of education.
  • 00:06:59.202 --> 00:07:02.505
  • They were places where biblical values were taught, where
  • 00:07:02.505 --> 00:07:06.742
  • Biblical worldview was put before the students and given to
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  • Them as the boundaries for their lives, as the formation of
  • 00:07:11.614 --> 00:07:14.450
  • Their character.
  • 00:07:14.450 --> 00:07:16.819
  • We're so far away from that.
  • 00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:19.655
  • It was that biblical worldview that helped us understand the
  • 00:07:19.655 --> 00:07:22.091
  • Evils of racism, understand the evils of so many aspects of
  • 00:07:22.091 --> 00:07:28.130
  • Our lives.
  • 00:07:28.130 --> 00:07:30.066
  • And it enabled us to take corrective actions and to choose
  • 00:07:30.066 --> 00:07:33.202
  • Better paths.
  • 00:07:33.202 --> 00:07:34.570
  • It was the authority of scripture.
  • 00:07:34.570 --> 00:07:35.905
  • We--dr. alveda king was here last weekend.
  • 00:07:35.905 --> 00:07:38.608
  • We heard her.
  • 00:07:38.608 --> 00:07:39.976
  • The moral authority with which her grandfather challenged our
  • 00:07:39.976 --> 00:07:42.245
  • Nation to something better came from the word of god not
  • 00:07:42.245 --> 00:07:46.215
  • From congress.
  • 00:07:46.215 --> 00:07:47.917
  • He called congress to account with the authority of scripture.
  • 00:07:47.917 --> 00:07:52.522
  • The church has lost the notion, the awareness, the remembrance
  • 00:07:52.522 --> 00:07:56.025
  • That the word of god thunders against sin.
  • 00:07:56.025 --> 00:08:00.897
  • And we become meek and quiet and withdrawn, and we're waiting for
  • 00:08:00.897 --> 00:08:05.201
  • The politicians to do something.
  • 00:08:05.201 --> 00:08:09.305
  • It's not that we've lost the language, we have the language,
  • 00:08:09.305 --> 00:08:12.942
  • But we come to our churches and we've lost the imagination of
  • 00:08:12.942 --> 00:08:16.879
  • What the vitality of that looks like.
  • 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:20.049
  • I'll see if i can show it to you.
  • 00:08:20.049 --> 00:08:22.218
  • Familiar words, we've talked about this a lot lately.
  • 00:08:22.218 --> 00:08:26.122
  • You know the passage in ephesians 6 about putting on the
  • 00:08:26.122 --> 00:08:28.524
  • Armor of god?
  • 00:08:28.524 --> 00:08:30.493
  • If you don't, see the previous session.
  • 00:08:30.493 --> 00:08:34.397
  • We talked about it in some detail.
  • 00:08:34.397 --> 00:08:36.899
  • And i'm not gonna go through all of what we did in the previous
  • 00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:39.535
  • Session, but i do want to give you just kind of a brief
  • 00:08:39.535 --> 00:08:42.705
  • Presentation of what i understand kind of the
  • 00:08:42.705 --> 00:08:45.308
  • Contemporary expression of the armor of god to look like.
  • 00:08:45.308 --> 00:08:50.846
  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:08:50.846 --> 00:08:55.051
  • Allen: i think that's impolite.
  • 00:08:55.051 --> 00:08:58.487
  • I'm gonna skip the slippers. you can see the earlier session.
  • 00:08:58.487 --> 00:09:04.327
  • I can tell you, biblically, that the shoes you choose will make
  • 00:09:04.327 --> 00:09:09.532
  • All the difference.
  • 00:09:09.532 --> 00:09:13.436
  • For real.
  • 00:09:13.436 --> 00:09:15.938
  • How you choose the foundation of your life will make all
  • 00:09:15.938 --> 00:09:18.674
  • The difference.
  • 00:09:18.674 --> 00:09:21.577
  • I'm feeling better already.
  • 00:09:21.577 --> 00:09:28.618
  • I have a better chair than you.
  • 00:09:32.288 --> 00:09:35.825
  • Mine rocks.
  • 00:09:35.825 --> 00:09:38.761
  • I'm not gonna put on helmets today, but i brought some hats.
  • 00:09:38.761 --> 00:09:42.632
  • I've got a red one.
  • 00:09:42.632 --> 00:09:51.907
  • I've got one to remind me to pray for the peace of jerusalem.
  • 00:09:51.907 --> 00:09:56.012
  • Don't forget that.
  • 00:09:56.012 --> 00:09:59.248
  • I've got one that says, "we have to make education great again."
  • 00:09:59.248 --> 00:10:03.486
  • That's true.
  • 00:10:03.486 --> 00:10:06.856
  • But you know the challenge i think that we face is we get
  • 00:10:06.856 --> 00:10:11.293
  • Addicted a little bit.
  • 00:10:11.293 --> 00:10:12.895
  • I got a switch over here, there we go.
  • 00:10:12.895 --> 00:10:16.799
  • Don't covet.
  • 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:21.003
  • I'm not good enough for you to be this comfortable while
  • 00:10:21.003 --> 00:10:23.072
  • I'm preaching.
  • 00:10:23.072 --> 00:10:27.543
  • But you know, if you ask me for a picture of the christian
  • 00:10:27.543 --> 00:10:31.447
  • That i've spent my life around beyond our congregation, just in
  • 00:10:31.447 --> 00:10:34.316
  • General, i've been with--i spent my life in that arena.
  • 00:10:34.316 --> 00:10:38.721
  • I think this is the posture from which we want to serve the lord.
  • 00:10:38.721 --> 00:10:44.226
  • There's a lot of things that keep us in this chair.
  • 00:10:44.226 --> 00:10:48.064
  • The addictions to comfort and convenience and ease.
  • 00:10:48.064 --> 00:10:51.634
  • If it's not easy, we're not really sure we're interested.
  • 00:10:51.634 --> 00:10:54.937
  • We expect the people that would ask us to serve to make it easy.
  • 00:10:54.937 --> 00:10:59.608
  • And when they don't, we get a little offended.
  • 00:10:59.608 --> 00:11:02.978
  • A lot of things keep us in this chair.
  • 00:11:02.978 --> 00:11:05.948
  • Elections keep us in this chair.
  • 00:11:05.948 --> 00:11:07.583
  • I've heard it a lot since november 5, i'm tired of
  • 00:11:07.583 --> 00:11:11.954
  • The elections.
  • 00:11:11.954 --> 00:11:13.689
  • I'm tired of the commercials.
  • 00:11:13.689 --> 00:11:15.057
  • I'm tired of the bickering.
  • 00:11:15.057 --> 00:11:17.393
  • I'm tired of the back and forth.
  • 00:11:17.393 --> 00:11:20.229
  • I'm tired of it filling the conversations when i'm with
  • 00:11:20.229 --> 00:11:23.065
  • My friends.
  • 00:11:23.065 --> 00:11:24.400
  • Okay, we've had the election, they got elected, let them go
  • 00:11:24.400 --> 00:11:26.802
  • Fix the problem.
  • 00:11:26.802 --> 00:11:30.406
  • I wanna go back to my life.
  • 00:11:30.406 --> 00:11:33.142
  • I wanna stop paying attention.
  • 00:11:33.142 --> 00:11:36.479
  • That idea that it's somebody else's problem and they have to
  • 00:11:36.479 --> 00:11:38.981
  • Fix it keeps me in the chair.
  • 00:11:38.981 --> 00:11:42.752
  • Folks, nobody in washington dc is gonna bring a lasting
  • 00:11:42.752 --> 00:11:46.222
  • Solution to our problems.
  • 00:11:46.222 --> 00:11:48.691
  • That will begin in the character that is formed around our
  • 00:11:48.691 --> 00:11:51.527
  • Kitchen tables and the men and women we decide to be and the
  • 00:11:51.527 --> 00:11:55.331
  • Discipline we bring to our children and how we want our
  • 00:11:55.331 --> 00:11:58.534
  • Communities to look.
  • 00:11:58.534 --> 00:12:01.437
  • There there's something else that keeps us in our chairs.
  • 00:12:01.437 --> 00:12:05.274
  • Because we like them.
  • 00:12:05.274 --> 00:12:06.609
  • They're more comfortable.
  • 00:12:06.609 --> 00:12:07.977
  • I have dr. pepper. did i mention dr. pepper?
  • 00:12:07.977 --> 00:12:11.547
  • You know, i have such a great team of people that help me.
  • 00:12:11.547 --> 00:12:14.316
  • You don't have to be smart if you have good--.
  • 00:12:14.316 --> 00:12:17.153
  • Apparently there was a concern that if we put dr. pepper right
  • 00:12:17.153 --> 00:12:20.222
  • Here that somebody on camera would take us down because
  • 00:12:20.222 --> 00:12:23.125
  • Of copyright.
  • 00:12:23.125 --> 00:12:25.227
  • So, i have dr. george.
  • 00:12:25.227 --> 00:12:28.097
  • Right there.
  • 00:12:28.097 --> 00:12:33.736
  • Established 1936. i'm impressed.
  • 00:12:33.736 --> 00:12:37.706
  • I'm afraid to open it. that's vintage.
  • 00:12:37.706 --> 00:12:42.111
  • You know, i'm happy to stay in my chair.
  • 00:12:42.111 --> 00:12:44.880
  • I've got cheese doodles.
  • 00:12:44.880 --> 00:12:47.850
  • Bobby kennedy hadn't found them yet.
  • 00:12:47.850 --> 00:12:55.224
  • You know, we're all--we all feel pretty good because we're
  • 00:12:59.361 --> 00:13:01.931
  • Sending somebody to washington that's made a lot of money to go
  • 00:13:01.931 --> 00:13:05.267
  • Work on efficiency in the government.
  • 00:13:05.267 --> 00:13:06.635
  • We want the government to save some money, but we don't want
  • 00:13:06.635 --> 00:13:10.873
  • Them to take anything away from us.
  • 00:13:10.873 --> 00:13:14.410
  • Because the money we get and the blessings we get, those aren't
  • 00:13:14.410 --> 00:13:17.947
  • Extravagant, those are necessary expenditures.
  • 00:13:17.947 --> 00:13:23.953
  • I stay in this chair because of my theology.
  • 00:13:23.953 --> 00:13:28.090
  • I'm born again.
  • 00:13:28.090 --> 00:13:32.228
  • I know i am.
  • 00:13:32.228 --> 00:13:33.662
  • I've been baptized in water.
  • 00:13:33.662 --> 00:13:35.364
  • There are photographs.
  • 00:13:35.364 --> 00:13:39.134
  • I've helped thousands of other people be baptized in water.
  • 00:13:39.134 --> 00:13:42.905
  • There's photographs of that.
  • 00:13:42.905 --> 00:13:46.575
  • So what do you want from me?
  • 00:13:46.575 --> 00:13:49.778
  • I've rejected a theology of works.
  • 00:13:49.778 --> 00:13:53.148
  • I'm living in grace.
  • 00:13:53.148 --> 00:13:56.352
  • I mean, it may not be biblical, but it sure is comfortable.
  • 00:13:56.352 --> 00:14:02.358
  • My salvation is unassailable.
  • 00:14:02.358 --> 00:14:07.062
  • I don't wanna have that the--i don't have time or interest in
  • 00:14:07.062 --> 00:14:09.665
  • My life, to be honest, to have theological debates.
  • 00:14:09.665 --> 00:14:14.270
  • I can tell you this.
  • 00:14:14.270 --> 00:14:16.305
  • It's very easy to form a theology that says, "i've done
  • 00:14:16.305 --> 00:14:19.108
  • All the heavy lifting.
  • 00:14:19.108 --> 00:14:21.777
  • There's really nothing more significant required of me."
  • 00:14:21.777 --> 00:14:25.748
  • I believe in forgiveness.
  • 00:14:25.748 --> 00:14:27.750
  • I believe in mercy.
  • 00:14:27.750 --> 00:14:29.351
  • I believe in grace.
  • 00:14:29.351 --> 00:14:31.287
  • And yeah, you know, i'm gonna make some mistakes, but
  • 00:14:31.287 --> 00:14:33.289
  • Everybody makes mistakes.
  • 00:14:33.289 --> 00:14:35.324
  • I don't wanna be one of those christians that's like hyper,
  • 00:14:35.324 --> 00:14:39.094
  • Over the top.
  • 00:14:39.094 --> 00:14:40.896
  • I like my chair.
  • 00:14:40.896 --> 00:14:44.833
  • And while we sat in our chairs and enjoyed our dr. george,
  • 00:14:44.833 --> 00:14:52.341
  • We've sacrificed millions of children.
  • 00:14:52.341 --> 00:14:58.781
  • While we sat in our chairs, our schools have crumbled.
  • 00:14:58.781 --> 00:15:04.553
  • The moral content, the ethical content.
  • 00:15:04.553 --> 00:15:08.824
  • Forget the lower schools.
  • 00:15:08.824 --> 00:15:10.459
  • Look at the most elite places in our nation, the places
  • 00:15:10.459 --> 00:15:13.195
  • Celebrated as being the best of the best.
  • 00:15:13.195 --> 00:15:17.399
  • They don't have the courage to condemn anti-semitism when it's
  • 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:20.269
  • Raging in the squares on their campuses.
  • 00:15:20.269 --> 00:15:26.041
  • It's just more comfortable in my chair.
  • 00:15:26.041 --> 00:15:30.045
  • In fact, with technology, i can sit in my chair and watch other
  • 00:15:30.045 --> 00:15:32.715
  • People work.
  • 00:15:32.715 --> 00:15:34.850
  • It's amazing. i can just doordash food.
  • 00:15:34.850 --> 00:15:36.652
  • I don't even have to get out of my chair.
  • 00:15:36.652 --> 00:15:39.455
  • Well, i got a camera on my doorbell.
  • 00:15:39.455 --> 00:15:41.290
  • When doordash gets here, i can talk to him and tell him to
  • 00:15:41.290 --> 00:15:43.492
  • Leave it at the door.
  • 00:15:43.492 --> 00:15:45.327
  • When i'm in the mood to get up, i will get my food.
  • 00:15:45.327 --> 00:15:51.266
  • And if it snows on a sunday morning, y'all can
  • 00:15:51.266 --> 00:15:53.168
  • Stream church.
  • 00:15:53.168 --> 00:16:02.678
  • And what has happened to us while we sit in our chairs?
  • 00:16:06.849 --> 00:16:10.786
  • We've mortgaged our children's futures.
  • 00:16:10.786 --> 00:16:15.591
  • We have.
  • 00:16:15.591 --> 00:16:17.659
  • We're afraid to send them to schools.
  • 00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:20.896
  • We're afraid for them to go to universities.
  • 00:16:20.896 --> 00:16:24.233
  • If you have any awareness at all, we understand we're handing
  • 00:16:24.233 --> 00:16:27.636
  • Them a financial mess that is so overwhelming that apart from the
  • 00:16:27.636 --> 00:16:30.339
  • Mercy of god, it's not survivable.
  • 00:16:30.339 --> 00:16:35.978
  • Folks, we're on an assignment.
  • 00:16:35.978 --> 00:16:38.847
  • I'm pretty certain that the armor of god doesn't begin with
  • 00:16:38.847 --> 00:16:43.218
  • A bathrobe.
  • 00:16:43.218 --> 00:16:45.821
  • And as much as i like my chair, i don't think it's a really a
  • 00:16:45.821 --> 00:16:50.225
  • Fair expression of what jesus gave himself on the cross for.
  • 00:16:50.225 --> 00:16:55.464
  • I believe in grace and mercy. i have received it.
  • 00:16:55.464 --> 00:17:00.135
  • For without it, i wouldn't be here.
  • 00:17:00.135 --> 00:17:03.005
  • But i don't intend to live presumptively upon it.
  • 00:17:03.005 --> 00:17:07.209
  • I understand with great clarity, i will never earn my way into
  • 00:17:07.209 --> 00:17:10.412
  • The kingdom of god.
  • 00:17:10.412 --> 00:17:12.848
  • What's been given to me has nothing to do with merit.
  • 00:17:12.848 --> 00:17:15.217
  • I did not deserve the opportunities i have been given.
  • 00:17:15.217 --> 00:17:20.255
  • I have very great clarity on that.
  • 00:17:20.255 --> 00:17:23.859
  • I haven't always responded to the best with the things that
  • 00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:26.495
  • Were put before me.
  • 00:17:26.495 --> 00:17:30.232
  • And in those places, the mercy and grace of god and the
  • 00:17:30.232 --> 00:17:33.902
  • Authority of the--jesus's redemptive work has brought
  • 00:17:33.902 --> 00:17:37.773
  • Forgiveness to me.
  • 00:17:37.773 --> 00:17:40.008
  • But i do believe that my best response to that is to get out
  • 00:17:40.008 --> 00:17:43.946
  • Of the chair.
  • 00:17:43.946 --> 00:17:46.648
  • Allen: hey, we're celebrating this year the 250th anniversary
  • 00:17:50.853 --> 00:17:54.256
  • Of the signing of the declaration of independence.
  • 00:17:54.256 --> 00:17:56.959
  • What a wonderful privilege we have.
  • 00:17:56.959 --> 00:17:59.361
  • You know, god has blessed our nation so many good things.
  • 00:17:59.361 --> 00:18:02.297
  • People say to me, "well, our whole history is not good."
  • 00:18:02.297 --> 00:18:04.733
  • Well, folks, you know, my history is not great.
  • 00:18:04.733 --> 00:18:06.935
  • Your family history is not perfect.
  • 00:18:06.935 --> 00:18:08.937
  • But you love your family, you love your children.
  • 00:18:08.937 --> 00:18:11.573
  • In spite of our weaknesses-- well, our nation hadn't been
  • 00:18:11.573 --> 00:18:14.243
  • Perfect, but through that whole story, the goodness of god
  • 00:18:14.243 --> 00:18:17.513
  • Is evident.
  • 00:18:17.513 --> 00:18:18.847
  • It still is.
  • 00:18:18.847 --> 00:18:20.215
  • Let's ask god to bless america again.
  • 00:18:20.215 --> 00:18:22.784
  • I believe he will.
  • 00:18:22.784 --> 00:18:24.119
  • Female announcer: as we celebrate 250 years of god's
  • 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:26.989
  • Faithfulness to our nation, we want to help you carry
  • 00:18:26.989 --> 00:18:29.892
  • That message along with you.
  • 00:18:29.892 --> 00:18:31.493
  • This commemorative tote bag and blanket are simple reminders of
  • 00:18:31.493 --> 00:18:35.063
  • His goodness and a way to spark meaningful
  • 00:18:35.063 --> 00:18:37.399
  • Conversations wherever you go.
  • 00:18:37.399 --> 00:18:39.568
  • Request your limited edition tote bag and blanket
  • 00:18:39.568 --> 00:18:42.070
  • Today while supplies last with your gift
  • 00:18:42.070 --> 00:18:45.040
  • Of $100 or more at allenjackson.com or call...
  • 00:18:45.040 --> 00:18:52.114
  • Allen: but that's only part of it, you know.
  • 00:18:53.081 --> 00:18:54.683
  • I could probably shape getting out of the chair in terms of
  • 00:18:54.683 --> 00:18:57.819
  • Conversion and if you'll just walk the aisle of the church and
  • 00:18:57.819 --> 00:19:00.289
  • Repeat this prayer with me or meet me at the altar when i'm
  • 00:19:00.289 --> 00:19:03.325
  • Done with the lesson today, i can help you into the kingdom of
  • 00:19:03.325 --> 00:19:05.961
  • God and actually that's true.
  • 00:19:05.961 --> 00:19:07.329
  • I could do that.
  • 00:19:07.329 --> 00:19:10.165
  • But i don't believe that's an adequate presentation of what
  • 00:19:10.165 --> 00:19:12.534
  • We're called to.
  • 00:19:12.534 --> 00:19:13.869
  • That's not what paul was describing to timothy in that
  • 00:19:13.869 --> 00:19:16.338
  • Passage we begin--read at the beginning of this when he's
  • 00:19:16.338 --> 00:19:18.607
  • Talking about enduring hardship like a good soldier.
  • 00:19:18.607 --> 00:19:22.177
  • Or competing according to the rules, not just arbitrarily or
  • 00:19:22.177 --> 00:19:25.414
  • What's comfortable or convenient.
  • 00:19:25.414 --> 00:19:30.652
  • Or as a hardworking farmer.
  • 00:19:30.652 --> 00:19:33.288
  • My first job was working for my dad.
  • 00:19:33.288 --> 00:19:35.657
  • That's probably not a plan i would suggest.
  • 00:19:35.657 --> 00:19:39.027
  • He gave me a pair of gloves.
  • 00:19:39.027 --> 00:19:41.096
  • I didn't like gloves, hadn't worn gloves.
  • 00:19:41.096 --> 00:19:43.165
  • I was used to doing jobs that were convenience jobs.
  • 00:19:43.165 --> 00:19:46.001
  • I mowed the grass when i was in the mood and i didn't have
  • 00:19:46.001 --> 00:19:47.869
  • Something better to do.
  • 00:19:47.869 --> 00:19:50.305
  • I might haul a little hay if i had a little free time and i
  • 00:19:50.305 --> 00:19:52.975
  • Didn't have a ballgame to play or my friends weren't going to
  • 00:19:52.975 --> 00:19:55.210
  • Do something--the lake or--.
  • 00:19:55.210 --> 00:19:57.646
  • But i understood that if he was giving me tools for the job,
  • 00:19:57.646 --> 00:20:00.482
  • There was an expectation, and i didn't want any expectations.
  • 00:20:00.482 --> 00:20:05.420
  • I remember he said that, "they won't stop the blisters, but
  • 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:09.157
  • It'll make it better and you won't miss time."
  • 00:20:09.157 --> 00:20:14.129
  • Warning will rogers.
  • 00:20:14.129 --> 00:20:17.432
  • I just bought a sampling of some of the tools that i started
  • 00:20:17.432 --> 00:20:20.068
  • Really early in my life with.
  • 00:20:20.068 --> 00:20:22.871
  • Everything on this little platform is different from
  • 00:20:22.871 --> 00:20:25.440
  • That one.
  • 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:27.643
  • To put any of this stuff to work is gonna take effort.
  • 00:20:27.643 --> 00:20:32.247
  • And there'll be complaints and they're all gonna be internal.
  • 00:20:32.247 --> 00:20:38.553
  • And there won't be a lot of people that want to join you.
  • 00:20:38.553 --> 00:20:41.857
  • The numbers go down.
  • 00:20:41.857 --> 00:20:43.191
  • If this is the invitation, you can have a party.
  • 00:20:43.191 --> 00:20:47.095
  • If this is the invitation, you're gonna need a friend.
  • 00:20:47.095 --> 00:20:52.100
  • That's the truth.
  • 00:20:52.100 --> 00:20:53.969
  • Somewhere along the way, i've talked to you about it.
  • 00:20:53.969 --> 00:20:55.771
  • I decided i wanted to be jesus's friend.
  • 00:20:55.771 --> 00:20:59.675
  • I don't wanna just be there for the party.
  • 00:20:59.675 --> 00:21:03.211
  • I don't just wanna be there to take down the prizes and receive
  • 00:21:03.211 --> 00:21:06.148
  • The gifts.
  • 00:21:06.148 --> 00:21:08.317
  • I wanna be involved.
  • 00:21:08.317 --> 00:21:12.087
  • I want to be included.
  • 00:21:12.087 --> 00:21:15.857
  • I want to be trusted.
  • 00:21:15.857 --> 00:21:18.026
  • What did paul say to timothy?
  • 00:21:18.026 --> 00:21:19.928
  • "entrust these things to reliable people."
  • 00:21:19.928 --> 00:21:24.299
  • In the halls of heaven, i want it to be considered that i might
  • 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:27.269
  • Be a reliable resource for what god would be doing.
  • 00:21:27.269 --> 00:21:31.306
  • I want you to imagine that.
  • 00:21:31.306 --> 00:21:34.509
  • I want god to imagine that he can trust you with understanding
  • 00:21:34.509 --> 00:21:37.312
  • Or insight because you'll put the effort into it that's
  • 00:21:37.312 --> 00:21:40.615
  • Necessary to get to the outcome.
  • 00:21:40.615 --> 00:21:44.353
  • You'll stop reciting the verses to try to secure something that
  • 00:21:44.353 --> 00:21:48.156
  • Requires nothing.
  • 00:21:48.156 --> 00:21:50.959
  • It's offensive to me to imagine that we would ask god to send
  • 00:21:50.959 --> 00:21:54.596
  • His son or jesus to endure all he did, so that all i have to do
  • 00:21:54.596 --> 00:21:59.000
  • Is mutter some simple prayer and then lead my life on my
  • 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:01.803
  • Own terms.
  • 00:22:01.803 --> 00:22:05.273
  • We're called to lay our lives down, to take up a cross.
  • 00:22:05.273 --> 00:22:09.845
  • That's a whole lot worse than picking up a maul because the
  • 00:22:09.845 --> 00:22:15.884
  • Cross is a place for public humiliation, execution.
  • 00:22:15.884 --> 00:22:22.224
  • You forfeit all of your self direction at that point.
  • 00:22:22.224 --> 00:22:26.895
  • And jesus said we had to take up our cross daily.
  • 00:22:26.895 --> 00:22:30.532
  • Church, i believe we have the greatest opportunity of my
  • 00:22:30.532 --> 00:22:32.968
  • Lifetime in front of us.
  • 00:22:32.968 --> 00:22:34.302
  • I believe that.
  • 00:22:34.302 --> 00:22:36.138
  • I believe with what god has done, we have an opportunity to
  • 00:22:36.138 --> 00:22:39.541
  • See our children and our grandchildren have a
  • 00:22:39.541 --> 00:22:41.576
  • Different future.
  • 00:22:41.576 --> 00:22:44.146
  • But it's gonna require a different response from
  • 00:22:44.146 --> 00:22:45.847
  • The church.
  • 00:22:45.847 --> 00:22:49.751
  • Not the pagans, from the church
  • 00:22:49.751 --> 00:22:53.989
  • We're gonna have to believe that what we've been
  • 00:22:53.989 --> 00:22:55.357
  • Entrusted with is worth our best effort.
  • 00:22:55.357 --> 00:22:59.161
  • That it's valuable enough that you can't make us be quiet.
  • 00:22:59.161 --> 00:23:02.931
  • That we think everybody would be better if they knew what
  • 00:23:02.931 --> 00:23:05.267
  • We found.
  • 00:23:05.267 --> 00:23:06.935
  • And wherever we go, we're gonna talk about it.
  • 00:23:06.935 --> 00:23:10.439
  • We're gonna talk about the things god is doing.
  • 00:23:10.439 --> 00:23:13.775
  • We'll pray for other people, that they'll stand still for a
  • 00:23:13.775 --> 00:23:16.111
  • Half a minute, we're gonna slip a prayer in.
  • 00:23:16.111 --> 00:23:17.712
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:23:17.712 --> 00:23:20.248
  • If they're struggling, we'll invite them to read a bible
  • 00:23:20.248 --> 00:23:22.284
  • With us.
  • 00:23:22.284 --> 00:23:23.618
  • We'll show up together, we'll volunteer together, we'll
  • 00:23:23.618 --> 00:23:25.921
  • Serve together.
  • 00:23:25.921 --> 00:23:27.255
  • We're not gonna be treated fairly.
  • 00:23:27.255 --> 00:23:29.424
  • People will complain and criticize and say we did too
  • 00:23:29.424 --> 00:23:32.027
  • Much of that or not enough of this.
  • 00:23:32.027 --> 00:23:34.963
  • We had too many cheese doodles or not enough cheese doodles or
  • 00:23:34.963 --> 00:23:37.499
  • The wrong color cheese doodles.
  • 00:23:37.499 --> 00:23:41.136
  • That's the nature of the journey.
  • 00:23:41.136 --> 00:23:43.238
  • They killed our boss.
  • 00:23:43.238 --> 00:23:46.608
  • "they stoned the prophets," he said.
  • 00:23:46.608 --> 00:23:48.977
  • Nevertheless, we go.
  • 00:23:48.977 --> 00:23:51.513
  • I wanna put the invitation before you.
  • 00:23:51.513 --> 00:23:54.483
  • There are people be sworn in over these next few weeks.
  • 00:23:54.483 --> 00:23:56.852
  • They're taking temporary assignments.
  • 00:23:56.852 --> 00:23:59.221
  • I'm grateful for their willingness to do it.
  • 00:23:59.221 --> 00:24:01.189
  • I believe with god's mercy, they could bring some changes that
  • 00:24:01.189 --> 00:24:04.659
  • Would help.
  • 00:24:04.659 --> 00:24:06.027
  • I don't know.
  • 00:24:06.027 --> 00:24:07.362
  • I think more of that's in god's hands.
  • 00:24:07.362 --> 00:24:09.798
  • But i know this for certain, whatever changes are brought,
  • 00:24:09.798 --> 00:24:12.334
  • They're unsustainable unless the church becomes different,
  • 00:24:12.334 --> 00:24:16.238
  • Which means we'll have to raise our hands and say, "we'll walk
  • 00:24:16.238 --> 00:24:18.507
  • In a new way, with new courage and new boldness."
  • 00:24:18.507 --> 00:24:20.609
  • We're taking jesus to work with us.
  • 00:24:20.609 --> 00:24:23.678
  • We're taking him back to our schools, so they say,
  • 00:24:23.678 --> 00:24:25.747
  • "you can't."
  • 00:24:25.747 --> 00:24:27.883
  • He's going with me.
  • 00:24:27.883 --> 00:24:36.892
  • I don't intend to maintain business as usual.
  • 00:24:36.892 --> 00:24:40.262
  • The status quo is not the objective.
  • 00:24:40.262 --> 00:24:42.597
  • Kindness is not the 11th commandment.
  • 00:24:42.597 --> 00:24:44.332
  • It is the fruit of the spirit.
  • 00:24:44.332 --> 00:24:47.502
  • Jesus said, "i didn't come to bring unity."
  • 00:24:47.502 --> 00:24:50.472
  • He said, "i came to bring division."
  • 00:24:50.472 --> 00:24:53.308
  • The truth is our assignment.
  • 00:24:53.308 --> 00:24:57.078
  • Are you ready?
  • 00:24:57.078 --> 00:24:58.847
  • I brought you a prayer.
  • 00:24:58.847 --> 00:25:00.215
  • I want you to stand with me.
  • 00:25:00.215 --> 00:25:09.457
  • Allen: it's really more of a proclamation.
  • 00:25:13.328 --> 00:25:14.796
  • It's a declaration to define our future, what we're gonna ask god
  • 00:25:14.796 --> 00:25:21.403
  • To do in us and through us and around us.
  • 00:25:21.403 --> 00:25:25.740
  • Can we say it together?
  • 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:28.009
  • I choose to honor god with my life, with all that i have, i
  • 00:25:28.009 --> 00:25:33.014
  • Will honor him with my strength, with my wealth, and with
  • 00:25:33.014 --> 00:25:36.551
  • My attention.
  • 00:25:36.551 --> 00:25:38.086
  • I will offer my days to him as an expression of loyalty.
  • 00:25:38.086 --> 00:25:42.123
  • I will yield my thoughts to him in humility and respect.
  • 00:25:42.123 --> 00:25:46.661
  • I submit my will to him that i may see his purposes.
  • 00:25:46.661 --> 00:25:51.333
  • My ambition is to be included in his kingdom and to be faithful
  • 00:25:51.333 --> 00:25:55.437
  • To his purposes for my life, amen.
  • 00:25:55.437 --> 00:26:05.947
  • You got better notes than i did.
  • 00:26:09.618 --> 00:26:13.021
  • God bless you. it's gonna be a good year.
  • 00:26:13.021 --> 00:26:16.925
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:16.925 --> 00:26:23.298
  • Allen: hey, i've encouraged you for a long time
  • 00:26:23.298 --> 00:26:25.100
  • To lead with your faith.
  • 00:26:25.100 --> 00:26:26.501
  • Take your faith outside the church building
  • 00:26:26.501 --> 00:26:28.603
  • Into all the places that your life takes you,
  • 00:26:28.603 --> 00:26:30.905
  • Where you have influence, where you have a voice.
  • 00:26:30.905 --> 00:26:33.141
  • We've created some pieces to help you do that:
  • 00:26:33.141 --> 00:26:35.310
  • A tote bag, a blanket.
  • 00:26:35.310 --> 00:26:36.911
  • Maybe you're going to a ball game or the park or the beach,
  • 00:26:36.911 --> 00:26:39.547
  • Wherever that may be.
  • 00:26:39.547 --> 00:26:40.882
  • You take these along, they are a celebration of our nation's
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  • 250th anniversary.
  • 00:26:43.918 --> 00:26:46.221
  • Somebody will want to know where you got it, what it's about.
  • 00:26:46.221 --> 00:26:48.823
  • It gives you an opportunity to share your faith.
  • 00:26:48.823 --> 00:26:51.626
  • You know, i've had the privilege of living in some places outside
  • 00:26:51.626 --> 00:26:54.362
  • The united states.
  • 00:26:54.362 --> 00:26:55.730
  • Things like a grocery store or fast food or food delivery,
  • 00:26:55.730 --> 00:27:00.769
  • Those things weren't possible in the places i lived.
  • 00:27:00.769 --> 00:27:03.104
  • When i come home, just walking through a grocery store reminds
  • 00:27:03.104 --> 00:27:05.707
  • Me of the goodness and the faithfulness of god,
  • 00:27:05.707 --> 00:27:07.809
  • His blessings on our nation.
  • 00:27:07.809 --> 00:27:09.878
  • Use your voice to say god has blessed america.
  • 00:27:09.878 --> 00:27:13.715
  • Something as simple as a tote bag can open a door
  • 00:27:13.715 --> 00:27:16.184
  • For your god story.
  • 00:27:16.184 --> 00:27:17.852
  • Together, we're gonna lift up the name of jesus in this
  • 00:27:17.852 --> 00:27:20.188
  • Generation and see god bless america again.
  • 00:27:20.188 --> 00:27:26.895