Allen Jackson - Breakthroughs Declined (Part 1)

January 21, 2025 | S25:E21

Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Breakthroughs Declined (Part 1) | January 21, 2025
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: we've been working through a study on
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  • Breakthroughs, those points where god intervenes in
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  • Our lives.
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  • Outcomes that can only be explained by god's
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  • Participation, when there's a-- you arrive at a place in your
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  • Life and there's really no imagined outcome that's
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  • Acceptable, without god's intervention.
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  • What you need is a breakthrough.
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  • And we've tried to understand that a little better because i
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  • Don't think they're random.
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  • I don't think they are just arbitrary.
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  • I think we can actually make choices that will facilitate
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  • Those moments in our journey.
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  • As i worked through the study, and did my preparation, i
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  • Learned something really unexpectedly, to be honest.
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  • That, in scripture, there are more breakthroughs that are
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  • Refused than were accepted.
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  • The list of people, it seemed to me who were presented with
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  • Opportunities for that--those breakthroughs, for those
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  • Interventions from god, and declined them, actually exceeded
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  • The people that accepted them.
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  • And i wasn't prepared for that to be something that i learned,
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  • As i did my work.
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  • So i want to do a session or two on those breakthroughs that
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  • Are declined.
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  • It may seem irrational, or illogical, but as i reflected on
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  • My own journey, i could see there were places where i've
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  • Cooperated with the lord and there are times where i've
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  • Chosen not to.
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  • And it's not always between moral and immoral, or godly and
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  • Ungodly, or good and evil, sometimes there's a sense that
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  • God puts something in front of you and you're just like, "no,
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  • I'm busy."
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  • Or, "i don't really wanna do the work."
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  • Or, "i don't wanna practice generosity, there."
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  • Then i take a pass and, in the moment, i wasn't conscious that
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  • I was actually declining an invitation from god that would
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  • Have led to something of greater significance, but in hindsight,
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  • It became pretty evident to me i have done that, more than once.
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  • I can point to places where i've said "yes" to the lord, but i
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  • Think the candor to recognize both is very, very important.
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  • And at this season of my life, i'm determined, with the help of
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  • God, not to decline any of those invitations.
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  • I don't wanna leave any of those things unaccepted.
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  • Too important, too important.
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  • So my goal, in this session, is to help us understand a little
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  • Bit about those breakthroughs that have been declined, so that
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  • We don't do that.
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  • And i'll start with a line from a song i bet you learned as a
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  • Child, i did.
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  • "jesus loves me, this i know," you know that little chorus?
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  • You know, i find that i still will hum that or, if i sing,
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  • It's usually because i'm on the tractor.
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  • I've got this old, raggedy diesel tractor that makes enough
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  • Noise to wake people.
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  • And on that tractor, i feel confident singing.
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  • Because you've got to be within five or six yards to hear above
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  • The rattle of the engine, and i feel protected.
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  • And i'll find myself singing that little chorus, "jesus loves
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  • Me, this i know, for the bible tells me so.
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  • Little ones, to him, belong."
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  • There's comfort in that to me, even at this point in my life.
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  • And i would have to say to you, i think that's been a
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  • Predominant message of american evangelicalism, for decades.
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  • "jesus loves you!
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  • Jesus loves you.
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  • Did you know jesus loves you?"
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  • And you know, it's true he does love you, that's
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  • Absolutely true.
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  • But the fact that jesus loves you is not sufficient to ensure
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  • Your participation in his kingdom, spoiler alert.
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  • Hell will be filled with people that jesus loved.
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  • Now, that message we don't talk about as much.
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  • Breakthroughs that are declined.
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  • You see, i'm far more aware of this, having spent a few weeks,
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  • And even months, with the topic.
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  • So i want to start with a pretty familiar narrative, it's in mark
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  • Chapter 10, it's repeated in multiple gospels.
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  • It's this young man, a wealthy young man, a man with authority,
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  • A godly young man approaches jesus.
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  • "as jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and he fell on
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  • His knees before him."
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  • So there's a--at the very introduction to this narrative,
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  • Before you know anything else, this young man is kneeling at
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  • The feet of jesus, in public.
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  • When was the last time you knelt at somebody's--before somebody,
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  • In public?
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  • Been a day or two, it didn't mean something different in the
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  • First century than it does, now.
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  • It's an expression of yielding, it's an expression of honor, all
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  • Sorts of things.
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  • "'good teacher,' he asked, 'what must i do to inherit
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  • Eternal life?'
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  • Jesus answered, 'why do you call me good?
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  • No one is good--except god alone.
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  • You know the commandments: "don't murder, don't commit
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  • Adultery, don't steal, don't give false testimony, don't
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  • Defraud, honor your father and mother,"'" he's listing the big
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  • Ten, you know, the ones we've kind of put away.
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  • "and he declared, 'teacher, all these i have kept since i was
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  • A boy.'"
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  • Wow, imagine having a one-on-one with jesus and saying, "i've
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  • Kept all the rules."
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  • Jesus was more polite than i am, he didn't snicker.
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  • But mark, it gives us an insight.
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  • In verse 21, it says, "jesus looked at him and he loved him."
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  • There's a little chorus, "jesus loves me, this i know."
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  • He loves this man, he tells us that.
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  • So he's gonna give him an invitation.
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  • He said, "there's one thing you lack, go and sell everything you
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  • Have and give to the poor, and you'll have treasure in heaven.
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  • Then come follow me," there it is.
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  • "come follow me," it's what he said to peter, it's what he said
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  • To james, it's what he said to john.
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  • Their lives were changed.
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  • They walked away from businesses, families, friends,
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  • Routines, habits, their whole lives got disrupted.
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  • "come follow me," he said, and they said, "okay."
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  • He says the same thing to this young man, godly young man, a
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  • Man yielded to the authority of jesus, he's inquiring.
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  • "the man's face fell.
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  • He went away sad, he had great wealth.
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  • Jesus looked around to his said to his disciples, 'how hard it
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  • Is for the rich to enter the kingdom of god!'"
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  • Then this next phrase intrigues me, it's verse 24, says, "the
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  • Disciples were amazed at his words."
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  • They weren't prepared for this.
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  • I know this feeling a little bit, you know, if you engage in
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  • Serving the lord, and trying to establish ministry, and the
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  • Disciples have done that, they want to see jesus's ministry
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  • Expand, his influence to grow.
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  • I'm certain that's a part of the nature of this relationship that
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  • They've engaged in.
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  • It feels somewhat similar to the world i've spent my adult life
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  • In, and there are times you meet people and you think, "if that
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  • Person would get on board with this, they'd use
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  • Their influence.
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  • If everybody else saw that person raise their hand and go,
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  • 'i'm for this, it would make the lift easier.'"
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  • And when this young man came up, with his authority, with his
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  • Influence, with his resources, you can almost see the disciples
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  • Going, "yes!"
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  • And the young man walks away.
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  • And jesus said, "it's really difficult for him," and "the
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  • Disciples are amazed at his words.
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  • But jesus said again, 'how hard it is to enter the kingdom
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  • Of god!'"
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  • "how hard it is to enter the kingdom of god."
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  • Wait a minute, that's not in the little chorus, "jesus loves
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  • Me--" "how hard it is to enter the kingdom of god."
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  • We haven't talked about that, folks.
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  • I've been in thousands, and thousands of church services.
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  • I've heard more sermons than you have, and you've suffered!
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  • And we don't hear very many messages where people say, "you
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  • Know, it's really not easy."
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  • Jesus said to his closest friends, "it's hard to enter the
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  • Kingdom of god."
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  • He's not finished, "'it's easier for a camel to go through the
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  • Eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom
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  • Of god.'
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  • The disciples were even more amazed."
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  • In verse 24, they were amazed, but in verse 26, mark adds in
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  • Here, so there's an emphasis, they're even more amazed!
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  • And they said, "well, then who can be saved?"
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  • And "jesus looked at them and said, 'with man it's impossible,
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  • But not with god; all things are possible with god.'
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  • And peter said, 'we've left everything to follow you!'"
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  • You got a peter just blah.
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  • And jesus replied, "i tell you the truth," and you know by now
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  • When you see that phrase, he's about to drop something
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  • Completely unexpected.
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  • "i tell you the truth, no one who has left home or brothers or
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  • Sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me or the
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  • Gospel will fail to receive 100 times as much in this
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  • Present age.
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  • Homes and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and
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  • Fields- and with them, persecutions.
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  • And in the age to come, eternal life.
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  • The many who were first will be last, and the last will
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  • Be first."
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  • That's a fascinating passage.
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  • We could spend a lot of time here, more than i'm going
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  • To, today.
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  • Jesus said one of the things that will come with all the
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  • Blessings are persecutions.
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  • We are living in a season where there has been a tremendous
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  • Initiative demonstrated on behalf of people of faith and
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  • Organized religion to avoid any kind of persecution.
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  • We've hidden from the truth.
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  • We don't want to talk about the truth.
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  • We prefer our favorite passages.
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  • We try to be embraced by the culture.
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  • We want to be loved by the culture.
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  • We want to be applauded by the culture, folks.
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  • Holding out the truth will not always bring applause.
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  • You don't have to be intentionally obnoxious, we do
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  • That well enough without trying.
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  • But we have to be willing to tell the truth.
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  • I want to make an observation from this passage, because it's
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  • About a very remarkable young man, a man with tremendous
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  • Potential, a godly young man, a young man interested in serving
  • 00:10:01.983 --> 00:10:04.919
  • The lord, a man of great resources, a man that jesus
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  • Loved, specifically.
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  • Who's given a personal invitation, and yet, he declines
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  • The breakthrough.
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  • He takes a pass, it's not convenient.
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  • And the observation, it seems so simple, but it needs to be
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  • Noted: not all who reject breakthroughs are wicked
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  • And ungodly.
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  • See, i think we've imagined that the categories are "good people
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  • Say yes to the lord" and "wicked people say no to the lord," and
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  • It's that neat and clean.
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  • And we point to these biblical characters, "pharaoh, he refused
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  • To cooperate with god."
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  • Yeah, he did.
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  • Think how different egypt would have been if pharaoh had said to
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  • Moses, on their first visit, "you're right, we've mistreated
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  • The hebrew people.
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  • We will not only release you, we'll give you all the
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  • Provisions you need to make it to whatever destination you feel
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  • Led to."
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  • Imagine the difference that would have met in egypt.
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  • Imagine if pontius pilate, the roman governor, when he had that
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  • Private audience with jesus, and said, "listen, i'm a political
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  • Animal myself, and i see the political jealousy that's being
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  • Directed at you, and i'm gonna stand up on your behalf."
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  • Imagine the different future pilate could have had, but we
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  • Know pilate chose to crucify jesus, and pharaoh chose to
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  • Persecute the hebrew slaves, and they both suffered greatly for
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  • It and we put them in the "villains" category.
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  • But not everybody that rejects, or declines, these
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  • Breakthroughs, in scripture, in fact, the majority of the people
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  • Aren't villains.
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  • They're the covenant people of god, standing on the jordan
  • 00:11:44.586 --> 00:11:47.055
  • River, looking into the promised land going, "no, thank you."
  • 00:11:47.055 --> 00:11:52.494
  • And in this particular case, in mark's gospel, it's this rich
  • 00:11:52.494 --> 00:11:55.363
  • Young ruler.
  • 00:11:55.363 --> 00:11:57.065
  • Not everybody who rejects breakthroughs are wicked
  • 00:11:57.065 --> 00:11:59.968
  • And ungodly.
  • 00:11:59.968 --> 00:12:01.302
  • We have to recalibrate, folks.
  • 00:12:01.302 --> 00:12:02.737
  • We've got to stop telling our god stories in terms of what we
  • 00:12:02.737 --> 00:12:06.508
  • Have done, and pointing at our conversion date, and our baptism
  • 00:12:06.508 --> 00:12:10.812
  • Date, and the bible studies we led, and the times we
  • 00:12:10.812 --> 00:12:13.314
  • Volunteered, and the dollars that we have given.
  • 00:12:13.314 --> 00:12:16.551
  • I'm appreciate all of those things, they're a part of my own
  • 00:12:16.551 --> 00:12:18.653
  • Journey, as well.
  • 00:12:18.653 --> 00:12:20.021
  • But what's relevant for me today is, "am i gonna say 'yes' to
  • 00:12:20.021 --> 00:12:23.391
  • The lord?"
  • 00:12:23.391 --> 00:12:24.759
  • "well, pastor, what are you suggesting, that we earn
  • 00:12:27.762 --> 00:12:29.531
  • Our way?"
  • 00:12:29.531 --> 00:12:30.899
  • No, i'm not talking about earning your way to anything,
  • 00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:32.233
  • I'm talking about saying "yes" to the lord.
  • 00:12:32.233 --> 00:12:33.635
  • I don't know the ultimate outcome of this young man.
  • 00:12:36.704 --> 00:12:39.607
  • He steps completely out of the narrative, we don't see
  • 00:12:39.607 --> 00:12:41.643
  • Him again.
  • 00:12:41.643 --> 00:12:43.378
  • He may have ended up in the crowds, he may have been a
  • 00:12:43.378 --> 00:12:45.613
  • Supporter of jesus, i don't know.
  • 00:12:45.613 --> 00:12:48.817
  • I know he didn't follow him, i know he didn't make it to the
  • 00:12:48.817 --> 00:12:50.885
  • Inner circle.
  • 00:12:50.885 --> 00:12:53.254
  • He missed his breakthrough.
  • 00:12:53.254 --> 00:12:54.656
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:12:54.722 --> 00:13:03.398
  • Female announcer: if you look, you'll find good
  • 00:13:03.398 --> 00:13:04.999
  • News, everywhere.
  • 00:13:04.999 --> 00:13:06.901
  • Female: our baby was born healthy and strong.
  • 00:13:06.901 --> 00:13:10.772
  • Female: we have the groceries we need.
  • 00:13:10.772 --> 00:13:13.341
  • Male: another year cancer-free.
  • 00:13:13.341 --> 00:13:16.711
  • Female: we bought our first house this year.
  • 00:13:16.711 --> 00:13:20.648
  • Female: the raise came through, when i needed it most.
  • 00:13:20.648 --> 00:13:24.285
  • Male: i have a working car.
  • 00:13:24.285 --> 00:13:27.889
  • Female: my husband came home safe.
  • 00:13:27.889 --> 00:13:31.793
  • Female announcer: philippians 4 tells us to "think about
  • 00:13:31.793 --> 00:13:33.595
  • Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable,
  • 00:13:33.595 --> 00:13:39.200
  • Excellent, and praiseworthy."
  • 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:41.469
  • All of these things honor god and when we take time to notice
  • 00:13:41.469 --> 00:13:44.772
  • Them, we welcome god's presence, and experience his peace.
  • 00:13:44.772 --> 00:13:48.243
  • Allen: you know, the two most critical junctures of any
  • 00:13:50.411 --> 00:13:52.914
  • Enterprise are how we begin and how we conclude.
  • 00:13:52.914 --> 00:13:56.384
  • So the beginning of a new year is a tremendous opportunity.
  • 00:13:56.384 --> 00:14:00.321
  • We've prepared a tool we want to share with you.
  • 00:14:00.321 --> 00:14:02.090
  • It's a "good news journal."
  • 00:14:02.090 --> 00:14:03.992
  • We wanna help you set a habit this year, to do something with
  • 00:14:03.992 --> 00:14:07.896
  • A bit more intention than perhaps has been our pattern in
  • 00:14:07.896 --> 00:14:10.965
  • The past.
  • 00:14:10.965 --> 00:14:12.300
  • We want to start our year with an attitude of appreciation, and
  • 00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:15.370
  • Gratitude, for the blessings of god in our lives.
  • 00:14:15.370 --> 00:14:18.606
  • So we've designed this journal so that you can use it as a part
  • 00:14:18.606 --> 00:14:21.609
  • Of your devotional it's something you could include the
  • 00:14:21.609 --> 00:14:23.544
  • Children, the grandchildren, you could take it to work, and
  • 00:14:23.544 --> 00:14:26.481
  • Create a "good news journal" for the people you work with,
  • 00:14:26.481 --> 00:14:29.217
  • Wherever that may be.
  • 00:14:29.217 --> 00:14:30.551
  • Let's start our year out purposefully, intentionally,
  • 00:14:30.551 --> 00:14:34.255
  • Saying "thank you" to the lord for his goodness to us.
  • 00:14:34.255 --> 00:14:37.458
  • I know there's challenges, and we have places where we need
  • 00:14:37.458 --> 00:14:39.861
  • God's help, but we're gonna begin with gratitude, and walk
  • 00:14:39.861 --> 00:14:43.765
  • Into the blessings of god, in this year.
  • 00:14:43.765 --> 00:14:46.467
  • I think you'll enjoy the journal, god bless.
  • 00:14:46.467 --> 00:14:49.270
  • Female announcer: when you keep a "good news list," you'll
  • 00:14:49.270 --> 00:14:51.272
  • Notice how god is constantly at work, all around you.
  • 00:14:51.272 --> 00:14:54.909
  • Our new, 52-week "good news notebook" gives you a place to
  • 00:14:54.909 --> 00:14:58.846
  • Record your good news, prayers you saw god answer, and your
  • 00:14:58.846 --> 00:15:02.450
  • Current prayer requests.
  • 00:15:02.450 --> 00:15:04.218
  • As you look back on your lists over the weeks and months to
  • 00:15:04.218 --> 00:15:07.088
  • Come, you'll find a personal record of god's faithfulness
  • 00:15:07.088 --> 00:15:10.024
  • To you.
  • 00:15:10.024 --> 00:15:11.359
  • Allen: we are trusting god for a year like no other, for his
  • 00:15:11.359 --> 00:15:13.761
  • Breakthroughs, this year.
  • 00:15:13.761 --> 00:15:15.129
  • I believe the "good news journal" can be a part of our
  • 00:15:15.129 --> 00:15:17.265
  • Journey, in each of our lives.
  • 00:15:17.265 --> 00:15:19.233
  • Female announcer: request your "good news notebook" when you
  • 00:15:19.300 --> 00:15:21.035
  • Donate $20 or more, today, at allenjackson.com or by
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  • Calling...
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  • Female announcer: we are committed to helping you grow in
  • 00:15:32.013 --> 00:15:33.581
  • Your faith and have tools for your journey, no matter
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  • Your schedule.
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  • Get daily encouragement and insight with pastor allen's
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  • Daily devotion, right in your inbox.
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  • Just sign up on the website.
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  • App, perfect for a commute.
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  • And make sure to follow
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  • Pastor allen on social media,
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  • To stay up to date with
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  • Everything happening here with
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  • Allen jackson ministries.
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  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:15:59.674 --> 00:16:03.144
  • Allen: there's some things you'll need, there's some things
  • 00:16:03.144 --> 00:16:04.712
  • That'll have to be in place, to be prepared to accept
  • 00:16:04.712 --> 00:16:08.082
  • The breakthrough.
  • 00:16:08.082 --> 00:16:09.417
  • I can't spend much time on them, but i can tag them for you.
  • 00:16:09.417 --> 00:16:11.853
  • As i have walked through this list, one of them is you'll have
  • 00:16:11.853 --> 00:16:14.422
  • To have the will to bear discomfort.
  • 00:16:14.422 --> 00:16:17.125
  • It's not always gonna be easy.
  • 00:16:17.125 --> 00:16:18.459
  • This young man missed it because it wasn't comfortable
  • 00:16:18.459 --> 00:16:20.194
  • Or convenient.
  • 00:16:20.194 --> 00:16:22.397
  • And we are way too committed to comfort and convenience, in the
  • 00:16:22.397 --> 00:16:26.134
  • Context of our faith.
  • 00:16:26.134 --> 00:16:28.336
  • I can't tell you, you may know, how bent out of shape we get if
  • 00:16:28.336 --> 00:16:31.973
  • We can't park where we want, or sit where we want.
  • 00:16:31.973 --> 00:16:33.875
  • We're building more parking, i love you, it's okay!
  • 00:16:37.945 --> 00:16:41.716
  • But we've got to be honest, folks, we have somehow distilled
  • 00:16:41.716 --> 00:16:44.786
  • Our faith, it should be easy.
  • 00:16:44.786 --> 00:16:48.289
  • It should be well-organized, and orchestrated, and i'm for all
  • 00:16:48.289 --> 00:16:51.726
  • Those things, i love a plan, when it works.
  • 00:16:51.726 --> 00:16:54.962
  • But we don't serve god, based on comfort and convenience.
  • 00:16:54.962 --> 00:16:58.032
  • We're gonna have to be willing to bear discomfort.
  • 00:16:58.032 --> 00:16:59.867
  • That means you'll have to deconstruct disappointments.
  • 00:16:59.867 --> 00:17:02.303
  • Things won't go the way you like and you can't withdraw.
  • 00:17:02.303 --> 00:17:05.206
  • Things will happen in your life that god could have prevented,
  • 00:17:05.206 --> 00:17:07.809
  • Or caused a different outcome to be, and he won't, and some of
  • 00:17:07.809 --> 00:17:11.012
  • You will be tempted to say, "i'm so disappointed, i quit."
  • 00:17:11.012 --> 00:17:17.351
  • Please don't do that.
  • 00:17:17.351 --> 00:17:21.622
  • Serving the lord, joining his kingdom, being a part of what
  • 00:17:21.622 --> 00:17:24.292
  • God is doing in the earth, doesn't mean it's always easy.
  • 00:17:24.292 --> 00:17:27.495
  • None of our heroes had it always easy.
  • 00:17:27.495 --> 00:17:30.965
  • None of them, jesus didn't.
  • 00:17:30.965 --> 00:17:36.304
  • You'll have to deconstruct those disappointments.
  • 00:17:36.304 --> 00:17:38.573
  • You'll have to empty yourself of your entitlement.
  • 00:17:38.573 --> 00:17:43.111
  • Folks, that's a pandemic that makes covid look like a
  • 00:17:43.111 --> 00:17:46.447
  • Starter set.
  • 00:17:46.447 --> 00:17:48.683
  • We are entitled.
  • 00:17:48.683 --> 00:17:52.086
  • "well i just think i deserve--" and out rolls the list.
  • 00:17:52.086 --> 00:17:58.426
  • And it's amazing, if we've never been here before, "i deserved
  • 00:17:58.426 --> 00:18:00.795
  • Better treatment.
  • 00:18:00.795 --> 00:18:02.163
  • I was a guest and they should have known."
  • 00:18:02.163 --> 00:18:04.132
  • If you've been here for 80 years, "well, i've been there
  • 00:18:04.132 --> 00:18:06.067
  • For 80 years!"
  • 00:18:06.067 --> 00:18:08.102
  • It doesn't matter, we just feel entitled.
  • 00:18:08.102 --> 00:18:11.239
  • And it's not just in church, we just feel entitled.
  • 00:18:11.239 --> 00:18:15.810
  • You're gonna have to lay that down.
  • 00:18:15.810 --> 00:18:18.379
  • You're not special, i'm not special.
  • 00:18:18.379 --> 00:18:28.022
  • "well, we're children of the king!"
  • 00:18:28.022 --> 00:18:29.357
  • Yes, you are, but you didn't deserve it, you didn't earn it,
  • 00:18:29.357 --> 00:18:31.592
  • It was a gift.
  • 00:18:31.592 --> 00:18:32.960
  • You didn't qualify for it.
  • 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:34.295
  • If it was merit-based, you wouldn't be in the family.
  • 00:18:34.295 --> 00:18:36.130
  • We've been pumping this message out, through pulpits, for way
  • 00:18:40.268 --> 00:18:43.171
  • Too long.
  • 00:18:43.171 --> 00:18:45.573
  • Folks, you are not entitled.
  • 00:18:45.573 --> 00:18:49.043
  • I don't want what i deserve.
  • 00:18:49.043 --> 00:18:51.012
  • I'm not pounding the gavel, demanding justice.
  • 00:18:55.016 --> 00:18:59.020
  • I'm going to get in the "mercy" line.
  • 00:18:59.020 --> 00:19:06.327
  • There's something else you need, if you're gonna be able to
  • 00:19:10.464 --> 00:19:13.301
  • Cooperate with the breakthroughs, and that's a
  • 00:19:13.301 --> 00:19:15.002
  • Disciplined life.
  • 00:19:15.002 --> 00:19:17.872
  • You can't be a disciple without discipline, that's not
  • 00:19:17.872 --> 00:19:20.007
  • Rocket science.
  • 00:19:20.007 --> 00:19:21.375
  • I know you understand, but it means there's a leaving behind.
  • 00:19:21.375 --> 00:19:23.778
  • This young man had some things he would have had to
  • 00:19:23.778 --> 00:19:25.246
  • Left behind.
  • 00:19:25.246 --> 00:19:26.847
  • There's a separation that comes.
  • 00:19:26.847 --> 00:19:28.583
  • You will not find god's best, unless you're willing to leave
  • 00:19:28.583 --> 00:19:31.886
  • Behind some things.
  • 00:19:31.886 --> 00:19:33.921
  • Not everybody will go that way.
  • 00:19:33.921 --> 00:19:37.191
  • You hear all kinds of expressions about this, you
  • 00:19:37.191 --> 00:19:38.993
  • Know, in sports, you hear it in business, you hear it, you know,
  • 00:19:38.993 --> 00:19:42.063
  • If you're gonna succeed or you're gonna do something that's
  • 00:19:42.063 --> 00:19:44.599
  • Not just normal, well in in pursuing the lord, if you're
  • 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:49.503
  • Looking for the minimal daily requirement, "what's the least i
  • 00:19:49.503 --> 00:19:52.173
  • Can do and still just get in?"
  • 00:19:52.173 --> 00:19:56.244
  • Please begin by recognizing how offensive that is.
  • 00:19:56.244 --> 00:20:01.148
  • Imagine a proposal of marriage, on those terms.
  • 00:20:01.148 --> 00:20:05.953
  • "would you marry me?
  • 00:20:05.953 --> 00:20:08.589
  • Before you say 'yes,' i have a follow up question: would you be
  • 00:20:08.589 --> 00:20:13.327
  • Willing to tell me, what's the very least you would expect
  • 00:20:13.327 --> 00:20:16.697
  • Of me?
  • 00:20:16.697 --> 00:20:18.432
  • How often do i have to come home at night?
  • 00:20:18.432 --> 00:20:22.570
  • How do you define 'faithfulness?'
  • 00:20:22.570 --> 00:20:25.339
  • Is taking out the trash, like, a make-or-break thing?
  • 00:20:29.443 --> 00:20:34.181
  • How truthful do i have--"
  • 00:20:34.181 --> 00:20:35.516
  • Can you imagine, i mean, it's kind of an offensive, right?
  • 00:20:35.516 --> 00:20:38.052
  • If one of your children said they had proposed to someone and
  • 00:20:38.052 --> 00:20:40.254
  • That was the response, i think you would say, "run!"
  • 00:20:40.254 --> 00:20:45.860
  • And yet, we kind of approach god that way.
  • 00:20:45.860 --> 00:20:49.430
  • "what's the very least i could do and still get, like, in
  • 00:20:49.430 --> 00:20:52.566
  • The door?
  • 00:20:52.566 --> 00:20:54.702
  • I don't wanna be, like, an overachiever.
  • 00:20:54.702 --> 00:20:56.404
  • I don't wanna be, like, a hyper-christian."
  • 00:20:56.404 --> 00:20:58.372
  • Well we've got them, in our head.
  • 00:21:02.176 --> 00:21:05.112
  • There's a leaving behind, there's some separation that has
  • 00:21:05.112 --> 00:21:07.381
  • To come.
  • 00:21:07.381 --> 00:21:08.716
  • It's a disciplined life.
  • 00:21:08.716 --> 00:21:10.851
  • The kingdom of god, jesus said, "it's difficult to enter."
  • 00:21:10.851 --> 00:21:13.487
  • You gotta live with that a little bit.
  • 00:21:13.487 --> 00:21:15.756
  • "i didn't expect it to be difficult."
  • 00:21:15.756 --> 00:21:17.124
  • You're not reading!
  • 00:21:17.124 --> 00:21:20.094
  • It's just not easy.
  • 00:21:20.094 --> 00:21:22.797
  • This time of year, all of us want to lose five pounds.
  • 00:21:22.797 --> 00:21:27.501
  • If you don't want to lose five pounds, we don't like you.
  • 00:21:27.501 --> 00:21:32.640
  • "jesus loves you," i'll sing you the little chorus, but we don't
  • 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:35.409
  • Like you.
  • 00:21:35.409 --> 00:21:38.379
  • But it's not really, like, a mystery, we should eat less and
  • 00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:41.015
  • Move more.
  • 00:21:41.015 --> 00:21:42.750
  • But i'm watching late-night tv, looking for a cream i can rub on
  • 00:21:42.750 --> 00:21:45.953
  • My belly, right?
  • 00:21:45.953 --> 00:21:51.258
  • And i will pay $19.99 plus shipping and handling.
  • 00:21:51.258 --> 00:21:56.330
  • I'm looking for my phone, i'm dialing that number,
  • 00:21:56.330 --> 00:21:59.066
  • They have got me.
  • 00:21:59.066 --> 00:22:04.405
  • And we do that with our faith, it's difficult stuff, and yet,
  • 00:22:04.405 --> 00:22:08.542
  • Jesus said, "all things are possible with god."
  • 00:22:08.542 --> 00:22:11.645
  • And all of my brokenness, and all of my inconsistencies, and
  • 00:22:11.645 --> 00:22:14.548
  • All of the things that i'm not, nothing is impossible
  • 00:22:14.548 --> 00:22:17.418
  • Without god.
  • 00:22:17.418 --> 00:22:18.786
  • Even, god could help me even lead a disciplined life.
  • 00:22:18.786 --> 00:22:22.923
  • And then i think, if we're gonna have these breakthroughs, it's
  • 00:22:22.923 --> 00:22:24.925
  • About seedtime and harvest.
  • 00:22:24.925 --> 00:22:28.095
  • I don't like this part.
  • 00:22:28.095 --> 00:22:29.964
  • I've confessed before you, before, i could be impatient.
  • 00:22:29.964 --> 00:22:33.768
  • Microwaves seem really slow to me.
  • 00:22:33.768 --> 00:22:35.403
  • We invented the microwave 50-years-ago.
  • 00:22:35.403 --> 00:22:37.071
  • Could we not have improved by now?
  • 00:22:37.071 --> 00:22:40.141
  • What's beyond the microwave?
  • 00:22:40.141 --> 00:22:41.475
  • What's faster than a microwave?
  • 00:22:41.475 --> 00:22:42.843
  • Why does it take a minute and a half for it to boil a cup
  • 00:22:42.843 --> 00:22:46.013
  • Of coffee?
  • 00:22:46.013 --> 00:22:47.882
  • Can't we do that in 10 seconds?
  • 00:22:47.882 --> 00:22:49.216
  • What are we doing?
  • 00:22:49.216 --> 00:22:50.584
  • Come on!
  • 00:22:50.584 --> 00:22:53.020
  • And there's something in genesis, god said that as long
  • 00:22:53.020 --> 00:22:55.256
  • As the earth endures, seedtime and harvest.
  • 00:22:55.256 --> 00:22:59.360
  • Now, i had the privilege of growing up in a bit of a rural
  • 00:22:59.360 --> 00:23:01.996
  • Setting, murfreesboro used to be different.
  • 00:23:01.996 --> 00:23:06.000
  • And so, i got to plant some things, and you know, you can't
  • 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:10.971
  • Hurry that.
  • 00:23:10.971 --> 00:23:12.339
  • I love summertime vegetables, in tennessee, but it's just hard to
  • 00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:17.244
  • Get good tennessee tomatoes, much before july 4th, because
  • 00:23:17.244 --> 00:23:21.782
  • If you plant them in february, they're gonna freeze.
  • 00:23:21.782 --> 00:23:25.119
  • And you gotta wait until you're not gonna have any more frost,
  • 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:27.455
  • And maybe you'll get it right one year, so you plant every
  • 00:23:27.455 --> 00:23:29.590
  • February if you want, but you're gonna lose more tomatoes than
  • 00:23:29.590 --> 00:23:31.826
  • You grow.
  • 00:23:31.826 --> 00:23:34.028
  • Seedtime and harvest, and if you're trying to grow oak trees,
  • 00:23:34.028 --> 00:23:36.363
  • That's a whole different discussion.
  • 00:23:36.363 --> 00:23:39.633
  • I like trees, i love big, beautiful trees.
  • 00:23:39.633 --> 00:23:42.503
  • They're amazing to me, they're expressions of the power of god,
  • 00:23:42.503 --> 00:23:45.239
  • And i just like trees, but, oak trees.
  • 00:23:45.239 --> 00:23:50.611
  • Seedtime and harvest.
  • 00:23:54.148 --> 00:23:56.083
  • Jesus used the imagery.
  • 00:23:56.083 --> 00:23:57.585
  • He said, "you'll receive 100 times as much."
  • 00:23:57.585 --> 00:24:00.588
  • "as much as what?"
  • 00:24:00.588 --> 00:24:01.922
  • As much as you sacrifice, as much as you plant.
  • 00:24:01.922 --> 00:24:05.226
  • Oh, and he said, "and there'll be persecutions."
  • 00:24:05.226 --> 00:24:08.996
  • Seedtime and harvest means there's sacrifice.
  • 00:24:08.996 --> 00:24:11.131
  • You have to acquire the land, you have to prepare the land,
  • 00:24:11.131 --> 00:24:14.568
  • It's hard work.
  • 00:24:14.568 --> 00:24:15.903
  • Planting and cultivation is just hard work.
  • 00:24:15.903 --> 00:24:18.639
  • We have become a society that avoids work.
  • 00:24:18.639 --> 00:24:20.708
  • We don't wanna work.
  • 00:24:20.708 --> 00:24:22.710
  • We want to recreate, we wanna play, we want to pursue our
  • 00:24:22.710 --> 00:24:25.646
  • Dreams and passions.
  • 00:24:25.646 --> 00:24:26.981
  • Folks, all the best things in life are on the other side
  • 00:24:26.981 --> 00:24:29.149
  • Of "difficult."
  • 00:24:29.149 --> 00:24:31.785
  • And that's true in the kingdom of god, too.
  • 00:24:31.785 --> 00:24:34.855
  • And we've got this easy believism.
  • 00:24:34.855 --> 00:24:36.991
  • Bonhoeffer called it, "men without chests, sloppy grace."
  • 00:24:36.991 --> 00:24:42.796
  • I believe in the grace and the mercy of god, i'm the poster
  • 00:24:42.796 --> 00:24:45.432
  • Child for those things, but i intend to be caught giving god
  • 00:24:45.432 --> 00:24:48.602
  • My best, and i would invite you to a similar path.
  • 00:24:48.602 --> 00:24:52.473
  • He deserves nothing less than that.
  • 00:24:52.473 --> 00:24:55.276
  • He gave us his best, so let's decide
  • 00:24:55.276 --> 00:24:59.780
  • We're gonna do difficult.
  • 00:24:59.780 --> 00:25:02.116
  • That we don't want to leave any breakthroughs unexplored.
  • 00:25:02.116 --> 00:25:05.653
  • We are the beneficiaries of the grace of god.
  • 00:25:05.653 --> 00:25:07.922
  • I wanna look at one more narrative, and i'll do it
  • 00:25:07.922 --> 00:25:09.790
  • Quickly because i'm rattling on.
  • 00:25:09.790 --> 00:25:13.160
  • But you can't separate the grace of god.
  • 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:15.629
  • The grace is undeserved blessing, unearned merit.
  • 00:25:15.629 --> 00:25:19.133
  • Things that come to you that have nothing to do with merit.
  • 00:25:19.133 --> 00:25:21.835
  • If you earned it, it isn't grace.
  • 00:25:21.835 --> 00:25:24.605
  • And we are creatures of grace, we stand in the grace of god.
  • 00:25:24.605 --> 00:25:29.476
  • Having said that, if we're going to live out the benefits of
  • 00:25:29.476 --> 00:25:32.813
  • Breakthroughs, it requires a response of us, and we reject
  • 00:25:32.813 --> 00:25:36.884
  • More than we accept.
  • 00:25:36.884 --> 00:25:40.020
  • We decline more breakthroughs, typically, than we accept.
  • 00:25:40.020 --> 00:25:44.191
  • In john chapter 9, we are introduced to a man who's
  • 00:25:44.191 --> 00:25:46.460
  • Born blind.
  • 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:48.729
  • And jesus extends to him, an opportunity for healing.
  • 00:25:48.729 --> 00:25:52.533
  • It's uninvited, the man doesn't ask.
  • 00:25:52.533 --> 00:25:54.668
  • This isn't bartimaeus that screams loudly enough, "have
  • 00:25:54.668 --> 00:25:58.038
  • Mercy on me!"
  • 00:25:58.038 --> 00:25:59.373
  • This man says nothing, he doesn't ask jesus.
  • 00:25:59.373 --> 00:26:03.944
  • The disciples draw jesus's attention to him.
  • 00:26:03.944 --> 00:26:07.381
  • And jesus, it seems, at first glance, almost makes a mockery
  • 00:26:07.381 --> 00:26:10.684
  • Of him.
  • 00:26:10.684 --> 00:26:12.052
  • He smears mud on his face.
  • 00:26:12.052 --> 00:26:14.688
  • And then he tells him to go wash in the pool of siloam.
  • 00:26:14.688 --> 00:26:17.558
  • Siloam's at the lowest point in the city of jerusalem.
  • 00:26:17.558 --> 00:26:19.960
  • Jerusalem is a city built on hills, and siloam is the water
  • 00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:23.397
  • Source at the lowest point in the city.
  • 00:26:23.397 --> 00:26:26.066
  • And so jesus is sending a blind man, that he's just smeared mud
  • 00:26:26.066 --> 00:26:29.036
  • On his face, on a journey through a very crowded city.
  • 00:26:29.036 --> 00:26:34.475
  • Without explanation, he just says, "go and wash."
  • 00:26:34.475 --> 00:26:38.812
  • And in the understatement of scripture, it says, "the man
  • 00:26:38.812 --> 00:26:40.781
  • Went and washed and he came home seeing."
  • 00:26:40.781 --> 00:26:42.783
  • Allen: i wanna pray with you before we go that god will give
  • 00:26:44.351 --> 00:26:46.887
  • Us a revelation of himself, beyond church, beyond
  • 00:26:46.887 --> 00:26:51.025
  • Just information.
  • 00:26:51.025 --> 00:26:52.393
  • A revelation, something beyond study, to help us understand who
  • 00:26:52.393 --> 00:26:55.963
  • God is, and his love for us, let's pray.
  • 00:26:55.963 --> 00:26:58.899
  • Father, i pray that you would give us a spirit of wisdom and
  • 00:26:58.899 --> 00:27:01.435
  • Revelation, that we might know you better.
  • 00:27:01.435 --> 00:27:03.637
  • Far beyond sermons, or church, or bible studies, or small
  • 00:27:03.637 --> 00:27:07.074
  • Groups, by the spirit of god, give us an understanding of your
  • 00:27:07.074 --> 00:27:10.544
  • Majesty and your power, in jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:10.544 --> 00:27:14.715
  • God bless you.
  • 00:27:14.715 --> 00:27:16.150
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:16.150 --> 00:27:29.997