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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - The Challenge of Faith (Part 1)

April 5, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - The Challenge of Faith (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#WordofGod #Ministry #Pastors #Leadership #Fear #Leaders #Honor #TrustGod #Faithfulness #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - The Challenge of Faith (Part 1) | April 5, 2026
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world people are searching
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  • For truth, and together we're doing our very best to help them
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  • Find it.
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  • Ministries, you're joining a growing community of believers
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  • Who are committed to strengthening the church and
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  • Audiences, and to take the hope of jesus to people who may never
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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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  • Known right here at home and around the earth, wherever god
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  • Opens the door.
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  • Let's keep gathering his people and building his church until
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  • The day our king returns.
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  • You can find more about becoming a ministry partner at
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  • Allenjackson.com/partner.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: i wanna begin a new conversation for the next two
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  • Or three sessions talking about finishing our race and
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  • The--particularly in this session the challenge
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  • Of our faith.
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  • It's challenging. did you know that?
  • 00:01:17.092 --> 00:01:19.795
  • Like, i had a meeting today with an iranian pastor and a leader
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  • Of pastors from armenia and iran.
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  • We got to sit down for a bit, and they were very enthusiastic
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  • About what's happening in iran.
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  • They said it's an opportunity for freedom and the leadership
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  • There they said, you know, they worship demons and--i mean, it
  • 00:01:40.249 --> 00:01:44.419
  • Was--they were very grateful for the opportunity of the spiritual
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  • Change but also very uncertain about next, and it's not an easy
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  • Position to hold.
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  • But i told them that we were praying for them on a regular
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  • Basis, on a daily basis and that we would continue.
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  • It's why they came.
  • 00:02:01.069 --> 00:02:02.437
  • They said, "we know your church prays; and i want you to
  • 00:02:02.437 --> 00:02:06.575
  • Continue to carry that, if you will."
  • 00:02:06.575 --> 00:02:09.811
  • You know, i believe that what we see happening in the
  • 00:02:09.811 --> 00:02:14.082
  • Geopolitical, the nation state realm is symptomatic of the true
  • 00:02:14.082 --> 00:02:20.856
  • Causative impacts of our lives, which are spiritual, and what's
  • 00:02:20.856 --> 00:02:25.894
  • Desperately needed is a spiritual change.
  • 00:02:25.894 --> 00:02:29.298
  • And how god brings that about and how he does that, there's
  • 00:02:29.298 --> 00:02:32.668
  • Been a spirit of enormous darkness and oppression.
  • 00:02:32.668 --> 00:02:35.504
  • You know that because the fruit of that is evident.
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  • There's been--they've been the global exporters of hatred and
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  • Murder and violence and rape and--i mean, awful, awful,
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  • Awful things.
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  • So you don't have to have great discernment to know that the
  • 00:02:45.080 --> 00:02:46.815
  • Spirit behind that was not like lovely, but it will take
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  • A spiritual change for a better future and unless the church is
  • 00:02:52.221 --> 00:02:55.457
  • Engaged in praying--you know, i'm grateful for our young men
  • 00:02:55.457 --> 00:02:59.027
  • And women that put themselves in harm's way and the iranian
  • 00:02:59.027 --> 00:03:01.563
  • People that i talk to are celebrating them, but the real
  • 00:03:01.563 --> 00:03:05.467
  • Change has to be initiated by the people of faith.
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  • So if you haven't--don't get caught up in the doom loop of,
  • 00:03:09.071 --> 00:03:12.007
  • "i don't like this decision or that decision or this person or
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  • That person."
  • 00:03:14.743 --> 00:03:16.078
  • "god, let your freedom come to the people.
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  • Let liberty come, spiritual freedom come."
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  • Only god can do that.
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  • Amen.
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  • We've--yeah, i'm gonna waste my minutes on my sermon.
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  • I wanna pray for iran.
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  • Can we do that?
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  • Father, i thank you.
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  • I thank you for the message today, for the message--the word
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  • That the pastors brought and the heart they had for the people,
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  • And i thank you for a wide and effectual door for the
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  • Proclamation of the gospel that no person can close.
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  • But, lord, i pray beyond that that you would intervene to turn
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  • Back the darkness, the principalities and powers that
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  • Have incubated hate and violence and murder, terror and fear
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  • And oppression.
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  • May there be a breathe--a breath--a breeze of freedom come
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  • Or not political freedom but spiritual freedom.
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  • Raise up voices to stand for the truth.
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  • Lord, may your name be altered, may your name be honored, may
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  • Your name be welcomed in places where it's not.
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  • We pray for the church, for the believers, father.
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  • Give them wisdom beyond themselves.
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  • May there be a season where they'll be able to worship in
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  • The public, to share a message, father, without fear
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  • Of reprisal.
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  • We thank you for it.
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  • I pray for our young men and women that you would protect
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  • Them and for our leaders to make decisions that would honor you.
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  • Lord, only you know, but i thank you that you do.
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  • In jesus's name, amen.
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  • Hallelujah. [congregation applauding]
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  • I'll tell you something i know for certain.
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  • I talk on a regular basis to leaders of the church around the
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  • Earth and they say america--the place america takes is essential
  • 00:04:58.814 --> 00:05:04.686
  • To their imagination of next, and i say you need to pray for
  • 00:05:04.686 --> 00:05:09.925
  • The church in america.
  • 00:05:09.925 --> 00:05:12.861
  • But god is moving, folks.
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  • What's our topic?
  • 00:05:15.530 --> 00:05:16.865
  • How we're gonna finish the race and the challenge of our faith.
  • 00:05:16.865 --> 00:05:19.668
  • The first verse in hebrews chapter 11 is not in your notes,
  • 00:05:19.668 --> 00:05:22.704
  • But it's the--chapter 11 of hebrews is the hall of fame.
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  • It's the recounting of these remarkable men and women of
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  • Faith and their exploits through the centuries, and that first
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  • Verse says faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain
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  • Of what we don't see.
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  • It seems like a paradox.
  • 00:05:37.152 --> 00:05:39.488
  • How can you be certain of something you don't see?
  • 00:05:39.488 --> 00:05:42.724
  • Well, that's what faith is.
  • 00:05:42.724 --> 00:05:44.793
  • And we've been called to lead lives of faith, to have a
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  • Certainty about things that are not anchored in the physical
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  • Material world.
  • 00:05:51.700 --> 00:05:53.068
  • Now, my academic background in college at least began in the
  • 00:05:53.068 --> 00:05:55.604
  • Basic sciences.
  • 00:05:55.604 --> 00:05:56.972
  • So physical things, measurable things, quantitative things,
  • 00:05:56.972 --> 00:05:59.975
  • They matter to me.
  • 00:05:59.975 --> 00:06:02.444
  • I like equations that balance and, you know, i--but faith is
  • 00:06:02.444 --> 00:06:07.916
  • The stuff that we're required--in order to please god
  • 00:06:07.916 --> 00:06:10.218
  • The bible says you have to have faith.
  • 00:06:10.218 --> 00:06:12.921
  • And i think we're in a season where god is inviting his
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  • Church, and by that i don't mean a single congregation, church
  • 00:06:15.557 --> 00:06:18.059
  • With a capital c, to a different place.
  • 00:06:18.059 --> 00:06:21.596
  • It's easy to say faith is being certain of what we don't see,
  • 00:06:21.596 --> 00:06:24.099
  • But it's not easy to live that out, or it isn't for me.
  • 00:06:24.099 --> 00:06:28.537
  • Even if you have a strong determination to honor the lord,
  • 00:06:28.537 --> 00:06:31.873
  • That's not easy because it's gonna put you at odds with the
  • 00:06:31.873 --> 00:06:35.477
  • Majority of the persons around you.
  • 00:06:35.477 --> 00:06:38.513
  • Most people aren't leading faith-based lives.
  • 00:06:38.513 --> 00:06:42.617
  • So maybe we just start by stating the obvious.
  • 00:06:42.617 --> 00:06:45.020
  • We're gonna look at a bunch of scripture.
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  • Please don't panic.
  • 00:06:46.354 --> 00:06:47.722
  • I'm not gonna dwell on very many of those.
  • 00:06:47.722 --> 00:06:50.025
  • I wanted to put more scripture, but this--font got so small i
  • 00:06:50.025 --> 00:06:52.561
  • Couldn't read it so i mercifully stopped.
  • 00:06:52.561 --> 00:06:56.364
  • But maybe we just start by stating the obvious; that
  • 00:06:56.364 --> 00:06:59.000
  • Following god and seeking his best, it isn't simple or easy.
  • 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:05.140
  • It's not that the message of the gospel is complicated.
  • 00:07:05.140 --> 00:07:08.009
  • You can be introduced to jesus of nazareth as lord, christ,
  • 00:07:08.009 --> 00:07:10.946
  • And king.
  • 00:07:10.946 --> 00:07:12.314
  • That is not a particularly complicated or complex concept.
  • 00:07:12.314 --> 00:07:16.184
  • But leading a life of faith, that's not simple and someone
  • 00:07:16.184 --> 00:07:21.256
  • Who tells you it is i don't believe is being genuine.
  • 00:07:21.256 --> 00:07:26.695
  • We're complex persons.
  • 00:07:26.695 --> 00:07:28.029
  • We live in a world embroiled in conflict.
  • 00:07:28.029 --> 00:07:31.266
  • There are angels and demons and spiritual rulers of darkness in
  • 00:07:31.266 --> 00:07:34.703
  • The heavenlies.
  • 00:07:34.703 --> 00:07:37.005
  • An almighty god with his purposes and plans unfolding in
  • 00:07:37.005 --> 00:07:40.175
  • The earth with the help of his angels and his church and his
  • 00:07:40.175 --> 00:07:42.511
  • People giving expression to his light and his truth, that is the
  • 00:07:42.511 --> 00:07:46.181
  • Description of a cosmic conflict and we live in the midst of that
  • 00:07:46.181 --> 00:07:53.388
  • On this side of time in our journey under the sun.
  • 00:07:53.388 --> 00:07:57.459
  • We've been talking about spiritual gifts a bit and all
  • 00:07:57.459 --> 00:07:59.895
  • The gifts that god brings to our lives, but the purpose of all of
  • 00:07:59.895 --> 00:08:03.164
  • Those things is so that we can finish the race.
  • 00:08:03.164 --> 00:08:06.568
  • I promise you you won't finish well without god's help.
  • 00:08:06.568 --> 00:08:11.206
  • So they're not like options to be considered or theological
  • 00:08:11.206 --> 00:08:13.975
  • Nuances that are somehow additions to the essential
  • 00:08:13.975 --> 00:08:17.279
  • Nature of who we are.
  • 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:18.613
  • We need all the help god gives us.
  • 00:08:18.613 --> 00:08:20.415
  • What i'm gonna suggest is we have to develop a new
  • 00:08:20.415 --> 00:08:22.250
  • Imagination of faith and faithfulness, and i say that
  • 00:08:22.250 --> 00:08:27.856
  • Just as an observation.
  • 00:08:27.856 --> 00:08:30.258
  • We are watching one of the most precipitous declines of
  • 00:08:30.258 --> 00:08:33.128
  • Christian influence in the history of the church, the heads
  • 00:08:33.128 --> 00:08:38.166
  • Of teachers' unions saying they should have more authority over
  • 00:08:38.166 --> 00:08:40.969
  • Children than parents.
  • 00:08:40.969 --> 00:08:42.470
  • That's absurd.
  • 00:08:42.470 --> 00:08:44.940
  • You don't need a phd in education to go, "i don't
  • 00:08:44.940 --> 00:08:47.475
  • Think so."
  • 00:08:47.475 --> 00:08:49.578
  • And yet we're kind of reluctant to push back on some of
  • 00:08:49.578 --> 00:08:53.615
  • Those ideas.
  • 00:08:53.615 --> 00:08:55.684
  • I read this week of a pastor, a great deal of influence had done
  • 00:08:55.684 --> 00:08:58.153
  • 50 same-sex marriages on a major american college campus and it
  • 00:08:58.153 --> 00:09:01.756
  • Was being celebrated within his denomination.
  • 00:09:01.756 --> 00:09:03.592
  • I go, "that's not christianity."
  • 00:09:03.592 --> 00:09:07.128
  • I don't care what language you wrap it in.
  • 00:09:07.128 --> 00:09:09.831
  • What theo--it just--it stands a part of the orthodox
  • 00:09:09.831 --> 00:09:12.901
  • Presentation of scripture.
  • 00:09:12.901 --> 00:09:14.469
  • Well, we're living in that season.
  • 00:09:14.469 --> 00:09:15.837
  • So there's a response needed from the people of god, and
  • 00:09:15.837 --> 00:09:18.673
  • We've been saying, "well, i'm --i'm born again, and i'm very
  • 00:09:18.673 --> 00:09:21.643
  • Grateful for that."
  • 00:09:21.643 --> 00:09:23.011
  • It's essential.
  • 00:09:23.011 --> 00:09:24.346
  • It's absolutely essential, but the response beyond that--i
  • 00:09:24.346 --> 00:09:28.183
  • Don't think we'll any longer be able to insulate ourselves if
  • 00:09:28.183 --> 00:09:31.820
  • All we have is tepid, lukewarm christianity.
  • 00:09:31.820 --> 00:09:37.192
  • I don't think it's adequate for the opportunities that are
  • 00:09:37.192 --> 00:09:39.494
  • Before us.
  • 00:09:39.494 --> 00:09:40.862
  • I believe it's gonna take a more courageous faith, faith
  • 00:09:40.862 --> 00:09:43.164
  • Expressed in our homes.
  • 00:09:43.164 --> 00:09:45.333
  • Like, from the inside out, it starts in our hearts and then in
  • 00:09:45.333 --> 00:09:47.535
  • Our homes and from there it's gonna radiate beyond.
  • 00:09:47.535 --> 00:09:49.738
  • You say, "well, my home's not perfect."
  • 00:09:49.738 --> 00:09:52.040
  • None of ours are.
  • 00:09:52.040 --> 00:09:53.708
  • There's no perfect home.
  • 00:09:53.708 --> 00:09:56.378
  • The only home you think is perfect you just don't know
  • 00:09:56.378 --> 00:09:58.013
  • Enough about 'cause houses are filled with people and people
  • 00:09:58.013 --> 00:10:04.152
  • Have warts.
  • 00:10:04.152 --> 00:10:05.487
  • Think of the ones you live with.
  • 00:10:05.487 --> 00:10:06.855
  • Don't look at them right now.
  • 00:10:06.855 --> 00:10:08.223
  • That would not--it's the same mistake we make about church.
  • 00:10:08.223 --> 00:10:12.327
  • We think churches are like halls of fame of people--no, no, no.
  • 00:10:12.327 --> 00:10:15.764
  • We're the triage unit.
  • 00:10:15.764 --> 00:10:18.333
  • We limp in here and somebody tapes up our ankles so we can go
  • 00:10:18.333 --> 00:10:21.036
  • Back out there for another week.
  • 00:10:21.036 --> 00:10:25.774
  • In fact, look at the person on your left, say, "look like you
  • 00:10:25.774 --> 00:10:27.509
  • Need your ankles taped."
  • 00:10:27.509 --> 00:10:30.845
  • Maybe you shouldn't.
  • 00:10:30.845 --> 00:10:32.180
  • I don't know if that's really good or not.
  • 00:10:32.180 --> 00:10:34.683
  • You know, somebody sent me a little video this week of
  • 00:10:34.683 --> 00:10:36.751
  • John rich.
  • 00:10:36.751 --> 00:10:38.086
  • You know the country singer?
  • 00:10:38.086 --> 00:10:39.721
  • I like john. he's a friend.
  • 00:10:39.721 --> 00:10:42.424
  • I mean, casual friend, but--i don't often go to john for
  • 00:10:42.424 --> 00:10:44.926
  • Theology, but i may more often.
  • 00:10:44.926 --> 00:10:46.361
  • They sent me this little piece, and he was doing an interview
  • 00:10:46.361 --> 00:10:48.997
  • And he was talking about eschatology the end of the age.
  • 00:10:48.997 --> 00:10:54.502
  • And there's some room for diversity of opinion in there,
  • 00:10:54.502 --> 00:10:56.971
  • But there's no room for diversity of preparation.
  • 00:10:56.971 --> 00:10:59.140
  • And john said there's too many people that are just waiting to
  • 00:10:59.140 --> 00:11:01.776
  • Get raptured out, so they think that's gonna solve all their
  • 00:11:01.776 --> 00:11:04.112
  • Problems so they're not doing anything to be prepared.
  • 00:11:04.112 --> 00:11:07.449
  • They're not prepared with the discernment to be able to
  • 00:11:07.449 --> 00:11:09.384
  • Overcome deception.
  • 00:11:09.384 --> 00:11:10.719
  • They're not prepared as overcomers to overcome
  • 00:11:10.719 --> 00:11:12.454
  • Expressions of evil because they've embraced a theology that
  • 00:11:12.454 --> 00:11:15.290
  • Says, "i'm getting airlifted out of here before anything
  • 00:11:15.290 --> 00:11:17.025
  • Gets bad."
  • 00:11:17.025 --> 00:11:19.260
  • Well, for the record i want out of here on the first load up,
  • 00:11:19.260 --> 00:11:23.765
  • But also for the record i intend to prepare myself as a--so i can
  • 00:11:23.765 --> 00:11:26.868
  • Run all the way through the tape.
  • 00:11:26.868 --> 00:11:29.571
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:11:29.571 --> 00:11:33.408
  • And please don't--15 of you come to the altar after service, say,
  • 00:11:33.408 --> 00:11:36.111
  • "okay, which one are you, pre, post, or mid?"
  • 00:11:36.111 --> 00:11:40.715
  • That's not the point.
  • 00:11:40.715 --> 00:11:43.118
  • We've been looking for convenient theology to make our
  • 00:11:43.118 --> 00:11:45.720
  • Lives simpler and not how to be more fruitful.
  • 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:51.760
  • Allen: hey, i have a suggestion.
  • 00:11:55.430 --> 00:11:56.798
  • Let's stop waiting for somebody else to be a better leader.
  • 00:11:56.798 --> 00:11:59.200
  • Let's determine this year to lead with faith.
  • 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:01.703
  • I've written a book to help.
  • 00:12:01.703 --> 00:12:03.071
  • It's a practical collection of tools that you and i can use the
  • 00:12:03.071 --> 00:12:06.474
  • Influence of our lives; faith first in the marketplace, in our
  • 00:12:06.474 --> 00:12:10.311
  • Homes, with our friends.
  • 00:12:10.311 --> 00:12:11.679
  • Folks, it's time for us to stop waiting for somebody else to
  • 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:14.382
  • Step forward.
  • 00:12:14.382 --> 00:12:15.750
  • Let's determine to lead with faith.
  • 00:12:15.750 --> 00:12:17.318
  • We can do that and, i believe, we can change our homes, our
  • 00:12:17.318 --> 00:12:20.388
  • Neighborhoods, our churches, maybe even our nation.
  • 00:12:20.388 --> 00:12:23.525
  • Female announcer: choosing to lead with faith starts with
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  • A simple decision to be intentional right where you are.
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  • In his new book "lead with faith," pastor allen shares
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  • Biblical insight and practical tools to help you live out your
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  • Faith in meaningful ways every day.
  • 00:12:35.737 --> 00:12:38.640
  • This book will encourage you to stand for truth with wisdom,
  • 00:12:38.640 --> 00:12:41.843
  • Clarity, and courage without waiting for someone else to
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  • Go first.
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  • Request "lead with faith" with your gift of $30 or more at
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  • Allenjackson.com or call...
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  • Announcer: we are committed to helping you grow in your faith
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  • And have tools for your journey no matter your schedule.
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  • Everything happening here with
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  • Allen jackson ministries.
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  • Allen: so i wanna do something in these--this session and
  • 00:13:25.854 --> 00:13:27.989
  • The next.
  • 00:13:27.989 --> 00:13:29.324
  • This one we're gonna look at the apostle paul.
  • 00:13:29.324 --> 00:13:31.092
  • In the next one, we're gonna look at jesus.
  • 00:13:31.092 --> 00:13:33.394
  • Paul's a hero of mine.
  • 00:13:33.394 --> 00:13:35.830
  • The fruitfulness of his life is stunning to me, and he had a
  • 00:13:35.830 --> 00:13:40.535
  • Very, very bad beginning.
  • 00:13:40.535 --> 00:13:43.137
  • He had every reason to be sidelined you can imagine
  • 00:13:43.137 --> 00:13:45.440
  • And--really what sparked this for me was our reading
  • 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:49.477
  • This week.
  • 00:13:49.477 --> 00:13:51.279
  • I try to read a day or two ahead.
  • 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.947
  • And i'd already planned what i intended the weekend's messaging
  • 00:13:52.947 --> 00:13:56.284
  • To be and i was doing our reading and i could--sometimes
  • 00:13:56.284 --> 00:13:59.988
  • I read it and i can't get the volume down on it in my head.
  • 00:13:59.988 --> 00:14:05.793
  • And so i restructured the weekend, and it's really
  • 00:14:05.793 --> 00:14:09.130
  • A little--it's a little snippet from nearing the end of
  • 00:14:09.130 --> 00:14:12.000
  • Paul's life.
  • 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:13.368
  • So he's not saul of tarsus any longer.
  • 00:14:13.368 --> 00:14:15.103
  • He's very much the apostle paul.
  • 00:14:15.103 --> 00:14:18.072
  • They're the final chapters of his story in scripture.
  • 00:14:18.072 --> 00:14:20.642
  • He's not a beginner, he's an overcomer by this point.
  • 00:14:20.642 --> 00:14:23.745
  • And there's two things that we're gonna focus on.
  • 00:14:23.745 --> 00:14:25.880
  • Paul, he said was compelled by the spirit of god to get back
  • 00:14:25.880 --> 00:14:28.683
  • To jerusalem.
  • 00:14:28.683 --> 00:14:30.551
  • He's on another one of his journeys out around the
  • 00:14:30.551 --> 00:14:32.320
  • Mediterranean and there's an urgency in him.
  • 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:35.523
  • You can't hide it in the text that he's--"i'm compelled," his
  • 00:14:35.523 --> 00:14:39.394
  • Word, not mine, "to get back to jerusalem."
  • 00:14:39.394 --> 00:14:43.531
  • And then we know because of his larger story that he's also
  • 00:14:43.531 --> 00:14:46.067
  • Destined to go to rome.
  • 00:14:46.067 --> 00:14:49.003
  • I'm thinking if i'm compelled by the spirit and destined by god's
  • 00:14:49.003 --> 00:14:53.274
  • Call, those are two things i'm gonna raise my hand and say i'm
  • 00:14:53.274 --> 00:14:55.410
  • Up for.
  • 00:14:55.410 --> 00:14:57.211
  • If you knew that you were compelled by the spirit of god
  • 00:14:57.211 --> 00:15:00.782
  • And destined for an assignment, how many of you would
  • 00:15:00.782 --> 00:15:03.184
  • Say, "okay?"
  • 00:15:03.184 --> 00:15:05.553
  • Well, i can tell you paul is gonna tell us he's compelled by
  • 00:15:05.553 --> 00:15:08.156
  • The spirit of god to get to jerusalem and then that he is
  • 00:15:08.156 --> 00:15:11.526
  • Destined to be in rome, and i want you to fo--make this
  • 00:15:11.526 --> 00:15:14.996
  • Journey with him.
  • 00:15:14.996 --> 00:15:16.331
  • We're gonna do it together 'cause i'm gonna tell you up
  • 00:15:16.331 --> 00:15:18.666
  • Front it's not what i expect.
  • 00:15:18.666 --> 00:15:22.303
  • It's not what i think.
  • 00:15:22.303 --> 00:15:23.671
  • If god's compelling me to something, i'm expecting him to,
  • 00:15:23.671 --> 00:15:25.974
  • Like, go before me like a big bulldozer, an earthmover, make
  • 00:15:25.974 --> 00:15:32.213
  • The paths level.
  • 00:15:32.213 --> 00:15:35.016
  • We've got a verse of scripture engraved in the glass in the
  • 00:15:35.016 --> 00:15:39.887
  • Office area that says, "remove the stones and make a way for
  • 00:15:39.887 --> 00:15:42.657
  • My people."
  • 00:15:42.657 --> 00:15:44.025
  • I'm like, "god, move the stones."
  • 00:15:44.025 --> 00:15:47.228
  • And god sometimes says to me, "here's a shovel."
  • 00:15:47.228 --> 00:15:50.932
  • I'm all like, "oh, i rebuke you."
  • 00:15:50.932 --> 00:15:57.939
  • So here we go.
  • 00:15:57.939 --> 00:15:59.273
  • We're gonna go to jerusalem first.
  • 00:15:59.273 --> 00:16:00.641
  • Acts 20 and verse 22.
  • 00:16:00.641 --> 00:16:02.243
  • If you've been doing the readings with us, and i hope you
  • 00:16:02.243 --> 00:16:03.978
  • Are--if you're behind, come on.
  • 00:16:03.978 --> 00:16:06.080
  • If you haven't started, let's go.
  • 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:09.017
  • It'll change your faith as much as any single thing i know,
  • 00:16:09.017 --> 00:16:13.054
  • A daily bible-reading.
  • 00:16:13.054 --> 00:16:14.422
  • Acts 20 and verse 22, "and now, compelled by the spirit--"
  • 00:16:14.422 --> 00:16:17.525
  • Paul's in ephesus.
  • 00:16:17.525 --> 00:16:19.293
  • He's actually on a mediterranean cruise.
  • 00:16:19.293 --> 00:16:23.197
  • I mean, he's visi--you can almost--you can repeat the
  • 00:16:23.197 --> 00:16:25.033
  • Cruise these days if you want to.
  • 00:16:25.033 --> 00:16:27.268
  • He said, "now i'm compelled by the spirit, i'm going to
  • 00:16:27.268 --> 00:16:29.604
  • Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
  • 00:16:29.604 --> 00:16:32.540
  • I only know that in every city the holy spirit warns me that
  • 00:16:32.540 --> 00:16:36.611
  • Prisons and hardships are facing me.
  • 00:16:36.611 --> 00:16:39.213
  • However, i consider my life worth nothing to me, if only i
  • 00:16:39.213 --> 00:16:43.284
  • May finish the race and complete the task the lord jesus has
  • 00:16:43.284 --> 00:16:45.953
  • Given me, the task of testifying to the gospel of god's grace."
  • 00:16:45.953 --> 00:16:50.758
  • You gotta step back.
  • 00:16:50.758 --> 00:16:52.126
  • I know it's in the bible and we read it and go,
  • 00:16:52.126 --> 00:16:53.728
  • "oh, isn't that sweet?"
  • 00:16:53.728 --> 00:16:55.496
  • But paul said, "i'm compelled by the spirit of god to go to
  • 00:16:55.496 --> 00:16:58.299
  • Jerusalem, but every city that i stop in, every port of call," he
  • 00:16:58.299 --> 00:17:05.440
  • Said, "the holy spirit warns me that prison and hardships are
  • 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:08.676
  • Facing me."
  • 00:17:08.676 --> 00:17:16.284
  • Well, could anybody said reroute, maybe not a good time
  • 00:17:16.284 --> 00:17:22.523
  • To travel that direction?
  • 00:17:22.523 --> 00:17:25.793
  • We're going on a tour of israel in june.
  • 00:17:25.793 --> 00:17:28.029
  • I've been asked, oh, i don't know, 200 times, "are you
  • 00:17:28.029 --> 00:17:30.298
  • Still going?"
  • 00:17:30.298 --> 00:17:35.069
  • The airport is open.
  • 00:17:35.069 --> 00:17:36.437
  • As far as i know, we're traveling.
  • 00:17:36.437 --> 00:17:39.307
  • But paul said--this isn't just anxious people.
  • 00:17:39.307 --> 00:17:43.211
  • It's not the state department.
  • 00:17:43.211 --> 00:17:44.545
  • He said, "the spirit of god tells me that hardships and
  • 00:17:44.545 --> 00:17:48.649
  • Prison is in front of me, but i have to go."
  • 00:17:48.649 --> 00:17:54.088
  • We don't live with that kind of faith.
  • 00:17:54.088 --> 00:17:56.491
  • We don't like parking too far away.
  • 00:17:56.491 --> 00:17:59.794
  • We get sideways if somebody sits in our spot, if the sermon's too
  • 00:17:59.794 --> 00:18:02.830
  • Long, if the font's too small, if the worship leaders didn't
  • 00:18:02.830 --> 00:18:05.800
  • Sing the song i preferred, if the coffee was too hot or
  • 00:18:05.800 --> 00:18:08.636
  • Too cold.
  • 00:18:08.636 --> 00:18:11.105
  • I mean, i know you don't, but you know somebody like that.
  • 00:18:11.105 --> 00:18:15.543
  • This isn't the kind of christianity.
  • 00:18:15.543 --> 00:18:17.145
  • What i'm suggesting to you is to become the church that impacts
  • 00:18:17.145 --> 00:18:20.748
  • Our world.
  • 00:18:20.748 --> 00:18:22.083
  • We have to recalibrate.
  • 00:18:22.083 --> 00:18:23.451
  • We want the ungodly people to change.
  • 00:18:23.451 --> 00:18:26.521
  • They want everybody else to go be different.
  • 00:18:26.521 --> 00:18:28.890
  • But i believe if god can change the hearts of his people, he'll
  • 00:18:28.890 --> 00:18:32.460
  • Move heaven and earth for his purposes.
  • 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:37.832
  • So what have we learned?
  • 00:18:37.832 --> 00:18:39.200
  • We're not very far into this.
  • 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:40.535
  • Paul's got multiple warnings from the holy spirit prison and
  • 00:18:40.535 --> 00:18:42.436
  • Hardship are in his future and yet his choice, he said, "if
  • 00:18:42.436 --> 00:18:47.175
  • Only i may finish the race and complete the task the lord jesus
  • 00:18:47.175 --> 00:18:50.545
  • Has given me."
  • 00:18:50.545 --> 00:18:52.847
  • What if paul responded like most of the counsel we would receive?
  • 00:18:52.847 --> 00:18:57.251
  • What if paul had said, "i'm not taking that invitation.
  • 00:18:57.251 --> 00:19:01.155
  • After all, i don't believe in works.
  • 00:19:01.155 --> 00:19:02.590
  • I'm saved by grace.
  • 00:19:02.590 --> 00:19:06.928
  • I'm saved by faith alone, so me going to jerusalem doesn't
  • 00:19:06.928 --> 00:19:10.631
  • Really matter after all.
  • 00:19:10.631 --> 00:19:12.967
  • I can go to jerusalem another time."
  • 00:19:12.967 --> 00:19:14.602
  • And i'm not recruiting for an israel trip, it just happens to
  • 00:19:14.602 --> 00:19:16.370
  • Be where paul's going.
  • 00:19:16.370 --> 00:19:19.106
  • But i think we tend to look at the challenges in our lives or
  • 00:19:19.106 --> 00:19:21.943
  • The invitations god puts before us and if they seem to have
  • 00:19:21.943 --> 00:19:25.346
  • Difficulty or hardship or cost or all those things wrapped up
  • 00:19:25.346 --> 00:19:30.284
  • In them we're going, "well, you know, i'm--after all, i know
  • 00:19:30.284 --> 00:19:33.788
  • That i'm right with the lord."
  • 00:19:33.788 --> 00:19:37.725
  • We know from the larger counsel of scripture you can't be right
  • 00:19:37.725 --> 00:19:40.328
  • With the lord and decline all of his invitations.
  • 00:19:40.328 --> 00:19:44.899
  • I'm not suggesting we work our way to heaven.
  • 00:19:44.899 --> 00:19:46.500
  • You know better.
  • 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:48.402
  • I'm telling you there's something to be learned from
  • 00:19:48.402 --> 00:19:50.104
  • Paul's response.
  • 00:19:50.104 --> 00:19:51.472
  • In fact, i wanna give you that invitation today.
  • 00:19:51.472 --> 00:19:53.708
  • I know it's the wrong time in the sermon for the invitation so
  • 00:19:53.708 --> 00:19:56.277
  • There'll be another one, but we're gonna get one right now.
  • 00:19:56.277 --> 00:19:59.280
  • How many of us would be willing to say we want to accept and
  • 00:19:59.280 --> 00:20:03.351
  • Complete the task that the lord has given us?
  • 00:20:03.351 --> 00:20:07.588
  • I tell you i'm all over that.
  • 00:20:07.588 --> 00:20:10.291
  • I wanna to fulfill what god created me for and i'm not
  • 00:20:10.291 --> 00:20:14.295
  • Demanding that it be easy or comfortable or convenient.
  • 00:20:14.295 --> 00:20:18.032
  • I'm not saying, "lord, i'll only take assignments that are yellow
  • 00:20:18.032 --> 00:20:20.334
  • Brick roads that have cotton candy and jelly beans.
  • 00:20:20.334 --> 00:20:24.305
  • God, i wanna fulfill what you created me for.
  • 00:20:24.305 --> 00:20:28.442
  • I want you to be able to say, 'well done,' without having to
  • 00:20:28.442 --> 00:20:30.344
  • Grade on a curve."
  • 00:20:30.344 --> 00:20:32.647
  • I don't want a social promotion.
  • 00:20:32.647 --> 00:20:35.049
  • Again, i'm not suggesting we earn the grace of god.
  • 00:20:35.049 --> 00:20:37.318
  • You don't earn grace.
  • 00:20:37.318 --> 00:20:38.686
  • It's impossible.
  • 00:20:38.686 --> 00:20:40.021
  • Grace isn't merit-based.
  • 00:20:40.021 --> 00:20:41.555
  • But i'm telling you we can make choices on a very regular basis
  • 00:20:41.555 --> 00:20:44.859
  • If we will lay down our lives to serve the lord.
  • 00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:47.962
  • So i wanna give you that opportunity.
  • 00:20:47.962 --> 00:20:49.330
  • We don't have to go--you don't have to have 14 scriptures to
  • 00:20:49.330 --> 00:20:51.098
  • Make this choice.
  • 00:20:51.098 --> 00:20:52.933
  • If you're here and--we're not gonna turn the cameras on you.
  • 00:20:52.933 --> 00:20:56.404
  • So i--it's a serious thing to make a commitment to the lord.
  • 00:20:56.404 --> 00:21:01.475
  • But if you would say to the lord, "i wanna fulfill what you
  • 00:21:01.475 --> 00:21:03.744
  • Created me for," whatever that means, "i wanna make that mark
  • 00:21:03.744 --> 00:21:09.016
  • On the wall tonight."
  • 00:21:09.016 --> 00:21:10.384
  • I'm just gonna ask you to stand really quickly.
  • 00:21:10.384 --> 00:21:11.719
  • I'm gonna pray.
  • 00:21:11.719 --> 00:21:13.087
  • Whichever sanctuary--if you're at home, you gotta stand
  • 00:21:13.087 --> 00:21:14.422
  • Back up.
  • 00:21:14.422 --> 00:21:15.790
  • I'm interrupting your big mac now.
  • 00:21:15.790 --> 00:21:17.124
  • I know.
  • 00:21:17.124 --> 00:21:18.826
  • Look at us.
  • 00:21:18.826 --> 00:21:22.096
  • Jesus left 11 and they changed the world.
  • 00:21:22.096 --> 00:21:23.964
  • We ought to really cause a problem.
  • 00:21:23.964 --> 00:21:27.234
  • We ought to really cause a problem for the kingdom
  • 00:21:27.234 --> 00:21:29.136
  • Of darkness.
  • 00:21:29.136 --> 00:21:31.072
  • Father, we read your word and we heard the statement and now we
  • 00:21:31.072 --> 00:21:34.709
  • Stand in your presence to say we too wanna complete what you've
  • 00:21:34.709 --> 00:21:38.612
  • Called us for.
  • 00:21:38.612 --> 00:21:40.614
  • We wanna finish our race.
  • 00:21:40.614 --> 00:21:42.583
  • We wanna run well.
  • 00:21:42.583 --> 00:21:44.385
  • Lord, we wanna a determination led by your spirit to overcome
  • 00:21:44.385 --> 00:21:48.689
  • Every obstacle, every challenge, every threat, every hurdle,
  • 00:21:48.689 --> 00:21:52.860
  • Every disappointment, every heartbreak.
  • 00:21:52.860 --> 00:21:56.030
  • Lord, i thank you that you were able to keep us and to restore
  • 00:21:56.030 --> 00:22:00.901
  • And renew and heal, and we stand in your presence to say here
  • 00:22:00.901 --> 00:22:04.438
  • We are.
  • 00:22:04.438 --> 00:22:06.040
  • Lord, use our lives.
  • 00:22:06.040 --> 00:22:08.042
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:22:08.042 --> 00:22:11.545
  • You better give yourselves a hand on that.
  • 00:22:11.545 --> 00:22:12.980
  • That's amazing. [congregation applauding]
  • 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:17.017
  • It's amazing.
  • 00:22:17.017 --> 00:22:18.352
  • You can have a seat.
  • 00:22:18.352 --> 00:22:19.720
  • You know, we don't have to pray till you get emotional.
  • 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:21.822
  • Makes me nervous when i'm making big decisions and the people
  • 00:22:21.822 --> 00:22:23.824
  • Around the table are crying.
  • 00:22:23.824 --> 00:22:26.394
  • You know, if you're closing a loan on a new house and the
  • 00:22:26.394 --> 00:22:28.295
  • Lawyers start crying, i'd probably leave.
  • 00:22:28.295 --> 00:22:33.401
  • We can make serious decisions with the lord without having to
  • 00:22:33.401 --> 00:22:35.503
  • Be swept along by that.
  • 00:22:35.503 --> 00:22:37.104
  • Acts chapter 21.
  • 00:22:37.104 --> 00:22:38.439
  • Next chapter.
  • 00:22:38.439 --> 00:22:39.774
  • "leaving the next day, we reached caesarea and stayed at
  • 00:22:39.774 --> 00:22:41.742
  • The house of philip the evangelist, one of the seven."
  • 00:22:41.742 --> 00:22:45.446
  • That's all possible 'cause philip heard this great series
  • 00:22:45.446 --> 00:22:49.483
  • On let's eat and he's practicing hospitality.
  • 00:22:49.483 --> 00:22:54.188
  • So he lets the apostle paul into his house.
  • 00:22:54.188 --> 00:22:56.524
  • "he had four unmarried daughters," he may have had
  • 00:22:56.524 --> 00:22:58.826
  • A motive, "who prophesized.
  • 00:22:58.826 --> 00:23:01.228
  • And after we'd been there a number of days, a prophet named
  • 00:23:01.228 --> 00:23:03.497
  • Agabus came from judea.
  • 00:23:03.497 --> 00:23:04.865
  • And he came over to us, and he took paul's belt and he tied his
  • 00:23:04.865 --> 00:23:07.134
  • Hands and his feet and he said, 'the holy spirit says, 'in this
  • 00:23:07.134 --> 00:23:10.104
  • Way the jews of jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and
  • 00:23:10.104 --> 00:23:13.774
  • Will hand him over to the gentiles.''"
  • 00:23:13.774 --> 00:23:16.243
  • The new testament only has
  • 00:23:16.243 --> 00:23:17.611
  • Two people groups: the jews and everybody else.
  • 00:23:17.611 --> 00:23:21.182
  • And this is well into paul's ministry, and he's bound for--a
  • 00:23:21.182 --> 00:23:26.053
  • Prophet comes and takes his own belt and ties him, and he said,
  • 00:23:26.053 --> 00:23:29.557
  • "when you get to jerusalem, this is what'll happen to you."
  • 00:23:29.557 --> 00:23:33.594
  • Of course paul says, "well, in that case, i'm not going."
  • 00:23:33.594 --> 00:23:39.500
  • "and when he heard this, we and the people there pleaded with
  • 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:42.703
  • Paul not to go up to jerusalem.
  • 00:23:42.703 --> 00:23:45.005
  • And paul answered, 'why are you weeping and breaking my heart?
  • 00:23:45.005 --> 00:23:48.309
  • I'm ready not only to be bound, but also to die in jerusalem for
  • 00:23:48.309 --> 00:23:51.045
  • The name of the lord jesus.'"
  • 00:23:51.045 --> 00:23:53.013
  • Cancel culture is not new, folks.
  • 00:23:53.013 --> 00:23:56.083
  • Being left off invitation list isn't new.
  • 00:23:56.083 --> 00:23:59.320
  • Having people talk about your family 'cause your family's less
  • 00:23:59.320 --> 00:24:01.589
  • Than perfect but you keep saying, "we're christians and
  • 00:24:01.589 --> 00:24:03.491
  • We're trying to work this out," that's not a new thing.
  • 00:24:03.491 --> 00:24:07.461
  • All the struggles that come with our lives and the enemy that
  • 00:24:07.461 --> 00:24:09.864
  • Gets in your ear and say, "well, if you were a good
  • 00:24:09.864 --> 00:24:11.832
  • Christian--" nonsense.
  • 00:24:11.832 --> 00:24:16.470
  • Nonsense.
  • 00:24:16.470 --> 00:24:18.906
  • Paul's an apostle.
  • 00:24:18.906 --> 00:24:21.375
  • Multiple--god does extraordinary miracles through the hand of
  • 00:24:21.375 --> 00:24:24.311
  • Paul and yet paul is walking into the teeth of--the belly of
  • 00:24:24.311 --> 00:24:29.083
  • The beast through multiple warnings.
  • 00:24:29.083 --> 00:24:35.155
  • Don't you know there was an enormous chorus of people going,
  • 00:24:35.155 --> 00:24:38.058
  • "i told you so.
  • 00:24:38.058 --> 00:24:40.528
  • I was in that meeting.
  • 00:24:40.528 --> 00:24:41.862
  • He knew.
  • 00:24:41.862 --> 00:24:43.230
  • He's just stubborn.
  • 00:24:43.230 --> 00:24:44.698
  • You know how he is.
  • 00:24:44.698 --> 00:24:46.567
  • You know, he was a pharisee.
  • 00:24:46.567 --> 00:24:47.935
  • Did you know paul was a pharisee?
  • 00:24:47.935 --> 00:24:49.270
  • He was an angry pharisee.
  • 00:24:49.270 --> 00:24:51.572
  • He's had an anger problem ever since he was a young man.
  • 00:24:51.572 --> 00:24:55.175
  • I know this family.
  • 00:24:55.175 --> 00:24:56.510
  • He arrested them back in the day.
  • 00:24:56.510 --> 00:24:58.979
  • They've forgotten, but i haven't forgotten he had a real
  • 00:24:58.979 --> 00:25:01.015
  • Anger problem.
  • 00:25:01.015 --> 00:25:02.383
  • He must have had an anger problem.
  • 00:25:02.383 --> 00:25:03.717
  • He wouldn't listen."
  • 00:25:03.717 --> 00:25:05.819
  • Folks, there were all sorts of reels in social media
  • 00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:08.956
  • Complaining about paul going to jerusalem.
  • 00:25:08.956 --> 00:25:14.995
  • We are not unique.
  • 00:25:14.995 --> 00:25:19.466
  • He said, "i have to go.
  • 00:25:19.466 --> 00:25:21.235
  • Stop breaking my heart.
  • 00:25:21.235 --> 00:25:23.137
  • If i die there, i die there, but the lord told me to go."
  • 00:25:23.137 --> 00:25:27.675
  • I believe all the messaging around it was so the people
  • 00:25:27.675 --> 00:25:30.010
  • Would understand; the people that knew him and loved him and
  • 00:25:30.010 --> 00:25:32.079
  • Cared about him, that when he got to jerusalem and they heard
  • 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:34.415
  • The message they wouldn't go, "well, i wonder if
  • 00:25:34.415 --> 00:25:36.383
  • He overstepped.
  • 00:25:36.383 --> 00:25:39.853
  • He just couldn't be quiet, could he?
  • 00:25:39.853 --> 00:25:43.057
  • He could have stayed in ephesus."
  • 00:25:43.057 --> 00:25:45.693
  • I believe all the messaging was for the people who loved him and
  • 00:25:45.693 --> 00:25:47.995
  • Would pray for him to know god sent him there.
  • 00:25:47.995 --> 00:25:50.164
  • He said to them, "i am compelled by the spirit of god to go."
  • 00:25:50.164 --> 00:25:56.003
  • And god in his mercy said it's not gonna be easy.
  • 00:25:56.003 --> 00:25:59.773
  • So paul would understand when he got there and the difficulties
  • 00:25:59.773 --> 00:26:02.142
  • Began to percolate.
  • 00:26:02.142 --> 00:26:03.510
  • He hadn't missed it.
  • 00:26:03.510 --> 00:26:04.845
  • He hadn't been misdirected.
  • 00:26:04.845 --> 00:26:06.213
  • He hadn't been misled.
  • 00:26:06.213 --> 00:26:08.148
  • He'd been prepared.
  • 00:26:08.148 --> 00:26:10.517
  • Are you prepared?
  • 00:26:10.517 --> 00:26:13.253
  • Do you know what the bible says that's--what's in front of us?
  • 00:26:13.253 --> 00:26:18.025
  • Allen: hey, i have a question.
  • 00:26:18.025 --> 00:26:19.360
  • Have you ever said, "i wish my pastor would lead with more
  • 00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:22.196
  • Courage," or, "i wish my pastor would address what's happening
  • 00:26:22.196 --> 00:26:25.199
  • In the world with greater boldness?"
  • 00:26:25.199 --> 00:26:27.668
  • Folks, we can't change other people.
  • 00:26:27.668 --> 00:26:29.136
  • The only person we can ultimately change is ourselves.
  • 00:26:29.136 --> 00:26:31.572
  • I have a suggestion.
  • 00:26:31.572 --> 00:26:32.973
  • What if you and i begin to lead with faith in our own arenas
  • 00:26:32.973 --> 00:26:36.410
  • Of influence?
  • 00:26:36.410 --> 00:26:37.745
  • Well, i've written a book to help with that.
  • 00:26:37.745 --> 00:26:39.113
  • If that seems beyond you or intimidating to you, i believe
  • 00:26:39.113 --> 00:26:42.116
  • This book will help.
  • 00:26:42.116 --> 00:26:43.484
  • It'll give you some practical ways that you and i can begin to
  • 00:26:43.484 --> 00:26:46.086
  • Lead with faith in the marketplace, in our homes,
  • 00:26:46.086 --> 00:26:49.089
  • With our friends wherever that may be.
  • 00:26:49.089 --> 00:26:51.525
  • We have help in this.
  • 00:26:51.525 --> 00:26:52.993
  • The spirit of god will help us if we have the willingness to
  • 00:26:52.993 --> 00:26:55.929
  • Use our influence for the kingdom of god.
  • 00:26:55.929 --> 00:26:58.565
  • You can get a copy of the book at allenjackson.com.
  • 00:26:58.565 --> 00:27:00.901
  • You can go get your own today, but i wanna pray.
  • 00:27:00.901 --> 00:27:02.970
  • I wanna ask the spirit of god to help you and me lead with faith
  • 00:27:02.970 --> 00:27:06.974
  • This year as never before.
  • 00:27:06.974 --> 00:27:08.942
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:27:08.942 --> 00:27:10.277
  • Heavenly father, we ask for your help.
  • 00:27:10.277 --> 00:27:12.312
  • You have given us strengths and abilities and influence.
  • 00:27:12.312 --> 00:27:14.615
  • May we use it for the glory of your kingdom.
  • 00:27:14.615 --> 00:27:17.151
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:17.151 --> 00:27:19.019
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:19.620 --> 00:27:28.796