1. TBN
  2. Programs
  3. Allen Jackson Ministries
  4. Episodes
  5. Allen Jackson - Culture and Christianity
Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Culture and Christianity

July 21, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Culture and Christianity
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#WordofGod #Government #Military #Prophecy #Family #ChristianScience #Technology #Failure #Truth #Revival

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Culture and Christianity | July 21, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.451
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:01.918 --> 00:00:06.589
  • Allen jackson: you know, i know you know, but we're living in a
  • 00:00:06.689 --> 00:00:08.324
  • Chaotic world.
  • 00:00:08.458 --> 00:00:09.659
  • Things are changing globally.
  • 00:00:09.793 --> 00:00:10.994
  • There's wars, there's threats of war, a lot of stuff happening.
  • 00:00:11.094 --> 00:00:12.162
  • But i wanna make a suggestion.
  • 00:00:15.265 --> 00:00:16.666
  • Don't focus on the negative.
  • 00:00:16.666 --> 00:00:18.234
  • Don't get caught up in the uncertainty.
  • 00:00:18.234 --> 00:00:20.837
  • That'll bring fear, and anxiety, and worry.
  • 00:00:20.837 --> 00:00:23.673
  • It's not helpful.
  • 00:00:23.673 --> 00:00:25.041
  • Let's determine to focus our attention on the lord.
  • 00:00:25.041 --> 00:00:28.211
  • We've created a tool that i believe will make a difference.
  • 00:00:28.211 --> 00:00:30.480
  • It's called, "awaken us."
  • 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:32.115
  • It's a 30-day plan.
  • 00:00:32.115 --> 00:00:33.917
  • Each day is directed at a different topic that's a part of
  • 00:00:33.917 --> 00:00:36.820
  • Our current world.
  • 00:00:36.820 --> 00:00:38.321
  • It gives us a verse of scripture, and a little
  • 00:00:38.321 --> 00:00:39.956
  • Devotional around that topic, and then a prayer for that
  • 00:00:39.956 --> 00:00:42.725
  • Specific thing.
  • 00:00:42.725 --> 00:00:44.160
  • The idea is we're gonna give the holy spirit an invitation to
  • 00:00:44.160 --> 00:00:47.464
  • Awaken us to a new place of faith.
  • 00:00:47.464 --> 00:00:50.733
  • You know, we need an awakening in the midst of the people of
  • 00:00:50.733 --> 00:00:53.570
  • God and we wanna say, "well, i am awake."
  • 00:00:53.570 --> 00:00:55.572
  • Well, i get that but you know, i was awakened yesterday, but this
  • 00:00:55.572 --> 00:00:59.008
  • Morning i was awakened again and my prayer is, tomorrow, i'll be
  • 00:00:59.008 --> 00:01:01.644
  • Awakened yet again.
  • 00:01:01.644 --> 00:01:03.546
  • We need a daily awakening by the spirit of god to find his best
  • 00:01:03.546 --> 00:01:07.617
  • For us in this season.
  • 00:01:07.617 --> 00:01:09.085
  • And i believe this book will help you.
  • 00:01:09.085 --> 00:01:14.924
  • Allen: and we have a special program for you today.
  • 00:01:18.995 --> 00:01:22.031
  • We host an annual conference here at our church, culture
  • 00:01:22.031 --> 00:01:24.667
  • And christianity.
  • 00:01:24.667 --> 00:01:26.069
  • Our goal is to help people learn to lead with their faith.
  • 00:01:26.069 --> 00:01:29.506
  • No matter what our day job is, folks, we gotta
  • 00:01:29.506 --> 00:01:31.441
  • Be faith-forward.
  • 00:01:31.441 --> 00:01:32.976
  • We have a special program today.
  • 00:01:32.976 --> 00:01:34.511
  • Our guest speaker is kirk cameron.
  • 00:01:34.511 --> 00:01:36.212
  • We're gonna hear his presentation at last year's
  • 00:01:36.212 --> 00:01:38.548
  • Culture and christianity conference.
  • 00:01:38.548 --> 00:01:40.817
  • Our conference this year is gonna be september 19 and 20.
  • 00:01:40.817 --> 00:01:44.053
  • I wanna give you a personal invitation to join us.
  • 00:01:44.053 --> 00:01:46.823
  • I believe it will help you take a bolder stand with your faith
  • 00:01:46.823 --> 00:01:50.126
  • In these rather turbulent confusing times.
  • 00:01:50.126 --> 00:01:52.729
  • You can go to the website that's on the screen.
  • 00:01:52.729 --> 00:01:54.631
  • You can see all of last year's presentations, the full list of
  • 00:01:54.631 --> 00:01:57.767
  • Guests for this year's conference.
  • 00:01:57.767 --> 00:02:00.003
  • God is moving in the earth, we wanna be a part of that.
  • 00:02:00.003 --> 00:02:02.639
  • I'll see you at culture and christianity here in tennessee.
  • 00:02:02.639 --> 00:02:05.875
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:02:06.743 --> 00:02:16.686
  • Kirk cameron: good morning friends how are you?
  • 00:02:16.686 --> 00:02:20.490
  • We're talking about "culture and christianity."
  • 00:02:20.490 --> 00:02:24.060
  • And i can't think of anybody that i would rather be listening
  • 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:26.663
  • To about that than pastor allen jackson.
  • 00:02:26.663 --> 00:02:29.332
  • Because he has such wisdom, such fatherly, grandfatherly wisdom
  • 00:02:29.332 --> 00:02:34.370
  • That i benefit from.
  • 00:02:34.370 --> 00:02:36.039
  • He is wind in my sails, he is hope, he is fuel in my tank
  • 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:42.579
  • Because he puts his faith in the word of god.
  • 00:02:42.579 --> 00:02:46.249
  • Not in personalities, not in strategies or tactics as
  • 00:02:46.249 --> 00:02:50.119
  • Important as these things are.
  • 00:02:50.119 --> 00:02:52.188
  • The power is in the gospel to transform the hearts of men, and
  • 00:02:52.188 --> 00:02:56.759
  • Women, and children.
  • 00:02:56.759 --> 00:02:58.194
  • And people with transformed hearts transform their culture.
  • 00:02:58.194 --> 00:03:02.498
  • Female: amen.
  • 00:03:02.498 --> 00:03:04.033
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:03:04.033 --> 00:03:07.136
  • Kirk: as i was thinking about this morning and this
  • 00:03:07.136 --> 00:03:09.772
  • Juxtaposition between christianity and culture,
  • 00:03:09.772 --> 00:03:11.641
  • Culture and christianity, we often pit them
  • 00:03:11.641 --> 00:03:13.509
  • Against one another.
  • 00:03:13.509 --> 00:03:14.844
  • And we think of culture as bad, christianity as good.
  • 00:03:14.844 --> 00:03:18.248
  • Who do you want raising your children?
  • 00:03:18.248 --> 00:03:19.816
  • Culture or christianity?
  • 00:03:19.816 --> 00:03:22.885
  • We think of the two as mutually exclusive, or incompatible, or
  • 00:03:22.885 --> 00:03:27.924
  • At odds with one another and indeed they can be.
  • 00:03:27.924 --> 00:03:31.828
  • In fact, i'm working with a wonderful company called brave
  • 00:03:31.828 --> 00:03:34.497
  • Books, who've been writing these children's books and in one of
  • 00:03:34.497 --> 00:03:36.899
  • Their books they created a character which is a vulture
  • 00:03:36.899 --> 00:03:42.639
  • Named culture.
  • 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:44.941
  • And it seems perfect, right?
  • 00:03:44.941 --> 00:03:46.676
  • And there's this story of the vulture coming up to this
  • 00:03:46.676 --> 00:03:50.513
  • Elephant named kevin.
  • 00:03:50.513 --> 00:03:52.148
  • And kevin is a wonderful elephant who loves to sing, and
  • 00:03:52.148 --> 00:03:55.585
  • He's got this beautiful voice, and he says, "kevin, look at
  • 00:03:55.585 --> 00:03:58.988
  • You," he says.
  • 00:03:58.988 --> 00:04:00.456
  • "you've got a beautiful voice.
  • 00:04:00.456 --> 00:04:02.325
  • Have you ever thought that maybe you shouldn't be an elephant but
  • 00:04:02.325 --> 00:04:05.428
  • You were meant to be a bird?"
  • 00:04:05.428 --> 00:04:08.731
  • And kevin says, "i never thought about that but maybe you're
  • 00:04:08.731 --> 00:04:11.501
  • Right, elephants don't typically sing, the birds are the ones
  • 00:04:11.501 --> 00:04:14.337
  • With the beautiful voices."
  • 00:04:14.337 --> 00:04:15.705
  • And so, culture the vulture straps on this prosthetic beak
  • 00:04:15.705 --> 00:04:19.542
  • And wings and gets kevin to go hang out with the birds.
  • 00:04:19.542 --> 00:04:22.712
  • And he tries to climb up in the branches of the trees, and he
  • 00:04:22.712 --> 00:04:25.915
  • Breaks the branches, falls and hurts himself, and everything
  • 00:04:25.915 --> 00:04:29.185
  • Collapses in kevin's world.
  • 00:04:29.185 --> 00:04:33.389
  • The story turns out great in the end, but culture is
  • 00:04:33.389 --> 00:04:37.927
  • Characterized by a vulture.
  • 00:04:37.927 --> 00:04:40.863
  • And when we think of culture and christianity with a term like
  • 00:04:40.863 --> 00:04:44.934
  • Cultural christianity, that's sort of dismissed as weak, and
  • 00:04:44.934 --> 00:04:48.771
  • Anemic, and a watered down version of the potent stuff.
  • 00:04:48.771 --> 00:04:52.909
  • "oh, it's cultural christianity, you know.
  • 00:04:52.909 --> 00:04:55.545
  • A church on every corner."
  • 00:04:55.545 --> 00:04:57.180
  • "hi--" say, "bless your heart, god bless you."
  • 00:04:57.180 --> 00:05:01.117
  • You know, like that's not something that we aspire to,
  • 00:05:01.117 --> 00:05:05.288
  • Just cultural christianity.
  • 00:05:05.288 --> 00:05:08.658
  • And we think of culture as being such a massive force of
  • 00:05:08.658 --> 00:05:13.229
  • Darkness, like a tsunami wave that's about to drown all of us,
  • 00:05:13.229 --> 00:05:17.367
  • And our children, and their future.
  • 00:05:17.367 --> 00:05:21.471
  • I think we've got to rethink all of this.
  • 00:05:21.471 --> 00:05:24.140
  • But it's difficult to have a positive optimistic view of the
  • 00:05:24.140 --> 00:05:28.911
  • Future when we're looking at things like this happening in
  • 00:05:28.911 --> 00:05:32.348
  • Our culture and we know that america is potentially right on
  • 00:05:32.348 --> 00:05:36.018
  • The--following in the footsteps and on the heels of what we see
  • 00:05:36.018 --> 00:05:39.155
  • Happening in europe.
  • 00:05:39.155 --> 00:05:43.926
  • But i was reading a story this week and it was about president
  • 00:05:43.926 --> 00:05:48.865
  • Ronald reagan who in the 1980s was in a very difficult and
  • 00:05:48.865 --> 00:05:52.869
  • Challenging pressure cooker politically and militarily when
  • 00:05:52.869 --> 00:05:56.873
  • The soviet union was a massive force militarily in the
  • 00:05:56.873 --> 00:06:00.877
  • United states.
  • 00:06:00.877 --> 00:06:02.211
  • During those years of the cold war, we were amassing nuclear
  • 00:06:02.211 --> 00:06:05.014
  • Weapons and we had enough weapons to blow the world up
  • 00:06:05.014 --> 00:06:08.551
  • Seven--several times over.
  • 00:06:08.551 --> 00:06:10.887
  • And the strategy of the day that was embraced by most here in the
  • 00:06:10.887 --> 00:06:17.660
  • United states was something we call detente, and it was the
  • 00:06:17.660 --> 00:06:21.464
  • Shrinking of military arsenals one by one.
  • 00:06:21.464 --> 00:06:25.935
  • You get rid of a bomb, we get rid of a bomb.
  • 00:06:25.935 --> 00:06:27.837
  • You get rid of a nuclear warhead, we'll get rid--and it
  • 00:06:27.837 --> 00:06:30.106
  • Was--and it would ensure a long lasting stalemate between the
  • 00:06:30.106 --> 00:06:34.911
  • Two superpowers.
  • 00:06:34.911 --> 00:06:36.245
  • But at least it was better than the risk of an all-out war.
  • 00:06:36.245 --> 00:06:38.881
  • But president reagan had a different idea.
  • 00:06:38.881 --> 00:06:42.552
  • His motto was, "we win, they lose."
  • 00:06:42.552 --> 00:06:48.090
  • And what he proposed that they do, that we do is that we
  • 00:06:48.090 --> 00:06:53.496
  • Magnify our military might to the point that the people in the
  • 00:06:53.496 --> 00:06:57.667
  • Soviet union would understand that it would be foolishness to
  • 00:06:57.667 --> 00:07:02.705
  • Go up against the united states and its power, and they would
  • 00:07:02.705 --> 00:07:05.775
  • Lose their confidence in the propaganda and the lies being
  • 00:07:05.775 --> 00:07:09.011
  • Given to them by the communist party.
  • 00:07:09.011 --> 00:07:11.247
  • And many here in the united states thought that reagan was
  • 00:07:11.247 --> 00:07:15.585
  • Foolish, that he was reckless and dangerous for wanting to go
  • 00:07:15.585 --> 00:07:19.856
  • Down this route, but guess what?
  • 00:07:19.856 --> 00:07:21.491
  • It worked, it worked.
  • 00:07:21.491 --> 00:07:24.260
  • The soviet union ultimately collapsed and they enjoyed a
  • 00:07:24.260 --> 00:07:29.098
  • Level of freedom that they never thought was possible in
  • 00:07:29.098 --> 00:07:31.534
  • Their lifetime,
  • 00:07:31.534 --> 00:07:33.336
  • Largely because of one man and a group of--a small group of
  • 00:07:33.336 --> 00:07:37.139
  • Supporters who believed it was possible.
  • 00:07:37.139 --> 00:07:40.476
  • He had a vision of victory.
  • 00:07:40.476 --> 00:07:44.614
  • Alfred the great, i told the story the last time i was
  • 00:07:44.614 --> 00:07:47.517
  • Here--in the ninth century ad was up against the vikings in
  • 00:07:47.517 --> 00:07:52.421
  • The kingdom of wessex, butchering and plundering
  • 00:07:52.421 --> 00:07:55.892
  • Everything in his kingdom until he waged battle because he saw
  • 00:07:55.892 --> 00:08:00.796
  • That victory belongs to the lord.
  • 00:08:00.796 --> 00:08:02.732
  • And as a faithful man with a small group of men, he was able
  • 00:08:02.732 --> 00:08:06.335
  • To defeat them and rebuild the kingdom in the image of god,
  • 00:08:06.335 --> 00:08:10.706
  • According to the word of god.
  • 00:08:10.706 --> 00:08:12.141
  • The pilgrims, who came across the the ocean, suffered poverty,
  • 00:08:12.141 --> 00:08:19.348
  • Arrest, storms, sickness, government tyranny--
  • 00:08:19.348 --> 00:08:26.155
  • And yet they somehow maintained the belief that it was possible
  • 00:08:26.155 --> 00:08:29.659
  • To begin a civilization that would one day become a city on a
  • 00:08:29.659 --> 00:08:33.029
  • Hill and a light to the entire world.
  • 00:08:33.029 --> 00:08:36.766
  • You're gonna hear a lot this weekend--this conference that is
  • 00:08:36.766 --> 00:08:40.136
  • Gonna get under your skin, that's gonna fill you with
  • 00:08:40.136 --> 00:08:42.939
  • Concern and agitation about those who want to win our
  • 00:08:42.939 --> 00:08:46.275
  • Culture away from our children and control their futures.
  • 00:08:46.275 --> 00:08:50.413
  • But we as the family of faith can learn a lot by looking back
  • 00:08:50.413 --> 00:08:53.482
  • Into history to some of these heroes of the faith.
  • 00:08:53.482 --> 00:08:58.754
  • And we learn that their victory started with a belief.
  • 00:08:58.754 --> 00:09:04.694
  • It started with a faith in god and a belief that victory
  • 00:09:04.694 --> 00:09:08.531
  • Was possible.
  • 00:09:08.531 --> 00:09:12.068
  • I meet too many christians who have already conceded defeat.
  • 00:09:12.068 --> 00:09:18.341
  • They say that "the enemy's too big.
  • 00:09:18.341 --> 00:09:20.009
  • The forces against us are too big.
  • 00:09:20.009 --> 00:09:21.644
  • Do you know how much money bill gates has?
  • 00:09:21.644 --> 00:09:23.079
  • Do you know how much military might china has combined
  • 00:09:23.079 --> 00:09:26.916
  • With russia?
  • 00:09:26.916 --> 00:09:28.284
  • Do you--could you imagine if iran, and russia, and china--do
  • 00:09:28.284 --> 00:09:31.821
  • You know what's going on our border and the crisis of
  • 00:09:31.821 --> 00:09:35.057
  • Fentanyl that's coming across, not to mention the cell groups
  • 00:09:35.057 --> 00:09:37.660
  • Of terrorists who are coming across?
  • 00:09:37.660 --> 00:09:39.495
  • Dude, look what's going on inside of our schools, it's
  • 00:09:39.495 --> 00:09:41.263
  • Too big.
  • 00:09:41.263 --> 00:09:42.598
  • Big government, big business, big tech, it's too big!"
  • 00:09:42.598 --> 00:09:45.334
  • You know what that reminds me of?
  • 00:09:45.334 --> 00:09:46.669
  • It reminds me of the story of the israelites about to enter
  • 00:09:46.669 --> 00:09:49.171
  • The promised land of canaan.
  • 00:09:49.171 --> 00:09:51.173
  • And they sent the spies in there, and the spies come back
  • 00:09:51.173 --> 00:09:53.209
  • And they say, "they're too big.
  • 00:09:53.209 --> 00:09:54.644
  • There's giants in the land.
  • 00:09:54.644 --> 00:09:56.012
  • There's no way we can beat 'em, they're too big, stand down."
  • 00:09:56.012 --> 00:09:58.481
  • And then caleb remembers the words that god gave to moses in
  • 00:09:58.481 --> 00:10:01.984
  • Deuteronomy, and he said, "you're gonna be tempted to
  • 00:10:01.984 --> 00:10:04.520
  • Think that these nations are too big and too strong for you to
  • 00:10:04.520 --> 00:10:07.223
  • Drive out.
  • 00:10:07.223 --> 00:10:08.557
  • Remember what i did to pharaoh and to egypt."
  • 00:10:08.557 --> 00:10:16.332
  • But the naysayers won the day and kept the children of god out
  • 00:10:16.332 --> 00:10:19.702
  • Of the promised land for another generation.
  • 00:10:19.702 --> 00:10:26.676
  • Or the israelites up against the philistines.
  • 00:10:26.676 --> 00:10:30.179
  • The two armies opposed for battle.
  • 00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:34.917
  • And the philistines send out their biggest guy.
  • 00:10:34.917 --> 00:10:38.087
  • They send out the champion, goliath, the giant.
  • 00:10:38.087 --> 00:10:44.393
  • And the israelites are shaking in their boots.
  • 00:10:44.393 --> 00:10:45.995
  • Nobody wants to take him on except a young boy named david
  • 00:10:45.995 --> 00:10:49.231
  • Who has a vision of victory because he comes in the name of
  • 00:10:49.231 --> 00:10:52.968
  • The god of israel...
  • 00:10:52.968 --> 00:10:56.739
  • Stone gets launched, connects with forehead, end of story.
  • 00:10:56.739 --> 00:11:02.111
  • Then the bravery in the boy's heart spreads to the army's
  • 00:11:02.111 --> 00:11:05.047
  • Heart and the whole host of israel is on the attack.
  • 00:11:05.047 --> 00:11:11.287
  • Big tech is not the giant.
  • 00:11:11.287 --> 00:11:16.459
  • David understood something that his brothers behind him
  • 00:11:16.459 --> 00:11:20.262
  • Didn't understand.
  • 00:11:20.262 --> 00:11:22.331
  • He knew that goliath was not the giant.
  • 00:11:22.331 --> 00:11:25.367
  • There was a bigger giant standing behind goliath that
  • 00:11:25.367 --> 00:11:29.472
  • Made him look like a tiny little person.
  • 00:11:29.472 --> 00:11:33.375
  • Big tech, big government, big whatever is always going to be a
  • 00:11:33.375 --> 00:11:36.746
  • Midget next to our big god.
  • 00:11:36.746 --> 00:11:39.515
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:11:39.515 --> 00:11:42.685
  • So, instead of conceding defeat, let's claim victory in his name.
  • 00:11:42.685 --> 00:11:51.260
  • Allen: hey, we have a tool that i think will help you overcome
  • 00:11:55.464 --> 00:11:57.700
  • Some of the chaos in the world and stay focused on the good
  • 00:11:57.700 --> 00:12:00.903
  • Things that god is doing.
  • 00:12:00.903 --> 00:12:02.438
  • It's called, "awaken us."
  • 00:12:02.438 --> 00:12:03.839
  • It's a 30-day plan.
  • 00:12:03.839 --> 00:12:05.875
  • Each day's got a scripture, a little devotional, a prayer that
  • 00:12:05.875 --> 00:12:09.044
  • Goes with a specific topic to awaken us to god's promise and
  • 00:12:09.044 --> 00:12:13.382
  • Provision in this season.
  • 00:12:13.382 --> 00:12:15.985
  • God's moving in the earth, i wanna move with him, and i
  • 00:12:15.985 --> 00:12:18.754
  • Believe this tool will help you be prepared to capitalize on
  • 00:12:18.754 --> 00:12:22.491
  • God's invitations in your life.
  • 00:12:22.491 --> 00:12:24.927
  • Female announcer: "awaken us" delivers 30 days of prayer,
  • 00:12:24.927 --> 00:12:27.530
  • Scripture, and insight from pastor allen on relevant topics.
  • 00:12:27.530 --> 00:12:31.567
  • Each day is designed to sharpen your focus as you ask god to
  • 00:12:31.567 --> 00:12:34.970
  • Show you his heart and his truth in a new way.
  • 00:12:34.970 --> 00:12:38.207
  • With the holy spirit's help, this book will awaken you to the
  • 00:12:38.207 --> 00:12:41.710
  • Impact your life has on the world and those around you.
  • 00:12:41.710 --> 00:12:44.947
  • Start your journey today by requesting "awaken us" when you
  • 00:12:44.947 --> 00:12:47.950
  • Donate any amount at allenjackson.com or by
  • 00:12:47.950 --> 00:12:51.253
  • Calling...
  • 00:12:51.253 --> 00:12:55.391
  • Announcer: we are committed to helping you grow in your faith
  • 00:12:55.457 --> 00:12:57.493
  • And have tools for your journey, no matter your schedule.
  • 00:12:57.493 --> 00:13:00.129
  • Get daily encouragement and insight with pastor allen's
  • 00:13:00.129 --> 00:13:02.898
  • Daily devotion right in your inbox.
  • 00:13:02.898 --> 00:13:04.633
  • Just sign up on the website.
  • 00:13:04.633 --> 00:13:06.235
  • Join us on one of our live stream services right from your
  • 00:13:06.235 --> 00:13:08.938
  • Tv using the allen jackson ministries app.
  • 00:13:08.938 --> 00:13:11.774
  • Listen to a powerful message through your favorite podcast
  • 00:13:11.774 --> 00:13:14.443
  • App, perfect for a commute.
  • 00:13:14.443 --> 00:13:16.045
  • And make sure to follow pastor allen on social media to stay up
  • 00:13:16.045 --> 00:13:19.215
  • To date with everything happening here with
  • 00:13:19.215 --> 00:13:21.350
  • Allen jackson ministries.
  • 00:13:21.350 --> 00:13:25.521
  • Kirk: the social improvement since jesus christ died on the
  • 00:13:25.588 --> 00:13:28.891
  • Cross and rose from the grave is phenomenal.
  • 00:13:28.891 --> 00:13:33.495
  • You think things are bad now with everything we're dealing
  • 00:13:33.495 --> 00:13:37.099
  • With here in america?
  • 00:13:37.099 --> 00:13:38.467
  • How about being in america in 1941, about to be plunged,
  • 00:13:38.467 --> 00:13:43.839
  • Unknowingly, into perhaps the largest war the world has
  • 00:13:43.839 --> 00:13:49.311
  • Ever known?
  • 00:13:49.311 --> 00:13:51.080
  • You think this election is critically important?
  • 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:54.049
  • I agree it is, but is it as important as the election in
  • 00:13:54.049 --> 00:13:56.585
  • 1860 that would determine if the civil war would begin?
  • 00:13:56.585 --> 00:14:02.591
  • Abortion is wicked, millions dying.
  • 00:14:02.591 --> 00:14:07.396
  • But think of the time when the god of moloch was being
  • 00:14:07.396 --> 00:14:10.165
  • Worshiped and babies were thrown regularly into the arms of a
  • 00:14:10.165 --> 00:14:15.571
  • Molten, red-hot god, and seared, and burnt to death.
  • 00:14:15.571 --> 00:14:22.144
  • Immorality is wickedness, but in the ancient world, greece,
  • 00:14:22.144 --> 00:14:28.317
  • Adult-child sex was commonplace and all the rage.
  • 00:14:28.317 --> 00:14:33.923
  • We have pressure on christians now in the uk, in america, and
  • 00:14:33.923 --> 00:14:39.094
  • Around the world, but then, nero was lighting christians and
  • 00:14:39.094 --> 00:14:43.832
  • Using them as torches to illuminate gladiatorial games.
  • 00:14:43.832 --> 00:14:50.172
  • Child trafficking, human trafficking is evil, but back in
  • 00:14:50.172 --> 00:14:54.343
  • The day, institutional slavery was the norm and smart business
  • 00:14:54.343 --> 00:15:00.049
  • On every continent in the globe.
  • 00:15:00.049 --> 00:15:02.885
  • And no one thought anything of it.
  • 00:15:02.885 --> 00:15:05.955
  • Did you know that the life expectancy of human beings has
  • 00:15:05.955 --> 00:15:09.124
  • Risen--from 1800 it was 31 years old to, 2017, 72 years old
  • 00:15:09.124 --> 00:15:17.399
  • Because of modern medicine, and it's even higher now.
  • 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:20.869
  • Did you know that extreme poverty has dropped 50% since
  • 00:15:20.869 --> 00:15:24.273
  • 1993 and death by natural disasters has plummeted?
  • 00:15:24.273 --> 00:15:31.146
  • We recognize corruption today only because our moral standards
  • 00:15:31.146 --> 00:15:36.085
  • Have improved so much.
  • 00:15:36.085 --> 00:15:38.153
  • Back then, we wouldn't have been saying anything about this
  • 00:15:38.153 --> 00:15:41.523
  • 'cause it would have been normal.
  • 00:15:41.523 --> 00:15:44.193
  • And most all of this is to be credited to the church, to the
  • 00:15:44.193 --> 00:15:49.031
  • Christian faith and those in the family of faith.
  • 00:15:49.031 --> 00:15:52.101
  • That is not to say that everything done in the name of
  • 00:15:52.101 --> 00:15:54.303
  • Christianity has been good or that those outside the church
  • 00:15:54.303 --> 00:15:57.639
  • Have not contributed to positive social improvement.
  • 00:15:57.639 --> 00:16:02.344
  • But by and large, these things we're talking about are the
  • 00:16:02.344 --> 00:16:05.914
  • Result of the family of faith living out the power of the
  • 00:16:05.914 --> 00:16:09.585
  • Gospel within them in their culture, and restoring it,
  • 00:16:09.585 --> 00:16:13.288
  • Redeeming it.
  • 00:16:13.288 --> 00:16:14.957
  • Look, it was christians who scoured the dumps in the roman
  • 00:16:14.957 --> 00:16:18.794
  • Empire to save babies, who elevated the status of women,
  • 00:16:18.794 --> 00:16:22.731
  • Ended gladiatorial games.
  • 00:16:22.731 --> 00:16:24.767
  • It was christians who inspired hospitals and universities, the
  • 00:16:24.767 --> 00:16:29.171
  • Fathers of modern science, and representative government, and
  • 00:16:29.171 --> 00:16:32.474
  • Modern charitable giving.
  • 00:16:32.474 --> 00:16:34.209
  • It was christians who abolished slavery, stopped cannibalism in
  • 00:16:34.209 --> 00:16:37.913
  • Places like fiji, and ended the suttee--the indian practice of
  • 00:16:37.913 --> 00:16:42.751
  • Throwing female widows onto the funeral pyres of their
  • 00:16:42.751 --> 00:16:46.588
  • Deceased husbands.
  • 00:16:46.588 --> 00:16:48.857
  • Hundreds of languages would never have been put into writing
  • 00:16:48.857 --> 00:16:51.760
  • If it weren't for the translating of the bible into
  • 00:16:51.760 --> 00:16:54.496
  • Those languages.
  • 00:16:54.496 --> 00:16:56.432
  • Did you know that the growth of global christianity, according
  • 00:16:56.432 --> 00:16:59.768
  • To gordon-conwell theological seminary, is exploding?
  • 00:16:59.768 --> 00:17:04.573
  • In 1970 when i was born, the number of born again,
  • 00:17:04.573 --> 00:17:08.944
  • Bible-believing, spirit-filled christians in the west and
  • 00:17:08.944 --> 00:17:13.315
  • America outnumbered the rest of the world four to one.
  • 00:17:13.315 --> 00:17:18.720
  • The number of christians in america and europe outnumbered
  • 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:22.057
  • The rest of the world four to one.
  • 00:17:22.057 --> 00:17:23.926
  • Today, the number of bible-believing, spirit-filled,
  • 00:17:23.926 --> 00:17:26.895
  • Born again christians in the rest of the world outnumber
  • 00:17:26.895 --> 00:17:30.165
  • America and europe seven to one.
  • 00:17:30.165 --> 00:17:33.402
  • There has been a global shift to the global south.
  • 00:17:33.402 --> 00:17:37.072
  • And the center of gravity for the gospel and the kingdom of
  • 00:17:37.072 --> 00:17:41.243
  • God has shifted.
  • 00:17:41.243 --> 00:17:44.046
  • But if we've got this myopic view through a straw, all we're
  • 00:17:44.046 --> 00:17:47.382
  • Seeing is that tiny little blip on the graph.
  • 00:17:47.382 --> 00:17:50.953
  • We've got to widen our view and see not just what's going on in
  • 00:17:50.953 --> 00:17:54.590
  • America, but what's going on in the whole world and not just
  • 00:17:54.590 --> 00:17:58.460
  • What's happening in our lifetime, but what has happened
  • 00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:00.996
  • Over the millennia.
  • 00:18:00.996 --> 00:18:03.765
  • Then we get a totally different picture.
  • 00:18:03.765 --> 00:18:09.404
  • Could god be training us to be brave and faithful in our day?
  • 00:18:09.404 --> 00:18:15.244
  • Could he be bringing that which will wake up his children and
  • 00:18:15.244 --> 00:18:19.348
  • Turn their hearts back to him, that they would say, "oh, god,
  • 00:18:19.348 --> 00:18:23.085
  • Tear open the heavens and come down?
  • 00:18:23.085 --> 00:18:25.387
  • God, we are like an army that is on the verge of being a corpse
  • 00:18:25.387 --> 00:18:34.897
  • With dry bones.
  • 00:18:34.897 --> 00:18:36.698
  • Oh, god, refresh us, revive us, stand us up, put us back
  • 00:18:36.698 --> 00:18:41.670
  • Together so that we can march, and push back the evil, and make
  • 00:18:41.670 --> 00:18:45.741
  • Inroads of light for the kingdom of god."
  • 00:18:45.741 --> 00:18:48.143
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:18:48.143 --> 00:18:53.115
  • Could all of this that we are hearing this weekend with regard
  • 00:18:53.115 --> 00:18:56.285
  • To social irritations, be a divine setup for a spiritual
  • 00:18:56.285 --> 00:19:01.690
  • Comeback led by the family of faith?
  • 00:19:01.690 --> 00:19:05.427
  • I believe that it is.
  • 00:19:05.427 --> 00:19:07.329
  • And i can see these rumblings of revival in people all around me.
  • 00:19:07.329 --> 00:19:11.433
  • By the way, revival starts with a personal revival in the heart
  • 00:19:11.433 --> 00:19:14.636
  • Of a man, in the heart of a woman.
  • 00:19:14.636 --> 00:19:16.838
  • I know riley gaines, the collegiate swimmer, who is now
  • 00:19:16.838 --> 00:19:20.375
  • Doing great things to restore and redeem the culture in
  • 00:19:20.375 --> 00:19:24.146
  • Women's sports.
  • 00:19:24.146 --> 00:19:25.480
  • Jonathan isaac, the basketball player who refused to kneel
  • 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:28.417
  • During the national anthem and wear the blm t-shirt.
  • 00:19:28.417 --> 00:19:32.354
  • And now, because he was dethroned and he was desponsored
  • 00:19:32.354 --> 00:19:37.326
  • By nike and others, he has started his own sportswear line
  • 00:19:37.326 --> 00:19:41.663
  • Called unite us, unite us.
  • 00:19:41.663 --> 00:19:43.932
  • He believes that the gospel is what will unite us, not these
  • 00:19:43.932 --> 00:19:49.972
  • Protests and other types of things.
  • 00:19:49.972 --> 00:19:51.940
  • And he is engaging with the culture and he is heavenizing
  • 00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:55.844
  • The culture.
  • 00:19:55.844 --> 00:19:57.212
  • The erwin brothers, right here in middle tennessee and in
  • 00:19:57.212 --> 00:19:59.248
  • Franklin are making movies.
  • 00:19:59.248 --> 00:20:00.616
  • There's one out right now that you probably ought to see and so
  • 00:20:00.616 --> 00:20:03.452
  • Many others like the "jesus revolution" and "i can only
  • 00:20:03.452 --> 00:20:06.188
  • Imagine" and the kendrick brothers with "war room" and
  • 00:20:06.188 --> 00:20:09.825
  • "courageous" and all of these movies.
  • 00:20:09.825 --> 00:20:11.660
  • They're redeeming the hollywood culture and using those
  • 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:15.130
  • Disciplines to bring a message of hope.
  • 00:20:15.130 --> 00:20:17.266
  • The world outreach church, all that you have here right in your
  • 00:20:17.266 --> 00:20:21.103
  • Backyard to redeem culture.
  • 00:20:21.103 --> 00:20:24.473
  • To have the word of god saturate your mind and work itself out
  • 00:20:24.473 --> 00:20:28.076
  • Through love within your community.
  • 00:20:28.076 --> 00:20:30.279
  • I just visited the dream city church in phoenix, arizona, and
  • 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:33.682
  • In los angeles where they have the dream center buying
  • 00:20:33.682 --> 00:20:36.785
  • Hotels--churches buying hotels, refurbishing them to use as
  • 00:20:36.785 --> 00:20:41.757
  • Houses for prostitutes, and women, and children who have
  • 00:20:41.757 --> 00:20:46.528
  • Been trafficked to rehabilitate them, and incorporate them into
  • 00:20:46.528 --> 00:20:50.532
  • The church, and give them positions of leadership within
  • 00:20:50.532 --> 00:20:52.567
  • The community.
  • 00:20:52.567 --> 00:20:54.970
  • Rather than just complaining about government problems, start
  • 00:20:54.970 --> 00:20:59.775
  • A civics ministry in your house.
  • 00:20:59.775 --> 00:21:03.478
  • If this is something you're passionate about and it's
  • 00:21:03.478 --> 00:21:05.280
  • Getting under your skin and keeping you up at night, don't
  • 00:21:05.280 --> 00:21:07.549
  • Just be relevant as a christian and talk about it, be a
  • 00:21:07.549 --> 00:21:12.154
  • Revolutionary as a christian and fix it.
  • 00:21:12.154 --> 00:21:15.857
  • Do what you can do where you are with the resources that
  • 00:21:15.857 --> 00:21:19.828
  • You have.
  • 00:21:19.828 --> 00:21:21.697
  • My friend started a men's ministry called red truck men,
  • 00:21:21.697 --> 00:21:24.933
  • Creating a culture of honor for fathers and husbands who don't
  • 00:21:24.933 --> 00:21:28.403
  • Have examples in their own lives to even know what that
  • 00:21:28.403 --> 00:21:30.906
  • Looks like.
  • 00:21:30.906 --> 00:21:32.274
  • My wife, chelsea, with her boldness, and her courage, and
  • 00:21:32.274 --> 00:21:34.643
  • Her self-sacrificing hard work has done an amazing job first in
  • 00:21:34.643 --> 00:21:39.214
  • Her home with her own family.
  • 00:21:39.214 --> 00:21:43.452
  • And then within her church coming up alongside, and
  • 00:21:43.452 --> 00:21:47.155
  • Teaching, and supporting, and caring for other young moms
  • 00:21:47.155 --> 00:21:50.759
  • And wives.
  • 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:52.094
  • Brave books who has been writing books to replace the filth
  • 00:21:52.094 --> 00:21:55.497
  • That's coming out of scholastic.
  • 00:21:55.497 --> 00:21:57.132
  • And now children's television programming to replace what's
  • 00:21:57.132 --> 00:22:00.736
  • Coming out from nickelodeon and disney.
  • 00:22:00.736 --> 00:22:03.405
  • Don't be complainers, be creators of the culture.
  • 00:22:03.405 --> 00:22:06.842
  • This is what we are made for.
  • 00:22:06.842 --> 00:22:10.679
  • And then you, you are people with vision.
  • 00:22:10.679 --> 00:22:18.687
  • It may have been constricted by all of the bad things that
  • 00:22:18.687 --> 00:22:22.524
  • You're hearing that's coming in through your phone and your--and
  • 00:22:22.524 --> 00:22:26.428
  • News and the things that you see around you.
  • 00:22:26.428 --> 00:22:30.599
  • But if god has placed his resurrection spirit within you,
  • 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:34.236
  • He has given you a vision of victory, feed it.
  • 00:22:34.236 --> 00:22:38.273
  • Learn about history, learn about the power of god.
  • 00:22:38.273 --> 00:22:41.543
  • Understand that you are his walking worship center
  • 00:22:41.543 --> 00:22:46.615
  • Right here on the earth.
  • 00:22:46.615 --> 00:22:48.283
  • You are a power center that has the ability to transform
  • 00:22:48.283 --> 00:22:53.655
  • Everything that you touch, through humility, repentance,
  • 00:22:53.655 --> 00:22:57.359
  • Faith, courage.
  • 00:22:57.359 --> 00:23:00.328
  • And you know people in your world that i'm not even aware of
  • 00:23:00.328 --> 00:23:04.733
  • That would encourage me if i heard what they're doing.
  • 00:23:04.733 --> 00:23:08.804
  • And it starts with their belief that greater is he who is in
  • 00:23:08.804 --> 00:23:13.375
  • Them than he who is in the world.
  • 00:23:13.375 --> 00:23:18.413
  • If you're here this morning and you're saying, "you know what?
  • 00:23:18.413 --> 00:23:20.949
  • I am not giving up on my children, i am not giving up on
  • 00:23:20.949 --> 00:23:23.785
  • My marriage, i am not giving up on my grandchildren.
  • 00:23:23.785 --> 00:23:29.758
  • I don't just have rapture fever, sticking my head between my
  • 00:23:29.758 --> 00:23:32.861
  • Knees, crying in my chick-fil-a soup, asking why the lord is
  • 00:23:32.861 --> 00:23:36.465
  • Taking so long.
  • 00:23:36.465 --> 00:23:37.799
  • I am not giving up on this.
  • 00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:39.367
  • I have a vision of victory.
  • 00:23:39.367 --> 00:23:42.571
  • And i have jesus with me and he's given me an assignment and
  • 00:23:42.571 --> 00:23:45.040
  • I'm gonna do everything that i can while i am here to bring him
  • 00:23:45.040 --> 00:23:47.843
  • Honor, and glory, and to care for those around me, and
  • 00:23:47.843 --> 00:23:50.812
  • Transform my culture."
  • 00:23:50.812 --> 00:23:53.715
  • Let me ask you, do you believe that a cultural win for
  • 00:23:53.715 --> 00:23:57.452
  • Christianity is possible?
  • 00:23:57.452 --> 00:24:00.422
  • Do you believe that christianity can characterize not only your
  • 00:24:00.422 --> 00:24:04.893
  • Heart and your home, but also the works of your hands and
  • 00:24:04.893 --> 00:24:10.665
  • Civil government that governs your land?
  • 00:24:10.665 --> 00:24:15.437
  • I believe that it's possible.
  • 00:24:15.437 --> 00:24:17.405
  • In fact, i believe that it's unstoppable if the family of
  • 00:24:17.405 --> 00:24:20.809
  • Faith will get a hold of a victory of vision and take the
  • 00:24:20.809 --> 00:24:24.179
  • Word of god and apply it to every aspect of your life.
  • 00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:27.716
  • My friend marshall foster, who's since gone to be with the lord,
  • 00:24:27.716 --> 00:24:30.252
  • Says, "2000 years ago, god unleashed the most powerful
  • 00:24:30.252 --> 00:24:34.856
  • World-changing force the world has ever known: the
  • 00:24:34.856 --> 00:24:38.527
  • Self-governing christian."
  • 00:24:38.527 --> 00:24:40.896
  • A nuclear power reactor of the holy spirit transformed in
  • 00:24:40.896 --> 00:24:48.637
  • His heart.
  • 00:24:48.637 --> 00:24:50.572
  • You've become a new creation with a new heart and new
  • 00:24:50.572 --> 00:24:55.277
  • Desires, armed with the only weapon powerful enough to subdue
  • 00:24:55.277 --> 00:24:59.147
  • Men, and their passions, and their institutions.
  • 00:24:59.147 --> 00:25:03.885
  • And the self-governing body of men and women on the earth
  • 00:25:03.885 --> 00:25:07.756
  • Formed the bulwark of a movement that was started by the son of
  • 00:25:07.756 --> 00:25:11.059
  • God himself against which he said, "the gates of hell shall
  • 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:14.629
  • Not prevail."
  • 00:25:14.629 --> 00:25:16.932
  • And they will not be dominated by culture, they will shape
  • 00:25:16.932 --> 00:25:21.303
  • Culture, according to the word of god.
  • 00:25:21.303 --> 00:25:26.308
  • Do you believe that's possible?
  • 00:25:26.308 --> 00:25:28.577
  • I know that's possible.
  • 00:25:28.577 --> 00:25:32.414
  • There has never been a time in our lives for more of a need for
  • 00:25:32.414 --> 00:25:37.819
  • We as the family of faith to reclaim our christian identity,
  • 00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:42.357
  • Our culture with a vision of victory for our families, our
  • 00:25:42.357 --> 00:25:47.495
  • Institution, and our nation.
  • 00:25:47.495 --> 00:25:49.764
  • Are you with me?
  • 00:25:49.764 --> 00:25:51.600
  • Congregation: yes!
  • 00:25:51.600 --> 00:25:53.001
  • Kirk: god bless you.
  • 00:25:53.001 --> 00:25:55.937
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:25:55.937 --> 00:26:02.077
  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
  • 00:26:02.077 --> 00:26:07.115
  • Allen: hey, we have a tool that we think will help strengthen
  • 00:26:07.115 --> 00:26:09.818
  • You in this season.
  • 00:26:09.818 --> 00:26:11.386
  • A lot of confusion and chaos in our world, a lot of fear.
  • 00:26:11.386 --> 00:26:14.656
  • I hear from people every day battling in their minds and
  • 00:26:14.656 --> 00:26:17.626
  • Their lives with the uncertainty of our world.
  • 00:26:17.626 --> 00:26:20.795
  • Well, it's a booklet called, "awaken us."
  • 00:26:20.795 --> 00:26:22.464
  • It's a 30-day plan.
  • 00:26:22.464 --> 00:26:23.865
  • Every day has a theme with a scripture, a little devotional,
  • 00:26:23.865 --> 00:26:26.334
  • And a prayer for that specific theme.
  • 00:26:26.334 --> 00:26:29.004
  • The idea is that every day we're gonna ask the spirit of god to
  • 00:26:29.004 --> 00:26:32.073
  • Awaken us to a new aspect of god's provision in our lives.
  • 00:26:32.073 --> 00:26:36.878
  • You know, hopefully we wake up every day to the opportunities
  • 00:26:36.878 --> 00:26:39.714
  • And the challenges of that day.
  • 00:26:39.714 --> 00:26:41.916
  • Well, this is gonna correspond to that.
  • 00:26:41.916 --> 00:26:43.284
  • We're gonna ask the spirit of god to awaken us to what god is
  • 00:26:43.284 --> 00:26:46.121
  • Doing in this season.
  • 00:26:46.121 --> 00:26:48.089
  • We're not alone and we don't have to be overcome by fear.
  • 00:26:48.089 --> 00:26:51.459
  • Let's pray, "father, i thank you that there's nothing that
  • 00:26:51.459 --> 00:26:54.496
  • Confronts us that intimidates or threatens you,
  • 00:26:54.496 --> 00:26:57.632
  • That you have made provision for complete victory in every aspect
  • 00:26:57.632 --> 00:27:01.102
  • Of our lives.
  • 00:27:01.102 --> 00:27:02.470
  • Lead us now as we turn our faces to you to a season of peace, and
  • 00:27:02.470 --> 00:27:06.374
  • Hope, and wholeness in jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:27:06.374 --> 00:27:10.045
  • This book, it'll be a blessing.
  • 00:27:10.045 --> 00:27:27.429