1. TBN
  2. Programs
  3. Allen Jackson Ministries
  4. Episodes
  5. Allen Jackson - Culture Length (Part 1)
Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Culture Length (Part 1)

March 29, 2025 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - Culture Length (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Faith #TrustGod #WalkwithGod #RelationshipwithGod #LoveofGod #Christianity #Religion #Culture #Nations #Encouragement #AllenJacksonMinistries #AllenJackson

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Culture Length (Part 1) | March 29, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.317
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:01.785 --> 00:00:07.390
  • Allen: i want to begin a new study with you under the title
  • 00:00:07.524 --> 00:00:11.995
  • Of the "tabernacle, the temple, synagogues, and churches."
  • 00:00:12.095 --> 00:00:13.096
  • If you're a reader of scripture, you'll recognize there, an
  • 00:00:17.100 --> 00:00:22.472
  • Emerging story after the hebrew slaves were delivered from egypt
  • 00:00:22.472 --> 00:00:27.477
  • After hundreds of years there.
  • 00:00:27.477 --> 00:00:30.747
  • God instructed--through moses gave them instructions to build
  • 00:00:30.747 --> 00:00:33.249
  • The tabernacle.
  • 00:00:33.249 --> 00:00:35.085
  • They were still itinerant.
  • 00:00:35.085 --> 00:00:36.619
  • They hadn't yet occupied the promised land, so the tabernacle
  • 00:00:36.619 --> 00:00:39.222
  • Was a temporary structure, a rather elaborate tent.
  • 00:00:39.222 --> 00:00:43.193
  • But it was to be the center of worship.
  • 00:00:43.193 --> 00:00:45.095
  • It was truly to be the center of community.
  • 00:00:45.095 --> 00:00:48.898
  • The books that you love to read so much, the books of moses,
  • 00:00:48.898 --> 00:00:51.801
  • Genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy.
  • 00:00:51.801 --> 00:00:55.238
  • The last four of those books are really centered in how to take a
  • 00:00:55.238 --> 00:00:58.641
  • Group of people who have been slaves for hundreds of years and
  • 00:00:58.641 --> 00:01:01.511
  • Build the community.
  • 00:01:01.511 --> 00:01:03.546
  • And at the heart of that process was the tabernacle.
  • 00:01:03.546 --> 00:01:07.383
  • After they occupied the promised land and demanded a king, god
  • 00:01:07.383 --> 00:01:13.656
  • Gave them permission to build a temple in jerusalem.
  • 00:01:13.656 --> 00:01:15.859
  • Do you happen to remember who built the first temple?
  • 00:01:15.859 --> 00:01:19.462
  • Solomon.
  • 00:01:19.462 --> 00:01:20.830
  • It's not a trick question.
  • 00:01:20.830 --> 00:01:24.100
  • It was destroyed because of their disobedience and rebellion
  • 00:01:24.100 --> 00:01:27.737
  • By the babylonians in 587.
  • 00:01:27.737 --> 00:01:31.141
  • And the second temple was built.
  • 00:01:31.141 --> 00:01:34.711
  • And again, that was the center of the people's relationship
  • 00:01:34.711 --> 00:01:39.015
  • With god.
  • 00:01:39.015 --> 00:01:40.350
  • It was the center of the culture.
  • 00:01:40.350 --> 00:01:42.018
  • You could evaluate the spiritual health of the people by the
  • 00:01:42.018 --> 00:01:46.523
  • Condition of the temple.
  • 00:01:46.523 --> 00:01:49.559
  • By the time we get to the new testament, actually the
  • 00:01:49.559 --> 00:01:51.461
  • Synagogues emerged a little bit before that, a couple of
  • 00:01:51.461 --> 00:01:53.630
  • Centuries before that.
  • 00:01:53.630 --> 00:01:55.665
  • The synagogue was more of a distributed place for the people
  • 00:01:55.665 --> 00:02:00.303
  • To gather to read scripture and receive instruction.
  • 00:02:00.303 --> 00:02:03.840
  • Where there were ten jewish men, you could form a synagogue.
  • 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:08.478
  • By the time we complete the new testament, the christians are
  • 00:02:08.478 --> 00:02:11.881
  • Gathering and the label was attached to a church.
  • 00:02:11.881 --> 00:02:15.818
  • We rather arrogantly think we invented something new.
  • 00:02:15.818 --> 00:02:19.522
  • Even the language we use in the architecture of the church,
  • 00:02:19.522 --> 00:02:22.992
  • You've heard the main hall of a church be called a basilica,
  • 00:02:22.992 --> 00:02:26.896
  • Perhaps in a more formal setting.
  • 00:02:26.896 --> 00:02:29.232
  • We co-opted that from the secular culture.
  • 00:02:29.232 --> 00:02:31.134
  • The largest building in a roman town would be the basilica.
  • 00:02:31.134 --> 00:02:35.705
  • It was the mall.
  • 00:02:35.705 --> 00:02:38.107
  • It was the public shopping place and the christians ultimately
  • 00:02:38.107 --> 00:02:41.811
  • Became so attuned to gathering in the largest place in the
  • 00:02:41.811 --> 00:02:44.614
  • Community that church architecture adopted the
  • 00:02:44.614 --> 00:02:47.517
  • Language and the large hall and the church became the basilica.
  • 00:02:47.517 --> 00:02:52.589
  • But whether it was the tabernacle or the temple or the
  • 00:02:52.589 --> 00:02:57.093
  • Synagogue or the church, they all shared one function, one
  • 00:02:57.093 --> 00:03:01.664
  • Role in the lives of the people, and that was to help build the
  • 00:03:01.664 --> 00:03:05.501
  • Culture of faith for god's people.
  • 00:03:05.501 --> 00:03:09.305
  • I want to take a few sessions and talk to you a little bit
  • 00:03:09.305 --> 00:03:11.708
  • About the role of the church.
  • 00:03:11.708 --> 00:03:13.610
  • I don't mean just our congregation, but church with a
  • 00:03:13.610 --> 00:03:15.812
  • Capital c, and we'll talk some about our congregation and some
  • 00:03:15.812 --> 00:03:19.215
  • Values that are at the heart of who we have decided to be as
  • 00:03:19.215 --> 00:03:22.218
  • A people.
  • 00:03:22.218 --> 00:03:23.753
  • Not something new, not something that was determined last week or
  • 00:03:23.753 --> 00:03:26.756
  • Last month, but that have shaped our journey.
  • 00:03:26.756 --> 00:03:29.092
  • Most of them we observed as a result of what god was doing in
  • 00:03:29.092 --> 00:03:32.629
  • Our midst.
  • 00:03:32.629 --> 00:03:34.297
  • But they really emerge from this notion that the people of god
  • 00:03:34.297 --> 00:03:37.200
  • Are to impact culture.
  • 00:03:37.200 --> 00:03:39.636
  • And i wanna start with the apostles' creed.
  • 00:03:39.636 --> 00:03:41.638
  • It's one of the oldest creedal statements that we have
  • 00:03:41.638 --> 00:03:45.441
  • In christendom.
  • 00:03:45.441 --> 00:03:48.945
  • Some have suggested it could have been the baptismal creed
  • 00:03:48.945 --> 00:03:51.614
  • For the church in jerusalem.
  • 00:03:51.614 --> 00:03:54.450
  • The video of that has been lost, so we don't know for certain.
  • 00:03:54.450 --> 00:03:58.855
  • But it's certainly plausible, and there are scholars who would
  • 00:03:58.855 --> 00:04:01.724
  • Accept the idea.
  • 00:04:01.724 --> 00:04:03.059
  • A creed is a summary statement of fundamental tenets.
  • 00:04:03.059 --> 00:04:08.197
  • So, the apostles' creed, as i understand it, is really
  • 00:04:08.197 --> 00:04:11.734
  • Intended to reflect the core values of the christian faith.
  • 00:04:11.734 --> 00:04:17.940
  • Some of you grew up in a tradition where it was a regular
  • 00:04:17.940 --> 00:04:20.209
  • Part of worship.
  • 00:04:20.209 --> 00:04:21.744
  • Some of you didn't.
  • 00:04:21.744 --> 00:04:23.112
  • If it was a regular part of your worship, you think it's godly.
  • 00:04:23.112 --> 00:04:25.281
  • If you didn't, you're very suspicious.
  • 00:04:25.281 --> 00:04:28.551
  • That's normal, but i would submit to you that the
  • 00:04:28.551 --> 00:04:32.522
  • Statements in the apostles' creed are important and
  • 00:04:32.522 --> 00:04:35.291
  • Relevant, and we should understand them.
  • 00:04:35.291 --> 00:04:37.660
  • It's really in three stanzas or three segments, all stating
  • 00:04:37.660 --> 00:04:41.364
  • A belief.
  • 00:04:41.364 --> 00:04:42.732
  • The first is a series of statements about what we believe
  • 00:04:42.732 --> 00:04:44.534
  • About god.
  • 00:04:44.534 --> 00:04:45.968
  • Secondly, in the largest portion is what we believe about jesus
  • 00:04:45.968 --> 00:04:48.905
  • Because it's essential to our story.
  • 00:04:48.905 --> 00:04:51.341
  • And then a series of statements of belief that help define
  • 00:04:51.341 --> 00:04:54.811
  • Our community.
  • 00:04:54.811 --> 00:04:57.246
  • I'll read it and then perhaps we could read it together.
  • 00:04:57.246 --> 00:04:59.882
  • I learned to say this--i grew up in a church where we
  • 00:04:59.882 --> 00:05:02.452
  • Repeated it.
  • 00:05:02.452 --> 00:05:03.820
  • I learned to say it in rhythm like the pledge of allegiance.
  • 00:05:03.820 --> 00:05:07.590
  • And if you let me start at the beginning and go all the way
  • 00:05:07.590 --> 00:05:09.525
  • Through, i can complete it.
  • 00:05:09.525 --> 00:05:10.893
  • If you put me in the middle, i'm stuck because i never really
  • 00:05:10.893 --> 00:05:14.063
  • Thought about what it meant.
  • 00:05:14.063 --> 00:05:15.398
  • I just knew kind of like you pulled the string and out it
  • 00:05:15.398 --> 00:05:18.134
  • Would come.
  • 00:05:18.134 --> 00:05:19.836
  • But there really is a value to it, and we're not gonna dissect
  • 00:05:19.836 --> 00:05:22.372
  • It in any great detail on this, but it says, "i believe in god
  • 00:05:22.372 --> 00:05:25.942
  • The father almighty, the maker of heaven and earth."
  • 00:05:25.942 --> 00:05:29.712
  • That's an affirmation of god is the creator of all things.
  • 00:05:29.712 --> 00:05:33.516
  • You see, if you'll accept the genesis--the opening chapter of
  • 00:05:33.516 --> 00:05:36.419
  • Genesis with almighty god creating heaven and earth, the
  • 00:05:36.419 --> 00:05:39.088
  • Rest of the bible has a place that makes sense.
  • 00:05:39.088 --> 00:05:42.358
  • If you reject god as the creator of heaven and earth, the rest of
  • 00:05:42.358 --> 00:05:44.994
  • The book is nonsense.
  • 00:05:44.994 --> 00:05:47.463
  • Why would you take guidance and direction from
  • 00:05:47.463 --> 00:05:49.132
  • Somebody--something that's a sham?
  • 00:05:49.132 --> 00:05:52.969
  • So, the sequence really is important and it's not like been
  • 00:05:52.969 --> 00:05:55.271
  • Important in the 21st century.
  • 00:05:55.271 --> 00:05:57.073
  • This goes back to the beginning days of our faith.
  • 00:05:57.073 --> 00:06:02.011
  • And then secondly, "i believe in jesus christ his only son, our
  • 00:06:02.011 --> 00:06:05.515
  • Lord: who was conceived by the holy spirit, born of the virgin
  • 00:06:05.515 --> 00:06:09.719
  • Mary, suffered under pontius pilate, was crucified, dead,
  • 00:06:09.719 --> 00:06:13.523
  • And buried.
  • 00:06:13.523 --> 00:06:14.857
  • He descended into hell; the third day, he rose again from
  • 00:06:14.857 --> 00:06:17.860
  • The dead.
  • 00:06:17.860 --> 00:06:19.228
  • He ascended into heaven, and he sits on the right hand of god,
  • 00:06:19.228 --> 00:06:21.731
  • The father almighty; he will come again to judge the living
  • 00:06:21.731 --> 00:06:25.635
  • And the dead.
  • 00:06:25.635 --> 00:06:27.603
  • I believe in the holy spirit, the holy christian church, the
  • 00:06:27.603 --> 00:06:31.374
  • Communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
  • 00:06:31.374 --> 00:06:34.710
  • Resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
  • 00:06:34.710 --> 00:06:38.314
  • Amen."
  • 00:06:38.314 --> 00:06:41.184
  • Can we read that together?
  • 00:06:41.184 --> 00:06:43.152
  • If you've never read it, welcome.
  • 00:06:43.152 --> 00:06:45.988
  • If it's old news, you can close your eyes and say it, we'll stay
  • 00:06:45.988 --> 00:06:48.624
  • In rhythm.
  • 00:06:48.624 --> 00:06:50.860
  • All right, "i believe in god the father almighty, the maker of
  • 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:55.631
  • Heaven and earth.
  • 00:06:55.631 --> 00:06:56.999
  • And in jesus christ his only son, our lord; who was conceived
  • 00:06:56.999 --> 00:07:01.370
  • By the holy spirit, born of the virgin mary, suffered under
  • 00:07:01.370 --> 00:07:05.775
  • Pontius pilate.
  • 00:07:05.775 --> 00:07:07.410
  • He was crucified, dead, and buried.
  • 00:07:07.410 --> 00:07:09.946
  • He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the
  • 00:07:09.946 --> 00:07:13.950
  • Dead; he ascended into heaven, and he sits on the right hand of
  • 00:07:13.950 --> 00:07:18.254
  • God, the father almighty; he will come again to judge the
  • 00:07:18.254 --> 00:07:22.692
  • Living and the dead.
  • 00:07:22.692 --> 00:07:24.694
  • I believe in the holy spirit, the holy christian church, the
  • 00:07:24.694 --> 00:07:28.931
  • Communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
  • 00:07:28.931 --> 00:07:32.502
  • Resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
  • 00:07:32.502 --> 00:07:36.205
  • Amen."
  • 00:07:36.205 --> 00:07:38.274
  • Again, i would submit to you that the apostles' creed
  • 00:07:38.274 --> 00:07:41.077
  • Reflects the core values of the christian faith.
  • 00:07:41.077 --> 00:07:45.047
  • This is not a designer faith, folks.
  • 00:07:45.047 --> 00:07:48.684
  • We stand in a tradition of centuries now, millennia of
  • 00:07:48.684 --> 00:07:52.455
  • Brilliant men and women who've chosen to submit themselves to
  • 00:07:52.455 --> 00:07:54.957
  • The lordship of jesus.
  • 00:07:54.957 --> 00:07:56.893
  • We're the 21st century edition of the book of acts.
  • 00:07:56.893 --> 00:08:00.296
  • There's some notes i would offer you from the apostles' creed,
  • 00:08:00.296 --> 00:08:03.466
  • Some from personal experience and talking to thousands of
  • 00:08:03.466 --> 00:08:05.968
  • People, some just as a matter of interest to me.
  • 00:08:05.968 --> 00:08:09.572
  • For those who are somewhat suspicious of the roman catholic
  • 00:08:09.572 --> 00:08:12.408
  • Influence in our faith.
  • 00:08:12.408 --> 00:08:15.211
  • And if you don't know that those people exist, no problem, but
  • 00:08:15.211 --> 00:08:19.715
  • There's a couple of statements that sometimes cause people
  • 00:08:19.715 --> 00:08:22.718
  • Some anxiety.
  • 00:08:22.718 --> 00:08:24.120
  • The older translations say, "i believe in the holy catholic
  • 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:27.223
  • Church," and people are offended.
  • 00:08:27.223 --> 00:08:31.060
  • Catholic means universal.
  • 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:34.463
  • It doesn't refer to the church based in rome.
  • 00:08:34.463 --> 00:08:38.301
  • To correctly refer to that church, we would have to speak
  • 00:08:38.301 --> 00:08:40.570
  • Of the roman catholic church, and that's not what's stated in
  • 00:08:40.570 --> 00:08:44.073
  • This creed.
  • 00:08:44.073 --> 00:08:45.775
  • It's simply acknowledging that the church transcends nations,
  • 00:08:45.775 --> 00:08:49.345
  • States, or ethnicities.
  • 00:08:49.345 --> 00:08:51.013
  • That i believe in the universal church.
  • 00:08:51.013 --> 00:08:55.618
  • The other statement that sometimes causes a bit of pause
  • 00:08:55.618 --> 00:08:58.387
  • Is, "i believe in the communion of saints," in some of the
  • 00:08:58.387 --> 00:09:00.990
  • Older translations.
  • 00:09:00.990 --> 00:09:04.860
  • I--the communion in that sense means fellowship.
  • 00:09:04.860 --> 00:09:09.332
  • It is not a suggestion that we are praying to the saints.
  • 00:09:09.332 --> 00:09:13.336
  • In fact, the clear teaching of the new testament suggest that
  • 00:09:13.336 --> 00:09:17.673
  • If you're a believer in the lord jesus christ, according to the
  • 00:09:17.673 --> 00:09:20.943
  • Principles of the new testament, you are a saint.
  • 00:09:20.943 --> 00:09:26.048
  • I knew you wouldn't believe me, so i brought a verse.
  • 00:09:26.048 --> 00:09:28.684
  • It's ephesians 1, and verse 1, "paul, an apostle of christ
  • 00:09:28.684 --> 00:09:31.787
  • Jesus by the will of god, to the saints in ephesus, the faithful
  • 00:09:31.787 --> 00:09:36.492
  • In christ jesus."
  • 00:09:36.492 --> 00:09:37.860
  • If you're faithful in christ jesus from a scriptural
  • 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:40.196
  • Standpoint, you're a saint.
  • 00:09:40.196 --> 00:09:44.634
  • Warts and all.
  • 00:09:44.634 --> 00:09:46.969
  • I understand it's been relabeled and repositioned, but we're used
  • 00:09:46.969 --> 00:09:50.006
  • To, by this point, language being something that is
  • 00:09:50.006 --> 00:09:52.642
  • Somewhat fluid.
  • 00:09:52.642 --> 00:09:55.044
  • So, there really is nothing in that creedal statement that has
  • 00:09:55.044 --> 00:09:58.381
  • Been inordinately influenced by the roman catholic church and
  • 00:09:58.381 --> 00:10:03.419
  • Evangelicals shouldn't avoid it because of that mistaken notion.
  • 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:08.491
  • It is a summary of our core values.
  • 00:10:08.491 --> 00:10:12.194
  • What intrigues me is what's mentioned.
  • 00:10:12.194 --> 00:10:15.464
  • I mean, it's very clearly a statement about god--of all the
  • 00:10:15.464 --> 00:10:17.800
  • Things you could say about god.
  • 00:10:17.800 --> 00:10:19.135
  • It says, "i believe he's the creator of heaven and earth."
  • 00:10:19.135 --> 00:10:22.204
  • And then it's a series of statements about jesus, none of
  • 00:10:22.204 --> 00:10:25.141
  • Which can be traded away.
  • 00:10:25.141 --> 00:10:27.643
  • If you take any of those statements away, he's no longer
  • 00:10:27.643 --> 00:10:30.212
  • Qualified to be our savior.
  • 00:10:30.212 --> 00:10:33.683
  • It's important.
  • 00:10:33.683 --> 00:10:35.351
  • Maybe even more interesting to me is what's not mentioned.
  • 00:10:35.351 --> 00:10:37.620
  • If this is the core values of our faith, think of all the
  • 00:10:37.620 --> 00:10:40.189
  • Things that aren't there that we've been told are what
  • 00:10:40.189 --> 00:10:41.824
  • Define us.
  • 00:10:41.824 --> 00:10:44.060
  • It doesn't say anything about baptism, when to do it, how to
  • 00:10:44.060 --> 00:10:48.864
  • Do it, who should do it, the temperature of the water.
  • 00:10:48.864 --> 00:10:52.201
  • I'm not suggesting baptism isn't important.
  • 00:10:52.201 --> 00:10:54.170
  • Clearly it is.
  • 00:10:54.170 --> 00:10:57.239
  • It doesn't mention communion, when to take it, how often to
  • 00:10:57.239 --> 00:11:00.276
  • Take it, whether the juice should be fermented or not.
  • 00:11:00.276 --> 00:11:04.280
  • "well, i know."
  • 00:11:04.280 --> 00:11:05.648
  • Okay, i got it.
  • 00:11:05.648 --> 00:11:06.982
  • I'm just saying.
  • 00:11:06.982 --> 00:11:08.417
  • It doesn't mention sunday school, and you can't have
  • 00:11:08.417 --> 00:11:10.419
  • Church without classes for kids.
  • 00:11:10.419 --> 00:11:16.826
  • Doesn't talk about women's roles in the church, it doesn't talk
  • 00:11:16.826 --> 00:11:19.261
  • About music style, it doesn't talk about speaking in tongues.
  • 00:11:19.261 --> 00:11:27.603
  • I can tell you this, if you reject what's described in that
  • 00:11:27.603 --> 00:11:31.540
  • Creed, there's a very high degree of probability
  • 00:11:31.540 --> 00:11:36.645
  • You'll miss christianity.
  • 00:11:36.645 --> 00:11:40.816
  • Announcer: it's going to be an amazing spring at world
  • 00:11:44.954 --> 00:11:47.123
  • Outreach church, and you're invited to be part of it all.
  • 00:11:47.123 --> 00:11:50.426
  • Join us in tennessee for easter weekend
  • 00:11:50.426 --> 00:11:52.728
  • And our spring festival, kicking off
  • 00:11:52.728 --> 00:11:54.897
  • Saturday april 12 and running through sunday april 27.
  • 00:11:54.897 --> 00:11:58.734
  • Worship with musical guest artists crowder,
  • 00:11:58.734 --> 00:12:01.570
  • Charity gayle, matthew west, franni cash, and the katinas.
  • 00:12:01.570 --> 00:12:05.641
  • Hear special messages from pastor allen jackson.
  • 00:12:05.641 --> 00:12:08.344
  • Enjoy fun activities for the whole family,
  • 00:12:08.344 --> 00:12:10.880
  • Food trucks, and more.
  • 00:12:10.880 --> 00:12:12.815
  • Services will take place both indoors and outdoors.
  • 00:12:12.815 --> 00:12:15.518
  • Invite your friends and family to come celebrate
  • 00:12:15.518 --> 00:12:17.586
  • Our risen king this spring.
  • 00:12:17.586 --> 00:12:18.954
  • Allen: hey, this is pastor allen.
  • 00:12:18.954 --> 00:12:20.289
  • I want to give you a personal invitation to join us on our
  • 00:12:20.289 --> 00:12:23.025
  • Campus here in murfreesboro for our spring festival
  • 00:12:23.025 --> 00:12:26.462
  • And our easter celebration.
  • 00:12:26.462 --> 00:12:28.164
  • It's a wonderful time to be with people of faith and celebrate
  • 00:12:28.164 --> 00:12:32.201
  • This most remarkable time of the year.
  • 00:12:32.201 --> 00:12:34.403
  • Announcer: find all the details at
  • 00:12:34.403 --> 00:12:35.738
  • Allenjackson.com/spring.
  • 00:12:35.738 --> 00:12:38.340
  • We can't wait to see you there.
  • 00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:41.110
  • Allen: i believe god is moving in the earth
  • 00:12:45.047 --> 00:12:46.782
  • In an unprecedented way, and at the heart of that
  • 00:12:46.782 --> 00:12:49.552
  • Is an awakening, it's a shaking.
  • 00:12:49.552 --> 00:12:52.054
  • And in that shaking, there's a shifting.
  • 00:12:52.054 --> 00:12:53.756
  • There are people falling through the cracks, and there are people
  • 00:12:53.756 --> 00:12:55.724
  • Becoming more alert and aware of what god is doing.
  • 00:12:55.724 --> 00:12:58.727
  • At the heart of that is the acknowledgement,
  • 00:12:58.727 --> 00:13:01.030
  • The realization that spiritual forces shape our lives.
  • 00:13:01.030 --> 00:13:05.668
  • Folks, this isn't for the lunatic fringe.
  • 00:13:05.668 --> 00:13:07.770
  • This isn't for the hyper-spiritual people.
  • 00:13:07.770 --> 00:13:10.840
  • This is the stuff of the bible, and it better be the stuff of
  • 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:13.275
  • Our lives or we are in a tremendous deficit position.
  • 00:13:13.275 --> 00:13:17.847
  • Well, i've written a book, "angels, demons, & you,"
  • 00:13:17.847 --> 00:13:20.416
  • Simply a biblical review of those spiritual forces that are
  • 00:13:20.416 --> 00:13:23.552
  • Impacting us today.
  • 00:13:23.552 --> 00:13:25.120
  • There's a battle in the earth, and it's not between armies
  • 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:28.057
  • Wearing the labels of nations or terrorist groups.
  • 00:13:28.057 --> 00:13:30.860
  • It's a spiritual battle.
  • 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:32.494
  • If you don't understand, if you don't understand the equipment
  • 00:13:32.494 --> 00:13:35.064
  • And the authority you've been given, you are at a tremendous
  • 00:13:35.064 --> 00:13:38.634
  • Position of forfeiture.
  • 00:13:38.634 --> 00:13:40.669
  • Don't live that way.
  • 00:13:40.669 --> 00:13:42.338
  • "angels, demons, & you," you need the solution.
  • 00:13:42.338 --> 00:13:45.541
  • Female announcer: loneliness, depression, despair,
  • 00:13:45.541 --> 00:13:48.377
  • They all have a spiritual origin.
  • 00:13:48.377 --> 00:13:50.546
  • We're in a spiritual battle, and the forces of evil
  • 00:13:50.546 --> 00:13:53.282
  • Stand against us.
  • 00:13:53.282 --> 00:13:54.950
  • But we don't need to be afraid. we need to prepare.
  • 00:13:54.950 --> 00:13:58.153
  • Allen: jesus said the children have angels assigned to them
  • 00:13:58.153 --> 00:14:00.856
  • That have the father's attention.
  • 00:14:00.856 --> 00:14:02.191
  • It's safe to say that in the kingdom of god, there are
  • 00:14:02.191 --> 00:14:05.060
  • Spiritual beings in significant number.
  • 00:14:05.060 --> 00:14:10.299
  • And they're ministering spirits, the bible says,
  • 00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:12.167
  • Sent forth to help us.
  • 00:14:12.167 --> 00:14:14.503
  • They're messengers.
  • 00:14:14.503 --> 00:14:15.838
  • They fill the pages of scripture, and yet we tend to
  • 00:14:15.838 --> 00:14:18.073
  • Kind of imagine as if it's peripheral, secondary, that you
  • 00:14:18.073 --> 00:14:21.810
  • Could be a christ follower, not really be engaged or have to
  • 00:14:21.810 --> 00:14:24.346
  • Imagine spiritual forces.
  • 00:14:24.346 --> 00:14:26.582
  • "we believe in organization."
  • 00:14:26.582 --> 00:14:29.351
  • Well, so do i.
  • 00:14:29.351 --> 00:14:31.253
  • I like a good plan and i like an organization that is run
  • 00:14:31.253 --> 00:14:34.089
  • Well, but i don't want to--it's not an either/or equation and i
  • 00:14:34.089 --> 00:14:37.726
  • Certainly don't want to exchange the power of god and the
  • 00:14:37.726 --> 00:14:41.664
  • Spiritual help that he's made available to us for the
  • 00:14:41.664 --> 00:14:44.333
  • Imagination that we can out-organize evil.
  • 00:14:44.333 --> 00:14:46.635
  • Announcer: pastor allen's new book, "angels, demons, & you,"
  • 00:14:46.635 --> 00:14:49.471
  • Offers compelling biblical evidence about angels and demons
  • 00:14:49.471 --> 00:14:53.575
  • And their roles in the heavens, on earth, and in our lives.
  • 00:14:53.575 --> 00:14:57.846
  • It answers the questions you want to know.
  • 00:14:57.846 --> 00:15:00.716
  • Learn what the bible has to say about angels, demons, and
  • 00:15:00.716 --> 00:15:03.686
  • Spiritual warfare.
  • 00:15:03.686 --> 00:15:05.554
  • Gain helpful insight that will help you identify and remove
  • 00:15:05.554 --> 00:15:09.091
  • Evil from your life.
  • 00:15:09.091 --> 00:15:10.826
  • Find practical tools and biblical truth that will help
  • 00:15:10.826 --> 00:15:13.696
  • You align your beliefs more fully with god's word.
  • 00:15:13.696 --> 00:15:16.966
  • "angels, demons, & you" will help you recognize the spiritual
  • 00:15:16.966 --> 00:15:20.569
  • Battle around you so you can live without fear and stand firm
  • 00:15:20.569 --> 00:15:23.973
  • In your faith.
  • 00:15:23.973 --> 00:15:25.441
  • Allen: this is our season in time to be a difference maker
  • 00:15:25.441 --> 00:15:27.576
  • For the kingdom of god, and that's a spiritual assignment.
  • 00:15:27.576 --> 00:15:31.513
  • Announcer: request your copy when you donate $30 or more
  • 00:15:31.513 --> 00:15:34.616
  • At allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:15:34.616 --> 00:15:41.023
  • Allen: now i want to take from that beginning and spend a few
  • 00:15:45.260 --> 00:15:48.664
  • Minutes talking to you about the role of the church in the world
  • 00:15:48.664 --> 00:15:52.134
  • Because i think to a great extent, this has been lost and
  • 00:15:52.134 --> 00:15:55.504
  • It's very much a topic that's relevant right now.
  • 00:15:55.504 --> 00:15:57.873
  • Church participation has been diminishing since covid.
  • 00:15:57.873 --> 00:16:01.810
  • There's some recent studies that suggest there might be an
  • 00:16:01.810 --> 00:16:04.513
  • Infinitesimal change in that, but nothing even remotely
  • 00:16:04.513 --> 00:16:09.985
  • Approaching where we were in covid.
  • 00:16:09.985 --> 00:16:13.188
  • Not so much for this particular community of faith, but
  • 00:16:13.188 --> 00:16:16.225
  • Nationwide and even globally that is true.
  • 00:16:16.225 --> 00:16:18.894
  • Matthew 16, and verse 18 is a verse that changed my life.
  • 00:16:18.894 --> 00:16:23.399
  • Jesus was speaking and he said, "i will build my church, and the
  • 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:26.835
  • Gates of hell will not prevail against it."
  • 00:16:26.835 --> 00:16:29.972
  • I would remind everyone, both friend and foe, that jesus is
  • 00:16:29.972 --> 00:16:34.276
  • The builder of the church, that he's the head of the church.
  • 00:16:34.276 --> 00:16:37.913
  • The church is his idea.
  • 00:16:37.913 --> 00:16:40.182
  • It didn't begin with professional christians.
  • 00:16:40.182 --> 00:16:44.053
  • Jesus said he would establish his church.
  • 00:16:44.053 --> 00:16:46.422
  • I do not intend to spend my strength, my energy, or my
  • 00:16:46.422 --> 00:16:50.092
  • Thoughts doing anything purposefully to oppose jesus.
  • 00:16:50.092 --> 00:16:54.430
  • If he said he's gonna build the church, watch me help.
  • 00:16:54.430 --> 00:16:58.033
  • I'll borrow king david's line.
  • 00:16:58.033 --> 00:16:59.501
  • I know it's a different application, but he said, "i'd
  • 00:16:59.501 --> 00:17:01.336
  • Rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the lord than to dwell
  • 00:17:01.336 --> 00:17:04.907
  • In the tents of the wicked."
  • 00:17:04.907 --> 00:17:07.242
  • The greatest honor of our lives, no matter what you achieve,
  • 00:17:07.242 --> 00:17:11.246
  • Accomplish, accumulate, the greatest honor of our lives is
  • 00:17:11.246 --> 00:17:15.451
  • Being considered a part of the church, capital c.
  • 00:17:15.451 --> 00:17:23.225
  • I'm gonna suggest that we have lost a bit our sense of the
  • 00:17:23.225 --> 00:17:26.195
  • Fundamentals of the church, who we're to be, what's necessary to
  • 00:17:26.195 --> 00:17:29.798
  • Believe, what our role in the world is to be.
  • 00:17:29.798 --> 00:17:32.935
  • We've just imagined that, you know, some sort of attendance,
  • 00:17:32.935 --> 00:17:35.370
  • Erratic or whatever, is probably the goal.
  • 00:17:35.370 --> 00:17:38.240
  • If you could just get there and endure it and survive it and not
  • 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:40.909
  • Lose your mind, you're golden.
  • 00:17:40.909 --> 00:17:44.746
  • It's easy to become bewildered by an array of answers available
  • 00:17:44.746 --> 00:17:48.117
  • In today's marketplace of ideas, to just throw up your hands and
  • 00:17:48.117 --> 00:17:52.154
  • Declare them all valid options.
  • 00:17:52.154 --> 00:17:54.590
  • There's a lot of pressure to do that.
  • 00:17:54.590 --> 00:17:56.458
  • Not to have the audacity to say that jesus is unique.
  • 00:17:56.458 --> 00:18:01.964
  • That's why pluralism often leads to relativism, to the idea that
  • 00:18:01.964 --> 00:18:05.801
  • There's really is no overarching objective truth, but only a
  • 00:18:05.801 --> 00:18:09.271
  • Variety of subjective beliefs.
  • 00:18:09.271 --> 00:18:11.273
  • You can believe whatever you want as long as you're kind.
  • 00:18:11.273 --> 00:18:16.311
  • This is important because the scripture is clear, if we fail
  • 00:18:16.311 --> 00:18:19.781
  • To fulfill the purpose for which god instituted the church, we
  • 00:18:19.781 --> 00:18:24.653
  • Will fail in our primary responsibility as
  • 00:18:24.653 --> 00:18:26.989
  • Christ followers.
  • 00:18:26.989 --> 00:18:29.057
  • Our primary goal is not to go to heaven, but to do the will of
  • 00:18:29.057 --> 00:18:34.596
  • God while we're on earth.
  • 00:18:34.596 --> 00:18:37.566
  • I understand that's contradictory to much of what
  • 00:18:37.566 --> 00:18:39.701
  • We've heard.
  • 00:18:39.701 --> 00:18:41.937
  • We've had to focus on a singular event.
  • 00:18:41.937 --> 00:18:45.174
  • That entry point into the kingdom, and i believe in that.
  • 00:18:45.174 --> 00:18:47.509
  • I'm not trying to diminish that, but the point of the objective
  • 00:18:47.509 --> 00:18:50.546
  • Is not to recite the sinner's prayer.
  • 00:18:50.546 --> 00:18:52.614
  • The objective is to do the will of god.
  • 00:18:52.614 --> 00:18:56.051
  • And it's very difficult to argue participation in the kingdom of
  • 00:18:56.051 --> 00:18:59.388
  • God if you carry no interest in doing the will of god.
  • 00:18:59.388 --> 00:19:03.592
  • In matthew 5, jesus said, "you're the salt of the earth.
  • 00:19:03.592 --> 00:19:06.762
  • If the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
  • 00:19:06.762 --> 00:19:10.699
  • It's no longer good for anything, except to be thrown
  • 00:19:10.699 --> 00:19:12.901
  • Out and trampled by men."
  • 00:19:12.901 --> 00:19:15.437
  • Similar idea, different metaphor.
  • 00:19:15.437 --> 00:19:17.606
  • In john 15, jesus said, "he cuts off every branch in me that
  • 00:19:17.606 --> 00:19:20.742
  • Bears no fruit."
  • 00:19:20.742 --> 00:19:24.813
  • You know, i think it would be easy to look at the contemporary
  • 00:19:24.813 --> 00:19:26.815
  • Church and be filled with some anxiety.
  • 00:19:26.815 --> 00:19:29.551
  • The lest we despair, there is significant historical evidence
  • 00:19:29.551 --> 00:19:32.721
  • That cultures can be renewed.
  • 00:19:32.721 --> 00:19:35.357
  • It is the story of the scripture, both old and
  • 00:19:35.357 --> 00:19:38.126
  • New testaments.
  • 00:19:38.126 --> 00:19:39.561
  • It's the story of the history of the church, even those cultures
  • 00:19:39.561 --> 00:19:43.098
  • That have been typically considered to be the most
  • 00:19:43.098 --> 00:19:45.067
  • Corrupt and intractable.
  • 00:19:45.067 --> 00:19:48.003
  • But if we are to restore our world, we first have to shake
  • 00:19:48.003 --> 00:19:51.373
  • Off the comfortable notion that christianity is merely a
  • 00:19:51.373 --> 00:19:54.409
  • Personal experience with application only to my
  • 00:19:54.409 --> 00:19:58.046
  • Private life.
  • 00:19:58.046 --> 00:20:00.315
  • "no man is an island," wrote the poet john donne.
  • 00:20:00.315 --> 00:20:03.685
  • And one of the great myths of our day, even in the church, is
  • 00:20:03.685 --> 00:20:06.855
  • That we are islands.
  • 00:20:06.855 --> 00:20:09.157
  • That our decisions are personal and that no one has a right to
  • 00:20:09.157 --> 00:20:11.827
  • Tell us what to do in our private lives.
  • 00:20:11.827 --> 00:20:15.030
  • We very easily forget that every private decision contributes to
  • 00:20:15.030 --> 00:20:18.100
  • The moral and cultural climate in which we live.
  • 00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:25.340
  • Our choices, our personal choices, our private choices
  • 00:20:25.340 --> 00:20:29.278
  • Ripple out from those choices across our lives and our
  • 00:20:29.278 --> 00:20:33.548
  • Families as we're so accustomed to saying at our kitchen table,
  • 00:20:33.548 --> 00:20:36.652
  • At our holiday table, and in the circle of our friends.
  • 00:20:36.652 --> 00:20:41.623
  • The reality, the awkward reality is that we've chosen to be
  • 00:20:41.623 --> 00:20:44.626
  • Christ followers in a fallen world.
  • 00:20:44.626 --> 00:20:48.697
  • That's the story.
  • 00:20:48.697 --> 00:20:50.132
  • And we shouldn't imagine a revival so sweeping that we're
  • 00:20:50.132 --> 00:20:52.834
  • Not aware of evil in the world.
  • 00:20:52.834 --> 00:20:55.304
  • I don't believe it's an appropriate expectation.
  • 00:20:55.304 --> 00:20:57.272
  • I don't believe it aligns with scripture.
  • 00:20:57.272 --> 00:20:59.808
  • I believe we can anticipate revivals and awakenings and
  • 00:20:59.808 --> 00:21:02.311
  • Outpourings of the spirit of god and movings of god, but if you
  • 00:21:02.311 --> 00:21:05.514
  • Take the biblical narratives that many of you know so well,
  • 00:21:05.514 --> 00:21:08.417
  • When god is moving in the most dramatic way, there always seems
  • 00:21:08.417 --> 00:21:11.153
  • To be consistent naysayers.
  • 00:21:11.153 --> 00:21:15.424
  • God parted of the red sea and the hebrew slaves escaped the
  • 00:21:15.424 --> 00:21:18.260
  • Egyptian armies on dry ground, only to turn and see their
  • 00:21:18.260 --> 00:21:21.430
  • Enemies drowned as the waters cascaded on top of them.
  • 00:21:21.430 --> 00:21:25.701
  • And 72 hours later, the entire nation said, "we liked it better
  • 00:21:25.701 --> 00:21:29.438
  • In egypt."
  • 00:21:29.438 --> 00:21:33.075
  • When the spies went into the promised land.
  • 00:21:33.075 --> 00:21:36.578
  • 12 were sent in and 10 came back and said, "it's a beautiful
  • 00:21:36.578 --> 00:21:39.514
  • Place, but we can't do this."
  • 00:21:39.514 --> 00:21:43.552
  • There's never been a short supply of naysayers, and you
  • 00:21:43.552 --> 00:21:45.921
  • Shouldn't imagine that there will be now.
  • 00:21:45.921 --> 00:21:48.857
  • After jesus was baptized in the jordan river and the voice came
  • 00:21:48.857 --> 00:21:51.760
  • From heaven and said, "this is my son, i'm pleased with him,"
  • 00:21:51.760 --> 00:21:55.497
  • And a dove lighted on top of him, the next event is satan
  • 00:21:55.497 --> 00:22:00.302
  • Comes to tempt jesus.
  • 00:22:00.302 --> 00:22:02.871
  • I'm reading that thinking, "you have got to be kidding me."
  • 00:22:02.871 --> 00:22:07.676
  • We live in a fallen world.
  • 00:22:07.676 --> 00:22:10.779
  • The first fundamental i would give you is the very
  • 00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:12.748
  • First commandment.
  • 00:22:12.748 --> 00:22:14.082
  • At the top of that list of ten, which we cannot remove from our
  • 00:22:14.082 --> 00:22:17.018
  • Lives, says, "you can have no other gods before me.
  • 00:22:17.018 --> 00:22:22.391
  • I'm a jealous god.
  • 00:22:22.391 --> 00:22:24.793
  • I will tolerate no competition.
  • 00:22:24.793 --> 00:22:28.263
  • I'll not be a part of a pantheon.
  • 00:22:28.263 --> 00:22:30.799
  • I won't be a part of a collection of gods.
  • 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:33.535
  • No other gods before me."
  • 00:22:33.535 --> 00:22:36.505
  • If you don't get that one right, the rest of the commandments are
  • 00:22:36.505 --> 00:22:39.508
  • Less relevant.
  • 00:22:39.508 --> 00:22:41.209
  • In 1 peter 2:9 it says, "you're a chosen people, a royal
  • 00:22:41.209 --> 00:22:43.979
  • Priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to god, that
  • 00:22:43.979 --> 00:22:47.816
  • You may declare the praises of him who called you out of
  • 00:22:47.816 --> 00:22:50.051
  • Darkness into his wonderful light."
  • 00:22:50.051 --> 00:22:52.888
  • Please note, christ followers by peter, the fishermen that jesus
  • 00:22:52.888 --> 00:22:55.924
  • Recruited, are directed to be a holy nation.
  • 00:22:55.924 --> 00:23:00.629
  • Not just a group of born againers.
  • 00:23:00.629 --> 00:23:03.865
  • Many christians think of conversion as personal and
  • 00:23:03.865 --> 00:23:06.168
  • Private, but being converted is not just being separated or
  • 00:23:06.168 --> 00:23:09.805
  • Saved from one sinful past, it is being joined to a holy god
  • 00:23:09.805 --> 00:23:14.443
  • And his people.
  • 00:23:14.443 --> 00:23:16.077
  • That is the essence of covenant.
  • 00:23:16.077 --> 00:23:19.748
  • We're in this world together.
  • 00:23:19.748 --> 00:23:23.885
  • We're not a religious social club.
  • 00:23:23.885 --> 00:23:25.720
  • We're not a motivational seminar.
  • 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:28.523
  • We're not a childcare facility.
  • 00:23:28.523 --> 00:23:31.193
  • There may be tenets of all of those things that can be
  • 00:23:31.193 --> 00:23:33.228
  • Identified amongst us, but they're not the
  • 00:23:33.228 --> 00:23:35.297
  • Primary assignment.
  • 00:23:35.297 --> 00:23:36.765
  • We're a group of people whose first allegiance is to our
  • 00:23:36.765 --> 00:23:39.100
  • Father god.
  • 00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:41.002
  • All other allegiances must be secondary to our intent to
  • 00:23:41.002 --> 00:23:45.173
  • Honor god.
  • 00:23:45.173 --> 00:23:46.541
  • It's why we're not hyphenated christ followers.
  • 00:23:46.541 --> 00:23:49.845
  • What's the greatest commandment of the christian life?
  • 00:23:49.845 --> 00:23:53.215
  • Jesus gave it to us.
  • 00:23:53.215 --> 00:23:54.549
  • It's mark 12, it's in your notes.
  • 00:23:54.549 --> 00:23:57.385
  • "one of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating.
  • 00:23:57.385 --> 00:24:00.789
  • Noticing that jesus had given them a good answer, he asked,"
  • 00:24:00.789 --> 00:24:04.292
  • This is the question, "'of all the commandments, which is the
  • 00:24:04.292 --> 00:24:06.862
  • Most important?'
  • 00:24:06.862 --> 00:24:09.130
  • And jesus answered, 'the most important one is this: "hear, o
  • 00:24:09.130 --> 00:24:14.870
  • Israel, the lord our god, the lord is one.
  • 00:24:14.870 --> 00:24:18.473
  • Love the lord your god with all of your heart and with all of
  • 00:24:18.473 --> 00:24:20.942
  • Your soul and with all of your mind and with all of
  • 00:24:20.942 --> 00:24:23.745
  • Your strength."
  • 00:24:23.745 --> 00:24:25.780
  • The second is this: "love your neighbor as yourself."
  • 00:24:25.780 --> 00:24:28.416
  • There's no commandment greater than these.'"
  • 00:24:28.416 --> 00:24:31.553
  • Well, jesus said it it's plain language.
  • 00:24:31.553 --> 00:24:34.222
  • You'd have to be intentionally obtuse to miss it.
  • 00:24:34.222 --> 00:24:37.192
  • What does it mean to love the lord?
  • 00:24:37.192 --> 00:24:38.560
  • In john 14, jesus again gave us the solution.
  • 00:24:38.560 --> 00:24:41.796
  • He said, "if you love me, you'll obey what i command."
  • 00:24:41.796 --> 00:24:44.332
  • How do we love god?
  • 00:24:44.332 --> 00:24:45.834
  • By obedience.
  • 00:24:45.834 --> 00:24:48.303
  • You really have no argument that you love god if you practice
  • 00:24:48.303 --> 00:24:52.207
  • Disobedience to the truth that you know.
  • 00:24:52.207 --> 00:24:56.711
  • Obedience is the beginning of the christian life.
  • 00:24:56.711 --> 00:24:59.381
  • Obedience is essential to truly living as a christ follower.
  • 00:24:59.381 --> 00:25:02.584
  • It isn't optional.
  • 00:25:02.584 --> 00:25:04.619
  • We can't say, "oh well, i said the prayer."
  • 00:25:04.619 --> 00:25:07.622
  • God--the fruit of the prayer is a life yielded in obedience to
  • 00:25:07.622 --> 00:25:12.460
  • The lord.
  • 00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:14.162
  • You know, the overarching message in our world today says
  • 00:25:14.162 --> 00:25:16.831
  • You really should do what you feel best about.
  • 00:25:16.831 --> 00:25:20.001
  • Do what you think, do your own thing if i can borrow the
  • 00:25:20.001 --> 00:25:22.737
  • 60s language.
  • 00:25:22.737 --> 00:25:24.573
  • Not that i was there, i just read about it.
  • 00:25:24.573 --> 00:25:29.210
  • But the gospel says that we should carry each other's
  • 00:25:29.210 --> 00:25:31.913
  • Burdens and in this way, you'll fulfill the law of christ.
  • 00:25:31.913 --> 00:25:35.584
  • "well, i don't wanna do that.
  • 00:25:35.584 --> 00:25:38.219
  • That's your mess.
  • 00:25:38.219 --> 00:25:39.888
  • You carry it."
  • 00:25:39.888 --> 00:25:43.658
  • The world says to us we should look out for ourselves.
  • 00:25:43.658 --> 00:25:47.462
  • The gospel says we should lay down our lives for our brothers.
  • 00:25:47.462 --> 00:25:52.367
  • If you'll allow me, i would submit to you that it takes real
  • 00:25:52.367 --> 00:25:55.170
  • Courage to be obedient to jesus.
  • 00:25:55.170 --> 00:25:58.607
  • We talk about all the places in our life where courage
  • 00:25:58.607 --> 00:26:00.742
  • Is demanded.
  • 00:26:00.742 --> 00:26:02.077
  • I haven't found anything yet that is required of me the
  • 00:26:02.077 --> 00:26:05.280
  • Consistent demonstration of courage than obedience to the
  • 00:26:05.280 --> 00:26:08.316
  • Lord has asked.
  • 00:26:08.316 --> 00:26:11.052
  • There isn't any hope in our society except the hope that
  • 00:26:11.052 --> 00:26:13.788
  • Comes from the people of god living righteously in our land.
  • 00:26:13.788 --> 00:26:19.094
  • I've said this many times to you in recent months and years, but
  • 00:26:19.094 --> 00:26:23.498
  • I'm gonna continue to echo it.
  • 00:26:23.498 --> 00:26:25.100
  • There really is no hope for us as a people, except the people
  • 00:26:25.100 --> 00:26:28.970
  • Of faith living righteously in our land.
  • 00:26:28.970 --> 00:26:32.807
  • I'm grateful that we can choose leaders.
  • 00:26:32.807 --> 00:26:34.442
  • I'm grateful for elections and we have the courage to stand up
  • 00:26:34.442 --> 00:26:37.245
  • For biblical principles and choose people who say they will
  • 00:26:37.245 --> 00:26:40.248
  • Implement a biblical worldview, but the problems we have aren't
  • 00:26:40.248 --> 00:26:43.618
  • Fundamentally political.
  • 00:26:43.618 --> 00:26:44.953
  • They're spiritual.
  • 00:26:44.953 --> 00:26:46.321
  • The church has not been living according to the righteous
  • 00:26:46.321 --> 00:26:48.323
  • Principles of scripture.
  • 00:26:48.323 --> 00:26:50.692
  • We've been going our own way.
  • 00:26:50.692 --> 00:26:52.027
  • We've had a designer faith and a designer religion.
  • 00:26:52.027 --> 00:26:54.729
  • Allen: i want to pray.
  • 00:26:55.664 --> 00:26:57.032
  • Father, i thank you that we have bibles and churches and
  • 00:26:57.032 --> 00:26:59.501
  • Fellowship and community, but we need your help to be men and
  • 00:26:59.501 --> 00:27:02.604
  • Women of strength and courage.
  • 00:27:02.604 --> 00:27:04.205
  • Holy spirit, we ask you, let a boldness for god grow in us.
  • 00:27:04.205 --> 00:27:08.243
  • In jesus's name. amen.
  • 00:27:08.243 --> 00:27:10.311
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:10.311 --> 00:27:29.330