Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Decisions Regarding Jesus

February 13, 2026 | 27:29

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

#Jesus #Choices #Actions #WalkwithGod #TrustGod #Faith #Grace #Salvation #AllenJackson

Closed captions

Show Timecode

Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Decisions Regarding Jesus | February 13, 2026

...
00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.083
Allen jackson: you know, around the world,
00:00:01.517 --> 00:00:02.751
People are searching for truth, and together we're doing our
00:00:02.851 --> 00:00:05.521
Very best to help them find it.
00:00:05.621 --> 00:00:07.589
When you become a ministry partner with allen jackson
00:00:07.723 --> 00:00:09.858
Ministries, you're joining a growing community of believers
00:00:09.992 --> 00:00:11.026
Who are committed to strengthening the church and
00:00:13.195 --> 00:00:15.998
Sharing god's word through every available channel--
00:00:15.998 --> 00:00:19.268
Television, radio, podcast, books, bible studies,
00:00:19.268 --> 00:00:22.671
Digital resources, conferences.
00:00:22.671 --> 00:00:25.541
Your monthly partnership helps us equip believers to reach new
00:00:25.541 --> 00:00:28.710
Audiences, to take the hope of jesus to people who may never
00:00:28.710 --> 00:00:32.614
Have heard the gospel otherwise.
00:00:32.614 --> 00:00:34.716
Together, we can stand firm in our faith and make god's truth
00:00:34.716 --> 00:00:38.654
Known right here at home and around the earth, wherever
00:00:38.654 --> 00:00:41.790
God opens a door.
00:00:41.790 --> 00:00:43.192
Let's keep gathering his people and building his church until
00:00:43.192 --> 00:00:46.495
The day our king returns.
00:00:46.495 --> 00:00:48.730
You can find more about becoming a ministry partner
00:00:48.730 --> 00:00:51.633
At allenjackson.com/partner.
00:00:51.633 --> 00:00:58.540
♪♪♪
00:01:01.877 --> 00:01:07.349
Allen: luke is gonna present to us today, quickly, a group of
00:01:07.349 --> 00:01:12.421
People making decisions regarding jesus.
00:01:12.421 --> 00:01:15.524
But i want us to understand we're not just reviewing
00:01:15.524 --> 00:01:17.493
Something from antiquity.
00:01:17.493 --> 00:01:19.394
We're not considering a theological tome.
00:01:19.394 --> 00:01:22.431
That we're sitting here with our one time journey under the sun,
00:01:22.431 --> 00:01:25.968
Our one opportunity to represent the kingdom of god in a journey
00:01:25.968 --> 00:01:29.171
Through time.
00:01:29.171 --> 00:01:30.539
And the question i want you to consider is how are you doing
00:01:30.539 --> 00:01:33.542
With decisions regarding jesus?
00:01:33.542 --> 00:01:37.613
How are you doing when he points a conversation towards us that
00:01:37.613 --> 00:01:40.916
Feels awkward?
00:01:40.916 --> 00:01:42.251
How are we doing when alignment with jesus will bring rejection
00:01:42.251 --> 00:01:45.988
To our lives?
00:01:45.988 --> 00:01:47.956
Do we go quiet?
00:01:47.956 --> 00:01:49.458
Do we just get silent because we don't want to offend?
00:01:49.458 --> 00:01:53.462
How are we doing?
00:01:53.462 --> 00:01:54.796
Luke chapter 8 and verse 19.
00:01:54.796 --> 00:01:57.132
We're in luke 8, we started in this in the previous session and
00:01:57.132 --> 00:02:00.035
I didn't get past verse 18.
00:02:00.035 --> 00:02:05.474
"jesus' mother and brothers came to see jesus, but they weren't
00:02:05.474 --> 00:02:08.110
Able to get near him because of the crowd.
00:02:08.110 --> 00:02:09.845
And someone told him, 'your mother and brothers don't like
00:02:09.845 --> 00:02:13.248
Big church, and so they left.'"
00:02:13.248 --> 00:02:15.250
I'm, i'm sorry.
00:02:15.250 --> 00:02:19.321
"'your mother and brothers are standing outside, they wanna
00:02:19.321 --> 00:02:21.590
See you.'
00:02:21.590 --> 00:02:22.958
And jesus replied, 'my mother and brothers are those who hear
00:02:22.958 --> 00:02:25.527
God's word and put it into practice."
00:02:25.527 --> 00:02:29.064
That's not some distant, obtuse statement that's been made
00:02:29.064 --> 00:02:33.368
By jesus.
00:02:33.368 --> 00:02:34.870
In the preceding verse, he's unpacking--he's helping the
00:02:34.870 --> 00:02:39.208
Disciples unpack a discipleship.
00:02:39.208 --> 00:02:41.043
He's told him a parable, the parable of the sower, the
00:02:41.043 --> 00:02:44.213
Farmer who sows seed and it falls in four
00:02:44.213 --> 00:02:46.481
Separate categories.
00:02:46.481 --> 00:02:47.816
It's an often discussed parable.
00:02:47.816 --> 00:02:49.284
I suspect you know, generally the outline of that.
00:02:49.284 --> 00:02:52.321
And as he's helping them understand the implications of
00:02:52.321 --> 00:02:54.556
Discipleship, because in that parable, only 1 in 4 actually
00:02:54.556 --> 00:02:58.126
Are able to hold on to the truth of god's word.
00:02:58.126 --> 00:03:03.031
And the statement that he's made in the preceding verse is
00:03:03.031 --> 00:03:06.568
Consider carefully how you listen.
00:03:06.568 --> 00:03:10.305
Consider carefully how you listen, that listening to god
00:03:10.305 --> 00:03:14.109
Becomes an essential component that luke is sharing with us in
00:03:14.109 --> 00:03:17.512
Becoming disciples.
00:03:17.512 --> 00:03:19.715
Not attending, not being busy with religious rule observance,
00:03:19.715 --> 00:03:24.753
But consider carefully how you listen to what god is saying.
00:03:24.753 --> 00:03:29.124
We live in a very confusing time.
00:03:29.124 --> 00:03:32.294
There is propaganda and censorship in
00:03:32.294 --> 00:03:34.730
Unprecedented ways.
00:03:34.730 --> 00:03:36.098
We have communications tools, the likes of which the world has
00:03:36.098 --> 00:03:38.634
Never known before.
00:03:38.634 --> 00:03:40.068
We are bombarded with messaging, much of it is ungodly.
00:03:40.068 --> 00:03:43.605
It's disorienting.
00:03:43.605 --> 00:03:47.175
We're gonna have to become better listeners.
00:03:47.175 --> 00:03:50.045
And immediately upon that, luke gives us this little scenario,
00:03:50.045 --> 00:03:53.582
It seems to almost be out of place in this chapter that
00:03:53.582 --> 00:03:57.219
Jesus's mother and his brothers present, and they would like to
00:03:57.219 --> 00:03:59.821
Say something to him.
00:03:59.821 --> 00:04:01.156
Maybe they brought lunch, we don't know.
00:04:01.156 --> 00:04:03.458
And jesus answers with what seems obtuse if you peel it out
00:04:03.458 --> 00:04:07.629
Of context.
00:04:07.629 --> 00:04:08.964
He said, "those who hear my word and put it into practice."
00:04:08.964 --> 00:04:13.669
You gotta listen and implement.
00:04:13.669 --> 00:04:16.638
Another familiar parable luke told us was the parable of the
00:04:16.638 --> 00:04:20.475
Builders, the one who built on the sand and one who built on
00:04:20.475 --> 00:04:22.844
The stone.
00:04:22.844 --> 00:04:24.379
And he began that parable that we've used in such a happy,
00:04:24.379 --> 00:04:26.848
Friendly way, and he said, "why do you call me lord and not do
00:04:26.848 --> 00:04:30.686
What i tell you?"
00:04:30.686 --> 00:04:33.322
He said, "the one who builds a house on a foundation that will
00:04:33.322 --> 00:04:35.757
Withstand storms is the one who hears my words and puts them
00:04:35.757 --> 00:04:39.895
Into practice."
00:04:39.895 --> 00:04:42.631
Then in the parable of the sower, he's saying to us
00:04:42.631 --> 00:04:45.534
Considerably carefully how you listen, and now he says the
00:04:45.534 --> 00:04:48.503
Message for his mom and his siblings is listen to god's word
00:04:48.503 --> 00:04:52.641
And put it into practice.
00:04:52.641 --> 00:04:54.109
Do you think luke might have a theme emerging?
00:04:54.109 --> 00:04:58.980
Do you think there was something he understood jesus wanted his
00:04:58.980 --> 00:05:01.683
Disciples to know that he's trying to communicate to us?
00:05:01.683 --> 00:05:06.855
It's an essential component to being disciples or followers
00:05:06.855 --> 00:05:09.725
Of jesus.
00:05:09.725 --> 00:05:11.727
Verse 22: "one day jesus said to his disciples, 'let's go over to
00:05:11.727 --> 00:05:14.763
The other side of the lake.'"
00:05:14.763 --> 00:05:16.198
It's the lake of galilee.
00:05:16.198 --> 00:05:19.134
One side of the lake is jewish, the other side of the lake is
00:05:19.134 --> 00:05:21.403
Not, so it's more than just crossing a lake, there's a
00:05:21.403 --> 00:05:24.106
Cultural change.
00:05:24.106 --> 00:05:26.708
Jews were not particularly enthused about intermingling
00:05:26.708 --> 00:05:31.012
With other cultures, they understood their vulnerability.
00:05:31.012 --> 00:05:35.384
So, jesus said, "let's go to the non-jewish side of the lake.
00:05:35.384 --> 00:05:40.021
So they got in the boat and they set out and they sailed, he
00:05:40.021 --> 00:05:42.391
Fell asleep.
00:05:42.391 --> 00:05:44.126
The squall came on the lake and the boat's being swamped, and
00:05:44.126 --> 00:05:46.528
They were in great danger.
00:05:46.528 --> 00:05:47.896
The disciples went and woke him.
00:05:47.896 --> 00:05:49.898
'master, we're going to drown.'
00:05:49.898 --> 00:05:54.469
So he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; and
00:05:54.469 --> 00:05:56.638
The storm subsided and all was calm.
00:05:56.638 --> 00:05:59.241
So he asked the disciples, 'where is your faith?'
00:05:59.241 --> 00:06:02.477
In fear and amazement they ask one another, 'who is this?'
00:06:02.477 --> 00:06:04.813
He commands even the winds and the water and they obey him."
00:06:04.813 --> 00:06:08.316
Now again, we often look at these little narratives out of a
00:06:08.316 --> 00:06:10.719
Context and we just look at the miracle and it's legitimate.
00:06:10.719 --> 00:06:13.688
It's a remarkable story.
00:06:13.688 --> 00:06:15.791
But luke is doing more than that, he's weaving together a
00:06:15.791 --> 00:06:19.161
Narrative to help you and i understand jesus, the message he
00:06:19.161 --> 00:06:22.964
Taught, the things he believed, and how we might become
00:06:22.964 --> 00:06:25.400
Faithful disciples.
00:06:25.400 --> 00:06:27.736
And he's introducing us again to this authority that is outside
00:06:27.736 --> 00:06:31.173
Of the dimension in which we live.
00:06:31.173 --> 00:06:34.142
It's an authority we can't understand.
00:06:34.142 --> 00:06:37.312
Nobody speaks to the wind and the waves.
00:06:37.312 --> 00:06:40.749
I mean, there's some irony in this story, there's some funny
00:06:40.749 --> 00:06:42.984
Components if you prefer.
00:06:42.984 --> 00:06:46.054
Jesus is in the boat with the fisherman, he's the carpenter.
00:06:46.054 --> 00:06:50.425
So, the fishermen are navigating the lake, the carpenter's taking
00:06:50.425 --> 00:06:53.094
A nap.
00:06:53.094 --> 00:06:54.463
Up to that point, it all makes perfect sense.
00:06:54.463 --> 00:06:57.032
But the fishermen become so aware of this sudden storm, so
00:06:57.032 --> 00:07:01.169
Frightened by it, they think they're going to drown, so they
00:07:01.169 --> 00:07:04.072
Wake up the carpenter.
00:07:04.072 --> 00:07:06.107
It--this is not a cruise liner, folks.
00:07:06.107 --> 00:07:10.145
Jesus wasn't in the air-conditioned cabin, having
00:07:10.145 --> 00:07:14.483
Dozed off after a snack.
00:07:14.483 --> 00:07:17.886
It's an open boat.
00:07:17.886 --> 00:07:19.488
If there is a storm sufficient that the fishermen think they're
00:07:19.488 --> 00:07:22.924
Going to drown, it suggests the boat is being swamped, the wave,
00:07:22.924 --> 00:07:28.263
The waves, the wind, and jesus is sleeping.
00:07:28.263 --> 00:07:36.404
Now, this is my edition.
00:07:36.404 --> 00:07:38.406
I can't prove it from the text.
00:07:38.406 --> 00:07:43.979
I think jesus is watching.
00:07:43.979 --> 00:07:51.720
They wake him up.
00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:53.088
"lord, we're gonna drown."
00:07:53.088 --> 00:07:56.591
And then he acts like a carpenter, he stands up in the
00:07:56.591 --> 00:07:58.560
Boat and he speaks to the wind and the waves.
00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:04.466
What intrigues me is what he said to his friends.
00:08:04.466 --> 00:08:08.003
"where's your faith?
00:08:08.003 --> 00:08:09.371
Where's your faith?
00:08:10.505 --> 00:08:13.141
What are you looking at?
00:08:13.141 --> 00:08:15.343
What are you believing in?"
00:08:15.343 --> 00:08:16.678
We're in chapter 8 now, they're not just beginners any longer.
00:08:16.678 --> 00:08:19.915
They've been along the ride for people being raised from the
00:08:19.915 --> 00:08:22.317
Dead and remarkable miracles.
00:08:22.317 --> 00:08:25.520
Where's your faith?
00:08:25.520 --> 00:08:27.255
What are you thinking about?
00:08:27.255 --> 00:08:28.623
What are you looking at?
00:08:28.623 --> 00:08:29.958
I'm pretty comfortable that if jesus stood with us today, one
00:08:29.958 --> 00:08:31.526
Of the questions he would say to us is, "where's your faith?"
00:08:31.526 --> 00:08:34.663
Oh, i go to bible studies.
00:08:34.663 --> 00:08:37.566
In fact, just last week, we spent the entire time discussing
00:08:37.566 --> 00:08:40.268
Whether or not god still does miracles.
00:08:40.268 --> 00:08:46.274
Where's your faith?
00:08:46.274 --> 00:08:48.843
The next phrase is perhaps my favorite in this.
00:08:48.843 --> 00:08:50.745
It's a totally new experience for the disciples.
00:08:50.745 --> 00:08:52.681
They've never seen anybody speak to wind and waves, and it's just
00:08:52.681 --> 00:08:55.517
That their response was a mixture of fear and amazement.
00:08:55.517 --> 00:08:59.854
May i ask you a question?
00:08:59.854 --> 00:09:01.289
When was the last time in the context of your faith in your
00:09:01.289 --> 00:09:04.159
Response to god, you had a combination of fear
00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:08.830
And amazement?
00:09:08.830 --> 00:09:12.267
See, we've tried to reduce our faith to an
00:09:12.267 --> 00:09:14.102
Intellectual exercise.
00:09:14.102 --> 00:09:15.470
Can you spell nebuchadnezzar?
00:09:15.470 --> 00:09:18.506
We think it's a burden and imposition if somebody suggests
00:09:18.506 --> 00:09:20.909
We read our bible.
00:09:20.909 --> 00:09:22.911
Well, i mean, that'd take 10 minutes a day.
00:09:22.911 --> 00:09:26.314
I'd have to skip halftime.
00:09:26.314 --> 00:09:30.452
You see, we have drifted so far away.
00:09:30.452 --> 00:09:34.389
And i say we because i've spent my adult life in the
00:09:34.389 --> 00:09:36.858
Christian church.
00:09:36.858 --> 00:09:39.461
I've been in that boat that was drifting.
00:09:39.461 --> 00:09:42.764
We've drifted so far away that when they told us our faith
00:09:42.764 --> 00:09:45.133
Wasn't welcome in public, we said, "well, all right."
00:09:45.133 --> 00:09:49.170
When they constructed a false gospel that said the cross was
00:09:49.170 --> 00:09:53.141
No longer really essential because we're not gonna talk
00:09:53.141 --> 00:09:55.076
About sin, we're just gonna talk about behaviors, and we don't
00:09:55.076 --> 00:09:58.980
Wanna be judgy and suggest that anybody's behavior
00:09:58.980 --> 00:10:01.349
Is inappropriate.
00:10:01.349 --> 00:10:02.717
Therefore, we don't really need the cross.
00:10:02.717 --> 00:10:04.085
Folks, the point of the cross is our sin will forfeit any
00:10:04.085 --> 00:10:07.989
Opportunity we have for the kingdom of god.
00:10:07.989 --> 00:10:11.593
And we need forgiveness that we can't earn, or produce, or
00:10:11.593 --> 00:10:14.996
Engineer on our own.
00:10:14.996 --> 00:10:16.398
It required a divine intervention on our behalf, but
00:10:16.398 --> 00:10:19.501
To benefit from that intervention, we have to come
00:10:19.501 --> 00:10:22.637
Acknowledge our sin and repent, change how we have thought about
00:10:22.637 --> 00:10:28.610
The behavior and change our direction.
00:10:28.610 --> 00:10:32.514
Well, that message is so controversial, people will say
00:10:32.514 --> 00:10:35.183
You're being kind of critical.
00:10:35.183 --> 00:10:37.719
So, we kind of backed off the whole cross thing and the
00:10:37.719 --> 00:10:40.422
Redemption thing.
00:10:40.422 --> 00:10:41.756
It's kind of bloody.
00:10:41.756 --> 00:10:43.124
I mean, oh, we don't wanna--how about a hug?
00:10:43.124 --> 00:10:51.332
Fear and amazement.
00:10:51.332 --> 00:10:53.535
Jesus isn't done.
00:10:53.535 --> 00:10:55.503
"they sailed to the region of the gerasenes."
00:10:55.503 --> 00:10:59.007
I'm not gonna finish your outline today, but i will.
00:10:59.007 --> 00:11:05.547
Hope springs eternal.
00:11:05.547 --> 00:11:07.482
Verse 26: "they sailed to the region of the gerasenes, which
00:11:07.482 --> 00:11:10.118
Is across the lake.
00:11:10.118 --> 00:11:12.087
And when jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed
00:11:12.087 --> 00:11:14.956
Man from the town."
00:11:14.956 --> 00:11:16.958
It's another familiar narrative.
00:11:16.958 --> 00:11:18.426
"for a long time, the man hasn't worn clothes or lived in a
00:11:18.426 --> 00:11:20.762
House, but he lived in the tombs."
00:11:20.762 --> 00:11:22.797
You know, you can read some things in the bible and you kind
00:11:22.797 --> 00:11:24.566
Of read past them.
00:11:24.566 --> 00:11:27.402
The boat lands.
00:11:27.402 --> 00:11:28.737
I mean, just imagine, you've gone to the lake for the day.
00:11:28.737 --> 00:11:31.573
Then you pull up for the picnic with the family and the first
00:11:31.573 --> 00:11:34.008
Person you meet is buck naked.
00:11:34.008 --> 00:11:40.648
It's in the book.
00:11:40.648 --> 00:11:44.285
Luke just said it with a little more eloquence.
00:11:44.285 --> 00:11:45.887
He didn't grow up in middle tennessee.
00:11:45.887 --> 00:11:48.556
"for a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a
00:11:48.556 --> 00:11:51.359
House, but he lived in the tombs.
00:11:51.359 --> 00:11:54.896
And when he saw jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet,
00:11:54.896 --> 00:11:57.499
Shouting at the top of his voice, 'what do you want with
00:11:57.499 --> 00:12:00.135
Me, jesus, the son of the most high god?'"
00:12:00.135 --> 00:12:05.507
And we meet all these people who reject jesus, who will not
00:12:05.507 --> 00:12:07.976
Acknowledge him, who will not yield.
00:12:07.976 --> 00:12:10.745
They stand in their stubborn pride and say, "who does he
00:12:10.745 --> 00:12:13.948
Think he is?"
00:12:13.948 --> 00:12:15.350
And this man who is clearly troubled, a demon speaking
00:12:15.350 --> 00:12:21.022
Through him says, "i know who you are, you're the son of the
00:12:21.022 --> 00:12:23.658
Most high god."
00:12:23.658 --> 00:12:27.629
"i beg you, don't torture me, for jesus had commanded the evil
00:12:31.833 --> 00:12:34.435
Spirit to come out of the man.
00:12:34.435 --> 00:12:35.770
Many times it had seized him, though he was chained hand and
00:12:35.770 --> 00:12:38.540
Foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and been
00:12:38.540 --> 00:12:41.776
Driven by the demon into solitary places."
00:12:41.776 --> 00:12:45.346
This is really a pretty--it's a fascinating scenario if you're
00:12:45.346 --> 00:12:48.883
Not involved.
00:12:48.883 --> 00:12:50.952
If you're in the boat, this is awkward.
00:12:50.952 --> 00:12:54.856
Jesus stepped ashore.
00:12:54.856 --> 00:12:56.524
That's what luke said he stepped ashore and immediately he's
00:12:56.524 --> 00:13:00.094
Confronted by a naked man who's demonized, shouting at the top
00:13:00.094 --> 00:13:04.566
Of his lungs, "don't torture me!"
00:13:04.566 --> 00:13:08.736
That is an awkward day at the lake.
00:13:08.736 --> 00:13:13.675
And some of you know the balance of the story, "jesus asked him,
00:13:13.675 --> 00:13:16.211
'what's your name?'"
00:13:16.211 --> 00:13:17.579
He's not talking to the man, he's talking to the spirit.
00:13:17.579 --> 00:13:20.481
And the spirit said, "'legion,' because many demons have gone
00:13:20.481 --> 00:13:22.951
Into him.
00:13:22.951 --> 00:13:24.285
And they begged him repeatedly not to order them into
00:13:24.285 --> 00:13:25.653
The abyss.
00:13:25.653 --> 00:13:26.988
There's a large herd of pigs," that's why you know it's not a
00:13:26.988 --> 00:13:28.923
Jewish community.
00:13:28.923 --> 00:13:32.026
True, "feeding on the hillside.
00:13:32.026 --> 00:13:33.561
The demons begged jesus to let them go into them, and he gave
00:13:33.561 --> 00:13:35.997
Them permission.
00:13:35.997 --> 00:13:37.332
When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs,
00:13:37.332 --> 00:13:39.067
And the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and
00:13:39.067 --> 00:13:40.969
Was drowned.
00:13:40.969 --> 00:13:42.871
When those tending the pigs saw what happened, they ran off," no
00:13:42.871 --> 00:13:45.473
Kidding, "and reported in the town and the countryside, and
00:13:45.473 --> 00:13:49.577
The people went out to see what had happened.
00:13:49.577 --> 00:13:51.179
When they came to see jesus, they found the man from whom the
00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:53.681
Demons had gone out, sitting at jesus' feet, dressed and in his
00:13:53.681 --> 00:13:57.919
Right mind; and they were afraid.
00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:02.724
Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed
00:14:02.724 --> 00:14:05.059
Man had been cured.
00:14:05.059 --> 00:14:06.394
And all the people of the region asked jesus to leave them,
00:14:06.394 --> 00:14:09.364
Because they were overcome with fear.
00:14:09.364 --> 00:14:10.798
So he got into the boat and he left.
00:14:10.798 --> 00:14:13.134
The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him,
00:14:13.134 --> 00:14:15.570
But jesus sent him away, saying, 'return home, tell how much god
00:14:15.570 --> 00:14:19.240
Has done for you.'
00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:20.842
So the man went away and told all over town how much jesus had
00:14:20.842 --> 00:14:23.611
Done for him."
00:14:23.611 --> 00:14:25.513
Again, it's a pretty simple story.
00:14:25.513 --> 00:14:27.048
I mean, it's not complex.
00:14:27.048 --> 00:14:29.250
You don't need a mastery of greek verbs or even first
00:14:29.250 --> 00:14:31.886
Century culture.
00:14:31.886 --> 00:14:33.688
Luke is relating it with the eye of a diagnostician.
00:14:33.688 --> 00:14:36.557
He's a physician, he tells you a pretty straightforward story.
00:14:36.557 --> 00:14:40.194
From it we gain some insight into demonic activity, we prefer
00:14:40.194 --> 00:14:44.065
To pretend they don't exist.
00:14:44.065 --> 00:14:45.433
Jesus believed in them, we should change.
00:14:45.433 --> 00:14:48.636
We get a little insight here.
00:14:48.636 --> 00:14:50.104
Demons are tormentors.
00:14:50.104 --> 00:14:52.941
They're destructive.
00:14:52.941 --> 00:14:55.376
They destroyed a man's life, they destroyed a whole herd
00:14:55.376 --> 00:14:57.845
Of pigs.
00:14:57.845 --> 00:15:00.081
They tormented him.
00:15:00.081 --> 00:15:01.449
He couldn't even live in a house.
00:15:01.449 --> 00:15:02.917
He couldn't even maintain clothing.
00:15:02.917 --> 00:15:05.720
That's a tormented way to be.
00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:10.458
Allen: we have partnered with our friends tim and david barton
00:15:14.662 --> 00:15:17.098
To make available to you a two-volume set on
00:15:17.098 --> 00:15:19.867
American history.
00:15:19.867 --> 00:15:21.202
It's "the american story."
00:15:21.202 --> 00:15:22.570
And it focuses on the part of american history that's been
00:15:22.570 --> 00:15:24.739
Lost in much of our public education these days.
00:15:24.739 --> 00:15:27.642
It's god's engagement with this nation and how he brought the
00:15:27.642 --> 00:15:30.912
American story forward.
00:15:30.912 --> 00:15:32.380
Our nation is more than politics or republicans and democrats.
00:15:32.380 --> 00:15:35.817
It's god working in the lives of people to shape a nation that
00:15:35.817 --> 00:15:39.387
Had brought forth his purposes in the world.
00:15:39.387 --> 00:15:41.656
I believe it's an important part of our faith journey this year,
00:15:41.656 --> 00:15:44.625
And i believe the books will be a blessing to you.
00:15:44.625 --> 00:15:46.995
Announcer: the 250th anniversary of our nation is an important
00:15:46.995 --> 00:15:50.465
Milestone we shouldn't rush past, because history matters.
00:15:50.465 --> 00:15:55.003
"the american story" is a two-volume book series that
00:15:55.003 --> 00:15:57.839
Explores how faith, courage, and conviction helped shape the
00:15:57.839 --> 00:16:01.476
United states from the very beginning.
00:16:01.476 --> 00:16:03.911
Gain a greater understanding of where we've been so you can
00:16:03.911 --> 00:16:06.981
Protect and defend our nation's biblical foundations as we
00:16:06.981 --> 00:16:09.984
Move forward.
00:16:09.984 --> 00:16:11.319
Request "the american story" with your gift of $50 or more at
00:16:11.319 --> 00:16:14.722
Allenjackson.com or call...
00:16:14.722 --> 00:16:20.161
Female announcer: we are committed to helping you grow in
00:16:22.864 --> 00:16:24.599
Your faith and have tools for your journey,
00:16:24.599 --> 00:16:26.167
No matter your schedule.
00:16:26.167 --> 00:16:27.502
Get daily encouragement and insight with pastor allen's
00:16:27.502 --> 00:16:30.238
Daily devotion right in your inbox.
00:16:30.238 --> 00:16:32.006
Just sign up on the website.
00:16:32.006 --> 00:16:33.608
Join us on one of our live stream services right from your
00:16:33.608 --> 00:16:36.277
Tv using the allen jackson ministries app.
00:16:36.277 --> 00:16:39.147
Listen to a powerful message through your favorite podcast
00:16:39.147 --> 00:16:41.849
App, perfect for a commute,
00:16:41.849 --> 00:16:43.351
And make sure to follow pastor allen
00:16:43.351 --> 00:16:45.053
On social media to stay up-to-date with everything
00:16:45.053 --> 00:16:47.555
Happening here with allen jackson ministries.
00:16:47.555 --> 00:16:51.726
Allen: so, i find, it somewhat intriguing that we're more
00:16:53.528 --> 00:16:55.897
Willing to believe in the demonic, satanic, occultish
00:16:55.897 --> 00:17:02.637
Expressions of power, than we are willing to believe in the
00:17:02.637 --> 00:17:05.706
Power of almighty god.
00:17:05.706 --> 00:17:09.677
Demons torture, torment, they're destructive.
00:17:09.677 --> 00:17:13.681
They have a great impact on behavior.
00:17:13.681 --> 00:17:15.450
They did--they had a tremendous impact on this man's behavior.
00:17:15.450 --> 00:17:18.386
You couldn't--he couldn't be controlled.
00:17:18.386 --> 00:17:20.254
You couldn't even bind him with chains.
00:17:20.254 --> 00:17:23.491
They had a tremendous impact on the behavior of a herd of pigs.
00:17:23.491 --> 00:17:27.161
The pigs destroyed themselves as a direct result, luke
00:17:27.161 --> 00:17:31.599
Reports, as their interaction with these demons.
00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:35.670
There seems to be some symbiotic relationship that the demons
00:17:35.670 --> 00:17:39.040
Have with living beings.
00:17:39.040 --> 00:17:41.843
That's why you should understand a bit more about them.
00:17:41.843 --> 00:17:43.778
You see, we're willing to believe in angels, that they
00:17:43.778 --> 00:17:46.013
Have an impact in our lives, but we're somehow intellectually
00:17:46.013 --> 00:17:48.516
Offended by the idea of some unclean, destructive, evil
00:17:48.516 --> 00:17:53.121
Spirit that could impact us.
00:17:53.121 --> 00:17:54.822
And then we deter or we deteriorate into theological
00:17:54.822 --> 00:17:59.460
Discussions about whether we can be possessed or--stop it.
00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:04.932
Clearly unclean spirits, evil spirits, influence and affect
00:18:04.932 --> 00:18:10.304
Human behavior.
00:18:10.304 --> 00:18:13.508
There's much we don't know, but there's some we do.
00:18:13.508 --> 00:18:18.446
The good news in the narrative, and the part i would submit is
00:18:18.446 --> 00:18:20.915
The focus point is this man who's demonized, so dramatically
00:18:20.915 --> 00:18:24.552
Influenced by these unclean spirits is set free.
00:18:24.552 --> 00:18:26.854
He's delivered through the authority that jesus has.
00:18:26.854 --> 00:18:31.192
And then he begs to stay with jesus, no kidding.
00:18:31.192 --> 00:18:35.730
If you've been in that tormented condition and you meet someone
00:18:35.730 --> 00:18:40.535
Who brings freedom to you, and peace to you, and contentment to
00:18:40.535 --> 00:18:43.838
You, you'd want to stay with that person.
00:18:43.838 --> 00:18:47.208
Then jesus says, "no.
00:18:47.208 --> 00:18:49.810
You have to go home.
00:18:49.810 --> 00:18:52.213
Go tell your story of freedom."
00:18:52.213 --> 00:18:54.916
And the man did, which means now he has to go own his stuff.
00:18:54.916 --> 00:19:02.590
I'm thinking people didn't recognize him with a shave and a
00:19:02.590 --> 00:19:05.893
Haircut and a trip to old navy.
00:19:05.893 --> 00:19:13.701
Right?
00:19:13.701 --> 00:19:15.703
And he has to go say, "i'm the guy."
00:19:15.703 --> 00:19:21.943
Did you ever go past that cemetery?
00:19:21.943 --> 00:19:23.444
Remember that crazy guy that screamed and
00:19:23.444 --> 00:19:27.348
Frightened everybody?
00:19:27.348 --> 00:19:29.784
Nobody knew what to do with?
00:19:29.784 --> 00:19:31.385
"yeah, i remember him."
00:19:31.385 --> 00:19:34.055
It's me.
00:19:34.055 --> 00:19:36.924
"well, what happened to you?
00:19:36.924 --> 00:19:39.594
What was wrong with you?
00:19:39.594 --> 00:19:40.962
What were you smoking?"
00:19:40.962 --> 00:19:45.766
I'm not smoking anything, but i met this man named jesus, and he
00:19:45.766 --> 00:19:50.204
Changed my life.
00:19:50.204 --> 00:19:54.108
I was crazy, tormented, out of my mind.
00:19:54.108 --> 00:20:01.182
I lost everything and i met jesus.
00:20:01.182 --> 00:20:08.756
Luke gives us a contrast, which is his habit all throughout
00:20:08.756 --> 00:20:11.692
This book.
00:20:11.692 --> 00:20:13.761
The people from the community recognize the man is sane
00:20:13.761 --> 00:20:18.132
And civil.
00:20:18.132 --> 00:20:21.802
They don't beg to go with jesus, they beg jesus to leave.
00:20:21.802 --> 00:20:26.707
This is the contrast luke gives us over and over and over again.
00:20:26.707 --> 00:20:32.013
The whole community says, "leave us.
00:20:32.013 --> 00:20:36.717
We don't want you here."
00:20:36.717 --> 00:20:39.420
Do you think that's the only crazy man in town?
00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:43.024
No i mean, he may be chief crazy.
00:20:43.024 --> 00:20:47.995
But i promise you there's a whole tribe of crazy.
00:20:47.995 --> 00:20:52.133
Come on.
00:20:52.133 --> 00:20:54.969
But they don't think about that.
00:20:54.969 --> 00:20:56.304
They don't process that.
00:20:56.304 --> 00:20:57.672
You just need to leave us.
00:20:57.672 --> 00:20:59.006
We don't want anything to do with you.
00:20:59.006 --> 00:21:01.208
So, you have this man who's been tormented begging to go with
00:21:01.208 --> 00:21:03.878
Jesus and he says, no, you have to go home and you have a whole
00:21:03.878 --> 00:21:07.148
Community of people who have tremendous needs.
00:21:07.148 --> 00:21:11.185
Tremendous needs.
00:21:11.185 --> 00:21:13.788
We have tremendous needs every time we gather.
00:21:13.788 --> 00:21:18.392
And they're telling jesus, "you have to leave."
00:21:18.392 --> 00:21:21.295
Again, it's a message that luke tells us over and over and
00:21:21.295 --> 00:21:24.265
Over again.
00:21:24.265 --> 00:21:25.633
In nazareth, they tried to kill jesus.
00:21:25.633 --> 00:21:27.068
He went to the synagogue, he read the scripture portion.
00:21:27.068 --> 00:21:30.504
And they got--they were happy up until he began to apply it to
00:21:30.504 --> 00:21:33.174
Their lives.
00:21:33.174 --> 00:21:35.409
You see, in the contemporary church, we will have bible
00:21:35.409 --> 00:21:37.545
Studies until we're too tired to talk anymore.
00:21:37.545 --> 00:21:41.515
But we get really tense when we start saying, what does this
00:21:41.515 --> 00:21:43.517
Mean to us?
00:21:43.517 --> 00:21:45.486
What are the implications for us?
00:21:45.486 --> 00:21:48.956
And when jesus gave them those implications in nazareth, they
00:21:48.956 --> 00:21:51.392
Tried to kill him, but he went to capernaum and they brought
00:21:51.392 --> 00:21:54.962
All the sick people they knew and said, "can you help
00:21:54.962 --> 00:21:56.831
Them too?"
00:21:56.831 --> 00:22:00.234
Then he crosses the lake and there's a demonized man who's
00:22:00.234 --> 00:22:02.636
Completely out of control and he wants to--he goes home and tells
00:22:02.636 --> 00:22:06.374
Everybody the story.
00:22:06.374 --> 00:22:07.742
"i'm the guy.
00:22:07.742 --> 00:22:10.044
Yeah."
00:22:10.044 --> 00:22:12.246
You should go to sport cuts too, they'll make you look better.
00:22:12.246 --> 00:22:18.786
But the leaders from the community, "you leave us, we
00:22:18.786 --> 00:22:20.888
Don't want any more of that here."
00:22:20.888 --> 00:22:22.656
Folks, it's the same challenge we have today.
00:22:22.656 --> 00:22:25.259
We're waiting for the majority opinion.
00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:27.094
We're waiting for the parade and the applause.
00:22:27.094 --> 00:22:29.663
We're gonna have to begin to say, listen, i was the
00:22:29.663 --> 00:22:31.599
Broken one.
00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:33.534
I was in a desperate place, my life wasn't so great.
00:22:33.534 --> 00:22:37.905
My family system wasn't so great.
00:22:37.905 --> 00:22:39.540
You see, we want everybody to think it's all perfect.
00:22:39.540 --> 00:22:44.612
Jesus transforms lives, and i wanna follow him.
00:22:44.612 --> 00:22:49.049
I wanna tell the story.
00:22:49.049 --> 00:22:51.852
I don't know everything, but i can tell you what he's done
00:22:51.852 --> 00:22:53.654
For me.
00:22:53.654 --> 00:22:55.256
I don't have answers for every question.
00:22:55.256 --> 00:22:56.724
I can't explain everything i read, but i can tell you what
00:22:56.724 --> 00:22:58.926
He's done for me.
00:22:58.926 --> 00:23:00.294
In the book of revelation, it says that the believers on earth
00:23:00.294 --> 00:23:02.797
Overcome satan by the blood of the lamb and the word of
00:23:02.797 --> 00:23:05.833
Their testimony.
00:23:05.833 --> 00:23:08.569
You have an irrefutable god story if you're willing to
00:23:08.569 --> 00:23:11.472
Tell it.
00:23:11.472 --> 00:23:13.607
But you'll have to acknowledge our own brokenness and we'll
00:23:13.607 --> 00:23:21.582
Have to be willing to stand in the midst of a community that
00:23:21.582 --> 00:23:23.784
Goes, "we'd rather not talk about that.
00:23:23.784 --> 00:23:26.720
We don't wanna think about that.
00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:28.322
We didn't like bacon anyway."
00:23:28.322 --> 00:23:33.227
You'll get it on the way home.
00:23:33.227 --> 00:23:34.562
Just keep thinking about it.
00:23:34.562 --> 00:23:35.930
What was he talking about with the bacon?
00:23:35.930 --> 00:23:40.468
We have to be different.
00:23:40.468 --> 00:23:43.404
Folks, an election's not gonna fix us if we don't have a
00:23:43.404 --> 00:23:48.242
Heart change.
00:23:48.242 --> 00:23:50.110
And as much as we want to point through the windows and say.
00:23:50.110 --> 00:23:52.112
"it's their problem," it's not.
00:23:52.112 --> 00:23:54.882
So, my suggestion is we begin to say to the lord, "lord, i wanna
00:23:54.882 --> 00:23:57.585
Follow you.
00:23:57.585 --> 00:23:59.487
I want to use my voice wherever you put me in the neighborhood
00:23:59.487 --> 00:24:02.122
Where you've planted me with the friends that my kids know, with
00:24:02.122 --> 00:24:05.826
My neighbors.
00:24:05.826 --> 00:24:07.495
When i'm out with my friends, if they're engaged in a
00:24:07.495 --> 00:24:10.264
Conversation that's ungodly, i'm gonna--courage to talk
00:24:10.264 --> 00:24:12.533
About jesus."
00:24:12.533 --> 00:24:15.269
"well, that would be awkward."
00:24:15.269 --> 00:24:16.637
You mean like jesus did?
00:24:16.637 --> 00:24:19.773
"well, they'll think i'm being self-righteous."
00:24:19.773 --> 00:24:24.645
Would you rather them think you're ungodly?
00:24:24.645 --> 00:24:30.217
Do you understand the bargain we've made?
00:24:30.217 --> 00:24:32.686
"we don't want anybody to think we're judging them."
00:24:32.686 --> 00:24:35.155
So, you want them to think that you're endorsing them?
00:24:35.155 --> 00:24:39.627
Do you understand how messed up the messaging has become?
00:24:39.627 --> 00:24:44.098
We don't want anybody that's ungodly to feel uncomfortable in
00:24:44.098 --> 00:24:46.934
Our presence.
00:24:46.934 --> 00:24:49.470
We have hope.
00:24:49.470 --> 00:24:51.071
I've been more ungodly than you have, and the lord's helping
00:24:51.071 --> 00:24:53.274
Me change.
00:24:53.274 --> 00:24:54.608
He would help you.
00:24:54.608 --> 00:24:57.177
I brought you a prayer.
00:24:57.177 --> 00:24:58.846
I know my time's up.
00:24:58.846 --> 00:25:00.214
It's at the end of your outline, way down there.
00:25:00.214 --> 00:25:06.153
It's actually a proclamation that's familiar to all of us.
00:25:06.153 --> 00:25:09.356
Why don't you stand?
00:25:09.356 --> 00:25:10.724
We'll say it together.
00:25:10.724 --> 00:25:12.793
We're gonna say out loud what the word of god says about us.
00:25:12.793 --> 00:25:17.064
Sometime before we're done with this little run i'll take--i'll
00:25:17.064 --> 00:25:19.466
Bring you the scriptures that go with this proclamation.
00:25:19.466 --> 00:25:27.007
Let's read it together.
00:25:27.007 --> 00:25:28.576
"we have cast our lot with the prince of peace.
00:25:28.576 --> 00:25:31.679
We have yielded our will to the lord of lords.
00:25:31.679 --> 00:25:34.882
We are servants of the king.
00:25:34.882 --> 00:25:37.084
We reflect the beauty of the lily of the valley.
00:25:37.084 --> 00:25:40.387
We stand in the strength of the lion of judah."
00:25:40.387 --> 00:25:43.691
Congregation: "we live in health through the great physician.
00:25:43.691 --> 00:25:46.827
Our needs are met because he is our abundance.
00:25:46.827 --> 00:25:50.397
We know our path because we follow the great shepherd."
00:25:50.397 --> 00:25:54.368
Allen: "we are participants in the kingdom of god because we
00:25:54.368 --> 00:25:58.005
Found the door.
00:25:58.005 --> 00:25:59.807
We are righteous because of his sacrifice.
00:25:59.807 --> 00:26:03.043
We have taken hold of true life because he is risen.
00:26:03.043 --> 00:26:07.281
His name is jesus of nazareth, he is christ, our lord and
00:26:07.281 --> 00:26:12.152
Our king.
00:26:12.152 --> 00:26:13.520
We will not stop."
00:26:13.520 --> 00:26:15.656
Amen.
00:26:15.656 --> 00:26:18.826
God bless you.
00:26:18.826 --> 00:26:24.498
Allen: this is the 250th anniversary of our nation.
00:26:28.569 --> 00:26:31.338
It's a big deal.
00:26:31.338 --> 00:26:32.673
Now, i know a lot of us don't care a whole lot about history.
00:26:32.673 --> 00:26:35.309
We didn't have great experiences in school.
00:26:35.309 --> 00:26:37.077
I understand that, but here's the reality.
00:26:37.077 --> 00:26:39.513
If they can steal our history, they'll rob us of our future.
00:26:39.513 --> 00:26:42.716
So history really does matter.
00:26:42.716 --> 00:26:44.718
Well, because of that, we have partnered with some good friends
00:26:44.718 --> 00:26:47.121
Of our ministries, wallbuilders david and tim barton.
00:26:47.121 --> 00:26:50.524
They have the best of the best on this topic.
00:26:50.524 --> 00:26:52.593
It's a two-volume set on "the american story," and it helps us
00:26:52.593 --> 00:26:56.163
Learn american history with a faith component, with a god
00:26:56.163 --> 00:26:59.733
Perspective--how god has been engaged in the unfolding
00:26:59.733 --> 00:27:02.803
Narrative of our american story.
00:27:02.803 --> 00:27:05.439
That matters because we need god to be involved in the future of
00:27:05.439 --> 00:27:08.642
The american story.
00:27:08.642 --> 00:27:10.010
That affects our lives, our families, our communities, and
00:27:10.010 --> 00:27:12.780
Ultimately our nation.
00:27:12.780 --> 00:27:14.448
The books will be a blessing to you, but more than that, i
00:27:14.448 --> 00:27:16.884
Believe they'll open your life to the imagination that god is
00:27:16.884 --> 00:27:19.386
Moving in the earth, and we can participate with him in the next
00:27:19.386 --> 00:27:22.690
Chapters of american history.
00:27:22.690 --> 00:27:25.259
♪♪♪
00:27:26.126 --> 00:27:26.126

Allen Jackson - Decisions Regarding Jesus

February 13, 2026 | 27:29

Closed captions

Share