Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Determining Our Identity (Part 2) | November 25, 2024
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- ♪♪♪
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- Allen jackson: but my time is slipping past.
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- I want to come to the last question.
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- It's the most important one.
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- What determines if you're a christian?
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- Is it location, where you sit?
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- Is it descent, because your parents and your
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- Grandparents were?
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- What determines that?
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- Well, the first part of this i suspect will be pretty familiar
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- To you.
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- They're often the most quoted verses in the bible and the most
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- Practiced points of discipleship.
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- We have a reasonably high participation rate at this entry
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- Level point.
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- I'll warn you our participation rate plummets beyond this
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- Initial session 'cause we've fabricated all sorts of
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- Elaborate theological schemes that say if we get the first
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- Part right, nothing else matters.
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- And we sound a great deal like the 1st century scribes and
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- Pharisees, when "you should not tell us we have faults or flaws,
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- That we're not obedient, because we're the children of abraham,"
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- To which jesus said, "well, just for the record, god can make
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- Children of abraham out of rocks.
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- He started with a little dust and got you."
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- Then we find ourselves in the 21st century, tempted to say,
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- "we are bulletproof.
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- We're golden.
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- It doesn't really matter what we do or how we do it, we can kind
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- Of sort of say, 'i'm sorry.'"
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- But the pathway begins in john 3, jesus said, "i tell you
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- The truth."
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- You know by now, right, big news coming.
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- "i tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of god
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- Unless he's born again."
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- So it isn't about your genealogical descent.
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- It's not because you were born into the right family and you're
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- Not excluded because you were born into the wrong family.
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- So it does have nothing to do with the tracks and which side
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- Of them you were born on.
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- It has to do with the spiritual birth.
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- Same chapter, verse 5: "i tell you the truth, no one can enter
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- The kingdom of god unless he's born of water and the spirit.
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- Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to
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- The spirit."
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- Jesus is talking to a leader of the jewish community.
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- He didn't tell him his descent was sufficient.
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- He didn't tell him that the religious practices he held
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- Were sufficient.
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- He said you have to be born into the kingdom of god.
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- If it was true for nicodemus, i would humbly submit it's true
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- For me and it is true for you.
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- The kingdom--the keys to the kingdom are not the purview of
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- Any particular denomination or any religious sect.
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- It's not about protestant or catholic.
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- It's not about a style of worship or a translation of
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- The bible.
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- All of those things have may have--may have some place in
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- The discussion, but they are not primary.
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- Your participation in the kingdom of god begins with
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- A birth.
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- In the same way your participation in time begins
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- With a physical birth, your participation in the kingdom of
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- God begins with a spiritual birth.
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- Romans 10 amplifies it a bit: "if you confess with your mouth,
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- 'jesus is lord,' and you believe in your heart that god raised
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- Him from the dead, you will be saved.
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- For it's with your heart that you believe and are justified,
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- And it's with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
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- So that spiritual birth is triggered, initiated, by a
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- Physical choice.
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- We believe in our heart and confess with our mouth.
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- That's how we enter the kingdom of god.
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- That initiates the greatest miracle that will ever touch
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- Your life: a deliverance from the kingdom of darkness and
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- Being welcomed into the eternal kingdom of almighty god.
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- It's not dependent upon a college degree or an iq point or
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- A balance in your bank account or your success or lack thereof
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- In the marketplace or your physical abilities.
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- Everyone is welcome.
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- That's remarkable.
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- I've studied in too many theological settings where they
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- Have this deteriorating theology that tries to re-invent god in
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- Our image.
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- It's incredibly destructive and, tragically, it's infected the
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- Church now for decades.
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- It's not surprising that the church is increasingly apostate.
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- We've been educating our leaders to ignore the word of god.
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- We're gonna have to find our voices, church.
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- Like, i think we ought to just say that prayer together,
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- Whether you call it a conversion prayer, a profession of faith,
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- The prayer of salvation, the new birth.
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- There's a handful of labels that are used frequently.
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- They're all synonymous.
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- But if we will acknowledge our need of a savior and be willing
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- To admit that we are sinners and we will ask for forgiveness, we
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- Can be forgiven.
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- But that bargain has a condition.
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- To be forgiven we have to acknowledge jesus as lord, which
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- Means now he establishes the priorities.
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- If you're the priority setter of your life, jesus is not
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- Your lord.
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- "but i sit in church."
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- I'm happy that you do, but it doesn't make you a
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- Christ follower.
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- "but i keep some of the rules."
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- Good for you.
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- It doesn't make you a christ follower.
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- Jesus is lord, and that means now we are in process for his
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- Lordship to fully occupy our lives as we grow up in him.
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- And then in order to receive that forgiveness, we have to
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- Forgive those who've sinned against us.
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- It's not optional.
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- If you'll do that, you can be a part of the eternal kingdom of
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- God.
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- Wow.
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- Wow, there's an entirely new authority in your life, a
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- New future.
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- I think we gotta say that little prayer together.
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- Why don't you just repeat it after me.
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- Just close your eyes for a minute, forget who's around you.
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- You know, it's a problem when you've been in church a while
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- And maybe jesus really hadn't been lord.
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- You hate to say that in public.
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- You know, it's like not knowing english.
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- I studied english since i started school.
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- And if i go back, they still work on my english.
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- I learned more about english when i learned
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- Foreign languages.
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- I didn't know there was such a thing as a pluperfect verb tense
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- Till i got to greek.
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- But if you've been in church, sometimes you're embarrassed to
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- Say, "you know, i really haven't served jesus as lord.
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- I go to church occasionally.
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- I'm a pretty good person.
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- I kinda sort of keep the morals that go with the
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- Christian faith.
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- But i've never really made jesus lord."
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- Why don't we do that tonight?
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- You can do that if you're watching me from someplace else.
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- You don't have to be on campus for this one.
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- Just repeat this prayer with me.
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- "almighty god, i'm a sinner and i need a savior.
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- I believe jesus is your son, that he died on a cross for my
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- Sin, and that you raised him to life again, that i might be
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- Justified, declared non-guilty, just as if i'd never sinned.
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- Jesus, be lord of my life.
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- Forgive me of all my sin, and i forgive all those who've sinned
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- Against me.
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- I wanna live for your glory with all that i am, all that i have,
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- All that i'll ever be, in jesus's name, amen," hallelujah.
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- Pretty amazing stuff.
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- For all of you unaware people that say you've never seen a
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- Miracle, yes, you have.
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- If you're a christ follower, you are a walking miracle because,
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- Apart from jesus, you were destined for an eternity apart
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- From god.
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- And because of jesus, we are participants in the
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- Eternal kingdom.
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- Come on now.
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- Here's the challenge we face.
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- Most--many, many people are willing to take that step.
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- Many people.
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- It seems so wonderful.
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- But we've had very little conversation and very little
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- Instruction on what's next.
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- And there's some very well-formed, very elaborate,
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- Very well-presented theological systems that says everything
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- After that is secondary.
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- Well, i mean, maybe you need to get baptized, probably not a bad
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- Idea to get baptized, but everything else gets treated
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- Pretty sloppily, pretty casually, 'cause we're told
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- That our god is a forgiving god, filled with grace and mercy, and
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- You can do almost anything you wanna do.
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- And then if you'll hesitate momentarily and kind of, sort
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- Of, perhaps a little bit, say, "i probably shouldn't have done
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- That," that you're good to go again.
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- You get to go right back to go and get 200 more dollars, and
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- You get a fresh start.
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- And it's created a sloppy-- dietrich bonhoeffer called it
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- Men without chests.
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- It's not really a biblical presentation.
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- I don't want you to live in fear of your salvation.
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- I'm not trying to dangle you by a thread over the pits of hell
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- As jonathan edwards so famously did.
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- I'm asking you to consider what the scripture says to us.
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- 1 peter chapter 1.
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- This is peter the fisherman.
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- He said, "you've been born again, not of perishable seed,
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- But of imperishable."
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- It's not about your physical descent.
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- It's about your spiritual descent.
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- "through the living and enduring word of god.
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- For, 'all men are like grass, and all their glory is like the
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- Flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fail,
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- But the word of the lord stands forever.'
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- And this is the word that was preached to you.
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- Therefore," therefore is a summary word.
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- What i was taught as a young man, "when you read your bible
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- And when you find a therefore, you better find out what it's
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- There for."
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- It's a pretty good principle.
- 00:11:03.511 --> 00:11:05.814
- "therefore," because of what he's just said, "rid yourselves
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- Of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of
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- Every kind.
- 00:11:15.557 --> 00:11:17.225
- Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it
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- You may grow up in your salvation, now that you have
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- Tasted that the lord is good."
- 00:11:24.432 --> 00:11:28.002
- The language is just as clear as the john passages.
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- He said because you've been born of imperishable seed, not the
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- Decision of a human being, because you have something now
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- That reaches beyond time that's more enduring than your physical
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- Body or the plants that grow around us.
- 00:11:41.750 --> 00:11:45.353
- He said now we've got to make the decision to grow
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- Up spiritually.
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- We have to rid ourselves, he says.
- 00:11:52.193 --> 00:11:54.562
- It's not something god will do to us.
- 00:11:54.562 --> 00:11:57.532
- "rid yourself of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
- 00:11:57.532 --> 00:12:04.639
- Crave pure spiritual milk, so that you can grow up in
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- Your salvation."
- 00:12:09.677 --> 00:12:11.045
- My concern is this has not been a prevalent message.
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- I don't wanna diminish the invitation to the new birth,
- 00:12:16.184 --> 00:12:19.020
- Conversion, salvation.
- 00:12:19.020 --> 00:12:20.622
- But i would like to amplify the rest of the assignment to grow
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- Up as christ followers.
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- It's a very--it's not some subtle hidden theme.
- 00:12:28.496 --> 00:12:35.804
- Allen: i want to take just a moment to say thank you.
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- In a year of political turmoil and confusion and wars and
- 00:12:42.377 --> 00:12:46.114
- Rumors of wars, because of your partnership,
- 00:12:46.114 --> 00:12:48.716
- Your generosity, your prayers, your encouragement,
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- We have done more for the gospel than any year
- 00:12:51.886 --> 00:12:54.389
- In our ministry so far.
- 00:12:54.389 --> 00:12:55.723
- We started a whole new genre of programing.
- 00:12:55.723 --> 00:12:58.126
- Allen jackson now does a daily review of headlines
- 00:12:58.126 --> 00:13:00.829
- From a biblical worldview.
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- We've started a new podcast, "culture & christianity," to
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- Help stabilize god's people in the midst of all the confusion.
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- All of that because of your faithfulness,
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- Your generosity, your prayers.
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- Thank you so much.
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- As we come to the end of this year, i want to ask
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- You to prayerfully consider making a sacrificial
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- Investment in what's next.
- 00:13:18.746 --> 00:13:21.449
- We want to take those programs, share them in new
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- Places with more people.
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- We want to continue to be creative in how we share the
- 00:13:25.887 --> 00:13:28.690
- Good news of jesus christ.
- 00:13:28.690 --> 00:13:30.825
- A generous partner makes it possible.
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- Every gift you give will be matched.
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- It doubles your gift between now and the end of the year.
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- Let me thank you in advance for what we've been doing and what
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- God's going to do with our lives and our partnership
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- Together in 2025.
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- Thank you and god bless you.
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- Female announcer: god is moving in major ways in the
- 00:13:47.041 --> 00:13:49.143
- Ministry and our world.
- 00:13:49.143 --> 00:13:51.679
- As we watched the 2024 election unfold,
- 00:13:51.679 --> 00:13:54.549
- We witnessed a miracle.
- 00:13:54.549 --> 00:13:56.584
- God has heard our prayers.
- 00:13:56.584 --> 00:13:58.686
- He has shown us his mercy.
- 00:13:58.686 --> 00:14:00.922
- We're entering a new era with new leaders,
- 00:14:00.922 --> 00:14:03.992
- But it's not a time to rest.
- 00:14:03.992 --> 00:14:06.194
- Our assignment hasn't changed.
- 00:14:06.194 --> 00:14:08.229
- In fact, it's as urgent as ever.
- 00:14:08.229 --> 00:14:11.266
- You and i have been set apart by god for his purposes,
- 00:14:11.266 --> 00:14:14.502
- And there's a lot for us to do.
- 00:14:14.502 --> 00:14:16.971
- Allen: i believe when god shows you mercy,
- 00:14:16.971 --> 00:14:21.276
- He gives with it an opportunity.
- 00:14:21.276 --> 00:14:24.045
- I want us to quietly say to the lord, "here am i.
- 00:14:24.045 --> 00:14:33.788
- Let me go.
- 00:14:33.788 --> 00:14:36.224
- Let me go back to where i work in the name of jesus.
- 00:14:36.224 --> 00:14:40.094
- Let me go back into my neighborhood
- 00:14:40.094 --> 00:14:41.729
- In the name of jesus."
- 00:14:41.729 --> 00:14:44.198
- God himself has shown us grace, and it will require of us
- 00:14:44.198 --> 00:14:52.140
- Greater strength and greater courage than we have ever had to
- 00:14:52.140 --> 00:14:56.177
- Attach to our faith before.
- 00:14:56.177 --> 00:14:59.948
- Let's go. let's go.
- 00:14:59.948 --> 00:15:03.685
- Announcer: let's set our hearts on preparing for what's
- 00:15:03.685 --> 00:15:05.720
- Next with pastor allen's brand-new 90-day devotional
- 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:09.390
- Called "set apart for his purposes."
- 00:15:09.390 --> 00:15:12.593
- It will help us seek god so we can recognize his voice and
- 00:15:12.593 --> 00:15:15.630
- Consistently choose to follow him.
- 00:15:15.630 --> 00:15:17.832
- Each day includes scripture, a short teaching,
- 00:15:17.832 --> 00:15:20.134
- And a prayer, followed by a journaling prompt and room
- 00:15:20.134 --> 00:15:23.371
- To write and reflect.
- 00:15:23.371 --> 00:15:25.106
- Let's get ready for the season ahead.
- 00:15:25.106 --> 00:15:27.375
- Request your copy of "set apart for his purposes" when you
- 00:15:27.375 --> 00:15:30.211
- Donate $50 or more today at allenjackson.com or by calling
- 00:15:30.211 --> 00:15:34.549
- ...
- 00:15:34.549 --> 00:15:38.720
- Allen: i'll go to that last section you have.
- 00:15:42.690 --> 00:15:44.592
- The question's there: what are we doing?
- 00:15:44.592 --> 00:15:46.694
- What are you doing? what are you doing?
- 00:15:46.694 --> 00:15:52.900
- You see, what i find and the more broadly i listen, the more
- 00:15:52.900 --> 00:15:57.839
- I'm aware, is that we have an imagination as to how christians
- 00:15:57.839 --> 00:16:01.876
- Should behave.
- 00:16:01.876 --> 00:16:03.244
- Even non-christians know how they think christians
- 00:16:03.244 --> 00:16:05.146
- Should behave.
- 00:16:05.146 --> 00:16:07.115
- Have you ever bumped into that?
- 00:16:07.115 --> 00:16:09.283
- Well, "i know--i thought you were a christian," said to you
- 00:16:09.283 --> 00:16:12.887
- By someone who clearly doesn't intend to be.
- 00:16:12.887 --> 00:16:17.125
- We have this imagination, but we often do not intend to abide by
- 00:16:17.125 --> 00:16:21.562
- The principles.
- 00:16:21.562 --> 00:16:24.165
- We say we hold them, but we lack the intent to honor them.
- 00:16:24.165 --> 00:16:30.204
- And i think the idea that's given rise to that is we've
- 00:16:30.204 --> 00:16:34.609
- Said, "well, i've been born again and i can't earn my way
- 00:16:34.609 --> 00:16:39.547
- To heaven.
- 00:16:39.547 --> 00:16:42.216
- So why should i try so hard?"
- 00:16:42.216 --> 00:16:46.587
- 'cause at the end of the day, it isn't about trying.
- 00:16:46.587 --> 00:16:49.190
- It's about training.
- 00:16:49.190 --> 00:16:50.558
- We've had that discussion quite a bit.
- 00:16:50.558 --> 00:16:53.161
- If the outcomes matter, trying is not enough, folks.
- 00:16:53.161 --> 00:16:58.566
- If you've never flown a plane, i don't want you to fly the plane
- 00:16:58.566 --> 00:17:02.070
- I'm on, even if you're gonna try really, really hard.
- 00:17:02.070 --> 00:17:07.809
- When outcomes matter, trying is not the issue.
- 00:17:07.809 --> 00:17:15.116
- The bible tells us we have to submit ourselves to the
- 00:17:15.116 --> 00:17:18.219
- Authority of god.
- 00:17:18.219 --> 00:17:19.687
- Look at matthew 7. jesus is speaking.
- 00:17:19.687 --> 00:17:22.190
- "not everyone who says to me, 'lord, lord,' will enter the
- 00:17:22.190 --> 00:17:25.993
- Kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father
- 00:17:25.993 --> 00:17:31.165
- Who's in heaven.
- 00:17:31.165 --> 00:17:32.600
- Many will say to me on that day, 'lord, didn't we prophesy in
- 00:17:32.600 --> 00:17:37.371
- Your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform
- 00:17:37.371 --> 00:17:39.907
- Many miracles?'
- 00:17:39.907 --> 00:17:41.609
- Then i will tell them plainly, 'i never knew you.
- 00:17:41.609 --> 00:17:45.980
- Away from me, you evildoers!'"
- 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:51.319
- I don't know about you.
- 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:52.820
- He has my attention.
- 00:17:52.820 --> 00:17:56.624
- You can cast out demons and do miracles and recognize the lord.
- 00:17:56.624 --> 00:18:03.664
- And he'll say, "no, no, you're not welcome."
- 00:18:03.664 --> 00:18:08.569
- The criteria that he holds out to us is the one who does the
- 00:18:08.569 --> 00:18:12.273
- Will of my father.
- 00:18:12.273 --> 00:18:13.641
- So here's a suggestion, just an idea.
- 00:18:13.641 --> 00:18:15.276
- I'm not bringing you the full--the assignment.
- 00:18:15.276 --> 00:18:19.881
- I'm giving you the concept to begin on a very regular basis to
- 00:18:19.881 --> 00:18:24.218
- Say, "lord, i would like to do your will today.
- 00:18:24.218 --> 00:18:31.125
- I'm going to work today.
- 00:18:31.125 --> 00:18:33.528
- I have a family today.
- 00:18:33.528 --> 00:18:35.563
- I'm gonna make choices about what i look at on my screens.
- 00:18:35.563 --> 00:18:39.667
- I'm gonna make choices about how i interact with people.
- 00:18:39.667 --> 00:18:43.437
- I'd like to do your will today."
- 00:18:43.437 --> 00:18:47.708
- Will you do it perfectly?
- 00:18:47.708 --> 00:18:49.043
- Probably not.
- 00:18:49.043 --> 00:18:51.145
- But if you don't intend to do it, tell me again the evidence
- 00:18:51.145 --> 00:18:56.984
- That you're a christ follower?
- 00:18:56.984 --> 00:19:03.224
- Jesus said, "the one who does my father's will."
- 00:19:03.224 --> 00:19:08.396
- And this is not some rogue verse that i've ripped out of context.
- 00:19:08.396 --> 00:19:11.999
- It is a theme.
- 00:19:11.999 --> 00:19:15.036
- I'll give you one more example.
- 00:19:15.036 --> 00:19:18.306
- Galatians chapter 5:19.
- 00:19:18.306 --> 00:19:20.241
- Do you have that one?
- 00:19:20.241 --> 00:19:22.343
- Good, okay.
- 00:19:22.343 --> 00:19:24.312
- Paul's writing to a church.
- 00:19:24.312 --> 00:19:25.646
- He's not writing to pagans or godless people.
- 00:19:25.646 --> 00:19:28.616
- He doesn't have an arena filled with a mixed audience.
- 00:19:28.616 --> 00:19:31.118
- He's writing to a church, and he says: "the acts of the
- 00:19:31.118 --> 00:19:34.055
- Sinful nature are obvious."
- 00:19:34.055 --> 00:19:35.389
- Well, they're so obvious, he has to list them for them
- 00:19:35.389 --> 00:19:37.225
- Again, right?
- 00:19:37.225 --> 00:19:40.728
- It's like, they probably wouldn't, i mean, so, "sexual
- 00:19:40.728 --> 00:19:44.632
- Immorality, impurity, debauchery."
- 00:19:44.632 --> 00:19:46.601
- Debauchery means excess.
- 00:19:46.601 --> 00:19:50.071
- It's kind of a fun word for me.
- 00:19:50.071 --> 00:19:51.405
- It's like there's excess letters in debauchery and it just means
- 00:19:51.405 --> 00:19:53.541
- Excess, so.
- 00:19:53.541 --> 00:19:55.243
- "idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage,
- 00:19:55.243 --> 00:20:00.214
- Selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness,
- 00:20:00.214 --> 00:20:03.985
- Orgies, and the like."
- 00:20:03.985 --> 00:20:06.654
- It's not an inclusive list.
- 00:20:06.654 --> 00:20:07.989
- He goes, "you know, there's, and you," he said, "you know the
- 00:20:07.989 --> 00:20:09.590
- Rest of the stuff."
- 00:20:09.590 --> 00:20:11.492
- "i warn you, as i did before, that those who live like this
- 00:20:11.492 --> 00:20:15.563
- Will not inherit the kingdom of god."
- 00:20:15.563 --> 00:20:21.435
- You can't do that.
- 00:20:21.435 --> 00:20:23.537
- That stuff cannot be a part of your practice.
- 00:20:23.537 --> 00:20:27.808
- You know, if it only said sexual immorality and fits of rage and
- 00:20:27.808 --> 00:20:31.412
- Orgies, we might go, "phew," because i think you kind of look
- 00:20:31.412 --> 00:20:37.618
- At the list and you grade them, "really bad; whoa, way, way bad;
- 00:20:37.618 --> 00:20:43.257
- Mmm, not so."
- 00:20:43.257 --> 00:20:47.895
- But god said those things cannot exist.
- 00:20:47.895 --> 00:20:49.897
- You can't be filled with envy and inherit the kingdom of god.
- 00:20:49.897 --> 00:20:53.034
- You cannot practice envy.
- 00:20:53.034 --> 00:20:57.672
- Now, we have to make a distinction between the struggle
- 00:20:57.672 --> 00:21:00.675
- With sin and the practice of sin.
- 00:21:00.675 --> 00:21:04.679
- We are carnal creatures.
- 00:21:04.679 --> 00:21:06.080
- We still have all those tendencies towards ungodliness.
- 00:21:06.080 --> 00:21:08.549
- That's the reason we have to have warnings like this.
- 00:21:08.549 --> 00:21:13.120
- But there is a power and authority present to help us
- 00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:15.623
- Overcome every expression of our carnal nature.
- 00:21:15.623 --> 00:21:19.660
- My time is about gone, but i'll give you this one caveat.
- 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:22.663
- If you--if you choose to give license to your carnal nature,
- 00:21:22.663 --> 00:21:26.600
- You will get the support and help of unclean spirits.
- 00:21:26.600 --> 00:21:30.671
- And if you do it long enough, you will lose much of your
- 00:21:30.671 --> 00:21:33.074
- Own volition.
- 00:21:33.074 --> 00:21:35.376
- We call those addictions.
- 00:21:35.376 --> 00:21:37.278
- We call those habits that become destructive.
- 00:21:37.278 --> 00:21:41.115
- We all have either--we've all had personal experience with
- 00:21:41.115 --> 00:21:43.918
- That, directly and indirectly.
- 00:21:43.918 --> 00:21:47.788
- So the challenge here is to say, "i will not practice
- 00:21:47.788 --> 00:21:51.225
- Those things."
- 00:21:51.225 --> 00:21:52.993
- Now, the good news is you're not typically tempted on that whole
- 00:21:52.993 --> 00:21:55.229
- List, but there are points that are more of a struggle for you,
- 00:21:55.229 --> 00:21:58.899
- And know the places where you're vulnerable and do your very best
- 00:21:58.899 --> 00:22:02.903
- Not to give license in those places.
- 00:22:02.903 --> 00:22:07.475
- Why?
- 00:22:07.475 --> 00:22:08.943
- Because i wanna grow up spiritually.
- 00:22:08.943 --> 00:22:12.513
- I don't wanna get to that point of evaluation that awaits me and
- 00:22:12.513 --> 00:22:15.850
- Hear the lord say, "no."
- 00:22:15.850 --> 00:22:19.086
- "well, i was born again."
- 00:22:19.086 --> 00:22:20.454
- "yeah, i know, you called me 'lord.'"
- 00:22:20.454 --> 00:22:23.424
- Now, here's the challenge.
- 00:22:23.424 --> 00:22:24.792
- You don't get a laminated card in the mail
- 00:22:24.792 --> 00:22:26.961
- When you make that profession.
- 00:22:26.961 --> 00:22:28.295
- Well, you might get one but it comes from the church or some--
- 00:22:28.295 --> 00:22:31.198
- You get a name tag and, i mean, that's not what they'll be
- 00:22:31.198 --> 00:22:34.301
- Looking for at the pearly gates.
- 00:22:34.301 --> 00:22:35.803
- "do you have a lanyard?"
- 00:22:35.803 --> 00:22:42.910
- And so you don't have that kind of license.
- 00:22:42.910 --> 00:22:47.114
- The evidence that you are--you have entered the kingdom of god
- 00:22:47.114 --> 00:22:50.885
- And you're growing up in your faith is the fruit of your life.
- 00:22:50.885 --> 00:22:59.226
- So it makes it relevant when they say there are tens of
- 00:22:59.226 --> 00:23:02.129
- Millions of evangelical christians in our culture and
- 00:23:02.129 --> 00:23:05.566
- We're losing millions of children.
- 00:23:05.566 --> 00:23:07.735
- It seems that our fruit is small.
- 00:23:07.735 --> 00:23:13.808
- They aren't political issues, they're the fruit of our lives.
- 00:23:13.808 --> 00:23:18.846
- And we've got to become the church again.
- 00:23:18.846 --> 00:23:21.749
- We've got to find our voice and say there's a god and you can
- 00:23:21.749 --> 00:23:24.685
- Know him and you can be clean and delivered and set free.
- 00:23:24.685 --> 00:23:28.756
- It's not oppressive, it's not limiting.
- 00:23:28.756 --> 00:23:31.058
- Let's get busy serving the lord.
- 00:23:31.058 --> 00:23:32.927
- Let's focus our attention, set our objectives, prioritize our
- 00:23:32.927 --> 00:23:35.963
- Time, direct our resources.
- 00:23:35.963 --> 00:23:38.566
- Let's begin to align our hearts as never before with the
- 00:23:38.566 --> 00:23:41.502
- Purposes of god.
- 00:23:41.502 --> 00:23:42.937
- [congregation applauding]
- 00:23:42.937 --> 00:23:48.542
- Allen: we're not earning our way towards anything.
- 00:23:48.542 --> 00:23:50.644
- We're demonstrating our determined affection for our
- 00:23:50.644 --> 00:23:53.514
- Lord and his kingdom.
- 00:23:53.514 --> 00:23:56.217
- We want it to be the overriding expression of our existence.
- 00:23:56.217 --> 00:24:00.821
- I'm happy that you're an advocate for a sports team or
- 00:24:00.821 --> 00:24:03.524
- The hobby of your choice.
- 00:24:03.524 --> 00:24:04.892
- Oh, it's okay, it's not wrong, but it shouldn't be the defining
- 00:24:04.892 --> 00:24:08.462
- Characteristic of your life or it's an idol.
- 00:24:08.462 --> 00:24:12.366
- We wanna lead with, "we are ambassadors
- 00:24:12.366 --> 00:24:14.935
- For the kingdom of god.
- 00:24:14.935 --> 00:24:16.270
- Have i told you about my best friend?
- 00:24:16.270 --> 00:24:18.506
- His name is jesus. he came from nazareth.
- 00:24:18.506 --> 00:24:21.709
- Do you know him? i'd like you to know him.
- 00:24:21.709 --> 00:24:24.778
- He's brought good things to my life.
- 00:24:24.778 --> 00:24:26.514
- He'll bring good things to your life."
- 00:24:26.514 --> 00:24:32.853
- I know you don't feel worthy, neither do i, but i want to
- 00:24:32.853 --> 00:24:37.024
- Serve him.
- 00:24:37.024 --> 00:24:38.659
- I'm gonna give him my best.
- 00:24:38.659 --> 00:24:41.262
- I will not stop under threat or bullying or tirade or censorship
- 00:24:41.262 --> 00:24:47.968
- Or whatever else.
- 00:24:47.968 --> 00:24:49.904
- We'll be advocates for the king.
- 00:24:49.904 --> 00:24:51.539
- Church, we have a role to play.
- 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:54.942
- We have a role to play.
- 00:24:54.942 --> 00:24:56.277
- I want to pray for you. may i do that?
- 00:24:56.277 --> 00:24:57.611
- Will you stand with me?
- 00:24:57.611 --> 00:25:04.885
- Thank you for investing the time to pray over these next 2 days.
- 00:25:04.885 --> 00:25:09.523
- I know it's a sacrifice.
- 00:25:09.523 --> 00:25:13.394
- If you've got a family still at home, it takes the whole family
- 00:25:13.394 --> 00:25:15.863
- Making a sacrifice.
- 00:25:15.863 --> 00:25:17.197
- Thank you for doing that.
- 00:25:17.197 --> 00:25:19.466
- God responds to his people.
- 00:25:19.466 --> 00:25:22.469
- He does. he does.
- 00:25:22.469 --> 00:25:26.707
- Why don't you join hands with somebody new?
- 00:25:26.707 --> 00:25:28.442
- Tell them your name. you know the drill.
- 00:25:28.442 --> 00:25:31.145
- They won't talk to you, don't bother.
- 00:25:31.145 --> 00:25:34.114
- You know, if you've stood by 'em several times and they've never
- 00:25:34.114 --> 00:25:36.050
- Talked to you, move.
- 00:25:36.050 --> 00:25:40.721
- I mean, not right now, but.
- 00:25:40.721 --> 00:25:44.992
- Father, thank you for your word, for its truth and authority and
- 00:25:44.992 --> 00:25:48.028
- Power in our lives.
- 00:25:48.028 --> 00:25:50.731
- I thank you that you called us to this very unique point in
- 00:25:50.731 --> 00:25:53.567
- History, that you called us out of darkness, and through the
- 00:25:53.567 --> 00:25:57.605
- Blood of jesus, we've been forgiven, sanctified, justified,
- 00:25:57.605 --> 00:26:01.842
- Delivered, that we might declare the praises of our god in
- 00:26:01.842 --> 00:26:06.547
- Our generation.
- 00:26:06.547 --> 00:26:08.682
- And i ask you now for a new boldness, for a new courage.
- 00:26:08.682 --> 00:26:12.820
- Forgive us for when we've been timid or distracted
- 00:26:12.820 --> 00:26:15.356
- Or ambivalent.
- 00:26:15.356 --> 00:26:17.391
- But, lord, we offer ourselves tonight as living sacrifices.
- 00:26:17.391 --> 00:26:22.162
- We want to conduct ourselves in a way that's pleasing to you,
- 00:26:22.162 --> 00:26:26.734
- That you deem trustworthy, that whatever assignments you would
- 00:26:26.734 --> 00:26:31.438
- Have fulfilled, that you would consider us trustworthy with
- 00:26:31.438 --> 00:26:36.143
- Those assignments.
- 00:26:36.143 --> 00:26:37.878
- We praise you for it tonight.
- 00:26:37.878 --> 00:26:40.314
- I thank you for the privilege and honor we have of naming
- 00:26:40.314 --> 00:26:42.716
- Jesus as lord of our lives, that we can affirm that and declare
- 00:26:42.716 --> 00:26:46.887
- That in public.
- 00:26:46.887 --> 00:26:48.255
- We praise you for it, lord.
- 00:26:48.255 --> 00:26:49.590
- May that freedom grow, may that liberty increase.
- 00:26:49.590 --> 00:26:52.226
- May your church grow.
- 00:26:52.226 --> 00:26:53.761
- May our voice be strengthened.
- 00:26:53.761 --> 00:26:55.162
- May your people be awakened.
- 00:26:55.162 --> 00:26:57.831
- Reveal yourself to the children and the young people with a
- 00:26:57.831 --> 00:27:00.467
- Clarity beyond anything we've ever seen.
- 00:27:00.467 --> 00:27:03.270
- May they know there's a god in heaven and that jesus is
- 00:27:03.270 --> 00:27:05.572
- His son.
- 00:27:05.572 --> 00:27:07.207
- We thank you for it.
- 00:27:07.207 --> 00:27:08.542
- We praise you for it.
- 00:27:08.542 --> 00:27:10.044
- For it's in jesus's name that we pray, amen.
- 00:27:10.044 --> 00:27:13.480
- Hallelujah, god bless you.
- 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:16.583
- ♪♪♪
- 00:27:16.583 --> 00:27:16.583