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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - The Display of Good and Evil (Part 1)

March 11, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - The Display of Good and Evil (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Goodness #Evil #Overcoming #Struggle #Challenges #Trials-HardTimes #Jesus #WalkwithGod #Perseverance #Endurance #Crucifixion #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - The Display of Good and Evil (Part 1) | March 11, 2026
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world,
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  • People are searching for truth, and together we're doing our
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  • Very best to help them find it.
  • 00:00:05.622 --> 00:00:07.590
  • When you become a ministry partner with allen jackson
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  • Ministries, you're joining a growing community of believers
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  • Who are committed to strengthening the church and
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  • Sharing god's word through every available channel--
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  • Television, radio, podcast, books, bible studies,
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  • Digital resources, conferences.
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  • Your monthly partnership helps us equip believers to reach new
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  • Audiences, to take the hope of jesus to people who may never
  • 00:00:28.711 --> 00:00:32.615
  • Have heard the gospel otherwise.
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  • Together, we can stand firm in our faith and make god's truth
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  • Known right here at home and around the earth, wherever
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  • God opens a door.
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  • Let's keep gathering his people and building his church until
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  • The day our king returns.
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  • You can find more about becoming a ministry partner
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  • At allenjackson.com/partner.
  • 00:00:51.634 --> 00:00:58.041
  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: we have been doing a study from
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  • The gospel of luke and it has been a blessing in my life.
  • 00:01:09.853 --> 00:01:15.892
  • That's really why we-- i shared it with you.
  • 00:01:15.892 --> 00:01:18.194
  • I had the opportunity to spend a disproportionate amount
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  • Of time reading through the gospel of luke.
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  • And there was just a life in it that brought a new hope to me,
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  • And i pray that, in some ways, it's brought that to you.
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  • I've invited you over the past several weeks to join me
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  • In reading through that gospel.
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  • It's just 24 chapters.
  • 00:01:35.178 --> 00:01:37.213
  • It can be read in a single sitting in less time than
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  • It would take to watch a movie or a ball game.
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  • So it isn't beyond us.
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  • I know it's not the customary way.
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  • We read our bibles.
  • 00:01:46.055 --> 00:01:47.390
  • We tend to read in a more intermittent way, but there is
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  • A benefit from reading a book in its context, particularly
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  • If you can do it repeatedly.
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  • We'll get to that in a moment.
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  • I want to start with a couple of passages that are not from luke.
  • 00:02:01.004 --> 00:02:04.140
  • We've done 14 sessions from luke.
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  • I've got to wander just a little bit now.
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  • You know, we--there's so much, our nation is so polarized and
  • 00:02:08.912 --> 00:02:12.448
  • There's so much--we're at the end of an election cycle
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  • And all the angst from that and all the positioning and the
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  • Advertisements they will end.
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  • And sometimes i think it's overwhelming and i was reminded
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  • Of a verse.
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  • It's a familiar verse to many of you.
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  • It's romans 12 and verse 21 says, "do not be overcome
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  • By evil, but overcome evil with good."
  • 00:02:31.968 --> 00:02:35.705
  • And it's one of those verses, if i could choose, i would probably
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  • Just remove it because it's an awkward verse to me.
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  • I would rather not deal with evil.
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  • I would rather the lord said, "i have banished evil,
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  • Go forth and enjoy good."
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  • That'd be the aj version, but that would be heresy.
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  • It wouldn't be helpful.
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  • The instruction we're given is not to be overcome by evil,
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  • Which means evil will make repeated attempts
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  • To overcome us.
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  • It will do it in almost every venue of our person.
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  • Our thoughts, our emotions, physically.
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  • It is unrelenting, it's unfair.
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  • It will take advantage of any perceived opportunity
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  • To distract us, to diminish our faith, to interrupt our momentum
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  • With the lord.
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  • It's why it's evil.
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  • It doesn't play fair.
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  • If it played fair, it wouldn't be evil.
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  • It would just be competitive.
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  • Evil exists and the instruction we are given is to overcome
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  • Evil, not with anger, or violence, or hate, or revenge,
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  • That we overcome evil with good.
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  • Now, if we're given the instruction, it's a possibility
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  • In the same way when jesus said, "do not worry."
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  • If he said it, it's possible to overcome worry.
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  • And if he's said to overcome evil with good, it is
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  • An achievable assignment.
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  • Now, i've taken a moment with it because i would submit to you
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  • That, for quite a season now, for far more than a decade,
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  • My perspective on contemporary american christianity is rather
  • 00:04:11.301 --> 00:04:14.170
  • Than overcome evil, we've tried to overlook evil.
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  • We've bargained with evil.
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  • We've negotiated with evil.
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  • We've redefined evil.
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  • We've tried to reposition ourselves at the table
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  • With evil.
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  • We had no imagination of overcoming it, of seeing it
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  • Diminished, of seeing it step back, of offering an alternative
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  • Perspective and not yielding a biblical world view.
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  • We've simply negotiated.
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  • And so i would remind you of the biblical assignment because when
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  • We look to the gospel of luke, we're in the portion of that
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  • Gospel now where jesus is facing horrific suffering and
  • 00:04:45.101 --> 00:04:50.506
  • What required the suffering, the passion of the lord, was evil.
  • 00:04:50.506 --> 00:04:56.946
  • We needed deliverance, we needed authority over evil.
  • 00:04:56.946 --> 00:05:00.450
  • So jesus came, put on an earth-suit, ultimately endured
  • 00:05:00.450 --> 00:05:04.387
  • The cross, so that we could have authority over evil.
  • 00:05:04.387 --> 00:05:10.893
  • But the assignment we've been given is to overcome it,
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  • Not to negotiate with it.
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  • And i believe we will be held accountable if we reject
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  • The assignment.
  • 00:05:22.271 --> 00:05:24.307
  • That's not really just my opinion, revelation 21 is
  • 00:05:24.307 --> 00:05:27.143
  • Very near the end, not only of the new testament, but it's
  • 00:05:27.143 --> 00:05:30.446
  • A picture at the end of this age, there's a new heaven and
  • 00:05:30.446 --> 00:05:35.351
  • A new earth and there's many changes coming to this present
  • 00:05:35.351 --> 00:05:38.421
  • World order.
  • 00:05:38.421 --> 00:05:39.789
  • It's gonna be swept aside and-- but we're given an outline there
  • 00:05:39.789 --> 00:05:43.860
  • Of how our journey through time will be evaluated
  • 00:05:43.860 --> 00:05:48.865
  • By the king of all kings and the lord of all lords.
  • 00:05:48.865 --> 00:05:51.200
  • That means it supersedes any election, anything
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  • The united nations, any order they might issue.
  • 00:05:55.872 --> 00:06:00.243
  • Revelation 21:7 says, "he who overcomes will inherit
  • 00:06:00.243 --> 00:06:03.513
  • All of this, and i will be his god and he will be my son."
  • 00:06:03.513 --> 00:06:08.818
  • Now, i don't know about you, but that has my attention.
  • 00:06:08.818 --> 00:06:11.587
  • Who's going to be included in the eternal king of go--
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  • Kingdom of god and counted as one of god's children?
  • 00:06:14.323 --> 00:06:18.494
  • The one who overcomes.
  • 00:06:18.494 --> 00:06:21.197
  • So if there's an assignment to overcome, if there's a challenge
  • 00:06:21.197 --> 00:06:24.066
  • To be overcome, if there's-- whatever it may be,
  • 00:06:24.066 --> 00:06:26.936
  • I'm gonna go get in the line to be an overcomer
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  • Because that's the outcome i want.
  • 00:06:30.873 --> 00:06:32.742
  • And in case there wasn't enough clarity in that,
  • 00:06:36.612 --> 00:06:38.614
  • The next sentence says-- gives us the alternative,
  • 00:06:38.614 --> 00:06:41.350
  • The people who will have a different outcome.
  • 00:06:41.350 --> 00:06:43.085
  • It says, "the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the
  • 00:06:43.085 --> 00:06:46.222
  • Murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts,
  • 00:06:46.222 --> 00:06:49.225
  • The idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the fiery
  • 00:06:49.225 --> 00:06:53.229
  • Lake of burning sulfur.
  • 00:06:53.229 --> 00:06:54.564
  • It's the second death."
  • 00:06:54.564 --> 00:06:56.732
  • I think it's worth noting some of that list i think is--
  • 00:06:56.732 --> 00:07:00.470
  • Seems apparent to us.
  • 00:07:00.470 --> 00:07:02.171
  • We would imagine that the murderers, or the sexually
  • 00:07:02.171 --> 00:07:04.941
  • Immoral, or those who practice the occult, or idolatry, or
  • 00:07:04.941 --> 00:07:08.177
  • Liars, we can imagine that god's judgment might fall on them.
  • 00:07:08.177 --> 00:07:11.280
  • I'm not sure we've imagined that the cowardly and the unbelieving
  • 00:07:11.280 --> 00:07:14.817
  • Would be included.
  • 00:07:14.817 --> 00:07:19.422
  • The cowardly and the unbelieving.
  • 00:07:19.422 --> 00:07:22.091
  • You can't be an overcomer if you're filled with cowardice
  • 00:07:22.091 --> 00:07:26.028
  • And unbelief.
  • 00:07:26.028 --> 00:07:28.564
  • So when you recognize the challenge of those things, and
  • 00:07:28.564 --> 00:07:31.434
  • We all do, we all face difficult places, challenging things.
  • 00:07:31.434 --> 00:07:37.340
  • We don't wanna give place to cowardice and unbelief.
  • 00:07:37.340 --> 00:07:41.444
  • We wanna ask the help of the spirit of god to enable us to be
  • 00:07:41.444 --> 00:07:45.147
  • Overcomers, not because we feel like it or we imagine that we
  • 00:07:45.147 --> 00:07:50.253
  • Can do it in ourselves or of our own strength or even from the
  • 00:07:50.253 --> 00:07:53.723
  • Force of our own emotions or our own determination or our own,
  • 00:07:53.723 --> 00:07:57.093
  • You know, whatever, i mean, and i'm all for all the effort
  • 00:07:57.093 --> 00:08:00.530
  • That we can muster, but we need something beyond ourselves
  • 00:08:00.530 --> 00:08:05.234
  • And god will meet us.
  • 00:08:05.234 --> 00:08:08.804
  • In the midst of his passion, jesus said, "father into
  • 00:08:08.804 --> 00:08:12.308
  • Your hands, i commit my spirit."
  • 00:08:12.308 --> 00:08:16.279
  • He didn't say, "i'm tough enough to overcome these people.
  • 00:08:16.279 --> 00:08:19.315
  • I'm holy enough, righteous enough, good enough--"
  • 00:08:19.315 --> 00:08:23.653
  • "father into your hands."
  • 00:08:23.653 --> 00:08:26.389
  • And i believe sometimes our ability to overcome is totally
  • 00:08:26.389 --> 00:08:31.727
  • Dependent on our willingness to say to the lord,
  • 00:08:31.727 --> 00:08:33.930
  • "lord, i need your help."
  • 00:08:33.930 --> 00:08:37.033
  • I feel like i arrive at that place frequently.
  • 00:08:37.033 --> 00:08:41.270
  • Now, with that background, we're gonna join jesus near
  • 00:08:41.270 --> 00:08:44.840
  • The end of the gospel of luke.
  • 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:47.376
  • I've had so much fun.
  • 00:08:47.376 --> 00:08:48.711
  • We've been to--luke took us into the temple.
  • 00:08:48.711 --> 00:08:52.548
  • In the very first chapter, we got to slip into herod's temple,
  • 00:08:52.548 --> 00:08:56.319
  • The second temple in jerusalem while zechariah was serving
  • 00:08:56.319 --> 00:08:59.789
  • In the temple and he had a visit from gabriel.
  • 00:08:59.789 --> 00:09:03.793
  • And we got to listen in.
  • 00:09:03.793 --> 00:09:06.529
  • In the second chapter, we got to go to nazareth, the town where
  • 00:09:06.529 --> 00:09:10.566
  • Mary and joseph lived, and gabriel made a house call
  • 00:09:10.566 --> 00:09:14.870
  • With the most bizarre message.
  • 00:09:14.870 --> 00:09:16.806
  • He fried the mind of a teenage jewish girl.
  • 00:09:16.806 --> 00:09:19.342
  • And then he fried all of our minds when that young woman
  • 00:09:22.044 --> 00:09:25.014
  • Said, "may it be to me as you have said."
  • 00:09:25.014 --> 00:09:27.550
  • She took all of her life plans, all of her dreams,
  • 00:09:28.751 --> 00:09:31.654
  • All of her reputation.
  • 00:09:31.654 --> 00:09:33.356
  • She rolled it up in a ball, dropped it in a shredder
  • 00:09:33.356 --> 00:09:34.957
  • And said, "never mind, i'll go with you."
  • 00:09:34.957 --> 00:09:37.593
  • And you've got a hint at this point.
  • 00:09:37.593 --> 00:09:39.929
  • By the time you get to the second--the end of the second
  • 00:09:39.929 --> 00:09:41.998
  • Chapter of luke, you understand something of his thesis.
  • 00:09:41.998 --> 00:09:44.767
  • He said to zechariah, "you and your wife
  • 00:09:44.767 --> 00:09:46.602
  • Who are bare and childless, you will conceive."
  • 00:09:46.602 --> 00:09:49.739
  • And zechariah said, "how can that be?
  • 00:09:49.739 --> 00:09:51.707
  • I'm old and she's mature?"
  • 00:09:51.707 --> 00:10:00.249
  • And the angel said to him, "because you didn't believe me,
  • 00:10:00.249 --> 00:10:05.221
  • You'll be mute for a while."
  • 00:10:05.221 --> 00:10:07.790
  • And in the second chapter, when the angel brings the message to
  • 00:10:07.790 --> 00:10:10.393
  • Mary, she says, "i'm all in.
  • 00:10:10.393 --> 00:10:13.062
  • Let's go."
  • 00:10:13.062 --> 00:10:14.397
  • And luke has given us the essence of this gospel, this
  • 00:10:14.397 --> 00:10:17.366
  • Dialogue, this contrast between our willingness to believe
  • 00:10:17.366 --> 00:10:23.439
  • And our stubborn refusal to do so.
  • 00:10:23.439 --> 00:10:26.642
  • That it's not just between pharisees and teachers of the
  • 00:10:26.642 --> 00:10:29.745
  • Law and disciples, the struggle is in the midst of the people
  • 00:10:29.745 --> 00:10:33.282
  • Of god, the people of faith.
  • 00:10:33.282 --> 00:10:34.717
  • Zechariah and elizabeth are favored by god, the parents
  • 00:10:34.717 --> 00:10:37.753
  • Of john the baptist.
  • 00:10:37.753 --> 00:10:40.790
  • And they struggled to believe folks, you and i will struggle
  • 00:10:40.790 --> 00:10:44.493
  • To say "yes" to the lord.
  • 00:10:44.493 --> 00:10:47.596
  • Because if you say "yes" to him on a regular basis,
  • 00:10:47.596 --> 00:10:50.232
  • You'll be qualified for a "yes" that's bigger than you,
  • 00:10:50.232 --> 00:10:55.871
  • And that's not easy.
  • 00:10:55.871 --> 00:10:59.208
  • Moses at the burning bush going, "no, i'm good, really.
  • 00:10:59.208 --> 00:11:02.211
  • I like sheep.
  • 00:11:02.211 --> 00:11:04.613
  • I got a good deal going.
  • 00:11:04.613 --> 00:11:06.882
  • I have a price fixed all of my sheep and goats
  • 00:11:06.882 --> 00:11:09.719
  • At the local market."
  • 00:11:09.719 --> 00:11:13.389
  • And god said, "no, i really, i need you to go talk to--"
  • 00:11:13.389 --> 00:11:16.926
  • "i'm really good.
  • 00:11:16.926 --> 00:11:18.861
  • I tried that pharaoh thing.
  • 00:11:18.861 --> 00:11:20.229
  • It didn't work for me."
  • 00:11:20.229 --> 00:11:22.865
  • God was mad enough to kill him.
  • 00:11:22.865 --> 00:11:28.237
  • Allen: yeah, i have a suggestion.
  • 00:11:32.041 --> 00:11:33.375
  • Let's stop waiting for somebody else to be a better leader.
  • 00:11:33.375 --> 00:11:35.845
  • Let's determine this year to lead with faith.
  • 00:11:35.845 --> 00:11:38.314
  • I've written a book to help.
  • 00:11:38.314 --> 00:11:39.682
  • It's a practical collection of tools that you and i can use the
  • 00:11:39.682 --> 00:11:43.119
  • Influence of our lives, faith first in the marketplace, in our
  • 00:11:43.119 --> 00:11:46.922
  • Homes, with our friends.
  • 00:11:46.922 --> 00:11:48.290
  • Folks, it's time for us to stop waiting for somebody else to
  • 00:11:48.290 --> 00:11:51.026
  • Step forward.
  • 00:11:51.026 --> 00:11:52.394
  • Let's determine to lead with faith.
  • 00:11:52.394 --> 00:11:53.929
  • We can do that and i believe we can change our homes, our
  • 00:11:53.929 --> 00:11:57.032
  • Neighborhoods, our churches, maybe even our nation.
  • 00:11:57.032 --> 00:12:00.136
  • Announcer: choosing to lead with faith starts with a simple
  • 00:12:00.136 --> 00:12:03.072
  • Decision: to be intentional right where you are.
  • 00:12:03.072 --> 00:12:06.008
  • In his new book "lead with faith," pastor allen shares
  • 00:12:06.008 --> 00:12:09.078
  • Biblical insight and practical tools to help you live out your
  • 00:12:09.078 --> 00:12:12.381
  • Faith in meaningful ways every day.
  • 00:12:12.381 --> 00:12:15.251
  • This book will encourage you to stand for truth with wisdom,
  • 00:12:15.251 --> 00:12:18.454
  • Clarity, and courage without waiting for someone else to
  • 00:12:18.454 --> 00:12:21.457
  • Go first.
  • 00:12:21.457 --> 00:12:22.792
  • Request "lead with faith" with your gift of $30 or more at
  • 00:12:22.792 --> 00:12:25.861
  • Allenjackson.com or call ...
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  • Allen: you see saying "yes" to the lord, we live
  • 00:13:04.099 --> 00:13:06.202
  • In this fantasy thing far too often as christians,
  • 00:13:06.202 --> 00:13:10.806
  • I'm a little bit over it.
  • 00:13:10.806 --> 00:13:13.242
  • You know, i hear people say, "well, you know, it's just
  • 00:13:13.242 --> 00:13:15.211
  • Whatever the lord wants me to do, it's always a joy."
  • 00:13:15.211 --> 00:13:21.083
  • You know when i hear that a lot i think, "well, you haven't paid
  • 00:13:21.083 --> 00:13:23.619
  • Attention to very many invitations," because
  • 00:13:23.619 --> 00:13:27.022
  • I can tell you that oftentimes the invitations the lord
  • 00:13:27.022 --> 00:13:29.258
  • Puts in front of me, i think, "you got to be kidding!"
  • 00:13:29.258 --> 00:13:33.362
  • I've had enough experience, i'm a bit more respectful,
  • 00:13:33.362 --> 00:13:35.531
  • But that's what i'm thinking and he knows my thoughts.
  • 00:13:35.531 --> 00:13:39.869
  • Like really?
  • 00:13:39.869 --> 00:13:42.838
  • I used to make fun of tv preachers.
  • 00:13:42.838 --> 00:13:45.875
  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:13:45.875 --> 00:13:51.046
  • Allen: yeah.
  • 00:13:51.046 --> 00:13:52.381
  • You know why you're laughing. you have too.
  • 00:13:52.381 --> 00:13:55.251
  • Be careful, be really careful.
  • 00:13:55.251 --> 00:14:02.057
  • You gotta, you really-- i have learned something.
  • 00:14:02.057 --> 00:14:07.563
  • I don't make fun of--i don't point fingers, i'm far more--
  • 00:14:07.563 --> 00:14:11.467
  • Because i don't know the whole story.
  • 00:14:11.467 --> 00:14:19.575
  • Zechariah and elizabeth, that's where i was, chapter 2.
  • 00:14:19.575 --> 00:14:22.044
  • We're never gonna get to chapter 23, are we?
  • 00:14:22.044 --> 00:14:25.481
  • Luke takes us on an amazing journey.
  • 00:14:25.481 --> 00:14:28.684
  • We could go to dinner with jesus multiple times
  • 00:14:28.684 --> 00:14:30.953
  • In the house of a pharisee.
  • 00:14:30.953 --> 00:14:32.888
  • We get to sit at the table and listen to jesus engage
  • 00:14:32.888 --> 00:14:37.126
  • With the religious leaders of the community.
  • 00:14:37.126 --> 00:14:38.994
  • The pharisees were the religious leaders
  • 00:14:38.994 --> 00:14:41.397
  • In the local communities.
  • 00:14:41.397 --> 00:14:42.731
  • They presided over the synagogues and, many times,
  • 00:14:42.731 --> 00:14:45.234
  • Jesus goes to dinner and luke lets us go with him.
  • 00:14:45.234 --> 00:14:51.106
  • Luke takes us into the synagogues on sabbath more than
  • 00:14:51.106 --> 00:14:54.476
  • Once and let us listen to jesus read scripture portions,
  • 00:14:54.476 --> 00:14:59.281
  • Minister to the people.
  • 00:14:59.281 --> 00:15:00.649
  • It gives us an idea.
  • 00:15:00.649 --> 00:15:03.585
  • He takes us to temple with jesus.
  • 00:15:03.585 --> 00:15:06.822
  • In fact, the last chunk of the gospel, we spend days with jesus
  • 00:15:06.822 --> 00:15:09.892
  • Around the temple.
  • 00:15:09.892 --> 00:15:12.227
  • Teaching people, disrupting things, challenging leaders.
  • 00:15:12.227 --> 00:15:18.200
  • It's a remarkable journey.
  • 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:20.736
  • But as we get to the concluding chapters, it gets very,
  • 00:15:20.736 --> 00:15:23.138
  • Very personal and it's happening really quickly.
  • 00:15:23.138 --> 00:15:27.576
  • The time is compressed.
  • 00:15:27.576 --> 00:15:30.012
  • The last several chapters deal with a very brief period
  • 00:15:30.012 --> 00:15:32.481
  • Of time.
  • 00:15:32.481 --> 00:15:33.816
  • I gave you an outline in a previous session.
  • 00:15:33.816 --> 00:15:35.584
  • I'll touch it just quickly.
  • 00:15:35.584 --> 00:15:36.952
  • Luke's gonna take us from the upper room, the last supper,
  • 00:15:36.952 --> 00:15:41.423
  • To gethsemane.
  • 00:15:41.423 --> 00:15:42.758
  • We think of gethsemane as the garden where jesus went to pray,
  • 00:15:42.758 --> 00:15:46.128
  • And that's true but "gethsemane" means "olive press."
  • 00:15:46.128 --> 00:15:50.065
  • The mount of olives was an olive grove.
  • 00:15:50.065 --> 00:15:52.001
  • That's why we call it the mount of olives.
  • 00:15:52.001 --> 00:15:58.107
  • The place where--the field where the shepherds kept
  • 00:15:58.107 --> 00:16:02.344
  • The sheep outside of bethlehem.
  • 00:16:02.344 --> 00:16:03.979
  • What did we call that place?
  • 00:16:03.979 --> 00:16:07.116
  • The shepherd's fields.
  • 00:16:07.116 --> 00:16:10.652
  • And the mount of olives was a hill covered with olive trees.
  • 00:16:10.652 --> 00:16:16.525
  • But they're connected and the connector is the temple and
  • 00:16:16.525 --> 00:16:20.729
  • The sadducees who are the power-brokers on the temple,
  • 00:16:20.729 --> 00:16:24.700
  • They own the shepherd's fields and the sheep, and they control
  • 00:16:24.700 --> 00:16:29.104
  • The amount of olives and the olive oil that they need
  • 00:16:29.104 --> 00:16:31.840
  • For the service of the temple.
  • 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:33.375
  • It's a racket, but jesus is in the habit of praying
  • 00:16:33.375 --> 00:16:39.114
  • On the mount of olives in an olive grove.
  • 00:16:39.114 --> 00:16:42.117
  • And after the last supper, he goes there that evening.
  • 00:16:42.117 --> 00:16:45.921
  • Now the last supper was on the upper part of jerusalem.
  • 00:16:45.921 --> 00:16:48.557
  • Some of you have been there in the upper city.
  • 00:16:48.557 --> 00:16:50.959
  • It's a pretty good hike through the city of jerusalem across
  • 00:16:50.959 --> 00:16:54.630
  • The kidron valley to gethsemane.
  • 00:16:54.630 --> 00:16:57.566
  • That's where he is when they come to arrest him.
  • 00:16:57.566 --> 00:17:00.636
  • Late thursday night, they take him from gethsemane to the house
  • 00:17:00.636 --> 00:17:06.275
  • Of annas, the the high priest of the previous year.
  • 00:17:06.275 --> 00:17:09.611
  • And then from his house to caiaphas,
  • 00:17:09.611 --> 00:17:12.314
  • The current high priest.
  • 00:17:12.314 --> 00:17:13.782
  • And as soon as the sun comes up, the priestly leaders and
  • 00:17:13.782 --> 00:17:19.121
  • The temple guard take jesus to pilate in the praetorium,
  • 00:17:19.121 --> 00:17:25.661
  • Which is a part of the antonia fortress.
  • 00:17:25.661 --> 00:17:27.362
  • It's the fortress the romans built just north of the temple
  • 00:17:27.362 --> 00:17:31.266
  • To provide security.
  • 00:17:31.266 --> 00:17:32.835
  • 100,000 people or more could gather on the temple mount,
  • 00:17:32.835 --> 00:17:36.238
  • And so they built the security outpost just north of it higher
  • 00:17:36.238 --> 00:17:39.041
  • Than the temple mount so they could enforce security.
  • 00:17:39.041 --> 00:17:42.377
  • Remember when in the book--of near the end of the book of acts
  • 00:17:42.377 --> 00:17:45.047
  • When paul gets arrested, there's a riot that breaks out on the
  • 00:17:45.047 --> 00:17:48.183
  • Temple mount and the roman guards are called because they
  • 00:17:48.183 --> 00:17:52.688
  • Can see the riot, and they drag him back into the praetorium,
  • 00:17:52.688 --> 00:17:56.024
  • Into the antonia fortress.
  • 00:17:56.024 --> 00:17:58.193
  • So they take jesus to the praetorium, the place
  • 00:17:58.193 --> 00:18:00.295
  • Of judgment, and put him before pilate and he faces pilate
  • 00:18:00.295 --> 00:18:04.566
  • For the first time.
  • 00:18:04.566 --> 00:18:05.934
  • And when pilate understands that he's from galilee,
  • 00:18:05.934 --> 00:18:07.669
  • He sends him to herod and antipas,
  • 00:18:07.669 --> 00:18:10.539
  • Who is the governor of galilee.
  • 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:12.941
  • He "said, i don't want to deal with this.
  • 00:18:12.941 --> 00:18:14.276
  • You deal with this," and he sends him to herod.
  • 00:18:14.276 --> 00:18:15.644
  • This is the same herod that beheaded john, and jesus
  • 00:18:15.644 --> 00:18:19.214
  • Won't say anything to herod.
  • 00:18:19.214 --> 00:18:20.716
  • We looked at that.
  • 00:18:20.716 --> 00:18:22.184
  • So after they mock him a bit, put a robe on him, a fancy robe
  • 00:18:22.184 --> 00:18:26.321
  • On him, they send him back to pilate except now
  • 00:18:26.321 --> 00:18:28.690
  • He's bedazzled.
  • 00:18:28.690 --> 00:18:31.593
  • He has on herod's fancy robe and pilate resumes his interrogation
  • 00:18:31.593 --> 00:18:37.232
  • In the praetorium.
  • 00:18:37.232 --> 00:18:39.234
  • It'll end, you know the end of the story.
  • 00:18:39.234 --> 00:18:40.736
  • So it's spoiler alert: it's going to end
  • 00:18:40.736 --> 00:18:42.371
  • In jesus condemnation.
  • 00:18:42.371 --> 00:18:45.440
  • But the way luke presents it, truly is a fascinating study.
  • 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:48.677
  • Luke 23 and verse 13, you have it.
  • 00:18:48.677 --> 00:18:51.013
  • We're gonna watch jesus overcome evil, but it's not necessarily
  • 00:18:51.013 --> 00:18:56.118
  • The way i would have preferred.
  • 00:18:56.118 --> 00:18:57.586
  • If i were the one in the center of the story.
  • 00:18:57.586 --> 00:19:01.590
  • He will triumph over death before he's done.
  • 00:19:01.590 --> 00:19:05.327
  • He will say to john in the book of revelation, in the first
  • 00:19:05.327 --> 00:19:07.796
  • Chapter, "i'm the living one.
  • 00:19:07.796 --> 00:19:09.765
  • I was alive and i was dead and i'm alive forevermore.
  • 00:19:09.765 --> 00:19:12.401
  • And now i hold the keys of death and hell."
  • 00:19:12.401 --> 00:19:17.105
  • That's a very victorious christ.
  • 00:19:17.105 --> 00:19:20.742
  • But the pathway there was not a path i would wanna walk.
  • 00:19:20.742 --> 00:19:25.747
  • Revelation--i'm sorry, it's luke 23, "pilate called together
  • 00:19:25.747 --> 00:19:28.717
  • The chief priests and the rulers and the people.
  • 00:19:28.717 --> 00:19:30.619
  • And he said to them, you brought me this man
  • 00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:33.055
  • As one who was inciting the people to rebellion.
  • 00:19:33.055 --> 00:19:36.925
  • I've examined him in your presence and i have found
  • 00:19:36.925 --> 00:19:39.361
  • No basis for your charges against him.
  • 00:19:39.361 --> 00:19:42.564
  • Neither has herod for he sent him back to us.
  • 00:19:42.564 --> 00:19:45.667
  • As you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.
  • 00:19:45.667 --> 00:19:51.039
  • Therefore, i will punish him and then release him."
  • 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:55.077
  • Now, that's the roman governor's opinion.
  • 00:19:55.077 --> 00:19:58.113
  • "i've interrogated him in your presence.
  • 00:19:58.113 --> 00:20:01.216
  • I find no support for the charges you have brought.
  • 00:20:01.216 --> 00:20:05.654
  • And i sent him to herod, the governor of the north
  • 00:20:05.654 --> 00:20:11.026
  • And he found no basis.
  • 00:20:11.026 --> 00:20:13.462
  • He sent him back to me.
  • 00:20:13.462 --> 00:20:16.164
  • So i'll punish him a bit, but i'm gonna release him."
  • 00:20:16.164 --> 00:20:22.738
  • "with one voice, they cried out, 'away with this man!
  • 00:20:22.738 --> 00:20:29.478
  • Released barabbas to us--"' and then luke puts
  • 00:20:29.478 --> 00:20:32.414
  • In parentheses an explanation, not a part of her--
  • 00:20:32.414 --> 00:20:35.584
  • Pilate's dialogue, luke is giving us an explanation
  • 00:20:35.584 --> 00:20:38.520
  • Because we might not have known who barabbas was.
  • 00:20:38.520 --> 00:20:42.658
  • He said, "barabbas had been thrown into prison
  • 00:20:42.658 --> 00:20:44.293
  • For an insurrection in the city, and for murder."
  • 00:20:44.293 --> 00:20:49.064
  • Now this isn't the first time, this is actually the second time
  • 00:20:49.064 --> 00:20:51.733
  • Pilate has--in luke's gospel, pilate says to the priest,
  • 00:20:51.733 --> 00:20:55.837
  • To the rulers, and you will note if you look back at verse 13,
  • 00:20:55.837 --> 00:20:59.274
  • And to the people, "i have found no basis for your charges
  • 00:20:59.274 --> 00:21:05.147
  • Against him."
  • 00:21:05.147 --> 00:21:08.984
  • And then luke says to us, "they cried with one voice,
  • 00:21:08.984 --> 00:21:14.122
  • 'away with this man."'
  • 00:21:14.122 --> 00:21:18.126
  • Same chapter, look at verse 20, "wanting to release jesus--"
  • 00:21:18.126 --> 00:21:25.067
  • Again, luke is tell-- wanting to release jesus.
  • 00:21:25.067 --> 00:21:28.470
  • Words have meanings, folks.
  • 00:21:28.470 --> 00:21:31.306
  • You know, in political seasons, we lose sight of that,
  • 00:21:31.306 --> 00:21:35.477
  • But we shouldn't.
  • 00:21:35.477 --> 00:21:37.079
  • Luke says "pilate wanted to release jesus,
  • 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:42.217
  • So we appealed to them again.
  • 00:21:42.217 --> 00:21:44.119
  • But they kept shouting, 'crucify him!
  • 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:49.291
  • Crucify him!'
  • 00:21:49.291 --> 00:21:51.993
  • For the third time he spoke to them: 'why?
  • 00:21:51.993 --> 00:21:55.430
  • What crime has this man committed?
  • 00:21:55.430 --> 00:21:57.599
  • I found in him no grounds for the death penalty.
  • 00:21:57.599 --> 00:22:01.136
  • Therefore, i will have him punished and then release him.'
  • 00:22:01.136 --> 00:22:06.775
  • But with loud shouts, they insistently demanded
  • 00:22:06.775 --> 00:22:09.511
  • That he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed."
  • 00:22:09.511 --> 00:22:15.384
  • You should circle that: the shouts of an angry mob prevailed
  • 00:22:15.384 --> 00:22:22.524
  • Over truth, over fact.
  • 00:22:22.524 --> 00:22:28.063
  • "so pilate decided to grant their demand.
  • 00:22:28.063 --> 00:22:31.533
  • He released the man who had been thrown into prison
  • 00:22:31.533 --> 00:22:34.202
  • For insurrection and murder, the one they asked for,
  • 00:22:34.202 --> 00:22:37.205
  • And he surrendered jesus to their will."
  • 00:22:37.205 --> 00:22:42.244
  • Wow, this is the third time pilate has appealed to
  • 00:22:42.244 --> 00:22:46.281
  • The people with a desire to release jesus, in luke's gospel.
  • 00:22:46.281 --> 00:22:50.352
  • So, i have a question and it's worth a bit of reflection:
  • 00:22:50.352 --> 00:22:53.155
  • Do you imagine that pilate was guiltless?
  • 00:22:53.155 --> 00:22:59.828
  • He tried to release jesus.
  • 00:22:59.828 --> 00:23:01.630
  • He wanted to release jesus.
  • 00:23:01.630 --> 00:23:03.832
  • Well, luke tells us his intent, his objective was
  • 00:23:03.832 --> 00:23:08.870
  • To release jesus.
  • 00:23:08.870 --> 00:23:10.505
  • Was pilate guiltless?
  • 00:23:10.505 --> 00:23:14.409
  • I think a better description would be, he was gutless.
  • 00:23:14.409 --> 00:23:19.347
  • By his own words, he had the power of life or "death.
  • 00:23:19.347 --> 00:23:22.684
  • I can release you or crucify you my choice," he said.
  • 00:23:22.684 --> 00:23:27.189
  • There really is no appeals court, "you'll live or die
  • 00:23:27.189 --> 00:23:31.726
  • This day by my whim."
  • 00:23:31.726 --> 00:23:35.564
  • Now, i will readily admit pilate's under some pretty
  • 00:23:35.564 --> 00:23:38.366
  • Significant pressure, public pressure, political pressure.
  • 00:23:38.366 --> 00:23:41.937
  • His job is to keep the peace and there's an angry group of people
  • 00:23:41.937 --> 00:23:45.140
  • That wants this man he perceives to be innocent to be crucified.
  • 00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:51.146
  • I'm always a bit intrigued, christians tend to rally a bit
  • 00:23:51.146 --> 00:23:53.615
  • Around pilate and go, "well, you know, he was in a really
  • 00:23:53.615 --> 00:23:55.884
  • Hard place."
  • 00:23:55.884 --> 00:24:00.422
  • Folks, pilate could have been a participant in the eternal
  • 00:24:00.422 --> 00:24:02.757
  • Kingdom of god.
  • 00:24:02.757 --> 00:24:05.393
  • That would be a much better place to have stood than being
  • 00:24:05.393 --> 00:24:08.930
  • The one that condemned him to death, when your earth-suit
  • 00:24:08.930 --> 00:24:12.667
  • Wears out, agreed?
  • 00:24:12.667 --> 00:24:18.573
  • Pilate surrendered jesus to the murderous mob.
  • 00:24:18.573 --> 00:24:23.011
  • We don't do that.
  • 00:24:23.011 --> 00:24:24.346
  • We don't sit on the beam of the judgment seat,
  • 00:24:24.346 --> 00:24:26.481
  • The roman judgment seat.
  • 00:24:26.481 --> 00:24:28.083
  • We don't occupy a praetorium and have our own personal guard
  • 00:24:28.083 --> 00:24:31.186
  • And a guard of people that we can command.
  • 00:24:31.186 --> 00:24:33.889
  • We cave in other ways.
  • 00:24:33.889 --> 00:24:35.223
  • We surrender children to abortionist.
  • 00:24:35.223 --> 00:24:39.528
  • We stay silent while gender mutilators profit from
  • 00:24:39.528 --> 00:24:46.468
  • Our young people.
  • 00:24:46.468 --> 00:24:51.172
  • We say "we don't talk about those things" while they're
  • 00:24:51.172 --> 00:24:53.775
  • Trafficking more children at our border than any time
  • 00:24:53.775 --> 00:24:58.880
  • In the last 200 years.
  • 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:04.920
  • I mean, the pressure of the mob, if we said something,
  • 00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:07.289
  • People would be unhappy with us, it would be awkward.
  • 00:25:07.289 --> 00:25:11.693
  • "they've told me not to talk about it, so i don't talk
  • 00:25:11.693 --> 00:25:13.962
  • About it.
  • 00:25:13.962 --> 00:25:15.297
  • I mean, it would be awkward.
  • 00:25:15.297 --> 00:25:16.665
  • They--that they would just-- we're supposed to separate
  • 00:25:16.665 --> 00:25:17.999
  • Ourselves from that we're silent while they teach our children
  • 00:25:17.999 --> 00:25:20.468
  • Dei in their schools.
  • 00:25:20.468 --> 00:25:22.671
  • They should judge one another by how they look,
  • 00:25:22.671 --> 00:25:26.274
  • Not by the content of their character."
  • 00:25:26.274 --> 00:25:27.943
  • It's evil.
  • 00:25:27.943 --> 00:25:30.178
  • Allen: jesus was a living revelation of almighty god.
  • 00:25:30.245 --> 00:25:33.348
  • That's my prayer for us today, that we would have more than
  • 00:25:33.348 --> 00:25:36.117
  • A religious experience or some experience of reciting a prayer,
  • 00:25:36.117 --> 00:25:40.255
  • We need a revelation of jesus.
  • 00:25:40.255 --> 00:25:41.823
  • It'll change our lives.
  • 00:25:41.823 --> 00:25:43.558
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:25:43.558 --> 00:25:44.926
  • Father, i thank you that you love us so much that you sent
  • 00:25:44.926 --> 00:25:46.895
  • Your son, that you sent him in a package that we could relate to,
  • 00:25:46.895 --> 00:25:50.799
  • That we could understand, and that he could understand us.
  • 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:53.535
  • I ask you now by your spirit to give us a living revelation
  • 00:25:53.535 --> 00:25:57.272
  • Of jesus of nazareth, not a historical figure
  • 00:25:57.272 --> 00:26:00.308
  • Or a religious leader, but the living person of jesus.
  • 00:26:00.308 --> 00:26:03.311
  • I thank you for it.
  • 00:26:03.311 --> 00:26:04.646
  • It's in his name we ask, amen.
  • 00:26:04.646 --> 00:26:09.351
  • Allen: i suspect we've all heard the line that leadership is
  • 00:26:13.521 --> 00:26:15.757
  • About influence.
  • 00:26:15.757 --> 00:26:17.125
  • Well, i have a question for you.
  • 00:26:17.125 --> 00:26:18.460
  • What do you lead with?
  • 00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:19.828
  • What is the basis of your influence?
  • 00:26:19.828 --> 00:26:21.396
  • Is it your appearance, your education, your professional
  • 00:26:21.396 --> 00:26:24.232
  • Expertise, your professional accomplishments, your athletic
  • 00:26:24.232 --> 00:26:27.168
  • Ability, your family?
  • 00:26:27.168 --> 00:26:29.170
  • What is the point of influence that you use most frequently?
  • 00:26:29.170 --> 00:26:33.308
  • Well, i've written a book.
  • 00:26:33.308 --> 00:26:34.643
  • The title is gonna give away where i'm headed.
  • 00:26:34.643 --> 00:26:36.511
  • It's "lead with faith."
  • 00:26:36.511 --> 00:26:38.046
  • I think it's time that all of us begin to use our faith as an
  • 00:26:38.046 --> 00:26:41.750
  • Influence in the world where we find ourselves.
  • 00:26:41.750 --> 00:26:44.252
  • We're reluctant to do that.
  • 00:26:44.252 --> 00:26:45.587
  • We typically have more confidence in our education or
  • 00:26:45.587 --> 00:26:48.156
  • Our family system or our life experience, we feel a little
  • 00:26:48.156 --> 00:26:51.292
  • Uncertain to lead with faith.
  • 00:26:51.292 --> 00:26:53.294
  • The point of this book is to give you the tools to take your
  • 00:26:53.294 --> 00:26:56.798
  • Faith out of a church setting and bring it into
  • 00:26:56.798 --> 00:26:59.534
  • The marketplace.
  • 00:26:59.534 --> 00:27:00.869
  • If we will lead with faith, i believe god will help us make an
  • 00:27:00.869 --> 00:27:04.572
  • Impact in this generation.
  • 00:27:04.572 --> 00:27:06.408
  • Go to allenjackson.com and get your copy today.
  • 00:27:06.408 --> 00:27:10.045
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:11.446 --> 00:27:29.431