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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Effort Required

July 5, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Effort Required
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Work #WorkofYourHands #Jesus #WalkwithGod #RelationshipwithGod #Sacrifice #Surrender #Culture #Persecution #Church #BodyofChrist

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Effort Required | July 5, 2025
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  • Allen jackson: you know, i know you know, but we're living in
  • 00:00:06.622 --> 00:00:08.223
  • A chaotic world.
  • 00:00:08.323 --> 00:00:09.558
  • Things are changing globally.
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  • There's wars, there's threats of war, a lot of stuff happening.
  • 00:00:11.393 --> 00:00:15.264
  • But i want to make a suggestion.
  • 00:00:15.264 --> 00:00:16.632
  • Don't focus on the negative.
  • 00:00:16.632 --> 00:00:18.233
  • Don't get caught up in the uncertainty.
  • 00:00:18.233 --> 00:00:20.869
  • That'll bring fear and anxiety and worry.
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  • It's not helpful.
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  • Let's determine to focus our attention on the lord.
  • 00:00:25.040 --> 00:00:28.210
  • We've created a tool that i believe will make a difference.
  • 00:00:28.210 --> 00:00:30.479
  • It's called "awaken us."
  • 00:00:30.479 --> 00:00:32.147
  • It's a 30-day plan.
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  • Each day is directed at a different topic that's a part
  • 00:00:33.916 --> 00:00:36.785
  • Of our current world.
  • 00:00:36.785 --> 00:00:38.353
  • It gives us a verse of scripture, a little devotional
  • 00:00:38.353 --> 00:00:40.556
  • Around that topic, and then a prayer for that specific thing.
  • 00:00:40.556 --> 00:00:44.159
  • The idea is we're gonna give the holy spirit an invitation to
  • 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:47.463
  • Awaken us to a new place of faith.
  • 00:00:47.463 --> 00:00:50.732
  • You know, we need an awakening in the midst of the people of
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  • God and we wanna say, "well, i am awake."
  • 00:00:53.569 --> 00:00:55.571
  • Well, i get that but, you know, i was awakened yesterday, but
  • 00:00:55.571 --> 00:00:58.807
  • This morning i was awakened again and my prayer is tomorrow
  • 00:00:58.807 --> 00:01:01.343
  • I'll be awakened yet again.
  • 00:01:01.343 --> 00:01:03.545
  • We need a daily awakening by the spirit of god to find his best
  • 00:01:03.545 --> 00:01:07.616
  • For us in this season, and i believe this book will help you.
  • 00:01:07.616 --> 00:01:14.456
  • Allen: we started a discussion last week.
  • 00:01:18.393 --> 00:01:19.928
  • I want to continue it for the next few sessions.
  • 00:01:19.928 --> 00:01:23.031
  • I want to focus on one aspect.
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  • We started talking about some of the "let us" statements that
  • 00:01:24.533 --> 00:01:27.803
  • Have helped shape our congregation, that are a part
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  • Of scripture.
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  • Those calls to community action.
  • 00:01:32.207 --> 00:01:35.978
  • We use that contraction "let's."
  • 00:01:35.978 --> 00:01:40.215
  • The bible gives us a whole list of them.
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  • We'll look at a few again today, but i want to introduce one
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  • To you.
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  • I want to invite you to "let's do difficult."
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  • Thank you for that overwhelming response.
  • 00:01:50.225 --> 00:01:53.595
  • Truly, it's heartening, the enthusiasm with which you
  • 00:01:53.595 --> 00:01:56.365
  • Respond to what god puts on my heart.
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  • We've done, "let's pray."
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  • We've done, "let's read"; we've learned to read our bibles.
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  • We're learning to read our bibles.
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  • We're learning to pray.
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  • We're gaining a little momentum.
  • 00:02:07.409 --> 00:02:08.744
  • We've learned to pray outside a church building or outside a
  • 00:02:08.744 --> 00:02:10.612
  • Formal religious setting.
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  • Well, i want to submit to you there's another thing i believe
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  • We have to put in our portfolio if we're going to lead--find
  • 00:02:15.050 --> 00:02:20.389
  • Our way through what's ahead of us, and that's we're gonna have
  • 00:02:20.389 --> 00:02:23.659
  • To be willing to do the difficult.
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  • And in this session, i want to focus on the obvious.
  • 00:02:26.094 --> 00:02:28.163
  • There's effort required in that.
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  • Folks, being a christ follower doesn't mean you walk the aisle
  • 00:02:30.532 --> 00:02:32.901
  • Of a church.
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  • The greatest display of courage in your christian experience is
  • 00:02:34.236 --> 00:02:36.905
  • Not walking an aisle to say the sinner's prayer.
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  • That's the beginning point.
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  • It's a necessary point.
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  • I don't want to diminish that, but we're gonna have to overcome
  • 00:02:44.246 --> 00:02:46.682
  • This idea that once you've done that, we're just golden.
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  • After all, we're not saved by works, we're saved by grace.
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  • So i'm gonna go climb on the sloppy agape boat and just float
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  • My way to heaven.
  • 00:02:58.093 --> 00:03:00.562
  • Folks, that is a very misleading, a gross
  • 00:03:00.562 --> 00:03:03.131
  • Misrepresentation of the scripture.
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  • I brought you some quotes.
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  • We're gonna read a lot of scripture.
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  • These are just some fun quotes.
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  • Sam ewing, he said, "hard work spots--spotlights the character
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  • Of people.
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  • Some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some
  • 00:03:13.709 --> 00:03:16.211
  • Just don't turn up at all."
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  • Muhammad ali: "the fight is won or lost far away from witnesses,
  • 00:03:19.881 --> 00:03:26.488
  • Behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long
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  • Before i dance under those lights."
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  • Important reminders that work is not an obscene four-letter word.
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  • You better teach your kids the value of work, the dignity of
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  • Work, the necessity of work.
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  • Hard work is not something that is forced upon us, it's
  • 00:03:47.676 --> 00:03:51.079
  • Something we're privileged to do.
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  • And if nobody cared about you enough to lovingly teach you the
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  • Value of work, you have forfeited something.
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  • Find someone who will help you.
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  • It's one of the great honors of your life.
  • 00:04:04.559 --> 00:04:11.933
  • There's some ideas i just want to introduce to you.
  • 00:04:11.933 --> 00:04:13.635
  • I'll revisit them in some more biblical context, but let me go
  • 00:04:13.635 --> 00:04:16.204
  • Ahead and get them on the table.
  • 00:04:16.204 --> 00:04:17.773
  • Folks, other than god, there's no one coming to help us.
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  • I promise there's some good news in this message, but we gotta
  • 00:04:24.646 --> 00:04:27.015
  • Get to them.
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  • You need to get this established.
  • 00:04:28.684 --> 00:04:30.852
  • Other than god, there's no one coming to help you.
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  • There is nowhere for us to run.
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  • There's no border for us to cross where someone will provide
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  • Education for our children or extend healthcare to us or give
  • 00:04:40.162 --> 00:04:43.965
  • Us social security checks.
  • 00:04:43.965 --> 00:04:46.468
  • If we don't value what we have, we will lose it, and there's
  • 00:04:46.468 --> 00:04:50.005
  • Nowhere to run to replace it.
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  • It's time for the church to decide to become part of
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  • The solution.
  • 00:04:55.711 --> 00:04:57.913
  • The voices for wickedness have been too loud for too long, and
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  • The voices for obeying god have been too timid and too soft
  • 00:05:02.150 --> 00:05:07.089
  • For too long.
  • 00:05:07.089 --> 00:05:09.057
  • Now decide which side you're gonna be on.
  • 00:05:09.057 --> 00:05:12.227
  • There's no neutral.
  • 00:05:12.227 --> 00:05:14.062
  • There's no middle ground.
  • 00:05:14.062 --> 00:05:17.599
  • You're either going to be a part of the chorus for the wickedness
  • 00:05:17.599 --> 00:05:20.202
  • And the ungodliness.
  • 00:05:20.202 --> 00:05:21.536
  • If you're silent, that's where you are.
  • 00:05:21.536 --> 00:05:25.173
  • There's no covert christianity.
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  • Jesus said, if you deny me before people, i will deny you
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  • Before the father in heaven.
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  • It's time for us to find a voice.
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  • We're gonna have to realign some expectations.
  • 00:05:35.550 --> 00:05:37.352
  • That's really the point of this service, this series.
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  • I've been a christ follower for the majority of my life.
  • 00:05:40.389 --> 00:05:42.724
  • I've been involved with christians and churches for the
  • 00:05:42.724 --> 00:05:44.960
  • Majority of my adult life, and there's some expectations
  • 00:05:44.960 --> 00:05:48.063
  • I believe we're gonna have to realign if we're gonna flourish
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  • In this season.
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  • I'm grateful for much of what we've learned, but life is about
  • 00:05:52.167 --> 00:05:54.369
  • Continuing to learn.
  • 00:05:54.369 --> 00:05:56.138
  • Imagine if when the microchip made its way into broad use and
  • 00:05:56.138 --> 00:05:59.374
  • We began to get computers and all the technology brought to
  • 00:05:59.374 --> 00:06:01.710
  • Us, if you'd folded your arms and just said, "i'm against it."
  • 00:06:01.710 --> 00:06:05.947
  • You would have missed out on the opportunities that have come
  • 00:06:05.947 --> 00:06:07.849
  • Over the recent decades.
  • 00:06:07.849 --> 00:06:09.918
  • Well, the church can't afford to fold our arms and say, "we don't
  • 00:06:09.918 --> 00:06:12.454
  • Have to meet the challenges."
  • 00:06:12.454 --> 00:06:13.789
  • The truth that we hold is timeless, but the delivery
  • 00:06:13.789 --> 00:06:16.291
  • Systems have to fit the hand of every generation.
  • 00:06:16.291 --> 00:06:19.327
  • What was required of faith for those who stood in the midst of
  • 00:06:19.327 --> 00:06:21.630
  • The civil rights movement is different than what was
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  • Required afterwards.
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  • Amen is the word you're looking for.
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  • What was demanded of the church in europe when the nazis were
  • 00:06:28.770 --> 00:06:31.573
  • Marching around searching for jews to ship them off to camps
  • 00:06:31.573 --> 00:06:35.544
  • To annihilate them was a different response that had been
  • 00:06:35.544 --> 00:06:38.914
  • Required 20 years before.
  • 00:06:38.914 --> 00:06:41.016
  • It's nonsense to say that the church can behave the same way
  • 00:06:41.016 --> 00:06:44.653
  • Decade after decade after decade and fulfill the purposes of god.
  • 00:06:44.653 --> 00:06:48.857
  • The truth that we hold doesn't change.
  • 00:06:48.857 --> 00:06:52.294
  • But the expressions of it have to fit the needs of the culture
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  • In which we live.
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  • And we've been pretending we didn't notice.
  • 00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:00.101
  • In fact, our "get out of jail free" card is, "i don't want to
  • 00:07:00.101 --> 00:07:02.437
  • Be political."
  • 00:07:02.437 --> 00:07:03.805
  • I don't want to be political either.
  • 00:07:03.805 --> 00:07:05.140
  • I'm not adding--advocating for candidates or parties.
  • 00:07:05.140 --> 00:07:08.076
  • But i am advocating for a biblical worldview, for
  • 00:07:08.076 --> 00:07:11.246
  • Judeo-christian principles that have shaped our culture, that
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  • Have brought good things and freedom and liberty and life
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  • To us.
  • 00:07:16.551 --> 00:07:17.953
  • And we're gonna have to have the courage to say, "i'm for
  • 00:07:17.953 --> 00:07:20.121
  • Those things."
  • 00:07:20.121 --> 00:07:21.656
  • And we're gonna have to say that in the face of the threats that
  • 00:07:21.656 --> 00:07:24.626
  • Are facing us now because they are coming for them,
  • 00:07:24.626 --> 00:07:29.097
  • Our government is taking note of people who purchase bibles.
  • 00:07:29.097 --> 00:07:35.704
  • That's not theoretical.
  • 00:07:35.704 --> 00:07:37.105
  • That's a matter of fact.
  • 00:07:37.105 --> 00:07:38.473
  • It's in the public record.
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  • It's so awkward, we don't want to talk about it.
  • 00:07:40.909 --> 00:07:42.577
  • We go, "i don't know if i believe that."
  • 00:07:42.577 --> 00:07:44.880
  • Well, you can choose not to believe it's cold outside, but
  • 00:07:44.880 --> 00:07:48.683
  • It won't raise the temperature.
  • 00:07:48.683 --> 00:07:54.122
  • I actually brought a verse of scripture.
  • 00:07:54.122 --> 00:07:56.525
  • Luke chapter 9, it's one of the pivot points in the whole
  • 00:07:56.525 --> 00:08:01.429
  • Narrative of the bible.
  • 00:08:01.429 --> 00:08:04.132
  • We're gonna get to sit in on a conversation in
  • 00:08:04.132 --> 00:08:07.135
  • Caesarea philippi.
  • 00:08:07.135 --> 00:08:08.503
  • It's the northern part of israel up in the mountains, near one of
  • 00:08:08.503 --> 00:08:12.407
  • The springs, it's the headwater of the jordan river.
  • 00:08:12.407 --> 00:08:16.077
  • Jesus has traveled there with his disciples.
  • 00:08:16.077 --> 00:08:18.680
  • He's been with them a while now.
  • 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:20.015
  • They've seen the miracles, and it's the first time one of the
  • 00:08:20.015 --> 00:08:22.083
  • Apostles is going to publicly acknowledge that jesus is
  • 00:08:22.083 --> 00:08:25.320
  • The messiah.
  • 00:08:25.320 --> 00:08:27.122
  • I mean, it really is a hinge point in this whole story
  • 00:08:27.122 --> 00:08:29.224
  • Of scripture.
  • 00:08:29.224 --> 00:08:31.326
  • "'but what about you?'
  • 00:08:31.326 --> 00:08:32.694
  • Jesus asked.
  • 00:08:32.694 --> 00:08:34.029
  • 'who do you say i am?'
  • 00:08:34.029 --> 00:08:36.298
  • Peter answered, 'the christ of god.'"
  • 00:08:36.298 --> 00:08:39.134
  • Christ is the english equivalent of the greek christos, which is
  • 00:08:39.134 --> 00:08:43.204
  • The greek equivalent of the hebrew mashiach, "you are the
  • 00:08:43.204 --> 00:08:46.408
  • Messiah, you're the anointed son of god."
  • 00:08:46.408 --> 00:08:51.012
  • "then jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.
  • 00:08:51.012 --> 00:08:54.449
  • And he said, 'the son of man must suffer many things and be
  • 00:08:54.449 --> 00:08:58.320
  • Rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the teachers
  • 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:01.222
  • Of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be
  • 00:09:01.222 --> 00:09:04.759
  • Raised to life.'
  • 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:10.165
  • And then he said to them all: 'if anyone would come after me,
  • 00:09:10.165 --> 00:09:14.402
  • He must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
  • 00:09:14.402 --> 00:09:18.506
  • For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever
  • 00:09:18.506 --> 00:09:20.675
  • Loses his life for me will save it.
  • 00:09:20.675 --> 00:09:22.944
  • What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet
  • 00:09:22.944 --> 00:09:25.447
  • Lose or forfeit his very soul?
  • 00:09:25.447 --> 00:09:28.249
  • If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the son of man will be
  • 00:09:28.249 --> 00:09:31.052
  • Ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of
  • 00:09:31.052 --> 00:09:33.855
  • The father and of the holy angels.
  • 00:09:33.855 --> 00:09:36.458
  • I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste
  • 00:09:36.458 --> 00:09:40.195
  • Death before they see the kingdom of god.'"
  • 00:09:40.195 --> 00:09:43.598
  • Now as i said a moment ago, this is the first declaration from
  • 00:09:43.598 --> 00:09:46.835
  • A disciple, one of jesus's apostles, that jesus of nazareth
  • 00:09:46.835 --> 00:09:50.205
  • Is the messiah.
  • 00:09:50.205 --> 00:09:53.074
  • It's difficult for us to understand the magnitude of--
  • 00:09:53.074 --> 00:09:55.343
  • This is the long-awaited answer to the prayers of a
  • 00:09:55.343 --> 00:09:57.946
  • Whole nation.
  • 00:09:57.946 --> 00:09:59.280
  • There was greater anticipation in first century israel for the
  • 00:09:59.280 --> 00:10:02.450
  • Arrival of messiah than in the contemporary church for the
  • 00:10:02.450 --> 00:10:06.721
  • Return of the king.
  • 00:10:06.721 --> 00:10:09.958
  • That's the truth.
  • 00:10:09.958 --> 00:10:11.326
  • I promise you that is true.
  • 00:10:11.326 --> 00:10:12.661
  • They had a greater anticipation of the arrival of the messiah.
  • 00:10:12.661 --> 00:10:15.864
  • They're under roman oppression.
  • 00:10:15.864 --> 00:10:17.899
  • They don't have the ability to free themselves.
  • 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:20.001
  • They imagine the messiah to be a political military deliverer.
  • 00:10:20.001 --> 00:10:23.738
  • They're crying out for the messiah to come.
  • 00:10:23.738 --> 00:10:26.374
  • We think that the return of the king is going to interrupt
  • 00:10:26.374 --> 00:10:28.410
  • Our lives.
  • 00:10:28.410 --> 00:10:31.012
  • Come on, everybody in this room at some point in your life
  • 00:10:31.012 --> 00:10:33.148
  • Prayed he wouldn't come this week because you had something
  • 00:10:33.148 --> 00:10:34.783
  • You wanted to do.
  • 00:10:34.783 --> 00:10:40.321
  • Everybody's looking innocent at once.
  • 00:10:40.321 --> 00:10:42.757
  • Not true in that first century.
  • 00:10:42.757 --> 00:10:44.359
  • They needed help and they knew it.
  • 00:10:44.359 --> 00:10:45.694
  • They were desperate and they have said, "you are the one."
  • 00:10:45.694 --> 00:10:50.532
  • It's just, it's impossible for-- i don't have the language to
  • 00:10:50.532 --> 00:10:53.101
  • Describe the breakthrough of that moment.
  • 00:10:53.101 --> 00:10:55.970
  • Immediately upon revealing his identity, jesus begins to
  • 00:10:55.970 --> 00:10:59.541
  • Explain to them what's ahead of him.
  • 00:10:59.541 --> 00:11:01.309
  • He doesn't say, "i can walk on water, i can make wine out
  • 00:11:01.309 --> 00:11:04.012
  • Of water.
  • 00:11:04.012 --> 00:11:05.413
  • I can raise the dead or open blind eyes."
  • 00:11:05.413 --> 00:11:07.248
  • He will show them those things, but that is not the
  • 00:11:07.248 --> 00:11:10.085
  • First instruction.
  • 00:11:10.085 --> 00:11:11.453
  • On the heels of the revelation, listen to what he says to them:
  • 00:11:11.453 --> 00:11:18.693
  • "i'm gonna suffer many things.
  • 00:11:18.693 --> 00:11:22.163
  • I'm gonna suffer from the elders, from the chief priests,
  • 00:11:22.163 --> 00:11:27.836
  • From the teachers of the law."
  • 00:11:27.836 --> 00:11:30.505
  • Those are all the people we would expect to go embrace him.
  • 00:11:30.505 --> 00:11:34.609
  • They're tucked away in the mountains of the northern part
  • 00:11:34.609 --> 00:11:36.644
  • Of israel.
  • 00:11:36.644 --> 00:11:38.713
  • They're far from the center of power in jerusalem.
  • 00:11:38.713 --> 00:11:41.649
  • "i'm gonna suffer many things," he said.
  • 00:11:41.649 --> 00:11:44.652
  • "i must be killed, and on the third day, i'll be raised
  • 00:11:44.652 --> 00:11:47.689
  • To life."
  • 00:11:47.689 --> 00:11:49.958
  • That's not what you expect the messiah to say.
  • 00:11:49.958 --> 00:11:54.229
  • "i'm here to devastate some romans.
  • 00:11:54.229 --> 00:11:58.500
  • I'm gonna get rid of the injustice.
  • 00:11:58.500 --> 00:12:01.569
  • I'm gonna see they stop extorting taxes inappropriately
  • 00:12:01.569 --> 00:12:05.073
  • From you."
  • 00:12:05.073 --> 00:12:07.776
  • He didn't say that.
  • 00:12:07.776 --> 00:12:10.044
  • He said, "i'm gonna suffer a lot."
  • 00:12:10.044 --> 00:12:12.514
  • But he didn't stop there.
  • 00:12:12.514 --> 00:12:14.649
  • He said, "if anyone would come after me--"
  • 00:12:14.649 --> 00:12:17.152
  • Who's excluded from anyone?
  • 00:12:17.152 --> 00:12:19.754
  • No one.
  • 00:12:19.754 --> 00:12:21.489
  • So anyone that's gonna follow jesus, he's about to speak to,
  • 00:12:21.489 --> 00:12:25.026
  • 1st century, 21st century, everywhere in between.
  • 00:12:25.026 --> 00:12:28.029
  • If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up
  • 00:12:28.029 --> 00:12:35.770
  • His cross and follow me.
  • 00:12:35.770 --> 00:12:37.138
  • At this point, they're not even--they don't imagine jesus
  • 00:12:37.138 --> 00:12:39.808
  • Is going to the cross.
  • 00:12:39.808 --> 00:12:41.176
  • They can't process that.
  • 00:12:41.176 --> 00:12:42.510
  • Now they know what a cross is for.
  • 00:12:42.510 --> 00:12:44.112
  • They've seen crucifixion, they've seen the romans torture
  • 00:12:44.112 --> 00:12:46.514
  • Other people to death.
  • 00:12:46.514 --> 00:12:47.849
  • They can't imagine the messiah is gonna be tortured to death.
  • 00:12:47.849 --> 00:12:51.052
  • These words become far more personal to them after the fact.
  • 00:12:51.052 --> 00:12:54.455
  • It's why they're recorded in scripture.
  • 00:12:54.455 --> 00:12:55.857
  • It's why they're introduced to us at the point where jesus is
  • 00:12:55.857 --> 00:12:58.860
  • Introduced to us.
  • 00:12:58.860 --> 00:13:01.095
  • "if anyone would come after me, you've got to take up your cross
  • 00:13:01.095 --> 00:13:06.034
  • And follow me daily."
  • 00:13:06.034 --> 00:13:12.106
  • Allen: hey, we have a tool that i think will help you overcome
  • 00:13:16.311 --> 00:13:18.546
  • Some of the chaos in the world and stay focused on the good
  • 00:13:18.546 --> 00:13:21.749
  • Things that god is doing.
  • 00:13:21.749 --> 00:13:23.284
  • It's called "awaken us."
  • 00:13:23.284 --> 00:13:24.686
  • It's a 30-day plan.
  • 00:13:24.686 --> 00:13:26.721
  • Each day's got a scripture, a little--a devotional, a prayer
  • 00:13:26.721 --> 00:13:29.691
  • That goes with a specific topic, to awaken us to god's promise
  • 00:13:29.691 --> 00:13:33.928
  • And provision in this season.
  • 00:13:33.928 --> 00:13:36.831
  • God's moving in the earth, i want to move with him, and i
  • 00:13:36.831 --> 00:13:39.634
  • Believe this tool will help you be prepared to capitalize on
  • 00:13:39.634 --> 00:13:43.338
  • God's invitations in your life.
  • 00:13:43.338 --> 00:13:45.773
  • Female announcer: "awaken us" delivers 30 days of prayer,
  • 00:13:45.773 --> 00:13:48.376
  • Scripture, and insight from pastor allen on relevant topics.
  • 00:13:48.376 --> 00:13:52.413
  • Each day is designed to sharpen your focus as you ask god to
  • 00:13:52.413 --> 00:13:55.817
  • Show you his heart and his truth in a new way.
  • 00:13:55.817 --> 00:13:59.087
  • With the holy spirit's help, this book will awaken you to the
  • 00:13:59.087 --> 00:14:02.523
  • Impact your life has on the world and those around you.
  • 00:14:02.523 --> 00:14:05.793
  • Start your journey today by requesting "awaken us" when you
  • 00:14:05.793 --> 00:14:08.796
  • Donate any amount at allenjackson.com
  • 00:14:08.796 --> 00:14:11.866
  • Or by calling...
  • 00:14:11.866 --> 00:14:16.471
  • Allen: i've got an invitation for you.
  • 00:14:16.471 --> 00:14:17.906
  • Let's do difficult.
  • 00:14:17.906 --> 00:14:20.308
  • Let's decide we're gonna do difficult.
  • 00:14:20.308 --> 00:14:23.111
  • We're done with easy.
  • 00:14:23.111 --> 00:14:24.846
  • We did easy yesterday.
  • 00:14:24.846 --> 00:14:26.981
  • We've used up easy.
  • 00:14:26.981 --> 00:14:29.117
  • We're addicted to easy.
  • 00:14:29.117 --> 00:14:32.720
  • We have marketing campaigns about easy, major change, done
  • 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:38.159
  • Whole campaigns that give you a button, an easy button.
  • 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:42.664
  • Somebody gave me one.
  • 00:14:42.664 --> 00:14:43.998
  • I loved it.
  • 00:14:43.998 --> 00:14:45.333
  • I used to hit that thing all the time.
  • 00:14:45.333 --> 00:14:46.701
  • It didn't work, but ah, it was helpful.
  • 00:14:46.701 --> 00:14:48.102
  • Let's decide we're willing to do what's difficult in the context
  • 00:14:48.102 --> 00:14:51.773
  • Of our faith.
  • 00:14:51.773 --> 00:14:53.107
  • It's not gonna be easy.
  • 00:14:53.107 --> 00:14:54.475
  • You can't park where you want.
  • 00:14:54.475 --> 00:14:57.578
  • You're gonna have to serve.
  • 00:14:57.578 --> 00:14:59.814
  • You can't come to church just when it's convenient.
  • 00:14:59.814 --> 00:15:03.084
  • You can't only mention jesus's name when there's an applause
  • 00:15:03.084 --> 00:15:05.987
  • Group around.
  • 00:15:05.987 --> 00:15:07.922
  • You can't decide you're for biblical morality when everybody
  • 00:15:07.922 --> 00:15:10.558
  • Else in the group is and be mute when people aren't.
  • 00:15:10.558 --> 00:15:15.396
  • You can't raise your hand and say, "i think children should be
  • 00:15:15.396 --> 00:15:18.099
  • Sacrificed for convenience," or that "god has redefined
  • 00:15:18.099 --> 00:15:22.170
  • Marriage," or "sexual activity is just up to me."
  • 00:15:22.170 --> 00:15:26.574
  • It isn't biblical.
  • 00:15:26.574 --> 00:15:29.377
  • I understand it isn't popular to hold a biblical worldview
  • 00:15:29.377 --> 00:15:32.180
  • Right now.
  • 00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:33.514
  • I get it, churches are capitulating on a daily basis.
  • 00:15:33.514 --> 00:15:36.651
  • I've traveled the country, i've seen it.
  • 00:15:36.651 --> 00:15:38.786
  • Let's decide, we'll do difficult.
  • 00:15:38.786 --> 00:15:41.823
  • How many have you done the bible reading at some point, since
  • 00:15:41.823 --> 00:15:44.892
  • We--good, good for you.
  • 00:15:44.892 --> 00:15:46.260
  • Pretty good group.
  • 00:15:46.260 --> 00:15:47.595
  • What are the rest of you doing?
  • 00:15:47.595 --> 00:15:49.664
  • It changed us as a community of faith.
  • 00:15:49.664 --> 00:15:52.867
  • It changed us.
  • 00:15:52.867 --> 00:15:55.970
  • We committed to the overwhelming sacrifice of 10 or 12 minutes
  • 00:15:55.970 --> 00:15:58.906
  • A day.
  • 00:15:58.906 --> 00:16:01.943
  • How many of you ever had a let's pray moment outside the
  • 00:16:01.943 --> 00:16:03.845
  • Church building?
  • 00:16:03.845 --> 00:16:05.747
  • Look at that.
  • 00:16:05.747 --> 00:16:07.081
  • A bunch of radicals.
  • 00:16:07.081 --> 00:16:09.150
  • Praying for people out there in a grocery store, at work,
  • 00:16:09.150 --> 00:16:13.454
  • Buying gas.
  • 00:16:13.454 --> 00:16:14.822
  • Bunch of fanatics.
  • 00:16:14.822 --> 00:16:17.025
  • "yes, i am.
  • 00:16:17.025 --> 00:16:18.659
  • Would you like to be one?
  • 00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:19.994
  • I can help." [applauding]
  • 00:16:19.994 --> 00:16:26.534
  • I'm embarrassed of how many years i served the church before
  • 00:16:26.534 --> 00:16:29.504
  • I gave you an invitation to read.
  • 00:16:29.504 --> 00:16:32.874
  • I'm sorry for how many years i served the church before i said,
  • 00:16:32.874 --> 00:16:35.810
  • "let's pray."
  • 00:16:35.810 --> 00:16:37.912
  • Then it's awkward to have to say to you, "we have to do
  • 00:16:37.912 --> 00:16:40.882
  • Difficult things."
  • 00:16:40.882 --> 00:16:42.216
  • Folks, jesus told his closest friends that the day he said,
  • 00:16:42.216 --> 00:16:44.952
  • "i'm the messiah."
  • 00:16:44.952 --> 00:16:47.822
  • Let's go do difficult.
  • 00:16:47.822 --> 00:16:49.190
  • What's that look like?
  • 00:16:49.190 --> 00:16:51.125
  • Well, you know somebody who's right up against difficult.
  • 00:16:51.125 --> 00:16:53.327
  • They've had a bad diagnosis.
  • 00:16:53.327 --> 00:16:54.695
  • How about if you say, "let's go do that together, i'll stand
  • 00:16:54.695 --> 00:16:57.265
  • With you.
  • 00:16:57.265 --> 00:17:00.268
  • I don't know how god's gonna intervene.
  • 00:17:00.268 --> 00:17:01.736
  • I don't know if he'll use a doctor or he'll answer a prayer.
  • 00:17:01.736 --> 00:17:03.971
  • I don't know what god will do, but i'll walk with you."
  • 00:17:03.971 --> 00:17:08.276
  • I'm struggling with my kids.
  • 00:17:08.276 --> 00:17:09.777
  • "let's do difficult together.
  • 00:17:09.777 --> 00:17:11.145
  • We'll go stand, we'll climb that hill together."
  • 00:17:11.145 --> 00:17:15.583
  • My job's not easy.
  • 00:17:15.583 --> 00:17:16.984
  • I'm the only believer in that place.
  • 00:17:16.984 --> 00:17:19.120
  • "let's go do difficult together.
  • 00:17:19.120 --> 00:17:21.255
  • You don't have to do it alone."
  • 00:17:21.255 --> 00:17:23.424
  • We know how to do this.
  • 00:17:23.424 --> 00:17:25.593
  • We haven't cared enough.
  • 00:17:25.593 --> 00:17:28.362
  • We've been looking for easy.
  • 00:17:28.362 --> 00:17:29.697
  • We get agitated.
  • 00:17:29.697 --> 00:17:31.065
  • I've had the meetings.
  • 00:17:31.065 --> 00:17:32.400
  • "pastor, i don't like the parking."
  • 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:35.303
  • Well, we get indignant around parking.
  • 00:17:35.303 --> 00:17:38.339
  • First, you just park like pagans.
  • 00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:41.776
  • And i put pictures on the screens.
  • 00:17:41.776 --> 00:17:45.146
  • And then because you love me, you started taking pictures of
  • 00:17:45.146 --> 00:17:47.381
  • How i park wherever you see me.
  • 00:17:47.381 --> 00:17:52.019
  • I appreciate that note of encouragement.
  • 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:55.756
  • It helped me a bit.
  • 00:17:55.756 --> 00:17:59.961
  • We're gonna look at this from several angles and unpack it
  • 00:17:59.961 --> 00:18:02.964
  • From different perspectives, but i want to be honest with you.
  • 00:18:02.964 --> 00:18:05.800
  • I do not believe that we will flourish, that we will see the
  • 00:18:05.800 --> 00:18:10.037
  • Wickedness and the ungodliness and the immorality that is
  • 00:18:10.037 --> 00:18:12.807
  • Flourishing around us change unless we're willing to change
  • 00:18:12.807 --> 00:18:16.210
  • Our response to it.
  • 00:18:16.210 --> 00:18:20.715
  • In the 1940s, europe didn't change just because the west got
  • 00:18:20.715 --> 00:18:23.818
  • Together and said, "you're being really mean."
  • 00:18:23.818 --> 00:18:27.455
  • It took a tremendous sacrifice.
  • 00:18:27.455 --> 00:18:31.192
  • Our schools didn't get integrated.
  • 00:18:31.192 --> 00:18:34.962
  • And we didn't begin to treat one another with new dignity and
  • 00:18:34.962 --> 00:18:38.032
  • Respect until people were willing to do some
  • 00:18:38.032 --> 00:18:41.536
  • Difficult things.
  • 00:18:41.536 --> 00:18:44.672
  • Now what are we gonna do?
  • 00:18:44.672 --> 00:18:50.578
  • I want to consider a perspective with you.
  • 00:18:50.578 --> 00:18:53.714
  • A perspective grounded in our faith that is discussed less
  • 00:18:53.714 --> 00:18:57.118
  • Frequently than many other topics.
  • 00:18:57.118 --> 00:19:00.388
  • I'm not introducing something new.
  • 00:19:00.388 --> 00:19:01.889
  • I don't want to suggest that.
  • 00:19:01.889 --> 00:19:03.424
  • I don't want to intimate that.
  • 00:19:03.424 --> 00:19:05.993
  • I'm not discussing something that hasn't been previously
  • 00:19:05.993 --> 00:19:08.763
  • Considered in other generations.
  • 00:19:08.763 --> 00:19:10.131
  • I'm just asking you to stand with our brothers and sisters
  • 00:19:10.131 --> 00:19:12.066
  • Who preceded us.
  • 00:19:12.066 --> 00:19:13.434
  • This is no new gospel.
  • 00:19:13.434 --> 00:19:18.372
  • What i would like to do is turn the light on in the room of our
  • 00:19:18.372 --> 00:19:20.675
  • Greatest accomplishments.
  • 00:19:20.675 --> 00:19:22.510
  • And i want to stand there with you and review them.
  • 00:19:22.510 --> 00:19:26.180
  • We'll celebrate the victories.
  • 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.515
  • Many of those you've learned as children, you've gathered as
  • 00:19:27.515 --> 00:19:30.484
  • Bible stories through the years, you're not unaware of them.
  • 00:19:30.484 --> 00:19:34.188
  • They're some of our most unexpected triumphs.
  • 00:19:34.188 --> 00:19:37.658
  • However, in the--as we review them, i want to help focus our
  • 00:19:37.658 --> 00:19:40.795
  • Attention not on the end result, but on the things which preceded
  • 00:19:40.795 --> 00:19:43.431
  • That wonderful moment when the enemy was vanquished.
  • 00:19:43.431 --> 00:19:46.400
  • We all like that part.
  • 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.669
  • But i'd like to stand victorious at that point of triumph.
  • 00:19:48.669 --> 00:19:52.740
  • And stay focused on that.
  • 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:54.075
  • But we've also got to recognize that the threat being eliminated
  • 00:19:54.075 --> 00:19:57.478
  • Or fear being routed is not the whole story.
  • 00:19:57.478 --> 00:20:01.415
  • And if you'll allow me to be candid, i believe we've lived
  • 00:20:01.415 --> 00:20:04.018
  • For too long on the sacrifices of others.
  • 00:20:04.018 --> 00:20:08.155
  • The effort of love that was borne by predecessors.
  • 00:20:08.155 --> 00:20:12.727
  • They led harder lives, they did more difficult things, they made
  • 00:20:12.727 --> 00:20:15.830
  • Greater sacrifices, and we watched that and we said, "i
  • 00:20:15.830 --> 00:20:19.166
  • Don't wanna do that" or "i don't want the people i love to do
  • 00:20:19.166 --> 00:20:21.702
  • That," and so we've done everything in our power to
  • 00:20:21.702 --> 00:20:24.872
  • Protect them from difficulty or stress or work that was
  • 00:20:24.872 --> 00:20:28.776
  • Too difficult.
  • 00:20:28.776 --> 00:20:31.946
  • And we have robbed them of much.
  • 00:20:31.946 --> 00:20:34.682
  • Too much of our success has been birthed by the labor pains
  • 00:20:34.682 --> 00:20:37.518
  • Of others.
  • 00:20:37.518 --> 00:20:41.922
  • We live in comfortable homes.
  • 00:20:41.922 --> 00:20:44.692
  • Many of us have kitchens and bathrooms large enough to be
  • 00:20:44.692 --> 00:20:47.094
  • Apartments in most places in the world.
  • 00:20:47.094 --> 00:20:50.898
  • We have access to global communication tools which were
  • 00:20:50.898 --> 00:20:53.367
  • Once reserved for the leaders of nations.
  • 00:20:53.367 --> 00:20:57.104
  • We have some expectations.
  • 00:20:57.104 --> 00:20:58.906
  • It's a long list.
  • 00:20:58.906 --> 00:21:00.408
  • We expect to travel frequently and to accumulate experiences
  • 00:21:00.408 --> 00:21:05.379
  • For ourselves and for our children.
  • 00:21:05.379 --> 00:21:10.184
  • For many years we have celebrated interest rates were
  • 00:21:10.184 --> 00:21:13.454
  • Low, energy was abundant, opportunities were frequent.
  • 00:21:13.454 --> 00:21:17.191
  • Good character really wasn't required anymore.
  • 00:21:17.191 --> 00:21:19.360
  • You know, there was a time if your character was known to be
  • 00:21:19.360 --> 00:21:21.662
  • Flawed, if you gave your word and broke it, it was hard to
  • 00:21:21.662 --> 00:21:24.198
  • Find somebody to trust you to do business with.
  • 00:21:24.198 --> 00:21:27.702
  • If you led an immoral life, from a biblical perspective you
  • 00:21:27.702 --> 00:21:30.871
  • Wouldn't be welcomed into public service.
  • 00:21:30.871 --> 00:21:33.674
  • I know it's hard to believe that that was ever the case, but it
  • 00:21:33.674 --> 00:21:35.943
  • Has been the case.
  • 00:21:35.943 --> 00:21:39.647
  • Moral boundaries or limits, those have been through
  • 00:21:39.647 --> 00:21:42.416
  • Deconstructing for quite a while now.
  • 00:21:42.416 --> 00:21:46.053
  • We've been told so frequently that we're amazing, that there
  • 00:21:46.053 --> 00:21:50.558
  • Are no limits for us, that we can do anything we want to do,
  • 00:21:50.558 --> 00:21:53.327
  • That nobody can tell us who we can become or what we can do,
  • 00:21:53.327 --> 00:21:59.800
  • That we believed the lie that we believe we deserve all of these
  • 00:21:59.800 --> 00:22:05.473
  • Things and more.
  • 00:22:05.473 --> 00:22:11.045
  • Well, spoiler alert.
  • 00:22:11.045 --> 00:22:14.815
  • We need to consider more than the advertisements of greatness
  • 00:22:14.815 --> 00:22:17.351
  • And self-satisfaction.
  • 00:22:17.351 --> 00:22:19.954
  • Let's pause for just a moment for some situational awareness.
  • 00:22:19.954 --> 00:22:23.991
  • Can we do that?
  • 00:22:23.991 --> 00:22:26.193
  • Because the opportunities of our lives have a great deal to do
  • 00:22:26.193 --> 00:22:29.063
  • With the circumstances in which we live and a glance at our
  • 00:22:29.063 --> 00:22:33.134
  • Personal communication tools.
  • 00:22:33.134 --> 00:22:35.536
  • Let's turn on our location finders for a minute.
  • 00:22:35.536 --> 00:22:38.973
  • Every time i download some new app or i try to use something i
  • 00:22:38.973 --> 00:22:41.242
  • Haven't used in a while, it wants more permission to intrude
  • 00:22:41.242 --> 00:22:43.477
  • On my life.
  • 00:22:43.477 --> 00:22:44.845
  • Do you notice that?
  • 00:22:44.845 --> 00:22:46.180
  • Can i track everything you're going to read?
  • 00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:48.416
  • Tell me where you are.
  • 00:22:48.416 --> 00:22:49.750
  • No thank you.
  • 00:22:49.750 --> 00:22:51.318
  • Well, you can't get direction, you can't get any clarity, you
  • 00:22:51.318 --> 00:22:53.954
  • Can't even get much information, unless you're willing to turn on
  • 00:22:53.954 --> 00:22:56.090
  • That location finder.
  • 00:22:56.090 --> 00:22:57.458
  • The church needs to turn on our location finder.
  • 00:22:57.458 --> 00:23:01.529
  • Most of us said the sinner's prayer and then we went dark.
  • 00:23:01.529 --> 00:23:06.567
  • We thought we'd got all our business with god done and we
  • 00:23:06.567 --> 00:23:09.003
  • Didn't want him tracking us anymore until we got into some
  • 00:23:09.003 --> 00:23:12.706
  • Difficult place and then we want to turn it on again and say,
  • 00:23:12.706 --> 00:23:14.742
  • "hey, quick, right now, i need an answer."
  • 00:23:14.742 --> 00:23:18.279
  • We need a little situational awareness.
  • 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:21.315
  • It'll help you understand the world we're living in.
  • 00:23:21.315 --> 00:23:23.884
  • Most of these things are uncomfortable.
  • 00:23:23.884 --> 00:23:25.920
  • They're awkward.
  • 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:27.288
  • We don't talk about them much in polite company.
  • 00:23:27.288 --> 00:23:28.622
  • We'd rather talk about positive things.
  • 00:23:28.622 --> 00:23:29.990
  • I understand, but if you don't know your circumstance, you
  • 00:23:29.990 --> 00:23:32.493
  • Can't get to a better place.
  • 00:23:32.493 --> 00:23:36.063
  • Just as an opener, it's probably worth some consideration, we're
  • 00:23:36.063 --> 00:23:38.599
  • More than $34 trillion in debt.
  • 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:42.870
  • Largest debt in the history of our nation.
  • 00:23:42.870 --> 00:23:45.806
  • $34 trillion and that's probably the lowest possible way of
  • 00:23:45.806 --> 00:23:49.610
  • Giving an account of that.
  • 00:23:49.610 --> 00:23:51.879
  • There's probably at least three times that much debt that we're
  • 00:23:51.879 --> 00:23:55.015
  • Committed to.
  • 00:23:55.015 --> 00:23:56.350
  • That's just the number that we kind of use.
  • 00:23:56.350 --> 00:23:57.718
  • We're operating at a national deficit that's unprecedented.
  • 00:23:57.718 --> 00:24:01.922
  • The numbers are so big they're really almost impossible for us
  • 00:24:01.922 --> 00:24:04.758
  • To understand.
  • 00:24:04.758 --> 00:24:07.328
  • A million seconds?
  • 00:24:07.328 --> 00:24:08.662
  • Do you know what a million seconds--let me give
  • 00:24:08.662 --> 00:24:10.097
  • You an example.
  • 00:24:10.097 --> 00:24:11.465
  • A million seconds is about 12 days.
  • 00:24:11.465 --> 00:24:14.668
  • A billion seconds?
  • 00:24:14.668 --> 00:24:17.071
  • It's about half a lifetime, let's say 32 years or so.
  • 00:24:17.071 --> 00:24:21.275
  • A trillion seconds?
  • 00:24:21.275 --> 00:24:24.411
  • It's more than all of recorded history, more than 32,000 years.
  • 00:24:24.411 --> 00:24:31.452
  • $34 trillion, that's a lot.
  • 00:24:31.452 --> 00:24:34.955
  • And it's just the tip of the iceberg.
  • 00:24:34.955 --> 00:24:37.591
  • It doesn't bother us.
  • 00:24:37.591 --> 00:24:39.059
  • We don't care.
  • 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.961
  • Because when somebody in washington raises their hands,
  • 00:24:40.961 --> 00:24:42.730
  • Says, "i'm gonna give you something else.
  • 00:24:42.730 --> 00:24:44.098
  • I'm gonna cancel the law.
  • 00:24:44.098 --> 00:24:45.432
  • I'm gonna do something," we just, "oh good, please."
  • 00:24:45.432 --> 00:24:49.203
  • You know why we don't care?
  • 00:24:49.203 --> 00:24:51.305
  • We don't think we have to pay it back.
  • 00:24:51.305 --> 00:24:56.443
  • Because we have become a nation so accustomed to people giving
  • 00:24:56.443 --> 00:24:59.847
  • And rewarding and caring for us and promising us things, if
  • 00:24:59.847 --> 00:25:04.251
  • We'll give them a little power, they'll promise to give us
  • 00:25:04.251 --> 00:25:06.220
  • Something else, that we've completely lost the imagination
  • 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:09.456
  • That we have to pay our debts.
  • 00:25:09.456 --> 00:25:11.125
  • We've got thousands and thousands and thousands of
  • 00:25:11.125 --> 00:25:13.427
  • People now: "i'm not paying that debt.
  • 00:25:13.427 --> 00:25:15.095
  • It's uncomfortable.
  • 00:25:15.095 --> 00:25:16.463
  • It's inconvenient.
  • 00:25:16.463 --> 00:25:17.798
  • They tricked me.
  • 00:25:17.798 --> 00:25:19.133
  • I didn't understand.
  • 00:25:19.133 --> 00:25:20.501
  • I didn't know.
  • 00:25:20.501 --> 00:25:21.835
  • I didn't imagine.
  • 00:25:21.835 --> 00:25:23.203
  • I expected, so i don't want to pay it."
  • 00:25:23.203 --> 00:25:24.838
  • And we think we can click our heels together or close our eyes
  • 00:25:24.838 --> 00:25:27.474
  • Twice and it will just disappear.
  • 00:25:27.474 --> 00:25:32.212
  • Folks, we have adversaries, enemies, people who would like
  • 00:25:32.212 --> 00:25:34.715
  • Us to fail, that are gleefully watching our debt skyrocket.
  • 00:25:34.715 --> 00:25:40.888
  • And it has to be paid.
  • 00:25:40.888 --> 00:25:48.295
  • And every generation points to another.
  • 00:25:48.295 --> 00:25:51.765
  • The younger ones point at the old people and say, "you
  • 00:25:51.765 --> 00:25:53.634
  • Did this."
  • 00:25:53.634 --> 00:25:55.069
  • The old people look at the younger people and say, "why
  • 00:25:55.069 --> 00:25:56.904
  • Don't you wanna work?"
  • 00:25:56.904 --> 00:26:00.574
  • The generational blame doesn't solve the problem.
  • 00:26:00.574 --> 00:26:03.844
  • It isn't helpful.
  • 00:26:03.844 --> 00:26:05.646
  • What if we work together?
  • 00:26:05.646 --> 00:26:08.115
  • Allen: hey, we have a tool that we think will help strengthen
  • 00:26:08.115 --> 00:26:10.818
  • You in this season.
  • 00:26:10.818 --> 00:26:12.386
  • A lot of confusion and chaos in our world, a lot of fear.
  • 00:26:12.386 --> 00:26:15.656
  • I hear from people every day, battling in their minds and
  • 00:26:15.656 --> 00:26:18.592
  • Their lives with the uncertainty of our world.
  • 00:26:18.592 --> 00:26:21.795
  • Well, it's a booklet called "awaken us."
  • 00:26:21.795 --> 00:26:23.464
  • It's a 30-day plan.
  • 00:26:23.464 --> 00:26:24.865
  • Every day has a theme with a scripture, a little devotional,
  • 00:26:24.865 --> 00:26:27.334
  • And a prayer for that specific theme.
  • 00:26:27.334 --> 00:26:30.004
  • The idea is that every day we're gonna ask the spirit of god to
  • 00:26:30.004 --> 00:26:33.107
  • Awaken us to a new aspect of god's provision in our lives.
  • 00:26:33.107 --> 00:26:37.911
  • You know, hopefully we wake up every day to the opportunities
  • 00:26:37.911 --> 00:26:40.748
  • And the challenges of that day.
  • 00:26:40.748 --> 00:26:42.916
  • Well, this is gonna correspond to that.
  • 00:26:42.916 --> 00:26:44.284
  • We're gonna ask the spirit of god to awaken us to what god is
  • 00:26:44.284 --> 00:26:47.154
  • Doing in this season.
  • 00:26:47.154 --> 00:26:49.089
  • We're not alone and we don't have to be overcome by fear.
  • 00:26:49.089 --> 00:26:52.426
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:26:52.426 --> 00:26:53.761
  • "father, i thank you that there's nothing that confronts
  • 00:26:53.761 --> 00:26:55.929
  • Us that intimidates or threatens you.
  • 00:26:55.929 --> 00:26:58.632
  • That you have made provision for complete victory in every aspect
  • 00:26:58.632 --> 00:27:02.102
  • Of our lives.
  • 00:27:02.102 --> 00:27:03.470
  • Lead us now, as we turn our faces to you, to a season of
  • 00:27:03.470 --> 00:27:06.774
  • Peace and hope and wholeness, in jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:27:06.774 --> 00:27:11.045
  • This book, it'll be a blessing.
  • 00:27:11.045 --> 00:27:12.813
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:13.347 --> 00:27:13.347