1. TBN
  2. Programs
  3. Allen Jackson Ministries
  4. Episodes
  5. Allen Jackson - Expressions of God's Power (Part 2)
Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Expressions of God's Power (Part 2)

June 26, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - Expressions of God's Power (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Faith #Christianity #WalkwithGod #Encouragement #Inspirational #Prayer #Family #Salvation #Culture #Nations #AllenJackson

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Expressions of God's Power (Part 2) | June 26, 2026
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.017
  • Allen jackson: we have a new resource for you.
  • 00:00:01.985 --> 00:00:03.219
  • I'm really excited about this.
  • 00:00:03.353 --> 00:00:04.621
  • It's a book, it's a booklet.
  • 00:00:04.721 --> 00:00:05.989
  • It's a small book called "your identity in christ."
  • 00:00:06.122 --> 00:00:08.591
  • It was derived from years of teaching and leading in the
  • 00:00:08.725 --> 00:00:09.726
  • Context of the church.
  • 00:00:11.428 --> 00:00:12.929
  • We're walking through a season, folks, when there's so much
  • 00:00:12.929 --> 00:00:14.631
  • Confusion about our identity.
  • 00:00:14.631 --> 00:00:16.533
  • We put this together to help you understand who you are in
  • 00:00:16.533 --> 00:00:19.269
  • Christ, not just about your salvation but so that you can
  • 00:00:19.269 --> 00:00:22.205
  • Lead a triumphant, victorious, overcoming life.
  • 00:00:22.205 --> 00:00:25.775
  • We built it for an individual read.
  • 00:00:25.775 --> 00:00:27.210
  • It's great for a small group.
  • 00:00:27.210 --> 00:00:28.678
  • It's a great resource for your kitchen table time as a family
  • 00:00:28.678 --> 00:00:31.815
  • With children or grandchildren.
  • 00:00:31.815 --> 00:00:33.683
  • If you know who you are in christ, it changes everything
  • 00:00:33.683 --> 00:00:37.087
  • About the landscape of your life.
  • 00:00:37.087 --> 00:00:39.055
  • I'm righteous in the sight of god.
  • 00:00:39.055 --> 00:00:41.758
  • I can stand before god without fear, guilt, or condemnation.
  • 00:00:41.758 --> 00:00:45.395
  • Those are such important foundational principles to get
  • 00:00:45.395 --> 00:00:48.565
  • Secure in your heart, around your table with the people you
  • 00:00:48.565 --> 00:00:51.968
  • Care about, in your small groups, with your friends.
  • 00:00:51.968 --> 00:00:54.537
  • "your identity in christ," it's a game changer.
  • 00:00:54.537 --> 00:00:57.173
  • I believe it will add momentum to your spiritual growth in
  • 00:00:57.173 --> 00:01:00.076
  • This season.
  • 00:01:00.076 --> 00:01:01.444
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:01.444 --> 00:01:08.251
  • Allen: i've shared with you lately how the lord has really
  • 00:01:08.251 --> 00:01:10.487
  • Convicted me in recent weeks about my attitude
  • 00:01:10.487 --> 00:01:14.657
  • Towards prayer.
  • 00:01:14.657 --> 00:01:16.793
  • And he did it through a series of things.
  • 00:01:16.793 --> 00:01:19.395
  • It didn't happen for me all in one moment, but it all came
  • 00:01:19.395 --> 00:01:22.332
  • Together with a clarity that has changed how i pray.
  • 00:01:22.332 --> 00:01:26.436
  • I found that my prayers and my exposure to prayer, i've been in
  • 00:01:26.436 --> 00:01:29.873
  • Hundreds and hundreds, thousands of prayer meetings, and we tend
  • 00:01:29.873 --> 00:01:33.143
  • To pray for intensely personal things, which is
  • 00:01:33.143 --> 00:01:35.311
  • Not inappropriate.
  • 00:01:35.311 --> 00:01:38.114
  • You know, we pray for ourselves and our health and our voice,
  • 00:01:38.114 --> 00:01:40.884
  • And please don't stop, and our neighbors and our neighbor's dog
  • 00:01:40.884 --> 00:01:46.156
  • And our, you know, our cousin boo and, again, it's
  • 00:01:46.156 --> 00:01:50.426
  • Not inappropriate.
  • 00:01:50.426 --> 00:01:51.794
  • God knows, he says, the number of hairs on our head.
  • 00:01:51.794 --> 00:01:54.664
  • But i also realized that we're ambassadors for the kingdom of
  • 00:01:54.664 --> 00:01:57.400
  • God, that we're salt and light in the world, and that if we
  • 00:01:57.400 --> 00:02:02.639
  • Only use the authority that's given us as citizens in the
  • 00:02:02.639 --> 00:02:05.475
  • Kingdom of god, the authority in the name of jesus and the power
  • 00:02:05.475 --> 00:02:08.545
  • Of his shed blood to deal with the personal issues of my life,
  • 00:02:08.545 --> 00:02:13.149
  • I'm abandoning my assignment as an ambassador.
  • 00:02:13.149 --> 00:02:17.353
  • I believe we have to pray on behalf of families in our nation
  • 00:02:17.353 --> 00:02:21.191
  • That a biblical view of family will be celebrated, not because
  • 00:02:21.191 --> 00:02:24.394
  • Politicians say so, because the people say so.
  • 00:02:24.394 --> 00:02:28.331
  • Don't tell me you care about children unless you're praying
  • 00:02:32.535 --> 00:02:35.705
  • For biblical families to emerge across our nation.
  • 00:02:35.705 --> 00:02:39.375
  • The data is overwhelming.
  • 00:02:39.375 --> 00:02:41.444
  • There's nothing even close to comparable for the well-being
  • 00:02:41.444 --> 00:02:43.947
  • Of children.
  • 00:02:43.947 --> 00:02:46.416
  • It's not even close.
  • 00:02:46.416 --> 00:02:49.319
  • And it's begun to change the way i pray.
  • 00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:51.821
  • I've shared it with you.
  • 00:02:51.821 --> 00:02:53.189
  • We've been praying that the gospel will be preached in the
  • 00:02:53.189 --> 00:02:55.024
  • Streets of tehran, that there'll be a freedom for jesus to be
  • 00:02:55.024 --> 00:02:59.195
  • Proclaimed in tehran after decades of brutal, horrific,
  • 00:02:59.195 --> 00:03:03.633
  • Violent tyranny.
  • 00:03:03.633 --> 00:03:05.935
  • I'm praying the same thing for havana, 90 miles off the coast
  • 00:03:05.935 --> 00:03:08.805
  • Of miami, the people frozen in time.
  • 00:03:08.805 --> 00:03:15.445
  • In my life, i haven't committed, until recently, i hadn't
  • 00:03:15.445 --> 00:03:18.548
  • Committed much time to praying in any serious way that that
  • 00:03:18.548 --> 00:03:21.284
  • Darkness would be broken.
  • 00:03:21.284 --> 00:03:24.087
  • I'm praying for venezuela for the what has begun there will
  • 00:03:24.087 --> 00:03:26.889
  • Be expanded.
  • 00:03:26.889 --> 00:03:29.158
  • Somebody brought me a video of people they knew being released
  • 00:03:29.158 --> 00:03:32.395
  • From prison with tears running down their cheeks, and they said
  • 00:03:32.395 --> 00:03:35.164
  • The christians are being turned loose from the prisons where
  • 00:03:35.164 --> 00:03:37.433
  • They've been held.
  • 00:03:37.433 --> 00:03:39.102
  • I'm praying for venezuela.
  • 00:03:39.102 --> 00:03:40.637
  • I've been praying for nigeria where they were hunting
  • 00:03:44.173 --> 00:03:46.276
  • Christians, that the people that were hunting christians would
  • 00:03:46.276 --> 00:03:48.344
  • Become the hunted.
  • 00:03:48.344 --> 00:03:51.414
  • I know it's uncomfortable.
  • 00:03:51.414 --> 00:03:53.583
  • I'm just not praying in a blanket way.
  • 00:03:53.583 --> 00:03:56.252
  • I'm praying in the--i'm still praying for my voice to
  • 00:03:56.252 --> 00:03:59.088
  • Be better.
  • 00:03:59.088 --> 00:04:00.757
  • And i'm praying for character quest, and i still pray for the
  • 00:04:00.757 --> 00:04:03.660
  • Things that are, but god has given us a role, folks.
  • 00:04:03.660 --> 00:04:08.665
  • Get you a notebook.
  • 00:04:08.665 --> 00:04:10.967
  • I don't know what your devotional time looks like.
  • 00:04:10.967 --> 00:04:12.602
  • Maybe you do the bible reading.
  • 00:04:12.602 --> 00:04:13.970
  • Maybe you read our daily devotional.
  • 00:04:13.970 --> 00:04:18.074
  • Allow yourself a few minutes as a part of that devotional, just
  • 00:04:18.074 --> 00:04:21.711
  • Write down "this week, i'm gonna pray for..."
  • 00:04:21.711 --> 00:04:25.915
  • And let the spirit of god put one thing on your heart and
  • 00:04:25.915 --> 00:04:28.651
  • Begin to say, "god, let there come change there.
  • 00:04:28.651 --> 00:04:31.521
  • Let the fraud in our nation be turned back."
  • 00:04:31.521 --> 00:04:34.223
  • May we become unwilling to tolerate fraud at the levels
  • 00:04:34.223 --> 00:04:39.896
  • That we have accepted it.
  • 00:04:39.896 --> 00:04:43.800
  • It's unimaginable what we have tolerated.
  • 00:04:47.704 --> 00:04:51.007
  • We're the church.
  • 00:04:51.007 --> 00:04:56.279
  • This isn't political.
  • 00:04:53.943 --> 00:04:58.381
  • It's not about parties or elections.
  • 00:04:58.381 --> 00:05:01.884
  • We're the people of god.
  • 00:05:01.884 --> 00:05:04.220
  • We're reading leviticus together right now.
  • 00:05:04.220 --> 00:05:06.222
  • Are you paying attention?
  • 00:05:06.222 --> 00:05:08.424
  • God's not casual.
  • 00:05:08.424 --> 00:05:09.759
  • It's not like just worship however you would like.
  • 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:13.996
  • Just get together when you're in the mood, whatever you wanna
  • 00:05:13.996 --> 00:05:16.199
  • Wear, just wear that.
  • 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:19.736
  • Pick up as much manna as you would like.
  • 00:05:19.736 --> 00:05:21.471
  • Do whatever you want.
  • 00:05:21.471 --> 00:05:24.140
  • That's not the god i'm reading about.
  • 00:05:24.140 --> 00:05:27.410
  • I'm reading that thinking, "oh, lord, i've been so sloppy."
  • 00:05:27.410 --> 00:05:31.814
  • I know, i got an outline, don't i? it's awful.
  • 00:05:31.814 --> 00:05:37.019
  • When you think of prayer, i want you to think of it in a
  • 00:05:37.019 --> 00:05:38.988
  • Simpler way.
  • 00:05:38.988 --> 00:05:40.690
  • I'll talk more about it.
  • 00:05:40.690 --> 00:05:42.058
  • We've done this a lot together over the years, but let's pray
  • 00:05:42.058 --> 00:05:44.594
  • Sentence prayers.
  • 00:05:44.594 --> 00:05:45.928
  • It's not the only way to pray, but i think sometimes we stay
  • 00:05:45.928 --> 00:05:48.131
  • Away from prayer because we think there's a tone of voice or
  • 00:05:48.131 --> 00:05:50.032
  • A vocabulary or a certain amount of theological proficiency you
  • 00:05:50.032 --> 00:05:53.803
  • Have to have, baloney.
  • 00:05:53.803 --> 00:05:57.673
  • Prayer's an invitation to god.
  • 00:05:57.673 --> 00:05:59.375
  • Some of the most powerful prayers in scripture are
  • 00:05:59.375 --> 00:06:01.244
  • Sentence prayers.
  • 00:06:01.244 --> 00:06:03.346
  • There are things you can pray on a daily basis very available
  • 00:06:03.346 --> 00:06:05.815
  • To you.
  • 00:06:05.815 --> 00:06:07.183
  • Almighty god, i ask for your help in jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:06:07.183 --> 00:06:10.920
  • I think most of our prayers would improve if we would hush.
  • 00:06:10.920 --> 00:06:13.122
  • You know, we pray like god doesn't know.
  • 00:06:16.259 --> 00:06:20.596
  • You ever prayed with anybody that explains to god?
  • 00:06:20.596 --> 00:06:24.567
  • Oh, come on now.
  • 00:06:24.567 --> 00:06:26.569
  • I've been in more prayer meetings than most of you.
  • 00:06:26.569 --> 00:06:30.873
  • God, i wanna pray for my neighbor, you know, the one that
  • 00:06:30.873 --> 00:06:34.410
  • Lives next door to me, where they have that red roof on their
  • 00:06:34.410 --> 00:06:38.614
  • House, when they drive a tesla.
  • 00:06:38.614 --> 00:06:43.453
  • Lord, they have three kids and you know their dog rover, god.
  • 00:06:43.453 --> 00:06:48.057
  • And i'm sitting watching and praying.
  • 00:06:48.057 --> 00:06:49.425
  • I'm thinking, if you have to explain all that to god, there's
  • 00:06:49.425 --> 00:06:52.228
  • Probably no help coming.
  • 00:06:52.228 --> 00:06:59.302
  • I think it's you're appropriate to invite god into the specifics
  • 00:07:03.539 --> 00:07:06.309
  • And the circumstances, but i don't always think we
  • 00:07:06.309 --> 00:07:08.845
  • Have--usually, we're praying to the people we're with.
  • 00:07:08.845 --> 00:07:13.616
  • And again, i don't think that's wicked, kind of the way kids
  • 00:07:13.616 --> 00:07:17.320
  • Learn to talk.
  • 00:07:17.320 --> 00:07:18.688
  • But we can grow past that, particularly if it's a group of
  • 00:07:18.688 --> 00:07:22.191
  • People that you pray with on a regular basis.
  • 00:07:22.191 --> 00:07:24.861
  • They know your neighbor with the red roof and the tesla, and the
  • 00:07:24.861 --> 00:07:29.599
  • Dog, and the three kids.
  • 00:07:29.599 --> 00:07:33.436
  • Prayer's an invitation to almighty god.
  • 00:07:33.436 --> 00:07:38.007
  • You know, i found that if i'm given an opportunity to speak to
  • 00:07:38.007 --> 00:07:41.444
  • Someone whose help i need or who has expertise that i don't have,
  • 00:07:41.444 --> 00:07:47.783
  • And i've managed to gain an appointment or an audience or
  • 00:07:47.783 --> 00:07:50.286
  • Whatever that may be, i've learned that those are very
  • 00:07:50.286 --> 00:07:53.656
  • Valuable moments.
  • 00:07:53.656 --> 00:07:56.025
  • And i try not to spend them in frivolous ways.
  • 00:07:56.025 --> 00:08:00.096
  • And i try to talk to the lord that way.
  • 00:08:00.096 --> 00:08:03.199
  • Oh, lord, i need your help.
  • 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:06.135
  • I'm not even sure what help i need, but i'm aware that i need
  • 00:08:06.135 --> 00:08:09.739
  • Your help.
  • 00:08:09.739 --> 00:08:11.374
  • Talk to the lord.
  • 00:08:14.844 --> 00:08:16.646
  • Make it a habit.
  • 00:08:16.646 --> 00:08:18.147
  • Build it into your routine.
  • 00:08:18.147 --> 00:08:20.216
  • God, give us your wisdom, in jesus's name.
  • 00:08:20.216 --> 00:08:24.253
  • God, it's summertime.
  • 00:08:24.253 --> 00:08:25.588
  • Don't let us waste our summer.
  • 00:08:25.588 --> 00:08:27.089
  • Give us your wisdom in jesus's name.
  • 00:08:27.089 --> 00:08:31.327
  • I'll latch on to one of those sentences, and i will pray it
  • 00:08:31.327 --> 00:08:34.630
  • Over and over and over for days.
  • 00:08:34.630 --> 00:08:37.166
  • Oh god, give me your wisdom.
  • 00:08:37.166 --> 00:08:39.335
  • You know james 1:5, god said, "if anybody lacks wisdom, let
  • 00:08:39.335 --> 00:08:42.271
  • Him ask of god, and he'll give it to you generously
  • 00:08:42.271 --> 00:08:44.907
  • Without criticism."
  • 00:08:44.907 --> 00:08:46.776
  • I've been praying that prayer for years.
  • 00:08:46.776 --> 00:08:48.177
  • Think how stupid i'd be if i hadn't been praying that prayer.
  • 00:08:48.177 --> 00:08:51.847
  • Because i mean, i'm just barely above the waterline right now,
  • 00:08:51.847 --> 00:08:53.916
  • And i've been praying that prayer for years.
  • 00:08:53.916 --> 00:08:56.118
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:08:56.719 --> 00:09:00.189
  • Allen: hey, i wanna ask you a question.
  • 00:09:02.858 --> 00:09:04.594
  • How do you identify?
  • 00:09:04.594 --> 00:09:05.928
  • Male, female, southerner, educated, housewife?
  • 00:09:05.928 --> 00:09:09.365
  • How do you identify?
  • 00:09:09.365 --> 00:09:10.967
  • Well, i wanna suggest knowing your identity in christ is the
  • 00:09:10.967 --> 00:09:13.970
  • Most significant component of your person for both time
  • 00:09:13.970 --> 00:09:17.573
  • And eternity.
  • 00:09:17.573 --> 00:09:18.941
  • We put together a resource.
  • 00:09:18.941 --> 00:09:20.276
  • It's a new booklet.
  • 00:09:20.276 --> 00:09:21.644
  • It'll help you understand who you are in christ, your identity
  • 00:09:21.644 --> 00:09:24.013
  • In the kingdom of god and what the implications of that are for
  • 00:09:24.013 --> 00:09:26.949
  • Your life today.
  • 00:09:26.949 --> 00:09:28.384
  • It's a game changer.
  • 00:09:28.384 --> 00:09:29.819
  • I believe it'll be a blessing to you and to your family.
  • 00:09:29.819 --> 00:09:33.456
  • Female announcer: every day, the world tries to define who we
  • 00:09:33.456 --> 00:09:35.891
  • Are, what we should believe, and whether we're enough, but god's
  • 00:09:35.891 --> 00:09:39.495
  • Word tells a different story.
  • 00:09:39.495 --> 00:09:41.364
  • In pastor allen's new book, "your identity in christ: 12
  • 00:09:41.364 --> 00:09:45.001
  • Truths about who you are," he shares biblical truths that will
  • 00:09:45.001 --> 00:09:48.237
  • Help you recognize who you are in christ.
  • 00:09:48.237 --> 00:09:50.940
  • Request your book and free companion card today with your
  • 00:09:50.940 --> 00:09:53.776
  • Gift of any amount at allenjackson.com or call ...
  • 00:09:53.776 --> 00:10:00.549
  • Female announcer: we are committed to helping you grow in
  • 00:10:03.252 --> 00:10:04.820
  • Your faith and have tools for your journey no matter
  • 00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:07.023
  • Your schedule.
  • 00:10:07.023 --> 00:10:08.357
  • Get daily encouragement and insight with pastor allen's
  • 00:10:08.357 --> 00:10:10.693
  • Daily devotion right in your inbox.
  • 00:10:10.693 --> 00:10:12.461
  • Just sign up on the website.
  • 00:10:12.461 --> 00:10:14.030
  • Join us on one of our live stream services right from your
  • 00:10:14.030 --> 00:10:16.899
  • Tv using the allen jackson ministries app.
  • 00:10:16.899 --> 00:10:19.535
  • Listen to a powerful message through your favorite podcast
  • 00:10:19.535 --> 00:10:22.271
  • App, perfect for a commute, and
  • 00:10:22.271 --> 00:10:24.040
  • Make sure to follow pastor allen
  • 00:10:24.040 --> 00:10:25.641
  • On social media to stay up to
  • 00:10:25.641 --> 00:10:27.176
  • Date with everything happening
  • 00:10:27.176 --> 00:10:28.644
  • Here with allen jackson ministries.
  • 00:10:28.644 --> 00:10:30.379
  • Allen: you know there's something very humbling about
  • 00:10:33.749 --> 00:10:36.452
  • Doing a series of talks on prayer and healing while you
  • 00:10:36.452 --> 00:10:41.757
  • Cough and spit.
  • 00:10:41.757 --> 00:10:43.159
  • You know, it's not because we are paragons of victory at every
  • 00:10:46.328 --> 00:10:49.598
  • Moment in our lives.
  • 00:10:49.598 --> 00:10:51.333
  • It's because we know someone who is.
  • 00:10:51.333 --> 00:10:58.607
  • What i'm asking you to consider is elevating the role of prayer
  • 00:11:02.845 --> 00:11:07.216
  • In your imagination of your life on a daily basis.
  • 00:11:07.216 --> 00:11:11.921
  • It may be a sentence of thanksgiving.
  • 00:11:11.921 --> 00:11:13.589
  • It may be a sentence of invitation.
  • 00:11:13.589 --> 00:11:16.726
  • It may be an acknowledgement of the goodness of god.
  • 00:11:16.726 --> 00:11:20.362
  • But don't let your days come and go without inviting god into
  • 00:11:20.362 --> 00:11:23.733
  • Those days.
  • 00:11:23.733 --> 00:11:25.267
  • We looked at philippians 4.
  • 00:11:25.267 --> 00:11:26.702
  • Let's look at another new testament example, acts 16.
  • 00:11:26.702 --> 00:11:31.307
  • There's been a riot.
  • 00:11:31.307 --> 00:11:32.675
  • It's in philippi, and paul and his crew have been arrested.
  • 00:11:32.675 --> 00:11:38.080
  • It's not particularly a good day.
  • 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:41.584
  • "the crowd joined in the attack against paul and silas, and the
  • 00:11:41.584 --> 00:11:45.154
  • Magistrates," those are the local government officials,
  • 00:11:45.154 --> 00:11:48.858
  • "ordered them to be stripped and beaten."
  • 00:11:48.858 --> 00:11:51.894
  • The notion that our faith exists apart from the authorities that
  • 00:11:51.894 --> 00:11:57.199
  • Exist amongst us is completely separate from scripture.
  • 00:11:57.199 --> 00:12:02.805
  • The two exist together.
  • 00:12:02.805 --> 00:12:04.774
  • Most of the riots that we find in the book of acts have
  • 00:12:04.774 --> 00:12:07.576
  • Spiritual motivations.
  • 00:12:07.576 --> 00:12:09.678
  • The riot in ephesus comes because of a move of the spirit
  • 00:12:09.678 --> 00:12:12.782
  • Of god.
  • 00:12:12.782 --> 00:12:14.150
  • There was such a demonic response to what the spirit of
  • 00:12:14.150 --> 00:12:17.686
  • God was doing that there was a riot.
  • 00:12:17.686 --> 00:12:20.322
  • I pray that the church becomes so awake, so alert, and so
  • 00:12:20.322 --> 00:12:24.660
  • Engaged, that we recognize the turmoil has spiritual
  • 00:12:24.660 --> 00:12:27.897
  • Motivations, and we lose this nonsensical idea that it's about
  • 00:12:27.897 --> 00:12:31.400
  • Cultural things.
  • 00:12:31.400 --> 00:12:34.236
  • "the crowd joined in the attack against paul and silas, and the
  • 00:12:34.236 --> 00:12:37.206
  • Magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten.
  • 00:12:37.206 --> 00:12:41.243
  • And after they had been severely flogged, they were thrown
  • 00:12:41.243 --> 00:12:44.847
  • Into prison."
  • 00:12:44.847 --> 00:12:46.215
  • They weren't just flogged.
  • 00:12:46.215 --> 00:12:47.550
  • Flogged's an old english word.
  • 00:12:47.550 --> 00:12:48.884
  • It means they took a beating, a roman cat of nine tails,
  • 00:12:48.884 --> 00:12:51.754
  • Multiple leather straps that would have bone or metal
  • 00:12:51.754 --> 00:12:54.957
  • Included in them so that when they struck your flesh, it would
  • 00:12:54.957 --> 00:12:57.126
  • Tear the flesh, a very brutal way, forty lashes was believed
  • 00:12:57.126 --> 00:13:02.398
  • To kill a person.
  • 00:13:02.398 --> 00:13:05.034
  • Five times paul says he took 39 lashes.
  • 00:13:05.034 --> 00:13:08.804
  • So they're severely flogged, and "they're thrown into prison, and
  • 00:13:08.804 --> 00:13:12.174
  • The jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.
  • 00:13:12.174 --> 00:13:15.377
  • And upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell,
  • 00:13:15.377 --> 00:13:18.681
  • And he fastened their feet in the stocks."
  • 00:13:18.681 --> 00:13:22.451
  • So they're bound hand and foot.
  • 00:13:22.451 --> 00:13:23.953
  • Their backs are lacerated and opened from the beating
  • 00:13:23.953 --> 00:13:28.224
  • They've received.
  • 00:13:28.224 --> 00:13:29.792
  • And "about midnight, paul and silas were praying and singing
  • 00:13:29.792 --> 00:13:35.764
  • Hymns to god, and the other prisoners were listening
  • 00:13:35.764 --> 00:13:39.134
  • To them."
  • 00:13:39.134 --> 00:13:41.737
  • That is so convicting to me.
  • 00:13:41.737 --> 00:13:44.773
  • I'm sure you never do, but i wish you would pray for me
  • 00:13:44.773 --> 00:13:47.543
  • Because there are some days i'm tempted to complain.
  • 00:13:47.543 --> 00:13:50.145
  • You know that the journey the lord's put me on is
  • 00:13:54.216 --> 00:13:56.151
  • Too difficult.
  • 00:13:56.151 --> 00:13:57.920
  • The challenges are too great.
  • 00:13:57.920 --> 00:14:00.322
  • The people i'm traveling with are not whatever enough.
  • 00:14:00.322 --> 00:14:04.093
  • And it's really easy to find yourself descending into some
  • 00:14:04.093 --> 00:14:07.663
  • Place where you lose almost all awareness of the goodness
  • 00:14:07.663 --> 00:14:12.768
  • Of god.
  • 00:14:12.768 --> 00:14:14.136
  • Has that ever happened to you?
  • 00:14:14.136 --> 00:14:16.405
  • If you don't guard your heart and your mind, you will live in
  • 00:14:16.405 --> 00:14:19.008
  • That place.
  • 00:14:19.008 --> 00:14:21.143
  • You'll live as a victim angry at others, filled with resentment
  • 00:14:21.143 --> 00:14:25.748
  • And bitterness and hatred.
  • 00:14:25.748 --> 00:14:27.483
  • Paul and silas have not been treated fairly.
  • 00:14:27.483 --> 00:14:31.186
  • There's nothing about their circumstance that has anything
  • 00:14:31.186 --> 00:14:33.255
  • To do with justice.
  • 00:14:33.255 --> 00:14:36.125
  • They're not calling out to god for justice.
  • 00:14:36.125 --> 00:14:40.462
  • They're not denouncing or renouncing or pronouncing curses
  • 00:14:40.462 --> 00:14:44.967
  • On those who have misused them.
  • 00:14:44.967 --> 00:14:48.404
  • It's a very convicting passage to me, and it's very informative
  • 00:14:48.404 --> 00:14:51.974
  • Of what you and i can do to change our thought patterns, to
  • 00:14:51.974 --> 00:14:56.045
  • Invite the power of god into our lives more completely.
  • 00:14:56.045 --> 00:15:00.182
  • They are praying and singing hymns to god, and the other
  • 00:15:00.182 --> 00:15:05.387
  • Prisoners are listening.
  • 00:15:05.387 --> 00:15:07.623
  • They're in physical pain and discomfort.
  • 00:15:07.623 --> 00:15:11.293
  • Their flights for the next day, they're not gonna make it.
  • 00:15:11.293 --> 00:15:16.865
  • There's just nothing about their circumstance that is good.
  • 00:15:16.865 --> 00:15:21.003
  • I think you and i, at least we'd be so tempted to say, "god, you
  • 00:15:21.003 --> 00:15:23.906
  • Know, i'm not gonna serve you anymore.
  • 00:15:23.906 --> 00:15:25.341
  • This is my last missionary journey."
  • 00:15:25.341 --> 00:15:28.644
  • I've tried this over and over and over again, and i've been to
  • 00:15:28.644 --> 00:15:31.447
  • So many cities, and i've been treated poorly.
  • 00:15:31.447 --> 00:15:34.383
  • I'm going back home and write small group studies.
  • 00:15:34.383 --> 00:15:38.954
  • I'm over this.
  • 00:15:38.954 --> 00:15:41.790
  • I thought you invited me to be a missionary, an apostle to
  • 00:15:41.790 --> 00:15:44.760
  • The gentiles.
  • 00:15:44.760 --> 00:15:46.161
  • Clearly, i was wrong.
  • 00:15:46.161 --> 00:15:49.064
  • At midnight, they were praising the lord and praying.
  • 00:15:53.135 --> 00:15:59.475
  • And "suddenly there's a violent earthquake, and the foundations
  • 00:16:03.712 --> 00:16:07.349
  • Of the prison were shaken.
  • 00:16:07.349 --> 00:16:09.718
  • And all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains
  • 00:16:09.718 --> 00:16:14.423
  • Came loose."
  • 00:16:14.423 --> 00:16:17.426
  • You know, in this particular scenario, it doesn't give us the
  • 00:16:17.426 --> 00:16:22.731
  • Spiritual description.
  • 00:16:22.731 --> 00:16:25.100
  • Remember when peter was kept in prison?
  • 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:28.971
  • After james was beheaded and peter was arrested and they were
  • 00:16:28.971 --> 00:16:32.074
  • Planning to kill peter too, and they kept him for several days,
  • 00:16:32.074 --> 00:16:35.077
  • And the angels came to get peter out of prison, remember
  • 00:16:35.077 --> 00:16:37.146
  • The story?
  • 00:16:37.146 --> 00:16:39.114
  • I mean, the angel had to strike him on the side to wake him up.
  • 00:16:39.114 --> 00:16:43.185
  • And the angels, the chains fell off and the doors of--there was
  • 00:16:43.185 --> 00:16:46.021
  • A contingent of angels who went to get peter out of prison.
  • 00:16:46.021 --> 00:16:49.658
  • Well, in philippi, and in this passage, the angels aren't
  • 00:16:49.658 --> 00:16:53.729
  • Described for us, just their activity.
  • 00:16:53.729 --> 00:16:56.865
  • When the contingent of angels showed up, the place shook,
  • 00:16:56.865 --> 00:17:01.503
  • Chains fell off, doors swing.
  • 00:17:01.503 --> 00:17:04.039
  • I can see the angels going, "this way, gentlemen."
  • 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:06.608
  • I wanna live in that world.
  • 00:17:10.245 --> 00:17:13.382
  • And you say yes, but i don't really want to live in the
  • 00:17:13.382 --> 00:17:15.884
  • Arrested world.
  • 00:17:15.884 --> 00:17:18.887
  • I don't want to live in the world where there's flogging.
  • 00:17:18.887 --> 00:17:22.424
  • I want to live in the world where there's applause
  • 00:17:22.424 --> 00:17:24.326
  • And angels.
  • 00:17:24.326 --> 00:17:26.595
  • Oh, you wanna avoid the purposes of god.
  • 00:17:26.595 --> 00:17:30.899
  • You want to stand in the shadows.
  • 00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:33.936
  • You see, i believe the power of god is demonstrated on behalf of
  • 00:17:33.936 --> 00:17:37.406
  • Those people who are busy with his purposes.
  • 00:17:37.406 --> 00:17:41.477
  • Again, i don't think we have to be obnoxious or belligerent.
  • 00:17:41.477 --> 00:17:46.215
  • I think standing up for the truth will bring
  • 00:17:46.215 --> 00:17:49.151
  • Adequate resistance.
  • 00:17:49.151 --> 00:17:52.521
  • Let's decide to do that.
  • 00:17:52.521 --> 00:17:55.357
  • In this particular case, it opens a door for an expansion of
  • 00:17:55.357 --> 00:17:59.061
  • The gospel.
  • 00:17:59.061 --> 00:18:00.429
  • The jailer, if you have captives in the roman world, if you're
  • 00:18:00.429 --> 00:18:03.265
  • Charged with the keeping of prisoners and the prisoners
  • 00:18:03.265 --> 00:18:05.467
  • Escape, you'll be executed in their place.
  • 00:18:05.467 --> 00:18:10.005
  • When the jailer finds that the chains are loosed and the doors
  • 00:18:10.005 --> 00:18:13.709
  • Are open, he understands the outcome that, as soon as that's
  • 00:18:13.709 --> 00:18:16.612
  • Discovered, he'll be executed.
  • 00:18:16.612 --> 00:18:19.314
  • So he draws a sword to kill himself.
  • 00:18:19.314 --> 00:18:21.984
  • And paul's still sitting there, humming, living bible,
  • 00:18:21.984 --> 00:18:29.391
  • Says, "sir, please don't do that.
  • 00:18:29.391 --> 00:18:31.026
  • No one's left.
  • 00:18:31.026 --> 00:18:32.761
  • We're all here."
  • 00:18:32.761 --> 00:18:35.597
  • The other prisoners are impacted enough that even they
  • 00:18:35.597 --> 00:18:37.599
  • Didn't flee.
  • 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:39.468
  • And the jailer and his whole family acknowledged jesus.
  • 00:18:39.468 --> 00:18:41.870
  • They're baptized.
  • 00:18:41.870 --> 00:18:43.672
  • There's a transformation in the city.
  • 00:18:43.672 --> 00:18:46.208
  • Before paul and silas leave, the magistrates have to come to the
  • 00:18:46.208 --> 00:18:48.810
  • Prison and get them with an apology for their
  • 00:18:48.810 --> 00:18:52.781
  • Brutal treatment.
  • 00:18:52.781 --> 00:18:54.116
  • It's a complete reversal of the scenario, but it's all linked to
  • 00:18:54.116 --> 00:18:57.486
  • Their willingness to pray.
  • 00:18:57.486 --> 00:19:00.923
  • And it's not like there was some prayer so majestic that it's
  • 00:19:00.923 --> 00:19:03.725
  • Recorded for us.
  • 00:19:03.725 --> 00:19:05.494
  • They're simply worshiping the lord.
  • 00:19:05.494 --> 00:19:08.764
  • I don't think you and i understand how powerful it is
  • 00:19:08.764 --> 00:19:13.402
  • When we'll use our words and say, "god, i just wanna give
  • 00:19:13.402 --> 00:19:15.537
  • Honor to you.
  • 00:19:15.537 --> 00:19:17.406
  • Lord, i thank you.
  • 00:19:17.406 --> 00:19:19.107
  • You're good to me.
  • 00:19:19.107 --> 00:19:21.276
  • Lord, you've been so kind to me.
  • 00:19:21.276 --> 00:19:24.112
  • You've forgiven my sin.
  • 00:19:24.112 --> 00:19:26.315
  • You delivered me from the kingdom of darkness.
  • 00:19:26.315 --> 00:19:29.117
  • You pick the sentence that resonates with you, and you say
  • 00:19:29.117 --> 00:19:32.921
  • It 100 times in a day.
  • 00:19:32.921 --> 00:19:36.491
  • Have you ever gotten mad at somebody and had one thought get
  • 00:19:36.491 --> 00:19:40.796
  • Stuck in your head, right?
  • 00:19:40.796 --> 00:19:44.299
  • And it's usually got a little image attached.
  • 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:45.667
  • It's like a meme.
  • 00:19:45.667 --> 00:19:48.103
  • Get that thing buried in your brain, right?
  • 00:19:48.103 --> 00:19:52.441
  • Somebody cuts you off in traffic, and you're mad all the
  • 00:19:52.441 --> 00:19:55.244
  • Way to wherever you're going.
  • 00:19:55.244 --> 00:19:58.213
  • You know what it is to get one idea, one thought stuck in your
  • 00:19:58.213 --> 00:20:01.516
  • Head, and it dominates your emotions and your response.
  • 00:20:01.516 --> 00:20:06.622
  • What i'm asking you to do is reverse that.
  • 00:20:06.622 --> 00:20:09.291
  • Take one idea and choose it for your day.
  • 00:20:09.291 --> 00:20:14.329
  • God, today i'm gonna say thank you.
  • 00:20:14.329 --> 00:20:18.533
  • God, today i'm gonna ask for your wisdom in the place where
  • 00:20:18.533 --> 00:20:21.770
  • I work.
  • 00:20:21.770 --> 00:20:23.538
  • Let your wisdom be made evident in the place where i work.
  • 00:20:23.538 --> 00:20:29.478
  • God, today i'm gonna pray for that school i drive by
  • 00:20:29.478 --> 00:20:32.114
  • Every day.
  • 00:20:32.114 --> 00:20:33.715
  • Let your presence be welcome in that school, god.
  • 00:20:33.715 --> 00:20:37.486
  • I don't know how.
  • 00:20:37.486 --> 00:20:38.854
  • God, let your presence be welcome in that school today.
  • 00:20:38.854 --> 00:20:42.357
  • God, that school i drove by this morning, let your presence be
  • 00:20:42.357 --> 00:20:45.227
  • Welcome there.
  • 00:20:45.227 --> 00:20:47.562
  • I'm gonna bring enough discipline to my life to become
  • 00:20:47.562 --> 00:20:50.232
  • Committed to inviting god into the midst of the world where
  • 00:20:50.232 --> 00:20:53.635
  • He's planted me.
  • 00:20:53.635 --> 00:20:55.971
  • What are you gonna do?
  • 00:20:55.971 --> 00:20:59.808
  • This isn't about eloquence or flowery language or theological
  • 00:20:59.808 --> 00:21:03.945
  • Definitions or i'm inviting you to prayers that are beyond just
  • 00:21:03.945 --> 00:21:07.316
  • Me and mine.
  • 00:21:07.316 --> 00:21:09.184
  • It's okay if you're in the middle of a life and death
  • 00:21:09.184 --> 00:21:11.119
  • Struggle to invite god into the midst of that.
  • 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:12.888
  • I'm not diminishing that at all, but don't live your whole
  • 00:21:12.888 --> 00:21:15.590
  • Life there.
  • 00:21:15.590 --> 00:21:18.593
  • But i wanna close tonight.
  • 00:21:18.593 --> 00:21:19.928
  • I wanna pray for the sick, not 'cause i don't have a cough drop
  • 00:21:19.928 --> 00:21:30.138
  • In my mouth.
  • 00:21:33.508 --> 00:21:35.944
  • Because i couldn't think of any place i'd rather be than in the
  • 00:21:35.944 --> 00:21:37.846
  • Midst of people saying, "god, i believe you for healing."
  • 00:21:37.846 --> 00:21:42.250
  • You know i've taken medicine.
  • 00:21:42.250 --> 00:21:46.088
  • In fact, i've had enough holes poked in me this week, i'd leak
  • 00:21:46.088 --> 00:21:48.490
  • Like a sieve if you poured water in me, but i'm still trusting
  • 00:21:48.490 --> 00:21:52.527
  • God for his health and his life.
  • 00:21:52.527 --> 00:21:55.330
  • So we're gonna make a journey together through a few sessions
  • 00:21:55.330 --> 00:21:58.133
  • Around this idea of prayer, but what i'm inviting you to do is
  • 00:21:58.133 --> 00:22:01.636
  • Stop saying, "i don't do that," and stop thinking of it just as
  • 00:22:01.636 --> 00:22:05.741
  • Some formal iteration of something in a public gathering.
  • 00:22:05.741 --> 00:22:10.712
  • And begin to think of it as an invitation to god because you
  • 00:22:10.712 --> 00:22:14.082
  • Prayed, because you prayed, and what i will not accept in my
  • 00:22:14.082 --> 00:22:19.121
  • Life is, well, i didn't pray.
  • 00:22:19.121 --> 00:22:22.023
  • Well, 'cause i'm praying.
  • 00:22:22.023 --> 00:22:24.259
  • I'm praying for character quest.
  • 00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:25.627
  • I'm praying for construction.
  • 00:22:25.627 --> 00:22:27.329
  • I'm praying for my voice and my health.
  • 00:22:27.329 --> 00:22:30.132
  • I pray for you.
  • 00:22:30.132 --> 00:22:34.069
  • For many years, when the church was very small, when the church
  • 00:22:34.069 --> 00:22:37.706
  • Was, many years ago, we had folding chairs in the sanctuary.
  • 00:22:37.706 --> 00:22:41.176
  • We didn't have fancy chairs.
  • 00:22:41.176 --> 00:22:42.544
  • We had miserable folding chairs and which meant, every service,
  • 00:22:42.544 --> 00:22:48.583
  • They had to be realigned 'cause you'd move them every time.
  • 00:22:48.583 --> 00:22:53.789
  • And for years, my job was straightening the chairs.
  • 00:22:53.789 --> 00:22:56.725
  • If i ever renegotiate a contract with the church, i'm gonna get
  • 00:22:56.725 --> 00:22:58.960
  • Paid by touching the chair.
  • 00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:02.464
  • But i would walk through those rows and straighten the chairs
  • 00:23:02.464 --> 00:23:04.599
  • And pray for the people, 'cause you sit in the same stinking
  • 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:07.636
  • Place every time.
  • 00:23:07.636 --> 00:23:12.307
  • And i still like to do that.
  • 00:23:15.944 --> 00:23:17.279
  • I like to walk through the sanctuaries and walk through the
  • 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:19.414
  • Rows and pray in the spirit for the people.
  • 00:23:19.414 --> 00:23:23.852
  • Please don't leave god out of your life that way.
  • 00:23:23.852 --> 00:23:27.622
  • You're forfeiting too much.
  • 00:23:27.622 --> 00:23:28.990
  • Okay, i'm gonna pray.
  • 00:23:28.990 --> 00:23:30.325
  • If you're here and you need healing, your voice may be a
  • 00:23:30.325 --> 00:23:36.264
  • Little froggy or you may have something really serious,
  • 00:23:36.264 --> 00:23:38.233
  • Whatever it is, i'm just gonna ask you to stand really quickly.
  • 00:23:38.233 --> 00:23:43.972
  • I don't mean that generic we all need healing.
  • 00:23:47.909 --> 00:23:49.978
  • I heard that.
  • 00:23:49.978 --> 00:23:51.780
  • But i mean if there's a specific place you're inviting the power
  • 00:23:51.780 --> 00:23:54.950
  • Of god.
  • 00:23:54.950 --> 00:23:56.284
  • See, i believe god heals the sick.
  • 00:23:56.284 --> 00:23:58.186
  • He doesn't always do it on the timeline i want him to.
  • 00:23:58.186 --> 00:24:01.289
  • You know, i was perfect last--i'm a perfect probably
  • 00:24:01.289 --> 00:24:05.160
  • A stretch.
  • 00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:06.495
  • I was reasonably healthy when i left church last saturday night,
  • 00:24:06.495 --> 00:24:09.431
  • But before 10 o'clock, i wasn't.
  • 00:24:09.431 --> 00:24:13.835
  • It felt like an attack, but it didn't diminish what i believe
  • 00:24:13.835 --> 00:24:19.307
  • About god.
  • 00:24:19.307 --> 00:24:21.409
  • And you want to be able to invite god into your life.
  • 00:24:21.409 --> 00:24:25.313
  • We trust him.
  • 00:24:25.313 --> 00:24:27.215
  • He's a god of grace and mercy.
  • 00:24:27.215 --> 00:24:29.918
  • The best single idea i've ever learned about healing that
  • 00:24:29.918 --> 00:24:33.188
  • Helped me more than any is that god designed your body to heal.
  • 00:24:33.188 --> 00:24:38.260
  • If you cut your finger, you don't lose your mind and
  • 00:24:38.260 --> 00:24:41.496
  • Amputate it and think, "well, i ruined that."
  • 00:24:41.496 --> 00:24:45.500
  • You put a little band-aid over it and go, "it'll be better in a
  • 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:47.502
  • Couple of days."
  • 00:24:47.502 --> 00:24:49.938
  • You don't do that with the screen on your iphone.
  • 00:24:49.938 --> 00:24:54.075
  • God designed you to heal.
  • 00:24:54.075 --> 00:24:56.545
  • So when we ask for healing, we're simply asking god to let
  • 00:24:56.545 --> 00:24:59.848
  • Our bodies respond in the way he designed them.
  • 00:24:59.848 --> 00:25:04.553
  • When we're not well, some part of the original design is
  • 00:25:04.553 --> 00:25:07.756
  • Not functioning.
  • 00:25:07.756 --> 00:25:09.758
  • And we're asking god to restore that design function.
  • 00:25:09.758 --> 00:25:13.728
  • That seems much simpler to me, amen?
  • 00:25:13.728 --> 00:25:19.167
  • Hallelujah.
  • 00:25:19.167 --> 00:25:20.502
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:25:20.502 --> 00:25:21.870
  • Father, i thank you for your word and its truth and
  • 00:25:21.870 --> 00:25:24.272
  • Its power.
  • 00:25:24.272 --> 00:25:26.007
  • I thank you for your great love for us, that you sent your son.
  • 00:25:26.007 --> 00:25:31.446
  • Through his sacrifice, our sins could be forgiven and that by
  • 00:25:31.446 --> 00:25:36.184
  • His stripes we might be healed.
  • 00:25:36.184 --> 00:25:38.787
  • But i pray for each person and their expression of faith that
  • 00:25:38.787 --> 00:25:42.757
  • You would bring your life and your strength and your vitality
  • 00:25:42.757 --> 00:25:46.628
  • To them.
  • 00:25:46.628 --> 00:25:48.363
  • Lord, do what only you do.
  • 00:25:48.363 --> 00:25:50.532
  • We trust you.
  • 00:25:50.532 --> 00:25:51.933
  • We trust your plan and your purposes.
  • 00:25:51.933 --> 00:25:54.336
  • We trust your spirit and your power to bring life and health
  • 00:25:54.336 --> 00:25:57.839
  • And vitality to our mortal bodies in jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:25:57.839 --> 00:26:04.546
  • Hallelujah.
  • 00:26:04.546 --> 00:26:05.880
  • Let's go pray.
  • 00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:07.248
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:07.248 --> 00:26:14.456
  • Allen: hey, i'm really excited about our newest publication.
  • 00:26:14.456 --> 00:26:17.092
  • It's called "your identity in christ."
  • 00:26:17.092 --> 00:26:18.627
  • It's a booklet, small book intended to help you understand
  • 00:26:18.627 --> 00:26:21.863
  • Who you are in christ, straightforward, grounded in
  • 00:26:21.863 --> 00:26:24.633
  • Scripture, but i help people take steps towards
  • 00:26:24.633 --> 00:26:27.535
  • Spiritual freedom.
  • 00:26:27.535 --> 00:26:28.903
  • The most essential component is helping them understand who they
  • 00:26:28.903 --> 00:26:31.973
  • Are in christ.
  • 00:26:31.973 --> 00:26:33.441
  • You know we're walking through a season where there's tremendous
  • 00:26:33.441 --> 00:26:35.510
  • Cultural confusion, so much dialogue about how we identify.
  • 00:26:35.510 --> 00:26:40.081
  • Folks, understanding who you are in christ, the price that was
  • 00:26:40.081 --> 00:26:43.551
  • Paid to give you status in the kingdom of god, it will write a
  • 00:26:43.551 --> 00:26:47.656
  • Future for you that is not dependent upon your family of
  • 00:26:47.656 --> 00:26:50.859
  • Origin, your life circumstance, the expressions of evil that
  • 00:26:50.859 --> 00:26:54.129
  • You've had to overcome.
  • 00:26:54.129 --> 00:26:55.730
  • In christ jesus, we are triumphant both in time and for
  • 00:26:55.730 --> 00:26:59.668
  • All eternity.
  • 00:26:59.668 --> 00:27:01.002
  • We put this little booklet together.
  • 00:27:01.002 --> 00:27:02.370
  • It'll help you.
  • 00:27:02.370 --> 00:27:03.705
  • You can read it. you can do it as a small group.
  • 00:27:03.705 --> 00:27:05.206
  • It's easy to share the message with children or grandchildren.
  • 00:27:05.206 --> 00:27:07.609
  • Make this a part of this season in your life and in your home
  • 00:27:07.609 --> 00:27:11.479
  • And with your friends.
  • 00:27:11.479 --> 00:27:12.847
  • It's a game changer.
  • 00:27:12.847 --> 00:27:15.050
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:15.050 --> 00:27:29.097