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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Faith Under Pressure

November 7, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Faith Under Pressure
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Faith #Challenges #Deception #SeekGod #EndTimes #Leadership #Leaders #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Faith Under Pressure | November 7, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: you know, when i was a child, i thought christmas
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  • Came every four years.
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  • Now i feel like it comes about every four weeks.
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  • Well, christmas is just around the corner.
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  • It's a season of tremendous opportunity for those of us who
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  • Are people of faith to remember what god has done for us and
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  • What we're inviting him into in the midst of this
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  • Holiday season.
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  • Well, we've created a tool, a resource for you, to lead with
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  • Your faith at christmas.
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  • It's a 25-day devotional along with some ideas about from
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  • Recipes to activities for your friends or your family.
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  • It's just a fun way so that you can shape your faith into
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  • The holiday.
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  • You know, i think all of us have a desire to see christmas be--we
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  • Have jesus in the midst of it a bit more.
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  • There's so many secular voices that speak and sometimes i think
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  • We feel powerless to do something other than put up a
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  • Tree or hang some lights.
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  • Well, "lead with your faith at christmas," is a tool we created
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  • So you can share your faith with your family, with your friends,
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  • With coworkers.
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  • I think it'll make this christmas season truly a way to
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  • Honor the lord in your life.
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  • In fact, i'm quite confident it'll be a blessing to you.
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  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
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  • Allen: let's establish in our hearts that we have an openness
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  • To the power of god.
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  • That we recognize our need for a power beyond ourselves, for an
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  • Authority beyond that that we can marshal.
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  • If we can establish that, it will put in us a hunger and a
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  • Willingness to grow and learn and change that has largely
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  • Been absent.
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  • We've been rather smug and self-righteous.
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  • We've pointed to either our history or our accomplishments
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  • Or our achievement or our personal spiritual résumé.
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  • We'll talk about all the things we've learned and that we know
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  • How to spell nebuchadnezzar.
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  • You may be able to rattle off the 12 tribes of israel, and you
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  • May know how to spell them in hebrew letters, all good stuff.
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  • I appreciate the study and the investment of time and the
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  • Concern and the compassion, but is it sufficient to say that we
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  • Desperately need the power of god in this season?
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  • Our children are being sacrificed.
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  • Our families are being targeted.
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  • Our wealth is being thrown into the sea.
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  • Well, if there was a supernatural assistance in that
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  • Same chapter in verse 17, there is a supernatural resistance.
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  • And i think it's a fair recognition that where you see
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  • One you typically find the other.
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  • That where god is moving, the enemy in the kingdom of darkness
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  • Will do their best to engage.
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  • And if you can bear one more sports analogy, you don't game
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  • Plan for an athlete who presents no threat.
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  • You don't game plan for the worst athlete on the
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  • Opponent's team.
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  • You have a game plan for the one that could disrupt what you want
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  • To do.
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  • How about you decide you become someone that requires the
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  • Attention of the adversary where you work, in your neighborhood,
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  • In your school?
  • 00:03:08.370 --> 00:03:09.738
  • Some of us have thought the goal was to stay under the radar.
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  • Not to draw any attention to ourselves.
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  • I'm not asking you to be weird or obnoxious.
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  • I'm telling you to begin to occupy a place spiritually.
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  • Those other things are physical expressions, those
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  • Aren't necessary.
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  • But you begin to pray, you begin to invite the spirit of god into
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  • Your home, into your neighborhood, wherever it
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  • May be.
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  • We've been passive long enough, folks.
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  • Verse 17 says: "when this became known to the jews and the greeks
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  • Living in ephesus," in the new testament, that's everybody.
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  • There's the jews and everybody else.
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  • Something happened.
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  • It was the aftermath of a demonic demonstration.
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  • There were seven sons of the jewish high priest that were
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  • Emulating what they'd seen paul do when he said, "in jesus's
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  • Name," and he rebuked an unclean spirit, so they took paul's
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  • Pattern and they used it.
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  • Some of you remember the story.
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  • The demon in the man said, "well, paul i know, and jesus i
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  • Know, but who exactly are you?"
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  • And that one man overpowered those seven men.
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  • And they fled from that encounter, naked and bleeding.
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  • Yeah, i'm thinking that would make the news.
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  • So that's what is being recorded here.
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  • It says: "when this became known, they were all seized with
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  • Fear, and the name of the lord jesus was held in high honor.
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  • Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their
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  • Evil deeds.
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  • And a number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls
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  • Together and burned them publicly.
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  • When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came
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  • To fifty thousand drachmas."
  • 00:04:49.104 --> 00:04:51.773
  • A drachma was a coin about equivalent to a day's wage.
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  • So you decide whatever your day's income would be and
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  • Multiply it by 50,000.
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  • It's a chunk.
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  • "in this way the word of the lord spread widely and grew
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  • In power."
  • 00:05:08.223 --> 00:05:09.925
  • Well, that's not the way we want it to happen.
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  • We want a marketing plan.
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  • We want a revival week.
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  • We want something to go viral.
  • 00:05:17.032 --> 00:05:19.735
  • This one's kind of messy.
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  • The spiritual conflict becomes visible.
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  • It's taking place in the streets.
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  • We've seen some spiritual conflict in the streets.
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  • We haven't yet seen the name of jesus held in high esteem.
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  • We've seen some other things held in high esteem.
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  • It says that the community was seized with fear and the name of
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  • The lord jesus was held in high honor.
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  • And the outcome of that was many believers, not the pagans, not
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  • The ungodly, many believers came and openly confessed their
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  • Evil deeds.
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  • This is that heart change thing again.
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  • The people of faith came and said, "we've been living in the
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  • Shadows, we've been occupying the gray area."
  • 00:06:01.510 --> 00:06:04.880
  • And they publicly said it.
  • 00:06:04.880 --> 00:06:09.184
  • Again, that's a threshold that we have not seen broadly.
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  • Many practiced sorcery and they publicly renounced
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  • Their participation.
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  • In fact, there were millions of dollars, whatever number you
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  • Plug in for that drachma, if you make it pretty simple, is $100,
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  • It becomes millions of dollars of paraphernalia were destroyed
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  • In public.
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  • We have been engaged with wickedness and ungodliness and
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  • Spiritual things that we knew were not right, and we want to
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  • Separate ourselves from it and we will say it in public, we
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  • Don't care who knows.
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  • And there's gonna be a financial cost to it.
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  • You see, we've been very reluctant to let our spiritual
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  • Life intrude on our financial lives.
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  • I mean, we'll tolerate some conversations on giving and
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  • Perhaps even engage in that.
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  • But the thought of the--our faith truly impacting our
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  • Economic momentum, our economic plan, we've withdrawn from that
  • 00:07:04.773 --> 00:07:08.243
  • For the most part, and then we point at our children and say,
  • 00:07:08.243 --> 00:07:10.045
  • "well, it's on their behalf."
  • 00:07:10.045 --> 00:07:12.180
  • Right, right.
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  • It says: "because of that the word of the lord spread widely."
  • 00:07:17.953 --> 00:07:22.090
  • But the spiritual resistance doesn't stop there.
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  • Two verses later it says, "about that time."
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  • About the time of this public repentance and the
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  • Acknowledgement of all the momentum in the wrong direction.
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  • See, it's beginning to pull at the fabric of the city.
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  • We're not gonna continue to go with the values we've had and
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  • The morals that we've had and the behaviors that we had.
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  • We're gonna walk a new way.
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  • See, when i've imagined revival, i think it's gonna be like
  • 00:07:47.449 --> 00:07:49.518
  • Running a 5k with lots of applause and free food.
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  • And everybody gets a ribbon or a medal or a tag.
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  • And when you get to the finish line, no matter when you get
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  • There, as long as you get there, there's people cheering.
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  • That's revival.
  • 00:08:01.429 --> 00:08:03.632
  • Well, in ephesus, that's not how it played out.
  • 00:08:03.632 --> 00:08:06.801
  • About the time there's this big public repentance session and
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  • The whole community is being stirred by it, "there arose a
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  • Great disturbance about the way," about these people.
  • 00:08:14.409 --> 00:08:19.114
  • "and a silversmith named demetrius, who made silver
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  • Shrines for artemis."
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  • Artemis is the god of ephesus.
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  • Artemis is the spiritual principality in charge
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  • Of ephesus.
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  • Do you believe there are spiritual authorities over
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  • Cities, regions, nations?
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  • That's another discussion, but it's certainly alluded to
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  • In scripture.
  • 00:08:40.368 --> 00:08:42.571
  • "they made silver shrines for artemis, brought in no little
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  • Business for the craftsmen.
  • 00:08:45.473 --> 00:08:46.975
  • He called the craftsmen together, along with the workmen
  • 00:08:46.975 --> 00:08:49.444
  • In related trades, and said, 'men, you know we receive a
  • 00:08:49.444 --> 00:08:52.380
  • Good income.
  • 00:08:52.380 --> 00:08:54.282
  • And you see and hear how this fellow paul has convinced and
  • 00:08:54.282 --> 00:08:57.118
  • Led astray large numbers of people here in ephesus and in
  • 00:08:57.118 --> 00:09:00.855
  • Practically the whole province of asia.
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  • He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.'"
  • 00:09:03.325 --> 00:09:08.196
  • Paul is challenging the current culture.
  • 00:09:08.196 --> 00:09:11.333
  • He's not doing it quietly.
  • 00:09:11.333 --> 00:09:13.668
  • He's not doing it subtly, he's doing it every day for 2 years.
  • 00:09:13.668 --> 00:09:19.140
  • "'there is danger not only that our trade will lose its good
  • 00:09:19.140 --> 00:09:21.743
  • Name, but also that the temple of the great goddess artemis
  • 00:09:21.743 --> 00:09:24.613
  • Will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is
  • 00:09:24.613 --> 00:09:27.549
  • Worshiped throughout the province of asia and the world,
  • 00:09:27.549 --> 00:09:29.618
  • Will be robbed of her divine majesty.'"
  • 00:09:29.618 --> 00:09:31.786
  • He could care less about the divine majesty of artemis.
  • 00:09:31.786 --> 00:09:35.824
  • He cares a great deal about the bottom line of demetrius.
  • 00:09:35.824 --> 00:09:42.197
  • I find that the opposition to the biblical worldview, a
  • 00:09:42.197 --> 00:09:45.467
  • Judeo-christian worldview, an opposition to the lordship
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  • Of jesus.
  • 00:09:48.103 --> 00:09:50.338
  • And i've had to learn this from observation.
  • 00:09:50.338 --> 00:09:52.173
  • I didn't understand it always.
  • 00:09:52.173 --> 00:09:54.643
  • They want to diminish our voice.
  • 00:09:54.643 --> 00:09:56.011
  • They want to diminish our place.
  • 00:09:56.011 --> 00:09:59.648
  • Because they want another power in its place.
  • 00:09:59.648 --> 00:10:02.984
  • And what you represent and what you stand for and the values you
  • 00:10:02.984 --> 00:10:05.654
  • Hold are a threat to the opportunities they be--they
  • 00:10:05.654 --> 00:10:08.823
  • Perceive, and if they can silence you or remove you
  • 00:10:08.823 --> 00:10:11.292
  • Or diminish you, they can pursue their ungodly objectives and
  • 00:10:11.292 --> 00:10:14.462
  • Gain the benefits they imagine are there.
  • 00:10:14.462 --> 00:10:18.266
  • And when we coalesce, when we yield, when we go silent, when
  • 00:10:18.266 --> 00:10:21.770
  • We withdraw, we abandon places and people and institutions to
  • 00:10:21.770 --> 00:10:29.044
  • Wickedness, ungodliness.
  • 00:10:29.044 --> 00:10:34.049
  • Demetrius is practicing deception.
  • 00:10:34.049 --> 00:10:36.885
  • The best deception has some truth and some fiction.
  • 00:10:36.885 --> 00:10:41.289
  • He has little concern for artemis.
  • 00:10:41.289 --> 00:10:42.691
  • He has great concern for his financial stability
  • 00:10:42.691 --> 00:10:44.893
  • And opportunity.
  • 00:10:44.893 --> 00:10:47.028
  • In verse 29, same chapter, says: "soon the whole city was in
  • 00:10:47.028 --> 00:10:49.998
  • An uproar.
  • 00:10:49.998 --> 00:10:51.599
  • The people seized gaius and aristarchus, paul's traveling
  • 00:10:51.599 --> 00:10:54.402
  • Companions, and they rushed as one man into the theater."
  • 00:10:54.402 --> 00:10:57.505
  • I don't believe you can adequately understand a citywide
  • 00:10:57.505 --> 00:11:02.110
  • Riot unless you imagine there is demonic agitation.
  • 00:11:02.110 --> 00:11:08.583
  • This started with the seven sons of sceva, and a demon speaking
  • 00:11:08.583 --> 00:11:13.688
  • Through a man, challenging something and it continues with
  • 00:11:13.688 --> 00:11:19.794
  • This presentation that the spirit that presides over
  • 00:11:19.794 --> 00:11:23.264
  • Ephesus is threatened.
  • 00:11:23.264 --> 00:11:25.567
  • And now there's a stirring through the whole city.
  • 00:11:25.567 --> 00:11:29.037
  • I don't believe you can understand what's happening in
  • 00:11:29.037 --> 00:11:30.772
  • Our current world without some spiritual awareness.
  • 00:11:30.772 --> 00:11:33.575
  • It's too bizarre.
  • 00:11:33.575 --> 00:11:35.543
  • It's too separated from the truth.
  • 00:11:35.543 --> 00:11:37.178
  • It's too separated from logic or reality.
  • 00:11:37.178 --> 00:11:43.785
  • "the assembly was in confusion: some were shouting one thing,
  • 00:11:43.785 --> 00:11:46.454
  • And some another.
  • 00:11:46.454 --> 00:11:48.289
  • Most of the people didn't even know why they were there."
  • 00:11:48.289 --> 00:11:50.058
  • They sound like the demonstrations we have in
  • 00:11:50.058 --> 00:11:51.593
  • Our nation.
  • 00:11:51.593 --> 00:11:54.195
  • They're chanting things they can't explain.
  • 00:11:54.195 --> 00:11:59.067
  • "the jews pushed alexander to the front, and some of the crowd
  • 00:11:59.067 --> 00:12:01.803
  • Shouted instructions to him.
  • 00:12:01.803 --> 00:12:04.139
  • And he motioned for silence in order to make the defense for
  • 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:06.641
  • The people.
  • 00:12:06.641 --> 00:12:07.976
  • But when they realized he was a jew, they shouted--they all
  • 00:12:07.976 --> 00:12:10.845
  • Shouted in unison for about two hours: 'great is artemis of
  • 00:12:10.845 --> 00:12:14.816
  • The ephesians!'"
  • 00:12:14.816 --> 00:12:16.151
  • Just the fact that the man was a jew incited anger, that
  • 00:12:16.151 --> 00:12:18.520
  • Sounds spiritual.
  • 00:12:18.520 --> 00:12:21.656
  • What's the spirit behind the hatred of the jews?
  • 00:12:21.656 --> 00:12:25.794
  • The spirit of antichrist, the spirit that hates the jewish
  • 00:12:25.794 --> 00:12:31.766
  • People, the covenant people of god.
  • 00:12:31.766 --> 00:12:35.170
  • The people through whom we were introduced to the law, we were
  • 00:12:35.170 --> 00:12:38.540
  • Introduced to the righteous character of god, through whom
  • 00:12:38.540 --> 00:12:41.042
  • We received the prophets, through whom we received the
  • 00:12:41.042 --> 00:12:43.578
  • Scripture, through whom we have a messiah.
  • 00:12:43.578 --> 00:12:47.415
  • Our messiah is an observant jewish rabbi.
  • 00:12:47.415 --> 00:12:51.886
  • Do you think the kingdom of darkness would hate the
  • 00:12:51.886 --> 00:12:54.055
  • Jewish people?
  • 00:12:54.055 --> 00:12:55.390
  • Just perhaps.
  • 00:12:55.390 --> 00:12:57.959
  • Allen: have you ever said that christmas is too secular and
  • 00:13:02.163 --> 00:13:04.532
  • You're tired of it?
  • 00:13:04.532 --> 00:13:05.867
  • Well, we've got a solution or at least something that can help.
  • 00:13:05.867 --> 00:13:08.403
  • We've written a book.
  • 00:13:08.403 --> 00:13:09.771
  • It's called, "how to lead with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:13:09.771 --> 00:13:11.840
  • It's 25 days of devotionals that you can read.
  • 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:14.075
  • You can share them with family, your friends, coworkers.
  • 00:13:14.075 --> 00:13:16.611
  • Then there's some ideas, even recipes, activities.
  • 00:13:16.611 --> 00:13:19.547
  • It's a fun--it's like a--it's a starter kit for bringing your
  • 00:13:19.547 --> 00:13:22.250
  • Faith to bear this christmas season.
  • 00:13:22.250 --> 00:13:24.786
  • Don't stand on the sidelines and complain.
  • 00:13:24.786 --> 00:13:26.988
  • Let's lead with our faith this christmas season.
  • 00:13:26.988 --> 00:13:29.123
  • Let's honor the lord and see the blessings that he brings to all
  • 00:13:29.123 --> 00:13:32.327
  • Of our lives.
  • 00:13:32.327 --> 00:13:33.661
  • Female announcer: christmas comes quickly and it's easy to
  • 00:13:33.661 --> 00:13:35.630
  • Let the season slip by without focusing on what matters most.
  • 00:13:35.630 --> 00:13:39.567
  • Pastor allen's new book, "lead with faith at christmas," is a
  • 00:13:39.567 --> 00:13:42.937
  • 25-day advent devotional that will help you bring jesus more
  • 00:13:42.937 --> 00:13:46.574
  • Fully into the season.
  • 00:13:46.574 --> 00:13:48.309
  • Inside, you'll find scriptures, devotionals, prayers, recipes,
  • 00:13:48.309 --> 00:13:53.081
  • And practical things you can do to make the holidays
  • 00:13:53.081 --> 00:13:55.850
  • More meaningful.
  • 00:13:55.850 --> 00:13:57.185
  • It also makes a fantastic gift.
  • 00:13:57.185 --> 00:13:59.754
  • It's time to stop repeating the same stale traditions and get
  • 00:13:59.754 --> 00:14:03.057
  • Ready to put your faith into action in new ways
  • 00:14:03.057 --> 00:14:05.727
  • This christmas.
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  • Request your copy when you donate $30 or more today at
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  • Allenjackson.com or by calling...
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  • Ministries" and look for this icon, download the app, and be
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  • Encouraged by the word today.
  • 00:15:08.189 --> 00:15:12.527
  • Allen: that's the beginning of the church at ephesus.
  • 00:15:16.631 --> 00:15:20.168
  • It was birthed through the teaching of the gospel and the
  • 00:15:20.168 --> 00:15:23.604
  • Spiritual, the supernatural, affirmation of the truth, but it
  • 00:15:23.604 --> 00:15:27.475
  • Was also challenged in some very profound ways by
  • 00:15:27.475 --> 00:15:31.045
  • Spiritual opposition.
  • 00:15:31.045 --> 00:15:35.583
  • We'll look at a bit more in the sessions ahead.
  • 00:15:35.583 --> 00:15:39.053
  • But it seemed an appropriate point to introduce you to a
  • 00:15:39.053 --> 00:15:41.556
  • Principle that jesus introduced us to.
  • 00:15:41.556 --> 00:15:45.960
  • That jesus understood he came to bring division in the earth.
  • 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:50.231
  • It's a message that's been lost largely in the
  • 00:15:50.231 --> 00:15:52.467
  • Contemporary church.
  • 00:15:52.467 --> 00:15:53.835
  • In matthew 21, jesus said, "i tell you that the kingdom of god
  • 00:15:53.835 --> 00:15:56.904
  • Will be taken away from you," speaking to the leaders in
  • 00:15:56.904 --> 00:16:00.441
  • Jerusalem, "and given to a people who will produce
  • 00:16:00.441 --> 00:16:02.343
  • Its fruit."
  • 00:16:02.343 --> 00:16:04.345
  • This was the sentence: "he who falls on this stone will be
  • 00:16:04.345 --> 00:16:06.547
  • Broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
  • 00:16:06.547 --> 00:16:12.420
  • You know, we can stumble on jesus and in our brokenness find
  • 00:16:12.420 --> 00:16:15.423
  • Healing and restoration.
  • 00:16:15.423 --> 00:16:17.725
  • If you stand in opposition to his purposes and you stubbornly
  • 00:16:17.725 --> 00:16:21.662
  • Refuse to believe, you'll be crushed.
  • 00:16:21.662 --> 00:16:25.833
  • Not in my opinion.
  • 00:16:25.833 --> 00:16:28.236
  • We've been very passive.
  • 00:16:28.236 --> 00:16:30.371
  • We've had a very low level of concern for the ungodly and the
  • 00:16:30.371 --> 00:16:33.174
  • People around us.
  • 00:16:33.174 --> 00:16:34.542
  • We've had a greater concern for what we might forfeit if we were
  • 00:16:34.542 --> 00:16:36.944
  • Identified as advocates for jesus, than we've had a concern
  • 00:16:36.944 --> 00:16:40.181
  • For the eternity of those people.
  • 00:16:40.181 --> 00:16:42.450
  • And i don't mean just telling 'em to get saved so you can put
  • 00:16:42.450 --> 00:16:44.519
  • A notch on your bible.
  • 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:47.088
  • I mean walking with them through a journey of discipleship.
  • 00:16:47.088 --> 00:16:52.126
  • If you have a regular fellowship with people who are leading
  • 00:16:52.126 --> 00:16:54.295
  • Ungodly lives and you don't bother to tell them the truth,
  • 00:16:54.295 --> 00:16:59.567
  • You're in a very precarious spiritual place.
  • 00:16:59.567 --> 00:17:03.938
  • Not to be obnoxious.
  • 00:17:03.938 --> 00:17:06.507
  • But we have to care enough.
  • 00:17:06.507 --> 00:17:10.144
  • Luke chapter 12, jesus said it even more plainly: "do you think
  • 00:17:10.144 --> 00:17:12.713
  • That i came to bring peace on earth?
  • 00:17:12.713 --> 00:17:15.316
  • No, i tell you, but division.
  • 00:17:15.316 --> 00:17:18.052
  • From now on there will be five in one family divided against
  • 00:17:18.052 --> 00:17:20.588
  • Each other, three against two and two against three.
  • 00:17:20.588 --> 00:17:23.925
  • They'll be divided, father against son and son against
  • 00:17:23.925 --> 00:17:26.227
  • Father, and mother against daughter and daughter against
  • 00:17:26.227 --> 00:17:28.229
  • Mother, and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and
  • 00:17:28.229 --> 00:17:30.131
  • Daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
  • 00:17:30.131 --> 00:17:32.066
  • It's not some subtle point.
  • 00:17:32.066 --> 00:17:33.434
  • He goes out of his way to try to help us understand that even
  • 00:17:33.434 --> 00:17:36.104
  • With the context of family, there'll be division.
  • 00:17:36.104 --> 00:17:41.876
  • And this isn't, again, a subtle thing.
  • 00:17:41.876 --> 00:17:43.244
  • Paul left the synagogue in ephesus because of the obstinate
  • 00:17:43.244 --> 00:17:47.048
  • Unbelief and public criticism.
  • 00:17:47.048 --> 00:17:50.284
  • Demetrius instigates an angry mob because of the financial
  • 00:17:50.284 --> 00:17:53.454
  • Impact of people coming to faith.
  • 00:17:53.454 --> 00:17:55.156
  • Habits are changing and he recognizes it and he's a leader.
  • 00:17:55.156 --> 00:18:00.328
  • He's visionary enough to recognize the threat to his
  • 00:18:00.328 --> 00:18:02.630
  • Well-being, and he wants to get ahead of the curve and shut
  • 00:18:02.630 --> 00:18:04.799
  • This down.
  • 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:10.338
  • Jesus said, "i didn't come to bring unity.
  • 00:18:10.338 --> 00:18:12.974
  • I came to bring division."
  • 00:18:12.974 --> 00:18:17.111
  • Paul told the ephesian leaders when he met with them before he
  • 00:18:17.111 --> 00:18:19.514
  • Left, he said, "i'm headed to jerusalem and the holy spirit
  • 00:18:19.514 --> 00:18:22.250
  • Has warned me of prison and hardship."
  • 00:18:22.250 --> 00:18:26.187
  • Not because paul was disobedient.
  • 00:18:26.187 --> 00:18:29.023
  • Not because he was being immoral or ungodly or greedy or doing
  • 00:18:29.023 --> 00:18:31.826
  • Something inappropriate.
  • 00:18:31.826 --> 00:18:34.162
  • He said, "i'm going to jerusalem where i know i'm directed to go,
  • 00:18:34.162 --> 00:18:36.831
  • And when i get there, the holy spirit has told me that there'll
  • 00:18:36.831 --> 00:18:40.201
  • Be prison and hardship.
  • 00:18:40.201 --> 00:18:41.536
  • I don't know what the hardship will be."
  • 00:18:41.536 --> 00:18:45.540
  • Well, the ultimate imprisonment and hardship puts him in rome,
  • 00:18:45.540 --> 00:18:49.343
  • Where paul writes the letter back to the ephesians.
  • 00:18:49.343 --> 00:18:55.216
  • Paul's writing from a roman prison to this ephesian group
  • 00:18:55.216 --> 00:18:58.386
  • Of believers.
  • 00:18:58.386 --> 00:18:59.820
  • He was arrested in jerusalem and accused falsely by brothers in
  • 00:18:59.820 --> 00:19:02.957
  • The faith.
  • 00:19:02.957 --> 00:19:04.425
  • Paul spent 2 years in the prison in caesarea in israel before
  • 00:19:04.425 --> 00:19:07.528
  • Being transported to rome because of multiple
  • 00:19:07.528 --> 00:19:09.997
  • Assassination attempts from the religious community.
  • 00:19:09.997 --> 00:19:14.535
  • So i have a question.
  • 00:19:14.535 --> 00:19:15.903
  • I'm about done.
  • 00:19:15.903 --> 00:19:18.172
  • Do we think that we will experience a significant move of
  • 00:19:18.172 --> 00:19:20.708
  • God without disruption, difficulty, and determination?
  • 00:19:20.708 --> 00:19:27.014
  • Not if we read our bibles.
  • 00:19:27.014 --> 00:19:30.351
  • We want to elect somebody to go change everything.
  • 00:19:30.351 --> 00:19:34.088
  • And we wanna stay silent in spiritual camouflage.
  • 00:19:34.088 --> 00:19:39.527
  • We don't want to forfeit business opportunities.
  • 00:19:39.527 --> 00:19:42.997
  • We don't want to be identified as one of those people.
  • 00:19:42.997 --> 00:19:45.032
  • We need to get along and go along.
  • 00:19:45.032 --> 00:19:48.869
  • And meanwhile, we watch children being sacrificed and mutilated.
  • 00:19:48.869 --> 00:19:54.175
  • We are told constantly in the community of faith to be kind
  • 00:19:54.175 --> 00:19:56.978
  • And to work for unity.
  • 00:19:56.978 --> 00:19:58.379
  • I agree with the assignment, but there's no unity with those who
  • 00:19:58.379 --> 00:20:01.148
  • Oppose the gospel.
  • 00:20:01.148 --> 00:20:03.217
  • There is no unity with those who oppose ungodliness, who
  • 00:20:03.217 --> 00:20:06.554
  • Practice ungodliness.
  • 00:20:06.554 --> 00:20:08.723
  • There's no unity with those who deny the truth.
  • 00:20:08.723 --> 00:20:12.193
  • Paul talked about those folks in 2 timothy.
  • 00:20:12.193 --> 00:20:14.495
  • He said, "they have a form of godliness but deny the
  • 00:20:14.495 --> 00:20:16.697
  • Power thereof.
  • 00:20:16.697 --> 00:20:18.032
  • Have nothing to do with them."
  • 00:20:18.032 --> 00:20:21.702
  • Folks, we're at a pivot point.
  • 00:20:21.702 --> 00:20:24.905
  • I don't know what the future holds.
  • 00:20:24.905 --> 00:20:26.440
  • I truly don't.
  • 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:29.243
  • The lord could return, that would be wonderful.
  • 00:20:29.243 --> 00:20:32.513
  • I think we're still a bit away from that.
  • 00:20:32.513 --> 00:20:35.683
  • It could simply be the end of an empire.
  • 00:20:35.683 --> 00:20:37.351
  • If that's the case, there's tremendous suffering.
  • 00:20:37.351 --> 00:20:40.655
  • If that's the case, it isn't primarily a political issue.
  • 00:20:40.655 --> 00:20:43.524
  • It will be because the people of faith turned their back on god
  • 00:20:43.524 --> 00:20:46.360
  • And he brought judgment.
  • 00:20:46.360 --> 00:20:51.065
  • I do know this, that i believe the central characters, the most
  • 00:20:51.065 --> 00:20:54.502
  • Important players in this unfolding drama, are the people
  • 00:20:54.502 --> 00:20:57.905
  • Of faith and who we decide to be.
  • 00:20:57.905 --> 00:21:01.942
  • I wanna invite you simply to begin to say to the lord, "i
  • 00:21:01.942 --> 00:21:05.780
  • Wanna follow you more completely than i ever have before.
  • 00:21:05.780 --> 00:21:12.019
  • Give me an understanding heart.
  • 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:14.989
  • Forgive me for my indifference.
  • 00:21:14.989 --> 00:21:19.093
  • Forgive me for my self-righteousness.
  • 00:21:19.093 --> 00:21:22.096
  • Help me to understand you and your kingdom better."
  • 00:21:22.096 --> 00:21:26.834
  • I completely trust the lord.
  • 00:21:26.834 --> 00:21:30.171
  • He's faithful.
  • 00:21:30.171 --> 00:21:32.540
  • And i have great concern for the people of god.
  • 00:21:32.540 --> 00:21:35.810
  • I spent my life in the church.
  • 00:21:35.810 --> 00:21:37.178
  • In the last couple of years i've been in many places with--
  • 00:21:37.178 --> 00:21:41.782
  • Different cities with people who are leading in the church and
  • 00:21:41.782 --> 00:21:45.419
  • It's a very important time.
  • 00:21:45.419 --> 00:21:48.823
  • We don't have to have a majority.
  • 00:21:48.823 --> 00:21:50.191
  • There's an authority in the truth that reflects the power of
  • 00:21:50.191 --> 00:21:52.793
  • Almighty god, if we will choose the lord.
  • 00:21:52.793 --> 00:21:58.566
  • David had zero chance against goliath, none.
  • 00:21:58.566 --> 00:22:04.271
  • He was an awkward teenager who happened to know an
  • 00:22:04.271 --> 00:22:08.609
  • Almighty god.
  • 00:22:08.609 --> 00:22:10.978
  • And the story worked out really, really well.
  • 00:22:10.978 --> 00:22:15.750
  • I brought you a prayer.
  • 00:22:15.750 --> 00:22:17.284
  • It's a prayer paul gave to the church at ephesus.
  • 00:22:17.284 --> 00:22:20.588
  • And it seems appropriate for us, this weekend.
  • 00:22:20.588 --> 00:22:24.925
  • I'm gonna ask you to do it with me as a proclamation.
  • 00:22:24.925 --> 00:22:28.662
  • In fact, it's a prayer that i want us to pray over
  • 00:22:28.662 --> 00:22:30.498
  • One another.
  • 00:22:30.498 --> 00:22:32.433
  • Part of what we have to do is learn to pray more effectively,
  • 00:22:32.433 --> 00:22:34.635
  • To treat it as if it's more serious.
  • 00:22:34.635 --> 00:22:37.805
  • It's as serious as any medication you would ever take.
  • 00:22:37.805 --> 00:22:42.009
  • It's as serious as any currency you would ever accumulate.
  • 00:22:42.009 --> 00:22:46.714
  • It's one of the most powerful opportunities that you've ever
  • 00:22:46.714 --> 00:22:49.550
  • Been entrusted with.
  • 00:22:49.550 --> 00:22:52.987
  • So this is what i'd like to do.
  • 00:22:52.987 --> 00:22:55.222
  • I'd like part of us to offer this prayer for another part of
  • 00:22:55.222 --> 00:22:59.360
  • Us and then we will reverse it, so we will both say the prayer,
  • 00:22:59.360 --> 00:23:03.764
  • Extend it to someone else, and then we will receive it back.
  • 00:23:03.764 --> 00:23:05.866
  • Are you up for that?
  • 00:23:05.866 --> 00:23:07.568
  • I've--quick, we got enough time to do this, all right?
  • 00:23:07.568 --> 00:23:10.504
  • I'm gonna do this even on campus, so i'm gonna start with
  • 00:23:10.504 --> 00:23:12.640
  • Those of you that are in the-- on the floor in three crosses.
  • 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:16.010
  • If you'll stand with me, and now turn around, that way.
  • 00:23:16.010 --> 00:23:26.587
  • We're gonna pray for all those people that are looking at you.
  • 00:23:26.654 --> 00:23:30.991
  • You ready to receive back there?
  • 00:23:30.991 --> 00:23:34.628
  • You're gonna believe?
  • 00:23:34.628 --> 00:23:36.764
  • Believing is an active choice.
  • 00:23:36.764 --> 00:23:38.165
  • It's not a passive choice.
  • 00:23:38.165 --> 00:23:40.401
  • I believe there is a god.
  • 00:23:40.401 --> 00:23:41.735
  • I believe he has something for me.
  • 00:23:41.735 --> 00:23:43.103
  • I believe he's at work in the earth.
  • 00:23:43.103 --> 00:23:44.805
  • I wanna join him in those purposes.
  • 00:23:44.805 --> 00:23:47.741
  • No matter who i've been or where i've been or what i've done,
  • 00:23:47.741 --> 00:23:50.211
  • That if i will come in humility and repent, the blood of jesus
  • 00:23:50.211 --> 00:23:53.214
  • Is sufficient to cleanse me, to justify me, to sanctify me, to
  • 00:23:53.214 --> 00:23:56.851
  • Write a new future for me.
  • 00:23:56.851 --> 00:23:59.019
  • This is not a religious exercise, it's a
  • 00:23:59.019 --> 00:24:00.855
  • Mobilization service.
  • 00:24:00.855 --> 00:24:03.090
  • We're gonna invite the spirit of god into our midst, our homes,
  • 00:24:03.090 --> 00:24:05.960
  • Our communities, our schools, our cities.
  • 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:10.431
  • Let's pray this together.
  • 00:24:10.431 --> 00:24:12.299
  • "i pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you
  • 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:16.403
  • With power through his spirit in your inner being, so that christ
  • 00:24:16.403 --> 00:24:20.908
  • May dwell in your hearts through faith.
  • 00:24:20.908 --> 00:24:23.711
  • And i pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
  • 00:24:23.711 --> 00:24:27.882
  • May have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how
  • 00:24:27.882 --> 00:24:32.019
  • Wide and long and high and deep is the love of christ, and to
  • 00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:37.258
  • Know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be
  • 00:24:37.258 --> 00:24:41.061
  • Filled to the measure of all the fullness of god.
  • 00:24:41.061 --> 00:24:44.798
  • Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we
  • 00:24:44.798 --> 00:24:49.169
  • Ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
  • 00:24:49.169 --> 00:24:54.441
  • To him be glory in the church and in christ jesus through all
  • 00:24:54.441 --> 00:24:58.712
  • Generations, for ever and ever!
  • 00:24:58.712 --> 00:25:01.448
  • Amen," hallelujah.
  • 00:25:01.448 --> 00:25:05.452
  • That's pretty good.
  • 00:25:05.452 --> 00:25:09.490
  • Now if you're in fellowship square, new harvest, all
  • 00:25:09.490 --> 00:25:12.092
  • Nations, in the stadium seats in three crosses, you stand.
  • 00:25:12.092 --> 00:25:19.333
  • You're gonna bless--you're gonna say that blessing back
  • 00:25:19.333 --> 00:25:21.135
  • Over the rest of these folks.
  • 00:25:21.135 --> 00:25:23.437
  • Let's pray it together: "i pray that out of his glorious riches
  • 00:25:23.437 --> 00:25:27.975
  • He may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner
  • 00:25:27.975 --> 00:25:31.645
  • Being, so that christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
  • 00:25:31.645 --> 00:25:36.784
  • And i pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
  • 00:25:36.784 --> 00:25:41.555
  • May have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how
  • 00:25:41.555 --> 00:25:45.960
  • Wide and long and high and deep is the love of christ, and to
  • 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:51.632
  • Know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be
  • 00:25:51.632 --> 00:25:55.936
  • Filled to the measure of all the fullness of god.
  • 00:25:55.936 --> 00:25:59.907
  • Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we
  • 00:25:59.907 --> 00:26:04.244
  • Ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
  • 00:26:04.244 --> 00:26:09.583
  • To him be glory in the church and in christ jesus through all
  • 00:26:09.583 --> 00:26:14.254
  • Generations, for ever and ever!
  • 00:26:14.254 --> 00:26:17.157
  • Amen," hallelujah.
  • 00:26:17.157 --> 00:26:19.393
  • Give the lord a hand.
  • 00:26:19.393 --> 00:26:22.129
  • Allen: you know, i'm a pastor and i have the privilege of
  • 00:26:26.333 --> 00:26:28.335
  • Serving god's people.
  • 00:26:28.335 --> 00:26:29.703
  • I can tell you from experience, one of the most difficult things
  • 00:26:29.703 --> 00:26:32.039
  • To do is introduce change.
  • 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:33.907
  • Most of us don't like it.
  • 00:26:33.907 --> 00:26:35.643
  • And i think that's particularly true around holiday seasons.
  • 00:26:35.643 --> 00:26:39.013
  • We have traditions, we have patterns, we have habits.
  • 00:26:39.013 --> 00:26:42.282
  • They're comforting to us, comfortable to us.
  • 00:26:42.282 --> 00:26:45.786
  • Well, i wanna suggest something.
  • 00:26:45.786 --> 00:26:47.154
  • We have created a tool for you this christmas.
  • 00:26:47.154 --> 00:26:49.356
  • It's called, "leading with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:26:49.356 --> 00:26:51.859
  • It's a little book with a 25-day devotional that you can do
  • 00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:54.528
  • Personally, you can do it with your family, you can do it
  • 00:26:54.528 --> 00:26:56.130
  • With coworkers.
  • 00:26:56.130 --> 00:26:57.498
  • There's some recipes.
  • 00:26:57.498 --> 00:26:58.832
  • There's activities.
  • 00:26:58.832 --> 00:27:00.200
  • It's really a guide for you to shape christmas with your faith,
  • 00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:04.371
  • But it means i'm asking you to do something different, to
  • 00:27:04.371 --> 00:27:06.974
  • Introduce change, and i know that's not easy.
  • 00:27:06.974 --> 00:27:10.144
  • But it's time for us to stop raging against the darkness.
  • 00:27:10.144 --> 00:27:12.846
  • Folks, let's turn up the light.
  • 00:27:12.846 --> 00:27:14.682
  • I believe, "leading with your faith at christmas," is a tool
  • 00:27:14.682 --> 00:27:17.518
  • That will help you be a better light for jesus in the midst of
  • 00:27:17.518 --> 00:27:20.921
  • This christmas season, and that's worthwhile.
  • 00:27:20.921 --> 00:27:23.857
  • Enjoy the book and merry christmas.
  • 00:27:23.857 --> 00:27:23.857