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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Forgiveness and Resentment

October 18, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Forgiveness and Resentment
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Forgiveness #Resentment #Overcoming #WalkwithGod #TrustGod #LoveofGod

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Forgiveness and Resentment | October 18, 2025
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: you know, we're witnessing something of a crisis
  • 00:00:06.689 --> 00:00:09.025
  • In our nation, something i never thought i would see: expressions
  • 00:00:09.125 --> 00:00:12.262
  • Of anti-semitism; hatred for the jewish people coming from
  • 00:00:12.362 --> 00:00:15.932
  • America, coming from the christian community, the
  • 00:00:16.032 --> 00:00:16.866
  • Conservative side of the ideological spectrum, to a
  • 00:00:19.035 --> 00:00:22.105
  • Degree and scope i've never seen before.
  • 00:00:22.105 --> 00:00:24.474
  • Well, it was important enough that i stopped and put together
  • 00:00:24.474 --> 00:00:26.776
  • A book.
  • 00:00:26.776 --> 00:00:28.111
  • The title of it is "supporting israel: how far is too far?"
  • 00:00:28.111 --> 00:00:31.648
  • It's an important concept that isn't political.
  • 00:00:31.648 --> 00:00:34.517
  • It's grounded in a biblical worldview.
  • 00:00:34.517 --> 00:00:36.453
  • I think we need to understand our responsibilities to the
  • 00:00:36.453 --> 00:00:39.255
  • Jewish people, to the modern state of israel not from an
  • 00:00:39.255 --> 00:00:42.325
  • Ideological perspective, not from the perspective of nation
  • 00:00:42.325 --> 00:00:45.195
  • States but as people of god.
  • 00:00:45.195 --> 00:00:47.831
  • It's important.
  • 00:00:47.831 --> 00:00:49.199
  • It's an important season, a lot of voices.
  • 00:00:49.199 --> 00:00:50.733
  • You know, i know there's some fatigue with the conflict in the
  • 00:00:50.733 --> 00:00:52.869
  • Middle east, but we can't afford to be fatigued with our
  • 00:00:52.869 --> 00:00:55.738
  • Assignments to honor god and the responsibilities that come
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  • With that.
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  • I believe the book will be a help to you.
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  • I believe it'll help you navigate the conversation with
  • 00:01:01.377 --> 00:01:03.613
  • Your family and your friends.
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  • Enjoy the read.
  • 00:01:05.682 --> 00:01:07.283
  • Allen: we're working through a series under this general theme
  • 00:01:11.488 --> 00:01:13.590
  • Of a change of heart.
  • 00:01:13.590 --> 00:01:15.191
  • I believe that's really the only solution for the ills that
  • 00:01:15.191 --> 00:01:17.894
  • Face us.
  • 00:01:17.894 --> 00:01:19.963
  • I think we all know by now we're in another election cycle, but
  • 00:01:19.963 --> 00:01:23.600
  • As i have said many times, i don't believe an election is
  • 00:01:23.600 --> 00:01:25.735
  • Going to fix us.
  • 00:01:25.735 --> 00:01:27.971
  • We've had enough experience with elections where people that we
  • 00:01:27.971 --> 00:01:30.540
  • Thought would be the solution were elected.
  • 00:01:30.540 --> 00:01:32.208
  • And they may have enacted some policies that caused you to
  • 00:01:32.208 --> 00:01:34.544
  • Smile, but we don't seem to be able to hold that momentum.
  • 00:01:34.544 --> 00:01:39.315
  • The form of government we have means that we don't choose kings
  • 00:01:39.315 --> 00:01:43.019
  • Or queens or monarchs or permanent leaders.
  • 00:01:43.019 --> 00:01:45.788
  • There's a sense of change amongst that, so that the real
  • 00:01:45.788 --> 00:01:48.925
  • Momentum of the quality of life and the values that shape us
  • 00:01:48.925 --> 00:01:52.295
  • Come from the people of this nation.
  • 00:01:52.295 --> 00:01:55.965
  • Because of that form of government, the leaders we have
  • 00:01:55.965 --> 00:01:57.967
  • Are a reflection of our hearts and if we have a heart problem
  • 00:01:57.967 --> 00:02:02.005
  • We can't effect--we can't elect a leader to fix our
  • 00:02:02.005 --> 00:02:05.508
  • Heart problem.
  • 00:02:05.508 --> 00:02:07.076
  • It's the same as physically.
  • 00:02:07.076 --> 00:02:08.444
  • If you have a physical heart problem, you can't make friends
  • 00:02:08.444 --> 00:02:11.080
  • With an athlete and get healthier.
  • 00:02:11.080 --> 00:02:13.883
  • Wouldn't that be wonderful?
  • 00:02:13.883 --> 00:02:16.186
  • We'd all go hire some skinny friends, invite them to go with
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  • Us to the donut shop and life would be good.
  • 00:02:20.557 --> 00:02:24.260
  • Well, that's kind of the attitude we have spiritually,
  • 00:02:24.260 --> 00:02:27.397
  • That we don't really want to be bothered with change.
  • 00:02:27.397 --> 00:02:29.465
  • We don't want to embrace biblical values in our homes, in
  • 00:02:29.465 --> 00:02:31.901
  • Our families, and in our peer groups.
  • 00:02:31.901 --> 00:02:34.103
  • We want permission to live ungodly lives but then we wanna
  • 00:02:34.103 --> 00:02:38.341
  • Hire people or elect people to stand up for godly values so we
  • 00:02:38.341 --> 00:02:41.477
  • Can get the benefits of godliness, and we've played that
  • 00:02:41.477 --> 00:02:45.148
  • Perverse game for so many decades now that we seemed a bit
  • 00:02:45.148 --> 00:02:47.884
  • Surprised that we are teetering on the brink of
  • 00:02:47.884 --> 00:02:50.386
  • Losing everything.
  • 00:02:50.386 --> 00:02:52.455
  • And if you're not aware of that, we are, and i think it is
  • 00:02:52.455 --> 00:02:57.660
  • Deceptive to cast that in terms of the end of the age and the
  • 00:02:57.660 --> 00:03:01.130
  • Imminent return of the lord.
  • 00:03:01.130 --> 00:03:02.498
  • I believe the lord could return, but i believe what's far more
  • 00:03:02.498 --> 00:03:05.735
  • Prevalent and far more prominent in our lives is we're watching
  • 00:03:05.735 --> 00:03:08.204
  • The collapse of an empire.
  • 00:03:08.204 --> 00:03:10.673
  • And that's not because our leaders are wicked, it's because
  • 00:03:10.673 --> 00:03:12.775
  • Our hearts have been far from god.
  • 00:03:12.775 --> 00:03:14.244
  • So we picked up this theme of a heart change and what that
  • 00:03:14.244 --> 00:03:17.113
  • Would look like--if we can make an adjustment in our
  • 00:03:17.113 --> 00:03:19.349
  • Relationship with the lord, i believe god can bring
  • 00:03:19.349 --> 00:03:21.618
  • Restoration and renewal to our land.
  • 00:03:21.618 --> 00:03:24.254
  • I believe it can change our schools and our universities and
  • 00:03:24.254 --> 00:03:26.656
  • Our businesses and our homes and our churches.
  • 00:03:26.656 --> 00:03:29.626
  • Wouldn't that be good?
  • 00:03:29.626 --> 00:03:31.794
  • I'm shocked.
  • 00:03:31.794 --> 00:03:33.162
  • I travel a bit, not a great deal.
  • 00:03:33.162 --> 00:03:34.497
  • But wherever i go amongst the people of faith and the people
  • 00:03:34.497 --> 00:03:37.834
  • Of god, the most prevalent thing i bump into is fear.
  • 00:03:37.834 --> 00:03:42.805
  • "don't talk about this.
  • 00:03:42.805 --> 00:03:44.140
  • Don't talk about that.
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  • People will be offended."
  • 00:03:46.776 --> 00:03:50.246
  • Folks, my bible says god hasn't given us a spirit of timidity
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  • But of power and of love and of self-discipline, and it's gonna
  • 00:03:54.951 --> 00:03:59.489
  • Take a change on our part.
  • 00:03:59.489 --> 00:04:02.425
  • And so i wanna bring you--this is really a component to
  • 00:04:02.425 --> 00:04:06.462
  • The--what we did in a previous session.
  • 00:04:06.462 --> 00:04:09.599
  • We began talking about forgiveness, and i wanna
  • 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:11.734
  • Continue that discussion.
  • 00:04:11.734 --> 00:04:13.202
  • In juxtaposition, the alternative to forgiveness is to
  • 00:04:13.202 --> 00:04:15.838
  • Be filled with resentment.
  • 00:04:15.838 --> 00:04:17.907
  • You'll either practice forgiveness, or resentment will
  • 00:04:17.907 --> 00:04:20.543
  • Be the filter through which you see the world, and that'll grow
  • 00:04:20.543 --> 00:04:23.746
  • Into anger and hatred and all sorts of destructive things.
  • 00:04:23.746 --> 00:04:28.351
  • It's our change of heart that is essential.
  • 00:04:28.351 --> 00:04:31.521
  • I believe we have to participate in all the processes.
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  • You need to vote.
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  • If you don't vote, repent. you're a coward.
  • 00:04:35.058 --> 00:04:42.832
  • At the end of the book of revelation, there's a list of
  • 00:04:47.003 --> 00:04:49.005
  • People who go into the lake of fire.
  • 00:04:49.005 --> 00:04:50.406
  • Just as a matter of passing.
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  • It's not in your notes.
  • 00:04:51.774 --> 00:04:53.109
  • But that list begins and ends with liars and cowards.
  • 00:04:53.109 --> 00:04:57.313
  • Now, in the middle is the people you'd be looking for, all the
  • 00:04:57.313 --> 00:04:59.082
  • Immoral and, you know, the perverse, but the list begins
  • 00:04:59.082 --> 00:05:02.118
  • And ends with liars and cowards.
  • 00:05:02.118 --> 00:05:03.519
  • So one--there's two things you don't wanna be: a liar or
  • 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:06.622
  • A coward.
  • 00:05:06.622 --> 00:05:09.325
  • So res--forgiveness and resentment are the objective
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  • Today to understand the difference in which path is more
  • 00:05:12.595 --> 00:05:15.431
  • Fruitful for us.
  • 00:05:15.431 --> 00:05:17.600
  • Unfortunately, we're walking through a season in american
  • 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:19.969
  • Christendom where cheap grace and sin without consequence and
  • 00:05:19.969 --> 00:05:24.607
  • Casual forgiveness are the common roadsides along our
  • 00:05:24.607 --> 00:05:28.277
  • Current spiritual highway.
  • 00:05:28.277 --> 00:05:30.813
  • I believe they're dangerous because they're not accurate
  • 00:05:30.813 --> 00:05:33.015
  • Descriptions of the road that is before us.
  • 00:05:33.015 --> 00:05:35.618
  • Grace, for the record, is not cheap.
  • 00:05:35.618 --> 00:05:38.654
  • You see, grace when it's extended only emerges from
  • 00:05:38.654 --> 00:05:41.424
  • Tremendous sacrifice; and we have treated the grace of god
  • 00:05:41.424 --> 00:05:45.695
  • Shabbily, refusing to recognize the reason that there's grace
  • 00:05:45.695 --> 00:05:49.499
  • Available to us was the tremendous sacrifice that god
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  • And jesus made on our behalf.
  • 00:05:52.602 --> 00:05:56.606
  • Grace should not be understood as something that's easy.
  • 00:05:56.606 --> 00:06:00.009
  • If you benefit from grace, someone else has made a
  • 00:06:00.009 --> 00:06:02.445
  • Tremendous sacrifice for you to have that privilege.
  • 00:06:02.445 --> 00:06:06.549
  • And here's the part of the equation that makes that
  • 00:06:06.549 --> 00:06:08.284
  • A reality.
  • 00:06:08.284 --> 00:06:09.652
  • This isn't just opinion.
  • 00:06:09.652 --> 00:06:10.987
  • Sin has a consequence always.
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  • Please don't ever doubt.
  • 00:06:14.590 --> 00:06:15.925
  • That's an eternal reality.
  • 00:06:15.925 --> 00:06:18.127
  • Forgiveness should never be sought in a casual manner.
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  • To receive forgiveness is life-changing, and i would
  • 00:06:21.431 --> 00:06:25.601
  • Submit to you that gifts that can alter the course of your
  • 00:06:25.601 --> 00:06:28.104
  • Life should not be sought or received with indifference.
  • 00:06:28.104 --> 00:06:33.009
  • If you are not forgiven, if you've failed to receive
  • 00:06:33.009 --> 00:06:36.879
  • Forgiveness, the full weight of your guilt must be borne by
  • 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:40.149
  • You alone.
  • 00:06:40.149 --> 00:06:42.585
  • That is not a place any of us want to stand.
  • 00:06:42.585 --> 00:06:45.421
  • Jesus gave us some very clear instructions in matthew 6.
  • 00:06:45.421 --> 00:06:48.491
  • It's a very familiar passage.
  • 00:06:48.491 --> 00:06:49.992
  • The disciples are asking for instructions on prayer, and
  • 00:06:49.992 --> 00:06:53.396
  • Jesus provides what became the template for probably the most
  • 00:06:53.396 --> 00:06:56.299
  • Repeated prayer certainly in the history of the church.
  • 00:06:56.299 --> 00:06:59.202
  • He said, "this is how you should pray: 'our father in heaven,
  • 00:06:59.202 --> 00:07:01.537
  • Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done
  • 00:07:01.537 --> 00:07:04.273
  • On earth as it is in heaven.
  • 00:07:04.273 --> 00:07:06.642
  • Give us today our daily bread.
  • 00:07:06.642 --> 00:07:08.311
  • Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.'"
  • 00:07:08.311 --> 00:07:13.015
  • Translations vary a bit.
  • 00:07:13.015 --> 00:07:14.383
  • "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
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  • Against us.
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  • Forgive me my sin as i forgive those who sin against me."
  • 00:07:18.621 --> 00:07:23.526
  • Both sides of the equation are essential.
  • 00:07:23.526 --> 00:07:25.995
  • In order to receive god's forgiveness, we have to be
  • 00:07:25.995 --> 00:07:28.364
  • Willing to forgive others.
  • 00:07:28.364 --> 00:07:30.266
  • It's not optional.
  • 00:07:30.266 --> 00:07:32.068
  • You can't ask for forgiveness and harbor unforgiveness.
  • 00:07:32.068 --> 00:07:34.837
  • You can't ask for forgiveness and choose to be a person filled
  • 00:07:34.837 --> 00:07:37.340
  • With resentment or you'll bear the weight of your own failures.
  • 00:07:37.340 --> 00:07:43.212
  • Not suggesting it's easy, but we're presented with
  • 00:07:43.212 --> 00:07:45.314
  • The formula.
  • 00:07:45.314 --> 00:07:46.916
  • Verse 13, "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
  • 00:07:46.916 --> 00:07:49.986
  • The evil one."
  • 00:07:49.986 --> 00:07:51.320
  • It's so important that before jesus taught us to pray for
  • 00:07:51.320 --> 00:07:53.789
  • Deliverance from temptation or from evil, he said it's
  • 00:07:53.789 --> 00:07:56.859
  • Essential that we know we need to be forgiven and that we be
  • 00:07:56.859 --> 00:07:59.495
  • Willing to forgive others.
  • 00:07:59.495 --> 00:08:01.631
  • He provides clarification in the next verse.
  • 00:08:01.631 --> 00:08:03.566
  • "if you forgive men what they sin--when they sin against you,
  • 00:08:03.566 --> 00:08:06.536
  • Your heavenly father will also forgive you.
  • 00:08:06.536 --> 00:08:09.238
  • But if you don't forgive men when they're--their sins, your
  • 00:08:09.238 --> 00:08:11.474
  • Father will not forgive your sins."
  • 00:08:11.474 --> 00:08:13.442
  • He amplified it.
  • 00:08:13.442 --> 00:08:14.810
  • He made it about as simple as it could be stated.
  • 00:08:14.810 --> 00:08:17.079
  • If you'll forgive, god will forgive you.
  • 00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:19.682
  • If you won't forgive, god will not forgive you.
  • 00:08:19.682 --> 00:08:21.717
  • You see, forgiveness is not an emotion.
  • 00:08:21.717 --> 00:08:23.085
  • It's a decision.
  • 00:08:23.085 --> 00:08:24.720
  • You make the decision before your emotions catch up.
  • 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:27.857
  • Most of us don't want to forgive when we're mistreated, when evil
  • 00:08:27.857 --> 00:08:31.961
  • Touches our lives.
  • 00:08:31.961 --> 00:08:33.296
  • We don't wanna forgive, we wanna see retribution.
  • 00:08:33.296 --> 00:08:37.300
  • Somebody cut you off in traffic, you wanna see somebody cut them
  • 00:08:37.300 --> 00:08:39.569
  • Off--in a god-honoring, jesus-loving sort of way.
  • 00:08:39.569 --> 00:08:46.976
  • So jesus is really giving us a pretty radical counsel.
  • 00:08:46.976 --> 00:08:50.146
  • He said it's gonna be necessary for us to forgive.
  • 00:08:50.146 --> 00:08:52.281
  • It's necessary for us to recognize our need
  • 00:08:52.281 --> 00:08:54.417
  • Of forgiveness.
  • 00:08:54.417 --> 00:08:56.185
  • You see, it's a stumbling block.
  • 00:08:56.185 --> 00:08:57.553
  • There is a god, and he can be known.
  • 00:08:57.553 --> 00:09:01.157
  • It's the revelation of scripture.
  • 00:09:01.157 --> 00:09:03.759
  • But we can't define god on our terms any more than we can
  • 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:06.696
  • Define gravity on our terms, and some of us are angry we don't
  • 00:09:06.696 --> 00:09:12.234
  • Like god's terms and so we rage against him and we rebel
  • 00:09:12.234 --> 00:09:15.404
  • Against him.
  • 00:09:15.404 --> 00:09:16.772
  • It's not fruitful.
  • 00:09:16.772 --> 00:09:18.107
  • We won't change god.
  • 00:09:18.107 --> 00:09:19.475
  • God's not gonna take a vote.
  • 00:09:19.475 --> 00:09:20.810
  • And if we outvote him, he's not gonna change his character.
  • 00:09:20.810 --> 00:09:23.245
  • In his mercy, in his love, in his kindness and compassion, he
  • 00:09:23.245 --> 00:09:26.749
  • Has revealed his character so that we might submit to it and
  • 00:09:26.749 --> 00:09:29.619
  • Benefit from his kingdom.
  • 00:09:29.619 --> 00:09:31.821
  • If we don't wanna submit to him, we have the opportunity of
  • 00:09:31.821 --> 00:09:34.557
  • Spending our lives and eternity apart from his kingdom, but the
  • 00:09:34.557 --> 00:09:38.461
  • Alternative is a kingdom of darkness, a place of torment
  • 00:09:38.461 --> 00:09:42.431
  • And destruction.
  • 00:09:42.431 --> 00:09:44.967
  • Those are the options.
  • 00:09:44.967 --> 00:09:46.302
  • There's not a third rail.
  • 00:09:46.302 --> 00:09:47.670
  • There's no gray area.
  • 00:09:47.670 --> 00:09:49.872
  • So faith in a living god becomes a transformational thing.
  • 00:09:49.872 --> 00:09:53.643
  • I wanna take just a moment because i think there's some
  • 00:09:53.643 --> 00:09:55.511
  • Confusion on this.
  • 00:09:55.511 --> 00:09:56.879
  • We think of our relationship with god as a transaction.
  • 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:59.315
  • I talk to people a lot and they say, "oh yeah, pastor, i'm
  • 00:09:59.315 --> 00:10:01.083
  • A christian.
  • 00:10:01.083 --> 00:10:02.418
  • I've been born again. i said that prayer.
  • 00:10:02.418 --> 00:10:03.819
  • You know, i did that church thing for a while."
  • 00:10:03.819 --> 00:10:06.522
  • I'll read you a verse. it's 2 corinthians 3:17.
  • 00:10:06.522 --> 00:10:08.624
  • "now the lord is the spirit.
  • 00:10:08.624 --> 00:10:09.759
  • Where the spirit of the lord is, there's freedom.
  • 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:11.894
  • And we, who with unveiled faces reflect the lord's glory, are
  • 00:10:11.894 --> 00:10:15.564
  • Being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing
  • 00:10:15.564 --> 00:10:19.602
  • Glory, which comes from the lord, who is the spirit."
  • 00:10:19.602 --> 00:10:23.806
  • It's not describing a transaction where we encounter
  • 00:10:23.806 --> 00:10:26.575
  • God and we offer him a prayer and he offers us a ticket for
  • 00:10:26.575 --> 00:10:29.979
  • Heaven and then we put the ticket in our pocket and think,
  • 00:10:29.979 --> 00:10:32.648
  • "good, i'm great.
  • 00:10:32.648 --> 00:10:33.749
  • Now i can do what i wanna do for the rest of my life."
  • 00:10:33.749 --> 00:10:36.786
  • It says we are being transformed.
  • 00:10:36.786 --> 00:10:38.821
  • It's a verb tense.
  • 00:10:38.821 --> 00:10:40.189
  • It says it's ongoing.
  • 00:10:40.189 --> 00:10:41.524
  • It's a continual present tense.
  • 00:10:41.524 --> 00:10:42.958
  • It's not something that happened one time in the past.
  • 00:10:42.958 --> 00:10:45.227
  • It isn't punctiliar.
  • 00:10:45.227 --> 00:10:46.696
  • It's an ongoing event.
  • 00:10:46.696 --> 00:10:48.064
  • We are being transformed.
  • 00:10:48.064 --> 00:10:50.599
  • That's very different from the transaction of salvation, and i
  • 00:10:50.599 --> 00:10:53.703
  • Believe in being born again.
  • 00:10:53.703 --> 00:10:55.071
  • Please don't misunderstand me.
  • 00:10:55.071 --> 00:10:56.605
  • But a transactional faith is i have to meet the obligations.
  • 00:10:56.605 --> 00:10:59.141
  • I have to fulfill my responsibilities.
  • 00:10:59.141 --> 00:11:00.876
  • It's confining.
  • 00:11:00.876 --> 00:11:03.412
  • It's self-righteous.
  • 00:11:03.412 --> 00:11:05.781
  • It asks the question, when's enough enough?
  • 00:11:05.781 --> 00:11:07.516
  • "when have i done enough? have i served enough?
  • 00:11:07.516 --> 00:11:09.719
  • Have i volunteered enough? have i given enough?
  • 00:11:09.719 --> 00:11:12.354
  • 'cause i wanna cut back on all of those things.
  • 00:11:12.354 --> 00:11:13.989
  • I want some me time."
  • 00:11:13.989 --> 00:11:17.393
  • I hear that quite a bit. i've been around church a while.
  • 00:11:17.393 --> 00:11:21.764
  • "oh, we're gonna build another building."
  • 00:11:21.764 --> 00:11:23.699
  • I hope so. i hope we keep outgrowing them.
  • 00:11:23.699 --> 00:11:28.604
  • I hope we don't--we need more spaces for students and more
  • 00:11:28.604 --> 00:11:31.040
  • Spaces for babies and more spaces--
  • 00:11:31.040 --> 00:11:32.975
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:11:32.975 --> 00:11:36.746
  • That was enthusiastic.
  • 00:11:36.746 --> 00:11:39.715
  • "well, you know, how big is too--when can we stop?"
  • 00:11:39.715 --> 00:11:42.084
  • I can tell you when we can stop.
  • 00:11:42.084 --> 00:11:43.586
  • When all the lost people in middle tennessee are--
  • 00:11:43.586 --> 00:11:47.723
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:11:47.723 --> 00:11:51.927
  • "but, pastor, that's not my problem.
  • 00:11:51.927 --> 00:11:54.296
  • I'm born again.
  • 00:11:54.296 --> 00:11:55.364
  • I'm going to heaven, me and my kids and my wife.
  • 00:11:55.364 --> 00:11:57.299
  • Us four, no more. we're good."
  • 00:11:57.299 --> 00:12:00.302
  • Do you understand we've been coached to a self-absorbed faith
  • 00:12:00.302 --> 00:12:06.475
  • And we have this transactional mindset that says, you know,
  • 00:12:06.475 --> 00:12:08.744
  • "i've done my god business and i'm gonna get on with life.
  • 00:12:08.744 --> 00:12:11.113
  • I wanna do things i wanna do and chase the things i wanna chase.
  • 00:12:11.113 --> 00:12:15.651
  • Those are my priorities."
  • 00:12:15.651 --> 00:12:18.988
  • Well, transformational faith is different.
  • 00:12:18.988 --> 00:12:21.924
  • Transformation is dependent upon a power beyond me.
  • 00:12:21.924 --> 00:12:26.162
  • I recognize that dependency, and it requires me to live in a
  • 00:12:26.162 --> 00:12:29.298
  • State of gratitude and thankfulness because i need
  • 00:12:29.298 --> 00:12:32.635
  • Outcomes that i can't deliver.
  • 00:12:32.635 --> 00:12:34.904
  • I can't save myself.
  • 00:12:34.904 --> 00:12:38.607
  • I don't wanna walk with an arrogance that says i have my
  • 00:12:38.607 --> 00:12:40.910
  • God business completed because there's a god and i'm not him,
  • 00:12:40.910 --> 00:12:44.980
  • And i need to please him today irrespective of who i
  • 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:47.516
  • Was yesterday.
  • 00:12:47.516 --> 00:12:48.884
  • I'm not suggesting i earn my way to heaven.
  • 00:12:48.884 --> 00:12:50.519
  • I say every day is an opportunity to be pleasing
  • 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:52.855
  • To god.
  • 00:12:52.855 --> 00:12:56.158
  • Transformational faith brings responses that are fueled by
  • 00:12:56.158 --> 00:12:59.728
  • That gratitude.
  • 00:12:59.728 --> 00:13:01.397
  • It means we're in pursuit of god.
  • 00:13:01.397 --> 00:13:03.098
  • We seek god. we haven't mastered him.
  • 00:13:03.098 --> 00:13:07.770
  • We haven't--people say to me, "you know, i read the bible."
  • 00:13:07.770 --> 00:13:10.573
  • Oh.
  • 00:13:10.573 --> 00:13:13.309
  • Well, if that's the case, you can be done with sports 'cause
  • 00:13:13.309 --> 00:13:15.211
  • You've seen a game.
  • 00:13:15.211 --> 00:13:19.582
  • No more food network 'cause you've had a meal.
  • 00:13:19.582 --> 00:13:26.522
  • Transformational faith is cultivated from humility and
  • 00:13:26.522 --> 00:13:31.193
  • Wonder, an adventure.
  • 00:13:31.193 --> 00:13:34.563
  • It's often initiated by desperation.
  • 00:13:34.563 --> 00:13:38.767
  • It's not demanding, it's a recognition of tremendous need
  • 00:13:38.767 --> 00:13:44.106
  • And approaching god with the humility that says, "i have no
  • 00:13:44.106 --> 00:13:46.942
  • Place else to turn and i present myself to you."
  • 00:13:46.942 --> 00:13:50.980
  • In transformational faith, proximity is cherished and is
  • 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:55.618
  • Sought after.
  • 00:13:55.618 --> 00:13:56.986
  • "what could i do to be in the midst of people who are seeking
  • 00:13:56.986 --> 00:13:59.421
  • The lord?
  • 00:13:59.421 --> 00:14:00.756
  • I'd like to be with those people.
  • 00:14:00.756 --> 00:14:04.093
  • What can i do to be in the presence of the lord?"
  • 00:14:04.093 --> 00:14:08.330
  • Allen: you know, how should we respond to the nation of israel
  • 00:14:12.534 --> 00:14:15.137
  • And the jewish people?
  • 00:14:15.137 --> 00:14:16.472
  • It's a complex question in today's world.
  • 00:14:16.472 --> 00:14:18.941
  • Well, i've written a book, "supporting israel: how far is
  • 00:14:18.941 --> 00:14:21.710
  • Too far?"
  • 00:14:21.710 --> 00:14:23.045
  • To help us establish a biblical perspective on what has become a
  • 00:14:23.045 --> 00:14:26.949
  • Complex question in contemporary culture.
  • 00:14:26.949 --> 00:14:29.952
  • We don't wanna follow the guidance and the counsel of some
  • 00:14:29.952 --> 00:14:32.821
  • Of the elite universities in this nation.
  • 00:14:32.821 --> 00:14:35.524
  • We wanna form a perspective that's built from god's word.
  • 00:14:35.524 --> 00:14:38.060
  • If we'll do that, it'll bring his blessings to our lives.
  • 00:14:38.060 --> 00:14:41.196
  • Enjoy the book.
  • 00:14:41.196 --> 00:14:42.531
  • Female announcer: from the pages of scripture to the front lines
  • 00:14:42.531 --> 00:14:45.034
  • Of today's news, israel stands at the center of god's purposes.
  • 00:14:45.034 --> 00:14:49.204
  • Pastor allen's new booklet "supporting israel: how far is
  • 00:14:49.204 --> 00:14:52.741
  • Too far?"
  • 00:14:52.741 --> 00:14:54.076
  • Offers a quick way to gain a biblical perspective on israel,
  • 00:14:54.076 --> 00:14:57.046
  • Why israel matters to god, and why it should matter to us.
  • 00:14:57.046 --> 00:15:01.483
  • Request your copy with your gift of any amount today at
  • 00:15:01.483 --> 00:15:04.453
  • Allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:15:04.453 --> 00:15:09.959
  • Allen: in luke chapter 23, we see jesus on the cross.
  • 00:15:12.594 --> 00:15:16.098
  • Through the agony, he's being tortured to death.
  • 00:15:16.098 --> 00:15:19.368
  • He's been accused unjustly.
  • 00:15:19.368 --> 00:15:21.837
  • His trial was a mockery.
  • 00:15:21.837 --> 00:15:23.973
  • He's been handed over by the jewish religious community to
  • 00:15:23.973 --> 00:15:28.177
  • The non-jewish roman civil authorities.
  • 00:15:28.177 --> 00:15:31.647
  • And they have mocked him, they have beaten him almost to death,
  • 00:15:31.647 --> 00:15:36.485
  • And now he's being tortured publicly on a cross, and from
  • 00:15:36.485 --> 00:15:40.456
  • That place in luke 23:34 jesus says, "'father, forgive them,
  • 00:15:40.456 --> 00:15:44.994
  • For they don't know what they're doing.'
  • 00:15:44.994 --> 00:15:47.062
  • And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."
  • 00:15:47.062 --> 00:15:50.399
  • I wanna ask you a question.
  • 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:52.201
  • Who do you imagine was the beneficiary of jesus's prayer?
  • 00:15:52.201 --> 00:15:56.739
  • I don't believe it's the roman soldiers casting lots for
  • 00:15:56.739 --> 00:15:59.174
  • His clothing.
  • 00:15:59.174 --> 00:16:00.609
  • I believe it was him.
  • 00:16:00.609 --> 00:16:03.045
  • He could not afford to step out of time into eternity filled
  • 00:16:03.045 --> 00:16:06.115
  • With resentment and bitterness and hate, more aware of
  • 00:16:06.115 --> 00:16:09.718
  • Injustice than he was of his need for the mercy and grace
  • 00:16:09.718 --> 00:16:14.656
  • Of god.
  • 00:16:14.656 --> 00:16:15.991
  • You say he was perfect.
  • 00:16:15.991 --> 00:16:17.326
  • He wouldn't have been if he'd have been filled with anger and
  • 00:16:17.326 --> 00:16:19.828
  • Bitterness and hatred.
  • 00:16:19.828 --> 00:16:22.564
  • "father, forgive them."
  • 00:16:22.564 --> 00:16:25.134
  • I'm gonna ask you another question.
  • 00:16:25.134 --> 00:16:26.502
  • If you think the prayer was for the--those who were torturing
  • 00:16:26.502 --> 00:16:28.604
  • Jesus to death, do you think there were no consequences?
  • 00:16:28.604 --> 00:16:33.475
  • Do you think there were no consequences for
  • 00:16:33.475 --> 00:16:35.177
  • Torturing jesus?
  • 00:16:35.177 --> 00:16:37.946
  • Do you remember what jesus said to judas?
  • 00:16:37.946 --> 00:16:41.517
  • "it would have been better if you'd never been born."
  • 00:16:41.517 --> 00:16:45.020
  • We have drunk so deeply from the cup of sloppy agape, shabby
  • 00:16:45.020 --> 00:16:51.360
  • Grace that we've imagined no consequence for sin.
  • 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:54.663
  • Remember what jesus said?
  • 00:16:54.663 --> 00:16:55.998
  • "if you cause one of these little children to stumble, you
  • 00:16:55.998 --> 00:16:58.567
  • Need to find a millstone, a big rock, a heavy chain, and
  • 00:16:58.567 --> 00:17:02.104
  • Deep water."
  • 00:17:02.104 --> 00:17:04.406
  • For those of you who say jesus was all about love, he was.
  • 00:17:04.406 --> 00:17:06.875
  • He loved those kids a lot.
  • 00:17:06.875 --> 00:17:08.210
  • You mess with them, he will drowned you.
  • 00:17:08.210 --> 00:17:17.486
  • In fact, really what he said is, "that'll be a better day for you
  • 00:17:17.486 --> 00:17:20.389
  • Than when you see me."
  • 00:17:20.389 --> 00:17:23.926
  • He was establishing a principle.
  • 00:17:23.926 --> 00:17:25.694
  • The children matter.
  • 00:17:25.694 --> 00:17:27.563
  • That's why our voice is for faith in our schools and that
  • 00:17:27.563 --> 00:17:31.333
  • They be emptied of pornography and sexualizing our little
  • 00:17:31.333 --> 00:17:34.470
  • Children long before they're emotionally and physically
  • 00:17:34.470 --> 00:17:36.705
  • Mature enough to process that.
  • 00:17:36.705 --> 00:17:42.711
  • But the principle at the moment is that your choice to forgive
  • 00:17:42.711 --> 00:17:45.447
  • Is about you.
  • 00:17:45.447 --> 00:17:46.815
  • It's not about the nature of evil in the world.
  • 00:17:46.815 --> 00:17:49.985
  • If jesus could do that through the haze of being tortured to
  • 00:17:49.985 --> 00:17:53.021
  • Death, he'll give us the strength we need.
  • 00:17:53.021 --> 00:17:56.425
  • Unfortunately, right now our nation is being divided
  • 00:17:56.425 --> 00:17:58.560
  • By hatred.
  • 00:17:58.560 --> 00:18:00.262
  • Those fomenting division don't have our best interest as
  • 00:18:00.262 --> 00:18:02.698
  • Their motive.
  • 00:18:02.698 --> 00:18:04.766
  • Violence, entitlement, envy, discontent, the language of
  • 00:18:04.766 --> 00:18:08.437
  • Oppressor and oppressed, those dominate public discussions.
  • 00:18:08.437 --> 00:18:14.042
  • Typically, the government is presented as our resource
  • 00:18:14.042 --> 00:18:16.245
  • For change.
  • 00:18:16.245 --> 00:18:18.347
  • They're the ones that are gonna arbitrate change.
  • 00:18:18.347 --> 00:18:20.549
  • They're gonna make something better.
  • 00:18:20.549 --> 00:18:23.185
  • For the record, if you haven't studied or you haven't paid
  • 00:18:23.185 --> 00:18:25.487
  • Attention, human governments have never resulted in justice
  • 00:18:25.487 --> 00:18:28.023
  • And liberty for all.
  • 00:18:28.023 --> 00:18:30.325
  • Those things come from god.
  • 00:18:30.325 --> 00:18:31.660
  • Even our own founding documents suggest they come from our
  • 00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:34.263
  • Creator, not from governments.
  • 00:18:34.263 --> 00:18:38.000
  • So just some fundamental principles about forgiveness.
  • 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:40.202
  • We'll touch them quickly.
  • 00:18:40.202 --> 00:18:41.537
  • They're not new, to those of you who have been here a bit.
  • 00:18:41.537 --> 00:18:43.272
  • Forgiveness is not optional.
  • 00:18:43.272 --> 00:18:45.674
  • You can't choose not to forgive and imagine you'll be forgiven.
  • 00:18:45.674 --> 00:18:48.810
  • Jesus said it.
  • 00:18:48.810 --> 00:18:50.145
  • We've already read it.
  • 00:18:50.145 --> 00:18:51.513
  • It's foundational.
  • 00:18:51.513 --> 00:18:52.848
  • If he's teaching us to pray, he's--it may be you have to
  • 00:18:52.848 --> 00:18:55.184
  • Pray, "god, i need the strength to forgive.
  • 00:18:55.184 --> 00:18:58.187
  • Give me the will to forgive.
  • 00:18:58.187 --> 00:19:00.189
  • Forgive my rebellion, father.
  • 00:19:00.189 --> 00:19:01.523
  • I've held on to anger and resentment."
  • 00:19:01.523 --> 00:19:03.125
  • Some of us are angry at god.
  • 00:19:03.125 --> 00:19:04.459
  • We don't like the hand he's dealt us.
  • 00:19:04.459 --> 00:19:06.595
  • We don't like our circumstances.
  • 00:19:06.595 --> 00:19:07.930
  • We don't like the way our life has unfolded.
  • 00:19:07.930 --> 00:19:11.466
  • We don't like who's stepped in and stepped out and the timing
  • 00:19:11.466 --> 00:19:13.936
  • In which they've done that and we're angry at god.
  • 00:19:13.936 --> 00:19:15.904
  • It's not a fruitful place.
  • 00:19:15.904 --> 00:19:18.373
  • Forgiveness is not optional.
  • 00:19:18.373 --> 00:19:19.875
  • Matthew 6:14, jesus said if you forgive men when they sin
  • 00:19:19.875 --> 00:19:22.711
  • Against you, your father will forgive you.
  • 00:19:22.711 --> 00:19:24.046
  • If you don't, he won't.
  • 00:19:24.046 --> 00:19:27.349
  • Secondly, there's no statute of limitations on forgiveness.
  • 00:19:27.349 --> 00:19:32.354
  • You can't out-weight god on this.
  • 00:19:32.354 --> 00:19:35.424
  • There's no threshold of suffering.
  • 00:19:35.424 --> 00:19:36.892
  • You can't say, "well, my pain was so great that i'm justified.
  • 00:19:36.892 --> 00:19:41.730
  • What was done to me was so egregious.
  • 00:19:41.730 --> 00:19:44.866
  • The weight of the injustice was so overwhelming i feel totally
  • 00:19:44.866 --> 00:19:48.036
  • Justified in hating."
  • 00:19:48.036 --> 00:19:51.773
  • Matthew 18, "peter came to jesus and said, 'lord, how many times
  • 00:19:51.773 --> 00:19:54.776
  • Shall i forgive my brother when he sins against me?'"
  • 00:19:54.776 --> 00:19:58.247
  • Can you hear? peter's had enough.
  • 00:19:58.247 --> 00:20:00.649
  • "all right, i've forgiven now. how many times?"
  • 00:20:00.649 --> 00:20:04.286
  • How many times, seven times?
  • 00:20:04.286 --> 00:20:07.956
  • "and jesus answered, 'i tell you, not seven, but
  • 00:20:07.956 --> 00:20:10.559
  • Seventy-seven ti--'" you can see peter going, "oh.
  • 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:15.097
  • I'm not asking--no more jeopardy for 1,000 with jesus."
  • 00:20:15.097 --> 00:20:21.370
  • You understand that there are voices that are doing their very
  • 00:20:21.370 --> 00:20:25.474
  • Best to create hatred and resentment and division by
  • 00:20:25.474 --> 00:20:29.978
  • Refusing to allow forgiveness to take root in our hearts?
  • 00:20:29.978 --> 00:20:34.616
  • They teach it in our schools.
  • 00:20:34.616 --> 00:20:36.418
  • They shout at us in the media.
  • 00:20:36.418 --> 00:20:38.120
  • Unfortunately, it resonates across too many churches.
  • 00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:41.123
  • I can give you some very simple examples.
  • 00:20:41.123 --> 00:20:42.891
  • It doesn't--we don't have to be complicated.
  • 00:20:42.891 --> 00:20:44.760
  • We have forgiven the nazis for the 40 million deaths
  • 00:20:44.760 --> 00:20:47.129
  • Of world war ii.
  • 00:20:47.129 --> 00:20:49.264
  • We have.
  • 00:20:49.264 --> 00:20:50.766
  • We've forgiven the japanese for pearl harbor.
  • 00:20:50.766 --> 00:20:54.336
  • We've forgiven the islamic terrorists for 9/11.
  • 00:20:54.336 --> 00:20:59.007
  • If you like a bit more pedestrian approach, we've
  • 00:20:59.007 --> 00:21:01.677
  • Forgiven sam bankman-friedman for the collapse of ftx and the
  • 00:21:01.677 --> 00:21:07.582
  • Hundreds of millions of dollars that evaporated.
  • 00:21:07.582 --> 00:21:11.887
  • Those that know a bit more of history, we've forgiven the
  • 00:21:11.887 --> 00:21:13.655
  • Muslims for invading europe, the mongols for invading russia and
  • 00:21:13.655 --> 00:21:16.458
  • Eastern europe.
  • 00:21:16.458 --> 00:21:18.226
  • We've forgiven the vikings for raiding southward into britain.
  • 00:21:18.226 --> 00:21:21.863
  • We name our sports teams after them.
  • 00:21:21.863 --> 00:21:26.401
  • But we are taught to hate the europeans for migrating to north
  • 00:21:26.401 --> 00:21:30.739
  • And south america.
  • 00:21:30.739 --> 00:21:35.477
  • We pump that into our children and our students.
  • 00:21:35.477 --> 00:21:37.713
  • We celebrate it.
  • 00:21:37.713 --> 00:21:39.047
  • We refuse to do anything but maintain the hate.
  • 00:21:39.047 --> 00:21:43.118
  • It's illogical, it's embittering, and
  • 00:21:43.118 --> 00:21:45.153
  • It's destructive.
  • 00:21:45.153 --> 00:21:47.456
  • If this logic is kept in place, if we're gonna hold that, we
  • 00:21:47.456 --> 00:21:50.759
  • Ought to begin to cultivate hate for everybody that's pouring
  • 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:53.428
  • Across our southern border.
  • 00:21:53.428 --> 00:21:56.365
  • I'm not suggesting that.
  • 00:21:56.365 --> 00:21:57.733
  • I don't think it's appropriate.
  • 00:21:57.733 --> 00:21:59.067
  • They're taking billions of dollars from us citizens,
  • 00:21:59.067 --> 00:22:00.769
  • Overwhelming our educational system, our health care systems,
  • 00:22:00.769 --> 00:22:03.405
  • Our available housing.
  • 00:22:03.405 --> 00:22:06.675
  • Again, i'm not trying to point hatred at the people invading
  • 00:22:06.675 --> 00:22:09.845
  • Our country, i am trying to direct your attention that we
  • 00:22:09.845 --> 00:22:13.081
  • Need to wake up and understand the grand manipulation of
  • 00:22:13.081 --> 00:22:15.417
  • Academia, the media, the politicians, and many who seek
  • 00:22:15.417 --> 00:22:20.222
  • To divide us.
  • 00:22:20.222 --> 00:22:21.990
  • The root, i would submit to you, is spiritual and the church has
  • 00:22:21.990 --> 00:22:25.093
  • An essential assignment.
  • 00:22:25.093 --> 00:22:34.436
  • There's a third piece of forgiveness.
  • 00:22:34.436 --> 00:22:36.471
  • Forgiveness can be achieved quickly.
  • 00:22:36.471 --> 00:22:38.039
  • It's a decision.
  • 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:39.908
  • Your emotions will catch up.
  • 00:22:39.908 --> 00:22:41.276
  • Your emotions will not start there.
  • 00:22:41.276 --> 00:22:42.611
  • Your emotions will scream at you while you're making
  • 00:22:42.611 --> 00:22:43.945
  • The decision.
  • 00:22:43.945 --> 00:22:45.380
  • You're familiar with that process.
  • 00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:47.649
  • It happens if you ever work out, if you exercise just modestly.
  • 00:22:47.649 --> 00:22:52.020
  • You've made a decision to exercise, but your body's
  • 00:22:52.020 --> 00:22:54.356
  • Screaming at you, "what are you thinking?"
  • 00:22:54.356 --> 00:22:58.927
  • You've been on the other side of that.
  • 00:22:58.927 --> 00:23:00.262
  • You're having your third piece of dessert and it feels so good,
  • 00:23:00.262 --> 00:23:06.134
  • But your mind is screaming at you, "you're gonna be sorry
  • 00:23:06.134 --> 00:23:08.537
  • For this!"
  • 00:23:08.537 --> 00:23:10.038
  • "oh, shut up."
  • 00:23:10.038 --> 00:23:12.674
  • So that tension between your choices and your emotions is a
  • 00:23:12.674 --> 00:23:16.011
  • Very real part of the journey through time.
  • 00:23:16.011 --> 00:23:18.146
  • It's a part of your spiritual formation.
  • 00:23:18.146 --> 00:23:19.781
  • If you're gonna grow up spiritually, you're gonna have
  • 00:23:19.781 --> 00:23:21.850
  • To learn to make decisions that honor god, whether your emotions
  • 00:23:21.850 --> 00:23:24.319
  • Will support them in the moment or not.
  • 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:27.622
  • We've had enough emotional christianity.
  • 00:23:27.622 --> 00:23:29.491
  • And your emotions are good, god, 'cause they add value to your
  • 00:23:29.491 --> 00:23:32.160
  • Life, but they're lousy directors for your life.
  • 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:35.897
  • Your emotions change with the weather or how somebody looks
  • 00:23:35.897 --> 00:23:38.233
  • At you.
  • 00:23:38.233 --> 00:23:40.936
  • As the child leaving church, the mom says, "did you see that ugly
  • 00:23:40.936 --> 00:23:43.305
  • Look that lady gave me when we walked past her?"
  • 00:23:43.305 --> 00:23:45.173
  • The little girl said, "oh no, mom.
  • 00:23:45.173 --> 00:23:46.541
  • You had that when we came in."
  • 00:23:46.541 --> 00:23:52.848
  • Forgiveness can be achieved quickly.
  • 00:23:52.848 --> 00:23:54.282
  • Mark 11 says, "when you stand praying, if you hold anything
  • 00:23:54.282 --> 00:23:57.185
  • Against anyone, forgive him, so that your father in heaven may
  • 00:23:57.185 --> 00:24:00.522
  • Forgive your sins."
  • 00:24:00.522 --> 00:24:02.224
  • I'll tell you how to figure that out.
  • 00:24:02.224 --> 00:24:03.558
  • If there's somebody's name that's mentioned and you want to
  • 00:24:03.558 --> 00:24:05.193
  • Clench your fist, but there's a scene you remember and it
  • 00:24:05.193 --> 00:24:09.831
  • Automatically brings angst to you.
  • 00:24:09.831 --> 00:24:13.835
  • You see, trying to forget or act like it didn't happen or
  • 00:24:13.835 --> 00:24:16.471
  • Refusing to talk about it is not the same as forgiveness.
  • 00:24:16.471 --> 00:24:19.674
  • Forgiveness is a decision to cancel the debt that you think
  • 00:24:19.674 --> 00:24:22.277
  • Was incurred when you suffered a wrong.
  • 00:24:22.277 --> 00:24:26.181
  • And we emotionally or physically, in whatever way we
  • 00:24:26.181 --> 00:24:28.283
  • Hold markers and we think, "well, i'm not turning loose
  • 00:24:28.283 --> 00:24:30.318
  • With that.
  • 00:24:30.318 --> 00:24:31.686
  • I'm gonna hold that. i'm gonna hold that thought.
  • 00:24:31.686 --> 00:24:33.221
  • I'm gonna hold that memory. i'm gonna hold that feeling.
  • 00:24:33.221 --> 00:24:34.623
  • I deserve something. i deserve an apology.
  • 00:24:34.623 --> 00:24:36.558
  • I deserve restitution. i deserve something.
  • 00:24:36.558 --> 00:24:39.427
  • I was treated unjustly, and i'm gonna hold that."
  • 00:24:39.427 --> 00:24:45.734
  • And you're certainly entitled to do that.
  • 00:24:45.734 --> 00:24:47.569
  • You have the freedom to do that, god's given you the ability to
  • 00:24:47.569 --> 00:24:50.105
  • Do that; but you should understand that if you hold
  • 00:24:50.105 --> 00:24:52.440
  • That, you're also forfeiting the forgiveness that you will need.
  • 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:58.280
  • And given that option, i would strongly encourage you to
  • 00:24:58.280 --> 00:25:00.949
  • Practice forgiving.
  • 00:25:00.949 --> 00:25:02.751
  • It's a decision.
  • 00:25:02.751 --> 00:25:04.085
  • I put a little sample prayer in your notes, i think.
  • 00:25:04.085 --> 00:25:06.922
  • I gave a place for you to put in the blanks of the names of the
  • 00:25:06.922 --> 00:25:09.391
  • Person and the offense with some specificity.
  • 00:25:09.391 --> 00:25:13.194
  • Did i give you that? i did not.
  • 00:25:13.194 --> 00:25:16.231
  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:25:16.231 --> 00:25:18.433
  • Well, you should have been here for the previous session 'cause
  • 00:25:18.433 --> 00:25:20.135
  • I gave it to them.
  • 00:25:20.135 --> 00:25:21.202
  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:25:21.202 --> 00:25:23.305
  • Why don't we just say that prayer together?
  • 00:25:23.305 --> 00:25:24.673
  • You can repeat it after me.
  • 00:25:24.673 --> 00:25:27.375
  • All right.
  • 00:25:27.375 --> 00:25:28.710
  • We'll do it in a generic way.
  • 00:25:28.710 --> 00:25:30.078
  • I would encourage you to do it in a more specific way in
  • 00:25:30.078 --> 00:25:33.081
  • Private later on, but i'll give you the introduction to
  • 00:25:33.081 --> 00:25:35.317
  • The prayer.
  • 00:25:35.317 --> 00:25:36.651
  • Let's just pray it together. you can repeat it with me.
  • 00:25:36.651 --> 00:25:37.919
  • Heavenly father, i forgive everyone who has wronged me, for
  • 00:25:37.919 --> 00:25:45.060
  • Anything that has been done to me.
  • 00:25:45.060 --> 00:25:48.697
  • I release them in jesus's name, and i ask you to forgive me of
  • 00:25:48.697 --> 00:25:55.937
  • Everywhere i've sinned against you.
  • 00:25:55.937 --> 00:25:59.774
  • And, holy spirit, if there's anyone i need to forgive, bring
  • 00:25:59.774 --> 00:26:05.013
  • It to my mind that i may release them.
  • 00:26:05.013 --> 00:26:08.984
  • And i thank you now that i have been redeemed from the hand of
  • 00:26:08.984 --> 00:26:12.787
  • The devil through the blood of jesus.
  • 00:26:12.787 --> 00:26:18.426
  • Amen.
  • 00:26:18.426 --> 00:26:21.663
  • Allen: you know, we don't read our bibles just for exercise or
  • 00:26:25.867 --> 00:26:28.703
  • Just to be dutiful christians; we read our bibles to understand
  • 00:26:28.703 --> 00:26:32.007
  • How to navigate a complex world, how to understand what's
  • 00:26:32.007 --> 00:26:35.043
  • Unfolding around us.
  • 00:26:35.043 --> 00:26:37.112
  • We're living in a season where there's a lot of emotion
  • 00:26:37.112 --> 00:26:39.547
  • Expressed about the jewish people and the nation of israel.
  • 00:26:39.547 --> 00:26:42.283
  • From some very well-established elite places, there are voices
  • 00:26:42.283 --> 00:26:46.087
  • Saying they don't deserve our support.
  • 00:26:46.087 --> 00:26:48.323
  • Well, i wrote a book "supporting israel: how far is too far?"
  • 00:26:48.323 --> 00:26:51.693
  • So that we can have a biblical perspective on our response to
  • 00:26:51.693 --> 00:26:54.663
  • Current events.
  • 00:26:54.663 --> 00:26:55.997
  • At the end of the day, i wanna align myself with the purposes
  • 00:26:55.997 --> 00:26:58.299
  • Of god, not the thought leaders at elite ivy league schools or
  • 00:26:58.299 --> 00:27:02.737
  • The talking heads in the media.
  • 00:27:02.737 --> 00:27:04.572
  • I intend to stand with the purposes of god.
  • 00:27:04.572 --> 00:27:07.175
  • This book will help you unpack the current events and
  • 00:27:07.175 --> 00:27:10.845
  • Understand the perspective from the viewpoint of scripture on
  • 00:27:10.845 --> 00:27:13.915
  • How you and i can respond in a way that, i believe, will bring
  • 00:27:13.915 --> 00:27:16.618
  • The blessings of god to our lives and help us accomplish his
  • 00:27:16.618 --> 00:27:19.888
  • Purposes in our generation.
  • 00:27:19.888 --> 00:27:22.223
  • It's worth the read.
  • 00:27:22.223 --> 00:27:22.223