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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Full Measure of Devotion (Part 2)

April 9, 2025 | S25:E102

Allen Jackson - Full Measure of Devotion (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#BodyofChrist #Church #Dedication/Devotion #RelationshipwithGod #SeekGod #Surrender #IdentityinChrist #Religion #Jesus #Focus #Obedience #inActive #Resurrection #AllenJacksonMinistries #AllenJackson #Christ-like #Commitment #Temple #Tabernacle

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Full Measure of Devotion (Part 2) | April 9, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: but the definition of devotion is the
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  • Fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal, ardently
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  • Dedicated and loyal.
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  • I don't believe there's such a thing as a christ follower who's
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  • Not devoted to jesus.
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  • I don't believe you can do that.
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  • Because he's either lord of all or he's not lord at all.
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  • There's no gray.
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  • There's no hyper disciples and super disciples and grade a
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  • Disciples and grade c disciples and then those who just get in.
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  • I brought you a passage of philippians 3.
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  • This is paul, the apostle.
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  • He said, "if anyone thinks he has reasons to put confidence in
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  • The flesh, i have more."
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  • Not a really humble statement.
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  • Paul said, "you think your resume is good; mine's better."
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  • That's what he said.
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  • Doesn't really matter how you turn it, and then he's gonna
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  • Tell you why he's better.
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  • And he's gonna start from the way he was born.
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  • He said, "i was born to the right group of people and
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  • You weren't."
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  • [chuckling]
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  • I have more: "circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of
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  • Israel, of the tribe of benjamin, a hebrew of the
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  • Hebrews; in regard to the law, a pharisee; as for zeal,
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  • Persecuting the church; as for legalistic
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  • Righteousness, faultless."
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  • That's his cv prior to meeting jesus on the road to damascus.
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  • He was a rising star.
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  • He had the brightest future.
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  • He was so zealous and effective at home in jerusalem that they
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  • Gave him assignments beyond the country.
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  • He was an international developer.
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  • Then he met jesus.
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  • In verse 7 he said, "but whatever was to my profit i now
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  • Consider loss for the sake of christ.
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  • What is more, i consider everything a loss compared to
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  • The surpassing greatness of knowing christ jesus my lord,
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  • For whose sake i have lost all things.
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  • I consider them rubbish that i may gain christ and be found in
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  • Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the
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  • Law, but that which is through faith in christ--the
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  • Righteousness that comes from god and is by faith.
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  • I want to know christ and the power of his resurrection and
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  • The fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in
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  • His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection of
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  • The dead."
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  • Wow, not a fashionable passage.
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  • Now you can dissect it in theological terms and hide from
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  • The implications of it, but the simple reading, an honest glance
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  • At that passage is a statement on devotion.
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  • "i consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing
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  • Greatness of knowing christ jesus my lord."
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  • There is nothing in influence of my life, he's saying, not my
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  • Education, not my professional accomplishments, not my
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  • Achievements, not my peer group, not my contact list.
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  • He said, everything is but rubbish and that's kind of
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  • A cleaned up english word.
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  • More literally, he said it's dung.
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  • You choose your euphemism.
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  • It's trash compared to the privilege and the opportunity of
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  • Knowing jesus.
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  • Personal question.
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  • We're in church, don't answer.
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  • I want you to think about it for a few days.
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  • If the people who know you work with you, the people who spend
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  • Their discretionary time with you were asked what the most
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  • Valuable thing in your life was, the thing that you prized, the
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  • Thing that you were most committed to--how many of them
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  • Would answer without hesitation: "oh, it's jesus."
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  • See, i don't think there is plan b.
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  • I don't think we start there.
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  • We're birthed into the kingdom of god and we grow and mature
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  • And develop--we're gonna look at that in just a moment, but my
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  • Invitation to you this morning is to--i wanna break the
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  • Fashion of sloppy christianity.
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  • I wanna break the fashion trends of occasionally gathering with
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  • Community, of volunteering, of serving, of giving: all those
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  • Components of expressions of devotion that have been
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  • Diminishing for a long time now in church world.
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  • I wanna suggest to you that those are essential components
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  • Of giving expression to your devotion.
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  • Well, i don't have to go to church to be married to, i don't
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  • Have to go to church to be a christian.
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  • Okay.
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  • Biblically you do have to be in community to grow up.
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  • But it's just really a lot like saying, "you know, i don't
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  • Have to go home to be married."
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  • It would help.
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  • I know, it's plucking a lot of trends, but it is very biblical.
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  • I consider everything a loss.
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  • I don't want you to feel ashamed.
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  • Whenever we present the truth, we present the truth so that
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  • There's an opportunity to bring life alignment with it.
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  • See, we have lived with so much deception, with so many lies,
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  • With so much manipulation.
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  • We have watched it over and over and over.
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  • It's been reinforced at every aspect of our lives.
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  • We have a department of education, but year after year
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  • The test scores of our children plummet, so we say, well,
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  • It's the tests that are bad.
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  • Oh.
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  • We've lived with this so long and it's infected our churches.
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  • So just begin to say, "lord, if there's an adjustment in me, and
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  • If my devotion to you is smaller than it should, i would like to
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  • Go, i wanna say with paul, i want to know christ and the
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  • Power of his resurrection.
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  • And the fellowship of sharing and suffering.
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  • Becoming like him in his death."
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  • Even jesus was asked to lay it all on the line.
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  • And then that last phrase; it's haunting in that phrase that
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  • Somehow i might attain to the resurrection of the dead.
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  • There's no arrogance, there's no presupposition, there's
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  • No swagger.
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  • He said, i'll do all of these things so that somehow i'll
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  • Be included.
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  • Devotion to jesus.
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  • I want to take the balance of our time and we're gonna do it
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  • Really quickly.
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  • I can do it more quickly than you think.
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  • I wanna talk a little bit about world outreach church.
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  • When we grew out of a home bible study my parents had for a dozen
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  • Years, when they moved to this community, my dad opened
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  • A veterinary practice and they started in our house.
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  • My bedroom was the drug room.
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  • That explains most of the questions you have.
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  • You know, it was a startup.
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  • We didn't, he didn't have an office.
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  • This was a long time ago.
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  • There was a lot more latitude.
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  • We kept things in our refrigerator that most families
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  • Would not put in their refrigerator.
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  • He amputated a dog's leg on the kitchen table and again, we
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  • Thought that was normal.
  • 00:07:07.510 --> 00:07:09.912
  • I've told people that i watched their faces and i think, "oh,
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  • You don't do that, okay."
  • 00:07:13.015 --> 00:07:15.384
  • We did, but they opened their home to a bible study on
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  • Thursday night and they welcomed whoever wanted to come, and it
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  • Was like "the island of misfit toys."
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  • This was a very different community 50 years ago.
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  • And far more separated than it is today, and the people who
  • 00:07:28.631 --> 00:07:31.968
  • Came were from different nations and they were all different
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  • Colors and all sorts of their lives were in different sorts of
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  • Disarray, and from that after a dozen years, the church
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  • Was birthed.
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  • I was living in oklahoma when it started and they called to tell
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  • Me that they were gonna meet on sundays and be at church and i
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  • Thought, "how quaint."
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  • And they called me a couple of weeks later and said, "we have
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  • A name and it's world outreach church."
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  • There were 29 people.
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  • And they named it world outreach church.
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  • I didn't clap when they told me.
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  • I thought maybe they've been to lynchburg and been in another
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  • One of tennessee's treasures or something, but the church began,
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  • And as we watched what god was doing through those years, it
  • 00:08:16.045 --> 00:08:19.448
  • Didn't change dramatically or rapidly; it's been bit by bit,
  • 00:08:19.448 --> 00:08:23.486
  • Year over year, that we came to understand our mission until we
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  • Could articulate it and we said, "this church exists to help
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  • People become fully devoted followers of jesus."
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  • We don't come from a single tradition or a
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  • Single denomination.
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  • On a typical weekend we represent more than 60.
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  • And so it's not about what this group prefers as their primary
  • 00:08:40.403 --> 00:08:44.106
  • Doctrine or primary practice of something, but it's helping
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  • Everybody become a more fully devoted follower of jesus.
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  • If you wanna know what our goal is in your life, if you're newer
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  • Here, that's it.
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  • We want to help you put your devotion to jesus to grow.
  • 00:08:54.250 --> 00:08:57.186
  • "so i've been a christian for 52 years."
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  • "good.
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  • I hope your 53rd year shows the most dramatic growth of the
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  • Whole journey."
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  • We wanna stop pointing at what we were and start talking about
  • 00:09:05.094 --> 00:09:07.430
  • What we're becoming.
  • 00:09:07.430 --> 00:09:08.798
  • We're becoming more fully devoted followers of jesus.
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  • I like it because it's more about outcome than it
  • 00:09:12.201 --> 00:09:14.370
  • Is doctrine.
  • 00:09:14.370 --> 00:09:16.372
  • It's very biblical if you follow your your heroes through the
  • 00:09:16.372 --> 00:09:19.575
  • Bible, whether it's abraham or moses or joshua or david or
  • 00:09:19.575 --> 00:09:22.712
  • Esther or mary.
  • 00:09:22.712 --> 00:09:24.113
  • Their stories are about this emergence of knowing god and
  • 00:09:24.113 --> 00:09:27.650
  • Following him.
  • 00:09:27.650 --> 00:09:29.018
  • That's not the way we've given away our faith for decades.
  • 00:09:29.018 --> 00:09:31.253
  • We focus on the entry point conversions.
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  • I believe in that.
  • 00:09:33.389 --> 00:09:34.724
  • I'm not diminishing that, but we've had this unique focus on
  • 00:09:34.724 --> 00:09:37.693
  • That entry portal and then we're kind of over it.
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  • I mean, maybe you do some discipleship class.
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  • Look, i'm not talking about a class, i'm talking about
  • 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:47.136
  • Your life.
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  • You can't come to church and sit and act like a christian and go
  • 00:09:49.905 --> 00:09:52.708
  • Do business like a pagan and think you will qualify for
  • 00:09:52.708 --> 00:09:55.845
  • The kingdom.
  • 00:09:55.845 --> 00:09:57.179
  • You can't use your discretionary time and recreate in the same
  • 00:09:57.179 --> 00:09:59.949
  • Way the ungodly people do and think you are qualified for the
  • 00:09:59.949 --> 00:10:03.285
  • Kingdom because occasionally you park your good intentions in
  • 00:10:03.285 --> 00:10:06.122
  • Church and say, "jesus, we've been confused."
  • 00:10:06.122 --> 00:10:11.527
  • And we exist to help people because we're on a spectrum,
  • 00:10:11.527 --> 00:10:15.364
  • We're all on the spectrum.
  • 00:10:15.364 --> 00:10:20.002
  • Female announcer: it's going to be an amazing spring at world
  • 00:10:24.206 --> 00:10:26.409
  • Outreach church, and you're invited to be part of it all.
  • 00:10:26.409 --> 00:10:29.812
  • Join us in murfreesboro for easter weekend and our spring
  • 00:10:29.812 --> 00:10:32.815
  • Festival kicking off saturday, april 12th and running through
  • 00:10:32.815 --> 00:10:36.018
  • Sunday, april 27th.
  • 00:10:36.018 --> 00:10:37.987
  • Worship with musical guest artists crowder, charity gayle,
  • 00:10:37.987 --> 00:10:41.824
  • Matthew west, franni cash, and the katinas.
  • 00:10:41.824 --> 00:10:45.061
  • Here's special messages from pastor allan jackson.
  • 00:10:45.061 --> 00:10:47.730
  • Enjoy fun activities for the whole family, food trucks,
  • 00:10:47.730 --> 00:10:50.866
  • And more.
  • 00:10:50.866 --> 00:10:52.234
  • Services will take place both indoors and outdoors.
  • 00:10:52.234 --> 00:10:54.737
  • Invite your friends and family to come celebrate our risen king
  • 00:10:54.737 --> 00:10:57.940
  • This spring.
  • 00:10:57.940 --> 00:10:59.308
  • Allen: hey, this is pastor allen.
  • 00:10:59.308 --> 00:11:00.676
  • I wanna give you a personal invitation to join us on our
  • 00:11:00.676 --> 00:11:02.745
  • Campus here in murfreesboro for our spring festival and our
  • 00:11:02.745 --> 00:11:06.215
  • Easter celebration.
  • 00:11:06.215 --> 00:11:07.950
  • It's a wonderful time to be with people of faith and celebrate
  • 00:11:07.950 --> 00:11:11.754
  • This most remarkable time of the year.
  • 00:11:11.754 --> 00:11:14.056
  • Female announcer: find out more at wochurch.org.
  • 00:11:14.056 --> 00:11:16.926
  • We can't wait to see you there.
  • 00:11:16.926 --> 00:11:20.129
  • Allen: i believe god is moving in the earth in an unprecedented
  • 00:11:24.333 --> 00:11:27.236
  • Way, and at the heart of that is an awakening, it's a shaking,
  • 00:11:27.236 --> 00:11:31.240
  • And in that shaking, there's a sifting.
  • 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:32.875
  • There are people falling through the cracks and there are people
  • 00:11:32.875 --> 00:11:35.010
  • Becoming more alert and aware of what god is doing.
  • 00:11:35.010 --> 00:11:38.080
  • At the heart of that is the acknowledgment, the realization
  • 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:41.650
  • That spiritual forces shape our lives.
  • 00:11:41.650 --> 00:11:44.687
  • Folks, this isn't for the lunatic fringe.
  • 00:11:44.687 --> 00:11:46.922
  • This isn't for the hyper spiritual people.
  • 00:11:46.922 --> 00:11:50.126
  • This is the stuff of the bible and it better be the stuff of
  • 00:11:50.126 --> 00:11:52.528
  • Our lives or we are in a tremendous deficit position.
  • 00:11:52.528 --> 00:11:57.066
  • Well, i've written a book, "angels, demons & you," simply
  • 00:11:57.066 --> 00:12:00.035
  • A biblical review of those spiritual forces that are
  • 00:12:00.035 --> 00:12:03.038
  • Impacting us today.
  • 00:12:03.038 --> 00:12:04.373
  • There's a battle in the earth, and it's not between armies
  • 00:12:04.373 --> 00:12:07.109
  • Wearing the labels of nations or terrorist groups.
  • 00:12:07.109 --> 00:12:09.945
  • It's a spiritual battle.
  • 00:12:09.945 --> 00:12:11.514
  • If you don't understand, if you don't understand the equipment
  • 00:12:11.514 --> 00:12:14.116
  • And the authority you've been given, you are at a tremendous
  • 00:12:14.116 --> 00:12:17.720
  • Position of forfeiture.
  • 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:19.955
  • Don't live that way.
  • 00:12:19.955 --> 00:12:21.290
  • "angels, demons, & you." you need the solution.
  • 00:12:21.290 --> 00:12:24.860
  • Female announcer: loneliness, depression, despair: they all
  • 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:28.164
  • Have a spiritual origin.
  • 00:12:28.164 --> 00:12:29.765
  • We're in a spiritual battle, and the forces of evil stand against
  • 00:12:29.765 --> 00:12:33.335
  • Us, but we don't need to be afraid.
  • 00:12:33.335 --> 00:12:35.805
  • We need to prepare.
  • 00:12:35.805 --> 00:12:37.339
  • Allen: jesus said, the children have angels assigned to them
  • 00:12:37.339 --> 00:12:39.909
  • That have the father's attention.
  • 00:12:39.909 --> 00:12:41.443
  • It's safe to say that in the kingdom of god there are
  • 00:12:41.443 --> 00:12:44.547
  • Spiritual beings in significant number.
  • 00:12:44.547 --> 00:12:49.151
  • And they're ministering spirits, the bible says, sent forth to
  • 00:12:49.151 --> 00:12:52.288
  • Help us.
  • 00:12:52.288 --> 00:12:53.956
  • They're messengers, they fill the pages of scripture, and yet
  • 00:12:53.956 --> 00:12:56.892
  • We tend to kind of imagine as if it's peripheral, secondary, that
  • 00:12:56.892 --> 00:13:00.963
  • You could be a christ follower, not really be engaged or have
  • 00:13:00.963 --> 00:13:03.799
  • To imagine spiritual forces.
  • 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:05.835
  • We believe in organization.
  • 00:13:05.835 --> 00:13:08.470
  • Well, so do i. i like a good plan and i like an organization
  • 00:13:08.470 --> 00:13:12.875
  • That is run well but i don't want to--it's not an either or
  • 00:13:12.875 --> 00:13:16.245
  • Equation, and i certainly don't want to exchange the power of
  • 00:13:16.245 --> 00:13:20.416
  • God and the spiritual help that he's made available to us for
  • 00:13:20.416 --> 00:13:23.452
  • The imagination that we cannot organize evil.
  • 00:13:23.452 --> 00:13:25.855
  • Female announcer: pastor allen's new book, "angels, demons, and
  • 00:13:25.855 --> 00:13:28.157
  • You," offers compelling biblical evidence about angels and demons
  • 00:13:28.157 --> 00:13:32.795
  • And the rules in the heavens, on earth and in our lives,
  • 00:13:32.795 --> 00:13:37.299
  • It answers the questions you want to know.
  • 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:39.969
  • Learn what the bible has to say about angels, demons, and
  • 00:13:39.969 --> 00:13:43.239
  • Spiritual warfare.
  • 00:13:43.239 --> 00:13:44.707
  • Gain helpful insight that will help you identify and remove
  • 00:13:44.707 --> 00:13:48.410
  • Evil from your life.
  • 00:13:48.410 --> 00:13:50.279
  • Find practical tools and biblical truth that will help
  • 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:53.249
  • You align your beliefs more fully with god's word.
  • 00:13:53.249 --> 00:13:56.452
  • "angels, demons & you" will help you recognize the spiritual
  • 00:13:56.452 --> 00:13:59.822
  • Battle around you so you can live without fear and stand firm
  • 00:13:59.822 --> 00:14:03.192
  • In your faith.
  • 00:14:03.192 --> 00:14:04.560
  • Allen: this is our season in time to be a difference maker
  • 00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:07.029
  • For the kingdom of god, and that's a spiritual assignment.
  • 00:14:07.029 --> 00:14:10.966
  • Female announcer: request your copy when you donate $30 or more
  • 00:14:10.966 --> 00:14:13.802
  • At allenjackson.com or by calling 800-880-5102.
  • 00:14:13.802 --> 00:14:20.809
  • Allen: you know, if you go to the airport, now if you
  • 00:14:24.947 --> 00:14:26.649
  • Go to a school, you go to a lot of public places,
  • 00:14:26.649 --> 00:14:28.250
  • You have to go through a magnetometer.
  • 00:14:28.250 --> 00:14:29.618
  • You know those little metal detectors if you've been to
  • 00:14:29.618 --> 00:14:30.953
  • The airport lately.
  • 00:14:30.953 --> 00:14:32.288
  • Take your shoes off, your belt off, your coat off, unpack
  • 00:14:32.288 --> 00:14:34.823
  • Your bags.
  • 00:14:34.823 --> 00:14:36.592
  • And then they're gonna wand you down.
  • 00:14:36.592 --> 00:14:38.494
  • Do you have any liquids?
  • 00:14:38.494 --> 00:14:43.165
  • What if we had at the entry to the church?
  • 00:14:43.165 --> 00:14:46.001
  • Not a metal detector.
  • 00:14:46.001 --> 00:14:48.203
  • But a spirit detector.
  • 00:14:48.203 --> 00:14:53.208
  • We'd be having a lot of outdoor church wouldn't we?
  • 00:14:53.208 --> 00:14:58.147
  • Because pastor's not going in that building.
  • 00:14:58.147 --> 00:15:00.015
  • I'm here to tell you.
  • 00:15:00.015 --> 00:15:02.051
  • Walk through there, and anger is blasting, lust.
  • 00:15:02.051 --> 00:15:05.187
  • "oh, i didn't like; that's not my church."
  • 00:15:05.187 --> 00:15:09.658
  • Got a lot of sloppy agape, more fully devoted
  • 00:15:09.658 --> 00:15:11.927
  • Followers of jesus.
  • 00:15:11.927 --> 00:15:13.262
  • Take peter.
  • 00:15:13.262 --> 00:15:14.630
  • Follow him through the new testament.
  • 00:15:14.630 --> 00:15:15.965
  • It's a fun exercise.
  • 00:15:15.965 --> 00:15:18.000
  • "follow me, peter, i'll make you a fisher of men.
  • 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:21.236
  • Yeah, peter, if you wanna get out of the boat, come on."
  • 00:15:21.236 --> 00:15:24.239
  • Kid almost drowned that day.
  • 00:15:24.239 --> 00:15:26.809
  • Spitting water, "help me, lord."
  • 00:15:26.809 --> 00:15:29.645
  • "why is your faith so small?"
  • 00:15:29.645 --> 00:15:32.381
  • Goes to the mount of transfiguration.
  • 00:15:32.381 --> 00:15:33.749
  • He gets invited into the inner circle.
  • 00:15:33.749 --> 00:15:36.185
  • Jesus said, "when we get to jerusalem, they're gonna
  • 00:15:36.185 --> 00:15:37.786
  • Execute me.
  • 00:15:37.786 --> 00:15:39.154
  • They'll arrest me, betray me, crucify me," and peter said,'
  • 00:15:39.154 --> 00:15:41.156
  • "no, lord, never.
  • 00:15:41.156 --> 00:15:42.524
  • Get behind me, satan."
  • 00:15:42.524 --> 00:15:43.859
  • That's kind of harsh.
  • 00:15:43.859 --> 00:15:45.828
  • "peter, i prayed for you that your faith wouldn't fail."
  • 00:15:45.828 --> 00:15:49.999
  • "oh lord, i'll never fail you.
  • 00:15:49.999 --> 00:15:51.333
  • The rest of these guys, they'll probably all run, but--" the day
  • 00:15:51.333 --> 00:15:58.774
  • Of pentecost peter's the one who preached.
  • 00:15:58.774 --> 00:16:01.777
  • Thousands of people in the city of jerusalem where they screamed
  • 00:16:01.777 --> 00:16:04.213
  • "crucify him," they respond to peter's message and are baptized
  • 00:16:04.213 --> 00:16:07.883
  • In jerusalem.
  • 00:16:07.883 --> 00:16:09.785
  • Peter and john help a lame man be healed.
  • 00:16:09.785 --> 00:16:11.720
  • The whole city's stirred.
  • 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:13.489
  • The crowds are gathering to such a point they're overwhelmed.
  • 00:16:13.489 --> 00:16:16.358
  • They line the streets so that when peter walks by, his shadow
  • 00:16:16.358 --> 00:16:19.328
  • Falls on them.
  • 00:16:19.328 --> 00:16:21.163
  • And people are being healed.
  • 00:16:21.163 --> 00:16:25.734
  • To get onto into acts a little further, peter has a vision and
  • 00:16:25.734 --> 00:16:29.471
  • God said, "i need you to go to cornelius's house, the roman
  • 00:16:29.471 --> 00:16:32.274
  • Centurion's," and peter goes, "i don't go there" and god said,
  • 00:16:32.274 --> 00:16:34.443
  • "you shut up.
  • 00:16:34.443 --> 00:16:35.811
  • I said go."
  • 00:16:35.811 --> 00:16:37.146
  • I mean, that's the living bible, but that's what it says.
  • 00:16:37.146 --> 00:16:41.917
  • And peter gets there.
  • 00:16:41.917 --> 00:16:44.086
  • You see, peter understands that the jewish people are the
  • 00:16:44.086 --> 00:16:46.355
  • Covenant people of god.
  • 00:16:46.355 --> 00:16:48.557
  • The keeping the rules of moses is the way to honor god and
  • 00:16:48.557 --> 00:16:51.193
  • Please god, and he's doing that as a christ follower, a believer
  • 00:16:51.193 --> 00:16:53.762
  • In jesus.
  • 00:16:53.762 --> 00:16:55.097
  • He's preaching sermons and thousands of people are being
  • 00:16:55.097 --> 00:16:56.465
  • Born again, and god sends him to a roman soldier's home.
  • 00:16:56.465 --> 00:17:01.470
  • And the events of pentecost are duplicated.
  • 00:17:01.470 --> 00:17:04.807
  • And peter's mind is completely fried.
  • 00:17:04.807 --> 00:17:06.809
  • His circuits are frozen.
  • 00:17:06.809 --> 00:17:08.277
  • He locked up.
  • 00:17:08.277 --> 00:17:10.679
  • He said, "well, i have to say, god's no respecter of persons."
  • 00:17:10.679 --> 00:17:16.518
  • He had three years with jesus.
  • 00:17:16.518 --> 00:17:18.954
  • He was on the mount of transfiguration.
  • 00:17:18.954 --> 00:17:20.556
  • He walked on the water.
  • 00:17:20.556 --> 00:17:21.890
  • He picked up basketfuls of scraps after they fed
  • 00:17:21.890 --> 00:17:25.127
  • A multitude of the little boys happy meal.
  • 00:17:25.127 --> 00:17:28.530
  • He's been leading the church in jerusalem, and god says to him,
  • 00:17:28.530 --> 00:17:32.167
  • "i'm going to turn what you understand about following me
  • 00:17:32.167 --> 00:17:35.604
  • Completely on its head; you go talk to the romans."
  • 00:17:35.604 --> 00:17:41.343
  • And i think of how we're coached in our faith.
  • 00:17:41.343 --> 00:17:45.214
  • "well, i've been around church ten years."
  • 00:17:45.214 --> 00:17:48.150
  • Yeah, me too.
  • 00:17:48.150 --> 00:17:50.018
  • And i'm very aware that if i don't grow and change and learn,
  • 00:17:50.018 --> 00:17:54.089
  • I'm gonna forfeit what god created me for.
  • 00:17:54.089 --> 00:18:01.396
  • Because everything that's gone into my journey to this point is
  • 00:18:01.396 --> 00:18:03.866
  • To prepare me for this point.
  • 00:18:03.866 --> 00:18:06.668
  • And i will happily say with paul, "i want to know christ and
  • 00:18:06.668 --> 00:18:09.037
  • The power of resurrection."
  • 00:18:09.037 --> 00:18:12.207
  • And i say it very cautiously, but i have come to the place i'm
  • 00:18:12.207 --> 00:18:14.877
  • Willing to say in the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings if
  • 00:18:14.877 --> 00:18:17.779
  • It's required.
  • 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:20.782
  • To become like him in his death.
  • 00:18:20.782 --> 00:18:23.452
  • Surrendered completely to the lord.
  • 00:18:23.452 --> 00:18:27.289
  • Because i believe that's the objective.
  • 00:18:27.289 --> 00:18:29.491
  • I'm not telling you i'm there.
  • 00:18:29.491 --> 00:18:31.960
  • I'm telling you it's the path i'm on.
  • 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:33.862
  • I'm inviting you to join me.
  • 00:18:33.862 --> 00:18:35.197
  • That's why we exist as a community.
  • 00:18:35.197 --> 00:18:38.367
  • It's why we do these things.
  • 00:18:38.367 --> 00:18:39.801
  • I gave you our purpose.
  • 00:18:39.801 --> 00:18:41.136
  • There's four statements to attract and lead people to
  • 00:18:41.136 --> 00:18:44.206
  • A personal relationship with jesus.
  • 00:18:44.206 --> 00:18:46.375
  • Any church that's a legitimate church, if somebody knocked on
  • 00:18:46.375 --> 00:18:49.912
  • The door and said, "i would like to be a christ follower," should
  • 00:18:49.912 --> 00:18:52.548
  • Be able to close the deal.
  • 00:18:52.548 --> 00:18:55.384
  • If they can't close that deal, they should close their doors.
  • 00:18:55.384 --> 00:18:57.386
  • That's not a church, that's something else.
  • 00:18:57.386 --> 00:19:00.589
  • If they say, "well, there's many ways to god.
  • 00:19:00.589 --> 00:19:02.357
  • Jesus isn't."
  • 00:19:02.357 --> 00:19:03.725
  • So, that's not a church, that's something else.
  • 00:19:03.725 --> 00:19:05.827
  • Or it's not a true one.
  • 00:19:05.827 --> 00:19:07.763
  • But the first half of that is a little different, to attract
  • 00:19:07.763 --> 00:19:10.165
  • People to jesus.
  • 00:19:10.165 --> 00:19:12.167
  • We have said as a community of faith that we are committed to
  • 00:19:12.167 --> 00:19:15.170
  • Not just telling people that have raised their hands and
  • 00:19:15.170 --> 00:19:17.039
  • Said, "oh no, i want to follow jesus."
  • 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:18.874
  • We will engage in behaviors and activities and expenditures
  • 00:19:18.874 --> 00:19:22.711
  • And all sorts of things to help people get to know jesus.
  • 00:19:22.711 --> 00:19:25.948
  • This is who he is, this is who we are.
  • 00:19:25.948 --> 00:19:29.451
  • We put an ice rink in november and december when the kids are
  • 00:19:29.451 --> 00:19:32.688
  • Out of school and we say to people, "you can come to our
  • 00:19:32.688 --> 00:19:35.524
  • Campus at no charge, and the church will serve you.
  • 00:19:35.524 --> 00:19:38.093
  • People will help you with your skates.
  • 00:19:38.093 --> 00:19:40.095
  • There will be people there to regulate to be sure it stays
  • 00:19:40.095 --> 00:19:42.364
  • A safe environment that they're not, not too many people
  • 00:19:42.364 --> 00:19:44.766
  • On the ice.
  • 00:19:44.766 --> 00:19:46.101
  • We'll make some hot chocolate for you."
  • 00:19:46.101 --> 00:19:47.469
  • Why would we do that?
  • 00:19:47.469 --> 00:19:50.272
  • "well, you're just trying to grow the church.
  • 00:19:50.272 --> 00:19:59.581
  • You want their money."
  • 00:19:59.581 --> 00:20:00.916
  • You know, if we wanted their money, we would charge them.
  • 00:20:00.916 --> 00:20:06.355
  • We've done all sorts of things through the years.
  • 00:20:06.355 --> 00:20:08.757
  • Hasn't always been a big church.
  • 00:20:08.757 --> 00:20:10.092
  • We were a tiny church.
  • 00:20:10.092 --> 00:20:11.793
  • They used to have a street festival on east main.
  • 00:20:11.793 --> 00:20:14.363
  • They moved to to cannonsburg, but they closed east main
  • 00:20:14.363 --> 00:20:16.732
  • Street, and you give out a little booze.
  • 00:20:16.732 --> 00:20:18.233
  • There really wasn't a church event.
  • 00:20:18.233 --> 00:20:19.768
  • There were all sorts of things from the community.
  • 00:20:19.768 --> 00:20:22.404
  • And i took the teenagers and we put up a little puppet stage and
  • 00:20:22.404 --> 00:20:25.974
  • We'd do puppet shows and give candy to the kids.
  • 00:20:25.974 --> 00:20:29.711
  • It's all we had.
  • 00:20:29.711 --> 00:20:31.046
  • It was all we knew to do, but we went and did it until our arms
  • 00:20:31.046 --> 00:20:33.849
  • Were so tired we couldn't do any more puppet shows.
  • 00:20:33.849 --> 00:20:37.919
  • We went to a christmas parade and there were no churches in
  • 00:20:37.919 --> 00:20:40.289
  • The christmas parade.
  • 00:20:40.289 --> 00:20:41.623
  • We thought, well, jesus probably ought to go to the
  • 00:20:41.623 --> 00:20:42.991
  • Christmas parade.
  • 00:20:42.991 --> 00:20:44.326
  • We were a little bitty church, so we started doing whatever we
  • 00:20:44.326 --> 00:20:46.328
  • Could do and it was pretty humble.
  • 00:20:46.328 --> 00:20:49.631
  • The darkness we see is not new.
  • 00:20:49.631 --> 00:20:51.033
  • We had to stop putting mary and joseph in the christmas parade
  • 00:20:51.033 --> 00:20:53.635
  • In this community because the comments to mary were so vile,
  • 00:20:53.635 --> 00:20:57.205
  • We wouldn't allow it.
  • 00:20:57.205 --> 00:21:00.175
  • How long is the church gonna be quiet, folks?
  • 00:21:00.175 --> 00:21:06.481
  • To lead and attract people to a personal relationship
  • 00:21:06.481 --> 00:21:09.084
  • With jesus.
  • 00:21:09.084 --> 00:21:10.419
  • The second was to encourage christians to consecrate
  • 00:21:10.419 --> 00:21:12.321
  • Themselves to god's purpose.
  • 00:21:12.321 --> 00:21:13.655
  • "consecrate" an old fancy word.
  • 00:21:13.655 --> 00:21:15.023
  • Just need to set yourself apart.
  • 00:21:15.023 --> 00:21:16.992
  • You were birthed into the kingdom of god.
  • 00:21:16.992 --> 00:21:18.827
  • Jesus gave his life so that you and i, as christ followers,
  • 00:21:18.827 --> 00:21:21.963
  • Could give our lives back to him.
  • 00:21:21.963 --> 00:21:24.466
  • That's not like for special christians, that's the deal.
  • 00:21:24.466 --> 00:21:27.703
  • We have to learn that, grow in that.
  • 00:21:27.703 --> 00:21:29.471
  • That's not automatic or intuitive to provide a climate
  • 00:21:29.471 --> 00:21:32.207
  • In which worship and personal spiritual growth can occur.
  • 00:21:32.207 --> 00:21:34.576
  • I'm not talking about music styles.
  • 00:21:34.576 --> 00:21:36.278
  • We should be able to worship the lord with a kazoo.
  • 00:21:36.278 --> 00:21:40.716
  • Worship is an attitude.
  • 00:21:40.716 --> 00:21:42.050
  • It's not about music.
  • 00:21:42.050 --> 00:21:43.418
  • We've messed this way up.
  • 00:21:43.418 --> 00:21:46.922
  • We can have the right--we can have talented musicians and
  • 00:21:46.922 --> 00:21:50.058
  • Talented vocalists and the right words and it'd be way carnal.
  • 00:21:50.058 --> 00:21:56.131
  • It starts in our heart.
  • 00:21:56.131 --> 00:21:59.167
  • We want to learn to worship the lord.
  • 00:21:59.167 --> 00:22:00.535
  • We're committed to that.
  • 00:22:00.535 --> 00:22:01.903
  • I'm not suggesting we do it right or the best or the only
  • 00:22:01.903 --> 00:22:04.740
  • Way, but we want to grow spiritually.
  • 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:06.908
  • We do not want to remain stagnant.
  • 00:22:06.908 --> 00:22:08.977
  • We want to equip believers for ministry in our community and
  • 00:22:08.977 --> 00:22:11.913
  • Around the earth.
  • 00:22:11.913 --> 00:22:14.383
  • "so, nobody's equipping me.
  • 00:22:14.383 --> 00:22:15.717
  • I wanna be equipped, nobody's equipping me."
  • 00:22:15.717 --> 00:22:19.121
  • [blows raspberry]
  • 00:22:19.121 --> 00:22:23.091
  • Let me help.
  • 00:22:23.091 --> 00:22:24.559
  • Start with the bible reading.
  • 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:27.629
  • Do the daily devotional.
  • 00:22:27.629 --> 00:22:30.465
  • Serve whenever an opportunity is presented.
  • 00:22:30.465 --> 00:22:36.705
  • Learn to give of your time, your talent.
  • 00:22:36.705 --> 00:22:40.542
  • And your stuff.
  • 00:22:40.542 --> 00:22:43.278
  • Get involved in a small group, so you lose your anonymity.
  • 00:22:43.278 --> 00:22:48.049
  • And somebody knows who you are.
  • 00:22:48.049 --> 00:22:50.819
  • And knows what it's like to sit with you on a regular basis.
  • 00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:57.692
  • Those are all equipping opportunities available to
  • 00:22:57.692 --> 00:23:01.663
  • All of us.
  • 00:23:01.663 --> 00:23:03.064
  • "well, they're not the ones i want."
  • 00:23:03.064 --> 00:23:07.369
  • Okay, well, there are some others.
  • 00:23:07.369 --> 00:23:10.939
  • "well, i don't find that serving the lord.
  • 00:23:10.939 --> 00:23:13.608
  • It's like a buffet where i can choose commandments 1, 3,
  • 00:23:13.608 --> 00:23:16.278
  • And 7."
  • 00:23:16.278 --> 00:23:19.247
  • I have to take the truth as it's presented to me.
  • 00:23:19.247 --> 00:23:23.118
  • I have to begin to develop a full measure of devotion.
  • 00:23:23.118 --> 00:23:28.557
  • And that's my invitation to you today.
  • 00:23:28.557 --> 00:23:31.126
  • What i love about it is it doesn't matter about your age or
  • 00:23:31.126 --> 00:23:33.628
  • Your life stage or your season or your iq or your income level,
  • 00:23:33.628 --> 00:23:37.566
  • We can all say today: "i would like to be more devoted to the
  • 00:23:37.566 --> 00:23:41.269
  • Lordship of jesus than i've ever been."
  • 00:23:41.269 --> 00:23:44.339
  • And that's my invitation.
  • 00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:46.508
  • I'm grateful for your backgrounds, the different
  • 00:23:46.508 --> 00:23:48.343
  • Churches and the things you've learned and the things you've
  • 00:23:48.343 --> 00:23:50.212
  • Been taught to celebrate.
  • 00:23:50.212 --> 00:23:51.580
  • There's great strength in that.
  • 00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:52.914
  • I don't think it's a weakness.
  • 00:23:52.914 --> 00:23:54.382
  • But at the heart of all of it is i wanna be fully devoted
  • 00:23:54.382 --> 00:23:58.553
  • To jesus.
  • 00:23:58.553 --> 00:23:59.955
  • I count everything a loss compared to the greatness of
  • 00:23:59.955 --> 00:24:02.891
  • Knowing him.
  • 00:24:02.891 --> 00:24:04.359
  • He's changed my life for time and eternity.
  • 00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:07.796
  • I've oriented my whole life around him.
  • 00:24:07.796 --> 00:24:09.498
  • It isn't perfect, it's broken and fractured, but i'm still
  • 00:24:09.498 --> 00:24:12.067
  • In progress.
  • 00:24:12.067 --> 00:24:15.403
  • I you'd like to do that today.
  • 00:24:15.403 --> 00:24:16.938
  • If you would stand with me--if you're at home, you
  • 00:24:16.938 --> 00:24:19.374
  • Can stand too.
  • 00:24:19.374 --> 00:24:20.742
  • Put down that cinnamon roll.
  • 00:24:20.742 --> 00:24:22.077
  • You're not done yet.
  • 00:24:22.077 --> 00:24:26.815
  • That's who we want to be as a community.
  • 00:24:26.815 --> 00:24:30.285
  • I understand not every church will say the same things.
  • 00:24:30.285 --> 00:24:32.354
  • I don't think they should.
  • 00:24:32.354 --> 00:24:33.722
  • We can be different.
  • 00:24:33.722 --> 00:24:35.056
  • We can reflect different commitments,
  • 00:24:35.056 --> 00:24:36.424
  • Different objectives.
  • 00:24:36.424 --> 00:24:37.759
  • We can have different passions.
  • 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:39.094
  • We got, we're not--you know, we're not here representing
  • 00:24:39.094 --> 00:24:41.096
  • Jesus competitively.
  • 00:24:41.096 --> 00:24:44.766
  • We're trying to do it faithfully.
  • 00:24:44.766 --> 00:24:48.103
  • What it means to be a church in murfreesboro is dramatically
  • 00:24:48.103 --> 00:24:50.438
  • Different than what it means to be a church in iraq.
  • 00:24:50.438 --> 00:25:00.081
  • We want to be faithful where god has placed us.
  • 00:25:00.081 --> 00:25:03.385
  • In the midst of the circumstance he's given us.
  • 00:25:03.385 --> 00:25:06.888
  • Amen.
  • 00:25:06.888 --> 00:25:08.657
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:25:08.657 --> 00:25:10.025
  • "father, i thank you that you called this place into
  • 00:25:10.025 --> 00:25:12.894
  • Existence, but i don't believe it began in the hearts of men
  • 00:25:12.894 --> 00:25:16.498
  • And women.
  • 00:25:16.498 --> 00:25:18.233
  • I believe it began in your heart and that you called us into
  • 00:25:18.233 --> 00:25:21.903
  • Existence and you have shaped us through the years and the
  • 00:25:21.903 --> 00:25:24.873
  • Decades and every expression, lord, and every configuration
  • 00:25:24.873 --> 00:25:28.009
  • Through all the changes, the people you have gathered in the
  • 00:25:28.009 --> 00:25:31.012
  • Lives who have been transformed, the children who have learned
  • 00:25:31.012 --> 00:25:34.049
  • And grown and had children of their own, lord, we thank you
  • 00:25:34.049 --> 00:25:36.785
  • For it.
  • 00:25:36.785 --> 00:25:38.687
  • We stand in your presence today with a desire to honor you,
  • 00:25:38.687 --> 00:25:45.293
  • Lord, when we evaluate ourselves and we look at our lives and the
  • 00:25:45.293 --> 00:25:49.364
  • Achievements and the accomplishments and the things
  • 00:25:49.364 --> 00:25:51.566
  • Accumulated and the dreams we hold and the aspirations that
  • 00:25:51.566 --> 00:25:54.903
  • We pursue.
  • 00:25:54.903 --> 00:25:59.608
  • Well, there are desires to give you first place.
  • 00:25:59.608 --> 00:26:03.745
  • Forgive us when we have failed to do that.
  • 00:26:03.745 --> 00:26:07.115
  • Or whether we were distracted or ill-informed or unaware.
  • 00:26:07.115 --> 00:26:11.786
  • Or we thought perhaps it was unnecessary, lord, for whatever
  • 00:26:11.786 --> 00:26:14.823
  • Reason today we come in humility to acknowledge our our reality
  • 00:26:14.823 --> 00:26:18.960
  • And holy spirit to ask for your help.
  • 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:20.595
  • If there's any harmful thing in us, help us to see it.
  • 00:26:20.595 --> 00:26:24.599
  • If there are attitudes or behaviors that are dishonoring,
  • 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:27.836
  • Help us to recognize them.
  • 00:26:27.836 --> 00:26:30.038
  • And may we have the courage and the boldness and the willingness
  • 00:26:30.038 --> 00:26:32.807
  • To change.
  • 00:26:32.807 --> 00:26:34.576
  • To give you first place, to give your people a new priority.
  • 00:26:34.576 --> 00:26:38.713
  • To value your people.
  • 00:26:38.713 --> 00:26:41.883
  • To be willing to acknowledge our alignment with you wherever we
  • 00:26:41.883 --> 00:26:45.520
  • Go and with whomever we gather.
  • 00:26:45.520 --> 00:26:49.190
  • I thank you for it.
  • 00:26:49.190 --> 00:26:51.426
  • We thank you for the truth that is swirling around us.
  • 00:26:51.426 --> 00:26:56.264
  • May it grow.
  • 00:26:56.264 --> 00:26:58.266
  • May it become more prominent.
  • 00:26:58.266 --> 00:27:01.336
  • May it gain greater momentum.
  • 00:27:01.336 --> 00:27:04.205
  • Look upon us with your favor and mercy and let the truth be
  • 00:27:04.205 --> 00:27:07.175
  • Shouted from the house tops.
  • 00:27:07.175 --> 00:27:09.711
  • Until it transforms our lives and our homes and our schools
  • 00:27:09.711 --> 00:27:13.114
  • And our communities and our nation.
  • 00:27:13.114 --> 00:27:15.750
  • In jesus name, amen."
  • 00:27:15.750 --> 00:27:19.220
  • Hallelujah, god bless you.
  • 00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:21.690
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:21.690 --> 00:27:28.863