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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - God Is Moving In The Earth (Part 2)

November 4, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - God Is Moving In The Earth (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Culture #Change #HandofGod #PresenceofGod #Revelation #KingdomofGod #Church #BodyofChrist #LightoftheWorld #Ministry #Witness/Witnessing

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - God Is Moving In The Earth (Part 2) | November 4, 2025
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: you know, when i was a child i thought christmas
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  • Came every four years.
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  • Now i feel like it comes about every four weeks.
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  • Well, christmas is just around the corner.
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  • It's a season of tremendous opportunity for those of us who
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  • Are people of faith to remember what god has done for us and
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  • What we're inviting him into in the midst of this
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  • Holiday season.
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  • Well, we've created a tool, a resource for you to lead with
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  • Your faith at christmas.
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  • It's a 25-day devotional along with some ideas about, from
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  • Recipes to activities for your friends or your family.
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  • It's just a fun way so that you can shape your faith into
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  • The holiday.
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  • I think all of us have a desire to see christmas--be--have jesus
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  • In the midst of it a bit more.
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  • There's so many secular voices that speak and sometimes i think
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  • We feel powerless to do something other than put up a
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  • Tree or hang some lights.
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  • Well, "lead with your faith at christmas," is a tool we created
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  • So you can share your faith with your family, with your friends,
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  • With coworkers.
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  • I think it'll make this christmas season truly a way to
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  • Honor the lord in your life.
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  • In fact, i'm quite confident it'll be a blessing to you.
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  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
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  • Allen: i brought you a case study.
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  • What we're living in is so biblical.
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  • I don't want you to miss it.
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  • God is moving in the earth.
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  • I understand there's demonic disruption and expressions of
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  • Evil and wicked things, and our families feel like they're prey
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  • And there are assassins hunting people like charlie, but god is
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  • Moving in the earth.
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  • I don't wanna miss it.
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  • In acts chapter 10, jesus went back to heaven in acts chapter
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  • 1, and i'm telling you that that would--if you'd been recruited
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  • To be jesus's friend and the nature of the bargain that you
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  • Struck, you thought, was you were gonna follow him and then
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  • He says, "i'm leaving."
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  • And then he leaves.
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  • Well, i assure you that peter and james and john and the marys
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  • And the whole crowd did not understand the nature of that
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  • Bargain when they began.
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  • I didn't understand what god was inviting me to.
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  • I had no imagination of that.
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  • Well, in acts chapter 10, there's a narrative.
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  • I'm gonna--there's a lot of scripture.
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  • We'll look at it quickly, but it's a case study in how god
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  • Moves and i think it's very helpful for where we find
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  • Ourselves today.
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  • Says: "at caesarea there was a man named cornelius."
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  • Caesarea would have been to 1st century israel what las
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  • Vegas is to modern-day america.
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  • It's not the place you think revival would break out.
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  • It's a roman city.
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  • The center of caesarea was a temple to a roman god.
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  • The orthodox jews wouldn't even go there.
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  • It's a roman place.
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  • It's a port city and all the things that would go with that.
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  • Well, at caesarea there's a man named cornelius.
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  • He's a roman centurion in what was known as the
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  • Italian regiment.
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  • And verse 2 is a little bizarre.
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  • "he was--he and all his family were devout."
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  • They had a weekly meal together.
  • 00:03:01.464 --> 00:03:06.302
  • "and they were god-fearing; and he gave generously to those in
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  • Need and he prayed to god regularly.
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  • And one day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision.
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  • He distinctly saw an angel of god, who came to him and
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  • Said, 'cornelius!'"
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  • I know it's in the bible, but this is kind of funny to me.
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  • There's a roman centurion and in the afternoon, he has a vision
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  • And he sees an angel.
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  • And he told it.
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  • How many of you if you saw an angel in the middle of the
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  • Afternoon would tell the people you work with?
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  • And even more bizarre to me, the angel knows his name.
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  • But like, come on.
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  • I mean, if you go home and there's somebody sitting on the
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  • Step and you recognize them to be an angel and they go,
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  • "hey, fred."
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  • That's a little freaky.
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  • And the angel has a message, a mission for cornelius.
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  • "cornelius stared in fear.
  • 00:04:02.692 --> 00:04:04.260
  • 'what is it?'
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  • And the angel said, 'your prayers and gifts to the poor
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  • Have come up as a more--memorial before god.
  • 00:04:07.096 --> 00:04:09.699
  • Now send men to joppa,'" that's a 2-or 3-day trip, "'to bring
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  • Back a man named simon, he's called peter.
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  • He's staying with simon the tanner.
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  • His house is by the sea.'"
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  • The angel not only knows cornelius's home and his name,
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  • He knows somebody named peter in a city some distance away, and
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  • He knows who peter is staying with, and he gave him the
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  • Address for his gps.
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  • I mean, this is bizarre.
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  • In verse 8 or verse 7, "when the angel who spoke to him had gone,
  • 00:04:42.398 --> 00:04:46.302
  • Cornelius called his servants and a devout soldier, and he
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  • Told them everything that had happened."
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  • We act like that's normal.
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  • I'm telling you, if that happened, i'd be quiet for
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  • A while.
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  • I'd go, "god, was that really you?
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  • Did i eat too much sugar?"
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  • Verse 9, same story: "about noon the following day they're on
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  • Their journey, approaching the city," so they're coming from
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  • Caesarea to joppa, where peter is.
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  • Joppa is another port city, an old port city.
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  • "and as they're approaching, peter went up on
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  • The roof to pray.
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  • And he became hungry and he wanted something to eat, and
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  • While the meal was being prepared, he fell into
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  • A trance."
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  • And he sees heaven opened and a sheet is let down from
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  • Heaven, and in the sheet are all sorts of animals that peter's
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  • Not allowed to eat by kosher rules.
  • 00:05:30.246 --> 00:05:34.083
  • Peter hasn't had bacon.
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  • "all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds, and a voice
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  • Said, 'get up, peter.
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  • Kill and eat.'
  • 00:05:42.392 --> 00:05:43.726
  • Then peter said, 'no, no, no, not me.
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  • I don't do that.
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  • I've never eaten anything impure or unclean.'
  • 00:05:50.533 --> 00:05:52.869
  • And the voice spoke again and said, 'don't call anything
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  • Impure that god has made clean.'"
  • 00:05:55.238 --> 00:05:56.873
  • Wait a minute.
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  • He's got a vision that's telling him his boundaries are wrong.
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  • And that scene is repeated three times.
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  • I'm quite confident peter doesn't know what to do
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  • With that.
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  • In fact, this becomes a lifetime battle for peter.
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  • Later in his life, long after he started proclaiming the gospel,
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  • He's in another community and he'll eat with non-jews until
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  • The jews from jerusalem come up and then he acts like he doesn't
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  • Know the non-jews.
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  • And paul calls him out in public 'cause he's paul.
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  • And they go back to jerusalem and they wrestle about it.
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  • This isn't an easy lesson for peter.
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  • He has this vision of things that he's not allowed to eat.
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  • They're forbidden to him.
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  • You've got some things that are forbidden to you in
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  • Your boundaries.
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  • Things you won't drink, things you won't look at.
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  • I'm not saying your boundaries are wrong.
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  • I'm telling you, the boundaries that peter had are being
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  • Challenged and he's struggling with it.
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  • And it's being initiated in a vision, in a divinely inspired--
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  • Clearly in the what's being recounted to us by luke, it's
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  • Divinely initiated.
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  • "this happens three times," verse 16, "and immediately the
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  • Sheet's taken back to heaven.
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  • While peter's wondering about the meaning, the men sent by
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  • Cornelius found out where simon's house was and stopped at
  • 00:07:13.649 --> 00:07:18.187
  • The gate.
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  • And they called out, asking if simon who was known as peter was
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  • Staying there."
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  • Don't you know they're wondering, maybe cornelius had
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  • Been in the sun too long.
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  • You know, he's about half crazy.
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  • He's kind of a religious fanatic, cornelius.
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  • He gives money.
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  • He worships all the time.
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  • You know, he said he saw an angel, and we've come all the
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  • Way to joppa.
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  • Here's the address.
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  • Let's see if there's anybody here named pete.
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  • And they knock on the door and, lo and behold, there is.
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  • Verse 19: "while peter's still thinking about the vision, the
  • 00:07:43.779 --> 00:07:46.182
  • Spirit said to him, 'simon, there are men looking for you.
  • 00:07:46.182 --> 00:07:50.019
  • Get up and go downstairs.
  • 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:51.387
  • Don't hesitate to go with them, for i've sent them.'"
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  • He didn't say they're non-jews.
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  • You'd never go with them.
  • 00:07:54.357 --> 00:07:56.559
  • He just said, "there's some guys downstairs and you need to
  • 00:07:56.559 --> 00:07:58.561
  • Go with them."
  • 00:07:58.561 --> 00:08:00.029
  • "so peter went down and said to the men, 'i'm the one you're
  • 00:08:00.029 --> 00:08:02.098
  • Looking for.'"
  • 00:08:02.098 --> 00:08:03.466
  • And you can see them looking at one another, going, "maybe
  • 00:08:03.466 --> 00:08:04.934
  • Cornelius is on to something."
  • 00:08:04.934 --> 00:08:06.969
  • Well, this is a bizarre story.
  • 00:08:06.969 --> 00:08:14.277
  • "the men replied, 'we've come from cornelius the centurion.'"
  • 00:08:14.277 --> 00:08:17.146
  • And now they're gonna try to make their own case because
  • 00:08:17.146 --> 00:08:18.981
  • There's no jew gonna go with them.
  • 00:08:18.981 --> 00:08:20.316
  • He says, "he's a righteous and a god-fearing man, who's respected
  • 00:08:20.316 --> 00:08:23.586
  • By all the jewish people.
  • 00:08:23.586 --> 00:08:25.821
  • And a holy angel told him to have you come to his house."
  • 00:08:25.821 --> 00:08:28.491
  • That's a pretty good card to play.
  • 00:08:28.491 --> 00:08:31.661
  • Our master, the roman soldier, had an angelic visit and gave us
  • 00:08:31.661 --> 00:08:35.331
  • Your name and address.
  • 00:08:35.331 --> 00:08:38.167
  • They don't know peter just finished this vision.
  • 00:08:38.167 --> 00:08:42.338
  • "peter invited them into the house to be his guests, and the
  • 00:08:42.338 --> 00:08:44.707
  • Next day he started out with them."
  • 00:08:44.707 --> 00:08:47.143
  • And he took some support with him.
  • 00:08:47.143 --> 00:08:50.413
  • Jesus is instructing in peter's life a significant change
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  • Of perspective.
  • 00:08:53.583 --> 00:08:54.917
  • Don't call anything impure that god has called clean.
  • 00:08:54.917 --> 00:08:58.621
  • Peter did not grasp the point.
  • 00:08:58.621 --> 00:09:01.991
  • He didn't get that during three years with jesus.
  • 00:09:01.991 --> 00:09:04.026
  • This is what i think is so difficult for us.
  • 00:09:04.026 --> 00:09:06.162
  • He had a three-year one-on-one tutorial with jesus.
  • 00:09:06.162 --> 00:09:09.265
  • Imagine if we had that.
  • 00:09:09.265 --> 00:09:11.367
  • Like, the ultimate master class.
  • 00:09:11.367 --> 00:09:15.004
  • You know, you know about jesus, you've heard about jesus, you've
  • 00:09:15.004 --> 00:09:17.974
  • Met somebody that knew jesus.
  • 00:09:17.974 --> 00:09:21.911
  • "i knew jesus.
  • 00:09:21.911 --> 00:09:24.914
  • I was one of the first ones he recruited.
  • 00:09:24.914 --> 00:09:26.716
  • I was fishing and he said, 'follow me.'
  • 00:09:26.716 --> 00:09:29.352
  • I was an early adopter.
  • 00:09:29.352 --> 00:09:32.488
  • Have i told you about walking on the water?
  • 00:09:32.488 --> 00:09:38.194
  • Have i mentioned that?
  • 00:09:38.194 --> 00:09:39.929
  • What about the mount of transfiguration?
  • 00:09:39.929 --> 00:09:41.697
  • You know, i was there when he glowed.
  • 00:09:41.697 --> 00:09:47.069
  • I saw moses."
  • 00:09:47.069 --> 00:09:51.240
  • And now the lord is saying to peter, "don't you call unclean
  • 00:09:51.240 --> 00:09:55.845
  • What i call clean."
  • 00:09:55.845 --> 00:09:57.847
  • Can i ask you a question?
  • 00:09:57.847 --> 00:10:00.416
  • Are you willing to grow in the lord?
  • 00:10:00.416 --> 00:10:03.486
  • Are you so determined that you've got all the important
  • 00:10:03.486 --> 00:10:06.055
  • Stuff that your margins for learning are so small?
  • 00:10:06.055 --> 00:10:11.327
  • God is shaking the earth, folks.
  • 00:10:11.327 --> 00:10:14.130
  • I wouldn't--i don't pretend to know everything that's ahead.
  • 00:10:14.130 --> 00:10:18.167
  • I've watched things in the last five years i thought were
  • 00:10:18.167 --> 00:10:20.336
  • Impossible, good and bad.
  • 00:10:20.336 --> 00:10:24.540
  • I've seen open doors and opportunities and the lord--i
  • 00:10:24.540 --> 00:10:27.076
  • Never thought i would see the secretary of state of the united
  • 00:10:27.076 --> 00:10:29.378
  • States stand on a stage in front of tens of thousands of people,
  • 00:10:29.378 --> 00:10:32.682
  • Broadcast to millions, and proclaim the gospel.
  • 00:10:32.682 --> 00:10:36.752
  • I never thought i would see that.
  • 00:10:36.752 --> 00:10:38.220
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:10:38.220 --> 00:10:42.625
  • I mean, we're witnessing things that were unimaginable.
  • 00:10:42.625 --> 00:10:45.327
  • There's a shaking taking place.
  • 00:10:45.327 --> 00:10:47.229
  • We don't have to be frightened.
  • 00:10:47.229 --> 00:10:48.564
  • God is revealing his unshakeable kingdom.
  • 00:10:48.564 --> 00:10:53.736
  • Allen: have you ever said that christmas is too secular and
  • 00:10:57.940 --> 00:11:00.309
  • You're tired of it?
  • 00:11:00.309 --> 00:11:01.677
  • Well, we've got a solution or at least something that can help.
  • 00:11:01.677 --> 00:11:04.213
  • We've written a book.
  • 00:11:04.213 --> 00:11:05.581
  • It's called, "how to lead with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:11:05.581 --> 00:11:07.616
  • It's 25 days of devotionals that you can read.
  • 00:11:07.616 --> 00:11:09.852
  • You can share them with family, your friends, coworkers.
  • 00:11:09.852 --> 00:11:12.388
  • Then there's some ideas, even recipes, activities.
  • 00:11:12.388 --> 00:11:15.291
  • It's a fun--it's like a--it's a starter kit for bringing your
  • 00:11:15.291 --> 00:11:18.027
  • Faith to bear this christmas season.
  • 00:11:18.027 --> 00:11:20.529
  • Don't stand on the sidelines and complain.
  • 00:11:20.529 --> 00:11:22.765
  • Let's lead with our faith this christmas season.
  • 00:11:22.765 --> 00:11:24.900
  • Let's honor the lord and see the blessings that he brings to all
  • 00:11:24.900 --> 00:11:28.104
  • Of our lives.
  • 00:11:28.104 --> 00:11:29.438
  • Female announcer: christmas comes quickly and it's easy to
  • 00:11:29.438 --> 00:11:31.407
  • Let the season slip by without focusing on what matters most.
  • 00:11:31.407 --> 00:11:35.344
  • Pastor allen's new book, "lead with faith at christmas," is a
  • 00:11:35.344 --> 00:11:38.714
  • 25-day advent devotional that will help you bring jesus more
  • 00:11:38.714 --> 00:11:42.351
  • Fully into the season.
  • 00:11:42.351 --> 00:11:44.053
  • Inside, you'll find scriptures, devotionals, prayers, recipes,
  • 00:11:44.053 --> 00:11:48.858
  • And practical things you can do to make the holidays
  • 00:11:48.858 --> 00:11:51.660
  • More meaningful.
  • 00:11:51.660 --> 00:11:52.995
  • It also makes a fantastic gift.
  • 00:11:52.995 --> 00:11:55.564
  • It's time to stop repeating the same stale traditions and get
  • 00:11:55.564 --> 00:11:58.834
  • Ready to put your faith into action in new ways
  • 00:11:58.834 --> 00:12:01.504
  • This christmas.
  • 00:12:01.504 --> 00:12:02.872
  • Request your copy when you donate $30 or more today at
  • 00:12:02.872 --> 00:12:06.275
  • Allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:12:06.275 --> 00:12:11.580
  • Allen: peter travels with these guys.
  • 00:12:14.016 --> 00:12:16.786
  • The spirit said, "you don't have to be reluctant to go."
  • 00:12:16.786 --> 00:12:19.555
  • You know why the spirit said that?
  • 00:12:19.555 --> 00:12:20.890
  • Peter had tremendous reluctance, overwhelming reluctance.
  • 00:12:20.890 --> 00:12:24.627
  • Everything in him screaming out, "i don't wanna go."
  • 00:12:24.627 --> 00:12:29.165
  • Well, we're in one of those pivot points and when we do
  • 00:12:29.165 --> 00:12:31.300
  • That, i don't know what to do but to go back to
  • 00:12:31.300 --> 00:12:33.235
  • The fundamentals.
  • 00:12:33.235 --> 00:12:34.603
  • Matthew 16:18, we've talked about it a lot.
  • 00:12:34.603 --> 00:12:36.572
  • It's our direction.
  • 00:12:36.572 --> 00:12:37.940
  • Jesus said, "i'll build my church."
  • 00:12:37.940 --> 00:12:39.875
  • I wanna help.
  • 00:12:39.875 --> 00:12:41.744
  • I'll water the tent.
  • 00:12:41.744 --> 00:12:44.280
  • I'll do whatever.
  • 00:12:44.280 --> 00:12:46.615
  • I'll plant a building.
  • 00:12:46.615 --> 00:12:48.050
  • I'll get involved.
  • 00:12:48.050 --> 00:12:49.385
  • I'll do whatever, it doesn't matter to me.
  • 00:12:49.385 --> 00:12:51.587
  • If jesus is establishing the church, i'm in, i raised
  • 00:12:51.587 --> 00:12:54.456
  • My hand.
  • 00:12:54.456 --> 00:12:56.926
  • Jesus's declaration of intent has never been rescinded
  • 00:12:56.926 --> 00:12:59.795
  • Or amended.
  • 00:12:59.795 --> 00:13:01.130
  • I think we should take it seriously.
  • 00:13:01.130 --> 00:13:02.498
  • What's god doing in the earth right now?
  • 00:13:02.498 --> 00:13:04.333
  • He's establishing his people.
  • 00:13:04.333 --> 00:13:05.734
  • Don't think in terms of congregations or denominations
  • 00:13:05.734 --> 00:13:09.171
  • Or schools of thought.
  • 00:13:09.171 --> 00:13:10.706
  • It's the people of god, the people that will yield to the
  • 00:13:10.706 --> 00:13:13.509
  • Authority of jesus of nazareth as lord and christ and king, who
  • 00:13:13.509 --> 00:13:17.513
  • Will take the word of god as authoritative and submit their
  • 00:13:17.513 --> 00:13:20.216
  • Lives to it.
  • 00:13:20.216 --> 00:13:22.184
  • We've been deflected and distracted and diminished and
  • 00:13:22.184 --> 00:13:24.987
  • Broken apart and it isn't helpful.
  • 00:13:24.987 --> 00:13:27.923
  • I'm not opposed to those things, but they're not the embodiment
  • 00:13:27.923 --> 00:13:30.993
  • Of the church.
  • 00:13:30.993 --> 00:13:32.361
  • They're micro expressions of that, but it's a larger
  • 00:13:32.361 --> 00:13:34.964
  • Initiative than that.
  • 00:13:34.964 --> 00:13:37.266
  • For more than four decades in this little community, we've
  • 00:13:37.266 --> 00:13:40.336
  • Invested our lives in this jesus initiative.
  • 00:13:40.336 --> 00:13:43.839
  • This congregation is a living expression of that, of god's
  • 00:13:43.839 --> 00:13:46.809
  • Faithfulness in response to the efforts of his people.
  • 00:13:46.809 --> 00:13:50.679
  • We haven't always had the privilege of having festivals
  • 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:52.848
  • And thousands of people and anne wilson and general boykin.
  • 00:13:52.848 --> 00:13:56.652
  • I mean, we just--i remember-- this community used to be
  • 00:13:56.652 --> 00:14:00.656
  • Very different.
  • 00:14:00.656 --> 00:14:02.024
  • Our church didn't grow in a vacuum.
  • 00:14:02.024 --> 00:14:03.359
  • This used to be a sleepy little country town.
  • 00:14:03.359 --> 00:14:06.428
  • They used to close main street and have a community festival.
  • 00:14:06.428 --> 00:14:11.467
  • We went to the community festival and there was no jesus
  • 00:14:11.467 --> 00:14:13.769
  • In the community festival.
  • 00:14:13.769 --> 00:14:15.137
  • Well, that's not good.
  • 00:14:15.137 --> 00:14:17.206
  • So there were some teenagers here that did puppet shows.
  • 00:14:17.206 --> 00:14:19.375
  • We took a puppet stage and we did puppet shows all day long.
  • 00:14:19.375 --> 00:14:23.412
  • Because it was all the budget we had.
  • 00:14:23.412 --> 00:14:24.880
  • Teenagers weren't cheap.
  • 00:14:24.880 --> 00:14:28.217
  • And we gave peppermint away to the kids and we said, "hey,
  • 00:14:28.217 --> 00:14:30.953
  • Jesus--" it was the best we had in the moment.
  • 00:14:30.953 --> 00:14:33.155
  • We're still doing that with the tools and the resources god
  • 00:14:33.155 --> 00:14:37.326
  • Gives us.
  • 00:14:37.326 --> 00:14:38.694
  • We're not finished.
  • 00:14:38.694 --> 00:14:40.029
  • I would add one more scripture.
  • 00:14:40.029 --> 00:14:41.397
  • It's in your notes. it's matthew 12:30.
  • 00:14:41.397 --> 00:14:43.399
  • Jesus again, he said, "he who's not with me is against me, and
  • 00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:46.135
  • He who doesn't gather with me scatters."
  • 00:14:46.135 --> 00:14:49.204
  • I don't mean that in the context of this congregation, but in
  • 00:14:49.204 --> 00:14:51.941
  • That god initiative, jesus clearly provides us with only
  • 00:14:51.941 --> 00:14:55.444
  • Two options.
  • 00:14:55.444 --> 00:14:57.513
  • We're either with him and gathering his people or we're
  • 00:14:57.513 --> 00:15:00.049
  • Opposing him and we're scattering them.
  • 00:15:00.049 --> 00:15:03.619
  • And if you haven't made a decision yet, i would invite you
  • 00:15:03.619 --> 00:15:05.854
  • To make a very intentional choice to spend your energy
  • 00:15:05.854 --> 00:15:09.158
  • Working with jesus to strengthen his people.
  • 00:15:09.158 --> 00:15:12.661
  • It's the best way to spend your energy.
  • 00:15:12.661 --> 00:15:17.333
  • We're taking steps as a congregation we've never taken
  • 00:15:17.333 --> 00:15:19.835
  • Before to strengthen god's people.
  • 00:15:19.835 --> 00:15:23.672
  • Somewhere in these recent years we understood it was more than
  • 00:15:23.672 --> 00:15:25.841
  • Just our congregation.
  • 00:15:25.841 --> 00:15:27.209
  • I still work 40 or 50 hours a week serving this church.
  • 00:15:27.209 --> 00:15:31.680
  • But for the first time in my life in the last decade or so,
  • 00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:34.183
  • I'll spend a little bit of time looking at church beyond here.
  • 00:15:34.183 --> 00:15:37.886
  • I didn't know god was going to expand that assignment.
  • 00:15:37.886 --> 00:15:42.024
  • I didn't know what he would do.
  • 00:15:42.024 --> 00:15:43.392
  • I didn't know he would take the lessons we were learning or the
  • 00:15:43.392 --> 00:15:45.294
  • Content that we would create and he would share it.
  • 00:15:45.294 --> 00:15:46.862
  • The small group study that we just started on monday with nan
  • 00:15:46.862 --> 00:15:50.532
  • Gurley on overcoming that we took from corrie ten boom.
  • 00:15:50.532 --> 00:15:53.502
  • I haven't had an update since wednesday, but on wednesday
  • 00:15:53.502 --> 00:15:55.371
  • There were 47 peo--people in 47 states participating.
  • 00:15:55.371 --> 00:16:03.545
  • For a long, long time i said, "i serve a little country church."
  • 00:16:03.545 --> 00:16:08.183
  • I'm mocked for that these days.
  • 00:16:08.183 --> 00:16:11.153
  • But in my head, the values that started in that home bible study
  • 00:16:11.153 --> 00:16:17.226
  • And were expressed in a tent and all along the way still flourish
  • 00:16:17.226 --> 00:16:20.796
  • In our midst.
  • 00:16:20.796 --> 00:16:22.131
  • It's what happens around our kitchen tables and one family at
  • 00:16:22.131 --> 00:16:23.866
  • A time and one household at a time.
  • 00:16:23.866 --> 00:16:27.703
  • I believe in the months ahead, in the years ahead, we will see
  • 00:16:27.703 --> 00:16:30.539
  • Our congregation.
  • 00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:31.907
  • God will use us to be a strength to the broader church.
  • 00:16:31.907 --> 00:16:36.111
  • I don't have any--we have an invitation next year to make
  • 00:16:36.111 --> 00:16:39.515
  • Some unique investments of energy predominantly in the
  • 00:16:39.515 --> 00:16:43.118
  • Believing community in israel.
  • 00:16:43.118 --> 00:16:45.554
  • They've been at war for two years.
  • 00:16:45.554 --> 00:16:48.190
  • They're at one of the lowest points i've ever seen them.
  • 00:16:48.190 --> 00:16:53.762
  • Business leaders, pastors, have reached out and said, "would you
  • 00:16:53.762 --> 00:16:56.632
  • Partner--" we already have dozens of books translated into
  • 00:16:56.632 --> 00:16:59.501
  • Hebrew, relationships that have been forged over years.
  • 00:16:59.501 --> 00:17:02.805
  • I'm gonna invite the broader church from across the country
  • 00:17:02.805 --> 00:17:05.140
  • To help with that initiative.
  • 00:17:05.140 --> 00:17:07.576
  • But it won't stop there.
  • 00:17:07.576 --> 00:17:08.911
  • I don't know what god will do next.
  • 00:17:08.911 --> 00:17:11.146
  • We'll watch that step the same way we've watched him take us
  • 00:17:11.146 --> 00:17:13.582
  • From the spring festival to the fall festival, but god is moving
  • 00:17:13.582 --> 00:17:16.618
  • In the earth.
  • 00:17:16.618 --> 00:17:19.688
  • We have to make a decision.
  • 00:17:19.688 --> 00:17:21.256
  • We have to make a decision.
  • 00:17:24.793 --> 00:17:27.696
  • There are repeated, profound, difficult to escape expressions
  • 00:17:27.696 --> 00:17:31.834
  • Of evil.
  • 00:17:31.834 --> 00:17:34.069
  • You don't need much discernment.
  • 00:17:34.069 --> 00:17:36.839
  • We've lost our balance.
  • 00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:38.173
  • We call it the theater of the absurd.
  • 00:17:38.173 --> 00:17:39.641
  • It's so bizarre when you talk about it we chuckle, but it
  • 00:17:39.641 --> 00:17:42.111
  • Really isn't funny.
  • 00:17:42.111 --> 00:17:44.613
  • Biological sex isn't confusing.
  • 00:17:44.613 --> 00:17:48.183
  • Doesn't mean that there aren't people that don't struggle with
  • 00:17:48.183 --> 00:17:49.918
  • That confusion, but we don't want to institutionalize the
  • 00:17:49.918 --> 00:17:53.322
  • Confusion, and we certainly don't wanna to weaponize it in
  • 00:17:53.322 --> 00:17:55.257
  • The hands of healthcare professionals and we certainly
  • 00:17:55.257 --> 00:17:57.893
  • Don't want to subject our smallest children to them.
  • 00:17:57.893 --> 00:17:59.661
  • Our smallest children should not be subjected to smut in their
  • 00:17:59.661 --> 00:18:03.565
  • School libraries.
  • 00:18:03.565 --> 00:18:04.900
  • That just shouldn't happen.
  • 00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:06.235
  • That's not a hard decision.
  • 00:18:06.235 --> 00:18:09.204
  • But this isn't about the banning of books, it's about
  • 00:18:09.204 --> 00:18:11.507
  • Age-appropriate learning.
  • 00:18:11.507 --> 00:18:12.875
  • It's a manipulation of language to even try to do that.
  • 00:18:12.875 --> 00:18:16.111
  • It's predatory.
  • 00:18:16.111 --> 00:18:18.914
  • But we've lost our balance.
  • 00:18:18.914 --> 00:18:21.216
  • To imagine ourselves as the church as christians, as christ
  • 00:18:21.216 --> 00:18:23.886
  • Followers, and to deny the uniqueness of jesus.
  • 00:18:23.886 --> 00:18:28.624
  • There's an expression of a false church and a false gospel that
  • 00:18:28.624 --> 00:18:31.527
  • Is so prevalent amongst us, it's disorienting.
  • 00:18:31.527 --> 00:18:36.632
  • But in the midst of all of those things and all of the shaking,
  • 00:18:36.632 --> 00:18:39.768
  • God is moving in the most profound ways, and you're
  • 00:18:39.768 --> 00:18:42.971
  • Not powerless.
  • 00:18:42.971 --> 00:18:45.040
  • You are not without opportunity.
  • 00:18:45.040 --> 00:18:46.542
  • You're not without invitation.
  • 00:18:46.542 --> 00:18:47.876
  • Your children will respond to the truth.
  • 00:18:47.876 --> 00:18:50.112
  • Tell them.
  • 00:18:50.112 --> 00:18:52.281
  • Use your voice to invite them away from the overwhelming
  • 00:18:52.281 --> 00:18:55.717
  • Messaging of the secular culture.
  • 00:18:55.717 --> 00:18:57.753
  • Give them a different agenda, chart a different course,
  • 00:18:57.753 --> 00:19:01.256
  • Establish different priorities.
  • 00:19:01.256 --> 00:19:05.661
  • We will take that message wherever the lord opens
  • 00:19:05.661 --> 00:19:07.696
  • The door.
  • 00:19:07.696 --> 00:19:09.531
  • We're doing our best to strengthen this congregation in
  • 00:19:09.531 --> 00:19:12.201
  • This community, working hard diligently to put up tools to
  • 00:19:12.201 --> 00:19:15.370
  • Help us serve more efficiently and more effectively, but we're
  • 00:19:15.370 --> 00:19:18.373
  • Also working to strengthen the body of christ beyond here,
  • 00:19:18.373 --> 00:19:23.111
  • Because god's bigger than a single congregation.
  • 00:19:23.111 --> 00:19:26.415
  • We're not isolated.
  • 00:19:26.415 --> 00:19:27.749
  • It fills your new testament.
  • 00:19:27.749 --> 00:19:29.651
  • The letters of the new testament, they said the church
  • 00:19:29.651 --> 00:19:31.320
  • In jerusalem has been through a difficult time.
  • 00:19:31.320 --> 00:19:32.821
  • There's been a drought, they're struggling, so we'll contribute
  • 00:19:32.821 --> 00:19:35.190
  • To help them.
  • 00:19:35.190 --> 00:19:36.525
  • There are places in our nation where they need the gospel
  • 00:19:36.525 --> 00:19:38.860
  • Because there's been greater pressure on them than where we
  • 00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:40.796
  • Happen to be.
  • 00:19:40.796 --> 00:19:43.565
  • So we'll do our best to-- technology makes it so simple.
  • 00:19:43.565 --> 00:19:46.969
  • We can turn on these cameras and people in portland can put down
  • 00:19:46.969 --> 00:19:52.774
  • Their salmon while we have church.
  • 00:19:52.774 --> 00:19:56.945
  • Only god could work that out.
  • 00:19:56.945 --> 00:19:58.313
  • It was impossible to imagine just a few years ago.
  • 00:19:58.313 --> 00:20:04.119
  • It starts in our homes, with all the eye rolling,
  • 00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:10.392
  • And all the little kids throwing their food on the floor,
  • 00:20:10.392 --> 00:20:13.762
  • And all the voices declaring, "i'm not eating that,"
  • 00:20:13.762 --> 00:20:17.699
  • And all the tension that comes.
  • 00:20:17.699 --> 00:20:21.203
  • One household at a time, one life at a time, one community at
  • 00:20:21.203 --> 00:20:25.540
  • A time.
  • 00:20:25.540 --> 00:20:26.975
  • One region at a time.
  • 00:20:26.975 --> 00:20:29.211
  • One life at a time.
  • 00:20:29.211 --> 00:20:33.215
  • Peter and the crew that were-- when he got back to jerusalem
  • 00:20:33.215 --> 00:20:35.317
  • After that adventure in caesarea, he got called.
  • 00:20:35.317 --> 00:20:37.853
  • They were mad at him.
  • 00:20:37.853 --> 00:20:39.187
  • "you went into the house of uncircumcised believers and you
  • 00:20:39.187 --> 00:20:43.025
  • Ate with them."
  • 00:20:43.025 --> 00:20:44.459
  • That doesn't sound like much to us, but whatever you think would
  • 00:20:44.459 --> 00:20:46.862
  • Disqualify me from ministry, that's how they felt about him.
  • 00:20:46.862 --> 00:20:51.633
  • And he said, "well, let me tell you, i didn't wanna go.
  • 00:20:51.633 --> 00:20:55.103
  • I had a vision.
  • 00:20:55.103 --> 00:20:56.438
  • They saw an angel.
  • 00:20:56.438 --> 00:20:58.440
  • The angel knew my address.
  • 00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:01.677
  • What are they gonna do?
  • 00:21:01.677 --> 00:21:03.845
  • And when i got there, god poured his spirit out on them.
  • 00:21:03.845 --> 00:21:08.116
  • I didn't even tell him he could do it.
  • 00:21:08.116 --> 00:21:09.451
  • He just did it without my help.
  • 00:21:09.451 --> 00:21:12.621
  • And it looked like they got the same blessing we got on the day
  • 00:21:12.621 --> 00:21:15.357
  • Of pentecost.
  • 00:21:15.357 --> 00:21:16.725
  • What was i gonna say?" he said.
  • 00:21:16.725 --> 00:21:19.561
  • I feel that god is moving in the most remarkable ways.
  • 00:21:19.561 --> 00:21:25.267
  • He's moving in the--we're privileged to be a part of it.
  • 00:21:25.267 --> 00:21:29.404
  • Now, we can be filled with anxiety and fear and
  • 00:21:29.404 --> 00:21:32.307
  • Frustration, or we can say, "no, we'll expand our campus and
  • 00:21:32.307 --> 00:21:36.178
  • We'll expand the message and, yeah, we'll welcome people from
  • 00:21:36.178 --> 00:21:38.413
  • Other places and we'll tell them what jesus is doing in our home
  • 00:21:38.413 --> 00:21:41.416
  • And--" because god is moving in the earth.
  • 00:21:41.416 --> 00:21:45.887
  • You're not alone.
  • 00:21:45.887 --> 00:21:50.025
  • I believe what jesus said to peter is true of all of us:
  • 00:21:50.025 --> 00:21:52.327
  • "satan has asked to sift you."
  • 00:21:52.327 --> 00:21:55.864
  • But jesus said, "i have prayed for you, that your faith
  • 00:21:55.864 --> 00:21:59.568
  • Won't fail."
  • 00:21:59.568 --> 00:22:02.537
  • Well, i have a routine of praying for you
  • 00:22:02.537 --> 00:22:05.407
  • That your faith won't fail.
  • 00:22:05.407 --> 00:22:07.909
  • We're not finished yet.
  • 00:22:07.909 --> 00:22:10.178
  • I didn't imagine what god would do here.
  • 00:22:10.178 --> 00:22:13.382
  • I would be most dishonest to tell you i stood in a tent and i
  • 00:22:13.382 --> 00:22:16.084
  • Imagined you.
  • 00:22:16.084 --> 00:22:18.820
  • But i have--i've followed long enough to understand that i
  • 00:22:18.820 --> 00:22:21.256
  • Can't imagine all that god will do, but i wanna keep saying yes.
  • 00:22:21.256 --> 00:22:25.093
  • And i wanna invite you to that as well.
  • 00:22:25.093 --> 00:22:29.131
  • I believe we'll see him impact our world with the gospel in
  • 00:22:29.131 --> 00:22:32.401
  • Ways that we've never experienced before.
  • 00:22:32.401 --> 00:22:36.338
  • And he'll allow us to be a part of that one household at a time,
  • 00:22:36.338 --> 00:22:40.175
  • One table at a time.
  • 00:22:40.175 --> 00:22:41.877
  • You ready?
  • 00:22:41.877 --> 00:22:43.678
  • Me too. let's stand together.
  • 00:22:43.678 --> 00:22:45.046
  • My time's up.
  • 00:22:45.046 --> 00:22:46.415
  • I brought you a blessing.
  • 00:22:46.415 --> 00:22:50.285
  • I took a bit of time, how would we end this?
  • 00:22:50.285 --> 00:22:52.454
  • What would, you know, we could all come forward and say, "i'm
  • 00:22:52.454 --> 00:22:55.490
  • In," or--but one of the oldest blessings in scripture when
  • 00:22:55.490 --> 00:23:00.662
  • Moses was teaching the former slaves of egypt how to be
  • 00:23:00.662 --> 00:23:03.498
  • A community.
  • 00:23:03.498 --> 00:23:05.934
  • One of the first steps was to recruit aaron to lead the
  • 00:23:05.934 --> 00:23:08.437
  • Priests, and he said, "aaron, this is what you'll do with the
  • 00:23:08.437 --> 00:23:10.772
  • People who will minister to the people."
  • 00:23:10.772 --> 00:23:14.776
  • And he taught them this blessing.
  • 00:23:14.776 --> 00:23:16.144
  • He said, "you say this blessing over the people."
  • 00:23:16.144 --> 00:23:19.815
  • It's one of the most frequently pronounced blessings in history,
  • 00:23:19.815 --> 00:23:23.819
  • Certainly in the history of our faith.
  • 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:26.755
  • I brought you the whole context, but i just wanna say with you
  • 00:23:26.755 --> 00:23:28.990
  • The words in bold.
  • 00:23:28.990 --> 00:23:30.792
  • I want to give it to you as a blessing over your home.
  • 00:23:30.792 --> 00:23:34.596
  • Maybe a blessing over the place where you work, maybe where your
  • 00:23:34.596 --> 00:23:37.265
  • Kids go to school.
  • 00:23:37.265 --> 00:23:39.334
  • Let's start to say what the word of god says about us.
  • 00:23:39.334 --> 00:23:42.504
  • "pastor, you really think that makes a difference?"
  • 00:23:42.504 --> 00:23:43.839
  • I surely do.
  • 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:45.207
  • I surely do.
  • 00:23:45.841 --> 00:23:48.743
  • I mean, i'm embarrassed that we put so little faith
  • 00:23:48.743 --> 00:23:51.580
  • In the word of god.
  • 00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:52.914
  • Do you understand the things we believed in that
  • 00:23:52.914 --> 00:23:54.282
  • Weren't trustworthy?
  • 00:23:54.282 --> 00:23:56.151
  • I mean, things that if you had told me they weren't
  • 00:23:56.151 --> 00:23:57.886
  • Trustworthy, i would have been deeply offended with you a
  • 00:23:57.886 --> 00:23:59.921
  • Decade ago.
  • 00:23:59.921 --> 00:24:01.923
  • If you'd told me that the food pyramid that we've been given,
  • 00:24:01.923 --> 00:24:04.459
  • That i've been familiar with since i was a kid, if you'd have
  • 00:24:04.459 --> 00:24:06.394
  • Told me it was based on bad science, i'd have been mad
  • 00:24:06.394 --> 00:24:08.797
  • At you.
  • 00:24:08.797 --> 00:24:10.966
  • I'd have been offended at your conspiracy-laden mind.
  • 00:24:10.966 --> 00:24:15.270
  • I would have.
  • 00:24:15.270 --> 00:24:18.240
  • Because i trusted that system.
  • 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:21.610
  • And we can learn and grow.
  • 00:24:21.610 --> 00:24:23.311
  • I'm not--i don't even want to be disparaging about why, but
  • 00:24:23.311 --> 00:24:25.614
  • It's not an accurate representation of the best way
  • 00:24:25.614 --> 00:24:27.716
  • To eat.
  • 00:24:27.716 --> 00:24:29.584
  • And while we've been accepting those things we have been
  • 00:24:29.584 --> 00:24:31.853
  • Rejecting the word of god.
  • 00:24:31.853 --> 00:24:34.723
  • We've acted like it's not that important, like biblical
  • 00:24:34.723 --> 00:24:36.925
  • Principles were just more suggestions.
  • 00:24:36.925 --> 00:24:38.627
  • Folks, they're not suggestions, they're guidelines for the best
  • 00:24:38.627 --> 00:24:41.863
  • Way to be.
  • 00:24:41.863 --> 00:24:43.932
  • So we've been marginal christians, we've been
  • 00:24:43.932 --> 00:24:47.202
  • Hobby christians.
  • 00:24:47.202 --> 00:24:49.804
  • We didn't think it was worth our best effort because we didn't
  • 00:24:49.804 --> 00:24:51.873
  • Really think there was any authority in it.
  • 00:24:51.873 --> 00:24:53.608
  • It's the most authoritating opportunity you will have in
  • 00:24:53.608 --> 00:24:57.345
  • Your entire existence to cooperate with almighty god.
  • 00:24:57.345 --> 00:25:04.786
  • I'd rather cooperate with the lord than any position that i
  • 00:25:04.786 --> 00:25:07.422
  • Could imagine anyone could offer me.
  • 00:25:07.422 --> 00:25:11.626
  • A blessing from god that you can say over your home, over
  • 00:25:11.626 --> 00:25:16.431
  • Your coworkers.
  • 00:25:16.431 --> 00:25:18.433
  • You don't have to get them to agree, just invite the blessing
  • 00:25:18.433 --> 00:25:20.635
  • Of god there.
  • 00:25:20.635 --> 00:25:23.638
  • You ready?
  • 00:25:23.638 --> 00:25:25.140
  • It's the words in bold: "the lord bless you and keep you; the
  • 00:25:25.140 --> 00:25:29.377
  • Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the
  • 00:25:29.377 --> 00:25:33.782
  • Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace."
  • 00:25:33.782 --> 00:25:37.619
  • So simple.
  • 00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:39.087
  • Imagine if that happened.
  • 00:25:39.087 --> 00:25:41.389
  • Just imagine what would happen if the lord blessed you and he
  • 00:25:41.389 --> 00:25:44.826
  • Said, "i'm your keeper.
  • 00:25:44.826 --> 00:25:47.062
  • I'm your keeper."
  • 00:25:47.062 --> 00:25:49.631
  • What if the lord made his face shine towards you?
  • 00:25:49.631 --> 00:25:52.000
  • Doesn't ever look away, he looks towards you.
  • 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:55.337
  • And he gives you his peace.
  • 00:25:55.337 --> 00:25:58.206
  • Yeah, put my name on that list.
  • 00:25:58.206 --> 00:26:01.710
  • Put my name on that list.
  • 00:26:01.710 --> 00:26:03.445
  • Take that blessing to your home.
  • 00:26:03.445 --> 00:26:07.282
  • One household at a time in jesus's name, go.
  • 00:26:07.282 --> 00:26:10.819
  • We'll come back.
  • 00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:14.422
  • Allen: you know, i'm a pastor and i have the privilege of
  • 00:26:18.627 --> 00:26:20.528
  • Serving god's people.
  • 00:26:20.528 --> 00:26:22.030
  • I can tell you from experience one of the most difficult things
  • 00:26:22.030 --> 00:26:24.332
  • To do is introduce change.
  • 00:26:24.332 --> 00:26:26.234
  • Most of us don't like it, and i think that's particularly true
  • 00:26:26.234 --> 00:26:29.804
  • Around holiday seasons.
  • 00:26:29.804 --> 00:26:31.306
  • We have traditions, we have patterns, we have habits.
  • 00:26:31.306 --> 00:26:34.576
  • They're comforting to us, comfortable to us.
  • 00:26:34.576 --> 00:26:38.113
  • Well, i wanna suggest something.
  • 00:26:38.113 --> 00:26:39.447
  • We have created a tool for you this christmas.
  • 00:26:39.447 --> 00:26:41.650
  • It's called, "leading with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:26:41.650 --> 00:26:44.152
  • It's a little book with a 25-day devotional that you can do
  • 00:26:44.152 --> 00:26:46.855
  • Personally, you can do with your family, you can do it
  • 00:26:46.855 --> 00:26:48.423
  • With coworkers.
  • 00:26:48.423 --> 00:26:49.791
  • There's some recipes.
  • 00:26:49.791 --> 00:26:51.126
  • There's activities.
  • 00:26:51.126 --> 00:26:52.494
  • It's really a guide for you to shape christmas with your faith,
  • 00:26:52.494 --> 00:26:56.665
  • But it means i'm asking you to do something different to
  • 00:26:56.665 --> 00:26:59.267
  • Introduce change, and i know that's not easy.
  • 00:26:59.267 --> 00:27:02.437
  • But it's time for us to stop raging against the darkness.
  • 00:27:02.437 --> 00:27:05.140
  • Folks, let's turn up the light.
  • 00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:07.008
  • I believe, "leading with your faith at christmas," is a tool
  • 00:27:07.008 --> 00:27:09.811
  • That will help you be a better light for jesus in the midst of
  • 00:27:09.811 --> 00:27:13.214
  • This christmas season, and that's worthwhile.
  • 00:27:13.214 --> 00:27:16.184
  • Enjoy the book and merry christmas.
  • 00:27:16.184 --> 00:27:18.086
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:18.753 --> 00:27:30.001