Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Faith
#TrustGod
#Peace
#Prayer
#Provision
#LoveofGod
#Religion
#PromisesofGod
#Worry
#Thankfulness
#inActive
#PresenceofGod
#AllenJacksonMinistries
#AllenJackson
#Gratitude
#Anxiety
#Need
#HandofGod
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - God's Provision Is Necessary (Part 2) | January 24, 2025
- ...
- 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.583
- ♪♪♪
- 00:00:01.717 --> 00:00:07.456
- Allen jackson: it's an honor to be with you today.
- 00:00:07.589 --> 00:00:08.791
- We're going to complete our study on the necessity of
- 00:00:08.924 --> 00:00:10.859
- God's provision.
- 00:00:10.959 --> 00:00:11.226
- Here's the idea.
- 00:00:12.494 --> 00:00:13.829
- Lead a life big enough that without god's help you're sure
- 00:00:13.829 --> 00:00:16.298
- To fail.
- 00:00:16.298 --> 00:00:17.699
- No need to lead a small life so that you can manage it with your
- 00:00:17.699 --> 00:00:20.369
- Own resources.
- 00:00:20.369 --> 00:00:22.004
- Let's invite god into the midst of our home, our family, the
- 00:00:22.004 --> 00:00:25.240
- Dreams he's given us, the creativity he's given us.
- 00:00:25.240 --> 00:00:28.143
- Let's give our lives to a god-sized vision and then watch
- 00:00:28.143 --> 00:00:31.513
- His provision change everything.
- 00:00:31.513 --> 00:00:33.882
- Grab your bible and a notepad.
- 00:00:33.882 --> 00:00:35.484
- Enjoy the lesson.
- 00:00:35.484 --> 00:00:37.319
- Allen: philippians 4 invites us into this remarkable
- 00:00:37.319 --> 00:00:39.655
- Declaration of god's total provision for our lives, his
- 00:00:39.655 --> 00:00:43.759
- Complete and total provision.
- 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:45.461
- Philippians 4:6, "do not be anxious about anything--"
- 00:00:45.461 --> 00:00:49.665
- Now, remember the topic--our goal here has to do with how do
- 00:00:49.665 --> 00:00:53.302
- We have true peace of mind?
- 00:00:53.302 --> 00:00:54.670
- And paul's writing to a philippian church.
- 00:00:54.670 --> 00:00:56.638
- He happens to be writing from a prison cell in rome, oh, by
- 00:00:56.638 --> 00:00:59.541
- The way.
- 00:00:59.541 --> 00:01:02.578
- Do you think you can be peaceful in prison?
- 00:01:02.578 --> 00:01:05.814
- Not because you are there because you deserve it, because
- 00:01:05.814 --> 00:01:08.117
- You're there unjustly.
- 00:01:08.117 --> 00:01:10.486
- See, the voices speaking to us in our culture right now are
- 00:01:10.486 --> 00:01:13.522
- Demonic, because they say if you've been treated with
- 00:01:13.522 --> 00:01:15.958
- Injustice, never be at peace.
- 00:01:15.958 --> 00:01:20.195
- Be filled with anger, and resentment, and bitterness, and
- 00:01:20.195 --> 00:01:22.498
- Hatred, and if necessary violence.
- 00:01:22.498 --> 00:01:27.369
- Paul's writing from a roman prison cell.
- 00:01:27.369 --> 00:01:32.541
- He says, "listen.
- 00:01:32.541 --> 00:01:33.876
- Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
- 00:01:33.876 --> 00:01:39.348
- Petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to god.
- 00:01:39.348 --> 00:01:45.687
- And the peace of god, which transcends all understanding,
- 00:01:45.687 --> 00:01:49.224
- Will guard your hearts and your minds in christ jesus."
- 00:01:49.224 --> 00:01:53.662
- That's a fascinating passage to me.
- 00:01:53.662 --> 00:01:56.031
- A peace of god which transcends, it exceeds,
- 00:01:56.031 --> 00:01:59.735
- It's beyond understanding.
- 00:01:59.735 --> 00:02:02.037
- You'll have a peace that is not rational.
- 00:02:02.037 --> 00:02:06.642
- You'll have a peace that isn't about logic.
- 00:02:06.642 --> 00:02:10.045
- You'll have a peace not because your resources are adequate, or
- 00:02:10.045 --> 00:02:12.748
- Your strength is sufficient, or your contact list has a way of
- 00:02:12.748 --> 00:02:18.887
- Combating the challenge.
- 00:02:18.887 --> 00:02:21.890
- The presence of peace of god, which transcends all
- 00:02:21.890 --> 00:02:24.760
- Understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds.
- 00:02:24.760 --> 00:02:29.198
- Do you live with the imagination that your heart and your mind,
- 00:02:29.198 --> 00:02:34.303
- Your emotions and your thoughts need guarded?
- 00:02:34.303 --> 00:02:42.244
- Think of the messaging that washes over you in a course of
- 00:02:42.244 --> 00:02:45.414
- A day.
- 00:02:45.414 --> 00:02:47.549
- Think of the things that are said about how you should feel.
- 00:02:47.549 --> 00:02:50.152
- It is dangerous to leave your mind empty.
- 00:02:50.152 --> 00:02:53.722
- You want to learn to think about the lord.
- 00:02:53.722 --> 00:02:55.991
- It's a habit i have cultivated in recent years.
- 00:02:55.991 --> 00:02:59.127
- I'm not saying by any means i have achieved it, but i have
- 00:02:59.127 --> 00:03:02.030
- Come to understand the value of taking scripture and putting it
- 00:03:02.030 --> 00:03:06.068
- In my heart so that when there--i recognize the battle,
- 00:03:06.068 --> 00:03:09.204
- You know when you get agitated, aggravated, frightened, anxious,
- 00:03:09.204 --> 00:03:12.841
- Whatever label you need for that.
- 00:03:12.841 --> 00:03:15.277
- I want passages of scripture at hand immediately.
- 00:03:15.277 --> 00:03:20.682
- There are passages of scriptures i have said hundreds of times in
- 00:03:20.682 --> 00:03:24.519
- Recent months.
- 00:03:24.519 --> 00:03:26.855
- "bless the lord, oh, my soul, and all that is within me.
- 00:03:26.855 --> 00:03:31.693
- Bless the lord, oh, my soul, and forget not all of his benefits.
- 00:03:31.693 --> 00:03:36.031
- He redeemed--he forgives all my iniquities.
- 00:03:36.031 --> 00:03:40.202
- He heals all my diseases.
- 00:03:40.202 --> 00:03:42.904
- He redeems my life from the pit.
- 00:03:42.904 --> 00:03:45.807
- He crowns my head with mercy and loving kindness.
- 00:03:45.807 --> 00:03:50.412
- He satisfies me with good things so that my youth is renewed like
- 00:03:50.412 --> 00:03:55.250
- The eagles."
- 00:03:55.250 --> 00:03:59.321
- You try to get me agitated, you watch me start to say that.
- 00:03:59.321 --> 00:04:04.126
- I intend to fill my mind with what the lord has said about me.
- 00:04:04.126 --> 00:04:09.298
- Doesn't mean i don't have those battles.
- 00:04:09.298 --> 00:04:12.501
- It means i want to load some things inside of me so i'm
- 00:04:12.501 --> 00:04:15.904
- Prepared when i know i have to have the conflict.
- 00:04:15.904 --> 00:04:21.109
- Philippians 4, same passage.
- 00:04:24.746 --> 00:04:26.081
- Next verse is verse 8.
- 00:04:26.081 --> 00:04:27.783
- "finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
- 00:04:27.783 --> 00:04:31.053
- Whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
- 00:04:31.053 --> 00:04:33.789
- Whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or
- 00:04:33.789 --> 00:04:36.325
- Praiseworthy--think about such things."
- 00:04:36.325 --> 00:04:40.329
- You see, in order to claim the promise, now, this is important,
- 00:04:40.329 --> 00:04:42.798
- We have to meet the condition, because most of the promises of
- 00:04:42.798 --> 00:04:45.467
- God are conditional.
- 00:04:45.467 --> 00:04:48.570
- He's given the right for all of us to become children of god,
- 00:04:48.570 --> 00:04:50.772
- But unless you believe in your heart and confess with your
- 00:04:50.772 --> 00:04:52.541
- Mouth that jesus is lord, you will miss the kingdom of god.
- 00:04:52.541 --> 00:04:57.679
- It's not just a free gift that's given to everybody.
- 00:04:57.679 --> 00:05:00.248
- You have to meet the conditions.
- 00:05:00.248 --> 00:05:01.750
- And to live in the peace of god, you have to meet the conditions.
- 00:05:01.750 --> 00:05:04.820
- Paul outlined them for us, and he's modeling it for us from a
- 00:05:04.820 --> 00:05:08.223
- Prison cell.
- 00:05:08.223 --> 00:05:09.558
- He said, "be anxious for nothing."
- 00:05:09.558 --> 00:05:10.959
- We have to reject the temptation to be anxious.
- 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:12.961
- Are there things in this world that should cause anxiety?
- 00:05:12.961 --> 00:05:15.297
- You better believe it.
- 00:05:15.297 --> 00:05:18.567
- So i encourage you don't spend too much time with your favorite
- 00:05:18.567 --> 00:05:20.736
- News sources.
- 00:05:20.736 --> 00:05:22.871
- You don't need 3 hours a day.
- 00:05:22.871 --> 00:05:25.674
- Ten minutes is plenty.
- 00:05:25.674 --> 00:05:28.410
- You spend 10 minutes listening or collecting the day's
- 00:05:28.410 --> 00:05:31.046
- Activities, you're going to need 45 or 50 minutes to detox.
- 00:05:31.046 --> 00:05:35.784
- It creates anxiety.
- 00:05:35.784 --> 00:05:37.119
- Renounce anxiety.
- 00:05:37.119 --> 00:05:38.987
- Don't defend it.
- 00:05:38.987 --> 00:05:40.322
- Don't say, "it's just the way i am.
- 00:05:40.322 --> 00:05:42.124
- You know, my people, we're just worriers."
- 00:05:42.124 --> 00:05:45.227
- Let me help you with the language.
- 00:05:45.227 --> 00:05:47.062
- Rather than that, just say, "you know, my people, we're
- 00:05:47.062 --> 00:05:48.697
- Intentional sinners."
- 00:05:48.697 --> 00:05:51.666
- You know, i find when we have an ungodly habit or tendency, we
- 00:05:55.871 --> 00:05:58.974
- Like to drag the generations down that hole with us.
- 00:05:58.974 --> 00:06:04.012
- Renounce anxiety.
- 00:06:04.012 --> 00:06:05.380
- It's illogical to be anxious once you understand
- 00:06:05.380 --> 00:06:07.382
- God's presence.
- 00:06:07.382 --> 00:06:09.851
- It makes no sense.
- 00:06:09.851 --> 00:06:11.186
- You're just intentionally siding with ungodliness.
- 00:06:11.186 --> 00:06:15.757
- Be anxious for nothing.
- 00:06:15.757 --> 00:06:17.092
- Secondly, pray about everything, which means there's one line
- 00:06:17.092 --> 00:06:20.262
- You're going to have to lose.
- 00:06:20.262 --> 00:06:21.596
- The one, "you know, i don't pray much."
- 00:06:21.596 --> 00:06:23.398
- What do you mean you don't pray much?
- 00:06:23.398 --> 00:06:25.167
- What do you do?
- 00:06:25.167 --> 00:06:26.501
- "well, i'm kind of anxious."
- 00:06:26.501 --> 00:06:27.836
- Oh. pray about everything.
- 00:06:27.836 --> 00:06:31.139
- "well, i don't want to bother god."
- 00:06:31.139 --> 00:06:32.474
- I do.
- 00:06:32.474 --> 00:06:34.209
- I intend for god to like, "you again."
- 00:06:34.209 --> 00:06:36.578
- "yes, sir.
- 00:06:36.578 --> 00:06:38.980
- You said i could knock and keep on knocking and ask and keep on
- 00:06:38.980 --> 00:06:41.216
- Knocking and i'm here knocking and asking.
- 00:06:41.216 --> 00:06:45.053
- Me again.
- 00:06:45.053 --> 00:06:49.424
- I mean, i want--is there an express lane, hov lane?
- 00:06:49.424 --> 00:06:53.929
- Is there a fast pass?
- 00:06:53.929 --> 00:06:55.263
- You tell me. i'm in here.
- 00:06:55.263 --> 00:06:57.365
- It's me again. hello."
- 00:06:57.365 --> 00:07:01.136
- Thirdly, always be thankful.
- 00:07:01.136 --> 00:07:04.840
- Always be thankful. that's not easy.
- 00:07:04.840 --> 00:07:09.244
- It's much easier to sometimes be angry or resentful.
- 00:07:09.244 --> 00:07:14.282
- Always be thankful.
- 00:07:14.282 --> 00:07:16.585
- We have to learn to pray with thanksgiving.
- 00:07:16.585 --> 00:07:19.521
- I have discovered in my own experience that a thankful heart
- 00:07:19.521 --> 00:07:22.724
- Is typically a peaceful heart.
- 00:07:22.724 --> 00:07:25.827
- It's really difficult to be thankful and grumpy at the
- 00:07:25.827 --> 00:07:28.196
- Same time.
- 00:07:28.196 --> 00:07:32.567
- Ingratitude, the opposite of a thankful heart; ingratitude
- 00:07:32.567 --> 00:07:38.106
- Fosters, gives rise to fear, to unrest, to anxiety.
- 00:07:38.106 --> 00:07:41.810
- What do you see sweeping across not only our nation, but
- 00:07:41.810 --> 00:07:44.846
- The world?
- 00:07:44.846 --> 00:07:47.048
- Fear and anxiety.
- 00:07:47.048 --> 00:07:50.085
- It's why i have so little tolerance for so much of the
- 00:07:50.085 --> 00:07:52.020
- Leadership that we see expressed in our nation, because they sow
- 00:07:52.020 --> 00:07:54.890
- In the hearts of the people they're trying to lead--unrest,
- 00:07:54.890 --> 00:08:01.363
- Frustration, bitterness.
- 00:08:01.363 --> 00:08:04.299
- They're doing it, trying to manipulate people to gain
- 00:08:04.299 --> 00:08:06.201
- Support for themselves, for ungodly things.
- 00:08:06.201 --> 00:08:11.973
- We have so much to be thankful for.
- 00:08:11.973 --> 00:08:17.212
- Are we perfect? no, there is no perfect.
- 00:08:15.477 --> 00:08:19.180
- If people are involved, it isn't perfect.
- 00:08:19.180 --> 00:08:22.183
- But we have so much we should be thankful for in our history, in
- 00:08:22.183 --> 00:08:24.953
- Our present.
- 00:08:24.953 --> 00:08:27.255
- Always be thankful.
- 00:08:27.255 --> 00:08:28.590
- Number four, invoke the holy spirit.
- 00:08:28.590 --> 00:08:31.026
- We've been given permission to call upon the spirit of almighty
- 00:08:31.026 --> 00:08:34.829
- God to help us.
- 00:08:34.829 --> 00:08:38.300
- We ought to get really good at that.
- 00:08:38.300 --> 00:08:41.836
- We'll call on everybody else.
- 00:08:41.836 --> 00:08:43.204
- You'll go out on facebook and ask for recommendations for
- 00:08:43.204 --> 00:08:45.340
- Everything under the sun, and you won't ask the holy spirit
- 00:08:45.340 --> 00:08:47.509
- For help.
- 00:08:47.509 --> 00:08:51.012
- You'll trust zuckerberg's algorithms before you'll trust
- 00:08:51.012 --> 00:08:54.115
- The spirit of the living god.
- 00:08:54.115 --> 00:08:56.451
- That's messed up.
- 00:08:56.451 --> 00:09:00.055
- Invoke the holy spirit.
- 00:09:00.055 --> 00:09:01.556
- Invite him into your life.
- 00:09:01.556 --> 00:09:03.224
- Learn to recognize his voice.
- 00:09:03.224 --> 00:09:05.794
- Learn to look for the positive, the edifying, the uplifting.
- 00:09:05.794 --> 00:09:09.397
- Spend more time looking for what god's doing than looking at what
- 00:09:09.397 --> 00:09:11.666
- The devil is doing.
- 00:09:11.666 --> 00:09:14.869
- For every need that can arise, there are promises which enable
- 00:09:14.869 --> 00:09:17.172
- Us to overcome the obstacles.
- 00:09:17.172 --> 00:09:21.443
- Now, remember that, you know, we get impatient.
- 00:09:21.443 --> 00:09:23.144
- I get impatient.
- 00:09:23.144 --> 00:09:25.914
- Ah.
- 00:09:25.914 --> 00:09:28.016
- Do you, or is that just me?
- 00:09:28.016 --> 00:09:30.552
- Do you get impatient with the lord?
- 00:09:30.552 --> 00:09:31.953
- You know, like, "i've prayed that same prayer now for 2 days.
- 00:09:31.953 --> 00:09:36.391
- I've been to church five times in 3 weeks.
- 00:09:36.391 --> 00:09:39.494
- Like, i'm expecting some major miracles here."
- 00:09:39.494 --> 00:09:44.265
- I find i get so impatient with the lord.
- 00:09:44.265 --> 00:09:47.836
- We don't pay much attention to the scripture.
- 00:09:47.836 --> 00:09:50.739
- Joshua spent his life in pursuit of the conquest of the
- 00:09:50.739 --> 00:09:54.676
- Promised land.
- 00:09:54.676 --> 00:09:57.112
- It wasn't like a 2-week adventure, wasn't like summer
- 00:09:57.112 --> 00:10:00.315
- Camp and then he got to go back to his day job.
- 00:10:00.315 --> 00:10:04.986
- See, we've lacked the intent of really yielding our lives to
- 00:10:04.986 --> 00:10:08.123
- The lord.
- 00:10:08.123 --> 00:10:09.457
- We just want the lord to microwave our blessing so we can
- 00:10:09.457 --> 00:10:11.660
- Get about our business and put him in the back seat again.
- 00:10:11.660 --> 00:10:15.463
- I wonder what would happen if we really began to say, "lord, i
- 00:10:15.463 --> 00:10:18.566
- Will serve you.
- 00:10:18.566 --> 00:10:20.869
- I'll begin to think about you. i'll begin to yield to you.
- 00:10:20.869 --> 00:10:23.538
- I'll pick up your priorities instead of mine."
- 00:10:23.538 --> 00:10:27.976
- I would submit and i do it humbly, but we've only entered
- 00:10:27.976 --> 00:10:31.379
- Into a small part of what god intends for us.
- 00:10:31.379 --> 00:10:36.551
- A small part.
- 00:10:36.551 --> 00:10:38.987
- I don't want my life to end and me just have taken one step
- 00:10:38.987 --> 00:10:44.192
- Through the door of what god intended to be the grandest
- 00:10:44.192 --> 00:10:46.594
- Adventure, and i don't want you to do that.
- 00:10:46.594 --> 00:10:52.767
- What are we afraid of?
- 00:10:52.767 --> 00:10:54.135
- That god's going to take something away from us?
- 00:10:54.135 --> 00:10:55.737
- What do we have that god needs?
- 00:10:55.737 --> 00:10:58.973
- What are we afraid of?
- 00:10:58.973 --> 00:11:00.375
- What do we think he's going to limit?
- 00:11:00.375 --> 00:11:02.811
- Our expressions of wickedness?
- 00:11:02.811 --> 00:11:05.780
- He going to keep us from being immoral?
- 00:11:05.780 --> 00:11:08.049
- Get a bit more honest.
- 00:11:08.049 --> 00:11:09.384
- What is it exactly we think that more godliness is going to take
- 00:11:09.384 --> 00:11:12.020
- From us that makes us hesitant?
- 00:11:12.020 --> 00:11:16.291
- We're living too far in the world.
- 00:11:16.291 --> 00:11:20.028
- We're living with too little of the fear of god.
- 00:11:20.028 --> 00:11:23.565
- We have far greater urgency for what we want and very little
- 00:11:23.565 --> 00:11:26.101
- Urgency for what we imagine god might want.
- 00:11:26.101 --> 00:11:28.837
- ♪♪♪
- 00:11:28.837 --> 00:11:33.141
- Female announcer: if you look, you'll find good
- 00:11:36.544 --> 00:11:38.413
- News everywhere.
- 00:11:38.413 --> 00:11:40.014
- Female: our baby was born healthy and strong.
- 00:11:40.014 --> 00:11:44.219
- Female: we have the groceries we need.
- 00:11:44.219 --> 00:11:46.688
- Male: another year cancer-free.
- 00:11:46.688 --> 00:11:49.958
- Female: we bought our first house this year.
- 00:11:49.958 --> 00:11:53.828
- Female: the raise came through when i needed it most.
- 00:11:53.828 --> 00:11:57.532
- Male: i have a working car.
- 00:11:57.532 --> 00:12:01.035
- Female: my husband came home safe.
- 00:12:01.035 --> 00:12:05.006
- Female announcer: philippians 4 tells us to, "think about
- 00:12:05.006 --> 00:12:06.875
- Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable,
- 00:12:06.875 --> 00:12:12.347
- Excellent and praiseworthy."
- 00:12:12.347 --> 00:12:14.616
- All of these things honor god and when we take time to notice
- 00:12:14.616 --> 00:12:17.886
- Them, we welcome god's presence and experience his peace.
- 00:12:17.886 --> 00:12:22.056
- Allen: you know, the two most critical junctures of any
- 00:12:23.691 --> 00:12:26.161
- Enterprise are how we begin and how we conclude.
- 00:12:26.161 --> 00:12:29.497
- So, the beginning of a new year is a tremendous opportunity.
- 00:12:29.497 --> 00:12:33.468
- We've prepared a tool we want to share with you.
- 00:12:33.468 --> 00:12:35.303
- It's a good news journal.
- 00:12:35.303 --> 00:12:37.105
- We wanna help you set a habit this year to do something with a
- 00:12:37.105 --> 00:12:41.342
- Bit more intention than perhaps has been our pattern in
- 00:12:41.342 --> 00:12:44.145
- The past.
- 00:12:44.145 --> 00:12:45.513
- We wanna start our year with an attitude of appreciation and
- 00:12:45.513 --> 00:12:48.850
- Gratitude for the blessings of god in our lives.
- 00:12:48.850 --> 00:12:51.786
- So, we've designed this journal so that you can use it as a part
- 00:12:51.786 --> 00:12:54.956
- Of your devotional.
- 00:12:54.956 --> 00:12:56.424
- It's something you could include the children, the grandchildren.
- 00:12:56.424 --> 00:12:58.226
- You could take it to work and create a good news journal for
- 00:12:58.226 --> 00:13:00.962
- The people you work with.
- 00:13:00.962 --> 00:13:02.463
- Wherever that may be, let's start our year out purposefully,
- 00:13:02.463 --> 00:13:06.601
- Intentionally saying, "thank you," to the lord for his
- 00:13:06.601 --> 00:13:09.470
- Goodness to us.
- 00:13:09.470 --> 00:13:10.872
- I know there's challenges and we have places where we need god's
- 00:13:10.872 --> 00:13:13.641
- Help, but we're gonna begin with gratitude and walk into the
- 00:13:13.641 --> 00:13:17.312
- Blessings of god in this year.
- 00:13:17.312 --> 00:13:19.614
- I think you'll enjoy the journal.
- 00:13:19.614 --> 00:13:21.249
- God bless.
- 00:13:21.249 --> 00:13:22.851
- Female announcer: when you keep a good news list, you'll notice
- 00:13:22.851 --> 00:13:24.752
- How god is constantly at work all around you.
- 00:13:24.752 --> 00:13:28.122
- Our new 52-week, good news notebook gives you a place to
- 00:13:28.122 --> 00:13:31.993
- Record your good news, prayers you saw god answer, and your
- 00:13:31.993 --> 00:13:35.763
- Current prayer requests.
- 00:13:35.763 --> 00:13:37.398
- As you look back on your lists over the weeks and months to
- 00:13:37.398 --> 00:13:40.068
- Come, you'll find a personal record of god's faithfulness
- 00:13:40.068 --> 00:13:43.004
- To you.
- 00:13:43.004 --> 00:13:44.339
- Allen: we are trusting god for a year like no other for his
- 00:13:44.339 --> 00:13:46.975
- Breakthroughs this year.
- 00:13:46.975 --> 00:13:48.409
- I believe the good news journal can be a part of our journey in
- 00:13:48.409 --> 00:13:51.412
- Each of our lives.
- 00:13:51.412 --> 00:13:52.747
- Female announcer: request your good news notebook when you
- 00:13:52.747 --> 00:13:54.549
- Donate $20 or more today at allenjackson.com or by
- 00:13:54.549 --> 00:13:58.419
- Calling...
- 00:13:58.419 --> 00:14:02.557
- Allen: there's a whole host of promises that are related to
- 00:14:05.426 --> 00:14:08.596
- Expressions of just practical wisdom that god would give us.
- 00:14:08.596 --> 00:14:13.968
- I'll just touch this.
- 00:14:13.968 --> 00:14:15.336
- We're going to take communion together.
- 00:14:15.336 --> 00:14:16.671
- And i'm not going to unpack all of this, but i'll use james 1
- 00:14:16.671 --> 00:14:19.040
- Because it's been a very important part of my journey.
- 00:14:19.040 --> 00:14:23.611
- You know, i have made an observation.
- 00:14:23.611 --> 00:14:24.979
- And i listened to a testimony today of a friend of mine.
- 00:14:24.979 --> 00:14:26.848
- He's in heaven now.
- 00:14:26.848 --> 00:14:28.182
- But while i was doing some cardio this morning i listened
- 00:14:28.182 --> 00:14:30.852
- To lance lambert tell his god story, and i was amazed he--that
- 00:14:30.852 --> 00:14:37.392
- The practical wisdom of the people who truly know the lord.
- 00:14:37.392 --> 00:14:42.931
- And with god's help, i want to cooperate with that.
- 00:14:42.931 --> 00:14:50.204
- And you should know that god has promised his wisdom.
- 00:14:50.204 --> 00:14:55.476
- Then, you know, that there's a difference between wisdom and
- 00:14:55.476 --> 00:14:57.712
- Knowledge or information.
- 00:14:57.712 --> 00:15:00.048
- You can know things.
- 00:15:00.048 --> 00:15:02.383
- Wisdom is knowing how to apply knowledge.
- 00:15:02.383 --> 00:15:07.989
- Now, if you've ever known somebody with godly wisdom, it's
- 00:15:07.989 --> 00:15:10.058
- Such a gift.
- 00:15:10.058 --> 00:15:11.926
- It's amazing.
- 00:15:11.926 --> 00:15:13.361
- It's not about education levels or degrees earned.
- 00:15:13.361 --> 00:15:18.299
- They have a confidence in god and understanding of
- 00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:20.268
- His character.
- 00:15:20.268 --> 00:15:22.070
- They have a biblical perspective on the world, and there's a
- 00:15:22.070 --> 00:15:24.906
- Peace in those people and a confidence of what god will do.
- 00:15:24.906 --> 00:15:31.079
- In james chapter 1 there's a promise.
- 00:15:31.079 --> 00:15:34.749
- "if any one of you lacks wisdom, he should ask god, who gives
- 00:15:34.749 --> 00:15:40.221
- Generously to all without finding fault, and it will be
- 00:15:40.221 --> 00:15:44.292
- Given to him."
- 00:15:44.292 --> 00:15:46.294
- That is a stunning promise.
- 00:15:46.294 --> 00:15:49.297
- If you lack wisdom you can ask of god, and he will give it to
- 00:15:49.297 --> 00:15:54.268
- You with no criticism.
- 00:15:54.268 --> 00:15:58.973
- He won't say, "well, you big dummy, why didn't you pay
- 00:15:58.973 --> 00:16:02.377
- Attention in school?"
- 00:16:02.377 --> 00:16:06.014
- If you recognize you need godly wisdom--now, i don't believe you
- 00:16:06.014 --> 00:16:09.951
- Can just ask for godly wisdom so you can be better at
- 00:16:09.951 --> 00:16:12.353
- Being ungodly.
- 00:16:12.353 --> 00:16:15.790
- I believe you have to have the intent to honor the lord with
- 00:16:15.790 --> 00:16:17.692
- Your life.
- 00:16:17.692 --> 00:16:19.827
- God's promises for the most part are conditional.
- 00:16:19.827 --> 00:16:22.830
- In fact, look at verse 6.
- 00:16:22.830 --> 00:16:24.165
- He said, "but when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,
- 00:16:24.165 --> 00:16:27.802
- Because if you doubt you're like a wave of the sea; you're blown
- 00:16:27.802 --> 00:16:30.304
- And tossed by the wind.
- 00:16:30.304 --> 00:16:32.240
- And that person shouldn't think he'll receive anything from
- 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:34.042
- The lord.
- 00:16:34.042 --> 00:16:35.376
- He's a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
- 00:16:35.376 --> 00:16:39.280
- There's a very powerful revelation in that passage.
- 00:16:39.280 --> 00:16:41.916
- Being double-minded is not just, like, a character flaw.
- 00:16:41.916 --> 00:16:44.786
- It's not just a, "you know, i have a tendency to doubt.
- 00:16:44.786 --> 00:16:47.755
- So i'm a little double-minded."
- 00:16:47.755 --> 00:16:49.290
- If you're double-minded, the scripture says you're unstable
- 00:16:49.290 --> 00:16:51.259
- In everything.
- 00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:55.096
- You're unstable in everything.
- 00:16:55.096 --> 00:16:56.564
- You can't be leaned upon.
- 00:16:56.564 --> 00:16:57.899
- You can't--you're not dependable.
- 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:59.233
- You're not trustworthy.
- 00:16:59.233 --> 00:17:02.070
- What makes you untrustworthy?
- 00:17:02.070 --> 00:17:03.404
- You're double-minded.
- 00:17:03.404 --> 00:17:05.740
- You got one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom
- 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:07.508
- Of god.
- 00:17:07.508 --> 00:17:09.844
- Sometimes you're interested in the kingdom of god and sometimes
- 00:17:09.844 --> 00:17:11.846
- You're--you could care less.
- 00:17:11.846 --> 00:17:14.082
- You're double-minded.
- 00:17:14.082 --> 00:17:15.650
- You're unstable. you're not trustworthy.
- 00:17:15.650 --> 00:17:18.619
- I've challenged from time to time people's descriptions.
- 00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:22.223
- They'll say, you know, somebody is a really good person.
- 00:17:22.223 --> 00:17:25.626
- And i say, "well, tell me more about that."
- 00:17:25.626 --> 00:17:27.095
- "well, they're ungodly and they're immoral, but, you know,
- 00:17:27.095 --> 00:17:29.030
- They're really good people."
- 00:17:29.030 --> 00:17:31.666
- Well, no.
- 00:17:31.666 --> 00:17:34.202
- You just described somebody that's unstable.
- 00:17:34.202 --> 00:17:36.170
- They're double-minded. that's not trustworthy.
- 00:17:36.170 --> 00:17:38.406
- If you're not trustworthy, i'm not going to call you really
- 00:17:38.406 --> 00:17:40.741
- Good people.
- 00:17:40.741 --> 00:17:43.144
- I may call you talented, or smart, or capable, or gifted,
- 00:17:43.144 --> 00:17:46.981
- But if you're not trustworthy-- it's a clear promise of wisdom.
- 00:17:46.981 --> 00:17:54.255
- God doesn't find fault.
- 00:17:54.255 --> 00:17:55.590
- This makes me smile. he knows we lack wisdom.
- 00:17:55.590 --> 00:17:59.193
- He made us.
- 00:17:59.193 --> 00:18:00.862
- "bless their hearts, they need some help.
- 00:18:00.862 --> 00:18:04.098
- So i'll give it to them."
- 00:18:04.098 --> 00:18:07.068
- We often lack because we don't recognize our need for
- 00:18:07.068 --> 00:18:09.170
- God's help.
- 00:18:09.170 --> 00:18:11.305
- Ever watch little children?
- 00:18:11.305 --> 00:18:13.774
- So determined to do whatever it is that they're focused on doing
- 00:18:13.774 --> 00:18:16.144
- For the next 30 seconds.
- 00:18:16.144 --> 00:18:18.412
- If you can outwait them 30 seconds, they'll change, they'll
- 00:18:18.412 --> 00:18:20.515
- Lose their focus, but for 30 seconds, whatever they've
- 00:18:20.515 --> 00:18:22.416
- Imagined they want to do, they know they're competent.
- 00:18:22.416 --> 00:18:26.354
- They can drive a car. they can fly a plane, right?
- 00:18:26.354 --> 00:18:30.291
- They can run with scissors.
- 00:18:30.291 --> 00:18:33.494
- Whatever it is they want to do next, once they've--they can
- 00:18:33.494 --> 00:18:36.063
- Do that.
- 00:18:36.063 --> 00:18:37.398
- And i find that lives in me so powerfully.
- 00:18:37.398 --> 00:18:42.036
- I have to ask in faith, believing god will respond.
- 00:18:42.036 --> 00:18:48.109
- It's important.
- 00:18:48.109 --> 00:18:49.443
- Hebrews 11:6, that's my last verse, i'm going to hush.
- 00:18:49.443 --> 00:18:50.978
- We're going to do communion.
- 00:18:50.978 --> 00:18:52.313
- But it says, "without faith it's impossible to please god 'cause
- 00:18:52.313 --> 00:18:55.249
- We have to believe that god is and that he's a rewarder of
- 00:18:55.249 --> 00:18:57.385
- Those who diligently seek him."
- 00:18:57.385 --> 00:19:00.621
- For many, many years we would collect prayer cards in
- 00:19:00.621 --> 00:19:03.658
- Every service.
- 00:19:03.658 --> 00:19:05.726
- They're still available in your seat backs.
- 00:19:05.726 --> 00:19:08.863
- And at that time i wasn't on the platform for the
- 00:19:08.863 --> 00:19:12.700
- Offering session.
- 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:14.035
- That was before we did them with video, and technology, and
- 00:19:14.035 --> 00:19:17.238
- Social media, and subliminal suggestion, and--we don't do
- 00:19:17.238 --> 00:19:22.577
- That yet.
- 00:19:22.577 --> 00:19:26.347
- But i filled out a prayer card every service for years and
- 00:19:27.682 --> 00:19:29.984
- Years and years, and my prayer was for the same thing, that i
- 00:19:29.984 --> 00:19:34.889
- Would have god's wisdom, because i recognized that i needed
- 00:19:34.889 --> 00:19:40.695
- Something more than what i had.
- 00:19:40.695 --> 00:19:44.532
- I love to learn and study and go to school.
- 00:19:44.532 --> 00:19:46.634
- I could have been a professional student if the lord had
- 00:19:46.634 --> 00:19:49.270
- Green-lighted that, but i'm very conscious even until today that
- 00:19:49.270 --> 00:19:53.941
- I need god's wisdom.
- 00:19:53.941 --> 00:19:57.378
- But if anybody lacks wisdom, he can ask of god.
- 00:19:57.378 --> 00:20:02.016
- How about as a part of your daily routine?
- 00:20:02.016 --> 00:20:05.920
- "lord, i'd like your wisdom today."
- 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:10.057
- You know, you may not even be conscious you need it today or
- 00:20:10.057 --> 00:20:12.193
- You may not be conscious you need it next week, but there'll
- 00:20:12.193 --> 00:20:15.496
- Be a day when there'll be questions put in front of you,
- 00:20:15.496 --> 00:20:17.698
- And you will need god's wisdom.
- 00:20:17.698 --> 00:20:20.601
- And it is too late to figure out how the sling works once you can
- 00:20:20.601 --> 00:20:25.172
- See goliath; 'cause your hand is not steady at that point, but if
- 00:20:25.172 --> 00:20:31.445
- You're a world class slinger of stones, and goliath walks in
- 00:20:31.445 --> 00:20:35.816
- Front of you, it's going to be a good day.
- 00:20:35.816 --> 00:20:39.253
- So the time to prepare is when you don't need it.
- 00:20:39.253 --> 00:20:42.757
- It all starts with the person of jesus and his provision for our
- 00:20:42.757 --> 00:20:46.227
- Lives, what he has made available to us.
- 00:20:46.227 --> 00:20:51.165
- We are his people.
- 00:20:51.165 --> 00:20:52.867
- We are the sheep of his pasture.
- 00:20:52.867 --> 00:20:55.336
- We have trusted everything else and trusted him last, typically,
- 00:20:55.336 --> 00:21:01.876
- But we're learning a new way.
- 00:21:01.876 --> 00:21:04.078
- We're learning to lead our lives in the midst of the promises of
- 00:21:04.078 --> 00:21:06.514
- God because of the things that have brought stability to us.
- 00:21:06.514 --> 00:21:11.719
- And if we have thought--ensured our future and the future of our
- 00:21:11.719 --> 00:21:14.588
- Children and our grandchildren, they are crumbling before our
- 00:21:14.588 --> 00:21:17.792
- Very eyes.
- 00:21:17.792 --> 00:21:21.462
- So we're going to come to the communion table tonight.
- 00:21:21.462 --> 00:21:24.065
- If you're joining us digitally, you can go grab a cup of water
- 00:21:24.065 --> 00:21:26.267
- And a saltine cracker.
- 00:21:26.267 --> 00:21:28.636
- You don't have to have a wafer with a religious symbol.
- 00:21:28.636 --> 00:21:32.440
- If you're in the room with us and you didn't get communion
- 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:34.608
- When you came in, there are ushers on the aisles.
- 00:21:34.608 --> 00:21:36.977
- They'll sell you some.
- 00:21:36.977 --> 00:21:38.913
- I'm kidding, kind of.
- 00:21:41.382 --> 00:21:46.620
- Communion is a tangible participation in the redemptive
- 00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:50.358
- Work of jesus.
- 00:21:50.358 --> 00:21:52.893
- He offered himself.
- 00:21:52.893 --> 00:21:54.295
- He took our punishment that we could have his blessings, a
- 00:21:54.295 --> 00:21:57.465
- Divine exchange.
- 00:21:57.465 --> 00:21:59.200
- And so as a community of faith, we, as a matter of routine, come
- 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:03.137
- To the communion table because as a matter of routine, we need
- 00:22:03.137 --> 00:22:07.074
- God's help.
- 00:22:07.074 --> 00:22:09.610
- And we need to understand we don't earn it, we don't deserve
- 00:22:09.610 --> 00:22:11.979
- It, we don't qualify for it.
- 00:22:11.979 --> 00:22:13.314
- It's not merit based.
- 00:22:13.314 --> 00:22:14.648
- It's by faith.
- 00:22:14.648 --> 00:22:17.118
- So i want to invite you to trust god.
- 00:22:17.118 --> 00:22:20.187
- Maybe you have to find a promise and begin to stand on that
- 00:22:20.187 --> 00:22:23.491
- Promise for your life, but he has given us--what did
- 00:22:23.491 --> 00:22:29.096
- Peter say?
- 00:22:29.096 --> 00:22:30.431
- Everything we need for life and godliness in his promises.
- 00:22:30.431 --> 00:22:36.704
- And then through the blood of jesus, we've been justified,
- 00:22:36.704 --> 00:22:40.274
- Made just as if we'd never sinned so we can qualify.
- 00:22:40.274 --> 00:22:45.379
- That's amazing.
- 00:22:45.379 --> 00:22:48.182
- So whatever needs you brought to this place tonight, in
- 00:22:48.182 --> 00:22:51.452
- Those--the elements of communion, you have a reminder
- 00:22:51.452 --> 00:22:53.721
- That the price has been paid so that you qualify for your sins
- 00:22:53.721 --> 00:22:57.825
- To be forgiven, to give you the power to make the choice to
- 00:22:57.825 --> 00:23:03.564
- Forgive those that you need to forgive, to turn loose of the
- 00:23:03.564 --> 00:23:07.034
- Hatred and the resentment, to receive healing in your body.
- 00:23:07.034 --> 00:23:13.007
- Now, how god brings healing is not your--you know, we want god
- 00:23:13.007 --> 00:23:15.843
- To do it our way.
- 00:23:15.843 --> 00:23:18.712
- God may choose to bring you--i had an injury one time, and the
- 00:23:18.712 --> 00:23:23.451
- Doctor said i needed immediate surgery, and i checked myself
- 00:23:23.451 --> 00:23:25.853
- Out of the hospital and said, "no.
- 00:23:25.853 --> 00:23:28.189
- God will heal me."
- 00:23:28.189 --> 00:23:30.357
- Arrogant is the word you're searching for.
- 00:23:30.357 --> 00:23:33.694
- God had provided a resolution for my physical problem, and i
- 00:23:33.694 --> 00:23:36.263
- Said, "no, i want god to do it my way."
- 00:23:36.263 --> 00:23:39.733
- Then i spent a weekend in a hotel and got some wise counsel.
- 00:23:39.733 --> 00:23:41.836
- And on monday with a great deal of more humility i called the
- 00:23:41.836 --> 00:23:44.371
- Doctor back and said, "if i checked back in, would you put
- 00:23:44.371 --> 00:23:48.542
- Me in the queue someplace?"
- 00:23:48.542 --> 00:23:51.312
- You know, how god wants to bring the healing is not--we're just
- 00:23:51.312 --> 00:23:54.348
- Going to trust him for our health, for our peace of mind.
- 00:23:54.348 --> 00:23:59.753
- Not an absence of conflict, but for peace, for wisdom.
- 00:23:59.753 --> 00:24:05.392
- Not a life free of complex challenges, for the wisdom to be
- 00:24:05.392 --> 00:24:08.696
- Triumphant in the midst of all those challenges.
- 00:24:08.696 --> 00:24:12.833
- He's made complete provision for us if we will trust him.
- 00:24:12.833 --> 00:24:18.639
- So we come as disciples.
- 00:24:22.176 --> 00:24:25.012
- Jesus himself put this in place for us with his own disciples
- 00:24:25.012 --> 00:24:29.283
- Before his betrayal, the evening of, before his crucifixion, the
- 00:24:29.283 --> 00:24:35.589
- Evening of his betrayal.
- 00:24:35.589 --> 00:24:37.591
- He took bread and he said, "this bread is my body broken for you.
- 00:24:37.591 --> 00:24:41.562
- As often as you eat this, do this in remembrance of me."
- 00:24:41.562 --> 00:24:44.999
- They haven't watched him on the cross yet, but it's going to
- 00:24:44.999 --> 00:24:47.501
- Become a very powerful part of their story in the months and
- 00:24:47.501 --> 00:24:50.971
- The years ahead.
- 00:24:50.971 --> 00:24:52.773
- So in that vein, we come as disciples to receive the bread,
- 00:24:52.773 --> 00:24:56.143
- To receive together.
- 00:24:56.143 --> 00:24:59.780
- And then he took a cup.
- 00:24:59.780 --> 00:25:02.116
- He said, "this cup is a new covenant, a new contract sealed
- 00:25:02.116 --> 00:25:04.685
- With my own blood.
- 00:25:04.685 --> 00:25:06.020
- As often as you drink it, you proclaim my death until you see
- 00:25:06.020 --> 00:25:08.756
- Me again."
- 00:25:08.756 --> 00:25:11.525
- Let's receive together.
- 00:25:11.525 --> 00:25:16.530
- Will you stand with me for this prayer?
- 00:25:20.401 --> 00:25:24.805
- Now, you know what you're believing the lord for.
- 00:25:28.876 --> 00:25:32.813
- Maybe it's an invitation to the spirit of god.
- 00:25:32.813 --> 00:25:35.816
- Maybe it's for healing, maybe it's for forgiveness.
- 00:25:35.816 --> 00:25:38.018
- Whatever it may be.
- 00:25:38.018 --> 00:25:40.621
- This isn't just the conclusion of the service.
- 00:25:40.621 --> 00:25:43.624
- This is a moment with the creator of all things.
- 00:25:43.624 --> 00:25:47.461
- Father, thank you for your word and its truth and its authority.
- 00:25:47.461 --> 00:25:51.999
- I thank you for your great love for us, for your provision in
- 00:25:51.999 --> 00:25:56.103
- Our lives, for the promises you've given us.
- 00:25:56.103 --> 00:25:58.305
- And, lord, we stand before you tonight to say thank you.
- 00:25:58.305 --> 00:26:03.811
- Thank you that we have access to the word of god.
- 00:26:03.811 --> 00:26:06.880
- Thank you that we can gather in a public place to worship you.
- 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:10.317
- Thank you for the freedom to tell our children about jesus.
- 00:26:10.317 --> 00:26:15.489
- Thank you for your abundant blessings in our lives.
- 00:26:15.489 --> 00:26:18.492
- And, lord, as we've received the bread and the cup tonight, we
- 00:26:18.492 --> 00:26:20.628
- Receive your life into our lives, your peace into our
- 00:26:20.628 --> 00:26:24.465
- Hearts and our minds, your forgiveness in our lives, your
- 00:26:24.465 --> 00:26:28.369
- Life and your strength into our bodies, your authority to
- 00:26:28.369 --> 00:26:32.306
- Overcome every attack of the enemy.
- 00:26:32.306 --> 00:26:36.343
- Thank you for your wisdom, that we might lead lives that reflect
- 00:26:36.343 --> 00:26:39.680
- Your wisdom and your thought, and not simply ours.
- 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:44.385
- We praise you tonight for what you're doing in the earth and
- 00:26:44.385 --> 00:26:47.187
- That you have called us to this unique season to bear the name
- 00:26:47.187 --> 00:26:50.524
- Of jesus.
- 00:26:50.524 --> 00:26:52.993
- Lord, help us.
- 00:26:52.993 --> 00:26:55.596
- May we stand in your strength and may nothing distract or
- 00:26:55.596 --> 00:26:58.999
- Diminish what you have created us for.
- 00:26:58.999 --> 00:27:03.170
- We thank you for the victory that is ours through jesus.
- 00:27:03.170 --> 00:27:06.540
- For it's in his name we pray and we believe, amen.
- 00:27:06.540 --> 00:27:11.545
- God bless you.
- 00:27:11.545 --> 00:27:13.747
- ♪♪♪
- 00:27:14.214 --> 00:27:27.327