Allen Jackson - God's Provision Is Necessary (Part 2)

January 24, 2025 | S25:E24

Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - God's Provision Is Necessary (Part 2) | January 24, 2025
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: it's an honor to be with you today.
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  • We're going to complete our study on the necessity of
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  • God's provision.
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  • Here's the idea.
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  • Lead a life big enough that without god's help you're sure
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  • To fail.
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  • No need to lead a small life so that you can manage it with your
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  • Own resources.
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  • Let's invite god into the midst of our home, our family, the
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  • Dreams he's given us, the creativity he's given us.
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  • Let's give our lives to a god-sized vision and then watch
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  • His provision change everything.
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  • Grab your bible and a notepad.
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  • Enjoy the lesson.
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  • Allen: philippians 4 invites us into this remarkable
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  • Declaration of god's total provision for our lives, his
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  • Complete and total provision.
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  • Philippians 4:6, "do not be anxious about anything--"
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  • Now, remember the topic--our goal here has to do with how do
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  • We have true peace of mind?
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  • And paul's writing to a philippian church.
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  • He happens to be writing from a prison cell in rome, oh, by
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  • The way.
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  • Do you think you can be peaceful in prison?
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  • Not because you are there because you deserve it, because
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  • You're there unjustly.
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  • See, the voices speaking to us in our culture right now are
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  • Demonic, because they say if you've been treated with
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  • Injustice, never be at peace.
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  • Be filled with anger, and resentment, and bitterness, and
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  • Hatred, and if necessary violence.
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  • Paul's writing from a roman prison cell.
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  • He says, "listen.
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  • Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
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  • Petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to god.
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  • And the peace of god, which transcends all understanding,
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  • Will guard your hearts and your minds in christ jesus."
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  • That's a fascinating passage to me.
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  • A peace of god which transcends, it exceeds,
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  • It's beyond understanding.
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  • You'll have a peace that is not rational.
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  • You'll have a peace that isn't about logic.
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  • You'll have a peace not because your resources are adequate, or
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  • Your strength is sufficient, or your contact list has a way of
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  • Combating the challenge.
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  • The presence of peace of god, which transcends all
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  • Understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds.
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  • Do you live with the imagination that your heart and your mind,
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  • Your emotions and your thoughts need guarded?
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  • Think of the messaging that washes over you in a course of
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  • A day.
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  • Think of the things that are said about how you should feel.
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  • It is dangerous to leave your mind empty.
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  • You want to learn to think about the lord.
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  • It's a habit i have cultivated in recent years.
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  • I'm not saying by any means i have achieved it, but i have
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  • Come to understand the value of taking scripture and putting it
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  • In my heart so that when there--i recognize the battle,
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  • You know when you get agitated, aggravated, frightened, anxious,
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  • Whatever label you need for that.
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  • I want passages of scripture at hand immediately.
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  • There are passages of scriptures i have said hundreds of times in
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  • Recent months.
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  • "bless the lord, oh, my soul, and all that is within me.
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  • Bless the lord, oh, my soul, and forget not all of his benefits.
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  • He redeemed--he forgives all my iniquities.
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  • He heals all my diseases.
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  • He redeems my life from the pit.
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  • He crowns my head with mercy and loving kindness.
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  • He satisfies me with good things so that my youth is renewed like
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  • The eagles."
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  • You try to get me agitated, you watch me start to say that.
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  • I intend to fill my mind with what the lord has said about me.
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  • Doesn't mean i don't have those battles.
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  • It means i want to load some things inside of me so i'm
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  • Prepared when i know i have to have the conflict.
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  • Philippians 4, same passage.
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  • Next verse is verse 8.
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  • "finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
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  • Whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
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  • Whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or
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  • Praiseworthy--think about such things."
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  • You see, in order to claim the promise, now, this is important,
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  • We have to meet the condition, because most of the promises of
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  • God are conditional.
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  • He's given the right for all of us to become children of god,
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  • But unless you believe in your heart and confess with your
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  • Mouth that jesus is lord, you will miss the kingdom of god.
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  • It's not just a free gift that's given to everybody.
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  • You have to meet the conditions.
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  • And to live in the peace of god, you have to meet the conditions.
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  • Paul outlined them for us, and he's modeling it for us from a
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  • Prison cell.
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  • He said, "be anxious for nothing."
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  • We have to reject the temptation to be anxious.
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  • Are there things in this world that should cause anxiety?
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  • You better believe it.
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  • So i encourage you don't spend too much time with your favorite
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  • News sources.
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  • You don't need 3 hours a day.
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  • Ten minutes is plenty.
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  • You spend 10 minutes listening or collecting the day's
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  • Activities, you're going to need 45 or 50 minutes to detox.
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  • It creates anxiety.
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  • Renounce anxiety.
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  • Don't defend it.
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  • Don't say, "it's just the way i am.
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  • You know, my people, we're just worriers."
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  • Let me help you with the language.
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  • Rather than that, just say, "you know, my people, we're
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  • Intentional sinners."
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  • You know, i find when we have an ungodly habit or tendency, we
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  • Like to drag the generations down that hole with us.
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  • Renounce anxiety.
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  • It's illogical to be anxious once you understand
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  • God's presence.
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  • It makes no sense.
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  • You're just intentionally siding with ungodliness.
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  • Be anxious for nothing.
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  • Secondly, pray about everything, which means there's one line
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  • You're going to have to lose.
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  • The one, "you know, i don't pray much."
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  • What do you mean you don't pray much?
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  • What do you do?
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  • "well, i'm kind of anxious."
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  • Oh. pray about everything.
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  • "well, i don't want to bother god."
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  • I do.
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  • I intend for god to like, "you again."
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  • "yes, sir.
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  • You said i could knock and keep on knocking and ask and keep on
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  • Knocking and i'm here knocking and asking.
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  • Me again.
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  • I mean, i want--is there an express lane, hov lane?
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  • Is there a fast pass?
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  • You tell me. i'm in here.
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  • It's me again. hello."
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  • Thirdly, always be thankful.
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  • Always be thankful. that's not easy.
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  • It's much easier to sometimes be angry or resentful.
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  • Always be thankful.
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  • We have to learn to pray with thanksgiving.
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  • I have discovered in my own experience that a thankful heart
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  • Is typically a peaceful heart.
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  • It's really difficult to be thankful and grumpy at the
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  • Same time.
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  • Ingratitude, the opposite of a thankful heart; ingratitude
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  • Fosters, gives rise to fear, to unrest, to anxiety.
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  • What do you see sweeping across not only our nation, but
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  • The world?
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  • Fear and anxiety.
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  • It's why i have so little tolerance for so much of the
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  • Leadership that we see expressed in our nation, because they sow
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  • In the hearts of the people they're trying to lead--unrest,
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  • Frustration, bitterness.
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  • They're doing it, trying to manipulate people to gain
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  • Support for themselves, for ungodly things.
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  • We have so much to be thankful for.
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  • Are we perfect? no, there is no perfect.
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  • If people are involved, it isn't perfect.
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  • But we have so much we should be thankful for in our history, in
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  • Our present.
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  • Always be thankful.
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  • Number four, invoke the holy spirit.
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  • We've been given permission to call upon the spirit of almighty
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  • God to help us.
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  • We ought to get really good at that.
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  • We'll call on everybody else.
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  • You'll go out on facebook and ask for recommendations for
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  • Everything under the sun, and you won't ask the holy spirit
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  • For help.
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  • You'll trust zuckerberg's algorithms before you'll trust
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  • The spirit of the living god.
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  • That's messed up.
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  • Invoke the holy spirit.
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  • Invite him into your life.
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  • Learn to recognize his voice.
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  • Learn to look for the positive, the edifying, the uplifting.
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  • Spend more time looking for what god's doing than looking at what
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  • The devil is doing.
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  • For every need that can arise, there are promises which enable
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  • Us to overcome the obstacles.
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  • Now, remember that, you know, we get impatient.
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  • I get impatient.
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  • Ah.
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  • Do you, or is that just me?
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  • Do you get impatient with the lord?
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  • You know, like, "i've prayed that same prayer now for 2 days.
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  • I've been to church five times in 3 weeks.
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  • Like, i'm expecting some major miracles here."
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  • I find i get so impatient with the lord.
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  • We don't pay much attention to the scripture.
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  • Joshua spent his life in pursuit of the conquest of the
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  • Promised land.
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  • It wasn't like a 2-week adventure, wasn't like summer
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  • Camp and then he got to go back to his day job.
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  • See, we've lacked the intent of really yielding our lives to
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  • The lord.
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  • We just want the lord to microwave our blessing so we can
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  • Get about our business and put him in the back seat again.
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  • I wonder what would happen if we really began to say, "lord, i
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  • Will serve you.
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  • I'll begin to think about you. i'll begin to yield to you.
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  • I'll pick up your priorities instead of mine."
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  • I would submit and i do it humbly, but we've only entered
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  • Into a small part of what god intends for us.
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  • A small part.
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  • I don't want my life to end and me just have taken one step
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  • Through the door of what god intended to be the grandest
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  • Adventure, and i don't want you to do that.
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  • What are we afraid of?
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  • That god's going to take something away from us?
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  • What do we have that god needs?
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  • What are we afraid of?
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  • What do we think he's going to limit?
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  • Our expressions of wickedness?
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  • He going to keep us from being immoral?
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  • Get a bit more honest.
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  • What is it exactly we think that more godliness is going to take
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  • From us that makes us hesitant?
  • 00:11:12.020 --> 00:11:16.291
  • We're living too far in the world.
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  • We're living with too little of the fear of god.
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  • We have far greater urgency for what we want and very little
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  • Urgency for what we imagine god might want.
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  • ♪♪♪
  • 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
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  • 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