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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Great Darkness, The Light, and The Truth (Part 2)

September 12, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Great Darkness, The Light, and The Truth (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#LightoftheWorld #RelationshipwithGod #WalkwithGod #TrustGod #WordofGod #Pastors #Christianity

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Great Darkness, The Light, and The Truth (Part 2) | September 12, 2025
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  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
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  • Allen jackson: you know, as a pastor, my job is to
  • 00:00:07.089 --> 00:00:08.590
  • Help people get to know the lord.
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  • That's really the goal of what i engage in most days.
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  • Well, i've got a concept i wanna suggest to you.
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  • Begin to think about jesus as your friend.
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  • I don't mean that in an overly casual way, in a presumptive
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  • Way, but in my life, most of my best memories, most of the
  • 00:00:22.137 --> 00:00:25.641
  • Highlights in my life involve friends,
  • 00:00:25.641 --> 00:00:28.110
  • People i enjoy being with.
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  • They make places and opportunities and seasons and
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  • Holidays a lot more pleasant, something you look forward to.
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  • Well, rather than think about our faith in terms of something
  • 00:00:36.652 --> 00:00:38.921
  • That's austere and judgmental and rules based and critical,
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  • What if we imagined jesus is our friend?
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  • I wanna be his friend.
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  • I wanna do the things that please him.
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  • I want to engage in activities that he cares about.
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  • I wanna stay out of the things that he's warned me against.
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  • I wanna live my life as his friend.
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  • That was his designation, not mine.
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  • Well, i've written a book to help you imagine that.
  • 00:01:00.843 --> 00:01:02.911
  • It'll change your faith.
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  • It'll bring a new joy to your faith.
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  • I think it'll be a blessing.
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  • Allen jackson: one of the great challenges of our generation has
  • 00:01:09.084 --> 00:01:13.088
  • To do with men and women.
  • 00:01:13.088 --> 00:01:16.358
  • They've been pushing the narrative for so long now,
  • 00:01:16.358 --> 00:01:18.494
  • We have arrived at the point of total absurdity.
  • 00:01:18.494 --> 00:01:21.930
  • Women's rights have been elevated to the point that they
  • 00:01:21.930 --> 00:01:24.199
  • No longer have any, that the men are invited to compete alongside
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  • The women.
  • 00:01:28.770 --> 00:01:30.105
  • And if you say that makes no sense, you are wrong.
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  • Those who have advocated for women's rights throughout the
  • 00:01:34.009 --> 00:01:36.078
  • Course of my lifetime have lost all credibility, and i think
  • 00:01:36.078 --> 00:01:40.516
  • A biblical perspective would be helpful on this.
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  • The bible gives us a very clear and detailed presentation on the
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  • Great impact of women.
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  • And spoiler alert: it's not about being just like men.
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  • It's not in your notes.
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  • I got the deluxe copy.
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  • I wanna submit to all of you that god has created you with a
  • 00:02:06.542 --> 00:02:10.245
  • Unique role, specially prepared for kingdom assignments;
  • 00:02:10.245 --> 00:02:14.149
  • The significant role of women's in god's purposes, if you'll
  • 00:02:14.149 --> 00:02:17.085
  • Allow me just a moment.
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  • The words we use are words like woman, wife, mother,
  • 00:02:18.854 --> 00:02:21.490
  • Grandmother, sister; they're all words or labels which are
  • 00:02:21.490 --> 00:02:25.894
  • Intended to unify and bring people together, it's a very
  • 00:02:25.894 --> 00:02:29.731
  • Important assignment.
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  • Unfortunately, they have often become words that bring division
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  • In our current cultural landscape.
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  • It is terribly unfortunate for our homes, our families, our
  • 00:02:36.872 --> 00:02:40.275
  • Lives and our communities.
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  • There's a couple of things that we need to remember
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  • From scripture.
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  • You'll know these ideas, i hope, when you're reminded is that
  • 00:02:46.715 --> 00:02:50.352
  • When god looked at creation and he said, "it was not good that
  • 00:02:50.352 --> 00:02:52.921
  • Man was alone."
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  • Women were god's idea.
  • 00:02:55.824 --> 00:03:01.597
  • Creation was incomplete without their presence.
  • 00:03:01.597 --> 00:03:05.200
  • So, it's a legitimate deduction that women are of great value in
  • 00:03:05.200 --> 00:03:09.104
  • God's sight.
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  • Now, god has assigned us differing roles.
  • 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:13.442
  • I know that causes some to gnash their teeth, but it's not lesser
  • 00:03:13.442 --> 00:03:17.846
  • Or greater, he's assigned us different roles together.
  • 00:03:17.846 --> 00:03:23.352
  • We're not all the same.
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  • If the government made us, we'd all be the same.
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  • Same height, same accent.
  • 00:03:27.155 --> 00:03:34.696
  • Women will not be stronger if they succeed in weakening men,
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  • It's a myth.
  • 00:03:39.301 --> 00:03:42.070
  • It's a very popular one, and tragically, it's been
  • 00:03:42.070 --> 00:03:46.074
  • Very effective.
  • 00:03:46.074 --> 00:03:48.477
  • Women are identified throughout scripture in some very
  • 00:03:48.477 --> 00:03:51.113
  • Significant roles.
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  • Eve is a central figure in the genesis narrative.
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  • The nature of scripture changes in genesis, chapter 12, when god
  • 00:03:58.754 --> 00:04:02.024
  • Calls abram, says, "i wanna make a covenant with you that will
  • 00:04:02.024 --> 00:04:04.559
  • Bless all people."
  • 00:04:04.559 --> 00:04:05.961
  • And sarah, abraham's wife, is at the center of the emerging
  • 00:04:05.961 --> 00:04:08.930
  • Purposes of god.
  • 00:04:08.930 --> 00:04:11.266
  • There is no fulfillment of god's covenant to abram without the
  • 00:04:11.266 --> 00:04:14.102
  • Involvement of sarah.
  • 00:04:14.102 --> 00:04:16.538
  • Mary, and moses sister, was a significant leader during the
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  • Exodus in the wilderness years.
  • 00:04:19.441 --> 00:04:21.943
  • Hannah's prayers resulted in the story of her son samuel, a very
  • 00:04:21.943 --> 00:04:26.548
  • Important figure in the biblical narrative.
  • 00:04:26.548 --> 00:04:29.284
  • Deborah was a judge, a leader over israel.
  • 00:04:29.284 --> 00:04:31.620
  • You're reading those chapters these days.
  • 00:04:31.620 --> 00:04:34.256
  • Huldah was the prophetess who was an important part of the
  • 00:04:34.256 --> 00:04:37.726
  • Story of josiah's reform.
  • 00:04:37.726 --> 00:04:39.695
  • Josiah was a young man, a king in judah, one of the greatest
  • 00:04:39.695 --> 00:04:44.032
  • Reformers in all the history of that nation.
  • 00:04:44.032 --> 00:04:48.003
  • And god sent a woman to help.
  • 00:04:48.003 --> 00:04:49.638
  • In fairness, perhaps, the most wicked of all israel's rulers
  • 00:04:49.638 --> 00:04:53.942
  • Was a woman, jezebel.
  • 00:04:53.942 --> 00:04:58.714
  • Women are not excluded from those who oppose god and
  • 00:04:58.714 --> 00:05:01.650
  • His people.
  • 00:05:01.650 --> 00:05:04.286
  • Noadiah, the prophetess, sought to intimidate nehemiah when he
  • 00:05:04.286 --> 00:05:07.356
  • Was rebuilding jerusalem's walls.
  • 00:05:07.356 --> 00:05:11.793
  • More familiar to us is mary, jesus's mother.
  • 00:05:11.793 --> 00:05:14.229
  • She's a pivotal figure in the story of redemption.
  • 00:05:14.229 --> 00:05:17.432
  • A young woman who willingly embraces god's purpose for her
  • 00:05:17.432 --> 00:05:20.469
  • Life, pushing aside all the awkwardness of the role, all the
  • 00:05:20.469 --> 00:05:25.240
  • Things that would intimidate and frustrate and even humiliate;
  • 00:05:25.240 --> 00:05:28.310
  • She believes god.
  • 00:05:28.310 --> 00:05:30.612
  • Mary's role is far more prominent in the gospels
  • 00:05:30.612 --> 00:05:32.948
  • Than joseph.
  • 00:05:32.948 --> 00:05:34.282
  • Mary is present all the way through the crucifixion, the
  • 00:05:34.282 --> 00:05:36.785
  • Resurrection, and the establishment of the church
  • 00:05:36.785 --> 00:05:38.920
  • After jesus's ascension.
  • 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:42.224
  • There's anna, the prophetess, who was one of the first to
  • 00:05:42.224 --> 00:05:44.292
  • Recognize the infant jesus as the fulfillment of
  • 00:05:44.292 --> 00:05:46.728
  • God's promise.
  • 00:05:46.728 --> 00:05:48.363
  • It was the women who were the last to leave jesus's tomb after
  • 00:05:48.363 --> 00:05:51.133
  • The crucifixion.
  • 00:05:51.133 --> 00:05:52.467
  • It was the women who first discovered the resurrection.
  • 00:05:52.467 --> 00:05:54.603
  • It was the marys who first encountered the living jesus.
  • 00:05:54.603 --> 00:05:58.874
  • Lydia was a businesswoman, was at the beginning of the church
  • 00:05:58.874 --> 00:06:02.511
  • In philippi.
  • 00:06:02.511 --> 00:06:03.879
  • Priscilla was an important part of the team of church planners
  • 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:06.681
  • That occupy the book of acts.
  • 00:06:06.681 --> 00:06:08.650
  • 2 john is addressed to a woman.
  • 00:06:08.650 --> 00:06:10.619
  • Timothy is reminded that he inherited a faith which had
  • 00:06:10.619 --> 00:06:13.121
  • Originated with his grandmother and mother.
  • 00:06:13.121 --> 00:06:19.594
  • So, they say to us, in many segments of academia, "is the
  • 00:06:19.594 --> 00:06:23.832
  • Bible, a patriarchal book?"
  • 00:06:23.832 --> 00:06:29.471
  • Well, that's one way of understanding.
  • 00:06:29.471 --> 00:06:31.673
  • I could also suggest it's very much a story of women, and if
  • 00:06:31.673 --> 00:06:36.445
  • You allow me to make a suggestion, rather than be angry
  • 00:06:36.445 --> 00:06:38.880
  • For what it's not, what if we celebrate the value of women in
  • 00:06:38.880 --> 00:06:42.517
  • God's unfolding purposes?
  • 00:06:42.517 --> 00:06:45.353
  • Just what if?
  • 00:06:45.353 --> 00:06:47.823
  • The pathway to freedom and wholeness begins at the cross
  • 00:06:47.823 --> 00:06:50.292
  • Of jesus.
  • 00:06:50.292 --> 00:06:51.660
  • He is our righteousness, our holiness, and our redemption.
  • 00:06:51.660 --> 00:06:55.697
  • Yielding to jesus is the certain path of liberty.
  • 00:06:55.697 --> 00:07:00.702
  • Women have suffered at the hands of wicked and ungodly men.
  • 00:07:00.702 --> 00:07:04.806
  • That is true, but the larger truth is that people suffer at
  • 00:07:04.806 --> 00:07:09.411
  • The hands of wicked and ungodly people.
  • 00:07:09.411 --> 00:07:13.215
  • Jesus remains the best solution to confronting human evil.
  • 00:07:13.215 --> 00:07:17.819
  • We are advocates for jesus and the redemption of human life,
  • 00:07:17.819 --> 00:07:21.490
  • Which he makes possible.
  • 00:07:21.490 --> 00:07:25.727
  • We, i, am most grateful for the moms and all the women which god
  • 00:07:25.727 --> 00:07:30.899
  • Has placed in our lives.
  • 00:07:30.899 --> 00:07:34.569
  • When we begin to choose which sins we will identify and which
  • 00:07:34.569 --> 00:07:38.640
  • Ones we will ignore, we inevitably begin a descent into
  • 00:07:38.640 --> 00:07:42.677
  • Ungodliness, and we have been guilty.
  • 00:07:42.677 --> 00:07:48.617
  • Violence against women has been identified as unacceptable,
  • 00:07:48.617 --> 00:07:53.255
  • As i believe it should be.
  • 00:07:53.255 --> 00:07:55.924
  • On the other hand, violence against the vulnerable child
  • 00:07:55.924 --> 00:07:58.593
  • Before birth, is said to be a matter of choice, and i believe
  • 00:07:58.593 --> 00:08:05.300
  • That's evil.
  • 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:08.336
  • And on that front, we desperately need the voice of
  • 00:08:08.336 --> 00:08:10.739
  • Women; not uniquely so, but importantly so.
  • 00:08:10.739 --> 00:08:20.916
  • I pulled up a few passages of scripture.
  • 00:08:20.982 --> 00:08:24.152
  • I wanted to see the great influence of women in the
  • 00:08:24.152 --> 00:08:26.187
  • Unfolding story of god because i wanted to embolden you that your
  • 00:08:26.187 --> 00:08:32.093
  • Voice matters, that your role matters, not just to model the
  • 00:08:32.093 --> 00:08:38.133
  • Behavior and the attitudes of men, but to understand the
  • 00:08:38.133 --> 00:08:42.170
  • Significance god has attached to you and his purposes.
  • 00:08:42.170 --> 00:08:45.941
  • In 1 samuel, chapters 1 and 2, we're introduced to hannah.
  • 00:08:45.941 --> 00:08:50.879
  • Hannah, at the point we meet her, is barren and she's
  • 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:53.281
  • Brokenhearted because she's childless.
  • 00:08:53.281 --> 00:08:56.985
  • And she's caught by the priest, when they visit the tabernacle
  • 00:08:56.985 --> 00:09:00.021
  • At shiloh, weeping, and he assumes wrongly that
  • 00:09:00.021 --> 00:09:05.060
  • She's inebriated.
  • 00:09:05.060 --> 00:09:09.064
  • It's a fancy word for "drunk."
  • 00:09:09.064 --> 00:09:12.334
  • And when he chastises her for her lack of character, she
  • 00:09:12.334 --> 00:09:16.371
  • Corrects him and tells him that she's grieving because
  • 00:09:16.371 --> 00:09:21.109
  • She's childless.
  • 00:09:21.109 --> 00:09:22.911
  • And he says she'll conceive.
  • 00:09:22.911 --> 00:09:25.647
  • And hannah makes a promise that were she to conceive and have
  • 00:09:25.647 --> 00:09:28.583
  • A son, that she would give him to the service of the lord; and
  • 00:09:28.583 --> 00:09:35.490
  • Lo and behold, she conceives.
  • 00:09:35.490 --> 00:09:38.460
  • In 1 samuel, chapter 2, you have it there, it says, "each year
  • 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:41.162
  • His mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she
  • 00:09:41.162 --> 00:09:44.232
  • Went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.
  • 00:09:44.232 --> 00:09:48.169
  • And eli, the priest, would bless elkanah and his wife and say,
  • 00:09:48.169 --> 00:09:51.940
  • 'may the lord give you children by this woman to take the place
  • 00:09:51.940 --> 00:09:54.542
  • Of the one she prayed for and gave to the lord.'
  • 00:09:54.542 --> 00:09:57.912
  • And they would go home."
  • 00:09:57.912 --> 00:10:00.682
  • I can read that story and it, that the language is plain, the
  • 00:10:00.682 --> 00:10:04.052
  • Ideas are clear, the patterns, you know, it's not difficult to
  • 00:10:04.052 --> 00:10:08.223
  • Understand, but it's impossible for me to get my head around.
  • 00:10:08.223 --> 00:10:13.361
  • She's brokenhearted because of her life circumstance, and she
  • 00:10:13.361 --> 00:10:15.864
  • Asked god to fulfill her prayer, and to let her conceive, and she
  • 00:10:15.864 --> 00:10:18.967
  • Does and she says, "i will give the boy to serve the lord all of
  • 00:10:18.967 --> 00:10:22.037
  • His life."
  • 00:10:22.037 --> 00:10:25.807
  • Children are not pets.
  • 00:10:25.807 --> 00:10:28.843
  • God doesn't give them to us to validate our self-worth.
  • 00:10:28.843 --> 00:10:33.181
  • He doesn't entrust them to our care so that we will feel
  • 00:10:33.181 --> 00:10:36.184
  • More complete.
  • 00:10:36.184 --> 00:10:39.654
  • He gives us an assignment to see that they grow strong, body,
  • 00:10:39.654 --> 00:10:44.659
  • Soul, and spirit, and learn to serve the lord all the days of
  • 00:10:44.659 --> 00:10:48.463
  • Their lives.
  • 00:10:48.463 --> 00:10:52.634
  • Allen: hey, i've written a new book.
  • 00:10:56.471 --> 00:10:57.939
  • It's called "my friend jesus."
  • 00:10:57.939 --> 00:10:59.741
  • You know, i'm a pastor--a lot of ritual,
  • 00:10:59.741 --> 00:11:01.810
  • Tradition, a lot of formality in the way we know god.
  • 00:11:01.810 --> 00:11:05.213
  • It's not bad.
  • 00:11:05.213 --> 00:11:06.548
  • There's some good things in that,
  • 00:11:06.548 --> 00:11:07.949
  • But when i'm in real trouble or i have something i wanna
  • 00:11:07.949 --> 00:11:09.884
  • Celebrate, i call a friend.
  • 00:11:09.884 --> 00:11:12.020
  • Well, i wanna live my life with jesus of nazareth as my friend.
  • 00:11:12.020 --> 00:11:15.423
  • It changes everything in both celebration
  • 00:11:15.423 --> 00:11:18.259
  • And when there's a problem.
  • 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:19.594
  • Wrote the book to help.
  • 00:11:19.594 --> 00:11:20.929
  • I think it'll open your life to god in a more personal,
  • 00:11:20.929 --> 00:11:23.364
  • Transformational way than ever before.
  • 00:11:23.364 --> 00:11:26.134
  • Enjoy the book.
  • 00:11:26.134 --> 00:11:27.469
  • Female announcer: in his book,
  • 00:11:27.469 --> 00:11:28.803
  • "my friend jesus," pastor allen shares how friendship with jesus
  • 00:11:28.803 --> 00:11:31.339
  • Brings clarity, strength, and peace in every part of life.
  • 00:11:31.339 --> 00:11:35.210
  • This isn't about following a religion or religious rules.
  • 00:11:35.210 --> 00:11:38.580
  • It's about cultivating a cherished relationship that will
  • 00:11:38.580 --> 00:11:41.082
  • Help your faith become more personal,
  • 00:11:41.082 --> 00:11:43.418
  • More joyful, and more powerful each day.
  • 00:11:43.418 --> 00:11:46.287
  • Request "my friend jesus" with your donation of $25 or more
  • 00:11:46.287 --> 00:11:50.125
  • Today at allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:11:50.125 --> 00:11:55.864
  • Allen: in matthew, chapter 20, we have a little different
  • 00:11:59.734 --> 00:12:01.636
  • Influence of a mom, the mother of zebedee's sons.
  • 00:12:01.636 --> 00:12:05.707
  • This is james and john, two of jesus's disciples, two of those
  • 00:12:05.707 --> 00:12:08.943
  • Closest to him.
  • 00:12:08.943 --> 00:12:10.779
  • Their mother came to jesus with her sons, and she knelt down and
  • 00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:13.515
  • Asked a favor.
  • 00:12:13.515 --> 00:12:15.517
  • And jesus said, "what do you want?"
  • 00:12:15.517 --> 00:12:17.051
  • And she said, "well, grant that these two sons of mine may sit
  • 00:12:17.051 --> 00:12:19.754
  • At your right hand on your left and your kingdom."
  • 00:12:19.754 --> 00:12:23.591
  • Well, there you go, mom.
  • 00:12:23.591 --> 00:12:26.327
  • Why not just put it all on the table?
  • 00:12:26.327 --> 00:12:29.564
  • "i mean, i know you recruited a dozen, but let my boys have the
  • 00:12:29.564 --> 00:12:33.034
  • Premium seats.
  • 00:12:33.034 --> 00:12:35.670
  • Tell peter to go to the back."
  • 00:12:35.670 --> 00:12:41.176
  • It's in the book and she took the boys with her.
  • 00:12:41.176 --> 00:12:47.882
  • I don't know, how it really played out in my mind, they're
  • 00:12:47.882 --> 00:12:50.451
  • Both rolling their eyes, "here goes mom again."
  • 00:12:50.451 --> 00:12:58.359
  • And then, jesus said something that's pretty startling to me,
  • 00:12:58.359 --> 00:13:02.997
  • He said, "you don't understand what you're asking.
  • 00:13:02.997 --> 00:13:04.866
  • Can they drink the cup i'm going to drink?"
  • 00:13:04.866 --> 00:13:06.534
  • Now, we have the benefit of hindsight, we're reading this
  • 00:13:06.534 --> 00:13:08.469
  • After the fact.
  • 00:13:08.469 --> 00:13:11.472
  • And they, in their zeal, which leads me to believe this was
  • 00:13:11.472 --> 00:13:14.509
  • A conspiracy amongst all of them, not just mom.
  • 00:13:14.509 --> 00:13:17.912
  • The boys speak up and say, "oh no, we can.
  • 00:13:17.912 --> 00:13:20.949
  • Any cup you're drinking, we're drinking."
  • 00:13:20.949 --> 00:13:25.286
  • And jesus said, "okay."
  • 00:13:25.286 --> 00:13:28.590
  • At least, by church tradition, they died martyrs' deaths.
  • 00:13:28.590 --> 00:13:33.862
  • What's the word we would use for that?
  • 00:13:33.862 --> 00:13:35.230
  • How would we label that behavior?
  • 00:13:35.230 --> 00:13:36.598
  • Selfish ambition?
  • 00:13:36.598 --> 00:13:39.567
  • You know, parents, we're susceptible to that.
  • 00:13:39.567 --> 00:13:43.404
  • We feel very justified when it's our child.
  • 00:13:43.404 --> 00:13:49.844
  • We just want them to be all they can be.
  • 00:13:49.844 --> 00:13:53.147
  • We wanna help them get a half a step ahead.
  • 00:13:53.147 --> 00:13:57.385
  • We need to yield our children to the lord, and ask for his help
  • 00:13:57.385 --> 00:14:04.125
  • And how we shepherd their young lives.
  • 00:14:04.125 --> 00:14:09.297
  • Mom was very involved in a future for those young men.
  • 00:14:09.297 --> 00:14:13.167
  • It was extraordinarily difficult.
  • 00:14:13.167 --> 00:14:16.571
  • We go to the other end of the spectrum, mark, chapter 6, when
  • 00:14:16.571 --> 00:14:20.842
  • The daughter of herodias came in and danced.
  • 00:14:20.842 --> 00:14:24.445
  • Herod has married his brother's wife, and john the baptist has
  • 00:14:24.445 --> 00:14:28.983
  • Expressed his opinion very publicly.
  • 00:14:28.983 --> 00:14:32.887
  • For all those people who say we shouldn't talk about current
  • 00:14:32.887 --> 00:14:35.390
  • Events, when we're at the people of god, i would remind them of
  • 00:14:35.390 --> 00:14:38.526
  • John the baptist.
  • 00:14:38.526 --> 00:14:39.894
  • John could have lived to have been a much older man if he
  • 00:14:39.894 --> 00:14:42.797
  • Would have done a polite bible study on abraham.
  • 00:14:42.797 --> 00:14:47.235
  • It was his comments on the ruler of the region where he lived and
  • 00:14:47.235 --> 00:14:51.239
  • His immorality that cost him a great deal, and when jesus was
  • 00:14:51.239 --> 00:14:55.944
  • Told of john, he said there was no one greater than john in the
  • 00:14:55.944 --> 00:14:59.480
  • Kingdom of god.
  • 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:02.483
  • He didn't stop there.
  • 00:15:02.483 --> 00:15:03.851
  • He said, "what did you go in the desert to see?
  • 00:15:03.851 --> 00:15:06.187
  • Did you go to see a reed that was swayed by the wind?"
  • 00:15:06.187 --> 00:15:09.457
  • He said, "i think not.
  • 00:15:09.457 --> 00:15:12.994
  • Did you go to see someone who was concerned about fashion?
  • 00:15:12.994 --> 00:15:17.498
  • I don't think so," he said.
  • 00:15:17.498 --> 00:15:19.734
  • He had nothing but commendation for john, but this is the, this
  • 00:15:19.734 --> 00:15:26.908
  • Is the turn in the story that will cost john his life.
  • 00:15:26.908 --> 00:15:30.011
  • The daughter of herodias came in and danced.
  • 00:15:30.011 --> 00:15:32.080
  • She pleased herod and the dinner guests and the king said, "ask
  • 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:35.483
  • Me anything you want and i'll give it to you."
  • 00:15:35.483 --> 00:15:37.185
  • And she went out and said to her mother, "what shall i ask for?"
  • 00:15:37.185 --> 00:15:41.189
  • And her mother said, "the head of john the baptist.
  • 00:15:41.189 --> 00:15:49.897
  • Shut down my antagonist.
  • 00:15:49.897 --> 00:15:52.767
  • Shut down the man that's reminding me of my immorality.
  • 00:15:52.767 --> 00:15:57.205
  • Shut down the voice that's reminding me of my own lack
  • 00:15:57.205 --> 00:16:00.942
  • Of character."
  • 00:16:00.942 --> 00:16:03.011
  • Imagine a mother that would give that counsel to her daughter.
  • 00:16:03.011 --> 00:16:09.317
  • Parents have a very important role.
  • 00:16:09.317 --> 00:16:13.388
  • John, chapter 2, "on the third day," it's one of my favorite
  • 00:16:13.388 --> 00:16:16.057
  • Jesus stories, "there's a wedding in cana of galilee, and
  • 00:16:16.057 --> 00:16:19.494
  • Jesus's mother was there, and jesus and his disciples
  • 00:16:19.494 --> 00:16:21.863
  • Were there."
  • 00:16:21.863 --> 00:16:23.197
  • The wine's gone, and jesus mother said, "they have no
  • 00:16:23.197 --> 00:16:25.466
  • More wine."
  • 00:16:25.466 --> 00:16:26.834
  • You know the story.
  • 00:16:26.834 --> 00:16:28.169
  • Jesus looks at his mom and says, "none of my business.
  • 00:16:28.169 --> 00:16:31.839
  • I got these disciples here, you think that's not enough of
  • 00:16:31.839 --> 00:16:34.442
  • A miracle?"
  • 00:16:34.442 --> 00:16:37.345
  • And mary doesn't argue with jesus, she simply says to the
  • 00:16:37.345 --> 00:16:39.847
  • Servants, "just do whatever he tells you."
  • 00:16:39.847 --> 00:16:44.419
  • The gospel writers don't give us, really, any clues about any
  • 00:16:44.419 --> 00:16:47.121
  • Miracles other than the circumstances of jesus's birth
  • 00:16:47.121 --> 00:16:50.458
  • That would cause mary to understand, but it's very clear
  • 00:16:50.458 --> 00:16:53.361
  • She understands.
  • 00:16:53.361 --> 00:16:54.729
  • Jesus has the ability to intervene, and she
  • 00:16:54.729 --> 00:16:58.399
  • Prompts jesus.
  • 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:00.768
  • And jesus doesn't seem overly enthusiastic, so, she turns to
  • 00:17:00.768 --> 00:17:03.604
  • The servants and said, "listen, whatever he says, whatever
  • 00:17:03.604 --> 00:17:08.309
  • He says."
  • 00:17:08.309 --> 00:17:10.278
  • He had them draw water, it's a difficult task.
  • 00:17:10.278 --> 00:17:14.248
  • And then, take water to the bridegroom, the one officiating
  • 00:17:14.248 --> 00:17:18.152
  • Over the wedding, he's expecting wine and we're taking water.
  • 00:17:18.152 --> 00:17:22.256
  • The bible doesn't tell us where the miracle took place; that
  • 00:17:22.256 --> 00:17:24.659
  • Intrigues me.
  • 00:17:24.659 --> 00:17:26.594
  • When they dipped it out of the jugs, did they know they
  • 00:17:26.594 --> 00:17:29.630
  • Had wine?
  • 00:17:29.630 --> 00:17:31.099
  • If they did, they giggled all the way up to the head table.
  • 00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:35.970
  • If they didn't, they drew straws, and the one who lost has
  • 00:17:35.970 --> 00:17:38.840
  • To take it to the head table.
  • 00:17:38.840 --> 00:17:42.677
  • You see, we have to decide what kind of people we're going
  • 00:17:42.677 --> 00:17:45.079
  • To be.
  • 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:46.447
  • We want leaders.
  • 00:17:46.447 --> 00:17:47.782
  • We want to put people in a white house, or the halls of congress,
  • 00:17:47.782 --> 00:17:49.650
  • Or the governor's mansion, or in courtrooms, or hospital
  • 00:17:49.650 --> 00:17:52.620
  • Corridors, someplace.
  • 00:17:52.620 --> 00:17:53.988
  • We want people to have the authority to make our
  • 00:17:53.988 --> 00:17:56.257
  • Culture better.
  • 00:17:56.257 --> 00:17:59.260
  • And i'm asking you if we're willing to be the people that'll
  • 00:17:59.260 --> 00:18:01.496
  • Make it better at our kitchen tables, and when our families
  • 00:18:01.496 --> 00:18:05.399
  • Get together?
  • 00:18:05.399 --> 00:18:10.938
  • There's a relationship between rights and responsibilities.
  • 00:18:10.938 --> 00:18:14.876
  • And if you ignore the relationship, you will destroy
  • 00:18:14.876 --> 00:18:17.612
  • Your freedom.
  • 00:18:17.612 --> 00:18:20.381
  • American women have achieved tremendous freedom and
  • 00:18:20.381 --> 00:18:22.650
  • Opportunity; particularly, if you consider our existence on
  • 00:18:22.650 --> 00:18:26.454
  • A global scale or a historical perspective.
  • 00:18:26.454 --> 00:18:30.024
  • I wanna ask you to be willing to use your influence for the
  • 00:18:30.024 --> 00:18:32.727
  • Purposes of the kingdom of god, and not primarily for the
  • 00:18:32.727 --> 00:18:37.131
  • Accumulation of further rights.
  • 00:18:37.131 --> 00:18:40.268
  • God is a just god, and justice comes from him.
  • 00:18:40.268 --> 00:18:45.840
  • Matthew 6:33, jesus said, "seek first his kingdom and his
  • 00:18:45.840 --> 00:18:50.778
  • Righteousness, and all of these things will be given to you
  • 00:18:50.778 --> 00:18:53.748
  • As well."
  • 00:18:53.748 --> 00:18:56.450
  • I think we've been motivated by too many of the same factors
  • 00:18:56.450 --> 00:18:59.587
  • That motivate a secular culture.
  • 00:18:59.587 --> 00:19:02.657
  • I think we bought into the same lies and we've allowed much of
  • 00:19:02.657 --> 00:19:06.694
  • The propaganda to influence our hearts and our minds, and in so
  • 00:19:06.694 --> 00:19:10.898
  • Doing, we've walked in the darkness.
  • 00:19:10.898 --> 00:19:14.168
  • And i believe god has given us a unique opportunity to turn up
  • 00:19:14.168 --> 00:19:17.171
  • The light.
  • 00:19:17.171 --> 00:19:19.140
  • You choose the lord.
  • 00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:21.475
  • Make jesus the priority of your life.
  • 00:19:21.475 --> 00:19:25.513
  • I was reminded this week, in a very poignant way and a very
  • 00:19:25.513 --> 00:19:28.816
  • Personal way, of these ideas.
  • 00:19:28.816 --> 00:19:33.421
  • My mom was from another generation.
  • 00:19:33.421 --> 00:19:36.123
  • She went to a one-room schoolhouse.
  • 00:19:36.123 --> 00:19:39.927
  • For a portion of her life, her family had an outhouse.
  • 00:19:39.927 --> 00:19:45.900
  • There was really nothing in her story that would commend her
  • 00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:48.603
  • To significance.
  • 00:19:48.603 --> 00:19:50.938
  • She never occupied platforms and stadiums, or worked on the other
  • 00:19:50.938 --> 00:19:55.610
  • Side of the lens.
  • 00:19:55.610 --> 00:19:58.112
  • She didn't have an imagination of social media and being
  • 00:19:58.112 --> 00:20:01.182
  • An influencer.
  • 00:20:01.182 --> 00:20:09.056
  • She didn't even have the momentum, as a young person,
  • 00:20:09.056 --> 00:20:13.728
  • A young adult, a young married person, having a vibrant faith;
  • 00:20:13.728 --> 00:20:19.467
  • They were more vibrant pagans.
  • 00:20:19.467 --> 00:20:23.771
  • And she met jesus and i truly can't explain all that happened
  • 00:20:23.771 --> 00:20:29.877
  • After that, other than as an observer, she attached a value
  • 00:20:29.877 --> 00:20:33.614
  • To people.
  • 00:20:33.614 --> 00:20:35.583
  • Not great groups of people, but individuals.
  • 00:20:35.583 --> 00:20:39.820
  • And what captured my attention this week was the multiplied
  • 00:20:39.820 --> 00:20:42.556
  • Thousands of people who raised their hands and said, "my life
  • 00:20:42.556 --> 00:20:45.893
  • Was changed."
  • 00:20:45.893 --> 00:20:47.962
  • The calls came from africa and the middle east.
  • 00:20:47.962 --> 00:20:51.265
  • The message just came from asia and across middle tennessee.
  • 00:20:51.265 --> 00:20:55.970
  • Not that they'd heard her speak to some massive crowd, but
  • 00:20:55.970 --> 00:20:59.774
  • Everybody said the same thing: "i felt like i mattered to her."
  • 00:20:59.774 --> 00:21:05.579
  • I want to ask you to consider choosing the truth in your life
  • 00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:09.617
  • That way.
  • 00:21:09.617 --> 00:21:11.719
  • Extend the hope of jesus to other people.
  • 00:21:11.719 --> 00:21:14.955
  • Listen.
  • 00:21:14.955 --> 00:21:16.624
  • Have the courage to believe.
  • 00:21:16.624 --> 00:21:19.527
  • Faith wasn't theoretical to my mom.
  • 00:21:19.527 --> 00:21:22.730
  • You know, many of you have engaged with, "let's pray."
  • 00:21:22.730 --> 00:21:26.200
  • Folks, that was not something i imagined, that was something
  • 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:30.838
  • Pounded into my brothers and i from the time we could walk.
  • 00:21:30.838 --> 00:21:35.710
  • We were embarrassed more often than not by my mom in the most
  • 00:21:35.710 --> 00:21:39.447
  • Improbable setting saying, "well, let's pray."
  • 00:21:39.447 --> 00:21:42.783
  • Then we're thinking, "no, let's don't.
  • 00:21:42.783 --> 00:21:46.287
  • Let's just order food, or get the car washed, or buy
  • 00:21:46.287 --> 00:21:49.757
  • A doughnut, or get school clothes."
  • 00:21:49.757 --> 00:21:53.127
  • But "oh god, no, let's pray."
  • 00:21:53.127 --> 00:22:00.468
  • You can do that. we can do that.
  • 00:22:00.468 --> 00:22:06.140
  • Stop raging against the darkness, turn up the light.
  • 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:10.444
  • Stop waiting for someone else to have the courage to confront
  • 00:22:10.444 --> 00:22:13.681
  • The darkness.
  • 00:22:13.681 --> 00:22:15.049
  • Ask the spirit of god to give you the courage to confront the
  • 00:22:15.049 --> 00:22:17.518
  • Darkness in your arena.
  • 00:22:17.518 --> 00:22:23.724
  • This is our generation.
  • 00:22:23.724 --> 00:22:26.060
  • This is our story and the circumstances of your beginning
  • 00:22:26.060 --> 00:22:30.531
  • Don't have the power to disrupt the outcome of your life, if you
  • 00:22:30.531 --> 00:22:34.435
  • Will say, "yes" to the lord.
  • 00:22:34.435 --> 00:22:37.238
  • Now, that's the truth.
  • 00:22:37.238 --> 00:22:39.907
  • I wanna pray for you, if you'll stand with me.
  • 00:22:39.907 --> 00:22:44.912
  • Actually, we've got a whole myriad of prayers, so i'm just
  • 00:22:44.912 --> 00:22:47.081
  • Gonna give you some points to receive.
  • 00:22:47.081 --> 00:22:49.283
  • God knows your circumstances.
  • 00:22:49.283 --> 00:22:50.951
  • If he knows the hairs on your head and when a sparrow falls to
  • 00:22:50.951 --> 00:22:53.354
  • The ground, he's got your details.
  • 00:22:53.354 --> 00:22:57.057
  • I smile, i meet people say, "you know, pastor,
  • 00:22:57.057 --> 00:22:58.826
  • I just don't like to pray.
  • 00:22:58.826 --> 00:23:00.194
  • You know, when we all pray at the same time, it's as if we're
  • 00:23:00.194 --> 00:23:04.331
  • Gonna overload heaven's systems."
  • 00:23:04.331 --> 00:23:09.937
  • Well, i'm an advocate for respect and dignity and order.
  • 00:23:09.937 --> 00:23:13.073
  • I believe in all of those things, but i assure you god's
  • 00:23:13.073 --> 00:23:16.277
  • Got your details.
  • 00:23:16.277 --> 00:23:19.046
  • So, here's my suggestion: we're gonna borrow that little, those
  • 00:23:19.046 --> 00:23:22.817
  • Gestures, we're gonna relinquish to the lord those things we
  • 00:23:22.817 --> 00:23:24.952
  • Need to.
  • 00:23:24.952 --> 00:23:26.287
  • That's where we've been tolerating stuff: ungodliness,
  • 00:23:26.287 --> 00:23:28.322
  • Indifference, we've been excusing our sin, whatever;
  • 00:23:28.322 --> 00:23:33.127
  • We need forgiveness.
  • 00:23:33.127 --> 00:23:34.462
  • We're gonna relinquish that to the lord.
  • 00:23:34.462 --> 00:23:36.163
  • Then, we're gonna turn our hands up and receive what we need.
  • 00:23:36.163 --> 00:23:38.599
  • If you're praying for children, and you're husband and wives,
  • 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:41.268
  • Are in agreement, that's you.
  • 00:23:41.268 --> 00:23:43.170
  • If you're not, you get an agreement beforehand: do not
  • 00:23:43.170 --> 00:23:46.040
  • Come see me.
  • 00:23:46.040 --> 00:23:49.910
  • Some of you need to relinquish your children to the lord, and
  • 00:23:49.910 --> 00:23:54.415
  • They're not all kids anymore.
  • 00:23:54.415 --> 00:23:57.751
  • Put them in the lord's hands.
  • 00:23:57.751 --> 00:24:03.757
  • Some of us need to say, "yes" to god's purposes.
  • 00:24:03.757 --> 00:24:07.661
  • We've wanted to get our paperwork ready, so we were good
  • 00:24:07.661 --> 00:24:10.097
  • To go to heaven, but we really didn't want god encroaching on
  • 00:24:10.097 --> 00:24:12.399
  • Us because we wanted to do what we wanna do.
  • 00:24:12.399 --> 00:24:17.738
  • Understand that's temptation.
  • 00:24:17.738 --> 00:24:24.512
  • Are you ready?
  • 00:24:24.512 --> 00:24:26.280
  • We're gonna give some thanks to the lord, and then, we're gonna
  • 00:24:26.280 --> 00:24:28.182
  • Receive what he has for us.
  • 00:24:28.182 --> 00:24:30.417
  • Father, we come tonight, i thank you for your word, for its truth
  • 00:24:30.417 --> 00:24:33.387
  • And authority and power in our lives.
  • 00:24:33.387 --> 00:24:36.490
  • And lord, we come in humility to acknowledge to you those times
  • 00:24:36.490 --> 00:24:40.661
  • We've been indifferent, or we've even opposed you.
  • 00:24:40.661 --> 00:24:44.798
  • We've said, "no" to you.
  • 00:24:44.798 --> 00:24:47.234
  • We've chosen ungodliness, and stubbornness, and selfishness,
  • 00:24:47.234 --> 00:24:50.271
  • And marked our own pathway.
  • 00:24:50.271 --> 00:24:54.341
  • Lord, we've been angry at others and filled with hate towards
  • 00:24:54.341 --> 00:24:56.544
  • Others; we've been more determined to justify ourselves
  • 00:24:56.544 --> 00:25:00.314
  • Than to submit to you.
  • 00:25:00.314 --> 00:25:02.783
  • But whatever it may be, we come tonight to lay it at the foot of
  • 00:25:02.783 --> 00:25:05.386
  • The cross.
  • 00:25:05.386 --> 00:25:06.954
  • And i thank you that through the blood of jesus, we have been
  • 00:25:06.954 --> 00:25:09.123
  • Redeemed, sanctified, justified, made clean in your sight.
  • 00:25:09.123 --> 00:25:14.728
  • And lord, as we relinquish those things, we turn our hearts and
  • 00:25:14.728 --> 00:25:17.298
  • Our hands to you to, to receive.
  • 00:25:17.298 --> 00:25:19.300
  • Now from you tonight, lord, the promises of your word that you'd
  • 00:25:19.300 --> 00:25:23.270
  • Bring a fruitfulness to our lives and our homes and
  • 00:25:23.270 --> 00:25:25.839
  • Our families.
  • 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:27.308
  • When we relinquish our children to you, our futures, to you, our
  • 00:25:27.308 --> 00:25:30.177
  • Plans to you.
  • 00:25:30.177 --> 00:25:32.413
  • Lord, we have made plans and we have dreams.
  • 00:25:32.413 --> 00:25:35.749
  • But lord, we would submit them to you to offer ourselves as
  • 00:25:35.749 --> 00:25:39.820
  • Living sacrifices, to run with perseverance.
  • 00:25:39.820 --> 00:25:42.656
  • The race you've marked out for us.
  • 00:25:42.656 --> 00:25:45.359
  • Holy spirit, have your way within us.
  • 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:48.929
  • Give us a revelation of jesus.
  • 00:25:48.929 --> 00:25:51.332
  • It will change the momentum and the trajectory of our days so
  • 00:25:51.332 --> 00:25:55.669
  • That when our strength fades and we come to the end of our
  • 00:25:55.669 --> 00:25:59.940
  • Journey in time.
  • 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:02.810
  • But you may say to each of us well known
  • 00:26:02.810 --> 00:26:05.779
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:09.416
  • Hallelujah, god bless you.
  • 00:26:09.416 --> 00:26:16.256
  • Allen: thank you for spending a few minutes with us today.
  • 00:26:20.461 --> 00:26:22.563
  • You know, our goal in doing this is to add momentum
  • 00:26:22.563 --> 00:26:25.232
  • To your spiritual life.
  • 00:26:25.232 --> 00:26:27.101
  • To help open the kingdom of god to you in a more practical way
  • 00:26:27.101 --> 00:26:30.037
  • That you could engage in a relationship with the lord.
  • 00:26:30.037 --> 00:26:32.139
  • Not be a more faithful church sitter or a bible reader
  • 00:26:32.139 --> 00:26:35.776
  • But a person who actually knows the living god.
  • 00:26:35.776 --> 00:26:38.445
  • I've a written a new book, it's called "my friend jesus,"
  • 00:26:38.445 --> 00:26:41.215
  • To be candid, it's the culmination of years
  • 00:26:41.215 --> 00:26:44.084
  • Of my own spiritual journey.
  • 00:26:44.084 --> 00:26:46.120
  • I wanted to peel away all the formality of language
  • 00:26:46.120 --> 00:26:49.023
  • And routine and ritual.
  • 00:26:49.023 --> 00:26:51.392
  • I really wanted to focus on what it means to be a friend
  • 00:26:51.392 --> 00:26:53.961
  • Of the lord.
  • 00:26:53.961 --> 00:26:55.496
  • And that book is intended to give you a pathway
  • 00:26:55.496 --> 00:26:57.564
  • To imagine your faith in a way that enables it
  • 00:26:57.564 --> 00:27:00.167
  • To be more personal, more transformational.
  • 00:27:00.167 --> 00:27:02.636
  • When i need help i call my friends.
  • 00:27:02.636 --> 00:27:04.405
  • When i need real help i call my friend jesus.
  • 00:27:04.405 --> 00:27:07.374
  • He changes everything.
  • 00:27:07.374 --> 00:27:08.709
  • He's done it many times in my life.
  • 00:27:08.709 --> 00:27:10.678
  • He'll do it in your life.
  • 00:27:10.678 --> 00:27:12.312
  • Read the book, open your heart,
  • 00:27:12.312 --> 00:27:14.048
  • There'll be a whole new power available
  • 00:27:14.048 --> 00:27:16.517
  • To help shape your future.
  • 00:27:16.517 --> 00:27:27.327