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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Great Leaders In Difficult Times

July 26, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Great Leaders In Difficult Times
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Leaders #Trials-HardTimes #Pastors #RelationshipwithGod #WalkwithGod #Bible

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Great Leaders In Difficult Times | July 26, 2025
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: you know, i know you know, but we're living in a
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  • Chaotic world.
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  • Things are changing globally.
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  • There's wars, there's threats of war, a lot of stuff happening.
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  • But i want to make a suggestion.
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  • Don't focus on the negative.
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  • Don't get caught up in the uncertainty, that'll bring fear
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  • And anxiety and worry.
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  • It's not helpful.
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  • Let's determined to focus our attention on the lord.
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  • We've created a tool that i believe will make a difference.
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  • It's called "awaken us."
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  • It's a 30-day plan.
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  • Each day is directed at a different topic that's a part of
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  • Our current world.
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  • It gives us a verse of scripture, a little devotional
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  • Around that topic, and then a prayer for that specific thing.
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  • The idea is we're gonna give the holy spirit an invitation to
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  • Awaken us to a new place of faith.
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  • You know, we need an awakening in the midst of the people of
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  • God and we wanna say, "well, i am awake."
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  • Well, i get that, but, you know, i was awakened yesterday, but
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  • This morning i was awakened again and my prayer is tomorrow
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  • I'll be awakened yet again.
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  • We need a daily awakening by the spirit of god to find his best
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  • For us in this season, and i believe this book will help you.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: you know, our wars are thousands of miles away.
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  • And for the overwhelming majority of us, we send
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  • To others.
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  • And israel, if the balloon goes up with hezbollah in the north,
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  • It's 75 or 80 miles from jerusalem.
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  • It's not some great long distance away.
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  • That's as close as the weather reports we get here, so if
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  • There's a tornado in kentucky, you're in your safe space.
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  • And they're recruiting 60 year olds.
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  • And they're volunteering.
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  • They're raising their hands.
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  • I pray we have the courage to stand up for freedom and liberty
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  • Before it requires those kind of extreme measures on our behalf.
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  • That we'll use our voices as we gather with our families and
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  • Our friends.
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  • That we will not encourage or overlook or applaud ungodliness.
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  • Folks, we cannot practice immorality and ungodliness and
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  • Wickedness and greed and imagine the blessings of god.
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  • That is a false gospel.
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  • I don't--that's that's not the point of today's message, but
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  • What we're celebrating this week, let's thank god and pray
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  • For the peace of jerusalem, but let's remember that god's
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  • Blessings are what sustained us.
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  • "great leaders in difficult times."
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  • I wanna start by trying to align some expectations.
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  • I think there's many misconceptions about what is
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  • Necessary to lead a significant life.
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  • Unfortunately within the church, i think we've allowed secular
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  • Culture to define that kind of significance for us based on how
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  • Many followers we have or the resources we accumulate or
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  • Something whether we're fashion forward, i mean, just lots
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  • Of things.
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  • I'm not opposed to any of those things, but they're not the
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  • Objectives of my life.
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  • And if you're a christ follower and you're allowing a secular
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  • Culture to define those things, you are surrendering the
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  • Greatest opportunities of your existence.
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  • If you accumulate everything, if you're highly celebrated, if
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  • Everybody on the planet knows you by a single name, and god is
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  • Not pleased with you, what have you achieved?
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  • Wealth, power, pleasure, not bad things, but i can tell you i do
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  • Enough time in the hospitals and i've done enough
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  • Memorial services.
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  • Every one of us are on a countdown clock and your earth
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  • Suit is not permanent.
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  • Now you may not have turned enough calendar pages yet to
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  • Believe that, but just trust me.
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  • And you cannot ignore god for decades, and then imagine at
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  • Some future point, you will find the courage and the boldness and
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  • The momentum to find a god switch.
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  • It occasionally happens, but it is a very improbable occurrence,
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  • And i would encourage you not to bet your eternity on that.
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  • Let's decide we want greatness in the context of the kingdom of
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  • God to be a primary objective.
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  • So, if i had to choose one chapter to talk about that, it
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  • Would be hebrews 11.
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  • That's the hall of fame in the new testament.
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  • They list for us the heroes of our faith.
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  • And the author in writing hebrews 11, they're listing them
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  • Individually and kind of giving you their highlight reel, their
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  • Cv, their curriculum vitae, and then it's like the author
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  • Thinks, "i'm out of time," and so he dumps everybody else into
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  • A bucket at the end.
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  • Well, i'm gonna read you the bucket list.
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  • Hebrews 11:32, "what more shall i say?
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  • I don't have time," i know that he's got a countdown clock in
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  • Front of him like they do to me.
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  • Actually, they quit doing that to me.
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  • You should be concerned.
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  • He said, "i don't have time to tell about gideon, or barak, or
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  • Samson, or jephtha, or david, or samuel and the prophets."
  • 00:05:04.386 --> 00:05:07.889
  • He said, "there's a lot more to say, but i'm out of time."
  • 00:05:07.889 --> 00:05:10.492
  • "they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained
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  • What was promised; they shut the mouths of lions, they quenched
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  • The fury of the flames, they escaped the edge of the sword;
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  • Whose weakness was turned to strength; who became powerful in
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  • Battle and routed foreign armies."
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  • The author's assuming you know some of this.
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  • He's just kind of punching their outcomes in.
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  • "women received their dead back--their dead, raised to
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  • Life again.
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  • Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they
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  • Might gain a better resurrection.
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  • Some faced jeers and flogging, while others were chained and
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  • Put in prison.
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  • They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to
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  • Death by the sword.
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  • They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute,
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  • Persecuted and mistreated.
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  • The world was not worthy of them.
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  • They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and
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  • Holes in the ground."
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  • If you're counting, and i did.
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  • There's two lists.
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  • They both have ten components.
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  • There's a list of the outcomes of ten great leaders.
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  • I'm not gonna run the references and give you all their names,
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  • But i'll tag what was listed there.
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  • You can number them in your sheet if you want to follow.
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  • It says, "they conquered kingdoms, they administered
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  • Justice, they gained what was promised."
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  • I think those would be legitimate outcomes for
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  • Your life.
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  • If you were all in, all done, strength spent, and god's
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  • Evaluation of you is that you conquered kingdoms, administered
  • 00:06:29.137 --> 00:06:32.374
  • Justice, and gained what was promised, you'd say that'd be a
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  • Worthwhile pursuit.
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  • I would. but he doesn't stop there.
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  • He says that, "they shut the mouths of lions," you might know
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  • Who that is, "they quenched the fury of the flames, they escaped
  • 00:06:45.654 --> 00:06:49.024
  • The edge of the sword, their weakness was turned to strength.
  • 00:06:49.024 --> 00:06:52.494
  • They became powerful in battle.
  • 00:06:52.494 --> 00:06:54.429
  • They routed foreign armies.
  • 00:06:54.429 --> 00:06:55.831
  • And the women received back their dead, raised to
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  • Life again."
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  • That's ten outcomes of great leaders.
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  • People whose lives made an impact only because of the power
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  • Of god and the intervention of god and the sovereignty of god.
  • 00:07:07.509 --> 00:07:11.446
  • But the author of hebrew doesn't stop with that.
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  • That'd be a little pollyannaish.
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  • That's kind of like the promise of a politician, "you can have
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  • What you want, and there's no cost.
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  • We'll exact the cost from somebody else."
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  • When you hear that, know you're being manipulated.
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  • The author of hebrews goes on to talk about the great challenges
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  • Those same people faced.
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  • And there's ten things in that list as well.
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  • It says, "they were tortured and refused to be released."
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  • They wouldn't renounce their faith even if it meant they
  • 00:07:43.211 --> 00:07:46.882
  • Could escape torture.
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  • "they faced jeers and flogging," sounds a lot like the
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  • Apostle paul.
  • 00:07:51.987 --> 00:07:53.355
  • I know most of us think hebrews 11 is a hebrew bible, old
  • 00:07:53.355 --> 00:07:56.191
  • Testament passage, but i don't think that's a complete way to
  • 00:07:56.191 --> 00:07:59.227
  • Understand it.
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  • It says, "they were chained and put in prison," that sounds a
  • 00:08:00.595 --> 00:08:02.464
  • Lot like peter to me.
  • 00:08:02.464 --> 00:08:03.832
  • "they were stoned," as stephen was in the book of acts.
  • 00:08:03.832 --> 00:08:06.801
  • "they were sawed in two."
  • 00:08:06.801 --> 00:08:11.439
  • It's not in the old testament, but it's very much a part of
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  • Jewish tradition and teaching that isaiah was put in a
  • 00:08:14.743 --> 00:08:18.914
  • Hollowed out log by king manasseh and sawed in half.
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  • Isaiah, the court prophet.
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  • "they were put to death by the sword," that was james, one of
  • 00:08:30.392 --> 00:08:33.194
  • Jesus's followers.
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  • "they went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute,
  • 00:08:35.163 --> 00:08:38.099
  • Persecuted, mistreated."
  • 00:08:38.099 --> 00:08:40.268
  • The author of hebrews says simply, "the world wasn't worthy
  • 00:08:40.268 --> 00:08:43.038
  • Of them."
  • 00:08:43.038 --> 00:08:45.440
  • Well, here's where i think we've had a misalignment.
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  • We think to be a great leader means it's about the
  • 00:08:47.175 --> 00:08:48.910
  • Accumulation of privilege.
  • 00:08:48.910 --> 00:08:51.913
  • You fly private.
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  • You don't stand in line.
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  • You get to go to the vip section.
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  • You're applauded.
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  • When the bible gives us these presentations, those with true
  • 00:09:01.590 --> 00:09:04.526
  • Greatness, true kingdom accomplishment, true kingdom
  • 00:09:04.526 --> 00:09:07.062
  • Significance, they face real challenges.
  • 00:09:07.062 --> 00:09:11.633
  • They don't lead just for a personal opportunity, for
  • 00:09:11.633 --> 00:09:15.503
  • Individual aggrandizement, so they can be on the cover
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  • Of magazines.
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  • It may be that some of that happens, but they understand
  • 00:09:20.742 --> 00:09:23.378
  • There's gonna be real challenges and real prices to be paid, and
  • 00:09:23.378 --> 00:09:26.848
  • They pay them.
  • 00:09:26.848 --> 00:09:28.883
  • That hasn't really been the coaching that we've received in
  • 00:09:28.883 --> 00:09:31.353
  • The church.
  • 00:09:31.353 --> 00:09:33.955
  • We've been told that if somebody objects, we should be quiet
  • 00:09:33.955 --> 00:09:36.257
  • Because you don't want to be objectionable.
  • 00:09:36.257 --> 00:09:38.593
  • That if someone's offended, we should withdraw because we want
  • 00:09:38.593 --> 00:09:40.862
  • To build bridges.
  • 00:09:40.862 --> 00:09:43.598
  • Well, i'm not opposed to bridges of understanding, and i would
  • 00:09:43.598 --> 00:09:46.468
  • Prefer to be applauded rather than stoned, but most of all, i
  • 00:09:46.468 --> 00:09:52.440
  • Would prefer to tell the truth.
  • 00:09:52.440 --> 00:09:54.976
  • Now i believe we can do it in kindness, but the truth is not
  • 00:09:54.976 --> 00:09:57.445
  • Always comfortable, and the truth is not always something
  • 00:09:57.445 --> 00:10:00.115
  • You wanna hear, and the truth often brings with it a sense of
  • 00:10:00.115 --> 00:10:04.519
  • Almost revulsion.
  • 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:05.887
  • I've spent some time in doctor's offices lately, and when the
  • 00:10:05.887 --> 00:10:08.223
  • Doctors come in and give you news that you never wanted to
  • 00:10:08.223 --> 00:10:10.458
  • Get, you're not inclined to jump up off the chair and give him a
  • 00:10:10.458 --> 00:10:14.396
  • Big hug and say, "oh, thank you!"
  • 00:10:14.396 --> 00:10:20.635
  • I got a lot of friends in the medical community.
  • 00:10:20.635 --> 00:10:22.470
  • When i get one of those kind of diagnosis or i hear one recited,
  • 00:10:22.470 --> 00:10:25.306
  • I wanna look at my friend and i'm gonna go get
  • 00:10:25.306 --> 00:10:26.808
  • Another opinion.
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  • You know, i know you.
  • 00:10:29.944 --> 00:10:32.480
  • And on your good days, you're kind of a knucklehead.
  • 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:38.520
  • And then you go get a second opinion and a third opinion, and
  • 00:10:38.520 --> 00:10:41.122
  • They all line up, and it's the same truth.
  • 00:10:41.122 --> 00:10:44.793
  • Well, i don't like it.
  • 00:10:44.793 --> 00:10:47.295
  • And somebody's been telling those of us that fill churches
  • 00:10:47.295 --> 00:10:50.765
  • And read our bibles that when we're arbiters of the truth,
  • 00:10:50.765 --> 00:10:54.002
  • Everybody should be happy about it.
  • 00:10:54.002 --> 00:10:57.105
  • That everybody should enjoy the message.
  • 00:10:57.105 --> 00:10:59.974
  • Now again, i don't want you to be belligerent or obnoxious or
  • 00:10:59.974 --> 00:11:03.244
  • Condemning or smog and self-righteous.
  • 00:11:03.244 --> 00:11:05.246
  • I'm not talking about that, but we've been avoiding telling
  • 00:11:05.246 --> 00:11:08.283
  • The truth.
  • 00:11:08.283 --> 00:11:11.986
  • Because people who don't want to receive it get agitated.
  • 00:11:11.986 --> 00:11:17.392
  • My bible very clearly says that there were truth tellers, great
  • 00:11:17.392 --> 00:11:20.729
  • Leaders that faced some real challenges.
  • 00:11:20.729 --> 00:11:24.699
  • Well, probably my number one takeaway from my days in israel.
  • 00:11:24.699 --> 00:11:27.135
  • Every time i go, i feel like i've been to school again.
  • 00:11:27.135 --> 00:11:30.171
  • Like i got another graduate seminar and what it means to
  • 00:11:30.171 --> 00:11:32.574
  • Follow with the lord and i was certain that i was sitting on
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  • The plane in the dark coming home with my computer open
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  • Saying, "lord, you know what?"
  • 00:11:40.782 --> 00:11:44.786
  • And what was so clear to me and i struggled with words.
  • 00:11:44.786 --> 00:11:49.090
  • I can't always get them the way i wanted, but the word i landed
  • 00:11:49.090 --> 00:11:51.326
  • On, i'm gonna give it to you.
  • 00:11:51.326 --> 00:11:52.694
  • We don't use it a lot, it's interdependence.
  • 00:11:52.694 --> 00:11:55.797
  • But i wanna suggest to you that if i had to choose one word that
  • 00:11:55.797 --> 00:11:59.601
  • I think is the key to us thriving in what's immediately
  • 00:11:59.601 --> 00:12:02.771
  • In front of us.
  • 00:12:02.771 --> 00:12:04.606
  • It's about greater interdependence upon the lord.
  • 00:12:04.606 --> 00:12:10.278
  • So, we've been coached to be born again.
  • 00:12:10.278 --> 00:12:11.713
  • If you're saved, if you're born again, you're baptized, you're
  • 00:12:11.713 --> 00:12:13.915
  • Like you're golden.
  • 00:12:13.915 --> 00:12:15.250
  • You got your insurance policies, it's long term care.
  • 00:12:15.250 --> 00:12:18.553
  • I don't have to think about that.
  • 00:12:18.553 --> 00:12:19.921
  • It's fully funded.
  • 00:12:19.921 --> 00:12:21.256
  • I've worked it out between insurance and resources.
  • 00:12:21.256 --> 00:12:23.391
  • I don't even think about it anymore.
  • 00:12:23.391 --> 00:12:24.726
  • It's on auto pay.
  • 00:12:24.726 --> 00:12:27.362
  • I'm just living completely unaware of that, you know?
  • 00:12:27.362 --> 00:12:30.064
  • It's secure, it's eternally secure and it can't be assailed
  • 00:12:30.064 --> 00:12:33.701
  • And no one can take it from me.
  • 00:12:33.701 --> 00:12:35.904
  • And so, we don't really live with any sense of
  • 00:12:35.904 --> 00:12:38.006
  • Interdependence with the lord.
  • 00:12:38.006 --> 00:12:40.375
  • There are things in the earth god won't do unless his people
  • 00:12:40.375 --> 00:12:42.911
  • Do them.
  • 00:12:42.911 --> 00:12:46.181
  • Allen: you know, no matter what source of news you turn to, it's
  • 00:12:50.418 --> 00:12:54.222
  • Hard some days not to be overwhelmed with despair, the
  • 00:12:54.222 --> 00:12:58.193
  • Deception, the conflict in the earth, the suffering that's
  • 00:12:58.193 --> 00:13:01.496
  • Taking place in so many places, the struggling church in our
  • 00:13:01.496 --> 00:13:05.266
  • Own nation.
  • 00:13:05.266 --> 00:13:06.634
  • But there are reasons for hope.
  • 00:13:06.634 --> 00:13:08.069
  • God is moving in the most remarkable ways, but we need to
  • 00:13:08.069 --> 00:13:11.840
  • Have a plan, a method, even a tool to help us keep our
  • 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:15.476
  • Thoughts and our hearts focused on god.
  • 00:13:15.476 --> 00:13:17.712
  • Well, i have a suggestion.
  • 00:13:17.712 --> 00:13:19.080
  • It's a little booklet we put together.
  • 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:20.415
  • It's called "awaken us."
  • 00:13:20.415 --> 00:13:21.783
  • It's a 30-day plan.
  • 00:13:21.783 --> 00:13:23.117
  • It's built by topic.
  • 00:13:23.117 --> 00:13:24.452
  • Each day with a scripture, a little devotional, and a prayer
  • 00:13:24.452 --> 00:13:27.288
  • Topically directed to help focus our thoughts and an awakening to
  • 00:13:27.288 --> 00:13:31.893
  • God's invitations to us around that specific theme.
  • 00:13:31.893 --> 00:13:35.630
  • We're awakened every day for the challenges of that day.
  • 00:13:35.630 --> 00:13:38.199
  • Well, let's ask the spirit of god to awaken us consistently to
  • 00:13:38.199 --> 00:13:42.237
  • What he would have us doing in this most unique season.
  • 00:13:42.237 --> 00:13:45.807
  • God is moving.
  • 00:13:45.807 --> 00:13:47.141
  • I wanna move with him and i believe you do too, and i
  • 00:13:47.141 --> 00:13:49.377
  • Believe "awaken us" will be a help.
  • 00:13:49.377 --> 00:13:52.714
  • Allen: imagine if you lost all access to technology.
  • 00:13:52.780 --> 00:13:57.018
  • Maybe just a blackout.
  • 00:13:57.018 --> 00:13:59.454
  • I don't mean you're gonna lose your appliances or your
  • 00:13:59.454 --> 00:14:01.556
  • Refrigerator or even your ac, but all the tools you use for
  • 00:14:01.556 --> 00:14:05.226
  • Communication, for the exchange of information.
  • 00:14:05.226 --> 00:14:09.964
  • Suppose all of that just went down.
  • 00:14:09.964 --> 00:14:13.601
  • Our phones.
  • 00:14:13.601 --> 00:14:14.936
  • Maybe just take our phones.
  • 00:14:14.936 --> 00:14:17.038
  • If you wanna kind of practice that, take a 24 hour period and
  • 00:14:17.038 --> 00:14:20.842
  • Say, "i won't touch it."
  • 00:14:20.842 --> 00:14:22.176
  • Turn it off, lock it away.
  • 00:14:22.176 --> 00:14:26.414
  • Our gps, all of our communications apps, our instant
  • 00:14:26.414 --> 00:14:32.420
  • Answers that we're used to getting.
  • 00:14:32.420 --> 00:14:34.188
  • How old is somebody?
  • 00:14:34.188 --> 00:14:35.523
  • I don't know. i'll ask here on my google.
  • 00:14:35.523 --> 00:14:39.127
  • Our location awareness, "where are we and how would we
  • 00:14:39.127 --> 00:14:41.663
  • Get there?"
  • 00:14:41.663 --> 00:14:42.997
  • "i don't know, but i'm gonna follow siri no matter where
  • 00:14:42.997 --> 00:14:44.465
  • She goes."
  • 00:14:44.465 --> 00:14:45.800
  • You know, i find it amusing that married people in the car have
  • 00:14:45.800 --> 00:14:47.835
  • Fights about directions.
  • 00:14:47.835 --> 00:14:50.305
  • I mean, kathy and i don't, but we have friends who have a real
  • 00:14:50.305 --> 00:14:52.607
  • Problem with that.
  • 00:14:52.607 --> 00:14:56.945
  • But we will follow the digital voice of someone we will
  • 00:14:56.945 --> 00:14:59.580
  • Never meet.
  • 00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:01.649
  • "turn left at the next light.
  • 00:15:01.649 --> 00:15:03.217
  • Reroute, you missed it."
  • 00:15:03.217 --> 00:15:06.354
  • And we're just as happy as clams going wherever they tell us.
  • 00:15:06.354 --> 00:15:12.327
  • We have 24/7 funding available to us for desired purchases
  • 00:15:12.327 --> 00:15:16.798
  • Whether you have any cash in your pocket or not.
  • 00:15:16.798 --> 00:15:19.968
  • We have access to goods and services from a global market in
  • 00:15:19.968 --> 00:15:23.171
  • The palm of our hand.
  • 00:15:23.171 --> 00:15:27.342
  • The last two days we were in israel largely because i think
  • 00:15:27.342 --> 00:15:30.945
  • Of some of the larger issues going on in that country.
  • 00:15:30.945 --> 00:15:33.982
  • Our cell service was interrupted.
  • 00:15:33.982 --> 00:15:37.051
  • And over a 24 hour period, we might have had functionality for
  • 00:15:37.051 --> 00:15:40.054
  • 10 minutes.
  • 00:15:40.054 --> 00:15:41.422
  • You just didn't know when those minutes were gonna be.
  • 00:15:41.422 --> 00:15:43.558
  • And it wreaked havoc on us.
  • 00:15:43.558 --> 00:15:45.960
  • Because those were our free days and we were trying to coordinate
  • 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:48.196
  • Groups of people and where we were going and where we were
  • 00:15:48.196 --> 00:15:50.064
  • Gonna meet and what we were gonna do.
  • 00:15:50.064 --> 00:15:52.033
  • We lost our gps, we couldn't get our maps to tell us where we
  • 00:15:52.033 --> 00:15:54.836
  • Were going, and we didn't know where everybody else was and we
  • 00:15:54.836 --> 00:15:57.772
  • Didn't know how to find out.
  • 00:15:57.772 --> 00:15:59.173
  • Nobody has pay phones anymore. i mean, we were like lost sheep.
  • 00:15:59.173 --> 00:16:06.681
  • And i thought, "wow.
  • 00:16:06.681 --> 00:16:09.083
  • I'm perfectly comfortably and interdependent upon a piece of
  • 00:16:09.083 --> 00:16:12.387
  • Technology that's controlled by companies who don't have my best
  • 00:16:12.387 --> 00:16:14.655
  • Interest at heart.
  • 00:16:14.655 --> 00:16:16.424
  • And i'm very withdrawn.
  • 00:16:16.424 --> 00:16:18.426
  • I'm very skeptical of being interdependent upon the spirit
  • 00:16:18.426 --> 00:16:21.062
  • Of god because i haven't had to be."
  • 00:16:21.062 --> 00:16:25.933
  • Well, the world is changing.
  • 00:16:25.933 --> 00:16:27.268
  • If you haven't noticed, trust me.
  • 00:16:27.268 --> 00:16:30.605
  • And i'm submitting to you that we're going to need a greater
  • 00:16:30.605 --> 00:16:33.574
  • Kind of interdependence upon the spirit of god.
  • 00:16:33.574 --> 00:16:35.777
  • And i grew up in the pentecostal charismatic side of the world.
  • 00:16:35.777 --> 00:16:39.247
  • I've seen weirdness.
  • 00:16:39.247 --> 00:16:40.615
  • I'm not coaching you towards weird.
  • 00:16:40.615 --> 00:16:41.949
  • Weird is not spiritual.
  • 00:16:41.949 --> 00:16:45.386
  • But some of you have stayed out of the arena in the same way
  • 00:16:45.386 --> 00:16:48.656
  • Many people stay out of church world because they've
  • 00:16:48.656 --> 00:16:50.525
  • Known hypocrites.
  • 00:16:50.525 --> 00:16:51.893
  • Can you imagine missing the kingdom of god because you knew
  • 00:16:51.893 --> 00:16:53.361
  • A hypocrite?
  • 00:16:53.361 --> 00:16:54.829
  • That's a bad bet.
  • 00:16:54.829 --> 00:16:57.565
  • To spend an eternity apart from god because you met someone who
  • 00:16:57.565 --> 00:17:00.535
  • Was inconsistent in their own moral code.
  • 00:17:00.535 --> 00:17:04.138
  • It's a really poor choice.
  • 00:17:04.138 --> 00:17:06.474
  • And to not take advantage of the helper, the person of the holy
  • 00:17:06.474 --> 00:17:10.344
  • Spirit because you met someone whose character was impeded in
  • 00:17:10.344 --> 00:17:13.915
  • Some way and they blamed it on the holy spirit is an equally
  • 00:17:13.915 --> 00:17:17.585
  • Poor choice on your part.
  • 00:17:17.585 --> 00:17:20.421
  • I believe we must develop a greater awareness and dependence
  • 00:17:20.421 --> 00:17:23.124
  • Upon the helper whom the father has provided.
  • 00:17:23.124 --> 00:17:25.359
  • I'm not suggesting something new or extra biblical.
  • 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:29.831
  • I'm suggesting a different pattern, a different type of
  • 00:17:29.831 --> 00:17:32.266
  • Trust, a more personal awareness.
  • 00:17:32.266 --> 00:17:34.135
  • I'm suggesting that the current season demands of us, here it
  • 00:17:34.135 --> 00:17:37.872
  • Is, spiritual growth.
  • 00:17:37.872 --> 00:17:43.111
  • "well, i don't wanna grow pastor.
  • 00:17:43.111 --> 00:17:44.479
  • I'm going to heaven.
  • 00:17:44.479 --> 00:17:47.949
  • In fact, what i'm really trying to figure out is how much i can
  • 00:17:47.949 --> 00:17:49.917
  • Get away with and still go to heaven."
  • 00:17:49.917 --> 00:17:53.855
  • Well, i suspect if that is your mentality and you hold it,
  • 00:17:53.855 --> 00:17:56.324
  • You're gonna find out sooner than later.
  • 00:17:56.324 --> 00:18:01.095
  • Not a threat.
  • 00:18:01.095 --> 00:18:02.897
  • The landscape is changing and we're going to need god's help.
  • 00:18:02.897 --> 00:18:08.035
  • You know, the disciples had a great deal of experience.
  • 00:18:08.035 --> 00:18:10.605
  • They had followed jesus for three years.
  • 00:18:10.605 --> 00:18:12.640
  • They had front row seats for the most remarkable journey.
  • 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:16.277
  • They fed a multitude with the little boy's happy meal.
  • 00:18:16.277 --> 00:18:19.413
  • They saw jesus walk on the water.
  • 00:18:19.413 --> 00:18:21.015
  • They watched him raise the dead, open blind eyes.
  • 00:18:21.015 --> 00:18:24.819
  • They saw him turn water into wine, still the storm, cast
  • 00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:28.689
  • Out demons.
  • 00:18:28.689 --> 00:18:30.024
  • They were a part of that drama and then he gave them short term
  • 00:18:30.024 --> 00:18:32.727
  • Assignments and they came back and said, "we can do what
  • 00:18:32.727 --> 00:18:35.396
  • You do."
  • 00:18:35.396 --> 00:18:37.698
  • And then at the end of that three year run, jesus said, "i'm
  • 00:18:37.698 --> 00:18:40.034
  • Leaving and where i'm going, you can't come," and they were very
  • 00:18:40.034 --> 00:18:42.470
  • Unhappy with that.
  • 00:18:42.470 --> 00:18:44.539
  • They said, "that's not the bargain.
  • 00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:45.907
  • Wherever you're going, we'll go.
  • 00:18:45.907 --> 00:18:47.942
  • You said, 'follow me,' and we followed you, and we intend to
  • 00:18:47.942 --> 00:18:50.945
  • Keep following you."
  • 00:18:50.945 --> 00:18:52.280
  • And jesus says, "no further.
  • 00:18:52.280 --> 00:18:54.815
  • But i'm going and i--because i'm going, i'll send you a
  • 00:18:54.815 --> 00:18:57.718
  • Comforter, a helper, and it will be better for you."
  • 00:18:57.718 --> 00:19:01.155
  • I promise you they didn't believe him.
  • 00:19:01.155 --> 00:19:04.325
  • But the fruitfulness of the next season of their lives exceeded
  • 00:19:04.325 --> 00:19:07.428
  • The fruitfulness of their lives when they were with jesus.
  • 00:19:07.428 --> 00:19:11.332
  • They turned the world upside down.
  • 00:19:11.332 --> 00:19:14.302
  • So, i'm asking you, are you willing to become a group of
  • 00:19:14.302 --> 00:19:16.704
  • People who can turn the world upside down?
  • 00:19:16.704 --> 00:19:20.041
  • Are we gonna stubbornly say, "no, i've got everything, and
  • 00:19:20.041 --> 00:19:23.211
  • I'm gonna go to heaven, and please don't ask me.
  • 00:19:23.211 --> 00:19:26.447
  • I don't wanna grow."?
  • 00:19:26.447 --> 00:19:29.750
  • Well, not everybody would accept jesus's invitation, and i'm not
  • 00:19:29.750 --> 00:19:32.553
  • Imagining a 100% acceptance today.
  • 00:19:32.553 --> 00:19:36.324
  • But i want to plant the seed.
  • 00:19:36.324 --> 00:19:38.593
  • I believe god has good things for you, better things than
  • 00:19:38.593 --> 00:19:41.796
  • You'll get if--better things for me than if i get my own way.
  • 00:19:41.796 --> 00:19:46.033
  • I'm a lot like the toddler that knows they know the best way to
  • 00:19:46.033 --> 00:19:48.336
  • Run their life.
  • 00:19:48.336 --> 00:19:50.171
  • They know what they wanna eat and when they wanna eat.
  • 00:19:50.171 --> 00:19:52.974
  • Now they want you to prepare it for them and they want you to
  • 00:19:52.974 --> 00:19:56.410
  • Supply it.
  • 00:19:56.410 --> 00:19:57.745
  • And when they make a mess, they want you to clean it up.
  • 00:19:57.745 --> 00:19:59.847
  • But they want to live by the rule of me do it.
  • 00:19:59.847 --> 00:20:03.217
  • And if you allow them to do that, they'll
  • 00:20:03.217 --> 00:20:04.885
  • Destroy themselves.
  • 00:20:04.885 --> 00:20:07.588
  • And you and i are toddler-like a lot of times in our
  • 00:20:07.588 --> 00:20:10.524
  • Spiritual emotions.
  • 00:20:10.524 --> 00:20:12.126
  • We wanna do it.
  • 00:20:12.126 --> 00:20:13.561
  • We just want god to clean up our messes and provide what we want
  • 00:20:13.561 --> 00:20:16.364
  • When we want it.
  • 00:20:16.364 --> 00:20:18.366
  • And i believe god in his wisdom is raising up a generation of
  • 00:20:18.366 --> 00:20:21.902
  • Great leaders, people that make a difference in this kingdom.
  • 00:20:21.902 --> 00:20:24.805
  • I'm not talking about huge platforms.
  • 00:20:24.805 --> 00:20:27.408
  • But you'll lead well in your home and in your family and
  • 00:20:27.408 --> 00:20:29.810
  • Our communities.
  • 00:20:29.810 --> 00:20:32.113
  • You interested?
  • 00:20:32.113 --> 00:20:35.216
  • I'll give you an example of this kind of interdependence.
  • 00:20:35.216 --> 00:20:39.186
  • Acts chapter 16.
  • 00:20:39.186 --> 00:20:41.122
  • Paul's in the midst of his missionary journeys.
  • 00:20:41.122 --> 00:20:44.425
  • It's not easy.
  • 00:20:44.425 --> 00:20:45.793
  • "paul and his companions," it's in your notes, "traveled through
  • 00:20:45.793 --> 00:20:47.194
  • The region of," somewhere.
  • 00:20:47.194 --> 00:20:51.165
  • Let's just call it smyrna, "and galatia, and having been kept by
  • 00:20:51.165 --> 00:20:57.338
  • The holy spirit from preaching the word in the province
  • 00:20:57.338 --> 00:20:59.573
  • Of asia."
  • 00:20:59.573 --> 00:21:00.941
  • Don't you wish there was more information?
  • 00:21:00.941 --> 00:21:02.643
  • The holy spirit kept him from preaching the word in asia.
  • 00:21:02.643 --> 00:21:05.513
  • How?
  • 00:21:05.513 --> 00:21:08.182
  • Did his flight get canceled?
  • 00:21:08.182 --> 00:21:11.786
  • Couldn't they rent a car?
  • 00:21:11.786 --> 00:21:14.488
  • We had somebody whose flights got messed up in new york and
  • 00:21:14.488 --> 00:21:16.624
  • They rented a car.
  • 00:21:16.624 --> 00:21:17.958
  • Couldn't they rent a car?
  • 00:21:17.958 --> 00:21:20.061
  • I don't know it.
  • 00:21:20.061 --> 00:21:21.395
  • All we're told, all luke chooses to tell us is, "they were kept
  • 00:21:21.395 --> 00:21:25.533
  • By the holy spirit from preaching the word in the
  • 00:21:25.533 --> 00:21:27.702
  • Province of asia.
  • 00:21:27.702 --> 00:21:29.036
  • When they came to the border of," some place, "they tried to
  • 00:21:29.036 --> 00:21:32.239
  • Enter," someplace else, "but the spirit of jesus would not allow
  • 00:21:32.239 --> 00:21:38.379
  • Them to."
  • 00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:39.714
  • Well wait, can't you tell us some more about that?
  • 00:21:39.714 --> 00:21:42.950
  • The holy spirit kept them from doing something in one place and
  • 00:21:42.950 --> 00:21:45.686
  • The spirit of jesus kept them from doing it there.
  • 00:21:45.686 --> 00:21:47.922
  • There's no--did their flight get canceled again?
  • 00:21:47.922 --> 00:21:50.891
  • I want a new travel agent.
  • 00:21:50.891 --> 00:21:54.295
  • "so they passed by mysia, and they went to troas."
  • 00:21:54.295 --> 00:21:57.498
  • Verse 9, "during the night paul had a vision."
  • 00:21:57.498 --> 00:21:59.800
  • This time we got a little bit more information.
  • 00:21:59.800 --> 00:22:03.270
  • "he had a vision and a man of macedonia is standing and
  • 00:22:03.270 --> 00:22:06.107
  • Begging him, "come over to macedonia and help us."
  • 00:22:06.107 --> 00:22:09.610
  • After paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave
  • 00:22:09.610 --> 00:22:12.079
  • For macedonia, concluding that god had called us to preach the
  • 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:15.049
  • Gospel to them."
  • 00:22:15.049 --> 00:22:17.518
  • They got two nos and an invitation to go someplace they
  • 00:22:17.518 --> 00:22:21.522
  • Hadn't planned on all because of directions from a helper that
  • 00:22:21.522 --> 00:22:28.195
  • Had information they didn't have access to, had perspective that
  • 00:22:28.195 --> 00:22:31.098
  • They didn't have.
  • 00:22:31.098 --> 00:22:32.433
  • And they were willing to cooperate to the point that when
  • 00:22:32.433 --> 00:22:34.702
  • Paul had a vision in the night, he got up the next morning and
  • 00:22:34.702 --> 00:22:37.905
  • Said to the team, "we're going here, not there.
  • 00:22:37.905 --> 00:22:41.575
  • Cancel the flights, book new ones.
  • 00:22:41.575 --> 00:22:44.712
  • Call our host in the other city and tell them we won't
  • 00:22:44.712 --> 00:22:46.747
  • Be coming.
  • 00:22:46.747 --> 00:22:48.082
  • And if you know anybody in the place we're headed, see if we
  • 00:22:48.082 --> 00:22:49.950
  • Can meet with them."
  • 00:22:49.950 --> 00:22:52.219
  • I travel a good bit, folks.
  • 00:22:52.219 --> 00:22:54.455
  • People would call you reckless.
  • 00:22:54.455 --> 00:22:57.425
  • If i told you i was leaving for the weekend to go to
  • 00:22:57.425 --> 00:22:59.527
  • Philadelphia and then you saw me on television in baltimore, you
  • 00:22:59.527 --> 00:23:04.865
  • Would think i probably hadn't represented the facts to
  • 00:23:04.865 --> 00:23:07.468
  • You accurately.
  • 00:23:07.468 --> 00:23:09.270
  • And if i said to you, "well, the lord told me to go
  • 00:23:09.270 --> 00:23:11.138
  • To baltimore."
  • 00:23:11.138 --> 00:23:12.506
  • You know, "whatever. you smoking."
  • 00:23:12.506 --> 00:23:16.677
  • Well, i was in colorado. it was legal.
  • 00:23:16.677 --> 00:23:23.484
  • No new rumors.
  • 00:23:23.484 --> 00:23:27.221
  • Everything that's legal is not godly.
  • 00:23:27.221 --> 00:23:33.427
  • I want to walk you through some people that i think we're pretty
  • 00:23:37.665 --> 00:23:39.733
  • Interdependent upon god's direction.
  • 00:23:39.733 --> 00:23:42.236
  • That they modeled some things that we could pick up.
  • 00:23:42.236 --> 00:23:44.104
  • In exodus 3, it's a familiar story.
  • 00:23:44.104 --> 00:23:45.973
  • Moses is being recruited.
  • 00:23:45.973 --> 00:23:47.675
  • "the lord saw that he'd gone over to look, and god called to
  • 00:23:47.675 --> 00:23:49.844
  • Him from within the bush, "moses!"
  • 00:23:49.844 --> 00:23:52.079
  • And moses said, "here i am.
  • 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:55.549
  • Yeah, speak.""
  • 00:23:55.549 --> 00:23:58.085
  • God tells him what he wants him to do.
  • 00:24:01.622 --> 00:24:03.224
  • ""go, i'm sending you to pharaoh to bring my people the
  • 00:24:03.224 --> 00:24:05.259
  • Israelites out of egypt."
  • 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:06.594
  • And moses said, "who am i? i tried that, remember?
  • 00:24:06.594 --> 00:24:14.401
  • That's why i'm living in the desert and smell like a sheep.
  • 00:24:14.401 --> 00:24:18.806
  • I'm a fugitive there.
  • 00:24:18.806 --> 00:24:20.207
  • I'm not going back.""
  • 00:24:20.207 --> 00:24:22.476
  • Isaiah chapter 6, isaiah's being recruited, arguably the greatest
  • 00:24:22.476 --> 00:24:27.248
  • Until you get to jesus of the hebrew prophets.
  • 00:24:27.248 --> 00:24:30.017
  • Certainly one of the most poetic, insightful.
  • 00:24:30.017 --> 00:24:34.388
  • And when he's recruited, he says, "woe to me!
  • 00:24:34.388 --> 00:24:36.123
  • I'm ruined.
  • 00:24:36.123 --> 00:24:37.491
  • I'm a man of unclean lips, and i live among a people of unclean
  • 00:24:37.491 --> 00:24:39.693
  • Lips, and my eyes have seen the king."
  • 00:24:39.693 --> 00:24:43.097
  • If you prefer the new testament, luke chapter 1, jesus is
  • 00:24:43.097 --> 00:24:46.433
  • Recruiting teenagers.
  • 00:24:46.433 --> 00:24:48.135
  • This isn't age dependent, this leader thing.
  • 00:24:48.135 --> 00:24:51.672
  • Don't get puffed up because you have gray hair and think you
  • 00:24:51.672 --> 00:24:53.874
  • Should go to the front of the parade.
  • 00:24:53.874 --> 00:24:55.209
  • You may be spiritually immature.
  • 00:24:55.209 --> 00:24:59.213
  • And if you're on the younger end of the spectrum, don't say you
  • 00:24:59.213 --> 00:25:01.615
  • Get to sow your wild oats.
  • 00:25:01.615 --> 00:25:04.451
  • You could be forfeiting the opportunity to have significance
  • 00:25:04.451 --> 00:25:07.087
  • In the kingdom.
  • 00:25:07.087 --> 00:25:08.856
  • Most of the great leaders in the bible were recruited when
  • 00:25:08.856 --> 00:25:10.925
  • They're pretty young.
  • 00:25:10.925 --> 00:25:12.293
  • In this case, you know the story.
  • 00:25:12.293 --> 00:25:13.627
  • It's mary, she's a teenager.
  • 00:25:13.627 --> 00:25:15.496
  • Gabriel, the archangel says, "you'll be with child and give
  • 00:25:15.496 --> 00:25:18.198
  • Birth to a son, and you're gonna give him the name jesus."
  • 00:25:18.198 --> 00:25:22.603
  • And mary asked the angel one question, "how will this be?
  • 00:25:22.603 --> 00:25:29.143
  • I haven't been engaged in the behaviors that would make that
  • 00:25:29.143 --> 00:25:31.412
  • Even a possibility."
  • 00:25:31.412 --> 00:25:35.583
  • I mean it's a polite discussion but she's saying, "that's just
  • 00:25:35.583 --> 00:25:38.052
  • Simply impossible.
  • 00:25:38.052 --> 00:25:39.420
  • I know how that happens."
  • 00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:41.755
  • And the angel said, "the holy spirit will come upon you and
  • 00:25:41.755 --> 00:25:44.191
  • The power of the most high will overshadow you and the holy one
  • 00:25:44.191 --> 00:25:46.794
  • To be born to be you will be called the son of god."
  • 00:25:46.794 --> 00:25:49.463
  • I know the language is very poetic, but that didn't really
  • 00:25:49.463 --> 00:25:51.599
  • Answer the question.
  • 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:54.368
  • If i said to you, "god's gonna use you to change our
  • 00:25:54.368 --> 00:25:56.604
  • Community," and you said, "how?"
  • 00:25:56.604 --> 00:25:57.972
  • I said, "oh the holy spirit will help you."
  • 00:25:57.972 --> 00:26:00.341
  • Well that clarified everything.
  • 00:26:00.341 --> 00:26:04.478
  • That was much the answer that mary received
  • 00:26:04.478 --> 00:26:06.480
  • And she said, "okay."
  • 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:09.116
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:10.184 --> 00:26:16.357
  • Allen: hey, we have a tool that we think will help strengthen
  • 00:26:16.357 --> 00:26:19.059
  • You in this season.
  • 00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:20.594
  • A lot of confusion and chaos in our world, a lot of fear.
  • 00:26:20.594 --> 00:26:23.897
  • I hear from people every day battling in their minds and
  • 00:26:23.897 --> 00:26:26.834
  • Their lives with the uncertainty of our world.
  • 00:26:26.834 --> 00:26:30.004
  • Well, it's a booklet called "awaken us."
  • 00:26:30.004 --> 00:26:31.705
  • It's a 30-day plan.
  • 00:26:31.705 --> 00:26:33.073
  • Every day has a theme with a scripture, a little devotional,
  • 00:26:33.073 --> 00:26:35.576
  • And a prayer for that specific theme.
  • 00:26:35.576 --> 00:26:38.245
  • The idea is that every day we're gonna ask the spirit of god to
  • 00:26:38.245 --> 00:26:41.348
  • Awaken us to a new aspect of god's provision in our lives.
  • 00:26:41.348 --> 00:26:46.153
  • You know, hopefully we wake up every day to the opportunities
  • 00:26:46.153 --> 00:26:48.989
  • And the challenges of that day.
  • 00:26:48.989 --> 00:26:51.125
  • Well this is gonna correspond to that.
  • 00:26:51.125 --> 00:26:52.493
  • We're gonna ask the spirit of god to awaken us to what god is
  • 00:26:52.493 --> 00:26:55.396
  • Doing in this season.
  • 00:26:55.396 --> 00:26:57.331
  • We're not alone and we don't have to be overcome by fear.
  • 00:26:57.331 --> 00:27:00.668
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:27:00.668 --> 00:27:02.002
  • Father, i thank you that there's nothing that confronts us that
  • 00:27:02.002 --> 00:27:04.938
  • Intimidates or threatens you.
  • 00:27:04.938 --> 00:27:06.874
  • That you have made provision for complete victory in every aspect
  • 00:27:06.874 --> 00:27:10.344
  • Of our lives.
  • 00:27:10.344 --> 00:27:11.712
  • Lead us now as we turn our faces to you, to a season of peace and
  • 00:27:11.712 --> 00:27:15.616
  • Hope and wholeness in jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:15.616 --> 00:27:19.286
  • This book, it'll be a blessing.
  • 00:27:19.286 --> 00:27:21.455
  • Cc by aberdeen captioning (800) 688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
  • 00:27:21.522 --> 00:27:26.060
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:26.860