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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Heart Disease (Part 1)

November 20, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Heart Disease (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Heart #Disease #BrokenHeart #SpiritualHealth #Faith #Jesus #Parable #MentalHealth #CarnalMind #Evil #Sin #Thinking #Heart'sDesire #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Heart Disease (Part 1) | November 20, 2025
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: you know, when i was a child, i thought christmas
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  • Came every four years.
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  • Now i feel like it comes about every four weeks.
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  • Well, christmas is just around the corner.
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  • It's a season of tremendous opportunity for those of us who
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  • Are people of faith to remember what god has done for us and
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  • What we're inviting him into in the midst of this
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  • Holiday season.
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  • Well, we've created a tool, a resource, for you to lead with
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  • Your faith at christmas.
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  • It's a 25-day devotional along with some ideas about--from
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  • Recipes to activities for your friends or your family.
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  • It's just a fun way so that you can shape your faith into
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  • The holiday.
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  • I think all of us have a desire to see christmas be--have jesus
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  • In the midst of it a bit more.
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  • There's so many secular voices that speak, and sometimes i
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  • Think we feel powerless to do something other than put up a
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  • Tree or hang some lights.
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  • Well, "lead with your faith at christmas" is a tool we created
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  • So you can share your faith with your family, with your friends,
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  • With coworkers.
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  • I think it'll make this christmas season truly a way to
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  • Honor the lord in your life.
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  • In fact, i'm quite confident it'll be a blessing to you.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: we've been working on this little study around the
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  • Idea of "stepping out of the crowd," and it's really not
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  • Complicated at all.
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  • We wanna break loose of group think.
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  • We wanna do anything we can to overcome the idea that we're
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  • Christ followers simply because we sit in a location or we join
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  • A group, or there's just some kind of a nebulous way that, you
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  • Know, what i've suggested to you is it takes intentionality and a
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  • Purposeful life from beginning to end; that being a christ
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  • Follower is more than just making a profession of faith.
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  • That's the entry point into the kingdom of god, but then
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  • Following that requires determination to continue to
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  • Grow and live as a christ follower.
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  • There's a difference in knowing jesus as your savior and knowing
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  • Jesus as your lord.
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  • Lordship means that he is the one who establishes priorities
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  • Over every part of our lives.
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  • And we've begun to look at some practical expressions
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  • Of that and i think this is the last of the lessons
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  • In the session for right now.
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  • And i wrote this one short enough that i think i can finish
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  • It, so there's actually hope.
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  • There's something that i'd like to do next, so i want is this
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  • Whole thing to me is around, in this session, is about spiritual
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  • Health, because i think stepping out of the crowd requires
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  • Us to understand what is necessary to maintain
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  • A healthy spiritual life.
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  • We talked in the previous session about some components
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  • That are needed to step out of the crowd, some things you'll
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  • Have to believe or grapple with, or ideas that you'll have
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  • To continue to hold.
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  • There're some things you'll have to overcome.
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  • You'll have to overcome the notion that a profession of
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  • Faith kind of finalizes all your god business.
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  • I'm not calling your salvation into question.
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  • I'm calling into question your idea of what means to be a
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  • Christian, to imagine that you make a profession of faith or
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  • You kneel at an altar and you have entered the kingdom of god
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  • And it requires no further attention.
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  • I believe it's as naïve as imagining that if you join a
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  • Health club, your healthy for life.
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  • I think we all understand you would have
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  • To utilize the resources in that place in order
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  • To maintain physical health and wellbeing.
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  • And to maintain spiritual health is going to require
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  • Attention and participation and cooperation
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  • With the spirit of god.
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  • And so, that brings us to this session and i wanna make it as
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  • Simple as i know how, and what i'm really gonna suggest is we
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  • Wanna learn how to avoid heart disease.
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  • I've had enough birthdays now that when i go to the doctor,
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  • They wanna talk to me about that stuff and i'm like, you know,
  • 00:03:46.943 --> 00:03:49.879
  • "what's your diet?" "chocolate."
  • 00:03:49.879 --> 00:03:53.116
  • You know.
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  • "well, what's your go-to food when you're stressed?"
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  • "chocolate."
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  • "what do you prefer for breakfast?"
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  • "chocolate."
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  • It seems to make them tense.
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  • Don't know why, but--matthew 15, we'll start there,
  • 00:04:07.730 --> 00:04:12.402
  • "jesus called to the crowd, called the crowd to him
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  • And he said, 'listen and understand.'"
  • 00:04:15.705 --> 00:04:19.442
  • Apparently it's possible to listen and not understand.
  • 00:04:19.442 --> 00:04:22.512
  • "what goes into a man's mouth doesn't make him unclean,
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  • But what comes out of his mouth,
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  • That is what makes him unclean.'"
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  • Pause there just a minute.
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  • It's a little blind to us 'cause we don't really live with the
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  • Notion anymore that your fork makes you holy or not.
  • 00:04:32.355 --> 00:04:36.459
  • But for hundreds of years, the people of god had dietary
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  • Restrictions, kosher rules, and your righteousness was
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  • Significantly impacted by what you ate.
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  • It was a part of their expression of worship to god.
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  • The best example of that, or maybe the most interesting
  • 00:04:52.375 --> 00:04:56.579
  • Example of that, is daniel.
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  • In daniel chapter 1, we find daniel as a slave in babylon and
  • 00:04:58.614 --> 00:05:02.352
  • He's asking for permission not to eat the king's food.
  • 00:05:02.352 --> 00:05:06.389
  • He wants to maintain some semblance of his kosher diet.
  • 00:05:06.389 --> 00:05:10.693
  • And after some negotiation, he gains that privilege.
  • 00:05:10.693 --> 00:05:13.563
  • Now, we don't live with that.
  • 00:05:13.563 --> 00:05:15.765
  • But jesus is addressing his audience and he's challenging an
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  • Idea that is very firmly fixed in their imagination.
  • 00:05:18.801 --> 00:05:22.672
  • What goes into your mouth does not make you unclean.
  • 00:05:22.672 --> 00:05:26.476
  • Now i point that out 'cause i'm challenging something that's
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  • Very firmly fixed in american evangelicalism: that if you've
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  • Made a profession of faith, you're just golden.
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  • You just don't have to think about it much anymore.
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  • If you ever need to return to that visit, all you have to do
  • 00:05:38.521 --> 00:05:41.124
  • Is say "i'm sorry," and then you just move along again.
  • 00:05:41.124 --> 00:05:43.993
  • And while i believe in conversion and i believe in the
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  • Grace of god, that kinda presumptive living terrifies me.
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  • I think it's extraordinarily dangerous.
  • 00:05:52.568 --> 00:05:54.804
  • And so, jesus is challenging this deeply rooted idea, and
  • 00:05:54.804 --> 00:05:59.175
  • He's doing it in very plain language: what comes out of your
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  • Mouth is more important than what goes in it.
  • 00:06:01.811 --> 00:06:05.248
  • "and the disciples came to him and asked,
  • 00:06:05.248 --> 00:06:07.150
  • 'do you know that the pharisees were offended
  • 00:06:07.150 --> 00:06:09.318
  • When they heard this?'"
  • 00:06:09.318 --> 00:06:12.922
  • Can you imagine coaching
  • 00:06:12.922 --> 00:06:14.257
  • Jesus up on his situational awareness?
  • 00:06:14.257 --> 00:06:18.861
  • You know, "hey, jesus, i know you're not good with crowds.
  • 00:06:18.861 --> 00:06:23.332
  • Did you notice?"
  • 00:06:23.332 --> 00:06:25.768
  • I'm thinkin' jesus noticed.
  • 00:06:25.768 --> 00:06:28.304
  • "and he replied, 'every plant that my heavenly father
  • 00:06:28.304 --> 00:06:30.540
  • Has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.
  • 00:06:30.540 --> 00:06:32.842
  • Leave them, they're blind guides.'"
  • 00:06:32.842 --> 00:06:36.312
  • Everybody says jesus is all about love.
  • 00:06:36.312 --> 00:06:39.916
  • Just one group hug after another rollin' down
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  • The streets of israel.
  • 00:06:42.051 --> 00:06:44.187
  • "leave them, they are blind guides.
  • 00:06:44.187 --> 00:06:46.022
  • If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."
  • 00:06:46.022 --> 00:06:49.926
  • Jesus's response when he said the pharisees were offended,
  • 00:06:49.926 --> 00:06:52.695
  • He said "leave them."
  • 00:06:52.695 --> 00:06:55.865
  • Wow.
  • 00:06:55.865 --> 00:06:58.568
  • He didn't say go reason with them, go try to explain to them.
  • 00:06:58.568 --> 00:07:02.338
  • Leave them, they're blind guides.
  • 00:07:02.338 --> 00:07:07.109
  • "well, i feel called to be a missionary amongst
  • 00:07:07.109 --> 00:07:08.678
  • The blind guides."
  • 00:07:08.678 --> 00:07:11.180
  • Jesus said leave them.
  • 00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:13.216
  • "and then peter said, 'explain the parable to us.'
  • 00:07:13.216 --> 00:07:17.286
  • And jesus said, 'are you still so dull?'"
  • 00:07:17.286 --> 00:07:21.524
  • This is not the most affirming
  • 00:07:21.524 --> 00:07:22.859
  • Of jesus's interactions with friends and followers.
  • 00:07:22.859 --> 00:07:27.396
  • "don't you see," and when he says "don't you see,"
  • 00:07:27.396 --> 00:07:31.033
  • They don't see.
  • 00:07:31.033 --> 00:07:34.070
  • "don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the
  • 00:07:34.070 --> 00:07:36.506
  • Stomach and then out of the body?
  • 00:07:36.506 --> 00:07:38.941
  • But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart,
  • 00:07:38.941 --> 00:07:42.745
  • And these make a man unclean."
  • 00:07:42.745 --> 00:07:45.715
  • Jesus is revealing the source of uncleanness in our lives.
  • 00:07:45.715 --> 00:07:50.853
  • And what did he say it was?
  • 00:07:50.853 --> 00:07:54.590
  • He said it's our heart.
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  • It's what comes out of your heart that makes you unclean.
  • 00:07:56.626 --> 00:08:01.163
  • And that's givin' expression, perhaps, in your words
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  • Or your attitude or your behaviors, but the point
  • 00:08:03.866 --> 00:08:06.469
  • Of origin is your heart.
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  • Not the pump in the center of your being.
  • 00:08:07.870 --> 00:08:10.139
  • That's your cardiac muscle.
  • 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:13.442
  • But the center of your person, for out of the
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  • Heart come evil thoughts.
  • 00:08:15.511 --> 00:08:18.314
  • Murder, adultery, sexual immorality,
  • 00:08:18.314 --> 00:08:21.183
  • Theft, false testimony, slander.
  • 00:08:21.183 --> 00:08:25.988
  • These are what make a man unclean.
  • 00:08:25.988 --> 00:08:29.125
  • But eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean.
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  • I've lived in israel.
  • 00:08:34.397 --> 00:08:36.532
  • I've had a professor in school, i'll never forget,
  • 00:08:36.532 --> 00:08:38.067
  • He was brilliant.
  • 00:08:38.067 --> 00:08:39.535
  • We could turn in papers in seven different languages.
  • 00:08:39.535 --> 00:08:41.704
  • He was orthodox.
  • 00:08:41.704 --> 00:08:43.172
  • He had the sharpest wit of any professor i ever studied with.
  • 00:08:43.172 --> 00:08:45.341
  • You did not talk back in class.
  • 00:08:45.341 --> 00:08:47.777
  • And i used to like to, but not there.
  • 00:08:47.777 --> 00:08:51.314
  • But he washed his hands so frequently as a part of his
  • 00:08:51.314 --> 00:08:53.883
  • Ceremonial washing that his hands were continually chapped.
  • 00:08:53.883 --> 00:08:58.020
  • Young man, brilliant man.
  • 00:08:58.020 --> 00:09:00.323
  • And jesus is saying, "listen, unclean hands
  • 00:09:00.323 --> 00:09:02.925
  • Is not your problem.
  • 00:09:02.925 --> 00:09:04.660
  • It's an unclean heart."
  • 00:09:04.660 --> 00:09:07.229
  • And then he gave us a little sample of what comes out
  • 00:09:07.229 --> 00:09:09.565
  • Of that unclean heart.
  • 00:09:09.565 --> 00:09:11.467
  • He said evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality,
  • 00:09:11.467 --> 00:09:15.171
  • Theft, false testimony, slander.
  • 00:09:15.171 --> 00:09:18.674
  • So it's a combination of things.
  • 00:09:18.674 --> 00:09:20.443
  • It's emotions.
  • 00:09:20.443 --> 00:09:22.345
  • It's thoughts, it's feelings, it's our carnal nature.
  • 00:09:22.345 --> 00:09:25.848
  • All of those things have to be surrendered to
  • 00:09:25.848 --> 00:09:27.783
  • The lordship of jesus.
  • 00:09:27.783 --> 00:09:30.620
  • They hold the potential to make us unclean.
  • 00:09:30.620 --> 00:09:35.658
  • Again, he's talking to his friends about this.
  • 00:09:35.658 --> 00:09:40.129
  • Now, that's the new testament, but it's a
  • 00:09:40.129 --> 00:09:41.530
  • Principle all through scripture.
  • 00:09:41.530 --> 00:09:42.898
  • In proverbs 4:23, it says, "above all else, guard your
  • 00:09:42.898 --> 00:09:46.669
  • Heart, for it's the wellspring of life."
  • 00:09:46.669 --> 00:09:49.171
  • Above all else.
  • 00:09:49.171 --> 00:09:52.408
  • So i wanna ask you a question: if you think about time and
  • 00:09:52.408 --> 00:09:55.978
  • Energy you spend in protecting those things that are valuable
  • 00:09:55.978 --> 00:09:58.814
  • To you--your assets, your resources, your retirement, your
  • 00:09:58.814 --> 00:10:02.118
  • Home, your car, your children, your grandchildren--if you
  • 00:10:02.118 --> 00:10:07.990
  • Evaluated time spent on that, energy spent on that, resources
  • 00:10:07.990 --> 00:10:11.460
  • Spent on that, attention given to that, how would that compare
  • 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:14.397
  • Into how you guard your heart?
  • 00:10:14.397 --> 00:10:18.601
  • Because the counsel of scripture is above all else.
  • 00:10:18.601 --> 00:10:22.505
  • The priority, the most significant thing to secure in
  • 00:10:22.505 --> 00:10:25.207
  • Your life, is the condition of your heart because it holds the
  • 00:10:25.207 --> 00:10:28.511
  • Potential to cause you to be unclean in god's sight.
  • 00:10:28.511 --> 00:10:34.684
  • It seems to me we treat that pretty casually.
  • 00:10:34.684 --> 00:10:40.022
  • Allen: have you ever said that christmas is too secular and
  • 00:10:44.226 --> 00:10:46.629
  • You're tired of it?
  • 00:10:46.629 --> 00:10:47.963
  • Well, we've got a solution or at least something that can help.
  • 00:10:47.963 --> 00:10:50.499
  • We've written a book.
  • 00:10:50.499 --> 00:10:51.867
  • It's called, "how to lead with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:10:51.867 --> 00:10:53.903
  • It's 25 days of devotionals that you can read.
  • 00:10:53.903 --> 00:10:56.138
  • You can share them with family, your friends, coworkers.
  • 00:10:56.138 --> 00:10:58.674
  • Then there's some ideas, even recipes, activities.
  • 00:10:58.674 --> 00:11:01.577
  • It's a fun--it's like a--it's a starter kit for bringing your
  • 00:11:01.577 --> 00:11:04.313
  • Faith to bear this christmas season.
  • 00:11:04.313 --> 00:11:06.816
  • Don't stand on the sidelines and complain.
  • 00:11:06.816 --> 00:11:09.051
  • Let's lead with our faith this christmas season.
  • 00:11:09.051 --> 00:11:11.187
  • Let's honor the lord and see the blessings that he brings to all
  • 00:11:11.187 --> 00:11:14.390
  • Of our lives.
  • 00:11:14.390 --> 00:11:15.725
  • Female announcer: christmas comes quickly, and it's easy to
  • 00:11:15.725 --> 00:11:17.693
  • Let the season slip by without focusing on what matters most.
  • 00:11:17.693 --> 00:11:21.630
  • Pastor allen's new book, "lead with faith at christmas," is a
  • 00:11:21.630 --> 00:11:25.000
  • 25-day advent devotional that will help you bring jesus more
  • 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:28.671
  • Fully into the season.
  • 00:11:28.671 --> 00:11:30.339
  • Inside, you'll find scriptures, devotionals, prayers, recipes,
  • 00:11:30.339 --> 00:11:35.144
  • And practical things you can do to make the holidays
  • 00:11:35.144 --> 00:11:37.947
  • More meaningful.
  • 00:11:37.947 --> 00:11:39.281
  • It also makes a fantastic gift.
  • 00:11:39.281 --> 00:11:41.851
  • It's time to stop repeating the same stale traditions and get
  • 00:11:41.851 --> 00:11:45.121
  • Ready to put your faith into action in new ways
  • 00:11:45.121 --> 00:11:47.790
  • This christmas.
  • 00:11:47.790 --> 00:11:49.191
  • Request your copy when you donate $30 or more today at
  • 00:11:49.191 --> 00:11:52.595
  • Allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:11:52.595 --> 00:11:57.767
  • Allen: and then proverbs says,
  • 00:11:59.735 --> 00:12:01.137
  • "above all else, guard your heart."
  • 00:12:01.137 --> 00:12:02.872
  • So i've been walking around for a few days saying,
  • 00:12:02.872 --> 00:12:05.040
  • "what does that mean?"
  • 00:12:05.040 --> 00:12:06.375
  • What would practical expressions of that look like for those of
  • 00:12:06.375 --> 00:12:08.410
  • Us in the 21st century to understand what it is
  • 00:12:08.410 --> 00:12:12.615
  • To guard our hearts?
  • 00:12:12.615 --> 00:12:14.683
  • And this isn't an inclusive list 'cause i don't want the series
  • 00:12:14.683 --> 00:12:17.353
  • To go forever.
  • 00:12:17.353 --> 00:12:19.855
  • But it is a sampling that i think will give you some ways to
  • 00:12:19.855 --> 00:12:22.458
  • Think about it and open some doors in your imagination.
  • 00:12:22.458 --> 00:12:25.795
  • And one thing we have to guard our hearts against is the
  • 00:12:25.795 --> 00:12:28.397
  • Arrival of the tempter.
  • 00:12:28.397 --> 00:12:32.301
  • And it's helpful for me to think of it in these terms:
  • 00:12:32.301 --> 00:12:34.804
  • The temptation is not a thing.
  • 00:12:34.804 --> 00:12:37.973
  • It's not really that i'm tempted by things.
  • 00:12:37.973 --> 00:12:41.410
  • Temptation is rooted in a person.
  • 00:12:41.410 --> 00:12:46.549
  • Big difference.
  • 00:12:46.549 --> 00:12:48.250
  • When you're conscious of temptation, rather than to think
  • 00:12:48.250 --> 00:12:51.453
  • Of the source of the temptation as the thing or the response
  • 00:12:51.453 --> 00:12:54.156
  • Or the attitude or the action, think of temptation
  • 00:12:54.156 --> 00:12:57.927
  • In terms of a person.
  • 00:12:57.927 --> 00:13:00.896
  • There is someone tempting you.
  • 00:13:00.896 --> 00:13:05.501
  • He may be using things or responses or actions,
  • 00:13:05.501 --> 00:13:09.104
  • But it's a person.
  • 00:13:09.104 --> 00:13:10.439
  • Look at matthew 4, "jesus was led by the spirit,"
  • 00:13:10.439 --> 00:13:13.542
  • By the spirit of god,
  • 00:13:13.542 --> 00:13:14.977
  • "into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
  • 00:13:14.977 --> 00:13:20.416
  • And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry and
  • 00:13:20.416 --> 00:13:22.985
  • The tempter came to him and he said,
  • 00:13:22.985 --> 00:13:25.321
  • 'if you are the son of god, tell these stones to become bread.'"
  • 00:13:25.321 --> 00:13:30.059
  • Well, jesus is hungry.
  • 00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:32.194
  • Just the aroma of bread.
  • 00:13:32.194 --> 00:13:35.097
  • Ever been hungry and smelled fresh bread?
  • 00:13:35.097 --> 00:13:37.933
  • I don't need much explanation from that point.
  • 00:13:37.933 --> 00:13:42.938
  • "if you're hungry," he said.
  • 00:13:42.938 --> 00:13:45.841
  • "if you're the son of god," he said.
  • 00:13:45.841 --> 00:13:49.078
  • He knows very well who he is.
  • 00:13:49.078 --> 00:13:50.880
  • That's why he's tempting him.
  • 00:13:50.880 --> 00:13:52.882
  • He has seen jesus in all of his glory.
  • 00:13:52.882 --> 00:13:56.785
  • He knew jesus when he himself was an archangel before he was
  • 00:13:56.785 --> 00:14:00.489
  • Expelled from heaven.
  • 00:14:00.489 --> 00:14:02.524
  • He has seen the splendor and the majesty of jesus.
  • 00:14:02.524 --> 00:14:07.596
  • Some scholars suggest that it was satan's pride, he wanted
  • 00:14:07.596 --> 00:14:10.933
  • Jesus's place, that caused the fall anyway.
  • 00:14:10.933 --> 00:14:17.573
  • So he's challenging that in jesus's life.
  • 00:14:17.573 --> 00:14:20.142
  • "if you are the son of god."
  • 00:14:20.142 --> 00:14:22.244
  • The temptation in jesus's life wasn't about a thing or just his
  • 00:14:22.244 --> 00:14:25.381
  • Hunger or his physical weakness.
  • 00:14:25.381 --> 00:14:28.150
  • It was centered in a person, and so is your temptation and mine.
  • 00:14:28.150 --> 00:14:34.523
  • It's important, if you're gonna guard your heart,
  • 00:14:34.523 --> 00:14:35.891
  • To understand that.
  • 00:14:35.891 --> 00:14:37.693
  • In matthew 6, jesus, when he was teaching us to pray,
  • 00:14:37.693 --> 00:14:39.662
  • Picked this up.
  • 00:14:39.662 --> 00:14:40.996
  • It's the lord's prayer, you know it.
  • 00:14:40.996 --> 00:14:42.331
  • "our father in heaven, hallowed be your name."
  • 00:14:42.331 --> 00:14:44.533
  • Look at the last sentence in verse 13,
  • 00:14:44.533 --> 00:14:46.468
  • "lead us not into temptation,
  • 00:14:46.468 --> 00:14:49.038
  • But deliver us from the evil one."
  • 00:14:49.038 --> 00:14:51.640
  • Did you know one of the categories of prayer--i
  • 00:14:51.640 --> 00:14:54.443
  • Understand the lord's prayer to be a collection of prayer
  • 00:14:54.443 --> 00:14:56.745
  • Categories more than it's a cohesive--it can be prayed as a
  • 00:14:56.745 --> 00:15:01.317
  • Prayer, but i think it's an introduction to a--it's like a
  • 00:15:01.317 --> 00:15:04.520
  • Portfolio of prayers that can be prayed.
  • 00:15:04.520 --> 00:15:08.958
  • And one of the categories, one of the portfolios is prayers to
  • 00:15:08.958 --> 00:15:12.594
  • Deliver us from temptation.
  • 00:15:12.594 --> 00:15:15.030
  • Are you in the habit on a routine basis of praying
  • 00:15:15.030 --> 00:15:17.733
  • Regarding those points where you know the tempter
  • 00:15:17.733 --> 00:15:20.402
  • Has besieged you?
  • 00:15:20.402 --> 00:15:24.773
  • See, if you're trying to overcome the tempter just in the
  • 00:15:24.773 --> 00:15:27.443
  • Force of your will or the strength of your personality,
  • 00:15:27.443 --> 00:15:30.212
  • You're incredibly vulnerable.
  • 00:15:30.212 --> 00:15:31.780
  • We're no match for him.
  • 00:15:31.780 --> 00:15:34.850
  • But we come in the authority of jesus's name and the power of
  • 00:15:34.850 --> 00:15:37.186
  • His shed blood.
  • 00:15:37.186 --> 00:15:38.954
  • Jesus said that we should pray that we would not be led into
  • 00:15:38.954 --> 00:15:41.156
  • Temptation, but be delivered from the evil one.
  • 00:15:41.156 --> 00:15:46.762
  • The source of the temptation is the evil one.
  • 00:15:46.762 --> 00:15:50.699
  • Look at luke 22.
  • 00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:53.369
  • Jesus is preparing the disciples for his suffering.
  • 00:15:53.369 --> 00:15:58.040
  • And he said, "simon, simon, satan has asked
  • 00:15:58.040 --> 00:16:02.044
  • To sift you as wheat.
  • 00:16:02.044 --> 00:16:04.346
  • But i have prayed for you."
  • 00:16:04.346 --> 00:16:06.315
  • At that point, i'm thinkin', "wow!"
  • 00:16:06.315 --> 00:16:09.418
  • It's the next line that's always troubling.
  • 00:16:09.418 --> 00:16:11.620
  • "simon, i've prayed that your faith may not fail.
  • 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:15.524
  • And when you've turned back, strengthen your brothers."
  • 00:16:15.524 --> 00:16:19.995
  • Simon doesn't understand either, 'cause he said,
  • 00:16:19.995 --> 00:16:22.631
  • "lord, i'm ready to go with you to prison and to death."
  • 00:16:22.631 --> 00:16:26.668
  • And jesus said, "no, i tell you, peter, before the rooster crows
  • 00:16:26.668 --> 00:16:29.171
  • Today, you'll deny me three times."
  • 00:16:29.171 --> 00:16:32.107
  • Peter protests.
  • 00:16:32.107 --> 00:16:34.076
  • Jesus has more discernment, more understanding
  • 00:16:34.076 --> 00:16:36.512
  • Of peter's strengths and weaknesses and points
  • 00:16:36.512 --> 00:16:38.580
  • Of vulnerability than peter does.
  • 00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:40.549
  • It's why we need the help of the holy spirit.
  • 00:16:40.549 --> 00:16:43.218
  • Self-awareness is not easy.
  • 00:16:43.218 --> 00:16:45.487
  • Understanding our own hearts is not easy.
  • 00:16:45.487 --> 00:16:47.356
  • We have an incredible capacity for self-justification, and we
  • 00:16:47.356 --> 00:16:51.193
  • Need the help of the spirit of god.
  • 00:16:51.193 --> 00:16:54.830
  • But jesus's prayer intrigues me.
  • 00:16:54.830 --> 00:16:56.665
  • "simon, i have prayed for you.
  • 00:16:56.665 --> 00:16:58.300
  • Satan has asked to sift you."
  • 00:16:58.300 --> 00:17:00.803
  • It's job-like.
  • 00:17:00.803 --> 00:17:02.137
  • We just read the book of job together.
  • 00:17:02.137 --> 00:17:03.872
  • Job makes his--i mean satan makes his presentation before
  • 00:17:03.872 --> 00:17:06.542
  • God asking for permission to sift job and his life.
  • 00:17:06.542 --> 00:17:11.647
  • And we find that repeated here in the new testament with jesus.
  • 00:17:11.647 --> 00:17:14.450
  • "satan has asked to sift you.
  • 00:17:14.450 --> 00:17:16.018
  • I have prayed for you."
  • 00:17:16.018 --> 00:17:18.220
  • See, i want the prayer to be that satan would go
  • 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:20.322
  • And leave me alone, that there'd be no anything.
  • 00:17:20.322 --> 00:17:23.058
  • I don't wanna be sifted. right?
  • 00:17:23.058 --> 00:17:28.764
  • "but i've prayed, peter, that your faith wouldn't fail, and
  • 00:17:28.764 --> 00:17:32.734
  • After you turn back--you're gonna turn away, peter."
  • 00:17:32.734 --> 00:17:37.773
  • What a gift.
  • 00:17:37.773 --> 00:17:39.108
  • Jesus is giving him an amazing insight into his circumstance.
  • 00:17:39.108 --> 00:17:42.911
  • Peter can't hear him.
  • 00:17:42.911 --> 00:17:45.881
  • "lord, i'm a little offended.
  • 00:17:45.881 --> 00:17:47.382
  • I'd follow you anywhere.
  • 00:17:47.382 --> 00:17:48.750
  • I would even follow you to death."
  • 00:17:48.750 --> 00:17:54.323
  • See, following the lord, i would give you permission to
  • 00:17:54.323 --> 00:18:04.333
  • Incorporate the authenticity of your journey into your life, in
  • 00:18:04.333 --> 00:18:12.441
  • Your small groups with your trusted friends.
  • 00:18:12.441 --> 00:18:17.279
  • We tend to walk in a
  • 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:19.848
  • Pretty significant amount of pretension.
  • 00:18:19.848 --> 00:18:24.653
  • That's kinda baked in sometimes to our religious relationships
  • 00:18:24.653 --> 00:18:28.624
  • In our lives, and i'm not talkin' about how you interact
  • 00:18:28.624 --> 00:18:31.960
  • With the more peripheral things and persons in your life, but
  • 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:36.565
  • With the people that you're making your spiritual journey
  • 00:18:36.565 --> 00:18:38.867
  • With, we need to have enough integrity that we all understand
  • 00:18:38.867 --> 00:18:42.204
  • We face struggles and challenges.
  • 00:18:42.204 --> 00:18:45.340
  • That doesn't make you a failure as a christ follower.
  • 00:18:45.340 --> 00:18:47.476
  • It doesn't make you weak, it doesn't make you insignificant.
  • 00:18:47.476 --> 00:18:49.845
  • It doesn't mean you've missed it.
  • 00:18:49.845 --> 00:18:51.680
  • It simply means that you have a role of great enough
  • 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:55.217
  • Significance or great enough opportunity or you've been
  • 00:18:55.217 --> 00:18:57.619
  • Entrusted with something that the adversary will target you.
  • 00:18:57.619 --> 00:19:04.860
  • If jesus was tempted, if peter was tempted, i would submit to
  • 00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:10.699
  • You that you facing temptation doesn't disqualify you, it puts
  • 00:19:10.699 --> 00:19:14.937
  • You in really good company.
  • 00:19:14.937 --> 00:19:17.773
  • So if we live with this pretentious attitude that,
  • 00:19:17.773 --> 00:19:20.509
  • "well you know, i know people who were tempted,"
  • 00:19:20.509 --> 00:19:23.879
  • In order, the greatest temptation
  • 00:19:23.879 --> 00:19:26.982
  • In my life is one time i was tempted to not put
  • 00:19:26.982 --> 00:19:30.586
  • The top back on the toothpaste.
  • 00:19:30.586 --> 00:19:34.856
  • But i overcame and got toothpaste with a flip top.
  • 00:19:34.856 --> 00:19:42.698
  • I mean, sometimes we are so, we so much wanna
  • 00:19:42.698 --> 00:19:47.169
  • Be perceived as mature or accomplished
  • 00:19:47.169 --> 00:19:53.609
  • Or above that i think we lose the reality.
  • 00:19:53.609 --> 00:19:59.448
  • And in those places with the people with whom you're doing
  • 00:19:59.448 --> 00:20:01.683
  • Life in a meaningful way, there has to be enough honesty and
  • 00:20:01.683 --> 00:20:06.989
  • Transparency that you can say, "we pray for one another.
  • 00:20:06.989 --> 00:20:09.491
  • I pray for you, pray for me."
  • 00:20:09.491 --> 00:20:13.128
  • You know, and sometimes we wanna pretend the spirituality.
  • 00:20:13.128 --> 00:20:18.934
  • And jesus isn't going that with peter.
  • 00:20:18.934 --> 00:20:22.037
  • He said, "peter, i've prayed for you."
  • 00:20:22.037 --> 00:20:24.539
  • So the topic now is guarding your heart, and i started with
  • 00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:27.943
  • This notion of the arrival of the tempter, but it's gonna lead
  • 00:20:27.943 --> 00:20:30.946
  • Into the rest of it because the next one is pride.
  • 00:20:30.946 --> 00:20:34.149
  • And in our pride, in our spiritual pride and our
  • 00:20:34.149 --> 00:20:36.985
  • Spiritual arrogance, we so much want to assert
  • 00:20:36.985 --> 00:20:39.721
  • That we're invulnerable, but we barely remember
  • 00:20:39.721 --> 00:20:42.991
  • What it is to be tempted.
  • 00:20:42.991 --> 00:20:45.794
  • Well, i hope the points of our temptation have changed as we
  • 00:20:45.794 --> 00:20:49.965
  • Have matured in the lord.
  • 00:20:49.965 --> 00:20:52.734
  • I hope that we've gained some momentum over things that were
  • 00:20:52.734 --> 00:20:54.736
  • Temptations in our past.
  • 00:20:54.736 --> 00:20:56.872
  • Those would be evidence of maturity, just as we mature
  • 00:20:56.872 --> 00:20:59.141
  • Physically and emotionally, as we grow i hope we gain some
  • 00:20:59.141 --> 00:21:03.278
  • Maturity spiritually.
  • 00:21:03.278 --> 00:21:05.314
  • But if jesus was not removed from the arena of the tempter,
  • 00:21:05.314 --> 00:21:08.583
  • And peter was not, i don't think you and i should have the
  • 00:21:08.583 --> 00:21:11.386
  • Imagination that we will be either.
  • 00:21:11.386 --> 00:21:13.388
  • So don't stand in some foolish pride with the pretense that you
  • 00:21:13.388 --> 00:21:17.192
  • Don't know what it is.
  • 00:21:17.192 --> 00:21:19.428
  • It's not impressive.
  • 00:21:19.428 --> 00:21:22.197
  • It's not impressive to someone with any real maturity.
  • 00:21:22.197 --> 00:21:29.037
  • In proverbs 11 and verse 2, "when pride comes, then comes
  • 00:21:29.037 --> 00:21:31.873
  • Disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."
  • 00:21:31.873 --> 00:21:36.678
  • Or proverbs 8:13, "to fear the lord is to hate evil--"
  • 00:21:36.678 --> 00:21:40.582
  • There's the correlation there.
  • 00:21:40.582 --> 00:21:42.217
  • It's another lesson on the fear of the lord, but if you
  • 00:21:42.217 --> 00:21:44.986
  • Accommodate evil, if you excuse evil, if you justify evil,
  • 00:21:44.986 --> 00:21:49.558
  • If you lie for evil, if you wanna give evil a hug, all those
  • 00:21:49.558 --> 00:21:53.428
  • Things that we see so prevalent, the bible says to do that is to
  • 00:21:53.428 --> 00:21:58.300
  • Have no fear of the lord; no respect, no reverence for god.
  • 00:21:58.300 --> 00:22:04.005
  • 'cause the fear of the lord says, "i don't want anything
  • 00:22:04.005 --> 00:22:06.341
  • To do with evil," 'cause evil destroys
  • 00:22:06.341 --> 00:22:09.277
  • What god loves the most.
  • 00:22:09.277 --> 00:22:10.612
  • It destroys people.
  • 00:22:10.612 --> 00:22:13.148
  • And then it says, "i hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior,
  • 00:22:13.148 --> 00:22:16.251
  • And perverse speech."
  • 00:22:16.251 --> 00:22:17.719
  • I do not wanna give myself to something
  • 00:22:17.719 --> 00:22:19.521
  • That god says he hates.
  • 00:22:19.521 --> 00:22:22.190
  • The root of almost every other expression of sin
  • 00:22:22.190 --> 00:22:24.893
  • In the bible is pride.
  • 00:22:24.893 --> 00:22:29.731
  • Pride was the sin that caused satan to lose his place
  • 00:22:29.731 --> 00:22:32.534
  • In the heavenlies.
  • 00:22:32.534 --> 00:22:35.504
  • With all the things he had access to and awareness of,
  • 00:22:35.504 --> 00:22:39.307
  • Pride caused him to lose his place.
  • 00:22:39.307 --> 00:22:43.912
  • And we are--religious people are uniquely vulnerable to pride.
  • 00:22:43.912 --> 00:22:48.817
  • We'll be proud of the fact that we're better than somebody else.
  • 00:22:48.817 --> 00:22:53.288
  • We will have pride about the translation of the bible we read
  • 00:22:53.288 --> 00:22:56.458
  • Or how we worship or when we worship or how often we worship.
  • 00:22:56.458 --> 00:22:59.728
  • We're vulnerable, and the tempter knows.
  • 00:22:59.728 --> 00:23:04.332
  • So we have to help one another with that.
  • 00:23:04.332 --> 00:23:05.901
  • The third thing we have to guard our heart
  • 00:23:05.901 --> 00:23:07.903
  • Against is distractions.
  • 00:23:07.903 --> 00:23:10.639
  • In fact, if you wanna ensure mediocrity,
  • 00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:13.475
  • Give a broad menu of opportunities.
  • 00:23:13.475 --> 00:23:18.380
  • A highly optional environment almost ensures mediocrity.
  • 00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:24.319
  • You're not really blessing your kids when you say they can do
  • 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:26.188
  • Anything they want to.
  • 00:23:26.188 --> 00:23:28.490
  • They can play every sport, they can go everywhere,
  • 00:23:28.490 --> 00:23:30.358
  • They can become whatever.
  • 00:23:30.358 --> 00:23:35.263
  • Sometimes the limiting of options forces you to focus on
  • 00:23:35.263 --> 00:23:37.632
  • What's available to you and you'll go do the best you can
  • 00:23:37.632 --> 00:23:40.068
  • With that opportunity.
  • 00:23:40.068 --> 00:23:43.538
  • And i find in our faith, we are often distracted.
  • 00:23:43.538 --> 00:23:47.309
  • In matthew 24, jesus is speaking.
  • 00:23:47.309 --> 00:23:49.344
  • It's a prophetic passage.
  • 00:23:49.344 --> 00:23:50.812
  • He said, "no one knows about that day or hour, not even the
  • 00:23:50.812 --> 00:23:53.148
  • Angels in heaven, nor the son, but only the father."
  • 00:23:53.148 --> 00:23:55.617
  • It's his return to the earth.
  • 00:23:55.617 --> 00:23:58.220
  • Then he gives us a description of the season that is around it.
  • 00:23:58.220 --> 00:24:00.722
  • He said, "nobody knows the day, but he describes the season.
  • 00:24:00.722 --> 00:24:04.326
  • "as it was in the days of noah, so it will be at the coming
  • 00:24:04.326 --> 00:24:06.995
  • Of the son of man."
  • 00:24:06.995 --> 00:24:09.030
  • Well, that should have us all leaning forward a little bit.
  • 00:24:09.030 --> 00:24:11.933
  • He's about to tell us what it will be like when he comes
  • 00:24:11.933 --> 00:24:13.869
  • Back to the earth.
  • 00:24:13.869 --> 00:24:15.770
  • "in the days before the flood, people will be eating and
  • 00:24:15.770 --> 00:24:17.672
  • Drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up till the day that
  • 00:24:17.672 --> 00:24:21.343
  • Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would
  • 00:24:21.343 --> 00:24:25.714
  • Happen until the flood came and took them all away.
  • 00:24:25.714 --> 00:24:28.717
  • That is how it will be at the coming of the son of man."
  • 00:24:28.717 --> 00:24:33.221
  • That's a fascinating passage.
  • 00:24:33.221 --> 00:24:34.556
  • There's a parallel passage in luke, but we don't have to build
  • 00:24:34.556 --> 00:24:37.959
  • The whole thing.
  • 00:24:37.959 --> 00:24:39.294
  • The idea is available to us right here.
  • 00:24:39.294 --> 00:24:41.596
  • He describes what will be happening in that ultimate
  • 00:24:41.596 --> 00:24:44.332
  • Generation before he returns back, and we would imagine it
  • 00:24:44.332 --> 00:24:47.669
  • Would be describing expressions of evil and wickedness and
  • 00:24:47.669 --> 00:24:50.171
  • Immorality and demonic this and demonic that.
  • 00:24:50.171 --> 00:24:53.208
  • That's not what jesus describes.
  • 00:24:53.208 --> 00:24:56.111
  • He says people will be eating and drinking.
  • 00:24:56.111 --> 00:24:59.314
  • They'll be marrying and giving in marriage, up until the day
  • 00:24:59.314 --> 00:25:04.119
  • Noah entered the ark.
  • 00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:06.288
  • Those behaviors will be present in the earth up until the moment
  • 00:25:06.288 --> 00:25:08.957
  • In time when jesus steps back into time.
  • 00:25:08.957 --> 00:25:11.693
  • None of them were patently immoral.
  • 00:25:11.693 --> 00:25:13.428
  • They're not ungodly.
  • 00:25:13.428 --> 00:25:14.930
  • Fact, you could argue they're necessary.
  • 00:25:14.930 --> 00:25:19.734
  • So it isn't that he's calling out evil behavior.
  • 00:25:19.734 --> 00:25:22.504
  • He said what was characteristic of noah's generation is
  • 00:25:22.504 --> 00:25:25.440
  • Destruction was imminent.
  • 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:28.710
  • The ark is built, the animals are loaded.
  • 00:25:28.710 --> 00:25:32.180
  • God has sealed noah and his family into the ark,
  • 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:36.384
  • And the overwhelming majority of the population
  • 00:25:36.384 --> 00:25:40.655
  • Are completely unaware.
  • 00:25:40.655 --> 00:25:43.758
  • No awareness at all.
  • 00:25:43.758 --> 00:25:46.661
  • Completely distracted. what are distracted by?
  • 00:25:46.661 --> 00:25:49.264
  • The routine of life.
  • 00:25:49.264 --> 00:25:50.865
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:25:50.865 --> 00:25:57.305
  • Allen: you know, it's almost christmastime, and year after
  • 00:25:57.372 --> 00:26:00.375
  • Year when i interact with people through the holiday season, the
  • 00:26:00.375 --> 00:26:02.777
  • Thing that is said to me most frequently is, "pastor, i feel
  • 00:26:02.777 --> 00:26:05.847
  • Like our faith has been pushed to the periphery of the
  • 00:26:05.847 --> 00:26:08.350
  • Holiday season."
  • 00:26:08.350 --> 00:26:09.684
  • You know, they start showing us in the stores all the
  • 00:26:09.684 --> 00:26:11.586
  • Decorations in july, and by the time we get to december, we've
  • 00:26:11.586 --> 00:26:15.357
  • Lost the whole tone.
  • 00:26:15.357 --> 00:26:16.691
  • Well, we've created a tool to help with that.
  • 00:26:16.691 --> 00:26:18.994
  • It's "how to lead with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:26:18.994 --> 00:26:21.396
  • It's a devotional.
  • 00:26:21.396 --> 00:26:22.731
  • It has some recipes in it.
  • 00:26:22.731 --> 00:26:24.099
  • It's got some activities, things you can do with your family,
  • 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:26.034
  • Your friends, your neighbors, your coworkers.
  • 00:26:26.034 --> 00:26:28.236
  • It's actually a way to bring your faith into the center of
  • 00:26:28.236 --> 00:26:31.106
  • This christmas season.
  • 00:26:31.106 --> 00:26:32.907
  • It's not helpful to rage against the darkness and complain about
  • 00:26:32.907 --> 00:26:35.477
  • The secularist.
  • 00:26:35.477 --> 00:26:36.811
  • Let's turn up the light of faith in our lives, and this little
  • 00:26:36.811 --> 00:26:39.514
  • Tool is built precisely to help you do that.
  • 00:26:39.514 --> 00:26:43.018
  • I believe it'll be a blessing to you.
  • 00:26:43.018 --> 00:26:44.419
  • I wanna join--i wanna pray with you that jesus will be in the
  • 00:26:44.419 --> 00:26:47.055
  • Midst of this christmas more than ever before.
  • 00:26:47.055 --> 00:26:49.624
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:26:49.624 --> 00:26:50.992
  • Heavenly father, we invite you into the midst of this
  • 00:26:50.992 --> 00:26:52.560
  • Holiday season.
  • 00:26:52.560 --> 00:26:53.895
  • I pray that your name will be lifted up, that your peace will
  • 00:26:53.895 --> 00:26:56.264
  • Come to all with whom we gather, in jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:26:56.264 --> 00:26:59.934
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:59.934 --> 00:27:28.296