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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Heart Disease (Part 2)

November 21, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Heart Disease (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Heart #Pride #Foolishness #Humility #Wisdom #FearoftheLord #Evil #Reverence #Distraction #Distractions #Focus #Honor #GlorifyGod #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Heart Disease (Part 2) | November 21, 2025
  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: you know, when i was a child, i thought christmas
  • 00:00:06.723 --> 00:00:08.792
  • Came every four years.
  • 00:00:08.792 --> 00:00:10.560
  • Now i feel like it comes about every four weeks.
  • 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:12.962
  • Well, christmas is just around the corner.
  • 00:00:12.962 --> 00:00:15.198
  • It's a season of tremendous opportunity for those of us who
  • 00:00:15.198 --> 00:00:17.801
  • Are people of faith to remember what god has done for us and
  • 00:00:17.801 --> 00:00:20.870
  • 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
  • 00:00:24.607 --> 00:00:27.477
  • Your faith at christmas.
  • 00:00:27.477 --> 00:00:29.079
  • It's a 25-day devotional along with some ideas about--from
  • 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:33.349
  • Recipes to activities for your friends or your family.
  • 00:00:33.349 --> 00:00:36.853
  • It's just a fun way so that you can shape your faith into
  • 00:00:36.853 --> 00:00:40.156
  • The holiday.
  • 00:00:40.156 --> 00:00:41.524
  • I think all of us have a desire to see christmas be--have jesus
  • 00:00:41.524 --> 00:00:44.761
  • In the midst of it a bit more.
  • 00:00:44.761 --> 00:00:46.396
  • There's so many secular voices that speak, and sometimes i
  • 00:00:46.396 --> 00:00:48.698
  • Think we feel powerless to do something other than put up a
  • 00:00:48.698 --> 00:00:51.401
  • Tree or hang some lights.
  • 00:00:51.401 --> 00:00:53.036
  • Well, "lead with your faith at christmas" is a tool we created
  • 00:00:53.036 --> 00:00:56.172
  • So you can share your faith with your family, with your friends,
  • 00:00:56.172 --> 00:00:58.608
  • With coworkers.
  • 00:00:58.608 --> 00:00:59.943
  • I think it'll make this christmas season truly a way to
  • 00:00:59.943 --> 00:01:02.912
  • Honor the lord in your life.
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  • In fact, i'm quite confident it'll be a blessing to you.
  • 00:01:04.647 --> 00:01:07.584
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:07.650 --> 00:01:14.090
  • Allen: so the topic now is guarding your heart, and i
  • 00:01:14.090 --> 00:01:16.960
  • Started with this notion of the arrival of a tempter, but it's
  • 00:01:16.960 --> 00:01:20.497
  • Gonna lead into the rest of it 'cause the next one is pride.
  • 00:01:20.497 --> 00:01:23.867
  • And in our pride, in our spiritual pride, in our
  • 00:01:23.867 --> 00:01:26.436
  • Spiritual arrogance, we so much want to assert that we're
  • 00:01:26.436 --> 00:01:29.873
  • Invulnerable, that we barely remember what it is to
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  • Be tempted.
  • 00:01:33.343 --> 00:01:35.578
  • Well, i hope the points of our temptation are--have changed as
  • 00:01:35.578 --> 00:01:39.582
  • We have matured in the lord.
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  • I hope that we've gained some momentum over things that were
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  • Temptations in our past.
  • 00:01:44.787 --> 00:01:46.723
  • Those would be evidence of maturity just as we mature
  • 00:01:46.723 --> 00:01:48.992
  • Physically and emotionally as we grow.
  • 00:01:48.992 --> 00:01:52.061
  • I hope we gained some maturity spiritually.
  • 00:01:52.061 --> 00:01:54.898
  • But if jesus was not removed from the arena of the tempter
  • 00:01:54.898 --> 00:01:58.067
  • And peter was not, i don't think you and i should have the
  • 00:01:58.067 --> 00:02:01.204
  • Imagination that we will be either.
  • 00:02:01.204 --> 00:02:02.939
  • So don't stand in some foolish pride with the pretense that you
  • 00:02:02.939 --> 00:02:06.743
  • Don't know what it is.
  • 00:02:06.743 --> 00:02:09.445
  • It's not impressive.
  • 00:02:09.445 --> 00:02:12.081
  • It's not impressive to someone with any real maturity.
  • 00:02:12.081 --> 00:02:18.621
  • In proverbs 11, and verse 2, "when pride comes, then comes
  • 00:02:18.621 --> 00:02:21.925
  • Disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."
  • 00:02:21.925 --> 00:02:26.496
  • Or proverbs 8:13, "to fear the lord is to hate evil."
  • 00:02:26.496 --> 00:02:30.633
  • There's a correlation there.
  • 00:02:30.633 --> 00:02:32.168
  • It's another lesson on the fear of the lord, but if you
  • 00:02:32.168 --> 00:02:37.073
  • Accommodate evil, if you excuse evil, if you justify evil, if
  • 00:02:37.073 --> 00:02:40.143
  • You lie for evil, if you want to give evil a hug, if all those
  • 00:02:40.143 --> 00:02:43.413
  • Things that we see so prevalent, the bible says to do that is to
  • 00:02:43.413 --> 00:02:48.151
  • Have no fear of the lord, no respect, no reverence for god,
  • 00:02:48.151 --> 00:02:53.957
  • 'cause the fear of the lord says, "i don't want anything to
  • 00:02:53.957 --> 00:02:56.092
  • Do with evil."
  • 00:02:56.092 --> 00:02:58.027
  • 'cause evil destroys what god loves the most.
  • 00:02:58.027 --> 00:03:00.663
  • It destroys people.
  • 00:03:00.663 --> 00:03:02.932
  • And then it says, "i hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and
  • 00:03:02.932 --> 00:03:06.202
  • Perverse speech."
  • 00:03:06.202 --> 00:03:07.704
  • I do not want to give myself to something that god says
  • 00:03:07.704 --> 00:03:09.839
  • He hates.
  • 00:03:09.839 --> 00:03:11.674
  • The root of almost every other expression of sin in the bible
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  • Is pride.
  • 00:03:15.612 --> 00:03:19.449
  • Pride was the sin that caused satan to lose his place in the
  • 00:03:19.449 --> 00:03:22.919
  • Heavenlies; with all the things he had access to and awareness
  • 00:03:22.919 --> 00:03:28.191
  • Of, pride caused him to lose his place.
  • 00:03:28.191 --> 00:03:33.663
  • And we are--religious people are uniquely vulnerable to pride.
  • 00:03:33.663 --> 00:03:38.534
  • We'll be proud of the fact that we're better than somebody else.
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  • We'll be we--we'll have pride about the translation of the
  • 00:03:43.306 --> 00:03:45.642
  • Bible we read or how we worship or when we worship or how often
  • 00:03:45.642 --> 00:03:48.911
  • We worship or we're vulnerable and the tempter knows.
  • 00:03:48.911 --> 00:03:54.150
  • So we have to help one another with that.
  • 00:03:54.150 --> 00:03:55.852
  • The third thing we have to guard our heart against
  • 00:03:55.852 --> 00:03:57.253
  • Is distractions.
  • 00:03:57.253 --> 00:04:00.156
  • In fact, if you want to ensure mediocrity, give a broad menu
  • 00:04:00.156 --> 00:04:04.327
  • Of opportunities.
  • 00:04:04.327 --> 00:04:08.097
  • A highly optional environment almost ensures mediocrity.
  • 00:04:08.097 --> 00:04:14.304
  • You're not really blessing your kids when you say they can do
  • 00:04:14.304 --> 00:04:16.306
  • Anything they want to.
  • 00:04:16.306 --> 00:04:18.341
  • They can play every sport, they can go everywhere, they can
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  • Become whatever.
  • 00:04:20.410 --> 00:04:25.014
  • Sometimes the limiting of options forces you to focus on
  • 00:04:25.014 --> 00:04:27.450
  • What's available to you, and you'll go do the best you can
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  • With that opportunity.
  • 00:04:29.686 --> 00:04:33.556
  • And i find in our faith, we are often distracted.
  • 00:04:33.556 --> 00:04:37.093
  • In matthew 24, jesus is speaking, it's a
  • 00:04:37.093 --> 00:04:39.228
  • Prophetic passage.
  • 00:04:39.228 --> 00:04:40.630
  • He said, "no one knows about that day or hour, not even the
  • 00:04:40.630 --> 00:04:43.032
  • Angels in heaven nor the son, but only the father."
  • 00:04:43.032 --> 00:04:45.268
  • It's his return to the earth.
  • 00:04:45.268 --> 00:04:47.937
  • But then he gives us a description of the season that
  • 00:04:47.937 --> 00:04:50.139
  • Is around it.
  • 00:04:50.139 --> 00:04:51.474
  • He said nobody knows the day, but he describes the season.
  • 00:04:51.474 --> 00:04:54.377
  • "as it was in the days of noah, so it will be at the coming of
  • 00:04:54.377 --> 00:04:56.813
  • The son of man."
  • 00:04:56.813 --> 00:04:59.248
  • Well, that should have us all leaning forward a little bit.
  • 00:04:59.248 --> 00:05:02.085
  • He's about to tell us what it will be like when he comes back
  • 00:05:02.085 --> 00:05:04.053
  • To the earth.
  • 00:05:04.053 --> 00:05:05.855
  • "in the days before the flood, people will be eating and
  • 00:05:05.855 --> 00:05:07.724
  • Drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that
  • 00:05:07.724 --> 00:05:11.661
  • Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would
  • 00:05:11.661 --> 00:05:15.398
  • Happen until the flood came and took them all away.
  • 00:05:15.398 --> 00:05:18.634
  • That is how it will be at the coming of the son of man."
  • 00:05:18.634 --> 00:05:23.206
  • That's a fascinating passage.
  • 00:05:23.206 --> 00:05:24.707
  • There's a parallel passage in luke, but we don't have to build
  • 00:05:24.707 --> 00:05:28.277
  • The whole thing, the idea is available to us right here.
  • 00:05:28.277 --> 00:05:31.447
  • He describes what will be happening in that ultimate
  • 00:05:31.447 --> 00:05:34.417
  • Generation before he returns back.
  • 00:05:34.417 --> 00:05:37.019
  • And we would imagine we'd be describing expressions of evil
  • 00:05:37.019 --> 00:05:39.055
  • And wickedness and immorality and demonic this and
  • 00:05:39.055 --> 00:05:41.958
  • Demonic that.
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  • That's not what jesus describes.
  • 00:05:43.292 --> 00:05:45.895
  • He says people will be eating and drinking.
  • 00:05:45.895 --> 00:05:48.664
  • They'll be marrying and giving in marriage up until the day
  • 00:05:48.664 --> 00:05:54.170
  • Noah entered the ark.
  • 00:05:54.170 --> 00:05:56.272
  • Those behaviors will be present in the earth up until the moment
  • 00:05:56.272 --> 00:05:58.875
  • In time when jesus steps back into time.
  • 00:05:58.875 --> 00:06:01.577
  • None of them are patently immoral, they're not ungodly.
  • 00:06:01.577 --> 00:06:03.946
  • In fact, you could argue they're necessary.
  • 00:06:03.946 --> 00:06:08.384
  • So it isn't that he's calling out evil behavior.
  • 00:06:08.384 --> 00:06:11.421
  • He's what the--what was characteristic of noah's
  • 00:06:11.421 --> 00:06:14.557
  • Generation is destruction was imminent.
  • 00:06:14.557 --> 00:06:18.694
  • The ark is built, the animals are loaded.
  • 00:06:18.694 --> 00:06:22.098
  • God has sealed noah and his family into the ark, and the
  • 00:06:22.098 --> 00:06:26.502
  • Overwhelming majority of the population are
  • 00:06:26.502 --> 00:06:30.873
  • Completely unaware.
  • 00:06:30.873 --> 00:06:33.910
  • No awareness at all, completely distracted.
  • 00:06:33.910 --> 00:06:38.181
  • What are they distracted by?
  • 00:06:38.181 --> 00:06:39.515
  • The routine of life.
  • 00:06:39.515 --> 00:06:42.118
  • Now, i would submit to you, we are all vulnerable to that.
  • 00:06:42.118 --> 00:06:46.456
  • We got so busy in our routines.
  • 00:06:46.456 --> 00:06:49.325
  • After all, we've done our god business, we've said our prayers
  • 00:06:49.325 --> 00:06:53.529
  • And we've done the things we need to do, and it seems to me
  • 00:06:53.529 --> 00:06:55.631
  • That the invitation is to cultivate an awareness of the
  • 00:06:55.631 --> 00:06:59.068
  • Lord and to live with that awareness.
  • 00:06:59.068 --> 00:07:03.906
  • Look at mark 4, it's the parable of the farmer who sows his seed,
  • 00:07:03.906 --> 00:07:10.012
  • And there was four destinations of seed, only one of which
  • 00:07:10.012 --> 00:07:12.715
  • Was fruitful.
  • 00:07:12.715 --> 00:07:14.317
  • We're just looking at one of those that was not and it says,
  • 00:07:14.317 --> 00:07:17.753
  • "others, like seed sown among thorns are people who hear the
  • 00:07:17.753 --> 00:07:20.857
  • Word, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of
  • 00:07:20.857 --> 00:07:23.659
  • Wealth and the desire for other things come and choke the word,
  • 00:07:23.659 --> 00:07:28.331
  • Making it unfruitful."
  • 00:07:28.331 --> 00:07:31.400
  • That's a pretty startling statement, that there are things
  • 00:07:31.400 --> 00:07:33.436
  • That can cause god's word in your heart to be unfruitful.
  • 00:07:33.436 --> 00:07:38.741
  • And then we're given a window into some of those things.
  • 00:07:38.741 --> 00:07:41.110
  • It says the deceitfulness of wealth.
  • 00:07:41.110 --> 00:07:43.546
  • It's not that wealth is evil, it's deceitful.
  • 00:07:43.546 --> 00:07:47.049
  • Deceit is when you believe something to be true that in
  • 00:07:47.049 --> 00:07:48.918
  • Reality is not true, you've been deceived.
  • 00:07:48.918 --> 00:07:52.221
  • You think if you eat chocolate three meals a day you'll lose
  • 00:07:52.221 --> 00:07:54.257
  • Weight and it's good for you, it's really not, then you'll
  • 00:07:54.257 --> 00:07:57.760
  • Blow up.
  • 00:07:57.760 --> 00:08:00.129
  • It's an allergic reaction.
  • 00:08:00.129 --> 00:08:03.533
  • Deceit is when you believe something to be true.
  • 00:08:03.533 --> 00:08:05.801
  • And he says wealth is deceptive, it causes you to think you're
  • 00:08:05.801 --> 00:08:08.371
  • Independent, that you can solve your problems, that you're
  • 00:08:08.371 --> 00:08:12.942
  • Superior, that you have all the abilities to determine
  • 00:08:12.942 --> 00:08:17.146
  • Your future.
  • 00:08:17.146 --> 00:08:19.081
  • All of those things come with wealth.
  • 00:08:19.081 --> 00:08:22.451
  • It is not that it's evil, god's not opposed and he wants to
  • 00:08:22.451 --> 00:08:25.187
  • Bless you with things but he cautions us that it's deceitful.
  • 00:08:25.187 --> 00:08:28.157
  • And he says, "and the desire for other things come in."
  • 00:08:28.157 --> 00:08:31.928
  • And the worries of this life, we get so distracted that it chokes
  • 00:08:31.928 --> 00:08:37.934
  • Out the word of god in us.
  • 00:08:37.934 --> 00:08:39.902
  • So distractions matter.
  • 00:08:39.902 --> 00:08:43.005
  • So priorities and an awareness of objectives and intent for
  • 00:08:43.005 --> 00:08:47.343
  • Your life is really important.
  • 00:08:47.343 --> 00:08:49.779
  • Do you intend to honor the lord today?
  • 00:08:49.779 --> 00:08:52.381
  • Do you intend to honor him at work?
  • 00:08:52.381 --> 00:08:54.617
  • Is your objective to go give an honest day's work?
  • 00:08:54.617 --> 00:08:58.387
  • Do you intend to walk uprightly today?
  • 00:08:58.387 --> 00:09:02.925
  • All those expressions of purposeful living, one of the
  • 00:09:02.925 --> 00:09:05.695
  • Fruit of the spirit is self-discipline.
  • 00:09:05.695 --> 00:09:07.530
  • We don't talk about it a great deal: distractions.
  • 00:09:07.530 --> 00:09:12.134
  • Luke 21, "heaven and earth will pass away."
  • 00:09:12.134 --> 00:09:14.170
  • Jesus is speaking, "but my words will never pass away.
  • 00:09:14.170 --> 00:09:16.973
  • Be careful."
  • 00:09:16.973 --> 00:09:18.975
  • Jesus is saying, "be careful, or your heart will be weighed down
  • 00:09:18.975 --> 00:09:21.444
  • With carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and
  • 00:09:21.444 --> 00:09:25.214
  • That day will close on you suddenly like a trap."
  • 00:09:25.214 --> 00:09:28.250
  • Very similar to his passage about noah.
  • 00:09:28.250 --> 00:09:32.154
  • And we'll read it and go, "well, thank god i'm not given
  • 00:09:32.154 --> 00:09:34.056
  • To drunkenness."
  • 00:09:34.056 --> 00:09:36.292
  • No, but we carry the anxieties of a life around, we just call
  • 00:09:36.292 --> 00:09:38.461
  • 'em prayer requests.
  • 00:09:38.461 --> 00:09:40.363
  • "i have a burden.
  • 00:09:40.363 --> 00:09:42.732
  • My heart has been so troubled."
  • 00:09:42.732 --> 00:09:46.469
  • We have all sorts of religious language for how we
  • 00:09:46.469 --> 00:09:48.371
  • Get distracted.
  • 00:09:48.371 --> 00:09:52.708
  • There's another area of our heart that i think we have to
  • 00:09:52.708 --> 00:09:55.311
  • Pay attention to.
  • 00:09:55.311 --> 00:09:57.647
  • And i really built this list thinking more of people who are
  • 00:09:57.647 --> 00:10:00.182
  • Leading lives that intend to honor the lord and where it
  • 00:10:00.182 --> 00:10:04.920
  • Seems that we have points of vulnerability.
  • 00:10:04.920 --> 00:10:08.090
  • And i think one of them is we tend to demonstrate a lack
  • 00:10:08.090 --> 00:10:11.861
  • Of cooperation.
  • 00:10:11.861 --> 00:10:14.497
  • Once we've settled our business and we've kind of processed what
  • 00:10:14.497 --> 00:10:16.966
  • It means to be born again and to acknowledge jesus is lord, then
  • 00:10:16.966 --> 00:10:20.436
  • I think we get kind of stubborn and we decide what we will
  • 00:10:20.436 --> 00:10:22.838
  • Believe and what we won't believe.
  • 00:10:22.838 --> 00:10:26.976
  • Allen: have you ever said that christmas is too secular and
  • 00:10:31.180 --> 00:10:33.449
  • You're tired of it?
  • 00:10:33.449 --> 00:10:34.784
  • Well, we've got a solution, or at least
  • 00:10:34.784 --> 00:10:36.118
  • Something that can help.
  • 00:10:36.118 --> 00:10:37.453
  • We've written a book.
  • 00:10:37.453 --> 00:10:38.821
  • It's called, "how to lead with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:10:38.821 --> 00:10:40.856
  • It's 25 days of devotionals that you can read.
  • 00:10:40.856 --> 00:10:43.092
  • You can share them with family, your friends, coworkers.
  • 00:10:43.092 --> 00:10:45.628
  • Then there's some ideas, even recipes, activities.
  • 00:10:45.628 --> 00:10:48.531
  • It's a fun--it's like a--it's a starter kit for bringing your
  • 00:10:48.531 --> 00:10:51.267
  • Faith to bear this christmas season.
  • 00:10:51.267 --> 00:10:53.769
  • Don't stand on the sidelines and complain.
  • 00:10:53.769 --> 00:10:56.005
  • Let's lead with our faith this christmas season.
  • 00:10:56.005 --> 00:10:58.140
  • Let's honor the lord and see the blessings that he brings to all
  • 00:10:58.140 --> 00:11:01.343
  • Of our lives.
  • 00:11:01.343 --> 00:11:02.678
  • Female announcer: christmas comes quickly, and it's easy to
  • 00:11:02.678 --> 00:11:04.647
  • Let the season slip by without focusing on what matters most.
  • 00:11:04.647 --> 00:11:08.584
  • Pastor allen's new book, "lead with faith at christmas," is a
  • 00:11:08.584 --> 00:11:11.954
  • 25-day advent devotional that will help you bring jesus more
  • 00:11:11.954 --> 00:11:15.624
  • Fully into the season.
  • 00:11:15.624 --> 00:11:17.293
  • Inside, you'll find scriptures, devotionals, prayers, recipes,
  • 00:11:17.293 --> 00:11:22.098
  • And practical things you can do to make the holidays
  • 00:11:22.098 --> 00:11:24.900
  • More meaningful.
  • 00:11:24.900 --> 00:11:26.235
  • It also makes a fantastic gift.
  • 00:11:26.235 --> 00:11:28.804
  • It's time to stop repeating the same stale traditions and get
  • 00:11:28.804 --> 00:11:32.074
  • Ready to put your faith into action in new ways
  • 00:11:32.074 --> 00:11:34.744
  • This christmas.
  • 00:11:34.744 --> 00:11:36.145
  • Request your copy when you donate $30 or more today at
  • 00:11:36.145 --> 00:11:39.548
  • Allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:11:39.548 --> 00:11:45.855
  • Allen: i want to invite you towards a more cooperative
  • 00:11:45.921 --> 00:11:47.823
  • Attitude with the lord.
  • 00:11:47.823 --> 00:11:49.658
  • In revelation 2, it's a message to one of the seven churches,
  • 00:11:49.658 --> 00:11:53.929
  • And he says, "i have this against you.
  • 00:11:53.929 --> 00:11:56.332
  • You tolerate that woman jezebel.
  • 00:11:56.332 --> 00:11:59.835
  • She calls herself a prophet, but by her teaching she misleads my
  • 00:11:59.835 --> 00:12:03.139
  • Servants into sexual immorality."
  • 00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:05.274
  • And i'm not as interested in jezebel's behavior, i'm
  • 00:12:05.274 --> 00:12:07.610
  • Interested in what the weakness that jesus is identifying.
  • 00:12:07.610 --> 00:12:10.713
  • He says, "you tolerate ungodliness.
  • 00:12:10.713 --> 00:12:14.350
  • You're not really cooperating with me.
  • 00:12:14.350 --> 00:12:16.418
  • You know right and wrong, but you're tolerating it, you're
  • 00:12:16.418 --> 00:12:18.521
  • Just excusing it, you're justifying it.
  • 00:12:18.521 --> 00:12:20.089
  • You're putting your arms around it.
  • 00:12:20.089 --> 00:12:21.490
  • You're looking the other way."
  • 00:12:21.490 --> 00:12:25.227
  • Look at the last phrase.
  • 00:12:25.227 --> 00:12:26.595
  • He said, "i'll repay each of you according to your deeds."
  • 00:12:26.595 --> 00:12:29.498
  • Did you know jesus knows what we do?
  • 00:12:29.498 --> 00:12:32.401
  • And we've got some cute little theological exit ramps so we
  • 00:12:32.401 --> 00:12:34.170
  • Don't have to process some of this stuff, you know?
  • 00:12:34.170 --> 00:12:36.305
  • Well, it's--we're not saved by works, we're saved by grace.
  • 00:12:36.305 --> 00:12:38.507
  • I agree.
  • 00:12:38.507 --> 00:12:40.509
  • We can't earn our way to heaven.
  • 00:12:40.509 --> 00:12:41.911
  • Never will, never can.
  • 00:12:41.911 --> 00:12:43.245
  • You can't be good enough, holy enough, generous enough,
  • 00:12:43.245 --> 00:12:44.747
  • Kind enough.
  • 00:12:44.747 --> 00:12:46.081
  • You can't serve enough. you can't endure enough sermons.
  • 00:12:46.081 --> 00:12:49.151
  • On the other hand, the bible is very clear.
  • 00:12:49.151 --> 00:12:51.520
  • You're gonna be judged for what you do.
  • 00:12:51.520 --> 00:12:57.293
  • Now, i don't understand it to be a judgment of your destiny, but
  • 00:12:57.293 --> 00:13:00.930
  • It'll be a judgment for your rewards.
  • 00:13:00.930 --> 00:13:03.332
  • You don't want the effort of your life to be consumed in a
  • 00:13:03.332 --> 00:13:06.235
  • Moment by god's judgment.
  • 00:13:06.235 --> 00:13:09.772
  • I don't believe.
  • 00:13:09.772 --> 00:13:12.041
  • Cooperate with the lord.
  • 00:13:12.041 --> 00:13:14.343
  • In luke 7, there's a picture of this.
  • 00:13:14.343 --> 00:13:17.079
  • Jesus has gone into the house of a religious leader and an
  • 00:13:17.079 --> 00:13:21.116
  • Ungodly woman has come in and begun to minister to jesus, and
  • 00:13:21.116 --> 00:13:24.954
  • His host is deeply offended.
  • 00:13:24.954 --> 00:13:27.890
  • "and jesus turns to the woman and says to simon, 'do you see
  • 00:13:27.890 --> 00:13:30.726
  • This woman?
  • 00:13:30.726 --> 00:13:32.561
  • I came into your house, and you did not give me any water for my
  • 00:13:32.561 --> 00:13:35.931
  • Feet, but she's wet my feet with her tears and wiped in with her
  • 00:13:35.931 --> 00:13:39.602
  • Hair, and you didn't give me a kiss, but this woman from the
  • 00:13:39.602 --> 00:13:42.338
  • Time i entered, hasn't stopped kissing my feet.
  • 00:13:42.338 --> 00:13:45.007
  • And you didn't put oil on my head, but she's poured perfume
  • 00:13:45.007 --> 00:13:47.476
  • On my feet.
  • 00:13:47.476 --> 00:13:48.878
  • Therefore, i tell you, her many sins have been forgiven and her
  • 00:13:48.878 --> 00:13:51.013
  • Great love has--as her great love has shown.
  • 00:13:51.013 --> 00:13:54.717
  • But whoever has been forgiven little loves little."
  • 00:13:54.717 --> 00:13:58.153
  • He doesn't tell the man his sins are forgiven.
  • 00:13:58.153 --> 00:14:01.090
  • And he points at him and he said, "you didn't give me water,
  • 00:14:01.090 --> 00:14:03.025
  • You didn't give me a kiss.
  • 00:14:03.025 --> 00:14:04.793
  • You didn't give me--you didn't show me any of the expressions
  • 00:14:04.793 --> 00:14:07.096
  • Of kindness or respect or hospitality that were due
  • 00:14:07.096 --> 00:14:09.698
  • By custom.
  • 00:14:09.698 --> 00:14:13.002
  • And this woman who you despise and imagine to be ungodly and
  • 00:14:13.002 --> 00:14:17.439
  • Beyond the pale has exceeded all of those things.
  • 00:14:17.439 --> 00:14:22.845
  • You're not cooperating while you sit there trying to decide
  • 00:14:22.845 --> 00:14:25.781
  • Whether you're gonna accept me or not."
  • 00:14:25.781 --> 00:14:28.350
  • How many times are we tempted by the tempter to stand apart from
  • 00:14:28.350 --> 00:14:32.354
  • The word of god and decide what we will cooperate with and what
  • 00:14:32.354 --> 00:14:34.790
  • We won't?
  • 00:14:34.790 --> 00:14:39.728
  • I don't find that goes away with maturity or experience or
  • 00:14:39.728 --> 00:14:43.299
  • Knowledge of scripture.
  • 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:44.700
  • I have to continually on a very regular basis, decide if i will
  • 00:14:44.700 --> 00:14:47.870
  • Submit to the authority of god's word,
  • 00:14:47.870 --> 00:14:51.907
  • If i will yield to it, if i'll continue to lean into it, submit
  • 00:14:51.907 --> 00:14:54.677
  • Myself to its authority, accept the assignments.
  • 00:14:54.677 --> 00:15:02.851
  • We've adopted some things that don't come from scripture, and
  • 00:15:02.851 --> 00:15:05.254
  • We're demonstrating some remarkable stubborn refusals to
  • 00:15:05.254 --> 00:15:09.591
  • Cooperate with the lord.
  • 00:15:09.591 --> 00:15:12.928
  • I don't think it's wise.
  • 00:15:12.928 --> 00:15:15.931
  • I think there's some practical ways we don't cooperate, one is
  • 00:15:15.931 --> 00:15:18.367
  • With self-satisfaction.
  • 00:15:18.367 --> 00:15:22.137
  • We just get complacent. we get satisfied.
  • 00:15:22.137 --> 00:15:24.306
  • We feel pretty good about ourselves.
  • 00:15:24.306 --> 00:15:27.176
  • Another message to the church in revelation 3 is jesus said,
  • 00:15:27.176 --> 00:15:31.981
  • "i know your deeds, you're neither hot nor cold.
  • 00:15:31.981 --> 00:15:35.918
  • I wish you were one or the other!
  • 00:15:35.918 --> 00:15:38.721
  • But because you're lukewarm, not hot or cold, i'm gonna spit you
  • 00:15:38.721 --> 00:15:40.923
  • Out of my mouth."
  • 00:15:40.923 --> 00:15:42.758
  • Look at verse 18.
  • 00:15:42.758 --> 00:15:44.193
  • "i counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you
  • 00:15:44.193 --> 00:15:47.596
  • Can become rich; and white clothes to wear."
  • 00:15:47.596 --> 00:15:51.800
  • It's interesting language to buy something means you're gonna
  • 00:15:51.800 --> 00:15:54.336
  • Exchange something that has value to you.
  • 00:15:54.336 --> 00:15:56.905
  • That's the nature of a purchase.
  • 00:15:56.905 --> 00:15:59.008
  • You take something that is valuable to you.
  • 00:15:59.008 --> 00:16:00.576
  • If you trade money, you're trading something that you spent
  • 00:16:00.576 --> 00:16:02.244
  • Time and energy and effort accumulating so that you can
  • 00:16:02.244 --> 00:16:04.913
  • Exchange that effort for something you value.
  • 00:16:04.913 --> 00:16:08.450
  • If you're bartering, you're gonna make a trade something you
  • 00:16:08.450 --> 00:16:10.486
  • Value for something that you value of equal or
  • 00:16:10.486 --> 00:16:12.388
  • Greater significance.
  • 00:16:12.388 --> 00:16:13.756
  • That's the nature of the exchange.
  • 00:16:13.756 --> 00:16:15.257
  • And he says, "i counsel you to buy from me gold refined in
  • 00:16:15.257 --> 00:16:17.893
  • The fire."
  • 00:16:17.893 --> 00:16:19.228
  • He's not suggesting this is something simple.
  • 00:16:19.228 --> 00:16:20.929
  • There's a cost involved, there's an intentionality involved.
  • 00:16:20.929 --> 00:16:25.000
  • He said, "you're not hot or cold, you're lukewarm.
  • 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:27.102
  • It's not gonna be a good outcome for you.
  • 00:16:27.102 --> 00:16:29.238
  • I counsel you to buy something from me."
  • 00:16:29.238 --> 00:16:33.409
  • So we come to the lord with a determination.
  • 00:16:33.409 --> 00:16:36.612
  • I believe in grace, i'm not trying to diminish the gospel
  • 00:16:36.612 --> 00:16:38.847
  • Of grace.
  • 00:16:38.847 --> 00:16:42.117
  • In luke 18, jesus tells a parable, you don't have it in
  • 00:16:42.117 --> 00:16:44.286
  • Your notes, but he tells a parable of two men that go to
  • 00:16:44.286 --> 00:16:46.388
  • Pray in public.
  • 00:16:46.388 --> 00:16:48.323
  • One is a very religious person recognized as a very religious
  • 00:16:48.323 --> 00:16:50.759
  • Person, a godly person.
  • 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:52.861
  • And he says that man looks up to heaven and says, "god, i
  • 00:16:52.861 --> 00:16:56.031
  • Thank you that i'm not like all these other people.
  • 00:16:56.031 --> 00:16:59.234
  • I'm godly in everything i do.
  • 00:16:59.234 --> 00:17:01.403
  • I even tithe of the spices that i buy in the market."
  • 00:17:01.403 --> 00:17:06.675
  • Tiny minute things, i pay attention to that.
  • 00:17:06.675 --> 00:17:10.546
  • And it says on the other hand, there was a very notorious
  • 00:17:10.546 --> 00:17:12.815
  • Sinner, and he said he wouldn't even lift his eyes to heaven,
  • 00:17:12.815 --> 00:17:15.317
  • But he said, "god, have mercy on me."
  • 00:17:15.317 --> 00:17:18.487
  • And jesus said, "that was the man that went home forgiven."
  • 00:17:18.487 --> 00:17:22.825
  • So i think we need to give attention to our
  • 00:17:22.825 --> 00:17:24.526
  • Heart condition.
  • 00:17:24.526 --> 00:17:25.861
  • Remember that's the theme here, that we don't get so satisfied
  • 00:17:25.861 --> 00:17:27.930
  • With ourselves, but that we have the humility to keep coming to
  • 00:17:27.930 --> 00:17:33.535
  • The lord.
  • 00:17:33.535 --> 00:17:35.003
  • Keep getting up, we say things like, "well, i've read my bible.
  • 00:17:35.003 --> 00:17:37.139
  • Do i have to read it again?"
  • 00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:39.174
  • Oh, i'm sorry. have you mastered it?
  • 00:17:39.174 --> 00:17:42.544
  • Excuse me, i was--
  • 00:17:42.544 --> 00:17:44.913
  • Or we compare ourselves or we find a weakness in some
  • 00:17:48.117 --> 00:17:50.619
  • Christians, so we think we don't have to follow the lord.
  • 00:17:50.619 --> 00:17:54.323
  • Or we find a church that doesn't measure up and so we think, "oh,
  • 00:17:54.323 --> 00:17:56.625
  • Then i'm excused.
  • 00:17:56.625 --> 00:17:57.960
  • I can be ungodly."
  • 00:17:57.960 --> 00:18:00.129
  • We give ourselves, we get satisfied with ourselves and we
  • 00:18:00.129 --> 00:18:03.232
  • Forfeit, we open our hearts.
  • 00:18:03.232 --> 00:18:07.703
  • One last and i'll hush.
  • 00:18:07.703 --> 00:18:12.074
  • In luke 6:37 and 38.
  • 00:18:12.074 --> 00:18:15.444
  • It's something of a familiar passage, but i'll highlight a
  • 00:18:15.444 --> 00:18:18.380
  • Portion of it that we don't often.
  • 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:20.482
  • "forgive, and you will be forgiven.
  • 00:18:20.482 --> 00:18:22.484
  • Give, and it will be given to you.
  • 00:18:22.484 --> 00:18:23.986
  • A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and
  • 00:18:23.986 --> 00:18:25.687
  • Running over.
  • 00:18:25.687 --> 00:18:27.322
  • It'll be poured into your lap.
  • 00:18:27.322 --> 00:18:29.057
  • For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
  • 00:18:29.057 --> 00:18:30.792
  • We hear that often in the context of giving, but that's
  • 00:18:30.792 --> 00:18:33.562
  • Not the complete presentation there.
  • 00:18:33.562 --> 00:18:35.531
  • Jesus begins the presentation with the notion of forgiveness.
  • 00:18:35.531 --> 00:18:39.801
  • He says, "if you forgive, you'll be forgiven."
  • 00:18:39.801 --> 00:18:42.905
  • And i believe the back part of that passage applies to the
  • 00:18:42.905 --> 00:18:44.773
  • Forgiveness, every bit is much as it does to giving.
  • 00:18:44.773 --> 00:18:48.243
  • With the measure you use to forgive, you'll be forgiven.
  • 00:18:48.243 --> 00:18:54.316
  • Some of us carry things we shouldn't be carrying, anger and
  • 00:18:54.316 --> 00:18:58.887
  • Resentment and hurt.
  • 00:18:58.887 --> 00:19:01.990
  • I'm not saying that the hurts weren't real or the--that the
  • 00:19:01.990 --> 00:19:06.128
  • Behaviors were appropriate, i'm not suggesting you reenlist for
  • 00:19:06.128 --> 00:19:09.364
  • Further abuse.
  • 00:19:09.364 --> 00:19:11.667
  • I'm not doing, i'm not justifying or excusing.
  • 00:19:11.667 --> 00:19:13.535
  • I'm telling you don't have the luxury of carrying those things.
  • 00:19:13.535 --> 00:19:18.874
  • Now why i think that's unusually important in this season is
  • 00:19:18.874 --> 00:19:22.077
  • There are a lot of powerful, repetitive, well educated, well
  • 00:19:22.077 --> 00:19:25.914
  • Articulated celebrity voices telling you that you are a
  • 00:19:25.914 --> 00:19:29.418
  • Victim, almost every segment of our society.
  • 00:19:29.418 --> 00:19:35.524
  • And we have drunk pretty deeply from that well, and we've been
  • 00:19:35.524 --> 00:19:39.628
  • Determined to assert ourselves.
  • 00:19:39.628 --> 00:19:42.598
  • So in order to do that, we carry the resentment and the
  • 00:19:42.598 --> 00:19:45.033
  • Bitterness and the anger and the hostility.
  • 00:19:45.033 --> 00:19:48.770
  • They've separated us by sex.
  • 00:19:48.770 --> 00:19:50.906
  • They've separated us by race.
  • 00:19:50.906 --> 00:19:52.808
  • They've separated us by age.
  • 00:19:52.808 --> 00:19:54.776
  • They've separated us by accent.
  • 00:19:54.776 --> 00:19:57.045
  • They've separated us and then they accuse us, but they do
  • 00:19:57.045 --> 00:20:01.383
  • Their best to convince you that you are an aggrieved party.
  • 00:20:01.383 --> 00:20:06.622
  • The people who package our food, the people who sell us
  • 00:20:06.622 --> 00:20:12.294
  • Appliances in our homes.
  • 00:20:12.294 --> 00:20:16.698
  • I mean, it's an overwhelming avalanche, and they're giving
  • 00:20:16.698 --> 00:20:19.501
  • You permission to hold your resentment and your bitterness,
  • 00:20:19.501 --> 00:20:22.838
  • And god won't do that.
  • 00:20:22.838 --> 00:20:24.406
  • Look at matthew 6.
  • 00:20:24.406 --> 00:20:25.907
  • "if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly
  • 00:20:25.907 --> 00:20:27.609
  • Father will also forgive you.
  • 00:20:27.609 --> 00:20:30.279
  • But if you do not forgive men their sins, your father will not
  • 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:33.015
  • Forgive your sins."
  • 00:20:33.015 --> 00:20:38.687
  • And i want to--i think it's helpful for me to think about
  • 00:20:38.687 --> 00:20:42.190
  • Forgiveness in terms of a release.
  • 00:20:42.190 --> 00:20:45.527
  • When i truly forgive, i release you.
  • 00:20:45.527 --> 00:20:48.664
  • I'm setting you free from this.
  • 00:20:48.664 --> 00:20:51.266
  • I'm not holding you close to me, i'm not keeping that tight so
  • 00:20:51.266 --> 00:20:54.202
  • That i don't lose it because i need it in order to maintain my
  • 00:20:54.202 --> 00:20:56.838
  • Edge or my opportunity or my anger.
  • 00:20:56.838 --> 00:20:59.474
  • I'm releasing you from that.
  • 00:20:59.474 --> 00:21:00.909
  • The marker has been destroyed.
  • 00:21:00.909 --> 00:21:05.180
  • Folks, we have held onto this too much in the church.
  • 00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:08.083
  • We have not guarded our hearts well.
  • 00:21:08.083 --> 00:21:16.658
  • Guard your heart, guard your heart.
  • 00:21:16.658 --> 00:21:19.561
  • We could put 50 things on this list.
  • 00:21:19.561 --> 00:21:22.531
  • Ask the lord to help you. "lord, is there any place?"
  • 00:21:22.531 --> 00:21:25.067
  • Ask the holy spirit to do a security check on your heart.
  • 00:21:25.067 --> 00:21:28.103
  • He'll help you.
  • 00:21:28.103 --> 00:21:30.305
  • Have i left anything vulnerable?
  • 00:21:30.305 --> 00:21:31.807
  • Have i tolerated anything that makes me--is causing me to
  • 00:21:31.807 --> 00:21:35.177
  • Forfeit something that you could do in my life or you would
  • 00:21:35.177 --> 00:21:38.146
  • Entrust me to do if i would guard my heart more effectively?
  • 00:21:38.146 --> 00:21:45.053
  • You're not--you won't get this perfect.
  • 00:21:45.053 --> 00:21:47.022
  • You won't do it right.
  • 00:21:47.022 --> 00:21:48.357
  • We'll stumble and fall, it's like watching kids learn
  • 00:21:48.357 --> 00:21:49.758
  • To walk.
  • 00:21:49.758 --> 00:21:53.095
  • You--it's fun to watch the little people.
  • 00:21:53.095 --> 00:21:55.897
  • They just bounce.
  • 00:21:55.897 --> 00:21:58.100
  • Watch 'em out here on the slide in fellowship square.
  • 00:21:58.100 --> 00:21:59.935
  • They're running head-first, feet-first on their shoes.
  • 00:21:59.935 --> 00:22:05.073
  • I'm standing there thinking, you know, if i tried that, we'd
  • 00:22:05.073 --> 00:22:06.908
  • Call 911.
  • 00:22:06.908 --> 00:22:10.078
  • But they just bounce.
  • 00:22:10.078 --> 00:22:13.081
  • We've got to be willing to say, "lord, you know, i'm not gonna
  • 00:22:13.081 --> 00:22:15.650
  • Get this right and i'm gonna fall a little bit, but i'm gonna
  • 00:22:15.650 --> 00:22:17.986
  • Get back up."
  • 00:22:17.986 --> 00:22:19.321
  • And go, "ah, i've been carrying that this week.
  • 00:22:19.321 --> 00:22:21.089
  • I gotta let it go."
  • 00:22:21.089 --> 00:22:23.992
  • I have to forgive some.
  • 00:22:23.992 --> 00:22:25.494
  • Every time i drive down the highway and the road is not
  • 00:22:25.494 --> 00:22:27.095
  • Done, i have to forgive again.
  • 00:22:27.095 --> 00:22:30.932
  • Like why do we take a three-month project and make it
  • 00:22:30.932 --> 00:22:32.734
  • Last four years?
  • 00:22:32.734 --> 00:22:34.069
  • Lord, i forgive 'em in jesus' name.
  • 00:22:34.069 --> 00:22:37.806
  • Gets on my nerves, i'm hurrying, and there's one lane of traffic,
  • 00:22:37.806 --> 00:22:40.375
  • And there's one person that's taking in the scenery.
  • 00:22:40.375 --> 00:22:45.213
  • I'm thinking, "god, if they had finished this road three and a
  • 00:22:45.280 --> 00:22:46.915
  • Half years ago, like i forgive in jesus' name."
  • 00:22:46.915 --> 00:22:54.556
  • And that's a silly little thing.
  • 00:22:54.556 --> 00:22:57.526
  • But you collect stuff.
  • 00:22:57.526 --> 00:22:58.860
  • You need a time in your week where you purposely clean up.
  • 00:22:58.860 --> 00:23:02.697
  • I hope there's a time in your day when you physically get
  • 00:23:02.697 --> 00:23:04.800
  • Prepared for the day.
  • 00:23:04.800 --> 00:23:07.202
  • And i hope there's a time where you spiritually get prepared.
  • 00:23:07.202 --> 00:23:10.572
  • Guard your heart, step out of the crowd, be different.
  • 00:23:10.572 --> 00:23:16.878
  • Don't leave--lead your life with the baggage that so many
  • 00:23:16.878 --> 00:23:20.081
  • People do.
  • 00:23:20.081 --> 00:23:21.950
  • Some of you need to forgive god.
  • 00:23:21.950 --> 00:23:24.386
  • You're mad at him 'cause your dreams didn't come together.
  • 00:23:24.386 --> 00:23:28.423
  • You have to forgive your parents and your kids and your teachers
  • 00:23:28.423 --> 00:23:30.358
  • And your pastors; the holy spirit will help you.
  • 00:23:30.358 --> 00:23:37.199
  • Let's step out of the crowd, let's be different.
  • 00:23:37.199 --> 00:23:41.002
  • We're living in a time where we need to be different.
  • 00:23:41.002 --> 00:23:44.840
  • We need to be different.
  • 00:23:44.840 --> 00:23:47.642
  • The enemy doesn't want to discourage you.
  • 00:23:47.642 --> 00:23:50.912
  • He doesn't just want to dissuade you.
  • 00:23:50.912 --> 00:23:54.382
  • He doesn't wanna just hinder you.
  • 00:23:54.382 --> 00:23:56.751
  • His objective is to destroy you.
  • 00:23:56.751 --> 00:23:59.921
  • Don't cooperate.
  • 00:23:59.921 --> 00:24:02.724
  • Why don't you stand with me?
  • 00:24:02.724 --> 00:24:07.362
  • I'd like to pray with you, i'd like to give the holy spirit an
  • 00:24:07.429 --> 00:24:09.631
  • Invitation to do a security check.
  • 00:24:09.631 --> 00:24:15.604
  • You willing to do that?
  • 00:24:15.670 --> 00:24:18.673
  • My praying, it won't make a difference unless you open your
  • 00:24:18.673 --> 00:24:21.243
  • Heart to that.
  • 00:24:21.243 --> 00:24:22.577
  • But if you'll open your heart to that, i trust him to help us
  • 00:24:22.577 --> 00:24:24.579
  • With that, hallelujah.
  • 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:27.782
  • "lord, thank you for your word, for its truth and authority and
  • 00:24:27.782 --> 00:24:31.086
  • Power in our lives.
  • 00:24:31.086 --> 00:24:34.189
  • Lord, left to ourselves, we are weak and frail and vulnerable,
  • 00:24:34.189 --> 00:24:39.694
  • But in you, you have given us armor and authority and a helper
  • 00:24:39.694 --> 00:24:48.303
  • And permission to come before your throne.
  • 00:24:48.303 --> 00:24:51.940
  • And father, we come tonight in the authority of jesus' name.
  • 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:56.745
  • I thank you that through the blood of jesus, we have been
  • 00:24:56.745 --> 00:24:59.114
  • Delivered out of the hand of the enemy.
  • 00:24:59.114 --> 00:25:01.650
  • Through the blood of jesus, all our sins have been forgiven,
  • 00:25:01.650 --> 00:25:04.419
  • That we've been justified and sanctified.
  • 00:25:04.419 --> 00:25:06.821
  • But lord, we live in the midst of a conflict and holy spirit,
  • 00:25:06.821 --> 00:25:10.892
  • We ask for your help.
  • 00:25:10.892 --> 00:25:13.929
  • Help us to see ourselves with clarity.
  • 00:25:13.929 --> 00:25:17.365
  • If there is anything in us that is harmful or hurtful or
  • 00:25:17.365 --> 00:25:20.635
  • Limiting us, bring it to our attention.
  • 00:25:20.635 --> 00:25:24.873
  • May we have the courage and the humility and the boldness to
  • 00:25:24.873 --> 00:25:28.577
  • Surrender to you.
  • 00:25:28.577 --> 00:25:30.779
  • If we have excused sin or habits or ungodliness, if we have
  • 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:35.383
  • Tolerated lies or deception, if we've accommodated evil, father,
  • 00:25:35.383 --> 00:25:43.191
  • Whatever it may be, we ask for your help tonight.
  • 00:25:43.191 --> 00:25:47.462
  • May we not continue to carry things that are unnecessary,
  • 00:25:47.462 --> 00:25:50.699
  • That are limiting to us, that are damaging, or destructive
  • 00:25:50.699 --> 00:25:53.368
  • To us.
  • 00:25:53.368 --> 00:25:56.471
  • I thank you for your help.
  • 00:25:56.471 --> 00:26:01.276
  • Give us understanding hearts.
  • 00:26:01.276 --> 00:26:04.379
  • Help us where we have been dull.
  • 00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:08.283
  • Give us hearing ears and eyes to see in jesus' name, amen.
  • 00:26:08.283 --> 00:26:14.489
  • Hallelujah, god bless you.
  • 00:26:14.489 --> 00:26:19.160
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:19.227 --> 00:26:25.567
  • Allen: you know, i'm a pastor and i have the privilege of
  • 00:26:25.634 --> 00:26:27.636
  • Serving god's people.
  • 00:26:27.636 --> 00:26:29.004
  • I can tell you from experience, one of the most difficult things
  • 00:26:29.004 --> 00:26:31.339
  • To do is introduce change.
  • 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:33.208
  • Most of us don't like it.
  • 00:26:33.208 --> 00:26:34.943
  • And i think that's particularly true around holiday seasons.
  • 00:26:34.943 --> 00:26:38.313
  • We have traditions, we have patterns, we have habits.
  • 00:26:38.313 --> 00:26:41.583
  • They're comforting to us, comfortable to us.
  • 00:26:41.583 --> 00:26:45.086
  • Well, i wanna suggest something.
  • 00:26:45.086 --> 00:26:46.454
  • We have created a tool for you this christmas.
  • 00:26:46.454 --> 00:26:48.657
  • It's called, "leading with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:26:48.657 --> 00:26:51.159
  • It's a little book with a 25-day devotional that you can do
  • 00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:53.828
  • Personally, you can do it with your family, you can do it
  • 00:26:53.828 --> 00:26:55.430
  • With coworkers.
  • 00:26:55.430 --> 00:26:56.798
  • There's some recipes.
  • 00:26:56.798 --> 00:26:58.133
  • There's activities.
  • 00:26:58.133 --> 00:26:59.501
  • It's really a guide for you to shape christmas with your faith,
  • 00:26:59.501 --> 00:27:03.672
  • But it means i'm asking you to do something different, to
  • 00:27:03.672 --> 00:27:06.274
  • Introduce change, and i know that's not easy.
  • 00:27:06.274 --> 00:27:09.444
  • But it's time for us to stop raging against the darkness.
  • 00:27:09.444 --> 00:27:12.147
  • Folks, let's turn up the light.
  • 00:27:12.147 --> 00:27:13.982
  • I believe, "leading with your faith at christmas," is a tool
  • 00:27:13.982 --> 00:27:16.818
  • That will help you be a better light for jesus in the midst of
  • 00:27:16.818 --> 00:27:20.221
  • This christmas season, and that's worthwhile.
  • 00:27:20.221 --> 00:27:23.158
  • Enjoy the book and merry christmas.
  • 00:27:23.158 --> 00:27:26.461
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:26.528 --> 00:27:26.528