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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - A Heart For God (Part 1)

August 26, 2025 | S25 E241 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - A Heart For God (Part 1)
#inActive #God'sWill #Plan #PromisesofGod #Heart #Covenant #NewCovenant #Culture #Anointing #HolySpirit #Faith #Obedience

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - A Heart For God (Part 1) | August 26, 2025
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: hey, i sat down recently with my father to do a
  • 00:00:06.856 --> 00:00:09.259
  • Podcast for my "culture & christianity" podcast, and it
  • 00:00:09.392 --> 00:00:13.696
  • Was so valuable to me.
  • 00:00:13.830 --> 00:00:15.899
  • I mean, we--it was stories that obviously i'm familiar with, but
  • 00:00:15.999 --> 00:00:18.601
  • As i heard him recount his faith, it ignited something in
  • 00:00:18.735 --> 00:00:22.172
  • Me about the faithfulness of god across generations.
  • 00:00:22.272 --> 00:00:23.173
  • Well, i encouraged my dad to put together a book about his
  • 00:00:26.242 --> 00:00:28.945
  • Experiences with the holy spirit.
  • 00:00:28.945 --> 00:00:30.914
  • It changed his life, my parents' life, ultimately my
  • 00:00:30.914 --> 00:00:33.683
  • Family's life.
  • 00:00:33.683 --> 00:00:35.051
  • I believe the book will be a real encouragement to you.
  • 00:00:35.051 --> 00:00:38.421
  • I wanna make it available to you right along with "unleashing the
  • 00:00:38.421 --> 00:00:41.091
  • Power of the holy spirit."
  • 00:00:41.091 --> 00:00:42.425
  • It's something i put together a while back that's been one of
  • 00:00:42.425 --> 00:00:44.828
  • The most effective tools we've ever had in the ministry.
  • 00:00:44.828 --> 00:00:47.864
  • Together they'll open the doorway for you to not just have
  • 00:00:47.864 --> 00:00:51.067
  • Language around the holy spirit but to have something to
  • 00:00:51.067 --> 00:00:53.670
  • Actually do to invite him into your life on a regular basis to
  • 00:00:53.670 --> 00:00:57.841
  • Give you the wisdom you need to help you unlock the problems
  • 00:00:57.841 --> 00:01:00.543
  • That we face.
  • 00:01:00.543 --> 00:01:01.911
  • The spirit of god within us to help us, guide us, and direct
  • 00:01:01.911 --> 00:01:05.281
  • Us, that's invaluable, and these books will help you understand.
  • 00:01:05.281 --> 00:01:09.185
  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: i had really intended to begin a new series this weekend.
  • 00:01:21.431 --> 00:01:24.667
  • I had prepared to do that, but as i was doing the bible
  • 00:01:24.667 --> 00:01:28.138
  • Reading--i hope you're reading the bible with us.
  • 00:01:28.138 --> 00:01:32.842
  • On every year we read through the bible systematically and it
  • 00:01:32.842 --> 00:01:35.478
  • Has become one of the most transformational parts of
  • 00:01:35.478 --> 00:01:37.447
  • The church.
  • 00:01:37.447 --> 00:01:39.182
  • I really get no credit for that.
  • 00:01:39.182 --> 00:01:41.584
  • I wasn't aware of it for a long time and i was surprised by the
  • 00:01:41.584 --> 00:01:44.487
  • Impact it's had.
  • 00:01:44.487 --> 00:01:47.690
  • That's a very painful truthful confession.
  • 00:01:47.690 --> 00:01:50.960
  • But i can tell you it's been one of the most transformational
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  • Things we've ever done as a community.
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  • And one of the benefits is as we do that, we're--and you can
  • 00:01:55.598 --> 00:01:58.468
  • Read the bible any way you choose to.
  • 00:01:58.468 --> 00:02:00.036
  • I'm not saying ours is better, but there's a benefit in that
  • 00:02:00.036 --> 00:02:03.206
  • Because when you interact with one another beyond a worship
  • 00:02:03.206 --> 00:02:05.875
  • Service, you have a point of faith that is an
  • 00:02:05.875 --> 00:02:08.845
  • Easy conversation.
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  • And we have--there's just been almost unlimited number of
  • 00:02:11.181 --> 00:02:16.352
  • Reports that have come back on how that has had a benefit.
  • 00:02:16.352 --> 00:02:18.688
  • So we've begun 1 samuel, and as i was reading through that
  • 00:02:18.688 --> 00:02:23.893
  • Again, it seemed to me to be so on point with our conversation
  • 00:02:23.893 --> 00:02:27.230
  • About god's plan and god's promises and god's people.
  • 00:02:27.230 --> 00:02:30.733
  • I've said to you many times in the last few weeks that in the
  • 00:02:30.733 --> 00:02:33.136
  • Old testament under the old covenant god led the former
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  • Slaves of egypt under the leadership of joshua into a
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  • Promised land.
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  • It was the land he promised to the descendants of abraham,
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  • Isaac, and jacob.
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  • That's at the heart of the old testament hebrew bible story.
  • 00:02:45.248 --> 00:02:49.118
  • Well, in the new covenant, god, under the leadership of jesus,
  • 00:02:49.118 --> 00:02:53.256
  • Leads his people into the land of his promises.
  • 00:02:53.256 --> 00:02:56.726
  • Not a piece of territory, but a life defined by the promises
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  • Of god.
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  • The most binding word for a commitment in all of scripture
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  • Is covenant.
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  • And the promises of god are derived from the covenant that
  • 00:03:07.770 --> 00:03:11.641
  • He's made.
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  • You and i have standing in the kingdom of god through the
  • 00:03:12.976 --> 00:03:16.346
  • Covenant god made with abram.
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  • And we're given access to that covenant through the person of
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  • Jesus of nazareth.
  • 00:03:22.151 --> 00:03:24.354
  • So understanding the promises of god changes our whole awareness.
  • 00:03:24.354 --> 00:03:29.726
  • And as i was reading through 1 samuel and god keeping his
  • 00:03:29.726 --> 00:03:34.030
  • Promises to his people and the challenges they have of living
  • 00:03:34.030 --> 00:03:38.067
  • In the midst of that.
  • 00:03:38.067 --> 00:03:40.937
  • But the process of occupying their inheritance and
  • 00:03:40.937 --> 00:03:45.375
  • Maintaining their place with the lord was a very uneven journey.
  • 00:03:45.375 --> 00:03:50.647
  • And i think it's worth reflection because i don't think
  • 00:03:50.647 --> 00:03:54.083
  • We live with that imagination.
  • 00:03:54.083 --> 00:03:55.518
  • The way the gospel's been presented for a few decades, you
  • 00:03:55.518 --> 00:03:58.655
  • Know, is that once you've kind of buttoned down your initiation
  • 00:03:58.655 --> 00:04:01.658
  • Into the kingdom, the new birth, being born again, saved,
  • 00:04:01.658 --> 00:04:04.394
  • Whichever label is preferred, you know, we think at that point
  • 00:04:04.394 --> 00:04:07.897
  • It's a pretty steady ride.
  • 00:04:07.897 --> 00:04:10.600
  • And that's not really the presentation of scripture.
  • 00:04:10.600 --> 00:04:14.003
  • I don't want you to live in fear of your salvation.
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  • I do want you to be mindful of it, and not live presumptively.
  • 00:04:15.838 --> 00:04:20.276
  • So to do that, we started with 1 samuel, and then we got up to
  • 00:04:20.276 --> 00:04:24.080
  • The point where saul has been-- is going to be their king, their
  • 00:04:24.080 --> 00:04:28.918
  • First king.
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  • The last of the judges is samuel.
  • 00:04:30.486 --> 00:04:32.488
  • The book of judges you've read already lists a number
  • 00:04:32.488 --> 00:04:35.792
  • Of judges.
  • 00:04:35.792 --> 00:04:37.126
  • Some of them are high profile, you know, samson or gideon
  • 00:04:37.126 --> 00:04:39.595
  • Perhaps, some maybe less celebrated, deborah, jephthah,
  • 00:04:39.595 --> 00:04:42.565
  • But they're judges.
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  • Not people in black robes presiding over courtrooms, they
  • 00:04:43.900 --> 00:04:47.103
  • Were the leaders of the 12 tribes.
  • 00:04:47.103 --> 00:04:49.772
  • From time to time when there was an external threat that required
  • 00:04:49.772 --> 00:04:53.009
  • A more national response, god would raise up a leader that
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  • Would have the skill set necessary to overcome whatever
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  • The threat was.
  • 00:05:03.186 --> 00:05:04.554
  • Gideon against the midianites, samson against the philistines.
  • 00:05:04.554 --> 00:05:09.158
  • And so the story went.
  • 00:05:09.158 --> 00:05:10.493
  • Well, samuel is the last of the judges.
  • 00:05:10.493 --> 00:05:13.963
  • And he's the last of the judges because the tribal leaders come
  • 00:05:13.963 --> 00:05:16.766
  • To samuel and they say, "we don't like this system.
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  • We don't like you.
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  • You're old.
  • 00:05:22.939 --> 00:05:24.340
  • And you're a lousy parent.
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  • And we don't want you to lead us anymore."
  • 00:05:30.446 --> 00:05:33.983
  • And samuel was somewhat put off by that, as i think most of us
  • 00:05:33.983 --> 00:05:39.288
  • Would be.
  • 00:05:39.288 --> 00:05:41.457
  • You know, i think in the living bible, he looked back at them
  • 00:05:41.457 --> 00:05:43.593
  • And said, "well, you're ugly and fat; so?"
  • 00:05:43.593 --> 00:05:47.730
  • But samuel went to god and god said, "samuel, it's not you
  • 00:05:47.730 --> 00:05:50.700
  • They're rejecting.
  • 00:05:50.700 --> 00:05:52.034
  • They've been behaving this way since the brick pits of egypt."
  • 00:05:52.034 --> 00:05:56.139
  • He had to say that because it felt a great deal like
  • 00:05:56.139 --> 00:05:58.241
  • Personal rejection.
  • 00:05:58.241 --> 00:05:59.575
  • Can you imagine that you could serve god faithfully and still,
  • 00:05:59.575 --> 00:06:03.613
  • Well into your journey, face seasons of
  • 00:06:03.613 --> 00:06:06.115
  • Significant rejection?
  • 00:06:06.115 --> 00:06:08.985
  • You see, it's not an even course, it's not an even
  • 00:06:08.985 --> 00:06:11.988
  • Journey, because we live in a broken fallen world and sin
  • 00:06:11.988 --> 00:06:15.425
  • Exists and human beings still rebel against god.
  • 00:06:15.425 --> 00:06:18.094
  • It's not just a story in the opening chapters of genesis.
  • 00:06:18.094 --> 00:06:21.230
  • We live in a generation where people are very much rebelling
  • 00:06:21.230 --> 00:06:23.933
  • Against god.
  • 00:06:23.933 --> 00:06:26.102
  • And the church is struggling, the people of god, whatever
  • 00:06:26.102 --> 00:06:29.005
  • Label you wanna use for that, we're struggling to understand
  • 00:06:29.005 --> 00:06:32.074
  • How we respond.
  • 00:06:32.074 --> 00:06:33.409
  • Should we acknowledge it? should we talk about it?
  • 00:06:33.409 --> 00:06:34.944
  • Should we avoid it? is it appropriate?
  • 00:06:34.944 --> 00:06:37.079
  • The messaging we've received for decades is no,
  • 00:06:37.079 --> 00:06:38.948
  • We shouldn't notice it.
  • 00:06:38.948 --> 00:06:40.950
  • We shouldn't talk about it.
  • 00:06:40.950 --> 00:06:42.285
  • The church and the state should be separate.
  • 00:06:42.285 --> 00:06:43.719
  • You understand that's an idea that came from the pit.
  • 00:06:43.719 --> 00:06:46.823
  • It is, because the more fully you remove the moral influences
  • 00:06:46.823 --> 00:06:51.394
  • Of a judeo-christian worldview from the authority structure
  • 00:06:51.394 --> 00:06:55.264
  • Over our lives, the more authoritarian they will become,
  • 00:06:55.264 --> 00:06:59.268
  • I promise you.
  • 00:06:59.268 --> 00:07:01.270
  • And we remove god from the imagination of the authority
  • 00:07:01.270 --> 00:07:03.873
  • Over our lives, then we look to secular authorities to protect
  • 00:07:03.873 --> 00:07:06.709
  • Us and to provide for us.
  • 00:07:06.709 --> 00:07:08.344
  • And the technical definition for that is idolatry.
  • 00:07:08.344 --> 00:07:12.348
  • So we need our faith integrated into the authority structures
  • 00:07:12.348 --> 00:07:15.585
  • Over our life.
  • 00:07:15.585 --> 00:07:16.953
  • We don't want a state church, we don't want the state determining
  • 00:07:16.953 --> 00:07:19.155
  • What we say or believe or dictating what you have to say
  • 00:07:19.155 --> 00:07:22.225
  • Or believe.
  • 00:07:22.225 --> 00:07:23.559
  • That's horrific.
  • 00:07:23.559 --> 00:07:26.028
  • But we can't afford to have our faith banned from the public
  • 00:07:26.028 --> 00:07:29.398
  • Square, from the public schools, from our college campuses, from
  • 00:07:29.398 --> 00:07:32.268
  • Our courtrooms.
  • 00:07:32.268 --> 00:07:33.669
  • First of all, it's a blatant violation of our
  • 00:07:37.507 --> 00:07:40.142
  • Civil liberties.
  • 00:07:40.142 --> 00:07:41.477
  • We have the right to free speech, not selected speech,
  • 00:07:41.477 --> 00:07:43.813
  • Selected by someone else.
  • 00:07:43.813 --> 00:07:46.682
  • But the church has capitulated to the point that we don't
  • 00:07:46.682 --> 00:07:50.319
  • Really ask for that anymore.
  • 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:51.721
  • We're a little uncomfortable with it, we get a little tense.
  • 00:07:51.721 --> 00:07:55.525
  • Not advocating for candidates.
  • 00:07:55.525 --> 00:07:58.160
  • We celebrate candidates that make godly choices or embrace
  • 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:01.297
  • Biblical worldviews.
  • 00:08:01.297 --> 00:08:02.665
  • I'm astounded that we have a president who used his voice to
  • 00:08:02.665 --> 00:08:07.003
  • Stand up for a biblical definition of marriage.
  • 00:08:07.003 --> 00:08:10.339
  • I mean, i--not because he always yielded to it personally,
  • 00:08:10.339 --> 00:08:16.946
  • But he had the courage to stand up for it in the public arena.
  • 00:08:16.946 --> 00:08:21.017
  • He was willing to say that there are only two biological sexes,
  • 00:08:21.017 --> 00:08:24.787
  • That god created us male and female.
  • 00:08:24.787 --> 00:08:27.356
  • I think with his determination to root out dei he's done more
  • 00:08:31.594 --> 00:08:36.032
  • For civil liberties and racial equality than anyone since the
  • 00:08:36.032 --> 00:08:39.235
  • Civil rights acts in the '60s.
  • 00:08:39.235 --> 00:08:41.904
  • And the response to that is he's been called a racist repeatedly.
  • 00:08:41.904 --> 00:08:46.208
  • Now all of those are issues that i believe begin with the word of
  • 00:08:46.208 --> 00:08:49.612
  • God and a biblical worldview and should have been resonating
  • 00:08:49.612 --> 00:08:52.181
  • Within the church into our culture, that the political
  • 00:08:52.181 --> 00:08:55.384
  • Leaders should have had to chase those ideas because they were so
  • 00:08:55.384 --> 00:08:58.421
  • Prevalent amongst the people because they've been advocated
  • 00:08:58.421 --> 00:09:01.457
  • So clearly and persistently and boldly from the pulpits of
  • 00:09:01.457 --> 00:09:04.527
  • Our nation.
  • 00:09:04.527 --> 00:09:06.963
  • But sadly, the church has wandered a bit.
  • 00:09:06.963 --> 00:09:10.366
  • And so god in his sovereignty has raised up voices, a most
  • 00:09:10.366 --> 00:09:14.170
  • Unlikely collection of people, to advocate for those positions
  • 00:09:14.170 --> 00:09:18.574
  • And it's given the church an opportunity.
  • 00:09:18.574 --> 00:09:21.711
  • And i think the chapters in samuel are very appropriate for
  • 00:09:21.711 --> 00:09:24.347
  • Us because it's very clear that the covenant people of god--the
  • 00:09:24.347 --> 00:09:28.384
  • People we're reading about are the covenant people of god.
  • 00:09:28.384 --> 00:09:30.653
  • They're the delivery system for the redemptive purposes of god.
  • 00:09:30.653 --> 00:09:33.589
  • He chose them.
  • 00:09:33.589 --> 00:09:34.957
  • He's given them a promised land.
  • 00:09:34.957 --> 00:09:36.726
  • He provides protection for them.
  • 00:09:36.726 --> 00:09:38.427
  • It's sprinkled all through those chapters and that they struggled
  • 00:09:38.427 --> 00:09:41.831
  • Mightily to cooperate with god.
  • 00:09:41.831 --> 00:09:45.034
  • So i don't think we should immediately imagine that because
  • 00:09:45.034 --> 00:09:47.436
  • The church in our generation has struggled to cooperate with god
  • 00:09:47.436 --> 00:09:50.239
  • That we are the final chapter in the story.
  • 00:09:50.239 --> 00:09:54.443
  • We could be.
  • 00:09:54.443 --> 00:09:55.811
  • The king could be returning today.
  • 00:09:55.811 --> 00:09:58.614
  • But i don't believe the primary evidence for that is that the
  • 00:09:58.614 --> 00:10:01.517
  • Church has wandered into the weeds or that evil is
  • 00:10:01.517 --> 00:10:03.653
  • More prevalent.
  • 00:10:03.653 --> 00:10:04.987
  • Evil is more prevalent because the church has capitulated.
  • 00:10:04.987 --> 00:10:09.492
  • But we can change that.
  • 00:10:09.492 --> 00:10:13.796
  • Allen: hey, i sat down with my father recently and did
  • 00:10:17.933 --> 00:10:19.568
  • A podcast.
  • 00:10:19.568 --> 00:10:20.936
  • He told the story of how he came to faith, how god transformed
  • 00:10:20.936 --> 00:10:23.339
  • Our family.
  • 00:10:23.339 --> 00:10:24.674
  • They started a home bible study, all the way up to the beginning
  • 00:10:24.674 --> 00:10:26.542
  • Of this church that i've served now for decades.
  • 00:10:26.542 --> 00:10:29.345
  • As i listened, the heart of it was the work of the holy spirit
  • 00:10:29.345 --> 00:10:32.114
  • In his life and through his life.
  • 00:10:32.114 --> 00:10:34.216
  • I asked him to do a book around the topic, and we have it, so
  • 00:10:34.216 --> 00:10:37.653
  • That you can invite the spirit of god to be the dynamic
  • 00:10:37.653 --> 00:10:40.556
  • Presence of the power of god to bring change and life and hope,
  • 00:10:40.556 --> 00:10:44.727
  • No matter what the circumstances.
  • 00:10:44.727 --> 00:10:46.529
  • You'll enjoy the book.
  • 00:10:46.529 --> 00:10:47.897
  • Female announcer: experience the holy spirit in a deeper way with
  • 00:10:47.897 --> 00:10:50.366
  • This new book by pastor allen's dad, "the eternal breath
  • 00:10:50.366 --> 00:10:53.569
  • Of life."
  • 00:10:53.569 --> 00:10:54.937
  • Request your copy when you donate any amount today.
  • 00:10:54.937 --> 00:10:57.606
  • And when you give $50 or more, you can also request "unleashing
  • 00:10:57.606 --> 00:11:01.744
  • The power of the holy spirit."
  • 00:11:01.744 --> 00:11:03.779
  • It's a collection of pastor allen's sermons that will help
  • 00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:06.382
  • You understand the holy spirit in new ways.
  • 00:11:06.382 --> 00:11:09.318
  • Request yours today at
  • 00:11:09.318 --> 00:11:10.653
  • Allenjackson.com
  • 00:11:10.653 --> 00:11:12.354
  • Or by calling...
  • 00:11:12.354 --> 00:11:15.991
  • Allen: i want to start in 1 samuel chapter 10.
  • 00:11:17.560 --> 00:11:20.029
  • If you missed the previous session, you can hear it, it'll
  • 00:11:20.029 --> 00:11:22.398
  • Bring you up to speed, but this is the--we're beginning with
  • 00:11:22.398 --> 00:11:24.633
  • The ascent of saul, the rise of saul to power, the first king in
  • 00:11:24.633 --> 00:11:28.671
  • Israelite history.
  • 00:11:28.671 --> 00:11:31.707
  • And the only way this is going to be possible is with the
  • 00:11:31.707 --> 00:11:34.009
  • Cooperation of samuel, the last of the judges, because samuel is
  • 00:11:34.009 --> 00:11:38.047
  • A far more powerful figure in the culture.
  • 00:11:38.047 --> 00:11:41.784
  • You know, in christian thought and study, samuel is not such a
  • 00:11:41.784 --> 00:11:45.955
  • Prominent character.
  • 00:11:45.955 --> 00:11:47.323
  • There are others seemingly far more prominent than he is, but
  • 00:11:47.323 --> 00:11:49.358
  • In jewish thought, samuel is one of the leading voices.
  • 00:11:49.358 --> 00:11:54.797
  • But in 1 samuel chapter 10 and verse 1, it says: "samuel took a
  • 00:11:54.797 --> 00:11:57.500
  • Flask of oil and he poured it on saul's head and kissed him,
  • 00:11:57.500 --> 00:12:00.336
  • Saying, 'has not the lord anointed you leader over
  • 00:12:00.336 --> 00:12:02.605
  • His inheritance?'"
  • 00:12:02.605 --> 00:12:04.406
  • Throughout scripture, old and new testament, oil is used as a
  • 00:12:04.406 --> 00:12:08.844
  • Type, a representation of the holy spirit, and anointing
  • 00:12:08.844 --> 00:12:12.381
  • Simply means an invitation to the spirit of god to empower, to
  • 00:12:12.381 --> 00:12:17.553
  • Guide, direct, that we would submit to the spirit of god.
  • 00:12:17.553 --> 00:12:20.956
  • So when oil is poured upon someone's head or we're anointed
  • 00:12:20.956 --> 00:12:24.894
  • With oil, it's an invitation to the spirit of god and the power
  • 00:12:24.894 --> 00:12:27.963
  • Of god into and through the life of that individual.
  • 00:12:27.963 --> 00:12:32.668
  • And you certainly would want a leader of the nation who was
  • 00:12:32.668 --> 00:12:36.639
  • Yielded to under the authority of the spirit of god.
  • 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:39.408
  • So the symbol of that is samuel takes oil and anoints saul.
  • 00:12:39.408 --> 00:12:44.680
  • God chooses saul to be king.
  • 00:12:44.680 --> 00:12:46.348
  • He didn't run for the office.
  • 00:12:46.348 --> 00:12:47.716
  • In fact, he's an awkward, reluctant--i don't have time to
  • 00:12:47.716 --> 00:12:52.988
  • Unpack that.
  • 00:12:52.988 --> 00:12:54.323
  • When they're--when samuel's ready to present him as king to
  • 00:12:54.323 --> 00:12:55.991
  • The people, they find saul hiding amongst the luggage.
  • 00:12:55.991 --> 00:12:59.428
  • I studied kingship and politics at hebrew university some
  • 00:13:02.765 --> 00:13:05.935
  • Years ago.
  • 00:13:05.935 --> 00:13:07.303
  • My professor in that course was an observant jewish man, he kept
  • 00:13:07.303 --> 00:13:12.374
  • The rules.
  • 00:13:12.374 --> 00:13:13.709
  • Very distinguished fellow.
  • 00:13:13.709 --> 00:13:15.077
  • And i remember when we got to that part where saul was hiding
  • 00:13:15.077 --> 00:13:17.847
  • Amongst the luggage, he just-- he looked at the class and he
  • 00:13:17.847 --> 00:13:19.815
  • Went, "i don't know."
  • 00:13:19.815 --> 00:13:21.650
  • But god establishes saul with a demonstration of his power.
  • 00:13:25.654 --> 00:13:29.325
  • Samuel adds his blessing, his affirmation.
  • 00:13:29.325 --> 00:13:32.761
  • But he reminds the people that it's a misguided choice.
  • 00:13:32.761 --> 00:13:35.331
  • There's an interesting tension in the narrative.
  • 00:13:35.331 --> 00:13:37.233
  • You've been reading it.
  • 00:13:37.233 --> 00:13:39.001
  • You know, samuel anoints saul.
  • 00:13:39.001 --> 00:13:40.803
  • He brings the blessing of god to saul, and he looks at the people
  • 00:13:40.803 --> 00:13:43.205
  • And he said, "you made a boneheaded decision, and you're
  • 00:13:43.205 --> 00:13:47.309
  • Gonna suffer for it."
  • 00:13:47.309 --> 00:13:49.645
  • You know, those two things can exist: god's sovereign
  • 00:13:49.645 --> 00:13:52.715
  • Intervention on our part and the consequences because we
  • 00:13:52.715 --> 00:13:55.050
  • Stubbornly rebel against him.
  • 00:13:55.050 --> 00:13:57.987
  • We have more of a fantasy christianity where we think all
  • 00:13:57.987 --> 00:14:00.456
  • The consequences are just eliminated.
  • 00:14:00.456 --> 00:14:04.126
  • Not from the scripture.
  • 00:14:04.126 --> 00:14:06.295
  • 1 samuel 10, verse 17: "samuel summoned the people of israel to
  • 00:14:06.295 --> 00:14:09.398
  • The lord."
  • 00:14:09.398 --> 00:14:10.766
  • Now, this is after saul's been anointed.
  • 00:14:10.766 --> 00:14:12.101
  • Samuel is still gathering the people.
  • 00:14:12.101 --> 00:14:13.469
  • His voice carries more authority than saul's.
  • 00:14:13.469 --> 00:14:15.371
  • Saul's the newcomer.
  • 00:14:15.371 --> 00:14:17.273
  • "and he said to them, 'this is what the lord, the god of
  • 00:14:17.273 --> 00:14:19.174
  • Israel, says: "i brought israel out of egypt, i delivered you
  • 00:14:19.174 --> 00:14:22.144
  • From the power of egypt and all the kingdoms that
  • 00:14:22.144 --> 00:14:23.979
  • Oppressed you."
  • 00:14:23.979 --> 00:14:25.347
  • But you've now rejected your god, who saved you out of your
  • 00:14:25.347 --> 00:14:29.451
  • Calamities and distresses.
  • 00:14:29.451 --> 00:14:31.020
  • And you who said, "set a king over us."
  • 00:14:31.020 --> 00:14:34.323
  • So now present yourselves before the lord.'"
  • 00:14:34.323 --> 00:14:37.793
  • Samuel is the intermediary in all of this.
  • 00:14:37.793 --> 00:14:41.196
  • It's really difficult to get your mind around.
  • 00:14:41.196 --> 00:14:43.165
  • He's been rejected.
  • 00:14:43.165 --> 00:14:44.500
  • They said, "we don't want your leadership over us anymore.
  • 00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:46.035
  • We don't like you, you're old, you're a bad parent.
  • 00:14:46.035 --> 00:14:48.904
  • Kids are awful.
  • 00:14:48.904 --> 00:14:51.307
  • Get out of here."
  • 00:14:51.307 --> 00:14:53.309
  • But samuel's the bridge.
  • 00:14:53.309 --> 00:14:54.810
  • He's orchestrating this transition of power, and they're
  • 00:14:54.810 --> 00:14:57.680
  • Cooperating with him.
  • 00:14:57.680 --> 00:14:59.014
  • Verse 24: "samuel said to all the people, 'do you see the man
  • 00:14:59.014 --> 00:15:01.350
  • The lord has chosen?
  • 00:15:01.350 --> 00:15:02.785
  • There's no one like him among all the people.'"
  • 00:15:02.785 --> 00:15:04.586
  • How hard would it be to get your own ego out of the way to
  • 00:15:04.586 --> 00:15:06.989
  • Do that?
  • 00:15:06.989 --> 00:15:09.625
  • He's not being replaced because he's not competent, he's
  • 00:15:09.625 --> 00:15:12.094
  • Not capable.
  • 00:15:12.094 --> 00:15:13.462
  • His leadership in israel is going to be critical for many
  • 00:15:13.462 --> 00:15:14.964
  • Years yet.
  • 00:15:14.964 --> 00:15:16.765
  • He knows the lord in a way saul doesn't.
  • 00:15:16.765 --> 00:15:21.737
  • But he's acknowledging the choice that god has made.
  • 00:15:21.737 --> 00:15:24.873
  • "'there's no one like him among all the people.'
  • 00:15:24.873 --> 00:15:26.575
  • And the people shouted, 'long live the king!'
  • 00:15:26.575 --> 00:15:30.212
  • Samuel explained to the people the regulations of the kingship.
  • 00:15:30.212 --> 00:15:32.815
  • He wrote them down on a scroll, he deposited them before the
  • 00:15:32.815 --> 00:15:35.351
  • Lord, and samuel dismissed the people, to his own home."
  • 00:15:35.351 --> 00:15:38.087
  • Samuel wrote the rules for the monarchy, not the king.
  • 00:15:38.087 --> 00:15:43.726
  • It's a remarkable narrative.
  • 00:15:43.726 --> 00:15:47.396
  • You see, we have to have a heart to serve the lord.
  • 00:15:47.396 --> 00:15:51.967
  • You see, we don't serve the lord because the leaders that are
  • 00:15:51.967 --> 00:15:54.269
  • Elected serve the lord.
  • 00:15:54.269 --> 00:15:57.072
  • We don't hold a biblical worldview because the supreme
  • 00:15:57.072 --> 00:15:59.241
  • Court agrees with us.
  • 00:15:59.241 --> 00:16:01.643
  • We don't take our faith to work with us because the corporate
  • 00:16:01.643 --> 00:16:03.879
  • Boardroom approves.
  • 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:05.214
  • We don't take our faith with us to the college campuses because
  • 00:16:05.214 --> 00:16:08.684
  • The regents at the university think it's a good idea.
  • 00:16:08.684 --> 00:16:11.020
  • We take our faith because we serve the king.
  • 00:16:11.020 --> 00:16:14.656
  • And we've been a bit confused.
  • 00:16:14.656 --> 00:16:18.961
  • We have been a bit addled.
  • 00:16:18.961 --> 00:16:20.295
  • We have drifted a long way away, and there's a disgruntled group
  • 00:16:20.295 --> 00:16:23.599
  • Amongst the people.
  • 00:16:23.599 --> 00:16:24.933
  • Big shock.
  • 00:16:24.933 --> 00:16:26.301
  • 1 samuel 10, verse 26: "saul went to his home, accompanied by
  • 00:16:26.301 --> 00:16:29.304
  • Valiant men whose hearts god had touched."
  • 00:16:29.304 --> 00:16:31.407
  • God's moving the people to support him.
  • 00:16:31.407 --> 00:16:33.742
  • "but some troublemakers said, 'how can this fellow save us?'
  • 00:16:33.742 --> 00:16:36.879
  • They despised him and brought no gifts."
  • 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:40.215
  • I would remind you, just in case you have--you don't remember
  • 00:16:40.215 --> 00:16:43.185
  • That there have been grumblers and complainers since moses
  • 00:16:43.185 --> 00:16:45.988
  • Walked in out of the desert way back in exodus.
  • 00:16:45.988 --> 00:16:49.825
  • There were grumblers and complainers before they got out
  • 00:16:49.825 --> 00:16:52.027
  • Of egypt.
  • 00:16:52.027 --> 00:16:53.362
  • There were grumblers and complainers when they were 3
  • 00:16:53.362 --> 00:16:55.064
  • Days on the other side of the red sea.
  • 00:16:55.064 --> 00:16:58.167
  • There were people that grumbled and complained in the journey
  • 00:16:58.167 --> 00:17:00.536
  • All the way through the wilderness.
  • 00:17:00.536 --> 00:17:02.871
  • God got tired of it one day and the earth swallowed more than
  • 00:17:02.871 --> 00:17:05.441
  • 20,000 of them.
  • 00:17:05.441 --> 00:17:07.576
  • Like, a crevasse opened up and they dropped in and the
  • 00:17:07.576 --> 00:17:10.312
  • Crevasse closed.
  • 00:17:10.312 --> 00:17:12.481
  • And the next morning there were people in the complaint line.
  • 00:17:12.481 --> 00:17:17.052
  • There were complainers and grumblers when joshua led them
  • 00:17:17.052 --> 00:17:19.788
  • Into the promised land.
  • 00:17:19.788 --> 00:17:21.723
  • There were complainers and grumblers all through the book
  • 00:17:21.723 --> 00:17:24.560
  • Of judges.
  • 00:17:24.560 --> 00:17:25.894
  • So for hundreds of years, there has been a steady stream of
  • 00:17:25.894 --> 00:17:29.331
  • People who said, "we're not cooperating."
  • 00:17:29.331 --> 00:17:32.101
  • So may i ask you a question?
  • 00:17:35.170 --> 00:17:38.006
  • What would you deduce from that about the generation in which
  • 00:17:38.006 --> 00:17:40.609
  • We live?
  • 00:17:40.609 --> 00:17:41.944
  • Is there going to be unanimity about god moving in the earth?
  • 00:17:41.944 --> 00:17:47.416
  • Probably not.
  • 00:17:47.416 --> 00:17:49.785
  • It may be, it just could be, that there would be grumblers
  • 00:17:49.785 --> 00:17:53.188
  • And complainers.
  • 00:17:53.188 --> 00:17:54.823
  • So here's a suggestion.
  • 00:17:54.823 --> 00:17:56.859
  • Don't join the camp.
  • 00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:58.994
  • I'm not suggesting blind allegiance.
  • 00:18:02.764 --> 00:18:04.933
  • That's not the point of the observation.
  • 00:18:04.933 --> 00:18:07.369
  • But when you recognize that god is moving, get involved.
  • 00:18:07.369 --> 00:18:11.840
  • See, the greatest resistance-- typically, when there's a move
  • 00:18:11.840 --> 00:18:14.076
  • Of the spirit of god in the earth through history, i've
  • 00:18:14.076 --> 00:18:17.446
  • Worked on church history a good little bit, and typically those
  • 00:18:17.446 --> 00:18:19.815
  • Renewal movements, the awakenings, whatever label you
  • 00:18:19.815 --> 00:18:22.417
  • Prefer, they don't begin from the establishment, because the
  • 00:18:22.417 --> 00:18:26.388
  • Establishment stamps out the fire.
  • 00:18:26.388 --> 00:18:29.725
  • They typically begin outside the organizational structure.
  • 00:18:29.725 --> 00:18:34.897
  • Why?
  • 00:18:34.897 --> 00:18:36.265
  • Because the complainers and the grumblers say, "well, we've
  • 00:18:36.265 --> 00:18:37.599
  • Never done it that way.
  • 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.934
  • That's not how we do it, that's not what
  • 00:18:38.934 --> 00:18:40.302
  • We've done in the past."
  • 00:18:40.302 --> 00:18:41.904
  • I smiled last week, we sang worship music from the '90s.
  • 00:18:41.904 --> 00:18:46.608
  • Today we sang hymns from before the '90s.
  • 00:18:46.608 --> 00:18:50.712
  • So i suppose next week we'll be doing gregorian chants.
  • 00:18:54.816 --> 00:18:59.721
  • We're just gonna move right through, you know, we tend to
  • 00:18:59.721 --> 00:19:01.990
  • Like the music of a generation that was meaningful in a time in
  • 00:19:01.990 --> 00:19:05.594
  • Our lives, not wicked or evil or inappropriate.
  • 00:19:05.594 --> 00:19:09.264
  • Perhaps a bit immature.
  • 00:19:09.264 --> 00:19:11.733
  • You know, we do age-appropriate music for the children in the
  • 00:19:11.733 --> 00:19:14.102
  • Nursery and it changes a bit when they get to early childhood
  • 00:19:14.102 --> 00:19:17.105
  • And it changes when they get to elementary and it changes again
  • 00:19:17.105 --> 00:19:19.708
  • When they get to high school.
  • 00:19:19.708 --> 00:19:21.443
  • Then they're all kind of acclimated to the music should
  • 00:19:21.443 --> 00:19:23.779
  • Change to fit their life progression.
  • 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:26.215
  • At some point, we become the church.
  • 00:19:26.215 --> 00:19:30.152
  • Not the segmented church.
  • 00:19:33.755 --> 00:19:36.592
  • You know, a lot of language in our--amongst us about our
  • 00:19:36.592 --> 00:19:39.928
  • Generations and how we're different.
  • 00:19:39.928 --> 00:19:42.097
  • I have arrived at the conclusion of that because i've heard it
  • 00:19:42.097 --> 00:19:45.901
  • For such a period of time now.
  • 00:19:45.901 --> 00:19:48.437
  • The--our age and our season in life to me feels a great deal
  • 00:19:48.437 --> 00:19:51.907
  • Like a darkened room with a spotlight moving across it.
  • 00:19:51.907 --> 00:19:56.511
  • You know, in that moment when the spotlight rests upon you and
  • 00:19:56.511 --> 00:19:59.214
  • Then it moves again, that's to me, that's similar to the impact
  • 00:19:59.214 --> 00:20:03.051
  • Of your generation.
  • 00:20:03.051 --> 00:20:05.921
  • Because at the end of the day, the things that make us similar
  • 00:20:05.921 --> 00:20:08.290
  • Are far greater than those influences that we think make us
  • 00:20:08.290 --> 00:20:13.462
  • So different, amen.
  • 00:20:13.462 --> 00:20:17.432
  • In our heart we're rebellious, we're stubborn.
  • 00:20:17.432 --> 00:20:21.803
  • We're reluctant to cooperate with god.
  • 00:20:21.803 --> 00:20:24.773
  • It's true of all of the generational separation.
  • 00:20:24.773 --> 00:20:28.043
  • It's great for marketing ploys and it works really well.
  • 00:20:28.043 --> 00:20:32.981
  • But before god we're far more alike than we are different.
  • 00:20:32.981 --> 00:20:36.051
  • There's a disgruntled group in samuel, 1 samuel 11.
  • 00:20:36.051 --> 00:20:40.856
  • God establishes saul's leadership through really a
  • 00:20:40.856 --> 00:20:43.625
  • Supernatural intervention.
  • 00:20:43.625 --> 00:20:45.727
  • It's a deliverance from an enemy that has plagued them for a
  • 00:20:45.727 --> 00:20:48.363
  • Great deal of time and through saul's leadership, the people
  • 00:20:48.363 --> 00:20:52.601
  • Find deliverance.
  • 00:20:52.601 --> 00:20:53.969
  • "when saul hears their words, the spirit of the lord came upon
  • 00:20:53.969 --> 00:20:56.071
  • Him in power."
  • 00:20:56.071 --> 00:20:57.806
  • One of the great differences in the old covenant and the new
  • 00:20:57.806 --> 00:21:00.042
  • Covenant, in the old covenant, the spirit of god would come
  • 00:21:00.042 --> 00:21:02.644
  • Upon people intermittently.
  • 00:21:02.644 --> 00:21:05.314
  • The bible says that samson would shake himself and the spirit of
  • 00:21:05.314 --> 00:21:08.050
  • God would come upon him and he'd have tremendous strength.
  • 00:21:08.050 --> 00:21:10.986
  • Here, the writer records that the spirit of god comes upon
  • 00:21:10.986 --> 00:21:13.722
  • Saul in power and he leads the people through a tremendous
  • 00:21:13.722 --> 00:21:16.825
  • Victory over a very persistent, seemingly an adversary they
  • 00:21:16.825 --> 00:21:20.429
  • Couldn't defeat.
  • 00:21:20.429 --> 00:21:22.064
  • In the new covenant, the spirit of god dwells within us.
  • 00:21:22.064 --> 00:21:26.835
  • It's a remarkable distinction.
  • 00:21:26.835 --> 00:21:29.371
  • It's not an intermittent visit because we've been made new
  • 00:21:29.371 --> 00:21:32.908
  • Creations, new creatures in christ jesus.
  • 00:21:32.908 --> 00:21:36.311
  • We aren't--our sin hasn't simply been atoned for.
  • 00:21:36.311 --> 00:21:39.214
  • We have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness.
  • 00:21:39.214 --> 00:21:42.718
  • And the spirit of god no longer dwells in the holy of holies, in
  • 00:21:42.718 --> 00:21:45.721
  • A tabernacle, or in the temple.
  • 00:21:45.721 --> 00:21:47.923
  • The spirit of god dwells within his people.
  • 00:21:47.923 --> 00:21:51.326
  • It's one of the tremendous shifts between the old and the
  • 00:21:51.326 --> 00:21:53.695
  • New covenant, and it's not about our ethnicity or the
  • 00:21:53.695 --> 00:21:56.865
  • Denomination we belong to, or our biological sex.
  • 00:21:56.865 --> 00:22:00.435
  • It has to do with the condition of our heart.
  • 00:22:00.435 --> 00:22:02.671
  • The same spirit that brought jesus out of the tomb dwells
  • 00:22:02.671 --> 00:22:05.841
  • In you.
  • 00:22:05.841 --> 00:22:07.342
  • It's an amazing statement.
  • 00:22:07.342 --> 00:22:08.944
  • "saul took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, sent the
  • 00:22:12.714 --> 00:22:15.183
  • Pieces throughout the country.
  • 00:22:15.183 --> 00:22:16.518
  • 'this is what will be done to anyone who doesn't follow saul
  • 00:22:16.518 --> 00:22:18.553
  • And samuel.'"
  • 00:22:18.553 --> 00:22:19.921
  • It's just worth noting in passing that saul's still
  • 00:22:19.921 --> 00:22:21.957
  • Pulling samuel in.
  • 00:22:21.957 --> 00:22:23.325
  • I'm leading, but samuel's with me.
  • 00:22:23.325 --> 00:22:26.061
  • It's not an isolated, but his leadership is being established.
  • 00:22:26.061 --> 00:22:29.564
  • In same chapter, verse 14: "samuel said to the people,
  • 00:22:29.564 --> 00:22:32.868
  • 'let's go and reaffirm the kingship.'
  • 00:22:32.868 --> 00:22:34.970
  • So all the people went and confirmed saul as king in the
  • 00:22:34.970 --> 00:22:37.773
  • Presence of the lord."
  • 00:22:37.773 --> 00:22:39.107
  • After the tremendous victory, samuel again adds his influence
  • 00:22:39.107 --> 00:22:43.545
  • To secure the place for saul.
  • 00:22:43.545 --> 00:22:45.213
  • It's a tremendous transition.
  • 00:22:45.213 --> 00:22:46.615
  • Israel's never had a king.
  • 00:22:46.615 --> 00:22:48.750
  • They have no capital city.
  • 00:22:48.750 --> 00:22:50.118
  • They have no central government.
  • 00:22:50.118 --> 00:22:51.787
  • There's no centralized authority.
  • 00:22:51.787 --> 00:22:53.522
  • They've been a theocracy.
  • 00:22:53.522 --> 00:22:54.856
  • God led them.
  • 00:22:54.856 --> 00:22:56.525
  • When they needed leadership, god provided and the people said,
  • 00:22:56.525 --> 00:22:59.027
  • "we don't like that system.
  • 00:22:59.027 --> 00:23:01.430
  • We want to be like all the other nations."
  • 00:23:01.430 --> 00:23:03.265
  • Folks, you and i don't wanna be like everybody else.
  • 00:23:03.265 --> 00:23:07.536
  • You don't--weird does not make you godly, it just makes
  • 00:23:07.536 --> 00:23:10.305
  • You weird.
  • 00:23:10.305 --> 00:23:12.441
  • Sometimes christians get confused on that.
  • 00:23:12.441 --> 00:23:14.109
  • They think if they act more weird, it means they're
  • 00:23:14.109 --> 00:23:16.144
  • More spiritual.
  • 00:23:16.144 --> 00:23:17.479
  • No, you're not more spiritual, you're just weird.
  • 00:23:17.479 --> 00:23:20.882
  • On the other hand, godliness and holiness will make you
  • 00:23:20.882 --> 00:23:23.418
  • Distinctive from people who don't want to be godly or holy.
  • 00:23:23.418 --> 00:23:27.355
  • You will yield to the authority of god.
  • 00:23:27.355 --> 00:23:29.524
  • You'll yield to the authority of his word.
  • 00:23:29.524 --> 00:23:32.027
  • You will willingly be an ambassador for jesus
  • 00:23:32.027 --> 00:23:34.629
  • Of nazareth.
  • 00:23:34.629 --> 00:23:35.997
  • It will influence every aspect of your life.
  • 00:23:35.997 --> 00:23:38.366
  • That will bring a distinctiveness to you.
  • 00:23:38.366 --> 00:23:41.203
  • It will cause people who don't yield to the authority of
  • 00:23:41.203 --> 00:23:43.705
  • Scripture to say you're a little different.
  • 00:23:43.705 --> 00:23:47.142
  • You won't have to act weird.
  • 00:23:47.142 --> 00:23:50.245
  • Like, i would like to invite you out of weird acting.
  • 00:23:50.245 --> 00:23:54.916
  • It was a problem for me as a young person.
  • 00:23:54.916 --> 00:23:56.685
  • I didn't want to hang around with christians because i knew
  • 00:23:56.685 --> 00:23:58.753
  • Some that, you know, they said they were being spiritual.
  • 00:23:58.753 --> 00:24:00.422
  • They weren't being spiritual.
  • 00:24:00.422 --> 00:24:02.757
  • They were being carnal with a lot of godly language
  • 00:24:02.757 --> 00:24:05.126
  • And weirdness.
  • 00:24:05.126 --> 00:24:09.164
  • You still love me?
  • 00:24:09.164 --> 00:24:11.933
  • I give you examples.
  • 00:24:11.933 --> 00:24:13.268
  • We do goofy things.
  • 00:24:13.268 --> 00:24:15.704
  • You know, i--years ago, it's been a while because i--my
  • 00:24:15.704 --> 00:24:19.574
  • Driver's license was still freshly minted.
  • 00:24:19.574 --> 00:24:23.044
  • And i was given the assignment, somebody had come to the
  • 00:24:23.044 --> 00:24:25.347
  • Community to teach a bible class.
  • 00:24:25.347 --> 00:24:28.149
  • He's a retired army colonel, big guy.
  • 00:24:28.149 --> 00:24:31.920
  • And then i was gonna take him to the airport, but on the way i
  • 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:34.189
  • Was supposed to stop and let him pray for somebody.
  • 00:24:34.189 --> 00:24:36.958
  • This was before gps.
  • 00:24:36.958 --> 00:24:40.896
  • This was almost before m-a-p-s but it was, ahem.
  • 00:24:40.896 --> 00:24:43.532
  • But i had an address and i knew the general neighborhood and so,
  • 00:24:46.801 --> 00:24:49.771
  • But i couldn't find the--i couldn't find the house.
  • 00:24:49.771 --> 00:24:54.409
  • And so i was gonna have to go on to the airport.
  • 00:24:54.409 --> 00:24:56.211
  • He was gonna miss his flight.
  • 00:24:56.211 --> 00:24:57.579
  • And i said, "well, i guess the devil didn't want you to pray
  • 00:24:57.579 --> 00:25:00.749
  • For that person."
  • 00:25:00.749 --> 00:25:02.083
  • He looked over at me and he said, "son, this has nothing
  • 00:25:02.083 --> 00:25:03.785
  • To do with the devil.
  • 00:25:03.785 --> 00:25:05.287
  • You had lousy directions."
  • 00:25:05.287 --> 00:25:08.156
  • You see, sometimes we get so spiritual because we don't want
  • 00:25:12.327 --> 00:25:14.930
  • To deal with reality.
  • 00:25:14.930 --> 00:25:17.399
  • Not too long ago i did--i was doing a bible study and it was
  • 00:25:21.636 --> 00:25:24.406
  • Predominantly healthcare workers and we were doing prayer
  • 00:25:24.406 --> 00:25:27.642
  • Requests at the end of the small group which was pretty normal
  • 00:25:27.642 --> 00:25:29.711
  • And i asked them to pray because i had three dear friends, at the
  • 00:25:29.711 --> 00:25:32.113
  • Same time they were all battling cancer.
  • 00:25:32.113 --> 00:25:34.883
  • And i said, "you know, it just feels like a spiritual attack."
  • 00:25:34.883 --> 00:25:37.852
  • And one of the docs spoke up, he was a little newer to the faith
  • 00:25:37.852 --> 00:25:40.288
  • And he said, "attack, nothing.
  • 00:25:40.288 --> 00:25:42.857
  • You're just getting old."
  • 00:25:42.857 --> 00:25:46.895
  • I didn't invite him back to bible study.
  • 00:25:46.895 --> 00:25:48.630
  • But i think we all succumb to that sometimes.
  • 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:54.869
  • You know, we hyper-spiritualize things when there is a more
  • 00:25:54.869 --> 00:25:58.974
  • Ready response to us that would engage us more directly with the
  • 00:25:58.974 --> 00:26:02.711
  • Purposes of god.
  • 00:26:02.711 --> 00:26:04.446
  • Don't be weird.
  • 00:26:04.446 --> 00:26:10.018
  • Allen: being a christ follower is not as much about an
  • 00:26:14.155 --> 00:26:16.625
  • Experience and a completed activity, a prayer, a visit to
  • 00:26:16.625 --> 00:26:20.128
  • An altar, a response to an evangelist.
  • 00:26:20.128 --> 00:26:23.331
  • It's certainly a beginning point of welcoming jesus into your
  • 00:26:23.331 --> 00:26:25.934
  • Heart, but it's a life that we lead, so we continue to grow and
  • 00:26:25.934 --> 00:26:29.571
  • Learn and gain strength as life presents challenges, we get to
  • 00:26:29.571 --> 00:26:33.008
  • Know god in a new way.
  • 00:26:33.008 --> 00:26:34.843
  • Well, i believe this book about the holy spirit is a tool to
  • 00:26:34.843 --> 00:26:38.213
  • Help you gain a new momentum to grow through the things in your
  • 00:26:38.213 --> 00:26:42.083
  • Life under the direction of the power of the spirit of god.
  • 00:26:42.083 --> 00:26:45.387
  • Folks, we're not gonna outwork evil or outthink evil, we're not
  • 00:26:45.387 --> 00:26:48.390
  • Gonna out-organize evil.
  • 00:26:48.390 --> 00:26:49.824
  • The only thing evil will yield to is a power greater than
  • 00:26:49.824 --> 00:26:52.694
  • Itself, and that power is the spirit of god, and you and me
  • 00:26:52.694 --> 00:26:56.965
  • Manifest in the earth through people of faith.
  • 00:26:56.965 --> 00:26:59.934
  • We're salt and light.
  • 00:26:59.934 --> 00:27:01.302
  • We're change agents.
  • 00:27:01.302 --> 00:27:02.637
  • I wanna pray.
  • 00:27:02.637 --> 00:27:04.005
  • Heavenly father, give us a discernment to recognize your
  • 00:27:04.005 --> 00:27:06.841
  • Spirit, how we can welcome him into our lives and cooperate
  • 00:27:06.841 --> 00:27:10.145
  • With him to bring your breakthroughs into our lives,
  • 00:27:10.145 --> 00:27:12.847
  • Our homes, and our churches.
  • 00:27:12.847 --> 00:27:14.983
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:14.983 --> 00:27:27.395