Allen Jackson - Heaven and Earth (Part 1)

December 19, 2024 | S

Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Heaven and Earth (Part 1) | December 19, 2024
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: the bible is a book that describes spiritual
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  • Conflict from the opening chapters of genesis to
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  • The concluding chapters of the book of revelation, but there
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  • Are some unique features as we approach the end of the age
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  • And we're trying to pay a bit of attention to that.
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  • In this session the theme is a bit more about heaven and earth
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  • Because what happens in the heavenly realms, what happens
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  • In the spiritual realm has a tremendous impact
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  • On what's happening in the earth.
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  • If you only understand your life, if you only understand
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  • Current events from the basis of social economic patterns
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  • Or conflicts between nation states, you know,
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  • You have an incomplete perspective.
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  • I'm not saying that those aren't factors, i'm not saying that
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  • They aren't powerful and real, i'm suggesting to you that as
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  • Christ followers, we begin with the premise that spiritual
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  • Forces shape our world first and foremost.
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  • The bible talks about god directing the course of nations
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  • That he raises up leaders and he puts them down.
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  • And i think for far too long now, the church has been far
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  • More secular in understanding of world events and we've imagined
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  • That our role, you know, was expressed, our spiritual role
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  • Was expressed primarily in a ballot box or in a political
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  • Campaign and i think you should participate in the processes i'm
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  • Not opposed to that, but your spiritual life shapes those
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  • Things long before you vote or you select candidates and
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  • The candidates that rise up and those who don't.
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  • The church as intercessors, the church as a spiritual force
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  • In the world is a difference maker.
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  • God will give us leaders that will bring his best to us or he
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  • Will give us leaders who bring his punishment to us.
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  • We're reading historical books right now in our daily bible
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  • Reading and you're getting a front row seat of all of that.
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  • And you shouldn't imagine that that stopped in antiquity or
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  • That when jesus came god stopped being interested in the behavior
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  • Of his people, the corporate behavior of his people.
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  • We spent decades with a primary focus on personal salvation
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  • And i believe in that, but we have almost no discussion
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  • Around the corporate behavior of the people of god.
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  • And god has an expectation of us in community,
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  • You know, in the midst of all the covid drama.
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  • A lot of words you could pick for that blank, aren't there?
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  • In the midst of all of that you know i heard multiple ministers
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  • Say, you know, it is not necessary for us to be together.
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  • Well, "contraire mon ami."
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  • There is a very much a biblical assignment
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  • For the community of faith.
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  • And a big part of that is who we are as intercessors
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  • And the role we play.
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  • If we don't like the leadership we have in the world in
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  • Which we live, a great deal of that responsibility falls
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  • At the doorstep of the church.
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  • And i'm gonna continue to say that because i think
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  • We have struggled with that.
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  • And we've struggled with that because we've lived in a place
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  • Where the fabric of our culture for a long time had
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  • Been predominantly knit together from a biblical worldview
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  • That's changing very rapidly.
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  • And with that change so is the stability, so is the security
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  • And the safety, so is any sense of equality before the law,
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  • So are things like freedom of speech, all of those things
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  • Emerge from a biblical worldview and the further we step away
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  • From a biblical worldview, the further we will live from
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  • Those realities that have shaped our lives many of us.
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  • Then the church is gonna have to have the courage to say jesus
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  • Is unique and he brings something unique to human lives.
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  • He's a transformational force.
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  • We're not just providing polite bible studies.
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  • You know, the theater of the absurd continues
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  • To have releases.
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  • Week after week it's staggering
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  • What's happening in our world, it's unsettling.
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  • You know, the premier release this week was the indictment,
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  • The fourth indictment of a former president.
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  • And just a little bit of casual awareness of that says,
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  • "well, this has never happened before."
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  • And if you just arrived yesterday and you had no context
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  • Into which you're hearing it, it would be very unsettling but if
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  • You've been awake at all, we've actually, this is like
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  • A rocky sequel, we've seen the previous 16 versions.
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  • And when we watched the first one there was some surprise
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  • Element but by the last one we knew what was gonna happen.
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  • I mean, i remember the 2016 election, i mean long before
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  • We got to the inauguration the reporting was overwhelming
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  • That our election had been hacked by the russians
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  • And the leaders were illegitimate.
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  • And it gave most of us pause, it was unacceptable.
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  • We had two and a half years of investigations, and special
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  • Counsels, and hearings, and we heard some of our most robust
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  • Leaders standing and swearing that they had irrefutable
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  • Evidence and yada yada yada.
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  • And after more than two years and millions of dollars,
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  • There was no substance there.
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  • And then what was shocking is there were no apologies.
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  • There's no attempt to restore damage cause, no one was held
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  • Accountable for the egregious lies that had been told.
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  • So now we're a few years later and they're still rolling out
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  • With gasps and tremendous energy accusations while we lose more
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  • And more confidence in the justice system
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  • That doesn't seem to be equally applied.
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  • Folks i'm here to tell you the solution's
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  • Not coming from washington.
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  • The next election is not going to fix this.
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  • How many elections do we have to have?
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  • How many congressional inquiries do we have to watch?
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  • How many sound bites do we have to sit through while somebody
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  • Performs for their constituents?
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  • Before we understand nothing changes.
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  • Until the people of god change, we are going to be further
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  • And further removed from equal justice before the law.
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  • Because justice comes from god.
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  • The perversion and politicization of justice
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  • Has been bypassed, i would suggest
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  • Even more by the perversion and politicization of science.
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  • It's just male and female are not fluid categories.
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  • I mean, they're just not.
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  • Now i know we don't have the courage to say that in very many
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  • Places, the scientific community tries to prefer to be confused
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  • But it's really not confusing.
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  • Church, this is our season.
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  • So when we're talking about spiritual warfare, i'm talking
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  • To you about more than a polite bible study and being able
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  • To spell the 12 tribes of israel in their original language.
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  • I'm an advocate for learning, but i'm an advocate
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  • For the practice of our faith even more.
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  • I have come to the realization that simply hearing
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  • The truth of god's word does not result in transformation.
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  • We can sit in churches and hear it.
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  • We have to choose to believe and act upon the truth.
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  • You see, faith is only expressed in behavior.
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  • As long as it remains a theory it isn't really biblical faith,
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  • Real faith is expressed in behavior just as the lack of
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  • Faith is evidenced by our behaviors.
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  • You don't have to tell me where you lack faith, it's evident,
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  • Because the behavior's not there.
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  • And you can assert what you believe all day long but if you
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  • Don't have the corresponding behavior to go with it,
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  • The lack of faith is shouting at us far more loudly
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  • Than the words you're using.
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  • Please don't sit and imagine that you have the privilege
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  • Of ruling on the correctness of god's word.
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  • We've kind of developed an atmosphere amongst those of us
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  • Who are tenured religious folks that we will listen to
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  • The word of god when it's taught, or explained, or read,
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  • Or presented and then we decide, kinda like olympic judges,
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  • What we will accept or reject or believe or not believe.
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  • My counsel would be yield to god, choose to be obedient.
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  • Don't wait for a complete understanding
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  • To become a practitioner.
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  • We all understand that's not a useful model.
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  • If doctors never practiced medicine until
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  • They understood everything we would have no doctors.
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  • We all learn in the midst of taking the information
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  • We have and then begin to give expression to that.
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  • And the church has got to begin to do that.
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  • Allen: i want to take just a moment to say thank you.
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  • In a year of political turmoil and confusion and wars and
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  • Rumors of wars, because of your partnership,
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  • Your generosity, your prayers, your encouragement,
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  • We have done more for the gospel than any year
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  • In our ministry so far.
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  • We started a whole new genre of programing.
  • 00:09:53.342 --> 00:09:55.745
  • Allen jackson now does a daily review of headlines
  • 00:09:55.745 --> 00:09:58.447
  • From a biblical worldview.
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  • We've started a new podcast, "culture & christianity," to
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  • Help stabilize god's people in the midst of all the confusion.
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  • All of that because of your faithfulness,
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  • Your generosity, your prayers.
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  • Thank you so much.
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  • As we come to the end of this year, i want to ask
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  • You to prayerfully consider making a sacrificial
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  • Investment in what's next.
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  • We want to take those programs, share them in new
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  • Places with more people.
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  • We want to continue to be creative in how we share the
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  • Good news of jesus christ.
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  • A generous partner makes it possible.
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  • Every gift you give will be matched.
  • 00:10:30.146 --> 00:10:31.781
  • It doubles your gift between now and the end of the year.
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  • Let me thank you in advance for what we've been doing and what
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  • God's going to do with our lives and our partnership
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  • Together in 2025.
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  • Thank you and god bless you.
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  • Female announcer: god is moving in major ways in the
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  • Ministry and our world.
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  • As we watched the 2024 election unfold,
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  • We witnessed a miracle.
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  • God has heard our prayers.
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  • He has shown us his mercy.
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  • We're entering a new era with new leaders,
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  • But it's not a time to rest.
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  • Our assignment hasn't changed.
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  • In fact, it's as urgent as ever.
  • 00:11:05.848 --> 00:11:08.884
  • You and i have been set apart by god for his purposes,
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  • And there's a lot for us to do.
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  • Allen: i believe when god shows you mercy,
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  • He gives with it an opportunity.
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  • I want us to quietly say to the lord, "here am i.
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  • Let me go.
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  • Let me go back to where i work in the name of jesus.
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  • Let me go back into my neighborhood
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  • In the name of jesus."
  • 00:11:39.348 --> 00:11:41.817
  • God himself has shown us grace, and it will require of us
  • 00:11:41.817 --> 00:11:49.759
  • Greater strength and greater courage than we have ever had to
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  • Attach to our faith before.
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  • Let's go. let's go.
  • 00:11:57.566 --> 00:12:01.303
  • Announcer: let's set our hearts on preparing for what's
  • 00:12:01.303 --> 00:12:03.339
  • Next with pastor allen's brand-new 90-day devotional
  • 00:12:03.339 --> 00:12:07.009
  • Called "set apart for his purposes."
  • 00:12:07.009 --> 00:12:10.212
  • It will help us seek god so we can recognize his voice and
  • 00:12:10.212 --> 00:12:13.249
  • Consistently choose to follow him.
  • 00:12:13.249 --> 00:12:15.451
  • Each day includes scripture, a short teaching,
  • 00:12:15.451 --> 00:12:17.753
  • And a prayer, followed by a journaling prompt and room
  • 00:12:17.753 --> 00:12:20.990
  • To write and reflect.
  • 00:12:20.990 --> 00:12:22.725
  • Let's get ready for the season ahead.
  • 00:12:22.725 --> 00:12:24.994
  • Request your copy of "set apart for his purposes" when you
  • 00:12:24.994 --> 00:12:27.830
  • Donate $50 or more today at allenjackson.com or by calling
  • 00:12:27.830 --> 00:12:32.501
  • ...
  • 00:12:32.501 --> 00:12:36.205
  • Allen: now the word that's most frequently used is demons
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  • In the new testament but i wanna expand that a little bit.
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  • Demons, unclean spirits, evil spirits,
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  • They're all interchangeable terms.
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  • Depending on the translation you prefer or that you're reading
  • 00:12:51.787 --> 00:12:54.790
  • At the moment, you may hear it referred to in a different way,
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  • But they're all synonymous.
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  • Demonic behavior is pretty consistent.
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  • They're tormentors.
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  • If i had to look for one word, i think their role is to torment.
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  • It's a harassment.
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  • So if you identify something in your life that is tormenting
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  • And a consistent harassment, it's not a great leap
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  • To imagine there's a spiritual component to that.
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  • There are demons and spiritual forces which impact the cities.
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  • Some demonic activity is personal.
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  • It's directed at individuals, and individual lives,
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  • And individual behavior.
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  • But again, the bible is clear, there is demonic activity and
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  • There are spiritual forces of wickedness which impact cities,
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  • Regions, nations, races of people.
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  • And again, this is not some theoretical something in which
  • 00:13:48.711 --> 00:13:52.181
  • I'm encouraging you to dally
  • 00:13:52.181 --> 00:13:54.149
  • A little bit because you're intrigued.
  • 00:13:54.149 --> 00:13:56.685
  • I'm telling you, if we don't take our place
  • 00:13:56.685 --> 00:13:58.621
  • And hold our line, we are surrendering our world
  • 00:13:58.621 --> 00:14:02.858
  • To unclean spiritual forces.
  • 00:14:02.858 --> 00:14:06.462
  • And in our arrogance and our pride, we've preferred
  • 00:14:06.462 --> 00:14:11.166
  • Not to think about it.
  • 00:14:11.166 --> 00:14:14.503
  • We prefer to point at the date of our new birth
  • 00:14:14.503 --> 00:14:17.539
  • And show a picture of our baptismal service,
  • 00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:20.809
  • And our string of sunday school attendance pens.
  • 00:14:20.809 --> 00:14:23.646
  • And i'm grateful for all of the above but that doesn't
  • 00:14:23.646 --> 00:14:26.415
  • Mean that we've taken our place.
  • 00:14:26.415 --> 00:14:30.319
  • Citizenship comes with responsibility.
  • 00:14:30.319 --> 00:14:33.188
  • It's true in a nation and it's true in the kingdom of god.
  • 00:14:33.188 --> 00:14:38.127
  • And i believe we'll give an account.
  • 00:14:38.127 --> 00:14:41.063
  • We'll start with jesus's ministry.
  • 00:14:41.063 --> 00:14:43.332
  • That's generally a good place to begin if we're trying
  • 00:14:43.332 --> 00:14:45.601
  • To understand a biblical theme.
  • 00:14:45.601 --> 00:14:47.503
  • In mark chapter 1 says, "they went into capernaum."
  • 00:14:47.503 --> 00:14:50.039
  • When jesus began his public ministry,
  • 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:52.107
  • He moved from nazareth.
  • 00:14:52.107 --> 00:14:53.642
  • Nazareth is a tiny little village tucked away
  • 00:14:53.642 --> 00:14:55.878
  • In the hills of galilee.
  • 00:14:55.878 --> 00:14:57.379
  • In jesus's day, maybe 1500 people.
  • 00:14:57.379 --> 00:15:00.582
  • And he moved to capernaum, which was a city on the northern
  • 00:15:00.582 --> 00:15:03.686
  • End of the sea of galilee located on a major roman road.
  • 00:15:03.686 --> 00:15:07.856
  • Capernaum is seated on the adjacent to the largest
  • 00:15:07.856 --> 00:15:12.461
  • Fresh water source in the entire region.
  • 00:15:12.461 --> 00:15:15.497
  • So he moves strategically to a place
  • 00:15:15.497 --> 00:15:17.333
  • Where there would be an enormous amount of traffic
  • 00:15:17.333 --> 00:15:20.602
  • And a very diverse group of people.
  • 00:15:20.602 --> 00:15:22.671
  • It's a jewish fishing village so it's not an elaborate place
  • 00:15:22.671 --> 00:15:27.309
  • But it's a very well situated location if you wanted
  • 00:15:27.309 --> 00:15:31.680
  • To influence or communicate a message
  • 00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:33.782
  • Across a broad group of people.
  • 00:15:33.782 --> 00:15:36.285
  • "they went to capernaum: and immediately on the sabbath,
  • 00:15:36.285 --> 00:15:38.654
  • He entered the synagogue and he began to teach.
  • 00:15:38.654 --> 00:15:41.056
  • They were amazed at his teaching: for he was teaching
  • 00:15:41.056 --> 00:15:43.959
  • Them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
  • 00:15:43.959 --> 00:15:48.130
  • He wasn't just giving them theory, he was speaking
  • 00:15:48.130 --> 00:15:50.933
  • With the authority of someone who was a practitioner.
  • 00:15:50.933 --> 00:15:54.903
  • "and just then there was a man in their synagogue
  • 00:15:54.903 --> 00:15:57.506
  • With an unclean spirit: and he cried out saying,
  • 00:15:57.506 --> 00:16:01.477
  • 'what business do we have with each other, jesus of nazareth?
  • 00:16:01.477 --> 00:16:04.913
  • Have you come to destroy us?
  • 00:16:04.913 --> 00:16:06.682
  • I know who you are-the holy one of god!'
  • 00:16:06.682 --> 00:16:11.320
  • And jesus rebuked him, saying,
  • 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:13.889
  • 'be quiet and come out of him!'
  • 00:16:13.889 --> 00:16:16.125
  • And throwing him into convulsions,
  • 00:16:16.125 --> 00:16:17.659
  • The unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice
  • 00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:19.595
  • And came out of him.
  • 00:16:19.595 --> 00:16:22.197
  • They were all amazed so that they debated among themselves.
  • 00:16:22.197 --> 00:16:25.834
  • 'what is this?
  • 00:16:25.834 --> 00:16:28.570
  • A new teaching with authority!
  • 00:16:28.570 --> 00:16:30.472
  • He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him?'
  • 00:16:30.472 --> 00:16:34.276
  • Immediately the news about him spread everywhere
  • 00:16:34.276 --> 00:16:37.846
  • Into all the surrounding districts of galilee."
  • 00:16:37.846 --> 00:16:39.815
  • More than his healing ministry even.
  • 00:16:39.815 --> 00:16:42.518
  • More than his teaching or ideas about scripture, it was the
  • 00:16:42.518 --> 00:16:45.788
  • Authority he demonstrated over unclean spirits that captivated
  • 00:16:45.788 --> 00:16:50.559
  • The people who came to see and experience
  • 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:53.328
  • The ministry of jesus.
  • 00:16:53.328 --> 00:16:55.764
  • There's some simple observations from that passage.
  • 00:16:55.764 --> 00:16:57.833
  • It's not complicated, the language is not complex.
  • 00:16:57.833 --> 00:17:01.270
  • It's a scene you can imagine with just a limited imagination,
  • 00:17:01.270 --> 00:17:04.773
  • But there's a demonized man present in the synagogue.
  • 00:17:04.773 --> 00:17:11.113
  • Are you okay?
  • 00:17:11.113 --> 00:17:13.215
  • Which means he's a religious man, a faithful person,
  • 00:17:13.215 --> 00:17:16.618
  • A man of the covenant.
  • 00:17:16.618 --> 00:17:19.388
  • It's sabbath and he's in the synagogue
  • 00:17:19.388 --> 00:17:23.125
  • And yet he is tormented by an unclean spirit.
  • 00:17:23.125 --> 00:17:27.429
  • The unclean spirit in this narrative had insight that
  • 00:17:27.429 --> 00:17:32.267
  • The people in the synagogue did not including the rabbi.
  • 00:17:32.267 --> 00:17:35.871
  • This is mark chapter, there's been no declaration of
  • 00:17:35.871 --> 00:17:38.207
  • Who jesus is yet, he's just beginning his public ministry.
  • 00:17:38.207 --> 00:17:42.945
  • There aren't great crowds gathering but the demon in the
  • 00:17:42.945 --> 00:17:47.649
  • Man understands who jesus is and he understands his authority.
  • 00:17:47.649 --> 00:17:53.789
  • Are you prepared to live in a world where there are spiritual
  • 00:17:53.789 --> 00:17:56.925
  • Forces that have insight and understanding that exceeds
  • 00:17:56.925 --> 00:18:00.429
  • Your own spiritual insight and understanding?
  • 00:18:00.429 --> 00:18:05.567
  • If you are, it will create in you a desire to cooperate more
  • 00:18:05.567 --> 00:18:09.171
  • Completely with the holy spirit.
  • 00:18:09.171 --> 00:18:13.342
  • We've had this rather arrogant imagination.
  • 00:18:13.342 --> 00:18:15.844
  • We could out think evil, or out organize evil,
  • 00:18:15.844 --> 00:18:19.448
  • Or out experience evil.
  • 00:18:19.448 --> 00:18:21.583
  • Those spirits have more experience than you do.
  • 00:18:21.583 --> 00:18:26.188
  • This unclean spirit is antagonistic to jesus,
  • 00:18:26.188 --> 00:18:29.324
  • It's disruptive.
  • 00:18:29.324 --> 00:18:31.827
  • The unclean spirit torments the man.
  • 00:18:31.827 --> 00:18:36.265
  • That would be beyond awkward if not for jesus's intervention.
  • 00:18:36.265 --> 00:18:42.104
  • If we put it in a more contemporary setting,
  • 00:18:42.104 --> 00:18:44.072
  • We would probably take the man out of the service
  • 00:18:44.072 --> 00:18:47.075
  • And leave him with the spirit.
  • 00:18:47.075 --> 00:18:51.146
  • Jesus cast the spirit out of the man
  • 00:18:51.146 --> 00:18:53.682
  • And left him in the synagogue.
  • 00:18:53.682 --> 00:18:57.152
  • The unclean spirit responds
  • 00:18:57.152 --> 00:18:59.922
  • To an authority greater than itself.
  • 00:18:59.922 --> 00:19:02.991
  • Look at matthew 4.
  • 00:19:02.991 --> 00:19:05.060
  • A little different context, but it's an important component.
  • 00:19:05.060 --> 00:19:07.362
  • Did i put that in your notes?
  • 00:19:07.362 --> 00:19:09.698
  • Good, you got the deluxe version.
  • 00:19:09.698 --> 00:19:12.634
  • This is right after jesus baptism.
  • 00:19:12.634 --> 00:19:14.203
  • It says, "the devil took jesus to a very high mountain and
  • 00:19:14.203 --> 00:19:17.339
  • Showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
  • 00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:19.208
  • 'all this i'll give you,' he said,
  • 00:19:19.208 --> 00:19:20.876
  • 'if you'll just bow down and worship me.'
  • 00:19:20.876 --> 00:19:23.378
  • Jesus said to him, 'away from me, satan!
  • 00:19:23.378 --> 00:19:25.113
  • For its written: ' worship the lord your god,
  • 00:19:25.113 --> 00:19:26.515
  • And serve him only.''
  • 00:19:26.515 --> 00:19:28.183
  • The devil left him and angels came and attended to him."
  • 00:19:28.183 --> 00:19:30.686
  • It's the temptation of jesus, it's just one of the episodes.
  • 00:19:30.686 --> 00:19:32.955
  • What i wanted you to see was the snapshot.
  • 00:19:32.955 --> 00:19:35.857
  • It's one picture, one moment in time where we have in the same
  • 00:19:35.857 --> 00:19:39.661
  • Scene, satan himself, jesus, the identified son of god because
  • 00:19:39.661 --> 00:19:45.200
  • He's just come from his baptism, and god, the holy spirit
  • 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:48.103
  • Descended upon jesus and god the father said,
  • 00:19:48.103 --> 00:19:50.339
  • "this is my son with whom i'm well pleased."
  • 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:53.408
  • So we have satan acknowledged by jesus, jesus who's been
  • 00:19:53.408 --> 00:19:59.014
  • Acknowledged as god's son by god himself and angels
  • 00:19:59.014 --> 00:20:02.718
  • Right there in that same snapshot.
  • 00:20:02.718 --> 00:20:06.054
  • So if you wanna be kinda just fundamentally biblical, you're
  • 00:20:06.054 --> 00:20:11.093
  • Gonna have to make room for the devil, the incarnate son
  • 00:20:11.093 --> 00:20:14.363
  • Of god and angels involved with human beings
  • 00:20:14.363 --> 00:20:19.067
  • If you're gonna be biblical.
  • 00:20:19.067 --> 00:20:23.205
  • "well pastor, i'm gonna need to study more."
  • 00:20:23.205 --> 00:20:25.674
  • Okay. luke chapter 13.
  • 00:20:25.674 --> 00:20:30.979
  • Does anybody remember luke's day job?
  • 00:20:30.979 --> 00:20:36.051
  • I think so too, he was a physician.
  • 00:20:36.051 --> 00:20:40.455
  • Traveled with paul, paul needed a doctor 'cause he got the love
  • 00:20:40.455 --> 00:20:44.693
  • Of jesus beaten out of him most of the places he visited,
  • 00:20:44.693 --> 00:20:48.830
  • He needed an attending physician.
  • 00:20:48.830 --> 00:20:51.933
  • So luke's gospel is written with oftentimes it feels
  • 00:20:51.933 --> 00:20:55.704
  • To me like the eye of a diagnostician.
  • 00:20:55.704 --> 00:20:59.241
  • There's some details there.
  • 00:20:59.241 --> 00:21:00.976
  • And in luke 13 "on a sabbath jesus was teaching
  • 00:21:00.976 --> 00:21:03.245
  • In one of the synagogues," that was his pattern.
  • 00:21:03.245 --> 00:21:05.847
  • "and a woman was there who had been crippled
  • 00:21:05.847 --> 00:21:08.550
  • By a spirit for eighteen years."
  • 00:21:08.550 --> 00:21:10.319
  • Again, luke gives us some insight.
  • 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:12.321
  • The woman has a physical problem and luke suggests
  • 00:21:12.321 --> 00:21:15.557
  • To us that it has a spiritual origin.
  • 00:21:15.557 --> 00:21:19.695
  • Is every sickness or disease demonic in its origin?
  • 00:21:19.695 --> 00:21:22.164
  • No, the bible doesn't say that.
  • 00:21:22.164 --> 00:21:24.366
  • But it does say that spiritual forces
  • 00:21:24.366 --> 00:21:26.902
  • Can cause physical problems.
  • 00:21:26.902 --> 00:21:31.873
  • Luke believed that, he wrote the narrative.
  • 00:21:31.873 --> 00:21:34.276
  • Jesus believes that 'cause he's about
  • 00:21:34.276 --> 00:21:35.744
  • To minister to this person.
  • 00:21:35.744 --> 00:21:37.546
  • "she was bent over and she couldn't straighten up at all.
  • 00:21:37.546 --> 00:21:40.082
  • When jesus saw her, he called her forward and said
  • 00:21:40.082 --> 00:21:42.184
  • To her 'woman, you're set free of your infirmity.'
  • 00:21:42.184 --> 00:21:44.986
  • And he put his hands on her and immediately
  • 00:21:44.986 --> 00:21:47.589
  • She straightened up and praised god."
  • 00:21:47.589 --> 00:21:49.558
  • Why do we lay hands on one another
  • 00:21:49.558 --> 00:21:51.426
  • When we pray for one another?
  • 00:21:51.426 --> 00:21:53.261
  • We borrow a pattern from scripture.
  • 00:21:53.261 --> 00:21:55.497
  • I don't know why we feel better when we can provide a scientific
  • 00:21:55.497 --> 00:22:00.435
  • Explanation for something the scripture invites us to do.
  • 00:22:00.435 --> 00:22:05.173
  • So i've never really felt the need to explain the supernatural
  • 00:22:05.173 --> 00:22:09.344
  • In the context of the principles of our physical world.
  • 00:22:09.344 --> 00:22:14.649
  • And if you're caught in that i would invite you out of it.
  • 00:22:14.649 --> 00:22:18.053
  • I don't think it's awful.
  • 00:22:18.053 --> 00:22:20.255
  • I mean, i've read some studies that talk about the difference
  • 00:22:20.255 --> 00:22:24.526
  • In how patients heal in a hospital if they receive
  • 00:22:24.526 --> 00:22:26.862
  • Just a simple touch from a doctor or a caregiver.
  • 00:22:26.862 --> 00:22:32.067
  • But to me there's a bit of a slippery slope.
  • 00:22:32.067 --> 00:22:34.069
  • I remember reading an article from a doctor, it was years ago
  • 00:22:34.069 --> 00:22:37.239
  • Now, but at vanderbilt medical doctor that explained the david
  • 00:22:37.239 --> 00:22:41.576
  • And goliath story.
  • 00:22:41.576 --> 00:22:43.578
  • Said that the reason goliath was so large was he most likely had
  • 00:22:43.578 --> 00:22:46.248
  • A pituitary problem, caused him to grow inordinately large.
  • 00:22:46.248 --> 00:22:51.586
  • And that it wouldn't be uncommon for somebody with that kind of a
  • 00:22:51.586 --> 00:22:54.890
  • Problem to have some sort of a protuberance on their forehead,
  • 00:22:54.890 --> 00:22:58.860
  • A bump and that it would be normal if that were the case
  • 00:22:58.860 --> 00:23:03.899
  • That the bone structure around the bump would not be as thick
  • 00:23:03.899 --> 00:23:09.471
  • As the rest of your skull.
  • 00:23:09.471 --> 00:23:14.342
  • And so that what happened when david confronted this philistine
  • 00:23:14.342 --> 00:23:18.079
  • With the pituitary problem, is that the rock that he cast
  • 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:28.089
  • His way from a sling hit the bump.
  • 00:23:28.089 --> 00:23:34.129
  • I'm good with that, i'm all in with that.
  • 00:23:34.129 --> 00:23:38.900
  • It makes the story better to me.
  • 00:23:38.900 --> 00:23:40.669
  • I'm thinking a little shepherd kid that's been watching his
  • 00:23:40.669 --> 00:23:42.771
  • Father sheep, sees the largest warrior he's ever
  • 00:23:42.771 --> 00:23:45.607
  • Seen and he immediately goes, "pituitary."
  • 00:23:45.607 --> 00:23:51.046
  • Right? not gifted warrior.
  • 00:23:52.247 --> 00:23:57.185
  • This dude's got an endocrine problem
  • 00:23:57.185 --> 00:23:59.221
  • And i'm about to make him.
  • 00:23:59.221 --> 00:24:01.723
  • And he says, "you see that knot on his forehead?
  • 00:24:01.723 --> 00:24:03.792
  • I got this." and he charges.
  • 00:24:03.792 --> 00:24:10.866
  • Now if it makes you feel better to have the explanation, you
  • 00:24:10.866 --> 00:24:14.302
  • Just rock on with your bad self.
  • 00:24:14.302 --> 00:24:17.772
  • But i'm good with david and goliath.
  • 00:24:17.772 --> 00:24:22.777
  • How'd i get all the way from a woman with a cripple?
  • 00:24:22.777 --> 00:24:27.115
  • Explanations, jesus put his hands on her
  • 00:24:27.115 --> 00:24:30.452
  • And she straightened up.
  • 00:24:30.452 --> 00:24:33.522
  • The rest of the story is even more bizarre.
  • 00:24:33.522 --> 00:24:35.624
  • "indignant because jesus had healed on the sabbath,
  • 00:24:35.624 --> 00:24:37.859
  • The synagogue leader said to the people,
  • 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:39.594
  • 'there are six days for work.
  • 00:24:39.594 --> 00:24:40.929
  • So come and be healed on those days.'"
  • 00:24:40.929 --> 00:24:43.832
  • For heaven's sakes,
  • 00:24:43.832 --> 00:24:45.166
  • Don't gather for worship expecting god to do something.
  • 00:24:45.166 --> 00:24:51.339
  • "jesus answered him," this is the fun part.
  • 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:54.576
  • Christians say, "we should be polite.
  • 00:24:54.576 --> 00:24:58.113
  • We should not talk about what's happening in our world.
  • 00:24:58.113 --> 00:25:00.515
  • You're being political."
  • 00:25:00.515 --> 00:25:02.017
  • No i'm not.
  • 00:25:02.017 --> 00:25:03.785
  • Talking about what everybody talks about all week long.
  • 00:25:03.785 --> 00:25:08.290
  • Jesus stands up and said, "you're a hypocrite.
  • 00:25:08.290 --> 00:25:11.560
  • Don't each of you on the sabbath untie your ox or your donkey
  • 00:25:11.560 --> 00:25:14.396
  • From the stall and lead it to give it water?"
  • 00:25:14.396 --> 00:25:16.331
  • Don't you take care of your livestock on the sabbath?
  • 00:25:16.331 --> 00:25:19.734
  • Well, yeah.
  • 00:25:19.734 --> 00:25:21.903
  • "then should not this woman, a daughter of abraham,
  • 00:25:21.903 --> 00:25:24.239
  • Whom satan is kept bound for 18 long years, be set free
  • 00:25:24.239 --> 00:25:28.209
  • On the sabbath day from what bound her."
  • 00:25:28.209 --> 00:25:30.946
  • Jesus understood her problem to have a spiritual origin.
  • 00:25:30.946 --> 00:25:35.350
  • She needed set free from something
  • 00:25:35.350 --> 00:25:36.918
  • That was harassing her.
  • 00:25:36.918 --> 00:25:40.622
  • And he's pushing it right into the face of the people
  • 00:25:40.622 --> 00:25:42.924
  • In that place.
  • 00:25:42.924 --> 00:25:44.292
  • He's not being polite or kind, there's a tension in that room.
  • 00:25:44.292 --> 00:25:49.731
  • His invitation for the next sabbath is probably
  • 00:25:49.731 --> 00:25:53.101
  • Not going to be extended.
  • 00:25:53.101 --> 00:25:57.639
  • "and when he said this, all of his opponents were humiliated.
  • 00:25:57.639 --> 00:26:03.278
  • But the people were delighted with
  • 00:26:03.278 --> 00:26:05.714
  • All the wonderful things he was doing."
  • 00:26:05.714 --> 00:26:07.716
  • Now for our sake, again, the harassment, the physical limits,
  • 00:26:07.716 --> 00:26:12.120
  • The diminishment that come from unclean
  • 00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:15.323
  • Evil demonic spiritual forces.
  • 00:26:15.323 --> 00:26:18.693
  • Allen: we don't have to be afraid of evil
  • 00:26:19.728 --> 00:26:21.830
  • But we need to be aware.
  • 00:26:21.830 --> 00:26:23.531
  • Jesus demonstrated an authority over unclean spirits,
  • 00:26:23.531 --> 00:26:27.235
  • Over sickness, over disease,
  • 00:26:27.235 --> 00:26:28.970
  • Over all the things that challenge our lives.
  • 00:26:28.970 --> 00:26:31.740
  • And through his redemptive work, through his death,
  • 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:33.975
  • His burial and his resurrection, he's extended to us
  • 00:26:33.975 --> 00:26:36.945
  • That same authority so that we can live triumphant lives
  • 00:26:36.945 --> 00:26:41.016
  • In this present age.
  • 00:26:41.016 --> 00:26:42.784
  • Now that's good news.
  • 00:26:42.784 --> 00:26:44.185
  • I wanna pray with you before we go that the blood of jesus
  • 00:26:44.185 --> 00:26:47.022
  • Will bring that victory to your life today.
  • 00:26:47.022 --> 00:26:49.424
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:26:49.424 --> 00:26:50.759
  • Father i thank you that in the name of jesus,
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  • You have delivered us out of the hand of the enemy.
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  • That through his shed blood, you have made provision for us body,
  • 00:26:55.230 --> 00:26:58.133
  • Soul and spirit to be made whole.
  • 00:26:58.133 --> 00:27:00.802
  • We receive it today in jesus's name, amen.
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  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
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  • ♪♪♪
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