Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Identity and Belonging (Part 1)

June 19, 2026 | 27:29

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 - Identity and Belonging (Part 1) | June 19, 2026

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Allen jackson: we have a new resource for you.
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I'm really excited about this.
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It's a book. it's a booklet.
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It's a small book called "your identity in christ."
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It was derived from years of teaching and leading in the
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Context of the church.
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We're walking through a season, folks, when there's so much
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Confusion about our identity.
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We put this together to help you understand who you are in
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Christ, not just about your salvation, but so that you can
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Lead a triumphant, victorious, overcoming life.
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We built it for an individual read.
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It's great for a small group.
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It's a great resource for your kitchen table time as a family
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With children or grandchildren.
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If you know who you are in christ, it changes everything
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About the landscape of your life.
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I'm righteous in the sight of god.
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I can stand before god without fear, guilt, or condemnation.
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Those are such important foundational principles to get
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Secure in your heart, around your table with the people you
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Care about, in your small groups, with your friends.
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Your identity in christ, it's a game changer.
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I believe it will add momentum to your spiritual growth in
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This season.
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♪♪♪
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Allen: it's growing season in middle tennessee.
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It's a fun time of the year.
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It's one of my favorites.
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I like every time the seasons change.
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I seem to like the change, so--
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But i love the summer vegetables.
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We had something of a historic drought the first half of this
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Year, and it looked more like august than it did springtime.
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But in the last couple of weeks, we have had a--the drought
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Has broken.
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And the humidity has returned to the people of god.
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And you can literally see the vegetation growing.
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I mean, it's not day over day you go outside in the afternoon
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And there's more than there was in the morning.
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It's a--we're making up for lost time, but it reminded me of
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Something that's been a part of my life for many, many years.
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In fact, it goes back to our childhood and my brothers and i
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Were at home.
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In the summertime, my parents would put together projects in
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The summer--spiritual growth projects--where they would
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Always challenge us to grow spiritually in that summer when
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We were out of school.
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Kind of out of the normal routine and the requirements
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That went with school.
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And they would vary widely--the things we would do.
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Sometimes we would memorize passages of scripture together,
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Or sometimes we would go through the summer with some sort of a
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Limited fast where we would agree to fast and spend time
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Seeking the lord together.
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But it implanted in us this notion that summer is not just a
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Time for vegetables to grow, it's a time for us to grow.
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And so, i wanted to bring that to you.
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And i've done it from time to time with the congregation, but
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As we begin this summer, i wanna ask you if you're willing
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To grow.
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Just a warning: you can't grow unless you change.
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So, the real issue is, are we willing to change in how we know
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The lord, how we interact with the lord, how we interact with
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One another, how we're serving him, what we're asking him to do
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In our lives, what we're willing to do on his behalf.
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It could be many things.
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I'm not bringing you a singular pattern, but it's
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Growing season.
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And in my own heart, you know, i'm very concerned.
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I don't wanna come to the place where i feel like i know all the
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Important stuff.
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You know, like there's no big rocks left for me.
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Like i'm born again, and i'm filled with the spirit, and
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I--you know, and i mean, i--we can all read our spiritual
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Resumes, but we serve an infinite god that created heaven
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And earth and everything that's in it.
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I'm pretty sure i'm a beginner.
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And i wanna know him better.
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When i read my bible and i read--you know, we're working
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Through the books of moses, and i read about what moses and that
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Crew that he hung out with did.
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I'm thinking, "gee, we're gonna up our game."
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I mean, we haven't parted an ocean in weeks.
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And so, the--i wanna take a few sessions and work through some
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Principles with you that are just--you know, whether it's
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Business, or athletics, or the kitchen, or relationship, the
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Ability to sustain excellence is fully dependent upon how well
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The attention we give to the fundamentals.
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And that's true in our spiritual lives as well.
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And we typically wanna learn new and something we've never
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Known before.
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And what was isaiah's middle name, and how did they spell it
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In aramaic.
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And i'm okay with that.
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I like to learn as well, but i wanna be certain that we are not
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Just--have been introduced to the fundamentals, but that we
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Are practicing them.
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That we are practicing them.
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So, i wanna start that.
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This session i've entitled, "identity and belonging."
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Identity seems to have become a cultural obsession to the point
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Of absurdity.
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I mean, it's been pushed to places that are just nuts, and i
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Don't wanna spend a lot of time with that, but it is certainly a
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Point of tremendous confusion.
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I looked up the definition just in case you haven't
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Checked lately.
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Identity is defined by webster as the distinguishing character
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Or personality of an individual.
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Now, we've embraced the absurd notion that you can identify as
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Anything you want to.
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And you can, but it doesn't make it your reality.
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You know, we have separated objective truth and wanted to
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Say that everything is subjective.
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And that's simply--that's not a position that as christ
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Followers we can hold.
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If jesus is lord of your life, it means he is the authority.
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And you and i don't define what moral,
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Sexually moral and sexually
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Immoral--that's not our definition.
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That comes to us from our lord and king.
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And you can say, "well, i don't choose that definition," but it
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Won't change the position of the king.
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And there's tremendous confusion on this amongst the people
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Of god.
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And then some of it's just because we've been lazy,
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Some--there's a myriad of reasons.
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But understanding who we are in christ and why we'll help you
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Overcome much of the nonsense that's in the world.
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You know, i can identify as an eagle, but it doesn't mean i
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Can fly.
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It just means i'm greatly confused.
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And i have compassion on people who are confused.
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But i don't wanna institutionalize that or
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Normalize that, and i certainly don't wanna coach our children
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To be confused.
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So, in the midst of this growing season, we're gonna talk a bit
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About our identity and belonging, who we are in christ,
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What that means, and why.
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And we're gonna practice a little bit.
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And the reason i put this at the beginning of this study for
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Us--when i engage with people in my own life or when i'm helping
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Other people, when there's a spiritual challenge--it may be
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Healing that you need, or there may be an addictive problem that
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Needs to be broken, or maybe some sort of demonic torment, or
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A curse that's--some generational curse that's come
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To visit--any of those things that you would be more readily
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Recognized--maybe an overwhelming sense of rejection.
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I mean, it's just--it's a myriad of things.
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But real freedom comes most frequently when people
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Understand who they are in christ.
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Because with spiritual breakthroughs, there's usually
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Two components to that.
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There's the understanding that it's possible and sometimes, you
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Know, that deliverance is given to you as an expression of the
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Grace of god.
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But to live in that freedom and maintain that freedom requires
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Us to grow up in the understanding of who we are
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In christ.
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And so, what i wanna do is walk through these with you, not just
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As points of facts and observation.
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I'm gonna ask you to engage with me 'cause i'm pretty certain
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That there are those amongst us that either ourselves are asking
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God for new places of freedom or they're people that we
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Care about.
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And these are wonderful conversations to have at your
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Kitchen table with your weekly gatherings.
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Whether you do it with family or friends as expressions
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Of hospitality.
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Don't just get together and ask when the rain's gonna stop.
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Bring your faith into those conversations.
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Help one another, encourage one another, challenge one another.
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So, we'll start in romans chapter 1, and verse 6.
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This really is a matter of belonging,
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And with the first chapter of
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Romans--i think the most remarkable treatise on the
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Christian faith that's ever been written.
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The apostle paul wrote, "you also are among those who are
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Called to belong to jesus christ."
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We'll expand on this a bit as we walk through these
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Sessions together.
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But the bible says that we're not our own--that we were bought
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With a price that we belong to jesus.
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That we've been sold under his authority, that we're slaves
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To him.
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That changes everything about these cultural discussions
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We have.
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You know, "it's my body, my choice."
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No, no, no, no.
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My body's a temple of the holy spirit.
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And the invitation is to honor god with our bodies.
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And if i choose to dishonor god, i shouldn't think that i can
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Just imagine god will wink at me and smile.
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I belong to jesus.
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Look at galatians 5, "those who belong to christ jesus have
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Crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires."
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We belong to christ jesus.
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Christ is the english equivalent of the greek word christos,
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Which is the greek equivalent of the hebrew word for messiah.
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So, every time you see christ jesus, it's jesus the messiah,
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The savior, the anointed one.
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It's not the family name.
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We belong to jesus the messiah, and because of that, we will
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Crucify our sinful nature with its passions and desires.
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You and i as christ followers, born again, water baptized,
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Spirit-filled, bible-reading, church-attending, hand-raising,
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Chorus-singing christians still have a battle with an ungodly
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Nature within us.
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If you're not aware of your battle, you're aware of the
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Battle of the people you live with.
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1 corinthians 6, verse 19, "do you not know."
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Now, when you read that rhetorical question, what do you
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Know for certain?
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That the author assumes that the people to whom he's writing
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Have forgotten.
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"do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy spirit,
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Who is in you, whom you have received from god?
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You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
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Therefore, honor god with your body."
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No, i find that amongst church folks of every stripe, and
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Denomination, and generation, we got quite a bit of clarity on
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What's appropriate or inappropriate in a church
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Setting, in a church building.
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I mean, you could, you know--'cause sometimes we cross
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Those boundaries, and we have an ice rink, and we--you're an
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User, you can have an ice rink at church.
00:10:39.487 --> 00:10:43.224
Must be in the apocrypha somewhere: "no ice rinks."
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Wednesday night, the junior high students had an icy truck
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On campus.
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We weren't sure if that was godly.
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Can you have blue beverages at church?
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We got a pretty clear idea about what we think is appropriate.
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But the reality is the bible says that we are the temple of
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The living god.
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Not the building.
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That the church is far more vital when we leave campus.
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When we gather here, it's for encouragement, and
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Strengthening, and ministry.
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It's a recuperative time.
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It's a time of refreshing and renewal.
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But we leave this campus to go be the church, to be the church.
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And we belong to jesus.
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It's not my calendar, and my time, and my talent, and what i
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Wanna do.
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And i have yielded those things.
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I've offered myself, the bible says, as a living sacrifice.
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It's a completely different imagination.
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It's like i'm trying to--it's not like i'm trying to get my
00:11:42.183 --> 00:11:44.552
God-business checked, so i get the boxes checked, so i know i'm
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Going to heaven, and now i can get on with living.
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Every aspect of our lives are surrendered to the lord.
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I belong to jesus and his kingdom.
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The things that are in bold in your outlines, we're gonna
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Say together.
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So, let's start with that one.
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Can we just say it out loud together?
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I belong to jesus and to his kingdom.
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How do you know?
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Did you get a laminated card in the mail?
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You know, if you live in tennessee now, you're supposed
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To have like an upgraded id.
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Or we're not sure you're real.
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You were hiding amongst us.
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I don't have one yet, so i'm hiding amongst you, but--
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Allen: hey, i wanna ask you a question.
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How do you identify: male, female, southerner,
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Educated, housewife?
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How do you identify?
00:12:39.808 --> 00:12:41.409
Well, i wanna suggest knowing your identity in christ is the
00:12:41.409 --> 00:12:44.445
Most significant component of your person for both
00:12:44.445 --> 00:12:47.615
Time and eternity.
00:12:47.615 --> 00:12:49.083
We put together a resource. it's a new booklet.
00:12:49.083 --> 00:12:50.852
It'll help you understand who you are in christ, your identity
00:12:50.852 --> 00:12:54.455
In the kingdom of god, and what the implications of that are for
00:12:54.455 --> 00:12:57.358
Your life today.
00:12:57.358 --> 00:12:58.827
It's a game changer.
00:12:58.827 --> 00:13:00.295
I believe it'll be a blessing to you and to your family.
00:13:00.295 --> 00:13:03.865
Female announcer: every day the world tries to define who we
00:13:03.865 --> 00:13:06.334
Are, what we should believe, and whether we're enough, but god's
00:13:06.334 --> 00:13:09.938
Word tells a different story.
00:13:09.938 --> 00:13:11.806
In pastor allen's new book, "your identity in christ: 12
00:13:11.806 --> 00:13:15.443
Truths about who you are," he shares biblical truths that will
00:13:15.443 --> 00:13:18.713
Help you recognize who you are in christ.
00:13:18.713 --> 00:13:21.382
Request your book and free companion card today with your
00:13:21.382 --> 00:13:24.219
Gift of any amount at allenjackson.com or call ...
00:13:24.219 --> 00:13:30.892
Female announcer: we are committed to helping you grow in
00:13:33.728 --> 00:13:35.463
Your faith and have tools for your journey,
00:13:35.463 --> 00:13:37.031
No matter your schedule.
00:13:37.031 --> 00:13:38.366
Get daily encouragement and insight with pastor allen's
00:13:38.366 --> 00:13:41.102
Daily devotion right in your inbox.
00:13:41.102 --> 00:13:42.871
Just sign up on the website.
00:13:42.871 --> 00:13:44.472
Join us on one of our live stream services right from your
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Tv using the allen jackson ministries app.
00:13:47.141 --> 00:13:50.011
Listen to a powerful message through your favorite podcast
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App, perfect for a commute,
00:13:52.714 --> 00:13:54.215
And make sure to follow pastor allen
00:13:54.215 --> 00:13:55.917
On social media to stay up-to-date with everything
00:13:55.917 --> 00:13:58.419
Happening here with allen jackson ministries.
00:13:58.419 --> 00:14:02.590
Allen: but how do you know you belong to jesus?
00:14:04.158 --> 00:14:07.128
It's not a trick question.
00:14:07.128 --> 00:14:09.364
"well, pastor, you're not supposed to ask that until the
00:14:09.364 --> 00:14:10.865
End of the service.
00:14:10.865 --> 00:14:12.967
We know when that question comes.
00:14:12.967 --> 00:14:14.369
It's when every head is bowed and every eye is closed.
00:14:14.369 --> 00:14:17.705
And somebody's quietly playing just as i am, then you can ask
00:14:17.705 --> 00:14:20.775
That question.
00:14:20.775 --> 00:14:23.444
And we'll all look around the room and see if there's anybody
00:14:23.444 --> 00:14:25.546
We don't recognize, and we'll begin to pray for them."
00:14:25.546 --> 00:14:30.551
Well, the bible says that we believe in our heart and confess
00:14:30.551 --> 00:14:33.187
With our mouth that jesus is lord, and we'll be saved.
00:14:33.187 --> 00:14:37.926
I have been in seminary settings, graduate level places,
00:14:37.926 --> 00:14:40.929
Celebrated academic institutions, and if you said
00:14:40.929 --> 00:14:44.165
Save, somebody would mockingly say, "saved from what?"
00:14:44.165 --> 00:14:49.103
Folks, the reason our churches are in trouble is for decades
00:14:49.103 --> 00:14:52.573
We've been training pagans to lead the churches.
00:14:52.573 --> 00:14:56.811
They're well educated and they know some biblical languages.
00:14:56.811 --> 00:15:00.481
But they stand outside the scripture and pass judgment on
00:15:00.481 --> 00:15:03.751
The scripture.
00:15:03.751 --> 00:15:05.753
They haven't submitted themselves to the authority of
00:15:05.753 --> 00:15:07.889
Scripture so that it can bring judgment to our lives.
00:15:07.889 --> 00:15:11.626
We've got to become more astute consumers.
00:15:11.626 --> 00:15:15.463
To be a christ follower, jesus said to a religious leader--a
00:15:15.463 --> 00:15:18.866
Man who was meeting all the expectations that were on the
00:15:18.866 --> 00:15:21.436
Table for him.
00:15:21.436 --> 00:15:22.770
When nicodemus in john 3 came to see jesus, nicodemus was
00:15:22.770 --> 00:15:26.074
Meeting--he was keeping the right diet, he was celebrating
00:15:26.074 --> 00:15:28.543
The right holidays, he was maintaining the
00:15:28.543 --> 00:15:30.745
Moral boundaries.
00:15:30.745 --> 00:15:32.146
He was a leader of the people--the covenant people of
00:15:32.146 --> 00:15:35.683
God in the full light of the covenant he had.
00:15:35.683 --> 00:15:38.152
And he came to jesus at night, and asked the question about
00:15:38.152 --> 00:15:44.292
Seeing, entering, experiencing the kingdom of god.
00:15:44.292 --> 00:15:48.563
And jesus said, "only if you're born again."
00:15:48.563 --> 00:15:51.733
And nicodemus was completely perplexed.
00:15:51.733 --> 00:15:54.202
He said, "how can a man when he's old be born again?"
00:15:54.202 --> 00:15:57.538
So, the confusion around this transformation that we invite
00:15:57.538 --> 00:16:01.376
You to, to belong to jesus is not new.
00:16:01.376 --> 00:16:05.013
I would submit in the 21st century, it's probably just as
00:16:05.013 --> 00:16:07.682
Probable that people think it's in terms of rules.
00:16:07.682 --> 00:16:09.951
You attend a church, you do this, and you don't do that.
00:16:09.951 --> 00:16:13.287
And that's how you're qualified.
00:16:13.287 --> 00:16:16.124
But participation in the kingdom of god is about a relationship
00:16:16.124 --> 00:16:18.893
With the person.
00:16:18.893 --> 00:16:20.261
His name is jesus of nazareth.
00:16:20.261 --> 00:16:21.963
And there's layers to that.
00:16:21.963 --> 00:16:24.065
You acknowledge him as messiah, the anointed son of god, the
00:16:24.065 --> 00:16:30.271
Incarnate son of god that came to the earth.
00:16:30.271 --> 00:16:32.507
Why does that matter?
00:16:32.507 --> 00:16:34.909
Because the bible says that the consequence for sin is death.
00:16:34.909 --> 00:16:39.180
And all of us are born into sin.
00:16:39.180 --> 00:16:41.182
Not all of us.
00:16:41.182 --> 00:16:42.517
There's no--romans which says, "we've all fallen short of the
00:16:42.517 --> 00:16:45.253
Glory of god."
00:16:45.253 --> 00:16:47.755
And jesus came to lead a righteous life, a perfect
00:16:47.755 --> 00:16:51.392
Sinless life, that he could take the punishment, the curse of our
00:16:51.392 --> 00:16:55.463
Ungodliness, that we might receive the blessing of his
00:16:55.463 --> 00:16:59.734
Perfect obedience.
00:16:59.734 --> 00:17:02.070
So, it begins by saying, "i believe jesus of nazareth was
00:17:02.070 --> 00:17:04.939
The messiah.
00:17:04.939 --> 00:17:08.576
And i will acknowledge him as king."
00:17:08.576 --> 00:17:10.511
Which means you recognize his authority--not just a religious
00:17:10.511 --> 00:17:13.648
Figure, not just a miracle worker, not just a healer, not
00:17:13.648 --> 00:17:17.351
Just the founder of a religion.
00:17:17.351 --> 00:17:18.719
I will acknowledge that he was unique.
00:17:18.719 --> 00:17:21.789
And i will acknowledge the authority that he has, but you
00:17:21.789 --> 00:17:24.559
Can believe those two things and still not qualify for the
00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:27.495
Kingdom of god.
00:17:27.495 --> 00:17:29.564
You can be a biblical scholar and believe that.
00:17:29.564 --> 00:17:31.766
You can have a phd and believe it.
00:17:31.766 --> 00:17:33.134
You can be a pastor and believe that, and still miss the kingdom
00:17:33.134 --> 00:17:35.570
Of god.
00:17:35.570 --> 00:17:37.038
You have to choose jesus as lord.
00:17:37.038 --> 00:17:40.074
Lordship is positional.
00:17:40.074 --> 00:17:42.610
You make jesus the authority in your life.
00:17:42.610 --> 00:17:46.581
So, it's no longer just what allen thinks, or how allen
00:17:46.581 --> 00:17:48.883
Feels, or what allan desires.
00:17:48.883 --> 00:17:50.251
The reason i read my bible is i want to get to understand the
00:17:50.251 --> 00:17:53.154
Will of the king.
00:17:53.154 --> 00:17:56.157
I need to understand how the king thinks 'cause i'm pretty
00:17:56.157 --> 00:17:58.292
Sure i don't think like the king.
00:17:58.292 --> 00:18:01.596
I think like a hillbilly.
00:18:01.596 --> 00:18:04.565
The selfish one.
00:18:04.565 --> 00:18:06.400
And i have to change how i think and change how i behave.
00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:10.571
So, to belong to jesus, you acknowledge him as the messiah,
00:18:10.571 --> 00:18:15.009
You recognize him as king, and you submit to him as lord.
00:18:15.009 --> 00:18:18.980
And while that may be initiated with a singular decision and a
00:18:22.783 --> 00:18:27.021
Declaration, to live that out is the journey of our life under
00:18:27.021 --> 00:18:32.026
The sun.
00:18:32.026 --> 00:18:34.495
We grow up in that.
00:18:34.495 --> 00:18:36.497
We mature in that.
00:18:36.497 --> 00:18:39.333
That's not something we master like a hobby.
00:18:39.333 --> 00:18:43.571
That's why i love growing season.
00:18:43.571 --> 00:18:46.474
I mean, i enjoyed the fresh vegetables last summer, but i'm
00:18:46.474 --> 00:18:50.111
Not gonna get out the pictures and go, "oh, weren't the
00:18:50.111 --> 00:18:52.146
Tomatoes beautiful?"
00:18:52.146 --> 00:18:55.116
We had the best new potatoes last summer.
00:18:55.116 --> 00:18:57.919
They were just amazing.
00:18:57.919 --> 00:19:00.388
No, no, you keep your pictures.
00:19:00.388 --> 00:19:01.722
I want some fresh vegetables.
00:19:01.722 --> 00:19:04.926
And i don't wanna tell stories about what god did in my life 20
00:19:04.926 --> 00:19:07.762
Years ago.
00:19:07.762 --> 00:19:09.130
I wanna talk about what god's doing in our life this summer.
00:19:09.130 --> 00:19:13.668
Don't you?
00:19:13.668 --> 00:19:16.304
So, i think we oughta start--before we unpack these
00:19:16.304 --> 00:19:18.973
Statements about this life upgrade that comes with
00:19:18.973 --> 00:19:21.943
Belonging to jesus, what if we just said that prayer together?
00:19:21.943 --> 00:19:25.813
It's not in your notes.
00:19:25.813 --> 00:19:28.783
"i can't pray a prayer that's not in my notes.
00:19:28.783 --> 00:19:31.185
What would i do?"
00:19:31.185 --> 00:19:33.354
We're gonna acknowledge jesus as lord of our lives.
00:19:37.358 --> 00:19:41.095
I have an agenda.
00:19:41.095 --> 00:19:42.830
I would imagine the majority of us have prayed that prayer many,
00:19:42.830 --> 00:19:45.399
Many times.
00:19:45.399 --> 00:19:47.034
But i want you to know how to help someone else.
00:19:47.034 --> 00:19:50.838
And really what--the heart of it is acknowledging that i'm a
00:19:50.838 --> 00:19:53.474
Sinner, and i need a savior.
00:19:53.474 --> 00:19:56.344
And that i believe jesus is the son of god.
00:19:56.344 --> 00:19:59.747
And i'll ask him to forgive my sin.
00:19:59.747 --> 00:20:02.883
And i'll tell him that i forgive those who sinned against me.
00:20:02.883 --> 00:20:07.321
And then i will, in all the humility i know how to offer,
00:20:07.321 --> 00:20:09.824
Say, "jesus, please be lord of my life."
00:20:09.824 --> 00:20:13.494
Those are the components.
00:20:13.494 --> 00:20:14.829
We--you know, we get so concerned that we'll say
00:20:14.829 --> 00:20:17.231
It wrong.
00:20:17.231 --> 00:20:20.134
And folks, it's not a language test.
00:20:20.134 --> 00:20:26.774
It's the intent of your--i want you to know how to help your
00:20:26.774 --> 00:20:28.643
Children, or your grandchildren, or a coworker, or a neighbor.
00:20:28.643 --> 00:20:34.949
It's okay if you feel a little anxious about it.
00:20:34.949 --> 00:20:36.851
It's a significant thing.
00:20:36.851 --> 00:20:38.219
It changes destinies.
00:20:38.219 --> 00:20:42.790
But you don't have to have a graduate degree in theology to
00:20:40.254 --> 00:20:45.526
Help somebody find their way into the kingdom of god.
00:20:45.526 --> 00:20:47.628
And if you'll couple that with your own god story, you know, my
00:20:50.831 --> 00:20:53.334
Own life was broken.
00:20:53.334 --> 00:20:55.503
And i met jesus and he began changing me.
00:20:55.503 --> 00:20:59.040
And he's changing me until today.
00:20:59.040 --> 00:21:02.943
Well, i wanna know him better.
00:21:02.943 --> 00:21:06.047
So, let's just say this prayer together.
00:21:06.047 --> 00:21:07.415
Just close your eyes, forget the people around you, it's okay.
00:21:07.415 --> 00:21:10.885
You just repeat it after me.
00:21:10.885 --> 00:21:12.219
"almighty god, i'm a sinner, and i need a savior.
00:21:12.219 --> 00:21:18.359
I believe jesus is your son.
00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:21.862
That he died on a cross for my sin, and that you raised him to
00:21:21.862 --> 00:21:27.168
Life again that i might be justified.
00:21:27.168 --> 00:21:32.873
Forgive me of my sins.
00:21:32.873 --> 00:21:35.676
I forgive those who sinned against me.
00:21:35.676 --> 00:21:39.914
Jesus be lord of my life.
00:21:39.914 --> 00:21:43.150
I wanna live for your glory and for your honor.
00:21:43.150 --> 00:21:47.355
And i thank you now that i belong to the family of god, in
00:21:47.355 --> 00:21:53.027
Jesus's name, amen.
00:21:53.027 --> 00:21:56.464
Hallelujah.
00:21:56.464 --> 00:22:01.102
I know, i know, i know we did it out of order.
00:22:01.102 --> 00:22:04.972
But it still counts.
00:22:04.972 --> 00:22:07.375
It's like eating dessert before your vegetables.
00:22:07.375 --> 00:22:11.078
Still good.
00:22:11.078 --> 00:22:13.781
They've turned the food pyramid upside down anyway.
00:22:13.781 --> 00:22:16.150
We might as well, right?
00:22:16.150 --> 00:22:17.485
Start with chocolate cake.
00:22:17.485 --> 00:22:19.320
Don't, don't.
00:22:21.889 --> 00:22:25.826
Well, i wanna take the balance of the time we have and walk
00:22:25.826 --> 00:22:29.530
Through some of these principles with you.
00:22:29.530 --> 00:22:31.432
They're characteristics of the life upgrade that comes with
00:22:31.432 --> 00:22:34.368
Being a christ follower.
00:22:34.368 --> 00:22:36.370
We tend to describe our spiritual journey in terms of
00:22:36.370 --> 00:22:38.873
The congregation where we worship, or the denomination
00:22:38.873 --> 00:22:41.475
With which we belong, or the theological points that are part
00:22:41.475 --> 00:22:45.146
Of our kind of pet--part of scripture.
00:22:45.146 --> 00:22:48.249
It's not wicked or evil, but it's not the most helpful.
00:22:48.249 --> 00:22:53.521
I mean, it may give you some points in identifying one
00:22:53.521 --> 00:22:56.457
Another, but--so we're gonna walk through these and we're
00:22:56.457 --> 00:22:59.627
Gonna tag 'em really quickly 'cause i'm as interested in the
00:22:59.627 --> 00:23:01.896
Declaration as i am the details behind it.
00:23:01.896 --> 00:23:05.065
I'll start with jesus said two things about us.
00:23:05.065 --> 00:23:08.102
Jesus said these things about you and me.
00:23:08.102 --> 00:23:11.105
He said that we are the salt of the earth and the light of
00:23:11.105 --> 00:23:14.408
The world.
00:23:14.408 --> 00:23:15.810
It's in matthew chapter 5. it's a part of the sermon on the
00:23:15.810 --> 00:23:18.579
Mount--verses 13 and 14.
00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:20.848
They're very straightforward sentences.
00:23:20.848 --> 00:23:22.750
Now, there's some further explanation around it.
00:23:22.750 --> 00:23:24.952
He said, "the salt, if it loses its saltiness, it's no good
00:23:24.952 --> 00:23:27.588
Except to be thrown out."
00:23:27.588 --> 00:23:30.157
And i would remind you that salt that remains in a shaker, you
00:23:30.157 --> 00:23:33.594
Don't know if it's salty or not.
00:23:33.594 --> 00:23:34.962
Salt's only--can only be effective when it's distributed.
00:23:34.962 --> 00:23:39.066
That's why the church away from here is far more valuable than
00:23:39.066 --> 00:23:41.936
The church when we gather here.
00:23:41.936 --> 00:23:43.270
And it's important to gather, but we gather here to be
00:23:43.270 --> 00:23:45.239
Effective when we leave.
00:23:45.239 --> 00:23:47.808
Salt is a preservative.
00:23:47.808 --> 00:23:50.611
Salt withstands corruption.
00:23:50.611 --> 00:23:52.413
That's why i say to you frequently we can't hide from
00:23:52.413 --> 00:23:55.583
Our culture.
00:23:55.583 --> 00:23:56.951
I have no interest in being political, but i have a
00:23:56.951 --> 00:23:58.686
Tremendous interest in impacting the culture in which god has
00:23:58.686 --> 00:24:01.355
Placed us with the values of the word of god and the lordship
00:24:01.355 --> 00:24:04.758
Of jesus.
00:24:04.758 --> 00:24:06.126
That's the assignment of the church.
00:24:06.126 --> 00:24:09.363
And salt adds flavor.
00:24:09.363 --> 00:24:10.798
It's the people of god on the earth that bring the attention
00:24:10.798 --> 00:24:13.400
Of god.
00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:15.736
Many of you are familiar with the person of the holy spirit,
00:24:15.736 --> 00:24:18.072
You know him, you interact with him.
00:24:18.072 --> 00:24:20.574
You welcome him into your life.
00:24:20.574 --> 00:24:22.009
If you wanna attract the attention of the holy spirit, i
00:24:22.009 --> 00:24:24.612
Will tell you how to do it.
00:24:24.612 --> 00:24:26.647
Begin to purposefully honor jesus.
00:24:26.647 --> 00:24:28.516
You start to honor jesus.
00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:34.388
You start to give thanks to him, acknowledge what he's done for
00:24:34.388 --> 00:24:36.690
You, talk about it, use his name.
00:24:36.690 --> 00:24:38.559
If you will honor jesus, the holy spirit will occupy the
00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:41.428
Space where you are.
00:24:41.428 --> 00:24:44.098
I'll tell you that 'cause if you're frightened, or
00:24:44.098 --> 00:24:45.699
Intimidated, or threatened, or you have a challenge, a health
00:24:45.699 --> 00:24:48.402
Challenge, or a family challenge, or a life challenge,
00:24:48.402 --> 00:24:51.472
And you need to know that the spirit of god is with you, start
00:24:51.472 --> 00:24:54.775
To make a list of the names you know for jesus and begin to
00:24:54.775 --> 00:24:57.411
Thank him.
00:24:57.411 --> 00:24:58.779
"lord jesus, i thank you that you are the king of kings and
00:24:58.779 --> 00:25:02.082
The lord of lords, the lily of the valley, the bright and
00:25:02.082 --> 00:25:04.485
Morning star."
00:25:04.485 --> 00:25:06.987
I mean, i'll think of every title.
00:25:06.987 --> 00:25:08.722
I'll get the book of psalms out and i'll start to read.
00:25:08.722 --> 00:25:10.524
I wanna give honor to the lord because when you do that, the
00:25:10.524 --> 00:25:13.160
Spirit of god will come.
00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:15.629
You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
00:25:15.629 --> 00:25:18.866
Imagine a world with no salt, nothing restraining evil, and
00:25:18.866 --> 00:25:23.504
No light.
00:25:23.504 --> 00:25:26.073
It's not a world i wanna be in.
00:25:26.073 --> 00:25:29.410
So, if you work in a dark place, or you live in a dark
00:25:29.410 --> 00:25:32.746
Neighborhood, or your family feels dark, or whatever, we're
00:25:32.746 --> 00:25:36.216
The light.
00:25:36.216 --> 00:25:39.053
Stop complaining and take the basket off the light.
00:25:39.053 --> 00:25:43.657
The darker the place you are, the smaller the light makes a
00:25:43.657 --> 00:25:46.493
Greater impact.
00:25:46.493 --> 00:25:47.861
You are the light of the world.
00:25:50.931 --> 00:25:54.401
"so, i don't feel very bright."
00:25:54.401 --> 00:25:57.304
It's not you, it's christ in us, remember?
00:25:57.304 --> 00:26:00.841
We belong to him.
00:26:00.841 --> 00:26:06.246
And he brings light into our lives.
00:26:03.243 --> 00:26:08.182
He brings it to us first.
00:26:08.182 --> 00:26:12.386
Allen: hey, i'm really excited about our new publication,
00:26:16.557 --> 00:26:19.093
"your identity in christ."
00:26:19.093 --> 00:26:20.861
Far too often in christian--and we major on the minors, we get
00:26:20.861 --> 00:26:24.064
Way heated up about which church we attend, which denomination we
00:26:24.064 --> 00:26:26.734
Belong to, which translation of the bible we read.
00:26:26.734 --> 00:26:29.303
Folks, those things are all okay.
00:26:29.303 --> 00:26:30.938
But knowing who you are in christ, it will mean freedom,
00:26:30.938 --> 00:26:34.441
Or it will put you in a place of bondage.
00:26:34.441 --> 00:26:36.644
When i help people through the steps of spiritual freedom,
00:26:36.644 --> 00:26:39.346
The foundation of that is understanding
00:26:39.346 --> 00:26:41.582
Who we are in christ.
00:26:41.582 --> 00:26:43.384
We put together this little booklet as a tool.
00:26:43.384 --> 00:26:45.452
It'll help you individually.
00:26:45.452 --> 00:26:46.920
You can do it as a small group.
00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:48.255
It's a great resource to share with your children or your
00:26:48.255 --> 00:26:50.658
Grandchildren at your kitchen table time.
00:26:50.658 --> 00:26:53.093
It'll make a difference in your life knowing who you are
00:26:53.093 --> 00:26:55.696
In christ first and foremost as a part
00:26:55.696 --> 00:26:58.265
Of your spiritual formation.
00:26:58.265 --> 00:26:59.800
In fact, wanna i pray with you before we go that god will bring
00:26:59.800 --> 00:27:02.302
New freedom to you in this season.
00:27:02.302 --> 00:27:04.772
Father, thank you for you have established, you have paid the
00:27:04.772 --> 00:27:08.008
Price that we can participate in your kingdom.
00:27:08.008 --> 00:27:10.544
By your spirit, awaken us to who we are in christ
00:27:10.544 --> 00:27:14.314
First and foremost.
00:27:14.314 --> 00:27:15.683
In jesus's name, amen.
00:27:15.683 --> 00:27:17.418
♪♪♪
00:27:17.851 --> 00:27:17.851

Allen Jackson - Identity and Belonging (Part 1)

June 19, 2026 | 27:29

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