Allen Jackson - Immovable Barriers (Part 1)

May 9, 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 - Immovable Barriers (Part 1) | May 9, 2026
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  • Allen jackson: one of my heroes in the bible is saul of tarsus.
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  • He becomes the apostle paul.
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  • I know you know his story.
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  • He's written two thirds of our new testament by title.
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  • One of the most remarkable characters we meet in all of the
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  • Scripture, he was a pharisee with a remarkable education,
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  • Brilliant mind, and he hated jesus and jesus followers until
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  • He met jesus one day.
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  • He's on the road to damascus, and jesus interrupts his life,
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  • And he becomes the apostle paul, one of the most powerful voices
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  • For jesus that history has ever known.
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  • We put together a 90-day devotional.
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  • It's "lessons from paul."
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  • I'm still learning from paul, and
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  • I just wanted to share it with you.
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  • There's a little--there's a scripture verse, there's a bit
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  • Of a devotional, there's a place for some journaling.
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  • It's really intended to provide some direction so that you and i
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  • Become overcomers, overcomers of our past, overcomers of the
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  • Opposition in the present.
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  • Doesn't matter what the adversary is.
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  • The power of god that delivered paul, he'll deliver you and me.
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  • I believe you'll enjoy "lessons from paul."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: we're walking through a series
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  • On breakthroughs.
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  • The real goal is to try to understand the components that
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  • Are present when god brings breakthroughs because i'm very
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  • Certain that in all of our lives, there are places where we
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  • Need god's help.
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  • Circumstances or places or relationships or decisions where
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  • The only acceptable outcome will involve the supernatural
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  • Engagement of god.
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  • It's not a matter of effort or thinking or knowledge
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  • Or contacts.
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  • We need god's help.
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  • It's a breakthrough and so, it's worth studying and considering
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  • Biblical patterns so that we might know how to
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  • Align ourselves.
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  • I don't believe god is against us.
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  • I believe he's for us.
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  • And i--but frequently, i believe we have to change in order for
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  • The purposes of god to emerge in our lives.
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  • So, we're on a bit of a learning curve in this season.
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  • We're gonna look at some immovable barriers tonight and
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  • How we can move them.
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  • I know that's a paradox.
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  • If they're immovable, they can't be moved, but god can.
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  • But i wanna start with our little paradigm i've been
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  • Inviting you towards and i'm gonna do it a bit more
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  • Consistently because i think it's necessary, this whole
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  • Notion that we began back in covid.
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  • It seems like at least a lifetime ago now of watch,
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  • Listen, think, and act.
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  • Sometimes it's good news, but when you see the truth presented
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  • Or the wisdom expressed, it puts in stark contrast the
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  • Foolishness that's been present.
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  • And this week, president-elect trump said, i hope you heard,
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  • That if the hostages that were taken by hamas were not released
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  • Prior to his inauguration on january 20th, i quote, "there'll
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  • Be hell to pay."
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  • I think that is a very appropriate statement.
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  • I had a couple of interviews yesterday with friends in israel
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  • And i can tell you the tone in israel changed with
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  • That statement.
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  • But it's not broadly accepted.
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  • There are people that say, you know, "it's insightful rhetoric.
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  • It's ratcheting up the tension."
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  • I'll give you my opinion. it's at least an informed one.
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  • I've lived in the middle east and i've been in and out of
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  • Israel since i was a boy and that's been--it's been at least
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  • A decade.
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  • When the first hostages were taken--when the first american
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  • Hostage was taken, i looked to the president of the united
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  • States to say, "they'll be released tomorrow or we will
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  • Come for you."
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  • Forget the israelis' response.
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  • There'll be no negotiation, there'll be no humanitarian aid.
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  • You turn loose our hostages.
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  • And that's been absent for well over a year and the suffering is
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  • Beyond imagination.
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  • So i thought it was an appropriate statement.
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  • In a season when it's necessary we will have to see what god
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  • Will do with that.
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  • Another expression that i think that surprises me, but i keep
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  • Bumping into it and i'll take just a moment with it.
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  • There's been a conversation in our community for some time now
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  • About appropriate and inappropriate books in our
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  • Children's libraries and i'm continually asked about that.
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  • And the answer that is often given to me or the reason that
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  • People say they remain silent is they don't want to support the
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  • Banning of books.
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  • And i appreciate that perspective.
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  • I think it is misplaced.
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  • There is a handful.
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  • There's 2 or 3 dozen books in the libraries that are
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  • Beyond reprehensible.
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  • I mean they're vile.
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  • They're indefensible to put them in the presence of
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  • Small children.
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  • And i don't understand the conversation to be about banning
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  • Of books at all.
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  • I understand the conversation to be around age
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  • Appropriate learning.
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  • Those books are inappropriate for children of that age.
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  • Certainly beyond parental involvement and supervision.
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  • It's nothing to do with the banning of books.
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  • It's age appropriate learning.
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  • We understand this.
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  • We don't sell cigarettes in elementary schools.
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  • You have to have parental consent if you're under 16 to
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  • Get a tattoo.
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  • And these books are awful.
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  • But i think clarify the conversation, express your
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  • Point, and then there's business that needs to be done if the
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  • People that are serving on the school board are determined to
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  • Keep those books.
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  • Once the case has been made clearly and concisely and
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  • Cogently, then i think they'd have other business to do.
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  • But i think you forfeit your right to lead long term in our
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  • Community if you want that kind of vile and--material in
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  • Our schools.
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  • But i don't think it needs to be the point that chokes every
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  • Meeting from now until.
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  • But you have to be wise enough.
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  • Don't bring lists of 400 books that aren't appropriate for
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  • The library.
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  • And bring the books that aren't your favorite or you don't like
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  • Or have some expression of witchcraft in them.
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  • You're not trying to bring a total worldview change to
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  • The library.
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  • You're saying there are some books that are so inappropriate
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  • They don't belong before small children.
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  • And we've got to be more mature.
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  • More than one person has come to me and said they will ban
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  • The bible.
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  • Okay, tell me who you are that wants to--i wanna know who that
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  • Is that thinks that's a good idea because i wanna remember.
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  • That we're bullied, we're intimidated, we're frightened,
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  • We're reluctant.
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  • I'm not--there's a lot of motivations around it, but don't
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  • Get caught up in the drama and the emotion.
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  • There's a set of those books that are
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  • Completely inappropriate.
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  • Make the presentation, stand up for it, and then let's get on
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  • With the business that we need to make the decisions.
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  • Makes sense?
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  • Watch and listen, pay attention.
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  • I'm tired of the distractions and the subterfuge and the
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  • Fear-based decisions.
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  • Make the right decision in the moment to the best of your
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  • Ability and then we'll make the next right decision when we
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  • Have to.
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  • We can do this.
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  • We get way heated up about washington dc--folks until we
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  • Can bring changes to middle tennessee where we live.
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  • We want somebody to change washington dc.
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  • We don't have the courage to change where we live.
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  • You understand that is backwards, right?
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  • Change the entire federal bureaucracy, but i don't want to
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  • Invest the time and energy to change--
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  • There's the hebrew word "mashuga."
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  • Means you're crazy.
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  • In a god honoring, jesus loving sort of way, so.
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  • All right.
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  • Keep watching and listening and thinking and engaging we're
  • 00:08:52.248 --> 00:08:54.984
  • Gonna make a difference.
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  • God is moving.
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  • We're not doing everything the way it's always been done.
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  • There's change afoot and we're gonna need the wisdom of the
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  • Lord and it's not simple, it's confusing and there are
  • 00:09:04.126 --> 00:09:07.430
  • Professional confusers amongst us.
  • 00:09:07.430 --> 00:09:10.533
  • Tremendous manipulation, deception, lies--rampant and you
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  • Need to know the truth.
  • 00:09:14.704 --> 00:09:16.072
  • You need the scripture, you need to have it in your heart.
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  • You need to know the voice of the holy spirit.
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  • And my topic is "breakthroughs."
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  • We gotta go.
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  • It's the time when god intervenes in our lives.
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  • Acts 9:3, i'm gonna continue to bring you some samples--examples
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  • Of this.
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  • The scripture is filled with these breakthrough moments.
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  • This one happens to be saul of tarsus as he neared damascus.
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  • On his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him
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  • And he fell to the ground and heard a voice say, "saul, why do
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  • You persecute me?"
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  • This is god initiated.
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  • Saul wasn't looking for jesus.
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  • He was looking for jesus's followers and he intended to put
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  • Them in prison.
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  • He had no intention of serving jesus.
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  • And jesus stepped back into time.
  • 00:10:01.117 --> 00:10:03.519
  • The last time we saw jesus was in acts chapter 1 at the
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  • Ascension on the mount of olives.
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  • We have a little window when stephen is martyred and he looks
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  • To heaven and he sees the lord.
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  • When we get to acts chapter 9, jesus is on the road to damascus
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  • Doing an intervention with one saul of tarsus.
  • 00:10:23.839 --> 00:10:29.045
  • "just exactly what is it you think you're doing, young man?"
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  • "well, i'm not sure, lord."
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  • I think we could all agree it was a breakthrough moment in
  • 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:40.956
  • Saul's life.
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  • We say we want breakthroughs.
  • 00:10:43.959 --> 00:10:46.796
  • It's a complete career change for saul.
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  • Means he's gonna lose his friends.
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  • He's not gonna be trusted by the community of believers because
  • 00:10:53.402 --> 00:10:56.739
  • He's been one of their chief prosecutors.
  • 00:10:56.739 --> 00:11:00.242
  • It guarantees at least a season of isolation.
  • 00:11:00.242 --> 00:11:04.980
  • I mean there's nothing easy about it.
  • 00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:07.483
  • We talk about breakthroughs and we think when breakthroughs
  • 00:11:07.483 --> 00:11:09.318
  • Comes it'll all be easy.
  • 00:11:09.318 --> 00:11:12.655
  • It'll be like everything gets simple and everything that was
  • 00:11:12.655 --> 00:11:14.724
  • Confused will become clear and opposition will melt and--.
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  • That really isn't the biblical pattern typically.
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  • There are some places where that's true.
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  • I've defined breakthroughs rather broadly.
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  • There are those points of deliverance, revelation,
  • 00:11:27.937 --> 00:11:30.072
  • Insight, understanding, redirection.
  • 00:11:30.072 --> 00:11:33.175
  • Those times when god's purposes and plans are initiated in and
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  • Through us, around us.
  • 00:11:37.313 --> 00:11:40.049
  • Brought to completion, revealed, advanced, welcomed, understood.
  • 00:11:40.049 --> 00:11:44.186
  • Our ideal breakthrough.
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  • I think the one that we pray for, that we imagine, that we
  • 00:11:45.788 --> 00:11:48.657
  • Dream about are those points where god intervenes.
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  • He responds with a complete solution and the imagined future
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  • Is delivered whole and intact.
  • 00:11:57.032 --> 00:12:03.038
  • It's like god's showing up at the burning bush in exodus 3 and
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  • Say, "i've come down to deliver my people and i'm gonna take
  • 00:12:05.674 --> 00:12:08.511
  • Them to the promised land.
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  • And if you'll snap your fingers, we'll all be there."
  • 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:12.882
  • That i believe is our preferred, the ideal breakthrough, right?
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  • I don't want any process.
  • 00:12:20.222 --> 00:12:22.725
  • I'm not really looking for any learning moments.
  • 00:12:22.725 --> 00:12:25.928
  • I want out of pain and into peace now.
  • 00:12:25.928 --> 00:12:34.837
  • I mean, if i have to wait till tomorrow.
  • 00:12:34.837 --> 00:12:38.407
  • But life is seldom ideal and the bible shows us that we are
  • 00:12:38.407 --> 00:12:43.312
  • Frequently delivered out of something, but not brought into
  • 00:12:43.312 --> 00:12:46.849
  • What god has for us immediately.
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  • We're delivered from egyptian slavery, but we're not
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  • Immediately in the promised land.
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  • We've got some steps before we get there.
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  • We're delivered from our murderous rage against christ
  • 00:12:57.293 --> 00:13:00.729
  • Followers, but we don't become an apostle that impacts the
  • 00:13:00.729 --> 00:13:03.399
  • World the next morning.
  • 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:06.168
  • We're delivered out of something but not always brought
  • 00:13:06.168 --> 00:13:08.337
  • Immediately into something.
  • 00:13:08.337 --> 00:13:09.705
  • We're delivered from something, but typically--frequently our
  • 00:13:09.705 --> 00:13:13.142
  • Adversaries aren't removed.
  • 00:13:13.142 --> 00:13:14.543
  • You see, i think we believe god should deliver us from the
  • 00:13:14.543 --> 00:13:16.912
  • Pressure of the person, whatever, and they should be
  • 00:13:16.912 --> 00:13:19.548
  • Totally humiliated, eradicated, eliminated, neutralized.
  • 00:13:19.548 --> 00:13:24.854
  • And sometimes god delivers you from those things and
  • 00:13:24.854 --> 00:13:27.189
  • They flourish.
  • 00:13:27.189 --> 00:13:30.726
  • And then you have to forgive because you're standing over
  • 00:13:30.726 --> 00:13:36.732
  • There saying, "god bless him with the botch and the itch and
  • 00:13:36.732 --> 00:13:38.868
  • The scab."
  • 00:13:38.868 --> 00:13:44.073
  • Sometimes we need physical healing and god heals us, but he
  • 00:13:44.073 --> 00:13:53.215
  • Actually uses a healthcare professional.
  • 00:13:53.215 --> 00:13:56.852
  • "well, i didn't wanna go to the doctor.
  • 00:13:56.852 --> 00:13:59.755
  • I don't wanna make a co-pay.
  • 00:13:59.755 --> 00:14:02.658
  • I don't wanna meet my deductible.
  • 00:14:02.658 --> 00:14:05.995
  • I don't wanna deal with that.
  • 00:14:05.995 --> 00:14:07.463
  • I wanted god to heal me."
  • 00:14:07.463 --> 00:14:09.698
  • Duly noted.
  • 00:14:09.698 --> 00:14:12.368
  • If you pray then you're better.
  • 00:14:12.368 --> 00:14:14.603
  • There may have many points of contribution, but i believe god
  • 00:14:14.603 --> 00:14:17.973
  • Brought healing.
  • 00:14:17.973 --> 00:14:19.341
  • He is our healer.
  • 00:14:19.341 --> 00:14:20.910
  • I will gladly pay the doctor's bill, but i will very
  • 00:14:20.910 --> 00:14:25.047
  • Purposefully give thanks to the lord that he restores my health.
  • 00:14:25.047 --> 00:14:31.654
  • Or sometimes god brings healing to our lives, but it doesn't
  • 00:14:31.654 --> 00:14:35.891
  • Mean that, you know, we're removed from the arena of aging.
  • 00:14:35.891 --> 00:14:39.728
  • Christians get weird.
  • 00:14:39.728 --> 00:14:42.898
  • It's like we lose our balance.
  • 00:14:42.898 --> 00:14:47.269
  • And when we talk about the supernatural and then we just
  • 00:14:47.269 --> 00:14:50.272
  • Shut down and go, "well i just don't believe in that."
  • 00:14:50.272 --> 00:14:53.075
  • Because we don't want to deal with the messiness of doing life
  • 00:14:53.075 --> 00:14:56.045
  • With people.
  • 00:14:56.045 --> 00:14:57.413
  • We've gotta have the courage to invite the supernatural power
  • 00:14:57.413 --> 00:15:00.149
  • And presence of god into the midst of our lives.
  • 00:15:00.149 --> 00:15:06.288
  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world,
  • 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:11.493
  • People are searching for truth, and together we're doing our
  • 00:15:11.493 --> 00:15:14.263
  • Very best to help them find it.
  • 00:15:14.263 --> 00:15:16.332
  • When you become a ministry partner with allen jackson
  • 00:15:16.332 --> 00:15:18.600
  • Ministries, you're joining a growing community of believers
  • 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:21.937
  • Who are committed to strengthening the church and
  • 00:15:21.937 --> 00:15:24.740
  • Sharing god's word through every available channel--
  • 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:28.010
  • Television, radio, podcast, books, bible studies,
  • 00:15:28.010 --> 00:15:31.413
  • Digital resources, conferences.
  • 00:15:31.413 --> 00:15:34.283
  • Your monthly partnership helps us equip believers to reach new
  • 00:15:34.283 --> 00:15:37.453
  • Audiences, to take the hope of jesus to people who may never
  • 00:15:37.453 --> 00:15:41.357
  • Have heard the gospel otherwise.
  • 00:15:41.357 --> 00:15:43.459
  • Together, we can stand firm in our faith and make god's truth
  • 00:15:43.459 --> 00:15:47.396
  • Known right here at home and around the earth, wherever
  • 00:15:47.396 --> 00:15:50.532
  • God opens a door.
  • 00:15:50.532 --> 00:15:51.934
  • Let's keep gathering his people and building his church until
  • 00:15:51.934 --> 00:15:55.237
  • The day our king returns.
  • 00:15:55.237 --> 00:15:57.473
  • You can find more about becoming a ministry partner
  • 00:15:57.473 --> 00:16:00.376
  • At allenjackson.com/partner.
  • 00:16:00.376 --> 00:16:07.950
  • Allen: or sometimes god presents opportunities to us.
  • 00:16:11.987 --> 00:16:14.723
  • They're clearly god opportunities.
  • 00:16:14.723 --> 00:16:16.859
  • God-initiated, circumstances line up.
  • 00:16:16.859 --> 00:16:18.927
  • There's something that presents that is most unlikely and most
  • 00:16:18.927 --> 00:16:21.497
  • Improbable, but in order to accept the opportunity, it will
  • 00:16:21.497 --> 00:16:25.768
  • Require significant investment of energy.
  • 00:16:25.768 --> 00:16:28.170
  • We call that work and often the investment of resources, we call
  • 00:16:28.170 --> 00:16:33.242
  • That spending money.
  • 00:16:33.242 --> 00:16:36.178
  • And i meet people all the time who say, well, you know, "if god
  • 00:16:36.178 --> 00:16:38.247
  • Had done that, it wouldn't have been difficult and he would have
  • 00:16:38.247 --> 00:16:41.250
  • Provided everything."
  • 00:16:41.250 --> 00:16:43.819
  • Well it's a wonderful thought.
  • 00:16:43.819 --> 00:16:45.154
  • It's just not biblical.
  • 00:16:45.154 --> 00:16:49.224
  • I mean, sometimes god will do that, but to demand that god do
  • 00:16:49.224 --> 00:16:53.362
  • That all the time would make him your benevolent uncle.
  • 00:16:53.362 --> 00:16:58.834
  • You'd just be a spoiled kid.
  • 00:16:58.834 --> 00:17:02.304
  • We've had enough of those in the media lately.
  • 00:17:02.304 --> 00:17:09.912
  • I want to look at a breakthrough.
  • 00:17:09.912 --> 00:17:12.381
  • The biblical one.
  • 00:17:12.381 --> 00:17:13.749
  • I didn't take this one from the christmas story.
  • 00:17:13.749 --> 00:17:15.084
  • We'll do several of those characters, but i thought it was
  • 00:17:15.084 --> 00:17:17.619
  • Helpful not to limit it to the holidays.
  • 00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:20.055
  • I want to look at joshua's life.
  • 00:17:20.055 --> 00:17:21.990
  • Joshua begins his life--when we find joshua initially in
  • 00:17:21.990 --> 00:17:25.027
  • Scripture, he's a slave in egypt.
  • 00:17:25.027 --> 00:17:28.864
  • He knows the sting of the whip from the egyptian taskmasters.
  • 00:17:28.864 --> 00:17:33.769
  • He knows the humiliation of being a slave.
  • 00:17:33.769 --> 00:17:37.606
  • Joshua was there when moses comes in out of the desert and
  • 00:17:37.606 --> 00:17:41.410
  • Says, "you need to get ready, we're leaving."
  • 00:17:41.410 --> 00:17:44.546
  • He sees all the plagues visited on egypt.
  • 00:17:44.546 --> 00:17:46.748
  • He crosses the red sea.
  • 00:17:46.748 --> 00:17:49.017
  • He sees the egyptians drowned.
  • 00:17:49.017 --> 00:17:50.452
  • He's at marah, in exodus 15, when the bitter water is turned
  • 00:17:50.452 --> 00:17:55.791
  • To sweet.
  • 00:17:55.791 --> 00:17:57.793
  • Joshua is moses's aide de camp.
  • 00:17:57.793 --> 00:18:00.162
  • He becomes his assistant.
  • 00:18:00.162 --> 00:18:02.998
  • So, he spends decades with moses, following
  • 00:18:02.998 --> 00:18:05.367
  • Moses's leadership.
  • 00:18:05.367 --> 00:18:08.604
  • He sees moses when he's been spent so much time in the
  • 00:18:08.604 --> 00:18:11.006
  • Presence of god that he has to put a veil over his face because
  • 00:18:11.006 --> 00:18:14.109
  • There's a glow.
  • 00:18:14.109 --> 00:18:16.578
  • He knows moses when he goes up the mountain and comes back with
  • 00:18:16.578 --> 00:18:18.881
  • 10 commandments.
  • 00:18:18.881 --> 00:18:21.216
  • I mean, he's had a front row seat for one of the most
  • 00:18:21.216 --> 00:18:23.418
  • Remarkable leaders in all of the presentation of scripture.
  • 00:18:23.418 --> 00:18:28.223
  • But moses is unable to take the exodus generation into the
  • 00:18:28.223 --> 00:18:33.428
  • Promised land.
  • 00:18:33.428 --> 00:18:35.531
  • And so, at the end of moses's life, joshua is the next man up.
  • 00:18:35.531 --> 00:18:40.135
  • It's one of the more difficult job descriptions in the bible.
  • 00:18:40.135 --> 00:18:43.305
  • "i want you to do what moses couldn't do."
  • 00:18:43.305 --> 00:18:45.841
  • "oh sure."
  • 00:18:45.841 --> 00:18:49.278
  • And i want to look at a bit of that.
  • 00:18:49.278 --> 00:18:51.380
  • Deuteronomy 31:23, "the lord gave this command to joshua the
  • 00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:54.783
  • Son of nun."
  • 00:18:54.783 --> 00:18:57.319
  • You know, there's 2 people in the bible that were born without
  • 00:18:57.319 --> 00:19:02.024
  • The father.
  • 00:19:02.024 --> 00:19:03.759
  • Jesus, you know, it's christmas time.
  • 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:05.093
  • You know the other one?
  • 00:19:05.093 --> 00:19:07.896
  • It's joshua.
  • 00:19:07.896 --> 00:19:09.231
  • He's the son of nun.
  • 00:19:09.231 --> 00:19:16.338
  • I didn't go to comedy school.
  • 00:19:16.338 --> 00:19:17.973
  • I went to seminary, okay?
  • 00:19:17.973 --> 00:19:19.508
  • So, "joshua the son of nun: 'be strong and courageous, for you
  • 00:19:19.508 --> 00:19:24.313
  • Will bring the israelites into the land i promised them on
  • 00:19:24.313 --> 00:19:26.582
  • Oath, and i myself will be with you."'
  • 00:19:26.582 --> 00:19:30.118
  • It's an interesting passage in all seriousness, the way
  • 00:19:30.118 --> 00:19:32.754
  • It's stated.
  • 00:19:32.754 --> 00:19:34.122
  • God says, "i myself will do it."
  • 00:19:34.122 --> 00:19:36.525
  • There's a--it's an emphatic way of making a point.
  • 00:19:36.525 --> 00:19:40.295
  • Someone says, you know, "did you lock the door at the house?"
  • 00:19:40.295 --> 00:19:44.666
  • "i did."
  • 00:19:44.666 --> 00:19:46.001
  • "are you sure?"
  • 00:19:46.001 --> 00:19:47.369
  • "yeah."
  • 00:19:47.369 --> 00:19:48.704
  • "are you positive?"
  • 00:19:48.704 --> 00:19:50.072
  • "i did it myself.
  • 00:19:50.072 --> 00:19:51.406
  • I didn't delegate it.
  • 00:19:51.406 --> 00:19:53.408
  • It wasn't done digitally.
  • 00:19:53.408 --> 00:19:54.876
  • I did it myself."
  • 00:19:54.876 --> 00:19:57.412
  • And the message that god gives to joshua is, "i myself will be
  • 00:19:57.412 --> 00:20:01.917
  • With you."
  • 00:20:01.917 --> 00:20:04.486
  • Now as wonderful as that is, "i would submit to you," it's not
  • 00:20:04.486 --> 00:20:07.389
  • The answer i would have preferred had i been joshua.
  • 00:20:07.389 --> 00:20:12.728
  • I would have preferred god to say, "i will do it myself."
  • 00:20:12.728 --> 00:20:20.168
  • Remember the line we've looked at it with moses quite a bit in
  • 00:20:20.168 --> 00:20:22.237
  • Exodus 3 where god said, "i've heard the cries of my people,
  • 00:20:22.237 --> 00:20:25.507
  • I've seen their suffering and i've come down to deliver them."
  • 00:20:25.507 --> 00:20:30.279
  • And up until that point, moses is like, "yes."
  • 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:33.048
  • And then god pivots and he says, "go, now i'm sending you."
  • 00:20:33.048 --> 00:20:37.319
  • And that's when the debate breaks out.
  • 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:39.688
  • That's when the debate breaks out for all of us.
  • 00:20:39.688 --> 00:20:42.557
  • And when god is commissioning joshua in this passage, it said
  • 00:20:42.557 --> 00:20:45.994
  • The lord gave joshua this command to be strong and
  • 00:20:45.994 --> 00:20:48.997
  • Courageous, "you will bring the israelites into the land i
  • 00:20:48.997 --> 00:20:52.601
  • Promised them, and i myself will be with you."
  • 00:20:52.601 --> 00:20:59.574
  • Well i mean, it's good news, kinda.
  • 00:20:59.574 --> 00:21:04.579
  • I mean, god is emphatically asserting joshua, "you're not
  • 00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:08.850
  • Going alone.
  • 00:21:08.850 --> 00:21:10.185
  • I will be with you."
  • 00:21:10.185 --> 00:21:12.321
  • But he's also saying to joshua, "you bring these people in."
  • 00:21:12.321 --> 00:21:18.894
  • I think it's a very poignant moment for us.
  • 00:21:18.894 --> 00:21:21.797
  • Many of us have been praying for change in moral behaviors and
  • 00:21:21.797 --> 00:21:25.467
  • Trends and attitudes in education and what's being
  • 00:21:25.467 --> 00:21:28.937
  • Taught to our children and how we're being led and how marriage
  • 00:21:28.937 --> 00:21:32.107
  • Is defined and human sexuality and all these things and we want
  • 00:21:32.107 --> 00:21:36.078
  • Somebody somewhere to do something.
  • 00:21:36.078 --> 00:21:40.115
  • And i believe god is still in the business of saying, "i'm
  • 00:21:40.115 --> 00:21:43.719
  • Sending you.
  • 00:21:43.719 --> 00:21:45.587
  • Oh no, wait a minute.
  • 00:21:45.587 --> 00:21:47.489
  • I'll be with you.
  • 00:21:47.489 --> 00:21:50.125
  • But i need you to do something."
  • 00:21:50.125 --> 00:21:52.661
  • Are you willing?
  • 00:21:52.661 --> 00:21:54.863
  • I think it's a component of breakthroughs.
  • 00:21:54.863 --> 00:21:58.166
  • Joshua chapter 1, joshua was getting his instructions again,
  • 00:21:58.166 --> 00:22:04.306
  • "be strong and courageous, because you will lead these
  • 00:22:04.306 --> 00:22:06.475
  • People to inherit the land i swore to their forefathers to
  • 00:22:06.475 --> 00:22:09.077
  • Give them.
  • 00:22:09.077 --> 00:22:10.445
  • 'be strong and very courageous.
  • 00:22:10.445 --> 00:22:12.013
  • Be careful to obey all the law my servant moses gave you; don't
  • 00:22:12.013 --> 00:22:15.150
  • Turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be
  • 00:22:15.150 --> 00:22:17.386
  • Successful wherever you go.
  • 00:22:17.386 --> 00:22:19.254
  • Don't let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate
  • 00:22:19.254 --> 00:22:21.757
  • On it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything
  • 00:22:21.757 --> 00:22:24.426
  • Written in it.
  • 00:22:24.426 --> 00:22:25.761
  • Then you'll be prosperous and successful.
  • 00:22:25.761 --> 00:22:27.996
  • Have i not commanded you?
  • 00:22:27.996 --> 00:22:29.498
  • Be strong and courageous."'
  • 00:22:29.498 --> 00:22:32.100
  • If you're counting, that's the 3rd time in this passage.
  • 00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:36.238
  • The message is given to joshua over half a dozen times.
  • 00:22:36.238 --> 00:22:40.475
  • Be strong and courageous.
  • 00:22:40.475 --> 00:22:41.843
  • You know enough about biblical interpretation.
  • 00:22:41.843 --> 00:22:43.612
  • If god says to you, "be strong and courageous," how do
  • 00:22:43.612 --> 00:22:46.047
  • You feel?
  • 00:22:46.047 --> 00:22:49.017
  • Weak, inadequate, and frightened.
  • 00:22:49.017 --> 00:22:52.788
  • If you were filled with confidence, god wouldn't say be
  • 00:22:52.788 --> 00:22:55.924
  • Strong and courageous.
  • 00:22:55.924 --> 00:22:58.693
  • If you're filled with an overwhelming sense of inadequacy
  • 00:22:58.693 --> 00:23:03.298
  • And you're frightened, god will say, "you're gonna need to be
  • 00:23:03.298 --> 00:23:05.467
  • Strong and courageous."
  • 00:23:05.467 --> 00:23:09.171
  • "don't be terrified; don't be discouraged," "joshua, you
  • 00:23:09.171 --> 00:23:13.742
  • Look terrified.
  • 00:23:13.742 --> 00:23:16.611
  • You're a mess, son.
  • 00:23:16.611 --> 00:23:17.946
  • Are you discouraged?
  • 00:23:17.946 --> 00:23:19.314
  • Don't be discouraged."
  • 00:23:19.314 --> 00:23:21.116
  • "for the lord your god will be with you wherever you go."
  • 00:23:21.116 --> 00:23:24.419
  • He's already said it, "i myself will be with you."
  • 00:23:24.419 --> 00:23:28.123
  • It has to be restated, reasserted.
  • 00:23:28.123 --> 00:23:30.959
  • Difficult assignments are not picked up glibly.
  • 00:23:30.959 --> 00:23:37.399
  • Christians, we should work to bring better alignment to how we
  • 00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:42.370
  • Share our stories because when we walk through difficult places
  • 00:23:42.370 --> 00:23:46.541
  • And we take those first steps of cooperating with the lord, in my
  • 00:23:46.541 --> 00:23:50.846
  • Life, i haven't usually taken them with great confidence and
  • 00:23:50.846 --> 00:23:53.582
  • Glee and shouts of joy.
  • 00:23:53.582 --> 00:23:57.519
  • I've taken them rather hesitantly.
  • 00:23:57.519 --> 00:24:01.556
  • I said, "lord, i wanna follow you, but this seems like a hard
  • 00:24:01.556 --> 00:24:06.261
  • Way to go."
  • 00:24:06.261 --> 00:24:10.632
  • God makes a series of statements to joshua.
  • 00:24:10.632 --> 00:24:12.634
  • He said, "you'll lead these people."
  • 00:24:12.634 --> 00:24:14.936
  • And then he tells him there's some things he's gonna have to
  • 00:24:14.936 --> 00:24:16.905
  • Do, "you're gonna have to be strong and very courageous."
  • 00:24:16.905 --> 00:24:20.208
  • Are you ready for that?
  • 00:24:20.208 --> 00:24:22.110
  • Are you ready to have to demonstrate strength and great
  • 00:24:22.110 --> 00:24:25.146
  • Courage for the purposes of god to break forth in
  • 00:24:25.146 --> 00:24:27.649
  • Our generation?
  • 00:24:27.649 --> 00:24:29.818
  • We want other people to be courageous.
  • 00:24:29.818 --> 00:24:32.654
  • We want other people to step up.
  • 00:24:32.654 --> 00:24:36.024
  • We've been saying for a long time now.
  • 00:24:36.024 --> 00:24:37.559
  • This has to start at our kitchen tables and our holiday tables
  • 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:40.829
  • And then with the tables where we gather with our peer groups
  • 00:24:40.829 --> 00:24:43.231
  • And our friends.
  • 00:24:43.231 --> 00:24:45.133
  • Option 2, we're willing to tell the truth in those
  • 00:24:45.133 --> 00:24:47.269
  • Expanding circles.
  • 00:24:47.269 --> 00:24:48.970
  • Why should you expect somebody else to speak the truth in a
  • 00:24:48.970 --> 00:24:51.506
  • Broader way?
  • 00:24:51.506 --> 00:24:53.775
  • If we hide from the conflict, the disruption, the awkwardness
  • 00:24:53.775 --> 00:24:57.279
  • Of telling the truth to the people that we're doing life
  • 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:59.748
  • With, why should we imagine someone should go bear the
  • 00:24:59.748 --> 00:25:03.685
  • Weight of telling the truth in a broader way?
  • 00:25:03.685 --> 00:25:08.089
  • Be strong and courageous.
  • 00:25:08.089 --> 00:25:10.825
  • "be careful to obey all the law.
  • 00:25:10.825 --> 00:25:13.862
  • Don't let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate
  • 00:25:13.862 --> 00:25:17.532
  • On it day and night.
  • 00:25:17.532 --> 00:25:19.901
  • Do not be terrified."
  • 00:25:19.901 --> 00:25:22.137
  • There's a theme, do not be discouraged.
  • 00:25:22.137 --> 00:25:26.141
  • Allen: i want to take a minute to pray before we go.
  • 00:25:26.207 --> 00:25:28.410
  • Father, i thank you that you love us.
  • 00:25:28.410 --> 00:25:30.779
  • I thank you that you, that in your great mercy and compassion,
  • 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:33.782
  • You have made a way for us to be at peace with the creator of
  • 00:25:33.782 --> 00:25:37.085
  • All things.
  • 00:25:37.085 --> 00:25:38.453
  • That you're not angry with us, that you are not resentful of
  • 00:25:38.453 --> 00:25:42.123
  • Us, that you have welcomed us into your kingdom and made peace
  • 00:25:42.123 --> 00:25:45.093
  • With us through jesus christ.
  • 00:25:45.093 --> 00:25:47.429
  • I thank you for that today.
  • 00:25:47.429 --> 00:25:48.797
  • Nothing's hidden from you, no part of our past, no thought
  • 00:25:48.797 --> 00:25:51.600
  • Within us, and yet you love us.
  • 00:25:51.600 --> 00:25:54.069
  • May that love grow in us every day and bring a boldness and a
  • 00:25:54.069 --> 00:25:57.205
  • Courage within us to face the challenges before us, in jesus
  • 00:25:57.205 --> 00:26:01.443
  • Name, amen.
  • 00:26:01.443 --> 00:26:02.877
  • God bless you.
  • 00:26:02.877 --> 00:26:04.212
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:04.212 --> 00:26:08.817
  • Allen: and when i read my bible, i don't read it primarily
  • 00:26:10.585 --> 00:26:13.254
  • For information.
  • 00:26:13.254 --> 00:26:14.589
  • It's not just about facts and figures and dates and how to
  • 00:26:14.589 --> 00:26:17.225
  • Spell nebuchadnezzar and how many tribes they were and where
  • 00:26:17.225 --> 00:26:19.761
  • They fit in the land.
  • 00:26:19.761 --> 00:26:21.129
  • I mean, i like all that stuff, but i read my bible to
  • 00:26:21.129 --> 00:26:23.865
  • Be transformed.
  • 00:26:23.865 --> 00:26:25.467
  • I recognize i need the power of god at work in my life, so the
  • 00:26:25.467 --> 00:26:28.870
  • Characters of the bible become more than shadowy historical
  • 00:26:28.870 --> 00:26:32.073
  • People, they become my friends or my heroes.
  • 00:26:32.073 --> 00:26:34.843
  • We've put together a tool, it's "lessons from paul."
  • 00:26:34.843 --> 00:26:37.879
  • It's a 90-day devotional.
  • 00:26:37.879 --> 00:26:39.814
  • It's really gleaned from some of my favorite writings from the
  • 00:26:39.814 --> 00:26:42.851
  • Apostle paul.
  • 00:26:42.851 --> 00:26:44.252
  • You know, he begins as an angry, murderous man and becomes one of
  • 00:26:44.252 --> 00:26:47.255
  • The most powerful advocates for jesus that our world has
  • 00:26:47.255 --> 00:26:50.692
  • Ever known.
  • 00:26:50.692 --> 00:26:52.060
  • Well, i want that kind of transformation in my life to
  • 00:26:52.060 --> 00:26:54.462
  • Move from the place i am to be more effective for the purposes
  • 00:26:54.462 --> 00:26:57.132
  • Of the kingdom of god.
  • 00:26:57.132 --> 00:26:58.667
  • I think the tool will help you in the midst of whatever your
  • 00:26:58.667 --> 00:27:00.902
  • Circumstances, persecution, triumph.
  • 00:27:00.902 --> 00:27:03.571
  • "lessons from paul," it'll give you a pathway forward to
  • 00:27:03.571 --> 00:27:06.074
  • Cooperate with god and get to a better outcome.
  • 00:27:06.074 --> 00:27:09.277
  • I think you'll enjoy the devotional.
  • 00:27:09.277 --> 00:27:10.679
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:12.180