Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Breakthrough
#Challenges
#Trials-HardTimes
#SeekGod
#TrustGod
#Supernatural
#KingdomofGod
#Culture
#AllenJackson
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Immovable Barriers (Part 1) | May 9, 2026
- ...
- 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.317
- Allen jackson: one of my heroes in the bible is saul of tarsus.
- 00:00:01.751 --> 00:00:04.854
- He becomes the apostle paul.
- 00:00:04.988 --> 00:00:06.222
- I know you know his story.
- 00:00:06.356 --> 00:00:06.790
- He's written two thirds of our new testament by title.
- 00:00:08.158 --> 00:00:12.362
- One of the most remarkable characters we meet in all of the
- 00:00:12.362 --> 00:00:14.631
- Scripture, he was a pharisee with a remarkable education,
- 00:00:14.631 --> 00:00:17.834
- Brilliant mind, and he hated jesus and jesus followers until
- 00:00:17.834 --> 00:00:22.572
- He met jesus one day.
- 00:00:22.572 --> 00:00:23.940
- He's on the road to damascus, and jesus interrupts his life,
- 00:00:23.940 --> 00:00:27.510
- And he becomes the apostle paul, one of the most powerful voices
- 00:00:27.510 --> 00:00:31.381
- For jesus that history has ever known.
- 00:00:31.381 --> 00:00:34.217
- We put together a 90-day devotional.
- 00:00:34.217 --> 00:00:36.152
- It's "lessons from paul."
- 00:00:36.152 --> 00:00:38.021
- I'm still learning from paul, and
- 00:00:38.021 --> 00:00:39.522
- I just wanted to share it with you.
- 00:00:39.522 --> 00:00:40.857
- There's a little--there's a scripture verse, there's a bit
- 00:00:40.857 --> 00:00:42.926
- Of a devotional, there's a place for some journaling.
- 00:00:42.926 --> 00:00:45.395
- It's really intended to provide some direction so that you and i
- 00:00:45.395 --> 00:00:48.164
- Become overcomers, overcomers of our past, overcomers of the
- 00:00:48.164 --> 00:00:51.835
- Opposition in the present.
- 00:00:51.835 --> 00:00:53.636
- Doesn't matter what the adversary is.
- 00:00:53.636 --> 00:00:55.171
- The power of god that delivered paul, he'll deliver you and me.
- 00:00:55.171 --> 00:00:58.675
- I believe you'll enjoy "lessons from paul."
- 00:00:58.675 --> 00:01:02.745
- ♪♪♪
- 00:01:02.846 --> 00:01:04.380
- Allen jackson: we're walking through a series
- 00:01:08.351 --> 00:01:09.686
- On breakthroughs.
- 00:01:09.686 --> 00:01:12.122
- The real goal is to try to understand the components that
- 00:01:12.122 --> 00:01:15.758
- Are present when god brings breakthroughs because i'm very
- 00:01:15.758 --> 00:01:20.396
- Certain that in all of our lives, there are places where we
- 00:01:20.396 --> 00:01:23.600
- Need god's help.
- 00:01:23.600 --> 00:01:25.902
- Circumstances or places or relationships or decisions where
- 00:01:25.902 --> 00:01:30.640
- The only acceptable outcome will involve the supernatural
- 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:33.676
- Engagement of god.
- 00:01:33.676 --> 00:01:35.445
- It's not a matter of effort or thinking or knowledge
- 00:01:35.445 --> 00:01:37.981
- Or contacts.
- 00:01:37.981 --> 00:01:39.349
- We need god's help.
- 00:01:39.349 --> 00:01:41.251
- It's a breakthrough and so, it's worth studying and considering
- 00:01:41.251 --> 00:01:45.822
- Biblical patterns so that we might know how to
- 00:01:45.822 --> 00:01:47.891
- Align ourselves.
- 00:01:47.891 --> 00:01:50.093
- I don't believe god is against us.
- 00:01:50.093 --> 00:01:52.195
- I believe he's for us.
- 00:01:52.195 --> 00:01:54.597
- And i--but frequently, i believe we have to change in order for
- 00:01:54.597 --> 00:01:57.901
- The purposes of god to emerge in our lives.
- 00:01:57.901 --> 00:02:00.870
- So, we're on a bit of a learning curve in this season.
- 00:02:00.870 --> 00:02:05.141
- We're gonna look at some immovable barriers tonight and
- 00:02:05.141 --> 00:02:07.410
- How we can move them.
- 00:02:07.410 --> 00:02:09.445
- I know that's a paradox.
- 00:02:09.445 --> 00:02:10.780
- If they're immovable, they can't be moved, but god can.
- 00:02:10.780 --> 00:02:15.818
- But i wanna start with our little paradigm i've been
- 00:02:15.818 --> 00:02:17.921
- Inviting you towards and i'm gonna do it a bit more
- 00:02:17.921 --> 00:02:19.889
- Consistently because i think it's necessary, this whole
- 00:02:19.889 --> 00:02:22.325
- Notion that we began back in covid.
- 00:02:22.325 --> 00:02:24.861
- It seems like at least a lifetime ago now of watch,
- 00:02:24.861 --> 00:02:27.463
- Listen, think, and act.
- 00:02:27.463 --> 00:02:29.999
- Sometimes it's good news, but when you see the truth presented
- 00:02:29.999 --> 00:02:33.770
- Or the wisdom expressed, it puts in stark contrast the
- 00:02:33.770 --> 00:02:37.607
- Foolishness that's been present.
- 00:02:37.607 --> 00:02:40.043
- And this week, president-elect trump said, i hope you heard,
- 00:02:40.043 --> 00:02:46.316
- That if the hostages that were taken by hamas were not released
- 00:02:46.316 --> 00:02:51.654
- Prior to his inauguration on january 20th, i quote, "there'll
- 00:02:51.654 --> 00:02:56.125
- Be hell to pay."
- 00:02:56.125 --> 00:03:04.200
- I think that is a very appropriate statement.
- 00:03:04.200 --> 00:03:07.036
- I had a couple of interviews yesterday with friends in israel
- 00:03:07.036 --> 00:03:10.173
- And i can tell you the tone in israel changed with
- 00:03:10.173 --> 00:03:12.041
- That statement.
- 00:03:12.041 --> 00:03:14.143
- But it's not broadly accepted.
- 00:03:14.143 --> 00:03:17.747
- There are people that say, you know, "it's insightful rhetoric.
- 00:03:17.747 --> 00:03:21.017
- It's ratcheting up the tension."
- 00:03:21.017 --> 00:03:23.419
- I'll give you my opinion. it's at least an informed one.
- 00:03:23.419 --> 00:03:27.190
- I've lived in the middle east and i've been in and out of
- 00:03:27.190 --> 00:03:28.925
- Israel since i was a boy and that's been--it's been at least
- 00:03:28.925 --> 00:03:37.166
- A decade.
- 00:03:37.166 --> 00:03:43.373
- When the first hostages were taken--when the first american
- 00:03:43.373 --> 00:03:46.142
- Hostage was taken, i looked to the president of the united
- 00:03:46.142 --> 00:03:49.679
- States to say, "they'll be released tomorrow or we will
- 00:03:49.679 --> 00:03:54.751
- Come for you."
- 00:03:54.751 --> 00:03:56.686
- Forget the israelis' response.
- 00:03:56.686 --> 00:03:59.489
- There'll be no negotiation, there'll be no humanitarian aid.
- 00:03:59.489 --> 00:04:04.861
- You turn loose our hostages.
- 00:04:04.861 --> 00:04:07.997
- And that's been absent for well over a year and the suffering is
- 00:04:07.997 --> 00:04:14.437
- Beyond imagination.
- 00:04:14.437 --> 00:04:17.640
- So i thought it was an appropriate statement.
- 00:04:17.640 --> 00:04:23.613
- In a season when it's necessary we will have to see what god
- 00:04:23.613 --> 00:04:27.684
- Will do with that.
- 00:04:27.684 --> 00:04:29.752
- Another expression that i think that surprises me, but i keep
- 00:04:29.752 --> 00:04:33.222
- Bumping into it and i'll take just a moment with it.
- 00:04:33.222 --> 00:04:35.992
- There's been a conversation in our community for some time now
- 00:04:35.992 --> 00:04:39.262
- About appropriate and inappropriate books in our
- 00:04:39.262 --> 00:04:42.632
- Children's libraries and i'm continually asked about that.
- 00:04:42.632 --> 00:04:49.072
- And the answer that is often given to me or the reason that
- 00:04:49.072 --> 00:04:52.809
- People say they remain silent is they don't want to support the
- 00:04:52.809 --> 00:04:55.945
- Banning of books.
- 00:04:55.945 --> 00:04:59.248
- And i appreciate that perspective.
- 00:04:59.248 --> 00:05:02.418
- I think it is misplaced.
- 00:05:02.418 --> 00:05:05.788
- There is a handful.
- 00:05:05.788 --> 00:05:11.361
- There's 2 or 3 dozen books in the libraries that are
- 00:05:11.361 --> 00:05:15.131
- Beyond reprehensible.
- 00:05:15.131 --> 00:05:18.935
- I mean they're vile.
- 00:05:18.935 --> 00:05:21.537
- They're indefensible to put them in the presence of
- 00:05:21.537 --> 00:05:24.207
- Small children.
- 00:05:24.207 --> 00:05:31.948
- And i don't understand the conversation to be about banning
- 00:05:31.948 --> 00:05:34.751
- Of books at all.
- 00:05:34.751 --> 00:05:36.953
- I understand the conversation to be around age
- 00:05:36.953 --> 00:05:39.255
- Appropriate learning.
- 00:05:39.255 --> 00:05:42.558
- Those books are inappropriate for children of that age.
- 00:05:42.558 --> 00:05:48.731
- Certainly beyond parental involvement and supervision.
- 00:05:48.731 --> 00:05:53.302
- It's nothing to do with the banning of books.
- 00:05:53.302 --> 00:05:54.971
- It's age appropriate learning.
- 00:05:54.971 --> 00:05:56.406
- We understand this.
- 00:05:56.406 --> 00:05:58.174
- We don't sell cigarettes in elementary schools.
- 00:05:58.174 --> 00:06:03.079
- You have to have parental consent if you're under 16 to
- 00:06:03.079 --> 00:06:05.915
- Get a tattoo.
- 00:06:05.915 --> 00:06:08.684
- And these books are awful.
- 00:06:08.684 --> 00:06:12.422
- But i think clarify the conversation, express your
- 00:06:12.422 --> 00:06:16.192
- Point, and then there's business that needs to be done if the
- 00:06:16.192 --> 00:06:20.029
- People that are serving on the school board are determined to
- 00:06:20.029 --> 00:06:22.999
- Keep those books.
- 00:06:22.999 --> 00:06:24.667
- Once the case has been made clearly and concisely and
- 00:06:24.667 --> 00:06:27.703
- Cogently, then i think they'd have other business to do.
- 00:06:27.703 --> 00:06:33.943
- But i think you forfeit your right to lead long term in our
- 00:06:33.943 --> 00:06:36.979
- Community if you want that kind of vile and--material in
- 00:06:36.979 --> 00:06:41.217
- Our schools.
- 00:06:41.217 --> 00:06:47.023
- But i don't think it needs to be the point that chokes every
- 00:06:47.023 --> 00:06:49.492
- Meeting from now until.
- 00:06:49.492 --> 00:06:52.862
- But you have to be wise enough.
- 00:06:52.862 --> 00:06:55.431
- Don't bring lists of 400 books that aren't appropriate for
- 00:06:55.431 --> 00:06:57.834
- The library.
- 00:06:57.834 --> 00:06:59.869
- And bring the books that aren't your favorite or you don't like
- 00:06:59.869 --> 00:07:02.772
- Or have some expression of witchcraft in them.
- 00:07:02.772 --> 00:07:06.943
- You're not trying to bring a total worldview change to
- 00:07:06.943 --> 00:07:09.545
- The library.
- 00:07:09.545 --> 00:07:10.880
- You're saying there are some books that are so inappropriate
- 00:07:10.880 --> 00:07:13.249
- They don't belong before small children.
- 00:07:13.249 --> 00:07:16.819
- And we've got to be more mature.
- 00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:19.522
- More than one person has come to me and said they will ban
- 00:07:19.522 --> 00:07:21.357
- The bible.
- 00:07:21.357 --> 00:07:23.893
- Okay, tell me who you are that wants to--i wanna know who that
- 00:07:23.893 --> 00:07:28.231
- Is that thinks that's a good idea because i wanna remember.
- 00:07:28.231 --> 00:07:34.971
- That we're bullied, we're intimidated, we're frightened,
- 00:07:34.971 --> 00:07:39.208
- We're reluctant.
- 00:07:39.208 --> 00:07:40.543
- I'm not--there's a lot of motivations around it, but don't
- 00:07:40.543 --> 00:07:43.279
- Get caught up in the drama and the emotion.
- 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:47.850
- There's a set of those books that are
- 00:07:47.850 --> 00:07:49.352
- Completely inappropriate.
- 00:07:49.352 --> 00:07:51.754
- Make the presentation, stand up for it, and then let's get on
- 00:07:51.754 --> 00:07:55.291
- With the business that we need to make the decisions.
- 00:07:55.291 --> 00:07:58.661
- Makes sense?
- 00:07:58.661 --> 00:08:00.763
- Watch and listen, pay attention.
- 00:08:00.763 --> 00:08:04.333
- I'm tired of the distractions and the subterfuge and the
- 00:08:04.333 --> 00:08:08.471
- Fear-based decisions.
- 00:08:08.471 --> 00:08:10.840
- Make the right decision in the moment to the best of your
- 00:08:10.840 --> 00:08:13.442
- Ability and then we'll make the next right decision when we
- 00:08:13.442 --> 00:08:15.711
- Have to.
- 00:08:15.711 --> 00:08:18.714
- We can do this.
- 00:08:18.714 --> 00:08:20.616
- We get way heated up about washington dc--folks until we
- 00:08:20.616 --> 00:08:23.419
- Can bring changes to middle tennessee where we live.
- 00:08:23.419 --> 00:08:27.890
- We want somebody to change washington dc.
- 00:08:27.890 --> 00:08:29.592
- We don't have the courage to change where we live.
- 00:08:29.592 --> 00:08:32.295
- You understand that is backwards, right?
- 00:08:32.295 --> 00:08:35.331
- Change the entire federal bureaucracy, but i don't want to
- 00:08:35.331 --> 00:08:37.500
- Invest the time and energy to change--
- 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:40.970
- There's the hebrew word "mashuga."
- 00:08:40.970 --> 00:08:43.773
- Means you're crazy.
- 00:08:43.773 --> 00:08:46.542
- In a god honoring, jesus loving sort of way, so.
- 00:08:46.542 --> 00:08:49.979
- All right.
- 00:08:49.979 --> 00:08:52.248
- Keep watching and listening and thinking and engaging we're
- 00:08:52.248 --> 00:08:54.984
- Gonna make a difference.
- 00:08:54.984 --> 00:08:56.752
- God is moving.
- 00:08:56.752 --> 00:08:58.688
- We're not doing everything the way it's always been done.
- 00:08:58.688 --> 00:09:01.157
- There's change afoot and we're gonna need the wisdom of the
- 00:09:01.157 --> 00:09:04.126
- 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
- 00:09:10.533 --> 00:09:14.704
- 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.
- 00:09:16.072 --> 00:09:17.673
- You need to know the voice of the holy spirit.
- 00:09:17.673 --> 00:09:20.142
- And my topic is "breakthroughs."
- 00:09:20.142 --> 00:09:21.544
- We gotta go.
- 00:09:21.544 --> 00:09:24.447
- It's the time when god intervenes in our lives.
- 00:09:24.447 --> 00:09:26.582
- Acts 9:3, i'm gonna continue to bring you some samples--examples
- 00:09:26.582 --> 00:09:30.186
- Of this.
- 00:09:30.186 --> 00:09:31.520
- The scripture is filled with these breakthrough moments.
- 00:09:31.520 --> 00:09:34.056
- This one happens to be saul of tarsus as he neared damascus.
- 00:09:34.056 --> 00:09:37.960
- On his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him
- 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:41.197
- And he fell to the ground and heard a voice say, "saul, why do
- 00:09:41.197 --> 00:09:44.800
- You persecute me?"
- 00:09:44.800 --> 00:09:47.236
- This is god initiated.
- 00:09:47.236 --> 00:09:49.972
- Saul wasn't looking for jesus.
- 00:09:49.972 --> 00:09:52.174
- He was looking for jesus's followers and he intended to put
- 00:09:52.174 --> 00:09:54.577
- Them in prison.
- 00:09:54.577 --> 00:09:56.312
- He had no intention of serving jesus.
- 00:09:56.312 --> 00:10:01.117
- 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
- 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:07.590
- Ascension on the mount of olives.
- 00:10:07.590 --> 00:10:10.626
- We have a little window when stephen is martyred and he looks
- 00:10:10.626 --> 00:10:14.263
- To heaven and he sees the lord.
- 00:10:14.263 --> 00:10:16.932
- When we get to acts chapter 9, jesus is on the road to damascus
- 00:10:16.932 --> 00:10:23.839
- 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?"
- 00:10:29.045 --> 00:10:34.316
- "well, i'm not sure, lord."
- 00:10:34.316 --> 00:10:38.320
- I think we could all agree it was a breakthrough moment in
- 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:40.956
- Saul's life.
- 00:10:40.956 --> 00:10:43.959
- We say we want breakthroughs.
- 00:10:43.959 --> 00:10:46.796
- It's a complete career change for saul.
- 00:10:46.796 --> 00:10:50.466
- Means he's gonna lose his friends.
- 00:10:50.466 --> 00:10:53.402
- 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--.
- 00:11:14.724 --> 00:11:19.929
- That really isn't the biblical pattern typically.
- 00:11:19.929 --> 00:11:21.897
- There are some places where that's true.
- 00:11:21.897 --> 00:11:25.601
- I've defined breakthroughs rather broadly.
- 00:11:25.601 --> 00:11:27.937
- 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
- 00:11:33.175 --> 00:11:37.313
- 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.
- 00:11:44.186 --> 00:11:45.788
- 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.
- 00:11:48.657 --> 00:11:51.494
- He responds with a complete solution and the imagined future
- 00:11:51.494 --> 00:11:57.032
- 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
- 00:12:03.038 --> 00:12:05.674
- 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.
- 00:12:08.511 --> 00:12:09.879
- 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?
- 00:12:12.882 --> 00:12:20.222
- 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.
- 00:12:46.849 --> 00:12:50.186
- We're delivered from egyptian slavery, but we're not
- 00:12:50.186 --> 00:12:53.689
- Immediately in the promised land.
- 00:12:53.689 --> 00:12:55.191
- We've got some steps before we get there.
- 00:12:55.191 --> 00:12:57.293
- 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