Allen Jackson - Israel, The Church, and The Nations (Part 1)

July 29, 2025 | 28:35

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 - Israel, The Church, and The Nations (Part 1) | July 29, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: hey, i know you know, but we're living
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  • In a chaotic world.
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  • Things are changing globally.
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  • There's wars, there's threats of war, a lot of stuff happening.
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  • But i want to make a suggestion: don't focus on the negative.
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  • Don't get caught up in the uncertainty.
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  • That'll bring fear and anxiety and worry.
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  • It's not helpful.
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  • Let's determine to focus our attention on the lord.
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  • We've created a tool that i believe will make a difference.
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  • It's called, "awaken us."
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  • It's a 30-day plan.
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  • Each day is directed at a different topic that's a part of
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  • Our current world.
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  • It gives us a verse of scripture, a little devotional
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  • Around that topic, and then a prayer for that specific thing.
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  • The idea is we're gonna give the holy spirit an invitation to
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  • Awaken us to a new place of faith.
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  • You know, we need an awakening in the midst of the people of
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  • God and we wanna say, "well, i am awake."
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  • Well, i get that, but you know, i was awakened yesterday, but
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  • This morning i was awakened again, and my prayer is tomorrow
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  • I'll be awakened yet again.
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  • We need a daily awakening by the spirit of god to find his best
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  • For us in this season, and i believe this book will help you.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: so this is really a lesson i did--or the companion
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  • To a piece we did about a week ago around israel.
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  • I want to speak to you about israel, the church, and the
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  • Nations because i think each of those components are very much
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  • In play at the moment in the purposes of god, and i think
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  • There's a great deal of confusion about
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  • What's happening.
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  • In fact, there's so much happening right now that it's
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  • Difficult to keep up.
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  • It's sometimes difficult to interpret.
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  • There are competing voices.
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  • There are competing voices within the church community.
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  • There are competing--there's just a lot of different things.
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  • But i assure you that god is moving in the earth.
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  • One of the breakthroughs we've had in the last few days, and
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  • It's of biblical significance, iran's ability to foster death
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  • And destruction has been greatly diminished.
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  • That's a victory.
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  • [congregation applauding]
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  • Since 1979, iran has been holding that specter of threat
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  • Over the nations and particularly over israel and the
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  • Middle east.
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  • I mean, it was--that's a long time ago for some of you, long
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  • Before you were here, but they had american hostages for
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  • 444 days.
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  • And when president reagan was elected, they said they didn't
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  • Want him to get to the white house, and them still--iran said
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  • That, they didn't want him to get to the white house with them
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  • Still holding the hostages because they knew the bombs
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  • Would drop.
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  • So while he was being inaugurated, our hostages that
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  • For 444 days couldn't be released were released.
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  • Say, "well, that's not a miracle."
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  • It would be if you were connected to one of those
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  • 444 people.
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  • On october 7th of 2023, we scroll forward decades, but
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  • Another iran-sponsored terror event by hamas coming out of
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  • Gaza, and hundreds of people were murdered.
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  • Americans were taken hostage.
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  • Americans were murdered.
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  • And for over 600 days there were negotiations, there was
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  • Humanitarian aid and resources that came from our nation.
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  • We built a dock so boats could be unloaded directly into gaza
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  • So hamas could take the resources directly from
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  • The ships.
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  • The dock broke apart, sometimes god smiles.
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  • For 600 days there were negotiations.
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  • The hostages still have not been fully released.
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  • And i believe through god's sovereign direction, ultimately
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  • We intervened to the point that the threat of that terror and
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  • Destruction was greatly diminished.
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  • If that's not of interest to you, there was peace negotiated
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  • Between the congo and rwanda.
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  • Some of you remember rwanda.
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  • They had a genocide there some decades ago, a million people
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  • Died in 90 days.
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  • It's been a part of the world where there's been tremendous
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  • Turmoil and they're at peace today.
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  • Pakistan and india averted a war, two nuclear nations
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  • Standing threatening one another.
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  • And they found a way to navigate towards peace.
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  • Maybe you prefer it closer to home.
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  • The supreme court on friday got busy.
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  • They issued several rulings.
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  • I'm particularly grateful for the rulings that protect
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  • Our children.
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  • I am. [congregation applauding]
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  • To be fully candid with you, i'm embarrassed that the supreme
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  • Court has to make rulings on things that are common sense.
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  • Children shouldn't be sexualized in school.
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  • I'm grateful that the justices would rule, but it shouldn't
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  • Have to be their decision.
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  • I believe those rulings were an expression of god's grace.
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  • They're incomplete.
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  • There's work left to be done.
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  • The justice--the justices appropriately say ultimately
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  • It's about our decisions and our behavior.
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  • They can stem the flood of wickedness and perversion, but
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  • Future outcomes will be determined by the choices of
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  • God's people.
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  • I gave you a verse of scripture.
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  • It's very familiar.
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  • I don't use it very often 'cause i've been in so many
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  • Places where it's been used as an invitation to pray for our
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  • Nation, and we don't change.
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  • You see, those of us who pray it, if we don't intend to
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  • Change, we're hypocrites.
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  • If all we do is gather together and say, "god, change the bad
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  • People," i think we miss the point of the narrative.
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  • Technically, the word for that would be self-righteousness.
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  • When we pray for change, we have to raise our hands and say,
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  • "god, may it begin with me, with my attitudes and my thoughts and
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  • My behaviors, my priorities."
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  • But in 2 chronicles 7, verse 14, god said, "if my people," this
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  • Was his promise to his covenant people, and in case you don't
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  • Know, we're still the covenant people of god.
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  • He said, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble
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  • Themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked
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  • Ways, i will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal
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  • Their land."
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  • What's the critical component?
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  • What's the critical path?
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  • What's the essential element, the strength of the wicked, the
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  • Determination of the perverse?
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  • How gross the darkness is?
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  • How well financed evil may be?
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  • How connected, which offices they hold, how many supreme
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  • Court justices?
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  • No, the critical path is very clear.
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  • It begins with that simple little two-letter
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  • Preposition, "if."
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  • If, what?
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  • "if my people will humble themselves, my people called by
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  • My name will humble themselves and pray."
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  • God's covenant people are at the center of his purposes.
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  • I want to say it again, god's covenant people are at the
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  • Center of his purposes in the earth.
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  • We have underestimated our significance.
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  • I don't want you to be filled with pride and arrogance.
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  • That's the wrong decision.
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  • But i do want you to be filled with an awareness of
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  • Responsibility, with an awareness of significance.
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  • We're not just making our way through time, doing the best
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  • That we can.
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  • We're not just earning a living.
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  • We're not just parenting.
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  • We're not just church people, we are citizens of the eternal
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  • Kingdom of almighty god.
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  • And he looked across human history, and at this very unique
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  • Point in time, he called your name and mine.
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  • We're ambassadors, he said.
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  • God made a covenant with abram, and that's extended through
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  • Jesus to all peoples.
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  • You and i are participants in that covenant.
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  • And i promise you, i assure you, that god is watching over that
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  • Promise today.
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  • I wanna make a little journey with you for these next few
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  • Minutes to see if i can give you something of a biblical
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  • Perspective on what's unfolding around us.
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  • That's not a simple task because god is moving throughout the
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  • Earth in the most remarkable ways, but if we don't have a
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  • Biblical perspective, i think we're lost and we're at the
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  • Mercy of the talking heads.
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  • And the talking heads don't agree and they have agendas and
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  • Even on those that are seemingly in the same camp, there's just
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  • A lot.
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  • I mean, my habit has become-- i'll pay attention to what's
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  • Happening in the world, and then get my bible out and i go, "god,
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  • I need to understand this.
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  • I need your wisdom. help me."
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  • And so often he does.
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  • So that's what i want to share with you.
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  • And i think it's important to remember, and i want to start
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  • Here, that god is judge of all the earth.
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  • Not a popular theme, not a lot of books around that in
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  • Christian literature, not a lot of articles amongst those of us
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  • That--but in joel chapter 3 in verse 1, god makes a statement
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  • Through the prophet joel.
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  • And i'll give you the overview.
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  • Spoiler alert, he's gonna talk about the fact that god is
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  • Ultimately the judge of the nations, not the united nations,
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  • Not the security council, not the world health organization,
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  • Not all those august bodies.
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  • I'm not opposed to them, but i'm telling you there's a greater
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  • Power and authority.
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  • And you have standing in that kingdom.
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  • That's amazing.
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  • When you say you're unimportant, you denigrate what jesus did
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  • For you.
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  • Before jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue confess
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  • That he is lord, and he gave himself as a sacrifice that you
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  • And i could be a part of his eternal kingdom.
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  • When you say, "i don't matter," you say what he did
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  • Was irrelevant.
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  • Please don't do that.
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  • I understand you may know more powerful people and they don't
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  • Care about your opinion.
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  • I get that.
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  • But in the halls of heaven you're known.
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  • You kidding me?
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  • I mean, god said he keeps up with the sparrows.
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  • He attends the funerals of the sparrows.
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  • Now, there's good news in that.
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  • If you're misbehaving, it's really awkward.
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  • That's another message.
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  • Joel 3, verse 1: "in those days and at that time."
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  • One of the ways that's helpful, i think, of understanding
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  • Prophecy, we don't have a book that presents us with an
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  • Uninterrupted narrative from beginning to end.
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  • That's not the way it's presented.
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  • You say, "well, i don't like that."
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  • Okay, duly noted, take it up with the boss when you see him,
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  • But for the moment, i can help you understand a bit of the
  • 00:09:58.456 --> 00:10:02.193
  • Nature of the presentation.
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  • What we have is snapshots.
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  • We don't use film anymore.
  • 00:10:06.665 --> 00:10:08.033
  • It's like a polaroid of a point in time, and you get a snapshot
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  • Of it, it's frozen.
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  • And we have a collection of snapshots.
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  • Imagine you found some drawer with a bunch of old pictures in
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  • It, and you dumped them out, and the pictures come from a
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  • Broad period of time.
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  • They're not arranged, they're might be not labeled as fully
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  • As you would like them to be.
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  • Well, those are the snapshots we have of prophecy.
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  • All the details aren't filled in.
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  • There are many prophecies about jesus.
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  • I can give you an example that you're familiar with, where he
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  • Would be born.
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  • The circumstances of his birth, where he would grow up, but they
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  • Weren't all arranged chronologically in one place so
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  • You could just go read them.
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  • You had to be willing to read through the prophets with faith,
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  • With some discernment, with some--being a student.
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  • And you could discern the story of jesus, clearly
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  • Attested to in the prophets.
  • 00:10:56.815 --> 00:10:58.149
  • It was what paul used in city after city after city in the
  • 00:10:58.149 --> 00:11:02.087
  • Book of acts.
  • 00:11:02.087 --> 00:11:03.588
  • Well, in the same way, we have a number of glimpses of what is
  • 00:11:03.588 --> 00:11:06.858
  • Before us, snapshots of what will happen,
  • 00:11:06.858 --> 00:11:09.828
  • How god will behave.
  • 00:11:09.828 --> 00:11:11.162
  • We get pictures of his character and his attitude, what he's
  • 00:11:11.162 --> 00:11:13.965
  • Gonna cheer for and what he's not.
  • 00:11:13.965 --> 00:11:17.435
  • And in joel, we have one of those.
  • 00:11:17.435 --> 00:11:18.970
  • "in those days and at that time," we have a picture, "when
  • 00:11:18.970 --> 00:11:21.906
  • I restore the fortunes of judah and jerusalem."
  • 00:11:21.906 --> 00:11:25.477
  • For 2000 years, the jewish people were scattered to the 4
  • 00:11:25.477 --> 00:11:28.146
  • Corners of the earth.
  • 00:11:28.146 --> 00:11:29.514
  • No homeland, no nation, no place.
  • 00:11:29.514 --> 00:11:32.584
  • In most nations, they were discriminated against.
  • 00:11:32.584 --> 00:11:35.520
  • Often, they were hunted, they were frequently hated.
  • 00:11:35.520 --> 00:11:38.990
  • And most often they were unwelcome, driven out of place
  • 00:11:38.990 --> 00:11:41.626
  • After place, not allowed to own property, blamed if there was
  • 00:11:41.626 --> 00:11:44.429
  • A problem.
  • 00:11:44.429 --> 00:11:46.898
  • If there was a drought, if there was an epidemic, if there was
  • 00:11:46.898 --> 00:11:50.702
  • Some economic problem, if rome burned, it was the jews's fault.
  • 00:11:50.702 --> 00:11:55.874
  • They suffered a great deal.
  • 00:11:55.874 --> 00:11:58.576
  • At the end of world war ii in 1948, through a variety of
  • 00:11:58.576 --> 00:12:01.713
  • Circumstances beyond the scope of this discussion, i believe
  • 00:12:01.713 --> 00:12:05.350
  • God's sovereignly brought the modern nation of israel
  • 00:12:05.350 --> 00:12:07.719
  • Into existence.
  • 00:12:07.719 --> 00:12:09.621
  • And he began to regather the jewish people from more than 100
  • 00:12:09.621 --> 00:12:12.624
  • Nations of the world.
  • 00:12:12.624 --> 00:12:14.659
  • There's really never been anything like that.
  • 00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:16.327
  • Imagine for 2 millennia being distributed to the nations of
  • 00:12:16.327 --> 00:12:19.130
  • The world and not being fully assimilated.
  • 00:12:19.130 --> 00:12:22.867
  • I mean, our nation's about 250 years old.
  • 00:12:22.867 --> 00:12:25.003
  • We're a nation of immigrants.
  • 00:12:25.003 --> 00:12:26.337
  • We've come from the nations of the world.
  • 00:12:26.337 --> 00:12:28.339
  • And what has bound us together is a worldview, not a skin
  • 00:12:28.339 --> 00:12:31.743
  • Color, not an accent, but a judeo-christian worldview.
  • 00:12:31.743 --> 00:12:35.580
  • The jewish people were scattered throughout the nations, and in
  • 00:12:35.580 --> 00:12:38.650
  • 1948, god began to restore them.
  • 00:12:38.650 --> 00:12:41.319
  • I went in--the first time, in 1970, i believe it was.
  • 00:12:41.319 --> 00:12:46.090
  • Some of you have been in recent years.
  • 00:12:46.090 --> 00:12:47.425
  • It was very different then.
  • 00:12:47.425 --> 00:12:49.093
  • The roads were all two lane, many of them were not paved.
  • 00:12:49.093 --> 00:12:52.864
  • In the hotels where we stayed, you couldn't eat anything unless
  • 00:12:52.864 --> 00:12:55.099
  • It had been cooked.
  • 00:12:55.099 --> 00:12:57.468
  • Their primary agricultural products were citrus fruits.
  • 00:12:57.468 --> 00:13:00.839
  • It was very much a developing nation.
  • 00:13:00.839 --> 00:13:03.174
  • Today, they have one of the most dynamic economies in the world.
  • 00:13:03.174 --> 00:13:06.477
  • They lead the world in agricultural production, in high
  • 00:13:06.477 --> 00:13:09.514
  • Tech development, high tech startups.
  • 00:13:09.514 --> 00:13:12.584
  • They're second to silicon valley.
  • 00:13:12.584 --> 00:13:15.253
  • It's a remarkable thing.
  • 00:13:15.253 --> 00:13:17.455
  • So what god said in joel, we have seen, we've been
  • 00:13:17.455 --> 00:13:19.691
  • Witnesses to.
  • 00:13:19.691 --> 00:13:21.059
  • "when i restore the fortunes of judah and jerusalem, i will
  • 00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:23.628
  • Gather all nations and bring them down to the valley of
  • 00:13:23.628 --> 00:13:25.897
  • Jehoshaphat, and there i will enter into judgment against them
  • 00:13:25.897 --> 00:13:28.833
  • Concerning my inheritance, my people israel, for they
  • 00:13:28.833 --> 00:13:33.204
  • Scattered my people among the nations and they divided up
  • 00:13:33.204 --> 00:13:35.707
  • My land.
  • 00:13:35.707 --> 00:13:37.041
  • And they cast lots for my people and they traded boys for
  • 00:13:37.041 --> 00:13:39.644
  • Prostitutes; and they sold girls for wine that they might drink."
  • 00:13:39.644 --> 00:13:43.681
  • That's just a matter of historical record.
  • 00:13:43.681 --> 00:13:46.584
  • I won't take the time to walk you through all the details.
  • 00:13:46.584 --> 00:13:48.920
  • They're not difficult.
  • 00:13:48.920 --> 00:13:50.588
  • They're readily available, for hundreds of years.
  • 00:13:50.588 --> 00:13:53.925
  • In fact, when--in 70 when rome was destroyed, and again in--i
  • 00:13:53.925 --> 00:13:56.628
  • Mean, when jerusalem was destroyed, and again in 130 when
  • 00:13:56.628 --> 00:13:59.030
  • They finally forbid the jews to live there, historians say the
  • 00:13:59.030 --> 00:14:02.634
  • Jews were so abundant in the slave markets of rome that they
  • 00:14:02.634 --> 00:14:07.005
  • Were almost worthless.
  • 00:14:07.005 --> 00:14:09.774
  • But it followed in the decades and the centuries, it continued.
  • 00:14:09.774 --> 00:14:15.179
  • Maybe the consummation in the holocaust, but the holocaust was
  • 00:14:15.179 --> 00:14:17.682
  • Only made possible because for centuries the christians in
  • 00:14:17.682 --> 00:14:20.585
  • Europe, christian europe, fomented hatred for the
  • 00:14:20.585 --> 00:14:25.323
  • Jewish people.
  • 00:14:25.323 --> 00:14:27.358
  • And god said he'll enter into judgment ultimately against the
  • 00:14:27.358 --> 00:14:29.661
  • Nations because--did you catch it?
  • 00:14:29.661 --> 00:14:32.397
  • He said for a primary reason, "i'll gather all nations and
  • 00:14:32.397 --> 00:14:35.099
  • Bring them into judgment concerning my inheritance, for
  • 00:14:35.099 --> 00:14:38.736
  • They scattered my people and divided up my land."
  • 00:14:38.736 --> 00:14:43.007
  • I think one of the things we're seeing god do right now in real
  • 00:14:43.007 --> 00:14:45.910
  • Time is eliminate the people that have been trying to
  • 00:14:45.910 --> 00:14:48.112
  • Separate them from the land.
  • 00:14:48.112 --> 00:14:50.748
  • Hamas has been decimated.
  • 00:14:50.748 --> 00:14:52.150
  • Hezbollah is being reduced.
  • 00:14:52.150 --> 00:14:54.085
  • Iran, who has said they would annihilate the jewish people,
  • 00:14:54.085 --> 00:14:56.721
  • Have been greatly diminished.
  • 00:14:56.721 --> 00:14:58.790
  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
  • 00:14:58.856 --> 00:15:04.996
  • Allen: hey, we have a tool that i think will help you overcome
  • 00:15:05.063 --> 00:15:07.298
  • Some of the chaos in the world and stay focused on the good
  • 00:15:07.298 --> 00:15:10.501
  • Things that god is doing.
  • 00:15:10.501 --> 00:15:12.036
  • It's called, "awaken us."
  • 00:15:12.036 --> 00:15:13.438
  • It's a 30-day plan.
  • 00:15:13.438 --> 00:15:15.473
  • Each day's got a scripture, a little devotional, a prayer that
  • 00:15:15.473 --> 00:15:18.643
  • Goes with a specific topic, to awaken us to god's promise and
  • 00:15:18.643 --> 00:15:22.981
  • Provision in this season.
  • 00:15:22.981 --> 00:15:25.583
  • God's moving in the earth.
  • 00:15:25.583 --> 00:15:26.918
  • I want to move with him, and i believe this tool will help you
  • 00:15:26.918 --> 00:15:29.754
  • Be prepared to capitalize on god's invitations in your life.
  • 00:15:29.754 --> 00:15:34.525
  • Female announcer: "awaken us," delivers 30 days of prayer,
  • 00:15:34.525 --> 00:15:37.128
  • Scripture, and insight from pastor allen on relevant topics.
  • 00:15:37.128 --> 00:15:41.165
  • Each day is designed to sharpen your focus as you ask god to
  • 00:15:41.165 --> 00:15:44.569
  • Show you his heart and his truth in a new way.
  • 00:15:44.569 --> 00:15:47.839
  • With the holy spirit's help, this book will awaken you to the
  • 00:15:47.839 --> 00:15:50.975
  • Impact your life has on the world and those around you.
  • 00:15:50.975 --> 00:15:54.545
  • Start your journey today by requesting, "awaken us," when
  • 00:15:54.545 --> 00:15:57.315
  • You donate any amount at allenjackson.com or
  • 00:15:57.315 --> 00:16:00.618
  • By calling...
  • 00:16:00.618 --> 00:16:05.056
  • Allen: i talked about the history more in an
  • 00:16:05.123 --> 00:16:06.491
  • Earlier session.
  • 00:16:06.491 --> 00:16:07.825
  • I won't go there.
  • 00:16:07.825 --> 00:16:09.193
  • There's a principle of god's judgment that i think is very
  • 00:16:09.193 --> 00:16:10.661
  • Important for us to understand.
  • 00:16:10.661 --> 00:16:11.996
  • It has relevance for you and me.
  • 00:16:11.996 --> 00:16:14.232
  • In romans chapter 2 and verse 8, it says: "for those who are
  • 00:16:14.232 --> 00:16:17.101
  • Self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there
  • 00:16:17.101 --> 00:16:19.670
  • Will be wrath and anger."
  • 00:16:19.670 --> 00:16:22.273
  • You know, we have a current version of god in contemporary
  • 00:16:22.273 --> 00:16:25.009
  • American christendom that says god's like a benevolent uncle,
  • 00:16:25.009 --> 00:16:29.647
  • Kind of a heavenly gift-giver.
  • 00:16:29.647 --> 00:16:33.184
  • Filled with grace and kindness and love and mercy and,
  • 00:16:33.184 --> 00:16:36.721
  • You know, he's just--it's a big hug.
  • 00:16:36.721 --> 00:16:38.056
  • Let's just hug it out. everybody in.
  • 00:16:38.056 --> 00:16:40.992
  • And i believe god is a god of love.
  • 00:16:40.992 --> 00:16:42.693
  • That's certainly a part of his character, but it's also true
  • 00:16:42.693 --> 00:16:45.396
  • That he's a god of justice.
  • 00:16:45.396 --> 00:16:48.132
  • And not principally social justice, justice from his
  • 00:16:48.132 --> 00:16:52.804
  • Eternal kingdom.
  • 00:16:52.804 --> 00:16:55.606
  • And it says if you reject the truth and you follow evil, we'll
  • 00:16:55.606 --> 00:16:58.943
  • Face the god of wrath and anger.
  • 00:16:58.943 --> 00:17:01.312
  • Not a threat, it's awareness.
  • 00:17:01.312 --> 00:17:04.615
  • It's like a sign that says the bridge is out.
  • 00:17:04.615 --> 00:17:07.151
  • If you ignore the sign and drive onto the bridge and you fall
  • 00:17:07.151 --> 00:17:09.420
  • Into the river, it wasn't because someone was mad at you.
  • 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:13.257
  • It wasn't unfair.
  • 00:17:13.257 --> 00:17:14.592
  • You ignored the warning.
  • 00:17:14.592 --> 00:17:16.961
  • And god in his grace and mercy-- the bible tells us every person
  • 00:17:16.961 --> 00:17:20.331
  • Has an awareness that there is a god.
  • 00:17:20.331 --> 00:17:22.667
  • Every human being will ultimately be evaluated based
  • 00:17:22.667 --> 00:17:26.671
  • Upon the opportunities we've been given.
  • 00:17:26.671 --> 00:17:28.272
  • Some of us have had more.
  • 00:17:28.272 --> 00:17:29.607
  • If you are an english-speaking person, you have greater
  • 00:17:29.607 --> 00:17:32.410
  • Opportunity for the gospel of jesus christ than any people
  • 00:17:32.410 --> 00:17:34.712
  • That have ever lived on the planet.
  • 00:17:34.712 --> 00:17:36.814
  • In fact, if you want to be a serious biblical scholar today
  • 00:17:36.814 --> 00:17:39.750
  • In the world, you have to learn english.
  • 00:17:39.750 --> 00:17:43.921
  • Biblical scholars have been learning greek and hebrew for
  • 00:17:43.921 --> 00:17:45.823
  • Quite a while, but--and then that's not irrelevant any
  • 00:17:45.823 --> 00:17:48.459
  • Longer, but english is important just because of the amount of
  • 00:17:48.459 --> 00:17:50.695
  • Literature that's been created.
  • 00:17:50.695 --> 00:17:53.598
  • We've been given great blessings and there will be much for which
  • 00:17:53.598 --> 00:17:56.033
  • We will be asked to give an account, but there will be wrath
  • 00:17:56.033 --> 00:17:59.570
  • And anger if we reject the truth and we follow evil.
  • 00:17:59.570 --> 00:18:03.741
  • Paul's writing this to a church in rome, a powerful church, an
  • 00:18:03.741 --> 00:18:08.880
  • Influential church.
  • 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:10.748
  • He's not writing it to the pagan leaders of the city.
  • 00:18:10.748 --> 00:18:14.051
  • "there will be trouble and distress for every human being
  • 00:18:14.051 --> 00:18:16.554
  • Who does evil: first for the jew and then for the gentile."
  • 00:18:16.554 --> 00:18:23.294
  • There's the principle: first for the jew, and
  • 00:18:23.294 --> 00:18:27.598
  • Then for the gentile.
  • 00:18:27.598 --> 00:18:28.966
  • I believe it's a biblical order of tribulation.
  • 00:18:28.966 --> 00:18:30.935
  • Tribulation is a fancy word.
  • 00:18:30.935 --> 00:18:32.270
  • We usually associate it with the end of the age.
  • 00:18:32.270 --> 00:18:34.205
  • It just means big trouble.
  • 00:18:34.205 --> 00:18:36.707
  • There'll be trouble for the jew, and then for the gentile.
  • 00:18:36.707 --> 00:18:42.146
  • I've heard it said, it's not original with me, but i think
  • 00:18:42.146 --> 00:18:44.081
  • It's accurate, that when god wants to bless the gentile
  • 00:18:44.081 --> 00:18:46.450
  • Nations, he does it through the jewish people.
  • 00:18:46.450 --> 00:18:49.720
  • But then when god wants to judge the jewish people, he does it
  • 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:52.223
  • Through the gentile nations.
  • 00:18:52.223 --> 00:18:54.892
  • And i think what we have seen happen in the lives of the
  • 00:18:54.892 --> 00:18:57.395
  • Jewish communities through the centuries and in our lifetime,
  • 00:18:57.395 --> 00:19:00.531
  • It doesn't have to be just a historical discussion, we can
  • 00:19:00.531 --> 00:19:02.700
  • Understand as a precursor of what is in front of us.
  • 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:08.239
  • I think i can show you that from scripture.
  • 00:19:08.239 --> 00:19:10.942
  • I want to add to that idea about god's judgment this idea that
  • 00:19:10.942 --> 00:19:15.046
  • God's forgiveness and mercy and grace are not infinite.
  • 00:19:15.046 --> 00:19:18.249
  • They're not without end.
  • 00:19:18.249 --> 00:19:19.617
  • There is an edge to god's forgiveness.
  • 00:19:19.617 --> 00:19:23.588
  • We've mostly lost the notion of god's judgment in
  • 00:19:23.588 --> 00:19:25.890
  • Contemporary christendom.
  • 00:19:25.890 --> 00:19:28.059
  • I've given you some samples.
  • 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.393
  • I want it to be more than just a proof text.
  • 00:19:29.393 --> 00:19:31.395
  • We--i could spend a great deal more time with that, but maybe
  • 00:19:31.395 --> 00:19:34.098
  • Another session.
  • 00:19:34.098 --> 00:19:35.433
  • Matthew 26, jesus is with the disciples.
  • 00:19:35.433 --> 00:19:37.835
  • It's the last supper.
  • 00:19:37.835 --> 00:19:40.404
  • He's about to begin his passion, his suffering, and he's having
  • 00:19:40.404 --> 00:19:43.074
  • This last passover meal with the disciples.
  • 00:19:43.074 --> 00:19:45.042
  • He's washed their feet.
  • 00:19:45.042 --> 00:19:47.144
  • He's warned them a bit about what's coming, and he's told
  • 00:19:47.144 --> 00:19:49.981
  • Them that one amongst them is a betrayer.
  • 00:19:49.981 --> 00:19:53.417
  • And it's troubled them.
  • 00:19:53.417 --> 00:19:54.785
  • "jesus said, 'the one who's dipped his hand into the bowl
  • 00:19:54.785 --> 00:19:56.887
  • With me will betray me.
  • 00:19:56.887 --> 00:19:58.823
  • The son of man will go just as it's written about him.
  • 00:19:58.823 --> 00:20:01.826
  • But woe to that man who betrays the son of man!
  • 00:20:01.826 --> 00:20:05.396
  • It would be better for him if he'd not been born.'"
  • 00:20:05.396 --> 00:20:08.466
  • That's jesus.
  • 00:20:08.466 --> 00:20:12.637
  • You know that jesus said about one of the twelve that he
  • 00:20:12.637 --> 00:20:15.072
  • Recruited, with whom he spent three years, he broke bread, he
  • 00:20:15.072 --> 00:20:19.010
  • Engaged in miracles, he gave him an assignment
  • 00:20:19.010 --> 00:20:21.012
  • To go out and minister.
  • 00:20:21.012 --> 00:20:22.346
  • He said it would have been better for that man never to
  • 00:20:22.346 --> 00:20:24.148
  • Have been born, wow.
  • 00:20:24.148 --> 00:20:29.120
  • You say, "well, that's judas.
  • 00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:31.289
  • Judas is unique."
  • 00:20:31.289 --> 00:20:33.858
  • Judas said, you know, "surely not me, rabbi?"
  • 00:20:33.858 --> 00:20:38.229
  • And jesus said in front of everybody, "yeah, that's you."
  • 00:20:38.229 --> 00:20:42.199
  • Wasn't a private rebuke.
  • 00:20:42.199 --> 00:20:45.136
  • In front of his best friends, "you're the one."
  • 00:20:45.136 --> 00:20:48.839
  • I'm certain that they didn't grasp fully what that meant.
  • 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:53.110
  • It was too horrible to imagine.
  • 00:20:53.110 --> 00:20:57.081
  • Forgiveness has an edge.
  • 00:20:57.081 --> 00:20:59.583
  • In 2 timothy 4, did i leave that in your notes?
  • 00:20:59.583 --> 00:21:04.288
  • No, i'll read it to you.
  • 00:21:04.288 --> 00:21:05.823
  • It's a good verse. it's in the bible.
  • 00:21:05.823 --> 00:21:07.191
  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:21:07.191 --> 00:21:08.526
  • Paul's writing to timothy.
  • 00:21:08.526 --> 00:21:09.860
  • He's in a prison cell in rome.
  • 00:21:09.860 --> 00:21:11.395
  • He's awaiting a trial.
  • 00:21:11.395 --> 00:21:12.730
  • He's anticipating his execution, and he said, "alexander the
  • 00:21:12.730 --> 00:21:15.733
  • Metalworker did me a great deal of harm.
  • 00:21:15.733 --> 00:21:18.069
  • The lord will repay him for what he's done."
  • 00:21:18.069 --> 00:21:21.172
  • That's not what you'd expect paul to say, it made the book.
  • 00:21:21.172 --> 00:21:24.575
  • We would expect to see, you know, "alexander caused me a lot
  • 00:21:24.575 --> 00:21:26.477
  • Of problem, oh lord, bless him."
  • 00:21:26.477 --> 00:21:30.848
  • You should stay away from him, timothy.
  • 00:21:30.848 --> 00:21:32.516
  • God will repay him.
  • 00:21:32.516 --> 00:21:35.152
  • We've had--i believe in grace.
  • 00:21:35.152 --> 00:21:36.487
  • Folks, if you look it up, you'll probably find my picture,
  • 00:21:36.487 --> 00:21:39.757
  • Of necessity.
  • 00:21:39.757 --> 00:21:41.125
  • I'm not diminishing that.
  • 00:21:41.125 --> 00:21:42.460
  • I'm telling you the messaging we've had has been a little, i
  • 00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:44.295
  • Think, overbalanced.
  • 00:21:44.295 --> 00:21:48.366
  • God is also just.
  • 00:21:48.366 --> 00:21:50.735
  • In acts 13, there's an interesting phrase.
  • 00:21:50.735 --> 00:21:53.838
  • Paul and his team are spreading the
  • 00:21:53.838 --> 00:21:55.206
  • Word around the mediterranean.
  • 00:21:55.206 --> 00:21:56.574
  • It says: "the word of the lord spread
  • 00:21:56.574 --> 00:21:57.908
  • Through the whole region."
  • 00:21:57.908 --> 00:21:59.243
  • God was moving in the earth, isn't that good to know?
  • 00:21:59.243 --> 00:22:01.912
  • We can learn something about what to expect.
  • 00:22:01.912 --> 00:22:04.382
  • "the jews incited the god-fearing women of high
  • 00:22:04.382 --> 00:22:06.984
  • Standing and the leading men of the city.
  • 00:22:06.984 --> 00:22:09.987
  • And they stirred up persecution against paul and barnabas, and
  • 00:22:09.987 --> 00:22:12.723
  • They expelled them from their region."
  • 00:22:12.723 --> 00:22:15.393
  • You can read past that and kind of miss it.
  • 00:22:15.393 --> 00:22:18.095
  • It said the jews incited the god-fearing women.
  • 00:22:18.095 --> 00:22:21.198
  • God-fearing is a description of people who were believing
  • 00:22:21.198 --> 00:22:24.602
  • The message.
  • 00:22:24.602 --> 00:22:26.737
  • They were god-fearers before they were labeled as christians.
  • 00:22:26.737 --> 00:22:30.941
  • The god-fearing women and influential men were stirred up
  • 00:22:30.941 --> 00:22:34.879
  • By the jews.
  • 00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:36.380
  • They stirred them up to hate paul and his team, to convince
  • 00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:40.451
  • Them they were a threat to their well-being, to their peace and
  • 00:22:40.451 --> 00:22:44.288
  • Their contentment, and they were effective enough, they had
  • 00:22:44.288 --> 00:22:48.025
  • Enough influence and enough power, that paul and his team
  • 00:22:48.025 --> 00:22:50.461
  • Were expelled, kind of a fancy word.
  • 00:22:50.461 --> 00:22:52.730
  • They got thrown out of the whole region.
  • 00:22:52.730 --> 00:22:54.698
  • You're not welcome here, go away.
  • 00:22:54.698 --> 00:22:58.169
  • But wait a minute, the first sentence said the word of the
  • 00:22:58.169 --> 00:23:00.304
  • Lord had spread through the whole region.
  • 00:23:00.304 --> 00:23:05.976
  • The kingdom of darkness, the kingdom of hell, was under
  • 00:23:05.976 --> 00:23:08.245
  • Enough of assault that there was a demonic response, but they
  • 00:23:08.245 --> 00:23:13.017
  • Didn't wear demon suits.
  • 00:23:13.017 --> 00:23:14.351
  • They showed up as god-fearing women and men with influence,
  • 00:23:14.351 --> 00:23:20.291
  • And said, "we're gonna shut you down.
  • 00:23:20.291 --> 00:23:21.792
  • You're not welcome here anymore."
  • 00:23:21.792 --> 00:23:24.094
  • It's paul's response i want you to see.
  • 00:23:24.094 --> 00:23:25.596
  • It's verse 51: "so they shook the dust from their feet in
  • 00:23:25.596 --> 00:23:30.100
  • Protest against them, and they went on to another town.
  • 00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:32.570
  • And the disciples were filled with joy and the holy spirit."
  • 00:23:32.570 --> 00:23:35.973
  • They shook their dust from their feet.
  • 00:23:35.973 --> 00:23:37.308
  • It doesn't mean much to us.
  • 00:23:37.308 --> 00:23:39.410
  • The phrase that gives us a little clue is it was a protest
  • 00:23:39.410 --> 00:23:42.112
  • Against them.
  • 00:23:42.112 --> 00:23:43.747
  • They didn't just say, "oh, god bless you, we'll be back when
  • 00:23:43.747 --> 00:23:45.883
  • You have a change of heart.
  • 00:23:45.883 --> 00:23:49.653
  • You're so confused."
  • 00:23:49.653 --> 00:23:53.190
  • To understand it, we can look at one other passage.
  • 00:23:53.190 --> 00:23:55.693
  • This is matthew 10.
  • 00:23:55.693 --> 00:23:57.061
  • This was jesus training the disciples.
  • 00:23:57.061 --> 00:23:58.996
  • He said, "if anyone won't welcome you or listen to your
  • 00:23:58.996 --> 00:24:01.232
  • Words, shake the dust off of your feet when you leave that
  • 00:24:01.232 --> 00:24:04.068
  • Home or town."
  • 00:24:04.068 --> 00:24:07.338
  • So they're practicing what jesus had trained them to do, but
  • 00:24:07.338 --> 00:24:09.740
  • Jesus gives us the explanation of what that gesture meant, what
  • 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:13.244
  • You were declaring over those people.
  • 00:24:13.244 --> 00:24:19.850
  • You know that jesus is our rule of faith in practice, right?
  • 00:24:19.850 --> 00:24:23.721
  • We're his disciples?
  • 00:24:23.721 --> 00:24:25.990
  • "shake the dust off your feet," he said,
  • 00:24:25.990 --> 00:24:27.358
  • "when you leave that home or town.
  • 00:24:27.358 --> 00:24:29.026
  • I tell you the truth," and you know by now when you see that
  • 00:24:29.026 --> 00:24:31.161
  • Little phrase, he's about to drop something you don't expect.
  • 00:24:31.161 --> 00:24:34.798
  • "i tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for sodom and
  • 00:24:34.798 --> 00:24:37.835
  • Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
  • 00:24:37.835 --> 00:24:41.605
  • I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves.
  • 00:24:41.605 --> 00:24:43.607
  • Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."
  • 00:24:43.607 --> 00:24:46.443
  • He's already warned them what would happen.
  • 00:24:46.443 --> 00:24:47.778
  • "i'm sending you out like sheep amongst wolves."
  • 00:24:47.778 --> 00:24:49.446
  • That's called lunch.
  • 00:24:49.446 --> 00:24:52.349
  • I understand i'm sending you into hostile territory.
  • 00:24:52.349 --> 00:24:54.885
  • He said, "if they won't receive you, if you behave and you give
  • 00:24:54.885 --> 00:24:58.155
  • Them the message and they reject you, shake the dust off of
  • 00:24:58.155 --> 00:25:01.692
  • Your feet."
  • 00:25:01.692 --> 00:25:04.595
  • He said, "it'll be more bearable for sodom and gomorrah."
  • 00:25:04.595 --> 00:25:06.830
  • Do you remember what happened to sodom and gomorrah?
  • 00:25:06.830 --> 00:25:09.400
  • God's judgment rained on them.
  • 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.901
  • They were totally obliterated.
  • 00:25:10.901 --> 00:25:13.604
  • So go back now to acts chapter 13.
  • 00:25:13.604 --> 00:25:16.407
  • "they stirred up persecution against paul and barnabas, and
  • 00:25:16.407 --> 00:25:18.809
  • They expelled them from the region.
  • 00:25:18.809 --> 00:25:20.544
  • So they shook the dust from their feet in protest
  • 00:25:20.544 --> 00:25:23.414
  • Against them."
  • 00:25:23.414 --> 00:25:24.748
  • It has a very powerful meaning in the light of jesus's words.
  • 00:25:24.748 --> 00:25:29.019
  • There is an edge to god's forgiveness.
  • 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:33.223
  • Let's not live presumptively.
  • 00:25:33.223 --> 00:25:36.193
  • Let's not condone wickedness.
  • 00:25:36.193 --> 00:25:37.628
  • You see, the bible tells us, it's not in this outline, but
  • 00:25:37.628 --> 00:25:40.331
  • It's a truth that if we condone ungodliness, if we condone
  • 00:25:40.331 --> 00:25:44.301
  • Wickedness, if we stay silent in the face of it, we will bear
  • 00:25:44.301 --> 00:25:47.104
  • The judgment.
  • 00:25:47.104 --> 00:25:48.706
  • Say, "i wasn't being wicked."
  • 00:25:48.706 --> 00:25:50.074
  • No, but we stayed silent.
  • 00:25:50.074 --> 00:25:52.643
  • If we fail to be watchmen, if we fail to sound the alarm, if we
  • 00:25:52.643 --> 00:25:56.680
  • Fail to tell the truth, the bible tells us clearly there'll
  • 00:25:56.680 --> 00:26:02.486
  • Be outbursts of hatred towards the people of god.
  • 00:26:02.486 --> 00:26:10.060
  • Allen: hey, we have a tool that we think will help strengthen
  • 00:26:14.264 --> 00:26:17.001
  • You in this season.
  • 00:26:17.001 --> 00:26:18.636
  • A lot of confusion and chaos in our world, a lot of fear.
  • 00:26:18.636 --> 00:26:21.839
  • I hear from people every day, battling in their minds and
  • 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:24.842
  • Their lives with the uncertainty of our world.
  • 00:26:24.842 --> 00:26:27.945
  • Well, it's a booklet called, "awaken us."
  • 00:26:27.945 --> 00:26:29.680
  • It's a 30-day plan.
  • 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:31.015
  • Every day has a theme with a scripture, a little devotional,
  • 00:26:31.015 --> 00:26:33.517
  • And a prayer for that specific theme.
  • 00:26:33.517 --> 00:26:36.153
  • The idea is that every day we're gonna ask the spirit of god to
  • 00:26:36.153 --> 00:26:39.289
  • Awaken us to a new aspect of god's provision in our lives.
  • 00:26:39.289 --> 00:26:44.061
  • You know, hopefully we wake up every day to the opportunities
  • 00:26:44.061 --> 00:26:46.930
  • And the challenges of that day.
  • 00:26:46.930 --> 00:26:49.066
  • Well, this is gonna correspond to that.
  • 00:26:49.066 --> 00:26:50.434
  • We're gonna ask the spirit of god to awaken us to what god is
  • 00:26:50.434 --> 00:26:53.303
  • Doing in this season.
  • 00:26:53.303 --> 00:26:55.272
  • We're not alone and we don't have to be overcome by fear.
  • 00:26:55.272 --> 00:26:58.642
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:26:58.642 --> 00:26:59.977
  • "father, i thank you that there's nothing that confronts
  • 00:26:59.977 --> 00:27:02.146
  • Us that intimidates or threatens you.
  • 00:27:02.146 --> 00:27:04.815
  • That you have made provision for complete victory in every aspect
  • 00:27:04.815 --> 00:27:08.285
  • Of our lives.
  • 00:27:08.285 --> 00:27:09.653
  • Lead us now as we turn our faces to you, to a season of peace and
  • 00:27:09.653 --> 00:27:13.557
  • Hope and wholeness, in jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:13.557 --> 00:27:17.194
  • This book, it'll be a blessing.
  • 00:27:17.194 --> 00:27:18.796
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:18.796 --> 00:27:28.839