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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - It Is Personal

November 14, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - It Is Personal
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#PersonalStory #TrustGod #Faith #Grace #Bible #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - It Is Personal | November 14, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: you know, when i was a child, i thought christmas
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  • Came every four years.
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  • Now i feel like it comes about every four weeks.
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  • Well, christmas is just around the corner.
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  • It's a season of tremendous opportunity for those of us who
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  • Are people of faith to remember what god has done for us and
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  • What we're inviting him into in the midst of this
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  • Holiday season.
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  • Well, we've created a tool, a resource for you to lead with
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  • Your faith at christmas.
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  • It's a 25-day devotional along with some ideas about--from
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  • Recipes to activities for your friends or your family.
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  • It's just a fun way so that you can shape your faith into
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  • The holiday.
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  • I think all of us have a desire to see christmas be--have jesus
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  • In the midst of it a bit more.
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  • There's so many secular voices that speak, and sometimes i
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  • Think we feel powerless to do something other than put up a
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  • Tree or hang some lights.
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  • Well, "lead with your faith at christmas" is a tool we created
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  • So you can share your faith with your family, with your friends,
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  • With coworkers.
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  • I think it'll make this christmas season truly a way to
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  • Honor the lord in your life.
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  • In fact, i'm quite confident it'll be a blessing to you.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: it's good to be with you today.
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  • We're gonna continue our study on "step out of the crowd."
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  • In this session we're gonna explore an idea,
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  • "it's personal."
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  • You know, paul uses the analogy when he's coaching timothy to
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  • Serve the lord like a good soldier.
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  • Well, there's this--there's a tension in christianity between
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  • A personal faith and living in community, and we get a little
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  • Sloppy with that.
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  • I think the military helps us on this.
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  • When i talk to people who've served, they understand they
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  • Have to put their life in the hands of someone else, but then
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  • They have to be trustworthy with the lives of others.
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  • That's a very helpful tension for you and me.
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  • A personal salvation doesn't mean we step away from the group
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  • Of people with no responsibility.
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  • It means we understand that our commitment to obedience and
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  • Honoring lord puts other people's well-being in a safe
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  • Place or in great jeopardy.
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  • So stepping out of the crowd doesn't mean i don't have a
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  • Commitment to the group.
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  • It means my obedience will impact other people in a very
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  • Personal way.
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  • Grab your bible and get a notepad, but most importantly,
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  • Open your heart.
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  • Allen: i want to continue the theme we've been working on,
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  • This idea of "stepping out of the crowd."
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  • It really grew in my heart when i was traveling a few weeks ago
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  • And i was talking to people.
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  • We were in california for several days and in multiple
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  • Cities and i kept meeting people and they said, you know, we're--
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  • We watch here and we watch in this way or we listen in that
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  • Way, and so i started asking for some numbers and i realized
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  • There's a lot of people that watch christian television and
  • 00:02:52.055 --> 00:02:55.058
  • Listen to christian radio and we--they imagine themselves
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  • When you go interview them and talk to them, you know, "we're a
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  • Part of that group."
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  • It's kind of the way they self-identify.
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  • And what i heard start to come out of me is, "you have to step
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  • Out of the crowd."
  • 00:03:08.004 --> 00:03:10.173
  • You can't just hide in the group and the more i've thought about
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  • It, the more i've prayed about it, i think we've done that as
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  • Christ followers in general.
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  • I belong to this congregation or i belong to that denomination
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  • Or, you know, i'm armenian or i'm reformed or i'm a king
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  • Jameser or i'm not instrumental or i'm a "do thisser" or i'm a
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  • "do thatter."
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  • And we go find a group and we kind of slip into the group and
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  • We think, "now i'm good to go.
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  • I've said the sinner's prayer," or, "i've been baptized."
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  • And i believe in being born again, and i'm an advocate for
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  • Water baptism.
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  • We baptized 100 or so last night, hallelujah.
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  • [congregation applauding]
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  • We baptized so many people, the ice in the pool almost melted.
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  • I'm kidding.
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  • But it seems to me the invitation of the moment is to
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  • Step out of the crowd.
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  • And in this session, i want to explore it and acknowledge the
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  • Fundamentals of this, folks.
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  • It's personal.
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  • It's about the decisions you have made.
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  • When you stand before the lord, and every one of us will, the
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  • Bible says we have two appointments that are
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  • Inescapable: death and, after death, judgment.
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  • For the christ follower, it's not a judgment of destination.
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  • It's not heaven or hell, it's a judgment of evaluation of
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  • Your life.
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  • It's a judgment for rewards.
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  • And when you stand there, you will not be able to say, "well,
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  • I belong to this church," or, "it was my husband's fault, or
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  • My wife's fault, or my pastor's fault.
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  • If he'd have been more anointed.
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  • If they would have just told me the truth."
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  • Folks, i pray that pastors wake up and begin to tell their
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  • People the truth, but the truth is you have access to a bible.
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  • Get it out.
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  • So it's personal.
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  • And i'll start with this notion that choosing god fundamentally
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  • Is the decision to step out of the crowd.
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  • In luke chapter 12 and verse 8, jesus is speaking, and he said,
  • 00:05:01.784 --> 00:05:04.754
  • "i tell you."
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  • And that's that introduction.
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  • When he does it, you know that what's coming next is going to
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  • Be a little beyond your expectation.
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  • That's why he says, "i'm telling you the truth."
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  • "i tell you, that whoever acknowledges me before men, the
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  • Son of man will also acknowledge him before the angels of god.
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  • But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the
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  • Angels of god."
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  • Jesus's words, not allen's, so i would strongly encourage you to
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  • Become a person who is very widely known for acknowledging
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  • Your allegiance to jesus of nazareth.
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  • In how you conduct your social life when you gather with
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  • Friends, are you a person that would gladly welcome jesus into
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  • Those settings?
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  • In the way you do business, do you do it with an integrity and
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  • An uprightness, in a way that you would gladly welcome jesus
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  • To the closing table?
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  • You see, if we deny him in some aspect of our lives, he's been
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  • Very plain with us.
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  • He said he will disown us in the courts of heaven.
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  • I don't wanna be disowned.
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  • And if you've imagined that because you've said a prayer and
  • 00:06:12.288 --> 00:06:14.991
  • Got dunked in a pool that you can live however you wanna live,
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  • I'm telling you you weren't given the whole gospel and
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  • You've been deceived.
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  • Now i've lived my life for the most part in the church and i'm
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  • An advocate for the church.
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  • But it's time for some course correction.
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  • I want to add to that 2 timothy chapter 2 and verse 3.
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  • Paul is coaching a young man that has ministered with him,
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  • That has traveled with him, that's been a part of his team.
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  • He's not a stranger.
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  • He's not someone that has taken a walk.
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  • He hasn't backslidden or stepped away or been distracted.
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  • Paul is very near the end of his life.
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  • Before he finishes this very specific letter, he will say,
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  • "the time for my departure is at hand."
  • 00:06:57.934 --> 00:07:00.336
  • So it's really a collection of last words of focused
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  • Instruction for a young man he has been discipling.
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  • And he says to timothy, "endure hardship with us like a good
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  • Soldier of christ jesus.
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  • No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--
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  • He wants to please his commanding officer.
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  • Similarly, if you compete as an athlete, you don't receive the
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  • Victor's crown unless you compete according to the rules."
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  • Now, it's very plain english.
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  • Original words don't change the plain meaning of this passage.
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  • There's a very simple declaration of the requirement
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  • To serve the lord.
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  • Did you catch it?
  • 00:07:42.144 --> 00:07:45.381
  • "endure hardship, as a good soldier of jesus christ."
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  • Well, that's an underdelivered message.
  • 00:07:52.455 --> 00:07:56.125
  • Endure hardship as a good soldier of jesus christ.
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  • Come under discipline, like we all understand any competitive
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  • Athlete would have to do.
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  • If you're gonna participate in competitive sports at any level,
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  • And you're gonna succeed, you're gonna have to train enough to be
  • 00:08:14.010 --> 00:08:17.046
  • In better physical condition than the spectators.
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  • In fact, you want to train to be in better physical condition
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  • Than your opponent.
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  • It gives you a tremendous advantage.
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  • Endure hardship.
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  • Folks, we have lost that notion of--hardship for us is when
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  • Somebody sits in our seat.
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  • Hardship for us is when the sermon goes so long that the
  • 00:08:38.901 --> 00:08:41.370
  • Presbyterians get to the restaurants ahead of us
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  • At lunchtime.
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  • Hardship for us is we don't like the way the music is presented.
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  • But we haven't really thought of endurance or perseverance or
  • 00:08:53.883 --> 00:08:57.386
  • Training or discipline as a part of the expression of our faith.
  • 00:08:57.386 --> 00:09:02.525
  • Once we've done that bit of business that we understand to
  • 00:09:02.525 --> 00:09:04.827
  • Be the entry point into the kingdom, then it's about how do
  • 00:09:04.827 --> 00:09:07.663
  • We get god to bless us.
  • 00:09:07.663 --> 00:09:10.633
  • How do we get more or a better opportunity or ahead of the rest
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  • Of the line, or can we get a fast pass?
  • 00:09:13.936 --> 00:09:18.274
  • That's not what paul is saying to timothy.
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  • Timothy, you've traveled with me.
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  • You've seen what i've suffered, you know what i've endured.
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  • Now you endure hardship.
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  • If we are going to see the name of jesus exalted in our schools,
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  • On our college campuses, if we're gonna do business with
  • 00:09:31.921 --> 00:09:34.557
  • Integrity again, if we're gonna come back to our right mind and
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  • Not be confused about male and female, it will be because the
  • 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:41.330
  • Church of jesus christ has the courage to endure the hardship
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  • Of presenting the truth into our culture.
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  • I pray we're willing to do that.
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  • I did just a real quick survey.
  • 00:09:55.845 --> 00:09:57.380
  • It didn't take me long.
  • 00:09:57.380 --> 00:09:58.981
  • I was curious how many active military personnel there are
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  • Today in our nation.
  • 00:10:01.784 --> 00:10:03.119
  • About 1.4 million people.
  • 00:10:03.119 --> 00:10:06.355
  • Thank god that there--1.4 million folks stepped out of
  • 00:10:06.355 --> 00:10:09.058
  • The crowd.
  • 00:10:09.058 --> 00:10:10.426
  • That they were willing to endure the discipline that's required
  • 00:10:10.426 --> 00:10:13.229
  • To serve in the military, to put themselves under the authority
  • 00:10:13.229 --> 00:10:17.166
  • Of others, to go through the training that's necessary to do
  • 00:10:17.166 --> 00:10:20.469
  • That well.
  • 00:10:20.469 --> 00:10:22.338
  • Their clothing is changed, their life habits are changed.
  • 00:10:22.338 --> 00:10:26.142
  • They forfeit the privilege of self-determination.
  • 00:10:26.142 --> 00:10:29.645
  • They are a people under authority.
  • 00:10:29.645 --> 00:10:31.480
  • They go where they're told, they do what they're told.
  • 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:34.483
  • They stay until they're given permission to return home.
  • 00:10:34.483 --> 00:10:39.188
  • It's not like, "what do you feel like today?
  • 00:10:39.188 --> 00:10:40.756
  • Where would you like to go?
  • 00:10:40.756 --> 00:10:42.892
  • What do you feel like to do what you're doing?"
  • 00:10:42.892 --> 00:10:45.995
  • Most of us have seen some depiction of our troops landing
  • 00:10:45.995 --> 00:10:49.832
  • On the shores of france in the last world war.
  • 00:10:49.832 --> 00:10:55.538
  • Imagine if they'd gathered those young people before they loaded
  • 00:10:55.538 --> 00:10:57.740
  • The troop carriers in england and said, "listen, if when you
  • 00:10:57.740 --> 00:11:00.543
  • Get to the shores of france, if there's not a parade, if they
  • 00:11:00.543 --> 00:11:04.447
  • Don't have ice cream for you on the beach, if they don't seem
  • 00:11:04.447 --> 00:11:08.117
  • Really happy to see you, you just get back in the boat and
  • 00:11:08.117 --> 00:11:10.886
  • Come home."
  • 00:11:10.886 --> 00:11:14.156
  • No, they all understood that a significant percentage of them
  • 00:11:14.156 --> 00:11:17.793
  • Would not see another sunrise.
  • 00:11:17.793 --> 00:11:21.764
  • They all understood they were gonna lose friends.
  • 00:11:21.764 --> 00:11:24.900
  • They all understood they might not survive.
  • 00:11:24.900 --> 00:11:27.737
  • And they loaded the boats anyway.
  • 00:11:27.737 --> 00:11:30.539
  • "endure hardship," paul said.
  • 00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:33.776
  • Are we willing to submit ourselves to the authority
  • 00:11:33.776 --> 00:11:36.746
  • Of god?
  • 00:11:36.746 --> 00:11:38.647
  • Or are we still desperately trying to get god to yield to
  • 00:11:38.647 --> 00:11:41.517
  • Our authority?
  • 00:11:41.517 --> 00:11:44.053
  • One point four million people in a nation of more
  • 00:11:44.053 --> 00:11:46.322
  • Than three hundred million.
  • 00:11:46.322 --> 00:11:49.759
  • I pushed a little further.
  • 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:51.093
  • There's almost 8 million students currently who
  • 00:11:51.093 --> 00:11:53.195
  • Participate in high school athletics, a little
  • 00:11:53.195 --> 00:11:54.997
  • Bigger group.
  • 00:11:54.997 --> 00:11:56.799
  • About 8 million of them, another 500,000 or so who participate in
  • 00:11:56.799 --> 00:12:00.336
  • Caa sports.
  • 00:12:00.336 --> 00:12:02.037
  • It's about 8.5 million young people committed to some formal
  • 00:12:02.037 --> 00:12:05.641
  • Expression of athadec--athletic endeavor.
  • 00:12:05.641 --> 00:12:08.944
  • Easy for me to say.
  • 00:12:08.944 --> 00:12:11.247
  • The discipline that goes with that, their parents are
  • 00:12:11.247 --> 00:12:13.215
  • Shuttling them back and forth for the most part.
  • 00:12:13.215 --> 00:12:16.519
  • It's a family engagement these days.
  • 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:20.790
  • I looked for a little bigger pool.
  • 00:12:20.790 --> 00:12:22.124
  • There's about 19 million people who currently work for the state
  • 00:12:22.124 --> 00:12:25.027
  • And local government.
  • 00:12:25.027 --> 00:12:27.596
  • You can throw in another 3 million federal workers.
  • 00:12:27.596 --> 00:12:31.333
  • That's about 14.5% of our workforce works for
  • 00:12:31.333 --> 00:12:36.071
  • The government.
  • 00:12:36.071 --> 00:12:37.873
  • Step out of the crowd.
  • 00:12:37.873 --> 00:12:41.277
  • Two hundred and seventy-five million americans own a car.
  • 00:12:41.277 --> 00:12:45.915
  • Over 91%, almost 92% of the population have access to a car.
  • 00:12:45.915 --> 00:12:51.787
  • That's a far cry from that 1.4 million who are on active
  • 00:12:51.787 --> 00:12:54.590
  • Military duty.
  • 00:12:54.590 --> 00:12:57.026
  • Here's my invitation to you today.
  • 00:12:57.026 --> 00:12:59.094
  • Step out of the crowd.
  • 00:12:59.094 --> 00:13:02.398
  • Understand that serving the lord is a minority assignment.
  • 00:13:02.398 --> 00:13:08.103
  • It's intended to make you different, distinctive, unique.
  • 00:13:08.103 --> 00:13:13.709
  • There's a different authority in play in your life, a different
  • 00:13:13.709 --> 00:13:17.146
  • Set of responsibilities, a different set of ground rules, a
  • 00:13:17.146 --> 00:13:20.416
  • Different set of behavior patterns, a different set of
  • 00:13:20.416 --> 00:13:22.685
  • Desires and objectives, goals, ambitions.
  • 00:13:22.685 --> 00:13:27.523
  • We are called to be different, to differentiate ourselves.
  • 00:13:27.523 --> 00:13:34.196
  • God won't force you into this.
  • 00:13:34.196 --> 00:13:38.000
  • The greatest single distinction i know between the holy spirit
  • 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:41.871
  • And an unholy spirit is that the spirit of god invites
  • 00:13:41.871 --> 00:13:45.574
  • You someplace.
  • 00:13:45.574 --> 00:13:47.409
  • An unholy spirit will dominate you, manipulate you,
  • 00:13:47.409 --> 00:13:52.448
  • Control you.
  • 00:13:52.448 --> 00:13:53.782
  • You know this is true.
  • 00:13:53.782 --> 00:13:55.150
  • If there's any habit you've struggled with, there's some
  • 00:13:55.150 --> 00:13:58.921
  • Tipping point where you lose self-determination.
  • 00:13:58.921 --> 00:14:01.657
  • You recognize there's an authority involved in your life
  • 00:14:01.657 --> 00:14:05.094
  • That has overridden your good sense.
  • 00:14:05.094 --> 00:14:10.065
  • And it takes a power greater than evil to set you free
  • 00:14:10.065 --> 00:14:12.735
  • From that.
  • 00:14:12.735 --> 00:14:15.170
  • On the other hand, none of us have been so overwhelmed with
  • 00:14:15.170 --> 00:14:18.173
  • The spirit of god that we said, you know, "i tried my best
  • 00:14:18.173 --> 00:14:21.310
  • Yesterday to stop being holy.
  • 00:14:21.310 --> 00:14:25.381
  • I woke up and i just felt so holy.
  • 00:14:25.381 --> 00:14:30.486
  • And as the day unfolded, i knew i just got holier and holier.
  • 00:14:30.486 --> 00:14:36.325
  • Late in the afternoon i was looking for a veil because my
  • 00:14:36.325 --> 00:14:39.094
  • Face was beginning to glow."
  • 00:14:39.094 --> 00:14:43.365
  • Never happened to me either.
  • 00:14:43.365 --> 00:14:46.602
  • You have to cooperate with the spirit of god.
  • 00:14:46.602 --> 00:14:50.039
  • We have to choose to differentiate ourselves.
  • 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:55.244
  • Allen: have you ever said that christmas is too secular and
  • 00:14:59.448 --> 00:15:01.717
  • You're tired of it?
  • 00:15:01.717 --> 00:15:03.052
  • Well, we've got a solution, or at least
  • 00:15:03.052 --> 00:15:04.386
  • Something that can help.
  • 00:15:04.386 --> 00:15:05.721
  • We've written a book.
  • 00:15:05.721 --> 00:15:07.089
  • It's called, "how to lead with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:15:07.089 --> 00:15:09.124
  • It's 25 days of devotionals that you can read.
  • 00:15:09.124 --> 00:15:11.360
  • You can share them with family, your friends, coworkers.
  • 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:13.896
  • Then there's some ideas, even recipes, activities.
  • 00:15:13.896 --> 00:15:16.799
  • It's a fun--it's like a--it's a starter kit for bringing your
  • 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:19.535
  • Faith to bear this christmas season.
  • 00:15:19.535 --> 00:15:22.037
  • Don't stand on the sidelines and complain.
  • 00:15:22.037 --> 00:15:24.273
  • Let's lead with our faith this christmas season.
  • 00:15:24.273 --> 00:15:26.408
  • Let's honor the lord and see the blessings that he brings to all
  • 00:15:26.408 --> 00:15:29.611
  • Of our lives.
  • 00:15:29.611 --> 00:15:30.946
  • Female announcer: christmas comes quickly, and it's easy to
  • 00:15:30.946 --> 00:15:32.915
  • Let the season slip by without focusing on what matters most.
  • 00:15:32.915 --> 00:15:36.852
  • Pastor allen's new book, "lead with faith at christmas," is a
  • 00:15:36.852 --> 00:15:40.222
  • 25-day advent devotional that will help you bring jesus more
  • 00:15:40.222 --> 00:15:43.892
  • Fully into the season.
  • 00:15:43.892 --> 00:15:45.561
  • Inside, you'll find scriptures, devotionals, prayers, recipes,
  • 00:15:45.561 --> 00:15:50.366
  • And practical things you can do to make the holidays
  • 00:15:50.366 --> 00:15:53.168
  • More meaningful.
  • 00:15:53.168 --> 00:15:54.503
  • It also makes a fantastic gift.
  • 00:15:54.503 --> 00:15:57.072
  • It's time to stop repeating the same stale traditions and get
  • 00:15:57.072 --> 00:16:00.342
  • Ready to put your faith into action in new ways
  • 00:16:00.342 --> 00:16:03.012
  • This christmas.
  • 00:16:03.012 --> 00:16:04.413
  • Request your copy when you donate $30 or more today at
  • 00:16:04.413 --> 00:16:07.816
  • Allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:16:07.816 --> 00:16:12.988
  • Allen: so, said in the plainest possible language,
  • 00:16:14.323 --> 00:16:16.859
  • There's a separation required if you're gonna follow the lord.
  • 00:16:16.859 --> 00:16:20.929
  • You're gonna have to separate yourself from this present
  • 00:16:20.929 --> 00:16:23.265
  • World order.
  • 00:16:23.265 --> 00:16:24.633
  • There's a leaving behind.
  • 00:16:24.633 --> 00:16:27.002
  • Popular series of christian books a few years ago called
  • 00:16:27.002 --> 00:16:29.638
  • "left behind."
  • 00:16:29.638 --> 00:16:31.006
  • It was in terms of the rapture, the end of the age.
  • 00:16:31.006 --> 00:16:32.608
  • Folks, there's a leaving behind long before the rapture or you
  • 00:16:32.608 --> 00:16:36.211
  • Really will get left behind.
  • 00:16:36.211 --> 00:16:39.948
  • Look in luke 18.
  • 00:16:39.948 --> 00:16:42.518
  • Jesus is talking to a young man, of--an outstanding young man,
  • 00:16:42.518 --> 00:16:46.789
  • An upstanding young man, a religious young man.
  • 00:16:46.789 --> 00:16:50.726
  • A young man who has made a great deal of effort to honor god with
  • 00:16:50.726 --> 00:16:53.762
  • His life.
  • 00:16:53.762 --> 00:16:55.230
  • And he comes to jesus and he receives the invitation of
  • 00:16:55.230 --> 00:16:57.800
  • A lifetime.
  • 00:16:57.800 --> 00:16:59.134
  • "follow me.
  • 00:16:59.134 --> 00:17:00.502
  • Become one of my disciples."
  • 00:17:00.502 --> 00:17:02.538
  • And you've got just a portion of the interaction.
  • 00:17:02.538 --> 00:17:04.273
  • "when jesus heard this, he said to him, 'you still lack
  • 00:17:04.273 --> 00:17:06.375
  • One thing.
  • 00:17:06.375 --> 00:17:07.743
  • Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you'll
  • 00:17:07.743 --> 00:17:09.478
  • Have treasure in heaven.
  • 00:17:09.478 --> 00:17:10.846
  • Then come, follow me.'
  • 00:17:10.846 --> 00:17:12.514
  • And when he heard this, he became very sad, because he was
  • 00:17:12.514 --> 00:17:14.950
  • Very wealthy."
  • 00:17:14.950 --> 00:17:16.318
  • He declined the invitation.
  • 00:17:16.318 --> 00:17:17.920
  • I don't believe in--the implied meaning of that is that everyone
  • 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:20.789
  • That wants to follow the lord has to liquidate all of
  • 00:17:20.789 --> 00:17:22.758
  • Your assets.
  • 00:17:22.758 --> 00:17:25.894
  • I do believe that the clear implication is that if you trust
  • 00:17:25.894 --> 00:17:30.532
  • Something for your future more than god, god is going to
  • 00:17:30.532 --> 00:17:33.402
  • Examine that with you.
  • 00:17:33.402 --> 00:17:36.004
  • And he will try to help you loosen your confidence in that
  • 00:17:36.004 --> 00:17:39.108
  • Thing because you're trusting in something that's temporary, if
  • 00:17:39.108 --> 00:17:43.445
  • You think it's your beauty or your physical strength or your
  • 00:17:43.445 --> 00:17:45.981
  • Intellect or your education or your prowess in your hobby of
  • 00:17:45.981 --> 00:17:49.284
  • Choice or your ability to secure your future, whatever it may be.
  • 00:17:49.284 --> 00:17:55.257
  • God would like to help us put our trust in him
  • 00:17:55.257 --> 00:17:57.960
  • More completely.
  • 00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:59.828
  • The disciples watched that interaction and it blew
  • 00:17:59.828 --> 00:18:02.164
  • Their minds.
  • 00:18:02.164 --> 00:18:03.765
  • They came to the lord and said, "well, who can be saved?
  • 00:18:03.765 --> 00:18:05.367
  • If that young man's not gonna make the cut, we're in
  • 00:18:05.367 --> 00:18:07.436
  • Real trouble."
  • 00:18:07.436 --> 00:18:10.405
  • Matthew 19.
  • 00:18:10.405 --> 00:18:11.907
  • Peter's following up on that discussion and he said, "lord,
  • 00:18:11.907 --> 00:18:14.276
  • We've left everything to follow you!
  • 00:18:14.276 --> 00:18:15.844
  • What then will there be for us?"
  • 00:18:15.844 --> 00:18:19.281
  • It's an interesting question.
  • 00:18:19.281 --> 00:18:20.782
  • "lord, we left everything.
  • 00:18:20.782 --> 00:18:22.151
  • We walked away from our businesses and our friends and
  • 00:18:22.151 --> 00:18:23.919
  • Our routines and our habits.
  • 00:18:23.919 --> 00:18:26.688
  • We gave up our season tickets for the titans and
  • 00:18:26.688 --> 00:18:28.657
  • The predators.
  • 00:18:28.657 --> 00:18:30.759
  • We even gave up our seats in knoxville.
  • 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:32.561
  • Lord, we left everything to follow you."
  • 00:18:32.561 --> 00:18:37.266
  • And jesus said, "i tell you, at the renewal of all things, when
  • 00:18:37.266 --> 00:18:39.902
  • The son of man sits on his glorious throne, you who have
  • 00:18:39.902 --> 00:18:43.071
  • Followed me will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve
  • 00:18:43.071 --> 00:18:45.574
  • Tribes of israel."
  • 00:18:45.574 --> 00:18:48.043
  • Some people don't think there's actually any rewards in
  • 00:18:48.043 --> 00:18:50.179
  • Eternity, that we're all gonna get the same thing, that it's
  • 00:18:50.179 --> 00:18:52.381
  • Just a heavenly socialism.
  • 00:18:52.381 --> 00:18:56.451
  • That doesn't seem to be what the bible says because jesus says to
  • 00:18:56.451 --> 00:18:59.188
  • Peter, "those of you that have followed me in this unique way
  • 00:18:59.188 --> 00:19:02.324
  • Are gonna sit on one of twelve thrones judging the tribes.
  • 00:19:02.324 --> 00:19:07.729
  • "and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or
  • 00:19:07.729 --> 00:19:10.566
  • Father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake
  • 00:19:10.566 --> 00:19:14.236
  • Will receive a hundred times as much
  • 00:19:14.236 --> 00:19:16.038
  • And will inherit eternal life.
  • 00:19:16.038 --> 00:19:18.440
  • But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will
  • 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:21.410
  • Be first."
  • 00:19:21.410 --> 00:19:24.546
  • There's a leaving behind to serve the lord.
  • 00:19:24.546 --> 00:19:27.416
  • You got to step out of the crowd, folks.
  • 00:19:27.416 --> 00:19:30.519
  • We have been fashionable christians.
  • 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:34.323
  • We've wanted to dress like the secularist.
  • 00:19:34.323 --> 00:19:37.626
  • We've wanted to do business like the secularist.
  • 00:19:37.626 --> 00:19:39.595
  • We wanted our children to be so enmeshed in the systems of this
  • 00:19:39.595 --> 00:19:42.731
  • World that they're really indistinguishable.
  • 00:19:42.731 --> 00:19:45.067
  • We would just like them for a few minutes on sunday mornings
  • 00:19:45.067 --> 00:19:47.269
  • When it's convenient to sit in a group of christians.
  • 00:19:47.269 --> 00:19:50.606
  • And then we send them back out into their larger culture of
  • 00:19:50.606 --> 00:19:53.542
  • Their lives and say, "go make your way."
  • 00:19:53.542 --> 00:19:58.947
  • Well, wait a minute, jesus said that we've got to be willing to
  • 00:19:58.947 --> 00:20:03.118
  • Be different, that we've got to acknowledge him before people or
  • 00:20:03.118 --> 00:20:06.188
  • He won't acknowledge us in the halls of heaven.
  • 00:20:06.188 --> 00:20:09.391
  • There's a distinctiveness with being the people of god.
  • 00:20:09.391 --> 00:20:12.494
  • Look at matthew 7:21: "jesus says to me, 'not everyone who
  • 00:20:12.494 --> 00:20:15.731
  • Says to me, "lord, lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven.
  • 00:20:15.731 --> 00:20:19.234
  • But only the one who does the will of my father who's
  • 00:20:19.234 --> 00:20:21.770
  • In heaven.
  • 00:20:21.770 --> 00:20:23.105
  • Many will say to me on that day, "lord, didn't we prophesy in
  • 00:20:23.105 --> 00:20:26.174
  • Your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name
  • 00:20:26.174 --> 00:20:28.644
  • Perform many miracles?"
  • 00:20:28.644 --> 00:20:30.445
  • And i will tell them plainly, "i never knew you.
  • 00:20:30.445 --> 00:20:34.716
  • Away from me, you evildoers!"'"
  • 00:20:34.716 --> 00:20:36.518
  • Now again, this is--these are jesus's words, not allen's.
  • 00:20:36.518 --> 00:20:40.322
  • He has my attention in verse 22 when he says, "many will say
  • 00:20:40.322 --> 00:20:45.060
  • To me."
  • 00:20:45.060 --> 00:20:47.262
  • Many, more than a few.
  • 00:20:47.262 --> 00:20:51.700
  • Not some small number.
  • 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:54.536
  • Not some little subset.
  • 00:20:54.536 --> 00:20:57.439
  • Not the occasional person in the queue.
  • 00:20:57.439 --> 00:21:01.310
  • But "many will say to me, 'lord, i did a lot of things in
  • 00:21:01.310 --> 00:21:05.347
  • Your name.'"
  • 00:21:05.347 --> 00:21:10.085
  • And he'll say, "i didn't know you.
  • 00:21:10.085 --> 00:21:13.355
  • Now get away from me."
  • 00:21:13.355 --> 00:21:17.359
  • If you'll allow me, i would submit to you that we have
  • 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:19.728
  • Lived presumptively.
  • 00:21:19.728 --> 00:21:23.231
  • We have presumed upon a minimalist formula.
  • 00:21:23.231 --> 00:21:28.337
  • What's the least thing i need to do to get the maximum benefit as
  • 00:21:28.337 --> 00:21:32.074
  • If we could play god, as if we could hustle him.
  • 00:21:32.074 --> 00:21:38.313
  • It's the spiritual equivalent of our desire to lose that
  • 00:21:38.313 --> 00:21:41.083
  • 10 pounds.
  • 00:21:41.083 --> 00:21:43.418
  • We all get the fundamentals.
  • 00:21:43.418 --> 00:21:46.555
  • We should eat less and move more.
  • 00:21:46.555 --> 00:21:50.759
  • But that's awkward.
  • 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:53.195
  • So we're looking for a cream, a pill, a time of day we can eat
  • 00:21:53.195 --> 00:21:59.735
  • What we want and it will melt fat.
  • 00:21:59.735 --> 00:22:04.005
  • We're trying to figure out the sequence in which we need to eat
  • 00:22:04.005 --> 00:22:06.675
  • The ice cream sundae.
  • 00:22:06.675 --> 00:22:09.444
  • Does it come before the protein or after the fruit, right?
  • 00:22:09.444 --> 00:22:15.717
  • Because if somebody will put together a system that says we
  • 00:22:15.717 --> 00:22:18.487
  • Can have that triple-sized sundae after the rib eye but
  • 00:22:18.487 --> 00:22:25.994
  • Before the salad, we'll drop that pesky 10.
  • 00:22:25.994 --> 00:22:32.300
  • We will give it a try.
  • 00:22:32.300 --> 00:22:36.104
  • 'cause the notion of moving more and eating less just seems
  • 00:22:36.104 --> 00:22:40.175
  • So intrusive, and the skinny people we know, they don't
  • 00:22:40.175 --> 00:22:44.946
  • Appreciate food like we do.
  • 00:22:44.946 --> 00:22:48.183
  • And they just got some kind of a different metabolism.
  • 00:22:48.183 --> 00:22:50.786
  • Their furnace just burns a little hotter.
  • 00:22:50.786 --> 00:22:54.489
  • And i was blessed with, you know, i'm just a good keeper, a
  • 00:22:54.489 --> 00:22:57.292
  • Little bit of food goes a long way with me.
  • 00:22:57.292 --> 00:23:01.530
  • And it seems to me that we brought that whole idea over
  • 00:23:01.530 --> 00:23:03.832
  • Into our spiritual life.
  • 00:23:03.832 --> 00:23:05.200
  • "well, i mean, i know there's people that read their bible,"
  • 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:06.668
  • But they like to read.
  • 00:23:06.668 --> 00:23:09.337
  • And there's people that go to church a little more frequently,
  • 00:23:09.337 --> 00:23:11.440
  • But they don't have enough options.
  • 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:12.774
  • We have more options.
  • 00:23:12.774 --> 00:23:15.343
  • Or "i'm just a better listener.
  • 00:23:15.343 --> 00:23:16.678
  • I can go to church once a month and i actually get it."
  • 00:23:16.678 --> 00:23:22.417
  • Or "the commitment that i made to the lord when i was born
  • 00:23:22.417 --> 00:23:25.086
  • Again, it was true and deep and it was a whole
  • 00:23:25.086 --> 00:23:29.124
  • Inconclusive thing.
  • 00:23:29.124 --> 00:23:31.193
  • So why do i need to revisit that?"
  • 00:23:31.193 --> 00:23:34.629
  • "i joined the right group when i was 12."
  • 00:23:34.629 --> 00:23:41.436
  • And then jesus speaks up, and he says, "many are gonna say to me,
  • 00:23:41.436 --> 00:23:49.211
  • 'lord, i did all this stuff.'"
  • 00:23:49.211 --> 00:23:52.047
  • And he said, "i don't know who you are."
  • 00:23:52.047 --> 00:23:55.617
  • We have lived presumptively, as if there's nothing about our
  • 00:23:55.617 --> 00:24:01.523
  • Relationship with the lord that should be questioned.
  • 00:24:01.523 --> 00:24:04.226
  • It's unassailable.
  • 00:24:04.226 --> 00:24:06.628
  • No discussion.
  • 00:24:06.628 --> 00:24:08.763
  • Don't introduce that.
  • 00:24:08.763 --> 00:24:11.967
  • Do not bring that up, i won't talk about it.
  • 00:24:11.967 --> 00:24:14.803
  • I have a theological perspective that says it cannot be
  • 00:24:14.803 --> 00:24:18.306
  • Questioned, it cannot be threatened, it is immutable.
  • 00:24:18.306 --> 00:24:21.877
  • And there's a lot of people just like me.
  • 00:24:21.877 --> 00:24:25.881
  • You mean, there's many?
  • 00:24:25.881 --> 00:24:28.617
  • Hm.
  • 00:24:28.617 --> 00:24:31.553
  • Now, i don't want you to live in fear of your salvation,
  • 00:24:31.553 --> 00:24:35.357
  • But i do want to invite you to live under the authority of
  • 00:24:35.357 --> 00:24:38.059
  • God's discipline, to honor him with your life on a daily basis.
  • 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:45.066
  • I realize that i'm emphasizing something which has
  • 00:24:45.066 --> 00:24:47.335
  • Been minimized.
  • 00:24:47.335 --> 00:24:49.905
  • And that it's startling, quite honestly, to actually consider
  • 00:24:49.905 --> 00:24:53.842
  • Jesus's counsel.
  • 00:24:53.842 --> 00:24:56.478
  • But if we don't stop the deterioration that we are
  • 00:24:56.478 --> 00:24:59.648
  • Presiding over, we are going to lose our freedom.
  • 00:24:59.648 --> 00:25:05.120
  • Not because of evil politicians, because of the failure of the
  • 00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:09.424
  • People of god.
  • 00:25:09.424 --> 00:25:11.693
  • The israelites did not go to babylon because of the
  • 00:25:11.693 --> 00:25:14.696
  • Superiority of babylonian technology.
  • 00:25:14.696 --> 00:25:18.567
  • They went to babylon because of the hardness of the hearts of
  • 00:25:18.567 --> 00:25:22.337
  • God's covenant people.
  • 00:25:22.337 --> 00:25:24.806
  • And if our children and our grandchildren do not know the
  • 00:25:24.806 --> 00:25:27.809
  • Liberty and freedoms that we have known, it will not be
  • 00:25:27.809 --> 00:25:31.246
  • Because of the bad character of those who have led us.
  • 00:25:31.246 --> 00:25:35.584
  • It will be because of the failure of the people of god.
  • 00:25:35.584 --> 00:25:40.188
  • Allen: before we go, i wanna pray that you'll have the
  • 00:25:40.188 --> 00:25:42.057
  • Courage and the boldness to step out of the crowd and honor the
  • 00:25:42.057 --> 00:25:45.427
  • Lord fully with your life.
  • 00:25:45.427 --> 00:25:47.395
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:25:47.395 --> 00:25:48.730
  • Heavenly father, i thank you for the invitation you've put
  • 00:25:48.730 --> 00:25:50.865
  • Before us.
  • 00:25:50.865 --> 00:25:52.200
  • May each of us have the courage to say yes to you, not a single
  • 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:55.470
  • Time, but with each day of our lives.
  • 00:25:55.470 --> 00:25:58.073
  • Thank you for that, in jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:25:58.073 --> 00:26:02.510
  • Allen: you know, i'm a pastor and i have the privilege of
  • 00:26:06.715 --> 00:26:08.717
  • Serving god's people.
  • 00:26:08.717 --> 00:26:10.085
  • I can tell you from experience, one of the most difficult things
  • 00:26:10.085 --> 00:26:12.420
  • To do is introduce change.
  • 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:14.289
  • Most of us don't like it.
  • 00:26:14.289 --> 00:26:16.024
  • And i think that's particularly true around holiday seasons.
  • 00:26:16.024 --> 00:26:19.394
  • We have traditions, we have patterns, we have habits.
  • 00:26:19.394 --> 00:26:22.664
  • They're comforting to us, comfortable to us.
  • 00:26:22.664 --> 00:26:26.167
  • Well, i wanna suggest something.
  • 00:26:26.167 --> 00:26:27.535
  • We have created a tool for you this christmas.
  • 00:26:27.535 --> 00:26:29.738
  • It's called, "leading with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:26:29.738 --> 00:26:32.240
  • It's a little book with a 25-day devotional that you can do
  • 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:34.909
  • Personally, you can do it with your family, you can do it
  • 00:26:34.909 --> 00:26:36.511
  • With coworkers.
  • 00:26:36.511 --> 00:26:37.879
  • There's some recipes.
  • 00:26:37.879 --> 00:26:39.214
  • There's activities.
  • 00:26:39.214 --> 00:26:40.582
  • It's really a guide for you to shape christmas with your faith,
  • 00:26:40.582 --> 00:26:44.753
  • But it means i'm asking you to do something different, to
  • 00:26:44.753 --> 00:26:47.355
  • Introduce change, and i know that's not easy.
  • 00:26:47.355 --> 00:26:50.525
  • But it's time for us to stop raging against the darkness.
  • 00:26:50.525 --> 00:26:53.228
  • Folks, let's turn up the light.
  • 00:26:53.228 --> 00:26:55.063
  • I believe, "leading with your faith at christmas," is a tool
  • 00:26:55.063 --> 00:26:57.899
  • That will help you be a better light for jesus in the midst of
  • 00:26:57.899 --> 00:27:01.302
  • This christmas season, and that's worthwhile.
  • 00:27:01.302 --> 00:27:04.239
  • Enjoy the book and merry christmas.
  • 00:27:04.239 --> 00:27:06.141
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:06.708 --> 00:27:06.708