Allen Jackson - Kings and Kingdoms (Part 1)

November 26, 2024 | S24:E4803

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 - Kings and Kingdoms (Part 1) | November 26, 2024
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  • Allen jackson: a lot of scripture today.
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  • I believe it'll help you.
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  • The topic is "kings and kingdoms" and it's really
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  • A pretty simple message.
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  • In fact, i wanna walk through these scriptures with you.
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  • I hope pretty quickly, i'd like to plant a seed in your heart.
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  • I'd like to give you something to reflect on for the next few
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  • Days to point your attention in a direction.
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  • I believe that there is something so much better ahead
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  • Of us than all the things that are available to us in time.
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  • Now, don't misunderstand me.
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  • I like the journey through time.
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  • God created the earth and everything that's in it for our
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  • Benefit and our enjoyment and i think it's an incredible gift
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  • That he's given to us, but we live in a broken world.
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  • Evil exists, horrific things happen, and none of us makes our
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  • Journey through time without encounters with evil.
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  • Some are very personal.
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  • Some occasionally are gracefully removed a bit from us.
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  • But the promise of something far better is the incentive we have
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  • For accepting the assignment in our current setting.
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  • You see, if we don't believe there's something better ahead
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  • Of us, we will never make the sacrifice of serving the lord,
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  • Of honoring him.
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  • And please hear me, there is a sacrifice in serving the lord.
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  • Jesus said, unless we're willing to lay down our life, i'll
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  • Amplify it a bit.
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  • The incentive for that, the willingness to do that to alter
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  • The choice that my own selfish carnal adamic earthly nature.
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  • They're all synonyms used in scripture.
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  • It's that part of me that just wants to do what i wanna do
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  • The way i wanna do it when i wanna do it.
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  • The incentive for addressing that part of ourselves and
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  • Putting god's purposes first, god's priorities ahead of my own
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  • Is he says there is something so much better for us if we will
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  • Do that.
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  • And tragically, i think the contemporary church has been co
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  • Opted almost completely by a mindset that's focused on what's
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  • Here now.
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  • I mean, there's even a country song about it.
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  • "we all want to go to heaven but nobody wants to go now."
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  • It's if you know, i mean, given the options of no heaven or
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  • Heaven, yeah, i'll take heaven, but i wanna put it off as long
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  • As possible.
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  • That reflects a gross misunderstanding of what it
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  • Means to be a participant in the kingdom of god.
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  • We should never imagine that the benefit of our allegiance
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  • To jesus is primarily in this present world order.
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  • So with that, i wanna just walk through some scripture.
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  • I'm gonna hand you some ideas.
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  • We may come back and do this in a more elaborate form, but i
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  • Think this will be helpful for the challenges in front of us.
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  • I'll start in isaiah 6. we get this majestic, beautiful.
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  • The language of isaiah is remarkable and just as an aside,
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  • I assume that you, i hope you remember that isaiah is
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  • A prophet.
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  • He's one of the major prophets of the hebrew bible.
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  • But isaiah was a court prophet.
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  • Sometimes he's described as a prophet of the purple, meaning
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  • He was a prophet to the royals.
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  • He was very familiar with the halls of power.
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  • Amos was a farmer, not isaiah.
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  • Isaiah spoke to the direction of nations.
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  • He had messages for kings and kingdoms.
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  • You see the people of god are intended to impact what happens
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  • In our world.
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  • It's awkward, it's uncomfortable sometimes, it often brings
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  • Tremendous pressure, but we're not just here to navigate our
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  • Way through life and with a smaller profile as possible so
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  • That we have the opportunity to go to heaven when we finally
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  • Get done.
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  • We are ambassadors, representatives, and isaiah as a
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  • Young man has this remarkable vision of the throne room of god
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  • And with the majestic language of isaiah.
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  • Its isaiah 6, he said, "in the year that king uzziah died,"
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  • It's just a, it's a chronological marker.
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  • He said, "i saw the lord seated on a throne, high and exalted,
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  • And the train of his robe filled the temple.
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  • Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: with two wings
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  • They covered their faces, and with two they covered their
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  • Feet, and with two they were flying.
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  • And they were calling to one another: 'holy, holy, holy is
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  • The lord god almighty.
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  • The whole earth is full of his glory.'
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  • And at the sound of their voices, the doorposts and
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  • Thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke."
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  • Wow!
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  • Isaiah has a vision of the throne room of god.
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  • And these incredible angelic beings that are declaring
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  • Holy is the lord.
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  • The whole earth is filled with his glory.
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  • In hebrew, hebrew is an ancient language.
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  • It's a simple language in its construction.
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  • So repetition is a way of making emphasis.
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  • And here god is declared holy three times.
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  • He's not like us, we're not holy, we're something
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  • Else, right?
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  • You know, that's true, right?
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  • Now without holiness, the bible says we'll never see the lord,
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  • But it's god reflected in us, god's character formed in us
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  • That lets that holiness emerge.
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  • I mean, how many of you this morning got up even with an
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  • Extra hour sleep, looked in the mirror and said, "oh, you are
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  • So holy."
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  • Yeah, me either.
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  • But the more jesus character is formed in us, hebrews 11:40
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  • Gives us a window into this kingdom that we're a part of.
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  • You see to be a christ follower is more than joining a church or
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  • A denomination or a systematic theology.
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  • It's more than a moral code.
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  • It's access to a kingdom and there's only one doorway into
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  • That kingdom.
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  • His name is jesus of nazareth.
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  • There aren't many pathways.
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  • Folks, until the church has the courage to say to the world in
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  • Which we live, there is one door into the eternal kingdom of our
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  • God, we are failing in our assignment.
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  • What has happened to us?
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  • Hebrews 11:40 is the conclusion of chapter 11 in the book of
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  • Hebrews is the hall of fame.
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  • It's these remarkable men and women.
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  • You'll know many of their names.
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  • If you've read your bibles casually, abraham and moses
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  • And all the hebrews, all of the heroes of our faith
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  • Are listed there.
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  • And at the conclusion of that chapter, it says, "god has
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  • Planned something better for us so that only together with us
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  • Would they be made perfect."
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  • That's an amazing statement.
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  • You see, there is a generational assignment attached to
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  • Our lives.
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  • God didn't call us to egypt to be under the whips of
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  • Pharaoh's taskmasters.
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  • We weren't there to help moses with the lift of taking hundreds
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  • Of thousands of people out of 100 year old pattern and
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  • Establishing a new nation.
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  • God called us to the 21st century when technology would
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  • Explode and communication would be unprecedented in the history
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  • Of civilization so that both darkness and light can ricochet
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  • Around the planet at a speed we've never known before.
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  • We have an assignment to be kingdom difference makers in
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  • This generation, just as certainly as moses did in his or
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  • David did in his or the apostle paul had in his time.
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  • We don't gather in the weekend to study what they did so we can
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  • Be experts on what god was doing 10 centuries before the birth
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  • Of christ.
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  • Our objective is to be world class with insights
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  • Onto 1st century christianity.
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  • Our assignment is to be salt and light in the 21st century.
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  • This is our generation.
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  • We're gonna meet those heroes of chapter 11 of hebrews and
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  • They're gonna ask us what we've done.
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  • You're gonna--and david will say, "all right, so you read
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  • About me and goliath.
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  • Did you?
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  • Then why did you hide in your tent?"
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  • "well, he was really big."
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  • David said, "no kidding.
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  • Could you hear my knees banging together when you read
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  • That story?
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  • Could you feel the perspiration on my palms?
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  • Could you feel the angst of my brothers going, 'he is such
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  • A proud little fella.'"
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  • 1 corinthians 15 says, "if only for this life we have hope in
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  • Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."
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  • Folks, there's something for us beyond time.
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  • Don't misunderstand me.
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  • I love the journey.
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  • Every day is an adventure.
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  • Some have difficult tasks, many are filled with assignments
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  • And responsibilities.
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  • I dump 'em on that.
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  • That's what god created us for.
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  • He gives us the strength to meet the assignment.
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  • But i am very much aware that there is something better for me
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  • Beyond time.
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  • So i am endeavoring to be as faithful as i can with the
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  • Opportunities of each day because i wanna be certain, i'm
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  • Prepared for what's behind me.
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  • The apostle paul said it a little differently
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  • In philippians.
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  • It's not in your notes, but it is in the book.
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  • He said, there's one thing i do, putting what is behind, i leave
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  • It behind, to press forward.
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  • He said, i count all things as if it's dung, refuge, something
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  • To be thrown out.
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  • Those are all nice words for what he said compared to the
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  • Surpassing greatness of knowing christ jesus, my lord.
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  • Allen: i want to take just a moment to say thank you.
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  • In a year of political turmoil and confusion and wars
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  • And rumors of wars, because of your partnership,
  • 00:10:04.853 --> 00:10:07.455
  • Your generosity, your prayers, your encouragement,
  • 00:10:07.455 --> 00:10:10.625
  • We have done more for the gospel than any year
  • 00:10:10.625 --> 00:10:13.128
  • In our ministry so far.
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  • We started a whole new genre of programing.
  • 00:10:14.462 --> 00:10:16.865
  • Allen jackson now does a daily review of headlines
  • 00:10:16.865 --> 00:10:19.567
  • From a biblical worldview.
  • 00:10:19.567 --> 00:10:21.369
  • We've started a new podcast, "culture & christianity," to
  • 00:10:21.369 --> 00:10:23.805
  • Help stabilize god's people in the midst of all the confusion.
  • 00:10:23.805 --> 00:10:28.009
  • All of that because of your faithfulness,
  • 00:10:28.009 --> 00:10:29.844
  • Your generosity, your prayers.
  • 00:10:29.844 --> 00:10:31.513
  • Thank you so much.
  • 00:10:31.513 --> 00:10:33.214
  • As we come to the end of this year, i want to ask
  • 00:10:33.214 --> 00:10:34.949
  • You to prayerfully consider making a sacrificial
  • 00:10:34.949 --> 00:10:37.485
  • Investment in what's next.
  • 00:10:37.485 --> 00:10:40.188
  • We want to take those programs, share them
  • 00:10:40.188 --> 00:10:42.023
  • In new places with more people.
  • 00:10:42.023 --> 00:10:44.626
  • We want to continue to be creative in how we share
  • 00:10:44.626 --> 00:10:47.429
  • The good news of jesus christ.
  • 00:10:47.429 --> 00:10:49.564
  • A generous partner makes it possible.
  • 00:10:49.564 --> 00:10:51.266
  • Every gift you give will be matched.
  • 00:10:51.266 --> 00:10:52.901
  • It doubles your gift between now and the end of the year.
  • 00:10:52.901 --> 00:10:55.670
  • Let me thank you in advance for what we've been doing and what
  • 00:10:55.670 --> 00:10:58.206
  • God's going to do with our lives and our partnership
  • 00:10:58.206 --> 00:11:01.076
  • Together in 2025.
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  • Thank you and god bless you.
  • 00:11:03.344 --> 00:11:05.714
  • Female announcer: god is moving in major ways in
  • 00:11:05.780 --> 00:11:07.882
  • The ministry and our world.
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  • As we watched the 2024 election unfold,
  • 00:11:10.418 --> 00:11:13.288
  • We witnessed a miracle.
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  • God has heard our prayers.
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  • He has shown us his mercy.
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  • We're entering a new era with new leaders,
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  • But it's not a time to rest.
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  • Our assignment hasn't changed.
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  • In fact, it's as urgent as ever.
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  • You and i have been set apart by god for his purposes,
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  • And there's a lot for us to do.
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  • Allen: i believe when god shows you mercy,
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  • He gives with it an opportunity.
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  • I want us to quietly say to the lord, "here am i.
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  • Let me go.
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  • Let me go back to where i work in the name of jesus.
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  • Let me go back into my neighborhood
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  • In the name of jesus."
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  • God himself has shown us grace, and it will require of us
  • 00:12:02.937 --> 00:12:10.879
  • Greater strength and greater courage than we have ever had
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  • To attach to our faith before.
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  • Let's go. let's go.
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  • Announcer: let's set our hearts on preparing for what's
  • 00:12:22.423 --> 00:12:24.459
  • Next with pastor allen's brand-new 90-day devotional
  • 00:12:24.459 --> 00:12:28.129
  • Called "set apart for his purposes."
  • 00:12:28.129 --> 00:12:31.332
  • It will help us seek god so we can recognize his voice
  • 00:12:31.332 --> 00:12:34.369
  • And consistently choose to follow him.
  • 00:12:34.369 --> 00:12:36.571
  • Each day includes scripture, a short teaching,
  • 00:12:36.571 --> 00:12:38.873
  • And a prayer, followed by a journaling prompt and room
  • 00:12:38.873 --> 00:12:42.110
  • To write and reflect.
  • 00:12:42.110 --> 00:12:43.845
  • Let's get ready for the season ahead.
  • 00:12:43.845 --> 00:12:46.114
  • Request your copy of "set apart for his purposes"
  • 00:12:46.114 --> 00:12:48.650
  • When you donate $50 or more today at allenjackson.com
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  • Or by calling...
  • 00:12:52.587 --> 00:12:57.125
  • Allen: you see one of the weapons that the enemy uses
  • 00:12:59.160 --> 00:13:05.233
  • Against us is dissatisfaction, discontentment.
  • 00:13:05.233 --> 00:13:11.606
  • And i've had enough birthdays now to recognize that he brings
  • 00:13:11.606 --> 00:13:14.342
  • It to us at every season of life.
  • 00:13:14.342 --> 00:13:18.379
  • When you're younger and in school, he'll make you
  • 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:20.682
  • Discontent with your family circumstance or your classmates
  • 00:13:20.682 --> 00:13:24.452
  • Or your teachers.
  • 00:13:24.452 --> 00:13:26.588
  • I'm not given the opportunities i deserve or recognized in
  • 00:13:26.588 --> 00:13:29.457
  • The way i should be recognized or i'm something.
  • 00:13:29.457 --> 00:13:34.095
  • You get a bit older and he'll make you dissatisfied and
  • 00:13:34.095 --> 00:13:36.965
  • Discontent because i'm single.
  • 00:13:36.965 --> 00:13:38.466
  • I haven't found my soul mate yet.
  • 00:13:38.466 --> 00:13:41.469
  • I'm making the journey alone and it's crushing my spirit.
  • 00:13:41.469 --> 00:13:47.542
  • Then you get married.
  • 00:13:47.542 --> 00:13:53.982
  • See if you hadn't laughed, no one would have known.
  • 00:13:53.982 --> 00:14:00.855
  • And now you're discontent because you don't have the right
  • 00:14:00.855 --> 00:14:04.325
  • Picket fence or you don't have the right number of children in
  • 00:14:04.325 --> 00:14:08.196
  • The house or your pet isn't housebroken or it takes such
  • 00:14:08.196 --> 00:14:15.503
  • A significant effort and energy and resource commitment when the
  • 00:14:15.503 --> 00:14:18.806
  • Family is young that you can't pursue the hobby of your choices
  • 00:14:18.806 --> 00:14:22.443
  • With the enthusiasm you would like to, discontentment.
  • 00:14:22.443 --> 00:14:28.683
  • And you turn the calendar a few years and your children begin to
  • 00:14:28.683 --> 00:14:33.354
  • Roll their eyes at you.
  • 00:14:33.354 --> 00:14:35.857
  • There's much less affirmation in the house.
  • 00:14:35.857 --> 00:14:39.260
  • You've been attacked with a stupid virus.
  • 00:14:39.260 --> 00:14:44.198
  • It's overwhelming.
  • 00:14:44.198 --> 00:14:46.601
  • The people amongst you that you brought into the world are the
  • 00:14:46.601 --> 00:14:49.070
  • Only people you can ask now to help you turn on the television.
  • 00:14:49.070 --> 00:14:53.541
  • So not only do they roll their eyes, god's determined that
  • 00:14:53.541 --> 00:14:55.910
  • You'll be humiliated before them.
  • 00:14:55.910 --> 00:14:59.180
  • So we just decided we don't like television, we won't watch
  • 00:14:59.180 --> 00:15:01.416
  • It anymore.
  • 00:15:01.416 --> 00:15:04.686
  • And as awful as that is, then they leave home and it's too
  • 00:15:04.686 --> 00:15:09.424
  • Quiet and we're discontent with that.
  • 00:15:09.424 --> 00:15:14.162
  • And then you realize you've turned the calendar enough times
  • 00:15:14.162 --> 00:15:16.597
  • That it's begun to impact you physically and the things that
  • 00:15:16.597 --> 00:15:22.136
  • You used to do as a matter of routine now after you do them
  • 00:15:22.136 --> 00:15:24.706
  • You need pharmaceutical help to recover.
  • 00:15:24.706 --> 00:15:30.345
  • And there's a whole another set of discontentment because you
  • 00:15:30.345 --> 00:15:32.613
  • Realize that there's less time in front of you than is
  • 00:15:32.613 --> 00:15:35.483
  • Behind you.
  • 00:15:35.483 --> 00:15:37.952
  • It never changes folks.
  • 00:15:37.952 --> 00:15:40.221
  • We have an adversary and an enemy who is determined to make
  • 00:15:40.221 --> 00:15:43.958
  • You discontent to distract you from giving your best to
  • 00:15:43.958 --> 00:15:47.228
  • The lord in the season where you find yourself.
  • 00:15:47.228 --> 00:15:50.365
  • He will try to tell you, you shouldn't until you get your
  • 00:15:50.365 --> 00:15:53.701
  • Family circumstance straight.
  • 00:15:53.701 --> 00:15:55.236
  • You shouldn't until you get your kids a little older.
  • 00:15:55.236 --> 00:15:57.338
  • You shouldn't until you've stored up a few more resources.
  • 00:15:57.338 --> 00:16:00.675
  • You shouldn't because now it's your time to enjoy yourself.
  • 00:16:00.675 --> 00:16:03.611
  • After all you spent all these years serving everybody else.
  • 00:16:03.611 --> 00:16:05.513
  • Now it's your time and your calendar and your money.
  • 00:16:05.513 --> 00:16:07.749
  • I'll spend it where i want to.
  • 00:16:07.749 --> 00:16:09.183
  • Every one of those junctures along the way, the enemy will
  • 00:16:09.183 --> 00:16:12.353
  • Give you permission to lead if not a godless, a carnal self
  • 00:16:12.353 --> 00:16:16.557
  • Absorbed life.
  • 00:16:16.557 --> 00:16:18.593
  • I would remind you of what paul is saying to
  • 00:16:18.593 --> 00:16:20.828
  • The corinthian church.
  • 00:16:20.828 --> 00:16:22.163
  • And it's worth noting they were a drunken, immoral,
  • 00:16:22.163 --> 00:16:26.501
  • Undisciplined lot in corinth.
  • 00:16:26.501 --> 00:16:29.570
  • Paul said to them, there is sexual immorality amongst you
  • 00:16:29.570 --> 00:16:32.340
  • That even the pagans don't engage in.
  • 00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:37.478
  • They had succumbed to the temptations of their carnal
  • 00:16:37.478 --> 00:16:39.914
  • Selves and he writes this to them.
  • 00:16:39.914 --> 00:16:41.582
  • It's 1 corinthians 15.
  • 00:16:41.582 --> 00:16:42.950
  • You have it.
  • 00:16:42.950 --> 00:16:44.285
  • "if only for this life we have hope in christ, we're to be
  • 00:16:44.285 --> 00:16:47.422
  • Pitied more than all men."
  • 00:16:47.422 --> 00:16:48.756
  • There's a benefit to our faith.
  • 00:16:48.756 --> 00:16:50.525
  • That means today, i'll make a sacrifice for the kingdom.
  • 00:16:50.525 --> 00:16:54.829
  • I'll reorder my schedule.
  • 00:16:54.829 --> 00:16:56.631
  • I'll make a different decision about my financial resources.
  • 00:16:56.631 --> 00:17:00.034
  • I'll take time for people.
  • 00:17:00.034 --> 00:17:01.702
  • It might be a different path for my career.
  • 00:17:01.702 --> 00:17:04.472
  • It might change my imagined earning capacity.
  • 00:17:04.472 --> 00:17:07.775
  • It might change my relational network 'cause i'm gonna be kind
  • 00:17:07.775 --> 00:17:10.845
  • To someone who can't repay me for that kindness.
  • 00:17:10.845 --> 00:17:13.781
  • But i'm gonna make an investment in the eternal kingdom of god
  • 00:17:13.781 --> 00:17:16.884
  • Today because i have a hope beyond time and i intend to
  • 00:17:16.884 --> 00:17:20.755
  • Be invested.
  • 00:17:20.755 --> 00:17:25.660
  • And on the days when i fail that test, if god is gracious enough
  • 00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:30.832
  • To remind me of it, before i go to sleep i'll say, "lord, i'm
  • 00:17:30.832 --> 00:17:34.168
  • Sorry, i was co-opted today.
  • 00:17:34.168 --> 00:17:37.371
  • I pushed my agenda forward.
  • 00:17:37.371 --> 00:17:40.074
  • I was more interested in getting all i could.
  • 00:17:40.074 --> 00:17:42.910
  • God, i'm sorry.
  • 00:17:42.910 --> 00:17:45.880
  • Help me be more aware tomorrow."
  • 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:47.949
  • Philippians 1 and verse 23, paul said, "i'm torn between the two:
  • 00:17:47.949 --> 00:17:51.452
  • I desire to depart and be with christ, which is better by far,
  • 00:17:51.452 --> 00:17:54.689
  • But it's more necessary for you that i remain in the body."
  • 00:17:54.689 --> 00:17:58.092
  • Paul is saying to us there's something better than what we've
  • 00:17:58.092 --> 00:18:00.661
  • Got in this current age.
  • 00:18:00.661 --> 00:18:02.597
  • Too many of us has lived is like this is as good as it can get,
  • 00:18:02.597 --> 00:18:06.367
  • We gotta get the second house and when you get the second one,
  • 00:18:06.367 --> 00:18:08.569
  • You need a third one 'cause two is not really a choice.
  • 00:18:08.569 --> 00:18:11.939
  • Two's just options and i'd like a choice.
  • 00:18:11.939 --> 00:18:15.243
  • We need more clothes 'cause the three closets are already
  • 00:18:15.243 --> 00:18:20.047
  • Full and i just feel better with the fourth one and my kids need
  • 00:18:20.047 --> 00:18:24.218
  • Something more spectacular 'cause parenting is competitive
  • 00:18:24.218 --> 00:18:26.888
  • And i gotta help them be better than the other kids that we call
  • 00:18:26.888 --> 00:18:29.056
  • Their friends.
  • 00:18:29.056 --> 00:18:33.060
  • We don't really live like we think there's something better.
  • 00:18:33.060 --> 00:18:38.399
  • Paul said it, it's i'm torn between the two.
  • 00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:41.636
  • I desire to depart and be with christ.
  • 00:18:41.636 --> 00:18:43.571
  • He said it's better by far.
  • 00:18:43.571 --> 00:18:46.541
  • You need to meditate on that.
  • 00:18:46.541 --> 00:18:47.909
  • You need to think about it a little bit.
  • 00:18:47.909 --> 00:18:49.243
  • You need to be honest with the lord say, "lord, you know, to be
  • 00:18:49.243 --> 00:18:51.612
  • Truthful, i think leaving here is kind of disrupting.
  • 00:18:51.612 --> 00:19:00.154
  • It's not that i don't wanna be with you, but i'd like it to be
  • 00:19:00.154 --> 00:19:02.423
  • A long, long, long, long, long, long, long time from now."
  • 00:19:02.423 --> 00:19:06.661
  • That's not what paul's saying.
  • 00:19:06.661 --> 00:19:09.163
  • He's saying i'm living close enough to the kingdom of god
  • 00:19:09.163 --> 00:19:11.632
  • That i can tell you it is infinitely better than any of
  • 00:19:11.632 --> 00:19:14.569
  • The kingdoms of this world.
  • 00:19:14.569 --> 00:19:17.171
  • Anything afforded me, any praise that i could garner, any
  • 00:19:17.171 --> 00:19:21.342
  • Resource i could accumulate, any power i could marshal,
  • 00:19:21.342 --> 00:19:25.313
  • It's better.
  • 00:19:25.313 --> 00:19:26.681
  • There is something ahead of us that is much better than
  • 00:19:26.681 --> 00:19:29.584
  • Where we are now.
  • 00:19:29.584 --> 00:19:30.952
  • There are crowns awaiting us, not from this present age.
  • 00:19:30.952 --> 00:19:35.089
  • There are rewards to be given to us that exceed anything you
  • 00:19:35.089 --> 00:19:39.193
  • Could achieve in this current age.
  • 00:19:39.193 --> 00:19:41.362
  • Any acknowledgment, any reward.
  • 00:19:41.362 --> 00:19:45.566
  • Are you purposefully intentionally striving to be
  • 00:19:45.566 --> 00:19:49.303
  • Included or do you have that born again mentality?
  • 00:19:49.303 --> 00:19:53.874
  • I've been born again.
  • 00:19:53.874 --> 00:19:55.209
  • I'm good.
  • 00:19:55.209 --> 00:19:56.577
  • I believe in being born again.
  • 00:19:56.577 --> 00:19:58.179
  • 2 timothy 4, paul said, "i'm already being poured out like
  • 00:19:58.179 --> 00:20:01.015
  • A drink offering, the time has come for my departure."
  • 00:20:01.015 --> 00:20:03.951
  • He's been on trial.
  • 00:20:03.951 --> 00:20:05.319
  • He's going back to trial.
  • 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:06.654
  • He expects to be condemned to death.
  • 00:20:06.654 --> 00:20:08.022
  • He's not waiting on a flight, folks.
  • 00:20:08.022 --> 00:20:10.725
  • The language is a euphemism.
  • 00:20:10.725 --> 00:20:13.394
  • He said they plan to kill me soon.
  • 00:20:13.394 --> 00:20:17.098
  • "i have fought the good fight.
  • 00:20:17.098 --> 00:20:18.566
  • I have finished the race.
  • 00:20:18.566 --> 00:20:19.900
  • I've kept the faith.
  • 00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:21.235
  • Now, there's in store for me the crown of righteousness which the
  • 00:20:21.235 --> 00:20:24.071
  • Lord, the righteous judge will award to me on that day and not
  • 00:20:24.071 --> 00:20:27.341
  • Only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
  • 00:20:27.341 --> 00:20:30.811
  • He said, they're gonna kill me, but i'm gonna get a crown.
  • 00:20:30.811 --> 00:20:36.584
  • He said, i can't wait.
  • 00:20:36.584 --> 00:20:38.452
  • He said, i've run this race.
  • 00:20:38.452 --> 00:20:41.422
  • See the devil, he will make you so--he wants to stop you.
  • 00:20:41.422 --> 00:20:45.526
  • He wants you to slow down.
  • 00:20:45.526 --> 00:20:46.894
  • He wants to impede you.
  • 00:20:46.894 --> 00:20:49.363
  • No matter where you are, he's gonna try to convince you you
  • 00:20:49.363 --> 00:20:51.832
  • Shouldn't serve the lord.
  • 00:20:51.832 --> 00:20:53.234
  • You shouldn't be enthusiastic.
  • 00:20:53.234 --> 00:20:56.437
  • Your hair is gray.
  • 00:20:56.437 --> 00:20:57.805
  • Why would you make an effort for the lord?
  • 00:20:57.805 --> 00:21:00.274
  • Let the young people do it.
  • 00:21:00.274 --> 00:21:02.443
  • I fought my fight.
  • 00:21:02.443 --> 00:21:05.479
  • I've teed it up.
  • 00:21:05.479 --> 00:21:07.281
  • I've taken the abuse.
  • 00:21:07.281 --> 00:21:09.317
  • I've lost sleep.
  • 00:21:09.317 --> 00:21:10.885
  • Why would i do that?
  • 00:21:10.885 --> 00:21:12.219
  • This is my time.
  • 00:21:12.219 --> 00:21:14.755
  • Imagine you gotta run a marathon.
  • 00:21:14.755 --> 00:21:19.060
  • I suppose that's the assignment for tomorrow.
  • 00:21:19.060 --> 00:21:21.228
  • Everybody, we all gotta run one.
  • 00:21:21.228 --> 00:21:24.265
  • All right, you're gonna sleep in.
  • 00:21:24.265 --> 00:21:25.766
  • So you're gonna start yours late.
  • 00:21:25.766 --> 00:21:27.702
  • I'm gonna get up early.
  • 00:21:27.702 --> 00:21:30.504
  • So when you meet me, i'm at mile 23.
  • 00:21:30.504 --> 00:21:39.113
  • I bet you're not gonna look at me and go, "oh, i'm so sorry.
  • 00:21:39.113 --> 00:21:44.018
  • You've already run 23 miles."
  • 00:21:44.018 --> 00:21:46.921
  • "i'm gonna be oh, sucker.
  • 00:21:46.921 --> 00:21:48.389
  • I'm about done.
  • 00:21:48.389 --> 00:21:51.058
  • You got a lot of work to do a lot of breaths to take your
  • 00:21:51.058 --> 00:21:54.028
  • Heart's gonna have to pump a whole lot.
  • 00:21:54.028 --> 00:21:57.064
  • That's my finish line.
  • 00:21:57.064 --> 00:21:58.399
  • There's a reward over there.
  • 00:21:58.399 --> 00:22:00.101
  • You better believe i'm gonna run through the tape."
  • 00:22:00.101 --> 00:22:04.638
  • In fact, we all know the secrets.
  • 00:22:04.638 --> 00:22:05.973
  • You wanna look better at the finish line.
  • 00:22:05.973 --> 00:22:08.642
  • So you may have been dying three miles ago, but you're gonna
  • 00:22:08.642 --> 00:22:11.178
  • Sprint through the tape because there's cameras there.
  • 00:22:11.178 --> 00:22:18.085
  • There's something better ahead of us.
  • 00:22:18.085 --> 00:22:22.022
  • We get in this mindset as if we're competing with the ungodly
  • 00:22:22.022 --> 00:22:27.962
  • With the pagan.
  • 00:22:27.962 --> 00:22:29.330
  • They're stacking their stuff saying i won the game and
  • 00:22:29.330 --> 00:22:32.032
  • I'm going, no, no, no.
  • 00:22:32.032 --> 00:22:33.401
  • It's all going back in the box.
  • 00:22:33.401 --> 00:22:35.870
  • They're gonna take that puzzle off the table and re-jumble 'em
  • 00:22:35.870 --> 00:22:38.506
  • And somebody else is gonna put them together.
  • 00:22:38.506 --> 00:22:40.441
  • So the fact that you put your puzzle together really well,
  • 00:22:40.441 --> 00:22:42.510
  • Isn't gonna make a hood of difference.
  • 00:22:42.510 --> 00:22:43.844
  • Are you prepared for what's next?
  • 00:22:43.844 --> 00:22:46.480
  • Are you living for a crown?
  • 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:47.915
  • There's a king and a kingdom to be gained.
  • 00:22:47.915 --> 00:22:53.788
  • There's joy ahead of us.
  • 00:22:53.788 --> 00:22:55.356
  • Hebrews chapter 12, "let's fix our eyes on jesus, the author
  • 00:22:55.356 --> 00:22:58.426
  • And perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him
  • 00:22:58.426 --> 00:23:01.495
  • Endured the cross."
  • 00:23:01.495 --> 00:23:03.964
  • That was his assignment.
  • 00:23:03.964 --> 00:23:06.801
  • His assignment was to face rejection, hatred, to show them
  • 00:23:06.801 --> 00:23:11.372
  • The kingdom of god knowing at the beginning they were gonna
  • 00:23:11.372 --> 00:23:14.108
  • Go, "no, not really."
  • 00:23:14.108 --> 00:23:16.177
  • I mean, there would be some who would follow.
  • 00:23:16.177 --> 00:23:19.380
  • I mean, it's kind of a sad little group.
  • 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:22.716
  • Handful of fishermen, tax collectors, demonized people,
  • 00:23:22.716 --> 00:23:28.622
  • Some prostitutes, former prostitutes.
  • 00:23:28.622 --> 00:23:32.993
  • I mean, the power brokers, they weren't interested.
  • 00:23:32.993 --> 00:23:36.030
  • The governors, they probably weren't particularly interested.
  • 00:23:36.030 --> 00:23:38.199
  • They didn't have the courage to follow jesus.
  • 00:23:38.199 --> 00:23:41.435
  • You understand the more success you have and the more you
  • 00:23:41.435 --> 00:23:44.171
  • Accumulate, the more courage it takes to truly be an ambassador.
  • 00:23:44.171 --> 00:23:49.477
  • Come on.
  • 00:23:49.477 --> 00:23:51.812
  • But jesus, it says, "for the joy set before him, he endured the
  • 00:23:51.812 --> 00:23:55.082
  • Cross, he scorned its shame, he sat down at the right hand of
  • 00:23:55.082 --> 00:23:58.085
  • The throne of god."
  • 00:23:58.085 --> 00:24:00.387
  • And then the author of hebrews makes it very personal.
  • 00:24:00.387 --> 00:24:02.490
  • It says, "consider him who endured such opposition from
  • 00:24:02.490 --> 00:24:05.793
  • Sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
  • 00:24:05.793 --> 00:24:12.066
  • See what he is presupposing is that you and i are gonna
  • 00:24:12.066 --> 00:24:15.569
  • Face opposition.
  • 00:24:15.569 --> 00:24:17.705
  • That we're not gonna be ambassadors for the kingdom of
  • 00:24:17.705 --> 00:24:19.773
  • God without push back.
  • 00:24:19.773 --> 00:24:22.042
  • We'll recognize the bullying voices and the threats and the
  • 00:24:22.042 --> 00:24:25.212
  • Challenges, the forfeiture of opportunities, the deals lost,
  • 00:24:25.212 --> 00:24:29.183
  • The exclusion from lists and more.
  • 00:24:29.183 --> 00:24:34.755
  • We describe those as if they're sacrifices.
  • 00:24:34.755 --> 00:24:36.891
  • Folks around the world today, our brothers and sisters in
  • 00:24:36.891 --> 00:24:39.894
  • The faith are hiding for fear of their lives.
  • 00:24:39.894 --> 00:24:43.831
  • We're the most persecuted religious group on the planet
  • 00:24:43.831 --> 00:24:47.501
  • And we talk of suffering in terms of, "well, i didn't get
  • 00:24:47.501 --> 00:24:50.304
  • Invited to the party."
  • 00:24:50.304 --> 00:24:52.673
  • I mean, that can be uncomfortable.
  • 00:24:52.673 --> 00:24:54.508
  • You'll lose some friends.
  • 00:24:54.508 --> 00:24:57.177
  • I hope you do so gladly.
  • 00:24:57.177 --> 00:25:01.448
  • There's joy ahead of us.
  • 00:25:01.448 --> 00:25:05.419
  • Now to be fair, there are immediate opportunities.
  • 00:25:05.419 --> 00:25:07.555
  • There are opportunities before us in the day.
  • 00:25:07.555 --> 00:25:10.291
  • They're not just temptations, they're real.
  • 00:25:10.291 --> 00:25:13.494
  • In hebrews 11, it describes moses that he refused the
  • 00:25:13.494 --> 00:25:16.163
  • Pleasure of sin for a season.
  • 00:25:16.163 --> 00:25:19.333
  • And when you choose ungodliness, i'm not saying that ungodliness
  • 00:25:19.333 --> 00:25:21.802
  • Can't be rewarding in the moment.
  • 00:25:21.802 --> 00:25:24.104
  • It'll give you some financial opportunities in the moment.
  • 00:25:24.104 --> 00:25:26.273
  • Sometimes it'll give you opportunities for pleasure in
  • 00:25:26.273 --> 00:25:28.542
  • The moment.
  • 00:25:28.542 --> 00:25:30.177
  • I'm not suggesting to you those analysis aren't real, that those
  • 00:25:30.177 --> 00:25:33.213
  • Perspectives aren't clear.
  • 00:25:33.213 --> 00:25:34.949
  • I'm telling you they're short sighted, but they're
  • 00:25:34.949 --> 00:25:40.721
  • Real choices.
  • 00:25:40.721 --> 00:25:42.056
  • In 2 timothy 4, the bible, i like its honesty and
  • 00:25:42.056 --> 00:25:43.924
  • Its integrity.
  • 00:25:43.924 --> 00:25:45.259
  • Paul said to timothy, "come quickly, for demas, because he
  • 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:47.828
  • Loved this world, has deserted me and he's gone
  • 00:25:47.828 --> 00:25:51.131
  • To thessalonica."
  • 00:25:51.131 --> 00:25:52.466
  • Demas was a trusted companion of paul.
  • 00:25:52.466 --> 00:25:54.935
  • He's mentioned in multiple places in the new testament as
  • 00:25:54.935 --> 00:25:57.338
  • A faithful associate of paul.
  • 00:25:57.338 --> 00:25:59.039
  • One ministering in the gospel.
  • 00:25:59.039 --> 00:26:00.774
  • And by the time he finds himself in a roman prison nearing the
  • 00:26:00.774 --> 00:26:03.344
  • End of his life awaiting his execution, he says to timothy,
  • 00:26:03.344 --> 00:26:06.714
  • "i need you to hurry 'cause demas decided he loved the
  • 00:26:06.714 --> 00:26:08.882
  • World more."
  • 00:26:08.882 --> 00:26:11.452
  • Folks, please don't act like we're above that.
  • 00:26:11.452 --> 00:26:15.155
  • All of us, we have to guard our hearts.
  • 00:26:15.155 --> 00:26:18.292
  • We need the encouragement that comes from one another.
  • 00:26:18.292 --> 00:26:20.260
  • It's why community is so important.
  • 00:26:20.260 --> 00:26:22.229
  • If you spend your time with people who are pursuing things
  • 00:26:22.229 --> 00:26:24.665
  • Other than the lord, it gives you an incredible license to
  • 00:26:24.665 --> 00:26:27.701
  • Join them.
  • 00:26:27.701 --> 00:26:29.603
  • You need to put people around you who are choosing to honor
  • 00:26:29.603 --> 00:26:31.905
  • God with their lives that are willing to talk about it.
  • 00:26:31.905 --> 00:26:36.143
  • Talk about the culture in which we live and why a godly
  • 00:26:36.143 --> 00:26:39.680
  • Perspective makes such a difference.
  • 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:43.384
  • Allen: and before we go, i'd like to pray with you that god
  • 00:26:43.450 --> 00:26:45.819
  • Would give us discernment, the ability to recognize
  • 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:49.123
  • Spiritual things beyond just our intellect.
  • 00:26:49.123 --> 00:26:52.259
  • That we would know what god is doing and how we
  • 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:54.495
  • Might co-operate.
  • 00:26:54.495 --> 00:26:55.829
  • Are you ready?
  • 00:26:55.829 --> 00:26:57.164
  • Father, i thank you.
  • 00:26:57.164 --> 00:26:58.532
  • I thank you for your presence in the earth and i pray that you
  • 00:26:58.532 --> 00:27:00.534
  • Would give us a discernment to recognize your spirit at work.
  • 00:27:00.534 --> 00:27:04.471
  • Lord, we don't wanna be left simply to our intellect and our
  • 00:27:04.471 --> 00:27:07.074
  • Own senses, but we wanna be able to see the world from
  • 00:27:07.074 --> 00:27:09.276
  • Your perspective.
  • 00:27:09.276 --> 00:27:10.644
  • Thank you holy spirit for your help.
  • 00:27:10.644 --> 00:27:12.413
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:12.413 --> 00:27:15.249
  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
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  • ♪♪♪
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