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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Leading A Dimensional Life (Part 1)

January 21, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - Leading A Dimensional Life (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#SpiritualWarfare #Leaders #Leadership #Lifestyle #Jesus #Authority #Faith #TrustGod #Obedience #WalkwithGod #Satan #Temptation #Lies #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Leading A Dimensional Life (Part 1) | January 21, 2026
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world,
  • 00:00:01.751 --> 00:00:02.986
  • People are searching for truth, and together we're doing our
  • 00:00:03.086 --> 00:00:05.522
  • Very best to help them find it.
  • 00:00:05.622 --> 00:00:07.590
  • When you become a ministry partner with allen jackson
  • 00:00:07.724 --> 00:00:09.859
  • Ministries, you're joining a growing community of believers
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  • Who are committed to strengthening the church and
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  • Sharing god's word through every available channel--
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  • Television, radio, podcast, books, bible studies,
  • 00:00:19.269 --> 00:00:22.672
  • Digital resources, conferences.
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  • Your monthly partnership helps us equip believers to reach new
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  • Audiences, to take the hope of jesus to people who may never
  • 00:00:28.711 --> 00:00:32.615
  • Have heard the gospel otherwise.
  • 00:00:32.615 --> 00:00:34.717
  • Together, we can stand firm in our faith and make god's truth
  • 00:00:34.717 --> 00:00:38.655
  • Known right here at home and around the earth, wherever
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  • God opens a door.
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  • Let's keep gathering his people and building his church until
  • 00:00:43.193 --> 00:00:46.496
  • The day our king returns.
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  • You can find more about becoming a ministry partner
  • 00:00:48.731 --> 00:00:51.634
  • At allenjackson.com/partner.
  • 00:00:51.634 --> 00:01:07.584
  • Allen jackson: we're gonna continue a theme we began
  • 00:01:07.684 --> 00:01:10.954
  • In some previous sessions.
  • 00:01:11.087 --> 00:01:11.521
  • I've invited you to read with me through the gospel of luke.
  • 00:01:12.922 --> 00:01:16.759
  • It's only 24 chapters.
  • 00:01:16.759 --> 00:01:19.462
  • I know it's extracurricular activity, it's beyond the scope
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  • Of your bible reading.
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  • The nerve.
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  • But it's a short-term assignment.
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  • If your schedule permits it, i really--that the idea is to read
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  • It as frequently as your schedule will allow.
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  • Some of you have enough bandwidth.
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  • You've got an hour free in a day and you can read the gospel of
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  • Luke every couple of days.
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  • Some of you say, "well, i don't have that much time," but you
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  • Might be able to read it over the course of a week.
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  • At the very least, i would encourage you over this--these
  • 00:01:47.590 --> 00:01:50.260
  • Few weeks while we're doing this to read through it at once.
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  • There's a benefit to reading it repetitively in a shorter period
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  • Of time.
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  • You become more familiar with the narrative, you become more
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  • Familiar with the style, you're not surprised by what's coming
  • 00:02:01.171 --> 00:02:05.008
  • In the next chapter, and unconsciously, you'll begin to
  • 00:02:05.008 --> 00:02:08.645
  • Assimilate the points of the book.
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  • Tragically, we've learned to read our bibles with a sense of
  • 00:02:12.882 --> 00:02:16.419
  • Obligation, but often not with the objective of understanding.
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  • And what we wanna do is read it with enough frequency that we
  • 00:02:23.459 --> 00:02:26.029
  • Begin to try to understand what luke is saying to us.
  • 00:02:26.029 --> 00:02:29.365
  • There's four gospels.
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  • They each give us an account of jesus's life and ministry, but
  • 00:02:30.733 --> 00:02:34.204
  • They do it from very different perspectives.
  • 00:02:34.204 --> 00:02:37.874
  • And i mean, you may have had some formal academic training
  • 00:02:37.874 --> 00:02:40.510
  • Around that, but i'm a big believer in simply reading
  • 00:02:40.510 --> 00:02:43.646
  • And listening.
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  • And so if your schedule allows, join us as we walk through this.
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  • I'm gonna take a few sessions and try to pull some themes,
  • 00:02:49.385 --> 00:02:51.854
  • Some threads, out of the gospel of luke because i believe he's
  • 00:02:51.854 --> 00:02:56.793
  • Telling us the jesus story in a unique way.
  • 00:02:56.793 --> 00:02:58.761
  • Luke is the one non-jewish writer in our new testament,
  • 00:02:58.761 --> 00:03:02.232
  • And certainly the one non-jewish writer of the gospels.
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  • He's a physician, traveled with paul on a regular basis.
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  • Many scholars think that the gospel was written while paul
  • 00:03:10.106 --> 00:03:13.142
  • Was in prison in caesarea, and the book of acts, who luke also
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  • Authored--which luke also authored while paul was in
  • 00:03:16.512 --> 00:03:20.350
  • Prison in rome.
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  • I don't know, that's not written in the text.
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  • You can disagree with me on that.
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  • We can both go to heaven.
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  • But it seems plausible to me.
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  • What i can tell you is that luke as a physician is constantly
  • 00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:32.395
  • Reminding his readers throughout this gospel that there's a
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  • Dimension to our lives beyond the physical world, and that
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  • Seems to be an intriguing perspective for a physician to
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  • Push in his account of jesus.
  • 00:03:42.171 --> 00:03:46.709
  • There's a power at work, luke tells us over and over again,
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  • That is more than physical strength, more than emotional
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  • Durability, more than intellectual prowess.
  • 00:03:53.449 --> 00:03:57.787
  • Now, from my vantage point, again, my opinion, but the
  • 00:03:57.787 --> 00:04:00.290
  • Contemporary church has lost most of our awareness of
  • 00:04:00.290 --> 00:04:03.159
  • Spiritual things.
  • 00:04:03.159 --> 00:04:05.194
  • In fact, in truth, the discussion makes us
  • 00:04:05.194 --> 00:04:07.063
  • A bit uncomfortable.
  • 00:04:07.063 --> 00:04:08.898
  • It reminds us--you see, if you'll acknowledge that there's
  • 00:04:08.898 --> 00:04:11.200
  • Spiritual forces that impact our lives, what becomes the next
  • 00:04:11.200 --> 00:04:15.305
  • Logical conclusion is there's a power greater than us, we're not
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  • The ultimate authority.
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  • There's a kingdom beyond our journey through time which
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  • Ultimately governs our existence.
  • 00:04:25.748 --> 00:04:29.118
  • And those thinking points, those ideas, become transformational,
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  • And it's very difficult to justify a full engagement with
  • 00:04:35.191 --> 00:04:38.928
  • Our selfish, carnal, indulgent lives, even as church attenders
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  • Or people of faith, once we begin to grapple with the
  • 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:46.836
  • Reality of this dimensional life that luke talks to us about.
  • 00:04:46.836 --> 00:04:51.507
  • It's not the only thread we're gonna pull, but it's one we
  • 00:04:51.507 --> 00:04:54.110
  • Look at.
  • 00:04:54.110 --> 00:04:55.478
  • There's some themes from luke's narrative.
  • 00:04:55.478 --> 00:04:56.813
  • I gave you four there in your outlines.
  • 00:04:56.813 --> 00:04:58.681
  • Oftentimes, the message that is delivered, whether it's by
  • 00:04:58.681 --> 00:05:01.084
  • John the baptist, we looked at that in some earlier sessions,
  • 00:05:01.084 --> 00:05:04.187
  • Or by jesus, multiple times, and we get to the book of acts,
  • 00:05:04.187 --> 00:05:08.524
  • It's extended there, but the message is uncomfortable.
  • 00:05:08.524 --> 00:05:13.996
  • That their teaching points from john or jesus or paul or peter
  • 00:05:13.996 --> 00:05:18.668
  • Or--that if you happen to be in the setting, often leaves
  • 00:05:18.668 --> 00:05:22.004
  • The listeners uncomfortable.
  • 00:05:22.004 --> 00:05:25.575
  • Well, we haven't really been coached.
  • 00:05:25.575 --> 00:05:26.976
  • We don't typically volunteer to do studies that leave
  • 00:05:26.976 --> 00:05:30.313
  • Us uncomfortable.
  • 00:05:30.313 --> 00:05:31.647
  • There's a second theme that recurs through luke, and that's
  • 00:05:31.647 --> 00:05:35.051
  • The resistance and outright rejection of the message.
  • 00:05:35.051 --> 00:05:37.687
  • Whether it's john the baptist, they cut his head off.
  • 00:05:37.687 --> 00:05:41.290
  • That's a pretty clear vote.
  • 00:05:41.290 --> 00:05:43.826
  • "we don't like your contact.
  • 00:05:43.826 --> 00:05:47.230
  • We will behead you."
  • 00:05:47.230 --> 00:05:49.899
  • I mean, i've had people walk out, i've had people send
  • 00:05:49.899 --> 00:05:52.101
  • Me emails.
  • 00:05:52.101 --> 00:05:53.469
  • Fortunately, i've avoided that john thing.
  • 00:05:53.469 --> 00:06:00.476
  • Jesus's message was often not accepted.
  • 00:06:00.476 --> 00:06:04.280
  • We'll look at some of those instances.
  • 00:06:04.280 --> 00:06:06.048
  • I mean, it lands him ultimately on the cross.
  • 00:06:06.048 --> 00:06:08.718
  • And it's really escapist thinking to say, "well, that was
  • 00:06:08.718 --> 00:06:11.687
  • His assignment.
  • 00:06:11.687 --> 00:06:13.055
  • That was his destiny."
  • 00:06:13.055 --> 00:06:14.490
  • No, that was the response to the message he delivered.
  • 00:06:14.490 --> 00:06:19.796
  • People say, you know, you've heard it said, i've heard it
  • 00:06:19.796 --> 00:06:21.964
  • Said many, many times, "jesus was all about love.
  • 00:06:21.964 --> 00:06:24.834
  • Group hug, everybody!"
  • 00:06:24.834 --> 00:06:27.503
  • Well, if his message was all about love, he was a lousy
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  • Messenger because they killed him.
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  • There was more to that message, and i think he was a very
  • 00:06:34.477 --> 00:06:38.080
  • Effective messenger.
  • 00:06:38.080 --> 00:06:41.117
  • And then, one of the surprises in luke, and then again in
  • 00:06:41.117 --> 00:06:43.419
  • The book of acts, is there's some very unlikely candidates
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  • Who accept the message.
  • 00:06:46.255 --> 00:06:48.691
  • The people i would anticipate being fully embracive of it and
  • 00:06:48.691 --> 00:06:52.728
  • Going, "this is the way we ought to go," they're really
  • 00:06:52.728 --> 00:06:55.998
  • Highly resistant.
  • 00:06:55.998 --> 00:06:57.333
  • And the people i think they're not gonna have anything
  • 00:06:57.333 --> 00:06:58.668
  • To do with that, they're raising their hands, going, "what do
  • 00:06:58.668 --> 00:07:00.269
  • I need to do next?"
  • 00:07:00.269 --> 00:07:01.971
  • We'll look at it some together, but as you're reading, you look
  • 00:07:01.971 --> 00:07:04.340
  • For these things.
  • 00:07:04.340 --> 00:07:05.708
  • See if you see them.
  • 00:07:05.708 --> 00:07:07.043
  • And then this dimensional of all these places where there's
  • 00:07:07.043 --> 00:07:08.411
  • An authority, an influence, something that isn't physical
  • 00:07:08.411 --> 00:07:10.980
  • Or emotional.
  • 00:07:10.980 --> 00:07:12.949
  • It's not the result of an activity.
  • 00:07:12.949 --> 00:07:14.450
  • There's something--when jesus stands in a boat and speaks to
  • 00:07:14.450 --> 00:07:16.419
  • The wind and the waves, something is happening other
  • 00:07:16.419 --> 00:07:18.988
  • Than he's got a weather app on his phone.
  • 00:07:18.988 --> 00:07:22.992
  • When he approaches a young man who's dead in the midst of his
  • 00:07:22.992 --> 00:07:25.828
  • Funeral and he takes him by the hand and he sits up and begins
  • 00:07:25.828 --> 00:07:29.699
  • To speak, something is happening other than universal
  • 00:07:29.699 --> 00:07:34.670
  • Health care.
  • 00:07:34.670 --> 00:07:37.907
  • So luke continues to introduce us to this idea, and when we're
  • 00:07:37.907 --> 00:07:42.078
  • So familiar, we kinda read past it, but he's telling
  • 00:07:42.078 --> 00:07:45.081
  • Us something.
  • 00:07:45.081 --> 00:07:46.415
  • That's the point of the book.
  • 00:07:46.415 --> 00:07:49.919
  • So as you're reading luke, you watch for those things.
  • 00:07:49.919 --> 00:07:52.588
  • I wanna pick up with luke chapter 4--we looked at some of
  • 00:07:52.588 --> 00:07:54.724
  • The birthday stories last week in earlier sessions.
  • 00:07:54.724 --> 00:07:58.661
  • I wanna get to luke chapter 4 because jesus is going to begin
  • 00:07:58.661 --> 00:08:01.197
  • His ministry, his public ministry.
  • 00:08:01.197 --> 00:08:03.933
  • We've stepped forward.
  • 00:08:03.933 --> 00:08:05.301
  • The last time luke gave us a window of jesus, he was 12 years
  • 00:08:05.301 --> 00:08:07.537
  • Old, he'd gone to jerusalem.
  • 00:08:07.537 --> 00:08:10.139
  • So we're stepping forward almost 18 years.
  • 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:13.776
  • A lot of living goes on in 18 years, and it's completely
  • 00:08:13.776 --> 00:08:17.680
  • Opaque to us.
  • 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:19.015
  • We don't have any windows into it, no insight.
  • 00:08:19.015 --> 00:08:20.950
  • Last time we saw jesus, he hung out in jerusalem and let mary
  • 00:08:20.950 --> 00:08:24.020
  • And joe get halfway home.
  • 00:08:24.020 --> 00:08:27.323
  • What do you do when the son of god plays hide and seek
  • 00:08:27.323 --> 00:08:30.359
  • With the parents?
  • 00:08:30.359 --> 00:08:32.595
  • That's just awkward.
  • 00:08:32.595 --> 00:08:35.298
  • But in luke chapter 4, jesus is beginning his public ministry.
  • 00:08:35.298 --> 00:08:39.468
  • He's just completed his baptism, water baptism.
  • 00:08:39.468 --> 00:08:42.772
  • Came to be baptized by john, and there was this remarkable
  • 00:08:42.772 --> 00:08:46.709
  • Affirmation from god.
  • 00:08:46.709 --> 00:08:48.678
  • "this is my son.
  • 00:08:48.678 --> 00:08:51.414
  • I'm pleased with him."
  • 00:08:51.414 --> 00:08:53.816
  • And with that launch, luke walks us, now, into jesus's
  • 00:08:53.816 --> 00:08:57.653
  • Public life.
  • 00:08:57.653 --> 00:08:59.488
  • Luke chapter 4 and verse 1, "jesus, full of the holy spirit,
  • 00:08:59.488 --> 00:09:02.758
  • Returned from the jordan," where he'd been baptized, "was led by
  • 00:09:02.758 --> 00:09:06.162
  • The spirit into the desert, where for forty days he was
  • 00:09:06.162 --> 00:09:08.531
  • Tempted by the devil.
  • 00:09:08.531 --> 00:09:10.566
  • He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them,
  • 00:09:10.566 --> 00:09:13.102
  • He was hungry."
  • 00:09:13.102 --> 00:09:14.470
  • No kidding.
  • 00:09:14.470 --> 00:09:15.838
  • I just think, in passing, it's worth noting that luke tells
  • 00:09:15.838 --> 00:09:19.442
  • Us jesus was full of the holy spirit, led by that spirit
  • 00:09:19.442 --> 00:09:25.081
  • Into a circumstance where he's challenged by the devil.
  • 00:09:25.081 --> 00:09:29.518
  • He hasn't gotten into this place of temptation, into this place
  • 00:09:29.518 --> 00:09:33.422
  • Of perceived vulnerability, because he's been ungodly or
  • 00:09:33.422 --> 00:09:37.593
  • Slack or sloppy, but filled with the spirit, affirmed by god, led
  • 00:09:37.593 --> 00:09:44.667
  • By the spirit, into a place where satan will challenge him.
  • 00:09:44.667 --> 00:09:50.139
  • Luke reveals to us that jesus challenged by satan from the
  • 00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:53.809
  • Very beginning of his ministry.
  • 00:09:53.809 --> 00:09:55.511
  • He hasn't really begun his public ministry.
  • 00:09:55.511 --> 00:09:57.480
  • Other than the baptism event where god spoke on his behalf,
  • 00:09:57.480 --> 00:10:00.716
  • Jesus hasn't been speaking in the synagogues yet, the public
  • 00:10:00.716 --> 00:10:03.319
  • Miracles haven't started yet, and satan is already confronting
  • 00:10:03.319 --> 00:10:07.523
  • Him in a very personal, individual way.
  • 00:10:07.523 --> 00:10:14.330
  • Allen: welcome to 2026. happy new year.
  • 00:10:18.167 --> 00:10:21.370
  • We've created a new book to help you.
  • 00:10:21.370 --> 00:10:22.872
  • It's called "turn up the light."
  • 00:10:22.872 --> 00:10:24.206
  • It's a devotional for the whole year.
  • 00:10:24.206 --> 00:10:25.841
  • It's a really simple idea.
  • 00:10:25.841 --> 00:10:27.176
  • I can join you for a cup of coffee in the morning.
  • 00:10:27.176 --> 00:10:30.012
  • We'll have a brief conversation with a spiritual principle
  • 00:10:30.012 --> 00:10:32.715
  • To start our day, a scripture verse, a prayer.
  • 00:10:32.715 --> 00:10:35.518
  • And then when you're tired of me,
  • 00:10:35.518 --> 00:10:36.852
  • You can close the book.
  • 00:10:36.852 --> 00:10:38.354
  • It's perfect.
  • 00:10:38.354 --> 00:10:39.955
  • In all seriousness, we do wanna turn up the light.
  • 00:10:39.955 --> 00:10:42.391
  • Let's not rage against the darkness.
  • 00:10:42.391 --> 00:10:43.793
  • Let's invite god into the midst of this year
  • 00:10:43.793 --> 00:10:46.228
  • And then just see what he will do.
  • 00:10:46.228 --> 00:10:48.030
  • Female announcer: pastor allen's new devotional,
  • 00:10:48.030 --> 00:10:49.565
  • "turn up the light," is designed to equip you every single day
  • 00:10:49.565 --> 00:10:52.702
  • Of the year.
  • 00:10:52.702 --> 00:10:54.036
  • Inside, you'll find 365 short devotionals,
  • 00:10:54.036 --> 00:10:57.506
  • Each with a scripture, teaching, and a prayer.
  • 00:10:57.506 --> 00:11:00.576
  • As you begin this new year, don't rage against the darkness.
  • 00:11:00.576 --> 00:11:03.779
  • Instead, choose to turn up the light.
  • 00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:05.948
  • You can request this book when you donate $25 or more today
  • 00:11:05.948 --> 00:11:09.952
  • At allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:11:09.952 --> 00:11:15.224
  • Allen: i like to read, i like to learn.
  • 00:11:18.194 --> 00:11:21.630
  • So if i read a book, that's an explanation of something,
  • 00:11:21.630 --> 00:11:24.133
  • They're trying to help me understand something that i
  • 00:11:24.133 --> 00:11:26.001
  • Didn't know without the opportunity of reading the book.
  • 00:11:26.001 --> 00:11:29.672
  • And luke is giving us insight and understanding into not only
  • 00:11:29.672 --> 00:11:33.476
  • Jesus's life and ministry, but the spiritual formation of that.
  • 00:11:33.476 --> 00:11:39.682
  • And as jesus begins to go public, satan steps into
  • 00:11:39.682 --> 00:11:43.786
  • That breach.
  • 00:11:43.786 --> 00:11:47.356
  • It's a very dimensional life.
  • 00:11:47.356 --> 00:11:50.693
  • Oh, jesus will be opposed by sadducees and pharisees and
  • 00:11:50.693 --> 00:11:54.764
  • Roman governors.
  • 00:11:54.764 --> 00:11:56.465
  • But long before he's opposed by pilate, satan stands before him
  • 00:11:56.465 --> 00:12:00.336
  • And says, "give me your authority."
  • 00:12:00.336 --> 00:12:06.742
  • Verse 5, "the devil led him up to a high place and showed him
  • 00:12:06.742 --> 00:12:09.545
  • In an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
  • 00:12:09.545 --> 00:12:11.981
  • And he said to him, 'i'll give you all their authority and
  • 00:12:11.981 --> 00:12:14.283
  • Splendor, for it's been given to me, and i can give it to anyone
  • 00:12:14.283 --> 00:12:17.787
  • I want.
  • 00:12:17.787 --> 00:12:19.155
  • So if you worship me, it will all be yours.'"
  • 00:12:19.155 --> 00:12:22.458
  • I didn't put the entire exchange in your notes, but it's worth
  • 00:12:22.458 --> 00:12:26.595
  • Noting that when jesus responds to satan, he doesn't argue with
  • 00:12:26.595 --> 00:12:29.131
  • Him about his statements.
  • 00:12:29.131 --> 00:12:31.734
  • He responds to him by quoting scripture.
  • 00:12:31.734 --> 00:12:34.637
  • And what's immediately apparent to me, and i think it's
  • 00:12:34.637 --> 00:12:36.872
  • Noteworthy, is that the devil understands spiritual authority.
  • 00:12:36.872 --> 00:12:40.109
  • He says, "i have authority over all these realms.
  • 00:12:40.109 --> 00:12:43.212
  • I'll give it to you."
  • 00:12:43.212 --> 00:12:45.848
  • See, i believe those temptations are very similar to ones
  • 00:12:45.848 --> 00:12:48.818
  • He brings to us.
  • 00:12:48.818 --> 00:12:50.553
  • He shows a shortcut, things to do that seems that like they'll
  • 00:12:50.553 --> 00:12:55.624
  • Satisfy or gratify or bring accomplishment or open doors of
  • 00:12:55.624 --> 00:13:00.062
  • Opportunity for us without being encumbered by obedience to god.
  • 00:13:00.062 --> 00:13:06.168
  • Before jesus is done, philippians chapter 2, it's not
  • 00:13:06.168 --> 00:13:09.038
  • In your notes.
  • 00:13:09.038 --> 00:13:10.372
  • It's in the book, though, i promise, says that because of
  • 00:13:10.372 --> 00:13:12.541
  • What jesus did, because of his obedience, because of his
  • 00:13:12.541 --> 00:13:15.211
  • Willingness to die on a cross, because he was willing to be
  • 00:13:15.211 --> 00:13:19.315
  • A servant, even to the point of death, that god exalted him and
  • 00:13:19.315 --> 00:13:22.718
  • Gave him a name that's above every name, that in the name of
  • 00:13:22.718 --> 00:13:24.854
  • Jesus every knee would bow in heaven on earth and under
  • 00:13:24.854 --> 00:13:27.356
  • The earth.
  • 00:13:27.356 --> 00:13:28.724
  • God gave him ultimate authority.
  • 00:13:28.724 --> 00:13:31.327
  • But to receive that, you have to choose a life of obedience.
  • 00:13:31.327 --> 00:13:37.499
  • Satan is offering him something else.
  • 00:13:37.499 --> 00:13:39.468
  • He makes very similar bargains with us.
  • 00:13:39.468 --> 00:13:45.808
  • Satan understands spiritual authority.
  • 00:13:45.808 --> 00:13:49.245
  • But again, luke is inviting us to this awareness.
  • 00:13:49.245 --> 00:13:53.449
  • He's telling us something, folks.
  • 00:13:53.449 --> 00:13:55.351
  • He said there's a devil.
  • 00:13:55.351 --> 00:13:56.685
  • Jesus believed in the devil.
  • 00:13:56.685 --> 00:13:58.053
  • The devil challenged him.
  • 00:13:58.053 --> 00:14:00.689
  • He exists, he has authority, authority to challenge
  • 00:14:00.689 --> 00:14:03.392
  • God purposes.
  • 00:14:03.392 --> 00:14:04.727
  • He can give authority to persons.
  • 00:14:04.727 --> 00:14:09.131
  • That is ultimately the story of the antichrist.
  • 00:14:09.131 --> 00:14:11.467
  • But you don't need to wait until the end of the age to
  • 00:14:11.467 --> 00:14:13.269
  • See that happening.
  • 00:14:13.269 --> 00:14:15.137
  • We're not done.
  • 00:14:15.137 --> 00:14:16.505
  • Verse 9, "the devil led jesus to jerusalem and had him stand on
  • 00:14:16.505 --> 00:14:18.641
  • The highest point of the temple.
  • 00:14:18.641 --> 00:14:20.209
  • 'if you were the son of god,' he said, 'throw yourself down
  • 00:14:20.209 --> 00:14:22.912
  • From here.
  • 00:14:22.912 --> 00:14:25.314
  • For it's written: he'll command his angels concerning you to
  • 00:14:25.314 --> 00:14:27.549
  • Guard you carefully; they'll lift you up in their hands, so
  • 00:14:27.549 --> 00:14:30.119
  • That you'll not strike your foot against a stone.'"
  • 00:14:30.119 --> 00:14:33.255
  • First of all, satan said, "if you're the son of god."
  • 00:14:33.255 --> 00:14:37.159
  • He knew very well who jesus was.
  • 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:40.763
  • When jesus gets to the synagogue in capernaum, the first
  • 00:14:40.763 --> 00:14:44.366
  • Synagogue--the first time in that synagogue in that city
  • 00:14:44.366 --> 00:14:48.437
  • A demonized man is there and the demon says, "i know who
  • 00:14:48.437 --> 00:14:51.507
  • You are."
  • 00:14:51.507 --> 00:14:54.009
  • Multiple times, demons say, "we know who you are.
  • 00:14:54.009 --> 00:14:57.212
  • We know why you're here."
  • 00:14:57.212 --> 00:14:58.781
  • Satan knows perfectly well who jesus is.
  • 00:14:58.781 --> 00:15:02.885
  • And he comes and says, "if you're the son of god."
  • 00:15:02.885 --> 00:15:08.524
  • That's what he said when we met him in the opening chapters of
  • 00:15:08.524 --> 00:15:10.993
  • The bible in genesis.
  • 00:15:10.993 --> 00:15:12.361
  • "did god really say?"
  • 00:15:12.361 --> 00:15:15.097
  • Let's repurpose what god said, folks.
  • 00:15:15.097 --> 00:15:17.333
  • The tactics aren't new.
  • 00:15:17.333 --> 00:15:19.935
  • They don't have to be.
  • 00:15:19.935 --> 00:15:21.303
  • They've been very effective.
  • 00:15:21.303 --> 00:15:24.340
  • Now, i'm anxious.
  • 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:25.674
  • Luke takes us right into jesus's public ministry, and i'm gonna
  • 00:15:25.674 --> 00:15:28.477
  • Take the balance of our time and look at it in two separate
  • 00:15:28.477 --> 00:15:31.480
  • Cities very familiar to jesus.
  • 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:33.349
  • They're very significant in his life.
  • 00:15:33.349 --> 00:15:37.019
  • And luke steps right into it.
  • 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:38.420
  • We come out of the temptation, with jesus returning to galilee.
  • 00:15:38.420 --> 00:15:41.557
  • It's where he's grown up.
  • 00:15:41.557 --> 00:15:42.925
  • Galilee is the northern part of israel.
  • 00:15:42.925 --> 00:15:45.694
  • It's perceived almost in the opposite way that
  • 00:15:45.694 --> 00:15:48.530
  • The united states would be.
  • 00:15:48.530 --> 00:15:49.999
  • They tend to think that the southern part of
  • 00:15:49.999 --> 00:15:51.800
  • The united states is the--is less sophisticated, more rural.
  • 00:15:51.800 --> 00:15:56.672
  • All the people that have moved here from new york are not
  • 00:15:59.408 --> 00:16:01.210
  • Saying a word.
  • 00:16:01.210 --> 00:16:02.845
  • "don't know what you're talking about."
  • 00:16:02.845 --> 00:16:05.881
  • I studied in boston for a while.
  • 00:16:05.881 --> 00:16:08.584
  • When i was there, i was the only student in the group that was
  • 00:16:08.584 --> 00:16:11.286
  • From anywhere south of philadelphia.
  • 00:16:11.286 --> 00:16:15.224
  • By the third day, my nickname was gomer.
  • 00:16:15.224 --> 00:16:23.599
  • I'll spare you.
  • 00:16:23.599 --> 00:16:24.967
  • I messed with them really good.
  • 00:16:24.967 --> 00:16:27.169
  • It was the less godly season for me.
  • 00:16:27.169 --> 00:16:31.740
  • But by the time we get to jesus's public ministry, luke's
  • 00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:35.511
  • Narrative is no longer limited to private angelic visits.
  • 00:16:35.511 --> 00:16:38.514
  • Up to this point, up until this middle part of luke, the
  • 00:16:38.514 --> 00:16:41.717
  • Supernatural elements that he's introduced us to have
  • 00:16:41.717 --> 00:16:44.586
  • Been private.
  • 00:16:44.586 --> 00:16:45.921
  • Gabriel talks to zechariah and elizabeth, gabriel comes to see
  • 00:16:45.921 --> 00:16:48.690
  • Mary, gabriel comes to see joseph.
  • 00:16:48.690 --> 00:16:50.926
  • Maybe anna or simeon at the temple.
  • 00:16:50.926 --> 00:16:53.495
  • But you've gotta have the backstory to know what's
  • 00:16:53.495 --> 00:16:55.297
  • Going on.
  • 00:16:55.297 --> 00:16:56.665
  • Even when jesus is lost or stays behind in jerusalem at the
  • 00:16:56.665 --> 00:16:58.867
  • Temple, there's confusion about how he knows all of
  • 00:16:58.867 --> 00:17:01.737
  • These things.
  • 00:17:01.737 --> 00:17:03.072
  • But the commentary is mary is treasuring these things in
  • 00:17:03.072 --> 00:17:04.873
  • Her heart.
  • 00:17:04.873 --> 00:17:06.241
  • All the god activity is pretty private.
  • 00:17:06.241 --> 00:17:09.344
  • You could put in a minivan all the people that are in on
  • 00:17:09.344 --> 00:17:12.815
  • The story.
  • 00:17:12.815 --> 00:17:14.783
  • But when we get to the middle part of luke chapter 4, this
  • 00:17:14.783 --> 00:17:17.453
  • Thing's gonna go public.
  • 00:17:17.453 --> 00:17:18.787
  • It's no longer private.
  • 00:17:18.787 --> 00:17:20.155
  • What god is directing is intended for mass consumption i
  • 00:17:20.155 --> 00:17:24.827
  • Think it's very important to know there are times and places
  • 00:17:24.827 --> 00:17:27.963
  • Where god begins to deliver a message to much
  • 00:17:27.963 --> 00:17:30.466
  • Broader audiences.
  • 00:17:30.466 --> 00:17:31.800
  • We are in desperate need of that today.
  • 00:17:31.800 --> 00:17:36.472
  • In the midst of a community of faith, a nation of covenant
  • 00:17:36.472 --> 00:17:39.308
  • People, a people with a temple and the right holidays and the
  • 00:17:39.308 --> 00:17:42.811
  • Right menu and the right books to read and they have got
  • 00:17:42.811 --> 00:17:45.514
  • Scripture and synagogues, they are a long way from obedience
  • 00:17:45.514 --> 00:17:49.852
  • To god.
  • 00:17:49.852 --> 00:17:52.754
  • See, i'm happy to celebrate our heritage as a christian nation.
  • 00:17:52.754 --> 00:17:55.958
  • I'm grateful that we have churches, and choices of
  • 00:17:55.958 --> 00:17:58.494
  • Churches, and all sorts of flavors of worship.
  • 00:17:58.494 --> 00:18:01.897
  • All of those things can be very good.
  • 00:18:01.897 --> 00:18:03.699
  • But in the midst of all of that, i think we have to acknowledge
  • 00:18:03.699 --> 00:18:06.735
  • That the momentum of our culture is away from obedience to god.
  • 00:18:06.735 --> 00:18:12.908
  • And this is our watch, we're the watchman on the walls.
  • 00:18:12.908 --> 00:18:17.379
  • But we're not the first generation in history, so i
  • 00:18:17.379 --> 00:18:19.348
  • Don't think we should just immediately say, "well, it's the
  • 00:18:19.348 --> 00:18:21.316
  • End of the age," because israel is standing on the precipice of
  • 00:18:21.316 --> 00:18:27.289
  • God's judgment.
  • 00:18:27.289 --> 00:18:29.858
  • Tremendous destruction.
  • 00:18:29.858 --> 00:18:32.928
  • It's as close to them as an approaching storm.
  • 00:18:32.928 --> 00:18:37.432
  • But god's going to use jesus to give a message to multiplied
  • 00:18:37.432 --> 00:18:42.471
  • Thousands of people, and luke is gonna share that with us.
  • 00:18:42.471 --> 00:18:45.374
  • The responses vary widely.
  • 00:18:45.374 --> 00:18:49.077
  • I think it's worth noting as you're reading through this
  • 00:18:49.077 --> 00:18:51.146
  • Gospel, it's very easy to imagine--when i read a book, if
  • 00:18:51.146 --> 00:18:55.017
  • It's nonfiction, or if it's a fiction book, especially, i have
  • 00:18:55.017 --> 00:18:58.554
  • This habit of writing the story a different way as i'm
  • 00:18:58.554 --> 00:19:00.822
  • Reading along.
  • 00:19:00.822 --> 00:19:02.191
  • "well, that's not how i would have told it.
  • 00:19:02.191 --> 00:19:04.493
  • I don't like this ending.
  • 00:19:04.493 --> 00:19:05.827
  • I would have done this."
  • 00:19:05.827 --> 00:19:07.462
  • Well, when you read luke's gospel, i would submit to you
  • 00:19:07.462 --> 00:19:10.332
  • That you could imagine that, where jesus could have
  • 00:19:10.332 --> 00:19:13.969
  • Maintained a much more private ministry.
  • 00:19:13.969 --> 00:19:18.607
  • Still accomplished his assignment.
  • 00:19:18.607 --> 00:19:21.043
  • He could have been far less controversial, far
  • 00:19:21.043 --> 00:19:23.278
  • Less divisive.
  • 00:19:23.278 --> 00:19:25.847
  • He could have kept the circles much smaller.
  • 00:19:25.847 --> 00:19:29.618
  • But that wasn't the nature of the assignment.
  • 00:19:29.618 --> 00:19:31.420
  • So luke goes out of his way to talk to us about this
  • 00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:34.389
  • Widespread--i tell you that because in many theological
  • 00:19:34.389 --> 00:19:38.360
  • Circles, academic circles, they mock it.
  • 00:19:38.360 --> 00:19:42.364
  • They say it's an embellishment, it's an attempt by the authors
  • 00:19:42.364 --> 00:19:46.835
  • To suggest that there was influence that he really
  • 00:19:46.835 --> 00:19:49.071
  • Didn't have.
  • 00:19:49.071 --> 00:19:52.207
  • Folks, that kind of an assault on scripture--don't give it
  • 00:19:52.207 --> 00:19:56.345
  • Place in your thoughts and your life.
  • 00:19:56.345 --> 00:20:04.353
  • The devil already knows fully who jesus is.
  • 00:20:04.353 --> 00:20:08.490
  • Before jesus goes the first time into a synagogue to stand and
  • 00:20:08.490 --> 00:20:11.994
  • Speak, satan has already challenged him.
  • 00:20:11.994 --> 00:20:15.931
  • Satan has begun a series of temptations in an attempt to
  • 00:20:15.931 --> 00:20:18.433
  • Disrupt god's purposes.
  • 00:20:18.433 --> 00:20:21.136
  • I would submit to you, i believe god provides every generation
  • 00:20:21.136 --> 00:20:24.973
  • With choices and kingdom opportunities.
  • 00:20:24.973 --> 00:20:27.976
  • And i believe just as we can follow jesus through the gospel
  • 00:20:27.976 --> 00:20:31.113
  • Of luke, i believe satan attempts to disrupt god's intent
  • 00:20:31.113 --> 00:20:34.616
  • For people in every generation, to entice them into choices that
  • 00:20:34.616 --> 00:20:39.855
  • Will result in the forfeiture of their kingdom opportunities.
  • 00:20:39.855 --> 00:20:43.358
  • We're not reading this as some distracted, disinterested party
  • 00:20:43.358 --> 00:20:46.495
  • Going, "oh, how interesting."
  • 00:20:46.495 --> 00:20:49.298
  • We're trying to understand what's happening in our hearts,
  • 00:20:49.298 --> 00:20:53.669
  • In our family systems, in our communities.
  • 00:20:53.669 --> 00:20:58.273
  • We don't wanna stand outside of this and go, "how intriguing."
  • 00:20:58.273 --> 00:21:02.711
  • We're trying to figure out why it hurts when we do this,
  • 00:21:02.711 --> 00:21:08.216
  • Because we wanna find a resolution, and luke is gonna
  • 00:21:08.216 --> 00:21:10.519
  • Help us.
  • 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.887
  • Nazareth, chapter 4, verse 14, "jesus returned to galilee in
  • 00:21:11.887 --> 00:21:16.124
  • The power of the spirit."
  • 00:21:16.124 --> 00:21:17.492
  • It's a theme for luke.
  • 00:21:17.492 --> 00:21:19.027
  • The holy spirit and the power of god, luke presents them to us
  • 00:21:19.027 --> 00:21:22.898
  • Multiple times as being almost synonymous.
  • 00:21:22.898 --> 00:21:25.634
  • They certainly accompany one another.
  • 00:21:25.634 --> 00:21:28.003
  • The presence of the spirit of god and the power of god.
  • 00:21:28.003 --> 00:21:31.907
  • So if we recognize the need for the power of god in our
  • 00:21:31.907 --> 00:21:34.943
  • Generation, then we need to understand a need to be more
  • 00:21:34.943 --> 00:21:37.979
  • Familiar with the spirit of god.
  • 00:21:37.979 --> 00:21:41.450
  • "jesus returns to galilee in the power of the spirit, and news
  • 00:21:41.450 --> 00:21:45.053
  • About him spread throughout the whole countryside.
  • 00:21:45.053 --> 00:21:48.023
  • He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him."
  • 00:21:48.023 --> 00:21:51.193
  • Circle those last three words, "everyone praised him."
  • 00:21:51.193 --> 00:21:55.831
  • "he went to nazareth, where he'd been brought up, and on the
  • 00:21:55.831 --> 00:21:59.701
  • Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.
  • 00:21:59.701 --> 00:22:02.571
  • And he stood up to read.
  • 00:22:02.571 --> 00:22:05.474
  • They gave him the scroll of isaiah."
  • 00:22:05.474 --> 00:22:07.342
  • The scripture portion for that day was from isaiah.
  • 00:22:07.342 --> 00:22:13.348
  • "and jesus read: 'the spirit of the lord is on me, because he's
  • 00:22:13.348 --> 00:22:16.184
  • Anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
  • 00:22:16.184 --> 00:22:18.453
  • He's sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery
  • 00:22:18.453 --> 00:22:21.523
  • Of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to
  • 00:22:21.523 --> 00:22:24.292
  • Proclaim the year of the lord's favor.'
  • 00:22:24.292 --> 00:22:27.429
  • He finished the portion, he rolled up the scroll, and he
  • 00:22:27.429 --> 00:22:29.464
  • Gave it back to the attendant, he sat down."
  • 00:22:29.464 --> 00:22:31.600
  • Synagogues were small places.
  • 00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:33.969
  • Nazareth in jesus's time was maybe 1500 people.
  • 00:22:33.969 --> 00:22:38.407
  • It's not a big community.
  • 00:22:38.407 --> 00:22:40.909
  • "the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,
  • 00:22:40.909 --> 00:22:43.712
  • And he began by saying to them, 'today the scripture is
  • 00:22:43.712 --> 00:22:46.982
  • Fulfilled in your hearing.'"
  • 00:22:46.982 --> 00:22:50.385
  • Now, luke told us at the beginning of this little segment
  • 00:22:50.385 --> 00:22:53.255
  • That everyone praised him throughout the whole
  • 00:22:53.255 --> 00:22:55.290
  • Countryside, but now we've narrowed this down to nazareth.
  • 00:22:55.290 --> 00:22:58.827
  • And in verse 22 it says, "all spoke well of him," they're
  • 00:22:58.827 --> 00:23:03.865
  • Happy with him.
  • 00:23:03.865 --> 00:23:05.834
  • "they're amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips."
  • 00:23:05.834 --> 00:23:10.338
  • And they looked at one another and said, "isn't that joe's boy?
  • 00:23:10.338 --> 00:23:15.510
  • Didn't he play soccer with our kids?
  • 00:23:15.510 --> 00:23:18.713
  • He wasn't too fast.
  • 00:23:18.713 --> 00:23:22.884
  • We know him."
  • 00:23:22.884 --> 00:23:25.887
  • "and then jesus said to them, 'surely you'll quote this
  • 00:23:25.887 --> 00:23:29.724
  • Problem to me: "physician, heal yourself!
  • 00:23:29.724 --> 00:23:32.727
  • Do here in your hometown what we've heard that you
  • 00:23:32.727 --> 00:23:35.063
  • Did in capernaum."'
  • 00:23:35.063 --> 00:23:37.399
  • And he continued, 'i tell you the truth,'" and you know by
  • 00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:39.534
  • Now, when you see that phrase, buckle up.
  • 00:23:39.534 --> 00:23:44.606
  • "'i tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted
  • 00:23:44.606 --> 00:23:46.808
  • In his hometown.
  • 00:23:46.808 --> 00:23:48.176
  • I assure you that there were many widows in israel in
  • 00:23:48.176 --> 00:23:50.212
  • Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years,
  • 00:23:50.212 --> 00:23:53.415
  • There was a severe famine throughout the land.
  • 00:23:53.415 --> 00:23:55.217
  • Yet elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in the
  • 00:23:55.217 --> 00:23:59.821
  • Region of sidon," to widow in another country, "and there were
  • 00:23:59.821 --> 00:24:04.826
  • Many in israel with leprosy in the time of elisha the prophet,
  • 00:24:04.826 --> 00:24:07.996
  • Yet not one of them was cleansed--only naaman
  • 00:24:07.996 --> 00:24:10.599
  • The syrian.'
  • 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:13.835
  • And all the people in the synagogue," turn the page, "and
  • 00:24:13.835 --> 00:24:22.344
  • All the people in the synagogue were furious when they
  • 00:24:22.344 --> 00:24:26.047
  • Heard this."
  • 00:24:26.047 --> 00:24:27.415
  • Well, wait a minute.
  • 00:24:27.415 --> 00:24:28.750
  • In verse 22 they're speaking well of him.
  • 00:24:28.750 --> 00:24:30.085
  • That's joe's boy.
  • 00:24:30.085 --> 00:24:31.887
  • But in verse 28 they're furious.
  • 00:24:31.887 --> 00:24:33.989
  • "so they got up and they drove him out of town, and took him to
  • 00:24:33.989 --> 00:24:36.391
  • The brow of the hill in order to throw him off the cliff."
  • 00:24:36.391 --> 00:24:39.895
  • They want to kill him.
  • 00:24:39.895 --> 00:24:42.797
  • "and he walked right through the crowd."
  • 00:24:42.797 --> 00:24:45.500
  • Jesus's ministry, luke tells us, begins in the power of the
  • 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:48.270
  • Spirit, not in a carnal moment, not in a self-indulgent way.
  • 00:24:48.270 --> 00:24:53.441
  • Luke goes out of his way to say, "look, this happened in
  • 00:24:53.441 --> 00:24:56.378
  • A spirit-led, spirit-directed, spirit-filled manner."
  • 00:24:56.378 --> 00:24:59.948
  • Allen: i wanna close today by asking you to join me
  • 00:25:01.149 --> 00:25:03.585
  • In a prayer of repentance.
  • 00:25:03.585 --> 00:25:05.554
  • Jesus told us to seek first the kingdom of god.
  • 00:25:05.554 --> 00:25:08.690
  • I know what he said, and i would tell you that that's important,
  • 00:25:08.690 --> 00:25:11.760
  • That we wanna do everything that jesus said, but i also would
  • 00:25:11.760 --> 00:25:14.362
  • Probably have to tell you that in my life, i typically seek
  • 00:25:14.362 --> 00:25:17.198
  • The solutions that i know how to get to first.
  • 00:25:17.198 --> 00:25:19.901
  • If i've got a friend, if i've got the strength, if i know
  • 00:25:19.901 --> 00:25:22.037
  • How to accomplish it, if i know how to organize it, i'll go
  • 00:25:22.037 --> 00:25:24.973
  • To all those things that are under my influence first.
  • 00:25:24.973 --> 00:25:28.243
  • If i fail in those places, then i go to the lord.
  • 00:25:28.243 --> 00:25:31.413
  • Well, i'm ignoring him. i'm not taking his council.
  • 00:25:31.413 --> 00:25:34.316
  • He said if i would seek first his kingdom, he would
  • 00:25:34.316 --> 00:25:36.751
  • Bring to me what i need to live.
  • 00:25:36.751 --> 00:25:38.687
  • A place to live, the clothing, the shelter, all those
  • 00:25:38.687 --> 00:25:40.789
  • Material needs that fill our lives.
  • 00:25:40.789 --> 00:25:43.592
  • So, i wanna tell him i'm sorry, and i wanna invite you
  • 00:25:43.592 --> 00:25:45.694
  • To join me in that.
  • 00:25:45.694 --> 00:25:47.028
  • Repentance is the doorway to the best things that god has for us.
  • 00:25:47.028 --> 00:25:50.999
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:25:50.999 --> 00:25:52.567
  • Jesus, i thank you for the wisdom that you shared with us,
  • 00:25:52.567 --> 00:25:55.170
  • For the council that you've given us, and we come
  • 00:25:55.170 --> 00:25:57.372
  • Today to humble ourselves and to say we're sorry for seeking
  • 00:25:57.372 --> 00:26:00.575
  • First our own kingdom to establish our own excellence
  • 00:26:00.575 --> 00:26:04.079
  • Or our own opportunity, we didn't come to you first.
  • 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:07.649
  • Forgive us, and now we come to give you a new place,
  • 00:26:07.649 --> 00:26:10.619
  • A new priority, and a new authority in all we do.
  • 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:13.755
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:26:13.755 --> 00:26:16.057
  • God bless you.
  • 00:26:16.057 --> 00:26:19.494
  • Allen: how we begin our year, it matters.
  • 00:26:23.431 --> 00:26:25.934
  • So we've created a tool to help you get the year off on the
  • 00:26:25.934 --> 00:26:28.436
  • Right foot.
  • 00:26:28.436 --> 00:26:29.804
  • It's a devotional for this year.
  • 00:26:29.804 --> 00:26:31.139
  • We've taken our email devotionals that you're
  • 00:26:31.139 --> 00:26:33.241
  • Familiar with, and we've edited it into a book, 365-day
  • 00:26:33.241 --> 00:26:37.512
  • Devotional with a little short thought for the day, a scripture
  • 00:26:37.512 --> 00:26:40.482
  • Verse, a prayer, just a little momentum for every day.
  • 00:26:40.482 --> 00:26:43.952
  • Let's start this year on purpose, inviting god's best
  • 00:26:43.952 --> 00:26:47.689
  • Into our lives.
  • 00:26:47.689 --> 00:26:49.190
  • Many of you are familiar with those devotionals, you get them
  • 00:26:49.190 --> 00:26:51.226
  • In your inbox.
  • 00:26:51.226 --> 00:26:52.560
  • We want to give you a hardcopy.
  • 00:26:52.560 --> 00:26:53.928
  • Maybe you get a second copy, share it with a friend, use it
  • 00:26:53.928 --> 00:26:56.097
  • As a mission project this year.
  • 00:26:56.097 --> 00:26:58.099
  • Maybe take it to work, recruit somebody that you're
  • 00:26:58.099 --> 00:27:00.068
  • Working with.
  • 00:27:00.068 --> 00:27:01.403
  • It's a simple way to invite god into the beginning of your day
  • 00:27:01.403 --> 00:27:04.873
  • On purpose.
  • 00:27:04.873 --> 00:27:06.207
  • And, if we do that, i believe the outcome will be
  • 00:27:06.207 --> 00:27:08.777
  • Truly significant.
  • 00:27:08.777 --> 00:27:10.345
  • God in the midst of whatever we're doing makes the
  • 00:27:10.345 --> 00:27:12.313
  • Outcomes better.
  • 00:27:12.313 --> 00:27:13.782
  • It's an exciting time.
  • 00:27:13.782 --> 00:27:15.116
  • I like the beginning of a new year, all the promise and the
  • 00:27:15.116 --> 00:27:17.085
  • Hope that that brings.
  • 00:27:17.085 --> 00:27:18.453
  • Let's put god in the center of it.
  • 00:27:18.453 --> 00:27:20.288
  • "turn up the lights," the name of the devotional, and i believe
  • 00:27:20.288 --> 00:27:22.323
  • It'll do just that in your life.
  • 00:27:22.323 --> 00:27:27.395