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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Let's Eat - Obedience, Intentional Choices (Part 1)

March 4, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - Let's Eat - Obedience, Intentional Choices (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Obedience #Lifestyle #Choices #Faith #TrustGod #PresenceofGod #WalkwithGod #SpiritualFoundation #Authority #SpiritualHealth #Culture #Evil #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Let's Eat - Obedience, Intentional Choices (Part 1) | March 4, 2026
  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world,
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  • The day our king returns.
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  • At allenjackson.com/partner.
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  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:01:01.044 --> 00:01:07.016
  • Allen: we've been working through a study called
  • 00:01:07.016 --> 00:01:09.352
  • "let's eat."
  • 00:01:09.352 --> 00:01:11.454
  • It's really a pretty simple concept.
  • 00:01:11.454 --> 00:01:13.089
  • It's kind of parallel to the whole let's pray thing.
  • 00:01:13.089 --> 00:01:15.125
  • We wanna take prayer beyond formal services and kind of
  • 00:01:15.125 --> 00:01:18.895
  • Liturgical places and integrate it into the fabric of our lives,
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  • And "let's eat" is centered in our homes around the kitchen
  • 00:01:22.165 --> 00:01:26.569
  • Table, but the real objective is centering our families under the
  • 00:01:26.569 --> 00:01:29.939
  • Authority of god and our homes under the authority of god.
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  • That we don't just sit in church for a few minutes on the
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  • Weekend, but we intend for jesus to be lord in our homes, and i
  • 00:01:36.746 --> 00:01:41.251
  • Believe our kitchen tables are essential to that so we've been
  • 00:01:41.251 --> 00:01:44.787
  • Walking through this.
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  • And the reason our lobbies are--if you're old enough, they
  • 00:01:46.456 --> 00:01:53.329
  • Allow you to reminisce, if you're young enough, they allow
  • 00:01:53.329 --> 00:01:57.767
  • You to figure out what it is your parents and grandparents
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  • Have been talking about.
  • 00:01:59.936 --> 00:02:03.339
  • How many of you ever had a rotary dial phone in your home?
  • 00:02:03.339 --> 00:02:09.179
  • How many of you never used a paper map to figure out where
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  • To go?
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  • It's all right, we love you, too, yeah.
  • 00:02:14.217 --> 00:02:18.454
  • How many of you never used a pay phone?
  • 00:02:18.454 --> 00:02:22.158
  • Come on, yeah, they think we're weird, okay.
  • 00:02:22.158 --> 00:02:27.931
  • Well, through all the changes, from the apostle paul until
  • 00:02:27.931 --> 00:02:31.434
  • Today, all the changes, the kitchen table remained an
  • 00:02:31.434 --> 00:02:35.939
  • Essential part of families until we got to this beginning of the
  • 00:02:35.939 --> 00:02:40.276
  • 21st century and that began to deteriorate, and what that
  • 00:02:40.276 --> 00:02:45.114
  • Really reflects is a change in authority in the home.
  • 00:02:45.114 --> 00:02:49.285
  • There are other voices demanding time and attention.
  • 00:02:49.285 --> 00:02:53.823
  • There are other expressions of authority saying that their
  • 00:02:53.823 --> 00:02:57.293
  • Agenda triumphs the agenda of the people that live in that
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  • House, and you don't have the time or the privilege or the
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  • Opportunity of gathering at the table because someone else is
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  • Demanding your attention, and it's most frequently not about
  • 00:03:08.771 --> 00:03:12.809
  • An overloaded work schedule.
  • 00:03:12.809 --> 00:03:16.446
  • So, we're trying to understand the implications of that.
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  • In this session, i want to talk about obedience, obedience to
  • 00:03:18.414 --> 00:03:21.351
  • The lord, and that's such an exciting topic.
  • 00:03:21.351 --> 00:03:26.155
  • What it's really grounded in is intentional choices.
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  • We have to choose this.
  • 00:03:28.291 --> 00:03:30.093
  • Obedience to god is not accidental.
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  • I mean, once in a while you can stumble accidentally into doing
  • 00:03:32.795 --> 00:03:35.164
  • Something that god will honor, but over the course of your
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  • Life, to maintain the trajectory of your life, your spiritual
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  • Life, you're gonna have to choose, on purpose, to yield to
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  • God, to be obedient to him.
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  • That's more than saying the sinner's prayer, it begins
  • 00:03:48.811 --> 00:03:51.314
  • There, or it certainly--there's a pivot there that may have
  • 00:03:51.314 --> 00:03:54.484
  • Begun before that, but we want to choose to cooperate with
  • 00:03:54.484 --> 00:03:59.756
  • The lord.
  • 00:03:59.756 --> 00:04:01.090
  • I want to start in 2 samuel 7, verse 8, it's a commentary, it's
  • 00:04:01.090 --> 00:04:04.827
  • A message to king david.
  • 00:04:04.827 --> 00:04:07.530
  • God has something to say to david.
  • 00:04:07.530 --> 00:04:09.232
  • It's intriguing to me, he said, "you shall say to my servant
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  • David, 'thus said the lord of hosts, 'i took you from the
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  • Pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my
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  • People israel.
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  • And i have been with you wherever you've gone and have
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  • Cut off all your enemies from before you; and i'll make you a
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  • Great name, like the names of the great men who are on
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  • The earth.'"
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  • Wow, drop the mic.
  • 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.988
  • I mean, that's a pretty good message.
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  • God said, "david, i took you from the pasture, from following
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  • The sheep.
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  • I took you to be ruler over my people israel.
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  • That didn't start in your heart.
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  • It wasn't a committee that came to you and said we think you
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  • Should be king."
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  • God said, "i chose you."
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  • I assure you that just as much as god had a plan and a purpose
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  • For the shepherd, david, he has a plan and a purpose for
  • 00:04:56.212 --> 00:04:59.115
  • Your life.
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  • You say, "well, i don't feel i'm significant."
  • 00:05:02.618 --> 00:05:04.921
  • Whatever assignment god has for you is significant because he
  • 00:05:04.921 --> 00:05:08.925
  • Will reward you with--in an eternal way for that.
  • 00:05:08.925 --> 00:05:14.063
  • There'll be points of celebration in time, but one of
  • 00:05:14.063 --> 00:05:17.367
  • The great challenges the enemy will use is to tell you
  • 00:05:17.367 --> 00:05:20.336
  • You're insignificant.
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  • It's a lie from the pit.
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  • I'm intrigued by the statement god made in verse 9 where he
  • 00:05:32.682 --> 00:05:36.886
  • Said, "tell david i have been with you wherever you have gone
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  • And i've cut off all your enemies."
  • 00:05:40.289 --> 00:05:42.558
  • God said, "i've been with you."
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  • Please note, it does not say david had been with god, god
  • 00:05:45.161 --> 00:05:49.298
  • Said, "i've been with you."
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  • So, i wanna make a suggestion, that you and i would benefit
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  • From becoming more conscious that god is with us.
  • 00:05:55.571 --> 00:05:59.509
  • God is with us.
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  • You say, "well, i don't feel like god is with us."
  • 00:06:01.444 --> 00:06:03.379
  • Well, i understand that.
  • 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:04.814
  • David had hid in the desert for a decade while god was with him.
  • 00:06:04.814 --> 00:06:10.386
  • He was hunted and called all sorts of awful names and his
  • 00:06:10.386 --> 00:06:13.890
  • Family suffered while god was with him.
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  • One of his sons raped one of his sisters while god was with him.
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  • One of his sons led a rebellion and david had to flee the palace
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  • While god was with him.
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  • God being with us doesn't mean everything's easy or fun
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  • Or happy.
  • 00:06:37.780 --> 00:06:40.416
  • See, we've kind of perverted that--that, well, if god's with
  • 00:06:40.416 --> 00:06:43.186
  • Me, every day is gonna be, like, filled with ice cream sundaes
  • 00:06:43.186 --> 00:06:48.324
  • And six-pack abs, yay, but our biblical character suggests
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  • Something else.
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  • See, i believe god's abiding presence should bring
  • 00:06:59.035 --> 00:07:01.237
  • Transformation to our behavior.
  • 00:07:01.237 --> 00:07:04.874
  • David is transformed by the presence of god.
  • 00:07:04.874 --> 00:07:08.978
  • God's abiding presence put david in a direct collision course
  • 00:07:08.978 --> 00:07:13.182
  • With things like goliath and king saul and his rage, and
  • 00:07:13.182 --> 00:07:18.788
  • God's abiding presence in your life will put you on a collision
  • 00:07:18.788 --> 00:07:21.991
  • Course sometimes with expressions of evil.
  • 00:07:21.991 --> 00:07:25.795
  • You say, "well, i would rather not do that."
  • 00:07:25.795 --> 00:07:28.531
  • Please rethink that.
  • 00:07:28.531 --> 00:07:30.366
  • I would rather be obedient to the lord.
  • 00:07:30.366 --> 00:07:31.834
  • I would rather intentionally cooperate with god than try to
  • 00:07:31.834 --> 00:07:36.005
  • Figure out which path i think is easiest and choose that.
  • 00:07:36.005 --> 00:07:39.775
  • I would rather intentionally cooperate with god than try to
  • 00:07:39.775 --> 00:07:42.945
  • Figure out which way public opinion is drifting and go run
  • 00:07:42.945 --> 00:07:46.349
  • That direction.
  • 00:07:46.349 --> 00:07:49.252
  • I would rather intentionally cooperate with god than try to
  • 00:07:49.252 --> 00:07:52.455
  • Figure out where the greatest profit margin was and give my
  • 00:07:52.455 --> 00:07:55.324
  • Heart and soul to that.
  • 00:07:55.324 --> 00:07:59.529
  • And i'm not opposed to public opinion or profit, but let's
  • 00:07:59.529 --> 00:08:03.599
  • Decide to make honoring god, being intentionally obedient to
  • 00:08:03.599 --> 00:08:06.936
  • The truth that you know, the primary objective of our lives.
  • 00:08:06.936 --> 00:08:12.008
  • It'll change everything.
  • 00:08:12.008 --> 00:08:14.010
  • So, how do we cooperate with?
  • 00:08:14.010 --> 00:08:15.344
  • How do we seek god?
  • 00:08:15.344 --> 00:08:16.712
  • What's it look like to search for god?
  • 00:08:16.712 --> 00:08:18.814
  • Is it something extraordinary we're supposed to do?
  • 00:08:18.814 --> 00:08:22.385
  • Do we have to change?
  • 00:08:22.385 --> 00:08:23.753
  • You know, do we have to wear a special kind of clothing or a
  • 00:08:23.753 --> 00:08:25.621
  • Special color of clothing?
  • 00:08:25.621 --> 00:08:27.390
  • Is there some higher state of being we must achieve?
  • 00:08:27.390 --> 00:08:30.693
  • Is it knowledge-based?
  • 00:08:30.693 --> 00:08:32.061
  • We have to know how to spell nebuchadnezzar with--in hebrew?
  • 00:08:32.061 --> 00:08:37.867
  • I hope not.
  • 00:08:37.867 --> 00:08:40.536
  • I would submit to you that a primary, a beginning point,
  • 00:08:40.536 --> 00:08:43.306
  • Something--and what i love about this little study is it's so
  • 00:08:43.306 --> 00:08:45.975
  • Available to us that our kitchen table represents a significant
  • 00:08:45.975 --> 00:08:50.513
  • Expression of your relationship with god.
  • 00:08:50.513 --> 00:08:53.115
  • Now, people say, "well, i don't believe that."
  • 00:08:53.115 --> 00:08:54.450
  • I know, that's why we're talking about it.
  • 00:08:54.450 --> 00:08:59.155
  • "well, i don't know if i agree."
  • 00:08:59.155 --> 00:09:00.523
  • Okay, i got that, i know you don't, but just bear with me a
  • 00:09:00.523 --> 00:09:02.625
  • Little bit.
  • 00:09:02.625 --> 00:09:05.294
  • There's a couple of things about that.
  • 00:09:05.294 --> 00:09:06.662
  • What i would ask you to consider doing is once a week having a
  • 00:09:06.662 --> 00:09:11.300
  • Meal as a family at your table with no devices.
  • 00:09:11.300 --> 00:09:16.839
  • Once a week at the table with your family, no devices.
  • 00:09:16.839 --> 00:09:23.179
  • I really don't get any credit for that.
  • 00:09:23.179 --> 00:09:26.015
  • I mean, for a long, long, long time, god's people have been
  • 00:09:26.015 --> 00:09:28.317
  • Identified by a meal at the table once a week.
  • 00:09:28.317 --> 00:09:33.189
  • I don't want to call it a sabbath meal because then you're
  • 00:09:33.189 --> 00:09:34.957
  • Gonna wanna argue about when the sabbath is and old covenant and
  • 00:09:34.957 --> 00:09:38.928
  • New covenant and saturday or sunday or tuesday or--
  • 00:09:38.928 --> 00:09:47.203
  • I'll do a session on how we get so wound up about the wrong
  • 00:09:47.203 --> 00:09:51.507
  • Things from jesus's perspective around sabbath.
  • 00:09:51.507 --> 00:09:54.610
  • But the invitation is one meal a week at your table as a family,
  • 00:09:54.610 --> 00:10:00.216
  • And if you don't have little people in your house any longer,
  • 00:10:00.216 --> 00:10:03.619
  • There's really a much broader invitation and it's not limited
  • 00:10:03.619 --> 00:10:06.722
  • To families without children at home, but an equal expression of
  • 00:10:06.722 --> 00:10:10.359
  • That kitchen table is hospitality, so that the table
  • 00:10:10.359 --> 00:10:14.864
  • Is not just about your nourishment and your ideas and
  • 00:10:14.864 --> 00:10:18.501
  • Your thoughts and your wants, that that table becomes a
  • 00:10:18.501 --> 00:10:21.737
  • Ministry center.
  • 00:10:21.737 --> 00:10:23.773
  • About a third of jesus's ministry took place at a table.
  • 00:10:23.773 --> 00:10:28.744
  • I think, you know, we think he did great miracles and preached
  • 00:10:28.744 --> 00:10:31.881
  • Wonderful sermons, and he did some of that, but almost a third
  • 00:10:31.881 --> 00:10:35.317
  • Of the things we have recorded that he taught people, he taught
  • 00:10:35.317 --> 00:10:38.688
  • Them from the table.
  • 00:10:38.688 --> 00:10:43.192
  • It's a change of thinking, and i'm really asking you not just
  • 00:10:43.192 --> 00:10:46.429
  • To shrug it off and go, "yeah, i know, pastor, that's a great
  • 00:10:46.429 --> 00:10:48.597
  • Idea," and then keep behaving the same way.
  • 00:10:48.597 --> 00:10:53.035
  • I mean, i know you wouldn't, but you know somebody who would
  • 00:10:53.035 --> 00:10:55.204
  • Do that.
  • 00:10:55.204 --> 00:10:57.440
  • Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 2 says, "don't forget to
  • 00:10:57.440 --> 00:11:00.276
  • Entertain strangers."
  • 00:11:00.276 --> 00:11:02.011
  • If the bible says don't forget to entertain strangers, what can
  • 00:11:02.011 --> 00:11:04.780
  • You know?
  • 00:11:04.780 --> 00:11:08.150
  • We stopped entertaining strangers, otherwise there'd be
  • 00:11:08.150 --> 00:11:12.655
  • No reason for that cautionary note if everybody
  • 00:11:12.655 --> 00:11:15.691
  • Entertained strangers.
  • 00:11:15.691 --> 00:11:18.794
  • But he said, "don't forget to entertain strangers," well, why?
  • 00:11:18.794 --> 00:11:22.164
  • Well, "for by so doing, some people have entertained angels
  • 00:11:22.164 --> 00:11:25.134
  • Without knowing it."
  • 00:11:25.134 --> 00:11:28.070
  • I think if you entertain strangers it's an appropriate
  • 00:11:28.070 --> 00:11:30.005
  • Question every time, "are you an angel?"
  • 00:11:30.005 --> 00:11:34.977
  • I'm on an angel hunt.
  • 00:11:34.977 --> 00:11:39.782
  • Acts chapter 1 and verse 4, this is just preceding jesus's
  • 00:11:39.782 --> 00:11:44.186
  • Ascension back to heaven, resurrected jesus, resurrected
  • 00:11:44.186 --> 00:11:48.824
  • Jesus with his closest friends.
  • 00:11:48.824 --> 00:11:50.459
  • They have a 40-day seminar on the kingdom of god, and in verse
  • 00:11:50.459 --> 00:11:53.896
  • 4 it says, "on one occasion while he was," having a worship
  • 00:11:53.896 --> 00:11:58.434
  • Service with them.
  • 00:11:58.434 --> 00:12:02.371
  • "he was eating with them, he gave them
  • 00:12:02.371 --> 00:12:07.443
  • This command: 'don't leave jerusalem, but wait for the gift
  • 00:12:07.443 --> 00:12:10.479
  • My father promised, which you've heard me speak about.'"
  • 00:12:10.479 --> 00:12:14.784
  • I find that intriguing.
  • 00:12:14.784 --> 00:12:17.520
  • At the table, he's not distracted by the food or the
  • 00:12:17.520 --> 00:12:20.823
  • Hunger, he's not requiring eye contact, he gives them a command
  • 00:12:20.823 --> 00:12:28.230
  • That will shape their future.
  • 00:12:28.230 --> 00:12:29.598
  • It is the formative command for what will take place in the
  • 00:12:29.598 --> 00:12:35.538
  • Midst of his disciples in his absence.
  • 00:12:35.538 --> 00:12:38.974
  • He's already breathed on them and said, "receive the holy
  • 00:12:38.974 --> 00:12:41.043
  • Spirit," they've already experienced new birth, and now
  • 00:12:41.043 --> 00:12:44.747
  • He's at the table with them giving them a command for
  • 00:12:44.747 --> 00:12:48.918
  • What's next.
  • 00:12:48.918 --> 00:12:52.421
  • Allen: we have partnered with our friends tim and david barton
  • 00:12:56.625 --> 00:12:59.061
  • To make available to you a two-volume set on
  • 00:12:59.061 --> 00:13:01.831
  • American history.
  • 00:13:01.831 --> 00:13:03.165
  • It's "the american story."
  • 00:13:03.165 --> 00:13:04.533
  • And it focuses on the part of american history that's been
  • 00:13:04.533 --> 00:13:06.702
  • Lost in much of our public education these days.
  • 00:13:06.702 --> 00:13:09.605
  • It's god's engagement with this nation and how he brought the
  • 00:13:09.605 --> 00:13:12.875
  • American story forward.
  • 00:13:12.875 --> 00:13:14.343
  • Our nation is more than politics or republicans and democrats.
  • 00:13:14.343 --> 00:13:17.780
  • It's god working in the lives of people to shape a nation that
  • 00:13:17.780 --> 00:13:21.350
  • Had brought forth his purposes in the world.
  • 00:13:21.350 --> 00:13:23.619
  • I believe it's an important part of our faith journey this year,
  • 00:13:23.619 --> 00:13:26.589
  • And i believe the books will be a blessing to you.
  • 00:13:26.589 --> 00:13:28.958
  • Female announcer: the 250th anniversary of our nation is an
  • 00:13:28.958 --> 00:13:31.994
  • Important milestone we shouldn't rush past,
  • 00:13:31.994 --> 00:13:34.797
  • Because history matters.
  • 00:13:34.797 --> 00:13:36.966
  • "the american story" is a two-volume book series that
  • 00:13:36.966 --> 00:13:39.802
  • Explores how faith, courage, and conviction helped shape the
  • 00:13:39.802 --> 00:13:43.439
  • United states from the very beginning.
  • 00:13:43.439 --> 00:13:45.875
  • Gain a greater understanding of where we've been so you can
  • 00:13:45.875 --> 00:13:48.944
  • Protect and defend our nation's biblical foundations as we
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  • Move forward.
  • 00:13:51.947 --> 00:13:53.282
  • Request "the american story" with your gift of $50 or more at
  • 00:13:53.282 --> 00:13:56.685
  • Allenjackson.com or call...
  • 00:13:56.685 --> 00:14:02.124
  • Allen: for hundreds of years, the kitchen table was the
  • 00:14:05.527 --> 00:14:07.630
  • Centering point of our families.
  • 00:14:07.630 --> 00:14:10.165
  • Your table helps to establish the spiritual authority of your
  • 00:14:10.165 --> 00:14:13.235
  • Home or not.
  • 00:14:13.235 --> 00:14:16.605
  • And please, one of the challenges we all have on some
  • 00:14:16.605 --> 00:14:19.308
  • Of these topics, whether we're talking about prayer or reading
  • 00:14:19.308 --> 00:14:22.144
  • Our bible or the spiritual authority in our homes, is
  • 00:14:22.144 --> 00:14:25.247
  • The enemy is an accuser.
  • 00:14:25.247 --> 00:14:26.582
  • One of the titles given to satan is he's the accuser of
  • 00:14:26.582 --> 00:14:28.684
  • The brethren.
  • 00:14:28.684 --> 00:14:30.753
  • He accused jesus.
  • 00:14:30.753 --> 00:14:32.087
  • He said, "if you're the son of god."
  • 00:14:32.087 --> 00:14:33.422
  • He knew very well who jesus was, the demons knew who jesus was.
  • 00:14:33.422 --> 00:14:37.493
  • Mark chapter 1 in the synagogue in capernaum, the demon says, "i
  • 00:14:37.493 --> 00:14:40.429
  • Know who you are."
  • 00:14:40.429 --> 00:14:43.699
  • So, when satan comes to tempt jesus in the wilderness, he
  • 00:14:43.699 --> 00:14:46.669
  • Knows exactly who he is.
  • 00:14:46.669 --> 00:14:50.039
  • Then he says to him, "if you are the son of god."
  • 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:57.479
  • He challenges us.
  • 00:14:57.479 --> 00:14:59.982
  • Folks, every generation has to make a choice for themselves and
  • 00:14:59.982 --> 00:15:05.654
  • We can't afford to allow the enemy to neutralize us with
  • 00:15:05.654 --> 00:15:08.557
  • Shame and guilt because of his accusations.
  • 00:15:08.557 --> 00:15:11.460
  • "well, i didn't read my bible when i was younger."
  • 00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:13.162
  • Okay, "i didn't lead a godly life in this season."
  • 00:15:13.162 --> 00:15:17.066
  • Okay, it's why we come to the cross, it's the power of the
  • 00:15:17.066 --> 00:15:20.336
  • Blood of jesus.
  • 00:15:20.336 --> 00:15:22.404
  • Our god is a restorer.
  • 00:15:22.404 --> 00:15:23.973
  • The bible says that--the lord says that a day with the lord is
  • 00:15:23.973 --> 00:15:26.608
  • Like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day.
  • 00:15:26.608 --> 00:15:29.011
  • It means in a moment of time, god can do what i couldn't do in
  • 00:15:29.011 --> 00:15:31.380
  • A decade.
  • 00:15:31.380 --> 00:15:34.116
  • So, this conversation, please don't step away from it because
  • 00:15:34.116 --> 00:15:37.653
  • It hasn't defined you perhaps in the way it might have.
  • 00:15:37.653 --> 00:15:41.423
  • Say, "lord, i'd like to be obedient to you."
  • 00:15:41.423 --> 00:15:45.027
  • How do we invite god more fully into our homes?
  • 00:15:45.027 --> 00:15:48.764
  • What does that look like?
  • 00:15:48.764 --> 00:15:51.133
  • And i don't wanna--please, i don't wanna think about this
  • 00:15:51.133 --> 00:15:53.369
  • Just in terms of families with young children, i want those
  • 00:15:53.369 --> 00:15:55.504
  • Families to think about it because you'll help establish
  • 00:15:55.504 --> 00:15:58.540
  • The values for those lives, but it certainly is not directed
  • 00:15:58.540 --> 00:16:03.078
  • Primarily at them.
  • 00:16:03.078 --> 00:16:04.413
  • This concept is just as important for a single person,
  • 00:16:04.413 --> 00:16:07.282
  • For those that are married and don't have children,
  • 00:16:07.282 --> 00:16:10.586
  • Empty-nesters, widows, widowers, every season of life requires an
  • 00:16:10.586 --> 00:16:13.589
  • Intentional cultivation of a response to god, it does.
  • 00:16:13.589 --> 00:16:20.662
  • Some of us have been christ followers for 40 years but we're
  • 00:16:20.662 --> 00:16:22.898
  • Still toddlers.
  • 00:16:22.898 --> 00:16:25.868
  • Chronology doesn't mean you're mature spiritually, it just
  • 00:16:25.868 --> 00:16:29.038
  • Means you've suffered through more sermons.
  • 00:16:29.038 --> 00:16:32.808
  • Come on, you do not want to show up at the pearly gates, i don't
  • 00:16:32.808 --> 00:16:35.844
  • Know if the gates are pearly or not, but you do not want to show
  • 00:16:35.844 --> 00:16:37.880
  • Up before the lord with pampers and a pacifier.
  • 00:16:37.880 --> 00:16:43.252
  • It will be awkward when you meet apostle paul if you have to take
  • 00:16:43.252 --> 00:16:45.587
  • The pacifier out of your mouth to speak clearly, agreed?
  • 00:16:45.587 --> 00:16:51.193
  • I wanna grow up in the lord, i know you do too.
  • 00:16:51.193 --> 00:16:53.929
  • So, how do we do this?
  • 00:16:53.929 --> 00:16:55.297
  • Well, i think spiritual health and physical health share so
  • 00:16:55.297 --> 00:16:58.267
  • Many similarities.
  • 00:16:58.267 --> 00:16:59.601
  • They're purposeful, intentional, every season of your life
  • 00:16:59.601 --> 00:17:02.337
  • Requires attention if you're gonna be physically healthy.
  • 00:17:02.337 --> 00:17:05.240
  • When you're young, you try to limit the stupid things you do
  • 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:07.709
  • So you don't break everything completely.
  • 00:17:07.709 --> 00:17:10.612
  • When you get older, you try to limit the stupid things you do
  • 00:17:10.612 --> 00:17:13.415
  • Because you break so easily, but it's about that
  • 00:17:13.415 --> 00:17:17.920
  • Purposefulness, intentionality.
  • 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:20.923
  • Build a pattern in your life that reinforces biblical
  • 00:17:20.923 --> 00:17:23.325
  • Principles, character formation, discipline, the courage to
  • 00:17:23.325 --> 00:17:25.994
  • Be different.
  • 00:17:25.994 --> 00:17:27.362
  • The kitchen table is an expression of authority over
  • 00:17:27.362 --> 00:17:29.598
  • Your home.
  • 00:17:29.598 --> 00:17:31.500
  • May i ask a question?
  • 00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.868
  • It's a little personal, but what does the--what role does your
  • 00:17:32.868 --> 00:17:35.104
  • Kitchen table play?
  • 00:17:35.104 --> 00:17:36.438
  • How does it look?
  • 00:17:36.438 --> 00:17:37.806
  • I gave you kind of a set of choices on sunday and it's by no
  • 00:17:37.806 --> 00:17:41.410
  • Means an inclusive collection, but is it a collection place for
  • 00:17:41.410 --> 00:17:44.246
  • Odds and ends from your life and your routine and your habit of
  • 00:17:44.246 --> 00:17:47.049
  • The day?
  • 00:17:47.049 --> 00:17:48.383
  • Is it filled with backpacks and unread mail and a computer
  • 00:17:48.383 --> 00:17:50.519
  • Workstation a little bit like this one?
  • 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:53.255
  • I mean, there's some place settings up there, but there's
  • 00:17:53.255 --> 00:17:54.990
  • Some other stuff that we've just dumped as we've come through.
  • 00:17:54.990 --> 00:17:57.092
  • Clearly, it's not gonna be the center of much.
  • 00:17:57.092 --> 00:17:59.561
  • It's a resting place.
  • 00:17:59.561 --> 00:18:03.665
  • Or, is your table a repository of relics to remind you of
  • 00:18:03.665 --> 00:18:07.669
  • Another season of life?
  • 00:18:07.669 --> 00:18:09.037
  • I visited a home recently and the table was filled with
  • 00:18:09.037 --> 00:18:11.640
  • Pictures and invitations and things.
  • 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:14.243
  • It was like a little museum piece.
  • 00:18:14.243 --> 00:18:15.911
  • It was a collection of a different time and place,
  • 00:18:15.911 --> 00:18:18.881
  • Not evil.
  • 00:18:18.881 --> 00:18:22.317
  • Or maybe your table is a museum piece, it's perfect, perfectly
  • 00:18:22.317 --> 00:18:26.788
  • Arranged, perfectly decorated.
  • 00:18:26.788 --> 00:18:29.725
  • Hdtv would be proud of you.
  • 00:18:29.725 --> 00:18:33.095
  • You get the martha stewart award, the southern
  • 00:18:33.095 --> 00:18:34.997
  • Living award.
  • 00:18:34.997 --> 00:18:37.399
  • It's just void of life, because, i mean, people would mess
  • 00:18:37.399 --> 00:18:41.837
  • That up.
  • 00:18:41.837 --> 00:18:44.173
  • They would make noise, it'd be work.
  • 00:18:44.173 --> 00:18:50.078
  • Or is your table the center of nourishment, both physically and
  • 00:18:50.078 --> 00:18:53.348
  • Spiritually, for the people who live in that home?
  • 00:18:53.348 --> 00:18:56.919
  • Now, i didn't give you those options so you could find your
  • 00:18:56.919 --> 00:18:59.521
  • Option and go, "that's me."
  • 00:18:59.521 --> 00:19:02.224
  • The fourth option is the best.
  • 00:19:02.224 --> 00:19:05.427
  • I believe your table's intended to be the location for spiritual
  • 00:19:05.427 --> 00:19:08.697
  • And physical nourishment for the people who live in that home,
  • 00:19:08.697 --> 00:19:13.335
  • And if that's not the case, just ask the lord.
  • 00:19:13.335 --> 00:19:16.071
  • You don't need to believe me, just ask the lord, is there
  • 00:19:16.071 --> 00:19:19.575
  • Something i could do with that table that would give you
  • 00:19:19.575 --> 00:19:23.245
  • Greater influence in my life and in my home?
  • 00:19:23.245 --> 00:19:26.882
  • And if there is, start.
  • 00:19:26.882 --> 00:19:32.387
  • What's the spiritual authority of your table?
  • 00:19:32.387 --> 00:19:34.523
  • Why does that matter?
  • 00:19:34.523 --> 00:19:35.857
  • Well, the bible gives us a lot of pictures of this, but i've
  • 00:19:35.857 --> 00:19:38.427
  • Been sharing with you.
  • 00:19:38.427 --> 00:19:40.262
  • It said that jezebel and ahab had almost 800 prophets of baal
  • 00:19:40.262 --> 00:19:45.133
  • And asherah that ate at their table, and then it talks about
  • 00:19:45.133 --> 00:19:49.338
  • The people who ate at king david's tables.
  • 00:19:49.338 --> 00:19:52.341
  • Two tables, very well provided, both kings, but very
  • 00:19:52.341 --> 00:19:57.779
  • Different places.
  • 00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:59.114
  • Very different spiritual authority.
  • 00:19:59.114 --> 00:20:00.482
  • Very different allegiances.
  • 00:20:00.482 --> 00:20:01.817
  • Very different objectives.
  • 00:20:01.817 --> 00:20:03.952
  • Both places food was available, in both places spiritual
  • 00:20:03.952 --> 00:20:06.788
  • Authority was present, but they were dramatically different.
  • 00:20:06.788 --> 00:20:11.393
  • Again, this is not about incrimination of what has been,
  • 00:20:11.393 --> 00:20:15.364
  • It's about preparation for what might be.
  • 00:20:15.364 --> 00:20:19.401
  • We wanna invite god into our homes, and what i've been
  • 00:20:19.401 --> 00:20:22.537
  • Telling you, and i'm gonna continue to say is, to make no
  • 00:20:22.537 --> 00:20:25.207
  • Decision is to make a decision.
  • 00:20:25.207 --> 00:20:27.709
  • To hear it and just nod and go, "oh, that's nice, i kind
  • 00:20:27.709 --> 00:20:30.178
  • Of agree."
  • 00:20:30.178 --> 00:20:33.448
  • You see, it's similar to our physical health.
  • 00:20:33.448 --> 00:20:35.651
  • You don't have to make a decision to be unhealthy.
  • 00:20:35.651 --> 00:20:39.554
  • Very few of us got up this morning and thought, i'm gonna
  • 00:20:39.554 --> 00:20:41.723
  • See how many unhealthy things i can do today, how sedentary i
  • 00:20:41.723 --> 00:20:46.428
  • Can be, how much fried food i consume, how much refined sugar
  • 00:20:46.428 --> 00:20:50.732
  • I can eat.
  • 00:20:50.732 --> 00:20:52.467
  • Those would be my goals.
  • 00:20:52.467 --> 00:20:54.569
  • How high can i get my blood pressure?
  • 00:20:54.569 --> 00:20:58.440
  • Wonder what i could eat to get my cholesterol even higher.
  • 00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:02.744
  • Most of us don't approach our day that way, but if you don't
  • 00:21:02.744 --> 00:21:07.149
  • Start the day on purpose to say what can i do today to make
  • 00:21:07.149 --> 00:21:09.851
  • Myself healthy, in reality you're cooperating with the
  • 00:21:09.851 --> 00:21:15.190
  • Degeneration of your health.
  • 00:21:15.190 --> 00:21:17.726
  • The same is true spiritually.
  • 00:21:17.726 --> 00:21:19.261
  • You don't have to get up today and say, "how can i cooperate
  • 00:21:19.261 --> 00:21:21.763
  • With evil?
  • 00:21:21.763 --> 00:21:23.832
  • What expression of immorality could i dally with today?"
  • 00:21:23.832 --> 00:21:29.738
  • All you really have to do is say, "i'm not gonna make any
  • 00:21:29.738 --> 00:21:32.307
  • Intentional effort to honor the lord."
  • 00:21:32.307 --> 00:21:36.378
  • In the same way your spiritual health will decline--i mean,
  • 00:21:36.378 --> 00:21:38.947
  • Your physical health will decline, so will your
  • 00:21:38.947 --> 00:21:40.782
  • Spiritual health.
  • 00:21:40.782 --> 00:21:42.117
  • You have to choose to be healthy spiritually.
  • 00:21:42.117 --> 00:21:44.186
  • Absent the choice, you will become increasingly
  • 00:21:44.186 --> 00:21:46.722
  • Spiritually unhealthy.
  • 00:21:46.722 --> 00:21:50.759
  • So, your kitchen table's important, so it shouldn't be
  • 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:53.962
  • Surprising that we find ourselves in a culture that says
  • 00:21:53.962 --> 00:21:56.665
  • Primarily we're christian, we don't declare ourselves buddhist
  • 00:21:56.665 --> 00:22:00.001
  • Or muslim or agnostic for the most part, and yet we find that
  • 00:22:00.001 --> 00:22:06.742
  • There's not very great expression of biblical values.
  • 00:22:06.742 --> 00:22:10.112
  • We have an appearance but no real substance.
  • 00:22:10.112 --> 00:22:12.147
  • We have a facade of faith because we lack the intent, and
  • 00:22:12.147 --> 00:22:16.284
  • Absent the intent, there's very little behavior,
  • 00:22:16.284 --> 00:22:19.287
  • Choose obedience.
  • 00:22:19.287 --> 00:22:22.424
  • I'm gonna take the minutes we've got and look at some biblical
  • 00:22:22.424 --> 00:22:25.427
  • Examples of this about expressions of hospitality or
  • 00:22:25.427 --> 00:22:28.730
  • Not, because there's a struggle with it.
  • 00:22:28.730 --> 00:22:30.699
  • And i wanna be candid with you, we'll talk more about this.
  • 00:22:30.699 --> 00:22:33.468
  • I presented to you and we kind of laugh about it, but there's
  • 00:22:33.468 --> 00:22:36.471
  • Really some pressure to not do this.
  • 00:22:36.471 --> 00:22:40.075
  • When we were kids at home, my parents had a bible study in our
  • 00:22:40.075 --> 00:22:42.310
  • Home for, like, a decade.
  • 00:22:42.310 --> 00:22:44.579
  • A decade they've tortured us.
  • 00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:48.617
  • Every thursday night, "we have guests coming, go to your room."
  • 00:22:48.617 --> 00:22:54.055
  • Can you believe that?
  • 00:22:54.055 --> 00:22:56.324
  • It's taken years of therapy and the power of the blood of jesus.
  • 00:22:56.324 --> 00:23:03.765
  • We didn't have a bible study in our home because my brothers and
  • 00:23:03.765 --> 00:23:06.168
  • I got together and said, "we think it would be delightful if
  • 00:23:06.168 --> 00:23:09.337
  • You would invite some strangers into our home and share with
  • 00:23:09.337 --> 00:23:13.141
  • Them the great treasures from the word of god, and it would be
  • 00:23:13.141 --> 00:23:18.079
  • Even better if perchance they would bring some children that
  • 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:23.218
  • We could care for."
  • 00:23:23.218 --> 00:23:27.689
  • Never happened, not once.
  • 00:23:27.689 --> 00:23:31.760
  • The only upside to bible study, and it was not really an upside,
  • 00:23:31.760 --> 00:23:35.397
  • It was just a--it wasn't quite as deep a part of the downside,
  • 00:23:35.397 --> 00:23:40.335
  • Is at the end of bible study, they would have some
  • 00:23:40.335 --> 00:23:42.070
  • Refreshments and we got pretty good at sneaking into the
  • 00:23:42.070 --> 00:23:45.774
  • Kitchen and stealing refreshments before they got
  • 00:23:45.774 --> 00:23:47.843
  • To them.
  • 00:23:47.843 --> 00:23:50.946
  • You could have some, but you couldn't eat them all, or then
  • 00:23:50.946 --> 00:23:53.582
  • There was another issue, there's another--but it changed
  • 00:23:53.582 --> 00:23:59.387
  • Our lives.
  • 00:23:59.387 --> 00:24:01.189
  • It's actually the seed that gave rise to the community of faith
  • 00:24:01.189 --> 00:24:04.526
  • We have today.
  • 00:24:04.526 --> 00:24:07.429
  • And it wasn't always fun, it was a choice, and--
  • 00:24:07.429 --> 00:24:11.099
  • Expressions of hospitality, there's pressures against it.
  • 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:16.171
  • There are in my heart, there are in my schedule, it's just easier
  • 00:24:16.171 --> 00:24:20.542
  • To be selfish.
  • 00:24:20.542 --> 00:24:24.479
  • And you can find lots of voices with phds and ecclesiastical
  • 00:24:24.479 --> 00:24:28.750
  • Labels and clothing that will give you permission to
  • 00:24:28.750 --> 00:24:31.019
  • Be selfish.
  • 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:34.322
  • In acts chapter 10, we're stepping into the narrative,
  • 00:24:34.322 --> 00:24:38.360
  • Peter is in jaffa, it's an ancient port.
  • 00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:42.497
  • He's taking a little beach break.
  • 00:24:42.497 --> 00:24:46.434
  • He's in simon's house, and simon's house is right there on
  • 00:24:46.434 --> 00:24:49.871
  • The beachfront, it's on the sea.
  • 00:24:49.871 --> 00:24:53.308
  • Been to jaffa many times.
  • 00:24:53.308 --> 00:24:56.211
  • And peter is there and he's waiting while the meal is
  • 00:24:56.211 --> 00:24:59.214
  • Prepared and he has this vision, you know the vision of the sheet
  • 00:24:59.214 --> 00:25:01.616
  • Let down from heaven with things that peter's not supposed to
  • 00:25:01.616 --> 00:25:04.586
  • Eat, and the voice says, "kill and eat," and he said, "oh, not
  • 00:25:04.586 --> 00:25:06.888
  • Me," and god says, "don't say that."
  • 00:25:06.888 --> 00:25:10.659
  • And it's repeated three times, and about that time there's a
  • 00:25:10.659 --> 00:25:12.994
  • Knock at the door, and there's somebody at the door asking for
  • 00:25:12.994 --> 00:25:16.431
  • Peter, and that's where we pick it up.
  • 00:25:16.431 --> 00:25:18.466
  • "the men replied, 'we've come from cornelius the centurion.
  • 00:25:18.466 --> 00:25:22.270
  • He is righteous and a god-fearing man, who is
  • 00:25:22.270 --> 00:25:25.073
  • Respected by all the jewish people.
  • 00:25:25.073 --> 00:25:27.309
  • And a holy angel told him to have you come to his house so
  • 00:25:27.309 --> 00:25:31.179
  • That he could hear what you have to say.'
  • 00:25:31.179 --> 00:25:33.848
  • Then peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
  • 00:25:33.848 --> 00:25:37.185
  • And the next day peter started out with them, and some of the
  • 00:25:37.185 --> 00:25:39.588
  • Brothers from joppa went along."
  • 00:25:39.588 --> 00:25:42.023
  • It's a fascinating little narrative to me.
  • 00:25:42.023 --> 00:25:44.559
  • It's a little bite of information, but it's not
  • 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:46.995
  • Everything i would like to know.
  • 00:25:46.995 --> 00:25:48.597
  • If god told cornelius through an angelic visit that peter was in
  • 00:25:48.597 --> 00:25:53.535
  • Jaffa and gave him the address, gave him his gps coordinates,
  • 00:25:53.535 --> 00:25:58.607
  • That peter had a message he needed to hear, if i had been
  • 00:25:58.607 --> 00:26:01.876
  • Directing that, i would have said it would be far simpler and
  • 00:26:01.876 --> 00:26:07.215
  • Far less prone to failure if cornelius would just get himself
  • 00:26:07.215 --> 00:26:12.120
  • To the house of simon the tanner by the sea.
  • 00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:14.289
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:14.289 --> 00:26:21.563
  • Allen: hey, this is not just the beginning of another year.
  • 00:26:21.563 --> 00:26:24.099
  • This is the beginning of the 250th anniversary of our nation.
  • 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:27.869
  • This is a very special year.
  • 00:26:27.869 --> 00:26:29.638
  • It's god's story.
  • 00:26:29.638 --> 00:26:30.972
  • This isn't about national politics or economics or
  • 00:26:30.972 --> 00:26:34.709
  • Chest thumping.
  • 00:26:34.709 --> 00:26:36.044
  • This is an acknowledgement that god works in the history of
  • 00:26:36.044 --> 00:26:38.613
  • People and nations.
  • 00:26:38.613 --> 00:26:40.515
  • Well, most of us don't care a lot about history, so we
  • 00:26:40.515 --> 00:26:42.384
  • Partnered with some of our good friends, wallbuilders,
  • 00:26:42.384 --> 00:26:44.886
  • Tim and david barton.
  • 00:26:44.886 --> 00:26:46.221
  • They have the best on this topic.
  • 00:26:46.221 --> 00:26:47.555
  • It's a two-volume set on "the american story."
  • 00:26:47.555 --> 00:26:50.425
  • It'll help us understand god's engagement in american history.
  • 00:26:50.425 --> 00:26:55.030
  • We've lost most of this in our public schools and certainly in
  • 00:26:55.030 --> 00:26:57.766
  • Higher education.
  • 00:26:57.766 --> 00:26:59.100
  • We gotta start back with our families around the kitchen
  • 00:26:59.100 --> 00:27:00.969
  • Table, learning how god has been engaged with us so we can
  • 00:27:00.969 --> 00:27:03.972
  • Imagine a future that includes god.
  • 00:27:03.972 --> 00:27:06.741
  • Let's pray and ask for his help.
  • 00:27:06.741 --> 00:27:08.743
  • Father, i thank you.
  • 00:27:08.743 --> 00:27:10.078
  • I believe you have blessed our nation and caused us to
  • 00:27:10.078 --> 00:27:12.080
  • Flourish, and i pray that this year you would open our hearts
  • 00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:15.050
  • To what you have still ahead of us, that we might invite you
  • 00:27:15.050 --> 00:27:18.953
  • Into our homes, our communities, and into this nation's future.
  • 00:27:18.953 --> 00:27:22.457
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:22.457 --> 00:27:24.592
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:24.592 --> 00:27:24.592