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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Lets Grow (Part 2)

December 1, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Lets Grow (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#WordofGod #Transformation #Faithfulness #SpiritualGrowth #Politics #LoveofGod #Money #Pride #Discouragement #Encouragement #Authority #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Lets Grow (Part 2) | December 1, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: god is moving in the earth.
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  • We established allen jackson ministries to strengthen
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  • The church.
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  • Jesus said he would build his church, and hell wouldn't
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  • Stop it.
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  • We intend to be a part of that in this nation and beyond.
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  • With your help, we have done a lot of things in the media, with
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  • Television and radio.
  • 00:00:21.805 --> 00:00:23.606
  • We have created small group curriculum.
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  • We've hosted a "culture and christianity" conference.
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  • We have crisscrossed this nation in more than two dozen cities,
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  • Doing pastor's conferences with pastors and church leaders.
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  • Now, we have strategic partners in israel and the ukraine asking
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  • For that same kind of help and resources.
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  • As we look at the year ahead i want to ask you to prayerfully
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  • Consider making an investment in this ministry, as we look
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  • Towards this new year.
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  • We intend to strengthen the church in this nation and beyond
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  • As never before.
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  • God is moving.
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  • We want to be a part of that.
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  • I thank you for your partnership, for your
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  • Generosity, and for your faithfulness in standing
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  • With us.
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  • Together we'll make a difference for the kingdom of god.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: what's the opposite of being thankful?
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  • It's not a trick question.
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  • I mean, you can plug "un" in front of it.
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  • Well, you can be unthankful.
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  • That's not wrong.
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  • Unthankful, ungrateful, ingratitude, ingrate, all of
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  • Those would be antonyms for being thankful, the opposite of.
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  • There's a couple of passages--you think, well,
  • 00:01:34.210 --> 00:01:35.912
  • That's not so significant.
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  • I disagree.
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  • The bible says it's very significant.
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  • 2 timothy 3, some of you remember the passage.
  • 00:01:40.750 --> 00:01:43.386
  • It's a description of the end of the age.
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  • It says, "there will be terrible times in the last days."
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  • The literal translation is exceedingly fierce, and then
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  • There's 18 attributes of the human character that will be
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  • Deteriorating, not of politics, not of wars, not of diseases and
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  • Epidemics and pandemics.
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  • What will make times terrible, exceedingly fierce, is the
  • 00:02:01.404 --> 00:02:04.607
  • Deterioration of human character.
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  • When the church is called to be salt and light, we're to dispel
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  • The darkness and to be a preservative to withstand
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  • The corruption.
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  • So the exceedingly fierce times will come because of the
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  • Capitulation, the weakening of the church, but there's 18
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  • Characteristics listed.
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  • I didn't give them all to you, but, "people will be lovers of
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  • Themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,
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  • Disobedient to their parents."
  • 00:02:34.404 --> 00:02:36.306
  • So far we could put that list into current culture, and we
  • 00:02:36.306 --> 00:02:38.308
  • Wouldn't really--wouldn't even call it bad.
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  • "well, they just have a healthy self-image.
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  • They're driven to achieve.
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  • They're confident."
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  • And then it says they're ungrateful and unholy.
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  • Ungrateful is without gratitude.
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  • Unholy is without holiness.
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  • See, it's not a small thing to be ungrateful, and i'm telling
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  • You, it is an epidemic amongst the people of faith.
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  • We want to do what we want when we want the way we want, and if
  • 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:20.416
  • We can't, we're ungrateful.
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  • I don't like it.
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  • Romans chapter 1 says it, perhaps more bluntly.
  • 00:03:26.155 --> 00:03:29.125
  • Romans chapter 1 presents a description of the deterioration
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  • Of human character.
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  • It's a downward progression through layers of choices,
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  • Ultimately ending in perversion and immorality and god
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  • Abandoning us to our own carnal choices, but that downward slide
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  • Begins in--chapter 1 with verse 21 says, "although they knew
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  • God, they neither glorified him as god."
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  • That we know there's a god.
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  • The bible says that every human being knows there's a god, that
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  • It's revealed in his creation, that every person has an
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  • Instinct that there's a god.
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  • In romans it says that the trigger for this downward
  • 00:04:05.895 --> 00:04:09.232
  • Progression is that although we know there's a god, we refuse to
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  • Glorify him or give thanks to him, and then it affects how
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  • We think.
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  • Our thinking becomes futile, and our foolish hearts become
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  • Darkened, and down we go.
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  • Giving thanks to god is a powerful expression against the
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  • Spiritual forces of darkness in your life.
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  • When you're discouraged, disheartened, frightened, when
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  • You feel threatened, abandoned, alone, stop and begin to begin
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  • To give thanks.
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  • If it's me and i--if i'm--before i can, i'll raise my, "lord, i
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  • Want to give you thanks.
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  • I thank you that you called me out of darkness into the kingdom
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  • Of your son.
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  • I thank you that through the blood of jesus, my sins have
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  • Been forgiven.
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  • I thank you that you're a faithful god, a merciful god, a
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  • Just god, a kind god."
  • 00:05:01.984 --> 00:05:04.520
  • See, i got to turn my attention away from my circumstance and my
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  • Feeling and what i want and what i imagined and my dream, and
  • 00:05:08.024 --> 00:05:11.327
  • Say, "god, i'm gonna give thanks to you.
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  • I have so much food to eat, there's too much of me."
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  • I mean, we're so blessed.
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  • Don't focus on the darkness.
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  • Yeah, we can talk about what's happening in the world.
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  • I think we have to stay aware.
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  • If you're hiding from what's happening, and you're calling it
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  • Gratitude and thankfulness, you're deceived.
  • 00:05:33.583 --> 00:05:36.619
  • You're looking for an excuse not to engage.
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  • I wouldn't coach you on that.
  • 00:05:38.654 --> 00:05:41.724
  • "well, i don't ever want to say anything unkind."
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  • Jesus did.
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  • He looked at people, and said, "you're a bunch of snakes, a
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  • Bunch of whitewashed tombs, a bunch of hypocrites.
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  • You search over the whole world to make a disciple, and you make
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  • Him twice the child of hell that you are."
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  • Those are not compliments.
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  • Gratitude, thank you, please, they're game changers.
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  • Then it seems to me, after you learn to say please and thank
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  • You, and survive the trauma that comes with those baby steps,
  • 00:06:13.723 --> 00:06:18.728
  • That life continues, and then those that are coaching you, if
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  • They're doing their job, begin to encourage you to
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  • Be productive.
  • 00:06:24.767 --> 00:06:26.102
  • You have to learn to walk.
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  • They're not going to bring food to you, and change you for the
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  • Rest of your life.
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  • You can't just cry when you're not getting your way, and it is
  • 00:06:32.542 --> 00:06:35.144
  • An expression of your discomfort, and everybody
  • 00:06:35.144 --> 00:06:37.113
  • Come running.
  • 00:06:37.113 --> 00:06:39.582
  • Church is way too full of crying christians.
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  • Come on.
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  • Years ago--it's been a long time.
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  • One weekend we were talking about something similar to this,
  • 00:06:50.526 --> 00:06:52.595
  • And we gave out candy pacifiers to everybody.
  • 00:06:52.595 --> 00:06:57.233
  • I told them to take him to work, and i said, "the first time this
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  • Week at work when you think they're not paying attention,
  • 00:06:59.402 --> 00:07:01.304
  • You just pop that pacifier in.
  • 00:07:01.304 --> 00:07:02.872
  • It'll help your attitude adjustment.
  • 00:07:05.875 --> 00:07:08.511
  • It'll be far"--i didn't bring you pacifiers tonight, but
  • 00:07:08.511 --> 00:07:14.183
  • Learning to walk spiritually, not just saying we're born
  • 00:07:14.183 --> 00:07:18.721
  • Again, not just saying we got the dna, that we've been--we're
  • 00:07:18.721 --> 00:07:22.425
  • Living creatures spiritually.
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  • Productivity, it seems to me, begins with obedience.
  • 00:07:25.127 --> 00:07:27.897
  • We understand we're under authority.
  • 00:07:27.897 --> 00:07:30.967
  • It isn't just god doing what i want him to do, that i'm under
  • 00:07:30.967 --> 00:07:34.937
  • His authority, that my assignment is to be obedient to
  • 00:07:34.937 --> 00:07:38.107
  • Him, when i understand it and when i don't, when i like it and
  • 00:07:38.107 --> 00:07:43.412
  • When i don't.
  • 00:07:43.412 --> 00:07:45.314
  • Obedience isn't always about my understanding.
  • 00:07:45.314 --> 00:07:47.817
  • And then it leads to maturing, and maturing, both physically,
  • 00:07:52.054 --> 00:07:55.691
  • Emotionally, and spiritually, is connected to being responsible.
  • 00:07:55.691 --> 00:08:01.197
  • Maturing is not knowledge.
  • 00:08:01.197 --> 00:08:04.500
  • You can have access to lots of information.
  • 00:08:04.500 --> 00:08:06.369
  • If information makes you mature, my computer, connected to the
  • 00:08:06.369 --> 00:08:10.873
  • Internet, with access to ai, is the most mature thing in the
  • 00:08:10.873 --> 00:08:13.376
  • Building, but real maturity is reflected in your willing to be
  • 00:08:13.376 --> 00:08:19.148
  • Responsible, morally, spiritually.
  • 00:08:19.148 --> 00:08:23.452
  • Accountability, for what may you be held accountable?
  • 00:08:23.452 --> 00:08:27.557
  • Obedience, look at jeremiah 1. we're reading jeremiah together
  • 00:08:30.793 --> 00:08:33.296
  • Right now.
  • 00:08:33.296 --> 00:08:34.664
  • God's--god is laying jeremiah's assignment out before him.
  • 00:08:34.664 --> 00:08:37.333
  • He's young, and he said, "'lord, i don't know how to speak; i'm
  • 00:08:37.333 --> 00:08:41.938
  • Only a child.'
  • 00:08:41.938 --> 00:08:43.306
  • And the lord said, 'don't say that.'"
  • 00:08:43.306 --> 00:08:46.108
  • Wow, that's a little harsh.
  • 00:08:46.108 --> 00:08:48.578
  • "'don't say, "i'm only a child."
  • 00:08:48.578 --> 00:08:50.379
  • You must go to everyone i send you to and say whatever i
  • 00:08:50.379 --> 00:08:53.115
  • Command you.
  • 00:08:53.115 --> 00:08:55.551
  • Don't be afraid of them, for i am with you, and i will
  • 00:08:55.551 --> 00:08:57.887
  • Rescue you.'"
  • 00:08:57.887 --> 00:08:59.255
  • Well, wait a minute.
  • 00:08:59.255 --> 00:09:00.590
  • "don't be afraid of them.
  • 00:09:00.590 --> 00:09:01.958
  • I'll rescue you."
  • 00:09:01.958 --> 00:09:03.292
  • Well, you wouldn't have to rescue me if there wasn't
  • 00:09:03.292 --> 00:09:04.660
  • Gonna be a problem.
  • 00:09:04.660 --> 00:09:06.529
  • If there was gonna be a parade and a party, i wouldn't need
  • 00:09:06.529 --> 00:09:09.098
  • Rescued, and if you're sending me into circumstances where i'm
  • 00:09:09.098 --> 00:09:13.135
  • Gonna need rescued, maybe being a little anxious about it's
  • 00:09:13.135 --> 00:09:15.538
  • Appropriate, and god says, "no, you don't need to be anxious.
  • 00:09:15.538 --> 00:09:19.609
  • You need to be obedient."
  • 00:09:19.609 --> 00:09:22.478
  • Well, how obedient do we have to be?
  • 00:09:26.248 --> 00:09:28.184
  • We're not under law anymore, we're under grace.
  • 00:09:28.184 --> 00:09:32.154
  • That always intrigues me.
  • 00:09:35.758 --> 00:09:38.494
  • The new testament says that jesus was the end of the law as
  • 00:09:38.494 --> 00:09:41.897
  • A means of righteousness, that our status with god is not
  • 00:09:41.897 --> 00:09:46.836
  • Linked to us keeping the law, but it doesn't say that it was
  • 00:09:46.836 --> 00:09:51.574
  • The end of the law.
  • 00:09:51.574 --> 00:09:52.942
  • There's not a period there.
  • 00:09:52.942 --> 00:09:55.544
  • I mean, the law grounded in the ten commandments.
  • 00:09:55.544 --> 00:09:58.014
  • Do you think when we get to the new testament, thou shall
  • 00:09:58.014 --> 00:10:00.950
  • Commit adultery?
  • 00:10:00.950 --> 00:10:02.318
  • Thou shalt steal.
  • 00:10:05.554 --> 00:10:06.922
  • Thou shall have other gods before me.
  • 00:10:06.922 --> 00:10:09.392
  • Thou shalt take the name of the lord in vain.
  • 00:10:09.392 --> 00:10:11.394
  • Thou shalt not keep the sabbath.
  • 00:10:11.394 --> 00:10:13.896
  • Do you think they all got reversed?
  • 00:10:13.896 --> 00:10:15.297
  • I don't think so.
  • 00:10:15.297 --> 00:10:17.900
  • The holiness of god, the character of god
  • 00:10:17.900 --> 00:10:20.036
  • Haven't changed.
  • 00:10:20.036 --> 00:10:21.404
  • We're called to be obedient.
  • 00:10:21.404 --> 00:10:23.939
  • Hebrews 5:8 says of jesus, "although he was a son, he
  • 00:10:28.044 --> 00:10:32.415
  • Learned obedience."
  • 00:10:32.415 --> 00:10:35.551
  • He learned obedience.
  • 00:10:35.551 --> 00:10:37.186
  • Did you ever thought jesus learned to be obedient?
  • 00:10:37.186 --> 00:10:41.524
  • He'd never been in an earth suit before.
  • 00:10:41.524 --> 00:10:44.794
  • He didn't have all the frailties that came with that, the limits
  • 00:10:44.794 --> 00:10:47.296
  • Of our strength, the emotions, the weariness.
  • 00:10:47.296 --> 00:10:52.668
  • There were many things he experienced that had not been a
  • 00:10:52.668 --> 00:10:55.604
  • Part of his journey.
  • 00:10:55.604 --> 00:10:56.939
  • The bible says he humbled himself, and became one of us.
  • 00:10:56.939 --> 00:10:59.341
  • He laid aside the glory of heaven to--for the incarnation,
  • 00:10:59.341 --> 00:11:03.079
  • For all the vagaries and the frailties that come with the
  • 00:11:03.079 --> 00:11:05.681
  • Human condition, and it says he learned to be obedient from
  • 00:11:05.681 --> 00:11:09.418
  • That position.
  • 00:11:09.418 --> 00:11:10.753
  • If jesus had to learn obedience, may i submit, you and i have to
  • 00:11:10.753 --> 00:11:13.355
  • Learn it.
  • 00:11:13.355 --> 00:11:15.991
  • You can't just sweep it, and say, "well, you know, i didn't
  • 00:11:15.991 --> 00:11:17.593
  • Want to do that."
  • 00:11:17.593 --> 00:11:18.928
  • Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, stop.
  • 00:11:18.928 --> 00:11:20.296
  • Time out.
  • 00:11:20.296 --> 00:11:21.630
  • What did god want you to do?
  • 00:11:21.630 --> 00:11:22.998
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:11:22.998 --> 00:11:30.272
  • Allen: god is moving in the earth.
  • 00:11:30.272 --> 00:11:32.007
  • A few years ago we understood god inviting us beyond just the
  • 00:11:32.007 --> 00:11:34.777
  • Local congregation that i serve.
  • 00:11:34.777 --> 00:11:36.645
  • We began allen jackson ministry so we could serve the church
  • 00:11:36.645 --> 00:11:39.915
  • Across our nation and beyond, with pastor's conferences, with
  • 00:11:39.915 --> 00:11:43.519
  • Print material, with small group curriculum.
  • 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:45.888
  • God has opened remarkable doors in radio and television.
  • 00:11:45.888 --> 00:11:48.991
  • Your partnership, your generosity, your faithfulness
  • 00:11:48.991 --> 00:11:51.560
  • Has made that possible.
  • 00:11:51.560 --> 00:11:53.028
  • Now, we have strategic partners asking for help in israel and
  • 00:11:53.028 --> 00:11:55.631
  • The ukraine, those war torn countries.
  • 00:11:55.631 --> 00:11:57.833
  • Together we're strengthening the church in this nation
  • 00:11:57.833 --> 00:12:00.136
  • And beyond.
  • 00:12:00.136 --> 00:12:01.470
  • Thank you for your generosity.
  • 00:12:01.470 --> 00:12:02.938
  • Female announcer: in a culture filled with deception, our
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  • Allen: see, maturing means we become responsible for
  • 00:12:31.133 --> 00:12:34.570
  • Our lives.
  • 00:12:34.570 --> 00:12:36.705
  • We move beyond expecting others to be responsible for us, to
  • 00:12:36.705 --> 00:12:40.643
  • Make our lives easier, or better, or more convenient, or
  • 00:12:40.643 --> 00:12:43.045
  • More comfortable, and we decide we'll become the
  • 00:12:43.045 --> 00:12:46.482
  • Responsible participants.
  • 00:12:46.482 --> 00:12:49.485
  • In 1 corinthians 3, he says, "brothers, i couldn't address
  • 00:12:49.485 --> 00:12:51.921
  • You as spiritual."
  • 00:12:51.921 --> 00:12:53.722
  • He's writing to a church.
  • 00:12:53.722 --> 00:12:55.090
  • He's not writing to pagans.
  • 00:12:55.090 --> 00:12:56.425
  • "i couldn't address you as spiritual, but as worldly-mere
  • 00:12:56.425 --> 00:12:59.728
  • Infants in christ.
  • 00:12:59.728 --> 00:13:03.199
  • I gave you milk, not solid food, for you weren't ready for it.
  • 00:13:03.199 --> 00:13:05.901
  • Indeed, you are still not ready.
  • 00:13:05.901 --> 00:13:07.536
  • You are worldly.
  • 00:13:07.536 --> 00:13:10.105
  • There is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?
  • 00:13:10.105 --> 00:13:13.342
  • Aren't you not acting like mere men?
  • 00:13:13.342 --> 00:13:16.111
  • One says, 'i follow paul,' and another says, 'i
  • 00:13:16.111 --> 00:13:18.180
  • Follow apollos.'"
  • 00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:19.548
  • They're arguing about their--who they like to--who their favorite
  • 00:13:19.548 --> 00:13:22.151
  • Podcaster is.
  • 00:13:22.151 --> 00:13:25.621
  • He's not denying the fact that they're born again.
  • 00:13:25.621 --> 00:13:27.957
  • He's not denying the spiritual reality of their conversion.
  • 00:13:27.957 --> 00:13:31.460
  • He said, "you are deeply immersed in this present
  • 00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:34.563
  • World order.
  • 00:13:34.563 --> 00:13:37.366
  • You act like pagans, so i can't give you a real truth.
  • 00:13:37.366 --> 00:13:43.572
  • I can't trust you with real responsibilities."
  • 00:13:43.572 --> 00:13:46.242
  • We don't give four year olds significant respons--we don't
  • 00:13:46.242 --> 00:13:48.577
  • Give them car keys.
  • 00:13:48.577 --> 00:13:51.413
  • We don't even give them scissors.
  • 00:13:51.413 --> 00:13:52.948
  • So i don't think it's real surprising that we have trouble
  • 00:13:56.318 --> 00:13:58.687
  • Cutting through the darkness of our age, when we haven't grown
  • 00:13:58.687 --> 00:14:01.457
  • Up enough that we can be trusted with scissors.
  • 00:14:01.457 --> 00:14:03.359
  • You couldn't have a sword unless we grow up in the lord, unless
  • 00:14:03.359 --> 00:14:09.431
  • We're willing to be obedient.
  • 00:14:09.431 --> 00:14:13.369
  • Paul is making the association between young in faith,
  • 00:14:13.369 --> 00:14:17.006
  • Immature, and being worldly.
  • 00:14:17.006 --> 00:14:20.709
  • I would rather be spiritual wise than world wise.
  • 00:14:20.709 --> 00:14:27.316
  • Hebrews 5, very similar.
  • 00:14:30.853 --> 00:14:33.622
  • Says, "we have much to say about this, but it's hard to explain
  • 00:14:33.622 --> 00:14:36.325
  • Because you are slow to learn."
  • 00:14:36.325 --> 00:14:39.395
  • He just said you're in the slow group.
  • 00:14:39.395 --> 00:14:42.831
  • "in fact, by this time, you ought to be teachers."
  • 00:14:42.831 --> 00:14:46.835
  • This is your fourth trip through the sixth grade.
  • 00:14:46.835 --> 00:14:50.973
  • But, "you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of
  • 00:14:50.973 --> 00:14:53.709
  • God's word all over again.
  • 00:14:53.709 --> 00:14:55.077
  • You need milk, not solid food!"
  • 00:14:55.077 --> 00:14:56.645
  • If you live on milk, you're still a baby, and "not
  • 00:14:56.645 --> 00:15:02.851
  • Acquainted with the teaching about right righteousness."
  • 00:15:02.851 --> 00:15:05.087
  • "solid food is for the mature."
  • 00:15:05.087 --> 00:15:07.856
  • Well, how do you mature?
  • 00:15:07.856 --> 00:15:09.224
  • "who by constant use have trained themselves to
  • 00:15:09.224 --> 00:15:15.698
  • Distinguish good from evil."
  • 00:15:15.698 --> 00:15:17.199
  • Why are we coach--we need to mentor?
  • 00:15:17.199 --> 00:15:18.934
  • Why is that a more prevalent line, than a willingness to show
  • 00:15:22.004 --> 00:15:25.107
  • The people you're mentoring?
  • 00:15:25.107 --> 00:15:28.677
  • You know the fastest way to grow?
  • 00:15:28.677 --> 00:15:31.413
  • Help somebody else.
  • 00:15:31.413 --> 00:15:32.781
  • But the model that we've lived under through--for my journey
  • 00:15:36.452 --> 00:15:38.721
  • Through christiandom for decades is, you know, you need a
  • 00:15:38.721 --> 00:15:41.056
  • Ment--somebody to mentor you.
  • 00:15:41.056 --> 00:15:43.659
  • No, you start helping other people, you watch yourself grow.
  • 00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:48.831
  • I mean, as boring as my sermons are to you, i learn more from
  • 00:15:48.831 --> 00:15:51.200
  • You than you do every week, 'cause i have to
  • 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:55.004
  • Actually prepare.
  • 00:15:55.004 --> 00:15:56.338
  • I know it doesn't always show, but i really do, and if you want
  • 00:15:56.338 --> 00:15:59.742
  • To grow spiritually, you start helping some other people.
  • 00:15:59.742 --> 00:16:04.046
  • Well, i invited four people, and nobody came.
  • 00:16:04.046 --> 00:16:06.215
  • There's a clue.
  • 00:16:06.215 --> 00:16:07.783
  • Either your discernment on who to ask wasn't great, or the
  • 00:16:11.987 --> 00:16:14.757
  • Outcome the last time they tried wasn't good, and you got to
  • 00:16:14.757 --> 00:16:17.993
  • Change the bait.
  • 00:16:17.993 --> 00:16:19.695
  • I love you.
  • 00:16:23.065 --> 00:16:26.602
  • We're called to be salt and light, to make a difference in
  • 00:16:26.602 --> 00:16:29.204
  • Our world, and we've been so focused--we've been invited to
  • 00:16:29.204 --> 00:16:34.977
  • Be so focused on our conversion experience and the memories
  • 00:16:34.977 --> 00:16:39.581
  • Around it.
  • 00:16:39.581 --> 00:16:41.250
  • A big part of maturing is delaying gratification.
  • 00:16:41.250 --> 00:16:43.719
  • It means we just don't cry when we're hungry, and throw a fit
  • 00:16:47.089 --> 00:16:50.259
  • And we're unhappy.
  • 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:52.394
  • It seems to me that it requires a new valuation in your life, a
  • 00:16:52.394 --> 00:16:55.831
  • New way to evaluate what's happening.
  • 00:16:55.831 --> 00:16:59.768
  • The phrase that i see occasionally these days
  • 00:16:59.768 --> 00:17:01.637
  • Is adulting.
  • 00:17:01.637 --> 00:17:03.372
  • It's like a verb, and i see people who are chronologically
  • 00:17:03.372 --> 00:17:08.377
  • Old enough to be adulting, and they go, "i don't want
  • 00:17:08.377 --> 00:17:10.212
  • To adult."
  • 00:17:10.212 --> 00:17:13.282
  • Well, i feel that way spiritually sometimes,
  • 00:17:13.282 --> 00:17:15.150
  • Don't you?
  • 00:17:15.150 --> 00:17:17.286
  • I have a friend who was in a worship service one time, very
  • 00:17:17.286 --> 00:17:19.822
  • Gifted vocalist, and the person leading worship said, "if you
  • 00:17:19.822 --> 00:17:22.991
  • Don't worship the lord, the rocks will cry out."
  • 00:17:22.991 --> 00:17:26.128
  • My friend sat down, and said, "rocks, take over."
  • 00:17:26.128 --> 00:17:30.466
  • I think we all feel that way sometimes.
  • 00:17:30.466 --> 00:17:32.000
  • I'm tired.
  • 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.335
  • I don't wanna do it anymore.
  • 00:17:33.335 --> 00:17:34.703
  • I don't wanna think about it anymore.
  • 00:17:34.703 --> 00:17:36.038
  • I don't want to engage anymore.
  • 00:17:36.038 --> 00:17:37.406
  • I don't wanna take a stand anymore, i don't want to put
  • 00:17:37.406 --> 00:17:39.007
  • On the armor anymore.
  • 00:17:39.007 --> 00:17:41.410
  • I don't want to adult.
  • 00:17:41.410 --> 00:17:42.744
  • I don't wanna go to work.
  • 00:17:42.744 --> 00:17:45.280
  • There's been some commercials from time to time that'll take
  • 00:17:45.280 --> 00:17:47.850
  • Advantage of this, you know, that some parent coming to their
  • 00:17:47.850 --> 00:17:49.751
  • Child, and say, "i'm taking a personal day."
  • 00:17:49.751 --> 00:17:53.622
  • Doesn't work like that, does it?
  • 00:17:53.622 --> 00:17:54.990
  • I grew up with animals.
  • 00:17:54.990 --> 00:17:56.325
  • You gotta feed the animals, whether you feel like it or you
  • 00:17:56.325 --> 00:17:58.293
  • Don't, whether it's sunny or rainy, or hot or cold, and i
  • 00:17:58.293 --> 00:18:02.631
  • Don't ever remember one of them saying thank you.
  • 00:18:02.631 --> 00:18:06.268
  • Like, every time i watered and fed a horse, they just made a
  • 00:18:06.268 --> 00:18:08.504
  • Bigger mess in the stall.
  • 00:18:08.504 --> 00:18:11.473
  • I thought it was very ungrateful of them.
  • 00:18:11.473 --> 00:18:15.110
  • Acts 5, "the apostles left the sanhedrin, rejoicing because
  • 00:18:15.110 --> 00:18:18.313
  • They had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the
  • 00:18:18.313 --> 00:18:22.484
  • Name," of jesus.
  • 00:18:22.484 --> 00:18:24.319
  • Disgraced, now, they suffered physically, but they had
  • 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:27.723
  • Been--they had to--disgrace is a fall from grace.
  • 00:18:27.723 --> 00:18:32.794
  • They were less welcome.
  • 00:18:32.794 --> 00:18:35.130
  • They weren't appreciated.
  • 00:18:35.130 --> 00:18:36.532
  • They'd put on the scoundrel's list.
  • 00:18:36.532 --> 00:18:40.202
  • Are you willing to be--suffer disgrace for the name of christ,
  • 00:18:40.202 --> 00:18:43.572
  • Or are you trying to manage your christianity so that disgrace
  • 00:18:43.572 --> 00:18:48.443
  • Isn't a part of the story?
  • 00:18:48.443 --> 00:18:50.979
  • Do you know how to turn the volume up and turn the
  • 00:18:50.979 --> 00:18:52.648
  • Volume down?
  • 00:18:52.648 --> 00:18:54.016
  • Do you have a face for this group,
  • 00:18:54.016 --> 00:18:55.350
  • And a face for that group?
  • 00:18:55.350 --> 00:18:56.685
  • They left rejoicing that they were worthy.
  • 00:18:56.685 --> 00:18:58.921
  • Not everybody's worthy to suffer disgrace for jesus.
  • 00:18:58.921 --> 00:19:01.957
  • If you're given an opportunity, it's an expression of honor,
  • 00:19:01.957 --> 00:19:05.394
  • Seize it.
  • 00:19:05.394 --> 00:19:06.795
  • It's a change of how we think.
  • 00:19:10.265 --> 00:19:12.100
  • It's a more mature attitude.
  • 00:19:12.100 --> 00:19:16.171
  • In philippians 3, paul says, "whatever was to my profit i
  • 00:19:16.171 --> 00:19:19.107
  • Consider loss for the sake of christ."
  • 00:19:19.107 --> 00:19:22.744
  • Said, "i had some things on my resume that were
  • 00:19:22.744 --> 00:19:24.279
  • Pretty outstanding.
  • 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:25.614
  • I studied in the right schools.
  • 00:19:25.614 --> 00:19:27.983
  • I was the most likely to succeed.
  • 00:19:27.983 --> 00:19:29.585
  • I was doing a lot of stuff," but he said, "i--it's nothing to
  • 00:19:29.585 --> 00:19:32.588
  • Me now."
  • 00:19:32.588 --> 00:19:33.956
  • "i consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing
  • 00:19:33.956 --> 00:19:35.757
  • Greatness of knowing christ jesus my lord."
  • 00:19:35.757 --> 00:19:39.027
  • What are you putting in front of it?
  • 00:19:39.027 --> 00:19:42.197
  • Profession, career, approval, you're hiding behind your kids,
  • 00:19:42.197 --> 00:19:47.236
  • Your grandkids?
  • 00:19:47.236 --> 00:19:50.405
  • It's time to grow up in the lord.
  • 00:19:50.405 --> 00:19:51.773
  • We need grown up outcomes.
  • 00:19:51.773 --> 00:19:54.810
  • Colossians 3 gives us the path.
  • 00:19:54.810 --> 00:19:57.212
  • "put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature."
  • 00:19:57.212 --> 00:20:01.283
  • That old carnal, selfish nature that says, i want, and i think,
  • 00:20:01.283 --> 00:20:03.652
  • And i feel.
  • 00:20:03.652 --> 00:20:04.987
  • He says put it to death.
  • 00:20:04.987 --> 00:20:06.355
  • It leads to sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil
  • 00:20:06.355 --> 00:20:08.991
  • Desires, greed.
  • 00:20:08.991 --> 00:20:10.993
  • Put it to death.
  • 00:20:10.993 --> 00:20:12.361
  • We're all subject to those things.
  • 00:20:12.361 --> 00:20:13.695
  • We're all tempted with it, every one of us.
  • 00:20:13.695 --> 00:20:16.465
  • Put it to death.
  • 00:20:16.465 --> 00:20:18.066
  • Well, that's not easy.
  • 00:20:18.066 --> 00:20:19.401
  • No kidding.
  • 00:20:19.401 --> 00:20:20.736
  • So you're just to cry until somebody feeds you, and scream
  • 00:20:20.736 --> 00:20:22.337
  • Until they change you.
  • 00:20:22.337 --> 00:20:24.406
  • It's easier to let somebody else do the adulting.
  • 00:20:24.406 --> 00:20:28.143
  • Adulting is inconvenient because it means you take your desires
  • 00:20:28.143 --> 00:20:32.848
  • And your wants, and you subjugate them to other things.
  • 00:20:32.848 --> 00:20:36.852
  • I'm not asking you to deny your legitimate needs, i'm telling
  • 00:20:36.852 --> 00:20:40.822
  • You the messaging is out of balance, and the church is
  • 00:20:40.822 --> 00:20:44.626
  • Too worldly.
  • 00:20:44.626 --> 00:20:45.961
  • We're too far in the world, with too little of the fear of god.
  • 00:20:45.961 --> 00:20:50.299
  • Let's be the change agents.
  • 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:52.634
  • Let's decide to grow.
  • 00:20:52.634 --> 00:20:55.170
  • I want to close with communion.
  • 00:20:55.170 --> 00:20:58.106
  • I think it's appropriate.
  • 00:20:58.106 --> 00:20:59.474
  • When you came into whichever sanctuary you are on campus, you
  • 00:20:59.474 --> 00:21:01.510
  • Should have received the elements.
  • 00:21:01.510 --> 00:21:02.844
  • If you failed to do that, i believe there's some ushers that
  • 00:21:02.844 --> 00:21:05.747
  • Will share with you.
  • 00:21:05.747 --> 00:21:07.249
  • If you're at home, you got a half a beat to go grab a glass
  • 00:21:07.249 --> 00:21:09.918
  • Of water and a ritz cracker.
  • 00:21:09.918 --> 00:21:15.524
  • I met somebody the other day that said they had a little
  • 00:21:15.524 --> 00:21:17.125
  • Olive wood cup, and they keep juice and bread ready when they
  • 00:21:17.125 --> 00:21:22.831
  • Join service.
  • 00:21:22.831 --> 00:21:26.268
  • Good for them.
  • 00:21:26.268 --> 00:21:28.136
  • But it seemed appropriate to me because communion was--communion
  • 00:21:28.136 --> 00:21:32.207
  • Is our tangible expression of jesus's sacrifice for us.
  • 00:21:32.207 --> 00:21:37.512
  • There was nothing pleasant about the cross.
  • 00:21:37.512 --> 00:21:40.649
  • There was nothing affirming in being rejected in the city
  • 00:21:40.649 --> 00:21:43.318
  • Of jerusalem.
  • 00:21:43.318 --> 00:21:46.121
  • There was nothing pleasant or pleasing in being beaten so
  • 00:21:46.121 --> 00:21:49.958
  • Severely he's barely recognizable as human.
  • 00:21:49.958 --> 00:21:55.097
  • There was nothing affirming in having your closest friends deny
  • 00:21:55.097 --> 00:21:57.833
  • They know you because they're afraid.
  • 00:21:57.833 --> 00:22:02.904
  • I mean, there's nothing in the elements of communion that we
  • 00:22:02.904 --> 00:22:05.207
  • Think, oh, that was easy.
  • 00:22:05.207 --> 00:22:07.976
  • So when we receive it, i would submit to you, we shouldn't
  • 00:22:07.976 --> 00:22:11.380
  • Imagine that it's the pathway to easy.
  • 00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:14.750
  • It's not the spiritual equivalent of the easy button.
  • 00:22:14.750 --> 00:22:18.687
  • Yes, jesus took our punishment that we might have
  • 00:22:18.687 --> 00:22:22.791
  • His blessings.
  • 00:22:22.791 --> 00:22:24.559
  • Yes, he exhausted the curse of sin, that we might be
  • 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:27.062
  • Made righteous.
  • 00:22:27.062 --> 00:22:28.397
  • All of those things are true, but they're true to enable us to
  • 00:22:28.397 --> 00:22:31.633
  • Lead lives of holiness and righteousness and obedience to
  • 00:22:31.633 --> 00:22:36.104
  • God, and if it was not easy for jesus, it's probably not gonna
  • 00:22:36.104 --> 00:22:40.342
  • Be easy for you and me.
  • 00:22:40.342 --> 00:22:44.179
  • So people say, "i didn't know being a christian was going to
  • 00:22:44.179 --> 00:22:45.881
  • Be difficult."
  • 00:22:45.881 --> 00:22:48.417
  • Babies don't know life is going to be difficult either.
  • 00:22:52.521 --> 00:22:54.890
  • They're not born with that innate awareness.
  • 00:22:58.460 --> 00:23:00.996
  • It takes some maturity to recognize the journey is not
  • 00:23:00.996 --> 00:23:04.065
  • Simple, and it isn't bad news, folks.
  • 00:23:04.065 --> 00:23:08.336
  • It's an invitation to significance for your life that
  • 00:23:08.336 --> 00:23:11.072
  • Will stretch into all eternity.
  • 00:23:11.072 --> 00:23:12.407
  • There are tremendous rewards.
  • 00:23:12.407 --> 00:23:13.775
  • We're gonna work on it in the next session, but it isn't easy.
  • 00:23:13.775 --> 00:23:18.947
  • Settle it.
  • 00:23:18.947 --> 00:23:21.249
  • Establish it.
  • 00:23:21.249 --> 00:23:23.985
  • There's a battle in the earth, but you can be triumphant.
  • 00:23:23.985 --> 00:23:30.525
  • So we come to the communion table with all the challenges of
  • 00:23:30.525 --> 00:23:34.663
  • Our lives, but we're not alone because the one we call lord is
  • 00:23:34.663 --> 00:23:39.935
  • Triumphant, and it says he leads us in a triumphal procession.
  • 00:23:39.935 --> 00:23:45.006
  • We're the evidence of his victory.
  • 00:23:45.006 --> 00:23:48.777
  • Our lives are an expression of what jesus accomplished through
  • 00:23:48.777 --> 00:23:52.314
  • His broken body and his shed blood.
  • 00:23:52.314 --> 00:23:54.883
  • We've been forgiven, justified, sanctified, delivered from this
  • 00:23:54.883 --> 00:23:59.120
  • Present evil age so that our lives can bear fruit for the
  • 00:23:59.120 --> 00:24:02.624
  • Eternal kingdom of almighty god, that through us, god is
  • 00:24:02.624 --> 00:24:06.595
  • Expressing the fragrance of the victory in christ.
  • 00:24:06.595 --> 00:24:09.531
  • So we come to the communion table.
  • 00:24:12.701 --> 00:24:15.203
  • I don't know what needs you brought to service, but i'm
  • 00:24:15.203 --> 00:24:19.441
  • Telling you, through the blood of jesus, there is victory.
  • 00:24:19.441 --> 00:24:23.445
  • Don't give in.
  • 00:24:23.445 --> 00:24:25.380
  • Don't give up.
  • 00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:27.215
  • Receive what the lord has for you.
  • 00:24:27.215 --> 00:24:30.252
  • Jesus himself said, "this is my body, broken for you.
  • 00:24:30.252 --> 00:24:32.921
  • As often as you eat this, do this in remembrance of me."
  • 00:24:32.921 --> 00:24:35.790
  • Let's receive.
  • 00:24:35.790 --> 00:24:39.528
  • And he took a cup, and said, "this cup is a new covenant,
  • 00:24:39.528 --> 00:24:41.897
  • Sealed with my own blood.
  • 00:24:41.897 --> 00:24:43.231
  • As often as you drink it, you proclaim my death until you see
  • 00:24:43.231 --> 00:24:46.768
  • Me again."
  • 00:24:46.768 --> 00:24:48.103
  • Let's receive.
  • 00:24:48.103 --> 00:24:50.839
  • You stand with me, i wanna pray.
  • 00:24:54.509 --> 00:24:57.045
  • If you're at home, you can stand with us.
  • 00:24:57.045 --> 00:24:59.314
  • Father, thank you.
  • 00:25:02.784 --> 00:25:04.553
  • I thank you that in your great mercy and love, you've called us
  • 00:25:04.553 --> 00:25:07.255
  • Out of darkness into the kingdom of your son.
  • 00:25:07.255 --> 00:25:10.325
  • That through jesus's death and resurrection, you have made it
  • 00:25:10.325 --> 00:25:13.695
  • Possible that we might be made righteous, that our sins could
  • 00:25:13.695 --> 00:25:18.533
  • Be forgiven, that we could be delivered from the kingdom of
  • 00:25:18.533 --> 00:25:21.469
  • Darkness, and welcomed into the kingdom of your son.
  • 00:25:21.469 --> 00:25:24.172
  • We praise you for that tonight.
  • 00:25:24.172 --> 00:25:25.707
  • We thank you for it, that you are our life, you are our
  • 00:25:25.707 --> 00:25:29.377
  • Living hope.
  • 00:25:29.377 --> 00:25:31.546
  • We bless your name.
  • 00:25:31.546 --> 00:25:33.815
  • Nothing's hidden from you.
  • 00:25:33.815 --> 00:25:35.183
  • You know the details of our lives, the challenges and the
  • 00:25:35.183 --> 00:25:39.020
  • Stress, and we invite you into the midst of it.
  • 00:25:39.020 --> 00:25:42.290
  • May your life be our life.
  • 00:25:42.290 --> 00:25:43.725
  • Bring health to our mortal bodies, peace to our minds, hope
  • 00:25:43.725 --> 00:25:47.329
  • To our souls, strength where we're weary, joy where there's
  • 00:25:47.329 --> 00:25:51.566
  • Been heaviness.
  • 00:25:51.566 --> 00:25:52.901
  • We praise you tonight, that in jesus we are more than
  • 00:25:52.901 --> 00:25:55.604
  • Conquerors, that greater is the spirit in us than the spirit in
  • 00:25:55.604 --> 00:25:59.507
  • This world that opposes you.
  • 00:25:59.507 --> 00:26:01.509
  • We praise you for it tonight, for your victory in the midst of
  • 00:26:01.509 --> 00:26:04.713
  • Your people.
  • 00:26:04.713 --> 00:26:06.081
  • As we've received the bread in the cup, we receive your life
  • 00:26:06.081 --> 00:26:08.984
  • And your triumph and your strength.
  • 00:26:08.984 --> 00:26:11.686
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:26:11.686 --> 00:26:15.090
  • Hallelujah, god bless you.
  • 00:26:15.090 --> 00:26:17.158
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:17.158 --> 00:26:23.832
  • Allen: as a young man i understood the lord inviting me
  • 00:26:23.832 --> 00:26:26.234
  • To serve his church.
  • 00:26:26.234 --> 00:26:27.802
  • I had no imagination what god would do with the congregation
  • 00:26:27.802 --> 00:26:30.505
  • That he invited me to serve.
  • 00:26:30.505 --> 00:26:32.107
  • It's been a remarkable journey together.
  • 00:26:32.107 --> 00:26:34.442
  • That verse in matthew where jesus said, "i'll build my
  • 00:26:34.442 --> 00:26:36.511
  • Church, and hell won't stop it," has become a life verse for me,
  • 00:26:36.511 --> 00:26:40.682
  • And then jesus added to that where he said, "those that are
  • 00:26:40.682 --> 00:26:42.851
  • Gathering with me, join me or else you're scattering."
  • 00:26:42.851 --> 00:26:45.553
  • Well, i wanna be gathering with the lord.
  • 00:26:45.553 --> 00:26:47.789
  • That's the reason we began allen jackson ministries several
  • 00:26:47.789 --> 00:26:50.158
  • Years ago.
  • 00:26:50.158 --> 00:26:51.526
  • I understood god inviting us to build the church beyond this
  • 00:26:51.526 --> 00:26:53.795
  • Local community, not buildings or denominations across the
  • 00:26:53.795 --> 00:26:56.364
  • Nation, but to strengthen the people of god.
  • 00:26:56.364 --> 00:26:59.167
  • We've created curriculum.
  • 00:26:59.167 --> 00:27:00.502
  • We've crisscrossed this nation, meeting with church leaders
  • 00:27:00.502 --> 00:27:02.937
  • And pastors.
  • 00:27:02.937 --> 00:27:04.272
  • We began broadcasting with television and radio.
  • 00:27:04.272 --> 00:27:06.608
  • Your partnership has made all of that possible.
  • 00:27:06.608 --> 00:27:09.210
  • Well, now god has opened doors internationally, with strategic
  • 00:27:09.210 --> 00:27:11.946
  • Partners in israel and ukraine, to strengthen the war torn
  • 00:27:11.946 --> 00:27:15.083
  • Church in those nations.
  • 00:27:15.083 --> 00:27:16.751
  • I thank you for your partnership, for your
  • 00:27:16.751 --> 00:27:18.687
  • Generosity, for your faithfulness and prayer.
  • 00:27:18.687 --> 00:27:21.256
  • Together we are gathering the people of god and strengthening
  • 00:27:21.256 --> 00:27:24.325
  • His church.
  • 00:27:24.325 --> 00:27:25.694
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:25.694 --> 00:27:25.694