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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - A Life That Triumphs Over Evil

September 13, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - A Life That Triumphs Over Evil
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Lifestyle #Evil #Choices #Actions #Faith #Righteousness #WalkwithGod #RelationshipwithGod #Salvation

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - A Life That Triumphs Over Evil | September 13, 2025
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:01.784 --> 00:00:06.688
  • Allen jackson: hey, may i ask you a question, who's your
  • 00:00:06.822 --> 00:00:08.457
  • Best friend?
  • 00:00:08.590 --> 00:00:09.925
  • I don't want the politically correct answer or the answer
  • 00:00:10.059 --> 00:00:12.194
  • That you think you should give, but in reality, who's the person
  • 00:00:12.294 --> 00:00:15.264
  • Whose opinion you value the most, the person that you wanna
  • 00:00:15.364 --> 00:00:16.398
  • Share your opinions with, the person whose perspective matters
  • 00:00:17.666 --> 00:00:21.070
  • To you when you're sorting through a difficult question or
  • 00:00:21.070 --> 00:00:23.939
  • Circumstance, who is it that brings joy to your life when you
  • 00:00:23.939 --> 00:00:26.708
  • Get a little time with them?
  • 00:00:26.708 --> 00:00:28.043
  • Who's your best friend?
  • 00:00:28.043 --> 00:00:29.678
  • Well, i wanna plant a seed.
  • 00:00:29.678 --> 00:00:31.013
  • I got an idea and it's an objective more than it's always
  • 00:00:31.013 --> 00:00:33.682
  • A reality.
  • 00:00:33.682 --> 00:00:35.084
  • I want jesus to be my friend and i don't mean some
  • 00:00:35.084 --> 00:00:37.519
  • Theoretical way.
  • 00:00:37.519 --> 00:00:38.887
  • I mean, i wanna care about his opinion.
  • 00:00:38.887 --> 00:00:40.422
  • I wanna know what brings joy to him.
  • 00:00:40.422 --> 00:00:42.424
  • I wanna invite him into my life.
  • 00:00:42.424 --> 00:00:43.859
  • I'm not trying to keep any of my life secret from him.
  • 00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:46.228
  • I wanna live my life as jesus's friend.
  • 00:00:46.228 --> 00:00:48.831
  • It's changed the entire context of how i think about my faith.
  • 00:00:48.831 --> 00:00:52.501
  • I've been living this out for a long time.
  • 00:00:52.501 --> 00:00:54.136
  • It's become a tremendous gift in my life.
  • 00:00:54.136 --> 00:00:55.904
  • It's important enough i wrote a book.
  • 00:00:55.904 --> 00:00:58.173
  • I think it'll help you.
  • 00:00:58.173 --> 00:00:59.508
  • It'll open a doorway to take your faith from the theoretical
  • 00:00:59.508 --> 00:01:02.177
  • To a way to engage your faith every day and all you're doing.
  • 00:01:02.177 --> 00:01:05.848
  • It'll be a blessing.
  • 00:01:05.848 --> 00:01:08.650
  • Allen: well, i would submit to you we have a spiritual problem
  • 00:01:08.717 --> 00:01:13.122
  • That's far more than anything you can evaluate in the
  • 00:01:13.122 --> 00:01:15.858
  • Political arena.
  • 00:01:15.858 --> 00:01:17.226
  • We have a fundamental spiritual problem.
  • 00:01:17.226 --> 00:01:19.094
  • So here's my invitation to you.
  • 00:01:19.094 --> 00:01:21.296
  • Let's decide to become a part of the spiritual response.
  • 00:01:21.296 --> 00:01:25.434
  • Let's decide.
  • 00:01:25.434 --> 00:01:27.202
  • And towards that goal, i brought you a short course in
  • 00:01:27.202 --> 00:01:29.771
  • Confronting evil.
  • 00:01:29.771 --> 00:01:31.106
  • When i say short course, it will be.
  • 00:01:31.106 --> 00:01:32.941
  • We may elaborate in some future sessions, but for this morning
  • 00:01:32.941 --> 00:01:35.677
  • It's an introduction.
  • 00:01:35.677 --> 00:01:37.779
  • Then i'll start with matthew chapter 4 and verse 1. i'm back
  • 00:01:37.779 --> 00:01:40.215
  • On your notes.
  • 00:01:40.215 --> 00:01:41.550
  • There's hope.
  • 00:01:41.550 --> 00:01:43.752
  • My god, two pages of scripture and he's rambling off the path.
  • 00:01:43.752 --> 00:01:49.691
  • Matthew 4, chronologically is just following jesus's baptism
  • 00:01:49.691 --> 00:01:55.030
  • And the descent of the spirit and the public affirmation
  • 00:01:55.030 --> 00:01:58.066
  • Of jesus.
  • 00:01:58.066 --> 00:02:00.269
  • Nothing remotely like that in his life up to this point.
  • 00:02:00.269 --> 00:02:03.805
  • The birth announcements were private, maybe the angelic show
  • 00:02:03.805 --> 00:02:06.942
  • In the fields outside of bethlehem with the shepherds,
  • 00:02:06.942 --> 00:02:09.711
  • But there's been silence and now jesus is approaching 30 years of
  • 00:02:09.711 --> 00:02:13.515
  • Age and he presents to john to be baptized in the jordan and
  • 00:02:13.515 --> 00:02:17.886
  • The heavens open and god speaks and says, "this is my son.
  • 00:02:17.886 --> 00:02:20.923
  • I'm pleased with him."
  • 00:02:20.923 --> 00:02:23.592
  • And now we step into matthew 4, "then jesus was led by the
  • 00:02:23.592 --> 00:02:27.095
  • Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
  • 00:02:27.095 --> 00:02:30.365
  • And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
  • 00:02:30.365 --> 00:02:33.135
  • And the tempter came to him and said, 'if you're the son of god,
  • 00:02:33.135 --> 00:02:35.604
  • Tell these stones to become bread.'
  • 00:02:35.604 --> 00:02:38.373
  • And jesus answered, 'it's written: 'man doesn't live on
  • 00:02:38.373 --> 00:02:40.275
  • Bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth
  • 00:02:40.275 --> 00:02:42.678
  • Of god.'"
  • 00:02:42.678 --> 00:02:44.213
  • I would point out to you as a beginning point, but first
  • 00:02:44.213 --> 00:02:47.749
  • There's an affirmation of jesus.
  • 00:02:47.749 --> 00:02:49.351
  • God's not angry with him, frustrated with him.
  • 00:02:49.351 --> 00:02:51.486
  • Jesus hasn't wandered from the path.
  • 00:02:51.486 --> 00:02:53.355
  • He hasn't deviated.
  • 00:02:53.355 --> 00:02:56.158
  • He's in the midst of what god has asked him to do.
  • 00:02:56.158 --> 00:02:59.294
  • The spirit descends upon him.
  • 00:02:59.294 --> 00:03:00.996
  • He begins the public portion of his ministry.
  • 00:03:00.996 --> 00:03:03.732
  • And the first response is the spirit leads him into the desert
  • 00:03:03.732 --> 00:03:09.705
  • Where he's tempted by the devil.
  • 00:03:09.705 --> 00:03:12.541
  • And the spirit prompts him to an extended period of fasting.
  • 00:03:12.541 --> 00:03:17.713
  • And just as affirmation, when the disciples asked jesus to
  • 00:03:17.713 --> 00:03:20.582
  • Teach them to pray, they said, "john taught his disciples
  • 00:03:20.582 --> 00:03:23.085
  • To pray.
  • 00:03:23.085 --> 00:03:24.419
  • Won't you teach us to pray?"
  • 00:03:24.419 --> 00:03:25.787
  • Jesus said, "yes, this is how you should pray."
  • 00:03:25.787 --> 00:03:27.322
  • You know the prayer.
  • 00:03:27.322 --> 00:03:28.657
  • "our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name."
  • 00:03:28.657 --> 00:03:30.392
  • Do you remember that line jesus slipped into that universal
  • 00:03:30.392 --> 00:03:32.894
  • Prayer that we've repeated so many times?
  • 00:03:32.894 --> 00:03:35.063
  • "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the
  • 00:03:35.063 --> 00:03:39.134
  • Evil one."
  • 00:03:39.134 --> 00:03:40.502
  • You wouldn't need to be delivered from the evil one
  • 00:03:40.502 --> 00:03:42.938
  • Unless the evil one was in pursuit.
  • 00:03:42.938 --> 00:03:46.775
  • You wouldn't ask to not be led into temptation if the the
  • 00:03:46.775 --> 00:03:50.212
  • Reality of temptation wasn't real and we don't have places
  • 00:03:50.212 --> 00:03:53.081
  • Where the spirit of god puts us in proximity.
  • 00:03:53.081 --> 00:03:55.684
  • There are times when you confront evil, it makes you more
  • 00:03:55.684 --> 00:03:58.186
  • Vulnerable to temptation.
  • 00:03:58.186 --> 00:04:00.789
  • I would submit to you that both satan and all the demons who
  • 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:07.829
  • Support him recognized jesus and understood who he was.
  • 00:04:07.829 --> 00:04:12.634
  • And they still questioned him.
  • 00:04:12.634 --> 00:04:14.269
  • The audacity of satan to say to jesus, "if you were the son
  • 00:04:14.269 --> 00:04:18.907
  • Of god."
  • 00:04:18.907 --> 00:04:22.344
  • Look at mark chapter 1. i don't think it's insignificant that
  • 00:04:22.344 --> 00:04:29.084
  • This is in the introductory chapter of mark's gospel.
  • 00:04:29.084 --> 00:04:32.187
  • Jesus has begun his public ministry in capernaum.
  • 00:04:32.187 --> 00:04:34.556
  • He goes into the synagogue.
  • 00:04:34.556 --> 00:04:37.159
  • You can visit that location of the synagogue today.
  • 00:04:37.159 --> 00:04:39.528
  • And it says, "a man in the synagogue who was possessed by
  • 00:04:39.528 --> 00:04:41.630
  • An evil spirit cried out, 'what do you want with us, jesus
  • 00:04:41.630 --> 00:04:44.466
  • Of nazareth?
  • 00:04:44.466 --> 00:04:46.335
  • Have you come to destroy us?
  • 00:04:46.335 --> 00:04:47.736
  • I know who you are--the holy one of god.'"
  • 00:04:47.736 --> 00:04:51.606
  • The demons know who jesus is.
  • 00:04:51.606 --> 00:04:53.575
  • I assure you, satan knows.
  • 00:04:53.575 --> 00:04:58.580
  • What he wants is to test the vulnerability of jesus.
  • 00:04:58.580 --> 00:05:04.353
  • He's alone, he's hungry, he's tired.
  • 00:05:04.353 --> 00:05:08.123
  • If you are really the son of god, use your
  • 00:05:11.660 --> 00:05:14.996
  • Power inappropriately.
  • 00:05:14.996 --> 00:05:17.899
  • Betray your assignment.
  • 00:05:17.899 --> 00:05:21.803
  • We're going to have to be willing to become more aware of
  • 00:05:21.803 --> 00:05:26.775
  • The truth and to choose it more completely than we ever
  • 00:05:26.775 --> 00:05:30.712
  • Have before.
  • 00:05:30.712 --> 00:05:33.648
  • There's a third assignment i would give you if we're going to
  • 00:05:33.648 --> 00:05:36.017
  • Do this well, and that's that we'll have to have the courage
  • 00:05:36.017 --> 00:05:39.254
  • And the willingness to warn the unsuspected.
  • 00:05:39.254 --> 00:05:43.792
  • We live in a safety conscious world.
  • 00:05:43.792 --> 00:05:45.527
  • If you get in your car these days and you have a newer model,
  • 00:05:45.527 --> 00:05:48.930
  • It will annoy you until you buckle your seat belt.
  • 00:05:48.930 --> 00:05:54.002
  • I'm of another generation.
  • 00:05:54.002 --> 00:05:55.370
  • I didn't grow up riding in car seats.
  • 00:05:55.370 --> 00:05:56.738
  • I grew up standing in the middle of the seat.
  • 00:05:56.738 --> 00:05:59.941
  • With my elbow on the driver's shoulder.
  • 00:05:59.941 --> 00:06:04.312
  • I'm sure i had some trauma to my midsection from that flying
  • 00:06:04.312 --> 00:06:07.382
  • Elbow at the occasional yellow light.
  • 00:06:07.382 --> 00:06:09.684
  • I didn't grow up, you know, i grew up on a farm around farm
  • 00:06:13.121 --> 00:06:16.158
  • Equipment and it didn't have a lot of safety features.
  • 00:06:16.158 --> 00:06:21.463
  • If you got off of the tractor, the bush hog blade didn't
  • 00:06:21.463 --> 00:06:23.832
  • Stop spinning.
  • 00:06:23.832 --> 00:06:25.667
  • You needed to be clever enough not to put your hand in there.
  • 00:06:25.667 --> 00:06:30.472
  • And so we live in a safety conscious world with all sorts
  • 00:06:30.472 --> 00:06:33.842
  • Of warning buzzers and lights and precautions and firewalls
  • 00:06:33.842 --> 00:06:37.746
  • And i'm not really opposed to that.
  • 00:06:37.746 --> 00:06:40.115
  • I suspect it's for our good.
  • 00:06:40.115 --> 00:06:42.684
  • But when it comes to spiritual things, it seems to me that
  • 00:06:42.684 --> 00:06:45.120
  • We're very reluctant to issue any warnings.
  • 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:48.056
  • We wanna be kind.
  • 00:06:48.056 --> 00:06:49.424
  • We don't want to assert that something might be more right or
  • 00:06:49.424 --> 00:06:51.993
  • Something could be wrong.
  • 00:06:51.993 --> 00:06:54.362
  • We've stepped almost totally away from the notion of
  • 00:06:54.362 --> 00:06:57.065
  • Objective truth that there is a god and he could be known.
  • 00:06:57.065 --> 00:07:00.035
  • And so there are some principles that are not subjective, they're
  • 00:07:00.035 --> 00:07:02.971
  • Not left up to us in our personal experience.
  • 00:07:02.971 --> 00:07:07.542
  • And because of that, our voice has become so small and so meek
  • 00:07:07.542 --> 00:07:10.745
  • And our lights so dim that the darkness is more intense.
  • 00:07:10.745 --> 00:07:14.916
  • Well, in matthew 15, jesus has been talking to the religious
  • 00:07:14.916 --> 00:07:18.687
  • Leaders of his generation.
  • 00:07:18.687 --> 00:07:20.288
  • And he was chastising and he was really challenging some core
  • 00:07:20.288 --> 00:07:23.458
  • Beliefs they had about what made them righteous and
  • 00:07:23.458 --> 00:07:26.928
  • Their practices.
  • 00:07:26.928 --> 00:07:28.296
  • And he said, "don't you understand that what you eat
  • 00:07:28.296 --> 00:07:30.866
  • Does not make you ungodly?"
  • 00:07:30.866 --> 00:07:33.602
  • Farm to table is not new.
  • 00:07:37.205 --> 00:07:41.343
  • And they didn't understand that because they were convinced that
  • 00:07:41.343 --> 00:07:44.012
  • They had a fork that made them more godly than people who
  • 00:07:44.012 --> 00:07:47.115
  • Didn't eat the right foods.
  • 00:07:47.115 --> 00:07:49.251
  • And so they're very offended at jesus and when they're alone,
  • 00:07:49.251 --> 00:07:51.920
  • The disciples come to jesus and they said, "do you know that the
  • 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:54.923
  • Pharisees were offended?
  • 00:07:54.923 --> 00:07:56.324
  • And jesus said every plant that my heavenly father hasn't
  • 00:07:56.324 --> 00:07:58.793
  • Planted will be pulled up by the roots."
  • 00:07:58.793 --> 00:08:00.495
  • It's the next phrase that is remarkable to me.
  • 00:08:00.495 --> 00:08:02.564
  • He said, "leave them."
  • 00:08:02.564 --> 00:08:05.734
  • Get away from them.
  • 00:08:05.734 --> 00:08:07.435
  • "they're blind guides and if a blind man leads a blind man,
  • 00:08:07.435 --> 00:08:10.238
  • Both will fall into the pit."
  • 00:08:10.238 --> 00:08:13.008
  • He didn't say stay and pray for them.
  • 00:08:13.008 --> 00:08:17.112
  • He didn't say, well, you have many friends in that community.
  • 00:08:17.112 --> 00:08:21.917
  • He said, "they're leading you in the wrong path and you'll both
  • 00:08:21.917 --> 00:08:24.653
  • End up in the pit."
  • 00:08:24.653 --> 00:08:27.789
  • We really haven't had the courage for that kind of
  • 00:08:27.789 --> 00:08:29.658
  • Language yet.
  • 00:08:29.658 --> 00:08:32.360
  • Don't sit in churches that dishonor jesus.
  • 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:35.530
  • Don't sit in churches that disrespect the word of god.
  • 00:08:35.530 --> 00:08:40.435
  • Don't sit in churches that diminish the redemptive work of
  • 00:08:40.435 --> 00:08:43.872
  • Jesus, that set aside fundamental biblical principles
  • 00:08:43.872 --> 00:08:47.542
  • So they can be applauded by the culture.
  • 00:08:47.542 --> 00:08:50.579
  • The new testament is abundantly clear that as we approach the
  • 00:08:50.579 --> 00:08:53.615
  • End of the age, deception will escalate.
  • 00:08:53.615 --> 00:08:56.151
  • Apostasy is a fancy word for a falling away,
  • 00:08:56.151 --> 00:08:59.854
  • Will rapidly increase, and the false
  • 00:08:59.854 --> 00:09:01.923
  • Church will flourish as will false prophets.
  • 00:09:01.923 --> 00:09:05.660
  • False prophets aren't just shadowy religious figures,
  • 00:09:05.660 --> 00:09:08.430
  • Folks, the role of the prophet in scripture is a person that
  • 00:09:08.430 --> 00:09:11.199
  • Would speak the truth.
  • 00:09:11.199 --> 00:09:14.502
  • They weren't primarily foretellers.
  • 00:09:14.502 --> 00:09:17.372
  • They were people that would give the clarity on a god perspective
  • 00:09:17.372 --> 00:09:20.575
  • About what was happening, people that were anticipated to tell
  • 00:09:20.575 --> 00:09:23.545
  • The truth.
  • 00:09:23.545 --> 00:09:24.879
  • So a false prophet is someone who stands in a position where
  • 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:26.982
  • You expect the truth to be delivered and they don't.
  • 00:09:26.982 --> 00:09:32.754
  • With that definition, false prophecy is exploding.
  • 00:09:32.754 --> 00:09:37.459
  • It's far beyond churches and pulpits and religious language.
  • 00:09:37.459 --> 00:09:41.596
  • There's a fourth thing i would submit to you is critical if
  • 00:09:41.596 --> 00:09:44.933
  • We're going to confront and overcome evil, and that's we
  • 00:09:44.933 --> 00:09:47.235
  • Need to embrace expressions of the power of god.
  • 00:09:47.235 --> 00:09:51.006
  • We're not gonna outthink evil or outwork evil or out organize
  • 00:09:51.006 --> 00:09:53.842
  • Evil or out advertise evil.
  • 00:09:53.842 --> 00:09:58.413
  • In matthew 14, it's a familiar story.
  • 00:09:58.413 --> 00:10:00.882
  • "as evening approached, the disciples came to jesus."
  • 00:10:00.882 --> 00:10:03.952
  • So this is a remote place.
  • 00:10:03.952 --> 00:10:05.286
  • They're in galilee in the rural parts of israel.
  • 00:10:05.286 --> 00:10:08.323
  • It's getting late.
  • 00:10:08.323 --> 00:10:09.658
  • "send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy
  • 00:10:09.658 --> 00:10:11.626
  • Themselves some food."
  • 00:10:11.626 --> 00:10:12.961
  • Who's really tired and hungry?
  • 00:10:12.961 --> 00:10:15.430
  • The disciples.
  • 00:10:15.430 --> 00:10:17.866
  • "can't you send the people away?
  • 00:10:17.866 --> 00:10:19.234
  • They are so tired."
  • 00:10:19.234 --> 00:10:23.004
  • And then in parenthesis, "and we're even more tired of them."
  • 00:10:23.004 --> 00:10:26.908
  • "and jesus replied, 'they don't need to go away.
  • 00:10:26.908 --> 00:10:29.744
  • You give them something to eat.'"
  • 00:10:29.744 --> 00:10:34.015
  • Bad day for the disciples.
  • 00:10:34.015 --> 00:10:37.018
  • And they said, "look, we've only got a little bit of food, a
  • 00:10:37.018 --> 00:10:39.487
  • Little bit of bread and a little bit of fish."
  • 00:10:39.487 --> 00:10:41.723
  • And jesus said, "bring it to me."
  • 00:10:41.723 --> 00:10:45.093
  • One of the gospels reports that jesus did this.
  • 00:10:45.093 --> 00:10:47.228
  • He's really testing the disciples.
  • 00:10:47.228 --> 00:10:48.797
  • It's not so much even about feeding the crowd.
  • 00:10:48.797 --> 00:10:51.966
  • He's about to introduce them to something.
  • 00:10:51.966 --> 00:10:54.369
  • The power of god in a way they haven't known it.
  • 00:10:54.369 --> 00:10:57.105
  • He does that consistently and persistently, not often in
  • 00:10:57.105 --> 00:11:01.209
  • Places where there's huge crowds.
  • 00:11:01.209 --> 00:11:02.577
  • Occasionally there's a miracle that crowds observe.
  • 00:11:02.577 --> 00:11:04.713
  • There's a healing or something supernatural, but so many of the
  • 00:11:04.713 --> 00:11:07.982
  • Miracles jesus did was to expand the imagination of those that
  • 00:11:07.982 --> 00:11:11.786
  • Were close to him.
  • 00:11:11.786 --> 00:11:13.121
  • He'd speak to the wind and the waves or he would walk on the
  • 00:11:13.121 --> 00:11:15.957
  • Water or he would say to those closest to him, you feed these
  • 00:11:15.957 --> 00:11:18.993
  • People knowing full well they lacked the means to do it or
  • 00:11:18.993 --> 00:11:22.464
  • The opportunity.
  • 00:11:22.464 --> 00:11:24.065
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:11:24.132 --> 00:11:30.772
  • Allen: hey, i've written a new book.
  • 00:11:30.772 --> 00:11:32.140
  • It's called, "my friend jesus."
  • 00:11:32.140 --> 00:11:33.975
  • You know, i'm a pastor.
  • 00:11:33.975 --> 00:11:35.343
  • A lot of ritual, tradition, a lot of formality in the way we
  • 00:11:35.343 --> 00:11:38.813
  • Know god.
  • 00:11:38.813 --> 00:11:40.181
  • It's not bad.
  • 00:11:40.181 --> 00:11:41.516
  • There's some good things in that, but when i'm in
  • 00:11:41.516 --> 00:11:42.884
  • Real trouble or i have something i wanna celebrate, i call
  • 00:11:42.884 --> 00:11:45.053
  • A friend.
  • 00:11:45.053 --> 00:11:46.421
  • Well, i wanna live my life with jesus of nazareth as my friend.
  • 00:11:46.421 --> 00:11:49.691
  • It changes everything in both celebration and when there's
  • 00:11:49.691 --> 00:11:52.794
  • A problem.
  • 00:11:52.794 --> 00:11:54.129
  • I wrote the book to help.
  • 00:11:54.129 --> 00:11:55.463
  • I think it'll open your life to god in a more personal
  • 00:11:55.463 --> 00:11:57.799
  • Transformational way than ever before.
  • 00:11:57.799 --> 00:12:00.335
  • Enjoy the book.
  • 00:12:00.335 --> 00:12:01.703
  • Female announcer: in his book, "my friend jesus," pastor allen
  • 00:12:01.703 --> 00:12:04.139
  • Shares how friendship with jesus brings clarity, strength, and
  • 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:07.575
  • Peace in every part of life.
  • 00:12:07.575 --> 00:12:09.544
  • This isn't about following a religion or religious rules.
  • 00:12:09.544 --> 00:12:12.814
  • It's about cultivating a cherished relationship that will
  • 00:12:12.814 --> 00:12:15.550
  • Help your faith become more personal, more joyful, and more
  • 00:12:15.550 --> 00:12:19.120
  • Powerful each day.
  • 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:20.722
  • Request, "my friend jesus" with your donation of $25 or more
  • 00:12:20.722 --> 00:12:24.626
  • Today at allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:12:24.626 --> 00:12:31.032
  • Allen: there are places where if you will allow the lord to
  • 00:12:31.099 --> 00:12:33.635
  • Awaken you, he has met you.
  • 00:12:33.635 --> 00:12:37.105
  • He has met you.
  • 00:12:37.105 --> 00:12:39.274
  • He delivered you from sin, he's broken addictions over
  • 00:12:39.274 --> 00:12:42.277
  • Your life.
  • 00:12:42.277 --> 00:12:44.078
  • He has restored places where your stubborn rebellion opened a
  • 00:12:44.078 --> 00:12:48.016
  • Floodgate to godlessness.
  • 00:12:48.016 --> 00:12:50.752
  • You've experienced his power.
  • 00:12:50.752 --> 00:12:54.689
  • And if we'll have the courage to share this, not with everybody,
  • 00:12:54.689 --> 00:12:58.793
  • Not like a fire hydrant where everybody that comes by gets
  • 00:12:58.793 --> 00:13:01.196
  • Totally drenched.
  • 00:13:01.196 --> 00:13:04.365
  • More like targeted irrigation where there's a need for that
  • 00:13:04.365 --> 00:13:07.335
  • Moisture, you release it.
  • 00:13:07.335 --> 00:13:11.773
  • If we're willing.
  • 00:13:11.773 --> 00:13:13.975
  • And it's not just telling your god story.
  • 00:13:13.975 --> 00:13:15.577
  • It's when you've been awakened to right and wrong and someone
  • 00:13:15.577 --> 00:13:17.679
  • Says, this is your, listen, i don't think that's a good idea.
  • 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:22.884
  • I wouldn't encourage you to stay on that path.
  • 00:13:22.884 --> 00:13:26.955
  • I love you, but i think if you stay in that journey, it's gonna
  • 00:13:26.955 --> 00:13:29.691
  • Be really painful.
  • 00:13:29.691 --> 00:13:32.927
  • I wanna take the balance of my minutes and i've just got a few.
  • 00:13:32.927 --> 00:13:37.632
  • With some lessons from a practitioner and you gotta know
  • 00:13:37.632 --> 00:13:39.634
  • This week i'm gonna borrow 'em from my mom.
  • 00:13:39.634 --> 00:13:43.004
  • In matthew 13:44, it says, "the kingdom of heaven is like a
  • 00:13:43.004 --> 00:13:45.940
  • Treasure hidden in the field, and when a man found it, he hid
  • 00:13:45.940 --> 00:13:48.176
  • It again, and in his joy he went and sold all that he had and he
  • 00:13:48.176 --> 00:13:51.179
  • Bought that field."
  • 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:52.513
  • That's really the beginning point for this whole initiative
  • 00:13:52.513 --> 00:13:54.515
  • All the way back to the beginning of this lesson.
  • 00:13:54.515 --> 00:13:57.285
  • We've got to become more convinced that what we have
  • 00:13:57.285 --> 00:14:00.421
  • Found in the kingdom of god is better than anything the
  • 00:14:00.421 --> 00:14:02.624
  • Kingdoms of this present world have to offer.
  • 00:14:02.624 --> 00:14:05.927
  • We have to believe that more.
  • 00:14:05.927 --> 00:14:10.064
  • But i would rather be in good standing in the kingdom of god
  • 00:14:10.064 --> 00:14:14.369
  • Than to have any accolade or receive any reward or achieve
  • 00:14:14.369 --> 00:14:18.940
  • Anything or accumulate anything that this present system has
  • 00:14:18.940 --> 00:14:22.277
  • To offer.
  • 00:14:22.277 --> 00:14:23.645
  • I cannot tell you how many times i've met with people and say,
  • 00:14:23.645 --> 00:14:25.513
  • "pastor, i'm gonna serve the lord, but first."
  • 00:14:25.513 --> 00:14:29.284
  • And then they tell me what's first.
  • 00:14:29.284 --> 00:14:33.254
  • It's an incredibly dangerous path to choose.
  • 00:14:33.254 --> 00:14:40.962
  • And it starts with jesus.
  • 00:14:40.962 --> 00:14:43.531
  • I love peter and matthew 14.
  • 00:14:43.531 --> 00:14:44.999
  • Jesus is walking on the lake.
  • 00:14:44.999 --> 00:14:46.334
  • The disciples are in the boat.
  • 00:14:46.334 --> 00:14:47.702
  • They're scared out of their minds.
  • 00:14:47.702 --> 00:14:49.037
  • They've seen a ghost.
  • 00:14:49.037 --> 00:14:51.205
  • And somebody says i think it's jesus.
  • 00:14:51.205 --> 00:14:54.375
  • And peter, god bless his pointed head.
  • 00:14:54.375 --> 00:14:58.379
  • Peter says, "lord, if it's you, i wanna walk on the water.
  • 00:14:58.379 --> 00:15:01.015
  • Lord, if you're on the water, i'm on the water."
  • 00:15:01.015 --> 00:15:06.554
  • I wanna build a little bit of that into allen.
  • 00:15:06.621 --> 00:15:09.257
  • Lord, if you're doing it, i'm in.
  • 00:15:09.257 --> 00:15:12.460
  • If you're recruiting a team, here i am.
  • 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:16.297
  • If you wanna turn up the light, i'll go look for batteries.
  • 00:15:16.297 --> 00:15:19.667
  • We got to grow past this place where we say, i've done my
  • 00:15:23.805 --> 00:15:27.508
  • God business.
  • 00:15:27.508 --> 00:15:29.677
  • Folks, i concede the point, we're not gonna earn
  • 00:15:29.677 --> 00:15:32.680
  • Heaven, okay?
  • 00:15:32.680 --> 00:15:34.115
  • I'm not suggesting a works-based doctrine.
  • 00:15:34.115 --> 00:15:36.517
  • Please, i don't need to read that theological argument again.
  • 00:15:36.517 --> 00:15:40.888
  • I love you.
  • 00:15:40.888 --> 00:15:44.225
  • But if the only callus you have is on your rear end when you
  • 00:15:44.225 --> 00:15:46.995
  • Meet jesus, it's gonna be awkward.
  • 00:15:46.995 --> 00:15:50.431
  • [congregation applauds]
  • 00:15:50.498 --> 00:15:55.470
  • Allen: he'll have nail prints in his hands.
  • 00:15:55.470 --> 00:15:58.806
  • And we know his story and it was real enough that his closest
  • 00:15:58.806 --> 00:16:02.643
  • Friends spent their lives in the pursuit of sharing that
  • 00:16:02.643 --> 00:16:06.347
  • Jesus story.
  • 00:16:06.347 --> 00:16:07.682
  • Peter, james, and john, the whole crew, they
  • 00:16:07.682 --> 00:16:09.751
  • Were relentless.
  • 00:16:09.751 --> 00:16:11.352
  • The more they threatened him, the louder they spoke.
  • 00:16:11.352 --> 00:16:14.455
  • When they began to martyr them, the more determined they were.
  • 00:16:14.455 --> 00:16:19.961
  • Now what are we gonna do?
  • 00:16:19.961 --> 00:16:22.130
  • Jesus matters.
  • 00:16:22.130 --> 00:16:24.198
  • It's real.
  • 00:16:24.198 --> 00:16:25.566
  • This isn't beyond us.
  • 00:16:25.566 --> 00:16:26.901
  • We don't need another seminar.
  • 00:16:26.901 --> 00:16:28.636
  • And the second piece i would give you from the practitioner
  • 00:16:32.273 --> 00:16:33.908
  • Is tell the truth.
  • 00:16:33.908 --> 00:16:39.213
  • Folks, we live in a culture of such rampant deception.
  • 00:16:39.213 --> 00:16:45.920
  • And the antidote is the truth.
  • 00:16:45.920 --> 00:16:49.023
  • Just tell it.
  • 00:16:49.023 --> 00:16:51.692
  • Matthew 8, "when jesus heard this, he was astonished and he
  • 00:16:51.692 --> 00:16:54.395
  • Said to those following, 'i tell you the truth,'" he's talking
  • 00:16:54.395 --> 00:16:56.631
  • About this roman centurion who has greater faith in all the
  • 00:16:56.631 --> 00:17:00.835
  • Pharisees and the sadducees and the synagogue leaders.
  • 00:17:00.835 --> 00:17:04.572
  • He's got more faith in peter and james and john.
  • 00:17:04.572 --> 00:17:06.741
  • Jesus turns around and he said, "listen, i'm about to tell you
  • 00:17:06.741 --> 00:17:08.576
  • The truth, buckle up."
  • 00:17:08.576 --> 00:17:10.878
  • This pagan godless roman centurion has greater faith than
  • 00:17:10.878 --> 00:17:16.984
  • Anybody in the nation.
  • 00:17:16.984 --> 00:17:19.253
  • They want to kill him for saying it.
  • 00:17:19.253 --> 00:17:20.621
  • We struggle with the truth.
  • 00:17:24.058 --> 00:17:26.694
  • We struggle with the truth into our culture because we struggle
  • 00:17:26.694 --> 00:17:29.764
  • With the truth in our lives.
  • 00:17:29.764 --> 00:17:31.332
  • Don't lie.
  • 00:17:31.332 --> 00:17:34.769
  • If you make a mistake, admit it.
  • 00:17:34.769 --> 00:17:37.405
  • When you're wrong, ask for forgiveness.
  • 00:17:37.405 --> 00:17:41.075
  • Those simple little practices will bring a momentum and a
  • 00:17:41.075 --> 00:17:45.179
  • Strength to your spiritual life that is beyond
  • 00:17:45.179 --> 00:17:48.015
  • Your understanding.
  • 00:17:48.015 --> 00:17:49.984
  • Number three is prayer.
  • 00:17:53.521 --> 00:17:56.357
  • Decide to pray.
  • 00:17:56.357 --> 00:17:57.725
  • One of those days jesus went out to a mountainside to pray and he
  • 00:17:57.725 --> 00:17:59.794
  • Spent the night praying to god.
  • 00:17:59.794 --> 00:18:03.397
  • If i had to summarize what my mom was committed to above
  • 00:18:03.397 --> 00:18:07.201
  • Anything else, i'd probably have to say prayer.
  • 00:18:07.201 --> 00:18:10.338
  • It annoyed me as a kid.
  • 00:18:10.338 --> 00:18:12.907
  • It annoyed me as an adult.
  • 00:18:12.907 --> 00:18:17.145
  • I mean, you just couldn't do anything without her wanting to
  • 00:18:17.145 --> 00:18:19.113
  • Have a prayer.
  • 00:18:19.113 --> 00:18:22.416
  • And sometimes she'd forget she just said that and we'd had one
  • 00:18:22.416 --> 00:18:26.954
  • And before we got started she said, "well, can't we pray?"
  • 00:18:26.954 --> 00:18:29.257
  • And we're like, "again?"
  • 00:18:29.257 --> 00:18:32.426
  • "well, that wouldn't hurt anything."
  • 00:18:32.426 --> 00:18:34.795
  • [congregation laughs]
  • 00:18:34.795 --> 00:18:43.404
  • Allen: you know, and i hear the casual way we sweep it aside.
  • 00:18:43.404 --> 00:18:46.207
  • "well, pastor, i don't know how to pray or i don't pray a lot.
  • 00:18:46.207 --> 00:18:48.843
  • Or "prayer's never been that big deal to me."
  • 00:18:48.843 --> 00:18:51.245
  • It's because we haven't been in desperate enough places.
  • 00:18:51.245 --> 00:18:53.181
  • I've been with enough people.
  • 00:18:53.181 --> 00:18:54.515
  • When it gets really desperate, you'll break out a prayer or
  • 00:18:54.515 --> 00:18:57.318
  • You'll ask for one or you'll try to find someone that knows how
  • 00:18:57.318 --> 00:18:59.720
  • To do one or i mean you're not nearly as opposed.
  • 00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:01.889
  • There are some exceptions, but in general when the pressure is
  • 00:19:01.889 --> 00:19:05.126
  • Intense, why not learn to pray before the pressure?
  • 00:19:05.126 --> 00:19:08.563
  • Why not put the pressure on the enemy?
  • 00:19:08.563 --> 00:19:11.899
  • How about your life?
  • 00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:13.234
  • Be so committed to inviting god into the midst of the world we
  • 00:19:13.234 --> 00:19:15.603
  • Live in that the enemy hates it because you pray all the time.
  • 00:19:15.603 --> 00:19:19.840
  • You see, most of us don't wanna pray 'cause we're afraid if we
  • 00:19:24.045 --> 00:19:26.180
  • Don't get the answer the way we want it, we'll be embarrassed.
  • 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:30.351
  • Stop it.
  • 00:19:30.351 --> 00:19:31.819
  • It's much more embarrassing if god answers.
  • 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:35.122
  • "how'd that happen?"
  • 00:19:35.122 --> 00:19:36.490
  • "i have no clue."
  • 00:19:36.490 --> 00:19:39.293
  • "can you do it again?"
  • 00:19:39.293 --> 00:19:40.661
  • "i don't think so, i didn't do it the first time."
  • 00:19:40.661 --> 00:19:44.799
  • It's our pride and arrogance that thinks the outcome we want
  • 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:47.668
  • Is better.
  • 00:19:47.668 --> 00:19:49.003
  • What we wanna be guilty of is inviting god into the midst of
  • 00:19:49.003 --> 00:19:51.105
  • Our world.
  • 00:19:51.105 --> 00:19:52.473
  • That's what we call prayer.
  • 00:19:52.473 --> 00:19:53.808
  • Pray for your kids, put your hands on them.
  • 00:19:53.808 --> 00:19:57.011
  • "god help my children to grow up to be a young man or a young
  • 00:19:57.011 --> 00:20:00.248
  • Woman who honors you.
  • 00:20:00.248 --> 00:20:01.616
  • In jesus' name."
  • 00:20:01.616 --> 00:20:02.950
  • Just hush.
  • 00:20:02.950 --> 00:20:05.519
  • Invite god.
  • 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:06.854
  • Let them hear you invite god into their lives.
  • 00:20:06.854 --> 00:20:11.726
  • Be that person at work that people know if you were invited
  • 00:20:11.726 --> 00:20:14.662
  • That you would pray.
  • 00:20:14.662 --> 00:20:16.964
  • Not the weird one.
  • 00:20:16.964 --> 00:20:20.234
  • Not the one that tries to invent every headline in terms of a
  • 00:20:20.234 --> 00:20:22.870
  • Verse in revelation.
  • 00:20:22.870 --> 00:20:25.072
  • Stop with your super spiritual baloney.
  • 00:20:28.943 --> 00:20:33.247
  • That will require follow up, but not today.
  • 00:20:37.118 --> 00:20:41.422
  • I'm done.
  • 00:20:41.422 --> 00:20:42.757
  • Prayer, there's one more.
  • 00:20:42.757 --> 00:20:44.125
  • What's the next one?
  • 00:20:44.125 --> 00:20:45.593
  • Hospitality.
  • 00:20:45.593 --> 00:20:47.995
  • People matter.
  • 00:20:47.995 --> 00:20:49.397
  • People matter.
  • 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:55.936
  • I was exhausted when i left church wednesday night.
  • 00:20:55.936 --> 00:21:02.543
  • Hundreds of you came to express your appreciation for my mom.
  • 00:21:02.543 --> 00:21:07.815
  • And almost everybody had a version of this same thing.
  • 00:21:07.815 --> 00:21:12.753
  • "she cared about me.
  • 00:21:12.753 --> 00:21:17.591
  • She prayed for me in a way that made me feel like she cared
  • 00:21:17.591 --> 00:21:19.794
  • About me."
  • 00:21:19.794 --> 00:21:21.929
  • One at a time.
  • 00:21:21.929 --> 00:21:24.665
  • And it's true she did.
  • 00:21:24.665 --> 00:21:26.534
  • Again, this is my day to confess, made us nuts as kids.
  • 00:21:26.534 --> 00:21:31.706
  • She would invite anybody into our house and tell us we should
  • 00:21:31.706 --> 00:21:35.910
  • Enjoy it.
  • 00:21:35.910 --> 00:21:39.013
  • And then she would include us in the recruitment process.
  • 00:21:39.013 --> 00:21:42.016
  • "you know, i need you to go pick this person up.
  • 00:21:42.016 --> 00:21:44.051
  • They can't drive and they're gonna have dinner with us."
  • 00:21:44.051 --> 00:21:47.988
  • No.
  • 00:21:47.988 --> 00:21:52.259
  • The only thing god did that kind of leveled the field was he made
  • 00:21:52.326 --> 00:21:54.762
  • Her about this tall.
  • 00:21:54.762 --> 00:21:58.666
  • If she'd have been 6'4", it'd have been completely unfair.
  • 00:21:58.666 --> 00:22:01.135
  • We would have been at a gross disadvantage.
  • 00:22:01.135 --> 00:22:04.205
  • We at least felt better about ourselves 'cause we could
  • 00:22:04.205 --> 00:22:06.340
  • Physically look down upon her while we dutifully
  • 00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:09.977
  • Obeyed instructions.
  • 00:22:09.977 --> 00:22:13.748
  • But people mattered.
  • 00:22:13.748 --> 00:22:15.716
  • They weren't an intrusion.
  • 00:22:15.716 --> 00:22:18.419
  • She and my dad would open our home or open their checkbooks
  • 00:22:18.419 --> 00:22:22.056
  • And make space for people.
  • 00:22:22.056 --> 00:22:24.959
  • They told more people about jesus while they vaccinated
  • 00:22:24.959 --> 00:22:27.528
  • Their dogs or served them pecan pie than any evangelist i
  • 00:22:27.528 --> 00:22:31.265
  • Ever met.
  • 00:22:31.265 --> 00:22:34.535
  • People matter.
  • 00:22:34.535 --> 00:22:35.936
  • The people you work with, the ones you hate.
  • 00:22:35.936 --> 00:22:39.306
  • The reason you're praying to be transferred.
  • 00:22:39.306 --> 00:22:42.710
  • Your neighbors that you think are a scourge from the devil.
  • 00:22:42.710 --> 00:22:45.513
  • And my mom was enough in love with jesus, she understood
  • 00:22:49.517 --> 00:22:52.052
  • People rejected her.
  • 00:22:52.052 --> 00:22:54.522
  • She wasn't clueless.
  • 00:22:54.522 --> 00:22:55.856
  • She understood that in their own ways they would make fun of her
  • 00:22:55.856 --> 00:22:59.226
  • Or stand apart from her.
  • 00:22:59.226 --> 00:23:02.797
  • But she was so determined to stand close to jesus and invite
  • 00:23:02.797 --> 00:23:05.766
  • Anybody else that wanted to make that journey she would go.
  • 00:23:05.766 --> 00:23:09.603
  • I've taken a minute to tell you her story because it's
  • 00:23:09.603 --> 00:23:11.872
  • Accessible to every one of us.
  • 00:23:11.872 --> 00:23:14.442
  • If you'll put your hand back there and take that baton, you
  • 00:23:14.442 --> 00:23:17.878
  • Can be that kind of person.
  • 00:23:17.878 --> 00:23:20.247
  • If you're willing.
  • 00:23:20.247 --> 00:23:22.483
  • People can matter to you.
  • 00:23:22.483 --> 00:23:23.818
  • You can be a person who prays.
  • 00:23:23.818 --> 00:23:25.152
  • You can practice hospitality.
  • 00:23:25.152 --> 00:23:27.421
  • You can invite god into circumstances.
  • 00:23:27.421 --> 00:23:30.658
  • You can weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who
  • 00:23:30.658 --> 00:23:32.827
  • Rejoice or you can stay silent and show up for church when it's
  • 00:23:32.827 --> 00:23:39.333
  • Convenient and roll the dice that you're good to go.
  • 00:23:39.333 --> 00:23:43.938
  • I would not encourage you to do that.
  • 00:23:43.938 --> 00:23:47.942
  • I believe what's in front of us will demand a different response
  • 00:23:47.942 --> 00:23:50.744
  • Than what's been before us.
  • 00:23:50.744 --> 00:23:53.247
  • And i'm excited 'cause god called our name.
  • 00:23:53.247 --> 00:23:57.284
  • If he recruited us for this season, he's given us everything
  • 00:23:57.284 --> 00:23:59.787
  • We need for life and godliness.
  • 00:23:59.787 --> 00:24:02.256
  • You don't have to be afraid, but you're gonna have to be strong
  • 00:24:02.256 --> 00:24:06.260
  • And courageous.
  • 00:24:06.260 --> 00:24:08.095
  • Are you ready?
  • 00:24:08.095 --> 00:24:09.663
  • I wanna ask the lord for an anointing on our lives today,
  • 00:24:09.663 --> 00:24:13.467
  • All right?
  • 00:24:13.467 --> 00:24:14.835
  • If he recruited one from amongst us, he will give us what we need
  • 00:24:14.835 --> 00:24:17.404
  • For those of us who are here.
  • 00:24:17.404 --> 00:24:20.107
  • I'm gonna take that baton and i'm gonna encourage you to do
  • 00:24:20.107 --> 00:24:23.978
  • That as well.
  • 00:24:23.978 --> 00:24:25.713
  • Why don't you stand with me.
  • 00:24:25.713 --> 00:24:27.047
  • If you're at home, you can stand with us.
  • 00:24:27.047 --> 00:24:28.682
  • If you haven't finished the bagel by now, you just wait
  • 00:24:28.682 --> 00:24:30.417
  • For lunch.
  • 00:24:30.417 --> 00:24:36.123
  • Why don't you join hands with somebody.
  • 00:24:36.123 --> 00:24:38.759
  • If you don't know 'em, tell 'em who you are.
  • 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:40.494
  • If you don't know 'em and they won't talk to you, turn loose
  • 00:24:43.564 --> 00:24:45.566
  • Of them.
  • 00:24:45.566 --> 00:24:50.538
  • Lord, thank you.
  • 00:24:53.941 --> 00:24:55.543
  • Thank you for your great love for us.
  • 00:24:55.543 --> 00:24:57.144
  • I thank you that in every generation you call men and
  • 00:24:57.144 --> 00:24:59.413
  • Women for yourself.
  • 00:24:59.413 --> 00:25:01.615
  • I thank you that in your mercy, father, you bring people
  • 00:25:01.615 --> 00:25:04.151
  • Alongside of us that give us glimpses of what christ in us
  • 00:25:04.151 --> 00:25:09.056
  • Might be.
  • 00:25:09.056 --> 00:25:11.125
  • And i pray today, father, that we would say yes to you in ways
  • 00:25:11.125 --> 00:25:14.762
  • That we've been reluctant.
  • 00:25:14.762 --> 00:25:16.730
  • That we would open our hearts to you and our lives to you, make
  • 00:25:16.730 --> 00:25:20.768
  • Space for you where we haven't.
  • 00:25:20.768 --> 00:25:23.337
  • Forgive us for our arrogance.
  • 00:25:23.337 --> 00:25:26.674
  • We're imagining there wasn't really anything significant left
  • 00:25:26.674 --> 00:25:28.909
  • We needed to learn.
  • 00:25:28.909 --> 00:25:31.178
  • Forgive us for our indifference.
  • 00:25:31.178 --> 00:25:33.714
  • For looking at a broken world and hoping someone else
  • 00:25:33.714 --> 00:25:36.116
  • Will respond.
  • 00:25:36.116 --> 00:25:38.319
  • Lord, today we raise our hands and say, "here we are."
  • 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:43.390
  • Lord, give us a double portion.
  • 00:25:43.390 --> 00:25:45.960
  • Give us understanding hearts and eyes to see.
  • 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:49.063
  • Give us a new boldness, a new fear of god, a fear of god
  • 00:25:49.063 --> 00:25:51.999
  • That's greater than any fear of man we might hold.
  • 00:25:51.999 --> 00:25:55.936
  • Holy spirit, help us.
  • 00:25:55.936 --> 00:25:58.105
  • We thank you for a harvest beyond anything we've seen
  • 00:25:58.105 --> 00:26:00.407
  • Or imagined.
  • 00:26:00.407 --> 00:26:02.176
  • So that when our days are spent and our strength grows smaller,
  • 00:26:02.176 --> 00:26:07.014
  • We're prepared to see you.
  • 00:26:07.014 --> 00:26:09.316
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:26:09.316 --> 00:26:12.653
  • Hallelujah, god bless you.
  • 00:26:12.653 --> 00:26:15.422
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:15.489 --> 00:26:21.595
  • Allen: thank you for spending a few minutes with us today.
  • 00:26:21.595 --> 00:26:23.664
  • You know, our goal in doing this is to add momentum to your
  • 00:26:23.664 --> 00:26:27.001
  • Spiritual life to help open the kingdom of god to you in a more
  • 00:26:27.001 --> 00:26:30.571
  • Practical way that you could engage in a relationship with
  • 00:26:30.571 --> 00:26:33.140
  • The lord.
  • 00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:34.475
  • Not be a more faithful church sitter or a bible reader, but a
  • 00:26:34.475 --> 00:26:37.177
  • Person who actually knows a living god.
  • 00:26:37.177 --> 00:26:39.613
  • Well, i've written a new book.
  • 00:26:39.613 --> 00:26:40.981
  • It's called "my friend jesus."
  • 00:26:40.981 --> 00:26:42.383
  • Be candid.
  • 00:26:42.383 --> 00:26:43.717
  • It's the culmination of years of my own spiritual journey.
  • 00:26:43.717 --> 00:26:47.321
  • I wanted to peel away all the formality of language and
  • 00:26:47.321 --> 00:26:50.858
  • Routine and ritual, and i really wanted to focus on what it means
  • 00:26:50.858 --> 00:26:54.328
  • To be a friend of the lord.
  • 00:26:54.328 --> 00:26:56.330
  • And that book is intended to give you a pathway to imagine
  • 00:26:56.330 --> 00:26:59.500
  • Your faith in a way that enables it to be more personal,
  • 00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:02.336
  • More transformational.
  • 00:27:02.336 --> 00:27:03.704
  • When i need help, i call my friends.
  • 00:27:03.704 --> 00:27:05.572
  • Well, when i need real help, i call my friend jesus.
  • 00:27:05.572 --> 00:27:08.642
  • He changes everything.
  • 00:27:08.642 --> 00:27:09.977
  • He's done it many times in my life.
  • 00:27:09.977 --> 00:27:11.879
  • He'll do it in your life.
  • 00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:13.614
  • Read the book, open your heart, there'll be a whole new power
  • 00:27:13.614 --> 00:27:16.884
  • Available to help shape your future.
  • 00:27:16.884 --> 00:27:21.055
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:21.121 --> 00:27:21.121