Allen Jackson - Living Faith

March 28, 2026 | 27:29

Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Living Faith | March 28, 2026
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world people are searching
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: the topic is "living faith."
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  • And to be completely candid, i had prepared an outline, and at
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  • Least sketched out the outline, that i intended for this
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  • Evening, and when i did the bible reading this morning,
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  • I felt like i got a whole different perspective, just kind
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  • Of dropped in almost in total.
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  • So i'm gonna start, if you--i hope you're doing the daily
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  • Bible reading with us.
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  • We're in the book of jeremiah, which is not the happiest book
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  • Of the bible.
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  • But it certainly feels like it could have been peeled from
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  • The headlines.
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  • And this was the beginning this morning.
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  • It's jeremiah 26: "early in the reign of jehoiakim son of josiah
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  • The king of judah, this word came from the lord: 'this is
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  • What the lord says: stand in the courtyard of the lord's house
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  • And speak to all the people of the towns of judah who come to
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  • Worship in the house of the lord.'"
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  • I wanna start by pulling your attention to who this message
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  • Is for.
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  • This is the message given to the people who come to the temple
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  • To worship.
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  • And i'm--i think it's a reasonable assumption that the
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  • People who came to worship would not be unlike the people who
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  • Come to worship today, which means everybody didn't come
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  • To worship.
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  • We have room for a few more.
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  • And i'm not casting stones, i want you to understand who this
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  • Message is directed to.
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  • Whatever is coming after this is directed to the people who were
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  • Faithful enough to make the effort to go to the temple
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  • To worship.
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  • And god has--says, "i have something i wanna say to you."
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  • And we can read on, verse 3: "perhaps they will listen and
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  • Each will turn from his evil way."
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  • The assumption is that the people coming to worship need
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  • To turn.
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  • Well, we make the opposite assumption.
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  • I mean, without calling names or raising hands, we typically feel
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  • Pretty good about ourselves, particularly if it's a midweek
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  • Service and we came to church.
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  • I mean, we get extra square feet in the mansion in heaven if you
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  • Come to midweek service, right?
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  • I mean, there's some joke about wednesday nights don't count.
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  • I don't remember exactly, but-- and this is a message given to
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  • The people who are coming to worship, and god's expectation
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  • Is that they will need to turn from their evil way.
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  • "and then i will relent and not bring on them the disaster i was
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  • Planning because of the evil they had done."
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  • God intends disaster on people that go to worship him.
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  • "say to them, 'this is what the lord says: if you do not listen
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  • To me and follow my law, which i've set before you, and if you
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  • Do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom i've
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  • Sent to you again and again (though you have not listened),
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  • Then i will make this house like shiloh.'"
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  • Shiloh was the location where when they occupied the--when
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  • They first occupied the promised land, it's where they landed,
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  • It's where the tabernacle was put up.
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  • And after the tabernacle was destroyed, shiloh
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  • Became desolate.
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  • It was empty and abandoned.
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  • It became pasture for goats.
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  • "'i'll make this house like shiloh and the city an object of
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  • Cursing among all the nations of the earth.'"
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  • That was our introduction to our daily reading today.
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  • What a happy little passage.
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  • God said, "if you will listen and turn from evil," these are
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  • The people coming to worship.
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  • "then i will relent and not bring disaster.
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  • But if you do not listen," and he says that three times.
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  • Three times, he says, "you don't listen."
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  • Hebrew is an ancient language.
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  • It's simple in some respects and the emphasis is added
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  • By repetition.
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  • Sometimes you'll read in english, it says,
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  • "listen, listening."
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  • That's an old language saying, "listen carefully."
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  • In this case, when he repeats it three times, "you don't listen,"
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  • He said, "then you're gonna be left desolate, empty, abandoned,
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  • And you'll be an object of cursing among all the nations."
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  • Well, i'm of the opinion, and this would be my opinion, so you
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  • Could disagree and we could both go to heaven, that there's
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  • A political change underway in our nation.
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  • My opinion, i think god showed great mercy to us.
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  • And i shared with you in an earlier session that i felt like
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  • The response of the heartland of america was the most
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  • Overwhelming part to me of what we've been watching these last
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  • Several days.
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  • It seemed to me that people who had been less engaged or
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  • Disengaged or disinterested or, for whatever reason, in flyover
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  • Country, blue collar people, people who more sophisticated
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  • People often wanna call names.
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  • I'm delighted to stand in the midst of those people, but it
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  • Seemed to me they raised their hands and said, "we don't wanna
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  • Go this way."
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  • And that gives me hope because it takes god to stir that in
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  • Our hearts.
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  • We've been on the wrong path for a long time that transcends
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  • Politicians and parties.
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  • We've been making bad decisions for a long time, and we had an
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  • Unprecedented number of people stand up, so to think about this
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  • In terms of politicians or candidates or even parties,
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  • I believe is a very narrow understanding of what
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  • We're witnessing.
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  • I think it's god's mercy that awakens us enough because we
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  • Still live with a bit of a representative form
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  • Of government.
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  • We get to choose our leaders.
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  • And i don't know of anything but the mercy of god that would
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  • Allow a political change to perhaps be underway.
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  • A political change, yes, but i think what's still in question
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  • Is if a policy change will be enacted.
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  • And i say that because we're still in the point, it's like
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  • The introductions before the-- an athletic event.
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  • It's like the introductions before a big football game or
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  • A big basketball game, you know, they turn all the lights off and
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  • They turn on the spotlights and they introduce the players and
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  • There's smoke and sparks.
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  • If it's your team, you're screaming, this is awesome,
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  • We're wonderful, we're going to crush the enemy, right?
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  • Everybody looks good when you introduce the teams.
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  • We're all heroes, we're all filled with optimism, we're
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  • Betting on our team.
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  • I mean, not really, you're just--but everybody's, you
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  • Know, excited when you introduce the team, but then when they
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  • Actually--when the competition begins, and there's adversaries
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  • And there's opposition, and you need referees because everybody
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  • Doesn't play fair and people are looking for advantages--we
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  • Haven't gotten to that part yet.
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  • And it isn't clear whether there will--there'll actually be
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  • Policy changes enacted.
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  • Well, the question that i think is most germane, and it's really
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  • Where this lesson comes from is, will there be a spiritual change
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  • Of equal or greater magnitude?
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  • I've been saying to you for months, years now that i don't
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  • Think our problems are fundamentally political.
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  • I believe the fundamental challenge we have is a
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  • Spiritual problem.
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  • And many people i know have been rather excited about the
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  • Political realignment and the potential of policy changes.
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  • They think it's wonderful.
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  • And i'm okay with that, but i'm telling you, if we don't make
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  • The underlying spiritual changes, there's no policy
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  • Change that will be enacted that will be held.
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  • The current president-elect has been president before.
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  • And i don't think his policies are dramatically different.
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  • And the last time when he left office, within 30 days
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  • A significant majority of his policies were completely undone,
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  • Because we didn't have the heart change.
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  • And you say, "well, wait a minute, i'm not the person that
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  • Needs to change."
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  • Well, i hear you, but god's message was to the people who
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  • Came to the temple, not to the pagans who didn't.
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  • He didn't say, "go home and tell all the backsliders that stayed
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  • Home and washed their car."
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  • He didn't say, "go home and talk to all your friends that were
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  • Hungover from saturday night at the ballgame."
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  • He said, "tell the people that come to worship, 'if you don't
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  • Change--'" and so i want to submit to you that while we're
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  • Watching with some interest all of these attempts at significant
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  • Policy changes that we think will make our futures better,
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  • That the greatest need is going to be a change in our hearts.
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  • I'll give you a real practical example.
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  • They selected a candidate for the secretary of defense
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  • Yesterday from middle tennessee.
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  • Yeah, okay. [congregation applauding]
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  • And i don't know what he said as a--in that office, but i've
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  • Heard statements from him in the past that he said he didn't
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  • Believe women should be included in forward position--forward
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  • Combat positions, that for many reasons it's a challenge.
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  • And somebody said that to me today and they said, "boy,
  • 00:10:23.705 --> 00:10:26.274
  • That's a wonderful policy."
  • 00:10:26.274 --> 00:10:29.577
  • And i thought to myself, "wow, you know, we're gonna ask
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  • Somebody to put their career on the line to stand up for
  • 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:35.050
  • Something when within the church we have been mostly, for the
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  • Most part, unwilling to talk about gender roles."
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  • Don't everybody shout "amen" at once, it could distract our
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  • Guests and visitors.
  • 00:10:47.095 --> 00:10:51.032
  • In the broader church, we just don't wanna have
  • 00:10:51.032 --> 00:10:52.767
  • That discussion.
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  • Surely there's some antidote, there's some way we can
  • 00:10:54.969 --> 00:10:57.205
  • Understand it culturally where it doesn't mean what it says
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  • And, you know, we can get around it.
  • 00:10:59.741 --> 00:11:02.110
  • And i'm telling you that it is illegitimate to imagine that we
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  • Can ask people to enact policies on our behalf if we're not
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  • Willing to engage the biblical principles around our kitchen
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  • Table and our holiday table.
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  • If we want a more moral government, we're gonna have to
  • 00:11:16.324 --> 00:11:18.460
  • Have more moral table conversations.
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  • That's the reality.
  • 00:11:22.831 --> 00:11:27.435
  • And my great concern as i read jeremiah, is this pleading that
  • 00:11:27.435 --> 00:11:32.173
  • God is doing with his people.
  • 00:11:32.173 --> 00:11:35.176
  • He's saying, "go tell them that if they will listen, things will
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  • Be really good.
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  • But if they don't listen, if they don't listen, if they don't
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  • Listen," he says it over and over, it isn't subtle.
  • 00:11:45.820 --> 00:11:50.925
  • "it will be awful, and i will be the one that makes it awful."
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  • I believe we have received mercy.
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  • Not political mercy.
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  • I believe the mercy of god.
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  • I look forward to the day when we can choose between political
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  • Parties that both reflect biblical worldviews, there's
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  • Just nuance and subtlety and difference in how it's applied.
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  • We have lived that way at one time.
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  • But we have received mercy, but now i believe that the real
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  • Difference has to come from the hearts of god's people.
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  • Because when we're done with the introductions and the sparklers
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  • And the spotlights swirling around the stadium, we're left
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  • With the hard work of initiating change.
  • 00:12:34.536 --> 00:12:40.308
  • And we all understand that change faces great resistance.
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  • Change in the church faces great resistance.
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  • If i told you you could not sit in your favorite seat, many of
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  • You would contemplate a new church, because you're quite
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  • Confident the holy spirit only visits about three seats in the
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  • Entire complex.
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  • Change is not easy for us.
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  • Imagine doing it on a broader level.
  • 00:13:20.181 --> 00:13:27.989
  • Allen: hey, i have a suggestion.
  • 00:13:31.659 --> 00:13:33.027
  • Let's stop waiting for somebody else to be a better leader.
  • 00:13:33.027 --> 00:13:35.430
  • Let's determine this year to lead with faith.
  • 00:13:35.430 --> 00:13:37.966
  • I've written a book to help.
  • 00:13:37.966 --> 00:13:39.300
  • It's a practical collection of tools that you and i can use the
  • 00:13:39.300 --> 00:13:42.704
  • Influence of our lives, faith first in the marketplace, in our
  • 00:13:42.704 --> 00:13:46.541
  • Homes, with our friends.
  • 00:13:46.541 --> 00:13:47.909
  • Folks, it's time for us to stop waiting for somebody else to
  • 00:13:47.909 --> 00:13:50.645
  • Step forward.
  • 00:13:50.645 --> 00:13:51.980
  • Let's determine to lead with faith.
  • 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:53.548
  • We can do that, and i believe we can change our homes, our
  • 00:13:53.548 --> 00:13:56.618
  • Neighborhoods, our churches, maybe even our nation.
  • 00:13:56.618 --> 00:13:59.754
  • Female announcer: choosing to lead with faith starts with
  • 00:13:59.754 --> 00:14:01.990
  • A simple decision to be intentional right where you are.
  • 00:14:01.990 --> 00:14:05.593
  • In his new book, "lead with faith," pastor allen shares
  • 00:14:05.593 --> 00:14:08.663
  • Biblical insight and practical tools to help you live out your
  • 00:14:08.663 --> 00:14:11.966
  • Faith in meaningful ways every day.
  • 00:14:11.966 --> 00:14:14.869
  • This book will encourage you to stand for truth with wisdom,
  • 00:14:14.869 --> 00:14:18.072
  • Clarity, and courage, without waiting for someone else to
  • 00:14:18.072 --> 00:14:21.075
  • Go first.
  • 00:14:21.075 --> 00:14:22.410
  • Request "lead with faith" with your gift of $30 or more at
  • 00:14:22.410 --> 00:14:25.480
  • Allenjackson.com or call...
  • 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:30.985
  • Allen: let's go back to that passage, the very first verse:
  • 00:14:32.553 --> 00:14:34.789
  • "early in the reign of jehoiakim the son of josiah the king
  • 00:14:34.789 --> 00:14:38.660
  • Of judah."
  • 00:14:38.660 --> 00:14:40.561
  • Josiah is one of the good kings.
  • 00:14:40.561 --> 00:14:43.965
  • His son is reigning in judah now.
  • 00:14:43.965 --> 00:14:47.201
  • His son will watch the destruction of jerusalem.
  • 00:14:47.201 --> 00:14:51.572
  • He'll be taken captive.
  • 00:14:51.572 --> 00:14:54.409
  • But i wanted to go back to josiah's life, because josiah's
  • 00:14:54.409 --> 00:14:59.013
  • Choices brought a season of opportunity to the
  • 00:14:59.013 --> 00:15:03.084
  • Entire nation.
  • 00:15:03.084 --> 00:15:05.186
  • And my prayer for us is that we will make decisions in the
  • 00:15:05.186 --> 00:15:09.324
  • Months ahead of us that would enable the blessings of god to
  • 00:15:09.324 --> 00:15:13.227
  • Be extended, because i'm very confident that if we receive the
  • 00:15:13.227 --> 00:15:18.333
  • Mercy of god and the kindness of god and the grace of god and we
  • 00:15:18.333 --> 00:15:22.737
  • Return to our familiar patterns, that we will face the judgment
  • 00:15:22.737 --> 00:15:27.809
  • Of god.
  • 00:15:27.809 --> 00:15:30.511
  • Now, i understand we don't think we're the problem, which is the
  • 00:15:30.511 --> 00:15:34.582
  • Root of the problem.
  • 00:15:34.582 --> 00:15:37.385
  • We're convinced we're born again and spirit-filled and
  • 00:15:37.385 --> 00:15:39.988
  • Water-baptized and church-attending
  • 00:15:39.988 --> 00:15:41.823
  • And bible-carrying.
  • 00:15:41.823 --> 00:15:43.624
  • How could we contribute to the problem?
  • 00:15:43.624 --> 00:15:45.560
  • And yet god said to the people that were coming to the temple,
  • 00:15:45.560 --> 00:15:52.133
  • "tell them everything i command you.
  • 00:15:52.133 --> 00:15:53.801
  • Don't omit a word.
  • 00:15:53.801 --> 00:15:55.169
  • If they will, each one, each," he didn't say some of them, he
  • 00:15:55.169 --> 00:15:58.506
  • Said, "each one of them needs to turn."
  • 00:15:58.506 --> 00:16:01.876
  • So here's the simple little prayer if you don't hear
  • 00:16:01.876 --> 00:16:04.045
  • Anything else i say, and i'm probably not gonna finish all
  • 00:16:04.045 --> 00:16:06.180
  • Those scriptures, but they're all about josiah.
  • 00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:09.317
  • Here's the simple prayer: "god, if--help me see the places
  • 00:16:09.317 --> 00:16:13.955
  • Where i need to turn."
  • 00:16:13.955 --> 00:16:16.924
  • And imagine that it's as important as whatever your
  • 00:16:16.924 --> 00:16:20.428
  • Favorite policy transformation will be.
  • 00:16:20.428 --> 00:16:24.799
  • If you think closing the border is important, ask the lord where
  • 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:28.369
  • You've left an open border.
  • 00:16:28.369 --> 00:16:31.939
  • Ask the lord where you're allowing things into your life,
  • 00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:34.542
  • Your heart, your thoughts, your family system, that are making
  • 00:16:34.542 --> 00:16:39.814
  • You vulnerable or diminishing your potential in the kingdom
  • 00:16:39.814 --> 00:16:43.618
  • Of god.
  • 00:16:43.618 --> 00:16:46.120
  • If you think it's fiscal policy that needs to be changed and
  • 00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:48.890
  • You're waiting for that one to break through, ask the lord,
  • 00:16:48.890 --> 00:16:51.793
  • "lord, is there any way that i manage my resources, my time, my
  • 00:16:51.793 --> 00:16:55.596
  • Money, my--" you understand?
  • 00:16:55.596 --> 00:16:58.966
  • Give god permission.
  • 00:16:58.966 --> 00:17:00.435
  • Let's decide, "we're going to be the people who are transformed."
  • 00:17:00.435 --> 00:17:06.140
  • It doesn't have to be the majority.
  • 00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:08.409
  • There is an authority in truth, and if the people of god will
  • 00:17:08.409 --> 00:17:14.115
  • Take seriously this expression of mercy--it's very seldom,
  • 00:17:14.115 --> 00:17:20.088
  • If ever, the majority.
  • 00:17:20.088 --> 00:17:22.623
  • When god delivered the hebrew slaves from egypt, they didn't
  • 00:17:22.623 --> 00:17:27.829
  • Get--they only got 3 days out of egypt before the whole crowd
  • 00:17:27.829 --> 00:17:32.100
  • Was grumbling and wanted new leadership.
  • 00:17:32.100 --> 00:17:37.271
  • Three days.
  • 00:17:37.271 --> 00:17:40.408
  • I'm thinking plague stirring, water parting.
  • 00:17:40.408 --> 00:17:45.580
  • That's not bad for a beginning leadership class.
  • 00:17:45.580 --> 00:17:51.119
  • And they said, "we should have just stayed where we were."
  • 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:54.589
  • And it persists all the way through the journey.
  • 00:17:54.589 --> 00:17:59.393
  • I mean, one day the earth opens up and swallows thousands and
  • 00:17:59.393 --> 00:18:02.063
  • Thousands of them, and the next morning there's a new
  • 00:18:02.063 --> 00:18:04.832
  • Complaint line.
  • 00:18:04.832 --> 00:18:07.869
  • I mean, they're not only grumpy, they're not the brightest bulbs
  • 00:18:07.869 --> 00:18:10.304
  • In the box.
  • 00:18:10.304 --> 00:18:13.908
  • So this is not about the majority.
  • 00:18:13.908 --> 00:18:15.877
  • I'm asking you if you're willing to be different.
  • 00:18:15.877 --> 00:18:19.981
  • We've been in camouflage for too long, we've blended in for
  • 00:18:19.981 --> 00:18:22.984
  • Too long.
  • 00:18:22.984 --> 00:18:24.318
  • We've been too far in the world with too little fear of god.
  • 00:18:24.318 --> 00:18:28.623
  • He has given us an opportunity.
  • 00:18:28.623 --> 00:18:32.260
  • He has given us an opportunity.
  • 00:18:32.260 --> 00:18:34.829
  • And how we respond is more important than what our elected
  • 00:18:34.829 --> 00:18:38.733
  • Officials do.
  • 00:18:38.733 --> 00:18:40.868
  • Because god will raise up additional people.
  • 00:18:40.868 --> 00:18:43.671
  • He'll create opportunities for the truth.
  • 00:18:43.671 --> 00:18:45.540
  • He will bring down strongholds and principalities and powers in
  • 00:18:45.540 --> 00:18:49.544
  • Response to his people.
  • 00:18:49.544 --> 00:18:52.246
  • Or he will make us desolate.
  • 00:18:52.246 --> 00:18:55.316
  • And i know i'm preaching to the choir, but it's the choir that
  • 00:18:55.316 --> 00:18:57.885
  • Has to sing.
  • 00:18:57.885 --> 00:19:02.223
  • If you preach to the people in the pews and you expect them to
  • 00:19:02.223 --> 00:19:04.759
  • Be the choir, it's not gonna go well.
  • 00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:07.562
  • The best chance is to take the people who have the abilities
  • 00:19:07.562 --> 00:19:10.097
  • And the gifts and the desires and have presented and
  • 00:19:10.097 --> 00:19:12.567
  • Have prepared.
  • 00:19:12.567 --> 00:19:13.935
  • If we get the message right, god will use whatever he chooses to
  • 00:19:13.935 --> 00:19:17.738
  • Bring forth.
  • 00:19:17.738 --> 00:19:21.943
  • So josiah, it's really a little window into the people of god
  • 00:19:21.943 --> 00:19:26.414
  • And how god brings change.
  • 00:19:26.414 --> 00:19:28.282
  • It's in 2 kings 22, but it's really all driven out of what
  • 00:19:28.282 --> 00:19:31.152
  • You read in jeremiah because the people that jeremiah is speaking
  • 00:19:31.152 --> 00:19:34.288
  • To, they know who josiah is the same way you know who joe biden
  • 00:19:34.288 --> 00:19:37.491
  • Is or donald trump.
  • 00:19:37.491 --> 00:19:40.161
  • They're as familiar with their legacies and their stories and
  • 00:19:40.161 --> 00:19:43.064
  • The events surrounding their lives as you would be with
  • 00:19:43.064 --> 00:19:45.132
  • Modern-day politicians.
  • 00:19:45.132 --> 00:19:48.035
  • I smile when people say the bible isn't about leadership.
  • 00:19:48.035 --> 00:19:55.676
  • Which bible?
  • 00:19:55.676 --> 00:19:58.246
  • Not the holy one.
  • 00:19:58.246 --> 00:20:00.281
  • In 2 kings 22 it says: "josiah was eight years old when he
  • 00:20:00.281 --> 00:20:03.718
  • Became king, and he reigned in jerusalem thirty-one years.
  • 00:20:03.718 --> 00:20:09.056
  • His mother's name was jedidah the daughter of," somebody; "and
  • 00:20:09.056 --> 00:20:12.460
  • She was from," somewhere.
  • 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:15.162
  • [coughing]
  • 00:20:15.162 --> 00:20:17.531
  • Excuse me, "and he did what was right in the eyes of the lord
  • 00:20:17.531 --> 00:20:20.835
  • And he walked in all the ways of his father david, not turning
  • 00:20:20.835 --> 00:20:23.437
  • Aside to the right or to the left."
  • 00:20:23.437 --> 00:20:26.607
  • Verse 2, that's the money line: "josiah did what was right in
  • 00:20:26.607 --> 00:20:32.213
  • The eyes of the lord."
  • 00:20:32.213 --> 00:20:34.248
  • Here's the--this is the $64,000 question for every one of us:
  • 00:20:34.248 --> 00:20:37.485
  • Are we willing to do what's right in the eyes of the lord?
  • 00:20:37.485 --> 00:20:43.457
  • I mean, i know we're in church and the answers go, "why,
  • 00:20:43.457 --> 00:20:46.427
  • Absolutely, pastor."
  • 00:20:46.427 --> 00:20:50.164
  • But how much--how much infiltration of culture
  • 00:20:50.164 --> 00:20:54.035
  • Do we have?
  • 00:20:54.035 --> 00:20:56.137
  • How far are we from the eyes of the lord?
  • 00:20:56.137 --> 00:20:58.205
  • See, this is not like a--this isn't a 21st century problem or
  • 00:20:58.205 --> 00:21:01.876
  • A problem of the democrats or the problem of the progressives
  • 00:21:01.876 --> 00:21:04.745
  • Or a problem of the woke or a problem of the methodist if
  • 00:21:04.745 --> 00:21:08.049
  • You're a baptist or a problem of the church of christ if you're
  • 00:21:08.049 --> 00:21:10.685
  • A methodist.
  • 00:21:10.685 --> 00:21:12.653
  • This is a problem of the people of god.
  • 00:21:12.653 --> 00:21:16.957
  • By the time we get to the gospels, and jesus is
  • 00:21:16.957 --> 00:21:19.960
  • Ministering, they say, "you healed on the wrong day
  • 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:24.031
  • Of the week."
  • 00:21:24.031 --> 00:21:25.866
  • And he said, "you're confused about sabbath rules."
  • 00:21:25.866 --> 00:21:32.006
  • And they weren't particularly interested in doing what was
  • 00:21:32.006 --> 00:21:34.108
  • Right in the eyes of the lord.
  • 00:21:34.108 --> 00:21:35.743
  • They wanted to do what they thought was right, the people of
  • 00:21:35.743 --> 00:21:38.979
  • God, the people offering sacrifices, keeping holidays,
  • 00:21:38.979 --> 00:21:42.850
  • Managing kosher.
  • 00:21:42.850 --> 00:21:44.585
  • So my question again, i'm gonna say it repeatedly over these--
  • 00:21:44.585 --> 00:21:47.788
  • For a while because i think we have a little window
  • 00:21:47.788 --> 00:21:50.991
  • Of opportunity.
  • 00:21:50.991 --> 00:21:53.894
  • Not to be angry at others or to point accusing fingers or to
  • 00:21:53.894 --> 00:21:56.931
  • Puff out our chest and imagine we've done something.
  • 00:21:56.931 --> 00:21:59.834
  • I think we have been granted an opportunity.
  • 00:21:59.834 --> 00:22:07.808
  • "josiah did what was right in the eyes of the lord."
  • 00:22:07.808 --> 00:22:10.010
  • Lord, i wanna do what's right in your eyes.
  • 00:22:10.010 --> 00:22:13.581
  • Holy spirit, help me see any place where i'm not walking
  • 00:22:13.581 --> 00:22:18.219
  • Before you that i should be.
  • 00:22:18.219 --> 00:22:22.189
  • And i mean, you be as serious about implementing that change,
  • 00:22:22.189 --> 00:22:27.094
  • As you want the people that are going to build new policies are.
  • 00:22:27.094 --> 00:22:31.832
  • Don't be an obstructionist.
  • 00:22:31.832 --> 00:22:34.902
  • Don't excuse it, don't tell me you're born again.
  • 00:22:34.902 --> 00:22:39.640
  • The new testament equivalent of that is, "we're children of
  • 00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:41.642
  • Abraham," and jesus said, "you know, i can make those out
  • 00:22:41.642 --> 00:22:43.644
  • Of rocks."
  • 00:22:43.644 --> 00:22:51.552
  • I want to do what's right in your sight.
  • 00:22:51.552 --> 00:22:55.156
  • Same chapter, verse 3: "in the eighteenth year of his reign--"
  • 00:22:55.156 --> 00:22:59.894
  • He started when he's eight.
  • 00:22:59.894 --> 00:23:01.262
  • He's 18 years in now.
  • 00:23:01.262 --> 00:23:02.596
  • "king josiah sent the secretary," son of somebody who
  • 00:23:02.596 --> 00:23:07.268
  • Was the son of somebody else, "to the temple.
  • 00:23:07.268 --> 00:23:11.372
  • And the secretary informed the king that 'the priest has given
  • 00:23:11.372 --> 00:23:14.375
  • Me a book.'
  • 00:23:14.375 --> 00:23:16.343
  • And he read it in the presence of the king."
  • 00:23:16.343 --> 00:23:20.114
  • The temple had fallen into disrepair.
  • 00:23:20.114 --> 00:23:22.683
  • Their interest in the things of the lord was so low that the
  • 00:23:22.683 --> 00:23:26.187
  • Temple had fallen into ill repair.
  • 00:23:26.187 --> 00:23:30.991
  • You know, there was a time in our history where the most
  • 00:23:30.991 --> 00:23:32.793
  • Beautiful buildings in most of our cities were the churches.
  • 00:23:32.793 --> 00:23:36.764
  • We're decades and decades away from that now.
  • 00:23:36.764 --> 00:23:40.768
  • And i'm not arguing that the elaborate nature of our
  • 00:23:40.768 --> 00:23:44.038
  • Buildings is a reflection of our spiritual condition, but it is
  • 00:23:44.038 --> 00:23:47.641
  • A reflection of where we invest our resources.
  • 00:23:47.641 --> 00:23:51.579
  • And i just offer it as kind of a cultural note.
  • 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:55.216
  • Most of us would be offended, most of us who fill churches
  • 00:23:55.216 --> 00:23:57.852
  • Today would be offended if the most elaborate buildings in our
  • 00:23:57.852 --> 00:24:00.354
  • Communities were the churches.
  • 00:24:00.354 --> 00:24:04.792
  • The temple's fallen into grave disrepair and josiah sets apart
  • 00:24:04.792 --> 00:24:09.663
  • Some resources and sends the people to do it and when they're
  • 00:24:09.663 --> 00:24:11.966
  • Repairing the temple, they find in one of the walls that they're
  • 00:24:11.966 --> 00:24:16.237
  • Demolishing, a book, and they bring it to read.
  • 00:24:16.237 --> 00:24:22.510
  • "when the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore
  • 00:24:22.510 --> 00:24:26.013
  • His robes.
  • 00:24:26.013 --> 00:24:27.581
  • And he gave these orders to the priest," and all the people who
  • 00:24:27.581 --> 00:24:32.553
  • Were with him, "'go and inquire of the lord for me and for the
  • 00:24:32.553 --> 00:24:36.123
  • People and for all of judah about what is written in this
  • 00:24:36.123 --> 00:24:38.559
  • Book that's been found.
  • 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:41.061
  • Great is the lord's anger that burns against us because our
  • 00:24:41.061 --> 00:24:44.565
  • Fathers haven't obeyed the words of this book; and they haven't
  • 00:24:44.565 --> 00:24:47.701
  • Acted in accordance with all that is written there
  • 00:24:47.701 --> 00:24:50.170
  • Concerning us.'"
  • 00:24:50.170 --> 00:24:52.206
  • Now another time in history, folks, there is no printing
  • 00:24:52.206 --> 00:24:54.475
  • Press yet.
  • 00:24:54.475 --> 00:24:55.843
  • The only written material they have is hand copied.
  • 00:24:55.843 --> 00:24:58.412
  • There were very precious few of those.
  • 00:24:58.412 --> 00:25:01.916
  • The books are not in practice, they use a scroll and they found
  • 00:25:01.916 --> 00:25:05.519
  • Hidden in the wall, a scroll with the books of moses on it,
  • 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:09.356
  • The law.
  • 00:25:09.356 --> 00:25:11.191
  • They lost their bible and nobody noticed.
  • 00:25:11.191 --> 00:25:16.797
  • Gee, that sounds a lot like us.
  • 00:25:16.797 --> 00:25:22.102
  • I did an interview with george barna and he said less than 10%
  • 00:25:22.102 --> 00:25:26.373
  • Of the youth pastors in american churches have
  • 00:25:26.373 --> 00:25:29.209
  • A biblical worldview.
  • 00:25:29.209 --> 00:25:33.647
  • Not the pagans, not the--we've lost our bibles, too.
  • 00:25:33.647 --> 00:25:41.121
  • Allen: i think it's such an amazing revelation that god
  • 00:25:41.121 --> 00:25:43.591
  • Knows what's happening in our lives.
  • 00:25:43.591 --> 00:25:45.526
  • If he knows when a sparrow falls to the ground or how many hairs
  • 00:25:45.526 --> 00:25:47.895
  • We have on our head, he knows the details of our lives.
  • 00:25:47.895 --> 00:25:50.464
  • That's not a threat, that's a promise.
  • 00:25:50.464 --> 00:25:53.200
  • What a wonderful thing.
  • 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:54.535
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:25:54.535 --> 00:25:55.903
  • Father, i thank you that we're not alone or isolated or
  • 00:25:55.903 --> 00:25:58.072
  • Separated from you, that you know the details of our days.
  • 00:25:58.072 --> 00:26:01.475
  • We trust you with that.
  • 00:26:01.475 --> 00:26:02.810
  • We trust you with our future.
  • 00:26:02.810 --> 00:26:04.178
  • Help us.
  • 00:26:04.178 --> 00:26:05.512
  • We need your help, in jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:26:05.512 --> 00:26:10.918
  • Allen: i suspect we've all heard the line that leadership is
  • 00:26:15.089 --> 00:26:17.324
  • About influence.
  • 00:26:17.324 --> 00:26:18.692
  • I have a question for you.
  • 00:26:18.692 --> 00:26:20.027
  • What do you lead with?
  • 00:26:20.027 --> 00:26:21.395
  • What is the basis of your influence?
  • 00:26:21.395 --> 00:26:22.963
  • Is it your appearance, your education, your professional
  • 00:26:22.963 --> 00:26:25.799
  • Expertise, your professional accomplishments, your athletic
  • 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:28.702
  • Ability, your family?
  • 00:26:28.702 --> 00:26:30.704
  • What is the point of influence that you use most frequently?
  • 00:26:30.704 --> 00:26:34.875
  • Well, i've written a book.
  • 00:26:34.875 --> 00:26:36.243
  • The title is gonna give away where i'm headed.
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  • It's "lead with faith."
  • 00:26:38.078 --> 00:26:39.613
  • I think it's time that all of us begin to use our faith as
  • 00:26:39.613 --> 00:26:43.317
  • An influence in the world where we find ourselves.
  • 00:26:43.317 --> 00:26:45.819
  • We're reluctant to do that.
  • 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:47.154
  • We typically have more confidence in our education or
  • 00:26:47.154 --> 00:26:49.723
  • Our family system or our life experience.
  • 00:26:49.723 --> 00:26:52.259
  • We feel a little uncertain to lead with faith.
  • 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:54.828
  • The point of this book is to give you the tools to take your
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  • Faith out of a church setting and bring it into
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  • The marketplace.
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  • If we will lead with faith, i believe god will help us make
  • 00:27:02.469 --> 00:27:05.806
  • An impact in this generation.
  • 00:27:05.806 --> 00:27:07.975
  • Go to allenjackson.com and get your copy today.
  • 00:27:07.975 --> 00:27:11.712
  • ♪♪♪
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