Allen Jackson - Living Faith (Part 1)

November 30, 2024 | S24:E4901

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 (Part 1) | November 30, 2024
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: the topic is "living faith," and to be
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  • Completely candid, i had prepared an outline, at least
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  • Sketched out the outline that i intended for this evening, and
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  • When i did the bible reading this morning, i felt like i got
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  • A whole different perspective just kinda dropped in almost in
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  • Total, so i'm gonna start.
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  • If you--i hope you're doing the daily 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, but it certainly feels like it could have been
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  • Peeled from 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
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  • Josiah 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," i wanna start by pulling
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  • Your attention to who this message is for.
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  • This is the message given to the people who come to the temple to
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  • Worship, and 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, and i'm not casting stones.
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  • I want you to understand who this message is directed to.
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  • Whatever is coming after, this is directed to the people who
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  • Were faithful enough to make the effort to go to the temple
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  • To worship.
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  • And god says, "i have something i want to say to you." and we
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  • Can read on, verse 3, "perhaps they will listen and each will
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  • Turn from his evil way," the assumption is that the people
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  • Coming to worship need to turn.
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  • 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.
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  • And this is a message given to the people who are coming to
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  • Worship, and god's expectation is that they will need to turn
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  • From their evil way, "and then i will relent and not bring on
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  • Them the disaster i was planning because of the evil they have
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  • Done," 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,'" shiloh was the
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  • Location where, when they occupied the--when they first
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  • 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 this city an object
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  • Of 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, "then i will relent and not
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  • Bring disaster, but if you do not listen," and he says that
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  • Three times.
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  • Three times, he says, "you don't listen."
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  • Hebrew's 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, he says,
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  • "listen listening."
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  • That's an old language saying, "listen carefully."
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  • And in this case, when he repeats it three times, you
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  • 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 a
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  • 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 want to call names, i'm delighted to stand in the
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  • Midst of those people, but it seemed to me they raised their
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  • Hands and said, "we don't wanna go this way," and that gives me
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  • Hope because it takes god to stir that in our hearts.
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  • We've been on a 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.
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  • So to think about this in terms of politicians, or candidates,
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  • Or even parties i believe is a, is a very narrow understanding
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  • Of what we're witnessing.
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  • I think it's god's mercy that awakens us enough, 'cause 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, a political
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  • Change, yes.
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  • I think what's still in question is if a policy change will be
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  • Enacted, and i say that because we're still in the point--it's
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  • Like the introductions before the an athletic event.
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  • It's like the introductions before a big football game or a
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  • Big basketball game.
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  • You know, they turn all the lights off, and they turn on the
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  • Spotlights, and they introduce the players, and there's smoke
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  • And sparks.
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  • If it's your team, you're screaming, "this is awesome!
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  • We're wonderful.
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  • We're gonna crush the enemy," right?
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  • Everybody looks good when you introduce the teams.
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  • We're all heroes.
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  • We're all filled with optimism.
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  • We're betting on our team, i mean, not really, you're just.
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  • But everybody's, you know, excited when you introduce
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  • The team.
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  • But then when they actually, when the competition begins, and
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  • There's adversaries, and there's opposition, and you need
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  • Referees 'cause everybody didn't play fair and people are looking
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  • For advantages, we haven't gotten to that part yet, and it
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  • Isn't clear whether there will actually be policy
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  • 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, and i'm okay with that.
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  • But i'm telling you, if we don't make the underlying spiritual
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  • Changes, there's no policy change that will be enacted that
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  • Will be held.
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  • The current president elect has been president before, and i
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  • Don't think his policies are dramatically different.
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  • And the last time when he left office, within 30 days, a
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  • 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." well, i hear you, but god's message was to
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  • The people who came to the temple, not to the pagans
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  • 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," he didn't say, "go home and talk to
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  • All your friends that were hungover from saturday night at
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  • The ball game," he said, "tell the people that come to worship,
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  • 'if you don't change,'" and so, i wanna submit to you that while
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  • We're watching with some interest all of these attempts
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  • At significant policy changes that we think will make our
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  • Futures better that the greatest need is gonna be a
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  • 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.
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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 posit--forward combat
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  • Positions, that for many reasons it's a challenge.
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  • And somebody said that to me today, and they said, "boy,
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  • That's a wonderful policy."
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  • 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
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  • Something when, within the church, we have been mostly for
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  • The most part unwilling to talk about gender roles.
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  • Don't everybody shout "amen" at once.
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  • It could distract our guests and visitors.
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  • In the broader church, we just don't wanna have
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  • That discussion.
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  • Surely, there's some, you know, there's some way we can
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  • Understand it culturally, where it doesn't mean what it says,
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  • And, you know, we can get around it.
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  • 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
  • 00:10:15.507 --> 00:10:17.742
  • Have more moral table conversations.
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  • That's the reality.
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  • And my great concern as i read jeremiah is this pleading that
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  • God is doing with his people.
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  • He's saying, "go tell them if they will listen, things will be
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  • Really good, but if they don't listen, if they don't listen, if
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  • They don't listen," he says it over and over, it isn't subtle,
  • 00:10:44.569 --> 00:10:50.241
  • "it will be awful, and i will be the one that makes it awful."
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  • I believe we have received mercy, 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.
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  • There's just nuance, and subtlety, and difference in how
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  • 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
  • 00:11:19.037 --> 00:11:22.607
  • 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
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  • Sparklers, and the spotlights swirling around the stadium,
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  • We're left with the hard work of initiating change, and we all
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  • 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 'cause 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.
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  • Allen: i want to take just a moment to say thank you.
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  • In a year of political turmoil and confusion and wars and
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  • Rumors of wars, because of your partnership,
  • 00:12:37.048 --> 00:12:39.617
  • Your generosity, your prayers, your encouragement,
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  • We have done more for the gospel than any year
  • 00:12:42.821 --> 00:12:45.190
  • In our ministry so far.
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  • We started a whole new genre of programing.
  • 00:12:46.658 --> 00:12:49.027
  • Allen jackson now does a daily review of headlines
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  • From a biblical worldview.
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  • We've started a new podcast, "culture & christianity," to
  • 00:12:53.498 --> 00:12:56.167
  • Help stabilize god's people in the midst of all the confusion.
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  • All of that because of your faithfulness,
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  • Your generosity, your prayers.
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  • Thank you so much.
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  • As we come to the end of this year, i want to ask
  • 00:13:05.376 --> 00:13:07.312
  • You to prayerfully consider making a sacrificial
  • 00:13:07.312 --> 00:13:09.814
  • Investment in what's next.
  • 00:13:09.814 --> 00:13:12.350
  • We want to take those programs, share them in new
  • 00:13:12.350 --> 00:13:14.986
  • Places with more people.
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  • We want to continue to be creative in how we share the
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  • Good news of jesus christ.
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  • A generous partner makes it possible.
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  • Every gift you give will be matched.
  • 00:13:23.361 --> 00:13:25.096
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  • Together in 2025.
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  • Female announcer: god is moving in major ways in the
  • 00:13:38.176 --> 00:13:40.144
  • Ministry and our world.
  • 00:13:40.144 --> 00:13:42.680
  • As we watched the 2024 election unfold,
  • 00:13:42.680 --> 00:13:45.583
  • We witnessed a miracle.
  • 00:13:45.583 --> 00:13:47.485
  • God has heard our prayers.
  • 00:13:47.485 --> 00:13:49.621
  • He has shown us his mercy.
  • 00:13:49.621 --> 00:13:51.856
  • We're entering a new era with new leaders,
  • 00:13:51.856 --> 00:13:54.859
  • But it's not a time to rest.
  • 00:13:54.859 --> 00:13:57.095
  • Our assignment hasn't changed.
  • 00:13:57.095 --> 00:13:59.130
  • In fact, it's as urgent as ever.
  • 00:13:59.130 --> 00:14:02.166
  • You and i have been set apart by god for his purposes,
  • 00:14:02.166 --> 00:14:05.603
  • And there's a lot for us to do.
  • 00:14:05.603 --> 00:14:07.872
  • Allen: i believe when god shows you mercy,
  • 00:14:07.872 --> 00:14:12.243
  • He gives with it an opportunity.
  • 00:14:12.243 --> 00:14:15.013
  • I want us to quietly say to the lord, "here am i.
  • 00:14:15.013 --> 00:14:24.789
  • Let me go.
  • 00:14:24.789 --> 00:14:27.191
  • Let me go back to where i work in the name of jesus.
  • 00:14:27.191 --> 00:14:31.029
  • Let me go back into my neighborhood
  • 00:14:31.029 --> 00:14:32.597
  • In the name of jesus."
  • 00:14:32.597 --> 00:14:35.233
  • God himself has shown us grace, and it will require of us
  • 00:14:35.233 --> 00:14:43.007
  • Greater strength and greater courage than we have ever had to
  • 00:14:43.007 --> 00:14:47.211
  • Attach to our faith before.
  • 00:14:47.211 --> 00:14:50.815
  • Let's go. let's go.
  • 00:14:50.815 --> 00:14:54.819
  • Announcer: let's set our hearts on preparing for what's
  • 00:14:54.886 --> 00:14:57.221
  • Next with pastor allen's brand-new 90-day devotional
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  • Called "set apart for his purposes."
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  • Consistently choose to follow him.
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  • Each day includes scripture, a short teaching,
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  • And a prayer, followed by a journaling prompt and room
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  • Let's get ready for the season ahead.
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  • ...
  • 00:15:25.683 --> 00:15:29.887
  • Allen: let's go back to that passage, the very first verse:
  • 00:15:31.489 --> 00:15:33.424
  • "early in the reign of jehoiakim the son of josiah the king of
  • 00:15:33.424 --> 00:15:37.495
  • Judah," josiah is one of the good kings.
  • 00:15:37.495 --> 00:15:42.533
  • His son is reigning in judah now.
  • 00:15:42.533 --> 00:15:45.903
  • His son will watch the destruction of jerusalem.
  • 00:15:45.903 --> 00:15:50.308
  • He'll be taken captive.
  • 00:15:50.308 --> 00:15:53.177
  • But i wanted to go back to josiah's life, because josiah's
  • 00:15:53.177 --> 00:15:57.749
  • Choices brought a season of opportunity to the
  • 00:15:57.749 --> 00:16:01.519
  • Entire nation.
  • 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:03.921
  • And my prayer for us is that we will make decisions in the
  • 00:16:03.921 --> 00:16:07.959
  • Months ahead of us that would enable the blessings of god to
  • 00:16:07.959 --> 00:16:12.063
  • Be extended, because i'm very confident that if we receive the
  • 00:16:12.063 --> 00:16:17.101
  • Mercy of god, and the kindness of god, and the grace of god and
  • 00:16:17.101 --> 00:16:21.372
  • We return to our familiar patterns that we will face the
  • 00:16:21.372 --> 00:16:26.411
  • Judgment of god.
  • 00:16:26.411 --> 00:16:29.247
  • Now, i understand we don't think we're the problem, which is the
  • 00:16:29.247 --> 00:16:33.284
  • Root of the problem.
  • 00:16:33.284 --> 00:16:36.154
  • We're convinced we're born again, and spirit-filled, and
  • 00:16:36.154 --> 00:16:38.689
  • Water baptized, and church attending, and bible carrying.
  • 00:16:38.689 --> 00:16:42.360
  • How could we contribute to the problem?
  • 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:44.662
  • And yet god said to the people that were coming to the temple,
  • 00:16:44.662 --> 00:16:50.668
  • "tell them everything i command.
  • 00:16:50.668 --> 00:16:52.437
  • You don't omit a word.
  • 00:16:52.437 --> 00:16:53.771
  • If they will, each one." he didn't say "some of them."
  • 00:16:53.771 --> 00:16:57.008
  • He said, "each one of them needs to turn."
  • 00:16:57.008 --> 00:17:00.244
  • So here's the simple little prayer.
  • 00:17:00.244 --> 00:17:02.113
  • If you don't hear anything else i say, and i'm probably not
  • 00:17:02.113 --> 00:17:04.615
  • Gonna finish all those scriptures, but they're all
  • 00:17:04.615 --> 00:17:07.385
  • About josiah, here's the simple prayer: "god, if--help me see
  • 00:17:07.385 --> 00:17:11.889
  • The places where i need to turn."
  • 00:17:11.889 --> 00:17:15.526
  • And imagine that it's as
  • 00:17:15.526 --> 00:17:17.195
  • Important as whatever your favorite policy transformation
  • 00:17:17.195 --> 00:17:21.432
  • Will be.
  • 00:17:21.432 --> 00:17:23.601
  • If you think closing the border is important, ask the lord where
  • 00:17:23.601 --> 00:17:27.038
  • You've left an open border.
  • 00:17:27.038 --> 00:17:30.541
  • Ask the lord where you're allowing things into your life,
  • 00:17:30.541 --> 00:17:33.277
  • Your heart, your thoughts, your family system that are making
  • 00:17:33.277 --> 00:17:38.716
  • You vulnerable or diminishing your potential in the kingdom
  • 00:17:38.716 --> 00:17:42.353
  • Of god.
  • 00:17:42.353 --> 00:17:44.889
  • If you think it's fiscal policy that needs to be changed and
  • 00:17:44.889 --> 00:17:48.192
  • You're waiting for that one to break through, ask the lord,
  • 00:17:48.192 --> 00:17:51.129
  • "lord, is there any way that i manage my resources, my time, my
  • 00:17:51.129 --> 00:17:54.632
  • Money, my," you understand?
  • 00:17:54.632 --> 00:17:57.768
  • Give god permission.
  • 00:17:57.768 --> 00:17:59.203
  • Let's decide we're going to be the people who are transformed.
  • 00:17:59.203 --> 00:18:05.009
  • It doesn't have to be the majority.
  • 00:18:05.009 --> 00:18:07.211
  • There is an authority in truth.
  • 00:18:07.211 --> 00:18:10.948
  • And if the people of god will take seriously this expression
  • 00:18:10.948 --> 00:18:14.619
  • Of mercy, it's very seldom, if ever the majority.
  • 00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:21.526
  • When god delivered the hebrew slaves from egypt, they didn't
  • 00:18:21.526 --> 00:18:26.197
  • Get--they only got three days out of egypt before the whole
  • 00:18:26.197 --> 00:18:30.301
  • Crowd was grumbling and wanted new leadership, three days.
  • 00:18:30.301 --> 00:18:39.310
  • I'm thinking plague-stirring, water-parting.
  • 00:18:39.310 --> 00:18:44.448
  • That's not bad for a beginning leadership class.
  • 00:18:44.448 --> 00:18:49.887
  • And they said, "we should have just stayed where we were."
  • 00:18:49.887 --> 00:18:53.324
  • And it persists all the way through the journey.
  • 00:18:53.324 --> 00:18:58.129
  • I mean, one day the earth opens up and swallows thousands and
  • 00:18:58.129 --> 00:19:01.699
  • Thousands of them, and the next morning, there's a new
  • 00:19:01.699 --> 00:19:04.035
  • Complaint line.
  • 00:19:04.035 --> 00:19:06.704
  • I mean, they're not only grumpy, they're not the brightest bulbs
  • 00:19:06.704 --> 00:19:09.473
  • In the box.
  • 00:19:09.473 --> 00:19:12.710
  • So this is not about the majority.
  • 00:19:12.710 --> 00:19:14.679
  • I'm asking you if you're willing to be different.
  • 00:19:14.679 --> 00:19:18.716
  • We've been in camouflage for too long.
  • 00:19:18.716 --> 00:19:20.918
  • We've blended in for too long.
  • 00:19:20.918 --> 00:19:22.787
  • We've been too far in the world with too little fear of god.
  • 00:19:22.787 --> 00:19:27.291
  • He has given us an opportunity.
  • 00:19:27.291 --> 00:19:31.062
  • He has given us an opportunity, and how we respond is more
  • 00:19:31.062 --> 00:19:35.333
  • Important than what our elected officials do.
  • 00:19:35.333 --> 00:19:39.570
  • Because god will raise up additional people.
  • 00:19:39.570 --> 00:19:42.306
  • He will create opportunities for the truth.
  • 00:19:42.306 --> 00:19:44.375
  • He will bring down strongholds, and principalities, and powers
  • 00:19:44.375 --> 00:19:48.212
  • In response to his people, or he will make us desolate.
  • 00:19:48.212 --> 00:19:54.151
  • And i know i'm preaching to the choir, but it's the choir that
  • 00:19:54.151 --> 00:19:56.621
  • Has to sing.
  • 00:19:56.621 --> 00:20:00.958
  • If you preach to the people in the pews and you expect them to
  • 00:20:00.958 --> 00:20:03.427
  • Be the choir, it's not gonna go well.
  • 00:20:03.427 --> 00:20:06.230
  • The best chance is to take the people who have the abilities,
  • 00:20:06.230 --> 00:20:08.899
  • And the gifts, and the desires, and have presented, and if
  • 00:20:08.899 --> 00:20:11.502
  • Prepared, if we get the message right, god will use whatever he
  • 00:20:11.502 --> 00:20:15.940
  • Chooses to bring forth.
  • 00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:20.711
  • So josiah, it's really a little window into the people of god
  • 00:20:20.711 --> 00:20:25.149
  • And how god brings change.
  • 00:20:25.149 --> 00:20:27.118
  • It's in 2 kings 22, but it's really all driven out of what
  • 00:20:27.118 --> 00:20:30.054
  • You read in jeremiah, because the people that jeremiah is
  • 00:20:30.054 --> 00:20:32.723
  • Speaking to, they know who josiah is the same way you know
  • 00:20:32.723 --> 00:20:35.726
  • Who joe biden is or donald trump.
  • 00:20:35.726 --> 00:20:38.963
  • They're as familiar with their legacies, and their stories, and
  • 00:20:38.963 --> 00:20:41.866
  • The events surrounding their lives as you would be with
  • 00:20:41.866 --> 00:20:43.901
  • Modern-day politicians.
  • 00:20:43.901 --> 00:20:46.871
  • I smile when people say the bible isn't about leadership.
  • 00:20:46.871 --> 00:20:54.412
  • Which bible?
  • 00:20:54.412 --> 00:20:56.881
  • Not the holy one.
  • 00:20:56.881 --> 00:20:59.050
  • In 2 kings 22, it says, "josiah was eight years old when he
  • 00:20:59.050 --> 00:21:02.787
  • Became king, and he reigned in jerusalem thirty-one years.
  • 00:21:02.787 --> 00:21:07.792
  • His mother's name was jedidah the daughter of somebody; and
  • 00:21:07.792 --> 00:21:11.295
  • She was from somewhere," excuse me, "and he did what was right
  • 00:21:11.295 --> 00:21:18.002
  • In the eyes of the lord and he walked in all the ways of his
  • 00:21:18.002 --> 00:21:20.805
  • Father david, not turning aside to the right or to the left."
  • 00:21:20.805 --> 00:21:25.242
  • Verse 2, that's the money line: "josiah did what was right in
  • 00:21:25.242 --> 00:21:30.948
  • The eyes of the lord."
  • 00:21:30.948 --> 00:21:32.850
  • Here's the que--this is the $64,000 question for every one
  • 00:21:32.850 --> 00:21:36.120
  • Of us: are we willing to do what's right in the eyes of
  • 00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:38.222
  • The lord?
  • 00:21:38.222 --> 00:21:42.159
  • I mean, i know we're in church and the answers go, "well,
  • 00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:44.795
  • Absolutely, pastor."
  • 00:21:44.795 --> 00:21:48.332
  • But how much, how much infiltration of
  • 00:21:48.332 --> 00:21:52.203
  • Culture do we have?
  • 00:21:52.203 --> 00:21:54.905
  • How far are we from the eyes of the lord?
  • 00:21:54.905 --> 00:21:56.907
  • See, this is not like a, this isn't a 21st century problem, or
  • 00:21:56.907 --> 00:22:00.845
  • A problem of the democrats, or the problem of the progressives,
  • 00:22:00.845 --> 00:22:03.848
  • Or a problem of the woke, or a problem of the methodist if
  • 00:22:03.848 --> 00:22:06.884
  • You're a baptist, or a problem of the church of christ if
  • 00:22:06.884 --> 00:22:09.653
  • You're a methodist.
  • 00:22:09.653 --> 00:22:11.355
  • This is a problem of the people of god.
  • 00:22:11.355 --> 00:22:15.760
  • By the time we get to the gospels and jesus is
  • 00:22:15.760 --> 00:22:18.896
  • Ministering, they say, "you healed on the wrong day of
  • 00:22:18.896 --> 00:22:23.067
  • The week."
  • 00:22:23.067 --> 00:22:24.769
  • And he said, "you're confused about sabbath rules."
  • 00:22:24.769 --> 00:22:30.908
  • And they weren't particularly interested in doing what was
  • 00:22:30.908 --> 00:22:32.943
  • Right in the eyes of the lord.
  • 00:22:32.943 --> 00:22:34.578
  • They wanted to do what they thought was right, the people of
  • 00:22:34.578 --> 00:22:37.782
  • God, the people offering sacrifices, keeping holidays,
  • 00:22:37.782 --> 00:22:41.285
  • Managing kosher.
  • 00:22:41.285 --> 00:22:43.287
  • So my question again, i'm gonna say it repeatedly over these for
  • 00:22:43.287 --> 00:22:46.891
  • A while because i think we have a little window of opportunity
  • 00:22:46.891 --> 00:22:52.797
  • Not to be angry at others, or to point accusing fingers, or to
  • 00:22:52.797 --> 00:22:56.300
  • Puff out our chest and imagine we've done something.
  • 00:22:56.300 --> 00:22:58.869
  • I think we have been granted an opportunity.
  • 00:22:58.869 --> 00:23:06.410
  • Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the lord.
  • 00:23:06.477 --> 00:23:09.046
  • "lord, i wanna do what's right in your eyes.
  • 00:23:09.046 --> 00:23:12.416
  • Holy spirit, help me see any place where i'm not walking
  • 00:23:12.416 --> 00:23:16.821
  • Before you that i should be."
  • 00:23:16.821 --> 00:23:20.991
  • And i mean, you be as serious about implementing that change
  • 00:23:20.991 --> 00:23:25.830
  • As you want the people that are going to build new policies are.
  • 00:23:25.830 --> 00:23:30.601
  • Don't be an obstructionist.
  • 00:23:30.601 --> 00:23:33.604
  • Don't excuse it.
  • 00:23:33.604 --> 00:23:35.172
  • Don't tell me you're born again.
  • 00:23:35.172 --> 00:23:38.476
  • The new testament equivalent of that is we're children
  • 00:23:38.476 --> 00:23:40.678
  • Of abraham.
  • 00:23:40.678 --> 00:23:42.046
  • And jesus said, "you know, i can make those out of rocks."
  • 00:23:42.046 --> 00:23:48.085
  • I want to do what's right in your sight.
  • 00:23:50.321 --> 00:23:53.858
  • Same chapter, verse 3: "in the eighteenth year of his reign,"
  • 00:23:53.858 --> 00:23:58.796
  • He started when he's eight, he's 18 years in now, "king josiah
  • 00:23:58.796 --> 00:24:01.765
  • Sent the secretary, son of somebody who was the son of
  • 00:24:01.765 --> 00:24:06.971
  • Somebody else, to the temple.
  • 00:24:06.971 --> 00:24:10.040
  • Then the secretary informed the king that 'the priest has given
  • 00:24:10.040 --> 00:24:13.110
  • Me a book.'
  • 00:24:13.110 --> 00:24:15.279
  • And he read it in the presence of the king."
  • 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:18.749
  • The temple had fallen in disrepair.
  • 00:24:18.749 --> 00:24:21.285
  • Their interest in the things of the lord was so low that the
  • 00:24:21.285 --> 00:24:24.822
  • Temple had fallen into ill repair.
  • 00:24:24.822 --> 00:24:29.760
  • You know, there's a time in our history where the most beautiful
  • 00:24:29.760 --> 00:24:31.962
  • Buildings in most of our cities were the churches.
  • 00:24:31.962 --> 00:24:35.566
  • We're decades and decades away from that now.
  • 00:24:35.566 --> 00:24:39.470
  • And i'm not arguing that the elaborate nature of our
  • 00:24:39.470 --> 00:24:42.640
  • Buildings is a reflection of our spiritual condition, but it is a
  • 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:46.043
  • Reflection of where we invest our resources.
  • 00:24:46.043 --> 00:24:50.414
  • And i just offer it as kind of a cultural note.
  • 00:24:50.414 --> 00:24:53.918
  • Most of us would be offended.
  • 00:24:53.918 --> 00:24:55.252
  • Most of us who fill churches today would be offended if the
  • 00:24:55.252 --> 00:24:57.655
  • Most elaborate buildings in our communities were the churches.
  • 00:24:57.655 --> 00:25:03.594
  • The temple has fallen into grave disrepair, and josiah sets apart
  • 00:25:03.594 --> 00:25:08.365
  • Some resources and sends the people to do it.
  • 00:25:08.365 --> 00:25:10.200
  • And when they're repairing the temple, they find in one of the
  • 00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:13.704
  • Walls that they're demolishing a book, and they bring it to read.
  • 00:25:13.704 --> 00:25:21.245
  • "when the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore
  • 00:25:21.245 --> 00:25:24.748
  • His robes.
  • 00:25:24.748 --> 00:25:26.650
  • And he gave these orders to the priest and all the people who
  • 00:25:26.650 --> 00:25:31.488
  • Were with him: "go and inquire of the lord for me and for the
  • 00:25:31.488 --> 00:25:34.892
  • People and for all of judah about what is written in this
  • 00:25:34.892 --> 00:25:37.328
  • Book that's been found.
  • 00:25:37.328 --> 00:25:39.663
  • Great is the lord's anger that burns against us because our
  • 00:25:39.663 --> 00:25:43.334
  • Fathers haven't obeyed the words of this book; and they haven't
  • 00:25:43.334 --> 00:25:46.637
  • Acted in accordance with all that is written there
  • 00:25:46.637 --> 00:25:49.740
  • Concerning us.'"
  • 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:51.075
  • Now, another time in history, folks, there is no
  • 00:25:51.075 --> 00:25:52.543
  • Printing press yet.
  • 00:25:52.543 --> 00:25:54.278
  • The only written material they have is handcopied.
  • 00:25:54.278 --> 00:25:57.114
  • There were very precious few of those.
  • 00:25:57.114 --> 00:26:00.551
  • The books are not in practice.
  • 00:26:00.551 --> 00:26:02.186
  • They use a scroll.
  • 00:26:02.186 --> 00:26:03.554
  • And they found hidden in the wall a scroll with the books of
  • 00:26:03.554 --> 00:26:06.890
  • Moses on it, the law.
  • 00:26:06.890 --> 00:26:09.693
  • They lost their bible, and nobody noticed.
  • 00:26:09.693 --> 00:26:15.566
  • Gee, that sounds a lot like us!
  • 00:26:15.566 --> 00:26:20.804
  • I did an interview with george barna, and he said less than 10%
  • 00:26:20.804 --> 00:26:25.409
  • Of the youth pastors in american churches have a biblical
  • 00:26:25.409 --> 00:26:28.479
  • Worldview, not the pagans, not the--we've lost our bibles too.
  • 00:26:28.479 --> 00:26:38.489
  • Allen: i think it's such an amazing revelation that god
  • 00:26:39.823 --> 00:26:42.226
  • Knows what's happening in our lives.
  • 00:26:42.226 --> 00:26:44.328
  • If he knows when a sparrow falls to the ground or how many hairs
  • 00:26:44.328 --> 00:26:46.597
  • We have on our head, he knows the details of our lives.
  • 00:26:46.597 --> 00:26:49.199
  • That's not a threat. that's a promise.
  • 00:26:49.199 --> 00:26:51.769
  • What a wonderful thing. let's pray.
  • 00:26:51.769 --> 00:26:54.071
  • Father, i thank you that we're not alone, or isolated, or
  • 00:26:54.071 --> 00:26:56.774
  • Separated from you, that you know the details of our days.
  • 00:26:56.774 --> 00:27:00.144
  • We trust you with that.
  • 00:27:00.144 --> 00:27:01.478
  • We trust you with our future. help us.
  • 00:27:01.478 --> 00:27:04.448
  • We need your help, in jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:04.448 --> 00:27:07.117
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:09.253 --> 00:27:28.105