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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Our Heavenly Father (Part 1)

July 10, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - Our Heavenly Father (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Anxiety #SeekGod #ServantofGod #Heart #PromisesofGod #Freedom #Hope #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Our Heavenly Father (Part 1) | July 10, 2026
  • ...
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  • Female announcer: everywhere we turn, someone is telling us who
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  • We should be, how we should look, and what we
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  • Should believe.
  • 00:00:06.055 --> 00:00:07.489
  • It's no wonder so many of us feel isolated, uncertain,
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  • Confused, and like we're not enough.
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  • But god has a different message.
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  • You are chosen, loved, accepted, and redeemed.
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  • And as you more fully understand how god sees you, it will change
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  • How you see yourself, how you see god, and how you live
  • 00:00:24.740 --> 00:00:28.077
  • Your life.
  • 00:00:28.077 --> 00:00:29.545
  • In "your identity in christ: 12 truths about who you are,"
  • 00:00:29.545 --> 00:00:33.148
  • Pastor allen jackson shares the unchanging truth of god's word.
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  • From isolation to belonging, from doubt to confidence,
  • 00:00:37.553 --> 00:00:41.924
  • Discover your identity in him.
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  • You or someone you know needs the encouragement, truth, and
  • 00:00:44.693 --> 00:00:48.730
  • Freedom found in this book.
  • 00:00:48.730 --> 00:00:52.734
  • Request yours today when you donate any amount at
  • 00:00:52.801 --> 00:00:55.437
  • Allenjackson.com or call...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: our topic for the weekend, quite surprisingly, is
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  • "our heavenly father."
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  • Yeah, and i wanna start--we're gonna cover kind of a variety of
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  • Things all under that umbrella.
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  • Some have direct application to our own personal journeys and
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  • Our own families; some, to our understanding of god; some are
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  • To enable us to be salt and light, but all related to this
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  • Notion of the fatherhood of god.
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  • It is the relationship that god chose for himself in the midst
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  • Of his creation.
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  • That's stunning to me.
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  • But in ephesians chapter 3, and verse 14, it says, "for this
  • 00:01:44.586 --> 00:01:48.824
  • Reason i bow my knees before the father, from whom every family
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  • In heaven and on earth derives its name."
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  • God chose this role of father to describe himself in the midst of
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  • His creation.
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  • Now, i know we all bring perspectives to that, and we all
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  • Bring life experience to that, but we need to bring the
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  • Humility to recognize the value god attached to it.
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  • If we don't get father right, it's gonna leave a deficit and
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  • Everything else about our relationship with the lord.
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  • And so, we'll take just a moment with it.
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  • It was a unique revelation that jesus brought to us.
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  • In john 17 and verse 6, it's jesus--john 17 is jesus's great
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  • High priestly prayer.
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  • He's preparing his disciples for his departure.
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  • And he prays for them.
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  • He prays for us in that prayer as well.
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  • But in verse 6, he said, "i have manifested," or i've made known,
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  • "your name to the men whom you have given me out of the world."
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  • But one of the fascinating aspects of scripture is god's
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  • Revelation to us in his names.
  • 00:02:49.751 --> 00:02:52.254
  • In exodus 3, when moses is recruited, he said, "who will i
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  • Tell the people sent me?"
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  • Do i get a laminated id badge?
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  • How will they know?
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  • And he said, "you tell 'em that i am sent you."
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  • And throughout the hebrew bible, and then into the new testament,
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  • We have this revelation of god by the names that he gives--the
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  • Covenant names of god.
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  • It's a lengthy list, but--jehovah-rapha, "i'll be the
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  • Lord, your physician," in exodus 15.
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  • Jehovah-jireh, "i'll be the lord, your provider."
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  • Jehovah-tsidkenu, "i'll be the lord, your righteousness."
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  • I mean, they're hebrew words, but they're revelations of
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  • Aspects of the character of god.
  • 00:03:29.725 --> 00:03:33.228
  • But jesus, when he prays, he said, "i have made known your
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  • Name to the men whom you've given me out of the world.
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  • Look in john 14, "jesus said to him, 'i am the way, the truth,
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  • And the life.
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  • No one comes to the father except through me.'"
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  • What was the name?
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  • What was the revelation jesus gave us about creator god?
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  • God is father.
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  • Because no one can reveal the father in the way that the
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  • Son can.
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  • The prophets couldn't.
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  • There was--the angels couldn't.
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  • The son of god can give to us insight, and understanding, and
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  • Revelation into god our father.
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  • In matthew 11 and verse 27, it says, "all things have been
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  • Delivered to me by my father"--this is jesus--"and no
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  • One knows the son except the father.
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  • Nor does anyone know the father except the son, and the one to
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  • Whom the son wills to reveal him."
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  • Jesus came to reveal to us almighty god, our
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  • Heavenly father.
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  • In fact, in scripture, it says that, you know, in the previous
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  • Times, god spoke to us through the prophets and through
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  • Miracles and through signs, but in these last days, he's spoken
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  • To us through his son that we might have the revelation of god
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  • Our father.
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  • It will change your relationship with god if you'll begin to ask
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  • The spirit of god to make that real to you.
  • 00:04:55.744 --> 00:05:00.315
  • And i think it is a part of the great confusion that has
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  • Beset us.
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  • We're watching spiritual conflict unfold on a scale and a
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  • Scope that has never been in my lifetime
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  • To the point that it becomes absurd.
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  • We laugh from time to time about the theater of the absurd and
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  • The bizarre things that are being pushed forward in direct
  • 00:05:21.002 --> 00:05:23.939
  • Opposition to fundamental principles of scripture.
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  • And this is abundantly clear around this whole notion of god
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  • As our father, and our roles within family, and the idea of
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  • Family, and how families are constructed.
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  • All of those things come to us from god.
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  • I mean, all of the language, all of the things around
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  • Gender confusion.
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  • The antagonism between men and women is not helpful.
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  • It leads us to a destructive--very
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  • Destructive place.
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  • And the church has a solution.
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  • We can humble ourselves and be obedient to the counsel
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  • Of scripture.
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  • We'll have to have the courage to stand against cultural
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  • Voices, some of them rooted in some very celebrated arenas of
  • 00:06:05.847 --> 00:06:09.451
  • Academia, some by very influential people--people of
  • 00:06:09.451 --> 00:06:14.055
  • Celebrity, and status, and influence, but they're standing
  • 00:06:14.055 --> 00:06:17.559
  • In some very ungodly positions, advocating for some very
  • 00:06:17.559 --> 00:06:20.962
  • Ungodly things.
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  • And we don't need to be angry or belligerent, but we can be very
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  • Quietly determined to be advocates for almighty god.
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  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:06:29.171 --> 00:06:33.575
  • There's a bill that is in new york that's making its way
  • 00:06:33.575 --> 00:06:36.178
  • Through the system, and the governor has already said that
  • 00:06:36.178 --> 00:06:38.013
  • She would sign it--
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  • That they wanna--to remove father and mother from the legal
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  • Language in the state and their replacements are gestating
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  • Person, and non-gestating person.
  • 00:06:49.958 --> 00:06:55.430
  • We're so determined to say that we're not different, that we're
  • 00:06:55.430 --> 00:06:59.301
  • Just the same, that we're absolutely equal in every
  • 00:06:59.301 --> 00:07:02.537
  • Possible way, that the only--kinda the lowest common
  • 00:07:02.537 --> 00:07:06.274
  • Denominator is, "well, you can give birth and i can't."
  • 00:07:06.274 --> 00:07:12.180
  • You know, we're not the same.
  • 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:13.648
  • It's not about greater or lesser, weaker or stronger, more
  • 00:07:13.648 --> 00:07:16.585
  • Capable or less capable.
  • 00:07:16.585 --> 00:07:18.253
  • We're different.
  • 00:07:18.253 --> 00:07:20.722
  • And we need the strength that comes from that, and we
  • 00:07:20.722 --> 00:07:22.958
  • Desperately need it in our homes and our families.
  • 00:07:22.958 --> 00:07:26.561
  • It's very fashionable, particularly in academia and,
  • 00:07:26.561 --> 00:07:29.231
  • Tragically, in theological studies,
  • 00:07:29.231 --> 00:07:31.633
  • I mean, to foster hatred for the patriarchs.
  • 00:07:31.633 --> 00:07:38.206
  • To talk about patriarchal--anything is an
  • 00:07:38.206 --> 00:07:41.710
  • Expression of hatred.
  • 00:07:41.710 --> 00:07:47.249
  • We can't reject fundamental principles of scripture and
  • 00:07:47.249 --> 00:07:50.051
  • Imagine that we will live in the blessings of god.
  • 00:07:50.051 --> 00:07:54.089
  • So, if you have succumbed to the notion that biblical ideas are
  • 00:07:54.089 --> 00:07:56.892
  • Just a bit out of date, kind of quaint.
  • 00:07:56.892 --> 00:08:00.595
  • How quaint.
  • 00:08:00.595 --> 00:08:02.597
  • As if it's no longer relevant for today.
  • 00:08:02.597 --> 00:08:04.232
  • We have better ideas.
  • 00:08:04.232 --> 00:08:05.600
  • Now we have ai.
  • 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:08.537
  • Folks, ai's are amaz--ai is amazing.
  • 00:08:08.537 --> 00:08:10.505
  • It can crunch more data, more information so quickly.
  • 00:08:10.505 --> 00:08:14.242
  • It can get to decisions, but it's data that's given to it by
  • 00:08:14.242 --> 00:08:17.312
  • Human beings.
  • 00:08:17.312 --> 00:08:19.548
  • And if you've had a very broad sample set of human beings, we
  • 00:08:19.548 --> 00:08:22.150
  • Are a fractured lot.
  • 00:08:22.150 --> 00:08:25.921
  • I mean, i didn't call your name, but i could.
  • 00:08:25.921 --> 00:08:30.625
  • I mean, it's fashionable to say that biblical principles are no
  • 00:08:30.625 --> 00:08:34.062
  • Longer relevant,
  • 00:08:34.062 --> 00:08:35.564
  • That it has to be understood in the context of our
  • 00:08:35.564 --> 00:08:37.499
  • Current world.
  • 00:08:37.499 --> 00:08:38.867
  • All baloney.
  • 00:08:38.867 --> 00:08:41.503
  • Needs to be understood in the context of the heart of god and
  • 00:08:41.503 --> 00:08:43.738
  • What his intent was,
  • 00:08:43.738 --> 00:08:45.807
  • Not submitted to the cultural fashion or the sociological
  • 00:08:45.807 --> 00:08:49.511
  • Fashion of the moment.
  • 00:08:49.511 --> 00:08:53.715
  • I would submit to you it's time for a whole new generation of
  • 00:08:53.715 --> 00:08:56.484
  • Godly men, godly men.
  • 00:08:56.484 --> 00:08:59.287
  • Masculinity is not toxic.
  • 00:08:59.287 --> 00:09:04.225
  • Sin is toxic.
  • 00:09:04.225 --> 00:09:06.761
  • And men that are sinful and ungodly can be really toxic, but
  • 00:09:06.761 --> 00:09:11.132
  • Let's not blame it on their masculinity.
  • 00:09:11.132 --> 00:09:13.602
  • Let's blame it on sin, and ungodliness, and wickedness.
  • 00:09:13.602 --> 00:09:17.105
  • We need godly men.
  • 00:09:17.105 --> 00:09:18.473
  • There are some roles for godly men that they can uniquely fill.
  • 00:09:18.473 --> 00:09:21.676
  • It doesn't mean women don't contribute, that they're
  • 00:09:21.676 --> 00:09:23.445
  • Not important.
  • 00:09:23.445 --> 00:09:24.779
  • Again, it's not about either/or, but the bible gives godly men a
  • 00:09:24.779 --> 00:09:28.383
  • Responsibility for provision.
  • 00:09:28.383 --> 00:09:30.485
  • It says, "if you don't provide for your family, you're an
  • 00:09:30.485 --> 00:09:32.153
  • Infidel, a pagan."
  • 00:09:32.153 --> 00:09:34.823
  • So, if your work-life balance does not include provision for
  • 00:09:34.823 --> 00:09:37.759
  • Your family, your balance is messed up.
  • 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:44.466
  • Godly men need to bring spiritual leadership.
  • 00:09:44.466 --> 00:09:48.903
  • Doesn't mean they're the only leadership, doesn't mean they're
  • 00:09:48.903 --> 00:09:51.506
  • The only voice, but our homes will be different if godly men
  • 00:09:51.506 --> 00:09:55.777
  • Will bring some spiritual leadership.
  • 00:09:55.777 --> 00:09:59.547
  • Our churches will be different.
  • 00:09:59.547 --> 00:10:00.882
  • Our culture will be different.
  • 00:10:00.882 --> 00:10:04.552
  • I'm telling you, when men started playing in women's
  • 00:10:04.552 --> 00:10:06.621
  • Sports, where were the fathers?
  • 00:10:06.621 --> 00:10:11.359
  • I watched the pictures of the women at the school board
  • 00:10:11.359 --> 00:10:13.428
  • Meeting saying, "you get these books out of our libraries."
  • 00:10:13.428 --> 00:10:15.630
  • And i watched the videos going, "where are the dads?"
  • 00:10:15.630 --> 00:10:20.869
  • Godly men have a role to play.
  • 00:10:20.869 --> 00:10:24.406
  • Safety, security, guardians.
  • 00:10:24.406 --> 00:10:26.107
  • Adam in the garden when god said--gave him the assignment to
  • 00:10:26.107 --> 00:10:28.777
  • Tend the garden--the hebrew word is the modern hebrew word for a
  • 00:10:28.777 --> 00:10:32.914
  • Night watchman.
  • 00:10:32.914 --> 00:10:34.983
  • You're to watch over this place, to secure it.
  • 00:10:34.983 --> 00:10:37.886
  • The temptation that presented itself to eve was because the
  • 00:10:37.886 --> 00:10:40.689
  • Security was lax.
  • 00:10:40.689 --> 00:10:45.960
  • Oh jeez, now we gotta rewrite stuff.
  • 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:50.598
  • But our security that we bring is both spiritually
  • 00:10:50.598 --> 00:10:53.535
  • And physically.
  • 00:10:53.535 --> 00:11:01.142
  • God chose to identify himself to humanity as our father, our
  • 00:11:01.142 --> 00:11:04.446
  • Heavenly father.
  • 00:11:04.446 --> 00:11:06.247
  • And his intent was to attach tremendous value to fatherhood.
  • 00:11:06.247 --> 00:11:12.721
  • And we've allowed that to be diminished for far too long.
  • 00:11:12.721 --> 00:11:18.259
  • Allen: hey, i wanna ask you a question.
  • 00:11:22.163 --> 00:11:23.832
  • How do you identify?
  • 00:11:23.832 --> 00:11:24.966
  • Male, female, southerner, educated, housewife?
  • 00:11:24.966 --> 00:11:28.536
  • How do you identify?
  • 00:11:28.536 --> 00:11:30.338
  • Well, i wanna suggest knowing your identity in christ is the
  • 00:11:30.338 --> 00:11:33.575
  • Most significant component of your person for both time
  • 00:11:33.575 --> 00:11:36.945
  • And eternity.
  • 00:11:36.945 --> 00:11:38.146
  • We put together a resource; it's a new booklet.
  • 00:11:38.146 --> 00:11:40.014
  • It'll help you understand who you are in christ, "your
  • 00:11:40.014 --> 00:11:42.684
  • Identity in the kingdom of god" and what the implications of
  • 00:11:42.684 --> 00:11:45.820
  • That are for your life today.
  • 00:11:45.820 --> 00:11:47.622
  • It's a game changer.
  • 00:11:47.622 --> 00:11:49.124
  • I believe it'll be a blessing to you and to your family.
  • 00:11:49.124 --> 00:11:52.660
  • Announcer: every day the world tries to define who we are, what
  • 00:11:52.727 --> 00:11:56.197
  • We should believe, and whether we're enough.
  • 00:11:56.197 --> 00:11:58.399
  • But god's word tells a different story.
  • 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:00.802
  • In pastor allen's new book, "your identity in christ: 12
  • 00:12:00.802 --> 00:12:04.606
  • Truths about who you are," he shares biblical truths that will
  • 00:12:04.606 --> 00:12:08.209
  • Help you recognize who you are in christ.
  • 00:12:08.209 --> 00:12:10.245
  • Request your book and free companion card today with your
  • 00:12:10.245 --> 00:12:13.381
  • Gift of any amount at allenjackson.com or call ...
  • 00:12:13.381 --> 00:12:20.455
  • Allen: i'd gone through my bible some time ago, making notes of
  • 00:12:23.124 --> 00:12:27.061
  • All the places where god said he would provide protection for us.
  • 00:12:27.061 --> 00:12:32.367
  • But i--one of my more persistent memories from my
  • 00:12:32.367 --> 00:12:35.837
  • Childhood is--my dad had hands that are like baseball mitts.
  • 00:12:35.837 --> 00:12:45.613
  • And i remember a time or two when i didn't feel good, and i
  • 00:12:45.613 --> 00:12:48.850
  • Was laying in bed, and my dad put his hand on my back, and it
  • 00:12:48.850 --> 00:12:51.653
  • Would, like, span my back.
  • 00:12:51.653 --> 00:12:54.389
  • I mean, not anymore but.
  • 00:12:54.389 --> 00:12:57.792
  • And the comfort that came from that touch.
  • 00:12:57.792 --> 00:13:02.564
  • Now, in our household, you got animal medicine, so it was kind
  • 00:13:02.564 --> 00:13:04.599
  • Of limited comfort, but there was comfort.
  • 00:13:04.599 --> 00:13:11.606
  • I had to leave home and go to college before i got human
  • 00:13:11.606 --> 00:13:13.641
  • Medicine, i promise, you know, it's--that explains a lot,
  • 00:13:13.641 --> 00:13:16.811
  • Doesn't it?
  • 00:13:16.811 --> 00:13:18.179
  • It's like things you'd wondered about, now you've got
  • 00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:19.814
  • Clarity on.
  • 00:13:19.814 --> 00:13:22.817
  • But the protection that came from simply that hand on our
  • 00:13:22.817 --> 00:13:26.087
  • Backs when we were kids.
  • 00:13:26.087 --> 00:13:28.890
  • And i started tagging these verses in my bow--
  • 00:13:28.890 --> 00:13:31.359
  • I brought you a tiny sample.
  • 00:13:31.359 --> 00:13:32.694
  • I got dozens and dozens and dozens.
  • 00:13:32.694 --> 00:13:34.162
  • But psalm 20: "may the lord answer you when you are in
  • 00:13:34.162 --> 00:13:36.531
  • Distress; may the name of the god of jacob protect you."
  • 00:13:36.531 --> 00:13:41.169
  • Psalm 23, may be more familiar: "even though i walk through the
  • 00:13:41.169 --> 00:13:43.838
  • Valley of the shadow of death, i will fear no evil, for you are
  • 00:13:43.838 --> 00:13:48.710
  • With me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
  • 00:13:48.710 --> 00:13:52.981
  • I may be surrounded by evil, but if you're with me, i'm
  • 00:13:52.981 --> 00:13:56.918
  • Not afraid.
  • 00:13:56.918 --> 00:13:58.653
  • Isaiah 43: "when you pass through the waters, i'll be with
  • 00:13:58.653 --> 00:14:01.222
  • You; and when you pass through the rivers, they'll not sweep
  • 00:14:01.222 --> 00:14:03.491
  • Over you.
  • 00:14:03.491 --> 00:14:04.826
  • And when you walk through the fire, you'll not be burned; the
  • 00:14:04.826 --> 00:14:07.095
  • Flames will not set you ablaze.
  • 00:14:07.095 --> 00:14:08.630
  • For i'm the lord, your god, the holy one of israel,
  • 00:14:08.630 --> 00:14:12.333
  • Your savior."
  • 00:14:12.333 --> 00:14:14.602
  • We've stepped away from god as our protector.
  • 00:14:14.602 --> 00:14:17.538
  • Because we don't know him as our father.
  • 00:14:17.538 --> 00:14:19.974
  • Psalms 31: "i'll be glad and rejoice in your love, for you
  • 00:14:19.974 --> 00:14:23.011
  • Saw my affliction and you knew the anguish of my soul.
  • 00:14:23.011 --> 00:14:27.048
  • You haven't handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet
  • 00:14:27.048 --> 00:14:30.118
  • In a spacious place."
  • 00:14:30.118 --> 00:14:32.420
  • If you're walking through a threatening season, take some of
  • 00:14:32.420 --> 00:14:36.090
  • Those passages, and you put them in your heart, memorize them,
  • 00:14:36.090 --> 00:14:39.794
  • Say 'em over your life on a daily basis.
  • 00:14:39.794 --> 00:14:41.696
  • Begin to make them your declaration over your life.
  • 00:14:41.696 --> 00:14:46.000
  • You begin to set your mind on what god has said about you,
  • 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:50.204
  • Not in some manipulative way.
  • 00:14:50.204 --> 00:14:51.572
  • Your mind's gonna be filled with something.
  • 00:14:51.572 --> 00:14:52.941
  • You can fill it with fear and anxiety, you can fill it with
  • 00:14:52.941 --> 00:14:56.144
  • The threats, you can fill it with your awareness of all the
  • 00:14:56.144 --> 00:14:58.379
  • Negative possibilities, or you can fill it with what god has
  • 00:14:58.379 --> 00:15:01.349
  • Said he will do.
  • 00:15:01.349 --> 00:15:03.551
  • I would invite you to begin to think more about what god has
  • 00:15:03.551 --> 00:15:06.454
  • Said he will do.
  • 00:15:06.454 --> 00:15:08.890
  • I wanna take it for a minute and talk to the men.
  • 00:15:08.890 --> 00:15:12.060
  • Whether you're a father yet or not, whether you're a father and
  • 00:15:12.060 --> 00:15:14.295
  • Your children are fathers,
  • 00:15:14.295 --> 00:15:17.265
  • I'd like to, if you'll accept it, give you a
  • 00:15:17.265 --> 00:15:19.167
  • Biblical assignment.
  • 00:15:19.167 --> 00:15:20.835
  • It's not complicated.
  • 00:15:20.835 --> 00:15:22.837
  • Seek god. seek god.
  • 00:15:22.837 --> 00:15:28.209
  • Be different.
  • 00:15:28.209 --> 00:15:30.044
  • Be different from your ungodly friends.
  • 00:15:30.044 --> 00:15:32.613
  • Be different from your lukewarm friends.
  • 00:15:32.613 --> 00:15:35.283
  • Be different from your friends that come to church, but are
  • 00:15:35.283 --> 00:15:38.119
  • Very indistinguishable from people who don't.
  • 00:15:38.119 --> 00:15:41.589
  • Seek god.
  • 00:15:41.589 --> 00:15:44.192
  • I understand you're born again.
  • 00:15:44.192 --> 00:15:45.560
  • Maybe you've been baptized in water, maybe you've been
  • 00:15:45.560 --> 00:15:47.261
  • Baptized in the spirit, maybe you've read your bible every
  • 00:15:47.261 --> 00:15:49.530
  • Year for 30 years.
  • 00:15:49.530 --> 00:15:51.466
  • Hallelujah.
  • 00:15:51.466 --> 00:15:52.834
  • Seek god.
  • 00:15:52.834 --> 00:15:55.403
  • Don't mail it in.
  • 00:15:55.403 --> 00:15:57.905
  • Stop reading your curriculum vitae, and bend your knee before
  • 00:15:57.905 --> 00:16:02.610
  • The lord.
  • 00:16:02.610 --> 00:16:05.279
  • He's an infinite god and we are his finite creation.
  • 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:09.117
  • If we learn something new about god every moment of every day at
  • 00:16:09.117 --> 00:16:12.754
  • The end of our lives, we'll be beginners.
  • 00:16:12.754 --> 00:16:15.923
  • Seek god.
  • 00:16:15.923 --> 00:16:17.792
  • I brought you some passages.
  • 00:16:17.792 --> 00:16:19.327
  • 1 chronicles 28--this is solomon--david's instructions
  • 00:16:19.327 --> 00:16:25.233
  • To solomon.
  • 00:16:25.233 --> 00:16:26.567
  • "solomon, my son, acknowledge the god of your father, and
  • 00:16:26.567 --> 00:16:28.970
  • Serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing
  • 00:16:28.970 --> 00:16:31.539
  • Mind, for the lord searches every heart and understands
  • 00:16:31.539 --> 00:16:35.276
  • Every motive behind the thoughts."
  • 00:16:35.276 --> 00:16:36.811
  • Wow.
  • 00:16:36.811 --> 00:16:38.946
  • Serve god with wholehearted devotion and with a
  • 00:16:38.946 --> 00:16:42.917
  • Willing mind.
  • 00:16:42.917 --> 00:16:44.252
  • How often do we serve god with gritted teeth?
  • 00:16:44.252 --> 00:16:50.458
  • You can put--pencil me in there.
  • 00:16:50.458 --> 00:16:53.261
  • "ah..."
  • 00:16:53.261 --> 00:16:57.698
  • Maybe you don't moan and complain when i--sometimes when
  • 00:16:57.698 --> 00:17:00.935
  • I know the right thing to do, but i can have that tendency if
  • 00:17:00.935 --> 00:17:03.905
  • I don't guard my heart.
  • 00:17:03.905 --> 00:17:06.707
  • And david is giving solomon instructions.
  • 00:17:06.707 --> 00:17:09.010
  • Unfortunately, he didn't keep them.
  • 00:17:09.010 --> 00:17:11.312
  • And he said, "the lord searches every heart and understands
  • 00:17:11.312 --> 00:17:13.614
  • Every motive behind the thoughts."
  • 00:17:13.614 --> 00:17:15.817
  • See, we get so comfortable with manipulating circumstances, with
  • 00:17:15.817 --> 00:17:20.021
  • Our postures and all the things, but god knows the intents of
  • 00:17:20.021 --> 00:17:23.291
  • Our heart.
  • 00:17:23.291 --> 00:17:25.526
  • That's not a threat.
  • 00:17:25.526 --> 00:17:26.894
  • There's so much freedom in that.
  • 00:17:26.894 --> 00:17:28.229
  • God knows when you mean to do the right thing.
  • 00:17:28.229 --> 00:17:30.665
  • God knows when you're sincerely trying to do the right thing.
  • 00:17:30.665 --> 00:17:33.468
  • Even when it doesn't unfold that way, god knows.
  • 00:17:33.468 --> 00:17:35.470
  • It's not a threat, it's a promise.
  • 00:17:35.470 --> 00:17:38.439
  • In a broken world, in a dark world, in a world filled with
  • 00:17:38.439 --> 00:17:41.876
  • Ungodliness and demonic junk, god knows your heart.
  • 00:17:41.876 --> 00:17:45.780
  • God, you know what i wanna do.
  • 00:17:45.780 --> 00:17:49.584
  • You know it's not always easy to know.
  • 00:17:49.584 --> 00:17:52.653
  • You know all the people who will attach meanings to what they
  • 00:17:52.653 --> 00:17:56.023
  • Watch will attach the right meaning, but you know, god.
  • 00:17:56.023 --> 00:18:00.094
  • There's such freedom in that.
  • 00:18:00.094 --> 00:18:02.530
  • If you'll start your day and say, "god, i wanna honor
  • 00:18:02.530 --> 00:18:04.966
  • You today.
  • 00:18:04.966 --> 00:18:06.567
  • I wanna please you today."
  • 00:18:06.567 --> 00:18:10.905
  • Ah, to me there's such freedom in that.
  • 00:18:10.905 --> 00:18:15.476
  • Look at the next sentence, "if you seek him,
  • 00:18:15.476 --> 00:18:18.012
  • He'll be found by you."
  • 00:18:18.012 --> 00:18:19.380
  • That's david's instruction.
  • 00:18:19.380 --> 00:18:20.715
  • David's an old man.
  • 00:18:20.715 --> 00:18:22.083
  • He's just about done.
  • 00:18:22.083 --> 00:18:23.417
  • And he said, "solomon, my son, if you will seek god, he'll be
  • 00:18:23.417 --> 00:18:26.554
  • Found by you."
  • 00:18:26.554 --> 00:18:29.524
  • Seek god, you'll find him.
  • 00:18:29.524 --> 00:18:32.627
  • You'll find him in new ways, you'll understand him in
  • 00:18:32.627 --> 00:18:34.996
  • New ways.
  • 00:18:34.996 --> 00:18:36.330
  • He'll write a new future for you.
  • 00:18:36.330 --> 00:18:38.533
  • And we get honest and say, "i don't really want a new future.
  • 00:18:38.533 --> 00:18:40.501
  • I just wanna do what i wanted to do."
  • 00:18:40.501 --> 00:18:43.204
  • But if we'll see god, he'll begin to change our heart.
  • 00:18:43.204 --> 00:18:46.841
  • We'll get excited about what he's doing.
  • 00:18:46.841 --> 00:18:51.179
  • Look at psalm 34: "the lions may grow weak and hungry, but those
  • 00:18:51.179 --> 00:18:54.549
  • Who seek the lord--" we'll turn the page.
  • 00:18:54.549 --> 00:19:01.255
  • "but those who seek the lord lack no good thing."
  • 00:19:01.255 --> 00:19:06.294
  • If you're reading that on your phone,
  • 00:19:06.294 --> 00:19:07.728
  • You have no idea what i'm talking about,
  • 00:19:07.728 --> 00:19:09.063
  • But in the room, it made a difference.
  • 00:19:09.063 --> 00:19:12.533
  • Lamentations 3: "the lord is good to those whose hope is in
  • 00:19:12.533 --> 00:19:16.070
  • Him, to the one who seeks him."
  • 00:19:16.070 --> 00:19:17.772
  • Do you remember who wrote lamentations?
  • 00:19:17.772 --> 00:19:21.542
  • It's written from the perspective of jeremiah
  • 00:19:21.542 --> 00:19:23.477
  • The prophet.
  • 00:19:23.477 --> 00:19:25.012
  • Do you happen to remember jeremiah?
  • 00:19:25.012 --> 00:19:27.114
  • Jeremiah is the prophet in jerusalem when the babylonians
  • 00:19:27.114 --> 00:19:29.650
  • Are coming.
  • 00:19:29.650 --> 00:19:31.285
  • And his life message is destruction is coming,
  • 00:19:31.285 --> 00:19:34.322
  • Discipline is coming, and there's really nothing you can
  • 00:19:34.322 --> 00:19:36.324
  • Do about it.
  • 00:19:36.324 --> 00:19:38.693
  • They're gonna take your children.
  • 00:19:38.693 --> 00:19:41.062
  • Blood will run through the streets, and there's not much
  • 00:19:41.062 --> 00:19:43.965
  • You can do.
  • 00:19:43.965 --> 00:19:45.299
  • Lamentations is a collection of laments,
  • 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:47.902
  • Those sorrowful messages.
  • 00:19:47.902 --> 00:19:49.837
  • And in the midst of all of that emotion, one of the most
  • 00:19:49.837 --> 00:19:52.006
  • Difficult ministries in all of the bible--jeremiah--this is
  • 00:19:52.006 --> 00:19:55.576
  • What he said, "the lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
  • 00:19:55.576 --> 00:19:59.347
  • To the one who seeks him."
  • 00:19:59.347 --> 00:20:00.748
  • Destruction may be coming all around you, but if you will seek
  • 00:20:00.748 --> 00:20:03.684
  • The lord, he'll be good to you.
  • 00:20:03.684 --> 00:20:08.222
  • For all the destruction, for all the death, for all the things
  • 00:20:08.222 --> 00:20:10.725
  • That happened, god watched over jeremiah.
  • 00:20:10.725 --> 00:20:14.462
  • We're gonna read it together in a few weeks.
  • 00:20:14.462 --> 00:20:17.665
  • In fact, the captain of the babylonian guard came to
  • 00:20:17.665 --> 00:20:21.435
  • Jeremiah and said, "just tell me where you wanna live.
  • 00:20:21.435 --> 00:20:25.006
  • I'll see that you're established."
  • 00:20:25.006 --> 00:20:27.541
  • Unbelievable stuff.
  • 00:20:27.541 --> 00:20:29.443
  • Matthew 6, this is jesus.
  • 00:20:29.443 --> 00:20:31.012
  • Some of you prefer the new testament.
  • 00:20:31.012 --> 00:20:34.482
  • Jesus said, "seek first your 401(k)."
  • 00:20:34.482 --> 00:20:41.889
  • "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these
  • 00:20:41.889 --> 00:20:44.959
  • Things will be given to you as well."
  • 00:20:44.959 --> 00:20:46.294
  • If you go back and look at it in its broader context, he's
  • 00:20:46.294 --> 00:20:48.629
  • Talking about physical stuff and material things.
  • 00:20:48.629 --> 00:20:50.931
  • God's not opposed to those.
  • 00:20:50.931 --> 00:20:52.266
  • He made the earth and everything that's in it for us.
  • 00:20:52.266 --> 00:20:55.670
  • But the counsel of scripture, the counsel of jesus, the
  • 00:20:55.670 --> 00:20:59.573
  • Counsel of the spirit of god is to seek first his kingdom.
  • 00:20:59.573 --> 00:21:02.777
  • Fellas, seek first the kingdom of god.
  • 00:21:02.777 --> 00:21:07.848
  • I'm gonna talk about some practical expressions of that
  • 00:21:07.848 --> 00:21:10.051
  • For just a second, but you gotta decide what you're gonna do.
  • 00:21:10.051 --> 00:21:13.821
  • Colossians chapter 3, "set your minds on things above, not on
  • 00:21:13.821 --> 00:21:17.091
  • Earthly things."
  • 00:21:17.091 --> 00:21:18.426
  • That takes tremendous discipline to not just let your
  • 00:21:18.426 --> 00:21:21.696
  • Thoughts ramble,
  • 00:21:21.696 --> 00:21:23.764
  • To not give your thoughts to all the things that a secular
  • 00:21:23.764 --> 00:21:26.434
  • Culture will fill your mind with--the ambitions, and dreams,
  • 00:21:26.434 --> 00:21:30.104
  • And aspirations,
  • 00:21:30.104 --> 00:21:32.406
  • The people you spend your discretionary time with; you'll
  • 00:21:32.406 --> 00:21:34.809
  • Begin to reflect their ambitions if you don't guard your heart
  • 00:21:34.809 --> 00:21:37.878
  • And your mind.
  • 00:21:37.878 --> 00:21:39.246
  • "set your minds on things above."
  • 00:21:39.246 --> 00:21:40.648
  • There is a battlefield in your mind.
  • 00:21:40.648 --> 00:21:44.151
  • It's true for women too, but it's father's day weekend.
  • 00:21:44.151 --> 00:21:46.954
  • I'm gonna pick on you for a minute.
  • 00:21:46.954 --> 00:21:48.989
  • I promise, i'll get the women later.
  • 00:21:48.989 --> 00:21:51.892
  • There's a battlefield in your mind--a battlefield filled with
  • 00:21:51.892 --> 00:21:54.762
  • Pornography, gambling, hobbies that you elevate to unholy
  • 00:21:54.762 --> 00:21:58.299
  • Places, pursuit of selfish ambitions.
  • 00:21:58.299 --> 00:22:02.970
  • Well, we've got all sorts of cultural excuses.
  • 00:22:02.970 --> 00:22:04.805
  • "well, it's my private life.
  • 00:22:04.805 --> 00:22:06.173
  • I'm not harming anybody else."
  • 00:22:06.173 --> 00:22:07.508
  • Stop.
  • 00:22:07.508 --> 00:22:10.811
  • Seek god.
  • 00:22:10.811 --> 00:22:13.381
  • Let him become the ambition of your life.
  • 00:22:13.381 --> 00:22:17.985
  • I'm not saying that you can't have hobbies and i understand we
  • 00:22:17.985 --> 00:22:20.855
  • Have other things that are valuable to us.
  • 00:22:20.855 --> 00:22:25.259
  • But are you seeking god?
  • 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:28.396
  • Say, "well, i'm born again," okay.
  • 00:22:28.396 --> 00:22:34.535
  • It's like if your doctor says to you, "are you leading a
  • 00:22:34.535 --> 00:22:37.671
  • Healthy life?"
  • 00:22:37.671 --> 00:22:39.039
  • And you can say, "well, i was born.
  • 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:41.108
  • I've been born.
  • 00:22:41.108 --> 00:22:42.476
  • What do you want from me?"
  • 00:22:42.476 --> 00:22:44.779
  • Well, he'd like a behavior that reflects you care about your
  • 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:47.381
  • Physical health.
  • 00:22:47.381 --> 00:22:49.417
  • God's not--i'm not questioning your salvation.
  • 00:22:49.417 --> 00:22:51.252
  • I'm asking you to live in such a way that reflects you care about
  • 00:22:51.252 --> 00:22:54.054
  • Your spiritual well-being, and the spiritual well-being of
  • 00:22:54.054 --> 00:22:57.558
  • Those around you.
  • 00:22:57.558 --> 00:23:02.730
  • Hebrews 11:6, "without faith it is impossible to please god."
  • 00:23:02.730 --> 00:23:07.701
  • It's an interesting phrase.
  • 00:23:07.701 --> 00:23:10.471
  • If you wanna change--if you need a little--if you need an idea to
  • 00:23:10.471 --> 00:23:15.476
  • Bring a little motivation to seeking god, start to think in
  • 00:23:15.476 --> 00:23:18.746
  • Terms of, "what am i doing that's pleasing to god?"
  • 00:23:18.746 --> 00:23:22.650
  • Am i pleasing to god?"
  • 00:23:22.650 --> 00:23:24.018
  • "well, i'm not stealing.
  • 00:23:24.018 --> 00:23:26.520
  • Well, i'm not committing adultery."
  • 00:23:26.520 --> 00:23:29.957
  • You know, in james--the book of james--i warned you about james.
  • 00:23:29.957 --> 00:23:32.793
  • He's kinda, like, cranky.
  • 00:23:32.793 --> 00:23:35.830
  • James says, "you believe there's a god.
  • 00:23:35.830 --> 00:23:39.433
  • Good for you," james says.
  • 00:23:39.433 --> 00:23:41.669
  • "the demons believe that, and they shudder."
  • 00:23:41.669 --> 00:23:47.408
  • So, i don't imagine that pleasing god is i'm not
  • 00:23:47.408 --> 00:23:50.744
  • Breaking, overtly, any of the big ten.
  • 00:23:50.744 --> 00:23:55.850
  • I mean, in the course of my journey today, whether in
  • 00:23:55.850 --> 00:24:00.821
  • Prayers i have prayed, compassion i've given expression
  • 00:24:00.821 --> 00:24:04.258
  • To, obedience that i have engaged, whatever it may be,
  • 00:24:04.258 --> 00:24:07.628
  • Have i done something today that i could imagine is pleasing
  • 00:24:07.628 --> 00:24:10.564
  • To god?
  • 00:24:10.564 --> 00:24:12.066
  • God, i wanna please you today.
  • 00:24:12.066 --> 00:24:14.935
  • I wanna please you.
  • 00:24:14.935 --> 00:24:16.303
  • See, being a christ follower is not that complicated.
  • 00:24:16.303 --> 00:24:19.640
  • What we've lacked is the intent.
  • 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:24.011
  • It's my time.
  • 00:24:24.011 --> 00:24:25.346
  • I'm okay.
  • 00:24:25.346 --> 00:24:27.181
  • The next group doesn't have to be in here till 9:30 in the
  • 00:24:27.181 --> 00:24:29.550
  • Morning, so.
  • 00:24:29.550 --> 00:24:33.754
  • Yeah, you applaud.
  • 00:24:33.754 --> 00:24:37.758
  • Your neighbors will take you out.
  • 00:24:37.758 --> 00:24:42.062
  • What we've really missed is the intent.
  • 00:24:42.062 --> 00:24:45.232
  • It's like, "well, what do i have to do?
  • 00:24:45.232 --> 00:24:50.471
  • You know, what's the minimum daily requirement?"
  • 00:24:50.471 --> 00:24:54.041
  • It's like vegetables.
  • 00:24:54.041 --> 00:24:56.710
  • How much do i have to eat?
  • 00:24:56.710 --> 00:25:00.648
  • And how often?
  • 00:25:00.648 --> 00:25:02.650
  • And which ones?
  • 00:25:02.650 --> 00:25:04.785
  • And does it have to be green?
  • 00:25:04.785 --> 00:25:07.721
  • Why did god make green food?
  • 00:25:07.721 --> 00:25:10.891
  • Cows eat green food.
  • 00:25:10.891 --> 00:25:12.226
  • I'm not a cow.
  • 00:25:12.226 --> 00:25:14.862
  • I like strawberry ice cream.
  • 00:25:14.862 --> 00:25:18.232
  • Has milk in it, is that a vegetable?
  • 00:25:18.232 --> 00:25:21.802
  • There's a strawberry.
  • 00:25:21.802 --> 00:25:23.170
  • Fruits, vegetables--aren't vegetables and fruits both good
  • 00:25:23.170 --> 00:25:25.439
  • For you?
  • 00:25:25.439 --> 00:25:26.807
  • More ice cream for everybody.
  • 00:25:26.807 --> 00:25:29.843
  • And we bring a bit of that notion to our faith.
  • 00:25:29.843 --> 00:25:32.146
  • How much do i have to read?
  • 00:25:32.146 --> 00:25:35.349
  • And how often?
  • 00:25:35.349 --> 00:25:38.986
  • The whole thing?
  • 00:25:38.986 --> 00:25:43.324
  • And you want me to give money?
  • 00:25:43.324 --> 00:25:44.858
  • That's just preachers.
  • 00:25:44.858 --> 00:25:46.193
  • Preachers want you to give money.
  • 00:25:46.193 --> 00:25:49.163
  • No, actually, all the way through the book, worship and
  • 00:25:49.163 --> 00:25:53.367
  • Sharing of your material possessions are inseparable.
  • 00:25:53.367 --> 00:25:58.038
  • We can talk about seasons, and old covenant, and new covenant,
  • 00:25:58.038 --> 00:26:00.474
  • And i get all the things.
  • 00:26:00.474 --> 00:26:02.643
  • But the reality is, your heart's not fully yielded to the lord
  • 00:26:02.643 --> 00:26:07.181
  • Until you've yielded to him your material things.
  • 00:26:07.181 --> 00:26:09.683
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:11.151 --> 00:26:17.057
  • Allen: hey, i'm really excited about our newest publication.
  • 00:26:17.124 --> 00:26:19.793
  • "your identity in christ."
  • 00:26:19.793 --> 00:26:21.562
  • Far too often in christendom we major on the minors.
  • 00:26:21.562 --> 00:26:24.565
  • We get way heated up about which church we attend,
  • 00:26:24.565 --> 00:26:26.467
  • Which denomination we belong to, which translation
  • 00:26:26.467 --> 00:26:28.636
  • Of the bible we read.
  • 00:26:28.636 --> 00:26:30.004
  • Folks, those things are all okay.
  • 00:26:30.004 --> 00:26:31.538
  • But knowing who you are in christ, it will mean freedom
  • 00:26:31.538 --> 00:26:35.209
  • Or it will put you in a place of bondage.
  • 00:26:35.209 --> 00:26:37.244
  • When i help people through the steps of spiritual freedom,
  • 00:26:37.244 --> 00:26:40.080
  • The foundation of that is understanding
  • 00:26:40.080 --> 00:26:42.216
  • Who we are in christ.
  • 00:26:42.216 --> 00:26:44.018
  • We put together this little booklet as a tool.
  • 00:26:44.018 --> 00:26:46.153
  • It'll help you individually. you can do it as a small group.
  • 00:26:46.153 --> 00:26:48.722
  • It's a great resource to share with your children
  • 00:26:48.722 --> 00:26:51.058
  • Or your grandchildren at your kitchen table time.
  • 00:26:51.058 --> 00:26:53.761
  • It'll make a difference in your life.
  • 00:26:53.761 --> 00:26:55.295
  • Knowing who you are in christ, first and foremost,
  • 00:26:55.295 --> 00:26:58.399
  • As a part of your spiritual formation.
  • 00:26:58.399 --> 00:27:00.334
  • In fact, i wanna pray with you before we go.
  • 00:27:00.334 --> 00:27:02.002
  • That god will bring new freedom to you in this season.
  • 00:27:02.002 --> 00:27:05.406
  • Father, thank you, for you have established.
  • 00:27:05.406 --> 00:27:07.975
  • You have paid the price that we can participate
  • 00:27:07.975 --> 00:27:10.110
  • In your kingdom.
  • 00:27:10.110 --> 00:27:11.445
  • By your spirit, awaken us to who we are in christ,
  • 00:27:11.445 --> 00:27:15.082
  • First and foremost, in jesus's name, amen,
  • 00:27:15.082 --> 00:27:18.452
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:19.820 --> 00:27:29.530