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 - Our Heavenly Father (Part 2) | July 12, 2026
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- Allen jackson: we have a new resource for you.
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- I'm really excited about this.
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- It's a book; it's a booklet; it's a small book called "your
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- Identity in christ."
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- It was derived from years of teaching and leading in the
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- Context of the church.
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- We're walking through a season, folks, when there's so much
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- Confusion about our identity.
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- We put this together to help you understand who you are in
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- Christ, not just about your salvation, but so that you can
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- Lead a triumphant, victorious, overcoming life.
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- We built it for an individual read.
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- It's great for a small group.
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- It's a great resource for your kitchen table time as a family
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- With children or grandchildren.
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- If you know who you are in christ, it changes everything
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- About the landscape of your life.
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- I'm righteous in the sight of god.
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- I can stand before god without fear, guilt, or condemnation.
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- Those are such important foundational principles to get
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- Secure in your heart, around your table with the people you
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- Care about, in your small groups, with your friends.
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- "your identity in christ," it's a game changer.
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- I believe it will add momentum to your spiritual growth
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- In this season.
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- ♪♪♪
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- Allen: well, what brings excitement to you?
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- What brings enthusiasm?
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- What do you look forward to?
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- You've got a little free time.
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- And you can invest some energy
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- Or some thought or some effort, or you can gather some people
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- Around you that share a common interest, to what extent does
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- God make his way into that?
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- I'm not--i don't mean that in a condemning way.
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- It's a diagnostic tool because, if the answer isn't where you
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- Would like it to be, sitting in this environment, begin to talk
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- To the lord about it, and say, "lord, you know, the reality is,
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- I mean, i tolerate you.
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- I mean, i don't want to, like, exclude you.
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- I don't want to get voted off the island.
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- But i don't want you to be at the top of my to do list."
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- Begin to tell him the truth.
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- Stop the hustle, seek god.
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- I mean, i have, pretty consistently, this desire for
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- Change, cultural change.
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- Folks, cultural change starts with change in our hearts.
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- We have to have the intent to become more godly.
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- Fellas, seek god.
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- And the diagnostic part of that is really the first step.
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- To what extent do you have a desire to please him?
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- Or is he annoying?
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- I brought you a little checklist.
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- It's by no means inclusive.
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- It's--if i made the list next week, i'd probably have a
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- Different list, but the components will help you.
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- Read your bible.
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- Like, aren't you glad you came to church for that deep nugget?
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- Read your bible.
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- And, if you want to multiply the impact of that, not in an over
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- The top way, not in a self-righteous way, read it with
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- Enough frequency that the people you live with know you read it.
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- One of the things that changed my life, truthfully, when it
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- Came time for me to leave home-- i'd been a christian because
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- That was kind of the rule of the house.
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- But, when it was time for me to leave home, it wasn't clear
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- Inside of me what i was gonna do next.
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- I knew it was my turn to decide what my life was gonna be about,
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- But i had this impression that, when nobody was watching, my
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- Parents, my dad, they actually, like, read their bibles.
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- Like, when i was watching ballgames, he'd go, like, read
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- His bible.
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- He wouldn't tell me to; he'd just go, like, read his--
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- I thought he was weird.
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- And my dad had many strengths and many gifts, but one of them
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- Is not small talk.
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- I don't think, when i--when he was a pagan, i don't think he
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- Cared what people thought, and jesus didn't fix that.
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- Aren't you grateful your son doesn't get a microphone?
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- But i'd watch him read his bible when nobody was watching.
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- And i thought, "that matters to him."
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- Read your bibles.
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- The second thing i would suggest is be a part of a community
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- Of faith.
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- Plain language, go to church.
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- I know, we don't as much anymore.
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- We've changed; we use multiple churches.
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- That's like using multiple doctors, so you don't have to
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- Tell any one doctor your whole story.
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- It's like a smorgasbord.
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- And i get it. i understand.
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- I'm not really arguing that we go back to another time
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- And place.
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- I'm suggesting that you need community.
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- You need to be known in community, and the community
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- Needs to know you.
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- You don't need to know everybody there.
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- Your dance card's filled with a dozen or so people.
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- It's all the room you got for.
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- You can't process 400 birthdays and anniversaries and
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- Celebrations and people who are sick.
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- You--but you need a group of people who know you, and you
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- Know them you know, if you're helping your kids learn to be
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- Proficient in athletics, you know that reps matter,
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- Repetitions matter.
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- If they only get to participate in the sport of their choice
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- Every once in a while, their level of excellence is not going
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- To be high.
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- And, if your engagement in community is when it's
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- Convenient, you've misunderstood the value of community.
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- And i know some of you are watching from places where you
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- Can't be in this congregation, but you need a group
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- Of believers.
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- You need a -- group of like-minded people to help
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- You navigate.
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- We live in very deceptive days.
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- Number 3, integrate your faith.
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- You can't have a set of church friends, and another set of
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- Friends, and one set of stories you tell with one set, and
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- Another set you tell with another set; it won't work.
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- You're gonna have to integrate your faith across your life,
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- Across the--and that's a lifetime commitment.
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- That won't happen in a week.
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- That won't happen because you wake up in the morning and go,
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- "i wanna be skinny."
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- I can't hold that idea til lunch.
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- And integrating your faith is a day by day.
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- "i want to please you today, lord.
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- In the environment i'm going in today, i want to please you in
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- That environment."
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- Doesn't mean we do it perfectly; we'll do it in all of
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- Our brokenness.
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- But the trajectory of our lives should be the evidence that we
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- Have a desire to be pleasing to the god across all the aspects
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- Of who we are as people.
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- Seek the lord, that's the conversation.
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- And then fourth piece i'll give you is pray.
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- I know you're surprised i would say that.
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- Pray: pray at home; pray with your friends.
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- Pray for the purposes of god to break forth in the earth.
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- If you get together with friends, say a prayer.
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- Say, "before we go, let's just say a prayer.
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- God, thank you for my friends.
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- Amen, good night, i'm going."
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- Don't wait and look at them and go, "would you like me to pray
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- Some more?"
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- Don't be creepy.
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- Creepy doesn't make you godly, just means you're creepy.
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- I've known too many creepy christians.
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- Don't say stupid things and say you're spiritual.
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- "well, you know, i'm out of gas, but i didn't know what the lord
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- Wanted me to do."
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- Unless you think he's been telling you to walk more, he
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- Wants you to put some gas in the car.
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- You don't need direction; you need cash and access to a
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- Filling station.
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- Pray, but i'm not telling you to pray weird.
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- You don't have to pray loud.
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- If you're--if praying in your place of employment is not
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- Received too well, begin to pray quietly.
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- Begin to pray that god will give you somebody else there to
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- Pray with.
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- Bow your head and bless your food.
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- Bow your head and pray over your computer before you start
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- Your day.
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- Don't stand up on the desk and swing a goat and say, "i'm
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- Praying now."
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- If you do, don't mention this place
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- 'cause i don't know you.
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- Seek god; fellas, you can do this.
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- You can do this.
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- Let the primary defining characteristic of who you are as
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- A person be your passion for the lord.
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- You can do that if you're a butcher, a baker, or a
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- Candlestick maker.
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- It's a lifelong commitment; it's a lifelong commitment.
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- You learn more about god from people who know him just a
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- Little bit better than you.
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- I'll go anywhere in the world that the lord gives me an
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- Opportunity to be with somebody that has a true heart for
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- The lord.
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- I don't wanna do anything.
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- I just wanna be in their proximity.
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- It's a gift. seek the lord.
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- And we've got a few minutes left.
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- I want to pick up this biblical commandment we have.
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- It's ephesians--it's picked up in the new testament.
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- So it's not just old testament.
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- Ephesians 6, paul's writing the church at ephesus, "honor your
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- Father and mother--" it's the first commandment with a
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- Promise--"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy
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- Long life on earth."
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- Anybody not want long life?
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- Anybody looking for, like, early exits?
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- 'cause, i mean, if you are, this might be something you could,
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- Like, think, "well, i've got an off-ramp here."
- 00:09:39.060 --> 00:09:42.130
- "fathers, don't exasperate your children; instead, bring them up
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- In the training and the instruction of the" internet;
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- I'm sorry, "in the training and instruction of the lord."
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- Here's the reality.
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- All of us--this isn't about father's day, this is all of
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- Us now.
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- God gave all of us an earthly father, and the biblical
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- Commandment--not suggestion, not prompt, not urge, not a good
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- Idea, commandment--is to honor your father and mother.
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- In some of our lives, our fathers were great gifts.
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- In some of our lives, they've been significant obstacles.
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- I understand that, but it doesn't change the commandment.
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- We all have fathers, and they've all parented us with varying
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- Degrees of effectiveness.
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- Many components feed into that.
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- But biblically we're called to honor them.
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- How we respond to our earthly fathers has bearing on how we
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- Respond to our heavenly father.
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- I'll add one more idea to it.
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- God chose our parents.
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- Now, our parents make choices, so we can't blame all of our
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- Parental behavior on god because he gives each of us a free will.
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- But i'll tell you this, you can honor someone without approving
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- Of everything that they do.
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- Now, you know that's true because, across the arena of
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- Your life, i suspect there are persons to whom you have given
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- Honor, or you have great respect for them, because of some
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- Accomplishment or achievement or ability, but you're not saying
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- That you think everything about them is honorable, whether it's
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- An athlete or a politician, or whomever it may be.
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- You can honor your father without saying every choice that
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- They made was honorable.
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- It doesn't mean you get back in line for further mistreatment,
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- If that was a part of the relationship.
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- It does mean you can choose to cooperate with
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- God's instruction.
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- And i think we would be remiss if we came to father's day and
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- We didn't practice that.
- 00:11:59.567 --> 00:12:01.069
- I have no--my goal is not, on a regular basis, to present
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- Biblical lectures.
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- If i wanted to do that, i would have stayed in the university.
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- The hours were better, and,
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- Once i had tenure...
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- The goal, as i understand it, of studying our bibles and
- 00:12:19.487 --> 00:12:24.159
- Unpacking it together is that we can be changed, and my intent on
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- A regular basis is to give you invitations.
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- From time to time people will stop me and ask me why we don't
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- Do an altar call at every service, and the answer is
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- Pretty simple: because there are other invitations that we are
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- Making on a regular basis.
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- We do, on a regular basis, give people opportunities to make a
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- Profession of faith.
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- But, on a very regular basis, we want to give you invitations to
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- Continue changing and growing in the lord.
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- ♪♪♪
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- Allen: hey, i wanna ask you a question.
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- How do you identify?
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- Male, female, southerner, educated, housewife?
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- How do you identify?
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- Well, i wanna suggest knowing your identity in christ is the
- 00:13:10.805 --> 00:13:13.808
- Most significant component of your person for both time
- 00:13:13.808 --> 00:13:17.412
- And eternity.
- 00:13:17.412 --> 00:13:18.780
- We put together a resource; it's a new booklet.
- 00:13:18.780 --> 00:13:20.215
- It'll help you understand who you are in christ, "your
- 00:13:20.215 --> 00:13:22.851
- Identity in the kingdom of god" and what the implications of
- 00:13:22.851 --> 00:13:25.987
- That are for your life today.
- 00:13:25.987 --> 00:13:28.223
- It's a game changer.
- 00:13:28.223 --> 00:13:29.657
- I believe it'll be a blessing to you and to your family.
- 00:13:29.657 --> 00:13:33.294
- Announcer: every day the world tries to define who we are, what
- 00:13:33.294 --> 00:13:36.364
- We should believe, and whether we're enough.
- 00:13:36.364 --> 00:13:38.666
- But god's word tells a different story.
- 00:13:38.666 --> 00:13:41.202
- In pastor allen's new book, "your identity in christ: 12
- 00:13:41.202 --> 00:13:44.839
- Truths about who you are," he shares biblical truths that will
- 00:13:44.839 --> 00:13:48.076
- Help you recognize who you are in christ.
- 00:13:48.076 --> 00:13:50.778
- Request your book and free companion card today with your
- 00:13:50.778 --> 00:13:53.615
- Gift of any amount at allenjackson.com or call ...
- 00:13:53.615 --> 00:14:00.555
- Allen: and so, i want to take a moment with this, and we're
- 00:14:03.424 --> 00:14:05.894
- Going to look at more than one prayer, honestly.
- 00:14:05.894 --> 00:14:08.396
- We're gonna start with a prayer of forgiveness for our fathers.
- 00:14:08.396 --> 00:14:14.969
- None of us had perfect dads.
- 00:14:14.969 --> 00:14:17.105
- We may have had great dads, dads that loved us and we loved them,
- 00:14:17.105 --> 00:14:19.474
- And they were a great blessing in our lives, but they
- 00:14:19.474 --> 00:14:21.542
- Weren't perfect.
- 00:14:21.542 --> 00:14:23.778
- There's only been one of us that was perfect, and he put so much
- 00:14:23.778 --> 00:14:25.947
- Pressure on us, we killed him.
- 00:14:25.947 --> 00:14:31.586
- So the notion that our fathers are worthy of forgiveness is a
- 00:14:31.586 --> 00:14:37.592
- Very biblical principle because we recognize that we have a need
- 00:14:37.592 --> 00:14:39.994
- To be forgiven as well.
- 00:14:39.994 --> 00:14:42.964
- So, if you come from a family system where you say, "you know,
- 00:14:42.964 --> 00:14:45.967
- Pastor, it's really hard for me to imagine god as my father
- 00:14:45.967 --> 00:14:50.071
- Because my earthly father wasn't great," i'm gonna ask you if
- 00:14:50.071 --> 00:14:54.475
- You'd be willing to forgive your earthly dad.
- 00:14:54.475 --> 00:14:58.947
- Again, not to say that everything they did was right or
- 00:14:58.947 --> 00:15:01.282
- That they did their best.
- 00:15:01.282 --> 00:15:02.617
- I'm not saying they did.
- 00:15:02.617 --> 00:15:04.552
- I'm saying you can't afford the luxury of resentment
- 00:15:04.552 --> 00:15:07.722
- And bitterness.
- 00:15:07.722 --> 00:15:09.958
- It will rob you of much of what god would do in your life.
- 00:15:09.958 --> 00:15:15.463
- Now, forgiveness is a decision.
- 00:15:15.463 --> 00:15:17.732
- It starts with our will; it's a choice we make, and our emotions
- 00:15:17.732 --> 00:15:21.035
- Have to catch up.
- 00:15:21.035 --> 00:15:23.338
- In fact, most of the expressions of discipline in your life start
- 00:15:23.338 --> 00:15:25.974
- With the choice of your will and your emotions catch up.
- 00:15:25.974 --> 00:15:30.244
- When i decide i'm gonna eat a little cleaner, and somebody
- 00:15:30.244 --> 00:15:33.314
- Asks me if i would like ice cream and cookies, and i say no.
- 00:15:33.314 --> 00:15:39.721
- I lie because i would very much like ice cream and cookies.
- 00:15:39.721 --> 00:15:48.963
- I'll trade you all of my broccoli for your ice cream
- 00:15:48.963 --> 00:15:51.399
- And cookies.
- 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:53.868
- But, if i'm in one of those weird seasons where i'm trying
- 00:15:53.868 --> 00:15:56.004
- To eat a little cleaner, "no, i don't choose any ice cream and
- 00:15:56.004 --> 00:16:05.713
- Cookies right now, thank you."
- 00:16:05.713 --> 00:16:08.182
- But, if i will stay with it, even my emotions will catch up.
- 00:16:11.352 --> 00:16:17.025
- And the same is true with forgiveness.
- 00:16:17.025 --> 00:16:21.796
- So i brought you--i brought you a prayer.
- 00:16:21.796 --> 00:16:24.599
- It's a prayer of forgiveness for our fathers, and it may need to
- 00:16:24.599 --> 00:16:30.838
- Be adapted a bit for your circumstance.
- 00:16:30.838 --> 00:16:33.708
- But this isn't just about men.
- 00:16:33.708 --> 00:16:35.043
- We all have fathers, right?
- 00:16:35.043 --> 00:16:37.512
- I don't think anybody's here without one of those.
- 00:16:37.512 --> 00:16:41.282
- And, whether they're alive or not is not overly relevant
- 00:16:41.282 --> 00:16:44.685
- To this.
- 00:16:44.685 --> 00:16:46.187
- You can be angry at people, embittered towards people that
- 00:16:46.187 --> 00:16:48.723
- You no longer have availability to.
- 00:16:48.723 --> 00:16:51.692
- And there'll be great freedom come to you if you'll choose
- 00:16:51.692 --> 00:16:54.028
- Obedience to the lord.
- 00:16:54.028 --> 00:16:55.396
- So let's just read this prayer together, "god, i need
- 00:16:55.396 --> 00:17:00.668
- Your help.
- 00:17:00.668 --> 00:17:02.036
- There's a hurt that i cannot outrun or ignore.
- 00:17:02.036 --> 00:17:05.540
- In obedience to your word, i forgive my father.
- 00:17:05.540 --> 00:17:09.410
- I thank you for his life.
- 00:17:09.410 --> 00:17:11.345
- I choose to bless him today.
- 00:17:11.345 --> 00:17:13.748
- Thank you now for your freedom in my life, for your peace and
- 00:17:13.748 --> 00:17:18.219
- Loving care, in jesus's name, amen."
- 00:17:18.219 --> 00:17:23.257
- Now, if in your life that has been a hurtful place, you might
- 00:17:23.257 --> 00:17:25.793
- Want to take that prayer and make it a part of your devotion
- 00:17:25.793 --> 00:17:28.162
- For a bit.
- 00:17:28.162 --> 00:17:30.364
- But, if you will continue to reinforce that choice, you will
- 00:17:30.364 --> 00:17:34.202
- Find a freedom.
- 00:17:34.202 --> 00:17:36.104
- God is faithful to his word.
- 00:17:36.104 --> 00:17:39.140
- I'm gonna add to that another prayer.
- 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:41.375
- If none of us are perfect, and we're not, and god has entrusted
- 00:17:41.375 --> 00:17:45.980
- You with children--you know, children are a sacred trust
- 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:49.984
- From god.
- 00:17:49.984 --> 00:17:51.819
- We call them ours, but they're really his.
- 00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:55.056
- And, you know, we'll give an account to him for what we do
- 00:17:55.056 --> 00:17:57.091
- With them.
- 00:17:57.091 --> 00:17:58.593
- Again, not a threat it; it's really like a promise, a
- 00:17:58.593 --> 00:18:02.497
- Good promise.
- 00:18:02.497 --> 00:18:03.865
- Like, there's incredible blessings if you will shepherd
- 00:18:03.865 --> 00:18:06.667
- Children in the things of god.
- 00:18:06.667 --> 00:18:11.172
- On the other hand, jesus said, "look, if you cause one of these
- 00:18:11.172 --> 00:18:13.307
- Little ones to have a problem, i suggest you find a big rock, a
- 00:18:13.307 --> 00:18:17.578
- Piece of rope, get connected, and then look for deep water.
- 00:18:17.578 --> 00:18:22.450
- Because that's the better day than when you see me."
- 00:18:22.450 --> 00:18:25.286
- So, given the nature of our lack of perfection, a prayer that we
- 00:18:27.755 --> 00:18:31.859
- Should pray on a regular basis is, "god forgive me when i
- 00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:37.598
- Haven't been what i might have been."
- 00:18:37.598 --> 00:18:40.401
- And hopefully that's a--there's a trajectory to that.
- 00:18:40.401 --> 00:18:44.438
- I'm learning; i'm improving, every season of life.
- 00:18:44.438 --> 00:18:48.342
- You know, children are the ultimate train and
- 00:18:48.342 --> 00:18:49.977
- Release program.
- 00:18:49.977 --> 00:18:52.813
- You grow them up so you can turn them loose, that's the idea.
- 00:18:52.813 --> 00:18:56.184
- I mean, it's biblical.
- 00:18:56.184 --> 00:18:58.386
- "a man shall leave his father and mother," you've heard
- 00:18:58.386 --> 00:19:00.388
- That, right?
- 00:19:00.388 --> 00:19:01.756
- It's, like, in the book.
- 00:19:01.756 --> 00:19:05.159
- So you prepare them; you give them a presentation of
- 00:19:05.159 --> 00:19:07.895
- Godliness; you instruct them in the things of god; you show them
- 00:19:07.895 --> 00:19:10.765
- What it looks like to seek god; and then you turn them loose to
- 00:19:10.765 --> 00:19:14.468
- Carry that forward into another generation.
- 00:19:14.468 --> 00:19:18.139
- We're reading through the books of moses right now.
- 00:19:18.139 --> 00:19:19.874
- That is the story of the books of moses, a generation that
- 00:19:19.874 --> 00:19:23.344
- Rejected god's invitation, and joshua and caleb and moses hands
- 00:19:23.344 --> 00:19:27.215
- Off the baton and says, "now, go finish this assignment.
- 00:19:27.215 --> 00:19:31.052
- I don't get to go."
- 00:19:31.052 --> 00:19:34.055
- But that's true in every generation.
- 00:19:34.055 --> 00:19:35.423
- We hand that baton off and say, "you know, what we're handing
- 00:19:35.423 --> 00:19:38.359
- You is imperfect.
- 00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:41.596
- But before you're filled with anger and
- 00:19:41.596 --> 00:19:42.964
- Bitterness and criticism, you begin to seek a god so that you
- 00:19:42.964 --> 00:19:46.734
- Can lead to a better place in your generation."
- 00:19:46.734 --> 00:19:51.906
- So it's an appropriate prayer on a regular basis; say, "lord,
- 00:19:51.906 --> 00:19:55.243
- Help me be a better father; help me be a better parent; help me
- 00:19:55.243 --> 00:19:58.379
- Be a better brother or sister in christ."
- 00:19:58.379 --> 00:20:02.883
- We need god's help, folks.
- 00:20:02.883 --> 00:20:05.553
- We've been so dialed in to, "i'm born again" and "i got these
- 00:20:05.553 --> 00:20:09.924
- Gifts" and "look at what i know," and i'm great, i'm happy
- 00:20:09.924 --> 00:20:13.794
- With all of that stuff.
- 00:20:13.794 --> 00:20:15.162
- But we live this out in the midst of people and community,
- 00:20:15.162 --> 00:20:18.432
- And that is messy stuff, heart-rending stuff.
- 00:20:18.432 --> 00:20:22.970
- It isn't easy.
- 00:20:22.970 --> 00:20:24.538
- It isn't easy to know.
- 00:20:24.538 --> 00:20:26.841
- You know, the only relational issues that are easy are the
- 00:20:31.045 --> 00:20:34.015
- Ones that aren't yours.
- 00:20:34.015 --> 00:20:38.319
- I mean, don't you know what everybody else should do?
- 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:41.322
- How many of you have like twenty-twenty discernment about
- 00:20:41.322 --> 00:20:43.224
- Other people?
- 00:20:43.224 --> 00:20:46.160
- "well, i know what their problem is.
- 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:50.131
- Wish they'd ask, i'd tell them."
- 00:20:50.131 --> 00:20:52.933
- It's understanding my own heart that is so challenging.
- 00:20:55.069 --> 00:20:58.506
- So i brought you a prayer.
- 00:20:58.506 --> 00:21:01.309
- It's a request for forgiveness as fathers.
- 00:21:01.309 --> 00:21:03.277
- If you're not a father, probably an appropriate prayer in a
- 00:21:03.277 --> 00:21:06.280
- Little slightly different context.
- 00:21:06.280 --> 00:21:07.615
- You can adopt it--adapt it.
- 00:21:07.615 --> 00:21:10.351
- But let's read it together, fellas, "god, you have given me
- 00:21:10.351 --> 00:21:13.954
- An assignment.
- 00:21:13.954 --> 00:21:15.489
- Help me to complete it well.
- 00:21:15.489 --> 00:21:17.692
- Forgive me for my failures.
- 00:21:17.692 --> 00:21:19.760
- I need your wisdom and courage as a man, a husband, and
- 00:21:19.760 --> 00:21:23.531
- A father.
- 00:21:23.531 --> 00:21:25.032
- I believe that what you called me to, you can enable me
- 00:21:25.032 --> 00:21:28.302
- To fulfill.
- 00:21:28.302 --> 00:21:29.704
- I am not a failure.
- 00:21:29.704 --> 00:21:31.472
- In christ jesus, i am victorious, amen."
- 00:21:31.472 --> 00:21:35.676
- I know one thing for certain; the devil will accuse you.
- 00:21:35.676 --> 00:21:39.613
- He reminds you of your shortcomings and your failures
- 00:21:39.613 --> 00:21:41.582
- And what you didn't do and when you did the wrong thing.
- 00:21:41.582 --> 00:21:44.085
- You know, i have discovered something in my own behavior,
- 00:21:48.289 --> 00:21:50.725
- That, if there's some aspect of my family life that i wasn't
- 00:21:50.725 --> 00:21:55.262
- Thrilled about, it seems to me those are the parts of behavior
- 00:21:55.262 --> 00:21:58.065
- That stick in me.
- 00:21:58.065 --> 00:22:03.404
- Now i wanna tell you a story about that; you're like, "well,
- 00:22:03.404 --> 00:22:05.239
- Give us the gossip."
- 00:22:05.239 --> 00:22:09.143
- I'll give you one.
- 00:22:09.143 --> 00:22:10.611
- When i was a kid, we had a pony, a little cart that pulled behind
- 00:22:10.611 --> 00:22:15.683
- It, and we used to drive it all around.
- 00:22:15.683 --> 00:22:18.552
- If you've ever worked with horses, some--it rained one
- 00:22:18.552 --> 00:22:20.788
- Afternoon; we were out in the pony--with the pony in
- 00:22:20.788 --> 00:22:22.289
- The cart.
- 00:22:22.289 --> 00:22:23.624
- There was a water puddle in the street where it rained, and the
- 00:22:23.624 --> 00:22:25.359
- Pony didn't want to go through the puddle, which would be
- 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:27.828
- Normal behavior for a pony, or a big horse for that matter.
- 00:22:27.828 --> 00:22:32.533
- My father, being a trainer of animals and sons, wanted the
- 00:22:32.533 --> 00:22:39.473
- Pony to go through the puddle.
- 00:22:39.473 --> 00:22:41.909
- And they had a discussion in the street.
- 00:22:41.909 --> 00:22:47.114
- If the pony had asked us, my brothers and i would have said,
- 00:22:47.114 --> 00:22:49.483
- "it would be better for you just to go through the puddle on the
- 00:22:49.483 --> 00:22:51.619
- First invitation because you will go through the puddle."
- 00:22:51.619 --> 00:22:58.826
- So i remember standing there on the edge of the street watching
- 00:22:58.826 --> 00:23:00.961
- My dad talk to the pony, thinking, "i will never act
- 00:23:00.961 --> 00:23:08.202
- Like that."
- 00:23:08.202 --> 00:23:12.006
- I mean, i was probably, what, 10?
- 00:23:12.006 --> 00:23:15.242
- Scroll forward, i don't know, a dozen years.
- 00:23:15.242 --> 00:23:19.447
- I'm working in a microbiology lab during the day and teaching
- 00:23:19.447 --> 00:23:25.853
- Horses their manners at night.
- 00:23:25.853 --> 00:23:29.156
- And i've worked all day, and it's late at night, and i've got
- 00:23:29.156 --> 00:23:31.759
- A string of horses that i'm working.
- 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:34.428
- And i get out this one yearling.
- 00:23:34.428 --> 00:23:37.064
- And it has rained, and there's a water puddle, and my colt
- 00:23:37.064 --> 00:23:46.674
- Doesn't want to go through the water puddle, and i think
- 00:23:46.674 --> 00:23:50.077
- He should.
- 00:23:50.077 --> 00:23:52.313
- So we engage in a conversation.
- 00:23:52.313 --> 00:23:54.548
- And, after a few minutes of conversation, i'm dripping with
- 00:23:57.618 --> 00:24:00.287
- Sweat, and he's not happy, and the puddle's still untouched.
- 00:24:00.287 --> 00:24:06.927
- And i guess it was god's mercy, i remembered that picture of me
- 00:24:06.927 --> 00:24:10.431
- As a kid, standing beside that road.
- 00:24:10.431 --> 00:24:16.136
- And i started laughing.
- 00:24:16.136 --> 00:24:19.773
- And i looked at the colt, and i said, "it's your lucky day.
- 00:24:19.773 --> 00:24:22.276
- Let's go to the barn."
- 00:24:25.813 --> 00:24:28.649
- And i took him to the barn, and rubbed him down, and fed him
- 00:24:28.649 --> 00:24:31.418
- Extra, and made sure his water bucket was full, and i thought,
- 00:24:31.418 --> 00:24:35.422
- "you know, i may not have learned all the lessons, but i'm
- 00:24:35.422 --> 00:24:37.658
- Working on one."
- 00:24:37.658 --> 00:24:41.128
- Well, that did'n't--that's not worthy of applause.
- 00:24:41.128 --> 00:24:43.497
- But, you know, god will help you one step at a time, one day at
- 00:24:47.701 --> 00:24:50.804
- A time.
- 00:24:50.804 --> 00:24:52.239
- If you will yield to him, he will walk you towards a
- 00:24:52.239 --> 00:24:56.210
- Better place.
- 00:24:56.210 --> 00:24:58.579
- Fatherhood matters.
- 00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.947
- But i brought us all a prayer.
- 00:25:03.050 --> 00:25:06.120
- When jesus's disciples wanted to learn to pray, jesus started--
- 00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:09.390
- Can you believe this?--with, "our father."
- 00:25:09.390 --> 00:25:15.062
- Some of you are offended because the catholics call it the our
- 00:25:15.062 --> 00:25:17.531
- Father, stop.
- 00:25:17.531 --> 00:25:19.266
- Whatever you call it, when jesus taught us to pray, he started
- 00:25:21.869 --> 00:25:25.306
- With, "our heavenly father."
- 00:25:25.306 --> 00:25:27.608
- So it seemed like an appropriate place for us to conclude this.
- 00:25:27.608 --> 00:25:30.778
- Why don't you stand with me?
- 00:25:30.778 --> 00:25:32.913
- Can we pray it together?
- 00:25:36.450 --> 00:25:38.452
- Everybody, if you're at home, pray with us; we can hear you.
- 00:25:38.452 --> 00:25:42.590
- Google lets us hear through your phones.
- 00:25:42.590 --> 00:25:45.759
- I lied, we can't really, but it's a good idea;
- 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:48.462
- Google's listening.
- 00:25:48.462 --> 00:25:50.631
- Let's pray, "our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
- 00:25:50.631 --> 00:25:55.869
- Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth, as it is
- 00:25:55.869 --> 00:25:59.406
- In heaven.
- 00:25:59.406 --> 00:26:00.774
- Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our
- 00:26:00.774 --> 00:26:04.244
- Trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
- 00:26:04.244 --> 00:26:08.849
- And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for
- 00:26:08.849 --> 00:26:13.220
- Yours is the kingdom and the glory forever and ever, amen."
- 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:18.759
- Hallelujah, god bless you.
- 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:20.427
- ♪♪♪
- 00:26:20.494 --> 00:26:25.566
- Allen: hey, i'm really excited about our newest publication.
- 00:26:25.633 --> 00:26:28.235
- It's called "your identity in christ."
- 00:26:28.235 --> 00:26:29.803
- It's a booklet, small book, intended to help you understand
- 00:26:29.803 --> 00:26:33.040
- Who you are in christ.
- 00:26:33.040 --> 00:26:34.375
- Straightforward, grounded in scripture, but i help people
- 00:26:34.375 --> 00:26:37.745
- Take steps toward spiritual freedom.
- 00:26:37.745 --> 00:26:39.913
- The most essential component is helping them understand who they
- 00:26:39.913 --> 00:26:43.150
- Are in christ.
- 00:26:43.150 --> 00:26:44.585
- You know, we're walking through a season where there's
- 00:26:44.585 --> 00:26:46.153
- Tremendous cultural confusion, so much dialogue about how
- 00:26:46.153 --> 00:26:49.757
- We identify.
- 00:26:49.757 --> 00:26:51.225
- Folks, understanding who you are in christ, the price that was
- 00:26:51.225 --> 00:26:54.695
- Paid to give you status in the kingdom of god, it will write a
- 00:26:54.695 --> 00:26:58.799
- Future for you that is not dependent upon your family of
- 00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:02.002
- Origin, your life circumstance, the expressions of evil that
- 00:27:02.002 --> 00:27:05.272
- You've had to overcome.
- 00:27:05.272 --> 00:27:06.874
- In christ jesus we are triumphant both in time
- 00:27:06.874 --> 00:27:10.377
- And for all eternity.
- 00:27:10.377 --> 00:27:11.712
- We put this little booklet together; it'll help you.
- 00:27:11.712 --> 00:27:13.480
- You can read it.
- 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.815
- You can do it as a small group.
- 00:27:14.815 --> 00:27:16.150
- It's easy to share the message
- 00:27:16.150 --> 00:27:17.484
- With children or grandchildren.
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- Make this a part of this season in your life, and in your home,
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- And with your friends.
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- It's a game changer.
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- ♪♪♪
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