Allen Jackson - Our Heavenly Father (Part 2)

July 12, 2026 | 27:29

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

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - 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
  • 00:03:07.803 --> 00:03:11.873
  • 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.
  • 00:09:08.496 --> 00:09:11.433
  • 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,
  • 00:09:37.258 --> 00:09:39.060
  • 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;
  • 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:50.972
  • 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
  • 00:10:25.907 --> 00:10:31.012
  • Degrees of effectiveness.
  • 00:10:31.012 --> 00:10:33.548
  • 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
  • 00:10:41.923 --> 00:10:46.194
  • Respond to our heavenly father.
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  • I'll add one more idea to it.
  • 00:10:49.564 --> 00:10:51.533
  • God chose our parents.
  • 00:10:51.533 --> 00:10:53.935
  • Now, our parents make choices, so we can't blame all of our
  • 00:10:53.935 --> 00:10:57.539
  • Parental behavior on god because he gives each of us a free will.
  • 00:10:57.539 --> 00:11:04.045
  • But i'll tell you this, you can honor someone without approving
  • 00:11:04.045 --> 00:11:07.682
  • Of everything that they do.
  • 00:11:07.682 --> 00:11:10.652
  • Now, you know that's true because, across the arena of
  • 00:11:10.652 --> 00:11:13.488
  • Your life, i suspect there are persons to whom you have given
  • 00:11:13.488 --> 00:11:16.357
  • Honor, or you have great respect for them, because of some
  • 00:11:16.357 --> 00:11:19.127
  • Accomplishment or achievement or ability, but you're not saying
  • 00:11:19.127 --> 00:11:23.064
  • That you think everything about them is honorable, whether it's
  • 00:11:23.064 --> 00:11:27.135
  • An athlete or a politician, or whomever it may be.
  • 00:11:27.135 --> 00:11:33.141
  • You can honor your father without saying every choice that
  • 00:11:33.141 --> 00:11:39.114
  • They made was honorable.
  • 00:11:39.114 --> 00:11:42.050
  • It doesn't mean you get back in line for further mistreatment,
  • 00:11:42.050 --> 00:11:45.720
  • If that was a part of the relationship.
  • 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:49.290
  • It does mean you can choose to cooperate with
  • 00:11:49.290 --> 00:11:51.893
  • God's instruction.
  • 00:11:51.893 --> 00:11:55.230
  • And i think we would be remiss if we came to father's day and
  • 00:11:55.230 --> 00:11:59.567
  • 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
  • 00:12:01.069 --> 00:12:05.907
  • Biblical lectures.
  • 00:12:05.907 --> 00:12:08.209
  • If i wanted to do that, i would have stayed in the university.
  • 00:12:08.209 --> 00:12:11.980
  • The hours were better, and,
  • 00:12:11.980 --> 00:12:14.949
  • Once i had tenure...
  • 00:12:14.949 --> 00:12:17.919
  • 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
  • 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:29.364
  • A regular basis is to give you invitations.
  • 00:12:29.364 --> 00:12:33.201
  • From time to time people will stop me and ask me why we don't
  • 00:12:33.201 --> 00:12:35.537
  • Do an altar call at every service, and the answer is
  • 00:12:35.537 --> 00:12:40.008
  • Pretty simple: because there are other invitations that we are
  • 00:12:40.008 --> 00:12:42.644
  • Making on a regular basis.
  • 00:12:42.644 --> 00:12:45.847
  • We do, on a regular basis, give people opportunities to make a
  • 00:12:45.847 --> 00:12:49.083
  • Profession of faith.
  • 00:12:49.083 --> 00:12:51.152
  • But, on a very regular basis, we want to give you invitations to
  • 00:12:51.152 --> 00:12:54.189
  • Continue changing and growing in the lord.
  • 00:12:54.189 --> 00:12:56.090
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:12:56.157 --> 00:13:00.161
  • Allen: hey, i wanna ask you a question.
  • 00:13:02.697 --> 00:13:04.432
  • How do you identify?
  • 00:13:04.432 --> 00:13:05.767
  • Male, female, southerner, educated, housewife?
  • 00:13:05.767 --> 00:13:09.204
  • How do you identify?
  • 00:13:09.204 --> 00:13:10.805
  • 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.
  • 00:27:17.484 --> 00:27:18.986
  • Make this a part of this season in your life, and in your home,
  • 00:27:18.986 --> 00:27:22.589
  • And with your friends.
  • 00:27:22.589 --> 00:27:23.924
  • It's a game changer.
  • 00:27:23.924 --> 00:27:25.459
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:27.294 --> 00:27:27.294