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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Powerful Gifts To Overcome An Adversary (Part 1)

March 30, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - Powerful Gifts To Overcome An Adversary (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Gifting/Talent #Overcoming #Evil #Enemy #Temptation #HandofGod #Blessing #KingdomofGod #Jesus #Serving #ServantofGod #HolySpirit #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Powerful Gifts To Overcome An Adversary (Part 1) | March 30, 2026
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world,
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  • People are searching for truth, and together we're doing our
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  • Very best to help them find it.
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  • Have heard the gospel otherwise.
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  • Together, we can stand firm in our faith and make god's truth
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  • Known right here at home and around the earth, wherever
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  • God opens a door.
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  • Let's keep gathering his people and building his church until
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  • The day our king returns.
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  • You can find more about becoming a ministry partner
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  • At allenjackson.com/partner.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: i picked up a new topic in our previous session talking
  • 00:01:22.132 --> 00:01:25.235
  • About the gifts that god has for you.
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  • Some years ago, i've shared this story before, but i was in
  • 00:01:28.505 --> 00:01:31.841
  • Jerusalem with a friend to--actually, i went with a
  • 00:01:31.841 --> 00:01:36.546
  • Doctor friend to help see someone there who needed a bit
  • 00:01:36.546 --> 00:01:39.482
  • Of help, and we were invited to a dinner.
  • 00:01:39.482 --> 00:01:42.952
  • And we weren't the guest of honors.
  • 00:01:42.952 --> 00:01:44.521
  • We were like the plus ones.
  • 00:01:44.521 --> 00:01:47.724
  • So, we were an add-on.
  • 00:01:47.724 --> 00:01:49.058
  • I wasn't even, i was pretty confident they weren't glad we
  • 00:01:49.058 --> 00:01:50.894
  • Were there because it was in a very modest neighborhood in a
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  • Very modest home.
  • 00:01:55.165 --> 00:01:56.499
  • In fact, it was a card table set up in a room that really wasn't
  • 00:01:56.499 --> 00:01:59.335
  • Big enough for the card table, and we were all kind of
  • 00:01:59.335 --> 00:02:01.271
  • Squeezed in.
  • 00:02:01.271 --> 00:02:02.605
  • It was uncomfortable, but the guest of honor was a man who'd
  • 00:02:02.605 --> 00:02:04.841
  • Been a mentor in my life, and the person who was our host was
  • 00:02:04.841 --> 00:02:10.580
  • So delighted that he would come to her home.
  • 00:02:10.580 --> 00:02:12.415
  • And so, i was doing my very best to be invisible.
  • 00:02:12.415 --> 00:02:14.617
  • Do you ever go to a dinner like that?
  • 00:02:14.617 --> 00:02:16.319
  • I wouldn't say anything.
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  • I wasn't trying to attract any attention to myself.
  • 00:02:17.987 --> 00:02:20.823
  • I was just--i had the invitation, and i was grateful
  • 00:02:20.823 --> 00:02:23.593
  • For the opportunity, but in the middle of the meal, the man who
  • 00:02:23.593 --> 00:02:28.164
  • Was the guest of honor turned to me.
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  • I wasn't talking to him.
  • 00:02:30.366 --> 00:02:31.734
  • He wasn't talking to me.
  • 00:02:31.734 --> 00:02:33.069
  • And he said, "allen, god has gifts for you.
  • 00:02:33.069 --> 00:02:36.839
  • If you would ask him for them, he would give them to you, but
  • 00:02:36.839 --> 00:02:40.577
  • You haven't asked."
  • 00:02:40.577 --> 00:02:42.512
  • And he went back to the conversation.
  • 00:02:42.512 --> 00:02:46.282
  • And i remember, i mean, i was sitting there thinking, "and..."
  • 00:02:46.282 --> 00:02:48.251
  • Like, ahh, and it never came back up.
  • 00:02:51.521 --> 00:02:56.426
  • There was never any other commentary.
  • 00:02:56.426 --> 00:02:58.394
  • That was just like, boom, and off he went.
  • 00:02:58.394 --> 00:03:02.765
  • And i have, obviously, i never forgot it, and i lived with it
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  • For a long, long time.
  • 00:03:06.035 --> 00:03:07.403
  • And i began to say to the lord until today, on a very regular
  • 00:03:07.403 --> 00:03:10.106
  • Basis, "lord, i want every gift you have for me.
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  • I don't want to leave any package unopened.
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  • I want to be more of a nuisance than a little person on
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  • Christmas eve, right?
  • 00:03:19.682 --> 00:03:22.418
  • I mean, if there's--if you've got anything, anything you
  • 00:03:22.418 --> 00:03:24.954
  • Prepared, any use, anyone, i'm in, whatever.
  • 00:03:24.954 --> 00:03:28.124
  • I mean, lord?"
  • 00:03:28.124 --> 00:03:30.059
  • And i started studying, but, you know, somewhere along the way,
  • 00:03:30.059 --> 00:03:33.196
  • It occurred to me that night, to be all honest, it felt like one
  • 00:03:33.196 --> 00:03:35.665
  • Of those prophetic moments, like god had something to say to me.
  • 00:03:35.665 --> 00:03:40.303
  • But to be completely honest with you about it, not that i'm less
  • 00:03:40.303 --> 00:03:43.506
  • Than honest with you other times, as opposed to the mostly
  • 00:03:43.506 --> 00:03:50.313
  • Dishonest part that i'm gonna say in a few minutes, it's like
  • 00:03:50.313 --> 00:03:53.783
  • That's an odd phrase to use, isn't it?
  • 00:03:53.783 --> 00:03:55.618
  • I think like maybe i should lose that one, so.
  • 00:03:55.618 --> 00:04:01.124
  • I've come to understand that not so much as like some personal
  • 00:04:01.124 --> 00:04:04.961
  • Messaging, but i understand it as a solid biblical
  • 00:04:04.961 --> 00:04:09.265
  • Truth for every life.
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  • I believe it's true for you today that god has gifts for you
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  • That if you would ask him for them and receive them, that
  • 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:20.476
  • Would give to you a different future.
  • 00:04:20.476 --> 00:04:23.279
  • I believe it's true for me.
  • 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:25.315
  • I believe it's an accurate declaration of the character
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  • Of god.
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  • It's not up to me to decide what your gift is or your gifts are.
  • 00:04:30.186 --> 00:04:34.590
  • And i don't think it's something that is just like pixie dust
  • 00:04:34.590 --> 00:04:37.860
  • That transforms you in a moment.
  • 00:04:37.860 --> 00:04:39.662
  • I do know that the gifts of god bring transformation.
  • 00:04:39.662 --> 00:04:43.366
  • But i wanted to spend some time walking through kind of this
  • 00:04:43.366 --> 00:04:46.769
  • Field of these gifts from god.
  • 00:04:46.769 --> 00:04:48.338
  • In this session, i want to highlight the fact that i
  • 00:04:48.338 --> 00:04:50.606
  • Believe they're very powerful gifts, more powerful than
  • 00:04:50.606 --> 00:04:54.277
  • Anything else available to us.
  • 00:04:54.277 --> 00:04:57.146
  • But there's an objective to them.
  • 00:04:57.146 --> 00:04:58.481
  • It's to overcome the adversary to god's purposes in the earth.
  • 00:04:58.481 --> 00:05:02.585
  • It's not just to inflate our lives and to upgrade
  • 00:05:02.585 --> 00:05:06.622
  • Our existence.
  • 00:05:06.622 --> 00:05:07.957
  • It's so that we can be a part of the overcoming expression of the
  • 00:05:07.957 --> 00:05:12.428
  • Intent of god in the earth.
  • 00:05:12.428 --> 00:05:15.631
  • And if you're not interested in that, why would he give you
  • 00:05:15.631 --> 00:05:18.501
  • The gifts?
  • 00:05:18.501 --> 00:05:20.470
  • It would destroy you.
  • 00:05:20.470 --> 00:05:21.804
  • It'd be like giving a seven year old an automobile.
  • 00:05:21.804 --> 00:05:26.676
  • You see, the gifts of god are to let the purposes of god emerge.
  • 00:05:26.676 --> 00:05:31.447
  • Now, there's a conflict in the earth.
  • 00:05:31.447 --> 00:05:32.815
  • Have you noticed?
  • 00:05:32.815 --> 00:05:35.184
  • I mean, sometimes it's played out between nation states
  • 00:05:35.184 --> 00:05:37.787
  • Or economic entities or there's many expressions to it, but i
  • 00:05:37.787 --> 00:05:41.791
  • Assure you that, fundamentally, beneath all of that, the
  • 00:05:41.791 --> 00:05:46.896
  • Fundamental conflict is spiritual.
  • 00:05:46.896 --> 00:05:48.765
  • The primary forces are spiritual.
  • 00:05:48.765 --> 00:05:51.434
  • And the outworking of that conflict, that spiritual
  • 00:05:51.434 --> 00:05:53.903
  • Conflict is visible in our world through all these other things.
  • 00:05:53.903 --> 00:05:58.141
  • But beneath all of that, the most fundamental powerful forces
  • 00:05:58.141 --> 00:06:02.512
  • Are spiritual.
  • 00:06:02.512 --> 00:06:04.280
  • And in the balance of that conflict is the destiny
  • 00:06:04.280 --> 00:06:06.916
  • Of humanity.
  • 00:06:06.916 --> 00:06:08.918
  • I mean, i understand the ultimate outcomes have been
  • 00:06:08.918 --> 00:06:11.988
  • Identified, but the roles of every person are in play, which
  • 00:06:11.988 --> 00:06:18.428
  • Makes every one of us have a place of tremendous significance
  • 00:06:18.428 --> 00:06:21.764
  • In the unfolding purposes of god.
  • 00:06:21.764 --> 00:06:23.466
  • Now, we can see evidence of this struggle all around us.
  • 00:06:23.466 --> 00:06:25.802
  • You don't need great discernment, but you do have to
  • 00:06:25.802 --> 00:06:28.371
  • Have the willingness to look.
  • 00:06:28.371 --> 00:06:32.208
  • It seems to me that many, many, many of us in the christian
  • 00:06:32.208 --> 00:06:35.111
  • Community desperately try not to notice.
  • 00:06:35.111 --> 00:06:37.013
  • "just don't talk to me about that.
  • 00:06:40.283 --> 00:06:42.351
  • My life is busy.
  • 00:06:42.351 --> 00:06:44.420
  • My schedule's full, right?
  • 00:06:44.420 --> 00:06:47.623
  • I got plans made, vacations scheduled, things i wanna do.
  • 00:06:47.623 --> 00:06:53.196
  • We're remodeling.
  • 00:06:53.196 --> 00:06:54.530
  • We're redecorating.
  • 00:06:54.530 --> 00:06:55.865
  • I got kids.
  • 00:06:55.865 --> 00:06:57.233
  • They got ball games.
  • 00:06:57.233 --> 00:06:58.568
  • Do they ever have ball games?
  • 00:06:58.568 --> 00:07:00.636
  • I got stuff i wanna do.
  • 00:07:00.636 --> 00:07:01.971
  • Don't talk to me about that.
  • 00:07:01.971 --> 00:07:03.306
  • I'm saved.
  • 00:07:03.306 --> 00:07:07.677
  • I've been baptized.
  • 00:07:07.677 --> 00:07:09.011
  • I did one of those small group thingies.
  • 00:07:09.011 --> 00:07:10.813
  • One time, i even volunteered for that easter madness, so many
  • 00:07:13.783 --> 00:07:19.188
  • People," and we desperately try not to notice.
  • 00:07:19.188 --> 00:07:25.361
  • I think that's unfortunate because i assure you satan and
  • 00:07:25.361 --> 00:07:31.167
  • His kingdom, they notice.
  • 00:07:31.167 --> 00:07:34.804
  • In fact, the scripture tells us that he roams the earth like a
  • 00:07:34.804 --> 00:07:40.309
  • Roaring lion, looking for candidates to be devoured.
  • 00:07:40.309 --> 00:07:46.315
  • I've been involved in several discussions lately as
  • 00:07:46.315 --> 00:07:48.084
  • An example.
  • 00:07:48.084 --> 00:07:49.418
  • I don't know, in the last few weeks, i've been pulled in--
  • 00:07:49.418 --> 00:07:51.087
  • It's because of some legislation in our state around abortion.
  • 00:07:51.087 --> 00:07:57.293
  • And it wasn't long ago that the supreme court reversed roe v.
  • 00:07:57.293 --> 00:07:59.829
  • Wade, which for several decades had--yeah, you can give
  • 00:07:59.829 --> 00:08:03.866
  • It--which had made it illegal.
  • 00:08:03.866 --> 00:08:08.304
  • It didn't ban.
  • 00:08:08.304 --> 00:08:09.672
  • It didn't banish abortion.
  • 00:08:09.672 --> 00:08:11.007
  • It simply said it wasn't a federal constitutional right,
  • 00:08:11.007 --> 00:08:13.709
  • Which was made completely up.
  • 00:08:13.709 --> 00:08:15.878
  • It's not in the constitution.
  • 00:08:15.878 --> 00:08:17.213
  • They found it and it, so while they found it, 60 million
  • 00:08:17.213 --> 00:08:20.550
  • Children died.
  • 00:08:20.550 --> 00:08:22.552
  • But here's the awkward truth: abortion rates have gone up
  • 00:08:22.552 --> 00:08:25.555
  • Since roe v. wade was reversed; it's more prevalent.
  • 00:08:25.555 --> 00:08:32.028
  • So, it really wasn't a legal issue to begin with; it was a
  • 00:08:32.028 --> 00:08:34.897
  • Heart issue.
  • 00:08:34.897 --> 00:08:37.133
  • And our best answer is from the christian communities, we're
  • 00:08:37.133 --> 00:08:40.202
  • Just really trying not to notice.
  • 00:08:40.202 --> 00:08:41.637
  • It's like, you know, the majority of people who have
  • 00:08:41.637 --> 00:08:47.143
  • Abortions have already given birth, that it's prevalence
  • 00:08:47.143 --> 00:08:53.716
  • Within the christian community that identifies as christian is
  • 00:08:53.716 --> 00:08:56.285
  • Statistically about the same as beyond.
  • 00:08:56.285 --> 00:08:59.655
  • It's not like something beyond us.
  • 00:08:59.655 --> 00:09:02.325
  • We just try not to notice.
  • 00:09:02.325 --> 00:09:04.994
  • And so we kind of stake out our terri--that we could go on and
  • 00:09:04.994 --> 00:09:07.396
  • On to almost endless list.
  • 00:09:07.396 --> 00:09:09.899
  • I'm just telling you there's a battle in the earth, and we
  • 00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:13.436
  • Better notice, and we better gear up.
  • 00:09:13.436 --> 00:09:17.707
  • We better take advantage of every gift god is willing to
  • 00:09:17.707 --> 00:09:20.176
  • Give us to be triumphant on the journey.
  • 00:09:20.176 --> 00:09:24.880
  • And if you've been told that the only thing you need to do is
  • 00:09:24.880 --> 00:09:26.816
  • Recite a prayer and kneel at an altar, and then you can go on
  • 00:09:26.816 --> 00:09:29.518
  • Your merry way and you're golden, i would submit to you,
  • 00:09:29.518 --> 00:09:32.455
  • You've been given an incomplete presentation of the gospel.
  • 00:09:32.455 --> 00:09:34.890
  • Well, i believe in conversion and salvation and the new birth,
  • 00:09:34.890 --> 00:09:37.193
  • All of those things.
  • 00:09:37.193 --> 00:09:38.794
  • We're called to be salt and light, and i don't believe those
  • 00:09:38.794 --> 00:09:42.365
  • Are options for like hyper christians.
  • 00:09:42.365 --> 00:09:45.167
  • I don't believe there's like grades of disciples, like really
  • 00:09:45.167 --> 00:09:48.771
  • Good ones, mediocre ones, and then those that are just
  • 00:09:48.771 --> 00:09:51.007
  • Getting by.
  • 00:09:51.007 --> 00:09:52.708
  • There's no social promotions in the kingdom of god.
  • 00:09:52.708 --> 00:09:57.480
  • Amen is the word you're searching for.
  • 00:09:57.480 --> 00:10:00.116
  • I mean, it's available to everybody.
  • 00:10:00.116 --> 00:10:05.588
  • Allen: hey, i have a suggestion.
  • 00:10:09.358 --> 00:10:10.693
  • Let's stop waiting for somebody else to be a better leader.
  • 00:10:10.693 --> 00:10:13.162
  • Let's determine this year to lead with faith.
  • 00:10:13.162 --> 00:10:15.631
  • I've written a book to help.
  • 00:10:15.631 --> 00:10:16.999
  • It's a practical collection of tools that you and i can use the
  • 00:10:16.999 --> 00:10:20.436
  • Influence of our lives, faith first in the marketplace, in our
  • 00:10:20.436 --> 00:10:24.240
  • Homes, with our friends.
  • 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:25.608
  • Folks, it's time for us to stop waiting for somebody else to
  • 00:10:25.608 --> 00:10:28.344
  • Step forward.
  • 00:10:28.344 --> 00:10:29.712
  • Let's determine to lead with faith.
  • 00:10:29.712 --> 00:10:31.247
  • We can do that and i believe we can change our homes, our
  • 00:10:31.247 --> 00:10:34.350
  • Neighborhoods, our churches, maybe even our nation.
  • 00:10:34.350 --> 00:10:37.453
  • Announcer: choosing to lead with faith starts with a simple
  • 00:10:37.453 --> 00:10:40.389
  • Decision: to be intentional right where you are.
  • 00:10:40.389 --> 00:10:43.325
  • In his new book "lead with faith," pastor allen shares
  • 00:10:43.325 --> 00:10:46.395
  • Biblical insight and practical tools to help you live out your
  • 00:10:46.395 --> 00:10:49.699
  • Faith in meaningful ways every day.
  • 00:10:49.699 --> 00:10:52.568
  • This book will encourage you to stand for truth with wisdom,
  • 00:10:52.568 --> 00:10:55.771
  • Clarity, and courage without waiting for someone else to
  • 00:10:55.771 --> 00:10:58.774
  • Go first.
  • 00:10:58.774 --> 00:11:00.109
  • Request "lead with faith" with your gift of $30 or more at
  • 00:11:00.109 --> 00:11:03.179
  • Allenjackson.com or call ...
  • 00:11:03.179 --> 00:11:09.418
  • Female announcer: we are committed to helping you grow in
  • 00:11:09.485 --> 00:11:11.220
  • Your faith and have tools for your journey,
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  • No matter your schedule.
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  • Get daily encouragement and insight with pastor allen's
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  • Daily devotion right in your inbox.
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  • Just sign up on the website.
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  • And make sure to follow pastor allen
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  • On social media to stay up-to-date with everything
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  • Happening here with allen jackson ministries.
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  • Allen: so, what i want to take a few minutes with you and do is,
  • 00:11:40.516 --> 00:11:43.919
  • We're gonna start kind of high level, big picture, god has
  • 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:46.655
  • Provided two indescribable gifts to everybody that's willing to
  • 00:11:46.655 --> 00:11:50.826
  • Receive them.
  • 00:11:50.826 --> 00:11:52.194
  • Anybody in all the humanity is--they're available to.
  • 00:11:52.194 --> 00:11:56.432
  • It's making it possible for us to participate in the eternal
  • 00:11:56.432 --> 00:12:00.402
  • Kingdom of god and to thrive on our journey through time.
  • 00:12:00.402 --> 00:12:05.441
  • God will give the gifts to any human being that will receive
  • 00:12:05.441 --> 00:12:08.844
  • Them for those two things.
  • 00:12:08.844 --> 00:12:10.212
  • Isn't that remarkable?
  • 00:12:10.212 --> 00:12:11.981
  • That's amazing to me.
  • 00:12:11.981 --> 00:12:14.016
  • Best gift ever. best gift ever.
  • 00:12:14.016 --> 00:12:19.555
  • You'll never have anything to compare with that.
  • 00:12:19.555 --> 00:12:23.025
  • It doesn't matter how many lotteries you won consecutively.
  • 00:12:23.025 --> 00:12:27.763
  • It's a pale imitation of what god has given to us.
  • 00:12:27.763 --> 00:12:32.067
  • Now to benefit from the gifts, we have to orient our lives
  • 00:12:32.067 --> 00:12:35.237
  • Towards god.
  • 00:12:35.237 --> 00:12:36.872
  • Yes.
  • 00:12:36.872 --> 00:12:38.574
  • See, many of the gifts of god are conditional, says if we will
  • 00:12:38.574 --> 00:12:43.679
  • Confess our sins, he's faithful and just to forgive us and to
  • 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:46.649
  • Purify us from all unrighteousness, but that
  • 00:12:46.649 --> 00:12:49.618
  • Stinking little preposition, two letters, if.
  • 00:12:49.618 --> 00:12:53.923
  • If we don't acknowledge our sin.
  • 00:12:53.923 --> 00:12:57.259
  • Or if we'll confess with our mouth and believe in our heart
  • 00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:59.628
  • That jesus is lord, we can be saved.
  • 00:12:59.628 --> 00:13:03.866
  • But you have to confess with your mouth and believe in
  • 00:13:03.866 --> 00:13:06.135
  • Your heart.
  • 00:13:06.135 --> 00:13:07.703
  • So, in order for the gifts of god to transform our lives, to
  • 00:13:07.703 --> 00:13:11.140
  • Bring transformation, we have to decide to orient our lives
  • 00:13:11.140 --> 00:13:15.277
  • Towards god, to choose to please him, to serve him, to learn to
  • 00:13:15.277 --> 00:13:18.447
  • Trust him more fully.
  • 00:13:18.447 --> 00:13:19.815
  • It's not a onetime experience; it's a commitment to a way to
  • 00:13:19.815 --> 00:13:23.118
  • Lead your life under the sun.
  • 00:13:23.118 --> 00:13:26.689
  • Well, the gifts can be understood in two
  • 00:13:26.689 --> 00:13:28.090
  • Simple sentences.
  • 00:13:28.090 --> 00:13:29.458
  • God sent his son that you could know his son not as a buddy or a
  • 00:13:29.458 --> 00:13:34.430
  • Pal or a friend but primarily to know him as lord because his son
  • 00:13:34.430 --> 00:13:43.305
  • Is the king of a kingdom.
  • 00:13:43.305 --> 00:13:46.308
  • And to participate in his kingdom, you have to install him
  • 00:13:46.308 --> 00:13:50.312
  • As king and serve him as lord.
  • 00:13:50.312 --> 00:13:53.115
  • You can know jesus.
  • 00:13:53.115 --> 00:13:54.450
  • That's a gift.
  • 00:13:54.450 --> 00:13:55.818
  • We'd never qualify for it.
  • 00:13:55.818 --> 00:13:57.152
  • We're not clever enough.
  • 00:13:57.152 --> 00:13:59.188
  • There's nothing in our power that would qualify us to engage
  • 00:13:59.188 --> 00:14:02.424
  • In that kingdom.
  • 00:14:02.424 --> 00:14:03.759
  • A way had to be opened for us.
  • 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:05.127
  • In fact, there were many things about us that disqualified us,
  • 00:14:05.127 --> 00:14:07.763
  • But jesus made it possible through his own personal
  • 00:14:07.763 --> 00:14:10.532
  • Sacrifice to open the door that we could participate, if we'll
  • 00:14:10.532 --> 00:14:15.638
  • Make him lord.
  • 00:14:15.638 --> 00:14:17.006
  • I'm gonna give you some verses for that.
  • 00:14:17.006 --> 00:14:18.340
  • It's not just my imagination.
  • 00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:19.708
  • The second gift god has provided is he sent his spirit.
  • 00:14:19.708 --> 00:14:25.147
  • He sent his spirit, and we had a lot of language around spirit
  • 00:14:25.147 --> 00:14:28.250
  • Language, but we have very little intent.
  • 00:14:28.250 --> 00:14:30.486
  • It's kind of scary.
  • 00:14:30.486 --> 00:14:31.854
  • We don't know what that means.
  • 00:14:31.854 --> 00:14:33.188
  • And so, i wanna take a few minutes again at a high
  • 00:14:33.188 --> 00:14:35.224
  • Level today.
  • 00:14:35.224 --> 00:14:36.558
  • We'll come back and work down on this in the weeds a
  • 00:14:36.558 --> 00:14:38.160
  • Little bit more.
  • 00:14:38.160 --> 00:14:39.495
  • But i wanna start with this gift of salvation that's available to
  • 00:14:39.495 --> 00:14:42.231
  • Us through jesus.
  • 00:14:42.231 --> 00:14:43.599
  • 2 corinthians 9:15 says, "thanks be to god for his
  • 00:14:43.599 --> 00:14:46.602
  • Indescribable gift!"
  • 00:14:46.602 --> 00:14:50.306
  • Now i know we all would say, i mean, it's like one of those
  • 00:14:50.306 --> 00:14:52.608
  • Questions you ask at church no matter what the question, but
  • 00:14:52.608 --> 00:14:54.543
  • The answer is probably jesus.
  • 00:14:54.543 --> 00:14:57.513
  • You know, maybe it's yeshua.
  • 00:14:57.513 --> 00:14:59.915
  • I mean, maybe it's christos.
  • 00:14:59.915 --> 00:15:02.551
  • I don't know, it's probably jesus.
  • 00:15:02.551 --> 00:15:05.187
  • And so we all in church have this language, but we order our
  • 00:15:05.187 --> 00:15:08.557
  • Lives as if, now, the gift's probably not that indescribable,
  • 00:15:08.557 --> 00:15:11.827
  • But we don't wanna lose it, but we can certainly delay it.
  • 00:15:11.827 --> 00:15:14.463
  • Can we postpone it?
  • 00:15:14.463 --> 00:15:16.065
  • Do we have to go?
  • 00:15:16.065 --> 00:15:18.600
  • How often?
  • 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:21.136
  • But the biblical presentation, and it takes transformation in
  • 00:15:21.136 --> 00:15:24.506
  • Our lives.
  • 00:15:24.506 --> 00:15:27.009
  • And i've come to see my faith, you know, like almost every
  • 00:15:27.009 --> 00:15:29.545
  • Other aspect of your life, there's days it's wonderful and
  • 00:15:29.545 --> 00:15:32.047
  • Amazing and you can't imagine life without it, and there's
  • 00:15:32.047 --> 00:15:33.816
  • Other days you think, what?
  • 00:15:33.816 --> 00:15:37.286
  • Right?
  • 00:15:37.286 --> 00:15:38.620
  • It's the old line about kids, you know.
  • 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.955
  • "better behave. i made you.
  • 00:15:39.955 --> 00:15:41.290
  • I can take you out and make another one just like you."
  • 00:15:41.290 --> 00:15:44.860
  • I'm not suggesting that as a pattern of behavior.
  • 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:48.731
  • I'm telling you, understand that you can both love and wonder
  • 00:15:48.731 --> 00:15:52.134
  • Where they came from.
  • 00:15:52.134 --> 00:15:55.804
  • And i understand there's some vacillation in how we perceive
  • 00:15:55.804 --> 00:15:58.874
  • Of our faith, and my goal isn't to bring shame to you.
  • 00:15:58.874 --> 00:16:02.011
  • My goal is to open your heart to begin to imagine it in
  • 00:16:02.011 --> 00:16:05.714
  • Another way 'cause there is enormous pressure to tell you
  • 00:16:05.714 --> 00:16:09.251
  • It's insignificant or unimportant.
  • 00:16:09.251 --> 00:16:13.589
  • The bible describes it as indescribable.
  • 00:16:13.589 --> 00:16:15.457
  • In john 4:10, jesus said, "if you knew the gift of god, who it
  • 00:16:15.457 --> 00:16:19.895
  • Is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he
  • 00:16:19.895 --> 00:16:23.332
  • Would have given you living water."
  • 00:16:23.332 --> 00:16:26.068
  • Jesus is having a dialogue with a woman, and she's pretty aware
  • 00:16:26.068 --> 00:16:29.304
  • And astute.
  • 00:16:29.304 --> 00:16:30.672
  • She's there to draw water for herself and her family.
  • 00:16:30.672 --> 00:16:33.475
  • Jesus asks for a drink and the dialogue begins, but she is
  • 00:16:33.475 --> 00:16:38.147
  • Completely oblivious to the reality of who jesus is and the
  • 00:16:38.147 --> 00:16:41.550
  • Gift that's available.
  • 00:16:41.550 --> 00:16:43.018
  • That's our condition most of the time.
  • 00:16:43.018 --> 00:16:45.888
  • Even as christ followers, even we're born again, i think we
  • 00:16:45.888 --> 00:16:48.590
  • Live with such a small imagination of what god would do
  • 00:16:48.590 --> 00:16:51.860
  • Or what he's willing to do or the gifts that are available.
  • 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:54.096
  • It's like, well, i think maybe i'll get to go to heaven.
  • 00:16:54.096 --> 00:16:56.265
  • I don't really know what heaven is, and i don't know if i'm
  • 00:16:56.265 --> 00:16:58.033
  • Really that excited about it so, but i mean, yeah, maybe, kind
  • 00:16:58.033 --> 00:17:00.669
  • Of, sort of.
  • 00:17:00.669 --> 00:17:02.004
  • It's better than not being able to go to heaven.
  • 00:17:02.004 --> 00:17:03.505
  • I won't be left out. i've been left out.
  • 00:17:03.505 --> 00:17:04.907
  • I won't be left out. i don't know.
  • 00:17:04.907 --> 00:17:07.810
  • Wouldn't you like to know jesus, too?
  • 00:17:07.810 --> 00:17:12.514
  • And jesus said, "if you understood, you could have
  • 00:17:12.514 --> 00:17:16.151
  • Living water."
  • 00:17:16.151 --> 00:17:18.720
  • And the woman was pretty clever.
  • 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.055
  • She said, "sir, you have my attention.
  • 00:17:20.055 --> 00:17:21.924
  • This is hard work.
  • 00:17:21.924 --> 00:17:23.258
  • This kind of water, i know.
  • 00:17:23.258 --> 00:17:25.127
  • You could give me indoor plumbing?"
  • 00:17:25.127 --> 00:17:26.495
  • Then jesus says, "well, go, i'll tell you what, go get your
  • 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:31.900
  • Husband, and i'll tell both of you."
  • 00:17:31.900 --> 00:17:34.770
  • And she says, "well, actually, i don't have a husband."
  • 00:17:34.770 --> 00:17:36.505
  • And then she's just kind of, you know, he peeks out from behind
  • 00:17:36.505 --> 00:17:39.575
  • The curtain.
  • 00:17:39.575 --> 00:17:40.909
  • He says, "well, actually, you're told the truth, but actually
  • 00:17:40.909 --> 00:17:42.244
  • You've had five, and now you're just living with somebody."
  • 00:17:42.244 --> 00:17:47.382
  • And the woman says, "i think you're a prophet."
  • 00:17:47.382 --> 00:17:52.488
  • Jesus engages her, to help her imagine a gift.
  • 00:17:52.488 --> 00:17:57.292
  • You know, he still does that.
  • 00:17:57.292 --> 00:17:59.661
  • If we had the time to have an open microphone, every one of
  • 00:17:59.661 --> 00:18:02.164
  • You in some way, if you thought about it, could describe a way
  • 00:18:02.164 --> 00:18:05.667
  • Where jesus engaged you, and you said yes.
  • 00:18:05.667 --> 00:18:11.039
  • What i'm asking you to imagine is he's still trying to engage
  • 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:14.243
  • With you.
  • 00:18:14.243 --> 00:18:17.446
  • He wants to broaden the relationship.
  • 00:18:17.446 --> 00:18:19.248
  • He wants you to understand his kingdom more fully,
  • 00:18:19.248 --> 00:18:21.950
  • More completely.
  • 00:18:21.950 --> 00:18:24.386
  • But we tend to be closed or shut down or unaware.
  • 00:18:24.386 --> 00:18:27.890
  • We tend to be more pharisee-like.
  • 00:18:27.890 --> 00:18:31.393
  • I don't mean pharisaical, but i mean, we get so mired in our
  • 00:18:31.393 --> 00:18:35.364
  • Religious familiarity and our habits that we almost completely
  • 00:18:35.364 --> 00:18:39.701
  • Lose the imagination that god has gifts for us.
  • 00:18:39.701 --> 00:18:43.906
  • They have seminars and classes, and we wanna spell
  • 00:18:43.906 --> 00:18:45.941
  • Nebuchadnezzar and learn isaiah's middle name.
  • 00:18:45.941 --> 00:18:48.911
  • I love to learn.
  • 00:18:48.911 --> 00:18:50.245
  • I'm not opposed to that, but i wanna know the transformational
  • 00:18:50.245 --> 00:18:53.148
  • Power of god.
  • 00:18:53.148 --> 00:18:56.018
  • We live in a supernatural world.
  • 00:18:56.018 --> 00:18:59.087
  • And i don't want to live in the midst of that without the
  • 00:18:59.087 --> 00:19:01.190
  • Supernatural engagement of the god that i call lord and king.
  • 00:19:01.190 --> 00:19:05.460
  • And i don't want you to either.
  • 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:07.930
  • Look at ephesians 2:8.
  • 00:19:07.930 --> 00:19:09.731
  • "it's by grace you have been saved, through faith--it's not
  • 00:19:09.731 --> 00:19:12.134
  • From yourselves, it's a gift of god."
  • 00:19:12.134 --> 00:19:14.836
  • Your whole future's changed, the authority of your life's been
  • 00:19:14.836 --> 00:19:17.506
  • Reordered, and it's a gift!
  • 00:19:17.506 --> 00:19:20.242
  • It's amazing.
  • 00:19:20.242 --> 00:19:21.910
  • James 1, "every good and perfect gift it's from above" or costco.
  • 00:19:21.910 --> 00:19:25.847
  • I'm sorry, that's not there, is it?
  • 00:19:29.685 --> 00:19:32.554
  • "coming down from the father of heavenly lights, who doesn't
  • 00:19:32.554 --> 00:19:34.790
  • Change like shifting shadows.
  • 00:19:34.790 --> 00:19:36.792
  • He chose to give us birth through the word of truth."
  • 00:19:36.792 --> 00:19:39.828
  • God chose.
  • 00:19:39.828 --> 00:19:41.797
  • We don't choose the lord; he chooses us.
  • 00:19:41.797 --> 00:19:45.567
  • We don't even get credit for that.
  • 00:19:45.567 --> 00:19:47.002
  • Long before we turned our face to the lord, he was putting
  • 00:19:47.002 --> 00:19:49.504
  • Those opportunities in front of us.
  • 00:19:49.504 --> 00:19:52.140
  • In exodus 3, it says, when the moses had the burning bush
  • 00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:54.776
  • Thing, it says, "when god saw that moses turned aside to the
  • 00:19:54.776 --> 00:19:58.213
  • Bush, he called to him."
  • 00:19:58.213 --> 00:20:00.649
  • It's not stated, but in my imagination, moses had walked by
  • 00:20:00.649 --> 00:20:03.652
  • A lot of bushes that were kind of sparky.
  • 00:20:03.652 --> 00:20:07.055
  • And he'd always been too busy, preoccupied, had things to do,
  • 00:20:07.055 --> 00:20:12.294
  • Goats to chase, sheep to be gathered, but that day he turned
  • 00:20:12.294 --> 00:20:18.200
  • Aside and god said something to him.
  • 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:20.235
  • I wonder how many times i have walked past things god would
  • 00:20:20.235 --> 00:20:23.205
  • Have said or done.
  • 00:20:23.205 --> 00:20:26.808
  • I'm not really complicated.
  • 00:20:26.808 --> 00:20:28.343
  • I try to keep it simple.
  • 00:20:28.343 --> 00:20:30.078
  • I wanna get to know jesus better.
  • 00:20:30.078 --> 00:20:31.613
  • Look at revelation 22.
  • 00:20:31.613 --> 00:20:33.315
  • "the spirit and the bride say, 'come!'
  • 00:20:33.315 --> 00:20:34.750
  • And let him who hears say, 'come!'
  • 00:20:34.750 --> 00:20:36.918
  • And whoever's thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let
  • 00:20:36.918 --> 00:20:39.087
  • Him take the free gift of the water of life."
  • 00:20:39.087 --> 00:20:40.989
  • Lord, i want to.
  • 00:20:40.989 --> 00:20:43.258
  • I don't mean just as a conversion experience.
  • 00:20:43.258 --> 00:20:45.127
  • I don't mean just as initiation.
  • 00:20:45.127 --> 00:20:47.029
  • I wanna be a frequent visitor to the water of life.
  • 00:20:47.029 --> 00:20:52.301
  • There's a little kid song we learned, you know, "jesus loves
  • 00:20:52.301 --> 00:20:54.436
  • Me, this i know, for the bible tells me so.
  • 00:20:54.436 --> 00:20:58.006
  • Little ones to him belong.
  • 00:20:58.006 --> 00:21:00.475
  • They are weak.
  • 00:21:00.475 --> 00:21:02.244
  • Ah, but he's strong."
  • 00:21:02.244 --> 00:21:04.646
  • I sing that little chorus a lot.
  • 00:21:04.646 --> 00:21:08.050
  • I sing it when i drive or when i'm outside or when i'm doing
  • 00:21:08.050 --> 00:21:10.719
  • Chores or, "jesus, i know you love me.
  • 00:21:10.719 --> 00:21:16.491
  • I feel weaker than i want to be a lot of times.
  • 00:21:16.491 --> 00:21:19.995
  • I see challenges that are too big for me.
  • 00:21:19.995 --> 00:21:23.632
  • I see hills i know i can't climb, but i know your strength
  • 00:21:23.632 --> 00:21:27.235
  • Is sufficient.
  • 00:21:27.235 --> 00:21:29.338
  • I wanna know you.
  • 00:21:29.338 --> 00:21:30.939
  • I do!
  • 00:21:30.939 --> 00:21:33.008
  • I wanna know my lord."
  • 00:21:33.008 --> 00:21:34.343
  • I mean, he danced on the water and raised people to life again.
  • 00:21:34.343 --> 00:21:38.280
  • He was never threatened or intimidated, and i buy him.
  • 00:21:38.280 --> 00:21:42.884
  • I wanna know him.
  • 00:21:42.884 --> 00:21:44.252
  • I don't--it's not about sitting in church or be--i have so
  • 00:21:44.252 --> 00:21:47.089
  • Little use for religious language that has no intent
  • 00:21:47.089 --> 00:21:49.391
  • Behind it.
  • 00:21:49.391 --> 00:21:51.193
  • Stop, just be quiet 'cause you're creating clutter that we
  • 00:21:51.193 --> 00:21:55.597
  • Have to climb over.
  • 00:21:55.597 --> 00:21:57.766
  • God's real.
  • 00:21:57.766 --> 00:21:59.868
  • "jesus, i wanna know you."
  • 00:21:59.868 --> 00:22:01.503
  • Begin to say that in your heart.
  • 00:22:01.503 --> 00:22:04.439
  • "jesus, i'd like to know you better."
  • 00:22:04.439 --> 00:22:07.743
  • I open my bible and i think, "god, help me."
  • 00:22:07.743 --> 00:22:12.013
  • It's a gift.
  • 00:22:12.013 --> 00:22:13.949
  • It is a gift, a gift.
  • 00:22:13.949 --> 00:22:19.588
  • The other gift i i mentioned was the person of the holy spirit.
  • 00:22:19.588 --> 00:22:23.925
  • We don't have time to fully excavate that, i know.
  • 00:22:23.925 --> 00:22:26.395
  • But in your notes on john 20, so "on the evening of the first day
  • 00:22:26.395 --> 00:22:31.400
  • Of the week," this is resurrection day.
  • 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:35.137
  • Disciples had a rough patch.
  • 00:22:35.137 --> 00:22:38.340
  • You know, they have the last supper, and judas is identified.
  • 00:22:38.340 --> 00:22:40.809
  • They've been living with a traitor.
  • 00:22:40.809 --> 00:22:44.179
  • Jesus washes their feet while they're arguing about who's
  • 00:22:44.179 --> 00:22:46.648
  • Gonna be the greatest.
  • 00:22:46.648 --> 00:22:47.983
  • I mean, it's been a little rough patch.
  • 00:22:47.983 --> 00:22:50.218
  • They go to gethsemane and jesus says, "pray with me," and
  • 00:22:50.218 --> 00:22:52.854
  • They sleep.
  • 00:22:52.854 --> 00:22:54.823
  • He wakes them up and says, "really?"
  • 00:22:54.823 --> 00:22:56.691
  • And they go back to sleep.
  • 00:22:56.691 --> 00:22:59.795
  • Those of you that are just tuning in about now, welcome.
  • 00:22:59.795 --> 00:23:02.564
  • They come to arrest him, and the disciples scatter.
  • 00:23:06.568 --> 00:23:12.441
  • And they're not advocates for jesus while he goes through his
  • 00:23:12.441 --> 00:23:15.277
  • Trials and his suffering, and they watch him suffocate on a
  • 00:23:15.277 --> 00:23:18.847
  • Cross, which is unimaginable to them.
  • 00:23:18.847 --> 00:23:20.715
  • I don't, they're terrified because if they can kill jesus,
  • 00:23:20.715 --> 00:23:23.752
  • They know they're vulnerable.
  • 00:23:23.752 --> 00:23:26.421
  • And now it's resurrection day and they're hiding in a room.
  • 00:23:26.421 --> 00:23:30.625
  • To say they're disillusioned is inadequate, that their hope has
  • 00:23:30.625 --> 00:23:36.731
  • Been just crushed.
  • 00:23:36.731 --> 00:23:38.066
  • It's eliminated.
  • 00:23:38.066 --> 00:23:40.735
  • And that's where john takes us.
  • 00:23:40.735 --> 00:23:42.103
  • He says, "when the disciples were together with the doors
  • 00:23:42.103 --> 00:23:44.706
  • Locked for fear of the jews, jesus came and stood among them.
  • 00:23:44.706 --> 00:23:50.011
  • And he said, 'peace be with you!'"
  • 00:23:50.011 --> 00:23:51.346
  • What do you suppose the emotion was?
  • 00:23:51.346 --> 00:23:55.116
  • I don't think it's a simple answer.
  • 00:23:55.116 --> 00:23:56.485
  • "peace be with you!" jesus said.
  • 00:23:56.485 --> 00:23:58.386
  • "and after he said them, he showed them his hands and
  • 00:23:58.386 --> 00:24:00.522
  • His side."
  • 00:24:00.522 --> 00:24:01.890
  • Why'd he do that?
  • 00:24:01.890 --> 00:24:04.059
  • 'cause i'm sure they thought it was a ghost, an apparition,
  • 00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:08.597
  • An imagination.
  • 00:24:08.597 --> 00:24:09.931
  • "no, no, it's really me.
  • 00:24:09.931 --> 00:24:11.299
  • Look, i've got the marks."
  • 00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:14.936
  • And then maybe one of the greatest understatements in all
  • 00:24:14.936 --> 00:24:16.838
  • Of scripture, "the disciples were overjoyed when they saw
  • 00:24:16.838 --> 00:24:19.441
  • The lord."
  • 00:24:19.441 --> 00:24:20.809
  • They lost their minds.
  • 00:24:23.778 --> 00:24:26.982
  • Is that fair?
  • 00:24:26.982 --> 00:24:29.184
  • "and jesus said, 'peace be with you!
  • 00:24:29.184 --> 00:24:30.719
  • As the father has sent me, i'm sending you.'
  • 00:24:30.719 --> 00:24:33.388
  • And with that, he breathed on them.
  • 00:24:33.388 --> 00:24:36.057
  • And said, 'receive the holy spirit.'"
  • 00:24:36.057 --> 00:24:40.462
  • Receive the holy spirit.
  • 00:24:40.462 --> 00:24:41.796
  • I think it's more than noteworthy that jesus's first
  • 00:24:41.796 --> 00:24:44.766
  • Interaction post-resurrection with the disciples, he breathes
  • 00:24:44.766 --> 00:24:48.103
  • On them.
  • 00:24:48.103 --> 00:24:49.437
  • He talked to them a lot about the holy spirit, particularly in
  • 00:24:49.437 --> 00:24:51.206
  • John's gospel.
  • 00:24:51.206 --> 00:24:53.775
  • He said, "i've asked the father to send you another comforter."
  • 00:24:53.775 --> 00:24:57.178
  • I gave you a passage there. it's john 14.
  • 00:24:57.178 --> 00:24:58.813
  • "all this i've spoken while still with you.
  • 00:24:58.813 --> 00:25:01.216
  • But the counselor, the holy spirit, whom the father will
  • 00:25:01.216 --> 00:25:03.084
  • Send in my name, he'll teach you all things."
  • 00:25:03.084 --> 00:25:07.756
  • He'll teach you all things.
  • 00:25:07.756 --> 00:25:10.926
  • He will teach you all things.
  • 00:25:10.926 --> 00:25:12.260
  • There's a gift that will teach me what i need to know about
  • 00:25:12.260 --> 00:25:14.162
  • The lord?
  • 00:25:14.162 --> 00:25:16.131
  • Where?
  • 00:25:16.131 --> 00:25:18.833
  • "he will teach you all things and remind you," bring to your
  • 00:25:18.833 --> 00:25:23.705
  • Memory, "everything i've said to you.
  • 00:25:23.705 --> 00:25:26.074
  • Peace i leave with you; my peace i give to you,
  • 00:25:26.074 --> 00:25:29.744
  • Not as the world gives.
  • 00:25:29.744 --> 00:25:31.079
  • Don't let your hearts be troubled and don't be afraid."
  • 00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:33.848
  • Don't be afraid.
  • 00:25:33.848 --> 00:25:35.183
  • I've asked the father to send you another counselor.
  • 00:25:35.183 --> 00:25:37.686
  • I've been your counselor.
  • 00:25:37.686 --> 00:25:39.054
  • I've been your go-to.
  • 00:25:39.054 --> 00:25:41.890
  • When you thought you were gonna drown on the lake, you woke me
  • 00:25:41.890 --> 00:25:43.725
  • Up, and we talked to the wind and the waves.
  • 00:25:43.725 --> 00:25:46.428
  • When people came and presented him with ministry issues, and
  • 00:25:46.428 --> 00:25:48.630
  • You couldn't resolve them, you brought them to me and i
  • 00:25:48.630 --> 00:25:50.365
  • Resolved them.
  • 00:25:50.365 --> 00:25:52.100
  • When it was time to pay taxes and we didn't have tax money, i
  • 00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:54.302
  • Told you to go fishing and catch the fish with the money in
  • 00:25:54.302 --> 00:25:56.538
  • His mouth.
  • 00:25:56.538 --> 00:25:59.674
  • Time and time again, we have walked through these places
  • 00:25:59.674 --> 00:26:02.043
  • Together, but i've asked the father.
  • 00:26:02.043 --> 00:26:03.912
  • He's gonna send you another counselor.
  • 00:26:03.912 --> 00:26:07.549
  • I want you to imagine that a relationship with the holy
  • 00:26:07.549 --> 00:26:09.684
  • Spirit is essential to fulfill your assignment.
  • 00:26:09.684 --> 00:26:12.721
  • It's a gift god has provided.
  • 00:26:12.721 --> 00:26:16.925
  • Allen: hey, i have a question.
  • 00:26:20.595 --> 00:26:21.930
  • Have you ever said, "i wish my pastor would lead with more
  • 00:26:21.930 --> 00:26:24.733
  • Courage," or "i wish my pastor would address what's happening
  • 00:26:24.733 --> 00:26:27.802
  • In the world with greater boldness"?
  • 00:26:27.802 --> 00:26:30.271
  • Folks, we can't change other people.
  • 00:26:30.271 --> 00:26:31.706
  • The only person we can ultimately change is ourselves.
  • 00:26:31.706 --> 00:26:34.109
  • I have a suggestion.
  • 00:26:34.109 --> 00:26:35.577
  • What if you and i begin to lead with faith in our own arenas
  • 00:26:35.577 --> 00:26:39.014
  • Of influence?
  • 00:26:39.014 --> 00:26:40.348
  • Well, i've written a book to help with that.
  • 00:26:40.348 --> 00:26:41.683
  • If that seems beyond you or intimidating to you, i believe
  • 00:26:41.683 --> 00:26:44.686
  • This book will help.
  • 00:26:44.686 --> 00:26:46.021
  • It'll give you some practical ways that you and i can begin to
  • 00:26:46.021 --> 00:26:48.857
  • Lead with faith in the marketplace, in our homes, with
  • 00:26:48.857 --> 00:26:51.826
  • Our friends, wherever that may be.
  • 00:26:51.826 --> 00:26:54.162
  • We have help in this.
  • 00:26:54.162 --> 00:26:55.797
  • The spirit of god will help us if we have the willingness to
  • 00:26:55.797 --> 00:26:58.566
  • Use our influence for the kingdom of god.
  • 00:26:58.566 --> 00:27:01.202
  • You can get a copy of the book at allenjackson.com.
  • 00:27:01.202 --> 00:27:03.772
  • You can go get your own today, but i wanna pray.
  • 00:27:03.772 --> 00:27:05.874
  • I wanna ask the spirit of god to help you and me lead with faith
  • 00:27:05.874 --> 00:27:09.711
  • This year as never before.
  • 00:27:09.711 --> 00:27:11.513
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:27:11.513 --> 00:27:12.847
  • Heavenly father, we ask for your help.
  • 00:27:12.847 --> 00:27:15.016
  • You have given us strengths and abilities and influence.
  • 00:27:15.016 --> 00:27:17.318
  • May we use it for the glory of your kingdom.
  • 00:27:17.318 --> 00:27:19.954
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:19.954 --> 00:27:21.656
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:21.656 --> 00:27:21.656