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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Prayer and Fasting (Part 2)

November 26, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Prayer and Fasting (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Destiny #Prayer #Fasting #Visions/Dreams #Interpretation #HandofGod #Authority #Evil #Self-Denial #Surrender #Sacrifice #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Prayer and Fasting (Part 2) | November 26, 2025
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: god is moving in the earth.
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  • We established allen jackson ministries to strengthen
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  • The church.
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  • Jesus said he would build his church and hell wouldn't
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  • Stop it.
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  • We intend to be a part of that, in this nation and beyond.
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  • With your help, we have done a lot of things in the media, with
  • 00:00:18.935 --> 00:00:21.805
  • Television and radio.
  • 00:00:21.805 --> 00:00:23.606
  • We have created small group curriculum, we've hosted a
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  • Culture and christianity conference.
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  • We have crisscrossed this nation in more than two dozen cities,
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  • Doing pastor's conferences with pastors and church leaders.
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  • Now we have strategic partners in israel and the ukraine asking
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  • For that same kind of help and resources as we look at the
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  • Year ahead.
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  • I want to ask you to prayerfully consider making an investment in
  • 00:00:43.059 --> 00:00:46.129
  • This ministry as we look towards this new year.
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  • We intend to strengthen the church in this nation and beyond
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  • As never before.
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  • God is moving.
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  • We want to be a part of that.
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  • I thank you for your partnership, for your
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  • Generosity, and for your faithfulness in standing
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  • With us.
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  • Together, we'll make a difference for the kingdom
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  • Of god.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: the king has a dream.
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  • And he demands of his--when he wakes up, he's frightened, but
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  • He can't remember the dream.
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  • And so he calls in his wise men and he demands that they tell
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  • Him his dream.
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  • And they say, "that's no fair.
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  • We can interpret dreams you have, but we can't tell you what
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  • Your dreams are."
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  • And king says, "well, it may not be fair, but i'm gonna kill you
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  • If you can't tell me."
  • 00:01:39.482 --> 00:01:42.018
  • Again, an ancient near eastern monarch.
  • 00:01:42.018 --> 00:01:43.786
  • He said, "i don't have to be fair.
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  • You'll tell me my dream or i'll find a new set of wise men."
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  • So the message comes to daniel that we're gonna be killed
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  • Tomorrow, unless we can tell the king his dream.
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  • Well, we just read in the last verse that god gave daniel and
  • 00:01:55.165 --> 00:01:57.901
  • His friends the ability to interpret dreams.
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  • Doesn't tell us he's given them the ability to know what dreams
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  • People had.
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  • And we step back into the narrative in daniel 2, "and
  • 00:02:05.909 --> 00:02:08.178
  • Daniel returned to his house and he explained the matter to his
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  • Friends," who had weird names.
  • 00:02:10.580 --> 00:02:14.250
  • "and he urged them to plead for mercy from the god of heaven
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  • Concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be
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  • Executed with the rest of the wise men.
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  • And during the night, the mystery was revealed to daniel
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  • In a vision."
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  • Now god met daniel.
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  • But he did it after daniel and his friends had already made a
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  • Decision to seek the lord.
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  • See, what i'm suggesting to you is there's a different destiny
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  • For the people who will seek the lord.
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  • We're a little offended by that.
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  • We say, "well, i'm born again.
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  • What more do you want?"
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  • How about we care about the things of god?
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  • What if we put the things of god in priority above the things
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  • That allen wants?
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  • Well, that's not easy.
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  • In fact, that's really difficult.
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  • Because we typically orient our faith to figure out how we can
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  • Get god to do our bidding.
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  • And i'm suggesting there's a better pathway where we say,
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  • "god, i'll do whatever you want.
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  • I will seek you.
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  • I want to know your thoughts and your plans and your purposes and
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  • Your priorities, and i will give myself to those."
  • 00:03:11.274 --> 00:03:16.212
  • There's all sorts of internal triggers that that will touch
  • 00:03:16.212 --> 00:03:19.249
  • Because you'll--that might make me vulnerable or i might give
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  • Something up or whatever.
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  • God reveals to daniel the dream.
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  • And then daniel praised the god of heaven, verse 20.
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  • He said--listen to his prayer.
  • 00:03:31.694 --> 00:03:33.296
  • He said, "praise be to the name of god for ever and ever; wisdom
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  • And power are his.
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  • He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and he
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  • Deposes them.
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  • He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
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  • He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in
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  • Darkness, and light dwells with him.
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  • I thank and praise you, o god of my fathers.
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  • You've given me wisdom and power, you've made known to me
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  • What we asked of you, you've made known to us the dream of
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  • The king."
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  • Daniel and his friends spent the night seeking god.
  • 00:03:59.789 --> 00:04:02.692
  • They didn't have a--they didn't do a "let's pray" moment.
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  • They didn't have a one-sentence prayer.
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  • They spent the night.
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  • God gave them a revelation.
  • 00:04:08.564 --> 00:04:09.932
  • God responded with a revelation of the king's dream.
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  • Daniel's expression of praise is what is truly insightful to me
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  • More so than the dream.
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  • His perspective of god speaks to us across the ages.
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  • Did you hear him?
  • 00:04:20.543 --> 00:04:22.045
  • "you change times and seasons.
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  • You set up kings and you depose them."
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  • Daniel understands the real authority over his life is not a
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  • Babylonian empire.
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  • I may be a slave, i may have been conquered, but i know the
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  • One who holds authority over this king.
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  • He will tell me what he's dreaming.
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  • Look, we have to have a change in how we imagine god.
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  • We believe almost every other expression of power is greater
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  • Than the power of god.
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  • Economic power, political power, military power.
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  • I'm not denying the reality of those things, but i'm telling
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  • You there's a greater authority.
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  • When we pray for our children that we'll see these things
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  • Walked back, i'm looking for changes in places like the
  • 00:05:03.953 --> 00:05:07.090
  • American medical association, the american psychiatric
  • 00:05:07.090 --> 00:05:09.625
  • Association, the american pediatric association, that
  • 00:05:09.625 --> 00:05:12.795
  • They'll not sign off on the mutilation of children.
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  • The teachers' union will propagate that nonsense.
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  • Daniel has a revelation of god that we can learn from.
  • 00:05:23.272 --> 00:05:27.944
  • And he has reasons to be angry and bitter.
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  • He's a slave.
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  • He's been physically mutilated.
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  • But he hasn't focused on that.
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  • It hasn't diminished his zeal for god.
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  • Don't allow expressions of evil that touch your life to diminish
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  • Your enthusiasm for god.
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  • Evil exists in our world.
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  • And they'll interrupt you.
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  • They'll disrupt your plans.
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  • They'll intrude.
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  • They're unwanted.
  • 00:05:53.069 --> 00:05:54.404
  • Evil is focused and intentional.
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  • It's directed.
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  • It's not arbitrary.
  • 00:05:59.909 --> 00:06:01.310
  • Daniel presents the dream and interpretation to the king.
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  • "they took daniel to the king at once and he said, 'i found a man
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  • Among the exiles from judah who can tell the king what his
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  • Dream means.'"
  • 00:06:15.291 --> 00:06:16.659
  • Don't you know they're all breathing?
  • 00:06:16.659 --> 00:06:17.994
  • If this goofy kid from jerusalem gets this right, we all get
  • 00:06:17.994 --> 00:06:21.431
  • Another sunrise.
  • 00:06:21.431 --> 00:06:25.501
  • Look at verse 27.
  • 00:06:25.501 --> 00:06:26.836
  • Daniel replied, "no wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner
  • 00:06:26.836 --> 00:06:29.505
  • Can explain to the king the mystery he's asked about."
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  • If you're not with us on campus, we're turning our page
  • 00:06:35.645 --> 00:06:37.814
  • Right now.
  • 00:06:37.814 --> 00:06:39.382
  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:06:39.382 --> 00:06:41.217
  • "but there is a god," verse 28, "there is a god in heaven who
  • 00:06:41.217 --> 00:06:44.520
  • Reveals mysteries.
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  • He's shown king nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the days
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  • To come.
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  • Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you
  • 00:06:49.859 --> 00:06:52.128
  • Lay in your bed are these."
  • 00:06:52.128 --> 00:06:54.897
  • Daniel has remarkable boldness.
  • 00:06:54.897 --> 00:06:56.566
  • Remember, he's standing in front of a king who's said, "i'm gonna
  • 00:06:56.566 --> 00:06:58.601
  • Murder dozens and dozens of people today."
  • 00:06:58.601 --> 00:07:02.538
  • And the king--daniel says, "you don't have any wise men that can
  • 00:07:02.538 --> 00:07:05.608
  • Do this.
  • 00:07:05.608 --> 00:07:06.976
  • But there's a god in heaven that has more authority than you do,
  • 00:07:06.976 --> 00:07:10.913
  • King, and he's revealed to me what you dreamt."
  • 00:07:10.913 --> 00:07:15.284
  • There's a remarkable boldness in that.
  • 00:07:15.284 --> 00:07:19.055
  • Note daniel's humility.
  • 00:07:19.055 --> 00:07:20.423
  • He doesn't take credit.
  • 00:07:20.423 --> 00:07:22.558
  • He didn't yield to selfish ambition.
  • 00:07:22.558 --> 00:07:24.360
  • He said, "i'm a prayer warrior.
  • 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:26.929
  • My friends and i have been fasting for several days.
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  • We come to you with spiritual superiority."
  • 00:07:31.267 --> 00:07:34.537
  • There's no flex on daniel's part.
  • 00:07:34.537 --> 00:07:37.540
  • The king's response is equally remarkable.
  • 00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:39.775
  • "the great god has shown the king what will take place in
  • 00:07:39.775 --> 00:07:42.478
  • The future.
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  • The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy.
  • 00:07:43.846 --> 00:07:47.116
  • Then the king fell prostrate before daniel," that means he
  • 00:07:47.116 --> 00:07:51.354
  • Put his face on the floor, "and paid him honor and ordered that
  • 00:07:51.354 --> 00:07:56.092
  • An offering and incense be presented to him."
  • 00:07:56.092 --> 00:07:59.262
  • And he said "surely your god is the god of gods and the lord of
  • 00:07:59.262 --> 00:08:02.265
  • Kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to
  • 00:08:02.265 --> 00:08:05.101
  • Reveal this mystery."
  • 00:08:05.101 --> 00:08:06.435
  • I believe if the people of god would begin to seek god, and
  • 00:08:06.435 --> 00:08:10.239
  • Truly give him first priority, that god will give an expression
  • 00:08:10.239 --> 00:08:13.743
  • Of his power and his intent in the world that will cause even
  • 00:08:13.743 --> 00:08:16.646
  • Secular authority to acknowledge there's a god in heaven.
  • 00:08:16.646 --> 00:08:21.117
  • I've said for a great while now that our problem isn't the
  • 00:08:21.117 --> 00:08:24.120
  • Depravity of the wicked, it's been the ambivalence of
  • 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:26.589
  • The faithful.
  • 00:08:26.589 --> 00:08:28.925
  • Evil doesn't change, folks.
  • 00:08:28.925 --> 00:08:30.359
  • It's the same in every generation.
  • 00:08:30.359 --> 00:08:31.961
  • We have an ample expression of history to tell us what evil
  • 00:08:31.961 --> 00:08:35.565
  • Will do to humanity.
  • 00:08:35.565 --> 00:08:37.466
  • What we are short on is the people of faith who have
  • 00:08:37.466 --> 00:08:40.870
  • Surrendered their lives to seek god, so that we might see
  • 00:08:40.870 --> 00:08:45.341
  • Expressions of his power and authority.
  • 00:08:45.341 --> 00:08:49.679
  • I'll take the balance of our time, i've got a few minutes.
  • 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:53.115
  • And look at this new testament perspective on prayer
  • 00:08:53.115 --> 00:08:55.418
  • And fasting.
  • 00:08:55.418 --> 00:08:57.119
  • And admittedly it's a discussion about self-denial, which is not
  • 00:08:57.119 --> 00:09:00.790
  • A popular topic.
  • 00:09:00.790 --> 00:09:02.892
  • Self-fulfillment is a far more popular topic.
  • 00:09:02.892 --> 00:09:07.897
  • In luke chapter 9 in verse 23, jesus is speaking.
  • 00:09:07.897 --> 00:09:12.101
  • "and he said to them all, "if anyone would come after me, he
  • 00:09:12.101 --> 00:09:15.438
  • Must"--he doesn't say he should or he might, he said "he
  • 00:09:15.438 --> 00:09:20.376
  • Must"--"deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
  • 00:09:20.376 --> 00:09:25.815
  • These were jesus's words.
  • 00:09:25.815 --> 00:09:27.717
  • If you're gonna come after me, if you're gonna follow me, if
  • 00:09:27.717 --> 00:09:29.585
  • You're gonna be a christ follower, he said, "you must
  • 00:09:29.585 --> 00:09:33.489
  • Deny yourself and take up your cross."
  • 00:09:33.489 --> 00:09:36.525
  • Not once, at a point of conversion.
  • 00:09:36.525 --> 00:09:38.260
  • Take up your cross daily and follow me.
  • 00:09:38.260 --> 00:09:41.263
  • The cross in this context is not ornamentation, it's not jewelry.
  • 00:09:41.263 --> 00:09:45.534
  • The cross was the tool of execution, capital punishment.
  • 00:09:45.534 --> 00:09:50.640
  • You have to offer yourself as a living sacrifice every day.
  • 00:09:50.640 --> 00:09:55.177
  • "well, i don't really wanna serve the lord every day.
  • 00:09:55.177 --> 00:09:58.681
  • Can i serve the lord for a couple of hours on the weekend?
  • 00:09:58.681 --> 00:10:03.052
  • I mean, i've said the prayer--i mean, okay, okay, okay, listen,
  • 00:10:03.052 --> 00:10:05.454
  • If you insist, i'll read my bible.
  • 00:10:05.454 --> 00:10:06.789
  • What's that, ten minutes a day, did you say?"
  • 00:10:06.789 --> 00:10:09.158
  • You know how many people have told me, "you read faster than
  • 00:10:09.158 --> 00:10:10.993
  • I do.
  • 00:10:10.993 --> 00:10:12.328
  • It takes me more than ten minutes."
  • 00:10:12.328 --> 00:10:16.632
  • Sorry about that.
  • 00:10:16.632 --> 00:10:21.337
  • You must deny your--self-denial has been overlooked in our
  • 00:10:21.337 --> 00:10:25.207
  • Discussions of faith.
  • 00:10:25.207 --> 00:10:27.076
  • It's essential for anyone who wants to follow jesus.
  • 00:10:27.076 --> 00:10:30.746
  • I would remind you that when the fruit of the spirit are listed
  • 00:10:30.746 --> 00:10:32.848
  • In the book of galatians, there's nine.
  • 00:10:32.848 --> 00:10:35.184
  • One of them is self-control.
  • 00:10:35.184 --> 00:10:38.554
  • The evidence that the spirit of god dwells within you will be,
  • 00:10:38.554 --> 00:10:42.158
  • Over the course of your life, increasing expressions
  • 00:10:42.158 --> 00:10:45.061
  • Of self-control.
  • 00:10:45.061 --> 00:10:47.997
  • Why is that important?
  • 00:10:47.997 --> 00:10:49.398
  • Because it's necessary for us to deny our old carnal nature in
  • 00:10:49.398 --> 00:10:53.769
  • Order for the purposes of god to be expressed in our lives.
  • 00:10:53.769 --> 00:10:58.474
  • Jesus practiced fasting.
  • 00:10:58.474 --> 00:11:01.577
  • In matthew 4, in verse 1, it says "jesus was led by the
  • 00:11:01.577 --> 00:11:04.246
  • Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil, and
  • 00:11:04.246 --> 00:11:07.149
  • After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry."
  • 00:11:07.149 --> 00:11:11.387
  • You think?
  • 00:11:11.387 --> 00:11:14.256
  • We probably really didn't need that last little qualifier,
  • 00:11:14.256 --> 00:11:16.859
  • Did we?
  • 00:11:16.859 --> 00:11:19.428
  • "and the tempter came to him and said, 'if you are the son of
  • 00:11:19.428 --> 00:11:22.064
  • God,'" that is so insightful to me.
  • 00:11:22.064 --> 00:11:24.633
  • He didn't tempt him at day 10.
  • 00:11:24.633 --> 00:11:26.102
  • He didn't tempt him at day 12 or week 2.
  • 00:11:26.102 --> 00:11:29.505
  • But after forty days,
  • 00:11:29.505 --> 00:11:31.240
  • The tempter came, satan came, and he said to jesus--he's
  • 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:34.844
  • Physically at a weakened point.
  • 00:11:34.844 --> 00:11:37.780
  • I mean, it takes a lot of self-discipline, takes a lot of
  • 00:11:37.780 --> 00:11:40.783
  • Emotional energy to fast for periods of time.
  • 00:11:40.783 --> 00:11:45.154
  • And at that point of depletion, satan approaches jesus to tempt
  • 00:11:45.154 --> 00:11:49.125
  • Him, and he "says, if you are the son of god."
  • 00:11:49.125 --> 00:11:52.828
  • I'll remind you that satan dwelt in the heavenlies.
  • 00:11:52.828 --> 00:11:55.765
  • He was one of the archangels.
  • 00:11:55.765 --> 00:11:58.267
  • He had seen jesus in all the glory of the kingdom of god.
  • 00:11:58.267 --> 00:12:04.406
  • He knows very well who he is.
  • 00:12:04.406 --> 00:12:09.411
  • This is easy.
  • 00:12:09.411 --> 00:12:10.780
  • I mean, there are multiple places where the demons, when
  • 00:12:10.780 --> 00:12:13.015
  • They see jesus, they say, "we know who you are.
  • 00:12:13.015 --> 00:12:18.354
  • Have you come to torment us?"
  • 00:12:18.354 --> 00:12:21.056
  • But satan rolls up when jesus is depleted and says, "if you are
  • 00:12:21.056 --> 00:12:25.895
  • The son of god."
  • 00:12:25.895 --> 00:12:29.932
  • He doesn't play fair.
  • 00:12:29.932 --> 00:12:31.267
  • It's why he's evil.
  • 00:12:31.267 --> 00:12:35.504
  • But jesus practiced fasting.
  • 00:12:35.504 --> 00:12:41.944
  • Jesus anticipated that his disciples would fast.
  • 00:12:41.944 --> 00:12:44.313
  • Look at matthew 6, verse 17.
  • 00:12:44.313 --> 00:12:47.383
  • Jesus said, "when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your
  • 00:12:47.383 --> 00:12:51.053
  • Face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you're
  • 00:12:51.053 --> 00:12:53.956
  • Fasting, but only to your father, who is unseen; and your
  • 00:12:53.956 --> 00:12:56.392
  • Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
  • 00:12:56.392 --> 00:12:59.528
  • That's an interesting promise.
  • 00:12:59.528 --> 00:13:02.164
  • Jesus said "when you fast."
  • 00:13:02.164 --> 00:13:03.599
  • The assumption is that his disciples will participate
  • 00:13:03.599 --> 00:13:05.901
  • In fasting.
  • 00:13:05.901 --> 00:13:08.037
  • When you fast, he says, don't disclose it.
  • 00:13:08.037 --> 00:13:11.006
  • Don't make it your talking point.
  • 00:13:11.006 --> 00:13:12.541
  • Don't put your hat on that says i'm grumpy today because i'm
  • 00:13:12.541 --> 00:13:15.411
  • Missing a little bit of food.
  • 00:13:15.411 --> 00:13:18.347
  • You should do your best for it not to be known, and your
  • 00:13:18.347 --> 00:13:20.716
  • Father, who knows what you do in private, will reward you.
  • 00:13:20.716 --> 00:13:25.554
  • In the same way we saw him reward daniel and his friends.
  • 00:13:25.554 --> 00:13:29.258
  • Jesus's assumption is that his disciples would participate
  • 00:13:29.258 --> 00:13:32.528
  • In this.
  • 00:13:32.528 --> 00:13:33.896
  • Why?
  • 00:13:33.896 --> 00:13:35.231
  • It's a means of seeking god.
  • 00:13:35.231 --> 00:13:36.866
  • Denying yourself in a momentary way, in a brief period of time,
  • 00:13:36.866 --> 00:13:41.604
  • To say, i'll say no to my carnal appetites in order to honor the
  • 00:13:41.604 --> 00:13:47.509
  • Lord, is an expression of a desire to know god, to know his
  • 00:13:47.509 --> 00:13:52.581
  • Will, to know his purposes.
  • 00:13:52.581 --> 00:13:54.817
  • Not just because i want him to meet my needs or grant me a
  • 00:13:54.817 --> 00:13:57.553
  • Favor or do me a miracle, but because i have a central focus
  • 00:13:57.553 --> 00:14:01.690
  • Of my existence, i would like to know god better.
  • 00:14:01.690 --> 00:14:04.693
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:14:05.227 --> 00:14:10.599
  • Allen: god is moving in the earth.
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  • Local congregation that i serve, and we began allen jackson
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  • Allen: most of us, when the pressure gets great enough, will
  • 00:15:45.194 --> 00:15:47.162
  • Seek the lord.
  • 00:15:47.162 --> 00:15:48.497
  • Not all of us, but many of us will.
  • 00:15:48.497 --> 00:15:50.199
  • I'm suggesting a different response, that we seek the lord
  • 00:15:50.199 --> 00:15:53.202
  • When there isn't tremendous pressure, that we seek the lord
  • 00:15:53.202 --> 00:15:57.673
  • Because we have a desire to know him better.
  • 00:15:57.673 --> 00:16:04.213
  • Most of us want to talk to god about his misaligned sense
  • 00:16:04.213 --> 00:16:08.684
  • Of justice.
  • 00:16:08.684 --> 00:16:10.052
  • We don't think he's done us right.
  • 00:16:10.052 --> 00:16:11.387
  • "well, why did i have to put up with that?
  • 00:16:11.387 --> 00:16:12.755
  • Why did i have to go through that?
  • 00:16:12.755 --> 00:16:14.089
  • Why did that happen to me?"
  • 00:16:14.089 --> 00:16:15.424
  • And i'm not saying those questions are evil, but they're
  • 00:16:15.424 --> 00:16:17.626
  • Lousy places to camp.
  • 00:16:17.626 --> 00:16:20.729
  • We've got to move past them.
  • 00:16:20.729 --> 00:16:26.001
  • Even the emerging church after jesus returned to heaven
  • 00:16:26.001 --> 00:16:28.804
  • Practiced fasting.
  • 00:16:28.804 --> 00:16:30.572
  • Acts chapter 13 and verse 2 says, "while they were
  • 00:16:30.572 --> 00:16:32.741
  • Worshiping the lord and fasting, the holy spirit said, 'set apart
  • 00:16:32.741 --> 00:16:36.378
  • For me, barnabas and saul, for the work to which i've
  • 00:16:36.378 --> 00:16:38.814
  • Called them.'"
  • 00:16:38.814 --> 00:16:40.849
  • What's implied is if the church had not been worshiping the lord
  • 00:16:40.849 --> 00:16:44.086
  • And fasting, that they would have missed the prompting of the
  • 00:16:44.086 --> 00:16:46.922
  • Spirit of god.
  • 00:16:46.922 --> 00:16:48.557
  • What do you suppose we've missed because we haven't
  • 00:16:48.557 --> 00:16:50.526
  • Practiced this?
  • 00:16:50.526 --> 00:16:52.961
  • What do you suppose we've forfeited because we've said,
  • 00:16:52.961 --> 00:16:54.963
  • "well, we're born again, i've got a baptism certificate, i've
  • 00:16:54.963 --> 00:16:58.834
  • Read through my bible?"
  • 00:16:58.834 --> 00:17:01.770
  • We haven't really had an overly enthusiastic heart to seek the
  • 00:17:01.770 --> 00:17:05.307
  • Lord because we felt pretty good about where we were, and we've
  • 00:17:05.307 --> 00:17:07.910
  • Lived in a culture where there was enough affluence and enough
  • 00:17:07.910 --> 00:17:10.212
  • Freedom and enough liberty that we can imagine dreams for our
  • 00:17:10.212 --> 00:17:13.182
  • Children without supernatural involvement of god.
  • 00:17:13.182 --> 00:17:17.953
  • So we've been kind of casual.
  • 00:17:17.953 --> 00:17:20.022
  • I would submit to you, i think we've forfeited probably a
  • 00:17:20.022 --> 00:17:22.191
  • Great deal.
  • 00:17:22.191 --> 00:17:25.427
  • Fasting, it's a way of seeking the lord.
  • 00:17:25.427 --> 00:17:28.230
  • Now i'll give you some approaches to fasting, just some
  • 00:17:28.230 --> 00:17:30.132
  • Practical ideas to do this.
  • 00:17:30.132 --> 00:17:31.667
  • Again, if it's new to you and, and new to your spiritual
  • 00:17:31.667 --> 00:17:34.570
  • Approach, we have to--we begin with, you know, we're gonna kind
  • 00:17:34.570 --> 00:17:37.940
  • Of keep that "crawl, walk, run" model in place.
  • 00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:43.579
  • If it's about food, it's about limiting your diet.
  • 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:47.883
  • Maybe if you've never fasted before, you start out by just
  • 00:17:47.883 --> 00:17:50.385
  • Fasting a meal.
  • 00:17:50.385 --> 00:17:52.488
  • And take the time and energy you would normally spend in
  • 00:17:52.488 --> 00:17:54.590
  • Preparing and enjoying a meal, and spend it seeking the lord.
  • 00:17:54.590 --> 00:17:58.460
  • Read your bible, talk to the lord.
  • 00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:02.131
  • Honor the lord.
  • 00:18:02.131 --> 00:18:05.200
  • If you have a bit more experience, maybe you can fast
  • 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:07.302
  • Two meals.
  • 00:18:07.302 --> 00:18:09.204
  • You wanna hydrate.
  • 00:18:09.204 --> 00:18:10.539
  • You don't wanna dehydrate and call it spiritual.
  • 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:14.943
  • But there are other ways to fast.
  • 00:18:14.943 --> 00:18:16.278
  • Daniel didn't stop eating.
  • 00:18:16.278 --> 00:18:17.646
  • He just ate a much simpler diet.
  • 00:18:17.646 --> 00:18:20.816
  • Maybe if you've never fasted, you don't want to miss a meal,
  • 00:18:20.816 --> 00:18:23.185
  • You just start out by limiting what you eat.
  • 00:18:23.185 --> 00:18:27.956
  • Eat something that is more plain, more simple.
  • 00:18:27.956 --> 00:18:32.161
  • You know, when i was at home, we've been talking about having
  • 00:18:32.161 --> 00:18:34.496
  • One meal a week as a family.
  • 00:18:34.496 --> 00:18:37.366
  • Most of the spiritual disciplines that i follow today
  • 00:18:37.366 --> 00:18:39.535
  • Were introduced into my life when i was a child.
  • 00:18:39.535 --> 00:18:42.437
  • In the summertimes when we were all out of school, my brothers
  • 00:18:42.437 --> 00:18:44.439
  • And i, my parents would often introduce some project
  • 00:18:44.439 --> 00:18:46.842
  • For--some spiritual.
  • 00:18:46.842 --> 00:18:48.577
  • And in one summer i remember they said we, you know, the only
  • 00:18:48.577 --> 00:18:50.913
  • Beverage we would drink would be water, no sweet tea.
  • 00:18:50.913 --> 00:18:56.985
  • That'll change your heart when you're a teenager.
  • 00:18:56.985 --> 00:19:02.191
  • But it was introducing the idea that to focus our lives--every
  • 00:19:02.191 --> 00:19:06.261
  • Time it was time for a meal and i wanted a glass of sweet tea
  • 00:19:06.261 --> 00:19:08.597
  • And i got a glass of water, i thought "this is a god thing?"
  • 00:19:08.597 --> 00:19:12.968
  • I mean, it brought my thoughts back to the lord.
  • 00:19:12.968 --> 00:19:16.505
  • You'd be amazed how fragile you understand yourself to be when
  • 00:19:16.505 --> 00:19:19.575
  • You stop gratifying all the demands of your carnal self.
  • 00:19:19.575 --> 00:19:24.980
  • So i'm not suggesting you start with a forty-day fast.
  • 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:28.750
  • I mean, in all seriousness, it might be a forty-minute fast
  • 00:19:28.750 --> 00:19:30.886
  • For you.
  • 00:19:30.886 --> 00:19:32.254
  • You're gonna miss a meal.
  • 00:19:32.254 --> 00:19:33.755
  • People say, "well, i can't do that, my health."
  • 00:19:33.755 --> 00:19:35.390
  • Okay, there's other ways to fast.
  • 00:19:35.390 --> 00:19:38.894
  • I don't think there's a single way.
  • 00:19:38.894 --> 00:19:40.229
  • Maybe you take--you fast social media.
  • 00:19:40.229 --> 00:19:48.937
  • Now, if you're applauding because you don't ever use it,
  • 00:19:48.937 --> 00:19:50.839
  • You don't count.
  • 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:53.909
  • You know, i mean, i would readily agree to fast mushrooms
  • 00:19:53.909 --> 00:19:56.345
  • For my entire existence.
  • 00:19:56.345 --> 00:19:59.214
  • You can have all the fungus allotted to me.
  • 00:19:59.214 --> 00:20:01.216
  • It's yours, enjoy.
  • 00:20:01.216 --> 00:20:05.420
  • But if you are highly dependent on that communication stream, it
  • 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:09.558
  • Might be you put that down for some limited amount of time.
  • 00:20:09.558 --> 00:20:13.996
  • Maybe no television, no internet.
  • 00:20:13.996 --> 00:20:16.932
  • The idea is you prioritize seeking god before something
  • 00:20:16.932 --> 00:20:22.137
  • That you enjoy.
  • 00:20:22.137 --> 00:20:24.206
  • You make a sacrifice, you deny yourself.
  • 00:20:24.206 --> 00:20:28.343
  • You get this.
  • 00:20:28.343 --> 00:20:29.711
  • To do the things you enjoy, you deny other things.
  • 00:20:29.711 --> 00:20:33.348
  • So to seek god, to give him first priority, is a
  • 00:20:33.348 --> 00:20:36.685
  • Rearrangement of your priorities as they have been.
  • 00:20:36.685 --> 00:20:40.255
  • And you say, "god, i'll give you first place."
  • 00:20:40.255 --> 00:20:43.358
  • It may be you serve other people, instead of being angry
  • 00:20:43.358 --> 00:20:46.762
  • Because they're not serving you, as you've grown accustomed.
  • 00:20:46.762 --> 00:20:49.064
  • Because all of us have a pretty high expectation that we'd
  • 00:20:52.067 --> 00:20:54.102
  • Be served.
  • 00:20:54.102 --> 00:20:58.073
  • Sacrificial giving of time and effort, money, all of those can
  • 00:20:58.073 --> 00:21:02.511
  • Be seen in this context of what it means to fast.
  • 00:21:02.511 --> 00:21:06.748
  • See, we learned to prioritize god before other things.
  • 00:21:06.748 --> 00:21:10.786
  • It is not a natural response.
  • 00:21:10.786 --> 00:21:12.654
  • It's not intuitive, it is cultivated.
  • 00:21:12.654 --> 00:21:16.058
  • Seeking god is a life-altering discipline.
  • 00:21:16.058 --> 00:21:20.195
  • And it begins with a personal choice to seek the lord.
  • 00:21:20.195 --> 00:21:23.265
  • It results in responses from god which transform our lives, which
  • 00:21:23.265 --> 00:21:27.235
  • Give us a completely different destiny.
  • 00:21:27.235 --> 00:21:29.571
  • Daniel becomes such a trusted friend of god that god reveals
  • 00:21:29.571 --> 00:21:34.009
  • To daniel, a slave in babylon, the future of what will happen,
  • 00:21:34.009 --> 00:21:40.582
  • Hundreds of years beyond daniel's life.
  • 00:21:40.582 --> 00:21:43.852
  • Why would he give that to daniel?
  • 00:21:43.852 --> 00:21:45.387
  • Because he could trust him.
  • 00:21:45.387 --> 00:21:48.690
  • Do you aspire to be so trustworthy with the lord that
  • 00:21:48.690 --> 00:21:51.927
  • He could entrust you with what his purposes in the earth are?
  • 00:21:51.927 --> 00:21:56.331
  • Are you willing to trade that for a better parking place?
  • 00:21:56.331 --> 00:22:02.537
  • For a better business deal?
  • 00:22:02.537 --> 00:22:05.240
  • The challenge before us is to develop the discipline of
  • 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:07.976
  • Seeking god.
  • 00:22:07.976 --> 00:22:09.478
  • The pursuit of god can be incorporated into your awareness
  • 00:22:09.478 --> 00:22:12.381
  • As much as personal hygiene habits, or choosing
  • 00:22:12.381 --> 00:22:16.051
  • Personal gratification.
  • 00:22:16.051 --> 00:22:18.086
  • Make it a priority in your life.
  • 00:22:18.086 --> 00:22:22.858
  • Personal hygiene is not natural.
  • 00:22:22.858 --> 00:22:24.393
  • Your parents had to work on you.
  • 00:22:24.393 --> 00:22:29.297
  • Or at least mine had to work on me.
  • 00:22:29.297 --> 00:22:32.100
  • Have you washed your hands?
  • 00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:33.435
  • "no, they're good."
  • 00:22:33.435 --> 00:22:37.906
  • I mean, i remember being sent back multiple times to wash
  • 00:22:37.906 --> 00:22:40.809
  • My face.
  • 00:22:40.809 --> 00:22:42.677
  • "well, how clean do they want it to get?"
  • 00:22:42.677 --> 00:22:45.080
  • In the same way we learn those personal hygiene, we learn to
  • 00:22:49.317 --> 00:22:52.053
  • Seek the lord.
  • 00:22:52.053 --> 00:22:53.655
  • So here's the invitation.
  • 00:22:53.655 --> 00:22:56.158
  • It's the holiday season.
  • 00:22:56.158 --> 00:22:58.093
  • That is enormous.
  • 00:22:58.093 --> 00:22:59.461
  • That has all kinds of implications for families and
  • 00:22:59.461 --> 00:23:01.129
  • Gatherings and interactions, and for dealing with past hurts and
  • 00:23:01.129 --> 00:23:06.134
  • Present challenge, all the stuff.
  • 00:23:06.134 --> 00:23:07.969
  • The dreams, the aspirations, the stresses, the joy, all
  • 00:23:07.969 --> 00:23:10.872
  • The stuff.
  • 00:23:10.872 --> 00:23:12.374
  • What if we took this holiday season and we invited god in?
  • 00:23:12.374 --> 00:23:16.411
  • Not to do what we want him to do.
  • 00:23:16.411 --> 00:23:18.613
  • But we actually said, "lord, we're gonna seek you for your
  • 00:23:18.613 --> 00:23:21.616
  • Best through this holiday."
  • 00:23:21.616 --> 00:23:24.953
  • And we've added this whole one meal a week thing, which is
  • 00:23:24.953 --> 00:23:27.155
  • An intrusion.
  • 00:23:27.155 --> 00:23:29.324
  • What if once a week you give expression to this notion of
  • 00:23:29.324 --> 00:23:32.394
  • Prayer and fasting?
  • 00:23:32.394 --> 00:23:34.129
  • Maybe it's a meal.
  • 00:23:34.129 --> 00:23:36.765
  • Maybe it's your technology.
  • 00:23:36.765 --> 00:23:38.600
  • I'll leave that to you and the lord.
  • 00:23:38.600 --> 00:23:41.903
  • You know, when we were younger, and at home with my brothers, we
  • 00:23:41.903 --> 00:23:45.507
  • Would fast until 4 in the afternoon.
  • 00:23:45.507 --> 00:23:48.543
  • And i'm telling you, we were sitting there, we were counting
  • 00:23:48.543 --> 00:23:50.245
  • The seconds.
  • 00:23:50.245 --> 00:23:52.447
  • 3:58, 3:59, 59, 58, 57, 2, 1, eat!
  • 00:23:52.447 --> 00:24:00.388
  • We weren't very spiritual, but we understood the nature of the
  • 00:24:00.388 --> 00:24:02.858
  • Sacri--we have to learn.
  • 00:24:02.858 --> 00:24:06.495
  • You decide what's appropriate for your health, your schedule.
  • 00:24:06.495 --> 00:24:09.231
  • I'm not gonna dictate.
  • 00:24:09.231 --> 00:24:10.565
  • If you can fast on wednesdays, we're together on wednesday
  • 00:24:10.565 --> 00:24:12.901
  • Evening, some of us.
  • 00:24:12.901 --> 00:24:14.569
  • We can pray together, that's not a bad thought, but i'm not
  • 00:24:14.569 --> 00:24:17.038
  • A legalist.
  • 00:24:17.038 --> 00:24:18.406
  • You choose what makes sense for you.
  • 00:24:18.406 --> 00:24:19.975
  • But what if we sought the lord this holiday season?
  • 00:24:19.975 --> 00:24:24.479
  • Instead of just asking him to bless us more, if we said to
  • 00:24:24.479 --> 00:24:28.250
  • Him, "we would like to honor you more.
  • 00:24:28.250 --> 00:24:32.020
  • We'll make an investment of that.
  • 00:24:32.020 --> 00:24:34.689
  • We'll say no to ourselves a little bit."
  • 00:24:34.689 --> 00:24:37.759
  • Are you interested?
  • 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:41.196
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:24:41.196 --> 00:24:46.468
  • I thought an appropriate closing was the prayer daniel prayed
  • 00:24:46.468 --> 00:24:50.105
  • When god showed him the king's dream, which meant daniel's life
  • 00:24:50.105 --> 00:24:54.376
  • Got extended.
  • 00:24:54.376 --> 00:24:56.278
  • It's in your notes.
  • 00:24:56.278 --> 00:24:57.646
  • If you'll stand with me.
  • 00:24:57.646 --> 00:24:58.980
  • It's an acknowledgement of the place we would like to give to
  • 00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:01.516
  • God in our lives.
  • 00:25:01.516 --> 00:25:05.120
  • I gave you the reference so you can check me later to see that i
  • 00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:07.522
  • Didn't make it up.
  • 00:25:07.522 --> 00:25:10.025
  • You know, our understanding of god will change our behaviors.
  • 00:25:10.025 --> 00:25:13.895
  • If we believe he is the creator of heaven and earth, then it's
  • 00:25:13.895 --> 00:25:17.899
  • Only logical that we would make a sacrifice to know him better.
  • 00:25:17.899 --> 00:25:23.905
  • So what you believe about god really does have a tremendous
  • 00:25:23.905 --> 00:25:26.908
  • Impact on the choices you make.
  • 00:25:26.908 --> 00:25:30.812
  • Let's read this together.
  • 00:25:30.812 --> 00:25:33.148
  • "praise be to the name of god for ever and ever; wisdom and
  • 00:25:33.148 --> 00:25:37.752
  • Power are his.
  • 00:25:37.752 --> 00:25:39.454
  • He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.
  • 00:25:39.454 --> 00:25:45.293
  • He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
  • 00:25:45.293 --> 00:25:49.864
  • He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in
  • 00:25:49.864 --> 00:25:54.102
  • Darkness, and light dwells with him.
  • 00:25:54.102 --> 00:25:57.706
  • Amen."
  • 00:25:57.706 --> 00:25:59.040
  • And he's watching over us, in jesus's name.
  • 00:25:59.040 --> 00:26:02.077
  • Bless you.
  • 00:26:02.077 --> 00:26:03.478
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:13.355
  • Allen: as a young man i understood the lord inviting me
  • 00:26:13.421 --> 00:26:15.824
  • To serve his church.
  • 00:26:15.824 --> 00:26:17.392
  • I had no imagination what god would do with the congregation
  • 00:26:17.392 --> 00:26:20.095
  • That he invited me to serve.
  • 00:26:20.095 --> 00:26:21.696
  • It's been a remarkable journey together.
  • 00:26:21.696 --> 00:26:24.032
  • That verse in matthew where jesus said, "i'll build my
  • 00:26:24.032 --> 00:26:26.101
  • Church and hell won't stop it" has become a life verse for me.
  • 00:26:26.101 --> 00:26:30.271
  • And then jesus added to that where he said "those that are
  • 00:26:30.271 --> 00:26:32.440
  • Gathering with me, join me or else you're scattering."
  • 00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:35.143
  • Well, i wanna be gathering with the lord.
  • 00:26:35.143 --> 00:26:37.412
  • That's the reason we began allen jackson ministries several
  • 00:26:37.412 --> 00:26:39.748
  • Years ago.
  • 00:26:39.748 --> 00:26:41.116
  • I understood god inviting us to build the church beyond this
  • 00:26:41.116 --> 00:26:43.385
  • Local community, not buildings or denominations across the
  • 00:26:43.385 --> 00:26:45.954
  • Nation, but to strengthen the people of god.
  • 00:26:45.954 --> 00:26:48.757
  • We've created curriculum, we've crisscrossed this nation,
  • 00:26:48.757 --> 00:26:51.526
  • Meeting with church leaders and pastors.
  • 00:26:51.526 --> 00:26:53.628
  • We began broadcasting with television and radio.
  • 00:26:53.628 --> 00:26:56.197
  • Your partnership has made all of that possible.
  • 00:26:56.197 --> 00:26:58.800
  • Well, now god has opened doors internationally with strategic
  • 00:26:58.800 --> 00:27:01.536
  • Partners in israel and ukraine, to strengthen the war-torn
  • 00:27:01.536 --> 00:27:04.673
  • Church in those nations.
  • 00:27:04.673 --> 00:27:06.341
  • I thank you for your partnership, for your
  • 00:27:06.341 --> 00:27:08.276
  • Generosity, for your faithfulness and prayer.
  • 00:27:08.276 --> 00:27:10.845
  • Together we are gathering the people of god and strengthening
  • 00:27:10.845 --> 00:27:13.915
  • His church.
  • 00:27:13.915 --> 00:27:15.316
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:16.451 --> 00:27:16.451