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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Preparing For Jesus' Return (Part 1)

September 25, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Preparing For Jesus' Return (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Preparation #Jesus #ReturnofChrist #Prophecy #Future #KingdomofGod #Eternity #Choices #Obedience #Freedom #Bondage

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Preparing For Jesus' Return (Part 1) | September 25, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: hey, may i ask you a question?
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  • Who's your best friend?
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  • I don't want the politically-correct answer or
  • 00:00:09.926 --> 00:00:11.761
  • The answer that you think you should give, but in reality,
  • 00:00:11.761 --> 00:00:14.597
  • Who's the person whose opinion you value the most, the person
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  • That you wanna share your opinions with, the person whose
  • 00:00:17.100 --> 00:00:19.903
  • Perspective matters to you when you're sorting through a
  • 00:00:19.903 --> 00:00:22.238
  • Difficult question or circumstance?
  • 00:00:22.238 --> 00:00:25.175
  • Who is it that brings joy to your life when you get a little
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  • Time with them?
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  • Who's your best friend?
  • 00:00:28.378 --> 00:00:29.746
  • Well, i wanna plant a seed.
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  • I got an idea, and it's an objective more than it's always
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  • A reality.
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  • I want jesus to be my friend, and i don't mean some
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  • Theoretical way.
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  • I mean, i wanna care about his opinion.
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  • I wanna know what brings joy to him.
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  • I wanna invite him into my life.
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  • I'm not trying to keep any of my life secret from him.
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  • I wanna live my life as jesus's friend.
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  • It's changed the entire context of how i think about my faith.
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  • I've been living this out for a long time.
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  • It's become a tremendous gift in my life.
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  • It's important enough i wrote a book.
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  • I think it'll help you.
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  • It'll open a doorway to take your faith from the theoretical
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  • To a way to engage your faith every day in all you're doing.
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  • It'll be a blessing.
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  • Allen: we've been doing a study on lions and lambs.
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  • There's two principal presentations in the new
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  • Testament of lions.
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  • Very different realms of authority, very different
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  • Kingdoms, very different characteristics, but very
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  • Distinct presentations.
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  • Peter reminds us to be sober, to be alert, and to be vigilant
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  • Because our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring
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  • Lion seeking whom he can devour, and the assignment there is to
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  • Resist him, standing firm in the faith, remembering that our
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  • Brothers and sisters throughout the earth are undergoing the
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  • Same similar sufferings to the ones that we face, that we're
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  • Not special, that our pain is not unique to us.
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  • So we're welcome to the imagination that satan has a
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  • Kingdom and then he--his objective of his kingdom is your
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  • Destruction, to destroy the purposes of god, and at the
  • 00:02:03.506 --> 00:02:07.243
  • Heart of that is destroy the object of god's affection, which
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  • Is humanity.
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  • The alternative to that is in revelation 5, john and his
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  • Vision of the throne room of heaven.
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  • He's told that there's a scroll that has the story of the
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  • Unfolding of the end of the age and there's no one worthy to
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  • Open the scroll, and john begins to weep and one of the elders
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  • Says, "now there's one who's worthy, and he's the lion of the
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  • Tribe of judah."
  • 00:02:31.768 --> 00:02:33.870
  • And at the revelation of jesus as the lion of the tribe of
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  • Judah, all those present begin to worship him.
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  • So there's two very different reactions to these two lions.
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  • We're counseled when we recognize that we are--have been
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  • Challenged by the roars of this satanic kingdom, that we're to
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  • Resist it.
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  • Not hide from it, not deny it, not ignore it, we're to resist
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  • It, standing firm in the faith.
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  • But when we're confronted with the lion of the tribe of judah,
  • 00:03:01.564 --> 00:03:03.833
  • The response we're coached towards is to worship.
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  • And what i have been suggesting to you is that you are aligning
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  • Your life on a regular basis with one of those two lions.
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  • There's no third option.
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  • It's a very important principle in the decisions you make and
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  • How you use your voice and what you support and what you don't,
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  • What you're resisting.
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  • So often we resist god.
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  • In fact, it's a bit--it's surprising to me the frequency
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  • With which we resist god and we capitulate to evil.
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  • We tend to bring our skeptical selves to the discussions of
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  • Scripture and our skeptical selves to discussions of god's
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  • Power and our skeptical selves to discussions of things that
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  • Are related to our faith 'cause somehow we think that reflects
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  • Maybe a heightened intellectualism or a heightened
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  • Sense of education.
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  • I don't understand, but we're very skeptical and yet when it
  • 00:03:56.486 --> 00:03:59.255
  • Comes to the things of the world, the secular culture we
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  • Tend to be very accommodating.
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  • We wanna be understanding.
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  • We wanna be bridge builders.
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  • We don't wanna be perceived as being judgy or critical and yet
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  • We bring almost the opposite attitude to that
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  • To the things of god.
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  • I don't think it's helpful.
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  • I think we're aligning ourselves with the wrong spirit.
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  • I don't want us to check our brains at the door at church,
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  • But i think we need to determine that we're gonna be cooperative
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  • With the spirit of god.
  • 00:04:27.717 --> 00:04:29.552
  • So we're aligned with either the lion of judah or we're aligned
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  • With the roar of the satanic kingdom, and in this session i
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  • Wanna talk to you about preparing for jesus's return
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  • Because there are some characteristics of those
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  • Two kingdoms.
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  • Satan is referred to as the prince of the power of the air
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  • And the ruler of this present age, and what the new testament
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  • And the bible clearly tells us is that this present age will
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  • Come to a conclusion.
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  • It's not permanent. it's not eternal.
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  • It has an end date.
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  • It's linear, and satan understands that.
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  • And as we approach the end of the age, he will respond with an
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  • Intensity and a ferocity unlike anything the world has ever
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  • Known before.
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  • We are--we should--this isn't difficult to us.
  • 00:05:10.026 --> 00:05:13.596
  • If you like athletics at all, the end of a competition,
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  • Whether it's the end of a ballgame or the end of a tennis
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  • Match, there's an intensity.
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  • You know, the last 2 minutes of a football game takes an hour
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  • And a half and teams that seem rather inept and unable through
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  • Much of a game when they come to that last 2 minutes all of a
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  • Sudden seem to find a way to accomplish things they couldn't
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  • Accomplish previously.
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  • Well, as we approach the end of this age, satan is going to
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  • Bring an intensity to his purposes and that--and his
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  • Efforts that will change the nature of existence on
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  • Planet earth.
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  • The bible gives us quite a bit of information about that.
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  • We're gonna look at a bit of it.
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  • The alternative to that is the lion of the tribe of judah.
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  • Jesus is coming with a whole new presentation, with a new heaven
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  • And a new earth, with a new set of ground rules.
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  • There'll be no more crying or pain or mourning or tears for
  • 00:06:04.213 --> 00:06:07.283
  • The old order of things will have passed away.
  • 00:06:07.283 --> 00:06:10.486
  • So when i say to you you're aligning yourself with one of
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  • Those kingdoms or the other, you're aligning yourself with
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  • Something that's temporary and is going to pass away or you're
  • 00:06:14.924 --> 00:06:17.894
  • Aligning yourself with something that's eternal and has a
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  • Remarkable reward to it.
  • 00:06:21.164 --> 00:06:23.533
  • And the great temptation, and we all face it because the
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  • Messaging that comes to us is exponentially weighted inside of
  • 00:06:26.502 --> 00:06:31.207
  • The te--on the side of the temporary.
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  • It--that's what you would expect a secular culture to do, and
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  • They live up to the billing.
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  • And then you add into that the temptations or the fuel that
  • 00:06:39.081 --> 00:06:41.918
  • Comes from our own carnal earthly endemic nature and if
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  • You compound that with the voices of the demonic and the
  • 00:06:44.921 --> 00:06:48.858
  • Spiritual forces of darkness and wickedness in the heavenly
  • 00:06:48.858 --> 00:06:51.260
  • Places, it's a pretty daunting set of things that we're asked
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  • To overcome.
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  • That's why we need the help of the holy spirit.
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  • The same power that brought jesus out of the grave is alive
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  • And at work in you and me.
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  • We're not left alone.
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  • Jesus said, "i won't leave you as orphans.
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  • I will send you a helper."
  • 00:07:08.077 --> 00:07:10.847
  • So we're gonna look at these two lions and their kingdoms and
  • 00:07:10.847 --> 00:07:13.449
  • What the implications are for us.
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  • You know, we're living in a time of tremendous change, just
  • 00:07:15.651 --> 00:07:19.288
  • Unimagined change.
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  • It's coming so rapidly and in such a magnitude.
  • 00:07:22.258 --> 00:07:25.428
  • There's a whole lot more than climate change taking place.
  • 00:07:25.428 --> 00:07:28.865
  • There are things melting that are far more se--consequential
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  • Than the polar ice caps, and they're actually adding ice.
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  • I know it's inconvenient.
  • 00:07:38.407 --> 00:07:39.809
  • Now it's not clima--it's not--global warming is just
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  • Climate change.
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  • It's a very suitable narrative to distract you from the things
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  • That they're really seeking to change.
  • 00:07:49.919 --> 00:07:53.556
  • They've been very, very effective with that largely
  • 00:07:53.556 --> 00:07:55.658
  • Because the church has been asleep.
  • 00:07:55.658 --> 00:07:57.927
  • You know, there's a lot of positive things happening, too.
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  • I don't mean to approach it with just the negative.
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  • We're not yet 20 years on the other side of the introduction
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  • Of the iphone.
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  • Think of that.
  • 00:08:07.970 --> 00:08:09.405
  • In less than 20 years, we've all become almost completely
  • 00:08:09.405 --> 00:08:12.642
  • Absorbed in our dependence upon that little portable computer
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  • You carry around.
  • 00:08:16.612 --> 00:08:19.215
  • We've all become almost totally dependent upon
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  • 24/7 connectivity.
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  • You expect to be able to reach anyone, anywhere at any time and
  • 00:08:24.820 --> 00:08:28.824
  • If they're not available, something must be wrong.
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  • I won't call them the good old days, but remember the old days
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  • When you had, like, landlines and you had to be physically
  • 00:08:35.064 --> 00:08:39.001
  • Present in the room to even take a call?
  • 00:08:39.001 --> 00:08:42.939
  • Oh, it sounds peaceful, right?
  • 00:08:42.939 --> 00:08:47.510
  • You'd get in your vehicle without feeling like you were
  • 00:08:47.510 --> 00:08:50.012
  • The secretary of state and you had to maintain a constant
  • 00:08:50.012 --> 00:08:52.148
  • Stream of communication with multiple people around
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  • The globe.
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  • Lord, we're important.
  • 00:08:57.486 --> 00:09:00.489
  • So much has changed.
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  • Well, i want to start with jesus's return to earth and some
  • 00:09:03.492 --> 00:09:05.661
  • Things that we can say about that because i think the more
  • 00:09:05.661 --> 00:09:07.897
  • Excited you are about that the more likely you will be
  • 00:09:07.897 --> 00:09:10.399
  • To prepare.
  • 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:11.968
  • If you're not preparing, real candidly, you're not too excited
  • 00:09:11.968 --> 00:09:15.004
  • About it.
  • 00:09:15.004 --> 00:09:16.939
  • If you're living presumptively and think, oh, i did my
  • 00:09:16.939 --> 00:09:18.741
  • God business: i said the prayer, i accepted the lord, i got
  • 00:09:18.741 --> 00:09:21.143
  • Baptized, i'm good to go.
  • 00:09:21.143 --> 00:09:22.845
  • I got my ticket punched, but you're not living with any sense
  • 00:09:22.845 --> 00:09:25.681
  • Of anticipation or preparation or investment in the return of
  • 00:09:25.681 --> 00:09:28.684
  • The lord, then i question the authenticity of the experience
  • 00:09:28.684 --> 00:09:31.454
  • To begin with.
  • 00:09:31.454 --> 00:09:36.225
  • Revelation chapter 22, there's a promise and a
  • 00:09:36.225 --> 00:09:38.327
  • Reward in this passage.
  • 00:09:38.327 --> 00:09:39.695
  • It's very near the end of the book.
  • 00:09:39.695 --> 00:09:41.197
  • Jesus said, "behold, i'm coming soon!"
  • 00:09:41.197 --> 00:09:45.001
  • Now, the next sentence should be important.
  • 00:09:45.001 --> 00:09:47.069
  • It carries some significance.
  • 00:09:47.069 --> 00:09:48.404
  • "i'm coming soon," and he's gonna give you a key
  • 00:09:48.404 --> 00:09:49.872
  • Piece of information.
  • 00:09:49.872 --> 00:09:51.974
  • "my reward is with me."
  • 00:09:51.974 --> 00:09:54.377
  • I meet christians all the time and they go, "well, you know,
  • 00:09:54.377 --> 00:09:55.978
  • Pastor, i don't serve the lord for any reward."
  • 00:09:55.978 --> 00:09:59.315
  • Like, we've been really offended lately at a president who would
  • 00:09:59.315 --> 00:10:02.485
  • Make some casual comment about thinking there was value
  • 00:10:02.485 --> 00:10:05.755
  • Attached to his efforts, right?
  • 00:10:05.755 --> 00:10:10.092
  • He's not a theologian.
  • 00:10:10.092 --> 00:10:11.427
  • His theological vocabulary is somewhat lacking.
  • 00:10:11.427 --> 00:10:15.031
  • But i would be a very ineffective developer in new
  • 00:10:15.031 --> 00:10:17.266
  • York city.
  • 00:10:17.266 --> 00:10:19.568
  • So i don't look to president trump to inform my theological
  • 00:10:19.568 --> 00:10:22.605
  • Position, but i am somewhat intrigued that he carries a
  • 00:10:22.605 --> 00:10:26.275
  • Notion that his efforts might have a reward in heaven.
  • 00:10:26.275 --> 00:10:30.880
  • And rather than trying to beat him up for his theology, i'm
  • 00:10:30.880 --> 00:10:33.416
  • Very grateful that he's concerned that his behaviors and
  • 00:10:33.416 --> 00:10:36.018
  • Heaven have some connection.
  • 00:10:36.018 --> 00:10:38.587
  • I don't think much of the contemporary church would be
  • 00:10:38.587 --> 00:10:40.890
  • Strengthened if they imagined that their daily behaviors would
  • 00:10:40.890 --> 00:10:43.993
  • Have some impact on their eternity, not to earn their way
  • 00:10:43.993 --> 00:10:46.495
  • To heaven but have an impact on what their eternity might look
  • 00:10:46.495 --> 00:10:50.132
  • Like 'cause we've adopted all of these really passive attitudes
  • 00:10:50.132 --> 00:10:55.905
  • That are not biblical.
  • 00:10:55.905 --> 00:10:57.907
  • "well, you know, it just doesn't--i just want to be sure
  • 00:10:57.907 --> 00:10:59.508
  • I get there.
  • 00:10:59.508 --> 00:11:01.610
  • Doesn't matter to me, pastor.
  • 00:11:01.610 --> 00:11:04.246
  • I'll just be content with whatever crumbs."
  • 00:11:04.246 --> 00:11:07.683
  • Well, you don't live like that now.
  • 00:11:07.683 --> 00:11:11.487
  • I don't wanna be a crummy christian.
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  • Do you?
  • 00:11:15.024 --> 00:11:16.592
  • I want to give the lord my best, as if the outcome matters, as if
  • 00:11:16.592 --> 00:11:19.462
  • He were paying attention.
  • 00:11:19.462 --> 00:11:23.032
  • We've got enough crummy christians.
  • 00:11:23.032 --> 00:11:25.668
  • You don't wanna live your life crummy.
  • 00:11:25.668 --> 00:11:27.002
  • "you know, i don't rea-- doesn't matter what i eat.
  • 00:11:27.002 --> 00:11:28.370
  • I'll just eat any crumb, anything i can find.
  • 00:11:28.370 --> 00:11:31.006
  • In fact, i usually just go to restaurants and eat what people
  • 00:11:31.006 --> 00:11:33.109
  • Leave on the table.
  • 00:11:33.109 --> 00:11:34.443
  • It's just okay with me.
  • 00:11:34.443 --> 00:11:35.811
  • It's nourishment.
  • 00:11:35.811 --> 00:11:37.913
  • I trust the lord to keep me healthy."
  • 00:11:37.913 --> 00:11:39.582
  • No, we don't live like that.
  • 00:11:39.582 --> 00:11:41.984
  • We're insincere.
  • 00:11:41.984 --> 00:11:43.419
  • "behold, i'm coming soon!
  • 00:11:43.419 --> 00:11:44.754
  • My reward is with me, and i will give to everyone according to
  • 00:11:44.754 --> 00:11:50.459
  • What he's done," to what he's done.
  • 00:11:50.459 --> 00:11:54.430
  • I know you could--we could morph that and say, "well, he's
  • 00:11:54.430 --> 00:11:57.266
  • Talking about whether you're born again or not."
  • 00:11:57.266 --> 00:11:58.834
  • And it could include that, but i believe the spirit of god has
  • 00:11:58.834 --> 00:12:03.939
  • The ability to speak with clarity.
  • 00:12:03.939 --> 00:12:05.541
  • And he didn't limit it to that.
  • 00:12:05.541 --> 00:12:06.909
  • He said, "i'm the alpha and the omega, the first and the last,
  • 00:12:06.909 --> 00:12:09.145
  • The beginning and the end.
  • 00:12:09.145 --> 00:12:10.546
  • Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the
  • 00:12:10.546 --> 00:12:12.982
  • Right to the tree of life and may go into--may go through the
  • 00:12:12.982 --> 00:12:15.818
  • Gates into the city."
  • 00:12:15.818 --> 00:12:17.553
  • He's describing a whole new existence, a whole new way of
  • 00:12:17.553 --> 00:12:20.990
  • Being, something that's so much better than what we currently
  • 00:12:20.990 --> 00:12:24.593
  • Know it's almost impossible to imagine.
  • 00:12:24.593 --> 00:12:27.897
  • Outside, those that don't go into the city--there's an
  • 00:12:27.897 --> 00:12:30.699
  • Existence outside the purposes of god.
  • 00:12:30.699 --> 00:12:33.502
  • These two kingdoms that you align yourself with have
  • 00:12:33.502 --> 00:12:36.338
  • Consequences for all eternity.
  • 00:12:36.338 --> 00:12:39.141
  • It's very important 'cause the decisions aren't always easy.
  • 00:12:39.141 --> 00:12:42.912
  • You know, jesus wouldn't have taught us to pray, "lead me not
  • 00:12:42.912 --> 00:12:44.947
  • Into temptation," if temptation wasn't a real thing.
  • 00:12:44.947 --> 00:12:48.217
  • Jesus faced temptation himself.
  • 00:12:48.217 --> 00:12:49.852
  • He understood how--the magnitude it was, how effective it's been
  • 00:12:49.852 --> 00:12:53.222
  • Throughout the centuries.
  • 00:12:53.222 --> 00:12:54.557
  • And when he taught us to pray, one of the things he taught us
  • 00:12:54.557 --> 00:12:56.425
  • To pray was, "lead me not into temptation, but deliver me
  • 00:12:56.425 --> 00:12:58.994
  • From evil."
  • 00:12:58.994 --> 00:13:01.430
  • So the reason for that is temptation has a consequence,
  • 00:13:01.430 --> 00:13:04.633
  • Evil has a consequence.
  • 00:13:04.633 --> 00:13:06.402
  • "outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the
  • 00:13:06.402 --> 00:13:09.572
  • Sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who
  • 00:13:09.572 --> 00:13:15.144
  • Loves and practices falsehood."
  • 00:13:15.144 --> 00:13:18.848
  • Well, it feels like a very relevant set of things.
  • 00:13:18.848 --> 00:13:22.718
  • We live in an age of exploding deception.
  • 00:13:22.718 --> 00:13:26.889
  • "i, jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for
  • 00:13:26.889 --> 00:13:29.859
  • The churches.
  • 00:13:29.859 --> 00:13:31.393
  • I'm the root and the offspring of david, and the bright
  • 00:13:31.393 --> 00:13:33.696
  • Morning star."
  • 00:13:33.696 --> 00:13:36.165
  • Jesus said, "i sent an angel to give you this message for
  • 00:13:36.165 --> 00:13:39.401
  • My people."
  • 00:13:39.401 --> 00:13:41.470
  • In order to get the message, you've gotta be a part of
  • 00:13:41.470 --> 00:13:43.572
  • The people.
  • 00:13:43.572 --> 00:13:45.774
  • That's serious stuff.
  • 00:13:45.774 --> 00:13:47.142
  • Jesus's friend, this whole notion, it changes the dialogue.
  • 00:13:47.142 --> 00:13:50.779
  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
  • 00:13:50.846 --> 00:13:55.885
  • Allen: hey, i've written a new book.
  • 00:13:56.886 --> 00:13:58.220
  • It's called "my friend jesus."
  • 00:13:58.220 --> 00:14:00.055
  • You know, i'm a pastor.
  • 00:14:00.055 --> 00:14:01.423
  • A lot of ritual, tradition.
  • 00:14:01.423 --> 00:14:03.092
  • A lot of formality in the way we know god.
  • 00:14:03.092 --> 00:14:05.661
  • It's not bad.
  • 00:14:05.661 --> 00:14:06.996
  • There are some good things in that,
  • 00:14:06.996 --> 00:14:08.364
  • But when i'm in real trouble or i have something i wanna
  • 00:14:08.364 --> 00:14:10.032
  • Celebrate, i call a friend.
  • 00:14:10.032 --> 00:14:12.301
  • Well, i wanna live my life with jesus of nazareth as my friend.
  • 00:14:12.301 --> 00:14:15.771
  • It changes everything in both celebration and when there's
  • 00:14:15.771 --> 00:14:18.874
  • A problem.
  • 00:14:18.874 --> 00:14:20.209
  • I wrote the book to help.
  • 00:14:20.209 --> 00:14:21.543
  • I think it'll open your life to god in a more personal,
  • 00:14:21.543 --> 00:14:23.846
  • Transformational way than ever before.
  • 00:14:23.846 --> 00:14:26.415
  • Enjoy the book.
  • 00:14:26.415 --> 00:14:27.750
  • Female announcer: in his book, "my friend jesus," pastor allen
  • 00:14:27.750 --> 00:14:30.219
  • Shares how friendship with jesus brings clarity, strength, and
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  • Peace in every part of life.
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  • This isn't about following a religion or religious rules.
  • 00:14:35.658 --> 00:14:38.894
  • It's about cultivating a cherished relationship that will
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  • Help your faith become more personal, more joyful, and more
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  • Powerful each day.
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  • Request "my friend jesus" with your donation of $25 or more
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  • Today at allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:14:50.439 --> 00:14:56.211
  • Allen: in 2 peter, he addresses this.
  • 00:14:57.746 --> 00:14:59.648
  • This is a--this was a consistent point of discussion for the
  • 00:14:59.648 --> 00:15:05.688
  • Church of the new testament, this end of the age, the return
  • 00:15:05.688 --> 00:15:10.859
  • Of the lord.
  • 00:15:10.859 --> 00:15:12.194
  • They had spent time with the lord and they were very
  • 00:15:12.194 --> 00:15:13.996
  • Interested in spending time with him again, and peter picks it up
  • 00:15:13.996 --> 00:15:19.635
  • In 2 peter chapter 3.
  • 00:15:19.635 --> 00:15:21.603
  • He said, "first of all," of primary importance, "you must
  • 00:15:21.603 --> 00:15:25.240
  • Understand that in the last day scoffers will come, scoffing and
  • 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:30.179
  • Following their own evil desires."
  • 00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:31.880
  • People who don't want to participate with the kingdom of
  • 00:15:31.880 --> 00:15:34.016
  • God, who won't align themselves with the lion of the tribe
  • 00:15:34.016 --> 00:15:37.586
  • Of judah.
  • 00:15:37.586 --> 00:15:38.921
  • And what will their response be to those who choose to?
  • 00:15:38.921 --> 00:15:40.856
  • They're gonna scoff, they're gonna make fun,
  • 00:15:40.856 --> 00:15:42.291
  • They're gonna ridicule, they're gonna bully.
  • 00:15:42.291 --> 00:15:45.260
  • Gee, we couldn't imagine that happening.
  • 00:15:45.260 --> 00:15:48.530
  • Nobody would say that, "prayer was useless and i don't wanna
  • 00:15:48.530 --> 00:15:51.367
  • Hear about it anymore."
  • 00:15:51.367 --> 00:15:54.703
  • "they will say, 'where is this 'coming' he promised?
  • 00:15:54.703 --> 00:15:57.673
  • Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has
  • 00:15:57.673 --> 00:16:00.542
  • Since the beginning of creation.'
  • 00:16:00.542 --> 00:16:03.245
  • But they deliberately forget that long ago by god's word the
  • 00:16:03.245 --> 00:16:06.081
  • Heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and
  • 00:16:06.081 --> 00:16:08.517
  • By water.
  • 00:16:08.517 --> 00:16:10.185
  • And by these waters the world of that time was destroyed.
  • 00:16:10.185 --> 00:16:14.690
  • By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved
  • 00:16:14.690 --> 00:16:17.226
  • For fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of
  • 00:16:17.226 --> 00:16:20.596
  • Ungodly men."
  • 00:16:20.596 --> 00:16:21.930
  • If you align yourself with the wrong kingdom, you'll face the
  • 00:16:21.930 --> 00:16:24.266
  • Judgment of god not because god is mean-spirited, because you
  • 00:16:24.266 --> 00:16:28.137
  • Chose not to be a part of his kingdom.
  • 00:16:28.137 --> 00:16:30.606
  • You can choose to live in his kingdom or you can choose not
  • 00:16:30.606 --> 00:16:32.975
  • To, but these consequences are not the same.
  • 00:16:32.975 --> 00:16:35.744
  • We don't all get participation trophies.
  • 00:16:35.744 --> 00:16:39.748
  • That's not harsh, that's truth.
  • 00:16:39.748 --> 00:16:43.552
  • You can choose to eat whatever you want, but every diet you
  • 00:16:43.552 --> 00:16:46.021
  • Choose doesn't have the same physical outcome on your health.
  • 00:16:46.021 --> 00:16:48.424
  • That's not mean, that's fact.
  • 00:16:48.424 --> 00:16:51.427
  • It's better to know the facts when you have decisions to make.
  • 00:16:51.427 --> 00:16:54.530
  • It's why the sharing of the gospel and the proclamation of
  • 00:16:54.530 --> 00:16:56.865
  • The gospel and inviting people into places where the gospel is
  • 00:16:56.865 --> 00:16:59.835
  • Told is not about manipulation or control.
  • 00:16:59.835 --> 00:17:03.972
  • It's to help people be informed so that they can make decisions
  • 00:17:03.972 --> 00:17:06.775
  • To bring the best of god into their lives.
  • 00:17:06.775 --> 00:17:09.812
  • You're not a good friend if you don't tell people the truth.
  • 00:17:09.812 --> 00:17:13.849
  • You're not a good friend if you work with people and they don't
  • 00:17:13.849 --> 00:17:17.186
  • Know that you love jesus.
  • 00:17:17.186 --> 00:17:19.621
  • You're not a good friend if you bury your faith.
  • 00:17:19.621 --> 00:17:23.892
  • You're not a good friend if you stand in places where the lord
  • 00:17:23.892 --> 00:17:26.395
  • Is denigrated or his people are denigrated or his churches are
  • 00:17:26.395 --> 00:17:29.565
  • Mocked and you don't use your voice because we're robbing them
  • 00:17:29.565 --> 00:17:33.202
  • Of the opportunity to hear the truth, and therefore they
  • 00:17:33.202 --> 00:17:35.571
  • Don't have the same opportunity to make a decision.
  • 00:17:35.571 --> 00:17:40.008
  • Now, god will send them another voice.
  • 00:17:40.008 --> 00:17:41.510
  • God is just.
  • 00:17:41.510 --> 00:17:42.878
  • But you and i will forfeit something, and there's a
  • 00:17:42.878 --> 00:17:44.313
  • Consequence when we deny our faith in those passive ways.
  • 00:17:44.313 --> 00:17:49.551
  • You see, to know the truth and not tell it is to participate in
  • 00:17:49.551 --> 00:17:52.855
  • A lie.
  • 00:17:52.855 --> 00:17:55.657
  • To know the truth and to hide it, to keep it from coming
  • 00:17:55.657 --> 00:17:59.528
  • Forward, to withhold a part of the story in order to shape a
  • 00:17:59.528 --> 00:18:02.965
  • Narrative to your favor is to participate in deception.
  • 00:18:02.965 --> 00:18:08.904
  • And we forfeit the blessings of god.
  • 00:18:08.904 --> 00:18:11.306
  • In an age of rampant deception, we've got to adjust
  • 00:18:11.306 --> 00:18:15.944
  • Our attitude.
  • 00:18:15.944 --> 00:18:17.312
  • And there's this re--peter is cautioning us that there's
  • 00:18:17.312 --> 00:18:20.315
  • Judgment ahead of us and that scoffers will come and the
  • 00:18:20.315 --> 00:18:24.186
  • Primary excuse they're going to use is nothing ever changes,
  • 00:18:24.186 --> 00:18:29.458
  • Nothing ever changes.
  • 00:18:29.458 --> 00:18:31.493
  • Oh, it does.
  • 00:18:31.493 --> 00:18:33.095
  • Peter reminds them of noah's day.
  • 00:18:33.095 --> 00:18:36.698
  • When it started to change, it was too late for them to reach a
  • 00:18:36.698 --> 00:18:39.034
  • Different outcome.
  • 00:18:39.034 --> 00:18:41.303
  • Then peter reminds us that there's something new coming.
  • 00:18:41.303 --> 00:18:43.405
  • There's a whole new earth.
  • 00:18:43.405 --> 00:18:45.174
  • A whole new creation is gonna be revisited.
  • 00:18:45.174 --> 00:18:47.609
  • Imagine that, the creative power of god being unleashed again on
  • 00:18:47.609 --> 00:18:51.713
  • Planet earth.
  • 00:18:51.713 --> 00:18:53.982
  • We weren't here for the first garden, but we're gonna be here
  • 00:18:53.982 --> 00:18:56.218
  • For a new jerusalem, for a new heaven and a new earth.
  • 00:18:56.218 --> 00:19:00.055
  • I don't know about you, that's pretty exciting to me.
  • 00:19:00.055 --> 00:19:03.258
  • You know, we got a building project underway.
  • 00:19:03.258 --> 00:19:04.960
  • That's always fun and exciting.
  • 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.328
  • New spaces and the topography of the campus gets adjusted and all
  • 00:19:06.328 --> 00:19:10.165
  • The things that come with that.
  • 00:19:10.165 --> 00:19:11.533
  • That's always fun, but imagine a new heaven and a new earth.
  • 00:19:11.533 --> 00:19:17.206
  • "well, i'm just a christian."
  • 00:19:17.206 --> 00:19:18.674
  • No, i'm a citizen of something.
  • 00:19:18.674 --> 00:19:22.277
  • 2 peter 3, verse 13, "in keeping with his promise we're looking
  • 00:19:22.277 --> 00:19:26.348
  • Forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home
  • 00:19:26.348 --> 00:19:28.550
  • Of righteousness."
  • 00:19:28.550 --> 00:19:31.019
  • Clearly the present version is not filled with righteousness.
  • 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:38.493
  • "so then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this,
  • 00:19:38.493 --> 00:19:41.396
  • Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace
  • 00:19:41.396 --> 00:19:47.502
  • With him."
  • 00:19:47.502 --> 00:19:49.605
  • What are we coached to do?
  • 00:19:49.605 --> 00:19:51.406
  • To make every effort.
  • 00:19:51.406 --> 00:19:52.975
  • Leave no stone unturned, nothing half-hearted not in a
  • 00:19:52.975 --> 00:19:57.346
  • Lackadaisical way.
  • 00:19:57.346 --> 00:20:00.182
  • With focused effort, the greatest effort of your life,
  • 00:20:00.182 --> 00:20:02.784
  • Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at
  • 00:20:02.784 --> 00:20:07.389
  • Peace with him.
  • 00:20:07.389 --> 00:20:09.057
  • I don't find that to be the trajectory of contemporary
  • 00:20:09.057 --> 00:20:11.660
  • Christendom, at least in american evangelicalism.
  • 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:14.663
  • We're so focused on our decision that we don't imagine anything
  • 00:20:14.663 --> 00:20:19.601
  • That would require every effort to be blameless before the lord.
  • 00:20:19.601 --> 00:20:22.938
  • We think we can in a rather sloppy, casual way come, say,
  • 00:20:22.938 --> 00:20:25.274
  • "oh, i'm kind of sorry.
  • 00:20:25.274 --> 00:20:26.608
  • Maybe you ought to kind of forgive me.
  • 00:20:26.608 --> 00:20:29.011
  • Whoops."
  • 00:20:29.011 --> 00:20:32.247
  • That's not what peter is describing.
  • 00:20:32.247 --> 00:20:33.915
  • Romans chapter 8 and verse 20, "the creation was subjected to
  • 00:20:33.915 --> 00:20:37.085
  • Frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the
  • 00:20:37.085 --> 00:20:40.022
  • One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be
  • 00:20:40.022 --> 00:20:43.492
  • Liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the
  • 00:20:43.492 --> 00:20:47.062
  • Glorious freedom of the children of god."
  • 00:20:47.062 --> 00:20:49.598
  • There's something ahead of us.
  • 00:20:49.598 --> 00:20:50.966
  • We're gonna be set free from the decay of this present
  • 00:20:50.966 --> 00:20:53.568
  • World order.
  • 00:20:53.568 --> 00:20:57.306
  • Our world is a matter of physics, our world is unwinding.
  • 00:20:57.306 --> 00:21:00.375
  • Energy moves from a state of order to disorder, but there's a
  • 00:21:00.375 --> 00:21:05.347
  • New age coming that's not subject to decay.
  • 00:21:05.347 --> 00:21:10.419
  • You'll get a new earth suit that's not subject to decay.
  • 00:21:10.419 --> 00:21:16.925
  • Y'all sit there and be calm if you want to.
  • 00:21:16.925 --> 00:21:18.527
  • I'm gonna have me a little praise party 'cause my current
  • 00:21:18.527 --> 00:21:20.962
  • Version is a blessing from the lord.
  • 00:21:20.962 --> 00:21:30.972
  • But it--paul describes it as a glorious freedom that's gonna be
  • 00:21:30.972 --> 00:21:35.410
  • Given to the children of god.
  • 00:21:35.410 --> 00:21:36.745
  • Freed from what? freed from decay.
  • 00:21:36.745 --> 00:21:38.947
  • There's something new coming.
  • 00:21:38.947 --> 00:21:40.315
  • You need to think about it.
  • 00:21:40.315 --> 00:21:41.650
  • You need to meditate on it.
  • 00:21:41.650 --> 00:21:42.984
  • You need to be excited about it.
  • 00:21:42.984 --> 00:21:48.290
  • Isaiah 11 gives us a prophetic picture of it.
  • 00:21:48.290 --> 00:21:52.160
  • "but with righteousness he will judge the needy, and with
  • 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:54.229
  • Justice he'll give decisions for the poor of the earth.
  • 00:21:54.229 --> 00:21:56.998
  • He'll strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and the breath
  • 00:21:56.998 --> 00:21:59.401
  • Of his lips he'll slay the wicked.
  • 00:21:59.401 --> 00:22:01.803
  • Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around
  • 00:22:01.803 --> 00:22:04.873
  • His waist.
  • 00:22:04.873 --> 00:22:06.475
  • The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie
  • 00:22:06.475 --> 00:22:08.877
  • Down with the goat, and the calf and the lion and the yearling
  • 00:22:08.877 --> 00:22:11.913
  • Together; and a little child will lead them."
  • 00:22:11.913 --> 00:22:14.516
  • There's gonna be a whole new order to the new creation.
  • 00:22:14.516 --> 00:22:18.520
  • It'll be different than what we know.
  • 00:22:18.520 --> 00:22:21.223
  • "the cow will feed with the bear, and their young will lie
  • 00:22:21.223 --> 00:22:24.860
  • Down together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox.
  • 00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:29.030
  • And the infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the
  • 00:22:29.030 --> 00:22:30.966
  • Young child put his hand into the viper's nest."
  • 00:22:30.966 --> 00:22:34.636
  • I don't believe that's just metaphorical language or
  • 00:22:34.636 --> 00:22:36.705
  • Poetical words or hyperbole.
  • 00:22:36.705 --> 00:22:39.741
  • I believe it's a description of a totally new order
  • 00:22:39.741 --> 00:22:42.611
  • Of existence.
  • 00:22:42.611 --> 00:22:44.846
  • It's exciting to me.
  • 00:22:44.846 --> 00:22:46.214
  • We're gonna have animals.
  • 00:22:46.214 --> 00:22:48.750
  • I like that. i like critters.
  • 00:22:48.750 --> 00:22:51.453
  • I mean, some of them i don't like so much now 'cause they
  • 00:22:51.453 --> 00:22:53.255
  • Have some negative consequences, but--it doesn't say it, but
  • 00:22:53.255 --> 00:22:55.791
  • Apparently the skunk won't stink.
  • 00:22:55.791 --> 00:22:59.728
  • That's my interpretation.
  • 00:22:59.728 --> 00:23:01.096
  • I don't know, i'm thinking if you can play at the viper's
  • 00:23:01.096 --> 00:23:03.131
  • Nest, maybe the skunks will make peace too.
  • 00:23:03.131 --> 00:23:07.736
  • If you've never been sprayed, you can't appreciate that fully.
  • 00:23:07.736 --> 00:23:12.274
  • Jesus taught us to pray for this outcome when he taught us to
  • 00:23:12.274 --> 00:23:15.944
  • Pray, "lord, let your will be done on earth as it is
  • 00:23:15.944 --> 00:23:20.148
  • In heaven."
  • 00:23:20.148 --> 00:23:22.184
  • He taught us to pray that way.
  • 00:23:22.184 --> 00:23:24.453
  • Look at 2 corinthians 5:7.
  • 00:23:24.453 --> 00:23:27.189
  • It says, "we live by faith, not by sight."
  • 00:23:27.189 --> 00:23:29.491
  • Do we really?
  • 00:23:29.491 --> 00:23:31.960
  • I mean, it's a reminder of the objective.
  • 00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:35.330
  • "we are confident, i say, and we would prefer to be away from the
  • 00:23:35.330 --> 00:23:38.600
  • Body and at home with the lord."
  • 00:23:38.600 --> 00:23:40.535
  • There's a country song, "everybody wants to go to heaven
  • 00:23:40.535 --> 00:23:43.572
  • But nobody wants to go right now."
  • 00:23:43.572 --> 00:23:47.342
  • And i think that lyric would pretty much carry the day in
  • 00:23:47.342 --> 00:23:50.479
  • Most of our places, but paul says the opposite.
  • 00:23:50.479 --> 00:23:53.648
  • He said we would prefer to be away from the body and to be at
  • 00:23:53.648 --> 00:23:56.718
  • Home with the lord.
  • 00:23:56.718 --> 00:23:59.321
  • You know, this doesn't define you right now, how well you
  • 00:23:59.321 --> 00:24:03.291
  • Ornament it or paint it or preserve it.
  • 00:24:03.291 --> 00:24:07.596
  • The bible talks about having the unfading beauty of a gentle and
  • 00:24:07.596 --> 00:24:11.867
  • Quiet spirit, a beauty that couldn't fade, that can't
  • 00:24:11.867 --> 00:24:16.771
  • Be diminished.
  • 00:24:16.771 --> 00:24:18.573
  • We should pursue that.
  • 00:24:18.573 --> 00:24:21.276
  • We should value that and care about that and invest in that
  • 00:24:21.276 --> 00:24:24.379
  • And understand what to do to strengthen that.
  • 00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:27.782
  • Think of the billions of dollars we spend on trying to preserve
  • 00:24:27.782 --> 00:24:30.819
  • This current thing that is unwinding.
  • 00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:33.855
  • I'm not opposed to that, but how about even a greater investment
  • 00:24:33.855 --> 00:24:37.526
  • In something that won't fade?
  • 00:24:37.526 --> 00:24:42.664
  • "so we make it our goal to please him, whether we're at
  • 00:24:42.664 --> 00:24:46.668
  • Home in the body or away from it.
  • 00:24:46.668 --> 00:24:48.670
  • For we must all appear before the judgment seat of christ,
  • 00:24:48.670 --> 00:24:52.908
  • That each one may receive what is due him for the things done
  • 00:24:52.908 --> 00:24:56.011
  • While in the body, whether good or bad."
  • 00:24:56.011 --> 00:25:00.382
  • Did you know there's a reward for honoring god?
  • 00:25:00.382 --> 00:25:05.754
  • See, we will all face judgment.
  • 00:25:05.754 --> 00:25:07.556
  • The bible says it's appointed to every person two things: to die
  • 00:25:07.556 --> 00:25:10.725
  • And to face judgment.
  • 00:25:10.725 --> 00:25:12.694
  • For the believer, we don't face the judgment of heaven or hell,
  • 00:25:12.694 --> 00:25:15.797
  • But we face a judgment for what we have done in the body.
  • 00:25:15.797 --> 00:25:20.835
  • And i--it's not the point of this lesson, so i'm not--i'm
  • 00:25:20.835 --> 00:25:23.705
  • Gonna try to stay out of that, somewhat.
  • 00:25:23.705 --> 00:25:28.043
  • But the bible describes it.
  • 00:25:28.043 --> 00:25:29.411
  • It says that when we face that judgment, if we've invested our
  • 00:25:29.411 --> 00:25:32.213
  • Life in wood, hay, and stubble, things that can be accumulated
  • 00:25:32.213 --> 00:25:35.317
  • In great volume but they have very little worth, it'll be
  • 00:25:35.317 --> 00:25:38.119
  • Consumed by the fire of god's judgment in a moment.
  • 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:40.322
  • And we will make it through his judgment, but we will make it
  • 00:25:40.322 --> 00:25:43.525
  • With nothing.
  • 00:25:43.525 --> 00:25:46.361
  • Or we can have invested in gold and silver and precious stones,
  • 00:25:46.361 --> 00:25:50.599
  • Much smaller in quantity but of great value, and they will stand
  • 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:55.403
  • The test of god's judgment.
  • 00:25:55.403 --> 00:25:59.107
  • So that's being referenced here in corinthians, that we're gonna
  • 00:25:59.107 --> 00:26:03.011
  • Receive a reward for the things that we've done while in
  • 00:26:03.011 --> 00:26:06.214
  • The body.
  • 00:26:06.214 --> 00:26:08.783
  • There's another judgment for people who aren't
  • 00:26:08.783 --> 00:26:10.452
  • Christ followers: that's a judgment of destiny.
  • 00:26:10.452 --> 00:26:16.091
  • Allen: you know, i'm so grateful to have had a
  • 00:26:20.028 --> 00:26:21.363
  • Few minutes with you today.
  • 00:26:21.363 --> 00:26:22.831
  • These opportunities to open the word of god and open our lives
  • 00:26:22.831 --> 00:26:25.567
  • And invite god into the midst of it, they're transformational.
  • 00:26:25.567 --> 00:26:28.670
  • I've learned to never take them for granted.
  • 00:26:28.670 --> 00:26:30.639
  • I used to imagine that they were unlimited, that we could do
  • 00:26:30.639 --> 00:26:33.074
  • It forever.
  • 00:26:33.074 --> 00:26:34.409
  • Every time i have an opportunity to talk with a friend and make a
  • 00:26:34.409 --> 00:26:37.278
  • Journey through the word of god for a bit,
  • 00:26:37.278 --> 00:26:39.481
  • I think it's something precious.
  • 00:26:39.481 --> 00:26:40.915
  • It's a gift from god.
  • 00:26:40.915 --> 00:26:42.283
  • I'm grateful we had this time together.
  • 00:26:42.283 --> 00:26:44.252
  • I've got a new book.
  • 00:26:44.252 --> 00:26:45.587
  • It's called "my friend jesus."
  • 00:26:45.587 --> 00:26:47.288
  • It's the culmination of years of my own spiritual journey, kind
  • 00:26:47.288 --> 00:26:50.258
  • Of peeling away the formality of theology and ritual and routine
  • 00:26:50.258 --> 00:26:53.962
  • And opening the heart of what it means to be a christ follower.
  • 00:26:53.962 --> 00:26:56.798
  • I wanna live as jesus's friend.
  • 00:26:56.798 --> 00:26:58.967
  • When i'm in trouble, i call my friends.
  • 00:26:58.967 --> 00:27:01.102
  • When they're in trouble and i can help,
  • 00:27:01.102 --> 00:27:02.437
  • It's the delight of my life.
  • 00:27:02.437 --> 00:27:04.239
  • Well, i wanna pray with you.
  • 00:27:04.239 --> 00:27:05.607
  • Let's invite my friend jesus into the midst of our world.
  • 00:27:05.607 --> 00:27:08.343
  • He changes everything.
  • 00:27:08.343 --> 00:27:10.145
  • Heavenly father, i thank you that you love us,
  • 00:27:10.145 --> 00:27:11.946
  • That you sent your son.
  • 00:27:11.946 --> 00:27:13.381
  • We need his help, his strength, his wisdom.
  • 00:27:13.381 --> 00:27:15.750
  • Open our hearts to know him as we've never known him before.
  • 00:27:15.750 --> 00:27:18.753
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:18.753 --> 00:27:20.321
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:20.321 --> 00:27:30.000