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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Realms of Authority (Part 1)

July 8, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - Realms of Authority (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Authority #Prayer #SeekGod #SpiritualWarfare #Culture #Overcoming #Evil #Jesus #WalkwithGod #SpiritualFoundation #SpiritualGrowth #HolySpirit #Trials-HardTimes #Struggle #Challenges #Journey #Testing #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Realms of Authority (Part 1) | July 8, 2026
  • ...
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  • Female announcer: everywhere we turn, someone is telling us who
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  • We should be, how we should look, and what we
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  • Should believe.
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  • It's no wonder so many of us feel isolated, uncertain,
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  • Confused, and like we're not enough.
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  • But god has a different message.
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  • You are chosen, loved, accepted, and redeemed.
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  • And as you more fully understand how god sees you, it will change
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  • How you see yourself, how you see god, and how you live
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  • Your life.
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  • In "your identity in christ: 12 truths about who you are,"
  • 00:00:29.611 --> 00:00:33.282
  • Pastor allen jackson shares the unchanging truth of god's word.
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  • From isolation to belonging, from doubt to confidence,
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  • Discover your identity in him.
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  • You or someone you know needs the encouragement, truth, and
  • 00:00:44.860 --> 00:00:48.764
  • Freedom found in this book.
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  • Request yours today when you donate any amount at
  • 00:00:52.868 --> 00:00:55.704
  • Allenjackson.com or call ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: you know, seasons of the church, communion has
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  • Been used as a brutal weapon.
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  • Wars have been fought.
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  • Not all the chapters of the church should be celebrated.
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  • But we have a remarkable freedom these days, so i hope you'll be
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  • Prepared to join us.
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  • I'm gonna continue the theme we've been working on, it's
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  • Growing season in tennessee.
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  • The grass is growing, the hay is growing, the summer vegetables
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  • Are growing, our flowers are growing, the weeds are growing,
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  • It's all growing.
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  • Especially lately because it's been raining a lot.
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  • But i'm determined--that it's an idea that my parents put in my
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  • Brothers and i years ago, we were all at home, but summertime
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  • Is time for spiritual growth as well.
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  • And so, every summer season, i make some special investments
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  • And efforts and energy in things to promote spiritual growth in
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  • My own heart and life, and i invite the church to that.
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  • So, i hope you'll come grow with us.
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  • If you're not doing the daily bible reading, that's a great
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  • Place to start.
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  • If you're not involved with a small group, that's another
  • 00:02:04.339 --> 00:02:06.241
  • Great place to start.
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  • If you're not attending church in person, on campus, that's a
  • 00:02:07.676 --> 00:02:10.546
  • Really good place to start.
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  • All right, we look better in person.
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  • I know some of you live hither and yon and you can't come to
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  • Middle tennessee, but some of you are in middle tennessee on
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  • Your sofa.
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  • Come to church, it'll bless you.
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  • So we've been working through this little series on prayer in
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  • God's power.
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  • And the thesis is pretty simple.
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  • There are god opportunities available to us that we are
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  • Leaving on the shelf because we don't pray.
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  • And there's a lot of reasons for that, and i don't--i'm not
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  • Trying to unpack all of those with you in this series.
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  • But i think far too often we think of prayer as something
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  • That's about formal religious services.
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  • Or it's a transition, or it signals a beginning or
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  • A conclusion.
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  • Or we pray at formal events, or maybe you pray to bless your
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  • Food, or maybe you even say a prayer before you go to sleep at
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  • Night, or you pray for your children.
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  • Those are all wonderful things to do.
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  • But every prayer that we don't pray is an invitation to god
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  • That we leave unexpressed.
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  • And so when the bible says pray without ceasing, i don't think
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  • It means that we wander around all day long doing nothing but
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  • Saying a prayer out loud.
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  • But i intend as i go through the course of my day to consistently
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  • And repeatedly acknowledge god and invite him
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  • Into circumstances.
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  • I was grabbing a cup of coffee with my dad one morning this
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  • Week and somebody in line in front of us to be served had a
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  • Child with him and i--they said, "aren't you?"
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  • And i said, "i am."
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  • Which led to the grandchild was--had some health issues.
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  • And so, i said, guess what, "let's pray."
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  • And we have a little prayer right there in front of god
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  • And everybody.
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  • You know, i mean, i didn't swing a goat and draw any attention
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  • To it.
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  • I just said a little prayer and we moved on.
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  • But i wanna pray throughout the course of my day.
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  • It may begin with, "god, thank you for the day.
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  • Thank you for the sunshine," or, "thank you for the strength to
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  • Meet the day."
  • 00:04:06.194 --> 00:04:07.529
  • Or, i mean, bring god back into the body of your life.
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  • Stop relegating him to a few moments at a worship service or
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  • A small group meeting or some formal christian activity.
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  • It will change your life.
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  • Some of the most powerful prayers in scripture were one
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  • Sentence prayers.
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  • Jesus stood outside lazarus's tomb and said, "lazarus,
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  • Come out."
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  • That's it.
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  • If i'd have been in charge of that prayer, it'd have been at
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  • Least three pages long.
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  • I'd have quoted resurrection scriptures, i'd have quoted all
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  • The biblical examples where resurrections took place.
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  • I'd have pulled in a few psalms.
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  • I mean, i'd have rebuked the devil, i'd have rebuked the
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  • Spirit of death.
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  • I mean, i'd have done it all.
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  • Jesus said, "hey, lazarus."
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  • So i'm changing.
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  • There's still times i pray far more than a sentence prayer.
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  • I'm not telling you that's your whole portfolio.
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  • We've talked about kinds of prayers, different kinds
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  • Of prayers.
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  • Different boundaries for different kinds of prayers,
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  • They're not the same ground rules for all the different
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  • Kinds of prayers.
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  • And when we need to develop some understanding of what it means
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  • To pray a prayer of repentance or a prayer of forgiveness.
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  • Or an intercessory prayer.
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  • To pray for things beyond just our personal needs and the
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  • People that we know.
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  • I don't think it's inappropriate to pray for personal needs.
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  • I think it's inappropriate to only pray for personal needs.
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  • We're citizens of the kingdom of god.
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  • We have an eternal role.
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  • If i meet a person that's elected to a public office, and
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  • The only thing they do in their public office is take care of
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  • Themselves and their families, i want them thrown out of office.
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  • I expect them to care for themselves and their families,
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  • But i don't expect that to be the full expression of authority
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  • That they've been entrusted with.
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  • Well, if you and i as christ followers and citizens of the
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  • Kingdom of god with access to the throne room of almighty god,
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  • Use those things only for our personal agenda and our family,
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  • I would suggest to you that we're abusing authority as much
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  • As those politicians that we would despise.
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  • Amen, pastor.
  • 00:06:13.255 --> 00:06:15.123
  • So we're learning a little bit.
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  • We're gonna keep working on it.
  • 00:06:16.491 --> 00:06:17.826
  • We'll come back to it, but in this session, we're gonna talk
  • 00:06:17.826 --> 00:06:19.428
  • About some realms of authority.
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  • And it's alive on the inside of me.
  • 00:06:21.863 --> 00:06:23.331
  • So i'm not promising you anything about your outlines.
  • 00:06:23.331 --> 00:06:26.768
  • Starting james 5, james is the in-your-face book of the
  • 00:06:26.768 --> 00:06:29.671
  • New testament.
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  • James is not always polite, he's direct.
  • 00:06:31.106 --> 00:06:34.576
  • And he says that "the prayers--the effective prayer of
  • 00:06:34.576 --> 00:06:37.245
  • A righteous man can accomplish much."
  • 00:06:37.245 --> 00:06:40.182
  • If you can have an effective prayer, you can have an
  • 00:06:40.182 --> 00:06:41.950
  • Ineffective prayer.
  • 00:06:41.950 --> 00:06:44.619
  • So one of the assignments we have is to learn to pray.
  • 00:06:44.619 --> 00:06:46.822
  • The disciples asked jesus to teach them to pray.
  • 00:06:46.822 --> 00:06:49.658
  • And he didn't say that's the dumbest idea i've ever heard.
  • 00:06:49.658 --> 00:06:53.161
  • He began to teach them to pray.
  • 00:06:53.161 --> 00:06:55.163
  • He taught them what we know to be the lord's prayer.
  • 00:06:55.163 --> 00:06:57.332
  • I think it's appropriate to recite it as a prayer.
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  • I think that is absolutely correct and in line
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  • With scripture.
  • 00:07:01.703 --> 00:07:03.071
  • I also think in the lord's prayer there is a collection of
  • 00:07:03.071 --> 00:07:06.041
  • Kinds of prayers that can be prayed.
  • 00:07:06.041 --> 00:07:09.578
  • We worked on that a bit in a previous session.
  • 00:07:09.578 --> 00:07:11.513
  • But james reminds us that your prayers can be effective and can
  • 00:07:11.513 --> 00:07:14.216
  • Accomplish much.
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  • I believe it, i believe it.
  • 00:07:15.584 --> 00:07:18.153
  • In joshua chapter 1 and verse 9, god says something to joshua.
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  • Joshua has picked up and been given the assignment to complete
  • 00:07:22.324 --> 00:07:25.393
  • What moses couldn't.
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  • Gee, that's not an intimidating job.
  • 00:07:27.162 --> 00:07:31.032
  • Moses had spent so much time in the presence of god that his
  • 00:07:31.032 --> 00:07:33.435
  • Face glowed in the dark.
  • 00:07:33.435 --> 00:07:35.904
  • Moses that had something to do with the red sea parting and
  • 00:07:35.904 --> 00:07:38.573
  • Pharaoh yielding and all the things.
  • 00:07:38.573 --> 00:07:42.244
  • Moses couldn't complete the assignment and god taps joshua
  • 00:07:42.244 --> 00:07:46.248
  • And says, "now i want you to finish the job."
  • 00:07:46.248 --> 00:07:50.218
  • Well this is a part of joshua's instructions: "have i not
  • 00:07:50.218 --> 00:07:53.655
  • Commanded you?
  • 00:07:53.655 --> 00:07:55.524
  • Be strong and courageous."
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  • If god commands you to be strong and courageous, may i submit to
  • 00:07:56.925 --> 00:08:00.929
  • You, you're probably not.
  • 00:08:00.929 --> 00:08:04.966
  • I'm thinking joshua felt anything but strengthened and
  • 00:08:04.966 --> 00:08:08.336
  • Filled with courage.
  • 00:08:08.336 --> 00:08:10.171
  • God said, "i have given you a command, do not be terrified and
  • 00:08:10.171 --> 00:08:14.643
  • Do not be discouraged, for the lord your god will be with you
  • 00:08:14.643 --> 00:08:18.179
  • Wherever you go."
  • 00:08:18.179 --> 00:08:20.448
  • That's about as intimidating a couple of sentences as i
  • 00:08:20.448 --> 00:08:23.251
  • Could imagine.
  • 00:08:23.251 --> 00:08:24.586
  • God saying to you, "do not be terrified.
  • 00:08:24.586 --> 00:08:26.888
  • And listen, don't be discouraged."
  • 00:08:26.888 --> 00:08:28.423
  • What do you know?
  • 00:08:28.423 --> 00:08:30.325
  • I am scared out of my mind, and i have got no courage.
  • 00:08:30.325 --> 00:08:34.963
  • And god said, "i have given you a commandment.
  • 00:08:34.963 --> 00:08:37.198
  • Don't do that."
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  • Sir, yes sir.
  • 00:08:39.301 --> 00:08:42.237
  • You need to think about joshua a moment.
  • 00:08:42.237 --> 00:08:44.839
  • He's not a neophyte, he's not a beginner.
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  • He's decades into this thing.
  • 00:08:47.943 --> 00:08:49.945
  • He left egypt with moses.
  • 00:08:49.945 --> 00:08:52.380
  • He started in the brick pits, he saw the passover, he saw all the
  • 00:08:52.380 --> 00:08:56.318
  • Plagues, he saw mighty egypt humbled.
  • 00:08:56.318 --> 00:09:01.790
  • He's moses's aide de camp.
  • 00:09:01.790 --> 00:09:03.391
  • He sees the red sea parted.
  • 00:09:03.391 --> 00:09:05.493
  • He spends 40 years in the wilderness, he makes the journey
  • 00:09:05.493 --> 00:09:07.963
  • Into the promised land with the spies and comes back with a
  • 00:09:07.963 --> 00:09:10.999
  • Good report.
  • 00:09:10.999 --> 00:09:12.534
  • And stands against almost the entire nation of
  • 00:09:12.534 --> 00:09:15.103
  • People grumbling.
  • 00:09:15.103 --> 00:09:17.105
  • He's eaten manna for decades.
  • 00:09:17.105 --> 00:09:18.907
  • I mean, joshua has got a resume that's somewhat impressive.
  • 00:09:18.907 --> 00:09:23.378
  • But now he's no longer a young man, and now he no longer has
  • 00:09:23.378 --> 00:09:26.147
  • Moses as an associate on the journey.
  • 00:09:26.147 --> 00:09:30.619
  • And god said, "joshua, i need you to lead this conquest.
  • 00:09:30.619 --> 00:09:36.625
  • And i have commanded you.
  • 00:09:36.625 --> 00:09:39.361
  • Don't you be terrified.
  • 00:09:39.361 --> 00:09:42.597
  • And don't you be discouraged."
  • 00:09:42.597 --> 00:09:48.870
  • I think there's a message in that for the church today.
  • 00:09:48.870 --> 00:09:53.441
  • We're going to have to find courage and strength.
  • 00:09:53.441 --> 00:09:57.145
  • We would rather have a theology that focuses on the rapture so
  • 00:09:57.145 --> 00:09:59.681
  • We don't have to think about it.
  • 00:09:59.681 --> 00:10:02.217
  • Folks, i want out of here on the first load up.
  • 00:10:02.217 --> 00:10:05.420
  • But i also intend to play all the way through the buzzer.
  • 00:10:05.420 --> 00:10:12.694
  • What about you?
  • 00:10:12.694 --> 00:10:16.831
  • Allen: hey, i wanna ask you a question.
  • 00:10:20.735 --> 00:10:22.437
  • How do you identify?
  • 00:10:22.437 --> 00:10:23.805
  • Male, female, southerner, educated, housewife?
  • 00:10:23.805 --> 00:10:27.242
  • How do you identify?
  • 00:10:27.242 --> 00:10:28.843
  • Well, i wanna suggest knowing your identity in christ is the
  • 00:10:28.843 --> 00:10:31.846
  • Most significant component of your person for both time
  • 00:10:31.846 --> 00:10:35.450
  • And eternity.
  • 00:10:35.450 --> 00:10:36.785
  • We put together a resource, it's a new booklet.
  • 00:10:36.785 --> 00:10:38.286
  • It'll help you understand who you are in christ, your identity
  • 00:10:38.286 --> 00:10:41.890
  • In the kingdom of god, and what the implications of that are for
  • 00:10:41.890 --> 00:10:44.826
  • Your life today.
  • 00:10:44.826 --> 00:10:46.261
  • It's a game changer.
  • 00:10:46.261 --> 00:10:47.696
  • I believe it'll be a blessing to you and to your family.
  • 00:10:47.696 --> 00:10:51.332
  • Female announcer: every day the world tries to define who we
  • 00:10:51.332 --> 00:10:53.768
  • Are, what we should believe, and whether we're enough, but god's
  • 00:10:53.768 --> 00:10:57.372
  • Word tells a different story.
  • 00:10:57.372 --> 00:10:59.240
  • In pastor allen's new book, "your identity in christ: 12
  • 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:02.877
  • Truths about who you are," he shares biblical truths that will
  • 00:11:02.877 --> 00:11:06.114
  • Help you recognize who you are in christ.
  • 00:11:06.114 --> 00:11:08.817
  • Request your book and free companion card today with your
  • 00:11:08.817 --> 00:11:11.653
  • Gift of any amount at allenjackson.com or call ...
  • 00:11:11.653 --> 00:11:18.393
  • Allen: something is growing in my heart and kind
  • 00:11:22.430 --> 00:11:25.266
  • Of unexpectedly.
  • 00:11:25.266 --> 00:11:27.102
  • Joshua and that group of people that left egypt after hundreds
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  • Of years of slavery and with all the miracles and all the things,
  • 00:11:30.972 --> 00:11:34.175
  • God said, "i'm going to bring you out of the land of egypt to
  • 00:11:34.175 --> 00:11:36.978
  • Take you to a land that flows with milk and honey.
  • 00:11:36.978 --> 00:11:39.180
  • I'm going to fulfill the promise i made to abraham."
  • 00:11:39.180 --> 00:11:43.551
  • I want to submit to you that satan and all the hosts of
  • 00:11:43.551 --> 00:11:46.621
  • Darkness understood what that group of people was about.
  • 00:11:46.621 --> 00:11:51.860
  • Remember mark chapter 1, when jesus is about to begin his
  • 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:55.096
  • Public ministry, and he goes into the synagogue in capernaum
  • 00:11:55.096 --> 00:11:57.665
  • And a demonized man is there.
  • 00:11:57.665 --> 00:11:59.000
  • And the demon speaks up and says, "i know who you are.
  • 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:01.669
  • I know who you are, have you come here to destroy us?"
  • 00:12:01.669 --> 00:12:08.409
  • Or if you follow paul through his missionary journeys in city
  • 00:12:08.409 --> 00:12:11.112
  • After city where the spirit of god begins to move, there's a
  • 00:12:11.112 --> 00:12:14.382
  • Response that's illogical and irrational in its proportion.
  • 00:12:14.382 --> 00:12:17.752
  • I don't know a way to understand it other than it has a demonic
  • 00:12:17.752 --> 00:12:20.488
  • Motivation behind it.
  • 00:12:20.488 --> 00:12:22.557
  • Whether it's the riots in ephesus or other places, there's
  • 00:12:22.557 --> 00:12:25.160
  • A disproportionate response to somebody leading a small group
  • 00:12:25.160 --> 00:12:29.030
  • Bible study.
  • 00:12:29.030 --> 00:12:32.033
  • Well, if that's true of a demonized man in the synagogue
  • 00:12:32.033 --> 00:12:35.603
  • In capernaum, or it's true in the missionary journeys of paul
  • 00:12:35.603 --> 00:12:39.674
  • And his merry band of jesus people, i can promise you there
  • 00:12:39.674 --> 00:12:45.814
  • Was a spiritual resistance, principalities and powers and
  • 00:12:45.814 --> 00:12:49.083
  • Forces of darkness that hated what god was doing with the
  • 00:12:49.083 --> 00:12:52.854
  • Former slaves of egypt.
  • 00:12:52.854 --> 00:12:55.623
  • It's the best explanation for the books you're reading right
  • 00:12:55.623 --> 00:12:58.159
  • Now that i have.
  • 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:01.462
  • An unrelenting oppression.
  • 00:13:01.462 --> 00:13:04.332
  • A heaviness, a spirit of dissension, of complaining.
  • 00:13:04.332 --> 00:13:10.205
  • A refusal to be satisfied.
  • 00:13:10.205 --> 00:13:12.974
  • All of those things are present in the journey.
  • 00:13:12.974 --> 00:13:16.578
  • Voices of dissent from the most unexpected places.
  • 00:13:16.578 --> 00:13:22.183
  • Aaron, when moses is on the mount, aaron knows where mo has
  • 00:13:22.183 --> 00:13:25.820
  • Gone and why he has gone, and he makes a golden calf.
  • 00:13:25.820 --> 00:13:31.092
  • It's illogical.
  • 00:13:31.092 --> 00:13:33.361
  • The only explanation i can offer that has anything to do with
  • 00:13:33.361 --> 00:13:36.164
  • Logic would be there are spiritual forces of darkness
  • 00:13:36.164 --> 00:13:39.334
  • Opposing the purposes, thus god leads them with a pillar of
  • 00:13:39.334 --> 00:13:43.304
  • Cloud and a pillar of fire.
  • 00:13:43.304 --> 00:13:44.873
  • They don't have small, subtle guidance because they don't have
  • 00:13:44.873 --> 00:13:47.709
  • Small, subtle resistance.
  • 00:13:47.709 --> 00:13:50.778
  • The glory of god that descends on the tent of meeting, the
  • 00:13:50.778 --> 00:13:53.781
  • Tabernacle, when he's interacting with moses multiple
  • 00:13:53.781 --> 00:13:56.918
  • Times at these critical junctures, the people are being
  • 00:13:56.918 --> 00:13:59.754
  • Given dramatic guidance, dramatic protection, dramatic
  • 00:13:59.754 --> 00:14:03.024
  • Intervention against the disruptions when the earth opens
  • 00:14:03.024 --> 00:14:06.394
  • Up and swallows them.
  • 00:14:06.394 --> 00:14:07.729
  • They have the affirmation of god in dramatic ways, and they have
  • 00:14:07.729 --> 00:14:10.398
  • Opposition in dramatic ways because there is a spiritual
  • 00:14:10.398 --> 00:14:13.735
  • Battle unfolding for the unfolding purposes of god.
  • 00:14:13.735 --> 00:14:17.705
  • Does it make sense with what you know about that
  • 00:14:17.705 --> 00:14:19.173
  • Exodus generation?
  • 00:14:19.173 --> 00:14:21.876
  • Okay, i believe we're living in a season where the purposes of
  • 00:14:21.876 --> 00:14:24.712
  • God are unfolding in the earth.
  • 00:14:24.712 --> 00:14:27.315
  • I don't think that's going to go unchallenged.
  • 00:14:27.315 --> 00:14:30.385
  • I don't want you to be afraid.
  • 00:14:30.385 --> 00:14:31.753
  • In fact, we can borrow what god said to joshua.
  • 00:14:31.753 --> 00:14:33.321
  • I don't believe we have to be terrified nor discouraged.
  • 00:14:33.321 --> 00:14:36.424
  • But we better be realists and we better be aware and we better
  • 00:14:36.424 --> 00:14:38.893
  • Stop saying, "well, you know, i'm not sure if i believe
  • 00:14:38.893 --> 00:14:41.462
  • In that."
  • 00:14:41.462 --> 00:14:43.898
  • Change.
  • 00:14:43.898 --> 00:14:47.135
  • We're not living in the same world we lived in a few
  • 00:14:47.135 --> 00:14:49.904
  • Decades ago.
  • 00:14:49.904 --> 00:14:51.773
  • We didn't used to have the most--the best trained
  • 00:14:51.773 --> 00:14:53.875
  • Scientists amongst us go, "well, you know, biological sex
  • 00:14:53.875 --> 00:14:56.444
  • Is confusing."
  • 00:14:56.444 --> 00:14:58.980
  • We're living in a different place.
  • 00:14:58.980 --> 00:15:03.151
  • And the church is going to have to find the courage to engage.
  • 00:15:03.151 --> 00:15:07.355
  • So the nature of the opposition is really the target tonight,
  • 00:15:07.355 --> 00:15:10.792
  • But hopefully to point us a bit at some prayers we can pray in
  • 00:15:10.792 --> 00:15:15.663
  • Our own lives and through our lives and through our
  • 00:15:15.663 --> 00:15:17.899
  • Family systems.
  • 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:19.267
  • I see greater challenges in families than i have ever seen.
  • 00:15:19.267 --> 00:15:22.303
  • New challenges, different expressions of opposition.
  • 00:15:22.303 --> 00:15:26.474
  • So that we can understand that god's purposes in our lives are
  • 00:15:26.474 --> 00:15:29.711
  • Going to be opposed, that's a given, it's the
  • 00:15:29.711 --> 00:15:31.913
  • Biblical narrative.
  • 00:15:31.913 --> 00:15:35.083
  • So, "i don't like that, i think that sounds faithless."
  • 00:15:35.083 --> 00:15:38.353
  • No, i think that sounds biblically informed.
  • 00:15:38.353 --> 00:15:42.690
  • The phrase that's typically used for the opposition would include
  • 00:15:42.690 --> 00:15:45.693
  • The world, the flesh, and the devil, i'll use that little
  • 00:15:45.693 --> 00:15:48.196
  • Construct, but it's really just kind of a guideline.
  • 00:15:48.196 --> 00:15:52.367
  • I wanna start 1 john 4:4.
  • 00:15:52.367 --> 00:15:54.869
  • Jesus--john said, "greater is he who's in you than he who's in
  • 00:15:54.869 --> 00:15:57.505
  • The world."
  • 00:15:57.505 --> 00:15:58.873
  • That's the reason we don't have to be afraid.
  • 00:15:58.873 --> 00:16:00.208
  • The spirit in us is greater than any spirit that opposes the
  • 00:16:00.208 --> 00:16:02.844
  • Purposes of god.
  • 00:16:02.844 --> 00:16:05.079
  • That doesn't mean the opposition isn't real or threatening or
  • 00:16:05.079 --> 00:16:07.448
  • Intimidating or difficult or--i'm not saying it's easy.
  • 00:16:07.448 --> 00:16:11.519
  • I'm saying we have to remind one another that there's a spirit in
  • 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:14.155
  • Us that's greater than any expression of evil in the world.
  • 00:16:14.155 --> 00:16:18.326
  • You better get to know the holy spirit.
  • 00:16:18.326 --> 00:16:21.029
  • In more than some cursory fashion.
  • 00:16:21.029 --> 00:16:24.098
  • You know, we know him kind of like casper the friendly ghost.
  • 00:16:24.098 --> 00:16:28.036
  • We better get to know the spirit of god and recognize his voice
  • 00:16:28.036 --> 00:16:30.671
  • And cooperate with him.
  • 00:16:30.671 --> 00:16:32.273
  • I'm telling you, when i find passages of scripture that
  • 00:16:32.273 --> 00:16:34.542
  • Direct me towards engaging with the holy spirit, i go get in
  • 00:16:34.542 --> 00:16:37.278
  • That line, without question.
  • 00:16:37.278 --> 00:16:43.618
  • I would add to that john 16:33, this is jesus speaking to
  • 00:16:43.618 --> 00:16:46.921
  • His friends.
  • 00:16:46.921 --> 00:16:48.289
  • He said, "in this world you'll have trouble."
  • 00:16:48.289 --> 00:16:49.991
  • Ah, i'd wipe that out of my bible if it would change it.
  • 00:16:49.991 --> 00:16:56.230
  • Jesus said, "in this world you'll have trouble.
  • 00:16:56.230 --> 00:16:58.132
  • But take heart!
  • 00:16:58.132 --> 00:16:59.467
  • I have overcome the world."
  • 00:16:59.467 --> 00:17:01.736
  • So if you're a follower of jesus, what can we deduce
  • 00:17:01.736 --> 00:17:04.005
  • From that?
  • 00:17:04.005 --> 00:17:05.339
  • That we should not be surprised at difficulty, opposition,
  • 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:07.341
  • And trouble.
  • 00:17:07.341 --> 00:17:08.709
  • It's a part of the journey.
  • 00:17:08.709 --> 00:17:11.279
  • Well, i didn't think if i was served the lord i'd
  • 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:13.114
  • Have trouble.
  • 00:17:13.114 --> 00:17:15.817
  • I've been learning that lesson for a long time.
  • 00:17:15.817 --> 00:17:18.519
  • When i was in college and completely reoriented my life,
  • 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:21.122
  • Changed my degree program, withdrew from the profession i
  • 00:17:21.122 --> 00:17:23.724
  • Was headed towards, said i would serve the lord.
  • 00:17:23.724 --> 00:17:26.527
  • A few weeks later, i had half my face crushed in.
  • 00:17:26.527 --> 00:17:30.465
  • And i said to the lord, "that's not fair.
  • 00:17:30.465 --> 00:17:34.001
  • I'm serving you.
  • 00:17:34.001 --> 00:17:37.071
  • And my face does not look good."
  • 00:17:37.071 --> 00:17:43.945
  • Mind you, i threw a fit.
  • 00:17:43.945 --> 00:17:46.414
  • Do you ever throw a fit?
  • 00:17:46.414 --> 00:17:48.382
  • I checked myself out of the hospital.
  • 00:17:48.382 --> 00:17:51.552
  • I said to the surgeon, "you can't touch me."
  • 00:17:51.552 --> 00:17:55.123
  • And 48 hours later i had to call him back with a great deal more
  • 00:17:59.360 --> 00:18:02.196
  • Humility and said, "if i were to check in, would you help?"
  • 00:18:02.196 --> 00:18:08.069
  • And he was a very kind man, and he made space for me.
  • 00:18:08.069 --> 00:18:11.973
  • And through his training and hard work and god's good help,
  • 00:18:11.973 --> 00:18:14.809
  • My face got restored.
  • 00:18:14.809 --> 00:18:17.445
  • Parts that doctors could and parts that doctors couldn't.
  • 00:18:17.445 --> 00:18:19.881
  • But i began learning a lesson that when you say you're gonna
  • 00:18:19.881 --> 00:18:22.884
  • Serve the lord, it doesn't mean that all the opposition melts.
  • 00:18:22.884 --> 00:18:25.920
  • In fact, many times it means the opposite.
  • 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:29.323
  • Now i'm not looking for opposition.
  • 00:18:29.323 --> 00:18:30.825
  • I'm not trying to paint that picture, but the israelites, the
  • 00:18:30.825 --> 00:18:34.729
  • Former slaves of egypt, they were not going to occupy their
  • 00:18:34.729 --> 00:18:36.898
  • Inheritance until they defeated some things.
  • 00:18:36.898 --> 00:18:40.868
  • And i don't believe you and i will occupy our spiritual
  • 00:18:40.868 --> 00:18:43.237
  • Inheritance until we defeat some things.
  • 00:18:43.237 --> 00:18:46.541
  • You ready for the journey?
  • 00:18:46.541 --> 00:18:49.043
  • Spiritual forces of wickedness.
  • 00:18:49.043 --> 00:18:50.478
  • Ephesians 6:12, a familiar verse to many of you.
  • 00:18:50.478 --> 00:18:54.782
  • Paul's writing to a church, to believers in a city that is
  • 00:18:54.782 --> 00:18:58.252
  • Familiar with spiritual conflict.
  • 00:18:58.252 --> 00:19:00.888
  • It's in ephesus where the seven sons of sceva got in a shouting
  • 00:19:00.888 --> 00:19:05.193
  • Match with the devil and didn't come out so well.
  • 00:19:05.193 --> 00:19:08.362
  • It's in ephesus where the idol-makers of artemis
  • 00:19:08.362 --> 00:19:13.534
  • Orchestrated a public demonstration and caused a great
  • 00:19:13.534 --> 00:19:17.605
  • Deal of disturbance.
  • 00:19:17.605 --> 00:19:19.173
  • It's in ephesus where the people that are repenting of their sins
  • 00:19:19.173 --> 00:19:22.977
  • And bringing all their paraphernalia, with which they
  • 00:19:22.977 --> 00:19:25.213
  • Have engaged in the occult, destroyed millions of dollars of
  • 00:19:25.213 --> 00:19:28.883
  • Things that were used in ungodliness if we use
  • 00:19:28.883 --> 00:19:30.985
  • Today's numbers.
  • 00:19:30.985 --> 00:19:32.720
  • So the ephesian believers are very much familiar with the
  • 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:36.357
  • Context of this conversation, and paul was writing them
  • 00:19:36.357 --> 00:19:39.594
  • A reminder.
  • 00:19:39.594 --> 00:19:40.962
  • He said that, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but
  • 00:19:40.962 --> 00:19:44.565
  • Against rulers, against powers, against the world forces of this
  • 00:19:44.565 --> 00:19:47.668
  • Darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the
  • 00:19:47.668 --> 00:19:51.138
  • Heavenly places."
  • 00:19:51.138 --> 00:19:52.473
  • The great struggles of our life, he says they're not with flesh
  • 00:19:52.473 --> 00:19:56.644
  • And blood.
  • 00:19:56.644 --> 00:19:58.212
  • I would submit to you, the great struggles of our life are not
  • 00:19:58.212 --> 00:20:00.948
  • With people.
  • 00:20:00.948 --> 00:20:03.017
  • Now please hear this next line.
  • 00:20:03.017 --> 00:20:05.219
  • People may be the delivery system.
  • 00:20:05.219 --> 00:20:08.589
  • The struggle may show up and look a whole lot like a people.
  • 00:20:08.589 --> 00:20:13.227
  • It may have people names and smell like people and live in a
  • 00:20:13.227 --> 00:20:16.597
  • People house.
  • 00:20:16.597 --> 00:20:18.733
  • And you may know the family system from which the
  • 00:20:18.733 --> 00:20:21.369
  • People come.
  • 00:20:21.369 --> 00:20:24.005
  • But the fundamentals of the struggle behind the people, the
  • 00:20:24.005 --> 00:20:27.541
  • Message of scripture, is that's not really our struggle.
  • 00:20:27.541 --> 00:20:32.313
  • That our wrestling match is against rulers and
  • 00:20:32.313 --> 00:20:36.417
  • Spiritual powers.
  • 00:20:36.417 --> 00:20:40.588
  • That is such a difficult lesson to learn.
  • 00:20:40.588 --> 00:20:43.724
  • Because it feels really personal when you're in--locked, engaged
  • 00:20:43.724 --> 00:20:46.894
  • In a people conversation.
  • 00:20:46.894 --> 00:20:50.765
  • Or is that just me?
  • 00:20:50.765 --> 00:20:52.967
  • I don't think so.
  • 00:20:52.967 --> 00:20:55.303
  • And then paul tells the ephesians that it's not just a
  • 00:20:55.303 --> 00:20:57.605
  • Local issue.
  • 00:20:57.605 --> 00:20:58.939
  • He talks about world forces of darkness, spiritual forces of
  • 00:20:58.939 --> 00:21:02.043
  • Wickedness in the heavenly places.
  • 00:21:02.043 --> 00:21:03.644
  • It's one of the reasons i believe god is changing our
  • 00:21:03.644 --> 00:21:05.913
  • Prayer habits.
  • 00:21:05.913 --> 00:21:07.748
  • Absolutely, we'll pray for personal issues, but absolutely
  • 00:21:07.748 --> 00:21:10.885
  • We will pray for issues beyond ourselves.
  • 00:21:10.885 --> 00:21:14.989
  • As a community, god's calling us to take a different place in his
  • 00:21:14.989 --> 00:21:18.025
  • Unfolding purposes.
  • 00:21:18.025 --> 00:21:20.027
  • What paul's presenting to the believers in ephesus is a
  • 00:21:20.027 --> 00:21:23.230
  • Reminder that there's a--this is an image of a kingdom
  • 00:21:23.230 --> 00:21:26.767
  • Of darkness.
  • 00:21:26.767 --> 00:21:29.170
  • Folks, we understand earthly kingdoms and nations and nation
  • 00:21:29.170 --> 00:21:34.208
  • States and empires and military and all the things, we've
  • 00:21:34.208 --> 00:21:38.112
  • Watched that.
  • 00:21:38.112 --> 00:21:39.613
  • We've been watching it lately with the conflict in iran.
  • 00:21:39.613 --> 00:21:43.117
  • It's been about missiles and air defense and ships and mines and
  • 00:21:43.117 --> 00:21:49.757
  • All of those things.
  • 00:21:49.757 --> 00:21:51.225
  • But there is a set of spiritual forces that are far more deadly.
  • 00:21:51.225 --> 00:21:54.795
  • And we tend to think, "well, you know, it's just not
  • 00:21:57.998 --> 00:22:00.735
  • That important."
  • 00:22:00.735 --> 00:22:02.336
  • And i would submit to you it's fundamental.
  • 00:22:02.336 --> 00:22:05.673
  • And that's why your sentence prayers make so much difference.
  • 00:22:05.673 --> 00:22:08.175
  • Look at luke chapter 4.
  • 00:22:08.175 --> 00:22:09.744
  • Luke 4 is a pivot point in jesus's ministry.
  • 00:22:09.744 --> 00:22:13.481
  • He's gonna be baptized.
  • 00:22:13.481 --> 00:22:16.484
  • And he's going to be led into the wilderness.
  • 00:22:16.484 --> 00:22:18.319
  • It's the nature of his ministry is changing, and we're going to
  • 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:21.455
  • Step into a portion of that.
  • 00:22:21.455 --> 00:22:23.958
  • "jesus, full of the holy spirit, returns from the jordan and was
  • 00:22:23.958 --> 00:22:26.460
  • Led by the spirit into the desert."
  • 00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:28.396
  • It's worth noting he's led by the spirit into the desert.
  • 00:22:28.396 --> 00:22:31.832
  • The devil didn't trick him to get him in the desert, the
  • 00:22:31.832 --> 00:22:33.801
  • Spirit led him there.
  • 00:22:33.801 --> 00:22:35.536
  • Now, when he gets into the desert, it's not gonna be the
  • 00:22:35.536 --> 00:22:37.538
  • Best day.
  • 00:22:37.538 --> 00:22:38.906
  • "for forty days, he's gonna be tempted by the devil.
  • 00:22:38.906 --> 00:22:40.241
  • He ate nothing during those days, and the end of them, he
  • 00:22:40.241 --> 00:22:43.210
  • Was hungry," no kidding.
  • 00:22:43.210 --> 00:22:45.513
  • And "the devil said to him, 'if you were the son of god, tell
  • 00:22:45.513 --> 00:22:50.918
  • This stone to become bread.'"
  • 00:22:50.918 --> 00:22:53.521
  • The devil said to him, "if you were the son of god--."
  • 00:22:53.521 --> 00:22:56.290
  • Some of you remember, the devil was an archangel.
  • 00:22:56.290 --> 00:23:00.494
  • He was an angel of great authority and status and
  • 00:23:00.494 --> 00:23:03.330
  • Influence in the kingdom of god.
  • 00:23:03.330 --> 00:23:05.833
  • Until he led a rebellion against god and satan and a third of the
  • 00:23:05.833 --> 00:23:08.702
  • Angels were thrown out of heaven.
  • 00:23:08.702 --> 00:23:11.305
  • So the devil has seen jesus, he has known jesus in all of
  • 00:23:11.305 --> 00:23:14.775
  • His glory.
  • 00:23:14.775 --> 00:23:17.411
  • There's no mystery here.
  • 00:23:17.411 --> 00:23:21.348
  • But now this is incarnate jesus, the incarnate son of god, with
  • 00:23:21.348 --> 00:23:25.119
  • All the frailty that comes with an earth suit.
  • 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:28.856
  • And satan rolls up when jesus is hungry and says to him, "if
  • 00:23:28.856 --> 00:23:33.994
  • You're the son of god."
  • 00:23:33.994 --> 00:23:36.997
  • The demon in mark 1 knew who jesus was.
  • 00:23:36.997 --> 00:23:39.467
  • He said, "i know who you are, and i know that you have the
  • 00:23:39.467 --> 00:23:42.670
  • Power to torment me."
  • 00:23:42.670 --> 00:23:45.506
  • But satan says to him, "if you're the son of god."
  • 00:23:45.506 --> 00:23:50.377
  • Now, if satan will confront jesus with that kind of a
  • 00:23:53.714 --> 00:23:57.117
  • Deceptive, manipulative lie, jesus, what do you think he'll
  • 00:23:57.117 --> 00:24:03.724
  • Do to you or me?
  • 00:24:03.724 --> 00:24:07.495
  • So, "i don't feel like i'm more than a conqueror."
  • 00:24:07.495 --> 00:24:10.564
  • No kidding.
  • 00:24:10.564 --> 00:24:13.167
  • But my feelings aren't what dictate the outcome.
  • 00:24:13.167 --> 00:24:16.837
  • I have to know who i am in christ, and so do you.
  • 00:24:16.837 --> 00:24:20.474
  • "well, there's a lot of voices i hear that tell me--" i
  • 00:24:20.474 --> 00:24:24.778
  • Understand, i hear some voices too sometimes, but i wanna learn
  • 00:24:24.778 --> 00:24:27.748
  • To hear the voice of the spirit of god and who he says i am and
  • 00:24:27.748 --> 00:24:30.985
  • What he says about me.
  • 00:24:30.985 --> 00:24:34.522
  • We have a very real adversary, and we're pretty sloppy.
  • 00:24:34.522 --> 00:24:38.893
  • "well, pastor, i'm so busy, it's hard for me to read my bible."
  • 00:24:38.893 --> 00:24:42.129
  • Look, if you don't have the armor of the word of god on, you
  • 00:24:42.129 --> 00:24:44.265
  • Got no shot.
  • 00:24:44.265 --> 00:24:47.668
  • If you don't ever pray, if you don't like to be around people
  • 00:24:47.668 --> 00:24:50.404
  • Who pray, if christians make you a little uncomfortable, you are
  • 00:24:50.404 --> 00:24:54.575
  • Incredibly vulnerable.
  • 00:24:54.575 --> 00:24:58.979
  • You can change, "if you are the son of god."
  • 00:24:58.979 --> 00:25:03.484
  • Look at verse 5: "the devil led him up to a high place and
  • 00:25:03.484 --> 00:25:05.753
  • Showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
  • 00:25:05.753 --> 00:25:08.155
  • And he said to him, 'i'll give you all their authority and
  • 00:25:08.155 --> 00:25:10.324
  • Their splendor, for it's been given to me, i give it to anyone
  • 00:25:10.324 --> 00:25:13.694
  • I want to.'"
  • 00:25:13.694 --> 00:25:15.029
  • That's the bargain the antichrist will take.
  • 00:25:15.029 --> 00:25:18.299
  • He'll make that bargain, he'll worship satan and he'll be given
  • 00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:23.103
  • Authority over the realms of this current world.
  • 00:25:23.103 --> 00:25:26.907
  • So in verse 7, he says to jesus, "if you worship me, it'll all
  • 00:25:26.907 --> 00:25:31.912
  • Be yours."
  • 00:25:31.912 --> 00:25:33.380
  • That's part of the truth.
  • 00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:35.816
  • If you don't bend your knee, god said in philippians 2, "because
  • 00:25:35.816 --> 00:25:40.354
  • You humbled yourself and became obedient even to--obedient even
  • 00:25:40.354 --> 00:25:44.491
  • To death on a cross, i will exalt you and give you a name
  • 00:25:44.491 --> 00:25:48.195
  • That's above every name, that it's your name.
  • 00:25:48.195 --> 00:25:50.164
  • Every knee will bow and every tongue confess in heaven and
  • 00:25:50.164 --> 00:25:53.434
  • Earth and under the earth."
  • 00:25:53.434 --> 00:25:55.936
  • Satan gave him a shortcut.
  • 00:25:55.936 --> 00:25:57.304
  • That is the definition of a temptation to jesus.
  • 00:25:57.304 --> 00:26:04.478
  • So, let me ask you, if he'll do that to jesus, do you think he's
  • 00:26:04.478 --> 00:26:06.714
  • Gonna give you and me a shortcut?
  • 00:26:06.714 --> 00:26:11.485
  • Yeah, he'll tempt you.
  • 00:26:11.485 --> 00:26:13.120
  • "oh, there's an easier way?"
  • 00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:15.522
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:16.790 --> 00:26:22.930
  • Allen: hey, i'm really excited about our newest publication,
  • 00:26:22.997 --> 00:26:25.432
  • "your identity in christ."
  • 00:26:25.432 --> 00:26:27.234
  • Far too often in christianity, we major on the minors.
  • 00:26:27.234 --> 00:26:30.137
  • We get way heated up about which church we attend, which
  • 00:26:30.137 --> 00:26:32.306
  • Denomination we belong to, which translation of the bible
  • 00:26:32.306 --> 00:26:34.775
  • We read.
  • 00:26:34.775 --> 00:26:36.143
  • Most those things are all ok, but knowing who you are in
  • 00:26:36.143 --> 00:26:38.779
  • Christ, it will mean freedom or it will put you in a place
  • 00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:42.182
  • Of bondage.
  • 00:26:42.182 --> 00:26:43.517
  • When i help people through the steps of spiritual freedom, the
  • 00:26:43.517 --> 00:26:45.886
  • Foundation of that is understanding who we are
  • 00:26:45.886 --> 00:26:48.622
  • In christ.
  • 00:26:48.622 --> 00:26:49.957
  • We put together this little booklet as a tool.
  • 00:26:49.957 --> 00:26:51.759
  • It'll help you individually.
  • 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:53.193
  • You can do it as a small group.
  • 00:26:53.193 --> 00:26:54.528
  • It's a great resource to share with your children or your
  • 00:26:54.528 --> 00:26:56.930
  • Grandchildren at your kitchen table time.
  • 00:26:56.930 --> 00:26:59.366
  • It'll make a difference in your life knowing who you are in
  • 00:26:59.366 --> 00:27:02.269
  • Christ, first and foremost, as a part of your
  • 00:27:02.269 --> 00:27:04.872
  • Spiritual formation.
  • 00:27:04.872 --> 00:27:06.206
  • In fact, i wanna pray with you before we go, that god will
  • 00:27:06.206 --> 00:27:08.442
  • Bring new freedom to you in this season.
  • 00:27:08.442 --> 00:27:11.078
  • Father, thank you for you have established, you have paid the
  • 00:27:11.078 --> 00:27:14.448
  • Price that we can participate in your kingdom.
  • 00:27:14.448 --> 00:27:16.817
  • By your spirit, awaken us to who we are in christ, first and
  • 00:27:16.817 --> 00:27:21.221
  • Foremost, in jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:21.221 --> 00:27:23.924
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:25.793 --> 00:27:25.793