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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Receive and Believe (Part 2)

September 10, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Receive and Believe (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Rejection #Freedom #Believe #Choices #Forgiveness #Bitterness #Honor #Parents #Anger #Hatred #Resentment #Rebellion #Jesus #LoveofGod #Repentance

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Receive and Believe (Part 2) | September 10, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.321
  • Allen jackson: hey, i've got a new book.
  • 00:00:05.859 --> 00:00:07.061
  • I think it'll be a blessing.
  • 00:00:07.194 --> 00:00:08.429
  • It's, "my friend jesus."
  • 00:00:08.529 --> 00:00:09.997
  • You know, i've had the privilege of a good education, a lot of
  • 00:00:10.097 --> 00:00:11.165
  • Formal training, years in church world.
  • 00:00:12.232 --> 00:00:14.735
  • I've learned big words and definitions and
  • 00:00:14.735 --> 00:00:16.937
  • Formal dialogues.
  • 00:00:16.937 --> 00:00:18.572
  • I wanna peel all that back.
  • 00:00:18.572 --> 00:00:19.907
  • At the end of the day, i wanna live my life as jesus's friend.
  • 00:00:19.907 --> 00:00:23.343
  • I wanna trust him with who i am, with what i'm doing.
  • 00:00:23.343 --> 00:00:25.646
  • I wanna invite him into the circumstances.
  • 00:00:25.646 --> 00:00:27.848
  • I want his opinion.
  • 00:00:27.848 --> 00:00:29.183
  • I want his perspective.
  • 00:00:29.183 --> 00:00:30.517
  • I need his help a lot of times.
  • 00:00:30.517 --> 00:00:31.885
  • I'm not trying to hide anything or compartmentalize anything.
  • 00:00:31.885 --> 00:00:34.655
  • I wanna live my life as jesus's friend.
  • 00:00:34.655 --> 00:00:37.658
  • I've talked about it, i've preached about it, and now i've
  • 00:00:37.658 --> 00:00:39.860
  • Written about it.
  • 00:00:39.860 --> 00:00:41.195
  • And the real goal is to help jesus become your friend in a
  • 00:00:41.195 --> 00:00:44.098
  • New way.
  • 00:00:44.098 --> 00:00:45.432
  • I wanna talk about more than going to heaven or being saved
  • 00:00:45.432 --> 00:00:47.568
  • Or being good or keeping the rules.
  • 00:00:47.568 --> 00:00:50.504
  • I just wanna be jesus's friend.
  • 00:00:50.504 --> 00:00:52.773
  • I believe that's the best lane in life.
  • 00:00:52.773 --> 00:00:55.175
  • I think it's the best opportunities.
  • 00:00:55.175 --> 00:00:56.610
  • It's the most fulfilling, the most rewarding.
  • 00:00:56.610 --> 00:00:59.279
  • My hope is the book will change your faith and give a new
  • 00:00:59.279 --> 00:01:02.449
  • Momentum to your own spiritual life.
  • 00:01:02.449 --> 00:01:04.751
  • I believe it'll be a blessing.
  • 00:01:04.751 --> 00:01:06.120
  • Allen: jesus's suffering, jesus's life can be understood
  • 00:01:07.888 --> 00:01:10.457
  • In two ways.
  • 00:01:10.457 --> 00:01:12.359
  • The things that he endured or the things he suffered as a
  • 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:15.262
  • Substitute for me.
  • 00:01:15.262 --> 00:01:18.031
  • We've talked a good deal about a divine exchange on the cross
  • 00:01:18.031 --> 00:01:21.068
  • Where jesus took the punishment for my sin and yours.
  • 00:01:21.068 --> 00:01:24.238
  • He exhausted the curse of sin that you and i might receive in
  • 00:01:24.238 --> 00:01:29.710
  • Exchange for that all of the blessings due his
  • 00:01:29.710 --> 00:01:32.880
  • Perfect obedience.
  • 00:01:32.880 --> 00:01:35.115
  • So in some of the things jesus lived, he was our substitute.
  • 00:01:35.115 --> 00:01:40.454
  • But there were other parts of jesus's life in which he was
  • 00:01:40.454 --> 00:01:43.157
  • Our example.
  • 00:01:43.157 --> 00:01:45.726
  • He showed us how to respond.
  • 00:01:45.726 --> 00:01:49.229
  • He didn't eliminate those challenges from us.
  • 00:01:49.229 --> 00:01:52.966
  • And peter said we were called because christ suffered for us,
  • 00:01:52.966 --> 00:01:56.970
  • Leaving us in a what?
  • 00:01:56.970 --> 00:02:00.107
  • An example.
  • 00:02:00.107 --> 00:02:02.209
  • He's our example.
  • 00:02:02.209 --> 00:02:04.811
  • What do you want me to do with jesus of nazareth?
  • 00:02:04.811 --> 00:02:07.181
  • Crucify him.
  • 00:02:07.181 --> 00:02:09.550
  • How did jesus respond?
  • 00:02:09.550 --> 00:02:11.785
  • As the lamb silent before the shearers, he didn't defend
  • 00:02:11.785 --> 00:02:15.022
  • Himself, he didn't attack them.
  • 00:02:15.022 --> 00:02:19.860
  • He could have.
  • 00:02:19.860 --> 00:02:21.295
  • He could have rattled off all their sins, all their
  • 00:02:21.295 --> 00:02:24.531
  • Secret sins.
  • 00:02:24.531 --> 00:02:27.067
  • He knew them.
  • 00:02:27.067 --> 00:02:28.435
  • Remember the woman at the well?
  • 00:02:28.435 --> 00:02:31.638
  • He asked her for a drink and she said, "why would you ask me for
  • 00:02:31.638 --> 00:02:34.308
  • A drink?
  • 00:02:34.308 --> 00:02:35.642
  • You're jewish, i'm samaritan.
  • 00:02:35.642 --> 00:02:37.511
  • We don't drink together."
  • 00:02:37.511 --> 00:02:40.981
  • He said, "well, if you knew who i was, you'd ask me for
  • 00:02:40.981 --> 00:02:43.250
  • A drink."
  • 00:02:43.250 --> 00:02:45.719
  • And she thought you're a whack job.
  • 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:49.556
  • You don't even have anything to draw water with.
  • 00:02:49.556 --> 00:02:52.859
  • He said, "well, go get your husband."
  • 00:02:52.859 --> 00:02:56.330
  • She said, "i don't have one."
  • 00:02:56.330 --> 00:02:58.899
  • And he said, "well, that's actually correct.
  • 00:02:58.899 --> 00:03:00.767
  • You've had five and the man you're currently living with,
  • 00:03:00.767 --> 00:03:03.437
  • You're not married to."
  • 00:03:03.437 --> 00:03:06.039
  • She said, "sir, i perceive you're a prophet."
  • 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:10.711
  • Well, if jesus could do that in a well in samaria, don't you
  • 00:03:10.711 --> 00:03:13.880
  • Think he could have done that in another setting?
  • 00:03:13.880 --> 00:03:18.919
  • Pilate, you better set me free or i'll go out here on the
  • 00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:21.121
  • Judgment steps and tell everybody--
  • 00:03:21.121 --> 00:03:27.094
  • Or the high priest or the soldiers who were abusing him?
  • 00:03:27.094 --> 00:03:35.135
  • But he didn't retaliate.
  • 00:03:37.170 --> 00:03:40.641
  • We're not called to retaliate.
  • 00:03:40.641 --> 00:03:44.478
  • Bible says, "vengeance is not ours."
  • 00:03:44.478 --> 00:03:48.815
  • So we have to learn another response 'cause i'm hardwired.
  • 00:03:48.815 --> 00:03:52.319
  • I pretty much think i should exact a little revenge.
  • 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:57.257
  • Isn't that kind of what we learned?
  • 00:03:57.257 --> 00:03:58.592
  • You push me, i'll shove you.
  • 00:03:58.592 --> 00:04:01.395
  • You shove me, i'll hit you.
  • 00:04:01.395 --> 00:04:04.097
  • If you're bigger than me, i'll get an equalizer.
  • 00:04:04.097 --> 00:04:10.537
  • Jesus was our pattern.
  • 00:04:10.537 --> 00:04:13.840
  • Look at luke 23 on the cross, "father, forgive them, they
  • 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:18.445
  • Don't know what they're doing."
  • 00:04:18.445 --> 00:04:21.581
  • It's exemplary suffering, extending forgiveness in the
  • 00:04:21.581 --> 00:04:24.818
  • Midst of injustice.
  • 00:04:24.818 --> 00:04:27.587
  • See, that takes god, that takes the spirit of god.
  • 00:04:27.587 --> 00:04:31.325
  • This doesn't come from our earthly nature.
  • 00:04:31.325 --> 00:04:34.695
  • That's not how we respond.
  • 00:04:34.695 --> 00:04:38.565
  • There's some very practical applications of this in
  • 00:04:38.565 --> 00:04:40.701
  • Our lives.
  • 00:04:40.701 --> 00:04:42.069
  • We may need to forgive someone who mistreated us, it may be in
  • 00:04:42.069 --> 00:04:46.039
  • Our family system.
  • 00:04:46.039 --> 00:04:47.407
  • They may have already died.
  • 00:04:47.407 --> 00:04:48.742
  • It may be a parent or a grandparent, but you're still
  • 00:04:48.742 --> 00:04:51.178
  • Carrying the bitterness and the rejection.
  • 00:04:51.178 --> 00:04:52.846
  • They didn't do what they could have, they didn't do what they
  • 00:04:52.846 --> 00:04:54.848
  • Should have.
  • 00:04:54.848 --> 00:04:56.216
  • Maybe they're not available to you.
  • 00:04:56.216 --> 00:04:59.386
  • Forgiveness isn't for them, it's for us.
  • 00:04:59.386 --> 00:05:01.788
  • Forgiveness is the cancellation of the debt.
  • 00:05:01.788 --> 00:05:03.757
  • It's a decision.
  • 00:05:03.757 --> 00:05:05.092
  • It's not a feeling.
  • 00:05:05.092 --> 00:05:06.526
  • I chose to tear up that marker.
  • 00:05:06.526 --> 00:05:08.829
  • They should have, they could have, i expected them.
  • 00:05:08.829 --> 00:05:12.699
  • Anybody would have expect-- they were wrong.
  • 00:05:12.699 --> 00:05:18.338
  • And i've been carrying that.
  • 00:05:18.338 --> 00:05:22.109
  • And you replay it and you live with it and you think about it
  • 00:05:22.109 --> 00:05:25.145
  • And it becomes a cage.
  • 00:05:25.145 --> 00:05:28.715
  • And forgiveness says, "i'm gonna tear up that marker."
  • 00:05:28.715 --> 00:05:33.587
  • Or maybe it was a little different, maybe your parents
  • 00:05:33.587 --> 00:05:36.656
  • Were tremendous failures.
  • 00:05:36.656 --> 00:05:41.261
  • Dr. cloud was here.
  • 00:05:41.261 --> 00:05:42.629
  • He described a man whose father was a raging alcoholic and a
  • 00:05:42.629 --> 00:05:48.502
  • Mother who had an emotional breakdown and he was left as a
  • 00:05:48.502 --> 00:05:51.271
  • Teenager with the responsibility of the family.
  • 00:05:51.271 --> 00:05:56.543
  • Maybe your dad was a--maybe your mother was a prostitute.
  • 00:05:56.543 --> 00:06:00.113
  • The bible commands us to honor our parents.
  • 00:06:00.113 --> 00:06:04.351
  • Not to honor what they did but as our parents.
  • 00:06:04.351 --> 00:06:09.089
  • God used them to give us life.
  • 00:06:09.089 --> 00:06:12.993
  • We're not honoring them as alcoholics or abusers but as
  • 00:06:12.993 --> 00:06:16.430
  • God's instrument to give us life.
  • 00:06:16.430 --> 00:06:18.632
  • We're told to give them honor.
  • 00:06:18.632 --> 00:06:22.169
  • So we can't justify our anger and our hatred.
  • 00:06:22.169 --> 00:06:26.840
  • Joseph's brothers hated their father so much.
  • 00:06:26.840 --> 00:06:29.876
  • "let's kill our brother and go tell our dad the animals
  • 00:06:29.876 --> 00:06:32.045
  • Ate him.
  • 00:06:32.045 --> 00:06:33.947
  • We get back at him.
  • 00:06:33.947 --> 00:06:36.850
  • He's overlooked us.
  • 00:06:36.850 --> 00:06:40.687
  • He hurt us.
  • 00:06:40.687 --> 00:06:42.522
  • Let's hurt him."
  • 00:06:42.522 --> 00:06:47.194
  • See the person resented doesn't suffer.
  • 00:06:47.194 --> 00:06:53.166
  • It's the person who carries the resentment.
  • 00:06:53.166 --> 00:06:58.305
  • When you're filled with rage at somebody, the overwhelming
  • 00:06:58.305 --> 00:07:01.508
  • Majority of the time they don't even know.
  • 00:07:01.508 --> 00:07:04.945
  • Or maybe even worse, they don't care.
  • 00:07:04.945 --> 00:07:07.948
  • Which just fuels the resentment even more.
  • 00:07:07.948 --> 00:07:13.386
  • So jesus is our example.
  • 00:07:13.386 --> 00:07:16.823
  • What does he say?
  • 00:07:16.823 --> 00:07:18.191
  • "father," what?
  • 00:07:18.191 --> 00:07:20.961
  • Forgive them.
  • 00:07:20.961 --> 00:07:22.796
  • You know, he could have called fire down.
  • 00:07:22.796 --> 00:07:27.033
  • What did he say to peter in the garden when they came to
  • 00:07:27.033 --> 00:07:29.336
  • Arrest him?
  • 00:07:29.336 --> 00:07:30.704
  • Peter's got his sword out.
  • 00:07:30.704 --> 00:07:32.439
  • He's a better fisherman than he is a swordsman.
  • 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:35.575
  • I'm pretty sure he was trying to cut the guy's head off and he
  • 00:07:35.575 --> 00:07:37.477
  • Got his ear.
  • 00:07:37.477 --> 00:07:40.814
  • Jesus said, "peter, put your sword away.
  • 00:07:40.814 --> 00:07:43.650
  • If i needed to, i could call legions of angels.
  • 00:07:43.650 --> 00:07:48.822
  • They brought a handful of clowns with clubs.
  • 00:07:48.822 --> 00:07:51.658
  • I could call the heavenly host."
  • 00:07:51.658 --> 00:07:55.529
  • In hebrew it's the lord of the armies.
  • 00:07:55.529 --> 00:07:58.665
  • When jesus comes back in the book of revelation, he's at the
  • 00:07:58.665 --> 00:08:01.601
  • Head of the armies.
  • 00:08:01.601 --> 00:08:06.907
  • But instead of doing that, what does he say?
  • 00:08:06.907 --> 00:08:08.775
  • "father, forgive them.
  • 00:08:08.775 --> 00:08:13.580
  • They don't understand."
  • 00:08:13.580 --> 00:08:15.615
  • They don't understand what?
  • 00:08:15.615 --> 00:08:16.950
  • They nailed him to a cross, i think they understood that.
  • 00:08:16.950 --> 00:08:18.618
  • It's a crucifixion team.
  • 00:08:18.618 --> 00:08:22.689
  • The high priest lied.
  • 00:08:22.689 --> 00:08:24.024
  • He paid people to lie, falsified the record.
  • 00:08:24.024 --> 00:08:27.160
  • Russian collusion's not new.
  • 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:31.731
  • Lying to secure power is as old as the human condition.
  • 00:08:31.731 --> 00:08:36.836
  • Stop calling it politics and start calling it good and evil.
  • 00:08:36.836 --> 00:08:41.908
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:08:41.908 --> 00:08:47.013
  • "father, forgive them," he said.
  • 00:08:47.013 --> 00:08:50.116
  • So now we have an assignment.
  • 00:08:50.116 --> 00:08:53.353
  • So the third step is to make a conscious decision to get rid of
  • 00:08:53.353 --> 00:08:57.624
  • This negative fruit which rejection has brought to
  • 00:08:57.624 --> 00:09:01.127
  • Your life.
  • 00:09:01.127 --> 00:09:03.697
  • Bitterness, resentment, hatred, rebellion, it has
  • 00:09:03.697 --> 00:09:07.601
  • Many expressions.
  • 00:09:07.601 --> 00:09:13.006
  • We've built walls, we've isolated ourselves, we've
  • 00:09:13.006 --> 00:09:15.408
  • Withdrawn, we've tried to compensate with--we've been
  • 00:09:15.408 --> 00:09:18.845
  • Overly enthusiastic.
  • 00:09:18.845 --> 00:09:21.915
  • We became overachievers, that there's a whole spectrum of
  • 00:09:21.915 --> 00:09:26.319
  • Responses, but they're fueled by this sense that somehow i'm
  • 00:09:26.319 --> 00:09:31.591
  • Not okay.
  • 00:09:31.591 --> 00:09:32.959
  • I've been left out. it wasn't fair.
  • 00:09:32.959 --> 00:09:35.662
  • Why? how come?
  • 00:09:35.662 --> 00:09:38.498
  • And there's a spiritual component.
  • 00:09:38.498 --> 00:09:42.502
  • In this particular session, i'm not just asking you to
  • 00:09:42.502 --> 00:09:44.938
  • Rationally process it.
  • 00:09:44.938 --> 00:09:46.673
  • I'm asking you to imagine that in the same way when you make a
  • 00:09:46.673 --> 00:09:49.209
  • Profession of faith in jesus, there's a new birth that takes
  • 00:09:49.209 --> 00:09:52.379
  • Place in you that when you come with humility and repentance to
  • 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:56.449
  • Participate, that you can gain a spiritual freedom that
  • 00:09:56.449 --> 00:09:59.519
  • Is transformational.
  • 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:06.059
  • Look at ephesians 4: "do not grieve the holy spirit of god."
  • 00:10:06.059 --> 00:10:12.432
  • That's a phrase that's worth living with a bit.
  • 00:10:12.432 --> 00:10:15.869
  • The instruction is not to grieve the spirit of god.
  • 00:10:15.869 --> 00:10:20.440
  • If you have the courage, ask the holy spirit to help you.
  • 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:24.477
  • Is there anything in my life, any habit, any pattern, any
  • 00:10:24.477 --> 00:10:27.547
  • Behavior, any language, is there anything i do that grieves you?
  • 00:10:27.547 --> 00:10:33.586
  • It's not the same for everybody.
  • 00:10:33.586 --> 00:10:34.921
  • I'm not gonna give you a list.
  • 00:10:34.921 --> 00:10:37.123
  • But why would you purposefully engage in anything, any
  • 00:10:37.123 --> 00:10:40.493
  • Response, any attitude, anything that you knew grieved the spirit
  • 00:10:40.493 --> 00:10:44.698
  • Of god?
  • 00:10:44.698 --> 00:10:49.369
  • "do not grieve the holy spirit, with whom you were sealed for
  • 00:10:49.369 --> 00:10:53.039
  • The day of redemption.
  • 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:54.674
  • Get rid of all bitterness, get rid of all rage, get rid of
  • 00:10:54.674 --> 00:10:59.345
  • Anger, get rid of brawling and slander, along with every form
  • 00:10:59.345 --> 00:11:02.782
  • Of malice."
  • 00:11:02.782 --> 00:11:04.551
  • What's the alternative?
  • 00:11:04.551 --> 00:11:05.885
  • If you could get rid of those things, you could be kind and
  • 00:11:05.885 --> 00:11:07.887
  • Compassionate to one another.
  • 00:11:07.887 --> 00:11:10.757
  • "forgiving each other, just as in christ god forgave you."
  • 00:11:10.757 --> 00:11:16.329
  • There's that exemplary thing again.
  • 00:11:16.329 --> 00:11:19.432
  • So what do you do with bitterness and rage and anger
  • 00:11:19.432 --> 00:11:21.668
  • And brawling and slander?
  • 00:11:21.668 --> 00:11:24.003
  • You gotta get rid of it.
  • 00:11:24.003 --> 00:11:26.439
  • God's not gonna take it away from you.
  • 00:11:26.439 --> 00:11:27.774
  • You gotta get rid of it.
  • 00:11:27.774 --> 00:11:29.676
  • You gotta decide i don't want it anymore.
  • 00:11:29.676 --> 00:11:32.212
  • It's not your identity.
  • 00:11:32.212 --> 00:11:33.613
  • I mean, people who are defined by their pain.
  • 00:11:33.613 --> 00:11:39.319
  • Colossians 3, this is not some subtle theme, "but now you must
  • 00:11:39.319 --> 00:11:42.989
  • Rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage,
  • 00:11:42.989 --> 00:11:46.626
  • Malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."
  • 00:11:46.626 --> 00:11:49.462
  • You must rid yourself.
  • 00:11:49.462 --> 00:11:50.797
  • This isn't even optional.
  • 00:11:50.797 --> 00:11:52.265
  • You will forfeit much of what god created you for if you allow
  • 00:11:52.265 --> 00:11:56.035
  • Yourself the license, the freedom to say, "i was not
  • 00:11:56.035 --> 00:11:59.639
  • Treated the way i should have been treated, therefore i am
  • 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:02.442
  • Entitled to be angry.
  • 00:12:02.442 --> 00:12:06.212
  • I was rejected, so i have liberty."
  • 00:12:06.212 --> 00:12:11.284
  • No, you don't.
  • 00:12:11.284 --> 00:12:13.987
  • You're surrendering something.
  • 00:12:13.987 --> 00:12:16.689
  • You're forfeiting something.
  • 00:12:16.689 --> 00:12:18.858
  • What would joseph have forfeited if he'd been filled with anger?
  • 00:12:18.858 --> 00:12:25.064
  • You know, we don't have the whole story with joseph.
  • 00:12:25.064 --> 00:12:29.269
  • I don't know how he processed brothers who sold him into
  • 00:12:29.269 --> 00:12:32.138
  • Slavery and the first assignment we find him with is in
  • 00:12:32.138 --> 00:12:36.476
  • Potiphar's house.
  • 00:12:36.476 --> 00:12:38.411
  • And he has authority over the whole house and there are
  • 00:12:38.411 --> 00:12:42.115
  • Immoral invitations put before him.
  • 00:12:42.115 --> 00:12:44.717
  • If he had not processed his rejection, he would have taken
  • 00:12:44.717 --> 00:12:49.689
  • The acceptance of the immorality.
  • 00:12:49.689 --> 00:12:56.196
  • But somehow, the spirit of god gave him the wisdom.
  • 00:12:56.196 --> 00:12:59.732
  • I don't know, it's not there.
  • 00:12:59.732 --> 00:13:01.935
  • But he said, "i won't do that."
  • 00:13:01.935 --> 00:13:04.137
  • And he rejected it and he was accused again.
  • 00:13:04.137 --> 00:13:06.339
  • He was falsely accused, lost his place, put in prison.
  • 00:13:06.339 --> 00:13:13.313
  • Daniel, we meet him in the opening chapters of the book
  • 00:13:13.313 --> 00:13:16.182
  • That bears his name.
  • 00:13:16.182 --> 00:13:17.550
  • He's a young man, a teenager.
  • 00:13:17.550 --> 00:13:19.352
  • He's in exile, jerusalem has fallen.
  • 00:13:19.352 --> 00:13:21.254
  • He's in a foreign country, he's a slave.
  • 00:13:21.254 --> 00:13:23.756
  • He's been recruited into the service of the king's court,
  • 00:13:23.756 --> 00:13:28.595
  • Which means he would have been emasculated.
  • 00:13:28.595 --> 00:13:36.002
  • And the first thing we we're told about daniel is he says, "i
  • 00:13:36.002 --> 00:13:40.740
  • Wanna honor god with my food."
  • 00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:43.276
  • Are you kidding me?
  • 00:13:43.276 --> 00:13:48.915
  • Do you understand the degree to which the spirit of the world is
  • 00:13:48.915 --> 00:13:52.185
  • Buffeting our generation?
  • 00:13:52.185 --> 00:13:56.022
  • We're carrying resentments that are decades old, hundreds of
  • 00:13:56.022 --> 00:13:58.958
  • Years old.
  • 00:13:58.958 --> 00:14:01.027
  • We're told to protect them, to encapsulate 'em, to let 'em
  • 00:14:01.027 --> 00:14:04.063
  • Shape our character and our responses.
  • 00:14:04.063 --> 00:14:09.602
  • The biblical instruction is you have to rid yourself of this.
  • 00:14:09.602 --> 00:14:13.106
  • Look at 1 peter 2: "therefore rid yourselves of all malice and
  • 00:14:13.106 --> 00:14:16.910
  • All deceit and hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind.
  • 00:14:16.910 --> 00:14:22.849
  • Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that you can
  • 00:14:22.849 --> 00:14:27.420
  • Grow up in your salvation."
  • 00:14:27.420 --> 00:14:28.788
  • You know what's implied there?
  • 00:14:28.788 --> 00:14:30.189
  • That if you're filled with malice and deceit and hypocrisy
  • 00:14:30.189 --> 00:14:33.159
  • And envy and slander, you haven't grown up in
  • 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:38.331
  • Your salvation.
  • 00:14:38.331 --> 00:14:39.699
  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
  • 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:46.039
  • Allen: hey, i've written a new book.
  • 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:48.608
  • It's called, "my friend jesus."
  • 00:14:48.608 --> 00:14:50.443
  • You know, i'm a pastor.
  • 00:14:50.443 --> 00:14:51.811
  • A lot of ritual, tradition, a lot of formality
  • 00:14:51.811 --> 00:14:54.614
  • In the way we know god.
  • 00:14:54.614 --> 00:14:56.082
  • It's not bad, there's some good things in that.
  • 00:14:56.082 --> 00:14:58.318
  • But when i'm in real trouble or i have something i wanna
  • 00:14:58.318 --> 00:15:00.420
  • Celebrate, i call a friend.
  • 00:15:00.420 --> 00:15:02.689
  • Well, i wanna live my life with jesus of nazareth as my friend.
  • 00:15:02.689 --> 00:15:06.159
  • It changes everything in both celebration and when there's
  • 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:09.228
  • A problem.
  • 00:15:09.228 --> 00:15:10.596
  • I wrote the book to help.
  • 00:15:10.596 --> 00:15:11.931
  • I think it'll open your life to god in a more personal
  • 00:15:11.931 --> 00:15:14.300
  • Transformational way than ever before.
  • 00:15:14.300 --> 00:15:16.903
  • Enjoy the book.
  • 00:15:16.903 --> 00:15:18.237
  • Female announcer: in his book, "my friend jesus," pastor allen
  • 00:15:18.237 --> 00:15:20.606
  • Shares how friendship with jesus brings clarity, strength, and
  • 00:15:20.606 --> 00:15:24.043
  • Peace in every part of life.
  • 00:15:24.043 --> 00:15:26.045
  • This isn't about following a religion or religious rules.
  • 00:15:26.045 --> 00:15:29.282
  • It's about cultivating a cherished relationship that will
  • 00:15:29.282 --> 00:15:32.018
  • Help your faith become more personal, more joyful, and more
  • 00:15:32.018 --> 00:15:35.588
  • Powerful each day.
  • 00:15:35.588 --> 00:15:37.190
  • Request, "my friend jesus," with your donation of $25 or more
  • 00:15:37.190 --> 00:15:41.094
  • Today at allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:15:41.094 --> 00:15:46.799
  • Allen: number four, you have to receive and believe what god has
  • 00:15:49.969 --> 00:15:53.573
  • Already done for you.
  • 00:15:53.573 --> 00:15:56.009
  • He's already made provision.
  • 00:15:56.009 --> 00:15:58.845
  • Remember, the goal is to move from rejection to acceptance.
  • 00:15:58.845 --> 00:16:02.949
  • We don't have influence to cause all the people in your sphere of
  • 00:16:02.949 --> 00:16:06.019
  • Influence to accept you.
  • 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:08.421
  • Their acceptance is secondary to whom?
  • 00:16:08.421 --> 00:16:11.758
  • God's. to god's.
  • 00:16:11.758 --> 00:16:13.793
  • What's romans 8 say?
  • 00:16:13.793 --> 00:16:15.128
  • "if god is for me--" pfft.
  • 00:16:15.128 --> 00:16:19.399
  • Like if god, if i'm on--god's on my team, you pick next.
  • 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:26.973
  • What you're gonna do, pick the united nations?
  • 00:16:26.973 --> 00:16:29.175
  • Have at it.
  • 00:16:29.175 --> 00:16:31.677
  • God's on my team, you can have the federal reserve.
  • 00:16:31.677 --> 00:16:36.516
  • God's on my team, you can have the cdc.
  • 00:16:36.516 --> 00:16:43.523
  • If god is for us.
  • 00:16:43.523 --> 00:16:46.225
  • Look at ephesians 1:6.
  • 00:16:46.225 --> 00:16:49.862
  • Let's take the whole passage, start in verse 4, "just as he
  • 00:16:49.862 --> 00:16:52.432
  • Chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we
  • 00:16:52.432 --> 00:16:57.270
  • Would be holy and without blame before him in love."
  • 00:16:57.270 --> 00:17:00.306
  • That's god's intent, you see, he's made provision that we can
  • 00:17:00.306 --> 00:17:04.377
  • Be holy and without blame.
  • 00:17:04.377 --> 00:17:08.147
  • What i'm asking you to do is to believe that, to receive
  • 00:17:08.147 --> 00:17:11.818
  • God's provision.
  • 00:17:11.818 --> 00:17:14.987
  • We're all cracked pots.
  • 00:17:14.987 --> 00:17:18.291
  • We have all been mistreated and we have all mistreated others.
  • 00:17:18.291 --> 00:17:25.465
  • But god has made provision that we can be holy and without blame
  • 00:17:25.465 --> 00:17:30.136
  • Before him.
  • 00:17:30.136 --> 00:17:32.338
  • It's his love.
  • 00:17:32.338 --> 00:17:33.706
  • "having predestined us to adoption as sons by jesus christ
  • 00:17:33.706 --> 00:17:37.777
  • To himself according to the good pleasure of his will."
  • 00:17:37.777 --> 00:17:41.314
  • It was god's--it brought god pleasure to take us in our
  • 00:17:41.314 --> 00:17:45.785
  • Brokenness and our failure buffeted by sin and to adopt us
  • 00:17:45.785 --> 00:17:51.190
  • As his children and make us holy and without blame.
  • 00:17:51.190 --> 00:17:55.161
  • It gives him pleasure.
  • 00:17:55.161 --> 00:17:57.130
  • [congregation applause]
  • 00:17:57.130 --> 00:18:02.435
  • "to the praise of his glory and grace, by which he made us
  • 00:18:02.435 --> 00:18:09.642
  • Accepted in the beloved."
  • 00:18:09.642 --> 00:18:13.880
  • See, i don't doubt the reality of the rejection that touches
  • 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:17.416
  • Our lives if we could believe that god has accepted us.
  • 00:18:17.416 --> 00:18:25.224
  • "well, i mean, i know that's nice, but i wanted this person
  • 00:18:25.224 --> 00:18:27.193
  • To--" i got that.
  • 00:18:27.193 --> 00:18:30.463
  • I get it. it hurt.
  • 00:18:30.463 --> 00:18:33.266
  • It wasn't what i wanted.
  • 00:18:33.266 --> 00:18:35.801
  • You know, in children we call it maturing and discipline.
  • 00:18:35.801 --> 00:18:39.939
  • "i don't wanna eat vegetables, i wanna eat chocolate cake."
  • 00:18:39.939 --> 00:18:43.576
  • "you're gonna eat vegetables."
  • 00:18:43.576 --> 00:18:44.944
  • "i'm not. not hungry."
  • 00:18:44.944 --> 00:18:48.781
  • "you going to bed hungry?"
  • 00:18:48.781 --> 00:18:50.149
  • "fine."
  • 00:18:50.149 --> 00:18:54.053
  • We have our own adult version of that with god.
  • 00:18:54.053 --> 00:18:58.558
  • "but i want that pers--" i got that.
  • 00:18:58.558 --> 00:19:02.094
  • But i'm asking you about your response.
  • 00:19:02.094 --> 00:19:09.569
  • I'm not suggesting it's simple, but we have to receive and
  • 00:19:09.569 --> 00:19:12.605
  • Believe what god has already done for us.
  • 00:19:12.605 --> 00:19:14.907
  • You see, receiving is an act of faith.
  • 00:19:14.907 --> 00:19:18.811
  • God, i will receive what you've done for me.
  • 00:19:18.811 --> 00:19:22.181
  • God's gifts have to be received in order for us to get
  • 00:19:22.181 --> 00:19:25.551
  • The transformation.
  • 00:19:25.551 --> 00:19:28.187
  • Let me use another lane, it's obvious, more obvious, perhaps.
  • 00:19:28.187 --> 00:19:32.725
  • Jesus's provision for us through his redemptive work on the cross
  • 00:19:32.725 --> 00:19:35.328
  • Means any person that chooses can become a part of the kingdom
  • 00:19:35.328 --> 00:19:37.730
  • Of god.
  • 00:19:37.730 --> 00:19:39.298
  • Romans 10:9 and 10 says you have to do what?
  • 00:19:39.298 --> 00:19:42.635
  • Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, and you
  • 00:19:42.635 --> 00:19:45.671
  • Can be saved, right?
  • 00:19:45.671 --> 00:19:48.341
  • God's made provision, but if you don't believe it, you don't get
  • 00:19:48.341 --> 00:19:52.445
  • The transformation.
  • 00:19:52.445 --> 00:19:53.779
  • You know, there'll be people in hell that believe jesus lived.
  • 00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:57.350
  • There'll be people in hell that can sing all the church songs.
  • 00:19:57.350 --> 00:20:00.987
  • There'll be generous people and kind people and polite people
  • 00:20:00.987 --> 00:20:03.856
  • And people who served and all sorts of things, but they never
  • 00:20:03.856 --> 00:20:07.660
  • Made the decision to make jesus lord of their life.
  • 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:11.931
  • You see, you and i have to believe.
  • 00:20:11.931 --> 00:20:14.667
  • God's gifts have to be received in order for us to
  • 00:20:14.667 --> 00:20:17.737
  • Be transformed.
  • 00:20:17.737 --> 00:20:19.105
  • And we receive by faith, not by merit or by effort.
  • 00:20:19.105 --> 00:20:24.043
  • We can't achieve so much that we'll be accepted 'cause
  • 00:20:24.043 --> 00:20:27.613
  • Rejection isn't about that.
  • 00:20:27.613 --> 00:20:31.317
  • Joseph's brothers couldn't be good enough to overcome the
  • 00:20:31.317 --> 00:20:35.054
  • Warped nature of their father.
  • 00:20:35.054 --> 00:20:41.227
  • And neither can you.
  • 00:20:41.227 --> 00:20:44.096
  • There's a trust transfer that we have to initiate.
  • 00:20:44.096 --> 00:20:48.234
  • We've trusted more in the opinions of others.
  • 00:20:48.234 --> 00:20:51.404
  • We've trusted more in circumstances.
  • 00:20:51.404 --> 00:20:53.005
  • We've trusted more in goals that we've identified by something
  • 00:20:53.005 --> 00:20:57.677
  • Other than god or his character.
  • 00:20:57.677 --> 00:21:00.780
  • Something that would validate or affirm or establish
  • 00:21:00.780 --> 00:21:03.582
  • Or substantiate.
  • 00:21:03.582 --> 00:21:05.751
  • And we've traded those things for believing what god has said.
  • 00:21:05.751 --> 00:21:10.523
  • That he's accepted us.
  • 00:21:10.523 --> 00:21:14.260
  • That he's chosen us to be his kids.
  • 00:21:14.260 --> 00:21:17.830
  • He's for us.
  • 00:21:17.830 --> 00:21:20.566
  • "yeah, but those people--" i understand.
  • 00:21:20.566 --> 00:21:25.171
  • I understand.
  • 00:21:25.171 --> 00:21:30.976
  • In 2 corinthians 6 and verse 1, he says, "as god's fellow
  • 00:21:30.976 --> 00:21:35.448
  • Workers we urge you not to receive god's grace in vain.
  • 00:21:35.448 --> 00:21:40.152
  • For he says, 'in the time of my favor i heard you, in the day of
  • 00:21:40.152 --> 00:21:42.688
  • Salvation i helped you, and i tell you, now is the time of
  • 00:21:42.688 --> 00:21:45.658
  • God's favor, now is the day of salvation.'"
  • 00:21:45.658 --> 00:21:49.362
  • Don't receive god's grace in vain.
  • 00:21:49.362 --> 00:21:51.530
  • God's grace is unmerited, it's unearned, it's undeserved.
  • 00:21:51.530 --> 00:21:54.900
  • How could you nullify that?
  • 00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:57.069
  • It isn't merit based 'cause you didn't receive it.
  • 00:21:57.069 --> 00:22:00.706
  • You didn't believe it, you didn't accept it.
  • 00:22:00.706 --> 00:22:03.109
  • You nullify it when you reject it.
  • 00:22:03.109 --> 00:22:08.681
  • That's a stunning concept.
  • 00:22:08.681 --> 00:22:10.850
  • "now is the time," it says, now.
  • 00:22:10.850 --> 00:22:16.756
  • Isaiah 26, "you'll keep in perfect peace in whose mind is
  • 00:22:16.756 --> 00:22:20.860
  • Steadfast, because he trusts in you.
  • 00:22:20.860 --> 00:22:25.631
  • Trust in the lord forever, for the lord, the lord, is the
  • 00:22:25.631 --> 00:22:29.468
  • Rock eternal."
  • 00:22:29.468 --> 00:22:31.203
  • We have to receive and believe what god has done for us.
  • 00:22:31.203 --> 00:22:36.675
  • He values us, he's accepted us.
  • 00:22:36.675 --> 00:22:40.212
  • "i don't feel like--" i understand
  • 00:22:40.212 --> 00:22:41.547
  • It starts with the decision.
  • 00:22:41.547 --> 00:22:43.716
  • And i don't even feel it.
  • 00:22:43.716 --> 00:22:45.050
  • I feel more rejected than i do accepted, but i believe
  • 00:22:45.050 --> 00:22:48.087
  • Your word.
  • 00:22:48.087 --> 00:22:54.627
  • And then the final piece is you have to accept yourself.
  • 00:22:54.627 --> 00:23:00.166
  • Not easy.
  • 00:23:00.166 --> 00:23:02.067
  • I'm not talking about the pretense and the positive
  • 00:23:02.067 --> 00:23:05.371
  • Attitude and the hyper assertiveness.
  • 00:23:05.371 --> 00:23:12.678
  • But you have great significance in the kingdom of god.
  • 00:23:12.678 --> 00:23:17.149
  • Well, i want you to imagine that god goes, "that's my child."
  • 00:23:17.149 --> 00:23:22.888
  • People may talk badly about your dad.
  • 00:23:22.888 --> 00:23:28.260
  • You may be left on the outside, but god said, "look, come here.
  • 00:23:28.260 --> 00:23:32.164
  • You're gonna go work in a barn for a while.
  • 00:23:32.164 --> 00:23:36.402
  • Go stand ankle-deep in horse manure, swat a few flies, swat a
  • 00:23:36.402 --> 00:23:39.939
  • Little bit, it's good for you.
  • 00:23:39.939 --> 00:23:43.242
  • That's my boy."
  • 00:23:43.242 --> 00:23:47.179
  • God loves you.
  • 00:23:47.179 --> 00:23:50.950
  • And you have to be willing to accept that.
  • 00:23:50.950 --> 00:23:54.787
  • It's not a license to be wicked.
  • 00:23:54.787 --> 00:23:56.155
  • If you're being wicked, it will destroy you every time.
  • 00:23:56.155 --> 00:24:03.562
  • I brought you a prayer.
  • 00:24:03.562 --> 00:24:05.431
  • Our time's up.
  • 00:24:05.431 --> 00:24:13.439
  • You can get spiritual freedom with this prayer.
  • 00:24:13.439 --> 00:24:18.511
  • To the degree you're aware that rejection has been a part of
  • 00:24:18.511 --> 00:24:23.649
  • Your journey and it's been unresolved.
  • 00:24:23.649 --> 00:24:26.652
  • I would take this prayer and make it a regular part of
  • 00:24:26.652 --> 00:24:28.988
  • My devotion.
  • 00:24:28.988 --> 00:24:30.956
  • If you'll stand together, we'll read it together.
  • 00:24:30.956 --> 00:24:38.764
  • You're ready?
  • 00:24:38.764 --> 00:24:40.432
  • "lord jesus christ, i believe that you're the son of god and
  • 00:24:40.432 --> 00:24:44.803
  • The only way to god.
  • 00:24:44.803 --> 00:24:46.772
  • You died on the cross for my sins and you rose again from
  • 00:24:46.772 --> 00:24:50.409
  • The dead.
  • 00:24:50.409 --> 00:24:51.744
  • I repent of all my sins and i forgive every other person as i
  • 00:24:51.744 --> 00:24:56.649
  • Would have god forgive me.
  • 00:24:56.649 --> 00:24:59.051
  • I forgive all those who've rejected me and hurt me and
  • 00:24:59.051 --> 00:25:03.355
  • Failed to show me love, and i trust you to forgive me.
  • 00:25:03.355 --> 00:25:08.294
  • I believe that you accept me, right now, because i am
  • 00:25:08.294 --> 00:25:12.398
  • Accepted--i am highly favored.
  • 00:25:12.398 --> 00:25:15.334
  • I'm the object of your special care.
  • 00:25:15.334 --> 00:25:18.003
  • You really love me.
  • 00:25:18.003 --> 00:25:19.705
  • You want me.
  • 00:25:19.705 --> 00:25:21.040
  • Your father is my father.
  • 00:25:21.040 --> 00:25:23.208
  • Heaven is my home.
  • 00:25:23.208 --> 00:25:25.144
  • I'm a member of the family of god, the best family in
  • 00:25:25.144 --> 00:25:28.881
  • The universe.
  • 00:25:28.881 --> 00:25:30.249
  • I'm accepted.
  • 00:25:30.249 --> 00:25:31.684
  • Thank you!
  • 00:25:31.684 --> 00:25:33.185
  • Lord, i accept myself the way you made me.
  • 00:25:33.185 --> 00:25:36.689
  • I'm your workmanship and i thank you for what you have done.
  • 00:25:36.689 --> 00:25:41.393
  • I believe that you have begun a good work in me and you will
  • 00:25:41.393 --> 00:25:45.230
  • Carry it on to completion until my life ends.
  • 00:25:45.230 --> 00:25:49.168
  • And now, lord, i proclaim my release from any dark, evil
  • 00:25:49.168 --> 00:25:54.073
  • Spirit that took advantage of the wounds in my life.
  • 00:25:54.073 --> 00:25:58.110
  • I release my spirit to rejoice in you.
  • 00:25:58.110 --> 00:26:01.814
  • In jesus's precious name, amen."
  • 00:26:01.814 --> 00:26:05.384
  • Amen.
  • 00:26:05.384 --> 00:26:07.019
  • God bless you.
  • 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:11.724
  • Allen: thank you for spending a few minutes with us today.
  • 00:26:15.861 --> 00:26:17.930
  • You know, our goal in doing this is to add momentum to your
  • 00:26:17.930 --> 00:26:21.300
  • Spiritual life to help open the kingdom of god to you in a more
  • 00:26:21.300 --> 00:26:24.870
  • Practical way that you could engage in a relationship with
  • 00:26:24.870 --> 00:26:27.439
  • The lord, not be a more faithful church sitter or a bible reader,
  • 00:26:27.439 --> 00:26:31.210
  • But a person who actually knows a living god.
  • 00:26:31.210 --> 00:26:33.979
  • Well, i've written a new book.
  • 00:26:33.979 --> 00:26:35.314
  • It's called, "my friend jesus."
  • 00:26:35.314 --> 00:26:36.682
  • To be candid, it's the culmination of years of my own
  • 00:26:36.682 --> 00:26:40.319
  • Spiritual journey.
  • 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:41.654
  • I wanted to peel away all the formality of language and
  • 00:26:41.654 --> 00:26:45.090
  • Routine and ritual, and i really wanted to focus on what it means
  • 00:26:45.090 --> 00:26:48.661
  • To be a friend of the lord.
  • 00:26:48.661 --> 00:26:50.629
  • And that book is intended to give you a pathway to imagine
  • 00:26:50.629 --> 00:26:53.799
  • Your faith in a way that enables it to be more personal,
  • 00:26:53.799 --> 00:26:56.635
  • More transformational.
  • 00:26:56.635 --> 00:26:58.003
  • When i need help, i call my friends.
  • 00:26:58.003 --> 00:26:59.838
  • But when i need real help, i call my friend jesus.
  • 00:26:59.838 --> 00:27:02.908
  • He changes everything.
  • 00:27:02.908 --> 00:27:04.276
  • He's done it many times in my life.
  • 00:27:04.276 --> 00:27:06.178
  • He'll do it in your life.
  • 00:27:06.178 --> 00:27:07.913
  • Read the book, open your heart, there'll be a whole new power
  • 00:27:07.913 --> 00:27:11.150
  • Available to help shape your future.
  • 00:27:11.150 --> 00:27:13.385
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:14.953 --> 00:27:30.001