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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Rejecting Jesus

January 23, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - Rejecting Jesus
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Rejection #Jesus #Sin #Culture #Evil #Fear #Persecution #Hatred #WalkwithGod #Comfort #Peace #RestofGod #Sabbath #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Rejecting Jesus | January 23, 2026
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world, people are searching
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  • For truth, and together, we're doing our very best to help them
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  • Find it.
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  • When you become a ministry partner with allen jackson
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  • Ministries, you're joining a growing community of believers
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  • Who are committed to strengthening the church and
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  • Sharing god's word through every available channel, television,
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  • Your monthly partnership helps us equip believers, to reach new
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  • Audiences, and to take the hope of jesus to people who may never
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  • Have heard the gospel otherwise.
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  • Together, we can stand firm in our faith and make god's truth
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  • Known, right here at home, and around the earth, wherever god
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  • Opens the door.
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  • Let's keep gathering his people and building his church until
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  • The day our king returns.
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  • You can find more about becoming a ministry partner
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  • At allenjackson.com/partner.
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  • [music]
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  • [music]
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  • Allen: the challenge i think we faced is we've done these
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  • Sinners's parties and we've gathered to sympathize with
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  • Their sin.
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  • We wanted to be sure they know we're empathetic, that
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  • We understand.
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  • Jesus met with them to call them to repentance, which is a change
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  • Of thought and a change of behavior.
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  • The message we hold out to the world isn't that we know it's
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  • Difficult to say no to sin.
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  • We do know that, we've all struggled with that ourselves.
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  • The message we hold out is that if you will repent and choose a
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  • New way of life, there's a better kind of existence under
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  • The sun.
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  • And i would submit to you, at least from my vantage point, and
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  • I have enough experience that it's an informed opinion, that
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  • Too often we've wanted to attract sinners by
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  • Diminishing holiness.
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  • I don't find any place where jesus did that.
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  • You will never make a case that is so ironclad, so moving, so
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  • Significant that you'll get-- that you will cause god to agree
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  • With you in your ungodliness.
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  • It doesn't exist.
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  • And jesus wraps this all up with this parable where he--
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  • Basically, he says, "there's something new and better that is
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  • Present, will you accept the new?"
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  • Folks, we--our lifetime, my lifetime, has coincided with one
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  • Of the most precipitous declines of christian influence in the
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  • History of the church, by almost any marker you would pick up.
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  • We need a new response to the world we live in,
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  • Or our children and grandchildren will lose
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  • The freedom that we have assumed upon.
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  • So the question is, are we willing to choose a
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  • New response?
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  • Are we going to tenaciously cling to what we've always done?
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  • I don't believe that is ungodly or against scripture.
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  • It sounds a great deal like the message jesus brought.
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  • He's talking to the covenant people of god.
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  • The people he's talking to are all worshiping in the temple,
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  • They attend the synagogue.
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  • They read their scripture portions.
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  • They keep the right holidays, they have the right diet.
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  • They are very religious people, they are the covenant people of
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  • God, but they are standing unwilling to cooperate with the
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  • Purposes of god.
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  • I do not want to find myself in that place, nor do i want
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  • You to.
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  • I believe luke has given it to us as a cautionary tale.
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  • It grows more intense in chapter 6.
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  • The opposition to jesus is gaining boldness.
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  • They recognize the threat that he represents.
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  • People are beginning to follow him.
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  • And if they follow him, there'll be less following them.
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  • The tension of that is going to step right off the pages.
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  • Chapter 6, verse 1, "one sabbath jesus was going through the
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  • Grain fields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of
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  • Grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels.
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  • And some of the pharisees said, 'why are you doing what is
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  • Unlawful on the sabbath?'"
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  • Okay, at this point, we've seen jesus is really good with
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  • Fishing, he's really good with people that have limited
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  • Mobility, he's been great at helping people reorient their
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  • Lives towards the principles of scripture, whether they're
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  • Fishermen or tax collectors.
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  • And the best response the pharisees have is, "you're not
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  • Keeping the right rules.
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  • You are not worshiping in the right way!"
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  • It's a theme luke gives us, there's going to be
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  • Consistent criticism.
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  • It is rooted in an incomplete understanding of scripture, but
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  • His critics are bringing scripture to him.
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  • Luke has already established for us in the temptation of jesus
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  • When he was in the wilderness that satan knows the scripture.
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  • The devil quoted scripture to jesus.
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  • That should make you smile just a bit.
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  • The devil quoted scripture to jesus.
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  • The living word.
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  • So if he did it to jesus trying to manipulate him to forfeit
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  • God's purposes for his lives, i would submit to you, you should
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  • Anticipate the devil using scripture to either give you
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  • License towards ungodliness, or try to limit your effectiveness
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  • With your kingdom assignment.
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  • It's why you need to know the word of god, the context of the
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  • Word of god.
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  • You need more than a verse of the day.
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  • We're not done, verse 3, same passage.
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  • "jesus answered them, 'have you never read what david did when
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  • He and his companions were hungry?
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  • He entered the house of god and taking the consecrated bread, he
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  • Ate what is lawful only for the priest to eat.'"
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  • How did jesus respond?
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  • From the narrative of scripture.
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  • He said, "you're misusing it."
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  • "then jesus said to them, 'the son of man is the lord of
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  • The sabbath.'"
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  • Now, up to that point, we're just having a polite discussion.
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  • Jesus just dropped a bomb in the room.
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  • "i'm the lord of the sabbath."
  • 00:05:52.834 --> 00:05:55.504
  • He just challenged their authority.
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  • The pharisees are the ones who oversee the synagogues.
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  • The sadducees have authority over the temple in jerusalem,
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  • It's the national bank.
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  • They're the wealthiest, the most politically astute.
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  • They have access to the halls of political power in jerusalem.
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  • The pharisees are scattered all over the empire, but the
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  • Synagogue is their base of operation.
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  • It's their home base of authority, so they are really
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  • The overseers of the sabbath.
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  • And jesus said, "i'm the lord of the sabbath."
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  • Game on!
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  • "on another sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching,
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  • And a man was there whose right hand was shriveled.
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  • The pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a
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  • Reason to accuse jesus."
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  • What a happy group of people.
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  • They weren't grateful for the miracles, they weren't trying
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  • To--they weren't encouraged by the people that were seeking
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  • God, they're looking for a reason to accuse jesus.
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  • "so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on
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  • The sabbath.
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  • But jesus knew what they were thinking--"
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  • There's that thing again.
  • 00:07:00.235 --> 00:07:02.437
  • "and he said to the man with the shriveled hand, 'get up and
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  • Stand in front of everyone.'
  • 00:07:04.239 --> 00:07:05.574
  • So he got up and stood there.
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  • Jesus said to them, i ask you, which is lawful on the sabbath:
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  • To do good or do the to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"
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  • There's two things happening here.
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  • Have you got it?
  • 00:07:14.649 --> 00:07:15.984
  • There's a man with a physical problem, and there's this group
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  • Of people gathered trying to trap jesus.
  • 00:07:17.552 --> 00:07:20.689
  • And so he says to the man, "stand up."
  • 00:07:20.689 --> 00:07:22.424
  • This is not quiet, this isn't subtle.
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  • This is very public, in the synagogue, and then he turns to
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  • The critics and he says, "so which is right: to do good or to
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  • Do evil on the sabbath?"
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  • Man's still standing there going, "uh."
  • 00:07:34.936 --> 00:07:40.642
  • "and he looked around at them all, and he said to the man,
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  • 'stretch out your hand,' and he did so, and his hand was
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  • Completely restored.
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  • But they," the critics, "were furious and began to discuss
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  • With one another what they might do to jesus."
  • 00:07:53.688 --> 00:07:57.392
  • So that's weird.
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  • I know it's in the bible, but it's not what you would expect.
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  • If you were writing it, you say, "that doesn't go together.
  • 00:08:03.231 --> 00:08:05.200
  • You need to change the narrative.
  • 00:08:05.200 --> 00:08:08.169
  • Let's say they were perplexed.
  • 00:08:08.169 --> 00:08:10.805
  • Let's say they didn't understand.
  • 00:08:10.805 --> 00:08:12.374
  • Let's say they've never seen anything like that."
  • 00:08:12.374 --> 00:08:14.476
  • But they weren't those things.
  • 00:08:14.476 --> 00:08:15.844
  • They were furious.
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  • You see, there's a revelation of jesus given, he says, "i'm the
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  • Lord of the sabbath," and it challenges the structure.
  • 00:08:21.783 --> 00:08:28.356
  • Challenges very specifically the pharisees, they're the synagogue
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  • Leaders, they're the sabbath lords.
  • 00:08:31.259 --> 00:08:36.064
  • They're looking for a reason to accuse jesus.
  • 00:08:36.064 --> 00:08:38.166
  • Luke abuts two of these narratives together.
  • 00:08:38.166 --> 00:08:41.069
  • So they're watching him closely, they're gonna find a reason that
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  • They can take him down.
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  • Jesus knows their thoughts, and here's what i think we--jesus
  • 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:49.277
  • Intentionally provoked them.
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  • Is that fair?
  • 00:08:54.115 --> 00:08:56.318
  • He said to him, "i need you to stand up."
  • 00:08:56.318 --> 00:09:00.155
  • Now they're all leaning forward.
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  • "is he going to?"
  • 00:09:01.489 --> 00:09:03.525
  • But he doesn't do it suddenly, he stops it.
  • 00:09:03.525 --> 00:09:04.993
  • "okay, let me ask you a question, everybody.
  • 00:09:04.993 --> 00:09:07.228
  • Is it right to do good or evil?"
  • 00:09:07.228 --> 00:09:10.298
  • And they won't answer it.
  • 00:09:10.298 --> 00:09:12.400
  • Some of the other gospel writers tell us that jesus was angry at
  • 00:09:12.400 --> 00:09:15.003
  • Their hard hearts.
  • 00:09:15.003 --> 00:09:17.639
  • And then he says to the man, "stretch your hand," and the
  • 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:19.274
  • Man's healed.
  • 00:09:19.274 --> 00:09:20.942
  • That is a very intentional provocation of his adversaries.
  • 00:09:20.942 --> 00:09:26.314
  • Jesus could have met that man after service.
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  • They could have met him at the restaurant while they're out
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  • Having lunch, after service.
  • 00:09:31.419 --> 00:09:34.556
  • He could have caught him the next day, he's jesus!
  • 00:09:34.556 --> 00:09:36.524
  • He could have found him!
  • 00:09:36.524 --> 00:09:39.194
  • The time and the location were very purposeful, he's making a
  • 00:09:39.194 --> 00:09:43.431
  • Point, "i'm lord of the sabbath!
  • 00:09:43.431 --> 00:09:46.568
  • And the teaching you've been given is incomplete,
  • 00:09:46.568 --> 00:09:48.470
  • It's inaccurate."
  • 00:09:48.470 --> 00:09:49.938
  • This is a very different message than what we've been coached to.
  • 00:09:49.938 --> 00:09:54.075
  • We've been told that almost the highest values we could imagine
  • 00:09:54.075 --> 00:09:56.645
  • Were inclusivity.
  • 00:09:56.645 --> 00:09:58.013
  • No matter what's going on, we should have a big
  • 00:09:58.013 --> 00:09:59.648
  • Tent, diversity.
  • 00:09:59.648 --> 00:10:06.121
  • Well, it's true that the foot of--the ground at the foot of
  • 00:10:06.121 --> 00:10:08.289
  • The cross is level, and that the kingdom of god will be comprised
  • 00:10:08.289 --> 00:10:12.394
  • Of people from every nation, race, language, and tribe.
  • 00:10:12.394 --> 00:10:16.865
  • That you can't evaluate our spiritual condition by the color
  • 00:10:16.865 --> 00:10:19.934
  • Of our skin, or our biological sex.
  • 00:10:19.934 --> 00:10:24.339
  • Those are not determiners.
  • 00:10:24.339 --> 00:10:25.707
  • The scripture very clearly tells us that we can't determine that
  • 00:10:25.707 --> 00:10:28.109
  • By looking at the outside, but it also gives us some rather
  • 00:10:28.109 --> 00:10:32.947
  • Clear list of behaviors that will allow--not allow you to be
  • 00:10:32.947 --> 00:10:36.685
  • Included in the kingdom of god.
  • 00:10:36.685 --> 00:10:39.320
  • And on those things, we don't have the privilege of being
  • 00:10:39.320 --> 00:10:41.556
  • Diverse and inclusive, because then we're not telling
  • 00:10:41.556 --> 00:10:47.228
  • The truth.
  • 00:10:47.228 --> 00:10:49.531
  • We certainly don't have the option of choosing those
  • 00:10:49.531 --> 00:10:51.399
  • Behaviors for ourselves and saying,
  • 00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:53.101
  • "because i sit in church,"
  • 00:10:53.101 --> 00:10:56.037
  • Or we're as guilty of redefining righteousness and
  • 00:10:56.037 --> 00:10:58.573
  • Godliness as those who opposed jesus were.
  • 00:10:58.573 --> 00:11:01.443
  • And i would very humbly submit to you that to take a position
  • 00:11:01.443 --> 00:11:04.045
  • In opposition to jesus will not work out well.
  • 00:11:04.045 --> 00:11:08.683
  • Luke is trying to help us.
  • 00:11:08.683 --> 00:11:11.586
  • He's telling us that the struggles of the 21st century
  • 00:11:11.586 --> 00:11:14.589
  • Are not new, that they were very present in the first century.
  • 00:11:14.589 --> 00:11:19.594
  • Jesus is going to give us some help.
  • 00:11:19.594 --> 00:11:22.363
  • Jesus and his message, in luke's presentation, are
  • 00:11:22.363 --> 00:11:25.433
  • Consistently rejected.
  • 00:11:25.433 --> 00:11:30.405
  • I wanna say it again, because i think we're surprised,
  • 00:11:30.405 --> 00:11:34.342
  • We're shocked.
  • 00:11:34.342 --> 00:11:35.744
  • We've heard revival language.
  • 00:11:35.744 --> 00:11:38.513
  • Language about outpourings of the spirit of god, and the
  • 00:11:38.513 --> 00:11:40.982
  • Moving of the spirit of god, and these great--and my
  • 00:11:40.982 --> 00:11:44.285
  • Imagination, i'll put it in my life.
  • 00:11:44.285 --> 00:11:46.755
  • My expectation for so long was there was gonna be--it's almost
  • 00:11:46.755 --> 00:11:48.990
  • Like universal globalist in that we're all gonna go, everybody's
  • 00:11:48.990 --> 00:11:52.260
  • Gonna rain, "i'm in, let's go!"
  • 00:11:52.260 --> 00:11:55.430
  • It's a wonderful idea because it would eliminate things like
  • 00:11:55.430 --> 00:11:58.767
  • Dissenting opinions, and opposition, and the tension that
  • 00:11:58.767 --> 00:12:01.503
  • Comes in a space where people say, "i don't believe that."
  • 00:12:01.503 --> 00:12:06.975
  • Well, the biblical presentation says that even
  • 00:12:06.975 --> 00:12:09.611
  • When jesus was present--
  • 00:12:09.611 --> 00:12:12.046
  • They're not denying his miracles, they're not
  • 00:12:12.046 --> 00:12:14.182
  • Denying his power, they don't like the message.
  • 00:12:14.182 --> 00:12:18.052
  • And they're not gonna yield to the authority.
  • 00:12:18.052 --> 00:12:22.023
  • They are flat-out, straight-up saying, "i'm rejecting that, and
  • 00:12:22.023 --> 00:12:27.295
  • I don't care what parlor tricks you do."
  • 00:12:27.295 --> 00:12:31.099
  • Now, luke is informing us.
  • 00:12:31.099 --> 00:12:33.835
  • If it was true for jesus, i would submit to you we should
  • 00:12:33.835 --> 00:12:37.172
  • Begin to imagine it might be true for us.
  • 00:12:37.172 --> 00:12:38.807
  • Jesus tells us very directly, look at verse 22.
  • 00:12:38.807 --> 00:12:42.043
  • Now he's talking to his disciples.
  • 00:12:42.043 --> 00:12:43.411
  • This is the same chapter.
  • 00:12:43.411 --> 00:12:45.513
  • We're not leaping around, same unfolding narrative.
  • 00:12:45.513 --> 00:12:49.184
  • "blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and
  • 00:12:49.184 --> 00:12:52.687
  • Insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the son
  • 00:12:52.687 --> 00:12:56.624
  • Of man."
  • 00:12:56.624 --> 00:12:59.360
  • Jesus is telling them, and through them he's telling us,
  • 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:03.398
  • That you'll be hated, excluded, insulted, and rejected as evil
  • 00:13:03.398 --> 00:13:10.104
  • Because of the son of man.
  • 00:13:10.104 --> 00:13:14.008
  • Because you've been willing to align with his principles, with
  • 00:13:14.008 --> 00:13:16.711
  • His values.
  • 00:13:16.711 --> 00:13:19.414
  • We recognize that, and our tendency, our carnal nature
  • 00:13:19.414 --> 00:13:23.418
  • Says, "well, dial it down a little bit, it'll infringe on
  • 00:13:23.418 --> 00:13:26.221
  • Your business opportunities.
  • 00:13:26.221 --> 00:13:28.122
  • You won't get invited to all the social things you want to be a
  • 00:13:28.122 --> 00:13:30.658
  • Part of."
  • 00:13:30.658 --> 00:13:32.293
  • And your intuition is correct, that is accurate.
  • 00:13:32.293 --> 00:13:35.330
  • You will forfeit some economic opportunities if you choose a
  • 00:13:35.330 --> 00:13:38.066
  • Biblical worldview.
  • 00:13:38.066 --> 00:13:40.435
  • You will be excluded.
  • 00:13:40.435 --> 00:13:41.769
  • Not allen's opinion, jesus said it!
  • 00:13:41.769 --> 00:13:46.641
  • Jesus is telling us that what he's experienced, as presented
  • 00:13:46.641 --> 00:13:52.046
  • By luke, is going to be visited upon his disciples.
  • 00:13:52.046 --> 00:13:55.049
  • And he begins, from this point in the gospel--we're gonna look
  • 00:13:55.049 --> 00:13:57.418
  • At it in some detail.
  • 00:13:57.418 --> 00:13:58.753
  • He begins to coach his disciples on how to overcome rejection.
  • 00:13:58.753 --> 00:14:03.725
  • Rejection was a very much a part of jesus's life.
  • 00:14:03.725 --> 00:14:07.262
  • Spoiler alert, it's very much a part of our lives.
  • 00:14:07.262 --> 00:14:11.599
  • We're gonna talk about it in a bit more detail in some
  • 00:14:11.599 --> 00:14:14.168
  • Other sessions.
  • 00:14:14.168 --> 00:14:16.504
  • Our alignment with jesus will make certain that there is
  • 00:14:16.504 --> 00:14:20.275
  • Spiritual opposition, devilish, demonic opposition that will
  • 00:14:20.275 --> 00:14:26.848
  • Orchestrate points of rejection.
  • 00:14:26.848 --> 00:14:30.952
  • And we will meet people who choose to side with the kingdom
  • 00:14:30.952 --> 00:14:34.122
  • Of darkness, and they're going to impact our lives.
  • 00:14:34.122 --> 00:14:38.293
  • Jesus's purpose, mission, and assignment were not diminished
  • 00:14:38.293 --> 00:14:40.962
  • By that, he overcame it.
  • 00:14:40.962 --> 00:14:44.332
  • If i can borrow something beyond luke in hebrews, it says, "he
  • 00:14:44.332 --> 00:14:47.101
  • Scorned the shame."
  • 00:14:47.101 --> 00:14:49.938
  • He looked ahead to what was before him.
  • 00:14:49.938 --> 00:14:53.474
  • He will teach us--luke will help us overcome rejection so
  • 00:14:53.474 --> 00:14:57.712
  • That the purposes of god can be fulfilled in our lives.
  • 00:14:57.712 --> 00:15:04.886
  • If you'll allow me, i would suggest we need to learn to
  • 00:15:04.886 --> 00:15:06.821
  • Overcome it, not overlook it.
  • 00:15:06.821 --> 00:15:09.624
  • There's a difference.
  • 00:15:09.624 --> 00:15:12.460
  • For quite some time now, we've been coached in the church to
  • 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:14.762
  • Overlook sin.
  • 00:15:14.762 --> 00:15:16.965
  • "well, it's not that big a deal," or "they're in
  • 00:15:16.965 --> 00:15:19.867
  • Transition," or "i gotta be amongst them in order to give
  • 00:15:19.867 --> 00:15:23.171
  • Them the good news."
  • 00:15:23.171 --> 00:15:25.640
  • The assignment we've been given is to overcome evil,
  • 00:15:25.640 --> 00:15:29.544
  • Not overlook it.
  • 00:15:29.544 --> 00:15:31.679
  • [music]
  • 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:35.283
  • Allen: welcome to 2026.
  • 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:40.188
  • Happy new year!
  • 00:15:40.188 --> 00:15:41.556
  • We've created a new book to help you, it's called "turn up
  • 00:15:41.556 --> 00:15:43.691
  • The light."
  • 00:15:43.691 --> 00:15:45.026
  • It's a devotional for the whole year.
  • 00:15:45.026 --> 00:15:46.394
  • It's a really simple idea: i can join you for a cup of coffee in
  • 00:15:46.394 --> 00:15:49.163
  • The morning.
  • 00:15:49.163 --> 00:15:50.498
  • We'll have a brief conversation with the spiritual principal to
  • 00:15:50.498 --> 00:15:53.001
  • Start our day, a scripture verse, a prayer, and then, when
  • 00:15:53.001 --> 00:15:56.004
  • You're tired of me, you can close the book.
  • 00:15:56.004 --> 00:15:58.473
  • It's perfect!
  • 00:15:58.473 --> 00:16:00.041
  • In all seriousness, we do wanna turn up the light.
  • 00:16:00.041 --> 00:16:02.643
  • Let's not rage against the darkness.
  • 00:16:02.643 --> 00:16:04.078
  • Let's invite god into the midst of this year and then just see
  • 00:16:04.078 --> 00:16:06.948
  • What he will do.
  • 00:16:06.948 --> 00:16:08.316
  • Female announcer: pastor allen's new devotional, "turn up the
  • 00:16:08.316 --> 00:16:10.418
  • Light," is designed to equip you every single day of the year.
  • 00:16:10.418 --> 00:16:13.988
  • Inside, you'll find 365 short devotionals, each with a
  • 00:16:13.988 --> 00:16:18.026
  • Scripture, teaching, and a prayer.
  • 00:16:18.026 --> 00:16:20.661
  • As you begin this new year, don't rage against the darkness.
  • 00:16:20.661 --> 00:16:23.931
  • Instead, choose to turn up the light.
  • 00:16:23.931 --> 00:16:26.167
  • You can request this book when you donate $25 or more today at
  • 00:16:26.167 --> 00:16:30.304
  • Allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:16:30.304 --> 00:16:34.175
  • Announcer: we are committed to helping you grow in your faith,
  • 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:40.481
  • And have tools for your journey no matter your schedule.
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  • Get daily encouragement and insight with pastor allen's
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  • Daily devotion right in your inbox.
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  • Just sign up on the website.
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  • Join us on one of our live stream services right from your
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  • Tv using the allen jackson ministries app.
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  • Listen to a powerful message through your favorite podcast
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  • App, perfect for a commute, and make sure to follow pastor allen
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  • On social media to stay up to date with everything
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  • Happening here with allen jackson ministries.
  • 00:17:03.304 --> 00:17:06.441
  • Allen: we got two more verses.
  • 00:17:09.143 --> 00:17:10.478
  • Look at luke 6:24.
  • 00:17:10.478 --> 00:17:12.380
  • "woe to you who are rich, for you've already received
  • 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:15.416
  • Your comfort."
  • 00:17:15.416 --> 00:17:17.118
  • This is woe, w-o-e, not w-h-o-a.
  • 00:17:17.118 --> 00:17:21.055
  • When you want a horse to stop, you say, "whoa."
  • 00:17:21.055 --> 00:17:23.825
  • That's not this one.
  • 00:17:23.825 --> 00:17:26.461
  • This one means, "i'm about to thump you."
  • 00:17:26.461 --> 00:17:32.266
  • W-o-e is a warning of some impending.
  • 00:17:32.266 --> 00:17:40.775
  • "woe to you who are rich, for you have already received
  • 00:17:40.775 --> 00:17:43.377
  • Your comfort.
  • 00:17:43.377 --> 00:17:44.745
  • Woe to you who are well fed now, for you'll go hungry.
  • 00:17:44.745 --> 00:17:47.215
  • Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
  • 00:17:47.215 --> 00:17:50.451
  • Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how
  • 00:17:50.451 --> 00:17:54.122
  • Their fathers treated the false prophets."
  • 00:17:54.122 --> 00:18:02.263
  • I don't--it seems to me, it's my opinion, that there's been a
  • 00:18:02.263 --> 00:18:06.234
  • Tremendous amount of effort invested amongst contemporary
  • 00:18:06.234 --> 00:18:09.504
  • American christendom to be understood well by the ungodly.
  • 00:18:09.504 --> 00:18:15.610
  • Again, i don't think we should be obnoxious, or condemning, or
  • 00:18:15.610 --> 00:18:20.047
  • Belligerent, or hateful, but the goal is to say, "we have found
  • 00:18:20.047 --> 00:18:25.286
  • Something so remarkable," to have such enthusiasm about it,
  • 00:18:25.286 --> 00:18:27.889
  • Such joy in it, such a willingness to share with them,
  • 00:18:27.889 --> 00:18:32.660
  • To serve them.
  • 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:36.063
  • The goal isn't always to be liked.
  • 00:18:36.063 --> 00:18:40.234
  • That takes a different kind of courage.
  • 00:18:40.234 --> 00:18:42.470
  • Again, luke is giving us these contrasts, the contrast between
  • 00:18:42.470 --> 00:18:45.706
  • Being excluded, insulted, and rejected.
  • 00:18:45.706 --> 00:18:50.278
  • And the alternative is when all men would speak well of you.
  • 00:18:50.278 --> 00:18:54.482
  • It's not fun to be excluded.
  • 00:18:54.482 --> 00:18:58.419
  • I don't enjoy it.
  • 00:18:58.419 --> 00:18:59.754
  • I much prefer the applause.
  • 00:18:59.754 --> 00:19:01.122
  • You ever run a 5k?
  • 00:19:01.122 --> 00:19:03.191
  • You don't have to run, walk one.
  • 00:19:03.191 --> 00:19:06.027
  • It's a race, they call it.
  • 00:19:06.027 --> 00:19:07.895
  • You don't even have to walk fast.
  • 00:19:07.895 --> 00:19:09.864
  • Like, you can shuffle.
  • 00:19:09.864 --> 00:19:14.235
  • I'm pretty sure you could just shuffle.
  • 00:19:14.235 --> 00:19:15.603
  • You know what will happen?
  • 00:19:15.603 --> 00:19:16.971
  • People you don't know will line the road and--
  • 00:19:16.971 --> 00:19:18.573
  • [clapping]
  • 00:19:18.573 --> 00:19:20.741
  • It's one of the most affirming things you can do.
  • 00:19:20.741 --> 00:19:24.378
  • Strangers will be handing you stuff to hydrate with.
  • 00:19:24.378 --> 00:19:28.282
  • "you want a slice of orange?"
  • 00:19:28.282 --> 00:19:29.817
  • "yeah, thank you!
  • 00:19:29.817 --> 00:19:32.286
  • Can i get a whole one?"
  • 00:19:32.286 --> 00:19:33.621
  • "sure, good--do you get to the finish line?"
  • 00:19:33.621 --> 00:19:37.425
  • You've been shuffling, you haven't been broken a sweat.
  • 00:19:37.425 --> 00:19:41.529
  • They'll be complete strangers going, "awesome!"
  • 00:19:41.529 --> 00:19:46.033
  • I'm telling you, it's an affirming--
  • 00:19:46.033 --> 00:19:47.401
  • Now, there's a few crackpots, they're gonna be out at the
  • 00:19:47.401 --> 00:19:49.003
  • Front, sprinting, gasping for air, perspiring.
  • 00:19:49.003 --> 00:19:55.243
  • Don't go with them, come shuffle.
  • 00:19:55.243 --> 00:20:02.483
  • Well, if you--if we can borrow the image, we've been shuffling
  • 00:20:02.483 --> 00:20:06.254
  • On this kingdom thing.
  • 00:20:06.254 --> 00:20:08.723
  • It's not the great effort of our life, it's not the great
  • 00:20:08.723 --> 00:20:10.825
  • Sacrifice of our life.
  • 00:20:10.825 --> 00:20:12.193
  • It's not--doesn't take a great deal of commitment
  • 00:20:12.193 --> 00:20:14.829
  • Or self-discipline.
  • 00:20:14.829 --> 00:20:16.163
  • You sure don't have to train for it, you know?
  • 00:20:16.163 --> 00:20:18.032
  • We go to church if it's convenient and there's not
  • 00:20:18.032 --> 00:20:19.700
  • Something else we'd rather do.
  • 00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:21.068
  • And serving the lord, it's--you know.
  • 00:20:21.068 --> 00:20:23.971
  • And luke is giving us a contrast.
  • 00:20:23.971 --> 00:20:27.875
  • He's showing us very clearly.
  • 00:20:27.875 --> 00:20:31.045
  • In the very next verse, i'll pick it up with our
  • 00:20:31.045 --> 00:20:32.780
  • Next session.
  • 00:20:32.780 --> 00:20:34.115
  • Jesus looks at these people and he says, "why do you call me
  • 00:20:34.115 --> 00:20:36.117
  • 'lord' and not do what i say?"
  • 00:20:36.117 --> 00:20:40.688
  • If you read that verse outside of this context, you think,
  • 00:20:40.688 --> 00:20:42.823
  • "wow," but in this context, jesus is like, up in
  • 00:20:42.823 --> 00:20:45.660
  • Their business.
  • 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.994
  • "why do you call me lord and not intend to do what i'm
  • 00:20:46.994 --> 00:20:50.464
  • Telling you?"
  • 00:20:50.464 --> 00:20:53.134
  • Whoa, back up, big guy!
  • 00:20:53.134 --> 00:20:57.104
  • And then he tells them that parable that every one of us
  • 00:20:57.104 --> 00:20:59.440
  • Know about the--these two guys that build houses, one on the
  • 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:02.109
  • Sand and one on the rock.
  • 00:21:02.109 --> 00:21:04.979
  • He said, "i'll tell you who these people are like.
  • 00:21:04.979 --> 00:21:08.282
  • You who don't wanna do what i'm saying, you're building your
  • 00:21:08.282 --> 00:21:10.384
  • House on sand, and there's a storm coming, and you're
  • 00:21:10.384 --> 00:21:12.253
  • Gonna collapse!
  • 00:21:12.253 --> 00:21:14.622
  • And some of you are gonna do what i say, and you're the
  • 00:21:14.622 --> 00:21:17.425
  • People who build your house on the rock, and the storm's gonna
  • 00:21:17.425 --> 00:21:19.727
  • Come, and you'll be golden."
  • 00:21:19.727 --> 00:21:23.097
  • That is not a friendly presentation!
  • 00:21:23.097 --> 00:21:26.867
  • You know, we've told a parable of the two builders.
  • 00:21:26.867 --> 00:21:31.172
  • These two happy little fellows who go to home depot, totally
  • 00:21:31.172 --> 00:21:36.344
  • Unaware it's storm season, and we've morphed it into this happy
  • 00:21:36.344 --> 00:21:40.748
  • Little clappy sunday school lesson with a--that jesus said,
  • 00:21:40.748 --> 00:21:44.919
  • "why do you call me lord and ignore what i'm saying to you?
  • 00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:50.624
  • There's a collapse coming, and you're gonna lose everything
  • 00:21:50.624 --> 00:21:54.729
  • You have."
  • 00:21:54.729 --> 00:21:58.566
  • He's the greatest of the hebrew prophets, greater than isaiah
  • 00:21:58.566 --> 00:22:02.636
  • And jeremiah.
  • 00:22:02.636 --> 00:22:06.374
  • He starts his ministry at about 30, so let's say we're
  • 00:22:06.374 --> 00:22:08.943
  • Somewhere--we're within 40 years of the romans completely
  • 00:22:08.943 --> 00:22:12.680
  • Destroying jerusalem and israel being ransacked.
  • 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:17.218
  • "there is a storm coming, and you're gonna lose everything
  • 00:22:17.218 --> 00:22:20.121
  • You have.
  • 00:22:20.121 --> 00:22:21.489
  • Why are you not doing what i'm talking to you about?
  • 00:22:21.489 --> 00:22:28.295
  • You call me lord."
  • 00:22:28.295 --> 00:22:32.433
  • One of the things that luke brings us to repeatedly, and
  • 00:22:32.433 --> 00:22:36.103
  • We'll see it before we're done, is people who want the benefit
  • 00:22:36.103 --> 00:22:40.541
  • Of cooperating with god, but they don't wanna cooperate
  • 00:22:40.541 --> 00:22:44.612
  • With god.
  • 00:22:44.612 --> 00:22:47.314
  • I'll give you one example from luke's writing, ananias
  • 00:22:47.314 --> 00:22:49.750
  • And sapphira.
  • 00:22:49.750 --> 00:22:51.685
  • They wanted the benefit of being generous without being generous.
  • 00:22:51.685 --> 00:22:56.223
  • Same principle right here.
  • 00:22:56.223 --> 00:22:58.259
  • "why do you call me lord?"
  • 00:22:58.259 --> 00:23:00.728
  • So for those people who think that jesus was just always about
  • 00:23:00.728 --> 00:23:03.597
  • Love, "group hug, get it in here.
  • 00:23:03.597 --> 00:23:04.965
  • Come on, let's hug this out!
  • 00:23:04.965 --> 00:23:06.634
  • Kumbaya!"
  • 00:23:06.634 --> 00:23:11.238
  • There are times jesus is very provocative with his language,
  • 00:23:11.238 --> 00:23:16.177
  • And his words, and his behavior.
  • 00:23:16.177 --> 00:23:20.981
  • Provoking the people towards godliness.
  • 00:23:20.981 --> 00:23:24.118
  • Not being annoying for the sake of being annoying.
  • 00:23:24.118 --> 00:23:28.055
  • That's not the spirit of god, that's something else, but he's
  • 00:23:28.055 --> 00:23:32.359
  • Holding out to them an opportunity.
  • 00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:35.529
  • We're told that we hold out to our generation the truth of
  • 00:23:35.529 --> 00:23:38.899
  • Almighty god.
  • 00:23:38.899 --> 00:23:42.203
  • We don't just gather in church to be polite.
  • 00:23:42.203 --> 00:23:46.740
  • We cannot continue to close our eyes and sacrifice our children.
  • 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:52.546
  • We can't be intimidated by the threats, jesus told us they
  • 00:23:52.546 --> 00:23:55.015
  • Were coming.
  • 00:23:55.015 --> 00:23:57.518
  • We have to decide for whom we are going to stand, and how we
  • 00:23:57.518 --> 00:24:02.556
  • Will do that.
  • 00:24:02.556 --> 00:24:04.458
  • If we say, "lord," we want to follow his instructions, amen?
  • 00:24:04.458 --> 00:24:11.899
  • I brought you a proclamation to close with.
  • 00:24:11.899 --> 00:24:13.601
  • It's not new, we've been saying this around here for a bit.
  • 00:24:13.601 --> 00:24:17.304
  • I didn't bring you the whole thing because i know you wanted
  • 00:24:17.304 --> 00:24:18.973
  • To go to lunch.
  • 00:24:18.973 --> 00:24:21.642
  • But let's stand, it's a good way to wrap up our session.
  • 00:24:21.642 --> 00:24:24.278
  • We're gonna carry luke forward into the next session.
  • 00:24:24.278 --> 00:24:30.484
  • You've read it, we've read enough of this together now i
  • 00:24:34.655 --> 00:24:36.423
  • Think we could say that jesus didn't get his friends together
  • 00:24:36.423 --> 00:24:39.326
  • To have soft, cuddly discussions about scripture, which is
  • 00:24:39.326 --> 00:24:43.531
  • Exactly what we call bible study.
  • 00:24:43.531 --> 00:24:46.500
  • "get together with your friends, your like-minded people, and be
  • 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:48.969
  • Sure you don't say anything that's offensive."
  • 00:24:48.969 --> 00:24:56.210
  • And that is not what jesus modeled for us!
  • 00:24:56.210 --> 00:25:00.247
  • So it's time for us to change.
  • 00:25:00.247 --> 00:25:01.615
  • We need some new wine skins.
  • 00:25:01.615 --> 00:25:03.717
  • Are you ready?
  • 00:25:03.717 --> 00:25:05.953
  • Well, i'm grateful for the four of you.
  • 00:25:05.953 --> 00:25:07.321
  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:25:07.321 --> 00:25:12.359
  • Let's say this proclamation together.
  • 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:14.995
  • "god has uniquely blessed us.
  • 00:25:14.995 --> 00:25:17.097
  • The best is yet to come.
  • 00:25:17.097 --> 00:25:19.099
  • The earth is the lord's and everything in it.
  • 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:22.269
  • He is the sovereign creator of all things.
  • 00:25:22.269 --> 00:25:25.439
  • Nothing is too difficult for him.
  • 00:25:25.439 --> 00:25:27.708
  • His love sustains us.
  • 00:25:27.708 --> 00:25:29.910
  • Jesus, his only son, is our savior, lord and king.
  • 00:25:29.910 --> 00:25:34.615
  • We live in a season of shaking.
  • 00:25:34.615 --> 00:25:36.984
  • God is shaking the earth.
  • 00:25:36.984 --> 00:25:39.053
  • He's restoring the jewish people and purifying his church.
  • 00:25:39.053 --> 00:25:43.524
  • If we look at the things which can be shaken we will be filled
  • 00:25:43.524 --> 00:25:47.161
  • With terror.
  • 00:25:47.161 --> 00:25:48.529
  • If we look at the eternal kingdom of our lord, we'll be
  • 00:25:48.529 --> 00:25:51.999
  • Filled with anticipation.
  • 00:25:51.999 --> 00:25:54.368
  • Our determination as we gather today is to declare before one
  • 00:25:54.368 --> 00:25:59.039
  • Another and almighty god, we will not stop," amen!
  • 00:25:59.039 --> 00:26:05.779
  • God bless you.
  • 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:07.815
  • [music]
  • 00:26:08.716 --> 00:26:13.754
  • Allen: how we begin our year, it matters.
  • 00:26:17.024 --> 00:26:19.526
  • So we've created a tool to help you get the year off on the
  • 00:26:19.526 --> 00:26:22.029
  • Right foot.
  • 00:26:22.029 --> 00:26:23.397
  • It's a devotional for this year.
  • 00:26:23.397 --> 00:26:24.732
  • We've taken our email devotionals that you're familiar
  • 00:26:24.732 --> 00:26:27.334
  • With, and we've edited into a book, 365-day devotional with a
  • 00:26:27.334 --> 00:26:32.373
  • Little short thought for the day, a scripture verse, a
  • 00:26:32.373 --> 00:26:34.675
  • Prayer, just a little momentum for every day.
  • 00:26:34.675 --> 00:26:37.544
  • Let's start this year on purpose, inviting god's best
  • 00:26:37.544 --> 00:26:41.281
  • Into our lives.
  • 00:26:41.281 --> 00:26:42.783
  • Many of you are familiar with those devotionals, you get them
  • 00:26:42.783 --> 00:26:44.818
  • In your inbox.
  • 00:26:44.818 --> 00:26:46.153
  • We want to give you a hard copy.
  • 00:26:46.153 --> 00:26:47.521
  • Maybe you get a second copy, share it with a friend, use it
  • 00:26:47.521 --> 00:26:49.723
  • As a mission project this year.
  • 00:26:49.723 --> 00:26:51.692
  • Maybe take it to work, recruit somebody that you're
  • 00:26:51.692 --> 00:26:53.694
  • Working with.
  • 00:26:53.694 --> 00:26:55.029
  • It's a simple way to invite god into the beginning of your day
  • 00:26:55.029 --> 00:26:58.465
  • On purpose, and if we do that, i believe the outcome will be
  • 00:26:58.465 --> 00:27:02.369
  • Truly significant.
  • 00:27:02.369 --> 00:27:03.971
  • God in the midst of whatever we're doing makes the
  • 00:27:03.971 --> 00:27:05.906
  • Outcomes better.
  • 00:27:05.906 --> 00:27:07.374
  • It's an exciting time.
  • 00:27:07.374 --> 00:27:08.709
  • I like the beginning of a new year, all the promise and the
  • 00:27:08.709 --> 00:27:10.678
  • Hope that that brings, let's put god in the center of it.
  • 00:27:10.678 --> 00:27:13.881
  • "turn up the light" is the name of the devotional, and i believe
  • 00:27:13.881 --> 00:27:15.916
  • It'll do just that in your life.
  • 00:27:15.916 --> 00:27:17.951
  • [music]
  • 00:27:19.486 --> 00:27:19.486