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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Resist or Receive (Part 1)

February 4, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - Resist or Receive (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#IdentityinChrist #LightoftheWorld #Church #BodyofChrist #Evil #Culture #Respect #Reverence #FearoftheLord #Serving #Obedience #Disobedience #Faith #TrustGod #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Resist or Receive (Part 1) | February 4, 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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  • 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 at
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  • Allenjackson.com/partner.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen: i want to continue the theme we began in the previous
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  • Couple of sessions.
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  • I'm talking in general about reformation, and i put a quote
  • 00:01:27.703 --> 00:01:32.074
  • In your notes in each of the sessions.
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  • It came just from a history book, secular history book.
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  • It was about the church, but it's written by
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  • A secular historian.
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  • He said, "a reform is a correction of abuses,
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  • And a revolution is a transfer of power.
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  • What starts as reforming often ends in
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  • A revolutionary movement."
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  • That's been true throughout history.
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  • And i think in the context of our lives and our nation at this
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  • Unique point, it's fair to say that our nation is in need
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  • Of reform.
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  • We are fraudulently stealing hundreds of billions of dollars.
  • 00:02:02.771 --> 00:02:07.409
  • The estimates this week are as much as 10% of our national
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  • Budget is being stolen.
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  • I think reform would be a word that's appropriate there.
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  • I would submit that we need a revolution in our hearts and
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  • That absent the revolution in our hearts, i have really no
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  • Hope of reform in our nation because i don't believe we'll
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  • Achieve that politically.
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  • So my title for this session is "when god moves" because i
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  • Believe he is moving.
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  • I think the outcomes and the ultimate impact when god begins
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  • To move has a great deal to do with whether his people resist
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  • That or they cooperate.
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  • And so i wanna try to present that to you that we can receive
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  • What god is doing as an invitation to us that we're
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  • Willing to choose a different path and begin to respond in new
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  • Ways and react in different ways.
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  • Or we can resist it.
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  • It's not adequate to say, "i agree there needs to be reform,
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  • And i hope those wicked people will do it."
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  • I mean, isn't that--we all--i think we all--we're all--
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  • That's such a temptation, you know?
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  • We're all a little too heavy, and it's the food pyramid's
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  • Fault, right?
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  • They lied to me and told me to eat carbs, and i'm obviously not
  • 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:29.658
  • Clever enough to know that i was getting fluffy.
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  • So now they've turned the food pyramid upside down, but now i'm
  • 00:03:33.895 --> 00:03:38.333
  • Habituated to carbs, so it's still their fault.
  • 00:03:38.333 --> 00:03:44.539
  • It's my story and i'm sticking with it.
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  • We can choose to receive what god is doing, or we can look
  • 00:03:48.010 --> 00:03:51.613
  • Through the windows and go, "you know, it's somebody else's.
  • 00:03:51.613 --> 00:03:54.416
  • They better do something different because i'm getting
  • 00:03:54.416 --> 00:03:56.585
  • Tired of this."
  • 00:03:56.585 --> 00:03:58.553
  • If we will make the change, god will respond.
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  • He's all powerful.
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  • He's almighty.
  • 00:04:02.658 --> 00:04:05.027
  • So i wanna start in this with the wonder that i think the
  • 00:04:05.027 --> 00:04:07.562
  • Church has lost for almost the most part, the wonder of what it
  • 00:04:07.562 --> 00:04:11.400
  • Means to be included in the kingdom of god.
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  • Somehow we've managed to let that become presented as
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  • Oppressive, diminishing, limiting, and nothing could be
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  • Further from the truth.
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  • The greatest opportunity presented to any human life is
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  • To know jesus.
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  • That's the truth.
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  • Whatever gifts and talents you've got, whatever ambitions
  • 00:04:28.383 --> 00:04:31.253
  • You have, whatever life track you're on, if you'll put jesus
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  • As lord of your life at the front of that, all of those
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  • Things are better.
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  • And absent him, evil will ultimately destroy you.
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  • It'll settle for diminishing you, it'll slow you down, it'll
  • 00:04:42.831 --> 00:04:46.268
  • Become a hurdle, it'll--but ultimately, it will destroy you.
  • 00:04:46.268 --> 00:04:50.539
  • And we've got to come back to the clarity on this, and we'll
  • 00:04:50.539 --> 00:04:53.175
  • Stop being reluctant about jesus.
  • 00:04:53.175 --> 00:04:56.311
  • No, but i can't imagine anybody saying, you know, "i want you in
  • 00:04:56.311 --> 00:04:59.181
  • My business, but i don't want you to bring jesus."
  • 00:04:59.181 --> 00:05:00.916
  • What would you like me to bring?
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  • Demons?
  • 00:05:02.250 --> 00:05:04.086
  • I just--i mean, it is irrational to me.
  • 00:05:04.086 --> 00:05:07.122
  • "don't mention that name here."
  • 00:05:07.122 --> 00:05:09.825
  • What do you mean?
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  • You want me to talk about wickedness?
  • 00:05:12.894 --> 00:05:14.463
  • You know, you can talk about everything.
  • 00:05:14.463 --> 00:05:17.099
  • You can talk about sexual co-- you can talk about everything,
  • 00:05:17.099 --> 00:05:20.869
  • But don't--that's--we have drifted so far, and we've got to
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  • Have a recentering.
  • 00:05:25.640 --> 00:05:29.044
  • Ephesians 5:8, "for you were once darkness, but now you are
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  • A light in the lord.
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  • Live as children of the light (for the fruit of light consist
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  • In all goodness, righteousness and truth)
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  • And find out what pleases the lord."
  • 00:05:41.690 --> 00:05:43.291
  • Let's pause there just a moment.
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  • There's a clear presentation.
  • 00:05:44.626 --> 00:05:45.994
  • Paul's writing to a church, church in ephesus,
  • 00:05:45.994 --> 00:05:49.197
  • Modern-day turkey.
  • 00:05:49.197 --> 00:05:50.932
  • And he's--that introductory sentence establishes that
  • 00:05:50.932 --> 00:05:54.336
  • There's a clear before and after in our lives, and the line of
  • 00:05:54.336 --> 00:05:57.606
  • Demarcation is jesus.
  • 00:05:57.606 --> 00:05:59.674
  • You were once darkness.
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  • Now you're light in the lord.
  • 00:06:01.009 --> 00:06:03.645
  • So jesus is not a gradual transformation.
  • 00:06:03.645 --> 00:06:08.016
  • You change kingdoms.
  • 00:06:08.016 --> 00:06:10.819
  • Now, you'll spend the rest of your life working that out
  • 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:14.356
  • Through the limits of your earth suit.
  • 00:06:14.356 --> 00:06:16.958
  • You have a carnal nature, an adamic nature,
  • 00:06:16.958 --> 00:06:19.261
  • An earthly nature.
  • 00:06:19.261 --> 00:06:20.595
  • You're hardwired towards ungodliness, but now there's
  • 00:06:20.595 --> 00:06:23.098
  • A new sheriff in town.
  • 00:06:23.098 --> 00:06:24.433
  • There's a new power.
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  • There's a new authority.
  • 00:06:25.801 --> 00:06:27.235
  • So paul is saying to them, "you used to be in darkness, but
  • 00:06:27.235 --> 00:06:29.671
  • You're not in darkness anymore.
  • 00:06:29.671 --> 00:06:31.239
  • Now you've got to live as children of the light."
  • 00:06:31.239 --> 00:06:34.443
  • He's challenging them with a choice, and then he's reminding
  • 00:06:34.443 --> 00:06:38.380
  • Them that the fruit of the light consists in goodness and
  • 00:06:38.380 --> 00:06:40.715
  • Righteousness and truth.
  • 00:06:40.715 --> 00:06:42.818
  • And it's that next phrase in verse 10 that's intriguing
  • 00:06:42.818 --> 00:06:45.220
  • To me.
  • 00:06:45.220 --> 00:06:46.555
  • He said, "find out what pleases the lord."
  • 00:06:46.555 --> 00:06:48.723
  • You're gonna work this out, not what pleases the pastor or your
  • 00:06:48.723 --> 00:06:54.996
  • Small group leader, but find out what pleases the lord.
  • 00:06:54.996 --> 00:06:58.533
  • And then he's gonna give us some basic direction.
  • 00:06:58.533 --> 00:07:01.069
  • "have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness."
  • 00:07:01.069 --> 00:07:05.040
  • But the next phrase we've ignored.
  • 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:08.844
  • If we gave it a contemporary reading, we would say, "have
  • 00:07:08.844 --> 00:07:11.913
  • Nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but
  • 00:07:11.913 --> 00:07:14.616
  • Ignore them."
  • 00:07:14.616 --> 00:07:19.287
  • And paul said under the direction of the holy spirit,
  • 00:07:19.287 --> 00:07:21.690
  • "expose them.
  • 00:07:21.690 --> 00:07:26.495
  • For it's shameful even to mention what the disobedient do
  • 00:07:26.495 --> 00:07:28.997
  • In secret.
  • 00:07:28.997 --> 00:07:30.599
  • But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it's
  • 00:07:30.599 --> 00:07:34.336
  • Light that makes everything visible.
  • 00:07:34.336 --> 00:07:35.804
  • That's why it said," he's gonna quote isaiah, "'wake up,
  • 00:07:35.804 --> 00:07:38.907
  • O sleeper, rise from the dead, and christ will shine on you.'
  • 00:07:38.907 --> 00:07:43.144
  • Be very careful, then, how you live."
  • 00:07:43.144 --> 00:07:46.081
  • Again, he's writing this to believers.
  • 00:07:46.081 --> 00:07:48.750
  • There's a cautionary note.
  • 00:07:48.750 --> 00:07:50.185
  • You used to be in the darkness.
  • 00:07:50.185 --> 00:07:51.520
  • Now you're in the light.
  • 00:07:51.520 --> 00:07:52.888
  • Find out what pleases the lord, but be very careful, be very
  • 00:07:52.888 --> 00:07:56.291
  • Careful how you live.
  • 00:07:56.291 --> 00:08:00.028
  • How many of us live very careful lives?
  • 00:08:00.028 --> 00:08:03.231
  • I don't think so much.
  • 00:08:03.231 --> 00:08:05.867
  • I think we kind of careen through life.
  • 00:08:05.867 --> 00:08:09.137
  • I don't think in the context of our faith we think we have to be
  • 00:08:09.137 --> 00:08:11.473
  • Very careful.
  • 00:08:11.473 --> 00:08:12.807
  • God's all powerful.
  • 00:08:12.807 --> 00:08:14.142
  • He watches over me.
  • 00:08:14.142 --> 00:08:15.510
  • If i drive into the ditch, i'll say, "oops, and he'll spend his
  • 00:08:15.510 --> 00:08:19.714
  • Spiritual record to pull me out of the ditch.
  • 00:08:19.714 --> 00:08:23.518
  • I don't have to be very careful."
  • 00:08:23.518 --> 00:08:29.257
  • But that's not what he said.
  • 00:08:29.257 --> 00:08:30.592
  • "be very careful how you live--not as unwise but as wise,
  • 00:08:30.592 --> 00:08:34.362
  • Making the most of every opportunity, because the days
  • 00:08:34.362 --> 00:08:38.500
  • Are evil."
  • 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:42.037
  • How do you know that you're being very careful?
  • 00:08:42.037 --> 00:08:46.841
  • Because you're cautious?
  • 00:08:46.841 --> 00:08:48.176
  • No, i don't think so.
  • 00:08:48.176 --> 00:08:49.544
  • Because you're timid?
  • 00:08:49.544 --> 00:08:50.879
  • No, i don't believe that's it at all.
  • 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:52.213
  • How do you know you're leading spiritually careful lives?
  • 00:08:52.213 --> 00:08:55.684
  • Because you make the most of every opportunity.
  • 00:08:55.684 --> 00:09:00.021
  • You make the most of every opportunity.
  • 00:09:00.021 --> 00:09:03.124
  • "well, that doesn't seem very careful.
  • 00:09:03.124 --> 00:09:04.492
  • That seems kinda reckless to me."
  • 00:09:04.492 --> 00:09:07.462
  • Well, only if you think in terms that you have to
  • 00:09:07.462 --> 00:09:09.497
  • Protect yourself.
  • 00:09:09.497 --> 00:09:13.735
  • Paul's coaching is it's more wise to make the most of every
  • 00:09:13.735 --> 00:09:17.639
  • Opportunity, and then he just throws in there as a point of
  • 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:19.341
  • Encouragement "the days are evil."
  • 00:09:19.341 --> 00:09:22.877
  • You get a lot of--you can get a lot of clicks online if you'll
  • 00:09:22.877 --> 00:09:27.115
  • Talk about the last days and how rapidly they're oppo--
  • 00:09:27.115 --> 00:09:31.653
  • Approaching and the unleashing of a demonic horde and all the
  • 00:09:31.653 --> 00:09:37.025
  • Things, that the days are uniquely evil.
  • 00:09:37.025 --> 00:09:40.195
  • I would just remind you that when paul was writing in the
  • 00:09:40.195 --> 00:09:42.697
  • First century to the church at ephesus, he said, "the days
  • 00:09:42.697 --> 00:09:45.333
  • Are evil."
  • 00:09:45.333 --> 00:09:47.202
  • I think there's an escapism in trying to contort our present
  • 00:09:47.202 --> 00:09:50.505
  • Circumstance into something that is uniquely evil.
  • 00:09:50.505 --> 00:09:56.845
  • I'm not saying the days aren't evil.
  • 00:09:56.845 --> 00:09:59.214
  • I'm telling you don't use it as an excuse that brings a sense of
  • 00:09:59.214 --> 00:10:03.418
  • Difficulty to you, that brings exasperation.
  • 00:10:03.418 --> 00:10:07.255
  • I don't think that's helpful.
  • 00:10:07.255 --> 00:10:10.692
  • We have the victory through our lord.
  • 00:10:10.692 --> 00:10:14.629
  • Live as children of the light.
  • 00:10:14.629 --> 00:10:18.400
  • Allen: we have partnered with our friends tim and david barton
  • 00:10:22.604 --> 00:10:25.040
  • To make available to you a two-volume set on
  • 00:10:25.040 --> 00:10:27.809
  • American history.
  • 00:10:27.809 --> 00:10:29.144
  • It's the american story, and it focuses on the part of american
  • 00:10:29.144 --> 00:10:32.180
  • History that's been lost in much of our public education
  • 00:10:32.180 --> 00:10:34.549
  • These days.
  • 00:10:34.549 --> 00:10:35.884
  • It's god's engagement with this nation and how he brought the
  • 00:10:35.884 --> 00:10:38.820
  • American story forward.
  • 00:10:38.820 --> 00:10:40.321
  • Our nation is more than politics or republicans and democrats.
  • 00:10:40.321 --> 00:10:43.792
  • It's god working in the lives of people to shape a nation that
  • 00:10:43.792 --> 00:10:47.328
  • Had brought forth his purposes in the world.
  • 00:10:47.328 --> 00:10:49.631
  • I believe it's an important part of our faith journey this year,
  • 00:10:49.631 --> 00:10:52.567
  • And i believe the books will be a blessing to you.
  • 00:10:52.567 --> 00:10:54.936
  • Female announcer: the 250th anniversary of our nation is an
  • 00:10:54.936 --> 00:10:58.073
  • Important milestone we shouldn't rush past
  • 00:10:58.073 --> 00:11:00.108
  • Because history matters.
  • 00:11:00.108 --> 00:11:02.944
  • "the american story" is a two-volume book series that
  • 00:11:02.944 --> 00:11:05.780
  • Explores how faith, courage, and conviction helped shape the
  • 00:11:05.780 --> 00:11:09.417
  • United states from the very beginning.
  • 00:11:09.417 --> 00:11:11.853
  • Gain a greater understanding of where we've been so you can
  • 00:11:11.853 --> 00:11:14.923
  • Protect and defend our nation's biblical foundations as we
  • 00:11:14.923 --> 00:11:17.926
  • Move forward.
  • 00:11:17.926 --> 00:11:19.260
  • Request "the american story" with your gift of $50 or more at
  • 00:11:19.260 --> 00:11:22.664
  • Allenjackson.com or call...
  • 00:11:22.664 --> 00:11:28.103
  • Allen: it's very helpful to understand jesus is judge.
  • 00:11:30.905 --> 00:11:33.374
  • We've been talking a bit about the increase of lawlessness, the
  • 00:11:33.374 --> 00:11:40.782
  • Increase of the reluctance to embrace godly perspectives, that
  • 00:11:40.782 --> 00:11:45.954
  • When we cast those off--that's the word that's used in matthew
  • 00:11:45.954 --> 00:11:49.357
  • 24 for lawlessness or ungodliness.
  • 00:11:49.357 --> 00:11:52.627
  • It says it's gonna increase as we approach the end of the age,
  • 00:11:52.627 --> 00:11:55.163
  • And we see that, this almost complete rebellion against--we
  • 00:11:55.163 --> 00:11:59.334
  • Have been so rebellious against the law.
  • 00:11:59.334 --> 00:12:04.172
  • Now when there is any expression of order directed towards us,
  • 00:12:04.172 --> 00:12:07.776
  • There's a great deal of chafing at that.
  • 00:12:07.776 --> 00:12:11.346
  • I mean, we're offended.
  • 00:12:11.346 --> 00:12:12.680
  • We've shouted, "defund the police."
  • 00:12:12.680 --> 00:12:16.184
  • I mean, we've had sanctuary cities and sanctuary states and
  • 00:12:16.184 --> 00:12:19.387
  • Open borders.
  • 00:12:19.387 --> 00:12:20.955
  • And we've tried to wrap all of that as if it was a perfect
  • 00:12:20.955 --> 00:12:23.658
  • Expression of obedience and lawfulness, and it isn't.
  • 00:12:23.658 --> 00:12:29.430
  • It's blatant brazen rebellion.
  • 00:12:29.430 --> 00:12:33.768
  • "nobody can tell us what to do.
  • 00:12:33.768 --> 00:12:35.236
  • The laws can't tell us what to do.
  • 00:12:35.236 --> 00:12:39.741
  • The federal government can't tell us what to do."
  • 00:12:39.741 --> 00:12:43.244
  • So then when there's--we begin to assert just modest
  • 00:12:43.244 --> 00:12:46.815
  • Expressions of lawlessness, we lose our minds.
  • 00:12:46.815 --> 00:12:50.819
  • And you don't have to be a very astute observer to understand
  • 00:12:50.819 --> 00:12:53.588
  • That rebellion is the heart of it.
  • 00:12:53.588 --> 00:12:56.858
  • Wasn't very long ago our celebrated universities had very
  • 00:12:56.858 --> 00:13:02.363
  • Vocal protesters because of the genocide in gaza.
  • 00:13:02.363 --> 00:13:06.568
  • Remember that?
  • 00:13:06.568 --> 00:13:07.902
  • They were losing their minds at columbia and brown and harvard.
  • 00:13:07.902 --> 00:13:13.308
  • And from there, it spilled onto campuses, but i mean, the ivy
  • 00:13:13.308 --> 00:13:15.844
  • League was the center of it, those universities we used to
  • 00:13:15.844 --> 00:13:17.912
  • Celebrate, the ones that are now in decline.
  • 00:13:17.912 --> 00:13:21.716
  • It will accelerate, but you know, they are killing iranians
  • 00:13:21.716 --> 00:13:27.789
  • In the street like a carnival game.
  • 00:13:27.789 --> 00:13:31.926
  • Have you noticed any protesters?
  • 00:13:31.926 --> 00:13:36.531
  • They're absent.
  • 00:13:36.531 --> 00:13:38.600
  • We have some protesters in minnesota.
  • 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:42.370
  • I have a thought, and this one's not very godly, so they can edit
  • 00:13:42.370 --> 00:13:46.007
  • This out, but i think we should transport them to iran where
  • 00:13:46.007 --> 00:13:52.380
  • They need first-class protesters.
  • 00:13:52.380 --> 00:13:58.853
  • I have a feeling 72 hours in iran, and they'd come back and
  • 00:13:58.853 --> 00:14:01.522
  • Hug the ice agents.
  • 00:14:01.522 --> 00:14:06.294
  • But we've lost sight of authority.
  • 00:14:06.294 --> 00:14:08.396
  • Now, you know why we've done that in our culture.
  • 00:14:08.396 --> 00:14:11.199
  • We can chuckle at them, but here's the--i think the real
  • 00:14:11.199 --> 00:14:13.368
  • Awkward truth, because we've lost any sight of authority
  • 00:14:13.368 --> 00:14:16.671
  • Amongst the people of god.
  • 00:14:16.671 --> 00:14:19.440
  • We're offended at the thought that god would be our judge.
  • 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:25.179
  • We'll talk a great deal about his grace and his mercy, and
  • 00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:27.448
  • Those are true aspects of his character, but they're not the
  • 00:14:27.448 --> 00:14:30.652
  • Full aspect of his character.
  • 00:14:30.652 --> 00:14:31.986
  • He's also our judge.
  • 00:14:31.986 --> 00:14:34.722
  • And while we all are familiar with the parable of the prodigal
  • 00:14:34.722 --> 00:14:38.726
  • Son, it's not the only parable, and one parable does not fit our
  • 00:14:38.726 --> 00:14:44.766
  • Entire life.
  • 00:14:44.766 --> 00:14:47.535
  • We'll have to look at the parable of the stewards and the
  • 00:14:47.535 --> 00:14:50.838
  • Talents and the ones that were thrown into outer darkness,
  • 00:14:50.838 --> 00:14:53.608
  • 'cause they did nothing.
  • 00:14:53.608 --> 00:14:56.811
  • They didn't do something.
  • 00:14:56.811 --> 00:14:58.713
  • They did nothing.
  • 00:14:58.713 --> 00:15:01.015
  • They were removed from the presence of god because of
  • 00:15:01.015 --> 00:15:03.985
  • Ambivalence, indifference.
  • 00:15:03.985 --> 00:15:08.489
  • We can talk about the parables of those waiting for the arrival
  • 00:15:08.489 --> 00:15:11.392
  • Of the bridegroom, and they weren't prepared, and they
  • 00:15:11.392 --> 00:15:18.766
  • Forfeited their opportunity forever.
  • 00:15:18.766 --> 00:15:23.604
  • Lots of parables.
  • 00:15:23.604 --> 00:15:26.174
  • Jesus is our judge, and we can't afford to treat him
  • 00:15:26.174 --> 00:15:31.612
  • Too casually.
  • 00:15:31.612 --> 00:15:34.015
  • Doesn't mean you don't love him.
  • 00:15:34.015 --> 00:15:36.217
  • Doesn't mean you don't understand he's kind.
  • 00:15:36.217 --> 00:15:38.586
  • Doesn't mean you're not dependent upon his strength.
  • 00:15:38.586 --> 00:15:41.122
  • You just can't--being casual is not always an expression
  • 00:15:41.122 --> 00:15:45.960
  • Of respect.
  • 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:48.229
  • I've used the example many times, but in my mind,
  • 00:15:48.229 --> 00:15:50.999
  • It's real.
  • 00:15:50.999 --> 00:15:52.333
  • I grew up around horses, and they were frightening to me when
  • 00:15:52.333 --> 00:15:54.936
  • I was young.
  • 00:15:54.936 --> 00:15:56.304
  • But my father wasn't afraid of them, and he--with some
  • 00:15:56.304 --> 00:15:59.173
  • Instruction and determination, they're not frightening to me.
  • 00:15:59.173 --> 00:16:04.712
  • And if you've never been locked in a 10x10 box with a 1,200
  • 00:16:04.712 --> 00:16:08.850
  • Pound horse, you don't understand, because seeing
  • 00:16:08.850 --> 00:16:12.286
  • A horse from the windshield of your car as you're blasting down
  • 00:16:12.286 --> 00:16:15.189
  • The interstate is not really proximity to a horse.
  • 00:16:15.189 --> 00:16:21.729
  • You know, seeing a pony at the carnival, that's not what i'm
  • 00:16:21.729 --> 00:16:26.234
  • Talking about.
  • 00:16:26.234 --> 00:16:27.702
  • I'm talking about about a 1,200-pound animal in a ten by
  • 00:16:27.702 --> 00:16:30.638
  • Ten room where the footing is not secure, there's no lights,
  • 00:16:30.638 --> 00:16:35.410
  • The door is closed, and it has an attitude.
  • 00:16:35.410 --> 00:16:39.747
  • But they don't frighten me because i learned how to
  • 00:16:39.747 --> 00:16:43.551
  • Navigate that setting, and it's okay.
  • 00:16:43.551 --> 00:16:47.088
  • Having said that, i would not walk up behind a horse, pull his
  • 00:16:47.088 --> 00:16:53.361
  • Tail, and go, "hey!"
  • 00:16:53.361 --> 00:17:00.068
  • I mean, that horse might be my best friend.
  • 00:17:00.068 --> 00:17:02.370
  • I might have worked with it every day for a decade, and he
  • 00:17:02.370 --> 00:17:04.772
  • Would send me to the hospital.
  • 00:17:04.772 --> 00:17:09.477
  • It's a matter of respect.
  • 00:17:09.477 --> 00:17:11.679
  • And if you'll allow me to a very significant extent, we have lost
  • 00:17:11.679 --> 00:17:16.284
  • Our respect for god.
  • 00:17:16.284 --> 00:17:19.987
  • If you tell a lie, you didn't misremember.
  • 00:17:19.987 --> 00:17:24.358
  • You lied.
  • 00:17:24.358 --> 00:17:32.033
  • If we will bring jesus back to that place of authority in our
  • 00:17:32.033 --> 00:17:36.504
  • Lives, i believe we will see authority be embraced in our
  • 00:17:36.504 --> 00:17:40.441
  • Broader--in our schools again, in our universities, in our
  • 00:17:40.441 --> 00:17:45.113
  • Communities, in our neighborhoods.
  • 00:17:45.113 --> 00:17:47.115
  • The church has a leadership role, and we capitulated long
  • 00:17:47.115 --> 00:17:53.688
  • Before the secular culture did.
  • 00:17:53.688 --> 00:17:56.190
  • Psalm 2 on verse 10 says, "therefore, you kings, be wise;
  • 00:17:56.190 --> 00:18:01.562
  • Be warned, you rulers of the earth.
  • 00:18:01.562 --> 00:18:03.231
  • Serve the lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.
  • 00:18:03.231 --> 00:18:06.767
  • Kiss the son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your
  • 00:18:06.767 --> 00:18:09.837
  • Way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
  • 00:18:09.837 --> 00:18:13.441
  • Blessed are all who take refuge in him."
  • 00:18:13.441 --> 00:18:15.743
  • He's talking about my boss.
  • 00:18:15.743 --> 00:18:19.447
  • And he said, "you better be friendly because he could
  • 00:18:19.447 --> 00:18:22.483
  • Get angry."
  • 00:18:22.483 --> 00:18:25.987
  • I don't want you to shrink in dread of god, but i want you to
  • 00:18:25.987 --> 00:18:31.526
  • Have respect for him.
  • 00:18:31.526 --> 00:18:34.896
  • Jesus himself said, "the father judges no one, but he's
  • 00:18:34.896 --> 00:18:37.265
  • Entrusted all judgment to the son."
  • 00:18:37.265 --> 00:18:39.467
  • Jesus is our judge.
  • 00:18:39.467 --> 00:18:41.335
  • There are behaviors that if you practice them, disqualify you
  • 00:18:41.335 --> 00:18:45.973
  • From the kingdom of god.
  • 00:18:45.973 --> 00:18:50.144
  • I'm gonna say it again.
  • 00:18:50.144 --> 00:18:51.479
  • There are behaviors that if you make them your practice, your
  • 00:18:51.479 --> 00:18:55.316
  • Habit, they disqualify you from the kingdom of god.
  • 00:18:55.316 --> 00:19:04.158
  • It's not a new problem.
  • 00:19:04.158 --> 00:19:05.526
  • Jesus talked to the religious leaders of his day.
  • 00:19:05.526 --> 00:19:08.196
  • They're biblical scholars and experts.
  • 00:19:08.196 --> 00:19:10.531
  • They're keeping all these religious rules, and he says to
  • 00:19:10.531 --> 00:19:14.001
  • Them, "you are of your father, the devil.
  • 00:19:14.001 --> 00:19:18.539
  • Don't say to yourselves, 'we have abraham as our father.'
  • 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:21.008
  • God can make children of abraham out of the rocks."
  • 00:19:21.008 --> 00:19:24.679
  • And we have this tendency to say, "well, i'm born again.
  • 00:19:24.679 --> 00:19:28.049
  • I said the prayer, and i've been baptized, and i sit in church
  • 00:19:28.049 --> 00:19:30.618
  • Once in a while."
  • 00:19:30.618 --> 00:19:31.986
  • You cannot reject the boundaries that god gives us as a matter of
  • 00:19:31.986 --> 00:19:37.091
  • Habit and imagine you are at peace with god.
  • 00:19:37.091 --> 00:19:45.366
  • I don't want you to be frightened of that.
  • 00:19:45.366 --> 00:19:48.236
  • Colossians 3, verse 5, you've got it--says, "put to death,
  • 00:19:48.236 --> 00:19:52.373
  • Therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual
  • 00:19:52.373 --> 00:19:56.310
  • Immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed.
  • 00:19:56.310 --> 00:20:00.147
  • Because of these, the wrath of god is coming.
  • 00:20:00.147 --> 00:20:02.984
  • You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
  • 00:20:02.984 --> 00:20:06.554
  • But now you must rid yourselves of all such things."
  • 00:20:06.554 --> 00:20:11.292
  • And he gives us another sample set: "anger, rage, malice,
  • 00:20:11.292 --> 00:20:13.961
  • Slander, filthy language."
  • 00:20:13.961 --> 00:20:16.731
  • We don't even consider that list to be very problematic.
  • 00:20:16.731 --> 00:20:21.636
  • Anger, malice, rage, slander.
  • 00:20:21.636 --> 00:20:25.339
  • "we don't gossip or slander.
  • 00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:26.907
  • We just share prayer requests."
  • 00:20:26.907 --> 00:20:32.079
  • "don't lie to each other, since you've taken off your old selves
  • 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:34.882
  • With its practices, and you've put on the new self, which is
  • 00:20:34.882 --> 00:20:37.918
  • Being renewed in the knowledge of--in the image of
  • 00:20:37.918 --> 00:20:39.887
  • Its creator.
  • 00:20:39.887 --> 00:20:42.156
  • Here--" here, where?
  • 00:20:42.156 --> 00:20:44.225
  • In christ, when you've put to death your earthly nature, in
  • 00:20:44.225 --> 00:20:49.430
  • That space, in that attitude, in that commitment, "there's
  • 00:20:49.430 --> 00:20:53.334
  • Neither greek or jew, circumcised or uncircumcised,
  • 00:20:53.334 --> 00:20:56.237
  • Barbarian, scythian, slave or free.
  • 00:20:56.237 --> 00:20:58.706
  • Christ is all and in all."
  • 00:20:58.706 --> 00:21:01.042
  • So if you're putting your trust in any of those other things,
  • 00:21:01.042 --> 00:21:03.277
  • Your genetics, your physical obedience to rules, you're
  • 00:21:03.277 --> 00:21:08.582
  • Setting aside who you are in christ, but to be in christ,
  • 00:21:08.582 --> 00:21:12.053
  • We have to put to death our earthly nature.
  • 00:21:12.053 --> 00:21:16.023
  • That's not for super christians or hyper christians or extra
  • 00:21:16.023 --> 00:21:19.360
  • Special christians.
  • 00:21:19.360 --> 00:21:22.596
  • Again, we don't--it's not a conversation that's wrapped
  • 00:21:22.596 --> 00:21:26.667
  • In anger.
  • 00:21:26.667 --> 00:21:28.803
  • It's an explanation of what it means to participate in the
  • 00:21:28.803 --> 00:21:31.238
  • Kingdom of god.
  • 00:21:31.238 --> 00:21:33.374
  • And the wonderful news, the good news is god's eliminated the
  • 00:21:33.374 --> 00:21:39.180
  • Question, the doubt.
  • 00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:40.514
  • He said, "here, this is the pathway.
  • 00:21:40.514 --> 00:21:43.651
  • Put to death that old carnal nature."
  • 00:21:43.651 --> 00:21:46.620
  • "do not be deceived," paul said, "those who live like this will
  • 00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:49.957
  • Not inherit the kingdom of god."
  • 00:21:49.957 --> 00:21:52.693
  • "i warn you as i've warned you before," he said.
  • 00:21:52.693 --> 00:21:56.197
  • I mean, it's a persistent theme all through the book, and to
  • 00:21:56.197 --> 00:22:00.868
  • A great extent, we've almost lost the messaging.
  • 00:22:00.868 --> 00:22:04.205
  • You know, when hezekiah was king, they lost the bible.
  • 00:22:04.205 --> 00:22:08.042
  • They lost the torah.
  • 00:22:08.042 --> 00:22:10.277
  • They don't know really how they--they hid it in the wall
  • 00:22:10.277 --> 00:22:12.113
  • In the temple.
  • 00:22:12.113 --> 00:22:13.447
  • I suspect there was some threat coming, and they were afraid
  • 00:22:13.447 --> 00:22:16.050
  • That it would be found and destroyed.
  • 00:22:16.050 --> 00:22:18.219
  • They didn't have printing presses, and so they hid it
  • 00:22:18.219 --> 00:22:20.054
  • In the wall, and their behavior was abysmal.
  • 00:22:20.054 --> 00:22:22.723
  • And they found--they were renovating the temple, and they
  • 00:22:22.723 --> 00:22:25.192
  • Found the book.
  • 00:22:25.192 --> 00:22:27.862
  • And when they read it, they tore their clothes and wept and said,
  • 00:22:27.862 --> 00:22:30.931
  • "dear god, we're not even close to compliant."
  • 00:22:30.931 --> 00:22:36.203
  • And god is waking us up, the lights are coming on, and we're
  • 00:22:36.203 --> 00:22:38.606
  • Like, "ugh, we're not even close to compliant."
  • 00:22:38.606 --> 00:22:45.379
  • I brought you a sample.
  • 00:22:45.379 --> 00:22:46.747
  • We're reading through matthew.
  • 00:22:46.747 --> 00:22:49.216
  • And so we've just read these passages, and i thought they
  • 00:22:49.216 --> 00:22:51.685
  • Were insightful.
  • 00:22:51.685 --> 00:22:53.487
  • I'm not gonna have time for a lot of commentary.
  • 00:22:53.487 --> 00:22:55.556
  • We won't read it all, but i wanna touch it because jesus's
  • 00:22:55.556 --> 00:22:58.492
  • Words are so different than-- and maybe this was just me.
  • 00:22:58.492 --> 00:23:03.164
  • I don't think--it is, but i spent a lot of time in church.
  • 00:23:03.164 --> 00:23:06.133
  • I listened to lots of discussions and read a lot of
  • 00:23:06.133 --> 00:23:08.536
  • Articles and read a lot of books, and jesus is presented as
  • 00:23:08.536 --> 00:23:12.840
  • Kind of this very--even when we portray him in film, you know,
  • 00:23:12.840 --> 00:23:15.543
  • He's this kind of misty-eyed-- you know, he's got kind of
  • 00:23:15.543 --> 00:23:19.713
  • A goofy look on his face, right?
  • 00:23:19.713 --> 00:23:23.584
  • I mean, you know, and he almost whispers.
  • 00:23:23.584 --> 00:23:30.224
  • I want you--listen to jesus for a minute.
  • 00:23:30.224 --> 00:23:33.527
  • These are jesus's words.
  • 00:23:33.527 --> 00:23:34.862
  • "when they crossed over, they landed at gennesaret."
  • 00:23:34.862 --> 00:23:37.965
  • It's a village on the northern end of the sea of galilee
  • 00:23:37.965 --> 00:23:41.135
  • Between capernaum and tiberius, right over there, near magdala,
  • 00:23:41.135 --> 00:23:44.705
  • Where mary magdalene came from.
  • 00:23:44.705 --> 00:23:47.842
  • There's a kibbutz there today.
  • 00:23:47.842 --> 00:23:50.845
  • "and when the men of that place recognized jesus, they sent word
  • 00:23:50.845 --> 00:23:53.614
  • To all the surrounding country.
  • 00:23:53.614 --> 00:23:55.816
  • And people brought all their sick to him and begged him to
  • 00:23:55.816 --> 00:23:58.185
  • Let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak."
  • 00:23:58.185 --> 00:24:02.156
  • And i believe that's an accurate description.
  • 00:24:02.156 --> 00:24:03.924
  • They brought the sick from all the surrounding region, and they
  • 00:24:03.924 --> 00:24:06.994
  • Just begged jesus not to pray for the people, not to lay hands
  • 00:24:06.994 --> 00:24:12.066
  • On them, not to give them his attention, just to let them
  • 00:24:12.066 --> 00:24:16.003
  • Touch the hem of his cloak.
  • 00:24:16.003 --> 00:24:20.608
  • Are you offended yet?
  • 00:24:20.608 --> 00:24:24.979
  • "and all who touched him were healed.
  • 00:24:24.979 --> 00:24:27.915
  • And some of the pharisees and the teachers of the law came to
  • 00:24:27.915 --> 00:24:30.217
  • Jesus from jerusalem and they said, 'why do your disciples
  • 00:24:30.217 --> 00:24:33.621
  • Break the tradition of the elders?
  • 00:24:33.621 --> 00:24:35.890
  • They don't wash their hands before they eat!'"
  • 00:24:35.890 --> 00:24:39.593
  • Well, there you go.
  • 00:24:39.593 --> 00:24:42.029
  • You need that statement in its context.
  • 00:24:42.029 --> 00:24:45.466
  • They're bringing the sick people from all over the region not for
  • 00:24:45.466 --> 00:24:49.069
  • Jesus to pray for them personally, not to minister to
  • 00:24:49.069 --> 00:24:51.472
  • Them personally.
  • 00:24:51.472 --> 00:24:52.806
  • Jesus is demonstrating an authority over sickness and
  • 00:24:52.806 --> 00:24:54.808
  • Disease that is a different expression of god's power than
  • 00:24:54.808 --> 00:24:58.045
  • That generation is familiar with.
  • 00:24:58.045 --> 00:25:01.415
  • The people of god have been-- had these expressions of god's
  • 00:25:01.415 --> 00:25:03.784
  • Power in the past.
  • 00:25:03.784 --> 00:25:06.387
  • When naaman came to the prophet and said, "i--you know,
  • 00:25:06.387 --> 00:25:08.522
  • I have leprosy.
  • 00:25:08.522 --> 00:25:09.857
  • I want to be cured," and naaman said, "oh, go dip yourself in
  • 00:25:09.857 --> 00:25:11.625
  • The jordan river."
  • 00:25:11.625 --> 00:25:13.661
  • And he did, and he was made clean.
  • 00:25:13.661 --> 00:25:16.830
  • Or in exodus 15, when god said through moses, "if you'll obey
  • 00:25:16.830 --> 00:25:19.833
  • Me and do everything i command you, i'll put none of the
  • 00:25:19.833 --> 00:25:22.269
  • Diseases on you that i put on the egyptians."
  • 00:25:22.269 --> 00:25:25.372
  • I mean, the list goes on and on.
  • 00:25:25.372 --> 00:25:26.807
  • Elijah, elisha, hezekiah was sick and gonna die, and
  • 00:25:26.807 --> 00:25:30.077
  • Hezekiah prayed.
  • 00:25:30.077 --> 00:25:31.445
  • And he sent isaiah the prophet, said, "no, you're gonna live."
  • 00:25:31.445 --> 00:25:33.080
  • So the people of god were familiar with these expressions.
  • 00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:36.050
  • They were in their portfolio.
  • 00:25:36.050 --> 00:25:37.484
  • They were in their family albums.
  • 00:25:37.484 --> 00:25:40.154
  • They believed in that, but they had lost the imagination of it
  • 00:25:40.154 --> 00:25:43.157
  • In that generation.
  • 00:25:43.157 --> 00:25:45.059
  • Gee, could that be familiar?
  • 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:48.429
  • We'll talk about biblical miracles or what jesus did or
  • 00:25:48.429 --> 00:25:51.632
  • What the prophets did or what somebody did.
  • 00:25:51.632 --> 00:25:54.401
  • But we roll it into the 21st century, we go, "well, now we
  • 00:25:54.401 --> 00:25:59.773
  • Have healthcare."
  • 00:25:59.773 --> 00:26:03.978
  • They'd lost that imagination.
  • 00:26:03.978 --> 00:26:08.449
  • Allen: hey, this is not just the beginning of another year.
  • 00:26:12.653 --> 00:26:15.255
  • This is the beginning of the 250th anniversary of our nation.
  • 00:26:15.255 --> 00:26:18.993
  • This is a very special year.
  • 00:26:18.993 --> 00:26:20.894
  • It's god's story.
  • 00:26:20.894 --> 00:26:22.229
  • This isn't about national politics or economics or
  • 00:26:22.229 --> 00:26:25.799
  • Chest thumping.
  • 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:27.134
  • This is an acknowledgement that god works in the history of
  • 00:26:27.134 --> 00:26:29.703
  • People and nations.
  • 00:26:29.703 --> 00:26:31.605
  • Well, most of us don't care a lot about history, so we
  • 00:26:31.605 --> 00:26:33.607
  • Partnered with some of our good friends, wallbuilders, tim and
  • 00:26:33.607 --> 00:26:36.343
  • David barton.
  • 00:26:36.343 --> 00:26:37.711
  • They have the best on this topic.
  • 00:26:37.711 --> 00:26:39.046
  • It's a two-volume set on "the american story."
  • 00:26:39.046 --> 00:26:41.548
  • It'll help us understand god's engagement in american history.
  • 00:26:41.548 --> 00:26:46.086
  • We've lost most of this in our public schools and certainly in
  • 00:26:46.086 --> 00:26:48.722
  • Higher education.
  • 00:26:48.722 --> 00:26:50.057
  • We gotta start back with our families around the kitchen
  • 00:26:50.057 --> 00:26:52.226
  • Table, learning how god has been engaged with us so we can
  • 00:26:52.226 --> 00:26:55.262
  • Imagine a future that includes god.
  • 00:26:55.262 --> 00:26:57.898
  • Let's pray and ask for his help.
  • 00:26:57.898 --> 00:27:00.034
  • Father, i thank you.
  • 00:27:00.034 --> 00:27:01.368
  • I believe you have blessed our nation and caused us to
  • 00:27:01.368 --> 00:27:03.237
  • Flourish, and i pray that this year you would open our hearts
  • 00:27:03.237 --> 00:27:06.206
  • To what you have still ahead of us, that we might invite you
  • 00:27:06.206 --> 00:27:10.044
  • Into our homes, our communities, and into this nation's future.
  • 00:27:10.044 --> 00:27:13.580
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:13.580 --> 00:27:15.315
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:15.315 --> 00:27:27.361