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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Run With the Horses (Part 2)

July 18, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Run With the Horses (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Pastors #Encouragement #RelationshipwithGod #TrustGod #Faith #Grace #Hope #WalkwithGod

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Run With the Horses (Part 2) | July 18, 2025
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: and i know you know, but we're living in
  • 00:00:06.456 --> 00:00:08.158
  • A chaotic world, things are changing globally.
  • 00:00:08.158 --> 00:00:10.727
  • There's wars, there's threats of war, a lot of stuff happening.
  • 00:00:10.727 --> 00:00:15.198
  • But i wanna make a suggestion, don't focus on the negative,
  • 00:00:15.198 --> 00:00:18.068
  • Don't get caught up in the uncertainty.
  • 00:00:18.068 --> 00:00:20.703
  • That'll bring fear and anxiety and worry.
  • 00:00:20.703 --> 00:00:23.673
  • It's not helpful.
  • 00:00:23.673 --> 00:00:25.008
  • Let's determine to focus our attention on the lord.
  • 00:00:25.008 --> 00:00:28.044
  • We've created a tool that i believe will make a difference.
  • 00:00:28.044 --> 00:00:30.313
  • It's called, "awaken us."
  • 00:00:30.313 --> 00:00:31.948
  • It's a 30 day plan.
  • 00:00:31.948 --> 00:00:33.716
  • Each day is directed at a different topic
  • 00:00:33.716 --> 00:00:36.119
  • That's a part of our current world.
  • 00:00:36.119 --> 00:00:38.254
  • It gives us a verse of scripture, a little devotional
  • 00:00:38.254 --> 00:00:40.256
  • Around that topic.
  • 00:00:40.256 --> 00:00:41.591
  • And then a prayer for that specific thing.
  • 00:00:41.591 --> 00:00:43.960
  • The idea is we're gonna give the holy spirit an invitation
  • 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:47.163
  • To awaken us to a new place of faith.
  • 00:00:47.163 --> 00:00:50.600
  • You know, we need an awakening in the midst
  • 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:52.635
  • Of the people of god.
  • 00:00:52.635 --> 00:00:53.970
  • And we wanna say, "well, i am awake."
  • 00:00:53.970 --> 00:00:55.338
  • Well, i get that, but, you know, i was awakened yesterday.
  • 00:00:55.338 --> 00:00:58.508
  • But this morning i was awakened again, and my prayer is
  • 00:00:58.508 --> 00:01:00.844
  • Tomorrow i'll be awakened yet again.
  • 00:01:00.844 --> 00:01:03.413
  • We need a daily awakening by the spirit of god
  • 00:01:03.413 --> 00:01:06.349
  • To find his best for us in this season.
  • 00:01:06.349 --> 00:01:08.985
  • And i believe this book will help you.
  • 00:01:08.985 --> 00:01:14.157
  • Allen: i want to begin with just a simple reminder that i hope
  • 00:01:18.361 --> 00:01:20.730
  • Will give you some sense of relief that you're not alone,
  • 00:01:20.730 --> 00:01:24.534
  • That we're not left to ourselves.
  • 00:01:24.534 --> 00:01:26.236
  • There's a phrase used by in the scripture with regard to the
  • 00:01:26.236 --> 00:01:28.938
  • Lord in psalm 46, and verse 7, it says, "the lord of hosts is
  • 00:01:28.938 --> 00:01:33.943
  • With us; the god of jacob is our stronghold."
  • 00:01:33.943 --> 00:01:38.314
  • It's not as plain in english.
  • 00:01:38.314 --> 00:01:40.817
  • It's a bit more poetic.
  • 00:01:40.817 --> 00:01:42.352
  • I think it's really intended to be less confrontational, but the
  • 00:01:42.352 --> 00:01:46.322
  • Hebrew word is the lord of the armies.
  • 00:01:46.322 --> 00:01:49.125
  • It's the modern hebrew word for army, the lord of the armies,
  • 00:01:49.125 --> 00:01:54.230
  • The lord of the angel armies is with us.
  • 00:01:54.230 --> 00:01:58.568
  • You'll need to say that a bit.
  • 00:01:58.568 --> 00:01:59.903
  • You'll need to walk around with it and live with it.
  • 00:01:59.903 --> 00:02:01.804
  • You'll need to drive to work tomorrow.
  • 00:02:01.804 --> 00:02:03.173
  • When the lord of the angel armies is with me, you'll need
  • 00:02:03.173 --> 00:02:06.976
  • To face the challenges that fill your life.
  • 00:02:06.976 --> 00:02:08.912
  • Saying to yourself, i know that i'm promised that the lord of
  • 00:02:08.912 --> 00:02:12.248
  • The angel armies is with me.
  • 00:02:12.248 --> 00:02:14.651
  • We're not by ourselves.
  • 00:02:14.651 --> 00:02:17.320
  • There are things we can do, there are things we're
  • 00:02:17.320 --> 00:02:18.888
  • Capable of.
  • 00:02:18.888 --> 00:02:20.256
  • There are assignments we're asked to take.
  • 00:02:20.256 --> 00:02:22.258
  • But at the end of the day, we're dependent upon the lord of host,
  • 00:02:22.258 --> 00:02:25.762
  • The lord of the angel armies.
  • 00:02:25.762 --> 00:02:28.231
  • Look at isaiah 2, "for the lord of hosts will have a day
  • 00:02:28.231 --> 00:02:31.935
  • Of reckoning.
  • 00:02:31.935 --> 00:02:33.803
  • Against everyone who is proud and lofty and against everyone
  • 00:02:33.803 --> 00:02:37.707
  • Who is lifted up, that they may be abased."
  • 00:02:37.707 --> 00:02:41.344
  • Says the lord of the armies will have a day of reckoning and
  • 00:02:41.344 --> 00:02:45.682
  • Everyone who has stood against him will be abased.
  • 00:02:45.682 --> 00:02:49.252
  • It's kind of a fancy way of being made low.
  • 00:02:49.252 --> 00:02:52.689
  • They're gonna get their legs swept and who's
  • 00:02:52.689 --> 00:02:56.826
  • Their opposition?
  • 00:02:56.826 --> 00:02:58.761
  • The lord of the angel armies.
  • 00:02:58.761 --> 00:03:01.164
  • There's a picture of it in the book of revelation.
  • 00:03:01.164 --> 00:03:04.968
  • I don't have the verbal skills, but john describes a scene that
  • 00:03:04.968 --> 00:03:08.671
  • He saw and it's truly remarkable.
  • 00:03:08.671 --> 00:03:10.673
  • He said, i looked and i heard the voice of many angels,
  • 00:03:10.673 --> 00:03:14.143
  • Numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand
  • 00:03:14.143 --> 00:03:17.146
  • Times ten thousand.
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  • A hundred million angels.
  • 00:03:18.681 --> 00:03:22.018
  • Hello?
  • 00:03:22.018 --> 00:03:24.387
  • I mean in broad terms, about a third of the population of
  • 00:03:24.387 --> 00:03:27.390
  • The us.
  • 00:03:27.390 --> 00:03:28.725
  • You can't see them all in one setting.
  • 00:03:28.725 --> 00:03:32.128
  • You need a drone overfly.
  • 00:03:32.128 --> 00:03:36.065
  • You need something to bring perspective, horizon to horizon,
  • 00:03:36.065 --> 00:03:39.969
  • Disappearing into the horizon before you.
  • 00:03:39.969 --> 00:03:44.207
  • The angels of god, "in a loud voice they sang: 'worthy is the
  • 00:03:44.207 --> 00:03:51.981
  • Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom
  • 00:03:51.981 --> 00:03:57.020
  • And strength and honor and glory and praise!'"
  • 00:03:57.020 --> 00:04:04.127
  • All of those things he intends to express through his people.
  • 00:04:04.127 --> 00:04:07.930
  • So please don't be offended by any of them.
  • 00:04:07.930 --> 00:04:11.668
  • If they're not inappropriate for our lord, and i don't think we
  • 00:04:11.668 --> 00:04:15.672
  • Should imagine and they're inappropriate when they're given
  • 00:04:15.672 --> 00:04:17.940
  • Expression in our lives.
  • 00:04:17.940 --> 00:04:20.443
  • We get mad at one another about some weird things, "then i heard
  • 00:04:20.443 --> 00:04:24.580
  • Every creature in heaven on earth and under the earth and on
  • 00:04:24.580 --> 00:04:27.116
  • The sea, and all that in them, singing: 'to him who sits on the
  • 00:04:27.116 --> 00:04:30.019
  • Throne and to the lamb be praise and honor and glory and power,
  • 00:04:30.019 --> 00:04:34.157
  • For ever and ever!'
  • 00:04:34.157 --> 00:04:36.292
  • And the four living creatures said, 'amen,' and the elders
  • 00:04:36.292 --> 00:04:39.729
  • Fell down and worshiped."
  • 00:04:39.729 --> 00:04:41.264
  • And i want to ask a question.
  • 00:04:41.264 --> 00:04:42.598
  • You've got this amazing scene, millions upon millions
  • 00:04:42.598 --> 00:04:46.436
  • Of angels.
  • 00:04:46.436 --> 00:04:49.105
  • Folks, there would be no reason for angel armies if there is
  • 00:04:49.105 --> 00:04:53.376
  • No resistance.
  • 00:04:53.376 --> 00:04:59.215
  • We have rather naively and politely, i might add, ignored
  • 00:04:59.215 --> 00:05:03.786
  • The powerful influences of evil.
  • 00:05:03.786 --> 00:05:06.723
  • We just wanna act like it doesn't exist.
  • 00:05:06.723 --> 00:05:09.492
  • After all it might be offensive to say, well, that's evil.
  • 00:05:09.492 --> 00:05:13.196
  • The reason we have scripture and we can derive from that
  • 00:05:13.196 --> 00:05:16.299
  • A biblical world view, is god helps us understand good
  • 00:05:16.299 --> 00:05:19.635
  • And evil.
  • 00:05:19.635 --> 00:05:20.970
  • It's not about our opinion.
  • 00:05:20.970 --> 00:05:22.972
  • You understand that?
  • 00:05:22.972 --> 00:05:24.340
  • Because you and i have participated in things that were
  • 00:05:24.340 --> 00:05:25.675
  • Ungodly and we came up with a rationale that convinced us, it
  • 00:05:25.675 --> 00:05:28.244
  • Was okay for us to do it.
  • 00:05:28.244 --> 00:05:31.547
  • And when god in his mercy enables us to come back to our
  • 00:05:31.547 --> 00:05:33.883
  • Senses, we repent of those things and say, god, i'm sorry.
  • 00:05:33.883 --> 00:05:37.820
  • I chose wrongly.
  • 00:05:37.820 --> 00:05:39.188
  • I wanna go another way.
  • 00:05:39.188 --> 00:05:40.523
  • If you chase those things without limit, you find yourself
  • 00:05:40.523 --> 00:05:43.893
  • Standing in the midst of evil.
  • 00:05:43.893 --> 00:05:46.763
  • And jesus told us the outcome of evil.
  • 00:05:46.763 --> 00:05:48.598
  • He said, evil comes to steal, to kill and destroy every time.
  • 00:05:48.598 --> 00:05:52.335
  • You don't negotiate with evil, you don't compromise with evil,
  • 00:05:52.335 --> 00:05:57.273
  • You don't enter into dialogue with evil.
  • 00:05:57.273 --> 00:05:59.308
  • The only thing evil will yield to is a power greater
  • 00:05:59.308 --> 00:06:01.511
  • Than itself.
  • 00:06:01.511 --> 00:06:03.312
  • It's why the church is essential.
  • 00:06:03.312 --> 00:06:04.814
  • It's why a church that believes in angel armies is essential.
  • 00:06:04.814 --> 00:06:08.217
  • It's why a spiritual church matters.
  • 00:06:08.217 --> 00:06:10.219
  • We're not a bible studies society.
  • 00:06:10.219 --> 00:06:11.687
  • Again, i love to learn, but we're more than that.
  • 00:06:11.687 --> 00:06:14.824
  • And we have naively ignored the powerful influences of evil
  • 00:06:14.824 --> 00:06:18.060
  • Too long.
  • 00:06:18.060 --> 00:06:19.395
  • They are burgeoning around us.
  • 00:06:19.395 --> 00:06:20.730
  • You don't have to travel to see them.
  • 00:06:20.730 --> 00:06:24.066
  • When we have left evil to be the responsibility of governments,
  • 00:06:24.066 --> 00:06:27.970
  • Of armies, of first responders, we put people in uniform and say
  • 00:06:27.970 --> 00:06:31.974
  • Go stop evil.
  • 00:06:31.974 --> 00:06:34.877
  • And when they don't do it the way we like, we say, we're gonna
  • 00:06:34.877 --> 00:06:36.779
  • To defund you.
  • 00:06:36.779 --> 00:06:39.549
  • And somebody has the audacity to stand up and say, the ones
  • 00:06:39.549 --> 00:06:42.785
  • Responding to evil have caused it.
  • 00:06:42.785 --> 00:06:46.556
  • And if we'll just talk nicely, evil will go away.
  • 00:06:46.556 --> 00:06:50.126
  • What in human history suggests
  • 00:06:50.126 --> 00:06:52.361
  • That's the truth?
  • 00:06:52.361 --> 00:06:54.230
  • Nothing is the answer.
  • 00:06:54.230 --> 00:06:57.400
  • I can walk you through generations, and empires, and
  • 00:06:57.400 --> 00:07:00.970
  • Nations, and cultures.
  • 00:07:00.970 --> 00:07:04.440
  • And they have had the audacity to stand in front of us and say,
  • 00:07:04.440 --> 00:07:08.044
  • If you'll just be polite, evil will yield.
  • 00:07:08.044 --> 00:07:11.380
  • It's a trick.
  • 00:07:11.380 --> 00:07:14.884
  • It's a lie.
  • 00:07:14.884 --> 00:07:21.324
  • And i can make it more personal.
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  • We should not require the government to say that
  • 00:07:22.825 --> 00:07:25.294
  • Pornography doesn't belong in the elementary school libraries.
  • 00:07:25.294 --> 00:07:29.699
  • I mean, i'd be happy for them to say it, but we shouldn't make it
  • 00:07:29.699 --> 00:07:32.301
  • Their requirement.
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  • Here's just the simple truth.
  • 00:07:33.636 --> 00:07:35.037
  • Schools should not be sexualizing our elementary
  • 00:07:35.037 --> 00:07:37.340
  • Children beyond the reach of their parents.
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  • They should not.
  • 00:07:39.275 --> 00:07:45.414
  • And for those of you that are still sorting it out, this is
  • 00:07:45.414 --> 00:07:47.650
  • Not about banning books.
  • 00:07:47.650 --> 00:07:51.287
  • That is a false statement.
  • 00:07:51.287 --> 00:07:53.322
  • It's deceptive.
  • 00:07:53.322 --> 00:07:54.690
  • It's manipulative.
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  • This is about age appropriate opportunities.
  • 00:07:56.025 --> 00:07:58.895
  • We don't sell alcohol in elementary schools nor do we
  • 00:07:58.895 --> 00:08:03.132
  • Teach drivers ed.
  • 00:08:03.132 --> 00:08:05.201
  • It's not because the children aren't uniquely talented, or
  • 00:08:05.201 --> 00:08:07.770
  • Qualified, or have wonderful potential.
  • 00:08:07.770 --> 00:08:10.540
  • They haven't developed a physical and emotional maturity
  • 00:08:10.540 --> 00:08:13.042
  • To deal with those responsibilities.
  • 00:08:13.042 --> 00:08:15.678
  • So why would we expose them to sexually explicit material apart
  • 00:08:15.678 --> 00:08:24.520
  • From parental in involvement?
  • 00:08:24.520 --> 00:08:26.422
  • It's evil.
  • 00:08:26.422 --> 00:08:28.758
  • And why would we elect people who promote such things?
  • 00:08:28.758 --> 00:08:33.162
  • What has happened to us?
  • 00:08:33.162 --> 00:08:36.198
  • What has happened to us?
  • 00:08:37.066 --> 00:08:41.270
  • We've got to be ready to run with the horses.
  • 00:08:41.270 --> 00:08:44.173
  • Don't forget the lord of hosts folks.
  • 00:08:44.173 --> 00:08:46.108
  • There is a day of reckoning.
  • 00:08:46.108 --> 00:08:49.011
  • And if you're silent, you will not like the outcome on the day
  • 00:08:49.011 --> 00:08:51.914
  • Of reckoning.
  • 00:08:51.914 --> 00:08:54.383
  • If you're doing our bible reading with us, we're in
  • 00:08:54.383 --> 00:08:56.586
  • The gospel of luke.
  • 00:08:56.586 --> 00:08:58.187
  • Then i read a verse.
  • 00:08:58.187 --> 00:09:00.523
  • It was a part of this week's reading that spoke loudly to me.
  • 00:09:00.523 --> 00:09:04.727
  • I'll share it with you.
  • 00:09:04.727 --> 00:09:06.062
  • It's luke, 72:9 says, "(all the people," it's a jesus commentary
  • 00:09:06.062 --> 00:09:09.298
  • On john the baptist.
  • 00:09:09.298 --> 00:09:11.534
  • So he's reviewing a bit of john's ministry and john's life.
  • 00:09:11.534 --> 00:09:14.804
  • And he said, "(all the people, even the tax collectors, when
  • 00:09:14.804 --> 00:09:17.039
  • They heard jesus' words, acknowledged that god's way was
  • 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:21.077
  • Right, because they had been baptized by john.
  • 00:09:21.077 --> 00:09:24.680
  • But the pharisees and the experts in the law rejected
  • 00:09:24.680 --> 00:09:28.417
  • God's purposes for themselves, because they hadn't been
  • 00:09:28.417 --> 00:09:32.154
  • Baptized by john.)"
  • 00:09:32.154 --> 00:09:34.790
  • So john is the one who prepared the way the forerunner.
  • 00:09:34.790 --> 00:09:37.259
  • He was the advanced team for the ministry of jesus.
  • 00:09:37.259 --> 00:09:41.430
  • And now jesus is bringing context to the opportunities
  • 00:09:41.430 --> 00:09:44.033
  • That john made available to everybody.
  • 00:09:44.033 --> 00:09:47.136
  • And the message is that the most wicked, amongst the most
  • 00:09:47.136 --> 00:09:49.538
  • Celebrated sinners amongst you, that would have been
  • 00:09:49.538 --> 00:09:52.274
  • The tax collectors.
  • 00:09:52.274 --> 00:09:53.643
  • They were the thieves, they were the turncoats, they were the
  • 00:09:53.643 --> 00:09:56.245
  • Ones that betrayed their own citizens and line their own
  • 00:09:56.245 --> 00:09:58.280
  • Pockets with the money that they gained because of
  • 00:09:58.280 --> 00:10:00.716
  • Roman enforcement.
  • 00:10:00.716 --> 00:10:02.852
  • And the prostitutes, the immoral and the thieves amongst
  • 00:10:02.852 --> 00:10:06.122
  • You repented.
  • 00:10:06.122 --> 00:10:10.126
  • But he says of the pharisees and the experts in the law, and by
  • 00:10:10.126 --> 00:10:13.596
  • That, he means the law of moses.
  • 00:10:13.596 --> 00:10:15.264
  • So those are the most religious amongst you, the ones that know
  • 00:10:15.264 --> 00:10:19.735
  • The rules, the ones who stand most close to the shadow of
  • 00:10:19.735 --> 00:10:22.438
  • The temple.
  • 00:10:22.438 --> 00:10:24.507
  • The statement that caught my attention was they rejected
  • 00:10:24.507 --> 00:10:27.476
  • God's purposes for themselves.
  • 00:10:27.476 --> 00:10:31.514
  • They came to a fork in the road.
  • 00:10:31.514 --> 00:10:35.051
  • There was a lot of momentum for it.
  • 00:10:35.051 --> 00:10:36.419
  • There were enormous crowds of people coming to john.
  • 00:10:36.419 --> 00:10:41.824
  • They could have to a degree blended in, but not completely.
  • 00:10:41.824 --> 00:10:46.696
  • I mean, it would have taken a tremendous degree of humility to
  • 00:10:46.696 --> 00:10:49.298
  • Submit to john, to present yourself to john in the desert.
  • 00:10:49.298 --> 00:10:53.436
  • They're the power brokers in the temple, herod's temple, one of
  • 00:10:53.436 --> 00:10:56.639
  • The most elaborate structures in the roman world.
  • 00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:58.340
  • It's expansive, a wonder of the ancient world and they
  • 00:10:58.340 --> 00:11:02.645
  • Control it.
  • 00:11:02.645 --> 00:11:04.013
  • They're over in charge of it to wander 20 miles into the desert
  • 00:11:04.013 --> 00:11:07.049
  • To the jordan river, to let some guy dressed in camel's hair,
  • 00:11:07.049 --> 00:11:09.985
  • Baptize you.
  • 00:11:09.985 --> 00:11:12.054
  • I mean, he didn't go to the right schools.
  • 00:11:12.054 --> 00:11:13.589
  • He speaks with an accent.
  • 00:11:13.589 --> 00:11:15.891
  • Got a big leather belt that eats weird food.
  • 00:11:15.891 --> 00:11:19.061
  • Who does he think he is calling us to repentance?
  • 00:11:19.061 --> 00:11:23.999
  • You can't even pass our entrance exams.
  • 00:11:23.999 --> 00:11:26.902
  • Where did he study?
  • 00:11:26.902 --> 00:11:31.640
  • But they're also experts in the laws of moses.
  • 00:11:31.640 --> 00:11:34.877
  • They know right and wrong.
  • 00:11:34.877 --> 00:11:37.513
  • You see, we're not the first generation to cover our eyes and
  • 00:11:37.513 --> 00:11:41.951
  • Stop up our ears.
  • 00:11:41.951 --> 00:11:44.653
  • We're not the first generation to have so much to think, i
  • 00:11:44.653 --> 00:11:49.391
  • Think i'll just play the hand i've been dealt.
  • 00:11:49.391 --> 00:11:52.661
  • I don't wanna go join that fringe thing.
  • 00:11:52.661 --> 00:11:55.865
  • I don't want to get in the midst of that fanatical stuff.
  • 00:11:55.865 --> 00:11:59.535
  • I'm good.
  • 00:11:59.535 --> 00:12:01.904
  • See, we tend to imagine we're the first.
  • 00:12:01.904 --> 00:12:03.572
  • This is the first time these choices have ever been pushed
  • 00:12:03.572 --> 00:12:06.108
  • Upon the people of faith.
  • 00:12:06.108 --> 00:12:07.476
  • It's not folks.
  • 00:12:07.476 --> 00:12:09.812
  • The church in europe made these decisions in some very
  • 00:12:09.812 --> 00:12:16.252
  • Awkward ways.
  • 00:12:16.252 --> 00:12:18.220
  • The church in our nation made these decisions while
  • 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:21.290
  • Slavery flourished.
  • 00:12:21.290 --> 00:12:23.392
  • The church in our nation made these decisions when civil
  • 00:12:23.392 --> 00:12:25.694
  • Rights was a thing.
  • 00:12:25.694 --> 00:12:28.330
  • Church is making these decisions again, while millions of babies
  • 00:12:28.330 --> 00:12:31.867
  • Have been sacrificed.
  • 00:12:31.867 --> 00:12:34.036
  • And now our children are being mutilated.
  • 00:12:34.036 --> 00:12:39.408
  • Allen: hey we have a tool that i think will help you
  • 00:12:43.445 --> 00:12:45.147
  • Overcome some of the chaos in the world
  • 00:12:45.147 --> 00:12:46.882
  • And stay focused on the good things that god is doing.
  • 00:12:46.882 --> 00:12:50.319
  • It's called, "awaken us."
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  • It's a 30 day plan.
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  • Each day's got a scripture, a little devotional,
  • 00:12:53.656 --> 00:12:56.292
  • A prayer that goes with a specific topic
  • 00:12:56.292 --> 00:12:58.794
  • To awaken us to god's promise and provision in this season.
  • 00:12:58.794 --> 00:13:03.833
  • God's moving in the earth, i wanna move with him.
  • 00:13:03.833 --> 00:13:06.302
  • And i believe this tool will help you be prepared
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  • To capitalize on god's invitations in your life.
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  • Female announcer: "awaken us" delivers 30 days
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  • Of prayer, scripture and insight from pastor allen
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  • On relevant topics.
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  • Each day is designed to sharpen your focus
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  • As you ask god to show you his heart
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  • And his truth in a new way.
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  • With the holy spirit's help, this book will awaken you
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  • To the impact your life has on the world
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  • And those around you.
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  • Start your journey today by requesting "awaken us,"
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  • When you donate any amount at allenjackson.com
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  • Or by calling ...
  • 00:13:38.601 --> 00:13:42.638
  • Allen: many things contribute to our choices to reject god's
  • 00:13:44.206 --> 00:13:46.809
  • Purposes for ourselves.
  • 00:13:46.809 --> 00:13:49.278
  • And many things contribute to our decisions to accept
  • 00:13:49.278 --> 00:13:52.081
  • God's purposes.
  • 00:13:52.081 --> 00:13:53.415
  • Jesus told a parable, luke's gospel, same author so there's
  • 00:13:53.415 --> 00:13:56.552
  • A consistency of thought.
  • 00:13:56.552 --> 00:13:57.887
  • Jesus is telling a parable.
  • 00:13:57.887 --> 00:13:59.255
  • He said, "to some who were confident of their own
  • 00:13:59.255 --> 00:14:00.623
  • Righteousness and look down on everybody else, jesus told
  • 00:14:00.623 --> 00:14:03.859
  • This parable."
  • 00:14:03.859 --> 00:14:05.227
  • Unfortunately, one of the characteristics of contemporary
  • 00:14:05.227 --> 00:14:06.762
  • American evangelicalism is we've tried to make everybody secure
  • 00:14:06.762 --> 00:14:09.698
  • In their own righteousness.
  • 00:14:09.698 --> 00:14:11.734
  • Just if it's unassailable, don't have to think about that, "two
  • 00:14:11.734 --> 00:14:17.806
  • Men went up to the temple to pray, one a pharisee and the
  • 00:14:17.806 --> 00:14:20.242
  • Other a tax collector."
  • 00:14:20.242 --> 00:14:22.177
  • One apparently godly and one very, apparently not.
  • 00:14:22.177 --> 00:14:25.981
  • "the pharisee stood and prayed about himself: 'god, i thank you
  • 00:14:25.981 --> 00:14:28.918
  • That i'm not like other men-- robbers, and evildoers, and
  • 00:14:28.918 --> 00:14:33.122
  • Adulterers--or even like this tax collector.
  • 00:14:33.122 --> 00:14:37.526
  • I fast twice a week and i give a tenth of all that i get.'"
  • 00:14:37.526 --> 00:14:40.296
  • What a happy fellow, "and the tax collector stood at
  • 00:14:40.296 --> 00:14:45.367
  • A distance.
  • 00:14:45.367 --> 00:14:46.702
  • And he wouldn't even look up to heaven, but he beat his breast
  • 00:14:46.702 --> 00:14:48.437
  • And said, 'god have mercy on me, a sinner.'"
  • 00:14:48.437 --> 00:14:53.108
  • And then jesus gave an explanation.
  • 00:14:53.108 --> 00:14:57.046
  • He said, "i tell you that this man, the tax collector rather
  • 00:14:57.046 --> 00:15:03.018
  • Than the pharisee went home justified before god.
  • 00:15:03.018 --> 00:15:06.555
  • For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who
  • 00:15:06.555 --> 00:15:08.557
  • Humbles himself will be exalted."
  • 00:15:08.557 --> 00:15:11.961
  • So i brought you a couple of really quick lists.
  • 00:15:11.961 --> 00:15:14.897
  • And i didn't bring all the scripture to support them
  • 00:15:14.897 --> 00:15:16.598
  • Because you didn't want to stay for the day.
  • 00:15:16.598 --> 00:15:19.702
  • I had that discernment.
  • 00:15:19.702 --> 00:15:21.603
  • There's some things you can do that will catalyze, that
  • 00:15:21.603 --> 00:15:24.273
  • Will accelerate your ability to embrace difficulty.
  • 00:15:24.273 --> 00:15:29.511
  • The catalyst doesn't change the outcome.
  • 00:15:29.511 --> 00:15:31.680
  • It just accelerates it.
  • 00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:35.718
  • And we want to do, i want to do the things in my life that
  • 00:15:35.718 --> 00:15:38.354
  • Enabled me to get to god's outcomes as quickly as possible.
  • 00:15:38.354 --> 00:15:42.091
  • I don't want to show up with my heels, having been dug in and
  • 00:15:42.091 --> 00:15:44.760
  • The marks in the dirt the whole way of my life.
  • 00:15:44.760 --> 00:15:47.629
  • There's enough of those seasons, but i don't want to
  • 00:15:47.629 --> 00:15:50.699
  • Institutionalize it.
  • 00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:52.501
  • So there's some things you and i can do, and these are all
  • 00:15:52.501 --> 00:15:54.703
  • Personal choices.
  • 00:15:54.703 --> 00:15:56.038
  • They're not about others.
  • 00:15:56.038 --> 00:15:57.406
  • One is humility.
  • 00:15:57.406 --> 00:15:58.741
  • Decide to humble yourself.
  • 00:15:58.741 --> 00:16:00.109
  • No one else can humble you.
  • 00:16:00.109 --> 00:16:01.443
  • If someone else brings humility to you, it's called humiliation.
  • 00:16:01.443 --> 00:16:05.981
  • It's the same kind of place, but one is self induced and the
  • 00:16:05.981 --> 00:16:09.385
  • Other is forced upon you.
  • 00:16:09.385 --> 00:16:10.753
  • It's better to humble yourself than be humiliated.
  • 00:16:10.753 --> 00:16:13.489
  • Jesus talked about that.
  • 00:16:13.489 --> 00:16:14.857
  • He said, you know, if you go to a banquet, don't go
  • 00:16:14.857 --> 00:16:16.558
  • Take the best seat.
  • 00:16:16.558 --> 00:16:17.960
  • He said go take an insignificant seat and then if they want to
  • 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:20.429
  • Bring you to the front, you'll get the blessing.
  • 00:16:20.429 --> 00:16:24.500
  • But if you go take the front seat and they don't want you
  • 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:26.435
  • There, you're gonna be moved.
  • 00:16:26.435 --> 00:16:27.770
  • He said, humble yourself and you won't be humiliated.
  • 00:16:27.770 --> 00:16:30.005
  • You can humble yourself.
  • 00:16:30.005 --> 00:16:31.340
  • Humility comes to you indirectly.
  • 00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:32.875
  • You can't order it on amazon.
  • 00:16:32.875 --> 00:16:36.178
  • Nobody's gonna deliver it to you.
  • 00:16:36.178 --> 00:16:37.546
  • You can't get it off the shelves at walmart.
  • 00:16:37.546 --> 00:16:40.416
  • You build humility indirectly.
  • 00:16:40.416 --> 00:16:43.252
  • You think of others.
  • 00:16:43.252 --> 00:16:46.288
  • You live sacrificially.
  • 00:16:46.288 --> 00:16:48.724
  • You practice generosity.
  • 00:16:48.724 --> 00:16:51.527
  • There's a whole host of behaviors you can engage in that
  • 00:16:51.527 --> 00:16:53.929
  • Will allow humility to grow in you.
  • 00:16:53.929 --> 00:16:57.332
  • And there are very few things in all of the bible that have more
  • 00:16:57.332 --> 00:17:00.669
  • Promises and blessings attached to them than humility.
  • 00:17:00.669 --> 00:17:05.107
  • I'll give you the short version.
  • 00:17:05.107 --> 00:17:07.076
  • Says, god promotes the humble and he opposes the proud.
  • 00:17:07.076 --> 00:17:12.147
  • Now, if there's one line you don't want to be in, it's the
  • 00:17:12.147 --> 00:17:15.217
  • Line of people that god said, i'm going to oppose you.
  • 00:17:15.217 --> 00:17:19.688
  • Because if god is standing against you, the outcome is just
  • 00:17:19.688 --> 00:17:22.391
  • Not gonna be great.
  • 00:17:22.391 --> 00:17:24.093
  • I grew up in a barn in tennessee, but i got that one.
  • 00:17:24.093 --> 00:17:26.528
  • Number two is, make a commitment to honor the lord in your life.
  • 00:17:26.528 --> 00:17:29.765
  • That's just a daily thing when you start your days, when you
  • 00:17:29.765 --> 00:17:32.167
  • End your days, however you wanna do that set.
  • 00:17:32.167 --> 00:17:34.403
  • That is, is, this is the boundary for my day today.
  • 00:17:34.403 --> 00:17:36.839
  • I'm gonna honor the lord and how i do business and how i talk to
  • 00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:40.476
  • People and how i drive.
  • 00:17:40.476 --> 00:17:45.948
  • Some of these will take more time than others.
  • 00:17:45.948 --> 00:17:49.685
  • Again, it's not beyond you.
  • 00:17:49.685 --> 00:17:51.019
  • It's not about knowing greek or hebrew, or knowing more about
  • 00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:53.989
  • The character of god.
  • 00:17:53.989 --> 00:17:55.324
  • You've got enough awareness as a christ follower, the spirit
  • 00:17:55.324 --> 00:17:58.527
  • Of the lord within you.
  • 00:17:58.527 --> 00:17:59.895
  • You know, when you're dishonoring the lord, stop it.
  • 00:17:59.895 --> 00:18:05.501
  • Well, sometimes--no sometimes.
  • 00:18:05.501 --> 00:18:07.102
  • Just make the decision to honor the lord.
  • 00:18:07.102 --> 00:18:11.406
  • Number three, cultivate a repentant attitude.
  • 00:18:11.406 --> 00:18:14.376
  • Repentance says when you recognize that you haven't
  • 00:18:14.376 --> 00:18:16.411
  • Honored the lord, you change how you thought about that.
  • 00:18:16.411 --> 00:18:18.647
  • I used to think that was okay,
  • 00:18:18.647 --> 00:18:19.982
  • But i don't think that's okay anymore.
  • 00:18:19.982 --> 00:18:21.416
  • And with a change of thought, comes a change of behavior.
  • 00:18:21.416 --> 00:18:23.585
  • That's repentance.
  • 00:18:23.585 --> 00:18:26.355
  • Number four, cultivate a listening heart.
  • 00:18:26.355 --> 00:18:28.590
  • Care about god's opinion.
  • 00:18:28.590 --> 00:18:30.626
  • Not just my feelings, and my thoughts, and my wants.
  • 00:18:30.626 --> 00:18:33.095
  • Those things, they get pretty frequent expression in the world
  • 00:18:33.095 --> 00:18:35.998
  • Of allen because on the radar screens of my awareness, those
  • 00:18:35.998 --> 00:18:39.935
  • Are the things that flash up first.
  • 00:18:39.935 --> 00:18:41.570
  • I have to cultivate the determination to listen to god.
  • 00:18:41.570 --> 00:18:47.743
  • How does god feel about this?
  • 00:18:47.743 --> 00:18:49.077
  • Do i know anything from scripture that gives me an
  • 00:18:49.077 --> 00:18:50.445
  • Opinion or a perspective?
  • 00:18:50.445 --> 00:18:53.148
  • What if i talk to some people whose faith, spiritual life i
  • 00:18:53.148 --> 00:18:56.652
  • Trust and i value, and whose maturity i look up to?
  • 00:18:56.652 --> 00:18:59.922
  • Would they have an opinion on this?
  • 00:18:59.922 --> 00:19:03.425
  • And number five, is develop the bias towards action.
  • 00:19:03.425 --> 00:19:07.396
  • If you prefer a biblical word, a servant.
  • 00:19:07.396 --> 00:19:10.732
  • Now, i know somebody's gonna pop up and say, well, what about
  • 00:19:10.732 --> 00:19:12.768
  • Mary and martha?
  • 00:19:12.768 --> 00:19:17.172
  • Well, thank you.
  • 00:19:17.172 --> 00:19:20.509
  • I'm not suggesting that you never listen.
  • 00:19:20.509 --> 00:19:23.478
  • I've already encouraged you to have a listening heart.
  • 00:19:23.478 --> 00:19:25.414
  • But folks, the attitude in the church, i spent my life in
  • 00:19:25.414 --> 00:19:28.483
  • The church.
  • 00:19:28.483 --> 00:19:29.818
  • So i'm at least entitled to an opinion and it's an
  • 00:19:29.818 --> 00:19:31.320
  • Informed opinion.
  • 00:19:31.320 --> 00:19:32.654
  • It's not just some random opinion from an outsider that
  • 00:19:32.654 --> 00:19:34.656
  • The general model of movement in the church goes something
  • 00:19:34.656 --> 00:19:36.825
  • Like this.
  • 00:19:36.825 --> 00:19:38.160
  • Ready?
  • 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:39.528
  • Aim, aim, aim.
  • 00:19:39.528 --> 00:19:44.166
  • Let's have a prayer meeting.
  • 00:19:44.166 --> 00:19:46.368
  • Aim, aim, has god given anybody a verse?
  • 00:19:46.368 --> 00:19:50.372
  • Aim.
  • 00:19:50.372 --> 00:19:52.207
  • Oh, we should form a committee and study this thoroughly.
  • 00:19:52.207 --> 00:19:55.110
  • Aim.
  • 00:19:55.110 --> 00:19:58.080
  • What were we looking for?
  • 00:19:58.080 --> 00:20:00.482
  • I would like to suggest another model.
  • 00:20:00.482 --> 00:20:02.884
  • Ready?
  • 00:20:02.884 --> 00:20:04.319
  • Fire, fire, fire.
  • 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:10.959
  • Do we need a course adjustment?
  • 00:20:10.959 --> 00:20:13.228
  • Fire, a bias towards movement, a bias towards movement.
  • 00:20:13.228 --> 00:20:22.304
  • Evil will not wait.
  • 00:20:22.304 --> 00:20:26.074
  • Well, you have a six week assessment.
  • 00:20:26.074 --> 00:20:29.978
  • I'm tired of waiting for election cycles.
  • 00:20:29.978 --> 00:20:32.180
  • Why don't we have a change of heart without an election cycle?
  • 00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:41.890
  • My time's up but i brought you a list of enemies that doing the
  • 00:20:41.890 --> 00:20:44.493
  • Difficult, they're just the opposite.
  • 00:20:44.493 --> 00:20:48.330
  • I'll touch a couple of them.
  • 00:20:48.330 --> 00:20:49.698
  • That first one's kind of fun.
  • 00:20:49.698 --> 00:20:51.033
  • Entitlement versus requirement.
  • 00:20:51.033 --> 00:20:52.668
  • I saw somebody else make a portion of this and it made
  • 00:20:52.668 --> 00:20:55.237
  • Me smile.
  • 00:20:55.237 --> 00:20:56.571
  • He talked about entitled mints, like a little box of them.
  • 00:20:56.571 --> 00:21:02.844
  • And the next time you're giving expression to your sense of
  • 00:21:02.844 --> 00:21:05.347
  • Entitlement, pop them in.
  • 00:21:05.347 --> 00:21:08.917
  • You know, you're at starbucks and your chai latte comes out
  • 00:21:08.917 --> 00:21:15.057
  • With almond milk and you ordered oat and it's ruining your day.
  • 00:21:15.057 --> 00:21:23.632
  • Have a mint.
  • 00:21:23.632 --> 00:21:31.773
  • We could spend a lot of time with that.
  • 00:21:31.773 --> 00:21:34.242
  • The alternative is understand, you're gonna have to accept some
  • 00:21:34.242 --> 00:21:36.745
  • Of the requirement of discipline.
  • 00:21:36.745 --> 00:21:38.947
  • So when it doesn't go your way, take a different mint.
  • 00:21:38.947 --> 00:21:42.617
  • Oh, that's necessary to build the character in me.
  • 00:21:42.617 --> 00:21:45.487
  • To let the strength be formed in me, so that i can run with
  • 00:21:45.487 --> 00:21:47.956
  • The horses.
  • 00:21:47.956 --> 00:21:50.325
  • Watch out for those things that will stop you from doing
  • 00:21:50.325 --> 00:21:53.862
  • The difficult.
  • 00:21:53.862 --> 00:21:55.197
  • Don't feed indulgence, don't be emotionally indulgent.
  • 00:21:55.197 --> 00:21:59.334
  • Don't be spiritually indulgent.
  • 00:21:59.334 --> 00:22:01.002
  • Just don't be sloppy.
  • 00:22:01.002 --> 00:22:05.807
  • Failure and fatigue.
  • 00:22:05.807 --> 00:22:07.843
  • You're gonna fail.
  • 00:22:07.843 --> 00:22:09.177
  • I'm gonna fail.
  • 00:22:09.177 --> 00:22:10.912
  • There's how you grow.
  • 00:22:10.912 --> 00:22:12.247
  • Do you ever watch kids learn to walk?
  • 00:22:12.247 --> 00:22:14.182
  • What if you said, unless your child can walk without following
  • 00:22:14.182 --> 00:22:17.085
  • Your child is wrong.
  • 00:22:17.085 --> 00:22:19.588
  • We're all wrong.
  • 00:22:19.588 --> 00:22:23.158
  • We're not weevils.
  • 00:22:23.158 --> 00:22:25.727
  • We wobble when we fall, then we get back up.
  • 00:22:25.727 --> 00:22:30.265
  • Fail forward.
  • 00:22:30.265 --> 00:22:32.768
  • I don't like failing.
  • 00:22:32.768 --> 00:22:34.136
  • Neither do i. but if you're gonna do anything as
  • 00:22:34.136 --> 00:22:37.038
  • Significant, you're going to.
  • 00:22:37.038 --> 00:22:39.775
  • So many of us, we fail until we have something that kind of
  • 00:22:39.775 --> 00:22:42.210
  • Works and we don't ever try anything else again.
  • 00:22:42.210 --> 00:22:44.045
  • That's a very destructive waste of your life.
  • 00:22:44.045 --> 00:22:48.150
  • I'm tired.
  • 00:22:48.150 --> 00:22:49.484
  • Duly noted.
  • 00:22:49.484 --> 00:22:50.852
  • Let's go anyway.
  • 00:22:50.852 --> 00:22:53.922
  • The world's built by tired people.
  • 00:22:53.922 --> 00:22:57.559
  • All the rest of the people are watching.
  • 00:22:57.559 --> 00:23:01.563
  • Wave at him.
  • 00:23:01.563 --> 00:23:06.368
  • Self righteousness and criticism.
  • 00:23:06.368 --> 00:23:09.771
  • Just don't spend your time looking down on everybody, look
  • 00:23:09.771 --> 00:23:13.642
  • At them with compassion.
  • 00:23:13.642 --> 00:23:15.010
  • The lord did such a thing in my heart.
  • 00:23:15.010 --> 00:23:16.344
  • It's been a while now, but you know, people used to annoy me to
  • 00:23:16.344 --> 00:23:19.047
  • No end.
  • 00:23:19.047 --> 00:23:20.415
  • That's a problem if you're in ministry.
  • 00:23:20.415 --> 00:23:22.984
  • And when they did, they just bugged me.
  • 00:23:22.984 --> 00:23:24.486
  • I didn't like them much.
  • 00:23:24.486 --> 00:23:26.655
  • I thought god, have you seen the church?
  • 00:23:26.655 --> 00:23:28.490
  • They're messed up.
  • 00:23:28.490 --> 00:23:29.858
  • They're wicked, and broken, and sinful.
  • 00:23:29.858 --> 00:23:32.561
  • I mean, greedy and selfish and i mean, they are a mess.
  • 00:23:32.561 --> 00:23:36.298
  • 'cause they'd come see me and tell me about it.
  • 00:23:36.298 --> 00:23:41.903
  • And then some way the lord made it so clear that that's why he
  • 00:23:41.903 --> 00:23:44.139
  • Put me here.
  • 00:23:44.139 --> 00:23:45.507
  • I fit right in.
  • 00:23:45.507 --> 00:23:48.310
  • And that the assignment was to learn to love people like
  • 00:23:48.310 --> 00:23:50.479
  • He did.
  • 00:23:50.479 --> 00:23:53.482
  • And if you're mad, and torqued up, and angry, and nobody's
  • 00:23:53.482 --> 00:23:57.052
  • Doing it right, i'm just like stop.
  • 00:23:57.052 --> 00:24:00.922
  • Find yourself in that parable luke gave us from jesus.
  • 00:24:00.922 --> 00:24:05.694
  • One last thing, disrupt your difficulty, and then we're
  • 00:24:05.694 --> 00:24:10.131
  • Gonna pray.
  • 00:24:10.131 --> 00:24:11.833
  • The tyranny of comfort and convenience.
  • 00:24:11.833 --> 00:24:15.837
  • Folks just don't make them your goal.
  • 00:24:15.837 --> 00:24:17.205
  • I'm not opposed to comfort and i'm not opposed to convenience.
  • 00:24:17.205 --> 00:24:19.608
  • In fact, i prefer them if i get to choose, but i'm not going to
  • 00:24:19.608 --> 00:24:23.578
  • Allow my life to be built off of those two decisions.
  • 00:24:23.578 --> 00:24:29.050
  • I'm going to choose some things that require perseverance and
  • 00:24:29.050 --> 00:24:31.353
  • Self discipline and sacrifice.
  • 00:24:31.353 --> 00:24:34.122
  • Seeking the lord requires those things.
  • 00:24:34.122 --> 00:24:35.790
  • We looked at that in the previous session, how daniel
  • 00:24:35.790 --> 00:24:37.659
  • Spent weeks seeking the lord and god sent an angelic messenger to
  • 00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:40.862
  • Him and said, you are highly esteemed in heaven.
  • 00:24:40.862 --> 00:24:44.466
  • That's what heaven's opinion of you is.
  • 00:24:44.466 --> 00:24:46.868
  • It's worth thinking about.
  • 00:24:46.868 --> 00:24:48.937
  • I'm not suggesting you earn your way to heaven.
  • 00:24:48.937 --> 00:24:51.106
  • I'm suggesting you give your best to the lord.
  • 00:24:51.106 --> 00:24:56.044
  • There's a difference.
  • 00:24:56.044 --> 00:24:57.646
  • Let's run with the horses, folks.
  • 00:24:57.646 --> 00:25:00.115
  • I know they're stronger and they're faster, but we've got
  • 00:25:00.115 --> 00:25:02.817
  • Angel armies.
  • 00:25:02.817 --> 00:25:04.920
  • They're going to help us.
  • 00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:09.157
  • I brought you a prayer.
  • 00:25:09.157 --> 00:25:10.525
  • Why don't you stand with me?
  • 00:25:10.525 --> 00:25:11.860
  • My time's up and some.
  • 00:25:11.860 --> 00:25:17.132
  • It's not original.
  • 00:25:17.132 --> 00:25:18.466
  • I borrowed it from daniel chapter 4.
  • 00:25:18.466 --> 00:25:21.136
  • His prayers worked out really, really well.
  • 00:25:21.136 --> 00:25:25.373
  • The jury is still out on some of mine.
  • 00:25:25.373 --> 00:25:27.008
  • So i thought we'd borrow one of his.
  • 00:25:27.008 --> 00:25:30.011
  • I hope you take these prayers and you use them throughout
  • 00:25:30.011 --> 00:25:32.013
  • The week.
  • 00:25:32.013 --> 00:25:33.348
  • Make them a part of your daily devotional, share them with
  • 00:25:33.348 --> 00:25:34.849
  • Somebody at work, email them to somebody.
  • 00:25:34.849 --> 00:25:36.585
  • Do something.
  • 00:25:36.585 --> 00:25:37.919
  • Don't just hold them, don't just throw them away.
  • 00:25:37.919 --> 00:25:40.555
  • This one isn't even mine.
  • 00:25:40.555 --> 00:25:42.657
  • Let's read it together.
  • 00:25:42.657 --> 00:25:44.559
  • "i praise the most high; i honor and glorify him who
  • 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:48.964
  • Lives forever.
  • 00:25:48.964 --> 00:25:50.498
  • His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures
  • 00:25:50.498 --> 00:25:54.769
  • From generation to generation.
  • 00:25:54.769 --> 00:25:57.272
  • All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.
  • 00:25:57.272 --> 00:26:00.909
  • He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples
  • 00:26:00.909 --> 00:26:05.080
  • Of the earth.
  • 00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:06.414
  • And no one can hold back his hand or say to him: "what have
  • 00:26:06.414 --> 00:26:10.986
  • You done?"
  • 00:26:10.986 --> 00:26:12.320
  • Amen.
  • 00:26:12.320 --> 00:26:13.688
  • That's our god.
  • 00:26:13.688 --> 00:26:15.256
  • Amen.
  • 00:26:15.256 --> 00:26:16.591
  • God bless you.
  • 00:26:16.591 --> 00:26:19.194
  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
  • 00:26:19.260 --> 00:26:24.799
  • Allen: you know no matter what source of news you turn to
  • 00:26:24.866 --> 00:26:28.236
  • It's hard some days not to be overwhelmed with despair,
  • 00:26:28.236 --> 00:26:31.740
  • The deception, the conflict in the earth,
  • 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:34.709
  • The suffering that's taking place in so many places,
  • 00:26:34.709 --> 00:26:37.979
  • The struggling church in our own nation.
  • 00:26:37.979 --> 00:26:40.849
  • But there are reasons for hope.
  • 00:26:40.849 --> 00:26:42.350
  • God is moving in the most remarkable ways
  • 00:26:42.350 --> 00:26:45.353
  • But we need to have a plan, a method, even a tool
  • 00:26:45.353 --> 00:26:48.289
  • To help us give our thoughts and our hearts focused on god.
  • 00:26:48.289 --> 00:26:52.027
  • Well, i have a suggestion, it's a little booklet
  • 00:26:52.027 --> 00:26:53.461
  • We put together, it's called "awaken us."
  • 00:26:53.461 --> 00:26:55.630
  • It's a 30-day plan.
  • 00:26:55.630 --> 00:26:56.965
  • It's built by topic each day with a scripture,
  • 00:26:56.965 --> 00:26:59.834
  • A little devotional, and a prayer topically directed
  • 00:26:59.834 --> 00:27:03.071
  • To help focus our thoughts at an awakening
  • 00:27:03.071 --> 00:27:05.907
  • To god's invitations to us around that specific theme.
  • 00:27:05.907 --> 00:27:09.878
  • We're awakened every day for the challenges of that day.
  • 00:27:09.878 --> 00:27:12.447
  • Well let's ask the spirit of god to awaken us
  • 00:27:12.447 --> 00:27:15.450
  • Consistently to what he would have us doing
  • 00:27:15.450 --> 00:27:18.153
  • In this most unique season.
  • 00:27:18.153 --> 00:27:20.055
  • God is moving, i want to move with him,
  • 00:27:20.055 --> 00:27:22.257
  • And i believe you do too.
  • 00:27:22.257 --> 00:27:23.591
  • And i believe "awaken us" will be a help.
  • 00:27:23.591 --> 00:27:27.395