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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Three Banquets (Part 1)

March 23, 2026 | 27:29

Allen Jackson - Three Banquets (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Authority #SpiritualFoundation #Family #BodyofChrist #Unity #Community #Jesus #Parable #KingdomofGod #Heaven #LoveofGod #Rejection #PresenceofGod #Grace #Rebellion #Disobedience #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Three Banquets (Part 1) | March 23, 2026
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: you know, around the world,
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  • People are searching for truth, and together we're doing our
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  • Very best to help them 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--
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  • Television, radio, podcast, books, bible studies,
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  • Digital resources, conferences.
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  • Your monthly partnership helps us equip believers to reach new
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  • Audiences, 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
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  • God opens a 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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  • Allen: we've been walking through a series that i'm gonna
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  • Try to conclude, god willing, today.
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  • I'm sure we'll come back to it, but we're gonna take a break for
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  • A bit, under this theme of "let's eat."
  • 00:01:14.389 --> 00:01:17.559
  • It's really kind of a companion to let's pray, but the goal of
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  • This was understanding the spiritual authority of our homes
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  • And being intentional with that, so we've turned our building
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  • Into kind of a display, a pop-up museum of sorts, and we have
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  • Kitchens from different decades all scattered around the
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  • Building and at least kitchen tables and some of the
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  • Accouterments that went with our home.
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  • The ways we communicated, ways we listened to music, even
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  • Some transportation.
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  • Somebody asked me this morning, "how did you get a car in
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  • The lobby?"
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  • Prayerfully.
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  • There's a garage door that opens up.
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  • See if you can find it.
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  • But it was really just a reminder that across all the
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  • Decades and truthfully across centuries and cultures and
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  • Empires and languages and nations and all those things
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  • That change, the constant in our lives for decades and decades
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  • And generation upon generation has been the table in our homes.
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  • It was the gathering point.
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  • It was a place of physical nourishment and spiritual
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  • Nourishment until we got to the 21st century.
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  • And that has been dramatically reduced as a significant place
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  • In our homes.
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  • It may be a dump site for all of the detritus that comes with
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  • Modern day life, backpacks and unopened mail and bags of have
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  • Eaten fast food and all the stuff, or it may be a museum
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  • Piece that you've decorated so beautifully that martha stewart
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  • Would swoon.
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  • But it's seldom used.
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  • We just don't very often use them with the frequency that we
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  • Have, so i've given you an invitation for several weeks at
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  • Your kitchen table, once a week, the people who live under your
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  • Roof for a meal with no devices.
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  • And i've added to that the expression of hospitality.
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  • That means somebody eat at your table other than the people who
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  • Live under your roof.
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  • Maybe not every week, but as a regular practice.
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  • If you have children at home, it's a very
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  • Important discipline.
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  • If you don't, it's a very important expression of the
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  • Spiritual authority of your home.
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  • We've lost that.
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  • In the new testament, you can't qualify for leadership, nor can
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  • You qualify for assistance from the community of faith if you
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  • Don't practice hospitality.
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  • I don't understand it to be optional.
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  • Doesn't mean your home has to be extravagant or elaborate.
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  • It's not about your ability to qualify for some hgtv program.
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  • It's the intentional use of your home.
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  • I suspect that your home's location was probably
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  • Pretty intentional.
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  • You knew where you wanted to live.
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  • That you've put together the interior of your home very much
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  • On purpose, in the look or the style that you wanted it to
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  • Reflect, at least for most of us, some of us, never mind.
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  • And i hope that the maintenance of your home, both in the
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  • Cleanliness of it and the overall maintenance is done in a
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  • Very intentional way.
  • 00:04:05.127 --> 00:04:07.129
  • All of those things, i think we go, "well, yeah, absolutely."
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  • I mean, it's part of your presentation
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  • Of yourself.
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  • It's about part of your own identity, whether that's good or
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  • Bad or not, it's true.
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  • Well, i wanna submit to you that the establishment of the
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  • Spiritual authority of your home has to be done just as
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  • Intentionally, and it's every bit, if not more, an expression
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  • Of who you are.
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  • Absent the intentional establishment of god as the
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  • Authority in that home and over that family, it's nonsense to
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  • Think he is.
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  • Well, that's biblical.
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  • But i'm not giving you some enormous burden.
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  • Gathering at the table for a meal on a weekly basis and
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  • Simply saying, "god, help us.
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  • God, bless us.
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  • God, we are a tumultuous lot here, but we would invite your
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  • Help," will change the atmosphere of your home.
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  • This isn't beyond us.
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  • It's not unimportant.
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  • A third of jesus's ministry took place at tables.
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  • I can argue that some of the most significant, the most
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  • Significant events in all of scripture were table places that
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  • God sent his people to the passover meal that really
  • 00:05:19.534 --> 00:05:24.239
  • Launches the exodus from hundreds of years of slavery was
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  • A table event with a menu that was dictated.
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  • The clothing to be worn was dictated.
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  • And they were commanded to celebrate it on an annual basis
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  • So that we never forget.
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  • Jesus just at the beginning of his passion, his suffering, sat
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  • At a meal, the last supper, the passover meal with his disciples
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  • And giving them their last minute instructions and
  • 00:05:45.527 --> 00:05:48.330
  • Introducing what we know as communion around that table and
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  • Has become a defining part of the christian faith.
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  • Your table matters, folks.
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  • I didn't say that to bring you shame and guilt.
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  • I came to put an invitation in front of you.
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  • Let's use our tables for the kingdom of god.
  • 00:06:05.614 --> 00:06:08.917
  • You don't have to be a gourmet chef.
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  • Order pizza.
  • 00:06:10.986 --> 00:06:13.021
  • Doordash, grubhub, the options are almost unlimited now.
  • 00:06:13.021 --> 00:06:17.926
  • I mean, it wasn't too long ago, you know, you had to use one of
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  • Those paper newspaper bookie things and call people.
  • 00:06:20.429 --> 00:06:25.400
  • Now, go get the kids.
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  • They know how to order food.
  • 00:06:26.735 --> 00:06:28.103
  • They'll put it on a venmo account.
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  • It'll be okay.
  • 00:06:29.438 --> 00:06:31.239
  • But gather at your table for a wellness check.
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  • Well, in this session, i wanna look at three banquets, three
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  • Tables in the new testament that i think will do a great deal to
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  • Help us understand what we're watching and hearing in
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  • The world.
  • 00:06:48.190 --> 00:06:49.524
  • I have answered more questions in the last month about the
  • 00:06:49.524 --> 00:06:51.960
  • Jewish people, the christian church, the nation of israel,
  • 00:06:51.960 --> 00:06:55.997
  • Than in any 30-day window in my life.
  • 00:06:55.997 --> 00:06:59.901
  • It's been true in our own community, in our own
  • 00:06:59.901 --> 00:07:02.003
  • Congregation, and there have been voices and pastors and
  • 00:07:02.003 --> 00:07:04.339
  • People reaching out to me from far beyond.
  • 00:07:04.339 --> 00:07:07.542
  • There's a great deal of confusion, much of it fed by
  • 00:07:07.542 --> 00:07:10.745
  • Opinions on social media, and i'm happy for opinions.
  • 00:07:10.745 --> 00:07:13.782
  • I think social media has some very positive things, but a
  • 00:07:13.782 --> 00:07:17.252
  • Keyboard warrior in a basement doesn't make you an authority.
  • 00:07:17.252 --> 00:07:21.189
  • And if we don't understand the scripture, i think we're left in
  • 00:07:21.189 --> 00:07:25.794
  • A bit of a paradox.
  • 00:07:25.794 --> 00:07:28.163
  • So i think these three banquets will bring some clarity to us,
  • 00:07:28.163 --> 00:07:33.268
  • At least that's my intent.
  • 00:07:33.268 --> 00:07:35.370
  • There are two parables which jesus taught.
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  • One is in matthew 22, and that's where i'll begin.
  • 00:07:38.573 --> 00:07:41.343
  • In the english language, they're just described as banquets.
  • 00:07:41.343 --> 00:07:45.380
  • The new testament, most of you know, is written in greek.
  • 00:07:45.380 --> 00:07:47.682
  • I'm not a greek scholar.
  • 00:07:47.682 --> 00:07:49.718
  • I have studied it.
  • 00:07:49.718 --> 00:07:51.052
  • I know just enough to get in trouble.
  • 00:07:51.052 --> 00:07:53.855
  • But i do know enough that i can look through it a bit, and the
  • 00:07:53.855 --> 00:07:56.992
  • Meal that's described in matthew 22, while it is a banquet, the
  • 00:07:56.992 --> 00:08:01.763
  • Word that is used was the greek word both in the greek of the
  • 00:08:01.763 --> 00:08:05.433
  • New testament and modern greek for breakfast.
  • 00:08:05.433 --> 00:08:08.803
  • It's the morning meal.
  • 00:08:08.803 --> 00:08:11.273
  • And i think that's a very important note in understanding
  • 00:08:11.273 --> 00:08:15.043
  • The parable, because the second banquet we will look at, the
  • 00:08:15.043 --> 00:08:18.013
  • Word that is used, it is too is described as a banquet in
  • 00:08:18.013 --> 00:08:20.682
  • English, but the word that is used for it is the evening meal
  • 00:08:20.682 --> 00:08:23.852
  • For supper.
  • 00:08:23.852 --> 00:08:26.288
  • So the two banquets that are presented are at the beginning
  • 00:08:26.288 --> 00:08:28.490
  • Of the day and at the end of the day, and that framework is
  • 00:08:28.490 --> 00:08:31.526
  • Really key, i think, to interpreting, understanding what
  • 00:08:31.526 --> 00:08:34.729
  • Jesus is telling us.
  • 00:08:34.729 --> 00:08:36.364
  • So let's start in matthew 22.
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  • Again, this is the morning meal.
  • 00:08:38.300 --> 00:08:40.402
  • "jesus spoke again in parables and he said, 'the kingdom of
  • 00:08:40.402 --> 00:08:43.305
  • Heaven is like.'"
  • 00:08:43.305 --> 00:08:44.639
  • So it's a conversation about the kingdom of heaven
  • 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:46.942
  • And participation.
  • 00:08:46.942 --> 00:08:49.377
  • That should matter to all of us.
  • 00:08:49.377 --> 00:08:51.947
  • I want to participate in the kingdom of heaven.
  • 00:08:51.947 --> 00:08:55.951
  • More than i wanna go to church, more than i wanna be called a
  • 00:08:55.951 --> 00:08:59.654
  • Good person, more than i want to be--more than all that, i want
  • 00:08:59.654 --> 00:09:04.359
  • To participate in the kingdom of heaven.
  • 00:09:04.359 --> 00:09:08.196
  • I'm not a complicated fella.
  • 00:09:08.196 --> 00:09:11.032
  • I mean, i like life and everything about it, but i wanna
  • 00:09:11.032 --> 00:09:13.835
  • Participate in the kingdom of heaven, so when jesus gives me a
  • 00:09:13.835 --> 00:09:16.371
  • Parable about it, he has my attention.
  • 00:09:16.371 --> 00:09:19.874
  • It's like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
  • 00:09:19.874 --> 00:09:23.111
  • "and he sent his servants to those who'd been invited to the
  • 00:09:23.111 --> 00:09:25.213
  • Banquet to tell them to come, but they refused.
  • 00:09:25.213 --> 00:09:28.550
  • So then he sent some more servants and said, 'tell those
  • 00:09:28.550 --> 00:09:30.785
  • Who've been invited that i prepared my dinner, my oxen and
  • 00:09:30.785 --> 00:09:34.089
  • My fattened cattle, they've been butchered and everything
  • 00:09:34.089 --> 00:09:36.124
  • Is ready.
  • 00:09:36.124 --> 00:09:37.459
  • Come to the wedding banquet.'"
  • 00:09:37.459 --> 00:09:39.995
  • So they were not only invited once and declined.
  • 00:09:39.995 --> 00:09:43.565
  • The invitations were reissued and he said, "all the
  • 00:09:43.565 --> 00:09:45.834
  • Preparations are made, it's lavish, it's extravagant.
  • 00:09:45.834 --> 00:09:49.404
  • Please come."
  • 00:09:49.404 --> 00:09:51.373
  • "but they paid no attention and they went off--one to his field,
  • 00:09:51.373 --> 00:09:54.943
  • Another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, and
  • 00:09:54.943 --> 00:09:57.846
  • Mistreated them and killed them.
  • 00:09:57.846 --> 00:10:00.248
  • And the king was enraged.
  • 00:10:00.248 --> 00:10:03.184
  • He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned
  • 00:10:03.184 --> 00:10:05.620
  • Their city.
  • 00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:07.322
  • And he said to his servants, 'the wedding banquet is ready,
  • 00:10:07.322 --> 00:10:09.557
  • But those i invited did not deserve to come.'"
  • 00:10:09.557 --> 00:10:12.594
  • Let's pause there just a minute.
  • 00:10:12.594 --> 00:10:15.363
  • The discussion jesus said is about the kingdom of god and it
  • 00:10:15.363 --> 00:10:19.334
  • Gives you a portrayal of the character of god that is not
  • 00:10:19.334 --> 00:10:21.569
  • Highlighted very often in contemporary christianity, of a
  • 00:10:21.569 --> 00:10:24.539
  • God angry at people that he's invited towards himself.
  • 00:10:24.539 --> 00:10:29.144
  • I believe in the grace of god and the mercy of god.
  • 00:10:29.144 --> 00:10:31.479
  • I am a poster child for those things, and i would invite you
  • 00:10:31.479 --> 00:10:34.616
  • Towards them, but i would invite you not to treat
  • 00:10:34.616 --> 00:10:36.718
  • Them presumptively.
  • 00:10:36.718 --> 00:10:39.654
  • Because the bible also tells us of a god who is angered and a
  • 00:10:39.654 --> 00:10:44.526
  • God who is righteous.
  • 00:10:44.526 --> 00:10:47.796
  • And if you don't know a god of righteousness and you only know
  • 00:10:47.796 --> 00:10:50.532
  • A god of grace, it's a very dangerous way to live.
  • 00:10:50.532 --> 00:10:53.501
  • It's like a car with an accelerator and no brake.
  • 00:10:53.501 --> 00:10:56.971
  • It's hard to imagine a good outcome.
  • 00:10:56.971 --> 00:11:02.143
  • Allen: hey, i have a suggestion.
  • 00:11:05.914 --> 00:11:07.248
  • Let's stop waiting for somebody else to be a better leader.
  • 00:11:07.248 --> 00:11:09.718
  • Let's determine this year to lead with faith.
  • 00:11:09.718 --> 00:11:12.187
  • I've written a book to help.
  • 00:11:12.187 --> 00:11:13.555
  • It's a practical collection of tools that you and i can use the
  • 00:11:13.555 --> 00:11:16.991
  • Influence of our lives, faith first in the marketplace, in our
  • 00:11:16.991 --> 00:11:20.795
  • Homes, with our friends.
  • 00:11:20.795 --> 00:11:22.163
  • Folks, it's time for us to stop waiting for somebody else to
  • 00:11:22.163 --> 00:11:24.899
  • Step forward.
  • 00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:26.267
  • Let's determine to lead with faith.
  • 00:11:26.267 --> 00:11:27.802
  • We can do that and i believe we can change our homes, our
  • 00:11:27.802 --> 00:11:30.905
  • Neighborhoods, our churches, maybe even our nation.
  • 00:11:30.905 --> 00:11:34.008
  • Announcer: choosing to lead with faith starts with a simple
  • 00:11:34.008 --> 00:11:36.945
  • Decision: to be intentional right where you are.
  • 00:11:36.945 --> 00:11:39.881
  • In his new book "lead with faith," pastor allen shares
  • 00:11:39.881 --> 00:11:42.951
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  • Faith in meaningful ways every day.
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  • Allenjackson.com or call ...
  • 00:11:59.734 --> 00:12:05.039
  • Allen: this parable jesus is telling has a more than a note
  • 00:12:07.442 --> 00:12:10.645
  • Of presumption in it.
  • 00:12:10.645 --> 00:12:12.514
  • Multiple invitations are presented and neglected.
  • 00:12:12.514 --> 00:12:15.683
  • The refusal of the king is not considered significant, it's no
  • 00:12:15.683 --> 00:12:19.087
  • Big deal, so he invited us, you know, he's invited us again.
  • 00:12:19.087 --> 00:12:23.725
  • It's not convenient for us at the moment.
  • 00:12:23.725 --> 00:12:26.895
  • We don't need the meal.
  • 00:12:26.895 --> 00:12:28.596
  • We're not interested in his presence.
  • 00:12:28.596 --> 00:12:30.965
  • The part that leaps at me out of the parable is the anger of
  • 00:12:30.965 --> 00:12:33.902
  • The king.
  • 00:12:33.902 --> 00:12:35.570
  • See, i think we often imagine that it's insignificant when we
  • 00:12:35.570 --> 00:12:39.340
  • Neglect god's invitations, as if he's obligated to give us
  • 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:43.178
  • Another one.
  • 00:12:43.178 --> 00:12:45.413
  • We sense that pull of god or we recognize that there's something
  • 00:12:45.413 --> 00:12:49.450
  • Before us that perhaps god is involved in, but it is not
  • 00:12:49.450 --> 00:12:52.220
  • Convenient for us, or we're just not sure how we feel about it,
  • 00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:55.690
  • Or we're indecisive and so we decline and we treat
  • 00:12:55.690 --> 00:12:59.794
  • That casually.
  • 00:12:59.794 --> 00:13:01.162
  • I mean those of us that kind of inhabit this world that we
  • 00:13:01.162 --> 00:13:04.899
  • Care about.
  • 00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:07.235
  • Well, clearly it's a terrible thing to refuse
  • 00:13:07.235 --> 00:13:09.170
  • God's invitations.
  • 00:13:09.170 --> 00:13:10.672
  • In fact, i think it's safe to say from the context of the
  • 00:13:10.672 --> 00:13:12.574
  • Parable, it's received as an insult.
  • 00:13:12.574 --> 00:13:16.911
  • So it's not like, "oh, you'll get another one next week."
  • 00:13:16.911 --> 00:13:20.148
  • It's an insult because the response in the parable, the
  • 00:13:20.148 --> 00:13:23.017
  • King sent an army and destroyed them.
  • 00:13:23.017 --> 00:13:26.187
  • Called them murderers because of the way they treated
  • 00:13:26.187 --> 00:13:30.091
  • The messengers.
  • 00:13:30.091 --> 00:13:32.493
  • See, i believe that parable is a presentation of the attitude of
  • 00:13:32.493 --> 00:13:36.531
  • The jewish people that jesus was addressing, and he's reminding
  • 00:13:36.531 --> 00:13:40.668
  • Them of their history.
  • 00:13:40.668 --> 00:13:43.738
  • And it's worth noting, at least in passing, it wasn't just their
  • 00:13:43.738 --> 00:13:47.041
  • Interaction with jesus because there was enormous crowds of
  • 00:13:47.041 --> 00:13:49.844
  • People that would welcome jesus, tens of thousands of people.
  • 00:13:49.844 --> 00:13:52.947
  • There were so many people that welcomed jesus that the smaller
  • 00:13:52.947 --> 00:13:56.284
  • Group or the population, the power brokers that hated him
  • 00:13:56.284 --> 00:14:00.021
  • Because they were threatened by him, they were afraid to arrest
  • 00:14:00.021 --> 00:14:02.457
  • Him in public because the large mobs would have killed them.
  • 00:14:02.457 --> 00:14:06.527
  • Nevertheless, there's this persistent rebellion.
  • 00:14:06.527 --> 00:14:09.964
  • And yet we find that through the course of the hebrew bible, the
  • 00:14:09.964 --> 00:14:12.834
  • Old testament.
  • 00:14:12.834 --> 00:14:15.470
  • The exodus generation, they eat manna.
  • 00:14:15.470 --> 00:14:17.772
  • They have manna stuck in their teeth.
  • 00:14:17.772 --> 00:14:20.942
  • Food that god has provided for them, hundreds of thousands of
  • 00:14:20.942 --> 00:14:23.945
  • People god has fed on a regular basis over an extended period of
  • 00:14:23.945 --> 00:14:27.916
  • Time with no costco and no sam's club.
  • 00:14:27.916 --> 00:14:32.620
  • And they come to the jordan river just on the the edge of
  • 00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:35.390
  • The promised land, the inheritance that god told them
  • 00:14:35.390 --> 00:14:37.792
  • About when he began the exodus from egypt.
  • 00:14:37.792 --> 00:14:40.295
  • He said, "this can be your home," and they sent spies in
  • 00:14:40.295 --> 00:14:43.998
  • And they said, "it's an amazing place."
  • 00:14:43.998 --> 00:14:46.901
  • The crops are amazing.
  • 00:14:46.901 --> 00:14:48.269
  • It's truly a land that flows with milk and honey, but they
  • 00:14:48.269 --> 00:14:50.905
  • Said, "there's some big people over there."
  • 00:14:50.905 --> 00:14:54.776
  • And their cities are well fortified and it would be hard
  • 00:14:54.776 --> 00:14:57.812
  • Work and we don't wanna do it.
  • 00:14:57.812 --> 00:15:02.283
  • And the bible says that god was angry with that generation.
  • 00:15:02.283 --> 00:15:05.887
  • And he said, "all right, you can have what you've asked for.
  • 00:15:05.887 --> 00:15:08.323
  • You'll all die in the desert."
  • 00:15:08.323 --> 00:15:10.959
  • And they wandered in a circle until that whole
  • 00:15:10.959 --> 00:15:13.227
  • Generation died.
  • 00:15:13.227 --> 00:15:16.431
  • And then we've pulled forward a few 100 years and the messiah is
  • 00:15:16.431 --> 00:15:19.233
  • Here who the prophets have looked forward to and told about
  • 00:15:19.233 --> 00:15:21.736
  • And the children have studied about and they've all been
  • 00:15:21.736 --> 00:15:24.605
  • Prepared and the messiah is here and jesus and the invitations
  • 00:15:24.605 --> 00:15:27.976
  • Have gone out and you've killed the messengers.
  • 00:15:27.976 --> 00:15:31.512
  • It's not pointed at just a 1st century audience or a singular
  • 00:15:31.512 --> 00:15:35.183
  • Decision around messiah.
  • 00:15:35.183 --> 00:15:37.185
  • There's an attitude that's been persistence in the hearts of
  • 00:15:37.185 --> 00:15:39.454
  • The people.
  • 00:15:39.454 --> 00:15:44.125
  • Verse 7 when he said the king was enraged and sent his army, i
  • 00:15:44.125 --> 00:15:49.497
  • Believe it has a historical fulfillment.
  • 00:15:49.497 --> 00:15:51.199
  • It was 70 ad, some 40 years or so after jesus delivered
  • 00:15:51.199 --> 00:15:54.435
  • The parable.
  • 00:15:54.435 --> 00:15:56.604
  • God relinquished jerusalem and the jewish people to the
  • 00:15:56.604 --> 00:15:58.806
  • Roman legions.
  • 00:15:58.806 --> 00:16:00.875
  • Multiple roman legions descended on tiny jerusalem.
  • 00:16:00.875 --> 00:16:04.379
  • They came from as far away as gaul and britannia.
  • 00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:07.782
  • They marched towards jerusalem.
  • 00:16:07.782 --> 00:16:09.183
  • When they got there, they besieged the city.
  • 00:16:09.183 --> 00:16:10.685
  • The siege was lifted for a short time because of some activity in
  • 00:16:10.685 --> 00:16:13.321
  • Rome, but it was reinstated and jerusalem was destroyed, the
  • 00:16:13.321 --> 00:16:16.657
  • Walls were torn down, the temple was destroyed.
  • 00:16:16.657 --> 00:16:19.360
  • The city was burned, the people were sold as slaves in the
  • 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:21.729
  • Markets of rome.
  • 00:16:21.729 --> 00:16:25.800
  • And i believe that happened because they refused the
  • 00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:27.602
  • Invitation of god.
  • 00:16:27.602 --> 00:16:29.971
  • Not a singular invitation, that's not what the parable
  • 00:16:29.971 --> 00:16:32.073
  • Says, it says, "there were multiple invitations and time
  • 00:16:32.073 --> 00:16:34.208
  • After time you treated those invitations with indifference."
  • 00:16:34.208 --> 00:16:38.479
  • "i'm busy.
  • 00:16:38.479 --> 00:16:39.914
  • It's not convenient."
  • 00:16:39.914 --> 00:16:43.651
  • But the parable's not done.
  • 00:16:43.651 --> 00:16:45.053
  • Look at verse 9: "go to the street corners and invite them
  • 00:16:45.053 --> 00:16:48.856
  • To the banquet anyone you find!
  • 00:16:48.856 --> 00:16:51.192
  • So the servants went out into the streets and they gathered
  • 00:16:51.192 --> 00:16:53.327
  • All the people they could find, both good and bad, and the
  • 00:16:53.327 --> 00:16:55.763
  • Wedding hall was filled with guests."
  • 00:16:55.763 --> 00:16:58.699
  • There's a new chapter to this banquet.
  • 00:16:58.699 --> 00:17:01.536
  • He said, "if those that it was prepared for aren't interested,
  • 00:17:01.536 --> 00:17:04.372
  • Go out into the streets and the highways and the byways, invite
  • 00:17:04.372 --> 00:17:07.275
  • Anybody who will come."
  • 00:17:07.275 --> 00:17:09.744
  • Well, in matthew 28, after his resurrection, jesus gathered his
  • 00:17:09.744 --> 00:17:12.547
  • Disciples, all of whom were jewish.
  • 00:17:12.547 --> 00:17:14.816
  • And he said, "all authority in heaven and earth has been given
  • 00:17:14.816 --> 00:17:17.251
  • To me.
  • 00:17:17.251 --> 00:17:18.586
  • Go and make disciples of all nations."
  • 00:17:18.586 --> 00:17:23.224
  • Of all nations.
  • 00:17:23.224 --> 00:17:25.693
  • "baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the
  • 00:17:25.693 --> 00:17:28.596
  • Holy spirit."
  • 00:17:28.596 --> 00:17:29.931
  • Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world.
  • 00:17:29.931 --> 00:17:32.767
  • You see, if you're not jewish, it's very difficult to get your
  • 00:17:32.767 --> 00:17:36.771
  • Imagination around.
  • 00:17:36.771 --> 00:17:38.606
  • In the new testament, there are two people groups.
  • 00:17:38.606 --> 00:17:40.541
  • There are the jewish people and everybody else.
  • 00:17:40.541 --> 00:17:42.944
  • There are the nations of the world.
  • 00:17:42.944 --> 00:17:45.279
  • In hebrew, the goyim.
  • 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:47.648
  • And it's really not a complimentary term.
  • 00:17:47.648 --> 00:17:49.283
  • It's not exactly a slight, but it's not seen as a blessing.
  • 00:17:49.283 --> 00:17:55.623
  • They've been the covenant people of god without any question.
  • 00:17:55.623 --> 00:18:01.195
  • The delivery system for the redemptive purposes of god.
  • 00:18:01.195 --> 00:18:05.533
  • He revealed to them the law and his character and he's given
  • 00:18:05.533 --> 00:18:08.870
  • Them leader after leader and prophet after prophet and
  • 00:18:08.870 --> 00:18:11.472
  • Invitation after invitation and now post-resurrection jesus
  • 00:18:11.472 --> 00:18:14.775
  • Gathered those disciples and says go make disciples of all
  • 00:18:14.775 --> 00:18:17.245
  • The nations.
  • 00:18:17.245 --> 00:18:18.579
  • The first guest refused, extend the invitation to those that
  • 00:18:18.579 --> 00:18:21.482
  • Don't have the close relationship.
  • 00:18:21.482 --> 00:18:26.154
  • It's intriguing to me.
  • 00:18:26.154 --> 00:18:28.523
  • He said, "invite the good and the bad."
  • 00:18:28.523 --> 00:18:31.592
  • You know, typically my experience is the bad respond
  • 00:18:31.592 --> 00:18:33.828
  • More quickly.
  • 00:18:33.828 --> 00:18:36.364
  • Those of us that come to church, we're kind of vaccinated.
  • 00:18:36.364 --> 00:18:40.434
  • Get a room full of good pagans and give them the gospel, it's
  • 00:18:40.434 --> 00:18:42.670
  • Amazing how many will repent.
  • 00:18:42.670 --> 00:18:48.476
  • Get together a good group of church people and we'll think of
  • 00:18:48.476 --> 00:18:50.745
  • All the people we know who should repent.
  • 00:18:50.745 --> 00:18:53.581
  • It's kind of our default.
  • 00:18:53.581 --> 00:18:54.949
  • It's not new with us.
  • 00:18:54.949 --> 00:18:56.284
  • Remember what john the baptist said when john opened up his
  • 00:18:56.284 --> 00:18:57.852
  • Baptism stand out by the jordan river.
  • 00:18:57.852 --> 00:19:01.055
  • And he had so much business that it made the power brokers in
  • 00:19:01.055 --> 00:19:03.891
  • Jerusalem jealous.
  • 00:19:03.891 --> 00:19:05.226
  • So they went to see, and john said, "well, the prostitutes and
  • 00:19:05.226 --> 00:19:07.929
  • The tax collectors, the two groups of the biggest, most
  • 00:19:07.929 --> 00:19:10.364
  • Public sinners, they've been repenting readily, and
  • 00:19:10.364 --> 00:19:12.733
  • You won't.
  • 00:19:12.733 --> 00:19:14.902
  • You're a bunch of snakes."
  • 00:19:14.902 --> 00:19:17.371
  • John was not gentle.
  • 00:19:17.371 --> 00:19:20.741
  • Well, jesus acknowledges that in this parable.
  • 00:19:20.741 --> 00:19:23.578
  • Look at verse 11.
  • 00:19:23.578 --> 00:19:24.912
  • "the king came to see the guests, and he noticed there a
  • 00:19:24.912 --> 00:19:26.514
  • Man was there and he wasn't wearing wedding clothes.
  • 00:19:26.514 --> 00:19:29.784
  • 'and friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?'
  • 00:19:29.784 --> 00:19:32.019
  • And the man was speechless.
  • 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:33.354
  • Then the king told the attendants, 'tie him hand and
  • 00:19:33.354 --> 00:19:35.623
  • Foot, and throw him outside into the darkness, where there'll be
  • 00:19:35.623 --> 00:19:37.825
  • Weeping and gnashing of teeth, for many are invited, but few
  • 00:19:37.825 --> 00:19:40.294
  • Are chosen.'"
  • 00:19:40.294 --> 00:19:42.263
  • What's jesus saying to us?
  • 00:19:42.263 --> 00:19:44.999
  • Well, it isn't quite as clear to us culturally, you know, wedding
  • 00:19:44.999 --> 00:19:47.468
  • Cultures change.
  • 00:19:47.468 --> 00:19:49.870
  • I got an invitation to a wedding this week.
  • 00:19:49.870 --> 00:19:51.239
  • It's digital.
  • 00:19:51.239 --> 00:19:52.573
  • Everything's been digital.
  • 00:19:52.573 --> 00:19:53.941
  • No paper.
  • 00:19:53.941 --> 00:19:55.509
  • No engraved invitations.
  • 00:19:55.509 --> 00:19:57.745
  • No little tissue slips in front of the invitation that you open
  • 00:19:57.745 --> 00:20:00.615
  • Out, you know, and if you get dirt on it, you're in trouble.
  • 00:20:00.615 --> 00:20:03.985
  • It's digital, not wrong, just changing.
  • 00:20:03.985 --> 00:20:06.887
  • Well, in this season, a wedding invitation for a gathering of
  • 00:20:06.887 --> 00:20:11.726
  • This kind of significance, clothing, wedding clothes would
  • 00:20:11.726 --> 00:20:15.129
  • Have been included as a part of the invitation.
  • 00:20:15.129 --> 00:20:19.133
  • It wasn't an expense.
  • 00:20:19.133 --> 00:20:20.568
  • Those of you, if you're in that season of life where you're
  • 00:20:20.568 --> 00:20:23.004
  • Being invited to many weddings, there's a lot of expense
  • 00:20:23.004 --> 00:20:26.274
  • For that.
  • 00:20:26.274 --> 00:20:27.608
  • Not in that time.
  • 00:20:27.608 --> 00:20:29.110
  • So the wedding clothes would have been a part of the
  • 00:20:29.110 --> 00:20:31.212
  • Provision and the person who comes to the wedding without
  • 00:20:31.212 --> 00:20:34.448
  • Wearing the provided clothing comes with an arrogance, an
  • 00:20:34.448 --> 00:20:37.351
  • Attitude, a display of presumptiveness, with pride.
  • 00:20:37.351 --> 00:20:41.789
  • "i'll not be bothered with your style.
  • 00:20:41.789 --> 00:20:45.526
  • I have my own.
  • 00:20:45.526 --> 00:20:47.495
  • I can neglect the invitation.
  • 00:20:47.495 --> 00:20:48.863
  • I can establish my own credentials."
  • 00:20:48.863 --> 00:20:52.133
  • And when the king that sponsored the banquet saw it, it says, "he
  • 00:20:52.133 --> 00:20:54.468
  • Was angered again."
  • 00:20:54.468 --> 00:20:56.504
  • He said, "tie him hand and foot and throw him outside."
  • 00:20:56.504 --> 00:21:00.841
  • Well, the wedding garment, i believe in scripture, this one
  • 00:21:00.841 --> 00:21:03.344
  • Isn't particularly challenging.
  • 00:21:03.344 --> 00:21:05.813
  • For those of us in the new covenant, it's our salvation
  • 00:21:05.813 --> 00:21:08.316
  • Through faith in jesus.
  • 00:21:08.316 --> 00:21:11.118
  • The bible gives us multiple verses.
  • 00:21:11.118 --> 00:21:12.987
  • I don't have time to unpack them all, but it says that we're
  • 00:21:12.987 --> 00:21:15.756
  • Clothed with his righteousness, not our own.
  • 00:21:15.756 --> 00:21:18.526
  • It's a gift.
  • 00:21:18.526 --> 00:21:20.795
  • It's provided with the invitation.
  • 00:21:20.795 --> 00:21:22.997
  • You don't have to earn it.
  • 00:21:22.997 --> 00:21:24.365
  • You don't qualify for it, but you have to receive the gift and
  • 00:21:24.365 --> 00:21:27.802
  • You have to care about it enough to be identified by it.
  • 00:21:27.802 --> 00:21:33.174
  • If you don't intend to be identified by the righteousness
  • 00:21:33.174 --> 00:21:36.243
  • Of god, what makes you believe you're a christ follower?
  • 00:21:36.243 --> 00:21:44.118
  • You're not gonna sneak into the banquet.
  • 00:21:44.118 --> 00:21:48.022
  • I brought you a couple of verses.
  • 00:21:48.022 --> 00:21:49.690
  • Isaiah 61.
  • 00:21:49.690 --> 00:21:51.125
  • The prophet isaiah, hundreds of years before the birth of jesus,
  • 00:21:51.125 --> 00:21:55.029
  • Said, "i delight greatly in the lord; my soul rejoices in
  • 00:21:55.029 --> 00:21:57.765
  • My god.
  • 00:21:57.765 --> 00:21:59.133
  • For he's clothed me with garments of salvation and
  • 00:21:59.133 --> 00:22:01.235
  • Arrayed me in a robe of righteousness."
  • 00:22:01.235 --> 00:22:05.306
  • I love the way isaiah put it.
  • 00:22:05.306 --> 00:22:06.674
  • He starts with the emotions.
  • 00:22:06.674 --> 00:22:08.042
  • He said, "i delight greatly.
  • 00:22:08.042 --> 00:22:09.377
  • My soul rejoices."
  • 00:22:09.377 --> 00:22:11.011
  • In what?
  • 00:22:11.011 --> 00:22:12.346
  • Gold and silver?
  • 00:22:12.346 --> 00:22:13.714
  • No, i'm not opposed to that, but that i have a robe
  • 00:22:13.714 --> 00:22:15.716
  • Of righteousness.
  • 00:22:15.716 --> 00:22:17.084
  • I can be clothed in something.
  • 00:22:17.084 --> 00:22:18.786
  • Righteousness is a religious word.
  • 00:22:18.786 --> 00:22:20.154
  • It means the ability to stand in the presence of god without
  • 00:22:20.154 --> 00:22:23.257
  • Fear, without guilt, or without shame.
  • 00:22:23.257 --> 00:22:25.926
  • Imagine a robe that could give you access to the presence of
  • 00:22:25.926 --> 00:22:30.965
  • God with no guilt.
  • 00:22:30.965 --> 00:22:35.236
  • I would hope we would rejoice.
  • 00:22:35.236 --> 00:22:37.838
  • I hope we would take that as our identity.
  • 00:22:37.838 --> 00:22:41.075
  • I hope we would begin to understand that was the
  • 00:22:41.075 --> 00:22:43.778
  • Authority we want to live under.
  • 00:22:43.778 --> 00:22:48.115
  • There's nothing more important if you wanna participate in that
  • 00:22:48.115 --> 00:22:51.152
  • Kingdom of god that we were talking about.
  • 00:22:51.152 --> 00:22:55.956
  • In 2 corinthians 5, it's new testament if you're tracking.
  • 00:22:55.956 --> 00:22:59.827
  • "god made him who had no sin to be sin for us."
  • 00:22:59.827 --> 00:23:03.464
  • Jesus became sin with my sin.
  • 00:23:03.464 --> 00:23:07.568
  • "so that in him we might be made the righteousness of god," that
  • 00:23:07.568 --> 00:23:10.237
  • I might be made righteous with his righteousness, not mine.
  • 00:23:10.237 --> 00:23:15.709
  • See, there's a debate raging through a lot of places these
  • 00:23:15.709 --> 00:23:18.946
  • Days about who killed jesus.
  • 00:23:18.946 --> 00:23:20.314
  • Did the jews kill jesus?
  • 00:23:20.314 --> 00:23:22.716
  • I've asserted that the romans crucified him.
  • 00:23:22.716 --> 00:23:25.386
  • The real question isn't who killed him, the question is why
  • 00:23:25.386 --> 00:23:27.755
  • Did he have to die.
  • 00:23:27.755 --> 00:23:31.058
  • That's a far more significant question, and the reality of
  • 00:23:31.058 --> 00:23:33.694
  • That is because of the sin in my heart and oh, by the way, yours.
  • 00:23:33.694 --> 00:23:39.500
  • It wasn't that the jews were uniquely sinful.
  • 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:42.536
  • We all needed a savior.
  • 00:23:42.536 --> 00:23:46.540
  • Amen, pastor.
  • 00:23:46.540 --> 00:23:48.275
  • And if you're caught up in that other debate, you're caught up
  • 00:23:48.275 --> 00:23:51.445
  • On the less significant, i promise.
  • 00:23:51.445 --> 00:23:55.916
  • Jesus said, "many are invited, but you have to meet
  • 00:23:55.916 --> 00:23:59.453
  • The requirements."
  • 00:23:59.453 --> 00:24:01.021
  • Full provision has been made.
  • 00:24:01.021 --> 00:24:02.590
  • The wedding clothes have been offered, but we have to humble
  • 00:24:02.590 --> 00:24:05.326
  • Ourselves and accept the provision.
  • 00:24:05.326 --> 00:24:07.261
  • We don't earn our righteousness, but we have to be identified as
  • 00:24:07.261 --> 00:24:11.098
  • The righteousness of god in christ.
  • 00:24:11.098 --> 00:24:13.234
  • And if we're not willing to do that, to align ourselves with
  • 00:24:13.234 --> 00:24:16.270
  • Those things, the fact that we were invited isn't
  • 00:24:16.270 --> 00:24:21.041
  • What's relevant.
  • 00:24:21.041 --> 00:24:22.376
  • The question is, are we willing to accept the garments.
  • 00:24:22.376 --> 00:24:27.314
  • I told you there were two banquets.
  • 00:24:27.314 --> 00:24:30.651
  • I wanna look at the second one.
  • 00:24:30.651 --> 00:24:31.986
  • It's in luke 14.
  • 00:24:31.986 --> 00:24:33.821
  • Now, it's at the opposite end of the day.
  • 00:24:33.821 --> 00:24:36.023
  • The matthew parable was the morning meal, the beginning of
  • 00:24:36.023 --> 00:24:38.359
  • The day, if you will, the beginning of the age.
  • 00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:40.694
  • The luke parable in luke 14 is that the evening meal.
  • 00:24:40.694 --> 00:24:43.564
  • In greek, it's "deipnon."
  • 00:24:43.564 --> 00:24:46.300
  • It's the evening meal.
  • 00:24:46.300 --> 00:24:48.369
  • This banquet is a supper.
  • 00:24:48.369 --> 00:24:50.404
  • And i believe in this parable jesus is not talking principally
  • 00:24:50.404 --> 00:24:53.240
  • About the jewish people at the beginning of the age.
  • 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:55.743
  • I understand it to be a picture of the end of the age.
  • 00:24:55.743 --> 00:24:58.145
  • For 19 centuries, the invitations to the kingdom of
  • 00:25:01.348 --> 00:25:03.851
  • God has been open to the people, to the nations.
  • 00:25:03.851 --> 00:25:07.855
  • People from every nation, race, language, and tribe.
  • 00:25:07.855 --> 00:25:11.725
  • No one's been excluded.
  • 00:25:11.725 --> 00:25:13.093
  • There was no particular group.
  • 00:25:13.093 --> 00:25:14.562
  • The invitation has been on the table.
  • 00:25:14.562 --> 00:25:18.265
  • And the overwhelming response of those that have adopted jesus as
  • 00:25:18.265 --> 00:25:21.535
  • Messiah is that he appointed the jewish people in a
  • 00:25:21.535 --> 00:25:25.005
  • Condemning way.
  • 00:25:25.005 --> 00:25:26.340
  • It's a horrific track record for which we will have to give
  • 00:25:26.340 --> 00:25:28.008
  • An account.
  • 00:25:28.008 --> 00:25:30.778
  • For 19 centuries, the extent--the invitation to the
  • 00:25:30.778 --> 00:25:34.081
  • Kingdom of god has been extended to the nations, to the gentile
  • 00:25:34.081 --> 00:25:37.818
  • World, to the goyim, to the non-jewish world.
  • 00:25:37.818 --> 00:25:40.387
  • How we've done with that?
  • 00:25:40.387 --> 00:25:42.823
  • Put your finger on the globe.
  • 00:25:42.823 --> 00:25:45.025
  • How have we done with turning from paganism, turning from
  • 00:25:45.025 --> 00:25:48.128
  • Demonism, turning from animism, turning from secularism, turning
  • 00:25:48.128 --> 00:25:52.266
  • From all the things we've worshiped other than
  • 00:25:52.266 --> 00:25:54.168
  • Almighty god?
  • 00:25:54.168 --> 00:25:56.704
  • We're very quick to condemn, to point accusing fingers.
  • 00:25:56.704 --> 00:26:00.441
  • If we look at all of us who don't fit into that jewish
  • 00:26:00.441 --> 00:26:03.811
  • Paradigm, how have we done with the opportunity of the gospel on
  • 00:26:03.811 --> 00:26:06.880
  • A global basis?
  • 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:09.383
  • It should give us pause.
  • 00:26:09.383 --> 00:26:11.885
  • It should certainly give us some humility.
  • 00:26:11.885 --> 00:26:13.687
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:13.687 --> 00:26:20.227
  • Allen: hey, i have a question.
  • 00:26:20.227 --> 00:26:21.562
  • Have you ever said, "i wish my pastor would lead with more
  • 00:26:21.562 --> 00:26:24.365
  • Courage," or "i wish my pastor would address what's happening
  • 00:26:24.365 --> 00:26:27.434
  • In the world with greater boldness"?
  • 00:26:27.434 --> 00:26:29.903
  • Folks, we can't change other people.
  • 00:26:29.903 --> 00:26:31.338
  • The only person we can ultimately change is ourselves.
  • 00:26:31.338 --> 00:26:33.741
  • I have a suggestion.
  • 00:26:33.741 --> 00:26:35.209
  • What if you and i begin to lead with faith in our own arenas
  • 00:26:35.209 --> 00:26:38.646
  • Of influence?
  • 00:26:38.646 --> 00:26:39.980
  • Well, i've written a book to help with that.
  • 00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:41.315
  • If that seems beyond you or intimidating to you, i believe
  • 00:26:41.315 --> 00:26:44.318
  • This book will help.
  • 00:26:44.318 --> 00:26:45.653
  • It'll give you some practical ways that you and i can begin to
  • 00:26:45.653 --> 00:26:48.489
  • Lead with faith in the marketplace, in our homes, with
  • 00:26:48.489 --> 00:26:51.458
  • Our friends, wherever that may be.
  • 00:26:51.458 --> 00:26:53.794
  • We have help in this.
  • 00:26:53.794 --> 00:26:55.429
  • The spirit of god will help us if we have the willingness to
  • 00:26:55.429 --> 00:26:58.198
  • Use our influence for the kingdom of god.
  • 00:26:58.198 --> 00:27:00.834
  • You can get a copy of the book at allenjackson.com.
  • 00:27:00.834 --> 00:27:03.404
  • You can go get your own today, but i wanna pray.
  • 00:27:03.404 --> 00:27:05.506
  • I wanna ask the spirit of god to help you and me lead with faith
  • 00:27:05.506 --> 00:27:09.343
  • This year as never before.
  • 00:27:09.343 --> 00:27:11.145
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:27:11.145 --> 00:27:12.479
  • Heavenly father, we ask for your help.
  • 00:27:12.479 --> 00:27:14.648
  • You have given us strengths and abilities and influence.
  • 00:27:14.648 --> 00:27:16.950
  • May we use it for the glory of your kingdom.
  • 00:27:16.950 --> 00:27:19.586
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:19.586 --> 00:27:21.355
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:21.355 --> 00:27:21.355