Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Transformed Lives (Part 1)

October 3, 2025 | 28:35

Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

#Change #Heart #Transformation #Live #Ministry #Pastors #Faith

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Transformed Lives (Part 1) | October 3, 2025

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Allen jackson: hey, may i ask you a question?
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Who's your best friend?
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Now, i don't want the politically-correct answer or
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The answer that you think you should give, but in reality,
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Who's the person whose opinion you value the most, the person
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That you wanna share your opinions with, the person whose
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Perspective matters to you when you're sorting through a
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Difficult question or circumstance?
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Who is it that brings joy to your life when you get a little
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Time with them?
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Who's your best friend?
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Well, i wanna plant a seed.
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I got an idea, and it's an objective more than it's always
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A reality.
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I want jesus to be my friend, and i don't mean some
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Theoretical way.
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I mean, i wanna care about his opinion.
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I wanna know what brings joy to him.
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I wanna invite him into my life.
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I'm not trying to keep any of my life secret from him.
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I wanna live my life as jesus's friend.
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It's changed the entire context of how i think about my faith.
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I've been living this out for a long time.
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It's become a tremendous gift in my life.
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It's important enough i wrote a book.
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I think it'll help you.
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It'll open a doorway to take your faith from the theoretical
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To a way to engage your faith every day in all you're doing.
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It'll be a blessing.
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Allen jackson: i think the greatest need for transformation
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Is within the church.
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I believe that those of us who imagine ourselves to be
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Christ-followers, can cooperate with the spirit of god, he would
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Bring about the changes that would bring transformation
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To our world.
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And i think that will require the help of the spirit of god
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And it will require a change of heart within us.
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I think, typically, our desire is to look through the windows
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And think, "if the other people would just be different,
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Our world would be better."
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That's not unusual.
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We think that in our homes.
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We think that about our children.
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"if the teachers were better, our children would be smarter.
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If the coaches that oversee our children were just more fair,
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Our children would have better opportunities."
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We tend to bring that same frame of reference to almost
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Everything we do, and it's unfortunate because at the end
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Of the day, the only place we ultimately have the authority
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Is over our own choices.
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I wanna start in 2 thessalonians, chapter 2,
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In verse 9.
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It's a presentation of the end of the age and it's talking
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Specifically about the emergence of this figure that
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The bible tells us, will step on to the stage of human history
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As we approach the very end of the age.
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We generally refer to him as the antichrist.
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But antichrist is a spirit that the bible tells us has been
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Prevalent in the world throughout the story of
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Scripture, that there have been many antichrists,
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Many individuals, that were embodiments of that, but at the
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End of the age, there'll be an individual that will accept that
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Bargain that jesus rejected, "if you worship satan,"
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He said, "i'll give you the authority i have over
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All the kingdoms of the earth."
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That's the theme of the book of revelation, the battle between
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The beast and the lamb.
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If the bible describes that individual as someone who is
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Beastly, i think it should have our attention.
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Well, in 2 thessalonians 2, it says, "the coming of the lawless
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One will be in accordance with the work of satan displayed
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In all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders,
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And in every sort of evil that deceives those
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Who are perishing.
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They perish because they refuse to love the truth
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And to so be saved.
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For this reason god sends them a powerful delusion so that they
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Will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned, who have
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Not believed the truth, but who have delighted in wickedness."
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Its description of a very chaotic time, a very polarized
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Time, a time characterized by great deception, by much,
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Many perishing for a refusal to love the truth.
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It says every sort of evil will be widespread.
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The deception will flourish.
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Deception is when you believe something to be true
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That is not.
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You can be sincere and be sincerely deceived.
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When you see people that are struggling with deception, you
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Shouldn't imagine you shouldn't question their sincerity;
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They've simply adopted something as being factual or truthful,
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Which is not.
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And all of those things are said to be increasing as we approach
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The end of the age.
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I could walk you through multiple passages that would
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Highlight those characteristics we just read, and what paul
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Was writing to the church at thessalonica.
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In the heart of it, he said, that "they would refuse to love
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The truth and they would reject salvation."
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Those of us who gather in churches, the unifying principle
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That should connect us is we've acknowledged that we are sinners
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And we need a savior, that we cannot save ourselves, that only
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The redemptive work of jesus of nazareth is sufficient to enable
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Us to gain access into the eternal kingdom of god.
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Otherwise, we stand apart from that, no matter how kind,
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Or how generous, or how loving, or how benevolent.
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We require a transformation that we cannot generate
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On our own behalf, and jesus is the sole doorway
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Into that transformation.
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It is the message that the church holds.
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It's one that, unfortunately, we've stepped quite a ways
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Away from.
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In fact, we've added our voices to a large growing chorus of
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Voices that there are many ways to solve the world's problems,
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But jesus is no longer imagined to be at the center of that.
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Well, that's the description that's being given here, that we
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Will refuse to love the truth, we will no longer accept
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God's truth.
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Like we say now, it's very fashionable to say, that
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"all truth is subjective that you can't know my truth."
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And you can't, i can't know your truth.
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And here a truth, and there are truth, and everywhere,
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A truth, truth.
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And i agree that personal perspective certainly is a
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Component of understanding the world and we should be mindful
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Of one another, but there is such a thing as an objective
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Truth; the truth isn't dependent upon my opinion.
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Gravity does not depend upon your opinion.
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If you step off the edge of the building, you'll still fall
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To the earth at 9.8 meters per second squared.
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Even if you say, "i don't believe in gravity," all the way
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To the point of impact.
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There is objective truth, and there is objective truth about
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Our world, and there's objective truth about the end of time;
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It's the gift of the word of god that we can understand it.
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But when it's described as a powerful delusion and the result
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Is condemnation, it should have all of our attention.
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I take a moment with that because i have said something to
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You repeatedly, and i'm gonna continue to repeat it, is that
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The great need we have is not for a political solution.
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We have a spiritual problem.
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The reason we see circumstances around us of escalating violence
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And declines and all sorts of ways of effectiveness and
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Efficiencies that have defined us as a people previously,
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Is we have, we are experiencing a spiritual deterioration that's
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Unprecedented in our lifetimes.
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And i believe that if we have a spiritual change, it can be
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Reflected in the political arenas, but we shouldn't imagine
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That the political arenas will be the leading edge
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Of the changes.
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I can illustrate that i think pretty clearly and offend
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Everybody in one fell swoop.
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That's not easily done.
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But in the last two national elections we've had,
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We've had both primary parties represented, they gained power.
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Mr. trump was elected and implemented a set of policies
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That many people agreed with, and by the time when he was out
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Of office, within six weeks of exiting the office, the majority
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Of the changes he implemented were undone, and mr. biden
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Was elected and chose a pretty dramatically different course,
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With an open border and different policies regarding
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Energy, and different policies regarding immigration,
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And different policies regarding international relations.
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And it seems, to me, that no matter which party
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You represented, we're angrier than we've ever been.
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We're more dissatisfied and we're in the midst of another
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Election season, and there's a group of people that desperately
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Want mr. trump back in the office, and there's another
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Group of people now that are desperately advocating
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For vice president harris,
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But both of those sets of policies have been
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Fully expressed, and we still have overwhelming problems
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Before us.
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Now, i believe it makes a difference who you vote for, and
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I'm completely in agreement with elections have consequences,
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And you definitely need to participate in the process,
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But you need to have the awareness to recognize no matter
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Which side wins, they have not demonstrated the ability
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To fix us.
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There are deeper problems afoot and your anxiety around it is
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Misplaced if you're not leaning into the spiritual changes
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That will be required.
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We should be able to choose between political parties
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Or political candidates that share a worldview.
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That's where our greatest health is, and the church has
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To believe that.
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This nonsense that we don't talk about those things in polite
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Society is because we don't have the courage to say in the public
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Square what we truly believe.
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And we're gonna have to grow up, folks, or the judgment of god is
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Gonna come on us.
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We have to have a spiritual change, a change of heart,
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Those of us that gather in churches and sings hymns and
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Choruses and recite prayers.
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We're watching things we've never seen.
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It's an olympic year; the olympics are underway.
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It's been a, for my lifetime, it's been celebrated as
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An expression of cooperation, a global celebration of human
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Achievement, and many of the best aspects.
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Now, there have been some tragic events at olympics,
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But this year, the organizers of the olympics decided
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That they should begin with a mockery of the christian faith.
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I mean, just as brazenly and clearly
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As it could be expressed.
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And then, they followed up with athletic competition that,
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In my opinion, has taken us backwards in the way we deal
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With one another with dignity.
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We have men fighting women.
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Now, the nuances of that we can talk about, if you prefer,
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But they're not particularly relevant.
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We've been told all of our lives that it's wrong for a man to use
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Violence against a woman, that there's no justification,
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There's just a hard stop at the end of that;
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I think it's an appropriate lesson.
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And we celebrate the olympics as a global expression,
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And we're gonna award medals to men who fight women.
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What man thinks it's a good idea?
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"i can't really compete with the guys."
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And again, you know, they say, "well, there's ways we can
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Monitor this.
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We'll monitor testosterone levels."
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Folks, every cell in your body identifies this as male
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Or female.
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This isn't complicated.
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And the olympics are just an expression of a much larger
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Dialogue that's taking a place around the world.
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It is the theater of the absurd.
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Who thinks it's a good idea to mock 2 billion people
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In what they believe?
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It's just nonsense, irrespective of what you think about
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Christianity; we have lost our balance.
00:11:36.912 --> 00:11:40.149
We're conducting a national election right now, and we're
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Told that one party thinks the pathway to consolidating power
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In this nation is promising the right to kill your children
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Up to the point of delivery.
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And there's really no voices going on, "i don't think
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That's a good idea."
00:11:54.630 --> 00:11:55.965
Quite to the contrary, they're saying, "nope, that is the path
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To consolidating power."
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And then, christians say things, "well, i'm not, like,
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A one-issue voter."
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Hypocrite.
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If the issue is brazen enough to you, you're a one-issue voter.
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We're confused, we are addled; it's as if we have lost
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Our balance.
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And in the midst of this, is the church; and perhaps,
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The church is in more trouble than any political institution
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Or any political party.
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The churches in whole scale measures are rejecting
00:12:27.496 --> 00:12:30.533
The authority of scripture, saying that "we have to emerge
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And evolve along with culture."
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We're setting aside objective truth in order to be applauded
00:12:36.372 --> 00:12:39.942
By contemporary culture.
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That's not a new temptation, that's as old
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As human civilization.
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On the other side, we find churches that are unwilling
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To engage our culture.
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We prefer to be experts in the culture of the first century.
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We can explain in great detail, the culture from which
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The sadducees emerged or the pharisees, or the essenes.
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We can talk ad nauseam about the roman government
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And the influence they had over judea.
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But if we start to talk about our spiritual influence in
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The 21st century, we imagine that's inappropriate;
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It shouldn't be talked about.
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We prefer to discuss blessings in so many of our churches
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Rather than to grapple with the demands of holiness.
00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:22.351
We have a distorted grace, which obscures the necessity
00:13:22.351 --> 00:13:24.987
Of the cross.
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We talk far more about the grace of god than we do
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The consequences of sin.
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Our churches have, unfortunately, become
00:13:31.827 --> 00:13:33.662
In far too many instances, advocates for a false gospel.
00:13:33.662 --> 00:13:37.666
We talk about justice without submitting
00:13:37.733 --> 00:13:39.602
To god's righteousness; there is no such thing.
00:13:39.602 --> 00:13:42.137
There is no justice for human beings apart from
00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:46.041
The righteousness of god.
00:13:46.041 --> 00:13:48.477
Churches spend more time advocating for dei or crt
00:13:48.544 --> 00:13:52.982
Than talking about the holiness of god.
00:13:52.982 --> 00:13:54.750
We're confused and unfortunately, we gather far too
00:13:54.750 --> 00:13:59.955
Often in too many places, just unaware, blissfully ignorant
00:13:59.955 --> 00:14:05.394
That the barbarians are at the gate, that in reality, that may
00:14:05.394 --> 00:14:09.832
Very well be the judgment of god being released upon them.
00:14:09.832 --> 00:14:14.303
Allen: hey, i've written a new book.
00:14:18.140 --> 00:14:19.608
It's called "my friend jesus."
00:14:19.608 --> 00:14:21.410
You know, i'm a pastor--a lot of ritual,
00:14:21.410 --> 00:14:23.479
Tradition, a lot of formality in the way we know god.
00:14:23.479 --> 00:14:26.882
It's not bad.
00:14:26.882 --> 00:14:28.217
There's some good things in that,
00:14:28.217 --> 00:14:29.618
But when i'm in real trouble or i have something i wanna
00:14:29.618 --> 00:14:31.553
Celebrate, i call a friend.
00:14:31.553 --> 00:14:33.689
Well, i wanna live my life with jesus of nazareth as my friend.
00:14:33.689 --> 00:14:37.092
It changes everything in both celebration
00:14:37.092 --> 00:14:39.929
And when there's a problem.
00:14:39.929 --> 00:14:41.263
Wrote the book to help.
00:14:41.263 --> 00:14:42.598
I think it'll open your life to god in a more personal,
00:14:42.598 --> 00:14:45.034
Transformational way than ever before.
00:14:45.034 --> 00:14:47.803
Enjoy the book.
00:14:47.803 --> 00:14:49.138
Female announcer: in his book,
00:14:49.138 --> 00:14:50.472
"my friend jesus," pastor allen shares how friendship with jesus
00:14:50.472 --> 00:14:53.008
Brings clarity, strength, and peace in every part of life.
00:14:53.008 --> 00:14:56.879
This isn't about following a religion or religious rules.
00:14:56.879 --> 00:15:00.249
It's about cultivating a cherished relationship that will
00:15:00.249 --> 00:15:02.751
Help your faith become more personal,
00:15:02.751 --> 00:15:05.087
More joyful, and more powerful each day.
00:15:05.087 --> 00:15:07.957
Request "my friend jesus" with your donation of $25 or more
00:15:07.957 --> 00:15:11.794
Today at allenjackson.com or by calling...
00:15:11.794 --> 00:15:17.533
Allen: i think we have to talk about church in some more
00:15:19.068 --> 00:15:21.236
Specific terms.
00:15:21.236 --> 00:15:23.639
Once upon a time, we could just identify
00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:25.407
By denominational group.
00:15:25.407 --> 00:15:26.742
It said something to our musical preferences or our worship
00:15:26.742 --> 00:15:28.811
Styles, whether they were liturgical or more casual.
00:15:28.811 --> 00:15:31.547
Nothing wrong with that; you're allowed preference in how
00:15:31.547 --> 00:15:34.016
We worship the lord to a degree, but those distinctions are
00:15:34.016 --> 00:15:37.987
No longer helpful; there's too much diversity
00:15:37.987 --> 00:15:39.955
Amongst the communities.
00:15:39.955 --> 00:15:42.157
And tragically, they're no longer unified by the authority
00:15:42.157 --> 00:15:44.727
Of scripture or the redemptive work of jesus.
00:15:44.727 --> 00:15:48.897
We have multiple expressions, false church, false gospels,
00:15:48.897 --> 00:15:52.201
Flourishing amongst us.
00:15:52.201 --> 00:15:54.903
Maybe the most prevalent is we have a gospel, now, that really
00:15:54.903 --> 00:15:57.206
Has no consequences.
00:15:57.206 --> 00:15:59.508
We've highlighted the forgiveness of god,
00:15:59.508 --> 00:16:01.243
A god of love.
00:16:01.243 --> 00:16:02.945
We've celebrated that to the point that the idea has taken
00:16:02.945 --> 00:16:05.347
Pretty deep root amongst the evangelical community, that sin
00:16:05.347 --> 00:16:08.817
Has almost been rendered irrelevant.
00:16:08.817 --> 00:16:10.452
Grace is all encompassing, that you can live any way you want
00:16:10.452 --> 00:16:14.723
To, and you can do whatever you choose, and you can take any
00:16:14.723 --> 00:16:17.126
Deviation you want from what you know, to be right and wrong,
00:16:17.126 --> 00:16:20.095
Because at whatever point you choose to reconcile with god,
00:16:20.095 --> 00:16:23.198
You can come back and rather casually or flippantly go,
00:16:23.198 --> 00:16:26.201
You know, "i'm kind of sorry," and imagine that the forgiveness
00:16:26.201 --> 00:16:32.608
Of god is such that there's absolutely no consequence.
00:16:32.608 --> 00:16:35.778
So, we have a gospel without consequences.
00:16:35.778 --> 00:16:39.748
I don't believe that's an accurate portrayal of scripture.
00:16:39.748 --> 00:16:43.685
I think we purposely forget a generation that, we're told
00:16:43.685 --> 00:16:47.356
In the new testament, was written down to help us learn,
00:16:47.356 --> 00:16:51.827
A generation who crossed the red sea, a generation who dined
00:16:51.827 --> 00:16:55.631
On manna and drank water from a rock.
00:16:55.631 --> 00:16:59.201
And then, when they refused the invitation of god,
00:16:59.201 --> 00:17:01.403
They died in the wilderness.
00:17:01.403 --> 00:17:04.973
I think we overlooked them.
00:17:04.973 --> 00:17:06.341
I think we look past moses, one of the most remarkable leaders
00:17:06.341 --> 00:17:10.179
In scripture, but god said to him, "you cannot go
00:17:10.179 --> 00:17:12.548
Into the promised land.
00:17:12.548 --> 00:17:14.216
You will not enter the promised land.
00:17:14.216 --> 00:17:15.684
You were disobedient."
00:17:15.684 --> 00:17:18.220
And moses pled multiple times.
00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:21.423
I mean, moses, if you've forgotten, came down mount sinai
00:17:21.423 --> 00:17:23.859
With ten commandments, spent so much time in the presence
00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:26.161
Of god, his face glowed in the dark, and god said,
00:17:26.161 --> 00:17:28.831
"there's a consequence to your stubborn behavior."
00:17:28.831 --> 00:17:33.969
Or david, the ultimate king of israel.
00:17:33.969 --> 00:17:37.306
The bible says, "a man after god's own heart."
00:17:37.306 --> 00:17:40.609
And david desperately wanted to build a temple for the lord;
00:17:40.609 --> 00:17:43.345
It was his legacy he wanted to leave.
00:17:43.345 --> 00:17:45.147
And god said, "you cannot do it.
00:17:45.147 --> 00:17:48.183
There's blood on your hands that will not allow you to do that."
00:17:48.183 --> 00:17:52.955
And some will say, "well, that's old testament, pastor."
00:17:52.955 --> 00:17:55.858
You're right, obi-wan.
00:17:55.858 --> 00:18:00.195
But we have similar patterns in the new testament.
00:18:00.195 --> 00:18:02.631
You know, ananias and sapphira, they forfeited their lives
00:18:02.631 --> 00:18:07.069
Because of selfish ambition.
00:18:07.069 --> 00:18:11.507
I mean, they were giving a gift, they were making an expression
00:18:11.507 --> 00:18:14.176
Of generosity, but they had ambition for recognition
00:18:14.176 --> 00:18:19.047
For something that they hadn't done and it cost them dearly.
00:18:19.047 --> 00:18:24.219
There is a consequence for sin.
00:18:24.219 --> 00:18:27.422
I'm not diminishing the forgiveness of god or the power
00:18:27.422 --> 00:18:30.592
Or the authority of the shed blood of jesus.
00:18:30.592 --> 00:18:33.729
God forbid, but i'm telling you we shouldn't treat it casually
00:18:33.729 --> 00:18:37.866
Or sloppily.
00:18:37.866 --> 00:18:39.668
You shouldn't lead presumptive lives.
00:18:39.668 --> 00:18:41.503
The bible tells us, "god is not mocked," and it seems, to me,
00:18:41.503 --> 00:18:46.408
We've encouraged a lot of mockery.
00:18:46.408 --> 00:18:47.943
We have a social gospel that's been received, that we would
00:18:47.943 --> 00:18:51.446
Focus our attention and our efforts on helping those
00:18:51.446 --> 00:18:53.882
Less fortunate than ourselves, and we were kind of free
00:18:53.882 --> 00:18:56.351
To create those categories, and we're free to direct
00:18:56.351 --> 00:18:58.620
Our resources and our time.
00:18:58.620 --> 00:19:00.522
If we're doing something that the culture would applaud and
00:19:00.522 --> 00:19:02.691
Say is good, and we're being open-minded and generous
00:19:02.691 --> 00:19:05.160
Of spirit, well, i'm an advocate for benevolence and generosity
00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:11.934
And compassion and all of those expressions and even
00:19:11.934 --> 00:19:14.102
Understanding of those who don't know the gospel, but there's
00:19:14.102 --> 00:19:17.105
A very fundamental difference between a civic club
00:19:17.105 --> 00:19:19.741
And a church.
00:19:19.741 --> 00:19:22.110
Churches begin with the premise that we are sinners and we need
00:19:22.110 --> 00:19:24.980
A savior.
00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:26.982
Churches begin at the cross and the necessity of a cross, that
00:19:26.982 --> 00:19:32.554
God determines right and wrong.
00:19:32.554 --> 00:19:34.623
I'm not opposed to civic clubs.
00:19:34.623 --> 00:19:36.124
I'm grateful for what they do, but that is not
00:19:36.124 --> 00:19:38.393
The church's assignment.
00:19:38.393 --> 00:19:41.730
And if we don't have the courage to say to the world in which
00:19:41.730 --> 00:19:43.799
We live and exist and do business, that "there's a god,
00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:48.170
And we have to make peace with him," then we've forfeited
00:19:48.170 --> 00:19:50.439
Our assignment as the church.
00:19:50.439 --> 00:19:51.974
There's another gospel that's pretty popular.
00:19:54.509 --> 00:19:56.311
It's a happy gospel: god wants you to be happy.
00:19:56.311 --> 00:20:02.284
So, let's just not finish the sermon and everybody
00:20:02.284 --> 00:20:04.052
Will be happy.
00:20:04.052 --> 00:20:06.722
That's not the church you're in, so buckle up.
00:20:06.722 --> 00:20:11.093
No. no.
00:20:11.093 --> 00:20:12.628
And for the record, i'm not opposed to happy,
00:20:14.730 --> 00:20:18.500
But it's not the greatest life goal because it's driven
00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:21.570
By your emotions and they're transient.
00:20:21.570 --> 00:20:24.539
There's a socialist gospel that's popular in many settings.
00:20:24.606 --> 00:20:27.409
This one has pretty deep roots in academia and tragically has
00:20:27.409 --> 00:20:30.078
Influenced the training of many of those who lead in ministry.
00:20:30.078 --> 00:20:33.649
It flourishes in our theology schools, has deep roots
00:20:33.649 --> 00:20:37.853
In liberation theology, which really originated
00:20:37.853 --> 00:20:40.122
In south america and was influenced strongly
00:20:40.122 --> 00:20:42.257
By feminist theology, and it has been a an invasion.
00:20:42.257 --> 00:20:46.361
It leads us to a rather socialist gospel, which
00:20:46.428 --> 00:20:51.166
Diminishes the cross and the need for the redemptive story
00:20:51.166 --> 00:20:54.403
Of jesus and gives more attention to inclusive language
00:20:54.403 --> 00:20:57.839
Than it does the pervasiveness of sin; it's a false gospel.
00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:02.611
We have a universalist gospel.
00:21:02.611 --> 00:21:06.715
You hear this one espoused by many of the celebrities
00:21:06.715 --> 00:21:09.051
And many voices because it's very popular.
00:21:09.051 --> 00:21:10.886
It's wildly popular because it enables you not
00:21:10.886 --> 00:21:12.988
To exclude anyone.
00:21:12.988 --> 00:21:15.557
It denies the centrality and the uniqueness of jesus.
00:21:15.557 --> 00:21:19.928
I mean, who would dare to say, "there's only one way to god?"
00:21:19.928 --> 00:21:23.432
Well, i mean, like, other than jesus.
00:21:23.432 --> 00:21:26.668
When he said, "i'm the way the truth and the life and no one
00:21:26.668 --> 00:21:28.870
Comes to the father except by me," and in a world that says,
00:21:28.870 --> 00:21:32.941
"perhaps the greatest sin you can commit is to be exclusive
00:21:32.941 --> 00:21:36.345
On anything about anyone."
00:21:36.345 --> 00:21:39.014
A universalist gospel is very popular and allows
00:21:39.014 --> 00:21:43.385
Every individual to define god according to our own preferences
00:21:43.385 --> 00:21:46.021
And understandings.
00:21:46.021 --> 00:21:48.023
Folks, those gospels are not random, they're not hidden,
00:21:48.023 --> 00:21:50.859
They're not influencing small numbers of people.
00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:53.762
In many, many respects and the most celebrated expressions of
00:21:53.762 --> 00:21:56.898
The church and the public arena, they are the order of the day.
00:21:56.898 --> 00:22:02.904
Romans, chapter 1, and verse 16, i would remind you says,
00:22:02.904 --> 00:22:05.941
"i'm not ashamed of the gospel, it's the power of god for
00:22:05.941 --> 00:22:09.778
The salvation of everyone who believes: first for the jew
00:22:09.778 --> 00:22:13.615
And then for the gentile."
00:22:13.615 --> 00:22:14.983
That's the message we have: there's a power of god,
00:22:14.983 --> 00:22:17.452
Available to every human being, to transform our lives.
00:22:17.452 --> 00:22:21.223
There's a power available to us that it can orchestrate a change
00:22:21.223 --> 00:22:24.459
Of heart and may that change of heart begin within those of us
00:22:24.459 --> 00:22:28.530
Who gather in the church.
00:22:28.530 --> 00:22:31.299
2 timothy 3, in verse 5, paul is describing a lengthy set
00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:35.804
Of characteristics of human character that will deteriorate
00:22:35.804 --> 00:22:38.707
As we approach the end of the age.
00:22:38.707 --> 00:22:40.108
He's warning timothy and he makes a rather startling
00:22:40.108 --> 00:22:43.378
Statement at the end of this list of 18 attributes of human
00:22:43.378 --> 00:22:46.415
Character that will unravel.
00:22:46.415 --> 00:22:48.116
He says, "they'll have a form of godliness."
00:22:48.116 --> 00:22:51.553
They're not gonna claim to be irreligious.
00:22:51.553 --> 00:22:54.456
They will have, be a very religious group of people.
00:22:54.456 --> 00:22:57.759
They'll have religious services in religious buildings
00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:00.228
And recognize religious holidays and use religious language.
00:23:00.228 --> 00:23:03.865
They'll have a form of godliness, but to deny
00:23:03.865 --> 00:23:06.368
Its power.
00:23:06.368 --> 00:23:08.403
He said, "don't have anything to do with them."
00:23:08.403 --> 00:23:09.971
And paul's thought, the power of god is evidenced
00:23:09.971 --> 00:23:12.874
In the cross of jesus christ.
00:23:12.874 --> 00:23:16.378
He said, "i decided when i was with you," to the corinthians,
00:23:16.378 --> 00:23:18.847
"not to know anything except christ and him crucified."
00:23:18.847 --> 00:23:21.183
He said, "it's the power of god for the salvation of anyone
00:23:21.183 --> 00:23:24.352
Who would believe."
00:23:24.352 --> 00:23:25.720
You see, the cross is a rather ugly declaration that humanity
00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:28.457
Cannot save itself.
00:23:28.457 --> 00:23:30.926
If global cooperation would elevate the lives of humanity,
00:23:30.926 --> 00:23:34.596
We would have accomplished it long ago.
00:23:34.596 --> 00:23:38.200
The cross is a very powerful reminder that we need a solution
00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:41.470
That we cannot provide ourselves.
00:23:41.470 --> 00:23:44.806
We needed god's intervention, so he sent his son, through
00:23:44.806 --> 00:23:50.412
A supernatural intervention, the divine circumstance around
00:23:50.412 --> 00:23:54.716
His birth, and the message of the gospel is that he placed
00:23:54.716 --> 00:23:58.787
Upon his son, the punishment that you and i deserve for our
00:23:58.787 --> 00:24:01.857
Ungodliness, that we, in turn, might receive all the blessings
00:24:01.857 --> 00:24:05.827
That would do his perfect obedience.
00:24:05.827 --> 00:24:07.629
It was not a just death, but it was a just resolution
00:24:07.629 --> 00:24:12.834
To the problem that we had of our ungodliness.
00:24:12.834 --> 00:24:16.605
So, when it says that "they'll have a form of godliness,"
00:24:16.605 --> 00:24:19.040
Lots of religious words and lots of religious language,
00:24:19.040 --> 00:24:21.042
But let's not talk so much about that sacrifice thing.
00:24:21.042 --> 00:24:25.647
Folks, that gospel is too prevalent.
00:24:25.647 --> 00:24:27.516
And then, we've majored on the, the focus on our conversion,
00:24:29.417 --> 00:24:32.387
And if we believe we've made a profession of faith and been
00:24:32.387 --> 00:24:34.856
Baptized, perhaps we don't have to talk anymore about that.
00:24:34.856 --> 00:24:38.026
I would submit to you, there's a change of heart that extends
00:24:38.026 --> 00:24:40.595
Beyond conversion in the same way.
00:24:40.595 --> 00:24:44.499
There's a life that is intended to exceed beyond
00:24:44.499 --> 00:24:46.902
A physical birth.
00:24:46.902 --> 00:24:48.236
There's a spiritual life that's intended to continue beyond
00:24:48.236 --> 00:24:50.705
A spiritual birth.
00:24:50.705 --> 00:24:52.641
And i'll celebrate with anyone at any time that spiritual birth
00:24:52.641 --> 00:24:57.045
That comes at a professional phase.
00:24:57.045 --> 00:24:58.380
It's not about joining a church or embracing a morality.
00:24:58.380 --> 00:25:02.450
It's the acknowledgment of jesus of nazareth as lord christ
00:25:02.450 --> 00:25:05.754
And king and giving him that first priority in your life.
00:25:05.754 --> 00:25:09.991
If he isn't your first priority in your life, there's
00:25:09.991 --> 00:25:12.527
A legitimate question, a serious question about the authenticity
00:25:12.527 --> 00:25:16.631
Of your spiritual experience.
00:25:16.631 --> 00:25:19.868
But once we've made that decision, our lives have to be
00:25:19.868 --> 00:25:23.271
Transformed more than by sitting in his church on the weekend.
00:25:23.271 --> 00:25:27.042
If we sit in church on the weekend
00:25:27.042 --> 00:25:28.710
And we're indistinguishable from the people who don't the rest
00:25:28.710 --> 00:25:31.379
Of the week.
00:25:31.379 --> 00:25:33.148
It's a fair question to what degree is our live, our lives
00:25:33.148 --> 00:25:36.484
Affected by our faith.
00:25:36.484 --> 00:25:39.788
It's kinda like watching the olympics and calling yourself
00:25:39.788 --> 00:25:41.923
A globe-- an international athlete.
00:25:41.923 --> 00:25:45.560
You may even know what needs to be accomplished.
00:25:45.560 --> 00:25:48.830
You may know that they didn't perform the gymnastics move
00:25:48.830 --> 00:25:51.566
Appropriately or the swimmer didn't come in first.
00:25:51.566 --> 00:25:53.768
It doesn't mean you're qualified to step into the arena.
00:25:53.768 --> 00:25:57.939
Well, there's no such thing as christian spectators.
00:25:57.939 --> 00:26:01.309
We're either in the arena of the spiritual conflict that defines
00:26:01.309 --> 00:26:04.212
Our generation or we're in the bleachers and the ones who are
00:26:04.212 --> 00:26:06.581
In the bleachers are qualified as either having stepped out
00:26:06.581 --> 00:26:08.950
Of time or they're not engaged.
00:26:08.950 --> 00:26:11.753
Allen: you know i'm so grateful to have had a
00:26:11.820 --> 00:26:13.188
Few minutes with you today.
00:26:13.188 --> 00:26:14.823
These opportunities to open the word of god
00:26:14.823 --> 00:26:16.224
And open our lives and invite god into the midst of it,
00:26:16.224 --> 00:26:18.660
They're transformational.
00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:20.595
I've learned to never take them for granted.
00:26:20.595 --> 00:26:22.263
I used to imagine that they were unlimited,
00:26:22.263 --> 00:26:24.032
That we could do it forever.
00:26:24.032 --> 00:26:25.767
Every time i have an opportunity to talk
00:26:25.767 --> 00:26:27.702
With a friend and make a journey through the word of god
00:26:27.702 --> 00:26:29.971
For a bit, i think it's something precious.
00:26:29.971 --> 00:26:32.574
It's a gift from god.
00:26:32.574 --> 00:26:33.908
I'm grateful we had this time together.
00:26:33.908 --> 00:26:35.944
I've got a new book, it's called "my friend jesus."
00:26:35.944 --> 00:26:39.014
It's the culmination of years of my own spiritual journey.
00:26:39.014 --> 00:26:41.750
It's kind of peeling away the formality
00:26:41.750 --> 00:26:43.418
Of theology and ritual and routine,
00:26:43.418 --> 00:26:45.720
And opening the heart of what it means to be a christ follower.
00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:48.423
I want to live as jesus's friend.
00:26:48.423 --> 00:26:50.659
When i'm in trouble i call my friends.
00:26:50.659 --> 00:26:52.661
When they're in trouble and i can help,
00:26:52.661 --> 00:26:53.995
It's the delight of my life.
00:26:53.995 --> 00:26:56.064
I want to pray with you, let's invite my friend jesus
00:26:56.064 --> 00:26:58.733
Into the midst of our world, he changes everything.
00:26:58.733 --> 00:27:01.736
Heavenly father, i thank you that you love us,
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That you sent your son.
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We need his help, his strength, his wisdom.
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Open our hearts to know him as we've never known him before.
00:27:07.409 --> 00:27:10.378
In jesus's name, amen.
00:27:10.378 --> 00:27:27.395

Allen Jackson - Transformed Lives (Part 1)

October 3, 2025 | 28:35

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