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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Transformed Lives (Part 2)

October 4, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Transformed Lives (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Christianity #Pastors #Encouragement #RenewingtheMind #Redemption #WalkwithGod

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Transformed Lives (Part 2) | October 4, 2025
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: i'm of the opinion that professional
  • 00:00:06.723 --> 00:00:08.958
  • Christians like myself, we tend to make christianity
  • 00:00:09.092 --> 00:00:11.294
  • Too difficult.
  • 00:00:11.428 --> 00:00:12.662
  • We use big words and big concepts.
  • 00:00:12.796 --> 00:00:13.430
  • You know, we'll talk about hermeneutics and homiletics and
  • 00:00:14.731 --> 00:00:18.034
  • Exegetical specificity and reading the koine greek and the
  • 00:00:18.034 --> 00:00:21.838
  • Masoretic hebrew.
  • 00:00:21.838 --> 00:00:23.573
  • And i've studied a lot, and i understand the words,
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  • And i could probably even come up with some definitions.
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  • But in reality, i don't think our faith is that complicated.
  • 00:00:28.311 --> 00:00:31.381
  • Well, i've written a new book that's really at the heart.
  • 00:00:31.381 --> 00:00:34.084
  • It's a concept that changed my life,
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  • And it's changed my relationship with the lord.
  • 00:00:35.418 --> 00:00:37.520
  • It's my friend jesus.
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  • See, i think you and i know how to be a friend.
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  • We know what we want from a friend.
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  • We know what our friends imagine is appropriate from us.
  • 00:00:43.126 --> 00:00:46.496
  • Well, i wanna be jesus's friend.
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  • I wanna do things that make him smile.
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  • I don't wanna be involved with things that make him angry.
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  • When he sees me, i want it to be a pleasant interaction.
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  • I wanna be jesus's friend. it'll change your faith.
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  • I believe this book will help open a whole new door in your
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  • Relationship with the lord.
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  • It'll be a blessing to you.
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  • Allen: there's a power available to us that it can
  • 00:01:06.950 --> 00:01:08.585
  • Orchestrate a change of heart and may that change of heart
  • 00:01:08.585 --> 00:01:12.722
  • Begin within those of us who gather in the church.
  • 00:01:12.722 --> 00:01:16.726
  • 2 timothy 3 and verse 5, paul is describing a lengthy set of
  • 00:01:16.726 --> 00:01:21.197
  • Characteristics of human character that will deteriorate
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  • As we approach the end of the age.
  • 00:01:24.100 --> 00:01:25.668
  • He's warning timothy and he makes a rather startling
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  • Statement at the end of this list of 18 attributes of human
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  • Character that will unravel.
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  • He says they'll have a form of godliness.
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  • They're not gonna claim to be irreligious.
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  • They will have to be a very religious group of people.
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  • They'll have religious services in religious buildings and
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  • Recognize religious holidays and use religious language.
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  • They'll have a form of godliness, but to deny
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  • Its power.
  • 00:01:51.961 --> 00:01:53.997
  • He said, "don't have anything to do with them."
  • 00:01:53.997 --> 00:01:55.565
  • And paul's thought the power of god is evidenced in the cross of
  • 00:01:55.565 --> 00:01:59.435
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:01:59.435 --> 00:02:01.971
  • He said, "i decided when i was with you to the corinthians not
  • 00:02:01.971 --> 00:02:04.641
  • To know anything except christ and him crucified."
  • 00:02:04.641 --> 00:02:06.776
  • He said, "it's the power of god for the salvation of anyone who
  • 00:02:06.776 --> 00:02:09.946
  • Would believe."
  • 00:02:09.946 --> 00:02:11.314
  • You see, the cross is a rather ugly declaration that humanity
  • 00:02:11.314 --> 00:02:14.050
  • Cannot save itself.
  • 00:02:14.050 --> 00:02:16.519
  • If global cooperation would elevate the lives of humanity,
  • 00:02:16.519 --> 00:02:20.223
  • We would have accomplished it long ago.
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  • The cross is a very powerful reminder that we need a solution
  • 00:02:23.760 --> 00:02:27.063
  • That we cannot provide ourselves.
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  • We needed god's intervention.
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  • So he sent his son through a supernatural intervention.
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  • The divine circumstance around his birth.
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  • And the message of the gospel is that he placed upon his son the
  • 00:02:42.011 --> 00:02:45.415
  • Punishment that you and i deserved for our ungodliness
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  • That we in turn might receive all the blessings that would do
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  • His perfect obedience.
  • 00:02:51.788 --> 00:02:53.223
  • It was not a just death, but it was a just resolution to the
  • 00:02:53.223 --> 00:02:58.428
  • Problem that we had of our ungodliness.
  • 00:02:58.428 --> 00:03:02.165
  • So when it says that they'll have a form of godliness, lots
  • 00:03:02.165 --> 00:03:04.667
  • Of religious words and lots of religious language.
  • 00:03:04.667 --> 00:03:06.936
  • But let's not talk so much about that sacrifice thing.
  • 00:03:06.936 --> 00:03:11.241
  • Looks that gospel is too prevalent.
  • 00:03:11.241 --> 00:03:14.978
  • And then we've majored on the focus on our conversion.
  • 00:03:14.978 --> 00:03:17.880
  • And if we believe we've made a profession of faith and been
  • 00:03:17.880 --> 00:03:20.450
  • Baptized, perhaps we don't have to talk anymore about that.
  • 00:03:20.450 --> 00:03:23.620
  • I would submit to you, there's a change of heart that extends
  • 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:26.189
  • Beyond conversion.
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  • In the same way, there's a life that is intended to exceed
  • 00:03:29.459 --> 00:03:32.095
  • Beyond a physical birth, there's a spiritual life that's intended
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  • To continue beyond a spiritual birth.
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  • And i'll celebrate with anyone at any time that spiritual birth
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  • That comes at a professional phase.
  • 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:44.007
  • It's not about joining a church or embracing a morality.
  • 00:03:44.007 --> 00:03:48.044
  • It's the acknowledgment of jesus of nazareth as lord, christ, and
  • 00:03:48.044 --> 00:03:51.347
  • King and giving him that first priority in your life.
  • 00:03:51.347 --> 00:03:55.585
  • If he isn't your first priority in your life, there's
  • 00:03:55.585 --> 00:03:58.154
  • A legitimate question, a serious question about the authenticity
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  • Of your spiritual experience.
  • 00:04:02.225 --> 00:04:05.461
  • But once we've made that decision, our lives have to be
  • 00:04:05.461 --> 00:04:08.865
  • Transformed more than by sitting in a church on the weekend.
  • 00:04:08.865 --> 00:04:12.635
  • If we sit in church on the weekend and we're
  • 00:04:12.635 --> 00:04:14.704
  • Indistinguishable from the people who don't the rest of the
  • 00:04:14.704 --> 00:04:17.073
  • Week, it's a fair question to what degree is our lives
  • 00:04:17.073 --> 00:04:22.078
  • Affected by our faith.
  • 00:04:22.078 --> 00:04:25.415
  • It's kind of like watching the olympics and calling yourself
  • 00:04:25.415 --> 00:04:28.151
  • An international athlete.
  • 00:04:28.151 --> 00:04:31.120
  • You may even know what needs to be accomplished.
  • 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:34.424
  • You may know that they didn't perform the gymnastics move
  • 00:04:34.424 --> 00:04:37.160
  • Appropriately or the swimmer didn't come in first.
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  • It doesn't mean you're qualified to step into the arena.
  • 00:04:39.395 --> 00:04:43.533
  • Well, there's no such thing as christian spectators.
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  • We're either in the arena of the spiritual conflict that defines
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  • Our generation or we're in the bleachers and the ones who are
  • 00:04:49.806 --> 00:04:52.175
  • In the bleachers are qualified as either having stepped out of
  • 00:04:52.175 --> 00:04:54.644
  • Time or they're not engaged.
  • 00:04:54.644 --> 00:04:58.848
  • I brought you some verses that just highlight.
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  • There's 1 peter 2.
  • 00:05:00.750 --> 00:05:02.085
  • It says, "rid yourselves of all malice and all
  • 00:05:02.085 --> 00:05:03.686
  • Deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander of every kind."
  • 00:05:03.686 --> 00:05:07.724
  • This is peter writing to believers.
  • 00:05:07.724 --> 00:05:10.026
  • And he said we have to rid ourselves of some things.
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  • God's not going to do this for you.
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  • See, i think we've mistakenly thought that god's just gonna
  • 00:05:17.233 --> 00:05:19.802
  • Poof, take away all of our desires for ungodly things.
  • 00:05:19.802 --> 00:05:23.373
  • And, you know, the bible says, we have to put those things
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  • To death.
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  • We have to execute them.
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  • We have to recognize they exist and choose not to give
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  • Them prevalence.
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  • Peter's language is we have to rid ourselves.
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  • And then he says, "like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual
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  • Milk so that you may grow up in your salvation.
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  • Now that you've tasted that the lord is good."
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  • Once you have been experienced the kingdom of god, he says, now
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  • We should have a craving.
  • 00:05:47.697 --> 00:05:49.132
  • One of the most powerful desires that's present in a living thing
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  • Is for that nourishment.
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  • My dad was a veterinarian.
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  • Many of you know that.
  • 00:05:56.305 --> 00:05:58.107
  • I helped a lot of foals be born.
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  • One of my favorite things to do was watch a newborn foal 'cause
  • 00:05:59.542 --> 00:06:03.646
  • Almost immediately after delivery, they have a desire to
  • 00:06:03.646 --> 00:06:06.716
  • Nurse, except when a foal's born, from the knees down, their
  • 00:06:06.716 --> 00:06:10.787
  • Legs are the same length as when they're full grown.
  • 00:06:10.787 --> 00:06:13.890
  • So they have more leg than they need.
  • 00:06:13.890 --> 00:06:17.360
  • And to watch a newborn foal try to stand up is high drama.
  • 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:22.498
  • They look like they're inebriated and they try to
  • 00:06:22.498 --> 00:06:27.303
  • Figure out where to get their legs so that they can find some
  • 00:06:27.303 --> 00:06:30.206
  • Sort of a standing position.
  • 00:06:30.206 --> 00:06:31.574
  • And when they first stand up, they're very unstable, they just
  • 00:06:31.574 --> 00:06:34.076
  • Stand there and kind of weave.
  • 00:06:34.076 --> 00:06:37.513
  • And about half the time as soon as they pick up a foot, they
  • 00:06:37.513 --> 00:06:39.682
  • Collapse again and we get to watch the whole circus start to
  • 00:06:39.682 --> 00:06:43.519
  • Go again.
  • 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:46.289
  • But in doing that, they gain strength through exercise and
  • 00:06:46.289 --> 00:06:49.058
  • They have innately within them that desire, they know they need
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  • That nourishment.
  • 00:06:52.395 --> 00:06:55.064
  • Sometimes the foals born were too weak for whatever reason and
  • 00:06:55.064 --> 00:06:59.235
  • They couldn't stand.
  • 00:06:59.235 --> 00:07:00.603
  • And i've been recruited on more than one occasion to help hold
  • 00:07:00.603 --> 00:07:02.305
  • That foal up while he nursed his mom.
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  • That is not a blessing.
  • 00:07:05.408 --> 00:07:09.946
  • And peter is using a similar analogy.
  • 00:07:09.946 --> 00:07:12.415
  • He said that we have to crave that pure spiritual milk.
  • 00:07:12.415 --> 00:07:15.418
  • It's more than a passing interest.
  • 00:07:15.418 --> 00:07:18.488
  • It's not like, well, you know, maybe.
  • 00:07:18.488 --> 00:07:21.224
  • It's the driving motivation of our lives.
  • 00:07:21.224 --> 00:07:23.659
  • Folks, we need a heart change.
  • 00:07:23.659 --> 00:07:25.127
  • Our world is unraveling.
  • 00:07:25.127 --> 00:07:27.296
  • We've lost 60 million children on our watch and we kind of
  • 00:07:27.296 --> 00:07:32.101
  • Shrug our shoulders and go, "well, it's a matter of choice."
  • 00:07:32.101 --> 00:07:34.537
  • No, that's not a choice that should be okay.
  • 00:07:34.537 --> 00:07:38.841
  • Look at 1 corinthians 3: "brothers, i couldn't address
  • 00:07:38.841 --> 00:07:44.213
  • You as spiritual but as worldly mere infants in christ."
  • 00:07:44.213 --> 00:07:47.216
  • Again, he's writing to a church.
  • 00:07:47.216 --> 00:07:49.018
  • He said, you're worldly, you're spiritual babies.
  • 00:07:49.018 --> 00:07:54.223
  • "i gave you milk, not solid food, for you weren't ready
  • 00:07:54.223 --> 00:07:56.859
  • For it.
  • 00:07:56.859 --> 00:07:58.227
  • Indeed, you're still not ready. you're still worldly."
  • 00:07:58.227 --> 00:08:00.930
  • Is it possible that one of the reasons we're watching
  • 00:08:00.930 --> 00:08:03.599
  • Deterioration on so many fronts is that those of us that imagine
  • 00:08:03.599 --> 00:08:07.336
  • Ourselves to be godly are living too far in the world?
  • 00:08:07.336 --> 00:08:11.607
  • Folks, we wanna say.
  • 00:08:11.607 --> 00:08:12.942
  • Well, you know, it's the end of the age and things are gonna
  • 00:08:12.942 --> 00:08:14.677
  • Get really difficult.
  • 00:08:14.677 --> 00:08:16.012
  • Well, i agree.
  • 00:08:16.012 --> 00:08:17.346
  • I think we're approaching the end of the age, but i think
  • 00:08:17.346 --> 00:08:18.948
  • That's escapist theology.
  • 00:08:18.948 --> 00:08:21.417
  • On the day of pentecost, peter stood up and he quoted joel and
  • 00:08:21.417 --> 00:08:24.587
  • He said in the last days and he said, now this scripture is
  • 00:08:24.587 --> 00:08:27.456
  • Fulfilled in your ears.
  • 00:08:27.456 --> 00:08:29.926
  • There were worldly churches that paul shepherded into existence.
  • 00:08:29.926 --> 00:08:35.364
  • There were worldly churches that had the influence of that first
  • 00:08:35.364 --> 00:08:38.634
  • Generation of jesus' friends and followers.
  • 00:08:38.634 --> 00:08:41.737
  • I would submit to you, it's highly probable we have some
  • 00:08:41.737 --> 00:08:44.440
  • Worldly churches in the 21st century.
  • 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:49.712
  • Ephesians, another group of believers, another city,
  • 00:08:49.712 --> 00:08:54.216
  • Similar problem.
  • 00:08:54.216 --> 00:08:55.585
  • He said, "we'll no longer be infants, tossed back and forth
  • 00:08:55.585 --> 00:08:58.788
  • By the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching
  • 00:08:58.788 --> 00:09:02.625
  • And by the cunning and craftiness of men in their
  • 00:09:02.625 --> 00:09:05.461
  • Deceitful scheming."
  • 00:09:05.461 --> 00:09:06.796
  • He's describing god's people.
  • 00:09:06.796 --> 00:09:09.565
  • He said it's like we're being bounced by the waves and
  • 00:09:09.565 --> 00:09:13.369
  • Scheming people with deceit will cause great instability amongst
  • 00:09:13.369 --> 00:09:18.874
  • The people of god.
  • 00:09:18.874 --> 00:09:20.476
  • He gives us the alternative.
  • 00:09:20.476 --> 00:09:21.844
  • He said, "speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow
  • 00:09:21.844 --> 00:09:24.981
  • Up into him who is the head, that is, christ."
  • 00:09:24.981 --> 00:09:29.418
  • Simplest language.
  • 00:09:29.418 --> 00:09:30.886
  • Let's just decide, rather than being mad at somebody else or
  • 00:09:30.886 --> 00:09:33.956
  • Being mad at the process or the media is not fair or whomever
  • 00:09:33.956 --> 00:09:38.027
  • You're anxious directed at.
  • 00:09:38.027 --> 00:09:39.395
  • What if we began to in humility and persistently just say to the
  • 00:09:39.395 --> 00:09:43.733
  • Lord, "lord, i would like to grow up some more.
  • 00:09:43.733 --> 00:09:47.670
  • I'd like to mature a little bit.
  • 00:09:47.670 --> 00:09:50.640
  • Thank you for what you've done in my life.
  • 00:09:50.640 --> 00:09:52.274
  • Thank you.
  • 00:09:52.274 --> 00:09:53.609
  • You've forgiven my sin.
  • 00:09:53.609 --> 00:09:54.977
  • Thank you for whatever your spiritual journey looks like."
  • 00:09:54.977 --> 00:09:56.846
  • What if we began to say to the lord, "i'd like to know
  • 00:09:56.846 --> 00:09:59.415
  • You better.
  • 00:09:59.415 --> 00:10:01.050
  • So that where i work might begin to reflect godliness in
  • 00:10:01.050 --> 00:10:04.286
  • A new way.
  • 00:10:04.286 --> 00:10:06.756
  • That the schools where my children go, there would be the
  • 00:10:06.756 --> 00:10:09.625
  • Light of the gospel in those places in a new way.
  • 00:10:09.625 --> 00:10:13.396
  • That in our generation, the name of jesus would be celebrated and
  • 00:10:13.396 --> 00:10:17.500
  • Not mocked.
  • 00:10:17.500 --> 00:10:19.869
  • God, i would like to become that kind of person."
  • 00:10:19.869 --> 00:10:23.539
  • God has a long track record.
  • 00:10:23.539 --> 00:10:24.907
  • In fact, he boasts that he uses cracked pots.
  • 00:10:24.907 --> 00:10:30.312
  • He said i took the ones that were not likely, not wise, they
  • 00:10:30.312 --> 00:10:33.349
  • Weren't noble, there wasn't much about them to celebrate so that
  • 00:10:33.349 --> 00:10:36.485
  • When something good happened, the whole world would go, "that
  • 00:10:36.485 --> 00:10:38.454
  • Would have to be god."
  • 00:10:38.454 --> 00:10:41.390
  • That's how we got in the door.
  • 00:10:41.390 --> 00:10:44.994
  • Look at the person on your right, say, "you look like
  • 00:10:44.994 --> 00:10:47.563
  • A cracked pot."
  • 00:10:47.563 --> 00:10:55.705
  • Look at 1 corinthians 2: it says, "we speak a message of
  • 00:10:55.705 --> 00:11:00.910
  • Wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or the
  • 00:11:00.910 --> 00:11:04.513
  • Rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing."
  • 00:11:04.513 --> 00:11:07.483
  • This is really the essence of what i'm inviting you to
  • 00:11:07.483 --> 00:11:10.119
  • Consider with me a bit.
  • 00:11:10.119 --> 00:11:12.121
  • We're talking about a change of heart.
  • 00:11:12.121 --> 00:11:13.856
  • And what i'm asking you to consider is that the prevalent
  • 00:11:13.856 --> 00:11:17.393
  • Wisdom of this current age, conventional wisdom, the wisdom
  • 00:11:17.393 --> 00:11:22.465
  • Of culture, the wisdom that drives the narrative in most of
  • 00:11:22.465 --> 00:11:26.435
  • The social media and in most of our elite academic institutions,
  • 00:11:26.435 --> 00:11:31.407
  • Unfortunately, is a wisdom that's temporary.
  • 00:11:31.407 --> 00:11:35.077
  • It's a wisdom that's not rooted in the objective truth of god.
  • 00:11:35.077 --> 00:11:38.647
  • I'm asking you to consider being different, not weird goofy
  • 00:11:38.647 --> 00:11:42.852
  • Different, different by the set of the values, by the truth that
  • 00:11:42.852 --> 00:11:48.424
  • You choose.
  • 00:11:48.424 --> 00:11:49.992
  • I brought you a presentation.
  • 00:11:49.992 --> 00:11:51.327
  • We'll touch it really quickly.
  • 00:11:51.327 --> 00:11:52.695
  • We can do this segment.
  • 00:11:52.695 --> 00:11:54.296
  • It's about another power and another kingdom and
  • 00:11:54.296 --> 00:11:56.365
  • Another realm.
  • 00:11:56.365 --> 00:11:57.733
  • And it's a set of discussions that are far too seldom heard
  • 00:11:57.733 --> 00:12:00.970
  • Amongst god's people.
  • 00:12:00.970 --> 00:12:03.038
  • We imagine that our deliverance is coming from the
  • 00:12:03.038 --> 00:12:05.241
  • Economic systems.
  • 00:12:05.241 --> 00:12:06.575
  • Our deliverance is coming from the political systems.
  • 00:12:06.575 --> 00:12:08.477
  • And, you know, our deliverance could be expressed through those
  • 00:12:08.477 --> 00:12:12.848
  • Systems, but the deliverance will come from almighty god
  • 00:12:12.848 --> 00:12:15.718
  • Because of a change in the hearts of god's people.
  • 00:12:15.718 --> 00:12:20.122
  • When we prayed our way through that covid season, i said that
  • 00:12:20.122 --> 00:12:23.893
  • Our problem wasn't originally initially scientific or medical.
  • 00:12:23.893 --> 00:12:27.797
  • We had a spiritual problem.
  • 00:12:27.797 --> 00:12:29.131
  • And if we could tend to the spiritual problem, we could see
  • 00:12:29.131 --> 00:12:31.133
  • Physical deliverance.
  • 00:12:31.133 --> 00:12:32.935
  • And i believe that same set of principles is true today.
  • 00:12:32.935 --> 00:12:37.273
  • There is a power that's greater than any power that human beings
  • 00:12:37.273 --> 00:12:40.943
  • Can orchestrate through our united efforts, whether they're
  • 00:12:40.943 --> 00:12:44.380
  • Scientific or political or economic or whatever.
  • 00:12:44.380 --> 00:12:47.116
  • In zechariah 4 and verse 6, the prophet said, "this is the word
  • 00:12:47.116 --> 00:12:51.086
  • Of the lord to zerubbabel."
  • 00:12:51.086 --> 00:12:53.589
  • Easy for me to say.
  • 00:12:53.589 --> 00:12:56.659
  • Zerubbabel was gonna build the second temple very difficult
  • 00:12:56.659 --> 00:13:00.896
  • Time, politically, economically, social, in every way.
  • 00:13:00.896 --> 00:13:04.934
  • And this was the message, "not by might nor by power, but by my
  • 00:13:04.934 --> 00:13:08.537
  • Spirit says, the lord.
  • 00:13:08.537 --> 00:13:11.307
  • What are you, o mighty mountain?
  • 00:13:11.307 --> 00:13:12.741
  • Before zerubbabel you will become level ground.
  • 00:13:12.741 --> 00:13:16.445
  • And he will bring out the capstone to the shouts of 'god
  • 00:13:16.445 --> 00:13:19.315
  • Bless it.'"
  • 00:13:19.315 --> 00:13:20.983
  • You see, god can make the mountains level.
  • 00:13:20.983 --> 00:13:24.286
  • He can do what we cannot do.
  • 00:13:24.286 --> 00:13:26.755
  • And we've lost a bit of that vision.
  • 00:13:26.755 --> 00:13:29.258
  • We're a little too sophisticated.
  • 00:13:29.258 --> 00:13:31.327
  • We've walked too far into the world.
  • 00:13:31.327 --> 00:13:32.862
  • We use the world's solutions and the world's language.
  • 00:13:32.862 --> 00:13:38.467
  • Allen: hey, i've written a new book.
  • 00:13:42.304 --> 00:13:43.772
  • It's called "my friend jesus."
  • 00:13:43.772 --> 00:13:45.574
  • You know, i'm a pastor--a lot of ritual,
  • 00:13:45.574 --> 00:13:47.643
  • Tradition, a lot of formality in the way we know god.
  • 00:13:47.643 --> 00:13:51.046
  • It's not bad.
  • 00:13:51.046 --> 00:13:52.381
  • There's some good things in that,
  • 00:13:52.381 --> 00:13:53.782
  • But when i'm in real trouble or i have something i wanna
  • 00:13:53.782 --> 00:13:55.718
  • Celebrate, i call a friend.
  • 00:13:55.718 --> 00:13:57.853
  • Well, i wanna live my life with jesus of nazareth as my friend.
  • 00:13:57.853 --> 00:14:01.257
  • It changes everything in both celebration
  • 00:14:01.257 --> 00:14:04.093
  • And when there's a problem.
  • 00:14:04.093 --> 00:14:05.427
  • Wrote the book to help.
  • 00:14:05.427 --> 00:14:06.762
  • I think it'll open your life to god in a more personal,
  • 00:14:06.762 --> 00:14:09.198
  • Transformational way than ever before.
  • 00:14:09.198 --> 00:14:11.967
  • Enjoy the book.
  • 00:14:11.967 --> 00:14:13.302
  • Female announcer: in his book,
  • 00:14:13.302 --> 00:14:14.637
  • "my friend jesus," pastor allen shares how friendship with jesus
  • 00:14:14.637 --> 00:14:17.172
  • Brings clarity, strength, and peace in every part of life.
  • 00:14:17.172 --> 00:14:21.043
  • This isn't about following a religion or religious rules.
  • 00:14:21.043 --> 00:14:24.413
  • It's about cultivating a cherished relationship that will
  • 00:14:24.413 --> 00:14:26.916
  • Help your faith become more personal,
  • 00:14:26.916 --> 00:14:29.251
  • More joyful, and more powerful each day.
  • 00:14:29.251 --> 00:14:32.121
  • Request "my friend jesus" with your donation of $25 or more
  • 00:14:32.121 --> 00:14:35.958
  • Today at allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:14:35.958 --> 00:14:42.398
  • Allen: in ephesians, some prefer the new testament.
  • 00:14:42.464 --> 00:14:45.067
  • Paul is praying for the church at ephesus and he's describing
  • 00:14:45.067 --> 00:14:47.803
  • The power of god.
  • 00:14:47.803 --> 00:14:49.138
  • He says, "it is incomparably great power for us who believe.
  • 00:14:49.138 --> 00:14:52.741
  • That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he
  • 00:14:52.741 --> 00:14:55.177
  • Exerted in christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him
  • 00:14:55.177 --> 00:14:58.480
  • At his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all
  • 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:01.317
  • Authority and power and dominion and every title that can
  • 00:15:01.317 --> 00:15:03.786
  • Be given."
  • 00:15:03.786 --> 00:15:05.354
  • There's no title available to a human being this side of
  • 00:15:05.354 --> 00:15:08.390
  • Eternity that can compare with king jesus.
  • 00:15:08.390 --> 00:15:13.829
  • There was a power demonstrated through him on our behalf that
  • 00:15:13.829 --> 00:15:17.967
  • Exceeds any power that's available to a human being.
  • 00:15:17.967 --> 00:15:22.037
  • It can change your eternal destiny.
  • 00:15:22.037 --> 00:15:24.039
  • It can bring healing to your body.
  • 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:26.508
  • It can part a sea or open a blind eye.
  • 00:15:26.508 --> 00:15:28.911
  • It doesn't mean we don't walk through difficult places.
  • 00:15:28.911 --> 00:15:31.480
  • It doesn't mean that we're spoiled petulant children that
  • 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:34.049
  • Always get our way.
  • 00:15:34.049 --> 00:15:36.418
  • But it means that in the midst of a fallen and broken world, we
  • 00:15:36.418 --> 00:15:40.022
  • Can understand the redemptive power of god to have a purpose
  • 00:15:40.022 --> 00:15:43.492
  • For our lives that transcends the brokenness of sin both
  • 00:15:43.492 --> 00:15:47.096
  • Within us and around us.
  • 00:15:47.096 --> 00:15:50.466
  • That is a tremendous power and it's the message our
  • 00:15:50.466 --> 00:15:52.968
  • Church holds.
  • 00:15:52.968 --> 00:15:54.937
  • It's the message of the church in the earth in this generation.
  • 00:15:54.937 --> 00:16:01.043
  • It's a message about kingdoms.
  • 00:16:01.043 --> 00:16:05.214
  • You know, there's a very intentional effort right now to
  • 00:16:05.214 --> 00:16:07.416
  • Dismantle any allegiance to nation states to suggest
  • 00:16:07.416 --> 00:16:12.354
  • It's inappropriate.
  • 00:16:12.354 --> 00:16:15.257
  • I don't think we're conscious for the most part of the degree
  • 00:16:15.257 --> 00:16:19.628
  • To which that's been diminished and weakened.
  • 00:16:19.628 --> 00:16:21.330
  • Even competing for your nation in athletics seems kind of
  • 00:16:21.330 --> 00:16:25.200
  • Trivial and novel these days.
  • 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:27.436
  • Once upon a time, it was imagined to be the greatest
  • 00:16:27.436 --> 00:16:30.305
  • Opportunity you could be given as an athlete.
  • 00:16:30.305 --> 00:16:33.876
  • Now we think that idea is kind of quaint.
  • 00:16:33.876 --> 00:16:36.578
  • It's old fashioned.
  • 00:16:36.578 --> 00:16:39.214
  • We used to imagine that the way our nations were organized and
  • 00:16:39.214 --> 00:16:42.084
  • Structured was unique and significant to the point that we
  • 00:16:42.084 --> 00:16:46.522
  • Would colonialize the world.
  • 00:16:46.522 --> 00:16:48.090
  • And i understand colonialization has become more detrimental than
  • 00:16:48.090 --> 00:16:53.595
  • The mark of the beast.
  • 00:16:53.595 --> 00:16:56.865
  • But it's worth pausing for a moment to recognize the degree
  • 00:16:56.865 --> 00:17:00.102
  • To which they have tried to convince you that your
  • 00:17:00.102 --> 00:17:04.406
  • Citizenship is completely irrelevant.
  • 00:17:04.406 --> 00:17:08.210
  • You're a global citizen.
  • 00:17:08.210 --> 00:17:10.412
  • That there are no boundaries.
  • 00:17:10.412 --> 00:17:12.915
  • That there really are no laws that should supersede another.
  • 00:17:12.915 --> 00:17:17.186
  • There are many attempts to suggest that our own nation,
  • 00:17:17.186 --> 00:17:20.089
  • That our own laws, our own constitution should be subjected
  • 00:17:20.089 --> 00:17:23.559
  • And submitted to higher authorities in this world like
  • 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:28.597
  • The world health organization 'cause they're such
  • 00:17:28.597 --> 00:17:32.067
  • Stellar leaders.
  • 00:17:32.067 --> 00:17:35.571
  • Well, i would remind you that as components of the church of
  • 00:17:35.571 --> 00:17:38.807
  • Jesus christ, you have a citizenship that reaches beyond
  • 00:17:38.807 --> 00:17:43.779
  • Time into eternity.
  • 00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:47.015
  • And to do that, it begins with an allegiance to a kingdom that
  • 00:17:47.015 --> 00:17:50.919
  • Has an authority beyond any kingdom in time so that we're
  • 00:17:50.919 --> 00:17:55.190
  • Not hyphenated christians.
  • 00:17:55.190 --> 00:17:58.327
  • I'm not an american christian.
  • 00:17:58.327 --> 00:17:59.895
  • I'm a christ's follower who happens to live in america.
  • 00:17:59.895 --> 00:18:08.137
  • Jesus made this distinction for us in john 18.
  • 00:18:08.137 --> 00:18:11.273
  • He is on trial for his life.
  • 00:18:11.273 --> 00:18:13.709
  • He's standing before a roman governor who has the authority
  • 00:18:13.709 --> 00:18:16.445
  • To free him or crucify him.
  • 00:18:16.445 --> 00:18:20.182
  • And the governor is not really able to find any fault with him.
  • 00:18:20.182 --> 00:18:22.518
  • He recognizes that the only reason he has the audience is
  • 00:18:22.518 --> 00:18:25.120
  • The jealousy of the jewish leaders.
  • 00:18:25.120 --> 00:18:27.656
  • And he's interviewing jesus.
  • 00:18:27.656 --> 00:18:28.991
  • He's in a very difficult spot, pilate.
  • 00:18:28.991 --> 00:18:32.261
  • He understands it's a pivot point in his career.
  • 00:18:32.261 --> 00:18:34.363
  • He needs to get this right.
  • 00:18:34.363 --> 00:18:39.034
  • Jesus said, "my kingdom is not of this world.
  • 00:18:39.034 --> 00:18:42.471
  • If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by
  • 00:18:42.471 --> 00:18:45.274
  • The jews.
  • 00:18:45.274 --> 00:18:46.842
  • But now my kingdom is from another place."
  • 00:18:46.842 --> 00:18:50.846
  • And pilate heard his opening.
  • 00:18:50.846 --> 00:18:52.214
  • Pilate was clever on some levels.
  • 00:18:52.214 --> 00:18:54.316
  • He was spiritually dead, but he had some political astuteness.
  • 00:18:54.316 --> 00:18:58.253
  • He said, "you are a king, then!
  • 00:18:58.253 --> 00:19:01.323
  • And jesus answered, 'you are right in saying i'm a king.
  • 00:19:01.323 --> 00:19:05.227
  • For this reason i was born, and for this i came into the world,
  • 00:19:05.227 --> 00:19:10.365
  • To testify to the truth."
  • 00:19:10.365 --> 00:19:13.769
  • It's an amazing interaction.
  • 00:19:13.769 --> 00:19:16.004
  • Jesus is acknowledging a kingdom, a kingdom of greater
  • 00:19:16.004 --> 00:19:19.708
  • Significance than rome.
  • 00:19:19.708 --> 00:19:21.877
  • A kingdom of greater significance than judea,
  • 00:19:21.877 --> 00:19:25.948
  • A kingdom that stretched beyond time.
  • 00:19:25.948 --> 00:19:28.116
  • And he said, "of that kingdom, i'm the king."
  • 00:19:28.116 --> 00:19:31.687
  • Please understand that to be a christ follower is the most
  • 00:19:31.687 --> 00:19:36.558
  • Significant descriptor of your person.
  • 00:19:36.558 --> 00:19:40.963
  • And if we put anything before that, it's idolatrous.
  • 00:19:40.963 --> 00:19:45.734
  • We need a change of heart.
  • 00:19:45.734 --> 00:19:48.203
  • We are being divided by things that shouldn't divide us.
  • 00:19:48.203 --> 00:19:52.941
  • We're being manipulated by things that haven't come from
  • 00:19:52.941 --> 00:19:56.078
  • The lord.
  • 00:19:56.078 --> 00:19:57.846
  • Deception is rampant because we haven't understood some of the
  • 00:19:57.846 --> 00:20:00.916
  • Simple truths that are presented to us.
  • 00:20:00.916 --> 00:20:04.353
  • We are citizens of the kingdom and the authority in our life is
  • 00:20:04.353 --> 00:20:08.657
  • One king jesus.
  • 00:20:08.657 --> 00:20:11.360
  • He has a name that's above every name and ultimately every knee
  • 00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:14.162
  • Will bow and every tongue confess that jesus is lord.
  • 00:20:14.162 --> 00:20:17.866
  • That's a good day.
  • 00:20:17.866 --> 00:20:25.173
  • Power and kingdoms and realms of authority.
  • 00:20:25.173 --> 00:20:27.576
  • And i'm out of time.
  • 00:20:27.576 --> 00:20:29.478
  • I gave you two passages.
  • 00:20:29.478 --> 00:20:30.812
  • I liked them. their book ends.
  • 00:20:30.812 --> 00:20:32.180
  • One is the old testament where the prophet prayed and the
  • 00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:35.717
  • Adversaries were struck blind.
  • 00:20:35.717 --> 00:20:38.854
  • And it's very popular amongst contemporary christians to say,
  • 00:20:38.854 --> 00:20:41.757
  • Well, you know, the old testament is so harsh.
  • 00:20:41.757 --> 00:20:44.993
  • But in the new testament, it's a group hug.
  • 00:20:44.993 --> 00:20:50.198
  • Well, in acts chapter 13 and for those that are following along,
  • 00:20:50.198 --> 00:20:53.201
  • That is the new testament.
  • 00:20:53.201 --> 00:20:59.241
  • Someone tries to obstruct the sharing of the gospel to impede
  • 00:20:59.241 --> 00:21:05.747
  • A political leader from hearing the gospel.
  • 00:21:05.747 --> 00:21:08.517
  • Imagine that.
  • 00:21:08.517 --> 00:21:11.186
  • And this is the response, "you're a child of the devil and
  • 00:21:11.186 --> 00:21:13.755
  • An enemy of everything that is right!
  • 00:21:13.755 --> 00:21:15.424
  • And you're full of all kinds of deceit and trickery.
  • 00:21:15.424 --> 00:21:18.660
  • Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the lord?"
  • 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:21.229
  • Imagine if i made that set of statements about any public
  • 00:21:21.229 --> 00:21:25.300
  • Figure while you're being political.
  • 00:21:25.300 --> 00:21:32.941
  • But he didn't stop there.
  • 00:21:32.941 --> 00:21:34.276
  • "now, the hand of the lord is against you and you're going to
  • 00:21:34.276 --> 00:21:36.545
  • Be blind, and for a time you'll be unable to see the light of
  • 00:21:36.545 --> 00:21:41.083
  • The sun.
  • 00:21:41.083 --> 00:21:42.417
  • And immediately mist and darkness came over him."
  • 00:21:42.417 --> 00:21:44.252
  • Can you believe that's in the new testament?
  • 00:21:44.252 --> 00:21:46.688
  • Must be a misprint?
  • 00:21:46.688 --> 00:21:50.392
  • How is it that we have lost sight of an authority that is
  • 00:21:50.392 --> 00:21:54.029
  • Intended to be resident amongst the people of god that
  • 00:21:54.029 --> 00:21:57.299
  • Transcends all the power that were available to marshall as
  • 00:21:57.299 --> 00:22:00.635
  • Human beings.
  • 00:22:00.635 --> 00:22:03.171
  • See, that's the only way we make it into the kingdom of god that
  • 00:22:03.171 --> 00:22:05.774
  • There's a power able to deliver us from the kingdom of darkness
  • 00:22:05.774 --> 00:22:09.511
  • And bring us into the kingdom of the son.
  • 00:22:09.511 --> 00:22:12.147
  • That's not about joining a church or getting some new
  • 00:22:12.147 --> 00:22:14.516
  • Morality 'cause we're not that moral.
  • 00:22:14.516 --> 00:22:19.688
  • In the church, we've lost sight.
  • 00:22:19.688 --> 00:22:22.457
  • We've just traded away the authority of a living god that
  • 00:22:22.457 --> 00:22:26.395
  • Transforms lives.
  • 00:22:26.395 --> 00:22:28.630
  • We'd rather have a seminar on healing than pray for
  • 00:22:28.630 --> 00:22:31.867
  • One another.
  • 00:22:31.867 --> 00:22:33.602
  • I love to pray with the kids 'cause the kids don't--we
  • 00:22:33.602 --> 00:22:36.204
  • Haven't built in all these things into them yet.
  • 00:22:36.204 --> 00:22:38.240
  • The kids will pray like god listens.
  • 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:41.543
  • We give the kids--last weekend, all the kids were anointed in
  • 00:22:41.543 --> 00:22:45.914
  • Age appropriate ways.
  • 00:22:45.914 --> 00:22:47.249
  • We invited them to be prayed for and to pray with one another
  • 00:22:47.249 --> 00:22:51.186
  • 'cause those little rascals will do it.
  • 00:22:51.186 --> 00:22:55.557
  • You know they're praying for you.
  • 00:22:55.557 --> 00:22:58.760
  • They are with an innocence and a remarkable faith in god that we
  • 00:22:58.760 --> 00:23:03.698
  • Tend to forfeit because we want the approval of other things
  • 00:23:03.698 --> 00:23:08.970
  • More than the approval of god.
  • 00:23:08.970 --> 00:23:10.338
  • Folks, we need a heart change.
  • 00:23:10.338 --> 00:23:12.874
  • I love you.
  • 00:23:12.874 --> 00:23:14.209
  • You're in church on a sunday.
  • 00:23:14.209 --> 00:23:15.577
  • That's a wonderful thing.
  • 00:23:15.577 --> 00:23:16.912
  • You're watching online when you could be watching
  • 00:23:16.912 --> 00:23:18.580
  • Something else.
  • 00:23:18.580 --> 00:23:21.349
  • I'm not scolding you.
  • 00:23:21.349 --> 00:23:22.717
  • I'm telling you, we've been entrusted with something that
  • 00:23:22.717 --> 00:23:25.387
  • Our world desperately needs and we need to be awakened to the
  • 00:23:25.387 --> 00:23:29.791
  • Power in it so that we can extend it to our world.
  • 00:23:29.791 --> 00:23:35.363
  • I brought you a prayer.
  • 00:23:35.363 --> 00:23:37.098
  • Actually, i brought you a proclamation.
  • 00:23:37.098 --> 00:23:40.602
  • It's an unusual one.
  • 00:23:40.602 --> 00:23:41.970
  • I don't think we've ever made this proclamation together.
  • 00:23:41.970 --> 00:23:43.605
  • It's from the book of jonah.
  • 00:23:43.605 --> 00:23:44.973
  • Do you remember jonah?
  • 00:23:44.973 --> 00:23:46.541
  • John is the fish story in the bible of a sort.
  • 00:23:46.541 --> 00:23:52.247
  • God gave jonah an assignment.
  • 00:23:52.247 --> 00:23:54.049
  • He wanted him to go north and east and jonah went south
  • 00:23:54.049 --> 00:23:59.855
  • And west.
  • 00:23:59.855 --> 00:24:02.290
  • And from the moment he started to disobey god, things
  • 00:24:02.290 --> 00:24:05.393
  • Deteriorated until he found himself in the bottom of the
  • 00:24:05.393 --> 00:24:09.464
  • Ocean in the belly of something.
  • 00:24:09.464 --> 00:24:13.702
  • And then jonah had an epiphany.
  • 00:24:13.702 --> 00:24:16.972
  • Maybe god's idea wasn't so bad.
  • 00:24:16.972 --> 00:24:23.512
  • And he prayed and the bible says that god caused the fish to
  • 00:24:23.512 --> 00:24:27.649
  • Vomit jonah onto the beach.
  • 00:24:27.649 --> 00:24:29.851
  • Isn't that a pleasant thought?
  • 00:24:29.851 --> 00:24:34.489
  • I didn't put it in your notes.
  • 00:24:34.489 --> 00:24:35.824
  • But the verse immediately after the verse i put in your notes
  • 00:24:35.824 --> 00:24:38.827
  • Says, "the word of the lord came to jonah a second time.
  • 00:24:38.827 --> 00:24:42.797
  • Go to nineveh."
  • 00:24:42.797 --> 00:24:45.233
  • You wanna know what jonah did?
  • 00:24:45.233 --> 00:24:47.502
  • He went to nineveh.
  • 00:24:47.502 --> 00:24:50.138
  • Clever guy.
  • 00:24:50.138 --> 00:24:51.673
  • Jonah had a change of heart.
  • 00:24:51.673 --> 00:24:55.277
  • I would prefer to not have to spend time in the belly of
  • 00:24:55.277 --> 00:24:59.481
  • A fish.
  • 00:24:59.481 --> 00:25:03.518
  • So i brought you a proclamation.
  • 00:25:03.518 --> 00:25:06.855
  • It's a desire to have a change of heart.
  • 00:25:06.855 --> 00:25:10.792
  • Once you stand with me, we can read it together.
  • 00:25:10.792 --> 00:25:13.395
  • I gave you the reference.
  • 00:25:13.395 --> 00:25:14.763
  • You can check me later to see if i told it accurately.
  • 00:25:14.763 --> 00:25:23.038
  • You know what a privilege it is.
  • 00:25:23.038 --> 00:25:24.372
  • God looked across history and he saw this time when there's kind
  • 00:25:24.372 --> 00:25:26.975
  • Of some--it's kind of a bumpy season and he called your name.
  • 00:25:26.975 --> 00:25:35.317
  • That person on the right that you told a minute ago looked
  • 00:25:35.317 --> 00:25:37.586
  • Like a cracked pot.
  • 00:25:37.586 --> 00:25:39.888
  • Why don't you look back at him and say, "you know, you're
  • 00:25:39.888 --> 00:25:41.590
  • Pretty important to god for a cracked pot."
  • 00:25:41.590 --> 00:25:51.132
  • Let's make this proclamation together.
  • 00:25:51.132 --> 00:25:54.436
  • "when my life was ebbing away, i remembered you and my prayer
  • 00:25:54.436 --> 00:25:59.841
  • Rose to you to your holy temple.
  • 00:25:59.841 --> 00:26:02.877
  • Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that
  • 00:26:02.877 --> 00:26:06.648
  • Could be theirs.
  • 00:26:06.648 --> 00:26:08.016
  • But i, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice
  • 00:26:08.016 --> 00:26:11.753
  • To you.
  • 00:26:11.753 --> 00:26:13.088
  • What i have vowed.
  • 00:26:13.088 --> 00:26:14.456
  • I will make good.
  • 00:26:14.456 --> 00:26:15.790
  • Salvation comes from the lord, amen."
  • 00:26:15.790 --> 00:26:19.494
  • Hallelujah, god bless you.
  • 00:26:19.494 --> 00:26:22.897
  • Allen: thank you for spending a few minutes with us today.
  • 00:26:27.102 --> 00:26:29.204
  • You know, our goal in doing this is to add momentum
  • 00:26:29.204 --> 00:26:31.873
  • To your spiritual life.
  • 00:26:31.873 --> 00:26:33.742
  • To help open the kingdom of god to you in a more practical way
  • 00:26:33.742 --> 00:26:36.678
  • That you could engage in a relationship with the lord.
  • 00:26:36.678 --> 00:26:38.780
  • Not be a more faithful church sitter or a bible reader
  • 00:26:38.780 --> 00:26:42.417
  • But a person who actually knows the living god.
  • 00:26:42.417 --> 00:26:45.086
  • I've a written a new book, it's called "my friend jesus,"
  • 00:26:45.086 --> 00:26:47.856
  • To be candid, it's the culmination of years
  • 00:26:47.856 --> 00:26:50.725
  • Of my own spiritual journey.
  • 00:26:50.725 --> 00:26:52.761
  • I wanted to peel away all the formality of language
  • 00:26:52.761 --> 00:26:55.664
  • And routine and ritual.
  • 00:26:55.664 --> 00:26:58.033
  • I really wanted to focus on what it means to be a friend
  • 00:26:58.033 --> 00:27:00.602
  • Of the lord.
  • 00:27:00.602 --> 00:27:02.137
  • And that book is intended to give you a pathway
  • 00:27:02.137 --> 00:27:04.205
  • To imagine your faith in a way that enables it
  • 00:27:04.205 --> 00:27:06.808
  • To be more personal, more transformational.
  • 00:27:06.808 --> 00:27:09.277
  • When i need help i call my friends.
  • 00:27:09.277 --> 00:27:11.046
  • When i need real help i call my friend jesus.
  • 00:27:11.046 --> 00:27:14.015
  • He changes everything.
  • 00:27:14.015 --> 00:27:15.350
  • He's done it many times in my life.
  • 00:27:15.350 --> 00:27:17.318
  • He'll do it in your life.
  • 00:27:17.318 --> 00:27:18.953
  • Read the book, open your heart,
  • 00:27:18.953 --> 00:27:20.689
  • There'll be a whole new power available
  • 00:27:20.689 --> 00:27:23.158
  • To help shape your future.
  • 00:27:23.158 --> 00:27:23.158