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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - A Triumphal Procession (Part 2)

September 19, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - A Triumphal Procession (Part 2)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Victory #Jesus #IdentityinChrist #Attitude #Serving #ServantofGod #Disciples #Discipleship #Evil #SpiritualWarfare #WalkwithGod

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - A Triumphal Procession (Part 2) | September 19, 2025
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: i'm of the opinion that professional
  • 00:00:06.823 --> 00:00:09.059
  • Christians like myself, we tend to make christianity
  • 00:00:09.192 --> 00:00:11.394
  • Too difficult.
  • 00:00:11.528 --> 00:00:12.762
  • We use big words and big concepts.
  • 00:00:12.896 --> 00:00:13.530
  • You know, we'll talk about hermeneutics and homiletics and
  • 00:00:14.831 --> 00:00:18.134
  • Exegetical specificity and reading the koine greek and the
  • 00:00:18.134 --> 00:00:21.938
  • Masoretic hebrew.
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  • 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.
  • 00:00:28.411 --> 00:00:31.481
  • Well, i've written a new book that's really at the heart.
  • 00:00:31.481 --> 00:00:34.184
  • It's a concept that changed my life,
  • 00:00:34.184 --> 00:00:35.518
  • And it's changed my relationship with the lord.
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  • It's "my friend jesus."
  • 00:00:37.620 --> 00:00:39.489
  • 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.
  • 00:00:43.226 --> 00:00:46.596
  • 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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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
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  • Allen: if the response to the threat of the satan's roar is to
  • 00:01:26.236 --> 00:01:32.342
  • Resist him, if you want to spend time in the presence of the lion
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  • Of judah, i would submit to you that we want to become better at
  • 00:01:36.746 --> 00:01:41.151
  • Giving expression to worship.
  • 00:01:41.151 --> 00:01:46.589
  • And i want to push that a little further with you.
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  • In 2 corinthians chapter 2 in verse 14, it says: "thanks be
  • 00:01:49.192 --> 00:01:54.197
  • To god, who always leads us in a triumphal procession in christ
  • 00:01:54.197 --> 00:01:58.601
  • And through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the
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  • Knowledge of him."
  • 00:02:01.204 --> 00:02:03.273
  • Seems like a pretty passive verse, but there's something in
  • 00:02:03.273 --> 00:02:08.912
  • There that i think is really helpful to us.
  • 00:02:08.912 --> 00:02:11.314
  • It says that god always leads us in a triumphal procession
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  • In christ.
  • 00:02:15.385 --> 00:02:17.654
  • The words are a little bit... perhaps lost on us.
  • 00:02:17.654 --> 00:02:26.563
  • New testament was written in greek, predominantly in the
  • 00:02:26.563 --> 00:02:29.732
  • First century.
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  • And in rome when a general had a victory, a particularly
  • 00:02:31.634 --> 00:02:35.939
  • Remarkable victory, he was rewarded with a triumph.
  • 00:02:35.939 --> 00:02:42.579
  • It was a parade, a processional, through the streets of rome with
  • 00:02:42.579 --> 00:02:47.217
  • The plunder of whoever was conquered.
  • 00:02:47.217 --> 00:02:51.788
  • So a triumph is not the winning of a victory.
  • 00:02:51.788 --> 00:02:56.426
  • The triumph was a celebration of a victory that has been won.
  • 00:02:56.426 --> 00:03:02.398
  • Do you recognize the difference?
  • 00:03:02.398 --> 00:03:04.500
  • We talk about a triumph.
  • 00:03:04.500 --> 00:03:05.835
  • We're not saying, "oh, you've had a great victory," because
  • 00:03:05.835 --> 00:03:07.904
  • That's the way we use the word today.
  • 00:03:07.904 --> 00:03:10.006
  • You were triumphant.
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  • You won.
  • 00:03:11.341 --> 00:03:12.709
  • It's not the way the word was used and it was defined to the
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  • Audience when this was written.
  • 00:03:16.179 --> 00:03:17.714
  • A triumph was the celebration of a victory that had been won.
  • 00:03:17.714 --> 00:03:22.051
  • If a professional sports team wins a championship, it's not
  • 00:03:22.051 --> 00:03:26.489
  • Uncommon for them to have a parade in their home city.
  • 00:03:26.489 --> 00:03:30.393
  • That would be a triumphal parade.
  • 00:03:30.393 --> 00:03:33.896
  • The victory was won weeks before, typically, or days
  • 00:03:33.896 --> 00:03:37.333
  • Before on some competition, field of competition.
  • 00:03:37.333 --> 00:03:42.438
  • So when it says here that "god leads us in a triumphal
  • 00:03:42.438 --> 00:03:45.875
  • Procession in christ and through us spreads everywhere the
  • 00:03:45.875 --> 00:03:49.979
  • Fragrance of the knowledge of him," we are the evidence of a
  • 00:03:49.979 --> 00:03:56.119
  • Victory that has been won.
  • 00:03:56.119 --> 00:03:59.255
  • So that when people see our lives, they go, "you know,
  • 00:03:59.255 --> 00:04:01.924
  • There's no explanation for that other than god.
  • 00:04:01.924 --> 00:04:06.062
  • Maybe i should check that god thing out."
  • 00:04:06.062 --> 00:04:11.000
  • Are you with me?
  • 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:13.002
  • Now, i want to go back to the passage in revelation 5.
  • 00:04:13.002 --> 00:04:16.773
  • Look at revelation 5 and verse 5 again: "one of the elders said
  • 00:04:16.773 --> 00:04:20.410
  • To me, 'don't weep.
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  • The lion of the tribe of judah, the root of david,
  • 00:04:21.778 --> 00:04:24.247
  • Has triumphed.'"
  • 00:04:24.247 --> 00:04:30.320
  • He's not saying he had a victory.
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  • God responded to what jesus did in such a way that we have
  • 00:04:34.157 --> 00:04:40.630
  • Become the demonstration of the victory that jesus had.
  • 00:04:40.630 --> 00:04:45.968
  • And the message to john in the book--in revelation 5 is, "you
  • 00:04:45.968 --> 00:04:49.372
  • Don't have to weep.
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  • There's one with the authority to open the scroll because he
  • 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:53.643
  • Has a triumph.
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  • You're a part of the display."
  • 00:04:56.379 --> 00:04:57.714
  • The book of revelation opens and god said, "you know, i have a
  • 00:04:57.714 --> 00:04:59.716
  • Message for the people in the earth.
  • 00:04:59.716 --> 00:05:02.185
  • How will we get it to them?"
  • 00:05:02.185 --> 00:05:03.519
  • And the answer comes, "i have a servant."
  • 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:09.325
  • You and i are an expression of the victory that jesus won.
  • 00:05:09.325 --> 00:05:14.063
  • This is very much a part of the new testament.
  • 00:05:14.063 --> 00:05:16.232
  • There's a spirit.
  • 00:05:16.232 --> 00:05:17.600
  • You see, if you don't believe there was really a conflict, if
  • 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:19.369
  • You don't believe the roar of the lion that would destroy you
  • 00:05:19.369 --> 00:05:21.771
  • Is real, then you will undersell the victory of the lion of the
  • 00:05:21.771 --> 00:05:25.775
  • Tribe of judah.
  • 00:05:25.775 --> 00:05:27.977
  • And you'll be ashamed of him, you won't want to be in that
  • 00:05:27.977 --> 00:05:30.813
  • Triumphal procession.
  • 00:05:30.813 --> 00:05:33.082
  • You'll hide it, you'll deny it.
  • 00:05:33.082 --> 00:05:35.918
  • You'll tone it down, you'll mute it.
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  • You'll be more proud of your affiliation with the university
  • 00:05:38.755 --> 00:05:41.290
  • Of tennessee or the titans, or whomever you follow, than you
  • 00:05:41.290 --> 00:05:46.162
  • Are of your affiliation with jesus.
  • 00:05:46.162 --> 00:05:48.097
  • It renders us mute in the face of a godless culture because we
  • 00:05:48.097 --> 00:05:52.335
  • Don't wanna make waves, we don't wanna forfeit a
  • 00:05:52.335 --> 00:05:54.270
  • Business opportunity.
  • 00:05:54.270 --> 00:05:55.605
  • Well, we're not worshiping the lord with our resources and our
  • 00:05:55.605 --> 00:05:58.574
  • Strength and our wisdom because we're hitting the mute button
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  • When we should be a part of a triumphal procession that
  • 00:06:01.511 --> 00:06:04.714
  • Everybody sees us goes, "oh, they're identified with him."
  • 00:06:04.714 --> 00:06:11.187
  • We're not resisting the enemy.
  • 00:06:11.187 --> 00:06:12.755
  • We're not participating in the triumph of the lion of the tribe
  • 00:06:12.755 --> 00:06:16.659
  • Of judah.
  • 00:06:16.659 --> 00:06:20.663
  • And i think, far too often, we get the language in this and we
  • 00:06:20.663 --> 00:06:23.533
  • Get stuck in the words and we don't know if we believe in
  • 00:06:23.533 --> 00:06:25.668
  • Demons and well--stop.
  • 00:06:25.668 --> 00:06:29.071
  • You can see the conflict in the earth.
  • 00:06:29.071 --> 00:06:33.376
  • Are we willing to be a part of that triumphal procession?
  • 00:06:33.376 --> 00:06:37.013
  • Look in philippians 2, verse 5.
  • 00:06:37.013 --> 00:06:39.882
  • Says: "your attitude should be the same as that
  • 00:06:39.882 --> 00:06:41.717
  • Of christ jesus."
  • 00:06:41.717 --> 00:06:43.052
  • That's pretty straightforward.
  • 00:06:43.052 --> 00:06:45.354
  • You need the same attitude that jesus had.
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  • Do you know god cares about your attitude?
  • 00:06:47.490 --> 00:06:51.127
  • Some of you just have an attitude.
  • 00:06:51.127 --> 00:06:52.495
  • That's not really what he's saying.
  • 00:06:52.495 --> 00:06:56.999
  • And then he describes the attitude that jesus modeled.
  • 00:06:56.999 --> 00:06:59.702
  • "being in the very nature god, he didn't consider equality with
  • 00:06:59.702 --> 00:07:02.405
  • God something to be grasped.
  • 00:07:02.405 --> 00:07:05.141
  • He made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
  • 00:07:05.141 --> 00:07:08.945
  • Being made in human likeness.
  • 00:07:08.945 --> 00:07:10.313
  • And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and
  • 00:07:10.313 --> 00:07:13.683
  • Became obedient to death--even death on a cross!"
  • 00:07:13.683 --> 00:07:17.587
  • The cross was the death, a humiliating death.
  • 00:07:17.587 --> 00:07:21.924
  • It wasn't a heroic death or an accidental death.
  • 00:07:21.924 --> 00:07:26.295
  • The cross was a humiliating death.
  • 00:07:26.295 --> 00:07:29.398
  • You're tortured to death in public as a criminal.
  • 00:07:29.398 --> 00:07:32.902
  • Powerless, typically naked, hungry, and thirsty.
  • 00:07:32.902 --> 00:07:37.473
  • So the description of jesus and the last time jesus was
  • 00:07:37.473 --> 00:07:40.409
  • Presented to the secular world was on a roman cross, broken and
  • 00:07:40.409 --> 00:07:46.082
  • Defeated, hungry, thirsty, and naked, in want of all things.
  • 00:07:46.082 --> 00:07:52.688
  • That's what--that's the attitude described.
  • 00:07:52.688 --> 00:07:55.358
  • There's a lot of parallels there with the components of worship
  • 00:07:55.358 --> 00:07:57.960
  • That were described in revelation 5.
  • 00:07:57.960 --> 00:08:00.830
  • I'm not gonna take the time to go back and draw the parallels,
  • 00:08:00.830 --> 00:08:04.267
  • But verse 9 is the pivot point.
  • 00:08:04.267 --> 00:08:05.635
  • It says, "therefore."
  • 00:08:05.635 --> 00:08:06.969
  • "therefore" is a summary word.
  • 00:08:06.969 --> 00:08:08.304
  • It's a word of conclusion.
  • 00:08:08.304 --> 00:08:09.672
  • Because jesus did that, because he was willing to do that, "god
  • 00:08:09.672 --> 00:08:17.580
  • Exalted him to the highest place and god gave him the name that's
  • 00:08:17.580 --> 00:08:21.884
  • Above every name, that at the name of jesus every knee should
  • 00:08:21.884 --> 00:08:25.555
  • Bow, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every
  • 00:08:25.555 --> 00:08:28.791
  • Tongue confess that jesus christ is lord, to the glory of god
  • 00:08:28.791 --> 00:08:33.563
  • The father."
  • 00:08:33.563 --> 00:08:34.997
  • Jesus's death on the cross was the accomplished victory.
  • 00:08:34.997 --> 00:08:38.734
  • What did jesus say?
  • 00:08:38.734 --> 00:08:40.102
  • What was the last thing he said on the cross?
  • 00:08:40.102 --> 00:08:42.805
  • "it's finished."
  • 00:08:42.805 --> 00:08:45.541
  • "it's finished.
  • 00:08:45.608 --> 00:08:47.376
  • I've done what i was asked to do."
  • 00:08:47.376 --> 00:08:50.947
  • And then god's exaltation is the triumphal celebration.
  • 00:08:50.947 --> 00:08:57.887
  • Jesus had those things before he came to the earth, before
  • 00:08:57.887 --> 00:09:01.457
  • The incarnation.
  • 00:09:01.457 --> 00:09:04.093
  • But because he was willing to go to that cross, now you and i can
  • 00:09:04.093 --> 00:09:08.431
  • Be included in his triumph.
  • 00:09:08.431 --> 00:09:14.203
  • Allen: hey, i've written a new book.
  • 00:09:18.040 --> 00:09:19.508
  • It's called "my friend jesus."
  • 00:09:19.508 --> 00:09:21.310
  • You know, i'm a pastor--a lot of ritual,
  • 00:09:21.310 --> 00:09:23.379
  • Tradition, a lot of formality in the way we know god.
  • 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:26.782
  • It's not bad.
  • 00:09:26.782 --> 00:09:28.117
  • There's some good things in that,
  • 00:09:28.117 --> 00:09:29.518
  • But when i'm in real trouble or i have something i wanna
  • 00:09:29.518 --> 00:09:31.454
  • Celebrate, i call a friend.
  • 00:09:31.454 --> 00:09:33.589
  • Well, i wanna live my life with jesus of nazareth as my friend.
  • 00:09:33.589 --> 00:09:36.993
  • It changes everything in both celebration
  • 00:09:36.993 --> 00:09:39.829
  • And when there's a problem.
  • 00:09:39.829 --> 00:09:41.163
  • Wrote the book to help.
  • 00:09:41.163 --> 00:09:42.498
  • I think it'll open your life to god in a more personal,
  • 00:09:42.498 --> 00:09:44.934
  • Transformational way than ever before.
  • 00:09:44.934 --> 00:09:47.703
  • Enjoy the book.
  • 00:09:47.703 --> 00:09:49.038
  • Female announcer: in his book,
  • 00:09:49.038 --> 00:09:50.373
  • "my friend jesus," pastor allen shares how friendship with jesus
  • 00:09:50.373 --> 00:09:52.908
  • Brings clarity, strength, and peace in every part of life.
  • 00:09:52.908 --> 00:09:56.779
  • This isn't about following a religion or religious rules.
  • 00:09:56.779 --> 00:10:00.149
  • It's about cultivating a cherished relationship that will
  • 00:10:00.149 --> 00:10:02.652
  • Help your faith become more personal,
  • 00:10:02.652 --> 00:10:04.987
  • More joyful, and more powerful each day.
  • 00:10:04.987 --> 00:10:07.857
  • Request "my friend jesus" with your donation of $25 or more
  • 00:10:07.857 --> 00:10:11.694
  • Today at allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:10:11.694 --> 00:10:18.200
  • Allen: you see, we're not in a power struggle with evil, it's a
  • 00:10:18.267 --> 00:10:21.370
  • Confrontation of truth.
  • 00:10:21.370 --> 00:10:23.806
  • It's why when we go silent and we won't speak the truth and we
  • 00:10:23.806 --> 00:10:26.676
  • Won't tell the truth, then we become deceptive, we participate
  • 00:10:26.676 --> 00:10:30.079
  • In the deception, and we won't say the emperor has no clothes.
  • 00:10:30.079 --> 00:10:35.418
  • We're aligning ourselves with the roar of satan.
  • 00:10:35.418 --> 00:10:41.090
  • Look at matthew 28.
  • 00:10:41.090 --> 00:10:43.693
  • This is jesus post-resurrection.
  • 00:10:43.693 --> 00:10:46.862
  • "the eleven disciples went to galilee, to the mountain where
  • 00:10:46.862 --> 00:10:49.298
  • Jesus had told them to go.
  • 00:10:49.298 --> 00:10:50.666
  • And when they saw him, they worshiped him; but
  • 00:10:50.666 --> 00:10:52.034
  • Some doubted."
  • 00:10:52.034 --> 00:10:53.869
  • Responses to jesus are still pretty much in those
  • 00:10:53.869 --> 00:10:57.973
  • Same categories.
  • 00:10:57.973 --> 00:11:00.109
  • Post-resurrection, resurrected christ, disciples--
  • 00:11:00.109 --> 00:11:05.014
  • This isn't the mob from the streets of jerusalem.
  • 00:11:05.014 --> 00:11:07.116
  • These are the disciples that went to the place jesus told
  • 00:11:07.116 --> 00:11:09.885
  • Them to gather, and when jesus got there, some worshiped--
  • 00:11:09.885 --> 00:11:14.757
  • Some worshiped.
  • 00:11:14.757 --> 00:11:17.960
  • I'm glad you're seated because this is shocking.
  • 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:20.529
  • After the resurrection, we watched him die.
  • 00:11:20.529 --> 00:11:23.766
  • He is back.
  • 00:11:23.766 --> 00:11:27.570
  • He told them where he would meet them.
  • 00:11:27.570 --> 00:11:29.205
  • There's a gathering of people who imagine themselves to be
  • 00:11:29.205 --> 00:11:32.007
  • Disciples and some worshiped.
  • 00:11:32.007 --> 00:11:36.812
  • And some, what?
  • 00:11:36.812 --> 00:11:39.849
  • Some doubted.
  • 00:11:39.849 --> 00:11:42.685
  • What can we--what can we deduce from that?
  • 00:11:42.685 --> 00:11:46.255
  • Well, i would submit to you that we better be prepared for the
  • 00:11:46.255 --> 00:11:48.991
  • Challenge of doubt,
  • 00:11:48.991 --> 00:11:51.727
  • That there's gonna be some thoughts that you and i are
  • 00:11:51.727 --> 00:11:53.696
  • Gonna have to face that are not going to be faith-filled, that
  • 00:11:53.696 --> 00:11:56.599
  • Won't always encourage us to yield to god, to worship god, to
  • 00:11:56.599 --> 00:12:00.002
  • Submit to him.
  • 00:12:00.002 --> 00:12:02.938
  • Because if they're standing in the presence of a resurrected
  • 00:12:02.938 --> 00:12:05.975
  • Lord and they know the backstory, they're firsthand
  • 00:12:05.975 --> 00:12:08.778
  • Witnesses to it, that's a pretty powerful lie that you could get
  • 00:12:08.778 --> 00:12:13.249
  • Into your head that would cause you to doubt and not to worship.
  • 00:12:13.249 --> 00:12:16.986
  • So you and i better be prepared.
  • 00:12:16.986 --> 00:12:20.389
  • We better have some plan.
  • 00:12:20.389 --> 00:12:21.857
  • We better understand.
  • 00:12:21.857 --> 00:12:23.192
  • I pay attention to people that put doubt in me.
  • 00:12:23.192 --> 00:12:28.330
  • I don't spend very much discretionary time and sometimes
  • 00:12:28.330 --> 00:12:31.133
  • I don't have discretionary.
  • 00:12:31.133 --> 00:12:32.535
  • I've got assignments and responsibilities, but i don't
  • 00:12:32.535 --> 00:12:35.304
  • Spend very much discretionary time with people that sow doubt
  • 00:12:35.304 --> 00:12:38.741
  • In my life about honoring the lord.
  • 00:12:38.741 --> 00:12:41.877
  • It's too important to me.
  • 00:12:41.877 --> 00:12:44.380
  • I want people that will encourage me.
  • 00:12:44.380 --> 00:12:47.416
  • And i don't mean, like, flattering encouraging me.
  • 00:12:47.416 --> 00:12:50.152
  • I mean, i like to be with people that are struggling to do their
  • 00:12:50.152 --> 00:12:53.589
  • Best for the lord, to take those next steps, to overcome, to not
  • 00:12:53.589 --> 00:12:56.525
  • Yield, to not give in.
  • 00:12:56.525 --> 00:13:05.534
  • "some worship, some doubted."
  • 00:13:05.534 --> 00:13:06.869
  • I really are--we're gonna do this.
  • 00:13:06.869 --> 00:13:08.470
  • "then jesus came to them and said, 'all authority in heaven
  • 00:13:08.470 --> 00:13:11.407
  • And earth has been given to me.
  • 00:13:11.407 --> 00:13:13.676
  • Therefore--" there's that word again.
  • 00:13:13.676 --> 00:13:15.144
  • You ought to circle it.
  • 00:13:15.144 --> 00:13:16.478
  • When you find a "therefore" in the bible--this was the advice i
  • 00:13:16.478 --> 00:13:18.214
  • Was given as a young man--
  • 00:13:18.214 --> 00:13:19.548
  • When you find a "therefore," find out what it's there for.
  • 00:13:19.548 --> 00:13:23.953
  • "therefore you go and you make disciples of all nations,
  • 00:13:23.953 --> 00:13:28.257
  • Baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the
  • 00:13:28.257 --> 00:13:30.492
  • Holy spirit, and teaching them to obey everything i've
  • 00:13:30.492 --> 00:13:32.428
  • Commanded you.
  • 00:13:32.428 --> 00:13:33.796
  • And surely i'm with you to the very end of the age."
  • 00:13:33.796 --> 00:13:35.564
  • The only promise of his abiding presence is if we accept
  • 00:13:35.564 --> 00:13:38.334
  • The assignment.
  • 00:13:38.334 --> 00:13:43.806
  • He said, "all authority has been given to me.
  • 00:13:43.806 --> 00:13:45.474
  • Now you can go, go in this triumphal procession.
  • 00:13:45.474 --> 00:13:51.113
  • I won the victory.
  • 00:13:51.113 --> 00:13:53.282
  • Now you can go be a part of the parade."
  • 00:13:53.282 --> 00:13:55.251
  • Can you imagine?
  • 00:13:55.251 --> 00:13:56.585
  • We didn't win the victory.
  • 00:13:56.585 --> 00:13:58.687
  • We didn't make the sacrifice.
  • 00:13:58.687 --> 00:14:01.323
  • We didn't do all those things.
  • 00:14:01.323 --> 00:14:02.658
  • We received a free gift--
  • 00:14:02.658 --> 00:14:05.394
  • That we've been invited into the parade.
  • 00:14:05.394 --> 00:14:12.801
  • Then we say, "well, you know, do i have to identify?"
  • 00:14:12.801 --> 00:14:17.506
  • Oh, but you can.
  • 00:14:17.506 --> 00:14:20.175
  • "you know, i'm the only christian where i work."
  • 00:14:20.175 --> 00:14:23.479
  • Have a parade.
  • 00:14:23.479 --> 00:14:31.153
  • "you know, my family, they're not believers, they're doing all
  • 00:14:31.153 --> 00:14:33.722
  • These--" i know, go have a victory parade.
  • 00:14:33.722 --> 00:14:36.158
  • The holidays are coming.
  • 00:14:36.158 --> 00:14:42.831
  • Matthew 16:18, jesus said, "i'll build my church, and hell won't
  • 00:14:42.831 --> 00:14:47.970
  • Overcome it."
  • 00:14:47.970 --> 00:14:50.940
  • Maybe more literally, hell won't be able to withstand it.
  • 00:14:50.940 --> 00:14:53.909
  • You know, the most common form of warfare in the first century
  • 00:14:53.909 --> 00:14:56.845
  • Was siege warfare.
  • 00:14:56.845 --> 00:15:00.582
  • You know, one of the ways of unpacking human history is when
  • 00:15:00.582 --> 00:15:04.186
  • Methods of warfare change.
  • 00:15:04.186 --> 00:15:07.456
  • World war one was trench warfare.
  • 00:15:07.456 --> 00:15:08.924
  • They dug these big trenches and they shot at one another over
  • 00:15:08.924 --> 00:15:11.327
  • The land in between.
  • 00:15:11.327 --> 00:15:12.661
  • Some of you saw "war horse," world war one and
  • 00:15:12.661 --> 00:15:15.030
  • Trench warfare.
  • 00:15:15.030 --> 00:15:17.333
  • American revolution.
  • 00:15:17.333 --> 00:15:19.301
  • They hired mercenaries, they hired people to fight and you
  • 00:15:19.301 --> 00:15:21.704
  • Can put on bright red coats, line up in rows, and march
  • 00:15:21.704 --> 00:15:27.176
  • Towards your enemy.
  • 00:15:27.176 --> 00:15:32.915
  • And so the first century, the primary method of warfare was a
  • 00:15:32.915 --> 00:15:36.285
  • Siege and an army--if you had decided to attack a city, the
  • 00:15:36.285 --> 00:15:39.455
  • Best defense, the most--the well-defended cities had walls
  • 00:15:39.455 --> 00:15:43.292
  • Around them.
  • 00:15:43.292 --> 00:15:44.994
  • And typically, they were difficult.
  • 00:15:44.994 --> 00:15:46.428
  • The point of the wall was it was too difficult for an advancing
  • 00:15:46.428 --> 00:15:48.897
  • Army to overcome it, so the most vulnerable point on a city was
  • 00:15:48.897 --> 00:15:53.168
  • The gates.
  • 00:15:53.168 --> 00:15:56.372
  • Typically made out of wood, so you could either batter them
  • 00:15:56.372 --> 00:15:59.108
  • With some sort of battering ram or you could burn them.
  • 00:15:59.108 --> 00:16:04.046
  • And jesus is using that imagery.
  • 00:16:04.046 --> 00:16:06.115
  • He said, "i am going to build the church.
  • 00:16:06.115 --> 00:16:07.950
  • I'm gonna build my church, not a congregation, not
  • 00:16:07.950 --> 00:16:11.253
  • A denomination.
  • 00:16:11.253 --> 00:16:12.654
  • I'm gonna build the people of faith in the earth.
  • 00:16:12.654 --> 00:16:15.824
  • And the gates of hell won't be able to hold it out."
  • 00:16:15.824 --> 00:16:19.561
  • It's not a picture of a besieged church.
  • 00:16:19.561 --> 00:16:23.165
  • It's a portrayal of the church having surrounded the enemy.
  • 00:16:23.165 --> 00:16:28.937
  • And the gates won't be able to keep us out.
  • 00:16:28.937 --> 00:16:34.009
  • Why?
  • 00:16:34.009 --> 00:16:35.344
  • Because the lion of the tribe of judah has triumphed.
  • 00:16:35.344 --> 00:16:38.680
  • And we're a part of that triumphal procession.
  • 00:16:38.680 --> 00:16:43.619
  • I'll tell you: the most exciting opportunity of our lives and, i
  • 00:16:43.619 --> 00:16:46.388
  • Think, of this generation is the great privilege of being a part
  • 00:16:46.388 --> 00:16:49.958
  • Of jesus establishing his church in the earth in a new way.
  • 00:16:49.958 --> 00:16:53.962
  • We've been in retreat for several decades and we're moving
  • 00:16:53.962 --> 00:16:56.932
  • Forward again.
  • 00:16:56.932 --> 00:16:58.734
  • It's exciting.
  • 00:16:58.734 --> 00:17:02.905
  • Look at ephesians 1:22: "god placed all things under his
  • 00:17:02.905 --> 00:17:06.675
  • Feet," jesus, "and appointed him to be the head over everything
  • 00:17:06.675 --> 00:17:10.979
  • For the church."
  • 00:17:10.979 --> 00:17:12.347
  • These are all the results of the victory he won.
  • 00:17:12.347 --> 00:17:15.517
  • All of these things, these statements made about jesus,
  • 00:17:15.517 --> 00:17:17.953
  • Came to him because what he was willing to do that we read in
  • 00:17:17.953 --> 00:17:20.889
  • Philippians 2: he humbled himself and became obedient.
  • 00:17:20.889 --> 00:17:23.725
  • That whole list when it says your attitude should be
  • 00:17:23.725 --> 00:17:25.661
  • Like this.
  • 00:17:25.661 --> 00:17:28.097
  • He's the head over everything for the church.
  • 00:17:28.097 --> 00:17:30.165
  • Look at colossians 1:15: "he's the image of the invisible god,
  • 00:17:30.165 --> 00:17:33.535
  • The firstborn over all creation.
  • 00:17:33.535 --> 00:17:36.839
  • For by him all things were created: things in heaven, on
  • 00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:39.274
  • Earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or
  • 00:17:39.274 --> 00:17:42.077
  • Rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and
  • 00:17:42.077 --> 00:17:45.747
  • For him.
  • 00:17:45.747 --> 00:17:47.149
  • He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
  • 00:17:47.149 --> 00:17:51.420
  • He's the head of the body, the church; he's the beginning and
  • 00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:57.593
  • The firstborn from among the dead."
  • 00:17:57.593 --> 00:18:02.364
  • Do you understand that statement?
  • 00:18:02.364 --> 00:18:03.765
  • He's not the first person in the bible raised from the dead.
  • 00:18:03.765 --> 00:18:07.736
  • We find people raised from the dead long before we get
  • 00:18:07.736 --> 00:18:10.772
  • To jesus.
  • 00:18:10.772 --> 00:18:13.408
  • There's more in play here, more than we have time to unpack in a
  • 00:18:13.408 --> 00:18:16.111
  • Great deal of detail, but it says that he's the image of the
  • 00:18:16.111 --> 00:18:19.314
  • Invisible god, the firstborn over all creation.
  • 00:18:19.314 --> 00:18:22.384
  • By him all things were created.
  • 00:18:22.384 --> 00:18:24.286
  • Jesus's curriculum vitae is being established as being
  • 00:18:24.286 --> 00:18:29.057
  • Present as the creator of all things.
  • 00:18:29.057 --> 00:18:31.727
  • So he's speaking about something that happened long before the
  • 00:18:31.727 --> 00:18:33.996
  • Romans marched through the middle east.
  • 00:18:33.996 --> 00:18:38.834
  • But then he brings in this notion that he's the head of the
  • 00:18:38.834 --> 00:18:41.637
  • Church, the firstborn from among the dead.
  • 00:18:41.637 --> 00:18:46.275
  • What did god say to adam and eve?
  • 00:18:46.275 --> 00:18:48.110
  • That the day of when they ate from that tree they would die.
  • 00:18:48.110 --> 00:18:52.247
  • They didn't die physically.
  • 00:18:52.247 --> 00:18:54.883
  • They lost their relationship with god.
  • 00:18:54.883 --> 00:18:58.453
  • They hid from god.
  • 00:18:58.453 --> 00:19:01.323
  • They recognized frailty and vulnerability where they hadn't
  • 00:19:01.323 --> 00:19:04.293
  • Had it before.
  • 00:19:04.293 --> 00:19:07.129
  • So jesus was more than just physically resurrected.
  • 00:19:07.129 --> 00:19:10.999
  • The bible refers to him as the second adam.
  • 00:19:10.999 --> 00:19:15.070
  • "a totally new creation," the bible says, when we're in him.
  • 00:19:15.070 --> 00:19:20.676
  • So this description in colossians, as remarkable as it
  • 00:19:20.676 --> 00:19:23.612
  • Is about jesus, he was the beginning--before time.
  • 00:19:23.612 --> 00:19:28.984
  • He stepped into time, humbled himself, did those things.
  • 00:19:28.984 --> 00:19:31.987
  • He won a victory to be the firstborn from among the dead so
  • 00:19:31.987 --> 00:19:36.258
  • That in everything he might have the supremacy.
  • 00:19:36.258 --> 00:19:40.696
  • So there may be two lions stalking the earth with very
  • 00:19:40.696 --> 00:19:43.966
  • Much diametrically opposed objectives, but we shouldn't
  • 00:19:43.966 --> 00:19:47.502
  • Imagine that their power is similar.
  • 00:19:47.502 --> 00:19:51.240
  • Jesus has won a total, complete, eternal, irreversible victory
  • 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:56.845
  • Over satan and his kingdom.
  • 00:19:56.845 --> 00:19:59.982
  • That's good.
  • 00:19:59.982 --> 00:20:02.417
  • And you and i are the triumphal procession in christ.
  • 00:20:02.417 --> 00:20:08.857
  • But satan's still present.
  • 00:20:08.857 --> 00:20:11.526
  • So we see expressions of evil in the world and they touch our
  • 00:20:11.526 --> 00:20:14.529
  • Lives and we're pulled into this conflict.
  • 00:20:14.529 --> 00:20:18.967
  • Say, "well, i don't like that."
  • 00:20:18.967 --> 00:20:20.702
  • Duly noted.
  • 00:20:20.702 --> 00:20:23.038
  • Doesn't change the reality.
  • 00:20:23.038 --> 00:20:24.406
  • I don't like the fact that ice cream's fattening, but it would
  • 00:20:24.406 --> 00:20:26.608
  • Be better if you took note of that.
  • 00:20:26.608 --> 00:20:31.413
  • Sorry, i didn't call you fat.
  • 00:20:31.413 --> 00:20:39.288
  • There's a whole new order ahead of us.
  • 00:20:39.288 --> 00:20:42.190
  • The victory that jesus won will ultimately transform this earth.
  • 00:20:42.190 --> 00:20:49.564
  • But we're not there yet.
  • 00:20:49.564 --> 00:20:51.266
  • The judgment of god will be visited fully upon satan and
  • 00:20:51.266 --> 00:20:54.903
  • His kingdom.
  • 00:20:54.903 --> 00:20:56.238
  • But we haven't experienced that yet.
  • 00:20:56.238 --> 00:20:58.874
  • We have a couple of windows, a couple of pictures in scripture,
  • 00:20:58.874 --> 00:21:02.077
  • Of what that will look like.
  • 00:21:02.077 --> 00:21:04.613
  • Would you like to see 'em, just quickly?
  • 00:21:04.613 --> 00:21:07.716
  • Look at isaiah 11.
  • 00:21:07.716 --> 00:21:09.818
  • It says: "the wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard
  • 00:21:09.818 --> 00:21:14.256
  • Will lie down with the goat, and the calf and the lion and the
  • 00:21:14.256 --> 00:21:18.427
  • Yearling together; and a little child will lead them."
  • 00:21:18.427 --> 00:21:21.463
  • We'll let the kids play with the wolves and the leopards.
  • 00:21:21.463 --> 00:21:26.535
  • We won't be anxious when the kids hang out with the lions.
  • 00:21:26.535 --> 00:21:30.405
  • I don't think--i don't think that's some metaphor.
  • 00:21:30.405 --> 00:21:33.475
  • I think we will see that.
  • 00:21:33.475 --> 00:21:37.312
  • There'll be a change in the nature of creation.
  • 00:21:37.312 --> 00:21:41.016
  • We live in a broken world.
  • 00:21:41.016 --> 00:21:43.985
  • We live in a world that's so messed up, people walk into a
  • 00:21:43.985 --> 00:21:46.922
  • School and murder children.
  • 00:21:46.922 --> 00:21:50.926
  • And we're so perverse, we won't say our character's broken.
  • 00:21:50.926 --> 00:22:00.836
  • "the cow will feed with the bear, and their young will lie
  • 00:22:00.836 --> 00:22:03.305
  • Down together, and the lion will each straw like an ox.
  • 00:22:03.305 --> 00:22:06.475
  • And the infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the
  • 00:22:06.475 --> 00:22:10.045
  • Young child will put his hand into the viper's nest.
  • 00:22:10.045 --> 00:22:13.648
  • And they'll neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,
  • 00:22:13.648 --> 00:22:17.018
  • For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the lord as the
  • 00:22:17.018 --> 00:22:19.187
  • Waters cover the sea."
  • 00:22:19.187 --> 00:22:21.289
  • There's something better coming.
  • 00:22:21.289 --> 00:22:24.826
  • You know, i know when--there are times and seasons in our
  • 00:22:24.826 --> 00:22:27.129
  • Lives and when our faith is young, we're not sure if serving
  • 00:22:27.129 --> 00:22:30.132
  • The lord's a good idea.
  • 00:22:30.132 --> 00:22:32.734
  • Because we think the world holds so much and ungodliness is such
  • 00:22:32.734 --> 00:22:36.872
  • An enticement but i hope you're moving towards a place where you
  • 00:22:36.872 --> 00:22:40.342
  • Think, "there's just not much in the world apart from the lord
  • 00:22:40.342 --> 00:22:42.844
  • That i'm interested in."
  • 00:22:42.844 --> 00:22:45.714
  • I mean, i like the earth that god created.
  • 00:22:45.714 --> 00:22:48.150
  • It's beautiful.
  • 00:22:48.150 --> 00:22:49.484
  • It's spectacular, but i'm talking about the invitations
  • 00:22:49.484 --> 00:22:53.188
  • That come from the satanic roar.
  • 00:22:53.188 --> 00:22:57.325
  • They're invitations to destruction.
  • 00:22:57.325 --> 00:22:59.961
  • How many times do you have to choose a destructive path before
  • 00:22:59.961 --> 00:23:03.698
  • You'll say, you know, "that really was not pleasant"?
  • 00:23:03.698 --> 00:23:09.137
  • Recognize the enticement and recognize the outcome on the
  • 00:23:09.137 --> 00:23:12.774
  • Other side of the enticement, the destruction.
  • 00:23:12.774 --> 00:23:15.444
  • How many times do we have to walk destructive paths before
  • 00:23:15.444 --> 00:23:18.346
  • We'll say, "i don't think that's the way i want to go again"?
  • 00:23:18.346 --> 00:23:23.351
  • There's something better.
  • 00:23:23.351 --> 00:23:24.686
  • I wanna be all in with the lord.
  • 00:23:24.686 --> 00:23:27.355
  • Look at isaiah 65: "'the wolf and the lamb will feed together,
  • 00:23:27.355 --> 00:23:30.225
  • And the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the dust will
  • 00:23:30.225 --> 00:23:32.727
  • Be the serpent's food.
  • 00:23:32.727 --> 00:23:35.130
  • And they'll neither harm nor destroy on all my holy
  • 00:23:35.130 --> 00:23:37.365
  • Mountain,' says the lord."
  • 00:23:37.365 --> 00:23:40.135
  • There's something better coming, folks.
  • 00:23:40.135 --> 00:23:43.672
  • And it's all made available to you and me, not because we sit
  • 00:23:43.672 --> 00:23:46.341
  • In the right building or we wear the right clothes or we eat the
  • 00:23:46.341 --> 00:23:49.244
  • Right foods, but because of the victory that jesus won.
  • 00:23:49.244 --> 00:23:54.349
  • And in god's amazing mercy and grace, he's invited us into
  • 00:23:54.349 --> 00:23:57.619
  • This triumph.
  • 00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.987
  • The lion of the tribe of judah has triumphed.
  • 00:23:58.987 --> 00:24:03.592
  • And he is worthy.
  • 00:24:03.592 --> 00:24:05.627
  • And because he's worthy, we get to join the parade.
  • 00:24:05.627 --> 00:24:11.967
  • Now, there is a spiritual battle raging in the earth.
  • 00:24:11.967 --> 00:24:17.372
  • Surely you can see expressions of it.
  • 00:24:17.372 --> 00:24:21.042
  • We're not powerless.
  • 00:24:21.042 --> 00:24:23.745
  • We're not called to be spectators.
  • 00:24:23.745 --> 00:24:27.716
  • We've been called to resist him, to stand firm in the faith,
  • 00:24:27.716 --> 00:24:33.922
  • Understanding it may even elicit some suffering when we
  • 00:24:33.922 --> 00:24:37.025
  • Do so.
  • 00:24:37.025 --> 00:24:38.627
  • But to remember that our brothers and sisters throughout
  • 00:24:38.627 --> 00:24:40.829
  • The earth are having to endure as well.
  • 00:24:40.829 --> 00:24:43.465
  • We're not alone, we're not by ourselves.
  • 00:24:43.465 --> 00:24:46.167
  • We're a part of this triumphal procession in the earth.
  • 00:24:46.167 --> 00:24:50.805
  • Not to be squandered on our selfish comfort and convenience.
  • 00:24:50.805 --> 00:24:57.679
  • I brought you a proclamation from psalm 34.
  • 00:24:57.679 --> 00:25:01.349
  • I thought it was an appropriate way to wrap this up.
  • 00:25:01.349 --> 00:25:05.320
  • Won't you stand with me?
  • 00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:08.223
  • Even at home.
  • 00:25:08.223 --> 00:25:15.363
  • Psalm 34, it's the first 5 verses.
  • 00:25:15.363 --> 00:25:17.732
  • Can we read them together as a proclamation from our own lives?
  • 00:25:17.732 --> 00:25:20.635
  • It's very helpful to say for yourself what the word of god
  • 00:25:20.635 --> 00:25:24.272
  • Says about you.
  • 00:25:24.272 --> 00:25:26.408
  • It's with--that's how you give application.
  • 00:25:26.408 --> 00:25:30.378
  • It's how you release the authority that's present in the
  • 00:25:30.378 --> 00:25:33.682
  • Word of god.
  • 00:25:33.682 --> 00:25:37.719
  • Say it together: "i will extol the lord at all times; his
  • 00:25:37.719 --> 00:25:42.390
  • Praise will always be on my lips.
  • 00:25:42.390 --> 00:25:45.527
  • My soul will boast in the lord; let the afflicted hear
  • 00:25:45.527 --> 00:25:49.631
  • And rejoice.
  • 00:25:49.631 --> 00:25:51.199
  • Glorify the lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
  • 00:25:51.199 --> 00:25:56.838
  • I sought the lord, and he answered me; he delivered me
  • 00:25:56.838 --> 00:26:00.875
  • From all my fears.
  • 00:26:00.875 --> 00:26:02.944
  • Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never
  • 00:26:02.944 --> 00:26:06.715
  • Covered with shame," amen.
  • 00:26:06.715 --> 00:26:10.251
  • Hallelujah, god bless you.
  • 00:26:10.251 --> 00:26:14.789
  • Allen: thank you for spending a few minutes with us today.
  • 00:26:18.927 --> 00:26:20.996
  • You know, our goal in doing this is to add momentum to your
  • 00:26:20.996 --> 00:26:24.366
  • Spiritual life, to help open the kingdom of god to you in a more
  • 00:26:24.366 --> 00:26:27.936
  • Practical way that you could engage in a relationship with
  • 00:26:27.936 --> 00:26:30.505
  • The lord, not be a more faithful church sitter or a bible reader,
  • 00:26:30.505 --> 00:26:34.275
  • But a person who actually knows a living god.
  • 00:26:34.275 --> 00:26:37.045
  • Well, i've written a new book.
  • 00:26:37.045 --> 00:26:38.380
  • It's called "my friend jesus."
  • 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:39.748
  • To be candid, it's the culmination of years of my own
  • 00:26:39.748 --> 00:26:43.385
  • Spiritual journey.
  • 00:26:43.385 --> 00:26:44.719
  • I wanted to peel away all the formality of language and
  • 00:26:44.719 --> 00:26:48.156
  • Routine and ritual, and i really wanted to focus on what it means
  • 00:26:48.156 --> 00:26:51.726
  • To be a friend of the lord.
  • 00:26:51.726 --> 00:26:53.695
  • And that book is intended to give you a pathway to imagine
  • 00:26:53.695 --> 00:26:56.865
  • Your faith in a way that enables it to be more personal,
  • 00:26:56.865 --> 00:26:59.701
  • More transformational.
  • 00:26:59.701 --> 00:27:01.069
  • When i need help, i call my friends.
  • 00:27:01.069 --> 00:27:02.904
  • But when i need real help, i call my friend jesus.
  • 00:27:02.904 --> 00:27:06.007
  • He changes everything.
  • 00:27:06.007 --> 00:27:07.342
  • He's done it many times in my life.
  • 00:27:07.342 --> 00:27:09.244
  • He'll do it in your life.
  • 00:27:09.244 --> 00:27:10.979
  • Read the book, open your heart, there'll be a whole new power
  • 00:27:10.979 --> 00:27:14.215
  • Available to help shape your future.
  • 00:27:14.215 --> 00:27:27.395